Chapter 238: with translation of chapter title

The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord looked at his own wound and smiled.

"This Heaven-Opening and Earth-Splitting method is truly hard to comprehend.... But fortunately, by wearing down the great demon's maimed limbs this time, I have gained some insight; once I perfect this method, ascending to the Void God stage is imminent."

"Although this time the Huang Du of Kan Dao was destroyed, countless cultivators of Kan Dao's territory were killed or wounded, the flesh remnants after purifying the great demon's maimed limbs were taken away, and there is a possibility of suffering punishment and interrogation from the upper sect."

"But it's all worth it!"

"For a cultivator of the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord's level, the effect an Accumulation Device can provide is no longer sufficient; even the finest Accumulation Device requires strength of the same level to be activated, and breaking through to the Void God stage is the ultimate obsession of these late Nascent Soul cultivators."

"And in doing all this, no matter how much one loses, as long as one gets what they want, it's not a loss!"

"Ming Zhong and Ming Xian walked in the Deep Earth Vein, seeing the earth vein, like a long dragon, now listless and weak, as if it had suffered a massive blow."

"Yet within this earth vein, a bright yellow pearl shines brilliantly!"

"It was not in vain to have done so much for Xuan Kan Dao; years of preparation have finally borne fruit." Ming Zhong laughed, activating the Shaking Dragon Classic to mobilize the earth vein!

"The earth vein trembled slightly, then suddenly spat out the pearl, which fell into Ming Zhong's hand."

"Senior brother, with this earth vein pearl, you can also smoothly break through to the Golden Core stage."

"It's still early; my lifespan is nearing its end, borrowing this earth vein pearl may not guarantee a breakthrough."

Ming Zhong smiled, handing the earth vein pearl to Ming Xian: "From now on, elder brother can no longer watch over you constantly; the path of cultivation is full of storms, but after storms comes a rainbow. The world is vast—go on your own."

Ming Xian stared, then quickly shook his head: "No no no, senior brother. It was hard enough to hide from Xuan Kan Dao while drawing Earth Vein Power to cultivate this earth vein pearl; we should hurry and flee, lest Xuan Kan Dao discover us!"

"You can't run."

Ming Xian fell silent, looking at Ming Zhong's calm face, and gritted his teeth: "Even so, with a sliver of hope, we shouldn't give up."

"I told you to go, didn't you hear?" Ming Zhong said coldly.

"You...."

"Quick, they're coming."

Ming Xian startled, sensing a strong expert approaching, he deeply glanced at Ming Zhong and said: "Senior brother, if there is a next life, I will surely help you become an immortal!"

"Hahaha, wait until you reach the Nascent Soul stage before saying that." Ming Zhong laughed loudly.

Watching Ming Xian leave, Ming Zhong's inner unease completely dissipated.

At that moment, a Golden Core Elder of Xuan Kan Dao arrived, seeing the earth vein on the brink of death, he angrily pointed at Ming Zhong: "Bold! How dare you steal Earth Vein Power? You're ruining Kan Dao's feng shui—seek death!"

"Seize him and hand him over to the Dao Lord for punishment!"

The crowd seized the unresisting Ming Zhong and escorted him into Xuan Kan Dao.

"Reckless madman, you privately stole Earth Vein Power, causing the Huang Du earth vein to be reduced to less than one-tenth—do you know how much trouble this will bring?!"

Ming Zhong said nothing, looking at these formidable cultivators of Xuan Kan Dao in the hall.

The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord expressionlessly looked at Ming Zhong: "I recall you are from the Qingfeng Temple, right?"

"Yes, Xuan Kan Dao Lord." Ming Zhong nodded.

"As a disciple of the Qingfeng Daoist, how could you do such a thing that invites heaven's wrath and public resentment? Changes in Earth Vein Power will make the entire Kan Dao Huang Du territory extremely fragile; even a minor natural disaster could cause a great calamity." The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord said.

"My humble skills are nothing compared to yours, Dao Lord." Ming Zhong chuckled lightly.

The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord's face turned cold: "What if I go capture that escaped person?"

Ming Zhong shook his head: "It's just personal karma; if the Dao Lord doesn't follow the rules, then my slight resistance, I suppose, would not bother the Dao Lord."

The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord looked at Ming Zhong and suddenly smiled: "You, a mere Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, are quite interesting, knowing quite a lot. Take him down and lock him up; when the upper sect arrives, inform their envoy of this matter!"

"Yes."

Ming Zhong was imprisoned by Xuan Kan Dao, and this was also his tacit understanding with the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord.

Drawing Earth Vein Power to condense an earth vein pearl was itself Ming Zhong's quiet preparation for breaking through to the Golden Core stage.

But by sheer coincidence, the human-demon war broke out, and Ming Zhong's plan was again drawn into the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord's scheme.

Moreover, the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord could also use Earth Vein Power to wear down the great demon's maimed limbs—how could he fail to notice the abnormality in the earth vein?

By the time Ming Zhong now took the earth vein pearl, it was natural to know that the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord also had means on the earth vein, having long detected their covert drawing of Earth Vein Power.

Thus Ming Zhong gave the earth vein pearl to Ming Xian, while he himself would serve as a scapegoat for the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord's apology to the upper sect.

In fact, he indeed did so; this is an unchangeable fact.

And the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord needed to give an explanation to the upper sect's envoy; by pushing Ming Zhong out, the anomaly in the Huang Du earth vein could naturally be cleared of relation.

Those words just now were actually Ming Zhong telling the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord; if he let Ming Xian go, he would not reveal what the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord had done on the earth vein.

This is the hidden exchange of interests within the words.

As for future problems, Ming Zhong no longer considers them.

The Shaking Dragon Classic has been passed down, and my junior brother has also escaped; that is enough for me.

A few days passed.

The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord personally came to find Ming Zhong and asked:

"What is your method of using Earth Vein Power?"

"I, in my travels years ago, received guidance from a senior expert and learned a powerful cultivation method."

The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord nodded: "The Shaking Dragon Classic."

Ming Zhong's pupils contracted, staring at the Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord, he exclaimed in realization: "Is it you?! The senior who saved my life back then, is it you?!"

The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord chuckled: "It seems you've remembered."

Ming Zhong's face was full of shock, then he gave a wry smile: "Is this also within the Dao Lord's calculations?"

"No, just a casual act. I said the methods beneath the earth vein look so familiar; it turns out we are indeed fated." The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord laughed.

Ming Zhong smiled: "Back then, the senior saved my life; today I suppose I repay him."

"Hmm, although I don't want to say it, now it seems you don't need to take the blame for me." The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord waved his hand.

"Yes.... really?" Ming Zhong stared blankly.

"Because I also know the Shaking Dragon Classic; this is no secret. However, this matter has alarmed the upper sect; when their envoy arrives, they will surely interrogate, so we'll discuss it then." The Scarlet Sincerity Dao Lord smiled.

"That senior, what should I do?"

"You don't have much lifespan left; what can they do even if they take your life? Besides, Clear Wind Temple over there... Forget it, go on your way."

Red Sincerity Dao Lord waved a hand, sending Ming Zhong out of the Profound Abyss Dao.

Willows dark, flowers bright, Ming Zhong stood dazed outside Huang Du, long unable to come to his senses.

"If I had known this would happen, what was the point of giving the Earth Vein Pearl to Ming Xian?!" Ming Zhong shouted in regret.