Chapter 736: I

The Sky-Devouring Rat pulled out a plum-sized Zhu Fruit, its surface etched with several golden divine patterns, radiating dazzling, brilliant light.

It was the transformation spirit item “Yunying Fruit” Qin Ming had previously given it, fully cultivated to five thousand years.

Compared to an ordinary mature Yunying Fruit, its spiritual cultivation was two thousand years higher, and its medicinal power was more than double.

The Sky-Devouring Rat raised the Yunying Fruit in its tiny paw, gobbled it down in three quick bites, then licked its paws with lingering satisfaction.

BOOM! An overwhelming surge of medicinal power descended, like a flood rushing through its limbs and bones.

It immediately infused its demonic intent into the black demonic core within its body, beginning to draw upon the bloodline essence of the core! During the transformation into a Form-Shifting Great Demon, besides advancing in realm, demonic beasts occasionally awaken bloodline powers, gaining unique abilities or drastic physical changes.

For instance, the Silver Moon Celestial Fox clan’s bloodline talent excels in illusion arts, and after transformation, their human forms are nearly flawless—innate gifts from their bloodline that no other demonic beast can match in beauty or allure.

Not only does their power surge dramatically, but they also unlock access to ancestral memories of divine techniques.

Moreover, Form-Shifting Great Demons with special bloodline talents can later cultivate more deeply into the Dao, integrating these celestial forces into their demonic arts, greatly enhancing their potency.

Even breaking through realm restrictions to reach higher levels of divine power.

This is something ordinary demonic beasts cannot achieve.

Qin Ming was also deeply curious about what form the Sky-Devouring Rat would take after its advancement.

And whether it might awaken another bloodline power.

After all, its innate bloodline talent was already formidable.

According to the Sky-Devouring Rat itself, it had once been a mere mouse in the mortal realm of Liang State, fighting its way up to the early Third Stage.

Such cultivation could not be achieved by fortune alone—its own bloodline talent had provided immense assistance.

“Old man once heard that in the Spirit Realm, there exists a demonic beast royal clan of rodents, whose bloodline divine power is truly astonishing. I wonder if your pet has any chance of awakening it, hehehe!” Qingyang the Devil muttered from within the Blood Pagoda treasure.

This old devil had often been bullied by the Sky-Devouring Rat, yet he didn’t seem to hold any real grudge.

…

SHH! At that moment.

Beyond the border between Wei State and the Beast Roar Mountains, two emerald-green light trails fled toward the spiritual energy Archipelago.

They had clearly been drawn by the massive celestial phenomena generated during the Sky-Devouring Rat’s transformation.

The two concealed themselves within the clouds, keeping their distance.

The light trails dissipated, revealing the gaunt old man and blue-robed youth of the Longevity Hall.

Both now bore signs of severe injury, suppressing their magic power and hiding within the mist.

“Brother Shan, our chance has come!”

“That stinking rat that ambushed us when we were wounded is undergoing tribulation!” The gaunt old man’s eyes glinted with malice as he gazed toward Wangyue Island.

The blue-robed young man’s gaze flickered intensely: “Old Luo, we never expected our plan, meticulously crafted, to have a flaw—we still don’t know where it went wrong, nearly getting us killed by that mountain-sized ape from the demonic clan. What bad luck!”

“I wonder how the Demon Alliance’s leadership makes decisions. Not only did my disciples suffer heavy casualties, but three of my direct disciples, all Golden Core cultivators, perished in the Beast Roar Mountains.” The Yuan Ying demon lord named Luo twitched his emaciated cheeks, “I will demand an explanation from the Demon Alliance!”

At this, the blue-robed young demon cultivator hesitated, advising: “Old Luo, I think it’s wiser not to act rashly. I heard the Eastern Sea front has also failed; the Devil of Heavenly Hatred flew into a rage and annihilated the Wuxiang Monk of Wu Liang Mountain right before the eyes of five sects’ Yuan Ying Elders!”

Hearing this, the Yuan Ying demon lord named Luo suddenly realized his folly, involuntarily shuddering, and dared not speak another word.

He turned his gaze once more toward the tribulation phenomena over Wangyue Island.

His eyes dark and cold, he said: “We didn’t come here for nothing. Let’s strike while it’s forming its Form-Shifting Great Core. A fourth-stage demonic core, gained for free, makes this trip worthwhile.”

“But Wangyue Island is surely guarded by the human Wangyue True Person. It won’t be easy to act.” The blue-robed Yuan Ying hesitated. “I’ve heard this man’s divine power is formidable. That old Wu was a warning.”

Old Luo smirked wickedly: “Hah! No problem. We’re not here to fight him—we want the demonic core. I’ll hold off Wangyue True Person for a moment; you sneak in and kill the rat before it completes its tribulation. Should be easy, right?”

“That rat dared to take advantage of our weakness and ambush us. This is karma returning. Destiny has marked it for this tribulation!”

“It’s just bad luck for it!”

With those words, the two Yuan Ying demon lords of the Longevity Hall of the Blood Realm reached instant agreement.

The blue-robed youth pulled out a pitch-black demonic pearl, cast a spell, and a cloud of demonic energy enveloped them, instantly making their figures blur and vanish. Yet every move they made was seen clearly by Qin Ming.

They would never have imagined Qin Ming possessed a spiritual sense as powerful as that of a late-stage Yuan Ying.

Qin Ming remained expressionless, his eyes glinting with cold light, and vanished instantly.

The next instant.

A blood-red inkstone the size of a palm appeared in Qin Ming’s hand; he casually tossed it toward a point in the air.

The Blood Pagoda treasure vanished into space, casting a crimson divine light that instantly engulfed the two Longevity Hall Yuan Ying demon lords.

Immediately after.

The scene before the Luo and Shan demon lords abruptly changed, transforming into an endless sea of crimson light and demonic energy.

As they stared in shock, a sinister, arrogant voice suddenly rang out:

“Hehehe! Little brats, let the Master play with you a while—I haven’t stretched my bones in ages.”

Qingyang the Devil raised a finger toward the heavens, commanding the demonic sea; colossal crimson waves surged like collapsing mountains and roaring tides toward them.

The two Longevity Hall cultivators screamed, frantically unleashing all their techniques to escape the eerie crimson sea—only to discover in horror that their magic power was suppressed, unable to break free.

“Isn’t this the Blood Pagoda, the ultimate treasure of the Blood Refining Demon Sect? How could it be in this man’s possession—and refined into a Spirit Treasure with a sentient core?” The old Luo, discerning, recognized its origin within moments.

“Hehehe! Scream all you want—it won’t help!”

“Once inside my Blood Refining World, prepare to die!” Qingyang the Devil cackled wickedly.

He then gestured with his spiritual form’s five fingers, instantly summoning a crimson spear that hurled toward the two.

Instantly, chaos erupted within the Blood Pagoda.

…

Qin Ming ignored them, directing all his attention and focus toward the Sky-Devouring Rat.

To prevent any further interference.

“According to the trials demonic beasts must endure and the heavenly tribulations they face, this must be the ‘Human Tribulation’ among the Three Tribulations of Heaven, Earth, and Man, right?”

“Two Yuan Ying demon cultivators came to interfere with the tribulation. Had I not been here, this rat might not have made it.”

Qin Ming stood tall, arms crossed, his gaze deep, recalling the lore of tribulations.

Time passed slowly.

The celestial phenomena over Wangyue Island continued to expand, eventually stretching a thousand li, engulfing the entire spiritual energy Archipelago.

Fortunately, the final Form-Shifting Tribulation would strike only Wangyue Island—otherwise, disaster would have befallen all.

BOOM-KRAK! Above the main peak of Wangyue Island, spiritual energy clouds churned violently, thunderous and immense.

The Sky-Devouring Rat’s face was solemn; as its transformation technique shifted, its original essence-demonic core had strengthened several-fold.

Then, a silvery glow surfaced across the core’s surface.

It transformed into streams of luminous lines, all converging inward.

Suddenly—

The entire core blazed brightly, becoming a dazzling silver star!

From this moment, the Sky-Devouring Rat’s demonic core completed its transformation—from Essence-Demonic Core to the far more powerful Form-Shifting Great Core! The silver radiance vanished, revealing the core within: a pitch-black sphere, resembling a black hole capable of swallowing all.

BOOM-KRAK! At the instant the Form-Shifting Great Core formed—

The spiritual energy clouds dissipated, and a dark gray tribulation cloud began to coalesce, radiating terrifying, awe-inspiring heavenly authority!

“The Form-Shifting Tribulation has emerged. It seems the Sky-Devouring Rat has successfully cultivated its demonic power to the Form-Shifting realm.”

“Now comes the most critical step.”

Qin Ming’s spiritual sense covered hundreds of li, constantly monitoring every movement around.

At this stage of demonic tribulation, no one dared interfere.

After all, even Yuan Ying cultivators couldn’t withstand a Form-Shifting Tribulation.

It was entirely up to the beast’s own fortune.

“I hope it doesn’t trigger the same tribulation anomaly I once faced.”

“Otherwise, this thing won’t survive.”

Inside the cave.

The Sky-Devouring Rat’s gaze was resolute as it looked up at the terrifying Form-Shifting tribulation clouds, gestured, and summoned the Great Tribulation Tea Qin Ming had prepared for it.

The jade-green tea broth brimmed with astonishing spiritual energy, silver-blue lightning arcs flickering and surging within, radiating profound Daoic essence.

It downed the entire pot at once, then licked its lips with a blissful expression.

Had it not been mid-tribulation, the Sky-Devouring Rat would have savored the taste longer. BOOM! KRAK! The first tribulation bolt, as thick as a water barrel, crashed down.

Following Qin Ming’s advice, the Sky-Devouring Rat used its own strength to endure the Form-Shifting Tribulation, using it to refine its body.

“Form-Shifting Tribulation—I, the Great Master, will fight you to the death!”

The next instant.

Before the astonished eyes of the watching cultivators, a gray demonic rat shadow, a thousand zhang tall, suddenly appeared in the sky above Wangyue Island.

Then, countless silver spiritual patterns flashed across its gray fur, radiating overwhelming majesty and might.

It roared as it charged toward the tribulation.

“Sssss! Form-Shifting Great Demon—terrifying indeed!”

“Braving the Heavenly Tribulation!”

A chorus of gasps and exclamations erupted, giving these low-level cultivators of the Southern Wastes a rare glimpse of true power.

This would undoubtedly be recorded in the annals of Wei State’s cultivation world.

After all, it was the first fourth-stage demonic saint to emerge in the Southern Wastes in tens of thousands of years.

Several great demons within the Beast Roar Mountains, sensing the disturbance, rushed over immediately to watch.

(End of Chapter)