Chapter 755: Nascent Soul Mid-Stage

Inside the cave dwelling.

Qin Ming’s aura began to rise continuously; behind him, the Holy Body of the Green Emperor’s Wood Sovereign manifested as a translucent image of a lush spiritual tree, continuously converting celestial spiritual energy into pure Nascent Soul magic power.

At this moment, Qin Ming resembled an ancient, evergreen tree standing unshakable through eons, towering between heaven and earth, unchanged through the passage of seas and fields, through the cycles of the four seasons.

On his life-plant, the Everlasting Immortal Vine, a powerful force of time and plant essence suddenly erupted, forming a silver river that poured into Qin Ming’s body.

Seeing this, the three beasts—Pestilence Rat—immediately prostrated themselves to cultivate together, absorbing the spilled plant essence.

Blood Dragon Green Rice, a fourth-rank middle-grade spiritual rice, was nearly the highest-grade spiritual rice attainable in the current cultivation world.

Since the ancient Qingyuan Sect’s decline, no one had succeeded in cultivating it again.

That was why Bai Lin, the Demon Sovereign, had retained a dozen seeds, which Yue Lingyan had happened to obtain and gifted to Qin Ming as a congratulatory present for his Nascent Soul ceremony.

Otherwise, the legendary ancient spiritual rice would have gone extinct.

Its preciousness was self-evident.

According to Qingyang the Old Demon, in the former Qingyuan Sect, this Blood Dragon Green Rice was consumed grain by grain during cultivation—even Nascent Soul Elders needed to make substantial sect contributions to exchange for even a single grain.

It was almost impossible to find outside the sect.

Because fourth-rank middle-grade spiritual rice contained an extraordinarily condensed celestial qi.

This celestial qi was the manifestation of the Dao.

Also known as “Primordial True One Qi,” it transformed into Heavenly Demon Qi in the demon realm, True Devil Qi in the devil realm, and celestial spiritual energy in the human realm.

Qin Ming boiled an entire pot at once—truly extravagant; he was likely the only one in the world bold enough to eat like this.

He had the term, so after consuming it, he could simply ripen more; the only difficulty was obtaining fourth-rank dragon blood.

Because all the Blood Dragons he needed to kill had already been slain—Blood Dragon Green Rice greatly enhanced a cultivator’s physical blood and qi.

Qin Ming planned to send some to his demonic Nascent Soul as well, since it had suffered greatly on the front lines.

On Wangyue Island, a vast cloud of spiritual energy condensed, like a colossal whale drinking water, surging wildly toward the main peak.

Such an astonishing phenomenon was clearly seen by the spiritual farmers below the island; they all halted their work, dumbfounded, faces filled with profound reverence.

“Is the Island Master cultivating some extraordinary divine art again?”

“Such power—how could we, as Qi Refining disciples, even fathom it?”

Hua Tianxiong and Mo Lingwei were also on the island.

Mo Lingwei’s face was stunned; she stared blankly at the spiritual energy cloud, murmuring: “This celestial spiritual energy phenomenon—could the Island Master be attempting to break through to Nascent Soul mid-stage?”

After all, she had once agreed to offer her Fengyin body in exchange for amnesty from the Southern Wastes—when Qin Ming broke through to Nascent Soul mid-stage, she would have to fulfill her end. But it seemed the Wangyue True Lord had his own opportunity and no longer needed her.

In her eyes appeared an extremely complex expression.

“Master is truly unprecedented—only a little over sixty years since forming his Nascent Soul, and now he’s already pushing toward mid-stage.”

“Sigh. Truly enviable.”

Hua Tianxiong’s eyes gleamed with excitement; after years of cultivation, his own realm had advanced to Golden Core completion.

Such a massive spiritual energy cloud naturally drew intense attention from all factions.

One told ten, ten told a hundred.

Within just a few days, many more cultivators came from afar to observe.

Inside the cave dwelling, Qin Ming spent a full half-month practicing the Green Emperor Scripture to fully refine the spiritual energy from the pot of Blood Dragon Green Rice.

His white, plump Nascent Soul on the purple spiritual platform sat in the same posture as his main body, shimmering with spiritual vitality; its previously ethereal form had grown significantly more solid.

Then,

Qin Ming retrieved a delicate jade vial and swallowed a fourth-rank upper-grade “Ascend Dragon Pill.”

He then consumed ten more [Nascent Soul Magic Power] terms from his mind sea.

He pressed forward with full force, aiming to break through to Nascent Soul mid-stage.

With such immense spiritual energy supporting him, the celestial spiritual energy cloud above churned violently, roaring like tigers and dragons.

It expanded outward again, several times its previous size.

…

Near the border of Wei State, several streaks of brilliant light flashed past, revealing the figures of Han Ya the Ascended, Tianji Zi, and others.

Besides them, Yue Lingyan and other demonic elders had also arrived upon hearing the news.

“How long has it been since Qin Dao You formed his Nascent Soul? Already attempting mid-stage?”

“I’ve cultivated for centuries and remain stuck at Nascent Soul early-stage.”

“What kind of cultivation monster is this?”

“If Qin Dao You breaks through to Nascent Soul mid-stage at such a young age, what will he become later?”

“Perhaps even Nascent Soul late-stage—”

Han Ya the Ascended, clad in a green robe, gazed into the distance, his tone tinged with envy.

“Qin Dao You ’s fortune is extraordinary—he must have gained many opportunities during the recent True-Devil War,” Yue Lingyan said calmly.

As they spoke,

The spiritual energy cloud over Wangyue Island suddenly accelerated, all of it being sucked into the main peak.

The sky cleared like rain after a storm, radiating purple auroras, with melodic tones echoing.

As Qin Ming consumed his final term, his internal Nascent Soul magic power surged twofold.

The translucent image of the Green Emperor’s Wood Sovereign behind him suddenly grew another chi taller, reaching over one zhang.

The Green Emperor Scripture’s circulation path completed countless cycles, quietly advancing to the fourteenth layer.

Suddenly,

The pristine Nascent Soul formed a hand seal; a resonance of the Dao echoed throughout heaven and earth.

Qin Ming awoke from his cultivation state; his Nascent Soul slowly opened its ink-black eyes, a sliver of lush green vitality flashing through its pupils. “Three hundred and twenty-five years old—I have officially entered Nascent Soul mid-stage.”

At the moment of his breakthrough,

A massive Nascent Soul mid-stage spiritual pressure spread across a hundred li.

Yet within mere seconds, the pressure receded like a tide, vanishing without a trace.

Nearby cultivators, sensing this heavenly-level pressure, trembled in fear.

Cultivators below Nascent Soul felt an inexplicable terror; their magic power suddenly stalled, nearly convincing them they had reverted to mortals.

After successfully breaking through, Qin Ming did not rush to leave his cave.

Instead, he continued to meditate, stabilizing his newly attained realm.

He also used five [Abundant Lifespan] terms.

As a force of time descended upon him, his lifespan increased by another two hundred and fifty years.

In perfect order!

Combined with the hundred-year lifespan increase from breaking through Nascent Soul mid-stage, his total lifespan extension reached four hundred and fifty years.

The lifespan he had previously consumed was replenished; his total lifespan now exceeded four thousand three hundred and fifty years.

Qin Ming’s fingers curled in the air; one hundred and eight strands of the Four Seasons Divine Light appeared before him, their hue shifting—from initial emerald green to five colors.

“This life-plant technique has not only increased in quantity, but its power has also grown stronger.”

“I thought it would take at least a hundred years to reach Nascent Soul mid-stage, but the demonic realm’s invasion has become my opportunity.”

“Otherwise, I could never have grown Blood Dragon Green Rice, such a celestial spiritual substance, so quickly.”

“And Lingxi Jade Fluid, Ascend Dragon Pill, Dao Thunder Tea—”

Qin Ming’s Nascent Soul subtly sensed his internal Evergreen magic power; both its quality and quantity far surpassed those of peers, rivaling even Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators.

This was the benefit of the Qingyuan Sect’s supreme secret scripture, the Green Emperor Scripture.

“Though this technique grows harder with each stage, it rewards with immense accumulation—once a breakthrough occurs, the magic power far exceeds that of peers.”

“Now that I’ve truly broken through to mid-stage, my Nascent Soul domain has expanded from five li to ten li, further enhancing the power of my spatial techniques.”

“I can now fully unleash half the power of the fourth-rank upper-grade celestial flame, Ancient Poisonous Flame—this fire would force even Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators to retreat.”

“My control over fourth-rank spiritual treasures and the potency of my techniques have both increased dramatically.”

“Now, my body, magic power, and soul have all reached a new height.”

“Though my spiritual sense has only slightly increased, it now rivals that of Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators. Combined, my current strength is nearly equal to that of a Nascent Soul late-stage Grand Master.”

“After all, Nascent Soul late-stage Grand Masters simply overwhelm early- and mid-stage cultivators through sheer magic power dominance.”

Qin Ming’s Nascent Soul stroked his chin, having summarized the changes after his breakthrough.

Moreover, after breaking through to Nascent Soul mid-stage, his current combat power granted him far greater security in this unpredictable cultivation world.

The current situation involves a great war between True and Devil sects—even Nascent Soul True Persons are falling.

No one can guarantee they are truly safe.

“Next comes Nascent Soul late-stage—such Grand Masters are so rare that even across the entire human realm, including hidden ancient monsters, they could be counted on two hands.”

“Time flows onward, but cultivation is like rowing upstream—after all these years of hard labor tending the fields, today I shall raise a great cup.”

Several days later,

Wangyue Island returned to calm; Qin Ming stepped out of his cave, face serene as spring breeze.

“Fellow Daoists, please come ashore for a gathering.”

The Nascent Soul cultivators outside immediately descended onto the main peak.

Han Ya the Ascended gazed at Qin Ming—plain-faced, yet his aura was profound and unfathomable.

His lips trembled; he remained silent. Qin Ming’s spirit was inwardly contained, his magic power and aura as deep and boundless as an abyss.

“Congratulations, Qin Dao You , on breaking through to Nascent Soul mid-stage!” Han Ya the Ascended forced a smile, offering sincere congratulations.

Yue Lingyan and the others also stepped forward to offer their felicitations.

"On this long Dao path, I've merely gained a slight insight," Qin Ming said with casual ease.

At these words, Han Ya Shiren and Tianji Zi nearly choked themselves to death.

They had endured countless hardships, survived numerous major and minor tribulations, benefited from their sect’s deep reserves, and been blessed by fate—only barely achieving the Nascent Soul realm.

Even so, Han Ya Shiren had been stuck at Nascent Soul Early Stage for centuries without making an inch of progress, though his personal treasury was indeed filled with treasures.

But he well understood that Nascent Soul magic power was not something easily cultivated.

Yet now this rising star, Qin Ming, had left these ancient monsters far behind.

Qin Ming naturally would not tell them that his Nascent Soul magic power had also been grown through hard labor and relentless effort. Then,

Inside the Qingmu Pavilion’s grand hall, numerous Nascent Soul cultivators and fourth-stage beast sages gathered.

With another Nascent Soul Mid-Stage high-tier combatant added to the human ranks, given the current situation, they still maintained a congratulatory stance.

Had this occurred in peacetime, it might have been less certain.

After all, among the various sects, there was constant rivalry, scheming, and suppression.

Who wouldn’t be envious of a Nascent Soul Mid-Stage cultivator emerging from the Southern Wastes? Just then,

A voice heavy with age shattered the atmosphere within the hall.

"This old woman dares to ask: Qin Daofriend, have you successfully cultivated Blood Serpent Green Rice?"

Longmu Zhenjun of Penglai Sect, leaning on his magic staff, hesitated for a long while before speaking.

…

(End of Chapter)