Chapter 641: Fourth-Rank Spiritual Treasure

Time flowed gently, slipping away unnoticed.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Southern Wastes cultivation realm, the legend of True Person Wangyue had not diminished in popularity despite his seclusion.

On the contrary, discussions about him grew ever more heated, with tales of him spreading throughout the major immortal cities and market towns of the four nations.

From powerful intelligence factions down to roadside teahouses and taverns, all echoed with talk of True Person Wangyue.

Many storytellers held daily special performances recounting the legendary, inspiring life of True Person Wangyue.

Even street-side book vendors sold novels and storybooks about True Person Wangyue.

These sold extremely well, with demand far outstripping supply, driving prices up to astonishing levels of spirit stones.

…

…

At this very moment, Qin Ming, the protagonist, was laboring within the Small Spirit Realm to refine the Blood Pagoda demonic treasure.

The fourth-rank demonic core of the Great Black Heaven Demon Saint was extraordinarily difficult to refine; relying on the secret methods in the Book of Demonic Craftsmanship, he spent over a year coaxing and wearing it down until he finally fully refined it.

He then retrieved the blood-colored inkstone and inscribed demonic runes and seals within it.

The number of seals required to forge a fourth-rank spiritual treasure was staggering, and the inscription process demanded flawless continuity, draining the cultivator's spiritual essence immensely.

Fortunately, Qin Ming's spiritual essence far surpassed that of a Golden Core cultivator, sufficient to sustain this treasure forging.

Next,

Qin Ming activated the treasure-forging incantation, guiding the refined essence of the fourth-rank demonic core perfectly into the engraved demonic runes.

Hum! Hum! Hum! As the final essence flowed in, the Blood Pagoda in midair erupted in crimson radiance, blazing with demonic light!

Qin Ming seized the moment, forming hand seals and drawing talismans in the air, one intricate rune after another sinking into the blood-colored inkstone.

As the final rune settled into place,

The aura of the Blood Pagoda surged upward, climbing until it reached a critical threshold—where it then stalled for over half an hour.

Boom! Splat!

As if a thin sheet of paper had been pierced, the ultimate treasure of the demonic sect's heir underwent a complete transformation, ascending into a fourth-rank spiritual treasure! A grand aura reverberated through heaven and earth.

Crimson demonic light blazed across the inkstone, radiating a terrifying spiritual treasure aura.

Suddenly! The newly upgraded Blood Pagoda shuddered violently, erupting a torrent of blood-forged demonic light—and tore itself free from Qin Ming's spiritual control.

It instinctively sought to flee beyond the Small Spirit Realm!

"I never expected that after ascending to fourth-rank, this treasure would develop a sliver of autonomous sentience!"

"It must be tied to the nurturing of my life-spirit plant, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine—no ordinary fourth-rank spiritual treasure is known to awaken such self-awareness."

Qin Ming was stunned; if it escaped successfully, this would be a total disaster.

He was about to chase after it when a black whip descended from the sky, snapping with a sharp "Crack!" and striking the fleeing Blood Pagoda down to the ground.

The Blood Pagoda spiritual treasure instantly became utterly docile.

Qin Ming recognized the whip—it was a tendril of his life-spirit plant, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine. One strike had knocked the Blood Pagoda to the ground, trembling with unmistakable fear. Qin Ming's gaze flickered; this spiritual treasure must obey him from now on.

At that moment,

From the wooden box lying nearby, Qingyang Laomo's voice echoed again: "Young Master Qin, I am willing to become the spirit within this demonic treasure!"

"Oh? What do you mean?" Qin Ming frowned.

To voluntarily become a treasure's spirit—Qin Ming had never encountered such a thing; it was almost certainly deceitful or self-serving.

"Old devil, consider carefully why I forged and upgraded this Blood Pagoda," Qin Ming said coolly.

Qingyang Laomo let out a bitter laugh: "Of course I know—you forged this treasure to break through to the Nascent Soul realm and withstand the heavenly tribulation."

"Then why volunteer to be its spirit? Aren't you afraid you'll be utterly obliterated during the tribulation?" Qin Ming asked.

Qingyang Laomo replied: "Do I have any other choice? Since you refuse to trust me, I can only take this desperate step to show my sincerity."

"I only hope that, should you one day fully establish your Nascent Soul, you will help me restore my spiritual form."

"And when you face your tribulation, I will give my all." "Moreover, to dispel your doubts, I am willing to surrender a strand of my life-spirit soul to you."

Qingyang Laomo had been driven to this desperate act.

He never imagined this boy's temperament differed entirely from Lin Zi's—utterly impervious to persuasion.

No matter what opportunities or secret methods he offered, Qin Ming ignored him.

The boy had no use for him at all—this couldn't continue!

Qingyang Laomo felt he wouldn't die at Qin Ming's hands, but would perish first at the hands of that rat demon.

For two years, that stinking rat had tormented him relentlessly, urinating on his head daily.

When had the ancient powerhouse of Qingyuan Sect ever endured such treatment?

He could bear it no longer!

Of course, Qingyang Laomo's primary motive was Qin Ming's potential.

With his vast experience, he was certain a figure like Qin Ming could never perish in a Nascent Soul tribulation.

Hence, he dared to gamble everything, surrendering his very existence.

A single gamble—perhaps he could regain his strength.

Hearing Qingyang Laomo speak thus, Qin Ming nodded: "Very well. Let me see your sincerity."

Then,

He flicked his finger, lifting the seal on the wooden box and releasing Qingyang Laomo's spirit.

"Huh~"

As soon as he emerged, Qingyang Laomo closed his eyes and drew a deep breath of fresh air.

"Sigh! Even this old devil must now throw himself into the game!"

He was a ruthless man—without hesitation, amid agonized screams, he tore off a strand of his life-spirit soul and handed it to Qin Ming.

From this moment on, his life and death rested entirely in Qin Ming's hands.

Qin Ming nodded, sealing the strand of soul within a spirit jade and storing it away.

"Good. Your future conduct will determine everything."

Qingyang Laomo, his aura dimmed, replied: "Of course. But you must honor our agreement."

"Naturally. Haven't you heard? My reputation is my hallmark," Qin Ming declared without doubt.

"Heh! Then that's best of all," Qingyang Laomo replied with a half-skeptical chuckle.

"Young Master Qin, I'm ready. I'm entering now."

Qin Ming: "."

Then,

Qingyang Laomo transformed into a streak of spiritual light and instantly merged into the Blood Pagoda spiritual treasure.

Qin Ming seized the moment, activating the treasure-forging incantation and casting a series of intricate runes into the void.

Half a day later,

Qingyang Laomo took control of the demonic treasure and completely erased the wild, untamed sentience it had spontaneously developed.

Through Qin Ming's further cultivation and refinement, he became the spirit within this fourth-rank spiritual treasure.

As a result, the Blood Pagoda's rank neared the upper tier of fourth-rank spiritual treasures.

The treasure's former defiance vanished entirely.

Qin Ming gestured with one hand—the Blood Pagoda flew into his grasp, obedient as an extension of his own limb.

"With this spiritual treasure, my chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm have greatly increased!"

…

(End of Chapter)