Chapter 98: The Final Key

After the Spirit Field incident.

Lingyu Gate dispatched a large number of enforcement disciples to investigate the matter.

After all, the death of a Foundation Establishment Elder was a major event for the sect, even affecting its internal stability.

Even Qin Ming was summoned to the Enforcement Hall and interrogated multiple times in succession.

Of course, like the other Spirit Planters, he claimed ignorance to every question.

At this special moment.

Even the slightest stir could unsettle Lingyu Gate’s nerves, for what they sought was no small thing.

Lingyu Gate not only strengthened patrols around Qingyang Market.

It also increased personnel to conduct rotating patrols of the Spirit Fields.

Qin Ming saw large squads on high alert almost every day.

He himself remained tense for a while.

Afraid Lin Zixiao might turn back and trouble him again.

But after over a month passed, there was no sign of anything.

Qin Ming’s life returned to calm.

Half a year passed.

A strange atmosphere hung over Qingyang Market.

Cultivators from different factions were everywhere, yet the usual tense confrontations were absent.

Qin Ming arrived at the seventh floor of Juxuan Pavilion.

“Long time no see—I didn’t expect your cultivation base has already broken through to Qi Refining’s late stage. Congratulations!” Gu Qingzhao smiled faintly and poured him a cup of tea.

Qin Ming picked up the cup, took a sip, and replied humbly, “My meager cultivation means nothing compared to yours, Brother Gu.”

“Any new developments lately?”

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingzhao paused, then spoke with unprecedented gravity: “According to our intelligence, the struggle over the ancient ruin, not the third-rank Spirit Vein, is the true main event.”

“Multiple signs indicate this ancient ruin is a legacy site left by a primordial powerhouse.”

“Whoever opens the ruin and obtains its legacy—”

“Their future accomplishments are unimaginable.”

“I suspect Lei Yuanzong won’t hold back much longer.”

Qin Ming frowned, puzzled: “Given this situation, why hasn’t Lei Yuanzong sent anyone yet?”

“Brother Qin, you’re unaware—the reason all sects remain still is that the final few keys to open the ruin are still missing.”

“Without all the keys, no one can enter the ruin.”

“Thus, the current situation is one of hidden currents—on the surface, all sides coexist peacefully, but each is desperately searching in secret for the whereabouts of those missing keys.”

The so-called keys were, of course, the dragon-shaped tokens.

Qin Ming silently nodded—he knew the day all dragon-shaped tokens were gathered would be the day all factions tore off their masks.

He himself knew the exact location of one of those tokens.

But after the Lin Zixiao incident, Qin Ming had sensed that the dragon-shaped tokens could somehow sense each other.

He wondered whether Feng’s token had been picked up after his death? Besides that—

Lingyu Gate had secretly maneuvered: a Tian Spirit Root Foundation Establishment cultivator had quietly broken through to Golden Core, and even Gu Qingzhao seemed unaware.

“Could Brother Qin also be interested in the legacy within the ruin?” Gu Qingzhao asked, offering a rare faint smile.

Qin Ming waved his hand. “I am but a humble cultivator; I dare not covet such an opportunity.”

“Heh, then what brings you here today, Brother Qin?” Gu Qingzhao asked.

Qin Ming calmly took three vials of pills from his storage bag and placed them on the table.

Gu Qingzhao extended her slender hand, gently lifting one jade vial—immediately, an unusual pill aroma filled the air.

“Yunling Pills!” Her beautiful eyes widened in deep surprise. “Could it be… Brother Qin has become a Superior Alchemist?”

Qin Ming nodded, saying nothing.

Gu Qingzhao’s eyes gleamed; she quickly refilled Qin Ming’s tea and congratulated him: “Then I must offer my sincerest congratulations again—truly commendable!”

Qin Ming had revealed this modest strength to demonstrate his value.

Only then could he hope to gain more intelligence from Gu Qingzhao in the future.

Gu Qingzhao’s reaction was exactly as he expected—she extended another olive branch.

After the transaction ended.

Qin Ming returned to his courtyard.

……

Several more months passed.

Qin Ming harvested five [Ripen] entries from the spirit herbs in his courtyard.

He immediately ripened all five second-rank Shen Yuan fruits, then consumed two [Quality Boost] entries to elevate the final yield to supreme grade.

This time, Qin Ming harvested eighteen supreme-grade Shen Yuan fruits and five [Soul Force Crystals] entries.

Remember, these were the fruits of a second-rank spirit plant—outside, they would draw fierce competition from countless cultivators.

Holding the Shen Yuan fruits, each the size of an egg, Qin Ming couldn’t help but rejoice.

He quickly sealed them in a specially crafted jade box to preserve their spiritual essence.

“Come to think of it, so much time has passed.”

“With Su Yuqing’s talent, she should have broken through to Foundation Establishment by now.”

“Perhaps she’s even advanced to Second-Rank Alchemist.”

After a moment of quiet reflection, Qin Ming entered his meditation chamber.

Qin Ming prepared to use the five [Soul Force Crystals] to further strengthen his soul.

He sat cross-legged on the mat.

But remembering the unbearable tearing pain each soul enhancement brought—

But whenever he recalled the excruciating tearing sensation each time he strengthened his spiritual soul.

Yet for the sake of power, Qin Ming gritted his teeth.

But to enhance his strength, Qin Ming gritted his teeth.

Qin Ming calmed his mind, focusing his intent on the [Soul Force Crystals] entries.

Hum～A terrifying force erupted violently within his mind sea.

Like a blazing light rising in darkness, the light expanded, transformed, and instantly turned night into day.

Soon, it completely filled Qin Ming’s entire mind sea.

Crack! A new power was born within his mind sea.

Spiritual Sense!

This was a power only attainable after breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Qin Ming’s soul had already been amplified to an alarming degree.

Now, the final barrier shattered like thin paper.

After intense pain passed—

Qin Ming’s mind cleared.

He gently willed it—and a strange force left his body.

It clearly enveloped a radius of dozens of zhang.

He could perceive distant scenes as clearly as minute dust particles.

Every movement within this dozens-of-zhang range lay under his control.

“So this is Spiritual Sense?”

Qin Ming’s spirit surged. He tried to move a nearby table with his Spiritual Sense—only a slight shift occurred.

Qin Ming’s spirit stirred; he tried to move a nearby table with his spiritual sense, but it only shifted slightly.

He targeted a book on the table—easily, it floated into the air.

It hovered and danced freely.

“The sensation of controlling objects with Spiritual Sense… is truly exquisite.”

After half a stick of incense—

Suddenly—

Qin Ming’s vision darkened; his face turned pale.

The floating book “plopped” onto the floor.

Qin Ming panted. “Looks like Spiritual Sense can’t be overused.”

His current Spiritual Sense strength matched that of an ordinary beginner Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Fully extended, it could cover roughly sixty zhang.

With Spiritual Sense, daily cultivation and combat both gained immense advantages.

Next, Qin Ming pressed on.

Over several days—

He consumed the remaining four [Soul Force Crystals] entries.

Consume all four remaining [Soul Force Crystals] entries.

His spiritual soul was strengthened once again.

The intensity of his spiritual sense was also raised to match that of a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator; when fully extended, it could now cover several hundred zhang in radius.

Just as Qin Ming finished his cultivation and prepared to leave his seclusion,

he received a message talisman from Gu Qing.

“Brother Qin, circumstances have changed!”

“Latest intelligence indicates that all factions have now gathered most of the keys.”

“Only one final key remains.”

(End of Chapter)