Chapter 85: Aftermath

In midair.

Pu! A staggering figure suddenly shifted out of the range of the Lei Ting.

Lin Zi spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his body drenched in gore and scorched crisp on the outside while tender within, his gaze revealing deep dread.

His heart still trembled with fear, filled with lingering terror.

Had it not been for a Substitute Tribulation technique, he would have surely turned to ash on the spot just like the other two.

Lin Zi looked back deeply at Qin Ming once, then dragged his severely injured body away, transforming into a streak of black fleeing light before vanishing.

Qin Ming was instantly startled; he hadn't died even after that?

He had clearly seen Lin Zi within the thunderbolts suddenly transform into a paper effigy and burn to nothingness.

Immediately afterward, he had instantly escaped the range of the spell attack.

His methods were truly baffling.

Qin Ming released his divine sense from his aperture and swept over the battlefield from moments ago.

However, he discovered with frustration that under that previous strike,

Elder Gu and the green-robed old man, along with their storage bags, had been blasted until not even dregs remained. Qin Ming curled the corner of his mouth. "Alas! What a pity."

The commotion here was significant; people would likely arrive soon.

Having slain that old fellow, Elder Gu, himself, his chest felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

It could be considered settling a past affair.

Qin Ming immediately continued to urge his flying shuttle, vanishing from the spot.

"What happened?"

"What was that golden thunderbolt just now?"

"It's too terrifying; could someone be undergoing Tribulation Crossing?"

"What are you thinking? A Lei Jie only occurs when breaking through to the Jin Dan realm."

Some cultivators near the Qingyang Market looked up at the sky, all filled with shock and suspicion.

As Qin Ming piloted his flying shuttle past the Qingyang Market, the scene there had changed utterly while the people remained gone.

The once bustling market had now turned into a vast ruin.

Everywhere lay broken walls and shattered tiles, permeated with the scent of blood; formerly, landmark buildings of the Qingyang Market such as the Mingzhen Tower and Juxuan Pavilion had also collapsed with a boom.

The spiritual fields surrounding the Qingyang Market had been stripped bare, presenting a sight of widespread devastation.

Qin Ming's Qingliang Small Dwelling had also been flattened by spells, and even the original two mu of medicinal fields had been blasted into a large pit.

"Sigh..." He let out a silent sigh.

Had he not relied on his hard work farming to brush up his attributes, cultivating to his current late Qi Condensation realm, and possessing several powerful trump cards,

he would likely have been caught up in this chaos, with his survival or death hanging in the balance.

Within the dilapidated Qingyang Market, the air was thick with the scent of blood, and only scattered lone cultivators were cleaning up the battlefield.

The cultivators of the Seven Great Forces and the Lingyu Sect had all disappeared without a trace.

They had probably gone to jointly exterminate the Lingyu Sect.

As for how fiercely they were fighting, that was no longer his concern.

Qin Ming stopped observing and continued to urge his flying shuttle to depart quickly.

Half an hour later.

Qin Ming returned to Yunmeng Mountain.

As he was now an honorary Qin Keqing of the Jingxue Pavilion, the guards bowed in salute upon seeing him and immediately granted passage.

Passing through a grove of emerald bamboo, Qin Ming went straight to the entrance of Gu Qingzhao's cave dwelling.

After sending her a message,

the external formations dispersed, and Gu Qingzhao, dressed in plain white robes with her skirt fluttering, walked out gracefully, her demeanor elegant and generous.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you have returned after finishing your business so quickly?" Gu Qingzhao's voice was as indifferent as water and as crisp as a bell.

"It is good that you returned safely."

Within these past two days, she had already learned everything happening outside, and faintly, there seemed to be a hint of worry in her intent.

Qin Ming smiled freely and said, "Indeed, but the Qingyang Market has been destroyed, so I must trouble you for a few days of lodging."

"It is no trouble; I will order someone to arrange a superior guest room for Fellow Daoist Qin, so you may rest assured and stay."

"Needless to say, no matter how chaotic it is outside, no one would dare to cause trouble here." Gu Qingzhao's fair face was frosty, and as she spoke, she revealed an unquestionable confidence.

Qin Ming had absolute faith in this.

After all, he had personally witnessed the earth-shattering, spirit-weeping Dao methods of Master Huangfu, one of the three great protectors of the Jingxue Pavilion.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators would likely not be able to withstand even a single move from him.

This was a true big shot!

Subsequently,

Gu Qingzhao warmly invited Qin Ming into her cave dwelling to taste tea.

The furnishings here were extremely refined and elegant, antique in style, simple and unadorned yet retaining dignity.

Gu Qingzhao moved gently, unhurriedly brewing a cup of Spirit Mist Tea for Qin Ming.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please!"

Qin Ming smiled slightly, raised the teacup, and took a sip.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Gu, what is the current situation of the war?"

Gu Qingzhao seemed to have expected this question, and she said in a voice that was clear, sweet, and graceful, "To speak the truth, Fellow Daoist Qin left the Lingyu Sect at just the right time; otherwise, you would likely have been dragged into the next battle."

"Huh? The next battle situation?" Qin Ming asked, utterly baffled.

Gu Qingzhao explained slowly, "Just last night, Yuwen Hong of the Spirit Feather Sect secretly completed his Jin Dan Lei Jie and broke through to the Jin Dan realm in one fell swoop."

"Although our Mirror Snow Pavilion had long received news and grasped a few clues, we never expected this person to actually succeed."

"Did none of the seven major powers stop him?" Qin Ming couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Gu Qingzhao nodded and replied, "Yuwen Hong is truly a genius of unparalleled talent; with a Metal-attribute Heavenly Spirit Root forming his Jin Dan, when the Lei Jie descended, naturally no one dared to approach."

"This is the will of Heaven, the trend of the great situation."

"Next, the Spirit Feather Sect will establish its school around that third-tier spiritual vein, and its comprehensive strength will rise by an entire level."

"In the near future, it will stand as an equal rival to Lei Yuanzong within the Wei State Immortal Realm."

Hearing this, Qin Ming clicked his tongue inwardly; it seemed the Spirit Feather Sect was not only not destined for doom but had found life in death and risen with the momentum.

"One mountain cannot harbor two tigers; hence, fiercer conflicts will erupt between the two sects afterward."

"Those powers that once kicked them while they were down will likely find their days ahead difficult."

After conversing with Gu Qingzhao for a long time,

Qin Ming returned to the guest room arranged for him.

He took out the items obtained from the ruin from his storage bag and began studying them carefully.

First was that scroll of beast-skin scripture, which recorded the subsequent cultivation method for the 'Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra'.

Currently, Qin Ming had already cultivated the technique to the eighth layer; upon reaching the ninth layer, he could project his true essence outward.

Beyond that lay achieving Foundation Establishment with the physical body, where blood and qi true essence would further transform into the legendary realm of True Essence Taking Form.

However, after reaching physical Foundation Establishment, the grade of spiritual materials required to enhance blood and qi would be higher, and the quantity needed would be vastly greater.

Fearing that even top-grade Xue Huang Mi would fail to meet the cultivation requirements.

At that time, Qin Ming would need to seek spiritual plants of even higher grades.

Now, he was still some distance from reaching the ninth layer, so there was no rush to plant.

The top-grade Xue Huang Mi was sufficient to support him in cultivating the 'Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra' to the perfect completion of the ninth layer.

Qin Ming put away the beast-skin scripture.

He then took out the jade bottle containing the blue spiritual flame and studied it for a while.

He had searched through all existing reference books, yet temporarily found no record whatsoever regarding this type of spiritual flame.

Qin Ming could only put it away for now, waiting to verify and understand it at a later date.

Subsequently,

he took out a long scroll of map and spread it flat upon the table.

Scroll after scroll of mountains and rivers unfolded before Qin Ming.

Next,

Qin Ming also needed to consider where to begin farming.

(End of Chapter)