Chapter 697: The Great Dao Thunder Tribulation Tea

"May I ask how this fellow Daoist is addressed?"

Upon this boundless sea, everything is decided by strength.

Black Xuan Shiren, constrained by the overwhelming pressure of the bearded giant before him, had no choice but to lower his stance and ask.

"My surname is Long," Qin Ming replied in a deep, rumbling voice.

"Oh Hehe ! So you're Daoist Long, a pleasure to make your acquaintance!" Black Xuan Shiren didn't inquire about his origins—everyone here came to the black market to sell stolen goods or procure supplies.

He then added quickly: "Daoist Long, there is currently no fourth-rank or higher extraterrestrial metal on Black Abyss Island, but I do have sources of information."

"There are two options. First, Daoist Long can offer a reward, and I'll have my people scour for it."

"How much you're willing to pay is entirely up to you."

"How long will it take?" Qin Ming asked calmly.

Black Xuan Shiren smiled broadly. "Fast, a few days; slow, a few months—I'm confident in that."

"But Daoist Long, the price you offer mustn't be too low—it must match the value of fourth-rank or higher extraterrestrial metal."

"And what's the second method?" Qin Ming nodded.

Black Xuan Shiren chuckled. "The second method is that we provide Daoist Long with precise information on the extraterrestrial metal—but whether you can obtain it depends entirely on you."

"I'll only charge a small fee for the information—nothing excessive."

"Hehehe!"

Qin Ming pondered briefly, leaned forward, and his gaze blazed like fire: "I'll take both!"

"Huh?" Black Xuan Shiren hadn't expected such a generous patron today. He forced a smile. "Of course, that's perfectly acceptable."

"May I ask, Daoist Long, what price are you willing to pay for information on fourth-rank extraterrestrial metal?"

Qin Ming produced a delicate jade vial and placed it before Black Xuan Shiren. "As long as the fourth-rank extraterrestrial metal is of sufficient quality, it can be exchanged for this Ice-Heart Jade Soul Pill in my hand."

"Ice-Heart Jade Soul Pill!!"

Black Xuan Shiren took the vial, opened it, confirmed its contents, and was slightly stunned.

After all, this was a fourth-rank elixir used to overcome the heart demon tribulation of Nascent Soul.

As the saying goes: great reward attracts brave men. Many will surely be willing to trade their most precious treasures for it.

"Daoist Long, rest assured."

"Leave this matter to me—I'll deliver what you need within two days."

Black Xuan Shiren's eyes gleamed with excitement; this transaction would net him considerable profit.

"What about the other information on extraterrestrial metal you mentioned?" Qin Ming asked calmly.

Black Xuan Shiren froze, then pulled out a jade slip from his storage pouch, flicked it with his finger, and handed it to Qin Ming.

"Since Daoist Long is so straightforward—"

"I'll give you this piece of information for free."

"Decades ago, reliable reports confirmed that a meteorite fell on Ao Bie Island, emitting the aura of a fourth-rank spiritual mineral—likely concealing high-grade extraterrestrial metal."

"But... this island lies in a peculiar location, within the territory of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace's sea clan, and is also the lair of a shape-shifting great demon. Acquiring this treasure will be extremely difficult..."

"Thus, only cunning can succeed: lure away the shape-shifting demon, then sneak onto the island to seize the extraterrestrial meteor metal."

As he gave the information, Black Xuan Shiren also warned Qin Ming of the island's complex dangers.

'This Black Xuan Shiren is surprisingly honest—no wonder he's managed this black market so long.'

"Ao Bie Island... Eastern Sea demonic clan?" Qin Ming took the jade slip and scanned it.

Moments later.

He asked: "Daoist Black Xuan, do you know the exact cultivation level of the shape-shifting demon on Ao Bie Island?"

"Erm... that sea area is extremely dangerous; few cultivators dare go there. But a few have barely escaped alive. The demon on Ao Bie Island is likely at the peak of the fourth-rank early stage—just one step from entering the middle stage."

"But after so many years, it's hard to say now—it's up to Daoist Long's judgment," Black Xuan Shiren said in exhaustive detail.

"If Daoist Long doesn't need much extraterrestrial metal, why not wait two days on the island? I should be able to deliver some by then."

"No need to risk going to Ao Bie Island."

Qin Ming paid no heed; he rose and said directly: "Daoist Black Xuan, please begin gathering it. I'll return in a few days to collect."

After exchanging a few more words, he departed.

After Qin Ming left, the purple-robed female cultivator trembled and asked: "Master, he won't really go to Ao Bie Island to retrieve the treasure, will he?"

"Hmph! I've told him all I know. Whether he listens is his business. If he dies on Ao Bie Island, it's none of my concern," Black Xuan Shiren said dismissively.

The purple-robed woman asked again: "His strength is so formidable—he must be an extremely powerful Nascent Soul cultivator. I wonder where he comes from?"

"The Immortal Mansion Gathering is about to begin; all sorts of demons and monsters are emerging. There are plenty of reclusive, eccentric old masters. You must learn to read the situation carefully."

"If I hadn't returned in time, you'd already be dead in that Long man's hands. Had he truly fought, even I would have had to retreat three miles," Black Xuan Shiren said, his eyes glinting.

The purple-robed woman nodded frantically; the events just now still left her shaken.

On the other side.

After leaving Black Abyss Island, Qin Ming followed the map on the jade slip and flew straight toward Ao Bie Island.

Even against shape-shifting demons, as long as they weren't late-stage, he now had no fear.

And with the Gouyu Golden Light Mirror in his possession, its full-health kill threshold of over four thousand years meant he could walk unchallenged—unless he encountered a beast with absurd longevity or a Nascent Soul cultivator.

This was his firm confidence in his current strength. "It's just a piece of extraterrestrial metal—not a fight to the death with a shape-shifting demon-saint. Worst case, I can trade for it."

Qin Ming thought thus.

After all, he preferred peace, valued forging good relations, and avoided unnecessary conflict—peaceful exchange was always best.

One day later.

He rode the Lingxiao Treasure Chariot into the territory of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace's demonic clan.

After entering this sea region, the number of cultivators visible gradually dwindled.

This area was classified as a dangerous sea zone, patrolled by terrifying sea kings.

Half a day later, Qin Ming entered a pitch-black sea region.

Then his expression suddenly changed! In the distance appeared a small black island, shaped like a giant turtle.

The island was covered in black rocks and sharp spires, yet above it hovered a massive cloud of spiritual energy, shaped like a funnel, violently pouring inward.

"Master, what's happening?"

Shi Tian Rat stood on Qin Ming's shoulder, gazing toward the island.

"Wasn't Ao Bie Island supposed to have only one shape-shifting demon? This sight... doesn't seem right."

No sooner had he spoken than the spiritual energy cloud above vanished.

Then—

BOOM-KRAK! Suddenly—

A vast, terrifying black tribulation cloud rapidly coalesced. After a moment of brewing, devastating lightning crashed down.

"Damn! Shape-shifting tribulation!"

Shi Tian Rat clung tightly to Qin Ming, hiding behind him and shrieking.

Qin Ming also stared at Ao Bie Island, now engulfed in lightning, and furrowed his brow.

Instantly, he extended his spiritual sense inward and saw a massive black tortoise, over thirty zhang tall, undergoing the shape-shifting heavenly tribulation.

But the next moment—

His attention fixed on a spiritual plant nearby. Its features clearly marked it as a small, emerald-green tea tree.

Yet this tiny tea tree didn't vanish under the shape-shifting lightning—it absorbed the thunder energy, radiating a lush, verdant vitality!

Silver-blue lightning arcs danced across the two-foot-tall spiritual tea tree, astonishingly divine.

Due to its small size and location in a rocky corner, the black tortoise likely hadn't noticed it, too focused on its own tribulation.

As the terrifying lightning net continued to fall, after absorbing sufficient electrical power, the strange tea tree slowly grew taller by an inch.

Qin Ming had never encountered such a miraculous tea tree in his knowledge.

"It grows and sprouts under tribulation lightning—likely a fourth-rank or higher spiritual plant."

As he stood observing,

"Hmph!"

A furious, icy snarl echoed from nearby space.

Instantly, a fierce, dominant fist shadow struck!

Qin Ming tossed Shi Tian Rat into the Small Spirit Realm, then clenched his five fingers into a fist and slammed it toward his left rear.

BOOM! CRACK! A violent collision rang through the air; the shockwave spread, stirring massive tidal waves across the sea.

A black figure was flung backward, then barely stabilized.

Qin Ming remained utterly unmoved.

Before him appeared a black-clad, square-faced middle-aged man, staring at him with stunned disbelief.

"Who are you? Why do you covet my Ao Bie Island?"

Qin Ming's gaze was calm. Seeing the thick demonic power radiating from the man, he needed no thought—he knew this was the shape-shifting demon dwelling on Ao Bie Island.

He retracted his fist and said calmly: "I am Daoist Long. I came here to trade for some items—no ill intent."

"May I ask your name? Is that your offspring undergoing the shape-shifting heavenly tribulation?"

Hearing the bearded giant speak thus, the black-clad man relaxed slightly—but remained wary.

After all, among humans, many were deceitful and untrustworthy.

"I am Ao Feng, the Black Rock Demon Saint of the Eastern Sea. What you said is correct," said the black-clad man.

At the same time, the Black Rock Demon Saint was deeply startled—he had just exchanged a punch with this human.

Despite his formidable demonic physique, he had been forced onto the defensive.

Although he had not used his full strength, the bearded giant’s casual demeanor clearly indicated he, too, had held back.

Moreover, seeing the opponent’s calm and unshakable air, even the Black Rock Demon Saint dared not strike again so lightly.

Right now was the critical moment when his offspring was crossing the heavenly tribulation—he absolutely could not afford any mishap.

Thus, the Black Rock Demon Saint shifted his thoughts and immediately said, “Could Brother Long wait until my son has crossed the heavenly tribulation before we speak further?”

“As long as what you seek is not excessive, we can negotiate—I am not an unreasonable being.”

Qin Ming’s eyes flickered, and he replied in a deep, gruff voice with just two words: “Agreed.”

……

(End of Chapter)