Chapter 701: Xuan Ling Jia

Inside the cave dwelling.

The interior furnishings were extremely simple—just stone chairs and stone tables—and on the entire Ao Bie Island, only they father and son lived.

Hei Yan the Demon Saint presented Qin Ming with some marine clan specialties—spirit fish and spirit shrimp.

Then he took out a set of exquisite glass-like jade cups, poured in spirit wine, and handed one to Qin Ming.

“This is a specialty of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace—Fubo Spirit Wine; Brother Long, please taste it.”

“Brother Long has traveled a great distance—what is it you seek?”

Qin Ming took the spirit wine and drank it in one gulp, immediately sensing a unique flavor.

He cut straight to the point: “I’ve heard that extraterrestrial rare metal fell here, and I’ve come specifically to obtain some.”

“Oh? I thought it might be something else—so it’s extraterrestrial meteor iron!” Hei Yan the Demon Saint laughed freely, then flipped his palm to reveal a fist-sized dark golden spirit ore.

“This extraterrestrial rare metal indeed fell near our island’s waters thirty years ago, and I happened to acquire it.”

“After my investigation, I determined it to be the legendary fourth-rank mid-grade spirit ore, Dark Demon Gold Essence. Since Brother Long needs it, I present it to you—as a small token of gratitude.”

Qin Ming’s expression brightened slightly—he hadn’t expected to obtain it so easily.

He extended his spiritual sense, examining the Dark Demon Gold Essence for a long while, finding its malleability and toughness both exceptionally formidable.

“What I did just now was merely incidental—this extraterrestrial rare metal holds great value.”

“Moreover, I have other items I wish to exchange with Brother Hei Yan.”

“The spirit plant near your cave dwelling, and the spirit turtle shell that Bi Xi King seeks—would you be willing to sell or exchange them?”

Hei Yan the Demon Saint blinked in surprise. “What spirit plant? Could Brother Long mean that little tea tree, barely two feet tall? I’ve never paid it much mind.”

“As for this Xuan Ling Jia, it is a treasure forged over a thousand years by our Ao Bie clan through bloodline cultivation and ritual refinement—an unparalleled defensive artifact. Its defensive power, Brother Long, you’ve surely witnessed.”

“This armor only sheds once, when a member of our clan completes their transformation tribulation. Bi Xi the Demon Saint came for this very item.”

After this explanation, Qin Ming understood.

He asked: “Would either of you be willing to exchange these two items? I have some things of my own—I believe you won’t be disappointed.”

At that moment,

Ao Tian, beside him, smiled calmly. “Brother Long saved my life. Though this Xuan Ling Jia is priceless, it holds little use for us—we’d likely trade or sell it elsewhere eventually. Why not give it to you outright?”

“I’m merely curious—your physical body is already formidable, even surpassing my father’s. Why do you need it?”

Qin Ming thought: These two Demon Saints are surprisingly generous, and don’t hide anything.

“Precisely. I came here to gather items to help my spirit beast endure its transformation tribulation.”

As he spoke, he summoned the Shi Tian Rat.

The Shi Tian Rat immediately bowed to the two Demon Saints. “Esteemed Demon Saint elders, your humble servant greets you—heehee!”

Hei Yan and his son exchanged glances and believed Qin Ming’s words.

“But since we’ve spoken openly, Brother Long—have you shown your true face?”

Qin Ming, unmoved, revealed his true form.

“I am Qin Ming of the Southern Wastelands.”

“Hehe! So you’re Brother Qin! Then take it all without hesitation.”

“I never expected Brother Qin would go to such lengths for your spirit beast—what fortune for the Rat King!”

With that, he handed the black turtle shell to the Shi Tian Rat.

The Shi Tian Rat eagerly snatched it, beaming with joy!

“Heehee! How can I possibly accept this?”

Its mouth protested, but its body was perfectly honest.

Qin Ming wouldn’t take their three treasures for free—and he suspected the spirit tea tree was the most valuable of them all.

He took out a jar of spirit wine and two fourth-rank Yunying fruits, placing them on the stone table.

“I don’t like taking advantage of others.”

“This wine is called ‘Lingxi Jade Nectar’—it enhances the cultivation of Nascent Soul cultivators or fourth-rank spirit beasts, and remains effective up to mid-fourth rank.”

“These two fourth-rank low-grade Yunying fruits are rare indeed for transformation-stage spirit beasts—whether used to brew pills or consumed directly, their effects are substantial.”

Upon hearing this, the two old turtles froze.

“Spirit wine that boosts fourth-rank cultivation?! And Yunying fruits! Brother Long… this… this is too precious! We can’t accept it!”

Hei Yan the Demon Saint spoke these words, yet his gaze couldn’t tear away from the wine jar or the jade box.

He’d been stuck at fourth-rank early stage for over two thousand years—perhaps this wine could finally push him further.

This unexpected gift filled Hei Yan with astonishment and delight.

“If Brother Hei Yan agrees, let’s exchange—no more refusal,” Qin Ming said calmly.

Hei Yan the Demon Saint nodded. “Then I shall not refuse your generosity.”

He waved his hand, and the spirit wine and jade box vanished into his storage.

Then,

Hei Yan led Qin Ming outside the cave, to the spirit tea tree.

“Brother Qin, if you desire this tree, take it without hesitation.”

“But may I ask—do you know what kind of spirit tea tree this is?”

Qin Ming shook his head. “I don’t know. I merely found it remarkable that this spirit tree survived the tribulation lightning—and that piqued my interest.”

“Ah, I see,” Hei Yan nodded, not giving it further thought.

Immediately after, Qin Ming waved his hand, fingers curling in a void-grasp, and uprooted the entire spirit tea tree along with the rocks and soil beneath it, transplanting it all into his Xiao Ling Realm.

Having done so, he felt a quiet thrill inside.

In Qin Ming’s view, among the three treasures acquired today, this extraordinary spirit tea tree was likely the most valuable.

After the exchange was complete,

Hei Yan’s son, having just broken through to fourth-rank transformation, likely had much to attend to.

Qin Ming took his leave.

“Brother Qin, should you ever need aid from Ao Bie Island, come to me without hesitation.”

“Hehe! Then I won’t be polite—I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t overstay.”

“Still, in two years, the Immortal Mansion Gathering will begin. Perhaps we’ll meet again.”

“That would be ideal. I shall certainly seek you out then. Ao Bie Island serves under the Third Dragon Prince of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace—the Immortal Mansion Gathering is held every thousand years on his Dragon Yuan Island.”

Qin Ming, upon hearing this, was genuinely surprised. “Oh? So it’s that coincidental?”

…

Several days later,

Qin Ming left Ao Bie Island and returned to Hei Yuan Island.

He’d originally come only to gather items for the Shi Tian Rat to withstand tribulations—but he’d gained unexpected rewards.

This two-foot-tall spirit tea tree was, without doubt, the most valuable of the three treasures.

Inside the tower built of black stone,

When Hei Xuan the Immortal saw Qin Ming appear before him unharmed, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

“Brother Long, did you obtain what I asked for?” Qin Ming asked coldly.

Hei Xuan snapped back to attention. “Oh! Hehe! Brother Long truly possesses great power—I didn’t expect you’d return from Ao Bie Island so quickly.”

“Rest assured, I’ve stood on Hei Yuan Island for decades—my reputation is intact. The items you requested, I’ve gathered.”

“Brother Long, take a look.”

He placed a wooden box before Qin Ming.

“Inside are two fist-sized pieces of fourth-rank mid-grade extraterrestrial rare metal—sufficient for your artifact refinement.”

Qin Ming’s spiritual sense stirred, opening the box. Inside lay two pieces of dark-veined extraterrestrial rare metal, radiating a void attribute—capable of being infused into any artifact to enhance its power.

He nodded in satisfaction and sealed the box away.

These two pieces of extraterrestrial rare metal, combined with the Dark Demon Gold Essence from Ao Bie Island, would elevate the Black Steel Fork to a new tier.

The exchange concluded.

Qin Ming prepared to leave, but Hei Xuan called him back. “Hehe! Brother Long, don’t rush off—if you have items to sell, leave them here. I take only a ten percent commission.”

Hei Xuan had seen that this “Brother Long” was no ordinary cultivator—he’d returned from Ao Bie Island unscathed. He now held deep respect.

He was likely among the elite even among Nascent Soul cultivators—such a formidable figure must possess many valuable items.

Hearing this, Qin Ming halted his departure.

He then unloaded all the unused magic treasures and elixirs from the three Nascent Soul elders’ storage bags, selling them off.

He gained over eight thousand high-grade spirit stones and exchanged for some high-rank spirit materials.

…

Three days later,

Qin Ming resumed his true appearance, riding the Lingxiao Treasure Chariot across the skies until landing on a barren, lifeless island—no one would ever come here.

He intended to use this time to refine and enhance the Shi Tian Rat’s Black Steel Fork.

After landing, Qin Ming entered his Xiao Ling Realm.

He found the Shi Tian Rat still cradling the turtle shell, endlessly refining and studying it.

“Master, this is truly an incredible treasure! Heehee!”

“Of course it is. This is the Xuan Ling Jia—forged by the Ao Bie clan through their lifeblood over millennia. Even Bi Xi King coveted it—and now it’s yours for free,” Qin Ming said calmly.

“Moreover, this is merely its raw form. If you invest time refining and nurturing it, its power and rank could rise further.”

"With such a supreme defensive treasure in hand, if you still can’t survive the heavenly tribulation, it would be unforgivable."

The Devouring Rat chuckled, patted his chest, and said, "Master, rest easy—if I still can’t pass this hurdle with the Xuan Ling Armor, I might as well have wasted all my cultivation and just bash my head against a wall."

Then.

Qin Ming took the black steel fork from the Devouring Rat and prepared to infuse it with extraterrestrial alien gold to re-ensoul it.

As he passed by the short spiritual tea tree, he examined it closely and saw that the black giant stone on which it grew was also an extraordinary substance.

The lush, emerald-green spiritual tea tree bore sparse branches, upon which faint thunderous energy flickered unpredictably across its surface.

Qin Ming pondered briefly, thinking to himself: "This spiritual tea was born from the transformation tribulation—it must be an extraordinary spiritual plant."

"First, try to accelerate its growth to a thousand years."

…

(End of Chapter)