Chapter 643: Enhance the Spiritual Vein, Break Through to Nascent Soul

Qin Ming familiarized himself with the Blood Pagoda magic treasure.

After his refinement and reshaping, the demonic treasure's power had undergone a qualitative transformation.

Under the continuous nurturing of the 【Spirit Plant Treasure】 entry.

Its ability to corrupt a cultivator's spiritual power and suppress their cultivation base became even more pronounced; even a Nascent Soul elder caught off guard would suffer great losses from this treasure.

Moreover, with Qingyang Laomo stationed within the magic treasure, Qin Ming could effortlessly activate the boundless blood sea's Blood Refining Demon Light for attack.

"Although this fourth-rank spiritual treasure greatly increases my chances of withstanding the Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation, more treasures are always better—I must prepare multiple contingencies."

Immediately, Qin Ming suddenly remembered something, took out the Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror, and asked Qingyang Laomo in a calm tone:

"Old ghost, as a former disciple of the Ancient Qingyuan Sect, you should recognize this, right?"

Qingyang Laomo had just become another's spirit vessel, living under someone else's roof, and was in deep gloom.

Yet he saw Qin Ming pull out another ancient bronze mirror.

He immediately exclaimed again: "This—this isn't our sect's ultimate treasure, the Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror?"

"How did it end up in your hands?"

"Its origins are complicated, but what Qin Mou wants to know is this: since the Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror is your sect's ancestral treasure, it surely isn't merely a third-rank supreme magic treasure, is it?" Qin Ming countered.

Qingyang Laomo murmured in amazement: "It seems Qin Xiaoyou truly has a connection with our sect—you've not only cultivated the Qingdi Jue to its tenth layer, but also possess the complete Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror."

"Indeed, the origins of the Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror are immense, even reaching into the Upper Realm."

"In the past, our sect's two major cultivation lineages fought bitterly over this mirror, suffering heavy casualties."

"So what rank is this Golden Light Mirror, exactly? Qin Mou has studied it for a long time and can only activate the Golden Light Divine Flame technique so far," Qin Ming continued.

Qingyang Laomo was even more astonished upon hearing this, muttering inwardly: 'This kid has actually used the Golden Light Divine Flame's lifespan-draining technique? But how is he so young?'

'Truly bizarre!'

He cleared his throat and explained: "Qin Xiaoyou is correct—this mirror's origins are immense, and it is no ordinary magic treasure."

"It is an ancient spiritual treasure, also called an ancient treasure; the Golden Light Divine Flame can scour away all things, its power surpassing even that of a spiritual treasure."

"However, to use this treasure, one must combine it with our sect's cultivation method. When Qin Xiaoyou reaches the twelfth layer of the Qingdi Jue, or fully completes the Qingdi Wood Emperor Holy Body."

"You can elevate the Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror's rank by one tier, and the lifespan cost of activating it will be greatly reduced."

"Additionally, another technique of this mirror will be unlocked—then Qin Dao You will understand for yourself; I cannot elaborate further now."

After hearing this, Qin Ming stroked the ancient bronze mirror in his hand, studying the Eight Trigrams pattern on its northern face, and exclaimed in surprise: "An ancient spiritual treasure—no wonder this treasure possesses such prodigious abilities."

"Hehe! Not to hide anything from Qin Dao You, during the Qingyuan Sect's peak, several Soul Transformation masters ascended to the Upper Realm. Besides this Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror, they left behind many other powerful treasures."

"Yet this Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror still ranks among the top five."

"I never told any of this to Lin Zi or Lin Xiaoyou—this kid's fortunes are nowhere near yours!"

Qingyang Laomo said with a hint of pride.

"So what position did you hold in the Qingyang Sect?" Qin Ming asked, curious—this old ghost clearly knew a great deal.

"Hehehe! Let me keep that a secret for now. Knowing too much isn't necessarily good for someone at your realm."

"When you break through to Nascent Soul—or higher—I'll tell you everything truthfully. Rest assured, Qin Xiaoyou."

Qingyang Laomo spoke with an air of mystery.

"By the way, Qin Xiaoyou, this mirror is extremely useful for your passage through the Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation—it's tied to enhancing the treasure's power and unlocking its second technique."

"Allow me to explain in detail."

Several days later.

Qin Ming stepped out of his cave, smiling, and walked calmly to the island's outskirts.

"Heaven's timing, earth's advantage, human harmony—all are ready, only lacking earth's advantage."

"To break through to Nascent Soul requires an immense amount of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy—it must be done within a fourth-rank spiritual vein environment."

"The main peak of Wangyue Island is currently a third-rank supreme spiritual vein."

"Unfortunately, I didn't acquire any supreme spirit stones during my trip to Da Jin—though I have plenty of high-grade ones."

"I wonder if feeding a large quantity of high-grade spirit stones to the Spirit Marrow Tai Sui could elevate Wangyue Island to a fourth-rank spiritual vein."

Without delay, Qin Ming followed the mountain path to the spiritual vein's depths and found the Spirit Marrow Tai Sui, a mountain of flesh, absorbing spiritual energy.

He first took out one hundred high-grade spirit stones, without hesitation, and fed them all to the Spirit Marrow Tai Sui.

Qin Ming's wealth was now immense—he had collected many storage bags, and now possessed over ten thousand high-grade spirit stones alone.

After investing the one hundred high-grade spirit stones, Qin Ming observed closely.

As expected, the Spirit Marrow Tai Sui, born from the 【Spirit Vein Enhancement】 purple entry, after consuming these high-grade spirit stones, excreted even purer spirit marrow, continuously feeding the main peak's spiritual vein.

Qin Ming could clearly sense the surrounding spiritual energy had increased slightly.

"Looks like it's still not enough?"

"But for the sake of achieving Nascent Soul, it's all worth it."

Immediately, Qin Ming ignored the pain of loss and waved his hand, tossing out another thousand high-grade spirit stones.

After five full days, Qin Ming had thrown out a total of four thousand high-grade spirit stones—an astonishingly terrifying number.

Recall that when three mid-stage Golden Core demonic cultivators infiltrated the Southern Wilds from Yinmo Sect, they carried only a hundred or so high-grade spirit stones in total.

Boom! After consuming these spirit stones, the Spirit Marrow Tai Sui's flesh-mountain swelled several times larger.

As countless spirit marrow essences were excreted and poured into the spiritual vein,

A tremendous surge of spiritual energy erupted from the main peak of Wangyue Island, resonating with heaven and earth.

Seeing this, Qin Ming immediately took out a third-rank array from his storage bag and covered the main peak's spiritual vein energy.

He intended to secretly condense his Nascent Soul.

He was already at Golden Core peak—if anyone detected his intent,

He would face countless troubles during the breakthrough.

For instance, envious rivals, or the Nascent Soul sects of Da Jin, all of whom would likely not wish to see a Nascent Soul True Person arise in the Southern Wilds.

Once he secretly completed the condensation and passed the heavenly tribulation, things would be entirely different.

As the spiritual energy on the main peak surged, the spiritual vein environment reached fourth-rank levels.

"Didn't expect this to work."

"By brute-forcing a fourth-rank spiritual vein with spirit stones—I might be the first in cultivation history to do so."

Qin Ming stepped outside and felt the dense spiritual energy of the main peak, comparable to the Fox Clan's sacred ground, Muxia Mountain.

But his fourth-rank spiritual vein's range was far smaller—only several hundred zhang around his cave.

Still, it was sufficient to support his Nascent Soul breakthrough.

With this done, everything was finally in place.

Qin Ming descended the mountain and walked to the shore of Wangyue Lake to relax.

The Wu family was working in the lower spirit fields; the Xianshui Crocodile and Shitian Rat were fishing and catching shrimp in the lake, bullying their subordinates.

Wu Jiang hurried over upon seeing Qin Ming emerge:

"Hail the Island Master! You've finally emerged from seclusion!"

"No need for formalities. Has anything changed outside? Have all those who needed to leave been sent away?" Qin Ming asked coolly.

"Is there something you wish to report to me?"

Since becoming a Golden Core peak cultivator, he often secluded himself for years at a time.

To low-rank cultivators like Wu Jiang, this might seem long—but to Qin Ming, it was but a blink.

"Yes! There's a major matter to report."

Saying this, Wu Jiang respectfully presented Qin Ming with a jade slip.

"This was entrusted to me months ago by Gu True Person of the Mirror Snow Pavilion—it's news sent back by someone from Da Jin." Qin Ming glanced at the jade slip and immediately recognized it as intelligence gathered by Hua Tianxiong.

Da Jin was far from the Southern Wilds—this message was likely over a year old.

"Island Master, it's said the situation in Zhongzhou's three kingdoms has drastically changed—a war unlike any before has erupted, and the Li Huo Palace has dispatched envoys to the Southern Wilds to forcibly conscript cultivators for battle."

Qin Ming's brow furrowed at this.

'So the war finally broke out. Clearly, the appearance of the Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree and the opening of the Qingyuan Sect's secret realm have triggered bloody struggles among the Nascent Soul factions.'

'And judging by the current state, the war must have reached an extremely tense stalemate.'

'Otherwise, Da Jin's Immortal Court wouldn't be conscripting cultivators from this poor, backward region.'

'Call it a call to arms if you're polite; call it cannon fodder if you're honest.'

'It's the same tactic as when Lingyu Men first opened new lands—drafting low-rank cultivators from their subordinate families as scouts and expendables.'

'In the end, victory or defeat still hinges on the clash between high-rank cultivators.'

After learning the situation,

Qin Ming dismissed Wu Jiang and immersed his spiritual sense into the jade slip to examine it alone.

Hua Tianxiong's report was far more detailed and accurate.

"The Qingyuan Sect's secret realm opened, triggering competition among major factions."

"A massive battle erupted among the Nascent Soul True Persons of the three kingdoms."

"Yet in the end, none gained advantage; several Nascent Souls negotiated cooperation, entered the realm together, and acquired numerous secrets and opportunities merely from its outer regions."

"A few days later, all Nascent Soul True Persons who entered the realm fled out and resealed it. According to Qian Lao of the Li Huo Palace, the three kingdoms' Nascent Soul ancestors disagreed over the realm's ownership."

"Coupled with the Dali demonic path's long-standing invasion of Dazhou, the three kingdoms' great chaos finally erupted."

"."

"Exactly as Qingyang Laomo predicted."

After reading this intelligence, Qin Ming's expression shifted between dark and light; he let out a deep sigh.

The Li Huo Palace is conscripting recruits; among the major sects of the Four Southern Lands, they are naturally the first to be targeted.

My momentum is now fully built; no one can stop me from forming a Nascent Soul.

It seems the time has come to take this step.

But having just ended a long period of seclusion, I should first see how the outside world has changed, and pay respects to the departed of mountain and river, settling old affairs.

Immediately, Qin Ming called up the two beasts from the lake, mounted the Lingxiao Bao Nian, and flew toward the island's outskirts.

Several days later.

Within Lei Yuanzong, Qin Ming met Wei Wuya, whom he had not seen in a long time.

With the help of Qin Ming's Li Yun Dan, Wei Wuya had long since fully recovered.

When he saw Qin Ming again, he was filled with profound emotion and sighs.

Especially regarding Qin Ming's current cultivation base, he felt both envy and deep sorrow within.

For he knew well that the higher one advances in the Golden Core realm, the harder each breakthrough becomes—he had already failed to break through to the late stage.

Yet look at Qin Ming—he had already reached Golden Core Great Completion; truly, no comparison means no pain.

At the same time, Wei Wuya was deeply grateful for Qin Ming's gift of the elixir and his rescue.

He even presented several of the sect's most treasured artifacts as a token of thanks.

Qin Ming did not refuse; he accepted them outright, for when he sought to form a Nascent Soul, he would never have too many treasures.

From Wei Wuya's words, Qin Ming learned that the Li Huo Palace had indeed conscripted a group of disciples from the sect.

"Alas! When immortals fight, the fish in the pond suffer—we dare not defy the orders of our superior sect."

"Otherwise, we would face the Li Huo Palace's wrath."

Even Wei Wuya, a Golden Core elder, felt helpless about this matter.

For at any moment, should the Li Huo Palace issue a command, even these Golden Core elders would be forced into the fray.

After leaving Lei Yuanzong and bidding farewell to Wei Wuya,

Qin Ming wandered slowly through the Four Lands, refining his heart amid the mortal world, while gathering treasures capable of resisting heavenly tribulation.

Several years later, he arrived at Liang State's Xuanxi Valley.

Inside the ancestral hall at the back of Xuanxi Valley, Qin Ming paid respects to Qingxuan Laozu and Gong Sun Yang, the Master.

He then sought out Xuan Yu Laozu and exchanged several Golden Core elixirs for two artifacts.

After offering some guidance to a disciple named Fang Han, Qin Ming turned back toward Wangyue Island—after all, he had once promised Gong Sun Yang he would lend a hand to his direct disciple when the chance arose.

This matter was but a small favor.

Fang Han possessed good character and nature, and carried the innate Dan Dao Spirit Body; after Qin Ming's guidance, he could sense Fang Han was only one step away from breaking through to the third-rank Dan Master.

"Thank you, Elder Qin, for your guidance—I have gained immensely."

"I shall forever remember your teachings these past days. Should you ever need me, I shall face fire and water without hesitation."

Fang Han had now shed his youthful naivety and become a mature, composed young man, strikingly handsome.

"No need for commands—your future is to carry the banner of Xuanxi Valley."

"Do not waste your master's painstaking efforts."

Qin Ming spoke to him calmly.

"I humbly accept Elder Qin's teachings! I shall never forget my master's grace!" Fang Han's eyes were resolute, his tone decisive.

"Hmm." Qin Ming nodded.

Next, Qin Ming wandered further through the Four Lands, tempering his mind before attempting Nascent Soul formation.

Several years later.

Qin Ming returned once more to Wangyue Island.

He first entered the Xiao Ling realm and stood before the Lei Yuanmo Zao tree. Three golden terms appeared before him: 【Name】: Lei Yuanmo Zao 【Term】: Five Space-Time Leaves (Maturity 100%, harvestable) 【Name】: Lei Yuanmo Zao 【Term】: Five Years of Abundant Lifespan (Maturity 100%, harvestable) 【Name】: Lei Yuanmo Zao 【Term】: One Source of Demonic Qi (Maturity 100%, harvestable). Qin Ming reached out and harvested all the demonic zao fruits, their aura dark and chilling. He studied the third-rank superior demonic fruits in his hand—they would be of great use to those cultivating the demonic path.

Immediately afterward, three term leaves appeared in his spiritual sense: the 【Source of Demonic Qi】 leaf remained purple.

After consuming the five 【Abundant Lifespan】 leaves, his lifespan soared to a terrifying three thousand years. Having done this,

he summoned Wu Jiang: "For the coming days, I shall enter seclusion once more. No matter what happens, no one is to disturb me."

"All of you shall temporarily leave the island and return to Baiyan Island to await my orders."

"Yes! We humbly obey the Island Master's command!" Wu Jiang replied firmly, a strange premonition stirring in his heart, though it felt unreal.

Then Qin Ming released the three beasts of Shi Tian: "I am about to attempt Nascent Soul formation. You three shall guard the island's perimeter for me."

"Really?! Master is truly unparalleled among ten thousand! May you succeed without delay!"

"Rest assured, Master—we shall guard the perimeter. Even a fly won't get through!"

Shi Tian's eyes gleamed with excitement, then dragged Xuan Shui E and Yin Yi Shuang Feng away.

"Brother Two, Brother Three, did you hear that? Master is forming a Nascent Soul!"

"We're about to take off! Hehehe!"

"If we can eat a few human Nascent Soul cultivators later, we might reach Fourth-Rank Demon Saint status!"

Qin Ming watched these absurd spirit pets and shook his head helplessly. Then,

he went to the main peak's spirit fields and released his life-spirit plant, the Yin Yang Xuan Teng, from the Xiao Ling realm.

The Yin Yang Xuan Teng, attuned to Qin Ming's spirit, seemed to sense his intent—its black vines danced wildly with excitement.

Qin Ming gazed up at his life-spirit plant and spoke slowly: "Old friend, we've finally reached this point. Let us begin."

……

(End of Chapter)