Chapter 687: Progress

Two years later.

Within the Small Spirit Realm, after Qin Ming's years of cultivation and management, it had become a vibrant, lush landscape.

A hundred flowers bloomed together, each vying in beauty.

Rare spiritual plants, seldom seen in the outside world, were scattered everywhere, resembling a celestial herb garden, exuding the aura of a secluded paradise.

He spent over ten thousand high-grade spirit stones to feed the Spirit Marrow Tai Sui, elevating the spiritual veins within the Small Spirit Realm to the mid-tier of fourth-rank.

It had undergone a dramatic transformation since he first acquired this blessed land.

In particular, the Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree, with potential to reach fifth-rank, had been further accelerated by Qin Ming using newly unlocked cultivation terms, growing to three inches tall and radiating a soft, luminous glow.

Among all the spiritual plants, aside from his life-spirit vine, it was the most extraordinary.

Qin Ming casually pointed into the air and activated the Great Five Elements Spirit Rain Art, regularly irrigating the spirit crops in the fields.

Now, with his Nascent Soul cultivation base, the Great Five Elements Art could fully cover the entire Small Spirit Realm.

One could say he could summon clouds and rain with a mere gesture; ordinary mortals who witnessed it would believe a celestial immortal was controlling the weather.

The Devouring Sky Rat was bustling among the herb fields, helping Qin Ming clear weeds, catch pests, and tend to the spiritual plants.

It was extremely diligent.

The spirit rain halted three inches before its body, repelled by a layer of demonic energy.

Over these years, the Devouring Sky Rat had diligently tended the fields while also cultivating hard, refining its third-rank peak cultivation to perfect smoothness.

It only awaited full preparation to take the final step and become a true shape-shifting demon beast.

Most of the precious flesh of the fourth-rank Blood-Scaled Demon Serpent had been consumed by the three spirit beasts, transforming into nourishment for their cultivation.

Such treatment was beyond the reach of any beast in the Beast Roar Mountains, no matter how fiercely they fought for survival.

Qin Ming had also attempted to pass on the Demon Clan's Heavenly Demon Shape-Shifting Scripture to the Devouring Sky Rat.

Yet unfortunately, despite the Devouring Sky Rat's frantic gorging and desperate supplementation with blood and spiritual materials, it could never enter its gates.

It was truly frustrating for the Devouring Sky Rat: "Sigh! The Demon Clan's sacred scripture is just too hard."

In the spirit fields.

The life-spirit vine, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, thrived vigorously, its branches veiled in mist and clouds, as if concealing endless epochs and cosmic realms.

Swarms of four-winged Frost Bees buzzed busily, having, under the influence of the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, undergone over two hundred years of evolution and fully transformed into third-rank low-grade spiritual insects.

Their size had stopped growing, now all silver bees, with faint golden spiritual patterns shimmering across their bodies.

Qin Ming had scoured every known text on spiritual insects but found no record of anything similar.

Since moving this hive of ordinary bees onto his life-spirit vine, he had paid them little attention.

He had merely nurtured the queen bee, Silver-Wing Frost Bee, never expecting that one day, these common bees, under the Mystic Vine's influence, would transform so drastically and continuously evolve.

After careful observation, he believed this hive of spirit bees had not yet reached its limit—it was still in its juvenile stage.

As the life-spirit vine, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, continued to grow, they would keep advancing.

The Silver-Wing Frost Bee was only one step away from reaching third-rank peak.

The Devouring Sky Rat and the Aqua Crocodile often begged the queen bee for spirit honey, living a life of sheer luxury.

After finishing the spirit rain, Qin Ming walked to the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine.

Over these two years, he had periodically used the Four Seasons Divine Light to accelerate the fermentation and aging of the spirit liquor, and now the time was ripe.

He retrieved a jar of Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar from beneath the tree.

"According to the Divine Wine Scripture, this Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar is not even exchangeable with the nectar of immortals—it is truly the ultimate celestial brew."

"Rarely heard in the mortal world."

"It is even several times better than Nascent Soul elixirs, capable of enhancing and strengthening Nascent Soul magic power."

"It was brewed using an immense amount of time, with the special demonic core of a fourth-rank Ming water Great Serpent as the main ingredient, ground into fine powder, supplemented with Crimson Sun Deer antlers, supreme royal bee spirit nectar, and dozens of rare spiritual materials."

"Something worthy of the name 'celestial nectar' should not disappoint me."

Qin Ming carried the jar and walked to the lakeside, Quchu a set of exquisite wine vessels, with great care.

"Fine wine demands fine cups."

"I never expected the Old Monster of the West You would also enjoy this—he collected so many wine utensils."

These glass goblets and vessels had been looted from the Storage Bag of the West You True Person.

The Devouring Sky Rat, hearing the commotion, had already trotted over on its snout, smiling eagerly: "Hehe! Master, is this the Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar you've always talked about?"

But Qin Ming's next words doused it with icy water.

"Yes, this is the jade brew, but don't even think about drinking it now. Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar is a fourth-rank spirit liquor—its medicinal power is far more ferocious than the Demon Serpent meat, designed specifically to enhance Nascent Soul magic power."

"If you force yourself to drink it at your current level, it will backfire—your meridians will burst from the spiritual energy."

"You should focus on your cultivation. Wait until you break through to fourth-rank demon sage, then you can have some. There are over ten jars left anyway."

"I'll taste a bit for you first, hehe!"

Qin Ming found its anxious expression amusing and patted its shoulder to comfort it.

The Devouring Sky Rat's face fell, deeply disappointed, then said: "Then at least let me pour the wine for you. If I can't drink it, maybe I can at least smell it?"

Qin Ming smiled faintly and said: "Fill my cup!"

The Devouring Sky Rat immediately climbed onto the stone table and lifted the seal.

Wum~ A golden mist spread from the jar, releasing the intoxicating fragrance of a golden-liquid celestial brew.

Stunning spiritual energy permeated the air.

Gulp, gulp, gulp~ The Devouring Sky Rat swallowed saliva uncontrollably, clutching the celestial nectar yet unable to drink it—its heart burned with torment.

It lifted the jar and carefully poured the spirit liquor into the glass goblet before Qin Ming.

"Master, please taste the spirit liquor, hehe."

"Mm." Qin Ming lifted the glass goblet, calm and composed, thoroughly satisfied with the Devouring Sky Rat's service.

Then.

Boom! The spirit liquor entered his throat, transforming into an exquisitely pure stream of spiritual power that surged through his limbs and organs, releasing within his body.

He felt as if immersed in a hot spring, steam rising, the sensations shifting endlessly, indescribable.

"Just drinking the Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar has cleansed all my impurities—truly worthy of the name celestial brew."

The Nascent Soul seated in Qin Ming's purple mansion awakened from its meditative state, stirred powerfully.

The Nascent Soul's face lit up with excitement, opened its mouth, and instantly sucked in all the medicinal power of the liquor.

Qin Ming immediately felt his Nascent Soul magic power beginning to slowly increase.

Within the Blood Pagoda Magic Treasure.

"Ugh! Can't watch anymore!" Qingyang the Devil Demon, watching Qin Ming savor the spirit liquor, drooled profusely and pounded his chest in lamentation. "Back then, I too knew this art well."

Thus, after drinking the Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar, Qin Ming began practicing the Green Emperor Scripture.

Vast spiritual energy poured into his body, each thread vying to enter.

Even with Qin Ming's current physique, after drinking half the jar, he began to feel intoxicated.

He ordered the Devouring Sky Rat to store the liquor and entered seclusion to refine its medicinal power.

Several months later.

Qin Ming awoke from cultivation, his entire body radiating the ancient, weathered aura of an old tree.

Beside him, the three spirit pets still lay sleeping, cultivating alongside him.

"The Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar lives up to its reputation!"

Qin Ming felt his Nascent Soul magic power steadily growing stronger, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Far faster than his usual cultivation.

During this time, he also ingested and refined the Qingxu Pill given to him by Dragon Wood True Person.

His cultivation base increased further.

"At this pace, reaching Nascent Soul mid-stage is merely a matter of time."

"This Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Nectar even benefits Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivators—how many old devils out there would fight to the death for it?"

"I won't even need a hundred years—my cultivation will advance again to Nascent Soul mid-stage."

The Nascent Soul seated on Qin Ming's purple mansion's spiritual platform also grew slightly more solid.

At the Nascent Soul stage, lifespan is long; many remain stuck in Nascent Soul early-stage for hundreds of years without progress—this is normal.

Seclusion ended.

Qin Ming exited the Small Spirit Realm and contacted Hua Tianxiong via the Black Talisman.

"Hua Tianxiong, how are things on your end?"

"I'm preparing to leave Da Jin and head to the Eastern Sea."

Hua Tianxiong replied: "Master, you've come out of seclusion?"

"Everything on my end is settled."

Over these two years, Qin Ming had been gathering intelligence on the descent realm in Da Jin. Fortunately, due to the death of Blood Aversion Demon Lord, the Blood Refining Demon Sect's offensive had weakened considerably.

The Spirit Alliance had cleared over ten locations of the mysterious spatial anomalies scattered across the land, allowing them to catch their breath.

Qin Ming did not disguise himself this time—he appeared in his true form.

After all, he intended to seek Nascent Soul-grade spiritual treasures, and would mostly deal with other Nascent Soul cultivators.

Hua Tianxiong sat atop the Lingxiao Barge, gazing at the scenery rapidly receding below, filled with deep emotion.

He never imagined he would one day leave Da Jin, the land he had spent most of his life cultivating.

His Qianji Trading Company had been relocated to the Southern Wastes, and all unnecessary personnel had been dismissed.

The Lingxiao Barge flew swiftly; after five days of travel, the two arrived at the Black Sea region.

Then they arrived at the small Guidao Island, under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Sea cultivation realm.

The journey from the Black Sea to the Eastern Sea cultivation realm was immensely distant; although Qin Ming's Nascent Soul cultivation base allowed him to cross it directly, unfamiliar with the terrain and even with a sea chart, he could easily get lost.

Qin Ming immediately remembered one person and decided to take his ship to the Eastern Sea cultivation realm.

That man was Shi Jin of the Black Sail Pirate Crew.

He had long made his living on the seas and knew well all the strange tales and oddities of the Eastern Sea cultivation realm.

With him as a guide, they could avoid many detours.

Hua Tianxiong had never before come to such a distant sea; he stood on the barren Guidao Island, looking around in all directions.

The next moment.

Qin Ming took out a black spiritual conch, spoke a few words into it, then cast a spell.

A strange spiritual light emitted from the conch and vanished instantly into the horizon.

Shortly after.

The two waited on Guidao Island for several days.

During this time, no other cultivators came to this desolate island to board a vessel.

Only the two of them were there, showing how sparsely populated the place was.

Soon, a dark dot appeared in their line of sight; the silhouette of the Black Sail gradually emerged on the sea horizon.

On the Black Sail.

Shi Jin, the pirate captain, stood at the bow, radiating a rough, bandit-like aura, frowning as he gazed far off at Guidao Island.

Beside him stood his son, Shi Tianming, thin as a monkey.

Shi Tianming squatted at the bow, wearing a straw hat, and turned his head to ask Shi Jin: "Old man, why are there two of them?"

"Didn't you say the message came from the elder who once took our ship to the Southern Wastes and saved our lives?"

Shi Jin's face also showed confusion; he paused, then said: "Hmm, I don't know. Let's go take a look. Tell the crew to stay alert." He tapped his pipe at the bow.

"Got it!"

Half an incense stick later.

The Black Sail slowly docked at the shore of Guidao Island.

Shi Jin leapt down onto the island.

He saw one of the two cultivators—a large, white, fat man—with a cultivation base at Golden Core mid-stage.

His heart instantly tightened; he grew wary.

Then his gaze shifted to the ordinary-looking young cultivator beside him—but this man emitted not the slightest trace of magic power; at first glance, he seemed no different from a mortal.

Yet Shi Jin felt an inexplicable unease.

Meanwhile, the fat white cultivator's demeanor subtly deferred to the young cultivator.

Seeing this, even this seasoned pirate, who had roamed the seas for years, showed a look of shock and doubt.

He stepped forward, bowed to the two, and lowered his tone to ask: "May I ask what relation you two have with Elder Lu? Why did you use the Ten-Thousand-Spirit Conch I gave him to summon me?"

……

(End of Chapter)