Chapter 663: Blood-Crimson Dragon Rice and Void Spirit Stone

At the banquet, several Nascent Soul True Persons of the human race heard the words of the Ancient Mountain Demon Sage and all stared at Qin Ming with strange expressions.

No one expected that the newly elevated Wangyue True Person had any connection with the Silver Moon Tianhu—yet the Silver Moon Demon Sage's gaze toward Qin Ming was plainly filled with amorous overtones, unmistakably intimate. For two Demon Sages of the demonic race to personally attend the ceremony to offer congratulations, their relationship must be extraordinarily close!

At the same time, the assembled Nascent Soul elders truly envied Qin Ming, for they regarded the Silver Moon Demon Sage as one of the rarest beauties in the world, dazzlingly exquisite beyond words.

In an instant, the atmosphere at the scene softened considerably.

"My palace and I do indeed have a rather good relationship with Brother Qin, but not as you all imagine," Yue Lingyan spoke up, her voice ethereal and melodious.

Hearing this, Li Huo Shangren could not help but sigh: "I heard the Wangyue True Person is always generous in cultivating goodwill—I never imagined he could befriend a Demon Sage of the demonic race. Truly, I am deeply impressed."

Qin Ming merely smiled and said nothing further.

"Given this connection between the two of you, perhaps negotiation is possible," several Nascent Soul True Persons conferred silently, then turned to the Ancient Mountain Demon Sage.

"But how exactly would the demonic race propose to cooperate?"

These several Nascent Soul elders were all centuries-old schemers; naturally, they approached this matter with the utmost caution.

Qin Ming's acquaintance with Yue Lingyan merely provided a pretext for negotiation.

The Ancient Mountain Demon Sage's expression remained calm as he spoke slowly: "To jointly address the matter of the descending world, our two races may sign a hundred-year truce agreement, extendable depending on circumstances."

"As for the demonic race side…"

All present were major figures capable of shaping the fate of their respective cultivation realms, and immediately at the banquet table they began negotiating joint cooperation.

…

On the other side.

The Devouring Rat ran over, beaming, waving at the little silver fox: "Little Silver Fox! Over here! Over here!"

The little silver fox, peacefully nestled in Yue Lingyan's arms, suddenly brightened her lively eyes with delight, then leapt down.

She ran up to the Devouring Rat: "Brother Rat, long time no see."

"Come on, come on, I'll take you to the feast—these big shots discussing world affairs? Boring to sit there." The Devouring Rat pulled her away.

The little silver fox nodded: "Yes, I was just thinking the same."

"Master just planted a new spirit fruit in the Xiao Ling Realm—it's delicious! I'll let you taste some, hehe!"

Then it suddenly remembered something and stopped.

Immediately it pulled out a square box tied with a butterfly bow: "This is a gift from this great master for you—do you like it?"

The little silver fox accepted the treasure box with some embarrassment, opened it, and saw dozens of shimmering, multicolored pearls inside, dazzlingly radiant.

"Thank you, Brother Rat, for this precious gift—I love it."

…

Half a day later, taking advantage of Qin Ming's Nascent Soul ceremony and the gathering of Nascent Soul cultivators from all sides, the Ancient Mountain Demon Sage and the human Nascent Souls reached a preliminary consensus: mutual non-aggression for the next hundred years.

They also set a time to plan their response to the descent of the Xuehuan World.

With the demonic path rampant and the orthodox path weakened, these Nascent Soul elders had no choice but to seek alternatives—now that the demonic race had come knocking, it was the perfect opportunity to accept their offer.

If the demonic race and the demonic path launched a joint attack, that would truly mean the end.

After this contact, several Nascent Soul True Persons developed somewhat different views of Qin Ming, the newly elevated Nascent Soul.

"Come, Brother Qin, let us toast you—if not for your connection, the human and demonic races would never have sat at the same table."

"You've brought a turning point of peace between our two races—truly indispensable!"

"You gentlemen are too kind."

Qin Ming had not spoken much during the earlier negotiations.

Now he represented the Southern Wastelands cultivation realm; from this point forward, he naturally held the status to sit among the pinnacle of the cultivation world and influence its course.

At the banquet table.

When the talks were nearly concluded, the Ancient Mountain Demon Sage publicly retrieved an exquisite jade box and handed it to Qin Ming:

"Thanks to the Wangyue True Person's influence, this matter has been accomplished. Here is a small token of my congratulations."

"Then I thank you, Brother Gu Shan, for your kindness—I accept with pleasure." Since all were guests, Qin Ming did not refuse.

He opened the jade box slightly and saw a sudden outpouring of a gray, astonishingly potent demonic aura.

Inside lay a spherical object.

"A fourth-rank demon core!!"

Several Nascent Soul True Persons gasped, their eyes brimming with intense envy, unable to look away.

At the Nascent Soul realm, the desire for such a spiritual item as a fourth-rank demon core was unimaginable.

Used properly, it could significantly advance one's cultivation.

Demon cores were useful in elixir refining, magic treasure forging, array crafting, and puppet-making—and this was an exceptional specimen.

"This is the demon core of a fourth-rank initial-stage Ming water Great Snake, acquired by this Sage during early travels," the Ancient Mountain Demon Sage explained calmly.

Long Mu True Person's eyes flashed with interest: "Could it be the one from the depths of the Black Sea's Dark Abyss?"

"I've heard this great snake was the undisputed tyrant of the deep sea—its Ming water arts could devour everything, impervious to cultivator techniques. Centuries ago, two Nascent Soul cultivators went to hunt it and became its meal. The Dark Abyss is a hostile environment where countless sea cultivators perished, absorbing dark spiritual resentment over centuries until this great demon was born."

"Precisely." The Ancient Mountain Demon Sage's expression remained serene, as if it were a trivial matter.

Sss! Hearing Long Mu True Person's explanation, everyone looked astonished—this demon core had such a formidable origin.

It was no ordinary fourth-rank demon core—it was the special core of a deep-sea serpent.

You Sha True Person glanced again at the Ming water demon core, a trace of barely perceptible greed flickering across his eyes—quickly concealed.

Qin Ming closed the jade box and happily put it away.

With this demon core, perhaps he could begin refining elixirs suitable for Nascent Soul initial stage.

Yue Lingyan smiled gently and produced a wooden box, handing it to Qin Ming: "Congratulations on your ascent to Nascent Soul. This is my gift."

"I know you are a high-rank spirit cultivator. This item was specially obtained by me from an elder, said to originate from some ancient ruin—it should be a fourth-rank spirit rice, though the quantity is scarce."

"Could it be an ancient relic seed?!" Even Long Mu True Person beside her showed signs of anticipation.

As a fourth-rank middle-grade spirit cultivator, she naturally had deep interest in this item, her curiosity instantly piqued.

Qin Ming opened the wooden box and saw over a dozen grains of entirely crimson spirit rice, their surfaces interwoven with dark purple spiritual patterns, enveloped in a crimson mist, radiating potent spiritual energy.

More peculiarly, faint dragon-like shadows subtly shimmered within the grains.

"It's fourth-rank Blood-Crimson Dragon Rice!" Long Mu True Person clearly recognized it—upon seeing the rice, his expression turned incredulous, nearly losing composure.

Li Huo Shangren, seeing Long Mu True Person's rare emotional surge, asked curiously: "Brother Long Mu, what is Blood-Crimson Dragon Rice?"

Long Mu True Person remained silent, clearly unwilling to answer.

Li Huo Shangren received a cold shoulder and could only sip his spirit wine dejectedly.

Although Qin Ming did not know the origin of this spirit rice, he could sense from its immense spiritual energy that its effects were extraordinary.

It must greatly enhance and advance Nascent Soul magic power.

He decided to store it for now and study it later.

Moreover, Long Mu True Person clearly recognized this rice—perhaps after the ceremony he could seek his advice.

Afterwards,

Han Ya Shangren, seeing everyone had presented gifts—all exceedingly rare—could only pull out a delicate jade bottle and hand it to Qin Ming: "Congratulations, Qin True Person. This is a fourth-rank lower-grade Void Essence Stone, usable in magic treasures to enhance their grade."

"Of course, as a high-rank spirit cultivator, should you ever acquire Void Spirit Plants, this stone could also aid in their cultivation."

Han Ya Shangren, eager to emphasize the value of his gift, explained it in great detail as he handed it over—fearing the other Nascent Soul True Persons might underestimate him.

At that moment, Li Huo Shangren secretly transmitted a message to Han Ya Shangren: "Old Han Ya, isn't this the treasure you brought back from the Qingyuan Sect's secret realm? You stingy old miser—why are you suddenly giving it away?"

"Who's stingy? Don't speak nonsense, Old Li Huo!" Han Ya Shangren snapped back, then ignored him.

In truth, Li Huo Shangren had hit the mark—Han Ya Shangren, while studying the stone, had accidentally discovered it contained many impurities, and after consulting numerous texts, he still couldn't identify them.

As a result, the value of this Void Essence Stone had plummeted.

"Brother Han Ya is too generous—I accept with gratitude," Qin Ming said calmly, accepting the gift.

'Han Ya Shangren is truly magnanimous—this man is worth cultivating a close relationship with.'

He had never expected to receive any notable gifts for his Nascent Soul ceremony.

After all, the Southern Wastelands cultivation realm was far too poor and shabby—it could barely muster anything worthwhile.

Third-rank spiritual items were already the limit.

Yet he hadn't expected the Nascent Soul elders from other regions to be so wealthy—each one practically dripping with riches.

Qin Ming guessed they must have all profited greatly from the Qingyuan Sect's secret realm.

"Tsk tsk tsk! Even Void Spirit Stone—such a treasure—is being given away as a gift."

"Truly a top-tier benefactor of the cultivation world."

At that moment, within the Blood Floating Pagoda magic treasure,

Qing Yang the Devil, who had fallen into slumber during Qin Ming's Nascent Soul Tribulation, seemed to awaken, speaking slowly:

"Void Spirit Stone?" Qin Ming's heart stirred, but he remained outwardly calm, secretly asking Qing Yang the Devil: "Old Ghost, isn't this just Void Essence Stone?"

"Hehehe! That old fool doesn't know what he's holding—this ancient treasure, even in Qingyuan Sect's heyday, was a notable magic treasure."

"The greatest use of Void Spirit Stone is to help Nascent Soul cultivators comprehend Void Arts."

"Of course, the old fool was right—it can indeed be used to cultivate Void Spirit Plants."

"But using a fourth-rank upper-grade Void Spirit Stone for farming? What a colossal waste of talent, hehehe!"

Hearing this, Qin Ming was deeply moved.

Han Ya Shangren not only possessed great fortune, but was also a kind-hearted man. (End of chapter)

Master Cold Crow not only had profound good fortune, but was also a kind-hearted man (End of Chapter)