《Clan Immortal Cultivation: I Can See Hints》


 Chapter 1: Lin Shiming

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Lin Shiming


    Zhao Kingdom, Yunzhou, Xing County.


    Within the expanse of Xing County, where the population was sparse, there lay numerous mountains and hills.


    Among these mountains, Fangmu Mountain stood supreme, shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, its height known to all but its peak unseen.


    ...


    At this time, inside a small building within the peak.


    A youth clad in a white robe was intently staring at a glowing Spirit Method Array.


    In the center of the array lay an insect egg the size of a bowl, clearly at the moment of hatching, its surface already covered in cracks.


    Amidst a flash of Spirit Light, with a crack, two scythe-like golden legs burst from the shell.


    Then, a pale golden mantis head emerged.


    "It''s finally hatched!" Lin Shiming was overjoyed.


    What others couldn''t see was a line of text in Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    A benefit exclusive to him as a transmigrator, a prompt he saw daily.


    "Please feed it with First Rank Spirit Water, and you will acquire a Spirit Beast that can grow into a Third Rank, a variant of the Green Winged Mantis, the Golden Winged Mantis."


    Lin Shiming was a transmigrator, a calamitous IT homebody from his previous life, now reborn as the son of Lin Houyuan, the Family Head of the Lin Family in Fangmu Mountain, bearing the seventh rank within his generation''s characters.


    With this transmigration, Lin Shiming was quite satisfied. Aside from his lineage and status, just being able to see the system prompts made him believe that Immortal Cultivation was within reach.


    And it was precisely because he could see these prompts that he had purchased this half-dead egg from a stall in the market, spending ten Spirit Stones on it.


    It should be known that the Lin Family of Fangmu Mountain, as one of Yunzhou''s Foundation Establishment families, currently only had one Foundation Establishment great cultivator.


    An egg capable of nurturing a Third Rank Demonic Insect, even if put up at Yunzhou''s grand auction, would fetch a sky-high price beyond the Lin Family''s wildest dreams.


    Normally, aside from their wings bearing a thin layer of pale golden color, Green Winged Mantises appeared mostly in a regular green hue.


    But the Golden Winged Mantis before him had not only its wings fully covered in gold, its entire body too was resplendent with golden color. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com


    Especially those forelegs, as dazzling as gold, with exceptionally large sickle teeth, looking extremely sharp.


    The mantis was also about twice the size of a normal Green Winged Mantis, having just hatched and already the size of a baby.


    "Squeak!" The Golden Winged Mantis flapped its wings and flew onto Lin Shiming''s shoulder, rubbing his pale golden triangular head against Lin Shiming incessantly.


    Before the egg had hatched, Lin Shiming had used his own essence blood to lay down a Blood Covenant Array secret technique, also nurturing the Spirit Insect with Spiritual Energy.


    The Golden Winged Mantis naturally regarded Lin Shiming as its parent.


    Suppressing his elation, Lin Shiming took out a Jade Bowl from his Storage Bag, then cautiously extracted a Jade Bottle and painfully poured a full bowl of First Rank Spirit Water into it.


    The council hall was located halfway up Fangmu Mountain, facing south from the north, with an excellent view.


    As a place for the Lin Family to discuss matters, assign tasks, and entertain guests from outside, the entire hall was constructed from marble. Skilled craftsmen were employed in its creation, giving the hall an imposing and grand atmosphere.


    Entering the hall, two middle-aged men were in conversation, their brows showing a touch of solemnity.


    The younger-looking of the two was Lin Shiming''s father, Lin Hou Yuan, while the other robust man was Lin Shiming''s great-grandfather and the Lin Family''s Great Elder, a powerhouse in body cultivation, Lin Yu Qing.


    Yes, despite resembling Lin Hou Yuan with middle-aged features, Lin Yu Qing was actually in his nineties.


    For cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm, it was common to live around 120 years and maintain a youthful appearance with just a bit of spiritual power.


    If desired, one could even retain the appearance of a child. Of course, most elders in the Lin Family also chose a middle-aged appearance to maintain their dignity without seeming too old.


    "Greetings, Father, Great Grandfather!" Lin Shiming hurriedly stepped forward and paid his respects, holding considerable admiration for these two elders.


    "Shiming, you''ve arrived. Good, good, the fifth level of Qi Cultivation at only seventeen years of age!" Lin Yu Qing clearly didn''t expect that with a Third Spirit Root talent, Lin Shiming would reach the fifth level of Qi Cultivation in just nine years; this pace was on par with dual-spirit-root geniuses.


    Beyond his surprise, a hint of skepticism also crossed his face.


    "Great Grandfather jests, it''s all thanks to the family''s support that your nephew has reached his current level of cultivation."


    "Excellent, humble and polite, and diligent in cultivation, Family Head, what a fine son you have!" Lin Yu Qing couldn''t stop praising, bringing great joy to Lin Hou Yuan.


    "Family Head, since Shiming''s cultivation progress is comparable to Shijie''s, about that matter of guarding Qingtao Mountain..." Lin Yu Qing spoke again.


    At that, Lin Hou Yuan hesitated. Qingtao Mountain backed onto the Qingyun mountain range, which was infested with fierce wild beasts, and there were even cases when demonic beasts roamed out from the Qingyun range.


    Especially now, with the second-rank, inferior-grade Spirit Peach Tree on Qingtao Mountain nearing maturity, it was highly likely to attract birds and demonic beasts.


    Lin Hou Yuan originally didn''t want his son to descend the mountain prematurely and guard such a dangerous place. However, Lin Shiming had taken the initiative to ask him several times about taking up guard duty earlier.


    The latter''s conviction to contribute to the family had touched him, and indeed, the family did lack sufficient manpower.


    But now it seemed his son was talented enough, diligently focusing on cultivation without being mired in worldly matters was the greatest contribution he could make to the family.


    "Father, Great Grandfather, Shiming is willing to take up the guard duty!" Lin Shiming, hearing about the task of guarding Qingtao Mountain, immediately became excited.


    This was precisely what he wanted. Merely possessing a hint-giving system while confined to Fangmu Mountain, unable to access those clearly untouchable resources, had long made him dissatisfied.


    He had seen all the treasures of the old clan head in the system''s hints, but what good was that? He couldn''t possibly steal them.


    Now that he had an opportunity to venture outside, he naturally wanted to seize it; Qingtao Mountain might be dangerous, but with the hints, he could anticipate hazards in advance.


    "Father, my recent cultivation has also reached a bottleneck, and I need to gain experience in the outside world!" Urging his hesitant elders, Lin Shiming added eagerly.


    "Very well, but before you go to Qingtao Mountain, head to the family vault to collect a second-rank superior-grade attack talisman and a superior-grade defense talisman! This is the family''s advance on your contribution value." Seeing Lin Shiming''s firmness, Lin Hou Yuan didn''t want to say much, but as the Family Head, he could still secure some benefits for his son who was about to undertake guard duty.


    "Additionally, fetch ten jin of Spirit Water and fifty jin of Spirit Rice. Put it on my account!" Lin Yu Qing also chimed in, increasingly pleased with Lin Shiming.


    If the family members were all like Shiming in their mindset, why wouldn''t the Lin Family thrive?

 Chapter 2 - 2 New Spirit Peach Tree

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2 New Spirit Peach Tree


    Qingtao Mountain is located directly north of Fangmu Mountain; the mountain is not high, but it''s covered with green peach trees. Come springtime, a gentle breeze flutters through, causing peach blossoms to dance across the hills as if it were a peach blossom fairyland, beautiful beyond measure.


    At the mountain''s peak, there stands a centennial Spirit Peach Tree, from which Qingtao Mountain derives its name.


    The Spirit Peach Tree flowers annually and bears fruit every three years, producing anywhere from ten to a hundred peaches in one go.


    These Spirit Peaches are akin to Spirit Water and other such Spiritual Objects, offering excellent benefits to cultivation. A single Spirit Peach is worth five or six Spirit Stones, and if two hundred peaches are harvested, the yield is a thousand Spirit Stones¡ªan impressive sum for the entire Lin Family.


    And to think that for an average Qi Cultivation middle-stage cultivator of the Lin Family, the annual salary is only twenty Spirit Stones, even less for beginners who earn just five a year, and only fifty per year for those in the later stages.


    It has been over two years since the last maturation of the Spirit Peaches; this year''s harvest is assured.


    Of course, as the protector of Qingtao Mountain, another responsibility is to provide protection for the town of Qingtao at the mountain''s base, eliminating any Demonic Beasts that cause trouble or violence.


    By the time Lin Shiming arrived at Qingtao Mountain, it was already the third day since his meeting with Lin Houyuan. After leaving the Council Hall, he had gone to the family''s Contribution Hall to collect two Spirit Talismans, ten jin of Spirit Water, and fifty jin of Spirit Rice.


    In addition, he exchanged all his Spirit Stone salary for the next three years for Spirit Water, exchanging seventy-two Spirit Stones at the internal rate for seven jin of Spirit Water.


    These provisions were the preferred diet of the Golden Winged Mantis and could also occasionally serve as his own cultivation materials.


    The two Spirit Talismans were the Water Shield Technique and the Golden Sword Technique, both Second Rank Superior Grade. Used cleverly, they could even be effective against cultivators in the late Qi Cultivation stage.


    Beyond the talismans, Lin Houyuan also slipped him a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Green Spirit Sword.


    With his own savings, including six or seven Intermediate Grade Spirit Talismans, this journey was bound to be foolproof.


    Qingtao Mountain was in early spring, with green buds sprouting pink flowers, some of which couldn''t wait to bloom, filling the air with their fragrance.


    Hills after hills of peach blossoms filled Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    Such a scene would inspire poetry if not for the limitations of talent!


    Lin Shiming first took a flying sword to the town hall of Qingtao Town at the base of the mountain to inform the town head, a congenital martial artist named Lin Yang, of his arrival.


    As per tradition, he handed Lin Yang a communication Spirit Talisman, the simplest kind of talisman that only needed to be lit to send a message.


    After grasping enough information about the town, Lin Shiming resumed flying with his sword, heading straight to the top of Qingtao Mountain.


    Peach Blossom Mountain''s peak was surprisingly flat, with even denser peach trees all blooming in pink.


    He closed his eyes, shook his head, clearly intoxicated.


    "You need to work harder, my boy. In three years, the Qingxuan Sect will sell the Foundation Establishment Pills, and this time, even if it costs a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, our Lin Family must seize one!"


    "Both your father and your fifth uncle are candidates for Foundation Establishment, which will be discussed based on family contributions," Lin Houwei said before handing over the formation flag and the usage Jade Slip to Lin Shiming, then without looking back, flew into the sky.


    Before long, he had vanished from sight.


    Lin Shiming was left standing there, pondering these words. He knew very well that despite the current calm in the Lin Family, what lurked beneath was a storm of endless vehemence.


    The family''s old patriarch and Supreme Elder, Lin Xianzhi, had sustained serious injuries. Though he was only 150 years old, far from the age limit of 250 years,


    his wounds from over the years had not healed, and rumors had already spread far and wide.


    The Lin Family needed a new Foundation Establishment cultivator!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming thought a lot, including about his father and his fifth uncle. When he eventually considered that he was still just a Qi Cultivation fifth layer cultivator, he scoffed at himself a few times and then put it aside.


    He then began to carefully inspect the formation flag and the Jade Slip in his hands. Injecting spiritual power into the Jade Slip, he could instantly grasp the knowledge within, which was also a magical recording tool unique to cultivators.


    The technique of controlling the formation flag was not complicated, and Lin Shiming had already mastered it proficiently within half an hour, leaving his Divine Sense within the formation flag.


    Now, even if a late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator were to come, Lin Shiming was confident that relying on the formation and his many trump cards, he could face the challenge.


    "Please patrol all Spirit Peach Trees, you will discover a new Second Rank Spirit Peach Tree that''s about to bear fruit!"


    Just then, the system''s prompt arrived, instantly invigorating Lin Shiming!


    A new Spirit Peach Tree!


    One that''s about to bear fruit!


    This system prompt gave Lin Shiming a huge surprise on the first day.


    When a Spirit Peach Tree bore fruit, even if it only produced twenty peaches, that amounted to a hundred Spirit Stones,


    but aside from the wastelands deficient in Spiritual Energy, a Spirit Peach Tree could yield at least fifty fruits.


    Even if handed over to the family, they would grant Lin a thirty percent reward, which was still a substantial gain.


    For Lin Shiming, who now needed to provide for both himself and the Golden Winged Mantis, this was undoubtedly fantastic news.

 Chapter 3: Slaying the Demon Monkey

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Slaying the Demon Monkey


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate to activate the entire Three Profound Qingtao Formation, allowing the mountaintop to be covered with peach blossoms once again, while he himself rode the Flying Sword, releasing his Divine Sense toward Qingtao Mountain in search of the Spirit Peach Tree.


    Compared to ordinary peach trees, the Spirit Peach Tree was larger and imbued with Spiritual Energy, which might not be easy for mortals to discern, but for cultivators, with the sensing of Spiritual Power, the difference between an ordinary tree and a Spirit Tree was apparent at a glance.


    After a complete search, Lin Shiming''s expression grew noticeably gloomier, for although Qingtao Mountain had many peach trees, it was not large; yet he had not found the Spirit Peach Tree after circling around.


    However, he soon came to terms with it, for if the Spirit Peach Tree had been on the mountain, his uncle, who was extremely experienced in the wilderness, would have surely discovered it.


    It wasn''t his turn yet.


    Lin Shiming was not discouraged, the system prompt was to inspect all the peach trees, so Lin Shiming continued patiently searching around Qingtao Mountain.


    By the time the sun set, Lin Shiming had still not found the Spirit Peach Tree.


    The peach blossoms covering the mountains, in his eyes, no longer possessed their former beauty, but rather caused him a hint of irritation.


    Hss!


    Suddenly, Lin Shiming took out a Spirit Talisman from his Storage Bag, and as the talisman burned to ashes in mid-air, it transformed into a beam of light and flew towards Qingtao Town.


    "Trouble on the first day?" Lin Shiming was somewhat speechless. He did not find the Spirit Peach, but instead, issues arose in Qingtao Town first.


    Though he was annoyed, Lin Shiming knew well that mortals were the foundation of the family; despite Qingtao Town having only tens of thousands of residents, every five years, usually a few cultivators with Spirit Roots emerged.


    Riding the sword towards the flaming talisman paper, he vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.


    Arriving at Qingtao Town, the elder named Lin Yang, along with a group of men and women dressed in coarse hemp garments, immediately knelt down towards Lin Shiming.


    "Immortal Master, there''s a demon monkey, a huge one, two to three meters tall! Incredibly strong and ferociously fierce!"


    "We implore the Immortal Master to lend a hand, to save all the townsfolk, young and old. The entire town of Qingtao will be at your service, willing to do anything!"


    "Tell me where the demon monkey is and what the losses are," Lin Shiming said with a steely expression.


    "Master Immortal, the demon monkey is in the north of the town, three li away on the old peach tree at Da Niu''s house!"


    "Da Niu was assaulted by that demon monkey as soon as he opened his door this morning, he was thrown to the ground and vomited blood, a lot of it; he''s still unconscious. Thankfully, Er Niu was quick-witted and managed to escape with Da Niu and his family while the monkey rested. Otherwise, I don''t dare to think of the outcome."


    "Oh, you mean on the peach tree?" Lin Shiming''s eyes suddenly brightened, feeling that his efforts had not been in vain.


    The Demonic Beast monkey occupying the peach tree and driving people away was obviously the Spirit Peach Tree that Lin Shiming had been earnestly seeking!


    "Yes! The unlucky peach tree at Da Niu''s place! It''s been two years, a tree that only flowers but bears no fruit!" Lin Yang added.


    "We''ve been urging Da Niu to cut it down, but he wouldn''t listen!" a well-intentioned person from the side interjected earnestly.


    Having heard the description that seemed to mean the tree only flowered annually and bore fruit every three years, Lin Shiming was completely convinced of the authenticity of the Spirit Peach and also attained a general understanding of the strength of the demon monkey.


    Yet he could not help but cast another look at the so-called well-intentioned person, thankful that it wasn''t this person''s tree. Then, he spoke indifferently.


    Lin Shiming was alarmed and quickly retreated dozens of meters to create distance.


    At the same time, he tossed out a handful of seeds from his hand and then quickly formed a spell,


    "Wood Vine Technique!"


    The Wood Vine Technique was Lin Shiming''s best low-level spell, capable of almost instantaneous casting and boosted by the Qing Mu Art. It had been quite troublesome for his uncle Lin Houwei during sparring sessions.


    With Lin Shiming''s shout, countless seeds sprouted, turning into colossal wooden vines that wrapped towards the demon monkey.


    The demon monkey wanted to dodge again, but couldn''t escape the sheer number of vines that hindered its speed.


    It could only rage in frustration, its long arms flailing wildly.


    Following that, Lin Shiming threw out a prepared Second Rank Intermediate Grade Fireball Talisman towards the demon monkey, which exploded upon impact, covering the monkey in blood, its roars incessant.


    Yet, this was not the end. Lin Shiming''s Flying Sword had already charged forward, delivering a direct sword strike.


    A monkey''s head flew high into the air, and thus the demon monkey met its death.


    After a series of attacks, Lin Shiming''s complexion had slightly changed. Both the Wood Vine Technique and Sword Flight consumed a significant amount of Spiritual Energy, and together the consumption was considerable.


    If it weren''t for the Spirit Talismans he had prepared, the situation could have been dangerous.


    Lin Shiming took out a Spirit Stone and began to recover his Spiritual Energy while also releasing the Golden Winged Mantis.


    The demon monkey only being at the Second Rank and without a Demon Core, only its claws and fur were valuable while the rest could be used as blood food for the mantis.


    The blood of a Demonic Beast could not only stimulate the mantis''s ferocity but also accelerate its growth.


    "Immortal Master, you are truly amazing," Wang Mazhu then came running over, all smiles.


    "Prepare a room for me where I won''t be disturbed. I need to meditate for a while!" Lin Shiming ordered, storing most of the demon monkey''s corpse into his Storage Bag, leaving only a large monkey leg for the mantis to gnaw on.


    "Yes, Immortal Master!" Wang Mazhu went to prepare immediately.


    Lin Shiming first went to the peach tree to ensure the Spirit Peaches were unharmed.


    However, Lin Shiming frowned upon discovering that the Spiritual Energy here was obviously insufficient. Compared to the family-nurtured Spirit Peach Tree, this one was evidently lacking nutrition, and it likely would only bear twenty or thirty peaches at most.


    To increase the yield, the tree would definitely need to be transplanted to an area with denser Spiritual Energy.


    He had not prepared the materials beforehand to set up a Spirit Gathering Array, and as for transplanting it to Qingtao Mountain, Lin Shiming did not possess the necessary transplanting techniques.


    This inevitably caused Lin Shiming some distress.


    After examining the peach tree, Lin Shiming entered the wooden hut at Wang Mazhu''s house with a troubled face and began to meditate.


    Wang Mazhu saw Lin Shiming''s somber expression and immediately became fearful, not daring to even breathe too loudly, as he reflected on whether he had done something wrong.

 Chapter 4: The Dual Spirit Root Genius

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Dual Spirit Root Genius


    ```


    Lin Shiming ceased his cultivation and it was already past midnight. He couldn''t tell if it was the effect of the battle or something else, but he felt that his cultivation speed had increased by a sliver.


    Outside the house came the pitter-patter of light rain, evoking a line of poetry in Lin Shiming''s mind, "Heavenly street''s light rain moistens like cream!"


    Only, the peach blossoms on Qingtao Mountain were probably falling in great numbers again.


    Lin Shiming opened the wooden window, and thin lines of rain drifted through the small latticed window, carrying his thoughts to the distant Spirit Peach Tree.


    Instead of falling, the peach blossoms, washed by the rain, appeared fresher and more radiant, losing a bit of their reserve and gaining a touch of seductiveness.


    The entire night seemed even more ethereal and beautiful.


    In that moment, Lin Shiming felt as though his mood had been cleansed by the rain, baptized by the peach blossoms.


    Indeed, Lin Shiming recalled, he had been in this world for seventeen years already, yet this was the first time he had appreciated the scenery with such a state of mind.


    "Cultivation, cultivation, after all, must have a sense of moderation, tension and relaxation are both necessary!"


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but have some enlightenment.


    "Knock, knock, knock!" There came a knocking on the door.


    "Immortal Master!" Then a young, tender voice followed.


    Lin Shiming released his Divine Sense, and saw a little girl about ten years old with her hair in pigtails, bearing some resemblance to Wang Mazhu, but she was bright-eyed, with white teeth, a pretty and delicate face.


    She was holding a wooden tea set, with steam still rising from the spout of the teapot, clearly freshly prepared.


    "Come in," Lin Shiming said indifferently.


    With the creaking of the door, the little girl kept her head down as she brought the teapot to the table.


    "Immortal Master, this is the tea I brewed for you!"


    "Hmm, leave it there," Lin Shiming wasn''t intentionally cold to the little girl. However, he realized that the small window lattice was perfectly aligned with the view of the peach blossoms, and even the quilt rolled up on the bed was patterned with flowers ¨C combined with the decorations in the room, it was clearly a young girl''s boudoir! Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com


    Turns out Wang Mazhu was not as honest as he seemed to be, regardless of his intentions, but Lin Shiming was a cultivator.


    Lin Shiming waved his hand, dismissing the girl who was still standing there.


    Then he released the Golden Winged Mantis. Having eaten a Spirit Beast, the mantis had noticeably grown larger, a far better outcome than just consuming Spirit Water. It seemed that from now on, he would need to prepare some late-night snacks for this little mantis lord from time to time.


    It''s like expecting a solitary wolf to be fierce without bounds, but for a lone wolf that cannot even secure meals daily, it''s unimaginable to become a mighty wolf king one day.


    Even if such luck was possible, it would only be a few brutes with exceedingly good fortune.


    Therefore, developing the family and then advancing oneself within it is the direction Lin Shiming has set for himself.


    Lin Shiming didn''t delay; a Dual Spirit Root combined with a Spirit Peach Tree was enough to gain the family''s attention, so he directly flew on his sword to the Qingtao Town Hall.


    He called over Lin Yang, who was still in his dreams, and gave him an order to gather all the children around ten years of age for an assembly to advance toward immortal cultivation.


    After speaking, Lin Shiming promptly flew towards Fangmu Mountain without stopping.


    It took a day to hurry back to Fangmu Mountain, where he explained the situation with the Spirit Peach Tree to his father, Lin Houyuan. He hadn''t mentioned the Dual Spirit Root yet; that would be too complicated to explain.


    Lin Houyuan was also very happy when he found out.


    He praised Shiming thoroughly, then arranged for Lin Shiming to find his third older sister, Lin Shiqi, who was known as a Second Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Plant Master.


    When he found Lin Shiqi, she was in the medicinal garden on Fangmu Mountain, tending to the Spirit Plants.


    She stood with hands on hips, pouting, focused on studying some Second Rank herbs.


    "Third sister, I finally found you!" Lin Shiming recounted the affair with the Spirit Peach Tree in full.


    Waving her hand, she replied,


    "I already know about the matter; Uncle told me. But, Seventh Brother, you really have quite the luck!"


    Lin Shiqi was obviously a bit emotional and envious; with that Spirit Peach Tree, Lin Shiming would get at least an extra hundred-plus Spirit Stones, while she worked hard tending herbs in the garden for a mere three Spirit Stone stipend per month, with a salary of just five Spirit Stones a month.


    Of course, if she managed to break through to become a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Plant Master, the treatment would be incomparably better.


    So, Lin Shiqi''s short-term goal is to break through to become a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Plant Master, and only then to break through to the Fifth Level of Qi Cultivation.


    "No worries, Third Sister. As long as you agree to teach me a month of Spirit Plant transplantation techniques, I''ll make sure you earn no less than a hundred Spirit Stones!" Lin Shiming promised confidently.


    Feeling a bit helpless with the Spirit Peach Tree, Lin Shiming had the idea to learn Spirit Plant and Alchemy techniques.


    With system prompts, he could point out some incorrect techniques, and with prompts, there would also be no shortage of opportunities to find treasures.


    "Sure, that''s no problem; there are books on Spirit Plants in the family. But with so many Spirit Stones, you''re not asking me to help you fight and kill Demonic Beasts, right?"


    "It''s not about fighting; it has nothing to do with strength! I guarantee you''ll be more than satisfied!" Lin Shiming assured once more, and Lin Shiqi agreed to it.

 Chapter 5 - 5 Spirit Testing Plate

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Spirit Testing Plate


    After Lin Shiqi had taken care of all matters concerning the Spiritual Medicine Garden, she and Lin Shiming hurried to the Contribution Hall, the place where the Lin Family issued tasks.


    It was here that Lin Shiming had received the task for Qingtao Mountain, and now that Lin Shiqi was leaving, it was naturally necessary to register the task here as well.


    Having registered the task, Lin Shiming then took Lin Shiqi to the family''s Treasure Pavilion.


    The Treasure Pavilion, also known as the clan treasury, was the most important place in the entire family, where all the family''s treasures and cultivation techniques were stored.


    The surroundings were heavily guarded, filled with formations. Even the Lin Family''s own people had to be careful not to accidentally wander into a killing formation.


    It was because of this place that Lin Shiming''s system had prompted him countless times, which left him rather speechless.


    The first floor of the Treasure Pavilion contained spiritual materials, Spirit Grass, and Spiritual Artifacts; the second floor was the Scripture Pavilion. Of course, the most precious items were on the third floor, which only Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Elders could access.


    It is said that the Lin Family''s old patriarch Lin Xianzhi was in secluded cultivation on the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion.


    "Shiming, weren''t you supposed to be at Qingtao Mountain? How come you''re back so soon?" The guard at the Treasure Pavilion was the Third Elder Lin Yushui''s son, who was second in the ranking of the Hou generation, named Lin Houshou.


    Lin Houshou was an expert at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, and he also inherited the Third Elder Lin Yushui''s talent for formations, already capable of setting up Intermediate Grade Second Rank formations.


    However, as he had surpassed sixty years of age and his vital energy was weakening, with Foundation Establishment appearing hopeless, he took the initiative to head to the Treasure Pavilion. While managing the clan affairs, he also hoped to study the formations inside the Treasure Pavilion, aspiring to become the Lin Family''s second Superior Grade Second Rank Array Master.


    "Second Uncle, isn''t this a small accomplishment?" Lin Shiming said with a slight smile, taking out the materials he had obtained from the beast monkey one by one.


    "Good lad, your strength is increasing so fast, even able to kill a Second Rank Intermediate Grade yellow-furred beast monkey!" Lin Houshou examined the monkey skin and beast monkey claws.


    "Much of that is thanks to Second Uncle''s guidance." Lin Shiming replied sincerely. Due to system prompts, he learned low-level spells very quickly, so he often came to the Scripture Pavilion in the Treasure Pavilion to study. Over time, he often received care and guidance from Lin Houshou.


    "Second Uncle, trade all these materials for Spirit Stones for me. Also, my third sister and I would like to use the Spirit Testing Plate once!" Lin Shiming said.


    "The Spirit Testing Plate, are you sure? It''s not the quinquennial Immortal Ascension gathering now, and borrowing it once will cost fifty Spirit Stones. These beast monkey materials can''t be exchanged for that many Spirit Stones, at most only twenty." Lin Houshou said.


    "The rest will be paid by my third sister!" Lin Shiming had long spent his Spirit Stones on Spirit Talismans and Spirit Water, naturally having none left.


    Lin Shiqi, who was beside him, was still contemplating the Spirit Plants and obviously hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to come up with such a wild idea.


    Her face reddened for a moment, wishing she hadn''t come.


    She finally understood what Lin Shiming meant by letting her earn Spirit Stones¡ªit was going to be through such a method. It was completely an unfunded promissory note, and she had to advance the payment!


    She wanted to pull Lin Shiming aside by the ear to talk, but Lin Shiming didn''t budge. Lin Shiqi carefully glanced at Lin Houshou and then said to Lin Shiming with a huff,


    Testing the Spirit Root with the Spirit Testing Plate was no less demanding than casting a spell. If one person completed all the testing, they could do at most fifty in one day, and it would also easily drain their magical power.


    Dividing the work and taking turns with Lin Shiqi to test would be much faster and would ensure that there was enough Spiritual Power.


    Testing for the Spirit Root was quite simple; children just needed to place their hands on the Spirit Testing Plate. Then, the Cultivator would use Spiritual Energy to guide it, channeling the special Spiritual Energy of the Spirit Testing Plate into the bodies of the children. Those who resonated had a Spirit Root.


    The more intense the resonance, the better the Spirit Root. It was said that during the resonance of a Heavenly Spirit Root, there would directly appear a phenomenon.


    The first to come up was a child led by Lin Yang, bearing a strong resemblance to Lin Yang himself, clearly one of Lin Yang''s many children.


    This child was obviously not at peace, with his chest heaving dramatically. He pressed both hands tightly onto the Spirit Testing Plate.


    "Relax a little!" Lin Shiming reminded, then injected Spiritual Energy into the Spirit Testing Plate.


    As Spiritual Energy was injected into the Spirit Testing Plate, the patterns of Spirit Patterns on its surface lit up one after another, finally forming an extremely complex symbol of Spiritual Energy.


    An even more enigmatic stream of Spiritual Energy surged from the Spirit Testing Plate, following the child''s hands and entering his body.


    A moment later, the child''s body emitted a three-colored glow, revealing the elemental aura of gold, wood, and earth.


    "He has a Spirit Root!" The most excited was none other than Lin Yang, the mayoral elder. As the mayor, he naturally knew what it looked like when someone had a Spirit Root.


    He almost roared it out. After having more than twenty sons, finally one of them had a Spirit Root. How could he not be overjoyed?


    Eventually, seeing that Lin Shiming remained calm and composed, he quickly apologized for his outburst, forcibly calming down.


    "Such luck!" Lin Shiqi at his side immediately felt it was unbelievable. Usually, at the five-yearly Immortal Ascension Assemblies, amongst five or six hundred children, there was a very high chance that not a single one with a Third Spirit Root would appear. Yet this time, out of just over a hundred people, one with a Third Spirit Root already emerged.


    "Seventh brother, you were talking about this person, right? A Third Spirit Root, the quality isn''t bad, indeed suitable!"


    "Third sister, it''s not this one!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    To be honest, he himself was also pleasantly surprised by this Third Spirit Root.


    "Then who is it?" Lin Shiqi looked around, full of curiosity, and couldn''t help but press for an answer.


    "Just wait and see!" Lin Shiming replied vaguely, even though he too wanted to satisfy Lin Shiqi''s curiosity.


    But who would satisfy his own curiosity?


    He also wanted to quickly find that Second Spirit Root.

 Chapter 6 - 6 Shizhong Shitao

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Shizhong Shitao


    The convening of the Immortal Ascension Conference turned the usually quiet town of Qingtao into quite a bustling place.


    And the atmosphere reached its peak after the son of the town head was discovered to have a Spirit Root.


    Whether it was the parents or the children, it seemed as if the confidence on their faces had increased by a few notches.


    However, only Lin Shiming who was on the stage knew that most of the people here would return disappointed, as Spirit Roots were also known as "destiny with immortals."


    And such destiny was hardly easy to come by!


    After learning from Lin Yang that his Third Spirit Root son was named Lin Zhong, Lin Shiming asked Lin Yang to prepare more and spend more time together.


    Once he went up the mountain, it would be a separation between the immortal and the mortal; if Lin Zhong were to come back down the mountain, it would not be until he was at least twenty years old.


    As for before that, he would not be allowed to come down from Fangmu Mountain.


    As a Third Spirit Root, Lin Zhong was naturally given considerable importance on Fangmu Mountain; barring any surprises, his name would be entered into the clan records as Lin Shizhong.


    "Next!"


    ...


    "Next!" As Lin Shiming continued to call for replacements, one after another, the disheartened and bewildered children left.


    The scene began to quiet down.


    Twenty-nine in a row, and still no new Spirit Root bearers emerged.


    Lin Shiqi also took the Spirit Testing Plate from Lin Shiming.


    "Old Seven, take it easy, even the Immortal Ascension Conference held once every five years wasn''t this strong."


    Lin Shiming nodded and didn''t say much but took out a Spirit Stone and slowly began to absorb the Spiritual Energy.


    It was not until the hundredth person that the second Spirit Root bearer finally appeared¡ªa boy named Lin An. He had just a Quintuple Spirit Root, barely having the chance to become a cultivator.


    Still, it caused a great stir at the venue.


    The children being tested and the accompanying adults regained their light once again.


    From early morning until near dusk.


    The more than one hundred fifty times of Spirit Root testing made both Lin Shiming and Lin Shiqi appear exceptionally weary.


    "Girl, do you have a formal name?" Lin Shiming examined the little girl carefully, who clearly still didn''t know what the Spirit Root would actually bring her.


    She only knew that her life would be much better from now on, and her father would be more satisfied, nothing more.


    "No!" the little girl shook her head.


    "Your window faces the Spirit Peach Tree, showing your fondness for peach blossoms. Then, let''s call you Wang Tao. But after you enter Fangmu Mountain, you''ll be called Lin Tao, with the full name Lin Shitao. You can become the first female cultivator of the Shi generation!" Lin Shiming didn''t care if the little girl understood what he meant by the first female cultivator of the Shi generation, he simply gave her the concept.


    "Lin Tao?" the little girl murmured to herself, repeating it several times. Then she nodded firmly and smiled as she spoke:


    "Immortal Master, I am willing to be called that, it sounds nicer than ''girl''!"


    "Hmm, but from now on, don''t call me Immortal Master, call me Seventh Brother!" Lin Shiming continued chatting with Lin Tao for a while, then called over Lin Zhong and the two other Quintuple Spirit Root bearers to briefly describe life in Fangmu Mountain.


    He gave them two days to enjoy a brief reunion with their parents.


    As for the dozen or so children yet to be tested, they aroused Lin Shiqi''s curiosity, who volunteered to do the testing herself.


    However, the results? Not a single one was successful.


    After sending everyone away, Lin Shiming took Lin Shiqi and flew towards Qingtao Mountain.


    It was getting late, and both had expended a lot of their magical powers, so naturally, they returned to the Formation at Qingtao Mountain to cultivate and replenish.


    But all the way, Lin Shiqi bombarded him with questions. In front of mortals, she had held back.


    Now, she persistently followed Lin Shiming, asking non-stop, with Lin Shiming becoming greatly troubled, trying to evade her questions.


    But a woman''s curiosity is clearly beyond Lin Shiming''s imagination. In the end, she blurted out an astonishing question:


    "Do you like that little girl? Did you specially organize the Immortal Ascension Ceremony for her?"


    In an instant, Lin Shiming almost dropped his jaw. He couldn''t believe she could come up with such a preposterous guess and say it out loud!


    Lin Shiming could only keep explaining, but the more he explained, the more Lin Shiqi became convinced.


    She even swore solemnly that she would keep his secret.


    Lin Shiming could only silently regret not testing the fifty by himself, which would have drained Lin Shiqi''s magical power and left her with no time to bother him.


    Indeed, there''s truth in the saying that one should not eat too much.


    And for cultivators, one''s magical powers should not be too abundant!

 Chapter 7 - 7 The Demon Monkey Reappears

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7 The Demon Monkey Reappears


    The morning sun was just rising, and a gentle spring breeze blew, causing more peach blossoms to burst into bloom on Qingtao Mountain.


    Lin Shiming awoke from his cultivation, feeling spirited and exhaustion gone.


    The persistent power of the Qing Mu Art had an advantage in terms of adjusting and nourishing the body.


    With abundant energy, Lin Shiming also practiced the spells he had mastered over the years, such as the Wood Vine Technique, Wood Spear Technique, and Wood Shield Technique.


    Of course, he also knew the Fireball Technique and Golden Sword Technique, but since he cultivated Wood Attribute Techniques, these spells were significantly less powerful, so Lin Shiming preferred to have a few extra fire and metal Spirit Talismans.


    After practicing his spells, he then released the Golden Winged Mantis, feeding it a large chunk of spirit monkey meat and two bowls of Spirit Water.


    "Eh, Shiming, this Spirit Insect of yours is quite unusual, and it''s rather pretty too!" Lin Shiqi had also emerged from her room at this time and kept observing the Golden Winged Mantis.


    As far as she knew, most mantises were green in color, and even the ones with gold only had a thin layer.


    When Lin Shiming bought this mantis egg, many in the Lin Family knew about it, but they all thought it was a green-winged mantis and advised him accordingly. Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com


    "It really can eat a lot; it''s nearly eaten me out of house and home," Lin Shiming responded with a slight smile and a bit of a complaint.


    "Since it can eat so much, why don''t you sell it to me? I promise to give you a fair price!" After circling around and inspecting the Golden Winged Mantis thoroughly, Lin Shiqi''s eyes clearly showed her fondness for it.


    If not for the Golden Winged Mantis waving its golden scythe-like legs and making angry chittering sounds, Lin Shiqi probably would have touched it right then.


    "Ahem!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but cough a few times. He really wanted to tell his third sister she couldn''t afford it, but after thinking about it, he decided to change the subject.


    "Third sister, we should transplant the Spirit Peach Tree back as soon as possible so it can absorb more spiritual energy from the Spirit Vein and bear more Spirit Peaches!"


    "Alright! If you ever change your mind, you can always find me!" Lin Shiqi replied, clearly reluctant to drop the topic.


    The distance from Qingtao Mountain to Da Niu''s home wasn''t far, and in less than half an hour using Flying Swords, they arrived at their destination.


    The Spirit Peach Tree was the same as it had been two days ago, its branches dotted with pink buds, none of them blooming or withering.


    "We''re really lucky we came early. With the scarcity of spiritual energy here, blooming once and bearing fruit might be its limit, and at most, it could only produce around twenty spirit peaches!" Lin Shiqi walked under the peach tree, expressing her relief.


    In that moment, she was undeniably confident. As a rare Spirit Plant Master with innate talent in the Lin Family, this was her pride.


    When the divine sense extended over two hundred meters, it already covered the depths of the forest on the hill.


    Atop a thick and towering pine tree, Lin Shiming once again spotted a monster monkey at a glance.


    It was the familiar Ge You layback posture, still eating some unknown fruit, scratching its head from time to time and then peeling the tree bark, its green eyes rolling around, peering in Lin Shiming''s direction.


    More accurately, it was staring at the Spirit Peach Tree behind Lin Shiming!


    "Is this the same yellow-furred monster monkey you killed last time?" Lin Shiqi also realized and sent her divine sense over.


    Though as a Qi Cultivation fourth-layer cultivator it was quite strenuous for her, causing large beads of sweat to form on her forehead, she still spotted the monkey.


    "Big Sister, you go ahead and take the Spirit Tree back to Qingtao Mountain!" Lin Shiming suggested.


    "What about you?" Lin Shiqi immediately countered.


    Without waiting for Lin Shiming to respond, she spoke again, "You haven''t really fought one before, let''s go together."


    "The Spirit Tree is important, and I also have the Spirit Talisman from Great Grandfather!" Lin Shiming shook his head, his intention was to track, not to hunt alone.


    Moreover, in the jungle, the yellow-furred monster monkey was as comfortable as fish in water, and Lin Shiming was not necessarily its match.


    "Fine, but be careful," Lin Shiqi added, then retracted her divine sense and began transplanting the Spirit Peach Tree.


    She released a snow-white mid-grade magic artifact longsword.


    Although this sword, like Lin Shiming''s, was also a mid-grade magic artifact, its power and emanating sword light were much weaker than Lin Shiming''s.


    As Lin Shiqi chanted and formed seals, the snow-white longsword transformed into a giant sword and chopped down fiercely, slicing along the circle previously outlined with Nurturing Spirit Liquid, uprooting the entire tree, soil and all.


    As the jade box in her hands opened, the Spirit Peach Tree turned into a stream of light and fell into the jade box.


    "Roar roar!" Just as Lin Shiqi put away the peach tree, the distant monster monkey clearly became agitated.


    It screamed, leapt down from the pine tree, and ran towards Lin Shiming and the others, clutching a thick, hard tree branch it had snapped off at random.


    The monster monkey was incredibly fast, reaching Lin Shiming in the blink of an eye.

 Chapter 8: Infiltrating the Monkey Forest

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Infiltrating the Monkey Forest


    "Retreat!" Lin Shiming had already witnessed the strange speed of the yellow-haired Demon Monkey and couldn''t help but warn Lin Shiqi.


    His hand did not stop either, as he formed a hand gesture and the Green Spirit Sword instantly flew out from his Storage Bag, transforming into a giant sword three to four meters long, and slashing towards the yellow-haired Demon Monkey.


    Following that, he gave a big wave of his hand, scattering a large number of Wood Vine Technique seeds. In addition to these, he also held several Fireball Talismans in his hand.


    In comparison, Lin Shiqi seemed much more flustered, and in her haste, she only managed to summon her snow-white Spirit Sword.


    This Demon Monkey was clearly slightly stronger than the one Lin Shiming had killed earlier.


    With a fierce leap, it swung the hard wooden stick in its hand heavily, knocking both Spirit Swords flying in disarray.


    Then, without stopping, it continued to smash its way forward.


    "Wood Vine Technique! Rise!" Lin Shiming finished chanting the spell, and countless wood vines broke through the soil.


    Transforming into serpent-like entities, they swarmed towards the Demon Monkey, entwining it.


    These wood vines were different from the swords; they could not be sent flying just by a smack from the Demon Monkey.


    On the contrary, the entire robust wooden stick was quickly entangled by the vines, infuriating the monstrously howling Demon Monkey.


    "Release the attack Spirit Talismans!" Lin Shiming voiced a reminder to Lin Shiqi.


    The second-rank, intermediate-grade Fireball Talisman in his hand was also fiercely thrown at the Demon Monkey.


    Lin Shiming''s Fireball hit the Demonic Monkey, which failed to evade in time, directly blackening its entire body and igniting flames upon it.


    Lin Shiqi also recovered from her shock, unleashing a Wind Blade Talisman. Countless wind blades formed and tore through the air.


    With a roar, the Demon Monkey, its green eyes finally filled with fear, flipped and leaped backwards, escaping towards the rear.


    "Chase it!" Starting from fear, Lin Shiqi became somewhat excited. As a Qi Cultivation fourth-level cultivator, this was her first time facing a Demonic Beast, and she did not want to let this Demon Monkey escape.


    "I''ll go after it. You go protect Lin Shitao, and bring her and the Spirit Peach Tree back to Qingtao Mountain!" Lin Shiming directly stopped Lin Shiqi, but seeing her reluctance, he added:


    "Third Sister, it''s very likely there are more Demon Monkeys. Protecting Lin Tao and the Spirit Peach Tree is more important!"


    The resolve in Lin Shiming''s words also made Lin Shiqi calm down.


    Indeed, Lin Tao''s home was nearby, and she had the Spirit Peach Tree with her. It was truly more important to protect these things.


    Seeing Lin Shiqi''s understanding, Lin Shiming did not hesitate, and followed after the Demon Monkey.


    This time, Lin Shiming did not use the sword for flying but instead cast a basic spell to lighten his body, following the Demon Monkey from a distance.


    Once the Spiritual Energy is insufficient, one has to absorb Spiritual Energy from Spirit Stones all the time to cultivate, which entails a huge consumption.


    This is also why when Lin Houyuan and Lin Yuqing saw Lin Shiming''s talent, they were reluctant to let him come here to stand guard.


    The quality of a Spirit Vein also determines the growth cycle of Spiritual Objects; with an ample supply of Spiritual Energy, even a hundred-year-old Spiritual Medicine could achieve the same effects in just a few decades.


    The Spirit Peaches in front of him had already matured, obviously earlier than the ones on Qingtao Mountain''s Spirit Vein.


    Lin Shiming suppressed his excitement, carefully absorbed the Spiritual Energy around him, and after circulating it in his body for half a Small Circulation, he finally confirmed that there was indeed a Spirit Vein here, and it was at least a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein.


    The existence of a Spirit Vein also signifies the production of Spiritual Plants and objects, a bounty that could bring tremendous benefits to the entire Lin Family.


    Lin Shiming gritted his teeth, forcing himself to calm down.


    The hint given by the system was incredibly valuable, but at the same time, Lin Shiming found himself in an extremely dangerous situation.


    It made him dare not slack off in the slightest.


    Lin Shiming also hid in the tree, not daring to move around any longer, but used his Divine Sense to extensively scan the surroundings.


    Of course, Lin Shiming was very cautious using his Divine Sense. Some powerful Demonic Beasts could sense Divine Sense, and although it was rare for Second Rank Demonic Beasts to have this sensitivity, Lin Shiming still didn''t dare to gamble on it.


    As his Divine Sense spread meter by meter, Lin Shiming''s excitement grew stronger and stronger!


    Spirit Peach Trees, lots of Spirit Peach Trees!


    Lin Shiming was somewhat numb, and eventually, he even found an Intermediate Grade Second Rank Spirit Peach Tree.


    One must know that an Intermediate Grade Second Rank Spirit Peach can be used to improve Cultivation Level, and serve as a precious ingredient for elixirs, each worth twenty or thirty Spirit Stones!


    Far surpassing ordinary Second Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Peaches.


    Of course, there were also several cold showers poured on Lin Shiming''s head.


    Lin Shiming found that almost every Spirit Peach Tree was guarded by a yellow-haired Demon Monkey.


    And on that big Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Peach Tree was an even larger Red-haired Demon Monkey with more formidable Spirit Might.


    When Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense covered it, he almost held his breath.


    That was undoubtedly a Demonic Monkey at the peak of the Second Rank, with a kind of Spirit Might that Lin Shiming had only seen on his great grandfather, the Lin Family''s Great Elder Lin Houqing, who practiced Body Cultivation.


    Lin Shiming was already considering retreat, with no intention of trying to pick the peaches.


    While Spirit Peaches are desirable, one must have their life to enjoy them. Lin Shiming had no doubt about the ferocity of these Demon Monkeys¡ªif discovered by them, a gruesome death by being torn apart would be inevitable.

 Chapter 9: Monkey Wine

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Monkey Wine


    The Peach Blossom Valley at this time seemed exceptionally quiet, with only the occasional demon monkey leaping playfully towards the outskirts.


    They all placed immense psychological pressure on Lin Shiming.


    Luckily, the group of demon monkeys clearly had a weak ability to sense divine consciousness, which was why Lin Shiming had not been discovered for a long time.


    But as he surveyed the area, Lin Shiming always felt something eerie. The second-rank peak red-haired great demon monkey lying there seemed somewhat unsteady,


    as if it were drunk.


    Yet its spirit might was full, and its hostility surged to the skies.


    "Eh, that bamboo tube!" Lin Shiming suddenly noticed a detail; the red-haired demon monkey was actually holding a bamboo tube to its mouth.


    Shaking its head and swaying its body, it was enjoying itself!


    How was this not just like his Uncle Thirteen?


    Were these monkeys drinking?


    The idea sent a shock through Lin Shiming''s heart, monkeys drinking alcohol¡ªcould you even imagine it?


    No wonder their sensitivity to divine consciousness had weakened so much.


    His divine sense had been released in front of these demon monkeys without being detected.


    Lin Shiming continued to expand his divine sense and observed the other demon monkeys. At last, he found that on the branches where the other monkeys were, there were also bamboo tubes, although clearly much smaller than the one the red-haired demon monkey had.


    Furthermore, Lin Shiming discovered empty tree holes at the intersections of those Spirit Peach Trees.


    The larger Spirit Peach Trees had more hollowed-out spots, especially that intermediate-grade, second-rank Spirit Peach Tree, which had no less than seven.


    "Monkey Wine!" The term popped into Lin Shiming''s mind and refused to leave.


    With a slap of the Spirit Talisman, Lin Shiming''s figure faded away from the void.


    Then he stepped out from behind a green peach tree that had concealed him and followed a path with fewer Spirit Peach Trees and demon monkeys, secretly making his way to the location of the empty tree hole.


    He quickly climbed up to the empty tree hole.


    The fragrance of the spiritual wine was extremely potent; it clearly tasted better than the Green Spirit Wine of the Lin Family and was richer in spiritual energy.


    Lin Shiming scooped up a bit with his hand and took a sip; a surge of abundant spiritual energy burst forth, and he felt that the wine was also healing some of his hidden injuries.


    The elation in Lin Shiming''s heart grew even stronger; the spiritual wine not only had the effect of increasing spiritual power but also could heal wounds!


    Perhaps that was also the reason this group of demon monkeys had dominated Peach Blossom Valley.


    A troop of monkeys unafraid of injury was frightening to imagine!


    If the Lin Family possessed this wine, the losses of the Lin Family''s Demon Hunting Team could probably be reduced by more than half.


    "Take it!" Without hesitation, Lin Shiming took out a Magic Artifact Jade Bottle, used for storing Spirit Water.


    He began frantically to cast the storage spell into the tree hole.


    At this moment, time was not money, time was life!


    One breath, two breaths, three breaths!


    Once Lin Shiming could no longer contain it, he put away the Jade Bottle!


    Although this series of actions was extensive, in fact, it all happened in less than five breaths'' time!


    After taking the spiritual wine, Lin Shiming did not hesitate and rode his Green Spirit Sword, shooting straight up into the sky.


    Behind him, countless demon monkeys started to roar, but Lin Shiming had already flown into the high sky,


    disappearing into the horizon...

 Chapter 10: Return to Fangmu Mountain

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Return to Fangmu Mountain


    Atop Fangmu Mountain, the Treasure Pavilion.


    During leisure times, the Treasure Pavilion seemed quite deserted, with only the spring breeze blowing, leaving no traces behind.


    Lin Houshou put down a Formation Jade Slip, a smile emerging on his face.


    Just moments ago, he had unraveled a formation puzzle that had baffled him for over a decade, and he had recorded the solution in the Jade Slip.


    He felt that it wouldn''t be long before he could truly arrange a Superior Grade Second Rank formation, becoming the second Array Master of the Lin Family to reach such a level.


    A sense of pride, long absent from his heart, surged once again.


    He, Lin Houshou, was still the formation genius of the Lin Family!


    "Eh!" The next moment, Lin Houshou''s vision blurred, and he saw someone he shouldn''t have seen.


    "Second Uncle!" Lin Shiming''s call of "Second Uncle" brought Lin Houshou back to reality.


    The visitor was none other than Lin Shiming, who had hurried back from Qingtao Mountain. It had been three days since the trip to Peach Blossom Valley.


    Upon returning to Qingtao Mountain, Lin Shiming had Lin Shiqi guard the place, and promptly rushed back to Fangmu Mountain with Lin Tao, Lin Zhong, and others.


    At this moment, Lin Houshou was quite displeased with Lin Shiming. He had left for guard duty less than a month ago and had already returned three times!


    With such a mindset, how could he be a true guardian, and how could he bear the responsibility of revitalizing the family in the future?


    "Second Uncle, I am here to return the Spirit Testing Plate!" Lin Shiming took out the Spirit Testing Plate, looking at Lin Houshou, who had suddenly become serious, not understanding why his expression had changed so drastically.


    "Oh, how was it, have you learned that earning Spirit Stones is not easy?" Lin Houshou took the Spirit Testing Plate, knowing that there were eight other guards in the family who would borrow the plate to gamble for good fortunes.


    If they tested a cultivator with good potential, they could be rewarded with both fame and a rich harvest, and might even gain the goodwill of a future powerhouse.


    Clearly, this was how Lin Houshou viewed Lin Shiming as well.


    That''s why he said so.


    In his view, life is a journey against the current, and cultivation is a struggle against the heavens. Encountering setbacks is sometimes better, which is why he had not stopped Lin Shiming from borrowing the Spirit Testing Plate before.


    But before Lin Houshou could see the disheartened and chastened expression Lin Shiming would surely wear...


    Several people hurriedly approached from behind Lin Shiming.


    The naming convention of the Lin Family was established by the founding elder, Lin Zhengxing, organized as: integrity, enlightenment precedes, worldly benefits extend far, and family harmony has its strategies.


    Currently, Lin Xianzhi was the only one left from the ''Xian'' generation; the ''Yu'' generation still had quite a few elders, the family''s pillars were from the ''Hou'' generation, and the ''Shi'' generation was the Lin Family''s hope for the future, also the generation that was growing rapidly.


    "Shiming, nicely done! Heaven blesses our Lin Family!" Lin Houshou couldn''t help blushing at the thoughts he had earlier, but the prospect of a new Dual Spirit Root in the family pushed those thoughts aside.


    "Since everyone is available right now, why don''t we go to the guest building to meet some of the younger generation!" While the elders were all joyous, the Second Elder also put forth another suggestion.


    A genius with both Fire and Wood Spirit Roots would be very suitable for Alchemy and Artifact Refining. If they could nurture a Third Rank Alchemist or Artifact Refiner for the family, he himself could pass away after several decades, turn into a handful of yellow soil, and still die without regrets.


    The Second Elder''s proposal was approved by everyone.


    After all, not having seen the person in question, there was some measure of trepidation in their hearts.


    In the past, there had been occasions of mistaken Spirit Roots, so it was not unprecedented.


    "Father, Great-Grandfather, apart from Shitao''s issue, Shiming has something even more important to report!"


    "Oh? Then speak!" Everyone was also surprised to hear that Lin Shiming had more important news to share, as the Transmission Talismans they had received only mentioned the discovery of a new Dual Spirit Root talent within the family.


    "It might also be necessary to inform the old patriarch!" Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment and then slowly began to recount what had happened at Peach Blossom Valley.


    His expression grew more serious as he mentioned the Red-haired Demon Monkey; after all, it was a Second Rank Supreme Grade demon monkey, and its fur coloration was unusual compared to the typical yellow-haired variety.


    In his opinion, it was very likely to have undergone a mutation, just like his own Golden Winged Mantis.


    This was not to be underestimated.


    The elders said nothing for a while, hesitating, clearly indicating that the old patriarch had something difficult to discuss.


    After a moment of contemplation, Lin Shiming realized it might have something to do with rumors, so he didn''t insist any further.


    He took out the spirit bottle that held the Monkey Wine from that day.


    "Please, Second Grandfather, have a taste!" Second Elder Lin Yuqi didn''t hesitate, taking the spirit bottle, pouring out a small drop of Spiritual Wine, and using telekinesis to send it into his mouth.


    Lin Yuqi closed his eyes, savoring the effects of the Spiritual Wine carefully. After a few seconds, his eyes suddenly sprang open, bursting with sharp intensity as he spoke excitedly:


    "This is Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spiritual Wine with effects that enhance one''s cultivation!"


    "No, it also has a remarkable healing effect, not inferior to Intermediate Grade Healing Pills!"

 Chapter 11 - 11 Rewards

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Rewards


    "Shiming, where did you get this wine from?"


    "How many people know about it?"


    "How much is left?"


    The Second Elder took a deep breath, his eyes filled with urgency as he asked three questions in quick succession.


    The other Elders too stretched their necks as if they were eager to crowd around and grab Lin Shiming by the collar to demand answers¡ªif it weren''t for the fact that he was their junior.


    A second-rank, inferior-grade Spiritual Wine, like the Spirit Pool on Fangmu Mountain, nearly bore the brunt of the Lin Family''s financial income.


    Now, having discovered a second-rank, intermediate-grade Spiritual Wine with healing effects, the profits were unimaginable!


    "Reporting to Second Grandfather, currently, only I am aware of this matter. Furthermore, there is plenty of this Spiritual Wine..." Lin Shiming recounted everything he had seen, heard, and thought in Peach Blossom Valley, sparing no detail.


    Especially the second-rank, superior-grade Spirit Peach Tree and the second-rank peak, potentially mutated species¡ªthe Red-haired Demon Monkey, Lin Shiming was extremely meticulous, emphasizing the importance of these discoveries.


    For a moment, everyone inside the Treasure Pavilion held their breath.


    It took a long time before anyone spoke; they were all immersed in the information they''d just received.


    This tsunami of news was astonishing!


    Even dozens of second-rank, inferior-grade Spirit Peach Trees now seemed trivial in comparison!


    A second-rank, intermediate-grade or higher Spirit Vein, a second-rank, superior-grade Spirit Peach Tree, second-rank, intermediate-grade Spiritual Wine, and even second-rank, superior-grade Spirit Fruit!


    Each of these, even on their own, would be worth thousands upon thousands of Spirit Stones.


    Of course, with great profit came great risk.


    The strength of the Demon Monkey troop was clearly not weak!


    As the core of the Lin Family, the Great Elder was the first to regain his composure, speaking with a stern expression:


    "Hou Shou, close off the Treasure Pavilion, and hang a notice for a three-day closure!"


    Lin Houshou didn''t dare delay for even a moment, his entire being numb from the news. Having an order to follow was a welcome distraction for him.


    That imposing figure, towering and majestic in the eyes of all the Lin Family''s young disciples, now had the thought, "I should be the one guarding the door."


    The main door closed with a click, and still, no one spoke.


    As the highest authority and the most powerful person present, the Great Elder spoke again:


    "Hou Yuan, as the current Family Head of the Lin Family, you manage all matters!"


    "Shiming, your father is proud of you, and the family is honored by you. Now, let''s talk about your rewards!"


    "Before this journey, you may choose a Second Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifact from the family''s inventory! Also, 500 contribution points!"


    "After this journey, you will receive half of the profits from the Peach Blossom Valley!"


    "Thank you, Father. Thank you to the family!" Lin Shiming quickly expressed his gratitude. A Second Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifact could be worth at least a few hundred Spirit Stones, and the better ones could even cost over a thousand Spirit Stones.


    To know that the later-stage cultivators in the family would typically use a common Second Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifact, as for Loose Cultivators, later-stage ones were probably using Second Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifacts!


    Being able to choose a Second Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifact, the reward was indeed generous!


    Not to mention the five hundred contribution points and half of the profits from Peach Blossom Valley, this was even a massive fortune.


    The profits from the Spiritual Wine and Spirit Peaches alone could bring in a few hundred Spirit Stones in revenue each year, probably enough to make even the later-stage cultivators or Elders in the family a bit envious!


    Lin Shiming''s eyes blazed with eagerness; although this operation was somewhat risky, the profits were undoubtedly huge.


    Lin Shiming no longer needed to worry about his inability to sustain the Golden Winged Mantis, an eater of considerable appetite.


    "Shiming! What I just said was as the Family Head, now as your father, I have something else to tell you!" Lin Houyuan changed his tone, his gaze seemingly filled with reminiscence.


    "This family, your father can still withstand it, you, you''ve grown up!"


    "But, you must protect yourself at all costs, next time, do not take such risks!" At the end of his speech, Lin Houyuan''s gaze brimmed with tenderness, the meticulous man appearing to have a glint of tears in his eyes at that moment.


    Indeed!


    All the Elders were fixated on how vast Peach Blossom Valley was, the profits, and how many people knew about it!


    But not one of them showed concern for him, for how he found Peach Blossom Valley, for how he emerged from the presence of a peak Second Rank Demonic Beast, or for the extent of his injuries.


    Immortal Cultivation, immortal cultivation, stripping away the identity of a Qi Cultivation fifth layer, Lin Shiming was merely a seventeen-year-old youth!


    "Here, take this set of Superior Grade Inner Armor!" Lin Houyuan directly took off a piece of Spirit Armor from his body and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    "Father, this..." Lin Shiming was deeply moved, but at the same time, he hesitated; this Inner Armor was Lin Houyuan''s personal armor, it could save his life at a critical moment.


    It was far more precious than dozens of Superior Grade Spirit Talismans!


    "What are you hesitating for when the size fits so well? The men of our Lin Family are not so indecisive!" Lin Houyuan said with a laugh as he chided.


    Lin Shiming no longer put on airs, and after receiving the still-warm Spirit Armor, he bowed deeply.


    "Father, I will not disappoint you!"


    "One day, I will take over the Lin Family, and I will ensure the Lin Family''s legacy lasts forever!"

 Chapter 12 - 12 Snake Vine Flower Seeds

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Snake Vine Flower Seeds


    The Treasure Pavilion was empty, with Lin Shiming the only person inside.


    Lin Houyuan had already left, initiating a war campaign wasn''t a trivial matter after all.


    As the Family Head, he had to coordinate everything. This also signified that the decision-making layer of the family was shifting from the generation of those named ''Yu'' to those named ''Hou''.


    Lin Houshou walked past the door and patted Lin Shiming on the shoulder with one hand.


    "Good lad, well done!"


    "Second Uncle flatters me, Shiming still has much to learn from you!" Lin Shiming humbly replied.


    After a brief conversation, Lin Shiming followed Lin Houshou to the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion.


    Compared to the familiar first and second floors, this was Lin Shiming''s first visit to the third floor.


    He couldn''t help but think about that doubt that had lingered in his mind since childhood.


    Whether the old Family Head, who was over 150 years old, was actually healing on the third floor. However, it clearly was not the case.


    The rooms on the third floor were smaller, built entirely out of a type of spiritual wood unknown to him, but the carvings and decorations were more abundant. And all the decorations followed specific patterns, with some even exuding Spirit Might.


    It was obviously a complex Formation that Lin Shiming didn''t understand!


    "You little rascal, follow me closely, and don''t touch anything carelessly. All these carvings are part of the Formation, even the ones without Spirit Might!" Lin Houshou turned his head and warned Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming nodded.


    After entering the wooden room, what caught his eye was a row upon row of ancient display shelves, all made from fine, dark heavy ironwood, nurtured by Spirit Formations, which made them seem even more vibrant with Spiritual Energy.


    But the shelves seemed somewhat empty, not displaying too many items.


    "Shiming, don''t be fooled by the sparse-looking ironwood shelves. At its peak, our Lin Family filled this place with Third Rank treasures!" Lin Houshou explained proudly, apparently noting Lin Shiming''s confusion.


    Lin Shiming was also aware that after a series of changes, the Lin Family had initially broken the streak of Purple Mansion cultivators during the ''Ming'' generation. They had spent most of their foundation to obtain the Purple Heart Spirit Fruit to break through to the Purple Mansion Realm.


    But to their dismay, things fell short, the foundation was nearly depleted, and that ''Ming'' generation ancestor died in gloom not long after.


    During the ''Xian'' generation, to have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the family again, they started trading all of their remaining resources for Foundation Establishment Pills. Fortunately, Elder Lin Xianzhi''s promotion was successful, allowing the Lin Family to retain the title of a Foundation Establishment family.


    Lin Shiming followed Lin Houyuan to the front of the wooden shelves.


    "This is it, Second Uncle. I feel that this seed artifact suits me very well." Lin Shiming replied firmly, holding the box, full of joy.


    "Are these seeds?" Lin Houshou asked in confusion, then waved his hand and generously said:


    "You lad, although I don''t know what you''re planning, I won''t let you be at a disadvantage. Here''s what we''ll do: you choose one superior grade magic artifact, and with fifty contribution points, you can exchange for these seeds!"


    "As treasures from the third floor, I can''t be too arbitrary and drive the price too low."


    "Thank you so much, Second Uncle!" Lin Shiming quickly expressed his gratitude. Fifty contribution points? He would be willing even if it were five hundred!


    Then, Lin Shiming chose that one piece of Profound Water Chong Shan, a mighty weapon.


    As a trump card, of course, it needed to have great power. At a crucial moment, it would be a battle-decider. He had the Wood Vine Technique, so choosing Profound Water Chong Shan could not be more appropriate.


    Lin Shiming took out the Profound Water Chong Shan from the spiritual power light shield.


    The entire Chong Shan was bronze in color, not large, just palm-sized.


    When he held it in his hand, he only felt a terrifying gravity reaching his palm.


    He nearly dropped it to the ground, which greatly startled Lin Shiming.


    This gravity¡ªno wonder this magic artifact had so impressed Lin Houshou.


    To think this was without inputting spiritual power, which when added, would increase the weight a hundredfold.


    If it were to be dropped, even a second rank late-stage powerful demonic beasts would probably not withstand the impact!


    If it were to fall on a cultivator, Lin Shiming couldn''t imagine any chance of survival they might have.


    "Thank you, Second Uncle, for allowing me to acquire several treasures!" Lin Shiming bowed in thanks, then he took out a small wine jug and handed it to Lin Houshou.


    "Second Uncle, this is the Monkey Wine I have captured; most of it has been handed over, but this is what I''ve kept for you!" Lin Shiming initially didn''t give it to avoid making Lin Houshou embarrassed, creating a situation where the family head''s son was bribing the pavilion''s guardian.


    But after taking the treasures, giving it then became a gesture of respect for an elder.


    "Good!" Lin Houshou also did not hesitate and accepted it with a relieved face.


    He looked at Lin Shiming with increasingly satisfied eyes.


    Having acquired two treasures, Lin Shiming then redeemed several Spirit Talismans from the Treasure Pavilion, especially the second rank, superior grade Water Shield Talisman, for which he spent another two hundred and fifty contribution points to buy one.

 Chapter 13 - 13 The Wonderful Uses of Wood Vine Technique

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13 The Wonderful Uses of Wood Vine Technique


    Behind Fangmu Mountain, there is a Nameless Mountain that also belongs to the territory of the Lin Family of Fangmu Mountain. Compared to the towering Fangmu Mountain,


    Nameless Mountain seems quite small and even barren compared to other hills, with sparse trees and mostly wild grasses that grow vigorously every year.


    In the grassland, a young man in a green shirt is holding a box, deep in thought.


    Beside him, a golden mantis is devouring its food heartily, alternating between bites of monkey meat and sips of Spirit Water. Even some Spiritual Wine is nearby, making the mantis appear somewhat drunk and unsteady, its triangular head swaying.


    This is Lin Shiming, who had left the Treasure Pavilion.


    Lin Shiming had to test out magic artifacts, and naturally, he couldn''t experiment in Fangmu Mountain.


    Now assigned to guard Qingtao Mountain, Lin Shiming was also free to leave Fangmu Mountain.


    "Infusing it with Spiritual Energy doesn''t work either. So where is the problem?" Lin Shiming, holding a black seed in his hand, had been experimenting for a long time without success, yet he didn''t believe that the system''s prompt could be wrong.


    But the truth was, like everyone else from the Lin Family, he was at a loss with the seed.


    Neither refining it nor stabbing it with a knife or spear had any effect.


    It was completely impenetrable.


    "No, this is a Snake Vine Flower seed!" Suddenly, Lin Shiming recalled something. He knew that his Wood Vine Technique was used to catalyze the growth of normal vine seeds.


    The Wood Vine Technique itself was a unique kind of spell within the wood-based spells, but the vines produced by the Wood Vine Technique could easily be torn and it was impossible to use them to bind an opponent of the same rank.


    However, the marvel of the Wood Vine Technique was its ability to infuse Spirit Plants'' seeds with energy and catalyze them, unleashing the seeds'' power in an instant!


    Once this occurred to him, Lin Shiming couldn''t wait to infuse the Snake Vine Flower seed with Spiritual Energy.


    But this infusion made Lin Shiming jump in shock, as he saw the Spiritual Power within his body being drawn out almost entirely in the blink of an eye.


    "This!" Lin Shiming''s face turned pale in an instant.


    Such rapid extraction of Spiritual Power, despite Lin Shiming being prepared, still overwhelmed his body momentarily.


    However, upon thinking that these seeds were comparable to Supreme Grade magic artifacts,


    Lin Shiming was able to understand it. After all, he was only a Qi Cultivation Fifth Level cultivator himself.


    Lin Shiming didn''t dare to release the catalyzing effect of the Wood Vine Technique right away.


    "You little bug, competing for food now? Don''t worry, I''ve still got ten catties of Spiritual Wine left, and when we go to Peach Blossom Valley, we can get some more!" Lin Shiming thought of the Monkey Wine from Peach Blossom Valley and felt an itch in his hands.


    Sunrise shone high, and having completed his morning cultivation, Lin Shiming put away the Golden Winged Mantis, took out his Green Spirit Sword, and flew back on his sword.


    This time, Lin Shiming went to see the Second Elder to inquire if there was any elixir that could accelerate the mantis''s growth.


    But he learned that the Second Elder had gone straight to the Hall of Transmission, which was responsible for instructing new family disciples with newly tested Spirit Roots.


    Lin Shitao and Lin Shizhong were all present.


    These were the people Lin Shiming had brought with him, and he instantly felt the desire to see how they were doing.


    However, upon arrival, he saw the Second Elder personally taking on the role of instructor, explaining important points about cultivation techniques to them.


    The kindly Second Elder, when teaching the techniques, often mentioned some peculiar Spirit Fruits and immortal elixirs from the Cultivation World, inciting immense curiosity in these children who had just been exposed to immortal cultivation for a day. They were eager to turn twenty so they could take up their Spirit Swords and step into the Cultivation World.


    Embarking on an epic treasure-seeking adventure.


    "Second Grandpa!" Taking advantage of the break, Lin Shiming stepped forward to pay his respects.


    He had great respect for this Second Elder!


    After all, the Second Elder had once been a talent whom the Lin Family was willing to nurture for Foundation Establishment with all their might. But seeing that the Lin Family lacked a distinguished alchemist and didn''t even have an Intermediate Grade Second Rank Alchemist, the Second Elder decisively gave up most of his time for cultivation at thirty years old and turned to practice Alchemy. He visited countless renowned Alchemy masters, attended numerous Alchemist exchanges, and finally stepped into the realm of a Superior Grade Second Rank Alchemist at the age of fifty.


    Indeed, if it weren''t for lacking the Spiritual Power to establish a Foundation, he''d have a certain grasp on Third Rank elixirs.


    Unfortunately, twenty years had slipped by, and his cultivation had fallen greatly behind, barely reaching the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation at the age of sixty-one, losing the chance for Foundation Establishment.


    Today, his philosophy remained unchanged. As the once-Purple Mansion Family and now Foundation Establishment Family, how could they fail to produce even a Superior Grade Second Rank Alchemist?


    "Shiming, you came to see them!" Lin Yuqi''s smile remained from start to finish.


    After a few words of casual conversation with the Second Elder, Lin Shiming greeted Shitao and Shizhong as well.


    Lin Shiming also learned from the Second Elder that while the Lingtao wine was useful for ordinary injuries, it was still helpless against the old patriarch.


    However, Lin Yuqi suggested that if Intermediate Grade Spiritual Wine was ineffective, perhaps Superior Grade Second Rank Spiritual Wine might work.


    Of course, Lin Shiming didn''t forget the purpose of his visit but was regretful to learn that such a medicinal pill was only available at the Spirit Beast Sect, which was guarded by Golden Core ancestors.


    Meanwhile, the expedition was set to depart on the third day!

 Chapter 14 - 14 Departure

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Departure


    Qingtao Mountain, the spring rain pattered, peach blossoms began to bloom, a riot of splendid purples and reds.


    The Spirit Peach Tree, full of buds, had finally started to bloom.


    Lin Shiqi stood under the tree, letting the spring rain wet her black hair and soak her skin.


    At this moment, she felt so real, and so wonderful.


    That composed and steady seventh brother was not here, making this spring rain the first to witness her successful transplantation of a Spirit Tree on her own.


    Yes, this was her first time transplanting a Spirit Tree, before this she had only transplanted Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine.


    When she heard the Family Head ask her to transplant the Spirit Tree, she was undoubtedly nervous, and undoubtedly excited.


    Transplanting a Spirit Tree was not like transplanting Spiritual Medicine or Spirit Grass, the need for Spiritual Energy as well as the reliance on soil and terrain were incomparable to the same rank of Spirit Grass and Spiritual Medicine, when she taught Lin Shiming how to transplant, she explained each word and sentence so that she would not make a mistake herself.


    Now, at last, she had managed to uphold her second sister''s prestige!


    Just then, Lin Shiqi looked up to see a huge Flying Sword in the sky, flying through the air, leaving behind a long trail of Spirit Light as it passed.


    Soon, a giant sword carrying more than twenty people landed in front of Lin Shiqi.


    "Family Head, Great Grandfather, Second Grandfather, Third Grandmother, Fourth Grandfather, Sixth Grandfather!" Compared to the boys of the Shi generation, Lin Shiqi, as the first big sister of the Shi generation, preferred to call these kind Elders Grandfather.


    "Shiqi, there haven''t been any big issues recently, and no cultivators have come here, right?" Lin Houyuan asked with a serious expression.


    "No!" Lin Shiqi did not know what had happened at that time, as Lin Shiming had not said much to her before he left.


    However, seeing everyone so serious, and at the same time, completely ignoring the peach tree she had transplanted,


    She also knew there must be some important matter, likely related to Lin Shiming, and this annoyed her that Lin Shiming had not informed her.


    "Alright, everyone rest for half a day! Meanwhile, all uncles and Elder relatives, let''s consecrate and practice the new Small Five Elements Diamond Formation we''ve acquired," Lin Houyuan said, leading the group towards the wooden houses on Qingtao Mountain.


    This Small Five Elements Diamond Formation was a Second Rank, Superior Grade Trapping Formation, controlled by formation flags. Compared to formations reliant on Spirit Veins, this type of formation flag-controlled formation required a person with profound magic power to operate.


    To deal with the Second Rank Supreme Grade Demonic Beast, and so many Second Rank Intermediate Grade Demonic Beasts.


    "How could you, Little Seventh, leave me behind to plant trees for you without telling me?"


    Seeing some anger in Lin Shiqi, Lin Shiming quickly disclosed everything about the Peach Blossom Valley.


    After all, Lin Shiqi played a role in discovering the Spirit Monkeys.


    "Alright, stop maligning Little Seventh. Keeping it a secret was a request from the family elders. Now, everyone sit down and start cultivating to ensure you''re in peak Spiritual Energy state! Once the Family Head and the others finish preparing the Formation, we will set off," Lin Shijie hurriedly intervened to mediate the situation.


    As the big brother, he naturally understood the character of his third younger sister.


    The few of them quickly sat down to cultivate, and after their Spiritual Power was fully replenished, two hours had passed.


    Seeing that the Elders nearby still had not moved, Lin Shiming also began to explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Demonic Monkey to everyone.


    So they could be better prepared in advance.


    Especially Lin Shiyi, though his magical power was profound and his defense formidable, speed was his weakness.


    He wouldn''t want to suffer a major setback as soon as he entered the fray.


    Apart from that, Lin Shiming took out four flasks and gave each person an ounce of Monkey Wine.


    Known as a seed for Foundation Establishment of the family, Lin Shijie was already aware of Monkey Wine''s existence, but Lin Shiyi was not.


    With an excited expression, he said,


    "Not bad, Little Seventh, you know how to fortify courage with liquor." As he spoke, he was about to pick up the flask to drink.


    "Wait, Second Brother, this is Spiritual Wine for replenishing Spiritual Power and healing injuries!" Lin Shiming quickly added.


    His supply of Monkey Wine was limited, and he couldn''t afford Lin Shiyi squandering it carelessly.


    This Spiritual Wine could save lives at critical moments.


    And just then, a Transmission Talisman fluttered in.


    "Set off!"

 Chapter 15: The Formation of the Little Five Elements

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Formation of the Little Five Elements


    Outside Peach Blossom Valley, a group of disciples in green robes walked side by side, their steps quick yet extremely cautious.


    The Great Elder at the forefront occasionally transmitted his voice to explain the experience of hunting to the crowd behind him, particularly to the five disciples of the "Shi" generation.


    On this campaign, there were a total of five elders and Lin Houyuan, the Family Head, all of them Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators.


    Apart from them, there were also ten disciples of the "Hou" generation¡ªhalf were from the hunting team, the other half were the heads recruited from the Lin Family''s various market shops.


    Their cultivation levels ranged from Qi Cultivation Fifth Level to Eighth Level. There were four at the Eighth Level: Lin Houyong¡ªthe eldest of the Hou faction, Lin Houshou¡ªthe second, Lin Houyu¡ªthe fifth, and Lin Houwen¡ªthe ninth.


    Next were three individuals at Qi Cultivation Seventh Level, including Lin Houwei.


    Then, there were two more disciples of the Hou faction at the Sixth Level.


    Below them were the five disciples of the Shi generation.


    "Grandfather, we''re nearly there!" Lin Shiming exclaimed as he caught a glimpse of the entrance to Peach Blossom Valley beyond a mushroom-shaped hill, addressing Lin Yuqing.


    "Grandfather, that Red-haired Demon Monkey is truly formidable. Please be fully prepared," Lin Shiming said again.


    "Rest assured, your grandfather isn''t senile yet. I won''t be negligent!" Lin Yuqing nodded and then spoke to everyone else.


    "Alright, proceed as planned!"


    All of them accelerated their pace. Being close to the boundary of Qingyun Mountain Range, they needed to finish the battle quickly to avoid attracting more Demonic Beasts.


    Upon reaching the valley entrance, all Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators, excluding the Great Elder, formed a semicircular perimeter around the entrance.


    Array flags continuously flew from the hands of the elders into the ground, transforming into streams of light.


    Then countless Spirit Stones were also thrown from their Storage Bags, embedding themselves in the earth.


    In the blink of an eye, hundreds of Spirit Stones were laid down, an extravagance that made Lin Shiming gasp.


    At the same time, his mind eased significantly; with such preparations, even if the Red-haired Demon Monkey had extraordinary abilities, it faced certain death!


    Furthermore, Lin Houshou, a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Array Master, also took out array flags and chose a side position to start deploying them one by one.


    The other cultivators took out their own Magic Artifacts and Defense Talismans, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the troop of yellow-furred Demonic Monkeys at any moment.


    Another incense stick''s time passed, and a clan member emerged from the concealment of the woods¡ªthe scout that the family had freshly arranged.


    "It''s confirmed, there are no other hidden dangers!"


    Upon seeing this, the Third Elder Lin Yushui leisurely took out a flute. After receiving a nod from Lin Yuqing,


    she began to play a slow tune.


    Then, with his body flashing with spiritual light, as a cultivator who specialized in body cultivation, he directly charged into the Vajra Cover and began a bloody struggle with the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The five Elders controlling the Formation were also continuously forming hand seals.


    It wasn''t for nothing that the Mini Five Elements Vajra Cover had such a formidable reputation¡ªit was not only a trapping formation!


    As the Elders'' mouths moved slightly, the hundreds of Spirit Stones previously embedded in the ground emitted fierce light, as surges of spiritual power poured into the Vajra Cover, transforming into five sharp blades.


    They slashed towards the horde of demon monkeys.


    ...


    "Quickly deal with the remaining dozen or so demon monkeys!" Seeing that the Elders and the Family Head were surrounding and attacking the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the majority of the Yellow-haired Demon Monkey, Lin Houyong, the eldest of the younger generation of the Lin Family, swiftly gave the command.


    Various colorful magic artifacts bombarded the Yellow-haired Demon Monkeys in an instant.


    Lin Shiming was witnessing the hunting team''s reputation for the first time, with each magic artifact being immensely powerful and radiating spiritual light!


    Especially their methods, after unleashing their magic artifacts, they almost immediately threw all sorts of talismans without a break.


    Once the talismans were used up, they were already prepared with a second kind of magic artifact, and this second kind was even more insidious¡ªthere were Flying Needle artifacts, silver thread artifacts, and even Poison Hooks!


    An entire set of attacks came down, and surely not many Yellow-haired Demon Monkeys could withstand it!


    However, the speed of that group of monkeys still exceeded everyone''s expectations, especially since a few of them were clearly in the later stages.


    A single leap, and they instantly dodged!


    Without the chaos of the demon flute, the wisdom of these monkeys was equally significant, so this devastating set of attacks barely managed to kill a few mid-stage Spirit Monkeys.


    The dispersal of the Spirit Monkeys increased the difficulty of the Lin Family Cultivators'' group attacks.


    "Everyone, spread out and kill them, we cannot let a single demon monkey escape, nor can we allow them to return to Peach Blossom Valley!" Peach Blossom Valley was now almost under the Lin Family''s mark, and naturally, the Lin Family would not let these monkeys continue to wreak havoc.


    And while Lin Shiming and the other younger disciples of the Lin Family were growing impatient, they quickly charged out to attack the Second Rank mid-stage Demonic Beasts.


    Among them, Lin Shijie with his Fire-returning Sword was specially targeting Second Rank later stage Yellow-haired Demon Monkeys.


    Lin Shiming was not falling behind either. He threw out a large handful of vine seeds, then with a flip of his hand, he cast a spell, and a sea of vines burst forth, entangling multiple demon monkeys.


    In the blink of an eye, many demon monkeys were killed by the hands of the Lin Family''s cultivators.


    However, just then, from within the Peach Blossom Valley, another sharp and piercing monkey howl sounded, followed by a huge Red-haired Monkey bursting out.


    The enormous black iron rod turned into a dark shadow, ferociously smashing towards the people.


    "No good, there''s another one, everyone retreat quickly!" Lin Houyong''s expression darkened instantly, as he shouted out repeatedly.

 Chapter 16: Great Victory

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Great Victory


    Though not as large as the one before, it too emitted the formidable aura of a late-stage Second Rank.


    For the cultivators at the sixth and seventh stages of Qi Cultivation to be approached so closely by such a formidable Demonic Beast was a catastrophic disaster.


    The only thing they could manage was to release Defense Talismans of the superior grade of the Second Rank to save their lives.


    However, the nearby strike of an iron rod, compared to a distant throw, was at least several times more powerful. With a booming crash, the Spirit Shield shattered.


    The iron rod, carrying its terrifying momentum, continued to slash down. Several cultivators from the Lin Family at the sixth and seventh levels were smashed into a pulp, their paths ended and their bodies perished.


    "Quick, into my Formation!" Without time to mourn, Lin Houshou shouted loudly and with a sweep of his hand, he released a dreadful superior-grade ice-based Spell Talisman.


    Countless ice cones viciously struck at the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Yet, the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s skin, covered with red fur that shimmered with a red glow, seemed to imitate red Spirit Armor. Even the superior-grade ice cones of the Spirit Talisman could not penetrate the body of the Demonic Beast; they could only rely on the freezing effect to slow down the pursuit of the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The remaining people, no longer hesitating, crazily bolstered their light body techniques or flew directly on their swords, darting into the Spirit Formation.


    The Spirit Formation created a massive shield of Spiritual Power. Unlike the minor Five Elements Formation, this Formation was known as the Profound Turtle Formation, which only had defensive properties and no offensive capabilities.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey roared angrily and charged towards the minor Five Elements Vajra Cover.


    Behind it, those Demonic Monkeys that had just tried to flee, now crazily shouted and also attacked the minor Five Elements Formation.


    "No, we absolutely cannot let this beast outside break the minor Five Elements Spirit Formation!" Lin Houwei understood that being besieged within the Five Elements Formation was certainly a critical moment for the Red-haired Demon Monkey. They absolutely couldn''t afford to be disturbed and have the Formation broken. If that happened, with two frenziedly fast and powerfully violent Red-haired Demon Monkeys, no one would be able to withstand them!


    Inside was a Demonic Beast approaching the Third Rank!


    "A few ''Shi'' generation youngsters, stay here well!" Lin Houshou shouted loudly, unexpectedly being the first to take the initiative and rush out of the Formation towards the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The other three cultivators in the eighth level of Qi Cultivation of the ''Hou'' generation also followed without the slightest hesitation. With the ninth level elders of the Lin Family not present, it was their inescapable duty!


    No family doesn''t practice Immortal Cultivation, an everlasting legacy left through the ancient times!


    "I''ll go as well, you guys stay behind!" Lin Shijie holding the Fire-returning Fire Sword, in an instant his fire-based magical power surged.


    The Fire Sword flew out, slashing madly at the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    In this battle, he, Lin Shijie, would fight for his family; he wanted to let everyone know.


    That he, Lin Shijie, wasn''t just someone who grew up under the shelter of his family. At this moment, he was fully capable of protecting his family!


    As for Lin Houshou''s words, they had already been ignored by him.


    And almost at the same time, Lin Shiyi with his large black face and Lin Shimo, stepping on a black coffin, also charged out.


    "Shiming, you''re only at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation, you stay behind!"


    While the Demonic Beast struggled frantically in the sky, the massive Snake Vine''s thorns pierced fiercely into its body, only to be blocked by a red light.


    The Snake Vine seemed unable to withstand the immense force, numerous cracks appeared in it, seemingly on the verge of breaking at any moment.


    A gigantic black thorn flower had already landed on the Demonic Beast''s head.


    Pressing against its head, it spewed poison venomously!


    The black venom, possessed with the determination to corrode everything, poured down.


    "Roar!"


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey howled in agony as the red light on its body faded.


    After spewing a mouthful of poison, the spiritual power of the Snake Vine was depleted, and it vanished.


    Before the Red-haired Demon Monkey could revel in its crazed joy, the Great Elder''s Iron Fist, with a towering blood light, smashed down again.


    Together with the assistance of the other Elders, the Demon Monkey, now without the protection of its red hair, soon perished, its head directly severed.


    With the death of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, the situation suddenly cleared up, and the remaining yellow-haired demon monkeys were no longer a concern.


    All Lin Family members transformed into demonic monkey executioners.


    One after another, the yellow-haired demon monkeys were slain, none escaping with Ninth Layer Elders on hand.


    Lin Houyuan glanced at Lin Shiming and, seeing the latter''s pale face, gave an approving smile.


    Just a while ago, he had been telling this child that his father could still hold on!


    Yet now, Lin Shiming had proven to him that he too was capable!


    Feelings of relief and pride surged in Lin Houyuan''s heart.


    The rest of the Lin Family Clan looked at Lin Shiming in a new light; his strength was so formidable that even Lin Shijie had to treat him seriously.


    And to think, Lin Shiming was only at the Fifth Rank of Qi Cultivation!


    After the battle, everyone was exhausted and there was no joy in their victory, especially among the younger generations, as several of their closest companions from the past had fallen.


    "This time, it''s my fault," the Great Elder also stood there somewhat desolate, as the tactics he issued had failed to trap so many yellow-haired demon monkeys and not quickly killed the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    "Eldest uncle, you''re not wrong; this time, we''ve won a great victory!" Lin Houyuan suddenly spoke out loud.


    "Now this Spirit Peach Valley belongs to us, and later I will give all of you the opportunity to search for Spiritual Objects in Peach Blossom Valley, except for the Spirit Peaches and Spiritual Wine, you may keep whatever else you find!"


    "Furthermore, Third Aunt, please go to the trouble of setting up a large Formation in Peach Blossom Valley to conceal the fluctuations of spiritual energy in this place!"

 Chapter 17: Obtaining a Young Demon Monkey Again

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Obtaining a Young Demon Monkey Again


    With Lin Houyuan''s words, the faces of the Lin Family disciples finally showed a slight improvement.


    Two second-rank late-stage demon monkeys have appeared in Peach Blossom Valley; that''s not as simple as the second-rank intermediate grade spirit vein previously mentioned by Lin Shiming¡ªit must be at least a second-rank superior grade spirit vein.


    And as a second-rank superior grade spirit vein, it naturally contains more than just Spirit Peach Trees and Spiritual Wine.


    The phrase from Lin Houyuan that the gains would be their own, how could it not please them?


    Lin Shiming, Lin Shiqi, and other ''Shi'' generation cultivators walked together, discussing for a while before preparing to explore separately.


    Peach Blossom Valley is not large, but it is also not small.


    However, before this, Lin Shijie and others also expressed great interest in Lin Shiming, and their opinion of the Qing Mu Art, which they once considered a method for the elderly, changed completely.


    "There is no completely weak cultivation technique in the world, if there is, it''s because the cultivator hasn''t utilized it fully," said Lin Shiming, plunging several into deep thought with his words.


    Indeed, there is no strongest cultivation technique!


    Only the most suitable cultivation technique!


    For example, letting Lin Shijie cultivate such a slow and prolonged method does not suit his impetuous and sweeping nature; it would be impossible for him to cultivate in a manner so smooth and unobstructed, and reach the eighth level of Qi Cultivation by the age of 25.


    The ''Hou'' generation also entered Peach Blossom Valley with Lin Houwei being the first to rush in. Although the Spiritual Wine must be handed over, taking a tiny sip was something the family would not pursue.


    Lin Shiming also parted with Lin Shiqi in the end and entered Peach Blossom Valley on his own.


    As he entered Peach Blossom Valley, the system prompt appeared again.


    "Please head north to find a warm cave, and you will obtain a demon monkey cub with enormous potential!"


    The system''s prompt made Lin Shiming happy again¡ªa demonic beast cub with huge potential.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but think of those two red-haired demon monkeys!


    Just right, two making a pair; the chances were high that their cub might have great potential!


    Lin Shiming suppressed his excitement. His interest in exploring Peach Blossom Valley surged, as a demonic beast cub with such great potential clearly held the highest value.


    Along the way, Lin Shiming directly controlled his Flying Sword, gliding through the Peach Blossom Forest.


    Approximately half an hour later, Lin Shiming stopped next to a cliff.


    The cliff was over thirty meters tall, surrounded by steep rocks, perilous and rugged!


    "It really is a Red-haired Demon Monkey''s baby!" Lin Shiming approached the demon monkey and saw that it looked exactly like a Red-haired Demon Monkey, only miniaturized to a tenth of the size.


    The little demon monkey stared at Lin Shiming, visibly stunned for a moment, then its small face changed swiftly, becoming ferocious, as it bared its tiny milk teeth and continuously waved its little claws.


    However, to Lin Shiming, this ferocity seemed almost adorably aggressive!


    Lin Shiming watched with interest and then, like feeding the Golden Winged Mantises, he took out a Jade Bowl and poured in a strand of Spirit Water.


    Still, the little monkey kept baring its teeth and screeching menacingly at Lin Shiming, clearly uninterested in the Spirit Water, but its body was involuntarily pressed up against the wall, with nowhere to retreat.


    Lin Shiming knew that the little demonic beast couldn''t be tricked, so he stepped forward and used the Wood Binding Technique to bind it, then clenched his teeth and dripped a drop of essence blood onto it.


    The drop fell into the Jade Bowl and he began to form hand seals, as streams of pure spiritual energy started to form a specific array within the Spirit Water.


    This was the most commonly used Spirit Contract in the Cultivation World to establish a master-servant pact between a cultivator and a Spirit Beast.


    Of course, this Spirit Contract technique only worked on juveniles. The mature or powerful Demonic Beasts had solidified thoughts and mental strength; unless one had overwhelming strength, it would be impossible to tame them.


    Lin Shiming''s other Spirit Beast, the Golden Winged Mantis, was also bound by such a Spirit Contract.


    After forcibly feeding the Spirit Water to the little demon monkey, it fell into a deep sleep, and Lin Shiming casually put it into his Spirit Beast Bag.


    Now having two strong Spirit Beasts with potential made Lin Shiming feel a mix of emotion and, at the same time, added pressure.


    Another glutton to feed!


    Lin Shiming examined the nest again and discovered that the grass in the nest was not ordinary either, carrying strands of pure spiritual energy, and it too was a spiritual material.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming did not waste it, collecting it for future use or even to continue making a nest for the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    After ensuring that all the nest grass had been collected, Lin Shiming turned his attention elsewhere, thinking that with two big eaters to feed, he would have to find some income, or he would be destitute!


    Lin Shiming then took out a Jade Bottle and collected a full bottle of Spirit Water, about two hundred catties, from the Spirit Pool. Seeing that the pool had visibly shallow, he stopped collecting.


    As for the Spirit Pool, it was to be handed over to the family. Lin Shiming had also heard that Spirit Veins could be relocated and transplanted, but he was unsure if the Lin Family had the capability or the technology to do so.


    Besides, two hundred catties of Spirit Water, if exchanged for Spirit Stones, would be three thousand Spirit Stones.


    After collecting the Spirit Water, Lin Shiming was content, knowing that the Golden Winged Mantis wouldn''t need to worry about its food for a long time.


    But just as he was about to leave, the Golden Winged Mantis in his Spirit Beast Bag began chirping insistently, conveying to Lin Shiming that it wanted to come out.


    "Are there more treasures?"

 Chapter 18 - 18 Guess What I Found

    Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Guess What I Found


    In the hall on the cliff face, Lin Shiming released the Golden Winged Mantis.


    As soon as the little mantis emerged, Lin Shiming used his body to block the Spirit Pool, to prevent the mantis from causing trouble there.


    However, it seemed he was wrong. The Golden Winged Mantis fluttered its wings slightly and soared towards a stone wall that Lin Shiming hadn''t noticed.


    "Huh!" Lin Shiming watched in astonishment as the mantis crashed into a section of the stone wall, creating a concave that was actually a small stone door, or perhaps one could call it a secret compartment.


    What was strange was that when Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense swept over this stone compartment, it seemed to be blocked by something, vanishing without a trace and without any feedback.


    If not for the Golden Winged Mantis, he truly wouldn''t have discovered this secret compartment.


    As the compartment opened, a rich aroma of Monkey Wine wafted through the air, rejuvenating Lin Shiming''s spirit.


    The Qi Cultivation of the fifth level within his body began to stir.


    It was a subtle sign of an impending breakthrough!


    Lin Shiming was stunned and then had a sudden realization.


    This must be where the Red-haired Demon Monkey brewed the Monkey Wine, and it certainly was Second Rank Superior Grade or above.


    It was just unknown how the Red-haired Demon Monkey had discovered this hidden compartment.


    While Lin Shiming hesitated, the Golden Winged Mantis had already charged in and started feasting. However, after eating about two or three jin, the mantis emerged from the compartment gleaming in a golden brilliance, then wobbled onto Lin Shiming''s shoulder.


    After chirping for a long time, it lay down to sleep and no matter how Lin Shiming called, he couldn''t wake it up.


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to put it into the Spirit Beast Bag and walked over to the space in the stone wall, peering inside.


    He saw a bowl-like stone plate inside, surrounded by the Spirit Grass that Lin Shiming had just collected. In the stone plate itself, there were about ten or so jin of red Spiritual Wine left.


    The Spiritual Wine was so bright and inviting that it made one''s mouth water at a glance, and its fragrance pervaded the air, causing Lin Shiming to involuntarily swallow his saliva.


    At the bottom of the Spiritual Wine, there were several remnants of Spirit Fruits soaked in it.


    The closer to the Spiritual Wine, the richer the fragrance and the more astonishing the concentration of Spiritual Energy.


    After taking a deep breath, he felt that his Cultivation Level had made slight progress.


    "Second Rank Supreme Grade Monkey Wine!" Lin Shiming confirmed in his heart.


    "I''ve got a Yellow-haired Demon Monkey cub, all covered in yellow fur, and it''s extremely strong, definitely not worse than your mantis!"


    As she said this, Lin Shiqi indeed took out the Yellow-haired Demon Monkey cub. This little cub was obviously born much earlier than the Red-haired cub Lin Shiming had, but even so, it was only about the same size as Lin Shiming''s Red-haired cub.


    "Then congratulations, Third Sister!" Lin Shiming congratulated her with a wave of his hand. The Yellow-haired Demon Monkeys, at their peak, could reach the later stages of Second Rank Demonic Beasts, and their combat power was also extremely strong; they were suitable for raising as Spirit Beasts.


    Therefore, Lin Shiming''s congratulations were genuine.


    However, Lin Shiming''s heart was still somewhat proud; these Yellow-haired Demon Monkeys, not to mention compared to the Golden Winged Mantis, even compared to the Red-haired Demon Monkey, were more than just a bit inferior.


    But he did not show it, for with Third Sister''s temperament, if she felt unhappy, she would later say he had to help her keep a secret, and that would be unbearable for him.


    "Let''s go, we''ve searched enough, let''s meet up with Grandpa and the others!" Lin Shiming suggested, and Lin Shiqi readily agreed.


    Together, they headed towards the tree of the Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Peaches.


    Along the way, Lin Shiming also encountered Lin Shijie and others. The three had split up to search and were now gathering together, each with a pleased expression on their faces, yet they were holding back from showing it.


    Lin Shiming also understood that his own ability to obtain Red Ginseng meant that the others mustn''t be doing badly either.


    There must also be many who had managed to acquire Yellow-haired Demon Monkey cubs.


    Lin Shiming saw Uncle Thirteen Lin Houwei under a peach tree.


    The latter had a flushed face, seemingly drunk. Upon seeing Lin Shiming, he greeted him, and finally even asked if Lin Shiming noticed anything unusual about him!


    Lin Shiming and the others naturally replied with a smile that there was nothing wrong!


    Only the smiling expressions made Lin Houwei suddenly feel very embarrassed.


    Soon enough, everyone reached the Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Peach Tree, where all the elders were also gathering.


    "Father, Great Grandpa, Second Grandpa, Third Grandma, Fourth Grandpa, Sixth Uncle!" Lin Shiming greeted each in turn, and the other people also paid their respects to their elders.


    "You''re here; how did it go, did you find anything good?" Lin Houyuan asked the crowd.


    Immediately, everyone began to chat simply, but Lin Shiming noticed that the Great Elder, Second Elder, and others did not look too pleased.


    Even his father, beneath his smile, seemed to harbor a tinge of bitterness.


    "Father, I have an important matter that I need to report to you and the Elders!"


    ```

 Chapter 19 - 19 There is Still One Thing

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19 There is Still One Thing


    In a stone hall by the wall, several middle-aged men followed a young man in green robes as they walked in.


    While taking everything in, their eyes almost unanimously landed on the Spirit Pool.


    These people were none other than Lin Shiming and the Lin Family Head Lin Houyuan, as well as the various Elders.


    "Shiming, you are truly a blessing to our family!" the Great Elder was the first to praise with emotion.


    Although this small Spirit Pool was not large, it was still possible to harvest some Spirit Water every month, and even the Green Lotus from Fangmu Mountain could be partially nurtured here.


    Of course, the most crucial point was that this was a Second-Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein.


    In the Cultivation World, if those with Spirit Roots were talents, then Spirit Veins were indeed the real territory.


    "It''s just a pity that the Second-Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Wine doesn''t have that much more healing ability than the Intermediate Grade Spiritual Wine!" The Second Elder also felt very happy, but when he thought of the Spiritual Wine previously extracted from the Second-Rank Superior Grade Spirit Peach Tree.


    His mood dropped quite a bit, which was why the Lin Family had made such a big fuss to come to Peach Blossom Valley.


    It was because they could find a way to heal the family''s only Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    But now that they had failed, all they managed was to gain another piece of territory for the family; they didn''t even dare to sell the Spirit Peach Tree and its Spirit Wine openly.


    Without sufficient strength, flaunting this wealth was like a child walking through a market with a gold brick.


    "Fifth brother, are you confident about this Spirit Vein?" Lin Houyuan also spoke up to the Sixth Elder, who had been examining the Spirit Pool and holding an instrument tray.


    The Sixth Elder, named Lin Houyong, ranked fifth in the "Hou" generation, had a Third Spirit Root. His Metal Spirit Root from the Third Spirit Root was extremely pure, hence his talent was also very high. At 55, he had already become an Elder and was one of the Lin Family''s two most promising seeds for Foundation Establishment.


    He also had another identity; he was a Spirit-Seeking Master.


    Spirit Veins in the world are naturally nurtured and arise in coincidence with fate. Just as Spirit Plant Masters are adept at handling Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Plants, Spirit-Seeking Masters are skilled at finding Spirit Veins and transplanting them.


    The reason why The Great Sects have been rising faster and their Spirit Veins getting better is precisely because they have a large number of Spirit-Seeking Masters. By spending a certain price to gather small Spirit Veins together, they can form a vast Spirit Vein.


    "This is a Second-Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein, and it has even nurtured a Spirit Pool. I''m not sure!" Lin Houyong shook his head; he was only a Second-Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit-Seeking Master.


    The training of Spirit-Seeking Masters is several times more difficult than that of Alchemists and Artifact Refiners. After all, as difficult as it is to practice Alchemy and Artifact Refining, materials can still be found for practice, but Spirit Veins are different!


    "Then we can only wait until the Spirit Peaches mature and are transplanted. Afterward, we''ll have to pay a great price to hire someone!" Lin Houyuan also sighed.


    Leaving the stone chamber, Lin Shiming boarded Second Elder Lin Yuqi''s Flying Sword.


    His Flying Sword was a Second Rank Superior Grade artifact, which made it faster. Combined with his powerful strength at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, the journey back to Fangmu Mountain would take even less time.


    The Sixth Elder and Fourth Elder stood quietly to one side.


    It was Great Elder Lin Yuqing who then spoke,


    "Shiming, you are the first of the Shi generation to meet the old patriarch!"


    "And for that, I am grateful to you, great-grandfather!" replied Lin Shiming, obviously pleased. He had thought Lin Shijie would have met the patriarch by now. It seemed the elder''s wounds might indeed be grave.


    There had been news recently that Uncle Thirteen, Lin Houwei, had announced that the family would stake everything on a Foundation Establishment Pill in five years.


    And now, the family was exerting all its might to conquer Peach Blossom Valley.


    "You''ve earned it. And I''ve noticed that the spiritual energy in your body is almost at a boundary. Once you return, you should go into seclusion right away, and it may not be many days before you break through to the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation!"


    "Thank you very much for the reminder, great-grandfather!" Lin Shiming nodded. His gains this time were indeed enormous, and he needed to take some time to assimilate all of it.


    Breaking through his cultivation level was the most important thing right now.


    The journey was silent, and after about a day, Fangmu Mountain was finally in sight.


    The peak soared into the clouds, familiar mist enshrouded its midst, and compared to before, Fangmu Mountain seemed even more desolate.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help feeling a tinge of sadness. After all, there were several uncles and elder relatives who would now forever remain just outside of the Qingyun Mountain range.


    They were the true heroes of the Lin Family!


    With a substantial number of cultivators withdrawn from the family, martial law had been declared on Fangmu Mountain from the day Lin Shiming and the others departed.


    As soon as Lin Shiming and his party appeared in the sky above, the waiting members of the Lin Family quickly noticed them.


    The first to appear was the Lin Family''s Fifth Elder, Lin Yuzheng, who had been called back to take charge of the situation on Fangmu Mountain during the family''s mobilization.


    "Big brother, how did it go?"


    "A great victory!"

 Chapter 20 - 20 What Defines a Family

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20 What Defines a Family


    The morning in springtime on the summit of Fangmu Mountain was chilly, with dampness blanketing the landscape. Drops of dew plummeted, landing on leaves, grass, and the ground.


    Lin Shiming stood at a corner of the mountain''s edge, gazing down at the mountain below, where a sea of clouds spread and rolled eastward.


    Further east, a glimmer of the early sun rose from the horizon, breaking through the sea of clouds in a spectacular display.


    This was Lin Shiming''s second day back at Fangmu Mountain, and he had been instructed to wait here for further notice.


    In the distance, a Spirit Talisman flew in, transforming into a streak of flame. Under the manipulation of spiritual energy, it formed a string of text.


    "Hurry to Qinglian Pool, the old clan leader summons you!"


    Lin Shiming dared not delay, applying a lightness spell to his feet, and headed towards a cobblestone path leading higher up the mountain.


    At a pavilion en route, a middle-aged man in blue robes awaited him, it was none other than the Second Elder, Lin Yuqi.


    "The old clan leader is summoning you by Qinglian Pool, don''t make him wait too long!"


    "Yes, second granduncle," Lin Shiming nodded and then crossed the pavilion, continuing on his way.


    The further he walked, the more concentrated the spiritual energy Lin Shiming felt. Fangmu Mountain housed a third-rank Spirit Vein, and Qinglian Pool, derived from the vein, held the densest spiritual energy in the entire mountain.


    Soon, Lin Shiming saw a spirit pool about twenty meters in diameter. Compared to the Spirit Pool in Peach Blossom Valley, the one on Fangmu Mountain was larger and the mist of spiritual energy thicker, presenting an almost supernatural fairyland to the senses.


    In the center of the pool, lush lotus leaves floated on the surface.


    Next to the pool, there was also a pavilion.


    A young man was seen fishing within the pavilion.


    However, what was strange was that the young man''s hair was as white as snow!


    "Are you the descendant of Hou Yuan?" The young man, noticing Lin Shiming''s arrival, lifted his fishing rod, then with a flip, stowed it away in his Storage Bag.


    "Responding to seventh great-uncle¡ªShiming indeed is!" By now, Lin Shiming had realized that the person before him, who appeared to be of similar age to himself, was actually the venerable clan leader of the Lin Family, Lin Xianzhi.


    He seemed in much better condition than the rumors had suggested.


    "Come and sit," Lin Xianzhi said, taking a seat first at a stone table within the pavilion.


    On the table was a chessboard with white pieces evidently being dominated by black, which continued to encroach upon them.


    Lin Shiming walked over and took a seat as Lin Xianzhi had indicated.


    In his mind, he pondered whether he was being asked to play chess.


    This was not an uncommon occurrence; one Spirit Root Cultivator, after helping his family become a Purple Mansion Family, left them, claiming to fulfill the cycle of karma, never to return.


    For a family that had invested everything in cultivating a genius, this was nothing short of disheartening, yet they were helpless!


    "Replying to the Seventh Uncle Ancestor, Shiming is dull and can only understand that the family is the root. I was born here, raised here¡ªthe family is like my Dao heart!"


    "The family prospers, I prosper; the family declines, I decline!"


    "Therefore, Shiming wishes to become the family''s sharp sword, to cut down all enemies!" Lin Shiming spoke, each word deliberate.


    And it was at this moment that his concept of family became much clearer.


    Indeed, as a family cultivator, from birth, he had been with his family. To reach the true end of the immortal path, one could not escape the word "family."


    "Hmm! A much better answer than your father''s," Lin Xianzhi nodded, then continued to speak:


    "You probably guessed it. Our Lin Family has a powerful enemy, the Purple Mansion Family!"


    "I was injured by those people too, and they poisoned me with a peculiar toxin. Although I''ve been able to suppress and neutralize most of it over the past thirty years with the help of the Green Lotus Spirit Pool''s lotus roots and seeds, most of my meridians have been damaged and obstructed, and my cultivation level even began to regress, rendering me unable to take action!"


    "Fortunately, the Second Rank Supreme Grade Spiritual Wine you brought back this time can treat internal injuries, regulate meridians, and harmonize spiritual energy. I estimate that in no time at all, I should be able to recover to the combat power of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage."


    "I called you here mainly to ask what reward you desire?"


    "Replying to the Seventh Uncle Ancestor, retrieving the Spiritual Wine was an effort by the entire family. Shiming only contributed a small bit of meager effort and dares not ask for a reward," Lin Shiming repeatedly waved his hands.


    After the family''s great victory, with seniors giving their all and uncles laying down their lives, he dared not claim credit for himself.


    He could not do such a thing either.


    "The family must have rewards as well as punishments. Since you won''t say, I shall give you a Second Rank Superior Grade Flying Sword then!" Lin Xianzhi did not wait for Lin Shiming to respond, but simply waved his hand, and a dark green small sword appeared in Lin Shiming''s hand.


    "This sword is called the Lotus Sword, used by me in my youth. It holds sentimental value for me now, so I bestow it upon you! I hope you will continue to strive and reach new heights!"


    "Additionally, you may cultivate here for a while and attempt to breakthrough to the sixth level of Qi Cultivation!"


    "Thank you, Seventh Uncle Ancestor!" Lin Shiming quickly waved his hands to express his gratitude and was thrilled with the elder''s suggestion to attempt a breakthrough here.


    To know that this Spirit Pool was a Third Rank Spirit Pool; cultivating and breaking through here not only doubled the speed but also made it easier to solidify the cultivation level.


    However, before that, Lin Shiming had two more things to ask.


    "Seventh Uncle Ancestor, there is an item that Shiming does not recognize, and I wonder if I might trouble you to help identify it." Lin Shiming took out the stone from the Magical Pavilion. He had initially wanted to search for information in the treasure hall''s library, but with the experienced Seventh Uncle Ancestor present, it made sense to have him take a look first.


    "Eh!" Lin Xianzhi took the stone and was obviously startled by its ability to absorb Divine Sense.

 Chapter 21 - 21 Inheritance Stone

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Inheritance Stone


    Lin Shiming watched quietly by the side, while Lin Xianzhi continued to caress the small stone door that felt as smooth as jade.


    The stone door itself was a hidden compartment, only half a meter square in size; it didn''t take long to examine it thoroughly in hand.


    Lin Xianzhi placed the stone door on the table without speaking, and from his storage bag, he took out a green stone and set it aside.


    Surprisingly, Lin Shiming''s divine sense was also absorbed by the green stone.


    Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Lin Shiming, confident in his divine sense, would absolutely not believe such an object existed before him.


    "Shiming, this thing of yours is most likely the inheritance stone of another family, and moreover, at least a Purple Mansion inheritance!" Lin Xianzhi''s mention of the Purple Mansion inheritance completely stunned Lin Shiming.


    Purple Mansion inheritance, that''s at least a Profound Rank superior grade cultivation technique or secret technique. It''s said that the Lin Family only has two, one is a cultivation technique, and the other is a secret technique.


    A secret technique, also known as a pseudo-divine skill, can be mastered by at least a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Moreover, mastering a secret technique makes the comprehension of divine skills in the Purple Mansion Realm clearer and more distinct, almost increasing the probability for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to advance to the Purple Mansion Realm by one level.


    "Did you also obtain this stone in Peach Blossom Valley?" Lin Xianzhi asked Lin Shiming about the origin of the stone door; a Purple Mansion inheritance involved considerable stakes, and it could easily become the object of covetousness.


    One must know that crimes of possessing precious treasures occur practically every day in the world of immortal cultivation.


    "Yes!" Lin Shiming didn''t hide anything and recounted the experience of how he obtained the stone door.


    He even allowed the patriarch, Lin Xianzhi, to take a glance at the Golden Winged Mantis.


    The patriarch Lin Xianzhi was so astonished by the Golden Winged Mantis that he asked about its origin.


    He never expected Lin Shiming to possess so many treasures.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming told everything, revealing the fact that he had come upon these items by pure chance.


    "You''re really lucky, this mantis has a great chance of reaching the peak of Second Rank among the Demonic Beasts in the future!" Lin Xianzhi commented, giving what he considered an extremely favorable evaluation.


    Lin Shiming nodded and showed a surprised and delighted expression.


    Although he knew that the potential of the Golden Winged Mantis was far beyond just the peak of the Second Rank¡ªit was Third Rank.


    But he could not show it; not only would it be hard to explain, but he also needed to maintain a certain respect for his elder.


    "Shiming, every Purple Mansion Family, in order to prevent their legacy from falling into the hands of others, resorts to using secret spirit concealment techniques to create specialized inheritance stones. However, the ways to unlock these stones vary greatly, and even I have only seen two kinds. One involves using Spiritual Fire, and the other is our own Green Lotus inheritance stone, with unlocking methods related to the Green Lotus!" Lin Xianzhi once again turned the topic to the inheritance stone, naturally needing a solution for the origin of the treasure Shiming inquired about.


    Lifting his head, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but look towards the center of the pond, where he saw his seventh great-uncle sitting on a giant lotus leaf, with an immense amount of Water Spiritual Power surging into his body.


    "Is this the strength of a Foundation Establishment stage expert?" Lin Shiming''s heart shook tremendously, and the excitement of his breakthrough was somewhat diminished.


    However, the thought of one day achieving a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment himself filled him with a great sense of motivation.


    Lin Shiming reached to clasp his hands together in a bow, and without waiting to see if his great-uncle took notice, he quietly left.


    After all, this was the clan''s lotus pond, and the Patriarch was using this place to heal his injuries with the aid of Spiritual Wine.


    It was better not to disturb them.


    Upon returning to his residence at Fangmu Mountain, Lin Shiming released the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    He then took out the Spiritual Wine and Spirit Water. As for the meat of the Demonic Beast monkey, it was no longer needed. Instead, he took out some Spirit Rice he had purchased, steamed it into rice, and fed it to the two beasts.


    After all, the Red-haired Demon Monkey was now his Spirit Beast, and giving it meat of its own kind would be inappropriate.


    The Golden Winged Mantis, after a few days of deep sleep, had grown larger once more. It seemed as if the Supreme Grade Spiritual Wine had accelerated its growth.


    Its body had become roughly the same size as the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s and it could no longer perch on Lin Shiming''s shoulder.


    The Spiritual Power throughout its body had actually reached the strength of a Second Rank Inferior Grade Demonic Beast; with just a little more training, it could fight on Lin Shiming''s behalf, providing him with an additional combatant.


    The Golden Winged Mantis, being the number one foodie, chirped excitedly as it began to drink the Spiritual Wine and Spirit Water and eat the Spirit Food, gobbling it down so eagerly that one might think Lin Shiming was mistreating it.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey, however, cowered on the side. Due to the Spirit Contract, it wouldn''t bare its teeth or grimace at Lin Shiming, but to become particularly affectionate all at once was clearly not possible.


    Nevertheless, seeing the Golden Winged Mantis enjoying its food more and more and the diminishing supply of Spirit Food and Spiritual Wine, the Monkey became anxious.


    It approached and pressed down on the Mantis''s increasingly large forelimbs, seemingly wary of getting slashed by them.


    Only after ensuring it was safe did it let out a couple of wails and begin to eat.


    Naturally, the Golden Winged Mantis chirped angrily, but it stopped after being soothed by Lin Shiming.


    After feeding the Spirit Food, Lin Shiming prepared to leave. After all, he was supposed to be on guard duty at Qingtao Mountain, and now he was spending more time on Fangmu Mountain than on Qingtao Mountain, which was indeed a bit embarrassing.


    ```

 Chapter 22 - 22 Trouble in Peach Blossom Valley

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Trouble in Peach Blossom Valley


    Spring had passed its midpoint, and it had been more than ten days since Lin Shiming returned to Qingtao Mountain.


    Peach blossoms had withered batch after batch, leaving only the scattered pink on the ground as the trees bore but few flowers now.


    In place of the blossoms, clusters of green, unripe peaches had formed. The newly appeared fruit was oval-shaped, covering the entire peach grove.


    Of course, the most eye-catching were the two Spirit Peach Trees atop Qingtao Mountain. The fruit they bore was exceptionally crystal clear and full of spiritual energy.


    Lin Shiming counted them, finding that the Lin Family''s original old peach tree had produced one hundred and eighty peaches, which was a very bountiful harvest.


    As for the other Spirit Peach Tree that Lin Shiming had discovered later, although it had been remedied and tended to by Lin Shiqi, it still bore only 108 fruits, which was less than half.


    Even so, Lin Shiming was very pleased. He owned thirty percent of this new peach tree, and with Second Rank, Inferior Grade Spirit Peaches roughly costing five to six spirit stones each, Lin Shiming had made an income of 180 Spirit Stones.


    For him, who had to feed two big eaters, it was indeed wonderful news.


    The only down side was that his hard-won third sister, who had agreed to teach him the knowledge of Spirit Plants for a month, was now conscripted by the Lin family to work in Peach Blossom Valley, caring for those Spirit Peach Trees.


    Moreover, it was said that the family''s brewmaster was also researching the brewing method for Monkey Wine there.


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to exchange for some Spirit Plant books from the family''s Treasure Pavilion and started studying on his own.


    Perhaps it was because his main cultivation technique was of the wood series, his progress in becoming a Spirit Plant Master was also extremely rapid, and his daily prompts had all become knowledge about Spirit Plants.


    And now, he had even transplanted a First Rank Spirit Grass, becoming a First Rank Spirit Plant Master.


    However, the Spirit Grass corresponding to a First Rank master was only helpful to Innate martial artists, so they weren''t very valuable.


    But Lin Shiming was quite enthusiastic about it, after all, it was a skill he had acquired. He couldn''t help but take out the Spirit Grass he had found nesting in Peach Blossom Valley.


    He inspected it closely, feeling that the Spirit Grass was full of spirit intelligence and might even be worth replanting.


    However, what Lin Shiming had not expected was that the system prompt appeared once again.


    "Please ignite the Huangyun Grass to bake the Inheritance Stone, and you will obtain a Profound Rank, Superior Grade Purple Mansion Secret Technique!"


    Following the system''s prompt, Lin Shiming was both excited and filled with emotion, as if he had encountered an unlooked-for surprise after a long and fruitless search without any effort.


    Huangyun Grass was just an ordinary Second Rank, Inferior Grade Spirit Grass, yet it could be used in combination with an Inheritance Stone. Truly, in the world of immortal cultivation, one relied on both fate and knowledge.


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate, summoning a Fireball Technique to ignite the Huangyun Grass.


    Soon, plumes of thick yellow smoke rose, like yellow clouds reaching for the horizon.


    Lin Shiming placed the prepared Inheritance Stone above it, and as the black stone surface was smoked by the thick fumes, it gradually began to turn jade-like.


    One spirit pattern after another vividly appeared on the surface of the jade stone, and then his Divine Sense encountered no barriers as it entered the inside of the jade.


    Even with a Second Rank Superior Grade Lotus Sword, it would take two days.


    On the other hand, the Hetian Market in the neighboring Hetian County was considerably closer, just a half day''s journey away.


    The Wang Family of Hetian Market and the Lin Family were both relatively weak Foundation Establishment Families with a verbal alliance, so Lin Shiming felt somewhat assured regarding the Wang Family.


    Just then, a rainbow light flashed across the sky, and a delicate figure descended from the heavens in utter disarray.


    Looking closely, it turned out to be Lin Shiqi, who should have been in Peach Blossom Valley.


    Lin Shiming quickly mounted his Flying Sword to catch Lin Shiqi.


    The latter, clutching Lin Shiming''s clothes and with a voice hoarse with urgency, said,


    "Shiqi, hurry! Go and tell great-grandfather and second uncle that Peach Blossom Valley is under attack!"


    Lin Shiqi''s eyes were brimming with tears, her urgency extreme, her spiritual power depleted, clearly over-exerted and having forced an overspending to control her Flying Sword.


    "The Family Head and Third Elder are in dire straits!"


    "So, you''ve run here!" Lin Shiming still wanted to ask more, but he only heard a voice from the sky.


    A cultivator in a yellow robe drifted down, glanced at Lin Shiming, and then disdainfully said,


    "So, a mere Sixth Layer Qi Cultivation junior is your reliance?"


    "Who are you!" Lin Shiming glared coldly at the yellow-robed cultivator, his eyes terribly frosty.


    "I am..."


    Just as the yellow-robed cultivator was about to answer, he saw a dark green sword light flash out and cut towards him with the speed of lightning.


    His face changed instantly; he did not expect Lin Shiming to attack directly.


    In a hurry, he barely managed to release his Spirit Sword, only to be swept away by Lin Shiming''s Lotus Sword.


    The superior grade Spirit Sword''s power revealed itself in an instant.


    The yellow-robed cultivator was quick to react as well, swinging out his arms as two Flying Swords flew from his sleeves. Although not superior grade Spirit Swords, his Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer cultivation base still stabilized him.


    However, Lin Shiming''s means of attack were more numerous than expected!


    Lin Shiming waved his sleeves, and dozens of Spirit Talismans flew out of his hands!


    "A Luomu Family cultivator is really poor, to bring out such low-grade Spirit Talismans!" the yellow-robed cultivator mocked, not stopping his hands as he took out two Spirit Talismans, one water shield, and one golden shield.


    What he didn''t notice was the Wood Vine Technique seeds mixed in with Lin Shiming''s Spirit Talismans!

 Chapter 23: The Might of Profound Water and Heavy Mountains

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Might of Profound Water and Heavy Mountains


    The cultivator in the yellow robe was confident with the protection of two Spirit Talismans, one Superior Grade and one Intermediate Grade.


    Believing he was cautious enough not to fail unexpectedly, he even used a Superior Grade Spirit Talisman against a mid-stage cultivator.


    As all of Lin Shiming''s lower-rank spells were dissipated, the cultivator in the yellow robe summoned back the three Spirit Swords, each mirroring the talismans with one Superior Grade and two Intermediate Grades.


    The intense glow of dawn indicated he was a cultivator with powerful Fire-Element Technique.


    "Wood Vine Technique, arise!" At this moment, Lin Shiming was as calm as a cold-blooded machine.


    With a wave of his hand, countless wooden vines shot up towards the cultivator in the yellow robe to entangle him.


    The cultivator in the yellow robe was visibly shocked, the ease in his eyes completely vanishing.


    The three Spirit Swords danced in the air, leaving a trail of sword shadows.


    The sky filled with vines was sliced into pieces, falling to the ground in segments.


    Unlike with Demonic Beasts, the cultivator''s Spirit Swords caused great trouble for Lin Shiming, who had previously been unstoppable with his vines.


    "So little strength! Just die!" The cultivator in the yellow robe shouted angrily, as the three Spirit Swords slashed towards Lin Shiming in a line.


    The Superior Grade Spirit Sword led the front while the Intermediate Grade ones followed, emitting a terrifying streak of sword light.


    But at that moment, Lin Shiming took out a gourd and swallowed a mouthful of Monkey Wine.


    His spiritual power instantly recovered, and he formed a spell gesture with both hands!


    "Venomous Snake Vine Flower, arise!"


    Unlike the common vines, the Venomous Snake Vine Flower almost instantly transformed into a towering giant vine.


    The cultivator in the yellow robe managed only to take out a Spirit Talisman to shield himself, but the Snake Vine Flowers easily penetrated it and tightly coiled around him!


    "You want to die too!" said the cultivator in the yellow robe, utterly baffled.


    How could Lin Shiming dare?


    Exchange a life for just an injury?


    How could a cultivator at the sixth level hold off a seventh-level cultivator''s equivalent Flying Sword, plus two Intermediate Grade ones, with just a Superior Grade Lotus Sword?


    However, the answer to this was Lin Shiming''s cold smile at the corner of his mouth.


    One could see that the peach trees seemed to usher in springtime again, with peach blossoms reviving and blooming one after another, forming a Sword of Peach Blossoms.


    This was the Three Profound Peach Blossom Formation that the Lin Family set up on Qingtao Mountain.


    The Lin Family''s diversionary spells had been seen through, and the cultivators who went to Shangou Town were captured by the Huang Family''s cultivators.


    Although these early Qi Cultivation cultivators knew nothing of what had happened to the family,


    the Huang Family was still made aware of the Lin Family''s major movements, as all the senior cultivators from various shops and merchant groups were recalled.


    After a private investigation lasting more than ten days, the Huang Family finally discovered the location of the Lin Family on the outskirts of the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    And upon seeing so many Spirit Peach Trees, their greed was instantly kindled, and they trapped everyone from the Lin Family inside.


    If not for the Third Elder, who was skilled in formations and had already built a Second Rank Supreme Grade Formation with the power of an Intermediate Grade Second Rank Spirit Vein, the Lin Family wouldn''t have been able to resist even for a moment.


    But even so, the situation was extremely precarious; the Huang Family was different from the Lin Family, with three Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over a dozen Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators. If the Huang Family were to deploy their Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Peach Blossom Valley would surely be littered with corpses.


    "How dare they!" Lin Shiming clenched his fist and then released the Lotus Sword, flying towards Fangmu Mountain.


    Lin Shiming pushed himself to travel desperately, fiercely pouring his spiritual powers into the Spirit Sword.


    The Second Rank Superior Grade Flying Sword was far superior to the previous Green Spirit Sword, so much so that he arrived at Fangmu Mountain before sunset.


    Lin Shiming immediately contacted his father Lin Houyuan, the Great Elder Lin Yuqing, the Second Elder Lin Yuqi, and others via a Sound Transmission Talisman.


    Of course, most importantly, he reached out to the old Patriarch of the Lin Family, his Great Great Uncle Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Shiming landed from Fangmu Mountain and hadn''t yet reached the Council Hall.


    He looked up to see the sky suddenly darken, as if night had fallen.


    But lifting his gaze, that was no nightfall¡ªit was a Spirit Boat large enough to accommodate a hundred people!


    At the very front of the Spirit Boat, a young cultivator stood against the wind, his white hair billowing as if he were a Banished Immortal descended to the mortal realm.


    "It''s the family''s treasured artifact, the Third Rank Spirit Boat!"


    "It''s the old Patriarch!"


    "That''s our ancestral elder!"


    The unusual sight of the Spirit Boat in the sky quickly caught the attention of the Lin Family cultivators below, greatly shaking the Lin Family. The legends were not false.


    The Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment still stood, their tiger''s might still present. Who would dare call the Lin Family a fallen clan in the future?


    Who would dare look at them askance?


    Their Lin Family remained that matchless Foundation Establishment clan,


    "Shiming, Hou Yuan, Yu Qing, Yu Qi, come up here!" the face of the Lin Family''s elder Patriarch showed a gloomy expression in the sky, his brows deeply furrowed.

 Chapter 24 - 24 Who Dares to Move My Lin Family

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Who Dares to Move My Lin Family


    At the entrance of Peach Blossom Valley, a group of yellow-robed cultivators stood aloft, their Flying Swords relentlessly striking toward a light barrier at the mouth of the valley!


    Every strike would cause the light barrier to tremble violently.


    However, after a bout of shaking, the light barrier would flash with Spirit Patterns and recover as if nothing had happened!


    Over and over again, endless and unceasing!


    "How can this Lin Family''s turtle formation be so troublesome?" The slightly chubby middle-aged man in the lead squinted his eyes, glancing at the barrier ahead with a face full of resentment.


    This leading middle-aged man was known as Huang Lishan, the third in seniority among the Huang Family''s generation with the name "Li," also the current Family Head of the Huang Family. Besides the three Foundation Establishment Supreme Elders of the Huang Family, he held the most power!


    "Third Brother, I''ve suggested before that we should have gotten rid of that old woman early. Now, as expected, she''s become a significant threat. She''s probably become a Second Rank Superior Grade Array Master already!" A dark-faced, burly man complained next to him, further darkening Huang Lishan''s already sullen expression.


    Ever since the Huang and Lin Families clashed over the Foundation Establishment Pill a hundred years ago, they''ve harbored hatred towards each other. During this time, they naturally targeted each other''s geniuses, among whom Lin Yuqing, Lin Yuqi, and Lin Yushui were the three Foundation Establishment prodigies of the "Yu" generation in the Lin Family.


    Especially Yu Qi and Yu Shui, these two individuals once had the opportunity to cross the Foundation Establishment boundary but resolutely chose to step into the path of pill and formation Dao.


    Such a decision was incomprehensible to them at the time!


    They abandoned their martial journey to inherit the laughable family legacy.


    This is what they deserved, a fate of desolation!


    However, now they see that with just two cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, about ten in the late stages of Qi Cultivation, and several in the middle stages, the Lin Family was able to fend off their five cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and over twenty in the late stages from the Huang Family.


    And this was all due to that formation''s might!


    "Third Brother, let''s wait. The Supreme Elder of our family will be here soon. A Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein is a tremendous wealth for our Huang Family. Maybe with this, our Spirit Vein could be elevated to Third Rank Superior Grade!" Another white-bearded old man in a daoist robe spoke up from the side.


    "Hm!" The slightly chubby middle-aged man Huang Lishan nodded, saying nothing more, but the resentment on his face was profound. He was already fantasizing about the scene of breaking through the formation and engaging in wanton slaughter.


    ...


    Inside Peach Blossom Valley, aside from a few from the "Shi" generation, nearly all of the Lin Family members were present. Lin Houyuan and Lin Yushui stood at the very front, watching the attackers outside; neither of them spoke.


    It was not until Lin Houwei approached, riding on his sword, that they slightly turned.


    "Seventh Uncle, Third Aunt, the Spirit Pool is almost dry!" Lin Houwei spoke with a look of dejection.


    The Lin Family could staunchly hold the valley pass not just because of the Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein, but also due to that Spirit Pool, which, powered by the formation, drew in spiritual energy from the Spirit Vein and absorbed the Spirit Water, thus constantly repairing the Spirit Turtle Formation!


    If there was no water from the Spirit Pool, it was only a matter of time before the formation would be broken.


    The worst part was, the three people they had sent to deliver messages had all been pursued by the Huang Family. Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com


    So it was possible that the Huang Family would soon receive reinforcements, while the Lin Family could do nothing but wait for their doom!


    After Lin Houwei finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the scene!


    No one responded, no one moved.


    Lin Yushui and several other Qi Cultivation late-stage formation controllers all vomited large mouthfuls of blood.


    Meanwhile, the Profound Tortoise-shaped Spirit Shield in the sky shattered in an instant.


    An invisible storm swept through, with countless peach trees breaking and being destroyed.


    "Run!" Lin Houyuan shouted!


    "Run? Where can you run?" The man in the yellow robe took a step and advanced a hundred meters.


    Directly arriving in front of Lin Houyuan.


    "Family Head!"


    Just as the people of the Lin Family were about to flee, they witnessed this scene.


    At the same time, the Huang Family members also rushed over, encircling the Lin Family completely, and even among the crowd, some swiftly set up formation flags.


    To replace the former formation base!


    They intended to use the formation to trap the Lin Family.


    They wanted total annihilation!


    "Good timing!" Lin Houyuan lifted his head, facing the Foundation Establishment Stage sword without much fear.


    What of Foundation Establishment? What if he killed him!


    If he couldn''t comprehend the strength of that realm in a few years, he would touch upon that realm just before dying.


    We cultivators, why fear death!


    Lin Houyuan drew his sword, and flames burst forth instantly.


    Unlike Lin Shijie''s raw and loose style, Lin Houyuan performed the Fire-returning Fire Sword technique to the utmost limit.


    With a thirty-foot-long flame emerging from his sword, it transformed into an even larger flaming greatsword, directly confronting the Foundation Establishment level!


    "An ant trying to shake a tree, how ludicrous!" The Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator in the yellow robe pressed down with his hand, and a Third Rank treasure sword descended from the sky as if it were a divine judgment.


    Boom!


    The flames parted, the Fire-returning Fire Sword was flung away, the spiritual energy drastically reduced, and that Third Rank treasure sword aimed to slay Lin Houyuan.


    "Who dares to touch my Lin Family?" A domineering voice came from the sky.


    A Qinglian Magic Sword shot down from the heavens, sending the Foundation Establishment cultivator in the yellow robe''s Flying Sword spinning away!


    "It''s the Supreme Elder!"


    Upon the arrival of the flying boat, everyone from the Lin Family was overjoyed.


    Their belief had returned!

 Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Gaps in Foundation Establishment

    At the entrance of Peach Blossom Valley, a hundred-meter Spirit Boat slowly descended.


    The Great Elder, Second Elder, and others quickly disembarked from the Spirit Boat, receiving the rest of the Lin Family members aboard.


    The Huang Family members intended to stop them, but seeing the young man in green robes and white hair floating in the air, they couldn''t help but pause.


    Lin Xianzhi!


    Of course, he had another title.


    The Qinglian Sword Cultivator.


    A Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator who had mastered the Sword Intent of water.


    "Impossible! You clearly..." The leading yellow-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator was also utterly shocked, staring at Lin Xianzhi, shaking his head frantically.


    "You clearly should have died from the poison, right?" Lin Xianzhi replied calmly.


    Thirty years of agony and healing had long calmed his heart, smooth as a mirror.


    Of course, except for his family.


    After Lin Shiming and the others brought back the Second Rank Supreme Grade medicinal Monkey Wine, one could say his Dao heart had also revived, even more vigorous than before!


    Broken and then re-established, the Green Lotus suddenly sprouted.


    At this moment, he was the Lin Family''s sword!


    "Take my sword, Huang Kaiyu, and let''s see if the Huang Family, which has grown much bolder these past thirty years, has made any progress in strength!" Lin Xianzhi was the first to raise his hand, and the Qinglian Sword immediately let out a loud sword cry.


    Green brilliance surged, and a green lotus emerged and bloomed atop the sword.


    Then it transformed into countless waves of lotus Sword Qi.


    A Sword Cultivator, Sword Qi begets naturally, that is Sword Intent.


    "Progress? Then watch carefully!" The yellow-robed cultivator''s face flushed red, absolutely furious.


    It had been thirty years, they were from the same era, entered Foundation Establishment together, and yet he was still speaking to him in the tone of an elder!


    What gave him the right to lecture him?


    "Thirty years, your body is already rotten!" In front of Huang Kaiyu, the earthy yellow sword also shone brightly, turning into a giant heavy sword under the influence of the Foundation Establishment cultivator''s True Yuan.


    Its edge gleamed, and Sword Qi howled!


    Go!


    With a light shout, Huang Kaiyu launched a sword strike!


    That wasn''t all, he took out a talisman¡ª a Defense Talisman with twisting, barely visible Spirit Patterns of the Third Rank.


    "Xiaogeng Sword Talisman!"


    After releasing the Sword Talisman, that still wasn''t all; relying on the Huang Family''s wealth and power, Huang Kaiyu took out a spear as well, also a Third Rank Magic Artifact!


    Three techniques, any one of which was not inferior to the peak methods of the Early Stage Foundation Establishment.


    Huang Kaiyu had long noticed that the fluctuations of Lin Xianzhi''s Spiritual Power were not at their peak, merely reaching the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, so he was especially confident.


    And in the eyes of the others, especially the Lin Family members, they couldn''t help but curse out loud.


    The extreme coldness of the words made several people''s faces change instantly.


    What followed was the Qinglian Sword growing to the size of seven or eight meters, with green Sword Intent transforming into infinite Sword Qi.


    Furthermore, a layer of Sword Qi as an edge was passed over the Qinglian Sword!


    Boom!


    The Qinglian Sword slashed down, with a heaven-reaching sword radiance following.


    In an instant, it turned into a stream of sword light and fiercely stabbed at Huang Kaiyu.


    "How can it be so strong!" Huang Kaiyu muttered, his complexion extremely unsightly.


    How could he feel that Lin Xianzhi, every sword was stronger than the last!


    No way to catch!


    Absolutely no way to catch!


    "Attack together, Kaili!" Huang Kaiyu bellowed, then flipped his hands over, taking out a third-rank intermediate grade Magic Artifact, a spirit ring, and also pulled out a third-rank superior grade iron tower Magic Artifact.


    Together with Huang Kaili''s sword spear!


    Slashing up in unison, the Spirit Light was brilliant and dazzling; this multi-layer attack represented the pinnacle of fighting force in each realm of Foundation Establishment.


    Yet even so, under the stirring of the sword light, it was still the two people of the Huang Family who collapsed. As each spat out a mouthful of blood,


    Their faces turned from leisurely composure to the unsightliness of a liver-like hue.


    "We''re willing to parley and apologize!" Seeing Lin Xianzhi''s finger wave once more, with the Qinglian Sword poised to strike again, Huang Kaiyu quickly spoke.


    This opening also represented the Huang Family''s admission of defeat!


    "Parley? No problem, wait till I''ve also cut you for a day and a night, then we''ll talk!" Lin Xianzhi spoke indifferently, then once more pointed into the void with his finger.


    Another sword, another Green Lotus.


    This time, Huang Kaili and Huang Kaiyu had completely exhausted all their means, with an unknown number of Defense Talismans released.


    Yet they were still sent flying with one slash!


    Leaving behind two embarrassing figures spewing blood.


    The scene was as silent as death; the Huang Family couldn''t believe their two Foundation Establishment Elders were taken down with a single blow!


    And the Lin Family couldn''t believe their old clan''s leader was so ferocious!


    They couldn''t even imagine the clan leader''s supremely tyrannical words were spoken for revenge on their behalf!


    Thinking of this, the gloom from being suppressed within the formation and attacked for an entire day and night was swept away.


    "We''ll parley, we are willing to give up three shops in Qingyun Market and also compensate with twenty Second Rank Spirit Trees!"


    After Huang Kaiyu said this, Huang Kaili suddenly glared at him fiercely.


    Not understanding, as any single shop in Qingyun Market could bring in thousands per year, it was a major market guarded by Purple Mansion cultivators from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Let alone three shops.


    "Ten shops and a hundred Spirit Trees!" Lin Xianzhi spoke.

 Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Qingxuan Spirit Contract

    ```


    "Impossible, our Huang Family also has cultivators in the late Foundation Establishment stage!" The Huang Family members all had ashen faces, especially Huang Kaili.


    Ten shops ¨C that was virtually all of their family''s business.


    This would mean a contraction of the Huang Family''s business empire, which would hinder their ability to support three Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    It could even affect the prospects of the younger cultivators.


    "Impossible? Then all of you stay here! I''ll retrieve them myself," Lin Xianzhi said indifferently.


    He still looked as composed and detached as ever, always giving off the false impression that he did not care in the least.


    However, the cold sword qi in his eyes and the Qinglian Sword hanging high on his back made the Huang Family members'' faces stiffen.


    In a moment, they found themselves unable to agree or disagree.


    "Don''t be afraid. Even if I were to slash for a day and a night without killing anyone, I would still let you leave!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again.


    Then, with another point of his finger, the Qinglian Sword immediately burst with light, layers of Green Lotuses surged, and sword qi swept across.


    "We agree!" Huang Kaiyu gritted his teeth, his agreement steeped in extreme humiliation.


    They could no longer withstand that one sword strike, let alone for a day and a night.


    The terror of a sword cultivator was beyond their imagination. Indeed, Huang Kaiyu felt that Lin Xianzhi had progressed further on the path of sword cultivation, possibly having reached the first realm of Sword Intent, Sword Light Transformation.


    Even faced with such humiliation, he had no choice but to agree.


    Otherwise, the thirty-plus members of the Huang Family feared they would all meet their end here.


    The reason Lin Xianzhi was framed by the Purple Mansion Family behind them was precisely because this man was a lunatic wearing a human face.


    He really could do it!


    "The deeds of the shops and one hundred Second Rank Spirit Trees will complete the transfer in a month," Huang Kaiyu said deflatedly, while the Huang Family members behind him at that moment shot cold glares, but upon being glared at by the Lin Family, they lowered their heads.


    "Sign this!" Lin Xianzhi took out a sheepskin scroll from his storage bag and tossed it over.


    "Qingxuan Spirit Contract!" Seeing the scroll, the Huang Family members'' expressions turned uglier, and for a moment, their hands froze while receiving the scroll.


    This Qingxuan Spirit Contract was issued by one of the Zhao Kingdom''s three great sects, the Qingxuan Sect. To see the scroll was as good as seeing the Qingxuan Sect itself.


    Once the contract is signed, no one would dare to break it.


    Unless one could contend with a Golden Core True Person.


    "What''s wrong, want to taste the sword?" Lin Xianzhi gestured with the Qinglian Sword and spoke again.


    Upon seeing the Qinglian Sword, Huang Kaiyu involuntarily ducked, signing the Qingxuan Spirit Contract with great humiliation.


    Once signed, the members of the Huang Family had no choice but to leave in disgrace, each resembling a deflated cucumber.


    If they were full of bluster when they arrived, they were now in complete disarray.


    Although he was not a Second Rank Spirit Plant Master, with his experience learning about Spirit Plants, he was assisting on the side.


    With the help of system prompts, he even had some unique insights on certain special techniques for transplanting Spirit Plants, which yielded some gains for the other Spirit Plant Masters of the family.


    Of course, it was Lin Shiming who gained the most.


    Transplanting the Spirit Plants took a full two days, a total of one Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Peach Tree and forty-eight Second Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Peach Trees.


    All of the Lin Family''s Jade Boxes were used up, but not a single person showed any sign of distress, as one well-cared-for Spirit Peach Tree could be worth thousands of Spirit Jades.


    Lin Houshou smiled as he counted these Jade Boxes; after all, these Spirit Peaches would go into the Treasure Pavilion.


    "Shiming, Seventh Great-Uncle is looking for you!" From afar, the Second Elder''s voice full of admiration reached him first, followed by the Elder appearing on a Sword Light Transformation before Lin Shiming.


    "Okay! Thank you again, Second Grandpa!" Lin Shiming bowed respectfully.


    "You, my boy, truly have both talent and luck. Seventh Great-Uncle has sought you out twice already," said Second Elder Lin Yuqi with a laugh.


    "Second Grandpa, you flatter me again; I am aware of my own limits," replied Lin Shiming humbly.


    After bidding farewell to Lin Yuqi, Lin Shiming mounted his Sword Light Transformation and flew toward the cave dwelling above the Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein.


    Arriving in front of the cave, Lin Shiming jumped down from the Spirit Sword and respectfully called out to the cave dwelling.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle."


    "Come in," Lin Xianzhi''s calm voice came from inside, and Lin Shiming rose and flew in on his Sword Light Transformation.


    Next to the familiar Spirit Pool, Lin Shiming found Lin Xianzhi.


    The latter was once again sitting in meditation on a lotus leaf in the Spirit Pool.


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming approach, Lin Xianzhi stood up.


    "You have questions?" Lin Xianzhi asked.


    "To answer Seventh Great-Uncle, indeed, I do not understand!"


    "The Huang Family clearly had ulterior motives that day; how could they be let off lightly!" Lin Shiming expressed his confusion and released the dissatisfaction he held inside.


    "That matter!" Lin Xianzhi chuckled, then took out a Jade Bottle.


    "Actually, I did have that thought at the time!"


    Lin Shiming was familiar with this Jade Bottle, it was the one he used to store the Second Rank Supreme Grade Spiritual Wine.


    When the Jade Bottle reached Lin Shiming''s hands, he saw that it was completely empty, and at that moment, Lin Shiming finally understood.


    His respect for this Seventh Great-Uncle rose once again in his heart.


    At that time, Lin Xianzhi had not recovered to his peak; he had relied on Monkey Wine, just as Lin Shiming had used Monkey Wine to stimulate the Snake Vine Flower.


    That first time, when Huang Kaiyu begged for mercy, Lin Shizhi did take action, but he was blocked by two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Huang Family who defended with their lives.


    And to perform another sword technique, he no longer had Spiritual Energy; Seventh Great-Uncle had not recovered to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Transplanting a Spirit Vein

    After grasping the key points, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but marvel at the wisdom and courage of the old clan leader.


    Back then, he even dared to expand from three shops straight to ten.


    And he actually bluffed them successfully.


    Of course, had he honestly just asked for three shops, the cunning fellows in the Huang Family might not have believed it at all.


    Lin Shiming also thought about Huang Kaili''s words, claiming that the old clan leader had been declining over the past thirty years, which was probably just a bluff.


    For the upper echelons of the Lin Family, they naturally knew that from the time Lin Xianzhi got his hands on Monkey Wine to now, it had only been a little over half a month.


    But the Huang Family was unaware of this.


    Dealing with these old foxes, one really had to be careful in every respect.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but reflect on this in his heart.


    "You have the Snake Vine Flower seeds with you, right? Can you activate them?" Lin Xianzhi spoke again, clearly the others in the Lin Family didn''t know the origin of the Snake Vine Flowers, but the old clan leader did.


    "Yes! Since Shiming has practiced the Wood Vine Technique and cultivated the Qing Mu Art, seeing that these seeds resembled Wood Vine seeds, he decided to give them a try. Unexpectedly, they proved to be so powerful." Lin Shiming nodded and replied, not daring to conceal anything from the old clan leader.


    What he didn''t understand was, knowing this, why the old clan leader didn''t pass on the information.


    These seeds were equivalent to Supreme Grade magic artifacts.


    He didn''t believe that others in the family, knowing the powerful effect of the Snake Vine Flowers, would not cultivate the Qing Mu Art.


    One must know that if an Elder at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level had the assistance of ten Snake Vine Flowers, he could easily take on three of his peers without issue.


    "Is that so?" Lin Xianzhi was evidently somewhat excited, then he had Lin Shiming demonstrate it.


    After feeling the completed infusion of Spiritual Energy from Lin Shiming, Lin Xianzhi spoke again:


    "In that case, prepare for a few days. In a few days time, accompany me to visit Qingxuan Sect and meet my master, Zi Xuan Hermit!" After saying this, Lin Xianzhi didn''t give Lin Shiming the opportunity to think it over, simply waving his hand to send him down to prepare.


    Touching his nose, Lin Shiming felt somewhat puzzled.


    But he naturally wouldn''t dare to refuse or criticize an order from the Lin Family''s old clan leader.


    He went down to prepare earnestly.


    At the clearing in Peach Blossom Valley, there were already more than twenty small wooden houses. After Lin Shiming requested one for cultivation, he moved in.


    The wooden house was quite simple. For a cultivator, furniture wasn''t really necessary.


    A stone bed and a stone table were enough as long as one could cultivate in peace.


    Cultivators are most adverse to impatience; often those who can endure hardship can achieve great success.


    As for food, from the Qi Cultivation Stage, cultivators begin fasting, consuming Fasting Pills and cultivating their Qi.


    Lin Xianzhi, being a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator with a lifespan of two hundred fifty years, naturally had a secondary profession¡ªa Third Rank Spirit-Seeking Master.


    Lin Houyong observed very closely. As an Intermediate Grade Second Rank Spirit-Seeking Master, watching a Third Rank Spirit-Seeking Master transplant a Second Rank, Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein with a Spirit Pool was an incredible opportunity.


    As Lin Xianzhi''s hands performed increasingly complex Spirit Arts, the Spiritual Energy in the Spirit Plate, rich to the extreme, seemed to awaken.


    It manifested into streams of Dragon-Shaped Spiritual Energy.


    In the void, Lin Shiming even thought he heard the sound of dragon''s chants.


    "Collect!" Lin Xianzhi uttered lightly as he cast the final Spirit Art, and instantly the Dragon-Shaped Spiritual Energy rushed towards the cave.


    In a blink, the nearby Spiritual Energy began to climb steadily.


    And then, at some point, the Spiritual Energy started to slowly fade away.


    Immediately after, Lin Shiming and the others saw the Dragon-Shaped Spiritual Energy ferociously emerge from the ground, holding a dazzling ball of light filled with Spiritual Energy, and above the ball,


    Dragon-Shaped Spiritual Energy swirled as well, with a miniature Spirit Pool contained beneath it.


    In the end, it all entered the Spirit Plate in Lin Xianzhi''s hand.


    Lin Xianzhi skillfully manipulated the gestures and secured the Spirit Plate, exhaling a breath of stale air.


    At this point, the Spirit Vein had been successfully extracted into the Spirit-Seeking Plate.


    They just needed to return to Fangmu Mountain and insert it into Fangmu Mountain''s Spirit Vein, apply the Secret Technique, and they could enhance the Spirit Vein of Fangmu Mountain.


    As the Spirit Vein withdrew, Lin Shiming could distinctly feel the surrounding Spiritual Energy weakening continuously.


    Looking around, the entire Peach Blossom Valley had been completely transformed, riddled with pits and hollows. A few ordinary peach trees that survived the upheaval now appeared withered and yellow, some even accidentally damaged.


    The beautiful scenery from half a month ago was no longer the same.


    Lin Shiming felt a tinge of regret in his heart.


    But he firmly believed that in the future, on Fangmu Mountain, the peach blossoms would bloom even more brilliantly and beautifully!


    Next year''s spring breeze would turn Fangmu Mountain pink as well, with bees buzzing and butterflies fluttering!


    The journey back to Fangmu Mountain from Peach Blossom Valley was on the family''s Third Rank Spirit Boat. Within five or six hours, they had reached Fangmu Mountain.


    On Fangmu Mountain, the Lin Family inserted the transplanted Spirit Vein into the Third-Rank Spirit Vein, and it was visible to the naked eye that the entire Fangmu Mountain''s Spiritual Energy rose significantly.


    However, there was still a considerable gap from becoming a Superior Grade Third-Rank Spirit Vein.


    This left many Elders in the family feeling the achievement was slightly lacking.


    Two days later, Lin Shiming finally received a message from Lin Xianzhi.


    He was to set off for Qingxuan Mountain immediately to pay respects to Lin Xianzhi''s master, Zi Xuan Hermit.

 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Trial of the Ascending Immortal Ladder

    Qingxuan Mountain is located in Qingzhou, deviating from the Qingyun Mountain ranges and situated within Zhao Kingdom.


    It towers into the clouds, its peak beyond the sight of the naked eye, and is also the largest mountain in Qingzhou.


    At the foot of Qingxuan Mountain, vegetation is lush and the forest dense, while the summit is perpetually covered with ice and snow, cold as the depths of winter. Just Qingxuan Mountain alone lets one experience all four seasons.


    Lin Shiming followed behind Lin Xianzhi, looking at the giant peak in front of him, feeling an instant of reverence, as if looking upon a divine mountain.


    Whereas he felt like a mere grain of sand in the ocean, an ephemeral mayfly in the grand scheme of things.


    "At the foot of Qingxuan Sect, there is the Ascending Immortal Ladder with 108 steps. Only by climbing it can you reach the location of the Sect!" Lin Xianzhi spoke while walking ahead.


    As he spoke, he took the lead and walked forward, only to see a ladder reaching to the heavens laid out in front of both of them.


    On the ladder, there were many cultivators slowly making their way up, walking up the mountain just like mortals, which Lin Shiming found quite novel.


    "This Ascending Immortal Ladder is one of the foundations of the Qingxuan Sect. All Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivators must not fly up but are required to climb step by step. The profundity of the steps, you will understand as soon as you try!" Lin Xianzhi explained by his side, then waved his hand, indicating for Lin Shiming to go up and try.


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate, nodding his head before moving forward.


    However, as soon as he stepped on the first stair, he felt a sudden increase in gravity, causing his Spiritual Power to falter and then begin to dissipate.


    "What is this!" Lin Shiming exclaimed in shock, quickly stepping back.


    Gravity was a minor concern, but if the well-cultivated Spiritual Energy dissipated, that would mean several years of cultivation wasted.


    Yet, what was miraculous was that as soon as Lin Shiming stepped back, the Spiritual Energy was restored, and the previous sensation of gravity and pressure vanished without a trace. If it weren''t for the fact that his Spiritual Power seemed to have condensed slightly, he would definitely have thought it was all an illusion.


    "Does this ladder have the effect of condensing cultivation techniques?" Lin Shiming said, somewhat surprised.


    "Indeed, the Ascending Immortal Ladder does have the effect of condensing cultivation techniques, but non-disciples of our Sect have only one chance to experience it. The second time they climb the ladder, they will only feel the pressure of gravity without any advancement in their techniques.


    This is also a reward the Qingxuan Sect, a Golden Core Sect, provides to all the families and Loose Cultivators who come to pay their respects!" Lin Xianzhi introduced at the side, clearly having come here countless times before.


    Having heard this, Lin Shiming also understood the rationale behind it¡ªit was a carrot and a stick to make one more fearful and respectful of the Sect.


    "Continue to climb, and you can use the Qing Mu Art to perform the Minor Circulation cultivation, controlling your Spiritual Energy to prevent it from dissipating too quickly. I will protect you while you do so!" Lin Xianzhi suggested once more.


    "Young man, there''s no need to be overly modest. Three years ago, Yu Qing brought Shijie here and it was much the same!" Lin Xianzhi''s following words made Lin Shiming quite stunned¡ªit turned out his elder brother had also been here, and what was most surprising was that his speed was even slower than his, a Third Spirit Root.


    In a flash, an image of his big brother huffing and puffing as he climbed the ladder appeared in Lin Shiming''s mind.


    "Let''s go, we''re now headed to the Sect''s outer reception area to meet with your master!"


    After walking another hundred metres or so along the stone-paved pathway, they finally reached the reception area of the Qingxuan Sect.


    The Qingxuan Sect''s reception area was a great hall, from the signboard at the entrance to the thresholds of the pavilions, all imposing and grand, with dragon carvings and ornate decorations, extremely sumptuous.


    Several disciples wearing Qingxuan Sect''s Taoist robes were receiving various loose cultivators and families one after another.


    Most loose cultivators were looking to pass the Qingxuan Sect''s tests to see if they could instantly rise to become Sect disciples, whereas the family scions were largely like the Lin Family at this moment, with considerable connections inside the Sect.


    After Lin Xianzhi and the others announced their arrival, a Sect disciple threw out a Transmission Talisman to communicate and make arrangements.


    Soon, a dedicated cultivator came to lead Lin Shiming and the others towards the inner gates of the mountain.


    Their destination was a cluster of purple pavilions; the Zi Xuan Hermit''s abode was located there.


    Upon reaching the entrance, there was a similarly young disciple in a Taoist robe who appeared to have been waiting for some time.


    "Junior brother, the master is inside!"


    "Thank you very much, senior brother!" Lin Xianzhi bowed his hands in thanks, then took out a small jug of second-rank superior grade Spiritual Wine from his Storage Bag and handed it to the latter.


    "Junior brother, what is this?"


    "Senior brother has shown considerable attention to junior brother in the past, and as I haven''t paid my respects for thirty years, I specially brought a small jug of wine as an apologetic gift. I hope senior brother won''t find it lacking." The other party finally accepted it, his nose twitching uncontrollably, his smile growing even wider on his face.


    Lin Xianzhi then continued to lead Lin Shiming into the hall.


    Upon entering, Lin Shiming quickly saw an old man in a purple robe, with an air of grace and white hair flowing like silver.


    "Disciple with his offspring pays respects to master!" Lin Xianzhi gave a formal bow, and Lin Shiming also immediately said:


    "Shiming pays respects to Zi Xuan Hermit!"

 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Becoming a Disciple of Zi Xuan

    "Thirty years, and you finally deign to visit your master?" the Zi Xuan Hermit sat on the red nanmu Taishi chair, one hand supporting his sleeve, the other steeping a pot of Spiritual Tea.


    He shook it, sealed it.


    From beginning to end, he didn''t glance at Lin Xianzhi even once.


    "Please punish me, Master. Xianzhi is merely a nominal disciple, yet I''ve troubled my master with concerns," Lin Xianzhi kowtowed again, bowing down, with Lin Shiming following suit beside him.


    The old Zi Xuan remained indifferent, picking up the tea cup, sniffing its fragrance, and then taking a delicate sip.


    After a long while, he sighed.


    "You know, I can settle that matter for you!"


    The words spoken so lightly, yet no one doubted the power behind them.


    "Xianzhi is but a mere nominal disciple. How could I dare to have Master break Sect rules on my behalf?"


    The old Zi Xuan took another sip of tea, his deep eyes briefly meeting Lin Xianzhi''s gaze, then continued to contemplate the tea, offering no response.


    Of course, for Lin Xianzhi, no response was the best response.


    "Master, I have come with two requests this time. Firstly, Xianzhi wishes to avenge the destruction of his path. Secondly, I''ve brought a junior whose talent is like that of Elder Zheng, able to promote the growth of Snake Vine Flowers beyond his rank, suspected to have a Wood Attribute invisible Spiritual Body.


    I earnestly request the Elder to accept him as a nominal disciple, to pass on Elder Zheng''s techniques and invigorate the Lin Family!"


    Lin Xianzhi''s two requests not only surprised the Zi Xuan Hermit before him,


    but Lin Shiming was even more shocked.


    He hadn''t expected that Lin Xianzhi''s reason for bringing him was to bestow upon him such an enormous opportunity!


    What''s more, he had not expected the Snake Vine Flower to be a legacy of Elder Zheng, nor did he realize until now that Elder Zheng had practiced Wood Attribute Techniques, let alone the suggestion that he himself harbored an invisible Spiritual Body.


    In this world, aside from Spirit Roots, there are those even more naturally talented, the bearers of Spiritual Bodies, who must surely possess Heavenly Spirit Roots.


    He turned around and presented the Spiritual Tea to Zi Xuan Hermit with both hands.


    The latter took the teacup, gently sipped the tea, and with that, the matter was settled. This was the ceremony for acknowledging a named disciple. If it had been for a Direct Disciple, a more substantial ceremony would have been necessary, with more complex procedures.


    "Now then, for our first meeting, your teacher will gift you a Supreme Grade copper ring defense Magic Artifact, for your protection. Also, remember not to rely on your teacher''s reputation to do things that harm the heavens and reason!" A simple ceremony with a simple gift-giving concluded the event.


    Following that, Lin Xianzhi divided the ten shops he had acquired from the Huang Family, handing seven over to the Sect, or more accurately, to the custody of the Sect under the name of Elder Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Lin Shiming watched from the side, his admiration for his great-uncle growing.


    If the Huang Family behaved, it would be fine, but if they did not, they would be in for some real suffering.


    After leaving contact information for further coordination, Lin Xianzhi took Lin Shiming and left. Zi Xuan Hermit would provide the Cultivation Technique to Lin Shiming in three days.


    Of course, Lin Shiming had many questions, and he noticed that Zi Xuan Hermit''s expression had changed the moment his great-uncle revealed the Sword Qi realm of the first layer of Sword Light Differentiation.


    Moreover, regarding the Cultivation Technique of Elder Yu Zheng, Lin Shiming was puzzled as to why his ability to catalyze the Snake Vine Flower seemed to indicate the presence of an invisible Spiritual Body.


    But since Lin Xianzhi did not offer explanations, as a junior, Lin Shiming had no choice but to continue following behind.


    Their next destination was Qingxuan City at the foot of Qingxuan Mountain, home to the largest trade market in Qingzhou, Qingxuan Market.


    Compared to the remote Xingzhou, Qingxuan Market was many times more prosperous.


    Even Purple Mansion Loose practitioners, rarely seen in Xingzhou, were common here.


    In this place, only the Purple Mansion Family or an extremely powerful old Foundation Establishment family could set up shops. Even the Huang Family, Lin Xianzhi''s recent adversary, did not own a shop here.


    And here, one could find magic items from Second Rank to Third Rank, as long as you had enough Spirit Stones.


    Xingzhou needed Foundation Establishment Pills for its auction that took place once every ten years at Qingxuan Market.


    And right at that moment, Lin Shiming''s system notification sounded again.


    "Please proceed to the stall area, you will obtain a Beast Growth Pill recipe!" Lin Shiming did not expect, upon arriving at Qingxuan City, the system would provide such an important prompt.


    His two Demonic Beasts were quite strong, but far too young. They needed time to grow, and this Beast Growth Spirit Pill was like a rain after a long drought for him.

 Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Beast Nurturing Pill Recipe

    Qingyun Market District was divided into two areas: one was the Free Trade Area, also known as the Stalls Area, and the other was the Shop Area, where the auction hall was located.


    The Stalls Area was noticeably smaller than the Shop Area, but conversely, it was livelier.


    Cultivators came and went, constantly moving about and stopping.


    Lin Shiming followed Lin Xianzhi to the Stalls Area. As a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage, Lin Xianzhi naturally had little interest in the Stalls Area. After a cursory glance, he headed towards the Shop Area.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming''s gaze was wandering and he seemed quite interested in the Stalls Area, Lin Xianzhi raised his hand and said,


    "I still need to meet a few old friends. You can stroll around by yourself."


    "Thank you, Uncle-Great-Grandfather!" Lin Shiming quickly waved his hands, as he was just worried about finding an excuse to go buy that Beast Nurturing Pill formula.


    After saying goodbye to Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming began to wander on his own. Since the system prompt was only a general indication, it still required some effort on his part to find what he was looking for.


    The Cultivators in the Stalls Area were mostly Loose Cultivators, busily touting their treasures.


    Some made a fuss about inheriting a Foundation Establishment cave dwelling, while others boasted about ancestral immortal treasures.


    But with a sweep of his Divine Sense, Lin Shiming shook his head and walked away.


    After browsing for a while, Lin Shiming indeed found some nice things, such as elixirs for cultivation, Spiritual Origin Pills, and even some seeds of Spiritual Medicines.


    Although these items were not essential, the former could speed up cultivation while the latter improved the level of Spirit Plant Cultivation.


    Lin Shiming paid for each of them with Spirit Stones, and the prices indeed were a bit cheaper than those at the major trade alliances.


    However, what made Lin Shiming anxious was that from the beginning to the end, he hadn''t seen any Beast Nurturing Pill formulas for sale, only some basic spells common in the Cultivation world, which he had mostly mastered when he was in his teens.


    "Selling Spirit Beast Eggs, Spirit Beast meat!" Suddenly, Lin Shiming heard a shout.


    Thinking of the Golden Winged Mantis Egg he had previously purchased, he was indeed quite interested in the stall selling eggs.


    Approaching the stall, he saw a middle-aged Cultivator, wearing a black Spirit Isolation Mask, waving at the passing Cultivators.


    "Fellow Daoist, I truly am interested in that Spirit Beast Egg, but I''m a bit short on Spirit Stones. How about we go to a nearby trading room? I can show you my treasures?" The moment Lin Shiming thought of the Beast Nurturing Pill recipe, he could no longer care about showing off.


    He had to obtain the Beast Nurturing Pill at all costs.


    "Sure, but you''ll have to pay the rental fee for the trading room!" The middle-aged cultivator paused for a while before agreeing.


    In the trading area, there were trading rooms for rent, designed to protect Loose Cultivators with valuable items during transactions.


    However, they charged Spirit Stones for the rental, and the rate was slightly higher than the three Spirit Stones per hour charged for a stall space -- five Spirit Stones per hour.


    Lin Shiming naturally nodded in agreement. The middle-aged cultivator quickly packed up his stall and, taking the rest of his items, followed Lin Shiming to the trading room.


    Once they confirmed that both the Spirit Isolation Formation and the soundproofing spell were activated, Lin Shiming brought out a Magic Artifact in the form of a Jade Bottle, containing exactly one hundred pounds of Spirit Water.


    In a sense, Spirit Water was a universally valuable item like Spirit Stones, after all, both could be used for Cultivation and restoring Spiritual Energy.


    "I''m an Alchemist; all my Spirit Stones usually go toward purchasing Spirit Water. It shouldn''t be a problem to trade with Spirit Water, right?" Lin Shiming handed the Jade Bottle over to the middle-aged cultivator for inspection.


    "There isn''t a problem per se. However, one pound of Spirit Water can only count as eight Spirit Stones!" The middle-aged cultivator, in need of Cultivation resources, was fine with either Spirit Stones or Spirit Water, but his tone betrayed an attempt to drive down the price.


    "Are you joking, Fellow Daoist, or do you really think Spirit Water is a common item?" Lin Shiming, well-versed in these tactics, was not about to let him devalue his offer.


    "The highest I can go is nine Spirit Stones per pound!" The middle-aged cultivator paused for a few breaths before finally speaking up.


    "Fine, but you must have other treasures too, right? I''m an Alchemist, and I have plenty of Spirit Water!" Lin Shiming spoke casually, as if he truly was a wealthy Alchemist, though internally he was starting to get anxious.


    If the recipe for the Beast Nurturing Pill wasn''t there, or if he chose not to sell the recipe, it would complicate matters.


    "I do!" The middle-aged cultivator responded without hesitation, taking out several items from his Storage Bag.


    Spirit Beast cages, Spirit Beast hides, Spirit Beast meat, and after a pause, he also produced a Jade Slip.


    "Fellow Daoist, all of my ancestral treasures are here!" The middle-aged cultivator showed each item to Lin Shiming one by one.


    Lin Shiming kept nodding and praising aloud, but inwardly, he was utterly contemptuous; the reasoning was laughably poor¡ªthe residual energy of the Spirit Beast hide and Jade Slip were still fresh. His ancestor must be quite ''young'' indeed!

 Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Purple Wood Heart Sutra

    Inside the trading room.


    "What is this jade slip!" Although odds were it was the jade slip for the Spirit Pill recipe, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but ask.


    Since an alchemist had been mentioned before, it wasn''t odd for Lin Shiming to ask such a question.


    "This is a great item, the Spirit Pill recipe can speed up the growth of spirit beasts; paired with your Golden Luan Eagle, it''s a perfect match!" the middle-aged cultivator heard Lin Shiming ask about the pill recipe and immediately started to show off excitedly.


    Yet Lin Shiming just shook his head and said,


    "The main ingredients for the Spirit Pill are not easy to find, and your jade slip isn''t ancestral, is it?"


    With these words, the middle-aged man''s chest heaved and his breathing hastened, his emotions fluctuated, but Lin Shiming couldn''t see his facial expression, which confirmed a suspicion for him.


    Seeing the middle-aged cultivator didn''t respond, Lin Shiming continued, "I''m not a fool to be cheated; if you intend to swindle a large amount from me for a pill recipe that can be copied at will, then please put away these items."


    Lin Shiming''s words were half warning, half leading.


    The middle-aged cultivator felt extremely frustrated, his earlier smooth talking gone, as he coldly stated,


    "Three hundred spirit stones to take it, two hundred for the beast skin materials! And, you must swear by the Heavenly Dao that you have never seen me..."


    "Agreed!" Lin Shiming was only after the pill recipe and naturally did not care about anything else.


    By this point, if he couldn''t guess that this person had acquired these treasures by killing someone, he would have lived in vain.


    It was probably a young cultivator of some status from the Spirit Beast Sect, or else he wouldn''t have fled directly from the territory of the Spirit Beast Sect to the Qingxuan Sect.


    Lin Shiming took out another fifty catties of Spirit Water, and after the exchange, they both went their separate ways.


    After leaving the trading house, Lin Shiming smiled wryly, thinking that although he might have thought his wealth sufficient, after a round of trading, there wasn''t much Spirit Water left, and he had two big eaters.


    No, possibly three big eaters since he had just bought a Golden Luan Eagle!


    Lin Shiming felt an even bigger headache coming on.


    After contacting Seventh Great-Uncle with a Sound Transmission Talisman, he learned that the latter had already rented an inn.


    As soon as Lin Shiming entered the room, Lin Xianzhi gave him a look and then opened with a light remark,


    "What did you buy that''s attracted so many tails?"


    "A Golden Luan Eagle egg!" Lin Shiming didn''t hide anything and revealed the entire process.


    "Be careful with that eagle of yours; you might be held accountable later on!" Lin Xianzhi frowned and cautioned.


    The Huang Family had indeed provided shops, but the ones before them were at the very corner of Qingyun Marketplace, originally the warehouses in front of other shops and a place where cultivators and shop assistants could rest and cultivate.


    It would take an entire large circle to get to the bustling streets of the marketplace.


    To say these shops made a yearly income of a thousand Spirit Stones would be a miracle in management, let alone breaking even.


    The Lin Family couldn''t even complain, as the Huang Family had indeed given ten shops.


    As for the provided Spirit Plants, they were a hundred dry Spirit Trees, either old or half-dead.


    Even under the careful cultivation of a Spirit Plant Master, the future yield would be minuscule.


    "This Huang Family is bullying us too much!" The elders were still composed, but the younger generation of cultivators, bearing the ''Hou'' and ''Shi'' generations, were all infuriated.


    "Inform the Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Houyuan also felt somewhat helpless. This was the situation when a family lacked a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage.


    Lacking the right to speak, they would face targeting at every turn.


    Just then, a Spirit Boat appeared in the sky, and three figures descended from it.


    "What''s happened?"


    Lin Xianzhi descended first, his white hair extremely noticeable.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, these are the shops given by the Huang Family." As the Family Head, Lin Houyuan reported the Huang Family''s attitude and the condition of the shops and Spirit Trees, one by one.


    He didn''t exaggerate; as the Family Head, he not only had to consider the emotions of his people and the interests of the family but also the real combat power of both families.


    The situation now involved not merely Huang Kaiyu and Huang Kaiyu of the early Foundation Establishment stage from the Huang Family, but Huangyun Qi with a more senior generation.


    He was the only late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Huang Family.


    "Let''s go!" Lin Xianzhi nodded slightly, his face still as calm as ever.


    The Lin Family members trusted their old patriarch greatly and felt assured, following him forward.


    After making a big detour, they finally arrived at the bustling street.


    Individual cultivators walked among the stalls, and unlike the Qingxuan Marketplace, this place was close to the Qingyun Mountain Range, where many loose cultivators formed groups to hunt demons in the mountains.


    There was a greater need for high-quality Spirit Talismans, Spirit Pills, and Spiritual Artifacts, naturally leading them to shops that guaranteed quality.


    If a Spirit Talisman bought at a loose cultivator''s stall failed to work, or a Magic Artifact fell apart, there wouldn''t even be a place to cry about it.


    "Let''s go, this shop does good business!" Lin Xianzhi walked to the busiest section and picked a shop run by the Huang Family''s Artifact Refining operations to approach.

 Chapter 32: Chapter 32: How about we have a match?

    The Huang Artifact Refinery Shop was divided into two floors, with the first floor selling common and intermediate-grade magic artifacts, mainly catering to Qi Cultivation practitioners in the early and middle stages, while the second floor featured superior and supreme-grade magic artifacts.


    In terms of decoration, the design was intricate, with the first-floor wooden door carved with fierce tigers and delicate roses, and the second floor adorned with dragons and phoenixes dancing, symbolizing profound meanings.


    The Huang Family came from a lineage of artifact refiners, boasting three Third-Rank Artifact Refiners within their clan.


    Their artifact refining business was also surprisingly successful.


    Lin Xianzhi, accompanied by a large group of Lin Family cultivators, had arrived, and their light words immediately drew the attention of the Huang Family cultivators.


    One of the wooden windows on the second floor opened to reveal an elder in a yellow brocade robe, appearing before everyone''s eyes. The tea in front of the elder had long since lost its warmth, as if he had been waiting for a considerable time.


    It was Huangyun Qi, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Huang Family.


    From his elevated position, he looked down at the Lin Family members, finally fixing his gaze on Lin Xianzhi.


    "Nephew Xianzhi, you schemed to trick us out of several of our shops and over a hundred Spirit Trees. Now you come here, possibly to bully an old man like me!"


    One reference to ''nephew,'' one mention of ''bullying.''


    Suddenly, a great commotion arose among the loose cultivators and the families of other shops.


    Many had heard the rumor that Lin Xianzhi was grievously injured and beyond cure, and yet now he had dared to confront the Huang Family.


    "Old Huangyun Qi really knows how to bite first like an evil dog!" Lin Xianzhi was not angered and spoke calmly about the affair of Peach Blossom Valley, leaving right and wrong to be distinguished by others.


    "Lin Xianzhi, I won''t quibble with you. I have already made concessions. Do you really want to engage in a magical contest with me?" Huangyun Qi let out a cold shout, and as he released his late-stage Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure, it turned into a wave of Spirit Might, bearing down on the hearts of the Lin Family cultivators.


    "I''m offering you the shop out of respect, recognizing the Lin Family as a Foundation Establishment clan. If it weren''t for this respect, today you wouldn''t even dream of taking away a single shop!"


    Huangyun Qi''s aura and presence broke forth, instantly creating a powerful sense of oppression, and his words became increasingly sharp.


    Especially those eyes, which did not bear the aged look of an elderly person but were instead full of vitality, with a contained killing intent.


    He certainly looked as if he was on the verge of starting a fight at any moment, and indeed, Huangyun Qi had the confidence to do so. Xingzhou was a remote region with fewer resources compared to other states, and the Purple Mansion Family only had one branch, which was the Huang Family''s in-laws, the Li Family.


    In this Qingyun Market, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was already a towering presence.


    "Do you intend to defy the Qingxuan Sect?" Lin Xianzhi flicked his finger lightly, and a Qingxuan Spirit Contract soared into the air.


    But who would dare to impersonate a direct disciple? Especially a Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator.


    "Regarding the Huang Family''s shops, I will report to my master later. Additionally, I would like to ask Huang Daoist for a demonstration of your might to see if it''s as fierce as before," Xie An stated.


    Xie An''s words turned Huangyun Qi''s face from bad to worse, his Foundation Establishment late-stage demeanor completely gone.


    Setting aside that he dared not engage in a spell fight with a Sect disciple, the Foundation Establishment late-stage Sect cultivators were far superior to their family cultivators. After all, their Cultivation Techniques and Magic Artifacts couldn''t compare.


    Not to mention that there was a Purple Mansion Loose behind it all.


    Huangyun Qi also knew about Zi Xuan Hermit, a well-established Purple Mansion Loose.


    But what confused him was that Lin Xianzhi had refused to leave the family and become a direct disciple, which should mean that Zi Xuan Hermit and the Lin Family had parted ways.


    Not without good reason was Huangyun Qi a veteran in these affairs, knowing that sometimes the situation was beyond one''s control. Saying anything more was useless, he quickly waved his hand.


    "There must have been some mistake with the ten shops; since Zi Xuan Hermit wants them, my Huang Family will give up two more shops!" Despite the smile on his face, Huangyun Qi was bleeding inside.


    In the Qingyun market, their Huang Family owned thirty percent, but most of the shops were rented out. To come up with twelve shops, they would have to pay a heavy price to take them back from the tenants.


    This operation would result in a loss of tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, and these shops were the family''s foundation. After this move, the family''s foundation would be severely weakened.


    If they did not find new sources of wealth, it would be difficult for the Huang Family to support even three Foundation Establishment cultivators, let alone nurture the younger generation.


    Seeing Huangyun Qi apologize like this, both Xie An and Lin Xianzhi decided to accept the offer, knowing that pushing too hard could lead to desperate actions from the other side, which would benefit no one if it came down to a matter of life and death.


    For the Lin Family members, the previous gloom was swept away, replaced by a sense of exhilaration.


    The subsequent matters were straightforward. The Huang Family agreed to gather twelve shops within a day and proactively offered to give the Huang''s Artifact Refining Shop to the Lin Family.


    The Lin Family kept the promise and gave the seven shops to Zi Xuan Hermit but managed them on his behalf, while the remaining two better shops were given to Xie An.


    The Lin Family still gained three shops as before.


    Each shop could bring in a few thousand Spirit Stones a year, instantly revitalizing the Lin Family''s finances.


    Moreover, the production of the Lin Family''s Spiritual Wine was also on schedule. A special restaurant would be opened to sell Second Rank Inferior Grade Qing Peach Spiritual Wine and Second Rank Intermediate Grade Monkey Wine.


    The Monkey Wine was developed by the family''s brewmasters, who after a month of repeated adjustments and brewing, created it. Although it didn''t have the exact taste of natural Monkey Wine, it was nearly the same, with all the effects of Monkey Wine intact. It was bound to make a splash in the market and earn a fortune.

 Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Family Inventory

    Fangmu Mountain, the morning sun rose early in the sky, heralding the end of late spring and the arrival of early summer.


    The mildly spicy sunlight burned away much of the mist that surrounded the mountain, making Fangmu Mountain appear even more resplendent.


    At this moment, the Spirit Peach Tree on the mountainside was also radiating a thick spiritual glow, crystal clear and brimming with spiritual energy.


    And at this time, the mountain was adorned with lanterns and streamers, bustling with more activity than usual with people coming and going.


    It was the annual year-end summary day of the Lin Family.


    On this day, all cultivators of the Lin Family, unless absolutely unable to get away, would make it a point to return to the clan regardless of how far away or busy they were.


    Because this moment was not only the glory of the family, but also their own glory, as well as the recognition and affirmation of the family for their efforts over the last three years.


    Lin Shiming was also in the council hall; the appointed time had not yet arrived.


    Lin Shiming saw many faces he had not seen for a long time: Uncle Thirteen Lin Houwei who was sipping from his wine jug from time to time, Second Uncle Lin Houshou who was always serious and acting like an elder, his Third Sister Lin Shiqi who always claimed to have a secret, and his eldest brother Lin Shijie who carried the reputation and responsibility of the ''Shi'' generation, as well as Lin Shiyi and Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming went forward to greet each of them one by one and catch up on old times.


    Just then, a faint voice rang out.


    "Seventh Brother, long time... no see!" Hearing this weak voice, Lin Shiming''s memory inexplicably returned to that rainy night, the peach blossoms barely blooming.


    The young girl timidly knocked on the door, calling out "Immortal Master" and asking if he wanted some tea.


    The past events seemed like they happened just yesterday.


    Lin Shiming turned his head and saw that the pale and frail young girl from that time had transformed into a little lass wearing a green dress.


    Her complexion had greatly improved, her facial features had become very delicate, and she was very much a beauty in the making, a stark contrast from before.


    She had also grown a bit taller.


    Furthermore, her cultivation level had increased; having not seen her for two months, she had already reached the Fourth Layer of the Innate stage, a talent of the Second Spirit Root, truly terrifying!


    To think that it took Lin Shiming a full half-year to reach the Fourth Layer of the Innate stage.


    However, like before, she was still easily embarrassed, only timidly calling him Seventh Brother.


    There were two Intermediate Grade Second Rank Alchemists, both from the Hou generation, and three Inferior Grade Second Rank Alchemists, showing no increase compared to before, as Alchemy is a skill that requires a lot of time and cannot make swift progress.


    The situation with the Lin Family''s artifact refining, talisman-making, formation arranging, and Spirit Plant Masters was more or less the same, with little change, except for Lin Shiqi of the Shi generation, who had advanced from an Inferior Grade Second Rank Spirit Plant Master to an Intermediate Grade Second Rank Spirit Plant Master.


    This surprised everyone.


    Lin Houshou, as the guardian of the Treasure Pavilion, although about to break through to a Superior Grade Second Rank Array Master, was still a bit short.


    After everyone reported, all the members of the Lin Family were filled with joy, as this year''s changes were too significant compared to previous years.


    The old Patriarch came around; the Family now had Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Family''s finances had improved, and there were also more geniuses.


    At this point, Lin Xianzhi, seeing that everyone had finished reporting, continued to speak:


    "Yu Qing, let me add a few words!"


    "Firstly, from now on, the Green Lotuses produced by the Qinglian Pool will also be counted as part of the Family''s income. I will no longer use them for healing, which can provide an additional 1,000 Spirit Stones each year!" Upon hearing this, all the members of the Lin Family were stirred.


    The financial situation of the Lin Family hadn''t been good over the years, with the Green Lotus Spirit Plants from the Lin Family''s Spirit Pool all being supplied to the old Patriarch; naturally, in everyone''s eyes, as the strongest combatant, the old Patriarch deserved to use the Spirit Plants to improve his cultivation level and for healing.


    Lin Yuqing and others began to persuade him, saying that only if Lin Xianzhi became stronger would the Lin Family have more say.


    But this was rebuffed by Lin Xianzhi''s firm gaze.


    "Secondly, once the Family''s Monkey Wine is brewed, it could at least double the income from the Spirit Peaches, an additional increase of 2,000 Spirit Stones!


    Of course, some of this income was promised to Shiming before, so each year the Lin Family will give Lin Shiming 500 Spirit Stones, and the rest will be reserved for buying him a Foundation Establishment Pill once Shiming reaches Qi Cultivation Ninth Level!"


    If the previous words had been somewhat shocking, these words were like thunder, striking at the hearts of all present.


    The Family would buy a Foundation Establishment Pill for Lin Shiming!


    It is known that a single Foundation Establishment Pill, when competed for, would cost at least 80,000 Spirit Stones, often reaching over 100,000 Spirit Stones in auctions, a considerable sum for the Lin Family.


    "Silence!" Lin Xianzhi raised his voice again.


    The noisy scene was quieted by this command, falling completely silent.


    "Lastly, I announce that from today onwards, everyone''s basic salary will be doubled! Additionally, for those we support, each member of the Shi generation will receive an annual subsidy of 300 Spirit Stones, and Hou Yuan and Hou Yong an additional 500 Spirit Stones each year."


    Upon hearing this, all members of the Lin Family cheered. Sufficient support in Spirit Stones meant they would go further, and their descendants would go even further.

 Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Family Arrangements

    The joy of Spirit Stones overflowed in everyone''s hearts; every Cultivator was grateful to be born in the Lin Family and to be striving for it. Each growth of the Lin Family had a step of their effort in it.


    At this moment, the unity of the Lin Family was unprecedentedly concentrated.


    The path to immortality was still elusive, but at least it was clearer than before. Compared to Loose Cultivators who fought tooth and nail just to obtain a few Spirit Stones, they were truly fortunate.


    They had their clan''s protection, Spirit Stones for cultivation, the experience of elders, and all sorts of cultivation techniques!


    Wealth, companions, laws, and land¡ªeverything was in place.


    After the inventory of the clan''s resources and the issuance of new policies had ended, Lin Houyuan, as the Family Head, began to make further adjustments to the clan.


    "In view of Shiming''s proactive application and bringing unexpected benefits to the clan, the family will lift the prohibition against leaving the mountain before the age of twenty. From now on, family members who are at least fifteen years old and in the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation can apply to leave the mountain for an official position," he announced.


    "Moreover, becoming a clan-certified Alchemist, Artifact Refiner, Spirit Plant Master, Array Master, or Spirit-Seeking Master will come with additional rewards!"


    "The reward for discovering a Spirit Root will be increased by thirty percent, and the reward for giving birth to a Spirit Root member will be increased by fifty percent."


    As each new policy was issued, the eyes of the Lin Family Cultivators shone brighter with excitement.


    They were like the rising sun at dawn, fiery and dazzling.


    Summer was approaching when the sunlight would be even more intense, even brighter!


    The annual summary came to a close while the Elders, Lin Shiming, and Lin Shijie were kept behind.


    Lin Shijie was puzzled, while Lin Shiming had some idea.


    The clan couldn''t have made so many moves without a purpose.


    All eyes were on Lin Xianzhi.


    Feeling everyone''s gaze, Lin Xianzhi didn''t mince words and spoke directly:


    "At present, our family must be wary of two hostile clans¡ªthe Huang Family of Huangshan with Foundation Establishment and the Purple Mansion Li Family of Qingyun Mountain!"


    "Yes, Seventh Uncle!" Lin Yuqing''s voice rang clear and resolute. Although he might not be adept at strategic planning, as a Body Cultivator, he had never feared anyone in the Qi Refinement Realm, and investigating the hunting teams targeting the Huang Family Cultivators was his forte.


    "Yu Qi, Yu Tie, both of you are to leave Xing County Square Market and take charge of the Qingxuan Square Market. The newly promoted Elder Hou Yong will replace you in managing Xing County Square Market. You may seek assistance from my senior brother Xie An to take back the market of spirit pills and magical artifacts from the Huang Family.


    After the last conflict, their reputation has already been tarnished."


    "Yes, Seventh Uncle!" Lin Yuqi and Lin Yutie responded together.


    "Yu Zheng, for the caravan arrangements, assign a ''Hou'' generation Cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refinement to take charge. You are responsible for the sales of Spiritual Wine, and additionally allot 20% of Monkey Wine''s net profit to Master Xie!"


    "Yes, Seventh Uncle!"


    Plans were set in motion, and everyone left, ready and filled with a pent-up breath.


    Previously, they had no Foundation Establishment Cultivators to rely on; now they not only had such cultivators but also the support of Lin Xianzhi''s senior brother.


    Cultivators naturally defy the heavens, so why fear a battle!


    At that moment, all the Elders were filled with fighting spirit!


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but think of the chess game at Qinglian Pool.


    The Lin Family was like the whites continuously being devoured, while the Huang and Li families were the encircling blacks.


    The whites kept retreating as advancement, something the blacks would care little for, but once the white showed any will to counterattack, they would face the blacks'' savage oppression.


    Peach Blossom Valley was a counterattack, and the Lin Family had no room left to retreat!


    Leaving the Council Hall, Lin Shiming undoubtedly felt heavy, his shoulders burdened with a great weight. Three years, breaking through to the seventh level of Qi Cultivation in three years would require significant opportunity.


    With a somewhat restless heart, Lin Shiming then headed towards the Pill Pavilion of the Second Elder, Lin Yuqi.


    He was ready for a period of arduous cultivation, but before that, he had to concoct the Beast Nurturing Pill.


    The enhancement of the two Spirit Beasts'' strength was also urgently needed.

 Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Beast Nurturing Pill

    The Alchemy Pavilion of the Lin Family was established in a cave on the back hillside of Fangmu Mountain. In the early years, the esteemed Purple Mansion Hermit captured some earth fire within Fangmu Mountain, forming both the Alchemy Pavilion and the Artifact Refining Pavilion.


    At its peak, there were even Third Rank Alchemists and Artifact Refiners who practiced their crafts here together.


    Cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm, lacking a Foundation Establishment Spirit Platform, could not release true fire, and ordinary flames were unable to produce the necessary temperature.


    It was only through the use of Formations to trap earth fire that they could engage in alchemy and artifact refining.


    Lin Shiming walked from the cave into the underground great hall.


    The decorations within the great hall were all carved with numerous fireproof Formations and protective Formations.


    "Shiming, you''ve arrived," said the Second Elder, Lin Yuqi, who had already received Lin Shiming''s Transmission Talisman. He had not been cultivating elixirs but was inside the great hall, teaching several alchemy apprentices.


    His expression wasn''t very good, however, as it was apparent that the intelligence of these apprentices from the Shi generation wasn''t particularly high.


    "Shiming pays respect to Second Grandpa!" Lin Shiming quickly greeted him. Lin Shiming had a lot of respect for this Second Grandpa.


    After all, it was he who, along with a handful of Alchemists, not only maintained the supply of Elixirs in demand by the family, but also supported the sale of Elixirs in Xing County Square Market and the trade caravans, and now was even supporting Qingyun Square Market.


    "You all continue to familiarize yourselves with Spiritual Medicine. Tomorrow at noon, I will come to test you again!" Lin Yuqi waved his hand, dismissing the apprentices.


    The apprentices felt relieved and quickly nodded in acknowledgment before leaving.


    "What kind of Spirit Pill are you planning to refine?" With the apprentices having left, Lin Yuqi became interested. In Shiming''s Transmission Talisman, he had mentioned a new alchemy recipe.


    Without hesitation, Lin Shiming took out the recipe for the Beast Nurturing Pill from his Storage Bag and handed it over to Lin Yuqi.


    Lin Yuqi took the Jade Slip, and his Divine Sense sank into it. Moments later, his face became serious.


    With a hand seal, Spirit Light suddenly flashed around them, and a soundproof Spirit Formation was activated.


    "How did you come by this! Does Uncle Seven know about it?" Lin Yuqi stared at Lin Shiming, his gaze seemingly filled with anger.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat puzzled but still recounted the day''s events in detail, which calmed Lin Yuqi''s anxious heart.


    At this moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey truly accepted Lin Shiming as its master. With the Spirit Contract, Lin Shiming found that the intelligence of the Red-haired Demon Monkey was quite a bit higher than that of the Golden Winged Mantis.


    Lin Shiming took out the pill bottle of Beast Nurturing Pills and placed one in front of each beast''s mouth.


    Surprisingly, both beasts devoured the Beast Nurturing Pills like they were exquisite delicacies.


    They then squeaked and hooted for Spirit Water and Spirit Food.


    It seemed that after swallowing the Beast Nurturing Pills, there were no noticeable changes; however, what followed was beyond Lin Shiming''s expectations.


    The two beasts'' appetites increased three to four times, and their absorption of Spirit Water became even more intense.


    After eating their fill, the two beasts climbed onto Lin Shiming''s shoulders, one on the left and one on the right, their bodies shining with Spirit Light and radiating heat.


    It appeared they were ready to have a satisfying deep sleep on Lin Shiming''s shoulders.


    But with the current sizes of the Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis, Lin Shiming couldn''t let them sleep on his shoulders. He picked up one in each hand and put them both into the Spirit Beast Bag.


    Lin Shiming now roughly understood the function of the Beast Nurturing Pill; it increased the Spirit Beasts'' absorption of Spiritual Energy to accelerate their growth.


    With a full one hundred and twenty Beast Nurturing Pills in his possession, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but ponder what the two beasts would eventually grow into.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, putting aside other thoughts, and went to the Treasure Pavilion, ready to exchange enough Spirit Pills and return to Qingtao Mountain for cultivation.


    The walk from the Pill Pavilion to the Treasure Pavilion wasn''t far, and in less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Shiming could see the Treasure Pavilion in the distance.


    Since the annual meeting had just taken place, and more Spirit Stones were distributed, there were more clan members here to exchange for treasures.


    "Little Seven!" A hearty voice called out, and upon closer inspection, Lin Shiming saw that it was his second brother, Lin Shiyi.


    "Little Seven, Big Brother is too powerful, and there''s not much difference between you and me. Plus, you are a registered disciple of the Purple Mansion Hermit. How about we spar with each other?"


    Lin Shiming initially wanted to decline, but seeing the eager look in Lin Shiyi''s eyes, he nodded in agreement.


    Towards his honest and straightforward second brother, who was a Body Cultivator, Lin Shiming had a rather good impression.

 Chapter 36: 36 chapters of green peaches for two years

    In front of the majestic and imposing Treasure Pavilion, Lin Houshou still stood guard, now joined by a junior of the "Shi" generation.


    When Lin Shiming exchanged for elixirs, it was mainly that "Shi" generation cultivator who followed the rules to carry out the transaction.


    Uncle, deep in thought, still held a jade slip in his hands, seemingly researching formations, his research causing him such a headache that his expression was one of bitter frustration.


    Lin Shiming had sold the second rank superior grade Spirit Sword he acquired from a Huang Family cultivator, along with two intermediate grade Spirit Swords, at a discounted price to his family''s Treasure Pavilion in exchange for elixirs.


    His divine sense wasn''t strong enough to support him in activating multiple Snake Vine Flowers while also wielding two superior grade Spirit Swords, and now that he was penniless again, he simply made the exchange.


    In the exchange room, Lin Houshou, upon learning that Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi were going to spar, immediately volunteered to supervise the fight to prevent any danger at critical moments.


    The sparring between cultivators is quite perilous, especially when their strengths are close.


    Naturally, both Lin Shiming and his opponent were willing, as having an elder present could point out their flaws at critical moments.


    The location chosen for their sparring was a barren land not far from the Treasure Pavilion.


    "Second Brother, after you?" Lin Shiming extended his hand, gesturing for the other to proceed.


    "Little Seventh, I''m a straightforward man and don''t go in for all this ceremony. However, I''ll let you strike first!" said Lin Shiyi in his simple way, then pulled out an iron rod.


    This iron rod seemed dull and unremarkable on the surface, but it was actually a second rank superior grade magic artifact called the Dark Gold Profound Rod, made from the large iron staff of the Red-haired Demon Monkey from the battle in Peach Blossom Valley; its power was not to be underestimated.


    Lin Shiming inhaled deeply, no longer offering courtesy, and immediately started the incantation, releasing countless seeds of the Wood Vine Technique.


    At the same time, with his other hand, the Lotus Sword also flew out, bursting with spirit light, slashing directly at Lin Shiyi.


    "Good coming!" Lin Shiyi roared with laughter, his profound rod dancing with spirit light as he charged towards Lin Shiming.


    As a body cultivator, he was not well-versed in the ways of magic, his strength lying in his physical body.


    Lin Shiyi moved exceedingly fast, his rod slammed into Lin Shiming''s Lotus Sword with a thunderous noise, sending it flying.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming incanted once more, and countless vines began to surge from under the ground.


    In an instant, they completely enveloped Lin Shiyi, but with a fierce sweep of his rod, a wave of flames emanated from the Dark Gold Profound Rod, sweeping away the vines, leaving a large empty space.


    And it was at this moment that Lin Shiming incanted again, a large Snake Vine Flower seed beginning to sprout.


    "This is exactly what I was waiting for!" Lin Shiyi bellowed, as if he had anticipated this all along, and his rod magically tripled in size.


    A fiery, massive rod smashed down on the not yet fully grown Snake Vine Flower.


    Lin Shiming humbly accepted the advice and continued the exchange until the sunset.


    Only then did Lin Shiming and his brother Lin Shiyi leave the Treasure Pavilion.


    He once again set foot on the path to Qingtao Mountain.


    ...


    On Qingtao Mountain, the peach blossoms bloomed and withered, withered and bloomed.


    In the blink of an eye, two springs and autumns passed.


    The sky was clear again, the flowers bloomed resplendently.


    The peach blossoms this time were more abundant than ever before, dense and continuous, cluster after cluster.


    On the Spirit Peach Tree, a red monkey over two meters tall hopped about, crying out as it jumped, causing numerous peach blossoms to fall, blanketing the ground in a carpet of pink petals.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey seemed to find the small tree boring and aimed to leap to another, much larger peach tree.


    A golden mantis suddenly flew out, striking with its huge scythe-like forelegs.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey immediately ran toward a wooden hut, crying out.


    The hut opened, and a young man in blue stepped out. On his shoulder, a Golden Luan Eagle groomed its golden feathers with its beak.


    "Red-Haired, if you dare to wreak havoc on the Spirit Peach Tree again, prepare for a battle with Golden Wing!"


    The young man in blue was none other than Lin Shiming, who had been in rigorous cultivation for two years. During this period, he had not broken through to the seventh level of Qi Cultivation but had instead encountered a bottleneck.


    On the other hand, the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis had undergone tremendous changes, especially the Golden Winged Mantis. In terms of cultivation strength, it had reached a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Demonic Beast and was on the verge of breaking through to the Superior Grade.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey also recently became a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Demonic Beast, but its strength was much inferior to that of the Golden Wing.


    As for the Golden Luan Eagle on his shoulder, it was even further behind, a Second Rank Inferior Grade Demonic Beast, only suitable for riding and serving as a means of flight.


    Just then, a Spirit Talisman shot in, and Lin Shiming caught it in his hand.


    It was from the Lin Family''s next member in line to guard Qingtao Mountain.


    "The two-year period has ended; it''s time to return!"


    ```

 Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Huang Familys Conspiracy

    Just like Qingtao Mountain, the peach blossoms on Fangmu Mountain had bloomed as well.


    And they were even more splendidly vibrant; from a distance, one could see a sea of pink flowers around the mountainside of Fangmu Mountain, breathtakingly beautiful.


    After descending from his sword, Lin Shiming walked the familiar path once again.


    The spiritual energy on Fangmu Mountain had become even richer; just arriving at the foot of the mountain, he felt the oncoming spiritual energy envelop his body, providing an extremely refreshing sensation.


    Lin Shiming was still practicing the Qing Mu Art and hadn''t switched to the Purple Wood Heart Sutra. The best time to switch cultivation techniques was after Foundation Establishment, or when one had a large quantity of spiritual objects that could allow for a quick restoration of one''s cultivation level.


    Moreover, transitioning from the mid-stage to the late stage of Qi Cultivation was a barrier, and it would be more advantageous to disperse one''s cultivation and start anew after a breakthrough.


    "Shiming, you''re back?" Just as Lin Shiming landed, a voice followed closely behind him.


    It was Uncle Thirteen, holding a liquor jug.


    "Uncle Thirteen, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?" Lin Shiming also turned around and greeted Lin Houwei.


    "Come on, let''s find the Family Head. The Huang Family has lost it, and there are even more people in the Qingyun Mountain range now!" Lin Houwei said angrily, taking a fierce swig from his jug.


    Over the past two years, the Lin Family''s profits had increased, and the Lin Family''s Demon Hunting Team spent most of their time secretly causing trouble for the Huang Family.


    Now that the Huang Family had caught on and was preparing to counter-encircle the Lin Family, how could Lin Houwei not be anxious?


    After reporting to the higher-ups, Lin Shiming followed behind.


    During his two years in Peach Blossom Valley, he had purchased Beast Nurturing Pills from the clan three times and some Spirit Pills for cultivation. His Spirit Water had long been depleted, and he had drawn a considerable part of his Spirit Stone stipend in advance.


    Without securing more Spirit Stones, his cultivation pace would be severely affected.


    Raising a Spirit Beast had significant benefits and provided substantial help in combat, but the downside of resource consumption was now becoming apparent.


    Before landing, Lin Houwei clearly relayed a message using a Sound Transmission Talisman.


    By the time the two reached the Council Hall, Lin Shiming''s father, Lin Houyuan, was already there.


    "Seventh brother!"


    "Father!" Lin Houwei and Lin Shiming spoke simultaneously.


    The latter nodded slightly in acknowledgment, aware that Lin Shiming''s shift guarding was over and that it was time for him to return.


    "They are clearly trying to stop our advance!"


    Upon hearing this, everyone reflected and realized that the Huang Family had indeed formed a massive defense line.


    If the Huang Family had sought revenge, they should have surrounded and attacked them already.


    Lin Shiming was also deep in thought. After discussions with his uncles, it became clear that the Huang Family had brought four or five Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators, as well as thirty or forty late-stage Qi Cultivators. Facing the Huang Family, their Lin Family had no chance of success.


    It wasn''t that they lacked countermeasures, but that they could not discern the Huang Family''s motives.


    Just then, a system prompt arrived.


    "Continue heading north, and you will encounter a critically injured Dire Bear, along with a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein!"


    The system''s prompt sounded, making Lin Shiming''s heart surge.


    A Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein!


    His heart instantly understood.


    The Huang Family''s goal was not their Lin Family, but a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein.


    This time, it wasn''t just a few Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators that the Huang Family had sent, but Foundation Establishment cultivators had come as well!


    And there might even be two of them!


    One of them would certainly be in Qingyun Market Square, watching over Lin Xianzhi.


    What shocked Lin Shiming the most, however, was the Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein. Knowing that his own Lin Family''s Third Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein had absorbed a Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein and greatly improved, if the Huang Family got their hands on a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein...


    They could potentially use it to upgrade their Spirit Vein to Third Rank Superior Grade.


    The cultivators of the Huang Family were undoubtedly too lucky; the Spiritual Energy of a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein could fetch tens of thousands of Spirit Stones at an auction. Sometimes, to those in urgent need of upgrading their veins, it could even sell for over a million Spirit Stones.


    The most crucial point was that the upgrade of a Spirit Vein would cause a tide of Spiritual Energy.


    The abundant pure Spiritual Energy produced by the tide could greatly aid in the breakthrough of realms. Upgrading from Third Rank Intermediate Grade to Third Rank Superior Grade could even improve the chances of a cultivator''s Foundation Establishment.


    Lin Shiming dared not think about the consequences if the Huang Family succeeded.


    But he knew he had to inform the Lin Family, especially the Family Head!

 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Desperate Situation

    The Qingyun mountain range is vast, a stretch of green as far as the eye can see, paired with an endless forest and one peak after another.


    But as to how vast it really is, no one knows for sure.


    All that is known is that the demonic beasts of Qingyun mountain range cannot be completely eradicated.


    There are rumors that even Golden Core Demon Kings reside deep within the range, deterring anyone from daring to measure its full extent.


    Lin Shiming gazed toward the north; he knew that was where the Huang Family was attacking the Earth Rampage Bears, aiming to take over an inferior grade third rank Spirit Vein.


    Beside his ear, the Great Elder and the others were still plotting how to capture a cultivator from the Huang Family to perform a soul search.


    But Lin Shiming was aware the Huang Family wouldn''t give them the opportunity.


    Unless the old Family Head came over, with his peak middle stage Foundation Establishment strength, then it might be possible.


    Suddenly, Lin Shiming remembered he had a Golden Luan Eagle spirit beast.


    Even though the Golden Luan Eagle was not yet mature, merely a second rank inferior grade demonic beast, its flight was entirely unimpaired, and the Huang Family at present would not concern themselves with a bird flying high in the sky.


    Most importantly, he just needed to put on a show for the elders of the Lin Family.


    "Great-grandfather, I have a Golden Luan Eagle spirit beast that''s extremely sensitive and has excellent vision, surely it can help us probe the strength and weakness of the Huang Family?" Lin Shiming had an idea and stepped forward to suggest to Lin Yuqing.


    He then released the Golden Luan Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag.


    At once, the Red-haired Demon Monkey also in the Spirit Beast Bag began to show signs of excitement, clearly wanting to come out for some air, but Lin Shiming sternly warned it with his divine sense.


    "Shiming, you''ve also raised a Golden Luan Eagle? I thought you only had a mantis spirit pet," Lin Yuqing said with some surprise as he examined the eagle.


    A cultivator flying on a sword, or traversing over land, could be detected by the divine sense of other immortal cultivators and subsequently attacked.


    However, a Golden Luan Eagle flying high in the sky would not catch the attention of the Huang Family.


    Besides, it is known that the high skies over the Qingyun mountain range are the domain of demonic birds, and there may even be Great Demons from the Purple Mansion up there.


    Cultivators from the Huang Family wouldn''t go out of their way to fly high into the sky to kill an insignificant second rank inferior grade demonic beast.


    "It was the Seventh Great-Uncle who bought it for me!" Lin Shiming stroked the head of the Golden Luan Eagle while smiling in response.


    As for the ambush that caused death and injury, Lin Yuqing naturally wanted to repay it a hundredfold.


    "Great Grandfather, if the Huang Family hasn''t used any Formations or hidden Spirit Talismans, then it''s possible!" Lin Shiming nodded. The Golden Luan Eagle''s scouting abilities were still dependable, but if the area was covered by a Formation, then indeed they would not be able to find it.


    The Golden Luan Eagle once again took flight with a squawk, heading towards the dense forests and hills in front.


    ...


    In a dense jungle, a Silver-horned Long Deer was leisurely strolling, occasionally sniffing the air and rotating its bright, lively eyes.


    "Shhh!" Suddenly, the sound of something piercing the air came through.


    The Silver-horned Long Deer hadn''t even had time to react when a shiny Spirit Sword passed right through it!


    The deer''s head flew up with the noise, scattering a wide spray of blood.


    Under the tree, a surge of Spiritual Energy fluctuated, and then several middle-aged men in yellow robes emerged from underneath the tree, collecting the deer''s head.


    The one leading them was a somewhat plump middle-aged man, and if Lin Shiming and the others were here, they would have recognized him as Huang Lishan, the current Family Head of the Huang Family.


    Huang Lishan did not pay attention to the corpse of the Second Rank Intermediate Grade Demonic Beast, the Silver-horned Long Deer, but instead looked up into the void, a trace of puzzlement flickering in his eyes.


    "Ligong, you said that eagle has appeared and gone back and forth twice now, and the Lin Family is also over there..."


    After hearing this, an elderly Taoist Robe Cultivator with white whiskers pinched his beard and furrowed his brows.


    The white-bearded Taoist Robe old man was named Huang Ligong, the ninth eldest of the Huang Family''s generation, younger than Huang Lishan by several years, but more inclined to preserve his natural age.


    "Third Brother, the Lin Family has never raised a Golden Luan Eagle, but I feel something is not right; the Lin Family''s calm is too abnormal!"


    "Third Brother, Ninth Brother, why hesitate any longer? We still have a Purple Mansion talisman treasure; let''s just annihilate those few from the Lin Family!" The dark-faced Cultivator beside them was already irritated.


    Seeing that the others from the Huang Family were all contemplating the Golden Luan Eagle, he spoke directly.


    In his view, the Lin Family was only relying on the name of Zi Xuan Hermit from the Qingxuan Sect, but in this uninhabited place, even if they were to slaughter all the Cultivators of the Lin Family, no one would ever know.


    The gap in strength was too vast.


    "Let''s deal with them! Indeed something doesn''t feel right!" Huang Lishan extended his leg, stepping on the body of the Silver-horned Long Deer, and with a violent force, the deer''s body burst open, the flesh and blood flying in all directions.


    "Six Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and one talisman treasure, their death is certain!"

 Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Crazy Drinking

    At the outskirts of the Qingyun Mountain range, a Golden Luan Eagle slowly descended from the sky, landing on Lin Shiming''s shoulder.


    The attention of all the Lin Family members instantly focused on Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming took out the Spirit Water and placed it next to the Golden Luan Eagle''s hooked beak.


    After a fluctuation of divine sense, Lin Shiming shook his head at the Great Elder and the others.


    Although the Lin Family members had braced themselves, they were still somewhat disappointed.


    Suddenly, Lin Houshou''s brows furrowed tightly.


    He stared ahead, then quickly turned to check behind them!


    Then he looked left and right!


    "All the early warning formations around us have been triggered, activate the formation immediately, form up!" Lin Houshou''s hands displayed several array flags, and he started to rapidly form hand seals.


    The others reacted in an instant, grabbing their magic artifacts, watching their surroundings with vigilance.


    All of them expanded their divine sense.


    The first to detect the Huang Family''s cultivators was the Great Elder; as an experienced Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator, his range of divine sense was the broadest.


    "There are Huang Family cultivators to the north!"


    "They are in the east, and west as well!"


    ...


    A bad feeling surged in the hearts of all the Lin Family cultivators.


    "Six Qi Cultivation Ninth Levels!" Under the solemn gaze of the Great Elder Lin Yuqing, a trace of helplessness emerged.


    As the head of the Great Elder and the Demon Hunting Team, he knew they had been careless and too eager for success.


    "Uncle, we can''t give up. Relying on the formation, we still have a chance. This set of Five Directions Profound Earth Array plates can block three Qi Cultivation Ninth Levels without a problem!" Lin Houshou shouted loudly, his spiritual energy bursting forth.


    In an instant, he displayed a level of cultivation that far surpassed the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation.


    "Hou Shou, you''ve reached Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, good!" Lin Yuqing roared with approval, his spirit sweeping away the gloom!


    If the younger generation could do this, how could he, a senior, show any cowardice?


    Lin Houshou did not reply. With a cold shout, the earth and rocks around him tumbled, and beams of immense spirit light rose around them. A golden yellow barrier enveloped everyone.


    With the light shield gone, Lin Shijie and the Blood Corpse charged towards the last Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator of the Huang Family.


    "Hmph, Lin Family brat, not even fully fledged, and yet you dare to insult me!" The remaining Ninth Level cultivator of the Huang Family was also furious, waving his hand a Five Elements Flag appeared.


    With a wave of the flag, various Five Elements Spells continuously flew out, bombarding both Lin Shijie and the Blood Corpse.


    Unending flames endlessly roasted the Blood Corpse!


    The Blood Corpse was clearly being suppressed by the flames, cackling and roaring in rage.


    Lin Shiming hurriedly took out several ordinary corpse cultivators and reached towards the Ninth Level cultivator of the Huang Family.


    "Damn it, if only I had more resources, my Blood Corpse could reach the peak of the second rank, impervious to fire and water, invulnerable to swords and spears! How would a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level be of any concern?"


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat unwilling.


    This feeling of unwillingness, when heard by the Lin Family members, made many cultivators instantly consider how Lin Shiming had become the supported member of the family due to his opportunities and merits.


    No one responded to Lin Shiming, but the increasingly ferocious fist techniques of the Great Elder, with his pair of supreme grade boxing gloves, sent countless spiritual artifacts flying.


    A set of the Thick Earth Fist Manual resulted in the slight suppression of both Huang Lishan and Huang Ligong.


    The scene turned chaotic for a moment as the Huang Family members faced off against the Lin Family members.


    Generally speaking, the cultivation level of the Huang Family members was higher, but the Lin Family also had an advantage, being inheritors of the Purple Mansion''s cultivation techniques, which were slightly stronger.


    But they could only barely hold back, and it seemed like defeat was already decided.


    Especially a few cultivators at the fifth and sixth levels of Qi Cultivation, who were already decapitated.


    Lin Shiming was still there drinking Monkey Wine, and everyone felt that Lin Shiming had gone mad. With a great battle approaching, continuing to guzzle down wine, was this self-abandonment?


    But the Huang Family had an inkling that something was not right¡ªafter all, this was a descendant of Lin Houyuan.


    A Qi Cultivation Eighth Level cultivator suddenly unleashed a huge Fireball Technique, blasting away a Seventh Level cultivator from the Lin Family, and a giant magic sword slashed towards Lin Shiming.


    But just then, a red-haired figure unexpectedly appeared in front of everyone, holding up a Profound Water Heavy Mountain and violently throwing it at the magic sword.


    With a loud boom, the magic sword was smashed apart, and the Profound Water Heavy Mountain rumbled as it flew back.


    The red-haired figure was familiar to the crowd, but why would this red-haired figure be holding Lin Shiming''s Profound Water Heavy Mountain, and why would they block this strike for Lin Shiming?


    At this moment, Lin Shiming finally stopped.


    He suddenly lifted his head, his face flushing extremely red, like an inflated balloon, his eyes filled with madness.

 Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Only One Sword to Enjoy Together

    ```


    The verdant hillsides had now completely fallen into a hellish landscape.


    Blood flowed like rivers in the trenches carved by various spells, as the blue-robed cultivators still could not overcome, and the yellow-robed cultivators relentlessly struck sword after sword with fierce grimaces.


    Even at Lin Houshou''s position, the Five Directions Profound Earth Formation was starting to falter, as Huang Family had a Third Rank Artifact Refiner, making the magical treasures of the three Huang Family elders exceptionally powerful.


    Although Lin Houshou also had some, he had only just stepped into the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, and if it weren''t for the constant consumption of Monkey Wine to restore his Spiritual Energy, his defenses might have already been breached.


    But he couldn''t hold on much longer!


    The only scene that seemed to fare the best was with Lin Yuqing. As a practitioner of Body Cultivation, bolstered by the Monkey Wine, he was surprisingly pressuring both Huang Lishan and another of the Huang Family with his abundant Spiritual Power.


    At that moment, Lin Houshou''s gaze happened to catch sight of Lin Shiming, whose face was flushed red with crazed eyes.


    Of course, it wasn''t just Lin Houshou who noticed; everyone''s gaze couldn''t help but turn towards Lin Shiming.


    They saw the latter suddenly shout, and a black Lotus Sword instantly grew several meters, its blade emanating a thick light.


    "You old cowards of the Huang Family! Even though I, Lin Shiming, am only at Qi Cultivation Sixth Level and no match for you,"


    "I have but one sword strike, please appreciate it together!"


    Lin Shiming roared as he spoke, and one could see a violent surge of Spiritual Energy pour into the Green Lotus Sword, making the sword light flare up again!


    Could it be that he has comprehended Lin Xianzhi''s sword technique?


    Some of the Huang Family felt a cold fear, for Lin Xianzhi''s swordsmanship was always so terrifying!


    But most scoffed, a mere Qi Cultivation Sixth Level; who could he intimidate?


    The sword light was unleashed, and Lin Shiming struck at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level cultivator who had attacked him.


    Which was easily blocked by the latter.


    "All flash and no substance!"


    That was the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level cultivator''s assessment of Lin Shiming.


    But soon, he sensed something amiss; the Spiritual Energy from Lin Shiming''s recent attack was far from all he had.


    Even under his watch, Lin Shiming''s body slowly fell to the ground.


    How could this be?


    Everyone was surprised and puzzled. Was that all from his full-strength sword strike?


    Should this punch land, Huang Lishan would either die or sustain grave injuries.


    At the critical juncture, Huang Lishan took a deep breath, drew a Supreme Grade magical sword to sever the Snake Vine Flower monstrously, and then surprisingly unfolded a Third Rank Inferior Grade Defense Talisman.


    He pulled out a half-meter-long peculiar Spirit Talisman, whose surface was not inscribed with Spirit Patterns, but rather a small sword engulfed in purple qi.


    His mouth moved as if whispering an incantation, and the small sword on the Spirit Talisman became steadily clearer.


    The Spiritual Pressure grew more and more intense.


    "Talisman Sword!" Everyone from the Lin Family was shocked.


    Especially Lin Yuqing, who hastily yelled out!


    "Don''t let him activate it!"


    The power of the Talisman Sword was equivalent to a strike from a Purple Mansion magical treasure, although it was only being activated by a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator, its power was absolutely terrifying.


    The only weakness of such a Talisman Sword was the long activation time, and extended incantation period.


    His Iron Fist struck the Defense Talisman numerous times, but a Third Rank talisman wasn''t so easily broken.


    As Lin Houshou took a big gulp of Monkey Wine to restore some Spiritual Power and alleviate some injuries, he saw this and charged at Huang Lishan once more.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shijie and the Blood Corpse didn''t know how many times they''d been blasted away by the Five Elements Flag.


    This time, Lin Shijie was once again sent flying backward, and the Blood Corpse''s arms were blown off by the flames.


    "You two brats, I''ll come back to kill you later!" The Huang Family''s Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator roared with fury. Four Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators had died; even if they killed all of the Lin Family, it would be a loss for the Huang Family, not to mention that with their Qi Cultivation peak cultivators falling, the Huang Family was on the brink of being entirely annihilated.


    The situation had already far exceeded the Huang Family''s expectations, but to survive, to win, they had to ensure that Huang Lishan activated the Talisman Sword.


    The Huang Family''s remaining Ninth Level cultivators directly intercepted Lin Houshou; without the assistance of the formation and also injured, Lin Houshou simply couldn''t hold off the Huang Family''s cultivators.


    Especially with the Five Elements Spell released by the Five Elements Flags, Lin Houshou was forced into a continuous retreat.


    The Talisman Sword in Huang Lishan''s hand grew brighter and brighter, while Lin Yuqing had failed to shatter the Third Rank Inferior Grade Defense Talisman from the start to the finish.


    Lin Yuqing''s eyes were already bloodshot, the power of the Frenzy Pill was eroding his nerves, and the fear of death loomed over his head.


    No one could withstand the strike from this Talisman Sword.


    At that moment, he transmitted a message to Lin Shiming and Lin Shijie once more.


    "Go!" With Huang Lishan''s cold shout, a golden, dazzling Purple Flying Sword had already taken shape, and the terrifying Spiritual Pressure pressed down on everyone, making it hard to breathe.


    "Lin Yuqing, it''s all over!" Huang Lishan snarled, swinging his hand forcefully, as the sword slashed towards Lin Yuqing.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Ownership of the Talisman Treasure

    The Spirit Talisman transformed into a towering sword light dozens of feet long, carrying infinite sword might, cleaving down in a slash.


    In haste, Lin Yuqing threw out several Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Talismans to block, and also controlled a Superior Grade defensive Magic Artifact for defense.


    However, the sword light still tore through everything in its path, rampaging towards Lin Yuqing.


    Unmatched, unstoppable!


    It was truly a sword that broke all magic!


    Just at this moment, an even more dazzling sword light came piercing down from the sky.


    That latter light blazed with green luminescence, streaking a sword light ten meters long, fiercely stabbing into the purple sword light.


    A sharp and piercing sound of swords clashing erupted, spreading the brilliant spirit light far and wide.


    The residual force of the light directly flipped Lin Yuqing over a hundred meters away, spewing a gush of scarlet blood three to four meters away.


    "Lin Xianzhi, how come you are here?" Huang Lishan''s face was filled with disbelief.


    At this moment, Lin Xianzhi should have been at the Qingyun market attending a trade meeting for Foundation Establishment Cultivators with the elderly head of their Huang Family.


    In the sky, a Spirit Boat slowly descended, with Lin Houyong on board, recovering his Spiritual Energy.


    At the forefront of the Spirit Boat, stood a figure in white with green robes, upright like a pine, with the green Qinglian Sword floating high above, poised like a ravenous beast ready to strike.


    Lin Xianzhi did not answer.


    But it was the lack of an answer that made Huang Lishan even more infuriated and desolate.


    Without establishing the foundation, one is merely an ant!


    What does it matter if he is the Family Head of the Huang Family?


    What does it matter if he has Spirit Talismans, unbeatable in Qi Cultivation!


    In the end, he is still just in Qi Cultivation, still just an ant!


    No one will save him, the Lin Family will not spare him either.


    The scene was filled with despair, not just for Huang Lishan, but for the other members of the Huang Family as well.


    In contrast, the remaining Cultivators of the Lin Family were buoyed with high spirits, attacking with all their might!


    With a flick of his finger, Lin Xianzhi unleashed the Qinglian Sword. Huang Lishan''s Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Talismans instantly shattered, dissipating into spirit light.


    And with them, Huang Lishan''s head was severed as well.


    Nearly a hundred years of Immortal Cultivation vanished in an instant.


    The remaining Cultivators of the Huang Family began to flee, but how could they escape?


    In addition, Lin Xianzhi took out a green lotus seed and placed it in Lin Shiming''s mouth.


    Lin Shiming had never tasted the Green Lotus Pool''s lotus seeds before, but he knew they also had a healing effect, complementing the Monkey Wine perfectly.


    "Well done!" Lin Xianzhi praised Lin Shiming, then he started to clean up the battlefield with Lin Houqing and others.


    They collected all the Storage Bags, and used the Fireball Technique to burn the bodies of the Huang Family cultivators one by one.


    Especially the magic talismans, which still had some power left, were carefully collected by Lin Xianzhi. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators would be envious of these Purple Mansion talismans.


    And only Foundation Establishment cultivators have enough Spiritual Power to fully activate the talismans'' potential.


    If Qi Cultivators were to activate the talismans, the power would be that of a Third Rank Inferior Grade. But for Foundation Establishment cultivators, it could even reach a Third Rank Superior Grade.


    Nevertheless, talismans ultimately have a flaw, which is the need for a long time to form the hand seals. In a battle between cultivators, without sufficient defensive measures, using talismans is undoubtedly suicidal.


    "Shiming!" When Lin Shiming was admiring the talisman.


    A Storage Bag was tossed in front of Lin Shiming by Lin Xianzhi, upon the latter''s confirming nod.


    Lin Shiming picked up the Storage Bag, barely believing it. With a bit of Divine Sense that had just recovered, he probed into the Storage Bag.


    A half-meter-long Spirit Talisman was indeed inside the bag.


    The Purple Spirit Sword appeared dimmer than before, but undeniably, it was the talisman that even Foundation Establishment cultivators coveted.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, this..." Lin Shiming still couldn''t believe it.


    But he saw the latter smiling in response, "Would the family ever cold the heart of someone who has contributed?"


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming was instantly overjoyed.


    The value of talismans varies greatly, ranging from ten thousand to several hundred thousand Spirit Stones. This Purple Mansion Purple Sword talisman, while not the top-notch, was still worth at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Used at a critical moment, it could even severely injure a Foundation Establishment cultivator!


    It was truly an ace up one''s sleeve!


    "Heal up well!" Lin Xianzhi instructed.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, a Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein..."


    "You all heal first. If the Spirit Vein is not meant to be ours, what harm is there in letting them take it?" Lin Xianzhi shook his head and then went off to other places, continuing to bestow rewards and tend to the healing of other cultivators.


    In total, they acquired six Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators'' Storage Bags and more than twenty from late-stage Qi Cultivators.


    Due to his key contributions, Lin Shiming was allocated the Storage Bag of a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator and one from an Eighth Level cultivator.


    Apart from Lin Shiming, Lin Shijie and Lin Shiming each gained a Storage Bag from a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator and an Eighth Level cultivator.


    None of the cultivators from the younger "Hou" and "Yu" generations of the Lin Family voiced any objections, for they were deserving.


    At the same time, they knew that they were witnessing the rise of the "Shi" generation...

 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Not that there is no retribution, its just not the time yet

    In a hastily excavated cave dwelling, Lin Shiming slowly awoke from his cultivation.


    The sustained and endless power of the Qing Mu Art was immensely effective in healing and recovery, and had he been cultivating a Fire-Element Technique, he would have undoubtedly experienced excruciating pain throughout his meridians.


    Of course, the Second Rank Superior Grade Monkey Wine and the seeds of the Green Lotus also played a significant role.


    Otherwise, it would have taken Lin Shiming at least several days to stabilize.


    "Shiming, how are you feeling, any better?"


    Sitting in meditation nearby, Lin Houwei and others from the Lin Family all looked over, the one who asked was Fifth Uncle Lin Houyong.


    Lin Shiming scanned the area; most of the Lin Family were present in the temporary cave. Deeper within, and with his Divine Sense, he detected Lin Yuqing and Lin Houshou both healing. They were the ones under the greatest pressure earlier.


    Seeing Lin Shiming awake, many with minor injuries now turned their gaze towards him.


    His gaze had changed from that of the past; in their eyes, Lin Shiming saw a hint of concern and respect.


    If it hadn''t been for Lin Shiming''s last self-sacrificing act to trigger the Snake Vine Flower, it was possible that all the Lin Family members would have been annihilated.


    At this moment, no one doubted Lin Shiming''s status as a key member supported by the family!


    Even Lin Shimo, when looking at Lin Shiming, appeared to regard him with the same respect as he did Lin Shijie, evidently placing Lin Shiming on an equal footing.


    "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Five. This time, we were lucky you arrived when you did, or the outcome is unthinkable!" Lin Shiming said gratefully, remembering that if they had been just a moment later, he had no doubt that the Purple Mansion talisman could have killed many of the Lin Family.


    "It was you who made a great contribution, far greater than what Fifth Uncle did!" Lin Houshou also praised, then appeared to recall something and spoke,


    "Seventh Great-Uncle wants to see you, go inside for a moment!" Lin Shiming nodded, slowly stood up, but realized his body still ached. He couldn''t help but think, perhaps he should find a Body Refining Art to cultivate.


    However, remembering that with his Third Spirit Root it was uncertain how long he would take to reach Foundation Establishment, he immediately gave up the idea.


    Approaching the depths of the cave dwelling, there were two entrances blocked by stones, and next to one of the large stones, Lin Xianzhi sat in meditation just like the first time Lin Shiming saw him.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming bowed and saluted.


    Lin Xianzhi opened his eyes and looked at Lin Shiming, examining him up and down and asked,


    "How are your injuries?"


    The advantage of this was clear too; in the Qingyun Mountain Range, a smaller target was less noticeable while the speed was not compromised.


    The Spirit Boat nearly skimmed over the treetops as it flew, the Golden Luan Bird squawked on Lin Shiming''s shoulder, and Lin Shiming kept giving directions.


    Heading north, the Spirit Boat''s speed was terrifyingly fast. After about five or six hours, Lin Shiming could see a small mountain from a distance, its dense spiritual energy particularly striking.


    From a closer approach, one could see around the small mountain several corpses draped in yellow robes, their manner of death exceedingly gruesome¡ªevery one of them had been horrifically slapped to death with palm strikes.


    The ground was scarred with countless ravines, and a large swath of trees was demolished.


    "It''s ahead!" Lin Xianzhi''s eyes lit up, then he looked toward the remaining individuals.


    Lin Xianzhi had everyone disembark from the Spirit Boat and proceed with concealed movements.


    At this moment, from atop the hill, came the rumbling sounds of roars and the clashing of swords¡ªthe battle was obviously far from over.


    Lin Xianzhi flipped his hand, taking out five Spirit Talismans from his Storage Bag, giving one to each person.


    All five were Second-Rank Superior Grade Spirit Talismans of Concealment, with excellent effects in shielding one''s Divine Sense. Of course, for Foundation Establishment Cultivators using their Divine Sense at full strength to probe, the effect would be much diminished.


    But at this moment, the Huang Family''s cultivators were probably distracted by the fierce assaults of the Territorial Bear!


    The group of five each slapped on a talisman and carefully advanced toward the top of the hill.


    The closer they got, the more numerous the signs of battle became.


    Finally, the scene before them came into view¡ªfamiliar figures: Huang Kaiyu, and six cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level.


    These Ninth Level cultivators clearly controlled a formation, continuously bombarding it with various types of Five Elements Spells.


    In front of them was a five-meter-tall Territorial Bear, violently slapping at two Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Where the Territorial Bear struck, there were wounds, and where the earth spells in the form of Spirit Armor covering its fur were hit, there were holes. Intermittent stabs of earth would come forth, but were blocked by the sparkling shield held by Huang Kaiyu.


    The Territorial Bear was clearly at a disadvantage, and the state of the Huang Family members was also extremely poor.


    The Lin Family members could not have arrived at a better time.


    Lin Shiming, recalling the matter of Peach Blossom Valley, suddenly thought of a phrase.


    Vengeance may be delayed, but the hour of reckoning will come!

 Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Exclusively Locking the Earth Escape Spirit Beast

    On top of Nameless Mountain, the roars of the Earth Berserk Bear grew weaker and less furious than before; instead, they conveyed a sense of tragic helplessness, as if crying out in desperation.


    Its injuries had multiplied, and the attacks from Huang Kaiyu and the others had become more ferocious!


    And they aimed every blow at the wounds of the Earth Berserk Bear.


    "Everyone, be careful, this Earth Berserk Bear is definitely going to lash out in its dying throes!"


    Huang Kaiyu, however, did not act rashly, but cautiously reminded several Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators.


    All spells and magic artifacts began to focus on encirclement, like slowly boiling a frog.


    From a distance, Lin Xianzhi, after witnessing this scene, gestured for Lin Shiming and the others to hide well before continuing forward with Lin Houyong.


    He had to eliminate at least one or even two Foundation Establishment supporters on the opposing side to take control of the situation!


    This time, there was no more Supreme Grade Monkey Wine to squander.


    And he would not allow... the tiger to return to the mountain again.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shijie and the others stood still, watching the battle of the Foundation Establishment Stage with some surprise; the earth-shattering power displayed by a wave of their hands was the true terror of Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Lin Shiming had some restraint towards Foundation Establishment cultivators; the fight of the cornered beast wasn''t as heart-stopping. Instead, he started to wonder why the Earth Berserk Bear didn''t try to escape.


    Where was the Third Rank Spirit Vein?


    If an Inferior Grade Second Rank Spirit Vein yielded an entire Spirit Pool of Spirit Water, what kind of Spiritual Objects would a Third Rank Spirit Vein have?


    This could be the key to his breakthrough!


    "Big brother, look over there!" Lin Shiming pulled on Lin Shijie''s shoulder, drawing the latter''s gaze back from his deep yearnings.


    "Is that the Earth Berserk Bear''s cave?" Lin Shijie was also elated.


    Behind the Earth Berserk Bear, around a kilometer away, there actually was a five-meter-tall cave. Piles of Demonic Beast bones lay outside the cave, along with the fresh and bloody remains of several Demonic Beasts that had just been killed for food.


    The inside of the cave was pitch black and seemed profoundly deep and long.


    Lin Shiming and the others did not dare to use their Divine Sense to probe, feeling anxious.


    Meanwhile, the nearby battle had reached its final, intense stage.


    The Earth Berserk Bear, knowing that it had no hope of survival, became even more ferocious. Its massive body leaped into the air and crashed down like Mount Tai with crushing force.


    Both of its bear paws gathered Earth Attribute Spiritual Energy frantically, the wind they blew carrying a fishy smell, and the Spiritual Pressure they emitted caused the Huang Family''s brows to furrow as they took several steps back!


    "Quick, use all your means, this cursed bear is about to die!" Huang Kaiyu''s entire True Yuan surged as he brought out the Third Rank Golden Shield, which instantly grew over six meters high and more than five meters thick, firmly blocking the front.


    Huang Kaiyu then consecutively unleashed a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Flying Sword, a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Ring, and a Third Rank Superior Grade Treasure Pagoda!


    Three great Foundation Establishment Magic Artifacts, resplendent with Spirit Light, transformed into supreme killing weapons, slashing towards the Earth Berserk Bear.


    After the three sword strikes, his old strength waned and new strength had yet to arise.


    Lin Xianzhi finally spoke up:


    "Noise!"


    "You!!!!"


    Huang Kaiyu was so furious he could spit blood, they were both at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, why did Lin Xianzhi not take him seriously.


    And why didn''t Lin Xianzhi dare to act last time, but dared this time?


    The two once again engaged in battle, unlike before, although Lin Xianzhi had recovered his cultivation level, lacking the replenishment of Supreme Grade Monkey Wine, he no longer overwhelmed Huang Kaiyu, who possessed three Third Rank Intermediate Grade or above magic artifacts, like before.


    But he still suppressed Lin Xianzhi with every single sword strike.


    Lin Shijie and Lin Shiming watched, captivated, cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage were truly terrifying!


    On the side, Lin Shiming watched the remaining escaping Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator with some anxiety.


    "Something''s wrong, he''s making a move under the cover of darkness!" With the battle unfolding, Lin Shiming no longer needed to hide his identity and retracted his Divine Sense.


    Upon doing so, he saw, to his astonishment, that the remaining Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator was actually charging toward the cave dwelling of the great earth explosive bear!


    Lin Shiming himself was shocked by the boldness of this cultivator!


    The Huang Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators were already in peril, yet this person dared to snatch chestnuts from the fire, exploiting the chaos!


    "Big Brother, someone''s stealing treasures in the bear''s cave!" Lin Shiming alone did not dare to approach; knowing full well that given his current strength, he could at best exert the power of the Fifth Level, let alone attempt to deploy the Snake Vine Flower.


    "What?" Lin Shijie cried out in shock and then immediately flew into a rage!


    At such a critical time, there was actually someone pilfering treasures!


    After calling out to Lin Shiming, the three of them mounted their swords and flew towards the cave together.


    Because they were relatively close, they quickly arrived at the bear''s cave!


    At the cave, the three immediately sensed a thick scent of blood, followed by an extremely rich spiritual energy, which made them all take a deep breath.


    An Inferior Grade Third Rank Spirit Vein was undoubtedly here; only a Third Rank Intermediate Grade great earth explosive bear could occupy an Inferior Grade Third Rank Spirit Vein.


    The treasures of the Third Rank Spirit Vein were naturally extremely precious!


    "Big Brother, we need to figure out a way to prevent him from escaping underground!" Lin Shiming said with a frown.


    "Don''t worry, it was only because our revered seventh uncle wasn''t prepared!" Lin Shijie confidently said, then took out several formation flags from his Storage Bag.


    "Is that?"


    "The Lock Earth Formation, designed specifically to prevent some precious underground escaping spirit beasts from fleeing!"

 Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Breakthrough?

    About a dozen Spirit Flags flew into the ground, and instantly streams of Spiritual Energy formed a specific Spirit Prison, locking the earth within a radius of a hundred meters.


    Especially since the Spiritual Energy here was rich, it further enhanced the power of the Lock Earth Formation.


    "Let''s go!" With the Lock Earth Formation ready, the group prepared to easily capture their prey.


    Though at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, having sustained such severe injuries and with most of their Spiritual Energy consumed, the three were not overly fearful.


    Lin Shimo led the way at the front, with three Iron Corpses before him.


    The Iron Corpses were glowing with a cold light and were still covered in corpse hair, which gave Lin Shiming the chills.


    In particular, seeing Lin Shimo caress the three Iron Corpses seemed rather affectionate.


    Of course, Lin Shiming didn''t dawdle either. He brought out both the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis, being very cautious at this critical moment.


    Most of his strength was associated with the Snake Vine Flower, which he couldn''t use now.


    When the Red-haired Demon Monkey came out, it held the Profound Water Heavy Mountain and looked curiously into the cave. The Golden Winged Mantis quietly followed behind Lin Shiming.


    "Seventh Brother, is this mantis the one you bought at the market last time?" Lin Shijie was curious.


    This mantis was entirely golden and, without saying, looked way more formidable than the common green-winged mantis!


    Its Spirit Might overwhelmingly crushed the latter by an unknown margin.


    "Yes!" Lin Shiming didn''t elaborate, and though Lin Shijie was curious, now wasn''t the time for questions.


    With all their defenses set, the three began to walk into the cave!


    Just then, a figure inside suddenly charged out, wielding a Second Rank Supreme Grade Magic Sword, slashing fiercely.


    "Damn Lin Family brats, to actually trap me with a Spirit Beast''s Lock Earth Formation!" The yellow-robed cultivator, after obtaining the treasure, naturally thought of using the Earth Escape Technique to flee.


    But he didn''t expect that he would be trapped by the specifically countering Lock Earth Formation, unable to use the Earth Escape Talisman without destroying the formation''s foundation!


    "I''ll have you cut into a thousand pieces!"


    This sword carried an endless roar and fury.


    Lin Shimo''s Iron Corpses charged forward first, only to be split apart by the Spirit Sword.


    The remaining two didn''t even get a chance to advance before being bypassed, and the attack continued charging toward Lin Shimo.


    Lin Shijie let out a mighty shout, his whole body surging with Spiritual Power as a Superior Grade Fire-returning Fire Sword slashed towards the Earthy Yellow Spirit Sword.


    The Spiritual Power of Lin Shiming was already scarce, so naturally, the power of the Spirit Sword wasn''t great!


    Eh!


    The yellow-robed cultivator suddenly seemed to have discovered a new world, his gaze sharpening like an eagle''s, focusing on Lin Shiming.


    This was a huge breakthrough!


    The yellow-robed cultivator, disregarding everything else, rushed towards Lin Shiming at once. His Supreme Grade Spirit Sword clashed with Lin Shijie, while a Shield Magical Instrument defended against the attacks from the two Iron Corpses and Lin Shiming.


    The man maneuvered a Superior Grade sword, charging at Lin Shiming to kill.


    Lin Shiming was also greatly shocked and quickly slapped down three or four Spirit Talismans, including one Superior Grade Water Shield Talisman.


    Numerous Spirit Shields rose, but they barely managed to block the yellow-robed cultivator''s attack, and the Superior Grade Ink Lotus Sword was even slashed away.


    Just then, the Red-haired Demon Monkey picked up the Profound Water Heavy Mountain again.


    Lin Shiming, meanwhile, suddenly chanted an ordinary Wood Vine Technique, and numerous vines in the cave almost instantly trapped him before the yellow-robed cultivator could struggle free. A huge small mountain smashed over, it was the Profound Water Heavy Mountain!


    The yellow-robed cultivator had seen the might of the Profound Water Heavy Mountain and quickly maneuvered the Flying Sword to slash the Profound Water Heavy Mountain away!


    And at that moment, a golden light shot out.


    "Just a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Golden Winged Mantis!" the yellow-robed cultivator slapped down a body-protecting Spirit Talisman, scornfully sneering before he could finish, but he found that the golden-colored mantis was terrifyingly fast, not even worse than a late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    And with two golden-hued scythe-like limbs raised, the yellow-robed cultivator saw the body-protecting Spirit Talisman on his surface was slashed open in an instant.


    What was also slashed was his neck!


    The Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator from the Huang Family, dead!


    The yellow-robed cultivator never would have thought, to his dying breath, that he would be killed by a Second Rank Demonic Beast mantis.


    Lin Shiming went down with a thud, the Spiritually exhausted man once again fell to the ground, breathing heavily.


    In the distance, Lin Shijie and Lin Shiming hurried over to help Lin Shiming.


    The Golden Winged Mantis flew back, nestled behind Lin Shiming, nudging him constantly with its golden triangular head, as if seeking praise.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey also retrieved the Profound Water Heavy Mountain, going over to Lin Shiming''s side, patting Lin Shiming''s Storage Bag with one hand while still fiddling with the Profound Water Heavy Mountain with the other.


    After howling twice, the Golden Winged Mantis behind it also seemed to sense it was feeding time and began chirping.


    "Old Seven, these two Spirit Beasts of yours are quite impressive. Is the second one a descendant of those two Demon Monkeys from Peach Blossom Valley?" Lin Shijie, seeing that Lin Shiming was simply exhausted, immediately turned his attention to the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis, his eyes full of admiration.


    "Hmm, let''s first see what treasures we can find!" Lin Shiming then changed the subject, starting to look forward to the treasures they might get.

 Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Spirit Soil

    Inside the bear cave, Lin Shiming stood up and brushed the dust off his body.


    He took out some Spirit Water and Spirit Food from his Storage Bag and shared them with the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and the two Spirit Beasts immediately huddled to the side and began to eat and drink heartily.


    Lin Shiming then looked towards the outside of the cave, where the battle had clearly drawn to a close.


    The group couldn''t help but send out their Divine Sense to probe the outside and found that Seventh Uncle Lin Xianzhi was picking up Storage Bags from several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while Fifth Uncle Lin Houyong was also returning happily with a Storage Bag in hand.


    The trio instantly sighed in relief. Although they had their suspicions, Huang Kaiyu was still a Cultivator at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and accidents could happen.


    In the Cultivation World, it was not uncommon for mishaps to occur.


    In this conflict, the Huang Family had lost thirty-four Qi Cultivation later-stage Cultivators, twelve at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, and two at the Foundation Establishment stage!


    After this battle, not only would the Huang Family have difficulty seeking trouble with the Lin Family, but they would also have to be cautious of other families.


    Without power and wealth to match their standing, in the eyes of other Foundation Establishment families, they were nothing but delectable morsels.


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyong, one after the other, headed toward the bear cave, with the body of the Earth Rampage Bear being collected by Lin Xianzhi.


    The body of a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Demonic Beast was a treasure trove in and of itself, especially the pair of bear paws which, when used to make a pair of gauntlets, would be of the best effect.


    If handled by a competent Artifact Refiner, they could certainly craft a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifact which would make those Foundation Establishment Body Cultivators flock to it in frenzy.


    "Seventh Uncle, Fifth Uncle!" Lin Shiming and the others called out almost simultaneously.


    "Well done!" Lin Xianzhi gave the trio a morale boost before taking the lead into the depths of the cave dwelling.


    They did not take the Storage Bag of the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Cultivator in the yellow robe, seemingly granting tacit approval for the trio to keep it.


    Lin Shiming and the others quickly followed. Although they had arrived early, they were preoccupied with fighting the yellow-robed Cultivator and had no time to check the contents of the bear cave, so they too were curious.


    Reaching the deepest part of the bear cave, the space opened up considerably, revealing a five or six-meter-wide hollow suitable for the Earth Rampage Bear to sprawl out for sleep. Next to the hollow was a pile of overturned fertile soil.


    The rich Spiritual Energy diffused into the air, clearly the result of several Spirit Grasses being plucked; the Spirit Grass should be inside the yellow-robed Cultivator''s Storage Bag without surprise.


    To Lin Shiming''s disappointment, there was no Spirit Pool.


    However, the Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein was indeed here.


    For the Storage Bag of a cultivator who managed to escape under their seventh granduncle''s sword and seemed to have stolen the treasures from the bear cave, the three were quite expectant.


    "Younger Seventh, Younger Fourth, the usual rules¡ªsplit equally among the three of us. Younger Seventh, you made the largest contribution so you choose first. Younger Fourth, your Iron Corpse sustained damage, so you pick second!" Lin Shijie said fairly, then under the gaze of the other two, began to take out the contents of the Storage Bag one by one.


    Most of the yellow-robed cultivator''s Spirit Talismans and Spirit Pills had been used up, leaving behind a pile of magic artifacts, an assortment of Spirit Grasses, and some Spirit Stones, along with two Jade Slips.


    The first thing Lin Shijie checked was the two Jade Slips, which would surely be imprinted with a copy for each person before being handed over to the family in exchange for Contribution Points.


    To their surprise, the first Jade Slip recorded the method to refine the flags for the Five Element Spirit Breaking Formation and the formation technique itself, the same one used by several Qi Cultivation later stage members of the Huang Family to launch a combined attack with the power equivalent to that of Foundation Establishment Spells.


    This formation wasn''t particularly practical for the three of them, but as a Supreme Grade Second Rank formation, it was worth at least four to five thousand Spirit Stones.


    And it was the kind that was priceless and difficult to find on the market.


    The second Jade Slip made them even happier as it turned out to be a Five Element Escape Talisman inheritance, detailing escape talismans for five different attributes, suitable for fleeing under various circumstances.


    This sort of talisman inheritance was far more precious than many ordinary Spirit Talisman inheritances, for in certain scenarios, it could save a cultivator''s life.


    Like that yellow-robed cultivator, if he had not been so greedy, he surely could have escaped.


    To hand over to the family, it was worth at least three or four thousand Spirit Stones in rewards.


    The three were immediately beaming with joy; these two Jade Slips alone were worth seven to eight thousand Spirit Stones.


    Next, when choosing magic artifacts, Lin Shiming took the best one, a Supreme Grade Second Rank magic sword, while Lin Shiming selected a Supreme Grade shield, which he named Thick Earth Shield.


    Finally, his armaments were complete: with the recently acquired Green Sky Sword, the Thick Earth Shield for defense, and the Snake Vine Flower for control.


    A strong sense of confidence spontaneously sprouted in Lin Shiming''s heart, but he quickly suppressed it, reminding himself of how many formidable figures there were in the cultivation world.


    Lin Shijie was the last to choose; he took three Intermediate Grade Second Rank magic swords and an unused Earth Escape Spirit Talisman.


    Lin Shiming initially wanted to give up the Supreme Grade magic sword, but Lin Xianzhi refused, presenting his Fire-returning Fire Sword instead.


    All in all, the three were quite satisfied. Besides the treasures, each person received five hundred Spirit Stones.


    Having divided the spoils, they all couldn''t help but marvel at the yellow-robed cultivator''s wealth.


    Last of all, Lin Shijie brought out the final few Jade Boxes, which contained the Spirit Herbs taken by the yellow-robed cultivator.

 Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Illusionary Heart Grass and Five Elements Flag

    The dark green jade box, engraved with exquisitely beautiful spirit patterns, was carefully opened by Lin Shijie.


    Each ice-blue spirit grass was placed within, the leaves of which were still shimmering with some sparkling spirit light, dazzlingly beautiful.


    The spirit grass exuded a spiritual energy far exceeding that of the second rank, breathing deeply one could smell a refreshing, piercing grass scent.


    Instantly invigorating and clearing the mind in an unprecedented way.


    "What is this?" Lin Shiming and the other two couldn''t help but rub their eyes, faces full of disbelief.


    "This is Illusionary Heart Grass, one of the three main ingredients of the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Illusionary Heart Grass!" Lin Shijie exclaimed, losing his composure first.


    Lin Shijie''s grandfather is Lin Yuqi, the only second-rank superior grade alchemist in the Lin Family. Lin Shijie, although not fond of alchemy, had grown up familiar with most spirit plants.


    Let alone the legendary Illusionary Heart Grass, one of the three main medicinal ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming and Lin Shimo no longer had any doubts and began to uncontrollably reveal the excitement in their hearts as they opened the other jade boxes one by one.


    In the end, ten jade boxes, exactly ten Illusionary Heart Grasses.


    The stronger scent of the grass invigorated the trio''s minds even more.


    Three of them were immature grasses less than ten years old, but the remaining seven were hundred-year Illusionary Heart Grasses suitable for real medicinal use.


    "Let''s hand these over to Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming said first, breaking the silence.


    Lin Shijie and Lin Shimo both nodded in agreement.


    The matter of the Illusionary Heart Grass being a key ingredient for Foundation Establishment was of huge import.


    If auctioned at the market, it would already be worth tens of thousands of spirit stones, and its value couldn''t be solely measured in spirit stones. Anyone with Illusionary Heart Grass wouldn''t be foolish enough to sell it.


    The three of them carefully closed the jade boxes, and to maintain the vitality of the three immature grasses, Lin Shiming even took out half a catty of spirit soil and placed it inside the box.


    Returning once again to the deep part of the bear cave, they called for Seventh Great-Uncle.


    Upon hearing of the Illusionary Heart Grass, Lin Xianzhi took the matter very seriously and, after receiving the jade box from Lin Shiming, handled it with even more care than usual.


    The gentle Spiritual Power of the Qing Mu Art, along with the medicinal effects of the Green Lotus and Superior Grade Monkey Wine, slightly restored Lin Shiming''s meridians. He believed that with just half a month of rest, he could return to his peak condition.


    Furthermore, Lin Shiming had a feeling that the bottleneck at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation had loosened and, once his injuries were healed, all he needed to do was find a place rich in Spiritual Energy to breakthrough to the seventh level of Qi Cultivation and become a true late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator.


    He would also be a late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator at the age of twenty-one.


    At that time, Lin Shiming would be able to cultivate the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique. With the Secret Technique, his Spiritual Energy would far exceed that of his peers by three or four times, giving him a natural advantage in spell battles.


    Then, with his numerous Magic Artifacts, even Cultivators at the eighth or ninth levels of Qi Cultivation would be worth a fight.


    While Lin Shiming was eagerly looking forward to this, the three Spirit Beasts in his Spirit Beast Bag began to make noise on time, sending out emotions calling for Lin Shiming from inside the Storage Bag.


    Lin Shiming approached and released the three Spirit Beasts.


    Due to the consumption of Beast Nurturing Pills, these Spirit Beasts ate frequently and punctually.


    The Spirit Water combined with the Spirit Food had also been a bit of a headache for Lin Shiming. Fortunately, this trip to the Qingyun Mountain range had been very fruitful; otherwise, he really would have had to find ways to acquire more Spirit Stones.


    After feeding the Spirit Beasts, Lin Shiming took out the two Storage Bags he had obtained previously, to check and summarize the loot.


    The late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator''s Storage Bag was obviously a bit poor, containing only a few hundred Spirit Stones, several second-rank superior grade Spiritual Artifacts, and a few Spirit Talismans, but no Supreme Grade Spiritual Artifacts.


    Next was the turn of the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Cultivator''s Storage Bag.


    As soon as he opened it, he saw a five-colored small flag with exquisite Spirit Patterns emitting strong fluctuations of Spiritual Energy.


    "Five Elements Flag!" Lin Shiming had not expected that this Storage Bag actually belonged to the Cultivator who had bombarded Lin Shijie and Lin Shiming. Nor did he expect that the Five Elements Flag he had longed for was now in his own hands.


    As for Talismans, having the Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, Five Elements Flag, was an incredible boon.


    Lin Shiming''s heart overflowed with gratitude towards Uncle Seven Ancestor, understanding that the allocation of Storage Bags must have taken his interests into account.


    This Five Elements Flag, even among Supreme Grade Magic Artifacts, was a fine piece, worth at least six or seven thousand Spirit Stones. With the ability to unleash five different spells in rapid succession, its power was truly fierce.


    Needless to say, the Rejuvenation Herb and Lin Shijie''s Fire-returning Fire Sword had suffered greatly under this Five Elements Flag.


    After securing the Five Elements Flag, it took Lin Shiming quite some time to calm his emotions. As for the rest of the Magic Artifacts, none were particularly stunning. He planned to sell the superior grade artifacts later and convert them into Spirit Stones.


    He found an additional eight hundred or so Spirit Stones.

 Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Second Elders Concerns

    The sun had climbed high into the sky by the third gong, and Lin Xianzhi, who had been recuperating in the cave, finally woke up. He called over Lin Shiming and the others, one by one.


    Once again, he began the spirit calling. It was the same unnamed spirit plate that had, at some unknown time, appeared in Lin Xianzhi''s hands.


    Just like the last time, Lin Xianzhi executed the exceedingly complex spirit calling art. The spirit plate shone brilliantly, a dragon-like spiritual energy roaring like a dragon''s chant surged towards the heavens.


    Then, this dragon-shaped spiritual energy dived forcefully and burrowed into the ground where the spirit soil was located.


    The surrounding spiritual energy began to climb again.


    Compared to the Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein, the spirit calling proved more difficult. Beads of sweat started to form on Lin Xianzhi''s forehead, his furrowed brows betraying the challenge of the task.


    Finally, another Spirit Art was cast. A dragon''s cry was heard and the surrounding spiritual energy slowly began to diminish.


    A yellowish-brown dragon-shaped spiritual energy, having grown significantly larger, flew into the spirit plate.


    "Capture!" Lin Xianzhi put away the spirit plate. With this action, their journey to Qingyun was essentially concluded.


    Without delay, the group of five continued on their spirit boat flying away from the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    They joined the Great Elder and others by the side of an old hillock.


    Lin Yuqi and Lin Houshou''s injuries had improved slightly, but were still quite serious. They needed to return to Fangmu Mountain for quiet recuperation.


    However, the emotions of the Lin Family members grew heavier on the return journey; there were fewer of the "Hou" generation now.


    The scenes from the outward journey were still vivid in their memory, but upon returning, everything seemed worlds apart.


    Lin Shiming sat in a corner of the spirit boat, gazing at the distant clouds flickering across the blue sky.


    He was overwhelmed with emotions.


    When they returned to Fangmu Mountain, it was already two days later. Qingyun Mountain Range was closer to Qingyun Market than to the Lin Family, and it was only because Lin Xianzhi maneuvered the Third Rank spirit boat that they managed to arrive within two days.


    As soon as they returned to Fangmu Mountain, Lin Xianzhi ordered a lockdown of the mountain and strictly forbade any family cultivators from leaving ¨C even those with important tasks outside were to hide their identities.


    With the debacle concerning the Huang Family, they could not possibly remain inactive. Even if they had covered up their tracks well in silencing their victims, the Huang Family would still suspect the Lin Family first; there was no doubt about that.


    Deep down, Lin Shiming still harbored the desire to become an alchemist.


    And he had system prompts that could help him avoid taking many detours.


    However, due to the slow speed of his cultivation and the fear that he wouldn''t reach Foundation Establishment by the age of sixty, Lin Shiming had put off considering it for now. Once he had established his foundation and had sufficient lifespan, he would learn and master all that was necessary.


    After hearing Lin Shiming''s response, Lin Yuqi nodded appreciatively, feeling somewhat moved. Then, he sighed again, and suddenly spoke:


    "What do you think about Shitao becoming an alchemist?"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming immediately realized that there was more to his second grandpa''s words.


    It seemed that in the past two years, Lin Yuqi had probably been urging Lin Shitao to learn alchemy without much success.


    However, to his understanding, although she was a talented alchemist, Lin Shitao, who was already at the third level of Qi Cultivation, was not keen on alchemy. Instead, she had a passionate love for spirit plants and had been following Lin Shiqi in taking care of the Spirit Peach Trees on Fangmu Mountain.


    The fragrance of peach blossoms over the mountain and the sea of flowers in full bloom during spring had drawn much praise from the Lin Family elders.


    Lin Shiming hadn''t answered yet.


    On the other side, Lin Yuqi took another long breath, feeling a sense of weary helplessness:


    "Shiming, your second grandpa is getting old. In twenty more years, I don''t know if I''ll be able to see the day our family concocts a third-rank elixir!"


    Having said that, he looked towards the Earth Fire.


    The Earth Fire burned vigorously, and without anyone controlling it, the flames would sometimes leap very high and sometimes fall very low.


    In that moment, Lin Shiming saw helplessness in the old man''s eyes, as well as his worry about the family''s future alchemists.


    Alchemy was a difficult skill for Qi Refinement Realm cultivators, especially those without talent. It''s possible that years or even decades would pass without any achievement in the art. Such delays could potentially ruin one''s path to Foundation Establishment, leaving no possibility to reach it. This was generally why cultivators were not enthusiastic about alchemy.


    Aside from those with excellent talent, fast learners, or those with Dual or Third Spirit Roots who were confident about their speed of cultivation, generally only those with Quintuple or Fourth Spirit Roots, who knew there was no hope on their path and were looking to find a different way, would consider it.


    But for higher-level cultivators, those in the Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion Realm, having a skill was much more common. After all, by this time cultivators had enough lifespan, and seeking further breakthroughs required more resources and experience.


    "Second Grandpa, Shiming will try to persuade Shitao!" Lin Shiming, looking at Lin Yuqi''s barely open eyes gazing at the Earth Fire and thinking of the family''s situation, spoke out.

 Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Tide of Spiritual Energy

    Fangmu Mountain''s Peach Blossom Forest had already taken shape, and at its peak, the entire mountain was suffused with the delicate fragrance of peach blossoms.


    At this time, the flowering season was nearing its end, the buds'' pink hues slowly turning to dark red.


    Under the largest second-rank intermediate grade Spirit Peach Tree, Lin Shiqi, accompanied by Lin Shitao, sprinkled some Spirit Soil and poured in some Nurturing Spirit Liquid.


    "Third sister, Shitao!" Lin Shiming carried the formation token, following the designated path into the Peach Blossom Forest.


    At this moment, the third sister looked no different from two years ago, the only change being her cultivation level reaching the fifth level of Qi Cultivation; but the Lin Shitao standing next to her surprised Lin Shiming.


    Gone was the frail little girl of two years past, replaced by a delicate and pretty young lady, her brows like delicate strokes of ink, skin like curdled cream, and dressed in a green gown, she exuded an indescribable ethereal charm.


    "Seventh brother!"


    "Seventh brother!" Both greeted Lin Shiming at the same time.


    "Looking for Shitao, are you?" Lin Shiqi''s eyebrows playfully arched as her comment made both Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao blush slightly.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile wryly inside; how could it be that even the most straightforward matters would always take a peculiar turn when mentioned by Lin Shiqi?


    "Shitao is, after all, someone I brought into Fangmu Mountain, so I came to have a look," Lin Shiming explained, brushing off Lin Shiqi''s jest.


    "Alright then, I''ll leave you to it and have a good look!" Lin Shiqi gave Lin Shiming a meaningful glance and, to his surprise, walked off to the side.


    Which left Lin Shiming standing there, somewhat stupefied.


    "Thank you, seventh... brother, for your concern, I''m doing well," Lin Shitao said, her face turning slightly red as she spoke with a shy and evasive gaze, her hand reaching out to hold Lin Shiqi, only to grasp at air.


    "Shitao, what do you think of Alchemists?" Lin Shiming, seeing that Lin Shiqi had walked away, cut to the chase and asked directly.


    "Alchemists are great, I really like being an Alchemist!" Lin Shitao happily replied, then quickly added in a different tone.


    "But Shitao has no time, I need to take care of the peach trees for seventh brother. Third sister said, even the Monkey Wine made from these Spirit Peach Trees will yield a share, and grandpa also needs to supervise my cultivation!"


    "About that, third sister will take care of these Spirit Peach Trees. Haven''t you noticed that she has been unhappy ever since you came? When Lin Shiming heard Lin Shitao''s heartfelt reasoning, a warmth filled his heart; he hadn''t expected the little girl would take care of the Spirit Peach Trees and improve the harvest just because he was getting a share.


    "Go and focus on learning alchemy without worries. My share isn''t much, but I do need a lot of Beast Nurturing Pills!"


    "Okay!"


    Lin Shitao agreed without hesitation.


    As Lin Shiming felt warmed by the interaction, he began to inquire into Lin Shitao''s cultivation situation and offered some guidance on the challenges she faced in her practice. After spending half an hour there, he finally left.


    Moreover, the spiritual energy cultivated was purer and more robust.


    Time passed, and as more and more spiritual energy gathered inside him, he finally reached a certain point.


    Lin Shiming felt something within him suddenly unlocked, followed by a torrential surge of spiritual energy spreading throughout his body.


    "Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation!"


    Muttering to himself, Lin Shiming clenched his hands tightly, feeling the powerful force of the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. Beyond that, his divine sense also expanded by a full fifty percent.


    Of course, Lin Shiming didn''t stop there and began to recall the Profound Rank Superior Grade cultivation technique he''d studied countless times in his mind, the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    Before the spiritual energy tide, Lin Xianzhi had already reminded him that he could use the tide to dismantle and rebuild his cultivation, as a Profound Rank Superior Grade cultivation technique would certainly be better than the Huang Rank Qing Mu Art.


    The different methods of operating the Small and Grand Circulations were a significant challenge for Lin Shiming, with the latter being a Profound Rank Superior Grade technique, naturally far more complex than the Qing Mu Art.


    Fortunately, as both were wood-based techniques, there were some similarities.


    About fifteen minutes later, Lin Shiming managed to switch to the new cultivation pathway and method, starting to cultivate from the first level of Qi Cultivation.


    Of course, since it was a rebuilding, all he needed was to refine the spiritual energy; the essence remained the same, so even after the spiritual energy tide ended, it had no effect. He just had to cultivate in the Qinglian Pool for an extended period.


    As Lin Shiming cultivated, then Uncle Thirteen Lin Houwei and Uncle Eleven Lin Houyou also made their breakthroughs one after another.


    The cultivation levels of the Eighth and Ninth Levels of Qi Cultivation were released, causing the elders outside to nod in satisfaction and relief.


    However, at this moment, everyone''s attention turned to Lin Xianzhi. The strength of the family was closely tied to Lin Xianzhi at this moment; all eyes were on him.


    Lin Xianzhi was in the very center of the spiritual energy tide, occupying most of it.


    He continued to absorb the energy, and soon, one after another, green lotus blossoms appeared in the Qinglian Pool.


    This brought another wave of joy to the Lin Family. These were Third Rank Intermediate Grade Green Lotuses, yielding ten times more than before, meaning they could harvest ten times more lotus seeds of the same grade in the coming years.


    Besides, the spirit lotus roots would undoubtedly increase significantly, nearly multiplying the yield of the Spirit Pool by more than tenfold.


    And just then, everyone saw the white-haired Lin Xianzhi in the center.


    That head of white hair, like snow melting away, disappeared in the blink of an eye, turning into black strands.


    A more terrifying spiritual pressure then emerged from the Qinglian Pool.


    Lin Xianzhi had finally stepped into the late phase of Foundation Establishment!

 Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Secrets of the Cultivation Technique

    Atop Fangmu Mountain, Qinglian Pool had undergone a significant transformation: the emerald lotus leaves, like massive green umbrellas, had tinted the entire Spirit Pool green.


    Amidst this verdant expanse were speckled soft red, spirited lotus blossoms, carving out a stunningly beautiful scroll.


    Though it was spring, it seemed as if summer had already arrived.


    Above the Spirit Pool floated faint layers of spiritual mist, giving the entire Qinglian Pool and the cool pavilion the charm of a celestial pond.


    Lin Shiming opened his eyes, feeling the rich and consolidated spiritual energy within his body, and he took a long, deep breath.


    Two whole months had passed since the day of the spiritual energy tide, and Lin Shiming had finally succeeded in his re-cultivation, restoring his Qi Cultivation to the seventh level.


    The Profound Rank Superior Grade Purple Wood Heart Sutra, truly worthy of the cultivation technique practiced by our ancestors, once mastered, nearly doubled the spiritual energy of the Qing Mu Art at a comparable stage, with incomparably denser condensation.


    Moreover, it carried a familiar catalytic effect; it can be said that Lin Shiming, if he had the time, could even catalyze spirit plants. Although the effects wouldn''t be exaggerated, catalyzing a fifty-year spirit plant daily with care, it could be done in twenty-five years.


    In addition, his use of the Wood Vine Technique had become much faster. In the past, he had used the infusion and catalysis when his enemies were unaware, as a preparatory measure.


    But now, for the wood vine seeds, just scattering them was nearly enough to launch an effective attack.


    Especially with the highly toxic Snake Vine Flower, Lin Shiming didn''t need to drink Spiritual Wine to catalyze three at once, and the growth rate of the snake vines would be twice as fast. When the time came, the method Lin Shiyi had wanted to use to crush the seeds would no longer work as effectively.


    However, during this period of cultivation, Lin Shiming had discovered an earth-shattering secret!


    Following the system''s prompt, he actually modified a pathway of the Grand Circulation within the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, which could even be considered completely opposite.


    This was something Lin Shiming had never encountered before. Previous hints, whether relating to the improvement of the Qing Mu Art or to the secret techniques of spirit plants, were only slightly off!


    And when he tried to cultivate along the original path for a while afterwards, he still felt a faint pain in his meridians, but this was nothing to cultivators. Ordinary people naturally overlooked this.


    But with the system''s prompt, it was no trivial matter.


    He naturally believed the system''s prompt couldn''t be wrong, which meant that there was an issue with the Purple Wood Heart Sutra given to him by the Qingxuan Sect.


    A true Purple Mansion cultivation technique, how could it have such a significant flaw.


    At the moment Lin Shiming began to suspect this, he was greatly shocked and alarmed for quite some time!


    After taking out Spirit Food and Beast Nurturing Pills and feeding them, Lin Shiming did not stop for a moment and put the three creatures back into the Spirit Beast Bag.


    If these three spirit beasts caused trouble in the Spirit Pool and were seen by his Seventh Great Uncle, that would be problematic.


    Lin Shiming got up and walked towards the outside of the Spirit Pool. Lin Xianzhi was unusually absent from the vicinity today, and the chessboard in the pavilion remained as it was.


    The only difference was that the white pieces had moved, and the black pieces too.


    The white side had begun a counterattack, while the black side was clearly revealing a murderous intent.


    Lin Shiming stood beside the chessboard, his gaze slightly narrowed, standing still for a long while.


    ...


    At the Lin Family, the Council Hall was now filled with Elders, with Lin Xianzhi seated at the high seat.


    Everyone was very serious, yet with a hint of expectation.


    Lin Houyuan held a Storage Bag in his hand, with exactly one hundred twenty thousand Spirit Stones inside.


    And in two months'' time, it would be the day of the Qingxuan Sect''s market auction for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    "Seventh Uncle, the Spirit Stones are all prepared!"


    "Hmm, this time Houyuan, Houyong, Yu Qing, Yu Shui, Yu Zheng will go with us, and everyone else must be careful."


    "The Li Family will probably be unable to sit still this time!" After saying this, Lin Xianzhi''s face also showed deep concern.


    A declining family with only one Foundation Establishment cultivator, facing a Purple Mansion Family.


    And all the pressure was on him.


    "Yes!" All the Elders responded in unison.


    "By the way, if Shiming comes out of seclusion, he will go this time too, and along with Shijie!" Lin Xianzhi added.


    Suddenly, the Lin Family began to mobilize everyone. If someone observant were paying attention, they would notice that some cultivators, following the Great Elder, had quietly left Fangmu Mountain.

 Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Encountering the Enemy Again

    Ten days later, a Spirit Boat flew out from Fangmu Mountain, soaring through the skies!


    Almost simultaneously as the Spirit Boat departed, a great amount of dense fog billowed from within Fangmu Mountain, quickly turning everything into a vast expanse of white. The entire Fangmu Mountain was shrouded within it, and from a distance, it was impossible to discern the whereabouts of the mountain anymore.


    On the Spirit Boat, which was now fully activated to its largest size with several rooms appearing, sat Lin Xianzhi at the very front, his black hair fluttering in the wind. The rest of the passengers were quietly cultivating in the rooms.


    Lin Shiming was no exception, sitting quietly in meditation inside one of the rooms on the Spirit Boat. Before him were a Jade Box and the Inheritance Stone he had obtained from Peach Blossom Valley.


    Upon learning of the trip to Qingxuan City, Lin Shiming had started preparing to cultivate the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique, a secret technique that he had learned from the Inheritance Stone, which could finally be put to use.


    The most fundamental aspect of this secret technique, the cultivation of the spirit, was divided into two parts: refining the Heart of Heavenly Wood and then assimilating it to cultivate the spirit.


    To refine the Heart of Heavenly Wood, one must harvest the core of a century-old spiritual wood and then, aided by secret techniques and copious spiritual materials, inscribe Spirit Patterns to forge it.


    When he was at the Lin Family, Lin Shiming had spent one thousand Contribution Points to exchange for the Mu Xin of a hundred-year Qingmu tree, and another five hundred Contribution Points to gather all the other necessary spiritual materials.


    Unfortunately, the Qingmu tree was only an Intermediate Grade material of the Second Rank, and the Lin Family''s Treasure Pavilion did not have any Superior Grade material of the Second Rank, otherwise the power could have been increased by another fifty percent.


    The secret technique and the inscription of the Spirit Patterns were not complex, and with continuous effort day and night, Lin Shiming had finished refining it in nine days.


    Now, he was just waiting for his cultivation level to recover to its peak state and his essence, qi, and spirit to stabilize before he could begin the process of cultivating the spirit.


    In order to avoid any mistakes, Lin Shiming burned some Huangyun grass once again and checked the Inheritance Stone, memorizing the secret technique over and over until he knew it by heart.


    A quarter of an hour later, Lin Shiming took a deep breath and finally adjusted his state to optimal condition.


    He took out the shining Heart of Heavenly Wood and dropped his Essence Blood onto it. Then, in one go, he executed over a hundred Spirit Arts.


    Suddenly, a great number of Spirit Patterns appeared on the Heart of Heavenly Wood, beginning to resonate with his spiritual power.


    Eventually, following a surge of Spirit Light, the Heart of Heavenly Wood transformed into Spirit Light and directly entered Lin Shiming''s body through his mouth.


    As soon as the Heart of Heavenly Wood entered his body, Lin Shiming felt the spiritual energy inside uncontrollably rushing toward the Heart of Heavenly Wood.


    This startles Lin Shiming; he quickly took out Monkey Wine and Spirit Stones to recover his spiritual energy.


    The terrifying degree of absorption lasted for a full half-hour.


    Finally, as the storage of spiritual energy within the Heart of Heavenly Wood was filled, it ceased to draw in any more spiritual energy from his body.


    The stalls that used to be inside the city had now appeared at the city gates, where many Loose Cultivators were setting up shop.


    "Those Loose Cultivators can''t afford the city entry fee but still want to earn some Spirit Stones through this grand event," Lin Yuqing explained to Lin Shiming and Lin Shijie on the side.


    Clearly, the Great Elder had been here before.


    When they entered the city following Lin Xianzhi, the eight people of the Lin Family paid a total of 80 Spirit Stones.


    Just the cost of entering the city was ten Spirit Stones per person; Lin Shiming finally understood why the street stalls had moved here.


    Upon entering Qingxuan City, the city''s interior was even more bustling.


    "Let''s find an inn first!" Lin Xianzhi spoke indifferently, then took the lead in choosing a direction to walk.


    "Lin Xianzhi!" Suddenly, an angry voice rose, and the group couldn''t help but stop.


    "It really is you!"


    The person who came forward turned out to be from the Huang Family, with Huangyun Qi leading the way. Upon seeing Lin Xianzhi''s head of black hair and the Spirit Might emanating from his whole body,


    it was clear to them that Lin Shiming had taken the opportunity meant for the Huang Family and had killed dozens of their cultivators.


    Instantly livid with rage, Huangyun Qi''s face turned purple as he glared at Lin Xianzhi, teeth clenched, wishing he could execute Lin Xianzhi on the spot!


    Lin Xianzhi did not look at Huangyun Qi first. Instead, he turned his gaze to a middle-aged man in blue robes standing behind Huangyun Qi.


    The middle-aged cultivator''s blue robes were particularly eye-catching, embroidered with various centipedes and poisonous insects.


    As Lin Xianzhi set his eyes on the other, the middle-aged man also looked towards Lin Xianzhi.


    Neither of them spoke, but their silence was filled with an even greater tension.


    For the first time, Lin Shiming saw his Seventh Great-Uncle''s hand trembling ever so slightly, as if holding an unparalleled sword!


    The identity of the person before them also dawned on Lin Shiming.


    From the Li Family, Li Chengzhi, a Poison Cultivator.


    At the same time, he held another identity.


    The man who gravely wounded Lin Xianzhi thirty years ago!

 Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Psychic Worm Gu

    In the bustling streets, many cultivators had stopped due to the standoff between the two, but even more chose to walk away, not wishing to invite trouble.


    The two stood defiantly, an eerie aura rising around them.


    Neither the Lin Family nor the Huang Family spoke a word, nor did they make a move.


    Only Huangyun Qi''s face turned tomato red, wanting to humiliate Lin Xianzhi but restraining himself due to the presence of the poison-bug-carrying blue-robed cultivator.


    The two had not clashed in combat, yet the tension was even more perilous than if they had.


    Just then, divine sense suddenly emanated from the sky, and an even greater spiritual pressure descended, pressing down on everyone like the weight of Mount Tai, their legs shaking, as if they would kneel the very next moment.


    "Purple Mansion senior!" Lin Shiming instantly realized and, at the same time, his recognition of the Purple Mansion senior rose to a new level in his heart.


    Merely the distant spiritual pressure was unbearable to him.


    He knew this was the Purple Mansion senior exerting pressure on everyone and not targeting him specifically.


    "Settle your grievances outside the city!"


    A cold shout echoed in everyone''s minds.


    The Lin and Huang Families immediately ceased their hostility, apologizing repeatedly. The blue-robed middle-aged man, however, still appeared confident, as if he wasn''t the least bit afraid of the Purple Mansion hermit.


    "Please forgive us, senior. The Lin Family will leave immediately," Lin Xianzhi said and proceeded to lead Lin Shiming and the others away from the scene.


    He never once looked back at Huangyun Qi, nor did he respond to the latter''s words from beginning to end.


    Leaving only Huangyun Qi to glare venomously at the departing Lin Xianzhi with furious eyes.


    "As a cultivator, how are you so easily provoked? You, Huangyun, seem to be regressing with age, no wonder the Huang Family has not flourished under your leadership," Li Chengzhi, the blue-robed middle-aged man, scorned after giving Huangyun Qi a disdainful glance.


    Strangely, his voice was extremely hoarse.


    "Li Daoist friend, let''s not forget who reduced the Lin Family from the status of the Purple Mansion Family, and it certainly wasn''t my Huang Family," Huangyun Qi said, evidently feeling discontented.


    "Rest easy, Lin Xianzhi''s strength has indeed grown considerably, but just now my spirit insect sensed him¡ªmerely at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and I have also marked all of the Lin Family!"


    "It''s laughable that he still tries to conceal his strength, but with my spirit insect present, who can hide their incompetence below the Purple Mansion?"


    The blue-robed middle-aged man slightly lifted his hand; if one looked closely at the black robe''s sleeve, it wasn''t embroidered, but rather a tiny black beetle lay quietly.


    ...


    Once!


    Twice!


    Thrice!


    Lin Shiming scanned three times, and yet, to his alarm, he found no foreign object!


    His heart felt incredibly heavy, the unknown panic far more terrifying than any visible danger.


    After failing to find anything on the fourth check, Lin Shiming didn''t dare to delay any longer and hurried to Lin Xianzhi''s room.


    After knocking, Lin Shiming saw Lin Xianzhi, who was meditating.


    The latter was also bewildered upon seeing Lin Shiming so agitated.


    "Shiming, what''s the matter?"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, there''s something wrong with Shiming''s Spirit Beast!" Lin Shiming immediately blamed the anomaly on the Golden Winged Mantis, and released it on the spot.


    "This mantis has been sending me signals of danger while I feed it, and all the signs point to me!"


    "Come here!" The other also sensed that something was amiss, reminiscent of thirty years ago when he had inexplicably been ambushed by Li Chengzhi.


    Lin Xianzhi furrowed his brows, then a powerful Divine Sense gathered and began scanning over Lin Shiming inch by inch.


    Finally, on Lin Shiming''s Inner Armor, a tiny white spot was detected, so small it was almost invisible to the naked eye.


    "This is the cocoon of a Ling Xuan insect!" Lin Xianzhi said with a face full of fear.


    He then explained further to Lin Shiming.


    "You''ve been bugged by Li Chengzhi with a bug Gu. This Ling Xuan insect is extremely small and when it cocoons, if one''s Divine Sense is not as strong as his, it''s impossible to detect the insect. And as long as the Ling Xuan insect is on us, he can track our whereabouts at will!"


    Lin Shiming listened with a face full of fear. Li Chengzhi was indeed cunning, placing a bug Gu on him, the one with the weakest Qi Cultivation at the seventh level!


    If it weren''t for Lin Shiming''s prompt, he might have really fallen into Li Chengzhi''s trap.


    After all, who would have imagined that Li Chengzhi would not target Lin Xianzhi or the other Elders, but him!


    "Your Spirit Insect has made a great contribution again!" Lin Xianzhi remarked somewhat emotively, as if he could no longer fathom the limits of the Golden Winged Mantis.


    This was another of Lin Shiming''s considerations, that even if the Golden Winged Mantis attained the Third Rank as a Demonic Beast upon reaching Foundation Establishment, he wouldn''t need to explain too much.

 Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Ironwood Thorn

    "Nurture this Spirit Insect well, it might be of great help to you in the future!" Lin Xianzhi continued, offering his advice.


    Having said that, his brows furrowed again, and he spoke cautiously.


    "Don''t tell anyone about this. Pretend as if the Lingxi Insect doesn''t exist. That way, we can turn their calculations against them!"


    "Of course, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming nodded in agreement, knowing that with the Lingxi Insect on the Inner Armor, he would have a way to deal with it. He could simply release it from the Storage Bag when necessary.


    However, he wondered if it would die once placed in the Storage Bag, since living creatures could not be stored within it.


    But since Seventh Great-Uncle had instructed him, Lin Shiming naturally wouldn''t do such a thing.


    Upon leaving Seventh Great-Uncle''s room, Lin Shiming happened to meet Lin Shijie, who was on his way out.


    "Big Brother!"


    "Oh, Little Seven!" Lin Shijie also greeted Lin Shiming before continuing with a smile, "Little Seven, Qingxuan City is so prosperous and filled with treasures. How about we go for a stroll together?"


    "With an invitation from Big Brother, how could Shiming refuse?" Facing Lin Shijie''s invitation, Lin Shiming accepted without a second thought.


    With the Lingxi Insect now by his side, he found it hard to settle down and cultivate. Going out for a stroll seemed much more appealing.


    Besides, after coming out from Qingyun Mountain, he indeed had considerable wealth. In these dangerous times, converting Spirit Stones into useful treasures was the most appropriate action.


    In Qingxuan City, with the oversight of the Purple Mansion Hermits, there was no fear of someone killing and plundering within the city.


    What made Lin Shiming somewhat helpless was that Lin Shijie actually dragged him to look at some Spirit Beast Eggs, asking for his advice.


    This was of course influenced by the extraordinary performance of the Golden Winged Mantis, which no doubt made Lin Shijie envious. Otherwise, his Big Brother had always believed in the philosophy that one sword could break all spells.


    As for giving advice to his Big Brother, he was willing, but the prompts from his system were not under his control.


    So, he could only smile wryly in agreement.


    The two of them arrived at the street market within Qingxuan City, much like before when Lin Shiming visited; however, the vendors were now uniformly Qi Cultivators at the later stages. You could find a Qi Cultivator at the intermediate stages only among tens of others.


    "Of course we do!" The female cultivator spoke, then took three Jade Boxes from the counter behind her.


    Aside from the different number of Spirit Patterns, the surfaces of the Jade Boxes were nearly identical.


    The female cultivator opened the Jade Boxes one by one to reveal the seeds inside.


    "These are Second Rank Inferior Grade Green Snake Vine seeds, three hundred Spirit Stones for twenty seeds. The seeds can be planted normally and reproduced to increase in number, and the cycle isn''t long! Moreover, even against Qi Cultivators at the latter stages, they can cause a certain degree of trouble. This item is particularly favored by many wood-attribute cultivators!"


    "These are Second Rank Inferior Grade Purple Xuan Vine seeds, four hundred Spirit Stones for twenty seeds. The seeds can also be reproduced to increase in number.


    When used against an enemy, in addition to the vines themselves, they can release a purple mist that causes a Qi Cultivator''s Spiritual Energy to flow sluggishly if inhaled during chi cultivation at the intermediate stages, a real weapon in chaotic battles!"


    Hearing the introductions of these two, Lin Shiming wasn''t very satisfied. Dealing with intermediate-stage Qi Cultivators was quite inconsequential to him, and he intended to use the vine tactics against stronger cultivator enemies.


    Otherwise, for an ordinary intermediate-stage Qi Cultivator, he could take care of them with just one Snake Vine Flower seed, without going through so much trouble.


    "Fellow Daoist, since you are not satisfied with these, you might as well take a look at our shop''s best vine Spirit Seed, the Second Rank Superior Grade Ironwood Thorn seeds!" The female cultivator said, pointing to the last Jade Box.


    The last Jade Box contained only ten seeds, the same amount as Lin Shiming''s Snake Vine Flower seeds.


    "Do not underestimate these Ironwood Thorn seeds, fellow Daoist. They can release thorns that can pierce through intermediate-grade Spirit Talismans, and if released in large number, they can even pierce through superior-grade Spirit Talismans!" The female cultivator explained with visible excitement.


    "If it wasn''t for the fact that Spirit Plants do not have a Supreme Grade, these Ironwood Thorns could have easily qualified for the title of ''Supreme''!"


    Lin Shiming finally showed interest upon hearing about the Ironwood Thorns.


    The Second Rank Superior Grade Ironwood Thorns weren''t inferior to his Snake Vine Flowers, and where the former was about entrapment and poison, the Ironwood Thorns were more about piercing attacks. Moreover, if a cultivator was unaware and first restrained, a sudden round of Ironwood Thorn piercings could yield unexpected gains.


    "Then how much for these Spirit Seeds?" Lin Shiming asked, quite satisfied with the Spirit Seeds.


    "Two thousand Spirit Stones for ten seeds, and they can also be naturally catalyzed and reproduced! If the fellow Daoist ends up catalyzing thousands of these Spirit Seeds, you could indeed claim the title of being invincible among Qi Cultivators!"


    "But these seeds are not so easy to catalyze during combat, and their speed is not particularly fast either!" Lin Shiming pinched a seed and frowned as he spoke.


    "A discerning customer like you must know, if these Spirit Seeds didn''t have this small flaw, their price would naturally be extraordinary," the female cultivator continued, replying with a polite smile.


    "Alright!" Lin Shiming finally took out the Spirit Stones and purchased them.

 Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Different Ways

    In Duobao Tower, after paying the Spirit Stones, Lin Shiming carefully covered the Ironwood Thorn again with a Jade Box, and then he walked towards the Spirit Pill counter where Lin Shijie was.


    Lin Shijie was in the process of buying Magic Artifacts and had already paid his Spirit Stones.


    It was a set of Superior Grade magic swords, four in total, which could form a small Sword Array that was quite powerful.


    Together with his Fire-returning Sword, his sword technique had improved by another level.


    One must know that finding a set of matching swords that could form a small Sword Array was not easy, especially Superior Grade ones. If used well, they could rival even the Supreme Grade magic swords. This showed the extraordinary nature of Duobao Tower.


    After obtaining their treasures, the two turned their attention to the Spirit Pill counter together.


    The female cultivator at the Spirit Pill counter greeted them both with a beaming smile.


    "What kind of elixirs are the two fellow Daoists interested in learning about?"


    "What do you have for advancing the latter stages of Qi Cultivation?" Lin Shiming was now in the latter stages of Qi Cultivation and needed elixirs to accelerate his training ¨C as for healing, there was the family''s Monkey Wine, which meant he had no need for that kind.


    However, there was one thing he did not understand; it seemed that Lin Shijie was also intending to purchase elixirs.


    Lin Shijie was both a Dual Spirit Root genius of the Lin Family and the grandson of Lin Yuqi, the Second Elder and a Second Rank Superior Grade Alchemist. It was puzzling why he would be lacking cultivation elixirs.


    "Our store carries Green Spirit Pills and Consolidating Pills!"


    "The effect of the Green Spirit Pill is slightly weaker, but it is gentle and suitable for cultivators who have just entered the latter stages of Qi Cultivation. It costs 800 Spirit Stones for a bottle. The Consolidating Pill has a better effect and more abundant Spiritual Energy, which is more suitable for cultivators at the eighth and ninth layers of Qi Cultivation, priced at 1,200 per bottle!"


    The female cultivator took out two Jade Bottles and presented them to the two, introducing each in turn. She even opened the bottle caps for them to inspect the contents.


    In the end, Lin Shiming spent the last of his Spirit Stone savings to buy a bottle of Green Spirit Pills, while Lin Shijie purchased a bottle of Consolidating Pills.


    Upon leaving Duobao Tower, the two started heading back to Laiyue Tower.


    Most of their Spirit Stones had been spent, so it was meaningless to continue shopping.


    After returning to their lodgings, Lin Shijie began to ask Lin Shiming for advice on the secrets of hatching a Spirit Beast Egg.


    Lin Shiming shared everything he knew, explaining the method of setting up a Nurturing Spirit Formation in particular detail.


    Before leaving, Lin Shiming looked at his big brother, who had taken good care of him since childhood.


    From that slender silhouette, he could faintly see the shadow of the Second Elder, Lin Yuqi.


    Unfortunately, the ironwood bramble couldn''t be used against enemies for testing like the poisonous snake vine flower, as these seeds were different; they couldn''t be reclaimed, and once catalyzed, it destroyed the seed''s function, turning it into a waste seed as the spiritual energy dissipated.


    Accounting for those meant for planting, he could catalyze only nine for combat use.


    Thinking of this, he was actually very interested in the structure of the snake vine flower seeds and the method of carving spirit formations on them, which had almost turned the seeds into semi-spiritual artifacts.


    However, after some thought, he gave up on the idea. Artifact refining, like alchemy, was profound and expansive, not something that could be mastered in a day. Even a dual spirit root genius like Lin Shitao would need to start learning about elixir theories and the path of alchemy from a young age, then practice repeatedly.


    And it would take up most of her time. If it wasn''t for her dual spirit root aptitude, it might even affect the optimal age for her Foundation Establishment.


    Lin Shiming''s thoughts were somewhat similar to those of Lin Shijie; once he achieved Foundation Establishment, or even Purple Mansion, his life span would increase, giving him ample time to learn and master alchemy and artifact refining.


    During the Qi Cultivation Stage, the family''s artifact refiners, alchemists, and array masters were sufficient to support his daily cultivation.


    He dared not gamble on spending a lot of time on craftsmanship, still being able to reach the peak of the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level before sixty, and having enough time to acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, no longer dwelling on other matters, then he continued his routine of taking out the three spirit beasts from the spirit beast bag which were violently emotional, to feed them and administer beast nurturing pills.


    After handling that, he commenced his daily cultivation.


    Ten days quietly passed; Lin Shiming opened his eyes and felt the spiritual power within his body had improved from before, filling him with satisfaction.


    The Purple Wood Heart Sutra truly lived up to its name as a Profound Rank superior-grade cultivation technique; its effects were far beyond what the Qing Mu Art could compare to.


    At that moment, a streak of spirit light flew out from the side, landing in Lin Shiming''s hand¡ªit was a Transmission Talisman.


    "Shiming, gather downstairs. We''re heading to the auction house!"


    Lin Shiming didn''t delay and swiftly made his way downstairs, where the other elders had already arrived.


    Lin Xianzhi then led the group towards the biggest auction house in Qingxuan City, the Qingxuan Auction House.


    Today was even more crowded than usual. Many loose cultivator powerhouses and Foundation Establishment families had also rushed to the auction house, making the normally rare sight of Foundation Establishment cultivators much more common.


    With lifespans of two hundred and fifty years, most Foundation Establishment cultivators knew each other.


    Familiar family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators would nod and greet each other; opposing families, on the other hand, would exchange cold stares.


    The Lin Family also had several amiable families, but none were adjacent to the Lin Family. Having met now, they exchanged pleasantries and then proceeded together to the auction house.


    Finally, everyone stopped at a three-story hall built entirely of qinggang rock. The hall had a grand and majestic style, with lifelike decorations and carvings. Atop it, the five big characters for "Qingxuan Auction House" carried an inexplicable pressure of spirit.

 Chapter 54: Chapter 54: You come to the auction

    The Qingxuan auction hall was extremely spacious. At the very front, there was a gigantic blue stone platform, with a stone table covered in red silk on top.


    Arranged in order throughout the hall were thousands of seats. Those in the forefront naturally belonged to the Loose Cultivators and Qi Cultivation families.


    Further back was the area for the Foundation Establishment families, elevated half a meter higher than the Loose Cultivator''s area and separated by a special screen. The tables there were also adorned with some Spirit Fruits.


    Some Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators were also seated in this area.


    The luxurious chambers on the second floor were reserved for the Purple Mansion Cultivators or the Purple Mansion families.


    This time, the Qingxuan auction was naturally not limited to Foundation Establishment Pills; there were also Fourth Rank treasures as the finale, attracting quite a number of Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    This was precisely why the Qingxuan auction was one of the most significant events within the Qingxuan Sect.


    The third-floor rooms were specially prepared for the Golden Core True Persons, but nearly all big events saw no Golden Core True Persons attending. Yet, even with their absence, the rooms remained reserved for them all the same, as a sign of respect for Golden Core True Persons.


    After a little less than half an hour, the hall was packed. Even though most cultivators restrained themselves, there were still whispers and quiet conversations, creating a somewhat noisy atmosphere.


    Lin Shiming sat at the back, easily observing the actions of some Loose Cultivators in front.


    To prevent identity leaks, many Loose Cultivators wore veils that blocked Divine Sense, and even some Qi Cultivation families and Foundation Establishment families who deemed themselves not powerful enough did the same.


    What caused the Lin Family members to frown slightly was that not far behind their screen was the Huang Family, with Huangyun Qi''s fierce eyes once again glaring at Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Xianzhi simply closed his eyes slightly, ignoring him completely, which made Huangyun Qi''s face from the Huang Family even uglier, as his eyes nearly shot out flames.


    As a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would not lose his temper so easily, but with the potential demise of two of his family''s later-stage Foundation Establishment youths, as well as numerous upper echelon Qi Cultivators, and their Alchemist''s Illusionary Heart Grass being pilfered by the Lin Family, he couldn''t calm down at all.


    With the entrance of a Foundation Establishment elder clad in a blue Taoist robe, the sharp bell tolled, and the scene immediately started to quiet down, signaling the official start of the auction:


    "I thank all Daoist friends and seniors for attending. This humble one is He Xuan, the auction house manager, responsible for today''s auction. The rules are the same as before: the highest bidder wins. If one''s Spirit Stones are insufficient, treasures are acceptable as collateral, or can be auctioned on the spot!"


    His voice wasn''t particularly loud but was clearly enhanced by a spell, making it exceptionally audible to everyone.


    "I won''t say much more; we shall begin the auction directly!"


    "The first item of today is a Second Rank Supreme Grade Ice Silk Spirit Armor!"


    "The starting bid for the Purple Flame Fruit is eight hundred Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than one hundred!"


    As the auction for the Purple Flame Fruit began, Lin Shiming clearly noticed Lin Shijie''s breathing becoming rapid. With the Barrier-Breaking Pill made from the Purple Flame Fruit, his elder brother''s chances of achieving Foundation Establishment could greatly increase, even hoping to do so before the age of forty!


    How could he not be excited?


    "One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!" Lin Xianzhi, obviously noting Lin Shijie''s condition, finally made a bid.


    And he directly added four hundred Spirit Stones.


    Almost simultaneously with Lin Xianzhi''s bid, Huangyun Qi of the Huang Family behind the screen also spoke up:


    "One thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!"


    "One thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!" Lin Xianzhi once again announced his bid, which was also the maximum auction price for the Purple Flame Fruit.


    "Two thousand Spirit Stones!" However, Huangyun Qi continued to bid, and after finishing, he turned his head, apparently wanting to see Lin Xianzhi''s reaction.


    But he was obviously disappointed.


    Lin Xianzhi remained calm and casually raised his bid to two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!


    "Two thousand six hundred!" Huangyun Qi bid again.


    This time, Lin Xianzhi simply chose to sit down in his chair, slightly closed his eyes, and did not make another bid. He never even glanced at Huangyun Qi from beginning to end.


    In the end, the Purple Flame Fruit was won by Huangyun Qi, but his face showed not a hint of joy. Instead, it turned even more purple. He only felt that every Foundation Establishment cultivator present was laughing at him.


    As a late-stage Foundation Establishment great cultivator, Lin Xianzhi had the insolence to not even look at him¡ª the audacity was boundless!


    At the same time, Huangyun Qi realized he had also paid too much for the Purple Flame Fruit.


    After the Purple Flame Fruit was bought by the Huang Family, Lin Shijie was visibly disheartened. It was then that, to Lin Shiming''s surprise, Lin Xianzhi turned to him and said:


    "Shiming, you will handle the bidding for all the items to come!"


    "Remember to call out on every item!" Lin Shiming hadn''t reacted yet, only to hear Lin Xianzhi add that.

 Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Clashing Against Each Other

    In the Qingxuan auction hall, He Xuan''s face was brimming with a smile, quite satisfied as he observed the Lin Family and Huang Family locked in competition.


    The more they vied against each other, the higher the auction hall''s earnings¡ªand his personal cut would be.


    As for bids not paid, he wasn''t worried; the last Purple Mansion Hermit who did so is still under the soil of the auction hall to this day.


    He Xuan clapped his hands again, and onto the Spirit Platform walked a female cultivator holding a tray.


    On the tray this time was a small leopard-type Spirit Beast.


    The Spirit Beast was covered in blue Spirit Patterns that resembled lightning bolts, but it seemed to be in poor spirits, with its eyes drooping and its limbs all locked by chains. A Forbidden God Talisman was also affixed to its body.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the offspring of a Second Rank peak Lightning Leopard. With the right opportunity, it could very possibly evolve into a Third Rank Spirit Beast. The starting bid is 1,500 Spirit Stones, with minimum increments of 100 Spirit Stones!"


    He Xuan once again introduced the Lightning Leopard with a stirring description.


    The cultivators in the audience also had their eyes blaze with eagerness, almost wishing to call out the highest bid and take it for themselves.


    However, everyone knew the rule of thumb: just listen to the first half of He Xuan''s words.


    "1,800 Spirit Stones!"


    "2,000 Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    The price of the Lightning Leopard shot up rapidly, and it was at this moment that Lin Shiming spoke:


    "4,000 Spirit Stones!"


    He directly called out a price nearly triple the base, instantly silencing all the Loose Cultivators.


    Everyone looked towards Lin Shiming, all trying to guess what kind of scion this was!


    Only a few from Foundation Establishment families who knew the Lin Family''s details were still observing. A Second Rank peak Lightning Leopard was definitely worth cultivating, but 4,000 was indeed too high¡ªafter all, nurturing a Spirit Beast would require even more resources!


    Lin Shiming paid no mind to the murmurs of other cultivators and looked straight at Huangyun Qi.


    His gaze was filled with amusement!


    His seventh great-uncle had told him to have fun, so he would indeed enjoy himself.


    The latter''s face, full of wrinkles and made to look even older by threads of black hair, flushed with rage, and his angry eyes began brimming with blood!


    Glaring in the direction of the Lin Family, he stood up abruptly, his veins bulging and entire body quivering.


    "Lin Xianzhi, you are bullying too much!"


    But when Lin Shiming called out five thousand eight hundred, the Huang Family stopped following!


    The Profound Soul Needle was smoothly secured by the Lin Family, but the price was nearly the highest for a Supreme Grade assassination Magic Artifact.


    Lin Shiming didn''t continue to bid, instead wearing a somewhat worried expression as he looked toward Lin Xianzhi.


    "Seventh great-uncle, something''s not right..."


    "They''re just depleting our Spirit Stones!"


    "With the Li Family''s support, securing the Foundation Establishment Pills is going to be difficult!" Lin Shiming realized, and naturally, Lin Xianzhi saw it too, his face showing some concern.


    The situation they were most worried about had still occurred.


    They indeed managed to annoy Huang Yunqi, but as the auction progressed, it turned out to be they who got annoyed.


    The Huang Family had the backing of the Purple Mansion Family; they were determinedly making things difficult for the Lin Family. No matter the amount, they would follow their bids, but once a certain expectation was reached, they would let the Lin Family buy it!


    The Huang Family could afford mistakes, but even one mistake from the Lin Family might mean that the Spirit Stones they had prepared would not suffice to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Moreover, the situation was even worse because unless the Lin Family was willing to pay high prices for some other Magic Artifacts and treasures, they could forget about taking home a single treasure at its normal auction price from this grand event!


    The Huang Family wasn''t foolish, and Lin Xianzhi always had a feeling that Huang Yunqi was acting somewhat exaggeratedly.


    Starting from the entrance of the city, it''s been rather overdone!


    Living for over two hundred years, would he really be so unable to resist provocation?


    "Stop bidding, let''s focus on the Foundation Establishment Pill!" In the end, Lin Xianzhi said, realizing that for the sake of the Foundation Establishment Pill, any good treasure in the interim was no longer within their reach.


    And even then, it''s not certain they would get the Foundation Establishment Pill!


    After selling over a dozen more items, although the Lin Family did not bid, it still broadened Lin Shiming''s horizons.


    The fair in Qingxuan City truly was magnificent, featuring rare top-quality assassination Magic Artifacts, Third Rank peak young Spirit Beasts, and various rare Spirit Talismans, and Spiritual Medicines.


    And these were only the treasures for the Qi Refinement Realm.


    As the auction reached its midpoint, the items offered had evolved to Third Rank Magic Artifacts, Third Rank Elixirs, and Third Rank natural Spiritual Objects.


    Those who started bidding were all from Foundation Establishment Hermit Cultivators and Foundation Establishment families, and even the Purple Mansion Family from the second floor began to participate.


    Several times Lin Xianzhi encountered items he needed, bid once or twice, but the Huang Family instantly followed, driving the price up to thirty or forty thousand Spirit Stones.


    The Lin Family could only give up.


    And at this moment, the Foundation Establishment Pills finally made their appearance.


    "Fellow daoists, we''ve now reached the segment you''ve all been most looking forward to¡ªthe Foundation Establishment Pills!"

 Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Anyway, It Was Picked Up

    As He Xuan clapped his hands again, this time ten female cultivators stepped up, each holding a tray in their hands.


    Each female cultivator''s tray contained only a pure white jade elixir bottle, slightly translucent, allowing a glimpse of the golden elixir pills within.


    He Xuan took one of the elixir bottles and uncapped it, releasing a surge of pure spiritual energy instantly.


    Many cultivators'' divine senses hurriedly attached to it.


    Lin Shiming too was experiencing the Foundation Establishment Pill with his divine sense for the first time, feeling the unbelievably pure and enormous spiritual energy, which even carried a hint of cool chilliness.


    After a moment, He Xuan resealed the elixir bottle, placed it back on the tray, and spoke again:


    "Fellow Daoists, I regret to inform you all of a piece of news."


    "This year, there was a mishap in the Qingxuan Sect''s Yellow Grade Secret Realm, and the harvest of the Illusionary Heart Grass was not favorable, so the quota of Foundation Establishment Pills for these ten years has greatly decreased compared to previous years!"


    "For this auction, there are only thirty Foundation Establishment Pills available!"


    As He Xuan finished speaking, the loose cultivators in the crowd immediately started to discuss among themselves.


    Ten years ago, there were an entire hundred Foundation Establishment Pills!


    And now, there aren''t even one third of that number.


    Especially those Qi Cultivation peak loose cultivators and Qi Cultivation families were particularly critical, with the most vehement discussions.


    The Lin Family also felt a moment of alarm, especially Lin Shiming, thinking that if he had just confronted the Huang Family, this trip for the Foundation Establishment Pills would undoubtedly have faced difficulty. They had only prepared a total of 130,000 Spirit Stones for this time.


    Even if the Lin Family''s old patriarch and elders were to contribute Spirit Stones, it would probably amount to only around 160,000 to 170,000 Spirit Stones.


    If they spent Spirit Stones in the auction earlier, they would most likely end up merely looking on helplessly.


    That Huangyun Qi from the Huang Family certainly had to be credited for his excellent acting skills!


    "Silence!" He Xuan shouted once more, suppressing the commotion once again.


    "Although there are only thirty Foundation Establishment Pills, the quota for the cultivating families and loose cultivators this time will be proportionally increased. There are ten Foundation Establishment Pills for them, and the Purple Mansion Family''s quota for competing for Foundation Establishment Pills is reduced to twenty!"


    "In addition, you must have felt that the treasures auctioned just now are far superior to those at the last grand event, and this time''s final auction item includes a Fourth Rank Spirit Boat magical treasure!"


    Following He Xuan''s words, although the cultivators still had their criticisms, they refrained from further discussion.


    Upstairs, the Purple Mansion Family didn''t seem to react much, as if they had known all along.


    In this moment, the most worried person was Lin Shiming''s father, Lin Hou Yuan.


    With the highest Contribution Points within the family, and his son Lin Shiming performing exceptionally well, the natural choice for using the Foundation Establishment Pill was Lin Hou Yuan.


    If the auction continued like this, those red-eyed Loose Cultivators would surely drive the price to astronomical levels. Before, with thirty pills, it was manageable. With 100,000 Spirit Stones, one could definitely get a pill, the only worry being how to safely bring the Foundation Establishment Pill back.


    But now, with only ten pills, the prices were skyrocketing!


    "130,000 Spirit Stones!" As the third pill''s auction started, Lin Xianzhi straightaway bid the highest price the Lin Family was willing to offer!


    Instantly, this stunned many people, however, the old man Huangyun Qi from the Huang Family also stood up sharply, sweeping a glance at Lin Xianzhi before making his bid.


    "130,100 Spirit Stones!"


    After calling out the bid, he did not forget to give Lin Xianzhi another glance.


    It was a pity that this deliberate attempt to humiliate him was completely ignored by Lin Xianzhi.


    "150,000 Spirit Stones!"


    "150,100 Spirit Stones!" Huangyun Qi once again added just a thousand Spirit Stones.


    "180,000!"


    "Good, congratulations to you!" Huangyun Qi did not continue bidding.


    At this moment, the Lin Family had made the highest bid for a Foundation Establishment Pill, causing a sensation throughout the venue.


    "Fellow He, I only have 130,000 Spirit Stones. Let''s auction and mortgage three Third Rank Foundation Establishment Magic Artifacts as well!"


    As he spoke, Lin Xianzhi waved his Storage Bag, and three Foundation Establishment Magic Artifacts instantly flew towards He Xuan.


    As the magic artifacts appeared, Huangyun Qi''s body jolted fiercely once again, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Xianzhi, almost wishing he could tear Lin Xianzhi to pieces right there and then!


    Those three Third Rank Magical Artifacts were precisely the relics of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Huang Family.


    At this moment, with Lin Xianzhi blatantly selling them off, it was more than just a slap in the face; it was a complete disregard for the Huang Family.


    "Fellow Daoist, these three Third Rank Magical Artifacts are unremarkable, normally priced around 80,000 Spirit Stones, but as a mortgage now, they can only be valued at 64,000 Spirit Stones!" He Xuan paid no attention to Huangyun Qi.


    Of course, if Huangyun Qi did not know what was good for him, He Xuan would not mind making an example out of him!


    "Fine, being able to mortgage them for 50,000 Spirit Stones is good enough, after all, they were just picked up!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again, nearly causing Huangyun Qi to spit out a mouthful of old blood from rage.


    Lin Xianzhi handed over the remaining 116,000 Spirit Stones to He Xuan, then took the Foundation Establishment Pill and walked outside.


    The Lin Family naturally would not participate in the rest of the auction; competing for Purple Mansion Magical Treasures or Purple Mansion Spirit Pills and marvelous medicines, they could not match others.


    Almost at the same time as the Lin Family left, numerous cultivators also stealthily exited the scene, among them many from the Huang Family.


    And on the second floor of the rooms...

 Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Cicada Sheds Its Shell

    After leaving the Qingxuan Auction House, Lin Xianzhi led everyone to quickly rush outside the city.


    The Spirit Boat ascended into the sky, transforming into an Escape Light, flying toward Fangmu Mountain in Yunzhou.


    Under normal circumstances, the Lin Family naturally would not fear the Huang Family, but with the Li Family also present, let''s not even talk about the Foundation Establishment latter stages, the Li Family, as members of the Purple Mansion clan, had no shortage of Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    And the Lin Family only had Lin Xianzhi himself.


    Better to take advantage of the present, while the attention of all cultivators was on the remaining Foundation Establishment Pills and, even more so, on the final, show-stopping Fourth Rank Spirit Boat Magical Treasure, and timely extricate themselves, returning to Fangmu Mountain.


    With the Formation there, there was no worry of attack from Purple Mansion cultivators.


    "Yushui, how are the preparations for that matter?" On the Spirit Boat, Lin Xianzhi''s face was solemn as he asked the Third Elder, Lin Yushui, who was beside him.


    "Seventh Uncle, everything is going smoothly!" Lin Yushui also turned back with a firm reply; at this moment, the expressions of the Lin Family members were doubtlessly serious.


    Lin Xianzhi, upon hearing this, nodded his head, his sword-like eyebrows then turning toward Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, take off your Spirit Armor!"


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate either, removing the spirit-tinged armor covered with the cocoon of a Spirit Insect, handing it over to Lin Xianzhi.


    With one hand, the latter received the Spirit Armor, while the other patted the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist.


    In front of him, a Second Rank peak Silver-Feathered Eagle suddenly appeared.


    The Silver-Feathered Eagle was immensely large, with a wingspan of five to six meters, and as it flew above the Spirit Boat, it almost covered half the sky.


    Its whole body, covered in silver fur, shined brilliantly, filled with extraordinary spirit.


    It seemed as if it had not come out in a long while, because as soon as it did, it let out a long cry, venting its emotions, then circled and soared around Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Xianzhi skillfully fitted the Spirit Armor onto the Silver-Feathered Eagle''s neck, then took out a shimmering Green Spirit Talisman.


    It was indeed a Third Rank Gale Talisman. Once the Third Rank Gale Talisman was slapped onto it, it turned into a green rainbow attached to the Silver-Feathered Eagle''s feathers, making the eagle look even more dazzling and filled with exceptional spirit intelligence.


    "Please," Lin Xianzhi said reminiscently as he patted its wings, then took out a green lotus seed and deftly threw it into the eagle''s mouth.


    The Silver-Feathered Eagle swallowed the Green Lotus seed and then let out another long cry in response.


    As the cry ended, it flew off from the Spirit Boat, streaking forward, leaving a trail of mingled green and silver light behind.


    "We''re turning back!" With a pinch of the Spirit Art in his hands, the Spirit Boat immediately veered from north to east and sped away.


    On the Spirit Boat, Lin Xianzhi continued to stand at the very front, facing the wind, as always, letting the fierce winds buffet him without setting up a Spirit Shield.


    The only difference was that his previously white hair had turned black.


    The other Elders began to meditate quietly on the Spirit Boat, maintaining their strongest battle strength at all times.


    Lin Shiming watched the open serenity of the various Elders and Lin Xianzhi, as well as their cautiousness.


    ...


    In a small mountain far outside Qingxuan City, Li Chengzhi flew past in his spirit boat, confident of victory.


    Even he wouldn''t notice such a spirit insect as a spirit rhinoceros beetle unless he scanned it with full force using his divine sense.


    Naturally, he didn''t believe that the Lin Family could detect it, let alone on a mere Qi Cultivation seventh-layer junior.


    Furthermore, for cultivators, inner armor was something worn at all times.


    However, in the next moment, his expression suddenly froze.


    A surge of spiritual power burst forth.


    The speed of the spirit boat increased once more, and in the blink of an eye, it was not far behind the Silver Feather Eagle, whose protection from the spirit talisman had dissipated.


    With a gesture from Li Chengzhi, countless flying ants flew out from his hand, completely surrounding the Silver Feather Eagle.


    Terrifyingly, these flying ants were impervious to blades and fire.


    No matter how the Silver Feather Eagle struggled or flapped its wings and cried out to the sky, it still couldn''t escape and fell to the ground, reduced to a skeleton.


    Also falling was the second-rank superior-grade spirit armor that Lin Houyuan had given to Lin Shiming.


    "Damn you, Lin Xianzhi!" Li Chengzhi violently controlled the flying ants, and like a locust plague, they consumed every plant, tree, and stone in their path.


    "Brother Li, is this the resolve you promised?" Seeing that his side had furiously chased for ten thousand li but hadn''t even caught a glimpse of Lin Xianzhi, how could Huangyun Qi not be furious?


    However, the latter''s expression suddenly turned cold, and he fiercely turned his head, locking Huangyun Qi with the coldest eyes he had seen in a hundred years.


    The fierce flying ants came at them again.


    Huangyun Qi shuddered in fear.


    "I hope this is the last time!" Li Chengzhi ultimately didn''t follow through with his action and instead waved his sleeve.


    The flying ants vanished, and Li Chengzhi turned around, leaving the Huang Family cultivators behind.


    He immediately steered the spirit boat towards Qingxuan City.


    And left the people of the Huang Family behind.


    The descendants of the Huang Family were all somewhat afraid to look into the eyes of their ancestral elder, for fear of being caught in the crossfire of Huangyun Qi''s rage.


    However, when they looked up, they saw a serene elder in yellow robes, who took out a Profound Soul Needle from his storage bag, identical to the one from the auction.


    It should be known that the Profound Soul Needle was supposed to be in the hands of the Lin Family.


    "Hmph, Li Family, just wait until my Huang Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators fill the skies and we devour the Lin Family''s spirit vein. Then, what can your Li Family do?"


    Behind Huangyun Qi, two elders who had been silent all along suddenly revealed the cultivation level of Foundation Establishment Stage.

 Chapter 58: 58 Cliff Predicament

    The border between Qingzhou and Yunzhou is marked by a sheer cliff.


    Atop this cliff, rocks jut out at odd angles, and no vegetation grows.


    The Lin Family''s Spirit Boat descended from the sky above.


    Lin Yushui was the first to touch down, and with a ferocious toss, she threw a Spirit Talisman into the ground.


    Immediately, countless specks of dust were kicked up, and a cloud of sand and dust filled the air in an instant.


    Then, under the command of another Spirit Art from her, the dust quietly vanished, clearly the result of a previously prepared Formation. Enjoy more stories on m-vlem|p-yr


    Lin Xianzhi and the others also descended one after another.


    "Everyone, please sit and meditate for a moment to recover your Spiritual Energy," Lin Xianzhi instructed before taking the lead and seating himself. He then took out a sparkling Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone and began to restore his Spiritual Energy.


    Spirit Stones are classified into four grades: Supreme, Superior, Intermediate, and Inferior, with each grade being a hundred times more potent than the one below it.


    However, because higher-grade Spirit Stones contain purer Spiritual Energy, one Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone often trades for more than 105 Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    To Lin Xianzhi at the Late Foundation Establishment stage, using Inferior Grade Spirit Stones for recovery was not only slow but also required time for purification before condensing it into True Yuan.


    An Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone was just right for him.


    At this moment, instead of meditating the rest of the group started to prepare their techniques with cautious expressions.


    This journey had been too smooth, unsettlingly so.


    Lin Shiming also began to infuse energy, setting up some seeds in advance.


    It was at this moment that Lin Xianzhi opened his eyes and gazed into the distance, announcing,


    "They''re here!"


    No sooner had the words been spoken than a golden beam of Spirit Light burst through the sky a mere dozen breaths later. Upon closer inspection, it was a Third Rank Spirit Boat just like the one owned by the Lin Family.


    Astride the Spirit Boat, several figures dressed in yellow robes flew out, wielding Flying Swords, and they positioned themselves into a semicircle, indicating their intent to encircle the Lin Family and prevent escape.


    The leader among them was the white-templed Huangyun Qi.


    "Did you know I would come?"


    Different from his feigned madness at the auction house, Huangyun Qi now appeared remarkably composed, yet beneath his calm face was a hint of eagerness and excitement.


    That look in his eyes seemed identical to that of Zi Xuan Hermit''s when he regarded Lin Xianzhi ¡ª as if the Lin Family held something he considered essential to possess.


    Lin Yushui, who was in control of the formation, stood by with a bottle of Superior Grade Monkey Wine and several Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones in her hands.


    The fierce winds were mainly directed at the two early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, excluding Huangyun Qi.


    Although the Five Extreme Deathly Winds Formation was strong, it was after all being controlled by a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level.


    For a time, the battle was at a stalemate, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.


    Meanwhile, the other four Elders of the Lin Family at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level quickly set up the same Five Elements Spirit Breaking Formation that the Huang Family had previously deployed in the Qingyun Mountain range. This formation did not rely on intricate techniques but solely on the combined magical power of the cultivators.


    Lin Shijie was also within the formation.


    With his cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, it was naturally extremely taxing for him, but as a dual-Spirit Root genius with abundant spiritual power, he managed to hold on.


    "Yushui, focus the formation on holding back the two early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Yu Qi, Yu Zheng, and Hou Yuan, use the formation to engage the nine late-stage Qi Cultivators. Shiming, provide support and reinforcement, but be very careful. I will assist you!"


    The command from Lin Xianzhi came through, and then his Qinglian Sword behind him surged again, transforming into two to three Zhang in length!


    A clang of sword cry, the green light soared, and countless Qinglian Sword beams blanketed the sky!


    "Today, I''ll test my sword on you, old Huang!" Lin Xianzhi bellowed, charging at Huangyun Qi first.


    "Presumptuous!" Huangyun Qi unleashed his spiritual power, a terrifying spiritual pressure emerging.


    As everyone''s expression darkened, they realized that Huangyun Qi''s cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the late Foundation Establishment stage and was on the verge of stepping into Foundation Establishment Perfection.


    This was far stronger than Huangyun Qi had previously shown!


    "This old man was indeed hiding his true abilities!" The entire Lin Family was profoundly shaken.


    Fortunately, Lin Xianzhi was a Sword Cultivator. With his exquisite swordsmanship and the first layer of Sword Light Transformation''s Sword Intent, he managed not to fall too far behind Huangyun Qi.


    "Lin Xianzhi, you are indeed formidable, but can any of your family''s younger generation compare to you?"


    With a single-handed gesture, Huangyun Qi directed a set of eight superior third-rank Flying Swords slashing towards Lin Xianzhi!


    Lin Xianzhi steered the Green Lotus Sword to meet them, but his brow was also deeply furrowed!


    Huangyun Qi was right. Despite the assistance of a third-rank formation, the cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level all had their shortcomings, let alone Lin Yushui, who certainly couldn''t hold out against the early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Huang Family.


    Indeed, on the cliff, the yellow sandstorm tornadoes were slamming the two Huang Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators, forcing them to endlessly flee and use their Flying Swords and various Spirit Talismans to defend!


    But the inevitable outcome would be Lin Yushui being the first to falter, and at this moment, Lin Xianzhi was unable to fully suppress Huangyun Qi, let alone provide support.


    As for Lin Yuqi and the others'' Five Elements Spirit Breaking Formation, it was also not something to be counted on, since the Huang Family Cultivators had similarly taken out formation flags, setting up another Five Elements Spirit Breaking Formation, and they even had four Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators to spare to deal with Lin Shiming!

 Chapter 59: 59: Turning the Tide

    On the cliffside, the sky was filled with flying debris, and an endless sandstorm continued to rage.


    Seeing that the Huang Family''s Qi Cultivator of the Ninth Level was about to reach Lin Yushui,


    Lin Yuqi and the others, in their Five Elements Spirit Breaking Formation, also stood ready, prepared to fight to the death against the cultivators of the Huang Family.


    It was at this moment that Lin Shiming''s hands fiercely formed a gesture.


    The activated Spirit Arts surged out one after another, a myriad of spirit lights burst forth, and the spirit might was shockingly incredible.


    It was hard for anyone to believe that this was the spiritual power emitted by a Qi Cultivator of the Seventh Level.


    However, before everyone could express their astonishment, the seeds that had been planted in advance all sprouted in an instant.


    Countless wooden vines surged towards the sky, dense and numerous, binding towards the cultivators of the Huang Family.


    "Ordinary wooden vines?" The people of the Huang Family, upon seeing ordinary wooden vines appear, were also astonished beyond belief.


    Then they scoffed, thinking that Lin Shiming was all show and no substance, and once again charged towards Lin Yushui.


    Numerous magic artifacts bombarded Lin Yushui, while the five people executing the Spirit Breaking Formation unleashed their Five Elements Spells with wild abandon.


    Various spells like the Golden Spear Technique, Fireball Technique, Earthen Spike Technique...


    These spells were basic, but within the Five Elements Spirit Breaking Formation, and more so in the hands of a powerful Ninth Level Qi Cultivator, their might was extremely fierce!


    As for Lin Shiming''s wooden vines, they were burned to a crisp by a blaze of fire, combined with the release of several Flying Swords. Read first on m|v|l|e|mpyr


    They no longer paid attention!


    The fire enhanced by the Spirit Breaking Formation burned with exceptional ferocity, thoroughly incinerating the vines in the sky.


    However, behind the wooden vines, suddenly huge Snake Vine Flowers sprang up, turning into towering trees in the blink of an eye.


    Having cultivated the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, Lin Shiming''s activation speed was faster than before by who knows how much, and he was also powered by the Spiritual Energy provided by the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique.


    This time, all nine Snake Vine Flowers were activated at once, their target being the nine Qi Cultivators of the Huang Family.


    The latter''s complexions changed noticeably, not expecting Lin Shiming to come up with a vine they had never seen before, but fortunately, they had not underestimated him too much. Several Second Rank Superior Grade Flying Swords, along with a few Second Rank Supreme Grade Flying Swords,


    were all slashed towards the giant vines of the deadly Snake Vine Flowers.


    Flying Swords were indeed extremely effective against Snake Vine Flowers, especially the Supreme Grade ones; five vines were directly cut in half and died prematurely.


    But the remaining four, due to their close proximity to the cultivators, three ensnared three isolated Ninth Level Qi Cultivators.


    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, in front of Lin Shiming, a red-haired monkey jumped out, and letting out a long howl to the sky, it lifted its arms high.


    Then, what appeared to be a small hill was thrown out.


    While the scene was somewhat comical, the effect was that both could only feel an immense force smashing down as if a small mountain was pressing down on them with all its weight.


    Boom! The Spirit Shields of several cultivators were directly deflected, countless Iron Thorns penetrated in, piercing through most of their Spirit Shields and revealing the glowing Spirit Armor on their bodies.


    The two cultivators at the late stage of cultivation could hardly bear it, finding it hard to catch their breaths under the assault of a Qi Cultivator at the seventh level of cultivation.


    They couldn''t understand why Lin Shiming''s internal spiritual power wasn''t exhausted!


    But before they could find an answer, a golden light appeared, and two massive golden cleavers materialized in front of a cultivator.


    Then, a gush of fresh blood burst forth, and a head flew high into the air¡ªit was the Golden Winged Mantis that Lin Shiming had unleashed.


    Due to the incredible speed, the pair of golden wings even left behind a golden spirit light rainbow in its wake!


    The remaining cultivator was terrified and tried to flee on his Flying Sword, but his speed was greatly affected by being in the Five Extreme Deathly Winds Formation, especially since the most intense dust storms were focused on the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Yet, a Five Elements Tower that shone with light flew out. The cultivator naturally knew it all too well and had even coveted it.


    But now, this tower became the very weapon that would execute him!


    In despair, countless Fireballs and Ice Spikes bombarded him, and another cultivator fell.


    Thus, out of the nine Qi Cultivators at the ninth level, only the last five comrades of the Five Elements Spell Formation were left.


    Lin Shiming took out a wine jug and guzzled down a bottle of Intermediate Grade Monkey Wine, recovering his spiritual power.


    Just now, he had recklessly used up three times his usual amount of spiritual power, completely depleting the energy from the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique.


    Lin Shiming''s strength astonished everyone; he was like a weapon of chaos in the melee.


    The spiritual power of a seventh level Qi Cultivator seemingly almost matched that of a ninth level, overturning their understanding completely.


    But at that moment, Lin Yuqi suddenly yelled out to Lin Shiming.


    "Go reinforce the Third Elder!"


    Lin Shiming looked towards where Lin Yushui was and saw countless Spirit Stones exploding, with Lin Yushui spewing blood from his mouth. Before him, two cultivators at the early stage of Foundation Establishment were continuously repelling the sandstorm of the Five Extreme Deathly Winds Formation.


    It was clear that Lin Yushui was unable to sustain his spiritual power, even with Superior Grade Monkey Wine to recover it and Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones at his disposal. After all, he was but a Qi Cultivator at the ninth level.


    He had fallen into a dire situation!

 Chapter 60: 60 Array within an Array

    Lin Shiming dared not delay, his hands forming seals once again.


    Vines grew wildly across the sky towards the Huang Family cultivators, surpassing the previous attempt in quantity, now truly resembling a sea of growth.


    The wooden vines, one batch after another, dense and unending, a portion burned only for more to grow in its place, seemingly without limit.


    However, seeing no Snake Vine Flowers spring forth again, they ceased to pay attention.


    In their eyes, Lin Shiming must be running out of Spiritual Power and could only catalyze ordinary wooden vines now.


    The sand and storm of the Five Extreme Deathly Winds Formation blocked most of the Divine Sense, preventing observation from that sense as well.


    The Golden Winged Mantis and Red-haired Demon Monkey appeared on the battlefields of the two Five Element Spirit Breaking Formations, persistently causing a nuisance.


    Their comical stone-throwing act was nothing short of a humiliating provocation to the Huang Family cultivators.


    Yet this Red-haired Spirit Beast Monkey, who was quick and had a strong leaping ability, only knew how to throw stones from a distance, never engaging in close combat.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming had not appeared, his figure concealed by the vines and most of his Divine Sense blocked by the Five Extreme Deathly Winds Formation.


    For a moment, it seemed as though Lin Shiming had completely immersed himself in recovering Spiritual Energy.


    Naturally, this seemed reasonable because, in their view, a Qi Cultivation Seventh Level cultivator would indeed exhaust their Spiritual Energy faster.


    The two Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators from the Huang Family increased their attack pace as well.


    However, in a moment, the vines dispersed, and a Purple Spirit Sword appeared in the sky.


    A massive wave of Spiritual Power fluctuations instantly alarmed everyone.


    It was Lin Shiming''s Spirit Talisman; he had been activating the talisman while the wooden vines blocked the view.


    "Second Grandpa, attack!" Although Lin Shiming was aware that his third grandmother Lin Yushui might not hold on, he still didn''t command the talisman to attack the two Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators; that would be meaningless.


    If they couldn''t break through, it was useless!


    The key to breaking the formation now was whether they could kill all the opposing Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators and then support Lin Yushui.


    The latter immediately understood and sent his Five Elements Spell towards the opponent''s Five Element Spirit Breaking Formation.


    The spells from the Huang Family at that moment all turned into Earth Wall Technique, Water Shield Technique, Golden Shield Technique, and Fire Shield Technique!


    They had but one thought: to hold on.


    Various spells instantly interwove, with dazzling light continuously emerging.


    And at that moment, Lin Shiming''s talisman-bearing Spirit Sword also slashed forward, carrying a vast expanse of Sword Qi, chopping down fiercely.


    Boom!


    Huang Licheng with his full Foundation Establishment force arrived in front of Lin Yushui in the blink of an eye.


    But what puzzled Huang Licheng was that he didn''t see the panicked look in Lin Yushui''s eyes.


    On the contrary, it was resolute, determined, and cold!


    And even crazier!


    Suddenly, a completely different kind of Formation flag appeared in Lin Yushui''s hand.


    Huang Licheng immediately felt unsettled, sensing something very wrong¡ªit was a formation within a formation!


    But he couldn''t figure it out, how could Lin Yushui, merely a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, deploy two Third Rank Formations, and how could a Second Rank Formation kill him?


    "Your Huang Family, merely a century-old minor clan, how could you understand the heritage and spirit of our Lin Family?" Lin Yushui''s crazed gaze was filled with disdain.


    The Lin Family belonged to the Purple Mansion lineage, and even though it had fallen, it still had the legacy of the once Purple Mansion Family.


    Then she pressed the Formation flag into the ground, sinking it deep beneath the surface!


    The Formation that appeared at this moment was a Fire Attribute Formation.


    The Formation was only of Second Rank Supreme Grade, but this Second Rank Supreme Grade Formation was neither a trapping nor a Killing Formation.


    It was a Self-Destructive Formation!


    Huang Licheng frantically retreated, but it was too late.


    The terrifying fire-red Spirit Light exploded, engulfing both Lin Yushui and Huang Licheng within it.


    The intact cliff face was directly blasted apart, falling into the abyss.


    On the other side, Lin Yuqi and the others finally broke through Huang Lingling''s defense, with Lin Shiming''s Purple Mansion talisman striking down another person! Discover more content on m-vl-em-pyr


    This person was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator!


    Although he was just at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he was still far stronger than any other cultivator from the Lin Family.


    After the attack, Lin Shiming collapsed to the ground, having exhausted his last bit of Spiritual Energy with that final sword strike.


    Lin Yuqi and the other four also heaved a great sigh of relief.


    The successive fall of the Huang Family''s people also affected Huangyun Qi, who was fighting Lin Xianzhi; his face filled with grief, knowing the trend had turned and that the Lin Family would be the final victor.


    Ignoring Lin Xianzhi''s sword, he charged towards Lin Shiming.


    Seeking to strike down Lin Shiming with a single blow!


    His speed was incredibly fast, crossing an unknowable distance in the blink of an eye!


    The overwhelming pressure from a late-stage Foundation Establishment instantly weighed down on Lin Shiming, making it hard for him to even breathe.

 Chapter 61: 61 Formation Artifact Manual

    The shattered cliff face was bare now, the Five Extreme Deathly Winds Formation having dissipated.


    It revealed a wall pitted and pocked from the countless spells that had bombarded it.


    "Lin Xianzhi, if you do not cease, I will surely kill this child!" Huangyun Qi''s expression was cold, and he brandished a Third Rank Superior Grade magic sword that shone brilliantly, slashing fiercely towards Lin Shiming.


    His divine sense locked on, unleashing the Third Rank magic artifact in a flying slash.


    "You dare!" Lin Xianzhi''s usually calm heart could no longer remain still at this moment!


    He too desperately urged on the Qinglian Sword in his hand, generating countless beams of Green Lotus Sword Qi, pressing forward with powerful Sword Intent, leaving nothing in reserve, crushing the opposition.


    The blue light of the Green Lotus Sword shot out in an instant, even faster than the flying sword, knocking Huangyun Qi''s magic sword aside.


    Huangyun Qi, failing to strike, was not angry but instead pleased, for it meant Lin Xianzhi truly cared.


    He then transformed his true yuan into a palm strike, reaching out to grasp Lin Shiming.


    But against his expectations, the true yuan palm strike resounded with a boom, hitting the ground instead.


    Where Lin Shiming had stood, there was no trace left except for the fluctuations of spiritual energy from an Earth Escape Talisman.


    With the dissolution of the Five Extreme Deathly Winds Formation, the Earth Escape Talisman naturally became usable. Only a hundred meters away did the figure of Lin Shiming appear, gasping for breath.


    With his blow missing the mark, Huangyun Qi''s face looked extremely ugly.


    However, what was most fatal at this moment was that Lin Xianzhi in the distance had already launched the Green Lotus Sword.


    A sword light dozens of yards long fell, and under Huangyun Qi''s great shock, he barely had time to bring his sword in defense horizontally.


    With a crisp sound, he was overwhelmed by the sword light.


    With that, Huangyun Qi fell!


    Not a single cultivator from the Huang Family survived, the Lin Family emerged triumphant.


    Yet not one person could muster any joy.


    All eyes were on the half-ledge that fell away, as if the third elder who had always been silent and selflessly committed was still there, merely concealed by the formation.


    "Gather the spoils of war, we''re returning to Fangmu Mountain!" Lin Xianzhi''s somber voice carried forth, and he threw out the Spirit Boat, flying once more towards Yunzhou.


    Fearing that Huangyun Qi might have left some tricks behind, no one suggested to sit and recover their energy.


    On the Spirit Boat, Lin Shiming too silently gazed at the sea of clouds, then at Lin Xianzhi who sat alone at the front of the Spirit Boat.


    The first Jade Slip was Huang Lingling''s own notes on Artifact Refining, detailing his insights and notes from beginner to Third Rank Artifact Refiner. It was especially thorough.


    Lin Shiming was quite satisfied with this as it was an excellent learning resource both for the family and for his own future studies in Artifact Refining.


    It was not to be taken for granted, knowing that the Lin Family only had a Second Rank Supreme Grade Artifact Refiner, and no Third Rank Artifact Refiner up to this point.


    However, when he saw the second Jade Slip, Lin Shiming was taken aback. The slip was titled "Formation Artifact Manual."


    It detailed how to use formations to enhance the level of Artifact Refining.


    It could even enable a Second Rank Supreme Grade Artifact Refiner to craft Third Rank Magic Artifacts!


    This was unheard of before now.


    The "Formation Artifact Manual" was extremely important to the Lin Family and, after some research, its theories could potentially be applied to Alchemy as well.


    If that were the case, the appearance of a Third Rank Alchemist and a Third Rank Artifact Refiner in the Lin Family wouldn''t be far off!


    This was extremely significant for the Lin Family and could even be considered on par with the effect of the Foundation Establishment Pill.


    Lin Shiming suppressed the excitement in his heart and continued to review the Jade Slips. The subsequent Jade Slips turned out to be quite ordinary, including cultivation miscellany, maps, and some secrets of the Huang Family.


    The majority were manuals for crafting standard Magic Artifacts.


    Lin Shiming then skipped over the Jade Slips and started examining the Magic Artifacts.


    The most notable was undoubtedly the Third Rank Inferior Grade Flying Sword, which could fetch tens of thousands of Spirit Stones at an auction.


    Of course, he had a better use for it: for his father.


    Once his father broke through to Foundation Establishment, he would naturally need a Third Rank Magic Artifact. Given the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Contribution Points he had saved, he already owed the family seventy to eighty thousand Contribution Points.


    He was much poorer than Lin Shiming.


    Besides the Third Rank Flying Sword, there were Supreme Grade Magic Artifacts, including a Supreme Grade Flying Sword and a Supreme Grade defensive shield.


    To Lin Shiming, these items weren''t particularly enticing, as he already had the Green Sky Sword and the Thick Earth Shield. Nevertheless, both items were valuable, at least worth five or six thousand Spirit Stones each.


    He hadn''t seen the expected Third Rank Spirit Talisman. Presumably, it was used during the battle, and as for the Spirit Stones and Spirit Pills, they were even more disappointing to Lin Shiming.


    The fortune was even less than his own.


    Just over two thousand Spirit Stones and the elixirs were all for healing, none surpassing Second Rank Superior Grade.


    It was practically the poorest a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could be.

 Chapter 62: 62: Purple Mansion Cave Mansion

    At the Qinglian Pool at Fangmu Mountain, Lin Shiming returned, accompanied by Lin Shijie as well as all the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Elders, except for Lin Houyuan.


    These were indeed the upper echelons of the Lin Family.


    Lin Houyong and Lin Houshou, as newly advanced Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, held the positions of the Seventh Elder and Eighth Elder, respectively.


    Lin Shiming, in front of a group of elders, respectfully greeted each of them.


    Compared to his usual casual and carefree demeanor, Lin Houshou was far more restrained than before, giving a slight nod when Lin Shiming addressed him as Second Uncle.


    The chessboard in the pavilion remained, the white pieces still on the brink of death without the turnaround he had anticipated.


    The crisis still loomed; the Li Family from Purple Mansion posed a constant threat to the Lin Family!


    "Great-grandfather, I think we should go to the Huang Family and take back their Spirit Vein and treasures," Lin Shijie suggested to Lin Yuqi, as Lin Xianzhi hadn''t yet arrived.


    He had discussed his thoughts with Lin Shiming on the way there, noting that the Huang Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the high-level elders of Qi Cultivation Ninth Level were nearly annihilated.


    Now was the best time to go to Huangyun Mountain to seize the treasures and take control of their Spirit Vein. Although it would not greatly enhance the Spirit Vein of Fangmu Mountain, the more concentrated the Spiritual Energy, the better.


    Lin Shiming affirmed his older brother''s words, but he was also clearer on the situation.


    Since Lin Xianzhi hadn''t rushed to the Huang Family initially, he probably saw something in Huangyun Qi''s Storage Bag that gave him pause.


    The actions of the Huang Family behind Li Chengzhi of the Li Family, must indicate that something had happened.


    "We don''t need to go to the Huang Family, the Li Family has long since sent Foundation Establishment Cultivators to help defend," Lin Xianzhi arrived and addressed Lin Shijie''s queries.


    "Huangyun Qi already took out most of the Huang Family''s assets, along with various Secret Techniques, Spirit Stones, and even Spirit Arts!"


    "And there is a Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree!"


    ...


    As Lin Xianzhi slowly explained, Lin Shiming also understood why the Huang Family had taken such action; probably the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Li Family took the opportunity to defend Huangyun Mountain when the Huang Family was seeking help.


    One must know that the Huang Family was an extremely wealthy Foundation Establishment family; this wasn''t much for the Purple Mansion Family, but for the Purple Mansion Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it was still a huge piece of flesh.


    "Seventh Great Uncle! I found this in Huang Lingling''s Storage Bag!" After pondering for a while, Lin Shiming stepped forward and took out the Formation Artifact Manual jade slip and handed it to Lin Xianzhi. Experience magic at m v le mpyr


    The last concern was merely whether there would be enough Foundation Establishment Pills, but for these elders, having any was already a cause for celebration.


    "The second matter, the Huang Family is gone, but going forward, our family faces the Purple Mansion Family''s Li Family. Therefore, we need to increase our efforts to explore the Qingyun Mountain Range; it''s better to take a chance on the opportunities provided by the mountain range than to be cornered by the Li Family,"


    "Currently, with my master Zi Xuan Hermit around, the Li Family won''t deploy any Purple Mansion cultivators,"


    Lin Xianzhi made a point of glancing at Lin Shiming a couple more times as he spoke these words.


    Indeed, the family''s transformation was greatly related to Lin Shiming.


    It was precisely opportunities like Peach Blossom Valley and the Qingyun Mountain Range that allowed the family to significantly improve its finances, its pool of heavenly treasures, and its overall strength.


    Cultivators not only needed to keep to themselves, but they also needed to apply their learning, require powerful combat capabilities, in order to truly embark on an extraordinary path of immortality and longevity.


    All the Lin Family members nodded in agreement; they naturally had no objections to this.


    "Very well, now for the third matter, Yu Qi and Yu Tie, as the Alchemist and Artifact Refining elders, you should increase the training of alchemists and artifact refiners.


    The production of Spirit Water from our family''s Qinglian Pool has increased, and the seeds of the Green Lotus will also be a substantial and stable income, so there is no need to worry about losses in alchemy and artifact refining!"


    "Moreover, increase the remuneration for the family''s alchemists and artifact refiners by fifty percent," Lin Xianzhi added to Yu Qi and Yu Tie.


    Upon hearing this, all the Lin Family elders were somewhat surprised; training an alchemist required the consumption of numerous heavenly materials and earthly treasures. By increasing their remuneration, this would undoubtedly encourage family members to gravitate towards alchemy and artifact refining.


    Lin Shiming, however, understood that with the Formation Artifact Manual, if managed well, the Lin Family could gain several Third Rank artifact refiners and alchemists.


    This was the fundamental improvement the Lin Family needed to make in its journey from a Foundation Establishment family to a Purple Mansion family.


    Finally, Lin Xianzhi distributed a Second Rank supreme grade magic artifact and a thousand Spirit Stones to each member of the Qingxuan City expedition, treasures obtained from Huangyun Qi''s Storage Bag.


    The Third Rank items were kept by Lin Xianzhi, while the bulk of the remaining cultivation techniques and spiritual materials were deposited in the family''s Treasure Pavilion.


    Once all matters were dealt with, Lin Xianzhi gestured to end the meeting, but at the same time, he asked Lin Shiming and Lin Yuqing to stay behind.


    Lin Shiming was naturally puzzled about why the Seventh Elder asked him to stay; he wondered whether it was about the Jade Slip or the matter with the Huang Family.


    But in the next moment, Lin Xianzhi revealed something that greatly shocked Lin Shiming.


    "I''ve examined the Huang Family''s Jade Slip and discovered that they had located the legacy cave mansion of a Purple Mansion cultivator, which the Huang Family had already fully explored,"

 Chapter 63: 63: Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree

    Beside the Qinglian Pool, Lin Shiming and Lin Yuqing both had faces full of shock.


    The news brought by Lin Xianzhi was too shocking, and it also made them instinctively worry about the family''s situation.


    It turned out that the reason the Huang Family had five Foundation Establishment cultivators was that they had discovered an ancient inheritance cave mansion of a Purple Mansion cultivator in a secret location within the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    Inside the inheritance cave mansion, the Huang Family had found a Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, numerous second and third rank spirit treasures, a detailed Formation Artifact Manual, and the formula for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    It was with the latter that the Huang Family gained two additional Foundation Establishment cultivators, but since they had run out of Illusionary Heart Grass and they couldn''t blatantly gather more for fear of leaking the existence of their Foundation Establishment Pill formula.


    That''s why they expended great effort searching in the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    They indeed found Illusionary Heart Grass, and unexpectedly stumbled upon an inferior grade third rank Spirit Vein.


    It was almost the entire might of the Huang Family that attacked the Earth-Rending Bears; if it were not for Lin Shiming''s early warning, which resulted in calling Lin Xianzhi over, the Huang Family might have truly succeeded that time.


    Of course, luckily, the Huang Family didn''t obtain the most core cultivation techniques and treasures from the Purple Mansion inheritance cave mansion.


    All of it was blocked by a powerful Fourth Rank Formation. Even though the Formation was uncontrolled, it was still of the Fourth Rank.


    At least six Foundation Establishment cultivators were needed to break through it.


    The Huang Family was desperate precisely because they only had five Foundation Establishment cultivators, which is why they were so eager, and held deep-seated hatred towards the Lin Family.


    Meanwhile, in Qingxuan City, in order to obtain the Illusionary Heart Grass, they were also wary of the Li Family, opting not to let Li Chengzhi join them.


    Otherwise, with the Huang Family''s strength plus Li Chengzhi, it might have been the day that the Lin Family could only have stood a sliver of a chance to escape with a few people by relying on a Formation''s self-destruction and Lin Xianzhi covering their rear.


    Of course, this was not only because of Huangyun Qi''s arrogance but also his wariness towards the Li Family.


    Why had there been no other Purple Mansion cultivators in Yunzhou for so many years besides the Li Family? In others'' eyes, it was merely a lack of the Purple Mansion Family''s fortune.


    However, Foundation Establishment families like the Huang and Lin Families knew that the better their development, the more they couldn''t avoid being targeted by the Li Family.


    The Lin Family''s decline from the status of a Purple Mansion Family was really due to the saying that even a powerful dragon cannot suppress the local snake.


    A jade box full of spiritual energy was placed in Lin Shiming''s hands.


    "From now on, you will cultivate the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, and when you reach the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, you needn''t worry about the Foundation Establishment Pill; the family will provide it. Moreover, you should also find a cave dwelling by the Qinglian Pool to cultivate in!"


    As he spoke, Lin Xianzhi opened the jade box, revealing a small and exquisite crystal-clear treasure tree sealed inside.


    The treasure tree was encased in spirit light, with vibrant spiritual energy. Even within the sealed jade box, it appeared extraordinarily lively, not to mention the wonders it would exhibit if placed outside.


    "Yes!" Lin Shiming received the jade box with both hands, overjoyed in his heart.


    Although it meant providing some of his own spiritual energy to the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree for the next few years,


    to be given a Foundation Establishment Pill without any conditions, and the opportunity to cultivate by the Qinglian Pool was unquestionably excellent news for him.


    In the place with the richest spiritual energy of the Upper Grade Third Rank Spirit Vein, his cultivation speed would surely be able to improve once again.


    "Also, make a copy of the Formation Instrument Manual for your second grandfather and your fourth grandfather!" Lin Xianzhi reminded him just before leaving.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming tensed up; this message he was to convey was quite intriguing.


    He was somewhat puzzled by the seventh granduncle''s course of action, but just as he was about to ask, he saw the latter wave his hand and say:


    "What, do you still want your father, who is at the Foundation Establishment stage, to continue as the family head?"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming was momentarily stunned, taking quite a while to realize that Lin Xianzhi was grooming him to become the next head of the Lin Family.


    But he was only 21 years old.


    Surprised as he was, to have the opportunity to become the family head of the Lin Family, Lin Shiming refrained from making any modest refusals!


    Moreover, becoming the family head would also further secure the family''s investment in resources for him, which is more conducive to his rapid Foundation Establishment.


    Otherwise, for him who is temporarily without the four arts of cultivation and has raised three spirit beasts, securing the sources of resources is indeed a significant challenge.


    "Thank you, seventh granduncle, Shiming will exert all his effort and not let you down!"

 Chapter 64: 64 Lin Houyuan Breakthrough

    As he returned to the family''s Earth Fire Hall''s Alchemy Pavilion, Lin Shiming spotted Lin Yuqi who was lecturing and giving instructions.


    Within the hall, several Lin Family apprentices of the Shiming generation were studying how to control the furnace.


    Among them, Lin Shitao, who was at the third rank of Qi Cultivation, stood at the forefront, controlling a Spirit Furnace that floated high in the air, while below it was the Earth Fire drawn out from the Formation.


    The Spirit Furnace in front of her was controlled the steadiest, and the flame also remained continuously at a suitable temperature.


    However, the other Shiming generation apprentices beside her were less satisfactory, with flames fluctuating, occasionally spilling over the Pill Furnace, and this was when they were sweating profusely and focusing their spirits to control it.


    Even Lin Shiming, an outsider, could easily discern the varying degrees of skill among them.


    "Second Grandpa!" Upon greeting Lin Yuqi, he stopped instructing and instructed everyone to continue controlling the Pill Furnace before walking over to Lin Shiming.


    "Ran out of Beast Nurturing Pills again? Don''t worry, this time there''s more than enough!" Lin Yuqi said with a smile, taking out two Pill Bottles, and without considering whether Lin Shiming really needed them, he stuffed them into Lin Shiming''s hands.


    He was clearly very satisfied with Lin Shiming''s persuasion of Lin Shitao to practice alchemy. |em|p,yr


    Lin Shiming looked at the Second Elder before him with a somewhat amused and helpless expression; he had not come for the Beast Nurturing Pills this time.


    But thinking of the insatiable appetites of the three Spirit Beasts, he still accepted the Spirit Pills.


    He then stated his purpose, handing over a replicated Jade Slip to Lin Yuqi.


    "Second Grandpa, this is a Jade Slip that Seventh Great-Uncle asked me to give to you!"


    "Hmm!" Lin Yuqi took the Jade Slip and gave Lin Shiming a meaningful glance.


    He smiled slightly, seeming to understand Lin Xianzhi''s intentions for nurturing Lin Shiming.


    But he did not verbalize it, instead, he started to look through the Jade Slip.


    This glance at the Jade Slip, with its novel ways of using Formations to improve the level of Artifact Refining, immediately inspired great creativity in him.


    The reason Lin Yuqi and Lin Yutie were unable to refine Third Rank elixirs and Third Rank magic artifacts was not due to insufficient alchemical and artifact crafting skills.


    It was because their Cultivation Level could not support the refinement of Third Rank elixirs and magic artifacts, and they were also unable to control the Earth Fire to such temperatures.


    But in this Formation Artifact Manual, it detailed how to use Formations to increase the temperature of Earth Fire and how to absorb Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Veins for Alchemy and Artifact Refining in an extremely thorough manner.


    Lin Shiming, who could make out some points from the Jade Slip, watched as the professional Lin Yuqi benefited immensely, marveled at the creator of such a method as divine.


    He then bid Lin Shiming farewell and hurried off to his exclusive Alchemy Room to study in depth.


    "Uncle Seven, is father about to make a breakthrough?" Lin Shiming asked Lin Xianzhi, seeing the turbulent spiritual energy.


    "That''s right. Your father must have forged his Spirit Platform and is consolidating his True Yuan!" Lin Xianzhi nodded approvingly and looked towards Lin Houyuan''s dwelling with satisfaction.


    After more than thirty years, the Lin Family was finally about to have a second Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    As the anomaly appeared, several Elders hastened from the foot of the mountain. On learning it was for Lin Houyuan''s breakthrough, they all beamed with joy, observing from the side.


    Among them, Lin Houyong, Lin''s Great-Uncle Five, watched most carefully. At fifty-eight, with only two years to go, even just witnessing someone else''s Foundation Establishment from afar held significant reference value for him.


    The anomaly lasted about half a day, and suddenly a surge of Foundation Establishment Spirit Might emerged, then dispersed.


    The spiritual energy returned to calmness.


    "It''s done!" Lin Xianzhi nodded his head.


    "Let''s all disperse, and wait for Hou Yuan to consolidate his cultivation level!"


    Following Lin Xianzhi''s words, the Qi Cultivation Elders of the Lin Family one by one took their leave.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but feel happy for his father, who, after Foundation Establishment, would enjoy a lifespan of two hundred and fifty years.


    Not even sixty yet, he still had plenty of time to pursue the path of immortality.


    "Shiming, how is the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree?" Lin Xianzhi asked again about the family''s extremely important Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree. The Foundation Establishment Pill''s three main ingredients included the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, which was very rare even in a Golden Core Sect like the Qingxuan Sect, which only had a few dozen of these trees, each bearing fruit only every hundred years.


    Even the cultivators of Qingxuan Sect who cultivated the Purple Wood Heart Sutra needed about fifty or sixty years for the fruits to mature.


    Therefore, Lin Xianzhi was particularly concerned about this Spirit Tree.


    The Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree was planted on a small hill next to the Qinglian Pool and was inscribed with a Spirit Concealing Formation. So even the Qi Cultivation Elders had not noticed that the family had acquired a valuable Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree.


    "Rest assured, Uncle Seven, there are no issues with the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree!" Lin Shiming led Lin Xianzhi to check the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree once more.


    At this moment, the Spirit Tree was over ten meters tall, with a canopy sprawling over ten meters, each leaf gleaming brightly, a sign of exemplary cultivation.


    Moreover, in the past six months, Lin Shiming''s Spirit Planting technique had reached the Intermediate Grade of the Second Rank, undoubtedly thanks to the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, but also an indication of his remarkable talent for Spirit Planting.


    "Uncle Seven, it hasn''t been long since the tree bore fruit. The next time the fruits mature, it will be seventy or eighty years from now," Lin Shiming sighed and then explained to Lin Xianzhi.


    However, the latter didn''t find it regrettable, as the Huang Family''s harvest of Heavenly Spirit Fruits still left three in his possession.


    "Shiming, go ask Yu Qi how his alchemy research is going!"

 Chapter 65: 65 Third Rank Alchemist

    Returning to the Earth Fire Hall once again, both the Pill Pavilion and the Artifact Pavilion were significantly busier than before, and the surrounding temperature was much higher as well.


    The place was also livelier now, with quite a few Qi Cultivation first and second level disciples trying their hand at the Pill Pavilion and Artifact Pavilion.


    Among them, Lin Shizhong was the most successful¡ªthe Third Spirit Root Cultivator who had entered the Lin Family alongside Lin Shitao.


    Although he had just broken through to the second level of Qi Cultivation, his artifact refining technique and talent earned him the praise of Lin Yutie, a peak Second Rank Artifact Refiner.


    Of course, they couldn''t help but admire Lin Shiming as well, thanks to that Ascension Conference, the family had gained two promising young immortals.


    Now the Lin Family had even changed the Ascension Conference from a five-yearly event to a triennial one.


    As a result, the number of Shiming generation members had already grown to over fifty.


    Inside the Pill Pavilion, a few more disciples were practicing at the furnaces, but Lin Shitao was surprisingly not in the grand hall, and Lin Yuqi wasn''t there either, not responding to the Sound Transmission Talisman.


    When the Shiming generation disciples saw Lin Shiming arrive, they gathered around him, respectfully and admiringly calling him Seventh Brother.


    Especially the younger ones, whose eyes were filled with adoration, as if Lin Shiming''s face bore tales of heart-stirring adventures.


    "Where''s Second Grandfather?" Lin Shiming nodded in response to each of them, and then asked.


    "Second Grandfather and the others are alchemizing in the innermost room; they have been at it for half a month now, and Thirty-One Sister is there too!"


    At the mention of this, the facial expressions of several Shiming generation alchemy apprentices darkened, clearly worn out from controlling the furnace for over ten days.


    The Thirty-One Sister they referred to was naturally Lin Shitao, the little girl from four years ago, who was now being addressed as Sister.


    Lin Shiming felt a twinge of emotion, and as Seventh Brother, he also admonished his Shiming generation siblings to stay focused and calm.


    But the thought of his own actions involuntarily reminded him of his Second Uncle, who used to give him the same advice.


    Lin Houshou was still in charge of the Treasure Pavilion, but he spoke far less than before.


    Suddenly, the earth fire in front of them burst out furiously, soaring to over three meters high.


    Several prepared apprentices quickly retreated outside the formation, while Lin Shiming himself was also given quite a fright.


    It was his first time witnessing such an eruption of flames, and he too retreated several meters away.


    The flames continued to rise, the runes on the walls of the Pill Pavilion flickered wildly, and through the Spirit Gathering Array, countless spirit patterns frenziedly absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy.


    Furrowing his brows, Lin Shiming released his divine sense and discovered that the source of the earth fire''s turbulence was in the room where Lin Yuqi was in seclusion.


    "Second Grandfather, as our family''s Third Rank Alchemist, you must take good care of your health!" said Lin Shiming with concern. Although Lin Yuqi had maintained a middle-aged appearance until now, the old man was already 92 years old and had suffered a hidden injury in his youth, which likely left him with less than 120 years of life.


    "You have no need to worry about that, Shiming. This old man''s bones won''t rest until I have trained a Third Rank Alchemist!" Lin Yuqi replied nonchalantly, and then he told Lin Shitao to go rest.


    The latter was already exhausted from the intensive learning and assistance during the alchemy process.


    "Second Grandfather, this is the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe that Seventh Great-Uncle wants to give you!" Lin Shiming hesitated, but still took out the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe.


    "Obtained from the Huang Family?" As soon as the recipe appeared, the sharpness in Lin Yuqi''s eyes, which had somewhat faded, flared up again. He took the recipe and, after talking briefly with Lin Shiming, he once again entered his room.


    As Lin Shiming was about to speak, the former had already spoken:


    "What I just gave was a gift for your father''s Foundation Establishment, convey my congratulations to him for the success of his Foundation Establishment!"


    After saying that, he closed the formation again, and Lin Shiming could only leave helplessly.


    ...


    Having returned to the Qinglian Pool area, since Lin Houyuan was in seclusion, most of the family affairs were being handled by the Great Elder and the Fifth Elder. At this moment, they went to Lin Xianzhi.


    Both of them had worried expressions, especially Lin Yuzheng, the Elder responsible for the family''s business caravan, who bore the financial pressures of the entire family.


    "Shiming, you''ve come at the right time. You should listen to this too," Lin Xianzhi beckoned Lin Shiming over.


    Lin Shiming complied and went over.


    During their conversation, Lin Shiming came to understand the reason for the family''s current crisis.


    The Huang Family was no more, but the Li Family of the Purple Mansion Family had split off to form two branches, Qingyun Li Family and Huangyun Li Family.


    The former remained a Purple Mansion Family, naturally not targeting the Lin Family which was still at the Foundation Establishment level. However, the newly formed Huangyun Li Family was different; they started targeting the Lin Family directly through commercial routes.


    In Yunzhou''s largest marketplace, Qingyun Marketplace, they directly targeted the Lin Family''s alchemy rooms and Artifact Refining Pavilion, causing the Lin Family''s business to plummet.


    If it weren''t for the business of Monkey Wine and Lin Xianzhi''s senior brother Xie An maintaining several stores, the loss would have been even more dismal.


    And it must be noted, the stores operated to support Zi Xuan Hermit and Senior Brother Xie yielded the majority of profits to the latter.


    Given these circumstances, the Lin Family increased the clan''s stipend, and last year, they spent over a hundred thousand to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills; their finances had already started to go into deficit.


    A short-term deficit was bearable, but in the long term, it would definitely affect the development of the family.


    And if the clan''s stipend were to be reduced now, it would similarly affect the enthusiasm of the clan members.

 Chapter 66 A Fortuitous Invitation

    Inside the pavilion of the Qinglian Pool, Lin Shiming was also becoming anxious.


    This branch of the Li family''s suppression tactics was indeed ruthless, and unlike the situation with the Huang Family, Xie An could not step in to help now, and the reputation of the Zi Xuan Hermit was also of limited use.


    It should be known that the Li family also has a Purple Mansion cultivator, and their ties with the Qingxuan Sect run deep as well.


    If the Lin Family were to actively use the power of the Qingxuan Sect, the Li family would then have an excuse, and even if the Zi Xuan Hermit was powerful, there were still factions within the sect that were his opponents.


    Moreover, within the Qingxuan Sect, it was well known that the Zi Xuan Hermit was already over four hundred years old and not far off from the five-hundred-year lifespan limit of the Purple Mansion stage.


    "The family must think of new financial avenues, alchemy and artifact refining simply cannot compete with the Li family!" Lin Yuzheng said worriedly.


    After a long silence, Lin Xianzhi finally summarized and spoke up,


    "Let''s host Lin Houyuan''s Foundation Establishment event in the square market of Xing County, and hold an auction at the same time. We should extend an invitation to the fellow cultivators in Yunzhou. Since we cannot expand the Qingyun square market, we shall develop the Xing County market, which is close to the scattered cultivators of the Qingyun Mountain range!"


    "Also, Yuzheng, thereafter, the family will need to find a way to purchase Spirit Peach Trees and expand the production of Monkey Wine, striving to increase sales to Qingzhou!"


    Lin Yuzheng and Lin Yuqing both nodded in agreement; this seemed to be the best way forward.


    "Uncle Five, how is the market for Spirit Fish and other spiritual delicacies?" Lin Shiming suddenly asked.


    "The market for Spirit Fish is naturally very good, but the source of Spirit Fish and such delicacies is far too rare, even more so than the Spirit Beasts in Qingyun Mountains!" Lin Yuzheng, upon hearing Lin Shiming mention this, also looked somewhat puzzled.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming''s eyes suddenly lit up. With over twenty years in immortal cultivation, he naturally knew that Cultivator Families were proficient in raising Spirit Plants, but there was little thought given to the breeding of Spirit Beasts or Spirit Fish.


    After all, Spirit Beasts were too uncontrollable and were not of great value to warrant the effort of cultivation.


    "Shiming, do you mean to use Qinglian Pool for breeding Spirit Fish?" Lin Yuzheng, who had been in business for many years and was sensitive to financial matters involving Spirit Stones, instantly understood when Lin Shiming asked this question.


    And he thought that pairing Spirit Fish with Monkey Wine would indeed be an excellent match.


    "Right, and we don''t need to use Qinglian Pool directly. As the Green Lotus must be expanded, having them too densely packed will affect their growth. We can construct another Qinglian Lake, dilute Third Rank Spirit Water and pour it into the new Spirit Lake, dividing up the Green Lotus."


    ...


    A month later, a Spirit Talisman flew into Lin Shiming''s cave dwelling.


    Lin Shiming opened his eyes and took the Spirit Talisman into his hands.


    He saw that it was from his second elder brother, Lin Shiyi, who seemed very eager to meet with Lin Shiming.


    Without hesitation, Lin Shiming released the three Spirit Beasts, fed them one by one, and then left the mountaintop to head down to the mountainside.


    "Little Seventh, I''ve called you this time because there''s an opportunity available. I wonder if you''re willing to go!" said Lin Shiyi, as hearty as ever, with his cultivation visibly breaking through to the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation, his muscles looking even more robust.


    "Second Brother''s opportunity is something Shiming is of course willing to partake in. However, please explain the situation so Shiming can make adequate preparations," Lin Shiming said, holding a great fondness for Lin Shiyi, but he understood all too well that Lin Shiyi could be a bit rash.


    Opportunity always came with risks, and it was best to be prepared.


    "It was the Fourth Brother who discovered a valley with an Inferior Grade Second Rank Spirit Vein. Inside, there are plenty of Inferior and Intermediate Grade Spiritual Medicines, including the Bone-Tempering Flower needed for Body Cultivation. The danger lies in two Second Rank late-stage Sabretooth Tigers, one of which has just given birth to a cub!" Lin Shiyi revealed.


    The Bone-Tempering Flower is the main ingredient for the Superior Grade Second Rank Bone-Tempering Pill, which is extremely helpful for Body Cultivators in the late stages of Qi Cultivation.


    In the marketplace, it also holds significant value. A single Bone-Tempering Flower could sell for several hundred Spirit Stones.


    Thus, Lin Shiyi''s gaze was filled with intense eagerness.


    "We originally planned to invite Big Brother, but he has taken a Barrier-Breaking Pill and is attempting to break through to the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation. Considering Little Seventh, you have formidable combat power, we decided to include you," he added, further explaining.


    After listening, Lin Shiming nodded. A Second Rank late-stage Sabretooth Tiger along with a mother who has just given birth to a cub wouldn''t pose a significant problem for Lin Shiming and the others, who were all in the late stages of Qi Cultivation.


    He believed that with some assistance, he wouldn''t be much weaker than someone at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, and Lin Shiming regarded Lin Shimo''s abilities as fairly capable.


    "All right, but first, let''s stop by the Treasure Pavilion to pick up some Spirit Talismans!" Lin Shiming agreed but prudently went to exchange for Spirit Talismans.


    Of course, what he was thinking about even more at this moment was Lin Shimo. He could never quite understand this Fourth Brother who practiced the Corpse Training Decree.

 Chapter 67 Spiritual Bee

    In a certain part of Qingyun Mountain range, nestled a valley backed by the shady side of a mountain.


    The valley seemed very damp, perennially lacking sunlight, which made the trees unusually stunted.


    In the sky above, with three trails of sword light streaking across, three youths in green robes landed in front of the valley.


    The leading youth wore an indifferent expression, followed by two men, one robust and the other lean, indeed it was Lin Shiming and two others from Fangmu Mountain.


    In his family''s Treasure Pavilion, using a large amount of contribution points, Lin Shiming exchanged for two Third Rank Spirit Talismans and two Earth Escape Talismans, spending a total of thirty thousand contribution points. It turned out these were found in the relics left by the Huang Family.


    These two Third Rank Spirit Talismans might not be so powerful for Foundation Establishment cultivators, one storing an Inferior Grade Third Rank spell, the Ice Rain Technique, and the other an Inferior Grade Third Rank spell, the Fire Dragon Technique. But after all, they were Third Rank talismans, and among Qi Cultivators, they were definitely formidable weapons of great effectiveness.


    With two talismans at hand, and also possessing talisman treasures, as well as Lin Shiming''s excellent magic artifacts, he finally agreed to come to this secret valley with Lin Shiyi and Lin Shimo who were waiting outside the mountain.


    "Second brother, seventh brother, this is the place!" After saying this, Lin Shimo stopped talking and walked into the valley.


    Lin Shiming didn''t say much either. He''d known Lin Shimo''s temperament since they were young. Lin Shiyi, standing beside him, gave Lin Shiming a simple, sincere smile, seeming to try to dissipate the awkward atmosphere.


    But after speaking, he realized he wasn''t good at smoothing things over either.


    With an awkward laugh, he followed along.


    The group opted for exploration with a spirit beast and trained corpses. The trained corpses led the way, with a Sabretooth Tiger that had reached the peak of Second Rank Inferior Grade flying in the sky, and behind them a Red-haired Demon Monkey accompanied by Lin Shiyi, who practiced body cultivation.


    The monkey had grown more robust than before. The Profound Water Heavy Mountain that it used to need to hold with both hands could now be grasped in one, and in its other hand it carried a Profound Iron Rod weighing a thousand catties.


    Lin Shiming walked in the middle, fondling some seeds in his hand and continuously scanning the surroundings with his divine sense.


    It was very quiet inside the valley. The group walked for about three or four miles without encountering any spirit beasts or sounds.


    Lin Shiming extended his divine sense to the maximum range. This was not the time to conserve spiritual power.


    Finally, within a concealed thicket, a pitch-black, giant tiger lay silently in wait.


    The next moment, a roar bellowed out.


    With the two tigers dead, the three of them immediately cleaned up the battlefield, collected the bodies, and continued deeper into the valley.


    Lin Shiming did not lower his guard, although Lin Shiyi and Lin Shimo had said there were only two Sabretooth Tigers, being extra cautious was always error-free.


    Upon reaching the depths of the valley, the Spiritual Energy began to thicken; shortly after, they came across the Bone-Tempering Flowers that Lin Shiyi had mentioned.


    These Bone-Tempering Flowers were obviously guarded by the Sabretooth Tigers.


    Lin Shiyi grinned foolishly and looked towards Lin Shiming, as he was the only Spirit Plant Master and was also keen on transplanting a few to nurture in his own medicinal garden to increase their medicinal age and potency.


    If it were an ordinary Spiritual Medicine, he would have carelessly picked it and wouldn''t bother about preserving the rhizome, but the Bone-Tempering Flower was greatly beneficial for his Body Refinement.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming wouldn''t refuse. Taking out a Jade Box, he carefully harvested the Bone-Tempering Flowers with the unique nurturing technique of a Spirit Plant Master, along with the roots, and carefully placed them inside.


    In addition to the Bone-Tempering Flowers, Lin Shiming also collected various yin-natured Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Grasses.


    What surprised him, however, was that there were more flowers than grasses here, and as for Spirit Trees, he didn''t see any at all.


    "Let''s go catch that Sabretooth Tiger cub!" As soon as Lin Shiming had picked all the Spiritual Medicines and after scouting the surroundings, only the central cave had not been explored, Lin Shiyi suggested they head in.


    Lin Shiming nodded, and Lin Shimo showed agreement with his actions.


    The common walking corpse led the way while the blood corpse followed, and then they moved towards the inside of the cave.


    Deep inside the cave, the three of them indeed found a Sabretooth Tiger cub cowering in a corner, glaring fiercely at them, continuously growling and raging.


    But obviously powerless, the cub was quieted by Lin Shiming with a Shen Fu and put into a Spirit Beast Bag, to be distributed after the fight.


    It was at that moment that Lin Shiming''s system prompt sounded.


    "Climb up the cliff, and you shall harvest a swarm of Spirit Bees!"


    Hearing the prompt, Lin Shiming suddenly remembered those flowers and also recalled the peach blossoms that bloomed every year on Fangmu Mountain.


    This was a gift of workers for harvesting Spirit Honey right at his doorstep!

 Chapter 68: Chapter 68 You Can Kill Me

    Lin Shiming thought of the Spirit Bees and felt a surge of excitement within his heart, as their Ling Honey was even more important than all the Bone-Tempering Flowers and Demonic Beast cubs, for it could neutralize poison of a cultivator at the same rank.


    With Ling Honey, his cultivation speed would be able to reach a new level!


    Just as Lin Shiming was thinking about going out to find some, Lin Shimo suddenly spoke up. He stared at Lin Shiming with a face full of eagerness to fight.


    This was also the second sentence he had uttered on this trip.


    "Seventh brother, shall we have a sparring match?"


    As soon as Lin Shimo said this, Lin Shiyi''s expression also soured, although he had anticipated that Lin Shimo would challenge. After all, it was he who had invited Lin Shiming to help him obtain the Bone-Tempering Flowers.


    Lin Shiming wasn''t too surprised, as his second brother Lin Shiyi had previously warned him about this.


    Ever since he was young, this fourth brother of his had been fanatically devoted to cultivation, even more diligent than the eldest brother. To gain strength, he even resolutely switched to cultivating the Corpse Training Decree.


    He was supposed to be the second among this generation to be nurtured by the family, yet both Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao had surpassed him one after another. His heart must be filled with discontent, though he was adept at keeping it to himself.


    Lin Shiming was quite confident in his ability to defeat Lin Shimo, not just because of his cultivation technique and spiritual power, but also because his two demonic beasts could counter Lin Shimo''s corpse training.


    However, after considering for a moment, he didn''t engage in any pointless chatter and simply nodded in agreement.


    The two of them left the cave abode and found an open space.


    Lin Shimo did not speak, but gestured invitingly with his hand.


    Lin Shiming didn''t decline; being the one to make the first move, he immediately threw out several seeds, then released the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis one by one.


    To defeat a brother who pursued strength with strength was the best way to show respect.


    The appearance of the Golden Winged Mantis immediately caused Lin Shimo''s pupils to constrict, taken aback by the surprise.


    The Golden Winged Mantis, not seen for half a year, had advanced again and was now a late Second Rank Demonic Beast. Its swift advancement rendered Lin Shimo speechless.


    The mantis'' wings had grown longer, and its two golden scythe-like forelimbs shone brightly, clearly extremely sharp.


    If Lin Shimo offered a spar, of course he was prepared. Pressing his hand down, a flicker of Spirit Light revealed more than ten refined corpses, amongst which there were as many as three blood corpses, just like before.


    The sharp fangs of the refined corpses were terrifying, and the foul-smelling corpse fluid dripped continuously.


    "Go!" Lin Shiming commanded the Red-haired Demon Monkey to crush down like a small mountain, while his green Flying Sword, the Green Sky Sword, emitted a brilliant light and flew out, slashing directly towards the three large blood corpses.


    As the battle came to an end and both parties appeared uninjured, Lin Shiyi finally relaxed.


    "Little Seven, you are very strong, hardly inferior to big brother. I''m convinced, fourth brother!" Lin Shimo shook his head and said.


    Then, without waiting for Lin Shiming or Lin Shiyi to say anything, he looked into the void, as if reminiscing, and murmured,


    "Fourth brother has been an orphan since childhood, my life has been rougher than you all, but I am very grateful to the family for saving me, allowing me to embark on the path of immortal cultivation."


    "But I''m not content, I don''t want to fall just like this, I want eternal life, I want to go further!"


    "So, Little Seven, I''m sorry, I did indeed harbor some crooked thoughts in my heart! But I truly want to go... further!"


    Lin Shimo spoke candidly, his eyes brimming with guilt and longing.


    "When Uncle Thirty-Two died at the hands of a Demon Cultivator, I told myself that I must reach Foundation Establishment, so from that moment on, I switched to practicing the Corpse Training Decree, even if there was a chance of deviating into madness in the future, I had no other choice, I am just a normal Fourth Spirit Root!" Lin Shimo spoke again, and this time, both Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi were shocked.


    You have to know, the family''s records said that Lin Shimo was a Third Spirit Root, and Lin Shiming and the others had always believed Lin Shimo to be a Third Spirit Root as well.


    And indeed, Lin Shimo''s cultivation speed was indeed that of a normal Third Spirit Root.


    Lin Shiming wanted to speak, but found that at this moment, he had no words to say, as everyone''s path of immortal cultivation is different. Compared to Lin Shimo, his own path of cultivation was evidently much smoother.


    "Little Seven, when you guys go back, I won''t return. I have decided to join the Corpse Refining Sect of Yan Country, I want to establish my Foundation, I want the Purple Mansion!" Lin Shimo said these words while clenching his teeth, having made a great resolution.


    The family raised him, taught him, and helped him onto the path of immortal cultivation.


    Now, he was about to leave the family to seek his own path.


    To put it unpleasantly, he was being an ingrate.


    But he had no other choice.


    Lin Shiming looked at him with a calm expression. Leaving the family was naturally a big taboo in a Cultivator Family, something they have been taught since childhood, but he truly did not know how to persuade him.


    Everyone has their own path of immortal cultivation, and he could not force others.


    However, Lin Shiyi was utterly baffled, saying to him, "Fourth brother, how can you leave the family? The family can help you establish your Foundation too!"


    "Second brother, thank you, but my mind is made up!" Lin Shimo shook his head, looking apologetically at Lin Shiyi.


    Among the members of the Lin family of his generation, Lin Shimo was closest to Lin Shiyi and Lin Shijie.


    "Or, you could kill me!"

 Chapter 69 The Remnants of the Huang Family

    In a certain valley of the Qingyun Mountain Range, silence prevailed at this moment.


    Lin Shiyi gazed at Lin Shiming, who had closed his eyes, filled with confusion.


    "Fourth brother, even if you choose to leave, we wouldn''t kill you. You can return to the family after achieving Foundation Establishment," he said.


    Lin Shiming did not answer, nor did he open his eyes.


    Lin Shiming knew that Lin Shiming''s words were addressed to him, as he was almost certain to be the next Family Head.


    He considered himself not to be soft-hearted, yet he couldn''t bring himself to act against his own brothers.


    He knew that Lin Shiming believed he couldn''t get a Foundation Establishment Pill before the age of sixty, not with him, Lin Shijie, and Lin Shitao around. Even if the family obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill every ten years, it wouldn''t be his turn.


    Though Lin Shiming was not pleased with Lin Shiming''s decision, it truly was Lin Shiming''s only option for Foundation Establishment.


    Joining a Sect would at least provide many more opportunities to acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    "Fourth brother is being too serious," Lin Shiming finally spoke after a long silence, then he continued,


    "I implore fourth brother to make a Heavenly Dao oath not to reveal the slightest bit about the Lin Family!"


    Lin Shiming did not mention the family had a Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree, a formula for Foundation Establishment Pills, and even a Third Rank Alchemist.


    Lin Shiming had chosen a path completely opposite to that of Fifth Uncle Lin Houyong; therefore, the consequences should be different.


    Once you choose the wrong path, there''s no turning back.


    Otherwise, it would be too unfair to those cultivators who are devoted to the family.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming made no move to attack, Lin Shiming immediately took the Heavenly Dao oath.


    "Fourth brother, hand over the Family Token to me," Lin Shiming requested, taking Lin Shiming''s Family Token back.


    The Lin Family did not have a Spirit Clan genealogy or a Soul Slip to determine the life and death of their members. They only had the Family Token. If the Family Token was destroyed or went long without spiritual energy infusion, it represented the death of a family member.


    "Alright, fourth brother!" Lin Shiming said as he cut the Family Token in half with his sword.


    "Little Seventh, how far can you project your Divine Sense?" Lin Shiyi, also somewhat excited, couldn''t help but admire and became curious about the range of Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense, as getting to the valley, let alone the Sabretooth Tiger''s cave, was not close by any means.


    "Not very far, my Golden Luan Eagle just happened to see it!" Lin Shiming directly blamed it on the Golden Luan Eagle, then, riding his sword, flew towards the cliff.


    Lin Shiyi followed suit, and soon the two of them reached the mountaintop.


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming and his companion, the spirit bees immediately entered a state of alert, circling in the air to signal each other.


    In the blink of an eye, even more spirit bees arrived.


    At that moment, Lin Shiming finally spotted the Seeker Bees'' hive on a barren tree branch.


    All the spirit bees swarmed towards Lin Shiming, attacking en masse, with their aggression escalating markedly when a queen, evidently larger than the others, appeared.


    But then, Lin Shiming took out the Five Elements Flag, and a barrage of water spheres surged forth, scattering the Seeker Bees in disarray. A final freezing spell directly encased the queen in ice.


    The Seeker Bee queen, being merely mid Second Rank, could not withstand the attack of the Supreme Grade magic artifact, the Five Elements Flag.


    Lin Shiming took out the Spirit Beast Bag and first captured the queen inside it, then proceeded to collect the other Seeker Bees one by one.


    Lin Shiming checked them with great care, as every single bee was precious to him.


    There were roughly three hundred ninety-two bees in total. Sadly, eight died unintentionally during the capture process; otherwise, the number would have been exactly four hundred.


    Compared with ordinary swarms that could number in the tens of thousands, this count of spirit bees seemed very small. But the number of these Seeker Bees was actually quite considerable.


    Lin Shiming rose on his sword, retrieved the hive the size of a grindstone from the tree branch, which still contained many bee larvae as well as about three to four jin of spirit honey.


    After securing the bee larvae, Lin Shiming carefully picked all the spirit flowers, thinking that whether he sold them or transplanted them to Fangmu Mountain for his own bees to harvest, it was a good choice either way.


    "Second brother, let''s head back. We need to report the remnants of the Huang Family to Uncle Ancestor Seven and the elders!" Lin Shiming was the first to suggest.


    Lin Shiyi naturally had no objections. His primary goal of obtaining the Bone-Tempering Flower had been achieved, and before reaching the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, he reckoned he wouldn''t need to search for body refinement spiritual medicine.


    As for the spirit vein here, Lin Shiming took out a small Spirit Concealing Formation flag, concealing the Second Rank Inferior Grade spirit vein, waiting for a good opportunity for their fifth uncle, Lin Houyong, to relocate it.


    Although a Second Rank Inferior Grade spirit vein would not impact Fangmu Mountain too significantly, transplanting it to the sub-peaks surrounding Fangmu Mountain could indeed expand the Lin Family''s medicinal garden.

 Chapter 70 : 70: Spiritual Honey

    ```


    Council Hall, Lin Houyuan stood atop the main hall, with the Great Elder Lin Yuqing, Fifth Elder Lin Yuzheng, and Sixth Elder Lin Houyong all present.


    The few initially congratulated Lin Houyuan, then turned their solemn gaze towards Lin Shiming.


    The news brought by Lin Shiming was of great importance. If the remnants of the Huang Family truly hid within the Qian Family, there would be much for the Lin Family to consider.


    The Qian Family, like the Lin Family and Huang Family, was a Foundation Establishment family clan, and was even older than the Lin Family, holding a significant relationship with the Qingxuan Sect. Huang''s remnants hiding in Hetian County were akin to cultivators taking refuge in Xing County, under the Lin Family''s protection.


    It would be difficult for outsiders to enter, and the members of the Lin Family were still unaware whether their opportunity had been shared with the Qian Family.


    If the Qian Family was already informed and had preemptively notified the Qingxuan Sect, the Lin Family would need to decide on a course of action.


    "Fifth Uncle, dispatch someone to hire a Loose Cultivator to investigate in Hetian County. Verify whether the information is true!" Lin Houyuan began to instruct one by one.


    "Understood, Family Head!" Lin Yuzheng responded affirmatively.


    Subsequently, Lin Houyuan then turned to Lin Houyong and said:


    "Fifth Brother, you''re a Spirit-Seeking Master; I must trouble you to transplant the Second Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein back here. Also, this is my insight into Foundation Establishment. Although it may not be as good as Seventh Great-Uncle''s, I believe you will find it useful!"


    Upon seeing the Jade Slip, Lin Houyong''s face was immediately filled with joy. Lin Shiming had already mentioned to him that the family had the prospect of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill within two years. Now, with the insight into Foundation Establishment, his confidence grew a further threefold.


    "Yes, thank you, Family Head!"


    With Lin Houyong stepping down, Lin Houyuan turned his attention to Lin Shiming:


    "Shiming, you did well this time. However, as for Shimo''s funeral arrangements, you handle them!"


    Lin Shiming had already discussed with Lin Shiyi, agreeing to unify their story to say that Lin Shimo met with an accident.


    "Yes!" Lin Shiming replied.


    Regarding Lin Shimo, there really were no direct relatives in the Lin Family, but Lin Shiming would record the mortal family of Lin Shimo. If someone from the mortal family displayed a Spirit Root, they could inherit Lin Shimo''s Contribution Points within the Lin Family.


    After handling the affairs, Lin Shiming left the Council Hall and returned to his cave dwelling near the Qinglian Pool, taking out the Spirit Beast Bag.


    He prepared the necessary Spirit Water and Spirit Patterns for the Blood Covenant.


    The Queen Bee was still encased in the ice spell, its spirit significantly weaker than before, its entire head drooping, a far cry from the ferocious queen that dominated the valley.


    Thinking of this, he understood why disciples of The Great Sects sometimes establish their Foundation at the age of twenty or thirty, and why it seems easier for major families with Purple Mansion or Golden Core members.


    Clearly, those direct disciples of The Great Sects have had access to resources beyond his imagination since childhood. Establishing Foundation at thirty, even twenty, means an incredibly long remaining lifespan. Even those with lesser aptitude could advance in the four arts of cultivation given such an extended period.


    And for those with stronger aptitudes, stepping onto the powerful cultivation arts of The Great Sects, they grew even stronger. The strong get stronger!


    How could such sects not prosper?


    Lin Shiming pondered deeply in his heart and also began to focus on cultivation.


    By nature, he was a cultivator who practiced diligently and had a great sense of urgency about achieving Foundation Establishment. Without dual spirit roots, no one could be arrogant enough to be certain of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.


    After all, there is also the possibility of failure when taking Foundation Establishment Pills, so Lin Shiming always set a goal for himself to reach the ninth level of Qi Cultivation before the age of forty, to have two opportunities for Foundation Establishment. Even if he failed once, he could try again.


    Besides, the family was also in crisis at this moment.


    Spring went and autumn came, and another half-year of arduous cultivation passed.


    Next to the Qinglian Pool, there stood a giant branch filled with clusters, and on these branches, a huge beehive.


    Around the beehive, countless spiritual bees buzzed incessantly.


    At this moment, the tightly closed cave dwelling finally opened, and a young cultivator walked out at a leisurely pace.


    It was Lin Shiming, half a year later, whose spiritual power was still at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation and had not broken through to the eighth level.


    The spirit honey was used up, the spirit pills were gone, and even the Spirit Water was in short supply.


    However, a large amount of Green Spirit Pills coupled with the effects of spirit honey were indeed very good. In less than a year, Lin Shiming progressed from the early seventh level of Qi Cultivation to the later stage.


    This half year of arduous cultivation was equivalent to the progress of five or six years'' practice.


    If it weren''t for running out of spirit honey, he would even continue cultivating to break through to the eighth level of Qi Cultivation.


    Lin Shiming approached the beehive to inspect it and found that in half a year, there was only half a catty of spirit honey inside the beehive, which disappointed him. There were already four hundred spirit bees, but their production for half a year was so little.


    It should be noted that Fangmu Mountain had Spirit Peach Trees, Green Lotus, and an abundance of spiritual flowers.


    Of course, he also understood that spiritual bees needed spirit honey as food as well.


    "Father''s Foundation Establishment competition must be coming up," Lin Shiming muttered to himself, and then he flew towards Treasure Pavilion.

 Chapter 71 : 71 Preparations for the Conference

    Fangmu Mountain, Treasure Pavilion.


    Compared to before, the number of people at the Treasure Pavilion had diminished considerably, obviously due to the Foundation Establishment conference, as many from the Lin Family had gone to Xing County to visit the market.


    However, the decoration of the Treasure Pavilion seemed to have been adjusted, appearing even more grand and imposing than before.


    Of course, the formations had also become more complicated.


    It was clear that Second Uncle had once again improved and heightened the formations at the Treasure Pavilion.


    The person in charge of guarding the pavilion had been replaced by another Lin of the younger generation, Lin Houyou, the 28th uncle, who was also an array master, albeit an intermediate grade of the second rank, still some way behind Second Uncle, Lin Houshou, in terms of skill.


    Lin Shiming went as usual to collect his stipend, and at the same time, checked to see if there were any good treasures in the Treasure Pavilion.


    Having established several merits before, Lin Shiming still had seven or eight thousand contribution points at this time.


    However, after looking around, he noticed that the magical materials and treasures were considerably fewer, and the second rank superior grade Heavenly Heart Wood he was interested in was also not there.


    As for exchanging for a supreme grade magic artifact, there was no necessity for that either.


    In the end, Lin Shiming did not exchange for any treasures; instead, he exchanged for three thousand spirit stones.


    "Shiming, you could go take a look at the family''s auction in Xing County. There are still many treasures to be had. While the auction has yet to start, perhaps you could intercept some gains beforehand," Lin Houyou saw Lin Shiming''s disappointment and couldn''t help but suggest.


    Lin Shiming nodded his head, took his leave from Lin Houyou, and flew towards Xing County on his flying sword.


    The Xing County Square Market was located deep within a bamboo forest nestled between two small mountains, renowned for the toughness of its bamboo, also known as iron bamboo.


    The iron bamboo leaves were extremely dense, the branches upright and tall, and from a distance, they added a sense of quiet and mysterious charm to the market.


    The bamboo forest''s formation, usually tightly closed, was now wide open, and many Qi Cultivators and loose cultivators were walking along the bamboo path towards the depth of the forest.


    Lin Shiming also descended from his flying sword and headed towards the Xing County Square Market.


    He quickly found forty to fifty houses deep within the bamboo forest, ten of which had been newly constructed for the Foundation Establishment conference.


    It should be known that the original Xing County Square Market used to be merely a Qi Cultivator market without the presence of Foundation Establishment cultivators to oversee it, which made many artifact refiners and alchemy masters among the loose cultivators reluctant to come, fearing they might encounter evil cultivators who would forcefully claim the market.


    The other elders were also surprised, particularly Lin Yutie, as he had recently crafted a Third Rank Flying Sword and was indeed the Third Rank Artifact Refiner of the Lin Family.


    However, for a Qi Cultivator to produce a Third Rank Magic Artifact was nothing short of shocking and scandalous. If word got out, it would be like dropping the Lin Family into a pit of fire.


    At this moment, Lin Houyuan also looked puzzledly at his son.


    Lin Shiming did not speak hastily; instead, he looked towards the patriarch and then around him.


    "Don''t worry, a Third Rank Soundproofing Formation has been set up, and with the Seventh Great-Uncle present, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would not be able to eavesdrop!" The Eighth Elder Lin Houshou answered Lin Shiming.


    Lin Xianzhi also nodded at Lin Shiming, encouraging him to continue.


    "Reporting to Seventh Great-Uncle, auctioning the Third Rank Magic Artifact serves two purposes. First, Shiming believes that a big reason why Xing County Square Market is less popular than Qingyun Square Market is the absence of Foundation Establishment cultivators and Third Rank Magic Artifacts.


    A place without Third Rank Magic Artifacts naturally won''t attract Loose Cultivators seeking high cost-effectiveness Intermediate Grade Magic Artifacts. Additionally, if we want the market to grow and attract Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators as buyers, the profit in Spirit Stones would naturally be far more significant."


    "Second, the Third Rank Magic Artifact would naturally be sold in my father''s name, and if people from the Qian Family show up, we can probe and see if they have found out the secret of the Huang Family!"


    This point was the most crucial. After Lin Shiming finished speaking, all the elders fell into deep thought.


    They soon all started to agree.


    Indeed, the reason the Lin Family was treading on thin ice was the secret of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion. If this matter were leaked, the Lin Family would have nothing left to rely on, and even the Qingxuan Sect would demand accountability from the Lin Family.


    Using the Formation Artifact Manual to probe was indeed the best move at this moment.


    Moreover, Lin Houyuan''s breakthrough in Foundation Establishment and his previous status as an Intermediate Grade, Second Rank Artifact Refiner meant that it wouldn''t be an issue for him to temporarily take on the role of a Third Rank Artifact Refiner.


    "Good. We''ll do as Shiming has suggested!" Lin Xianzhi finally made the decision with a firm strike of his hand.


    After the meeting, the Fourth Elder Lin Yutie and the Fifth Elder Lin Yuzheng took charge of arranging the auction, the Sixth Elder Lin Houyong was responsible for receiving the various Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the Seventh Elder Lin Houyong took care of the family celebration and preaching arrangements.


    The Eighth Elder Lin Houshou was in charge of security in the square market and checking the normal operation of the various formations.


    Lin Shiming then approached the Fifth Elder Lin Yuzheng to see if there were any items suitable for him.


    Particularly, he was interested in the precious heart of Heavenly Wood. Having experienced the benefits of the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique, Lin Shiming now greatly desired a higher grade of Heavenly Wood''s heart.

 Chapter 72 Reunion with an Old Friend

    After the event, Lin Shiming followed Lin Yuzheng to a private room. There was a table in the room, where several people of the Shi generation were busy arranging some Spirit Fruits.


    During the auction, they planned to emulate the auction in Qingxuan City: Foundation Establishment families would each be presented with some Second Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Fruits, while Qi Cultivation families and Loose Cultivators would be offered some First Rank Spirit Fruits infused with a portion of Spiritual Energy.


    Next to the two Cultivators, another Daoist of the Hou generation was meticulously organizing the treasures for the auction, with a serious expression on his face.


    "Hou Yuan, give me the estimated list of auction items, along with the alternative selections!" Lin Yuzheng said to a slightly plump Cultivator.


    He then received two Jade Slips from the latter.


    One of these Jade Slips contained the introduction and list of the primary auction items, while the other contained the introduction and list of the secondary auction items.


    Lin Yuzheng handed both to Lin Shiming for his review.


    These treasures had actually been inspected by all the Elders. If they encountered items they needed, they would communicate with the family and the owner of the auction items.


    Sometimes, with a high enough offer, they could secure the items in advance, so no one found this strange.


    "Thank you, Great Uncle Wu!" After thanking him, Lin Shiming also took the Jade Slips with both hands and began to examine them, and soon his eyes landed on a Second Rank Superior Grade Heart of Heavenly Wood.


    What delighted Lin Shiming even more was that this Heart of Heavenly Wood also possessed Spirit Intelligence, from a wooden demon.


    In this world, there were Spirit Beasts, and naturally, there were also wooden demons that had developed Spirit Intelligence by chance. These demons could also absorb and refine Spiritual Energy for cultivation.


    Compared to Spirit Beasts, wooden demons were even rarer, and it was said that the hearts of wooden demons with Spirit Intelligence could be used to enhance the grade of Spirit Plants.


    This made the hearts of wooden demons with Spirit Intelligence even more valuable. For example, the Lin Family could use one to attempt to upgrade a Second Rank Intermediate Grade or a Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Peach Tree.


    Of course, there was a possibility of failure in the upgrade, but the rarity of a wooden demon''s heart was evident.


    However, in the world of cultivation, encountering a wooden demon, most wouldn''t kill it in its prime to harvest its heart, but would instead utilize it, helping the demon increase its grade, at the very least to the Third Rank.


    A heart of a Second Rank Superior Grade wooden demon was considered quite rare.


    The Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique also mentioned that a Spirit Seed of Heavenly Wood with Spirit Intelligence could even aid Cultivators in their cultivation, able to autonomously refine Spiritual Energy.


    And one should know that the heart of a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Purple Cloak Wood could already triple his storage of Spiritual Energy.


    Swith the Second Rank Superior Grade, at the very least, it could improve by another one or two times.


    The next morning, Lin Shiming found his thirtieth uncle, Lin Houyuan, and followed the latter to the largest shop in Xing County Square Market, the Lin Family''s commercial enterprise.


    The two waited in a private room for a long time. During this period, many cultivators holding treasures, all eager to have their items auctioned, delivered them to the Lin Family.


    Finally, around noon, a middle-aged cultivator with a spirit-sealing face veil walked in.


    As soon as the cultivator entered, Lin Houyuan stood up to greet him:


    "Daoist Wu, you have finally arrived."


    "Wu is but a rough Loose Cultivator, unworthy of Deacon Lin''s warm reception," the middle-aged man said, clearly skeptical of Lin Houyuan''s enthusiasm.


    Lin Shiming, however, felt an intense sense of familiarity with the middle-aged man before him.


    And when the middle-aged cultivator caught Lin Shiming sizing him up, his body visibly tensed.


    He clearly recognized Lin Shiming, a subtle movement that the fully attentive Lin Shiming naturally noticed.


    Eventually, his gaze lingered on the middle-aged cultivator''s hand, which kept touching the wrist area.


    Lin Shiming finally remembered: this man was the middle-aged cultivator from Qingxuan City who had sold him the Beast Nurturing Pill recipe.


    What Lin Shiming found unbelievable, however, was that this man no longer wore a Storage Bracelet and his cultivation level had changed to the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation.


    But his subconscious habit of touching the Storage Bracelet was caught by Lin Shiming.


    And that tremor served as the best evidence.


    "Daoist Wu, allow me to introduce myself, Lin Shiming of the Lin Family. You remember me, don''t you?" Lin Shiming smiled faintly. Back in Qingxuan City, he had worn the Lin Family''s clan attire, so naturally there was no need to hide his identity now.


    Learning that this man was the same cultivator who had sold him the pill recipe only boosted Lin Shiming''s confidence,


    and lent a plausible explanation for the heart of the Heavenly Wood¡ªthe people from the Spirit Beast Sect raising a wooden demon was quite normal.


    But it also indicated another issue: the disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect that this Daoist Wu had killed was probably not ordinary.


    "Daoist Lin seems unfamiliar to me. I am not sure what you mean," the man who went by Daoist Wu continued to feign ignorance, seemingly gambling that Lin Shiming was trying to deceive him.


    Even if Lin Shiming held some deceit in his tactic, piecing together the heart of the Heavenly Wood and the butcher shop owner, he had already confirmed his suspicion!

 Chapter 73 Normal, Im also up

    "Martial Brother Wu, there''s no need to be so tense," Lin Shiming said as he saw the middle-aged man before him visibly becoming anxious. "I mean no ill will, I simply wish to inquire if you would be willing to part with your Heavenly Wood Heart. The reduced rent for the shop we from the Lin Family offered still stands."


    "What price are you offering?" The voice of Martial Brother Wu carried a discernible hint of annoyance. Last time, Lin Shiming had used the dubious origin of the Beast Rearing Art to force down the price of the elixir formula by a great deal, so naturally, he harbored no good feelings toward Lin Shiming.


    Besides, this time, he was very likely to get his price undercut again!


    "How about 4,000 Spirit Stones?"


    "You must be joking with that price, Martial Brother. Even an ordinary Heavenly Wood Heart can fetch two to three thousand Spirit Stones." After saying so, the middle-aged cultivator turned and walked away, seemingly not even interested in attending the auction anymore.


    "I''ll throw in an extra half catty of Spirit Honey! Won''t you reconsider, Martial Brother?" Lin Shiming called out again.


    This time, the middle-aged cultivator finally stopped, turned around to look at Lin Shiming, and sized up his cultivation level, discovering that the latter had indeed ascended from the initial sixth level to the Qi Cultivation seventh level in the span of three years.


    "It must be a full catty of Spirit Honey," the middle-aged cultivator said.


    The price of half a catty of Spirit Honey was roughly five to six hundred Spirit Stones, but due to its rarity, it was also common for half a catty to be worth over a thousand Spirit Stones.


    "Only half a catty," Lin Shiming shook his head.


    "Then add another thousand Spirit Stones!" Martial Brother Wu continued to speak.


    Lin Shiming didn''t answer but simply stared at Martial Brother Wu; then, he spoke.


    "Do you really wish to put this Heavenly Wood Heart up for auction, Martial Brother Wu? Yunzhou isn''t too big, nor too small, but news of a Heavenly Wood Heart from a Second Rank Wood Demon will certainly travel far."


    Lin Shiming emphasized the words "Second Rank" heavily.


    Upon hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator, who clearly hadn''t considered this before, thought back and suddenly glared fiercely at Lin Shiming.


    If he had been uncertain in Qingxuan City whether Lin Shiming had caught onto something, now he was completely certain that Lin Shiming had guessed the rough origins of his treasures.


    "Fine! But I would hope that Martial Brother Lin could keep the identity of the seller confidential. Should I have other treasures in the future, I will also consider the Lin Family," the cultivator agreed, not insisting any further on negotiating.


    Lin Shiming readily agreed as well, for the Elixir recipe he had obtained was to remain a secret, so naturally, he wouldn''t reveal it. On the contrary, he was wary of Martial Brother Wu.


    After taking out the Spirit Stones and half a catty of Spirit Honey for inspection by Mister Wu, Lin Shiming watched as he produced a Jade Box.


    A Spirit Talisman was also affixed to the box.


    "Inspect it yourself, Martial Brother. Once the transaction is complete, I will not accept any returns," Mister Wu stated.


    Lin Shiming took the Jade Box, carefully removed the Spirit Talisman, and opened the lid to reveal a Radiant Heart of Red Wood, carrying a persistent aura belonging to a Wood Demon.


    A day passed, and the Foundation Establishment Conference began as scheduled.


    Red lanterns were everywhere in Xing County Square Market, with the liveliest place being the square in front of the Lin family''s shops, where large red tables, except for the central area, were already full.


    It was also the time for the Foundation Establishment families to arrive.


    "The Ling Family of Beihe wishes the Lin Family''s new Foundation Establishment disciple success. May Daoist Lin soar up to the Purple Mansion, auspiciously presenting a hundred-year-old, Third Rank Purple Cloud Mushroom!"


    "The Tian Qian Family presents its wishes to the Lin Family''s new Foundation Establishment disciple. May Daoist Lin''s fame spread far and wide, offering a bottle of Third Rank Consolidation Pills!"


    ...


    As various Foundation Establishment families from Yunzhou came to congratulate, the Lin Family also specially arranged cultivators to cheer and receive gifts from the visiting families.


    Auspicious clouds continuously appeared in the sky, with stronger families bringing more clouds.


    At that moment, nine auspicious clouds floated by.


    "Qingxuan Sect''s Xie An, on behalf of the Qingxuan Sect, presents a gift to Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivator! Specially offering a Third Rank, Intermediate Grade Magic Artifact, a Thunderclap Spear!"


    With the arrival of Xie An, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, the atmosphere reached its climax.


    Lin Houyuan joined Lin Xianzhi in inviting Xie An to the main seat at the main table.


    After the Foundation Establishment families had cheered, it was time for the Qi Cultivation families and loose cultivators to offer their congratulations.


    "Qi Cultivation Family, the Xu Family, presents a hundred-year-old Second Rank ginseng!"


    "Loose Cultivator Chen Ping''an presents a hundred-year-old Fire Cloud Fruit!"


    ...


    Unlike the Foundation Establishment families, the Qi Cultivation families and loose cultivators'' congratulations did not bring auspicious clouds, and hence, Lin Family''s Qi Cultivators were responsible for guiding them to their seats.


    After everyone had finished cheering, Lin Houyuan raised his glass and began to toast all the guests at the VIP seats.


    But just then, dark clouds began to drift in the sky.


    Suddenly, several cultivators descended from the dark clouds.


    "The cultivators from the Huang Yun Li Family have come uninvited to seek a few cups of Spiritual Wine, and also to present a Second Rank Spirit Water as a gift."


    ```

 Chapter 74 Contest of Spells and Debate on the Dao

    With the arrival of the cultivators from the Li Family of Huangyun Mountain, the atmosphere instantly went from one of complete joy among the guests to utter silence.


    Even though it was the Li Family from Huangyun, what difference did it have with the Qingyun Li Family of the Purple Mansion Family?


    The faces of Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan of the Lin Family were extremely ugly, as they naturally would not invite a branch of the Li Family that was oppressive towards them.


    Yet the uninvited had come on their own accord.


    Moreover, they arrived on a black cloud, bringing Second Rank Spirit Water!


    This was a direct slap in the face of the Lin Family, as well as pressure on all the loose cultivators, Qi Cultivation families, and slightly weaker Foundation Establishment families not to side with the Lin Family.


    If the Lin Family backed down now, they might leave an impression of weakness and incompetence to the other families.


    The move at the Xing County Square Market was pretty much ruined.


    And if they were to react too aggressively, let alone facing the Qingyun Li Family, even facing this Huangyun branch in front of them, they were significantly outclassed.


    The Li Family cultivators who showed up had not only a late-stage Foundation Establishment, but also two at the early stage and five late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    The gaze of Lin Xianzhi was terribly unsightly, and Lin Houyuan''s was even worse.


    It was at this moment that Lin Shiming took the initiative to speak:


    "May I ask the Li Family friend, arriving on black clouds, have you changed your name to the Black Cloud Li Family, or does the Li Family now bear the sign of black clouds?"


    "Teacher Brother Xie An from Qingxuan Sect had come to present a gift, bringing a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifact; the Li Family has brought Second Rank Spirit Water. May I also inquire if you are instructing Teacher Brother Xie in what he should do?"


    Lin Shiming''s words were piercing, aimed directly at the Li Family cultivators.


    It caused all the Li Family cultivators to look extremely ugly, being lectured by a young Qi Cultivation whippersnapper¡ªhow could they stand it? They were about to get angry.


    But then they heard Lin Houyuan''s face regain its calm as he slowly spoke:


    "It turns out to be friends from the Li Family, distant guests are nonetheless guests, and naturally, everyone can sit down and have a drink!"


    "As for the nonsense spouted by my inexperienced son, with your kind disposition and demeanor, there''s no need to take it to heart."


    The words of Lin Houyuan and his son were clear to the discerning listener, polite on the surface but actually a veiled insult to the Li Family cultivators.


    However, the leader of the Li Family, Li Chengli, cast a deep glance at Xie An and did not choose to continue the confrontation. Pretending to not understand, he found a table among the Foundation Establishment families and sat down with ease.


    The celebration''s minor disruption had completely killed the mood, and after an hour, the banquet ended.


    This move from the Li Family was an outright stratagem.


    And the Lin Family simply couldn''t refuse.


    Even with Xie An present.


    The atmosphere suddenly became tense.


    "My father has just broken through to Foundation Establishment less than a year ago, and his foundation is not yet stable. If we are to have a debate, why not let us have a match at the level of Qi Cultivation? If your Li Family cannot even defeat a young cultivator from the Shiming generation like me, there would be no point in proceeding!"


    Just then, Lin Shiming stood up.


    Before making this statement, Lin Shiming had naturally sized up the cultivators from the Li Family. Perhaps because their original target was his father, there were no cultivators at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation among those who had come.


    Instead, there were several junior cultivators from the Li Family, with the highest amongst them only at the late Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation, and two others at the same level as him, still at the Seventh Level.


    Upon hearing this, Li Chengli''s eyes turned displeased as he looked at Lin Shiming.


    Knowing that Lin Shiming was so confident, he was aware there might be a problem ahead; after all, this was a named disciple of the Zi Xuan Hermit and it was normal for him to have some tricks up his sleeve.


    But if the Lin Family thought they could use their tricks to retaliate against the Li Family,


    Then they would be gravely mistaken. Although they hadn''t brought any elite Qi Cultivation practitioners this time, the Li Family, being of the Purple Mansion Family, had several junior cultivators who were all quite capable and fully armed.


    "Li Yuhe, why don''t you spar with the young friend from the Lin Family? Just remember to go easy; not all cultivators are elites from the Li Family," Li Chengli waved for a Qi Cultivation Eighth Level cultivator to step forward.


    This move naturally made many people internally curse Li Chengli for being despicable.


    Xie An couldn''t stand it anymore, spoke up with a displeased face, and said,


    "Li Dao friend, you are sending in Li Yuhe, yet he is at the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation."


    By not taking the Lin Family seriously, Li Chengli was in fact, also disregarding Xie An, particularly as Li Chengli''s crackdown on the Lin Family in the Qingyun Square Market had also resulted in greatly reduced profits for Xie An.


    "Oh, I didn''t notice that this young friend was of a certain age and still at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation; my eyes are indeed failing!" Li Chengli suddenly burst into boisterous laughter, then turned to gaze at another youth.


    "Li Yucheng, you go. You both are at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation, and both from Foundation Establishment families. If you can''t control your strength and accidentally injure him, it won''t be a problem," he said.


    Li Chengli''s blatant instruction for Li Yucheng to strike harshly at Lin Shiming immediately had everyone secretly scolding the old man for his shamelessness.


    But at this moment, the pressure completely shifted to Lin Shiming.

 Chapter 75 The Prize

    On the field, Lin Shiming watched as the fair-faced Li Yucheng calmly stepped forward, his heart growing even more cautious.


    He didn''t believe that Li Yucheng was a reluctant choice for Li Chengli; on the contrary, he felt that Li Yucheng exuded even more pressure than Li Yuhe, as if everything was premeditated.


    Lin Houyuan, who was on the stage, originally wanted to speak up to stop Lin Shiming; naturally, he didn''t agree with letting his own son replace him in taking risks.


    Even though he understood that Lin Shiming was far more excellent and outstanding than he had imagined.


    Just like he had said before, even if the sky were to fall, it wasn''t yet time for Lin Shiming to shoulder the burden.


    However, at this moment, Lin Xianzhi glanced at Lin Houyuan and directly stymied any response the latter might have had, speaking up first:


    "This is acceptable, but merely discussing the way is dull, why not add a little wager?"


    Lin Xianzhi understood that Lin Shiming''s strength was definitely beyond that of an average Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, not to mention with the help of a Golden Winged Mantis and a Red-haired Demon Monkey, his odds of winning were far greater than Lin Houyuan who had not yet consolidated any foundation.


    Also, based on his understanding of Lin Shiming, the latter wouldn''t make unfounded claims or act without preparation.


    He even held a bit of anticipation for Lin Shiming to create a sensation here, bringing out the momentum of the Lin Family.


    "A wager?" Li Chengli seemed to have misheard, thinking to himself, at such a time, Lin Xianzhi still couldn''t see the situation clearly¡ªcould it be that he still considered the Li Family as if they were here to offer treasures?


    One should know that Li Yucheng was a Dual Spirit Root Cultivator, ranked within the top three for cultivation in the Li Family, equipped with Supreme Grade magic artifacts and protected by Spirit Talismans; not to mention a Qi Cultivation Seventh Level, even an ordinary Qi Cultivation Ninth Level would be no match for him.


    "What sort of wager can your Lin Family afford?" Li Chengli retorted.


    "A Third Rank Demonic Beast Inner Core!" Lin Xianzhi, taking the lead, produced a Jade Box.


    As soon as the Jade Box was opened, a Demon Core full of Spirit Light and brimming with spiritual energy could be seen within, accompanied by faint tiger roars.


    "A late Third Rank Jade Spirit Tiger''s inner core, fair enough. In that case, my Li Family will stake a Third Rank Superior Grade defensive magic artifact, the Twin Dragons Jade!" Li Chengli, upon seeing the Demonic Beast Inner Core, couldn''t help but feel elated.


    Normally, Demonic Beasts only produced inner cores once they reached the Golden Core Stage at Fifth Rank, but some Demonic Beasts, blessed with extraordinary fortune, could produce inner cores at the Fourth or even Third Rank.


    The effects of these inner cores were immense; not only could they be used to assist Demonic Beasts in advancing, but they could also be used for Alchemy, with some high-level alchemy recipes essentially requiring Demonic Beast Inner Cores.


    Seeing the swarm of black beetles turning into a cloud and rushing over, Lin Shiming promptly employed the Five Elements Tower and released an ice-freezing spell directly at the beetle cloud.


    The black beetle cloud was indeed frozen, but what was frightening was that these black beetles continued to ferociously gnaw on the ice, quickly breaking through the icy layer and continuing to fly out.


    Lin Shiming then released a flame attack, finally causing some damage to the beetles, but their numbers were simply too great, and killing a few didn''t make much difference.


    Without further hesitation, Lin Shiming threw out countless Wood Vine Technique seeds, imbued with spiritual energy for catalysis; the moment he released the Wood Vine Technique, vines surged out from all directions, wrapping around and forcefully containing the black beetles.


    The beetles devoured, yet the vines grew faster and denser!


    "A Wood element cultivator?" Li Yucheng was slightly surprised; his insects feared fire, but their terrifying quantity was not something a mere Fireball Technique could halt. He hadn''t expected, at this moment, to be trapped by Lin Shiming''s even more abundant vines.


    "Damn it!" Li Yucheng''s expression changed drastically the next moment.


    He then saw that the beetles trapped by the vines were being set on fire by Lin Shiming.


    The endless tendrils burned, turning into a massive fireball that roasted all the black beetles inside to a crisp.


    Li Yucheng could no longer sit still; the black banner in his hand continuously released a black fog that began to erode toward Lin Shiming.


    The black fog emitted by the banner was clearly poisonous and impaired visibility as well.


    Lin Shiming had to maneuver his Spirit Shield into action.


    At the same time, Lin Shiming''s vines were eroded by the poisonous fog, turning into a heavy liquid that sizzled as it extinguished much of the fire, allowing many black beetles to escape and continue flying towards Lin Shiming.


    Simultaneously, from the black banner emerged several poison scorpion demon souls, each the size of a small calf, with their black pincers shining ominously even though they were formed by spiritual energy.


    Suddenly, Lin Shiming was under tremendous pressure; the impact of the poisonous fog was far greater than his vines. Along with demon souls and the escaping black beetles, he was in imminent peril.


    The worst part was that his Spirit Seed germination had been affected; the vines could no longer sprout, leaving only the Snake Vine Flower and Iron Thorn!


    But even the speed of their emergence was greatly slowed down, and he feared even if they did sprout, they would be corroded away by the gathering toxic fog!


    He must break Li Yucheng''s black banner first.

 Chapter 76 : 76: Using Talismans

    Lin Shiming''s situation was dire, and Lin Houyuan below even started to clench his fists, ready to step in at any moment.


    Even if it meant violating the principles of friendly competition, he was unwilling to let anything happen to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Xianzhi''s gaze also grew tense, although Lin Shiming had always been full of surprises, his opponent was not only a dual Spirit Root genius from the Li Family but also a Poison Cultivator, who happened to have an advantage over Lin Shiming.


    The demonic fog''s corrosive nature was too strong, rendering Lin Shiming''s seeds ineffective.


    Li Yucheng, watching Lin Shiming struggling against the assault of the scorpionic Demon Soul and black insects, couldn''t help but reveal a smirk on the corner of his lips.


    With the Demon Banner in hand, he was confident he could drain Lin Shiming''s strength, practically standing on an invincible ground.


    Lin Shiming, a Qi Cultivation Seventh Level cultivator, was not only worrying about his Supreme Grade magic swords, Green Sky Sword and Five Elements Tower being corroded, but his Spiritual Energy wouldn''t last much longer either.


    Of course, in his eyes, Lin Shiming, despite his outward panic, had calmed down inside. What he feared least was a war of attrition.


    Not to mention one Li Yucheng, even if another Li Yuhe joined, they might not be able to outlast him.


    With the Green Sky Sword and Five Elements Tower along with the Thick Earth Shield, Lin Shiming would be safe for a short while.


    His expression was mostly for Li Yucheng to see.


    Showing weakness to the enemy without any real loss, and moreover, it also served to buy time for him to think of a strategy to defeat the enemy. At this moment, Lin Shiming was oddly reminded of a game of chess by the Qinglian Pool pavilion.


    Lin Shiming took out an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone and began to replenish his Spiritual Energy.


    This moment did not escape Li Yucheng''s notice, who immediately gestured with his hands, and three Supreme Grade magic swords flew out, shooting towards Lin Shiming.


    "Can''t hold on anymore?" Lin Shiming suppressed the joy in his heart. Controlling four Supreme Grade magic artifacts would definitely exhaust the spiritual power of a late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator, and this was the best opportunity.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey''s body began to surge with red light, and just like the Red-haired Demon Monkey of Peach Blossom Valley years ago, its Spirit Might started rising rapidly, nearly reaching the late-stage Qi Cultivation level. It charged out into the poisonous fog all of a sudden.


    The red light and the black fog emitted continuous crackling sounds as they eroded each other, and with one raise into the sky, the monkey struck directly towards the three Supreme Grade magic swords.


    In mid-air, that small mountain which had never been thrown was viciously hurled by the Red-haired Demon Monkey, instantly swatting one Supreme Grade magic sword away, and at the same time, the remaining stick also fiercely hit the other two Supreme Grade magic swords, releasing a thunderous sword cry as the Red-haired Demon Monkey was driven back.


    At that moment, Lin Shiming threw several Spirit Talismans towards Li Yucheng.


    Most of them were Superior Grade Talismans with immense power, but Li Yucheng was not the least bit flustered. When he thought Lin Shiming was making a desperate attempt, he took out another Spirit Shield, and also directed the scorpionic Demon Soul towards Lin Shiming.


    Only then did the crowd relax and continue to watch the battle on stage, though their impression of Lin Shiming had worsened.


    Li Yucheng''s face turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood. The destruction of the Demon Banner had caused him to receive a backlash.


    "You have successfully angered me!" Li Yucheng was heartbroken and furious. The Demon Banner was his favorite Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, and now it had been destroyed by Lin Shiming.


    He pulled out a talisman embroidered with a small knife from his Storage Bag.


    "A talismanic treasure!"


    At this moment, everyone was stunned; someone was actually using a talismanic treasure in a friendly duel.


    Lin Houyuan also became instantly furious:


    "Li Chengli, you want a fight, do you? Then let''s have Foundation Establishment cultivators debate with life and death on the line, survival for the deeper path, demise for the shallower!"


    Lin Houyuan was truly enraged, and a Third Rank Inferior Grade Flying Sword flew straight out¡ªit was the same Third Rank sword that Lin Shiming had given to his father.


    But then, they saw Li Chengli flip his hand downward, and a huge paw-shaped Magic Artifact fiercely grabbed the Third Rank Flying Sword.


    "What''s the rush? Let''s debate the Dao. If a Qi Cultivation stage seven can unleash a talismanic treasure, then that''s also part of the strength of a Qi Cultivation stage seven!"


    Lin Xianzhi did not step forward but continued to watch the stage.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming on stage was not paying attention to the discussion below but was staring intently at Li Yucheng. He slapped his Storage Bag and released a blue Lightning Leopard, and imbued the Lightning Leopard with a Wind Escape Talisman, allowing it to move freely across the field.


    Lin Shiming''s Flying Sword couldn''t even touch it, not to mention the Golden Winged Mantis who could only follow behind in frustration.


    Several Second Rank Superior Grade Defense Talismans appeared in his hand, and with a press, multiple Spirit Shields materialized around him. He then activated a Supreme Grade Magic Artifact Spirit Shield to protect himself from all angles without any blind spots.


    Afterward, he quietly began to activate the talismanic treasure. Don''t miss out on m-vl-em-pyr


    Unparalleled speed and absolute defense¡ªat that moment, he did not believe Lin Shiming had any means to stop him from catalyzing the talismanic treasure.


    All that awaited Lin Shiming was death. In the debate of paths among Cultivators, deep insight ensured survival, while shallow knowledge led to demise.


    Both were at the Qi Cultivation level seven¡ªthere was no reason to hold back!


    However, he overlooked that Lin Shiming was always a Wood Cultivator, and right then, there was no suppression of the poison fog catalyzed by the seeds!

 Chapter 77 : 77 Xie An Gets Angry

    The flickering Lightning Leopard, with its blue-green Spirit Light, captivated everyone''s attention in the arena.


    At that moment, everyone was wondering when the Lin Family would concede defeat, knowing that the power of the Spirit Talisman was not something a Qi Refinement cultivator could withstand.


    However, the expected surrender did not occur; instead, a massive storm of Spiritual Power began to form.


    Tremendous Spiritual Power surged from Lin Shiming''s hand and he slapped it violently toward the ground.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was summoning Spirit Plants, not just one or two, but a full ten Snake Vine Flowers and three Iron Thorns!


    With a loud roar, thirteen immense sky-piercing vines burst from the ground like a volcanic eruption and reached for the heavens.


    The Lightning Leopard in the air dodged quickly, evading three, but in such a confined space, dodging ten was clearly futile.


    Entangled firmly by a Snake Vine Flower, Li Yucheng, who was busy channeling the talisman, had no time to control his Flying Sword and could only secretly rejoice that Lin Shiming''s Snake Vine had only binding functions. He had several Spirit Talismans left, a Supreme Grade Spirit Shield, and even Superior Grade Inner Armor on him.


    So he stimulated the Spirit Talisman even more fiercely.


    However, in the next moment, the ten giant Snake Vine Flowers opened their maws, dripping with black venom.


    Almost reaching half a meter above Li Yucheng''s head, they then started to pour down the poison simultaneously.


    This was a million times more vicious than Li Yucheng''s black banner from before.


    Accompanied by loud crackling sounds, numerous Spirit Shields from the talismans perished, corroded by the venom.


    Then, as if peeling off clothes, a terrified Li Yucheng realized that amongst his defenses, only his powerful Supreme Grade Spirit Shield Magical Instrument was still standing firm.


    But in the next moment, three new Iron Thorns grew swiftly, sprouting iron spikes and transforming into a storm of spikes raining down on Li Yucheng. His mount, the Lightning Leopard, barely lasted an instant before turning into a porcupine.


    At the same time, the Golden Winged Mantis and the Green Sky Sword slashed fiercely towards Li Yucheng.


    The reversal of the situation also affected the hearts of the Loose Cultivators watching below. Li Chengli suddenly felt nervous; he had lost his confidence, and in a critical moment, he would undoubtedly block a sword strike for Li Yucheng.


    Losing a Third Rank Magic Artifact was no issue, but if a Dual Spirit Root Cultivator was slain, he would bear great guilt.


    "Deacon Xie, Li was delusional. I will leave immediately!" Li Chengli picked up Li Yucheng''s body and Storage Bag and left, abandoning the Second Rank Supreme Grade Flying Sword, Supreme Grade Shield Magical Instrument, and even the torn-in-half Iron Thorn flag. He didn''t even take his charms and treasures with him, and he tossed the Twin Dragons Jade to Lin Xianzhi as well.


    After that, the group left on their clouds, arriving with bluster but departing in disarray.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming finally stored away the Earth Escape Talisman and let out a long sigh of relief.


    These damnable Foundation Establishment Cultivators never adhered to chivalry when dealing with him.


    Looking at the spoils of war on the ground, Lin Shiming didn''t move. He knew that killing had been the limit, and leaving behind those magic artifacts and charms was actually credited to Xie An.


    That palm strike had clearly intimidated Li Chengli.


    Otherwise, let alone charms, Li Chengli would not rest until he found a way to take even an organ from him.


    "Many thanks, Senior Brother!" Lin Xianzhi immediately waved his hand to thank Xie An.


    Lin Houyuan then approached Lin Shiming, inquiring with concern whether he had sustained any injuries.


    After which, he joined Lin Shiming in expressing gratitude to Xie An.


    Lin Xianzhi quickly gained control of the situation, picking up the treasures, followed by a round of toasting and merrymaking.


    This time, Lin Xianzhi even brought out Monkey Wine, allowing almost every Foundation Establishment family to have a taste, while Loose Cultivators and Qi Cultivation families sipped on Spiritual Wine.


    For these Cultivators, it didn''t take long to put the unpleasantness behind them, and they began to discuss the upcoming auction to be hosted by the Lin Family. Of course, many were also carefully discussing Lin Shiming¡ªthough their words were all sweet flattery. Exclusive content from m,v lem|p,yr


    Lin Shiming naturally didn''t take it to heart, finding a secret chamber to start healing and reflecting.


    He also made up his mind to improve his cultivation level and to find time to replace his Green Lotus Root with a Second Rank Superior Grade Wood Demon''s Green Lotus Root as soon as possible.


    This battle had been very perilous. Lin Shiming had thought he could contend against the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level.


    But now he realized that any same-level Cultivator with a better magic artifact could cause him to capsize in the gutter.


    Not to mention from now on, the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Li Family would probably be watching him at all times, eager to put him to death.

 Chapter 78: Chapter 78 The Auction Investigation

    Late at night, Lin Shiming emerged from meditation, having once again filled the Spirit Talisman of the Heavenly Wood with spiritual energy.


    Each time he stored energy, it was as if he was refining his spirit anew, always rendering his spiritual power more condensed.


    Lin Shiming did not rise immediately, but began to reflect on the spell battles of the day, filtering through all the details once more, summarizing the instances where he performed poorly or encountered great peril.


    Thus, Lin Shiming spent another hour in reflection until his divine sense spread out into the distance, and only then did he realize that someone was admiring the night sky today.


    Regretfully, there was neither moon nor stars tonight.


    Lin Shiming pushed the door open and walked toward the courtyard, and Lin Houyuan turned his head back.


    The latter deeply surveyed Lin Shiming against the night sky for a long time before revealing a gratified smile.


    "You''ve grown up!"


    A simple phrase, yet what Lin Shiming saw on the other''s face was worry, regretting his own lack of strength.


    Indeed, the day had been perilous, and the future might be even more so.


    The pursuit of Immortal Cultivation is itself an act against heaven.


    "I''ve worried father. In the future, Shiming will certainly redouble his efforts in cultivation!" Lin Shiming responded with a warmed heart.


    He had also taken notice of Lin Houyuan''s actions during the day; his father was the type to risk his life at critical moments.


    "Here, this is something the Seventh Great-Uncle gave to you!" Lin Houyuan handed him a Jade Slip, noting that all of Li Yucheng''s treasures were there.


    Three supreme grade magic swords, along with a supreme grade Spirit Shield Artifact, and that broken Scorpion Demon Banner.


    At the end, there was also a spirit talisman shaped like a long strip embroidered with a black dagger.


    It was indeed Li Yucheng''s prized talisman.


    This brought great joy and surprise to Lin Shiming.


    Given the family head''s way of doing things, it was certain that some treasures would be shared with Xie An, unless the Lin Family no longer wished to rely on the name of Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Of course, more likely, the family gave Xie An other benefits, while they had kept these treasures for him.


    That was indeed characteristic of the Seventh Great-Uncle.


    "And this is a reward from the family!" Before Lin Shiming could emerge from his elation over the talisman, he saw Lin Houyuan take out a Storage Bag.


    In the end, the winning bid was 2,200 Spirit Stones, which was considered a high price even among second-rank elixirs.


    Lin Shiming noted this with some delight, knowing that half of the profits from the family''s Monkey Wine and Spirit Peach business belonged to him.


    Of course, this time Lin Shiming was seated at the very back, as he had a more important task.


    To observe the Qian Family.


    The actions and information of the Qian Family were key to this family auction.


    The Lin Family elders were mostly clear on the basic information about their family, and by the same token, it could be assumed that the remaining elders of the Huang Family also knew about the matters concerning the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion and the Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Whether the Qian Family had obtained this information from the remnant members of the Huang Family was critical.


    The auction continued, and the following treasures, although not as good as the second-rank, superior grade Monkey Wine, were still much sought after, with numerous second-rank high-quality treasures inciting a fresh surge in the bidding frenzy.


    Some of these items belonged to the Lin Family, while others were consigned by different Cultivators.


    During this time, Lin Shiming himself made a successful bid for a Spirit Grass, but the Qian Family didn''t move at all, their composed demeanor causing Lin Shiming a bit of hesitation.


    Finally, it came to the most crucial and show-stopping final auction item.


    Lin Houyuan, visibly excited, took a tray from a maidservant next to him, and a fiery red small flag appeared in his hand.


    "The next item for our finale auction is a third-rank, inferior grade Fire Attribute Magic Artifact, the Blazing Fire Banner. Its power is definitely one of the top within spell-attacking Magic Artifacts, and the esteemed members present may bid on it!"


    As the Blazing Fire Banner was unveiled, all the Foundation Establishment families were shocked, as it was well known that the Lin Family did not have a high reputation in Yunzhou because they lacked a third-rank Alchemist and a third-rank Artifact Refiner.


    Now, with the appearance of a third-rank artifact, Cultivators paid great attention, whereas the Loose Cultivators were only mildly interested.


    "Yes, it was indeed refined by our Lin Family Head during his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment as well as his advancement to third-rank Artifact Refiner. This is his first third-rank artifact. The starting bid is 10,000 Spirit Stones, and each bid must increase by no less than 500 Spirit Stones!"


    Following Lin Houyuan''s confirmation, the Loose Cultivator families began to bid, and even Xie An showed some interest upon seeing the Blazing Fire Banner.


    A pure Fire Attribute Magic Artifact could have a special role at critical moments.


    Furthermore, as the older apprentice-brother of Lin Xianzhi, he indeed wished to support the Lin Family.


    In the end, the Blazing Fire Banner was sold for 28,000 Spirit Stones to Xie An.


    Lin Shiming, seated at the back, breathed a sigh of relief after the sale was completed. The Qian Family didn''t know about the Formation Artifact Manual.


    Otherwise, they would never miss the opportunity to study this Blazing Fire Banner. Not to mention two or three thousand Spirit Stones, they might have continued to bid even if it cost fifty or sixty thousand.

 Chapter 79: Chapter 79 Qian Family Business

    With the final auction item sold, the entire auction drew to a close.


    Rough estimates put the final transactions at around one hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones, a far from insignificant sum for an auction held by a Foundation Establishment family.


    It is worth noting that the Lin Family had hosted auctions before, but neither the quality of treasures nor the scale and enthusiasm of the loose cultivators and other participating cultivators could compare to this occasion.


    In the past, the highest transaction amount was only sixty to seventy thousand, and each auction seemed less successful than the last, which is why the Lin Family seldom held auctions anymore.


    This auction had significantly boosted the Lin Family''s momentum and restored their confidence.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but think of a past strategy to retain guests and thus transmitted his thoughts to his seventh great-uncle.


    The latter, without much thought, nodded and replied in agreement.


    Then, he transmitted to the thirtieth uncle to announce a strategy.


    The latter was immediately taken aback upon hearing it, quickly looked to the old patriarch and Lin Houyuan, and noticed that both were nodding slightly. Only on m v|le|mp|yr


    Taking a deep breath, his plump face filled with excitement and a hint of madness. This time, the family was truly in the spotlight:


    "Esteemed Daoist elders and friends, our Lin Family hereby announces a piece of news: any who have spent over a thousand Spirit Stones at this auction will receive a hundred Spirit Stones off at the next auction. Those who have spent over ten thousand will receive a five hundred Spirit Stone discount!"


    Lin Houyuan''s announcement sent shockwaves through all the loose cultivators, especially those from Foundation Establishment families.


    The boldness of the Lin Family this time was astonishing.


    If you do the math, the Lin Family would incur a loss of nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones upfront for the next auction.


    At the same time, one could foresee how eager the Spirit Stone-strapped loose cultivators would be for the Lin Family''s next auction.


    Whether loose cultivators or Qi Cultivation families, praises for the Lin Family began to flow endlessly throughout the venue. Of course, their true thoughts might differ, but the Lin Family''s reputation and prestige had definitely soared beyond their previous state, and the promotional reach in Xing County Square Market had met the Lin Family''s expectations.


    That was enough.


    The auction finally concluded, marking a perfect end to the three stages of the Foundation Establishment event.


    All the elders of the Lin Family heaved a huge sigh of relief, and even Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan''s brows seemed to relax a little.


    The elders of the Lin Family proceeded to send off the cultivators from the other Foundation Establishment families, with Lin Shiming following behind, gaining acquaintances with many cultivators from various major families under the introduction of his elders.


    The last to leave was Xie An, a deacon of the Qingxuan Sect, who was also the nominal senior brother of Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming.


    After exchanging pleasantries, Xie An left on his Flying Sword.


    Lin Shiming did not believe that the Qian Family was here to talk about the Monkey Wine trade, and the Qian Family did not believe that the Lin Family was unaware of their true purpose.


    As the clear sound of pouring tea finished, Lin Xianzhi gestured with his hand, a motion to invite, to drink the tea and also to invite the other to speak first.


    Finally, Qian Bosheng could not sit still any longer and began to talk:


    "The Lin Family really is skillful; even the great Huang Family met their demise at your hands!"


    Qian Bosheng''s words clearly had a hidden meaning, which was that he had already made the surviving members of the Huang Family confess.


    "Our Lin Family has always believed in harmony begetting wealth. The Huang Family was no more than ousted by the Li Family," Lin Xianzhi continued, not saying a single word about the Huang Family, and he kept his gaze on the Qian Family.


    Qian Bosheng took a sip of tea without responding, but the other Foundation Establishment cultivator behind him spoke up:


    "Elder Lin, as far as our Qian Family is aware, the Huang Family left behind a Purple Mansion treasure vault. You surely wouldn''t want that treasure vault to fall into the hands of the Li Family, would you?"


    "Oh, a Foundation Establishment family like the Huang Family has a Purple Mansion vault?" Lin Xianzhi''s brows rose.


    "Let''s not pretend to be ignorant when you are well-informed, Elder Lin. Surely you understand the matter regarding the Foundation Establishment Pill, right?"


    "Of course, Elder Lin, don''t even think about silencing us by murder. We only have three people here; the rest left after the convention ended!"


    Having said that, the Qian Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivator sat down, and next to him, Qian Bosheng finally set down his teacup, his gaze meaningful as he looked at Lin Xianzhi.


    The room once again fell into silence; the Qian Family said nothing, and the Lin Family did not speak either.


    Lin Houyuan cleared his throat and responded:


    "It seems that the Qian Family wishes to discuss a grander business with us, so I must ask, have you brought enough Spirit Stones and treasures?"


    "Some items, even if available, come at a high price, at least not lower than the price given by the Qingxuan Sect, right?"


    "After all, Daoist Xie just left after making his offer..."


    Upon finishing his words, the complexion of the several Qian Family members notably changed.


    They had not expected the Lin Family to say such a thing.


    Nor had they anticipated that Xie An had come here with such a purpose in mind.


    The Lin Family had occupied the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion for half a year without notifying anyone; the Qingxuan Sect would definitely hold the Lin Family accountable if reported by them.


    But if the Lin Family had already negotiated with Xie An, then having Xie An report it would make the Qian Family appear as if they were threatening to take advantage of the situation.

 Chapter 80 The Mysterious Sapling

    The room''s tea seemed to have gone cold, and Qian Bosheng set down his teacup, the confidence in his eyes no longer present, then he looked towards Lin Xianzhi.


    "Daoist Lin, your family has been oppressed into a Foundation Establishment family by the Li Family, a Purple Mansion Family. Do you wish to remain like this forever?"


    Seeing Qian Bosheng unsettled, Lin Xianzhi also stopped holding his tongue and responded,


    "Does the Qian Family intend for my junior brother Xie to take the risk?"


    Upon hearing this, Qian Bosheng felt an urge to curse inside. He was fifty percent sure that the Lin Family would not inform Xie An.


    But this time, Xie An had come and even purchased the final auction item, which seemed to match up.


    He dared not gamble.


    This suggestion for Xie An to take a risk truly ignited a great fury within him.


    Not only could he not extort them, but now he wanted to come aboard, he had to pay the ship fare as well.


    The Lin Family now fully understood that the remaining Huang Family Qi Cultivation Elders likely only possessed information, but did not know the whereabouts of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, nor the Foundation Establishment Pill formula, and even less about the Formation Artifact Manual.


    Looking back, it also seemed understandable that if they had been in Huangyun Qi''s position, they would not have allowed someone who knew too much to remain at Huangyun Mountain, especially since they had already been usurped by Li Chengli of the Li Family that time.


    If Li Chengli were to interrogate or use secret techniques to search the soul, then the Huang Family''s efforts would have been in vain.


    What followed was negotiation. The Qian Family agreed to contribute fifty thousand Spirit Stones for the Foundation Establishment Pill formula and a shared exploration of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, offering one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, with the number of people to be decided by the Lin Family later on and not to exceed the Lin Family''s count.


    One hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones was the price negotiated red-faced by the Qian Family, and Lin Yuzheng wanted to push for more, but Lin Xianzhi ultimately agreed outright.


    The matter at hand, both families were walking a tightrope; there was no need to push too hard.


    Once the negotiation finished, both parties took oaths under the Heavenly Dao and symbolically bought some Spiritual Wine.


    The people from the Qian Family were seen off by the father-son duo, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan.


    Qian Bosheng glanced at Lin Shiming and then at Lin Xianzhi, before laughing heartily and saying,


    "Daoist Lin, I wonder if the young friend Shiming is betrothed?"


    Even with oaths under the Heavenly Dao taken for the joint exploration of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, it was clear that both parties were still somewhat wary and were preparing to solidify the alliance through marriage.


    In a certain moment, a brocade-clad cultivator entered, deactivated the formation, took the sapling, and also took the demon wood.


    ...


    The memory abruptly halted, and then came a surge of tremendous spiritual power into Lin Shiming''s dantian.


    This was clearly different from the last time, more akin to the spiritual power stored by the demon wood.


    At this moment, it all became Lin Shiming''s nourishment, abruptly raising his cultivation level by a substantial amount, instantly reaching the peak of Qi Cultivation Seventh Level.


    Simultaneously, the new Heavenly Wood core assimilated and devoured the previous Second Rank Intermediate Grade Heavenly Wood core, establishing a connection with Lin Shiming, followed by an endless suction force.


    Having prepared earlier, Lin Shiming took out a spirit jar full of Spirit Water.


    Lin Shiming leapt in and began to gulp down the Monkey Wine fervently.


    The sucking force this time was noticeably more terrifying than last time; it was only when the spirit jar ran dry and the Monkey Wine was exhausted that Lin Shiming felt the suction weaken.


    The Purple Wood Heart Sutra continued to circulate; however, to Lin Shiming''s surprise, his spiritual energy began to be refined by the new Heavenly Wood core, and this refining was even more effective than before.


    The next moment, a wave of spirit might spread out, and Lin Shiming naturally broke through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level.


    And his cultivation level quickly stabilized.


    Upon introspection, Lin Shiming discovered that the spiritual power stored by the new Heavenly Wood core was equivalent to five times his own.


    That is to say, his spiritual power was now higher than that of any Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator; even if he were to compare magical power values with those senior Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators, he could now outlast them.


    At this thought, Lin Shiming was very satisfied. Experience tales at m v|l e-NovelFire


    Moreover, he found that, just as the secret technique had described, the current Heavenly Wood core would, like a demon wood, automatically absorb and refine spiritual energy, albeit at a rate far slower than Lin Shiming''s own cultivation.


    At best, it could barely match a Quintuple Spirit Root.


    But this was more than enough to please Lin Shiming immensely.


    Lin Shiming stood up and exhaled, but the images from before began to surface in his mind. If he wasn''t mistaken, the assimilation of the demon wood''s Heavenly Wood core had also integrated part of the demon wood''s memory fragments.


    The one who took the mysterious sapling and demon wood was probably that direct disciple who was killed by the Wu surname cultivator.


    At this thought, he couldn''t help speculating that the Wu surname cultivator must still have that mysterious and extraordinary sapling.

 Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Foundation Establishment Pill and Barrier-Breaking Pill (3rd Update)

    ```


    In the Treasure Pavilion, atop the shelves for miscellaneous records and treasures.</p>


    Lin Shiming was diligently searching through one jade slip after another, looking for something more precious than the Heavenly Spirit Fruit within the Spirit Beast Sect''s Spirit Plant Garden¡ªnaturally, it was no ordinary item.</p>


    However, after a whole day, Lin Shiming had not found the mysterious sapling depicted in the picture.</p>


    On the contrary, his understanding of the various heavenly and earthly treasures had significantly increased.</p>


    Acknowledging this, Lin Shiming decided to give up for now and, after bidding farewell to his uncle Lin Houshou, he headed towards the Earth Fire Hall.</p>


    The Beast Nurturing Pills had been depleted again, and at that moment, the three gluttonous beasts were still howling rebelliously inside the Spirit Beast Bag.</p>


    The Pill Pavilion within the Earth Fire Hall was growing hotter by the day, and by the time Lin Shiming arrived, the temperature felt as if it were roasted by a volcano.</p>


    The previous apprentices had already begun to perform alchemy in earnest, though most of them were making the cultivators'' entry-level Elixir Pills, Fasting Pills.</p>


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming''s arrival, everyone cordially called him "Seventh Brother."</p>


    Lin Shiming greeted them one by one, then cast a glance towards the relentlessly high flames of the earth fire.</p>


    He immediately asked,</p>


    "How long has the earth fire been like this?"</p>


    "The earth fire''s intensity has been increasing for half a month now, but Second Grandpa has been inside for a month. Seventh Brother, you may not be able to wait..."</p>


    Before the cultivator finished speaking, from Lin Yuqi''s alchemy room suddenly emanated waves of Spirit Might, followed by an enticing fragrance that filled the air.</p>


    "Another successful pill concoction?" Lin Shiming saw this and was somewhat surprised, not expecting to encounter the Second Elder solidifying pills on both of his visits.</p>


    Moreover, the Spirit Might from this pill solidification was even greater than that from the Consolidation Pill, and the aroma was so overwhelming it perked everyone up, quickening the flow of their Spiritual Power several times.</p>


    He even faintly felt his Cultivation Level rising in that moment.</p>


    The apprentices from the Lin Family bearing the ''Shi'' prefix were even swallowing hard.</p>


    The scene lasted for half an hour before the long-closed door finally opened.</p>


    Lin Yuqi, trembling and unsteady, emerged with the support of Lin Shitao, showing aged features and white hair.</p>


    Apart from his bright and spirited eyes, Lin Shiming could hardly believe that this was the Lin Family''s Second Rank Superior Grade Alchemist, the Second Elder.</p>


    But at this moment, his eyes were the brightest.


    "Houyong, go to my cave and make your breakthrough, but remember to adjust your condition for half a month first. Otherwise, even with the Foundation Establishment Pill, there''s still a chance of failure," Lin Xianzhi said.


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle. For the grace of your guidance, Houyong will definitely repay Seventh Great-Uncle and the family for a lifetime!" Lin Houyong gave a deep bow and then resolutely entered Lin Xianzhi''s cave to commence his Foundation Establishment seclusion.


    Before he left, Lin Shiming also gave Lin Houyong the newly-harvested half-year Spirit Honey.


    Although the effects of the Spirit Honey were not significant, it was still able to remove some of the pill toxins Lin Houyong had retained, so it was better than nothing.


    With Lin Houyong''s seclusion, the Qinglian Pool once again fell into tranquility, and Lin Xianzhi, looking at Lin Shiming, felt more pleased the more he looked.


    Indeed, just as the long-standing rumors within the Lin Family had said, Lin Shiming was a blessing to the family, bringing about so many changes.


    Whether it was his own healing, or the breakthrough of the Spirit Vein, or his suggestions for the Foundation Establishment event, he was impacting the Lin Family.


    Sometimes he doubted whether it was wise to involve a young man in his early twenties in the decisions and suggestions of a Foundation Establishment family that had existed for hundreds of years, but in reality, what Lin Shiming brought to the family was constant improvement and progress.


    "Have you noticed the changes in the Qinglian Pool?" Lin Xianzhi, satisfied, suddenly said.


    Lin Shiming then released his Divine Sense and discovered that not far from the Qinglian Pool, the family had developed a new Spirit Pool, where young Spirit Fish fry were swimming around, some even leaping out of the water.


    The lotus leaves in the distance were even more verdant and lush than those in the Qinglian Pool, indeed as he had said before, the Spirit Fish and the lotus leaves promoted each other''s growth.


    "The Spirit Fish really works!" Lin Shiming replied, pleasantly surprised.


    "Yes, soon the family will have more business with Spirit Fish!"


    "Oh yes, this is a special reward from the family for you!" said Lin Xianzhi as he took out a Pill Bottle.


    Lin Shiming received it with both hands, still curious. Stay connected through m-v l|e-NovelFire


    "This is a Barrier-Breaking Pill. Now, the ones in the family who have the best hope for a breakthrough in Foundation Establishment are you and Shijie!"


    "This Barrier-Breaking Pill will help you break through the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level! Shijie has also taken this elixir and made a breakthrough!"


    Upon hearing the introduction, Lin Shiming realized in an instant that the main ingredient of the Barrier-Breaking Pill was the Purple Flame Fruit.


    Presumably, the Purple Flame Fruit was the very one auctioned at Qingxuan City, the one bidded fiercely by the Huang Family, which eventually ended up in his family''s hands and was made into Barrier-Breaking Pills.


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming quickly expressed his gratitude. With this Barrier-Breaking Pill, Lin Shiming could even use Spirit Honey to continuously medicate over the next year or two and then use the Barrier-Breaking Pill to break through the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level.


    He was now twenty-three years old. With this Barrier-Breaking Pill, he was even confident that he could break through the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level before the age of twenty-six, and then he would have thirty-four years of cultivation and at least two opportunities for breakthroughs.


    In an instant, Lin Shiming was filled with confidence about his Foundation Establishment.

 Chapter 82 Qi Cultivation Level 9

    By Qinglian Pool, Lin Shiming put away the Barrier-Breaking Pill and took out a Jade Slip, on which he carved the appearance of that mysterious tree from his memory, then began to inquire Lin Xianzhi.


    Upon receiving the Jade Slip, Lin Xianzhi''s face changed dramatically after he had examined it, and he turned to look at Lin Shiming.


    Moreover, his hand waved a flag, activating all the formations surrounding the Qinglian Pool.


    "Shiming, where did you see this?" Lin Xianzhi''s expression was extremely serious.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, this is the memory image extracted from the Wood Demonic Being''s Heaven Wood Heart." Lin Shiming, seeing the seriousness of the matter, did not hide anything, and at the same time, he became more interested in that martial surname cultivator and raised his estimation of the latter by a notch.


    "This is the Minor Divine Ability Tree. It bears Minor Divine Ability Fruits. After consuming the divine fruit, it can ensure that a Purple Mansion cultivator will comprehend a new Minor Divine Ability!"


    Lin Shiming was greatly moved upon hearing this, no wonder it was so important in the Spirit Beast Sect''s Spirit Plant Garden.


    The martial surname cultivator who killed the inner disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect must be the direct disciple among the direct disciples within the sect.


    The highest warpower of the three great sects of Zhao Kingdom is the Golden Core True Person, but such beings hardly ever appear, apart from that it would be the Purple Mansion Hermit. If a Purple Mansion Hermit could gain one more Minor Divine Ability, they could be almost invincible amongst their peers.


    "Such a fruit tree must not be coveted unless one is a hundred percent certain no second person knows about it!" Lin Xianzhi warned Lin Shiming emphatically.


    After saying this, he thought of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion:


    "Shiming, you should also improve your cultivation these few years. Nine years from now, at the next Qingxuan Conference, it will be time for our Lin Family and the Qian Family to jointly explore the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion."


    "Thank you for the reminder, Seventh Great-Uncle, Shiming will bear it in mind!" Lin Shiming responded with a clasped fist; the timing of the family''s action did not differ much from what he had expected.


    At that time, all the families would be in Qingxuan City, so that the Lin Family and the Qian Family could explore the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion without anyone being the wiser.


    Otherwise, if it caused too much commotion, both families wouldn''t be able to handle the consequences.


    Also, during these nine years, his Fifth Uncle and his father would be able to stabilize their Foundation Establishment Early Stage as quickly as possible, so they wouldn''t be totally powerless if a struggle erupted.


    After asking Lin Xianzhi a few more questions, Lin Shiming then continued back to his cave mansion to cultivate bitterly.


    The pressure was still immense. With Spirit Honey in hand, sufficient Green Spirit Pills, and a Barrier-Breaking Pill, it was time to cultivate intensely.


    From then on, Lin Shiming''s cave mansion fell once more into silence. Occasionally, the door would open when the Golden Luan Eagle, the Golden Winged Mantis, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey went out to hunt, or when Lin Shiming harvested Spirit Honey, channeling Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy from the Purple Wood Heart Sutra into the Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree.


    "Uncle Thirteen!" After emerging from seclusion, Lin Shiming headed towards a person fishing for Spirit Fish in the distance.


    The person responsible for catching Spirit Fish was none other than Lin Houwei.


    "Good lad, you''ve actually reached the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation before me! You owe me a full fish feast at Lin Family Restaurant, paired with Monkey Wine," commented Lin Houwei upon seeing Lin Shiming''s breakthrough, feeling somewhat emotional for a moment but soon started looking forward to the Monkey Wine.


    "No problem!" Lin Shiming agreed immediately. Although he didn''t have many Spirit Stones on him at that moment, his salary from the last three years and the Lin Family''s reward policy had earned him several thousand Spirit Stones.


    After exchanging a few words of greeting with Uncle Thirteen, Lin Shiming also learned about the current situation of the family and then made his way towards the clan''s council hall.


    In the last three years, the relationship between the Lin Family and the Li Family of Huangyun had become completely hostile. Most of the clan''s cultivators had already withdrawn from Qingyun Square Market and now primarily operated in Xing County Square Market, as well as trading Spirit Fish and Monkey Wine to Qingzhou.


    On the contrary, after a few trips to the Qingyun Mountain Range and mysterious losses among the younger members, the family seldom went hunting there anymore, leading to a decline in the combat strength of the clan''s young cultivators in recent years.


    As soon as Lin Shiming arrived at the council hall, he saw Lin Houyuan instructing the Fifth Elder Lin Yuzheng and Lin Shijie on certain matters.


    It turns out that, after a gap of three years, the family was preparing to hold another auction in Xing County Square Market.


    And Lin Shijie, who had broken through to the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, along with the Fifth Elder, who was responsible for the caravan, were there to take supplies to Xing County Square Market.


    "Shiming, you''ve broken through to the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation!" Lin Houyuan also looked at Lin Shiming with some surprise.


    "Thanks to the Seventh Grand Uncle''s pills, I had the good fortune to make a breakthrough!" Lin Shiming waved and replied.


    "Good, then you''ll go with Fifth Uncle Shijie too. The Seventh Grand Uncle is in seclusion refining magic artifacts, so I can''t go over there for now!" Lin Houyuan ordered once more.


    Lin Shiming readily agreed and, seeing Lin Shijie for the first time in a while, felt that the latter, compared to a few years ago, seemed even more sharp and formidable.


    No doubt he had made tremendous strides in his swordsmanship.


    "Big Brother, Grandpa Fifth!" After agreeing, Lin Shiming also waved and greeted Lin Shijie and Lin Yuzheng.


    Once they had discussed the time of departure, Lin Shiming went to the Treasure Pavilion to receive his Spirit Stone salary and exchange for some Spirit Talismans.


    From their conversations, Lin Shiming also learned that this auction would feature Red Spirit Fish of the Intermediate Grade Second Rank; these fish had a better taste, and their flesh could even improve one''s cultivation level.


    The Lin Family raised Spirit Fish and, naturally, were determined to obtain the Red Spirit Fish, but the Loose Cultivator who had the fish insisted on putting it up for auction, despite the Lin Family''s high bids, hoping to fetch an even higher price.

 Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Awakening Spirit Flower Seeds

    Xing County Square Market, Lin Shiming walked the streets of the market once more, noting that it had changed significantly compared to three years ago.


    The area for street stalls and the area for shops had been completely segregated.


    Additionally, compared to three years ago, thanks to the efforts of Uncle Lin Houyong, who transplanted two Inferior Grade Second Rank Spirit Veins, the Spirit Vein here had been upgraded to a Superior Grade Second Rank, making the Spiritual Energy much more abundant.


    This was another reason why Loose Cultivators liked coming to the Xing County Square Market.


    However, Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised to find that, although the Cultivation Levels of the visitors this time were generally not as high as before, the liveliness of the crowd was by no means inferior to the last Foundation Establishment Conference.


    "Your policy is really good, a lot of Loose Cultivators came specifically for the Spirit Stone discount policy you introduced, especially those who managed to win bids on items last time!" Lin Yuzheng, who seemed to notice Lin Shiming''s surprise, also said with a smile.


    When he first heard about the policy, he was also shocked, since the profit from any auction item was generally only about thirty to forty percent at best, assuming the auction went well.


    Lin Shiming''s policy basically relinquished a ten-percent profit in Spirit Stones, and in the worst-case scenario, it could mean a loss of tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.


    But after careful thought, the ten percent profit would likely be raised by the Loose Cultivators themselves through the bidding.


    The resulting popularity it brought was also extremely considerable.


    "Let''s go to the Lin Family Restaurant first. Have Shiming experience the Spirit Fish banquet!" Lin Yuzheng suggested again, and the group headed toward the Lin Family Restaurant.


    This was a newly built restaurant by the Lin Family. However, upon arrival, they found that there were quite a few Loose Cultivators dining there, most of whom had come for the Lin Family''s Spirit Fish and Monkey Wine.


    "So many people pursue Immortal Cultivation, but how many truly achieve a clear heart and few desires?" Lin Yuzheng again interjected with a sigh.


    Lin Shiming very much agreed, noting that Cultivators often secluded themselves for years, and especially for Loose Cultivators who were regularly in danger, ordinary food didn''t appeal to them, but spiritual cuisine and Spiritual Wine became their favorites.


    Had it been a normal day, there might have been fewer people, but now, on the eve of the auction, there were indeed many Loose Cultivators around.


    The group entered the restaurant and chose a fine spot on the second floor.


    After the spiritual meal, Lin Shiming even felt a sense of the seasons in a meal that mortals relish, an elusive sensation he found quite marvelous.


    The spiritual cuisine here may not have been as good as that of Laiyue Tower in Qingxuan City, but to Lin Shiming, it was already considered some of the best spiritual cuisine in Yunzhou.


    "It''s a pity, other families have started to rear Spirit Fish as well!" Lin Shijie, surprisingly concerned about the family''s affairs, said with a hint of regret.


    Continue reading stories on m|v-l''-NovelFire


    Lin Shiming didn''t dwell on it and continued to inquire about the neighboring Awakening Spirit Flower seeds.


    "And this one?"


    "These are Awakening Spirit Flower seeds, but they''ve entered a dormant period. It''s uncertain if they can successfully germinate, thirty Spirit Stones will do!" Lin Shiming didn''t expect the female cultivator to be familiar with the Awakening Spirit Flower, but luckily it seemed like she hadn''t managed to get them to sprout.


    "I''ll take both the San Yang Flower seeds and the Awakening Spirit Flower seeds!" Lin Shiming immediately took out one hundred and thirty Spirit Stones and handed them to the female cultivator.


    Just as Lin Shiming was about to leave, suddenly a voice rang out:


    "Hold on, I''ll pay one hundred Spirit Stones for those Awakening Spirit Flower seeds, sell them to me!"


    A burly bald cultivator with bizarre tattoos on his face, giving him a particularly fierce appearance, approached.


    The whispers of shock regarding the Seven Fiends of Lingnan could be heard nearby.


    Clearly, this bald man was no small fry.


    "These seeds have already been sold to this cultivator from the Lin Family!" The female cultivator replied indifferently, continuing to sit without intending to get involved in matters concerning the Lin Family and the Seven Fiends of Lingnan.


    "Kid, sell me the seeds for 30 Spirit Stones!" The bald man turned to Lin Shiming, speaking again.


    "Are you attempting to bully and rob with such an aggressive approach?" Lin Shiming watched the bald cultivator with a cold gaze, sharply questioning him.


    At the same time, he flipped the jar in his hand and took the seeds away.


    At this moment, the patrolling Lin Family cultivators promptly rushed over.


    "You''ll regret this!" The bald cultivator left behind a grim threat before walking off with large steps.


    Lin Shiming suddenly felt utterly baffled; he''d just been warned on his own turf.


    Of course, he didn''t question the ridiculousness of the situation. On the contrary, he had a feeling of unease. The bald cultivator was obviously as straightforward as his second elder brother.


    Putting himself in the other''s shoes, such a threat wouldn''t come from his second brother unless he had the confidence for revenge...

 Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Who is the Praying Mantis?

    In a room on the second floor of the auction hall, Lin Houyuan was still organizing the treasures and magic artifacts that were about to be auctioned.


    Outside the door, there was a knock. Lin Houyuan, with his plump body, turned around and then looked outside the door and spoke:


    "Come in!"


    "Uncle Thirty!" A young man in green robe pushed the door open and entered. With a respectful call, he then sat down next to Lin Houyuan.


    The visitor was Lin Shiming.


    "You came so late. Shijie and the others came just a while ago and already took a look!" Lin Houyuan couldn''t help but tease.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming understood that his eldest brother and fifth uncle must have come here right after leaving the Lin Family Restaurant, but his purpose this time was not for the auction items.


    "Uncle Thirty, have you heard of the Lingnan Seven Fiends?"


    "What? You ran into the Lingnan Seven Fiends?" Lin Houyuan looked somewhat grave.


    "Right in the street stall area!" Lin Shiming replied affirmatively.


    "This is somewhat troublesome. The Lingnan Seven Fiends are a cultivator clan in Yunzhou and count as a family. The strength of the seven fiends is not bad; even the weakest has the strength of the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. The head of their clan is even at the Foundation Establishment Stage." Lin Houyuan felt his headache growing.


    "Shiming, be a bit more cautious this time. There might be complications, given that Seventh Great-Uncle is in seclusion on Fangmu Mountain. As for the Lingnan Seven Fiends, I will send people to watch over them." Lin Houyuan continued to remind Lin Shiming, and at the same time, he handed over a jade slip that recorded the auction items to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming received the jade slip with both hands, scanned it twice, then shook his head and returned the jade slip to Lin Houyuan.


    Most of the treasures this time were indeed second-rank superior-grade spiritual materials and spiritual objects.


    But for Lin Shiming, there were no items he was too desperately in need of.


    Lin Shiming bid farewell to Lin Houyuan and then visited his fifth uncle, Lin Houyong, who was extremely happy to see Lin Shiming. The latter''s breakthrough to Foundation Establishment owed much to Lin Shiming''s contribution.


    And Lin Shiming had reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. The next step was how to hone spiritual energy, break through to Foundation Establishment, and he had many questions for Lin Houyong.


    The two of them chatted over tea for a good half hour. In the end, it was Lin Shiming who took the initiative to take his leave and returned to his own room.


    In the room, he had also mentioned the Lingnan Seven Fiends to his fifth uncle, but the latter just smiled slightly, full of confidence, and did not say much more.


    With that, Lin Shiming understood. .net


    Who is the mantis, and who is the cicada? It''s best to just wait quietly and see the outcome.


    In the room, Lin Shiming took out a simple Spirit Isolation Formation Array Plate from his storage bag and set it up.


    "2000!"


    "I, Qi Mou, bid 3000!"


    ...


    The Supreme Grade Spirit Shield was in high demand and eventually sold for the high price of 3800 Spirit Stones.


    There were Loose Cultivators who, hoping to save a hundred Spirit Stones, ended up driving the overall expected price even higher.


    Otherwise, even a rare Supreme Grade Spirit Shield Artifact typically wouldn''t fetch nearly four thousand Spirit Stones at auction.


    Lin Shiming, who himself possessed two Supreme Grade defensive Spirit Shield Artifacts, considered selling one upon seeing the auction price.


    The auction continued, and the next few items, compared to the first, were somewhat less impressive until another heavyweight artifact from Thousand Layer Mountain appeared.


    This artifact shared a certain ingenious similarity with Profound Water Heavy Mountain, which piqued his interest. After paying 3500 Spirit Stones, he successfully acquired the Thousand Layer Mountain Artifact.


    Given the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s strength, the Profound Water Heavy Mountain was no longer sufficient for its needs, and the Thousand Layer Mountain was perfectly suitable.


    After auctioning off two more Spirit Plants, it was finally time for the Lin Family''s eagerly anticipated Red Spirit Fish.


    The Red Spirit Fish was enormous, over a meter long, covered in red scales, with a slightly bulging belly,


    Cultivators were particularly enthusiastic upon seeing it, and after learning about the success of the Lin Family Restaurant, the price of the Spirit Fish had skyrocketed, especially among cultivators who owned a Spirit Pool and were eyeing it intently.


    This included quite a few cultivators from other families as well.


    However, they had not received prior notice and were somewhat unprepared in terms of Spirit Stones.


    "A Second Rank Intermediate Grade Red Spirit Fish! Attention all fellow Daoists, this Red Spirit Fish is still in its spawning period. The starting bid is 2000 Spirit Stones, with no less than 100 Spirit Stones for each increment!"


    "2300!"


    "2800 Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    Just as the bidding went back and forth, Lin Shiming decided to put forth a staggering offer:


    "5000 Spirit Stones!"


    His bid, more than double the current one, instantly quelled all others.

 Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Five Poisons

    Directly increasing the bid by more than double the Spirit Stones silenced the entire auction house.


    Even many Loose Cultivators thought the Lin Family''s action was superfluous.


    If you wanted it so badly, you should have negotiated with the seller before the auction.


    Of course, some also speculated that the Lin Family might be maliciously inflating the price, but such shill bidding should be conducted by Loose Cultivators, shouldn''t it?


    "5500 Spirit Stones!" Suddenly, from the crowd, a bald man stood up and raised the bid.


    Lin Shiming glanced over and recognized the bidder as his ''acquaintance'' from two days prior, the bald Cultivator from the Lingnan Seven Fiends.


    The bald man cast a wild glance over the entire hall, his gaze finally settling on Lin Shiming with a provocative air.


    "6000 Spirit Stones!" Lin Shiming also called out his bid without any hesitation.


    He stared at the bald man, still somewhat puzzled. These people seemed to have put the Red Spirit Fish up for auction without ever intending to sell it.


    The Red Spirit Fish had already reached triple its price, and the result was blatantly obvious: the Red Spirit Fish was theirs to begin with.


    So all they needed to pay was a ten percent commission fee.


    "6500 Spirit Stones!" The bald man continued the provocation.


    The bid of five hundred Spirit Stones didn''t even make him blink, and by then it had drawn cheers from the Loose Cultivators. This was undoubtedly the most sensational auction in history, a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Fish worth at most three to four thousand Spirit Stones, was now approaching seven thousand.


    "7000!" Lin Shiming kept up with the bidding. Lin Shijie beside him was somewhat nervous, continuously casting glances to signal Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shijie might not understand, but Lin Shiming did. These Lingnan Seven Fiends were the perfect stooges, helping to create momentum for the Lin Family!


    "8000!" As the bid of eight thousand Spirit Stones was called out, Lin Shiming didn''t continue to bid.


    It was time to cash in and take the eight hundred commission Spirit Stones.


    After paying for the Spirit Stones and receiving the Spirit Fish, the bald Cultivator gave one more provocative glance before leaving.


    He didn''t continue to watch the auction, instead he left the hall directly.


    Clearly telling the Lin Family, if they wanted the Spirit Fish, they should follow him.


    "Quit your foolish explanations. The kid is releasing a spirit seed, a wood attribute cultivator!" After speaking, the snake-tattooed cultivator raised his hand, produced a snake drum, and then an untold number of five-colored and seven-colored poisonous snakes appeared, flying toward Lin Shiming and company.


    When Lin Shiming saw that he had been discovered, he no longer hid his actions and madly cast his Spirit Arts with his hands.


    Suddenly, countless wood vines rose into the sky.


    This time, Lin Shijie wanted to test his sword, and Lin Shiming was equally keen to test his magic!


    With Lin Shiming''s Qi Cultivation at the Ninth Level and more condensed Spiritual Power, the wood vines catalyzed by his Wood Vine Technique seemed endless, densely bursting out in all directions.


    The multitude of spirit snakes was soon submerged, and although some red snakes could still spit fire, burning through the vines, once they cleared a patch,


    the wood vines burned like oil, crackling loudly, and actually created an even larger sea of fire, which instead trapped the Five Fiends.


    But in the next moment, a giant fire snake appeared and swallowed all the flames in one gulp.


    "Careful of the ground!" Lin Shiming warned Lin Shijie.


    Then they saw huge pythons, exceedingly thick, burst from the earth.


    The cultivation of these pythons was formidable; each was at the peak of the second-rank mid-stage, and their numbers were vast.


    At this moment, Lin Shijie also began to wield his sword, employing the Fire-returning Fire Sword technique. As his three-colored Fire Sword surged, he sliced through the giant pythons as easily as cutting melons, severing several second-rank mid-stage pythons in half.


    Meanwhile, the other four Fiends started their attacks.


    Aside from the Snake Fiend, the other four did not summon scorpions or toads; instead, their Spirit Patterns flickered as they began to partially transform.


    The bald cultivator, transformed into a half-toad, leaped hundreds of meters in one bound, arriving right before Lin Shiming and his companion, and slamming down a massive seal towards Lin Shiming.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming did not hesitate and immediately released the Red-haired Demon Monkey from his Storage Bag to fight the bald cultivator.


    As for himself, he commanded three Supreme Grade Flying Swords to directly confront the half-transformed Scorpion and Centipede Fiends; among them, one condensed a massive, gleaming poisonous hook with extraordinary toxicity, hissing corrosively even in open air,


    while the other formed numerous spirit energy legs, continuously shuttling through the soil, occasionally launching sneak attacks on Lin Shiming.


    The last two, the Gecko Fiend and the Snake Fiend, faced Lin Shijie.


    However, the next moment, just when Lin Shiming was preparing to release the Snake Vine Flower and Iron Thornwood, he suddenly felt a tremendous wave of Spirit Might bearing down fiercely upon him.


    "A Foundation Establishment cultivator!" Lin Shiming was immensely shocked, not having anticipated a Foundation Establishment cultivator would act without martial virtue at this moment, his whole body trembling under the crushing pressure of the Spirit Might!

 Chapter 86 Various Foundation Establishments Appear

    In the cloudless sky far and wide, a black-robed cultivator brandishing a Poisonous Dragon tattoo descended, followed closely by a black Spirit Claw released entirely from Spiritual Energy.


    The black Spirit Claw was so immense that it nearly covered half of the sky.


    Carrying an incomparable spiritual pressure, it fiercely clawed towards Lin Shiming.


    Under the tremendous pressure, Lin Shiming felt as if he were bearing the weight of Mount Tai, and it was with great difficulty that he managed to take out two Supreme Grade Magic Artifacts.


    At the same time, he was also tightly clutching an Earth Escape Talisman in his hand.


    Although the earth might not be safe either, he had no other choice.


    The gap between Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation was like a chasm separating heaven and earth.


    But before the claw could land, another blue Flying Sword, with a trail of blue sword light, fiercely slashed onto the claw, instantly scattering sparks like a galaxy, and the clangor of sharp weapons seemed as if it would explode everything.


    Lin Shiming was familiar with the Third Rank Magic Sword; it was the same one he had given to his father.


    He never expected that his father, Lin Houyuan, would also have come in secret.


    "Lin Houyuan!" The Poisonous Dragon tattooed cultivator, whose attack was thwarted, was not annoyed, but instead looked at Lin Houyuan with confidence as if holding the winning ticket.


    "Is there another Foundation Establishment cultivator who has come knocking at the door?"


    "Fellow Daoist Li, there''s no need for you to hide anymore. Once we kill this father and son of the Lin Family, there will be no one left to succeed them!" The Poisonous Dragon tattooed cultivator then looked aside, and beneath the Intermediate Grade Formation, there was a Spirit Concealing Formation, from which a middle-aged man in a blue robe emerged.


    However, the latter didn''t look at Lin Houyuan, nor did he move towards the Poisonous Dragon tattooed cultivator.


    Instead, he eerily spoke to the void.


    "Lin Xianzhi, as expected, you''ve come!"


    The previous Poisonous Dragon tattooed cultivator was suddenly shocked; he had swept the area countless times with his Divine Sense, and the Lin Family couldn''t possibly have set up a formation that he would fail to detect.


    Of course, it wasn''t just the opposing cultivators who were shocked; Lin Shijie was also greatly surprised.


    He had originally thought it to be a simple matter of killing a malevolent cultivator, but never imagined it would escalate to a collision between Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Lin Shijie broke out in a cold sweat, but his body surged with endless Sword Qi. With a clench of his fist, the Fire-returning Fire Sword transformed into a giant sword over nine meters long, with tricolored flames eerily burning on it. The frightening high temperature caused the air to explode with a bang.


    Slash!


    With a light shout, the Fire-returning Fire Sword shot out from his body, slashing toward the Snake Fiend.


    Seeing that Lin Shijie was unharmed, Lin Shiming also let down his guard. In the sky, the ten Snake Vine Flowers almost simultaneously targeted the Scorpion Fiend and Gecko Fiend cultivators.


    Terrifying venom poured out, and Lin Shiming took this moment to see if the two cultivators'' flesh could match that of a Demonic Beast.


    However, the intense screams proved that although both cultivators had undergone half-beast transformations, they were still only made of flesh and blood.


    Under the severe poisoning, they wailed miserably, and then Lin Shiming''s Green Sky Sword easily sliced off their heads.


    The remaining Toad Fiend and Centipede Fiend cultivators wanted to save the former two, but what they faced was an endless downpour of poisonous thorns.


    If they could still react to the Snake Vine Flowers'' speed, the dense barrage of poisonous thorns rained down like a sea of needles, impossible to evade completely.


    Although their speed and escape techniques were numerous, they clearly could not achieve the realm of remaining untouched by the deluge.


    "You think mere thorns can stop us?" However, the poisonous thorns, after all, were only Superior Grade Spirit Vines that relied on quantity for victory. The two half-beast cultivators were protected by Spirit Armor, Spirit Shield, and Spirit Talisman, which failed to inflict significant damage on either Fiend cultivator.


    But before the Toad Fiend with the bald head could be too pleased, the Red-haired Demon Monkey descended from the sky, its Thousand Layer Mountain smashing down fiercely.


    It aimed directly at the bald head of the bald cultivator.


    Although taken by surprise, the latter was not unprepared, and his Spirit Shield blocked the attack in a flash.


    The massive force nearly sent the Spirit Shield flying, and what followed was a huge iron rod, thrusting straight at the bald cultivator.


    The Toad Fiend with the bald head puffed his cheeks like a toad and leaped high into the air, his bouncing power and speed far exceeding that of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, who had just reached the latter stage of the Second Rank, dodging by moving to the side.


    The bald cultivator was about to laugh out loud when two white Profound Soul Needles shot from the body of the Red-haired Demon Monkey toward the Toad Fiend bald cultivator, who had no chance to dodge.


    The Spirit Needles pierced through his brain, causing his immediate demise.


    At the same time, Lin Shiming also turned his attention toward the remaining Centipede Fiend cultivator.


    After a series of maneuvers, Lin Shiming had scared both the Snake Fiend and Centipede Fiend cultivators out of their wits. As Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators, Lin Shiming''s arsenal was just too vast, and his Spiritual Energy seemed inexhaustible, without even the need to consume Spirit Water or Spirit Pills!

 Chapter 87 Gold Threads and Silver Strands

    Off to the side, atop a small hill, Lin Houyuan wielded a sword and shield but ultimately, having entered the Foundation Establishment stage too recently, he could only continuously defend.


    Huge swathes of sand and gravel were flung by the Poisonous Dragon Cultivator''s grasping moves, those black spirit claws seemingly unstoppable.


    If grasped by them, even a body cultivator in Foundation Establishment would likely suffer a serious injury.


    Transformed into a half-dragon cultivator, he left Lin Houyuan utterly incapable of countering.


    Yet Lin Houyuan kept defending, and with a complete set of third-rank magic artifacts for protection, it left the Poisonous Dragon Cultivator with an extremely unsightly complexion.


    Although he was known as one of the Lingnan Seven Fiends, in the end, it was only due to his lucky breakthrough to Foundation Establishment that he had gained some reputation, with almost no wealth or heritage to speak of.


    "Lin Houyuan, you keep defending; do you not want to save your son?"


    "Do you really think Li Xiulei is the cultivator we''ve asked for help?"


    Lin Houyuan felt a sudden jolt upon hearing this, indeed.


    Li Xiulei belonged to the Purple Mansion''s Li Family, not the Huangyun Li Family. If he made a move, and it reached the Qingxuan Sect, the Zi Xuan Hermit could grasp the Li Family by the neck.


    Moreover, aside from Li Xiulei, no other cultivators from the Li Family had shown up, which was highly unusual.


    The possibility that someone else was targeting the Lin Family was very high; the Lingnan Seven Fiends were at most accomplices, and Li Xiulei was simply invited to counter Lin Xianzhi.


    "You''re right, he''s now lying in wait in the dark to strike against your son!" the Poisonous Dragon Cultivator said once more.


    After hearing this, Lin Houyuan looked extremely troubled.


    Although he didn''t fully believe the Poisonous Dragon Cultivator, considering the current situation, Lin Shiming was definitely going to face an ambush.


    He wanted to break through, even if he couldn''t escape, at least to send out a warning.


    But the moment he attacked, he would expose a weakness, and as a Body Refinement combat cultivator, he was virtually a humanoid demonic beast.


    In the blink of an eye, Lin Houyuan was covered in injuries.


    Yet he still continued to attack, heading in the direction of Lin Shiming, seizing the opportunity to launch a Transmission Talisman.


    He knew it was the Poisonous Dragon Cultivator''s trickery, but faced with such deceit, he was unable to calm his heart, nor could he stand by powerlessly.


    ...


    The cratered ground had been drilled with countless holes by the Centipede Cultivator, densely packed together.


    Lin Shiming''s Flying Sword followed closely behind; should the Centipede Cultivator slow down even slightly, it would be able to slay him.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey, on Lin Shiming''s command, also continuously cornered the Centipede Cultivator.


    However, at crucial moments, it would simply burrow into the ground, which was utterly irritating.


    The three Spirit Swords touched it first, immediately producing a screech of metal shearing.


    A shower of sparks burst forth, allowing Lin Shiming to see that it was an extremely fine silver thread.


    Not visible to the naked eye, what was most crucial was that even Divine Sense couldn''t detect it.


    For cultivators, it was often not the eyes but the Divine Sense they relied on to survey their surroundings.


    Such a deeply concealed silver thread magic artifact¡ªif not for the system''s warning¡ªhe certainly wouldn''t have reacted in time.


    Continue reading on m|v-l''e -novelhall.net


    Lin Shiming felt a surge of dread in his heart and, in order not to continue being attacked by the silver thread, his three Supreme Grade spirit swords started to circle, attempting to entangle the silver threads.


    But the silver thread was pulled away with a tug and disappeared once again.


    And the place where it disappeared was precisely where the bald cultivator with the toad fiend mark had been standing before.


    It was evident there was a concealed Spirit Formation designed to hold and hide one''s breath within the Trapping Formation.


    At this point, the Formation was activated again, and a middle-aged cultivator walked out, still wearing the same spirit-separating veil as before.


    "It''s actually Daoist Wu!" Lin Shiming recognized the Wu-surnamed cultivator at a glance.


    He had not expected that after he had spared the man from being killed, it was the latter who had come to his doorstep, seeking to silence him.


    "Daoist Lin is truly capable, even able to detect a golden thread and silver strand magic artifact," said the Wu-surnamed cultivator, his tone carrying a hint of admiration while his demeanor was extremely relaxed¡ªas if the person who had just tried to kill Lin Shiming was not him at all.


    Lin Shiming wanted to continue asking, but then he noticed that some seeds in front of him were suddenly crushed, yet there was nothing to be seen.


    Lin Shiming was instantly alarmed; Daoist Wu truly lived up to his reputation as the one who killed the member of the Spirit Beast Sect, with every word being a trap.


    A corner of his mouth conveyed pleasure and relaxation to divert attention, but in actuality, he had already employed a Demonic Beast!


    Only after scanning carefully with Divine Sense did he suddenly detect a transparent light flicker past, outlining a faint shadow of a lizard in the void, one that was difficult for the eyes to see and which similarly possessed the ability to hide from Divine Sense.


    It was clearly a color-changing lizard Demonic Beast.


    The lizard approached rapidly, and upon sensing that Lin Shiming had discovered it, it dropped all pretense and lunged at Lin Shiming without delay.


    The next moment, the Iron Thornwood seeds that had been catalyzed burst from the ground, blocking the path of the color-changing lizard Demonic Beast completely, and a deluge of Iron Thorn spikes rained down upon it.


    And almost at the same moment the lizard made its move, a Red-haired Demon Monkey dropped from the sky, swinging its staff towards the Wu-surnamed cultivator.


    And just as it was about to strike, the Red-haired Demon Monkey suddenly pulled out the Thousand Layer Mountain, smashing it towards the Wu-surnamed cultivator. Normally, any cultivator would be caught off guard.


    However, the Wu-surnamed cultivator, who had been observing for a long time, showed no surprise. With a mere wave of his hand, a black gorilla burst forth¡ªa Second Rank late-stage Demonic Beast with rugged hide and thick flesh.


    The black gorilla took out a Second Rank Supreme Grade shield and fiercely topped it against the Thousand Layer Mountain, sending it flying away, then clenched its fist and smashed it towards the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and the two immediately engaged in a fierce brawl.

 Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Spiritual Power Contest

    In the nameless hillocks, Lin Shiming gazed intently at the Wu family cultivator, his expression solemn.


    The Wu family cultivator was definitely the most troublesome opponent he had ever encountered. In usual battles, he was able to take control of the situation quickly with his powerful wooden Spirit Seeds, demonic beasts, and ample Spiritual Energy, but this time, the opponent before him was unpredictable.


    And it was very likely that this person was also a disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect; otherwise, he wouldn''t have so many powerful Spirit Beasts, nor the opportunity to kill an inner disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect.


    Therefore, Lin Shiming did not release the Golden Winged Mantis immediately.


    The Golden Winged Mantis was definitely his trump card; the Snake Vine Flower seeds needed to be recharged with spiritual energy after releasing their toxins.


    Lin Shiming grabbed a handful of Spirit Talismans and threw them at the chameleon lizard, then took out a Five Elements tower and bombarded the chameleon lizard demonic beast with Five Elements spells.


    Seeing Lin Shiming aiming to kill his demonic beast, the Wu family cultivator didn''t pause, drawing a golden ring magic artifact, tossed it into the air, forming a golden circular light shield that blocked in front of the Five Elements tower.


    Countless spells rained down, but they could only transform into streaks of Spirit Light.


    They didn''t come close to touching the chameleon lizard.


    The chameleon lizard continued to charge at Lin Shiming.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was not panicked; his fingers swiftly performed a spell gesture. Surprisingly, two Profound Soul Needles were interlaced within two ice crystal Spirit Talisman.


    The Profound Soul Needles circled in the air, emitting a bright white Spirit Light and shooting out cold glints, and in the next moment, they pointed straight at the Wu family cultivator.


    Clang!


    The two previously unstoppable Profound Soul Needles stopped one meter in front of the Wu family cultivator, as a golden glimmering Spirit Shield blocked them both.


    And in the next moment, Lin Shiming''s supreme-grade flying swords and Spirit Shields revolved at high speed, once again colliding with the golden thread silver filament magic artifact.


    Numerous sparks flew, the Spirit Light astonishing.


    Both of their eyebrows raised almost simultaneously, followed by a knowing smile.


    An ambush, a kindred spirit.


    Lin Shiming performed another spell gesture, and numerous wooden vines grew out. But this time, they didn''t entangle the Wu family cultivator but rather wrapped around Lin Shiming. Then, ten Snake Vine Flower seeds appeared in Lin Shiming''s hands.


    In the next moment, they were buried into various covert corners.


    With a chilling glint, the silver strands moved at a terrifying speed. Just as they came half a meter from his neck, the Green Sky Sword flew out and blocked the attack of the golden threads and silver strands, sending countless sparks onto Lin Shiming''s body. The sparks were extinguished by the Spirit Shield of his Taoist robe.


    Lin Shiming was quite frightened afterward, fortunate that he had left the Green Sky Sword as a precaution, otherwise, at that moment, he truly might have been strangled to death by the slender yet sharp silver strands.


    Lin Shiming continued to concentrate intensely and once again controlled the Snake Vine Flower and Iron Thornwood to move toward the Wu-surnamed cultivator, also sending the Golden Winged Mantis to rush at the latter.


    The Wu-surnamed cultivator, who had failed in his assassination attempt, was greatly disappointed. After all, a Direct Disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect had died by his hand in the same way.


    People tend to have a habitual way of thinking. When he used only half of the golden threads and silver strands, he made his enemy cultivator believe that they were only that long. However, in reality, he had concealed the other half, not expecting that Lin Shiming, who always kept a trick up his sleeve, would break his technique.


    The arrival of the Golden Winged Mantis completely panicked the Wu-surnamed cultivator.


    At the same time, he pulled out a Magic Artifact in the shape of a golden bell. The artifact suddenly expanded many times over and locked onto the high-speed Golden Winged Mantis, enveloping it.


    Meanwhile, he stepped back and re-entered the Hiding Spirit Formation.


    The formation obscured vision and spiritual energy, but what transmitted out was an enormous spiritual pressure.


    "He''s using a talisman artifact!" Lin Shiming''s heart instantly turned cold.


    Seeing this, he did not hesitate, pulling out several Spirit Talismans and also a Purple Sword Talisman.


    He was not an Array Master. He wasn''t sure he could break the formation instantly, and if he could not disrupt the formation before the Wu-surnamed cultivator activated his talisman artifact, he would face a devastating talisman artifact.


    The risk was too great. He chose another path, also pulling out a talisman artifact for a talisman artifact clash!


    Spiritual Power for the win!


    With continual hand signs, a Purple Spirit Sword formed out of nowhere within the purple Spirit Talisman, the Sword Qi comparable to Foundation Establishment circulated endlessly around the Purple Spirit Sword.


    Almost simultaneously, the Wu-surnamed cultivator also activated his talisman artifact, which was also a sword.


    Its power was very much similar to that of Lin Shiming''s Purple Sword Talisman. Enjoy exclusive chapters from m-v l''e|-novelhall.net


    "A battle of Spiritual Power, huh?" Lin Shiming murmured, and then the Purple Spirit Sword broke through the air with a slash.


    At that moment, the figure of the Wu-surnamed cultivator appeared again, with a corner of his mouth holding a small bottle, which contained a drop of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, far more precious than Spirit Water.


    A single drop could instantly restore all the Spiritual Energy of someone in the Qi Refinement Realm.


    The Wu-surnamed cultivator swallowed the Spirit Milk in one gulp, then fixing his gaze on Lin Shiming, he spoke with utmost confidence, "You had a slim chance if you gambled on breaking the formation, what a pity..."

 Chapter 89 The Great Geng Metal Talisman (4th Update)

    Faced with the Wu surnamed cultivator''s inexplicable confidence, Lin Shiming looked at the nearly double amount of spiritual energy remaining within the Heart of Heavenwood, a hint of joy inside him, but he did not show it.


    The purple Spirit Sword and the Wu surnamed cultivator''s green Spirit Sword stirred up one sword scar after another in the air.


    The sword light was brilliant, the sword qi fluctuated dramatically, and countless mountains and rocks were destroyed.


    The sword dao prowess at the Foundation Establishment Stage had nearly exhausted all of their focus; neither had any leeway to use other methods.


    And with both Purple Mansion magic artifacts having similar power, the battle now was entirely a contest of spiritual energy reserves.


    This was a test of the cultivator''s cultivation technique rank and recovery speed.


    When the Wu surnamed cultivator''s spiritual energy was half-depleted, drops of sweat also fell from Lin Shiming''s forehead, so the Wu surnamed cultivator was still somewhat relieved. Explore more stories at m,v l''e-novelhall.net


    He had used Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, his spiritual energy was full before the treasure battle, while Lin Shiming had already been through several fights, and even if he had some means to recover spiritual energy, they certainly couldn''t match his.


    Besides, his was an inferior grade Profound Rank technique from the Spirit Beast Sect.


    But when his spiritual energy was only at thirty percent, he noticed with a solemn heart that Lin Shiming looked exactly the same as before¡ªthe number of drops falling, the expression, all the same.


    He could only keep reassuring himself that Lin Shiming was pretending!


    And when only ten percent of spiritual energy was left, the Wu surnamed cultivator''s face began to twist.


    He couldn''t believe it, nor did he want to, because Lin Shiming still looked the same!


    The sweat drops were the same, even the expression didn''t differ by a bit!


    It was still that appearance of spiritual energy seemingly about to run out!


    The Wu surnamed cultivator was almost breaking down; he had finally left the Spirit Beast Sect, plotted for the Foundation Establishment Pill, plotted for the Minor Divine Ability fruit trees, his path, in front of the Purple Mansion, was all smooth sailing.


    With treasures like the gold-threaded and silver-threaded useful in secretive battles, he always believed, even if he fell, it would only be while entering the Golden Core stage from the Purple Mansion.


    "Impossible, how can you still have spiritual energy, you must be forcing yourself!"


    Facing the hysterics of the Wu surnamed cultivator, Lin Shiming could somewhat understand, but he did not respond.


    Sometimes, the scorn of ignoring is more intimidating than mocking scorn, and his Seventh Great-Uncle was just such a person.


    The hysterics of the Wu surnamed cultivator didn''t last long, as with the stroke of the purple Spirit Sword breaking through the air, the Wu surnamed cultivator, drained of spiritual energy, died.


    Lin Shiming collected both the Wu surnamed cultivator''s storage bag and treasures, as well as the Small Bell Magical Instrument into his pouch, and therefore the Golden Winged Mantis was released.


    In a critical moment, he clenched his teeth and formed a hand seal, and in the blink of an eye, ten Snake Vine Flowers broke through the soil and entwined toward the Poisonous Dragon.


    Under his full exertion, the Snake Vine Flowers erupted, surrounding and bursting forth from every direction.


    Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator was too slow to react and was bound by two of the vines but as Lin Shiming prepared to make the venom spray, in the blink of an eye, the Poisonous Dragon forcefully burst them apart.


    However, being bound for even an instant was seen by Lin Houyuan as a tremendous opportunity.


    He pulled out a Spirit Talisman from his hand and pressed down, and it transformed into a gigantic Geng Metal sword!


    "How do you have a third rank Superior Grade Great Geng Sword Talisman?" The eyes of the Poisonous Dragon cultivator were filled with horror.


    He hadn''t expected that Lin Houyuan would possess such an exceptional offensive Spirit Talisman. If he had known Lin Houyuan had such a killing talisman, he would have never engaged in battle with Hou Yuan.


    What was even more fatal was he found himself unable to move.


    As the Great Geng Sword Talisman was activated, nearly a hundred zhang of golden sword aura shone brightly, overshadowing the sun and dazzling to behold.


    Everything the sword light enveloped turned to ashes.


    The Poisonous Dragon cultivator, no matter how heaven-defying his body, was left with no choice but to succumb under the precise activation of the Great Geng Sword Talisman.


    Leaving behind only a Storage Bag and a single Poisonous Dragon''s claw.


    Seeing the claw, Lin Shiming also recalled the Five Fiends who had left similar beast limbs, suggesting that these legendary Seven Fiends of Lingnan likely cultivated a half-beast transformation body refining technique.


    "Shiming, let''s go find Seventh Great-Uncle!" Despite his numerous injuries, Lin Houyuan spoke up after consuming a third rank Healing Pill.


    Now that the Lin Family had a third rank Alchemist, the several third rank elixir recipes left behind by the Purple Mansion Family finally had their use.


    Otherwise, for the Lin Family, having more cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage would mean a significant expense for third rank elixirs.


    The two of them hurried to the site of Lin Xianzhi and Li Xiulei''s battle.


    The ground was littered with scorch marks and sword scars, pockmarked and ravaged, some areas wrought with lingering sword qi while others crackled with lingering arcs of electricity.


    Their battle had leveled nearly half a mountain top.


    In the sky, the two were still locked in a stalemate, but Li Xiulei''s face turned exceedingly grim upon seeing Lin Houyuan and Lin Shiming, and after a glance, he immediately escaped using his thunder techniques.


    Lin Xianzhi didn''t give chase, nor could he chase. Both Sword Cultivators and Thunder Cultivators excelled in combat, but it must be noted that Lin Xianzhi had only recently entered the later stage of Foundation Establishment, while Li Xiulei had been at that stage for decades!


    Moreover, at this time, a streak of sword light appeared in the distance, and upon seeing it, Lin Shiming realized that the newcomer was none other than Xie An from Qingxuan Sect.

 Chapter 90: Chapter 90 Post-War Gains

    In a deeper part of the bamboo forest in Xing County Square Market, the tranquility here is unmatched.


    A few sparsely distributed small wooden houses lay within the bamboo forest, with a stream babbling by.


    From time to time, some bamboo rats would leap around.


    And at this moment within one of these small wooden houses, Lin Shiming finally opened his eyes.


    A full day and night had passed since the battle, and he, whose spiritual energy was nearly depleted, had finally restored it all.


    On that day, when Xie An arrived, the great battle had already concluded.


    Not only did the conflict on Lin Shiming''s side end, but the disturbance in Xing County Square Market had also ceased.


    The remaining one of the Seven Fiends of Lingnan, an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, along with a large group of evil cultivators, had intended to take advantage of the Lin Family''s leaders being out to plunder all of the Lin Family''s treasures.


    But what they did not know was that not only had Lin Houyong reached Foundation Establishment, but Xie An was also hidden in this bamboo forest.


    In the end, all the evil cultivators were captured in one fell swoop.


    And the final Great Geng Sword Talisman from Lin Houyuan was indeed a purchase that cost the Lin Family over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    Lin Shiming took a deep breath, relieved at the favorable outcome. The Lin Family had not suffered any losses, and on the contrary, they had acquired the wealth of the Seven Fiends of Lingnan. They even requested Xie An to report up to the Qingxuan Sect, and thus, there was a good chance that Lingnan County would also be annexed into the Lin Family''s territories.


    Although Lingnan County was more remote and less populated than Xing County, making it possible for the malicious Seven Fiends to take control in the first place.


    Lin Shiming shook his head and stopped dwelling on these thoughts, instead, he took out the Storage Bag he had obtained from the spoils. This time, his gains were indeed substantial.


    Setting aside other treasures, the Magic Artifact of golden thread and silver wire from the bald-headed cultivator was a rare and powerful weapon. Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, it would still provide a chance for a surprise attack when facing other Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Now, Lin Shiming finally had time to sort through his spoils. First, he pulled out the Storage Bag of the bald-headed cultivator and a Spirit Beast Bag, which contained the Red Spirit Fish that the Lin Family needed this time.


    Then he turned his attention to the Storage Bag, only to be somewhat disappointed after a thorough inspection.


    It was indeed a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was overwhelmed with joy. He had not expected that, while failing to find the Minor Divine Ability tree, he would acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill which would be more beneficial in the short-term. Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e -novelhall.net


    Although the Lin Family could also refine Foundation Establishment Pills, the main ingredients were limited, and it would be decades before the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Trees bore fruit again!


    Acquiring the Foundation Establishment Pill now meant that Lin Shiming could attempt Foundation Establishment on his own, in his thirties.


    With his heart racing with excitement, Lin Shiming carefully sealed the Jade Bottle with the Foundation Establishment Pill and placed it into his Storage Bag.


    He then continued to examine the remaining treasures of the Wu-named cultivator.


    The Wu-named cultivator was extremely wealthy, even more so than the newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Huang Family. The Storage Bag contained more than ten thousand Spirit Stones, with over fifty of them being Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but sigh, "Indeed, fortune comes with danger."


    The gains from this adventure were equivalent to nearly twenty years of his family stipend, and that didn''t even include Supreme Grade magic artifacts and Elixirs.


    Besides Spirit Stones, Lin Shiming found over ten bottles of Elixirs, most of them Second Rank Superior Grade Condensing Essence Pills, which had effects superior to those of Green Spirit Pills. A bottle of Condensing Essence Pills was worth at least a thousand Spirit Stones, meaning that the Elixirs accounted for another seven or eight thousand Spirit Stones.


    These Elixirs were clearly meant for the Wu-named cultivator''s attempts at reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, but now they were all Lin Shiming''s for the taking.


    This meant that he wouldn''t have to worry about a shortage of Elixirs for the next several years, and as long as he had enough Honeydew, he could even attempt a Foundation Establishment breakthrough before his family went to the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    In a corner of the Storage Bag, Lin Shiming also discovered a counter displaying a few Jade Slips.


    Lin Shiming was highly interested in the Jade Slips, knowing that the Beef Nurturing Pill recipe sold by the Wu-named cultivator was already of great value. The remaining Jade Slips could very well be secrets of the Spirit Beast Sect not shared with outsiders.


    Lin Shiming didn''t hesitate to probe the Jade Slips with his Divine Sense.


    "Beast Taming Basic Truths!" The first Jade Slip immediately piqued his interest.


    Although the Beast Taming Basic Truths was only introductory material for the Spirit Beast Sect, for Lin Shiming, who knew of nothing other than the Blood Covenant method, it was exceedingly precious.


    It contained methods for controlling Demonic Beasts, various Spirit Contracts, ways to nurture Demonic Beasts, and even Secret Techniques for aiding their advancement. In particular, it included a Control Spirit Contract that could even establish contracts with adult Demonic Beasts.

 Chapter 91 Treasure Hunt in Lingnan

    In the small wooden hut, Lin Shiming took a long breath of relief, feeling extremely satisfied and relaxed, having now gone through all the Jade Slips.


    Some of these Jade Slips were about spell techniques, while the rest were about beast taming.


    Apart from an introductory true explanation on beast taming, there was also a Spirit Insect list crafted by the Spirit Beast Sect, the Heaven and Earth Demonic Insect List.


    There were also two beast taming elixir formulas, one was an elixir that promoted the breeding of Demonic Beasts, the Seduction Demon Pill, and another formula that helped Demonic Beasts advance, the Breakthrough Demon Pill.


    For Lin Shiming at this moment, the Seduction Demon Pill was naturally of no use, but the Breakthrough Demon Pill was something he urgently needed.


    The Golden Winged Mantis had already begun to manifest its third pair of wings, which was also the reason for its terrifying speed. Before, Lin Shiming thought that the Golden Winged Mantis was a mutation, but after obtaining the Heaven and Earth Demonic Insect List,


    he just learned that the Golden Winged Mantis possessed the bloodline of the Six-Winged Sky Mantis, ranked eighty-nine on the list.


    Once the six wings are fully formed, it could completely break through to the Third Rank and become a Foundation Establishment Stage Demonic Beast.


    By then, even if Lin Shiming''s future opponents were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with the Golden Winged Mantis by his side, he would possess formidable combat strength when facing them.


    After organizing all his gains, Lin Shiming took the Red Spirit Fish and headed for Lin Houyuan''s cave dwelling.


    Lin Shiming first sent out a Sound Transmission Talisman, discovering that the latter was in the furthest wooden hut among several small ones.


    And Lin Xianzhi, the Seventh Great-Uncle, and Lin Houyong, the fifth uncle, were both present.


    When Lin Shiming arrived, they were discussing when to take over Lingnan County and who would be assigned to guard it.


    With the family''s current good financial situation, if they wanted to grow, they naturally had to increase the number of family cultivators. And to increase the number of family cultivators, the base number of mortals also had to rise.


    Although Lingnan County didn''t have a large population, if managed carefully, raising tens of thousands of mortals was not an issue.


    Of course, the bandit den of the Seven Fiends in Lingnan also had to be swept clean; there was an inferior-grade Third Rank Spirit Vein there that could support a Foundation Establishment Cultivator''s cultivation and relieve the pressure on the Spirit Veins of Fangmu Mountain.


    "Uncle Nine, Seventh Great-Uncle, let me go. Both the family estate and Xing County Square Market cannot afford any mishaps right now. Houyong has yet to establish any merit previously, so this would be a good opportunity for him to share the family''s worries and redevelop Lingnan County!" Lin Houyong volunteered with a bow.


    The Seven Fiends of Lingnan were already dead, leaving only a few Qi Cultivators at the Spirit Vein mountain, so naturally, it would be better to take over the location sooner rather than later.


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming was overjoyed to receive the array flags, never expecting his great-uncle to have prepared a set of defensive array flags just for him.


    This set of array flags was priceless to Qi Cultivators. A second-rank peak defensive array could fend off a general Foundation Establishment cultivator for a brief moment, as long as the supply of Spirit Stones was sufficient.


    After leaving Lin Xianzhi''s wooden hut, Lin Shiming crossed through the bamboo forest to enter the marketplace controlled by his clan in Xing County.


    When he looked back using his Divine Sense to scan the quiet bamboo forest and its several huts, he discovered that apart from the bamboo, there was nothing else under his Divine Sense.


    Lin Shiming first visited his family''s Lin Clan Trading Alliance, where he sought out Lin Houyuan to purchase the spiritual objects needed for the trip to Lingnan County.


    With nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones in his storage bag, he was feeling unusually generous.


    He first bought two hundred catties of Spirit Water, prepared for the three Spirit Beasts. There was no lack of Demonic Beast meat, as they had just slaughtered four Demonic Beasts the previous few days, and there were still many corpses of Demon Serpents. He had also obtained ten bottles of Beast Nurturing Pills from the Second Elder before he left.


    The only thing missing was the Spirit Water that the three Spirit Beasts had been drinking since they were young.


    Besides that, he sold all of his second-rank superior-grade magic artifacts, as well as a few second-rank supreme-grade ones that he no longer needed.


    He kept only four Supreme Grade Spirit Swords, two Supreme Grade Spirit Shields, one Profound Spirit Ring, one Sky-Entrapping Bell, in addition to the Golden Thread Silver Wire, Profound Soul Needle, and the Five Elements Tower.


    All other artifacts were sold, totaling six thousand Spirit Stones.


    This was still selling to the family, whose offer was slightly less than the normal market price. Otherwise, he could have gotten even more Spirit Stones.


    In return, he acquired over a dozen talismans containing second-rank superior-grade spells, plus one Earth Escape Talisman, one Wind Escape Talisman, and one Water Escape Talisman.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming also browsed the entire market, gathering the main and auxiliary ingredients required to make the Demon Core Breaking Pill. Regrettably, there was no trace of the two main ingredients, the Tearful Ginseng and Jade Demon Fruit; he only managed to procure some auxiliary ingredients.


    However, he was not disappointed ¨C the Demon Core Breaking Pill was, after all, a third-rank elixir. If the primary ingredients were so easy to obtain, the cultivator with the surname Wu would probably have already found them for his Demonic Beast''s pill.


    That night, Lin Shiming followed quietly behind the Spirit Boat controlled by Lin Houyong, riding on the Golden Luan Eagle and hastening towards Lingnan County in the evening.


    Lin Houyong didn''t fly the Spirit Boat too swiftly. The group of cultivators numbered ten, which included five cultivators of the ''Hou'' generation in the late stages of Qi Cultivation, and five cultivators of the ''Shi'' generation in the mid stages of Qi Cultivation.


    And these people would all be stationed in the South Nanling Mountain within Lingnan County for several years to come.

 Chapter 92 Clues to the Cave Dwelling

    Lingnan County, Nanling Mountain, this place is also known as Seven Fiends Mountain.


    True to its name, the entire mountain was situated on the mountain''s shadowy side, shrouded in black fog, giving off a somewhat grim and eerie vibe.


    Lin Houyong led his team into Nanling Mountain''s territory, and the Spirit Boat was immediately activated at full power.


    As for the black fog before their eyes, it might intimidate ordinary people and some Loose Cultivators, but it couldn''t stop the Lin Family Cultivators.


    Even before Lin Houyong made a move, the second elder of the Hou generation, Lin Houshou, stepped forward solemnly, releasing several Spirit Arts.


    A Spirit Flag flew out and in an instant, transformed into a series of rolling flames in the sky, which caused the black fog to instantly emit squealing noises.


    The Spirit Light flickered and shifted, and much like having x-ray vision, identified the key point of the Mist Formation.


    Another Spirit Art was cast, the flames descended, and the key point was destroyed.


    "No high-level Cultivators?" Lin Houshou hadn''t expected that the Formation would be so easy to break, and that no one was controlling the formation to change the variations of the Spirit Light in its foundation.


    The next moment, the black fog dissipated greatly, revealing the mountain peaks of Nanling Mountain.


    The sect''s buildings atop the mountain peaks came into view, and several Cultivators hurriedly flew up. These Cultivators also had some tattoos, but they were much smaller and much fainter compared to the Lingnan Seven Fiends.


    Most of these Cultivators were in the early stages of Qi Cultivation, with only a few in the middle stage who appeared quite old, as if they had been in Nanling Mountain for a long time.


    "Which Sect''s Cultivators are causing trouble on our Seven Fiends Mountain?"


    A few Cultivators stared at Lin Houyuan and his party, their hearts filled with trepidation, yet they tried to appear calm.


    The Lingnan Seven Fiends had a notorious reputation in Yunzhou, with countless enemies. Were it not for their Poisonous Dragon Sect Leader''s Foundation Establishment Cultivation Level, Nanling Mountain would have been leveled many times over.


    "Some have started to run! Attack!" Lin Houyuan, facing some junior Qi Cultivators, had no intention of responding, directly unleashing his Third Rank Flying Sword.


    Normally, he might boast about his Foundation Establishment status and not take action against Qi Cultivators, but they were currently on a clan extermination mission, so naturally, there was no trace of mercy.


    Almost at the same moment as Lin Houyuan made a move, the other Lin Family Cultivators also summoned their Flying Swords, lighting up the entire sky with radiant Spirit Light.


    A few tattooed Cultivators were shocked, then in the next moment, almost all of them transformed into half-beast forms, scattering in all directions like birds and beasts.


    Putting aside his thoughts, Lin Shiming also took the opportunity to congratulate Lin Houyong.


    "Thank you, Uncle Wu, for elucidating that for me, and congratulations on taking Nanling Mountain for the family, securing another Third Rank Spirit Vein territory, as well as the entire domain of Nanling County."


    "Ha ha, I cannot take all the credit for that achievement; your father and Seventh Great-Uncle contributed the most!" Lin Houyong quickly waved his hand, and then with a lift of his eyebrows, he laughed and continued:


    "Perhaps my contributions might not even compare to yours!"


    After hearing this, Lin Shiming repeatedly waved his hand, well aware of the extent of his actual contributions. Of course, he also understood that Lin Houyong was referring to his actions of killing three of the Five Fiends and aiding Lin Houyuan in slaying the Fiend Leader, the Poisonous Dragon.


    .net


    "However, taking down Nanling County will indeed bring significant financial improvements for the family; moreover, the number of mortals in the family can now grow on a large scale..."


    Lin Houyong continued to recount the information he had obtained through Soul Searching Technique.


    When the Lingnan Seven Fiends departed, they took a large number of subordinates and nearly all of the Spirit Stone wealth with them, so there weren''t many Spirit Stones left in Nanling County. Additionally, the Lingnan Seven Fiends were an upstart faction formed by Loose Cultivators, lacking any heritage in pill cultivation or plant cultivation.


    In the entire Third Rank Spirit Vein, they had planted only ordinary Spirit Rice, with the minor Spirit Flowers and Spirit Grasses having been plundered.


    The only item of great value was the Sha Pattern heritage, originating from an ancient cultivator''s cave residence.


    But when taken over by the Lin Family, Nanling Mountain could at least accommodate two new Spirit Plant gardens, and with the original four to five thousand mortals of Nanling County, as long as the family relocates ten to twenty thousand more mortals and assimilates them, the family would be able to produce several Immortal Cultivation seeds every ten years.


    Most importantly, Nanling County is well-located, close to Qingzhou, which would also facilitate commerce for the Lin Family.


    The Li Family may control the largest market in Yunzhou, Qingyun Market, but they cannot control the Lin Family''s commerce in Qingzhou.


    Besides commerce, there''s a small area in Nanling County close to the Qingyun Mountain range. Although it''s only the periphery, it could still allow the Lin Family''s Demon Hunting Team to enter for training. For cultivators, cultivation level is certainly important, but combat skills are equally indispensable.


    And upon hearing Lin Houyong mention the periphery of the Qingyun Mountain range, Lin Shiming suddenly recalled the Entry Guide to Beast Taming as well as the Wu-named cultivator.


    Excitement surged within him once more.


    If he was not mistaken, the Wu-named cultivator''s cave residence must be located in Nanling County, near the Qingyun Mountain range.


    After all, the Spirit Beast Sect excelled at dealing with Demonic Beasts, and it was only in such a Demonic Beast mountain range that the Wu-named cultivator could take full advantage of his strengths.

 Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Mines and Formations

    Qingyun Mountain Range, Qingshi Ridge.


    This is the place in Lingnan County that is closest to the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    Unlike other areas near the mountain range, various types of strange stones crisscross within the mountains here. From a distance, if not for the few low-lying plants, one would definitely think this was a mountain made entirely of stone.


    A sword light descended from the sky and landed on a huge boulder that rose a hundred meters above the surface.


    The cultivator was none other than Lin Shiming, who had traveled all the way from Nanling Mountain. He held a Jade Slip in his hands, occasionally gazing into the distance.


    His Divine Sense continuously swept out and finally, he ascertained that he had reached the destination of his journey.


    Qingshi Ridge.


    If one had not been to Qingshi Ridge before, they probably wouldn''t believe that it also extended to the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    So many stones meant that there were few Demonic Beasts in this area, and almost no cultivators came here for adventure.


    Even the map in the Jade Slip Lin Shiming held was recorded by a cultivator ten years ago.


    Having reached the place, Lin Shiming did not hesitate any longer. He began to search inch by inch around Qingshi Ridge, the area he believed to be the most likely spot.


    However, to his disappointment, he found absolutely nothing even after half a day.


    Then he thought of the Golden Winged Mantis. It was worth noting that the Golden Wing, even separated by an Inheritance Stone in Peach Blossom Valley, had found Second Rank Supreme Grade Spiritual Wine.


    True to expectations, the Golden Winged Mantis extended its triangular golden head forward, conveying an urgent emotional fluctuation to Lin Shiming.


    Soon after, with several squeaks and the fluttering of its four golden wings, the Golden Winged Mantis turned into a streak of golden light and headed towards a section of rubble.


    About the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, the Golden Winged Mantis landed under an ordinary tea tree.


    The tea tree still had white flowers blooming, but the more Lin Shiming looked at it, the more ordinary it seemed.


    There were virtually no fluctuations of Spiritual Energy in the surroundings. It was just an ordinary tea tree in an ordinary location through and through.


    Feeling the urgent emotional fluctuations from the Golden Winged Mantis, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but doubt it. After all, a mantis is still a mantis, and not a Spirit Mouse or Spirit Dog.


    However, what shocked him to the point of speechlessness was that the Golden Winged Mantis actually began to dig into the earth with its two scythe-like forelegs.


    And Lin Shiming instantly had a realization¡ªbeneath the ground!


    Although he had searched all over Qingshi Ridge, he had not searched beneath Qingshi Ridge.


    Below the Spirit Isolation Formation were attack and defense formations.


    With such preparations, he still felt somewhat uneasy, holding the sky-confining bell in one hand and the golden-threaded silver filament magic artifact in the other.


    Subsequently, the three beasts and one man launched an attack on the formation.


    The Spirit Isolation Formation on the outermost layer trembled violently with Lin Shiming''s attacks, and the surrounding Spirit Light Shield began to fluctuate intensely.


    Countless streams of Spirit Light surged within the Spirit Shield like a sea, constantly replenishing it. No cracks appeared, even as the Golden Winged Mantis''s scythes created tears that were soon submerged by the surging Spirit Light and restored.


    And so, Lin Shiming and the three Demonic Beasts attacked underground for a full three days.


    The three Spirit Beasts even ate Spirit Food and Beast Nurturing Pills three times, until finally, with a crisp sound of shattering glass,


    The Spirit Shield broke.


    And it was at that moment, suddenly, a golden and an earthy yellow breath of light shot towards Lin Shiming.


    However, a huge mysterious bell appeared in front of Lin Shiming. It was the Five Spirit Mysterious Bell Formation.


    The breath of Spirit Light disappeared without a trace, and it was only then that Lin Shiming saw a dual-headed lizard appear where the formation had broken, seemingly out of nowhere.


    The lizard clearly had one golden and one earthy head, with both heads capable of spewing breath.


    Lin Shiming felt a shudder of fear. It was lucky he had been cautious; otherwise, he might have fallen into the trap left by the dead Wu-named cultivator¡ªthe Demonic Beast left behind was naturally intended to be his legacy.


    Lin Shiming was extremely interested in this dual-headed lizard, not only because of its gold and earth attributes but also its ability to breathe elemental attacks.


    After ordering the Golden Winged Mantis not to act rashly, he had the Red-haired Demon Monkey randomly smash around.


    Eventually, he used the sky-confining bell to directly cover the latter, trapping it inside.


    Lin Shiming wanted to use the newly mastered Spirit Control Technique on the dual-headed Dragon Lizard, but to his disappointment, it wasn''t successful. This was a wild Demonic Beast which had already been controlled by the Wu-named cultivator.


    A forcible master-servant contract could not be established again.


    In the end, regretfully, he had to kill the dual-headed lizard.


    And it was then, under the immense pressure of the cave dwelling, that Lin Shiming finally saw a low and small tree that he had been longing for.


    The small tree was bathed in treasured light, with rich Spiritual Energy, and the Spirit Patterns on the tree were lifelike,


    It was indeed the Minor Divine Ability tree!

 Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Favoring the Worthy Without Avoiding Relatives

    The Minor Divine Ability Tree was planted in a stone pool approximately three feet in diameter, which contained no water but sparse mud instead.


    However, mysteriously, the mud did not share the same extraordinary splendor as that of the radiance shining from the Minor Divine Ability Tree.


    The mud remained plain black and yellow in color, but from within the sparse soil emanated an extremely thick aura of Earth Attribute Spiritual Energy.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but walk forward; he had been focusing solely on the Minor Divine Ability Tree, completely forgetting about the soil and the stone pool.


    Now, he could see that this was anything but ordinary soil¡ªit was all Third Rank Spirit Soil.


    And as the Array broke, the hall began to emit the Spiritual Energy of a Third Rank Earth Attribute Spirit Vein.


    Everything became clear; the Wu-named cultivator indeed found a good location. No wonder he infiltrated the Seven Fiends of Lingnan; this Third Rank Earth Attribute Spirit Vein was the same as the ones within the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    It was most suitable for the growth of the Minor Divine Ability Tree, and there was so much Third Rank Spirit Soil¡ªa full stone pool of it, much more than in the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    However, he estimated that the Minor Divine Ability Tree must have certain requirements for the Spirit Soil, for it had taken a large amount of Spirit Soil with it when it was taken from the Spirit Beast Sect.


    Lin Shiming''s gaze joyfully returned to the Divine Ability Tree.


    Rich treasures in radiance swirled around it as if it contained the miracle of heaven and earth within it¡ªstunningly beautiful.


    Simply standing beside it, one could feel as if the sound of the Dao was echoing around.


    The Minor Divine Ability Tree would only reach about three feet in height in its lifetime, making it exceptionally short compared to other Spirit Trees.


    But it would take a full two hundred years to mature.


    The essence of two hundred years'' worth of Spiritual Energy would concentrate in a single fruit, and once the fruit ripened, the tree would wither.


    Just imagine, a single Minor Divine Ability fruit could allow a Purple Mansion cultivator to comprehend an additional Minor Divine Ability¡ªundoubtedly elevating their level on the Purple Mansion path.


    Even among Sect Purple Mansion cultivators, not everyone could comprehend a Minor Divine Ability.


    Based on its current height, the Minor Divine Ability Tree appeared to be only sixty years old, which meant it required another one hundred and forty years to mature, which somewhat disappointed Lin Shiming.


    But to possess such a treasure was already as fortuitous as having clouds of luck. If it were about to mature, its value would be much greater, and the likelihood of him being able to obtain it would be even slimmer.


    Lin Shiming was also a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Plant Master at this moment; he hesitated over whether to transplant the Minor Divine Ability Tree. Transplanting it would surely harm the tree, but to leave it here without a Third Rank Spirit Shielding Array was also risky.


    Being near the Qingyun Mountain Range, who knew how many Demonic Beasts would come, and even worse were the cultivators that might arrive.


    If word got out, those seeking trouble with the Lin Family wouldn''t just be Foundation Establishment families and the Purple Mansion Family; undoubtedly, the Qingxuan Sect and Spirit Beast Sect would be among them.


    This caught Lin Houyuan by surprise, prompting him to inquire,


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, what do you mean?"


    "What do you think about him becoming the Family Head?" asked Lin Xianzhi out of the blue.


    "This... although Shiming is talented, he is still inexperienced and in need of further tempering. It would be better to let Hou Shou take the position," Lin Houyuan answered hesitantly.


    Even though he was well aware of Seventh Great-Uncle''s intentions and truly hoped for Lin Shiming to succeed, the twenty-five-year-old Lin Shiming still seemed too young to him.


    "Are you still regretting what happened with the water matter? Remember, in choosing the worthy, do not avoid your relatives. Since Shiming is capable, why not let him try? Whether it''s the auction or the matter of the Huang Family''s Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, he has shown a vision that is even longer-term than yours or mine," Lin Xianzhi praised and replied.


    Just then, a streak of Spirit Light appeared and landed in Lin Xianzhi''s hand.


    After giving it a glance, Lin Xianzhi smiled and said,


    "Speaking of Shiming, he''s just arrived."


    Hearing this, Lin Houyuan also showed a puzzled expression. When Lin Shiming applied to go to Lingnan County, he had said that the time was not fixed and that he wanted to temper himself.


    Less than a half month had passed, and he was already done tempering himself?


    Lin Xianzhi seemed to have an inkling and, with a wave of his hand, sent out a Spirit Message.


    It wasn''t long before Lin Shiming arrived at the pavilion.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Father!" Lin Shiming greeted the two elders respectfully.


    Then, with an excited expression, he said,


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Father, I''ve discovered a vein of Golden Iron Stone in Lingnan County!"


    Upon hearing this, both men immediately stood up from their tea, faces full of shock.


    "Are you certain it''s a vein of Golden Iron Stone?" they both asked with a tremor in their voices.


    Although the Lin Family was already doing much better among the Foundation Establishment families, the family''s finances were a huge concern. The Li Family was targeting them in Qingyun Square Market, and assassinations were carried out against the Lin Family''s Demon Hunting Team in the Qingyun Mountain range.


    As a result, the family had to raise their wages considerably, but their income had decreased significantly.


    Even with the recent income from Xing County Square Market and the Spirit Fish, the family''s development was still hampered by the scarcity of Spirit Stones. To think, the Lin Family''s Immortal Assembly for the Shi generation was fast approaching eighty members.


    Faced with the elders'' bewilderment, Lin Shiming promptly took out a palm-sized piece of Golden Iron Stone and showed it to the two elders for inspection.

 Chapter 95 What Do You Think of the Family Head?

    ```


    In the pavilion, Lin Xianzhi held the Golden Iron Stone and, after examining it for a while, could no longer hide his joy.


    He then handed the Golden Iron Stone to Lin Houyuan for inspection.


    "Shiming, you''ve done very well. You''ve made another great contribution to our family."


    "Have you notified your Fifth Uncle?" Lin Xianzhi suddenly frowned, seeming to think of something, and then asked Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming also hastily waved his hands and respectfully said:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Shiming was somewhat impatient upon discovering the vein and has not yet informed Fifth Uncle."


    "Very good, the Qingxuan Sect has already sent people to Lingnan County, and the Li Family has interfered, tripling the tribute that our family is supposed to offer to the court!"


    "If this news is discovered even the tiniest bit, I''m afraid the tribute will be manipulated by them again!"


    After Lin Xianzhi had spoken, all three of them simultaneously harbored deep resentment towards the Li Family''s actions.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Shiming has made another discovery!" Lin Shiming spoke again, this time with an even more solemn expression.


    This made Lin Xianzhi''s brows tighten, and with another wave of the array flag, he further reinforced the Spirit Isolation Formation around Fangmu Mountain''s Qinglian Pool.


    In fact, the formation around the Qinglian Pool itself was already extremely tight. Lin Xianzhi seldom reinforced it, but now he realized that eight out of the recent ten times had been because of Lin Shiming.


    Once the Spirit Isolation Formation was reinforced, Lin Houyuan next to him looked a bit peculiar, wondering why they hadn''t been so careful with the Golden Iron Stone just now.


    Could there be something even more precious than a Second Rank Supreme Grade Golden Iron Stone vein?


    However, in the next moment, when Lin Shiming took out a Jade Box, a radiant light shone through it.


    The two were as if struck by thunder, even more stunned.


    And after looking at it for a moment, Lin Xianzhi suddenly took out array flags from his bosom and successively issued ten true flags, activating ten Spiritual Powers.


    He reinforced the Spirit Isolation Formation by ten more layers and even activated Fangmu Mountain''s Defensive Array.


    "Could this be the Minor Divine Ability Tree?" It was Lin Houyuan, Shiming''s father, who first swallowed hard and broke the silence.


    "Yes." As Lin Xianzhi spoke, he also took out a Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Jade to fashion a new Jade Box.


    He replaced the Jade Box to stop the brilliant light from leaking out.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Father, this was obtained from a Cultivator named Wu''s cave dwelling, and no second person knows of it," Lin Shiming explained, seeing the cautious look in both their eyes.


    "It''s just a pity that the treasure tree is only sixty years old!"


    "Also, what do you think about becoming the Family Head?"


    With another word from Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming was shocked, his face a picture of disbelief.


    "You need not be too surprised, nor worry that becoming the Family Head will affect your cultivation!" Seeing Lin Shiming''s shocked silence, Lin Xianzhi spoke again.


    "Cultivators in Immortal Cultivation put family first. Half is to support the family to repave their debt, and the other half to take the family into one''s service. Your talent, intelligence, and fortune are all of superior quality. Becoming the ultimate ruler of the family, you will go farther."


    After finishing, Lin Xianzhi stared at Lin Houyuan and remained silent.


    The words were laid out, it was up to Lin Shiming to decide.


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle, Shiming is willing to give it a try!" Lin Shiming finally nodded in agreement.


    He had not hesitated just now; he was simply astounded.


    Logically, given his age, it was indeed quite early to be the Family Head.


    His father was the present Family Head, and he had some understanding of the position.


    The benefits of being the Family Head were enormous. For instance, with regard to cultivation resources, after becoming the Family Head, he would become the family''s foremost cultivation priority. There would be no more worries about Spirit Stones and Spirit Water, and he could utilize the family''s full resources to aid in his cultivation.


    Just as Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan were doing now.


    Moreover, in terms of family affairs, as long as responsibilities were properly delegated, he would only need to make strategic decisions, which would not greatly impact his cultivation.


    After all, there were other Elders below him.


    ...


    Lin Shiming returned to his own cave dwelling, his shocked heart gradually calming down, but a higher position also signified greater responsibility, and required greater strength.


    He did not have time to rest at this moment.


    First, he planted the Minor Divine Ability Tree next to the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree without any delay.


    Once the precious tree was planted, Lin Shiming felt most of the Spiritual Energy being drawn towards him, which immediately filled him with joy.


    The Spiritual Energy was denser, which incidentally helped his cultivation as well.


    Then, Lin Shiming planted the seeds of the Awakening Spirit Flower.


    Next, he channeled the Spiritual Power of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra into the Heavenly Spirit Fruit, Awakening Spirit Flower, and other Spirit Plants, catalyzing each of them.


    Finally, he dealt with the Spirit Bees, fed three Spirit Beasts, and then returned to the stone bed to quietly contemplate the future of the family.


    Because, in his view, the family needed reform! Explore stories on m,v l''e-novelhall.net

 Chapter 96: Chapter 96 Here are the Five Items

    Earth Fire Hall, Pill Pavilion.


    Lin Shiming had once again come to the Earth Fire Hall, where the hall seemed even more fiery red, and one could feel the scorching hot waves from afar.


    The Formation Artifact Manual had brought the Lin Family Third Rank elixirs and Third Rank magic artifacts, but it also made the Earth Fire Hall even more volatile, with the rising ground fire burning incessantly.


    A few of the Shiming generation apprentices who had previously controlled the furnaces were now practicing alchemy in the artifact refining chamber, each displaying considerable progress.


    Only a few newcomers were left, either tending to the furnace or memorizing elixir formulas.


    Stay connected via m-v l|e''-novelhall.net


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming arrive, they hurriedly called out "Seventh Brother."


    "Where is Second Granduncle?" Lin Shiming asked, not seeing any sign of Lin Yuqi and feeling an inexplicable worry in the bottom of his heart.


    "Second Granduncle is helping Sister Thirty-One with alchemy; she''s about to break through to an intermediate-grade Second Rank alchemist!" The teenagers, obviously in extreme admiration of their so-called Sister Thirty-One, announced.


    Lin Shiming also remembered that nine years had passed, and the once timid girl was now eighteen, about to break through to an intermediate-grade Second Rank alchemist.


    It was said that her cultivation level had also reached the sixth layer of Qi Cultivation.


    The speed of this cultivator with dual spirit roots and her talent for alchemy made even Lin Shiming quite envious.


    Lin Shiming didn''t have to wait too long; after all, an intermediate-grade Second Rank elixir didn''t take as long to concoct as a Third Rank elixir, which could take days or even up to eight months.


    When the room opened, Lin Shitao stepped out supporting Lin Yuqi, both of them showing joy on their faces, a clear sign that the pill was successfully concocted.


    Indeed, upon seeing Lin Shiming, Lin Shitao took out a pill bottle for him to see, containing the Beast Nurturing Pill.


    She was all smiles, with her willow-shaped eyebrows curved like crescent moons, resembling a blossoming peach flower.


    The Beast Nurturing Pill that Lin Shiming had mentioned to her, she had accomplished in six years.


    Lin Shiming was also very happy, but Lin Yuqi by his side had grown even more elderly, his wrinkles and white hair creeping over him at an unknown time; it seemed as if the immortal bearing of a cultivator was becoming distant in him.


    Lin Shiming was puzzled, for as far as he knew, Lin Yuqi should be 96 years old today, four years younger than Great Elder Lin Yuqing.


    Cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Stage should live without ailments and enjoy a lifespan of 120 years.


    "Second Granduncle, you are the only Third Rank alchemist in our family, you must take care of your health!" Lin Shiming also stepped forward to support him, his words filled with worry.


    Lin Yuqi tried to straighten his body, as if to prove he wasn''t as Lin Shiming thought.


    "It''s nothing, I''m quite robust. In a few months, once I start up the furnace again, I''ll concoct a good elixir for you, the Family Head, to celebrate!"


    "Second Granduncle, that''s not urgent, you should pay more attention to your health," Lin Shiming shook his head, knowing full well that what Lin Yuqi was talking about was the concoction of the Foundation Establishment Pill, which the family had promised him.


    The family also had one last Heavenly Spirit Fruit.


    "No need ? I will wait here for Fourth Grandpa," Lin Shiming gestured with his hand.


    What Lin Shizhong referred to as a Supreme Grade artifact was likely a Third Rank artifact in Lin Shiming''s opinion, so he didn''t immediately disturb him and simply waited in the refining hall.


    The Lin Family now had three Foundation Establishment cultivators and was also planning to sell Third Rank artifacts at Xing County Square Market, hence the pressure on Lin Yutie was substantial.


    Approximately three hours later, the doors of Lin Yutie''s Artifact Refining Chamber opened and he strode out.


    Indeed, just as Lin Shiming had imagined, Lin Yutie also looked somewhat aged, an appearance that even spiritual energy seemed unable to rejuvenate.


    But his vitality appeared ruddy, faring much better than Second Elder Lin Yuqi.


    "Fourth Grandpa!" Lin Shiming greeted him respectfully.


    "Family Head!" Lin Yutie greeted him back with a smile.


    This made Lin Shiming feel awkward, and he quickly responded.


    "Fourth Grandpa, please call me Shiming."


    "Haha, young Family Head should get used to it!" Lin Yutie teased.


    "Fourth Grandpa, I''ve come to ask for your help in crafting a few magic artifacts!" Lin Shiming saw Lin Yutie''s response and decided not to insist, as each could address each other as they liked, and he didn''t forget the purpose of his visit, taking out several demonic beast materials.


    These were the materials left from slaying the martial cultivator: the Iron Fist of a black giant ape, the skin and claws of a color-changing lizard, the wings of a dark-night bat, the tail of a Thunder Spirit Leopard, and the azure horn of a Green Horned Barbaric Bull.


    All these materials were suitable for crafting Supreme Grade artifacts, and Lin Yutie was immediately astounded upon seeing them.


    Each piece of biomaterial was incredibly rare and possessed unique properties.


    The Iron Fist of the black giant ape was suited for creating a Supreme Grade magic gauntlet, and the wings of the dark-night bat were ideal for making a cloak. The Green Horned Barbaric Bull and the Thunder Spirit Leopard each had their distinct features.


    "Shiming, these four materials you have are extraordinary! They will definitely be used to craft powerful Supreme Grade artifacts!" Lin Yutie exclaimed excitedly.


    But after he finished, he saw Lin Shiming looking somewhat puzzled and speaking up.


    "Fourth Grandpa, there are actually five types of spiritual materials here!"


    Lin Shiming picked up the skin of the color-changing lizard from the table and stimulated it with spiritual energy, until Lin Yutie finally saw some transparent spirit light.


    Lin Yutie coughed awkwardly, clearly having overlooked the skin of the color-changing lizard when perusing the materials while using divine sense. However, he quickly forgot the oversight, and picking up the lizard''s skin, he weighed it in his hands and infused it with spiritual energy.


    The material''s ability to change color on its own without spiritual energy piqued his interest greatly.


    Finally, after a good while, he turned to Lin Shiming excitedly,


    "Shiming, you''re very fortunate! The family just happens to have a piece of Third Rank Illusionary Crystal Stone. I''ll craft a Third Rank Invisibility Robe for you as a congratulatory gift for becoming the Family Head!"


    ```

 Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Familial Reformation

    In a side room of the Council Hall on Fangmu Mountain, there was a mahogany Eight Immortals table in the center.


    A teapot on the table continuously emitted wisps of white smoke upwards.


    On either side of the Eight Immortals table, a young man in a green shirt and a middle-aged Taoist robe cultivator sat opposite each other, talking.


    The young cultivator was none other than Lin Shiming, who had just emerged from the Earth Fire Hall; the middle-aged cultivator was his uncle, Lin Houyong.


    The Great Elder Lin Yuqing, along with his father and the Fifth Elder, had all gone to Lingnan County at the moment, leaving the management of all the clan affairs, both great and small, to the uncle.


    In another two months or so, the clan meeting would be convened again, and at that time, Lin Shiming''s appointment as the Family Head would be announced.


    It would be the third clan meeting that Lin Shiming would attend.


    "The clan meeting is imminent, Shiming, there''s something I need to discuss with you in advance," Lin Houyong''s complexion was clearly not very good.


    "In these past three years, the changes among the family cultivators have not been significant: nine Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators, an increase by two, six cultivators have broken through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation, but we have also lost six, leaving us still with twenty-eight people.


    There are forty cultivators in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, not only fewer than the last three years but even two fewer than six years ago. However, there are now ninety cultivators in the early stage of Qi Cultivation, and twenty innate cultivators!"


    Having said this, Lin Shiming''s face also looked somewhat ugly.


    The doubling of the remuneration for family cultivators had been implemented for six years now, and in these three years, the family cultivators'' salaries had doubled with additional rewards for alchemy and artifact refining. Yet, the growth of the cultivators compared to the previous three years was even somewhat lacking.


    While it included the loss of several cultivators, it should be noted that the increase in late-stage and middle-stage Qi Cultivators included geniuses like Lin Shiming, Lin Shijie, and Lin Shitao.


    This was completely unreasonable for a Foundation Establishment family clan.


    Although the Lin Family was suppressed by the Li Family, the Lin Family''s remunerations were indeed distributed truthfully.


    Even if the Spirit Roots were a bit inferior, and it might be slightly harder for an increase in late-stage Qi Cultivators, it would be impossible for there to be so few middle-stage cultivators. .net


    This made Lin Shiming also sense a crisis, a crisis for the family.


    He understood that this was related to the family''s Demon Hunting Team withdrawing from the Qingyun mountain range and the lack of aggressive momentum within the family.


    Family reform was imperative.


    Otherwise, even if they reached Foundation Establishment or even ascended to the Purple Mansion, the Lin Family would still just be a castle in the air.


    And how could a castle in the air stand against the Purple Mansion Family Li Family? Even if they were to develop for another three hundred years, it was likely that they would still be suppressed.


    It was even possible that they would disappear.


    That day, Lin Shiming had an extensive discussion with his uncle Lin Houyong for an entire day before leaving.


    A day later, Lin Shiming appeared at the Qinglian Pool again, reporting for a long time to the old family head, Lin Xianzhi.


    Not until the reform had a clear direction did Lin Shiming return to his dwelling to refine spiritual energy.


    They were all terrified that Lin Shiming would cancel the double stipend policy of the family.


    "The family must be reformed!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    "The double stipend policy will be adjusted as of today!"


    At these words, everyone stirred, especially the more problematic cultivators, who began murmuring their disapproval.


    In the next moment, the oppressive aura of Lin Shiming, a Ninth Level Qi Cultivator, was felt, soon followed by that of all the Ninth Level Elders.


    And then came the pressure from Lin Xianzhi!


    While the full pressure of Foundation Establishment was not released, everyone felt a chill at this moment.


    They had now been reminded.


    In the family, neither the Foundation Establishment cultivators nor the Ninth Level Elders had indulged in luxury.


    "Starting today, the double stipend will be canceled, but the double stipend for outstanding cultivators will remain!"


    "What constitutes an outstanding cultivator? Any in the early stage of Qi Cultivation who improves by two levels in three years, any in the middle stage who advances one level in three years, and any in the latter stage who advances one level in six years!"


    "Additionally, those who succeed in challenging someone a rank above them also qualify as outstanding cultivators!"


    "The stipend for those with Dual and Quintuple Spirit Roots who complete assessments will be tripled, and the same applies to those who surpass two ranks! This will increase in stages!"


    As Lin Shiming eloquently spoke, the young cultivators of the Lin Family felt a surge of excitement.


    Initially displeased with the potential reduction in stipends, the prospect of tripling their stipend for passing two ranks or for Dual and Quintuple Spirit Roots cultivators completing assessments quickly satisfied most of them.


    As for the small portion of cultivators lacking drive, they dared not utter another word at this moment.


    Yet, Lin Shiming was not finished. Clearing his throat, he continued:


    "Moreover, for those with lesser talent who still wish to partake in the family''s double stipends, one may choose to marry and bear children.


    Giving birth to a Quintuple Spirit Root child restores three months of double stipends on top of the original reward, a Dual Spirit Root child restores ten years of triple foundation stipends, and an Innate Spirit Root cultivator restores a lifetime triple foundation stipend!"


    Each additional sentence from Lin Shiming sent further waves of excitement through the cultivators in attendance.


    Cultivation is difficult, but having children is not. Furthermore, Lin Shiming calculated that children born to cultivators generally have better Spirit Roots and are more likely to possess Spirit Roots.


    His reform plan was inspired by Lin Shizhong''s father, thinking if mortals could do it,


    why couldn''t some cultivators who lacked initiative?


    Now that the Lin Family had the resources from Lingnan county and Golden Iron Stone mines, they could easily afford the family''s stipends.


    The family now needed more cultivators and needed to progress!


    ```

 Chapter 98: Chapter 98 This is Learning

    The clan''s salary reform was such that even those who were unsatisfied had no complaints whatsoever.


    Since they were able to maintain their allowances upon having a child with a Spirit Root, they were naturally willing.


    Especially upon learning that having a child with a Dual Spirit Root meant triple the allowance for ten years, this made many cultivators go insane with excitement.


    Some cultivators even considered having children with a Heavenly Spirit Root or a rare Spirit Root, since a lifelong triple allowance was possible, and even those with a Quadruple or Quintuple Spirit Root might reach the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, and who knows, might even become an Elder.


    With this initiative in place, some of the family''s cultivators would also start pursuing loose cultivators or female cultivators from other families, as the chances of having a child with a genius Spirit Root would be slightly higher between two cultivators.


    As for someone like Lin Shitao, whose parents were both mortals and yet possessed a Dual Spirit Root, it was ultimately one in a million.


    With the settling of Spirit Roots and a drive for advancement within the family, the next step was the distribution of family affairs.


    Lin Shiming was not satisfied with the Family''s collective management system, with only the Demon Hunting Team having a specific designation.


    Moreover, if in the future there were more Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Elders, the lack of positions would likewise engender a slew of problems.


    Currently, the family only had a few Elders with the ''Yu'' generation who did solid work, and some from the ''Hou'' and ''Shi'' generations who focused solely on their personal cultivation.


    With this intention in mind, Lin Shiming cleared his throat and once again spoke out loud:


    "As the number of family Elders increases, I announce that from this point on, family affairs will be divided among various halls!"


    "The divisions will include the Alchemy Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, Demon Hunting Hall, Merit Hall, Commerce Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, and others!"


    "The Law Enforcement Hall Master will be the Great Elder Lin Yuqing, the Alchemy Hall Master will be the Second Elder Lin Yuqi, the Artifact Refining Hall Master will be the Fourth Elder Lin Yutie, the Demon Hunting Hall Master will be the Seventh Elder Lin Houyong, the Commerce Hall Master will be the Fifth Elder Lin Yuzheng, while the other Elders will be honorary Elders, enjoying the Elder''s tribute but not the Hall Master''s!"


    "Simultaneously, to allow the Hall Masters to have time for cultivation in their leisure, each Hall Master may appoint Deacons to manage their respective halls!"


    Below the stage, many were once again stunned to the core. They had not expected that Lin Shiming had just assumed the position of Family Head,


    Would undertake such sweeping reforms. This new title of Hall Master Elder significantly reduced the allowances for many honorary Elders.


    But at the same time, these honorary Elders would have more time to cultivate, and with more time to cultivate, they could also strive for breakthroughs in cultivation level and earn family rewards.


    Even in case of failure, the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill would protect the cultivator''s meridians, and the worst outcome would only be injury, after which one could refine their Spiritual Energy and attempt Foundation Establishment once more.


    His father and his fifth uncle succeeded because they painstakingly refined their Spiritual Energy for many years without the pill; especially his fifth uncle, who polished it for nearly twenty years and thus managed a narrow breakthrough.


    As for the third trial of Foundation Establishment, the Physical Body Trial, it involves the infusion of True Yuan into the body. Even for a Qi Cultivator at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, the potency is far less than that of Foundation Establishment. Therefore, all True Yuan must also be transformed, which is just a small amount.


    It naturally requires body tempering with True Yuan, which is why it is said in the Cultivation World that if one does not achieve Foundation Establishment by the age of sixty, they can never do it.


    After sixty, the body starts to decline, and attempting Foundation Establishment would inevitably lead to the body''s explosion and death, with no other possibilities.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill and had planted Nourishing Spirit Flowers. In addition, whether it was the Purple Wood Heart Sutra or the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique, they made Lin Shiming''s Spiritual Power extremely condensed, far more than that of an ordinary Ninth Level Qi Cultivator.


    ...


    Inside the pavilion, Lin Shiming was circulating the Purple Wood Heart Sutra within his body, while Lin Xianzhi stood behind him.


    "Shiming, just keep circulating it, I''ll help you check it out!" Lin Xianzhi said.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming did not beat around the bush; he began to circulate the Purple Wood Heart Sutra to condense his Spiritual Energy. Although he had system prompts, he still wanted to see if he could improve further. For him, the sooner he refined his Spiritual Energy, the better, so he could achieve Foundation Establishment earlier.


    Only after Foundation Establishment would he have enough lifespan to breakthrough to the Purple Mansion!


    It would be a shame not to attempt entering the Purple Mansion when he had the Minor Divine Ability fruit in his possession.


    However, as he continued circulating his energy, Lin Xianzhi, watching from behind, became increasingly astounded.


    He found that Lin Shiming''s condensation of mana was simply flawless.


    There were even some aspects where he, himself, fell short compared to Lin Shiming, which made his brows furrow tighter. He realized that this was not guidance, but learning!


    Having completed a small cycle of condensing his Spiritual Energy, Lin Shiming saw that Lin Xianzhi had not spoken and immediately felt puzzled. But using his Divine Sense to check the situation behind him, he could not help but be somewhat amused.


    It seemed he had underestimated his system; unless encountering a treasure, the system prompts would usually improve his cultivation technique, enhancing his skill in condensing Spiritual Power.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming felt it necessary to intentionally make a few minor mistakes in his next cycle, lest his Seventh Great Uncle lose even more face.


    At the same time, Lin Shiming also inexplicably thought of the flaws in the Purple Wood Heart Sutra. The Elder Zixuan had taken him as a nominal disciple but still imparted to him a flawed cultivation technique. This intention was something he could now discuss with his Seventh Great Uncle.

 Chapter 99 Shattering the Demon Core

    In the pavilion at Qinglian Pool, the afternoon passed as Lin Shiming completed two Grand Circulations.


    Lin Xianzhi nodded frequently, offering advice from time to time, but his complexion was not good. Although Lin Shiming''s initial mistakes were acceptable, he later sensed something amiss.


    "Shiming, your method of refining spiritual energy is already proficient enough. If you maintain this, there is hope that you will successfully refine spiritual energy within four years and achieve Foundation Establishment by the age of thirty!"


    As soon as these words were spoken, even Lin Xianzhi couldn''t help but nod in shock, praising Lin Shiming profusely.


    Even Lin Shijie, who had a double Spirit Root, couldn''t match this speed. He was now thirty-two years old and only hoped to achieve Foundation Establishment before turning thirty-eight.


    "Seventh great-uncle flatters me. Shiming still has much room for improvement." Lin Shiming wasn''t proud. With such a system and so many extraordinary encounters, even someone with an ordinary quadruple Spirit Root wouldn''t be slow.


    "By the way, seventh great-uncle, Shiming has a question, though I''m not sure if it''s appropriate to ask."


    Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment before speaking seriously.


    Experience tales at m v|l e''-novelhall.net


    "Speak freely!" Lin Xianzhi, seeing Lin Shiming being so cautious for the first time, also became very serious.


    "I always feel that there is a flaw in the Purple Wood Heart Sutra. There is a part where reversing the flow actually feels smoother."


    Upon hearing this, Lin Xianzhi also became silent instantly. There was anger in his eyes, but it disappeared in the next moment.


    He turned around, gazed at the lotus flowers, and looked at the lotus seeds.


    His eyes were sometimes distant and sometimes close.


    Suddenly, filled with emotion, he uttered a phrase that Lin Shiming found somewhat perplexing.


    "Work hard, Shiming. Your seventh great-uncle cannot step out of this chessboard, cannot leave this Spirit Pool. However, I look forward to the day¡ªto see you transform from a carp into a dragon!"


    After saying this, Lin Xianzhi left without further discussion.


    Lin Shiming also felt a sense of helplessness at this moment. What if they had given him a fake cultivation technique? Could it be that one should confront a Purple Mansion cultivator, or even a Golden Core True Person, about it?


    At the same time, he understood that there must be other dealings between his seventh great-uncle and the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    He saw a deep ambition for the Immortal Path in Lin Shijie''s eyes, on Lin Houyong''s person, and on Lin Shiming''s as well.


    Only in his late-Stage Foundation Establishment seventh great-uncle, he did not see it.


    "Thank you, seventh brother!" Lin Shitao''s little face blushed, even happier than before.


    After chatting with Lin Shitao for a few more moments, Lin Shiming returned to his cave dwelling.


    Inside the cave dwelling, he had newly excavated three stone chambers; one for the Red-haired Demon Monkey, one for the Golden Winged Mantis, and another for the Golden Luan Eagle.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Luan Eagle, both spirit beasts, often left the cave dwelling to enter the mountains behind Fangmu Mountain. The Golden Winged Mantis, however, Lin Shiming had never seen leave the cave even once.


    Lin Shiming went to the stone chamber of the Golden Winged Mantis, which was prone against the wall of the chamber. Upon seeing Lin Shiming enter, it instantly transformed into a beam of golden light, aiming to perch on Lin Shiming''s shoulder as it had done in its youth, only now it was even larger in size than Lin Shiming.


    After being patted on the wings by Lin Shiming, it ultimately chirped and prostrated itself in front of him.


    Lin Shiming took out the Barrier-Breaking Demon Core. The demon core looked no different from an ordinary elixir, but it carried an additional faint demonic aura. In fact, the Barrier-Breaking Demon Core shared a remarkable similarity in function with the Barrier-Breaking Pill.


    The former was for cultivators in the later stages of Qi Cultivation to break through their bottlenecks, whereas the latter was for demonic beasts, though the Barrier-Breaking Demon Core was clearly stronger.


    "Chirp chirp chirp!" The Golden Winged Mantis chirped even more joyously, rubbing its big head vigorously against Lin Shiming''s chest.


    Finally, after consuming the Barrier-Breaking Demon Core, it went to a corner and surprisingly closed its eyes.


    The surrounding spiritual energy suddenly began to converge out of nowhere, carrying streaks of sharp metallic essence.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming quickly sealed the formation; this breakthrough from the Second Rank to the Third Rank would certainly not be accomplished in just a few days.


    Almost at the same time as he closed the formation, the Spirit Talisman in the distance buzzed again.


    This time it was from Lin Shizhong. Lin Shiming opened the formation and saw the naive and dark-skinned young man, Lin Shizhong, grinning at him.


    "Seventh brother, Great uncle sent me to deliver a magic artifact!" he said, passing a Storage Bag to Lin Shiming.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also smiled and accepted the Storage Bag; since he had given Lin Shitao a magic artifact, he then took out the Profound Water Heavy Mountain, that small mountain-shaped magic artifact.


    Since the Red-haired Demon Monkey acquired the Thousand Layer Mountain, it was no longer fond of the Profound Water Heavy Mountain, which Lin Shiming was now happy to give to Lin Shizhong.


    However, Lin Shizhong was still at the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation. It likely would not be needed for the next five or six years.


    "Thank you, seventh brother!" Lin Shizhong accepted the magic artifact from Lin Shimo and was overjoyed, especially after sensing that it was a superior grade artifact.


    "Your cultivation level is not high enough yet. I''m giving it to you now so that you can take it for adventures and take on guard duties when you''re a bit older!" Lin Shiming offered his advice and after talking for a while, he returned to his cave dwelling.


    At this point, he couldn''t help but be interested in the Third Rank magic artifact that Lin Yutie was refining for him.

 Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Foundation Establishment, Nothing More

    Within the storage bag were placed four magic artifacts: a Thunder Spirit Hook, a Black Ape Iron Fist, a Black Bat Cloak, and a Green Ox Crescent Blade.


    These four magic artifacts were clearly of supreme grade, and even if they were to be placed in the Lin Family''s Treasure Pavilion, they''d rank among the top.


    Whether it was the quality of the materials or the master who crafted them, both aspects were impeccable at this level.


    Moreover, each one possessed its own unique characteristics.


    Of course, Lin Shiming''s gaze merely paused on them momentarily, as his interest lay not in these four.


    He continued to sift through the storage bag until his eyes rested peculiarly on a piece of green clothing.


    At first glance, the green clothing seemed like the ordinary clan garb worn by the Lin Family members.


    This was something that every member of the Lin Family possessed.


    But he knew better¡ªLin Yutie would not give him an ordinary clan outfit without reason.


    This piece of clothing was very likely a third-rank magic artifact.


    When Lin Shiming picked up the green garment, he felt a cool and clear sensation, followed by an astonishing surge of Spirit Might.


    Lin Shiming was overjoyed in an instant, certain that it was a third-rank magic artifact!


    He tried channeling his mana into the third-rank feathered robe, but as it wasn''t True Yuan, he only managed to elicit a faint green glow from the clan outfit before it ceased abruptly.


    Far from being dismayed, Lin Shiming was delighted; his degree of spiritual power refinement couldn''t even slightly activate it, suggesting that this green clan outfit, even among third-rank magic artifacts, was no ordinary piece.


    "Let''s call you Qinglian Taoist Robe," Lin Shiming said, satisfied as he put away the Qinglian Taoist Robe, before testing out the four supreme grade magic artifacts.


    Only then did he contentedly sit down to cultivate.


    In the path of cultivation, years pass like moments. Another two months went by.


    Lin Shiming emerged from his cultivation chamber to see that the stone chamber of the Golden Winged Mantis was still undisturbed.


    However, the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Luan Eagle ran towards him, circling from left and right.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey howled, its eyes whirring towards Lin Shiming''s storage bag.


    Seeing this, the Golden Luan Eagle also attempted to howl, ending up with a comical sound that was unlike any other.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile wryly as he fed the two beasts some Spirit Food and Beast Nurturing Pills, planning to tend to the Spirit Plants next. But just then, a Sound Transmission Talisman flew to the outside of Lin Shiming''s room.


    He received the Sound Transmission Talisman and discovered it was from the Second Elder, Lin Yuqi.


    The transmitted message was urgent!


    Without much thought, Lin Shiming flew on his sword towards the Earth Fire Hall.


    Today the flames in the Earth Fire Hall continued to surge high, but the air was slightly heavy and restless, it seemed the Cooling Technique Formation had lost its effect.


    Inside the Pill Pavilion, it was particularly sweltering.


    Upon entering, Lin Shiming saw Lin Yuqi with a head of white hair, looking extremely aged.


    It appeared that even spiritual energy could not sustain his vitality any longer.


    Lin Shitao was supporting him, her eyes flickering with brightness.


    Beyond them, there was no one else.


    He left behind an astonishing piece of news for the two of them.


    Second Elder Lin Yuqi was going to enter seclusion for a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!


    Not for the Dao, not for immortality.


    Just to glance upon the pathway to immortality, to witness the Dao of his youth!


    At that moment, Lin Shiming felt frantic. He wanted to stop it, but he simply couldn''t.


    He then sent a Sound Transmission to his seventh great-uncle, to all the elders of the Lin Family, and finally to Lin Shijie.


    By the Qinglian Pool, the elder stepped one foot at a time, arriving at the pavilion.


    "The unworthy descendant of the Lin Family''s Yu generation requests to use the family''s sacred land for Foundation Establishment! I ask for seventh great-uncle''s grace in granting permission!"


    His loud voice echoed over the Qinglian Pool, resonating through Fangmu Mountain.


    Several elders hurried toward the mountain.


    Within the Qinglian Pool, a single word quietly emerged.


    "Granted!"


    Lin Yuqi stepped forward, as if he were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator himself, levitating and landing on the pavilion''s roof!


    Today, he would attempt Foundation Establishment at the age of a hundred!


    Even more so, to look down on all the mountains below!


    He who seeks the Dao, what fear has he of death?


    The robust spiritual energy returned, gathering more and more.


    Lin Shiming was extremely anxious below. He waited for Lin Shijie to arrive, only to learn that Lin Shijie was in seclusion, still unware and continuing to refine his spiritual energy.


    He had no choice but to take out a Spirit Talisman, recording the scene before him.


    The spiritual energy gathered increasingly. Although unable to make a breakthrough, Lin Yuqi undoubtedly had honed his spiritual energy for nearly five or six decades, paired with the vigor of a centurion.


    He almost broke through the Illusionary Trial and the True Yuan Trial in one breath!


    And as True Yuan emerged, in that moment, Lin Yuqi''s three thousand white hairs instantly turned black.


    Lin Shiming saw, in the younger reflection of Lin Yuqi, a semblance of Lin Shijie.


    "Foundation Establishment is nothing more than this!"


    A heroic voice arrived, as Lin Yuqi roared with laughter to the heavens, only to see spiritual energy gathering from all directions.


    Following that came a thunderous boom.


    The laughing ceased!


    Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.


    "The Yu generation''s Lin Shiming respectfully sees off Second Grandfather!"


    "The Yu generation respectfully sees off the Second Elder!"


    ... Continue reading at m|v-l''e -novelhall.net

 Chapter 101: 101

    What is the Dao?


    At this moment, Lin Shiming stood in front of the Qinglian Pool, looking around blankly.


    By his side, Lin Shitao was sobbing uncontrollably.


    After all, she was still that timid little girl.


    Having lost her kin, she finally broke down in tears.


    Second Elder Lin Yuqi was respected by everyone in the Lin Family Clan, even those alchemy apprentices who were harshly mentored by him were now, dressed in the robes of alchemists, sending off the Second Elder one by one on Fangmu Mountain.


    At this moment, everyone was sincere.


    And in the distance, the entrance to the cave dwelling burst open.


    A youth in green robes, looking as if his soul had left his body, walked out.


    "Grandfather!"


    A cry echoed, lingering for a long time around Fangmu Mountain.


    The Great Dao is merciless, but people have emotions!


    The youth in green robes finally reached the pavilion by the Qinglian Pool.


    He knelt down with a thunderous thud!


    At this moment, he seemed to realize he had made a mistake.


    He wanted to walk the Immortal Path, to tread the strongest path of Immortal Cultivation, but at this moment, he hesitated, regretting his choice.


    On the Immortal Path, he didn''t even get to see his grandfather for one last time.


    He had always felt that the Family lacked an absolute powerhouse, whereas his grandfather thought the Family lacked a Third Rank Alchemist, one who could concoct Foundation Establishment Pills.


    "Grandfather, I know you wanted Shijie to become an alchemist, but Shijie really has no time, Shijie''s goal in this life is to reach Foundation Establishment by forty, mid-phase of Foundation Establishment by one hundred, Purple Mansion by one hundred fifty, Golden Core by three hundred. There''s truly no spare time..."


    Lin Shijie clenched his fists, trying to grasp the lingering essence in the air, only to find he couldn''t hold on to it.


    "Those who hear about the Dao, exist with the Great Dao!"


    "What is there to grieve for, and to lament about? We cultivators, why not tread towards the end of the Immortal Path, to witness the transformation of Heaven and Earth, the cycle of life and death?" Lin Xianzhi came out from the cave dwelling, and with a few words, he awakened the crowd.


    Lin Shijie also looked towards Lin Xianzhi.


    After a long time, he nodded fiercely.


    "Continue to adhere to the Dao in your heart!" Lin Xianzhi said and then turned around.


    Lin Shiming also left to prepare for the commemoration ceremony, the respect due to a clan elder.


    He too needed to give Lin Shijie some time alone.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but feel deep sorrow, yet a sudden epiphany as well.


    At this moment, he found that the Great Dao Heart within him had become more resolute.


    He did not want to turn into a fistful of yellow soil or a wisp of dust after a hundred years.


    Lin Shiming murmured with joy, but he did not immediately make a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.


    Instead, he went to sleep beside the bed, deeply fatigued from three years of honing spiritual energy. Even though his Divine Sense had advanced by leaps and bounds, he still needed a thorough and complete rest.


    He had always believed that in cultivation, a balance between tension and relaxation was best.


    The next day at dawn, Lin Shiming awoke from sleep and once again started the circulation of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    Only after going through two full Grand Circulations and reaching a critical point with his essence, energy, and spirit, did he finally take a deep breath.


    He took out a Foundation Establishment Pill and swallowed it.


    As Lin Shiming controlled the spiritual energy to continue compressing it into True Yuan...


    He seemed to fall into his memories, from before his transmigration to after, every single detail reflected back at him like a mirror.


    One scene shattered, transitioning into the next.


    In his youth, he topped the province in the college entrance examination, causing jubilation in his family as relatives came to celebrate in droves.


    A coolness swept through his mind, and he sighed; he had never taken the college entrance examination. It was a regret of his, a fleeting dream within a dream.


    The scene shattered!


    In his prime, he was a successful entrepreneur, covered by various media outlets; his name was celebrated far and wide!


    A coolness swept through his mind, and in silence, he reflected on his life of coding, dry and dull. If he had another life, he would certainly start a business.


    The scene shattered!


    After his transmigration, he became the Li Family''s Heavenly Spirit Root, envied by countless cultivators and doted on by numerous elders.


    Foundation Establishment protected his path, Purple Mansion imparted its teachings to him, and forming a Golden Core was within sight!


    This time, no coolness was needed; he was furious, vowing that one day, he would utterly destroy the Li Family!


    ...


    Scenes shattered one after another, as Lin Shiming experienced joy and sorrow, rage and grief.


    When he awoke, most of his spiritual energy had already transformed into True Yuan.


    Lin Shiming suddenly broke out into a cold sweat.


    He hadn''t anticipated that the Illusionary Trial would coincide with the True Yuan Trial.


    No wonder that if one''s cultivation of spiritual energy was not up to standard and they attempted to forcibly break through to Foundation Establishment without the Foundation Establishment Pill, they would only encounter their own demise.


    Because in the Illusionary Trial, one simply cannot stop.


    When True Yuan bursts through the meridians, all you are left with is regret.


    Lin Shiming let out a low shout, continuing to accelerate the transformation into True Yuan.


    But this process was exceedingly prolonged; consider that a normal Qi Cultivator breaking through to Foundation Establishment would need at least half a year, if not one to two years!


    And remember, Lin Shiming not only had his own magical power but also the Mu Xin.


    Furthermore, according to the Secret Technique, Lin Shiming''s Mu Xin would also transform into a Spirit Platform during his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, meaning Lin Shiming would possess Twin Spirit Platforms.

 Chapter 102 Breakthrough in Foundation Establishment

    By the Qinglian Pool, the elders of the Lin Family once again gathered together.


    In the pavilion, Lin Xianzhi gazed at the pool surface now covered by green lotuses, with blossoms poking through, marking another year of the Qinglian bloom.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, the Qingxuan grand event will start again in two months," Lin Houyuan spoke up.


    "Hmm, this time you will lead the team to Qingxuan City, remember to maintain harmony and keep in touch with my fellow apprentice, Brother Xie!" Lin Xianzhi nodded without turning around, his gaze lifting toward Lin Shiming''s cave dwelling.


    The cave dwelling that hadn''t been opened for two years.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, the Qian Family has sent a message asking when we will take action?" This time, it was Lin Shijie who spoke, but if Lin Shiming had been there, he would have noticed that Lin Shijie had already advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    His cultivation was sharp and clear, and after going through Lin Yuqi''s incident, Lin Shijie now seemed like an extremely sharp sword.


    "Wait!"


    Lin Xianzhi continued to respond, his eyes also filled with concern.


    The foundation cultivators of the family were still not enough!


    Just as he spoke these words, two surges of spirit might emanated, and everyone was instantly overjoyed.


    Lin Shiming had broken through, and as expected, the Golden Winged Mantis had also advanced.


    The Lin Family had once again produced a Third Rank demonic beast.


    At this moment, Lin Houyuan, who was far away, also heaved a huge sigh of relief. As Lin Shiming''s father, he knew of Lin Shiming''s pride as well.


    He understood the effort his son had dedicated to the Great Dao.


    However, before everyone had the chance to offer their congratulations, another surge of spirit might emanated.


    Every single person was shocked by this, and many were even speculating whether the Red-haired Demon Monkey had also advanced.


    With anticipation, everyone waited by the pavilion for half a day until the cave dwelling opened, and a cultivator in green robes stepped out decisively.


    It was none other than Lin Shiming, who had been in closed-door cultivation for more than two years.


    At this moment, his cultivation was at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, and it was not yet stable, his spirit might visibly hard to control.


    Lin Shiming had intended to consolidate his cultivation before making an appearance, but when he successfully established his foundation, his divine sense expanded to a staggering range of fifteen hundred zhang, covering the entirety of Fangmu Mountain.


    He naturally also noticed the Lin Family elders waiting outside.


    Read latest chapters at m_v-l''e|-novelhall.net


    At the same time, the Golden Winged Mantis broke through almost simultaneously to become a Third Rank spirit beast.


    Lin Shiming hurriedly opened his storage bag and took out the spirit food he had prepared earlier, which included several tens of pounds of spirit fish.


    However, the Golden Winged Mantis devoured it in no time at all.


    Clearly not satiated, it rubbed Lin Shiming''s hand with its triangular head and then gestured at his storage bag with its sickle-like limbs.


    "You want this?" Lin Shiming couldn''t believe it. The Golden Winged Mantis seemed to be indicating he wanted a Beast Nurturing Pill.


    But one should know that the Beast Nurturing Pill was just an Intermediate Grade Second Rank elixir, with only a maturing effect.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but guess whether the Golden Winged Mantis had developed a liking for the Beast Nurturing Pill as food, or if it had yet to reach its ultimate form.


    One should know that Third Rank demonic beasts also divide into early stage, middle stage, and late stage Spirit Beasts.


    The thought alone excited Lin Shiming even more.


    He quickly took out several Beast Nurturing Pills and fed them to the Golden Winged Mantis.


    After calming the Golden Winged Mantis, Lin Shiming went to check on the Golden Luan Eagle and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The Golden Luan Eagle had reached the later stages of Second Rank but had just entered that phase. Furthermore, judging by its size and lack of interest in the Beast Nurturing Pill, it was likely at its peak. Although he had anticipated this, disappointment was still unavoidable.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey had been the most active in recent years, always roaming the mountains behind Fangmu Mountain. If not for the Spirit Contract, Lin Shiming would have suspected the monkey might be rebellious.


    Lastly, Lin Shiming checked on the Seeking Spirit Bees. The Spirit Bee was still an Intermediate Grade Second Rank queen, along with a thousand or so spirit bees. There was plenty of honey stored up.


    But at this moment, these no longer held much significance for him.


    What thrilled him was that after his spiritual energy had completely transformed into True Yuan, the Minor Divine Ability Tree finally responded.


    As he slowly infused his True Yuan into it, the treasure tree began to glow with colorful lights, and a force of suction emanated from the tree, targeting Lin Shiming.


    Suddenly, the True Yuan transformed by the Purple Wood Heart Sutra inside Lin Shiming began to pour continuously into the Minor Divine Ability Tree.


    This transfer of True Yuan lasted for quite a while, consuming double the True Yuan he typically possessed.


    If it had been any other cultivator practicing the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, they would likely have been drained dry, which made him wonder how the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect managed to expand their True Yuan capacity.


    The next moment, whether it was an illusion or something else, Lin Shiming saw purple spirit patterns beginning to appear on the crown of the Minor Divine Ability Tree, but they quickly faded away.


    As if nothing had happened, Lin Shiming didn''t dare to hesitate and immediately transmitted a message to his Seventh Great-Uncle, but it seemed the latter was also at a loss.


    Eventually, Lin Shiming had to put the matter aside.


    He took Consolidation Pills to solidify his True Yuan.


    Simultaneously, he withdrew the Jade Slip that contained the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, on which a secret technique was inscribed, the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation¡ªa matching secret technique of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra!


    ```

 Chapter 103 Game Theory

    ```


    Half a month later, in the Earth Fire Hall, Lin Shiming could not help but head toward the Pill Pavilion.


    The familiar disciples, the familiar control over the furnace and alchemy process, seemed hardly different from before.


    Only now, without the presence of the second grandfather, Lin Shitao had also begun her retreat.


    The current head of the Lin Family Pill Pavilion was the newly promoted second-rank superior grade alchemist, Lin Houxuan, an elegant middle-aged man who was also Lin Shiming''s fifteenth uncle, though his cultivation was only at the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation.


    Therefore, even with the Formation Artifact Manual, Lin Houxuan could not refine third rank elixirs.


    "Family Head, here is the Beast Nurturing Pill!" Lin Houxuan familiarly took out a pill bottle, causing Lin Shiming to feel a sense of de?ja? vu; inside the pill bottle were indeed Beast Nurturing Pills.


    Lin Shiming subconsciously took it, and after offering some words of encouragement to Lin Houxuan, he gave him some spirit honey.


    Lin Houxuan, being just over fifty, still had hope for achieving Foundation Establishment.


    Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-novelhall.net


    Taking spirit honey could help him break through to the ninth layer and start polishing his spiritual energy early.


    Lin Shiming did not linger any longer and went to his intended destination, the Artifact Refining Pavilion.


    At that moment, Lin Yutie was not refining artifacts but was instructing Lin Shizhong, who had already begun preparing to refine a second-rank intermediate grade magic artifact.


    Although Lin Shizhong''s talent for cultivation was far inferior to Lin Shitao''s, his talent for artifact refining was indeed somewhat terrifying.


    "Fourth grandfather!" Lin Shiming called out.


    "Family Head!" Lin Yutie also responded.


    Lin Yutie was clearly emotional; the little child from twenty years ago had now become a Foundation Establishment great cultivator.


    "Fourth grandfather, Shiming has a favor to ask!" Lin Shiming did not engage in much idle chit-chat and straightforwardly stated his purpose.


    "I need to refine nine wooden attribute sword blanks!"


    "Sword blanks are no problem. For a third rank magic artifact, the most difficult part is the internal spirit formation!" Lin Yutie did not ask further questions and directly agreed.


    After leaving some spirit honey in the Artifact Refining Pavilion and leaving behind thirty thousand spirit stones, Lin Shiming also returned to the cave mansion beside Qinglian Pool.


    The nine wooden attribute sword blanks were to serve as the nine array bases for setting up the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation; one could say that this secret technique was his life''s array formation.


    Even though Lin Shiming was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and the nine sword blanks were third rank magic swords, he could still nurture them with his Spirit Platform, and once deployed, their power would be far stronger than an ordinary sword array.


    It could be considered a trump card.


    This was also a safeguard for the upcoming trip to the Purple Mansion secret realm.


    Sitting in the main seat was a white-haired Taoist Robe Elder. The Elder was resting with eyes closed, and no one dared to speak before he opened his mouth.


    This person was none other than the old ancestor of the Qian Family, Qian Yongfu.


    A Cultivator at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, he was half a step away from Purple Mansion.


    The Qian Family gave this matter such great importance because they were searching for an opportunity for Qian Yongfu to make a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion.


    If successful in one fell swoop, the Qian Family would become the second-largest Purple Mansion Family in Yunzhou; and with their family''s background in Qingxuan Sect, it was only a matter of time before they surpassed the Li Family.


    Just as the Li Family was able to secretly suppress the Lin Family in the past, they would naturally be able to suppress the Li Family when the time came.


    "Bosheng, speak of how we should cooperate with the Lin Family."


    "Reporting to Uncle Five, the Lin Family is weak, with their strongest being Lin Xianzhi, who is nearly on par with Li Xiulei. With our Qian Family''s ancestral Secret Technique, which can conceal a cultivation level, the Lin Family is hardly worth mentioning.


    As long as there are no Purple Mansion Great Demons in the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, Bosheng will definitely secure the opportunity for Uncle Five!"


    Qian Bosheng spoke indifferently, exuding great confidence.


    The Elder nodded:


    "Take this late-stage Sword Puppet with you, just in case!"


    The Elder produced a Storage Bag and handed it to Qian Bosheng, who was also quick to express his elation.


    With an additional Sword Puppet, he was confident that he could even battle a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    ...


    In the Huangyun Mountain Li Family home, Li Xiulei, Li Chengzhi, and Li Chengli, three late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, gathered.


    Beneath them, a Cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Establishment was reporting the situation.


    What was terrifying was that what he reported included the moves of the Qian Family as well as all the movements of the Lin Family.


    Li Chengzhi touched a bug pattern on his poison-streaked robe, which eventually transformed into a small insect.


    Then, he was seen to squeeze it hard, and the Spirit Insect perished, bursting into numerous liquids.


    Following that, a streak of Spirit Light flew far away and vanished from sight.


    "The remaining Cultivators of the Huang Family are also dead, it''s an absolute success!"


    "Big Brother, you won''t stop me from turning the entire Huang Family into bug food now, will you? How dare these insignificant Lin and Qian Families, and Huang Family, covet the legacy Cave Mansion left by the Artifact Refining Mo Family? Completely ignorant of their own mortality!"


    "Do as you please, but remember, Lin Xianzhi must be killed by me!" Li Chengli laughed fiercely.


    Afterwards, the Huangyun Mountain Li Family also began to mobilize.


    Soon, a Spirit Boat likewise tore through the sky and departed.

 Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Fire Cloud Bird

    Half a month later, upon the Qingyun Mountain range, a gigantic golden light sped past and descended upon a small hilltop.


    It was the Lin Family''s Spirit Boat; evidently, they had arrived at the predetermined location earlier than the Qian Family.


    "Hou Shou, set up the first and second formations a hundred meters out," Lin Xianzhi commanded.


    Then he turned to Lin Houyong:


    "You should also sit down and cultivate."


    Lin Houyong had been steering the Spirit Boat this time, and this was to ensure that Lin Xianzhi''s spiritual power was always abundant.


    Stay tuned for updates on m-v -novelhall.net


    As for Lin Shiming at the moment, he was still inside the room of the Spirit Boat.


    The Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation had reached a critical moment. He saw nine Spirit Swords rotating in the air before him, emitting sharp, piercing sword cries continuously.


    In his hands, the true yuan of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra was being cast continuously, merging into the Spirit Swords.


    With every Spirit Art he cast, sweat dripped from his brow.


    Having been on the Spirit Boat for half a month, he had already failed several times. Fortunately, this was engraving the secret techniques of the Spirit Formation and not true artifact refining. Plus, he had the daily system prompts guiding him.


    "Buzz!"


    As the Nine Spirit Swords vibrated nearly at the same frequency!


    Purple sword light stretched out continuously, and Lin Shiming finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The Nine Swords Formation was finally complete.


    With a beckoning gesture, the nine Spirit Swords, arranged in a line, shot towards his body.


    In the end, they were absorbed into the Spirit Platform.


    The greatest ability of the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation''s secret technique was that the nine Formation Swords, like a Lifebound Treasure, could be infused and cultivated within the body.


    When facing enemies, one only needed to release the Sword Array, which would then deploy the Spirit Formation within it to slash at foes with the Formation.


    Usually, cultivators could only cultivate up to three swords at once, but Lin Shiming, with the fake Spirit Platform of the Heavenly Heart, could actually manage to cultivate all nine swords at once without any trouble.


    Once this technique was accomplished, the restless heart of Lin Shiming also settled down greatly.


    Standing up, he walked out of the Spirit Boat and intended to ask his Uncle for the situation.


    However, he saw another Spirit Boat had arrived in the sky at some unknown time.


    This Spirit Boat was larger and more magnificent, with the huge flag of the Qian Family fluttering above.


    At the front of the Spirit Boat, Qian Bosheng did not show himself. Instead, a young Foundation Establishment cultivator looked down condescendingly at the Lin Family.


    "Seems like the Daoists of the Lin Family have been waiting for quite a while!"


    ...


    Lin Houyong continuously introduced them to Lin Shiming, who was committing everything to memory.


    Knowing both your allies and enemies is essential, so you''re not harmed at a critical moment.


    "Prepare for battle!"


    Suddenly, Lin Xianzhi spoke up, and both Lin Shiming and Lin Houyong became instantly alert.


    The Qian Family reacted very quickly as well.


    In the next moment, six giant birds appeared in front of them, spreading their wings and swooping in.


    The giant birds were a brilliant red, their feathers like blazing flames. Three of them headed for the Lin Family, and three headed for the Qian Family.


    "It''s the Fire Cloud Birds!" Lin Houyong''s expression turned serious.


    These Fire Cloud Birds were Third Rank Fire Attribute Demonic Beasts. Though only at the early stage of the Third Rank, with their mastery of flames, they posed a threat to many Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Lin Shiming unleashed the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword, but at the moment, his Spirit Platform nurtured Nine Formation Swords, so the True Yuan he could utilize was not much, and it was even less than one-tenth of his original strength.


    As a result, when his Intermediate Grade Third Rank Spirit Sword slashed out, its power was mediocre.


    Compared to the slashes from the Inferior Grade Third Rank Magical Sword by Lin Houyong beside him, it was undoubtedly lacking.


    Together, their sword strikes barely injured the wings of two of the Fire Cloud Birds.


    The three Fire Cloud Birds immediately opened their giant beaks, and three massive True Yuan fireballs headed straight for the Lin Family''s Spirit Boat.


    Lin Xianzhi, frowning, glanced at Lin Shiming but said nothing, simply wielding his Green Lotus with a swing of his sword.


    With this swing, the sword light overlapped with shadows, and countless Green Lotuses appeared, and the Sword Qi surged across a thousand miles.


    With a single strike, he killed all three Fire Cloud Birds.


    "Thank you, Uncle Seven Ancestors!" Lin Shiming and Lin Houyong both thanked Lin Xianzhi.


    Meanwhile, Qian Ziyun, with a smirk on his face, dashed out alone and took out a blazing flag.


    With a wave in the air, he absorbed all the fireballs from the three Fire Cloud Birds.


    Then with another wave of the blazing flag artifact, the fireballs turned into even hotter Fire Snakes, which devoured the Fire Cloud Birds.


    Qian Ziyun''s strength was clearly exceptional, but the three Fire Cloud Birds were no ordinary beasts, and they shattered the Fire Snakes with their giant beaks.


    At this moment on the Spirit Boat, Qian Zichu had disappeared without a trace, and when he reappeared, he was already near the Fire Cloud Birds. He held an Intermediate Grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Knife, attacking in a manner akin to mundane techniques.


    He slashed at the Fire Cloud Birds with simple knife moves, but under terrifying speed and an indescribable charisma, one of the birds was directly beheaded.


    Then, working together, they killed the remaining two Fire Cloud Birds in just a few breaths.


    As soon as the battle ended, Qian Ziyun looked over at Lin Shiming with a disdainful gaze, his lips curling into a slight sneer full of mockery.

 Chapter 105 Going in Circles

    The encounter with the Fire Cloud Bird had not delayed the progress of the spirit boats from the two families as they continued to soar through the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    The Qian Family, too, took on a more relaxed demeanor.


    Having just experienced a breakthrough, it was all too normal for the Foundation Establishment True Yuan to be insufficient.


    In fact, a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn''t be much stronger than one in the Qi Refinement Realm, just as the Huang Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivator had been slain by the combined efforts of the Qi Cultivators of the Lin Family using formation talismans and magic artifacts.


    Now, Lin Shiming himself had become one of those cultivators, albeit one who employed an intermediate grade third rank magic artifact.


    In the eyes of Qian Ziyun, this elicited a sneer; the man lacked the talent and yet dared to put on airs, even more than himself!


    Though Lin Houyong was a slightly better case than Lin Shiming, to the Qian Family, it was still inconsequential.


    And so, the spirit boats of the two families flew onward across the Qingyun Mountain Range for several more days.


    During that time, they encountered Demonic Beasts at the Foundation Establishment level on several occasions and even saw, from a great distance, a Purple Mansion Great Demon locked in combat.


    They promptly fled, relying on the advantage of their spirit boats to make a swift escape.


    Then, one day, Qian Bosheng could no longer contain himself and looked over at Lin Xianzhi.


    "Daoist Lin, we have been circling around for nearly ten days now. If you still harbor doubts, can you not even trust in the oath to the Heavenly Dao?"


    "The path is indeed as such. Otherwise, encountering a Winged Purple Mansion Great Demon would leave both our families without any chance of survival," Lin Xianzhi responded indifferently, then continued to steer the spirit boat forward.


    Lin Xianzhi''s answer left everyone from the Qian Family simmering with frustration, yet they were unable to do anything to Lin Xianzhi.


    Unnoticed by the others, Lin Xianzhi''s eyebrows relaxed, seemingly confirming that no one else was there, before he continued to search for a new direction to head in.


    Five days passed in this manner.


    Amidst the Qian Family''s growing impatience, the spirit boats of both families finally came to a halt above a vast sea of bamboo.


    The bamboo here was even taller and sturdier than that of the bamboo in Xing County of the Lin Family, resembling soaring green pines piercing the clouds.


    The leaves of the bamboo were broad and massive, almost the size of leaves used for wrapping rice dumplings.


    "We have arrived below!"


    The strength of the Dao contained within those three characters, Lin Shiming had only seen something similar at the Qingxuan Sect and truly felt it only on Qingxuan Sect''s Ascending Immortal Ladder.


    "That must be the final Formation!" All the spiritual energy of the entire world was concentrated there at the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, enveloped by a massive Defensive Array.


    The spiritual energy of this Spirit Vein was clearly that of a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, paired with a Fourth Rank Array. Even without anyone to control it, grinding it down would still require six Foundation Establishment Cultivators continuously using their True Yuan to wear it down.


    This was also why the Huang Family was so desperate to find the Illusionary Heart Grass to concoct Foundation Establishment Pills and forge new Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    At that moment, the Qian Family members also appeared in the underground world, looking around in surprise for a good while.


    The so-called Purple Mansion Cave Mansion was indeed as legendary as its reputation.


    At the same time, their gaze also fell instantly on the three large characters of "Mo Yun Fu."


    A Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, even for the Purple Mansion Family, would invoke greed, not to mention the treasures left behind by Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    "Daoist Qian, this is the Defensive Array of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion. Breaking the array requires six Foundation Establishment Cultivators to wear down the Formation and enter!" Lin Xianzhi spoke calmly.


    Qian Bosheng extended his Divine Sense towards "Mo Yun Fu" and then nodded in response to Lin Xianzhi.


    "There''s no time to lose, let''s break the Formation!"


    "There''s no need to rush, Daoist Qian. This place is extremely hidden and there''s no risk of exposure. It would be better to fully restore True Yuan before breaking the Formation!" Lin Xianzhi shook his head and then suggested that Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyong should recover first.


    "Delays could lead to complications, Fellow Daoists. It''s better to push through and break the Formation first!" Qian Bosheng insisted, frowning and clearly somewhat dissatisfied.


    His insistent words were obviously directed at Lin Shiming and Lin Houyong.


    The two definitely intended to restore their True Yuan, particularly Lin Shiming, whose Nine Swords Formation constantly consumed his True Yuan as it was being refined within him. At this moment, he was the one whose True Yuan was the most depleted.


    "In that case, I have two bottles of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk here. Why not use them to restore True Yuan for the two talented nephews?"


    Qian Bosheng clearly couldn''t wait any longer. He produced two Pill Bottles from his hand, and within those bottles were filled with Hundred-Year Spirit Milk.


    Just one drop of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk could restore all the Spiritual Energy of a Qi Cultivator, and naturally, it could also aid a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in restoring True Yuan. However, its effect was much less compared to that on Qi Cultivators.


    Yet a whole bottle would enable Lin Shiming to fully recover his True Yuan within half an hour. .net


    Seeing this, both of them accepted the bottles directly under the meaningful glance from Lin Xianzhi.

 Chapter 106 A Shocking Turn of Events

    Stay connected with m-v l|e''-novelhall.net


    Outside of Moyaofu, two different caves had been opened, one occupied by the Lin Family and the other used by the Qian Family.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Houyong of the Lin Family needed to recover their True Yuan, and Lin Xianzhi naturally became their protector.


    The cultivators of the Qian Family were quite active, constantly searching around the caves; however, the vicinity had already been scoured by the Huang Family, so much so that even digging three feet into the ground would be an understatement.


    Apart from a few spiritual medicine seedlings found in the Spiritual Medicine Garden, nothing else was obtained.


    Inside the cave, Lin Shiming was hurriedly refining the Nine Swords Formation, feeling a premonition that the Qian Family might wage a full-blown conflict over the final treasure.


    Treasures tempt hearts, especially those of the Purple Mansion caliber. The Qian Family might truly make a move in secret to guard this secret.


    What he had to do was at the very least suppress Qian Zichu, then free up his hands to help Lin Houyong.


    Speaking of his True Yuan, he had lost quite a lot, less than one third remaining, and that was only because he deliberately controlled the pace of the Formation Sword refinement.


    But now, the Qian Family had given a full bottle of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk.


    He no longer cared about depletion and took out dozens of Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones to recover his True Yuan together.


    Once the limit on refining the Formation Swords was lifted, he only felt the True Yuan inside his body rapidly depleting.


    Within the Spirit Platform and the heart of the Heavenly Wood, nine Spirit Swords emitted a purple misty Spirit Light, casting a purple aura that illuminated his organs.


    If an outsider were present, they would notice a faint purple Sword Qi emanating from his body.


    This purple Sword Qi was continuous and unending.


    Lin Shiming did not dare delay, immediately downed the entire bottle of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, and began pinching the Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, absorbing them rapidly.


    The Purple Wood Spirit Art at this moment also showed its great merit. The Profound Rank Superior Grade Wood Attribute Technique had an extremely terrifying absorption ability, and his True Yuan restored quickly.


    Together with the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, he actually achieved a balance.


    Another two days passed!


    The people of the Qian Family outside had become impatient. At this time, Lin Houyong who was fully spirited had also finished his cultivation session but did not leave the cave; instead, he quietly waited for Lin Shiming.


    But in the next moment, Lin Houyong suddenly saw nine Spirit Swords fly out from Lin Shiming''s body, with purple light enveloping and Sword Qi crisscrossing.


    The nine Spirit Swords revolving around Lin Shiming hummed with the sound of sword cries.


    Following Lin Shiming''s hand seals, the nine swords of the formation flew up one after another, their sword light piercing the sky, terrifying to the extreme!


    Fortunately, they did not break through the isolation Formation set up by Lin Xianzhi, or else the Qian Family outside would have surely broken in.


    Since it was a Fourth Rank Spirit Formation, it could only be worn down by the combined effort of six Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    As the six Foundation Establishment cultivators attacked, the formation around the Mysterious Cloud Mansion gradually weakened, while the earth below surged with spiritual energy to reinforce the formation.


    But compared to the massive spiritual energy of the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, only a small part was channeled into the formation, after all, there was no one controlling it.


    Meanwhile, the system alert Lin Shiming had been anxiously waiting for finally sounded.


    He had actually been anticipating the alert for some time, as the treasure trove before him was from Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, which had even produced a Formation Artifact Manual that described heaven-defying formation artifact refining and alchemical secrets.


    The treasures inside would certainly be extraordinary.


    However, the alert that appeared caused Lin Shiming to feel a cold sweat breaking out on his back.


    At the same time, his mind began to spin rapidly.


    "Please be cautious of the Qian Family cultivator who is hiding their cultivation level, and pay attention to the Lingxi Bug on Qian Ziyun''s body!!"


    A cultivator hiding their cultivation level!


    The Lingxi Bug!


    Lin Shiming felt that the venture into the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion had instantly become fraught with complications and full of danger.


    But the members of the Qian Family had previously sworn oaths to the Heavenly Dao, so there couldn''t be any discrepancies in cultivation levels.


    Unless a member of the Qian Family could suppress their own realm and break through at a critical moment.


    Moreover, there was the Lingxi Bug.


    This Lingxi Bug had previously been concealed on his body, and even Lin Xianzhi, in the later stages of Foundation Establishment, wouldn''t detect it if he was not careful enough.


    And the owner of this bug was none other than Li Chengzhi of the Li Family!


    However, Lin Shiming did not believe that this was Li Chengzhi''s attempt to target Qian Ziyun alone, on the contrary, he thought of much more.


    The sudden merger of the Huang Family, Huangyun Qi''s desperate fight, the escape of an elder Qi Cultivation of the Huang Family!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming felt as if he was caught in the midst of a shocking scheme in which the Lin Family had become entangled.


    And the Qian Family, greedy as they were, had also been drawn into it.


    The Li Family intended to eliminate the Qian and Lin Family Foundation Establishment cultivators who posed a threat.


    Lin Shiming instantly transmitted a message to Lin Xianzhi, sending only one line.


    "Be careful of the Lingxi Bug!"


    With this warning, Lin Shiming clearly saw Lin Xianzhi''s body shudder slightly, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief.

 Chapter 107 The Support of the Seventh Great-Uncle

    Outside the Mo Yun Mansion, six people were still continuously releasing spirit arts, attacking the formation.


    Two days had passed since the initial attempt at breaking the formation, and by now, the formation''s glow had dimmed considerably.


    However, at this moment, the state of each cultivator varied. Lin Xianzhi and Qian Bosheng were clearly at ease, while Qian Zichu and Qian Ziyun were also not relaxed, with sweat forming at their brows.


    The worst cases were Lin Shiming and Lin Houyong.


    Lin Houyong appeared pale, his True Yuan seemingly exhausted by the effort to break the formation.


    As for Lin Shiming, his condition was extremely poor, his body trembling incessantly, as if he could stop at any moment, which would mean failure in breaking the formation.


    "Truly waste of the Lin Family!" The voice of Qian Ziyun came through coldly.


    The expressions of the three from the Qian Family were not pleasant, having paid a lot, they would regard it as torture if the formation remained unbroken due to Lin Shiming''s failure, necessitating starting over.


    Lin Shiming did not respond, as if he were no longer capable of even replying.


    Qian Bosheng and Qian Ziyun then turned their gaze towards Lin Xianzhi.


    The latter was still easy-going, as if Lin Shiming was not even a member of their Lin Family, or as if he simply did not care about whether the formation would break or not.


    Seeing this, the Qian Family members were furious, but eventually Qian Bosheng helplessly took out another bottle of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk.


    They originally wanted to toss over True Essence Elixirs, but were extremely wary of them, fearing the other party would not consume them.


    On the contrary, the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk was pure, and any tampering would greatly diminish its spiritual energy.


    This was also the most trustworthy and could not be faked.


    "Thanks to all the fellow Daoists!" Lin Shiming said as the bottle of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk was tossed to him.


    Discover more content at m,v l''e-novelhall.net


    He immediately consumed it in a single gulp.


    At this point, he couldn''t care less about incurring jealousy; he needed to restore his True Yuan. If he couldn''t restore it to three times the amount, he at least needed to restore it to twice the original.


    After consuming the spirit milk, Lin Shiming once again spurred on his spells.


    But his spell power was forever only at the level of someone who had just reached Foundation Establishment.


    The Qian Family still harbored some doubt, but upon remembering that Lin Shiming was struggling even to cut down the Fire Cloud Bird, they ceased to concern themselves with him.


    It was just a pity for the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk.


    When tossing it to Lin Shiming, they also gave a bottle to Lin Houyong.


    Of course, this also involved ceaseless practice by the second elder and the seventh great uncle.


    Waiting for the Green Mystique Conference was just a front; perhaps practicing this formation was also a reason why Lin Xianzhi wanted to extend the time to explore the secrets of the mansion''s cave dwelling.


    After all, he had come to survey it seven years ago and had even brought Lin Houshou here several times over those seven years.


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been this proficient.


    The simplified Nine Elemental Profound Heavenly Formation was only of the level of a Third Rank Supreme Grade formation.


    But bear in mind, this was a Third Rank Supreme Grade grand formation supported by a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein. A formation controlled by someone is vastly different from one that isn''t!


    This is as if trying to breach the enemy''s Mountain Protection Array. Without absolute power to overwhelm, it would be laughable.


    The formation was quickly completed, and as the last spell was cast, the light shield reformed!


    Moreover, in the sky, nine kinds of weapons made from the spiritual energy of the Spirit Vein appeared.


    True Essence Sword, True Essence Spear, True Essence Axe, True Essence Hook, True Essence Halberd, True Essence Knife, True Essence Tower, True Essence Whip, True Essence Shield.


    A Nine Elemental Grand Array that combines trapping, suppression, defense, and attack in one.


    At this moment, all nine magical artifacts were only of Third Rank Supreme Grade, while a truly complete Nine Elemental Profound Heavenly Formation would consolidate legionnaire weapons equivalent to Fourth Rank Magical Treasures.


    Once the formation was arranged, the Qian Family members, who had just ransacked the place, rushed out furiously.


    "Lin Xianzhi, hand over the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, or you can forget about leaving this place!" Qian Bosheng roared. They had already collected the treasures.


    Including Purple Mansion cultivation techniques, secret Purple Mansion methods, even methods to refine Fourth Rank Magical Treasures, and actual Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Magical Treasures!


    Their gain was beyond expectation!


    They all joyfully accepted these items, believing that the Lin Family was scared,


    knew their place, but little did they know, as they were collecting the Spirit Vein, a formation had taken shape, not only covering the Spirit Vein but also beginning to expel them from the Mo Yun Mansion.


    "Oh, the same words go for you, leave behind all Purple Mansion secret manuals, along with a Purple Mansion treasure, and then you may leave!" Lin Xianzhi also spoke with a cold laugh.


    The three men were instantly defiant, and they sneered.


    Their cultivation levels suddenly and eerily broke through; Qian Bosheng reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, Qian Ziyun and Qian Zichu both reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    However, even with their formidable abilities, they could not resist being suppressed by the nine elemental legionnaire weapons.


    They were barely holding on when Qian Bosheng shouted out loud:


    "Lin Xianzhi, if you kill us, your Lin Family won''t live either. Our Qian Family''s old patriarch has already reached the half-step to the Purple Mansion Realm!"

 Chapter 108: Chapter 108 Threat Reversal

    Beneath the Mo Cloud Mansion, Lin Xianzhi did not stop his assault for a moment.


    The True Essence Bell pressed down, the True Essence Shield defended, and then with sabres, swords, halberds, axes, hooks, and whips he savagely attacked Qian Bosheng and the Qian siblings, Zichu and Ziyun.


    The former, with his Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivation level, could still withstand the attacks, especially since the latter two could only survive by staying behind Qian Bosheng.


    Otherwise, facing him alone, they likely wouldn''t withstand even a single sword strike.


    But because of this, the pressure on Qian Bosheng greatly increased, and in a moment it was like facing a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator with infinite True Essence in a relentless barrage.


    "We are willing to offer Purple Mansion treasures, as well as Purple Mansion secret techniques!"


    In the end, Qian Bosheng couldn''t help but speak up, the fierceness in his eyes disappearing instantly.


    .net


    Shiming couldn''t help but admire Qian Bosheng, truly a centuries-old monster.


    From being arrogant and overbearing, to using power to oppress others, to finally begging for mercy and offering treasures, all in one go.


    Not a trace of embarrassment was seen.


    Of course, at this moment, Qian Bosheng''s heart was bleeding, full of regret.


    He should have realized something was amiss when Lin Xianzhi didn''t rush in ahead.


    But he was completely duped by Lin Xianzhi, who did not give in even a little when he tested if he could acquire the treasures first.


    Even if Shiming lacked True Essence, he wouldn''t let go of the treasure, so he was eager to get the treasure.


    Little did he know he fell into Lin Xianzhi''s trap.


    Associating this with the fact that the Qingxuan Assembly had already passed and Lin Xianzhi still wasn''t in a hurry, his delay earlier in exploring the mansion was not because he was distracted by the Assembly.


    He was preparing an array!


    Qian Bosheng was furious!


    To think he, in all his Foundation Establishment Perfection glory, would capsize in Lin Xianzhi''s hands.


    "We are willing to give two Magical Treasures, if not accepted, I''d rather blow up the Storage Bag!"


    As Lin Xianzhi still didn''t cease his attack, Qian Bosheng resorted to threatening once again!


    At that moment, his face finally turned red, red with rage.


    And finally, Lin Xianzhi nodded his head.


    At this time, Qian Zichu and Qian Ziyun both let out a huge sigh of relief.


    Lin Xianzhi was indeed a madman!


    Unfazed by threats, undisturbed by greed, fortunately, Qian Bosheng exploited Lin Xianzhi''s coveting of Magical Treasures.


    A rolling onslaught, waves of powerful spirit might spread out from the tunnels.


    There were flashes of spirit light, sword qi!


    The Qian Family had been attacked!


    Lin Xianzhi instantly passed a jade slip to Lin Shiming. It recorded the differences between the complete and simplified versions of the Nine Elemental Xuan Tian Great Formation, as well as the methods of control.


    Immediately afterward, Lin Xianzhi also gave both Lin Shiming and Lin Houyong a bottle of Return Yuan Pills each.


    Return Yuan Pills are spirit pills commonly used by Foundation Establishment cultivators to recover their True Yuan. One pill would cost several thousand Spirit Stones. In terms of restoring True Yuan, it was only stronger, not weaker than a bottle of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk for Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    The two immediately took out a True Yuan Pill and held it in their mouths, ready to recover their True Yuan at any moment.


    Just as the group finished these preparations, Qian Bosheng, who had quickly fled earlier, returned abruptly. Behind him, Qian Ziyun was nowhere to be seen, leaving only Qian Zichu looking like a Foundation Establishment fiend with terrifying ferocity.


    The two kept retreating.


    And behind them, countless black beetles flew towards them while large bolts of thunder crashed down. Additionally, a golden magical sword slashed through the air towards them.


    The beetles unleashed terrifying ferocity, the thunder carried an astonishing pressure, and the sword qi lingered for a long time.


    The Lin Family was immensely shocked after witnessing this.


    Li Chengzhi, Li Chengli, Li Xiulei¡ªall had actually come.


    Two at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, one at the complete stage of Foundation Establishment. These three had statuses in the Li Family second only to those in the Purple Mansion.


    And behind them, there were three more Li Family cultivators at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Clearly, the Li Family had set a trap¡ªa trap meant to ensure a kill.


    "Daoist Lin, I must trouble you to make a move, otherwise both our families will become history!" At this moment, Qian Bosheng, in a very sorry state, with numerous sword wounds and covered in dirt, bore no resemblance to a cultivator at the complete stage of Foundation Establishment.


    At the same time, although also at the complete stage of Foundation Establishment, he had suffered greatly at the hands of Li Chengzhi.


    The Lin Family didn''t speak, but allowed the Qian Family to come to the front of the Lin Family''s defenses, the intention to defend together was clear.


    "Ridiculous to even ask for help, when you can hardly protect your own. Qian Bosheng, surrender the secret technique for concealing your family''s cultivation. Maybe then your Qian Family can be spared!" Li Chengli couldn''t help but ridicule with cold mockery.


    He then turned towards the Lin Family: "Of course, that doesn''t include your Lin Family!"


    Li Chengli''s expression was somewhat ferocious. Last time at the Xing County Square Market, he had developed a deep hatred for Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi.


    But he couldn''t make a move with Xie An present!


    Apart from Li Chengli, Li Chengzhi also had a dark look in his eyes, sweeping them over Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming.


    Clearly, he was displeased about being tricked in Qingxuan City.


    Then, suddenly his gaze sharply intensified, evidently sensing the Foundation Establishment cultivation.


    "Tsk tsk, quite a talent!"


    Li Chengzhi licked his lips, with an evil smirk, his interest piqued.

 Chapter 109 Sword Array Exterminates Vermin

    Almost simultaneously with Li Chengzhi''s sinister smile, the black insect cloud behind him also headed toward the Lin Family.


    With the emergence of this black insect cloud, Lin Shiming''s expression grew even uglier.


    These black insects, known as black ant bugs, are ranked one hundredth in the list of demonic insects by martial cultivators.


    But don''t be fooled by their ranking, being lower than the six-winged mantis¡ªdue to their inexhaustible numbers, the black ant bugs are even more terrifying to cultivators!


    Every black ant bug is invulnerable to ordinary weapons, and not only are mundane armaments ineffective against them, but they can also consume spirit shields, and they are especially potent against Mountain Protection Arrays.


    "Don''t let these black ant bugs get close!" Lin Shiming took the initiative to draw out his Purple Wood Sword!


    At this moment, without the need to nurture the formation swords, Lin Shiming''s True Yuan was completely activated, instantly filling the area with purple light and crisscrossing sword Qi!


    One sword strike directly swept into the black ant bug swarm! Continue reading at m|v-l''e -novelhall.net


    Countless black ant bugs died, but what''s terrifying is that both the sword Qi and the True Yuan sword light got devoured by the black ant bugs.


    With their terrifying numbers, the True Yuan attached to his Purple Wood Sword would soon be nibbled away, and he would lose control of the sword.


    Lin Shiming hastily recalled his sword, looking somewhat anxious at this point.


    He then took out a Five Elements Tower and released a Five Elements Spell, which proved effective, but as the tower was only a second-rank supreme-grade magic artifact, not even a third-rank artifact, its effect was much weaker.


    As Lin Shiming sprang into action, an equally fierce battle broke out on another front.


    Lin Xianzhi was controlling the Nine Elements Formation against Li Xiulei and Li Chengli; the former, a thunder cultivator, striking vigorously with pure Yang and unyielding energy, every blast of thunder causing great damage to the formation.


    Meanwhile, the latter, Li Chengli''s swordsmanship was almost as good as Lin Xianzhi''s, also having grasped some Sword Intent, though not to the extent of Sword Light Differentiation.


    But what''s dreadful is that he possessed a third-rank supreme-grade magic sword.


    For a time, Qian Bosheng, who could completely suppress a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator, now found it strenuous to hold back two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators.


    Elsewhere, Qian Bosheng facing Li Chengzhi was similarly under great strain, continuously seeking aid from Lin Xianzhi.


    "Daoist Lin, please assist me, there will be a hefty reward later!"


    In the end, Lin Xianzhi drew a single True Essence Axe from the nine artifacts, using it to assist Qian Bosheng on the side.


    The pinnacle battle of the Foundation Establishment stage had erupted, and within the early Foundation Establishment stage, the Li Family had sent only three individuals, all at the middle stage. Not only were these three well-equipped, but they also brought with them three third-rank Demonic Beasts.


    Qian Zichu, who Lin Shiming regarded with caution, proved his mettle by single-handedly fighting against three third-rank Foundation Establishment Demonic Beasts and facing off against a Li Family body cultivator.


    Despite fighting four at once and sustaining continuous injuries, his offensive was ferocious, attacking with wounds and looking like a humanoid Demonic Beast.


    While the Sword Array still shone brightly, the sword qi unrelenting!


    And the two child swords were also trapped within, allowing Lin Shiming''s Purple Wood Sword to instantly return to his side to continue the confrontation with the mother sword.


    The expression of the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Li Family changed in an instant, turning exceedingly ugly.


    Not only had the black ants failed to break the formation, but they were also destroyed at a terrifying speed, causing his hair to stand on end. Even if he won the battle, he would have to face Li Chengzhi''s wrath!


    His expression instantly turned extremely furious!


    "You brat, dare to play tricks and schemes, now you die!"


    With his furious shout, the mother sword emitted an eye-catching sword light, and in the next instant, terrifyingly, the two child swords vanished into thin air, reappearing on either side of the mother sword!


    All three swords shot towards Lin Shiming!


    This attack exhausted the Foundation Establishment cultivator''s True Yuan, with sword light stretching for tens of miles, all to ensure a kill!


    The powerful sword light filled the Li Family cultivator with confidence, but at that moment, to his disbelief, he saw a mocking smile on Lin Shiming''s lips!


    Wasn''t that the very expression he had when he was certain of his kill?


    But what did he have to be confident about?


    In the next moment, he saw no more. In the void, a transparent Spirit Light flickered, sending out an invisible ripple, and almost in front of the Li Family cultivator''s face, a gigantic Golden Mantid Blade fell silently.


    The Spirit Shield was useless, the Spirit Shield shattered!


    The automatically defensive Spirit Shield proved futile, the Spirit Shield was slashed away!


    His gaze still lingered on the moment just past, but his head soared high without response!


    Assassination successful!


    The Golden Mantid Blade once again returned to the void!


    But Lin Shiming was not pleased, for the mother and child swords were still there, merely uncontrolled now that the Purple Wood Sword had returned.


    By leaning to the side and delivering a slash, he managed to knock all three Spirit Swords off course, leaving a thirty-meter deep Sword Dao fissure behind!


    The Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation ground the remaining black ants into dust!


    The nine Formation Swords flew back one by one. Although a significant amount of True Yuan was lost, the Formation was preserved, which allowed him to heave a sigh of relief.


    He then collected the Storage Bag and the mother and child swords from the last name Li, continuing to kill towards the Foundation Establishment cultivator where Lin Houyong was.

 Chapter 110 White Hair Once More

    Lin Houyong was in control of a defense and offense restraining formation, making it so that even the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators of the Li Family struggled to penetrate it for a while.


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming arrive, the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Li Family were greatly startled, their faces filled with confusion, wondering how an Early Stage Foundation Establishment could kill a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, and still have black ants.


    At this moment, even Lin Houyong, who was inside the formation, was somewhat dumbfounded!


    Wasn''t Lin Shiming just someone who had just broken through to Foundation Establishment, with very few Third Rank magic artifacts?


    However, surprise aside, Lin Houyong reacted quickly, instantly abandoning defense and going straight on the offensive.


    Countless small hills of Spiritual Power smashed towards the Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Li Family.


    The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Li Family was also tense and serious, constantly waving his hands.


    The next moment, a total of one hundred and eight Spirit Swords took flight.


    The dazzling sword lights nearly obscured the sun, with the Sword Qi surging like a tide.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised, but in the next moment, with his Divine Sense, he realized that among these one hundred and eight swords, only eight were Third Rank magic artifacts, and the rest were Second Rank.


    Even so, their power was definitely not ordinary, bringing him significant pressure!


    He raised his hand, and nine Wood Attribute Flying Swords flew out, directly forming the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation!


    This time, the nine Wood Attribute Formation Swords took a defensive posture, arranged in three rows!


    The Sword Qi also surged in waves, and the Wood Attribute Sword Qi had an even better aspect, that being its endless vitality!


    The two Sword Arrays soon collided, with the clashing Sword Qi more intense than that of sabers and swords, as though even the air would be cut apart, and the residual Sword Qi ravaged all around!


    At this moment, a stalemate was formed!


    But bear in mind, Lin Shiming was only at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, whereas his opponent was in the Middle Stage. Lin Shiming had nine Third Rank Early Stage magic swords.


    Meanwhile, the Li Family cultivator had not only three Third Rank Intermediate Grade swords but also five Third Rank Intermediate Grade, and a hundred Second Rank Supreme Grade swords!


    Yet, the might of the sword sea was staunchly blocked by Lin Shiming!


    "You''re using the Purple Wood Heart Sutra of the Qingxuan Sect!" The Li Family cultivator instantly recognized Lin Shiming''s Sword Array.


    At the same time, a murderous intent erupted in his eyes!


    Secretly, however, he transmitted a message to someone in the distance!


    Soon after, two Third Rank Demonic Beasts were seen charging towards the area.


    They had fled from Qian Zichu''s battlefield, where the latter was already bloodied and still struggling like a cornered beast, clearly not requiring the assistance of four Foundation Establishment combatants.


    One of them was a Third Rank Bloodthirsty Tiger, and the other a pure-blooded Barbaric Bull!


    Stay updated with m-v l|-novelhall.net


    He was gasping for air, breaths coming in large gulps!


    In his eyes looking towards Lin Shiming, there was also an exceptional respect.


    However, before he could continue his attack, he saw a vague silver light flash by.


    It struck his neck, forming a knot!


    The Li named Foundation Establishment met his death once more!


    The silver light flew back, and it was indeed Lin Shiming''s Gold-Threaded Silver Cord, striking in a surprise attack with a supreme grade magic artifact at the moment the Li Family Foundation Establishment cultivator had exhausted his resources, his old strength spent and new strength not yet emerged¡ªa successful single strike.


    The sword array in the sky also buzzed and disintegrated instantly, turning into one hundred and eight Spirit Swords, falling like rain.


    However, just at this moment, as Lin Shiming was gathering up the Li Family Foundation Establishment cultivator''s Storage Bag and Spirit Swords, and planning to assist Lin Houyong at the same time,


    suddenly, dark clouds enveloped the sky above.


    The next moment, lightning flickered, and thunderbolts furiously smashed towards Lin Shiming.


    In this moment, it was Li Xiulei in the sky, breaking free from the Lin Family''s Nine Profound Heavenly Great Formation, boldly making his move.


    A head full of thunder, dazzling lightning, like a death sentence announced.


    Lin Shiming wanted to dodge, but found there was nowhere to dodge!


    He could only control the Purple Wood Sword and call back the Golden Winged Mantis!


    Then, in his hands, he took out several third-rank Spirit Talismans!


    Bracing himself for a direct hit!


    The Earth Escape Talisman was useless, the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was destroyed, and couldn''t be used for a short time.


    At this moment, he realized that a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage could also run out of strength...


    But the anticipated thunderbolts didn''t come crashing down, rather a True Essence Shield appeared above him, absorbing all the thunderbolts.


    "Shiming, get into the formation!"


    As Lin Xianzhi''s voice fell, he realized that the other party was transmitting his voice from a distance.


    Lin Shiming didn''t hesitate, moving to rush into the formation; staying any longer here was simply seeking death.


    Once inside the formation, he was shocked to find his Seventh Great Uncle facing the piercing cold wind in the air.


    One Spirit Art after another furiously launched, resisting the enemy, and behind him, that black hair,


    at this moment, once again turned white!


    Black hair turning to white, at this moment it was as if Lin Shiming saw Lin Xianzhi for the first time!

 Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Golden Core Talisman

    "Shiming, there''s no need to be surprised. Today, your Seventh Great-Uncle will show you what a true swordsman is, and what it means for Sword Light to take shape."


    Lin Xianzhi threw a formation flag to Lin Shiming, preparing to hand over the active control of the formation amidst Lin Shiming''s bewildered gaze.


    But Lin Shiming did not want it to be so; even with him controlling the formation, he could at most resist Li Xiulei''s attacks. After all, his True Yuan strength was far inferior to Lin Xianzhi''s.


    And even so, it would still be perilous!


    He simply couldn''t hold off Li Xiulei for long.


    And clearly, Lin Xianzhi was planning to take on Li Chengli, and even withstand Li Chengzhi, all by himself.


    Before entering the formation, he saw Qian Bosheng already beaten to the point of vomiting three liters of blood, his strength reduced to a mere fraction of what it once was¡ªhis Foundation Establishment Great Perfection evidently had some discrepancy.


    It might even turn into a three-on-one situation eventually!


    However, without giving Lin Shiming any chance to choose, Lin Xianzhi dropped the formation flag into Lin Shiming''s hands.


    It was clear he had relinquished control of the formation, unless Lin Shiming was willing to let Lin Xianzhi immediately face the three from the Li Family alone.


    But that was impossible, and unrealistic.


    Lin Shiming took over the formation, his True Yuan flowing toward the formation flag, casting multiple Spirit Arts.


    Although there was still support from the Spirit Vein, in his hands, the nine True Yuan magic artifacts instantly shrunk by half, their power reduced by sixty to seventy percent.


    From a distance, Qian Bosheng, who had already been beaten to the point of vomiting blood incessantly and obviously affected by a severe poison, suddenly called out:


    "Daoist Lin, you can''t withdraw the formation! I have Hundred-Year Spirit Milk here, even Thousand-Year Spirit Milk!"


    To Qian Bosheng at this moment, the Lin Family was like the last straw that might save his life!


    But obviously, his cries were futile, as Lin Xianzhi soared out. In his hands, the Qinglian Sword had become the Green Gold Dual Swords.


    His entire body''s Spiritual Power also began to display attributes of both wood and metal!


    His face, too, began to wrinkle, aging rapidly!


    "Lin Xianzhi, you really are cultivating the Renshui Geng Metal Art!" Li Chengli couldn''t help but sneer.


    The true nature of the Qingxuan Sect''s Renshui Geng Metal Art was obviously well-known to them!


    And at that moment, Lin Shiming also confirmed something in his heart.


    The flaw in his Seventh Great-Uncle''s cultivation technique was likely that when fully unleashed, it consumed lifespan!


    A life-shortening cultivation technique!


    This made Lin Shiming break out in a cold sweat as well. If not for the system alert, he would never have known what flaws his cultivation technique might have!


    Lin Xianzhi made his move. In the void, the blade light of the two swords soared out like a golden lotus blooming.


    The spreading Spirit Might annihilated the remaining structures in the underground space, turning them to dust, and even the ground was stripped away to a depth of three feet.


    The formidable power caused Lin Shiming and the others to frown in astonishment.


    Lin Xianzhi was suddenly fighting together with the three from the Li Family¡ªLi Chengzhi, Li Chengli, and Li Xiulei.


    The sky seemed filled with endless Sword Qi, where every move and form turned into golden lotuses.


    As the battle raged on, Lin Xianzhi continually swallowed Elixir Pills to restore his strength, his white hair growing increasingly aged.


    Find more to read at m_v l|-novelhall.net


    From a distance, Qian Bosheng immediately threw a small bottle to Lin Xianzhi, containing a single drop of Thousand-Year Spirit Milk.


    Just like the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, only Thousand-Year Spirit Milk could instantly restore all the True Yuan for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    This kind of life-saving Spirit Milk hadn''t been sold in the markets of Qingxuan City for a hundred years; the last bottle of Thousand-Year Spirit Milk was sold for nearly a million Spirit Stones.


    After tossing the Spirit Bottle, Qian Bosheng eagerly transmitted a message to Lin Shiming.


    "Young friend Shiming, I have a tactic that can turn the tide; let me into the Formation!"


    Lin Shiming didn''t expect the latter would actually consider fleeing into the Formation instead of taking on the pressure and was immediately angered. How could he allow him into the Formation?


    But the next moment, Qian Bosheng charged straight towards the Formation.


    Lin Shiming wanted to block him but found Lin Xianzhi transmitting a message to him.


    Let him in.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming no longer resisted, opened up the Formation, and let the other in.


    "Young friend, protect me for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Don''t let anyone interrupt me!"


    After speaking, Qian Bosheng took out an extremely precious grey talisman from his Storage Bag, which had a grey ruler embroidered on it.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat curious and wanted to inspect it, but Qian Bosheng immediately warned him:


    "Don''t use your Divine Sense; this is a Fifth Rank Golden Core Magical Treasure. Your Divine Sense can''t stand against it!"


    Qian Bosheng''s words made him jump with fright.


    No wonder the latter treasured it so much¡ªit was a Magical Treasure of a Fifth Rank Golden Core Cultivator.


    This kind of Magical Treasure was even more advanced than the Purple Mansion Magical Treasures. It contained thirty percent of the might of a real Fifth Rank Golden Core Magical Treasure.


    Even though it was just thirty percent, its power was far beyond the resistance of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Of course, its drawback was that it took a long time to activate.


    And the origins of this Magical Treasure were evidently from within this Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    No wonder he was so decisive in using treasures to ransom himself.


    With this Magical Treasure, the Qian Family would not be at a loss!

 Chapter 112: Chapter 112 Purple Mansion Jade Liquid Pill Recipe

    Outside, Lin Xianzhi remained engaged in a three-against-one battle, as he continuously waved the water and gold swords, each time conjuring a series of Water-Gold Sword Lotuses.


    This was indeed the realm of Sword Light Transformation.


    Li Chengli and Li Chengzhi both had unsightly expressions on their faces, as they had not expected Lin Xianzhi to be so difficult to handle.


    Otherwise, they would have brought more than just three individuals with combat prowess above the late Foundation Establishment stage.


    But now, even as they transformed into demon cultivators, they were unable to breach Lin Xianzhi''s defense.


    Especially Li Chengzhi, who had now become a demon cultivator, channeled the Blood Demon Killing Technique with his life force, coupled with his blood toxin, yet he still couldn''t get close. The pure Sword Qi released by the Water-Gold Sword Lotuses sliced him clean.


    "How long can you last going all out and depleting your life?" Li Chengzhi suddenly sneered.


    Sword cultivators are indeed powerful, but Lin Xianzhi was just a sword cultivator who was shortening his own lifespan!


    This great battle had consumed most of Lin Xianzhi''s vitality, flesh, and spirit. He had likely lost several decades of his life span.


    And to think, Lin Xianzhi was one hundred sixty years of age.


    However, the next moment, before their sneers could fully form, a suddenly surging, heart-palpitating powerful aura emerged from within the formation.


    The entire Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein began to churn, and from afar, it appeared as if the Spiritual Energy were converging in worship, all flowing towards one place.


    "Xiu Lei, break the formation! Break it now!" Li Chengzhi and Li Chengli both exclaimed in shock, their faces turning pale.


    Li Xiulei reacted extremely quickly, sending a few Thunder Gang strikes smashing towards Lin Shiming in an instant.


    Lin Shiming took a deep breath, extremely tense. This time, he had to face a late Foundation Establishment stage Thunder Cultivator!


    This was also his first encounter with a Spirit Root Cultivator of a different element!


    He swung the formation flags continuously in his hands, casting Spirit Arts one after another!


    Instantly, a True Essence Shield moved to block the Thunder Gangs descending from above.


    However, unlike the True Essence Shield controlled by Lin Xianzhi, his shield was much weaker. After negating a few Thunder Gangs, it disappeared in an instant.


    The next moment, Li Xiulei leapt into the sky, and the dark clouds in the heavens all converged, transforming into thunderclouds.


    The crackling of electric arcs continuously exploded, thundering relentlessly. Then, the dark clouds churned, and the lightning coalesced!


    In an instant, it gathered into a Thunder Bow!


    The next moment, a Thunder Arrow, completely formed from converging lightning, was nocked into the bow and shot towards Lin Shiming!


    Blades destroyed, swords shattered, arrows vanished!


    As a Buddhist magical treasure, at this moment, it perfectly suppressed the demon cultivators, and Li Chengzhi along with Li Chengli were almost instantaneously annihilated!


    And Li Xiulei, who tried to escape, was also slain by the Precept Ruler.


    Everything was over, the entire underground world once again returned to peace.


    The deep navy blue Precept Ruler once again turned into gray-white talisman paper, which began to self-ignite as it descended, eventually disappearing into the air.


    Unlike a Purple Mansion magical treasure, the power of a Golden Core magical treasure was already quite astonishing, capable of only one strike!


    After a single strike, it vanished without a trace.


    In the sky, Lin Xianzhi slowly descended, but at this moment, he had aged considerably. Though his facial features reverted to that of his youth as the metallic True Yuan disappeared, his hair permanently turned white.


    "Seventh great-uncle!" Lin Shiming called out.


    "I''m alright!" However, Lin Xianzhi ignored Lin Shiming, turning his gaze towards Qian Bosheng!


    The danger was not over yet. One must know that Qian Bosheng also had no good intentions from the start, concealing his true cultivation level!


    This trip to the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion involved various factions who were like greedy wolves and leopards!


    "Daoist Lin, I think this time we should put aside our prejudices and unanimously denounce the Li Family''s crimes! They are demon cultivators, certainly spies for the demon sect!" Qian Bosheng, having witnessed Lin Xianzhi''s strength, quickly propped himself up and spoke.


    Then, as if still afraid that Lin Xianzhi would silence him, he added, "Daoist Lin, I also have the formula for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid here!"


    "That was our Qian Family''s initial objective. If I cannot return to the Qian Family, I can''t guarantee that there won''t be a summoning from the Qingxuan Sect!"


    Continue your journey at m_v--novelhall.net


    After saying this, Qian Bosheng did not speak further, focusing and calming his demeanor, slowly adjusting his state.


    At this moment, if Lin Xianzhi wished to kill him, he could not resist.


    But as long as Lin Xianzhi wanted the Lin Family to continue to return to the Purple Mansion Family, he wouldn''t do so.


    One must know why Yunzhou allows only the Li Family to have the Purple Mansion Family status, because the Qingxuan Sect''s control over the Foundation Establishment Pill was extremely strict, and their control over the formula for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid was even more astonishingly tight!


    At this moment, the Qian Family was in the same situation, Lin Xianzhi was unaware before, but now that the Lin Family knew, they were in the same boat.


    If they couldn''t silence him, they could only be in the same boat!


    No one could reveal the secret, if the Foundation Establishment Pill''s formula leaked, one might still find connections to deal with it, but if the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid was exposed, the Lin Family and Qian Family could only face a reckoning!

 Chapter 113 Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein

    Lin Xianzhi eventually nodded, for at this juncture, just as it had been at the Xing County Square Market, there was no other choice!


    In the path of cultivation, how could one not take any risks?


    Seeing Lin Xianzhi nod, Qian Bosheng also heaved a sigh of relief and then unexpectedly gave the Lin Family another pill bottle, within which was a drop of thousand-year-old spirit milk.


    He also gave Lin Xianzhi a jade slip, which was precisely the pill formula for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    "Daoist Lin, this thousand-year-old spirit milk is our Qian Family''s small token of appreciation for your generous assistance earlier without holding grudges! I hope you will accept it."


    Lin Xianzhi didn''t move, and for a moment, the situation became awkward.


    Seeing this, a bitter smile appeared on Qian Bosheng''s face, and then he spoke,


    "Moreover, I swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao that all treasures like jade slips have been backed up for the Lin Family and the Qian Family has only kept one of the magical treasures!"


    After Qian Bosheng said so, Lin Xianzhi then accepted the jade slip and the thousand-year-old spirit milk.


    Otherwise, the sly and cunning Qian Bosheng might very well have hidden some good treasures.


    At this time, Qian Bosheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, gave his thanks with cupped fists, and then turned to find Qian Zichu.


    As for the Li Family Foundation Establishment cultivator who had been battling with Qian Zichu, he was slain by Lin Xianzhi with a single sword strike after the talisman proved its power.


    Once Qian Bosheng left, Lin Xianzhi found Lin Houyong once again, and everyone gathered in front of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    "Shiming, you and Yu Qing continue to search the cave mansion to see if there are any remaining treasures!"


    "Hou Shou, you and Hou Yong continue to work on the simplified version of the Nine Yuan Xuan Heaven Formation, I need to recover some True Yuan!" Lin Xianzhi did not take the thousand-year-old spirit milk, as it was no longer necessary at that moment.


    Even if Qian Bosheng had consumed the spirit milk, he was still suffering from the severe poison of Li Chengzhi, and would not be able to control his injuries for a while.


    After all his orders were given, Lin Xianzhi carved out a new cave mansion for himself on the side and entered to sit in meditation and cultivate.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming went with Lin Yuqing to continue searching for treasures inside the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    Although it was highly likely that the place had been ransacked by the Qian Family, leaving nothing behind, both of them still searched very thoroughly.


    Inside the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, there was a massive chamber under the surface, resembling an underground world. It served not only as the Hermit Mo Yun''s residence but also led to the Mo Family''s ancestral hall where the memorial tablets of the Mo Family''s ancestors were enshrined.


    The Purple Mansion Cave Mansion had been picked clean, and Lin Shiming even noticed the residue of tables on the ground.


    The Qian Family had even taken the tables and beds, likely including quite a few Third Rank treasures, which he found regrettable.


    Seeing Lin Shiming looking over, the latter also gave him a kind gaze.


    If Lin Shiming hadn''t taken action and demonstrated his divine might by luring away two Demonic Beasts, he couldn''t possibly have survived against one person and four beasts.


    "Daoist Lin, a Demon Cultivator has appeared in the Li Family, and this is no small matter!" Qian Bosheng spoke solemnly before departing, his eyes very somber.


    Lin Xianzhi also nodded and spoke earnestly:


    "Daoist Qian, upon our return, we must promptly report that a Demon Cultivator has emerged in the Li Family. Otherwise, I fear the Demonic Sect might get ideas!"


    The two set a plan in just a few words, as this matter could not be taken lightly.


    If there were no Demon Cultivators in the Li Family, they would all need to unite against a common enemy at this moment, all the more so because there was a perfect opportunity at hand.


    After discussing the details, Qian Bosheng took his leave.


    Meanwhile, the people of the Lin Family also breathed a sigh of relief and began to turn their attention to the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein.


    "Let''s go and claim the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein; from now on, our Lin Family will once again possess a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein!" Lin Xianzhi declared with a bright voice, his eyes shining brilliantly in this moment.


    The Lin Family did not delay. Lin Xianzhi took out the Spirit Seeking Disk and commenced the recovery of the Spiritual Vein.


    However, this time it was a massive Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, which an ordinary Spirit Seeking Disk simply couldn''t contain.


    Lin Xianzhi had no choice but to use several Spirit Seeking Disks, dividing the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein into five parts to be contained, and only then was the recovery of the Spiritual Vein complete.


    Still, this method caused great loss to the Spiritual Vein, and even after reassembling, it might directly drop in rank. But it was the best solution available at the moment.


    It was out of the question to ask for assistance from the Sect''s Purple Mansion or the Li Family''s Purple Mansion!


    ... Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-novelhall.net


    On the way of the Qian Family, Qian Zichu looked towards Qian Bosheng, still somewhat puzzled.


    "Fourth Uncle, why did we not take part in the distribution of the Spiritual Vein? Since we''ve reached a consensus, we should be able to get a share of the Spiritual Vein!"


    "Foolish!" Qian Bosheng spoke up.


    "Apart from Lin Xianzhi''s strength, we wouldn''t stand a chance because of the Formation they''ve already set up. Besides, Lin Xianzhi is just an old cultivator at the twilight of his years; he has only a few years to live and must not be pressed. Now that our family has already obtained the prescription for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, let''s not cause unnecessary trouble."


    "You should pay more attention to that young Lin Shiming. Truly a rare talent! Under thirty years old, so decisive, cunning, and strong; his future is limitless!


    "Also, thoroughly investigate our family; there must already be spies from the Li Family. And that Qi Cultivation Elder from the Huang Family, along with the remaining members, must be uprooted completely!"

 Chapter 114: Chapter 114 Third Rank Vines

    Atop Fangmu Mountain, the formation was fully activated, shrouding the mountain in a blanket of white fog, while everyone''s faces were clouded with worry.


    By the Qinglian Pool, Lin Shijie, along with Fourth Elder Lin Yutie and Fifth Elder Lin Yuzheng, stood silently beside Lin Houyuan''s cave mansion, waiting.


    The next moment, a streak of golden light arrived in the sky.


    A Spirit Boat slowly descended.


    Upon seeing this, Lin Shijie immediately brightened with joy and opened the formation.


    Lin Xianzhi and the others landed directly atop Fangmu Mountain, beside the Qinglian Pool.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    Cultivators of three different generations paid their respects in unison.


    However, everyone was somewhat shocked when they noticed Lin Xianzhi''s white hair, clearly unaware of what had transpired.


    Fortunately, upon seeing that the entire party had returned without a single person missing, their expressions improved slightly.


    But there was still a gravity to their demeanors.


    Lin Xianzhi did not offer any further explanation, nor was there a need to, but seeing the worried looks on Lin Shijie and the others, he felt a vague sense of foreboding in his heart.


    "Why do you all look so troubled, has something happened to Houyuan?"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Uncle Nine encountered an ambush by the Li Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators on his way back, but, thankfully, with the help of Cultivator Xie, he managed to escape with his life. He''s currently recuperating in his cave mansion,"


    Lin Shijie looked at Lin Shiming with some concern. He had witnessed the severity of Lin Houyuan''s injuries, and the enemy had been incredibly ruthless.


    "The Li Family, Shiming, we can''t delay any longer. I must make a trip to the Qingxuan Sect. Stay here to guard Fangmu Mountain until I return!" Lin Xianzhi''s brow was deeply furrowed.


    Recently, the Li Family had been exceedingly vicious.


    Moreover, since the Li Family harbored Demon Cultivators, it was possible they had already aligned themselves with the Demon Sect. Given the relationship between the Li and Lin Families, if something happened to the Qingxuan Sect, the Lin Family would undoubtedly be doomed to destruction.


    Lin Xianzhi left behind a number of Spirit Talismans and several spirit-seeking discs before departing on the Spirit Boat.


    Besides the Fiery Banner, there was also a third-rank inferior grade Spirit Shield. Having already obtained the Kuimu Shield, he was somewhat disappointed, but it also showed how rare third-rank intermediate grade defensive Magic Artifacts were.


    "This is..." Lin Shiming''s attention was drawn to an ancient-looking sandalwood box. Upon opening the box, seeds brimming with Spiritual Energy came into view.


    He picked up a Spirit Seed and slowly infused it with the Wood Attribute True Essence from within his body.


    In the next moment, the Spirit Seed began to sprout in his hand.


    "Third-rank vine-type rapid-growth seeds!" Lin Shiming was overjoyed!


    For Lin Shiming, who was accustomed to using vine techniques, the most troubling issue after his Foundation Establishment breakthrough was not having matching vine seeds.


    The Snake Vine Flower and Iron Thornwood were now relegated to the role of mere distractions against Foundation Establishment cultivators, the same as ordinary wood vines were before.


    With these seeds, as long as he nurtured them through one cycle, they would become another asset for him.


    The Sword Array was primarily for trapping and killing, vines for entanglement, and the Golden Winged Mantis for assassinations!


    Thinking of this, Lin Shiming could not help but feel even happier.


    The rest of the items were not very valuable, amounting to about a hundred thousand Spirit Stones and some odd and curious pieces of furniture like tables, jade beds, and stone stools!


    Clearly, these were moved out from the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    Having sorted the Storage Bag completely, Lin Shiming finally lay down in the cave, quietly healing and recovering.


    Upon rising the next day, he resumed his life as it was before the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion incident.


    Cultivating his techniques, catalyzing the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree and the Minor Divine Ability Tree.


    Ever since his advancement to Foundation Establishment, Lin Shiming became even more adept at catalyzing the third-rank inferior grade Spirit Tree that produced Heavenly Spirit Fruits, at least shortening the maturation time of the Heavenly Spirit Fruits by more than three times. As for The Minor Divine Ability Tree, it finally showed results.


    But the rate of hastening maturity was not particularly good, just less than half, which still gave him enough reason to be thrilled. After all, the Minor Divine Ability Tree would take hundreds of years to mature.


    His daily care of the Spirit Plants also helped his proficiency as a Spirit Plant Master to naturally advance to the late stages of the second rank. Even benefitting from the perks of his cultivation techniques, he was on the verge of touching the threshold of the third rank as a Spirit Plant Master.


    At this moment, a Spirit Message Talisman flew through the sky. Lin Shiming caught the message and ceased his current activities.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming hastily opened the Formation, flying directly to the Council Hall. Continue reading stories on mvl


    The Spirit Message was not about his father exiting seclusion; instead, it was that the Lin Family had detected a Spirit Root Cultivator with a unique Spirit Root.


    In the history of the Lin Family, such a discovery was unprecedented. It was known that cultivators with unique Spirit Roots had almost a guaranteed chance of reaching Purple Mansion and were highly likely to achieve Golden Core!

 Chapter 115 The Arrival of the Purple Mansion

    ```


    Within half an incense stick''s time, Lin Shiming had flown to the Council Hall.


    At this moment, the Council Hall had been renovated once again to become a two-story building, a symbol of a Foundation Establishment Family Head. If Lin Shiming were to break through to the Purple Mansion stage and still be the Family Head, it would be transformed into a three-story building.


    On the second floor of the Council Hall, Lin Shiming saw Lin Yuqing, the Great Elder of the Lin Family, shakily and eagerly waiting. His heart settled somewhat upon seeing Lin Shiming enter.


    Behind the Great Elder, Lin Yuqing, stood a middle-aged man of around fifty years old. The man was also dressed in fine robes, his features exuded vigor, bearing a slight resemblance to the Great Elder in his younger days, also anxiously waiting on the side.


    This man was none other than Lin Yuqing''s son, Lin Qiuxian. Since he was a commoner, he did not carry the generational naming convention and usually resided in Xing County!


    Behind his son, a child of about eight years old clung to the hem of Lin Qiuxian''s robe, his small eyes full of curiosity as he looked around. When Lin Shiming entered, the child''s gaze never left him.


    "Great-grandfather!" Lin Shiming greeted with a bow.


    The latter gestured with a wave of his hand and bowed:


    "Family Head!"


    Each addressed the other respectfully, a formality Lin Shiming had grown accustomed to over the years. After all, not only was he the Family Head, but he was also a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, a status that ranked him as the second most important person in the Lin Family.


    "Great-grandfather, let''s keep this matter confidential!" Lin Shiming of course knew that Lin Yuqing''s grandson had been found to possess a Spirit Root, and not just any Spirit Root, but the legendary Thunder Spirit Root.


    Such an abnormal Spirit Root could, in some sense, be considered equivalent to a pure Spirit Root. It would be fine if such a disciple appeared in a Sect because the Sect could protect them. But if such a disciple emerged in a family and word got out, it was highly likely that the Sect would coerce them into joining through threats or temptations!


    Particularly since this abnormal Spirit Root belonged to someone so young, whose mind had not yet matured. Explore more stories with mvl


    "No second person knows. I personally conducted the test on Qiuxian''s descendant in Xing County. Even if there were extraordinary signs, no one would know it''s an abnormal Spirit Root. Not even Lin Qiuxian shall know, and in the future, he will retire on Fangmu Mountain," Lin Yuqing said, trying hard to suppress his emotions, but he couldn''t hide the excitement in his voice.


    Previously, whether it was Lin Yuqi or Lin Houyuan, he was extremely envious of them.


    Now that his grandson had turned out to be an abnormal Spirit Root, destined to be renowned for all time, how could he not be thrilled?


    As the sun rose high once again, it signaled the beginning of a new day.


    Lin Shiming exhaled a breath of turbid air. At this moment, he had finally made an initial refinement of the Tiangang Sword Formation and the Fiery Flame Banner, imprinting them with his mark, while the Formation Swords were placed back into the Spirit Platform for further refinement.


    With most matters now handled, Lin Shiming finally found time to cultivate a new Third Rank spiritual vine he had acquired.


    He had consulted many secret texts about this vine with no records to be found; he would have to cultivate it and then observe its effects.


    Lin Shiming specifically chose a small mountain behind Fangmu Mountain, where he started by channeling spirit energy. Unlike Second Rank vines, the Third Rank vine absorbed True Yuan at a terrifying rate.


    As he executed the cultivating Spirit Art, with a loud boom, a seed erupted into countless vines. These vines, all purple in color, quickly filled the sky, writhing like purple spirit serpents dancing high above.


    But apart from this, they seemed to have no other notable characteristics.


    However, the next moment, Lin Shiming was astounded to find that, in addition to growing through the sky, the roots underground were growing just as wildly and were extremely thick, their tips like spears rampaging through the soil!


    This delighted him exceedingly; the roots'' ability to attack was certainly beyond anyone''s expectations and would definitely be a significant asset at critical moments.


    "Certainly worthy of a seed from the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, let''s call it the Purple Gold Vine," Lin Shiming told himself as he looked at the vines with increasing joy.


    Not only was the Purple Gold Vine plentiful and tough, it could easily bind a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and also transform its roots into purple gold spears for attack.


    He couldn''t help but prioritize the cultivation of the Purple Gold Vine seeds.


    And on that same day, a Spirit Boat appeared once again above the Lin Family''s residence.


    It was Lin Xianzhi returning, accompanied by his senior brother, Xie An. However, that was not all; following behind them, an old man in purple robes slowly emerged.


    Upon closer inspection, it was none other than the Zi Xuan Hermit!


    This took Lin Shiming by surprise; he hadn''t expected the Zi Xuan Hermit to come, setting off a myriad of thoughts in his mind.


    "Shiming, come quickly and pay your respects to Master!" Lin Xianzhi sent a telepathic message to Lin Shiming.

 Chapter 116 War Treasure Ship

    "Shiming pays respects to Master. I failed to deactivate the Formation ahead of time to welcome you, please impose your punishment, Master!" Lin Shiming stepped forward and spoke.


    Zi Xuan Hermit, with an imposing aura, waved his hand indifferently as if to respond.


    The next moment, when he sensed Lin Shiming''s cultivation level, his eyes finally showed a trace of surprise.


    Less than ten years, from the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation to the early stage of Foundation Establishment, this speed was already much faster than that of the sect disciples.


    "Shiming, how is your amplification of Spirit Plants coming along?" Zi Xuan Hermit suddenly asked.


    "To reply to Master, Shiming is slow-witted, not even reaching fifty percent!" Lin Shiming answered cautiously, his words revealing both pride and joy.


    For a Spirit Plant Master, being able to catalyze to a certain extent with True Yuan was already quite an achievement.


    However, after hearing this, a fleeting look of disappointment passed across the hermit''s face, and he did not inquire any further.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming finally relaxed a bit. He had asked his seventh great-uncle; the cultivation speed of a proper ancestor from the main lineage was just about double, and that ancestor was indeed from Qingxuan Sect, definitely cultivating orthodox techniques.


    So he had concealed the actual speed, and although Zi Xuan Hermit seemed disappointed, Shiming felt it was more like a test.


    Zi Xuan Hermit also glanced at Fangmu Mountain, and it seemed as though he could see through all the fog shrouding the mountain.


    At that moment, Lin Shiming tensed up again.


    Upon the mountain were Heavenly Spirit Fruit Trees, a Superior Grade Third Rank Spiritual Vein, and also Minor Divine Ability trees, and even Lin Shilei, a Thunder Spirit Root genius.


    Toward such a Purple Mansion power, he did not dare to speculate about his capabilities.


    Fortunately, Lin Xianzhi did not release the Spiritual Vein detection from the Array Plate; if the Spiritual Energy of the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein had emerged, it would have been detected at a glance.


    Zi Xuan Hermit seemed to have some sense of self-restraint concerning his status and did not use his Divine Sense to probe on a large scale. The Formation around Lin Shiming utilized a Superior Grade Third Rank Array Plate.


    After a glance, Zi Xuan Hermit''s expression remained unchanged, as if that look was just a casual glance at the scenery.


    He then turned to Lin Xianzhi:


    "Xianzhi, we should not delay any longer, let''s set off for Qingyun Mountain!" Zi Xuan Hermit waved his robe and stepped onto the Spirit Boat again.


    Following him, including Xie An, the two senior brothers also stepped onto the Spirit Boat, continuing under Lin Xianzhi''s guidance.


    However, from Lin Xianzhi''s hand, a Pill Bottle flew into Lin Shiming''s hand, which contained a bottle of elixirs for healing, clearly for Lin Houyuan.


    As Lin Shiming received the elixirs, Lin Xianzhi also transmitted a message to him:


    "Shiming, come and join us. Confronting the Li Family, the more people we have, the more strength we can amass!"


    The two exchanged greetings briefly before turning their attention towards Qingyun Mountain.


    At this point, both the Lin Family and the Qian Family seemed to be playing the roles of guides.


    They were only a thousand miles away when the man in the green robe gestured suddenly in the air.


    A colossal ship that covered the sky appeared, a vessel that looked like a small mountain compared to the Third Rank Spirit Boats, not only in size but also in its overwhelming Spirit Might.


    It was a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure Spirit Boat, also known as a War Treasure Ship.


    The War Treasure Ship was the only treasure vessel that Foundation Establishment cultivators could also pilot. It contained several powerful formations, and at critical moments, it even had spatial formations that could accommodate up to a hundred thousand people.


    In times of war, this allowed for the decisive advantage of swift military movements.


    This was also a closely guarded secret treasure of the Qingxuan Sect. Even the Spirit Beast Sect and the Spirit Talisman Sect, fellow sects of the Zhao Kingdom, could only purchase it from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Together, they boarded the Fourth Rank treasure vessel, comprising two Purple Mansion cultivators and ten Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    While boarding, Lin Shiming finally learned from his seventh grand uncle that the other Purple Mansion cultivator was known as Tianyun Hermit from the Shen Ji Peak of the Qingxuan Sect.


    Moreover, Tianyun Hermit had once been a disciple of the Qian Family, but due to his powerful Dual Spirit Root of wood and earth, he had joined the Qingxuan Sect and became a Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivator within a mere three hundred years.


    The speed of the treasure ship was terrifying. In an instant, they felt a terrifying propulsive force burst forth and shoot out.


    In just a few breaths, Qingyun Mountain, which was thousands of miles away, was suddenly right before them.


    Then, array flags shot out rapidly in front of the treasure ship.


    They quickly enveloped Qingyun Mountain.


    The array flags moved so fast that Lin Shiming could barely keep up, and in the next moment, Spirit Light connected in a continuous expanse, forming a gigantic Trapping Formation around the mountain.


    A Fourth Rank Formation, the Eight Wastelands Prison Dragon Formation!


    At the same time, the entire treasure ship began to shake violently. As it shook, Spirit Patterns undulated like waves in the ocean, and a terrifying suction force emanated from the front of the ship.


    The next moment, a splendid sword of light spanning thousands of feet took form!


    Without a word, it slashed down!


    It was the treasure ship''s attack formation, the Heavenly Sword Extermination Formation!


    Lin Shiming watched on, dumbfounded. There was no inspection, no greeting¡ªjust a direct Fourth Rank Trapping Formation to trap people and a Fourth Rank Killing Formation to break through the defensive formation!


    There was no trace of the demeanor expected of high-level Purple Mansion experts!

 Chapter 117: Chapter 117 Sword Birth Myriad Laws

    The terrifying sword of light, exuding an overwhelming Spirit Might that seemed like divine punishment from the heavens, bore down oppressively.


    Meanwhile, on Qingyun Mountain, a glowing Spirit Light barrier suddenly appeared, the very Defensive Array of the mountain, also known as the Mountain-Protecting Formation.


    Boom!


    The earth-shattering roar reverberated across the sky and land, and the shockwave that blasted forth flattened the nearby hills into nothingness.


    The War Treasure Ship didn''t stop there, under the control of Xie An and other Foundation Establishment disciples, it consolidated another sword of light.


    Once again, the terrifying Spirit Might was unleashed, and this time, two swords were formed in unison!


    At the same time, Zi Xuan Hermit and Heavenly Cloud Hermit nodded to each other and flew out together.


    The former waved his hand and a proud sun rose behind him, followed by a Sun Treasure Sword flying out from it.


    In the next moment, Sword Qi filled the sky like clouds and the sword light flooded the heavens!


    One slash was cast, numerous times more ferocious than the sword of the War Treasure Ship!


    Heavenly Cloud Hermit also fiercely performed a hand seal, and suddenly a giant hand emerged in the sky, carrying the immense force of mountains and fiercely pressing down.


    The light barrier over Qingyun Mountain couldn''t hold on at all and shattered instantly.


    The Formation broke so simply and quickly.


    This made the two Hermit cultivators from the Purple Mansion somewhat incredulous.


    The Li Family also had members of the Purple Mansion.


    However, the next moment, as the Formation shattered, a dense golden light surged out from Qingyun Mountain.


    A golden Roc of enormous size flew out from Qingyun Mountain, its vastness eclipsing the sun, terrifying beyond measure.


    With a long cry, Lin Shiming felt as if he couldn''t control the blood in his body, shaking uncontrollably!


    "This is bad, it''s the offspring of the Jin Peng Demon King!" The faces of Zi Xuan Hermit and Heavenly Cloud Hermit changed dramatically at the same time!


    As if seeing a ghost, they immediately navigated the War Treasure Ship towards Qingzhou!


    At this moment, the people from the Lin Family and the Qian Family were all full of doubt, but almost at the same time as the two Purple Mansion cultivators fled, a louder beast roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the Qingyun Mountain Range!


    The dense golden light almost occupied the whole world.


    One could vaguely see a gigantic Golden Roc, like a Kunpeng, howling to the sky.


    It was clear now that they had fallen into a trap; members of the Li Family, along with cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect, had captured the offspring of the Jin Peng Demon King.


    This act of breaking the Formation had forever left the imprint of the Qingxuan Sect.


    Faced with a Fifth Rank Demonic Beast, let alone one as fast as the Jin Peng Demon King, nobody dared even to look, and everyone desperately drove the Spirit Boat away, regardless of how many tens of thousands of miles away they were.


    However, what came into view was a three-foot-long green sword at the waist.


    That green sword seemed light and inoffensive, as if unremarkable.


    Yet when it was met with the Golden Claw''s strike, it was as if a world of Sword Dao had been torn open.


    Countless Sword Qi burst forth!


    Swords filled the sky everywhere one looked.


    In a trance, it seemed to the onlookers that there were millions of swords blooming, continuing to slash towards the Golden Claw.


    Boom!


    The terrifying explosion resonated, and the treasure ship was flipped open.


    "Wait, humans!" an angry voice sounded as the Golden Roc Demonic Beast King spread its wings and flew off!


    Apparently, it was no match for the cultivator in the green robe.


    But one must know that in Qingyun Mountain Range, there are dozens of Demon Kings!


    This was clearly a call for reinforcements!


    The cultivator in the green robe had a serious face. He wanted to detain the Golden Roc Demonic Beast King but knew all too well that, without a Trapping Formation, it was impossible to hold back a Fifth Rank Beast King!


    The Golden Roc arrived quickly and left just as swiftly!


    Only the figure in the green robe remained in the sky.


    "Zi Xuan pays respects to Heavenly Sword Uncle Master!"


    "Qingyun pays respects to Heavenly Sword Uncle Master!"


    Qingyun and Zi Xuan paid their respect with clasped hands at the same time.


    Subsequently, Lin Xianzhi, Xie An, and others spoke:


    "Pay respects to our Ancestor Master!"


    "Disciples have been incompetent in their duties, please punish us, Uncle Master!" Qingyun and Zi Xuan were full of frustration, but at this point, it was their fault.


    "This matter has nothing to do with you. Prepare to resist the beast tide!"


    "Heavenly Demon Sect, I, Heavenly Sword, will remember this!" Heavenly Sword True Person let out a cold huff, and everyone felt an awe-inspiring Sword Intent shivering involuntarily as the Heavenly Sword True Person headed towards the Qingyun Market.


    The beast tide would break out soon, and as a Golden Core True Person, he had to take his place at once to stabilize the army''s morale.


    "Xianzhi, hurry back to your family and make preparations!" Zi Xuan Hermit and Qingyun Hermit almost simultaneously instructed the Lin Family and Qian Family.


    The beast tide was erupting in Yunzhou and Lin Family and Qian Family were in the direct line of impact. They had no choice but to sacrifice mortals unless they were willing to abandon their roots. For the family to develop in the long run, they must fight with all their might this time.

 Chapter 118 Attempt

    ```


    At the pavilion beside the Green Lotus Pool on Fangmu Mountain, every Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Lin Family, as well as the Qi Cultivation Elders, were present.


    At the highest place sat Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming who had hurried back from the Qingzhou border. At this moment, everyone''s expression was solemn, ready for the coming storm.


    The momentum of Jin Peng, the Demon King, that day was truly overwhelming, oppressing the entire Yunzhou!


    And this was only the beginning. What Yunzhou was about to face could be a massive beast tide, a rarity in a thousand years.


    This beast tide brought an unprecedented pressure on everyone, and it would also be the Lin Family''s greatest ordeal since the restoration of their Foundation Establishment family''s glory.


    If they were to overcome it, the Lin Family would no longer have external threats from the Li Family, and internally, an exceptional Spirit Root would emerge.


    The rise of the Lin Family to become a Purple Mansion Family was within reach!


    "Everyone is here, Shiming, make the arrangements!" Lin Xianzhi looked towards Lin Shiming before speaking.


    Lin Shiming nodded. Ten years ago, it was his father who made the decisions. Now, ten years later, he had taken his father''s place!


    He took a deep breath. Right now, countless thoughts ran through his mind, but as the Family Head of the Lin Family, everyone could be in disarray, but he could not:


    "Uncle Five, from this day forth, seal off the Golden Iron Stone vein. Until the beast tide recedes, we will not mine it. Also, leave a visual record. At the key moment, we can borrow outside forces to help us through the Qingyun beast tide ordeal!"


    "And Uncle Five, please also take a stand at Nanling Mountain in Lingnan County. We must not let the newly relocated mortals be devoured by demonic beasts!"


    "Yes, Family Head!" Lin Houyong responded.


    "Father, Shijie, the main battleground for the upcoming beast tide will surely be the Qingyun marketplace. Its terrain is flat, and it is the opening where the largest number of Spirit Beasts in the entire Qingyun Mountain range emerge. Uncle Seven and I will defend there. We entrust the defense of the family''s Fangmu Mountain to you both!"


    "Yes!" Lin Shijie and Lin Houyuan both nodded as well.


    They all knew that as named disciples of the Qingxuan Sect, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi had to be at the very front lines of the war.


    "Great-grandfather, effective immediately, buy large quantities of Healing Pills, defensive Magic Artifacts, and every kind of Second Rank Spirit Talisman from the major marketplaces, provided they are not more than thirty percent above the market price. We must be prepared to support the family in a prolonged battle!"


    "Yes, Family Head!" Lin Yuzheng immediately nodded in response.


    "Great-grandfather, effective immediately, provide access to battle formation training methods to all disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall, with the family waiving all contribution points unconditionally!"


    "Yes, Family Head!"


    "Great Uncle Four, both the Alchemy Hall and the Weapon Training Hall of the family will be under your responsibility. We must refine as many Healing Pills and standard Magic Artifacts as possible!"


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s only doubt was why the Qingxuan Sect sold war treasure ships at the Qingxuan Grand Assembly.


    If before the events on Qingyun Mountain he had not understood the power of the war treasure ships, now he clearly knew what the treasure ships meant and why most Purple Mansion cultivators craved a war treasure ship.


    You must understand that as long as there are enough Foundation Establishment cultivators, that treasure ship is equivalent to a Purple Mansion cultivator!


    Moreover, this time, the Qingxuan Sect, during the two Qingxuan Grand Assemblies, had the war treasure ships as their core finale treasures.


    "Shiming, if something unexpected happens, by that time, you will protect Shilei and ensure his safety at all costs!" After seeing Lin Shilei, Lin Xianzhi looked much better, and his somewhat aged face relaxed somewhat.


    Lin Shiming wanted to say some inspiring words, but in the end, he swallowed them.


    He could only nod his head, after all, even formidable Purple Mansion cultivators like Zi Xuan Hermit and Tianyun Hermit could only flee in panic. How could he guarantee that their Lin Family would definitely be safe!


    With the vigilant attitude of the Qingxuan Sect, Yunzhou and Xuzhou could become disposable pawns any day!


    Lin Shiming, feeling somewhat sad, once again looked at Lin Xianzhi''s white hair.


    The white hair was already starting to become dry and split, losing its previous color!


    Soon, he thought of the cultivation technique and the sword moves that Lin Xianzhi used, draining his lifespan. If his Seventh Great-Uncle could fully display the realm of Sword Light Transformation of the Sword Dao, his sword cultivator strength would absolutely be on par with Foundation Establishment Perfection.


    Immediately he couldn''t help but speak up:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, are you practicing the Renshui Geng Metal Art?"


    At this moment, Lin Shiming would not let pass any opportunity to increase the strength of the Lin Family.


    "Yes!" Lin Xianzhi said with a puzzled look on his face.


    The Qingxuan Sect''s techniques given to nominal disciples were Jade Slips that would be invalidated after a single refinement.


    And also bound by a Heavenly Dao oath, the techniques must not be leaked, not even to one''s own biological son.


    Lin Shiming had also cultivated the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, can you practice in front of Shiming?" Lin Shiming tentatively asked.


    The system prompts were filled with too much uncertainty, but concerning the lifespan and path of his Seventh Great-Uncle, he wanted to try!


    Hearing this, Lin Xianzhi stared at Lin Shiming for a long time.


    His eyes were full of strangeness, and he wanted to ask something, but in the end, he didn''t. Instead, he nodded, choosing to trust.

 Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Preparation

    Next to Qinglian Pool, inside Lin Xianzhi''s cave dwelling.


    The de?cor was plain, the stone table furniture simple. At this moment, Lin Shiming suddenly thought that if his great-uncle in the future were to leave a legacy and a cave dwelling, the later generations would probably be very disappointed!


    In front of Lin Shiming, Lin Xianzhi was seated cross-legged on a stone bed, concentrating and calming his breath, beginning his cultivation.


    But, compared to usual, his focus and the calming of his breath took half a breath longer.


    The next moment, streams of spiritual energy surged towards Lin Xianzhi''s body. The Grand Circulation of the Renshui Geng Metal Art began.


    Then a blue-golden glow circulated, as the aura soared and then waned, changing continuously.


    This was the first time Lin Shiming observed someone else''s cultivation, but he was not relaxed at that moment. If in the end the system prompt did not appear, then all his efforts would have been in vain.


    His heart continuously monitored the system prompt.


    However, after one breath, two breaths!


    Until Lin Xianzhi completed a small circulation of Grand Circulation and opened his eyes.


    There was still no sign of the system prompt.


    This couldn''t help but make Lin Shiming think, perhaps system prompts could only affect himself.


    After Lin Xianzhi cast a glance at Lin Shiming, he closed his eyes once more and continued his cultivation.


    This time, it was the turn of the Grand Circulation.


    The spirit light was even more brilliant, and the changes in spiritual breath were even more violent.


    Lin Shiming watched from the side as it went on for an entire hour, and finally, the system prompt appeared once again:


    "Reminding the great-uncle that his cultivation technique primarily cultivates metal, and secondarily water..."


    Lin Shiming was somewhat stunned. He hadn''t expected this profound-rank Purple Mansion cultivation technique to not only have several incorrect cultivation paths but also to get the most critical aspect of primary and secondary cultivation all wrong.


    No wonder Lin Xianzhi would suffer a decrease in his lifespan every time he exerted his full power in casting spells.


    Moreover, water attribute cultivation techniques inherently possess healing qualities. The more one tries to alleviate injuries, the more he subconsciously starts to primarily cultivate the water attribute! Once again taking a wrong path further.


    In the end, only one-tenth of the metal attribute True Yuan remained, which contradicted the essence of the Renshui Geng Metal Art itself!


    Many thoughts flashed through Lin Shiming''s mind in an instant. He didn''t understand why Qingxuan Sect accepted nominal disciples, nor why they always imparted such flawed cultivation techniques.


    After Lin Xianzhi finished speaking, Lin Shiming suddenly recalled that while the cultivation technique was fixed, Lin Xianzhi''s danger had, in fact, increased.


    And this could potentially involve him as well. He was not sure what the defect in the Purple Wood Heart Sutra was, but he could perceive the flaw in the Renshui Geng Metal Art.


    What would be the Qingxuan Sect''s attitude, and what about the Zi Xuan Hermit?


    Lin Shiming felt his heart tense up once again.


    Especially because the correction of the cultivation technique was done by a mere glance from an early stage Foundation Establishment presence.


    If the news were to leak, even if he reached the Purple Mansion, he might not survive among those centuries-old elders.


    After speaking with Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming also felt somewhat heavy-hearted.


    Compared to Uncle Ancestor Seven, he had considered less, but fortunately, Uncle Ancestor Seven had sealed his own memory.


    And at the same time, he reminded himself not to reveal the full power of his Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    Lin Shiming made another trip to the Council Hall and arranged for the migration of mortals with his eldest uncle once more, having them move even farther away from the Qingyun mountain range.


    Afterward, he returned to his cave dwelling and began practicing the Tiangang Sword Formation.


    The Tiangang Sword Formation was far inferior to the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation; its complexity was nowhere near that of the latter. However, similarly, its power also depended on the swords themselves.


    Nine Formation Swords were just wood attribute sword blanks, barely Third Rank, while the Tiangang Sword Formation contained three Third Rank Intermediate Grade swords, five Third Rank Superior Grade swords, and as many as one hundred Second Rank Supreme Grade swords!


    In terms of offensive power, there was an advantage. Of course, if his Artifact Refining skill improved or if he sought another Artifact Refining Master to reforge the Formation Swords, even if it was just to create Third Rank Intermediate Grade swords, he was confident that he would have few rivals among the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators!


    While Lin Xianzhi was in seclusion and Lin Shiming practiced his swordsmanship, massive changes were taking place across the Qingyun mountain range.


    Beasts of all kinds roared together, and Spirit Might surged!


    From time to time, deep within the mountain range, a Purple Mansion Great Demon would look up to the skies and roar, their Spirit Might astonishing.


    All over Yunzhou, near the Qingyun mountain range, first and second rank Demonic Beasts started to appear gradually!


    Cultivators and mortals from the state began moving away from the Qingyun mountain range, everyone with expressions of terror as if doomsday had arrived!


    And two days later, a Spirit Talisman flew in from outside, heading towards Fangmu Mountain.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi almost simultaneously received the Spirit Talisman, which was a summoning order.


    This time, the request was for two Foundation Establishment members from the Lin Family, twenty late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators, and twenty mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators!

 Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Opportunity for Red-haired Promotion

    In Qingyun Marketplace, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming walked along the streets, beholding the towering city walls dotted with fully armed cultivators.


    A sense of solemnity rose within them spontaneously!


    In just a few short days, what had been a small marketplace had now transformed into a fortress-like city of war.


    The city walls, previously merely ten meters high, had grown to a hundred meters, reinforced with protective runes.


    Atop the city walls stood the sword from beyond the heavens; Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi couldn''t help but look over, and in the next moment, they felt overwhelmed by the dazzling sword light.


    "This is the sword of True Person of the Heavenly Sword!" The two of them were greatly shocked, but at the same time, they recognized the resoluteness of True Person of the Heavenly Sword.


    It was precisely because of this, faced with the intensifying power of the incoming Demonic Beast Tide, that all the cultivators were fearless!


    That was a genuine Fifth Rank Magical Treasure!


    Commanding atop the walls was Xie An. As the head of the Heavenly Sword Peak of the Qingxuan Sect, both Zi Xuan Hermit and Xie An among others would naturally suppress the beast tide.


    The two immediately proceeded to answer the call to duty, and along the way, Lin Shiming also saw many familiar faces, including members of the Tian Qian Family, Cheng Family from the north, Bamboo Ye Family...


    However, unlike before when he had been seen as a junior, this time not only was he a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but he was also the Lin Family Head and one of the leaders of the team.


    Those cultivators were also very dynamic; although surprised, they did not look down on him in the least, but instead were full of flattering gestures. Find more chapters on mvl


    With the beast tide approaching, everyone in Yunzhou felt endangered. During such times, having an extra friend naturally meant an extra layer of security.


    Especially the Qian Family. This time not only had Qian Bosheng come, but also the old ancestor of the Qian Family, Qian Yongfu.


    Despite both families being extremely wary of each other internally, they appeared harmonious on the surface, even engaging in discussions about matrimonial alliances.


    With the Li Family stepping out, the power structure of Yunzhou would inevitably be rewritten, but all hinged on surviving the beast tide.


    "All Foundation Establishment families, quickly assemble in the council hall!"


    Suddenly, a voice transmission echoed through the sky, and a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately headed towards the council hall.


    This council hall was, in fact, the former auction house of Qingyun Marketplace. Now, it served as an ideal meeting place.


    The hall was spacious, but there weren''t many Foundation Establishment cultivators present¡ªnearly a hundred. One must understand that this was nearly the entirety of Yunzhou''s Foundation Establishment cultivators, including those who roamed the Qingyun Mountains, and some from Qingzhou and Xuzhou who specially came to aid.


    Xie An maintained order, and soon after, in came Zi Xuan Hermit, clad in a purple robe.


    Shiming also addressed those behind him including Lin Houyong and others:


    "Everyone, be careful not to be overly aggressive!"


    He was indeed very worried about the Qi Cultivators behind him.


    Of course, there was no time for him to worry too much at this moment, as some flying Demonic Beasts had already approached, with wind blades and Thunder Techniques bombarding the Formation of Qingyun City.


    And from the whole North City, over a hundred Third Rank Flying Swords flew out!


    Each Foundation Establishment Cultivator controlled two to three Third Rank Flying Swords.


    Shiming was also deploying the mother and child swords. All Flying Swords covered the skies, descending upon the Demonic Birds.


    At this moment, no one spared a second thought for the Second Rank Demonic Beasts, only focusing on killing more, in the most convenient way, with the least expenditure of True Yuan.


    Otherwise, the flying creatures were the ones that could threaten the Formation the most.


    After a wave of Flying Swords, countless Demonic Beasts'' corpses were reduced to chunks of flesh and blood, plummeting down, but at the same time, a large number of Demonic Beasts crashed onto the Spirit Shield of Qingyun City.


    The Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Formation remained undamaged, but immediately after, a horrifying number of Demonic Birds surged once again, and not much later, the land beasts also reached the city walls, beginning a frenzied assault.


    "Let''s charge out and collect some of the Demonic Beast corpses as well!"


    The pile of Demonic Beast corpses in front of the city walls grew taller, with some beasts being rather large-bodied. To prevent the piled-up corpses from turning into a mountain and losing the advantage of the city walls, Xie An issued another command.


    Upon this command, many Cultivators also surged outward. The slain Demonic Birds and beasts harbored a lot of valuable materials, which could fetch a good amount of Spirit Stones when sold.


    Normally, they had neither the opportunity nor the courage to indulge in such a slaughter within the Qingyun Mountains.


    There were even quite a few fierce Cultivators who had already charged into the beast tide, aiming to ambush specific required Demonic Beasts.


    In the next moment, Shiming''s eyes gleamed fiercely, as he saw a Golden-haired Mighty Ape, a Third Rank Demonic Beast, charging frantically towards him from a hundred meters away.


    Just as he anticipated the surge in strength that the Golden Winged Mantis experienced upon advancing to the Third Rank, Shiming likewise hoped the Red-haired Demon Monkey would also break through to the Third Rank.


    And at this moment, there certainly was a great opportunity!


    With plenty of Demonic Beasts and numerous monkeys, obtaining a Third Rank inner core from a monkey-type Demonic Beast would give the Red-haired Demon Monkey a complete chance to advance to the Third Rank!


    ```

 Chapter 121: Chapter 121 The Appearance of the Purple Mansion Great Demon

    Below Qingyun City, with the first wave of Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushing down,


    the beast tide was instantly crushed, leaving behind countless Demonic Beast corpses.


    Many Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Cultivators at the Northern City Gate, while pursuing, also waved their hands grandly, using Telekinesis to clean up the battlefield.


    Lin Shiming was still using his mother-and-child swords from a distance, not engaging in close combat or descending from the city gate, even though powerful Golden Luan Eagles were within sight.


    This time, there was a Golden Core Demon King supervising the battle from behind. For Demonic Beasts, a Purple Mansion Great Demon already possesses significant Spirit Intelligence, and a Golden Core Demon King, with its thousands of years of beastly experience, has intelligence not the slightest bit inferior to that of a human sage.


    Moreover, his performance was more suited to someone who had just made a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. In contrast, Lin Xianzhi, acting as the deputy commander, was traversing back and forth across the battlefield, with many Demonic Beast carcasses falling to his blade and entering his Storage Bag. Experience tales at mvl


    After a wave of the beast tide receded, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators showed faces full of joy!


    Especially some Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, as well as those from Xuzhou or Qingzhou, felt that this trip was extremely worthwhile, having slain a few Third Rank Demonic Beasts and already reaping thousands of Spirit Stones.


    Those Foundation Establishment Cultivators who hadn''t ventured out were part serious and solemn, while a small group started to show a slight sense of regret on their faces.


    Even Lin Shiming keenly noticed that the Qi Cultivators of the Lin Family behind him also wore expressions of regret.


    Lin Shiming didn''t say much, but he remembered the few demon monkeys from before; aside from the Golden Luan Eagles, he had also spotted two Third Rank Fire Apes!


    Although not every Third Rank Demonic Beast has an inner core, given the large numbers, they were bound to appear.


    As for avian Third Rank Demonic Beasts, he didn''t go looking for them, as the potential of the Golden Luan Eagle was no longer sufficient to warrant further cultivation.


    In his observations, he also casually threw out some Iron Thorn seeds, mixed with quite a few Purple Gold Vine seeds.


    These seeds were all imbued with his spare spiritual energy during the initial wave of the beast tide.


    "Everyone, quickly sit and recover. More Demonic Beasts are gathering in the distance!" Lin Xianzhi on the city walls also continuously instructed everyone.


    In terms of recovery, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were clear-minded and had already swallowed Elixirs to restore True Yuan, with no need for reminders.


    However, some Foundation Establishment cultivator families from Yunzhou couldn''t help but chuckle upon seeing Lin Shiming, indeed a newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivator using a Third Rank Magic Artifact with such immense consumption.


    In contrast to Lin Xianzhi, it''s like heaven and earth!


    At the base of the city wall, another large group of Demonic Beasts surged forward. However, this time the Demonic Beasts were once again Second Rank and First Rank, purely employing a tactic of overwhelming numbers.


    Only then did the Third Rank Purple Vines emerge from the ground, binding the bodies of the slaughtered Demonic Monkeys and sending them up to the city gate, where Lin Shiming collected them.


    Although he didn''t want to draw attention, he wanted even less for the city to fall!


    Because he noticed that among those who had rushed down from the city, few were from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Even though the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect were rich and lacked no Spirit Stones, it certainly wasn''t the case that ordinary disciples had no need for them.


    Indeed, almost as soon as he had collected the bodies of the Demonic Beasts, before he could check for any Demonic Beast Inner Cores,


    he suddenly sensed from beneath the ground a surge of Spirit Might!


    "Uncle Seven, be careful of the ground, there are Demonic Beasts that know the Earth Escape Skill!"


    Lin Shiming shouted loudly as a warning, and Lin Xianzhi quickly made his way back to the city walls, while the other cultivators realizing they had been tricked, understood immediately.


    In an instant, they wanted to fly back, but at that moment they saw from within the ground countless earthy yellow giant pythons, as well as lizards, poisonous scorpions, and more!


    At that moment, the entire battlefield seemed to have become a realm of venomous creatures, with quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators seeing their Spirit Shields penetrated and dying tragically on the spot.


    Decades of cultivation vanished in a single day!


    Moreover, many cultivators were about to escape back onto the city walls when suddenly, two hundred-zhang-long giant pythons emerged from the ground!


    Four Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons, the two giant pythons opened their enormous mouths, a terrifying suction force emanated, as if the whole heaven and earth were being drawn inside!


    Many Foundation Establishment cultivators had their Spirit Shields shattered in an instant and were sucked away by the force!


    This included even some late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators!


    "Devil spawn!"


    As the two Purple Mansion Great Pythons made their appearance, Zi Xuan Hermit stepped forward from behind Xie An, three purple law swords emerged from behind him, flying into the air and instantly becoming hundred-zhang-long beams of sword light, slashing towards the two giant pythons.


    Behind him, numerous disciples of the Qingxuan Sect finally stepped off the city walls, hurling various flying swords and magic artifacts in a frenzy, with colorful spells bombarding and instantly engulfing those earth-based Demonic Beasts!


    Clearly, the Qingxuan Sect''s cultivators, whether in terms of magic artifacts or cultivation techniques and spells, were not comparable to those of the other Foundation Establishment families and Loose Cultivators.


    The Third Rank Demonic Beasts were decimated in the blink of an eye!

 Chapter 122: Chapter 122 Kidnapped

    Three sword lights were extremely terrifying; a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators didn''t even dare to look at them directly.


    The next moment, there was a huge boom!


    Two Purple Mansion Great Serpents were directly cut in half at the waist, setting off a rain of blood that poured down like a waterfall.


    However, the very next moment, yellow light surged again from the bodies of the two Great Serpents, and instantly, another tail appeared!


    "An immortal body of a Purple Mansion Great Demon?" Zi Xuan Hermit narrowed his eyes slightly, as the three swords had already flown back to him.


    Before Zi Xuan Hermit could take action again, the two Purple Mansion Serpents soared into the sky.


    Zi Xuan Hermit didn''t immediately pursue them, but the two serpents, exhibiting fearless confidence, began to cast spells. Their wide-open snake mouths restored the Spirit Light, and atop the Fourth Rank Spirit Shield, numerous large yellow hills began to smash down,


    forcing Zi Xuan Hermit to shatter them with his Flying Sword!


    On the walls of North City, the cultivators were also stunned by Zi Xuan Hermit''s strength, befitting a Sword Cultivator Hermit with a widespread reputation from Heavenly Sword Peak.


    With one sword strike, he had cut in half two Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    At the same time, they were shocked by the intelligence of the Demonic Beasts; clearly, they intended to lure Zi Xuan Hermit out.


    Lin Shiming, on the city wall, was not far from Lin Xianzhi. In his vicinity were the disciples of Qingxuan Sect, all appearing quite at ease.


    Whereas on his side, quite a few Foundation Establishment family Qi Cultivation disciples showed despair on their faces, regardless of whether they would win against the beast tide.


    Their families had all lost Foundation Establishment great cultivators.


    "Sigh!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but sigh, clearly, those Foundation Establishment families had become the expendable ones.


    The onset and conclusion of the beast tide were evidently under the control of the Golden Core Demon Kings and the Golden Core True Persons of the Three Sects.


    The Three Sects were morally in the wrong, and the Demonic Beasts needed flesh and death to quell their rage!


    Seeing no effect, the Purple Mansion Great Demons once again summoned Third Rank Beasts and Second Rank Beasts to assault the Formation.


    One day, two days!


    A large number of Demonic Beasts died, and the casualties among Foundation Establishment cultivators were even greater; quite a few disciples from Qingxuan Sect also perished.


    During this period, Lin Shiming was still searching for Third Rank Spirit Monkeys, and then collected their bodies. However, Third Rank Spirit Monkeys possessing an inner core were exceedingly rare; after killing more than twenty, not one had an inner core! Find your next read on mvl


    His Storage Bag was somewhat not filled to capacity.


    On the fourth day, several War Treasure Ships flew in from a distance!


    The first to act were the people of the Spirit Beast Sect, who also clearly recognized the reputation of these Spirit-devouring ants and charged out in a frenzy, with numerous jade Magic Artifacts flying from their hands!


    This was also the only weakness of Spirit-devouring ants noted on the Spirit Insect list: they were unable to devour jade artifacts, otherwise, it would have been very likely for these Spirit Insects to rank in the top fifty!


    Meanwhile, the disciples of the Qingxuan Sect had already charged into the midst of the beast tide.


    Lin Shiming was also extremely interested in the Spirit-devouring ants, but choosing between competing with the Spirit Beast Sect, he decisively gave up.


    Instead, he targeted the six-winged demon mantis.


    The six-winged demon mantis was incredibly fast, so Lin Shiming decisively made his move, and this time, he directly catalyzed a full ten Purple Gold Vines.


    The root spearheads of the Purple Gold Vines were not the first to be stimulated; rather, it was the vines themselves that, in the blink of an eye, transformed into enormous tendrils, completely sealing off all angles for the six-winged mantis and isolating the other Demonic Beasts.


    With its staggering speed and surprising attack power, not a single Purple Gold Vine could ensnare the six-winged demon mantis¡ªall were torn apart one by one.


    But it should be noted that each Purple Gold Vine was in fact a bundle; not only were there countless strands, but also a full ten bundles, tightly encircling it in multiple layers inside and out!


    And not only that, but this time, Lin Shiming took out a Fire Flag.


    The tiny flag, with a wave of his hand, quickly turned into a three to four meter tall fiery red banner, with flames flowing on its surface, radiating intense waves of heat.


    With a wave of the Fire Flag, all of the Purple Gold Vines were immediately set ablaze, and the fire was greatly assisted by the wood!


    In an instant, the six-winged mantis was burned so badly that it let out pitiful cries.


    It was then that countless golden Spirit Roots shot out from under the ground, aiming straight for the six-winged mantis.


    Boom, boom!


    The six-winged mantis had already dodged, but in the flames, it hesitated, and many of the Purple Gold Vine spearheads pierced through it.


    Lin Shiming''s brow instantly relaxed.


    Just at that moment, suddenly a Storage Bag flew out, releasing brilliant light into the sky, and with a transformation of light, the six-winged mantis was directly captured inside.


    Lin Shiming glanced over and saw a Spirit Beast Sect disciple clad in a brocade robe decorated with Spirit Beast motifs, extremely satisfied as he took the bag.


    Without the slightest bit of embarrassment for stealing the beast, he did not even give Lin Shiming a glance.


    Afterward, the Spirit Beast Sect disciple flew back into the fray with the Spirit-devouring ants to start extracting them!


    Lin Shiming''s face was gloomy, and in his eyes, there emerged an inexplicable surge of killing intent.


    This was his first time being robbed of a monster and battle spoils!

 Chapter 123 The City Falls

    The scene was still in utter chaos, and few paid attention to Lin Shiming, as he was just a cultivator who had recently entered the Foundation Establishment stage.


    On the contrary, cultivators were quite eager to follow those from the Spirit Beast Sect and the Spirit Talisman Sect. Even though they couldn''t kill the more valuable demonic beasts, scavenging weaker ones without the fear of falling was indeed fortunate.


    Lin Shiming put away the Fiery Flag, and once again attacked with his mother and child swords, as if nothing had happened.


    In the next moment, a demonic monkey appeared in the distance, wounded by Lin Shiming''s mother sword, as well as the child sword that appeared out of thin air, and the monkey turned tail and ran.


    "Abomination, where do you think you''re going!" Lin Shiming leaped off the city wall for the first time, brandishing the Fiery Flag in his hand once more, casting a scorching red light.


    The sky-high flames caught up with the demonic monkey in the blink of an eye, burning it alive.


    Incidentally, a few nearby Third Rank demonic beasts were also burnt.


    Lin Shiming symbolically picked up the various spirit beast materials on the ground!


    Afterward, he didn''t linger but leaped back onto the city wall.


    It was a common sight during this beast tide for a cultivator to simply leave the city gate to collect materials from spirit beasts.


    Where the Spirit Shield had shattered was an extremely brutal site, where the demonic beasts launched their fiercest attacks. The place was littered with Third Rank demonic beasts, against which the cultivators from the Three Sects along with those from Yunzhou who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage fought desperately.


    A good number of the spirit-devouring ants in the sky had also been exterminated. At the same time, several were collected into jade boxes by the cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect.


    Among them was a cultivator in brocade.


    The brocade-clad cultivator wore a smile, gentle and refreshing like a spring breeze, as he continued to move among the beasts, occasionally snatching demonic beasts from familial Foundation Establishment cultivators, with no one daring to say a word.


    With his mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level, along with his identity as a disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect, no one dared to provoke him.


    The next moment, when he swept his divine sense around, he spotted an unusual leopard-type demonic beast. His eyes sparkled, and first, he cast a red giant tower magic artifact to suppress it.


    Then he took out a bag-like magic artifact, threw it into the air, and with repeated bursts of rosy light, he captured the leopard-type demonic beast inside the bag.


    The brocade-clad cultivator, extremely satisfied, put away the bag, weighed it for a bit, and then calmly hung it on his waist.


    However, the next moment, the brocade-clad cultivator''s brow furrowed sharply. He took out a Jade Ruyi and transformed it into a Spirit Shield. The shield had barely formed when a streak of golden light probed out of nowhere.


    Boom!


    They didn''t even manage to roar before dying.


    Meanwhile, in the sky, a Golden Winged Roc that blotted out the sky, a mountainous Through-Arm Ape, in addition to a Spirit Light-bright, emerald-eyed Golden Tiger and a Three-Headed Demon Python¡ªall four Golden Core Demon Kings appeared. Simultaneously within Qingyun City, three Golden Core True Persons also emerged, ascending beyond the Jiuxiao, unleashing a terrifying Fifth Rank war!


    The magnitude of the power was such that everyone felt as if the sky was collapsing, and the earth shattering, with the aftershocks alone being too fierce even for the Purple Mansion Cultivators to dare face head-on!


    The fearsome tumult caused a severe tremor throughout the vicinity of Qingyun City, and even some houses not reinforced with formations began to collapse and shatter.


    Some of the Qi Cultivators in the early and middle stages, as well as First Rank and Second Rank Demonic Beasts, were so oppressed by the Spirit Might that they struggled to breathe, let alone fight.


    The East City gate too was incredibly gruesome, with countless Cultivators dying, and numerous Third Rank and Fourth Rank Demonic Beasts swarming in.


    At this moment at the East City gate, five or six War Treasure Ships appeared; countless attack formations, combined with the frenzied throwing of Spirit Talismans from the Spirit Talisman Sect, managed to keep the situation at the gate from becoming utterly desperate.


    The pressure on Lin Shiming also dramatically increased. Apart from the Mother and Son Swords, he pulled out the Fiery Flag and the Kuimu Shield, three pieces of Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifacts, and with the occasional appearance of the Purple Gold Vines, he managed to avoid being in a completely sorry state.


    However, he had to keep an eye on the Qi Cultivators of the Lin Family, who also looked quite pale.


    As the deputy commander, Lin Xianzhi was still fighting valiantly at the forefront, bathing in blood. His Sword Dao realm, which allowed for Sword Light Transformation, enabled him to display great valor at the East City gate.


    By his side, Xie An was even stronger. Though his Sword Dao realm wasn''t as high as Lin Xianzhi''s, his Sword Techniques and Secret Techniques were far superior, allowing him to single-handedly hold back a Purple Mansion Great Demon that had just entered the Purple Mansion stage!


    In the end, the crisis inevitably arrived. The Cultivators terrifyingly realized that compared to the Purple Mansion Great Demons, there were far too few Purple Mansion Cultivators. Yunzhou no longer had any Purple Mansion Families, thus, no Purple Mansion Cultivators existed there.


    Not many from the Three Sects arrived either, and it was only the War Treasure Ships that were holding out against the pressure.


    At that moment, a Third Rank late-stage Green Bull Demonic Beast fiercely charged towards Lin Shiming''s position.


    Lin Shiming was greatly alarmed; being only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he quickly took out the Tiangang Sword Formation!


    One hundred and eight magical swords appeared, instantly forming a gigantic Tiangang Formation Sword in the void.


    He crazily slashed towards the Green Bull, and with every strike, a significant portion of his True Yuan depleted!


    Fortunately, Lin Shiming had two Spirit Platforms, which allowed his True Yuan to not be reduced by much.


    But the Green Bull''s horns were terrifying to the extreme, as if they possessed a spirit-breaking effect, directly knocking away the Tiangang Formation Sword, even shattering many of the Formation Patterns on the sword.


    Seeing the Green Bull drawing near, Lin Shiming once more sent out nine Formation Swords, immediately creating a surrounding Sword Array. Layers of purple light transformed into countless Sword Qis, slicing towards the Green Bull.

 Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Li Family Li Chuanhuan

    The Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation might not be as offensive as the Tiangang Sword Formation, but in terms of trapping and distracting the enemy, it was even more effective.


    For a moment, the Third-Rank late-stage Green Ox couldn''t break through the sword array.


    It only slammed into a myriad of vanishing purple lights, its True Yuan dissipated, but the formation swords continued to surge forth with unending True Yuan.


    Countless sword qi continued to slash towards the Green Ox.


    Meanwhile, Lin Xianzhi leaped forward, and with his Qinglian Sword, he directly slew the Green Ox Demonic Beast.


    The terrifying strength of a sword cultivator also filled Lin Shiming with envy.


    "Shiming, fight and retreat! We can''t hold on any longer!" Lin Xianzhi''s voice appeared in Lin Shiming''s mind.


    Lin Shiming nodded. Given the current situation, it was only a matter of time before the city would fall, so he also transmitted his voice to the remaining Qi Cultivators of his clan.


    At the scene, not only the family''s younger generation was retreating, but even the Sect disciples were gradually falling back.


    The once towering walls had also been trampled into disrepair by the Demonic Beasts.


    Everyone couldn''t help but look towards the sky, hoping for a miracle to appear on the horizon.


    However, at that moment, another Golden Core Demon King appeared in the sky.


    A total of five Golden Core Demon Kings were fighting against three Golden Core True Persons from the Three Sects, and even the one from the Spirit Beast Sect had summoned a Fifth-Rank Spirit Beast, still putting them in a precarious situation!


    And as soon as the Fifth-Rank Spirit Beast emerged, the five Demon Kings of the Qingyun Mountain Range seemed to feel a great humiliation and attacked even more fiercely.


    The entire sky was occupied by sword lights and various spells intertwined.


    The occasional release of Spirit Might could easily slay Purple Mansion cultivators or Fourth-Rank Great Demons.


    Under Lin Shiming''s command, the Lin Family members also moved closer to the Qingxuan Sect disciples; since Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming were both nominal disciples and had an unusual relationship with Xie An, the Qingxuan Sect disciples did not say anything, turning a blind eye.


    Just then, to Lin Shiming''s surprise, a system prompt appeared.


    "Please carefully search among the city-defending cultivators, and you will discover remnants of the Li Family and a damaged Fifth-Rank Demon Banner Magical Treasure."


    Lin Shiming was somewhat stunned. He had not expected that, in this battlefield, there would still be cultivators of the Li Family. He was puzzled; where did the Li Family get the courage to appear on the battlefield?


    You should know that the Qingxuan Sect had already issued a wanted notice for the Li Family.


    Not to mention being here, the Li Family probably didn''t even dare to linger in Yunzhou.


    Even Li Chuanhuan, the old ancestor of the Li Family, was only a Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivator. In the current Qingyun City, where Golden Core True Persons existed, how could he dare to be present?


    Enjoy new adventures from §Þ??


    Or it could be a Demon Cultivator cultivating the Magical Treasure.


    But according to the system prompt, the former seemed much more likely.


    As his Divine Sense covered the small flag, Lin Shiming suddenly shuddered.


    Out of nowhere, a sword was already slashing towards him.


    The sword moved too swiftly; by the time Lin Shiming could react, it was already upon him.


    Boom!


    A flash of golden light in the void, and two massive scythes slashed out from thin air.


    It was the Golden Winged Mantis, bolstered by the Taoist robe.


    Yet, the previously undefeated golden scythes were instantly shattered upon contact with the light sword.


    Such was the might of the light sword.


    Yet this slight pause had given Lin Shiming a moment''s respite.


    The Kuimu Shield opened, followed by various Spirit Talismans. Most importantly, at this moment, Lin Xianzhi had already drawn the Qinglian Sword to his side.


    He executed the Ren Shui Geng Jian technique to its limit. His head full of white hair danced wildly,


    and the skinless Sword Qi condensed into a Green Gold Sword Light.


    Finally, with a thunderous blast, the incoming sword was blocked.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, that man is Li Chuanhuan, the chief instigator of this incident. He must not be allowed to escape!" Lin Shiming shouted sharply.


    Not far from them, the cultivator who was originally from a small family clan immediately stopped concealing his figure, transforming into a yellow Escape Light and zooming towards the ground.


    "Beneath us is a Fifth Rank incomplete Magical Treasure collecting lingering souls!" Lin Shiming saw that many cultivators remained indifferent, and with Li Chuanhuan being a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator, no one dared to stop him.


    Also, all the Purple Mansion cultivators from the Three Sects were being blocked by a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    But as Lin Shiming''s voice rang out, the whole world boiled over.


    Below was a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    That was something comparable to a Golden Core Cultivator''s possession.


    While this Fifth Rank Magical Treasure might not attract ordinary disciples, to the Cultivators of the Three Sects, it was the greatest treasure.


    After all, their Golden Core ancestors were above, and securing the Fifth Rank Magical Treasure could surely earn them merit from the Golden Core True Persons.

 Chapter 125: Chapter 125 Shen Ji True Person

    In an instant, a number of people rushed toward the underground.


    The most powerful among them was a direct disciple of the Qingxuan Sect, who was, like Xie An, at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, but at this moment, using a mysterious secret technique, he had boosted his aura to the level of the Purple Mansion.


    He too plunged into the ground.


    Li Family remnants must be executed!


    The Fifth Rank magical treasure naturally belongs to Heavenly Sword True Person!


    "Come at me, the Nine Sons Demon Banner is just short of souls!" Li Chuanhuan laughed loudly, not the least bit concerned.


    Underground, he directly released earth-based spells, instantly killing the other cultivators buried within.


    Only the cultivator who had used the secret technique to reach the level of the Purple Mansion, along with a few at the peak of Foundation Establishment, barely managed to resist.


    Then, he was seen taking a black flag from the ground and leaping back to the surface.


    Under his control, the palm-sized flag suddenly transformed into a massive banner that was three to four zhang tall.


    On the banner, nine ink-stained fearsome demon heads came to life, with countless demon souls'' shadows flickering in and out of existence.


    A single glance was like peering into the Asura Hell, exceedingly terrifying.


    The next moment, swarms of demon heads emerged from the banner, hanging high in the void, like the gate to hell itself.


    Lin Shiming was also greatly shocked; he did not expect Li Chuanhuan to not flee but instead to brazenly confront the Three Great Sects.


    To massively slaughter the disciples of all three sects.


    Many cultivators were preoccupied with fighting the demonic beasts and never anticipated such a sudden influx of ghostly heads and demon souls!


    Many fell dead on the spot, and their souls were once again absorbed by the Nine Sons Demon Banner.


    In a blink, the entire East City gate resembled a purgatory.


    Lin Shiming and others who were prepared, had already retreated from the East City gate.


    Knowing it was a Fifth Rank magical treasure, even if it was damaged, it was not something Foundation Establishment cultivators could contend with; even if someone from Purple Mansion arrived, Lin Shiming had no confidence that they could stop Li Chuanhuan.


    Lin Xianzhi also retreated with him, for they were only nominal disciples and had encountered an attack by the demon head on the city wall, where they could only serve as nourishment for the demon banner.


    Just then, a purple light appeared in the sky, and three long purple swords descended, slashing towards the Nine Sons Demon Banner.


    It was none other than Zi Xuan Hermit, who at that moment, exuded a purple aura like the rising morning sun, looking exceptionally spirited.


    The tower emitted a thick glow, immediately locking the entire void in place. Even the blood light formed from the sacrifice of countless demon souls did not allow the man in the black robe to leave through Blood Escape!


    "Mo Xuan, old demon, leave the Golden Dragon Fruit behind!" A figure walked out of the void, none other than the Shen Ji True Person of the Qingxuan Sect''s Shen Ji Peak.


    "Shen Ji, weren''t you in closed-door cultivation? How are you here?" Mo Xuan True Person''s face was extremely unsightly at this moment; he had never thought his foolproof plan would be thwarted by the Qingxuan Sect.


    But he immediately spoke again:


    "Old Daoist Shen Ji, even if you stabilize the situation in Yunzhou here, how will you stabilize the border between Zhao and Chu?"


    Shen Ji True Person did not immediately respond but turned his head to look at the others engaged in the fierce battle in the void.


    "Fellow demonic race, let''s stop and talk as well, why suffer over a momentary conflict after hundreds of years of cultivation!" The Demon Kings, including Jin Peng, also immediately stopped.


    After speaking and seeing no one ceasing their battles, Shen Ji True Person suddenly unleashed his cultivation level fully. A terrifying wave of spirit might immediately covered the entire heavens and earth.


    "Golden Core Perfection!"


    Mo Xuan''s face turned even paler. Despite all their calculations, they hadn''t expected Shen Ji True Person to achieve Golden Core Perfection.


    The Demon Kings, sensing Shen Ji True Person''s cultivation level, also immediately halted. For now, with three Golden Core True Persons and a Fifth Rank Spirit Beast on the Qingxuan Sect''s side, they were powerless to fight back.


    Especially now, facing Shen Ji True Person.


    "Human race friends, just now, the Cloud Flood Dragon was in a frenzy, and I assume it will also arrive at some point," Jin Peng, the Demon King, also spoke with some trepidation.


    The rage of having their offspring captured was gradually cooling down.


    The breach of Qingyun City was enough to deter the human race.


    ...


    The human True Persons and Demon Kings began to negotiate, and Lin Shiming also let out a sigh of relief.


    Then, the following content was dominated by a formation, and he could not learn more about it.


    But it was clearly evident that the beast tide was coming to an end.


    Even more advantageous for the Lin Family was that the Qingxuan Tower was said to be a treasure of the Qingxuan Sect, a Fifth Rank Supreme Grade magical treasure.


    Li Chuanhuan and the demon cultivator Golden Core, naturally, could not escape.


    "Shiming, let''s go back to the family," Lin Xianzhi glanced at the family members. Out of the forty Qi Cultivators, only fifteen remained, two-thirds had died.


    These were the elite of the family, after all.

 Chapter 126 Mysterious Book Magical Treasure

    Next to Qinglian Pool, Lin Shiming opened his eyes, exhaling a sigh of turbid breath.


    After three days, he had finally recovered from the beast tide.


    On that day, after he and Lin Xianzhi returned to Fangmu Mountain, they had worked together to repel the invading horde of beasts.


    Fortunately, most of the Third Rank and Fourth Rank Demonic Beasts had been outside Qingyun City, and on Fangmu Mountain of the Lin Family, there were only three Third Rank Demonic Beasts, and all of them were at the early stage.


    With Lin Houyuan and Lin Shijie joining hands, along with the great formation of Fangmu Mountain, they managed to hold on until Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi arrived to help.


    After driving off the Demonic Beasts, Lin Shiming went back up the mountain to heal, while his seventh great-uncle, Lin Xianzhi, went to Nanling Mountain in Lingnan County to assist Lin Houyong in defeating the beast tide.


    With everything in order, Lin Shiming began to tally the gains from the beast tide.


    He first organized the Demonic Beast materials, which included both Second Rank and Third Rank, and after a rough estimate, these materials alone were worth about a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. This value took into account the sharp decrease due to the excessive slaughter of Demonic Beasts that had devalued the materials, otherwise it would have been even more.


    You should know that Lin Shiming had slain more than a dozen ape-like Third Rank Demonic Beasts.


    Of course, these materials also stirred Lin Shiming''s interest in artifact refining.


    With the family owning a vein of Golden Iron Stone and so many Demonic Beast materials, plus the stockpile of First Rank and Second Rank Demonic Beasts at the family''s disposal, they would fully support him going far on the path of artifact refining.


    Having collected all the refining materials, Lin Shiming released the Golden Winged Mantis, which looked rather pitiful now. Of its two serrated limbs, only one remained; the other had been blown to pieces by Li Chuanhuan in Qingyun City.


    The Golden Winged Mantis squeaked, its massive body now slightly taller than Lin Shiming. Its triangular head affectionately nuzzled Lin Shiming''s forehead.


    Lin Shiming also stepped back, gently caressing the head of the Golden Winged Mantis. His eyes held a touch of pity as he then took out Healing Pills, fed another one to the Golden Winged Mantis, and gave it a large bowl of Third Rank Spirit Water from Qinglian Pool.


    The Golden Winged Mantis once again crawled up the wall of its stone chamber, while Lin Shiming finally took out a new Storage Bag and a new Spirit Beast Bag.


    Everything inside the Storage Bag and the Spirit Beast Bag had belonged to a disciple from the Spirit Beast Sect in Qingyun City.


    After having the Golden Winged Mantis assassinate the target, he immediately switched out the Storage Bracelet and the Spirit Beast Bracelet below.


    Lin Shiming first opened the Storage Bag and took out a gray cloth Magic Artifact from within.


    Yet, when he picked up the book, he was shocked to discover that the book was actually a magic artifact.


    The book was entirely crafted from the hides of mysterious beasts, but upon channeling True Yuan into it, he found that it was a damaged Fourth Rank Magical Treasure.


    This pleasantly surprised him, and upon opening the book, he discovered it contained secret methods for cultivating spirit insects and for encouraging the evolution of Spirit Beasts.


    The entire book had only seven or eight pages, two of which were dedicated to concocting a special elixir that induced Spirit Insects and Spirit Beasts to devour and breed with each other.


    Several other pages contained the secret technique for transferring the bloodline of demonic beasts, a method known as the Blood Demon Ancestral Return Secret Art.


    To Lin Shiming, this was on par with the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique.


    He finally understood why the disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect was capturing precious demonic beasts everywhere - clearly, it was both to purify their bloodlines and to breed rare Spirit Beasts.


    Lin Shiming was so excited that it took him a long time to calm down, and then he thought of the Spirit Ants. Opening the Spirit Beast Bag, he took out a Jade Box, which contained dozens of Spirit Ants buzzing around inside. Since the ants had not devoured Spiritual Energy for a long time and were suppressed by the Spirit Jade, they now appeared listless and no longer as fierce as they had been.


    If these Spirit Ants were well-cultivated, there was no doubt they could achieve the formidable power they demonstrated when breaking the formation back in the day!


    The more Lin Shiming thought about it, the more excited he became, and he could hardly contain himself.


    However, he also knew this was not a matter to be rushed. The Spirit Ants had an extremely fierce nature, and if he dealt with them now, there was no guarantee they wouldn''t rebel in the end. Instead, he chose to continue keeping them inside the Spirit Jade to temper their fierceness.


    He put away the book that was a Magical Treasure and looked through the remaining items in his Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Bag. Inside the Storage Bag were only seventy to eighty thousand Spirit Stones.


    In the Spirit Beast Bag was a Third Rank Demonic Beast that had already recognized a master and had been backfired by the Spirit Contract, losing its value for further cultivation, so he killed it outright and used it as material for Artifact Refining.


    In the corner of the Storage Bag, to his delight, Lin Shiming also discovered two Xue Sha Thunders.


    Xue Sha Thunder was a kind of True Yuan secret thunder condensed by Thunder Attribute cultivators through the consumption of their Essence Blood, a one-time attack item, but it had quite a reputation in the Immortal Cultivation World - it was almost comparable to a full-powered strike from a late-stage Foundation Establishment Thunder cultivator.


    Used correctly, it could seriously injure late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also felt somewhat fortunate, as back in the chaos of Qingyun City, it was the sneak attack from the Golden Winged Mantis that was successful. Otherwise, in a true fight, he might not necessarily have been a match for the disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect.


    To say nothing of anything else, these two Xue Sha Thunders alone could have brought him from the brink of death back to life.

 Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Arrangements

    Fangmu Mountain''s council hall, this time, the Lin Family''s high-ranking members gathered once more.


    Lin Xianzhi had hurried back from Lingnan County, because there were still remnants of Demonic Beasts lingering, Lin Houyong continued to stay there with quite a few disciples.


    And the rest of the Lin Family cultivators had almost once again assembled in the council hall, just like the triennial clan meeting.


    Only this time, everyone was sadder, and almost as soon as they gathered, there was a solemn look on everyone''s face as they went to the ancestral hall to start paying respects to the memorial tablets.


    As the Family Head, Lin Shiming stood at the forefront.


    Adding new memorial tablets, offering incense, reciting the eulogy!


    After a sorrowful oration, everyone''s face bore sadness.


    After paying homage to the ancestors, came the family''s consolation money.


    "Lin Houzhi, Qi Cultivation eight level, contribution degree eight thousand, recorded in the register, reserved for direct descendants with Spirit Roots!"


    ...


    Lin Shiming announced each of the thirty-eight cultivators who had passed away, and these contribution degrees would also be disclosed fairly, reserved for their direct descendants.


    This inevitably deepened everyone''s grief.


    Even when a rabbit dies, the fox grieves; all the more for clan members who had fought side by side.


    But just the same, it was because of the family''s fairness and justice that the cultivators felt an even stronger sense of identification with the clan.


    One must know that if a Loose Cultivator were to die, let alone someone taking care of their body or passing on their treasures to progeny.


    As long as they weren''t taken by some demonic cultivator to become a corpse puppet, it would be considered fortunate.


    "The departed are gone, the living must be stronger. The glory of the Lin Family needs to be recreated by those seated here!" Lin Shiming moistened his throat, and spoke out loud again.


    The confidence in his words also inspired many Lin Family descendants to aspire to it.


    "Now, the seventh great-uncle will announce the meritorious contributors..."


    After Lin Shiming finished speaking, Lin Xianzhi announced the merits of this occasion.


    Of course, only Lin Xianzhi, who had the greatest merit and was the most powerful, could announce the merits:


    "This disaster, a calamity unseen in a century, but fortunately, the Lin Family had everyone''s support, defending the Lin Family''s foundation as well as its dignity!"


    "Uncle Fifteen, the Alchemy Hall also needs to step up the production of elixirs, to be prepared for eventualities. If the border situation with Zhao Chu escalates, we could be deployed to the battlefield at any moment. Henceforth, the family''s focus will be on refining elixirs that enhance cultivation levels, as well as Healing Pills!"


    "Yes, Family Head!"


    "Fifth Grandfather, the family''s financial issues will definitely face a shortage due to this battle. We need you to transport most of the Second Rank artifact refinement materials to Xuzhou and Qingzhou; those states have not experienced the beast tides but must go through the border wars with Zhao Chu. Our Spirit Beast materials might not only remain stable in price but could possibly increase!"


    "Additionally, with regards to the family''s Golden Iron Stone, also contact Uncle Five to begin its mining and sale! Uncle Seven made quite the name in the beast tide of Qingyun City, and with the Li Family removed, now is an excellent opportunity for our Lin Family to develop!"


    Find your next read at §Þ??


    "Yes, Family Head!" Lin Yuzheng was also happy to comply.


    "Second Uncle, the family''s formations, big and small, have all been damaged. I am entrusting you with forming the Formation Hall to ensure that within half a year, the formations for all our major industries are restored to normal!"


    "Yes, Family Head!"


    "The rest of the Foundation Establishment Elders will serve as flexible cultivators, ensuring that at least one is not in cultivation at any given time, ready to deal with any missed Third Rank Demonic Beasts!"


    ...


    Lin Shiming delegated each major task clearly and one by one.


    All the family elders were in huge agreement, and their satisfaction with the twenty-eight-year-old Family Head of the Lin Family grew even more.


    The clan meeting thus concluded, and to Lin Shiming''s surprise, Lin Xianzhi took out from his Storage Bag five Third Rank monkey-type Demonic Beast corpses and two Third Rank mantis-type Demonic Insect corpses.


    At the same time, he also produced a Pill Bottle, which contained Limb-Regrowing Pills.


    The efficacy of this elixir was limb regeneration, which naturally also worked on Demonic Beasts.


    "Thank you, Uncle Seven!" Lin Shiming immediately expressed his gratitude.


    If the former corpses were manageable, the latter Limb-Regrowing Pills were Third Rank Superior Grade Elixirs, extremely valuable.


    "No need for formalities!" After saying this, Lin Xianzhi also headed towards the Qinglian Pond Cave Mansion.


    Having not rested for a long time, he too needed to treat his injuries.


    As for Lin Shiming, he went to the Treasure Pavilion to start exchanging for the spiritual materials for the Blood Demon Ancestral Secret Art and the materials for Seduction Demon Pills, which induced Demonic Beasts to devour each other for evolution.


    The former was simply for the Secret Technique, which he himself was capable of executing, while for the latter he could only turn to his Uncle Fifteen, Lin Houxuan, hoping that the latter had already mastered the Formation Artifact Manual and could refine Third Rank Elixirs beyond his level.


    The Blood Demon Ancestral Secret Art focused on the method, as well as the bloodlines of various types of similar Demonic Beasts.


    This time he had almost twenty Third Rank monkey-type Demonic Beast bloodlines, more than enough. After putting together the other spiritual materials in the Treasure Pavilion, he once again entered the cave mansion.

 Chapter 128 Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique

    Within Qinglian Pond Cave Mansion, the furnishings were very simple, with the walls only having monotonous shades of grey and white.


    In front of a stone bed, Lin Shiming sat cross-legged on a cushion.


    This cushion was one of the two he had found inside the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    On the cushion, Lin Shiming discovered that whether he was meditating or practicing secret techniques, his efforts yielded twice the result with half the effort.


    It was precisely because of this that in just a short ten days, he had simulated and practiced the Blood Demon Ancestral Secret Art countless times, and with the system''s daily guidance, he had finally mastered it.


    For others, this was nearly impossible; a third-rank secret technique would take months, or even half a year, to master.


    Lin Shiming went to the stone chamber of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, which was now very quiet.


    When he had taken it from Peach Blossom Valley, he was clear that the Spirit Intelligence of the Red-haired Demon Monkey was far superior to other spirit beasts. It was the monkey that had manipulated the Profound Water Heavy Mountains, inspiring Lin Shiming to give the Qinglian Taoist Robe to the Golden Winged Mantis.


    No normal cultivator would think of giving a third-rank Taoist robe for a spirit beast to use.


    He also knew that ever since the Golden Winged Mantis had broken through to the third rank, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had not been as lively as before, and within its pale green pupils, there was a hint of anxiety.


    The Golden Luan Eagle had already been trained by Lin Shiming to be the messenger for the family, while also fulfilling the role of a flying demonic beast.


    By now, the demonic monkey had grown over three meters tall. Lin Shiming moved forward and stroked its fur, only able to reach as high as the monkey''s arm.


    But at this moment, the once mischievous Red-haired Demon Monkey surprisingly bent down willingly, letting Lin Shiming stroke its forehead.


    "Put in the effort, live up to the courage to go forward," Lin Shiming murmured, as if speaking to the Red-haired Demon Monkey, yet also as if to himself.


    He then took out a giant bathtub and filled it with a prepared medicinal liquid.


    After pouring the medicinal liquid, he took out several third-rank demonic monkey corpses. The constitution of the Red-haired Demon Monkey leaned toward the earth and fire attributes, so even with bloodline reversion fusion, it could not merge with water and wood attributes.


    Otherwise, with incompatible natures, it would not be a bloodline reversion but a departure from life!


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey nearby called out softly.


    Lin Shiming, as if oblivious, continued pouring medicinal liquid and simultaneously cast Spirit Art.


    It began with relatively simple second-rank Spirit Art, which then gradually evolved into third-rank Spirit Art.


    After a series of ninety-nine Spirit Arts were cast, they converged into a single, more complex Spirit Pattern.


    Once the Spirit Pattern formed, it flowed like a net, extremely eerie.


    At that moment, Lin Shiming took out another relatively well-preserved demonic monkey corpse, casting Spirit Art, and with this invocation, a blood-red light filled the sky.


    At this point, all he could do was hope for the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s success.


    Once the matter with the Red-haired Demon Monkey was settled, he took out a Limb-Regrowing Pill and went to the Golden Winged Mantis.


    The Golden Winged Mantis still lay idle on the wall, which emitted a golden glow.


    After feeding the Limb-Regrowing Pill to the Golden Winged Mantis, it once again showed a desperate impulse for Spirit Food. Lin Shiming first took out the meat of a Third Rank Spirit Beast, then a large bowl of Third Rank Spirit Water, followed by a considerable number of Beast Nurturing Pills.


    Only then did the Golden Winged Mantis calm down, continuing to doze on the wall.


    All over its body, a surge of golden Spirit Light emerged.


    A sickle foot slowly formed at the site of the Golden Winged Mantis''s severed limb, indicating that in less than half a month, its sickle foot would fully recover.


    Lin Shiming finally breathed a sigh of relief and left the stone chamber to start tending to the Spirit Plants.


    First, he cared for the cultivated Third Rank Purple Gold Vine, and only after that did he infuse True Yuan into the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree and the Minor Divine Ability Tree.


    The Purple Gold Vine was currently his means of combat, which he tried to cultivate as much as possible.


    Three days passed, and Lin Shiming suddenly heard a series of booming noises from within the stone chamber.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense passed through the walls, only to be fiercely startled to find that the Red-haired Demon Monkey had emerged from the bathtub, its body still covered in red fur.


    But now the Red-haired fur was like burning flames flickering incessantly, radiating a terrifying high temperature.


    However, what surprised him was that the Red-haired Demon Monkey had shrunk slightly, from previously over three meters tall to around two meters, but its muscles seemed even more robust than before, like rolling, explosive cords.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey was seen striking the stone walls ferociously, making the entire cave mansion shudder as if it were about to collapse.


    Its strength was obviously numerous times greater than before!


    To think that the Red-haired Demon Monkey was already immensely strong before, and now its strength had increased manifold combined with fire control, Lin Shiming didn''t even know into what kind of monkey the Red-haired Demon Monkey had transformed.


    But one thing was clear: for the Red-haired Demon Monkey, breaking through to the Third Rank Demonic Beast would no longer be a significant problem.


    In the midst of his thoughts, Lin Shiming also opened the stone chamber''s Formation; the latter was still howling fiercely, pummeling the walls that were reinforced with a Third-Rank Solid Spirit Formation, venting its savage emotions.


    But the next moment, the wall, fortified with a Formation, turned visibly into spiderwebs!


    This demonstrated the immense strength of the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Besides this, Lin Shiming also noticed that the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s tail had once again changed, growing from a little over one meter to about three meters long.

 Chapter 129 The Whereabouts of the Seductive Demon Grass

    The Red-haired Demon Monkey, upon seeing Lin Shiming approaching, sprinted over in an instant. When it reached Lin Shiming, it began beating its chest with both hands like a long-armed ape, howling incessantly.


    It was extremely excited but at the same time, its large eyes were eagerly fixed on Lin Shiming''s Storage Bag.


    The meaning behind its gaze was self-explanatory.


    Lin Shiming let out a light chuckle, took out the Storage Bag, and released a large amount of Spirit Food, Spirit Water, and Beast Nurturing Pills.


    The latter gorged on the food voraciously, consuming three to four times more than before.


    Fortunately, at this moment, he had seven or eight Storage Bags, the largest of which was the size of a grand hall and stored a vast amount of Demonic Beast materials. Being the Lin Family Head also helped, otherwise, providing for these two creatures would have indeed been somewhat challenging.


    Lin Shiming was still observing the Red-haired Demon Monkey, but for the time being, couldn''t figure out why its tail had become so long and why there was so much more fur.


    After observing for a while with no conclusions, he left the cave and headed toward the Alchemy Pavilion.


    At the moment, he still had many tasks to attend to. The most important was to inquire whether his uncle Lin Houxuan, Fifteenth Uncle, had mastered the Formation Artifact Manual, capable of crafting Third Rank elixirs like the Breakthrough Demon Pill and the Seduction Demon Pill.


    Upon arriving at the Alchemy Pavilion, he found the family had taken on several apprentices due to their heavy focus on alchemy and artifact crafting.


    To his mixed amusement and dismay, there was someone instructing on alchemy at the moment, exhibiting a level of rigor that even surpassed that of the Second Elder, Lin Yuqi, from before.


    It was Lin Shitao.


    Lin Shitao was also dressed in a green Taoist robe, looking quite dashing. Several apprentices had struggled with controlling the furnace, prompting her to step forward to lecture them before personally offering instruction.


    "Shitao, where''s Fifteenth Uncle?" Lin Shiming waited until Lin Shitao finished her guidance before asking from the side.


    "Big Brother Seven, what brings you here?" Lin Shitao''s face could barely conceal her joy.


    "I need Fifteenth Uncle to craft some elixirs!"


    "Oh! He''s in the room next to Grandfather''s alchemy chamber, currently crafting elixirs!"


    After waiting in the Alchemy Pavilion for half a day, Lin Houxuan finally emerged from within the alchemist''s chamber, his face beaming with joy but unable to hide the tiredness.


    "Family Head, you''ve arrived!" Lin Houxuan was amazed by the alchemy formation method associated with the Formation Artifact Manual the first time it was taught to him by the Second Elder, and thanks to it, he had managed to craft the Third Rank Return Yuan Pill, ensuring that the Lin family would once again have a Third Rank Alchemist.


    Now that it had fallen into his own hands, it indeed made him feel quite emotional for a while.


    One month later, as scheduled, Lin Houxuan successfully refined the Seduction Demon Pills. After Lin Shiming retrieved the elixirs, he immediately fed them to the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    After it swallowed another Third Rank Demonic Beast Inner Core, the Red-haired Demon Monkey finally began its breakthrough, curling up into a ball inside the stone chamber like a massive fireball.


    Lin Shiming repeatedly checked the state of the Red-haired Demon Monkey before finally stepping out of the stone chamber to commence his cultivation practice.


    Although he had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, the practice of cultivation still required persistence, accumulating little gains for a greater outcome.


    Half a year passed without the Red-haired Demon Monkey emerging from seclusion, but by now, the Golden Winged Mantis had fully recovered. In the meantime, Lin Shiming had once again applied the Bloodline Reversion Secret Method on the Golden Winged Mantis.


    He purified the bloodline of the Golden Winged Mantis using the sole bloodline sample from a six-winged demonic mantis.


    Since it was the only one, the effect was not significant, but it was visibly apparent that the third pair of wings on the Golden Winged Mantis had become more elongated.


    At full speed, Lin Shiming felt a blur before his eyes.


    A Spirit Talisman flew into the cave dwelling, and Lin Shiming put away the talisman¡ªit was a notice that the Qingxuan grand assembly was about to begin.


    Lin Shiming arrived at the Council Hall where an Elder from the Treasure Pavilion handed him a Storage Bag.


    Inside were neatly piled two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, with the hope that Lin Shiming would be able to purchase two Foundation Establishment Pills.


    With the future dangers growing ever larger and the Three Sects joining forces for the Qingxuan grand assembly, the Lin Family naturally hoped to obtain more Foundation Establishment Pills. Only by having a sufficient number of Foundation Establishment cultivators could the Lin Family continue to prosper in times of crisis.


    Accompanying him on this trip were the Fifth Elder, Lin Yuzheng, along with the newly promoted Elder, Lin Houwei, and Lin Houxuan.


    The breakthroughs of Lin Houwei and Lin Houxuan were pleasant surprises for the Lin Family. If previously the Lin Family had no Foundation Establishment prospects, now Lin Houwei and Lin Houxuan had immediately become the clan''s Foundation Establishment seeds. Especially for Lin Houxuan, being an alchemist, his breakthrough would have extraordinary significance for the Lin Family.


    After delegating most of the clan''s matters, Lin Shiming also boarded the Spirit Boat, preparing to set off for Qingxuan City.


    Just as he was about to leave, Lin Shiyi suddenly appeared. Lin Shiyi had not been seen for a long time since they had jointly obtained the Body Tempering Spirit Flower.


    At this point, Lin Shiyi had progressed to the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation at just over thirty years old. This level of cultivation was enough to show Lin Shiyi''s dedication.


    "Family Head, I''ve hit a bottleneck; can I go with you to Qingyun City?" Lin Shiyi was as straightforward as ever.

 Chapter 130: Chapter 130 The Path of Spiritual Cuisine

    Qingyun City, a Spirit Boat slowly descended.


    It was Lin Shiming and his companions coming from afar. After stowing away the Spirit Boat, they walked towards the city gate.


    The city gate was busier than ever, especially with the cultivators setting up their stalls on the ground, which were particularly numerous. It is known that more than ten years ago, Lin Shiming had also visited Qingyun City for the Qingyun Grand Meeting. This time, the event was far more grand and livelier than the last.


    And among the cultivators who came, there were quite a few from other states, as evidenced by the significant number carrying Storage Bracelets, indicating that many from the Spirit Beast Sect''s territory were also present.


    The previous Qingyun Grand Meeting was hosted by just one sect, whereas this time, it was organized by three sects together.


    Just the reputation of the Spirit Beast Sect and the Spirit Talisman Sect alone was enough to excite every cultivator from the four states under Qingxuan Sect''s jurisdiction.


    Lin Shiyi''s expression at that moment was a testament to this excitement. It was his first time attending the Qingxuan Grand Meeting in Qingxuan City, unlike Lin Yuzheng, who was seasoned and well-traveled, his gaze was eager to enter the makeshift market for treasure hunting.


    He hoped that he, too, could secure a Third Rank Demonic Beast larva just like Lin Shiming once did.


    "Second brother, all these stalls outside, they''re set up by cultivators who are reluctant to enter the city!" said Lin Shiming with a somewhat amused and helpless expression. Lin Shiyi then gave a simple smile, scratched the back of his head, and said nothing, but his gaze became noticeably more focused.


    As usual, the group entered the city gate, yet as soon as they did, they felt an immense authority emanating from the gate itself.


    Immediately, their hearts trembled. Lin Shiming looked up in surprise but found that the three characters "Qingyun City" were extraordinary.


    At one glance, his eyes stung in pain, as a fierce Sword Qi descended from the nine heavens.


    He quickly looked away and warned the others:


    "Don''t look at the Qingyun City signboard!"


    However, his warning was clearly too late as everyone was already sweating profusely, as if they had gone through a major battle. The wariness in their eyes lingered.


    "This must be to deter petty thieves!" Lin Shiming thought, aware that the three characters were newly painted. He couldn''t help but think of the Li Family.


    Clearly, the Qingxuan Sect was dissatisfied with certain families and was warning everyone.


    Lin Shiming spoke with conviction, knowing that the family still had the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein to reveal within the Spirit Seeking Compass, meaning the Lin Family could robustly develop the Spiritual Meals industry.


    "In addition, our family''s Lin Family Restaurant will also need to provide rooms with Formations in the future for Cultivators to rest and adjust."


    "Very well, Family Head!" Lin Yuzheng was a business genius, grasping the point immediately. The reason he hadn''t thought of this earlier was because he was previously focused on managing trading caravans and paying more attention to the Family Head''s Alchemy and Artifact Refining.


    But in this instant, seeing the popularity of Laiyue Tower, he immediately recognized the great profit potential of this venture and also saw an opportunity to arrange some practical Formation work for the newly established Formation Hall of the family.


    One should know that the auction hosted by the Lin Family, with its policy of reducing Spirit Stone fees, had also become quite famous among the Loose Cultivators in Yunzhou.


    "Furthermore, the restaurant should implement a patron policy. As long as a Cultivator stays for three consecutive days, they will be given a patron card that gives a two-tier discount on all Spiritual Meals at the restaurant," Lin Shiming spoke again.


    This was also a crucial point for him, which he had previously implemented at auctions, but he was worried that Lin Yuzheng might not understand it. Therefore, he only brought up this idea after being stimulated by Laiyue Tower''s revenue.


    As expected, Lin Yuzheng was stunned at this suggestion, knowing that the profit of the Lin Family Restaurant wasn''t excessive. Farming, capturing, and preparing Spirit Fish all required the time of family Cultivators, and the profit was only about thirty to forty percent. Giving away twenty percent would almost cut the profit in half.


    However, he then thought of the auction house. Initially, it was also Lin Shiming who had come up with the idea of repeat consumption. Upon reflecting on the popularity of Laiyue Tower, he suddenly saw the light.


    "This is a good idea!"


    Cultivators who stay longer in the square market spend more, and most importantly, a bustling market attracts people!


    A bustling market will surely draw in new Loose Cultivators, and now the Lin Family already has five Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Currently, Lin Shijie and Lin Houyuan take turns overseeing Xing County, so there''s no need to worry about any trouble arising.


    Moreover, the Lin Family''s patron policy has already gained a small reputation in Yunzhou through the auction house.


    In particular, after Qingyun City suffered a Spirit Beast tide, many Cultivators still feel apprehensive and dare not venture deep into Qingyun Mountain ranges. By comparison, the surroundings, like Xing County Square Market, are thriving under the leadership of the Lin Family.


    "Family Head, once we return, we''ll implement this right away!" Lin Yuzheng nodded, his eyes showing how feasible this plan was, distracted from his meal by the exciting potential.


    Having only had a sip of wine, he continued to work on the strategy.


    Lin Shiming provided the ideas and direction. As for the specific discount rates and benefits, that was naturally for Lin Yuzheng and others to decide.


    After finishing the Spiritual Meal, everyone returned to their rooms, and Lin Shiming also announced that everyone could have seven days of free time and after seven days, they would all attend the Qingxuan auction together.

 Chapter 131: Chapter 131 The Golden Thunder Bamboo Spirit Root

    As soon as they entered the room, they each set up their own formations using array plates and nearly at the same time, appeared at the doorway.


    Lin Houxuan and Lin Houwei were close in age and were nearly in a friendly competition within the "Hou" generation, with both of them now almost qualified as Foundation Establishment seeds for the Lin Family.


    Naturally, both were eager to visit the marketplace in Qingxuan City; having seen the street stalls outside the city, they were even more interested in the stalls and shops inside.


    The shops here were much better than those in Qingyun City; Third Rank magical treasures, which were rarely seen on a regular basis, seemed to be rather common here.


    Lin Shiyi came to Qingxuan City specifically to buy elixirs for Body Refinement, so he left his formation and came out in a hurry.


    As for the Fifth Elder, Lin Yuzheng, he was still deep in thought inside his room.


    "Let''s go together, I''ve been here before!" Lin Shiming took the initiative and spoke.


    After speaking, he led the group to the stall area first. The stall area in Qingyun City was a huge square.


    The square was densely packed with stalls, but compared to the last time, besides the basic condition that all the stall owners were Qi Cultivators in the latter stages, there were also many Foundation Establishment Cultivators setting up stalls.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also became quite interested, and after discussing with the other three, they decided to split up and look around. Lin Shiming, being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was naturally looking for Third Rank treasures, while the other three were only in need of Second Rank treasures.


    After determining the final meeting point, the four split up to act separately.


    Lin Shiming went straight towards the stalls of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, as the quality of goods at Cultivators'' stalls¡ªunless they were items with growth potential or sealed¡ªcould generally be ascertained with a simple use of Divine Sense, so if he wanted to acquire anything valuable, it had to be from the stalls of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    However, to his slight disappointment, the majority of items sold by these Foundation Establishment Cultivators were still Second Rank Supreme Grade magic artifacts and Second Rank Superior Grade spiritual objects, with only the occasional Third Rank treasure.


    Not to mention the enticing herbs, even ordinary Third Rank Spirit Grasses and Spiritual Medicines were few and far between. In contrast, Third Rank Demonic Beast materials seemed much more abundant.


    But the Third Rank Demonic Beast materials in his Storage Bag were already sufficient for him to become a Third Rank Artifact Refiner, so he had no need for more Demonic Beast materials.


    Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly received a system prompt:


    "Please search the stalls carefully; you will find the root of a strand of Golden Thunder Bamboo!"


    During this time, he also discovered some treasures, but none were the Seductive Beast Grass or Golden Thunder Bamboo roots that he was looking for, so they weren''t of much significance to him.


    However, just like the previous time with the Beast Nurturing Pill recipe, the cultivators running the booths didn''t put the Golden Thunder Bamboo roots on display.


    This made him somewhat irritable¡ªthe last time with the Beast Nurturing Pill recipe, there had been some trace to follow. This time, while every cultivator he saw seemed like they could have Golden Thunder Bamboo Spirit Roots, regrettably, he had no way of persuading the owners to part with their bamboo.


    "That''s not right!" If I can''t get it, I can set up a booth to attract the owners of Golden Thunder Bamboo to voluntarily exchange with me.


    During this time, Lin Shiming saw quite a few booth owners fail to sell their treasures, or else see someone else''s treasures, pack up their booths, and switch from seller to buyer.


    All cultivators had Storage Bags, so changing a booth location was incredibly easy.


    Lin Shiming decided to act and paid a hundred Spirit Stones at the booth setup point, securing a Foundation Establishment zone booth location.


    This made Lin Shiming realize just how profitable this rent collection was¡ªa single day''s rent could fetch a hundred Spirit Stones, and subleasing wasn''t even allowed.


    That said, Qi Cultivators'' booth locations must cost thirty to forty Spirit Stones, which is likely why there were so many outside the city gates, while most booth owners here were at the late stage of Qi Cultivation.


    Once he obtained the voucher, Lin Shiming found a spot where the crowd was quite dense.


    He immediately took out a booth, displayed a third-rank intermediate-grade Flying Sword, and two third-rank inferior-grade Flying Swords.


    These few swords were obtained when he had slain Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Li Family. However, compared to the Child-Mother Sword and the Tiangang Sword Formation, these three swords were not outstanding, making it a suitable time to put them up for sale.


    Of course, there were also third-rank Spirit Armors and even more extraordinary third-rank intermediate-grade Flying Swords in his Storage Bag, but these were from disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect and could not be openly sold¡ªthey had to be sold on the black market.


    The moment Lin Shiming displayed the Flying Swords, he instantly attracted everyone''s attention; just considering the third-rank intermediate-grade Flying Sword, even though it had no special abilities, it was still an intermediate-grade item. If exchanged for inferior-grade Spirit Stones, it could fetch tens of thousands of stones.


    In a booth area where mostly third-rank early-stage treasures were sold, this was undoubtedly a treasure that could anchor a booth.


    Many wandering Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered around, their eyes burning with desire, and some even harbored ill intentions as they continuously sized Lin Shiming up.


    Most cultivators in the booth area were at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, but Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense was almost the highest. Instantly, he discerned those with bad intentions.

 Chapter 132: Chapter 132 A Stroke of Serendipity

    ```


    Perhaps an Inferior Grade Third Rank magic sword was not Lin Shiming''s best offering, but an Intermediate Grade Third Rank magic sword undoubtedly stood out among the Foundation Establishment stalls.


    With more cultivators flocking there, even more cultivators came by, although not as closely packed as mortals might be; still, they were not far apart. Such proximity was quite rare in the stall area, not to mention in the Foundation Establishment section.


    In an instant, three or four people sent Lin Shiming voice offers, this tacit agreement of silent bidding was clearly a way to prevent Lin Shiming from taking higher offers.


    However, what they didn''t know was that Lin Shiming was not in it for the Spirit Stones.


    In his Storage Bag, Lin Shiming had four hundred thousand Spirit Stones of his own, and his family had given him another two hundre thousand.


    For a cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, that was enough even to attend the grand Qingxuan gathering.


    "The Intermediate Grade Third Rank magic sword will only be traded for Golden Thunder bamboos of equivalent value or Third Rank inducement grass! The same goes for the Inferior Grade Third Rank magic sword!" Lin Shiming spoke up directly, not giving the others a chance to continue making silent offers.


    Hearing this, most of the cultivators without treasures continued to browse other stalls, while a few stayed behind, trying to discuss the price, but Lin Shiming shook his head at all of them.


    At this, except for a few cultivators who clearly had no good intentions, everyone else turned and left.


    They were unlikely to offer a high price, after all, browsing stalls was primarily for the sake of finding bargains; any deviation from this purpose would make it better to visit large shops instead.


    Lin Shiming wasn''t annoyed but closed his eyes to rest. He had seen the buyers; he was waiting for sellers now.


    This news spread quickly.


    Time flew fast, and in the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed when suddenly a cultivator with a grey robe and a small beard approached Lin Shiming.


    "This sword, will you sell it for one hundred ten thousand Spirit Stones!"


    "Daoist friend, please go back. I''m only trading for Golden Thunder bamboos or inducement grass!" Lin Shiming shook his head, a look of disappointment on his face. However, just then, the small bearded cultivator sent him another message:


    "I do have a Golden Thunder Bamboo actually, but I''m afraid your sword might just fall short!"


    After saying that, the small-bearded cultivator''s face showed a pained expression, as if making a difficult decision.


    "Oh? Might I have the privilege to see this Golden Thunder Bamboo then?" Lin Shiming asked with a hint of interest.


    A sly smile flashed across the other party''s lips.


    Lin Shiming had to admire Little Hu''s persistence in fabricating lies even at this point.


    "Since Daoist friend has been deceived as well, I do sympathize. How about this, Lin here will trade an Inferior Grade Third Rank sword for it," Lin Shiming said without calling out the deception, choosing to continue the trade. After all, he also worried that Daoist Little Hu would eventually sell it to the sect.


    Given his nature, he was definitely one to shop around.


    After speaking, Lin Shiming watched him with a half-smiling gaze that made Daoist Little Hu feel a bit uneasy.


    "Then my thanks to Brother Lin!" Daoist Little Hu still made the trade, his mind now filled with joy. After all, even the big shops only offered up to three thousand Spirit Stones at most.


    Even Duobao Pavilion, directly affiliated with Qingxuan Sect, was the same!


    It was, after all, just half-dead bamboo roots.


    Lin Shiming did speak the truth about the planting, but it wasn''t just him; many Third Rank Spirit Plant Masters had tried and all had failed to provoke a reaction.


    Being able to sell it now was indeed a cause for happiness for him.


    "Daoist Lin must be a cultivator with Wood Attribute, right?" Little Hu inquired tentatively after completing the transaction.


    "Yes, what do you advise Daoist Hu?" Lin Shiming watched Daoist Little Hu with a hint of speechlessness, noting the somewhat pitying look in Little Hu''s eyes.


    At this moment, Little Hu still seemed to regard him as an easy mark.


    "If Daoist Lin is a cultivator with the Wood Attribute, that''s perfect. You can come to me after the Qingxuan Grand Meeting ends, and at that time, Daoist Hu will present you with an opportunity!" Daoist Little Hu whispered this beside Lin Shiming.


    After saying this, he handed over a Jade Slip with the signal for a Sound Transmission Talisman to Lin Shiming.


    Obviously, he wanted Lin Shiming to contact him through the Jade Slip.


    Lin Shiming courteously uttered a ''thank you,'' and then they went their separate ways.


    Watching Little Hu''s retreating figure, his gaze slightly narrowed, observing for a good while.


    After placing the Jade Slip into a separate Storage Bag, he exited the trading house as well.


    With the spirit root of the Golden Thunder Bamboo in hand, Lin Shiming was now eager to return and examine the vitality of the Golden Thunder Bamboo spirit root, lest he also fail to cultivate it and end up facing a huge blunder.


    An unbreedable Golden Thunder Bamboo spirit root would at most be worth a thousand Spirit Stones.


    Whereas an Inferior Grade Third Rank sword could easily sell for thirty to forty thousand Spirit Stones, and if the material were of even finer quality, selling it for sixty or seventy thousand Spirit Stones wouldn''t be out of the question!

 Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Foundation Establishment Meeting

    In front of the Treasure Pavilion, Lin Shiyi, Lin Houwei, and Lin Houxuan three were growing anxious as the time had already surpassed their expectations by over an hour.


    Logically, with fewer stalls for Foundation Establishment cultivators, things should have been faster.


    Fortunately, at the next moment, Lin Shiming''s figure appeared before everyone.


    "I was delayed by some matters, I''ve kept Uncle Thirteen, Uncle Fifteen, and Second Brother waiting," Lin Shiming apologized with a fist cupped in his hand.


    "How could we think that way, Family Head!" Lin Houxuan immediately spoke up as well.


    "Let''s go, let''s have a look around the Treasure Pavilion. It is directly under the Qingxuan Sect, and among the many shops, it''s the most symbolic!" Lin Shiming began to introduce, then led everyone into the first floor of the Treasure Pavilion.


    The Treasure Pavilion still employed the model of having female cultivators behind counters, and upon entering, the faces of Lin Shiming and his companions lit up with smiles.


    Returning to this place, what moved Lin Shiming even more than these female cultivators was the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion.


    The second floor held Third Rank treasures, while the third floor held Fourth Rank treasures.


    It was said that the Treasure Pavilion also had a fourth floor, but whether it housed Fifth Rank treasures remained unknown.


    But for him, the second floor was a place he had been curious about over a decade ago, yet now he could enter at will.


    Lin Houwei and the others stopped on the first floor, while Lin Shiming went up to the second floor alone.


    Upon reaching the second floor, unlike the first floor which had four counters, what came into view was a larger counter.


    In front of the counter, a Foundation Establishment female cultivator was attending to several other Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Lin Shiming wasn''t in a hurry, looking around. The second floor was clearly less spacious, and each shelf displayed various spirit weapons, but at a glance, they were all Third Rank Inferior Grade Spiritual Objects, with few Third Rank Intermediate Grade ones openly displayed.


    Once the cultivators in front had made their selection without concluding a transaction, Lin Shiming stepped forward.


    The beautiful female cultivator handed Lin Shiming a Jade Slip:


    "Fellow Daoist, have a look, this is our Treasure Pavilion''s treasure catalog!"


    Lin Shiming felt a sense of novelty, then also immersed his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip, only to see a vast listing of treasures, each item detailing its features, flaws, and price.


    They were supplemented with pictures and Spirit Patterns.


    The categories ranged from Spirit Talismans, Spirit Pills, Array Plates, and Spiritual Artifacts, to even Cultivation Techniques.


    No wonder the Treasure Pavilion did such booming business.


    Lin Shiming took out the Spirit Root of the Golden Thunder Bamboo; he wanted to determine if the Spirit Root of the Golden Thunder Bamboo could be revived. Although this was prompted by the system, testing was still necessary.


    He took out the Jade Box containing the Spirit Root of the Golden Thunder Bamboo, and upon opening it, he saw countless golden electric arcs jumping inside the box.


    Thunderous phenomenons emerged intermittently, and even on the Spirit Roots, there were faint golden Thunder Patterns flickering.


    As usual, Lin Shiming took out Spirit Soil, but this was not ordinary Second Rank Spirit Soil, but Third Rank Spirit Soil for planting Minor Divine Ability trees.


    He placed the bamboo node into the Spirit Soil, then poured in Third Rank Spirit Water and Nurturing Spirit Liquid, and finally infused it with the True Yuan from the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    So it went, for three consecutive days, Lin Shiming remained motionless in his cave abode, until at a certain moment, he suddenly noticed a hint of green sprouting on the nodes of the Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    At that moment, it was as if he heard the sound of spring thunder, a vibrant vitality spreading within the Spirit Soil.


    "Indeed!" Lin Shiming was overjoyed, becoming more confident in the latent Spiritual Body he seemed to possess. However, to activate the Spiritual Body, he would need to wait for his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion.


    But now, he was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and he had no idea when he would break through to the middle stage!


    Lin Shiming put away the Golden Thunder Bamboo and decided not to continue cultivating it. Instead, he took out the Sanguinary Bee Blood Needle and began to refine it.


    That very night, he suddenly noticed that a token started to shine with Spirit Light.


    Upon opening it, it was the token given by the female cultivator of Foundation Establishment from the Treasure Pavilion. At this moment, a line of words appeared on the token.


    Peaceful Street Number Sixteen, second floor!


    This location was found in Lin Shiming''s memory to be behind the Treasure Pavilion.


    After a brief contemplation, Lin Shiming used a Sound Transmission Talisman to inform Lin Yuzheng and Lin Houxuan, and then decided to attend once.


    Not to mention that this was his first participation in a Foundation Establishment convention, but the purpose of his visit to Qingyun City was only for Attracting Demon Grass, thereafter to cultivate Spirit-Ant-Eating Ants.


    As for mature ants, they are incredibly aggressive and beyond his control, even with a Spirit Contract in place, these demonic ants would self-destruct.


    Lin Shiming arrived at the rear of the Treasure Pavilion following the directions, where there was a small courtyard. At the entrance of the courtyard, two Qi Cultivation late stage cultivators stood guard:


    "May I ask if the senior is here to participate in the Foundation Establishment minor meeting?" asked the two cultivators.


    "Indeed!" Lin Shiming nodded, took out his token, and handed it to them. To his surprise, he saw the two cultivators also take out a set of black veils from their Storage Bags.


    "Senior, this is a Spirit Concealing Veil, which can block the divine sense probing of cultivators at the Perfection stage of Foundation Establishment. It can be rented for one hundred Spirit Stones!"


    Upon seeing this, Lin Shiming contemplated for a moment, not about the Spirit Stones, but about this minor Foundation Establishment meeting.


    Needing to use the Spirit Concealing Veil, it seemed likely that some items being exchanged might belong to unsavory origins!

 Chapter 134 The Mountain Ape Practices Body Technique

    Lin Shiming handed over the Spirit Stones and followed the bluestone corridor to a grand hall.


    The lighting in the hall wasn''t very good, with only a few Moonlight Stones serving as lamps.


    In front of the hall, there were three vertical rows of red nanmu chairs perfectly aligned.


    At this moment, many cultivators were already seated. Surprisingly, the back row was packed to the brim, a few cultivators in the front row were without a Spirit Shielding Veil, and the middle was sparsely populated.


    He found a seat towards the back of the middle row, sat down quietly, looked around the hall, and then decided against any further gawking.


    Most people were wearing Spirit Shielding Veils, so even if he looked, he couldn''t make out anything significant.


    While Lin Shiming closed his eyes to rest his spirit, more people came in, nearly all wearing Spirit Shielding Veils.


    When the hundred nanmu chairs in the hall were almost all occupied, a square-faced cultivator in a blue robe appeared at the front of the hall.


    The blue-robed cultivator looked around, then cleared his throat before speaking,


    "It seems that nearly everyone has arrived. As the initiator of this Foundation Establishment Gathering, allow me to introduce myself first. I am Xiao Chen, also a Deacon of Duo Bao Tower, so fellow Daoists can trade with confidence. In this hall, I guarantee that no one will harbor ill intentions!"


    Xiao Chen spoke with utmost seriousness, and even employed a low-level spell so that even those sitting at the back felt as if Xiao Chen were speaking right beside their ears.


    "This Foundation Establishment Gathering will proceed in a barter format, and I shall begin by casting the first stone to attract jade!"


    As he said this, he took out three treasures: a pair of Purple-Gold Liuli Boots, a piece of Cold Iron Precious Jade, and a Demonic Beast egg.


    "These Purple-Gold Liuli Boots are a Supreme Grade Third Rank Magical Artifact. Wearing them, one naturally possesses a Superior Grade Light Body Technique. A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing these boots can definitely achieve a speed no slower than that of a late-stage or even an average great-perfection stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!"


    "This Cold Iron Precious Jade is a Fourth Rank Precious Material, fully suitable as the main material for a Fourth Rank Magical Artifact!"


    "As for the last item, this Demonic Beast egg is from a Purple Wind Hawk of the Fourth Rank. It is a Second Rank late-stage Demonic Beast upon hatching and has a great possibility of reaching the Fourth Rank in adulthood!"


    "I will exchange these three treasures only for items that can increase the probability of breaking through to the Purple Mansion. If someone has Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, they can take all three!"


    Xiao Chen finished speaking and began to look around.


    His display caused an uproar among the cultivators. These were not mere stones he was throwing, but golden bricks!


    Lin Shiming had not expected someone to trade cultivation techniques, and he instantly agreed to the offer.


    It must be known that the best body refining technique available to the Lin Family was only of the Yellow-Rank Superior Grade, barely adequate for reaching Foundation Establishment.


    Both the Great Elder Lin Yuqing and his second brother Lin Shiyi practiced that technique.


    Now having a body refining technique of the Profound Rank Inferior Grade naturally made him extremely satisfied, and now that he had reached Foundation Establishment, he already had a lifespan of two hundred fifty years.


    He had plenty of time to cultivate the body refining technique, and in the face of a potential invasion by the demonic sects, the body refining technique would yield the greatest benefits.


    Shortly, a somewhat plump cultivator approached from behind and kept his visage hidden behind a spirit veil, concealing his true face from being seen.


    Upon arriving, the cultivator gently picked up the spirit wings and scything legs of the Six-Winged Demonic Mantis, inspecting them closely. After realizing there was almost no damage, he clicked his tongue in wonder and could not contain his joy.


    The Six-Winged Demonic Mantis was notoriously difficult to deal with, and it was well-known in the ranking of demonic insects. Those who could kill it often had to utilize every means at their disposal, risking damaging the wings or the scything legs in the process.


    After inspecting the items, the plump cultivator handed Lin Shiming a Jade Slip.


    Engraved within the Jade Slip was a body refining technique named Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique.


    Lin Shiming used his Divine Sense to briefly examine it and discovered that it was indeed a body refining technique inspired by mountain apes and definitely a Profound-Rank Inferior Grade technique; thus, the deal was made.


    Both parties were extremely pleased with the transaction.


    The former party''s technique was static, and in any case, it could be duplicated, while the latter currently did not lack such spirit beast materials; his treasures were already quite numerous.


    Whether it be the Heavenly Demon Bag, Fiery Flame Flag, Tiangang Sword Formation, Purple Wood Sword Formation, or the Mother-Child Sword and Kuimu Shield, he had also purchased the Cang Bee Blood-Breaking Needle previously.


    Now with the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique in hand, even if he couldn''t obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, the trip was not in vain.


    After exchanging treasures, Lin Shiming continued to sit on the nanmu chair, quietly watching others trade their items.


    At that moment, he wished he could exchange for everything, but unfortunately, his previously considered substantial fortune of over four hundred thousand was likely to be consumed by just a few spiritual objects here.


    After the trading event, Lin Shiming felt as if his exposure had increased threefold, and he also gained an understanding of the extent of wealth among Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    It was clear that the cultivators from Qingzhou and the Qingxuan Sect were far beyond the reach of even the Qian Family or the Li Family''s cultivators.


    Once the small trading event concluded, Lin Shiming got up to leave, but what he didn''t expect was to receive a message from Xiao Chen at that moment.

 Chapter 135 Delivering a Message

    Behind the main hall of the Foundation Establishment assembly was a row of splendid lofts.


    Lin Shiming was currently pacing in one of the rooms.


    As soon as the assembly had ended, he naturally thought about leaving.


    After all, he had no treasures left to exchange; even his paired swords might only be worth a few hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    He would not part with any of his other magic artifacts.


    To be sought out by Xiao Chen, a peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was even less appealing to him. The vast difference in cultivation was like negotiating with a tiger for its skin¡ªundoubtedly dangerous!


    However, the latter mentioned the Demonic Attracting Grass and, at a critical moment, even called out his name, which made him decide to stay.


    This made him realize that for future transactions, it was important to prepare a spirit-concealing veil in advance, as the veils provided by the Duobao Tower were clearly identifiable by their own kind.


    Lin Shiming waited in the room for nearly half an hour before Xiao Chen entered, immediately cupping his hands in apology:


    "I apologize for making the young friend Shiming wait for so long. Xiao hereby conveys his apology!"


    "Senior Xiao, you are too formal," Lin Shiming also cupped his hands, his tone neither warm nor cold.


    The latter was not surprised at all and slowly explained:


    "Young friend, don''t worry. The reason I asked you to stay is that I wish to cooperate with your elder, the wielder of the Green Lotus Sword, on an opportunity which, if I am not mistaken, will definitely involve the Demonic Attracting Grass!"


    With these words from Xiao Chen, Lin Shiming finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Since they were seeking his seventh uncle, he was simply playing the role of a messenger at this moment.


    If his uncle chose to refuse, then so be it. While the Duobao Tower might have a great backing, they couldn''t force someone against their will, especially since the Lin Family was far away in Yunzhou.


    As for the Demonic Attracting Grass, he remained somewhat rational; if he could obtain it, then great, otherwise, he would have to give up on the idea of gaining the Spirit-Devouring Ants.


    "Young friend, just hand over this Jade Slip to your uncle, and he will decide what to do with it!" Xiao Chen took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    He then retrieved a token and gave it to Lin Shiming.


    "Young friend Shiming, this is the Duobao Token of Duobao Tower. In the future, with this token, you can enjoy a ten percent discount on everything on the first and second floors of Duobao Tower!"


    In the area where the Qian Family was seated, Qian Bosheng was also there. As he looked over, the other side also returned his smile.


    Even the private boxes of the Purple Mansion Family on the second floor had been filled with people.


    The atmosphere of the auction had never been so excited!


    At this moment, the auction hall was still admitting attendees.


    In the end, the Qingxuan auction assembly had to stop the Qi Cultivators from entering, or else there might not have been enough space.


    Just then, a middle-aged Cultivator walked onto the stage, followed by a few beautiful female Cultivators.


    This middle-aged Cultivator was highly familiar. He was none other than He Xuan, the auctioneer from more than a decade ago, and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator at the peak of Perfection.


    "Respected senior fellow Daoists, I am He An, the host Deacon for this auction. First, I would like to thank all the senior fellow Daoists for your gracious presence. Also, this auction is provided by the Three Sects with treasures including Foundation Establishment Pills, a total of 150¡ª90 from the Purple Mansion Family and 60 for the Qi Cultivators and Foundation Establishment auction!


    For the Foundation Establishment Pills, we also halved the starting price, so fellow Daoists can bid with ease!"


    When He Xuan announced the reduction of the starting price by half, the entire auction hall immediately erupted into continuous applause.


    Especially since there were a whole 150 Foundation Establishment Pills up for auction, which was three times more than when Lin Shiming had attended the auction years ago.


    And it was known that just two years prior, the Qingxuan Sect had just finished hosting a grand Qingxuan assembly.


    "Alright, no more idle talk. Let''s start with the first auction item, a Third Rank Barrier-Breaking Pill! The starting price is eighty thousand Spirit Stones! Each increment must be at least five hundred!"


    As soon as the Third Rank Barrier-Breaking Pill was introduced, Lin Shiming was stunned. In the previous auction he had attended, the first item was only a Second Rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifact.


    This time it was a Third Rank Inferior Grade Barrier-Breaking Pill, an Elixir that could help Cultivators overcome early-stage bottlenecks in Foundation Establishment, perfectly suitable even as a minor finale item.


    Yet now, it was the first auction item, suggesting that Second Rank treasures might be exceptionally scarce this time. Those Qi Cultivators and Loose Cultivators would probably only be able to compete for Foundation Establishment Pills!


    "One hundred thousand!"


    "One hundred and ten thousand!"


    ...


    "Two hundred and twenty thousand!"


    In the end, the price soared to two hundred and thirty thousand, more than double the starting bid. Lin Shiming was tempted to participate, but after seeing the final price, he had no choice but to give up with a bitter smile.

 Chapter 136 Fortune Arrives

    The first auction item sold for 230,000 inferior grade Spirit Stones, completely igniting the entire auction hall.


    Everyone was extremely excited, and even Lin Shiming felt a pang of regret that the family hadn''t brought more Spirit Stones.


    One must know that during the auction he attended more than a decade ago, the first auction item only sold for 9,000 Spirit Stones. Now, the price had increased more than twentyfold.


    Sure enough, in the next moment, He Xuan brought out a Spirit Talisman. Although it was only a second rank Supreme Grade, the reputation of the Substitution Talisman was incredibly resounding¡ªit could block a fatal attack once and transfer the user''s position over a hundred meters away!


    Though it was only a hundred meters, for second rank Qi Cultivators, it was an unspeakably precious life-saving treasure.


    Even some Foundation Establishment Cultivators started to become tempted, as the effect of transferring one''s position over a hundred meters away was something any cultivator could utilize.


    "Second Rank Substitution Talisman, starting bid is 10,000 Spirit Stones, with each increase no less than 500 Spirit Stones!" He Xuan announced the auction once more.


    "15,000!"


    "20,000!"


    "30,000!"


    For a moment, the Qi Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the front rows began to continually call out their bids.


    They were all so fiercely competitive that they wished they could secure the item with the highest bid right away.


    Lin Shiming, however, did not make a move. After purchasing the Hornet Blood-Breaking Needle, he had only over 100,000 Spirit Stones left. Including the Spirit Stones for the auction of the Foundation Establishment Pill from his family, it added up to just over 300,000 Spirit Stones.


    To the side, Lin Houwei, Lin Houxuan, and Lin Shiyi were also astoundingly surprised. This was their first time participating in an auction where the bidding started at over a hundred thousand for the items. To think that even the second auction item could serve as the finale of finales in Xing County.


    Of course, they suspected that the Lin Family wouldn''t part with it either, as keeping it for personal use would play a more critical role.


    Only a great talisman-cultivating sect like the Spirit Talisman Sect could easily bring out such items.


    The auction continued, and besides Spirit Talismans, a large number of Spirit Beast younglings and Demonic Beast eggs appeared for bidding, which was unheard of in previous auctions.


    The atmosphere in the entire auction hall surged wave after wave.


    In the end, even Third Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifacts and Magical Treasures made an appearance, making the whole auction extraordinarily fiery.


    And after two Third Rank late stage treasures were auctioned off, it was finally time for the Foundation Establishment Pills that the Qi Cultivators were most concerned about.


    First, the Foundation Establishment families and Qi Cultivators entered the bidding, with a total of sixty Foundation Establishment Pills. However, this time they were auctioning two pills at once, which meant that although the starting bid was halved, the actual starting bid for two pills was the same as before.


    "The Foundation Establishment Pills will start with two at a time, starting bid of 50,000, with each increment not less than 1,000 Spirit Stones¡ªstart bidding!" With the start announced by He Xuan, the entire auction hall utterly erupted.


    The starting bid was halved, and with sixty pills available, that meant thirty opportunities.


    He had already sealed the Jade Talisman with a spell using a Jade Box.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the West City Gate, there was a small pavilion.


    The small-bearded cultivator entered the pavilion, and in the next moment, strangely enough, three or four cultivators suddenly appeared inside.


    Two of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and one was a young Qi Cultivator at the late stage.


    The leader was an old man in blue robes who couldn''t help but look toward the small-bearded cultivator:


    "So, has he taken the bait?"


    "I''ve sent the message. If all goes well, he''ll be here soon!" The small-bearded cultivator confidently nodded.


    The group was instantly delighted. The individual in question was an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from a remote region like Yunzhou.


    More importantly, he was in possession of a third-rank intermediate-grade magical treasure as well as a third-rank inferior-grade one, which were publicly offered for trade. Who knew how many other valuable items were in his storage bag.


    Moreover, having attended the Qingxuan Auction, he might even have Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Thinking of this, the group chuckled lightly among themselves.


    They had killed many young Foundation Establishment cultivators like him, who were richer than many of the older generation cultivators, yielding great rewards every time.


    They had acquired the Golden Thunder Bamboo Spirit Root from the hands of a young early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    "Hurry up and kill him, we still have to wait for the Yellow Rank Secret Realm to open!" An impatient middle-aged cultivator with large ears beside the blue-robed elder chimed in.


    However, the next moment, the small-bearded cultivator''s face suddenly changed drastically.


    "He''s gone silent!"


    "What are you good for!" The blue-robed elder was instantly furious!


    "Patriarch, please calm your anger, I still have one more method!" the small-bearded cultivator pleaded, smiling apologetically as he spoke.


    He then produced a device that resembled a spirit dish, and after a short while, the spirit dish shone brightly with Spirit Light.


    Clearly, he was sending a message.


    Soon the small-bearded cultivator also spoke with elation:


    "Patriarch, that fat sheep has gone to the East City Gate!"


    "Then what are you waiting for, pursue him!" The blue-robed elder waved his hand, and the next moment, a third-rank Spirit Boat appeared, and the four of them boarded the boat, chasing after their mark towards the East City Gate.

 Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Begging for mercy?

    At the eastern city gate, Lin Shiming steered his Spirit Boat through the skies, and since he had one of the earlier batches of Foundation Establishment Pills, no one had caught up to him yet.


    He stood at the very front of the Spirit Boat, just as his seventh great-uncle had done before.


    He let the wild wind blow, letting his long hair fly behind him!


    His Divine Sense stretched far and wide, at this moment, every rustle of grass and whisper of the wind over the vast land was within his sights.


    But the next moment, he saw a Spirit Boat in the distance, flying towards him at an incredibly fast speed.


    Lin Shiming''s gaze immediately turned cold, and his body burst with Spirit Light.


    He also steered the Spirit Boat with all his might.


    "Elder uncle, get ready, there is danger!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Yuzheng and Lin Houwei, among others, were also taken aback and quickly took out their Magic Artifacts, standing on the deck of the Spirit Boat, ready to attack at any moment!


    "Fellow Daoist, why the rush? We have some fortune we''d like to share with you!" Seeing Lin Shiming speeding up, the bearded cultivator couldn''t help but transmit his voice to him.


    His demeanor and tone were quite amiable.


    To an outsider, it might even seem like old acquaintances meeting.


    But Lin Shiming was not some greenhorn fresh to the world.


    The Spirit Boat''s speed increased even more.


    However, what worried Lin Shiming was that his Spirit Boat was merely an Intermediate Grade Third Rank Spirit Boat, while the other''s was a Superior Grade Third Rank Spirit Boat.


    He simply couldn''t match the other''s speed.


    What was even more troubling was that with a Superior Grade Third Rank Spirit Boat, there would definitely be Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, or even Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators on board.


    This was precisely what Lin Shiming was extremely concerned about; Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators he could still fend off a little bit, but Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, those beings were old foxes of unknown ages.


    They had numerous tactics, strong magic power, and were also treacherous!


    Lin Shiming continuously extended his Divine Sense to probe, but the other Spirit Boats clearly had formations protecting them, and he couldn''t discern the cultivation levels of the cultivators on the other boat at all!


    "Prepare to pick a place for the final battle!" Lin Shiming spoke and then took out a Storage Bag, throwing it to Lin Yuzheng.


    Without knowing the cultivation levels of the other party, he could only prepare for the worst.


    Escape was still impossible, he could only choose to fight on the ground, with his Purple Gold Vine and the Golden Winged Mantis he still had the power to fight.


    The three obviously had a long history of collaboration. The middle-aged cultivator controlled the Profound Spirit Mountain, constantly smashing it towards them. In the process, he also unleashed three Inferior Grade Third Rank Flying Swords, while the man in blue robes, aside from the Spirit Drum, had also drawn an Intermediate Grade Third Rank Flying Sword.


    Even Little Mustache had two Intermediate Grade Third Rank Flying Swords, and the three of them attacked Lin Shiming almost simultaneously.


    "Rise!" Lin Shiming released the Purple Gold Vine he had prepared earlier, and instantly, the sky was filled with purple vines.


    He closed in on the three assailants with the vines.


    The three immediately retreated, controlling their Flying Swords to slice through the purple vines, causing countless vines to fall like rain.


    As soon as the vines dispersed, Profound Spirit Mountain smashed down towards Lin Shiming again, followed by the man in blue robes beating that Spirit Drum!


    "Tighten your Divine Sense, close off your hearing!" Lin Shiming quickly reminded the others.


    The other three hurriedly did so, but this also caused Lin Shiming to lose control of the vines for a moment, and they had no choice but to keep retreating.


    This played right into the hands of the man in blue robes and his two companions. Sooner or later, the Spirit Swords and Profound Spirit Mountain were bound to hit Lin Shiming.


    Especially the Profound Spirit Mountain¡ªif it landed, there was no chance of survival!


    However, at the next moment, a dazzling golden light surged forward, blindingly bright.


    The three assailants were also stunned. They had no weapons that emitted such golden light, but in the next moment, they saw a flurry of golden light descending upon them.


    Then the middle-aged cultivator''s head soared high into the air, and Profound Spirit Mountain lost control and fell to the ground as well.


    Only then did the group see the appearance of the Golden Winged Mantis, and they were extremely horrified.


    The man in blue robes even started to plead repeatedly,


    "Fellow Daoist, there is a misunderstanding; this old man only wanted to explore the Secret Realm with you!"


    The old man repeatedly grinned and pleaded, while Little Mustache quickly grasped the situation, knowing that without Profound Spirit Mountain, they stood no chance against Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming himself was also in a daze; this was his first encounter with Foundation Establishment cultivators begging for mercy, but was begging really useful?


    But in the next moment, to his horror, he felt an array of invisible silk threads shooting towards him.


    The following instant, the Kuimu Shield directly shielded him, yet terrifyingly, it split in half, and the white strands of silk kept shooting towards his head.


    The speed was extremely fast, and the terror was overwhelming.


    At this time, the cultivator in blue robes started beating the drum once more!


    With the sound of the drum, not only was Lin Shiming greatly affected, but the Golden Winged Mantis also emitted a piercing shriek, in extreme agony!

 Chapter 138: Chapter 138 Yellow Grade Secret Realm

    At this critical juncture, with only a hair''s breadth separating life and death, it was evident that the blue-robed elder''s thread was of the same type as his magic artifact the Gold and Silver Thread!


    Yet the latter was not a mere second-rank supreme grade magic artifact, but a third-rank intermediate grade one. Its speed far surpassed the former, and its penetrative power was terrifying. Even the Kuimu Shield of the same grade was brutally perforated. If he hadn''t seen it with his own eyes, he would have never believed it possible before.


    Even at this moment, he did not have time to employ the Green Bee Break Blood Needle!


    The spiritual attack from the Spirit Drum prevented him from concentrating fully on activating the Spirit Sword and the Purple Gold Vine.


    At this moment, the blue-robed elder''s expression also relaxed in an instant, and even the small-bearded cultivator appeared utterly confident, as if Lin Shiming was already a dead man.


    After all, the blue-robed elder was unaware of how many Foundation Establishment cultivators he had killed with those two magic artifacts.


    And in their eyes, Lin Shiming''s fate was no different.


    But in the next moment, Lin Shiming once again used a purple vine to pull himself a hundred meters back, and while midair, he threw out a bead.


    The blood-red bead immediately transformed into a red lightning bolt and violently exploded.


    A wave of terrifying Spirit Might turned into many streaks of punishing lightning, crackling and roaring as if delivering divine retribution to the ears!


    The white thread was instantly shattered, no longer posing any threat to Lin Shiming.


    "How do you have a third-rank superior grade Xue Sha Thunder!" The blue-robed elder''s face was filled with disbelief at this moment.


    The fearsome reputation of Xue Sha Thunder was well-known, and they could hardly believe that the Foundation Establishment early stage cultivator before them actually possessed a Xue Sha Thunder!


    The Xue Sha Thunder was not only powerful, equivalent to a late-stage Foundation Establishment strike, but it could also taint magic artifacts, considered a combined method of the Demonic Path and those who cultivate lightning.


    But further disbelief was too late, as the injured Golden Winged Mantis became incredibly furious, hissing as its six wings unfolded.


    Golden light flashed, and it felt like a golden rainbow shot towards them. The blue-robed elder had just released the Spirit Sword and picked up a mallet to start beating the mysterious Spirit Drum.


    The Spirit Sword was instantly swept aside, and the golden edge also reached him, directly beheading the blue-robed elder.


    The Spirit Drum, yet to be struck, fell to the ground, the Golden Winged Mantis even seemed to want to bite and vent its frustration on the Spirit Drum!


    But it was forcefully stopped by Lin Shiming. Explore new worlds at M V L


    The power of this magic artifact was something he coveted, an essential tool capable of turning the tides at critical moments.


    At this moment, the pavilion, originally meant for rest, had nearly become another council hall for the Lin Family.


    This was partly due to the Seventh Great Uncle''s fondness for being beside the Qinglian Pool, and also because most major issues were brought by Lin Shiming.


    At this moment, apart from Lin Houyong, who was stationed in Lingnan County, almost all the senior members of the Lin Family had gathered here.


    Before long, the white-haired Lin Xianzhi floated into the pavilion.


    Even though his cultivation technique had been corrected, Lin Xianzhi''s lifespan was in fact only about three or four decades!


    To avoid drawing attention, he had simply maintained his white hair.


    "Shiming, is this true?" Lin Xianzhi asked solemnly, for the news brought by Lin Shiming was truly shocking.


    It was a Yellow Grade Secret Realm.


    In the Cultivation World, there are always overlaps of small spaces, and even a great power had once proposed that Huangyun Continent, including the seven or eight great cultivating countries like Zhao Kingdom and Chu Country, are all minor spaces of other Cultivation Worlds.


    Otherwise, in the entire Cultivation World of Huangyun Continent, there are plenty of Sixth Rank cultivation techniques, yet strangely, there are no existences of Sixth Rank Nascent Soul True Monarchs.


    This is related to the Spirit Vein and also to the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth in the Cultivation World.


    Apart from the small world spaces created by cultivators, there naturally exist small spaces without cultivators, which are also called Secret Realms by cultivators.


    Secret Realms are divided into four grades according to the colors of heaven and earth: Heavenly, Earthly, Profound, and Yellow, corresponding to Qi Cultivators, Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Purple Mansion Cultivators, and Golden Core Cultivators.


    In these Secret Realms, the Spiritual Energy is dense, unexploited for hundreds of years, housing massive quantities of century-old Spiritual Medicine, and even millennium-old Spiritual Medicines.


    It is said that the Qingxuan Sect owns three Yellow Grade Secret Realms and one Profound Grade Secret Realm, which provide vast Spirit Medicine Resources, creating batch after batch of cultivators with profound magical power.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, it''s true. However, this Secret Realm is a small Yellow Grade one, not large, about the size of three Fangmu Mountains. It used to be a private Secret Realm of the Lei Family from the Purple Mansion Family.


    After the fall of the Purple Mansion cultivator from the Lei Family, their decline started, and thirty years ago, the last Foundation Establishment Cultivator perished, and they couldn''t even open the Secret Realm.


    Their territory was eventually robbed, and even the sole direct descendant was captured by several Loose Cultivator bandits!" Lin Shiming explained, taking out the Golden Thunder Bamboo Spirit Root again.


    Golden Thunder Bamboo, constantly releasing lightning, caught Lin Xianzhi''s eyes, which immediately lit up with brilliance.


    Golden Thunder Bamboo isn''t something ordinary powers possess, making the possibility of this Yellow Grade Secret Realm even more likely.


    They even anticipated whether Golden Thunder Bamboo grew within the Secret Realm!

 Chapter 139: Chapter 139 Family Jade Book

    ```


    The Elders beside them were also listening with parched throats, for this was a Yellow Grade Secret Realm, and it should be known that the Qingxuan Sect had only three.


    Of course, that was the number openly acknowledged; the exact count of secret realms in the shadows was unclear.


    But this already highlighted the Lin Family''s advancement toward becoming a Purple Mansion Family.


    A vein of Golden Iron Stone, the appearance of a Third Rank Artifact Refiner and Third Rank Alchemist in the Formation Artifact Manual, and now a formula for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid¡ªif they could gather the spiritual medicines required for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid and successfully concoct it by chance, the Lin Family''s ascent to becoming a Purple Mansion Family would be within reach.


    Now, with the addition of a Yellow Grade Secret Realm, even if it were opened only once every ten years, it would still provide a massive supply of spiritual medicine for the Lin Family.


    Even though it was only a Yellow Grade Secret Realm, capable of cultivating up to Second Rank and Third Rank spiritual medicines, it was entirely sufficient for the Lin Family.


    "Shiming, how secure is this information?" Lin Xianzhi asked once again.


    "Everyone privy to it is present here, along with that cultivator from the Lei Family!" Lin Shiming responded solemnly, adding,


    "Good, from today onward, this matter must not be discussed further. Wait until I have purchased the Family Jade Book from Qingxuan City to talk again!" Lin Xianzhi commanded, then fixed his authoritative gaze on everyone present.


    The matter of the Yellow Grade Secret Realm was of tremendous consequence; should word leak out, even if the Qingxuan Sect did not make a statement, the various Purple Mansion cultivators from the sect would come knocking on their door demanding answers.


    And the Family Jade Book was a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure, similar to the War Treasure Ship in that Foundation Establishment cultivators could use it. Its function was also extremely special, establishing forbidding formations in the minds of direct family members, preventing ordinary cultivators from soul-searching.


    One attempt at soul-searching would immediately trigger a self-destruct mechanism.


    The Lei Family cultivator survived an encounter with several Black Wind Fortress Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators precisely because of the forbidden formation in his mind.


    Of course, while this Family Jade Book was precious, it was not as priceless as the War Treasure Ship. Eight or nine hundred thousand Spirit Stones would suffice to purchase it.


    "Additionally, the family will now begin its first competition. Those in the later and middle stages of Qi Cultivation, as well as those in the early stages, must all become the key support targets for the family!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again.


    "Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming, as the Family Head, immediately consented.


    However, before that, Lin Shiming took out a Jade Slip from a Deacon of Duo Bao Tower and handed it to Lin Xianzhi.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, this was given to me by Xiao Chen, the Deacon of Duo Bao Tower, to pass on to you!"


    The rest of the bottles and jars held no substantial value.


    Not even a piece of Inner Armor was present.


    The poverty of the middle-aged Cultivator''s Storage Bag made Lin Shiming somewhat worried that the elderly blue-robed character''s and the little mustachioed Cultivator''s Storage Bags would also have little of worth.


    As expected, in the little mustachioed Cultivator''s Storage Bag, he only found over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones complemented by a common third-rank intermediate grade magic sword, and two third-rank inferior grade Magical Treasures.


    These items, of course, didn''t catch Lin Shiming''s eye either.


    The last Storage Bag belonged to the elderly blue-robed character, and to Lin''s surprise, upon inspection, he was taken aback.


    There were over six hundred thousand inferior grade Spirit Stones alone. In addition, there were numerous elixirs; there were ten bottles of third-rank Essence Pills used for advancing one''s cultivation level and about a dozen third-rank inferior grade Spirit Talismans.


    Last were the Magical Treasures¡ªan enigmatic third-rank superior grade Spirit Drum, plus a third-rank intermediate grade silken web Magical Treasure, and two third-rank intermediate grade magic swords, the total value easily exceeding a million Spirit Stones.


    After finishing the inspection, Lin Shiming was overjoyed; the elderly blue-robed individual turned out to be unexpectedly wealthy, probably even more so than the average descendants of large families.


    But thinking of the enigmatic Spirit Drum, Profound Spirit Mountain, and the silken web Magical Treasure, he suspected that even some of the more powerful peak mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators would fall to their hands.


    Especially people like the elderly blue-robed individual¡ªclearly they targeted only small family disciples or Loose Cultivators, and they were selective in their targets. Lin suspected that in Qingxuan City, they were not only after him!


    While Lin Shiming was delighted, he first picked up the Spirit Drum. The drum was only about the size of a basin, accompanied by two drumsticks embroidered with dazzling Spirit Patterns, perfectly matching the Spirit Drum.


    When Lin tried to strike it, he suddenly discovered that the Spirit Drum consumed Divine Sense. The next moment, his face turned pale.


    He gave up on the idea of playing the drum, as it seemed that only the Divine Sense of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator could barely control it.


    Although his Divine Sense was far superior to an average early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it had not yet reached the level of mid-stage, which aroused Lin Shiming''s curiosity.


    How was it that the elderly blue-robed individual could play the drum, control the silken web and also wield two third-rank intermediate grade magic swords?


    The strength of his Divine Sense was somewhat unexpected.


    Upon this thought, Lin Shiming started searching through the elderly blue-robed character''s Storage Bag for Jade Slips.


    Soon enough, he found a redwood bookshelf in a corner. The bookshelf was clearly ancient, and upon it, instead of books, there was a row of Jade Slips!

 Chapter 140: Chapter 140 Split Spirit Art

    Lin Shiming took out all the jade slips in one breath, only to be pleasantly surprised to find that among them were quite a few cultivation techniques and secret manuals.


    They covered all five elements attributes, with four Profound Rank Superior Grade techniques that could be cultivated to the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment.


    Besides that, there was also one Profound Rank Inferior Grade technique, the Kui Water True Sutra.


    This was something Lin Shiming hadn''t expected. The Lin Family only had one Profound Rank technique, and it was the Fire Attribute Profound Rank Inferior Grade technique practiced by Lin Shijie. This would give the family''s cultivators another option.


    The gain was no less than that of a Third Rank Superior Grade magic artifact.


    From this perspective, it''s likely that the blue-robed old cultivator had obtained the inheritance of a family.


    Otherwise, it would be impossible to have treasures like the Shocking God Drum and the Heavenly Silkworm Silk, and it''s even possible that he got Profound Spirit Mountain as well.


    The appearance of the jade slips containing five techniques filled Lin Shiming with joy, and he became even more expectant for the remaining jade slips.


    As a family branched out from a sect, although the Lin Family was once part of the Purple Mansion Family, its foundation in cultivation techniques was still no match for those thousand-year-old veteran Foundation Establishment families.


    The remaining two jade slips, one was the artifact refining insights of a Third Rank Artifact Refiner, and the other was a secret technique, the Split Spirit Art!


    The artifact refining insights were fine, as the Lin Family had some, but the latter''s Split Spirit Art was the existence that excited him the most.


    This technique was exactly what the blue-robed old cultivator practiced, which could significantly enhance Divine Sense.


    The Split Spirit Art was more useful than that Second Rank Awakening Spirit Flower.


    Once his Divine Sense became powerful, he would also be able to activate the Shocking God Drum, and together with the Golden Winged Mantis, if a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator became careless, they might be cut down by Lin Shiming.


    After taking the Split Spirit Art, he had finished inspecting all the treasures. Although this time was perilous, he also gained a lot.


    He now had body refining techniques, a secret technique for condensing Divine Sense, and even insights into artifact refining.


    Once the matter of the Yellow Grade Secret Realm was settled, he could seclude himself for cultivation to make himself even stronger.


    Lin Shiming suppressed the joy in his heart and went to the stone chamber of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, which was still in deep slumber and hadn''t evolved into a Third Rank Demonic Beast, but the increasingly powerful aura of its Spirit Might greatly reassured him.


    Given the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s Bloodline Reversion, combined with a Demon Core breakthrough pill, advancing to a Third Rank Demonic Beast should not be difficult. It''s just uncertain how much potential would be left after breaking through to a Third Rank Demonic Beast.


    Then, Lin Shiming went to the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree and catalyzed it with Wood Attribute True Essence as part of the routine.


    It also implied that the potential of the Golden Thunder Bamboo was even more formidable than that of the Minor Divine Ability Tree.


    With the Golden Thunder Bamboo planted, the last weight on his heart lifted. After half a day more of cultivation in the cave, Lin Shiming finally emerged from retreat.


    His seclusion had lasted seven days, coinciding with the return of his great uncle, Lin Xianzhi.


    The Family Jade Book had been purchased, and nearly all cultivators from both Nanling County and Xing County Square Market had gathered at the ancestral shrine.


    It was Lin Xianzhi, the great uncle, who led the incense offering and ancestral chant.


    This was the Lin Family''s first time possessing their Family Jade Book, which meant aside from the Forbidden God Formation, the family could now ascertain the survival of their cultivators without the need to use the family token.


    For some reason, the great uncle''s speech during this ancestral chant was longer than usual.


    It conveyed the family''s expectations and hopes for Lin Shiming.


    After everyone had paid their respects, it was finally Lin Shiming''s turn to organize the family members, bringing them forward to drip blood into the book.


    As blood entered the book, each person would offer three sticks of quality sandalwood, with the Great Elder, Lin Yuqing, standing by to introduce and chant for each family member, presenting them to the ancestors of the Lin Family.


    Lin Xianzhi was the first, followed by Lin Houyuan, then Lin Shiming, and by the time it was Lin Shijie''s turn as the fifth, tears had already stained his cheeks.


    The memorial tablet of the Second Elder, Lin Yuqi, was also there, among the newest row.


    With the book entries complete, Lin Shiming announced the start of the Lin Family competition.


    This competition not only marked a new cycle of the family''s tribute system but was also an occasion to elect the three outstanding members of the Lin Family.


    Age or generation did not limit the selection of the three exceptional members ¨C anyone under fifty could be chosen, with two from the later stages of Qi Cultivation and one from the mid-stages being selected.


    Of course, the most crucial goal was to select the cultivators from the Lin Family suitable to enter the Yellow Grade Secret Realm.


    It''s known that the Yellow Grade Secret Realm prohibits entry to both Foundation Establishment cultivators and Third Rank Demonic Beasts.


    Therefore, even Lin Shiming would only be able to wait outside the Secret Realm this time.


    "The family competition will be judged on actual combat this time," Lin Shiming began. "The triumphant three of the Lin Family will have the priority right to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Additionally, the top five in the later stages of Qi Cultivation, the top three in the mid-stages, and the top one in the early stage will each receive five hundred contribution points from the family and a suitable Magic Artifact."


    "Moreover, I will personally provide an additional Magic Artifact," Lin Shiming added, instantly delighting everyone present. Lin Shiming''s combat prowess was among the best in the family, and the power of his Magic Artifacts was renowned far and wide.

 Chapter 141: Chapter 141 Family Competition

    The grand competition began swiftly, taking place in front of the Treasure Pavilion at the Martial Arts Hall.


    It was overseen by Lin Shijie as the referee, given that among the Lin Family''s three outstanding Qi Cultivators, he had reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, which meant that should a dispute arise, ordinary Qi Cultivators simply couldn''t save each other at critical moments.


    As for Lin Shiming, he was the Family Head.


    At this moment, Lin Shijie, having no other pressing matters, began the drawing of lots directly.


    The Lin Family had lost more than thirty cultivators due to the beast tide, and with the family reforms plus the aftermath of the beast tide, many cultivators had breakthroughs.


    Now there were five Foundation Establishment cultivators, nine at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, thirty at the later stage, sixty at the middle stage, fifty at the early stage, and twelve Innate cultivators.


    Compared to the last clan assembly, even after accounting for the cultivators lost, there were twenty more at the middle stage of Qi Cultivation. The numbers at the later stage and the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation were not less than at the last clan assembly, which was significant considering the many later-stage cultivators who had fallen in the beast tide.


    This was also the fruit of the Lin Family''s implementation of the assessment system reform.


    Among the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level eligible due to the fifty-year-old age limit for the clan competition were Uncle Thirteen, Lin Houwei, and fifteen-year-old Lin Houxuan. The other Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators had all exceeded the age limit.


    The most outstanding of the later-stage Qi Cultivators was Lin Shitao, who had recently broken through the eighth level of Qi Cultivation and, importantly, was only twenty-three years old. She was also a Second Rank Intermediate Grade Alchemist, and had nearly been confirmed as a Foundation Establishment seed for the Lin Family.


    Beyond Lin Shitao, the other later-stage Qi Cultivators were significantly less notable. Among them were six of the later generation, including the chubby cultivator Lin Houyuan from Xing County who Lin Shiming had encountered before.


    Besides Lin Shitao, there were three others of the Shigeneration at the later stage, with Lin Shiyi at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, Lin Shiyun at the seventh level, and Lin Shiqi also at the seventh level.


    All other later-stage Qi Cultivators were over fifty years old.


    The grand competition of the middle-stage Artifact Refiners was the most lively with sixty participants, of whom thirty were eligible for the clan competition.


    Besides three cultivators of the later generation, the rest were of the Shigeneration.


    Forty early-stage Qi Cultivators participated in the clan competition.


    The grand competition proceeded smoothly, divided into three battlefields and six platforms.


    There was one platform for later-stage Qi Cultivators, two platforms for middle-stage Qi Cultivators, and three for early-stage Qi Cultivators.


    It goes without saying for Lin Houwei and Lin Houxuan; they also won against their opponents with ease.


    The dueling platforms for late-stage and Ninth Level Qi Cultivators were the quickest to determine the winners; Lin Houwei, Lin Houxuan, Lin Shitao, Lin Shiyi, Lin Shiyun, and Lin Houyuan.


    Shiming was very familiar with five of them. Lin Houwei and Lin Houxuan, his uncles numbered thirteen and fifteen, were both Ninth Level Qi Cultivators. He needn''t mention how well-acquainted he was with Lin Shiyi and Lin Shitao.


    As for Lin Houyuan, he too was well-known to Shiming, being the manager of the Lin Family''s Xing County auction - the one who usually appeared fattish with an amiable look despite his beefy face.


    But when it was time to act, he was exceptionally decisive and effective, defeating his opponent within just a few moves.


    And then there was Lin Shiyun, the one who was a pleasant surprise.


    Among the "Shi"-generation of the Lin Family, Lin Shiyun was ranked ninth, just half a year younger than Shiming and was at the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation. His opponent was a "Hou"-generation Cultivator at the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation.


    Unexpectedly, he was a Second Rank Superior Grade Array Master, and in the clan competition, he instantly set up several Second Rank Intermediate Grade formations to achieve victory.


    The clan was exceptionally satisfied with these six individuals, while the mid-stage Qi Cultivation platforms also saw a number of impressive younger members, such as Lin Shizhong, Lin Shiyan, and Lin Shike. Among them, Lin Shike and Lin Shizhong were both Fifth Level Qi Cultivators ¨C one a Talisman Master, the other an Artifact Refiner.


    The remaining top six were all Sixth Level Qi Cultivators.


    These Cultivators were all around twenty-three or twenty-four years old and belonged to the "Shi"-generation. Moreover, they all had been part of the Demon Hunting Team and had experienced many battles and skirmishes, which endowed them with no small measure of combat experience.


    The best Spirit Root among them was merely a Third Spirit Root. Reaching this level was already a testament to the thriving prosperity of the Lin Family.


    It''s worth noting that Shiming himself had only broken through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation in his early twenties.


    On the contrary, his third sister, Lin Shiqi, at the Sixth Level of Qi Cultivation, was quickly eliminated. However, during these ten-plus years, she also became a Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Plant Master, caring for many Spirit Plants in Fangmu Mountain''s Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    Seeing this, he couldn''t help but think of his fourth brother, Lin Shiming, who always carried a coffin on his back. He wondered whether Shiming had achieved Foundation Establishment by now.


    Had he not insisted on going his way back then, the Lin Family would now have plenty of Foundation Establishment Pills.


    But as he thought then, the path one chooses sets the cause, and from that cause comes the effect of today.


    Among the early-stage Qi Cultivators, the one who surprised Shiming the most was Lin Shilei, who emerged victorious not as someone else, but as a Second Level Qi Cultivator.


    This twelve-year-old boy did not utilize thunder spells but instead wielded the Thunder Sword Technique. His speed far exceeded the ordinary, making him a rare match in the early stages of Qi Cultivation.

 Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Bestowal of Treasures

    The family competition lasted for three days, witnessing the vitality of the younger generation within the entire family.


    In particular, were three battles involving the late-stage Qi Cultivators of the Lin Family.


    Among the late-stage Qi Cultivators, it was Lin Houwei first up against Lin Shiyi.


    Even though this unpredictable thirteenth uncle often drank, the gourd hanging at his waist was not really a wine bottle.


    As soon as he opened the gourd, he threw it into the sky, where it transformed into a gigantic golden gourd.


    Countless grains of Jin Sha flew out, turning into various mystical beasts that charged at Lin Shiyi.


    As a practitioner of Body Cultivation, Lin Shiyi also displayed unparalleled strength and speed, closing the distance with a single step to arrive right in front of Lin Houwei, slamming a supreme-grade spirit stick down hard onto him.


    Lin Houwei''s spiritual sand suddenly formed a massive sand shield, enveloping him!


    The tremendous noise burst forth like thunder, prompting the cultivators watching to step back a hundred meters.


    In their hearts, they couldn''t help but secretly wonder how they could possibly withstand such a strike themselves!


    During the fight, the golden sand was several times smashed apart by the stick, which carried the force of a thousand jun, but more golden sand poured forth. At the critical moment, the sand formed into a colossal hand, grabbing the iron rod, and then Lin Houwei summoned two flying swords from the sand, piercing Lin Shiyi''s shoulder when he was caught off guard.


    Lin Houwei was victorious!


    Lin Shiyi accepted his defeat graciously, knowing he wasn''t a sore loser; he had never won in his spars with Lin Shijie and Lin Shiming. As a practitioner of Body Cultivation, he was always breaking his own limits.


    The elders of the Lin Family nodded repeatedly, admiring the strength of both combatants.


    But Lin Houwei was evidently more cunning and his cultivation far more profound. It was normal for Lin Shiyi to fail in breaking his defenses and suffer defeat!


    "Second brother, if you can''t break the defense, you should have switched your attacks between the thirteenth uncle and the Golden Gourd, his Jin Sha isn''t actually that abundant!" Lin Shiming offered his critique and a hint to Lin Shiyi.


    "Thank you, Family Head, for the reminder!"


    "Thirteenth uncle wins!" Lin Shijie also announced Lin Houwei''s victory!


    With Lin Houwei''s victory, the battle between Lin Shitao and Lin Houxuan commenced.


    This battle didn''t hold much expectation from the crowd, as both Lin Shitao and Lin Houxuan were alchemists and presumably not particularly skilled in combat.


    Moreover, with Lin Houxuan at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level¡ªa solid cultivation level¡ªthe depth of his spiritual energy, the store of spells, and his magic artifacts were all clearly far superior to those of Lin Shitao.


    However, contrary to expectations, Lin Shitao opened with his Lotus Sword rising into the air, followed by a surge of flames.


    "I know you''re all confused, but our family has discovered a Yellow Grade Secret Realm, which only Qi Cultivators can enter. It''s dangerous, but it also holds opportunities!" Lin Shiming said.


    Upon hearing this, the eyes of the four other than Lin Shiyi nearly simultaneously lit up with an extraordinary glint.


    A Yellow Grade Secret Realm symbolized an uncountable number of spiritual medicines as well as some rare Demonic Beast resources.


    As for the dangers, they seemed insignificant in their eyes, especially for Lin Houwei and Lin Shiyi, who needed contribution points to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills. If the exploration of the Secret Realm went well, the spiritual medicines they could bring out might be enough for them to reach Foundation Establishment.


    Lin Houxuan was also extremely tempted; as an alchemist, what he lacked the most was rare spiritual medicines. If he found some in the Secret Realm, it would greatly benefit the advancement of his alchemy.


    "Uncle fifteen, you don''t need to go. The family currently lacks alchemists, and the Secret Realm remains unexplored!" said Lin Shiming, noticing Lin Houxuan''s keen interest.


    "Family Head, how can I be at peace if none of us Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators go, and instead let Shitao, with his Dual Spirit Root, go?" Lin Houxuan replied with a wry smile.


    The Lin Family indeed needed to be cautious of the unknown dangers within.


    But it''s important to note that there were only nine cultivators at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation in the entire Lin Family. If they didn''t send a few more, would they expect Lin Shitao, at the Qi Cultivation Seventh or Eighth Levels, to go?


    Lin Shiming was momentarily stunned; according to his plan, he had intended to select the strongest in combat among the cultivators at the late stage of Qi Cultivation from the various Elders, leaving the precious cultivators like alchemists and artifact refiners safely back on Fangmu Mountain.


    But now, contemplating the Secret Realm that had been unexplored for so many years, he feared that there might be quite a few Demonic Beasts at the late stage of Qi Cultivation.


    If too few Ninth Level Qi Cultivators went, they might indeed harvest less and could potentially suffer casualties due to their lack of concentrated power, just like what happened in Peach Blossom Valley¡ªhad he not intervened at a critical moment with the Snake Vine Flower, they might not have taken it without damage.


    "Family Head, we need to put all our efforts into this. The mysteries of the Secret Realm are not yet known!" Lin Houxuan insisted.


    Lin Shiming fell silent, as no one backed away.


    The Secret Realm was naturally an opportunity, but it also harbored numerous Demonic Beasts.


    "I''ll consult with Uncle Seven about this matter!" Lin Shiming hesitated, not coming to an immediate conclusion.


    Instead, he took out the magic artifacts, which served as the rewards for this family competition, causing the cultivators to be overjoyed, even the thirteenth uncle, Lin Houwei, and the fifteenth uncle, Lin Houxuan, were tempted.


    When Lin Shiming was at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation, he was said to have fought dozens of other cultivators at the same level.


    In the end, Lin Shiming gave the Gold Thread and Silver Filament to Lin Houwei, the Five Elements Tower to Lin Houxuan, and the Heaven-Confining Bell to Lin Shitao.


    He gave the Thousand Layer Mountain to Lin Shiyi and the Profound Soul Needle to Lin Shiyun.


    To him, these artifacts were no longer of great use, but to Lin Houwei and others, they were akin to trump card artifacts.


    With these artifacts, all five of them felt even more confident.

 Chapter 143: Chapter 143 Thunder-attribute Techniques

    Atop the Qinglian Pond, Lin Shiming had just returned to his cave when suddenly a wave of heat hit him.


    What caught his eye first was a fiery red stone chamber.


    Moreover, the formation he had previously set up had been burned to ruin.


    The stone chamber opened from the inside, and then a fire-red monkey, as tall as an average adult, leaped out.


    Lin Shiming took a closer look and confirmed it was the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    At this moment, the demonic monkey had clearly broken through to the Third Rank, its Spirit Might radiating outward, swirling in all directions.


    Lin Shiming was overjoyed; the Red-haired Demon Monkey had broken through faster than he had expected, but thinking back on how it had used the blood of a whole ten Third Rank demonic monkeys for the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique, it seemed normal.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey had shrunken considerably, now only the size of an average adult, its fur flowing like lava from a volcano, radiating unceasing waves of heat.


    Most surprising of all was the tail of the Red-haired Demon Monkey. The tail had grown longer, and at the end of it, there was no more thick fur, but instead a tuft of flame that burned fervently and ceaselessly.


    Lin Shiming probed with his Divine Sense only to feel as if his sense would be burned away, so he hastily retracted it, feeling even more delighted. This flame was clearly not an ordinary fire.


    The stone chamber had been heated to a fiery red because of this fiery tail.


    "This is just too lucky!" Lin Shiming was also stunned. The Red-haired Demon Monkey had comprehended its own Spiritual Fire!


    At this moment, even though the Red-haired Demon Monkey had just broken through to a Third Rank Demonic Beast, if it were to fight, it was feared that dozens of demonic monkeys of the same rank would not be a match for it.


    "Ao ao ao!" The Red-haired Demon Monkey pointed at Lin Shiming''s waist and kept calling out.


    Lin Shiming could only smile wryly and took out Beast Nurturing Pills, Spirit Beast meat, and Third Rank Spirit Water from his Storage Bag.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey grabbed everything with both hands, but surprisingly, it put the Spirit Water and Spirit Beast meat behind it, continuing to point at Lin Shiming''s waist and calling out.


    This left Lin Shiming somewhat puzzled.


    However, when he saw the Red-haired Demon Monkey pointing at the Spirit Beast Bag, he gave the fiery monkey a strange look.


    He then realized that the Red-haired Demon Monkey wanted to pick a fight with the Golden Winged Mantis.


    This was being severely provoked by the Golden Winged Mantis, wanting to fight as soon as it came out!


    Lin Shiming could not help but smile wryly as he released the Golden Winged Mantis, which indeed stopped its calls. Instead, it wanted to slap the Golden Winged Mantis on the head with its palm, but at this moment, the Golden Winged Mantis was not any shorter than the other two.


    "Remember, you must never extinguish their heart that yearns for the Dao. You must remember, the soul of the family is forever the strongest. Only with Purple Mansion cultivators can a clan be called the Purple Mansion Family, only with Golden Core cultivators can they be called the Golden Core Family!"


    "Now you are a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and your strength far exceeds that of the Early Stage. If the family is to develop, the family''s alchemists must also aim to become Third Rank, Intermediate Grade Alchemists, they too need to break through the Foundation Establishment Stage, so they can help you ascend to Purple Mansion!"


    "As for falling in battle, this is a preparation that should have been made at the very first step on the path of Immortal Cultivation!"


    After Lin Xianzhi finished speaking, he stood up and left, leaving Lin Shiming alone in the pavilion.


    He thought of his second grandfather, Lin Yuqi. If he had not risked his life for Foundation Establishment, Lin Yuqi would have had at least five or six more years to live.


    But this is the charm of the Immortal Cultivation Dao!


    If one does not take risks, how can one ever settle the restlessness of a lifetime!


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle!" At this moment, Lin Shiming had come to understand.


    Just as he was leaving the pavilion, a Spirit Talisman transformed into a golden light and flew toward him.


    It landed in his hand.


    After glancing at it, Lin Shiming immediately mounted his sword and flew towards the Council Hall.


    Inside the hall, the Great Elder, Lin Yuqing, was waiting for him.


    "Granduncle! Lei Xuan has Thunder-attribute Profound Rank cultivation techniques?" Lin Shiming was also startled internally.


    The Spirit Message he received just now wasn''t from anyone other than Lin Yuqing, who informed him that not only did Lei Xuan know the location of the Secret Realm, but he himself was also a Thunder Spirit Root. Their family even possessed a Thunder-attribute Profound Rank cultivation technique that could be cultivated up to the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    He was also cultivating the Profound Rank cultivation technique!


    "Family Head, indeed, all his techniques are of the thunder attribute!" Lin Yuqing was excited but not to the point of losing his composure.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming nodded. If they could obtain the Thunder-attribute Profound Rank cultivation technique, Lin Shilei''s prospects would be much broader, and he could at least be considered a seed for the Purple Mansion stage within the family.


    "He said he wants to talk with you!" Lin Yuqing spoke again.


    "Alright, there''s no issue with that, Granduncle, please rest assured, Shiming will do his best!" Lin Shiming said, knowing that acquiring the technique was crucial, but as the Lin Family head, he also had a responsibility to the family.


    With the Secret Realm at stake, there could be no leak, not even the slightest. If Lei Xuan wants to exchange his freedom for the technique, there will naturally have to be restrictions.


    ```

 Chapter 144 Becoming a Son-in-law

    Next to Lin Family''s council hall, there is a row of guest rooms reserved for entertaining distinguished visitors.


    Although Lei Xuan was not considered a guest, given the matter of the Secret Realm, Lin Family had invited Lei Xuan over, and he would be taken care of by dedicated personnel.


    Lin Shiming called the cultivator guarding the door and knocked.


    "Fellow Daoist Lei."


    "Elder Lin, please come in!" Lei Xuan also opened the door, and upon seeing Lin Shiming, his face lit up with eagerness.


    Lin Shiming was slightly taken aback; he had been referred to as junior, fellow daoist, or Family Head before, but this was the first time someone had called him Elder Lin.


    However, according to the rules of the Cultivation World, he did indeed qualify as an elder.


    With a lifespan of two hundred and fifty years after Foundation Establishment, he had unwittingly walked ahead of countless cultivators.


    Lei Xuan was not tall and was somewhat thin, but his eyes were bright and spirited.


    His face was neither servile nor overbearing, and Lin Shiming even felt he saw his former self reflected in Lei Xuan.


    Lei Xuan invited Lin Shiming into the room, to sit at the table set with a complete tea set, consisting of a tea table, teapot, tea cups, and everything needed.


    Lin Shiming''s face showed a hint of strangeness, as Lei Xuan seemed to be treating this place a bit too much like his own home.


    With the Secret Realm involved, Lei Xuan either had to have his memory sealed or be imprisoned by Lin Family for life.


    Seeing that Lei Xuan made no move and did not touch upon the subject of Thunder-attribute Techniques, Lin Shiming also remained silent and simply sat quietly.


    In this situation, whoever spoke first would undoubtedly fall into a disadvantageous position. The family naturally did not want to take any risks, but if they could obtain Thunder-attribute Techniques, they certainly wanted them, as they related to the future prospects of Lin Shilei of the current generation.


    Unless Lin Family could send Lin Shilei to a Sect.


    So he was in no hurry, for he was not lacking in time.


    Lei Xuan held a steaming teapot in one hand, sprinkling a wisp of tea leaves with the other, pouring them into the boiling Spirit Water, his tea-making and pouring flowing in one smooth action.


    His graceful movements elicited admiration from Lin Shiming.


    As soon as the tea leaves steeped, a strong fragrance spread out, making Lin Shiming''s True Yuan pulsate, especially the True Yuan at his heart. A hidden stream of True Yuan within him stirred as if greatly agitated.


    Lin Shiming was inwardly shocked, not because the tea leaves were of Superior Grade at Second Rank, but because he sensed the same power of the Wood Demon''s heart as in his own body.


    This indicated that the tea leaves might have been plucked from the body of a Wood Demon.


    Lei Xuan was no ordinary person. Identified as the heir of the Lei Family, he would be recognized by old enemies who could potentially trace their way back to the Lin Family.


    "Then, Lin Elder, may I marry into the Lin Family, offering the map of the Secret Realm and the Thunder-attribute Techniques as a bridal gift?" Lei Xuan spoke again.


    This request startled Lin Shiming.


    He had never even considered such a proposal from Lei Xuan before.


    Marrying into the family signified not only giving up his previous family identity but also his status as a free and independent Loose Cultivator.


    However, on second thought, if Lei Xuan wished to safely breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment or even the Purple Mansion stage, he would still need to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills, Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, and such. These would definitely not be provided by the opposing Purple Mansion Family, unless Lei Xuan joined a Sect.


    "I want to know why," Lin Shiming asked.


    "To lay low and seek revenge," Lei Xuan stated, and even though he appeared calm, a fierce light flashed in his eyes.


    "Of course, I won''t endanger my family. I will wait until my Purple Mansion power is fully developed to take revenge!"


    "And who is the opposing family?" Lin Shiming continued to inquire.


    "The Zhang Family of Jinzhou!" Lei Xuan replied.


    Information about the Zhang Family immediately surged into Lin Shiming''s mind.


    The Zhang Family was a prominent clan in Jinzhou, a region somewhat similar to Qingzhou, with more Purple Mansion Families and abundant resources and Spirit Veins. There were three Purple Mansion Families in total, among which the Zhang Family was one.


    It was rumored that the family had two Purple Mansion Cultivators within the Qingxuan Sect, and another at the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    "This can be arranged. But if you are to marry in, do you have a desirable spouse in mind?" Lin Shiming pondered for a long while before deciding to agree.


    Had it been before, he might have hesitated, since Lei Xuan was a Spirit Root Cultivator who, with success and ample resources, could certainly reach the Purple Mansion stage.


    But now that he knew he might possess a latent Spiritual Body, he had more than enough confidence to keep Lei Xuan in check.


    Not to mention, he had the system notifications.


    If there was any danger, the system would notify him. Now, with Lei Xuan appearing genuinely interested in marrying into the family, perhaps seeking to use the family''s influence,


    "Lin Shiqi!" Lei Xuan spoke up once more.


    With this definitive response, Lin Shiming also instantly understood.


    Lei Xuan likely knew from the start that he couldn''t leave freely and had long since considered marrying into the family to retain autonomy and join the clan.


    The Lin Family''s policy of nurturing disciples seemed to be made precisely for geniuses.

 Chapter 145 The Candidate is Decided

    "Have you seen Lin Shiqi?" Despite having thought through it thoroughly, Lin Shiming finally asked.


    "We''ve chatted a few times and enjoyed our conversations immensely!"


    "Good, but I still need to ask my third sister!" Lin Shiming ultimately replied.


    If Lei Xuan were to marry into the Lin Family, not only would it bring Thunder-attribute techniques, but it would also add a genius cultivator with a rare Spirit Root. Most importantly, it would perfectly solve Lei Xuan''s own problem.


    Without Lei Xuan, they couldn''t find the Yellow Grade Secret Realm, and to make Lei Xuan guide them, they must swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao not to kill him.


    This would certainly leave behind hidden dangers.


    Of course, as the Family Head of the Lin Family, he also faced more dangers and had to be more cautious of the Zhang Family.


    But in reality, for the Lin Family, ever since the Yellow Grade Secret Realm became involved, they were destined to be even more cautious.


    "Elder, please release my seal, and I will immediately inscribe the Secret Technique!" Lei Xuan said, clearly delighted and promptly spoke up.


    "There''s no hurry, my third sister hasn''t agreed yet!"


    "Shiqi has already agreed before!" Lin Shiming said with a somewhat unusual smile at the corner of his mouth as he saw Lei Xuan''s eagerness.


    All of a sudden, an image of Lin Shiqi came to his mind. He hadn''t expected that his third sister''s heart would be captured within a mere half month.


    As expected, Lin Shiqi, who was waiting outside, knocked on the door, as if she had been standing by the whole time.


    "Family Head!" Lin Shiqi greeted Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiqi no longer appeared as capricious as she was a decade ago; instead, her hair was now put up in a bun.


    "My feelings for Xuan Lang are genuine."


    "Third sister, are you sure you understand him?"


    Lin Shiqi nodded.


    "Alright, so be it!" Seeing this, Lin Shiming shook his head and turned towards Lei Xuan.


    "You''re a smart man, you should know what should and what should not be done!"


    Lin Shiming released Lei Xuan''s binding, who then inscribed the location and map of the Secret Realm, and at the same time, the Thunder-attribute techniques.


    For him, the most reliable judgment was of the Thunder-attribute techniques.


    At the moment, whether or not Lei Xuan had deceived Lin Shiqi, if there were any errors with the techniques and the map, his system would likely alert him.


    "No problem, it seems Lei Xuan has no other choice, just as we have none. Besides, I see that his feelings for the third sister are genuine," Lin Shiming replied. Then, seeing that Lin Yuqing wanted to say more, he spoke again:


    "Even if Lei Xuan truly harbors ill intentions, does Grandfather really think that Shiming would not be able to control Lei Xuan? When the time comes, Shilei will have grown strong enough to suppress Lei Xuan as well!"


    Lin Shiming''s words were not without reason, as he now possessed the Body Refining Technique Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique, the consciousness-tempering Secret Technique, and the Spirit Refinement Secret.


    He only needed to consolidate his cultivation for ten years, and he would be able to make great strides.


    With absolute strength at his disposal, he felt confident that there was nothing to worry about.


    After Lin Yuqing left, Lin Shiming then reported the news to Lin Xianzhi.


    The latter nodded his head repeatedly, obviously quite satisfied with this decision.


    In this way, not only was the issue of how to induct Lei Xuan into the Lin Family''s Family Jade Book resolved, preserving the secret of the Secret Realm, but the family also gained a genius.


    As Lin Shiming''s Great Uncle Seven, Lin Xianzhi was even looking forward to what kind of talent the progeny of Lei Xuan and Lin Shiqi would have.


    As for the enemy Lei Family, once they had sufficient strength, the Lin Family might even help Lei Xuan resolve his inner turmoil.


    With the affirmation from his Great Uncle Seven, Lin Shiming had no more doubts in his heart.


    Due to Lei Xuan''s identity, however, the wedding was not announced with great fanfare but was celebrated in a small ceremony by the various elders.


    Lei Xuan had truly married into the Lin Family from the Lei Family.


    From there on, he was a member of the Lin Family, bound by both the Family Jade Book and an oath to the Heavenly Dao.


    Three days after the celebration ended, the candidates for entering the Secret Realm were finally decided.


    This time, for entering the Yellow Grade Secret Realm, the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators included the Law Enforcement Hall Master Lin Yuqing, the Demon Hunting Hall Master Lin Houyong, the Formation Hall Master Lin Houshou, the Commerce Hall Master Lin Yuzheng, the thirteenth of the ''Hou'' generation Lin Houwei, and the fifteenth Lin Houxuan.


    Aside from the Artifact Refining Hall Master Lin Yutie, nearly all the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level elders applied to enter the Yellow Grade Secret Realm.


    The Qi Cultivation Eighth Level included Lin Shitao, Lin Houyuan, Lin Shiyi, and Qi Cultivation Seventh Level included people like Lin Shiyu.


    A total of thirteen people.


    This time, the Lin Family was mostly sending its upper echelons not only to maintain secrecy but also because it was the first opening of the Yellow Grade Secret Realm in thirty years. There were concerns about the strong power of the Demonic Beasts inside, fearing that if family cultivators were not strong enough, they might fall within the Secret Realm.


    Before setting off, the Lin Family also announced an Elders'' Contest.


    With the activation of the Mountain Protection Array, even the cultivators who were called back from various places were not allowed to leave.

 Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Natural Formation

    Jinzhou, Pinghe County.


    A spirit boat flew through the sky, coming to a halt before two adjacent mountains of Qing Mountain.


    A young man in green stood before another with white hair, holding a jade slip, frowning.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, with twin peaks steep as sword edges, this must be the place!"


    "Hmm, check it out!"


    This group was none other than the Lin Family cultivators who had rushed over from Fangmu Mountain, including both Lin Shiqi and Lei Xuan.


    However, as Lei Xuan had never been to the secret realm either, and only had records from ancestral texts, they had come upon many twin peaks.


    But they had not found the entrance to the secret realm.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, there''s a lake, it must be here!" At the foot of Qing Mountain lay a colossal lake, a thousand zhang in size.


    The giant lake did not emit a trace of spiritual energy, as if it were truly just an ordinary mountain lake.


    The surface of the lake was unusually calm, and even a slight breeze failed to cause a ripple.


    "This is not a lake, it''s a formation!" Lin Houshou suddenly walked to the very front of the spirit boat, speaking with certainty.


    Then, Lin Houshou took out some formation flags and began breaking the formation.


    Lei Xuan stood behind, watching, as it was clear he didn''t know about the formation concealing the secret realm.


    This prompted him to step forward, seemingly wanting to explain to Lin Shiming, after all, the contents of the jade slip didn''t fully match up.


    Yet, the Lin Family members weren''t surprised at all; if there were no formations, the secret realm would have been discovered by others long ago.


    "This isn''t a man-made formation, this is a natural Spirit Concealing Formation!" Lin Houshou, after inspecting it, packed away one set of formation flags and excitedly took out a new set.


    For him, ordinary formations might not be much of a challenge, but this was a formation of heavenly and earthly powers, a force of nature.


    Not to mention mastering it, even understanding the basics would be immensely beneficial to him.


    "I''ve found the life gate!" Lin Houshou exclaimed excitedly after continuously probing with the formation flags.


    And everyone, following his gaze, saw that Lin Houshou had stopped at a corner of the lake.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, Family Head, it''s here, this is the node that connects the secret realm with this world!"


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming also immediately went to the lakeside to the spot Lin Houshou had indicated.


    "Great-grandfather, and everyone, get ready. We can enter now. Remember to follow the map as the primary guide and be careful!"


    Lin Shiming kept reminding everyone. This was the Lin Family''s first time obtaining a Yellow Grade Secret Realm and also the first time sending people into one.


    "Everyone, pay attention to the Golden Thunder Bamboo and the Mingxin Tea Trees, especially the latter, as there might be wood spirits within the Mingxin Tea Trees!" Lin Shiming, blending the information from Lei Xuan, reminded everybody.


    The Golden Thunder Bamboo and the Mingxin Tea Trees were both quite important, with the latter being possibly developed into an industry.


    As for the alluring grass, he only told people to be mindful. The little bearded cultivator had only attracted their attention with his ramblings; it wasn''t truly existent in this Secret Realm.


    On the contrary, there were plenty of other Spirit Grasses, even third-rank ones. The possibility of third-rank Spirit Fruits appearing was there, and the highest guardian Spirit Beasts were second-rank peak Demonic Beasts.


    "Don''t worry, Shiqi!" called out Lin Shitao, still raising her fist and calling him "Shiqi." After saying that, she turned and walked toward the Secret Realm, leaving behind a charming figure.


    After her, the Lin Family members also entered the Yellow Grade Secret Realm one by one, while Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi took up the role of protectors, vigilantly surveying the surroundings.


    They were on alert for the sudden appearance of Demonic Beasts that might disrupt the passage.


    Lei Xuan and Lin Shiqi were also waiting outside with them.


    Once the last person entered, Lin Xianzhi retrieved the Spirit Talisman.


    The secret passage immediately began to slowly heal.


    After confirming there were no issues, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi each chose a corner to quietly stand guard.


    They had already communicated beforehand that in three days, they would reopen the passage to greet those coming out.


    This time, Lin Xianzhi even brought the Family Jade Book, vowing that if the family members'' casualties exceeded one-third, he would immediately break the barrier and get Lin Yuqing and the others out.


    Lin Shiming settled by a corner of the lake, took out a cushion for focusing and calming the mind, and also released both the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    As the Red-haired Demon Monkey appeared, the lake waters around it began to boil as the terrifying heat caused the entire lake surface to start hissing!


    After receiving a gesture from Lin Shiming, the Red-haired Demon Monkey also leaped, bounding towards the two Qing Mountains in one jump.


    This was also a precaution in case enemies or Demonic Beasts were approaching from afar.


    Lei Xuan, watching the Red-haired Demon Monkey and its trailing tail, was utterly shocked. Such a mystical creature likely had a combat power even stronger than that of an average cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!


    Then, thinking of Lin Shiming''s strength,


    Lei Xuan''s look of respect for Lin Shiming grew even more profound.


    What he didn''t know was that, not far from him, a Golden Winged Mantis dressed in a Qinglian Taoist Robe lay quietly prostrate.

 Chapter 147: Chapter 147 Tea Tree Wood Demon

    In the Secret Realm, a bright green figure was carefully and swiftly moving through the dense forest.


    Close behind her was a cultivator in green robes, with a gourd of wine in tow, following closely.


    These two were none other than Lin Shitao and Lin Houwei.


    Upon entering the Secret Realm, the members of the Lin Family split into six groups according to their strength, each moving according to their own plans.


    Usually, a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator was paired with a Qi Cultivation Eighth Level or Qi Cultivation Seventh Level cultivator.


    Only Lin Houxuan, as an alchemist, was paired with the body cultivator Lin Shiyi and the array master Lin Shiyun.


    "Uncle Thirteen, let''s go straight to find the Mingxin Tea!"


    "Actually, finding some Spirit Fruits for brewing Spiritual Wine wouldn''t be bad either," Lin Houwei muttered, but seeing that the latter hardly paused and headed toward the valley of Mingxin Tea as recorded on the Jade Slip Map,


    he could only sigh and follow along.


    After passing through the dense forest, the two arrived at a tea valley, where many tea trees appeared.


    The tea trees were sprouting tender buds as if eagerly soaking up the sunlight in early spring.


    At first glance, it all felt lush with greenery, brimming with endless vitality.


    All of them were, in fact, Spiritual Tea Trees.


    "Uncle Thirteen, be careful. The Jade Slip records that there are Illusory Yellow Bees here that can release a type of hallucinogenic pollen," Lin Shitao reminded once again.


    Lin Houwei nodded, looking at Lin Shitao with a trace of sentiment in his eyes.


    This girl, indeed, would throw herself into danger for anything advantageous to Lin Shiming, regardless of the situation.


    It was well known among the Lin Family members that Lin Shiming was a Wood Attribute cultivator, and over the years, quite a few family disciples with Wood Attribute Spirit Roots had begun to mainly practice Wood Attribute Techniques.


    Finding the Tea Tree Wood Demon would be most beneficial to Lin Shiming.


    Sure enough, in the next moment, the two felt a blur before their eyes, and a heavy drowsiness engulfed them.


    Instantly, they each took out an elixir and swallowed it, and the following moment, they saw swathes of palm-sized yellow spirit bees appear before them.


    In front of the spirit bees was a spread of light white pollen.


    These spirit bees were different from the spirit bees Lin Shiming used to locate things; these bees hardly produced any spiritual honey, devouring all the nectar on the spot and storing it as hallucinogenic powder.


    The Tea Tree Wood Demon immediately let out a cry of pain, like that of a mystical beast.


    As a wood demon, it could move and attack just like a demonic beast, but ultimately it was only a wood demon; with its roots cut off, its vital energy was greatly damaged.


    What awaited it was a golden spirit bell.


    It was indeed the Trapping Heaven Bell.


    A mysterious light flashed, and the Trapping Heaven Bell directly trapped the wood demon''s main body.


    "As expected, just as Seventh Brother predicted!" Lin Shitao with a beaming smile said, then also put away the Trapping Heaven Bell.


    "Really not bad, the Family Head truly lived up to my expectations growing up; the golden-threaded silver wire magic artifact you gave me is simply a godly weapon!" Lin Houwei sighed with emotion after dealing with the wood demon and finally relaxed a bit, taking a small sip of Spiritual Wine.


    "We should take the main body of the tea tree with us as well; it might still survive!" Lin Shitao then took out her Spirit Sword and uprooted the tea tree king along with its roots.


    As for the ordinary spiritual tea trees, they only uprooted about ten; the remaining ones might grow even better within the secret realm.


    ...


    While Lin Shitao and her companion were harvesting, at a black crocodile den,


    at that moment, three cultivators were quietly observing from not too far away.


    About ten huge crocodiles, cloaked in a faint glow, lay in the pool''s water, quietly waiting for food to arrive.


    "Isn''t that the Baiting Flower that the Family Head spoke of?" Lin Shiyi asked Lin Houxuan.


    They had come to find the Blood Crocodile Flower that could aid in training body refinement techniques, but to their surprise, next to the blood-red Blood Crocodile Flowers, there were also some pale red spirit flowers.


    And the number of spirit crocodiles far exceeded the trio''s expectations; there were at least twenty, with three being demonic beasts at the peak of Qi Cultivation Ninth Level.


    "It''s the Baiting Flower!" Lin Houxuan, as an alchemist, naturally recognized it and fiercely nodded.


    They all knew that Lin Shiming needed the Baiting Flower, and its contribution points could also be massive when exchanged within the family; later they could use them to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Perhaps they wouldn''t owe the family a debt of contribution points like Lin Houyong then.


    However, even with treasures before them, the three did not move; rather, they showed troubled expressions.


    They were not a match for these twenty-odd spirit crocodiles.


    "Uncle Fifteen, I can lay a late-stage formation; let''s lure the crocodiles!"


    "Crocodiles fight over food, and second rank late-stage demonic beasts will also have disputes; we just need to lure them slowly!"

 Chapter 148 The Spiritual Crocodile Business Opportunity

    Lin Shiyun took out the array flags and began setting up the formation at the narrow entrance to the crocodile pool.


    The formation was crafted from supreme grade array flags by Lin Houshou, which made it extremely convenient to set up. Lin Shiyu''s talent in array formations was not weak, so when he started setting it up, the formation was quickly in place.


    Once the formation was complete, Lin Shiyi also nodded in approval. Suddenly, he pulled out an iron rod and smashed it down on a black-skinned giant crocodile at the outermost edge of the crocodile pool.


    The Spirit Crocodile, thinking it was prey coming to drink water, prepared to stay motionless, unaware that Lin Shiyi was coming for the crocodiles.


    The Spirit Crocodile had only managed to open its huge jaw, but Lin Shiyi had already struck with his rod, instantly causing a cracking sound of breaking bones. A second rank intermediate grade Demonic Crocodile was directly smashed to death.


    Almost simultaneously with this strike, countless thick water arrows shot out, followed by five or six huge crocodiles with a strong scent leaping out of the water, biting towards Lin Shiyi.


    Among them were two second rank late-stage Demonic Crocodiles and one second rank peak Demonic Crocodile.


    Luckily, Lin Shiyi had taken out a Godspeed Talisman in advance. With a slap of the talisman, his already terrifying speed increased even more, quickly retreating towards the edge of the pool.


    As expected, only the few Demonic Crocodiles that had leaped forward chased quickly and rushed into the formation.


    Clearly, the three second rank peak Demonic Crocodiles each dominated one of the three corners of the crocodile pool, forming three separate groups.


    Almost at the same time as the crocodiles entered the formation, a Thousand Layer Mountain swiftly flew out, transformed into a huge mountain, and smashed down on that second rank peak Demonic Crocodile.


    Along with the cover of the formation, the Five Elements Tower rushed out, and Five Elements Spells bombarded several Spirit Crocodiles


    Various spirit light spells were cast like a blanket from the sky; even the crocodiles, with their thick hides and flesh, couldn''t fully withstand it.


    The second rank peak Demonic Crocodile King obviously panicked, trying to withstand the Thousand Layer Mountain, but unbeknownst to it, two snow-white silver threads pierced through, instantly perforating the Demonic Crocodile King''s skull.


    It was the Profound Soul Needle!


    The three of them then used a large number of Flying Swords to slay all the remaining Spirit Crocodiles.


    "The Family Head''s magic artifacts are truly terrifying!" After using them, the three exchanged glances, then felt somewhat emotional.


    If they hadn''t had those three supreme grade magic artifacts, it would have taken them a lot more effort to kill the Spirit Crocodiles.


    "Let''s continue luring them out. The Secret Realm still has plenty of good things, and our family is only taking a fifty percent cut this time," Lin Houxuan continued.


    The other two nodded again and again, confident that with these three magic artifacts in hand, their harvest would not be much less than the family''s senior members with the surname Yu.


    Lin Yuqing responded cheerfully. With Lin Shilei''s arrival, he had achieved a state of inner fulfillment, and his strength had inadvertently improved by another notch.


    It was just a pity that he was already over sixty and could not contest for Foundation Establishment.


    But to have been born at a time when the Lin Family was in decline and to depart during its time of glory was also a fortunate matter.


    ...


    Throughout the secret realm, there were traces of Lin Family teams everywhere. Thanks to Lei Xuan''s map, the Lin Family had intimate knowledge of the various demonic beasts.


    Only a few suddenly mutated demonic beasts caused trouble for the Lin Family.


    Lin Houshou, as a second-rank peak Array Master, reaped huge rewards, harvesting no less than ten third-rank spiritual medicines, and plenty of supreme grade second-rank spiritual medicines.


    Three days blinked by, and Lin Xianzhi outside, as promised, opened the formation.


    A group of people, faces full of joy.


    Thirteen people went in, and twelve came out. Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming also let out sighs of relief at the same time.


    To them, casualties were entirely unavoidable.


    And judging by everyone''s expressions, although there was some sorrow, the joy on their faces could not be completely hidden.


    "Let''s set out, return to Fangmu Mountain and discuss further. Everyone present must swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao to not divulge any news of the secret realm!"


    Lin Xianzhi took out a superior grade third-rank Spirit Boat, set sail immediately, and flew towards Fangmu Mountain.


    Seeing that Lin Xianzhi did not initiate a conversation, nobody else brought up the topic either. Instead, they seized the time on the Spirit Boat to practice and recuperate their spiritual energy. This time, only Lin Houyuan and Lin Shijie were left in the Lin Family Fangmu Mountain territory.


    There were only a few Qi Cultivation late stage cultivators stationed there, and everyone was somewhat concerned about Fangmu Mountain.


    And Lin Shiming, through the accounts of Lin Shitao and Lin Houxuan, learned about the existence of the wooden demon and the Seduction Demon Grass.


    For him, this was undoubtedly fantastic news; his Spirit Ants could finally be bred through mutual consumption.


    Moreover, with the heart of a wooden demon, Lin Shiming was thinking about nurturing a wooden demon to the third rank and then refining a Green Lotus Heart.


    The Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique allowed for the simultaneous existence of two Green Lotus Hearts at most. While Mingxin Tea was of the shrub variety, the existence of a wooden demon was different altogether.

 Chapter 149 Huge Harvest

    Fangmu Mountain, beside Qinglian Pool, at the pavilion, the place had once again become bustling.


    All those who had participated in the Yellow Grade Secret Realm expedition, except for Lei Xuan and Lin Shiqi, had gathered here.


    "Alright, everyone, let''s share our gains. The family will take fifty percent, which the family will buy at half the contribution value. Also, if you''re willing to sell the remaining fifty percent of materials, the family will purchase them at a contribution value exceeding the standard rate by twenty percent!" Lin Shiming, as the Family Head, was the first to speak.


    And all eyes turned towards Lin Yuqing. As the Great Elder of the family, and the Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, it was natural for him to showcase his gains first.


    "Alright, I''ll go first!" Lin Yuqing laughed heartily and then revealed the spiritual medicine he had obtained. There were twenty strands of Third Rank Spirit Grass, including four Essence Fruits and five Rejuvenation Herbs.


    The former is the main ingredient for alchemists to refine Essence Pills which can enhance cultivation level, while the latter is the main ingredient for Rejuvenation Pills.


    Both are quite valuable. Sold in some large shops, they could fetch up to ten thousand Spirit Stones per strand. Of course, for the Lin Family at the moment, with a Third Rank Alchemist, there was naturally no need to sell the spiritual herbs. Transforming them into Elixirs would definitely yield a higher profit.


    The rest of the Third Rank Spirit Grass, though uncommon, was likewise valuable.


    Beyond that, Lin Yuqing also presented numerous Demonic Beast materials.


    "Family Head, exchange all the spiritual medicine for contribution points!" Lin Yuqing, a body cultivator, was currently focused on nurturing Lin Shilei, and keeping all materials on him was useless, so he exchanged them all for contribution points.


    "Okay, Great Uncle, here you have twenty strands of Third Rank Spirit Grass, calculated at ten thousand Spirit Stones each, which is equivalent to 170,000 contribution points. The Demonic Beast materials are all from late-stage Second Rank or above, amounting to 100,000 contribution points, making it a total of 270,000 contribution points!"


    As Lin Shiming announced this, the crowd felt somewhat dazed.


    It''s important to note that the Lin Family''s entire annual profit from all industries is only around thirty to forty thousand Spirit Stones. Now, the Great Elder Lin Yuqing alone had amassed nearly four to five hundred thousand Spirit Stones worth of income from this expedition.


    And this was just Lin Yuqing alone. Altogether, the Lin Family, through this expedition to the Secret Realm, would certainly add a significant amount of Elixirs and Magic Artifacts, and the cultivators'' cultivation levels would surge once more due to the abundant supply of Elixirs.


    "Lin Yuzheng, a total of 210,000 contribution points!"


    "Lin Houyong, a total of 230,000 contribution points!"


    "Lin Houshou, a total of 380,000 contribution points!"


    As expected, following Lin Shiming''s successive announcements, everyone started to become numb to the figures.


    Especially Lin Houshou, as a peak Second Rank Array Master, he found the environment inside to be extremely conducive to his skills.


    At that time, they would probably be calculated based on Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones.


    It is said that the smallest Yellow Grade Secret Realm of the Qingxuan Sect is counted as a ten-day exploration.


    And there are a total of four such secret realms.


    One can imagine just how vast the resources controlled by the Qingxuan Sect are.


    "Alright, in addition, I would also like to announce that the family clan has acquired a Profound Rank, Inferior Grade thunder-attribute cultivation technique and another Profound Rank, Inferior Grade Body Refining Technique, the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique.


    These can be exchanged for cultivation with ten thousand contribution points each!" Lin Shiming announced, causing the Lin Family members to rejoice once again.


    Before this, the Lin Family only had one fire-attribute cultivation technique, the Fire-returning True Scripture, which was a Profound Rank, Inferior Grade technique; now they had obtained two more, one being a body refinement technique and the other a thunder-attribute cultivation technique.


    Without any hesitation, Lin Shiyi excitedly exchanged for it, as his technique was a Yellow Grade, Superior Grade, and now having a Profound Rank, Inferior Grade technique, it was as good as a Foundation Establishment Pill for him.


    And it could be read for just ten thousand contribution points!


    Lin Yuqing did not exchange for the body refining technique but instead exchanged for the thunder-attribute technique on behalf of his grandson.


    "Additionally, the family clan also has two Foundation Establishment Pills available for exchange, fifty thousand contribution points each!" Lin Shiming once again brought out the Foundation Establishment Pills.


    After this harvest, he needed to go into seclusion, and now with the contribution points, everyone was ready to exchange, each filled with boundless ardor.


    The two who made the exchange were Lin Houxuan and Lin Houwei¡ªwho were both over fifty. If they couldn''t get the Foundation Establishment Pills now, they wouldn''t have any chance after turning sixty.


    Lin Shitao and Lin Shiyi were still young, so they didn''t compete for them.


    After the exchange was complete, members of the Lin Family Clan bid their farewells one after another. With these high-ranking family members having been out, many family affairs had piled up, especially for Lin Houxuan in alchemy and Lin Houshou''s Formation Hall.


    Lin Shiming also had a talk with Lin Houxuan, requesting the latter''s help in refining Seduction Demon Pills.


    The spirit-devouring ants had been confined within the Jade Box for almost half a year by now.


    Their ferocity had been worn down considerably, and once the Seduction Demon Pills were refined, they could be used at any time to breed and cultivate.


    Having finished these tasks, Lin Shiming took the King Mingxin Tea Tree and its main body towards his cave dwelling nearby to begin transplanting the Mingxin Tea Tree!

 Chapter 150: 150

    Lin Shiming first found a spot not far from the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree and planted the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    The Mingxin Tea Tree, after all, is a shrub and looks huge on a tea plantation, but compared to the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, it appeared somewhat short and stout.


    Having planted the Mingxin Tea Tree, Lin Shiming continued to pour Nurturing Spirit Liquid on it, as well as spread some Spirit Soil.


    This tree was a second-rank Supreme Grade Spiritual Tea Tree; not only were the effects of its tea leaves excellent, but it was also the main body of a wood demon, extremely capable of growth.


    Moreover, he was also looking forward to using the wood demon''s Mu Xin to cultivate the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique to great success.


    Having planted the wood demon''s main body, Lin Shiming then took out the wood demon''s Spiritual Body, which was that tree person. At that time, the tree person''s face drooped, and its roots made it seem like a hundred-year-old man.


    However, upon seeing its main body, the Mingxin Tea Tree, the tree person''s eyes lit up with excitement, struggling incessantly to approach it.


    Yet, Lin Shiming caught it with one grab, and the wood demon could only struggle continuously.


    "Submit to me!" Lin Shiming directly applied pressure on the wood demon using his Divine Sense''s fluctuations.


    It was recorded in the basic manual of the Spirit Beast Sect that some Spirit Contracts were also effective on wood demons, which was why the Spirit Beast Sect was able to cultivate wood demons within the sect.


    Having previous experience with planting spirits, he was more aware of the wood demons'' weaknesses.


    The wood demon was still struggling; being a wild wood demon, it naturally wouldn''t submit.


    Lin Shiming''s attempt to apply a Spirit Contract was directly scattered by the wood demon''s resistance.


    Lin Shiming was not angered, instead, he restrained the wood demon and used a Formation to separate it from its main body.


    It could only look at its main body eagerly but couldn''t return to it.


    After doing all this, Lin Shiming started to practice the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique right there.


    The Demon Sect of Chu Country and the Three Sects of Zhao Kingdom were still waging wars, and although Qingxuan Sect promised five years, the promise was based on the premise that Three Sects could easily fend off their enemies. If the Three Sects showed even a slight sign of weakness, they would definitely force those families to the forefront.


    They would definitely worry about those families turning against them at the last minute.


    Therefore, Lin Shiming needed to improve his strength as quickly as possible. His cultivation of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra had slowed down after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    The family could not provide him with Essence Pills to their full capacity, and he himself did not have any third-rank Spiritual Honey.


    In this case, Body Refining Techniques became the best way for him to enhance his strength in a short period of time.


    Body Refining Techniques are different from Qi Cultivation Techniques. Body Refining Techniques pay more attention to the physical body, with the corresponding breathing techniques aimed at the cellular level, further assisted by body refining martial skills¡ª internal refinement and external tempering build an unmatched Dao body.


    Of course, this also requires a considerable amount of body refining Spiritual Liquids or Body Refinement Spirit Fruits.


    As soon as the formation was opened, the Demonic Wood used an Earth Escape Skill and arrived at the base of the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    That old face once again appeared on the tea tree, it seemed to want to continue glaring fiercely at Lin Shiming, as if to tell him that even if a Spirit Contract was signed, it would not obey Lin Shiming''s commands.


    Lin Shiming was unconcerned about the Demonic Wood''s expression and chuckled lightly.


    This Demonic Wood was born in the little secret realm, and its true Spirit Intelligence was actually no different from a Demonic Beast.


    Such a reaction was normal.


    But with the Spirit Contract in place and his cultivation level far surpassing that of the Demonic Wood, he did not need to worry about it turning on him.


    Lin Shiming had planned to continue practicing the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique when a Transmission Talisman flew in¡ªit was a Sound Transmission Talisman.


    The transmission was from Lin Shitao, but the content made him overjoyed.


    "The Seduction Demon Pill is complete!"


    He deactivated the formation and saw Lin Shitao standing outside in a green dress.


    "Big Brother Seven!" Lin Shitao''s fair face blushed slightly as she greeted him with a gentle smile.


    She stretched out her delicate hand and presented a small Jade Bottle before Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    "This is the Seduction Demon Pill refined by Uncle Fifteen!"


    "Shitao, thank you for bringing it over," Lin Shiming said, taking the Jade Bottle with gratitude.


    "Please also convey my thanks to Uncle Fifteen for me!" Lin Shiming continued, knowing that refining Elixirs with the Formation Artifact Manual puts a great strain on the body, especially since Lin Houxuan is currently cultivating his Spiritual Energy and preparing for his Foundation Establishment breakthrough.


    After speaking, Lin Shiming turned and returned to his cave dwelling.


    With the Seduction Demon Pill in hand, it meant that his Spirit Ants finally had a use; even the disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect had scrambled for such Spirit Ants at the time.


    One could imagine the value of the Spirit Ants.


    For Lin Shiming, he did not have the ability as with the true form of the Demonic Wood to wear down the Spirit Ants before creating a Spirit Contract.


    But with the Seduction Demon Pill, he could still gain the offspring of the Spirit Ants.


    Moreover, controlling such Spirit Ants from a young age to adulthood would be perfect; Demonic Beasts raised from small tend to have no issues with turning on their master, far better than his current situation with the Demonic Wood.


    What he didn''t know was that Lin Shitao, watching his figure from behind, pursed her lips, clenched her fists then released them, holding back the words she wanted to say in her heart, ultimately choosing not to speak.


    It was early Springtime, and the peach blossoms on Fangmu Mountain were in bloom once more!

 Chapter 151 The Spirit Ant Lays Eggs

    Inside the cave mansion by Qinglian Pool, Lin Shiming took out the jade box containing the Spirit-Devouring Ants.


    Through the surface of the jade box, it could be easily seen that the dozens of ants inside were all listless.


    Spirit-Devouring Ants could devour any form of spiritual energy, swallow spirit weapons and spirit formations with ease, but Spirit Jade was their greatest weakness.


    At this moment, the ferocity of these ants had been mostly ground away.


    Lin Shiming took out a Seduction Demon Pill and quickly placed it into the jade box.


    The ants instantly reacted as if stimulated, screeching frantically before crawling towards the Seduction Demon Pill and slowly beginning to gnaw at it.


    The other ants quickly swarmed over as well, and to Lin Shiming''s shock, they began to devour each other in a struggle for the pill.


    The largest one was particularly vicious, its sharp teeth killing three or four other ants in the blink of an eye before continuing to nibble at the Seduction Demon Pill.


    Half a quarter of an hour later, only four extremely agitated Spirit-Devouring Ants remained in the jade box, as if the box could no longer contain them, they flew around inside, biting at everything.


    They even started biting the jade box, but after doing so, that particular ant would violently spit it out and continue to move crazily within the box.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming felt bewildered and even doubted if the Seduction Demon Pill had any effect on these ants.


    But then he remembered that both the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis had gone through a mad frenzy of devouring spiritual flesh and Beast Nurturing Pills during their evolution.


    So, he also took out some Spirit Beast meat, still in Spirit Water, and threw in some Beast Nurturing Pills into the jade box.


    Sure enough, the four Spirit-Devouring Ants began to frenziedly consume various spiritual objects and their energy.


    Lin Shiming watched with eyes wide and tongue-tied, unable to comprehend how such small ants could devour so many spiritual objects.


    After another hour had passed, the Spirit-Devouring Ants finally began to calm down, ceased their biting, and started to pair up tranquilly.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming finally let go of his worries.


    The Seduction Demon Pill was effective.


    After dealing with the Spirit-Devouring Ants, Lin Shiming returned to his meditation cushion and once again began to meditate.


    After one complete cycle of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, he felt his spirit highly focused once again, his True Yuan abundant, and his body bursting with vitality.


    He then took out another jade slip, the Split Spirit Decision.


    And the Swallowing Spirit Ants were still laying eggs.


    This made Lin Shiming extremely satisfied once again.


    With these spirit eggs, once hatched into Swallowing Spirit Ants, no Spirit Formation would be able to stop him. For instance, the Formation at the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion previously, he wouldn''t need to gather five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Instead, he could use the Swallowing Spirit Ants to enter and take the treasures.


    As Lin Shiming was excited, he also took out a substantial amount of spirit beast meat and Spirit Water Beast Nurturing Pills, and placed them into the Jade Box, ensuring that the queen had enough Spiritual Power to lay as many eggs as possible.


    After the laying of eggs, Lin Shiming once again tended to various Spirit Plants, cultivating them.


    After cultivation, he began practicing the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique. Later on, he even started fighting hand-to-hand with the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    His days became extremely full, and as for the family affairs, he had entrusted them all to the various branches.


    ...


    Three years quietly passed!


    By the Qinglian Pool, Qinglian Lake had been divided into two lakes: the left lake was used for cultivating Green Lotus and Red Spirit Fish, and the right lake for breeding Spirit Crocodiles.


    At this moment, numerous cultivators were catching Spirit Fish.


    However, at the next moment, a thunderous roar was heard, and far away on the mountain, two figures, one red and one green, were constantly wrestling with each other.


    Each punch they exchanged created a tremendous momentum.


    And the shadow of their punches was quite similar too.


    Only the red figure was clearly in the upper hand.


    "The Family Head''s Body Refinement technique is becoming more inscrutable!"


    As for the practice of the Body Refinement technique, Lin Shiming didn''t hide it from the family''s cultivators; indeed, he couldn''t.


    As he and the Red-haired Demon Monkey sparred, the whole Fangmu Mountain could hear the momentum.


    On the mountain, as the Red-haired Demon Monkey leapt up and punched, Lin Shiming was finally smashed into the mountain.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey was extremely excited and even lifted the Profound Spirit Mountain, howling non-stop.


    Lin Shiming climbed out of the mountain as well. Today, at thirty-four, his cultivation level was still at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, but his Body Refinement realm was terrifyingly at the seventh layer. Even now, he was barely able to fight with the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    However, it was clear he was mostly on the receiving end of the beatings, but reaching the sixth layer of Body Refinement in three years also showed how terrifying his cultivation speed was. Of course, the reason he could spar was that his Divine Sense had also broken through to the Foundation Establishment''s middle stage.


    His ability to predict each move was far superior to that of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and he had also convinced the Red-haired Demon Monkey to control its strength, which allowed him to barely spar.

 Chapter 152 Bad News from the Border

    At the Qinglian Pond Cave Mansion in Fangmu Mountain, Lin Shiming had just returned when he took out a large wooden barrel, which was full of red medicinal liquid.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey followed him back, also howling, tugging at the corner of Lin Shiming''s clothes.


    Lin Shiming rubbed the head of the Red-haired Demon Monkey and then took out an even larger model of a wooden barrel. He filled this barrel with the same medicinal liquid to the brim.


    This concoction in the barrel was a mixture using Blood Crocodile Flowers, and Lin Shiyi had sold some to the family. Lin Shiming therefore purchased some.


    After completing his Body Refinement practice, he would soak in this medicinal bath, along with practicing breathing techniques, which would greatly increase his cultivation speed.


    As for the Red-haired Demon Monkey, after witnessing Lin Shiming''s bath on one occasion, it howled and jumped into the barrel. Lin Shiming had no choice but to prepare another barrel of medicine for the monkey.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey was addicted to soaking as soon as it tried, and so it became a routine for both to soak in their separate barrels.


    Lin Shiming looked at the Red-haired Demon Monkey, quite content as it lay in the medicinal barrel, with only its red head and its fiercely burning tail sticking out.


    At this moment, the tail was still ablaze, but the Red-haired Demon Monkey had learned to control the size of the flames, ensuring they did not burn the medicinal liquid away.


    Lin Shiming closed his eyes and began to cultivate his breathing techniques.


    Three hours later, the color of the liquid in the barrel slowly faded, and its medicinal properties were completely absorbed.


    Lin Shiming changed into a fresh robe and went to the insect room, specially prepared for the Spirit-Absorbing Ants.


    Inside the insect room were rows of eggs, amounting to over a thousand.


    These eggs were white with a tinge of yellow, a clear sign they had been incubating for a long time and were about to hatch.


    Lin Shiming immediately stepped forward, squeezing a few drops of essence blood from his fingertip, sprinkling them evenly over the eggs. Then, he cast the Spirit Contract once again.


    The birth of the eggs was something he could not predict, and he could only establish the Spirit Contract in advance. Otherwise, by the time the Spirit-Absorbing Ants appeared and if he was not there, the whole cave mansion might be devoured.


    He could not afford to encase the whole chamber with large amounts of Spirit Jade either.


    After casting the Spirit Contract, Lin Shiming left the chamber and returned to his cultivation room. He sat on a cushion, beginning to meditate and practice the Purple Wood Heart Sutra to quietly recover from the loss of essence blood.


    Three years of secluded training had made him seem more composed. In terms of cultivation level, he had unnoticeably made great progress from the early stage of Foundation Establishment.


    ...


    In the Fangmu Mountain Council Hall, at this moment, the Lin Family''s elders were gathered.


    Lin Xianzhi had also already taken his seat at the high table.


    To the right of the high table sat Xie An from the Qingxuan Sect.


    At this moment, everyone''s expressions were somber; even Xie An''s face did not look good.


    "Shiming has arrived."


    "Shiming pays his respects to Seventh Great-Uncle and greets Senior Brother Xie!" Lin Shiming also greeted the two men.


    "Shiming, this time, Yan Country has joined Chu Country and Zhao Kingdom in the crusade, and the front line is retreating steadily. All of Zhao Kingdom''s families are being forcibly summoned to battle. My task is to notify all the major Foundation Establishment families in Yunzhou," Xie An said solemnly.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming could only feel a great headache. The Demon Sect of Chu Country was already causing the Three Sects of Zhao Kingdom enormous trouble, and with Yan Country getting involved, especially the Corpse Refining Sect, which was even more powerful than the Spirit Beast Sect!


    "Each Foundation Establishment family must dispatch at least seventy percent of their Foundation Establishment cultivators and another fifty percent of their late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Of course, if the Lin Family needs to guard its sect gates with its Foundation Establishment cultivators, then eighty percent of the late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators and fifty percent of the Foundation Establishment cultivators will suffice," Xie An stated, offering some flexibility, but Lin Shiming could see from Xie An''s eyes an unmistakable determination.


    Granting the Lin Family a choice already spoke to the gravity of the situation.


    "All right, our Lin Family will choose the former option," Lin Shiming nodded. Since there was no avoiding it, they had to join the great battle.


    The Three Great Sects would not allow anyone to retain ample strength behind the scenes within their domains.


    Xie An, seeing Lin Shiming had made a decision, promptly took his leave, not even sipping a drop of Mingxin Tea. Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi escorted him away.


    Clearly, he was on his way to notify other families in Yunzhou.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi then returned to the Fangmu Mountain Council Hall once more.


    All faces were grave; following the beast tide, the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Yunzhou had five years to catch their breath. A year later, the cultivators might have had some preparation, but now they faced two Immortal Cultivation nations, Chu and Yan Countries, one of Demon Cultivators and heretics, the other of Corpse Cultivators.


    Zhao Kingdom''s chance to hold them off was extremely slim unless the neighboring countries of the Righteous Alliance came to Zhao Kingdom''s aid.

 Chapter 153: Chapter 153 Family Arrangements

    The entire council hall was filled with faces of worry and distress.


    In the end, it was Lin Xianzhi who broke the silence:


    "My fellow family members, the more critical the moment, the less we can afford to panic. Even if the sky were to fall, there would be someone tall enough to uphold it!"


    "Our Lin Family has weathered storms for three to four hundred years, relying not on powerful strength, but on our unity as a family, passing down our will through generations!"


    As soon as Lin Xianzhi finished speaking, his authoritative eyes swept over everyone present.


    The other Family Elders and cultivators quieted down.


    Then, Lin Xianzhi turned to Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, you make the arrangements. According to some inside information, the Spirit Talisman Sect''s territory in Youzhou has already been conquered. In addition to that, half of the Spirit Beast Sect''s territory in Heavenly River State has also fallen. The situation indeed looks grim!"


    "Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming nodded, feeling a tremendous pressure in his mind.


    In a war between three kingdoms, even Golden Core cultivators were involved; their Foundation Establishment family was like a small boat on a vast sea, liable to be capsized by the great tides at any moment.


    "First, let''s decide on who will go to battle. Since Shijie has not yet made a public appearance, we have four people at the Foundation Establishment level. Three will go to battle: myself, my father, and Seventh Great-Uncle. Big brother, you will replace the Fifth Uncle and be the publicly known guardian of our family!"


    "Secondly, as for the late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators in the family, we will mainly select from the members of the Demon Hunting Team. Uncle, you will screen the candidates for this task. The Alchemy Hall and Artifact Refining Hall will go all out to concoct elixirs. Shitao, Fifth Grandpa, you two will take charge of this.


    We can use all the Spiritual Medicines obtained in the Yellow Grade Secret Realm to craft Healing Pills and Restoration Elixirs!"


    "Yes!" Lin Houyong, Lin Shitao, and Lin Yutie responded in unison.


    "Fifth Grandpa, as the head of the family''s commerce division, you should gradually withdraw our trading teams from their ventures and cut down on the personnel, focusing mainly on operating in the Xing County Square Market and Lingnan County Square Market. The family''s ascension conferences, originally held once every three years, should now take place annually.


    It''s not that the family lacks spiritual materials, but rather, we are short of Spirit Root Cultivators! If necessary, we must even participate in the ascension conferences of other families outside of Lingnan County and Xing County, especially those belonging to Qi Cultivation families!"


    As Lin Shiming said this, Lin Yuzheng also nodded fiercely.


    After the war, the family would undoubtedly be short of cultivators, but an ascension conference gathers children around the age of ten. If nurtured for a decade or so in the mountains, they will become one of the Lin Family''s own.


    Keep in mind that those Qi Cultivation families also have to send people to the front lines.


    The second matter was to serve as the protector for Lin Houxuan, who, with access to a Foundation Establishment Pill, refined his spiritual energy for three years and went into seclusion three months ago to prepare for his Foundation Establishment breakthrough.


    At the same time, he was to take Lei Xuan with him.


    In this forthcoming war, since Lei Xuan had married into the family, he was naturally included.


    Even though he had already held a wedding ceremony with Lin Shiqi and entered the Family Jade Book, he would not let down his guard against those he needed to be wary of.


    After Lin Houyong left, Lin Shiming also completely set his mind at ease, then entered the rear courtyard''s side room where Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan were already inside.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Father, all family matters have been arranged properly!" Lin Shiming spoke respectfully.


    "Mm-hmm!" Lin Xianzhi nodded in satisfaction and made some additions to Lin Shiming''s arrangements, while Lin Houyuan quietly listened by the side.


    In the end, Lin Xianzhi sighed and said:


    "Shiming, for this great war involving three countries, I initially wanted Lin Houyong and your father to accompany me!"


    "But as you are a registered disciple of the Sect and have performed outstandingly in Qingyun City, you were named by Zi Xuan Hermit to participate!"


    Lin Xianzhi didn''t say this at first; he had his own considerations, but he didn''t expect that Lin Shiming''s first words would be about including himself in the mission.


    "Remember to adapt to changes on the fly, and prioritize your own safety above all. The family''s greatest hope lies with you!" Lin Xianzhi said again, his tone filled with profound earnestness, and then he took out four Xue Sha Thunder orbs and placed them in Lin Shiming''s hands.


    Lin Shiming was also startled upon seeing the Xue Sha Thunder, his heart full of gratitude.


    But he looked towards Lin Houyuan at his side, intending to share two orbs with his father.


    "Shiming, keep them. The elder also gave me two!" Lin Houyuan spoke up as well.


    "Alright then!" Lin Shiming accepted them.


    "Shiming, Houyong, you both go get ready. We leave in three days!" Lin Xianzhi spoke up again.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Houyong each took their leave, returning to their respective cave mansions.


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate; upon returning to his cave mansion, he first put away all the Spirit Ant eggs, then he collected the sleeping Golden Winged Mantis and Red-haired Demon Monkey as well.


    The strength of these two was no less formidable than his own current power.

 Chapter 154 When the Great Dao is accomplished, the lesser paths may be fulfilled.

    Fangmu Mountain, Lin Shiming had already tidied up everything in the cave mansion, all magic artifacts were ready, and he had checked every Spirit Talisman and array flag.


    He had also spent some time taking care of the Spirit Plants once more before suddenly feeling the urge to clear his mind and consider taking a walk on the mountain.


    Since becoming a member of the Lin Family and a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he hadn''t really taken the time to observe Fangmu Mountain. But at that moment, he felt an unexpected desire to take another look.


    He had grown up on Fangmu Mountain since he was a child, and for over thirty years, he had witnessed its transformation from a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein to a Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein.


    He first looked at Qinglian Pool and Qinglian Lake, where the lotus leaves of the pool were more numerous and larger, with more plentiful lotus seeds, including many Third Rank lotus seeds.


    These lotus seeds were the best for neutralizing poisons.


    Ever since his seventh granduncle''s recovery, he had quite a few in his Storage Bag.


    In Qinglian Lake, there were Spirit Fish constantly leaping on one side, while on the other, a Spirit Crocodile was casually showing its black head.


    Nearby was a pavilion, which no longer had a chessboard on it, nor could one see his seventh granduncle Lin Xianzhi.


    Come to think of it, this pavilion did not have a name yet.


    "Why not call it ''Yongzhi Pavilion''?" Lin Shiming thought, and then chuckled softly; his seventh granduncle''s personality might actually prefer the pavilion to remain nameless!


    He then walked down the mountain.


    Quite unintentionally, he found himself in Peach Blossom Forest.


    It was already late spring, and the flowers on the Spirit Peach Trees were exceptionally radiant. Countless petals were dancing in the sky, and Spirit-Seeking Bees buzzed up and down, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.


    In the depths of the forest, a lady in a green dress stood under the tallest peach tree, gently pouring Nurturing Spirit Liquid.


    The peach blossoms fell onto her black hair and green dress, carpeting the ground around her.


    Lin Shiming recognized her at a glance, it was Lin Shitao.


    Back then, it was he who brought Lin Shitao back from the Spirit Peach Tree in Peach Blossom Town. It was also that day in Peach Blossom Forest when he helped her become an Alchemist.


    Now it seemed Lin Shitao had not forgotten to take care of these Spirit Peach Trees.


    Lin Shiming approached and she gradually turned around. Upon seeing Lin Shiming, her face brightened with joy, but then it was tinged with worry, possibly due to the summons from Qingxuan Sect.


    "Seventh brother!"


    "Shitao, you''re still caring for these Spirit Peach Trees? This might affect your cultivation," Lin Shiming said.


    "Thank you for the reminder, seventh brother. Shitao will be careful," Lin Shitao quickly replied.


    After that, neither of them could find more to say.


    Lin Shiming had brought Lin Shitao to Fangmu Mountain, and she had watched Lin Shitao grow up.


    "Shitao..."


    "Third Sister, I understand. Seventh Brother is devoted to cultivation. Then I shall assist Seventh Brother in fulfilling the Great Dao!"


    "I will wait for Seventh Brother''s success in the Great Dao, then the Lesser Dao may be fulfilled."


    ...


    Three days passed, and above the Lin Family''s territory, another Spirit Boat appeared. On the Spirit Boat, which now carried over forty people, three were at the Foundation Establishment stage, namely Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming, and Lin Houyuan.


    The Qi Cultivators at the Ninth Level were Lin Yuqing, Lin Houyong, Lin Hou Shou, and Lin Houyu, among whom Lin Houyu was the sixth elder of the ''Hou'' generation and had newly reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level in the past three years.


    The rest, who were in the late stages of Qi Cultivation and familiar to Lin Shiming, included Lin Shiyi, Lin Shiyun, Lin Houyuan, Lei Xuan, and others.


    "Let''s go!" The Spirit Boat soared into the clouds, with Lin Xianzhi at the very front and Lin Shiming taking a position at the rear.


    With Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming at opposite ends, they kept a mutual watch over the group.


    This Spirit Boat was a Third Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifact and, upon taking flight, it transformed into a ray of golden light and shot through the sky.


    Behind them, Fangmu Mountain was enveloped by waves of spiritual fog under a burst of light, with the formations fully activated!


    ...


    In Zhao Kingdom, within the territory of the Spirit Beast Sect in Heavenly River State, Cloud Realm Mountain.


    A Spirit Boat slowly descended from the sky, and from the formation in front of the boat, a multitude of cultivators emerged, all dressed in the robes of the Spirit Beast Sect, with most wearing robes representing one spirit beast. The leading figure wore a robe representing two spirit beasts.


    "Who are the cultivators ahead?"


    "Could you kindly inform your peers that the Lin Family, a subordinate family of the Qingxuan Sect, has been ordered to come and provide defense!" Lin Shiming, in a blue robe, stepped out of the Spirit Boat and spoke loudly.


    As he spoke, a golden token flashed out. On the front of the token were the characters for ''Qingxuan'', and on the back was the character for ''Lin''.


    This token now served as an identification artifact within Zhao Kingdom, specially crafted by a Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner, bound to the owner''s identity and requires the owner''s True Yuan to activate.


    Furthermore, the token was used to distinguish affiliation, with Qingxuan Sect disciples having ''Qingxuan'' on both sides, while family members had their surname on the reverse.


    This Spirit Boat, coming from afar from Fangmu Mountain, carried Lin Family cultivators who had traveled for one and a half months to reach Heavenly River City in Heavenly River State. They had then been ordered to defend an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine within Cloud Realm Mountain.


    "Oh, turns out to be Daoist Lin, a renowned name indeed. We will open the formation for you!" The cultivator in brocade robes within the formation replied with smiles and subsequently opened the formation.


    "I am Lin Gang, and perhaps a few hundred years ago, we were of the same clan!" The middle-aged cultivator said with a laugh.


    The group from the Lin Family finally stepped out from the Spirit Boat, led by Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi at the forefront, as they entered Cloud Realm Mountain.


    ```

 Chapter 155: Chapter 155 Joint Defense

    Lin Gang was one of the three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators of Yunjing Mountain and a direct disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect.


    Along the way, under Lin Gang''s leadership, there was none of the arrogance often displayed by sect disciples.


    On the contrary, Lin Gang was exceedingly polite to the members of the Lin Family.


    "Brother Lin, may I know where Brother Xu is located? Could you possibly introduce me so I may pay my respects?" Lin Xianzhi, as the one with the highest cultivation level within the Lin Family, was the one to speak.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming was following behind, listening attentively and humbly.


    The ''Brother Xu'' Lin Xianzhi referred to was Xu Daolai, the master of Yunjing Mountain. Xu Daolai, as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was the most powerful person on Yunjing Mountain, in charge of all matters concerning the guarding of the Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone veins.


    However, by rights, his cultivation level was not sufficient to hold the position of deacon for the Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone vein.


    But his life-bound Demonic Beast was also a peak Third Rank Demonic Beast, making him a rare match for other Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Moreover, he had the backing of a Purple Mansion Loose Hermit.


    "Brother Xu is currently in closed-door cultivation practicing a spell," Lin Gang explained, sounding somewhat apologetic, "Daoist Lin, please come with me. Once the Ye Family and the Lu Family arrive, I presume that by then, Brother Xu should also be out of his seclusion!"


    Lin Shiming, catching Lin Gang''s expression, started to guess that considering Lin Gang''s previous earnestness, the defenses within Yunjing Mountain might be strong on the outside but empty on the inside.


    Lin Xianzhi understood as well and continued to converse and laugh with Lin Gang. After learning about various situations on Yunjing Mountain during their journey, they finally arrived at the guest chambers prepared for the Lin Family.


    After arranging everything properly, Lin Gang called for a Qi Cultivation late-stage disciple to inform the Lin Family of the situation, and then once again hurriedly went to nearby formations to strictly guard them.


    As soon as Lin Gang left, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi waved the Spirit Beast Sect Qi Cultivation disciple away, and exchanged glances, both looking quite grim.


    In Heavenly River City, they had already learned that the Heavenly Demon Sect of Chu Country was incessantly dispatching Foundation Establishment cultivators to plunder and destroy various Spirit Mines.


    And the Spirit Stone veins supplying Spiritual Power for the city-guarding formations were of utmost importance.


    The Intermediate Grade vein in Yunjing Mountain, logically speaking, should be overseen by a Purple Mansion cultivator given such dangerous times, yet they had only a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge, even if accompanied by a peak Third Rank Demonic Beast.


    Nonetheless, most of the Demonic Beasts raised by the Spirit Beast Sect lacked the Spirit Intelligence of cultivators, and at a crucial moment, they could not compete with a Fully Completed Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    However, studying the manuals and understanding their essence seemed like a good way to pass the time.


    As for the matter of the city gate fortress, he was in no hurry. Although Xu Daolai was unreliable and had not yet appeared, Lin Gang was dutiful and vigilant, reducing the likelihood of significant problems.


    In this manner, Lin Shiming took turns assisting in the defense of Yunjing Mountain for half a month, until one day he saw two Spirit Boats approaching almost simultaneously in the sky.


    Unlike Lin Shiming''s prior visit, these Spirit Boats didn''t need to make inquiries; their tokens flashed out, and amidst the golden light, a group of people descended as if they were immortals from heaven.


    Their cultivation levels were quite impressive as well. Both belonged to the Purple Mansion Family, one from the Qingxuan Sect''s Ye Family and the other from the Spirit Beast Sect''s Lu Family.


    Each family had five Foundation Establishment cultivators: one in the late stage, three in the middle stage, and one in the early stage.


    At this moment, Yunjing Mountain finally had nineteen Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Five in the late stage, plus six in the early stage and eight at the initial stage¡ªthis was a force to be reckoned with.


    Lin Gang still greeted them with a smiling face.


    "Where is Xu Daoyou?" The Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ye and Lu families clearly held a grudge against Xu Daolai and did not mince their words.


    It needs to be understood that both their families could have been guarding a Third Rank Spiritual Medicine Garden instead had it not been for Xu Daolai''s call for help, their disdain for the Lin Family from Yunzhou, and their subsequent rerouting here.


    While an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine is precious, it does not mean that all the spirit stones in the mine are of intermediate quality; some are of inferior quality, but it gets named an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine because of a certain proportion of intermediate-grade stones.


    Yet, how could this compare to a Spiritual Medicine Garden where one could just reach out a hand and come up dripping with riches?


    And here, they still had to be restrained by Xu Daolai.


    "Daoist Ye, Daoist Lu, Elder Brother Xu is still diligently honing his cultivation techniques to protect Yunjing Mountain from invasion by the demonic sect, hoping to give us an extra edge at the crucial moment!" Lin Gang responded respectfully and then led the Ye and Lu families inside Yunjing Mountain.


    "This is a Lin Family cultivator? Definitely from Yunzhou!" A Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator from the Lu Family, also young, glanced over, spotted Lin Shiming''s token, and then scoffed.


    Clearly, the vexation they held toward Xu Daolai had now been directed at Lin Shiming.


    It was as if, were Lin Shiming not so weak, they would not have been sent to guard the Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine.

 Chapter 156 Dinner Party

    Lin Shiming watched with cold detachment, not uttering a word, allowing the others to jeer at him.


    The Lu Family cultivator''s smile grew even bigger.


    "The Lin Family wouldn''t have only sent a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator, right? Can such a cultivator withstand even a single strike from a Heavenly Demon Sect''s Demon Cultivator?"


    "Lu Daoyou, rest assured, this time the Lin Family also has Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators coming. Yunjing Mountain is absolutely safe. I ask that Lu Daoyou watch your words!" Lin Gang responded, his face showing some annoyance.


    Even though the Ye and Lu Families are Purple Mansion Families, his Spirit Beast Sect is a major sect disciple.


    In front of him, these two straightforwardly ridiculed the cultivators who came to help, which was essentially a slap in the face for him, Lin Gang.


    The Lu Family cultivator then nodded, and once more glanced at Lin Shiming, the contempt in his eyes as dense as ever.


    At this moment, Lin Shiyi and the others around Lin Shiming were starting to get angry.


    These two families had started with insults against their own family, and they were only Foundation Establishment Late Stage themselves; their Seventh Ancestor could match Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators.


    However, at this time, Lin Shiming still did not speak; instead, he continued to sit in meditation.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming would not reply, the Ye Family cultivator and the Lu Family cultivator, feeling bored, followed Lin Gang and left.


    Mumbling under their breath, they were intent on seeking an audience with Xu Daolai.


    As Lin Shiming watched the group leave, his eyes brimmed with confusion. He did not remember having offended these two families, nor did he recall ever making an enemy of that Lu Family cultivator.


    Cultivators generally have exceptional memory, remembering everything they see. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, if he had any sort of interaction, even a brief one, he would remember it, which only deepened his confusion.


    Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators aren''t in their twenties, mere youngsters causing trouble without reason.


    Moreover, the Lin Family had just arrived and wouldn''t have impacted the interests of the Ye and Lu Families. His role in defending an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine as a Foundation Establishment cultivator earned him only one Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone a month, adding up to twelve a year.


    For Qi Cultivators, this might be a lot, but for a Foundation Establishment cultivator on a mission both important and dangerous, it seemed somewhat insufficient.


    The Ye and Lu Families, being Purple Mansion Families, would not take offense over this matter.


    No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn''t figure it out and had to let it go. With Lin Gang not present, he needed to be even more cautious.


    Demon Sect cultivators wouldn''t announce a fight and attack the Yunjing Mountain Formation directly.


    ...


    And then, after another three days passed, the Lin family and the others finally received the notice to attend the banquet prepared by Xu Daolai.


    The banquet wasn''t held with much grandeur. With the great enemy at their doorstep, grandeur wasn''t feasible; after all, people were needed to defend Yunjing Mountain.


    Lin Shiming followed behind Lin Xianzhi, still wearing an unfriendly expression.


    Soon the two entered a grand hall where luxurious brocade carpets were laid, and the decorations on both sides were equally lavish and grand, adorned with porcelain and jade items.


    In the hall, Lin Shiming finally saw Xu Daolai, the Deacon of Yunjing Mountain.


    A slightly chubby middle-aged cultivator who liked to squint his eyes.


    Xu Daolai''s attire matched the grandeur of the hall, opulent and regal, dressed in brocade and adorned with splendid sashes.


    Almost at the same moment that the two of them entered, the cultivators from the Ye family and the Lu family also arrived almost simultaneously.


    "I thank all Daoyou for coming from afar to aid us!" Xu Daolai stepped forward, greeting each one.


    Then, even more so, he handed a small Storage Bag to each cultivator.


    "My fellow Daoyou, this is a little token of my defensive intention prepared for everyone. I hope that in the coming days, we can unite and defend Yunjing Mountain together, to make a contribution against the Demon Cultivators for the sake of the Three Sects of Zhao Kingdom!"


    Xu Daolai continued, while Lin Shiming, almost unconsciously, let his Divine Sense probe into the Storage Bag.


    He saw a hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones neatly inside, which gave Lin Shiming quite a shock.


    With the three families bringing a total of thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators, even if each cultivator got a hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, that would be equivalent to a hundred and thirty thousand Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    And cultivators like Lin Xianzhi, Lu Changming, and Ye Mingqiu who were in the later stages of Foundation Establishment obviously couldn''t be receiving the same amount of Spirit Stones as him.


    Doing so wouldn''t just fail to ensure fairness, but would also make the cultivators feel that Xu Daolai was insincere.


    By this calculation, a considerable amount of Spirit Stones must have been given out, and with the frontlines consuming such a great amount of Spirit Stones, Xu Daolai''s provision of such a quantity of Spirit Stones was indeed thought-provoking.


    Throughout the banquet, the cultivators indulged in a luxurious meal of Third Rank Spiritual Delicacies.


    During this time, aside from the Lu family still being unfriendly towards them, the Lin family, nothing problematic occurred. However, the frowns of the Lin family''s cultivators grew tighter.


    But it was not directed at the Lu family, but rather at the unknown danger.


    Xu Daolai offering so many benefits and calling upon two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Purple Mansion families indicated that he was also dissatisfied with the defense of Yunjing Mountain.

 Chapter 157: Chapter 158 Superior Grade Spirit Stone

    However, both Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi still did not understand. After the banquet ended, Lin Shiming also learned from Lin Xianzhi that inside his Storage Bag were eight hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones.


    That was equivalent to eighty thousand Inferior Grade Spirit Stones, and for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, such an amount was already considered a considerable fortune.


    "This Xu Daoyou really has some clever tricks!" Back in his own room, after activating the Spirit Isolation Formation, Lin Shiming thought back on the events and couldn''t help but sigh with emotion.


    Xu Daolai was clearly reminding them that Yunjing Mountain had treasures, and it was very likely that cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect would come too.


    And yet, Qian Daolai, a cultivator with the Cultivation Level of Foundation Establishment Perfection, was not invited.


    The Spirit Stones of Lin Xianzhi, I''m afraid, couldn''t compare with those of Lu Changming and Ye Qiuming.


    "Each harboring their own schemes, it''s just a pity that we don''t have a stronger backing!" Lin Xianzhi was also somewhat helpless ¨C though they had the support of Zi Xuan Hermit and did not need to go to the frontlines, they still ended up in the dark and were part of someone''s calculations after arriving at the Yunjing Mountain Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine.


    After leaving Lin Xianzhi''s room, Lin Shiming returned to his own room. He had hoped to wait for a system prompt, but unfortunately, the system prompts were still about Artifact Refining knowledge and did not mention the cultivators with the surname Lu, nor the treasures under the control of Xu Daolai.


    Otherwise, his perspective would have been much clearer.


    Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had gone by. It was said that the situation in Heavenly River City was getting worse.


    The Spirit Veins and Spirit Stone Mines controlled by the various large Spirit Beast Sects within Heavenly River State were also attacked by disciples from the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect, losing a great deal of treasures.


    Fortunately, the Spirit Beast Sect brought out a magical mirror treasure, which somehow projected an image of the entire Heavenly River State. As long as there was a cultivator in Heavenly River State above the Purple Mansion stage, they would appear in the mirror, thus eliminating any Purple Mansion-stage cultivators from the raiding parties.


    "Success!" Lin Shiming shut off the furnace, withdrew the true fire, and took out a sky-blue magic sword.


    The magic sword was only a Second Rank Inferior Grade Magic Artifact, and even mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators might not consider it valuable, but this was indeed the first Second Rank Inferior Grade Magic Artifact that he had ever refined.


    Lin Shiming put away the magic sword and once again fell into contemplation, revising the just-finished refinement process deliberately, aiming for improvement.


    It was a pity that Lin Yutie was not here, otherwise, as his first Artifact Refining experience, he could have also consulted with Lin Yutie.


    Another quarter of an hour later, Lin Shiming stood up from the meditation mat and walked outside.


    Today was another day for the three-day rotation, and he needed to go to the city walls of Yunjing Mountain to relieve his father from duty.


    After all, from his Lin Family''s perspective, if Lin Shiming died, they would not mobilize the clan to investigate extensively, let alone seek revenge with determination after four years.


    "Daoist Lu jests. The Lin Family is nothing but a declining clan. Not to mention lacking fierce Spirit Beasts, even if we had one, how could it be a match for Daoist Lu?" Lin Shiming shook his head and declined.


    Lu Changming was pressing him hard, evidently with ulterior motives.


    Lin Shiming wasn''t some hot-blooded youth in his early twenties; how could he play into Lu Changming''s hands?


    As the standoff continued, a Spirit Boat also appeared on the horizon.


    "Uncle-Master Lin, we have come from the front lines to transfer Spirit Stones!" a Qi Cultivation disciple from the Spirit Beast Sect behind him said.


    Indeed, a Token flew out in the sky.


    The Token emitted light from both sides; on both its front and back were the words "Spirit Beast."


    After confirming the Token was authentic, Lin Gang prepared to open the Formation, allowing the cultivators on the Spirit Boat to enter.


    These cultivators in charge of transferring Spirit Stones had at least reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, or else the high-ranking cultivators wouldn''t have felt assured, so he did not dare to treat them with neglect.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming suddenly sensed a system alert in his mind.


    "Please be on guard against a sneak attack and pay attention to the cultivator controlling the corpse. You may be able to obtain a Superior Grade Spirit Stone!"


    As soon as the system alert appeared, Lin Shiming''s eyes changed dramatically.


    Although it was only three sentences, it signified that the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect were ready to make a move on Yunjing Mountain.


    And a sneak attack could very likely involve an inside man. Now, he finally understood why Xu Daolai placed such importance on this Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone vein. It was probably because Superior Grade Spirit Stones had appeared, and Xu Daolai desired to use them to create a small Spiritual Energy tide to break through from the Middle Stage to Perfection in Foundation Establishment.


    "Be careful, that Spirit Boat is a trap!" Lin Shiming suddenly shouted.


    As Lin Shiming shouted, Lin Gang paused for a moment, but at that moment the Formation flags had already opened.


    In their eyes, even if the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect were to attack, they would surely choose the night!

 Chapter 158: Chapter 159 Old Demon Chen

    Yunjing Mountain, the vast spell formation''s light shield disappeared in an instant.


    As Lin Shiming roared, Lin Gang also realized what was happening and hurriedly waved the formation flags again, preparing to reactivate the formation.


    But all they saw was a giant black millstone, like a small mountain, ruthlessly crushing down.


    It firmly blocked the light shield''s circulation.


    Accompanied by the grating, harsh sound of grinding, the golden light shield continued to be worn away.


    The spirit boats in the sky vanished in a flash, and about a dozen black-robed Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators burst forth.


    "Hehe, there''s one who knows what''s happening, but it''s too late!" The leading black-robed cultivator revealed his cultivation level, and the spread of his Supreme Grade spirit might at the peak of Foundation Establishment became apparent.


    Lin Shiming''s body was so pressured that he could barely breathe.


    "Yes, it''s Chen Laosatan!" Lin Gang''s face was also filled with shock. This person was one of the true disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Although not a top direct disciple, his cultivation level and treasures were all among the finest in the Demonic Path, and only a demonic sect would be willing to spare such a genius disciple to raid for resources.


    Apart from Chen Laosatan, the other demon cultivators also cast spells quickly, each with a cultivation level no less than the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Especially the black millstone wielded by Chen Laosatan, which clearly stood out even among third-rank Supreme Grade magic artifacts, could be seen in his one-handed spell casting, constantly driving it with spirit light after spirit light emanating, making the breach in the formation wider and wider!


    "Laosatan, how dare you?" Lin Gang also roared angrily, waving his hand toward the sky, and a golden-horned green ox charged out with a bellow, heading straight for the millstone.


    Meanwhile, Lu Changming''s face also became unsightly. He waved his hand instantly, and two red luan birds flew out, attacking the demon cultivators from left and right.


    The other Foundation Establishment cultivators also made their moves instantly, including Lin Shiming. At this moment, they stood to lose everything together, honor and disgrace intertwined. If the other Foundation Establishment cultivators died, as a disciple of the Three Sects, he would not escape death either, and he might even be captured to become a demonic leader or a demonic corpse.


    The Tiangang Sword Formation and the Profound Heavenly Purple Wood Sword Formation were almost simultaneously deployed, their enormous momentum startling many people.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s divine sense, as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was controlling the two sword formations, something that ordinary mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators could not withstand.


    On the other side, Lu Changming was also shocked, but Lin Gang was even more surprised. He remembered that divine sense; it seemed to be Lin Xianzhi''s from that day when he had wondered how Lin Xianzhi, also a sword cultivator, could have a divine sense like that of a cultivator just entering the late stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Now it appeared to be the divine sense of Lin Shiming, an early stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    Lin Shiming''s attacks were incredibly fierce, with his sword formations opening and closing forcefully, wielding relentless sword light and pressing down.


    Ye Mingqiu''s Magic Artifact was a Supreme Grade Third Rank one, and when combined with a tremendously powerful sword technique, his presence was no less imposing than Lin Xianzhi''s.


    The sword swiftly flew up into the sky, turned into a towering Gang Jian, and fiercely plummeted towards the Demon Cultivator''s forehead.


    The situation had largely improved, but it was still not looking optimistic. Several Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators from the Lu Family and the Ye Family had their magic artifacts contaminated, significantly diminishing their combat strength at this moment.


    Even a Qi Cultivator at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment who originally belonged to Yunjing Mountain fell dead on the spot.


    "Everyone, continue retreating to the Yunjing Mountain mines and wait for reinforcements!" Lin Gang was still firing off multiple Spirit Talismans.


    He attempted to send out messages, but then he saw the last of the Demon Cultivators, whose black robe suddenly began to inflate like it was being filled with air, swelling continuously.


    In the next moment, black banners emerged from his body and were swiftly thrown towards the walls surrounding Yunjing Mountain.


    Out of nowhere, ten flags infused with Spiritual Energy appeared as Demon Banners, spewing out black smoke that obscured the sun.


    "Is this the Ten Sons Heavenly Demon Formation?"


    And all of Lin Gang''s messages were devoured by the black fog, clearly signaling the failure of message transmission.


    "Chen Laomo, you''re really willing to go all out!"


    Lin Gang could only resentfully launch a Flying Sword, which violently shattered the black millstone, and he began to retreat while fighting.


    Now without a Formation, there was no way to contend with the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Demon Cultivators. It was better to head to the mines, where Xu Daolai''s Third Rank peak Spirit Beast could deal with these Demon Cultivators.


    As Lin Gang retreated, his Spirit Beast, the Golden Horned Green Ox, also let out a series of bellows and began to retreat.


    As Lin Gang pulled back, Lu Changming''s pressure intensified. Various black demon hands reached out to grab him.


    "Retreat!" Lu Changming, with a hard look at Lin Gang and cursing him inwardly, also quickly retreated.


    Ye Mingqiu and Lin Xianzhi, facing Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators who were at the later stages of Foundation Establishment, nodded to each other and both withdrew together.


    And Lin Shiming, at the rear, had already steered the Spirit Boat to retreat towards the mines.


    Although many Cultivators of the Three Sects were injured, fortunately, only one had perished. As long as they gathered together and prepared the Formation well, with the assistance of the two great Sword Cultivators, Lin Xianzhi and Ye Mingqiu, there was still a great chance of success.

 Chapter 159: Chapter 160: The Hatching of the Spirit Ants

    At this moment, he was still somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Xu Daolai had yet to appear, and there was also a Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator at the ore vein.


    "No, there are also cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect!" Lin Shiming suddenly realized something and remembered what the system had alerted him to.


    "Uncle, we should just flee!" Lin Shiming sent an urgent sound transmission to Lin Xianzhi.


    Right now, although his exterior was extremely calm, the system''s alert was to watch out for sneak attacks and to control the cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect, meaning that the current Chen Old Devil was not the most formidable foe.


    Especially since there were Supreme Grade Spirit Stones.


    If the opponent had gone to such lengths to come to steal them, it was likely that they were aware of the news about the Supreme Grade Spirit Stones, which meant that the cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect had already entered the mine from beneath the earth!


    The more Lin Shiming thought about it, the more shocked he became, feeling a cold sweat on his back.


    He had just wondered why despite the millstone magic artifact withstanding the formation, Chen Old Devil did not charge through the formation but instead put all his effort into grinding it down. At that moment, they, who had no reaction, were at their most vulnerable to being killed.


    But if it was to allow the corpse-refining cultivators with Earth Escape Skill to enter the vein first and snatch the Supreme Grade Spirit Stones, then it made sense.


    "Shiming, what should we do?" Lin Xianzhi was also hesitant. It would be extremely irrational to try to escape now, as they might be directly killed by Chen Old Devil.


    Moreover, Lin Gang was still there. Unless there was no other choice, they could not turn into deserters!


    "We can''t break out!" Lin Xianzhi simply scanned the area. If they were to escape the Foundation Establishment cultivators, it would be impossible for them to survive, and Lin Shiyi along with the other Qi Cultivators would become a burden.


    Keep in mind that there was still the Ten Sons Heavenly Demonic Formation outside.


    "Uncle, something might have gone terribly wrong inside the ore vein. We still need to adapt to the situation as it unfolds!" Lin Shiming continued with sound transmissions while simultaneously releasing sword arrays and kept tossing seed after seed to the ground.


    These were Purple Gold Vine seeds that Lin Shiming had cultivated. At this moment, he forced himself to remain calm, constantly infusing Spiritual Energy into the Purple Gold Vine seeds and began catalyzing them immediately, transforming all the Purple Gold Vines into enhanced golden lance roots.


    He also informed Lin Houyuan that, if necessary, he should consume a Spirit Pill and forcibly activate a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Boat to ensure the safety of the rest of the Lin Family.


    His father, who was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, was completely inadequate and would even become a burden on the field.


    The ore vein was not far from the city wall, and the group quickly arrived. What they saw was a massive mine tunnel, and Lin Gang instantly sent a sound transmission inside.


    Xu Daolai was in the mine tunnel breaking through to Foundation Establishment Perfection with the help of Supreme Grade Spirit Stones, and this was information only he knew.


    "Not a single one shall escape, pursue them!" Chen Lao Mo laughed instead of getting angry. The Ten Children Demonic Formation was not so easy to break through.


    Today, here, everyone must die, and all the Spirit Stones will belong to the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect!


    The crowd dispersed.


    At this time, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming did not rush.


    Of course, there was no use in them being anxious, unless they were willing to give up on Lin Shiyi and the others.


    Lin Xianzhi was the first to transmit a message to Lin Shiming:


    "Shiming, I will create an opportunity for you later. I haven''t tried expending all my strength to trigger the ''Ren Water Geng Sword Technique''!"


    Lin Shiming''s heart trembled instantly. His Seventh Great Uncle meant he was going to reverse his cultivation technique again, just like before, sacrificing his lifespan for a life-threatening sword to create an opportunity for him.


    And at this time, he did not mention Lin Shiyi and the others at all; evidently, Lin Xianzhi''s current sole thought was for Lin Shiming to survive!


    Lin Shiming was extremely anxious as well, but in the next moment, he suddenly felt his Divine Sense Spirit Contract being overwhelmed by densely packed Spirit Contract sensations.


    It was as if he had suddenly gained countless sons.


    "The Spirit Ants have hatched!" Lin Shiming felt a bit excited.


    The power of the Spirit Ants lay in their ability to devour any Spirit Formation, the question was simply how quickly. Moreover, as they devoured, they were silent and unnoticeable, even to cultivators controlling the formations.


    This was why the Spirit Beast Sect was so eager to get their hands on Spirit Ants in Qingyun City that day, even if they couldn''t tame them, if they could turn them into a treasure, it could counter some Spirit Formations.


    He wasn''t sure if these newly hatched Spirit Ants could devour the Ten Children Demonic Formation, but he had no choice but to try.


    At the same time, he could only hope that Lu Changming, an extremely arrogant late-stage cultivator, had some real skills and would not be wiped out by Chen Lao Mo in the blink of an eye.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, listen to my arrangement, please, don''t be hasty!" Lin Shiming urged him.


    He now had to wait for an opportunity, a one-in-a-million chance.


    ```

 Chapter 160: Chapter 161 Counterattack

    The entirety of Yunjing Mountain had been transformed into a veritable hell, where the demon cultivators'' many methods involved blood and were fraught with Evil Qi, their dark fog covering the sky.


    In particular, the Ten Child Heavenly Demon Formation had also condensed ten demon heads, which now advanced towards Lin Gang, Ye Mingqiu, and others.


    At this moment, Old Demon Chen, truly worthy of being a direct disciple of the Heavenly Demon Sect, single-handedly battled both Ye Mingqiu and Lu Changming. One must know that Lu Changming had a total of ten Third Rank Demonic Beasts, not counting the two Red Luan Eagles from before, and now there were two Third Rank Late Stage Green-eyed Tigers as well.


    The two men and four beasts fought against Old Demon Chen alone, but that large black grinding disc was simply too invincible; no matter the attack, whether it be invincible Sword Qi or intermediate spells, all were crushed to pieces by the grinding disc.


    He then burst into laughter and charged in, engaging in close combat with the two Green-eyed Tigers.


    Clearly, his Body Refinement techniques were also incredibly powerful.


    Meanwhile, Lin Gang faced two other Foundation Establishment Late Stage demon cultivators, and the remaining one was faced by Lin Xianzhi.


    Obviously, to the demon cultivators, the treasures that Lin Xianzhi had were evidently fewer than those of the others, even though Lin Xianzhi''s swordsmanship was outstanding. But nearby were three Formation-congealed Heavenly Demons.


    For a time, the Spirit Beast Sect was at a disadvantage everywhere, with no one able to break through¡ªeven getting close to the edge of the Ten Child Heavenly Demon Formation was difficult.


    The battle was teetering on a knife''s edge; the pressure faced by Lin Shiming and other Foundation Establishment Early Stage and Middle Stage cultivators was by no means small. Moreover, his Divine Sense had detected that just a moment ago, three more Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators had fallen.


    One must know that there were only nineteen Foundation Establishments in all of Yunjing Mountain, and now, in a short time, four had died, with the key figures Xu Daolai and another Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator trapped in the mineral vein cave.


    Lin Shiming felt the situation becoming increasingly tense, especially since at this moment his father, Lin Houyuan, was also up against a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage demon cultivator. If not for relying on several defensive magic artifacts to tenaciously defend, he would have been in grave danger.


    On the other hand, the Qi Cultivators had, at this moment, scattered like birds and beasts, actually making it to the edge of the Ten Child Heavenly Demon Formation earlier.


    The demon cultivators didn''t bother with them; after all, even if Qi Cultivators fought for ten days and nights, they wouldn''t be able to break the Formation.


    "No good, we must break the stalemate!"


    Lin Shiming made up his mind, his opponent being a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage demon cultivator.


    That demon cultivator stretched out his hand, and out of thin air, a blood claw materialized, reaching for Lin Shiming.


    Seeing the demon cultivator act so arrogantly, Lin Shiming immediately pinched his fingers, and nine Formation Swords flew out, instantly forming a massive Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Array.


    The two Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demon Cultivators were also terrified, fearing a sneak attack from the Golden Horned Green Ox, and almost simultaneously turned into a blood mist, retreating more than a hundred meters in an instant.


    It was the Blood Escape Technique.


    Seeing this, Lin Gang was not angry but was actually pleased. He was not really trying to kill anyone; at this time, only fools would waste their True Yuan on killing.


    He suddenly turned around, holding three Xue Sha Thunders in his hand, and furiously threw them at the dark curtain of the Ten-Child Heavenly Demon Formation.


    In an instant, lightning flashed brightly, engulfing the black spirit curtain like an ocean, and the ten Heavenly Demons immediately let out pitiful and mournful screams.


    The Golden Horned Green Ox transformed into a huge golden horn and charged at the black curtain formation.


    "This could work!" Lin Gang exclaimed with joy.


    At almost the same time, Ye Mingqiu and Lu Changming also unleashed their techniques, desperately bursting forth, charging toward the outer side of the black spirit curtain.


    In their hands were also several Xue Sha Thunders.


    Meanwhile, the Demonic Beast belonging to Lu Changming went insane, charging at Old Demon Chen, and began to self-destruct¡ªan Early Stage Third Rank Demonic Beast first, followed by a Mid Stage Third Rank Demonic Beast, with explosive noises constantly ringing in the air.


    The outbreak on the field took place almost in an instant, and at this time, Lin Shiming also began to frantically form hand seals.


    His True Yuan inside was already dried up, but the Spirit Platform built by the Heart of Heavenly Wood began to flicker and shine, with a great surge of True Yuan flowing out.


    It was at this moment that hundreds of densely packed, interconnected golden spirit spears emerged from underground. The three Foundation Establishment Middle Stage old demons rose into the air again, this time directly floating up three hundred meters.


    However, Lin Shiming took out a Spirit Drum and began to beat it furiously.


    The thunderous drumming turned into ripples, layer upon layer, moving toward the three Demon Cultivators, accompanied by another Split Spirit Blade, causing them to scream almost simultaneously.


    All of their prepared defences vanished, and the hundreds of golden spirit spears once again accelerated nearly twice as fast.


    "You are not at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment!" The three Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Demon Cultivators couldn''t believe it, falling to their deaths and crashing down as corpses.


    Lin Shiming waved his hand and picked up the four Storage Bags one by one, then charged toward Lin Houyuan, whose opposing Demon Cultivator fled in a blink.


    He knew that whether it was the Corpse Cultivator inside the vein or their Demon Cultivators outside, all held the advantage. None would fight desperately.

 Chapter 161: Chapter 162: Breaking Through the Formation

    At that moment, Lin Xianzhi''s hair also turned snow white suddenly, different from the white of his own transformation. The white he now bore was the extreme white of old age.


    He had reversed his cultivation technique!


    All for one more sword strike.


    His sword, at this very moment, changed from a blue-golden lotus to a golden-blue lotus.


    The name was inverted, but to Lin Xianzhi, it was more familiar, also more deadly, and even more fierce.


    The entire sky became a domain dominated by his sword!


    Sword Qi soared for thirty thousand miles!


    One strike''s cold light chilled nineteen provinces!


    The myriad lotus Sword Intents almost in a single encounter sliced off an arm of a Demon Cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, who only escaped by using the Blood Escape Technique.


    Lin Xianzhi didn''t pursue, taking Lin Shiming and Lin Houyuan with him, also rushing towards the outer periphery of the Formation.


    At this time, Old Demon Chen was extremely ragged, blasted by the self-destruction of a Spirit Beast, with his face full of bloodthirsty and murderous intent.


    "Foolish!"


    Old Demon Chen''s cold laughter soon saw its results. The Golden Fiend Thunder indeed blew open a wide gap, but that very gap was directly barred by three Heavenly Demons, which disappeared, turning their vanishing bodies back into black smoke and forming a new screen for the Formation.


    The Formation remained as solid as ever. The Golden Horned Green Ox charged at it, causing the entire black screen to cave in, yet three more Heavenly Demons coalesced to continue barring it.


    Even the Golden Horned Green Ox was, instead, enveloped by the Heavenly Demons, beginning to corrode its body and bleed profusely.


    The Heavenly Demons, as though having taken a tonic, gave excited, cackling roars once more.


    On the other side, Lu Changming and Ye Mingqiu nearly met the same fate.


    The Ten Child Heavenly Demons Formation truly lived up to its reputation as the flagship Third Rank Supreme Grade Formation of the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    Almost breached at several moments, it was instantly repaired; and now with their True Yuan exhausted, they were overtaken by pursuing Demon Cultivators, facing even more fierce oppression. Among them, Lu Changming suffered the worst fate. Due to self-destructing a Spirit Beast and a Spirit Contract, the backlash upon his Divine Sense was extremely severe.


    If it weren''t for Ye Mingqiu''s continuous eruptions of power, Old Demon Chen would have nearly crushed Lu Changming to death.


    "Unleash the sword!" Lin Shiming shouted, and Lin Xianzhi responded instantly.


    "Golden Corpse Child, strike quickly!" Elder Demon Chen also roared furiously. If Xu Daolai managed to break out, it was indeed possible for him to escape, and this time, with several hundred superior grade Spirit Stones, it was very likely that a Purple Mansion cultivator would catch up.


    After Elder Demon Chen spoke, he also steered a black millstone, smashing it towards Xu Daolai and the others.


    The Golden Corpse Child sharply blew his flute, and the three golden corpses transformed into a flash of golden light that vanished. In the next moment, they violently collided with the Three-Headed Fire Snake.


    The fierce battle nearly turned the situation upside down.


    And just at that moment, Lin Shiming also found an opportunity and began to form hand signs again. A sea of purple vines grew out, covering the sky like a vine ocean.


    Rushing towards the encircling demon cultivators.


    Lin Xianzhi also resumed his attacks, yet both seemed like final, powerless, and tragic counterattacks before death.


    With no more Golden Fiend Thunder left, Lin Xianzhi grew increasingly aged, while the demon cultivators were in no hurry at all. With the Golden Corpse Child and Elder Demon Chen present, who could break through the Ten-Child Heavenly Demon Formation?


    The terrifying battle erupted once again, and Lu Changming directly ordered his last third-rank late-stage Spirit Beast to rush to its death, while Lin Gang fiercely commanded the Golden Horned Green Ox to charge at the black millstone, ultimately being blown to pieces.


    Additionally, one head of Xu Daolai''s Three-Headed Fire Snake wrapped itself around the three golden corpses in the next moment, being brutally severed.


    Once more, the three gathered their full strength, their various magic artifacts crashing against the black curtain formation, creating thunderous booms that shattered on the Ten-Child Heavenly Demon Formation''s screen.


    However, just then, Elder Demon Chen took out a black banner. At a critical moment, he enveloped the attacked area, with countless tiny demons flying out, suicidally blocking the assaults.


    In the end, the attack from Xu Daolai and the others barely managed to shatter ten Heavenly Demons.


    The formation still did not break.


    A wave of utter despair overcame the four, with Elder Demon Chen laughing heartily.


    Today, none of the Zhao Kingdom''s cultivators shall remain here!


    And at that moment, only to see that Lin Shiming fiercely transmitted a message to Lin Xianzhi, then suddenly, a swarm of Soul-Devouring Ants flew out, gnawing a hole tens of meters wide through the formation curtain.


    Three supreme grade third-rank Spirit Boats practically flew out of the formation simultaneously, each controlled by Lin Shiming, Lin Xianzhi, and Lin Houyuan.


    The three went in separate directions, with Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming each fleeing on their own, while only Lin Houyuan took Qi Cultivators with him.


    Of the thousands of Soul-Devouring Ants, he only retracted eight hundred, leaving two hundred to continue maintaining the breach in the Ten-Child Heavenly Demon Formation.


    Seeing this from afar, Xu Daolai, Lu Changming, and the others were overjoyed and charged out with all their might.

 Chapter 162: Chapter 163: The Lifespan Spirit Corpse

    In the plains of Heavenly River State, Lin Shiming''s Spirit Boat dared not stop for even a moment.


    At this time, his clan had dispatched three teams along three paths; if any group were caught up to, it was fate, and that was all he could do.


    After all, everyone was mentally prepared for this possibility when they left the clan and were called to arms.


    Of course, the one under the most pressure right now was Lin Xianzhi, whose strength at the latter stage of Foundation Establishment had been severely injured.


    Lin Shiming dared not look back, nor did he dare to extend his Divine Sense too far, for stretching it out too much might allow others to detect it.


    In such times, the sky was filled with the probing Divine Senses of demon cultivators; once Divine Senses met, seeking one out would be courting death.


    Of course, with his Divine Sense, he was confident that even if Chen the Old Demon personally chased him, he would be able to detect it.


    His cultivation level was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, yet he possessed the Divine Sense of the latter stage, which was his greatest reliance.


    It was just unfortunate that his Body Refinement cultivation was only at the later phase of Qi Cultivation; otherwise, if he also had the Body Refinement strength of the Foundation Establishment stage, he wouldn''t have feared most at the later stages of Foundation Establishment.


    The farther Lin Shiming traveled, the lower the Spirit Boat flew, carrying only him as it shrunk to a size just over two meters, resembling a flat boat soaring between heaven and earth.


    Lin Shiming took out the Qinglian Taoist Robe, preparing to find a cave dwelling to start hiding. Running around aimlessly could easily lead to death, so it would be better to conceal himself.


    However, the next moment, as his Divine Sense probed the ground, he suddenly detected a deep yellow Escape Light hidden in the depths of the earth, and within it was a black-robed cultivator.


    At this time, the black-robed cultivator obviously knew he had been discovered, and violently threw three Spirit Talismans from his sleeve, which burst forth from the ground, turning into three yellow serpents of earthy hue, and lunged to devour Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming was filled with dread, realizing that if he hadn''t deliberately probed underground, he might have been ambushed by someone from the Corpse Refining Sect, which would have been exceedingly vicious.


    Lin Shiming released the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation. Without the polluted water to worry about for his magic artifact, he could finally use the Sword Array without reservations.


    Under the Sword Array, the three earthy yellow Spirit Pythons immediately shattered into fragments, as flimsy as paper, seemingly not like Third Rank Spirit Talismans, but rather like those of Second Rank.


    As Lin Shiming puzzled over this, from the ruins of the three earthy yellow Spirit Pythons, three blood lights appeared, revealing three Blood Corpses that fiercely lunged at Lin Shiming.


    "It''s actually a Hidden Corpse Talisman!" Lin Shiming was greatly shocked as well. The black-robed member of the Corpse Refining Sect was truly insidious to employ such a tactic!


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey also howled excitedly. It hadn''t had the chance to spar with the Golden Winged Mantis, and now it had been eager for battle for a long time.


    Earlier, when Lin Shiming was fighting at Yunjing Mountain, the monkey had been restlessly darting around inside the Spirit Beast Bag.


    As the Red-haired Demon Monkey became excited, the flames on its tail flared up violently, and in the next instant, they completely enveloped its body, covering it in fire.


    The raging flames, like the magma of a volcano, carried a terrifying temperature, and in the next instant, they surged out, continuing to smash the life-bound Corpse.


    At this moment, the black-robed Cultivator also reacted, and his face immediately darkened upon seeing the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    He hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to still have a trick up his sleeve, even in the perilous situation at Yunjing Mountain.


    However, the solemnity on his face lasted only for a moment. He then took out another black flag from his sleeve.


    This black flag was only the size of a palm, resembling a battle formation flag. With a wave of his hand, the next moment, it turned into a massive flagpole reaching the sky.


    As the gigantic flag fluttered, it seemed like a zombie hell inside; countless zombies poured out, including Second Rank Iron Corpses, Second Rank Blood Corpses, Third Rank early-stage Blood Corpses, and Third Rank early-stage Green-haired Zombies¡ªall sorts and varieties charged towards Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming''s Profound Heavenly Sword Formation promptly flew out once again, transforming into a circular Trapping Formation. Sword Qi continuously spawned within it. Any approaching zombies were instantly chopped into pieces.


    However, just when Lin Shiming thought this zombie sea tactic was futile, he heard a loud clang; a nondescript green-haired corpse fiercely smashed towards the Sword Array.


    He saw the Wood Attribute Sword Array, known for its strong offensive and defensive capabilities, instantly crumble.


    "Another life-bound Corpse!" Lin Shiming was extremely surprised. One should know that the Corpse Refining Sect''s life-bound corpses, like the Spirit Beast Sect''s life-bound Spirit Beasts, could grow alongside a Cultivator, but the resources consumed increased exponentially.


    Moreover, during regular Cultivation, one had to manage their own growth while continually honing the life-bound Corpse with True Yuan. Otherwise, if the Corpse failed to advance, it would hinder the Cultivator''s own progression.


    The black-robed Cultivator having two life-bound corpses was completely beyond his expectations.


    Seemingly noticing Lin Shiming''s surprise, the black-robed Cultivator felt extremely proud. However, his pride didn''t last long, as Lin Shiming''s Shocking God Drum activated once again.


    This time he was prepared, with so many corpses to refine.


    Lin Shiming still had to be wary of his green-haired corpse, but then, a surge of golden light emerged, and a huge scythe suddenly slashed down at the forehead of the green-haired zombie.


    In an instant, the green-haired zombie was directly sent flying with a massive crack on its forehead, and yet the zombie seemed to be unscathed!

 Chapter 163: Chapter 164 - Testing and Counter-Pursuit

    The black-robed cultivator also became tense, as Lin Shiming took out another third-rank spirit beast, and it seemed that both were as extraordinary as his own corporeal spirit corpses.


    Scared, he hastily took out three spirit talismans.


    However, no sooner had he taken out the spirit talismans than a flash of white light flickered through the void, like a spiderweb passing through.


    A head soared high into the air.


    With that, the black-robed cultivator fell.


    As soon as the black-robed cultivator perished, the ordinary zombies and blood corpses immediately began to wander aimlessly, like walking corpses without any spirit intelligence.


    Only those two corporeal spirit corpses became even more excited, pressing aggressively towards the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis.


    The flames of the Red-haired Demon Monkey greatly suppressed that leopard corpse, yet it was still bombarded relentlessly.


    One could imagine the strength of the corpse, but the Golden Winged Mantis did not disappoint its expectations, firmly suppressing the green-haired zombie. Its massive scythe-like legs left no less than ten huge cracks on the body of the green-haired zombie, which would have been fatal to an ordinary body refining cultivator.


    Lin Shiming first used the Heavenly Demon Bag to take away the green-haired zombie, then he and his two beasts suppressed the leopard corpse and also put it into the Heavenly Demon Bag.


    These two corporeal spirit corpses obviously had value for cultivation, and their bodies were extremely strong. If he could find a way to control them from the Corpse Refining Sect cultivators and bring them back to guard the Fangmu Mountain, it wouldn''t be a bad idea.


    Moreover, these corporeal spirit corpses clearly possessed spirit intelligence of their own, and control didn''t necessarily require the cultivation of the Corpse Refining Sect''s techniques.


    On the other hand, those blood corpses were of no value, with strength far below that of cultivators of the same rank. Following Lin Shiming''s order, they were all burned to ashes by the flames from the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Lin Shiming put away the storage bag, then used the Fireball Technique to burn the entire ground, followed by a catalysis spell to accelerate the growth of nearby ordinary plants until they reached their original height. He left satisfied, having ensured the scene had no obvious flaws.


    However, just as Lin Shiming was about to leave, a dazzling escape light flew rapidly towards him from the sky.


    He recognized it all too well; it belonged to a cultivator from the Lu Family, Lu Ziming.


    Lu Ziming looked extremely bedraggled, as if he had suffered serious injuries, and he was heading straight for Lin Shiming.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming immediately steered the spirit boat. The other party was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Lin Shiming didn''t believe he could stand a chance against him, especially as there was such a formidable Corpse Refining Sect expert hunting him down. What could be the cultivation level of the person pursuing Lu Ziming?


    Thinking of this, Lin Shiming sped up the spirit boat even more. Moreover, not only was his own True Yuan depleted, but also a large portion of the True Yuan in the Heart of Tianshu on his Spirit Platform.


    Upon hearing this, a storm of shock surged within Lin Shiming''s heart.


    The name of Lu Shenwu, along with the Beast Nurturing Pill recipe and the Golden Luan Eagle, instantly reminded him of the Cultivator with the surname Wu.


    Lin Shiming did not respond, but what he saw next stunned him: Lu Changming had actually started to flee, the sword light darting off to the side.


    No longer pursuing him.


    It seemed as if he knew he could not catch up with him, very strange indeed.


    "Not good!" Lin Shiming felt a jolt of alarm within his heart.


    Lu Changming not giving chase was not a good sign; it could mean that Lu Changming might know about him killing Lu Shenwu and subsequently deduced the whereabouts of the Minor Divine Ability Tree.


    Lin Shiming felt incredibly bitter in an instant. He did not know how Lu Changming had found out, but he believed that it was surely because Lu Changming had seen the shock on his face just now and had sensed the superior grade Spirit Stone.


    Otherwise, he would not have fled.


    Lin Shiming instantly cursed himself for still being too young and inexperienced, which had given him away.


    "Is Lu friend truly the clan uncle of Lu Shenwu?" Lin Shiming did not dare to gamble, nor could he afford to; otherwise, the entire Lin Family of Fangmu Mountain would have to pay for this piece of information with their lives.


    The fact that Lu Changming was attempting to flee further suggested that he was in a desperate situation.


    This old fox had fiercely pursued him, probably just to exert pressure on him and then extract information through conversation.


    Indeed, Lin Shiming also understood that Lu Changming still had some treasures hidden away. Even if his magical power and True Yuan were insufficient and he had lost one out of ten of his magic artifacts, even lacking a third rank Spirit Boat, he still wished to take a gamble.


    Otherwise, if the Spirit Beast Sect were to investigate, he would have to flee from Zhao Kingdom or seek refuge with the Corpse Refining Sect or the Heavenly Demon Sect, and these two Sects would certainly demand the Minor Divine Ability Tree from him.


    Lin Shiming also spoke these words to fish for information from Lu Changming. If Lu Changming stopped, it would not mean that he had fallen for the trap, but that Lu Changming still retained his strength and the old fox was turning the tables.


    If he continued to flee wildly, that would truly mean that Lu Changming had escaped Yunjing Mountain at a terrible cost.


    Otherwise, with his arrogant and domineering nature, even if Lin Shiming were a Cultivator at the later stages of Foundation Establishment, he might get into a fight with him!


    Lin Shiming''s third rank Spirit Boat once again accelerated at full force, but this time it was not to escape, but to chase and kill a Cultivator at the later stages of Foundation Establishment; had this happened before, he would not have believed it was possible.

 Chapter 164: Chapter 165: Wind, Fire, Stars, and Sand

    Lin Shiming''s Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Boat was extremely fast, and he also had a Superior Grade Spirit Stone in his hand to restore his True Yuan.


    Visibly, the distance between him and Lu Changming began to shorten.


    At this moment, his Divine Sense could see Lu Changming''s face filled with panic, as he occasionally spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Underneath him, the Third Rank Supreme Grade Magic Sword was also faintly unstable, seemingly running out of True Yuan.


    Lu Changming saw that he was about to be caught, and he then took out another Spirit Talisman and began to accelerate, widening the gap once more.


    But Lin Shiming''s face was full of suspicion at this moment, and he didn''t dare to take action immediately. How could such an old fox like Lu Changming show all his emotions on his face?


    If he rushed over immediately, he would likely be cut down by the opponent''s sword in one strike.


    The two of them continued to chase and flee, spanning another kilometer.


    "No good!" Lin Shiming''s heart became anxious again. It was clear that Lu Changming also had Elixirs to restore True Yuan. After flying for so long without depleting his True Yuan, he gave Lin Shiming the impression that he was becoming more at ease.


    "I''ll cut him down first!" At this moment, Lin Shiming was also ready to risk everything. Lu Changming changed his expression by the minute, completely baffling him.


    But he understood one thing from beginning to end, that Lu Changming was running away because he didn''t have the confidence to be sure of defeating him, but he must have some powerful treasures to decide the outcome in one move.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming took out the Heavenly Demon Bag and started to release Gang Jian.


    The Tiangang Sword Formation had been destroyed by the Demon Cultivator, and the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation had been ruined by the Corpse Cultivator, so Lin Shiming had no choice but to use the Heavenly Demon Bag to attack.


    As soon as the Heavenly Demon Bag appeared, Lu Changming once again became furiously angry, pointing and glaring fiercely!


    This Heavenly Demon Bag was clearly from a disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect from Lu Family, and it was also an heirloom bestowed by their family''s elder to that disciple.


    It had disappeared previously in the Qingyun Mountain Range, but now it seemed obvious that it had fallen into the hands of this young Lin Family member!


    As the Gang Jian wind from the Heavenly Demon Bag blew over, Lu Changming immediately dodged, but while dodging, he threw out another Spirit Talisman.


    As soon as this Spirit Talisman was released, meteorites began to rain down from the sky. Each one was extremely large, with torrential flames, and they were densely packed.


    Just as they were about to strike Lin Shiming, a fiery-red monkey appeared on the Spirit Boat the next moment.


    With a flick of its tail, all the approaching meteorites immediately shattered and exploded into ash.


    Instantly, the rampaging zombies smashed open the gourd and lunged at Lu Changming to bite him.


    The two spirit zombies, after all, lacked a bit in spirit intelligence. Seeing Lu Changming using the gourd to absorb them, they naturally thought he was in cahoots with Lin Shiming.


    "Are you a spy from the Corpse Refining Sect?" Lu Changming''s brow furrowed deeply, and he nearly cursed out loud in his heart.


    What sort of person was this Lin Shiming? It would be acceptable if he only had powerful spirit beasts, but he also had such formidable personal spirit zombies.


    At this moment, Lu Changming also felt a great hatred. Had it not been for escaping by self-detonating all his spirit beasts at Yunjing Mountain, he wouldn''t be fighting alone at this instant.


    As a Spirit Controller, most of his combat power lay in his spirit beasts. Otherwise, even against a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator, he would not fear a battle.


    Lin Shiming saw Lu Changming''s expression clearly and breathed a sigh of relief as the two spirit zombies attacked Lu Changming together. He didn''t have the ability to control the two spirit zombies; at this moment, he could only trust in a desperate attempt to survive.


    If the spirit zombies had come at him together, he would have had no choice but to flee.


    Now, his trump cards were few, while Lu Changming certainly still had some left.


    Sure enough, when the Red-haired Demon Monkey along with the two spirit zombies and Lin Shiming all confronted Lu Changming, the latter''s Superior Grade magic artifact was joined by another piece.


    That was a Superior Grade copper ring.


    With the Red-haired Demon Monkey constantly pressuring him with the Supreme Grade Spirit Sword from Profound Spirit Mountain, the Superior Grade copper ring suddenly wrapped tightly around the two spirit zombies, leaving them completely immobilized.


    The remaining gourd artifact flew out once more, and Lu Changming leapt fiercely onto the gourd.


    In the next instant, the gourd rushed at Lin Shiming with terrifying speed.


    A Third Rank Supreme Grade artifact that could fly!


    Lin Shiming was suddenly shocked. He had never anticipated that this gourd artifact was not the Superior Grade artifact it had seemed at first but a Supreme Grade artifact.


    As Lu Changming closed in, the lid of the gourd flung open, and the very next moment, countless red sands flew out.


    "Wind Fire Star Sands!" Lin Shiming exclaimed in shock again.


    Each grain of sand shimmered with starlight and was diffuse with flames; even as ordinary materials, they were Third Rank materials, and now that they were refined into a Supreme Grade gourd artifact, they were nothing short of a devastating weapon with no solution.

 Chapter 165 Chapter 166 Narrow Victory

    Lin Shiming''s pupils shrank involuntarily when he saw this.


    In numerous simulations in his mind, he had never anticipated that Lu Changming would possess such a terrifying magic artifact.


    In a critical moment, Lin Shiming violently pulled out a Xue Sha Thunder.


    He threw it toward Lu Changming.


    The Xue Sha Thunder was his own, given to him by his seventh great uncle, and all were thrown onto the ten son canopy.


    However, when the Xue Sha Thunder exploded, it was completely enveloped by the flaming wind and stardust. A muffled sound of thunder arose but ultimately faded into silence, and the bloody glow was also quiet.


    The horrifying stardust and Lu Changming still violently shot towards him.


    Unstoppable, and unavoidable!


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey threw the Profound Spirit Mountain, and Lin Shiming threw out countless magic swords, controlling them to self-destruct.


    But they still couldn''t blast through the wind and stardust, and the gourd at this moment violently spewed out several streams of flame magic.


    The Profound Spirit Mountain was also blasted away, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s tail whipped fiercely, becoming engulfed in flames in an instant and transforming into a giant fire monkey.


    Yet it was besieged by Lu Changming''s supreme grade magic swords.


    The supreme grade magic swords didn''t slay the Red-haired Demon Monkey because in Lu Changming''s eyes, the demon monkey was also something he had in the bag.


    At such a close distance, Lin Shiming was simply unable to block it.


    In desperation, Lin Shiming could only release all of his swallow spirit ants, a full eight hundred of them.


    Though these swallow spirit ants were still young, each possessed the strength of a Second Rank later stage Demonic Beast, and given the chance to mature and absorb enough spirit patterns and spiritual energy, advancing to the Third Rank was not out of the question.


    As soon as the swallow spirit ants were released, they indeed headed toward the flaming wind and stardust. Seeing the stardust, they were not the least bit afraid but instead grew more excited, starting to devour the spirit light that covered the surface of the stardust.


    Though the stardust was ferocious and seemed to form an unbroken chain, there were only about a thousand grains of stardust. Being bitten by eight hundred swallow spirit ants like this dimmed the starlight and greatly diminished the power of wind and fire.


    Lu Changming was instantly enraged, and the supreme grade gourd spewed out a large amount of fire to burn the swallow spirit ants.


    The Second Rank spirit ants were still too fragile, instantly burned to death in large numbers.


    Lin Shiming then took out the remaining Tiangang Sword Formation and the Nine Heavens Profound Heavenly Sword Formation, releasing them violently toward the supreme grade gourd, the next moment, detonating them all at once.


    The Tiangang Sword Formation was alright, but after the self-destruction of the swords from the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation, Lin Shiming was the first to spit out a mouthful of blood.


    Without dwelling on it, Lin Shiming immediately started to recover and heal by holding Superior Grade Spirit Stones in his hands.


    Finally, he retrieved the Qinglian Taoist Robe from the Golden Winged Mantis, enveloped his entire body in it, and began to seclude himself to heal his wounds.


    What he didn''t know was that, at the place where he had killed Lu Changming, a Foundation Establishment cultivator stood on the scorched ground, his face filled with anger and disbelief.


    "Damn Demon Cultivator, to have such a Strange Fire of heaven and earth!"


    "Lu Changming must have been killed!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator sighed, no longer searching, and looked behind him, where Ye Mingqiu and Lin Xianzhi stood, alongside Lin Gang.


    However, Xu Daolai was not present.


    At this moment, Lin Gang was trembling and suddenly knelt down, crying and begging the Foundation Establishment cultivator for mercy.


    "Elder Chen, everything was forced upon me by Brother Xu. I had no idea about any of this!" Lin Gang kept saying.


    But this so-called Elder Chen, the celestial hermit, turned his back and walked away.


    He then reached out into the void, and Lin Gang was suddenly in Elder Chen''s hand, as if grasping a chick.


    "Whether you knew or not, I''ll find out with one check. Did you really think that with the Sect''s Jade Book, I couldn''t probe your Divine Sense?" The celestial hermit said, and then took out a Purple Spirit Talisman, pressing it onto Lin Gang''s forehead.


    After that, all the images converged into a Yu Shu.


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    The next moment, with a fierce press of his hand, Lin Gang exploded in the void, bursting into pieces, blood splattering everywhere.


    "We have failed in our duty to guard the mountain. Please, Elder Chen, grant us atonement!" Almost simultaneously with the explosion, Lin Xianzhi and Ye Mingqiu, along with the few remaining cultivators, all knelt on the ground, their faces filled with panic.


    "This incident is serious due to Xu Daolai and Lin Gang''s failure to report. They privately kept a Superior Grade Spirit Stone vein, a crime most heinous!"


    "Although you were unaware, losing the mine is also a grave offense. Everyone go back to Heavenly River State and join the front lines, keep fighting until you have killed ten cultivators of the same rank!"


    "Yes, thank you Elder Chen for your forgiveness!" Lin Xianzhi and the others knocked their heads on the ground once again.


    "Elder Chen, I have a favor to ask. I have a junior who was also among the first to discover the attack by the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Demon Cultivator. I hope you can take this affection into consideration and help look for his whereabouts!"


    "If he''s been hurt, don''t get your hopes up. There''s no trace of any cultivator within ten thousand miles. Go back to Heavenly River State. I need to return to Yunling Mountain and mine the remaining Superior Grade Spirit Stones," said the celestial hermit, showing no concern for Lin Shiming, a cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Instead, he was pained over the Superior Grade Spirit Stones. A small Superior Grade Spirit Stone vein could have had a thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones, but in the vein, there were now only a little over two hundred left. They had been ravaged by the Golden Corpse Child and Old Demon Chen, along with other junior Foundation Establishment cultivators, destroying most of it.


    If he hadn''t arrived in time, not even the remaining two hundred would be left.


    "Furthermore, issue an announcement in Heavenly River State''s front line: Capture Chen Yunli and the Golden Corpse Child¡ªthese two Demon Cultivators at all costs!"

 Chapter 166 Chapter 167 Green Abyss Iron

    Near Yunjing Mountain in Heavenly River State, Lin Xianzhi did not immediately return to Heavenly River City. Instead, he began to search meticulously in this vicinity.


    He didn''t believe Lin Shiming would show up, yet he was extremely afraid that something had happened to Lin Shiming.


    The contradiction and anxiety in his heart made his face age even more rapidly.


    The side effects of Renshui Geng Metal Art had become stronger, and he estimated that he only had about twenty more years to live. To think, he was just over one hundred sixty years old at the moment, while the lifespan limit for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was two hundred fifty years.


    In a mountain cave, Lin Xianzhi found Lin Houyuan.


    A group of Qi Cultivators were with Lin Houyuan.


    For the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect Cultivators, it was unnecessary to chase after Qi Cultivators. Their whereabouts would naturally be exposed after the escape of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Instead, killing higher-level cultivators could potentially yield more spiritual objects.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Houyuan raised his head to look at Lin Xianzhi, also very excited.


    Explore more stories at empire


    But seeing Lin Xianzhi''s increasingly aged face, like seeing Lin Yuqi back in the day, filled him with a deep sense of gloom.


    His excited heart chilled by three more degrees.


    And thinking of the fallen cultivators of the family made his face even more somber.


    He felt too ashamed to say it to the Seventh Great-Uncle, yet he also thought of Lin Shiming.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, didn''t Shiming come with you?" asked Lin Houyuan, his voice becoming smaller and smaller towards the end.


    He naturally saw the discouragement on Lin Xianzhi''s face. When Lin Shiming was around, he could always see a slightly content smile on Lin Xianzhi''s face.


    That kind of pride and relaxation was utterly missing from Lin Xianzhi''s face at the moment.


    "Shiming broke through alone, and we''re still looking for him!" Lin Xianzhi responded with a somber tone as well.


    Lin Xianzhi gave a quick glance to the surviving Lin Family members and cultivators, then sighed again in frustration. This defense battle was definitely the greatest loss in the history of the Lin Family, with almost half of the Qi Cultivation late-stage family heads meeting their demise.


    However, key family members like Lin Shiyi, Lin Houwei, Lin Yuqing, Lei Xuan, and others were still alive, if more or less injured.


    "Hou Yuan, take the clan members back to Heavenly River City. I will continue searching for three more days!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again and then left the cave, resolutely setting foot once more on the journey to search.


    A long time passed, and Lin Shiming had already lost track of time¡ªa month, two months, possibly even longer.


    With an exhalation of a breath of turbid air, the True Yuan qi contained in the Purple Wood Heart Sutra filled his entire body, and Lin Shiming''s previous injuries finally healed completely.


    At this moment, he once again felt the power of the Wood Attribute Techniques, which had remarkable effects on injuries and recovery.


    His Divine Sense, too, had fully recovered under the cultivation of the Split Spirit Decision, and he even felt that it had become sharper.


    The surprises didn''t stop there. When Lin Shiming inspected his inner body with his Divine Sense, he discovered that his True Yuan had become more condensed.


    After his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, his True Yuan was inevitably somewhat tenuous, but this battle had unexpectedly caused his True Yuan to solidify.


    It is known that for most Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it would take at least ten years, or even twenty years.


    Like Lin Houyuan, Lin Shiming''s father, who had broken through Foundation Establishment more than a decade ago, still had not fully condensed his True Yuan. He was unable to cultivate to the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment, not to mention breaking through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.


    And at this moment, Lin Shiming had only just broken through Foundation Establishment for less than six years.


    This also meant that if he was willing to engage in arduous cultivation, he would be able to break through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment within the next few years.


    However, Lin Shiming didn''t rush to break through immediately. Not to mention that the Qingxuan Sect might be suspicious and figures like Lin Xianzhi and other family elders might worry, just the fact that he had made such a swift breakthrough would require a good explanation, especially to the Qingxuan Sect.


    Leaving the vein, his Storage Bag had corpses used for Qi Cultivation, and it was evident that a Superior Grade Spirit Stone had aided the breakthrough. In the worst-case scenario, he could face soul searching, or at the very least an Inquiry Spirit Talisman, but neither was something he wished to deal with.


    Having completed his cultivation, Lin Shiming finally had the time to sort through his spoils of war.


    It was important to note that during this event, ninety percent of his spirit ants had perished, leaving only eighty-one; the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was destroyed, the Tiangang Sword Formation too, and all of the Xue Sha Thunder had been used up, resulting in extreme losses.


    Lin Shiming first took out four Demonic Cultivators'' Storage Bags.


    Within the four Storage Bags, he found five hundred thousand Inferior Grade Spirit Stones, over a hundred pounds of Qingming Iron.


    Over a hundred pounds of Qingming Iron was clearly plundered from the Heavenly River State''s Spirit Iron mines previously by the cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Qingming Iron is a Third Rank material and it is among the premium ones at that. These hundred-plus pounds of Qingming Iron are worth at least seven hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    That is to say, just the gains in spiritual materials and Spirit Stones amounted to one million Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Beyond that, Lin Shiming also obtained five Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifacts, two Third Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifacts, and a Third Rank scapegoat effigy.


    Intermediate Grade Magic Artifacts, to Lin Shiming at this moment, were of course lacking, but the Superior Grade Magic Artifacts were the tainted gourd Magic Artifact and another Demonic Blade Magic Artifact, it''s a pity that both required the practice of Demonic Path Techniques.

 Chapter 167 Chapter 168 Big Gourd, Small Gourd

    After checking the storage bags of the four demon cultivators, Lin Shiming took out the storage bag of the Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator, which he had already opened before.


    There were one thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones and thirty Superior Grade Spirit Stones inside.


    Just from the Spirit Stones, the profit had reached four million Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    At this moment, even Lin Shiming, who had been prepared, couldn''t help but take a deep breath.


    Such a windfall, even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator might not have it, right?


    It should be noted that even Purple Mansion cultivators use Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones as their circulating currency, yet at this moment, he already possessed a full thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones and thirty Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Apart from the Spirit Stones, the storage bag of the Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator basically had no magic artifacts, instead, there were dozens of coffins, some containing recently deceased cultivators, as well as half-refined Iron Corpses and Blood Corpses.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming cremated all the unrefined and half-refined corpses on the spot and buried them.


    Although he did not object to refining corpses, he still felt a repulsion towards using human corpses for Corpse Refining; as for those that had been turned into refined corpses, he could bring them back to the family. The family had its own Corpse Refining techniques, even if they were only of Yellow Grade, it still provided more possibilities for Qi Cultivators.


    If a Cultivator Family wants to grow, naturally it must also diversify, so as to discover more talents.


    After dealing with the corpses, Lin Shiming found several Jade Slips, most of which contained records of how to refine corpses and how to temper their bodies.


    After browsing through them, there were no Cultivation Techniques for Corpse Refining, but there were some simple Spirit Arts to control refined corpses, and he also found out why that cultivator had two life-bound refined corpses.


    The Second Life Corpse Secret Technique!


    This Secret Technique, similar to the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique, also allowed a cultivator to possess the functions of a main and secondary Spirit Platform, but the main use of the secondary Spirit Platform wasn''t as powerful as the Heavenly Wood Spirit''s, and could only be used to cultivate refined corpses.


    Still, even so, it was a rather powerful Secret Technique.


    Lin Shiming took all the various Jade Slips, as for the remaining bottles and jars, he didn''t pay much attention as he mostly didn''t recognize them.


    Finally, Lin Shiming took a deep breath and took out Lu Changming''s storage bag.


    The first things that appeared before his eyes were three magic artifacts: a Third Rank Supreme Grade magic sword, the Laiyun Sword, a Purple Gold Gourd, and the Wind-Fire Star Sand inside the Gourd.


    The value of this Purple Gold Gourd was definitely higher than that of the Laiyun Sword.


    Suppressing the joy in his heart, Lin Shiming constantly reminded himself that neither of the two Magic Artifacts could be used in front of others.


    Then he looked at the Monster Binding Ring: its function was similar to the Heavenly Demon Bag ¨C also a type of suppression Intermediate Grade Magic Artifact. The only shortcoming compared to the Heavenly Demon Bag was that it couldn''t contain living creatures.


    However, the binding effect of the Monster Binding Ring was stronger. If one was not careful, the Heavenly Demon Bag could be severed with a single sword strike, but the Monster Binding Ring would not.


    Lin Shiming also carefully stored away the Monster Binding Ring.


    Finally, he looked at the other items in the Storage Bag: there were only a hundred thousand Inferior Grade Spirit Stones, plus a thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, Spirit Pills and Spirit Talismans were nearly exhausted, and there were weirdly no Cultivation Techniques or Secret Manuals to be found, which led Lin Shiming to find a strange sheepskin map.


    The terrain marks drawn on the sheepskin map were all unfamiliar to him, so he could only put it away for later study, or wait for a system prompt to appear.


    Afterwards, Lin Shiming took out the remaining eighty-one gluttonous ants, each now the size of a baby''s fist. However, after devouring the wind and fire star sand, these spirit ants started to develop some fiery red star spots on their backs.


    The eighty-one spirit ants had also become extremely ferocious, constantly emitting sharp, fierce noises.


    It was clear that after devouring the spirit radiance from the wind and fire star sand, some mutations had appeared. But he didn''t know whether these mutations were beneficial.


    However, feeling that the spirit ants'' ferocity had increased and they had grown somewhat larger in a short period of time, he put his mind at ease.


    He took out a small basin of Third Rank Spiritual Liquid for the spirit ants to devour.


    At the same time, he also performed the Spirit Contract again to reinforce the bond.


    After organizing the gluttonous ants, Lin Shiming began refining the Magic Artifacts, starting with the small gourd of the Purple Gold Gourd, and then refining the Monster Binding Ring.


    At this moment, without the Tiangang Sword Formation or the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation, he still felt a bit unconfident.


    After the refinements, another three days passed, and Lin Shiming had finally stabilized completely. He spread his Divine Sense all around, looking in every direction.


    He quickly reached the surface and, sensing no danger, took out an Earth Escape Talisman to begin escaping from underground.


    With his Divine Sense fully extended and not detecting any demon cultivators, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had been genuinely worried that, during his recovery period, Heavenly River State might have fallen, making this a stronghold for the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect ¨C in which case, his escape would have been much more difficult.


    After recalling the direction to Heavenly River City, Lin Shiming also took out a Third Rank Superior Grade flying boat and set off in the direction of Heavenly River City.

 Chapter 168 Chapter 169 The Great Battle

    Heavenly River City, a vast river that thrusts deep into half of the Heavenly River Continent.


    The river''s waters roared mightily, with a tremendous force visible far away, occasionally splashing up white foam¡ªthis was the renowned Tongtian River within the borders of Zhao Kingdom.


    The Tongtian River originated from the entire Demon Beast Mountains, which had even more demonic beasts and was far more terrifying than the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    Therefore, the source of the Tongtian River was untraceable, but its destination was known: it cut across Zhao Kingdom, Chu Country, and flowed directly into the sea.


    And it was also the Tongtian River that delineated the borders between Heavenly River State of Zhao Kingdom and Chu Country.


    To the west of the river, Heavenly River City loomed like a wild behemoth, occupying the strategic Heavenly River fortress, while the east was dominated by the territories of demon cultivators and demonic sects.


    As the demonic sect''s army pressed on, it was the Tongtian River they were pressuring, attacking Heavenly River City. If Heavenly River City fell, the entire Heavenly River State would have no strongholds left.


    At this moment, on the Tongtian River, many cultivators stood upon the city walls, gazing out over the river, their eyes filled with gloom and worry. The only comfort was the beast ring at the city''s highest peak.


    That was the magical treasure of the Golden Core ancestor of the Spirit Beast Sect, Heavenly Beast True Person¡ªthe Beast Taming Ring.


    In a corner of the city wall, cultivators of the Lin Family gathered together.


    Lin Xianzhi sat at the forefront; his face still bore the countenance of a young man, but his white hair began to split at the ends, dry and whitened, and his eyes revealed his advanced age.


    Next to him, Lin Houyuan was also silent; the family had lost too many people in this national war.


    However, what troubled them the most was the disappearance of Lin Shiming.


    They were even beginning to regret letting Shiming come here; with his talent, he could''ve stayed in the family to quietly cultivate for a hundred years and surely reach the Purple Mansion.


    Lin Xianzhi remembered the Minor Divine Ability Tree, the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, but at this moment, all of this seemed insignificant.


    "Houyuan, Uncle Qi, Shiming will surely be alright. This old man here hasn''t died yet; how could he possibly!" Lin Yuqing spoke up first from the side.


    At this moment, there were only a handful of Qi Cultivators left in the Lin Family, and they all nodded in agreement.


    The Spirit Pythons and demon heads went back and forth, both sides fighting fiercely and with rage. Both sides flung themselves into the high skies and directly began a Purple Mansion decisive battle.


    Almost at the same time as the two entered the high skies, several Purple Mansion Cultivators appeared in the sky and began to engage in fierce combat with the Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators.


    Meanwhile, the Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivators of the Spirit Beast Sect instantly took over command below.


    This kind of great battle had been experienced countless times; every cultivator present was adept and familiar with the drill, and none of those who had survived were mediocre.


    The Lin Family kept to a position neither at the front nor too far behind, with Lin Xianzhi leading the charge. His sword light flashed forth, and before even slaying a single Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator, he saw that from the Heavenly Demon Sect''s side, a Direct Disciple had emerged, locking his gaze onto Lin Xianzhi.


    "Houyuan, take care of the Qi Cultivators of our family!" Lin Xianzhi instructed Lin Houyuan with a shout and then rushed forward.


    Lin Houyuan nodded. In this battlefield, the Purple Mansion was where the mightiest clashed in the high skies, a thousand meters above, while Foundation Establishment was the main fray, taking place a hundred meters in the air.


    And the Qi Refining Cultivators were basically fighting on formations at ground level, mostly casting spells from a distance, with even the Body Cultivators generally choosing long-range spellcasting and not entering the Demon Cultivator formation.


    But don''t think for a moment that the Cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect would really pair off evenly¡ªwhenever they spotted good material for corpse refining or essence soul material, the Purple Mansion Cultivators from both sects would sometimes attack Qi Cultivators.


    This was also why Lin Xianzhi had told Lin Houyuan to look after the Lin Family''s Qi Cultivators.


    For the Cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect, such occurrences were as common as daily meals, and it was one of the reasons why the Lin Family suffered heavy losses.


    Even Lei Xuan at this moment had been instructed by Lin Houyuan not to reveal his lightning attribute Spirit Root.


    The Qi Cultivators of the Lin Family were also well prepared in a standard manner.


    Instead, it was Lin Houyuan who attracted the attention of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator¡ªan individual of the Heavenly Demon Sect, holding a Heavenly Demon Banner that was a common essential for almost every one of their Cultivators. However, his banner was clearly a Third Rank Magical Treasure.


    He had also just recently broken through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.


    "Esteemed Zhao Kingdom Cultivator, my demon banner has just been completed. Within it lies the path to immortality; would you consider it?" The Demon Cultivator said with a strange laugh, then waved his banner. Instantly, three Third Rank Early Stage demon heads surged out from within it and charged towards Lin Houyuan.


    Lin Houyuan''s face grew solemn as he drew several Third Rank Intermediate Grade Flying Swords, but as only a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator, he found even the Demon Cultivator alone tough to handle, not to mention dealing with the three Foundation Establishment demon heads that were proving to be extremely troublesome.

 Chapter 170 Rushing Over

    "Fellow Daoist, why resist stubbornly? Isn''t the path to longevity a good one?" the demon cultivator ridiculed continuously, trying to disrupt Lin Houyuan''s train of thought.


    Lin Houyuan''s Cultivation Technique was merely a Yellow Rank Technique, and his True Yuan was not well-refined; at this moment, controlling three Third Rank Intermediate Grade magic swords, he was already struggling and could only keep retreating.


    At this time, none of the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators seemed to intend to come to his aid.


    They were family cultivators on this side, most of whom had been conscripted by the Sect, all only looking out for themselves, who would come to provide assistance?


    If it were before Lin Shiming''s disappearance, the Lin Family would have done the same¡ªthe little merit from killing a demon cultivator was not enough to justify the risk of being targeted by a Purple Mansion cultivator of the demonic path.


    Lin Houyuan could only feel a surge of despair, hoping to slay ten Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but unexpectedly, a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment demon cultivator had shown up, clearly after his spirit and soul.


    "Are all demon cultivators so long-winded? If you want Lin''s head, then come and get it through your ability!" Lin Houyuan was also enraged, Middle Stage against Early Stage, and still so full of tricks; it truly angered him!


    "Hehe, very well!" the demon cultivator let out a strange laugh, but suddenly, three demon heads converged from within the demon banner, forming a Third Rank middle-stage demon head that instantly overshadowed all with its demonic might.


    A massive black face materialized in the void, and then revealed fangs wrapped in black mist, viciously biting towards Lin Houyuan.


    Lin Houyuan''s three swords struck out but were instantly sent flying by three streams of black energy spewed from the demon head''s mouth.


    Lin Houyuan then hurriedly released various Defense Talismans to form Spirit Shield and Spirit Armor, yet they were easily perforated by the demon head.


    Accompanied by maniacal laughter, the demon head opened its large maw.


    Lin Houyuan only felt a wave of despair, while the demon cultivator couldn''t help but burst into loud laughter, about to claim another demon head; these Zhao Kingdom cultivators were simply too naive, all still looking out for themselves at this time.


    However, in the next moment, instead of Lin Houyuan, countless golden Spirit Spears appeared within the big mouth, turning the demon head into a porcupine.


    The demon head instantly vanished into black smoke, only reforming on the demon cultivator''s banner in the end.


    "Who dares to ruin my good deed!" The demon cultivator couldn''t help but spit out a mouthful of blood. His demon banner was his life-bound Magic Artifact, and when the demon head was destroyed, he naturally suffered injuries.


    "All you demon cultivators bully the weak, don''t you?" The person who arrived was Lin Shiming in a blue robe; his face was full of rage, having just arrived at the battlefield, he saw his father being viciously attacked by a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    "Hehe, Fellow Daoist, your words are mistaken. It''s merely the survival of the fittest in the world of Immortal Cultivation.


    If you think it fitting, why not you go kill those demon cultivator brats, and let this old man help you eliminate the wings of your hostile forces?" The demon cultivator said with a sinister chuckle, his gaze roving over Lin Shiming unscrupulously, as if he was still reminiscing about Lin Shiming''s magic artifacts and cultivation techniques.


    On the spot, he was pierced into pieces of flesh.


    And the demon head, lacking the cultivator to drive it, helplessly turned into black smoke and returned to the demon banner.


    Lin Shiming took the demon banner and flying knives, as well as the demon cultivator''s storage bag, back to Lin Houyuan''s side.


    "Father, you should go check on the family''s Qi Cultivators!" Lin Shiming said, then he saw the worry in Lin Houyuan''s eyes.


    "Don''t worry, father, Shiming won''t be reckless. Even if there''s Purple Mansion Jade Liquid here, it''s not worth the risk!" Lin Shiming continued to explain.


    With Lin Shiming''s words, Lin Houyuan felt reassured.


    In this battlefield, let alone Foundation Establishment cultivators, even Purple Mansion cultivators counted for little. If someone was intent on taking you down, they would usually succeed.


    With Lin Shiming''s approval, Lin Houyuan, knowing he was injured, did not go to the Foundation Establishment battlefield but rather to the Qi Cultivation battlefield, joining a battle formation for bombardment.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming continued to roam the Foundation Establishment battlefield, but he didn''t seek out Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators, instead targeting only Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators, using his Purple Gold Vine against them each time. There were not a few cultivators with wood attributes on the battlefield.


    But like Lin Shiming, who could summon them so quickly and with seemingly limitless True Yuan, there certainly wasn''t a second such Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator. Read new adventures at empire


    Half a day passed, and Lin Shiming had slain three Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators, including one from the Corpse Refining Sect Cultivation Technique at the same stage.


    All these demon cultivators and Corpse Refining Sect Cultivators were experienced and full of tricks, even Lin Shiming could not help but understand why the Zhao Kingdom had been retreating step by step at the beginning.


    Only now had they barely managed to stabilize, probably because the inexperienced cultivators had perished, and most of the remaining cultivators were also cautious and cunning.


    As dawn broke in the sky, a purple aura emerged from the east. The demon cultivators in the sky also issued the retreat order.


    A group of cultivators quickly returned to the river.


    And Lin Shiming and the others all let out a sigh of relief.


    On this battlefield, every cultivator was under immense pressure, especially the Body Cultivators, as if they performed too well, they would become prime materials for the Corpse Refining Sect or possibly the main demon head for a demon cultivator''s banner.


    Lin Shiming had already been controlling himself as much as possible, but he couldn''t conceal all his strength. Having escaped from Yunjing Mountain and having lingered for two years, upon his return, he was bound to be interrogated. If he appeared too incompetent, he might be subjected to a soul search.


    Performing a little better, combined with the Family Jade Book, he might be examined with an Inquiry Spirit Talisman, and now, involving Lu Changming and Superior Grade Spirit Stones, this moment was particularly troubling to him.

 Chapter 171 Asking the Spirit

    As the troops were being called back, a loud laugh was heard as Lin Xianzhi descended on his flying sword.


    "Hou Yuan, I killed another two at the later stages of Foundation Establishment! I''ve succeeded!"


    Accompanied by his laughter, Lin Xianzhi''s face was covered in blood, which stained his white hair and his blue robe.


    The once handsome and picturesque patriarch now descended like a butcher, laughing heartily.


    His face bore the signs of old age and fatigue, yet at this moment, his eyes were bright and full of life.


    "Seventh Grand Uncle..." Lin Shiming softly called out, as it was apparent that due to his deep involvement in battle, Lin Xianzhi had not used his Divine Sense to detect Lin Shiming''s presence.


    Upon hearing Lin Shiming call out to him, he was momentarily stunned.


    Then, overjoyed, after his euphoria passed, he restored his dignified patriarchal demeanor.


    "You lad, you''ve grown up so much, and yet you didn''t even send a message to your Seventh Grand Uncle!"


    "Seventh Grand Uncle, Shiming lacks strength and returned too late. I seek forgiveness from Seventh Grand Uncle!" Lin Shiming also said, clasping his fists.


    "It''s good that you''re back. As for punishment, I forbid you from overexerting yourself for the next three months!" Lin Xianzhi said casually, his eyes filled with relief.


    The string that had been taut in his heart for so long finally loosened slightly.


    At this moment, the other members of the Lin Family Clan were also very happy. In this battle, the family didn''t suffer heavy losses, and instead, Lin Shiming had returned.


    Moreover, whether it was an illusion or not, everyone felt that with Lin Shiming''s return, they had a pillar of support, even more reassuring than Lin Xianzhi himself.


    After all, Seventh Grand Uncle Lin Xianzhi was getting old, whereas Lin Shiming was a rising star. Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    Since Lin Shiming began his journey in the world at the age of seventeen, not a single event had failed to bring tremendous comfort to the elders and his calm handling of affairs had been, at times, more adequate than that of the elders themselves. Sometimes, his ideas were particularly astonishing.


    "Shiming, be careful with your investigation!" Lin Xianzhi suddenly thought of something and became worried again as he spoke.


    Having taken two years to return, with a mere early stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level, it was inevitable that suspicions would arise about whether he had been controlled or become an inside spy.


    Lin Shiming had secrets, which Lin Xianzhi knew all too well, and that was his greatest concern.


    The biggest problem was not failing to uncover an internal spy, but exposing Lin Shiming''s secrets.


    "Shiming, your master was worried about you before, but I didn''t expect you to return. This is good news. However, Golden Corpse Child and Chen Yunli robbed the Spirit Beast Sect of a Superior Grade Spirit Stone mine, and the true culprit hasn''t been caught yet.


    The Sect needs to ask you a few questions!" Zi Xuan Hermit spoke in an amicable and equivocal manner, but Lin Shiming also saw that an Inquiry Spirit Talisman had already been taken out by the dark-faced middle-aged cultivator.


    Without waiting for Lin Shiming''s agreement, the Inquiry Spirit Talisman flew into the air and, in the next moment, transformed into Spirit Light, enveloping Lin Shiming within it.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming did not suppress his nervousness. Unless one was prepared, anyone would panic when suddenly faced with an Inquiry Spirit Talisman.


    Then he calmed himself, took a deep breath, and began to describe the situation in full detail.


    Since he was prepared in advance, Lin Shiming was not flustered and he directly omitted the parts involving Lu Changming.


    Using the Minor Divine Ability tree and killing Lu Changming, if these issues were to be questioned under the Inquiry Spirit Talisman, even if Zi Xuan Hermit were on his side, it might not be possible to protect him.


    Zi Xuan Hermit continued to ask questions on the side, while the dark-faced middle-aged cultivator said nothing at all, simply looking more and more serious, as if Lin Shiming had already slipped up.


    But Lin Shiming was sure, this was the old coot pressuring him, just like Lu Changming''s performance earlier, only now the dark-faced middle-aged cultivator had the cultivation level of Purple Mansion Perfection, the pressure was more direct, and much greater.


    "Wait, you said you killed a Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?" the dark-faced middle-aged man finally spoke, his gaze frighteningly intense.


    "Describe it in detail. Remember, all the details, and the Magic Artifact used by the opponent!!!"


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate, and he recounted how he used the Shocking God Drum and how he killed the Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator one by one.


    In the end, he added, "Master, Martial Uncle, afterwards, Shiming suffered tremendously severe injuries and has been healing for the past two years."


    As he said this, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated. He had shifted the concept, but it was a fact.


    Zi Xuan Hermit nodded, no response was given. Instead, it was the dark-faced middle-aged cultivator who continued to stare intently into Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    Just when his heartbeat uncontrollably quickened thinking he had given himself away, the dark-faced middle-aged cultivator finally spoke:


    "Check the Storage Bag!"


    "And the Spirit Beast Bag!"


    As soon as these words were spoken, Zi Xuan Hermit''s expression changed for a moment. Searching the Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Bag was something the Black Jiao Hermit had not mentioned to him before.


    Lin Shiming''s expression also changed.

 Chapter 172 Grass Character Sword Technique

    The entire hall became eerily silent. Zi Xuan Hermit spoke, but the Black Jiao Hermit did not give him face and did not respond; instead, he continued to stare at Lin Shiming.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also finally took a deep breath, removed the Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Bag from his waist, and even produced the hidden Storage Bracelet from his sleeve, handing everything over.


    All the Magic Artifacts and Spirit Stones were now displayed in front of Black Jiao Hermit and Zi Xuan Hermit.


    As the Spiritual Objects and Magic Artifacts were poured out, over a thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, over a hundred jin of Qingming Iron, as well as the two nascent corporeal zombies in the Heavenly Demon Bag, the Shocking God Drum, Heaven Silkworm Spider Web, Dummy Grass for Fodder, Red-haired Demon Monkey...


    A vast array of treasure was presented before the two of them at that moment.


    However, there were no Superior Grade Spirit Stones, nor were there any relics left by Lu Changming.


    Before entering the city, Lin Shiming had already found a hidden underground location to store everything and had arranged for the Golden Winged Mantis to guard it. He had not worried about the Storage Bag being searched, but rather he was concerned that the Lu Family''s cultivators might trace him through the Magic Artifacts or relics and locate his aura.


    For instance, Lu Changming had found him through the Golden Luan Eagle, which by now had been thoroughly burned to ashes.


    Unexpectedly, this misstep had fortuitously allowed him to dodge a calamity.


    "Your disciple has quite the fortune, not bad!" Black Jiao Hermit''s expression finally relaxed, not as aggressive as before. However, when he saw the belongings of the Demon Cultivator, he began to carefully study them.


    It was obvious that he intended to investigate the artifacts left by the Demon Cultivators and Corpse Cultivators, to see if he could find the leading culprits, Golden Corpse Child and Chen Yunlai. After a thorough check, Black Jiao Hermit''s eyebrows raised slightly, and then he picked up the Jade Slip of the Second Rank secret technique of the Corpse Refining Sect.


    In his speech, a hint of interest was revealed.


    "Preceptor, this Jade Slip was left by a cultivator of the Corpse Refining Sect; your disciple cannot fathom it. Perhaps Preceptor could decipher it!" Lin Shiming also spoke up.


    Seeing Lin Shiming''s cooperative behavior, Black Jiao Hermit nodded his approval and then spoke:


    "Good, this Jade Slip is indeed quite complex. Very well, as a meeting gift, I shall grant you a one-time opportunity to enter the Heavenly River City''s Third Rank treasure vault!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming was overjoyed beyond measure.


    The merit exchange board of Heavenly River City starts with the heads of ten cultivators of the same rank, and the higher demands are even up to a hundred Demon Cultivator heads. But now, he was allowed to choose at will in the treasure vault.


    What he, with the system''s prompt, lacked was precisely such an opportunity.


    As the vision faded, Lin Shiming was shocked into a cold sweat. When he regained his composure, he realized he had lost his decorum in front of the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    "Please forgive your disciple, Master!"


    "No matter, do not let this sword technique be buried. This wood-based sword technique, in my view, is extremely stunning!" the Zi Xuan Hermit said, then picked up the tea cup from the eight-immortal table and began to press down on the spiritual tea with the lid.


    Knowing that Zi Xuan Hermit was hinting at his departure, Lin Shiming promptly took his leave.


    After leaving the Zi Xuan Hall, Lin Shiming finally relaxed truly. Outside, Xie An, who had learnt that the Hermit Black Jiao had left earlier, knew that Lin Shiming would be fine, and he came up to speak with Lin Shiming.


    The relationship between Xie An and the Lin Family was the closest¡ªseveral of the Lin Family''s alchemy and artifact refining shops in the Qingyun Market had shares belonging to Xie An.


    Especially after the Li Family disappeared and defected, the entire market had completely fallen into the hands of great Foundation Establishment clans such as the Lin and Qian families, substantially increasing spirit stone revenues. The relationship between the Lin Family and Xie An was growing day by day.


    Should Xie An break through to the Purple Mansion, the Lin Family would have yet another support.


    "Senior Brother, this is a token of your junior brother''s appreciation. Thanks to your arrangements, this time''s gains were fruitful!" Lin Shiming took out a storage bag containing thirty jin of Qingming Iron.


    This Third Rank material was most suitable for refining spirit armor and was a rare commodity in the Qingxuan Sect¡ªonly available in the Heavenly River State that was within Spirit Beast Sect territory.


    "Many thanks, Junior Brother!" Xie An accepted it without hesitation; he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment and needed to break through to the Purple Mansion, which required a large amount of spirit stones, even within the sect.


    As he already had a familiar relationship with the Lin Family, he naturally did not stand on ceremony.


    After bidding farewell to Xie An, Lin Shiming directly returned to the Lin Family''s small courtyard. Currently, all members of the Lin Family had returned to their residences, and on the city gates of Heavenly River City, a new batch of cultivators had taken up the guard.


    Even if demon cultivators and the Corpse Refining Sect disregarded the costs and attacked again, it would not be easy to take down the city gate, unless the Demon Sect brought out Spirit Insects like the Soul Devouring Ants. Your next journey awaits at empire


    However, such Spirit Insects were inherently fierce and nearly impossible to tame as adults. If one were to encounter Soul Devouring Ant eggs, that would require great fortune.


    When Lin Shiming returned to his residence, he immediately recounted all the events in detail to Lin Xianzhi, with nothing left out. However, upon hearing that Lin Shiming had acquired a sword technique as well, Lin Xianzhi''s face not only lacked joy but became extremely pale.


    This was an expression Lin Shiming had never seen on his great-uncle''s face before.


    And in his opinion, the Grass Character Sword Technique was indeed formidable.


    He couldn''t understand why his great-uncle would react this way.

 Chapter 173 Demon-Slaying Tower

    Lin Shiming did not ask, but at this time, he guessed that it had to do with the previous transaction between Lin Xianzhi and Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Lin Xianzhi paced within the room before he finally let out a sigh and said,


    Experience tales at empire


    "Shiming, you must have guessed by now, Zi Xuan Hermit has been our Lin Family''s backer. Initially, it was out of regard for our honorable ancestor Zhengxing, but later it became a transaction!"


    "Speaking of that, when ancestor Zhengxing broke away from the sect to establish our family, many of the Purple Mansion elders in Qingxuan Sect, including Zi Xuan Hermit, did not agree with the move. Later, when our family faced discrimination in Yunzhou, ancestor Zhengxing was even trapped and killed by the patriarch of the Li Family in the Qingyun Mountains.


    At that time, the Li Family had Li Chuanhuan, a Purple Mansion cultivator, but our Lin Family had none!"


    "Zi Xuan Hermit stepped forward, helping our Lin Family to survive three crises of extermination, but as a result, he was warned by the Qingxuan Sect."


    "Later on, Zi Xuan Hermit even took me as an honorary disciple, showing the utmost favor! It''s just that our Lin Family had nothing with which to repay him!"


    As Lin Xianzhi spoke slowly, he sighed and his gaze turned towards the void, as if reminiscing the scenes from a hundred years ago.


    He then continued,


    "Back then, I had comprehended Sword Intent, full of vigor, thinking that no one of the same rank could outmatch me. But in this world, there''s no guarantee of fighting only those of the same rank, nor is there any rule that says battles are one-on-one. I was ambushed by several Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators from the Li Family, and it was Brother Xie who sent help to save me.


    Otherwise, I wouldn''t have even managed to hang on for thirty more years lingering on in dire straits!"


    "While Brother Xie saved me, he also brought instructions from Zi Xuan Hermit: to become a true disciple of the Sect, ensuring the Lin Family''s safety for a hundred years, to forever break away from the family, or to take a risk once and enter Qingxuan Sect''s Profound Grade Secret Realm.


    But at that time, I was already afflicted with the five poisons, and the family could not be without a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so I refused!"


    As Lin Xianzhi spoke up to this point, Lin Shiming couldn''t help imagining the scene of Lin Xianzhi at that time.


    Surely at that moment, the seventh great-uncle must have hesitated, right? To abandon the family for the true teachings of the Sect and the prospect of reaching Purple Mansion, whereas staying in the family meant nothing but the continuation of familial legacy with no other benefits.


    And yet, the seventh great-uncle had chosen the family.


    Just like the first time the seventh great-uncle saw him, asking him why the family? Why indeed?


    They had all chosen the path of the family.


    Within the myriad paths of the Great Dao, they chose to protect one.


    Lin Shiming agreed several times and then left Lin Xianzhi''s room, heading towards the Heavenly River City to exchange for a Third Rank treasure at the treasure building.


    The token of the Black Jiao Hermit should be put to good use sooner rather than later. Right now, without Lu Changming''s Magic Artifact, he only had a few usable Magic Artifacts. Against average Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he was fine, but if he were to face more formidable mid-stage or late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he would have absolutely no hope at all.


    Aside from the Superior Grade Stealth Magic Artifact, the Heaven-Spinning Spider Silk, his other offensive Magic Artifacts were all ordinary Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifacts.


    In battle, one obviously couldn''t always use a stealth Magic Artifact to cast spells right to the opponent''s face.


    The treasure building he was heading to was also known as the Demon-Slaying Pavilion, where one could exchange the heads of Demon Cultivators for treasures. The treasures of the Demon-Slaying Pavilion were provided jointly by the Three Sects.


    Among them were treasures such as Foundation Establishment Pills and Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    However, the exchange terms were extremely stringent, especially for Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, as one needed to slay a Purple Mansion Cultivator to exchange for it, but if one had the ability to slay a Purple Mansion Cultivator, naturally they would be a Purple Mansion Cultivator themselves.


    Lin Shiming did not crave such vain things. At the treasure building''s Third Rank treasures area, he would look for a good offensive Magic Artifact or a good spirit wood.


    Once the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was refined again, he would be fully satisfied.


    He had asked Xie An for the address of the treasure building after leaving the Zi Xuan Pavilion.


    Before long, Lin Shiming arrived at the entrance of the treasure building.


    The treasure building was only separated by a single wall from the city lord''s mansion. Looking up, one could see the sparkling precious glow and Spirit Might radiating from the Beast Ring.


    Lin Shiming glanced at it only once, feeling as if a terrifying primeval beast were staring at him, causing him to involuntarily shiver and sweat coldly.


    He hastily practiced the Spell of Split Spirit Decision several times before he finally recovered.


    "Fellow Daoist, that is the Magical Treasure of the Heavenly Beast True Person, you must not look at it directly!" a Cultivator from the Spirit Beast Sect guarding the Many Treasures Pavilion kindly reminded.


    Lin Shiming hastily replied with thanks.


    He then entered the treasure building, which, unlike ordinary shops, first presented a huge luminous screen.


    This screen was clearly a massive Third Rank Magic Artifact, and it was covered with densely packed treasures.


    These treasures were divided into Second Rank, Third Rank, and Fourth Rank treasures!


    Second Rank Qi Cultivation treasures could be exchanged with the heads of Second Rank Qi Cultivation Demon Cultivators, Third Rank Foundation Establishment treasures with the heads of Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators, and Fourth Rank treasures accordingly.


    Lin Shiming directly bypassed the Second Rank treasures and focused on the Third Rank treasures, looking specifically for spirit woods.

 Chapter 174 Cave Heaven Bead

    The silver screen displayed an abundance of Spirit Woods, causing Lin Shiming''s eyes to dazzle, and he also spotted numerous Hearts of Heavenly Wood.


    Among them, there were Third Rank Superior Grade Tianyun Woods and Third Rank Superior Grade Ironrock Bamboos.


    The exchange conditions for these Hearts of Heavenly Wood required the slaying of twenty Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demon Cultivators. Seeing this, Lin Shiming was extremely envious and almost took out the token given by Hermit Black Flood Dragon to make an exchange.


    But his problem at this moment was not True Yuan, but the lack of a suitable Magic Artifact.


    He couldn''t utilize a Supreme Grade Magic Artifact even if he exchanged for it. He was unable to control it for the time being. Only Superior Grade Magic Artifacts were available, but he was unwilling to settle for less.


    Therefore, his target for exchange was a complete set of Third Rank Spirit Wood so he could refine a complete set of Superior Grade magic swords for the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation.


    As Lin Shiming examined the Spirit Wood, he discovered that there were only three types of complete Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Wood: Qingming Wood, Flame Yang Wood, and Xuan Yang Wood.


    Out of the three types of Spirit Wood, the first clearly didn''t suit him. It was the second and the third ones that made Lin Shiming hesitate. The former, Flame Yang Wood, contained the power of blazing sun and flame.


    With a Fire Spirit Root himself, even though he was cultivating the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, using the Flame Yang Wood would still enhance the Sword Array''s power significantly, invoking the Flame Yang energy which would be absolutely devastating against Demon Cultivators and Corpse Cultivators.


    As for the Xuan Yang Wood, it''s an extremely sturdy Spirit Wood, with hardness comparable to Supreme Grade Spirit Wood, but the downside is that it''s very ordinary, lacking additional properties, and such swords would become even heavier.


    After much hesitation, Lin Shiming still wanted to choose the former.


    However, just at this moment, he suddenly saw a system prompt appear:


    "Filter through all the Spiritual Pearls, select the dust-covered Grand Cave Heaven Pearl, combine it with the Deputy Spirit Platform, and you will obtain a Cave Heaven World!"


    Upon seeing the prompt, Lin Shiming felt his heart thump wildly.


    The hand that was about to take out the token immediately withdrew, for fear of being misunderstood by the exchange personnel.


    After reading the prompt several times again, he finally confirmed that there was no illusion in the prompt.


    Lin Shiming had only heard about the legend of the Cave Heaven World in miscellaneous records of Immortal Cultivation, which claimed that only ancestors who had completed Divinity Transformation could control a Cave Heaven World and move it for their own use.


    Beyond this, there were Cave Heaven Pearls. However, in the entire Zhao Kingdom, even in the entire Flame Region, no one had ever seen a Cave Heaven Pearl, let alone refine one.


    If the system prompt has never shown an error, it means that among the items for exchange, there lies a Cave Heaven Pearl.


    Natural Third Rank Spirit Wood was meant to be refined into a Sword Array embryo, yet his own Artifact Refining skills were only capable of crafting Inferior Grade Second Rank Magic Artifacts; he was far from capable of refining Third Rank Artifacts.


    This Artifact Refining Pavilion was also recommended by Xie An; it had to be said, this fellow apprentice contributed greatly to the Lin Family.


    The Xuanqing Artifact Refining Pavilion was just a two-story building, signaling that it could only refine artifacts for Foundation Establishment.


    Upon entering, one could see two cultivators seated across from each other, one holding a Secret Technique tome, reviewing its content. Both cultivators were young, but both were mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    "Excuse me, are you the two masters Lin Xuan and Xu Qing?"


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming enter, the two cultivators put down their books and sat up straight, looking at him solemnly.


    Find more to read at empire


    "Yes, but, of us two Artifact Refiners, only one can be chosen. Please make your choice," one of them said.


    "Indeed, in terms of Artifact Refining, I am far superior to the one beside me. I presume you know how to choose," each said one after the other, instantly filling the air with tension.


    Only then did Lin Shiming understand why Xie An had that expression after recommending the Artifact Refining Pavilion when he asked where to find quick and cost-effective refining services.


    Reflecting on it now, Xie An had probably anticipated this situation.


    This competition within the same store was both novel and an advantage to Lin Shiming, as he guessed that the cost to refine would likely be lower!


    "To both masters, I would like to receive the Magic Artifacts as quickly as possible, so please work together," Lin Shiming spoke up, then seeing their expressions turn cold, he added with a smile:


    "Don''t worry, Spirit Stones and materials are not an issue!"


    "Fellow, you are mistaken. Our skills as Artifact Refiners are among the top within the disciples of the Qingxuan Sect. You can only choose one of us.


    "Besides, do you possess such a vast amount of refining materials?" they retorted in turn.


    Lin Shiming said nothing, taking out the Storage Bag that contained the Flame Yang Wood and then retrieved thirty catties of Qingming Iron.


    These two materials were top-notch substances for refining Flying Swords.


    "This..." Xu Qing, seeing the abundant Artifact Refining materials, was instantly taken aback. He had never expected Lin Shiming, a junior stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, to produce Spirit Materials worth a million Spirit Stones.


    "Agreed, Xu Qing, let''s use this chance to have a proper comparison!" Lin Xuan, after a moment of surprise, also quickly consented to the proposition.

 Chapter 175 Visual Prompt (Please Subscribe)

    ```


    Heavenly River City, within the courtyard where Lin Family resided, the wisps of Mingxin Tea''s mist curled upwards.


    A rich fragrance of tea instantly filled the entire room.


    Lin Shiming picked up a teacup, first pouring a full cup for the Seventh Great-Uncle sitting opposite him, then pouring one for himself as well.


    "This Spiritual Tea is indeed good tea, that Wood Demon is also considered a cultivatable item!" After finishing a cup, Lin Xianzhi also felt his whole body and mind become ethereal and clear, not to mention that the fatigue vanished, but it seemed to have also brought about some new understanding regarding his progress in cultivation.


    "Shiming, with your catalyzing speed, you can now catalyze Spirit Plants more than twice as fast, right?"


    Lin Xianzhi continued speaking, and Lin Shiming nodded as well.


    It was just that Lin Shiming did not talk much, instead, it was Lin Xianzhi who kept speaking about this and that.


    Lin Shiming just kept on adding Spiritual Tea to the cups.


    Cup after cup, pot after pot.


    After a good half an hour passed, Lin Xianzhi finally let out a sigh and opened his mouth to speak:


    "If you want to master the Grass Sword Technique, then practice it, this Wood Attribute sword technique might truly establish your supreme Sword Dao!"


    At this moment, Lin Shiming finally relaxed, his drinking tea with Lin Xianzhi here was indeed long overdue, meant as a company to an elder.


    But more so, he wanted to refine the Grass Sword Technique.


    If the Profound Grade Secret Realm were to open, he did not want Lin Xianzhi to venture in alone.


    Of course, it wasn''t an impulsive decision; his strength was actually fairly decent, with Superior Grade Spirit Stones available, he could break through to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage within three years, and he was confident about improving his Body Refining Cultivation and Divine Sense by a layer.


    Moreover, he had the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey among his Spirit Beasts.


    The most crucial point was that, even if he came out from the Profound Grade Secret Realm, he had the Cave Heaven Bead to hide some Spiritual Objects.


    Whether it was him or Lin Xianzhi, in fact, both faced an important threshold, the Purple Mansion.


    But the main Spiritual Medicine required for Purple Mansion Jade Liquid was the Purple Jade Fruit, which not only did not exist in the outside world but was also unheard of.


    However, as an important Secret Realm under Qingxuan Sect, it would naturally have the Purple Jade Fruit. Speaking of which, the Deacon of the Duobao Tower had discussed this matter with Lin Xianzhi, about going into the Profound Grade Secret Realm together to obtain the Purple Jade Fruit.


    "Shiming, here are the insights I have gained from cultivating Sword Intent over these years, take a look!" Lin Xianzhi took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    He was aware that Lin Shiming, who was to support the Lin Family''s sky, also had to cultivate the Grass Sword Technique.


    His reluctance for Lin Shiming to cultivate it was only due to his concern that Lin Shiming would enter the Profound Grade Secret Realm along with him, which would put both of them at risk, but then he thought, whether he allowed it or not, Lin Shiming''s cultivation of the technique could not be stopped.


    It was just that Lin Shiming respected his teachers and revered the way of the Dao, unwilling to go against the face of his elder.


    Then a sword strike was unleashed.


    The accumulation of hundreds of years of Sword Intent made that strike the only one in heaven and earth.


    The colors of heaven and earth dimmed!


    The grass rose, and the sword fell!


    The sky split, the ground sank!


    The scene disappeared without a trace.


    Experience tales at empire


    And Lin Shiming closed his eyes once again, the corners of his mouth bidding a trace of bitterness.


    He knew clearly that the Sword Intent contained within the Jade Slip was gone, the Sword Intent of the Zi Xuan Hermit, just like the Jade Slip given to him by Lin Xianzhi. With the disappearance of the sword light, the true meaning was lost by a great deal.


    To say Lin Shiming wasn''t disappointed would be a lie; although the Sword Intent of the two scenes gave him a lot of insight, most of it was still confusion.


    Unlike Lin Xianzhi''s easy-to-understand experiences, the Grass Sword at this moment was clearly more difficult, and the Zi Xuan Hermit hadn''t conveyed it with as much care, or perhaps his Grass Sword was at a level too high for him to comprehend.


    He tried to cultivate the content of the Sword technique but felt a wave of irritation in his heart.


    However, at this moment, a system prompt appeared once again.


    But this time, it wasn''t a prompt, but a replay of the scene he had just witnessed, slowed down by hundreds of times!


    The only difference was that this time it was a green Grass Sword, a blade of green foxtail grass.


    Lin Shiming was shocked; he hadn''t expected that this time the prompt would be a scene replay, but he was also overjoyed.


    If the previous strike of the grass sword left him somewhat confused, this Grass Sword, slowed down by ten times, allowed him to have more clarity and understanding.


    And in the scene, unlike the purple Grass Sword, there was a clear difference. He saw the foxtail grass practicing the sword in the wind.


    Sword dancing!


    Ten times!


    A hundred times!


    Ten thousand times!


    This was the true momentum of the Grass Sword!


    The true meaning of the Grass Sword technique gradually emerged in Lin Shiming''s mind.


    ...

 Chapter 176 The Seed (Please Subscribe)

    A month had passed, the urgent tolling of a bell rang out, signaling another attack from the demon cultivators.


    At the door, Lin Xianzhi felt anxious. This was already the third attack by the demon cultivators, and Lin Shiming had been absent for the previous two. His absence this time would trigger a forced summons by the three Great Sects.


    Countless Transmission Talismans appeared outside the door, all intercepted by Lin Xianzhi one by one!


    Stay tuned with empire


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming finally opened his eyes.


    He smiled lightly, putting away his meditation cushion.


    In these fifteen days, he could say he had achieved nothing, for he had not managed to discern any of the sword techniques from the "Grass Character Sword Technique".


    Yet, it could also be said he had made a significant discovery since a seed of dog''s tail grass had been planted at his Spirit Platform.


    ...


    "Shiming!" The door opened, and Lin Shiming stepped out. The first thing Lin Xianzhi noticed when he saw Lin Shiming was the complete absence of Sword Qi; not even a trace of the sword light he had left in the Jade Slip remained.


    One could say, the sword comes from the heart and also departs from the heart.


    Lin Xianzhi felt a pang of disappointment, but then he thought of Lin Shiming as a Wood Attribute cultivator and suddenly found it quite normal.


    Lin Shiming excelled at control and cultivating Spirit Plants. It would not be surprising if his future accomplishments went beyond Foundation Establishment; that in itself was impressive.


    Moreover, the lack of talent for the Sword Dao meant that missing out on the trip to the Profound Grade Secret Realm might actually be good news.


    "The attacks from the demon cultivators are getting more and more fierce. With each death, they manage to harvest a great deal of souls and corpses for their vile practices!" Lin Xianzhi warned with concern, subtly changing the subject.


    "Thank you for the reminder, Seventh Uncle Xie!" Lin Shiming responded with thanks before heading towards the Artifact Refining Pavilion in Heavenly River City to retrieve his Formation Swords.


    Lin Xianzhi, on the other hand, headed straight for the city gate.


    Outside the Artifact Refining Pavilion, two cultivators hurried out, evidently also there to retrieve Magic Artifacts.


    Lin Shiming entered the pavilion to find Xu Qing and Lin Xuan still there, both obviously elated to see him.


    Their actions were so swift that other cultivators could not intervene, combined with the obscuring black fog, it had practically become a harvesting ground for demon cultivators and the Corpse Refining Sect. Fortunately, a Purple Mansion cultivator from the Spirit Beast Sect suddenly raised an arm, and in the next moment, countless purple Gale Birds took flight within Heavenly River State.


    These Gale Birds, being peak third-rank demonic beasts numbering twenty in total, plunged into the battlefield and violently assaulted the demon cultivators.


    Only then did the situation stabilize somewhat.


    Lin Shiming glanced at Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan, as well as the Qi Cultivators from his family.


    Only after confirming that they weren''t targeted by high-level demon cultivators did he genuinely engage in battle with a Corpse Refining Sect cultivator at the Foundation Establishment level.


    Lin Shiming drew an ordinary third-rank intermediate-grade magic sword and brandished it continuously.


    If Zi Xuan Hermit were here at this moment, he would notice that Lin Shiming seemed like a blade of grass, swinging and brandishing his sword in the air.


    A sword intent, faint and almost imperceptible, also emanated from around Lin Shiming.


    While feeling the movements of the sword technique, the prompt from the system also reappeared in his mind.


    The foxtail grass reenacted the scene of nurturing the sword.


    His mind half on the grass and half on his opponent, he found himself in a quite tense situation facing three Corpse Refining Sect cultivators of the same rank and one from the Corpse Refining Sect.


    However, the seed within his heart shone ever more brightly.


    He had a feeling that the moment the seed broke open would be the moment his Sword Intent was born.


    For Lin Shiming, this moment was his time for sword practice, but to the Corpse Refining Sect cultivators, Lin Shiming appeared to be flailing in the wind. With a contemptuous smile, they summoned one blood corpse after another.


    However, whenever they felt they had the upper hand on Lin Shiming, they always seemed to lack that little something.


    As he reached the threshold in learning the Grass Sword Technique, Lin Shiming also began to divide his attention, observing the surrounding demon cultivators and Corpse Refining Sect cultivators.


    He was not planning to kill them off one by one slowly, knowing that sooner or later he would attract attention. Instead, he aimed to launch a sudden attack at the end of the battle, taking down twenty cultivators in one fell swoop.


    By then, even if he were targeted, he wouldn''t have to worry, and after slaying twenty cultivators of the same rank, he could rest for more than two months.


    Once the Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was engraved, he would have nothing to fear from mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, and he could even battle some of the weaker late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators!

 Chapter 177 Consecutive Kills in the Early Stage

    In the sky, following a thunderous boom, everyone looked to see what was happening at the location of the highest-ranking Purple Mansion cultivator.


    Three golden corpse generals appeared out of thin air, resembling Buddha statues with their golden glow, and fiercely clawed at the body of a Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator from the Purple Mansion Family.


    Countless Spirit Shields shattered, and even the golden bowl magical treasures were smashed and sent flying by the golden corpses, the terrifying noise reverberating through heaven and earth.


    In an instant, a Purple Mansion cultivator from the Spirit Talisman Sect met his demise on the spot.


    Even his corpse was collected by a cultivator clad in a black robe, yet the three golden corpse generals did not cease their attack and aimed for another Purple Mansion cultivator from the Spirit Talisman Sect.


    However, from a distance, innumerable talismans unfolded in the air like a scroll, gradually creating a Minor Divine Ability that seemed as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.


    Enveloping the three golden corpses.


    The faces of the three golden corpse generals, which showed remarkably human-like expressions, changed drastically; in the next moment, when their claws reached out, they felt as if they had grabbed nothing, coming up empty.


    Behind them, accompanied by a furious voice, a Taoist wearing a yellow robe flew forward: Explore new worlds at empire


    "Golden Corpse Hermit, for launching a sneak attack on my Spirit Talisman Sect disciples, I''ll use your three golden corpse generals and your own head as a sacrifice!"


    "Golden Light Old Taoist, you have quite a bold tone. Let''s see if you still have it after you become a corpse cultivator!" the Golden Corpse Hermit''s lips twisted weirdly, and in the next moment, ripples appeared in front of him as more than a dozen black coffins flew out.


    Each coffin was three to four Zhang in size.


    The Golden Light Hermit was shocked once more as a formidable Spirit Might emanated from the coffins, and in front of him, another talisman scroll unfolded slowly, like an ink painting.


    The lids of the dozen black coffins lifted, surprisingly revealing rather ordinary Third Rank blood corpses.


    In the next moment, the blood corpses swelled up and began to self-destruct.


    The terrifying force of the explosion forced the Golden Light Hermit to retreat involuntarily.


    And following the self-destruction, the entire demonic and corpse cultivator factions, as if on cue, shook off their opponents and began to retreat.


    "Quick, stop them!" The Golden Light Hermit was frantic; the Demonic Sect had managed a sneak attack and then fled. If they lost a Purple Mansion cultivator each time while the enemy gained a Purple Mansion corpse cultivator, the fight would be impossible to sustain.


    In the Zhao Kingdom''s Three Sects, there were only ten Golden Core True Persons, with four from the Qingxuan Sect and the rest from the two other sects in threes.


    Their main core strength still lay in the Purple Mansion cultivators of their respective sects.


    Nevertheless, it was enough to bind over a dozen cultivators, Lin Shiming waved his sleeve, and then countless Flying Swords flew out, forming the Tiangang Sword Formation and slashing towards the Corpse Refining Sect Cultivators.


    The Tiangang Sword Formation didn''t require a formation to move, merely the simple combination of swords, which Lin Shiming had already purchased in full as soon as he returned to Heavenly River City.


    Coupled with the Heavenly Silkworm silk, he once again slew five Corpse Refining Sect Cultivators.


    For the few cultivators left bound, numerous Purple Gold Spirit Spears shot out from the bottom of the pit courtesy of the Purple Gold Vines, striking dead another five Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators.


    In a brief moment, ten people were slain, and right then, Lin Shiming appeared more demonic than even the Demon Cultivators!


    Yet the end was not in sight, as Lin Shiming next took out the Heavenly Demon Bag, releasing powerful winds into the air, preparing to capture three more!


    Reaching a total of twenty people, these three were also cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect who possessed gourd Magical Treasures.


    The trio''s faces turned pale with shock, cursing inwardly since never before had a Zhao Kingdom cultivator of Foundation Establishment Late Stage ambushed one in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.


    In their eyes now, Lin Shiming was a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator who had concealed his cultivation level. Otherwise, why would his True Yuan reserves and Divine Sense strength be on par with those in the Late Stage?


    Moreover, Lin Shiming was also more insidious, having hidden his abilities for so long, only to attack them¡ªcultivators in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment¡ªwhile the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect were retreating.


    The fierce winds from the Heavenly Demon Bag were astonishing, and with the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect retreating, the cultivators of the Purple Mansion on high were now fighting with earnest fury.


    No matter how dire their expressions, each of the trio had to ride a Heavenly Demon Banner towards Lin Shiming, with countless demonic heads surging forth in kamikaze fashion towards the Heavenly Demon Bag.


    Yet the Heavenly Demon Bag held them off, but what came next was the Tiangang Sword Formation''s return swing.


    With a Spirit Art cast, the one hundred and eight swords of the Tiangang Sword Formation amalgamated into a colossal light sword, slashing down at the three Demon Cultivators.


    As Lin Shiming attacked, it finally caught the attention of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demon Cultivators, and two such cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect abruptly stopped, wielding Demon Blades as they rushed towards Lin Shiming. Clearly, they practiced Body Cultivation, intending to break the encirclement and rescue the three Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators.


    However, the next moment, a fiery red monkey abruptly lifted a Profound Spirit Mountain, smashing it down on them fiercely.


    This time, not only was the Profound Spirit Mountain shockingly heavy, it was also coated with the Strange Fire of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, burning ferociously.


    The two Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demon Cultivators had no choice but to dodge, but in their moment of evasion, Lin Shiming had already slain the three Foundation Establishment Early Stage Demon Cultivators on the spot.


    The pair still wanted to fight their way out, but little did they expect Lin Shiming to be undeterred, his body abruptly retreating towards the city wall behind him.


    "Shameless, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage slaying Early Stage, in the next grand battle, I will surely kill you!" Both Demon Cultivators were full of dark resentment. However, at this moment, the Zhao Kingdom''s Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators had also arrived, forcing the duo to retreat angrily back into the demonic fog.

 Chapter 178 Exchange Treasures (Please Subscribe)

    Lin Shiming watched as the Demon Cultivator retreated back into the demonic fog, which was also slowly receding into the Tongtian River.


    The anxiety Lin Shiming had been holding slowly dissipated, as an intermediate grade Spirit Stone was continuously being absorbed in his hand.


    This time, he had killed a total of seventeen Foundation Establishment early stage cultivators. Even though he picked the seventeen whose cultivation strength was clearly from the Zhao Kingdom faction of the Foundation Establishment families, weaker than the formal disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect.


    But the consumption of his True Yuan was indeed substantial, enough to completely deplete a Foundation Establishment middle stage cultivator under normal circumstances.


    This time, he had gone all out. His Divine Sense of the late Foundation Establishment phase was revealed, along with his full mastery of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra and Wood Vine Technique. Even the Red-haired Demon Monkey was exposed, which could be said to be all his cards thrown out within a short period of time, except for the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation.


    Next time there''s a major battle, probably even late Foundation Establishment cultivators will be targeting him.


    But by then, what of it?


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile at the thought.


    Once this great battle was over, he planned to exchange for a Cave Heaven Bead, then go out and retrieve the Golden Winged Mantis and a superior grade Spirit Stone, and with that, break through to the Foundation Establishment middle stage in one swoop.


    By then, with a superior grade Formation Sword in hand, he really wouldn''t fear ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    "But what about the Zi Xuan Hermit?" Lin Shiming suddenly frowned, thinking that once the battle was known, the Zi Xuan Hermit would probably suspect whether there was something wrong with his Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit had already tested him once before on Fangmu Mountain.


    He could only hope that the Zi Xuan Hermit would put it down to his latent Spiritual Body.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, no longer thinking about it. Today''s all-out effort was unavoidable for him, unless he was willing to repeatedly engage in sneaky battles. But having seen the Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect, even Purple Mansion cultivators would resort to sneaky attacks without any dignity of the strong¡ªslowly killing in such a way posed an even greater risk.


    Of course, his biggest concern was how long the Zhao Kingdom could hold out.


    The cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect completely relied on waging war to sustain themselves, gaining corpse refining materials and essence souls by killing.


    On the other hand, the Zhao Kingdom cultivators, at most, got some insignificant blood corpses and some demon banners after killing their enemies, and with the Zhao Kingdom cultivators'' techniques, these weapons were hardly effective.


    If a Purple Mansion cultivator of the Zhao Kingdom died this time, next time, the Corpse Refining Sect would have one more Corpse General.


    Afterwards, he returned to the courtyard with the group. Along the way, many Foundation Establishment families were sending messages to the Lin Family, hoping to form alliances.


    If at the beginning, the Foundation Establishment families had confidence in expelling the Corpse Refining Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect seeing the Beast Taming Ring Treasure in the sky, now after countless deaths, even losing relatives and martial brothers to the Corpses and fiends within the Demon Flags, they only wished to survive this war.


    Meanwhile, the strength displayed by the Lin Family was enough to move them.


    "Father, mingle with these families more, but remember not to make promises, nor to alienate them!" Lin Shiming advised, noticing the families that wanted to get acquainted, and sent a message to Lin Houyuan.


    Even with the Zi Xuan Hermit taking care of things above, Lin Shiming still felt some distrust towards the Sect Cultivators and also didn''t want to put all his bets on them.


    While these Foundation Establishment families might look insignificant, their abilities to gather information and survive amidst chaos were not to be underestimated.


    Interacting with them more was definitely not a bad thing.


    Lin Houyuan nodded and after discussing for a short while, Lin Shiming went with Lin Xianzhi to the Demon Slaying Tower to exchange for treasures.


    In front of the Demon Slaying Tower, the crowd was bustling, with many cultivators coming and going.


    All of them had just gathered enough heads of demon cultivators and were coming to exchange for treasures.


    Lin Shiming was following behind Lin Xianzhi, silent, like a junior accompanying Lin Xianzhi to gain experience.


    And Lin Xianzhi, he was acquainted with many Sect Cultivators and was constantly chatting. If he encountered some cultivators with unfathomable Cultivation Levels whom he didn''t know, he would still greet them from a distance.


    They quickly arrived at the display screen with the treasure list. Lin Xianzhi focused on the list, the heads of ten Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivators could be exchanged for quite a few good items.


    Lin Shiming also followed suit, scanning the screen as if he was watching a circus, then his eyes heated up as he looked at those precious Third Rank treasures.


    He then took out his Token that recorded his military exploits and after checking, his eyes revealed a hint of disappointment.


    Some cultivators nearby didn''t notice Lin Shiming''s expression, but the Perfection-stage cultivator in charge of handling the treasures looked at Lin Shiming somewhat scornfully.


    Such a novice cultivator clearly marked as a family''s seed was actually the most likely to die in these large Sect battles.


    What he didn''t know was that Lin Shiming''s heart also heaved a sigh of relief.


    The Cave Heaven Bead was still there!

 Chapter 179 Plotting

    Inside the Demon Slaying Tower, under the long luminescent screen, Lin Xianzhi''s gaze finally settled.


    "Deacon Wei, please help me retrieve a Tribulation-Resolving Elixir," Lin Xianzhi handed over his token representing his identity to a portly deacon from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Within the Demon Slaying Tower, people from the Three Sects were present, and naturally, deacons from each of the Sects were there to take turns at this duty, and this Wei was one of the Qingxuan Sect''s.


    "Daoist Lin, you are too polite. I''ll process this for you right away," Deacon Wei accepted the token, checked it, took out a pill bottle, and handed it to Lin Xianzhi, then his gaze involuntarily fell on Lin Shiming beside him.


    The effects of the Tribulation-Resolving Elixir were beneficial for those at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and clearly, Lin Xianzhi was exchanging for this elixir for Lin Shiming, who was beside him.


    "Daoist Lin, if I may be so bold to say a word, during times of great battles, it''s still important to focus on your own cultivation level," the deacon warned.


    "Thank you for the reminder, Deacon Wei," Lin Xianzhi also bowed in gratitude.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s gaze darted left and right, seemingly discontent.


    "Deacon Wei, help me exchange for a heavier magic artifact¡ªthe heavier, the better!" Lin Shiming spoke, producing his token with an air of arrogance.


    "A heavier magic artifact?" Deacon Wei''s expression turned somewhat unpleasant. He himself was at the peak of Foundation Establishment and could consider himself a peer to Lin Xianzhi. Even though he had heard of Lin Shiming''s talents and strength, such temperament might not be suitable for achieving great things.


    Taking into account Lin Xianzhi''s presence, Deacon Wei refrained from speaking further and checked the token only to find it had just twenty Foundation Establishment Early Stage Contribution Points.


    He then began pointing out a series of Third Rank Inferior Grade magic artifacts displayed on the luminescent screen.


    "Can''t I exchange for Third Rank Intermediate Grade or Third Rank Superior Grade ones?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "There is, in fact, one bead artifact," Deacon Wei replied coldly.


    He then pointed to the Cave Heaven Bead.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s heart surged, not expecting Deacon Wei to understand so well.


    He had directly picked out the key point.


    "How heavy is it?" asked Lin Shiming. Despite his excitement, he managed to maintain a calm exterior.


    "You can try it," Deacon Wei said, tossing the bead straight to Lin Shiming.


    Catching it, Lin Shiming felt as though an entire mountain was pressing down on him, heavier than even a full-strength punch from the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Only by exerting his True Yuan was he just able to hold it.


    Keep in mind, he was a Body Cultivator.


    Yet, the heavier it was, the more secretly delighted Lin Shiming became in his heart.


    The heavier the Cave Heaven World, the larger the space inside it turned out to be.


    The Cave Heaven Bead was not a perfect sphere but an oval bead, grey in color and made of a material that was neither stone nor jade.


    After examining it closely for a while, Lin Shiming put away the Cave Heaven Bead and did not immediately bring it into his Dantian to combine it with the Spirit Platform.


    Instead, he began to practice the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    Ever since Lin Shiming returned to Heavenly River City, his cultivation had become smoother day by day, his improvement in Cultivation Level increasingly evident.


    This was because his True Yuan had been refined to nearly the ultimate level, not much different from that of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    At this moment, he was only lacking a catalyst to reach the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, which would then allow for things to fall into place naturally.


    ...


    Inside an unremarkable pavilion, a blue-robed cultivator was seated at the main seat in the grand hall, while a cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment was crouched below, reporting in detail.


    "Reporting to Deacon Dong, a total of one hundred and twenty treasure maps from the Demon-Slaying Tower have been distributed!"


    "Good, well done. With the previous distributions in the black market included, we''ll definitely be able to open the mysterious herbal garden in the Qingxuan Secret Realm this time!" The blue-robed cultivator tapped the nanmu armrest of the throne leisurely with his index and middle fingers, slightly excited.


    "By the way, Deacon Dong, that bead has also been exchanged by someone?" The latter stage Foundation Establishment cultivator continued.


    "Oh, who has taken it?"


    "A junior cultivator from a small family clan in Yunzhou within Qingxuan Sect''s territory. He appears extremely young and utterly inexperienced."


    "But he was leading me in a roundabout way; it might just be good luck, not as if he deliberately exchanged for it!"


    "Lead on, then keep an eye on him. If his Cultivation Level breaks through soon, or if he masters that artifact, report back to me swiftly!" After the blue-robed cultivator finished speaking, his gaze drifted into the void for a moment. He had studied the bead for decades.


    Despite his Purple Mansion cultivation, he couldn''t unravel it, and the bead''s weight was equivalent only to a Foundation Establishment Magic Artifact, not even reaching the material for a typical Magical Treasure.


    After some thought, he decided not to bother with it anymore and instead thought of the treasure maps and the herbal garden in the Qingxuan Secret Realm.


    Speaking of this herbal garden, he had discovered it during his last participation in the Profound Grade Secret Realm event hosted by the Qingxuan Sect, but at that time, he couldn''t open it. Now a Purple Mansion cultivator, he hadn''t forgotten to continue his scheming.


    It''s just that the Formation around the herbal garden was slightly cruel, not quite suitable for recruiting cultivators from his own sect.

 Chapter 180 Peeking

    ```


    Three days had passed, and Lin Shiming opened his eyes, concluding his cultivation of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    He felt the True Yuan flowing tumultuously within him, like surging clouds.


    When he noticed the faint traces of Divine Sense in the small building had disappeared, he fully relaxed and took out the Cave Heaven Bead.


    The bead was still its ordinary grey color, and he held it up to his chest.


    The deputy Spirit Platform, which had evolved from the heart of celestial wood, began to release a slow gravitational pull.


    Unlike True Yuan input into the Spiritual Pearl with no change, the gravitational force released by the Spirit Platform instantly attracted the Cave Heaven Bead.


    Lin Shiming''s expression subtly changed, quietly feeling the magic of the Cave Heaven Bead.


    The Cave Heaven Bead, truly a Magic Artifact of the great world, soon emitted a faint light and started to spin increasingly fast.


    Seeing this, he placed no restrictions on the Spirit Platform, released its gravitational pull, and drew from within a remarkably pure stream of True Yuan, beginning to envelope the Cave Heaven Bead and directing it into his body.


    The moment the Cave Heaven Bead touched the Spirit Platform, Lin Shiming felt a destructive force of suction appearing within it.


    Inside the deputy Spirit Platform, the True Yuan began to drain rapidly, disappearing completely in an instant.


    And to know, the deputy Spirit Platform could hold three times the True Yuan of the main Spirit Platform.


    Frightened, Lin Shiming quickly took out Spirit Milk and intermediate-grade Spirit Stones, as well as a large handful of elixirs for restoring True Yuan.


    He swallowed them all at once like popping dates, then started to refine them rapidly.


    But to Lin Shiming''s astonishment, the elixirs and Spirit Milk he had just ingested hadn''t even been refined by him before they were absorbed completely, and the original True Yuan in his body also began to slowly drain away.


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to take out more elixirs and, using Spirit Stones, set up a small-range Spirit Formation around him.


    A good while later, the Cave Heaven Bead finally settled down, and by then, Lin Shiming was drenched in sweat.


    He never expected that the True Yuan absorbed by the Cave Heaven Bead would be so terrifying.


    Lin Shiming did not dare to check immediately but quickly resumed cultivating the Purple Wood Heart Sutra to recover.


    After another half-day passed and he felt his True Yuan had largely recovered, he finally relaxed.


    Then, upon inspecting his deputy Spirit Platform, he found a peculiar white light spot. When his Divine Sense probed it, a strange suction force appeared.


    Explore hidden tales at empire


    He also sent a message to Xie An, asking him to report on his behalf and at the same time, requested a city exit token from him before he could leave the city.


    Xie An didn''t stop him. The Lin Family wasn''t originally a frontline family, only becoming involved because Yunjing Mountain was plundered, in an attempt to redeem themselves for their crime by earning merit. With his record of slaying twenty opponents of the same rank, no one would have much to say.


    But upon his return, a thorough investigation would be inevitable.


    ...


    At an unnamed small mountain, this place was a patch of greenery with towering trees.


    Deep in the forest was a huge cave.


    Inside the cave, a golden mantis lay quietly on a stone wall, motionless.


    Only the constant snapping of its jaws hinted that the mantis hadn''t lost its lifeforce.


    A light of Spirit descended from the sky, followed by a figure in green, who walked into the cave dwelling.


    It was Lin Shiming, who had been traveling around the area for quite some time because of the emergency.


    If it hadn''t been for the urgency of the situation, Lin Shiming would have certainly taken a few more turns before arriving.


    But now, seeing that the Golden Winged Mantis was unharmed, he also felt relieved.


    Upon seeing its master arrive, the Golden Winged Mantis also chirped excitedly, transforming into a streak of golden light and flying in front of Lin Shiming, its golden triangular head constantly rubbing against his waist.


    It chirped excitedly from its mouth, like a resentful woman left behind at home.


    Without Lin Shiming around, the Golden Winged Mantis naturally couldn''t open the Storage Bag.


    Seeing the Golden Winged Mantis, Lin Shiming was overjoyed as well. He then took out some Spirit Water and Beast Nurturing Pills for the latter.


    This time''s Beast Nurturing Pills were almost his entire stock, as after all, they were only Second Rank pills, and the mantis could eat about ten at a time.


    The Golden Winged Mantis really was frustrated, gulping down most of the Beast Nurturing Pills at once, as well as a large amount of Spirit Water and Spirit Beast meat before stopping.


    What surprised him, though, was that after eating and drinking to its fill, the Golden Winged Mantis didn''t settle down and enter the Spirit Beast Bag. Instead, it continued to chirp anxiously.


    Anger was conveyed through the Spirit Contract.


    "Do you mean to wait here a bit longer, you want to fight with someone?" Lin Shiming asked hesitantly. The Golden Winged Mantis looked just like the Red-haired Demon Monkey right after its breakthrough, who wanted to spar with the mantis.


    The Golden Winged Mantis chirped even more urgently, nodding its triangular head continuously.


    Lin Shiming was still hesitating, but recalling the system prompt, he guessed that this matter might be related to the spying!

 Chapter 181 Dragon Lizard

    The cave on Nameless Mountain was extremely spacious, and the Golden Winged Mantis once again laid on the stone wall.


    Its golden triangular head was leisurely opening and closing its sharp mouth, making it appear exceedingly at ease.


    Paired with its golden insect wings lazily stacked together, it gave the illusion of dozing off.


    The entire cave was very quiet; aside from the breeze that blew through the entrance and rustled the stone wall, there were no other sounds.


    Just then, from deeper beneath the ground, a yellow-brown spirit light quietly approached.


    The spirit light was very large, yet its movements were extremely careful, and it was evidently very familiar with navigating underground, as it obviously hadn''t come here infrequently during this period.


    After seeing that the Golden Winged Mantis hadn''t made any movement, the yellow-brown spirit light cautiously moved several times beneath the ground, and only after quite some shifting did it slowly climb up.


    Strangely, when the yellow-brown spirit light touched the stone wall, it once again transformed into a gray-white spirit light, blending with the stone wall into one color.


    "A color-changing lizard?" Not far from the Golden Winged Mantis, beneath a green Taoist robe, an invisible figure was lost in thought.


    That figure was none other than Lin Shiming, who was concealed behind the scene, except this time the bait was the Golden Winged Mantis, so he simply wore his Qinglian Taoist Robe.


    Feeling the escape light from beneath the ground, Lin Shiming also found it extremely peculiar.


    After all, the Qinglian Taoist Robe he wore was made from the skin of a color-changing lizard.


    Under Lin Shiming''s gaze, the grey-white escape light continued to ascend, clearly heading towards the Golden Winged Mantis.


    Since the Golden Winged Mantis hadn''t noticed it, Lin Shiming had no choice but to use the Spirit Contract to remind it.


    Almost concurrently with the reminder, the grey-white escape light burst out from the stone wall, then transformed into a massive fleshly maw, and violently swallowed towards the Golden Winged Mantis.


    The Golden Winged Mantis, being alerted, was also very vigilant, and the infuriated creature immediately fluttered its six wings, leaving behind an afterimage.


    Then, its two enormous golden sickle-like legs fiercely slashed at the lizard.


    However, against Lin Shiming''s expectations, layers of sand shields appeared around the lizard, bearing some similarity to the spells cast by Lin Houwei.


    But this lizard''s were unmistakably more terrifying.


    The Quicksand Shield rumbled loudly, successfully blocking the golden sickle legs.


    The flesh and blood of the Dragon Lizard was top-notch material for Body Refinement, and its claws and tail were high-grade materials for crafting; naturally, Lin Shiming wouldn''t let these two beasts ruin them. Continue your adventure with empire


    It was just a pity that the Dragon Lizard was clearly a juvenile Demonic Beast; otherwise, once that bulge grew into a horn, its value would have increased by hundreds of times.


    Of course, by then, it might not be something he could kill.


    The two beasts were clearly dissatisfied with only getting such a small leg each, but after Lin Shiming tapped their foreheads twice, they obediently nibbled on the legs in their hands.


    The Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey quickly devoured the small legs of the lizard. Both Spirit Beasts ate until their faces glowed red and they were full of vigor, one howling and the other squeaking non-stop, jumping up and down excitably.


    This scene made Lin Shiming feel rather amazed, and he became greatly interested in the flesh of the Dragon Lizard.


    Whether his Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique could advance to the level of a Foundation Establishment Body Refining Cultivator depended on this opportunity.


    After circling around a few times, the Red-haired Demon Monkey eagerly pointed towards Lin Shiming''s waist, clearly wanting to return to the Spirit Beast Bag to sleep.


    What surprised Lin Shiming was that the Golden Winged Mantis showed no intention of returning at all. Its golden head tinged with red vibrated as it communicated with Lin Shiming, then turned its head to investigate in another direction, right towards where the Dragon Lizard had come from.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming''s interest grew. The Golden Winged Mantis''s behavior was clearly suggesting that he search for the Dragon Lizard''s cave.


    Lin Shiming released his Divine Sense and took out an Earth Escape Talisman, beginning to pursue through Earth Escape.


    The Golden Winged Mantis took the lead underground, constantly guiding Lin Shiming to the right location.


    After maneuvering left and right, passing numerous mountain peaks, they finally stopped above a fissure.


    As he emerged from the ground, Lin Shiming felt the surrounding Spiritual Energy was exceptionally abundant, clearly coming from a natural Spirit Vein.


    The level of the Spirit Vein reached the Inferior Grade of the Third Rank, albeit leaning towards the Earth Attribute.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s excitement and elation were beyond words. His Divine Sense probed out and discovered that this fissure, like the Yellow Grade Secret Realm he once stumbled upon, formed a natural Spirit Concealing Formation, which contained and concentrated the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Vein.


    As a result, the Spiritual Energy of the Spirit Vein grew denser and denser.


    Lin Shiming was fine, but for an average Cultivator who practiced Earth Attribute techniques, their Cultivation speed here would certainly be much faster.


    There weren''t many plants in the fissure, and Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense soon located the Dragon Lizard''s den.


    With a single flap of its wings, the Golden Winged Mantis transformed into a streak of golden light and headed straight for the den, evidently there were Spiritual Objects inside that enticed it.


    Realizing there were no dangerous Spirit Beasts around, Lin Shiming also quickly followed suit.

 Chapter 182 Closed Door Meditation (Please Subscribe)

    ```


    The Dragon Lizard''s cave was deep within the crevice, featuring a circular entrance about thirty feet high, and the inside was full of traces from the Dragon Lizard''s crawling.


    Outside the cave, numerous animal bones had accumulated, clearly leftovers from the Dragon Lizard''s meals, casually spread across the entrance in heaps both large and small, forming a kind of bone mound.


    These mounds of bones also served as the Dragon Lizard''s warning to other Demonic Beasts.


    The entrance wasn''t deep, and soon, the bottom of it could be seen, where a larger stone hall lay at its deepest part.


    Upon entering the cave, one could see the Golden Winged Mantis flying straight to a tricolored Spirit Plant and taking a big bite out of it right away.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was also stunned. It seemed the Golden Winged Mantis had picked up bad habits from the Red-haired Demon Monkey, as it started eating without hesitation.


    And now, he had finally spotted those Spirit Plants; they were all tricolored Dragon Blood Grass.


    This type of Dragon Blood Grass was said to only grow where there were Spirit Veins, and it was the best kind of Spiritual Medicine for Body Refinement.


    In front of him was a large patch, at least thirty plants, which greatly delighted Lin Shiming.


    With these Dragon Blood Grass plants, improving his Body Refining Cultivation to the level of Third Rank Foundation Establishment would be no problem at all.


    Of course, in that moment, he didn''t forget to put the Golden Winged Mantis into the Storage Bag. However, since the Golden Winged Mantis had contributed, he took out another Dragon Blood Grass and gave it to the mantis, to calm its incessant squeaking that was starting to annoy him.


    He then continued to survey the entirety of the stone hall within the cave.


    The Spirit Vein obviously originated from here. At the center, where the Dragon Blood Grass was thickest, Lin Shiming discovered a large patch of yellow soil. This soil, compact and distinct, glowed with faint Spirit Light and was brimming with vitality.


    It was the Third Rank Spirit Soil he was extremely familiar with.


    Moreover, there was quite a lot of it, at least thirty to forty jin, which meant that the Spirit Soil he was running low on due to the Golden Thunder Bamboo, Heavenly Spirit Fruit, and the Minor Divine Ability Tree was plentiful again.


    At this point, Lin Shiming was beside himself with joy; he hadn''t expected such a grand harvest simply from one outing.


    It was just unfortunate that he wasn''t a Spirit-Seeking Master, unable to transplant the Spirit Vein himself. He could only call his great-uncle later to transplant it together.


    This place belonged to the Heavenly River State, the territory controlled by the Spirit Beast Sect, so it was out of the question for the Lin Family to use it as an asset for the clan''s development.


    Lin Shiming collected the Spirit Soil and the Dragon Blood Grass, stowing them all safely within the Cave Heaven World.


    He then took out a Jade Box to place the Dragon Lizard''s corpse inside, preventing the loss of blood essence and Spiritual Energy.


    Upon the city walls, there were now even fewer members of the Lin Family Clan. Fortunately, all the main family members were still present. Lin Xianzhi stood firm on the ramparts, gazing into the distance.


    His full head of white hair had lost its previous luster.


    This old clan leader of the Lin Family seemed increasingly aged under the pressure of the great battles. At this moment, Lin Xianzhi no longer maintained his youthful appearance but reverted back to looking like an old man.


    On that day, all the Lin Family members were shocked, and Lin Houyuan even sighed.


    He understood that the wielder of the Qinglian Sword might have lost his sharpness and will.


    Fortunately, it was evident that Lin Xianzhi still had plenty of life left in him and had not reached the point of dissipating his spirit.


    However, after this display, the cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect lost interest in Lin Xianzhi. For more than a year, there had been no sneak attacks from demon cultivators or members of the Corpse Refining Sect; instead, they were repeatedly suppressed by their opponents.


    It was Lin Houyuan, however, who had suffered serious injuries during this time.


    Just then, the black fog rose again over the Tongtian River.


    "Enemy attack!" Bells rang out in quick succession throughout Heavenly River City.


    Countless cultivators flew towards the city walls.


    This time, the black fog was noticeably thicker, with demon heads darting about. At the forefront, a demonic banner magical treasure turned into a flagstaff dozens of zhang long; when waved, several Purple Mansion demon heads within it showed their ferocious claws and fangs.


    What was revealed was just the tip of the iceberg, for in the black fog lay other methods unseen by the Three Sects.


    On the side of Zhao Kingdom, the Hermit of the Black Jiao immediately led numerous Purple Mansion cultivators to meet the enemy, with the most prominent being the Hermit of the Golden Light from the Spirit Talisman Sect rushing to the forefront. This year, their sect had lost the most Purple Mansion cultivators¡ªthree in total¡ª


    One of which even got successfully turned into a Fourth Rank Corpse General!


    This had him boiling with rage.


    Yet this was not the end of it. Suddenly from the midst of the black fog, a red coffin flew out. As it emerged from the black fog, the coffin lid fell, revealing an old man who looked over sixty.


    "Corpse Refining True Person, Heavenly Sword, I am at your service!" In the sky above, from Zhao Kingdom''s side, a towering sword flew out as well, with an old man in blue robes atop it, pointing his sword to the heavens.


    Beyond that, the Sea Demon True Person from the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Heavenly Beast True Person from the Spirit Beast Sect, the Thousand Talisman True Person from the Spirit Talisman Sect, and the Liu He True Person from the Heavenly Demon Sect simultaneously made their appearances.


    All six Golden Core powerhouses emerged at the same time, completely igniting the atmosphere of the battlefield.


    The decisive battle had arrived!

 Chapter 183 Resentful Spirit (Please Subscribe)

    Six Golden Core True Persons, in order not to harm their own disciples, soared towards the Ninth Heaven.


    Fighting above, but even so, Sword Qi, Demon Blades, and the corpse flames of Corpse Refining occasionally fell from the sky...


    Each time was like a divine punishment. Purple Mansion cultivators were still okay, but those at the Foundation Establishment phase couldn''t even avoid this stray force, and as for Qi Cultivators, it was a massacre.


    In front of the entire Heavenly River Great Wall, it instantaneously became like hell, while the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect launched their most fierce attacks.


    The number of Purple Mansion cultivators had doubled compared to before, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators had tripled.


    As the commander of the moment, the Black Jiao Hermit felt a chill in his heart. These past two years, the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect had obviously held back their strength.


    "Everyone, hold the walls, don''t hold back your Spirit Talismans and Magic Artifacts. The Three Sects of the Zhao Kingdom will bear all the costs afterward!"


    Seeing that many cultivators'' Magic Artifacts had been contaminated by the Heavenly Demon Sect''s demonic gourd and facing overwhelming numbers, the Black Jiao Hermit started to consider retreat, so he bellowed fiercely.


    His bellow, also imbued with a spell, resounded in the ears of every cultivator from the Three Sects, boosting the morale of the Three Sects substantially.


    Especially targeted towards the Immortal Cultivation families under the Three Sects, these families were the most passive in avoiding the battle.


    But now, with his shout, everyone''s faces turned awkward.


    However, their awkwardness was not out of embarrassment, but rather, given the current situation, the odds of victory were clearly not good, but if they were to retreat and be remembered by the Black Jiao Hermit, they would likely die even faster when that time came.


    The Lin Family''s Lin Xianzhi had even received a transmission from the Qingxuan Sect ordering families close to the Sect like the Lin Family to set a good example in the charge.


    But at this moment, how could Lin Xianzhi not understand that the city''s fall might happen today?


    He transmitted a series of instructions to Lin Houyuan, arranging for the Qi Cultivators inside the family''s city gate to notify Lin Shiming, then resolutely raised the Qinglian Sword, leading countless sword lights as he rushed toward the front.


    As long as Shiming was still in seclusion, he couldn''t retreat!


    Meanwhile, the Qian Family, which was also notified, still showed lackluster interest, with Qian Bosheng pretending to fiercely attack a Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.


    "Activate the Formation!" The Black Jiao Hermit noticed the particularly ferocious attack from the Heavenly Demon Sect, and the spell battle between the Golden Core True Persons in the sky was even more intense and chaotic.


    The next moment saw the three thousand six hundred coffins being opened one after another, releasing countless blood corpses similar to those previously unleashed by the Golden Corpse Hermit.


    "Not good, quickly infuse spiritual energy!" The Black Dragon Hermit shouted loudly, signaling the cultivators inside the city to take out Spirit Stones and restore the Myriad Beasts Formation.


    But it was already too late. The next instant, the three thousand six hundred blood corpses exploded into a fierce blood mist, along with millions of vengeful spirits, rushing toward the Spirit Formation.


    Under the sky covered in blood mist, millions of vengeful spirits screamed, trampled, and charged, breaking through the Spirit Formation of the Myriad Beasts Sect as though it were melting ice and snow, not holding up for even a moment before it began to massively collapse and shatter.


    The terrifying aftermath directly hit some Cultivators, causing them to bleed from all orifices, their eyes blood-red as if they were becoming corpses.


    Moreover, those millions of vengeful spirits also started to self-destruct at this moment, completely blowing open the already unstable Formation, destroying the formation base and leaving no possibility for repair.


    "Profound Corpse, you dare to integrate vengeful spirits into corpses!!!" The Black Dragon Hermit was extremely furious.


    Those three thousand six hundred blood corpses were not only cultivated from the fallen cultivators but had also been sacrificed with the blood of millions of mortals, infused with the vengeful spirits into the bodies of the Xue Sha corpses to break the Formation.


    And without the Formation, Heavenly River City would no longer be a natural stronghold, and Heavenly River State would inevitably fall into the hands of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect¡ªat that time, even these Purple Mansion Cultivators would face death.


    The shattering of the Formation caused the Zhao Kingdom''s cultivators to feel a wave of despair, and a group of Sect disciples, who had already been prepared to escape, began to flee.


    This was something already arranged by the Sect disciples.


    They ran surprisingly fast, and then some Foundation Establishment Cultivator families also came to their senses and quickly retreated.


    At this time, no one could stop the assault of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect.


    "Fellow disciples, we will hold them off first, allowing our own Sect disciples to retreat!" The Black Dragon Hermit''s heart was torn, as he hadn''t expected the Formation of Heavenly River City to be destroyed on his watch.


    But at this moment, they, as Purple Mansion Cultivators, couldn''t retreat; if the Purple Mansion Cultivators were to leave, no one would stop the Purple Mansion Cultivators of the two Sects. By then, the Foundation Establishment disciples and Qi Cultivation disciples would have no chance of survival.


    But even as Purple Mansion Cultivators stood their ground, the Black Dragon Hermit still noticed that the Zhao Kingdom''s cultivators were being cut down like wheat by the cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect.


    In the midst of the great battle, Lin Hou Yuan was engulfed in grief. Lin Xianzhi, having charged too far forward, was now trapped by two late-stage Foundation Establishment and one perfect-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    And he felt helpless, unable to come to the rescue, and even forced to lead the Qi Cultivation members of the Lin Family to flee in disgrace.

 Chapter 185 Decision

    ```


    The speed of the Third Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Boat instantly increased a notch as Lin Shiming controlled it, heading towards White Leaf Continent, which was adjacent to Heavenly River State.


    White Leaf Continent was also the largest state of the Spirit Beast Sect, where the main forces of the sect were located.


    The cultivators of Zhao Kingdom were almost all retreating towards White Leaf Continent as well.


    The raging wind struck Lin Shiming''s face, making him even calmer inside. With the Third Rank Wind Escape Talisman, indeed even an average Purple Mansion cultivator without a flying magical treasure might not be able to catch up to him.


    But in the next moment, Lin Shiming thought of his father, Lin Houyuan, and others.


    At the time the city was breached, it was the communication from the Lin Family Clan that he sensed that made him leave his retreat. Because it was a dedicated retreat, unless the formation of the retreat was destroyed, he would not have noticed the changes outside.


    At that time, he had just completed a breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment and had consolidated his cultivation level with the Tribulation-Resolving Elixir given by Lin Xianzhi. He also incidentally completed the refining of the Formation Swords, forming the Great Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation.


    Otherwise, he might not have been able to leave with Lin Xianzhi under the circumstances at that time.


    But because he exited the retreat too hastily, he had only fully refined the Purple Gold Gourd, and that Supreme Grade flying sword had not been refined yet. At the same time, his Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique was only at the late stage of Qi Cultivation.


    On the way, Lin Shiming had the fewest injuries.


    As he recovered his True Yuan, his Purple Wood Heart Sutra also had a natural advantage.


    At this moment, he was able to multitask, keeping his Divine Sense on the pursuers.


    At the same time, his Divine Sense continuously swept underneath the ground and every thousand miles, he waved his hand toward the ground and retrieved an Iron Thornwood seed.


    The appearance of Iron Thornwood seeds in the wild would not draw the attention of other cultivators, making it an excellent marker.


    This was something he had given to his father before leaving.


    But the more he watched, the more alarmed he became, as the distance between the markers was growing, and they were somewhat scattered.


    Clearly, the Lin Family Clan members were fleeing!


    ...


    In an endless forest, a Spirit Boat was flying desperately, and low-rank wind Spirit Talismans were affixed to the Spirit Boat.


    "Stop causing trouble, Shiyi. You will eventually surpass this old man and become the true number one Body Refining Cultivator of the Lin Family!" Lin Yuqing spoke again. He actually wanted to scold him, but remembering these were likely his last few words, his tone softened by half, turning into persuasion.


    "Family Head, let me go. They''re coming for me, and I hope the remaining brothers and sisters can take care of Shiqi," Lei Xuan stepped forward.


    As a Thunder Spirit Root cultivator, it was the release of his thunder attribute spell during the last moments of the city''s defense that caused the Lin Family to catch such unwanted attention.


    For the Heavenly Demon Sect, other cultivators could escape, but a Thunder Cultivator had to be killed on sight.


    This city battle saw most cultivators with the thunder attribute ambushed by the Demon Cultivators.


    Lei Xuan was only okay because he hid well, and of course, nobody thought that a Thunder Spirit Root Cultivator would emerge from the Lin Family.


    This time Lin Houyuan nodded in agreement; after all, Lei Xuan had been captured and married into the family. While Lin Shiming was at ease about him, they were admittedly a little worried, and the chase this time indeed had something to do with Lei Xuan.


    "It''s decided then. I, Uncle, Big Brother Hou Yong, Second Brother Hou Shou, Sixth Brother Hou Yu, and Lei Xuan, are responsible for staying behind to face the enemy. Everyone else should try to escape with three Earth Escape Talismans each!" Lin Houyuan ordered.


    The Lin Family Elders also entrusted their last words to Lin Houwei, handing over any Jade Slips and treasures that could benefit their descendants to him.


    Then Lin Houyuan and the others slowed their speed, waiting for the Demon Cultivators to arrive, while Lin Houwei and the rest disembarked from the Spirit Boat and utilized Wind Escape Talismans to flee before using Earth Escape Talismans to make their escape.


    These Escape Talismans had been obtained by Lin Shiming after he killed cultivators from the Huang Family in the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    "If only the seventh was here!" Lin Shiyi also sounded somewhat somber, but he didn''t slow down and continued to flee forward.


    Soon, a black Spirit Boat with a large flag appeared in the sky not far away.


    The Spirit Boat was not yet close when countless Flying Knife Artifacts began to be hurled towards Lin Houyuan''s Spirit Boat.


    Following the flying knives came Flying Needles!


    The cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect rarely used swords; most of their combat involved magical flags, which were handy and made it convenient to absorb the souls of slain enemies into the flags, increasing the power of the Heavenly Demon flags.


    But this didn''t mean that the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators lacked proficiency with other Magic Artifacts. On the contrary, their Flying Needle Artifacts, Flying Knife Artifacts, and their polluted Magical Gourds were numerous.


    The Flying Knives were immensely powerful. Lin Houyuan had to wield three Intermediate Grade Third Rank Formation Swords just to fend off the Flying Knives. But as soon as the knives were dealt with, the Flying Needle Artifacts arrived, leaving Lin Houyuan in a frantic defense.


    And the Magical Flags of the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators also swiftly approached.


    Two middle-stage Foundation Establishment Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators, one early-stage Foundation Establishment, plus over a dozen Qi Cultivation disciples!

 Chapter 186 Refinement while Alive

    The leading demon cultivator was a lean, dark-faced cultivator named Xu Qiu, who looked over at Lin Houyuan with sharp, hawk-like eyes.


    He then turned his gaze toward the distance, looking in each of the four directions, one by one.


    Finally, he gave orders to the surrounding Qi Cultivators and to a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator.


    That Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator instantly understood that the big fish of the moment was not for him.


    He wasn''t annoyed, though; within the Heavenly Demon Sect, this was all too common. Only those with formidable strength had the right to choose their spoils of war.


    Lin Houyuan saw a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator of the Heavenly Demon Sect leading Qi Cultivators in pursuit of Lin Houwei, prompting him to react immediately and burst forth.


    He wielded three Intermediate Grade Third Rank magic swords to their utmost, slashing towards the Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator.


    However, this proactive attack played right into Xu Qiu''s hands.


    The Heavenly Demon banner on the spirit boat waved over, and a sky-full of black fog surged towards Lin Houyuan.


    Lin Houyuan could only retreat continuously; he knew that if he were enveloped by the black fog, he wouldn''t last a quarter of an hour and would surely die, making any attempt to stall the enemy meaningless.


    As Lin Houyuan kept dodging, he hadn''t expected that another Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Sect would come up behind him. Wielding another demon banner, the cultivator cut off Lin Houyuan''s retreat.


    Suddenly, Lin Houyuan was hard-pressed to move.


    The other Lin Family cultivators also faced Qi Cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect. The Great Elder, Lin Yuqing, was injured almost immediately upon engagement.


    It''s true that he practiced Body Refinement, but his age was quite advanced, and the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators were numerous and powerful.


    Luckily, at that moment, Lei Xuan alone was using Thunder Techniques, creating booming noises and charring many of the Heavenly Demon Sect Qi Cultivators'' magic artifacts.


    For the time being, he played an even more significant role than Lin Houqing, a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator.


    Of course, the most critical person was Lin Houshou. He took out several formation flags and, while setting them up, faced three Qi Cultivator demon cultivators without falling behind.


    At this moment, it was Lin Houyuan who was in the most danger.


    Caught off guard and surrounded by two Heavenly Demon banners, he had no choice but to grit his teeth, activate his Spirit Light Shield, charge into the demonic mist, and command his Flying Sword, seeking to slay the demon heads.


    The fearsome aspect of the Heavenly Demon Banner lay in the demon heads and some tormented spirits contained within.


    However, what troubled him was that the two Heavenly Demon banners together unleashed ten demon heads.


    The lean cultivator Xu Qiu even shouted:


    "Thirteenth Uncle, get on my Spirit Boat!" Lin Shiming fed Lin Shiyi a Healing Pill, gave Lin Houwei a bottle of Healing Pills, then steered the Spirit Boat, found everyone including Lin Shiyun, and by the time they regrouped with Lin Xianzhi, a quarter of an hour had passed.


    "Shiming, we must drive the Spirit Boat away now, otherwise the demon cultivators will catch up!" Xie An''s complexion was not bad at the moment, as it''s only natural to help family members.


    But he still needed to give a necessary warning; the Purple Mansion cultivators from Zhao Kingdom were also fast, and when the Purple Mansion cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect arrived, that would be a big trouble.


    After regrouping with Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming continued to rush towards White Leaf Continent.


    On the Spirit Boat, everyone looked at Lin Shiyi, who wouldn''t wake up from his coma, their faces filled with grief.


    Lin Shiyi was too seriously injured, even as a Body Refining Cultivator, he was struggling to hold on.


    Lin Houwei was showing a face full of self-blame, frantically worrying.


    "It''s alright, let me do it!" Lin Shiming saw Lin Shiyi drenched in blood and suffering greatly, and took out a small bottle of fresh blood from his hand.


    This bottle of blood was extremely dense, with spiritual patterns moving within it, obviously quite extraordinary.


    He propped up Lin Shiyi, allowing the latter to lean on his hand, then poured the small bottle into Lin Shiyi''s mouth.


    "Will this work?" Lin Yuqing was also somewhat worried.


    She thought everything would be fine once Lin Shiming arrived.


    But she didn''t expect that Lin Shiyi, the family''s potential Body Refining Cultivator, would be almost soul-whipped by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    The next moment, to everyone''s amazement, after swallowing that blood, Lin Shiyi began to cough violently, which made everyone rejoice, not expecting it to actually work.


    "Shiming, is that the blood of a Pseudo Dragon?" At this moment, Xie An also looked over, disbelief on his face.


    Pseudo Dragons, another term for dragon beasts, have very precious blood and flesh. Even the blood of the lowest Third Rank dragon beast is comparable to a Supreme Grade magic artifact, especially for a Body Refining Cultivator.


    These could allow a Body Refining Cultivator to breakthrough realms, comparable to Barrier-Breaking Pills.


    Only the blood of a dragon beast could activate Lin Shiyi''s body, prompting it to start recovering automatically.


    "Yes, a dragon beast that was luckily slain!" Lin Shiming nodded, the existence of the Dragon Lizard was not hidden the moment he took it out.


    Discover stories at empire


    In such a situation, no matter how precious a dragon beast was, saving Lin Shiyi was what mattered.


    "Shiming, I wonder if I could exchange for some of the dragon beast''s blood?" Xie An spoke again, obviously excited.

 Chapter 187 Dragon Blood Pill

    Xie An''s words did surprise Lin Shiming somewhat.


    Xie An was a pure sword cultivator, with almost all of his weapons being magic swords.


    For him to want the blood of these dragon lizards was almost without reason.


    "Brother Xie, naturally we can make the exchange, but the dragon lizard I killed was not an adult dragon lizard!" Lin Shiming didn''t refuse.


    However, it was impossible for him to trade away the whole thing, knowing that whether for his own Body Refinement Cultivation of the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique, or for Lin Shiyi, it was extremely valuable.


    "No need for much, just thirty pounds of flesh and blood will do, but I need ten drops of essence blood!" Xie An hurriedly said.


    After saying this, he seemingly noticed the confusion on the faces of Lin Shiming and the other members of the Lin Family, and immediately explained.


    "Shiming, perhaps the news I''m about to share might actually be good news. Do you know what the greatest effect of pseudo-dragon blood is?"


    Xie An pursed his lips, posing the question, then looked at Lin Shiming and then at Lin Xianzhi.


    However, both were utterly perplexed.


    "It''s the Qi and blood. The Qi and blood of a pseudo-dragon beast are dozens of times that of a normal spirit beast and cannot be quantified by numbers. This kind of pseudo-dragon blood can be used to refine Dragon Blood Pills in the Qingxuan Sect!"


    "The effect of this kind of Dragon Blood Pill is also very straightforward¡ªit significantly improves a cultivator''s Qi and blood!"


    "In other words, even if someone is over sixty years old, as long as their age does not exceed the limit by too much and they have sufficiently tempered their Spiritual Energy, they can attempt a Foundation Establishment breakthrough with a Dragon Blood Pill even at eighty years old!"


    As Xie An spoke these words, everyone held their breath, and at this moment, Lin Shiming also felt a stir of excitement.


    But the most stirred was the Seventh Elder of the Lin Family, Lin Houshou, Lin Shiming''s second uncle.


    He had an extremely strong innate talent for formations, but because he was late in breaking through the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and lacked time to polish his True Yuan, he had to give up the idea of Foundation Establishment after reaching his sixtieth year.


    But now, at this moment, Xie An''s words were like sweet rain after a long drought, lighting up his eyes with infinite brilliance.


    "I won''t hide it from you, I too need to boost my Qi and blood in preparation for breaking through to the Purple Mansion!" Xie An added, although he appeared to be in his middle years, his actual age was already over one hundred and eighty, and while his Qi and blood were not insufficient for a Purple Mansion breakthrough,


    ample Qi and blood could increase his chances.


    These two Cultivators, relying on their Foundation Establishment cultivation level, had become notorious demons by torturing other Cultivators to obtain their resentful spirits.


    To Cultivators like them, not being chopped into a thousand pieces was already generous.


    Lin Shiming didn''t say much but abruptly began to activate the Soul Searching Technique, conducting on-the-spot soul searching on the two demon cultivators.


    His powerful Divine Sense violently invaded the minds of the two demon cultivators, and in the next moment, screams of agony echoed as their sea of consciousness shattered and their souls perished!


    Both had a Sect''s Jade Book, which should have protected them, so the soul searching yielded no results.


    But Lin Shiming wasn''t actually trying to search their souls; he just didn''t want to reveal the Split Spirit Blade, and killing them with the Soul Searching Technique let them know what it felt like to be tormented to death.


    Afterward, Lin Shiming handed the storage bags over to Lin Houyuan, letting his father look through the storage bags of the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Of course, in reality, it meant handing over the spoils of war to his father.


    Although Lin Houyuan had broken through to Foundation Establishment more than ten years ago, his True Yuan was still not fully tempered, and when it came to magic artifacts, he didn''t possess any particularly formidable ones. In normal times, he might refuse what his son offered, even when his son gave him some Spirit Stones, Lin Houyuan did not always accept.


    These two demon cultivators were mediocre in strength, and so were the magic artifacts they used; this situation provided Lin Shiming with an opportunity to present treasures to his father.


    While he was controlling the Spirit Boat, with Lin Xianzhi and Xie An, one a latter stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the other at perfect Foundation Establishment, naturally, they had no interest in the storage bags of two ordinary middle-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Moreover, the two were slain by Lin Shiming himself.


    The magic artifacts and Spirit Stones in the storage bags naturally remained with Lin Houyuan.


    Of course, if there were good treasures, Lin Houyuan would discuss them with him.


    After all the affairs were settled, Lin Shiming continued to pilot the Spirit Boat, while Lin Houyuan, Lin Xianzhi, and Xie An each found a room to continue their recovery.


    What made Lin Shiming sigh was that Lin Xianzhi stowed away the superior-grade Spirit Stones and began to use intermediate-grade Spirit Stones for recovery, as well as taking Healing Pills.


    The Spirit Boat smoothly set its course towards the White Leaf Continent.


    And just then, the system alert reappeared:


    "Beware of the small Mount Tai ahead; you are about to be ambushed by Chen Yunlai!"

 Chapter 188 The Li Family Reemerges

    ```


    Beneath the rosy clouds, atop the Spirit Boat.


    Lin Shiming suddenly stood up, looked ahead, and saw, vaguely behind the dense clouds, a small hill resembling a disc.


    There was no warning from his Divine Sense, just like the last time with Yunjing Mountain, without any forewarning.


    Not until Chen Yunlai''s Spirit Boat approached the Formation did Lin Shiming and Lin Gang notice anything.


    This time was no different, and even Xie An had not noticed.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    One could imagine how adept Chen Yunlai''s concealment methods were.


    But what puzzled him the most was how Chen Yunlai had managed to get ahead of them.


    Keep in mind that they were on a Third Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Boat, enhanced with a set of Third Rank Wind Escape Talismans.


    However, confusing as it was, now was not the time to worry about it.


    As Lin Shiming executed a Spirit Art with his hands, the Spirit Boat abruptly veered to the left, circumventing the small mesa.


    Not knowing what kind of Formation was ahead, he naturally didn''t dare to charge straight at it.


    This sudden acceleration and change of course caused both Xie An and Lin Xianzhi to emerge from their rooms on the Spirit Boat, looking at Lin Shiming with faces full of confusion.


    Read new chapters at empire


    But upon seeing the extremely serious expression on Lin Shiming''s face, they all felt a jolt of surprise and then released their Divine Senses vigorously.


    Xie An, in particular, extensively scoured the surrounding thousand miles with his Divine Sense.


    Yet, he immediately felt confused because, under his Divine Sense, he was confident that no movement, no matter how minor, could escape him unless it was a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    And a Purple Mansion cultivator would have no need to ambush them¡ªthey could simply fly up and start a massacre.


    Lin Xianzhi looked around and wore the same puzzled expression.


    "Uncle Seventh Ancestor, Brother Xie, my Spirit Beast sensed fear on that small mesa. There might be a mutant beast!" Lin Shiming also opened his mouth to explain, then released the Golden Winged Mantis.


    At that moment, the Golden Winged Mantis was resplendent with golden light, clearly extraordinary, and now the size of a calf. After devouring Dragon Lizard meat and Dragon Blood Grass, its golden limbs were even sharper, such that glancing at it felt like having the edge of a knife at one''s back, unbearable to look at directly.


    Especially its six wings, which were exceptionally elongated, far surpassing the elegance of a regular mantis''s secondary wings.


    "Is this a mutant Six-Winged Heavenly Mantis?" Xie An certainly had heard of the Spirit Beast Sect''s list of heavenly and earthly Spirit Insects.


    "It''s Li Chengxian from the Li family!" Lin Xianzhi also spoke up at this moment.


    However, the person he saw shocked the entire Lin Family.


    This Li Chengxian was none other than the once invincible successor of the Yunzhou Li family.


    Li Chengxian was acclaimed as the successor of the Li family, barely a hundred years old, but already at the late stage of Foundation Establishment and a Purple Mansion seed of the Li family. It''s just that afterwards, the Li family defected from the Qingxuan Sect, and Li Chuanhuan died in the Qingyun Mountains.


    Without any Purple Mansion cultivators, even if the Li family had sought refuge with the Heavenly Demon Sect, their days would not have been easy.


    And thus, it finally made sense. This War Treasure Ship was clearly the one bought by the Purple Mansion Family, the Li family, back in the day.


    After Li Chuanhuan''s death, naturally, the Treasure Ship came under the control of Li Chengxian.


    Chen Laomo with Li Chengxian and so few Foundation Establishment disciples in tow, at this moment, he even suspected that Chen Laomo had his eyes on Li Chengxian''s Treasure Ship.


    The Treasure Ship approached extremely quickly, leaving them no time to react.


    Suddenly, a massive black grinding disc appeared in the sky, emitting endless dim light.


    It swept toward the Supreme Grade Spirit Boat.


    "Hou Yuan, take the rest of our clan and pull back a bit; leave this to us three!" Lin Xianzhi shouted.


    He then drew the Qinglian Sword and slashed fiercely at the black grinding disc.


    A giant Qinglian Sword Light transformed into a green lotus, continuously blocking the grinding disc magic artifact. Countless sparks poured down like a waterfall.


    At this moment, Chen Laomo also took out a demon flag.


    The demon flag turned into thirty feet in size in the blink of an eye, resembling the gates of hell, and more than a dozen demon heads charged out from inside.


    These demon heads had a minimum cultivation level of late Third Rank, and some were even equivalent to the perfection of Foundation Establishment, the pinnacle of the Third Rank demon heads, of which there were two.


    Those two demon heads were both childlike in appearance, yet with blue faces and fangs, looking ferocious and terrifying, emitting a formidable evil qi.


    A cold flame blew out like the fires of hell, eerily horrifying, heading towards Lin Shiming and the others.


    Xie An at that moment also took out his Supreme Grade magic sword, and streaks of sword light slashed out, unfolding the ghostly flames.


    However, those ghostly winds were like boneless mouths, floating above the Spirit Sword, still slowly eroding the sword light.


    "You have the Yin-Yang Demon Child!" Xie An also exclaimed, his face full of disbelief.


    Chen Laomo had hidden his strength during the battle at Heavenly River City!!

 Chapter 189 Underworld Tiger?

    "Be careful not to destroy the soul-devouring ant on that kid, I have great use for it!" Chen Yunlai said coldly to the few people behind him, then stepped forward with a grinding disc in one hand and a demon banner in the other.


    The terrifying grinding disc began to spin, emitting a kaka sound like rice being ground. The sound, which seemed to crush everything, made everyone feel as if their divine souls were being sucked into the disc, and wildly ground to pieces.


    Xie An was clearly faring better, as the jade pendant around his neck suddenly emitted an endless green glow, enveloping and protecting him. On the other hand, Lin Xianzhi was completely unable to concentrate, and his swordsmanship was greatly flawed.


    In the next moment, the grinding disc forcibly dispersed the Sword Lotus, turning it into green light that faded and disappeared, and the Green Lotus Sword was sent flying back.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, let me do it!" Seeing this, Lin Shiming knew that with the grinding disc present, Lin Xianzhi would not be able to wield his swordsmanship effectively.


    Instead, because of his cultivation in the Split Spirit Decision, he was not just resistant to the soul-crushing effects of the grinding disc, but even if his divine soul was indeed momentarily crushed, he was conscious enough to undergo repair.


    At that moment, Lin Shiming took out thirty-six Formation Swords, constantly transforming them into four smaller Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formations, and targeted the top of the grinding disc.


    The four mini Sword Arrays put a lot of pressure on Lin Shiming, but not to an outrageous extent that would drain his True Yuan in just a few exchanges. Read the latest on empire


    And since his Sword Array used Superior Grade Magic Swords, the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was even more robust, and, coupled with the Wood Attribute True Essence, it withstood the attack of the grinding disc.


    The weight of the grinding disc was one aspect, while the defense of his Sword Array was another, yet the True Yuan being consumed was massive.


    Meanwhile, Xie An was fighting madly with a Yin-Yang Demon Child, sword in hand.


    Under the surge of the demon banner, the Yin-Yang Demon Child seemed to have infinite strength, with numerous little demons to its left and right, continuously attacking Xie An.


    However, Xie An was not only a Cultivator at the Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Stage, but also had a Third Rank Supreme Grade Magic Sword, and he was casting a Third Rank Superior Grade Secret Sword Art. He was on equal footing in the battle.


    At that moment, Chen Yunlai was not annoyed. Seeing Lin Shiming taking the initiative to confront him, he thought Lin Shiming was overestimating himself.


    Lin Xianzhi, at the very least, was a Cultivator at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and he had even comprehended Sword Intent.


    But this was fine as well, what he coveted was Lin Shiming''s soul-devouring ant.


    With the Magic Artifact of the grinding disc pressing down, making Lin Shiming gasp for breath, Chen Yunlai sneered and then, from the demon banner, three Foundation Establishment Late-Stage demon heads rushed toward Lin Shiming.


    The three demon heads were spewing poison mist, and just then, a yellow Heavenly Demon Bag appeared in the sky, gusts of wind blowing away all the poison mist.


    The fierce winds even targeted the three demon heads.


    On the side of the demon cultivators, Li Chengxian proved himself to be a genius of the Li Family, with a terrifying Cultivation Level even among those at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Recognizing the Renshui Geng Metal Art, he couldn''t help but let out a cold laugh:


    "You Lin Family really don''t know what''s good for you. The Qingxuan Sect gave you life-consumptive cultivation techniques, and you are so desperate. I want to see just how long you can last with that white hair!" Li Chengxian''s comment surprised not Xie An, nor the demon cultivators around him.


    But rather, it was the Lin Family members behind Lin Shiming and the others who were fighting against the demon Qi cultivators.


    They did not understand why Lin Xianzhi, who was only one hundred and sixty years old, looked so old.


    Now hearing these words, they all felt indignant, filled with a sense of humiliation.


    The Lin Family had fought and made contributions for Qingxuan Sect, and now it turned out that Lin Xianzhi''s cultivation technique was all wrong.


    At the same time, they thought of a shocking possibility and all turned to look at Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming was also a disciple of the Qingxuan Sect, practicing the Sect''s given cultivation techniques.


    "Haha, don''t bother. Lin Shiming''s cultivation technique also has flaws!" Li Chengxian spoke up again with a cold laugh.


    At this moment, he fully activated his cultivation technique, along with a red sword in his hand. Facing Lin Xianzhi, although he could not defeat him, he was not much worse off.


    With four other people assisting him on the side, they were confident that they could soon kill the life-exhausted Lin Xianzhi.


    "And what good are you demon cultivators?" Xie An was also enraged at this moment.


    He raised his hand, and once again, produced a sword. This time, it was three Supreme Grade magic swords. Even though his Divine Soul was pushed to the limit, the might of the swords at this moment was still extremely terrifying.


    Chen Yunlai began to look serious as well. Suddenly, he took out another black flag.


    This black flag was even more sinister and terrifying. On its surface was a giant demon head in the shape of a fierce tiger.


    Beyond that, there was nothing else.


    As the black flag unfurled in the wind, it transformed into a huge flag fifty zhang tall in the next moment. The demon fog surged like a sea, and a black nether tiger demon head suddenly burst forth, making everyone''s spirits tremble.


    "Purple Mansion Nether Tiger!" Xie An''s face changed dramatically as well.

 Chapter 190 Anxiety

    Xie An''s words sank the hearts of everyone present once again.


    The already dire situation had become even more hopeless.


    They were all familiar with the name of the Ming Tiger, a Demonic Beast rumored to carry the True Spirit bloodline, scarcely inferior to the descendants of the Dragon Beasts, possessing immense strength, against which cultivators of the same rank stood no chance.


    Not to mention the Ming Tiger that had become a demon after death, whose strength was scarcely diminished, a key reason for the prosperity of the Heavenly Demon Sect''s demonic banners.


    "No, his Ming Tiger demon soul isn''t complete, it''s just a remnant soul!" Xie An shouted again.


    "What does it matter if it''s just a remnant soul, you still can''t withstand it!" Chen Yunlai sneered coldly, signaling with the demonic banner that he was ready to annihilate everything in his path.


    Everyone knew him as Old Demon Chen, but little did they know where his notorious reputation stemmed from.


    The Rolling Divine Plate and the Yin Yang Demonic Child were one thing, but in fact, his ultimate technique was this Ming Tiger demon soul.


    A whole Third Rank Supreme Grade demonic banner, capable of bearing only one demon soul, spoke volumes of the Ming Tiger''s dominance and ferocity.


    While deliberating, the Ming Tiger raised its head, its massive fangs began to emit a ghostly glow, lunging towards Xie An.


    At this moment, the three Supreme Grade magic swords performing the Three Dragons Convergence secret technique seemed like toys being played with by the Ming Tiger, completely suppressed.


    Xie An''s expression changed drastically as the Yin Yang Demonic Child spewed another breath of Yin Flame. In response, he scrambled to pull out an abundance of Spirit Talismans, casting defenses non-stop.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming''s eyes were bursting with ferocity, continuously casting Spirit Arts with his hands.


    The next moment, countless Purple Gold Vines shot out towards Lin Xianzhi''s opponents.


    This assault of Purple Gold Vines had been long charged up by Lin Shiming; as he was being continuously suppressed by the Rolling Divine Plate, he had been preparing.


    Now, nearly all of it was unleashed, turning into an ocean of Purple Gold Vines, entwining towards several people.


    Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators had no ability to resist, and among the Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators, only Li Chengxian managed to escape.


    A golden light emerged, and unexpectedly, two enormous golden limbs descended, severing two of the entwined Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators.


    One of them was a cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Sect, his cultivation entirely bound to the demon banner, and was killed outright, while the other was enveloped by Lin Xianzhi''s Green Lotus Sword Light, dying without a whole corpse.


    The remaining two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators were no match and were obliterated by the sword light on the spot.


    They combated the Yin Yang Demon Child.


    Yet, as soon as Li Chengxian noticed this, he would return to persistently harass Lin Xianzhi.


    However, the most critical issue was still the Hell Tiger Demon Lord; Xie An was still unable to hold it off. Three Supreme Grade Magic Swords could only conjure about three zhang of space around him, desperately defending.


    With each assault of the Hell Tiger, Xie An spewed blood, and the Magic Swords'' Spirit Light greatly diminished.


    At that moment, Chen Yunlai''s complexion darkened as well; despite his suppression, Lin Shiming still managed to strike and kill others.


    But just as he was about to wield the Rolling Divine Plate to crush Lin Shiming, a golden scythe leg sliced through the void at an extreme speed, leaving only a trail of dazzling golden light.


    It was the Golden Winged Mantis controlled by Lin Shiming attacking again. However, a Spirit Shield appeared around Chen Yunlai, blocking the lethal strike of the Golden Winged Mantis, after which Chen Yunlai disappeared under the demon banner.


    Magic mist enveloped the area, and Lin Shiming could not see a trace of Chen Yunlai.


    The Golden Winged Mantis also continuously transformed into golden light, flying around the magic mist, then vanished into the void beneath the Qinglian Taoist Robe.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, the old demon Chen''s Divine Sense is lacking!" Lin Shiming also bellowed.


    The Hell Tiger was indeed powerful, but as a demon within the Heavenly Demon Banner, its existence depended on Chen Yunlai.


    This kind of Magic Artifact almost transcended its category, and the consumption of Divine Sense was naturally enormous.


    Otherwise, with the character of old demon Chen, he would have taken out the demon banner early on to refine the Golden Winged Mantis into a demon head.


    The cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect may lack other Magic Artifacts, but almost each one possesses several Heavenly Demon Banners, differing only in material.


    Lin Xianzhi also noticed that the Yin Yang Demon Child didn''t display the same fierce aggression as it had in the fight against Xie An; instead, it attacked mechanically.


    Discover exclusive content at empire


    Now that Chen Yunlai moved the demon banner away, the Yin Yang Demon Child appeared even less formidable!


    What vexed him though was that with the Heavenly Demon Banner shrouding Chen Yunlai, they simply couldn''t find his true body. If Xie An were to be slain, then it would be impossible for them to survive.


    And indeed, that was the case for Xie An at the moment; most of the treasures in his Storage Bag were depleted, and his whole body radiated intense Spirit Light, evidently having used some kind of secret technique that drained his potential.


    Even so, he was still in dire straits, with the possibility of being fatally struck by the Hell Tiger''s claw and breaching his sword defense at any moment, leading to his demise.

 Chapter 184 - 185 Decision

    ```


    The speed of the Third Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Boat instantly increased a notch as Lin Shiming controlled it, heading towards White Leaf Continent, which was adjacent to Heavenly River State.


    White Leaf Continent was also the largest state of the Spirit Beast Sect, where the main forces of the sect were located.


    The cultivators of Zhao Kingdom were almost all retreating towards White Leaf Continent as well.


    The raging wind struck Lin Shiming¡¯s face, making him even calmer inside. With the Third Rank Wind Escape Talisman, indeed even an average Purple Mansion cultivator without a flying magical treasure might not be able to catch up to him.


    But in the next moment, Lin Shiming thought of his father, Lin Houyuan, and others.


    At the time the city was breached, it was the communication from the Lin Family Clan that he sensed that made him leave his retreat. Because it was a dedicated retreat, unless the formation of the retreat was destroyed, he would not have noticed the changes outside.


    At that time, he had just completed a breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment and had consolidated his cultivation level with the Tribulation-Resolving Elixir given by Lin Xianzhi. He also incidentally completed the refining of the Formation Swords, forming the Great Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation.


    Otherwise, he might not have been able to leave with Lin Xianzhi under the circumstances at that time.


    But because he exited the retreat too hastily, he had only fully refined the Purple Gold Gourd, and that Supreme Grade flying sword had not been refined yet. At the same time, his Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique was only at the late stage of Qi Cultivation.


    On the way, Lin Shiming had the fewest injuries.


    As he recovered his True Yuan, his Purple Wood Heart Sutra also had a natural advantage.


    At this moment, he was able to multitask, keeping his Divine Sense on the pursuers.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    At the same time, his Divine Sense continuously swept underneath the ground and every thousand miles, he waved his hand toward the ground and retrieved an Iron Thornwood seed.


    The appearance of Iron Thornwood seeds in the wild would not draw the attention of other cultivators, making it an excellent marker.


    This was something he had given to his father before leaving.


    But the more he watched, the more alarmed he became, as the distance between the markers was growing, and they were somewhat scattered.


    Clearly, the Lin Family Clan members were fleeing!


    ...


    In an endless forest, a Spirit Boat was flying desperately, and low-rank wind Spirit Talismans were affixed to the Spirit Boat.


    "Stop causing trouble, Shiyi. You will eventually surpass this old man and become the true number one Body Refining Cultivator of the Lin Family!" Lin Yuqing spoke again. He actually wanted to scold him, but remembering these were likely his last few words, his tone softened by half, turning into persuasion.


    "Family Head, let me go. They¡¯re coming for me, and I hope the remaining brothers and sisters can take care of Shiqi," Lei Xuan stepped forward.


    As a Thunder Spirit Root cultivator, it was the release of his thunder attribute spell during the last moments of the city¡¯s defense that caused the Lin Family to catch such unwanted attention.


    For the Heavenly Demon Sect, other cultivators could escape, but a Thunder Cultivator had to be killed on sight.


    This city battle saw most cultivators with the thunder attribute ambushed by the Demon Cultivators.


    Lei Xuan was only okay because he hid well, and of course, nobody thought that a Thunder Spirit Root Cultivator would emerge from the Lin Family.


    This time Lin Houyuan nodded in agreement; after all, Lei Xuan had been captured and married into the family. While Lin Shiming was at ease about him, they were admittedly a little worried, and the chase this time indeed had something to do with Lei Xuan.


    "It¡¯s decided then. I, Uncle, Big Brother Hou Yong, Second Brother Hou Shou, Sixth Brother Hou Yu, and Lei Xuan, are responsible for staying behind to face the enemy. Everyone else should try to escape with three Earth Escape Talismans each!" Lin Houyuan ordered.


    The Lin Family Elders also entrusted their last words to Lin Houwei, handing over any Jade Slips and treasures that could benefit their descendants to him.


    Then Lin Houyuan and the others slowed their speed, waiting for the Demon Cultivators to arrive, while Lin Houwei and the rest disembarked from the Spirit Boat and utilized Wind Escape Talismans to flee before using Earth Escape Talismans to make their escape.


    These Escape Talismans had been obtained by Lin Shiming after he killed cultivators from the Huang Family in the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    "If only the seventh was here!" Lin Shiyi also sounded somewhat somber, but he didn¡¯t slow down and continued to flee forward.


    Soon, a black Spirit Boat with a large flag appeared in the sky not far away.


    The Spirit Boat was not yet close when countless Flying Knife Artifacts began to be hurled towards Lin Houyuan¡¯s Spirit Boat.


    Following the flying knives came Flying Needles!


    The cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect rarely used swords; most of their combat involved magical flags, which were handy and made it convenient to absorb the souls of slain enemies into the flags, increasing the power of the Heavenly Demon flags.


    But this didn¡¯t mean that the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators lacked proficiency with other Magic Artifacts. On the contrary, their Flying Needle Artifacts, Flying Knife Artifacts, and their polluted Magical Gourds were numerous.


    The Flying Knives were immensely powerful. Lin Houyuan had to wield three Intermediate Grade Third Rank Formation Swords just to fend off the Flying Knives. But as soon as the knives were dealt with, the Flying Needle Artifacts arrived, leaving Lin Houyuan in a frantic defense.


    And the Magical Flags of the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators also swiftly approached.


    Two middle-stage Foundation Establishment Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators, one early-stage Foundation Establishment, plus over a dozen Qi Cultivation disciples!

 Chapter 191 Arriving at Jiuye City

    Two towering Magic Banners stood like demonic gates, one enshrouding Chen Yunlai and the other suppressing Xie An.


    The demonic fog was so dense that it reduced visibility to its lowest, and as soon as Divine Sense entered the fog, it would be disturbed by resentful spirits lurking within.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi both had extremely unsightly expressions on their faces.


    At this moment, Li Chengxian was not moving forward to harass them, but quietly waiting for the Underworld Tiger to slay Xie An and then to coordinate with the Yin Yang Demon Child in killing Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi.


    He was holding his treasure sword and staring intently at Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi from a distance, guessing that they would attempt to escape the moment Xie An died.


    And he, must intercept Lin Shiming!


    Lin Shiming was doomed to die!


    However, with a flash of golden light!


    The Golden Winged Mantis finally charged into the demonic fog, the effects of the Qinglian Taoist Robe instantly failed, revealing its golden insect body.


    Countless resentful spirits and demonic heads swooped towards the Golden Winged Mantis, seeking to bite it to death and assimilate it as another demonic head.


    "Haha, excellent, yet another superior demonic head!" Chen Yunlai shouted with joy.


    His gaze towards Lin Shiming was growing increasingly greedy!


    The Sinister Ants, the Red-haired Demon Monkey, the golden Six-Winged Heavenly Mantis!


    All of these made him feel that this trip was extremely worthwhile.


    Under the demonic fog, Chen Yunlai also greedily glanced at Li Chengxian for a moment but swiftly refocused on Xie An while launching a fierce attack on the Golden Winged Mantis.


    Seeing that the pressure on the Rolling Divine Plate on him was finally easing, Lin Shiming flipped his hand and took out a purple-gold gourd.


    The gourd swelled against the wind in midair, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a giant gourd several dozens of feet in size.


    The might of the superior-grade Magic Artifact unfolded instantly, sending countless fireballs shooting towards Chen Yunlai''s demonic fog.


    "A superior-grade Magic Artifact? Are you running out of tricks?" Chen Yunlai''s disdainful voice sounded, the superior-grade Magic Artifact gourd was not even worth his consideration.


    As expected, with a mere glance from Old Demon Chen, the fireballs extinguished on cue, and the dense demonic fog continued to surge mightily.


    Lin Shiming felt the dryness of True Yuan in his body and the dizziness he was forcefully suppressing. He took out a Superior Grade Spirit Stone and began to restore True Yuan.


    Xie An was in the worst state; half of his body had been stripped away by the Ming Tiger. After swallowing an elixir, he immediately began meditating on the spot.


    He even took out some of the Dragon Lizard meat and Essence Blood given by Lin Shiming, consuming a portion on the spot like a ravenous beast and relishing it greatly.


    On the other hand, Lin Xianzhi, though visibly struggling, kept his gaze firmly fixed on Li Chengxian.


    Meanwhile, the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey turned towards the Lin Family''s Qi Cultivators, slaughtering the Qi Demon Cultivators and the remaining Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators brought by Chen Yunlai.


    Seeing this, Li Chengxian had no intention of staying for a sneak attack. He took out his War Treasure Ship and plotted his escape into the distance.


    Although Lin Shiming longed for that War Treasure Ship, at this moment, he could only watch helplessly as Li Chengxian fled.


    Never mind catching up, given their current state, they weren''t capable of inflicting a fatal blow on Li Chengxian.


    "Shiming, we must leave. This time, I''ll navigate the Spirit Boat!" Lin Xianzhi spoke.


    Neither Xie An nor Lin Shiming said much, both boarding the Supreme Grade Spirit Boat.


    The group hurried again towards Jiuye City in the White Leaf Continent.


    This time, Lin Xianzhi still chose to take a detour. If there had been an ambush at Mount Tai previously, there was a very likely chance of a second one, and it was also very likely that Li Chengxian might return with reinforcements on the War Treasure Ship.


    Fortunately, five days later, the Lin Family group traversed most of Heavenly River State''s territories and finally arrived at the White Leaf Continent.


    What entered their sights was a vast and ancient city, situated at the mountain pass like a formidable barrier, none other than Jiuye City.


    The walls of Jiuye City were extremely tall, but what was even more astonishing was the center of the city, where a colossal white spruce Spirit Tree soared into the sky, taller than the mountains and reaching the clouds.


    This white spruce Spirit Tree had also given birth to a Wood Demon. It was said that the Wood Demon''s realm was that of a Fourth-Rank Purple Mansion Peak existence, far more powerful than his Tea Tree Wood Demon by an innumerable magnitude.


    There were nine massive primordial spirit leaves on the white spruce Spirit Tree. One leaf emerged every hundred years, with each leaf so large that, from a distance, it hardly seemed smaller than a palace hall. It is said that these white spruce spirit leaves are capable of refining Fifth-Rank Magical Treasures.


    The white spruce Spirit Tree did not conceal its body and naturally feared no one, for the master of the Spirit Tree was one of the Spirit Beast Sect''s three Golden Cores, the White Spruce True Person.


    There were even rumors that the White Spruce True Person had achieved the Golden Core Path because the white spruce had once borne a millennial white spruce fruit.


    While Lin Shiming was observing, Xie An, looking noticeably weak but with some color returning to his cheeks, stepped out. His gaze toward Jiuye City also carried a touch of a smile, visibly much relieved.


    "Shiming, you''re not yet sixty, are you?" Xie An suddenly asked.

 Chapter 192 Nine Leaves Dao Enlightenment

    Jiuye City was extremely bustling; compared to Qingxuan Sect disciples, the disciples of Spirit Beast Sect consumed far more spiritual objects.


    Although Jiuye City was only the second largest city of the Spirit Beast Sect, the need for spiritual objects made its commerce thrive, even surpassing Qingxuan Sect''s Qingxuan City in some aspects by a tenth more.


    As Lin Shiming walked on the streets, it was common to see cultivators riding various spirit beasts, whereas those riding flying swords were mostly cultivators from Qingxuan Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect, who had come because of the war.


    After a round of questioning at the city gate, the Lin Family members eventually entered Jiuye City and checked into an inn.


    And as luck would have it, they were staying in a branch of Laiyue Tower.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was in a room, contemplating the words Xie An had just said. Your journey continues on empire


    At first, when Xie An brought up the issue of age, Lin Shiming was somewhat puzzled, but he had not expected that the Nine Leaves of Jiuye City held significant secrets.


    The nine leaves of the White Fir Spirit Tree actually formed a natural Dao Enlightenment platform.


    Every ten years, there was an opportunity for Dao Enlightenment. Since the Three Sects of Zhao Kingdom were allied, they would advance and retreat together, so the nine Dao Enlightenment spots in Jiuye City were divided as follows: three for the Spirit Beast Sect, two each for the remaining two sects, and the last two spots were determined through competition.


    The only requirement for Dao Enlightenment was to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator under the age of sixty.


    Lin Shiming naturally met both requirements, and he could understand that those over sixty had already set their talent, and Qi Refinement cultivators, who couldn''t even practice secret techniques, naturally couldn''t speak of Dao Enlightenment.


    However, he was hesitant about participating. It was impossible for Qingxuan Sect''s two fixed spots to fall to him, so if he were to compete, he could only vie for one of those two additional spots.


    And considering the challenge of securing one of the two spots from among the young cultivators of the Three Sects, one could easily imagine the difficulty. Moreover, even if he managed to seize a spot, all his trump cards would become known to everyone, which was not what Lin Shiming wanted.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, thought for a while without any clear idea, and then stopped pondering it.


    There were rumors of war, and it was uncertain whether the Jiuye Dao Enlightenment would be cancelled.


    The Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect were making such a grand move, it was very possible they would not be satisfied with just Heavenly River Continent, along with the two states of Spirit Talisman Sect.


    Within the Storage Bag, there were a total of one hundred Superior Grade Spirit Stones; the three of them each took thirty, and the remaining ten were exchanged by Xie An for other smaller Spirit Stones.


    But the Spirit Stones Lin Shiming acquired for himself alone amounted to one million, and at this moment, he carried a total of three million Spirit Stones at his waist. Aside from the consumed ones, he still had a full forty-two Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    With his current wealth, he had enough to purchase a War Treasure Ship!


    After tallying the Spirit Stones, Lin Shiming took out a Jade Slip, which contained a record of a Wood-element Profound Rank Inferior Grade Cultivation Technique called the "Three Greens Return to Origin Technique."


    With this, the Lin Family now possessed five Inferior Grade Profound Rank Cultivation Techniques, covering Fire, Lightning, Wood, and Water elements, in addition to a Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique of the Earth element.


    Xie An naturally didn''t need this Cultivation Technique recorded in the Jade Slip, so Lin Shiming took it for himself. Clearly, it was a foundational family''s treasured technique, stolen by Old Devil Chen after killing them.


    As for the other Jade Slips, they contained instructions on how to refine the Heavenly Demon Banner and the Demons'' Cultivation Techniques.


    However, these were nearly useless to the Lin Family¡ªafter all, it was improbable for them to cultivate Demonic Techniques, and the refined Heavenly Demon Banner, like the Yin-Yang Demon Child''s Heavenly Demon Banner they''d seized, eventually had to be auctioned off.


    Beyond the Jade Slips, Lin Shiming took out two sheepskin maps. There were three sheepskin maps in Old Devil Chen''s Storage Bag; Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming, and Xie An each received one. The extra one was acquired by Lin Shiming after he killed a Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator.


    These sheepskin maps were clearly treasure maps, but the routes they depicted puzzled Lin Shiming; even after comparing them to the entire maps of Zhao Kingdom, Chu Country, and Yan Country, he couldn''t find any place similar to what was on the maps.


    Even Xie An had no idea.


    Lin Shiming, unable to figure it out and with no system prompts appearing, understood that it was probably impossible to find these places in the short term, so he carefully put the maps away.


    Then, after releasing the Spirit Isolation Formation, Lin Shiming entered the Cave Heaven World.


    At this moment, inside the Cave Heaven World, the Red-haired Demon Monkey was curled up in a corner, both forearms gone. It was curled into a ball, unusually silent, also with an exceptionally low mood.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but sigh when he saw this; he had already fed the Red-haired Demon Monkey some of the Dragon Lizard meat and given it three stalks of Dragon Blood Grass to consume. His Spiritual Power brought a flush of redness to its entire body, and the Strange Fire on its tail grew larger, yet its arms showed no signs of regrowth.


    It seemed that when the Demon Monkey noticed Lin Shiming''s presence, it looked up at him, then quietly lowered its head again, its eyes filled with melancholy.

 Chapter 193 Trade Fair

    For the Red-haired Demon Monkey, its arms, although not as formidable as its tail that wielded Strange Fire, were also a significant aspect of its combat strength.


    With such a strong desire to win, Lin Shiming could understand its current frustration.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll find you a Third Rank Limb-Regrowing Pill!" Lin Shiming gently rubbed the red head of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, then turned away without caring whether it understood him or not.


    Lin Shiming didn''t linger long and left the Cave Heaven World, heading towards the marketplace of Jiuye City.


    The marketplace in Jiuye City was exceptionally orderly, and the buildings and streets were much larger than those in ordinary cities.


    At the moment, due to Jiuye City facing the threat of the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect, there were more Cultivators purchasing Magic Artifacts and Spirit Talismans on the streets, and even the distant vending areas were overflowing with people.


    Most of them were Qi Cultivators, but there were also quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators; to Lin Shiming''s surprise, there were quite a few Purple Mansion Cultivators shopping in the stores as well.


    Clearly, the fall of Heavenly River State had put tremendous pressure on those Purple Mansion Cultivators, and many of them had retreated from Heavenly River City.


    Lin Shiming, who needed to purchase a Third Rank Limb-Regrowing Pill, didn''t go to the vending area but headed straight for the shops instead.


    Finally, he stopped in front of a four-story shop called Baozhen Pavilion.


    A four-story shop signified the capability to host Golden Core True Persons, which was also a symbol of strength and background.


    Of course, Lin Shiming had also seen situations where shops intentionally built a fourth floor to cater to True Persons, but in reality, they might not have the financial strength to host even Purple Mansion Hermits.


    However, now in Jiuye City, with a steady stream of visitors coming and going, Lin Shiming naturally didn''t have to worry about this situation.


    The layout and decoration of Baozhen Pavilion were somewhat similar to the Duobao Tower of the Qingxuan Sect, with the ground floor divided into four counters for Elixirs, Artifacts, Spiritual Materials, and Talismans, each staffed by Cultivators with attractive appearances and sweet voices.


    Lin Shiming didn''t stop, heading straight to the second floor.


    The second floor was even more luxurious and grand, with more nanmu furnishings and some potted landscapes of Copper Coin Plants as decorations.


    "Senior, this is the Jade Slip introducing the treasures on the second floor. If you wish to make a purchase, you can visit the transaction room to view the treasures," a sweet-voiced female Cultivator approached as soon as Lin Shiming ascended the stairs, handing him a Jade Slip.


    For his Purple Wood Heart Sutra, Spirit Vines were the utmost increase in fighting power. The Purple Gold Vine seemed somewhat insufficient when he faced cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage or those who had reached the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.


    Seeing that the shop had Third Rank Inferior Grade Green Snake Vine seeds, he grew curious.


    "Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vine?" The middle-aged cultivator was visibly surprised by Lin Shiming''s request. He knew Lin Shiming was only a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator, but recalling Lin Shiming''s financial resources, his expression quickly returned to normal.


    "Such rare Spirit Vines are extremely scarce. Currently, Treasures Pavilion doesn''t have any. If fellow Daoist desires one, perhaps you might try at a trading meeting held by Treasures Pavilion!" The middle-aged cultivator said as he took out a token engraved with the words "Treasures Pavilion."


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming''s puzzled look, the middle-aged cultivator spoke again:


    "Rest assured, fellow Daoist. This trading meeting is organized by the Purple Mansion Elder behind Treasures Pavilion. As long as you can bring out precious treasures, not to mention Third Rank vines, even Fourth Rank vines might be possible!"


    Lin Shiming became very interested upon hearing this. With the Heavenly Demon Sect in power, it made sense for a Purple Mansion cultivator to hold a trading meeting.


    Lin Shiming accepted the token, thanked the cultivator, and then left Treasures Pavilion.


    Once back at his residence, Lin Shiming immediately administered the Limb-Regrowing Pill to the Red-haired Demon Monkey. After swallowing the pill, the spot where the monkey''s limb had been severed slowly began to emit red light, and a red monkey arm gradually formed.


    However, the newly grown arm was clearly fragile and would require significant conditioning.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey''s eyes shone as it examined its new limbs and let out constant howls. It began to swing its arms wildly and even attempted to grab the Profound Spirit Mountain, but Lin Shiming hastily stopped it.


    Then he took out Blood Crocodile Flowers and, following the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique''s elixir formula, poured out a jar full of the concoction.


    The eyes of the Red-haired Demon Monkey sparkled with excitement, and it immediately leaped into the jar, not forgetting to howl excitedly at Lin Shiming.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming was able to put his mind at ease.


    But he feared that for the moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey would not be much help to him.


    After checking on the monkey, Lin Shiming also made his way to the center of the Cave Heaven World.


    There, two Spirit Fields had been cultivated and were filled with an abundance of Spirit Soil. However, the Spiritual Energy of the Spirit Vein there had barely enough power for a Second Rank Inferior Grade, which was insufficient to nurture Purple Gold Vines. Only a few ordinary Second Rank Spiritual Medicines were planted there as a test.


    Lin Shiming exited the Cave Heaven World. With a trading meeting to attend in three days, he couldn''t practice the Split Spirit Decision, so he began to meditate on the Purple Wood Heart Sutra in his room.

 Chapter 194 Poisonous Dragon Vine and Treasure Map

    Three days flickered by, and Lin Shiming, in accordance with the agreement, donned a Spirit-Concealing Veil and arrived at a grand hall where the trading event was to take place.


    The trading event operated on a barter system, akin to the Foundation Establishment event at the Daobao Tower of Qingxuan City that Lin Shiming had attended. The hall was vast, and as expected, most of the cultivators present were wearing Spirit-Concealing Veils.


    By the time Lin Shiming arrived, the hall was already seated with an impressive gathering of about thirty people.


    Their chosen spots were mostly towards the back.


    After surveying the room, Lin Shiming also picked a spot towards the rear and settled down quietly, then he began to contemplate the treasures he could offer for exchange.


    More cultivators entered the hall in succession, and after half an hour, it was nearly full. As the appointed time arrived, several people finally took their seats in the front rows of the hall.


    They were Purple Mansion cultivators.


    However, Lin Shiming did not see any Sect Purple Mansion cultivators among them; they were all powerful ancestors from the Purple Mansion families.


    "Alright, everyone has arrived. I am Daoguang, the Elder behind the curtain of the Zhenbao Pavilion. The reason for initiating this trading event is twofold. Firstly, with the demonic sects at our doorstep, everyone should exchange what they need to enhance their strength and prevent invasion!


    Secondly, the Dao Enlightenment Conference is around the corner, and there are undoubtedly talented geniuses among us. If you can exchange for some powerful treasure useful in combat, securing a spot in the Dao Enlightenment Conference and potentially acquiring Divine Skills, a future in the Purple Mansion could be within reach, thereby adding strength to Zhao Kingdom!"


    "Well, I won''t waste more words. This trading event will be conducted on a barter basis, of course. If any of you cannot exchange for the treasures you desire, you may also choose to sell them at a price. Everything is purely voluntary!" As the time commenced, a Purple Mansion cultivator in brocade robes stepped onto the stage.


    "The trading event will start with me setting the example!"


    Experience new stories on empire


    "A Fourth Rank Magical Artifact, the Bi Hong Sword, in exchange for a defensive Magical Treasure or Fourth Rank precious metal materials suitable for crafting defensive Magical Treasures, a Fourth Rank Demonic Beast Purple Clouded Leopard cub in exchange for a Fourth Rank defensive Magical Treasure or Fourth Rank defensive material, a Third Rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, the Bloodthirsty Poison Needle, an assassin''s choice weapon that can easily pierce through the Spirit Shield of a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator, for Fourth Rank defensive materials!


    A Third Rank Superior Grade Barrier-Breaking Pill that can improve a cultivator''s chances of breaking through the late stages of Foundation Establishment by thirty percent, in exchange for Fourth Rank defensive materials..."


    Hermit Daoguang listed four treasures in succession, causing everyone in the grand hall to hold their breath.


    Whether it was the Magical Treasures or the Third Rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, it made everyone''s heart beat faster.


    Even Lin Shiming''s heart was moved, though he had no Fourth Rank defensive Magical Treasures to offer, nor could he procure Fourth Rank defensive materials.


    The Fourth Rank Purple Clouded Leopard cub was quickly purchased by a Purple Mansion family member from the Qingxuan Sect, and to Lin Shiming''s surprise, both the Third Rank Supreme Grade Bloodthirsty Poison Needle and the Third Rank Superior Grade Barrier-Breaking Pill were exchanged by a cultivator at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Lin Shiming''s expression was also not very good.


    Not only had he seen the Demonic Beast enhancement secret technique and the Poisonous Dragon Vine seeds this time, but he was unable to trade for them.


    The trading session continued, and Lin Shiming did not find any third rank Spirit Vine seeds or the Demonic Beast enhancement secret technique again.


    But just then, he saw a cultivator in a yellow robe suddenly take out three treasures. One of them, Lin Shiming was exceptionally familiar with¡ªa treasure map. He had two such maps in his Storage Bag.


    "One map to the Qingxuan Secret Realm Ancient Medicine Garden, one third rank supreme grade Wind Escape Talisman! I will only trade for body tempering spiritual materials or Body Tempering Spirit Pills!"


    Lin Shiming was hearing about the origin of the treasure map for the first time, but he was somewhat skeptical. With so many copies of the treasure map available, being taken out for trade could still be a trap.


    However, to his surprise, a Purple Mansion Family cultivator traded for the map, which sparked lively discussions among many cultivators.


    What surprised him even more was that the cultivator named Jia took the initiative to contact him:


    "Fellow Lin, I wonder if your Dragon Blood Grass is still available for exchange?"


    "Fellow Jia really knows how to calculate!" ''Fellow Lin'' was naturally an alias for Lin Shiming, but obviously, since Jia could not get the third rank supreme grade Wind Escape Talisman, he thought of exchanging Lin''s Dragon Blood Grass first, and then try to trade for the talisman.


    And how would Lin Shiming give the other party a pleasant face!


    "At this critical moment of battle, please forgive me, Fellow Lin!" The cultivator surnamed Jia continued to transmit his voice, which also contained a hint of helplessness.


    "We can trade, but I will trade my five Dragon Blood Grasses only for your Poisonous Dragon Vine seeds. In addition, I will use the Monster Binding Ring in exchange for your Demonic Beast enhancement secret technique!" Lin Shiming spoke again, and after hesitating for a while, the cultivator named Jia finally agreed.


    Lin Shiming finally obtained the Poisonous Dragon Vine seeds and the Demonic Beast enhancement secret technique. However, that secret technique, though called so, was actually just a formula for a third rank Spiritual Liquid, similar to a pill formula. It was only capable of elevating the Demonic Beast to the third rank, far inferior to his Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique.


    But for the moment, the Demonic Beast''s enhancement was indeed needed.


    When it was Lin Shiming''s turn to go on stage, he took out the Tiangang Sword Formation, but no one traded for it, so Lin Shiming simply stepped down.


    He had already obtained the items he wanted.


    The trading session soon ended, and as Lin Shiming walked out of the trading hall, he received a transmission from Lin Xianzhi.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit had also arrived in Jiuye City.

 Chapter 195 Bestow Sword

    Jiuye City was divided into four cities: East City and North City were areas for the exclusive use of the Spirit Beast Sect, while South City and West City were commercial districts. East City and North City were located at the foot of Jiuye Mountain.


    And the legendary White Fir Divine Tree was also on Jiuye Mountain.


    East City housed the cave dwellings of the disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect, while West City had cave dwellings reserved for entertaining distinguished guests and for temporary leasing.


    As Lin Shiming walked through North City, he marveled at Jiuye Mountain and the rows of cave dwellings. The Spirit Vein at Jiuye Mountain was a Fifth Rank vein. The headquarters of the Spirit Beast Sect was not located here, and the cultivators simply couldn''t saturate the Spirit Vein.


    Renting out the cave dwellings to loose cultivators and other sect cultivators also brought in significant revenue for the sect.


    Even some loose cultivators facing major cultivation bottlenecks could rent a cave dwelling to make a breakthrough.


    As an ally of the Spirit Beast Sect, Zi Xuan Hermit naturally had an exclusive cave dwelling in North City.


    After a moment of silence, Lin Shiming saw a cultivator in a green robe descend on his sword:


    "Junior Brother Lin, the master has summoned you!"


    "Thank you for letting me know, Senior Brother!" Lin Shiming thanked him repeatedly, then entered Zi Xuan Hermit''s cave dwelling, where he met Zi Xuan Hermit in a bright and spacious stone chamber.


    Zi Xuan Hermit, still in a purple robe, was the picture of transcendence. Next to him on the table, a teapot was brewing Spiritual Tea, wafts of steam carrying spiritual energy drifting up.


    "Shiming pays respects to Master!" Lin Shiming stepped forward to pay his respects.


    "Not bad, you have reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage so quickly!" Zi Xuan Hermit, seeing that Lin Shiming had indeed progressed to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage as Xie An had reported, was pleasantly surprised.


    "Did I hear that you encountered Chen Yunlai from the Heavenly Demon Sect and even managed to counter-kill him?"


    "It was pure luck, and it''s all thanks to Senior Brother Xie!" Lin Shiming replied modestly. In front of Zi Xuan Hermit, he did not dare to take credit. It was, after all, Xie An who had consumed the life-exhausting Elixir and held off the Dark Tiger Heavenly Demon Banner, or else none of them would have escaped.


    "Xie An also reported to me. There''s no need for excessive modesty; young people should have some sharpness!" Zi Xuan Hermit drank a cup of tea, then looked directly at Lin Shiming.


    "Thank you for your teaching, Master. Shiming will keep it in mind!" Lin Shiming, seeing Zi Xuan Hermit''s gaze, was a bit confused but bowed his head in acknowledgment.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was somewhat taken aback. He had not expected the Zi Xuan Hermit to ask him to participate in the Jiuye Dao Enlightenment Platform competition, to vie for one of the only two spots available, and to even give him a Supreme Grade magic sword.


    Lin Shiming received the Supreme Grade magic sword and saw that it was a purple sword, enveloped in a purple aura, its sharpness going without saying. Even among supreme grade magic artifacts, it was a rare fine piece, much more powerful than the Cloud Sword he had taken from Lu Changming.


    And at this time within the Spirit Beast Sect, he dared not use either the Purple Gold Gourd or the Cloud Sword.


    Otherwise, when the Lu Family came knocking, Lin Shiming would inevitably be pursued.


    "Thank you, Master. Shiming will go find Senior Brother Xie right away!"


    Lin Shiming stowed away the Zilai Sword and then bowed respectfully to take his leave.


    Since the Zi Xuan Hermit had requested he participate in the Jiuye competition, wishing not to take part was no longer an option for Lin Shiming.


    And if he was to participate, Lin Shiming naturally aimed for one of the two Dao Enlightenment slots.


    Of course, what he was curious about was whether the system prompt would lead to unexpected gains.


    The scenes of sword dao enlightenment from the Grass Character Sword Technique were still vivid in his mind.


    Xie An, as a Sect Cultivator, had also acquired a temporary cave dwelling in the North City district, although its location was off to the side at the foot of the mountains, and the spiritual energy was clearly distinct.


    Lin Shiming used a Sound Transmission Talisman, and the latter, having just finished his Cultivation, saw Lin Shiming outside his cave dwelling and promptly invited him in. Your journey continues on empire


    Compared to the cave dwelling of the Zi Xuan Hermit, Xie An''s was more rudimentary, but this was not due to Xie An being more frugal; rather, it was simply how the Spirit Beast Sect arranged things.


    "Shiming, please take a seat!" After having been through life and death battles together, Xie An was much more familiar with Lin Shiming.


    Xie An also quickly fetched a teapot and poured Lin Shiming a cup. The Spiritual Tea was light and fragrant, its aroma lingering but not dispersing, and just smelling the mist of the tea was enough to invigorate the mind and wake the senses.


    It was the very Mingxin Tea that Lin Shiming had previously given to Xie An.


    "Shiming, this is the information Master asked me to find for you. You have quite a few strong competitors this time..." Xie An took out a Jade Slip but furrowed his brow as he began speaking.


    "In the past decade, there have been three successful Dao enlightenments, each directly grasping the nascent form of a Minor Divine Ability. After breaking through to the Purple Mansion, they condensed the Minor Divine Ability, far surpassing the average Purple Mansion cultivator¡ªa discovery I also made during this visit!"

 Chapter 196 The Wondrous Uses of the Flood Dragon Vine

    Xie An''s words also made Lin Shiming involuntarily recall the events of the trade fair, no wonder the fair was so bustling with so many attendees.


    It seemed that the competition at this Jiuye Dao Enlightenment Conference would far exceed that of the past.


    Especially in the face of great danger, increasing one''s strength by even a little could enhance one''s combat power proportionally.


    Despite the age limit of sixty years, Lin Shiming did not believe that being at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage would allow him to dominate unopposed.


    But looking at it from another angle, it also indicated that the path of Dao Enlightenment was truly extraordinary, and it was probably indeed the Dao Tree of True Person Baishan.


    "Shiming, you need to pay close attention to these three individuals from the Spirit Beast Sect, Chen Yuan, the Spirit Talisman Sect''s Xu Hao, and Ye Changyuan from the Purple Mansion Family of Qingzhou.


    These three are cultivators with the capability to compete for the top two spots and have not secured a guaranteed entry!" As Xie An handed over the jade slip to Lin Shiming, he also introduced them.


    "Among these three, Chen Yuan is widely recognized as the strongest. At fifty-nine years old, with a cultivation level at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, Chen Yuan is a Dual Spirit Root Cultivator specializing in fire-element techniques, and his beast taming is extremely strong.


    If it weren''t for the weak backing of the Spirit Beast Sect, he would have had a good chance of securing a designated spot!"


    "Xu Hao is also not to be underestimated. Although he has a Third Spirit Root, his talent for talisman practice is extremely great. Now at fifty-two years old, not only is his cultivation at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but he is also a Superior Grade Third-Rank Talisman Master. Be cautious of his various spirit talismans!"


    ...


    Xie An meticulously introduced them, and Lin Shiming nodded, committing each detail to memory. With this information, his confidence grew substantially.


    In battles between cultivators, when strengths are nearly equal, victory or defeat could hinge on minor details.


    This was especially true for a cultivator like Lin Shiming, who had extensive battle experience.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming was quite confident this time, having first obtained the seeds of the Poisonous Dragon Vine, then acquired the supreme grade magic sword Zilai Sword, in addition to his own Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation, his confidence was indeed not insignificant.


    After listening to Xie An''s introduction, before they realized it, the teapot had run dry. Lin Shiming also took out a jade box filled with Mingxin tea leaves from his storage bag, placed it on the table, and brewed another pot.


    Under the stimulation of spells, the teapot quickly began to emit wafts of fragrant spiritual mist again.


    "By the way, Shiming, the Dragon Lizard meat and essence blood have already been entrusted to my good friend. He is in Jiuye City at the moment and should be able to concoct the Dragon Blood Pills in no more than two months!" Xie An suddenly remembered the Dragon Lizard meat and smiled as he spoke.


    Two months was indeed not a long time for cultivators, and upon hearing this, Lin Shiming was overjoyed.


    And Lin Shiming once again immersed himself in secluded cultivation.


    Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and after two months, Lin Shiming finally opened his eyes. In this retreat, not only had he completely refined the Zilai Sword and Laiyun Sword, but he had also exhausted all of the Dragon Lizard meat, Dragon Lizard Essence Blood, and Dragon Blood Grass.


    Of course, the results were surprisingly good, and his Body Refining Cultivation smoothly broke through to Foundation Establishment.


    Now, not only was his Qi Cultivation remarkable, but he was also formidable in close combat.


    In his delight, Lin Shiming''s thoughts shifted, and he entered his Cave Heaven World.


    With his index and middle fingers forming a sword technique, the Zilai Sword instantly flew out, transforming into a thirty-zhang-long giant sword in the blink of an eye.


    Like the moment when the morning sun rises, billowing purple qi heralding the east, the sword radiance shone in all directions, extremely dazzling!


    "Not bad!" Lin Shiming ultimately resisted slashing down. His Cave Heaven World was still too small, but the radiance of the sword was enough to show that the Zilai Sword''s enhancement to his abilities far exceeded expectations.


    The Laiyun Sword, though somewhat inferior to the spirit sword, was still a Supreme Grade Magic Sword, perfect for a surprise attack at a critical moment.


    After testing the two swords, Lin Shiming then took out the Poisonous Dragon Vine seeds.


    What made Lin Shiming frown was that infusing the Poisonous Dragon Vine seeds with Spiritual Energy took an unusually long time; compared to identical Purple Gold Vine seeds, it was three times longer. In a combat situation, this could be a major drawback.


    And this was with the amplification from his Purple Wood Heart Sutra and latent Spiritual Body. Otherwise, the time needed for an ordinary cultivator to infuse and catalyze would be even longer!


    "Rise!" As Lin Shiming formed another Spirit Art, the Poisonous Dragon Vine seeds suddenly burst forth.


    Unlike the slow infusion rate, the catalysis was shockingly fast, so much that it outpaced even the Third Rank Inferior Grade Green Snake Vine. In almost an instant, it seemed as if real Flood Dragons were surging out. Your next chapter awaits on empire


    Furthermore, the Poisonous Dragon Vine emitted a sky-full of poison mist, causing many of the normal Spirit Grasses in the Cave Heaven World to wither instantly.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming promptly released the Golden Winged Mantis to test it out, which moved in a golden Escape Light. At this moment, it was even entangled by the Poisonous Dragon Vine and only managed to sever it with a fierce chop of its golden forelimbs.


    What filled him with surprise was that even the severed Poisonous Dragon Vine remained under control and continued to roll in the sky like Flood Dragons, aiming to bind the Golden Winged Mantis again.


    The Golden Winged Mantis, caught off guard, was once more entangled, this time around its forelimbs, leaving it unable to exert any strength.


    Being tightly bound, it could only squeak incessantly in urgency, as if it too were perplexed as to why the severed Poisonous Dragon Vine still had the capacity to bind.

 Chapter 197 Entrusting

    Lin Shiming, as the spellcaster, now wore a smile of sheer joy.


    Although it took a long time to infuse spiritual energy into the Poisonous Dragon Vine seeds, the catalysis time was not long, and the severed vine continuing to entwine would definitely catch the enemy by surprise.


    Even a Demonic Beast like the Golden Winged Mantis, known for its speed, wouldn''t be able to react in time.


    As for the intricacies, Lin Shiming had finally discovered that as long as the vine''s tendrils stayed within the poison mist, they could be controlled indefinitely, which was also why the infusion took so long.


    When facing the poison mist, cultivators would generally open a Spirit Shield to block it, never expecting that a chopped vine could still attack.


    The testing of the Poisonous Dragon Vine had left him extremely satisfied. The only flaw was that there were only a little over ten seeds, and even with his Purple Wood Heart Sutra continuously nurturing, it would still take five years. For an ordinary cultivator, the catalyzing time would take over a decade.


    Of course, what mattered was when the war would end and when he could start nurturing the seeds.


    Lin Shiming retracted the vines, then fed the Golden Winged Mantis some second-rank Supreme Grade Beast Nurturing Pills and the flesh of spirit beasts.


    These Supreme Grade Beast Nurturing Pills, which he bought from the Spirit Beast Sect''s shop, were far more effective than ordinary pills, improving several times more. After consuming just a few, the Golden Winged Mantis had grown larger, now comparable to a robust ox.


    And what he found remarkable was that beneath the wings of the Golden Winged Mantis, there seemed to be a bulge forming.


    As if a fourth pair of wings was about to grow.


    Its spirit might was on the verge of entering the early stage peak of the third rank, with any moment possibly bringing a breakthrough to the third rank middle stage.


    This gave Lin Shiming even greater expectations for the Golden Winged Mantis.


    After calming the Golden Winged Mantis, Lin Shiming also let out the Red-haired Demon Monkey to soothe it. At this moment, the monkey had mostly recovered, its arms barely able to hold the Crimson Flame Rod, swinging it with fierce might. With each movement, it could even draw upon Strange Fire to augment the power of the Crimson Flame Rod massively.


    Profound Spirit Mountain, however, seemed to be somewhat disdainful to the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    But for the time being, Lin Shiming had no plans to send the Red-haired Demon Monkey back into battle.


    After feeding the Red-haired Demon Monkey, he stored it in the Spirit Beast Bag as the level of spiritual energy in the Cave Heaven World was only of an inferior grade second rank, which even Qi Cultivators would likely scorn for cultivation¡ªnaturally, Lin Shiming couldn''t leave them there.


    Lin Shiming emerged from the Cave Heaven World, but in the next moment, he saw a flash of Spirit Light flying toward him, which he caught in his hand. It was a message transmission.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    It should be known that even the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, a miraculous elixir for breaking through to the Purple Mansion, only increases the chances by thirty percent.


    Of course, participating in the Nine Leaves Dao Enlightenment does not guarantee comprehension of Divine Skills Embryos; in past years there wasn''t even such a legend. It was only after the last Nine Leaves Dao Enlightenment, when three people comprehended the embryos of Divine Skills, that the significance of the Dao Enlightenment platform was elevated to its highest esteem.


    "Shiming, these items will also be entrusted to you for safekeeping. With your current strength, you might not be much inferior to me!" Lin Xianzhi looked at Lin Shiming''s resolute gaze and grew increasingly satisfied. After much thought, he took down another Storage Bag and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat puzzled at the moment, but he still subconsciously accepted the Storage Bag and probed it with his Divine Sense.


    To his astonishment, inside the Storage Bag were two Purple Mansion Magical Treasures that their Lin Family had harvested from the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion¡ªthe Gold Light Brick and the Heaven-Breaking Ring!


    As well as the Spirit Seeking Plate that the Lin Family had moved out of the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion along with the Spirit Vein; it should be known that contained within this plate was an Inferior Grade Fourth Rank Spirit Vein.


    "Seventh Great-uncle, these items are too valuable, Shiming might have difficulty safeguarding them..." Lin Shiming said, feeling somewhat apprehensive at the moment.


    "What, the Family Head doesn''t safeguard them, so an old man like me who''s about to be buried should take charge?" Lin Xianzhi retorted.


    Lin Shiming felt a jolt in his heart and was momentarily speechless.


    He couldn''t help but look towards Lin Xianzhi''s hair and face, filled with concern.


    Clearly, the most worrying scene was about to unfold; Lin Xianzhi''s lifespan was not much longer, and he had already entrusted the family to others.


    "Don''t worry, this old man can still hold on for five or six more years!" Lin Xianzhi said nonchalantly, then waved his hand, signaling Lin Shiming to go and prepare, not giving Lin Shiming a chance to refuse.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming had no choice but to take his leave, and Lin Houyuan also exited the room with him.


    At this moment, Lin Xianzhi sat in the chair, took out the Qinglian Sword, and continuously caressed its patterns.


    His gaze seemed to pierce through time, faintly envisioning a spirited young man, kneeling before an old man in a purple robe who smiled kindly.


    And the elder, handing over his most cherished Qinglian Sword.


    Along with the jade slip of the Renshui Geng Metal Art.


    ```

 Chapter 198 The Way of the Heart

    Lin Shiming walked down the corridor with Lin Houyuan, and at that moment, Lin Shiming suddenly remembered that it had been a long time since he had walked with his father.


    Busy with cultivation and the threat from the Heavenly Demon Sect, he could hardly catch his breath, and neither could the Lin Family.


    Fleeing, fighting to the death, enduring hardship in practice!


    They hadn''t relaxed for a moment.


    Of course, it wasn''t just his father; his interactions with the rest of the younger generations and his own generation had also become much colder.


    At that moment, he suddenly realized that cultivators, too, were slowly aging, and old friends were gradually disappearing. Several of his uncles and elders from the Hou generation could never return to Fangmu Mountain, never return to the Lin Family.


    Without achieving immortality, the pursuit of cultivation would eventually be in vain.


    At that moment, he thought of Lin Yuqing. If he calculated correctly, the Great Elder Lin Yuqing was already over one hundred and ten years old, with not many years left until his one hundred and twentieth birthday.


    But being a Body Refining Cultivator, he looked full of vigor, like a middle-aged man.


    However, he understood that when the Great Elder''s birthday approaches, he would age rapidly, just like the Second Elder Lin Yuqi.


    Dust to dust, earth to earth.


    Only on the Lin Family Clan genealogy and the Family Jade Book would a record remain.


    Lin Houyuan also continued to discuss matters of the family with him, talking about current deficiencies of the family and unfulfilled wishes.


    This time, they talked a lot.


    It felt as though they were not in Jiuye City at that moment but next to the Yinzhi Pavilion on Fangmu Mountain.


    "Shiming, you should start thinking about a lifelong companion," Lin Houyuan suddenly said without rhyme or reason.


    Lin Shiming was a little stunned at the moment, but then he realized that while his own generation was obsessed with becoming stronger, the Xian, Yu, and Hou generations were thinking about when they would have to sacrifice themselves for the family''s protection and heritage...


    The number of cultivators in the family had fallen from forty to only a handful now, not a burden on Lin Shiming''s shoulders, but rather on the shoulders of Lin Xianzhi, Lin Houyuan, and other elderly family members.


    "I''ll consider it!" Lin Shiming replied ambiguously, for the first time not rejecting the idea outright.


    Perhaps a companion is indeed needed on the road of immortal cultivation.


    In Lin Shiming''s mind, a lovely figure flashed by.


    The next day, Lin Shiming entered the Cave Heaven World and took out the Spirit-Seeking Plate that contained a Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Spiritual Vein.


    Before the Purple Mansion, the Lin Family was unable to install a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, but since Lin Xianzhi had given it to him, he might as well place the Spiritual Vein into the Cave Heaven space. Not only would this prevent others from discovering it, but it would also aid him in successfully cultivating the seeds of the Purple Gold Vine and the Poisonous Dragon Vine.


    Moreover, the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey would no longer need to stay confined in the Storage Bag; in the Cave Heaven World, they could rapidly strengthen through cultivation.


    In the Cultivation World, extracting Spiritual Veins requires cultivators to cast special Spirit Arts and have expertise in the knowledge of Spirit-Seeking Masters.


    But placing a Spiritual Vein is much simpler, which is also why some Spirit-Seeking Master loose cultivators specialize in extracting Spiritual Veins from unknown mountain ranges to sell to Cultivator Families.


    No sooner had the Spirit-Seeking Plate flown out than it floated in mid-air, and a roaring sound akin to a dragon''s chant was heard. Then, one could see a yellow Spiritual Energy, resembling a true dragon, surging toward the depths of the Cave Heaven World.


    The next moment, the Spiritual Energy in this space violently surged, and the Spirit Plants he had previously planted began to grow wildly almost instantly.


    These ordinary Spirit Grasses had never enjoyed such an abundance of Spiritual Energy.


    "A Third Rank Supreme Grade pinnacle Spiritual Vein!" Lin Shiming, feeling the Spiritual Energy, was also quite delighted.


    This Spiritual Vein had been cut and extracted back when he collected it due to limitations of his Spirit-Seeking Plate, but now reaching a Third Rank Supreme Grade made him extremely satisfied.


    Even if he managed to break through to the Purple Mansion later and took this Spiritual Vein out to place on Fangmu Mountain, there was a great likelihood that the Spiritual Vein would transform into a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein.


    Once the Spiritual Vein was placed, Lin Shiming proceeded to plant the seeds of the Purple Gold Vine, Green Snake Vine, and Poisonous Dragon Vine, and then nourished them with the Purple Wood True Essence from the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    After all this was done, another day had passed.


    Lin Shiming then released the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Upon being freed, the two Spirit Beasts ran about wildly within the space, particularly the Red-haired Demon Monkey, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity and who was exceedingly excited. With this Spiritual Vein in the Cave Heaven World, they would no longer need to enter the cramped space of the Spirit Beast Bag.


    Subsequently, Lin Shiming took out the Spirit-Devouring Ants and placed them in a corner. With the Blood Covenant, he wasn''t afraid that these ants would nibble away his Cave Heaven World.


    Finally, Lin Shiming began to take out the Storage Bag to examine the Spirit Shield purchased by Lin Xianzhi.


    The name of the Spirit Shield was Star Wood Shield, its main material constructed from meteoric starwood, exceedingly tough.


    Even a regular Superior Grade magic sword could hardly break through the shield.


    After stroking it a few times, Lin Shiming began to joyously refine the Star Wood Shield, as the Jiuye Conference was on the morrow.


    He had to complete the refinement of the Star Wood Shield by then.

 Chapter 199 The Grand Competition Begins

    Atop Jiuye Mountain, the main trunk of the white fir Spirit Tree was incredibly thick, like a column reaching into the heavens, extending straight into the clouds.


    The spirited leaves of the white fir were also exceptionally outstanding, cluster after cluster, radiating a lush, green Spirit Light.


    What elicited admiration, however, was that every hundred meters there would be one or two gigantic spirited leaves, akin to a platform for Cultivation. With nine leaves, they formed the nine Dao Enlightenment platforms, a once-in-a-decade achievement.


    The Cultivators ascending the mountain all stopped to gaze from afar, amazed at the grandeur of the white fir Spirit Tree and the profound mystery of the Dao Enlightenment platforms, growing increasingly expectant of today''s Jiuye Grand Competition.


    Lin Shiming was among them, alongside him were Xie An, and Lin Xianzhi.


    The Jiuye Grand Competition unfolded at the waist of Jiuye Mountain, though as this area belonged to the Spirit Beast Sect''s territory, unless one was from the Purple Mansion, they could only ascend by foot.


    The numbers of Cultivators coming and going were extraordinarily large, owing not only to the bustling activity of Jiuye City but also to the significant number of Cultivators from Heavenly River State who had withdrawn to Jiuye City,


    Cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect could attack the city at any moment. Naturally, the Cultivators who usually secluded themselves in deep Cultivation became even scarcer while those coming to watch the Jiuye Grand Competition increased.


    The three moved neither too quickly nor too sluggishly, arriving at a vast square, which had numerous beast-fighting platforms built within¡ªthese were typically used by the Spirit Beast Sect for Beast Taming battles, but today they had all been cleared out.


    The stands were filled with Cultivators.


    Above the stands were towering Observation Pavilions.


    The stands were for all Spirit Beast Sect disciples and other Sect Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage to watch, while the pavilions were prepared for those from the Purple Mansion.


    Lin Shiming, too, presented the token Xie An had helped him apply for in advance, registering with the deacon of the Spirit Beast Sect.


    This time, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators participating in the Jiuye Grand Competition was thirty-two, which wasn''t many. But it is understood that the competition requires Foundation Establishment Cultivators under the age of sixty. To stand out, one should at least be in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage before sixty.


    Breaking through to Foundation Establishment isn''t like Qi Cultivation, where one might achieve a breakthrough every few years. If someone lacks sufficient talent, it could take them thirty to forty years to break through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Just like Lin Shiming''s father, Lin Houyuan, who''s been in Foundation Establishment for nearly twenty years but has yet to condense his True Yuan.


    Therefore, even for Sect Cultivators with great talent, advancing to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage before the age of sixty is not common.


    The moment the young cultivator released the talismans, he was filled with pride; with these three talismans, even a cultivator in the later stage of Foundation Establishment could fight.


    Let alone facing a cultivator from a small family.


    What''s more, Lin Shiming hadn''t even made a move yet!


    Vines began to snake towards Lin Shiming through the air, followed swiftly by the bright flash of a Golden Sword chopping down. In his confidence, the young cultivator took out a superior-grade Flying Sword and slashed it towards Lin Shiming.


    However, at that moment, Lin Shiming finally took action. His first move was the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation; the nine Formation Swords transformed into a screen of swords that completely sliced through the vines, setting up the Sword Array instantly blocking the Golden Sword Talisman.


    The young cultivator was instantly horrified, but he quickly sneered.


    With a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation level, controlling nine Formation Swords was already nearly his limit, which left him with no opportunity to defend.


    The sneer barely left his face when he slightly lifted his hand and the luxurious Spirit Talismans unique to the Spirit Talisman Sect emerged one by one¡ªa full ten of them, all Third Rank Superior Grade.


    Fire Serpent Technique, Golden Sword Technique, Wood Binding Technique, and Ice Arrow Technique attacked Lin Shiming from all four directions, while beneath the ground countless Earth Spikes surged up.


    In an instant, Spirit Light burst forth, and various spells filled the entire beast-fighting platform, engulfing Lin Shiming.


    A crowd of spectating cultivators sighed repeatedly, especially those from Foundation Establishment families, who openly expressed pity.


    Lin Shiming''s control of the Sword Array was certainly elegant, but it had significant drawbacks. With his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation level, how could he maintain control, considering sword cultivators require swift and thunderous attacks?


    To have the initiative taken by a Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator was one thing, but not to deploy a Spirit Shield was quite another!


    However, to everyone''s surprise, in front of Lin Shiming a huge shield suddenly appeared, its surging starlight blocking all the spells.


    And the Sword Array had nearly severed all the vines, now heading towards the Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator.


    "Impossible!" The Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator shouted in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    Lin Shiming was not only controlling the Formation Swords with spare effort but was also wielding a Supreme Grade Spirit Shield. To him, this was absolutely fanciful.


    This would at least require the Divine Sense of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet Lin Shiming''s cultivation level was only middle-stage Foundation Establishment.

 Chapter 200 Battle Against Xu Hao

    The cultivators from the Spirit Talisman Sect were shocked, but they quickly took out three spirit talismans, which they straightaway assembled into a small-sized shield talisman formation for layered defense, and then they took out a golden pagoda.


    However, Lin Shiming''s Formation Sword had already made a cleaving motion, merging nine swords into one, emitting a dazzling light. In a blink of an eye, it had completely shattered the Spirit Shield.


    Lastly, it stopped right in front of the Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator.


    "Thank you for the match," Lin Shiming retracted his Flying Sword, and at the same time, numerous black dots also stuck to the Formation Sword as it flew back.


    "Daoist Lin is indeed formidable!" The Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator was openly convinced at this moment.


    Lin Shiming was able to control a Supreme Grade Spirit Shield and possessed such a powerful Formation Sword; it was possible for him to rank within the top ten in this tournament.


    "Platform five, Lin Shiming wins!" The judge declared the victor.


    From the moment Lin Shiming was besieged by spirit talismans, everyone concluded that he was done for, to the present moment of his victory, only a short span of three breaths had passed. The cultivators hadn''t even had time to react yet.


    All of them were in disbelief but finally began to take Lin Shiming seriously.


    "He is Lin Shiming of the Lin Family, who once killed twenty demon cultivators of the same rank in one breath at Heavenly River City!" Suddenly, someone from the audience spoke up.


    And the crowd immediately recalled the fact.


    "Wasn''t he at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage? How come he''s now at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?"


    "No wonder he can command so many Superior Grade flying swords and a Supreme Grade Spirit Shield! With such strength, he can definitely rank in the top ten!"


    "More than top ten, sirs, Daoist Lin is a Wood Cultivator, and his Vine Manipulation Technique is extremely mystical. If you all observed carefully when he retracted the Formation Sword, a large number of seeds were also taken back!"


    Another person exclaimed in shock, while the cultivator from the Spirit Talisman Sect felt a surge of relief upon hearing this, glad that Lin Shiming had not injured him, knowing that all cultivators must be ready to battle with those from the Heavenly Demon Sect at any moment.


    Lin Shiming, hearing the cheers from the crowd, wasn''t the slightest bit concerned but thought that the Wood Binding Technique''s spirit talisman was somewhat mysterious; otherwise, he could have defeated the Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator at the first opportunity.


    Now, not only was his True Yuan and Divine Sense powerful, his physical body strong, but even his magic artifacts were Supreme Grade, not showing the slightest weakness even against late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    His Divine Sense swept over the area and found that Chen Yuan, Xu Hao, and Ye Changyuan had all finished their fights, and Xu Hao had even blasted his opponent, injuring him. His Supreme Grade spirit talisman was mighty, and the opposing cultivator couldn''t even withstand a single round.


    "You are a cultivator in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, so you take the first move!" Xu Hao stood with his hands behind his back, his posture brimming with pride.


    Lin Shiming''s divine sense was not in the least bit inferior to Xu Hao''s. Seeing his opponent stand with arms behind his back and making some slight movements, Lin Shiming, who had been on guard against Xu Hao, raised his hand and launched eighteen Formation Swords, arranging them into two small sword arrays that swept towards Xu Hao.


    Under the flashing spirit light, the sword radiance of the two small arrays extended three zhang in length, reaching their target in an instant.


    Suddenly, Xu Hao thrust his hands, which had been behind his back, forward, and three Spirit Talismans unfolded in an instant. A huge Golden Shield emerged in front of the two sword arrays, emitting dazzling light and a piercing screech.


    This was evidently a supreme-grade Gold-element Defense Talisman, the Golden Shield Talisman, and it was especially effective against Flying Swords.


    Xu Hao''s mouth curled up slightly as changes occurred behind him again. The surrounding spiritual energy began to condense into spirit patterns, rapidly forming a Yellow Sand Formation that enveloped Lin Shiming.


    As yellow sand cascaded from the sky, Lin Shiming seemed as if he were in a desert.


    "The Triple Extreme Yellow Sand Formation, it is aimed at Lin Shiming''s Wood Cultivator identity!" The onlookers began to exclaim in surprise¡ªthey had not anticipated Xu Hao would play such a card right at the start. The Triple Extreme Yellow Sand Formation would solidify the earth in the vicinity, greatly weakening Wood Binding Techniques.


    And it also exerted suppression on Lin Shiming''s Formation Swords.


    The pervasive yellow sand transformed into numerous sand giants that swung their sandy fists at Lin Shiming.


    Meanwhile, Xu Hao''s figure disappeared into the swirling sandstorm, accompanied by one superior-grade Spirit Talisman after another crashing towards Lin Shiming as if they cost him nothing.


    Lin Shiming''s brow furrowed as he felt that his catalysis of Purple Gold Vine was greatly discounted. Even though he still managed to summon it, the purple vines were visibly smaller than before, and their speed was also much slower.


    Purple Gold Vines surged out, barely managing to entangle the slow-moving sand giants, but they broke free with a little effort.


    The weaker Green Snake Vines were now summoned like green snakes.


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to take out the Rolling Divine Plate. As it descended, one sand giant after another was crushed.


    The Star Wood Shield and the two sets of Formation Swords managed to block each and every spell that came their way.


    "No, he''s using a magical treasure!" Just then, the spectators outside the formation noticed that Xu Hao had taken out a talisman inscribed with the Mountain Opening Seal, and he was activating it.


    Although this talisman was not a Fifth Rank magical treasure, it was certainly a supreme existence among Fourth Rank magical treasures. Upon its activation, an enormous golden stamp began to materialize in the void and took on an ever more solid form!

 Chapter 201 The Spiritual Ant Shows Off Its Power

    In the midst of the Triple Extreme Yellow Sand Formation, Lin Shiming still hadn''t retracted many of his seeds, and at this moment, many of the seeds were being subtly pressured to the point of disintegration by that surge of Spirit Might.


    His brows furrowed even more deeply as he raised his hand, casting another incredibly complicated Spirit Art. The Supreme Grade Spirit Shield, the Star Wood Shield, materialized in its largest form.


    It was a full thirty feet in diameter, blocking the Sand Giant behind him.


    In front of him, sets of Formation Swords faced off against another Sand Giant.


    Seeing that three Sand Giants had been held off, Lin Shiming didn''t stop there; the True Yuan from his auxiliary Spirit Platform continuously surged forth, and the Rolling Divine Plate also activated fiercely, becoming the size of a small mountain.


    With the final Spirit Art cast, the Rolling Divine Plate began to roll frenetically, its grinding sounds spreading in every direction.


    In front of Xu Hao, a Jade Pendant suddenly appeared¡ª it was a Divine Sense defense Magic Artifact, blocking the attacks of the plate.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shiming once again brought out a Shocking God Drum.


    With the strikes of the drum mallet, ripples formed, heading toward Xu Hao.


    Though the Shocking God Drum was only a Superior Grade Magic Artifact, not comparable to the Rolling Divine Plate, it specialized in Divine Sense attacks, resulting in Xu Hao''s Spirit Shield dimming considerably, and the next moment, with the sound of a Split Spirit Blade being released.


    The Guardian Spirit Jade Pendant''s Spirit Shield shattered and disappeared in an instant.


    And Xu Hao''s body jerked violently.


    The speed at which he activated his talismans significantly decreased, and the Spirit Talismans in the sky also dimmed.


    No one expected that Lin Shiming would be able to stop Xu Hao''s talisman activation with a Divine Sense sound attack.


    But what was terrifying was that Xu Hao''s Divine Sense was not much weaker than Lin Shiming''s. If it weren''t for the added power of the Shocking God Drum, he probably wouldn''t have been shaken at all.


    He cast the Spirit Art with both hands once again, and his True Yuan wildly surged toward the Spirit Talismans, with the talismans once more shining brightly, negating the impact of the Divine Sense attack.


    "It''s useless, you can''t break my concentration anymore!" Xu Hao said with a cold laugh.


    He raised his hand again, the Spirit Art in his hand moving impossibly fast, emanating Spirit Might as the talismans finally approached the final moment.


    At that moment, the officiating deacons had shades of fear on their faces; he was just at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment and couldn''t withstand this attack.


    They hastily summoned the Hermit San Ye, who was also deep in concentration with a frown. Beneath his embroidered robe, his hands were half-formed into a Spirit Art, ready to save Lin Shiming at any moment.


    As the name of the Devouring Spirit Ant was mentioned, all the people began to exclaim once again.


    "Changyuan, be careful of this Lin Shiming, he had this Devouring Spirit Ant at Yunjing Mountain last time!" At this moment, on the observation platform, Ye Mingqiu, who had once defended Yunjing Mountain with Lin Shiming, reminded Ye Changyuan.


    "He had slain three Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators while he was at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment!" Ye Mingqiu''s eyes were full of wariness, but of course, there was another thing he didn''t say.


    At the time, Lu Changming and Lin Shiming were at odds, and the place where Lu Changming died had been burned clean by flames, leaving no trace.


    The flames seemed somewhat similar to the fire conjured by the Red-haired Demon Monkey in front of them...


    Thinking of this, Ye Mingqiu''s wariness towards Lin Shiming grew even stronger, the Foundation Establishment Early Stage Lin Shiming had killed the Foundation Establishment Perfection Lu Changming!


    "If you encounter him, remember to be extra careful!" Ye Mingqiu continued to caution Ye Changyuan.


    "Yes, Uncle Nine!" It was the first time Ye Changyuan saw his Uncle Nine so wary of a person, but of course, he believed it.


    Xu Hao was considered one of his biggest rivals, yet he had now been defeated by Lin Shiming.


    The crucial point was that if he were in Lin Shiming''s place, he wasn''t sure he could have broken Xu Hao''s Yellow Sand Formation and magic talisman.


    As the Hermit San Ye announced Lin Shiming''s victory, securing him a spot in the top four.


    The onlooking cultivators sighed repeatedly, having previously thought that Lin Shiming''s advancement to the top eight was already a miracle, only to find now that he was just a step away from the top two.


    On the other hand, Xu Hao from the Spirit Talisman Sect, whom countless people favored, was knocked out earlier than expected.


    This made the situation once again uncertain. It had previously been a contest between Xu Hao, Chen Yuan, and Ye Changyuan for two spots, and now it became a competition among Lin Shiming, Chen Yuan, and Ye Changyuan for the final spot.


    Having won, Lin Shiming also returned to the observation platform to rest and recover his True Yuan.


    Then came the other matches.


    As expected, Ye Changyuan, Chen Yuan, and another cultivator from the Spirit Beast Sect, Huang Daoxuan, secured the remaining three spots.


    A new random draw occurred, and to Lin Shiming''s surprise, he once again drew Chen Yuan as his opponent, the most difficult one of all.


    As the strongest cultivator sent out by the Spirit Beast Sect, Chen Yuan was certainly formidable, and at this moment, Lin Shiming also felt immense pressure.


    But an opportunity for Dao Enlightenment was just before him, and he wouldn''t give up, especially since he still had the Poisonous Dragon Vine, the Zilai Sword, and the Golden Winged Mantis at his disposal ¡ª he believed he wouldn''t lose by much.

 Chapter 202 - Another Hint Comes Out

    The final four did not immediately begin their duel; not only Lin Shiming, but also Chen Yuan had expended a considerable amount of True Yuan in their respective battles against their opponents.


    Both needed to recover, yet they were not significantly injured, so the final showdown was set for the following day.


    Moreover, during the final showdown, the other seven cultivators who were enlightened would also make an appearance.


    Only the top two finalists would rush to the Dao Enlightenment stage.


    Time was of the essence.


    Lin Shiming rested for a day, during which Lin Houyuan and Xie An came one after another to encourage him, and surprisingly, Zi Xuan Hermit also paid him another visit to offer his regards.


    In the end, he even prepared another Supreme Grade Third Rank Defense Talisman for him.


    Lin Shiming was extremely grateful and accepted it.


    After a night of recovery, Lin Shiming finally returned to his peak condition.


    Returning to the beast-fighting arena the next day, the number of spectators had increased even further.


    Of course, apart from watching the final battle of the four, many cultivators also came to see the monks who were exempt from the preliminaries and directly qualified for Enlightenment.


    These cultivators were the truly gifted of the Three Sects of the Zhao Kingdom, who would almost certainly have access to Purple Mansion Jade Liquid in the future and could even be regarded as half a True Person of the Purple Mansion.


    Among the seven exempted, three were from Spirit Beast Sect, and both Qingxuan Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect had two each.


    However, this time the cultivators from Spirit Talisman Sect were not looking pleased. Usually, Spirit Talisman Sect would have at least one participant in the top four, but this time, they hadn''t anticipated Xu Hao being kicked out of the competition early by Lin Shiming, leaving them merely as spectators.


    Under the proclamation of San Ye Hermit, Lin Shiming and Chen Yuan each took their places on the beast-fighting platform.


    Chen Yuan was still wearing his Spirit Beast Sect beast-embroidered robe, and as he entered the arena, he immediately released four strange beasts, two of which were late Third Rank Spirit Beasts and two were mid Third Rank Spirit Beasts.


    Lin Shiming watched with some envy; he had the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey and naturally understood how precious it was to have four Demonic Beasts at this level, not to mention the immense resources required for their upkeep.


    Chen Yuan''s selection of Spirit Beasts was also meticulous, with two late Third Rank Spirit Beasts¡ªa Golden Feathered Sculpture and a Thunder Rhinoceros¡ªplus two mid Third Rank Howling Moon Wolves.


    At this moment, many cultivators from Qingxuan Sect were dumbfounded. They were naturally familiar with the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation, as many cultivators practiced it. However, nobody''s formation was capable of exceeding their own rank in strength, nor did they have as many formations as Lin Shiming did.


    Even the distant Zi Xuan Hermit flashed a look of surprise; seeing this, Lin Shiming felt somewhat helpless.


    He couldn''t avoid failing at concealing his prowess any longer, and at this point, all he could hope for was that Zi Xuan Hermit wouldn''t pursue him for previously hiding his capabilities.


    As soon as the four Sword Arrays were deployed, Chen Yuan also took out five copper ring Magic Artifacts.


    Each copper ring was engraved with strange beast patterns. As the five copper rings shot out, they transformed into five True Spirit beasts, lunging towards Lin Shiming.


    Clearly, these copper rings were a set of Supreme Grade Magical Treasures, and the power of the Spirit Might was greatly enhanced when they were used together.


    Lin Shiming''s four Sword Formations were struggling, and so he had to bring out the Zilai Sword again.


    The Zilai Sword soared upon facing the wind, like a purple sun, its Sword Qi unparalleled and majestic. Your journey continues on empire


    The spirit might of the Supreme Grade magic sword was also driven to its peak, once again putting the copper rings on the defensive.


    Then his other hand fiercely performed hand seals, and the seeds that had been sprinkled at some unknown time began to catalyze instantly. Countless Purple Gold Vines surged forth, binding the two Howling Moon Wolves.


    In that moment, Chen Yuan certainly didn''t expect Lin Shiming to make a move on the two Howling Moon Wolves, and not a single one escaped. The Red-haired Demon Monkey instantly became ferocious, its Crimson Flame Rod instantaneously covered with Strange Fire. Having been suppressed the entire time, it was already seething with rage.


    The next moment, Chen Yuan abruptly leaped up, landing on the Thunder Rhinoceros, only to see countless golden spirit spears emerge from his position, overwhelming his location in an instant.


    Meanwhile, a Spirit Shield appeared again on the surface of the Thunder Rhinoceros, and at the same time, Chen Yuan also tore off a Defense Talisman, forming a blue water shield, blocking the golden spirit spears.


    All these attacks happened in a flash, one after another, leaving Chen Yuan somewhat overwhelmed.


    Chen Yuan frowned lightly, and in the next moment, he took out a set of twelve Silver Needles. This set of Silver Needles didn''t conceal any attacks; he was unable to hide them, being suppressed at every turn. Now he had to break the stalemate.


    Most importantly, he felt that Lin Shiming''s hand was infusing spirit power into the seeds again. As the infusion lasted longer this time, it also meant that their power would be even greater.


    The seeds were of the Poisonous Dragon Vine.


    But the next moment, Lin Shiming''s system alert rang out abruptly:


    "Please be alert to the sneak attack from the demonic sect''s cultivators after securing victory!!!"

 Chapter 203 Admit Defeat

    At this moment, Lin Shiming was clearly stunned; the system notification was actually alerting him to a sneak attack by the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    Yet, this was Jiuye City, home of the nine leaves of Bai Shan True Person''s Jiuye Mountain, and also the second major base of the Spirit Beast Sect. A sneak attack by the Heavenly Demon Sect here was unimaginable.


    If anyone else had told him this, he would never have believed it.


    But now it was the system, the system''s alert, which had never been wrong to date.


    Lin Shiming didn''t dare to gamble; rather than perishing here, he preferred not to need the opportunity for Dao Enlightenment.


    He had the system''s alert, which was far more powerful than Dao Enlightenment. There was no need to take risks for enlightenment, and moreover, the feeling of exposing all his abilities made him extremely anxious.


    Lin Shiming took a deep breath; he looked around with his Divine Sense, still detecting nothing unusual. However, precisely because of this, he felt the situation was all the more terrifying.


    He did not know whether the Purple Mansion Hermits were aware of it, nor did he know if the Golden Core True Persons were aware.


    But at this moment, it was undoubtedly an unacceptable risk for him, even with the watchful eyes of a Purple Mansion Hermit.


    Moreover, from another perspective, his actions this time were overly high-profile. As an ordinary Foundation Establishment family cultivator fighting against a later stage in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, he might become the target of many cultivators'' envy, not to mention the treasures on him, which might even be coveted by a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    In his hesitation, a full dozen Silver Needles shot towards him.


    The Silver Needles were incredibly fast and carried the terrifying force of Ice Soul. Lin Shiming''s Purple Gold Vine tried to block them but was frozen by the Ice Soul, severely checking its growth.


    The twelve Silver Needles struck the Star Wood Shield, which, already weakened by bombardment from the Thunder Rhinoceros, started to dim immediately.


    Another bolt of lightning struck down, blasting the Star Wood Shield apart, and at the same time, Lin Shiming violently spat out a mouthful of blood. The Spirit Shield was seriously damaged and would certainly require a Third-Rank Artifact Refiner for repairs afterwards.


    The showdown in the sky of the four Sword Arrays was on the verge of collapsing. In the next moment, as the copper rings violently tumbled, the Sword Arrays disintegrated with a bang, reverting into individually flying Formation Swords.


    As a result, the twelve Spirit Needles and five copper rings charged towards Lin Shiming like there was no one to stop them.


    Lin Shiming tore off four Spirit Talismans, two of them Supreme Grade Defense Talismans, and two Superior Grade.


    However, against Chen Yuan''s two major moves, the four Spirit Shields were shattered one after another. In the next moment, Lin Shiming''s body twisted dramatically; the twelve Spirit Needles originally aimed at his heart just barely missed and eventually pierced through his left arm, causing blood to flow profusely!


    Zi Xuan Hermit soon noticed Lin Shiming''s gaze and turned his head, while Lin Shiming looked down, his face flushed with embarrassment.


    Discover exclusive content at empire


    Of course, deep inside, he was hugely relieved at that moment.


    Even though he missed the chance for Dao enlightenment, at least he was now able to withdraw from the Jiuye Dao Enlightenment Conference.


    He couldn''t help but look at the others, but he didn''t discover anything unusual. Instead, he noticed that Chen Yuan was constantly sizing him up.


    Clearly, he couldn''t understand why Lin Shiming clearly catalyzed a very potent seed, yet in the end, his True Yuan was depleted, and his efforts fell short.


    Lin Shiming didn''t pay too much attention to Chen Yuan''s curiosity, and instead, continued to watch the fight between Ye Changyuan and Huang Daoxuan.


    Ye Changyuan was a sword cultivator, brimming with Sword Intent. Even the Sword Light Transformation Realm of his Uncle Seven, Lin Xianzhi, wasn''t far off. The magic artifact in his hand was obviously a supreme grade magic sword, powerful and extraordinary, not much inferior to his Zilai Sword.


    His sword cultivation skills caused his own Formation Sword technique to stir slightly. The seed of the Sword Dao within his heart seemed to be stimulated, itching for a breakthrough in battle.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming continued to suppress his True Yuan, until he finally felt better, and continued to survey the situation.


    However, to everyone''s surprise, Huang Daoxuan was actually a Foundation Establishment Perfection body cultivator. The three spirit beasts he summoned turned out to be a mere distraction, far less powerful than his body cultivation strength.


    A Foundation Establishment Perfect body cultivator under sixty was an extremely rare existence among the Three Sects of the Zhao Kingdom. At that moment, not only the other sects, even the Spirit Beast Sect itself, was filled with doubts.


    In the end, Ye Changyuan was just one move short, and was sent flying off the beast-fighting stage with one punch by Huang Daoxuan, sustaining severe injuries. If not for the timely intervention of San Ye Hermit, who deflected part of the power at the critical moment, Ye Changyuan would have been either dead or gravely injured.


    With that, Huang Daoxuan and Chen Yuan secured the remaining two spots on the Jiuye Dao Enlightenment Stage, giving the Spirit Beast Sect a total of five places.


    The outcome of the Jiuye Conference was beyond everyone''s expectations.


    The cultivators from the Qingxuan Sect and the Spirit Talisman Sect each had unpleased expressions, but fortunately, each sect still had two spots.


    With the conference concluded, the nine individuals who ultimately won the Dao enlightenment spots walked together onto the high platform, where San Ye Hermit presented the enlightenment orders.


    Only by having the enlightenment orders, refined by True Person Bai Shanmu, could one remain on the Dao Enlightenment Stage unharmed by the Bai Shanmu spirits.


    However, at this moment, Huang Daoxuan, who had been looking down, suddenly turned his gaze towards Chen Yuan beside him.

 Chapter 204 The Descent of the Demon Sect

    "What are you doing!" San Ye Hermit suddenly bellowed in anger, but by then it was already too late.


    As a Body Cultivator at the very peak of Foundation Establishment, facing Chen Yuan who was within arm''s reach, he almost casually reached out, and his hand had already pierced through Chen Yuan''s chest.


    In the latter''s incredulous gaze, he violently withdrew his hand.


    He then collected it as spoils of war, placing it into his Storage Bag.


    "How dare you!" San Ye Hermit flew into a rage!


    However, just as he was about to take action, the three referees beside him, for some reason, suddenly began to emit black smoke from their bodies.


    The next moment, Spirit Might was released, and three Purple Mansion palms ferociously attacked San Ye Hermit.


    After killing Chen Yuan, Huang Daoxuan kept up his relentless pursuit, targeting the remaining seven cultivators who were seeking Dao Enlightenment. His body, with a crisp sound, seemed as if a restraint had been lifted, and then the cultivation level of a Purple Mansion Body Cultivator exuded, instantly filling the other seven with tremendous dread.


    They hurriedly took out their precious Spirit Talismans, with one of them from Spirit Talisman Sect bringing out a set of ten supreme-grade, third-rank Spirit Talismans.


    Yet, before the demonic claws of the Purple Mansion Body Cultivator, they were as fragile as bubbles.


    Two cultivators from Spirit Talisman Sect perished on the spot, while the cultivator from Qingxuan Sect took out a Golden Cauldron.


    The demonic claw clutched the Golden Cauldron, feeling only a terrifying bang, the demonic claw was repelled, and the two from Qingxuan Sect quickly retreated, terrified.


    "Magical treasure!" ''Huang Daoxuan'' had a somewhat sinister look in his eyes, having not expected the two from Qingxuan Sect to directly bring out a magical treasure.


    Although Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot use magical treasures, it doesn''t interfere with the toughness of a magical treasure.


    Huang Daoxuan, therefore, turned to grab at the three cultivators from Spirit Beast Sect.


    Meanwhile, up in the distant Observation Pavilion, it was only now that the Purple Mansion cultivators reacted, rushing forth en masse towards the four Purple Mansion cultivators in the arena.


    And in the Foundation Establishment stands, several cultivators at the front, just like the referee deacons earlier, began to emit black smoke, and a few even produced three coffins, from which emerged three Purple Mansion Demon Cultivators from Corpse Refining Sect.


    In a moment, ten Purple Mansion cultivators from Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect gathered, launching their attack on the Purple Mansion cultivators in the Observation Pavilion.


    "Golden Corpse Hermit, how dare you!" roared Heavenly Beast True Person!


    Such a clandestine attack from the high ranks of the Heavenly Demon Sect left them fuming with rage.


    Four Golden Core cultivators charged towards the two withered corpses.


    Intent on eliminating these two Golden Core stage corpses in advance.


    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone, two Golden Core cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and two from the Corpse Refining Sect had reached the outskirts of the city. Their terrifying speed brought them, in the blink of an eye, to the waist of Jiuye Mountain.


    The battle of the Golden Core stage cultivators began in a flash, and in an instant, heaven and earth seemed to shatter.


    At this moment, on the other side, where the Purple Mansion cultivators were, the Thousand Demon Hermit once again killed a seed Dao Enlightenment cultivator from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Finally, San Ye Hermit saw an opportunity to break through and intervened, and two late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators immediately clashed fiercely.


    Meanwhile, the three originally-besieged Purple Mansion cultivators saw one of their number fall to the enraged sword strike of the elder from the Qingxuan Sect. Had it not been for the other surviving Golden Corpse Hermit who held off the elder''s sword, the situation for the forces of Zhao Kingdom''s Three Sects would have been much easier.


    Lin Shiming, hiding in the back, felt a chill thinking about the outcome. Seeing only three seed Dao Enlightenment cultivators remaining, he knew his fate wouldn''t have been any better than the other five should he have succeeded.


    Now, he had narrowly escaped a disaster. However, he puzzled over why the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect would attack Jiuye City clandestinely.


    While the rewards were substantial, the risk was equally great; if Jiuye City had five Golden Core cultivators, or an unexpected number of Purple Mansion cultivators, then the cultivators from the demonic sects would have been lambs to the slaughter!


    In the midst of Lin Shiming''s astonishment, from the summit of Jiuye Mountain, a colossal tree burst from the soil and took root in the clouds, its terrifying presence instantly spreading across the whole of Jiuye Mountain.


    "The Bai Shanmu Demon has made his move!" the cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect rejoiced.


    As everyone watched, countless wooden vines shot out into the sky.


    If Lin Shiming''s vines were a lake or a forest, then the branches at this moment were like a surging tsunami. Dense and endless, they rushed towards the Heavenly Demon Sect''s cultivators.


    And these branches carried various True Yuan spells, with sword vines, saber vines, and spear vines, transforming into all kinds of Magic Artifacts.


    The remaining nine Purple Mansion cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect quickly fell into a disadvantage under the might of Bai Shanmu Demon, unable to stir any ripples.


    However, just then, Thousand Demon Hermit suddenly threw out five Tokens, which were the Dao Enlightenment Tokens! Stay updated through empireNo?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 205 Golden Core Fallen

    As the five Dao Enlightenment orders were issued, the surging vines dissolved as quickly as melting snow, vanishing in the blink of an eye.


    Five vine-free voids were abruptly formed, allowing the demon cultivators on the Thousand Demons Hermit''s side to breathe a sigh of relief.


    These Dao Enlightenment orders were refined by the White Pine True Person: firstly, to prevent the Purple Mansion Wood Demons from harming people, and secondly, to allow the few cultivators who were seeds of Dao Enlightenment to get closer to the White Pine Spirit Tree.


    "How dare you!" San Ye Hermit bellowed in rage, flinging out another clover flying wheel magic artifact from his hand. The clover flying wheel separated into three in mid-air, forming a triad of wheels and slashing towards the Thousand Demons Hermit as if enclosing him from all sides.


    "This Jiuye Spirit Tree of yours is really a Dao-absorbing tree!" The Thousand Demons Hermit said disdainfully, then he revealed a fact that threw everyone into panic.


    "So many talents from the Three Sects of Zhao Kingdom, yet why are there more people from your Spirit Beast Sect who have comprehended Minor Divine Abilities? Do the other two sects not suspect anything?" The Thousand Demons Hermit laughed uproariously.


    The Purple Mansion cultivators from the Spirit Talisman Sect and Qingxuan Sect all paused, evidently not expecting this assertion about the White Pine Spirit Tree, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators watching from afar were profoundly stirred.


    The Dao Enlightenment Tree was actually a Dao-absorbing tree, one that absorbed the Dao from the talented disciples of various sects and families.


    The cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect of the Zhao Kingdom, however, all had dramatic changes of expression, especially San Ye Hermit, whose clover flying wheel magic artifact emitted even more intense Spirit Might.


    One transformed into three, three into nine, and nine into myriad!


    In an instant, the entire void was filled with clover flying wheels; the Thousand Demons Hermit had no place to hide!


    He could only withstand with his mighty physical body, and it was at that moment, the Thousand Demons Hermit shouted loudly, his body surging upward like an ape, transforming into a gigantic six-armed demon ape.


    In this moment, the Thousand Demons Hermit was like a devil god from purgatory; his entire body was covered in bizarre spirit patterns, and his powerful Spirit Might nearly reached the Perfection of the Purple Mansion.


    Each of the six arms wielded a huge black stick magic artifact, swirling into six cyclone formations that deflected all the flying wheels.


    The resulting noise was so loud that the onlooking cultivators felt as if they were deafened.


    San Ye Hermit immediately fell into a disadvantage, and it was only Zi Xuan Hermit, who came flying on a sword, that managed to barely stabilize the situation.


    It was at this moment that a dark mass suddenly appeared in the distance from Jiuye City, a black demonic fog continuously spreading over.


    Flickering within it were the towering Heavenly Demon banners and numerous ferocious corpse creatures.


    The two demon cultivators took out the Heavenly Demon Banner, with countless demon patterns surging out, and even two Peak Purple Mansion demons appeared.


    Yet they still couldn''t do anything to the Spirit Tree for the time being.


    More and more roots appeared, and the various Dao Arts manifested became increasingly terrifying.


    In this moment, the Dao Enlightenment Tree, now seen by everyone as a fearsome Peak Purple Mansion tree demon, the two Purple Mansion late-stage demon cultivators couldn''t even withstand the time it takes to burn an incense stick and were immediately pierced through, leaving only one who managed to flee by using Blood Escape.


    The display of power from the Spirit Tree caused San Ye Loose''s complexion to change involuntarily.


    However, what was even more terrifying was that, on the battlefield of the Golden Core cultivators, Shen Ji True Person had appeared without anyone noticing, and his Shen Ji Tower suddenly established itself, trapping the Corpse Loose inside. At the same time, two Golden Core sword cultivators appeared, and their swords were aimed at Corpse Loose.


    "Shen Ji True Person, how are you here, and Wanjian Sect''s Profound Darkness Dual Swords; how could you come?" Corpse True Person couldn''t believe it and immediately detonated two Golden Core corpses.


    Escaping from the Shen Ji Tower was essential¡ªafter all, it was the Qingxuan Sect''s number one magical treasure. If trapped by the Shen Ji Tower, there was a fear that today would witness the fall of the first Golden Core True Person in both countries.


    The self-destruction of the two corpses allowed Corpse Loose to retreat. At this moment, he was both shocked and angry, but he managed to dodge the attack.


    However, a Golden Core True Person from the Heavenly Demon Sect next to him was not so lucky. In the blink of an eye, he was enveloped by the Shen Ji Tower, and with Heavenly Sword True Person, Profound Sword True Person, and Dark Sword True Person all striking together, they instantly killed a Golden Core True Person from the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    In an instant, the scene changed to seven Golden Core cultivators from Zhao Kingdom''s Three Sects and Qi Country''s Wanjian Sect, facing off against three Golden Core cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect.


    "Escape!" The three Golden Core True Persons almost simultaneously bellowed, all turning into a mist of blood, using Blood Escape to flee.


    At the same time, the seven Golden Core True Persons also instantly gave chase.


    Atop Jiuye Mountain, another group of cultivators dressed in Wanjian robes appeared ¨C cultivators from the Wanjian Sect. From the North City area adjacent to Jiuye Mountain, several more Purple Mansion cultivators emerged, surrounding the demon sect cultivators like San Ye Loose.


    San Ye Loose was now also panic-stricken; they had not expected that this was the ploy of the Spirit Beast Sect, aimed at striking at the higher echelons of the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect.


    After the battle, of the dozen or so Purple Mansion cultivators who had infiltrated Jiuye Mountain, only San Ye Loose managed to forcefully break through, leaving behind the corpses of a dozen other hermits.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming and the others, who were observing from afar, were also somewhat surprised but more so delighted.


    Once the Three Sects had allied with the Wanjian Sect, and with this recent heavy blow, the two sects would not dare to continue their assault on the allied sects.

 Chapter 206 Another Slot Gained

    The change in the scene was not only limited to a great victory for the Purple Mansion and Golden Core Cultivators.


    The encroaching demon fog had not even assaulted the city walls before the City Protection Great Formation of Jiuye Mountain was immediately activated.


    The enormous Spirit Shield not only protected Jiuye City within it but also formed a terrifying Ten Directions Heavenly Thunder Formation.


    The entire sky, in the blink of an eye, was covered by dark clouds, amid which countless bolts of lightning flashed, emitting a dull thunderous roar.


    One after another, the lightning struck down, with the foremost blasts targeting the towering Heavenly Demon banners.


    With each thunderbolt that fell, a Heavenly Demon banner would explode, with only a few of the banner magical treasures escaping destruction.


    In the sky, suddenly, the sound of a flute began to resonate; the flute''s melody extremely pleasing to the ear.


    Everyone followed the sound only to see a Purple Mansion female cultivator wearing a green dress, holding a jade flute, and slowly playing it.


    While the flute''s sound had no attacking power, countless beastly roars came crashing like a landslide and tsunami; from atop Jiuye Mountain, numerous Spirit Beasts began to emerge, as if a giant fissure had opened on the mountain, and the pouring out Spirit Beasts rushed towards the area outside the city.


    Read new chapters at empire


    The demon fog was scattered by the Heavenly Thunder, the Heavenly Demon banners were destroyed one by one, and a large number of Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation demon cultivators, who had not yet managed to breach the city walls to revel in a new round of battle spoils, were struck down in droves by the Spirit Beasts and lightning.


    The cultivators of the Three Sects who had originally been defending atop the city walls also streamed out of the city to attack.


    This time, it would be a great victory.


    "Uncle Seventh Ancestor, Senior Brother, let''s go too!" Lin Shiming, seeing the collapse of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect outside the city walls, was immediately roused to act.


    At this moment, the demon sect cultivators were no longer fearsome fighters but were like walking Storage Bags.


    The three of them nodded together and headed outside the city.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming wasn''t worried about Purple Mansion cultivators or Foundation Establishment Perfection demon cultivators launching a sneak attack from the shadows, for those powerful demon cultivators didn''t have the concept of covering the rear and had long since fled without a trace.


    All over the battlefield, bursts of blood mist and Escape Light appeared; at this moment, Blood Escape was the fastest, followed by various Five Elements Escape Techniques and Escape Talismans.


    Those without an Escape Technique or whose techniques were interrupted could only die on the spot under their assault.


    Now, with the involvement of the Wanjian Sect, the battle involving the Wanjian Sect of Qi Country, the Heavenly Demon Sect of Zhao Kingdom and Chu Country, and the Corpse Refining Sect of Yan Country, had become inevitable.


    There was no longer any suspense about the outcome, and their return was also largely foreseeable.


    He had left the mountain at the age of thirty-five, and now, at forty-two, seven years had passed in the blink of an eye.


    "Shiming, come over for a meeting!" With a transmission of sound, Lin Shiming closed the window and went to the next room where Lin Xianzhi was.


    Lin Houyuan was also there at this moment, both of them wearing extremely relaxed expressions.


    "Shiming, the great war has ended, and several Golden Core True Persons have negotiated!" Lin Xianzhi spoke with joy.


    Although Lin Shiming had anticipated the end of the great war, he did not expect it to conclude so swiftly.


    "The Spirit Beast Sect has ceded half of Heavenly River State, and the Spirit Talisman Sect has ceded half of Youzhou!" Lin Xianzhi continued.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming understood. The Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect had formed an alliance, and each sect had ten Golden Core Cultivators. Despite losing one, they remained a force not to be underestimated.


    This time, it was clearly the appearance of the Wanjian Sect that made a difference, along with the elder Shen Ji''s breakthrough to become the only Golden Core True Person to reach Perfection among the Three Sects, and with Shen Ji Tower, encountering average Golden Core Cultivators meant certain death.


    "Furthermore, Shiming, the Dao Enlightenment convention will continue. Because too many of the Dao Enlightenment seeds died, both you and Ye Changyuan have been selected!" Lin Xianzhi added another piece of news that shocked Lin Shiming.


    He hadn''t expected that there would be a spot for him in the Dao Enlightenment convention.


    However, Lin Shiming''s expression was not overly jubilant.


    Seeing this, Lin Xianzhi smiled gently, and further clarified:


    "Shiming, don''t be deceived by the Hermit of a Thousand Demons. This time, Shen Ji True Person himself has spoken.


    The white fir Spirit Tree only possesses the Spiritual Power necessary to "participate in the Dao" but does not have the capacity to "absorb the Dao." As cultivators gain enlightenment, they also leave a portion of their power with the Spirit Tree, making the Dao Enlightenment platforms larger and even more abundant."


    Lin Shiming''s eyebrows then relaxed, knowing Shen Ji True Person was not from the Spirit Beast Sect and would not deceive them.


    "Shiming, the Dao Enlightenment will start in one month, and in ten days, there will be a major auction that only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can participate in. Even Purple Mansion Jade Liquid will be up for auction!" Before Lin Shiming could finish being astonished, Lin Houyuan interjected excitedly.


    Such a grand auction, even if unable to acquire the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid critical for breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage, offered a rare chance to witness other treasures.

 Chapter 207 Mu Xin Spiritual Liquid

    The news of the auction and the Dao Enlightenment Conference both filled Lin Shiming with a sense of excitement.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    In this great battle, he had opportunistically acquired quite a few Spirit Stones. Discounting those spent on purchasing the Crimson Flame Rod, and not counting the Superior Grade Spirit Stones, he still had three and a half million Inferior Grade Spirit Stones, enough to buy some desired treasures and Magic Artifacts at the auction.


    Of course, as the Family Head of the Lin Family, he also needed to set aside some Spirit Stones to compensate the cultivators who had fallen for the family; he also needed to purchase some useful Spiritual Objects or Spirit Plants for the family.


    After the great war was the best time for stable development.


    All in all, three million Spirit Stones were enough.


    "Shiming, this is the Dragon Blood Pill sent by Xie An, a total of four pills!" Lin Xianzhi suddenly took out a Jade Bottle, which contained exactly four Dragon Blood Pills.


    Lin Shiming opened the bottle cap, and a surge of astonishing blood qi burst forth, causing any cultivator who inhaled it to feel their blood boiling immediately.


    His face was instantly filled with surprise; the effects of these Dragon Blood Pills were more than twice as good as those of the Dragon Lizard Essence Blood, clearly containing other Spirit Pills and elixirs in addition to the Dragon Lizard Essence Blood and flesh.


    Xie An had indeed kept one for himself and sent the rest as promised.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, with these Dragon Blood Pills, Uncle Two''s breakthrough to Foundation Establishment is hopeful!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but speak excitedly. After saying this, he took out two Dragon Blood Pills for himself and handed the remaining two back to Lin Xianzhi.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, you should also keep two of these Dragon Blood Pills, they should also be very beneficial to your health. You are our Lin Family''s best hope for breaking through to the Purple Mansion!"


    Lin Xianzhi waved his hand and sighed without taking the Dragon Blood Pills.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, even if you are going to participate in the Profound Grade Secret Realm expedition five years from now, you''ll need sufficient blood qi. By then Shiming will also need Great-Uncle''s help to together obtain the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid and its medicinal properties!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Xianzhi''s eyes shifted, and he finally made up his mind. He took one Dragon Blood Pill from the bottle to keep, and then with an undeniable look in his eyes, he made Lin Shiming take the last one as well.


    "One pill is enough for me. Save the rest for the elders of our family."


    After leaving Lin Xianzhi''s room, he went to Lin Houshou''s room.


    Lin Houshou was still engrossed in researching formations, and they were Third Rank Formations. Although his own Cultivation Level was stalled at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and he couldn''t set up a Third Rank Formation by himself, Lin Houshou had always been studying these formations.


    The family was able to use formations to refine Third Rank Elixirs. In his view, Qi Refining Cultivators could also set up Third Rank Formations.


    "Uncle Two!"


    By the time the group arrived at the commercial street, they could sense the vastness of Jiuye City and the multitude of cultivators there.


    Lin Shiming even encountered members of the Xu Family, who were also cultivators from Yunzhou. At this moment, Qian Bosheng was also leading the Qian Family''s disciples, coming from outside.


    After exchanging friendly greetings, both families went their separate ways.


    "Shiming, let''s set up a stall as well!" Lin Yuzheng, seeing so many cultivators, was excited at the prospect, understanding that the eighty percent reduction in stall fees also meant a substantial increase in profits.


    They had slain no small number of demon cultivators and now had quite a few spoils of war.


    "Grandfather Five, of course, we can!" Lin Shiming responded with admiration upon hearing this.


    Lin Yuzheng was truly worthy of being the person responsible for the family''s trade caravan.


    "Shiming, I won''t attend the auction either. Let''s set up a stall together, and meanwhile, help the younger generations of our family''s ze branch prepare some Spirit Beast Eggs and Spirit Beast younglings," Lin Houyuan also spoke up.


    Lin Shiming thought for a moment and then agreed, knowing that his father was losing hope of breaking through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and that a third-rank Intermediate-Grade magic artifact was optimal for both attack and defense.


    With the Qi cultivators of the Lin Family going to the stall area, only Lin Shiming and Lin Houyuan were left to head to the auction.


    The auction hall of Jiuye City was located right at the center of the commercial district, also home to a spirit tree, but this one was a third-rank Superior Grade Phoenix Tree.


    Along the way, Lin Shiming also saw many cultivators from the Wanjian Sect, similar to the green robes of the Qingxuan Sect and the embroidered robes of the Spirit Beast Sect, except the disciples of the Wanjian Sect all carried a broad sword on their backs.


    The two entered the auction through the hall doors and casually found seats in the full hall.


    At this moment, the hall was filled with Foundation Establishment cultivators, while in some private rooms at the back of the hall were Purple Mansion cultivators. This auction event, it seemed, was on a much grander scale than Qingxuan Sect''s own Qingxuan auction.


    Whether it was the elegance and scale of the auction hall or the items up for bidding, it was incomparable to any other day.


    After half an hour had passed, with a Purple Mansion cultivator in an embroidered robe walking into the hall, the auction officially began.


    "I thank all fellow daoists for traveling from afar to aid our sect against external enemies. Now that the great battles have ceased, our sect has specially organized this auction event! My name is Chen Yuan, Daoist name San Ye, and I am responsible for this auction!"


    "Like always, the highest bidder wins, and if you are short on Spirit Stones, you may auction your items or treasures on the spot as payment!"


    "The first auction item, Mu Xin''s Spiritual Liquid, can help a second-rank wood demon break through to the third rank. The starting bid is fifty thousand, with each increase no less than a thousand!"

 Chapter 208 - 209 Shiyi鈥檚 Accident

    The auction of the Zi Xuan Precious Jade set the entire auction hall abuzz. Not only were Foundation Establishment cultivators participating in the auction, but at this moment, there were also quite a number of Purple Mansion cultivators bidding.


    After all, Purple Mansion cultivators also had families, disciples, and descendants.


    And as each Purple Mansion cultivator opened their mouth, the pressure on the Foundation Establishment cultivators increased, except for the descendants of sects. Those family cultivators without a strong backing hesitated.


    "Four million Spirit Stones!"


    "Four million two hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    The price of the Zi Xuan Precious Jade kept rising, and at this moment, Lin Xianzhi suddenly looked at Lin Shiming and handed him a Storage Bag.


    Continue reading at empire


    Inside the Storage Bag were two million inferior-grade Spirit Stones, including the superior-grade Spirit Stones they had acquired earlier.


    Lin Xianzhi¡¯s action was obviously to use the full power of the entire clan to purchase a Zi Xuan Precious Jade for Lin Shiming.


    It was also a declaration of determination, letting Lin Shiming bid freely.


    However, before he even started bidding, he realized that the Spirit Stones for the Zi Xuan Precious Jade had already reached six million inferior-grade Spirit Stones.


    In the end, the Zi Xuan Precious Jade was sold at a price of seven million eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones, taken by Wanqing of the Wanjian Sect.


    This set a record for the highest price in this auction.


    When this price was announced, many cultivators felt it was incredibly insane; even the price of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid had never reached such heights, and now, the price greatly exceeded that of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    Obviously, with the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect encroaching on some territories of the Zhao Kingdom, the kingdom¡¯s resources had been greatly reduced. Moreover, in this war, many Purple Mansion families had turned into Foundation Establishment families, and many Foundation Establishment families had become Qi Cultivation families.


    At this moment, it was natural for people to sell their family assets and compete for the Zi Xuan Precious Jade.


    Nevertheless, Wanqing was after all a core disciple of the Wanjian Sect, and his identity was clearly not low.


    After successfully bidding for the item, Wanqing immediately left the auction hall without a trace.


    The other Lin Family juniors also beamed with smiles at this moment. The campaign was over, and beyond the relaxation of body and mind, everyone felt even more the importance of belonging to a clan.


    If the family wasn¡¯t strong enough, the likelihood of death on such conscripted battlefields would be much greater. With the battles between Zhao and Chu, the number of Loose Cultivators in both immortal cultivation nations would have dwindled considerably.


    "Shiming, I¡¯ve purchased some young spirit beasts and a few spirit beast eggs!" Lin Houyuan also approached, carrying two Spirit Beast Bags and a Spirit Beast bracelet.


    The market in Jiuye City falls under the Spirit Beast Sect¡¯s influence, and the disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect have perfected the breeding and selling of young spirit beasts ¡ª the prices were much more affordable than within the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s territory.


    "In time, if the family¡¯s younger generation has talent with spirit beasts, it will be a significant increase in our combat power!"


    "Mm-hm!" Lin Xianzhi also nodded his agreement. The Lin Family was currently short on cultivators but not on resources. They had the Green Lotus fish bred in the Qinglian Pool, the increasing profits from the Xing County Square Market, growing influence in the Qingyun Square Market, and the mines in Lingnan County.


    These would allow the talented cultivators of the Lin Family to grow alongside their spirit beasts.


    However, at that moment, a message arrived via a Spirit Message, landing directly in front of Lin Houyuan.


    After examining the Spirit Talisman, Lin Houyuan¡¯s expression changed:


    "Shiming, Seventh Great Uncle, something has happened to Shiyi!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi¡¯s expressions changed as well. They instructed Lin Yuzheng to continue manning the stall, and then the three of them walked deeper into the market area.


    They quickly located Lin Shiyi at a stall.


    At that moment, a brocade-clothed Foundation Establishment cultivator had hold of Lin Shiyi¡¯s hand.


    Lin Shiyi struggled to free himself, but he couldn¡¯t break free.


    He was only at the peak of Qi Cultivation in body training, while the other party was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a clearly extraordinary martial skill.


    "Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of grabbing the hand of a member of my family?" Lin Shiming took a step forward.


    With a flick of his hand, the brocade-clothed cultivator¡¯s grip felt an immense force. He stumbled back several steps before managing to steady himself.


    The brocade-clothed cultivator, seeing Lin Shiming, became furious and then shouted loudly:


    "How dare you! Do you know who I am?"

 Chapter 209 Shiyis Accident

    The auction of the Zi Xuan Precious Jade set the entire auction hall abuzz. Not only were Foundation Establishment cultivators participating in the auction, but at this moment, there were also quite a number of Purple Mansion cultivators bidding.


    After all, Purple Mansion cultivators also had families, disciples, and descendants.


    And as each Purple Mansion cultivator opened their mouth, the pressure on the Foundation Establishment cultivators increased, except for the descendants of sects. Those family cultivators without a strong backing hesitated.


    "Four million Spirit Stones!"


    "Four million two hundred thousand Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    The price of the Zi Xuan Precious Jade kept rising, and at this moment, Lin Xianzhi suddenly looked at Lin Shiming and handed him a Storage Bag.


    Continue reading at empire


    Inside the Storage Bag were two million inferior-grade Spirit Stones, including the superior-grade Spirit Stones they had acquired earlier.


    Lin Xianzhi''s action was obviously to use the full power of the entire clan to purchase a Zi Xuan Precious Jade for Lin Shiming.


    It was also a declaration of determination, letting Lin Shiming bid freely.


    However, before he even started bidding, he realized that the Spirit Stones for the Zi Xuan Precious Jade had already reached six million inferior-grade Spirit Stones.


    In the end, the Zi Xuan Precious Jade was sold at a price of seven million eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones, taken by Wanqing of the Wanjian Sect.


    This set a record for the highest price in this auction.


    When this price was announced, many cultivators felt it was incredibly insane; even the price of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid had never reached such heights, and now, the price greatly exceeded that of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    Obviously, with the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect encroaching on some territories of the Zhao Kingdom, the kingdom''s resources had been greatly reduced. Moreover, in this war, many Purple Mansion families had turned into Foundation Establishment families, and many Foundation Establishment families had become Qi Cultivation families.


    At this moment, it was natural for people to sell their family assets and compete for the Zi Xuan Precious Jade.


    Nevertheless, Wanqing was after all a core disciple of the Wanjian Sect, and his identity was clearly not low.


    After successfully bidding for the item, Wanqing immediately left the auction hall without a trace.


    The other Lin Family juniors also beamed with smiles at this moment. The campaign was over, and beyond the relaxation of body and mind, everyone felt even more the importance of belonging to a clan.


    If the family wasn''t strong enough, the likelihood of death on such conscripted battlefields would be much greater. With the battles between Zhao and Chu, the number of Loose Cultivators in both immortal cultivation nations would have dwindled considerably.


    "Shiming, I''ve purchased some young spirit beasts and a few spirit beast eggs!" Lin Houyuan also approached, carrying two Spirit Beast Bags and a Spirit Beast bracelet.


    The market in Jiuye City falls under the Spirit Beast Sect''s influence, and the disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect have perfected the breeding and selling of young spirit beasts ¡ª the prices were much more affordable than within the Qingxuan Sect''s territory.


    "In time, if the family''s younger generation has talent with spirit beasts, it will be a significant increase in our combat power!"


    "Mm-hm!" Lin Xianzhi also nodded his agreement. The Lin Family was currently short on cultivators but not on resources. They had the Green Lotus fish bred in the Qinglian Pool, the increasing profits from the Xing County Square Market, growing influence in the Qingyun Square Market, and the mines in Lingnan County.


    These would allow the talented cultivators of the Lin Family to grow alongside their spirit beasts.


    However, at that moment, a message arrived via a Spirit Message, landing directly in front of Lin Houyuan.


    After examining the Spirit Talisman, Lin Houyuan''s expression changed:


    "Shiming, Seventh Great Uncle, something has happened to Shiyi!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi''s expressions changed as well. They instructed Lin Yuzheng to continue manning the stall, and then the three of them walked deeper into the market area.


    They quickly located Lin Shiyi at a stall.


    At that moment, a brocade-clothed Foundation Establishment cultivator had hold of Lin Shiyi''s hand.


    Lin Shiyi struggled to free himself, but he couldn''t break free.


    He was only at the peak of Qi Cultivation in body training, while the other party was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a clearly extraordinary martial skill.


    "Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of grabbing the hand of a member of my family?" Lin Shiming took a step forward.


    With a flick of his hand, the brocade-clothed cultivator''s grip felt an immense force. He stumbled back several steps before managing to steady himself.


    The brocade-clothed cultivator, seeing Lin Shiming, became furious and then shouted loudly:


    "How dare you! Do you know who I am?"

 Chapter 210 Unknown Cave Mansion Map

    Before Lin Shiming''s eyes, a crowd instantly formed around the vendor''s stall.


    "I might not be very bold, but still, I truly don''t know who you are," Lin Shiming replied with a cold voice as well.


    To him, cultivators who oppress others with their status were incredibly childish. Perhaps if it had been someone at the perfection stage of Foundation Establishment, he might have taken another look.


    The words of Lin Shiming further infuriated the cultivator in the brocade robe; his chest rose, clearly suppressing a great deal of anger, as if he was about to explode at any moment.


    The original vendor, a mere Qi Cultivator, immediately began packing up and hurriedly shrank back, not daring to linger.


    He couldn''t afford to offend the Foundation Establishment cultivators of either family.


    However, the brocade-robed cultivator once again coldly shouted:


    "Stop right there!"


    Following the shout, the peak-stage Qi Cultivator returned with a face full of misery, his expression subservient and filled with apologetic smiles both to his left and right.


    The brocade-robed cultivator then looked back at Lin Shiming and took out a token with the words "Spirit Talisman" on both sides.


    "Do you know now?"


    "That''s right, Xu Hao of the Spirit Talisman Sect is my elder brother! My name is Xu Zhen."


    "Xu Hao? I actually do know him!" Lin Shiming''s expression became somewhat strange, and he couldn''t help but take another look at Xu Zhen.


    He doubted Xu Zhen''s intelligence and wondered how he could have cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    "If you know him, then hand over that Jade Slip to me. I had my eyes on that treasure first, and I was the first to buy it. A Qi Cultivation peak stage daring to snatch things before me? You better prepare to apologize!" Xu Zhen said with a sneer.


    "Family Head, I was the first to take interest in that Jade Slip. It was only because I didn''t have enough Spirit Stones that I went to borrow some from Uncle Thirteen, and I even paid a deposit. Why shouldn''t it be considered a sale!" Lin Shiyi was extremely angry at this moment.


    He was a man of strong character, and although he now knew the other party was someone significant, he hadn''t made a mistake and wouldn''t admit to a mistake he hadn''t made.


    He didn''t believe that in Jiuye City''s marketplace he could be assassinated by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    As Lin Shiyi spoke, a figure in a Daoist robe approached from the distance. The cultivator was dressed in a Spirit Talisman robe, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, exuding an impressive presence. It was Xu Hao.


    At this, Xu Hao burst into laughter,


    "Brother Lin has made his offer, how can I not thank Brother Lin!" Xu Hao glared at Xu Zhen again, who promptly thanked Lin Shiming.


    He glared once more at the stall owner and then, under the stall owner''s reluctant gaze, chose the most expensive Third Rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifact.


    Lin Shiming also wanted Lin Shiyi to pick a treasure, but at that moment, a system prompt appeared again:


    "Please choose a map, and you will obtain the hidden cave mansion of an unknown cultivator in the Qingyun Mountain range!"


    Lin Shiming was stunned at this sudden system prompt.


    He halted mid-sentence and began looking over the stall, eventually picking up an inconspicuous map, much to the stall owner''s surprise.


    "Senior, perhaps you would like to choose something else?" said the stall owner, his face pale once more, knowing very well that the map was terribly drawn, appearing to be the careless work of a novice cultivator.


    In his view, Lin Shiming''s choice was a clear indication that he did not intend to let him off easily and was planning to settle the score after leaving Jiuye City!


    Contrary to being misunderstood by the Loose Cultivator, Lin Shiming then let Lin Shiyi choose another Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, which eased the latter''s pain considerably.


    After packing up his stall, he dashed into the crowd and promptly vanished from sight.


    "Brother Lin, how about a drink at Laiyue Tower?" Xu Hao, obviously oblivious to Lin Shiming''s reason for his first choice of the treasure map, invited him.


    "No, thank you for the kind offer, Brother Xu. My family still wants to set up shop for a while, so I won''t be able to join you. Let''s meet another day!" Lin Shiming bowed and declined, not out of dissatisfaction, but because the Lin Family indeed had many matters to attend to.


    Having purchased three Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Houshou and Lin Shiyi could both start preparing for their power breakthroughs.


    "Since Brother Lin is busy, let''s make it another time. But I must remind you, Brother Lin, Wan Qing has also obtained a spot for Dao Enlightenment!" Xu Hao mentioned it, clearly aware of the rivalry between Lin Shiming and Wan Qing at the auction.


    Lin Shiming thanked him and then quickly returned to his stall with Lin Shiyi.


    Behind him, Xu Hao watched Lin Shiming disappear into the distance.


    "Brother, this Daoist Lin has superior Body Cultivation strength to mine!" Xu Zhen raised his hand and suddenly spoke.


    "It''s not just his Body Cultivation; he''s got plenty more tricks up his sleeve!" Xu Hao''s gaze turned distant as his mind filled with the battle between Lin Shiming and Chen Yuan from the other day...

 Chapter 211 Tribulation Forging Divine Flower

    Laiyue Tower, after the dispute involving Lin Shiyi, the Lin Family also packed up, and everyone returned to their residences.


    In Lin Xianzhi''s room, Lin Shiyi was hanging his head low, feeling somewhat guilty.


    Lin Xianzhi, Lin Yuqing, Lin Houyuan, and a group of Elders were also very serious. This time the situation had been extremely dangerous.


    If Lin Shiming hadn''t arrived in time, there could have been an accident. Lin Shiyi had caused a dispute with a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if the Law Enforcement Team had arrived, Xu Zhen was a disciple of the Spirit Talisman Sect, and also a Foundation Establishment cultivator; the one at a disadvantage could only be Lin Shiyi.


    "Shiyi, even though you did not intend it, this action still violated the clan''s rules. This time, upon returning to Fangmu Mountain, you will face the wall in the back mountains for ten years, without leaving the mountain. Do you have any objections?" Lin Yuqing, as the Master of the Law Enforcement Hall and the former Great Elder, spoke solemnly.


    "Replying to Great Uncle, Shiyi has no objections!" Lin Shiyi still kept his head down, but was clearly surprised.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Back at Laiyue Tower, he also felt he had been rash. Facing disciples of a sect, especially those from sects with strong backers, if the family fought with them, they would undoubtedly suffer a great loss.


    Fortunately, Lin Shiming was strong enough and had enough face.


    To Lin Shiyi, the punishment that Lin Yuqing and the other Elders discussed seemed like it was forcing him into secluded cultivation, but one should know he has already been refining Spiritual Energy. In no more than five or six years, he would break through to Foundation Establishment, and that would mean another few years.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, Great Uncle, Family Head, this is the Jade Slip Shiyi purchased, which contains an incomplete wind attribute Cultivation Technique. Additionally, here are the treasures Shiyi selected, the Cloak Hammer!" Lin Shiyi then presented the Jade Slip he had bought, along with the acquired magic artifacts one by one.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming was also somewhat excited. At the moment, the Lin Family had Cultivation Techniques of the Five Elements attributes and the thunder attribute, but lacked one for the wind attribute. In the future, if the family were to have a member with a rare Spirit Root, they would not have to worry about lacking a beginner Cultivation Technique.


    Lin Shiming took over the Jade Slip, not touching the magic artifacts.


    Inserting his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip, he found the Cultivation Technique was called Shadow Wind Decree, a Profound Rank Inferior Grade technique. It was a pity, though, that the wind attribute Secret Technique inherently included in the Cultivation Technique was incomplete, in addition to it being able to only be cultivated up to the early stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Even so, this Cultivation Technique was definitely a precious Secret Technique, especially meaningful for their Lin Family.


    After all, the Lin Family only had a heritage spanning a few hundred years, and most of that time, they were barely scraping by on the edge of the Foundation Establishment families. What they lacked was exactly this kind of heritage.


    "Second brother, since purchasing the Cultivation Technique also counts as a merit, keep the Cloak Hammer for yourself!" Lin Shiming, as the Family Head, put away the Jade Slip.


    Then Lin Shiming took out a map, the very one obtained at the stall of the Loose Cultivator.


    "Chee chee!" A flash of golden light appeared, and the Golden Winged Mantis, which was crouching somewhere nearby, approached as well.


    The Golden Winged Mantis chattered nonstop, its golden triangular head affectionately nuzzling against Lin Shiming''s thigh.


    Lin Shiming followed the routine and took out the Beast Nurturing Pill and Spirit Water, along with Spirit Beast meat.


    The Golden Winged Mantis ate quietly, while the Red-haired Demon Monkey, from time to time, raised its arm high, attempting to reach towards the Golden Winged Mantis, only to be met by two golden scythe-like limbs.


    In the end, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had to turn its back, refusing to look at the Golden Winged Mantis.


    Lin Shiming was amused by the actions of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, but he then took out a Jade Bottle.


    The Jade Bottle was somewhat translucent, revealing the dark green Spiritual Liquid inside. He gently removed the bottle stopper, feeling a rush of extremely pure Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy burst forth, and for a moment, he felt the surrounding Spirit Grass stir.


    This Spiritual Liquid was the Mu Xin Spiritual Liquid he had purchased this time.


    After checking the Mu Xin Spiritual Liquid, Lin Shiming stored it away, then took out a Tribulation Forging Divine Flower. The Tribulation Forging Divine Flower had three stems, and upon maturity, it would produce three flowers, which needed to be consumed at the same time to achieve the forging effect.


    Of course, the Forging Divine Pill made from the Tribulation Forging Divine Flower was even more effective, but currently, the Lin Family didn''t possess a Third Rank Superior Grade Alchemist.


    Lin Shiming canceled each seed of the Forging Divine Flower, and then cultivated a small plot of Spirit Soil next to the area where he was growing the Spirit Vines.


    After preparing the Spirit Soil, he first poured in the ordinary Nurturing Spirit Liquid prepared by a Spirit Plant Master.


    Once the Spiritual Liquid had been irrigated and the Spirit Light flickered, he took out some Spirit Soil, spreading a thin layer over the surface of the cultivated land, and then carefully sowed the seeds of the Tribulation Forging Divine Flower.


    Once everything was ready, Lin Shiming infused them with the True Yuan from his body. The seeds had suffered a great loss of Spiritual Energy due to incorrect harvesting, and whether they could be revitalized and germinated, he had no great confidence.


    After three days of stimulation, Lin Shiming felt the vitality emanating from the seeds and he heaved a sigh of relief.


    Indeed, just as he had guessed, his latent Spiritual Body and Purple Wood Heart Sutra could stimulate these seeds.


    However, much to his disappointment, it normally took forty years for the seeds of the Tribulation Forging Divine Flower to mature. Even with the acceleration from his Purple Wood Heart Sutra, it would only shorten the time by threefold, meaning that it would be of no use for the upcoming journey to the Profound Grade Secret Realm in five years.

 Chapter 212 Dao Enlightenment Tips (Thanks for the reward during the fireworks extinguishing)

    ```


    In the blink of an eye, another twenty days had passed. On Jiuye Mountain, a group of cultivators, led by the Spirit Beast Sect''s San Ye Hermit, had come to a massive white fir Spirit Tree.


    The enormous branches of the Spirit Tree formed a vast area of shade.


    Up close, the sight was even more stunning.


    Naturally, the cultivators remembered the day the white fir Spirit Tree''s branches turned into the sea, fresh in their memory and full of awe.


    San Ye Hermit then cast a Spirit Talisman, which disappeared into the void.


    The next moment, a bright light appeared in the seemingly empty space, followed by ripples that spread out like those on a lake, revealing a light gate about three meters high.


    "Let''s go. Remember not to wander off. A formation has already been setup here and remember what this old man told you before. Even if the Jiuye Daoist is in seclusion, you won''t be able to withstand his wrath!"


    "As for the rest, I will say no more. You, being the elite disciples of various sects and tribes, should naturally understand!" San Ye Hermit cautioned the nine people once again.


    Lin Shiming and his group nodded hastily as well.


    Jiuye Daoist naturally refers to the Zi Xuan Wood Demon, which is actually a white fir Spirit Tree; to respect Bai Shan True Person, disciples of the Spirit Beast Sect reverently refer to the Wood Demon as San Ye Hermit.


    As they entered through the light gate, the nine were startled. Before their eyes was not an expansive scene, but countless white fir Spirit Trees, much larger than the ordinary ones, with innumerable roots densely packed and burrowing into the ground, extending as far as the eye could see.


    Only the most central white fir Tree emanated a terrifying spiritual pressure.


    San Ye Hermit continued to lead from the front, while Lin Shiming and the other eight followed carefully.


    This time, among those who came to seek Dao Enlightenment, Lin Shiming had four acquaintances: Xu Hao, Ye Changyuan, and Wan Qing.


    The remaining five were pre-selected: three cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect, one from the Spirit Talisman Sect, and one from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Soon, they arrived at the true base of the white fir tree, where one could see with the naked eye a gigantic tree face with closed eyes.


    San Ye Hermit gestured with his hand as if to greet it.


    Then, nine branches fell down, each entwining one of the nine people, lifting them into the air.


    Each person was set upon one of the nine vast leaves, which were the foundational Spirit Leaves of the white fir tree, as well as the platforms for Dao Enlightenment.


    Lin Shiming calmed down and began to understand each vision, organize them, and classify the same types of deductions together.


    Then he began to look beyond the visions, where he saw root-like tendrils, slightly transparent. They were so fine that one wouldn''t notice them without close inspection.


    In that moment, Lin Shiming had a slight epiphany: all things have roots from which they do not stray, and all things have their own laws of growth.


    Behind the root tendrils were the core life leaves, also connected to the entire Dao Enlightenment Spirit Platform.


    Yet in the next moment, Lin Shiming discovered that he was seeing the entire White Pine Spirit Tree, the nine Spirit Leaves, the nine Dao Enlightenment Spirit Platforms.


    He saw Wan Qing gaining insights into a sword technique called ''Thousand Swords Unification,'' from a hundred swords to a thousand, and finally to the unification of ten thousand!


    He saw Xu Hao gaining insights into a complex Spirit Talisman, so intricate that it made him dizzy!


    ...


    At that moment, he could see the processes of Dao enlightenment of the other eight cultivators clearly.


    However, what shocked him was that, at some point, a huge face had appeared beside him.


    That face was the spitting image of the one Lin Shiming had seen on the main body of the White Pine Spirit Tree.


    Instantly, Lin Shiming felt an urge to beg for mercy and exit, imagining the wrath he would face.


    But in the next moment, he realized that nothing had happened. He looked again, more carefully, and saw that the tree face was furrowing its brows, with the temples bulging, clearly in a state of closed-door meditation.


    Of course, the most terrifying aspect was that part of the tree face''s head seemed to have been chopped off by a demonic mace, with mists of demonic energy continuously emerging.


    Lin Shiming recalled the scream from the great battle that day and guessed that the attack must have been left by those two Purple Mansion Late Stage Demon Cultivators.


    The White Pine Spirit Tree, a tree demon, was in closed-door meditation to suppress its injury.


    Appearing next to it was simply an instinctive drive to enlighten and transmit the Dao.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also began to believe what the Thousand Demons Hermit had said standing there. The White Pine Spirit Tree could indeed absorb the Dao.


    The roots evolved all things and also absorbed all things.


    This was also why the Spirit Root of the White Pine Spirit Tree''s main body was not merely about entwining strength, but also capable of producing swords, spears, and manifesting wind and rain!


    It was able to slay two Demon Cultivators with its own strength. If not for being distracted by the Dao Enlightenment Token, it might have killed all the dozen or so Purple Mansion Demon Cultivators on the spot!

 Chapter 213 Unable to Comprehend

    Lin Shiming shook his head, casting all his chaotic thoughts aside, for this was not the time to ponder the combat capability of the Bai Shan Spirit Tree.


    Now that the Bai Shan Spirit Tree had closed off to the external world to undergo its cultivation, the entire process of Dao contemplation, Dao transmission, deduction, and enlightenment was under its control.


    This mysterious feeling fascinated him greatly, and in the blink of an eye, he fell into a deep state of sudden enlightenment.


    ...


    Halfway up Jiuye Mountain, there weren''t many cultivators on the observation platform, just a handful of people.


    Among them were Lin Xianzhi, Lin Houyuan, and Xie An.


    The opportunity to observe the Dao contemplation of Jiuye was naturally not available to everyone, but the close relatives of those undergoing the process could watch.


    This was also a way for the Spirit Beast Sect to promote the greatness of Jiuye Mountain and the grandeur of the sect itself.


    Just like the Ascending Immortal Ladder of Qingxuan Sect, it inspired respect and gave the impression that the path of immortal cultivation was available to everyone!


    What caught several people''s attention was that the Zi Xuan Hermit was also present not far off in an observation pavilion. He was calmly sipping his tea, serene and composed, but his eyes were constantly watching the nine Spirit Platforms of Dao contemplation.


    There were many observation pavilions, and at this moment, there were quite a few people in the other pavilions as well, such as the Purple Mansion cultivators from the Ye Family. Besides them, there were also members from the Spirit Talisman Sect and Wanjian Sect.


    One could tell from the patterns on the robes of the various sects.


    Those with swords were from Wanjian Sect, those with various Spirit Talismans were from Spirit Talisman Sect, those with patterns of flowers, birds, insects, and beasts were from Spirit Beast Sect, and those with vast landscapes were from Qingxuan Sect.


    "It''s started, someone has entered Dao contemplation, it''s our sect''s fellow disciple, Zhao Xiaosheng!"


    Someone on the observation platform couldn''t help but exclaim.


    And everyone turned their gaze to the distance, only to see that one of the Spirit Platforms was now surrounded by an abundant aura of Spirit Light, giving rise to spectacular phenomena. It was as if they were seeing numerous flood dragons emerging from the sea, stirring clouds and controlling thunder and lightning.


    The terrifying phenomena made everyone gasp in amazement.


    "Brother Zhao is indeed worthy of being one of the top five Spirit Children of our generation, a genius with a Wind Spirit Root. It''s said that he possesses a Third Rank huge python that is about to mutate, and now it seems he''s comprehended the Flood Dragon Overturning the Seas!"


    "Look quickly, our Spirit Talisman Sect''s Brother Bai has also started, and what he''s comprehending is indeed a Heavenly Talisman..."


    The shouts of surprise from the crowd rose one after another.


    One by one, the seeds of Dao contemplation started their process.


    Lin Xianzhi and Xie An, among others, were full of anticipation.


    However, they saw that beams of Spirit Light appeared, enveloping the entire Spirit Platforms.


    Yet the Spirit Platform where Lin Shiming was located remained dim and lackluster.


    Furthermore, he discovered that as the rootlets rippled, he felt that he could control the Dao Enlightenment transmission of the White Spruce Spirit Tree!


    If the deductive power of the White Spruce Spirit Tree was a hundred, then Lin Shiming''s was only one.


    But at this moment, as the White Spruce Spirit Tree fell into silence, he unexpectedly experienced a terrifying deductive power.


    Especially since he found that he could control the magnitude of this deductive power.


    Thus, Lin Shiming returned to his Spirit Platform and started to draw upon this deductive power, letting it surge towards him.


    Instantly, Lin Shiming''s Spirit Platform displayed an extremely dazzling spectacle.


    He was deducing the Grass Sword Art.


    As his comprehension began, he felt as though he were placed in a world of grass.


    Each blade of grass, a cultivator!


    Each blade of grass, a Divine Skill!


    In an instant, Lin Shiming found himself unable to move. Upon introspection, he found that he too had become a blade of Spirit Grass.


    Yet, around him, the various Sword Intents of grass surged from the ground and cleaved towards the heavens!


    This scene was shockingly powerful!


    As his body and soul were immensely stirred, the seed of the Grass Sword Art within him seemed to be sprouting as well.


    The Sword Intent of grass arose at once!


    His comprehension continued, but Lin Shiming worried that time was insufficient and thus drew upon another tenth.


    The Grass Swords around him multiplied, and his comprehension deepened.


    But it was still not enough!


    Lin Shiming then glanced at Wan Qing and directly drew seven-tenths of his Spirit Light, leaving behind only a tenth.


    In the outside world, at this moment, everyone began to exclaim in shock.


    Especially Lin Xianzhi, Xie An, and others, seeing Lin Shiming''s Spirit Platform now as dazzling as the scorching sun, were overjoyed beyond measure.


    And the Zi Xuan Hermit beside them, his pupils contracting slightly, was also clearly surprised by Lin Shiming. He, who originally intended to leave, took out some more Spiritual Tea and continued to brew it.


    Moreover, the Spiritual Tea he took out this time was even Fourth Rank.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit was clearly very content.

 Chapter 214 Suspicion

    At this moment, Wan Wuyin''s complexion was at its most unsightly, only to see his face alternating between bright red and a purplish hue, a most peculiar sight indeed.


    Even though the members of the Lin Family did not speak, their eyes kept glancing over at him.


    It was as if they were looking at a clown!


    This, more than any spoken mockery, infuriated him further.


    Yet at this moment, he could not rebut, and could only swell up angrily, his chest heaving like an ugly toad.


    "The Lin Family is really something, that Spirit Light!"


    "Of course they are, the swordsmanship he comprehended, I fear it won''t take many years for him to have a smooth journey on the path of Sword Dao!"


    "That''s natural, he is, after all, a registered disciple of the Zi Xuan Hermit!" In the viewing stands, people also started discussing, full of praise.


    Although they had previously held disdain, they had not opened their mouths in mockery, and now they spoke with full intent to praise.


    For cultivators, flattering the powerful has never been reserved; they hadn''t mocked before, and doing so now would not seem abrupt, nor would it cause them to blush.


    "Their Spirit Light is diminishing..." someone else discovered a shocking scene.


    "Maybe it''s because the Spirit Light of the Lin Family cultivator is too dazzling!" someone hesitated, voicing a guess.


    However, the next moment, Wan Qing''s Spirit Platform suddenly became dim and lightless, on the verge of disappearing.


    "There''s someone who has finished comprehending!"


    "It''s Wan Qing of the Wanjian Sect!"


    At this moment, Wan Wuyin wished he could find a hole to burrow into.


    Disappearance of Spirit Light signifies the end of comprehension.


    Naturally, this does not mean enlightenment to perfection or early success, but rather a sign of poor comprehension, akin to Lin Shiming''s long inability to begin.


    Although this was Wan Wuyin''s first visit to the Spirit Beast Sect, they did not have the audacity to claim they had completed their comprehension.


    With Wan Qing''s departure, the other cultivators continued their contemplation undisturbed.


    And Lin Shiming at this moment, was unaware of the whispers in the outside world.


    This moment, his vision was filled with various Grass Swords of Heaven-Slaying.


    The entire sky, like a falling curtain, was torn apart and shattered by the swords made of grass.


    Thunder rumbled on the horizon, seeming to punish these Grass Swords, but the next moment, they were relentlessly severed by countless Grass Swords.


    Of course, Wan Qing was an exception, as his expression was somewhat unsightly at this moment.


    As the nine had completed their comprehension, nine new branches emerged from the body of the White Pine Spirit Tree, sending each of them down from the tree.


    Hermit San Ye also stood up and led the group out.


    "Lin Young Friend, I wonder if you could spare a moment for a talk later!"


    Lin Shiming involuntarily changed his expression, sensing the communication within his mind, then turned toward the retreating figure of Hermit San Ye.


    As the latter led the way as usual, Lin Shiming was naturally anxious at the moment.


    He did not know whether Hermit San Ye meant to meet with every individual.


    But he could not refuse!


    Lin Shiming nodded his head to indicate his response, his heart filled with regret at that moment, yet at the same time, he thought that surely the White Pine Spirit Tree in deep seclusion knew nothing of what he had done, otherwise, it would never allow him to act so recklessly.


    Hermit San Ye, leading the nine, arrived at a grand hall and then spoke.


    "My young friends, you have now received the Nine-Leaf Dao Enlightenment from our Sect. The matter with the demonic sect is for now concluded, but you are still expected to fulfill a task within your capacities for our Sect in the next ten years. This will be communicated to each of you in due time," Hermit San Ye stated indifferently.


    He then handed over the Spirit Contracts to be signed by each individual and affiliated with their respective Sects.


    Lin Shiming received the Spirit Contract, and finding it to be the Qing Xuan Spirit Contract with no other bindings apart from a single task, nodded and signed.


    Only then, with a wave of Hermit San Ye''s hand, did the group disperse one by one.


    Only Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment, surprised that Hermit San Ye truly intended to speak with him alone!


    In that instant, his mind raced, reviewing the entire enlightenment process again.


    Should anything be discovered, he was certain that it was his slipup that had been noticed.


    In the face of such an ancient being now, he must understand where his oversight lay to grasp even a sliver of advantage.


    "Lin Family Young Friend, may I ask if you have joined a Sect?" Hermit San Ye inquired casually.


    Hermit San Ye''s words instantly filled Lin Shiming with a bittersweet feeling.


    "Replying to the Hermit Senior, Shiming is a nominal disciple of Zi Xuan Hermit!"


    Lin Shiming answered honestly, his inner anxiety increasing even further. Hermit San Ye inviting him to join the Spirit Beast Sect was not a good sign.


    If it were any other Hermit, he might have been able to decline on the grounds of being Zi Xuan Hermit''s nominal disciple, but Hermit San Ye was evidently powerful, matching Zi Xuan Hermit and holding a significant position within the Spirit Beast Sect.


    "Oh, is that so? Then, young friend, could you tell me how you were able to draw upon the Enlightenment Spirit Light?"

 Chapter 215 Relief

    Lin Shiming was utterly horrified at this moment, his mind a complete mess.


    The San Ye Hermit''s gaze was piercing, a profound and mysterious Purple Mansion aura emerged unintentionally.


    It was like ten great mountains pressing down upon him.


    Continuously assaulting his inner defenses.


    Under such an aura, his breathing quickened, and a flush appeared on his face.


    He was certain that if his answer carried even a hint of doubt or any other emotion, the San Ye Hermit would definitely take action against him, if not soul searching, then using an Inquiry Spirit Talisman.


    Even more so!


    Even if his answer was perfect, there was still a possibility that the San Ye Hermit would hold him back.


    Cultivators seek the truth of the Great Dao and often stop at nothing; a Purple Mansion cultivator like the San Ye Hermit would care even less about what a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Lin Shiming thought or resented.


    In this tense moment, another figure appeared in the hall, with their voice preceding them:


    "Ji is still looking for his little disciple, never expected to find him here, thanks to Brother San Ye for taking time out of his busy schedule to instruct my little disciple!!!"


    The word "instruct" struck like Heavenly Thunder, deafening and enlightening!


    Clad in purple robes, a kindly face, like an unsheathed peerless immortal sword, sharp yet full of profound meaning.


    At this moment, Zi Xuan Hermit became Lin Shiming''s lifeline.


    San Ye Hermit''s expression changed, growing grim and somewhat frightening; he hadn''t expected Zi Xuan Hermit to arrive so quickly.


    "As for Brother San Ye''s question, Ji can answer it. My disciple naturally has a latent Wood Attribute Spiritual Body and high comprehension, communicating with the Bai Shan Spirit Tree to enlighten the Spirit Light is also not a problem!" Zi Xuan Hermit spoke again.


    "I wonder if there are any more questions, the Heavenly Sword elder also enjoys resolving doubts!"


    Zi Xuan Hermit spoke again, this time bringing up the Heavenly Sword True Person.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    San Ye Hermit''s expression turned even uglier by a degree, casting another glance at Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming also quickly nodded; at this moment, he had no intention of pretending. In his view, he did have a latent Wood Attribute Spiritual Body which, upon reaching the Purple Mansion, would naturally come with a Minor Divine Ability.


    Of course, at this moment, he was also guessing that the foundation of his deductions might be a part of his intrinsic Spiritual Body.


    Otherwise, how could it be that for all these years, the Spirit Beast Sect couldn''t discover the secret of the Bai Shan Spirit Tree?


    "Haha, Brother Ji, please don''t take offense, San Ye merely saw such a Sword Dao genius for the first time and truly had the intention of taking a disciple. Since he is your beloved disciple, San Ye hereby offers his apologies!" San Ye Hermit bowed repeatedly.


    "Good, good! Good!"


    "Not bad!" The Zi Xuan Hermit uttered three ''goods'' in succession, followed by ''not bad'', with an extremely broad smile.


    "Shiming, when I first took you as my disciple, it was partly because of your family''s honorable ancestor, and partly because your seventh great-uncle implored bitterly. But it was precisely that decision which has resulted in the fine jade you are today!"


    "Do you wish to take me as your Master and join the sect for cultivation? Not only can you choose any Cultivation Technique freely, but I will also protect the Lin Family for fifty years! With your Spiritual Body and talent, reaching Golden Core is indeed possible in the foreseeable future!"


    Lin Shiming was somewhat stunned this time; he had not expected the Zi Xuan Hermit to consider taking him as a Direct Disciple.


    "Thank you for your kind intentions, Master, but Shiming has been under the family''s protection since childhood and has already taken on the role of Family Head. Moreover, I have pledged an oath before the ancestral spirit to bring glory to the family, so this matter..." After finishing his response, Lin Shiming deeply bowed his head.


    "Your answer is really no different from Xianzhi!" the Zi Xuan Hermit said with a flick of his sleeve, showing some dissatisfaction before taking another sip of Spiritual Tea.


    "Since the first option is not feasible, I won''t keep anything from you. You should be aware of Xianzhi''s affair, right? He retrieved the Soul Summoning Sword from the Myriad Swords Tomb, not only obtaining a portion of the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid but also a piece of the Fourth Rank Spirit Fruit known as the Longevity Fruit, which can extend one''s life by fifty years!"


    As soon as the Zi Xuan Hermit finished his words, Lin Shiming was instantly shocked.


    His eyes also sparkled with light.


    The shock was because of the Zi Xuan Hermit''s forthrightness.


    At the same time, if he had been hesitant about entering the Profound Grade Secret Realm before, he was now resolute.


    They still had the recipe for Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, but the latter, the Longevity Fruit, could prolong his seventh great-uncle''s life, aiding him in hopeful advancement to the Purple Mansion.


    Of course, he was also clear on what the Soul Summoning Sword signified.


    With the System prompts available, he was confident in making the right decision.


    "Thank you, Master!" Lin Shiming bowed once again.


    "Whether or not you accept, I shall protect the Lin Family for fifty years," said the Zi Xuan Hermit, nodding as Lin Shiming showed no intent to refuse.


    "If there''s nothing else, you may leave; they must be anxious by now!"


    "Yes, Master!" Lin Shiming bowed once more.


    "Ah, right, here''s the remaining bit of Spiritual Tea; take it with you as well!"


    Lin Shiming was overjoyed, he had not expected the Zi Xuan Hermit to give him the small remaining portion of the Fourth Rank Purple Cloud Tea.


    To the Purple Mansion Loose, these teas might be of lesser value, but to Lin Shiming, this Spiritual Tea could save him years of arduous cultivation.


    Lin Shiming solemnly placed the Jade Box filled with Spiritual Tea away, then exited the cave abode!

 Chapter 216 The Secret of the Secret Realm

    Emerging from the hermitage of Purple Mansion Loose Hermit, as they reached the foot of the mountain, they bumped into Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan.


    At this moment, it was clear that everyone had breathed a sigh of relief.


    Joy finally appeared in their eyes.


    From the initial disappointment, to the subsequent excitement, and then to the concern after being told that Lin Shiming had been left behind alone.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Father, I made you worry!" Lin Shiming bowed to each of them in turn, recognizing the genuine concern in the faces of the three men before him.


    "Good, as long as you''re alright!" Lin Houyuan was also relieved.


    Lin Xianzhi and Xie An nodded as well.


    "Elder Brother, Shiming''s opportunity this time was thanks to your good fortune. Why don''t we go to Laiyue Tower today and try the spirit banquet of Jiuye City?" Lin Shiming invited warmly.


    Moreover, with the hostilities coming to a pause, Xie An too felt somewhat unrestrained and readily agreed.


    As they traveled together, Lin Houyuan also told funny stories about Wan Wuyin and Wan Qing.


    After their Dao Enlightenment ended, Wan Qing even went to question the deacon of the Spirit Beast Sect, only to be flatly rejected and left with a disheveled departure.


    Lin Shiming laughed off the story, not expecting Wan Qing to complain not to San Ye Hermit but to the deacon instead.


    However, Wan Qing probably really thought at first that his comprehension wasn''t enough, and after hearing Wan Wuyin''s account, he inquired tentatively to save face.


    That deacon had utmost confidence in the sect''s White Spruce Spirit Tree, so how could he listen to his nonsense, let alone give Wan Qing any good treatment?


    Upon arriving at Laiyue Tower, Lin Shiming opened two private rooms: one for himself and the other three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the remaining one for Lin Yuqing and the other Qi Cultivators.


    The delicacies at the Laiyue Tower of the Spirit Beast Sect, compared to those in Qingxuan City, were richer and varied in more types of spiritual cuisine.


    Although the four had refrained from grains for many years, they were extremely interested in these spiritual cuisines bursting with spiritual energy.


    Even some Third Rank spiritual cuisine could be of great help to their current cultivation levels.


    Seeing that the three elders were enjoying their meal, Lin Shiming did not hesitate to bring out a jade box.


    Upon hearing this, Xie An''s relaxed expression tightened somewhat before he spoke softly,


    "Shiming, since you''ve asked about this, it must be the Sect Master who has invited you to join. Then, as your Senior Brother, I will not keep you in the dark."


    "Our Qingxuan Sect actually controls four Profound Grade Secret Realms: Heavenly Sword Peak, Shen Ji Peak, and Xuan Body Peak, each with one. However, these three Profound Grade Secret Realms are not open to outsiders. It is the last Profound Grade Secret Realm that matters, and it is the one that cultivators from your family clan have a chance to enter!"


    "Additionally, in five years, the three major sects might all enter this Secret Realm!"


    "The last Profound Grade Secret Realm can even be said not to be a Profound Grade Secret Realm, but rather a half Earth Grade Secret Realm, or even a Secret Realm of a great world!"


    "Because within this Secret Realm, there lies a connection to a minor world!"


    Upon this revelation, both Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming''s eyes involuntarily tensed.


    "Within this minor world, there are Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons, and not just one. Most importantly, our Purple Mansion cultivators cannot enter!"


    Upon these words, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi realized why Xie An had such an expression.


    Such a minor world, if one is not careful enough, one might not only fail to acquire treasures but even struggle to exit with their life.


    "Of course, if one is cautious, one can be safe and the gains will be much more than usual!"


    "However, as a family clan member, most of whom are Purple Mansion cultivators and registered disciples, entering the Secret Realm will be task-ridden, and to acquire true treasures, one almost has to enter the minor world."


    "The gains of sect disciples must be handed over to the sect, while the gains of registered disciples must be turned over to their respective Purple Mansion masters!"


    ...


    Xie An provided detailed explanations, and Lin Shiming listened with extreme care, as his intent to partake in the expedition to the Profound Grade Secret Realm was unwavering.


    He also had a major advantage ¨C he possessed the Cave Heaven World. with it, he could keep a large portion of the treasures for himself.


    Especially the main ingredient for Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, which was also why he had infused his family''s Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein into the Cave Heaven World ¨C to facilitate the transplantation of Spiritual Medicine.


    The Myriad Swords Tomb was also becoming somewhat clear before him.


    According to Qingxuan Sect''s high-level analysis, that minor world was the heritage site of a Nascent Soul Sect, and Myriad Swords Tomb was their Sword Storing Mountain.


    But for some unknown reason, that sect had fallen, leaving only a passage to the Profound Grade Secret Realm.

 Chapter 217 Lin Shitaos Choice

    The arcane secrets of the Profound Grade Secret Realm shook Lin Shiming to his core.


    Moreover, he had a vague hunch that the great war between good and evil in Zhao Kingdom and Chu Country might also be connected to the Profound Grade Secret Realm.


    But such high-level secrets were beyond his ability to conclusively discern.


    However, for this Secret Realm, he had to make ample preparations.


    After the feast of spiritual delights, Xie An took his leave, as the cultivators of Qingxuan Sect had already begun to retreat. As a deacon, he was also swamped with affairs.


    And the Lin Family also needed to start organizing their gains and return to Fangmu Mountain in Yunzhou.


    It was a good half-hour after Xie An''s departure that Lin Houyuan finally woke up.


    Upon awakening, the fluctuations of his Spirit Might became erratic, which greatly delighted Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming.


    This fluctuation of Spirit Might was a sign that Lin Houyuan''s True Yuan was finally starting to condense.


    The Foundation Establishment Middle Stage could take as short as five years or as long as ten!


    Furthermore, it''s worth noting that the Lin Family currently possesses a not insignificant amount of Superior Grade Spirit Stones, just waiting to return to Fangmu Mountain for Lin Houyuan to attempt a breakthrough in seclusion.


    "I''ve embarrassed myself in front of Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Houyuan, realizing how long he had been cultivating, showed an embarrassed face.


    Four cultivators had sat down to eat together, and yet he alone had been absorbed in cultivation.


    "There''s nothing embarrassing about it. This Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea truly has excellent effects. Go back and cultivate with Spirit Stones. Strive for an early breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!" Lin Xianzhi said nonchalantly, then gave Lin Shiming another look.


    Because they had both consumed the same amount of Spiritual Tea, he had awakened at the same time as Lin Shiming.


    However, he suspected that Lin Shiming had actually come to his senses earlier, and was merely being considerate of his face as his Seventh Great-Uncle.


    "Shiming, you handle the family''s purchases. Ten days from now, we will set off to return to the Lin Family!" Lin Xianzhi instructed.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement at this instruction.


    Of the forty people from the Lin Family who came, fewer than fifteen survived. It could be considered a pyrrhic victory.


    But the harvest was not small; first, he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Lin Houyuan was also showing signs of reaching the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and most importantly, three Dragon Blood Pills are still left from this time.


    If Lin Houshou can break through to Foundation Establishment, then there is a possibility for other younger generation cultivators in the family to do so as well.


    In addition to that, Lin Shiyi and Lin Houwei, the two potential seeds for Foundation Establishment, could also break through at any time.


    What surprised him was that Lei Xuan had also suddenly broken through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and had started refining his Spiritual Energy.


    Then, the next moment, Lin Houxuan flew out.


    At this moment, Lin Houxuan''s face was etched with the signs of age, most striking of all being his hair, now white at the temples, making him look significantly older.


    "He failed!" Lin Shiming and the others instantly noticed Lin Houxuan''s aura; he was still at the latter stages of Qi Cultivation, his spiritual energy extremely refined, but ultimately not enough for the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    And the failure to break through to Foundation Establishment had dealt him no small blow.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Ninth Brother, Family Head!" Lin Houxuan greeted each in turn, though his tone was notably less confident than before.


    His failed breakthrough and his age, now nearly sixty, meant not only would he have to recover from his injuries, but the family would also not likely allocate another Foundation Establishment Pill to him.


    "What about Fifth Uncle?" Lin Shiming asked.


    When he had left, he had entrusted all of Lingnan County to his elder brother Lin Shijie, and the affairs of Fangmu Mountain to his Fifth Uncle, Lin Houyong.


    "A group of Gold Devouring Rats has infested our family''s Golden Iron Stone mines, including several Third Rank Spirit Rats, and their numbers are growing, threatening the mortals of our family in Lingnan!"


    "Both Fifth Uncle and Fourth Uncle have already gone there!"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, I''ll take care of this matter!" Lin Shiming turned to Lin Xianzhi and said.


    With the war concluded, it was time for the Lin Family to focus on development, and the Golden Iron Stone mine was a major source of revenue that couldn''t fall prey to those unintelligent Gold Devouring Rats.


    "Hm!" Lin Xianzhi nodded.


    "Family Head, you''ve reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment!" Lin Houxuan said with obvious astonishment.


    It was known that Lin Shijie, a dual Spirit Root cultivator, was just at the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment, having only recently started condensing True Yuan.


    "Yes, I was lucky to break through," Lin Shiming nodded, quite satisfied with his journey.


    He not only understood the root of deduction but also acquired the Grass Character Sword Technique and the Essence of Grass Sword Intent, in addition to gaining a Cave Heaven World, several Third Rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifacts, and a vast amount of Spirit Stones.


    "Right, Family Head, you should see Shitao!" Lin Houxuan suddenly remembered something.


    "What''s wrong with Shitao?" Lin Shiming asked, feeling a sudden knot in his stomach.


    "Shitao chose to go into solitary cultivation for Foundation Establishment without using a Foundation Establishment Pill!"


    "What, that''s reckless!" Lin Shiming was momentarily irritated, quickly inquiring about Lin Shitao''s location for solitary cultivation.


    Both Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan''s expressions turned grim.


    Lin Shitao, a dual Spirit Root cultivator supposed to use a Foundation Establishment Pill for a surefire success, was taking an unnecessary risk.


    Not to mention, Lin Shitao was only around thirty-five years old; without the pill, should the attempt fail, it was highly possible she could fall!

 Chapter 218 The Wood Demon Who Loves to Watch Lightning

    At Qinglian Pool''s pavilion, Lin Shiming stood alongside Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan.


    Next to Lin Shiming''s cave dwelling atop Qinglian Mountain, a new abode had appeared.


    The massive characters for "Peach Seven Pavilion" were especially eye-catching.


    Inside the cave dwelling, calm pervaded, and the Spirit Might was not prominent.


    Nevertheless, the group could still sense the faint vitality within, aware that Lin Shitao had not yet reached the breakthrough.


    "Uncle Eleven, how many years has Shitao been in seclusion?" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but ask with concern.


    "Two years!" Lin Houxuan said carefully from the side.


    "This is nonsense, without a Foundation Establishment Pill, how can one achieve a breakthrough!" Lin Xianzhi was also somewhat angry at this moment.


    Lin Houxuan was even more terrified.


    Within Fangmu Mountain, the Yu generation was lacking, and with him being the oldest of the Hou generation, it was naturally his fault for not stopping it.


    At this moment, Lin Houxuan was also filled with regret; having failed at Foundation Establishment himself, he had lost heart for managing family affairs for quite some time.


    It was Lin Shitao, who had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, who took on the operation of the entire family and even crafted elixirs.


    In the end, due to the family''s lack of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, she directly chose to attempt a breakthrough in seclusion without a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    By the time he realized it, Lin Shitao had already entered seclusion, and it was too late for him to stop her.


    "I beg Seventh Great-Uncle and the Family Head for punishment!" Lin Houxuan suddenly knelt down; if he had caused the family to lose a dual Spirit Root Cultivator¡ªa potential third-rank Alchemist¡ªthen he would truly be a sinner.


    "Uncle Eleven, rise. I believe in her!"


    Lin Shiming suddenly spoke, and all eyes turned to him.


    Yet they saw that, at this moment, Lin Shiming''s gaze was extraordinarily determined, and very serious.


    "When I brought her over from Peach Blossom Town, everyone thought she was a girl not so strong!" Lin Shiming murmured to himself with a smile.


    Then he recalled how Lin Shitao chose to tend the Peach Blossom Forest and eventually became an Alchemist, even ascending to be the elder sister to all the Alchemy apprentices.


    That girl who became the strongest female Cultivator of their generation had already made it a reality.


    Naturally, Lin Houxuan had no objection, as it was his own fault from the beginning.


    Lin Shiming didn''t say more.


    However, he returned to the cave dwelling first and took the Minor Divine Ability tree, the Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree, and the Golden Thunder Bamboo all into his Cave Heaven World.


    To his delight, the Minor Divine Ability tree had grown a bit taller, its growth evidently good, the Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree was also about to bloom, and probably after another decade or so, it would bear fruit for once, and the changes to the Golden Thunder Bamboo were big as well.


    The Golden Thunder Bamboo was now two to three meters tall, clearly aged over thirty years.


    After confirming that all spirit plants were safe, Lin Shiming turned his attention to the wood demon and the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    The wood demon seemed to be lounging leisurely, its large tree face appearing much younger. When Lin Shiming entered, he found it had taken out a small wooden stool and was occupying a considerable amount of spirit soil, sucking the spiritual veins of Fangmu Mountain while watching the thunder on the Golden Thunder Bamboo flash continuously with utmost leisure.


    It even made clicking sounds that Lin Shiming couldn''t understand.


    When the wood demon noticed Lin Shiming''s return, it seemed surprised, but quickly became indifferent. Having signed a Spirit Contract with Lin Shiming, it wasn''t afraid of him.


    Lin Shiming was oddly curious about this tea tree that watches thunder, but he still took it into his Cave Heaven World.


    The Mingxin Tea Tree seemed uncomfortable with moving, but upon seeing the Golden Thunder Bamboo also moved in, it continued to watch the lightning on the Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    This left Lin Shiming speechless for a while.


    Lin Shiming took out the Mu Xin Spiritual Liquid, and the tea tree wood demon''s eyes swiveled to it immediately, sending waves of desire through its Divine Sense.


    Without hesitation, Lin Shiming gave the Mu Xin Spiritual Liquid to it.


    The wood demon drank it down in one gulp as if chewing peony like a cow, and then continued to watch the Golden Thunder Bamboo as if nothing had happened.


    It showed little interest in other matters, and even when Lin Shiming asked for its life-bound Spiritual Tea, it just pointed in a direction. On its main body, there were already many life-bound Spiritual Teas, accumulated over the past decade or so.


    Lin Shiming was even more puzzled, but, recalling the urgent need for the family''s iron ore, he left the Cave Heaven World.


    By the time he reached the family''s Martial Arts Hall, Lin Yuqing, Lin Houxuan, Lin Shiyi, Lin Houwei, and Lin Houshou were all there; almost everyone who had returned from the big battle was present.


    Aside from Lin Houxuan, there was also Lin Shilei, the youngest of the Shi generation.


    Lin Yuqing laughed heartily because, at that moment, Lin Shilei had reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level. At twenty-two years old, Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, he almost matched Lin Shiming''s abilities and was definitely a Lin Family prodigy, possessing a Thunder Spirit Root.


    Such a Spirit Root, truly worthy of being just below the Heavenly Spirit Root, had incredibly strong talent.


    With such a speed of cultivation, he might break through to Foundation Establishment before thirty.

 Chapter 219 Spiritual Tea Transformation

    The Qingyun mountain range, Qingshi Ridge, in the late spring, the mountains were covered with white mountain tea flowers, adding a splash of brightness to the stony ridge.


    Bees buzzed among the flowers, busily flitting to and fro.


    However, at this moment, beneath the mountain ridge, several cultivators rushed into a tunnel, only to suddenly find that the cultivators who were mining had fallen, and at the exit was a huge rat hole.


    It was Lin Shijie, Lin Yutie, Lin Houyong, and other members of the Lin Family.


    Their faces clearly showed displeasure, especially Lin Shijie, who was clenching his fists at this moment.


    "Uncle Five, we must slay that Gold Devouring Rat King, or else we will have to stop mining!"


    "Hmm!" Lin Houyong nodded in agreement, but the thought of facing that Third Rank Intermediate Grade Demonic Rat which never confronted them directly just gave him a headache.


    These Gold Devouring Rats initially only stole from the Golden Iron Stone veins.


    What was vile was that, after they had slain a few Second Rank Qi Refinement Demonic Rats, the Rat King led its kind in retaliating against their cultivators.


    Given the utmost importance of the Golden Iron Stone veins, the Lin Family assigned those in the early stages of Qi Cultivation to mine them.


    Because of the Gold Devouring Rats'' interference, not only was safe mining impossible, but many family cultivators also fell. To make things worse, these rats were extremely cunning; they never encountered the Foundation Establishment cultivators, leading their offspring in and out quickly after stealing and attacking the Qi Refinement disciples.


    More so, they had no pattern to their attacks. Even when the area was covered by Formations, they would still manage to get through by gnawing their way in with their indestructible teeth.


    And underground, one''s Divine Sense was greatly hindered.


    "It''s a pity Shiming isn''t here. With him and the two Third Rank spiritual beasts, we could definitely kill this demonic rat!" Lin Shijie couldn''t help but sigh as he thought of someone.


    It wasn''t just that they couldn''t catch up to the Gold Devouring Rat King; they also didn''t possess the power to instantly kill a Third Rank Gold Devouring Rat King. Although the Rat King wasn''t good at attacking, its defense was astonishingly strong.


    Both of them being at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, they lacked the strength even to harm it, let alone form a battle formation.


    In the void, a Spirit Light arrived.


    Lin Shiyun received the Spirit Light¡ªit was a Transmission Talisman:


    "Good lad, you''ve hit the nail on the head!"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lin Houyong couldn''t help but smile, then, leading a few people, he walked toward the spacious mine tunnel, soon arriving at a large hall.


    It''s just that the king of the Mingxin Tea Trees had always been in Lin Shiming''s cave abode, untouched by anyone.


    The fragrance of the Mingxin Tea was exceptionally rich, and as Spiritual Tea from the tree king, it was even more pronounced.


    Moreover, the Tea Tree Wood Demon had been observing the Golden Thunder Bamboo, and a deep and ineffable difference had manifested in the tea as well.


    "Thank you, Family Head!" Lin Houxuan, Lin Shiyun, Lin Shilei, Lin Houyong, and others all expressed their gratitude.


    Oddly enough, Lin Shiming did not pour tea for Lin Houyong and Lin Shijie, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Their expressions didn''t change though, as they were now at the Foundation Establishment stage: drinking Second Rank Spiritual Tea wouldn''t have much effect anyhow, but they still felt somewhat empty-handed for a moment.


    "Don''t worry, Fifth Uncle, Big Brother, you have yours too!" Lin Shiming said with a gentle smile, then he took out a jade box.


    He brewed another pot of new Spiritual Tea. As the purple leaves fell, the entire hall seemed to surge with Spiritual Energy, and the fragrance that wafted through the air made the entire atmosphere saturate with the aroma of the tea.


    "Is this...?" Both of their expressions shifted, and they started to breathe a little more swiftly.


    "Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea, rewarded by the Zi Xuan Hermit!" Lin Shiming answered calmly.


    The entire stock of Qi Xuan Tea wasn''t plentiful, enough for only two brews. Lin Shiming had already consumed it once before, with excellent results. His father had even begun to condense his True Yuan, which is why Lin Shiming felt that this Qi Xuan Tea was greatly beneficial for condensing True Yuan.


    "This is too precious!" Lin Houyong became visibly agitated, then reached for the teapot of Mingxin Tea.


    "Fifth Uncle, this is exactly what I was saving for you. My father and my seventh granduncle have both drunk it!" Lin Shiming said with a smile, continuing to pour a cup for each of them.


    After drinking, both of them instantly sat down tensely and began to meditate right there.


    Lin Shiming also poured himself a cup and drank it all at once.


    The aroma of the tea still permeated the air, but at this moment, Lin Shiming also noticed that the effect of the second sip was somewhat lessened, and there was no need for immediate refinement; however, the help it provided to Cultivation Level was still tremendous. If he could refine it completely, it could spare him years of arduous cultivation.


    The Qi Cultivators of the Lin Family also saw the Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea, naturally feeling envious, but they dared not drink Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea. For a Qi Cultivator to drink Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea wasn''t to improve cultivation¡ªit was to court death. They simply couldn''t refine such immense Spiritual Energy.


    Moreover, the Supreme Grade Mingxin Tea was already incredibly precious. The scent of the tea was lingering and eternal, leaving a refreshing aftertaste!


    However, what surprised everyone was seeing Lin Shilei and Lin Houxuan also begin to sit cross-legged, activating their cultivation techniques and circulating their qi through their meridians!


    One must know, the Mingxin Tea Tree didn''t have such a profound effect!

 Chapter 220 Golden Iron Crystal (Thanks to Ruyi Langjun0 for the reward)

    At this moment, Lin Shiming was also watching Lin Shilei and Lin Houxuan with quite a bit of surprise. In his heart, he had some guesses about why Lin Shilei would be like this.


    The transformation of the Mingxin Tea Tree was obviously influenced by observing the Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    But what he did not expect was that Lin Houxuan, who was at the peak of Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, would have such a breakthrough as well, especially since his failed attempt at the Foundation Establishment had left him with no small sequelae.


    Now, seeing his excited yet solemn expression, it was clear that his injuries had greatly improved.


    After a while, Lin Shilei was the first to wake up. At this moment, his face was full of excitement:


    "Grandfather, Family Head, this Spiritual Tea even contains a hint of thunder attribute Spiritual Energy, which is of great help to me!"


    "If it helps a lot, you can drink a few more cups. I will also place a portion in the Treasure Pavilion in the future!" Lin Shiming said, noting also that Lin Shilei had just broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, and his Spiritual Energy was not that stable, but now it seemed to be completely solidified, with obvious effects.


    He himself would keep some of this Mingxin Tea, but more of it would be placed in the family''s Treasure Pavilion.


    It would be available for family cultivators to exchange for with contribution points, as there would be more and more family cultivators, and it wouldn''t be possible for him to gift each one in need.


    The second to wake up was Lin Houxuan, who was extremely excited at the moment:


    "Family Head, this Spiritual Tea can heal the injuries sustained after attempting Foundation Establishment, and its effects are in no way inferior to those of a Second Rank Supreme Grade Elixir!"


    "With this Spiritual Tea, I''m confident I can make another attempt at Foundation Establishment!"


    "It seems this Spiritual Tea is indeed extraordinary!" Lin Shiming nodded, then poured another cup for Lin Houxuan, followed by another for Lin Shilei.


    Although the others also experienced growth in their cultivation, the effects were obviously not as good as those of Lin Shilei and Lin Houxuan.


    A few more hours passed, and both Lin Shijie and Lin Houyong woke up almost simultaneously.


    Both were overjoyed, especially the former.


    Lin Shijie had also begun to condense his True Yuan. He was confident that he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in five to ten years, and he was only fifty years old now. Being at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage at the age of sixty meant that he still had a full one hundred ninety years to attempt to reach the Purple Mansion.


    Lin Houyong, albeit slower, if he could fully assimilate, would also see the threshold of True Yuan condensation. In the next twenty or thirty years, he should also have a chance at breakthrough.


    Though the time still seemed far off, it was worth noting that before this moment, he even felt that he might remain at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage for the rest of his life.


    "Thank you, Family Head!" both of them couldn''t help but bow in gratitude, understanding that this Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea was extremely precious to Lin Shiming as well.


    The next moment, an even bigger Gold Devouring Rat burst from the entrance, its yellow body now golden, with a larger nose, and incisors that were three inches long.


    It clearly possessed the might of a Third Rank being.


    As the Third Rank Gold Devouring Rat appeared, another twenty or so Gold Devouring Rats crawled out of the entrance and began to frenziedly gnaw on the Golden Iron Stones in the mine.


    Meanwhile, the Third Rank Gold Devouring Rat lay quietly, pressing its sharp ears to the ground.


    With another rustling sound, two more huge gold Gold Devouring Rats emerged, similarly sized to the previous one, and started digging toward the depths of the mine.


    The digging noises grew louder, and at that moment, a mass of golden figures nearly filling the entire burrow truly appeared.


    It was the Third Rank Gold Devouring Rat King; upon landing, it, too, like the two Gold Devouring Rats before it, started digging towards the deeper parts of the mine, completely ignoring the Second Rank Golden Iron Stones.


    What they didn''t know was that Lin Shiming was hiding alone in a Concealment Formation nearby, clothed in a Qinglian Taoist Robe.


    Lin Shiyi and the others had realized that the Gold Devouring Rats'' noses could not be blocked by regular Concealment Formations, which was the reason they could not handle them.


    However, at this moment, Lin Shiming, wearing the Qinglian Taoist Robe along with the Concealment Formation, had apparently managed to hide successfully.


    He didn''t make a move at that moment but watched as the three Third Rank Gold Devouring Rats dug in the soil.


    Soon, he saw something that made his eyes light up¡ªa purer cluster of ironstone appeared in his line of sight.


    "As expected!" Lin Shiming was excited inwardly.


    The ironstone in front of him had a crystal shape like that of a Spirit Stone, the higher version of the Second Rank Golden Iron Stone¡ªthe Third Rank Golden Iron Crystal.


    When the Third Rank Golden Iron Crystal appeared, the largest Gold Devouring Rat King began to gnaw at it, making crunching noises.


    The other two Third Rank Gold Devouring Rats continued to dig.


    But the next moment, the sound of the Shocking God Drum resonated, stunning all the spirit rats with its reverberation, especially the Gold Devouring Rat pressing its ears to the ground, from which golden blood emerged.


    On the other hand, the Third Rank Rat King was unharmed, but the next moment, a huge black grinding wheel began to spin again, coupled with a Split Spirit Blade from Lin Shiming, thoroughly dealing with the Third Rank Rat King as well.


    And the next moment, thirty-six Superior Grade Formation Swords flew out,


    slaughtering all four Third Rank Gold Devouring Rats on the spot.

 Chapter 221 Map Clues

    As Lin Shiming made a move, Lin Shiyi and Lin Houyong, who were already prepared outside, rushed out with great speed.


    Following behind them, was a group of Qi Cultivators from the Lin Family.


    The ambush and pursuit had long been planned.


    But what entered their sight was not the duel between Lin Shiming and the Gold Devouring Rat.


    Instead, it was the corpses of four Third Rank Gold Devouring Rats, as well as the Second Rank Gold Devouring Rats wailing all over the ground, bleeding unstoppably from their ears.


    And just then, Lin Shiming had just withdrawn his Magic Artifact.


    Lin Shijie and Lin Houyong''s understanding of Lin Shiming''s strength was elevated once again.


    They too had encountered these Third Rank Gold Devouring Rats before, and had fought them a few times, but were unable to kill them. However, since the rats'' attacks lacked variety, they also couldn''t harm the two.


    But they were completely unable to stop the Gold Devouring Rats from escaping.


    From the moment Lin Shiming launched his attack to when they arrived, he had eradicated the four rats with lightning speed. It all happened in less than five breaths!


    Such strength was something that even ordinary cultivators at the later stage of Foundation Establishment might not be able to achieve!


    At that moment, Lin Shijie and Lin Houyong, with nothing else to do, chopped off the heads of the Second Rank Gold Devouring Rats with ruptured eardrums.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming walked to the depths of the mine, where half of a Golden Iron Crystal still remained on the ground.


    Massive bite marks were clearly imprinted on it, revealing the golden color of the crystal''s interior.


    The Golden Iron Crystal was incredibly gorgeous. It looked like a piece of red-hot iron, but it was even more lustrous and transparent, extraordinarily beautiful.


    Of course, the real value of the Golden Iron Crystal was its ability to increase the hardness of Magic Artifacts; as far as cultivation materials went, it was extremely expensive.


    An Intermediate Grade Golden Iron Stone was about one hundred Spirit Stones, while the price of a Third Rank Golden Iron Crystal was over ten times that, costing a thousand Spirit Stones for a single piece.


    If combined with some other materials, it could easily refine a Magic Artifact of the Third Rank Intermediate Grade without any issue.


    By this time, Lin Shijie and Lin Houyong also looked over, and the stunning appearance of the Golden Iron Crystal amazed them as well.


    They each took the Golden Iron Crystal and examined it for a while before looking deeper into the mine.


    Their eyes shone brightly; the vein of Golden Iron Stone was considerable. It was only a question of whether the Golden Iron Crystal was an exception or part of the vein.


    But the latter seemed quite probable, or else the Third Rank Gold Devouring Rats wouldn''t have appeared.


    With the value of the Golden Iron Crystal, just ten pieces could bring in a revenue of ten thousand Spirit Stones. Even a small vein of Golden Iron Crystal could significantly improve the Lin Family''s finances.


    In an expanse of yellow desiccated Spirit Grass, over a dozen pups were gnawing crunchily on the Golden Iron Stone.


    At the entrance, two yellow Gold Devouring Rats bared their teeth and grimaced at Lin Shiming, continuously warning him.


    They were slain by Lin Shiming on the spot.


    The remaining dozen or so Gold Devouring Rat pups were all taken away.


    The group then continued back to Stone Ridge Cave.


    With a dozen or so pups laid out before them, it was natural to select corresponding mining cultivators to establish Blood Covenants, and rear these Gold Devouring Rats.


    At the same time, they also had to arrange the future defense of Stone Ridge Cave


    The original formation simply wouldn''t do, it also had to be replaced with a more formidable Third Rank Mountain Protection Array.


    "Uncle Five, distribute these Gold Devouring Rats!" Lin Shiming said to Lin Houyong.


    Having found Third Rank Golden Iron Crystal, Stone Ridge Cave must also be manned by Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    The Lin Family''s sites that needed to be overseen were always rotated by Foundation Establishment cultivators, with a term of ten years.


    At present, the only Foundation Establishment cultivators available to oversee different places for the Lin Family were Lin Houyuan, Lin Houyong, and Lin Shijie.


    Lin Houyuan had just returned from Zhao Kingdom and needed to make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; Lin Shijie was also close, and had already stayed in Lingnan County for more than a decade.


    The places overseen by the Lin Family were two: Xing County Market and Nanling Mountain, now there was an additional Stone Ridge Cave.


    "Don''t worry!" Lin Houyuan nodded his head, the mine had been his responsibility from the beginning, and he was more suitable for arranging the Spirit Rats.


    "When Uncle Two and Lin Shiyi, Lin Houwei are ready for their breakthroughs, they can come to replace you!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    This statement left Lin Houyong somewhat dumbfounded, with Lin Shijie also wearing a look of confusion.


    It was normal for Lin Shiyi and Lin Houwei to be on the verge of breakthroughs, but Lin Houshou was already over sixty years old.


    Shiming could only start explaining the situation with the Dragon Blood Pill one by one.


    After the explanation, it drew surprise and continuous exclamations from both of them.


    "By the way, Uncle Five, Elder Brother, have you ever seen the location on this map?" After making all the arrangements, Lin Shiming brought out the treasure map he had obtained earlier.


    As soon as the map was produced, Lin Shijie was somewhat astonished; the map seemed rather casual.


    However, Lin Houyong''s expression changed:


    "I''ve seen it, the place is still vivid in my memory!"

 Chapter 222 Poisonous Dragon Swamp

    Shiming couldn''t help feeling a surge of elation, he hadn''t expected that, on a casual try, Lin Houyong would actually know of this place.


    "It''s about a hundred li deep into the range from Qingshi Ridge towards Qingyun Mountain," Lin Houyong said. However, after finishing his speech, he spoke again with some concern,


    "But that place is a Poisonous Insect Valley, with innumerable varieties of poisonous insects. I only went there while pursuing a Third Rank Demonic Python, but there were too many poisonous insects, so I had to give up and leave!"


    After Lin Houyong finished speaking, he looked at the map again. Clearly still haunted by the ferocity of the poisonous insects and skeptical about the map,


    If it was an ancient cultivator''s cave abode, the maps and notes of an ancient cultivator would be extremely orderly, every stroke exuding maturity and grandeur.


    Even for a slightly more precious map, it would be engraved more rigorously, since even a slight error in the map could lead to a thousand li discrepancy from reality.


    So following this map, even if it''s in that Poison Valley, there could be a significant margin of error.


    "Hmm, let me contact Seventh Great-Uncle and explore it together!" Shiming pondered for a moment and decided he would still go explore.


    This was a cave abode map prompted by the system, so it probably wouldn''t be too far off.


    If it was again a Purple Mansion cultivator''s cave abode, then the gains should also be substantial.


    As for the dangers, according to Lin Houyong''s description, that location was far from the inner reaches of Qingyun Mountain Range, and the probability of encountering a Purple Mansion Great Demon was not high. As for the ordinary Third Rank Foundation Establishment Demonic Beasts, they did not pose much of a threat to him.


    If Lin Houyong could explore there and return in one piece, then the danger was at least within a controllable range.


    If he also brought along Seventh Great-Uncle Lin Xianzhi, the danger should not be substantial.


    Once Shiming made up his mind, he immediately set out on the journey. On the contrary, Lin Yuqing and Lin Shilei, who had come to kill the Gold Devouring Rats together, did not leave.


    Since the Golden Iron Stone vein had revealed Third Rank Golden Iron Crystals, it naturally required more manpower to guard. Otherwise, should Demonic Beasts like the Gold Devouring Rats reappear and steal Golden Iron Crystals, even losing just one would mean a loss of over a thousand Spirit Stones.


    ...


    In a certain area of Qingyun Mountain Range, a Spirit Boat descended along the jungle.


    A group of cultivators descended from the sky.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Family Head, the location on the map is this valley!" Lin Houyong led at the front and confirmed as he looked back.


    As they appeared, they seemed a bit stunned. Having been battered by the gales within the Heavenly Demon Bag for years, they found it difficult to adapt at first. But under Lin Shiming''s control, they soon recovered their fierce gaze. Their sharp fangs emitted a chilling glint as they let out ferocious howls and charged towards Poison Valley.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming and the others quickly followed.


    Upon entering Poison Valley, even though they had taken the Clear Miasma Elixir, they felt somewhat dizzy. It wasn''t until they manipulated the spirit light to form a spirit shield that they fully recovered.


    Leading at the front was Lin Shiming, with three Qi cultivators in the middle, and Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyong at the rear.


    The two spirit corpses charged around wildly, and soon, flower pythons appeared one after another in the miasma, biting at the corpses.


    The green-haired zombie and the spirit leopard corpse were not to be outdone and bit back fiercely.


    The usual second-rank venomous snakes and scorpions were effortlessly stuffed into the mouths of the two corpses. They chewed messily without stopping their advance.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming kept his divine sense alert, ready to incite the spirit corpses into frenzies and attack Purple Mansion demonic beasts at any sign, then escape immediately with an Earth Escape Talisman.


    After his divine sense swept through much of Poison Valley, Lin Shiming exchanged a glance with Lin Xianzhi, feeling slightly more at ease. The absence of any disturbance also meant the absence of Purple Mansion great demons.


    The two spirit corpses continued to advance, while Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi expanded their divine sense to the maximum, daring not to slack in the least.


    Their gaze finally settled on a poisonous fog swamp at the very center.


    Lin Shiming was surprised to discover wild Poisonous Dragon Vine.


    These Poisonous Dragon Vines were almost indistinguishable from those he had purchased in Jiuye City, and there were numerous seeds.


    Under normal circumstances, this would have filled him with joy, but his mood was now quite poor, amidst the dangers of Poison Valley.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, we may be in trouble!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but send a telepathic message, controlling the spirit corpses to stop and ready to retreat at any moment.


    Discovering Poisonous Dragon Vine was not good news. If there was a poisonous dragon hiding in the swamp, even one at the later stage of the third rank that had not reached Purple Mansion level, they might still be no match for it.


    The combat power of a poisonous dragon was among the top tiers within demonic beasts, and a cultivator of the same rank was no match for it, let alone in such a highly toxic swamp.


    "That seems to be a cultivator''s cave!" Lin Xianzhi frowned too, wary of the poisonous dragon.


    However, within his divine sense range, beside the swamp on a small mountain, he discovered a cave covered in formations.


    Clearly, it was a cultivator''s cave, and yet with the entire Lin Family''s divine sense scanning, there was no movement, suggesting it was an abandoned cave!

 Chapter 223 Venomous Horned Python

    The Lin Family members were all feeling tense at this moment, with the cultivator''s cave right before their eyes, visible yet untouchable, which made them hesitate while also feeling a sense of regret.


    Lin Shiming raised both hands, gesturing that they were preparing to retreat.


    Facing a poison jiao dragon, even if it was a newly born one, was beyond their capability to resist.


    What''s more, with so many demon kings in the Qingyun Mountain Range, if this poison jiao dragon was the offspring of one of those demon kings, the whole Yunzhou wouldn''t be able to bear such wrath.


    Lin Xianzhi also nodded in agreement; although the group did not speak, they were in sync, ready to withdraw quietly, regarding the two spirit zombies, even with Lin Shiming''s corpse control technique suppressing them, it was clear they were full of resistance, unwilling and reluctant.


    But at this moment, Lin Shiming could not be concerned with them; if the two spirit zombies were of no use, they could only be left to be engulfed by the poison jiao dragon''s fury.


    "Please slay the venomous horned python, and you will obtain a serpent egg that has a chance to transform into a jiao!"


    However, just then, a system prompt appeared, causing Lin Shiming to be taken aback.


    In the system''s prompt, there was no mention of a poison jiao dragon, but instead, a horned python.


    Although both the horned python and poison jiao dragon have horns, the difference between them is huge!


    A horned python of the Third Rank, even if there were more than a dozen of them, would be no match for a poison jiao dragon,


    not to mention acquiring an egg with a slim chance of transformation into a jiao.


    It should be known that Lin Shiming had the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique; if he could obtain some jiao blood or some potent python blood, it might be possible to induce the serpent''s transformation into a flood dragon.


    Having a flood dragon spirit beast would be exceedingly beneficial for his path of cultivation and for future magical battles.


    A normal adult spirit jiao would be at least at the level of the Purple Mansion, and with an even purer bloodline, it could be a Golden Core Demon King.


    "Great-uncle, the two spirit zombies are showing a great deal of initiative; with the poison jiao dragon yet to appear, could there be some hidden circumstances?" Lin Shiming transmitted his thoughts to his great-uncle.


    At this moment, the great-uncle''s expression also showed some changes; Lin Shiming''s reasoning was not without merit.


    Powerful demonic beasts are extremely territorial; they will fight to the death not only when their territory is invaded by human cultivators, but even if a fellow beast enters without reason.


    Of course, Lin Xianzhi might reason that way, but he still hesitated.


    A cave of unknown depth naturally wasn''t worth the risk.


    However, the Rolling Divine Plate continued its path towards the highly poisonous Horned Python.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming felt a pang of heartache; after all, the Rolling Divine Plate was ranked among the very best, even within the Third Rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifacts.


    Lin Shiming then released a total of thirty-six Flying Swords and formed them into four smaller Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formations, slashing towards the highly poisonous Horned Python.


    On the other side, Lin Xianzhi also drew his sword at this moment. His Qinglian Sword glowed intensely, transforming into sharp Green Lotus Sword Lotuses and fiercely slashed down.


    The highly poisonous Horned Python let out another furious roar and then its massive tail violently swung within the marshland, sending a deluge of venomous mud flying into the sky, straight towards the Sword Lotuses.


    For a time, the Horned Python fought fiercely against Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi.


    On the sidelines, Lin Houyong and the others couldn''t help but give a wry smile, as they realized they couldn''t even get involved in the fight at this moment.


    They could only stand aside, throwing out Spirit Talismans, causing some, albeit limited, trouble for the Horned Python.


    However, without notice, more Spirit Snakes emerged within the swamp.


    The cultivators then started to control their Magic Artifacts, engaging in battle with the Second and Third Rank poisonous snakes.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, it seems like the power of this Horned Python has also been affected by something else!" Lin Shiming spoke up again. Of course, in his heart, he knew that the Horned Python must have just laid snake eggs and was not at its peak strength, but this was not something he could share with his Seventh Great-Uncle.


    "Indeed it is, Shiming. I''ll distract it, you deliver the fatal blow!" Lin Xianzhi nodded, excitement visible in his eyes.


    Although the Horned Python was not a Flood Dragon, it could be considered half a Flood Dragon. The venom flowing across its body was like that of a Flood Dragon, and it even had horns, with a flesh pouch underneath its belly.


    Of course, even though the Horned Python was only a few steps away from being a Flood Dragon, that gap was as vast as a chasm.


    Having said that, Lin Xianzhi pointed with his sword again, and two Supreme Grade swords flew out, their intense Sword Light interweaving into a densely packed Sword Net that the highly poisonous Horned Python simply could not block.


    The Horned Python roared angrily once again, spewing out venom in all directions.


    It tried to break the Sword Net, but as the Net opened, it was met with a massive Rolling Divine Plate.


    Along with the Shocking God Drum, they launched a double-layered Divine Sense attack, combined with the Split Spirit Blade.


    This inflicted excruciating pain on the highly poisonous Horned Python, causing it to howl repeatedly in agony.


    It rolled frantically in the swamp, kicking up a sky-high toxic whirlwind.


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming took action at the same time. At that moment, the Spirit Shields around them had all corroded away, and they had to take several Bright Plague Pills again and activate their Inner Armor to fend off the poison.

 Chapter 224 The Serpent Egg with the Potential to Transform into a Flood Dragon

    The poison wave passed, and the highly toxic Horned Python also broke free from the Sword Net and Rolling Divine Plate.


    With a swish of its huge tail, it even smashed Lin Shiming''s four Sword Arrays into individual Formation Swords, with their Spirit Light significantly diminished.


    The highly toxic Horned Python then let out another roar, and in the next moment, the unexpected python drilled into the marsh.


    "Where do you think you''re going!" Lin Shiming also shouted, naturally not willing to let the python escape, as the swamp would further suppress them.


    In Lin Shiming''s hand was a Heavenly Demon Bag, releasing fierce winds, sucking towards the highly toxic Horned Python.


    At the same time, a streak of golden light shot out from the void, and in the next moment, two vivid golden scythe-like limbs reached out, slashing at the python''s vital seven-inch area.


    The Golden Sickles moved extremely quickly, carrying a dazzling and sharp aura¡ªit was the hidden Golden Winged Mantis that had flown in.


    However, shrouded in the poison fog and not being close, it was fortunate that the Golden Winged Mantis had six wings and had reached the Third Rank Middle Stage in strength.


    Yet, the python''s body was even more agile, and amid its turmoil, that bulge on its body began to gather Spirit Light, forming a radiant slash that fiercely struck at the Golden Winged Mantis''s scythe-like limbs.


    With a thunderous boom, the Golden Winged Mantis was directly sent flying, its six wings flapping wildly, but it still couldn''t halt its retreat, and its two scythe-like limbs began to emanate a black light, severely wounded.


    And at that moment, the eyes of the highly toxic Horned Python couldn''t help but dim, and its entire body''s Spirit Light also seemed to dim a little.


    The attack controlled by the bulge on its head obviously took a significant toll on it.


    During this brief pause, Lin Shiming suddenly reached the vicinity, violently throwing the Rolling Divine Plate in his hand at the highly toxic Horned Python.


    Not to mention his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation level, he was also a Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator, and the moment he smashed the Rolling Divine Plate down, it immediately forced the highly toxic Horned Python to stop, swinging its tail ferociously at the Rolling Divine Plate.


    The Rolling Divine Plate was sent flying, and it seemed as if the Horned Python''s tailbones were also fractured somewhat, letting out a painful roar.


    The Sword Lotus reappeared, transforming into a Sword Net.


    And it was at this moment that Lin Shiming suddenly sent a purple Spirit Sword flying out.


    Like a blade of Grass Sword, it sliced through the air.


    The highly toxic Horned Python was extremely uneasy and wanted to dodge, but it was entangled by the Sword Net, and the Zilai Sword, which flew out like a blade of Grass Sword, had an even more terrifying speed.


    The next moment, a dazzling sword light burst forth.


    The entire marsh seemed to be split open by a giant sword, revealing a huge crack.


    Lin Shiming then placed it into the Cave Heaven World to continue healing.


    Once all this was dealt with, Lin Shiming joined Lin Xianzhi and the others.


    At this moment, their eyes were fervently fixed on the cultivator''s mansion; now that the formations were set up, the contents within the mansion were even more attractive to the members of the Lin Family Clan.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, there should be some good things inside that Horned Python. I''m going to explore the swamp first!" However, Lin Shiming approached the swamp at this moment.


    Hearing this, the rest of the Lin family also followed him out.


    The swamp had changed drastically at this point.


    The Grass Character Sword Art had divided the swamp into two separate swamps, with a huge crack between them, still filled with sword qi.


    This made everyone gasp once again, their gazes shifting as they looked at Lin Shiming.


    They were completely unable to fathom the extent of this exceptional talent from the Lin family, who had emerged so impressively.


    Not to say that the two Spirit Beasts were extremely fierce, but his cultivation talent was faster than that of someone with a Dual Spirit Root, his combat prowess terrifyingly outstanding, and even in Body Cultivation, he was undoubtedly the first in the Lin family.


    And all these changes had occurred in just thirty short years.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming wasn''t paying attention to the looks from the rest of his family; his focus was entirely on the swamp.


    His divine sense was strong, and he had explored the entire swamp.


    There were no other Spirit Beasts in the swamp, as the previous Horned Python wouldn''t have allowed it.


    In the depths of the swamp, there was a huge cave with a natural barrier at its entrance, which kept the toxic water of the swamp out. Inside the entrance, Lin Shiming found a nest.


    Among them, a good number of Dragon Blood Grass was growing.


    This discovery delighted Lin Shiming once again.


    The claim that the Poisonous Dragon Horned Python had transformed into a half-flood-dragon beast seemed plausible once more.


    Next to the Dragon Blood Grass, there was an egg the size of a washbasin.


    As Lin Shiming''s divine sense covered it, to his surprise, a force of spirit energy surged out from the snake egg, charging at his probing spirit force.


    The spirit force wasn''t large, but it was extremely ferocious, as if it was warning him to scram!

 Chapter 225 Mysterious Transmission Formation

    Lin Shiming''s interest surged upon seeing such a spiritually intelligent egg for the first time.


    Meanwhile, Lin Xianzhi''s divine sense had also detected the existence of the snake egg, and his face showed sheer delight.


    However, he made no move; in his opinion, whether it was a matter of credit or potential, these things were better suited for Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, go and retrieve those items!" Lin Xianzhi said.


    Lin Shiming didn''t hesitate. He opened the Spirit Shield and then transformed into an Escape Light, heading towards the depths of the swamp. He quickly reached the cave dwelling and saw the giant egg.


    The giant egg was still emitting a resistant divine sense fluctuation, but Lin Shiming was no longer indulging it at this moment.


    With a casual wave of his hand, he collected the snake egg into his Cave Heaven World.


    He also carefully transplanted the Dragon Blood Grass. Half of it he placed into a Jade Box for safekeeping, and the other half, he planted in the Spirit Soil within the Cave Heaven World, right next to where he placed the snake egg.


    Previously planting Dragon Blood Grass was nothing more than a pipe dream without the presence of dragon vein energies. However, with this egg seemingly reverting to its ancestral state and possessing some dragon bloodline, planting Dragon Blood Grass shouldn''t be a problem.


    As Lin Shiming was planting the grass, the Red-haired Demon Monkey hopped over curiously and even tried to dig out the snake egg with its arms.


    After a stern glare and a harsh warning from Lin Shiming, it scratched its head and scampered off to the side.


    With the spirit egg settled, Lin Shiming arranged a Nurturing Spirit Formation.


    This Nurturing Spirit Formation was more complex than the one he used for nurturing the Golden Winged Mantis. He found it in the introductory guide to Beast Taming at the Spirit Beast Sect, and it could also speed up the catalyzation of the spirit egg. However, it also required a significant amount of Third Rank Spirit Water.


    As Lin Shiming poured in the Spirit Water, he also took out three Superior Grade Spirit Stones and placed them to the side.


    After finishing, Lin Shiming forcefully condensed a Blood Covenant.


    Now that the snake egg had developed partial consciousness, Lin Shiming wasn''t going to wait until it hatched to set up the Spirit Contract.


    If the serpent were already mighty upon hatching, that would be a huge loss.


    To his surprise, as he attempted the more domineering Spirit Contract from the Beast Taming details of the Spirit Beast Sect, the snake egg began to exude Spirit Light, which pushed out his essence blood and caused the Spirit Contract to fail.


    Lin Shiming felt an immediate headache, as this phenomenon was not entirely unexpected. In the Beast Taming details from the Spirit Beast Sect, it was recorded that some powerful Spirit Beasts have a protective formation akin to a family spirit book by nature.


    If establishing a Blood Covenant, one cannot simply have a one-sided Binding Contract.


    The biggest advantage of a Binding Contract, as used with the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey, was that Lin Shiming could control the Spirit Beasts to die for him, and they could not resist.


    In this operation, whether it was the map or the effort, Lin Shiming contributed the most, so naturally, there were no issues, especially since he was using Contribution Points to make the exchange.


    Of course, Lin Shiming''s family Contribution Points were already the most abundant.


    The Lin Family members were more concerned about the cultivator''s cave abode.


    That was, after all, what the Lin Family had been anticipating the most on this trip.


    "Shiming, let''s go check out the cave abode!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again.


    Lin Shiming nodded, and then everyone headed toward the cave abode.


    The Spirit Formation originally located at the cave abode was clearly ancient. Lin Shiyun quickly found a weak spot in the Formation, which Lin Shiming then broke open with a single sword strike.


    What was revealed was a stone cave three meters high, appearing extremely ancient, with simple murals carved on the walls that they had not seen before.


    Lin Shiming summoned the Red-haired Demon Monkey and had it scout ahead, and then the group entered the depths of the cave abode.


    "Is this a hall?" After a short while, Lin Shiming and the others reached the deepest part, but there was neither the inheritance nor treasures they imagined.


    Instead, it was a hall constructed of some unknown materials.


    The hall was covered with a thick layer of dust.


    Lin Shiming cast a Wind Clearing spell to blow away the dust.


    "This is a Transmission Formation!" Lin Xianzhi suddenly exclaimed.


    At this remark, all the members of the Lin Family turned their gaze to Lin Xianzhi.


    All the cultivators of the Lin Family had heard of Transmission Formations, but had never seen one. It was known that even the Zhao Kingdom did not have a Transmission Formation; first, because the formation material, Void Nether Crystal, could not be found, and second, because the method of laying out the Transmission Formation had been lost.


    In the entire Cultivation World, only the method for creating Teleportation Talismans was still passed down, proving the past existence of Transmission Formations.


    "Great Uncle, there are several slots here, are these for placing Spirit Stones?" Lin Shiming walked up to a stone platform at one side and asked.


    Lin Xianzhi nodded and then took out an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone and placed it in the slot. A stream of Spirit Light flowed, but the next moment, the Spirit Stone fell out, failing to activate.


    Then Lin Xianzhi took out a Superior Grade Spirit Stone, and only then did the slot emit a burst of blue light, causing the entire hall to gradually become brighter with a special luminescence.


    However, because three or four slots were still empty without Spirit Stones, the transmission was not activated.


    "It probably needs three Superior Grade Spirit Stones to activate," Lin Xianzhi declared.

 Chapter 226 The Sword Prepared for Your Son (Subscribe please)

    Before the Transmission Formation, a group of Lin Family cultivators looked at each other, perplexed.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    There was no cultivator''s dwelling, only a mysterious transmission formation whose destination was unknown.


    For the Lin Family, this was certainly not good news.


    Not to mention that the activation of the transmission formation required Superior Grade Spirit Stones, suggesting the distance was extraordinary, and the Lin Family cultivators naturally dared not teleport randomly to such an unknown location.


    If the other side was unoccupied, it might be fine, but if there were people present, it would undoubtedly be like a lamb walking into a tiger''s den.


    Of course, judging by the dust all over this place and the long absence of human activity, one could surmise that the other side was likely uninhabited, or at least devoid of cultivators with Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    But with the unknown dangers present, the Lin Family cultivators dared not attempt it lightly.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, do we have any Teleportation Talismans?" Lin Shiming asked. This transmission formation was initially indicated by the sheepskin map, and no treasure had emerged so far, while the system''s hints mostly pertained to treasures.


    There was a high possibility that there were treasures on the other side of the transmission formation, but of course, Lin Shiming would not take the risk lightly. He could possibly use some exceedingly wicked Loose Cultivators to test it out.


    Especially since Lin Houyong of the Lin Family had captured several Loose Cultivators, who were still imprisoned in the dungeons of Nanling Mountain.


    "The family doesn''t have any, but we do possess the method to refine Teleportation Talismans. This type of Spirit Talisman isn''t particularly complicated, similar to the Storage Bag. A Second Rank Talisman Master could refine it!" Lin Xianzhi shook his head, his complexion had returned to calm.


    In his heart, no matter what great treasure might be on the other side of the transmission formation, he was unwilling to teleport.


    Listening to Lin Shiming, it seemed he had some thoughts about the other side of the transmission formation.


    To him, this appeared somewhat irrational.


    After hearing this, Lin Shiming nodded and then led the other somewhat disappointed Lin Family members out of the dwelling.


    There may not have been any treasures inside the dwelling, but within Poison Valley, there might be some rare Spiritual Objects worth searching for by the Lin Family cultivators.


    Of course, the most important was the Spirit Vein, a Third Rank Spirit Vein was still of great value to the Lin Family.


    After over half an hour, Lin Xianzhi had extracted the Spirit Vein; this vein was of intermediate quality within the Third Rank, not too powerful, and its existence alongside the horned python was also due to the marshland.


    Meanwhile, Lin Houyong, Lin Yuqing, and others in the Poison Valley had each searched and found a few Third Rank Spirit Grasses, their expressions all lighting up with pleasure.


    Of course, the biggest gain of this trip was Lin Shiming''s serpent egg, Dragon Blood Grass, and the corpse of the highly poisonous horned python.


    Later, when refining the Dragon Blood Pills, some Lin Family cultivators who were just over sixty could use them to attempt Foundation Establishment.


    It was a pity that the horn of the horned python had not fully developed yet; otherwise, it would definitely have been material for refining a Magical Treasure.


    The Dragon Blood Pill was not an elixir to prolong life, but as Lin Yutie was only one hundred and seven years old and had not reached the lifespan of one hundred twenty of Qi Refining Cultivators, taking the Dragon Blood Pill would indeed prolong his life.


    But Lin Yutie shook his head, not taking the elixir.


    "Fourth Grandpa, this is just a pill that will help you better study artifact refining, bought by Shiming from the Spirit Beast Sect''s territory."


    Lin Yutie still shook his head.


    Then, looking at Lin Shiming, he squinted his eyes and smiled faintly.


    "Family Head, do you know what I am looking at?"


    Lin Shiming shook his head.


    "Looking at the future Purple Mansion Hermit, looking at the future Purple Mansion Family!"


    Lin Yutie said slowly, his eyes full of anticipation.


    "How strong the Lin Family will be at that time!"


    Lin Yutie mused, smiling.


    "Fourth Grandpa, of course!" Lin Shiming forcefully placed the pill in Lin Yutie''s hand.


    Seeing this, Lin Yutie did not decline further. After accepting it, he chuckled and placed the pill bottle on the table, then patted his storage bag and took out a sword.


    The sword was three feet long and in the sunlight, its blade was sharp and chilling. The spirit patterns on it were lifelike and incredibly beautiful.


    Lin Yutie flicked his finger on the sword, emitting a crisp and piercing ring, extremely pleasant to the ears.


    He gently closed his eyes, as if feeling the rhythm of the sword.


    Then, the Spirit Might dispersed, clearly revealing a Third Rank Intermediate Grade sword.


    This left Lin Shiming immensely astonished; Lin Yutie was just a Qi Cultivator, and even with the aid of the Formation Artifact Manual, refining an artifact of the Third Rank Inferior Grade should have been his limit.


    "Fourth Grandpa, did you refine this sword? You truly are the Lin Family''s foremost artifact refiner!"


    "Do you like it? This sword is named Zeying!" Lin Yutie spoke slowly.


    "However, this sword isn''t for you, it''s for your son!"


    "Fourth Grandpa is of no great use, only able to refine a Third Rank Intermediate Grade magic artifact. Otherwise, I would surely create a sword fit for the prodigies of the Lin Family!" Lin Yutie''s eyes held a hint of regret, then he couldn''t help but caress the Zeying Sword, his eyes brimming with affection.

 Chapter 227 Miner

    Lin Shiming stood rooted to the spot for a moment, touched by Lin Yutie''s care for him and feeling a deep sympathy for the older generation.


    Lin Yuqi had exhausted his efforts into forging Foundation Establishment Pills for the family, and Lin Yutie did the same, crafting this Intermediate Grade, Third Rank Magic Artifact without any reservations.


    The blood, sweat, and tears that went into this were unimaginable.


    He finally understood why Lin Yutie looked so aged.


    This was all for the sake of creating a sword that belonged to the Lin Family!


    Yet, he had expended all his effort, only to find that Lin Shiming had already reached the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, capable of contending with those at the latter stage, and even possessed a Supreme Grade, Third Rank Magic Artifact.


    At that moment, he might have felt some guilt...


    Lin Shiming thought to himself.


    His commitment to the family strengthened once more in his heart.


    The dream of generation after generation of his family continued, and what he could do was to pick up the baton and make that dream come true.


    "Thank you, Fourth Great-Uncle, for Shiming''s child to have such a sword, one day he shall be a sword immortal of the Lin Family!" Lin Shiming said with a smile.


    Lin Yutie was also extremely happy, and after caressing the Zeying Sword one last time, he handed it over to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming solemnly accepted the sword.


    "Fourth Great-Uncle, remember to take the elixir. The family still has plenty of that kind of elixir!" Lin Shiming didn''t forget to remind him.


    Lin Yutie took the elixir, squinting his eyes, and tucked it into his Storage Bag.


    Only then did Lin Shiming feel at ease.


    "Fourth Great-Uncle, where are those Loose Cultivators imprisoned in Nanling Mountain?" Lin Shiming, after dealing with Lin Yutie''s matter, hadn''t forgotten the purpose of his trip.


    In his view, behind the Transmission Formation, there naturally lay a treasure trove.


    "This way!" Upon hearing Lin Shiming mention family affairs, Lin Yutie led him towards an exit of a cave in Nanling Mountain.


    The Array of Nanling Mountain was created with expensive banners purchased by the family, setting up a Third Rank Array.


    Under Lin Yutie''s guidance, they quickly arrived at a dungeon. Inside, seven or eight cultivators with yellowing faces and lean builds lay or sat listlessly.


    All of them had dim eyes; the lack of Spiritual Energy for a long time made them appear somewhat aged.


    Since their attack on the Lin Family Clan territory had failed, this group had been prepared to die.


    In the entire Cultivation World, there was no shortage of geniuses, yet why were Golden Core True Persons so rare?


    Among them, of course, were those with incredibly high talent, who couldn''t endure the solitude or lacked firmness of mind.


    Just like these loose cultivators, who thought about taking risks to seek shortcuts every day, engaging in robberies and burglaries. With good luck, they could indeed leap to the skies, but there were not so many times when luck was on their side.


    Lin Shiming thought about many things for a moment, then shook his head and once again focused on steering the Spirit Boat.


    At the head of the Spirit Boat, the Spirit Shield was still not activated, allowing the brawl wind to beat upon his face and hair.


    In the eyes of the loose cultivators, however, the shock was even greater because at this moment, Lin Shiming''s body naturally radiated a faint golden light.


    This was clearly a sign of a Body Cultivation Foundation Establishment.


    The little remaining thought of escape they had also vanished.


    Even in their eyes, the Red-haired Demon Monkey swinging its tail with Strange Fire seemed to blink curiously at Lin Shiming.


    In its eyes, it seemed to wonder why Lin Shiming looked like a guard monkey of the mountain at this moment!


    ...


    With Lin Shiming''s arrival, Stone Ridge Cave also became lively.


    That very night, under the supervision of Lin Shijie, the nine loose cultivators were arranged to start mining.


    Golden Iron Stone was a small to medium-sized vein, and the extent of the Golden Iron Crystal vein hadn''t been fully confirmed yet, but even if it''s only the size of a micro vein, the Lin Family''s development for the next fifty years would be free of worries.


    The first task arranged was the straightforward mining of Golden Iron Stone.


    Lin Shiming was not surprised that the loose cultivators weren''t working quickly.


    Mining required freeing their cultivation levels; otherwise, they couldn''t mine at all. And once their cultivation levels were freed, the loose cultivators'' thoughts became active, with each of their eyes hiding a trace of cunning.


    They even thought through how they might take revenge on the Lin Family.


    In their view, the Lin Family did not have that many Foundation Establishment cultivators, and with their cultivation levels at hand, there was a great chance for them to find a way to survive.


    However, Lin Shiming was not at all unconcerned about this.


    With no Storage Bag, controlling the flow of Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Vein, plus only giving a few loose cultivators an inferior-grade Spirit Stone and having strict requirements on the output of Golden Iron Crystals and Golden Iron Stones, and with Lin Shijie guarding outside, nothing could go wrong.


    Of course, the most important thing was that the family had already begun preparing special Poison Pills. In time, each person would have to take one, leaving them no choice but to be honest.


    On the seventh day of mining, the cultivator who returned to the Lin Family arrived once again.


    This time, Lin Houyong led the team, and in addition, Lin Shiyun, Lei Xuan, Lin Shijin, and Lin Shizhong, who were new, also came.

 Chapter 228 The Mutation of the Mingxin Tea Tree

    Lin Shijin was the ninth of the Lin Family''s generation with the character "Shi" in their names. He had the triple Spirit Roots of metal, wood, and earth and had just barely reached the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation. His talent for cultivation was not particularly impressive, but he was nonetheless one of the few Second Rank Superior Grade Talisman Masters in the Lin Family.


    "Family Head!" Watching Lin Shiming at this moment, Lin Shijin was also somewhat excited.


    Lin Shiming had now become the pride of the Shi generation, and all Cultivators were aligning themselves with Lin Shiming. It wasn''t surprising to Lin Shijin.


    "Not bad, Shijin, I haven''t seen you for so many years, and you''ve already become a Second Rank Superior Grade Talisman Master!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but praise his young ninth brother.


    Upon receiving such praise, Lin Shijin''s face was filled with happiness.


    However, Lin Houyong, who was alongside arranging the mining work, couldn''t help but step forward:


    "Family Head, the Seventh Great-Uncle commanded that we should not attempt it lightly!"


    Lin Xianzhi still seemed somewhat worried. Even though he had sent Lin Shijin over, he couldn''t help but warn them.


    "Please rest assured, Fifth Uncle. Shiming understands!" Lin Shiming nodded in response, knowing the matter of the Transmission Formation was of great significance.


    The dangers of the other side were unclear to everyone.


    Find adventures on empire


    "By the way, Fifth Uncle, have you brought the Curseheart Pills? I also have great use for them!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    Lin Houyong nodded and took out two Pill Bottles, one containing the Curseheart Pill and the other its antidote.


    It should be mentioned that this Curseheart Pill was actually obtained from Li Chengzhi by Lin Xianzhi, a gu poison Elixir. Those who swallowed it would suffer as though their hearts were eaten by a curse worm, and if they did not take the antidote within seven days, they would be consumed by the Curseheart, resulting in heart failure and death.


    "Thank you, Fifth Uncle!" Lin Shiming took the Elixirs and quickly expressed his thanks.


    As for the subsequent surveying and mining of the Golden Iron Crystal vein, and even managing the Loose Cultivator miners, all would be handled by his Fifth Uncle.


    Lin Shiming then took Lin Shijin and Lin Shizhong into a separate room by themselves.


    "Shijin, are you confident in crafting Teleportation Talismans?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "Yes!" Lin Shijin nodded, then added:


    "However, Family Head, I''ve never crafted Teleportation Talismans before, so there might be a certain rate of error!"


    "No matter," Lin Shiming nodded, and then turned to look at Lin Shizhong.


    Before the Transmission Formation, both of them became quite sentimental, carefully scrutinizing everything from the teleportation platform to the location where the Spirit Stones were engraved.


    Both of them were extremely serious in their inspection; however, Lin Shizhong examined every Spirit Pattern and each inch of material in the large Transmission Formation, while Lin Shijin compared it to the Teleportation Talisman in his memory.


    Lin Shiming did not disturb the two but instead took out a meditation cushion and began quietly cultivating.


    What he did not expect was that in his Cave Heaven World, the Mingxin Tea Tree suddenly began to sway.


    Lin Shiming immediately went to a corner of the stone chamber, took out a separate Formation that isolated himself from Lin Shizhong and Lin Shijin, and then entered the Cave Heaven World.


    At this moment, every leaf and branch of the Mingxin Tea Tree began to shine brightly.


    The wood demon in charge of the Golden Thunder Bamboo, who was planted nearby, also seemed to enter a trance, closing its eyes as if it were an old monk in meditation.


    The Spiritual Energy within the Spirit Vein surged frantically toward the tea tree, startling the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis from afar.


    Over by the snake eggs, the wave of Divine Sense approached Lin Shiming once again, its anxious emotions fixated on its Superior Grade Spirit Stone.


    It even angrily demanded that Lin Shiming hit the Mingxin wood demon.


    This left Lin Shiming somewhat at a loss between laughter and tears. After inserting two more Superior Grade Spirit Stones into the vicinity of the snake eggs, the snake egg''s divine thoughts finally calmed down a bit.


    As soon as the storm of Spiritual Energy ended, dark clouds appeared in the sky.


    This left Lin Shiming extremely surprised; the Mingxin Tea Tree and the Jin Lei Bamboo indeed earned him a glimpse of their reputation.


    But the next moment, what left him caught between laughter and tears was the appearance of lightning flashing amidst the dark clouds in the sky, hidden and visible intermittently.


    The sound of rumbling thunder began to resound¡ªespecially oppressive.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s gaze became solemn. As the Mingxin Tea Tree was merely breaking through to the Third Rank, yet it had somehow attracted Heavenly Tribulation; this seemed rather sinister to him.


    But at the same time, he was concerned that the Mingxin Tea Tree might be struck dead by a thunderous blast of the Heavenly Tribulation.


    He contacted the wood demon with his Divine Sense, only to find that it did not convey any anxious emotions, but instead, a sense of anticipation.


    This reassured Lin Shiming.


    However, in the next instant, he saw that the area where the Jin Lei Bamboo was growing also began to glow brightly, and the two-to-three meters tall Jin Lei Bamboo started to sway as well.


    This made Lin Shiming even more puzzled!

 Chapter 229 Rebirth After the Disaster

    The dark clouds in the sky, as if enraged, grew denser and more massive.


    The entire Cave Heaven World began to visibly darken before our very eyes.


    The frequency of the thunder rumbling in the sky increased, and the air grew more and more oppressive.


    The tree demon, unbeknownst to when, had returned to its original form, with only a tree face visible on its trunk.


    The next moment, accompanied by a muffled thunderclap, the whole sky suddenly brightened.


    Boom!


    A bolt of lightning violently struck the Mingxin Tea Tree, sending up a trail of black smoke. A torrent of lightning scattered across the sky, crackling and buzzing in the air, with electric flashes wreaking havoc all around.


    The entire Mingxin Tea Tree was split in half in an instant, charred and blackened.


    Countless blue arcs of electricity began to rampage across the ground, eventually being absorbed by the Golden Thunder Bamboo Spirit Root.


    Lin Shiming, watching from a distance, now had an extremely grim expression. He hadn''t expected the Mingxin Tea Tree to last not even a moment, and that the tree demon had just sent a confident thought to him.


    He reached out with his Spirit Contract and, to his surprise, discovered that the tree demon''s divine sense had not disappeared.


    On the other end of the Spirit Contract, he only sensed an extremely immature divine sense fluctuation.


    At this moment, he suddenly realized the situation. The Mingxin Tea Tree he had contracted was a sapling full of vitality and unlimited hope!


    Lin Shiming''s expression changed dramatically, and he stared intently at the original body of the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    From within the split and charred branches, suddenly, a tender shoot emerged from the dead wood, evidently reborn through the power of the lightning.


    This shoot was still very tender and small, almost unnoticeable unless looked at closely.


    In this moment, Lin Shiming came to a realization. The Mingxin Tea Tree had been suppressed to a Second Rank in the Yellow Grade Secret Realm from the start, and by the time he had taken it out, the tree had already become extremely decrepit, much like a cultivator who had exhausted his vitality.


    Without the suppression, it could not grow into a Third Rank tree on its own.


    If nothing unexpected happened, the Mingxin Tea Tree would sooner or later die of old age, but within the Golden Thunder Bamboo, the tree demon had found a sliver of a chance for rebirth after a calamity.


    And today, with the help of Heavenly Thunder, it shed all traces of death and was reborn anew.


    This action was extremely risky, as even a slight mishap could have resulted in utter destruction, just like a cultivator over sixty who attempts to forcefully break through to Foundation Establishment without using a Foundation Establishment Pill, facing a nine in ten chance of death.


    Seeing that the divine soul on the other end of the Spirit Contract was unharmed and even though the tree demon had not shown itself, Lin Shiming let go of his worries. However, he was puzzled by the fact that


    It had obviously broken through the Second Rank and become a Third Rank Spiritual Tea Tree.


    The Wood Demon had still not appeared, but from within the Spirit Contract, a wave of reassuring emotion emanated.


    Lin Shiming was not in a hurry. He cultivated the tea tree with his Purple Wood True Essence and then brought some Spirit Soil over from the side.


    After tending to the Mingxin Tea Tree, he turned towards the Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    The Golden Thunder Bamboo was growing extremely well at this moment, having gained several years'' worth of growth seemingly for free after the Heavenly Tribulation, and of course, the biggest gain was the new shoot that had sprouted.


    Lin Shiming, following custom, also catalyzed and cultivated the Golden Thunder Bamboo for a while before exiting the Cave Heaven World extremely satisfied.


    Inside the great hall.


    Lin Shiming deactivated the formation and found Lin Shizhong still immersed in his research, holding a Jade Slip in his hands, constantly making records while also pulling out spiritual materials and comparing them.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shijin had unknown when started a secluded retreat in a new chamber he had carved out nearby, beginning the creation of talismans.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming too chose a spot and began to close his eyes and cultivate the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Lin Shiming opened his eyes.


    He stepped out of the chamber.


    Outside the chamber, Lin Shijin and Lin Shizhong were already waiting, Lin Shijin excited and Lin Shizhong looking somewhat dejected.


    "Family Head, the Teleportation Talismans have been successfully crafted!" Lin Shijin presented three Spirit Talismans, handing them over to Lin Shiming respectfully.


    "Good job, Shijin, you''ve contributed greatly to the family!" After inspecting the Spirit Talismans, Lin Shiming praised him, overflowing with satisfaction.


    Lin Shizhong then spoke somewhat despondently,


    "Family Head, the Transmission Formation is too complex. Shizhong is dull and wasn''t able to complete the inscription. I could only manage to damage and restore a corner on the exterior of the Gathering Spirit Platform, but I can''t understand the central formation!"


    Having said this, Lin Shizhong lowered his head.


    "Will the damage affect the teleportation?" Lin Shiming asked.


    Breaking the formation served as a defensive measure to prevent the other side from teleporting over, whereas restoring the formation ensured that the family could resume it at any time.


    "It will affect the use of Teleportation Talismans and Transmission Orders. Ordinary cultivators would be crushed by the forces of space, but a Golden Core True Person might survive unscathed," responded Lin Shizhong, hesitating before replying earnestly.


    "That''s enough then, Shizhong, you''ve contributed as well!" Lin Shiming nodded. It was sufficient if they could prevent ordinary Purple Mansion cultivators, and as for Golden Core True Persons, such beings would likely be preempted by the system''s warnings.


    "Let''s go, head back and prepare the materials!"

 Chapter 230 Island Conspiracy

    Stone Ridge Cave, with the development of the Lin Family, had already seen a large row of underground stone chambers.


    Besides Lin Houyong, Lin Shijie and other cultivators who were already present, the Lin Family had once again summoned some more cultivators.


    The entire Lin Family now had over four hundred cultivators, which was five to six times more than when Lin Shiming first became the Family Head.


    Previously, due to the lack of high-level combat power in the clan during the war, the mines, markets, and trade caravans had all been in a state of cessation.


    Now that the cultivators of Yunzhou had all returned, although many loose cultivators had fallen, the market had also begun to recover, and the Lin Family naturally wanted to seize the opportunity.


    The family''s Artifact Refining Pavilion was operating at full capacity, requiring a substantial amount of Golden Iron Stone as well.


    In Lin Houyong''s stone chamber, Lin Shiming used his divine sense to scan the surroundings, found Lin Shijie was not there, and asked,


    "Uncle Wu, has the Golden Iron Crystal already been mined?"


    "Mhm, Family Head, it has already begun. With the Huang Family and the Li Family gone, the Third Rank Magic Artifact market in Qingyun Market is vast. Now, besides Lin Shizhong, our family already has two cultivators who can refine Third Rank Magic Artifacts!" Lin Houyong said with some excitement.


    For some unknown reason, the Qian Family of Yunzhou had remained silent and had been particularly low-profile over the past few years.


    In the entire Yunzhou, they, the Lin Family, were now considered a major clan, with most of the shops in Qingyun Market in their hands.


    Besides the portions given to Zi Xuan Hermit and Great Cultivator Xie, the Lin Family''s revenue was extremely considerable, indirectly increasing the spiritual forest for their Foundation Establishment cultivators. Now, the Lin Family had six Foundation Establishment cultivators, with three more in seclusion.


    It was natural and imperative to mine the Golden Iron Crystals!


    Lin Shiming nodded. In the past decade, the family had made full progress in both artifact refining and alchemy.


    Adding on the profits from Monkey Wine, and earnings from delicacies such as Spirit Fish and Demonic Alligators, the family had not only avoided financial issues with so many new cultivators but had also become subtly wealthier.


    After discussing family affairs with Lin Houyong for a while, Lin Shiming then made his way towards the underground mine.


    He quickly found Lin Shijie in the mine rich with Golden Iron Crystals and took two cultivators with him.


    One of them was an old man with the surname Chen who was at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and a cultivator with the surname Xu.


    Lin Shiming took the two men, along with Lin Shijin and Lin Shizhong, and headed towards Poison Valley once again.


    ...


    In the great hall of Poison Valley, with the appearance of the Transmission Formation, both loose cultivators were shocked.


    Although they had never seen a Transmission Formation, they had certainly heard of its reputation.


    Particularly since Lin Shiming had brought them here secretly, they both began to feel uneasy.


    This time, even Lin Shiming felt somewhat pained by the loss.


    He didn''t have many Superior Grade Spirit Stones, and if the other side of the transmission formation turned out unprofitable or dangerous, it would mean wasting at least three Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Of course, what he should be most concerned about at this moment was the potential crisis that might arise.


    Lin Shiming casually summoned both the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey, awaiting any eventuality with a grave expression.


    All three of them had long committed to memory the parts of the Transmission Formation that could be fixed and those that needed to be destroyed, and if a powerful enemy were to arrive, Lin Shiming wouldn''t hesitate to destroy the entire transmission platform.


    ...


    In an underground hall, which was exceedingly dim, devoid of any light.


    A moment later, a surge of intense white light appeared, and both the elderly man surnamed Chen and the cultivator surnamed Xu appeared together.


    Dizzy, they clutched tightly to the Superior Grade Spirit Stones and the Teleportation Talisman, only revealing an expression of resentment after confirming there was no danger nearby.


    Lin Shiming had used them as cannon fodder to scout ahead, and what''s worse, he hadn''t even allowed them to negotiate terms.


    "Chen, are you really content working for the Lin Family, here at the other end of the Transmission Formation?" The cultivator surnamed Xu asked first, unable to contain his rage, even kicking the transmission hall violently with his foot.


    However, he dared not use his full strength, fearing that damaging the Transmission Formation would lead to a torturous death by the Curseheart Gu.


    "Of course not. We''ll find an opportunity to retaliate, even if it kills us, and ensure the Lin Family doesn''t get off easily. A mere boy with high talent, yet he likely hasn''t faced much adversity!" the elderly man surnamed Chen scoffed in disdain.


    After exchanging glances, they extended their Divine Sense outward.


    "Is this an island in the sea? Have we arrived on the territory of the Heavenly Demon Sect of Chu Country?" The cultivator surnamed Xu exclaimed in surprise.


    "No, it seems to be the Outer Sea, there are no traces of cultivators'' movements here. This island even has a clear presence of a Second Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein!" the elderly man surnamed Chen replied.


    Then the two, using the Earth Escape Skill, made for the island.


    "There are so many resources on this island!" the cultivator surnamed Xu soon exclaimed again in amazement!


    The island was not small, with a vast expanse of Spirit Coconut Trees along the beach radiating intense Spirit Light. From time to time, a beast bird would peck at the Spirit Coconuts, and the rest of the Spiritual Medicines on the island were also plentiful, resembling a Secret Realm.


    "Indeed, this kind of place is perfect for both of us to undergo arduous cultivation!" said the elderly man surnamed Chen, brimming with delight!


    "Xu, we just need to figure out how to kill a few of the young bird beasts to draw out the Third Rank birds. Then, when we give our statements together, we''ll get Lin Shiming to come here and let them fight a battle to the death!"


    "Right, Lin Shiming never intended to give us the antidote to the Curseheart Pill from the very beginning; we can''t let him off that easily!" the cultivator surnamed Xu nodded in agreement.


    After calibrating their testimonies, the two started to take action...

 Chapter 232 Salary Crisis

    Atop Fangmu Mountain, Lin Yuzheng was currently sporting a headache. The family clan was about to start a new clan meeting, and it was one that Lin Shiming, Lin Xianzhi, and other family elders were returning for, marking it the largest clan meeting in nearly a decade.


    Yet, they faced the problem of distributing spiritual medicine as rewards, which made Lin Yuzheng sigh.


    Although the family had earned a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, the number of cultivators in the Lin Family had grown incomparably, including six at the Foundation Establishment level.


    A ray of Spirit Light appeared, signaling a Transmission Talisman.


    Lin Yuzheng immediately put down the Jade Slip in his hand and rushed to the Qinglian Pool on Fangmu Mountain.


    The current Qinglian Pool, nourished by a Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein, was blooming even more brilliantly, with meticulously crafted lotus flowers dotting the surface of the pool, from which the Lin Family harvested quite a few lotus seeds each year.


    Next to the Qinglian Pool, the cool pavilion was already bustling with figures.


    By the time Lin Yuzheng arrived, Lin Shiming approached him.


    Although he still looked to be in his early twenties, Lin Shiming had long shed his youthful naivety and moved with an ineffable authority in every action.


    Aside from those in closed-door cultivation for Foundation Establishment and those stationed at Stone Ridge Cave, the rest of the Elders and Hall Masters had all arrived.


    Lin Houshou was in seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment, and the current master of the Formation Hall was a Second Rank, Superior Grade Array Master from the younger "Hou" generation, Lin Houqian, who, despite his youth, sported a small goatee.


    The Alchemy Hall Master was still Lin Houxuan, while the Artifact Refining Hall Master was a Second Rank, Supreme Grade Artifact Refiner from the younger "Hou" generation, Lin Houfei, who was serving temporarily. Lin Houfei, the son of Lin Yutie, had a Four Spirit Root aptitude, not particularly strong, but was competent in artifact refining.


    With guidance from Lin Yutie since childhood and his status as a Second Rank, Supreme Grade Artifact Refiner, there were no objections to him holding the position.


    The Law Enforcement Hall Master was still Lin Yuqing, the Demon Hunting Hall Master was Lin Houyong, the Clan''s Commerce Hall Head was Lin Yuzheng, and because the hall concerning the family''s Treasure Pavilion was a sensitive matter, the real person in charge was Lin Shijie''s father, Lin Houyuan.


    Currently, the hall had only a Deacon and was not represented at the meeting, but Lin Houyuan, who had yet to start his seclusion, was reporting on its behalf.


    In addition to this, the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shitao, who had just broken through and emerged from seclusion, were also present.


    Lin Xianzhi still had a full head of white hair, and his eyes bore a hint of twilight years. The Dragon Blood Pill could activate Lin Xianzhi''s bloodline, but without Life-Extending Elixirs, it was still impossible to extend the Seventh Great-Uncle''s lifespan.


    Lin Shitao, on the other hand, had long black hair and a fair face, resembling a celestial maiden unaffected by the mortal world, looking at Lin Shiming and smiling softly all the while.


    It is estimated that the Spirit Peach Tree combined with Monkey Wine will yield an average of ten thousand Spirit Stones each year, five thousand more than before, but the existing stock of Monkey Wine and even the Spirit Peaches have all been distributed as stipends.


    The Xing County Square Market, alongside the Qingyun Square Market and Lingnan County''s Lingnan Square Market, are all flourishing now, and it is estimated that the rental income from the shops alone can reach ten thousand Spirit Stones per year. Due to the long cultivation time, it is estimated that the Red Spirit Fish and Blood Crocodile can yield ten thousand Spirit Stones each year.


    Each year''s income from Green Lotus Seeds is five thousand Spirit Stones, four thousand more than before. As the scale of Alchemy and Artifact Refining has expanded and can now produce Third Rank Elixirs and Magic Artifacts, the profit has increased and is estimated at fifty thousand Spirit Stones each year.


    The Golden Iron Stone vein yields an income of ten thousand per year, and if the Golden Iron Crystal vein is mined, it is expected to increase the yield by an additional fifty thousand. The income from Mingxin Tea Trees will be a bit less, only four thousand Spirit Stones each year."


    "In total, it is anticipated that the Spirit Stone income will reach one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones annually!"


    As Lin Yuzheng spoke, the rest of the family''s cultivators also inhaled sharply before expressing their delight. Even without a Golden Iron Crystal vein, the family''s income had already reached one hundred thousand Spirit Stones annually.


    This income already far exceeded many Foundation Establishment families. Even the large Foundation Establishment families in Qingzhou could not compare. In fact, everyone felt that they were not far behind the Purple Mansion Family.


    However, the next moment, Lin Houyuan frowned and spoke again:


    "Family Head, Seventh Great-Uncle, because of the family stipend plan, the family''s remaining Spirit Stones are actually not that abundant!"


    "The Lin Family now has a basic family stipend of twenty Spirit Stones annually for Qi Cultivation Early Stage, fifty for Qi Cultivation Middle Stage Cultivators, one hundred Spirit Stones annually for Qi Cultivation Late Stage Cultivators, two hundred for Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Cultivators, one thousand annually for Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivators, two thousand annually for Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators, and three thousand annually for Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators!"


    "Among them, Qi Cultivation Early Stage cultivators who progress by two levels in three years, Qi Cultivation Middle Stage cultivators who progress by one level in three years, and Qi Cultivation Late Stage cultivators who progress by one level in six years will all become double stipend cultivators.


    Additionally, those with Four Spirit Roots, Quintuple Spirit Roots, and those who leap two grades will become triple stipend cultivators."


    "Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and Foundation Establishment Cultivators all receive double stipends!"


    "Furthermore, there are additional family reproduction support stipends!"


    "Along with extra stipends for certain family positions, a total of sixty thousand Spirit Stones are needed, and this does not even include the one hundred and twenty Innate Cultivators who may break through to Qi Cultivation Early Stage at any time!"


    And finally, the Lin Family members understood why the family had to halve the stipends in the previous years.


    Simply put, they could not afford the stipends for more than five hundred family members.


    Although the great war had ended and many projects had been revived, yielding considerable family income, if this continued, with Innate Cultivators entering Qi Cultivation Early Stage and more and more children being discovered with Immortal Roots, the family''s Spirit Stones would sooner or later face another crisis!

 Chapter 233 The Grand Tournament Concludes

    All the Elders and Hall Masters couldn''t help but turn their attention to Lin Shiming.


    The policy of double and triple salaries was proposed by Lin Shiming, and the overall effect seemed to be excellent. The Lin Family not only saw an increase in Dual Spirit Root Cultivators, but also the emergence of unusual Spirit Roots, especially the Third Spirit Roots, which had increased by a large number.


    In the past, such proportions were unthinkable, not to mention occurring within a mere twenty-some years.


    All these had been brought about by Lin Shiming to the family.


    At the same time, the change in cultivation level within the family in the past decade had also far exceeded previous times.


    Cultivators of immortal cultivation should be indifferent to fame and fortune, but that does not mean being aloof from worldly affairs. Embarking on the path of cultivation means constantly competing with others and with the heavens.


    The incentives of the Lin Family were precisely what thoroughly stimulated the diligent hearts of the Lin Family Clan''s children.


    However, these policies were also consuming a large amount of the family''s resources.


    Cancelling or limiting these policies would cause a sensation within the Lin Family Clan.


    Given the current situation, although the Lin Family''s finances could support it, if the Golden Iron Crystal mines were to be exhausted in the future, financial difficulties would arise again.


    Moreover, presently, three people from the Lin Family are in closed-door Foundation Establishment; Lin Houwei of the "Hou" generation being the thirteenth, Lin Houshou of the "Hou" generation being the second, and Lin Shiyi of the "Shi" generation being the second. If their Foundation Establishment were to be successful, the family''s salaries would once again increase.


    Furthermore, if the family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators require the family to refine Third Rank elixirs and Magic Artifacts, the Lin Family''s financial income will be affected as well.


    It must be understood that Third Rank elixirs and Magic Artifacts are not something that can be completed in a few days; they often require months of refining, and in the absence of a real Third Rank Artifact Refiner, refining a Third Rank Magic Artifact can deplete a cultivator''s life force.


    "The double and triple salaries will remain unchanged, and the family''s birth policy will also remain the same!"


    Facing the many gazes, Lin Shiming spoke calmly:


    "In addition, the family''s Artifact Refiners and Alchemists still need to be vigorously cultivated.


    From now on, any elixirs or magic artifacts refined by family cultivators outside of the Earth Fire Hall will be bought by the family at a price that is ninety percent above market price, and the spiritual materials and objects consumed will only need to be purchased from the family at fifty percent of the market price!"


    The words of Lin Shiming once again shocked all the Elders and Hall Masters.


    If so, the family''s Artifact Refiners and Alchemists would have even greater earnings, but this also meant that the family''s income would decrease.


    But before they could recover from their shock, Lin Shiming had already spoken again:


    "In addition to the Alchemy and Artifact Refining Hall, the family needs to establish a Spirit Plant hall, a Talisman Making hall, and a Teaching hall!"


    The other Elders and Hall Masters were utterly baffled!


    Lin Shiming also talked about the discovery of the Transmission Formation, the methods of probing, and how he finally learned from a Loose Cultivator of the opportunities and development potential of the island.


    At that moment, Lin Xianzhi was also deeply moved.


    If the island had no Purple Mansion Demon King, the development opportunity would be enormous for the Lin Family.


    Moreover, it meant that whatever dangers the Lin Family faced, they would have a way out.


    The other family Elders were also ecstatic.


    If there was such an island, the more than five hundred Cultivators of the Lin Family, even if they became a thousand in the future, need not worry.


    Furthermore, the Demon Hunting Team could still go demon hunting in the sea.


    This would greatly alleviate the stress on future cultivation of various Spirit Beasts and the developmental needs of the family.


    Not to mention, there were many Water Spirit Coconuts on the island, including a Third Rank Coconut King!


    "Good, Shiming, you have made another significant contribution. However, everyone present must keep this matter confidential. Additionally, the matter of the island should not be delayed and we should set out as soon as possible. Shitao and Hou Yuan, stay behind. The Demon Hunting Team will also go!" Lin Xianzhi was incredibly excited.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Shiming has another matter concerning the family''s competition!" Lin Shiming cautiously added.


    "The Lin Family has grown rapidly, but its true combat power remains unknown. The Sea Cloud Birds, Profound Turtles, and seals on the island could be a suitable time for the family''s youth competition!" Lin Shiming stated.


    He spoke these words with deep sentiment.


    During the invasion by the Demon Sect, the Lin Family lost a great many of their thirty-odd members. Despite the protection of Xie An, things actually went quite well, but still, most of the deceased were late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators. He later realized those who had fallen were the ones who hadn''t undergone much hardship or lacked sufficient combat prowess.


    Now that he had returned, he would not allow the Lin Family''s Cultivators to continue as they had before.


    Hearing this, the other Elders and Hall Masters also nodded in approval.


    The family''s competition was indeed approaching soon.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, dear uncles and Elder Hall Masters, Shiming suggests selecting the top eight from the Qi Cultivation mid-stage and the top six from the Qi Cultivation late-stage for the upcoming grand competition.


    Ultimately, we will designate the Lin Family''s five champions: three from the Qi Cultivation late-stage and two from the mid-stage, considering only Cultivators under the age of sixty!" Lin Shiming proposed.


    Upon hearing this, the assembly of Elders and Hall Masters nodded in agreement.


    "Without delay, let''s make the arrangements. Declare to the outside that this competition is divided into external and internal bouts, with the internal ones taking place in the Qingyun Mountain range!"

 Chapter 234 Third Rank Mingxin Spiritual Tea

    ```


    All the elders and hall heads responded in unison and went down, and as for the last Talisman Making Hall and Spirit Plant Hall heads, they would be nominated by each hall head and then jointly determined by him and Lin Xianzhi and other Foundation Establishment elders.


    The only ones left were Lin Shiming, Lin Xianzhi, and Lin Shitao.


    Lin Xianzhi looked at the two, smiled unexpectedly, and then, with a flick of his sleeves, drifted away.


    Leaving only a few light laughs behind.


    "Shitao thanks Seventh Brother!" Lin Shitao, although trying to restrain herself, still turned slightly red in the face due to Lin Xianzhi''s casual laughter.


    "There''s no need to be polite, but don''t be so willful next time!" Lin Shiming nodded, but immediately his face darkened as he admonished her.


    Although Lin Shitao ultimately succeeded in her Foundation Establishment breakthrough and even saved the Lin Family a Foundation Establishment Pill, she was far more important to the Lin Family than ten Foundation Establishment Pills.


    The Lin Family would never be reduced to letting a family genius save on Foundation Establishment Pills for the sake of the family.


    "Shitao will not do it again. Please rest assured, Seventh Brother!" Lin Shitao nodded her head.


    "You are an alchemist, and Seventh Brother doesn''t have much to give you, so take this set of Cang Bee Blood-Breaking Needles!" Lin Shiming took out a set of spirit needle magic artifacts.


    These spirit needle magic artifacts were nothing significant for him now, but for a recently initiated Foundation Establishment cultivator like Lin Shitao, they were an ace up her sleeve.


    However, to his surprise, Lin Shitao shook her head and instead said with a smile:


    "Seventh Brother, can Shitao forgo the magic artifact and have that piece of music instead?" Lin Shitao asked.


    When Lin Shitao mentioned the piece of music, Lin Shiming also let out a light laugh.


    Without saying anything, he took out a Jade Slip and handed it over to Lin Shitao, along with the Cang Bee Blood-Breaking Needles.


    "Thank you, Seventh Brother, and here are some Beast Nurturing Pills and Cotton Yang Pills!" After speaking, Lin Shitao also smiled and took out more than a dozen Jade Bottles. Most of the Jade Bottles contained about a dozen elixirs each, exactly Beast Nurturing Pills, and one Jade Bottle even contained Cotton Yang Pills the size of a dragon''s eye.


    The formula for Cotton Yang Pills was passed down by the Lin Family, and the Cotton Yang Pills it produced were exactly what was needed by cultivators advancing in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, so naturally, they were very suitable for him at this moment.


    "Shitao, your elixirs Seventh Brother will gladly accept, but use the Formation Artifact Manual sparingly if you can!" Lin Shiming said with a hint of distress.


    "Alright!" After saying this, Lin Shitao also turned and left.


    And Lin Shiming returned to his cave dwelling and entered the Cave Heaven world.


    The Mingxin Tea Tree, unbeknownst to when, had grown half a meter tall, turning from a solitary plant into many clusters. What surprised him the most was a wooden spirit the size of a young child, sitting upright and meditating beside the tree, much like a cultivating child.


    There weren''t many spirit leaves on the tea tree, but each one was crystal clear, vibrant green, and emitted a refreshing fragrance. Especially the single spirit leaf at the very top, which was green with a tinge of blue and had streaks of Thunder Pattern, was incredibly fragrant.


    Lin Shiming took out two Superior Grade Spirit Stones and replaced them.


    Only then did the serpent egg become immensely satisfied, no longer bothering him.


    After checking on the growth of the other Spirit Plants, Lin Shiming finally had some time to spare, took out a teapot, and began to brew tea.


    Brewing the new third-rank Spiritual Tea, he poured himself a small cup.


    Instantly, the fragrance of the tea filled the room. Although not as compared to Ziyun tea, the pure taste was not much inferior.


    Only the spiritual energy was quite a bit less.


    As the Spiritual Tea reached his mouth, a hint of astringency emerged, causing Lin Shiming to pause, but the next moment, sweetness spread in his throat, a refreshing fragrance stimulated his saliva, and the flavor of the tea was profound and endless.


    Just the charm of the tea alone was different compared to Ziyun tea, each kind having its own flavor.


    And at this moment, his mind seemed to be placed in a do-or-die situation, leading to an extraordinary feeling of rebirth.


    His entire body''s True Yuan also began to surge, and the next moment, it rushed into his blood.


    The Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique started operating inadvertently.


    "This can temper the body..." Lin Shiming hesitated, but soon he was sure.


    This third-rank Mingxin Tea, compared to the second rank before, was even more refreshing and slightly enhanced mental acuity, but at the same time, it was very beneficial for the body and for the blood.


    It was not at all inferior to Dragon Blood Grass, but it must be noted that this third-rank Mingxin Tea was also helpful for refreshing the mind and enhancing wisdom. Its preciousness was even higher than that of Dragon Blood Grass.


    Of course, he also felt that this Mingxin Tea might be even more helpful for lightning attribute cultivators and those like Lin Houxuan who were close to the decline of their blood and energy.


    After finishing a pot of tea, Lin Shiming''s body had significantly strengthened.


    It made him consider distributing some of the Spiritual Tea to Lin Shiyi, Lin Houxuan, and others.


    But what surprised Lin Shiming even more the next moment was that the root of deduction, whose Spirit Light had originally been exhausted, had also brightened somewhat.


    Although it wasn''t much, it still filled him with enormous joy. This Spiritual Tea''s ability to restore the Spirit Light of the root of deduction was an incredibly good piece of news for him.


    Even if it was only a slight amount, it was still much better than the glacial pace of natural recovery.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but look towards the Mingxin Tea Tree, wishing it was as tall as before, with clusters of tea leaves hanging one after another.


    But, unfortunately.


    At this moment, the wooden demon meditating nearby couldn''t help but tremble...

 Chapter 235 Zekong and Zecheng, Entering the Island (Two-in-One Mega Chapter)

    At Fangmu Mountain martial arts arena, the grand tournament started off with heated enthusiasm, with every member of the Lin Family giving their all.


    Even the cultivators who weren''t participating in the tournament were exceedingly joyful.


    One reason was that the tournament would select the new "Five Heroes of the Lin Family", and at the same time, the Lin Family was reinstating the double and triple salary reward system!


    Lin Shiming arrived at the sparring stage for the mid-stage Qi Cultivation competitors, and while he felt the vigorous spirit of the Lin Family, he was also observing the Lin Family''s Shi-generation cultivators, as well as a few from the Ze generation.


    The tournament had already begun at this point.


    The mid-stage, late-stage, and early-stage Qi Cultivation matches were all happening simultaneously in three different arenas.


    Apart from the late-stage Qi Cultivation arena, which required the protection of some hall masters and Foundation Establishment Elders from the family, the mid-stage and early-stage Qi Cultivation arenas were both guarded by late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators from the family to prevent accidental injuries due to not holding back.


    The late-stage Qi Cultivation arena didn''t have many competitors; most of the Shi-generation cultivators were in the mid-stage.


    The few who were in the late stage were only at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Cultivation.


    As for the Ze-generation cultivators, although there were quite a few at the late stage and ninth level, most of them were already over sixty or nearing sixty and did not participate.


    It is worth noting that the oldest among the Shi generation, Lin Shijie, was also nearing fifty.


    Lin Shilei, as one of the younger Shi-generation cultivators, was particularly outstanding at this moment. His Thunder Hook technique was rarely matched among the Lin Family''s younger generation, and there were few cultivators who could force Lin Shilei to use his full strength.


    In addition to him, Lin Shizhong and Lin Shiyun also performed well.


    After watching for a while, Lin Shiming came to the mid-stage Qi Cultivation arena, keeping his Divine Sense on two outstanding Ze-generation cultivators, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.


    The former had dual Spirit Roots of water and wood, slightly better than his own. He was cultivating the Qing Mu Art as well.


    After more than a decade, the flickering Spirit Light of the Qing Mu Art involuntarily brought back the methods of cultivating the Qing Mu Art to his mind, filling him with a multitude of emotions.


    Lin Zekong''s opponent was a Shi-generation cultivator with four Spirit Roots, at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation.


    Lin Shiming did not pursue the conversation and simply sat down as well.


    After a while, Lin Zekong suddenly spoke up:


    "Uncle Seven, with the fourth level of a wood-based Cultivation Technique, how can one defeat someone at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation?"


    Lin Zekong''s voice held a trace of helplessness. As a favored son of the heavens and a dual Spirit Root genius, he was cultivating the Qing Mu Art that Lin Shiming once practiced. He was only seventeen and already at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, not far from the fifth level.


    "What, do you think the family tournament rules are unreasonable?"


    "Or do you find the Qing Mu Art not as strong as you imagined?" Lin Shiming questioned in return.


    Lin Zekong didn''t answer, but his expression spoke volumes.


    "So, you were waiting here for me to exonerate you?" Lin Shiming spoke again and abruptly stood up.


    Without looking back, he walked away into the distance.


    Lin Zekong was visibly panicked and immediately stood up:


    "Uncle Seven, Zekong wouldn''t dare!"


    "First reflect on what the family means to you, and when you have the answer, come find me!" Lin Shiming said, pausing briefly before adding another comment.


    "Also, to correct you, I wasn''t good at leapfrog challenges during my Qi Cultivation Stage either!"


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat disappointed¡ªof course, not in the latter''s talents or combat abilities, but in his temperament.


    ...


    The next day, as Fangmu Mountain''s great formation activated once more, clouds and mist enveloped the entire mountain.


    A gigantic Spirit Boat shot towards Lingnan County, breaking through the sky.


    Along with the departure of the Spirit Boat, news also spread throughout the entire Yunzhou and Lingnan County''s marketplaces that the Lin Family''s auction was about to be held.

 Chapter 236 Green Shell Crab and Water Spirit Coconut (Two in One Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe)

    The sky above the sea island was exceptionally azure, with not a cloud in sight.


    A flock of third-rank Sea Cloud Birds flapped their huge wings ferociously. Under the cover of a blue Spirit Light, a barrage of tremendous Wind Blades continuously fanned out, while their claws constantly reached out, attempting to grab everything around them.


    However, the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was focused on endlessly generating Sword Qi. With the Nine Swords Formation supporting each other, not to mention the early-stage third-rank Sea Cloud Birds, even the mid-stage third-rank Sea Cloud Birds couldn''t break free.


    Five third-rank Sea Cloud Birds, despite their incredible speed, could only be trapped, emitting angry and anxious shrieks.


    As Lin Shiming formed the hand signs, the sword array suddenly changed from trapping to killing. One after another, Sword Lights slashed out, slaying the five early-stage third-rank Sea Cloud Birds.


    Since the formation of Sword Intent, his strength in controlling sword arrays had greatly increased.


    Each Formation Sword released Sword Qi that was richer and more lethal than before.


    Each stream of Sword Qi carried the murderous force of the Grass Character Sword Technique, traversing horizontally and vertically, slaying heaven and earth!


    While Lin Shiming was slaying the five early-stage third-rank Sea Cloud Birds, Lin Xianzhi hacked down two mid-stage third-rank Sea Cloud Birds with two strikes.


    The Qinglian Sword transformed into a Sword Light, hanging high in the void.


    Streams of Qinglian Sword Qi, a blend of blue and gold, were both splendid and sharp.


    Below the sword, Lin Xianzhi stood in mid-air, closely watching the other Lin Family disciples surround and attack the second-rank Sea Cloud Birds.


    Should a crisis arise, Lin Xianzhi would immediately send Sword Qi to assist.


    Moreover, the Qinglian Sword hanging high formed a Sword Screen. If any second-rank Sea Cloud Birds tried to flee, they too would be slain by the Sword Qi.


    There has never been a practice of releasing captured enemies back into the wild in the Lin Family tradition.


    Not even when it comes to a single bird!


    Seeing Lin Xianzhi dispatch several fleeing second-rank Sea Cloud Birds, the other Lin Family cultivators immediately grew anxious.


    It was these details, this meticulousness, that could support a cultivator to go further in the Immortal Cultivation World!


    The Transmission Formation brought them here, even if there were no threats on the sea island itself. But deep in the sea outside, everything was still unknown.


    But the Mountain Protection Array could ensure they always had a way out, taking precautions before it was too late.


    As Lin Shiming placed a set of Array Plates on the ground and shimmering Spirit Light scattered, instantly, array flags like Spirit Arrows flew to the four corners of the sea island, settling into the foundations of the formation.


    Each foundation radiated strong Spirit Light, weaving together into a huge light curtain, enveloping most of the island within.


    As the protector''s Spirit Shield formed, Lin Shiming finally sighed with relief.


    It was only then that they could truly consider themselves firmly established on the sea island.


    Of course, they still needed to explore the sea island and its surroundings.


    Once the Mountain Protection Array was completed, Lin Shiming looked towards the interior of the formation.


    Just as the last streak of blue light vanished, Lin Zecheng held a Crimson Sun Sword, forged from Golden Iron Stone, and slayed a Sea Cloud Bird.


    "Seventh Great-Grandfather, may I claim this Sea Cloud Bird as my own kill?" Lin Zecheng asked somewhat sheepishly, bowing to Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Zecheng, of course, could not have slain the Sea Cloud Bird on his own.


    This final Sea Cloud Bird, attempting to escape, was gravely wounded by the Sword Qi from Lin Xianzhi and then dropped right in front of him.


    Lin Zekong, naturally excited, delivered the final blow to the last Sea Cloud Bird with a single sword strike.


    "It counts!" Lin Xianzhi responded with a kind smile.


    "Clean up the battlefield. Shiyun, refine the Mountain Protection Array further!" As the battle concluded, Lin Shiming descended as well.


    He was not an Array Master, so even with an Array Plate, he was unable to fully establish the Formation on his own.


    In the absence of Lin Houshou, the most skilled in array formations here was Lin Shiyun.

 Chapter 237 Thunder Turtle and Primordial Magnet Stone (Double-Length Chapter Subscription Request)

    After Lin Shiming secured the Third Rank Spirit Coconuts, he looked around, only to be bombarded with messages from his clansmen.


    "Family Head, we''ve discovered a cluster of Profound Water Turtle eggs on this beach!"


    Every so often, someone would find a turtle burrow near the tide, uncovering eggs buried one after another.


    Each of these eggs glowed with Spirit Light and radiated a strong life force, clearly all viable.


    Although the combat prowess of the Profound Water Turtles was nothing to write home about, they were, after all, a group of Spirit Turtles adept in the Water Arrow Technique.


    Their defensive capabilities were also decent, and even if used for breeding and consumption as a spirit delicacy, they were top-notch!


    Lin Shiming was nevertheless overjoyed, as these Spirit Turtles signified an increasingly prosperous financial standing for the family.


    At this moment, the Lin Family''s current generation, surnamed "Shi" and "Ze," had completely transformed into a group of exceptionally excited treasure hunters, even Lin Yuqing, a cultivator of 110 years old, was exceedingly thrilled to be searching on the beach.


    Thanks to their Divine Sense, they didn''t find it hard to search, but the Profound Water Turtles had dug deep burrows to avoid the predatory Sea Cloud Birds!


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi weren''t looking for eggs; their Divine Sense was attuned to the surroundings, ready to detect any powerful Demonic Beasts that might approach the island.


    "There''s a young turtle here too!" Suddenly, Lin Shilei called out.


    The group of cultivators turned to look in Lin Shilei''s direction, only to see a basin-sized young turtle appear in his hands.


    This turtle was clearly different from the Profound Water Turtles, with an oval shell adorned with Spirit Patterns.


    Its pointed head, long claws, and bright, cunning eyes were distinctive.


    As Lin Shilei reached for it, he was caught off-guard by a sudden strike of lightning on his hand, which instantly sparked with electricity.


    Having a Spirit Beast to accompany his study of Thunder Techniques was indeed a fortunate event in a cultivator''s life.


    "By the way, Shilei, now that you have this young Thunder Turtle, you won''t get a share of the other treasures found on the island. Of course, the slain Sea Cloud Birds and the treasures from the Profound Water Turtles and Green Shell Crabs are another matter," Lin Shiming added.


    However, neither Lin Shilei nor Lin Yuqing were concerned. One only had to look at Lin Shiming''s Golden Winged Mantis to understand how much help a Spirit Beast could offer later on.


    This Thunder Turtle was a Second Rank mid-phase creature at birth, and it had a good chance of reaching the Third Rank as it grew.


    It wasn''t just Lin Shilei who was indifferent to sharing; even Lin Yuqing would have happily declined his share.


    Lin Shizhong, Lin Shijin, and the other cultivators were all filled with envy, especially Lin Zecheng, who was practically glowing with excitement. Despite not having fully recovered from his injuries, he continued to search the beach, hoping for the appearance of another special young beast, like a Fire Turtle, or even a Fire Crab would suffice.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi just smiled.


    This island was large in some respects and small in others; finding another unique Demonic Beast juvenile was not an easy task!


    Naturally, they were pleased to see this development.


    However, they did not look so kindly upon seasoned cultivators like Lin Yuqing and Lin Houxuan; at times like this, it was necessary to be prepared for potential dangers.


    Lin Shiyun, having finished setting up the Formation, saw Lin Shilei holding the Thunder Turtle and appeared a bit envious.


    Lin Shiming took out a Second Rank Water Spirit Coconut and handed it to him.


    For Lin Shiyun, a Qi Cultivation practitioner of the eighth level, a Second Rank Water Spirit Coconut was extremely precious. Gratefully accepting it, he drank without hesitation.


    After consuming it, he suddenly felt a surge of immense Spiritual Energy, and Lin Shiyun swiftly seated himself cross-legged to meditate and cultivate on the spot.


    Since the family had more or less secured the island, Lin Shiming was casual about letting him do so.


    Seeing that the Water Spirit Coconut had been completely absorbed, Lin Shiming returned to the Transmission Formation.

 Chapter 238 Family Support, Bad News from Nanling (Two in One)

    The fledglings of the Sea Cloud Bird had grown to the size of a calf, scampering across the ground and flapping their wings incessantly, their sharp screams resembling fierce and malevolent spirits.


    Glimmers of Spirit Light twinkled on their wings, yet they were too small, their feathers not fully grown, and they couldn''t muster the Wind Blade, all the nascent power dissolving into a green glow and fading away.


    In an instant, they became the center of everyone''s attention, leaving Lin Shilei''s Thunder Turtle all but ignored.


    Though lightning attribute Spirit Beasts were rare, wind attribute avian Spirit Beasts were not commonplace either.


    Moreover, the latter had a somewhat more appealing appearance than the former.


    In a moment, everyone gazed eagerly at Lin Shiming.


    Wanting to speak, yet harboring some concerns!


    The rarity of a Sea Cloud Bird Spirit Beast was not something that could be compared with Water Spirit Coconuts.


    "Sure!" Lin Shiming replied with a smile.


    Counting the unhatched eggs, there were a total of eleven Sea Cloud Birds, and since Lin Houyuan, Lin Shiyi, and others who returned from the White Leaf Continent already had their Spirit Beasts, those without were fully invested in their cultivation and had no time to rear Spirit Beasts.


    Therefore, these ten Sea Cloud Birds were within reach for those participating in the internal competition.


    Especially for the rewards for the five champions, each one would receive a bird directly.


    "Zecheng, you may choose one as a family reward!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    "Thank you, Family Head!" Lin Zecheng''s eyes sparkled, visibly moved at this moment.


    He then began scrutinizing the eggs of the Sea Cloud Bird.


    He certainly coveted the fledglings of the Sea Cloud Bird, but he understood that those uncles and seniors rightfully deserved the larger fledglings.


    "The rest of you will also have two chances, but they will have to be exchanged with contribution points!" Lin Shiming then turned his gaze towards the remaining clan members of the ''Shi'' generation.


    He needed to reserve at least three Sea Cloud Birds; first of all, he wanted to give one to his older brother Lin Shijie.


    Considering Lin Shijie''s Demonic Beast was likely the Qing Feather Peng he had purchased together in the market of Qingxuan City, it wasn''t even worth a Third Rank.


    Furthermore, he intended to prepare one each for Lin Shitao and his fifth uncle.


    The former Great Elder, who had often appeared worried, now looked upon the thriving family with a smile on his face.


    But seeing that everyone still appeared too at ease, his expression turned stern.


    "To be in such a state after obtaining a bit of resources, where is your mind-set?"


    "How can you seek the Tao like this?"


    "I hope you don''t forget your original aspirations and continue to forge ahead. The path of cultivation has never been about resources and talent alone!"


    "You should learn more from the Family Head!"


    "Alright, moving on..."


    Following Lin Yuqing''s arrangements, the Lin Family began to establish itself on Shuangmu Island definitively.


    ...


    Atop the mountain peak, the refreshing sea breeze blew, lifting the long hair of Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Xianzhi stared calmly at the endless expanse of the sea surface, illuminated by the moon above, merging with the boundless void.


    The sea and sky were of one color, with the Milky Way hanging high above!


    However, he soon shook his head as if mocking himself.


    Turning to Lin Shiming:


    "Shiming, do you know what I just saw?"


    "I fancied I saw our family''s Spirit Boat forging ahead on the ocean, the entire sea domain marked with the Lin Family''s name, accompanied by the Sea Cloud Birds with spreading green glow and the surrounding Profound Water Turtles."


    Finishing his speech, Lin Xianzhi was somewhat emotional.


    "I truly wish to witness that day, but I suppose my seventh uncle ancestor will have no chance to see it. Shiming, the future exploration and legacy of our family will all have to be entrusted to you!"


    His words were laced with regret, but his regret seemed to have a hidden implication!


    "Seventh uncle ancestor, are you worried about the Profound Grade Secret Realm expedition in five years?" Lin Shiming continued without waiting for a response from Lin Xianzhi.

 Chapter 239 Warning Notice, Shitaos Intentions (Two in One)

    Lin Shiming raised his head and, through the flickering light of two candles, faintly saw the towering figure of someone working the iron.


    He would sometimes smile, but he was mostly stern.


    Occasionally, he would tease the younger generation with a few words.


    Scene after scene passed by, making Lin Shiming''s eyes grow slightly misty.


    The candles burned quickly, and Lin Shiming took two new ones from his uncle Lin Houyong, lighting them from the flames of the old.


    Lin Shiming struggled to hold back his tears, but his hands still shook slightly.


    He had not expected that his last meeting with Lin Yutie would become a permanent farewell.


    According to what Lin Houyong had said.


    Lin Yutie passed away silently, unknown to anyone.


    He chose an ordinary day to patrol the Nanling Mountain as usual, gazed upon Fangmu Mountain, looked over the Stone Ridge Cave, and wherever his eyes fell, it was all Lin Family territory. After a satisfied smile,


    he took advantage of the remaining sunlight to return to his rocking chair and continued to examine the wooden sword and jade slip in his hands.


    One moment, then another.


    No one knew when his spiritual power had dissipated, nor when he had passed away peacefully on the spot.


    At some moment, crows perched on the treetops, disturbing the whole of Lingnan Mountain, and everyone pushed open the doors of the courtyard to look.


    This cultivator, who had dedicated most of his life to the Lin Family, had reached the end of his life in the courtyard, on his rocking chair, and passed away peacefully.


    Unlike the loud inquiries from the Second Elder, the Fourth Elder Lin Yutie left without a sound.


    The rest of the content in the jade slip was left by Lin Yutie for Lin Shizhong and Lin Houfei.


    It was his final insight into artifact refining.


    Indeed, even on the day before he passed away, this Fourth Elder of the Lin Family was still studying artifact refining.


    The content of the artifact refining was about using the Family''s Golden Iron Stone and Golden Iron Crystal to craft a unique Third Rank Flying Sword for the Lin Family, the Golden Lin Sword.


    Of course, the final warning also made Lin Shiming pause suddenly.


    Indeed, looking at Lin Yuqi, Lin Yutie, and even the current Lin Houxuan, one could draw comparisons.


    The Formation Artifact Manual, while allowing the Family to refine artifacts and elixirs beyond their level, also dealt significant harm to the body.


    Otherwise, Lin Houxuan wouldn''t have failed at Foundation Establishment, neither would he have become so despondent, and even Lin Shitao, with her Second Spirit Root, faced great difficulties during her Foundation Establishment breakthrough.


    "Shizhong, this is the artifact refining insight and the crafting method for the Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Sword, the Iron Lin Sword, that your Uncle Fourth left for you. This will be your task for the future of the Family. Of course, the Family will also prepare a Foundation Establishment Pill for you!" Lin Shiming handed over the jade slip and the Dragon Blood Pill to Lin Shizhong.


    The Dragon Blood Pill had already been given to Lin Yutie, who was to pass it on to Lin Shizhong.


    He would naturally respect Lin Yutie''s final wishes.


    "I will not disappoint you!" Lin Shizhong took a deep breath, wiping his eyes, and spoke with solemn gravity.


    He opened the jade slip and read through it, seeing it was the crafting method for the Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Sword named Golden Lin Sword.


    The main materials were the Lin Family''s Golden Iron Crystal and Golden Iron Stone!


    In the jade slip was the Golden Lin Sword, not as Lin Shiming had called it, the Iron Lin Sword.


    However, the Iron Lin Sword mentioned later did indeed sound better than the Golden Lin Sword!


    Lin Shiming mourned for a day in Lingnan Mountain, and the next morning, he piloted the Supreme Grade Spirit Boat, which he expanded to its largest size.

 Chapter 240 Body Refinement Breakthrough, News of Seventh Granduncle (2-in-1)

    Lin Shitao left, but Lin Shiming ultimately didn''t speak.


    The latter felt somewhat disappointed, with dissatisfaction in his eyes.


    But for him, whether there was a response or not, everything would wait until after he returned from the Profound Grade Secret Realm.


    The Cotton Yang Pill and Beast Nurturing Pill in his hand were still warm.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, no longer looking at the distant fragrance, and returned to his cave dwelling.


    He began to close off from the world and cultivate!


    Five years was too short a time.


    He first activated all the formations of his cave dwelling, then returned to the Cave Heaven World.


    The Spirit Vein within the Cave Heaven World was a Third Rank, Superior Grade at its peak, only slightly below a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, many times better than the Spirit Vein of the Lin Family''s Fangmu Mountain.


    Inside the Cave Heaven World, the Mingxin Tea Tree had once again visibly grown a bit, whereas the bunch of natal leaves at the top had greatly diminished, as if they had expended all their spiritual power.


    Apparently, the tree sprite''s essence of spiritual power was all stored in those natal leaves.


    The day after the heavenly tribulation ended, the natal leaves sprouted from the dead branches, absorbing the spiritual energy of the heavens and the earth.


    Now, these natal leaves were depleting themselves, causing the whole Mingxin Tea Tree to grow larger and more lush, continuously nourishing the tree.


    Not counting the leaves Lin Shiming had plucked, the tree now seemed even more luxuriant than before he picked any leaves.


    This came as a surprise to Lin Shiming, as well as a delight! Stay connected with empire


    The Mingxin Tea Tree clearly stored a significant amount of life energy.


    Soon, he filled a small Jade Box with the leaves.


    Once he finished picking the Spiritual Tea, Lin Shiming stepped forward and transferred some True Yuan from the Purple Wood Heart Sutra to the Mingxin Tea Tree¡ªonly a little, as the tree sprite was clearly capable of self-growth. At the moment, time was the most precious commodity.


    The tree sprite immediately bowed to Lin Shiming, communicating gratitude through its Divine Sense.


    But as Lin Shiming took another look at the scarce remaining Spiritual Tea, the tea tree trembled once more.


    Of course, Lin Shiming only wanted to see if the Mingxin Tea Tree would change after absorbing the True Yuan from the Purple Wood Heart Sutra; he had no intention of plucking more leaves.


    Turning away, he then headed towards the Golden Thunder Bamboo and the Minor Divine Ability Tree with the Heavenly Spirit Fruit. The Minor Divine Ability Tree appeared the same as before, with a fuller radiance, while the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree had started to bloom.


    It had been cultivated for nearly fifteen years in his realm, and it was finally blooming.


    The Heavenly Spirit Fruit had a very long flowering period and took a long time to mature. Under natural conditions,


    the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree would attract powerful Demonic Beasts. Currently, inside the Cave Heaven World, only the Spirit Ants were tempted by it.


    However, Lin Shiming dared not leave the Spirit Ants to guard the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree.


    Instead, the Minor Divine Ability Tree, even without flowers or fruit, was a favorite spot for the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and even the snake egg continuously transmitted Divine Sense waves, eager to hatch beside it.


    After tending to all three trees, Lin Shiming turned his attention to the Tribulation Forging Divine Flower, a Spiritual Medicine that could enhance his Divine Sense.


    However, this batch of spirit flowers had just sprouted recently; even with five years of devoted nurturing without cultivation, they wouldn''t mature in time, so naturally, he had to set them aside for the moment.


    Lin Shiming found a corner of the Cave Heaven World and set out a stone table, beginning to slowly brew tea.


    Next to the stone table was a bathing tub, filled with the Body Refinement Spiritual Medicine from the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique. In addition, Lin Shiming took out several Dragon Blood Flowers, which he had found in the marshlands of Poison Valley.


    Upon the Dragon Blood Flowers'' appearance, the nearby snake egg immediately sent out waves of angry emotions.

 Chapter 241 Xu Dao and Hope (Two in One, Please Subscribe)

    Lin Shiming certainly did not believe that his father''s concerns were unfounded; the worry in his father''s eyes suggested that Seventh Great-Uncle''s condition was indeed grim.


    To think, the five years of life span were just what Seventh Great-Uncle had disclosed to them.


    The actual remaining years could be uncertain.


    "Where is Seventh Great-Uncle?" Lin Shiming asked with a hint of urgency.


    Given Lin Xianzhi''s character, he probably had not taken the Dragon Blood Pill.


    And now that he knew of Lin Houshou''s breakthrough, he would be even less inclined to take the remaining Dragon Blood Pill!


    The older generation of the Lin Family was all too similar.


    Perhaps it was because they had lived through the Lin Family''s darkest trough together, they now cherished this prosperity all the more.


    "He''s still at Stone Ridge Cave!" Lin Houyuan said.


    "Father, please take these Spiritual Teas and the Dragon Blood Pill to Tenth Uncle!"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lin Shiming took out some Mingxin Tea, which was what remained after consumption; his mind was now filled with the deduced essence of Spirit Light.


    Over the past three years, apart from Lin Shitao who refined Cotton Yang Pills, Lin Houxuan was the one who made the most Beast Nurturing Pills, and yet he rarely sought treatment for his own injuries.


    Just that now the family did not have any Foundation Establishment Pills, so they had to wait until the next purchase to give him a Foundation Establishment Pill and another Dragon Blood Pill to attempt a breakthrough.


    After Lin Houyuan took the Spiritual Tea, he did not hesitate, immediately steering the Spirit Boat toward Stone Ridge Cave.


    In recent years, the Lin Family''s fame in Yunzhou had grown, almost becoming the first great family in Yunzhou.


    This was especially true after the Qian Family had recently become very low-profile.


    Lin Shiming made his way and soon reached Stone Ridge Cave.


    The underground hall of Stone Ridge Cave had been greatly expanded, and Gold Devouring Rats had begun to work, mining Golden Iron Crystals and Golden Iron Stones, so the output of Stone Ridge Cave had also significantly increased.


    He found Lin Houyong in one of the stone chambers.


    The latter, focused and gathering energy, was studying a Jade Slip.


    Deep within the cavern, an elder, hunched over, was sitting down, continually coughing up fresh blood.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming quickly approached, took out a Third Rank Lotus Seed, and then a Water Spirit Coconut, feeding them to Lin Xianzhi.


    At that time, Lin Xianzhi had greyed at the temples, his body full of wrinkles, his Spirit Light displaying signs of dissipating, similar to a reversal of True Yuan.


    Far too different from the graceful young master of the Qinglian Pool thirty years prior!


    The only consistency laid in his eyes, which brimmed with intense Sword Intent.


    They shone with clear Green Lotus, defiant and fierce!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, you need to take the Dragon Blood Pill first!" Lin Shiming had no time for hesitation and directly took out the Dragon Blood Pill from his Storage Bag, feeding it into Lin Xianzhi''s mouth.


    Lin Xianzhi did not consent, but what did that matter?


    If the way of the family was so cruel, sparing every bit of resource just for the sake of succession,


    then that family might as well not exist!


    That Immortal Path, I would not seek!


    Lin Shiming watched as Lin Xianzhi took the Dragon Blood Pill, and as traces of vitality rushed to his heart, Lin Xianzhi''s old and shriveled body began slowly to regain color, the wrinkles being smoothed by the Spirit Light.


    Only then did Lin Shiming breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, focus on healing first, and then take another Dragon Blood Pill later!" At this moment, Lin Shiming was indeed very assertive.


    Having witnessed the departures of Lin Yuqi and Lin Yutie, he would spare no cost to prevent Lin Xianzhi from leaving again.


    Lin Xianzhi wanted to say something, but having already taken the Dragon Blood Pill, with his vitality returning, he had no choice but to meditate right there.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming stepped outside the cavern and, as he activated the Spirit Isolation Formation, his figure appeared in the Cave Heaven World.


    He walked over to the Mingxin Tea Tree, and the resolute look in his eyes caused the tree spirit to tremble, wanting to kneel and beg for mercy.


    "Mingxin, you''ve grown for who knows how many years; I''ve long known you''ve developed Spirit Intelligence!"


    "Today, whether you like it or not, I shall take half of your life essence tea!"


    "And since you are my spirit pet, you have no say in this matter. I have an elder to save, and I will count this as owing you a favor. Should my path in Immortal Cultivation be smooth from here on, I also promise to help you attain enlightenment!"

 Chapter 243 Sword Intent Takes Shape, Emerging from Seclusion! (Two in One)

    Cave Heaven World, inside a mountain cave.


    With a chirp, the Red-haired Demon Monkey awoke.


    Clutching its belly, it strode out.


    In the distance, the meditating figure remained in meditation.


    It no longer remembered how many times it had awakened.


    Disappointment that seemed almost human appeared in its eyes as it looked at the golden triangular head.


    The latter was under a tree, equally lethargic, wishing it could stay put forever.


    Four beastly eyes met without words, yet they all turned back toward that distant figure!


    In the void, the figure suddenly stirred, and the two beasts started chattering and howling.


    The figure was, of course, Lin Shiming, who was in closed-door cultivation for sword enlightenment.


    He was deducing the essence of the Grass Sword Art, connecting again to the scene at Jiuye City''s Dao Enlightenment Platform.


    He was drawing his sword, he was slaying the heavens!


    He felt his Sword Intent growing like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, slowly taking shape, breaking through the soil!


    However, the moment he swung his sword, the Spirit Light was once again exhausted.


    In front of him, it was as if there was an insurmountable wall!


    He couldn''t cross over, he couldn''t transform!


    He had overestimated the strength of his deducing root''s Spirit Light, after all, it was just the embryonic form of a Minor Divine Ability.


    Even when replenished with Mingxin Tea, it was still like pouring a cup of water on a burning cart of hay.


    At that moment, he felt disappointed, he felt lost!


    But, equally, he was unwilling to give up!


    Just when he thought this round of sword technique cultivation was about to end, a prompt appeared in his mind again. Discover exclusive content at empire


    He saw the Grass Sword soaring into the sky, the forgotten grass seeds, and the grass seedlings constantly sprouting deep underground.


    He witnessed the reincarnation of that stalk of grass.


    The stalk of Grass Sword from the Grass Sword Art had lived through countless springs and autumns.


    It practiced swordplay in the spring breeze, concealed its sword in the intense heat, drew its sword in the refreshing autumn, and honed its sword in the bitter cold of winter!


    Grass forms, grass rises.


    A smile curled up at the corner of his mouth, the Sword Qi had taken form, and he had achieved success.


    The Grass Sword Art had also reached grand completion!


    At this moment, he could even slash open a rift, although this heaven was just a small world''s heaven, whose strength could possibly be broken into by cultivators from the Purple Mansion with ease.


    But for his current Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivation Level, that strike was earth-shattering!


    However, the next moment, when he looked inward, he saw that the seed of the Grass Sword Art within him had been consumed without knowing when, and a great part of his True Yuan had also been depleted.


    And it was a great part of the True Yuan from all three Spirit Platforms!


    Lin Shiming was somewhat astonished, but then he couldn''t help but let out a bitter laugh. Such power did indeed require a considerable consumption.


    Of course, with this Sword Qi taking form, combined with the Grass Sword Art, his trump card sword strike could possibly slay even a common cultivator at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment!


    Of course, facing those of The Great Sects at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, he still didn''t have much confidence.


    Such cultivators, if they didn''t possess one or two Supreme Grade Magic Artifacts as their signature weapons, would be unworthy of being called elite disciples of their sects!


    But now, facing later-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from The Great Sects, he no longer needed to fear!


    "Aoao!" Lin Shiming was still holding the Zilai Sword when the Red-haired Demon Monkey beside him suddenly became restless. If Lin Shiming didn''t take some action at this moment, it was ready to go for the Storage Bag itself!


    Startled by the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s howl, Lin Shiming turned around to face the monkey.


    By then, the demon monkey had shrunk to the size of a child, reaching just up to his waist.


    Utterly anxious, its eyes filled with longing!


    And Lin Shiming, having woken up, had been cultivating his sword technique for over a year.


    The two beasts had already left their cultivation retreat half a year ago, and as for the Beast Nurturing Pills and Spirit Beast flesh, they had long been consumed.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey in front of him seemed to have minimized itself to conserve energy, while the Golden Winged Mantis was still loathing to move an inch in the distance.


    Even with Lin Shiming stirring, it merely chirped twice under the tea tree, nothing more!


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey had already broken through to the mid-stage of the Third Rank, while the Golden Winged Mantis had reached the peak of the mid-stage of the Third Rank, their Cultivation Levels even slightly higher than his.


    The two beasts had made some breakthroughs but lacked sufficient Beast Nurturing Pills and Spirit Beast flesh, and since there were no other Spirit Beasts in the Cave Heaven World for them to prey upon...


    For a time, the two beasts were ravenous.


    Lin Shiming quickly took out a stack of Beast Nurturing Pills and a large amount of Spirit Beast flesh, all of which his family had prepared. Having not ventured out for over a year, he gave it all to the two beasts.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey instantly transformed into a ten-meter-tall giant ape, its tail perked high, eager to devour it all.


    To grow larger, to eat more and eat quickly!


    But with a flash of gold, two shiny blades were already positioned atop the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s head, their speed more frightening than that of a flight-capable Demonic Beast in the later stages of the Third Rank.

 Chapter 244 Bring a Child Along (Two in One, Please Subscribe)

    The Lin Family council hall, after three renovations, now carried an even grander decor.


    Several beams and columns, all made from the finest spiritual woods and covered with spirit patterns, radiated spirit might!


    On the plaque, the words "Council Hall" had been re-outlined by Lin Xianzhi himself, imbued with a hint of Sword Intent.


    The two cultivators standing guard at the hall entrance stood tall and proud.


    They both came from the "Shi" generation of cultivators and hurried to greet Lin Shiming upon seeing him:


    "Family Head, Ninth Uncle is inside!"


    Lin Shiming nodded, as he had already communicated via a Transmission Talisman, and he walked straight in.


    "Father!"


    Inside the hall, Lin Houyuan was at that moment frowning and looking at a Jade Slip. Your next read is at empire


    "Shiming!" Lin Houyuan looked up, and upon seeing Lin Shiming, the shadows in his eyes dispersed noticeably, especially seeing Lin Shiming''s confident and upright demeanor.


    His departure from seclusion must surely have resulted in great gains.


    This alleviated much of Lin Houyuan''s worry.


    "Father, has anything happened lately?" Lin Shiming asked softly.


    Having just left seclusion, he knew that the cause of Lin Houyuan''s furrowed brows was definitely not him.


    "Mm, things have been a bit unrestful at Shuangmu Island lately, but I''ve already sent your second uncle and your uncle number thirteen there!"


    "This seal is more powerful than your Profound Spirit Mountain!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but declare.


    Though the Primordial Magnet Seal was merely a rudimentary form of a magic artifact without any inscribed spirit patterns or formation, its power was definitely not inferior to that of ordinary supreme grade artifacts. Moreover, this seal counteracted Five Elements Spells and could cause late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to stumble at crucial moments.


    The monkey immediately understood and, in a frenzy, stretched out its paw to snatch it. Grasping it, its pupils dilated¡ªit hadn''t been able to lift it, much like Lin Shiming moments before.


    The next second, with a serious expression on its monkey face and a flow of red light over its body, it began to grow slowly in size.


    It reached an impressive height of ten feet, nearly reaching the hall''s ceiling before it stopped. Now it was finally able to grasp the Primordial Magnet Seal in its hand, swinging it left and right gleefully.


    It bellowed at Lin Shiming, utterly thrilled.


    As for the Crimson Flame Rod and Profound Spirit Mountain, they were cast aside.


    Lin Shiming admired the monkey''s personality, collected both the Crimson Flame Rod and Profound Spirit Mountain, and then, he also took the Red-haired Demon Monkey back into the Cave Heaven World.


    "Shiming, it can change its shape and has also broken through to the mid-stage Third Rank?" Lin Houyuan asked somewhat dumbfounded, to the entire Lin Family, it seemed as though the Primordial Magnet Seal was a magic artifact Lin Shiming had prepared for himself, but it now appeared to be designed for that monkey.


    And it seemed the monkey''s cultivation level might even surpass his own!


    "Yes, the Red-haired has undergone the Ancestral Return Secret Method twice!" Lin Shiming didn''t avoid the subject; the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique was initially seized from a Loose Cultivator and was already accessible in the Treasure Pavilion for other members of the family.


    As his Bloodline Reversion had been so smoothly executed twice, it was likely that other core cultivators of the family would follow suit.


    "By the way, father, using that secret technique comes with significant risks. It''s best not to apply it to ordinary Spirit Beasts!" Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment but still added the caution.


    Lin Houyuan immediately nodded; his own father now had a Sea Cloud Bird. With Beast Nurturing Pills and the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique, his Sea Cloud Bird might even have the chance to become a Sea Cloud King Bird!


    Lin Shiming then went on to understand all the family matters that had recently occurred.


    Half a year ago at the Qingxuan Conference, the Lin Family had acquired two Foundation Establishment Pills, and following that, Lin Houxuan together with Lei Xuan both commenced seclusion.

 Chapter 245 Qian Familys Scheming and Oath on Jade Slip (Two in One)

    Qingxuan Sect, Qingxuan City.


    At this time, because the Profound Grade Secret Realm was opening, it had once again become bustling.


    Streaks of Escape Light landed all around the city, and the occupants proceeded to enter on foot.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi were no exception; they descended two miles outside the city gates. With the impending opening of the Qingxuan Sect''s Profound Grade Secret Realm, there were simply too many Spirit Boats and Escape Lights flying in from everywhere.


    The two of them even saw quite a few cultivators riding flying Spirit Beasts, as well as others commanding demon banners and massive Flying Swords.


    Clearly, cultivators from the Wanjian Sect, Spirit Beast Sect, Heavenly Demon Sect, Corpse Refining Sect, and Spirit Talisman Sect had also all rushed over.


    Among them, there were no shortage of loose cultivators and affiliated families within these sects, especially the demon cultivators and Corpse Refining Sect cultivators; from a distance, one could only feel emanating from them a sense of ferocity and malevolence.


    If it weren''t for the fact that Qingxuan Sect had long issued a ban, forbidding competition within a thousand miles of the sect, they might have encountered the demon cultivators'' acts of murder and robbery!


    Lin Shiming did not understand what benefits the higher-ups had negotiated, but it must have been substantial, perhaps related to the previous wars, or to the strategies of Qingxuan Sect''s high-level Golden Core experts.


    But he knew that this trip to the Profound Grade Secret Realm would undoubtedly be even more difficult for them!


    As the two of them descended, a Spirit Boat landed not far away, revealing three figures.


    They were cultivators from the Qian Family of Hetian County, including their old acquaintance Qian Bosheng. They had also flown here in their company.


    However, unlike before, where Qian Bosheng took the lead, now he was followed by an elder in a white Taoist robe, Qian Yongfu.


    He appeared as if he was above worldly concerns, exuding an imposing aura without anger.


    His cultivation level was at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, and the feeling he gave to both Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi was somewhat different.


    The pinnacle of Foundation Establishment is also known as half-step Purple Mansion, a realm that Xie An also belonged to. However, unlike Xie An and Lin Xianzhi who seemed to carry the air of twilight, Qian Yongfu was brimming with vitality.


    This state was incredibly strange.


    "Of course there''s something off about him, their Qian Family should have a thousand-year-old Stalactite Cave!" Lin Xianzhi''s eyes also flashed with a hint of envy.


    His own True Yuan vitality was derived from the essence of a Wood Demon''s Spirit Grass, which had only a lifespan of about ten years, whereas the other party was evidently benefiting from plentiful thousand-year-old Spirit Milk and even had some preserved within his body.


    If it were any ordinary cultivator, they would truly believe that Qian Yongfu was a practitioner of Body Refinement with a cultivation level at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment.


    "In the Secret Realm, it would be best not to clash with the Qian Family!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again.


    Even though his Sword Dao had improved considerably and Lin Shiming had definitely gained as well, the other side had thousands of years of Spirit Milk that could restore True Yuan at any time.


    If they had a powerful magic artifact, they wouldn''t lose even when facing a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Lin Shiming nodded, and then the two of them headed towards Laiyue Tower.


    Encountering the Qian Family was just a small interlude, but it also added to the immense pressure they felt.


    This trip to the Profound Grade Secret Realm, it was uncertain how many old monsters there would be.


    Explore more stories at empire


    The two had barely reached the ground when a Sound Transmission Talisman appeared before them.


    Lin Xianzhi picked up the Sound Transmission Talisman, then after a moment of silence, handed it to Lin Shiming.


    The Sound Transmission Talisman was sent by Xiao Chen from Duobao Tower.


    Xiao Chen, as it happened, had been introduced to Lin Xianzhi by Lin Shiming.


    The former, like Lin Xianzhi, was nearing the end of his lifespan and wanted to make a gambit in the Secret Realm.


    Back then, they had also agreed to act together this time.


    Since both Duobao Tower and Laiyue Tower were Qingxuan Sect''s properties, they had obviously been noticed by the latter upon entering Laiyue Tower.

 Chapter 246 Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit (Two in One)

    The only cultivator who had not sworn a Heavenly Oath left.


    Xiao Chen glanced at the door, his face turned gloomy for a moment before returning to normal.


    Soon after, the Jade Slip was the first to be thrown towards Purple Lady.


    Purple Lady''s beautiful eyes shifted as she caught the Jade Slip and began to investigate it.


    Just as she was about to speak, Xiao Chen stopped her:


    "Do not speak, do not utter a word!"


    Purple Lady was obviously quite surprised but, after being cautioned by Xiao Chen, she quickly calmed down and, after scanning the surroundings, looked back at Xiao Chen.


    "Purple Lady, has Xiao misled you in any way?"


    Purple Lady shook her head, then tossed the Jade Slip to Shi Tai.


    This ancestor of the Shi Family was exceedingly cautious as he received the Jade Slip. He had already sworn a Heavenly Oath and could not change his decision.


    He naturally wanted to know whether this opportunity was worth the risk and how to protect himself within it.


    After scanning the Jade Slip, Shi Tai, with his bushy eyebrows and big eyes, widened his gaze even more.


    He looked incredulously towards Xiao Chen.


    Xiao Chen just smiled and nodded.


    Without hesitation, Shi Tai passed the Jade Slip on to Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Xianzhi took the Jade Slip without a word and began to examine it. The next moment, his expression also shook violently.


    Lin Xianzhi handed the Jade Slip to Lin Shiming.


    Inside the Jade Slip were not characters but an image.


    It showed a mining area, shrouded in purple radiance, with Spiritual Energy forming clouds that lingered without dispersing.


    Below the Spirit Clouds, a purple jade tree soared from the ground.


    From a distance, the tree looked like it was carved from Spirit Jade, and it had no leaves, only seven Spirit Fruits hanging from it.


    Each Spirit Fruit was only the size of a fist, but the purple aura floating around them was incredibly dense.


    "What do you say, everyone? Xiao didn''t deceive you, did he?" Xiao Chen said.


    The others, however, did not respond.


    Even though the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit was incredibly precious, facing a Purple Mansion Great Demon still made them all somewhat hesitant.


    But Xiao Chen genuinely had not deceived them.


    Seeing this, Xiao Chen wasn''t angered; facing a Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Monster Snake, it was normal for everyone to react this way.


    If they had not responded in such a manner, Xiao Chen might have had to be afraid.


    That they might actually be inviting a wolf into the house!


    He pressed confidently on his exquisitely crafted Storage Bag and took out a set of Array Plates.


    The Array Plates emitted rainbow lights of five colors, alternating currents of Spiritual Energy, and flags that contained immense Spirit Might, clearly an extremely powerful Formation.


    "The Great Five Elements Demon Slaying Formation!" Purple Lady exclaimed first.


    Hearing this name, the rest were equally moved.


    This Great Five Elements Demon Slaying Formation was a super formation that integrated trapping, killing, illusion, and defense.


    With the five of them plus the formation, they could very possibly slay the Purple Jade Monster Snake.


    And such a set of formations, not only extremely expensive, was also priceless!


    Xiao Chen taking out this formation also indicated the certainty of success for this mission.


    Your next read is at empire


    After showing the formation, he took out four more Jade Slips, which flew to Lin Xianzhi, Purple Lady, Shi Tai, and the slightly plump Cultivator. Lin Shiming, however, did not receive one.


    Although Lin Shiming had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in just over a decade, in Xiao Chen''s eyes, he was still not up to par.


    Moreover, controlling the formation only required five people.


    Xiao Chen included the other five people simply to have insurance in the Secret Realm, lest they end up one person short.


    One must know, the value of Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit could even tempt Purple Mansion cultivators to greed.


    It was just that Xiao Chen had not expected someone to be so ungrateful as to refuse, but with five people, he still had some concerns. Normally, acquiring the treasure was highly possible.

 Chapter 248 Soul Binding Forbidden, Wang Jiao (Two in One, Seeking Subscriptions)

    Xie An left, and Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi also took advantage of the bustling streets as they walked towards Laiyue Tower.


    Both of them felt somewhat heavy-hearted. From Xie An''s words, it wasn''t hard to discern the determination of Zi Xuan Hermit.


    However, at this moment, they had no other options and could only take things one step at a time.


    Considering Zi Xuan Hermit''s previous style, they could only hope that he would grant them some degree of autonomy.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Back at Laiyue Tower, Lin Xianzhi originally wanted to give Lin Shiming the Supreme Grade defensive magic artifact they had exchanged for, but Lin Shiming shook his head and declined.


    He already had the Star Wood Shield, which was enough to protect himself.


    Plus, he was also a Body Cultivator.


    On the contrary, it was Lin Xianzhi, although a Sword Cultivator, whose defensive spells and treasures were indeed pitifully few.


    In the end, Lin Xianzhi could not be stubborn and nodded his head, ceasing to insist.


    As soon as Lin Shiming returned to his room, he immediately took out three or four Array Plates from his Storage Bag.


    With a wave of his hand, one Formation after another covered the entire room: a Soundproofing Formation, a Spirit Isolation Formation, as well as a Guardian Formation, and a Divine Sense Sensing Formation¡ªnone were missing.


    After casting them all, he finally felt at ease and entered his Cave Heaven World.


    The appearance of the Cave Heaven World was still the same as before. The Golden Winged Mantis was dozing under the Mingxin Tea Tree, while the Red-haired Demon Monkey had transformed into a small monkey, resting on the Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree.


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming enter, they immediately began to cry out.


    Lin Shiming took out several bottles of Beast Nurturing Pills, as well as Cotton Yang Pills.


    Recently, he had discovered that these Demonic Beasts could also consume Elixirs, and their resistance to the medicine was much stronger, so he decisively also shared the Cotton Yang Pills, prepared by Lin Shitao for him, with the two beasts.


    The two beasts each went their own way, and Lin Shiming found a spot to start going through the pages of the book-like magic artifact he had exchanged for.


    Upon holding the artifact, he felt a jade-like coolness. The book''s plain gray cover seemed like just a piece of ordinary jade.


    In his view, the Golden Winged Mantis might not need it, but when his strength grew stronger, it would be best to use the Soul Binding Forbidden too, as it would impose more constraints. With the Soul Binding Forbidden, he could even to some extent understand the thoughts of the Spirit Beasts.


    The subsequent Spirit Controlling Seal was equally a superior Beast Taming Dharma Seal. With this Dharma Seal, he could control Demonic Beasts not stronger than himself.


    The only downside of the Spirit Controlling Seal was its time limitation; the duration of the Spirit Controlling Seal also depended on the Spellcaster''s strength.


    The weak could only control temporarily, while the strong could control for ten or a hundred years!


    If it was the latter, it would be fine, but if it was the former, the use would be too trivial.


    Both Secret Techniques were extremely valuable to him and would provide a better guarantee for his journey through the Secret Realm.


    Especially the latter, for the Lin Family, was also of great significance. The Lin Family was currently expanding Shuangmu Island.


    If all the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators learned the Spirit Controlling Seal, even if they could only control temporarily, it would still allow the Lin Family to develop better in the Outer Sea.


    The two Secret Techniques made Lin Shiming glance at the book-shaped magical treasure again.


    At the location of the pages, there were clear indications of missing pages, and incomplete pages would not show the functions of the treasures. He could even issue a collection order within the Lin Family, allowing the numerous Cultivators of the Lin Family to help him gather them.


    Given the features of the incomplete pages, if they were separated from each other, Qi Cultivators might not even give them a second glance.


    Closing the magical treasure book, his interest in this treasure also grew.


    He wished right then that he could reach the Purple Mansion and refine the treasure.


    Lin Shiming gave a wry smile, then shook his head, knowing that to become a Purple Mansion, even if everything went smoothly and he had great opportunities, it would still take at least fifty years.


    Instead, it was more likely in the next few years to find the missing pages. Your next read is at empire


    Lin Shiming immediately stopped pondering and first practiced the Split Spirit Decision, bringing his Divine Sense to the best condition.


    Then he began to learn the Soul Binding Forbidden Secret Technique.


    Next to him, the mysterious egg showed clear cracks but still hadn''t hatched, which had long made him suspicious. After all, the mysterious egg was sentient and even had a Flood Dragon Bloodline, qualifying it as a half Flood Dragon hatchling.

 Chapter 249 Preaching and Calculating (Two in One, Please Subscribe)

    In an ancient courtyard suffused with the fragrance of books, wisps of tea mist rose, making the entire courtyard seem even more detached from the mortal world.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit, clad in a purple robe, sat in a Taishi Chair, holding a teacup and gently sipping from it.


    His expression was rather relaxed, without a trace of furrowing brows.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    He then looked towards the front of the hall, where a group of disciples stood, offering their salutations.


    Surprisingly, he nodded in response.


    The record-keeping disciples seemed somewhat surprised, but those direct disciples all had a usual demeanor.


    Following that, the Zi Xuan Hermit waved his hand, and a meditation cushion appeared and settled behind the group.


    A few direct disciples familiarly sat down, while the record-keeping disciples also settled into a meditative posture at the indication of the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    "Today, since you have all gathered, it is rare for your teacher to speak at length with you about the Purple Mansion..." The Zi Xuan Hermit moistened his throat and began to speak deliberately.


    At this moment, his words were like the sound of the Great Dao, unhurried yet crucial, shaking one''s very soul.


    The content bestowed was naturally the process of Foundation Establishment cultivators breaking through to the Purple Mansion.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi were initially shocked, but then they listened very attentively.


    Although the rightful ancestor of the Lin Family was a Purple Mansion cultivator, he had established the family after leaving the sect, and neither Lin Xianzhi nor Lin Shiming had ever met this ancestor.


    The Lin Family also lacked the jade slips containing insights on the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion. Continue your adventure at empire


    Concerning the Purple Mansion, they only had superficial knowledge from books, knowing of the state, but not its true form.


    Immortal cultivation is inherently difficult, and it''s even harder when one lacks knowledge!


    At this moment, all eleven were sitting upright with proper decorum.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit finally spoke:


    "You must have been guessing in your hearts, why I have gathered you before the journey into the Secret Realm!"


    "It has been four hundred and twenty springs and autumns since I started my cultivation journey upon entering the mountains, and a hundred years ago, I became ensnared at the peak of the Purple Mansion, unable to make any further progress! But which cultivator doesn''t envy the Great Dao, and who wouldn''t want to become a True Person? Your teacher is naturally filled with reluctance!"


    "I won''t deceive you; this mission requires you to retrieve for your teacher a Soul Summoning Sword, to aid in the perfection of my Sword Dao and the accomplishment of the Golden Core Path!"


    At this point, all the disciples were stunned by the Zi Xuan Hermit''s extremely direct and frank words, but each maintained a composed expression, though their eyes were clearly turbulent.


    Seeing that the disciples remained silent, with an unchanging expression, the Zi Xuan Hermit looked out of the wooden window with a hint of desolation, then turned his gaze back to his disciples.


    "Of course, I am aware of the difficulties of this mission. I will bestow upon each of you the strongest sword techniques to enhance your strength!"


    "Furthermore, whoever manages to bring back the Soul Summoning Sword for your teacher, I promise they will reach the Purple Mansion, enjoy Lifespan Elixirs, and benefit from Purple Mansion Elixirs. If it''s a named disciple, I guarantee that their family will become a Purple Mansion Family!"


    Promise after promise from the Zi Xuan Hermit lighted up the eyes of all the disciples,


    Especially those like Xie An, whose lifespans were nearly exhausted. Even with Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, the chance of breakthrough was slim, even if they had Dragon Blood Pills.


    After all, unless it was a Fourth Rank Dragon Blood Pill, a common Third Rank Dragon Blood Pill aiding a Qi Cultivator to break through Foundation Establishment was already a defiance of the heavens.


    And now, the Lifespan Elixirs mentioned by the Zi Xuan Hermit were naturally different; they were capable of significantly increasing a cultivator''s lifespan, and only then could someone break through to the Purple Mansion without worries.


    Once one broke through to the Purple Mansion, one would jump to the status of a Hermit, enjoying five hundred years of life!


    Although it''s still not eternal life, it''s a realm that countless immortal cultivators dream of at night.


    Moreover, once one reaches such a realm, who can say for certain there is no chance to break through the Golden Core, with the prospect of a thousand years of life within reach!

 Chapter 250 Response and Opening of the Secret Realm (Two in One)

    Ten days flashed by in the blink of an eye, and Lin Shiming opened his eyes to grasp a Spirit Talisman in his hand.


    He rose from the meditation mat with a sigh and walked to the grand hall where they had previously gathered.


    On the nanmu table in front of the hall, the teapot was still steaming hot, and the aroma of tea permeated the air.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit sat in the Taishi Chair, eyes closed in meditation, letting the wisps of rising tea mist obscure half of his face.


    With a wave of the Zi Xuan Hermit''s hand, another meditation mat appeared behind the group of disciples.


    The disciples, respectful and reverent, bowed and began to display their mastery of the Sword Imbuement Technique.


    Lin Shiming was no exception. Despite his best efforts, he hadn''t found a solution and could only proceed slowly with his practice, dividing his time between focusing seventy percent on cultivating his Divine Sense and thirty percent on the Sword Imbuement Technique, resulting in much slower progress than the others.


    One must know that he wasn''t naturally gifted in swordsmanship; even after cultivating the Sword Intent on the Dao Enlightenment Platform, he still hadn''t reached the realm of Sword Light Transformation.


    It wasn''t until he returned to his family and received system prompts and the root of extrapolation that he managed to cultivate Sword Light Transformation.


    During these ten days, the system''s prompts appeared frequently, teaching him how to practice the Sword Imbuement Technique, but he ignored them all, immersing himself in tough practice and also cultivating the Split Spirit Decision.


    The slow progress was the only thing that gave him a bit of peace of mind.


    However, the summons from the Zi Xuan Hermit had once again caused his heart to soar with anxiety.


    In front of the hall, streaks of sword light began to condense as each cultivator took out a Supreme Grade magic sword to demonstrate the fruits of their training with the Sword Imbuement Technique before the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Now and then, the Zi Xuan Hermit glanced at a certain disciple, offering guidance in just a few words. Experience new stories on empire


    At this moment, as the cultivators revealed their power, it turned out just as Lin Shiming had guessed: Chen Daoyuan was practicing a metal-attribute sword technique, while Xie An was practicing a fire-attribute sword technique.


    Ye Yongchang was practicing a wood-attribute sword technique, similar to the Grass Sword Art, and Ye Changqing was practicing a rare earth-attribute sword technique, each with their sword light already formed.


    Lin Shiming''s suspicions were confirmed; the Zi Xuan Hermit didn''t summon so many cultivators to compete for treasure in the Secret Realm but to use them to attract the Soul Summoning Sword. Therefore, even though the earlier Lin Xianzhi was old and weary, it didn''t really matter.


    As if aware of Lin Shiming''s confusion, the Zi Xuan Hermit spoke up:


    "When you reach a higher realm, you will realize that cultivation is about oneself, the heart, and the Dao, not external objects!"


    Without wanting to say more, the Zi Xuan Hermit tossed a meditation mat to Lin Shiming.


    Then he had Lin Shiming practice the Sword Imbuement Technique, gradually providing guidance.


    Lin Shiming seemed to struggle as he nurtured his sword, causing the Zi Xuan Hermit to frown involuntarily.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit was well aware that Lin Shiming was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    Seeing the Zi Xuan Hermit''s reaction, Lin Shiming felt slightly more at ease.


    At least, he didn''t know about his three Spirit Platforms.


    And just then, the system prompt appeared again:


    "Use the Spirit Platform bound to the Cave Heaven World to cultivate the Sword Imbuement Technique, with the secret technique to conceal the Spirit Platform!"


    Lin Shiming was instantly overjoyed, almost unable to hide his excitement.


    Moreover, he suddenly remembered that his first secondary Spirit Platform was connected to the Cave Heaven World and could infuse True Yuan from the Spirit Platform into the Cave Heaven World.


    If he nurtured the sword with this Spirit Platform, he might be able to transfer the Sword Imbuement secret technique into the Cave Heaven World.


    This technique should not really be called the Sword Imbuement Technique, but rather a Sword Imbuement Secret Technique, targeting the Spirit Platform.


    If all the True Yuan of the Spirit Platform were drawn into the Cave Heaven World, then those Soul Summoning Swords would naturally not be able to detect it.


    And with the system''s prompts, he was curious whether successfully mastering the Sword Imbuement Technique and binding it with the Cave Heaven World could make this Cave Heaven World nurture a sword for him!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s thoughts became more agile, but he did not dare to try; the person in front of him was at the Purple Mansion Peak realm. If he were to detect the Cave Heaven World, then there might not even be a need to go to the Secret Realm.

 Chapter 251 Tips and Layout (Two-in-One)

    Behind Qingxuan Mountain lay the continuous mountain range.


    Although the height of these mountains paled in comparison to that of Qingxuan Mountain, their numbers were plentiful.


    This was also where most Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect built their cave abodes.


    Within the sprawling range, a valley nestled.


    In the valley, a small lake reflected the surrounding mountains and ravines.


    Green hills and clear waters created an exceptionally tranquil scene.


    The War Treasure Ship of the Qingxuan Sect led the way, followed by cultivators from the other five major sects.


    As the group of cultivators arrived, with a flick of the Qing Zhu Hermit''s hand, a golden Token flew out and instantly hovered above Bi Lake.


    Instantly, the water surged tumultuously, as if opening a rift in the lake and splitting the mountains, a spectacular sight to behold!


    The Bi Lake disappeared, revealing a grey Spirit Platform underneath.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi both felt a powerful shock in their hearts.


    The Spirit Platform before them, wasn''t it the very Transmission Formation found in the Lin Family?


    However, in comparison with the Lin Family''s Transmission Formation, the one before them was larger and more profoundly mysterious.


    The entire extent of the Transmission Formation was comparable to the size of the lake before.


    From a distance, its imposing presence was vast and magnificent!


    Upon closer inspection, one would find meticulously complex Spirit Patterns and various extraordinary iron stones and rare ores.


    The outlined restriction formations interconnected into dense and numerous circles, as complicated as the vast starry sky.


    Even the platforms used for storing spirit energy featured as many as twelve slots!


    Furthermore, each slot on these storage platforms was much larger than those in the Lin Family''s Transmission Formation, presumably capable of holding hundreds of Superior Grade Spirit Stones!


    They were affiliated with the Heavenly Cloud Hermit of Shen Ji Peak, and the Heavenly Cloud Hermit had good relations with the Zi Xuan Hermit. As a result, Bu Qingyun, the top disciple of the Heavenly Cloud Hermit, also had a good relationship with Chen Daoyuan.


    The two also exchanged greetings and discussed alliance strategies within the minor world.


    Qian Bosheng also kindly signaled to Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi of the Lin Family.


    Behind him, Qian Yongfu maintained a calm expression, but the corners of his mouth couldn''t help revealing a slight smile.


    However, it was at this moment that the system''s prompt sounded.


    "Follow the Qian Family cultivators, and you will discover an ancient stalactite cave of a thousand years!" Lin Shiming stood there, dumbfounded.


    He hadn''t expected that the approach of Qian Family cultivators would bring them a hint.


    And this hint, about a thousand-year-old stalactite cave, could produce Thousand-Year Spiritual Milk.


    If they had this Spiritual Milk, even if they engaged in fierce combat within the Secret Realm, they could continuously restore their True Yuan, maintaining enduring combat capabilities.


    Especially since his Grass Sword Art could deplete most of his True Yuan with a single strike,


    even with his three Spirit Platforms, it still wouldn''t withstand such consumption!


    But with this Thousand-Year Spiritual Milk, his combat power would definitely become much stronger.


    Lin Shiming narrowed his eyes at Qian Yongfu, finally understanding why Qian Yongfu could have such formidable physical feedback.


    The only hesitation he had was how to follow the Qian Family, which was a significant dilemma.


    "Shiming?" Lin Xianzhi noticed the change in Lin Shiming''s expression and couldn''t help but speak.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, do you have a way to track them?" Lin Shiming immediately transmitted his Divine Sense, asking Lin Xianzhi.


    He might not have a way to track them, but it didn''t mean that his scheming Seventh Great Uncle couldn''t.


    "I can!" the Seventh Great Uncle grasped the situation instantly and gave Lin Shiming a pleasant surprise. With a slight upturn of his mouth, something minuscule seemed to fly out of his sleeve.


    It was invisible to the naked eye, undetectable by Divine Sense; had one not been watching Lin Xianzhi closely, they would never have noticed.

 Chapter 252 The Mysterious Black Fish and the Lurking Warning (2 in 1)

    At the edge of the cliff, a spirit-absorbing ant as usual flew at the forefront.


    Heading downward toward the cliff base.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi were also riding their Flying Swords, cautiously following behind.


    Below the cliff was a dark river.


    In the middle of the cliff, a twisted peach tree grew out from the rock face.


    The tree was not large, just about the size of an ordinary mundane peach tree.


    However, its roots were exceptionally thick, firmly embedded into the cliff''s rocks.


    On the tree, there were several crystal-clear green peaches.


    But these peaches were very large, even bigger by a third than the Spirit Fruits from the late Second Rank Spirit Peach Tree in the Lin Family''s Peach Blossom Forest.


    Not to mention that these peaches were obviously unripe, if they matured, they would likely grow another third larger.


    Both Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi were overjoyed, particularly when they felt the enormous spiritual power of the peaches, a kind of power they had only experienced with the Water Spirit Coconuts on the Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island.


    "A Third Rank Spirit Peach Tree!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but break into an ecstatic smile.


    The spirit-absorbing ant continued to fly forward, shimmering with starry brilliance, but out of nowhere, a grey mantis on the tree fiercely slashed at the ant.


    This grey mantis was a mid-Third Rank Demonic Beast.


    Its color was similar to the stones, hiding next to them motionless, making it extremely deceptive!


    Snap!


    The mantis''s sickle-like limbs struck the ant''s hard shell, sending the ant flying.


    It also left him feeling helpless; his identity as a Spirit Plant Master had remained at the late Second Rank stage.


    And at this moment, it was not suitable for a lengthy transplantation; he had no choice but to act like a Loose Cultivator and force the transplanted tree away.


    "By the way, Shiming, why were we following the Qian Family earlier?" Lin Xianzhi spoke up again with his doubts.


    It was not appropriate to ask in front of so many people outside, but now that it was just the two of them, it was the best time to inquire; otherwise, once they entered the miniature world and Chen Daoyuan started recruiting them to control the War Treasure Ship together, there would be no opportunity to ask.


    "The Nurturing Spirit Milk plotted by the Qian Family was obtained from within this Secret Realm, and with a high probability, it''s in that miniature world!" Lin Shiming said, based on the system''s hints, making the most reasonable speculation.


    This small Secret Realm had been under Qingxuan Sect''s control for quite some time. If there were any treasures within a Profound Grade Secret Realm, the Qingxuan Sect would have already cleared it out, just like how the Lin Family''s Yellow Grade Secret Realm had a wood sprite transplanted out of it; one could imagine the situation.


    On the contrary, the miniature world had only merged with this Secret Realm once!


    And the Qian Family, an old and prominent clan in Yunzhou with backers in the Qingxuan Sect, had likely participated in the last exploration of the Secret Realm, which was entirely possible.


    And Lin Xianzhi suddenly understood and nodded.


    "No wonder the Qian Family''s few Cultivators were moving in circles, seemingly searching for people, but changing directions erratically, and not meeting up with other Cultivators. Instead, they seemed more like they were checking if anyone was following them!"


    Moreover, generally speaking, the dangers within a Profound Grade Secret Realm were not too much for these Cultivators. In this Secret Realm, aside from encountering Demon Cultivators, most Cultivators would naturally want to scour it at least once.


    Of course, it''s highly likely that there wouldn''t be any precious treasures left, as the Qingxuan Sect wouldn''t leave anything like Heavenly Spirit Fruit, Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit, or Zi Xuan Precious Jade in this small Secret Realm.


    The Qian Family''s actions were naturally quite suspicious.


    "Let''s wait a couple of days before we approach them again. Right now, they are extremely cautious!" Lin Xianzhi suggested.


    Lin Shiming agreed, but as he looked down at the dark river below, he suddenly felt the urge to explore it.


    Lakes and dark rivers within a Secret Realm were indeed places where treasures converged.


    Moreover, they currently lacked a specific objective, so it was a good opportunity to explore thoroughly.

 Chapter 253 Mysterious Spirit Shell, Robbery and Murder (Two in One)

    The two emerged from the cave, and the Spirit Ants were still flying back and forth above the dark river.


    However, the black Spirit Fish were no longer to be found.


    It seemed that the number of black Spirit Fish in the entire dark river had hit rock bottom.


    Lin Xianzhi looked at Lin Shiming, clearly wanting to know why he had put away those magic artifacts.


    Two of those artifacts were given by the Zi Xuan Hermit, and both could use the Sword Imbuement Technique.


    Lin Xianzhi''s face was full of questions, but Lin Shiming did not directly explain.


    Furthermore, at that moment, he also noticed that the Horned Python in his Spirit Beast Bag had become extremely eager again, as if it had discovered something.


    It was eager to come out.


    This emotion was one that had not even occurred when the Third Rank black fish had appeared before.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming pressed his hand against the Spirit Beast Bag.


    In an instant, a dark Horned Python surged out and leaped into the dark river.


    The leap was like a fish diving into the sea, a bird soaring into the blue sky, its mighty roar, although not as powerful as the Flood Dragon''s bellow, already carried the presence of a Flood Dragon!


    In the blink of an eye, it dove down, vanishing without a trace.


    "Is this the half Flood Dragon snake egg from before?" Lin Xianzhi, who had been the only one aware of the snake egg initially, was clearly shocked at the sight.


    Five years had passed, the snake egg had hatched, and not only had it hatched, but it was also born at the Early Stage of the Third Rank.


    Stay updated with empire


    If it were the previous venomous Horned Python, it certainly couldn''t have achieved this.


    Lin Xianzhi had only caught a glimpse before, but he had seen the bulges on Wang Jiao''s head, the scales on its body, and the two blood sacs under its belly.


    This was clearly the appearance of a Flood Dragon with horns, claws, and scales.


    Yet the tail, which could send a three-meter-tall Red-haired Demon Monkey flying, couldn''t move the white shell an inch; if anything, it only embedded the shell further into the grey stone.


    Just then, the shell suddenly opened a gap, and thin strands of white Spirit Light fluff were released.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi thought it was an attack, but in the next moment, Wang Jiao voraciously opened its mouth wide and swallowed all the Spirit Light, after which it tumbled excitedly through the water as though in great delight.


    In the cave, it rolled, roaring.


    While the shell that had been embedded in stone now shone brilliantly and fled toward the entrance.


    Wang Jiao foolishly remained still, apparently not pursuing and seemingly caught in an Illusionary Realm, even the soul contract calling having no immediate response.


    Lin Shiming watched the scene in amazement.


    The Laiyun Sword slashed fiercely, sending the lamb-sized shell flying,


    However, even with his Flying Sword, such a slash couldn''t open the shell at all.


    Next to him, Lin Xianzhi also noticed the miraculous nature of the shell; he took out the Qinglian Sword, turning it into the Sword Qi of the Green Lotus.


    The blue Sword Qi was incredibly rich, and as the Qinglian Sword Qi unfolded, a Sword Pistil now appeared.


    The Sword Lotus''s petals slashed at the shell, creating a thunderous boom,


    Yet still without a single crack forming.


    When the Sword Pistil from the Sword Lotus struck, the current grew wild and was cleaved apart, and the dark stones nearby cracked instantly.


    Lin Xianzhi''s Sword Qi sharpened to a thread. Although his Sword Dao level was slightly short of a complete Sword Qi thread, the power was nevertheless immeasurable.


    But even with the sharpness of Sword Qi striking the shell, it still didn''t split open.


    Next to him, Wang Jiao had now recovered, stretching out its large head and once again slamming its tail against the shell.


    However, the shell refused to open again and reveal the Spirit Light fluff from before,


    Leaving Wang Jiao in a state of frustrated circles.

 Chapter 254 Beast Token and World Tower (Combined)

    The emergence of the Taibai Sword Sect made Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi feel uncertain once again.


    Ever since they learned of the birth of the Soul Summoning Sword, they had guessed that this secret realm was no minor matter.


    But they really didn''t expect that an ancient site of a Nascent Soul Sect would appear in this small world.


    Under such circumstances, even the Golden Core True Persons would be moved.


    At this moment, Shiming also understood why the Qingxuan Sect was making such grand movements. Find adventures at empire


    Moreover, judging from the reactions of the other five major sects, they definitely had many strategies at their disposal.


    If it were the Qingxuan Sect, that would be fine, as long as they didn''t act recklessly, they could still be considered allies. But if they encountered powerful individuals from the Heavenly Demon Sect or the Corpse Refining Sect, all the preparations he had made might still fall short.


    What he didn''t understand was, what were the Qingxuan Sect''s intentions.


    Gathering so many cultivators, along with the other five major sects, the variables at play were now greatly increased.


    How could those True Persons ensure that the treasures would end up in their hands?


    Even if they managed to monitor the situation, if the treasures were found on the cultivators of Qingxuan Sect, that would be easy¡ªthey would simply hand them over.


    If they were found with any of the other five major sects, the Golden Core True Persons would definitely not back down.


    At that time, it wasn''t guaranteed that the few Golden Core True Persons of the Qingxuan Sect would be able to withstand the pressure.


    As the two speculated, they also collected the storage bags of the four individuals. To Shiming''s surprise, he found a jade slip amongst the four people''s belongings.


    This jade slip contained the secret technique to refine Third Rank beast talismans.


    Although the power of these beast talismans was not great and they were only Second and Third Rank, they held significant value for the Lin Family, especially in the future development of Shuangmu Island, where they might encounter beast tides. Although the Lin Family had been developing rapidly,


    their foundation in the four arts of pills, artifacts, formations, and talismans was still lacking.


    In this secret realm, there were many spiritual medicines not found in the outside world, and this time he had utilized his small world to transplant some precious medicine seedlings and some spirit trees, roots and all.


    Xianzhi was initially puzzled, but afterwards, he started to help Shiming with some simple transplanting tasks.


    Neither of them knew if they would have a second chance to enter this Profound Grade Secret Realm, so they certainly treasured the opportunity!


    Besides, with so many demon cultivators entering this time, if demon cultivators didn''t cause some destruction, could they still be called demon cultivators?


    With such actions, their pace was not fast, but they were not worried.


    If they were beaten to the punch for the small world, so be it.


    Their aim was to proceed steadily.


    Along the way, they were ambushed several times, encountering cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect. These cultivators, relying on their spirit corpses, also intended to rob Shiming and Xianzhi.


    But since Shiming and Xianzhi could face even peak Foundation Establishment cultivators without fear, how could they be ambushed by these cultivators?


    Instead, they made a good profit; the hard-earned belongings of several bandit cultivators all fell into their hands.


    They even acquired several Supreme Grade magic artifacts, but they were cautious about these newly attained artifacts, storing them in a storage bag without further attention.


    Of course, they also encountered cultivators from the other Three Sects whose strengths were not formidable. Upon seeing Shiming and Xianzhi, they kept their distance.


    The entire secret realm was suffused with an aura of slaughter, and everyone was on edge!


    It wasn''t until the sixth day that they arrived at the World Tower, neither too early nor too late.


    Upon seeing the World Tower, even from a hundred miles away, both could only feel their own insignificance.


    The colossal tower stood a hundred feet tall, piercing the sky, built of an unknown material, radiating Spirit Light, covered with Spirit Patterns, edged with golden Nanmu wood, and adorned with dragons and phoenixes like a golden palace, exuding luxury and grandeur, vast and imposing.


    The World Tower had a total of ninety-nine levels!

 Chapter 254 Beast Token and World Tower (Combined) Part 2

    At the top of the tower was a dazzling Spiritual Pearl, shining like the sun itself.


    In front of World Tower, numerous cultivators were meditating and cultivating.


    These cultivators were divided into six factions.


    The Qingxuan Sect cultivators in their blue Daoist robes, the Spirit Beast Sect cultivators in their brocade beast robes, the Spirit Talisman Sect cultivators in their Heavenly Talisman Daoist robes, the Wanjian Sect cultivators with heavy swords on their backs, the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivators in black robes, brandishing their Heavenly Demon banners, and the cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect with coffins placed before them.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi arrived at the Qingxuan Sect''s area unobtrusively.


    They soon caught sight of Xie An.


    The latter, as a direct disciple of the Qingxuan Sect and with the strength at the peak of Foundation Establishment, was organizing the sect''s cultivators along with a few other peak Foundation Establishment disciples.


    As soon as Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi appeared, a great many gazes fell upon them, especially on Shiming, whose mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level made him stand out markedly.


    There were even quite a few cultivators who sent him secret messages, blatantly threatening him.


    Asking if he had the sword diagram from Taibai Sword Palace.


    Telling him to hand it over.


    Lin Shiming naturally ignored them, with the cultivators of Qingxuan Sect present, he truly did not believe they would make a move.


    Now the six major factions, it could be said, were simply without sight of any substantive treasures; otherwise, they would have already started a fight to the death!


    Add to this the fact that no one was confident, which was why things were calm, but the atmosphere was fraught with significant tension.


    "Senior Brother Xie!" Lin Shiming called out to Xie An as soon as he finally had a moment to spare.


    "Shiming, Xianzhi, you''ve arrived at last. I''m just about to enter the small world. Why don''t you join me!" Xie An, too, spoke with some pleasure.


    Scanning the area, Lin Shiming noticed that the other disciples who had accompanied Zi Xuan Hermit that day had seemingly already entered the small world. Xie An''s invitation for him to come along was therefore quite normal.


    Perhaps the latter also knew that this journey into the secret realm was far from simple.


    "In that case, I''ll have to trouble Senior Brother Xie!" Lin Shiming immediately gestured with respectful hands.


    For both of them, Xie An was the most familiar.


    They had also fought together against demon cultivators before, and naturally preferred the company of an ally.


    "Brother, we''re new to World Tower and still unclear about it. Could you perhaps enlighten us?" Lin Shiming looked at the World Tower and noticed that the cultivators entering the tower seemed to be fully armed and well-prepared, so he asked Xie An.


    "Shiming, this World Tower is essentially a Magical Treasure that seals the barrier of the small world; it was even accidentally discovered by a senior brother from Shen Ji Peak the last time, which triggered the appearance of the World Tower!"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Acting as the barrier Magical Treasure, World Tower has become the entrance to the small world and also blocks the demonic beasts of the small world from entering this Profound Grade Secret Realm; it''s a dual-seal doorway!"


    "According to the sect''s elder, this small world opens only once every thirty years!"


    "In addition, World Tower will also screen the cultivators entering the small world, focusing on soul age and the quality of the Spirit Root, as well as strength!"


    "Therefore, to enter the small world, cultivators must pass through the tower; passing through nine levels grants entry, while passing through eighteen layers will earn an additional Magic Artifact. For every nine layers passed, another treasure can be obtained, all the way up to the entire eighty-one layers!"


    It was as if the trial had begun.


    And in the direction of the Spirit Beast Sect cultivators, several other cultivators looked on in anticipation.


    "Given their age, the first floor should be a Third Rank mid-stage Spirit Beast!"


    "The second floor would be two!"


    ...


    "And so on!"


    Xie An continued to explain to Lin Shiming.


    As expected, three streams of Spirit Light quickly ascended floor by floor up the tower.


    Clearly, the Spirit Beasts they encountered were not very strong.


    They soon reached the ninth floor of the World Tower.


    "Shiming, you''ve been cultivating for less than fifty years, haven''t you?" Xie An suddenly asked.


    Lin Shiming nodded, as this was no secret within the Lin Family and there was nothing for him to hide.


    "Then the first floor you''ll face should be a Third Rank early-stage Demonic Beast. You might try to be the second one to reach the ninety-ninth floor!" Xie An said, somewhat excitedly.


    He was well aware of Lin Shiming''s strength and knew Lin Shiming had several rather impressive Spirit Beasts.


    For the tower he would face, even at the ninety-ninth floor, he would only need to confront nine Third Rank late-stage Demonic Beasts!


    "Senior Brother flatters me too much. It''s not that easy. If I can reach the forty-fifth floor, that would already be an achievement," Lin Shiming humbly replied, not seriously considering the ninety-ninth floor.


    "You really should give it a try. Speaking of which, the previous cultivator who made it to the eighty-first floor was from the Spirit Talisman Sect, and he exchanged for the Shen Ji Tower''s replica magical artifact!" Xie An continued to speak, a hint of envy in his eyes.


    He was also looking forward to seeing such a cultivator emerge from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Because of that cultivator reaching the top floor, the disciples of the Spirit Talisman Sect had a bit of swagger.


    And given his own age, the first floor might face him with a Third Rank late-stage Demonic Beast. By the eighty-first floor, he might even encounter a Purple Mansion Demonic Beast.


    Among the three cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect, one triggered a white light on the thirty-second floor, while the other two activated dazzling white light on the thirty-sixth floor.


    The appearance of the white light also meant that the three of them had entered the mini-world.


    As the three concluded their trial, three cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect stepped forward, heading toward the World Tower.


    A new round of tower challenges was about to begin!


    Explore stories on empire


    "Shiming, Xianzhi, meditate for a while to recover. Once you''re both ready, let''s attempt the tower together," Xie An said.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi both nodded in agreement, especially Lin Shiming, whose system prompts for the day had been used up, and adjusting his state suited him perfectly!

 Chapter 255 Storming the Tower, Beast Taming (Two-in-One for Subscriptions)

    the next day, early in the morning.


    with the last strand of spiritual energy entering his body, the cycle of the purple wood heart sutra came to an end, and the faint spirit light gathered around lin xianzhi''s body also vanished.


    lin shiming opened his eyes and withdrew the prepared isolation formation.


    the world tower before him was still radiating bright light.


    clearly, people were still attempting to scale the tower, and what surprised shiming a bit was that someone had actually made it to the eightieth floor.


    although with a flash of light, that person ultimately did not reach the final floor to obtain the fabled token of the taibai sword palace.


    shiming looked beside him, where lin xianzhi stood vigilant.


    this half-day rest had evidently been for shiming alone, while xianzhi had been guarding outside the formation the whole time.


    "what''s that?" shiming asked, looking at the tower and speaking to xianzhi.


    "it''s an old senior from the spirit beast sect, but his strength, it''s truly terrifying!" xianzhi spoke with a hint of admiration.


    beside them, xie an also had a face full of respect. clearly, for someone of that age to scale the tower and reach the eightieth floor, even purple mansion great demons must have appeared.


    but they were ultimately only observers from outside the tower.


    "i''ve kept senior brother xie waiting for long, let''s tackle it together next!" shiming said apologetically.


    "let''s do it! now that you are ready, we''ll take action next!" xie an nodded generously.


    explore stories on empire


    at this moment, he indeed felt somewhat impatient.


    it was now the eighth day, and five days had passed since the first batch had entered the small world.


    fewer members of the six nearby great sects remained.


    those who appeared in the small world would greatly plunder the treasures within. even though there were fourth rank purple mansion great demons in the small world, many cultivators also brought their war treasure ships.


    the preciousness of fourth rank spirit boats as magical treasures lay here, for they could harness the strength of more than a dozen cultivators to achieve purple mansion combat power.


    "72!"


    a surge of shock and confusion swept through shiming, and he stood rooted to the spot.


    that character, as xie an had explained, represented the revealed age.


    shiming was forty-nine!


    even counting generously, he wasn''t fifty, yet the "72" that appeared only had one possible explanation: it included the age from his previous life!


    he had concealed this secret for fifty years, not expecting it to be detected in front of the world tower.


    suddenly, he recalled what xie an said about soul age!


    for a moment, he stood frozen in place, unable to calm down.


    fortunately, only he knew of this age. if xianzhi learned of it, he might worry that shiming had been overtaken.


    such cases of spirit possession were not unheard of in the cultivation world, but if it happened within the family''s cultivators, xianzhi might not be able to accept it.


    the next moment, the pentagram formation started to emit a flashing light, and a spirit light projection of a third rank mid-stage sabretooth tiger rushed out towards him.


    roaring at him.


    no actual spirit beast appeared, which was somewhat unexpected for him.


    but he didn''t hesitate. drawing the laiyun sword, he swiftly executed a slashing strike. the sword intent imbued with the sword light transformation slashed fiercely through the air with incredible speed and ferocity.


    fast! fierce!


    in an instant, the sabretooth tiger projection was shattered.


    the first challenge, passed!


    even he didn''t expect to pass so quickly.


    but soon, he understood that the projections of the world tower were far weaker than the actual third rank mid-stage demonic beasts.


    since he had achieved sword light transformation, his strength had already reached the peak of foundation establishment, and killing this projection so easily was hardly surprising.

 Chapter 256 Old Friend, Sanyuan Residence (Two in One, Subscription Request)

    on the twenty-seventh floor, lin shiming continued to meditate, and under the spirit light formation, his true yuan rapidly recovered.


    looking at the newly appeared staircase, lin shiming hesitated.


    the system prompt had not appeared, indicating that the reward for each tower floor might only be a superior grade magic artifact.


    then the necessity of advancing through the tower was much less, as he was not lacking in third-rank superior grade magic artifacts, on the contrary, he had no shortage of supreme grade magic artifacts.


    based on the strength of the demonic beasts, he would not likely reach the eighty-first floor.


    moreover, the golden rhinoceros was quickly reaching the edge of his divine sense control range, and the spirit controlling seal, while controlling three demonic beasts at the same time, was also consuming a large amount of true yuan; he estimated that controlling one more late-stage third-rank demonic beast would push him to his limit, and any more would be troublesome to control, a waste of mental effort, yielding more loss than gain.


    of course, the tower''s strangeness was also a reason.


    looking through the soul''s age and selecting cultivators for training by age, all this seemed quite reasonable.


    very much in line with the criteria sect cultivators use when choosing an inheritance magic artifact. your journey continues with empire


    but these magic artifact rewards didn''t quite match the style of a nascent soul sect.


    moreover, he always felt like every nine floors, there was something missing on that tribute table.


    but without a system prompt, he could not know what exactly the world tower was hiding.


    even if he set everything else aside, he still had one guess.


    after every eight levels, there was a real spirit beast.


    if it was a projected demonic beast, it might not truly die.


    but if it were real demonic beasts, how could one ensure they hadn''t truly died? this was a magical treasure, not a real cultivator.


    his judgment wasn''t that strong, and if it were, that would imply the magical treasure had a spirit, and the absence of a system prompt suggested there was no spirit.


    death and access to a small world both triggered a burst of white light, and unless the cultivator returned, no one would know.


    the cultivators who challenged the tower, whether they truly reached the other side of the tower or died, none of this would be known to the cultivators outside.


    "shiming! how was it? how many floors did you reach?"


    "twenty-seventh floor, the treasures were not so great, so i came over first!" lin shiming didn''t lie and spoke the truth.


    he had enough confidence to pass eighteen more levels if he continued to challenge the tower.


    "indeed, the treasures are worse than before!" xie an also shook his head, as he and lin xianzhi had only gone through eighteen floors.


    their ages were not small, nearing two hundred, and the spirit beast phantoms they faced at the outset were already formidable late-stage third-rank demonic beasts; after nine levels, they would have faced peak third-rank demonic beasts.


    of course, the most critical part was not this, but rather that the treasures from the tower were somewhat below their expectations.


    for cultivators of their age, what were trials? they had long been inconsequential; substantive treasures were what mattered most.


    and challenging the tower just for superior grade magic artifacts was not worth it.


    they could not reach the eighty-first floor, either.


    "by the way, shiming, what are your plans? the myriad swords tomb is not open yet!" xie an asked lin shiming and lin xianzhi.


    "furthermore, the taibai sword sect hasn''t made its move; when it does, there will be extraordinary signs!" xie an seemed to perceive the doubts of lin shiming and lin xianzhi and continued speaking.


    this was a reason why many were not in a hurry after the world tower; the entire secret realm, including the small world, opened for three months.


    if one entered the small world early, they might encounter purple mansion great demons.


    entering later might provide some warnings.


    after a great demon killed cultivators, it would inevitably leave some traces of the fight.


    since ancient times, demonic beasts held no custom of destroying corpses or obliterating traces; instead, they were more accustomed to scattering their prey''s bones in their territory as a warning sign.


    "thanks for your kind intentions, senior brother xie, but for now, we plan to look around the periphery for spiritual objects that extend life!" lin shiming was aware that xie an wanted them to travel together.


    however, the two of them had an appointment with xiao chen, and if they did not go now, xiao chen might think they had encountered an accident.


    "alright then, be careful on your journey. when the myriad swords tomb opens, you''ll need to come over quickly. with senior brother chen steering the war treasure ship, we will have a chance to compete!" xie an said with a hint of disappointment in his face, as he had entered with lin xianzhi intending to journey together.

 Chapter 257 Deception (Two in One)

    the sky was filled with countless flying swords, their sword qi surging fiercely!


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi also stopped hiding and boldly stepped out.


    continue reading stories on empire


    once trapped by a formation, even the most clever of techniques would find it difficult to remain concealed.


    however, a trace of worry still lingered in their eyes.


    especially lin xianzhi, who stared at the old man carrying the sword, for this elder was clearly not just a simple sword cultivator but also a third rank supreme grade formation master!


    "wan qing, are you so confident that you aren''t afraid of us joining forces against you?" lin shiming also fixed his gaze on wan qing.


    "haha, join forces? do you really think i, wan, am afraid of your cooperation?" wan qing spoke with scorn.


    "without even this bit of confidence, how can one have the courage to step into the realm of a true person?"


    as he spoke, he exuded an air of valor, then disdainfully looked at lin shiming:


    "however, you really do have bad luck. just when i feel like killing someone, you show up at my doorstep!" wan qing glared at lin shiming with a somewhat bloodthirsty gaze.


    immediately, the myriad swords all pointed downwards.


    sword intent surged, and the light of swords ravaged the space!


    in the next moment, they transformed into a rain of swords, pouring down upon them.


    of course, the descent was not solely aimed at lin shiming, but rather at all the cultivators within the sword array!


    "how audacious!" the three cultivators from the corpse refining sect also changed their expressions drastically.


    simultaneously, they each slapped their storage bags, and three three-zhang-long black great coffins appeared.


    all sorts of eerie spirit patterns emerged on the coffins, and in the next instant, the lids of the coffins exploded, revealing three lifebound spirit corpses.


    which was another method of cultivation that lin shiming glimpsed for a wood attribute sword cultivator.


    they fought intensely, with each side having their moments.


    "wan, you are digging your own grave!" seeing the situation turning largely in their favor due to lin xianzhi''s potency, xiao wanhe also coldly scoffed at wan qing.


    but at that moment, wan qing remained silent.


    the fact that the corpse refining sect cultivators were holding back and had lifebound spirit corpses was something he hadn''t anticipated; likewise, lin xianzhi comprehending the step-half sword qi condensing filament was unexpected too.


    and lin shiming was staring at wan qing; however, in the next moment, his face also changed.


    he had just released a spirit-devouring ant that had broken through the formation.


    yet, he witnessed something he couldn''t have imagined; a monkey demonic beast had already broken into the san yuan residence.


    it was clear that these people from the wanjian sect were covering all grounds, determined to either eradicate everyone or monopolize the treasures!


    the formation was merely a smokescreen; in secret, they had already dispatched spirit beasts to steal the treasures.


    as for the spirit beast belonging to the spirit beast sect, he didn''t even consider it.


    wan qing''s control over the myriad sword execution heaven formation meant he certainly wouldn''t let anyone from the spirit beast sect take advantage of the situation!


    no wonder wan qing was so immensely arrogant and why the elder didn''t intervene; with the treasures already taken, what did it matter if they didn''t kill everyone?


    lin shiming''s face went through a rapid change of emotions, but it soon disappeared.


    in the next moment, he took out a large number of spirit seeds and fiercely scattered them on the ground.


    instantaneously, the swarm of poisonous dragon vines appeared, resembling huge malevolent flood dragons.


    the poisonous dragon vines emitted a black mist, and within a moment, it seemed as though dark dragons were rampaging through the fog, and even as the vines writhed, the roaring of flood dragons could be heard, engulfing everything as they surged towards wan qing.


    of course, wan qing wasn''t afraid; his sword array was the perfect magical treasure for countering wood attribute cultivators.


    he laughed coldly, thinking lin shiming also dared to call himself a sword cultivator, yet lacked even this basic knowledge!

 Chapter 258 The Magical Treasure Twin Swords & Scripture of the Five Flames (Combined)

    seeing the scene before him, lin shiming, though prepared, almost cursed out loud.


    but lin xianzhi, who was still recovering his true yuan, once again became stern, and his sword technique operated to the extreme.


    sword lotuses were slashed out one after another.


    they blocked the old man''s fierce sword light once more.


    the people from the spirit beast sect started to run, with countless spirit beasts self-detonating.


    which forced wan wuyin to retreat by more than ten meters.


    two elders from the spirit beast sect, holding xiao wanhe, pulled out a wind escape spirit talisman and began to escape far away!


    leaving behind a streak of blue light, they vanished into the horizon.


    upon witnessing this, lin shiming and lin xianzhi also took out a third rank supreme grade spirit boat and began to flee for their lives!


    wan qing and the sword-carrying old man clearly still had many tricks up their sleeves, and it wasn''t necessary for them to fight these three to the death.


    their own escape techniques were fully displayed.


    however, after wan qing and the sword-carrying old man slashed out a few swords and saw no effect, they too landed on the flat ground below and didn''t pursue further.


    in this minor world, they might encounter a purple mansion great demon at any time, hunting and being hunted were both unwise actions.


    "wan qing, where is the treasure!" the sword-carrying old man looked toward wan qing.


    even though these cultivators only killed one corpse refining sect cultivator, the treasures of the hermit''s cave dwelling were the most crucial matter at hand.


    "fifth uncle, it''s a few hundred miles to the north!" wan qing replied hesitantly after sensing it.


    "why isn''t it in the stone forest?" the eyes of the sword-carrying old man immediately bulged, and his heart skipped a beat.


    "i''m not sure either, fifth uncle. it could be that the sword array was too powerful, and i was worried something might happen to my sky treasure demon monkey!" though wan qing also had his concerns, seeing that the sky treasure demon monkey was alright, he could only offer a few reasons.


    after all, the blood covenant was still intact!


    but just when he was preparing to sense again in detail, the blood covenant with the sky treasure demon monkey suddenly turned into nothingness.


    the figure in the blue robe was naturally lin shiming, and the golden winged mantis, red-haired demon monkey, and the spirit ants were all spirit beasts he released while activating the poisonous dragon vine.


    the golden winged mantis was holding two glittering swords, and the red-haired demon monkey held a primordial magnet seal in one hand and a storage bag in the other.


    "magical treasure flying swords!" lin shiming exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the swords.


    these treasures were naturally taken from the hermit''s cave dwelling, but the two magical treasure flying swords in the hands of the golden winged mantis took both men by surprise.


    lin xianzhi immediately took out a sealing formation from the storage bag, not daring to delay in laying out the formation.


    only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    the golden winged mantis nuzzled lin shiming with its triangular head, offering the two magical treasure flying swords like precious gifts.


    then it softly chirped.


    lin shiming generously took out a black spirit fish for the golden winged mantis, then grabbed a handful of beast nurturing pills and a cotton yang pill.


    "this beast is growing so fast!" lin xianzhi was shocked to see the eight-winged golden winged mantis.


    he remembered seeing the mantis just after it had hatched, at that time, he had assumed it would reach the late phase of the second rank at most.


    who would have thought the mantis would have such a keen sense of smell and exceptional talent for treasure hunting, and now, considering its current peak of the third rank mid-phase, it was evident it had a high bloodline talent; otherwise, no amount of beast nurturing pills would have allowed it to grow so fast.


    not to mention, he had never heard of a golden mantis! enjoy new chapters from empire


    "seventh great-uncle, these two magical treasures are perfect for you!" lin shiming immediately spoke up.


    hearing lin shiming''s words, lin xianzhi turned to look at the two flying swords.


    both swords were about three feet in length, not particularly large, and were twin swords!


    yet, their attributes were polar opposites, one was gold and the other was water.


    the golden flying sword was clearly infused with some geng metal, making it extremely sharp, while the water-attribute flying sword contained cold marrow jade, giving it the power to freeze, much like the might of an ice spirit root cultivator, even when used by a water attribute cultivator.


    "seventh great-uncle, these two flying swords are perfect for you!" lin shiming couldn''t help but laugh as he said this.


    "shiming, it''s not suitable, you''re a cultivator with a third spirit root of gold, wood, and fire, you can use these magical treasures as well!" lin xianzhi tried to deflect, but deep in his eyes, it was evident he held a sliver of desire.

 Chapter 259 Heavenly Corpse Bug, Ye WuYou (Combined Thank You to Drunken Man for the Reward)

    qing mountain''s verdant ridges, a network of mountain ravines.


    a jade-green river meandered out from the mountains!


    no ripples disturbed the water''s surface, babbling gently as it flowed.


    a spirit boat slowly descended.


    three figures from the qian family emerged, with qian bosheng leading the way, followed by qian yongfu, while the clan''s young cultivator, qian yucheng, lingered at the very back.


    qian bosheng was about to move forward but was called to a halt by qian yongfu.


    suddenly, qian yongfu coughed.


    "fellow daoist, having tracked this old man for so long, why not show yourself and speak?" qian yongfu''s sudden outburst caused qian bosheng to stiffen on the spot.


    yet there was no response in their surroundings, not even the sound of the wind hurried in the slightest.


    just as qian bosheng began to wonder if qian yongfu was bluffing,


    a transparent coffin in the void opened with a surge, and out stepped a figure clothed in a heavenly corpse robe, walking straight out.


    looking at qian yongfu, the figure collected the coffin and finally spoke:


    "i never expected that a minor foundation establishment family from yunzhou could possess such formidable divine sense to see through the void coffin made of five-colored silkworm thread!" the figure was dressed in a golden robe, which lin shiming would have recognized had he been there¡ªthe golden-robed cultivator was none other than golden corpse child.


    "you dare to come alone, fellow daoist?" instead of answering, qian yongfu retorted.


    "haha, fellow daoist jests, for i, jin, am of course not alone!!"


    "for i, jin, alone am an army of thousands!" as soon as golden corpse child finished his words, he dramatically cast out his embroidered robe.


    in a flash, three golden coffins flew out.


    the coffins fell, and three dazzling gold-clad iron corpses charged fiercely.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    "i may not have much in the way of skills, but it''s too much for fellow daoists to infest my junior with heavenly corpse insects!" qian yongfu snorted coldly and, with terrifying speed, threw qian yucheng into the formation.


    in an instant, the faces of the two corpse refining sect cultivators turned ashen.


    the heavenly corpse insect was a precious spirit insect of their corpse refining sect, invaluable in refining one''s personal spirit corpse.


    it could lurk undetected within a live cultivator and, at crucial moments, devour the cultivator''s divine soul, turning them into a corpse cultivator for a surprise attack!


    the two corpse refining sect cultivators, with faces like thunder, had not expected qian yongfu to be so decisive. they had been hoping to exploit his junior as leverage for a sneak attack on qian yongfu.


    now it seemed that qian yongfu was more ruthless than they had imagined!


    without hesitation, he had thrown his own kin into the heavenly trapping formation.


    the two had no choice but to quickly summon their remaining corpse cultivators.


    these corpse cultivators, each a late third rank being, were terrifyingly fierce!


    however, just then, qian yongfu produced two small flags in his hand.


    with a wave of the flags towards the sky, the wind howled furiously, as black tornadoes scattered the corpse cultivators, blowing them apart in disarray.


    and this fierce wind, as if soul-scattering, reduced the corpse cultivators, already muddled, to an even lower level of intelligence.


    "to covet the qian family''s treasures, let''s see if you are worthy!" qian yongfu charged forward, his white hair streaming behind, spirit light shining brightly, moving like a specter!


    he appeared in the blink of an eye before one of the corpse refining sect cultivators, grabbed at him, and instantly ended his life on the spot!


    the remaining one was utterly horrified, having never expected qian yongfu to be a peak foundation establishment body cultivator.


    thinking only of escape, but no match for qian yongfu, the split soul banner was waved again, and the cultivator froze, only to be grasped through his heart by qian yongfu in the next moment!


    qian yongfu coughed again, yet the situation was settled, and he casually hung two storage bags at his waist.


    all this had happened so swiftly that qian bosheng was left somewhat dazed beside him.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 260 - 248: Soul Binding Forbidden, Wang Jiao (Two in One, Seeking Subscriptions)

    xie an left, and lin shiming and lin xianzhi also took advantage of the bustling streets as they walked towards laiyue tower.


    both of them felt somewhat heavy-hearted. from xie an¡¯s words, it wasn¡¯t hard to discern the determination of zi xuan hermit.


    however, at this moment, they had no other options and could only take things one step at a time.


    considering zi xuan hermit¡¯s previous style, they could only hope that he would grant them some degree of autonomy.


    back at laiyue tower, lin xianzhi originally wanted to give lin shiming the supreme grade defensive magic artifact they had exchanged for, but lin shiming shook his head and declined.


    he already had the star wood shield, which was enough to protect himself.


    plus, he was also a body cultivator.


    on the contrary, it was lin xianzhi, although a sword cultivator, whose defensive spells and treasures were indeed pitifully few.


    in the end, lin xianzhi could not be stubborn and nodded his head, ceasing to insist.


    as soon as lin shiming returned to his room, he immediately took out three or four array plates from his storage bag.


    with a wave of his hand, one formation after another covered the entire room: a soundproofing formation, a spirit isolation formation, as well as a guardian formation, and a divine sense sensing formation¡ªnone were missing.


    after casting them all, he finally felt at ease and entered his cave heaven world.


    the appearance of the cave heaven world was still the same as before. the golden winged mantis was dozing under the mingxin tea tree, while the red-haired demon monkey had transformed into a small monkey, resting on the heavenly spirit fruit tree.


    upon seeing lin shiming enter, they immediately began to cry out.


    lin shiming took out several bottles of beast nurturing pills, as well as cotton yang pills.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    recently, he had discovered that these demonic beasts could also consume elixirs, and their resistance to the medicine was much stronger, so he decisively also shared the cotton yang pills, prepared by lin shitao for him, with the two beasts.


    the two beasts each went their own way, and lin shiming found a spot to start going through the pages of the book-like magic artifact he had exchanged for.


    upon holding the artifact, he felt a jade-like coolness. the book¡¯s plain gray cover seemed like just a piece of ordinary jade.


    in his view, the golden winged mantis might not need it, but when his strength grew stronger, it would be best to use the soul binding forbidden too, as it would impose more constraints. with the soul binding forbidden, he could even to some extent understand the thoughts of the spirit beasts.


    the subsequent spirit controlling seal was equally a superior beast taming dharma seal. with this dharma seal, he could control demonic beasts not stronger than himself.


    the only downside of the spirit controlling seal was its time limitation; the duration of the spirit controlling seal also depended on the spellcaster¡¯s strength.


    the weak could only control temporarily, while the strong could control for ten or a hundred years!


    if it was the latter, it would be fine, but if it was the former, the use would be too trivial.


    both secret techniques were extremely valuable to him and would provide a better guarantee for his journey through the secret realm.


    especially the latter, for the lin family, was also of great significance. the lin family was currently expanding shuangmu island.


    if all the lin family¡¯s foundation establishment cultivators learned the spirit controlling seal, even if they could only control temporarily, it would still allow the lin family to develop better in the outer sea.


    the two secret techniques made lin shiming glance at the book-shaped magical treasure again.


    at the location of the pages, there were clear indications of missing pages, and incomplete pages would not show the functions of the treasures. he could even issue a collection order within the lin family, allowing the numerous cultivators of the lin family to help him gather them.


    given the features of the incomplete pages, if they were separated from each other, qi cultivators might not even give them a second glance.


    closing the magical treasure book, his interest in this treasure also grew.


    he wished right then that he could reach the purple mansion and refine the treasure.


    lin shiming gave a wry smile, then shook his head, knowing that to become a purple mansion, even if everything went smoothly and he had great opportunities, it would still take at least fifty years.


    instead, it was more likely in the next few years to find the missing pages.


    lin shiming immediately stopped pondering and first practiced the split spirit decision, bringing his divine sense to the best condition.


    then he began to learn the soul binding forbidden secret technique.


    next to him, the mysterious egg showed clear cracks but still hadn¡¯t hatched, which had long made him suspicious. after all, the mysterious egg was sentient and even had a flood dragon bloodline, qualifying it as a half flood dragon hatchling.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 261 - 248: Soul Binding Forbidden, Wang Jiao (Combined chapter, please subscribe)_2

    the snake egg already has cracks, so how could it fail to hatch?


    if it lacks even that ability, how can it become a half-flood dragon?


    for seven consecutive days, lin shiming immersed himself in the secret technique.


    and the system¡¯s prompts, idaily pointed out the flaws in his resting practices, enabling him to grasp them better and faster.


    compared to the spirit controlling seal, the soul binding forbidden involved the congealment of a soul contract, somewhat more complex, but its difficulty was much lower.


    as soon as lin shiming opened his eyes, he saw that with a drop of essence blood falling from his hand, he began to trace out one spirit light after another.


    and at the most critical moment, he even used the split spirit blade to sever a strand of his own divine sense.


    it entered into the soul contract.


    the soul contract, hidden within, transformed into endless spirit light, entering the essence blood.


    that drop of essence blood became even more concentrated and profound.


    if one looked closely, they could see within the essence blood, countless spirit patterns interwoven, like an extremely complex spirit net, with spirit light and his strand of divine sense intertwined, creating boundless mysteries.


    lin shiming¡¯s countenance was somewhat pale as he brought the essence blood that had traced the soul contract to the snake egg.


    a sense of dread pulsed, resisting lin shiming¡¯s advance.


    the snake egg clearly showed some resistance, but its resistance at this moment seemed extremely feeble.


    lin shiming was not a man of tender mercies; towards a snake egg with consciousness, even one newly born, he could not possibly be entirely at ease.


    the essence blood shot towards the snake egg with unerring accuracy.


    and at this moment, the snake egg finally cracked with a snap, and a black horned python emerged, darting about.


    the black horned python looked somewhat similar to a venomous horned python, except that upon birth, it already had two bulges on its forehead, within which sharp horns were clearly visible; only a little more growth, and it could have a pair of horns like a flood dragon, its whole body also covered in black scales.


    the only distinction from a flood dragon was the lack of fins on its tail and the absence of claws!


    however, there were also bulges beneath its belly, evidently, its bloodline hadn¡¯t quite developed yet.


    but upon close sensing, this horned python¡¯s cultivation level was clearly at the early stage of the third rank!


    born a third-rank demonic beast, lin shiming had never seen such before; he only knew that a flood dragon at birth was at the late stage of the third rank. although this horned python was only at the early stage of the third rank, among ordinary spirit beasts, it was absolutely one of the top existences!


    anticipating the horned python¡¯s resistance and erratic movements, lin shiming had seemingly predicted this, initiating the blood covenant right from the start. even though the blood covenant¡¯s control over the snake egg was weaker now, after all, a blood pact existed, and that drop of essence blood landed on the forehead of the young snake with two horns.


    "swallow this drop of essence blood and offer up a portion of your soul; otherwise, lin has no qualms about feeding your bloodline to the golden winged mantis," lin shiming threatened.


    the snake egg had seen bloodline reversion before and was utterly panic-stricken upon hearing this!


    its body hesitated again.


    "rest assured, by becoming my spirit beast, in the future, i will help you revert to your bloodline. as long as lin does not die, sooner or later, i will assist you in becoming a flood dragon, and perhaps even a true dragon is possible," lin shiming said.


    upon hearing this, the horned python first hesitated and pondered, much like when lin shiming first signed the common blood covenant. however, after seemingly recalling something, it nodded with great spirit intelligence.


    between the stick and the carrot, the horned python was unable to resist.


    what surprised lin shiming was that even though wang jiao was only at the early stage of third rank, it held its own against red-haired, who was at the middle stage of third rank.


    especially its tail, which had a terrifying whipping ability.


    even when red-haired transformed into a thirty-foot creature, it was sent flying a long distance by that tail.


    red-haired used its strange fire, but wang jiao also emitted flashes from its horns before forcefully spraying out a huge amount of water. the water was clearly extraordinary too, rendering red-haired¡¯s strange fire comparatively less effective.


    the frustrated red-haired was about to employ the primordial magnet seal, but at that moment, wang jiao began to run away.


    "stop!" lin shiming, seeing that the two were about to tear apart the cave heaven world, hastily intervened. he took a quick look around, thankful that the spirit plant areas, such as the tree of heavenly spirit fruits and other small divine skills, were safe due to the formations he had set up; no destruction had occurred.


    otherwise, he would have had to slay both beasts that day.


    upon hearing lin shiming¡¯s cold shout, red-haired immediately started wailing in protest.


    the expression seemed to convey to lin shiming that this horned python was too much of a bandit, stealing its beast nurturing pills and spirit beast meat!


    and drooling non-stop over it!


    wang jiao, too, managed to control its emotions and sent vibrations through lin shiming¡¯s mind.


    the hesitant speech was intermittent.


    "wang jiao... hungry! monkey... so dumb, but... smells good!"


    lin shiming was surprised that wang jiao could articulate its words clearly, but upon hearing them, he couldn¡¯t help but grow dark in the face.


    "from now on, in the cave heaven world, no fighting is allowed; in time, you¡¯ll get good stuff to eat!"


    lin shiming promptly started lecturing, scolding both beasts equally, showing no favoritism.


    he then took out the storage bag and again distributed beast nurturing pills and spirit beast meat to both creatures.


    wang jiao stepped to the side, neatly catching all the spirit beast meat and beast nurturing pills, while red-haired began to gulp them down frantically, stuffing its face as if afraid the feast might be snatched away again.


    lin shiming also took out some spirit beast meat for the golden winged mantis, which took its time eating.


    wang jiao dared not make a move against it, lest it be sliced in half by those sharp legs.


    after dealing with the three beasts, lin shiming then exited the room, retracting several forerunning spells, extended his divine sense outward, and noticed that lin xianzhi was already prepared next door.


    after some preparations, the two set out towards qingxuan sect.


    it was a familiar route to qingxuan sect, and they moved with great speed.


    especially when they passed the ascending immortal ladder again.


    it made lin shiming quite sentimental.


    truly, the heritage of qingxuan sect was mighty; even now, he could see the benefits of the ascending immortal ladder, although it was only effective the first time around.


    ascending the ascending immortal ladder, they could glimpse the gates of qingxuan sect, and waiting there was xie an.


    apart from lin shiming and lin xianzhi, there was another cultivator dressed in blue taoist robes who had arrived first.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi waved to xie an, and the blue-robed cultivator and xie an returned the gesture.


    clearly, this blue-robed cultivator was also a disciple of zi xuan hermit!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 262 - 249: Preaching and Calculating (Two in One, Please Subscribe)

    in an ancient courtyard suffused with the fragrance of books, wisps of tea mist rose, making the entire courtyard seem even more detached from the mortal world.


    the zi xuan hermit, clad in a purple robe, sat in a taishi chair, holding a teacup and gently sipping from it.


    his expression was rather relaxed, without a trace of furrowing brows.


    he then looked towards the front of the hall, where a group of disciples stood, offering their salutations.


    surprisingly, he nodded in response.


    the record-keeping disciples seemed somewhat surprised, but those direct disciples all had a usual demeanor.


    following that, the zi xuan hermit waved his hand, and a meditation cushion appeared and settled behind the group.


    a few direct disciples familiarly sat down, while the record-keeping disciples also settled into a meditative posture at the indication of the zi xuan hermit.


    "today, since you have all gathered, it is rare for your teacher to speak at length with you about the purple mansion..." the zi xuan hermit moistened his throat and began to speak deliberately.


    at this moment, his words were like the sound of the great dao, unhurried yet crucial, shaking one¡¯s very soul.


    the content bestowed was naturally the process of foundation establishment cultivators breaking through to the purple mansion.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi were initially shocked, but then they listened very attentively.


    although the rightful ancestor of the lin family was a purple mansion cultivator, he had established the family after leaving the sect, and neither lin xianzhi nor lin shiming had ever met this ancestor.


    the lin family also lacked the jade slips containing insights on the breakthrough to the purple mansion.


    concerning the purple mansion, they only had superficial knowledge from books, knowing of the state, but not its true form.


    immortal cultivation is inherently difficult, and it¡¯s even harder when one lacks knowledge!


    at this moment, all eleven were sitting upright with proper decorum.


    the zi xuan hermit finally spoke:


    "you must have been guessing in your hearts, why i have gathered you before the journey into the secret realm!"


    "it has been four hundred and twenty springs and autumns since i started my cultivation journey upon entering the mountains, and a hundred years ago, i became ensnared at the peak of the purple mansion, unable to make any further progress! but which cultivator doesn¡¯t envy the great dao, and who wouldn¡¯t want to become a true person? your teacher is naturally filled with reluctance!"


    "i won¡¯t deceive you; this mission requires you to retrieve for your teacher a soul summoning sword, to aid in the perfection of my sword dao and the accomplishment of the golden core path!"


    at this point, all the disciples were stunned by the zi xuan hermit¡¯s extremely direct and frank words, but each maintained a composed expression, though their eyes were clearly turbulent.


    seeing that the disciples remained silent, with an unchanging expression, the zi xuan hermit looked out of the wooden window with a hint of desolation, then turned his gaze back to his disciples.


    "of course, i am aware of the difficulties of this mission. i will bestow upon each of you the strongest sword techniques to enhance your strength!"


    "furthermore, whoever manages to bring back the soul summoning sword for your teacher, i promise they will reach the purple mansion, enjoy lifespan elixirs, and benefit from purple mansion elixirs. if it¡¯s a named disciple, i guarantee that their family will become a purple mansion family!"


    promise after promise from the zi xuan hermit lighted up the eyes of all the disciples,


    especially those like xie an, whose lifespans were nearly exhausted. even with purple mansion jade liquid, the chance of breakthrough was slim, even if they had dragon blood pills.


    after all, unless it was a fourth rank dragon blood pill, a common third rank dragon blood pill aiding a qi cultivator to break through foundation establishment was already a defiance of the heavens.


    and now, the lifespan elixirs mentioned by the zi xuan hermit were naturally different; they were capable of significantly increasing a cultivator¡¯s lifespan, and only then could someone break through to the purple mansion without worries.


    once one broke through to the purple mansion, one would jump to the status of a hermit, enjoying five hundred years of life!


    although it¡¯s still not eternal life, it¡¯s a realm that countless immortal cultivators dream of at night.


    moreover, once one reaches such a realm, who can say for certain there is no chance to break through the golden core, with the prospect of a thousand years of life within reach!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 263 - 249: Preaching and Calculating (Two in One, Subscription Requested)_2

    ```


    "may i contribute every bit of my meager strength to my master!" with chen daoyuan¡¯s loud exclamation, all the disciples oathed together.


    zi xuan hermit nodded his head in satisfaction, waved his large hand, and forthwith, eleven storage bags flew out.


    they landed right before everyone¡¯s eyes.


    "inside these storage bags are the sword techniques i have prepared for you, which must not be revealed to anyone by any means. this is the secret of our heavenly sword peak that shall not be passed on. violators! i will execute them on the spot, even if they flee to the ends of the zhao kingdom!"


    "additionally, inside the storage bags, each person will have three drops of hundred-year spirit milk and one supreme grade third rank offensive spirit talisman. these are what i have prepared for you, in hopes of your smooth journey. as for any other gains, i will guarantee that you can keep fifty percent!"


    "thank you, master, for your generous gift!" the group of disciples shouted once again.


    all could hardly conceal their excitement.


    having been gifted hundred-year spirit milk, supreme grade offensive spirit talismans, and sword techniques, and finally securing the right to keep fifty percent of their gains!


    it is well known that qingxuan sect¡¯s tradition for entering the secret realm is to only keep thirty percent, and from that thirty percent, if there are items required by the sect, one must accept the sect¡¯s forced overpricing to purchase them!


    now that zi xuan hermit has granted them this privilege, it means that even if they find an elixir that can break through to the purple mansion realm or magical treasures within the qingxuan sect and they have excess, they can keep it for themselves!


    this is especially significant for those nominal disciples who can even bring their treasures back to their families!


    at this moment, the joy of everyone had even obscured the danger involved in acquiring the soul summoning sword by a great deal!


    zi xuan hermit raised his hands and then pressed them down slightly, signaling everyone to calm their emotions.


    he then continued to speak:


    "the information about the myriad swords tomb has already been relayed to your brother chen daoyuan. his strength is definitely in the top ten among those participating in the secret realm. moreover, he has a war treasure ship, which is capable of battle even against a purple mansion great demon!"


    "but what i hope most is that all of you return victorious!"


    after finishing speaking, zi xuan hermit took out another pot of spiritual tea. this time, it was not the purple cloud tea, but a superior grade third rank spiritual tea, which he offered to everyone as a toast.


    after consuming a cup of spiritual tea, the surging spiritual energy was just like the disciples¡¯ determination!


    zi xuan hermit nodded with satisfaction, waved his embroidered robe again, and had everyone leave.


    zi xuan hermit had already prepared rooms for them, and everyone had sufficient time to cultivate the sword techniques.


    before the commencement of the secret realm, they all had to stay here and cultivate the sword techniques.


    after everyone had left, zi xuan hermit also flew to the peak above.


    heavenly sword peak is the second-highest peak of the qingxuan sect, second only to shen ji peak.


    where the mountain touches the clouds, above the clouds, a white-bearded old cultivator was meditating in the void.


    he was not cultivating, just gazing at the mountains, the water, the clouds!


    the mountain is also the sword, the water is the sword, and the clouds are the sword!


    "master!" zi xuan hermit greeted with a bow.


    "is everything arranged properly?" the old man continued to speak while looking at the clouds.


    "yes, everything is in order, though i have not interfered with uncle shen ji¡¯s plans!"


    but with chen daoyuan present, who could truly stay away from the myriad swords tomb? beneath the war treasure ship, they couldn¡¯t believe they would possess true purple mansion combat power!


    his mind suddenly recalled a multitude of disciples, and he realized fiercely that, not counting his ten disciples, there were two cultivators each for the five elements sword techniques of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.


    his seventh great-uncle practiced the green lotus sword intent, which is of the water attribute; xie an possessed the fiery sword intent, and that chen daoyuan the geng metal sword intent!


    as for himself, he possessed the sword intent of grass, but he knew that among the remaining disciples, there were definitely two practicing the sword intent of grass!


    this too was the wood attribute sword intent, and there was also earth attribute sword intent!


    lin shiming¡¯s mind was flooded with thoughts, yet he was simultaneously filled with trepidation.


    the soul summoning swords naturally had attributes too, and the zi xuan hermit was not just looking to take away a single soul summoning sword!


    rather, he aimed to take an entire set of five elements soul summoning swords!


    and possibly even more!!


    all of them were to be sword sheaths!


    the difference was that they all had room for error!


    of course, chen daoyuan might be an exception, as he was zi xuan hermit¡¯s true confidant.


    only, shiming couldn¡¯t understand why, if zi xuan hermit treated them this way, he would then put up an act of preaching to them.


    he had also looked after the lin family quite well in the past!


    at this moment, he naturally didn¡¯t dare to cultivate the sword imbuement technique, but if he didn¡¯t, the zi xuan hermit would surely see through him.


    moreover, he also had to think about how to inform his seventh great-uncle.


    as for xie an, he couldn¡¯t even afford to worry about him at the moment.


    furthermore, he was unclear whether xie an was also a confidant of the zi xuan hermit.


    bear in mind that on the day when old chen the demon said there was something wrong with lin xianzhi¡¯s cultivation technique, the other party was also fuming.


    but the cultivation techniques given to the various nominal disciples by the qingxuan sect did indeed all have flaws.


    the terrifying thing was that, even with flawed cultivation techniques, a group of nominal disciples could still cultivate to the peak strength of the foundation establishment stage!


    this also indicated that the one who modified the cultivation techniques was definitely not at the purple mansion level, and might even be one of the true persons from the qingxuan sect.


    the qingxuan sect had four true persons in total: shen ji true person from shen ji peak, heavenly sword true person from heavenly sword peak, profound sword true person, and beyond that, qing ling true person from the overpowering peak. as for whether there were other true persons, that was the qingxuan sect¡¯s secret, and he had no way of knowing.


    but the most likely one was still shen ji true person.


    this was the only cultivator even the demon kings of the qingyun mountain range feared greatly, and he was also the sole cultivator who had reached the great perfection of the golden core stage.


    in that moment, lin shiming thought of much, but the clues were simply too scarce.


    his expression grew more anxious. this journey to the secret realm had escalated far beyond the schemes of foundation establishment cultivators, definitely rising up to the strife between purple mansion cultivators and the confrontation with golden core true persons!


    with so many war treasure ships, and the gifted replicas of the shen ji tower, the tri-colored robes...


    the unease in lin shiming¡¯s heart grew, and he knew he needed to be even more cautious and strategic!


    of course, he had to overcome the challenge before him.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 264 - 250: Response and Opening of the Secret Realm (Two in One)

    ten days flashed by in the blink of an eye, and lin shiming opened his eyes to grasp a spirit talisman in his hand.


    he rose from the meditation mat with a sigh and walked to the grand hall where they had previously gathered.


    on the nanmu table in front of the hall, the teapot was still steaming hot, and the aroma of tea permeated the air.


    the zi xuan hermit sat in the taishi chair, eyes closed in meditation, letting the wisps of rising tea mist obscure half of his face.


    with a wave of the zi xuan hermit¡¯s hand, another meditation mat appeared behind the group of disciples.


    the disciples, respectful and reverent, bowed and began to display their mastery of the sword imbuement technique.


    lin shiming was no exception. despite his best efforts, he hadn¡¯t found a solution and could only proceed slowly with his practice, dividing his time between focusing seventy percent on cultivating his divine sense and thirty percent on the sword imbuement technique, resulting in much slower progress than the others.


    one must know that he wasn¡¯t naturally gifted in swordsmanship; even after cultivating the sword intent on the dao enlightenment platform, he still hadn¡¯t reached the realm of sword light transformation.


    it wasn¡¯t until he returned to his family and received system prompts and the root of extrapolation that he managed to cultivate sword light transformation.


    during these ten days, the system¡¯s prompts appeared frequently, teaching him how to practice the sword imbuement technique, but he ignored them all, immersing himself in tough practice and also cultivating the split spirit decision.


    the slow progress was the only thing that gave him a bit of peace of mind.


    however, the summons from the zi xuan hermit had once again caused his heart to soar with anxiety.


    in front of the hall, streaks of sword light began to condense as each cultivator took out a supreme grade magic sword to demonstrate the fruits of their training with the sword imbuement technique before the zi xuan hermit.


    now and then, the zi xuan hermit glanced at a certain disciple, offering guidance in just a few words.


    at this moment, as the cultivators revealed their power, it turned out just as lin shiming had guessed: chen daoyuan was practicing a metal-attribute sword technique, while xie an was practicing a fire-attribute sword technique.


    ye yongchang was practicing a wood-attribute sword technique, similar to the grass sword art, and ye changqing was practicing a rare earth-attribute sword technique, each with their sword light already formed.


    lin shiming¡¯s suspicions were confirmed; the zi xuan hermit didn¡¯t summon so many cultivators to compete for treasure in the secret realm but to use them to attract the soul summoning sword. therefore, even though the earlier lin xianzhi was old and weary, it didn¡¯t really matter.


    as if aware of lin shiming¡¯s confusion, the zi xuan hermit spoke up:


    "when you reach a higher realm, you will realize that cultivation is about oneself, the heart, and the dao, not external objects!"


    without wanting to say more, the zi xuan hermit tossed a meditation mat to lin shiming.


    then he had lin shiming practice the sword imbuement technique, gradually providing guidance.


    lin shiming seemed to struggle as he nurtured his sword, causing the zi xuan hermit to frown involuntarily.


    the zi xuan hermit was well aware that lin shiming was at the foundation establishment middle stage.


    seeing the zi xuan hermit¡¯s reaction, lin shiming felt slightly more at ease.


    at least, he didn¡¯t know about his three spirit platforms.


    and just then, the system prompt appeared again:


    "use the spirit platform bound to the cave heaven world to cultivate the sword imbuement technique, with the secret technique to conceal the spirit platform!"


    lin shiming was instantly overjoyed, almost unable to hide his excitement.


    moreover, he suddenly remembered that his first secondary spirit platform was connected to the cave heaven world and could infuse true yuan from the spirit platform into the cave heaven world.


    if he nurtured the sword with this spirit platform, he might be able to transfer the sword imbuement secret technique into the cave heaven world.


    this technique should not really be called the sword imbuement technique, but rather a sword imbuement secret technique, targeting the spirit platform.


    if all the true yuan of the spirit platform were drawn into the cave heaven world, then those soul summoning swords would naturally not be able to detect it.


    and with the system¡¯s prompts, he was curious whether successfully mastering the sword imbuement technique and binding it with the cave heaven world could make this cave heaven world nurture a sword for him!


    at this moment, lin shiming¡¯s thoughts became more agile, but he did not dare to try; the person in front of him was at the purple mansion peak realm. if he were to detect the cave heaven world, then there might not even be a need to go to the secret realm.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 265 - 250: Response and Opening of the Secret Realm (Two in One)_2

    ```


    with a solution at hand, lin shiming began to seriously cultivate the sword imbuement technique.


    and with the guidance of the zi xuan hermit.


    another ten days passed, and his mastery of the sword imbuement technique was so swift that he no longer needed the system prompts for cultivation.


    he could now store the supreme grade magical sword, the zilai sword, within his spirit platform to nurture it.


    this marvelous ability made him marvel at the profound foundation of qingxuan sect; such secret arts might easily turn into mere sheaths for swords, but the boost to one¡¯s strength was terrifying.


    magical treasures are feared because they can be internalized and nurtured within the purple mansion, and even an ordinary magical treasure, after being nurtured by a cultivator with a purple mansion for three to four hundred years, might become infinitely powerful.


    in a sense, the quality of a magical treasure only represents its lower limit.


    having successfully cultivated the sword imbuement technique, the zi xuan hermit waved lin shiming away.


    as lin shiming departed, unknown to him, the zi xuan hermit watched his retreating figure for a long time before turning his gaze back to the sandalwood burner.


    he cast a spirit art.


    the wisps of smoke from the sandalwood burner dreamily revealed lin shiming¡¯s form within the smoke.


    within the smoke, lin shiming was practicing the sword imbuement technique, full of flaws, his understanding of the sword dao utterly fragmented.


    but under his guidance, lin shiming slowly improved, and now, lin shiming¡¯s expression also became the object of his observation.


    however, whether in terms of his swordsmanship or his expression, aside from being a bit tense and even secretly delighted at first, lin shiming performed extremely smoothly later on.


    and as he continued to cultivate the sword imbuement technique, his tension quickly turned to joy.


    it was unlike what the hermit had speculated¡ªhe did not hold back at all.


    as for his understanding of the sword dao, it was not reserved but always within a certain standard.


    very poor!


    it was just unknown why there was an anomaly on the ninth leaf dao enlightenment stage.


    the zi xuan hermit finally breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand, and stored the remaining sandalwood in his storage bag like nothing had happened. then, he took out a mirror.


    the other ten disciples, after cultivating, continued to meditate and recuperate.


    on the other hand, lin shiming, who had returned to his room, was still cultivating the sword imbuement technique.


    as for lin xianzhi, he had already thought of a proper way to handle things; cultivating the sword imbuement technique would later enhance the strength of his uncle ancestor.


    so naturally, there was no reason not to continue cultivating this sword technique.


    it was just unfortunate that the zi xuan hermit had them swear an oath on the heavenly dao, otherwise, passing it to the lin family disciples would also allow cultivators like lin shijie to substantially increase their strength.


    before the qing zhu hermit could speak, a teasing voice came from the sky.


    next was a giant sword, tens of feet in length, bringing with it the disciples of the wanjian sect, cutting through the sky.


    the disciples of the wanjian sect were even easier to recognize, with each carrying a large broadsword on their back.


    "old sword geezer, i¡¯ve been keeping a coffin ready for you, just waiting for the day you¡¯re free to occupy it!" retorted the gaunt xue shi hermit, eyes rolling in their slightly sunken sockets, showing no courtesy whatsoever.


    the atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if swords were drawn and bows were pulled. the exploration of the secret realm had not yet begun, but these purple mansion cultivators were already looking askance at each other.


    the spirit talisman sect and the spirit beast sect had a distaste for the heavenly demon sect, while the wanjian sect eyed the corpse refining sect with mutual enmity.


    it was only natural for the four righteous sects to band together, unified in enmity against the heavenly demon sect and the corpse refining sect.


    had it not been for the latter¡¯s launching of a war, forcibly claiming a territory in the zhao kingdom, and then insisting on participating in the secret realm exploration on the grounds of being fellow cultivators of the zhao kingdom.


    this turned what should have been a division of the secret realm¡¯s treasures among the three sects into a six-sect affair.


    how could the spirit talisman sect and the spirit beast sect accept this?


    meanwhile, the wanjian sect had already taken the side of the three sects of the zhao kingdom, naturally unable to stay out of the matter concerning the secret realm!


    "do you all really want to make a mockery in front of your own masters and seniors?" the qing zhu hermit shouted coldly.


    on hearing this, the faces of the others immediately tightened as their gazes turned towards the qing zhu hermit.


    they all knew that the golden core true persons were watching; it¡¯s just that the old enemies had been at odds not just for a day or two.


    since they couldn¡¯t fight to the death, meeting one another invariably meant a confrontation was unavoidable.


    especially with these demon cultivators from the heavenly demon sect and the corpse refining sect, one coveting the cultivators¡¯ corpses, the other eyeing the cultivators¡¯ divine souls!


    it practically made all the righteous cultivators of the world want to eradicate them completely!


    "this time the secret realm is the qingxuan secret realm, which also leads to a small world. our qingxuan sect has always believed that treasures should belong to the worthy, which is why we¡¯ve invited all parties. it is not an invitation to a debate over the dao!"


    "as expected of the qingxuan sect, you do talk a good game!" before the qing zhu hermit could finish, the shamo hermit sneered.


    then, without waiting for the qingxuan hermit to speak, he glanced at the xue shi hermit and shouted sternly:


    "the secret realm is a treasure of the zhao kingdom, and it¡¯s not just your sect that belongs here!"


    "since it is the zhao kingdom¡¯s secret realm, even if your qingxuan sect doesn¡¯t allow it, you still must!"


    "right, it must be allowed, otherwise, let¡¯s all not enter. let¡¯s have a battle first; i¡¯ve brought plenty of coffins!" seeing this, the xue shi hermit also had a glint in his eyes, staring down the several righteous purple mansion cultivators.


    "hmph, such bandit behavior, also worthy of being called subjects of zhao kingdom?" the golden light hermit also expressed his extreme dissatisfaction.


    "whether it¡¯s worthy or not, it¡¯s not for you to decide. since the golden core seniors have already agreed, both our heavenly demon sect and corpse refining sect can enter just the same!" the voice of the shamo hermit continued to emanate from within the demonic fog.


    neither the black jiao hermit nor the golden light hermit spoke again.


    "you may participate, but there are three rules to abide by. anyone who dares to damage even a single flower or a tree on qingxuan mountain will be executed on the spot!" the qing zhu hermit spoke again!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 266 - 251 Tips and Layout (Two-in-One)

    behind qingxuan mountain lay the continuous mountain range.


    although the height of these mountains paled in comparison to that of qingxuan mountain, their numbers were plentiful.


    this was also where most foundation establishment cultivators of the qingxuan sect built their cave abodes.


    within the sprawling range, a valley nestled.


    in the valley, a small lake reflected the surrounding mountains and ravines.


    green hills and clear waters created an exceptionally tranquil scene.


    the war treasure ship of the qingxuan sect led the way, followed by cultivators from the other five major sects.


    as the group of cultivators arrived, with a flick of the qing zhu hermit¡¯s hand, a golden token flew out and instantly hovered above bi lake.


    instantly, the water surged tumultuously, as if opening a rift in the lake and splitting the mountains, a spectacular sight to behold!


    the bi lake disappeared, revealing a grey spirit platform underneath.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi both felt a powerful shock in their hearts.


    the spirit platform before them, wasn¡¯t it the very transmission formation found in the lin family?


    however, in comparison with the lin family¡¯s transmission formation, the one before them was larger and more profoundly mysterious.


    the entire extent of the transmission formation was comparable to the size of the lake before.


    from a distance, its imposing presence was vast and magnificent!


    upon closer inspection, one would find meticulously complex spirit patterns and various extraordinary iron stones and rare ores.


    the outlined restriction formations interconnected into dense and numerous circles, as complicated as the vast starry sky.


    even the platforms used for storing spirit energy featured as many as twelve slots!


    furthermore, each slot on these storage platforms was much larger than those in the lin family¡¯s transmission formation, presumably capable of holding hundreds of superior grade spirit stones!


    they were affiliated with the heavenly cloud hermit of shen ji peak, and the heavenly cloud hermit had good relations with the zi xuan hermit. as a result, bu qingyun, the top disciple of the heavenly cloud hermit, also had a good relationship with chen daoyuan.


    the two also exchanged greetings and discussed alliance strategies within the minor world.


    qian bosheng also kindly signaled to lin shiming and lin xianzhi of the lin family.


    behind him, qian yongfu maintained a calm expression, but the corners of his mouth couldn¡¯t help revealing a slight smile.


    however, it was at this moment that the system¡¯s prompt sounded.


    "follow the qian family cultivators, and you will discover an ancient stalactite cave of a thousand years!" lin shiming stood there, dumbfounded.


    he hadn¡¯t expected that the approach of qian family cultivators would bring them a hint.


    and this hint, about a thousand-year-old stalactite cave, could produce thousand-year spiritual milk.


    if they had this spiritual milk, even if they engaged in fierce combat within the secret realm, they could continuously restore their true yuan, maintaining enduring combat capabilities.


    especially since his grass sword art could deplete most of his true yuan with a single strike,


    even with his three spirit platforms, it still wouldn¡¯t withstand such consumption!


    but with this thousand-year spiritual milk, his combat power would definitely become much stronger.


    lin shiming narrowed his eyes at qian yongfu, finally understanding why qian yongfu could have such formidable physical feedback.


    the only hesitation he had was how to follow the qian family, which was a significant dilemma.


    "shiming?" lin xianzhi noticed the change in lin shiming¡¯s expression and couldn¡¯t help but speak.


    "seventh great uncle, do you have a way to track them?" lin shiming immediately transmitted his divine sense, asking lin xianzhi.


    he might not have a way to track them, but it didn¡¯t mean that his scheming seventh great uncle couldn¡¯t.


    "i can!" the seventh great uncle grasped the situation instantly and gave lin shiming a pleasant surprise. with a slight upturn of his mouth, something minuscule seemed to fly out of his sleeve.


    it was invisible to the naked eye, undetectable by divine sense; had one not been watching lin xianzhi closely, they would never have noticed.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 267 - 251: Hints and Layout (Two in One)_2

    this scene felt familiar to lin shiming!


    wasn¡¯t this li chengzhi¡¯s spirit exquisite insect gu?


    at the time of that tracking, even his seventh great uncle couldn¡¯t detect it, and now qian bosheng and the others had also brought a junior who was in the foundation establishment middle stage with them.


    lin xianzhi had obviously already used the gu to track the junior at the foundation establishment middle stage.


    li chengzhi was killed by lin xianzhi back then, it seemed that the method to cultivate the spirit exquisite insect gu had also been taken by lin xianzhi!


    lin shiming¡¯s heart was suddenly filled with confidence!


    of course, for him, today¡¯s hints had also been exhausted; this signified that he would no longer have any danger-preemptive hints for the day.


    after another half a breath, all the cultivators needed for the secret realm expedition had ascended the spirit platforms of the transmission formation.


    "fellow daoists, each of you take charge of two spirit platforms!" qing zhu hermit was the first to approach the two spirit storage platforms in the due north, taking out as many as one hundred and ninety-eight superior grade spirit stones.


    the dazzling spiritual energy shone like brilliant stars, and the spirit light that radiated was as if it had reached its utmost concentration!


    the next moment, each spirit storage platform was filled with exactly ninety-nine superior grade spirit stones.


    the abundant surge of spiritual energy caused all the foundation establishment cultivators present to involuntarily take a few extra breaths.


    "qing zhu, aren¡¯t the superior grade spirit stones you placed a bit too many? your qingxuan sect has a large appetite, eh!" the hermit of the slaying demon spoke with some displeasure.


    beside him, the blood corpse hermit¡¯s eyebrows also furrowed slightly.


    however, the well-prepared spirit beast sect and spirit talisman sect both likewise produced one hundred and ninety-eight superior grade spirit stones each.


    the ancient sword hermit from the wanjian sect glanced over and then took out one hundred and ninety-eight superior grade spirit stones as well.


    since the spirit beast sect and spirit talisman sect remained silent, naturally, they would not step forward at this moment.


    qing zhu hermit did not even respond, just watching the spirit light spread across the spirit storage platforms, one spirit pattern after another lighting up, as a terrifying spatial aura slowly began to converge.


    when the slaying demon hermit and blood corpse hermit saw that qing zhu hermit did not reply, their faces turned the color of iron, but they still waved their hands and their group of cultivators entered the transmission formation.


    and simultaneously took out the same quantity of superior grade spirit stones.


    as soon as all the superior grade spirit stones were in place, the sky filled with a white light that covered the entire transmission formation.


    the next moment, the white light shot towards the heavens, the terrifying ruckus made the whole valley roar with noise, and cracks appeared in the void, only to disappear again.


    qing zhu hermit saw that the formation was operating smoothly, and a sigh of relief escaped his heart.


    he turned slightly, waving his hand, and the formation¡¯s coverage closed up.


    in front of him, the transmission formation once again became a pond with rippling green waves.


    the transmission formation had vanished without a trace.


    had it not been for the wide-open space left by the large gathering of cultivators, now reduced to a few nascent souls, one might have never believed that just moments before, there were thousands of foundation establishment cultivators gathered here.


    ...


    an underground cave dwelling.


    liu he true person, sea demon true person, heavenly corpse true person, nether corpse true person, and other demon cultivator true persons sat in silent meditation.


    atop qingxuan mountain, profound sword true person, heavenly sword true person, shen ji true person, and qing ling true person gathered together.


    in their hands, they each held a spirit flag.


    and in the center of the spirit flags, there was a huge demon slaying tower.


    the demon slaying tower also released dazzling light, and in the next moment, the tower emitted countless trails of green smoke.


    the green smoke billowed, and the true persons also performed spirit arts once again.


    suddenly, in front of them, a massive screen was outlined.


    inside the screen, one could easily see a gigantic secret realm world, and cultivators like lin shiming, who had entered the secret realm, appeared like mirages, scene by scene unfolding on this mountaintop.


    especially a heavenly demon sect cultivator, now holding a tower and wearing three-colored spirit armor, appeared in the eyes of the true persons as if they were targeted, allowing them to switch views at will and see every detail.


    at the same time, there were several war treasure ships.


    each war treasure ship was a point of light, and most of the weapons exchanged inside the demon slaying tower previously also bore points of light.


    these various magical treasures had been marked by the demon slaying tower long before being taken out of qingxuan sect.


    "everyone, as long as we get the nascent soul technique and the spiritual medicines for forming the nascent soul, qingxuan sect will become the first nascent soul sect in the eastern domain!" shen ji true person was also somewhat excited at this moment; nearly seven to eight hundred years of planning were finally coming to fruition today!


    the other three golden core true persons also showed excitement in their expressions.


    ...


    in a lush and fragrant forest filled with birdsong and flowers, many palm-sized devouring ants scurried away.


    suddenly there was a whooshing sound in the air.


    a five-colored snake lunged out, aiming to bite at the devouring ants.


    but in the next moment, a sword light swept past, and the five-colored snake was instantly cleaved in half.


    a figure in a green robe stepped out, passing by the stone that once held the five-colored snake, casually tossing it into the cave heaven world, then moved forward to collect a cloud ganoderma.


    although this cloud ganoderma was only an intermediate grade third-rank spiritual medicine, it could be used to refine cloud ganoderma pills that aid in advancing cultivation levels and served as a secondary ingredient in many fourth rank elixirs, making it quite valuable.


    the figure in front was naturally lin shiming.


    the transmission formation was random; lin shiming had also been separated from lin xianzhi, and while looking for lin xianzhi, he managed to find a cloud ganoderma instead. to be cautious, he released devouring ants to scout the path.


    lin shiming didn¡¯t linger, he took out a jade card from his hand, glanced at it, and headed east at a swift pace.


    along the way, lin shiming saw many figures from the three sects, but all of them hurried past without stopping, and they began to form alliances.


    three hours later, lin shiming finally found lin xianzhi huddled at the base of a cliff.


    the latter brightened up upon seeing lin shiming, and the grandfather and grandson being together meant they could look out for each other.


    what lin shiming didn¡¯t expect was that a grey spirit seeking mouse suddenly burrowed out of the ground.


    "there must be treasures ahead!" lin xianzhi exclaimed.


    lin shiming watched as the spirit seeking mouse swallowed a beast nurturing pill from lin xianzhi¡¯s hand, feeling joy in his heart.


    as someone with system prompts, he regarded the spirit seeking mouse used for treasure hunting as invaluable.


    but at this moment, it was proving to be particularly useful!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 268 - 252: The Mysterious Black Fish and the Lurking Warning (2 in 1)

    at the edge of the cliff, a spirit-absorbing ant as usual flew at the forefront.


    heading downward toward the cliff base.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi were also riding their flying swords, cautiously following behind.


    below the cliff was a dark river.


    in the middle of the cliff, a twisted peach tree grew out from the rock face.


    the tree was not large, just about the size of an ordinary mundane peach tree.


    however, its roots were exceptionally thick, firmly embedded into the cliff¡¯s rocks.


    on the tree, there were several crystal-clear green peaches.


    but these peaches were very large, even bigger by a third than the spirit fruits from the late second rank spirit peach tree in the lin family¡¯s peach blossom forest.


    not to mention that these peaches were obviously unripe, if they matured, they would likely grow another third larger.


    both lin shiming and lin xianzhi were overjoyed, particularly when they felt the enormous spiritual power of the peaches, a kind of power they had only experienced with the water spirit coconuts on the lin family¡¯s shuangmu island.


    "a third rank spirit peach tree!" lin shiming couldn¡¯t help but break into an ecstatic smile.


    the spirit-absorbing ant continued to fly forward, shimmering with starry brilliance, but out of nowhere, a grey mantis on the tree fiercely slashed at the ant.


    this grey mantis was a mid-third rank demonic beast.


    its color was similar to the stones, hiding next to them motionless, making it extremely deceptive!


    snap!


    the mantis¡¯s sickle-like limbs struck the ant¡¯s hard shell, sending the ant flying.


    it also left him feeling helpless; his identity as a spirit plant master had remained at the late second rank stage.


    and at this moment, it was not suitable for a lengthy transplantation; he had no choice but to act like a loose cultivator and force the transplanted tree away.


    "by the way, shiming, why were we following the qian family earlier?" lin xianzhi spoke up again with his doubts.


    it was not appropriate to ask in front of so many people outside, but now that it was just the two of them, it was the best time to inquire; otherwise, once they entered the miniature world and chen daoyuan started recruiting them to control the war treasure ship together, there would be no opportunity to ask.


    "the nurturing spirit milk plotted by the qian family was obtained from within this secret realm, and with a high probability, it¡¯s in that miniature world!" lin shiming said, based on the system¡¯s hints, making the most reasonable speculation.


    this small secret realm had been under qingxuan sect¡¯s control for quite some time. if there were any treasures within a profound grade secret realm, the qingxuan sect would have already cleared it out, just like how the lin family¡¯s yellow grade secret realm had a wood sprite transplanted out of it; one could imagine the situation.


    on the contrary, the miniature world had only merged with this secret realm once!


    and the qian family, an old and prominent clan in yunzhou with backers in the qingxuan sect, had likely participated in the last exploration of the secret realm, which was entirely possible.


    and lin xianzhi suddenly understood and nodded.


    "no wonder the qian family¡¯s few cultivators were moving in circles, seemingly searching for people, but changing directions erratically, and not meeting up with other cultivators. instead, they seemed more like they were checking if anyone was following them!"


    moreover, generally speaking, the dangers within a profound grade secret realm were not too much for these cultivators. in this secret realm, aside from encountering demon cultivators, most cultivators would naturally want to scour it at least once.


    of course, it¡¯s highly likely that there wouldn¡¯t be any precious treasures left, as the qingxuan sect wouldn¡¯t leave anything like heavenly spirit fruit, taiqing purple jade fruit, or zi xuan precious jade in this small secret realm.


    the qian family¡¯s actions were naturally quite suspicious.


    "let¡¯s wait a couple of days before we approach them again. right now, they are extremely cautious!" lin xianzhi suggested.


    lin shiming agreed, but as he looked down at the dark river below, he suddenly felt the urge to explore it.


    lakes and dark rivers within a secret realm were indeed places where treasures converged.


    moreover, they currently lacked a specific objective, so it was a good opportunity to explore thoroughly.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 269 - 252: The Mysterious Black Fish and the Lurking Warning (2 in 1)_2

    his divine sense probed into the dark river, and the next moment, he felt a surge within.


    it was actually a black fish swimming by.


    most importantly, the black fish was emitting a strange fragrance, and wang jiao, in his spirit beast bag and with whom he shared a psychic link, started frantically transmitting messages to him.


    "want to eat!"


    "want to eat!"


    because he had to prevent the cave heaven world from being discovered, he had put all three spirit beasts into the spirit beast bag so they could be of help at any moment!


    lin shiming¡¯s spirit instantly rallied; this wasn¡¯t the first time wang jiao had been so eager. the last time it had shown such urgency was for the delicious ¡¯stone¡¯ on his body!


    he immediately ordered the devouring ant to continue flying down and scope out the path beneath.


    however, as soon as the devouring ant reached the surface of the dark river,


    another black fish suddenly leaped out, attempting to swallow the devouring ant.


    but in the next moment, the devouring ant¡¯s sharp teeth gaped wide.


    it¡¯s worth mentioning that the devouring ant, having devoured the wind-fire star sand, was only a peak second rank demonic beast, yet it could fight with third rank demonic beasts. if eighty-one ants attacked together, even an ordinary third rank early-stage demonic beast would only end up being devoured.


    "a second rank supreme grade spirit fish?" lin shiming was also taken aback, but feeling that odd fragrance, he suddenly grew very interested in the black fish.


    it wasn¡¯t just wang jiao¡¯s fondness¡ª if this black fish also tasted as excellent, it could be used to bolster the reputation of the lin family restaurant.


    moreover, lin xianzhi was currently cultivating the renshui geng metal art and was extremely adept with water attributes.


    catching a few second rank spirit fish was truly too easy!


    lin xianzhi¡¯s interest soared as well, and his green lotus sword immediately flew out, creating giant waves that captured the black fragrant fish and lifted it into the air.


    meanwhile, lin shiming took out a monster binding ring and bound the black spirit fish tightly.


    the bulging storage bag began to shake.


    wang jiao¡¯s temperament had also become increasingly urgent!


    it kept pleading in lin shiming¡¯s mind.


    "behave, let¡¯s study it first!" lin shiming warned the latter, and because of the soul contract, wang jiao had no choice but to stop, though it continued to plead softly without end.


    he withdrew the zilai sword and with one stroke, cut off a small portion of the black fish. instantly, he felt a vast surge of vigor¡ªas the flesh of the black spirit fish was clearly very nourishing.


    by then, even the red-haired and golden wing had started to squeal and cry out.


    although neither could speak, their continuous snorting and whining showed no signs of stopping.


    but he had finally understood why these spirit beasts were reacting so strongly.


    this rich, vigorous flesh could greatly enhance their physical strength and accelerate their growth. body cultivators would be extremely fond of it as well.


    while it couldn¡¯t compare to treasures with powerful vital essences like dragon blood grass or dragon beast meat, the spirit fish still emitted an extremely enticing fragrance.


    the system alert in lin shiming¡¯s mind, just as he had expected, arrived on time.


    however, the next moment, it gave him quite a scare.


    "please conceal all treasures obtained from the heavenly demon sect in your storage bag to avoid the surveillance of golden core true persons, zilai sword, star wood shield...!"


    lin shiming¡¯s heart trembled violently. this new alert was not about the treasures under the dark river, nor a preview of future treasures.


    instead, it was a warning of the golden core true persons¡¯ surveillance!


    in an instant, lin shiming thought about his actions over the past day.


    if a golden core true person wished to see, they would have seen everything, and how terrifying that scenario would have been.


    he also felt a sense of relief that he had not opened the cave heaven world to enter or exit; if the existence of the cave heaven world became known, there would be no place for him in the entire eastern domain!


    having struggled in the cultivation world for many years, he knew all too well the dangers of holding a precious secret.


    contrarily, extracting that third rank spirit tree didn¡¯t seem like much at all.


    moreover, contemplating those magic artifacts, he was more worried that many of the treasures exchanged at the heavenly river city¡¯s demon-slaying building were under surveillance.


    this meant that the qingxuan sect¡¯s layout spanned over a decade!


    through war, they awarded these treasures to numerous foundation establishment cultivators, all under the guise of legitimacy.


    the cultivators from the heavenly demon sect and corpse refining sect probably also seized many such items!


    for a while, lin shiming was so shocked by the qingxuan sect¡¯s scheming that he couldn¡¯t calm himself.


    just yesterday, he had considered releasing wang jiao to explore the underground, but if he had done so, he would probably have been sought out by purple mansion cultivators as soon as he emerged.


    it should be noted that even the spirit beast sect had only one black jiao hermit who possessed a jiao-type spirit beast, but that spirit beast was merely a mixed-breed.


    after some thought, lin shiming forced himself to calm down.


    the schemes of those golden core true persons were not about a mere small foundation establishment cultivator like him.


    it was just that he had already entered their game, and he believed that as long as he didn¡¯t act recklessly, he would not catch the eyes of those golden core true persons.


    lin shiming took out an intermediate grade spirit stone and began to recover his true yuan.


    he also put away the zilai sword, followed by the star wood shield, and put them all into his storage bag.


    he did this sequentially, refraining from stowing everything away at once.


    at the same time, he sent a telepathic message to lin xianzhi.


    fortunately, his seventh great-uncle was accustomed to using the green lotus sword, and the magic sword gifted by zi xuan hermit had not been taken out.


    upon being reminded by lin shiming, lin xianzhi also immediately thought something might have been revealed about zi xuan hermit.


    he tried to inquire through telepathic communication but found that lin shiming was not responding.


    when everything was finally put away, daylight had broken. all the magic artifacts that could be subjected to surveillance were concealed, leaving lin shiming drenched in nervous sweat!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 270 - 253 Mysterious Spirit Shell, Robbery and Murder (Two in One)

    the two emerged from the cave, and the spirit ants were still flying back and forth above the dark river.


    however, the black spirit fish were no longer to be found.


    it seemed that the number of black spirit fish in the entire dark river had hit rock bottom.


    lin xianzhi looked at lin shiming, clearly wanting to know why he had put away those magic artifacts.


    two of those artifacts were given by the zi xuan hermit, and both could use the sword imbuement technique.


    lin xianzhi¡¯s face was full of questions, but lin shiming did not directly explain.


    furthermore, at that moment, he also noticed that the horned python in his spirit beast bag had become extremely eager again, as if it had discovered something.


    it was eager to come out.


    this emotion was one that had not even occurred when the third rank black fish had appeared before.


    the next moment, lin shiming pressed his hand against the spirit beast bag.


    in an instant, a dark horned python surged out and leaped into the dark river.


    the leap was like a fish diving into the sea, a bird soaring into the blue sky, its mighty roar, although not as powerful as the flood dragon¡¯s bellow, already carried the presence of a flood dragon!


    in the blink of an eye, it dove down, vanishing without a trace.


    "is this the half flood dragon snake egg from before?" lin xianzhi, who had been the only one aware of the snake egg initially, was clearly shocked at the sight.


    five years had passed, the snake egg had hatched, and not only had it hatched, but it was also born at the early stage of the third rank.


    if it were the previous venomous horned python, it certainly couldn¡¯t have achieved this.


    lin xianzhi had only caught a glimpse before, but he had seen the bulges on wang jiao¡¯s head, the scales on its body, and the two blood sacs under its belly.


    this was clearly the appearance of a flood dragon with horns, claws, and scales.


    yet the tail, which could send a three-meter-tall red-haired demon monkey flying, couldn¡¯t move the white shell an inch; if anything, it only embedded the shell further into the grey stone.


    just then, the shell suddenly opened a gap, and thin strands of white spirit light fluff were released.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi thought it was an attack, but in the next moment, wang jiao voraciously opened its mouth wide and swallowed all the spirit light, after which it tumbled excitedly through the water as though in great delight.


    in the cave, it rolled, roaring.


    while the shell that had been embedded in stone now shone brilliantly and fled toward the entrance.


    wang jiao foolishly remained still, apparently not pursuing and seemingly caught in an illusionary realm, even the soul contract calling having no immediate response.


    lin shiming watched the scene in amazement.


    the laiyun sword slashed fiercely, sending the lamb-sized shell flying,


    however, even with his flying sword, such a slash couldn¡¯t open the shell at all.


    next to him, lin xianzhi also noticed the miraculous nature of the shell; he took out the qinglian sword, turning it into the sword qi of the green lotus.


    the blue sword qi was incredibly rich, and as the qinglian sword qi unfolded, a sword pistil now appeared.


    the sword lotus¡¯s petals slashed at the shell, creating a thunderous boom,


    yet still without a single crack forming.


    when the sword pistil from the sword lotus struck, the current grew wild and was cleaved apart, and the dark stones nearby cracked instantly.


    lin xianzhi¡¯s sword qi sharpened to a thread. although his sword dao level was slightly short of a complete sword qi thread, the power was nevertheless immeasurable.


    but even with the sharpness of sword qi striking the shell, it still didn¡¯t split open.


    next to him, wang jiao had now recovered, stretching out its large head and once again slamming its tail against the shell.


    however, the shell refused to open again and reveal the spirit light fluff from before,


    leaving wang jiao in a state of frustrated circles.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 271 - 253 Mysterious Spirit Shell, Robbery and Murder (Two in One)_2

    ```


    "uncle-great-grandfather, what kind of shell is this?" in that instant, lin shiming almost thought the shell was a purple mansion great demon.


    with the sword dao realm of him and lin xianzhi, they actually couldn¡¯t break open the shell of this spirit shell.


    lin xianzhi also frowned, clearly not recognizing what this shell was.


    but from the drifting spirit light just now, it seemed that the appearance of those black spirit fish was due to this shell-like demonic beast.


    "beads, beads!" at this moment, it was wang jiao who sent vague messages to lin shiming.


    as if inside the shell, there was some special spiritual object.


    "this shell seems not to attack, it can only attract spirit beasts by those drifting spirit light, inducing illusions on them," lin xianzhi said.


    "then let¡¯s put it away first!" lin shiming, seeing that the shell had stopped moving, also took out a spirit beast bag, intending to store the mysterious shell.


    the spirit light from the spirit beast bag covered the shell, but surprisingly, the spirit shell also emitted spirit light and in the next moment directly shattered the spirit light from the spirit beast bag.


    capturing the shell failed!


    wang jiao, who was beside them, was watching lin shiming¡¯s actions, and seeing the attempt fail, suddenly raised its tail.


    with a swoosh!


    the shell was smashed into the wall again.


    however, the spirit shell still did not open, nor did it release the same kind of fluff as before.


    seeing that the spirit beast bag couldn¡¯t capture it, lin xianzhi adopted other magic artifacts and began attacking the spirit shell one after another.


    lin shiming also called over the golden winged mantis and the red-haired demon monkey.


    the golden winged mantis¡¯ two scythe-like limbs struck the shell, but still not a single crack appeared.


    meanwhile, the red-haired demon monkey took out a primordial magnet seal and with a swing, the spirit shell clearly reacted this time.


    but in the end, it still wasn¡¯t smashed open!


    the failure of the primordial magnet seal to smash it open also gave lin shiming and lin xianzhi a headache.


    "let¡¯s forget about it!" at this point, lin xianzhi was even considering leaving.


    if the spirit shell could not be taken into the spirit beast bag, carrying it would make them the public enemy in the entire secret realm.


    "uncle-great-grandfather, let shiming try once more!" lin shiming took out a heavenly demon bag and fiercely tried to suck in the spirit shell.


    the powerful gust of wind sucked at the spirit shell, and the surface of the spirit shell also emitted a kind of spirit light again.


    however, in the next moment, lin shiming cast another spirit art.


    the spirit shell finally disappeared from sight.


    of course, it did not go into the heavenly demon bag, but rather into the cave heaven world.


    he had placed it within the same swamp where wang jiao was previously.


    incidentally, lin shiming also put away wang jiao, asking it to stay in the cave heaven world and watch over the spirit shell.


    the qinglian sword flew out, instantly killing a middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator, and the integrity of the remaining formation collapsed in the blink of an eye due to the loss of one of its base components.


    purple gold vines rose into the sky, and while the three cultivators were quick to react, above them was a sky filled with formation swords, with sword qi crisscrossing.


    below, the dense purple gold vines blocked the three people¡¯s paths of escape.


    alongside them, lin xianzhi released his qinglian sword again, evolving the sword lotus.


    the sword pistils within the cyan sword lotus, being threads of condensed sword qi, were extremely fearsome. with the dissipation of their sword light, another late-stage foundation establishment cultivator vanished.


    additionally, lin shiming¡¯s seventy-two formation swords shattered the four beast talismans, and the remaining late-stage cultivators also perished under the combined efforts of lin shiming and lin xianzhi.


    if it were five years ago, without a third auxiliary spirit platform, he couldn¡¯t have summoned so many purple wood sword formations and purple gold vines at once, but now not only had his sword intent broken through to sword light transformation, but his true yuan was also far beyond comparison to before.


    with lin xianzhi, who was half a step from condensing sword qi into threads, these assailants stood no chance, even with a formation.


    only one middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator was left, and lin shiming wanted to search his soul.


    however, he discovered that the other also had the sect¡¯s jade book from the spirit talisman sect and had to give up the idea.


    "speak, why did you attack us?" lin shiming asked coldly, interrogating the last middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator.


    the secret realm had just begun, and if it were a question of plundering, one would wait until the cultivators had obtained something of value, not start so early as now.


    this was also his point of confusion and lin xianzhi felt the same.


    "you have only one chance to answer!"


    in the sky, several spirit ants, unnoticed before, had flown onto the cultivator. their sharp teeth seemed ready to bite into him at a moment¡¯s notice.


    the remaining middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator, now bound by the monster binding ring, was completely immobilized and watched the spirit ants with extreme fear.


    regret overwhelmed him; he had thought they were just dealing with two minor family cultivators but hadn¡¯t expected lin shiming and lin xianzhi to be so powerful. not even peak-level sect disciples would be this fearsome.


    "if i speak, can you spare my life, fellow daoist?" the middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator mustered the courage to ask.


    but in the next moment, the spirit ants viciously bit down, and in a matter of seconds, a dozen spirit ants could kill a third rank water buffalo.


    the foundation establishment cultivator screamed in agony!


    yet he was unable to move due to being bound by the monster binding ring.


    "it¡¯s because the taibai sword palace emerged. it requires the taibai sword map to enter, and we four only have three maps among us!" the middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator blurted out through gritted teeth.


    "just give me a quick death!" the middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator howled in pain.


    lin shiming also quickly released his flying sword, and the four ambushing cultivators from the spirit talisman sect immediately fell.


    lin shiming frowned as he searched their storage bags and found three sheepskin treasure maps.


    and in his own storage bag, there were two more maps, while lin xianzhi also had one.


    they had both obtained them in heavenly river city and jiuye city.


    initially, these maps had even been auctioned, but because their origins couldn¡¯t be disclosed, they didn¡¯t fetch a high price.


    but neither of them had imagined that these were actually maps of the taibai sword palace within the secret realm.


    "shiming, we¡¯re in some trouble. this taibai sword sect is said to be a nascent soul sect from ten thousand years ago. the appearance of its ruins will inevitably cause blood to flow like rivers, and we¡¯ll encounter even more attacks!" lin xianzhi said, somewhat worried.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 272 - 254: Beast Token and World Tower (Combined)

    the emergence of the taibai sword sect made lin shiming and lin xianzhi feel uncertain once again.


    ever since they learned of the birth of the soul summoning sword, they had guessed that this secret realm was no minor matter.


    but they really didn¡¯t expect that an ancient site of a nascent soul sect would appear in this small world.


    under such circumstances, even the golden core true persons would be moved.


    at this moment, shiming also understood why the qingxuan sect was making such grand movements.


    moreover, judging from the reactions of the other five major sects, they definitely had many strategies at their disposal.


    if it were the qingxuan sect, that would be fine, as long as they didn¡¯t act recklessly, they could still be considered allies. but if they encountered powerful individuals from the heavenly demon sect or the corpse refining sect, all the preparations he had made might still fall short.


    what he didn¡¯t understand was, what were the qingxuan sect¡¯s intentions.


    gathering so many cultivators, along with the other five major sects, the variables at play were now greatly increased.


    how could those true persons ensure that the treasures would end up in their hands?


    even if they managed to monitor the situation, if the treasures were found on the cultivators of qingxuan sect, that would be easy¡ªthey would simply hand them over.


    if they were found with any of the other five major sects, the golden core true persons would definitely not back down.


    at that time, it wasn¡¯t guaranteed that the few golden core true persons of the qingxuan sect would be able to withstand the pressure.


    as the two speculated, they also collected the storage bags of the four individuals. to shiming¡¯s surprise, he found a jade slip amongst the four people¡¯s belongings.


    this jade slip contained the secret technique to refine third rank beast talismans.


    although the power of these beast talismans was not great and they were only second and third rank, they held significant value for the lin family, especially in the future development of shuangmu island, where they might encounter beast tides. although the lin family had been developing rapidly,


    their foundation in the four arts of pills, artifacts, formations, and talismans was still lacking.


    in this secret realm, there were many spiritual medicines not found in the outside world, and this time he had utilized his small world to transplant some precious medicine seedlings and some spirit trees, roots and all.


    xianzhi was initially puzzled, but afterwards, he started to help shiming with some simple transplanting tasks.


    neither of them knew if they would have a second chance to enter this profound grade secret realm, so they certainly treasured the opportunity!


    besides, with so many demon cultivators entering this time, if demon cultivators didn¡¯t cause some destruction, could they still be called demon cultivators?


    with such actions, their pace was not fast, but they were not worried.


    if they were beaten to the punch for the small world, so be it.


    their aim was to proceed steadily.


    along the way, they were ambushed several times, encountering cultivators from the corpse refining sect. these cultivators, relying on their spirit corpses, also intended to rob shiming and xianzhi.


    but since shiming and xianzhi could face even peak foundation establishment cultivators without fear, how could they be ambushed by these cultivators?


    instead, they made a good profit; the hard-earned belongings of several bandit cultivators all fell into their hands.


    they even acquired several supreme grade magic artifacts, but they were cautious about these newly attained artifacts, storing them in a storage bag without further attention.


    of course, they also encountered cultivators from the other three sects whose strengths were not formidable. upon seeing shiming and xianzhi, they kept their distance.


    the entire secret realm was suffused with an aura of slaughter, and everyone was on edge!


    it wasn¡¯t until the sixth day that they arrived at the world tower, neither too early nor too late.


    upon seeing the world tower, even from a hundred miles away, both could only feel their own insignificance.


    the colossal tower stood a hundred feet tall, piercing the sky, built of an unknown material, radiating spirit light, covered with spirit patterns, edged with golden nanmu wood, and adorned with dragons and phoenixes like a golden palace, exuding luxury and grandeur, vast and imposing.


    the world tower had a total of ninety-nine levels!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 273 - 254: Beast Token and World Tower (Combined) Part 2

    at the top of the tower was a dazzling spiritual pearl, shining like the sun itself.


    in front of world tower, numerous cultivators were meditating and cultivating.


    these cultivators were divided into six factions.


    the qingxuan sect cultivators in their blue daoist robes, the spirit beast sect cultivators in their brocade beast robes, the spirit talisman sect cultivators in their heavenly talisman daoist robes, the wanjian sect cultivators with heavy swords on their backs, the heavenly demon sect cultivators in black robes, brandishing their heavenly demon banners, and the cultivators from the corpse refining sect with coffins placed before them.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi arrived at the qingxuan sect¡¯s area unobtrusively.


    they soon caught sight of xie an.


    the latter, as a direct disciple of the qingxuan sect and with the strength at the peak of foundation establishment, was organizing the sect¡¯s cultivators along with a few other peak foundation establishment disciples.


    as soon as lin shiming and lin xianzhi appeared, a great many gazes fell upon them, especially on shiming, whose mid-stage foundation establishment cultivation level made him stand out markedly.


    there were even quite a few cultivators who sent him secret messages, blatantly threatening him.


    asking if he had the sword diagram from taibai sword palace.


    telling him to hand it over.


    lin shiming naturally ignored them, with the cultivators of qingxuan sect present, he truly did not believe they would make a move.


    now the six major factions, it could be said, were simply without sight of any substantive treasures; otherwise, they would have already started a fight to the death!


    add to this the fact that no one was confident, which was why things were calm, but the atmosphere was fraught with significant tension.


    "senior brother xie!" lin shiming called out to xie an as soon as he finally had a moment to spare.


    "shiming, xianzhi, you¡¯ve arrived at last. i¡¯m just about to enter the small world. why don¡¯t you join me!" xie an, too, spoke with some pleasure.


    scanning the area, lin shiming noticed that the other disciples who had accompanied zi xuan hermit that day had seemingly already entered the small world. xie an¡¯s invitation for him to come along was therefore quite normal.


    perhaps the latter also knew that this journey into the secret realm was far from simple.


    "in that case, i¡¯ll have to trouble senior brother xie!" lin shiming immediately gestured with respectful hands.


    for both of them, xie an was the most familiar.


    they had also fought together against demon cultivators before, and naturally preferred the company of an ally.


    "brother, we¡¯re new to world tower and still unclear about it. could you perhaps enlighten us?" lin shiming looked at the world tower and noticed that the cultivators entering the tower seemed to be fully armed and well-prepared, so he asked xie an.


    "shiming, this world tower is essentially a magical treasure that seals the barrier of the small world; it was even accidentally discovered by a senior brother from shen ji peak the last time, which triggered the appearance of the world tower!"


    "acting as the barrier magical treasure, world tower has become the entrance to the small world and also blocks the demonic beasts of the small world from entering this profound grade secret realm; it¡¯s a dual-seal doorway!"


    "according to the sect¡¯s elder, this small world opens only once every thirty years!"


    "in addition, world tower will also screen the cultivators entering the small world, focusing on soul age and the quality of the spirit root, as well as strength!"


    "therefore, to enter the small world, cultivators must pass through the tower; passing through nine levels grants entry, while passing through eighteen layers will earn an additional magic artifact. for every nine layers passed, another treasure can be obtained, all the way up to the entire eighty-one layers!"


    the first floor of the world tower suddenly lit up.


    it was as if the trial had begun.


    and in the direction of the spirit beast sect cultivators, several other cultivators looked on in anticipation.


    "given their age, the first floor should be a third rank mid-stage spirit beast!"


    "the second floor would be two!"


    ...


    "and so on!"


    xie an continued to explain to lin shiming.


    as expected, three streams of spirit light quickly ascended floor by floor up the tower.


    clearly, the spirit beasts they encountered were not very strong.


    they soon reached the ninth floor of the world tower.


    "shiming, you¡¯ve been cultivating for less than fifty years, haven¡¯t you?" xie an suddenly asked.


    lin shiming nodded, as this was no secret within the lin family and there was nothing for him to hide.


    "then the first floor you¡¯ll face should be a third rank early-stage demonic beast. you might try to be the second one to reach the ninety-ninth floor!" xie an said, somewhat excitedly.


    he was well aware of lin shiming¡¯s strength and knew lin shiming had several rather impressive spirit beasts.


    for the tower he would face, even at the ninety-ninth floor, he would only need to confront nine third rank late-stage demonic beasts!


    "senior brother flatters me too much. it¡¯s not that easy. if i can reach the forty-fifth floor, that would already be an achievement," lin shiming humbly replied, not seriously considering the ninety-ninth floor.


    "you really should give it a try. speaking of which, the previous cultivator who made it to the eighty-first floor was from the spirit talisman sect, and he exchanged for the shen ji tower¡¯s replica magical artifact!" xie an continued to speak, a hint of envy in his eyes.


    he was also looking forward to seeing such a cultivator emerge from the qingxuan sect.


    because of that cultivator reaching the top floor, the disciples of the spirit talisman sect had a bit of swagger.


    and given his own age, the first floor might face him with a third rank late-stage demonic beast. by the eighty-first floor, he might even encounter a purple mansion demonic beast.


    among the three cultivators from the spirit beast sect, one triggered a white light on the thirty-second floor, while the other two activated dazzling white light on the thirty-sixth floor.


    the appearance of the white light also meant that the three of them had entered the mini-world.


    as the three concluded their trial, three cultivators from the corpse refining sect stepped forward, heading toward the world tower.


    a new round of tower challenges was about to begin!


    "shiming, xianzhi, meditate for a while to recover. once you¡¯re both ready, let¡¯s attempt the tower together," xie an said.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi both nodded in agreement, especially lin shiming, whose system prompts for the day had been used up, and adjusting his state suited him perfectly!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 274 - 255: Storming the Tower, Beast Taming (Two-in-One for Subscriptions)

    the next day, early in the morning.


    with the last strand of spiritual energy entering his body, the cycle of the purple wood heart sutra came to an end, and the faint spirit light gathered around lin xianzhi¡¯s body also vanished.


    lin shiming opened his eyes and withdrew the prepared isolation formation.


    the world tower before him was still radiating bright light.


    clearly, people were still attempting to scale the tower, and what surprised shiming a bit was that someone had actually made it to the eightieth floor.


    although with a flash of light, that person ultimately did not reach the final floor to obtain the fabled token of the taibai sword palace.


    shiming looked beside him, where lin xianzhi stood vigilant.


    this half-day rest had evidently been for shiming alone, while xianzhi had been guarding outside the formation the whole time.


    "what¡¯s that?" shiming asked, looking at the tower and speaking to xianzhi.


    "it¡¯s an old senior from the spirit beast sect, but his strength, it¡¯s truly terrifying!" xianzhi spoke with a hint of admiration.


    beside them, xie an also had a face full of respect. clearly, for someone of that age to scale the tower and reach the eightieth floor, even purple mansion great demons must have appeared.


    but they were ultimately only observers from outside the tower.


    "i¡¯ve kept senior brother xie waiting for long, let¡¯s tackle it together next!" shiming said apologetically.


    "let¡¯s do it! now that you are ready, we¡¯ll take action next!" xie an nodded generously.


    at this moment, he indeed felt somewhat impatient.


    it was now the eighth day, and five days had passed since the first batch had entered the small world.


    fewer members of the six nearby great sects remained.


    those who appeared in the small world would greatly plunder the treasures within. even though there were fourth rank purple mansion great demons in the small world, many cultivators also brought their war treasure ships.


    the preciousness of fourth rank spirit boats as magical treasures lay here, for they could harness the strength of more than a dozen cultivators to achieve purple mansion combat power.


    and yet, they wouldn¡¯t be expelled by this profound grade secret realm.


    "72!"


    a surge of shock and confusion swept through shiming, and he stood rooted to the spot.


    that character, as xie an had explained, represented the revealed age.


    shiming was forty-nine!


    even counting generously, he wasn¡¯t fifty, yet the "72" that appeared only had one possible explanation: it included the age from his previous life!


    he had concealed this secret for fifty years, not expecting it to be detected in front of the world tower.


    suddenly, he recalled what xie an said about soul age!


    for a moment, he stood frozen in place, unable to calm down.


    fortunately, only he knew of this age. if xianzhi learned of it, he might worry that shiming had been overtaken.


    such cases of spirit possession were not unheard of in the cultivation world, but if it happened within the family¡¯s cultivators, xianzhi might not be able to accept it.


    the next moment, the pentagram formation started to emit a flashing light, and a spirit light projection of a third rank mid-stage sabretooth tiger rushed out towards him.


    roaring at him.


    no actual spirit beast appeared, which was somewhat unexpected for him.


    but he didn¡¯t hesitate. drawing the laiyun sword, he swiftly executed a slashing strike. the sword intent imbued with the sword light transformation slashed fiercely through the air with incredible speed and ferocity.


    fast! fierce!


    in an instant, the sabretooth tiger projection was shattered.


    the first challenge, passed!


    even he didn¡¯t expect to pass so quickly.


    but soon, he understood that the projections of the world tower were far weaker than the actual third rank mid-stage demonic beasts.


    since he had achieved sword light transformation, his strength had already reached the peak of foundation establishment, and killing this projection so easily was hardly surprising.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 275 - 255: Storming the Tower, Beast Taming (Two in One, Subscription Request)_2

    the sabretooth tiger was slashed into pieces, and behind the pentagram light formation appeared a set of stairs.


    lin shiming climbed the stairs to the second level of the world tower.


    the second level featured a split wind wolf, whose strength was obviously a notch above that of the sabretooth tiger.


    but it was still within the category of a third rank mid-stage demonic beast and was also dispatched with a single sword strike by lin shiming.


    the third level had two third rank mid-stage demonic beasts, the fourth level had two stronger ones.


    the fifth level had three!


    and so on!


    this did differ somewhat from what xie an had said. it seemed that depending on one¡¯s age and cultivation level, the number and strength of the spirit beasts would vary.


    however, fortunately for lin shiming, he had reached the point where he could instantly slay third rank mid-stage demonic beasts with his flying sword without even needing to use vines.


    after breaking through eight consecutive levels, lin shiming arrived at the ninth level.


    unlike the previous eight levels, the layout inside the ninth-level tower was clearly more profound. the wall scrolls had turned into murals, and the moonlight stones had transformed into the spirit light formation embedded within the tower.


    most importantly, the pentagram light formation before his eyes had turned into a hexagram formation.


    the next moment, as the hexagram formation lit up, a three-headed flame wolf, as large as a water buffalo, stormed out.


    the fur of the three-headed flame wolf burned continuously like flames, and within its three pairs of diamond-shaped pupils flickered a thick bloodthirst!


    to lin shiming¡¯s great surprise, this three-headed flame wolf was a real demonic beast, not the mere phantoms from before.


    its strength had also evolved from a third rank mid-stage demonic beast to a late-stage one.


    as soon as the three-headed flame wolf appeared, its three fiery-red heads let out a howl, which was so powerful that the echo lingered in the tower for a long time.


    immediately afterward, the beast opened its huge mouth, revealing its fierce fangs. spirit light converged, and the next moment, it spewed out a massive amount of flames.


    lin shiming quickly took out the rolling divine plate, and the sizable artifact blocked all the flames. following that, the divine plate started spinning rapidly.


    crack! crack! crack!


    the attack of divine sense struck directly at the soul of the three-headed flame wolf.


    this caused the beast to roar incessantly, its three huge heads spewing fire like crazy, and the temperature inside the entire tower soared to an extremely frightening level in an instant.


    meanwhile, a streak of sword light, unbeknownst to when, broke through the flames and directly decapitated two of the three-headed flame wolf¡¯s heads, leaving only the middle one.


    the entire three-headed flame wolf yelped in pain.


    and the rolling divine plate forcefully crashed down onto the three-headed flame wolf, pinning it flat to the ground.


    lin shiming¡¯s flying sword stood proudly in the air, and instead of striking again, his hands began to form one spirit art after another.


    the spirit light of the art was immensely dense and had been compressed countless times.


    finally, with a cold shout from lin shiming, a palm-sized imprint of spirit light appeared in his hand.


    it was the spirit controlling seal.


    lin shiming had only managed to throw out the rolling divine plate, but the head of the green-red python, as large as a mountain, simply smashed through the rolling divine plate.


    lin shiming had no choice but to release four sets of the purple wood profound heavenly sword formation.


    as the purple wood sword light rampaged, the python¡¯s armor-like huge head was violently thrashed around.


    with terrifying speed, along with its armor-like head, the four sword arrays began shaking uncontrollably.


    however, in the next moment, numerous purple gold vine seeds, unbeknownst to when, crawled out from the bottom of the tower, entangling the green-red python thoroughly.


    the golden spears from the spirit root shot continuously onto the scales of the green-red python, bouncing off a myriad of golden, spark-like flakes!


    meanwhile, the rolling divine plate expanded to its maximum size and furiously smashed onto the head of the green-red python.


    lin shiming then wielded the laiyun sword, infusing it with the grass sword art, and immediately a vicious scar was left on the head of the green-red python, from which blood spurted profusely.


    the split spirit decision and the shocking god drum rang out at the same time, causing the green-red python¡¯s mouth to open as wide as possible, emitting a furious and begrudged roar.


    in the next moment, lin shiming¡¯s spirit controlling seal also landed on the head of the green-red python.


    with a new seal appearing in lin shiming¡¯s sea of consciousness, it signified that he had taken control of his second late third rank demonic beast.


    and this one was even stronger than the three-headed flame wolf, with fewer injuries.


    lin shiming, with his spirit beast bag, put away the green-red python once more.


    the hexagram formation flickered again, yet what appeared this time was a red wooden table.


    there was an incense burner, as well as a piece of spirit armor magic artifact.


    the spirit armor magic artifact was merely of superior grade third rank, which to lin shiming was only average, leaving him somewhat disappointed.


    it couldn¡¯t compare to his star wood shield, but since he feared being monitored, he didn¡¯t dare to take out the star wood shield. instead, this superior grade spirit shield was still good for protection; otherwise, he had to use the rolling divine plate as a defense magic artifact during critical moments.


    lin shiming picked up the spirit armor, glanced at the incense burner, which seemed somewhat empty in front of it. supposedly, there should have been a wooden plaque or a scroll behind it.


    when lin shiming touched the incense burner, he found that it was fixed to the table, and the table itself was fixed to the tower. as he attempted to use the flying sword, the table also vanished.


    lin shiming had no choice but to continue upwards towards the nineteenth level.


    the nineteenth level still had late third rank demonic beast phantoms, but their strength had increased significantly.


    yet under lin shiming¡¯s purple gold vine, rolling divine plate, and laiyun sword, they still couldn¡¯t hold their ground.


    however, he had to consume more and more elixirs to restore his true yuan.


    fortunately, the tower did not prohibit the restoration of true yuan inside, and given that his true yuan capacity was not the least bit inferior to the late foundation establishment phase,


    he was able to charge up to the twenty-seventh level again, where he used the spirit controlling seal to take command of a golden rhino.


    this golden rhino¡¯s strength was very formidable among the late third rank demonic beasts.


    lin shiming deployed the poisonous dragon vine this time and took out the primordial magnet seal with the help of the red-haired demon monkey, successfully subduing the tough and resilient golden rhino and then taming it with the spirit controlling seal.


    however, the reward for this level was still a superior grade third rank magic artifact, yet another offensive artifact, which was somewhat inferior to the spirit armor from the eighteenth level.


    (ps: 500 average burst update, now just 20 average away, brothers)


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 276 - 256: Old Friend, Sanyuan Residence (Two in One, Subscription Request)

    on the twenty-seventh floor, lin shiming continued to meditate, and under the spirit light formation, his true yuan rapidly recovered.


    looking at the newly appeared staircase, lin shiming hesitated.


    the system prompt had not appeared, indicating that the reward for each tower floor might only be a superior grade magic artifact.


    then the necessity of advancing through the tower was much less, as he was not lacking in third-rank superior grade magic artifacts, on the contrary, he had no shortage of supreme grade magic artifacts.


    based on the strength of the demonic beasts, he would not likely reach the eighty-first floor.


    moreover, the golden rhinoceros was quickly reaching the edge of his divine sense control range, and the spirit controlling seal, while controlling three demonic beasts at the same time, was also consuming a large amount of true yuan; he estimated that controlling one more late-stage third-rank demonic beast would push him to his limit, and any more would be troublesome to control, a waste of mental effort, yielding more loss than gain.


    of course, the tower¡¯s strangeness was also a reason.


    looking through the soul¡¯s age and selecting cultivators for training by age, all this seemed quite reasonable.


    very much in line with the criteria sect cultivators use when choosing an inheritance magic artifact.


    but these magic artifact rewards didn¡¯t quite match the style of a nascent soul sect.


    moreover, he always felt like every nine floors, there was something missing on that tribute table.


    but without a system prompt, he could not know what exactly the world tower was hiding.


    even if he set everything else aside, he still had one guess.


    after every eight levels, there was a real spirit beast.


    if it was a projected demonic beast, it might not truly die.


    but if it were real demonic beasts, how could one ensure they hadn¡¯t truly died? this was a magical treasure, not a real cultivator.


    his judgment wasn¡¯t that strong, and if it were, that would imply the magical treasure had a spirit, and the absence of a system prompt suggested there was no spirit.


    death and access to a small world both triggered a burst of white light, and unless the cultivator returned, no one would know.


    the cultivators who challenged the tower, whether they truly reached the other side of the tower or died, none of this would be known to the cultivators outside.


    "shiming! how was it? how many floors did you reach?"


    "twenty-seventh floor, the treasures were not so great, so i came over first!" lin shiming didn¡¯t lie and spoke the truth.


    he had enough confidence to pass eighteen more levels if he continued to challenge the tower.


    "indeed, the treasures are worse than before!" xie an also shook his head, as he and lin xianzhi had only gone through eighteen floors.


    their ages were not small, nearing two hundred, and the spirit beast phantoms they faced at the outset were already formidable late-stage third-rank demonic beasts; after nine levels, they would have faced peak third-rank demonic beasts.


    of course, the most critical part was not this, but rather that the treasures from the tower were somewhat below their expectations.


    for cultivators of their age, what were trials? they had long been inconsequential; substantive treasures were what mattered most.


    and challenging the tower just for superior grade magic artifacts was not worth it.


    they could not reach the eighty-first floor, either.


    "by the way, shiming, what are your plans? the myriad swords tomb is not open yet!" xie an asked lin shiming and lin xianzhi.


    "furthermore, the taibai sword sect hasn¡¯t made its move; when it does, there will be extraordinary signs!" xie an seemed to perceive the doubts of lin shiming and lin xianzhi and continued speaking.


    this was a reason why many were not in a hurry after the world tower; the entire secret realm, including the small world, opened for three months.


    if one entered the small world early, they might encounter purple mansion great demons.


    entering later might provide some warnings.


    after a great demon killed cultivators, it would inevitably leave some traces of the fight.


    since ancient times, demonic beasts held no custom of destroying corpses or obliterating traces; instead, they were more accustomed to scattering their prey¡¯s bones in their territory as a warning sign.


    "thanks for your kind intentions, senior brother xie, but for now, we plan to look around the periphery for spiritual objects that extend life!" lin shiming was aware that xie an wanted them to travel together.


    however, the two of them had an appointment with xiao chen, and if they did not go now, xiao chen might think they had encountered an accident.


    "alright then, be careful on your journey. when the myriad swords tomb opens, you¡¯ll need to come over quickly. with senior brother chen steering the war treasure ship, we will have a chance to compete!" xie an said with a hint of disappointment in his face, as he had entered with lin xianzhi intending to journey together.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 277 - 256: Old Friend, Sanyuan Residence (Two in One, Subscription Request)_2

    but both of them had their own thoughts, and he certainly wasn¡¯t one to hold such petty grudges, especially since he had made ample preparations for this journey into the secret realm.


    there was also the treasure sword given to him by zi xuan hermit, whose edge was unparalleled among third rank magic artifacts that he had seen in his life!


    xie an left, wielding a flying sword, heading straight north.


    leaving behind only a simple map.


    there are many such teleportation points like the pavilion by the small lake throughout the entire mini-world, and without a map to reference, one would be left to grope around in the dark.


    "uncle seven ancestors, can you still sense the qian family cultivators?" lin shiming asked lin xianzhi.


    the stalactite cave was also absolutely indispensable for their journey, particularly since he now controlled three spirit beasts.


    "too far to detect, i can only faintly sense that he is to the east!" lin xianzhi flipped his hand and took out an extraordinarily small spirit rhinoceros beetle, almost imperceptible even to divine sense unless lin xianzhi spread it out.


    lin shiming, even using the divine eyes spell, absolutely could not observe it.


    this was also the bizarre aspect of the spirit rhinoceros beetle.


    "our designated meeting place with deacon xiao is also in the east!" lin shiming also responded.


    both exhibited a bit of joy at this coincidence, saving them a lot of effort since both objectives were in the same location.


    they wanted the stalactite cave, and they equally desired the taiqing purple jade fruit tree.


    at that moment, lin shiming¡¯s system prompt sounded again!


    "please proceed a hundred miles to the east, where there is a cave dwelling belonging to a purple mansion cultivator!" the prompt suddenly resounded in lin shiming¡¯s mind, bringing him great joy.


    the reappearance of the prompts from the malfunctioning world tower also greatly reassured him.


    what he hadn¡¯t expected was to find a purple mansion cultivator¡¯s cave dwelling so soon after emerging.


    it was indeed the former site of a nascent soul sect!


    the purple mansion cultivator¡¯s cave dwelling could only be on the outskirts, and it was likely that deeper in, there would be many golden core and nascent soul cave dwellings!


    thinking of this, lin shiming was full of anticipation. with the system¡¯s guidance, he was like a fish in water in this secret realm.


    of course, he also had to be vigilant. the greater the opportunity, the greater the danger!


    "uncle seven ancestors, let¡¯s head east then!" lin shiming suggested.


    lin xianzhi nodded and then remembered the spirit controlling seal, suddenly asking:


    "shiming, how many spirit beasts have you tamed?"


    "three!" lin shiming didn¡¯t pretend. he had given both the spirit controlling seal and the soul arrest forbidden to lin xianzhi.


    lin xianzhi didn¡¯t have an immediate use for the soul arrest forbidden, but the spirit controlling seal could be used within the tower.


    that was why the other party had asked.


    "good!" lin xianzhi was delighted. he had only tamed one third-rank late-stage beast, but he had not expected lin shiming to tame three.


    the spirit controlling seal demanded great amounts of divine sense and true yuan.


    however, he then considered that the beasts lin shiming probably tamed on the ninth layer were likely third-rank mid-stage demonic beasts, and he suddenly found it to be expected!


    as for the remaining three, they were cultivators from the wanjian sect, and lin shiming was all too familiar with them!


    they were wan qing, wan wuyin, and an older man carrying a sword from the wanjian sect!


    the spirit beast sect and the wanjian sect were jointly dealing with the corpse refining sect cultivators.


    all three corpse refining sect cultivators were at the late foundation establishment stage, each controlling three to four third-rank late-stage iron corpses. however, they were struggling under the encirclement.


    the corpse refining sect had their corpses, while the spirit beast sect had their spirit beasts, and with the addition of three unparalleled sword cultivators, the corpse refining sect cultivators were quickly forced into a frantic escape.


    they attempted to flee but were reluctant to leave the san yuan mansion behind.


    however, at that moment, a formation suddenly appeared!


    wan qing burst into a loud laugh.


    he held a formation flag in one hand and flew into the sky.


    suddenly, a myriad of flying swords appeared, covering the entire mountain peak.


    "haha, fifth uncle, the sword array is complete!" wan qing, controlling the sword array, turned to address an elder from the wanjian sect.


    the elder¡¯s body trembled suddenly, and a terrifying sword intent soared into the skies.


    the three corpse refining sect cultivators felt a chill in their hearts!


    they hadn¡¯t predicted that this wanjian sect elder was at the peak of foundation establishment, nor that he was an immensely powerful sword cultivator. the previous constraint had merely been a facade!


    "will you not surrender?" one of the young men from the spirit beast sect also burst into laughter.


    he scorned the three from the corpse refining sect without reserve.


    however, the two elders beside the young man wore different expressions.


    "surrender, how laughable! you should better take care of yourselves. do you really think the wanjian sect will share the treasures with you?" the corpse refining sect cultivators, already grim-faced, grew even darker with anger.


    what they feared the most were sword cultivators!


    and now they were ensnared in a sword array!


    of course, they found the spirit beast sect youth even more ridiculous.


    at this time, to think that wan qing would let them off!


    if the sword array spread over the entire mountain, it meant that the wanjian sect planned to clear the field.


    "brother wan?" the young man came to a realization and looked at wan qing, while the two elders behind him shielded the spirit beast sect cultivators as they assessed the entire sword array, seeking a chance to break through.


    "haha, brother xiao, brother wan has no other choice. do you know what the san yuan hermit is most adept at?"


    "alchemy, indeed, a fourth-rank alchemy inheritance! you can only blame it on the inheritance being too generous!" wan qing laughed heartily, making no move to attack.


    but in the sky, more and more swords appeared.


    xiao wanhe of the spirit beast sect suddenly turned pale, his face ashen, while the two elders beside him kept assessing the sword array, looking for an opportunity to break the formation.


    meanwhile, wan qing gazed down the mountain.


    "what, still not showing up? should i, wan, personally invite you out?"


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 278 - 257: Deception (Two in One)

    the sky was filled with countless flying swords, their sword qi surging fiercely!


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi also stopped hiding and boldly stepped out.


    once trapped by a formation, even the most clever of techniques would find it difficult to remain concealed.


    however, a trace of worry still lingered in their eyes.


    especially lin xianzhi, who stared at the old man carrying the sword, for this elder was clearly not just a simple sword cultivator but also a third rank supreme grade formation master!


    "wan qing, are you so confident that you aren¡¯t afraid of us joining forces against you?" lin shiming also fixed his gaze on wan qing.


    "haha, join forces? do you really think i, wan, am afraid of your cooperation?" wan qing spoke with scorn.


    "without even this bit of confidence, how can one have the courage to step into the realm of a true person?"


    as he spoke, he exuded an air of valor, then disdainfully looked at lin shiming:


    "however, you really do have bad luck. just when i feel like killing someone, you show up at my doorstep!" wan qing glared at lin shiming with a somewhat bloodthirsty gaze.


    immediately, the myriad swords all pointed downwards.


    sword intent surged, and the light of swords ravaged the space!


    in the next moment, they transformed into a rain of swords, pouring down upon them.


    of course, the descent was not solely aimed at lin shiming, but rather at all the cultivators within the sword array!


    "how audacious!" the three cultivators from the corpse refining sect also changed their expressions drastically.


    simultaneously, they each slapped their storage bags, and three three-zhang-long black great coffins appeared.


    all sorts of eerie spirit patterns emerged on the coffins, and in the next instant, the lids of the coffins exploded, revealing three lifebound spirit corpses.


    the three spirit corpses were extremely ferocious, obviously made from the transformation of powerful demonic beasts. they leapt into the air with their claws bared, lunging towards the flying swords above.


    they fought intensely, with each side having their moments.


    "wan, you are digging your own grave!" seeing the situation turning largely in their favor due to lin xianzhi¡¯s potency, xiao wanhe also coldly scoffed at wan qing.


    but at that moment, wan qing remained silent.


    the fact that the corpse refining sect cultivators were holding back and had lifebound spirit corpses was something he hadn¡¯t anticipated; likewise, lin xianzhi comprehending the step-half sword qi condensing filament was unexpected too.


    and lin shiming was staring at wan qing; however, in the next moment, his face also changed.


    he had just released a spirit-devouring ant that had broken through the formation.


    yet, he witnessed something he couldn¡¯t have imagined; a monkey demonic beast had already broken into the san yuan residence.


    it was clear that these people from the wanjian sect were covering all grounds, determined to either eradicate everyone or monopolize the treasures!


    the formation was merely a smokescreen; in secret, they had already dispatched spirit beasts to steal the treasures.


    as for the spirit beast belonging to the spirit beast sect, he didn¡¯t even consider it.


    wan qing¡¯s control over the myriad sword execution heaven formation meant he certainly wouldn¡¯t let anyone from the spirit beast sect take advantage of the situation!


    no wonder wan qing was so immensely arrogant and why the elder didn¡¯t intervene; with the treasures already taken, what did it matter if they didn¡¯t kill everyone?


    lin shiming¡¯s face went through a rapid change of emotions, but it soon disappeared.


    in the next moment, he took out a large number of spirit seeds and fiercely scattered them on the ground.


    instantaneously, the swarm of poisonous dragon vines appeared, resembling huge malevolent flood dragons.


    the poisonous dragon vines emitted a black mist, and within a moment, it seemed as though dark dragons were rampaging through the fog, and even as the vines writhed, the roaring of flood dragons could be heard, engulfing everything as they surged towards wan qing.


    of course, wan qing wasn¡¯t afraid; his sword array was the perfect magical treasure for countering wood attribute cultivators.


    he laughed coldly, thinking lin shiming also dared to call himself a sword cultivator, yet lacked even this basic knowledge!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 279 - 257: Deception (Two in One)_2

    he drew the broad sword from behind his back, and with his weapon unsheathed, he shredded a swarm of poisonous dragon vines to pieces.


    the sword light continued towards the three corpse refining sect cultivators and their host of reanimated corpses.


    however, the next moment, to his surprise, he saw the sections of the poisonous dragon vine that had been cut into pieces recombine in the air and continue their assault on wan qing.


    wan qing, caught off guard, was bound by the poisonous dragon vine, and the sword light immediately faltered.


    if not for the light shield that appeared around his body, enclosing him, he might have been pierced by the vine and poisoned to death.


    one must know that the poisonous dragon vine was no ordinary plant. this third-rank superior-grade vine posed a great threat even to a late-stage foundation establishment cultivator. its venom was so potent that without precious detoxifying spiritual medicine, survival was impossible for even a moment.


    off to the side, the three personal reanimated corpses, having been most angered by the sword light, now saw their chance and charged forward.


    it was the sword-wielding elder who, with a wave of his hand, once again chopped the poisonous dragon vine into pieces, allowing wan qing to escape, while wan wuyin next produced a spirit talisman. in the following moment, a puppet sword cultivator emerged, blocking all the claws and attacks of the three reanimated corpses.


    this puppet sword talisman was clearly very powerful, likely no less than a peak foundation establishment strength.


    for a moment, the three reanimated corpses gained no advantage, and the expressions of the three corpse refining sect cultivators changed, knowing they were out of options. with a wave of their hands, over a hundred coffins appeared.


    the lids of these coffins were virtually blown off in an instant and launched at wan qing.


    yet, in the next moment, the reanimated corpses that crawled out of the coffins surged towards the perimeter of the sword array.


    they were none other than the self-destructing reanimated corpses that had breached heavenly river city.


    however, the sword light in the sky trembled once more, unleashing a terrifying sword intent as another endless stream of sword light descended from the heavens, piercing the self-destructing reanimated corpses. in an instant, they were sliced into chunks of flesh and droplets of blood.


    high above, wan qing breathed a sigh of relief. they had naturally studied the corpse refining sect¡¯s methods beforehand and, seeing the enemy¡¯s tactics fail while he himself was protected, he could finally relax.


    afterward, he glared fiercely at lin shiming, his heart itching with hatred.


    if it weren¡¯t for lin shiming, if it weren¡¯t for lin xianzhi, none of the people here would even dream of escaping!


    "the sword array has a problem, check it, and your spirit beast!" at that moment, the sword-bearing elder, finding a pause to strike another blow, began to transmit a message to wan qing.


    his gaze occasionally darted towards lin shiming, flashing with suspicion and concern.


    somewhat uncertain and worried.


    as if worried wan qing didn¡¯t fully understand, the sword-bearing elder added,


    "when he was pulling the vines, the sword array somehow opened up a gap, but the poisonous fumes blocked some senses!"


    after the elder finished speaking, he engaged in combat with lin xianzhi once more.


    "okay!" wan qing was also extremely shocked. hearing what the elder said made him suddenly nervous.


    he hastily reached out to sense his spirit beast, but at that moment, lin shiming continued his sneak attacks with the poisonous dragon vine!


    for a while, wan qing could only dodge in the air, his broad sword not daring to pause for a moment. he danced a waterfall-like curtain of swords around him, the pervasive sword qi grinding all the poisonous dragon vines to dust.


    even the poisonous fog was cleaved apart by the whirlwind.


    beyond the sword curtain, he motioned with his hands, casting spells, and vast sword lights surged toward lin shiming.


    contrarily, this action once again allowed the three corpse refining sect cultivators a chance to breathe!


    the rolling divine plate and the four sword arrays overhead lin shiming continued to block the sword lights, opting not to attack, causing wan qing¡¯s face to go ashen.


    yet all that remained between heaven and earth was wild, unceasing sword qi, surging without friend or foe.


    the three corpse refining sect cultivators now had their lifeline corpses sprawled in front of them.


    even then, their spirit stones were cut beyond recognition by the sword qi.


    at the next moment, as if having made a crucial decision, they directed their lifeline corpses to the edge of the formation, and the corpses detonated simultaneously.


    the fearsome blast resounded again, the storm of spiritual energy and the tempest of sword qi intermingling, swirling like a tornado, howling persistently and reluctant to disperse.


    the spirit light dissipated, and the sword array also shattered in part, revealing the abode of the hermit of the three origins.


    but now, looking at the vast mansion, it had already been plundered.


    gone was any spirit light, gone were any treasures!


    "damn you, wan qing, to think you trapped us and stole the treasures all by yourself!" the three disciples of the corpse refining sect roared with boundless fury.


    they had fought desperately only to realize they had been duped by wan qing.


    the treasures had already been snatched by him.


    what was the point of their presence then!


    as the three shouted, they spat out a great mouthful of fresh blood; with their lifeline corpses destroyed, they were severely injured.


    meanwhile, the old sword-bearer held his sword aloft, and the next moment, the sword light surged to its maximum, sweeping towards the three corpse refining sect cultivators.


    in an instant, the three cultivators were horrified, but then they twisted their bodies, their blood qi soaring into the sky; all three were body cultivators, though only two were at the foundation establishment middle stage, and one at the early stage.


    the early stage body cultivator died on the spot.


    the remaining two, following a flash of yellow escape light, vanished from sight.


    fleeing far away, blood was left trailing behind them!


    "who says we took it! it seems to me you¡¯re the thieves!" the old sword-bearer¡¯s gaze was sharp as an eagle¡¯s, surveying everyone.


    especially the spirit beast sect!


    at this moment, if not for lin shiming¡¯s knowledge, he might actually have been fooled by the old man.


    "seventh uncle, let us depart as well!" lin shiming didn¡¯t linger and immediately started to leave!


    although the sword array had been broken, lin xianzhi was not lightly wounded, especially by that final sword strike. splendid as it was, it also meant a reverse of the renshui geng metal art and several years off his lifespan. his seventh uncle might not care, but he did!


    how many times had he told his seventh uncle not to reverse the sword technique! but it was no use; at critical moments, his seventh uncle would still fight with all his might!


    moreover, lin xianzhi had exhausted a substantial portion of his true yuan and only after consuming the hundred-year spirit milk did he recover to normal levels.


    but to continue fighting was clearly of no benefit.


    the old sword-bearer seemed convinced that the spirit beast sect had stolen the items and charged at the two from the sect.


    on the other hand, wan qing wielded his sword and charged towards lin shiming and his party.


    lin shiming internally ridiculed the elder¡¯s continued act; however, the next moment, he saw a fierce sword light spontaneously burst from the ground toward him.


    that crafty old man was attacking again; his real target was not the pair from the spirit beast sect, but him!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 280 - 258: The Magical Treasure Twin Swords & Scripture of the Five Flames (Combined)

    seeing the scene before him, lin shiming, though prepared, almost cursed out loud.


    but lin xianzhi, who was still recovering his true yuan, once again became stern, and his sword technique operated to the extreme.


    sword lotuses were slashed out one after another.


    they blocked the old man¡¯s fierce sword light once more.


    the people from the spirit beast sect started to run, with countless spirit beasts self-detonating.


    which forced wan wuyin to retreat by more than ten meters.


    two elders from the spirit beast sect, holding xiao wanhe, pulled out a wind escape spirit talisman and began to escape far away!


    leaving behind a streak of blue light, they vanished into the horizon.


    upon witnessing this, lin shiming and lin xianzhi also took out a third rank supreme grade spirit boat and began to flee for their lives!


    wan qing and the sword-carrying old man clearly still had many tricks up their sleeves, and it wasn¡¯t necessary for them to fight these three to the death.


    their own escape techniques were fully displayed.


    however, after wan qing and the sword-carrying old man slashed out a few swords and saw no effect, they too landed on the flat ground below and didn¡¯t pursue further.


    in this minor world, they might encounter a purple mansion great demon at any time, hunting and being hunted were both unwise actions.


    "wan qing, where is the treasure!" the sword-carrying old man looked toward wan qing.


    even though these cultivators only killed one corpse refining sect cultivator, the treasures of the hermit¡¯s cave dwelling were the most crucial matter at hand.


    your next chapter awaits on empire


    "fifth uncle, it¡¯s a few hundred miles to the north!" wan qing replied hesitantly after sensing it.


    "why isn¡¯t it in the stone forest?" the eyes of the sword-carrying old man immediately bulged, and his heart skipped a beat.


    "i¡¯m not sure either, fifth uncle. it could be that the sword array was too powerful, and i was worried something might happen to my sky treasure demon monkey!" though wan qing also had his concerns, seeing that the sky treasure demon monkey was alright, he could only offer a few reasons.


    after all, the blood covenant was still intact!


    the figure in the blue robe was naturally lin shiming, and the golden winged mantis, red-haired demon monkey, and the spirit ants were all spirit beasts he released while activating the poisonous dragon vine.


    the golden winged mantis was holding two glittering swords, and the red-haired demon monkey held a primordial magnet seal in one hand and a storage bag in the other.


    "magical treasure flying swords!" lin shiming exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the swords.


    these treasures were naturally taken from the hermit¡¯s cave dwelling, but the two magical treasure flying swords in the hands of the golden winged mantis took both men by surprise.


    lin xianzhi immediately took out a sealing formation from the storage bag, not daring to delay in laying out the formation.


    only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    the golden winged mantis nuzzled lin shiming with its triangular head, offering the two magical treasure flying swords like precious gifts.


    then it softly chirped.


    lin shiming generously took out a black spirit fish for the golden winged mantis, then grabbed a handful of beast nurturing pills and a cotton yang pill.


    "this beast is growing so fast!" lin xianzhi was shocked to see the eight-winged golden winged mantis.


    he remembered seeing the mantis just after it had hatched, at that time, he had assumed it would reach the late phase of the second rank at most.


    who would have thought the mantis would have such a keen sense of smell and exceptional talent for treasure hunting, and now, considering its current peak of the third rank mid-phase, it was evident it had a high bloodline talent; otherwise, no amount of beast nurturing pills would have allowed it to grow so fast.


    not to mention, he had never heard of a golden mantis!


    "seventh great-uncle, these two magical treasures are perfect for you!" lin shiming immediately spoke up.


    hearing lin shiming¡¯s words, lin xianzhi turned to look at the two flying swords.


    both swords were about three feet in length, not particularly large, and were twin swords!


    yet, their attributes were polar opposites, one was gold and the other was water.


    the golden flying sword was clearly infused with some geng metal, making it extremely sharp, while the water-attribute flying sword contained cold marrow jade, giving it the power to freeze, much like the might of an ice spirit root cultivator, even when used by a water attribute cultivator.


    "seventh great-uncle, these two flying swords are perfect for you!" lin shiming couldn¡¯t help but laugh as he said this.


    "shiming, it¡¯s not suitable, you¡¯re a cultivator with a third spirit root of gold, wood, and fire, you can use these magical treasures as well!" lin xianzhi tried to deflect, but deep in his eyes, it was evident he held a sliver of desire.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 281 - 258: The Magical Treasure Twin Swords & Scripture of the Five Flames (Combined)_2

    only his rational mind and love for the younger generation made him willing to give it up.


    "seventh ancestral uncle, what are you saying? you¡¯re about to reach purple mansion, and it will take shiming much too long to get there. moreover, this magic artifact matches your cultivation technique perfectly. if you don¡¯t use it, then shiming won¡¯t either!" lin shiming also spoke up in return.


    hearing this, lin xianzhi couldn¡¯t help but feel immense joy as he carefully put away the two magic artifacts.


    the affection in his eyes was undeniable.


    ever since he drank the life essence tea from the mingxin tea tree and comprehended the half-step sword qi condensation, he too had confidence in breaking through to the purple mansion.


    when lin shiming saw lin xianzhi storing the magic artifact, he began to look at the red-haired demon monkey.


    at this moment, the red-haired demon monkey was playfully holding the primordial magnet seal, excitedly hooting and hollering, and it would have completely ignored the storage bag if lin shiming hadn¡¯t specifically instructed it to bring it back.


    right now, all it could think about was using the primordial magnet seal to smash, and it was even considering whether it could smash that two-legged snake with it!


    what dared to steal its spirit food.


    lin shiming took the storage bag, taking out some black spirit fish, beast nurturing pills, and cotton yang pills from it.


    lin xianzhi was once again surprised, as he hadn¡¯t expected lin shiming¡¯s red-haired demon monkey to have reached the third rank mid stage.


    he was just unclear why the monkey had become smaller, but seeing it casually play with the primordial magnet seal, he was even more shocked.


    he couldn¡¯t help but feel great admiration for the spirit beasts lin shiming was raising.


    lin shiming, however, didn¡¯t pay any more attention to lin xianzhi but instead took the storage bag, which was clearly much older. being ownerless, it allowed him to easily mark it with his divine sense.


    as his divine sense probed into it, he was astoundingly surprised to find that the space within the storage bag was massive, about the size of a slightly smaller mountain peak.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    inside were many wooden racks, though there weren¡¯t many items, especially spirit talismans and elixirs, which had all disappeared over time.


    lin shiming turned his attention to the treasures and jade slips.


    on the shelf for treasures, what caught his eye was a dual-eared pill furnace, colored with the hues of the rainbow, its spirit light still shining brightly.


    as lin shiming held it in his hand, he could only feel the dazzling array of colors, which was extremely beautiful.


    when he channeled his true yuan into it, the spirit patterns on the surface of the pill furnace seemed to come to life, and inside, a unique five-colored fire pervaded.


    the temperature of the flames was countless times higher than the underground flames of the lin family.


    "seventh ancestral uncle, this is a third rank supreme grade pill furnace. even if it is used to refine fourth rank elixirs, it will provide some assistance!" lin shiming said excitedly to lin xianzhi.


    the latter was also exceedingly thrilled, knowing that for an alchemist, having a good pill furnace makes an immense difference in their alchemy!


    and the best pill furnace previously in the lin family was merely a third rank inferior grade, which could only be handled by successive alchemy hall masters and was prohibited from being removed from fangmu mountain!


    with this pill furnace, the alchemy of the lin family would reach new heights!


    "this pill furnace will be given to shitao when the time comes. with her talent for alchemy, it will only be a matter of time before she can refine fourth rank elixirs!" lin xianzhi said with a big smile.


    "shiming understands!" lin shiming also quickly nodded in agreement.


    this technique carried too much weight; if one were to cultivate it, the options would be to either stay on fangmu mountain without leaving, barring any accidents, or reside on the overseas shuangmu island.


    only when the lin family became a purple mansion family, or even a golden core family, could they relax.


    "worthy indeed of the inheritance from a purple mansion cultivator¡¯s cave mansion!" lin xianzhi also looked up and laughed, immensely gratified.


    lin shiming also nodded, his anticipation for the remaining jade slips growing even more.


    the second jade slip was about alchemy experiences.


    from a first rank alchemist up to an intermediate grade fourth rank alchemist¡¯s alchemy experiences!


    seeing these alchemy experiences, lin shiming could no longer hide his joy.


    with the fourth rank alchemy experiences, the lin family¡¯s future alchemy path had essentially acquired a semi-competent teacher!


    they had at least a direction, guidance!


    lin shiming could not help but continue to look through the remaining jade slips.


    he believed that where there were experiences, there would certainly be formulas!


    and sure enough, among them were four fourth rank pill formulas and twelve third rank pill formulas!


    it was a complete alchemy inheritance!


    with this alchemy inheritance, should the lin family later produce a fourth rank alchemist, they would not only not have to worry about lacking fourth rank pill formulas, but they would also have access to the alchemy experiences of an intermediate grade fourth rank alchemist to reference!


    lin shiming held the jade slips, handing them over to lin xianzhi to examine one by one.


    the latter, after looking through them, was also overjoyed, repeatedly expressing his approval.


    they had not expected to gain so much from a treasure they found on the road!


    after organizing the pill formula jade slips, what remained were various miscellaneous records and secrets.


    these also greatly interested lin shiming.


    only the information recorded about the taibai sword sect was sparse, much to his disappointment.


    after looking through the jade slips and turning his attention to the remaining wooden shelves, many shelves only had some remnants left, indicating that various spiritual medicines and materials had turned to ash over time, due to the lack of spiritual energy maintenance without anyone¡¯s care.


    lin shiming secured the storage bag, then took out some black spirit fish and beast nurturing pills, which he distributed to the devouring ants.


    this time, the gain was largely thanks to the devouring ants.


    if it weren¡¯t for the devouring ants, he wouldn¡¯t have had the capability to penetrate the sword array and detect the anomaly in the purple mansion cave mansion.


    not to mention privately dealing with two beasts to seize back the treasures!


    "shiming, i have a general sense of the qian family cultivators!" suddenly, lin xianzhi spoke up.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 282 - 259: Heavenly Corpse Bug, Ye WuYou (Combined Thank You to Drunken Man for the Reward)

    qing mountain¡¯s verdant ridges, a network of mountain ravines.


    a jade-green river meandered out from the mountains!


    no ripples disturbed the water¡¯s surface, babbling gently as it flowed.


    a spirit boat slowly descended.


    three figures from the qian family emerged, with qian bosheng leading the way, followed by qian yongfu, while the clan¡¯s young cultivator, qian yucheng, lingered at the very back.


    qian bosheng was about to move forward but was called to a halt by qian yongfu.


    suddenly, qian yongfu coughed.


    "fellow daoist, having tracked this old man for so long, why not show yourself and speak?" qian yongfu¡¯s sudden outburst caused qian bosheng to stiffen on the spot.


    yet there was no response in their surroundings, not even the sound of the wind hurried in the slightest.


    just as qian bosheng began to wonder if qian yongfu was bluffing,


    a transparent coffin in the void opened with a surge, and out stepped a figure clothed in a heavenly corpse robe, walking straight out.


    looking at qian yongfu, the figure collected the coffin and finally spoke:


    "i never expected that a minor foundation establishment family from yunzhou could possess such formidable divine sense to see through the void coffin made of five-colored silkworm thread!" the figure was dressed in a golden robe, which lin shiming would have recognized had he been there¡ªthe golden-robed cultivator was none other than golden corpse child.


    "you dare to come alone, fellow daoist?" instead of answering, qian yongfu retorted.


    "haha, fellow daoist jests, for i, jin, am of course not alone!!"


    "for i, jin, alone am an army of thousands!" as soon as golden corpse child finished his words, he dramatically cast out his embroidered robe.


    in a flash, three golden coffins flew out.


    the coffins fell, and three dazzling gold-clad iron corpses charged fiercely.


    "i may not have much in the way of skills, but it¡¯s too much for fellow daoists to infest my junior with heavenly corpse insects!" qian yongfu snorted coldly and, with terrifying speed, threw qian yucheng into the formation.


    in an instant, the faces of the two corpse refining sect cultivators turned ashen.


    the heavenly corpse insect was a precious spirit insect of their corpse refining sect, invaluable in refining one¡¯s personal spirit corpse.


    it could lurk undetected within a live cultivator and, at crucial moments, devour the cultivator¡¯s divine soul, turning them into a corpse cultivator for a surprise attack!


    the two corpse refining sect cultivators, with faces like thunder, had not expected qian yongfu to be so decisive. they had been hoping to exploit his junior as leverage for a sneak attack on qian yongfu.


    now it seemed that qian yongfu was more ruthless than they had imagined!


    without hesitation, he had thrown his own kin into the heavenly trapping formation.


    the two had no choice but to quickly summon their remaining corpse cultivators.


    these corpse cultivators, each a late third rank being, were terrifyingly fierce!


    however, just then, qian yongfu produced two small flags in his hand.


    with a wave of the flags towards the sky, the wind howled furiously, as black tornadoes scattered the corpse cultivators, blowing them apart in disarray.


    and this fierce wind, as if soul-scattering, reduced the corpse cultivators, already muddled, to an even lower level of intelligence.


    "to covet the qian family¡¯s treasures, let¡¯s see if you are worthy!" qian yongfu charged forward, his white hair streaming behind, spirit light shining brightly, moving like a specter!


    he appeared in the blink of an eye before one of the corpse refining sect cultivators, grabbed at him, and instantly ended his life on the spot!


    the remaining one was utterly horrified, having never expected qian yongfu to be a peak foundation establishment body cultivator.


    thinking only of escape, but no match for qian yongfu, the split soul banner was waved again, and the cultivator froze, only to be grasped through his heart by qian yongfu in the next moment!


    qian yongfu coughed again, yet the situation was settled, and he casually hung two storage bags at his waist.


    all this had happened so swiftly that qian bosheng was left somewhat dazed beside him.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 284 - 260 Cultivation Technique Trade, Grass Sword Kills

    the scorching sun hung high, bi river flowed gently, and the spirit boat within the river continued to shift in a thousand different ways.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi stood by the riverside, leaning against the willows.


    they watched ahead, yet their divine sense extended thousands of miles away, not daring to relax in the slightest at any rustle of the wind or movement of the grass.


    after a long while, lin xianzhi spoke,


    "it seems they¡¯re controlled by the illusion array?"


    at this moment, the two of them felt the same as li chengxian had earlier, sensing that qian yongfu and his companions seemed to be trapped in the illusion array in the middle of the river.


    unable to walk out.


    even lin xianzhi was somewhat surprised at this moment.


    whether from divine sense or their manner of combat, the three people seemed extremely real at this moment.


    if they really were controlled by the illusion array, then staying here the whole day would be understandable.


    but what about the group of people they had seen coming during the day?


    doubts mounted in their minds.


    as lin shiming hesitated, his system indeed issued an alert.


    "the formation ahead is the renshui heavenly trapping formation! please do not attack or approach, and be careful of qian yongfu¡¯s attacks!"


    with the appearance of the system prompt, lin shiming paused.


    the three people inside the formation were indeed real.


    qian yongfu and his two companions were truly trapped in this renshui heavenly trapping formation!


    however, the system¡¯s warning to be careful of the attack left lin xianzhi momentarily hesitant. discover exclusive content at empire


    but in the next instant, he shouted.


    "no good, run!" lin shiming couldn¡¯t even spare the time to send a telepathic message and desperately retreated backward.


    lin shiming had no choice but to use his hand to block it.


    however, his foundation establishment middle stage body cultivation was not enough in front of qian yongfu, and he was sent flying.


    "oh, you¡¯ve also practiced body refining techniques!" qian yongfu was somewhat surprised, evidently not expecting such a young lin shiming to not only be at the peak middle stage of foundation establishment but also a peak foundation establishment body cultivator.


    despite his momentary reflection, his assault didn¡¯t stop for an instant, he closed in quickly, trying to grab lin shiming¡¯s neck directly.


    his move was even more ruthless than before.


    lin shiming kept releasing the purple gold vine, which barely slowed qian yongfu¡¯s onslaught.


    yet it was still like a frail boat in the ocean, at any moment it could be destroyed!


    qian yongfu¡¯s aggression was too fast; one move followed by another, lin shiming didn¡¯t even have time to set up a sword array.


    he perfectly demonstrated the terror of a peak foundation establishment body cultivator!


    lin shiming¡¯s face was deathly pale as he concentrated intensely, yet he could only keep getting hit!


    if he didn¡¯t possess the strength of a foundation establishment middle-stage body cultivator and hadn¡¯t practiced countless body fighting techniques with the red-haired demon monkey, he felt that he could not withstand even three strikes under qian yongfu¡¯s assault!


    "qian yongfu, stop this at once!" lin xianzhi thoroughly enraged, reversed the renshui geng metal art in an instant.


    in his hands, the qinglian sword resounded with the sounds of blooming lotuses, the gold and blue sword lotus surged, and qian bosheng couldn¡¯t withstand it; his sword was sent flying by a single strike, his whole body nearly split in two by lin xianzhi¡¯s sword!


    after breaking through qian bosheng, lin xianzhi didn¡¯t dare to delay, and the qinglian sword once again targeted qian yongfu.


    lin shiming finally caught his breath, with a casual call, the three-headed flame wolf, the large green and red python, the golden rhino, and the gold devouring rat, all four beasts appeared!


    they guarded around him on all sides, and eighty-one superior grade formation swords floated above him.


    the sword qi rippled, forming a complete purple wood xuan tian great sword array!


    lin shiming felt his true yuan dry up by half, and quickly took out a drop of hundred-year spirit milk to drink.


    the threat from qian yongfu was just too great!


    they had previously thought qian yongfu had only broken through the purple mansion once, but now it seemed not only was his qi cultivation at the pinnacle of foundation establishment, but his body cultivation was also at the peak.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 285 - 260 Cultivation Technique Trade, Grass Sword Kills_2

    lin xianzhi and qian yongfu fought together, managing to be evenly matched for a moment, but lin shiming was extremely worried, as lin xianzhi was now reversing the renshui geng metal art, consuming his lifespan!


    he quickly ordered the four beasts to rush forward as well.


    "daoist lin, we both belong to the great families of yunzhou! how about we make a deal?" qian yongfu suddenly burst into laughter.


    lin xianzhi did not respond, continuing to let his sword intent run rampant, each strike fierce and ruthless.


    just a moment ago, qian yongfu had put lin xianzhi on the brink of death, how could he bear it!


    "how long can you last with this lifespan-consuming fighting style? until it¡¯s all used up, and then you disregard the talented younger generation of the lin family?" qian yongfu said disdainfully.


    lin xianzhi¡¯s face changed dramatically, clearly aware of qian yongfu¡¯s threat, and his sword slowed considerably.


    but the sword was still raised high, as if he would continue the fight at the slightest disagreement.


    even if it meant death, he had to fight qian yongfu to the death and seek even a sliver of opportunity for lin shiming!


    "don¡¯t worry, the deal is very simple, your cultivation technique should have been improved, right? it can automatically control greater strength without consuming lifespan!" qian yongfu spoke.


    this revelation startled lin xianzhi.


    at this moment, lin shiming¡¯s heart was also in turmoil, extremely shocked.


    this matter of the cultivation technique was their lin family¡¯s biggest secret.


    "don¡¯t doubt how i came to know!" qian yongfu glanced at lin xianzhi¡¯s eyes, then at lin shiming.


    he too released a sword strike, with a surge of renshui geng metal sword qi appearing, though its sword intent was not as strong as lin xianzhi¡¯s.


    but qian yongfu¡¯s cultivation technique was clearly the renshui geng metal art as well.


    "i also possess the dual spirit root of gold and water, we are all but disciples who have been deceived by the qingxuan sect!"


    "shen ji true person wants to cultivate the great dao, to forge a dao infant with the great dao. our cultivation techniques are merely experimental products for shen ji true person!" qian yongfu continued, a look of helplessness on his face.


    at this moment, both parties were even more astonished.


    lin shiming stared at the magic artifact on qian yongfu¡¯s body.


    if there was even one that came from the qingxuan sect, he had to take action and not let qian yongfu continue speaking.


    otherwise, if the true person discovered today¡¯s words, within the vast zhao kingdom, the lin family would have no place to live.


    "rest assured, the plot of the qingxuan sect is too grand; there are no weapons from the qingxuan sect!" qian yongfu seemed to see through lin shiming¡¯s thoughts, shaking his head slightly.


    lin shiming¡¯s expression gradually improved.


    "how about it? this deal is very fair, right? your cultivation technique in exchange for both your lives, and at the same time, you¡¯ll get to share the treasures of the stalactite cave!"


    "do you know what¡¯s in the stalactite cave? it¡¯s thousand-year spirit marrow; a single drop of spirit marrow can increase a cultivator¡¯s chances of entering the purple mansion by ten percent. with its immense true yuan, coupled with a zi xuan precious jade or a portion of purple mansion spiritual liquid, a breakthrough to the purple mansion is assured!" qian yongfu became increasingly excited.


    his eyes filled with ambition.


    the purple mansion was within sight.


    "then i must tell you, there is no improved cultivation technique!" lin xianzhi was not swayed by qian yongfu¡¯s words.


    qian yongfu was too calculating.


    the tracking of the spiritual guises seemed to have become qian yongfu¡¯s fishing bait.


    in terms of consumption, the lin family couldn¡¯t compete with him no matter what.


    "seventh great-uncle, he is a body cultivator, we can¡¯t drag this out, let¡¯s each strike with our sword!"


    lin shiming transmitted his voice to lin xianzhi.


    lin xianzhi¡¯s deadliest sword was naturally the sword qi coalescing into threads, utilizing the water metal sword lotus!


    and lin shiming¡¯s strongest attack was naturally the grass sword art, activated with the sword seed!


    lin xianzhi also nodded, his attacks growing ever more ferocious.


    meanwhile, lin shiming drove the purple wood profound heavenly sword formation fiercely forward!


    at the same time, the rolling divine plate and the shocking god drum unfolded, attacking qian yongfu.


    the opponent¡¯s split soul banner attacked the divine soul, but such a magic artifact was not unique to qian yongfu alone!


    the latter¡¯s divine sense was strong, but because of the surprise, lin xianzhi still shook him for a moment!


    before the latter could recover, a red-haired demon monkey suddenly transformed into a thirty-foot giant ape, and a dark primordial magnet seal fiercely fell from above.


    qian yongfu instinctually initiated his sword technique, but the primordial magnet seal restrained the five elements attributes, and if he had resisted with his flesh, it might have been better, but using the sword technique, he was smashed into the ground, his blood churning, spitting out a large amount of fresh blood on the spot!


    and this wasn¡¯t the end!


    lin xianzhi launched the sword lotus, a blue-golden sword lotus, that furiously slashed towards qian yongfu.


    the sword lotus whirled, mysteriously unfurling, revealing the extremely condensed sword pistil; sword qi coalescing into threads furiously struck qian yongfu¡¯s body.


    the latter hastily used a defensive magic artifact, but in an instant, it was sent flying!


    his body also began to crack and split like broken glass, suffering severe injuries, but for a peak foundation establishment body cultivator, he had thousand-year spirit milk, he could still recover!


    enjoy more content from empire


    but lin shiming would not give him the chance!


    at this moment, lin shiming concentrated and calmly, the cloud sword returned to his hand with his move.


    he wildly expanded his divine sense while closing his eyes.


    for an instant, it was as if a seed fell and took root in darkness.


    it was like thunder rumbling, the seed sprouting and breaking through the soil!


    the heavens opened, heaven-slaying!


    the earth emerged, earth splitting!


    a terrifying sword intent surged around lin shiming.


    strands of sword qi began to take shape like seeds.


    blades of grass sword sprouted around lin shiming, swaying and waving!


    "this sword, heaven-slaying!" lin shiming suddenly opened his eyes, like a glance of ancient sword light!


    his entire body seemed to have transformed into an even larger blade of grass sword!


    as the grass sword fell, the sword qi burst forth, even cutting the bi river behind qian yongfu into countless water droplets.


    qian yongfu, dead!


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 286 - 261: Blood Ban of the Heavenly Demon, Key (Two in One)

    qian yongfu¡¯s entire body was shredded by the sword qi, while lin shiming also fell heavily to the ground, gasping for air and clutching a superior-grade spirit stone in his hand; at the same time, he had swallowed a drop of hundred-year spirit milk.


    this sequence of actions had nearly depleted his true yuan.


    and this was with his three spirit platforms. if it were an ordinary cultivator at the foundation establishment middle stage, no matter how much thousand-year spirit milk they had, they couldn¡¯t have pulled it off.


    or they would have been drained dry by that sword strike.


    at the side, qian bosheng was still restraining five third-rank late-stage demonic beasts. his strength was mediocre, and both his cultivation technique and his true yuan were unremarkable. even at the peak of foundation establishment, he was not gaining the upper hand against these five demonic beasts.


    just as he was about to take out a treasure, intending to flee, he suddenly saw a streak of golden light emerge in the void.


    the golden light moved incredibly fast, and with only a faint whirring of wings, it seemed to arrive abruptly before him.


    two scythe-like limbs slashed down viciously.


    this was the golden winged mantis that lin shiming had prepared to deliver the coup de gra?ce to qian yongfu, except that qian yongfu had died under his grass sword art, with no need for a finishing blow.


    it just so happened to be perfect for a sneak attack on qian bosheng.


    qian bosheng¡¯s fleeing body was left bifurcated, with only the upper part still madly rushing forward, while the lower half eerily remained in place.


    another three breaths of time passed, and qian bosheng also met his end on the spot, his body cleaved in two.


    at this moment, both lin xianzhi and lin shiming had no intention of lingering. after all, there was still at least one group of cultivators plotting over the stalactite cave. if they turned back now, the two of them would stand no chance whatsoever.


    the two of them swept up all the storage bags, at the same time recalling the spirit beasts, leaving only the red-haired demon monkey, which flicked its tail and instantly ignited flames that roiled the spot, while a primordial magnet seal was pressed fiercely on top.


    stay updated through empire


    no trace was left behind.


    seeing no trace remained, the two of them ran towards the distance.


    however, the first jade slip he examined was for a cultivation technique called the blood devil body refinement technique!


    this technique was naturally a demonic cultivation technique, and it could be cultivated up to the purple mansion late stage, but its cultivation required the essence blood of cultivators. moreover, every time one broke through a major realm, a large number of mortals needed to be sacrificed in blood rituals!


    the only advantage was that, since it was a body refining technique, other cultivators would not detect it even after cultivation.


    however, every time one broke through a major boundary with the blood devil body refinement technique, they had to endure a hundredfold trial of the heart demon; failing the trial would result in becoming an insensible demon.


    qian yongfu was obviously afraid of this hundredfold heart demon trial and did not want to attempt a body refinement breakthrough to purple mansion. instead, he wished to acquire a normal cultivation technique to break through to purple mansion.


    "seventh great-uncle, this is a demonic body refining technique. however, there¡¯s a secret art here that can break the blood devil ban and unlock the seal on the family jade book," lin xianzhi spoke again.


    he hadn¡¯t expected that the secret method qian yongfu mentioned to break the seal on the family jade book would actually exist and be such a demonic technique!


    lin shiming then continued to search inside the storage bag and quickly found a jade box. inside the box, a stench of essence blood rose to the heavens, churning within.


    the surface of the jade box not only shimmered with spirit light, but within the essence blood, it seemed as though countless wailing souls were trapped.


    it just appeared tranquil because the spirit formation sealed the box.


    "seventh great-uncle, here is the demon-breaking blood needed to break the blood devil ban!" lin shiming spoke up, somewhat excitedly.


    this demon-breaking blood was also refined from the essence blood of countless innocent mortals.


    they had not expected that the qian family, having lain low for so long, was actually refining demonic techniques. it was no wonder they were extremely low-key in yunzhou.


    originally they were collecting mortal essence blood, and for a foundation establishment family to conduct blood sacrifices within their own territory, outsiders would never know it.


    "it¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t have qian yongfu¡¯s remnant soul; otherwise, we could have conducted a soul search on qian yongfu," lin shiming said with some regret. qian yongfu¡¯s dying words seemed to contain much information, and if they could have conducted a soul search, or even searched the remnant soul, they would probably have gained a lot.


    they had no intention of refining the demonic blood devil ban within the lin family, but that did not prevent them from using the demon-breaking blood at hand.


    however, at that moment, lin xianzhi smiled faintly, stretched out his hand, and a soul-sealing vial appeared in it. this was the remnant soul that lin xianzhi had just collected.


    enhance your reading experience by removing ads:


    remove ads now

 Chapter 287 - 261: Blood Ban of the Heavenly Demon, Key (Two in One)_2

    ever since qian yongfu mentioned that he could decipher the family jade book and soul search, lin xianzhi had been set on the idea.


    after slaying qian bosheng, lin shiming immediately used the soul-sealing vial to imprison qian yongfu¡¯s not-yet-dissipated remnant soul.


    unexpectedly, it now proved to be useful.


    "search it quickly!" lin xianzhi handed the jade bottle to lin shiming.


    lin shiming didn¡¯t decline and immediately began to learn the secret techniques within the jade slip, practicing the blood devil ban breaking.


    with the addition of demon-breaking blood, he started to soul search qian yongfu that very day.


    the demon-breaking blood, activated by the secret technique, formed into a massive shimmering blood light.


    the blood light twisted continuously, resembling a monster, and at the same time, his mind was filled with a multitude of hallucinations.


    lin shiming, undeterred, continued to focus and stay calm; with another hand gesture, the blood light began to envelop qian yongfu¡¯s remnant soul, causing a jade book within it to shatter into specks of jade light as if tainted, vanishing from sight.


    lin shiming, watching this scene, was immediately overjoyed.


    with the family jade book gone, he could proceed with the normal soul searching.


    lin shiming did not delay and was both shocked and fearful after searching through the soul.


    qian yongfu had not only schemed against them both but even before this, he had plotted against golden corpse child and ye wuyou of wanjian sect!


    these were all ruthless individuals, yet surprisingly, they were indeed tricked by qian yongfu.


    he first trapped golden corpse child, making him let his guard down, thinking they had gone to look for the stalactite cave, when in reality, they were still within the sea area under the formation, with the heavenly trapping formation of renshui in place, and other cultivators dared not to believe that the two of them were inside the formation and below bi river.


    qian yongfu¡¯s plan was for the direct disciples of the heavenly demon sect and corpse refining sect to face off against the jade night bat king, the guardian of the millennium-old spirit milk.


    that was a true purple mansion great demon!


    meanwhile, qian yongfu and qian bosheng stayed beneath the formation, waiting for lin xianzhi and lin shiming, and then take the opportunity to find the renshui geng metal art without side effects.


    he could then break through to the purple mansion.


    of course, besides these schemes, qian yongfu also had a key fragment of the stalactite cave, which served as both the key to the stalactite cave formation and a spirit binding token for the jade night bat king, although this token was only controlling when the bat was a third rank demonic beast.


    its hold over the jade night bat was no longer as strong as before!


    nevertheless, it could still cause certain trauma to the jade night bat king at a critical moment, and through the key, one could enter the formation inside the stalactite cave.


    this was also why qian yongfu was so assertive, letting the cultivators from the heavenly demon sect and corpse refining sect go ahead.


    beyond that, lin shiming learned from the memories that qian yongfu had previously attempted to break through to the purple mansion using over ten drops of millennium spirit milk, but the breakthrough failed, and his lifespan neared its end, which is why he practiced demonic cultivation techniques and body refining techniques, to vie for this chance.


    millennium spirit milk was more effective for breaking through to the purple mansion, and unexpectedly, lin shiming discovered that qian yongfu had set his eyes on wan qing of wanjian sect, coveting the zi xuan precious jade in his possession.


    lin shiming took out the key, which was a palm-sized wooden token carved with various spirit formations, clearly more complex than the lin family¡¯s mountain protection formation.


    also, by using divine sense, one could easily feel a tiny bat shape contained within the wooden token.


    it was a part of the divine soul of the jade liquid bat king.


    however, since the latter had already broken through to the purple mansion and its divine soul had been nurtured in the purple mansion, it had significantly grown. if one were to merely rely on the divine soul remnant left from its third rank stage, it would undoubtedly be extremely dangerous.


    another day passed, and lin xianzhi had refined the split soul banner and also grasped the method to dismantle and set up the array plate of the heavenly trapping formation.


    both of them set off immediately, returning to the spot where qian yongfu was fishing, and the heavenly trapping formation was still in place.


    they checked with their divine sense once more.


    meanwhile, underground, a spirit-seeking rat crawled out and landed in lin xianzhi¡¯s hand.


    following the spirit-seeking rat as it shook its head and wagged its head, lin xianzhi and lin shiming again relaxed.


    lin xianzhi began dismantling the array plate and the formation, while lin shiming kept watch.


    after the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, lin xianzhi gave a light shout.


    in front of him, forty-nine formation flags suddenly surfaced from the bi river and at last fell into lin xianzhi¡¯s hands.


    at the same time, the figure of qian yucheng also emerged.


    at this moment, qian yucheng¡¯s face was filled with despair, having been pushed into the formation by qian yongfu, he had waited for two or three days without seeing his ancestor coming to save him.


    upon seeing lin xianzhi and lin shiming, he just started to beg for mercy and ask questions.


    but all he saw was a monster binding ring flying out, binding him in place.


    and the storage bag also fell into lin shiming¡¯s hands.


    "uncle ancestor, he has a heavenly corpse bug on him, and there are two spirit rhinoceros gu insects!" lin shiming said, having obtained this knowledge from qian yongfu¡¯s memories.


    the heavenly corpse bug was placed by the golden corpse child, while one of the spirit rhinoceros gu insects was placed by li chengxian.


    if they were to kill the latter, they would risk alerting others, and if they took him with them, they would also alert the golden corpse child and ye wuyou.


    "leave him here!" lin xianzhi said. enjoy new adventures from empire


    then both of them took out another set of array plates and a coffin.


    this coffin came from qian yongfu¡¯s storage bag, directly sealing qian yucheng inside it. these coffins were refined by the corpse refining sect cultivator, comparable to an intermediate grade third rank magic artifact.


    this was the perfect time to use them.


    qian yucheng was utterly unwilling, but at this moment, what say did he have in the matter?

 Chapter 288 - 262: Probing and Formation Setup (Combined)

    at the end of bi river, there stood a desolate mountain peak, soaring like the clouds.


    the river snaked out from within the mountain, revealing a gigantic stalactite cave three zhang tall.


    rushing water flowed out of the cave, making tremendous noise.


    at this moment, a hundred li away from the cave, an enormous jade night bat flapped its vast wings, creating terrifying cyclones, relentlessly bombing a glittering golden ship.


    on the ship, li chengxian watched the jade night bat king approach, his expression solemn, brows deeply furrowed, continuously performing one spirit art after another.


    meanwhile, a large number of intermediate-grade spirit stones continuously flew towards several spirit platforms on the ship,


    as the jade night bat king kept releasing bizarre cyclones and shrill, roaring snarls, sending out waves of purple ripples.


    suddenly, the ship¡¯s golden light shone at its brightest, yet it was still dispersed by the purple ripples, layer after layer of its protective formation breaking.


    fortunately, the war treasure ship had enough formations that could be continuously activated.


    but the consumption of li chengxian¡¯s true yuan was undoubtedly massive, and the consumption of the ship¡¯s spirit stones was also extremely great.


    read exclusive adventures at empire


    the next moment, with a loud boom, the jade night bat king screeched, immediately transforming into a purple light and fiercely charged up, scratching the surface of the war treasure ship with three claw marks, causing the entire body of the ship to shake violently.


    however, as li chengxian kept performing gestures, layers of spirit light surged around the war treasure ship, protecting it within.


    the bat king¡¯s strange cries became louder, and waves of purple ripples surged like tides.


    after all, the purple mansion great demon was a formidable opponent; at this moment, it completely overpowered the war treasure ship.


    meanwhile, at a small hill in the distance from the battle,


    lin shiming took out the jade card, glanced at it, and saw that the formation inside was as usual, afterwards, he also became calm again.


    system prompts at this moment were absent, and he was not in a rush.


    on the contrary, he was somewhat curious. golden corpse child and ye wuyou, neither skilled in formation, how would they break the formation.


    however, the next moment, with a loud boom, waves of purple ripples came from afar, and the two of them felt their hearts beat much more frantically, as if controlled by those purple spirit patterns.


    and at a distance, they saw the shadow of a mountain-sized phantom rushing over from afar.


    within the cave mansion, ripples seemed to arise within the void.


    lin shiming did not dare to use divine sense, but he knew that golden corpse child had come out, and had stopped at a position fifty meters outside the cave mansion.


    this location was truly bold; if discovered by the jade night bat king, it would surely be torn to shreds, without a doubt, a fatal outcome.


    what he was using was actually the colorless and odorless five elements silkworm¡¯s void coffin that qian yongfu had once fooled others with, devoid of any spiritual energy fluctuations and able to block divine sense.


    and if he guessed correctly, ye wuyou would also be inside the coffin.


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi were both somewhat nervous at this point. although they hid far enough away, they also feared detection.


    they watched the jade night bat king grow larger and larger in the distance.


    it stayed at the entrance of the cave, its two-zhang wings constantly flapping at the mouth of the cave, and then it suddenly roared into the cave.


    waves of purple spirit light ripples once again swept out.


    the jade night bat king was clearly ruthless; unable to find the hidden cultivators, it directly launched a frenzied attack at the cave entrance until, after half an hour, it ceased the assault, flapped its wings, and flew into the stalactite cave!


    lin shiming and lin xianzhi then fully activated the split spirit decision, using their split spirit blade to purge the attack of the spirit patterns from within their bodies, yet they still suffered considerable injuries.

 Chapter 289 - 262: Probing and Formation Setup (Combined)_2

    however, at this moment, they dared not move at all; lin shiming didn¡¯t even dare let his gaze drift towards the jade night bat king.


    for some powerful cultivators, even a mere look can be sensed, not to mention such beings as the purple mansion great demon.


    fortunately, until the very end, the jade night bat king had not detected anything amiss.


    as the jade night bat king entered the cave mansion, lin shiming, with his sharp eyes, noticed a ripple in the void at the entrance.


    the ripple lasted for several breaths, and afar, a war treasure ship approached once again.


    the spirit boat converged at the treasure ship, and once again, a terrifying spirit might gathered.


    the next moment, it transformed into a giant blade of the formation and bombarded the cavern once more!


    "boom!" the horrifying sound erupted again, as the jade night bat king who had entered the cavern roared even more furiously, accompanied by waves of purple spirit patterns.


    the next instant, an enormous creature slammed into the spirit boat with even greater ferocity.


    the entire spirit boat trembled wildly.


    li chengxian hadn¡¯t expected that the jade night bat king would be so fierce, but the reason the war treasure ship was considered a match for a purple mansion entity was that it shone with a myriad of rosy lights in an instant.


    a myriad of spirit shields shattered, yet in the final moment, they held up.


    the war treasure ship transformed once more into a golden radiance and rushed into the distance.


    the jade night bat king was even more enraged as its terrifying purple spirit claws continuously swiped across the spirit shields of the war treasure ship.


    as the purple mansion great demon left, ripples once again rippled through the void in front of the cavern, resembling waves of energy pulses.


    lin shiming exchanged glances with lin xianzhi, both of them refraining from moving. although there was no mind communication, their vigilance was extremely high.


    the golden corpse child and ye wuyou evidently were luring the jade night bat king in and out repeatedly to locate the formation¡¯s vital point, thus stealing the hundred-year spirit milk and spiritual marrow.


    after another ten breaths, ripples once again passed through the entrance of the cavern.


    following the ripples, lin shiming and lin xianzhi exchanged glances again.


    they both felt a sense of relief, truly worthy of being demon cultivators, even in such a moment, they were still on guard against anyone who might be secretly tracking them.


    at this moment, they could not communicate with divine sense, but neither of them felt impulsive.


    at the same time, lin shiming¡¯s system prompt appeared once again:


    "please be cautious of the hidden golden corpse child and ye wuyou!"


    lin shiming was instantly alarmed.


    at this moment, he clearly saw that lin xianzhi was about to make a move to set up the formation.


    he quickly transmitted his expression over!


    at this moment, lin xianzhi did not dare to ignore lin shiming; although it was an optimal opportunity, they still chose to lie low once more.


    after another ten breaths, small ripples once again emerged at the entrance of the cavern, noticeably more minor than the previous two times.


    transforming into thick walls of water.


    but the heavenly trapping formation was ultimately not a fourth rank formation, and when struck by the purple mansion demonic beast from the outside, it immediately began to crack, signaling that one more attack might shatter the formation.


    your next chapter is on empire


    this also revealed the figures of golden corpse child and ye wuyou.


    the jade night bat became even angrier, its cold gaze as if it wanted to devour the two, its sharp teeth parted, and purple ripples spread out like from the center of a lake.


    they covered nearly the entire space around golden corpse child and ye wuyou, whose faces changed drastically as they deployed several more techniques.


    but they still vomited fresh blood. thankfully, they had countless trained corpses and demon heads in front to block this wave of spirit patterns attack!


    below the formation, unnoticed by anyone, two figures had already made their way beneath the heavenly trapping formation into the cave.


    this move was none other than the hidden formation used by qian yongfu, concealed at the base of the heavenly trapping formation.


    but at this moment, both individuals were spewing fresh blood from the corners of their mouths, having sustained serious injuries, and they were not even the main targets of the attack.


    the two moved swiftly, rushing into the grotto, where the entire cavern dripped with water, the continuous plinking into the underground river, and various stalactites floated in the cave.


    the pair did not dare to hesitate, propelling their sword light to the utmost speed.


    soon they came upon a vast underground cavern world.


    this cavern hall was even more enormous, easily spanning several hundred zhang.


    and at the top of the cavern, various oddly-shaped stalactites hung down like spears, pointing downward.


    the enormous spiritual energy washed over the two and revealed layers of purple spirit light shields.


    this spirit light shield was, of course, a mountain protection array.


    this mountain protection array had entrances for those who knew the life-path and for those who had the key.


    the jade night bat had entered through the life-path, while anyone else who trespassed would be led by the mountain protection array to the death-path.


    golden corpse child and ye wuyou, previously, were observing through the cave entrance to locate the life-path before attempting to enter through trained corpses.


    but at this moment, with the key in hand, lin shiming didn¡¯t need such trouble. he took out the key token and gestured towards the formation.


    suddenly, the purple spirit shield began to fade, forming a passage tall enough for one person.


    the pair did not hesitate and rushed inside.


    upon entering the hall, they were almost drowned by an even denser spiritual energy.


    beneath the many inverted stalactite pillars, at the center, there were several stone disks, each filled with sparkling spiritual liquid.


    this was indeed the hundred-year spirit milk and thousand-year spirit milk that lin shiming had seen before.


    however, many stone disks were empty, obviously having been devoured by the jade night bat.


    among the numerous stone disks, the central most one held a dazzling jade disk, within which a drop of crystal liquid shone like a white star, extraordinarily bright.


    ```

 Chapter 290 - 263: Spiritual Marrow, Treasure Ship (Two in One)

    Beneath the cave, that single drop of spiritual essence, in a flash, countless beams of spirit light converged, dazzling like myriads of stars.


    The entire Jade Disk was illuminated so brightly it was translucent.


    The abundant Spiritual Energy formed a rosy cloud that, shining upon the multi-colored stalactites, appeared exceptionally magnificent!


    At this moment, what Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, Thousand-Year Spirit Milk, all paled instantly.


    For a time, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming¡¯s gazes were tightly fixed on this drop of spiritual essence, unable to shift away in the slightest.


    "It¡¯s just matured!" Lin Shiming exclaimed in great joy as he felt the exceptionally active Spiritual Energy around him.


    This single drop of spiritual essence, with its price on the outside at least several million Spirit Stones, was literally priceless.


    Its terrifying Spiritual Power was enough to assist cultivators on the verge of breaking through to the Purple Mansion.


    It could increase the chances by ten percent, and could even take effect concurrently with the Zi Xuan Precious Jade.


    If the Lin Family could obtain a piece of Zi Xuan Precious Jade, then there would be a thirty percent chance of success, but with Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, it would be forty percent!


    Even Lin Xianzhi was moved at this moment, unable to calm himself for a long time.


    "Shiming, hurry up and collect it, the Formation outside has been broken!" Lin Xianzhi urged anxiously on the side.


    The Heavenly Trapping Formation, due to the lack of someone inside to manage it, evidently couldn¡¯t withstand the onslaught of the Jade Night Bat King for even a few breaths.


    Of course, even if Lin Xianzhi were inside the Formation, he too could not have defended for long.


    Lin Shiming didn¡¯t hesitate; he had fought so long for this Millennium Spirit Essence.


    He took out several Jade Bottles.


    Flying into the air, with a series of Spirit Arts, the Millennium Spirit Essence steadily entered the Jade Bottles. Moreover, Lin Shiming didn¡¯t let go of the other Hundred-Year and Thousand-Year Spirit Milk.


    "Quick, get on the War Treasure Ship!" Golden Corpse Child and Ye WuYou both roared.


    Just a moment ago, it was the War Treasure Ship that had shielded them from the Bat King¡¯s attack; now, facing even more terrifying onslaughts, it seemed much more powerless!


    Two of Golden Corpse Child¡¯s personally prided golden corpses were instantaneously torn apart by the Jade Night Bat, and the remaining one was bitten fiercely around the neck by its adversary.


    Even though it bled no blood, it crumbled into golden chunks and rained down as corpse fragments.


    Ye WuYou¡¯s Sky Demon Flag fiercely pressed down on the Jade Night Bat King, attempting to capture it within the flag, but it was directly torn into two ragged pieces by a purple claw light.


    The two of them dared not linger any longer; as soon as they reached the War Treasure Ship, they attempted to flee.


    However, they were tightly chased by the Jade Night Bat King.


    The chase happened once more, the War Treasure Ship¡¯s spirit light and prohibited array fading, the full force of the Purple Mansion Great Demon proving too much for the ship to bear. They were forced to flee continuously.


    "Uncle, let¡¯s go the other way!" Lin Shiming saw that the chase had moved far away and promptly urged Lin Xianzhi to head toward the deeper parts of the cave.


    Discover exclusive tales on empire


    The entire cave was surrounded by Mountain Protection Arrays, undoubtedly an insurmountable exit for others.


    The life gate shifted too drastically, possible to navigate only by a Fourth Rank Formation Master!


    But Lin Shiming had the Mutated Spirit Ants.


    At that moment, these Spirit Ants showed up, all of them agitatedly calling out as they headed towards the stalactites overhead that produced Spirit Milk.


    It seemed the stones producing Spirit Milk had an enormous attraction for them.


    So much so, that some ignored Lin Shiming¡¯s commands.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also pulled out his Flying Sword, and immediately began to sweep through the entire cave, chopping down the majority of the Spirit Milk Stone columns.


    This Secret Realm, they were almost certain never to visit a second time; thus, there was no reason to leave anything for the future or to collect Spirit Milk later!

 Chapter 291 - 263: Spiritual Marrow, Treasure Ship (Two in One)_2

    The stone pillar was chopped down by a large half and placed inside the Cave Heaven world, and Lin Shiming once again controlled the Spirit Ants, which immediately became much more obedient.


    One after another, the Spirit Ants bit towards the Spirit Formation on the stone wall.


    And as the Spirit Formation was torn open, the two of them immediately took out an Earth Escape Talisman and followed behind the Spirit Ants.


    The eighty-one Spirit Ants, speckled with starlight spots, frenziedly gnawed at the Spirit Formation, a task far more difficult than any previous attempts.


    Clearly, this Mountain Protection Array might have reached the Fourth Rank; even for these Spirit Ants, it would take quite an effort to chew through.


    Fortunately, Golden Corpse Child and the others had just lured away the enraged Jade Night Bat King.


    For Demonic Beasts, even a Purple Mansion Great Demon¡¯s Spirit Intelligence is inferior to that of humans, not to mention it now had half of its Divine Soul blown apart.


    Although losing half of its Divine Soul wasn¡¯t lethal, it had depleted the Jade Night Bat King¡¯s already limited Spirit Intelligence completely.


    This turned the Jade Night Bat King into a beast that knew only slaughter, with no hope of recovery for a considerable time.


    As half an incense stick¡¯s time passed by, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi finally broke through the Mountain Protection Array.


    The two of them breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that the Spirit Formation was still slowly recovering; they immediately continued to escape deeper underground.


    At this moment, only by staying underground could they feel a bit safer.


    If the Jade Night Bat King were to discover that they had already come out, its hatred for them would undoubtedly be even greater.


    The two cautiously continued towards the east.


    Although they had obtained a large amount of Spirit Milk and treasures like the Split Soul Banner, the longer they lingered in this small world, the more they were shocked by the dangers it presented.


    They dared not stay any longer.


    They fled, and only after escaping thousands of miles did they find a small mountain range to begin healing their injuries.


    With the Formation forcibly destroyed, Lin Xianzhi also suffered serious injuries. Ambushed at the entrance and attacked by the Jade Night Bat¡¯s purple sonic waves, he was additionally wounded, piling injury upon injury!


    Fortunately, with Hundred-Year Spirit Milk and Thousand-Year Spirit Milk, their recovery would be much faster than normal.


    It was just a pity that the Array Plate of the Water Bound Heavenly Trapping Formation was destroyed; otherwise, their meditation would be much safer.


    Lin Shiming could only take out another set of Array Plates to arrange around them, then took out the Spirit Milk to start recovering.


    He checked the Jade Bottle and found a total of ten drops of Thousand-Year Spirit Milk and a full three hundred drops of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, making him overnight wealthy!


    This was after the Jade Night Bat had consumed a significant amount, otherwise, there would have been even more Thousand-Year Spirit Milk!


    Ordinary Purple Mansion Cultivators would recover most of their True Yuan just by taking a single drop of Thousand-Year Spirit Milk.


    Of course, the most precious was still the Thousand-Year Spirit Marrow.


    In addition to the Spirit Milk and Spirit Marrow, in his Cave Heaven world, those Spirit Ants were also crazily gnawing on the Stalactite columns he had chopped down!


    In the distance, Wang Jiao continued to coil around the mysterious Spirit Shell, which, unable to escape after entering the small world, had finally resigned itself to immobility in the swamp.


    After checking and seeing no abnormal situations, Lin Shiming also began to heal and meditate.


    Moreover, Li Chengxian knew they had obtained the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk. If he broadcasted this in front of Qingxuan Sect cultivators, that could be terrible; they might end up having to trade treasures with the hermits of the Purple Mansion!


    And the value of the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk would surely tempt those hermits.


    Especially the spirit essence of a thousand years, its value could not be measured by other treasures, and it had a decisive effect for the Lin Family.


    If they could silence him, he certainly did not want to miss the chance.


    The two once again started on their journey. This time, they both moved quickly, and upon the suggestion of Lin Xianzhi, they released the Golden Winged Mantis.


    If they encountered a Purple Mansion Great Demon, they would at least have an early warning.


    Of course, for Lin Shiming, he knew that the Golden Winged Mantis had no such early warning capabilities; it had only once found some Golden Iron Stone.


    The two men and the beast quickly arrived in front of a mountain peak, which was exactly three thousand miles away.


    However, the entire mountain was silent and showed no traces of any cave dwellings or formations.


    At this moment, the two spared no attention elsewhere, sweeping with their Divine Sense all around, they didn¡¯t even miss three or four thousand meters underground.


    But the mountain in front of them showed no trace whatsoever.


    Instead, Lin Xianzhi was somewhat baffled and wanted to lead Lin Shiming in other directions to continue the search.


    But Lin Shiming did not think so; the system indicated three thousand miles, which must be exactly three thousand miles, with no deviation whatsoever, let alone the fact that Li Chengxian was definitely healing at this moment.


    "No, something¡¯s not right, Seventh Great-Uncle, the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin of Golden Corpse Child!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    That coffin was no ordinary treasure. If the three of them lay inside the casket, although it would be a bit cramped,


    they really might not be discovered.


    Lying inside the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin, and then using Superior Grade Spirit Stones, Return Yuan pills or other healing treasures, they really could heal without a trace.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, set up the formation, let¡¯s go wild!" Lin Shiming saw that the surrounding Spiritual Energy was not particularly abundant and there were no powerful demonic beasts.


    At that moment, he also released the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    And Lin Xianzhi quickly set up the Formation, which wasn¡¯t any powerful Formation, but a Trapping Formation.


    A Trapping Formation would be enough for them for the time being.


    In an instant, the Red-haired Demon Monkey transformed into a thirty-foot-tall Fire Ape, and its tail blazing with Strange Fire!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s idea was to start a fire on the mountain!


    The flames blazed fiercely, and not only that, the Red-haired Demon Monkey also took out a Primordial Magnet Seal, repeatedly slamming it down.


    The Five-colored Silkworm Coffin had the attributes of the Five Elements, but was still suppressed by the Primordial Magnet Stone.


    Then, at the foot of a certain mountain, as the Primordial Magnet Seal hit, with a loud boom, a transparent casket appeared out of nowhere!


    A massive sound rang out, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey immediately let out an excited howl!


    Lin Xianzhi¡¯s Formation also fell into place at once.


    As the lid of the coffin lifted, the figure of Li Chengxian was revealed!

 Chapter 292 - 264: Huge Gains (Two in One)

    Li Chengxian¡¯s face was filled with disbelief; he couldn¡¯t imagine encountering Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming here.


    He was even more puzzled as to how Shiming could be certain he was here and then start burning and smashing mountains to reveal his location!


    As everyone knows, to burn and smash mountains within a minor world is akin to seeking one¡¯s own death!


    Yet without burning and smashing mountains, finding the location of the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin would be utterly impossible!


    Despite the whirlwind of emotions, Li Chengxian was not one to just sit and await death.


    With swift reactions, he took out countless Third Rank late-stage Spirit Talismans.


    Throwing them forward fiercely, instantly, countless beams of Spirit Light dazzled brightly, activating various spells to their limits!


    He aimed to confuse and fend off both Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming.


    He then began to fumble for the War Treasure Ship within his Storage Bag.


    But before he could take it out, Shiming¡¯s Grass-character Sword Technique and Lin Xianzhi¡¯s Azure Gold Sword Lotus had already approached him.


    To prevent these three from escaping, they struck with all their might in one blow.


    And this was prepared even before the Primordial Magnet Seal could detect the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin.


    Facing such a peak attack, even Qian Yongfu, at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment in Body Refining Cultivation, couldn¡¯t withstand it¡ªhow could Li Chengxian possibly resist!


    The air was permeated with Sword Intent, and the sword light rampaged unchecked.


    The grass cut through the void; the lotus rolled up the cosmos!


    Immediately, Li Chengxian was shredded by the sword light into fragments of Spirit Light, vanishing without a trace.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi were somewhat taken aback themselves.


    The deadly strikes they prepared were intended to target both Golden Corpse Child and Ye WuYou.


    The duration of the Spirit Controlling Seals on these Demonic Beasts was nearly up, so it was a good opportunity for them to serve their final purpose.


    Lin Xianzhi, not daring to delay, laid low as well; if they really got entangled with the Purple Mansion Great Demon, they¡¯d surely be doomed. Continue your journey on empire


    Five Third Rank late-stage Demonic Beasts, rushing towards death, charged at the Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi, maneuvering the Spirit Boat, once again flew towards the east, believing that the farther they got, the safer they would be.


    Upon finding a small mountain, they quickly dug a hole, then took out the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin, opened the coffin lid, and leaped inside.


    The surface of the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin then began to change color, blending into the pit like common soil!


    The space inside the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin was vast, much larger than it appeared from the outside, similar to magic artifacts like a mustard seed Storage Bag.


    And this was indeed a Supreme Grade Magic Artifact capable of accommodating cultivators.


    However, in their unrefined state, they were blind to the outside and couldn¡¯t release Divine Sense.


    Upon inspection, they both realized that it¡¯s likely Li Chengxian had also been healing and had not refined the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been so disoriented when they blasted him out!


    For now, to avoid detection by the outside Purple Mansion Great Demon, they dared not attempt refinement.


    As for remaining hidden, they were confident; the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin had undiscoverably passed right in front of them, even the Jade Night Bat King had failed to detect this artifact.


    As for the Purple Mansion Great Demon chasing them, it most likely wouldn¡¯t be able to find them either.


    Once inside the coffin, Lin Xianzhi continued healing, while Shiming, having only minor injuries and just being overly exhausted, had already taken the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, his True Yuan surging within him like clouds.


    Continually funneling into the three Spirit Platforms, it wouldn¡¯t take long for his True Yuan to fully recover.


    He then began to inspect the spoils of this outing,


    first taking out Li Chengxian¡¯s Storage Bag, examining the War Treasure Ship with detail for the very first time.


    Prior to this, although he had used the one from Qingxuan Sect, that ultimately belonged to an Elder of the Purple Mansion from Qingxuan Sect, so he naturally didn¡¯t dare to scrutinize it excessively.


    But now, this War Treasure Ship was practically stamped with the mighty Lin Family insignia!

 Chapter 293 - 264: Huge Gains (Two in One)_2

    This feeling was naturally incomparable to anything else!


    However, he didn¡¯t dare to release it. He had to know as soon as he entered the small world, there was a notification that Qingxuan Sect could monitor the dispersal of Magic Artifacts within this Secret Realm.


    If those True Persons were so inclined, they probably would already have the information about his acquisition of the thousand-year-old Spiritual Milk.


    On the contrary, they wouldn¡¯t have known about the legacy he acquired from the Three Origins Hermit.


    Of course, due to the space constraints of the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin, he couldn¡¯t release it anyway.


    At this moment, the Storage Bag contained a War Treasure Ship that was only the size of a palm, which appeared no different from an ordinary Third Rank Spirit Boat.


    But the Spirit Might on the Spirit Boat and the countless Formation Spirit Patterns were dazzling and exquisite.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    It made him dizzy at first, feeling it to be extremely complex.


    The entire Spirit Boat had ten Spirit Platforms, which meant that to activate the War Treasure Ship¡¯s Purple Mansion powers, at least ten Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage or above were required to transmit True Yuan simultaneously.


    The reason Li Chengxian was able to withstand the attack of the Jade Night Bat King was also because he relied on puppets and Golden Corpse Child to transmit True Yuan!


    And as far as he knew initially, the War Treasure Ship of Zi Xuan Hermit had as many as thirty-two Spirit Platforms.


    Looking at it this way, there were clearly differences between the War Treasure Ships.


    This one with ten Spirit Platforms was obviously the most basic War Treasure Ship.


    However, Lin Shiming was already extremely satisfied. With this War Treasure Ship, the Lin Family in Shuangmu Island finally had Purple Mansion battle power.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming began to examine the Storage Bag again, his Divine Sense searching within.


    In a corner, there were six brand-new, intact Third Rank Intermediate Stage puppets, as well as ten damaged ones. These puppets were wrecked and obviously destroyed in battle with the Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Third Rank puppets consume Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, yet they could exert the power equivalent to Third Rank Cultivators.


    The Lin Family had also searched for such puppets at various auction houses, but nobody was selling them!


    Now, the Lin Family¡¯s wish was fulfilled once again!


    Next to the damaged puppets, there were also seven or eight destroyed spirit corpses.


    Although these spirit corpses couldn¡¯t compare to the top-tier Golden Corpse Child, they were all late-stage Third Rank spirit corpses, and if the Lin Family had anyone who practiced corpse cultivation techniques at the Foundation Establishment stage, they would undoubtedly be a formidable force.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming was even more delighted.


    These puppets and spirit corpses signified not only a stronger foundation for the Lin Family but also meant he could control the War Treasure Ship and unleash the power of a Purple Mansion Cultivator.


    Only in a dire situation would he consider using them.


    After inspecting the War Treasure Ship, Lin Shiming started examining the treasures.


    Then they laid out another Formation.


    The two did not hurry on their way, as Lin Shiming was also preparing to refine the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin first.


    Lin Xianzhi, meanwhile, continued to refine the Split Soul Banner, as their next step was to join Xiao Chen and others to obtain the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit!


    The stronger they were, the greater their chances of success, naturally.


    Once they stopped, three days passed.


    Lin Xianzhi sat in the Formation, and before his eyes, the void wrinkled, like ripples on the surface of a lake.


    If you did not look closely at Lin Xianzhi¡¯s Divine Sense, you would not feel the slightest thing.


    The next moment, the lid of the coffin in the void opened, and Lin Shiming leaped out, also showing a look of joy.


    "Seventh Ancestor Uncle, this Five-colored Silkworm Coffin is truly amazing!" After refining it, Lin Shiming could finally maneuver the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin himself and also peer outside through the coffin.


    It was not like before when he was completely in the dark and unaware of outside matters!


    Furthermore, he had also completely refined the Heavenly Demon Nether Needle, having gained another method which greatly bolstered his confidence!


    "Indeed it¡¯s extraordinary, but it brings with it some misfortune," Lin Xianzhi nodded and then frowned slightly.


    He was still somewhat displeased that the Golden Corpse Child had woven the silken threads of the Five-colored Silkworm into this kind of coffin Magic Artifact.


    For the likes of these old men, spending time in a coffin might be fine, but for a prodigy like Lin Shiming, staying in a coffin was seriously inauspicious.


    "Let¡¯s hurry to the meeting place arranged with Xiao Chen, time is running short!" Lin Xianzhi also spoke up, having fully refined his Split Soul Banner, now was the optimal time to depart.


    They had already spent over a month in the Secret Realm, and if they did not hasten now, by the time the Myriad Swords Tomb and the Taibai Sword Palace were opened, they would be summoned by Chen Daoyuan of the Qingxuan Sect.


    Xiao Chen and the others, I¡¯m afraid, would not wait for them.


    They would go after the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit on their own!


    The two then once more turned into Escape Light and headed towards the extreme east!


    The further east they went, the more vigorous the purple qi was after sunrise. The horizon was also constantly dotted with purple sunset clouds.


    Atop a hill, the two stopped.


    Before their eyes, a painting scroll suddenly unfurled like a curtain, revealing Xiao Chen¡¯s figure.


    "Daoist Lin, you seem to be a bit late!"


    "The road was fraught with dangers, causing some delays. I hope my fellow Daoists will forgive us!" Lin Xianzhi looked into the scroll and saw that Shi Tai and Lady Purple had already arrived.


    It¡¯s just that the slightly plump cultivator was the only one missing.

 Chapter 296: 266 External Incarnation, Mr. Xu the Cultivator鈥檚 Backup Plan

    Lin Shiming watched the Great Five Elements Demon Subduing Formation that trapped Lady Zi and Xiao Chen, still utterly composed.


    Despite releasing all kinds of binding techniques to trap and kill the Purple Jade Demon Python, there clearly lacked a certain flair in his moves, replaced with a hint of stiffness.


    Puzzled, he asked, "Body Duplication Technique?"


    Lady Zi did not answer, but the lack of an answer was the best response.


    Perhaps this was why Xiao Chen and Lady Zi had been able to lure their enemies into the trap so effortlessly.


    Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the other cultivators to be deceived.


    What Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t understand was that when the latter had entered the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map Magic Artifact, it was clearly not a body double; otherwise, Lin Xianzhi and the others wouldn¡¯t have been mistaken at that time.


    Unless it had been a body double from the start, and it was only because of the painting magic artifact that their uniqueness was concealed.


    The Transformation Thunder Tribulation approached incredibly fast. The thunderstorm clouds in the sky grew thicker and denser, with lightning bolts dancing among them, and from time to time, the sound of thunderous explosions echoed!


    In the blink of an eye, the lightning had condensed to its peak, like the wrath of an executioner¡¯s sentence, a thunderous roar sounded, and a bucket-thick bolt of lightning furiously struck down.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Chen had arrived at the foot of the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree with extreme joy.


    Now no person or beast could obstruct him!


    But the very next moment, all he saw was a massive broadsword slashing fiercely at his back. The sword qi and the murderous aura were almost chilling to the extreme!


    Forced to turn around and block in a hurry.


    Xiao Chen took out a massive black tower and placed it in front of himself to fend off the heavy sword.


    Even so, he was sent flying out like a cannonball.


    "Who?" Xiao Chen bellowed in anger, and at the same time, he was utterly baffled!


    Within this Purple Secret Realm, there was actually someone who could follow them inside.


    He had clearly checked an area of thousands of miles around.


    "What¡¯s more, the brethren from the Wanjian Sect promised to support the Xu Family. What does it matter to me if I¡¯m destroyed by the Heavenly Dao? I am but someone at the end of his life. Do you, old dog Xiao, really imagine sharing the Purple Jade Fruit with me, offering me a chance to glimpse the Great Dao?" Cultivator Xu sneered coldly, staring at Xiao Chen.


    Seeing Xiao¡¯s face turn cold and disdainful, yet struggling to bear it, he burst out laughing heartily.


    Immortal cultivation, immortal cultivation; if one cannot enjoy life to the fullest, what use is there in becoming an immortal after all?


    "Old dog Xiao, do you think you are deserving of the Purple Mansion?" Cultivator Xu wanted to continue but suddenly noticed the extraction of his True Yuan becoming more terrifying, and his body started to shrivel at an alarming rate.


    Inside the formation, Xiao Chen¡¯s face revealed a fierce expression as he began forcibly draining Cultivator Xu!


    "I will wait for you in the netherworld! Today you will not get what you want!" Cultivator Xu used the last bit of his energy to roar angrily.


    Then, he revealed a long-missed look of relief.


    Having violated the Heavenly Oath, he could no longer cultivate; cultivation would bring about the presence of a Heavenly Demon.


    Now, however, it was a different kind of liberation.


    Boom!


    The thunder of the Heavenly Tribulation struck, and the Purple Jade Python no longer paid any heed to the formation; roaring, it aimed to launch into the sky and crush the Heavenly Tribulation!


    But the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation was a hundred times stronger than that of a wood demon.


    Under the deafening boom, the domineering Taiqing Purple Jade Python was turned into a python of electric arcs, writhing and roaring within the formation, its tail smacking about wildly.


    Its entire body pulsed with electric arcs, numerous areas of its purple crystal scales blasted open, exposing raw purple flesh beneath, a shocking and ghastly sight!


    And this was only the first wave of the Heavenly Tribulation!


    Suddenly, in the formation, another small cluster of star-patterned insect cloud appeared, floating around Lin Xianzhi, crafting an insect armor for him.


    The swarming insects forced Lin Xianzhi to break out of the formation in an instant, and with a single flicker, he appeared by Lin Xianzhi¡¯s side.


    The grandfather and grandson stood back to back, not making a move, but they were searching for an opportunity.


    Shi Tai was the only one left within the formation, desperately holding on.

 Chapter 297: 266 External Incarnation, Xu Surname Cultivator鈥檚 Backup Move_2

    For a moment, the sense of tragedy deepened!


    He had never expected that, among the five people, he was the only one without a backup plan!


    Looking back at the start, he had even felt fortunate to have reached an agreement with the cultivator surnamed Xu!


    Now, who could have imagined? Everyone else had kept their own secrets, leading the forces of Wanjian Sect into the fray and securing at least an escape route for their own clans.


    On the contrary, he was left with nothing.


    But there was no time to consider that, as the residual destructive power of the Heavenly Tribulation exploded and hit the formation, its force dispersed considerably. Yet, it was still enough to make Shi Tai¡¯s entire body tremble incessantly, as numerous arcs of lightning penetrated his body.


    Fortunately, as a peak Foundation Establishment body cultivator, he could withstand some residual effects for the time being.


    But if the formation were to break, or should the tribulation intensify further, his death was certain.


    Elsewhere, beneath the tree of the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit, the six members of the Wanjian Sect had formed an encirclement around the entire tree.


    One of the elders in the group, who had previously released the Sword Array, now took out the Array Plate once again.


    As the Sword Array emerged, Xiao Chen¡¯s complexion turned from green to purple in the distance.


    "Daoist Lin, Lady Zi, in today¡¯s battle, escape is certainly not an option. We must set aside our former grievances!" Xiao Chen communicated to Lin Xianzhi through a transmission.


    Lin Xianzhi glanced at Lin Shiming, and almost simultaneously, they both nodded their heads.


    The current situation was far from optimistic. Lin Shiming and Wan Qing had always been at odds, not to mention the matter of stealing the legacy of a hermit from the Cave Heaven World.


    The three of them immediately charged towards the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree.


    To others, the Sword Array of the Wanjian Sect might have been an insurmountable obstacle.


    But to Lin Shiming, once it involved formations, the Spirit Ants were the natural nemesis to such constructs.


    Read new chapters at empire


    All eighty-one Spirit Ants charged ahead, and as they pried open a large hole in the Sword Array, Lady Zi took the lead and burst through.


    At that moment, Lady Zi¡¯s exquisite eyebrows were tightly knitted, and with a push of her fair and lovely hands, a harp appeared in her grasp.


    Her hands moved deftly across the strings, like an enchanting dance, and in the blink of an eye, she released thousands of Spirit Patterns towards the six members of the Wanjian Sect.


    "The Green Sea Tide Bearing Technique and the music of the Bi Hai Qin of the Zi family!"


    "Seal the senses!" the leading elder among the six members of the Wanjian Sect commanded, his face darkening instantly.


    Their ant and insect defenses were easily penetrated, and with the addition of the Zi family¡¯s music, the situation once again grew complicated.


    The five wielded their swords in defense, while Wan Qing behind them rushed towards the fruit tree, swiftly claiming two Purple Jade Fruits.


    Just as he was about to take the remaining three,


    But in the next moment, to his disbelief, Lin Shiming swung several Devouring Spirit Ants straight toward the painting.


    By that time, the Devouring Spirit Ants had already devoured quite a few stalactites in the Cave Heaven World, and their biting and devouring power had greatly surpassed that of before.


    Directly biting a large hole through the protective array.


    For the first time, his Peach Blossom River Scenic Map failed, and his figure was revealed, but what surprised Wan Canghai even more was that Xiaochen had already escaped from his encirclement.


    However, with his form revealed, Wan Canghai would not let Xiaochen escape with the two Purple Jade Fruits.


    With another movement of his fingers, a palace-like magical artifact pressed down towards Xiaochen.


    Simultaneously, the six Supreme Grade magical swords formed a single Heaven-Slaying Sword and slashed towards Xiaochen.


    Xiaochen looked at Lin Shiming with disbelief and incomprehension, not expecting that Lin Shiming had seen through his scroll Magic Artifact as nothing more than an Illusion Array Array Plate, merely more sophisticated, yet still restrained by Lin Shiming¡¯s Devouring Spirit Ants!


    "Beast!" On the other side, Wan Qing, who was in the middle of harvesting the last Purple Jade Fruit, suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented.


    Unbeknownst to him, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had transformed into an enormous three-foot-tall ape behind him, and the giant Crimson Flame Rod fiercely smashed towards Wan Qing.


    Angered, Wan Qing also struck at the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    But a flash of golden light streaked past behind him, and the eight-winged Golden Winged Mantis had already gotten hold of the last fragment of the Purple Jade Fruit.


    To know, at that moment, the eight-winged mantis¡¯s speed was incomparable, even if Lin Xianzhi were to fly with all his might.


    After quickly seizing the fruit, it fled to Lin Shiming¡¯s side, but at that moment, the Golden Winged Mantis chirped in protest, somewhat reluctant, as it was used to slaying enemies and today it had merely snatched the fruit!


    "Retreat!" Lin Shiming sent a message to Lin Xianzhi, who was at that moment fending off Wan Wuyin and the remaining peak Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Wanjian Sect.


    After seizing a Spirit Fruit, they planned to retreat.


    The two of them could only reveal the War Treasure Ship unless they did so.


    And even if they revealed it, once the Purple Jade Python survived the Transformation Thunder Tribulation, they would still inevitably be doomed.


    The Taiqing Purple Jade Python was obviously many times fiercer than the Night Bat King.


    After Lin Shiming obtained the Purple Jade Fruit, he was instantly put under great pressure, and Wan Qing was already furiously beyond measure.


    The treasures of the Hermit¡¯s Cave Heaven were plundered, and now, Lin Shiming was about to steal the Purple Jade Fruit away from him, making him uncontrollably enraged.


    He took out several treasures one after another, even taking out a Spirit Talisman engraved with a Heavy Sword!


    It was indeed a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure level Golden Core talisman, whose power, once activated by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was absolutely equivalent to a strike from a Fourth Rank Purple Mansion cultivator!


    Moreover, at this time, the Wanjian Sect had six people and held an absolute advantage. Using a talisman, nobody could interrupt them!


    The Wanjian Sect instantly positioned two people in front of Wan Qing, and Wan Canghai alone caused Xiaochen to narrowly escape death.


    The remaining three, one to hold off Lin Xianzhi, one to hold off Madam Zi.

 Chapter 299: Received 267 Spirit Fruits, Goal is the Jade Tree (2 in 1, thanks to aion鈥檚 reward)_2

    ```


    The Great Five Elements Demon Subduing Formation¡¯s Array Plate began to crack in an instant, and a terrifying Spirit Might erupted like a volcanic explosion, blasting the Taiqing Purple Jade Python even more wretchedly.


    And this was also the final layer of Heavenly Tribulation for the Purple Jade Python.


    The cloudbank of spiritual energy dispersed, and the ground where the Purple Jade Python once coiled was left ravaged, directly creating a huge pit over a hundred zhang in size.


    Yet at this time, the Purple Jade Python had once again transformed into a youthful figure with a snake¡¯s tail, except that he was covered in blood and appeared gravely injured.


    However, the heavens scattered a layer of five-colored rainbow light, enveloping the transformed youth that was the Taiqing Purple Jade Python.


    The next moment, a tremendous thunderous roar shook the sky, and the Purple Jade Python reverted back to its monstrous form, its enormous lantern-like eyes fiercely glaring at the Wanjian Sect cultivators.


    Wan Qing had just managed to activate his talisman treasure, and Lin Shiming and the others had run away, infuriating him to the extreme.


    Right now, he was timely in executing a Fifth Rank talisman treasure, slashing towards the Purple Jade Python.


    A colossal Magical Treasure Flying Sword took shape, cleaving at the Purple Jade Python, carrying with it astonishing sword might.


    The oppressive power of the Purple Mansion was terrifying to the extreme.


    The battle with the Purple Jade Python ensued, but horrifyingly, with just one flick of its tail, the monster managed to send the Magical Treasure Flying Sword spinning away.


    Wan Qing could not believe his eyes.


    This was a Fifth Rank talisman treasure, and even though it only possessed a third of a Fifth Rank Magical Artifact¡¯s might, it had the power of a Fourth Rank Magical Artifact.


    Yet now it had been swatted away with a single sweep of the Taiqing Purple Jade Python¡¯s tail!


    "Spread out! This beast must either still be hiding something, or it¡¯s at the end of its tether. We¡¯ll wear it down!" Wancang Hai shouted to the others.


    Following Wancang Hai¡¯s words, the members of the Wanjian Sect all drew their Heavy Swords from their backs, transformed into beams of light, and flew away on their swords.


    Wancang Hai lingered at the back, and from his hands, he threw out hundreds of Spirit Talismans, all of them Third Rank Superior Grade Separation Fire Talismans.


    At this moment, the Purple Jade Python was just right in the midst of being struck by lightning tribulation.


    As the Separation Fire Talismans were thrown out, a hundred of them detonated at once, instantly turning into a sky full of Separation Fire, setting the already enraged Taiqing Purple Jade Python aflame with even more fury, and it shrieked.


    The scabbed purple flesh once again turned into purple blood, flowing down. For a time, the Taiqing Purple Jade Python writhed and roared in the fire, and the next moment, it chased after Wancang Hai of the Wanjian Sect!


    As the cultivators departed and the Taiqing Purple Jade Python vanished,


    the Purple Jade mine finally quieted down.


    Only desolation remained.


    ...


    After what seemed like an eternity, a ripple appeared in the void.


    Within a transparent coffin, Lin Shiming was staring intently at the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree.


    These two people were naturally Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming, who had doubled back.


    Upon seeing the jade tree, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.


    At the last moment, they sensed the Purple Jade Python¡¯s escape, so they knew that the jade tree would certainly not have been stolen.


    Plus, with their Five-colored Silkworm Coffin, though they felt a bit shabby hiding inside,


    It was indeed Fourth Rank Spirit Soil.


    This Spirit Soil made even Lin Shiming exclaim at Xiao Chen¡¯s wealth.


    Having already produced a Transformation Pill earlier, followed by the Black Cloud Tower, then the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map, the Great Five Elements Demon Subduing Formation Array Plate, and now both Fourth Rank Spirit Jade and Fourth Rank Spirit Soil.


    No wonder he was the Deacon of Qingxuan Sect¡¯s Laiyue Tower!


    Xiao Chen was continuously forming hand seals, clearly very skilled in the art of nurturing Spirit Plants. Even Lin Shiming was learning quite a lot from him at this moment.


    Of course, now was not the time to watch and learn. As soon as the Spirit Plant was safely stored in the Jade Box, to avoid accidentally harming it, they would make their move.


    Lin Shiming glanced at Lin Xianzhi, and the two exchanged a look before nodding to each other in silent agreement.


    Xiao Chen had the entire Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree put away.


    Along with it went half of Zi Yu Mountain; such mineral veins and mountain bodies were also nurturing grounds for Spirit Plants.


    Just as Lin Shiming was about to spring from his hiding place, he saw a hundred-zhang-long sword appear before him.


    He had never expected that there were others lurking in the dark!


    This scene left Lin Shiming stunned!


    The sword belonged to none other than Wan Qing, accompanied by another one-armed elder from Wanjian Sect.


    "Leave the Jade Tree, and your head as well!" Wan Qing shouted coldly.


    At the same time, the one-armed elder was also maneuvering the sword light, forming a Sword Array!


    Xiao Chen was completely caught off guard at this moment, unexpectedly falling into another of Wanjian Sect¡¯s traps and being ensnared by the Sword Array.


    His hands moved swiftly through the void, but he couldn¡¯t manage to enter the magical Peach Blossom River Scenic Map.


    He could only be relentlessly attacked by the hundred-zhang-long sword wielded by Wan Qing.


    "Don¡¯t force me, if the Jade Box is destroyed, none of you will get anything!" Xiao Chen held up the Jade Box and suddenly shouted.


    Enjoy new stories from empire


    But at this moment, Wan Qing had no intention of stopping. His giant sword continued to strike at Xiao Chen.


    Although Wan Qing¡¯s onslaught didn¡¯t pose much harm to Xiao Chen,


    He was trapped in the Sword Array after all, having to evade the sky-full of Flying Swords while also blocking Wan Qing¡¯s sword light. He was like a small boat tossed about in a tsunami.


    He was safe only thanks to the Black Cloud Tower!


    But this time, there was no Spirit-Ant-Devouring Lin Shiming to assist.


    The one-armed elder didn¡¯t dare to take things lightly, either.


    Xiao Chen¡¯s Magical Treasures were too slippery!


    A moment of inattention, and his opponent could escape!


    As for destroying the Jade Tree, if it¡¯s destroyed, so be it; they didn¡¯t believe Xiao Chen had the nerve to do it unless he was truly at death¡¯s door!


    Besides, even if it¡¯s destroyed, Xiao Chen still had a Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit in his hand.


    Meanwhile, Wan Qing took out another talisman. This talisman was also a magical object, but this time it was a Superior Grade Fourth Rank talisman.


    Although the power of a Fourth Rank talisman couldn¡¯t compare to that of a Fifth Rank one, Xiao Chen was currently trapped, and the might wielded by a Superior Grade Fourth Rank talisman was not something a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment could withstand.

 Chapter 300 - 268 The Jade Tree in Hand, Zi Xuan Precious Jade

    The sky was filled with Sword Qi, enveloping Xiao Chen from all sides. As soon as the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map appeared, it faced the tearing fury of the Sword Qi.


    With a darkened expression, Xiao Chen had no choice but to control the Black Tower, causing it to emit a layer of black light continuously.


    The black light formed a Spirit Shield, blocking all the Sword Qi, but it also left countless sword marks on the Black Tower.


    And as the battle continued, Wan Qing¡¯s Fourth Rank Magic Artifact also reached its climax in the distance.


    Although a Fourth Rank Magic Artifact was not as powerful as a Fifth Rank one, which could only be used once and took longer to activate, the Fourth Rank had no such restrictions.


    The sword grew larger and larger, and in the blink of an eye, it reached the size of a hundred zhang.


    The might of the sword was overwhelming, like a terrifying Sword Mountain, fiercely slashing towards Xiao Chen.


    Xiao Chen¡¯s complexion changed drastically in an instant. Without hesitation, he threw the Black Tower directly. This time, the Black Tower expanded into a giant tower several dozen zhang high.


    Atop the giant tower, numerous portals flung open, and suddenly countless black beetles emerged from inside the Black Tower!


    "Xue Yun beetles!"


    Both Wan Qing and the one-armed elder from Wanjian Sect were somewhat shocked.


    These Xue Yun beetles, although black, belonged to a type of self-destructive dirty formation Spirit Insect, somewhat akin to the self-exploding spirit corpses of the Corpse Refining Sect.


    They had not expected that Xiao Chen¡¯s Black Tower would house so many Xue Yun beetles.


    The self-destruction of the Xue Yun beetles instantly tore a hole in the Formation.


    Not only that, but the Black Tower also blocked the Fourth Rank Magic Artifact.


    However, a huge crack was slashed open in the process.


    This Black Tower of his was indeed a Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, but facing a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, it was still somewhat lacking!


    However, what Xiao Chen needed was not to block but to hold on for a moment!


    Straining against his injuries, he hurriedly opened the scroll Magic Artifact, ready to sneak into the River Scenic Map.


    But the next moment, a transparent coffin lid slammed into his chest, knocking his figure out of the River Scenic Map, and immediately after, a green Qinglian Sword fiercely swooped out of the void.


    This fully realized Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation, moreover, was a family Secret Technique for those who primarily cultivated this method!


    On the battlefield, the same Sword Array appeared to trap the enemy.


    Only now, Wan Qing went from being the trapper to the trapped.


    The Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was triggered to its limit, and countless Sword Qi slashed towards Wan Qing!


    Wan Qing activated his Fourth Rank Magic Artifact, which was indeed powerful for a moment, causing the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation to momentarily show signs of failing.


    But the next moment, Lin Shiming raised his hand, and countless Poisonous Dragon Vines wrapped around Wan Qing.


    Wan Qing had experienced the troublesome nature of the Poisonous Dragon Vine, but now, trapped by the Sword Array, he had no way to counter it.


    The power of the Fourth Rank Magic Artifact wasn¡¯t enough to break through the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation in an instant.


    The Wanjian Sect elder beside him was also anxious, but by then, Lin Xianzhi had already freed himself and took a step forward to block the elder.


    Discover exclusive tales on empire


    "Lin Shiming, you dare!" As Wan Qing bellowed, he also managed to release a Jade Talisman.


    The Jade Talisman suddenly disappeared into thin air, obviously a Transmission Talisman.


    Having sent out the Transmission Talisman, Wan Qing felt a surge of relief, and his Fourth Rank Flying Sword Magic Artifact immediately turned, forming a sword curtain around him.


    However, the next moment, a crimson Fire Ape appeared.


    The Fire Ape turned into a three-zhang tall giant ape in an instant.


    The Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation went from trapping to killing mode.


    Eighty-one Supreme Grade Magic Swords fused into one, paired with Lin Shiming¡¯s Grass Sword Intent, and in an instant slashed towards Wan Qing.


    For a moment, Wan Qing was overjoyed. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Shiming to be so complacent, disbanding the Trapping Formation.


    Without the Trapping Formation, he could join forces with the Wanjian Sect elder, allowing him the choice to flee or stay!


    As for the Sword Array attack from Lin Shiming, he didn¡¯t believe it could be stronger than his Fourth Rank Magic Artifact!


    The Fourth Rank Magic Artifact Flying Sword shone brightly, its Sword Qi crisscrossing fiercely as it slashed towards Lin Shiming¡¯s Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation.

 Chapter 301 - 268 The Jade Tree in Hand, Zi Xuan Precious Jade_2

    At this moment, he was full of disdain.


    As expected, his Spirit Talisman crushed the sword array formed by Lin Shiming¡¯s Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation in one strike.


    The sword light turned into spirit light and dissipated, and all eighty-one Superior Grade Formation Swords lost their glow and their power greatly diminished!


    However, unbeknownst to him, a glossy black seal had already landed above his Spirit Talisman.


    Wan Qing instantly felt a terrifying pressure, and he eerily discovered that the light of his Spirit Talisman was starting to scatter.


    Already consumed by Lin Shiming¡¯s sword array, and now with its light scattering.


    How could it withstand any longer, smashed fiercely by the Primordial Magnet Seal, it instantly turned into a Spirit Talisman and dissipated in the air!


    "How could this be?" Wan Qing couldn¡¯t believe it, yet he saw the Primordial Magnet Seal expand countless times in his eyes.


    And he found that the True Yuan within his body was starting to go out of control.


    His reaction was not slow, and he dodged the Primordial Magnet Seal.


    But he was still greatly affected by the mighty influence of the Primordial Magnet Seal.


    "This..." Wan Qing suddenly thought about the time when treasures were stolen from the Hermit¡¯s cave abode.


    Only his train of thought was not yet fully sorted out.


    He saw a three-meter-tall Fire Ape and Lin Shiming, both turning into spirit light, charging towards him.


    The speed of the man and beast was terrifying, reaching him in the blink of an eye!


    Under the Primordial Magnet Seal, the Five Elements Spell was greatly weakened.


    But both of them had the physical strength of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, not to mention the Red-haired Demon Monkey, while Lin Shiming had now completely activated the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique, like a roaring mountain ape!


    His blood and qi surged to the sky, no less powerful than that of the three-meter-tall Fire Ape!


    The horrifying body combat techniques directly overwhelmed Wan Qing.


    Wan Qing fell on the spot!


    "Wan Qing!" the one-armed old man also shouted angrily.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    But he dared not linger in battle any longer and turned to leave.


    However, before he could take his leave.


    Lin Xianzhi had already entangled him, and the Golden Winged Mantis kept ambush attacking him as well.


    The latter¡¯s speed, even Lin Xianzhi had to frown upon, naturally giving the old man a rough time at this moment.


    He was already handicapped by Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi, having lost an arm, greatly diminishing his strength.


    How could he contend with Lin Shiming, Lin Xianzhi, plus the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey attacking him from all sides?


    With attacks coming from all directions, the two Split Soul Banners resonated and unfolded again, and at the same time, the Rolling Divine Plate was also activated to its extreme.


    The one-armed old man was momentarily dazed, and by the time he came to his senses, a dark flying needle had already pierced his brow.


    As for the various Spirit Shields and Spirit Covers, they seemed like nothing!


    It was the Supreme Grade stealth attack spirit artifact Lin Shiming had cultivated, the Netherworld Needle!


    But all at once, a roaring growl rang out.


    The Taiqing Purple Jade Python burst out of the mine¡¯s Illusionary Realm in an instant and pursued the four from Wanjian Sect once again.


    Clearly, the Taiqing Purple Jade Python had discovered the theft of the Jade Tree, and its rage at the moment was imaginable.


    The four Wanjian Sect cultivators instantly took out a Third Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Boat and flew off into the distance!


    They had previously guessed that the Taiqing Purple Jade Python was on its last breath after a fierce fight, but they soon discovered that the Taiqing Purple Jade Python, which had transcended its transformation ordeal, had become more and more fierce!


    Far from being at the end of its rope, they had also underestimated the physical strength of a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Now, they could only flee in a panic.


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat relieved and then, with the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin in hand, headed towards the center of the minor world.


    The Jade Slips in his Storage Bag had reminded him countless times, courtesy of Chen Daoyuan and Xie An.


    Not to mention, within their bodies was the cultivation of the Sword Imbuement Technique in their Spirit Platforms.


    Although he knew that the Myriad Swords Tomb could be dangerous, at this moment Lin Shiming would inevitably be discovered by Qingxuan Sect unless he didn¡¯t leave.


    Fortunately, the system prompt indicated that the Spirit Platform could be taken into the Cave Heaven World, so he wasn¡¯t worried about the Soul Summoning Sword occupying the Myriad Swords Tomb!


    After using the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin for the better part of the day, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi retracted the coffin and took out a Third Rank Spirit Boat, setting off towards the center.


    This time, the Spirit Boat was also piloted by Lin Xianzhi, while Lin Shiming began to examine their harvest from this time.


    The Jade Tree of the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits was undoubtedly the biggest gain.


    Upon taking it out of the Storage Bag, he saw the Fourth Rank Precious Jade bathed in endless purple radiance, with Spirit Light lingering without dissipating.


    It was preserved exceptionally well, which made him once again marvel at Xiao Chen.


    Without lingering over it too much, Lin Shiming directly placed the Jade Tree into the Cave Heaven World. At this moment, he considered even the Storage Bag unreliable.


    In addition to the Jade Tree, he also found a Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit in Xiao Chen¡¯s Storage Bag, and in Wan Qing¡¯s Storage Bag, he found another two.


    Together with the one he originally obtained, they had harvested a total of four Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart was immediately filled with excitement. With these four Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits, not only could he successfully break through to Purple Mansion in the future, but even Lin Shitao, Lin Shijie, and Lin Shilei would be able to break through to the middle stage of Purple Mansion.


    And when the next three hundred years pass, the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Tree would mature once again!


    Their current shortage was a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein to plant the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Tree!


    "Seventh Great Uncle! There¡¯s also the Zi Xuan Precious Jade!" exclaimed Lin Shiming with excitement as they were claiming the treasures.


    This Zi Xuan Precious Jade was the very piece that Wan Qing had auctioned in Jiuye City.


    For a moment, Lin Xianzhi was overjoyed!


    To know that to refine the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits into Purple Mansion Spiritual Liquid, the highest in the Lin Family was only an Intermediate Grade Third Rank Alchemist. With Lin Xianzhi¡¯s longevity, he might not be able to wait for that moment.


    As for finding a Purple Mansion Alchemist to do the refinement, that was even more dangerous.


    But now, with the Fourth Rank Zi Xuan Precious Jade and the Thousand-Year Spirit Marrow, Lin Xianzhi¡¯s chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion had already reached a full thirty percent!


    He could almost start attempting to break through to the Purple Mansion as soon as he left the Secret Realm!


    The thought of that moment made both Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi incredibly excited!

 Chapter 302 - 269: Soul Protection Jade, Blazing Heat (Combined)

    Apart from the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit, Lin Shiming also couldn¡¯t find numerous rare Spirit Fruits and spiritual materials in their Storage Bags.


    Among them were Fourth Rank treasures, including a kind of Five-colored clay, which could be used with the Fourth Rank Geng Metal he had harvested to forge a Flying Sword magic artifact.


    Such a magic artifact not only possesses tremendous power but also has great malleability. Nurtured for several decades, or even a hundred years, it definitely has a chance to become a Superior Grade among magic artifacts.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but feel how wealthy the two were, given the abundance of such spiritual materials.


    Even the other auxiliary Spiritual Medicines for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid were plentiful.


    Clearly, both Xiao Chen and Wan Qing were prepared to refine the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid once they obtained the Purple Jade Fruits.


    In this way, as long as Lin Shitao could advance her Alchemy skills, the Lin Family would be able to start alchemy refining.


    And they would have several chances for error.


    If the refining goes well, multiple portions of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid could be possible!


    Additionally, with the recent acquisition of the Fourth Rank Alchemy legacy, the Lin Family might be able to produce a Fourth Rank Alchemist sooner rather than later!


    Thinking of this, Lin Shiming¡¯s mood vastly improved; a family¡¯s great combat power doesn¡¯t mean it has profound depth.


    Only when all four arts of Cultivation are equally developed can a true long-lasting legacy be established.


    Apart from heavenly and earthly treasures, the two also had a sizable amount of Spirit Stones; who knows how many Cultivators they had robbed along the way.


    These two were definitely tough characters, who had robbed many others in the small world without restraint.


    There were also an abundance of magic artifacts and Jade Slips, but there weren¡¯t many that caught the eyes of Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi; the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map was a fine Third Rank Supreme Grade treasure.


    Aside from that, the Heavy Sword of Wan Qing was another precious Third Rank Supreme Grade magic artifact, and it was extremely heavy.


    Cultivators from the Wanjian Sect primarily practiced with Heavy Swords, emphasizing unity between the swordsman and sword, so they carried Heavy Swords daily, exercising the physical body and enhancing comprehension of the Sword Dao all at once.


    Thinking of this, Lin Shiming¡¯s impression of the Zi Xuan Hermit diminished greatly; no wonder the system had warned that without Purple Mansion Divine Sense, one couldn¡¯t withstand even the ordinary Soul Summoning Swords.


    The Swords before him now, as if they had ascended to immortality, even a Golden Core Cultivator might not be able to subdue them!


    "Shiming, do you also feel that call and scorching heat?" Lin Xianzhi sat at the very front of the Spirit Boat, turned around, and glanced at Lin Shiming.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, I indeed feel that, but more than that, it¡¯s a constant unease!" Lin Shiming paused for a while before he suddenly spoke up.


    Lin Xianzhi didn¡¯t immediately respond; instead, he sighed deeply as the Astral Winds lifted the hair at his temples.


    "Your feeling is probably right; the Heavenly Sword Peak of the Qingxuan Sect is known for its Ruthless Sword!" After a long while, Lin Xianzhi finally said.


    Sometimes, people always hold some expectations.


    After speaking, both of them gazed at the horizon for a long time, in silence.


    Overall, the actions of the Purple Mansion Loose were more than favorable to their Lin Family.


    While it¡¯s true that one could spend a fortune trying to buy the loyalty of a horse, when it comes to facing death, who can truly remain composed?


    Especially for Lin Xianzhi, now possessing the Zi Xuan Precious Jade and millennium spirit marrow, with the opportunity of the Purple Mansion right before him, how could he willingly accept this?


    A lifespan of five hundred years means he could protect the Lin Family for a full 250 years!


    But he understood that when the critical moment came, he couldn¡¯t retreat no matter what, even if the Purple Mansion was right before his eyes.


    Because behind him stood a junior who might lead the Lin Family to the Golden Core realm!


    And because that person called him Seventh Great Uncle!


    Find your next adventure on empire


    Seeing Lin Xianzhi staring ahead, somewhat stunned, Lin Shiming took out the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map the next moment, waved it through the air, and the Spirit Boat promptly entered the Illusionary Realm.

 Chapter 303 - 269: Soul Protection Jade, Blazing Heat (Combined)_2

    Then, he took out the Soundproofing Array and various other formations.


    Lin Xianzhi was completely baffled by Lin Shiming¡¯s actions. In his view, Lin Shiming was simply bringing out treasures of the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree¡¯s level.


    But in the miniature world, such treasures were far too abundant.


    There was really no need for it, yet in the next instant, he felt as if he were being teleported just like within the miniature world.


    It was as though he had been pulled into a special array.


    "Shiming, get behind me!" Lin Xianzhi said as if facing a formidable enemy.


    This took Lin Shiming by surprise as well.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Xianzhi saw the Red-haired Demon Monkey, who was currently sitting eagerly under the Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree, looking somewhat helplessly as Wang Jiao coiled around a Spirit Shell alone.


    The Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree was blooming with flowers, each petal extremely vibrant.


    He also saw the flashing arcs of electricity on the Golden Thunder Bamboo. One bamboo stalk had already reached a height of three zhang, while another was just half a chi tall.


    In the distance, there was a somewhat bald tea tree, with only a small cluster of Spiritual Tea leaves at the very top.


    The Golden Winged Mantis was feigning sleep under the tea tree.


    "Shiming has acquired a Cave Heaven world without being able to report to Seventh Uncle Ancestor; please forgive me for the oversight!" Lin Shiming said at one side.


    "Forgive what?" Lin Xianzhi asked with a smile on his face.


    "It should be that our Lin Family has such a dragon of fortune, how can we not flourish?" Lin Xianzhi felt genuinely moved in his heart.


    However, upon reflection, he realized that there had been too many miracles associated with Lin Shiming, and he began to take them for granted.


    So much so that now, faced with such a treasure, the turmoil in his heart seemed to calm down.


    And one should know, in the entire Zhao Kingdom, even including the Cultivation Worlds of Chu Country, Qi Country, and Yan Country, no True Person is known to possess a Cave Heaven world!


    "You being willing to tell Seventh Uncle Ancestor makes me very happy, but this is a matter of great importance, and you shouldn¡¯t have told me!" Lin Xianzhi said, feeling happy yet a bit melancholic at the same time.


    This treasure was of great significance.


    It was countless times more valuable than the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit.


    Such a treasure, even a Golden Core True Person would covet upon seeing it.


    As for keeping face, how many of these old cultivators who have lived for hundreds of years truly have any dignity left?


    "Seventh Uncle Ancestor, please check your Spirit Platform, do you still feel that sensation?" Lin Shiming, however, did not respond to Lin Xianzhi¡¯s words. In his opinion, telling Lin Xianzhi did not necessarily mean exposing the miniature world.


    By not telling him, Lin Xianzhi would certainly die and become a true vessel for sword wielding.


    Hearing what Lin Shiming said, Lin Xianzhi examined his Spirit Platform and indeed found that the sensation was gone.


    But the next moment, he shook his head.


    It didn¡¯t mean much for an old man like him to hide here, but Lin Shiming would be in danger.


    With the imminent competition for the Myriad Swords Tomb, they naturally could not go unprepared.


    As for Chen Daoyuan, he was very anxious.


    It was normal for the flight speeds of the middle and late stages of the Foundation Establishment cultivators from ordinary families to be a bit slower.


    On the way, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi once again tamed five Demonic Beasts, three by Lin Shiming and two by Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Shiming could tame one more, but since there were no suitable late-stage Third Rank Demonic Beasts, that spot was left vacant.


    On their journey, they also encountered quite a few fellow sect cultivators from the Qingxuan Sect, the Wanjian Sect, and the Spirit Beast Sect. Discover stories at empire


    They didn¡¯t run into any from the demonic sects. Cultivators from both the Corpse Refining Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect seemed to have become silent along the way.


    Everyone¡¯s goal was the same: the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    Especially the cultivators of the Wanjian Sect, flying the highest with swords on their backs, at that moment, seemed to treat the Myriad Swords Tomb as if it was their own Wanjian Sect¡¯s possession.


    Every time they came across cultivators from the Qingxuan Sect, Lin Shiming would go up and call them senior brother.


    However, these senior brothers were in a great hurry.


    They didn¡¯t give much response to him, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage sect disciple of nominal status.


    Lin Shiming didn¡¯t get annoyed; coming to the Myriad Swords Tomb meant he had truly entered the eyes of the True Persons.


    At that moment, he felt as if everyone was under the surveillance of True Persons and wished all would see him as a common cultivator.


    After flying for two full days, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi finally arrived at the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    The Myriad Swords Tomb was a mountain, a mountain that resembled a precious sword.


    The mountain slanted into the ground as if it were a discarded sword after a defeat in battle.


    The mountain was enveloped in black mist, and from the foot of the mountain to the peak, there were swords everywhere.


    Lin Shiming had no idea how many swords there were. The black mist blocked Divine Sense, so at that moment, everyone could only guess the number of precious swords just as mortals guess the stars.


    Of course, most were thinking about how to enter the Sword Tomb and extract a sword or two.


    Nearby the Myriad Swords Tomb, the area was already filled with people. In the sky were cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect riding birds and beasts, and on the left were cultivators from the Spirit Talisman Sect in Heavenly Talisman robes.


    The Qingxuan Sect was positioned slightly to the right.


    Lin Shiming quickly found Xie An in the crowd, as well as Chen Daoyuan and Ye Changyuan.


    These people had arrived quite early.


    "It is due to my weak cultivation that I have delayed the fellow senior brothers. Please blame me, Senior Brother Chen!" Lin Shiming said as he approached Chen Daoyuan with Lin Xianzhi.


    Chen Daoyuan glanced at Lin Shiming but didn¡¯t say anything, only gesturing for Lin Shiming to prepare himself on one side.


    Then, he continued to watch the Soul Summoning Sword in the sky.


    At that moment, Lin Shiming also knew because the Spirit Platform within him was burning like a furnace, equally ablaze.

 Chapter 304 - 270: Sword Tomb, Secret Techniques (Combined)

    Lin Shiming looked around; though everyone was gazing at the sword shadows in the sky,


    he still noticed that their group of ten had the most intense reaction.


    However, to his disappointment, he didn¡¯t find any of the Purple Mansion Hermit¡¯s overseers.


    Among these eleven people, there were at least two overseers. Chen Daoyuan didn¡¯t need mentioning; that intense gaze earlier was definitely acting, surely he was someone with deep schemes.


    Moreover, there was at least one more hidden overseer among them. If someone dared not to enter the competition, a backstab was probably what awaited them!


    But as for whether there was just one more or several, and who they might be, he had no way of knowing.


    These people all acted too normally.


    According to their cultivation techniques, there was no way to tell them apart, as others were all mainly cultivating the Five Elements Sword Art tied to their respective attributes.


    Anyone could be possible, yet at the same time, nobody seemed likely!


    Since he couldn¡¯t figure it out, Lin Shiming simply stopped guessing and instead focused on the Sword Tomb before him.


    Xie An took the initiative to walk over to the two of them, his eyes filled with concern as he looked at Lin Shiming, but they also showed a deep longing as he gazed at the Sword Tomb.


    "How has your journey been?" whispered Xie An.


    "We encountered a Demon Cultivator and were chased down the whole way!" Lin Shiming shook his head without going into details.


    From the look on Xie An¡¯s face, it seemed he hadn¡¯t found the Spirit Pill he needed to breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, and could only pin his hopes on the Sword Tomb. As long as he got a Soul Summoning Sword, the Zi Xuan Hermit would surely guarantee his Purple Mansion.


    "This time it¡¯s indeed more dangerous than before," sighed Xie An.


    He didn¡¯t elaborate either, but the anger in his eyes was more than evident, suggesting that during this journey, he too had probably encountered Demon Cultivators after treasures.


    But in Lin Shiming¡¯s view, the members from the Spirit Beast Sect, Spirit Talisman Sect, and Wanjian Sect were no better than those from the demon sects. In this miniature world, who was hunter and who was prey, only those who survived and made it out would know.


    He felt the call!


    "Indeed the work of The Great Sects!" exclaimed Lin Shiming, astounded by the terrifying extent of the sect.


    These Sword Cultivators really relied on their innate talent for inheritance. Even if a Sword Cultivator was gone, his treasured sword still looked for its next master.


    Mediocre talent was unworthy of the legacy!


    Explore more stories with empire


    Even if the treasured sword collected dust!


    Of course, Lin Shiming was also aware that such Soul Summoning Swords naturally wouldn¡¯t care much for ordinary cultivators, which was why the Zi Xuan Hermit had chosen the Sword Imbuement Technique.


    The Sword Imbuement Technique was about shaping the Spirit Platform into an existence that could nourish Flying Swords, essentially becoming a living sheath.


    Then, those Soul Summoning Swords could freely take residence.


    Thinking this, Lin Shiming felt a silent pity for Xie An.


    Xie An¡¯s feelings weren¡¯t wrong; he would definitely obtain a Soul Summoning Sword, but it was unknown whether he would still be himself by that time.


    Of course, his silent pity stopped there. Although Xie An¡¯s relationship with them was extraordinary, in reality, benefits outweighed friendship!


    He couldn¡¯t possibly reveal this secret for Xie An¡¯s sake, let alone expose the Cave Heaven World.


    Moreover, as one of the Zi Xuan Hermit¡¯s Direct Disciples, there was a chance he was one of those hidden overseers.


    "Xie Senior Brother, why aren¡¯t these cultivators climbing up the mountain to take the swords?" Lin Shiming asked with some confusion.


    While Chen Daoyuan and the others might be waiting for them, the people from the other Sects, and other factions from the Qingxuan Sect, couldn¡¯t all be indifferent.


    And one must know, nearly two hundred people had already gathered behind the Myriad Swords Tomb by now.

 Chapter 305 - 270: Sword Tomb, Secret Techniques (Combined)_2

    ```


    "Wait!" Xie An looked towards the sky, where lofty and transcendent sword shadows were now brilliantly captivating, soaring heavenwards.


    ```


    ```


    "Sword shadows will vanish, and the fog around the Sword Tomb will disperse a path for treasure-seeking. That¡¯s when our opportunity arises!!"


    ```


    ```


    "Each person who enters the path will experience it differently, and when they come out, it will mean they have found a sword in the Sword Mountain!"


    ```


    ```


    After Xie An finished speaking, a flash of sharpness passed through his eyes, and his face bore an unrivaled confidence.


    ```


    ```


    In this Sword Tomb, who could compare to them, cultivators who had at least grasped the Sword Light Transformation, not to mention that they held the Sword Imbuement Technique, a secret technique?


    ```


    ```


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming nodded in agreement and did not question further.


    ```


    ```


    Instead, he found a small hilltop and began to assess the cultivators from the other sects.


    ```


    ```


    The entire Myriad Swords Tomb was inhabited only by cultivators of four sects, which he found exceptionally unusual.


    ```


    ```


    The Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect, even if they had few sword cultivators, would not simply let the righteous Four Sects obtain rare swords and magical treasures here.


    ```


    ```


    Particularly, the three sects of the Zhao Kingdom, led by the Qingxuan Sect.


    ```


    ```


    At this moment, Lin Shiming wished to inquire about the news of the Four Sects, but realized he knew too few of their cultivators; even Lin Xianzhi, after years of cultivation, could recognize quite a few cultivators from the Heavenly Sword Peak of Qingxuan Sect, which was already decent for making connections.


    ```


    ```


    As for asking the other disciples of Zi Xuan Hermit, he pondered for a moment then gave up the idea. If Xie An was this excited, it was likely the others felt the same.


    ```


    ```


    To blend in, he even had to pretend, like everyone else, to gaze at the sword shadows in the sky, waiting.


    ```


    ```


    In reality, part of his attention was already on the head figures of the other sects¡¯ cultivators.


    ```


    ```


    Leading the Qingxuan Sect was Brother Zhao from Shen Ji Peak, Zhao Wuji. It was said that he was not only a Heavenly Spirit Root but also had the strength of the Foundation Establishment pinnacle, and was a direct disciple of Shen Ji True Person.


    ```


    ```


    The disciple of a Golden Core True Person, one can imagine his status!


    ```


    ```


    Even someone as strong as Chen Daoyuan was exceedingly respectful towards him.


    ```


    ```


    Besides Brother Zhao, there was another white-robed brother whom the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s cultivators had never seen before, but his close relationship with Zhao Wuji suggested that his strength and cultivation level were certainly of the third-rank pinnacle.


    ```


    ```


    The leading cultivator of the Spirit Beast Sect was a man with a hooked nose named Huang Yu. He sat upon a Golden Roc, and his cultivation was exceedingly high, holding the most authority among the Spirit Beast Sect¡¯s cultivators.


    ```


    ```


    This man, Lin Shiming had seen before in Jiuye City.


    ```


    All the swords began to tremble, issuing crisp sounds of sword ringing.


    ```


    ```


    These Spirit Swords seemed to come alive, beginning their dance.


    ```


    ```


    "Another thirty years..." A hoarse sigh echoed.


    ```


    ```


    "Yong Ye, will you lower the difficulty this time?" A questioning voice emerged nearby.


    ```


    ```


    "I suppose, but not by much..." Another voice agreed.


    ```


    ```


    "Why lower the difficulty? Are we, who can communicate with spirits, supposed to be approached by commoners?"


    "Flame Yang, it¡¯s precisely because everyone thinks like you that for these thousands of years, only we have remained here!"


    "That¡¯s you. If there is no one capable of inheriting the legacy, can¡¯t we forge a true path of the sword immortals ourselves? You should know there is a Spirit Clan in the Spirit Realm!"


    "Enough, stop arguing. Have you all felt it? This time, a sword sheath has appeared!"


    ```


    At these words, immediately in the void, dozens of swords began to tremble even more violently.


    Even streaks of sword light appeared in the void.


    As if to confirm something, the next moment a chorus of sword cries filled the air.


    Sword lights evolved and condensed.


    In the territory of Zhao Kingdom, the extremely rare phenomena of sword light taking form and sword Qi condensing into threads, were easily performed under the influence of these Spirit Swords.


    For thousands of years, these swords had not been at peace.


    "Has someone from the Taibai Sword Palace returned?" After a long while, another question arose.


    "No, it should be that the method to break into the Purple Mansion with the Soul Summoning Sword has been obtained by someone!"


    At these words, many swords began to calm down.


    The sword sheath technique was originally the most ancient method of the Taibai Sword Sect, intended for taking away the Soul Summoning Sword from the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    To nurture the sword with one¡¯s body, using the Spirit Platform as lamp oil.


    Then to bequeath it to the descendants, but over these many years, the decline of the Taibai Sword Sect made these Soul Summoning Swords forget.


    Undoubtedly, the sword sheath was their opportunity; however, similarly, once outside, they could still possibly fall victim to Golden Core gathering secret techniques.


    "I must try!" Another voice spoke up.


    "If they can take one of my strikes, then what does it matter if they take me for their Golden Core gathering?"


    At this time, the voice that had been sighing for thirty years spoke up again:


    "Have you not noticed? This time, Senior Herbalist has also ascended to reflect in the sky."


    At these words, many swords in the void turned their gaze in one direction.


    Only then did they remember that during the reflection, the once indifferent Senior Herbalist, who had maintained the guard at the Divine Mountain, had also begun his skyward ascent.


    And his presence almost covered more than half of the small world¡¯s secret realm.


    Such skill was not something these Fifth Rank magical treasures, the Soul Summoning Swords, could manifest.


    ...


    Outside Sword Mountain, the sword shadows disappeared.


    The entire Sword Tomb returned to peace, revealing its black mountain body.


    Black mist began to roll, gathering and condensing, denser in some places and thinner in others.


    This also created a path tens of zhang long for climbing the mountain.


    As everyone watched the changes of the Sword Tomb, nobody moved first; while the mist had yet to clear, they could only look towards the Sword Tomb, hoping to spot a peerless sword from outside the mountain.


    Those who could stay here were rather obsessed with treasure hunting, but they were also very realistic about their capabilities.


    On the contrary, the people from the Wanjian Sect, carrying heavy swords, seemed intent on leading the way.


    "Everyone, follow me up the mountain to search for swords!" Chen Daoyuan walked ahead of Lin Shiming and others, glanced back at their eyes, then proceeded to take the lead.


    Eleven individuals also swiftly moved forward.


    They certainly had no intention of lagging behind the Wanjian Sect.


    As everyone prepared, the pathway finally formed, revealing a black staircase filled with Spirit Swords.


    It was somewhat similar to the Ascending Immortal Ladder of the Qingxuan Sect.


    Huang Yu was the first to step onto the staircase, taking large strides. Then something miraculous occurred; from the outside, Huang Yu¡¯s figure could no longer be seen.


    Clearly, he had entered the Sword Tomb and ascended Sword Mountain.


    As more and more cultivators from the Wanjian Sect entered, what Lin Shiming did not expect was that Xie An was walking last, along with Ye Changyuan from the Ye Family.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised, but on second thought, it seemed normal.


    At the same time, he became clearer about Zi Xuan Hermit¡¯s arrangements.


    Outwardly, he moved closer to Lin Xianzhi, just as descendants would during the encounter with a secret realm, so Lin Shiming acted generously.


    Since ascending the ladder would separate them, he had to gather Lin Xianzhi into his Cave Heaven at the first opportunity.

 Chapter 306 - 271 Hint and Sword Array (Two-in-one thanks for Ye鈥檚 reward)

    Chen Daoyuan was the first to step into the Sword Tomb, followed by the other two disciples of the Zi Xuan Hermit, Ye Qingren, and Zhao Yongchang.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi¡¯s position ranked in the last four.


    Behind them, there was only Ye Changyuan and Xie An left.


    Lin Xianzhi walked in front, because the randomness of the Sword Tomb had made Lin Xianzhi somewhat uneasy.


    The scorching sensation on the Spirit Platform was growing stronger, and even the sound of swords humming seemed to emerge in their ears.


    When he looked around, however, he saw that Lin Shiming and the others were looking at him as well, clearly, they all felt the same thing.


    Seeing this, Lin Xianzhi felt quite relieved and strode towards the Sword Dao staircase.


    Just when Lin Xianzhi¡¯s foot was halfway onto the Sword Dao staircase,


    Lin Shiming also quickened his pace and stepped into the Sword Dao at the same time.


    The next moment, both of them disappeared within the Sword Dao.


    Xie An glanced at Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming, his expression unchanged, then turned to look at Ye Changyuan.


    Ye Changyuan, who was originally surging forward, suddenly retreated backward.


    This scene unfolded so quickly that it left no time for reaction.


    The next moment, Xie An¡¯s longsword suddenly appeared in his hand as he pursued Ye Changyuan.


    The responses of the two caused the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect to become extremely confused.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Xie An, are you sure you want to force me to spill it?" At this moment, Ye Changyuan, merely at the later stage of Foundation Establishment, simply could not withstand Xie An.


    What¡¯s more, at this moment, Xie An¡¯s sword technique was far more exquisite than before.


    "Speak!" Xie An didn¡¯t care in the slightest, his sword in hand didn¡¯t pause; that vast flame sword technique displayed countless sword lights.


    "I thought it was someone from the Lin Family, but it turned out to be you, Ye Changyuan!" Xie An said, with some disdain.


    As this was happening, a significant number of cultivators from the Qingxuan Sect joined Ye Changyuan¡¯s side; they were the other members of the Ye Family who had come on this journey.


    They wouldn¡¯t foolishly act now, without seeing any treasures yet!


    The brief disturbance passed in an instant as if nothing had happened just a moment ago; everyone was quietly lining up again, progressing towards the Sword Dao staircase of the Sword Tomb.


    ...


    In the darkness, Lin Shiming only felt himself land on a staircase.


    The second Spirit Platform inside his heart became incredibly hot once more.


    It grew hotter and hotter, like a furnace, causing all the Purple Wood Heart Sutra in his body to run automatically, and the Sword Intent from the Grass Sword Art soared into the skies.


    What also vibrated in the same manner was the Grass Sword Spirit Seed in his Sea of Awareness.


    This Grass Sword Spirit Seed was something he had come to comprehend under the system prompt screen and had formed as a Sword Dao Spirit Seed of the Grass Sword Art.


    The changes in the surroundings were becoming more intense. On the staircase, it was as if thousands of swords were moving at once, and the sound of swords humming crescendoed to an extreme.


    This caused his body to tremble involuntarily!


    In the distance, a sword light suddenly appeared, bringing with it a terrifying aura that made him feel as though he was bearing the weight of mountains, leaving him gasping for air.


    Lin Shiming dared not hesitate any longer and quickly moved his Spirit Platform into the Cave Heaven World.


    The next moment, the pressure suddenly vanished.


    The distant sword shadow also seemed to hesitate before it returned to the Sword Mountain, disappearing without trace.


    The movements of the swords in the sky also vanished, and the scenery before him returned to being an ordinary black staircase.


    Lin Shiming let out a sigh of relief; at this moment, he no longer doubted the terror of the Soul Summoning Sword.


    The attraction of the Sword Imbuement Technique to the Soul Summoning Sword was indeed great.


    If he had not retracted it promptly, he might have instantly been severed from his Divine Soul by that Soul Summoning Sword,


    becoming nothing but an empty husk holding a sword.


    Such a prospect was unimaginable!

 Chapter 307 - 271 Hint and Sword Array (Two-in-one thanks for Ye鈥檚 reward)_2

    Of course, at this moment he hadn¡¯t let his guard down either, as this so-called Sword Tomb, in his opinion, was definitely not a good place.


    Eerie staircase, eerie reflections.


    And the terror of the Soul Summoning Sword, coupled with the heritage of the Taibai Sword Sect.


    Sure enough, the next moment, from the darkness of Sword Mountain, several Spirit Swords floated out, slashing directly towards him.


    These Spirit Swords, each of different shapes, numbered nine in total.


    They were also using an unnamed Sword Technique that surprisingly formed a Sword Array.


    Lin Shiming hadn¡¯t expected that the moment he arrived, the swords of Sword Mountain would form a Sword Array.


    He dared not be careless, as he quickly drew out his Laiyun Sword to strike at these Spirit Swords.


    The power of this Sword Array was equivalent to the peak of the middle stage of the Third Rank, which could have suppressed other Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators.


    But for Lin Shiming, there were no observers at this moment, no need to hide, making it easy instead.


    Under the influence of his Grass Sword Intent, the Nine Spirit Swords were quickly repelled back into the depths of Sword Mountain.


    What puzzled him was that Xie An hadn¡¯t mentioned this sort of Spirit Sword challenge; instead, it was supposed to be climbing the Sword Dao staircase to find a sword to one¡¯s liking.


    Now it seemed some anomalies had occurred, and things couldn¡¯t be inferred by common sense.


    Lin Shiming might be puzzled, but since the system notification hadn¡¯t appeared, he simply continued towards the stairs above.


    Lin Shiming stepped onto the second stair!


    Around him, Sword Qi began to gather, and sword light emerged!


    That piercing Sword Intent pressed against him as if it wanted to tear him apart.


    "Interesting!" Lin Shiming hadn¡¯t expected that the Sword Dao staircase would suppress his Grass Sword Intent.


    This meant that climbing such a staircase depended on the level of one¡¯s Sword Intent and not purely on strength.


    His Grass Sword Intent gradually unfolded, and thanks to the large amount of Mingxin Tea of the Third Rank and his root of extrapolation, he had pushed his Grass Sword Intent to the pinnacle of Sword Light Transformation.


    Facing the Sword Intent before him, he didn¡¯t feel much pressure.


    On the second stair, no Spirit Swords flew out. Instead, he saw numerous Spirit Swords now skewered into the sides of Sword Mountain, within easy reach.


    It seemed these were the Spirit Swords that could be obtained within the Sword Tomb.


    After glancing at them and realizing all these Spirit Swords were of Intermediate Grade of the Third Rank, he stopped paying attention and continued upwards on the staircase.


    And so, he ascended nine more segments.


    The Spirit Swords around him had now become of Superior Grade of the Third Rank.


    And the Sword Intent had reached the level of Sword Light Transformation, condensing one Sword Grass after another, similar to the Sword Grass Seeds he had encountered during their formation.


    These Sword Grasses applied pressure to him, but they didn¡¯t strike him.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t walk leisurely as before.


    But when he stepped onto the tenth stair, he saw nine more Spirit Swords flying out from Sword Mountain!


    These Spirit Swords had clearly reached the Superior Grade of the Third Rank, and they once again formed a Sword Array!


    Moreover, he suddenly found that the Sword Intent around him had increased by a few degrees, and the surrounding Sword Grasses seemed as if they were about to erupt from the ground.


    Lin Shiming was thrilled beyond belief; he hadn¡¯t expected the Sword Tomb to hold such benefits.


    Of course, at this moment, it was not certain that his Grass Sword Seed would be able to support executing this move.


    Lin Shiming shook his head as the visual prompt in his mind continued, but he did not stop.


    He wanted to reach the nineteenth layer to see if he could maintain the visual prompts.


    As the eleventh layer began, the Sword Intent around him became even more terrifying, demanding his constant use of Sword Intent to defend himself, resulting in an even more rapid consumption of his True Yuan.


    Where the two Sword Intents collided, blades of Grass Sword, one after another, were nullified into the invisible, dissipating as specks of Spirit Light.


    And from the nearby Sword Mountain, third-rank Supreme Grade Spirit Swords began to emerge.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s spirits were immediately lifted; if he continued further, he just might obtain a Magical Treasure!


    In the blink of an eye, he reached the nineteenth layer, and the moment he set foot here, the Sword Intent around him surged directly at him.


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to take out a Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation to defend against the surging Sword Intents around him.


    At the same time, he was also amazed to find that at this step, his Sword Intent became a bit stronger once again.


    He had made another step closer to condensing it into filaments of Sword Qi.


    Indeed, in the sky above were nine third-rank Supreme Grade Flying Swords, forming a new Grass Sword Array!


    This sword formation was even more sharp and fierce; the dense sword light, like brilliant stars, was chillingly bright.


    Lin Shiming did not dare to delay; he took out nine Supreme Grade Spirit Swords, all gained during this expedition, and he also consumed the first drop of millennial spirit milk.


    At this moment, he couldn¡¯t care about the vast True Yuan from the millennial spirit milk.


    He must overcome the might of these nine swords.


    He raised his hand high, and behind him, nine Supreme Grade Spirit Swords rose up like blades of grass, their tips pointing to the sky.


    The next moment, the dense sword light merged into one, forming a larger Grass Sword that shot toward the nine Supreme Grade Spirit Swords coming from Sword Mountain.


    Boom!


    An even more intense explosion sounded.


    Lin Shiming didn¡¯t know how many times his True Yuan had been depleted, dried up, then refilled by the millennial spirit milk, and then dried up and refilled again.


    His concentration peaked, and his understanding of the sword array deepened.


    The next moment, with a loud bang, little green stars sprinkled down.


    The sword light vanished into nothingness, and the nine Supreme Grade Spirit Swords returned to Sword Mountain.


    And as the green starlight fell, sprinkling into Lin Shiming¡¯s body, he suddenly found that his spent Grass Sword Seed, which he couldn¡¯t recover, was slowly beginning to revive.


    This green Spirit Light, much like the millennial spirit milk¡¯s nourishment of True Yuan, was restoring the mystical power of his Grass Sword Seed.


    Moreover, the prompt in his mind also changed once again.


    At this moment, the single preserved sword became the same sword as before.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t contain his joy, staying on the step, continuously contemplating.


    And what he didn¡¯t know was that high above the Sword Mountain,


    a withered yellow blade of grass was looking this way.

 Chapter 308 - 272: Confrontation, Mutation (Two in One)

    Outside the Sword Tomb, numerous cultivators had already been expelled by Sword Mountain, landing in front of the Sword Dao steps.


    The crowd wanted to enter the black steps again.


    Yet they saw black fog suddenly gathering, transforming into black spirit swords that slashed towards them.


    Everyone was greatly alarmed and hastily retreated. Once the crowd had pulled back, the black mist disappeared once more, revealing the originally dim black steps.


    The steps appeared even more mysterious.


    Everyone hung their heads in dejection, dissatisfied with their own performance.


    They began asking each other questions, their eyes dull and lackluster.


    They did not mention the graded treasures at all.


    But when each of them checked their storage bags, their excitement grew significantly.


    Many cultivators at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment obtained longswords at the peak of the third rank intermediate grade; those at the late stage of Foundation Establishment got longswords of the third rank superior grade; and those at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment received longswords of the third rank supreme grade.


    There were even fourth rank magical treasures.


    However, the disappointment in their eyes was equally genuine.


    This Sword Dao staircase had no dangers, it was about facing Sword Intent, and then drawing out spirit swords.


    Thus, even with their not insignificant gains, after witnessing higher-tier spirit swords, how many could remain content?No?v(el)B\\jnn


    They wished they could have endured a little longer, to obtain better swords.


    Just ascending the staircase was extremely difficult; to cross the Sword Dao steps and draw spirit swords from Sword Mountain was even more challenging. The immense Sword Intent forced them to stop in their tracks.


    The cultivators from Wanjian Sect were quite high-profile.


    Priding themselves as the orthodox lineage of Sword Dao, they soared through the air leaning on their longswords, especially Wan Changqing from Wanjian Sect. His sword divided into four blades behind him.


    The latest blade was particularly wide, radiating spirit light, its treasure glow piercing the sky.


    "Wan changqing, do you really think I dare not kill you on the territory of our Qingxuan Sect? Do you really believe you can bully us just because we have fewer people?" Chen Daoyuan¡¯s eyes were cold and piercing.


    A hint of Sword Intent rose up, and within ten meters around them, people felt a chilling air and their hairs stood on end!


    Little golden swords materialized in the air.


    The dense Sword Intent soared to its peak.


    The surrounding onlookers couldn¡¯t help but take three steps back.


    Only the people of Wanjian Sect stood their ground.


    That heavy sword, as if bolstered by mountains, carried a Mountain Sword Intent that also soared into the sky, standing tall and unwavering.


    The image of the mountain countered the golden swords, and for a moment, sword cries echoed through the heavens!


    The two pinnacle Sword Intents clashed against each other!


    The sword had its edge, forming half-step Sword Qi threads; the mountain had its peaks, which also created half-step Sword Qi threads. It was a clash between two peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    The standoff was instantaneous.


    Meanwhile, Xie An also stepped forward, a fiery red sword in his hand suddenly intensifying manifold.


    Another terrifying Fire Sword Intent emerged, and saber-toothed tigers made of blazing flames materialized, unleashing another torrential Sword Intent towards the Wanjian Sect cultivators.


    From within Wanjian Sect, another female cultivator stepped forward, now engaged in battle with Xie An.


    But at this moment, the disciples of Wanjian Sect were somewhat uneasy. Chen Daoyuan and Xie An were acknowledged as peak forces, yet they now realized that there were still four on the War Treasure Ship!


    However, those four, perched atop the War Treasure Ship, looked down with mocking eyes, showing no intention of moving, content to quietly observe. This emboldened the Wanjian Sect cultivators. With forty or fifty of them against two,


    there was no way they could lose!


    People reach the point of exhaustion; cultivators also have moments when True Yuan is depleted.


    "Wan Changqing, on our Qingxuan Sect¡¯s grounds, to make a move against our Qingxuan Sect, are you implying that our sect lacks people?" Suddenly, once more a small tower flew out, landing in front of the Wanjian Sect cultivators.


    The tower spun violently, causing most of the Wanjian Sect disciples to tremble and spew mouthfuls of fresh blood.

 Chapter 309 - 272: Confrontation, Mutation (Two in One)_2

    From countless windows of the small tower, copper coins began to fly out.


    However, before the copper coins reached their destination, they were all sealed within a spell formation by a Spirit Talisman.


    The figures appearing in the void were Zhao Wuji and a red-mole female cultivator, Ying Hongyue.


    Zhao Wuji frowned.


    He looked at Huang Yu and Ying Hongyue beside him.


    "Senior Brother Zhao, I apologize for my offense. However, there are rules to sword competition, and it would be best not to interfere!" Ying Hongyue said with an apologetic expression on her pretty face.


    Resembling a young girl in many ways, Ying Hongyue¡¯s petite and delicate appearance, with a red mole between her eyebrows, elicited sympathy. Her apologies only made it harder for people to refuse her request.


    But the coldness in her eyes contrasted greatly with her current demeanor.


    Not to mention Huang Yu at her side.


    "Of course, in that case, let Junior Brother Huang and Junior Sister Ying discuss the path with Senior Brother!"


    Zhao Wuji was not the least bit intimidated. The matters concerning the Soul Summoning Sword involved not just the Zi Xuan Hermit but also the entire Heavenly Sword Peak. Despite not being fond of his indecisive Martial Uncle Ji, he would not stand idly by.


    ...


    On the Sword Dao steps, Lin Shiming stood motionless like a wooden figure.


    After a long time, the Sword Intent around him suddenly surged.


    Countless beams of Sword Qi thrust forth in all directions, relieving much of the pressure surrounding the steps.


    Lin Shiming also opened his eyes, revealing an astonishing Sword Intent within them.


    A look of joy was on his face.


    The system prompt had transformed the enhanced version of the Grass Heaven Slasher into a Sword Array.


    What¡¯s more, he could now control the size of the Sword Array.


    For instance, with his current True Yuan and the Sword Intent within his sword seeds, he could only wield three strikes, he could perform a three-in-one Heaven-Slaying strike.


    Compared to the nine Withered Yellow Sword Grasses before, the demand on True Yuan and the requirements for the Sword Path Grass Seed were much less.


    Otherwise, with just his current cultivation level and the Sword Path Grass Seed, he would be unable to perform the technique, even with the help of thousand-year spirit milk.


    Additionally, due to frequent comprehension, he discovered that his Sword Path Grass Seed seemed to have absorbed nutrients, as it had grown significantly larger inside his body, even showing signs of sprouting new leaves.


    Consequently, his Sword Intent also achieved a tremendous breakthrough and was now comparable to the scene before Lin Xianzhi¡¯s breakthrough, which is the pinnacle of Sword Light Transformation.


    The next realm would be Sword Qi threading into threads!


    And he had been cultivating the sword for less than twenty years!


    If this were to be known, even the Zi Xuan Hermit would be shocked beyond measure.


    Suppressing his joy, he continued his ascent on the steps.


    The Sword Intent on the steps grew even more intense.


    The pressure around increased, but at this moment, due to the sublimation of Sword Intent, the pressure actually felt much lighter.


    As he ascended higher, Lin Shiming noticed Fourth Rank Flying Swords appearing around him.


    And not just one or two.


    Looking around, he saw at least a dozen.


    With each step he climbed, new Magical Swords appeared, each more powerful than the last.


    These treasures, once he broke through to the Purple Mansion stage and nurtured them within it, would undoubtedly possess greater potential than many of the Purple Mansion Loose Hermit¡¯s treasures in the Zhao Kingdom.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart started to grow numb at the thought, and if he were outside, each Flying Sword treasure would be treasured with the utmost care, strategizing about how to claim them.


    In the blink of an eye, it reached the twenty-eighth step.


    Below that, the twenty-seventh step.


    It was also at that instant that Lin Shiming¡¯s eyes snapped open.


    Seeing the withered yellow grass, he felt desolation, bloodshed, defiance!


    It was clearly the grass from his visions!


    Lin Shiming was tremendously shocked, and around him, the Sword Intent once again became torrentially oppressive, squeezing in around him.


    He never expected this to happen, even though he had stopped at the twenty-seventh step.


    At this moment, the pressure of death rendered his mind unusually clear.


    He lifted his hand, and suddenly four Supreme Grade magical swords appeared in it.


    His limit was three Supreme Grade magical swords, but at this moment, he couldn¡¯t care less. He had to use all his strength.


    A drop of millennium spirit milk once again dripped into his mouth.


    There was no time for the War Treasure Ship, the Spirit Shield and attacks he alone could form were only at the level of the late Third Rank.


    Unless he could control six puppets and three late-stage Third Rank Demonic Beasts within a single breath, and have them take their places aboard the War Treasure Ship.


    But how was that possible, unless prepared in advance, it would take at least three breaths!


    Under the oppression of death, to say nothing of three breaths, even one breath didn¡¯t feel like enough!


    Three Spirit Platforms were furiously operating, and at this moment, he didn¡¯t even care about attacks coming from the Soul Summoning Sword.


    If he didn¡¯t choose to strike with his sword now, he felt.


    He would die!


    It was also at this moment that he felt death closer than ever before.


    The Sword Path Grass Seed was also operating madly, all the Sword Intent pouring out.


    Instantly, four Grass Swords formed the Heaven-Slaying Formation, charging at the withered yellow Sword Grass.


    The next moment, the withered yellow Sword Grass disappeared without a trace.


    Lin Shiming struck at nothing, and his Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation suddenly hit empty air.


    The power of the Sword Formation ripped a massive vacuum in the darkness among the fog.


    The rampant Sword Qi persisted for a long time.


    He gasped for air heavily.


    He felt like cursing out loud at the strangeness of this Sword Dao staircase, which was beyond his imagination.


    Just now, he had felt the hand of death reaching for him.


    Only he didn¡¯t know why, after he released the Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation, the withered yellow grass disappeared.


    As Sword Intent was depleted, Lin Shiming had no choice but to sit cross-legged and continue recovering.


    But as soon as he recovered a little, he rose to his feet again.


    This place was no longer safe. At this moment, all he wanted was to take the Fourth Rank Magical Treasure and leave.


    He looked towards the nearby Sword Mountain. The Fourth Rank Magical Treasures here were already at the peak of the Inferior Grade, much stronger than the Twin Swords Treasure they had previously obtained and the gold brick Magical Treasure gleaned from the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    Without hesitation, he crossed the Sword Dao staircase and walked toward the side of Sword Mountain.


    But as soon as he stepped into Sword Mountain, he saw scenes of black fog before him.


    When the fog cleared again, he found himself standing before a palace.

 Chapter 312 - 274: Cause and Effect, Backup Plan (Two in One)

    The Ghost Blood Lotus matter completely shocked Lin Shiming, but upon second thought,


    he was somewhat puzzled.


    Even though they had drawn all cultivators into the Spiritual Medicine Garden, how could the cultivators of Qingxuan Sect be confident in opposing five sects with the strength of just one sect?


    You should know that the other five sects were absolutely suspicious, and the cultivators who entered this time were also quite strong.


    But doubts aside, Lin Shiming dared not continue holding onto this treasure map, foolishly searching for treasure.


    Even Taibai Sword Palace seemed like a place he didn¡¯t want to visit anymore.


    The schemes of Zi Xuan Hermit had already given him a headache, let alone the plans of the Golden Core True Persons of Qingxuan Sect, which must be even grander.


    "This formation map is also considered a treasure map of Taibai Sword Palace, I can help you modify the formation slightly, enabling you to enter Taibai Sword Palace directly without going through the Spiritual Medicine Garden!" the Taiyi Grass Sword spoke again.


    And it took the sheepskin map from Lin Shiming¡¯s hands.


    As a streak of yellow light fell into the treasure map, in the next moment, the map actually revealed the shape of a Spirit Sword.


    At this moment, it was still a treasure map, but its appearance and Spirit Light had changed drastically.


    "Thank you, senior!" Lin Shiming spoke with some solemnity; the more the Grass Sword helped, the greater the pressure he felt.


    There¡¯s no such thing as unreasoned love or hate in this world.


    The Grass Sword did not mention succession.


    Without being a successor, he couldn¡¯t be considered the other party¡¯s inheritor.


    And to a non-inheritor, there must be some entrusted task!


    Knowing that in this place right now, he couldn¡¯t leave, no matter how much the Grass Sword said, it was pointless if he couldn¡¯t get out!


    "Senior, I am unworthy of your great kindness. Please let me know anything within my capabilities!"


    "With your current strength, indeed a bit weak, you can¡¯t even ascend the twenty-eighth layer!"


    "However, today you have been involved in much causal entanglement, and in the future, you will have to settle these causes and effects!"


    "When your Dao has made achievements in the future and you break through the surrounding Sword Intent, allowing Divine Mountain to see the light of day once again, perhaps that day, Divine Mountain, too, may be of use to you!" The Taiyi Grass Sword spoke very seriously at this moment, only the last sentence carried an unexpectedly playful tone.


    "Thank you, senior!" Lin Shiming said with a face full of joy.


    Of course, at this moment, he was extremely cautious about this so-called Sword Grass Seed.


    The Withered Yellow Sword Grass continued to sway, then turned its gaze to Lin Xianzhi.


    "You too may choose a sword, but without the Spirit Sword Seed, practicing Sword Imbuement Technique is quite a foolish act!" The Taiyi Grass Sword spoke again.


    "What senior said is very true, but I had no say in it!" Lin Xianzhi also sighed.


    "Oh?" The Taiyi Grass Sword spoke with a hint of profound meaning.


    "Then I will lend you a hand once more!"


    The Withered Yellow Sword Grass was silent for a long time, but at the moment it started to speak, a yellow light shot up into the sky and vanished without a trace.


    At the very top of Sword Mountain, amongst the several floating swords,


    they were suddenly startled by the yellow light sweeping past.


    A Fire Sword suddenly jolted dramatically, causing flames to fill the sky, instantly provoking dissatisfaction among the other swords.


    "Flame Yang, what¡¯s the matter?"


    "The Grass Hermit called me, said there¡¯s a way for me to get out!" Flame Yang Fire Sword was also excitedly responding.


    "Didn¡¯t you say that it was impossible for you to leave? That you couldn¡¯t lower the difficulty for yourself?"


    "How could I refuse when the Grass Hermit asks!"


    "One should not refuse the trust of an elder!" Enjoy new tales from empire


    "You short-sighted fools naturally follow the Grass Hermit¡¯s lead!" Flame Yang replied excitedly.


    In the next moment, it turned into a blaze of fire and disappeared on the spot, flying towards the middle of the mountain.


    ...


    Outside the Sword Palace, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi watched as a Fire Sword descended, landing before the two of them.


    "Pull it out!" Taiyi Grass Sword said to Lin Xianzhi.

 Chapter 313 - 274: Cause and Effect, Taking the Initiative (Two in One)_2

    Lin Xianzhi cast a glance at Lin Shiming and then resolutely pulled out the Fire Sword.


    They had an agreement with Zi Xuan Hermit, who had even promised to protect the Lin Family for three hundred years!


    At the moment, the Taiyi Grass Sword didn¡¯t seem to be harming them.


    Otherwise, the advantages and cause-and-effect discussions from earlier wouldn¡¯t have involved Lin Shiming and the others.


    Of course, once they were out of the small world secret realm, whether they would hand over the Flame Yang Fire Sword to Purple Mansion Loose or not was unknown. They would have to wait until they were out to decide.


    After all, a Soul Summoning Sword was equivalent to a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure, and to a Golden Core Cultivator, even within the secret realm it could exhibit the minimum strength of a cultivator at the Purple Mansion level.


    As Lin Xianzhi pulled out the crimson Fire Sword, repelling forces began to appear around both Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi.


    At some point, the two of them found themselves on the Sword Path staircase.


    The repelling force continued to grow.


    "Uncle Seven Ancestors, you should stay in the small world for now, ready to support me with the War Treasure Ship at any moment," Lin Shiming still spoke to Lin Xianzhi.


    Leaving the Myriad Swords Tomb, they were bound to face a fierce battle without a doubt.


    Even if other Sects didn¡¯t act, Shiming felt something was off about the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    Lin Xianzhi nodded his head; he was aware that Lin Shiming¡¯s strength, plus the thousand-year Spirit Milk, was now not inferior to his. Moreover, his appearance outside might indeed give them away.


    Almost as Shiming was putting away Lin Xianzhi, the repelling force reached its peak.


    The next moment, he appeared outside the tower.


    But as soon as he did, the scene before him shocked him.


    The cultivators of Qingxuan Sect were actually confronting the other three Sects.


    The Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect, which usually agreed with Qingxuan Sect, were now joining forces with Wanjian Sect to face off against Qingxuan Sect.


    And their Heavenly Sword Peak under Zi Xuan Hermit was bearing the brunt of it.


    Chen Daoyuan was currently fighting one-on-one with Wan Changqing.


    Both of their strengths were at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, and the residual Sword Qi from the battle was incredibly terrifying.


    Sword Qi surged, Sword Intent rampaged!


    And Chen Daoyuan, Zi Xuan Hermit¡¯s most accomplished disciple, displayed strength that was on par with the leading cultivator of Wanjian Sect at the moment.


    Wan Changqing¡¯s face turned an ashen hue as his anger grew with the battle.


    In his view, he had to take down Wan Changqing in a short time.


    But the more they fought, the opponent¡¯s Sword Intent seemed endless, and the offensive became increasingly fierce!


    The essence of metal¡¯s killing intent was pushed to the limit!


    Of course, apart from this, Lin Shiming also spotted Xie An.


    Xie An was equally distinguished at this moment, his mastery of Fire Sword Intent coupled with his Sword Qi solidifying into a fiery Sabretooth Tiger shape, putting two Foundation Establishment peak cultivators from Wanjian Sect under such pressure they could hardly catch their breath.


    He was even on the verge of cutting them down.


    Moreover, he also transmitted his voice to Chen Daoyuan at the same time.


    Chen Daoyuan, as always, ignored him!


    And Xie An couldn¡¯t help but give Lin Shiming another look, although he didn¡¯t know why Lin Shiming could be safe and sound, nor why he could stay for so long.


    But it seemed very likely that Lin Xianzhi was finished.


    "He should still be inside!" Xie An replied offhandedly.


    Meanwhile, the two peak Foundation Establishment elders from the Wanjian Sect were instantly furious.


    Discover more stories at empire


    While they were in a magic battle with Xie An, he dared to be distracted and send voice transmissions!


    Instantly, the two elders exchanged a look, and the swords they carried on their backs were pushed forward at the same time, forming overlapping shadows.


    An endless stream of sword light began to flash out from the overlapping shadows, slashing towards Xie An.


    "Sword Path Battle Formation?" Xie An was clearly surprised as well, and in a hurry, he once again unleashed a fierce tiger made of Fire Sword Intent.


    It instantly collided with the sword light of the two Wanjian Sect elders, and for a moment, loud explosions were heard.


    But in the next moment, what deeply furrowed the elders¡¯ brows was the sight of dense Poisonous Dragon Vine phantoms that had appeared under their feet, unbeknownst to them.


    They were already no match for Xie An, and now being sneak attacked by Lin Shiming¡¯s phantoms of Poisonous Dragon Vines, they were thrown into disarray for a moment, with their battle formation somewhat unstable.


    And Xie An, with his strong ability to seize opportunities, how could he miss this?


    In almost an instant, he split apart the opponent¡¯s battle formation.


    Both of them coughed up mouthfuls of fresh blood.


    Having used so many Poisonous Dragon Vines, Lin Shiming¡¯s face also turned pale.


    He immediately took out a Superior Grade Spirit Stone to start recovering.


    This clearly showed the deficiency of Lin Shiming¡¯s True Yuan.


    But in the next moment, the system¡¯s prompt sounded vigorously:


    "Please leave as soon as possible, be wary of the encirclement by the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect!"


    The appearance of the system prompt made Lin Shiming, who had intended to fish in troubled waters, instantly lose that thought.


    He could not bother with acting anymore since a person from the demon sect hadn¡¯t come, which he found strange.


    Now, it seemed that the opponent, considering their inadequacy in the Sword Dao, intended to pick the fruit when the time was right!


    "Xie Brother, my Spirit Beast has detected the aura of a Corpse Refining Sect¡¯s undead!" Lin Shiming transmitted once more.


    Xie An, who had originally intended to kill the two elderly cultivators from the Wanjian Sect, also came to a sudden halt.


    He had long been aware of the function of the Golden Winged Mantis, and hearing this, he too was greatly shocked.


    The reason the Four Sects had been reserved was to watch out for the demon sect.


    At that moment, Xie An immediately returned to the War Treasure Ship, intending to leave before the Heavenly Demon Sect arrived!

 Chapter 314 - 275: Flood Dragon Refining Corpse, Six Paths of Hell

    Spectral lights of various colors filled the void, and sword Qi rampaged over dozens of miles.


    Battles erupted everywhere, leading to extreme chaos, virtually indistinguishable from the battlefield outside Heavenly River City at this moment.


    The only difference was that now, Qingxuan Sect was facing the other Three Sects.


    There were not many casualties, as the primary tactic was restraint.


    Xie An glanced at the other four people on the Spirit Boat, then sent a voice transmission to Chen Daoyuan.


    However, Chen Daoyuan still did not respond.


    Yet Xie An, as if he had anticipated this, did not mind and waved a big hand.


    As Spirit Light suddenly appeared, several Spirit Puppets instantly surrounded the War Treasure Ship.


    Countless Spirit Stones flew from Xie An¡¯s hand, dropping into the various Spirit Stone depots of the War Treasure Ship.


    All eleven Spirit Stone depots were filled in an instant.


    The only empty depot was the one nearest to Lin Shiming¡¯s side.


    Lin Shiming, intuitively understanding, said nothing and immediately went to the empty depot. He pressed his right hand down, drawing the True Yuan from the Superior Grade Spirit Stones while activating the War Treasure Ship.


    Catching a glimpse of the other four, he noticed that their gazes were clearly not the same as before, probably because they had been taken over by the Soul Summoning Sword.


    At this moment, the four of them stood in place, caught in the clash of Sword Intent between Chen Daoyuan and Wan Changqing, but the next moment, one of them looked towards Lin Shiming.


    "Eh!"


    With a sound of surprise, the attention of the other three was drawn, and in the blink of an eye, they started walking towards him, scanning the surroundings before stopping not far from him.


    "Kid, what is your relationship with Elder Cao?"


    "Flame Yang?"


    An ancient voice suddenly echoed in his mind.


    both Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person would become invincible in the Sword Cultivator domain.


    Unless Wanjian Sect found a Magical Treasure Flying Sword with the same Spirit Intelligence,


    they would become a joke in front of Qingxuan Sect!


    The two War Treasure Ships raced through the sky, one in front of the other.


    But just at that moment, a terrifying roar of a dragon resounded.


    The next second, two Fourth Rank Demonic Beast corpse puppets, along with a Fourth Rank Flood Dragon corpse puppet, rushed from all directions and slapped the War Treasure Ship with a claw. With a loud bang, the entire ship was forcefully repelled by the Fang Dragon corpse puppet.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s True Yuan was instantly disrupted, causing him to spew out fresh blood.


    He widened his eyes in disbelief.


    Before his eyes, there were not only three Fourth Rank Purple Mansion corpse puppets but also innumerably many Third Rank late-stage corpse puppets. Of course, the most terrifying was the Flood Dragon corpse puppet that had struck them down.


    This Flood Dragon corpse puppet was more than ten zhang long, far larger than the earlier Taiqing Purple Jade Python, covered in spikes and horrifically ferocious. With a belly bearing two claws, its immense fierceness overwhelmed Lin Shiming to the point of dizziness with just a few glances.


    Moreover, most of the Demonic Beasts from Spirit Beast Sect began to grovel restlessly!


    They became extremely frantic.


    He could not fathom the strength of this Flood Dragon corpse puppet, nor could he guess which Corpse Refining Sect cultivator¡¯s corpse puppet it was, capable of a Foundation Establishment cultivator controlling a Fourth Rank spiritual corpse.


    But the next moment, he thought that this Fourth Rank Flood Dragon corpse puppet was definitely not those of the Foundation Establishment disciples; it was likely to be avatars of some True Persons or Hermits!


    Apart from the Flood Dragon corpse puppet, Lin Shiming was equally shocked by the extravagance of Corpse Refining Sect.


    He even suspected that this group from the Corpse Refining Sect hadn¡¯t put any real effort into treasure hunting. Instead, they had been endlessly slaughtering Demonic Beasts and refining corpse puppets.


    Otherwise, it would not be possible to have so many Third Rank late-stage corpse puppets. One must know, even during the great battle at Heavenly River City, the Corpse Refining Sect didn¡¯t have so many corpse puppets.


    He and Lin Xianzhi had also hunted many Demonic Beasts, but they had only managed to control four or five while cautiously avoiding the Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    And behind these corpse puppets were the numerous Cultivators of the Corpse Refining Sect, easily a contingent a hundred strong.

 Chapter 315 - 275: Flood Dragon Refining Corpse, Six Paths of Hell_2

    Completely blocked the escape route of the War Treasure Ship.


    Xie An also spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, obviously shaken from the attack on the War Treasure Ship, and as the main controlling cultivator, he sustained not insignificant minor injuries.


    Even one of the Spirit Puppets was directly cracked by that swipe.


    Xie An had no choice but to take out several more Spirit Puppets to replace it.


    Only then did the Spirit Light of the Spirit Boat remain undiminished.


    Chen Daoyuan¡¯s expression was extremely unsightly, they had not anticipated that Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect were not merely delayed, but had been fully prepared to ambush their main force here!


    Chen Daoyuan pointed in another direction; however, all around them, black fog suddenly began to rise.


    Like inverted black curtains, one after another ascended, connecting to the sky.


    In front of the black curtains, many Heavenly Demon banners soared into the sky, fluttering in the wind, with demonic fog billowing wildly.


    These Heavenly Demon banners formed a circle, and upon close count, there were precisely thirty-five of them, completely enveloping the surroundings of Myriad Swords Tomb.


    On the banners, demonic spirits surged, their numbers beyond count, exhibiting a densely packed throng, mostly consisting of the spirits of Demonic Beasts¡¯ demonic heads, each more terrifying than the last.


    And each demonic head spirit exuded a powerful aura of demonic energy, among them several in particular were terrifying, truly at the Fourth Rank.


    They were indeed Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s uneasiness grew, he had not expected to be drawn into the confrontation of these powerful beings so quickly.


    "You did discover us rather early," a white-haired youth appeared at the end of the Demon banners.


    In his hand, a smaller Demon banner controlled the entire circumstance.


    It was also the very last of the thirty-six Heavenly Demon banners.


    Once this banner was planted, the formation would be complete.


    These Demon Cultivators and Corpse Cultivators had obviously arrived near Myriad Swords Tomb long ago, but for some reason, they were not detected by Divine Sense, and they had already set up thirty-five Heavenly Demon Banners.


    If it wasn¡¯t for his early request for Xie An to escape, they would probably still be unaware.


    With the youth¡¯s appearance, Chen Daoyuan, Zhao Wuji, and others came forward.


    However, they could not recall ever seeing such a person among the Corpse Refining Sect¡¯s Cultivators.


    Wan Changqing, Huang Yu, Ying Hongyue, and other Cultivators from the Three Sects also put aside their differences and focused on the Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect individuals.


    Sect conflicts happen among the orthodox sects, but when facing Demon Sects, all Sects would still put aside their differences.


    Still, Huang Yu, Ying Hongyue, and Wan Changqing realized they had never seen this white-haired youth before either.


    But upon closer inspection, they sensed that the white-haired youth¡¯s cultivation level was slowly rising, and in a blink of an eye, the might of the Purple Mansion surged forth.


    "Liu He Old Demon, you¡¯re really willing to come out!" Zhao Wuji and the other young Cultivators did not recognize him, but at that moment, an elder next to Zhao Wuji stepped forward.


    It was the person Lin Shiming had previously failed to understand.


    "Qing Ling, it¡¯s you? Heavenly Sword, Profound Sword, and Shen Ji too, why don¡¯t you come out as well?" the one addressed as Liu He Old Demon also spoke generously.


    "Forget it, whether you come out or not, it¡¯s all the same. I¡¯ll refine you all together. Qingxuan Sect had the audacity to target us Demon Sects, and you should be prepared to be refined by us into demonic heads!" Liu He Old Demon licked his lips, revealing a bloodthirsty expression.


    "We don¡¯t need to know your schemes, because you¡¯re all prey!"


    Liu He Old Demon waved his hand, and the small black banner in his hand spun to its limit.


    Without anyone noticing, a bright red Spirit Sword emerged from his Spirit Platform and landed on his third Spirit Platform.


    It was none other than the Flame Sun Treasure wielded by Lin Xianzhi.


    And as the Flame Yang appeared on his Spirit Platform,


    the voices of the other four Soul Summoning Swords echoed once again in his mind.


    "Flame Yang, weren¡¯t you the epitome of staunch resolution?"


    "Flame Yang, why would you assist these cultivators?"


    ...


    Ignoring these transmissions, Lin Shiming didn¡¯t even bother to look at the four of them.


    Clearly, they all thought that he had lost his Spirit Intelligence, merely pretending for Flame Yang.


    But he couldn¡¯t refute them, more worried that Xie An and Chen Daoyuan were paying too much attention to him at the moment.


    In such a battle, he thought it was good to be a cultivator who provided True Yuan, staying under the radar!


    The less people paid attention to him, the more secure he felt.


    Right now, with the War Treasure Ships making their appearance, who knew how many True Persons were watching this place.


    And as for the concealed True Person avatars, who knew how many there were still hidden.


    But at this moment, the Flame Yang within his Spirit Platform was impatient and agitated,


    constantly drawing upon his True Yuan, with fiery Sword Qi cleansing his entire body.


    "Kid, the True Yuan in your three Spirit Platforms should be enough, right? These juniors dare to babble about me!"


    "Senior Flame Yang, I beseech you to keep a low profile at this time!"


    Lin Shiming wished he could return Flame Yang back to the Cave Heaven World immediately.


    And as Lin Shiming grew anxious, the Heavenly Corpse True Person transformed into the Flood Dragon corpse, alongside the remaining two Purple Mansion corpses and numerous other Corpse Cultivators, positioned themselves before the Liu He True Person¡¯s avatar.


    At this time, the demon heads and souls in the sky swooped down like dark clouds bearing down on the earth.


    Leading them was a massive Fourth Rank mid-stage demon soul bat, charging at the people first.


    Boom!


    Terrible Spirit Light and dark light interwove, forming waves of energy that destroyed everything in their path.


    Several of the weaker War Treasure Ships were instantly blown away, countless Third Rank Corpse Cultivators turned to dust under the residual force.


    Only a few avatars of great True Persons could hold their position, each resisting the onslaught.


    Even the remaining Fourth Rank Corpse Cultivators and demon souls all retreated.


    But there was only the Flood Dragon corpse, formidably blocking in front of the Liu He True Person¡¯s avatar, single-handedly holding off three True Persons!


    And at this time, a laugh burst from the Liu He True Person¡¯s avatar as his body vanished from the spot.


    And far away, from six different directions, six demon heads emerged.


    They were the Asura Path demon head, Human Path demon head, Hungry Ghost Path demon head, Animal Path demon head, Heavenly Dao demon head, and Hell Path demon head.


    The Six Paths of Samsara, formed!

 Chapter 316 - 276 Chen Daoyuan, Start of Sword Palace (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    Endless darkness loomed, the surging demon clouds becoming the only remaining keynote.


    Six great demon souls, carrying layers of demonic might, flocked in succession.


    Countless demon heads¡¯ spirits began rushing toward the six great demon souls, making them grow larger and larger.


    The spirit might became increasingly terrifying, if at first it was merely at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, now it¡¯s reached the pinnacle of the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion.


    "All the spirit souls in this world will fall to the Six Paths, Shen Ji, even if you were a reincarnated True Monarch, today you are still one move behind!" Liu He True Person¡¯s clone said with a smile.


    Although he didn¡¯t see Shen Ji, he believed that at this moment, Shen Ji must be watching this place from somewhere!


    And he was the one to overturn Shen Ji¡¯s chessboard!


    Beside him, the Heavenly Corpse Hermit with a huge dragon mouth also nodded slightly in agreement, revealing a ghastly grin.


    Both the Corpse Refining Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect indeed knew nothing of the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s schemes; as Demon Cultivators, they were too lazy to plan and think.


    If you invite so many cultivators in, you must have a plot, I will kill them all, take the spirit souls, and snatch the corpses.


    This remaining opportunity, I will take it bit by bit!


    The clones of Qing Ling True Person, Heavenly Beast True Person, and Shen Fu True Person all looked extremely unsightly.


    The Flood Dragon practicing corpse refinement was already far beyond the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, its power even comparable to the Late Stage of Purple Mansion; and now, the Six Paths Hell Formation had arrived.


    These six demon heads, not one of them weaker than the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion, and within this Six Paths Hell Formation, they moved as fish in water, receiving great enhancements.


    If more cultivators die, they will become nourishment for the hell, and the Six Paths Heavenly Demon will become even more terrifying!


    "Changqing, you commandeer the War Treasure Ship, and gather all the remaining cultivators onto the treasure vessel!" Qing Ling True Person said with the ugliest expression.


    He absolutely cannot allow the Six Paths Hell to obliterate most of the cultivators from the four sects here; by then, even if there are still some cultivators in the Secret Realm, it would be meaningless!


    The remaining cultivators simply cannot allow the Spiritual Medicine Garden¡¯s Ghost Blood Lotus to mature, and waiting for another thirty years, the other four sects will not be as unprepared as they are now.


    Beside him, the Heavenly Beast True Person transformed into a blinding white tiger, and Shen Fu True Person transformed into a Taoist, both with utterly bloodless faces.


    As a Sword Cultivator, the clone of San Jian True Person was indeed powerful.


    With a wave of his hand, all six Heavenly Demons stretched out their hands, and the demon clouds condensed into soul soldiers.


    All six demons struck together!


    Only by doing so could they completely destroy the curtain of rain and sword threads, but the lingering power also caused the six demons to pause in midair.


    One sword against six demons!


    The strength of San Jian True Person was beyond everyone¡¯s expectations.


    Qing Ling True Person and the others were overjoyed.


    San Jian True Person deserved to be a Sword Cultivator; even if the clone¡¯s cultivation level was only at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, with mastery over the Sword Dao, he could contend against several levels higher.


    And bear in mind, this was still the first sword of San Jian True Person.


    "Agreed!" Qing Ling True Person responded directly.


    No matter what, a Soul Summoning Sword was just a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    Chen Daoyuan, watching from a distance, was initially displeased, but seeing Qing Ling True Person¡¯s uncompromising gaze, he still lowered his head.


    With the addition of San Jian True Person, and the clones of other True Persons alongside eight War Treasure Ships, the situation began to slowly turn around.


    San Jian True Person alone, with one sword, fended off three demon souls.


    If his first sword was like rain nourishing the earth, his second sword would be a sweeping tempest through the woods.


    Stretching sword threads, bright as stars, swept towards the three demon souls like a stormy tsunami.


    The Heavenly Beast True Person, transformed into a dazzling white tiger, managed to hold off two demon souls at once, with claw lights similar to the Body Cultivator Qing Ling True Person¡¯s. Relying on speed, darting and dodging, he continually inflicted wounds on the demon souls.


    But since the demon souls were formed by spirit souls and demon heads, they quickly recovered from the injuries.


    He was also restraining two demon souls.

 Chapter 317 - 276 Chen Daoyuan, Start of Sword Palace (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2

    Meanwhile, the remaining Shen Fu True Person, stroke by stroke, symbol by symbol, restrained the leftover Heavenly Dao demon souls.


    The Heavenly Dao demon soul was the strongest among the six demon souls, and as Shen Ji True Person continued to write, he was still somewhat no match for the Heavenly Dao demon soul, even coming close to being slain by it.


    The remaining clones of Qing Ling True Person were attacking the powerful Liu He True Person.


    The clone of Liu He True Person, whose strength was formidable, not only cast the Six Paths Hell Formation but also had free hands to clash directly with Qing Ling True Person.


    The body cultivation strength of this Liu He True Person¡¯s clone was clearly no less than that of Qing Ling True Person!


    The remaining eight Spirit Boats bombarded the leftover Flood Dragon corpse and the two Purple Mansion corpses.


    Lin Shiming was also within the War Treasure Ship; although at this moment there were many cultivators inside the treasure ship, who could provide True Yuan at any time, he still frowned incessantly.


    As a clone of the Corpse Refining Sect¡¯s True Person, how could the Flood Dragon corpse be easy to deal with, and how could their War Treasure Ships withstand it?


    At this moment, he touched the Storage Bag where he kept the soul-eating ants.


    Then his gaze continually shifted toward Xie An, but at this time, Xie An wasn¡¯t even making eye contact with him.


    Instead, he was fully focused on controlling the War Treasure Ship.


    Of the eight War Treasure Ships, six aimed at the Flood Dragon corpse controlled by Heavenly Corpse True Person, while the remaining two faced the two Purple Mansion corpses.


    But the situation did not improve in the slightest.


    The physical body of the Flood Dragon corpse was truly terrifying; coupled with Heavenly Corpse True Person¡¯s personal control, wherever its spirit claws passed, Spirit Shields shattered one after another, and War Treasure Ships were blasted away.


    For a time, the six War Treasure Ships were like six flesh shields.


    Spirit Puppets were destroyed continuously, but fortunately, there were now an endless stream of cultivators stepping up in their place.


    But at this moment, the cultivators stepping forward were merely delaying time.


    Within the Six Paths Hell Formation, countless demonic auras were still eroding the great treasure ships.


    Zhao Wuji looked at Chen Daoyuan, neither speaking nor sending a telepathic message.


    But that look, and the anxiety beneath it, was unmistakably revealed.


    Chen Daoyuan raised his head for a glance, then took another look at the sword in his hand.


    Finally, he turned back and gave Zhao Wuji a look.


    He sighed, recalling the words of Zi Xuan Hermit in his mind.


    Long moments passed without a word.


    Afar, with a tremendous rumbling, a dazzling Spirit Light split in two.


    A War Treasure Ship with nine Spirit Platforms was instantly torn apart; aside from a few who escaped using the Substitute Disaster Talisman, the rest perished under that one claw.


    The perished souls were pulled out by the demonic fog, and immediately, like fuel being added, the entire Hellish Demonic Array surged layer upon layer.


    "Chen Junior Brother!" Zhao Wuji finally spoke, as they could no longer hold back. At this moment, they had to take action!


    Seeing Zhao Wuji speak, Chen Daoyuan turned to look at Xie An:


    At this moment, feeling a chill of afterthought, he mused that if it were true bodies against true bodies, it would be fine, but facing the Sword Intent of a sword cultivator was disadvantageous for their incarnations of suppressed True Persons.


    With the Flood Dragon slain, it was certainly not good news for everyone that the incarnation of Heavenly Corpse True Person had not perished.


    Especially at the moment, as Chen Daoyuan¡¯s hair was white and withered, carrying none of the feeling of a previous sword cultivator but rather resembling an old man in the twilight of his life.


    Clearly, forcibly merging and breaking through to Purple Mansion had exhausted all his vitality, not to mention summoning the mark of Profound Sword True Person and wielding a Fifth Rank magical treasure.


    He was at the end of his tether in a moment¡¯s time.


    However, with a wave of his hand, he struck out with his sword again.


    The second slash of the Fifth Rank Flying Sword magical treasure nearly drained Chen Daoyuan¡¯s entire body dry.


    But the effect was terrifying; the two Purple Mansion Spirit Corpse of Heavenly Beast True Person hadn¡¯t even the chance to escape before they perished under the sword, along with a wisp of Heavenly Corpse True Person¡¯s separated soul.


    Chen Daoyuan also fell from the sky, leaving only a wooden-faced Chen Daoyuan to land atop the War Treasure Ship.


    The original four people had now become five!


    Lin Shiming sighed, and Xie An, by his side, wore a face filled with sorrow.


    Yet the outcome was remarkable; the death of a True Person¡¯s incarnation was absolutely great news for the four sects.


    Lin Shiming felt a wave of relief in his heart as well.


    But before the others could feel at ease, the slain Flood Dragon corpse refining and Chen Daoyuan¡¯s spirit were pulled into the Liu He Hell¡¯s Magic Array.


    The six demonic spirits, having absorbed countless demonic souls, climbed higher in cultivation level step by step, reaching the peak of the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, with the Heavenly Dao demonic spirit even reaching the Late Stage of Purple Mansion.


    The incarnation of Shen Fu True Person was instantly sent flying by the Punishment Sword of the Heavenly Dao demonic spirit.


    The True Person of Three Swords was unable to withstand the onslaught of the three demonic spirits, beaten back step by step, his sword turning into a defensive magical treasure.


    But he could no longer break through; the incarnation of Heavenly Beast True Person was being repressed terribly.


    Only thanks to the seven Spirit Boats that came to their rescue was the incarnation of Heavenly Beast True Person saved.


    "Wuji, no need to wait any longer!" Qing Ling True Person decided upon witnessing this scene.


    And Zhao Wuji understood immediately; a hugely magnificent divine chart appeared in his hands.


    At this moment, the treasure chart in Lin Shiming¡¯s Storage Bag began to feel incredibly hot, even the one modified by the Grass Sword started to heat up.


    Lin Shiming was momentarily stunned; he hadn¡¯t expected that Qingxuan Sect could even control when Taibai Sword Palace would open!


    His heart began to pound.


    One should know, the heating of the treasure chart signified not only the Spiritual Medicine Garden and the Blood You Lotus, but also treasures from Taibai Sword Palace, including the cultivation technique Grass Sword had told him about!


    "Flame Yang, quickly contact them, carve out a bloody path!" Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t dare to enter Taibai Sword Palace here.


    At the same time, he feared being pulled into the Spiritual Medicine Garden ¡ª the ploys of these True Persons were far too many.


    Having seen enough, he couldn¡¯t dare to be the slightest bit arrogant anymore!


    So he had to use the Soul-Eating Ants, breaking through the Liu He Hell¡¯s Magic Array.


    To enter the real Taibai Sword Palace.

 Chapter 318 - 277 Fuling Fire Mulberry (Two in One)

    The sky was as black as ink, the surging demon clouds rolled in like ocean waves.


    The War Treasure Ship, shining with golden light, seemed like a small flat boat in the vast sea at this moment.


    And the six great demonic souls were the sea beasts within this ocean,


    Boom!


    Amidst a loud explosive noise, the demonic soul transformed by the Heavenly Dao cleaved a Spirit Boat in half with a single sword strike.


    Spirit Light from the shattered Formation exploded into large swathes, creating a terrifying storm of destruction.


    The Spirit Shields of countless cultivators were nearly all destroyed within this storm.


    It seemed as though innumerable cultivators were about to fall.


    Just then, a golden light fiercely pierced through the dark clouds.


    The Formation was forcefully broken, and a splendid palace revealed itself in the sky.


    The blinding golden light caused the demon clouds of the Six Paths Hell Refinement Formation to leak out immensely!


    The strength of the six great demonic souls also leaked out like the clouds, their presence instantly dropping significantly.


    The Heavenly Dao demonic soul lost the most, directly falling to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, and the thirty to forty-zhang-tall Demon Sword in its hands had also shrunk considerably.


    "How could this be?" Liu He the Hermit was also incredulous at this moment.


    He knew that the Taibai Sword Palace must have been summoned by the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect, but he didn¡¯t understand why the Taibai Sword Palace would shatter his Six Paths Hell Refinement Formation.


    At this moment, Xie An was at the helm of a Spirit Boat, standing at the very front.


    However, what he couldn¡¯t believe was that the Soul Summoning Swords behind him were all contacting him.


    Requesting to borrow the Spirit Stones from the War Treasure Ship.


    Xie An couldn¡¯t believe it, but still, countless Spirit Stones flew out of his Storage Bag.


    Then, four figures, along with Chen Daoyuan¡¯s external incarnation, a total of five people and five swords, slashed towards the Hell Path demonic soul among the six great demonic souls.


    The speed of the five Magical Treasure Flying Swords was incredibly fast, and before anyone else could react, the dazzling True Yuan sword light reached its pinnacle, barely distinguishable from the palace above them.


    In no time, they had reduced the Hell Path demonic soul to fragments.


    That cultivator was holding the treasure map, previously proclaimed far and wide.


    "Everyone take out the sword maps from Taibai Sword Palace, it¡¯s time to seize the treasures!"


    Among the crowd of cultivators, those who had been hiding within the War Treasure Ship began to rush out in succession.


    Read the latest on empire


    At this moment, voices boomed, many produced the treasure map, and in an instant, golden light descended, enveloping all those who revealed their maps.


    Gradually, they moved towards the cloud ladder leading into the void.


    As one person brought theirs out, others followed suit.


    A golden light.


    Three golden lights.


    Ten golden lights.


    Suddenly, golden lights were everywhere. Those with some strength had almost all obtained a map from Taibai Sword Palace, and those without probably were still waiting outside the World Tower, hoping in vain.


    The crowd was no longer controllable, even the Direct Disciples from The Great Sects couldn¡¯t stop them amidst the frenzy for treasure.


    They could only caution their junior Sect brothers to proceed with utmost care!


    Liu He the Hermit¡¯s complexion grew increasingly grim because under the overwhelming golden light, his Six Paths Hell Refinement Formation was on the brink of obliteration. Not to mention, at this moment, the four True Persons¡¯ avatars looked at him with rage-filled eyes!


    Wishing that the next second, they could crush him to dust.


    Even though they were only avatars, the damage to his six avatars was a significant injury to his true self.


    So he waved his hand grandly, and the remaining thirty-four Heavenly Demon flags turned into small flags, one by one falling into his hand.


    After gathering the Heavenly Demon flags, he left behind a layer of blood mist and fled using the Blood Escape Technique.


    Without the Hell Refinement Formation, he was no match for Qing Ling True Person and the other three True Persons¡¯ avatars.


    Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t stay here waiting for death.


    Meanwhile, the onlooking cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators also scattered like birds and beasts.


    Only a few Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators, believing in their own escape and concealment techniques, quietly remained, neither approaching nor leaving from afar.


    "Fellow Daoists, there are too many people entering the Sword Palace, please forgive me for being rude, but I shall take my leave to the Sword Palace first!" Seeing that most of the Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators had left, Qing Ling True Person could no longer wait.

 Chapter 319 - 277 Fuling Fire Mulberry (Two in One)_2

    He took out a sword map and also disappeared under the golden light.


    The Heavenly Beast True Person and Shen Fu True Person¡¯s avatars witnessed Qing Ling True Person, a body cultivator, leave in a hurry.


    At this moment, they no longer had any doubts and likewise took out their Taibai Sword Map to head toward the guiding staircase.


    It was only the Three Swords True Person who glanced at Xie An and said,


    "Soul Summoning Sword, I will be going to get it from Profound Sword Daoist later!"


    Having said that, he also took out the treasure map and headed towards the Taibai Sword Palace.


    Streaks of golden light fell like an entire sect ascending to the heavens, a magnificent sight indeed.


    At this moment, unknown to the others, a figure emerged from the void underneath a formation, holding in his hand a sword map of the Taibai Sword Palace.


    Only it had been modified by the Taiyi Grass Sword, and now the treasure map featured a delicate Spirit Sword radiating an entirely different kind of spirit light.


    This spirit light transformed into a transparent little sword that slowly enveloped Lin Shiming and moved toward the rosy light in the sky.


    Lin Shiming gripped the treasure map in one hand, while on the other he was already extremely tense to the extreme.


    Should there be any sudden change, he needed to summon the War Treasure Ship and Lin Xianzhi at a moment¡¯s notice, while at this moment he didn¡¯t put much hope in the Flaming Sword of the third Spirit Platform.


    Chen Daoyuan had controlled that magical treasure and was directly drained to death there.


    And of the remaining five people, even though they were dead, they had also been drained of True Yuan and even most of their vitality.


    He didn¡¯t believe his True Yuan could exceed that of Chen Daoyuan¡¯s, even if he had a thousand-year-old Spirit Milk, he didn¡¯t dare to try it lightly.


    On the contrary, the War Treasure Ship that had been stripped of its mark and was not under surveillance was his greatest reliance.


    As the golden light grew more intense, Lin Shiming could not help but close his eyes; when he sensed that the surrounding environment had returned to normal, he found himself already upon the golden staircase.


    This golden staircase had exceedingly tall steps and one could not see the end at a glance.


    It bore a strong resemblance to the Sword Dao of the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    Only one was resplendent and golden while the other was dark and unilluminated black.


    Moreover, the aura of this staircase was far less than that of the Myriad Swords Tomb¡¯s Sword Dao.


    It seemed that this golden staircase was actually an imitation of that Sword Dao.


    The staircase was also augmented with Sword Intent, manifesting the aura of a supreme sword sect.


    However, compared to the Sword Tomb, it was much weaker.


    Lin Shiming estimated that as long as one was at the later stages of Foundation Establishment, he could ascend the staircase, or even at the early stage with an understanding of Sword Intent, one could reach the top; unlike the Sword Dao of the Myriad Swords Tomb, where even at the peak of Foundation Establishment, one might only be able to reach the twenty-seventh layer.


    After observing the Sword Dao, twelve Golden Devouring Ants appeared in his hand.


    In this mysterious Taibai Sword Palace, he naturally did not dare to recklessly trespass.


    The Devouring Ants, capable of penetrating formations, were undoubtedly the best scouts.


    The twelve Devouring Ants, now more ferocious after devouring the stalactite in the Stalactite Cave, were the size of small basins, each with long sharp fangs, and they scurried forward, emitting strange cries.


    What he wanted the most, naturally, was the Kuimu Sword Canon mentioned by the Grass Sword, which was the cultivation technique that fit him best.


    It could also be cultivated up to the Nascent Soul Stage, which for him, was the cultivation technique he needed the most.


    On the other hand, other treasures were, at that moment, dispensable and not urgent for him.


    And the Kuimu Sword Canon naturally resided in the Scripture Storage Pavilion of the Taibai Sword Palace.


    "Flame Yang senior, with your knowledge, you must have been one of the True Persons of the Taibai Sword Palace before. I hope you can tell me where the Scripture Storage Pavilion is!"


    "Kid Lin, it¡¯s no use going to the Scripture Storage Pavilion. With those countless cultivation techniques and secrets, it¡¯s really uncertain if you would find the Kuimu Sword Canon. I suggest you go to the Alchemy Pavilion!" Inside the Spirit Platform, Flame Yang said disdainfully.


    "Does the Spirit Pill Pavilion still have Spirit Pills?" Lin Shiming¡¯s eyes lit up.


    "How could that be possible? The Taibai Sword Palace has been a power from many years ago. No Elixir could last that long!"


    "Then what¡¯s the reason? Please enlighten me, senior!" Lin Shiming said respectfully.


    "If I tell you to go, just go. Why so much nonsense? If I meant you harm, my spirit sword would have cut you down long ago!"


    "Choose the second path on the left!" Flame Yang said impatiently.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming, although still somewhat worried, decided to make a decision in the absence of system prompts.


    He chose the second corridor and headed towards the Alchemy Pavilion.


    After traveling for several miles, he saw a colossal pavilion standing against the mountainside.


    It was the Alchemy Pavilion as mentioned by Flame Yang.


    However, at that moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s eyes were not fixated on the Alchemy Pavilion but rather on a fiery red mulberry tree outside the pavilion.


    The leaves of this fiery mulberry tree were as if alive, very strange.


    And extraordinarily lively.


    At the top of the mulberry tree, there were five fiery mulberries.


    At that moment, the mulberries were red as fire.


    "Is this... the Fuling Fiery Mulberry?" Lin Shiming¡¯s entire body shook violently.


    The Fuling Fiery Mulberry was one of the three most elusive Spirit Fruits in the Eastern Domain¡¯s cultivation world, and its effects were precisely what the Lin Family had been desperately seeking - the effect of extending life.


    A single Spirit Fruit could extend one¡¯s life by a hundred years!


    Not only was this a blessing for Lin Xianzhi, but it also meant that the Lin Family¡¯s descendants could strive for higher realms with an extra hundred years!


    Even for him, he might have to rely on this Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit in the future.


    After all, in the later stages of cultivation, each level up would require decades or even a hundred years!


    Who could say for sure that they would be able to continue breaking through before their natural lifespan arrived?


    "Thank you, senior Flame Yang!" Lin Shiming quickly expressed his gratitude.


    This Fuling Fiery Mulberry Tree was absolutely no less significant to their Lin Family than the Nascent Soul Technique!


    After all, even the Qingxuan Sect didn¡¯t have many Life-Extending Elixirs to spare, which were consumable Spirit Plants, whereas the Fuling Fiery Mulberry was a hundred-year Spirit Fruit Tree that could be passed down for generations!

 Chapter 322 - 279: Sword Command, 7th Layer (2 in 1, Requesting Monthly Pass)

    At the entrance of Taibai Sword Palace, there are now two extremes, one side filled with endless Sword Intent, countless Flying Swords.


    Sword Light and Sword Radiance intertwine to form a magnificent world of Flying Swords.


    It was Heavenly Sword True Person leading the way, with numerous cultivators closely following the white-robed cultivator, forming a massive Sword Path Battle Formation.


    On the opposite side of the battle formation, the original stairs were no longer visible.


    Instead, a corpse ladder had appeared, with one Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator after another climbing up, spewing out corpse energy.


    There were Second Rank Corpse Refiners, as well as Third Rank Corpse Refiners.


    There were green-haired zombies, iron zombies, flying-haired zombies, blood corpses.


    Corpses filled the sky, and at the very top was an elder wearing a robe of corpses.


    The elder held a corpse-driving flag in one hand, and a Heavenly Corpse Banner in the other, standing on a yin-yang black coffin.


    Behind him, numerous Corpse Refining Sect Cultivators were mindlessly summoning more corpses.


    One after another, the corpses rushed towards the Sword Cultivators¡¯ battle formation formed by Qingxuan Sect.


    Even the manifestation of Heavenly Sword True Person found the situation extremely troublesome at this moment.


    They had been in this standoff for almost a whole day.


    Their True Yuan was beginning to run low. Had they not occupied Taibai Sword Palace and obtained a trove of treasures earlier, they would¡¯ve been in a much worse situation by now.


    The elder in the robe of corpses was none other than the Thousand Corpse True Person of the Corpse Refining Sect. His true form was at the Golden Core Middle Stage, but his strength was comparable to that of the Golden Core Late Stage due to his disgusting ability to summon corpses.


    His manifestation was even more so!


    The number of Corpse Refiners was not only immense, but there were also countless self-destructing Spirit Corpses contaminating everything.


    Their magical swords didn¡¯t even know how many times they had been stained.


    They could only rely on Sword Qi and Sword Radiance to slash those Spirit Corpses into dust particles to avoid them.


    And once they launched a sword technique, wanting to attack forcefully, the other side would definitely summon several Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Copper Armored Zombies, relying on that hard copper armor to block the sword techniques.


    They swung their magical swords towards Lin Shiming.


    The Corpses were all deflected by the magical swords.


    But the next moment, a corner of the lid of the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin was lifted.


    Suddenly, a dark shadow resembling a Horned Python shot out at an incredible speed.


    Before the two could see it clearly, they were sprayed with a jet of dark breath.


    The two were shocked and activated their Spirit Shields, but they were smashed by the dark Flood Dragon¡¯s tail, breaking the shields instantly and were overrun by the Corpse Refiners!


    In the blink of an eye, the two cultivators had vanished without a trace!


    As soon as the two Qingxuan Sect cultivators perished, the dark Flood Dragon intended to roar, but Lin Shiming, who had the Soul Arresting restriction, was immediately aware of it.


    "Quiet down, do you still want to become a Flood Dragon?" he chastised.


    A roar at this time was undoubtedly a matter of life and death.


    After being harshly warned by Lin Shiming, the creature hesitantly inflated its cheeks but ultimately did not roar.


    Lin Shiming collected the corpses, their Storage Bags, and the Corpse Refiners and disappeared into the void once again.


    Continuing his stealth in the void, he did not encounter any more Qingxuan Sect cultivators, which greatly relieved him. This meant that Heavenly Sword True Person was under significant pressure and could not spare the attention.


    The Scripture Pavilion of Taibai Sword Palace was in front of a cliff, with a layout similar to that of the Alchemy Pavilion.


    The Scripture Pavilion was a towering six-story structure reaching thirty feet high, with a broad stone sword at its pinnacle. The Sword Intent emanating from the stone sword was so intense that it was daunting and filled onlookers with a sense of insignificance.


    The tower¡¯s body was covered with all sorts of dazzling Spirit Patterns, which gleamed and pulsed with colors in the sunlight. Despite the passage of countless years, it remained vibrant and extraordinary.


    This also meant that various protective Spirit Formations were still active.


    Here, Lin Shiming did not dare to test the Scripture Pavilion in the same way he did with the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map!


    The sword-shaped pavilion that the Scripture Pavilion had become contained six doors in total.


    Each door was ten feet high.

 Chapter 323 - 279: Sword Command, 7th Layer (Combined, Requesting Monthly Pass)_2

    ```


    And it was extraordinarily mysterious.


    To be safe, he still did not immediately enter, but used the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin and the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map to hide again in a corner.


    He was not in a hurry, and he could not afford to be.


    Whether it was falling into a Formation or exposing his identity, neither was acceptable to him.


    The former might result in instant death.


    As for the latter, the consequence of exposing one¡¯s identity would be the Lin Family having to move into Shuangmu Island as a whole.


    Moreover, it was very likely that the Qingxuan Sect would not give him the opportunity.


    The waiting time was torturous, but as he saw two more people walking out of the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Shiming came up with another conjecture.


    The Heavenly Sword True Person¡¯s incarnation of the Qingxuan Sect was also buying time...


    The nature of the Scripture Pavilion meant that if the Qingxuan Sect wanted to obtain as many Cultivation Techniques as possible, they must let all cultivators go to the Scripture Pavilion to snatch them.


    The cultivators who initially went to the Scripture Pavilion would surely have obtained them, and those would be the people at the gate of the sect.


    But the other cultivators who, like him, were checking the Alchemy Pavilion, Artifact Refining Pavilion, and the main hall of the Taibai Sword Palace through the other five passages, would definitely not have enough time to obtain Cultivation Techniques from the Scripture Pavilion.


    With his conjecture confirmed, Lin Shiming felt greatly reassured.


    In his mind, he was still communicating with the Flaming Sword.


    "I hope Senior Flame Yang would inform me about the matters of the Scripture Pavilion. I would be eternally grateful!"


    "Gratitude isn¡¯t necessary, but including the help in breaking the Formation and teaching you how to acquire the Fuling Fire Mulberry Tree, this will be the second time. Now is the last time I will help you, which will compensate for you bringing me out. After this, even if I meet Senior Grass, I shall have no regrets!"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Flame Yang took the initiative to speak, making the matter of leaving very clear.


    This made Lin Shiming feel somewhat dejected, knowing that if they had the Soul Summoning Sword, his Lin Family would be able to develop faster in the Outer Sea.


    But at the same time, he understood that these Soul Summoning Swords, like Flame Yang, would not pay much attention to you if they did not recognize you.


    Not slaughtering your Divine Sense and forcefully occupying your spirit body was already highly ethical.


    Lin Shiming nodded, and Flame Yang continued:


    "As the Taibai Sword Palace was a Nascent Soul Power with some fame at the time, its Scripture Pavilion naturally far exceeded usual sects. There are exactly nine hundred and ninety-nine protective Formations, of which thirty percent are formations within formations, fourth-rank Formations make up another thirty percent, with five fifth-rank Formations and one sixth-rank Formation.


    Even a Nascent Soul True Person forcing their way through would not have an easy time!"


    "To enter the Scripture Pavilion, there is only that main door leading to the Scripture Pavilion. The main door has two gates, while the false gates are four."


    "Entering through the main gate leads to the six-level inheritance wall. Depending on your Cultivation Level and rank, the appropriate floor will be automatically chosen for disciples. However, entering through a false gate leads directly to a deadly Formation!"


    "And to enter through the main gate, you need the disciple¡¯s Token of the Taibai Sword Palace!"


    "Holding the Token means the main gate, and you need a pair to get through! That¡¯s why you see people always entering and leaving in pairs!"


    As Flame Yang slowly explained, Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help feeling fortunate.


    Words of light from within the stone wall enveloped him.


    Lin Shiming also drew forth the Laiyun Sword and nine other magic swords.


    He lifted his head as the Sword Path Grass Seed in his chest reached its peak, and torrents of Grass Sword Intent surged forth.


    For a moment, the Sword Intent began to pervade, and one by one, grass seeds appeared in the void.


    With the gentle breeze, the seeds began to sprout.


    Eventually, ten Heaven-Slaying Sword Grasses emerged.


    And at this moment, the Sword Intent in Lin Shiming¡¯s eyes also reached its peak. Discover stories at empire


    The ten Sword Grasses corresponded to the ten styles of Heaven-Slaying!


    And with the interweaving of sword light, the ten Grass Swords formed a formation, complementing the ten magic swords.


    The Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation took shape, with countless burgeoning Grass Sword Intents filling the air around it, resonating with it.


    "Tribulation Transcending!"


    With a soft cry, a vast expanse of sword light blazed forth like the stars in the sky, slashing out with blinding brightness, and at this moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s spirit soared like the clouds.


    Boom!


    At that instant, the inheritance wall, like a pierced sky, acquired a gigantic hole.


    Yet Lin Shiming was unconcerned with this scene, instead focusing on quickly reciting the sect rules.


    Once, twice!


    Ten times, a hundred times!


    Finally, as the last word was recited, the huge hole transformed into a sky full of starlight, starting to shatter like a mirror.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but shut his eyes involuntarily.


    Upon opening them again, he found himself before three inheritance walls, each representing a different cultivation technique.


    And Lin Shiming was overjoyed, for fewer inheritance walls indicated the higher the floor he had reached.


    If his guess was right, this was the seventh floor, the legendary seventh floor that supposedly had only six.


    "Well done!"


    At that moment, Flame Yang within Lin Shiming¡¯s third Spirit Platform couldn¡¯t help but nod in approval, and the emergence of the seventh floor left him astounded for a long time.


    Lin Shiming approached the three inheritance walls. The first one he saw was brimming with surging waves, embodying the Sword Intent of the great ocean, named the Sword Manual of Oceanic Tides!


    With a slight projection of Divine Sense, he immediately felt as if he were in the open sea, with rolling waves!


    He shook his head and hastily withdrew, fearing he might mistakenly opt for this technique.


    He moved on to the second stone wall, which depicted a sky filled with flames. This was not a sword manual, but a fire attribute cultivation technique called the Fiery Firmament True Scripture.


    Lin Shiming also cast a quick glance before stepping away.


    He then arrived at the last stone wall!

 Chapter 324 - 280: Sword Origin, The Tower Reappears (Two-in-one, Please Subscribe)

    This was a stone cliff of blue mountains and green waters, where a Kuimu sword swung between heaven and earth.


    Like the deity of this place!


    It was exactly the Kuimu Sword Canon he had tirelessly sought, and Lin Shiming, filled with surprise and joy, glanced at it and was immediately immersed.


    The surrounding scenery changed, the stone cliff disappeared, and what appeared instead was a plain with a small river reflecting white clouds and a blue sky, with layers of mountains in the distance, lush and verdant.


    By the riverbank, a tall and straight Kuimu tree pierced into the sky.


    And beneath the Kuimu, stood an old sword cultivator with white hair, poised and composed.


    Lin Shiming became extremely vigilant in an instant.


    He tried to reach for his Storage Bag, but found that it had lost its effects.


    It was utterly impossible to summon any Magic Artifacts.


    Even Flame Yang could no longer be communicated with.


    It was just that the white-haired sword cultivator did not move, and it was as if he hadn¡¯t seen him at all, continuing to stand there in his own world.


    "Senior?"


    Continue your journey at empire


    Lin Shiming called out, but did not receive a response.


    He released his Divine Sense and probed cautiously.


    But as soon as his Divine Sense reached out, he found that the white-haired sword cultivator was merely a beam of Spirit Light, a beam of enlightening Spirit Light that had persisted through the ages, so lifelike that it was impossible to distinguish its reality.


    Or perhaps he was deep within an Illusion Array, with everything before his eyes a falsehood, naturally indiscernible.


    Not much time passed when a series of Spirit Arts flowed from the body of the old sword cultivator, forming specific patterns.


    At this moment, the old sword cultivator was like an old monk settling into meditation, slowly sitting cross-legged.


    As Spirit Light converged, the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth surged toward the old man, and with it, a faintly blossoming Sword Intent.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lin Shiming suddenly understood somewhat; his Divine Sense plunged directly into the old man¡¯s body, and the paths of the meridian circulation also appeared before his eyes.


    Finally, the Golden Core Stage, the Nascent Soul Stage, he practiced each stage one by one.


    And he practiced with great meticulousness.


    Starting from the Purple Mansion Realm, Lin Shiming found that his memory was struggling.


    After all, he had never cultivated to such levels, and the complexity far exceeded that of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment.


    The many obscure and bitter Spirit Arts left him perplexed, unable to comprehend, and he could only grit his teeth and record them.


    At this moment, he dared not relax in the slightest; any mistake could lead to problems with his cultivation technique in the future. Even with system prompts, Lin Shiming was not willing to take the risk.


    Due to the nature of the Jade Slip, Lin Shiming was both recording the visuals and detailing the pathways and secret arts, prepared on all fronts, giving him greater stability.


    He had system prompts; if it came to practicing the cultivation technique and system prompts also provided visuals, that would naturally be excellent.


    And so, the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, all were recorded by Lin Shiming.


    He felt as if he had broken into a sweat as if he had been through a fierce magical battle.


    Exhausted in body and spirit!


    But he couldn¡¯t afford the slightest distraction; whether he could return to the Taibai Sword Palace again was uncertain, and he had to record everything without omission.


    As the cultivation technique was fully recorded, what followed were the sword moves.


    What especially shocked Lin Shiming was that the Foundation Establishment secret arts of the Kuimu Sword Canon combined True Yuan and Sword Intent to form an even more powerful Sword Origin.


    This moment also overturned Lin Shiming¡¯s understanding.


    The Kuimu Sword Canon, rightly a Superior Grade earth-level cultivation technique, was who knows how much better compared to the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    The sword shadow continued to illustrate; once the secret arts of the Foundation Establishment Stage were fully rendered, it was time for the Minor Divine Abilities of the Purple Mansion Realm.


    The Minor Divine Abilities did not differ too much, the Kuimu Sword Formation, the power of this Sword Array, was also quite formidable, enchanting Lin Shiming. Still, ultimately not having reached the Purple Mansion Realm, there was too much that was bitter and difficult to understand, prompting Lin Shiming to record in detail.


    And after recording once through,


    The shadow then started over from the beginning.


    The shadow¡¯s repetition was a pleasant surprise for Lin Shiming.


    He didn¡¯t dare to be negligent, immediately continuing to cross-reference the recorded cultivation technique, meticulously checking each detail.

 Chapter 325 - 280: Sword Origin, The Tower Reappears (Two in One, Subscribe Please)_2

    Although he didn¡¯t understand the profound depths, for him, it was sufficient to record everything; when his cultivation reached the required level, he would be able to comprehend the mysteries within.


    The Kuimu Sword Canon was a superior grade, Earth-level cultivation technique, and it was indeed the distinguished foundational method of the Taibai Sword Palace.


    Lin Shiming read it thoroughly seven times; two days had already passed.


    Once he confirmed that the recorded technique was free of abnormalities, Lin Shiming bowed deeply, concluding his study of the technique for the time being.


    As if it understood, the light and shadow conjured a sliver of light upon Lin Shiming¡¯s forehead; the Sword Command simultaneously emitted a glow.


    The scenes disappeared one by one, and following that, the inheritance token appeared. Just when he wondered if he could continue to inspect the techniques, his figure changed once more, and he found himself standing in a genuine tower space.


    Lin Xianzhi was also seated in meditation across from him.


    Seeing Lin Shiming come in, Lin Xianzhi also spoke excitedly.


    "Shiming, did you acquire any cultivation techniques?"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, I¡¯ve obtained a technique that can be cultivated up to the Nascent Soul stage!" Lin Shiming also spoke without any attempt to hide.


    Enjoy new chapters from empire


    He then asked anxiously,


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, how about you?"


    At this moment, he was worried that his seventh great-uncle had chosen a Wood Attribute technique for him.


    Knowing Lin Xianzhi¡¯s character, it was very much possible that he had done just that.


    "I could only reach the fourth layer and selected a Water Attribute Golden Lotus Dao Scripture!" Hearing that Lin Shiming had obtained a technique that could be cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, Lin Xianzhi instantly knew Shiming¡¯s encounter was extraordinary, indicating he must have reached the sixth layer, which also relieved him.


    In the fourth layer, he was indeed prepared to choose a Wood Attribute Technique, but thinking of Lin Shiming¡¯s talent and certain capability to reach a higher layer, he abandoned that thought.


    Of course, having acquired the technique, Lin Shiming could not ignore another reality¡ªhe was still trapped within the Taibai Sword Palace.


    At this time, going out would make him a target for both the Qingxuan Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect; they would probably think only of killing him.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    He must wait; the avatar of the Heavenly Sword True Person surely had a contingency plan.


    A Sword Cultivator without worries or contingencies would not remain this calm.


    Just as the Grass Sword said, he wasn¡¯t a true Sword Cultivator, but to the Heavenly Sword True Person, he was indeed a genuine Sword Cultivator.


    Furthermore, it was an avatar at stake, and if it had to burst forth, it would certainly be a do-or-die battle.


    And that Thousand Corpses True Person likely had his own contingency, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have dared to block the Heavenly Sword True Person¡¯s avatar at the Taibai Sword Palace¡¯s mountain gate without calling the Heavenly Demon Sect for backup.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, please go to the Cave Heaven World to consume a Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit and enhance your lifespan by a hundred years. We might need your assistance later!" Lin Shiming told Lin Xianzhi.


    Although Lin Xianzhi was feigning death, if a real crisis emerged, he would not resign himself to fate!


    He was waiting, either for the Qingxuan Sect to break the situation or for the Corpse Refining Sect to do it!


    Once hidden again on the cliffside of the Alchemy Pavilion, Lin Shiming didn¡¯t release his Divine Sense but instead looked outside with his eyes.


    As for the Flame Yang within him, it was somewhat at a loss for words at the moment.


    It had not expected Lin Shiming to be so capable of biding his time; of course, it was also interested in what cultivation technique Lin Shiming had acquired just now.


    In the Scripture Pavilion, it had been separated by the formation and couldn¡¯t see what cultivation inheritance Lin Shiming had obtained, and it wasn¡¯t even clear which floor he had reached.


    "Kid, what cultivation technique did you get?"


    Flame Yang eventually asked, as the Senior Grass held some regard for Lin Shiming.


    But right now, it felt as if Senior Grass might have misjudged; a Sword Cultivator¡¯s Sword Heart is usually crystal clear, but it seemed this Sword Heart was somewhat dull!


    "This junior¡¯s talent is dull, and the cultivation technique obtained is not worth mentioning!" Lin Shiming also calmly responded with his Divine Sense.


    "You¡¯re teasing me, aren¡¯t you? Just state your condition!" Flame Yang said, somewhat frustrated.


    It guessed that Lin Shiming was deliberately concealing it from him because of the previous implications that they were even in their dealings.


    "Senior speaks too modestly. Senior has helped this junior so much along the way; this junior ought to agree to any request from senior. But senior must understand, this junior is just a cultivator from a small family, and now in front of senior, I hardly have any secrets..."


    "Rest assured, even if I were to pursue the Immortal Path alone, I would not divulge your secrets to a second person. I can swear on the Heavenly Dao. Besides, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to stick with a family that doesn¡¯t even have a Nascent Soul cultivator, so save any next attempts to convince me to stay!"


    Before Lin Shiming could finish speaking, Flame Yang interrupted him.


    In his heart, all the various benefits he had thought to offer to persuade Flame Yang to stay had to be swallowed back.


    He did indeed want to retain Flame Yang; these Soul Summoning Swords, although they had lived for who knows how long, were unusually straightforward.


    "Then thank you, senior!" Lin Shiming felt relieved upon hearing the other party swear by the Heavenly Dao to keep secrets.


    It wasn¡¯t a total loss, after all.


    "This junior did indeed obtain the Kuimu Sword Canon!"


    Following Lin Shiming¡¯s answer, Flame Yang, the Soul Summoning Sword, also came to regard Lin Shiming with respect but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Just as the two were communicating, the small tower at the Scripture Pavilion suddenly enlarged countless times.


    Even from the Alchemy Pavilion, Lin Shiming could see it very clearly.


    This tower was clearly different from the tower of the Scripture Pavilion; its color sparkled with Spirit Light and even its prohibitive formations were different.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming suddenly realized that this tower was the very one from the auction, the one brought out by the Qingxuan Sect.


    He watched as the tower aimed directly at the Scripture Pavilion, apparently intending to incorporate the entire pavilion within itself.


    The goal of the Qingxuan Sect was not just the cultivation techniques but the entire legacy of the Taibai Sword Palace!

 Chapter 328 - 282: Transplantation, Carved Sword Stone (Two in One for Monthly Votes)

    Within the Cave Heaven World, Lin Shiming awoke from the enlightenment of the Jade Slip, his face brimming with a smile.


    The insights of Xiao Chen were of great use to him, all about how to transplant the precious Spirit Plant known as the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit, which was also applicable to the transplanting of Fuling Fire Mulberry Trees.


    Especially significant was the Fourth Rank Spirit Soil left by the latter, which also played a substantial role.


    With the traits of his Spiritual Body, he was confident that he could transplant both kinds of Spirit Trees without them suffering much damage.


    Lin Shiming stood up, while Lin Xianzhi next to him was still in closed-door cultivation, having consumed the Fire Mulberry Fruit, his vitality recovered, his blood surged, and with Superior Grade Spirit Stones at his disposal, his cultivation was progressing remarkably fast.


    He was also beginning to push towards the peak of Foundation Establishment in order to prepare for a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion.


    Lin Shiming looked at Lin Xianzhi¡¯s cultivation but did not disturb him.


    He then turned his gaze towards the Spirit Plants in the Cave Heaven World, noting that since entering the minor world, he had not had the chance to come into the Cave Heaven to tend to the Spirit Plants there.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Now, looking at them again, he was filled with many emotions.


    This Cave Heaven bore not only the hopes for the rise of the Lin Family but also the hopes for his own path to enlightenment.


    The Minor Divine Ability Tree still looked like a sapling, the Golden Thunder Bamboo had more and more lightning on it, and then there was the only Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree that was about to bear fruit.


    In the distance was that tea tree, which up to this point remained dormant, with the wood demon showing no signs of waking up.


    The consumption of its Spirit Leaf seemed to have truly exhausted many of its essences.


    However, the clusters of tea leaves were growing better and better, and even the Golden Winged Mantis lying beneath the tea tree had its four pairs of wings becoming more and more extraordinary with Spirit Light.


    Seeing Lin Shiming look over, the mantis lazily chirped once.


    And then carried on lying on the tea tree.


    Experience more content on empire


    Now that it had the Magical Treasure Spirit Furnace and the heavenly and earthly Spiritual Fire within,


    Red-haired was clearly too eager for quick success!


    Lin Shiming ignored the Red-haired Demon Monkey¡¯s desperate pleas and took out a large number of Beast Nurturing Pills and spirit beast meat, as well as some trophies that were rich in Spiritual Power, including Third Rank Spirit Fruits.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey kept crying out.


    However, after Lin Shiming gave it a stern look, it only cried out twice more and gave up, clutching the Beast Nurturing Pills and Spirit Fruit meat as it walked towards the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree.


    No sooner had Red-haired Monkey left, than Wang Jiao, who was in the swamp, also transmitted Divine Sense fluctuations.


    Because it was bound by the Soul Arrest Forbidden, Wang Jiao sent out simple syllables directly into his mind.


    "Stone, stone!" Lin Shiming looked over and saw Wang Jiao still clutching the giant mysterious shell, opening its mouth to him.


    The Spirit Light of the Superior Grade Spirit Stones in the swamp had been completely absorbed.


    Lin Shiming placed two Superior Grade Spirit Stones, and Wang Jiao immediately calmed down and continued to toy with the mysterious Spirit Shell.


    Everything within the Cave Heaven World seemed to be in perfect order, which reassured him greatly.


    Seeing that everything was taken care of, Lin Shiming began the transplanting of the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Tree.


    He had seen Xiao Chen transplant it before, and with even more details recorded in the Jade Slip, he was even more confident.


    He took out a Fourth Rank Jade Box, and as the rich purple light shone out, he peeled the Spirit Talisman attached to the Jade Box away and an astonishing amount of Spiritual Energy spilled out.


    It even formed a vivid purple light spectacle, akin to a Purple Jade Python.


    Lin Shiming was taken aback, thinking the Purple Jade Python had some tricks up its sleeve, but upon sending his Divine Sense in, he discovered it was just the Spiritual Energy emanating from the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit that had been guarded by the Purple Jade Python for so long, and it was all somewhat tinged with the Purple Jade Python¡¯s aura.


    Lin Shiming let out a sigh of relief, found a rich patch of ground in the Cave Heaven World, planted a large amount of Third Rank Spirit Soil, and finally covered it with a layer of precious Fourth Rank Spirit Soil.

 Chapter 329 - 282: Transplantation, Carved Sword Stone (Two in One for Monthly Votes)_2

    ```


    These Spirit Soils were like the stars in the sky, shimmering with spirit light, crystal-clear and twinkling.


    Once the Spirit Soil was properly arranged, he paired it with the most important Fourth Rank Nurturing Spirit Liquid. This Fourth Rank Nurturing Spirit Liquid was also obtained from Xiao Chen¡¯s Jade Slip, which was why it took so long for him to assimilate it.


    The Spiritual Medicines needed, for the most part, were in Xiao Chen¡¯s Storage Bag, while the rest had been found in the small world and the Secret Realm.


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate and immediately started to concoct the Nurturing Spirit Liquid on the spot.


    He took out a Pill Furnace from his Storage Bag; this Pill Furnace was a Supreme Grade Third Rank Pill Furnace taken from the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion.


    Even after lying dormant for so long, the Spirit Patterns on the furnace were flawless, and a mere infusion of True Yuan caused it to radiate a fiery red Spirit Light. With his will, the temperature of the fire could be adjusted with ease.


    He took out some ordinary Second Rank Spiritual Medicines to test the Pill Furnace, and after confirming everything was in order, he began to retrieve various Spiritual Medicines and started to concoct and brew them one by one.


    Concocting Nurturing Spirit Liquid wasn¡¯t like Alchemy; all that was needed was to maintain the proportion of ingredients, without much requirement for meticulous temperature control.


    Nevertheless, he still failed twice. It was only on the third attempt that he finally succeeded in the concoction.


    As the Nurturing Spirit Liquid was successfully prepared, the entire Cave Heaven World was filled with a rich, refreshing fragrance.


    The Nurturing Spirit Liquid was then poured into the Fourth Rank Spirit Soil.


    The mixture of Spiritual Liquid and Spirit Soil unified, its Spirit Light growing more intense, like a galaxy strewn across the heavens.


    Seeing that there were no other abnormalities, Lin Shiming poured the remaining Nurturing Spirit Liquid into a Jade Box.


    He allowed the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree to fully absorb it before transplanting the Purple Jade Fruit tree into the Spirit Soil.


    Lin Shiming tirelessly infused more True Yuan from within his body. With the input of True Yuan,


    the entire Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree radiated dazzling purple light, restoring its original appearance in a moment.


    It was like a purple crystal tree, noble and sumptuous.


    Moreover, he was also preparing to return to the Secret Realm from the World Tower.


    He was not intending to remain hidden in the small world for the remaining time; for him, it was far too lacking in security.


    This small world was filled with many True Persons¡¯ avatars, all capable of exhibiting Purple Mansion strength for a short period.


    In contrast, in the Profound Grade Secret Realm, not a moment of Purple Mansion cultivation or aura could appear.


    Lin Shiming silently recited the intent to exit the Cave Heaven World in his heart, but did not act immediately.


    He was testing the system prompt.


    With an increase in system prompts, he was gradually understanding that the system¡¯s prompts were responsive to his thoughts, as though being a kind of premonition.


    But his premonitions would manifest as system prompts without ever having been incorrect.


    After a false sense of the prompt did not trigger any system response, Lin Shiming set his mind at ease.


    Once he had recovered his True Yuan to its zenith, he directly piloted the War Treasure Ship and appeared in the Alchemy Pavilion.


    Although it was highly probable that the system prompt would alert him, he still held his breath.


    Always ready to retreat back into the Cave Heaven World at a moment¡¯s notice.


    Even a Five Rank Formation was not something he could withstand; if the Six Rank Formation was still in place, he would certainly return to the Cave Heaven World without delay.


    However, finding himself amidst the ruins of the Alchemy Pavilion, he realized the Six Rank Killing Formation had vanished, obviously receded back to the Scripture Pavilion.


    Releasing his Divine Sense, he discovered that the passage where the Scripture Pavilion was situated had disappeared, along with four other passages. The Main Hall and the Preaching Hall that had been concealed by the formation were gone, as were the Living Pavilion and Artifact Refining Hall of the Sect.


    And if he wasn¡¯t wrong, had he not been within the Alchemy Pavilion himself, it too would probably have been concealed.


    Finally, Lin Shiming breathed a sigh of relief; all passages being hidden meant that he no longer had to worry about the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect.


    And leaving was quite simple; holding the Sword Command, he could exit the mountain gate, descend the welcoming steps, and he would be randomly teleported elsewhere¡ªthis was also the reason Lin Shiming was not too worried.


    ```

 Chapter 330 - 282: Transplantation, Carved Sword Stone (Two in One for Monthly Votes)_3

    With the danger gone and only needing to be wary of the formations surrounding the Alchemy Pavilion, he casually started walking around inside the Alchemy Pavilion.


    Although he was the first to enter Taibai Sword Palace, he actually had no opportunity to search it.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    He searched inside and outside the Alchemy Pavilion once more to see if there were any treasures left behind. As a powerful Sect like Taibai Sword Palace, it was certain they had many treasures; overlooking some would be perfectly normal.


    But after making a round, he recalled the Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator he had slain; a ruthless cultivator who had even collected every brick and tile, leaving nothing but the areas covered by formations untouched.


    As for the areas covered by formations, Lin Shiming naturally dared not touch them, for they contained formidable Fifth Rank and Sixth Rank formations.


    Lin Shiming walked toward the sect gateway below. The gateway once bore the carvings of ¡¯Taibai Sword Palace¡¯ on the sword plaque, which had now been removed, leaving only the hollow stone pillars of the gate.


    It was a testament to what was once a mountain gate revered by thousands. Discover hidden stories at empire


    Rather than continue to remove these stone pillars, Lin Shiming began ascending the guiding Sword Ladder.


    However, at that moment, a system prompt suddenly appeared.


    Lin Shiming was also surprised, thinking there might be an ambush outside, but instead, he saw that the system prompt was actually pointing to the ladder beneath his feet.


    "Please use the Spirit Ants to break the guiding ladder, and you will obtain a large number of Carved Sword Stones!"


    Lin Shiming was clearly startled; he had not expected Taibai Sword Palace to send him out early.


    It was as if he had triggered some kind of forbidden Formation.


    Lin Shiming immediately felt a sense of loss, for there were a total of eighty-one guiding steps made of Carved Sword Stones.


    Of course, as soon as he appeared outside, he immediately took out the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin and sped off into the distance.


    Meanwhile, a stream of messages started appearing in the storage bag within his body.


    It was the Profound Command discovered by Zi Xuan Hermit.


    And the message on the token took him by surprise.


    The Illusionary Demon True Person had stolen a treasure from Qingxuan Sect, and the entire Sect was searching. Whoever found the Illusionary Demon True Person¡¯s clone would be rewarded with a Zi Xuan Precious Jade!


    That was the Zi Xuan Precious Jade that facilitated a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion; Lin Shiming¡¯s mind was consumed with only one thought: the Blood You Lotus had been stolen.


    But what made him hesitant was wondering how Qingxuan Sect could have made such a big mistake, given that Profound Sword True Person¡¯s clone and Qing Ling True Person¡¯s clone should have both been in the Spirit Plant Garden!


    Of course, aside from the Profound Command, there was also a Transmission Talisman from Xie An, who was unexpectedly looking for him!

 Chapter 331 - 283: Reverse Repair and Human Sentiments (Two in One)

    Beneath a hillside, a stone cavern stretched out.


    In the depths of the cave, a Moonlight Stone emitted a soft, moon-like glow.


    Under the white moon disk, Lin Shiming released the last array flag, and a layer upon layer of Spirit Light enveloped the dwelling, making it disappear from sight.


    Only then did Lin Shiming walk to the center of the cave dwelling and took out the meditation mat he used previously for cultivation.


    Sitting on the mat, he forcibly calmed himself down and cultivated the Split Spirit Decision for a while to gather his focus.


    But slowly, he fell into deep thought.


    He did not go to find Xie An, for he understood, since Xie An was the last to enter the Myriad Swords Tomb, that Xie An was not of the same ilk as him.


    The latter¡¯s anxious search was obviously because he suspected that the Soul Summoning Sword resided within his body.


    Because the last conflict involved five Soul Summoning Swords striking simultaneously.


    Others might think it was Xie An¡¯s merit.


    But Xie An would certainly have his suspicions.


    Moreover, if Xie An had also cultivated an external incarnation technique, just like Chen Daoyuan, then Xie An would have one of the Soul Summoning Swords too and would surely know of Flame Yang¡¯s existence.


    Furthermore, at this moment, he had to face the problem of how to return to the Lin Family successfully.


    All this was predicated on not arousing suspicion from the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    And on ensuring nobody knew he had been to the Taibai Sword Palace!


    Otherwise, the True Person of the Heavenly Sword would certainly expunge their Lin Family.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s head felt exceedingly huge at that instant. The Soul Summoning Sword, Flame Yang, would not follow their Lin Family. He had no psychological burden about handing over Flame Yang.


    After all, it was a Soul Summoning Sword with its own consciousness.


    But handing over the Soul Summoning Sword was not that simple.


    He had to change the cultivation technique, at least so that no one could spot anything wrong.


    Following that, Lin Shiming did not hesitate, for the only difference in the original Purple Wood Heart Sutra was a single route.


    He began to cultivate on the spot.


    There was still half a month before he left the small world.


    In this half a month, he must reverse-cultivate the technique, just like Lin Xianzhi previously did to improve his strength.


    To his surprise, the cultivation after reverse-cultivating was just as smooth as before, and just like Lin Xianzhi there was no impact at all. Moreover, when he released a strand of True Yuan, the rich essence of life within made him frown once again.


    As expected, this wrong cultivation of the technique consumed life-span.


    But the consumption of life-span was not for improving strength, but rather for enhancing the growth of Spirit Plants!


    Lin Shiming went to a batch of Tribulation Forging Divine Flowers in the Cave Heaven World, and as he exercised his True Yuan, he watched the initially immature plants begin to bud.


    The faster the ripening, the more he felt a stream of vital energy slipping away inside him.


    This revelation gave him pause!


    At the same time, recalling the incident at the Li Family in Yunzhou and the visit from the Zi Xuan Hermit to the Lin Family, asking about his ability to catalyze Spirit Plants.


    The other party clearly sensed his lie but did not expose him. He thought he had fooled the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Looking back, lying was the right thing to do, because the wrong cultivation of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra would naturally consume life-span when catalyzing Spirit Plants. And how could a normal cultivator boast about having a catalysis ability that shortens lifespan?


    If he didn¡¯t cover up this ability, the Zi Xuan Hermit would grow even more suspicious if there was something wrong with his cultivation technique.


    Thinking this way, Lin Shiming became more confident in reverse-cultivating to elude the scrutiny of the Zi Xuan Hermit. His ability to catalyze Spirit Plants, even without reverse-cultivating, was still far superior to others.


    As for the consumption of lifespan, within the World Tower, the soul¡¯s age was over seventy. Now it seemed a perfect cover for him!


    Lin Shiming took a deep breath and continued to reverse-cultivate the Purple Wood Heart Sutra. He had to form muscle memory in the pathways of the meridians; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t possibly deceive the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Ten days quickly passed in silence.

 Chapter 332 - 283: Reverse Repair and Human Sentiments (Two in One)_2

    His vitality was even more pronounced throughout his body.


    Perhaps it was amplified again by the hidden Spiritual Body within him.


    Lin Shiming stood up, choosing not to continue cultivating; he was already satisfied with his current progress.


    He looked down at the Profound Command in his Storage Bag. Almost every other day, he could see the reward for finding the Illusionary Demon True Person increase.


    It started with the Zi Xuan Precious Jade, and now, there were even Magical Treasures!


    However, what he was supposed to find still hadn¡¯t appeared on the Profound Command.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming had no intention of searching. Even if he found it, he wouldn¡¯t dare to report it.


    The avatar of the Illusionary Demon True Person was at least at the Purple Mansion strength level, and had been able to snatch away the Ghost Blood Lotus from the hands of Profound Sword True Person and Qing Ling True Person. Its strength must be extraordinarily formidable within the Heavenly Demon Sect too.


    Experience more content on empire


    Unless he wished to throw his life away, this being could easily crush him without effort.


    Besides the Profound Command, there was also Xie An, who had sent him messages a few times again.


    Lin Shiming pondered for a moment and took out a Sound Transmission Talisman.


    He then sent a message to Xie An, arranging to meet in a bamboo forest.


    Once he released the Sound Transmission Talisman, Lin Shiming collected the surrounding Formations. At the same time, he smashed the Primordial Magnet Seal fiercely, eradicating all traces around him.


    He then turned into a sword shadow and flew toward the agreed-upon location.


    Arriving earlier at the bamboo forest, Lin Shiming set up an Array Plate a hundred miles to the north within the forest. The Array Plate, a spoils of war he had found, was not as good as the Heavenly Trapping Formation, but it was still a Third Rank, Superior Grade Spirit Formation, the Five Extremes Illusory Heart Formation!


    After the Formation was arranged, Lin Shiming returned to the bamboo forest and casually constructed a bamboo hut. He then deployed a Concealment Formation.


    Lastly, he took out the Mingxin Tea from the Mingxin Tea Tree and began to brew tea for himself.


    Since he broke through to the Third Rank, the fragrance of the tea from the Mingxin Tea Tree had become richer and had remarkable effects for cultivators who had failed at Foundation Establishment and those with damaged foundations.


    The aroma of the tea was even more intense, and the taste was refreshing!


    Three hours later, a streak of Spirit Light passed by in the distance, and a Transmission Talisman appeared in his hand.


    Lin Shiming immediately rose and flew out of the bamboo hut.


    In the sky, a War Treasure Ship stood proudly in the void.


    Xie An stood at the bow, looking toward the bamboo forest.


    The five Soul Summoning Swords, however, were no longer in sight.


    Lin Shiming was not surprised that the five swords had left.


    They would have parted with him too once they left the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    Outside of the Sword Tomb, they lost their restrictions and could easily find any cultivator to possess their Spirit Platforms.


    The reason Flame Yang was still there was merely due to the entrustment of the Taiyi Grass Sword.


    For a moment, Xie An¡¯s response sent shockwaves through Lin Shiming¡¯s heart, and he didn¡¯t know how to reply.


    "Shiming, I told you that day that I owed the Lin Family a favor. Now I owe your Lin Family another. As long as I have the Soul Summoning Sword and exchange it for either the Zi Xuan Precious Jade or the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, once I break through to the Purple Mansion stage and the Lin Family is in danger, I can fully support your Lin Family twice!" Xie An started talking again.


    At that moment, Lin Shiming hesitated too. Flame Yang was useless to him.


    Because once Flame Yang left the Secret Realm, it would go away on its own.


    And Xie An¡¯s words were sincere.


    If he had been evasive, Lin Shiming would have been suspicious of deceit, but at this moment, he knew he had to give up Flame Yang.


    Not doing so would have consequences¡ªas soon as they left, he would either wait to be thoroughly investigated by the Zi Xuan Hermit, including his several Spirit Platforms,


    or he would certainly die.


    Besides, his escape was also noticed by Qing Ling True Person, and without a good reason, he couldn¡¯t possibly get away with it.


    "Shiming, I know what you are worried about. I am willing to make a Heavenly Dao oath!"


    "As long as you help me obtain the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, the previous escape can also be explained as my instruction for you to break out!" Xie An spoke once more.


    After finishing his words, Xie An began to make his Heavenly Dao oath. At this moment, the two looked each other in the eye.


    In the end, Lin Shiming nodded. After communicating with Flame Yang in his sea of consciousness, the latter also expressed indifference.


    He just wanted to leave, and he didn¡¯t care who he followed.


    Lin Shiming handed over Flame Yang.


    As the crimson Magical Treasure sword appeared, Xie An¡¯s eyes reached a peak of shock.


    With his knowledge, he could obviously tell that this was truly a Fifth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure, more precious than any of the other Soul Summoning Swords.


    What he had said before was just a ploy, but the appearance of a real Fifth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure still left him utterly shocked.


    Shock aside, Xie An still moved quickly, and behind him, another cultivator appeared who looked exactly like Xie An, only younger and with a Cultivation Level of merely the later stages of Foundation Establishment.


    The Flaming Sword flew into the possession of Xie An¡¯s avatar, and Xie An nodded at last.


    The avatar then disappeared, hiding away.


    Lin Shiming also sighed in relief in his heart. He hadn¡¯t cultivated the Sword Imbuement Technique to an especially profound level, and with his limited Cultivation Level, being without the Soul Summoning Sword was only natural.


    Afterward, the two enjoyed a proper tea session, as Xie An¡¯s tea ceremony skills were also extremely profound. For a while, they were engulfed in joy and harmony.


    After the tea was finished, Xie An got up:


    "Shiming, I¡¯m going to look for the other Soul Summoning Swords with Senior Flame Yang. We¡¯ll leave together. Do you want to come with us?"


    "Thank you for your kind offer, senior brother, and I hope you don¡¯t mind my bluntness, but I haven¡¯t gained much on this trip. I¡¯m thinking of trying my luck again!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    He rejected Xie An because he wanted to head directly to the World Tower. In the current miniworld, he dared not stay any longer.


    And the Soul Summoning Sword was a hot potato he naturally did not wish to meddle with more than necessary.


    After arranging a time and place to meet in the Profound Grade Secret Realm with Xie An, the two parted ways.

 Chapter 333 - 284: Senior Brother, Save Me, Goodbye Wancang Hai (Two in One)

    After parting ways with Xie An, Lin Shiming was rushing relentlessly toward the pavilion where he had teleported from before.


    The pavilion from which he teleported was to the far east.


    All along the way, Lin Shiming did not use the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin. Inside the Taibai Sword Palace, he couldn¡¯t be sure if the Heavenly Sword True Person and Shen Ji True Person would sense him, nor could he be sure if they would detect the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin.


    The absence of system prompts thus far indicated that the likelihood of being discovered was still extremely low.


    Yet, to be cautious, within the Qingxuan Sect, both the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin and the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map, he had put into the Cave Heaven World, deciding not to use them anymore.


    Instead, he put on the Qinglian Taoist Robe that he hadn¡¯t worn for a long time.


    Although its concealment effect was not as good as that of the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin, it was on the safer side, and could avoid trouble from most cultivators.


    Plus, being a body cultivator himself, even if he was running toward the gazebo, he was extremely fast.


    As Lin Shiming engaged in cautious exploration all around, he was also reflecting on some thoughts.


    He had already shared the details of the transaction with Xie An with Lin Xianzhi. His uncle, rich with experience, pointed out that Xie An might be bluffing him this time.


    His words were at most seventy percent true but at least thirty percent false.


    However, for Lin Shiming, handing over the Flame Yang Soul Summoning Sword was unavoidable.


    If he didn¡¯t give it to Xie An, he had to hide it in the Cave Heaven World, and at that time, without the Soul Summoning Sword, Xie An was bound to die.


    The latter would inevitably expose him in order to save himself.


    The word of honor among cultivators is the least valuable.


    On the contrary, the desire for the Great Dao could bind a cultivator.


    Swearing on the Heavenly Dao, someone like Xie An, who could touch the Purple Mansion, simply couldn¡¯t break an oath.


    He might even gain favor later on, and it was inevitable that the Lin Family would have to shift its main industry to Shuangmu Island in the future, and while the industries in Yunzhou couldn¡¯t be abandoned or revealed at will, Xie An was undoubtedly the best shelter.


    It was only after Lin Shiming produced a Sound Transmission Jade Slip given to him by Xie An that they allowed him to leave.


    During this time, they also inquired a lot about the matter of the Illusionary Demon True Person¡¯s clone.


    Having not seen it, Lin Shiming naturally shared all he knew.


    After a thorough search, he was getting closer to the location of the teleportation pavilion.


    As Lin Shiming watched the fleeting green hills and waters, his mood was improving more and more.


    However, the next moment, a Sound Transmission Jade Slip appeared, and his Qingxuan Command lit up instantly.


    It turned out that someone was seeking his rescue.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart trembled¡ªhe had no interest in getting involved. Anyone who dared to brazenly rob and kill Qingxuan Sect cultivators was certainly not an easy target.


    Without a second thought, his body darted to the side.


    But because he wanted to remain hidden, he didn¡¯t release a Third Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Boat. Instead, he relied on a lightness skill and a Gale Talisman.


    A beam of golden light chased him from afar.


    Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    "Senior Brother! Save me!" The golden light turned out to be a Spirit Boat, and chasing behind the Spirit Boat was another belonging to the Wanjian Sect.


    This made Lin Shiming even colder¡ªknowing full well he didn¡¯t want to rescue, the person was deliberately heading towards him, undoubtedly trying to drag him into the fray.


    Just when Lin Shiming was about to bring out a Third Rank Spirit Boat, a system prompt appeared:


    "Please kill the Wanjian Sect Cultivators to obtain the carcass of the Taqing Purple Jade Python!"


    Lin Shiming was shocked, and his divine sense swept over the Wanjian Sect Spirit Boat following behind. He saw three Wanjian Sect cultivators standing at the front of the boat, one being the elder Wancang Hai, his face now beaming with a ruddy glow. The other two Wanjian Sect cultivators¡ªone had lost an arm, and the other looked somewhat pale¡ªwere handling the Spirit Boat.


    He never expected that these people would actually succeed in slaying the Taqing Purple Jade Python.

 Chapter 334 - 284: Senior Brother, Save Me, Goodbye Wancang Hai (Two in One)_2

    The Purple Jade Python was severely injured at that time, but it must have still possessed the strength of the Purple Mansion.


    However, from the original six or seven people, only three remained, suggesting heavy losses.


    He could only guess that it must have been Wancang Hai who used the Sword Array to encircle them and then brought out a new fifth-rank Spirit Talisman to kill the Purple Jade Python.


    On the other side, the Qingxuan Sect cultivator calling for help was a young cultivator, in the late phase of Foundation Establishment. Next to the cultivator was an adult-sized spirit-seeking mouse, which seemed to have mutated, possessing an extremely long nose.


    Its strength had also reached the late phase of the Third Rank.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming didn¡¯t even have a Spirit Boat, the young cultivator was even more delighted. In his storage bag, he had a fourth-rank Wood Escape Talisman, an Escape Talisman precious even compared to Spirit Talismans.


    It was just that activating a Spirit Talisman required one to not be under attack; otherwise, he would have already used it and fled.


    The Spirit Boat headed straight for Lin Shiming.


    However, at that moment, Lin Shiming, who was running away, stopped and turned around with a smile to look at the young cultivator, and didn¡¯t take to the skies, pressing down with both hands instead.


    "Thank you, senior brother, for covering for me. With the swordsmanship of a senior brother, what are the cultivators of Wanjian Sect really worth?" the young cultivator continued to shout loudly.


    He even used a sound-amplifying spell, hoping to provoke the three people from Wanjian Sect.


    After speaking, the Spirit Boat accelerated again, about to pass by Lin Shiming.


    But in the next moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s pressing hands suddenly pushed down, and endless vines flew out, sealing off the surroundings completely.


    The vines, like soaring Flood Dragons, twisted in the air, displaying their ferocious heads, and sealing off the entire sky thoroughly.


    "Senior brother, I¡¯m coming to assist you!" Lin Shiming spoke towards the young cultivator.


    But at that moment, the young cultivator, filled with hatred, wanted to curse out loud and took out his Spirit Sword to chop down the vines. However, due to the poison fog released by the Poisonous Dragon Vine, even the Spirit Shield of the Spirit Boat began to corrode.


    Before the young cultivator could swing his Spirit Sword, the three from Wanjian Sect arrived in front of him with their move "Wanjian Returns to the Sect".


    The enormous shadow of the sword, brimming with Sword Intent, was like the Punishment Sword descending from the heavens.


    It was just somewhat life-consuming!


    Wancang Hai¡¯s face changed, he gestured numerous incantations, but the Sword Array did not close up.


    The wildly growing vines had drained the surrounding Spiritual Energy, and those hidden array bases were also destroyed by the spears of the Poisonous Dragon Vine and the Purple Gold Vine.


    Wancang Hai had no choice but to take out nine Supreme Grade Magic Swords, each one incredibly broad.


    Carrying a heavy earth-like Sword Intent, they pressed down towards Lin Shiming.


    The other two from Wanjian Sect also controlled Magic Artifacts, cutting all the surrounding Poisonous Dragon Vines and Purple Gold Vines.


    Furthermore, they released a Hurricane Talisman, blowing away the black poison fog completely, and even the Poisonous Dragon Vines could no longer gather into vines.


    Clearly, both were aware of the characteristics of the Poisonous Dragon Vine.


    But Wancang Hai had one goal, to kill Lin Shiming.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shiming took out the Split Soul Banner and the Rolling Divine Plate.


    Upon the appearance of these two Divine Sense artifacts, the three changed color. Wancang Hai fared better, as he took out a Jade Pendant. But the other two looked greatly alarmed.


    In the cracking sound of the Rolling Divine Plate and the whistling wind of the Split Soul Banner.


    Their expressions turned hideous.


    And in the next moment, a shining, pitch-black seal smashed down on their Spirit Boat, and at the same time, a thirty-foot Fire Ape appeared.


    "Clever boy!" Upon seeing the shining black Primordial Magnet Seal, Wancang Hai¡¯s heart seethed with anger and mockery.


    How could he not recognize it from the time they encountered each other in the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion? It was laughable that he had previously thought it to be a Purple Mansion Great Demon and had fled in defeat!


    His heart, which had not been injured by the Divine Sense artifacts, could not help but swallow a mouthful of old blood in bitterness.


    For a moment, he wanted to crush Lin Shiming¡¯s bones and scatter his ashes!

 Chapter 335 - 284: Senior Brother, Save Me, Goodbye Wancang Hai (Two in One)_3

    He controlled nine supreme grade magic swords, unleashing a sky-high sword radiance, and continued slashing towards Lin Shiming, it was truly a strike filled with fury!


    From his Storage Bag, he also took out a Thunder Precept Ruler and bombarded the Primordial Magnet Seal.


    The Thunder Precept Ruler magic artifact instantly blasted the Primordial Magnet Seal away.


    But the Red-haired Demon Monkey, enveloped in flames, like a divine ape, violently smashed down, not striking at Wan Canghai, but towards the other two cultivators from the Wanjian Sect.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming held out the Rolling Divine Plate, and at the same time, the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was activated, with eighty-one Formation Swords neutralizing the attacks of Wan Canghai.@@@@


    "You damned beast, how dare you!" Wan Canghai furiously attacked the Red-haired Demon Monkey, but in the next moment, a wave of black and golden light suddenly appeared on either side of him¡ªit was the Golden Winged Mantis and Wang Jiao.


    The speed of these two was unfathomable, much faster than the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and in an instant, they lunged at Wan Canghai.


    Wan Canghai¡¯s reaction was also incredibly fast; he actually managed to halt his support, instead taking out another Spirit Sword, and bombarded Wang Jiao and the Golden Wing.


    The remaining two, however, were directly burned by the Spiritual Fire of the Red-haired Demon Monkey, screaming miserably, with the one who had his arm severed being struck dead on the spot by the Crimson Flame Rod!


    Wan Canghai still wanted to take out a magic artifact, but in the next moment, a terrifying Sword Intent descended, and from nowhere in the void, ten Grass Swords had already congealed, lush and green.


    At the tips of the grass, thin threads of Sword Qi could be seen condensing!


    Danger!


    In Wan Canghai¡¯s heart, there was only one thought: escape!


    However, it was too late!


    A blurry green light emanated, and now even a mist began to rise, painting a beautiful scene of a mountain lake.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s body dashed towards the pavilion, and inside the pavilion was a stone table with a Spirit Trough built into it.


    Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    Next to the Spirit Trough, carvings depicting the World Tower could be seen.


    Lin Shiming was just about to place the Spirit Stones inside, but in the next moment, he hesitated.


    It was too smooth!


    He suddenly felt that something was amiss.


    From the inner perimeter of the small world to the current outer teleportation area, he had barely seen a few layers of the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s blockade and had not encountered cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect or the Corpse Refining Sect.


    Shen Ji True Person had planned such a grand scheme, and his goal was definitely the Ghost Blood Lotus.


    So what was his trump card?


    Ambush in the Profound Grade Secret Realm?


    Or to have a decisive battle with the Illusionary Demon True Person outside the Qingxuan Sect mountain?


    Hesitant, Lin Shiming withdrew the Spirit Stones and, instead, turned into a water dragon, plunging into the depths of the lake!


    He decided to wait until the system prompt appeared before he would make his move!

 Chapter 336 - 285: Tower Rush Tips, The True Countermeasure (Two in One)

    Beneath Qing Mountain and Bi Lake, a cave wound its way in.


    The cave still seemed somewhat damp, and under the shine of moonlight stones, it looked all the more crystal clear, like clusters of sparkling stars.


    Lin Shiming took out another set of Concealment Formation array plates, as well as a set of water-blocking Formation array plates.


    With a flick of his Spirit Art, a series of array flags disappeared one by one into the void.


    The Formation was set.


    Lin Shiming also took out his meditation cushion again and began to settle down to cultivate.


    This cushion was something he found in the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, and now it had become a treasure that helped him quickly settle into cultivation.


    He was still practicing reverse cultivation, and by now, he had become even more adept at it.@@@@


    However, he suddenly discovered that the Purple Wood Heart Sutra he practiced not only had stronger catalyzing abilities but also much improved healing capabilities.


    At that moment, he noticed that some minor injuries he had sustained from the recent battle were healing instantaneously, and his True Yuan restoration was also becoming stronger.


    His contemplation deepened regarding why Qingxuan Sect had handed out such a cultivation technique.


    Still, he could not fathom the reason.


    Qian Yongfu, before his death, guessed it was because Shen Ji True Person was condensing a Dao Infant, but it was still just a guess without evidence.


    If one really could condense a Dao Infant, the Great Dao required would at least be of the Minor Divine Ability level, which was usually possessed by a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    And how many could stick with such a life-consuming cultivation technique until reaching the Purple Mansion stage.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, no longer pondering the matter, as True Person-level depth was still too far away for him.


    He took out the Storage Bags of Wancang Hai and others, but the first thing he looked into was not Wancang Hai¡¯s Storage Bag, but the one belonging to that young cultivator.


    As he opened the Jade Box, he felt an extremely pure wave of Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy flooding out.


    "A Fourth Rank Wood Escape Talisman?" Lin Shiming was somewhat dumbfounded, not expecting to find a Fourth Rank Wood Escape Talisman. While Fourth Rank Spirit Talismans couldn¡¯t be interrupted like Magic Artifacts during use, in a critical moment, they could serve as an escaping Magical Treasure.


    As long as there was enough time, even an ordinary Purple Mansion cultivator wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up, making it incredibly effective in a pinch.


    Lin Shiming closed the Jade Box and stored it away carefully.


    As for the remaining treasures, none caught his attention; they were better than nothing.


    He stashed them all into the Cave Heaven World.


    Lin Shiming then took out the Storage Bags of the other two from Wanjian Sect. These two¡¯s Storage Bags contained plenty of Spiritual Medicines and some precious Spirit Minerals. There were also a fair number of Spirit Stones and Magic Artifacts, but consumable Elixirs and Spirit Talismans were completely depleted.


    He did not find the Magic Artifacts he had been hoping for.


    Lin Shiming took out Wancang Hai¡¯s Storage Bag, and what he saw was a huge Storage Jade Talisman, inside of which was the sealed corpse of the Taiqing Purple Jade Python.


    The body of the Taiqing Purple Jade Python had completely crystalized, gigantic in size. Even through the Storage Jade Talisman, he could feel the staggering Essence Blood of the Purple Jade Python.


    Its massive head still looked ferocious.


    No wonder Wancang Hai and the others had exhausted all means to kill the Purple Jade Python. The Dragon Beast of the Purple Mansion greatly augmented the Essence Blood of cultivators, and even Lin Shiming felt that by consuming the Essence Blood of the Purple Jade Python for Body Refinement,


    his Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique could break through the late Foundation Establishment stage, allowing his Body Cultivation strength to exceed his Qi Cultivation strength.


    Not to mention, using the Dragon Beast to make Dragon Blood Pills could increase a cultivator¡¯s chances of breaking through the Foundation Establishment. With such Fourth Rank Dragon Blood Pills,


    even the breakthrough to Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s Essence Blood might be boosted.


    By then, even Lin Xianzhi might be able to make use of it.


    Lin Shiming once again securely stored the corpse of the Purple Jade Python. For him, the Purple Jade Python could also serve as a sacrificial body for Wang Jiao¡¯s Bloodline Reversion technique.

 Chapter 337 - 285: Tower Rush Tips, The True Countermeasure (Two in One)_2

    He might even help Wang Jiao to fully transform into a dragon, but not now. With Wang Jiao¡¯s current strength, he might not be able to endure the ancestral return of a half-dragon corpse from the Purple Mansion.


    In addition to the Purple Jade Python, Wan Canghai¡¯s storage bag contained quite a few precious spiritual medicines. It was evident that he hadn¡¯t been sparing in robbing other cultivators, yet there were still no magic artifacts.


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat disappointed, but he understood that this was normal. If Wan Canghai and the others had formidable means and significant strength after defeating the Taiqing Purple Jade Python, they wouldn¡¯t have been chased away and scattered by the Purple Jade Python at Zi Yu Mountain.


    All in all, this trip had been unexpectedly wonderful.


    Lin Shiming organized his gains and quietly continued his cultivation, waiting for the next day to arrive.


    The cave dwelling beneath the lake felt even cooler, enhanced by the special effects of a meditation mat.


    He soon began cultivating at a deeper level.


    ...


    After completing several cycles with the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, Lin Shiming opened his eyes, feeling the convergence of purple energy.


    He knew a new day had dawned.


    He stored away the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin, his divine sense probing the surroundings, but he saw no traces of other cultivators.


    He stood up, walked out of the cave, and slapped down a Water Escape Talisman. It enveloped him in blue light. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    He flew out of the lake and landed on the pavilion.


    The rising morning sun spread vast swathes of purple light across the lake surface and pavilion tiles.


    The entire mountain lake shimmered dazzlingly, acquiring a distinctive charm of its own.


    Lin Shiming took out a Spirit Stone and stood in front of the spirit trough.


    The next moment, as expected, the system prompt appeared:


    "Please be aware and prepare for the search by Shen Ji True Person¡¯s avatar. Take out the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s magic artifact, operate the Contrary Cultivation Technique, and conceal the Cave Heaven World!"


    the appearance of the system prompt completely shocked Lin Shiming.


    At that moment, he suddenly understood Shen Ji True Person¡¯s reliance.


    Shen Ji True Person¡¯s reliance was in the World Tower.


    Upon entering the World Tower, he had wondered why, despite the age report, the offering platform lacked a rare treasure and only had an ordinary magic artifact.


    Looking back, it seemed the World Tower had long been breached by Shen Ji True Person¡¯s avatar.


    And had already been occupied by Shen Ji True Person¡¯s avatar.


    Even this so-called World Tower could well be Shen Ji True Person¡¯s own Shen Ji Tower.


    With the power of the Shen Ji Tower, it was indeed possible to reach that level.


    This time, there weren¡¯t just one, but two of Shen Ji True Person¡¯s avatars that entered the small world¡¯s secret realm.


    One to obtain the inheritance from the Taibai Sword Palace, and another to guard against any fish that slipped through the net.@@@@


    Also, if any cultivator who entered the secret realm had extra gains, they would eventually fall into the hands of Shen Ji True Person.


    Who said no one would die in the World Tower, but what if it were Shen Ji True Person¡¯s own Shen Ji Tower!


    And this was probably also part of Shen Ji True Person¡¯s scheming.


    At this moment, his heart was once again full of endless questions. If Shen Ji True Person had such foresight against the other five sects, would the True Persons of the five sects tolerate Shen Ji True Person?


    That would be the time for a true uprising!


    Of course, these were not within his consideration.


    He was still patiently waiting, also reexamining if there were any flaws.


    After another half a quarter of an hour, the Spirit Light in front suddenly converged into a gate of light.


    Lin Shiming didn¡¯t hesitate and stepped through the gate.


    Within the light screen, once again a burst of light surged into Lin Shiming¡¯s body, his soul feeling relaxed again, and involuntarily, the Purple Wood Heart Sutra began to operate within him. Even his consciousness began to drift.


    Not knowing how long it had been, possibly very quick or very slow, Lin Shiming stepped into the tower again.


    Familiar scroll paintings, familiar oil lamps, and granite covered in Spirit Patterns on the ground.


    At this moment, there was a large number on the ground, 73!


    Clearly, his recent days of diligent cultivation of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra had consumed about half a year of his lifespan, and this was the result of catalyzing a batch of Tribulation Forging Divine Flowers.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s face remained calm, as if he hadn¡¯t seen that number at all.


    Standing quietly, the next moment a shadow of a Sabretooth Tiger appeared, attacking him.


    He must still be on the ninth floor to return to the Profound Grade Secret Realm.


    ...


    Meanwhile, atop the tall tower, a young cultivator still stood in front of the phantom of a small tower. With a stroke through the air, a purple Spirit Light appeared before his eyes and was finally imprinted onto a piece of bluestone on the tower.


    A number 73 revealed itself.


    The phantoms began to appear, showing not only the insides of Lin Shiming¡¯s body, but also his Storage Bag.


    The young man, like an emotionless machine, glanced over it and then looked away.


    The purple Spirit Imprint remained engraved on the tower.


    The young cultivator looked back at the light curtain behind him and with a pull, a new shadow entered the tower.


    In the new shadow, he conjured another Spirit Imprint, which landed on the body of the tower.


    Then the same scene replayed: bodily cultivation techniques, treasures within the Storage Bag!


    Scene after scene unfolded before his eyes.


    The young phantom swept his gaze once more and continued to conjure shadows.


    But the next moment, he saw a huge number, eight hundred thirty-two!


    Suddenly, the young man¡¯s indifferent face began to show a change in expression.


    Then came the images of the Storage Bag and the body, the complicated cultivation pathways, and the wide variety of treasures within the Storage Bag that each fell before the young phantom.


    ```

 Chapter 338 - 286: Open Strategy, Overturn (Two-in-One)

    At the summit of Qingxuan Mountain, beneath a massive Formation¡¯s light barrier.


    At this moment, the Shen Ji Tower unleashed its power to the utmost, with Shen Ji True Person hovering at the tower¡¯s pinnacle, his expression stern.


    Heavenly Sword True Person, Qing Ling True Person, and Profound Sword True Person encircled Shen Ji True Person in a triangular formation.


    Before the tower, the interplay of light and shadow revealed scenes of the World Tower.


    As well as images of the remaining minor worlds.


    "Kill!"


    "Release!"


    ...


    Shen Ji True Person spoke word by word, deliberately.


    With each utterance of "kill," the four sent out a fierce beam of light, vanishing into the Shen Ji Tower.


    After several calls of "kill," they all needed to consume Spiritual Medicine to recover.


    Their movements were nearly identical, without the slightest deviation.


    No one knew how much time had passed when suddenly, intense light bloomed within the tower!


    Suddenly, Shen Ji True Person opened his eyes:


    "The Blood You Lotus has been found!"


    A sharp gleam was visible in his eyes.


    His heart was filled with the joy of a fruitful harvest; the Blood You Lotus, Nascent Soul Technique, Dao Baby Imprint, he had collected them all.


    "Please assist me!" Shen Ji True Person roared, his hand transforming into endless Spirit Arts that he thrust forth.


    In an instant, the entire tower shone boundlessly, with the sound of the Great Dao echoing within, as if bringing life to all beings!


    After several breaths, the light vanished without a trace.


    Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    In the image, a young figure on the ninth floor picked up a Storage Bag and then returned to the top floor of the World Tower.


    All four simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.


    And then the images continued to repeat.


    One after another, the Purple Mansion avatars perished!


    One after another, the True Person avatars perished!


    Even the cultivators familiar with the Spiritual Medicine Garden died one by one!


    Not to mention many gifted disciples from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect!


    Since ancient times, Qingxuan Sect, Spirit Beast Sect, and Spirit Talisman Sect had advanced and retreated together as the Three Sects.


    But now, Qingxuan Sect had broken the rules first, and by killing their avatars, they had overturned the table!


    "The Sword Attendant brings a message from Heavenly Sword True Person!" the Sword Attendant spoke up again.


    Heavenly Beast True Person and Shen Fu True Person still did not reply.


    "Heavenly Sword True Person hopes that the seniors can stand by and watch; when the time comes, Heavenly Sword True Person and the other True Persons are willing to swear an oath on the Heavenly Dao to share Taibai Sword Palace¡¯s Cultivation Techniques!"


    Having said this, the Sword Attendant bowed again and flew towards the formation¡¯s exit.


    Vanishing from view.


    Leaving Heavenly Beast True Person and Shen Fu True Person and the others exchanging looks.


    After a while, Heavenly Beast True Person let out a sigh.


    Another newly advanced True Person from the Spirit Beast Sect immediately asked:


    "Heavenly Senior Brother, why sigh? They were unkind first from Qingxuan Sect. If we¡¯ve overturned the table because of that, so be it. If they really had the strength, why would they need to seek our help?"


    "At worst we stand aside and watch!"


    Heavenly Beast True Person and the other senior True Persons all sighed once again.


    "Wouldn¡¯t it be great if it were that simple?" Heavenly Beast True Person said with a wry smile.


    "The Nascent Soul Technique has already bound us!"


    "Moreover, Shen Ji¡¯s move this time is a transparent strategy. If he can locate us, it means the Heavenly Demon Sect also knows our position. The arrival and departure of the Sword Attendant have already tied us to Qingxuan Sect. There¡¯s no chance for us just to be onlookers!"


    Heavenly Beast True Person sighed once again.


    This third sigh gave him an air of melancholy.


    His melancholy wasn¡¯t solely for the future climate in the Eastern Domain, but also for the disturbance that was coming, and greater still, for the risk that these fellow disciples behind him might all be in danger of perishing.


    "Let¡¯s go!"


    "If Shen Ji dares swear an oath on the Heavenly Dao, and Zhao Kingdom once again is united in enmity, so what?"


    ...


    Outside the World Tower on the twenty-seventh floor, the same portal, the same Hexagram Formation.


    Following the death of a Third Rank peak Demonic Beast.


    Lin Shiming finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    This time, he had once again braved the twenty-seventh floor of the tower, his power identical to when he had entered the tower.


    He also stopped at just the right moment.


    Gazing at the stairs before him, he resolutely headed towards the light door for exiting the tower.


    Outside the gate, quite a few cultivators waited, and Lin Shiming immediately flew to the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s camp.

 Chapter 339 - 286: Open Strategy, Overturn (Two-in-One)_2

    With the Qingxuan Command in hand, and Xie An¡¯s Jade Slip, the cultivators of Qingxuan Sect, although they looked down on him, also let him stand behind them.


    Upon entering the camp, his entire body felt drenched in cold sweat; in this short time of braving the tower, he did not know how many dangers he had encountered.


    Shen Ji True Person¡¯s scheming was too terrifying, and the system¡¯s alerts had highlighted far too many potential dangers. Thankfully, he had endured it.


    After exiting the World Tower, next, he would be mostly safe, unless at this moment, the other Five Sects launched a collective assault against them.


    But he knew that without the revelation of absolute benefits, such an attack could not erupt.


    And Shen Ji True Person¡¯s plans were absolutely flawless without any chance for mishaps.


    He looked around at the waiting crowd, initially nearly a thousand cultivators, now only about three hundred were left, with all Six Sects together, each Sect with only about fifty cultivators left.


    Even Qingxuan Sect only had around sixty cultivators left and did not stand out.


    He knew that those who entered the Spirit Plant Garden from Qingxuan Sect, many must have perished inside.


    And among those who could appear here after entering the Spirit Plant Garden, they were few and far between.


    At this moment, he felt somewhat grateful. It was indeed a bit risky at the time, but entering the Spirit Plant Garden must have been riskier than his adventurous escape.


    And when he looked again at the cultivators from various families, almost nine-tenths had fallen.


    Lin Shiming sighed somewhat and even had a kind of illusion.


    It was as if those family cultivators were like weeds in the wilderness, no matter how much they grew. When the big trees spread their vast shade, these weeds would wither and become nourishment.


    And all their past efforts would become worthless and turn into nothingness.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, casting away the negative emotions in his mind.


    If one does not wish to become a pawn, then one must strive even harder.


    Just as his elder brother, Lin Shijie, had said, if the Foundation Establishment did not suffice, then aim for the Purple Mansion; if that was insufficient, the Golden Core, or even the Nascent Soul!


    Lin Shiming did not look for a place to sit by himself. Given his agreement with Xie An, there was naturally no need for a secretive meeting at this time.


    The Demonic Path and Corpse Refining Sect, most likely most of their main force was dead.


    They could not pose much of a threat, especially the True Person avatars, probably not one would survive!


    The Profound Grade Secret Realm would close in three days.


    And by then, all the cultivators would be transported out.


    Lin Shiming did not continue to communicate with anyone and just sat silently in meditation.


    One day later, Xie An emerged, followed by five cultivators with lifeless eyes, precisely the ones covered by the Soul Summoning Sword.


    Xie An caught sight of Lin Shiming and took a seat next to him.


    "After we get out, stick close to me!" Xie An said only one word and did not say anything more.


    Then he started to meditate beside him.


    After listening, Lin Shiming was a bit shocked, but he did not think too much about it.


    The real test would always be the decisive battles of those True Persons!


    This time, whether the great and grand plan of Qingxuan Sect would continue or whether the wonderfully set chessboard would be overturned by the many troublesome chess pieces, everyone could only wait and see.


    Of course, for Lin Shiming, he hoped for Qingxuan Sect¡¯s success; if the Qingxuan Sect collapsed,


    As streaks of Spirit Light entered the transmission channel.


    The next moment, as heaven and earth spun around,


    they emerged in the valley where they had been teleported before, all cultivators landing on the Transmission Formation.


    What was once crowded was now sparse upon the vast Transmission Formation.


    Before the crowd had time to steady themselves from the disorientation of the Transmission Formation, they saw countless Nascent Soul cultivators around them begin to release Spirit Might.


    The enormous Spirit Might made each cultivator feel as if they were trying to resist a mountain, extremely arduous.


    And that was not all; next, they saw waves of dark light appear.


    A gigantic Heavenly Demon Banner, which propped up the sky, appeared on a mountaintop. From within the banner, the ferocious figure of a colossal demonic head emerged.


    Then, Heavenly Demon True Person stepped out from the Heavenly Demon Banner.


    He walked straight towards the cultivators at the transmission formation.


    "You have quite the nerve, to even dare to kill my closed-door disciple!" he said.


    After Heavenly Demon True Person spoke, his vast Divine Sense swept toward the people.


    In an instant, Lin Shiming felt his heart leap to his throat.


    This Heavenly Demon True Person wasn¡¯t looking for someone; he was planning to collectively search everyone¡¯s soul!


    This terrifying might of a True Person caused the hairs on Lin Shiming¡¯s body to stand on end. True Yuan roiled inside his heart, yet none could be released.


    Powerlessness! Despair!


    But in the next moment, a sword from the Profound Gate flew out, and countless tones emerged, forcing the Heavenly Demon True Person to retreat a step!


    Profound Sword True Person appeared, and with him, Heavenly Sword True Person, Shen Ji True Person, and Qing Ling True Person.


    On Heavenly Demon True Person¡¯s side, Illusionary Demon True Person and other Demonic Path True Persons stepped forward one after another.


    "What do you mean by this, Xuan Sword? Are you trying to impede my search for the murderer?" Heavenly Demon retorted. Behind him, the Heavenly Demon Banner morphed again, conjuring thirty-six forms, encompassing all directions in the sky.


    Corpse True Person swung his hand, and nine dragon corpses appeared, their dragon might overwhelming as if real dragons had been reborn.


    Then, in the next moment, a surge of Spirit Light burst into the sky from the main peak of Qingxuan Mountain.


    The Spirit Light began to shoot out from the elongated Qingxuan Mountains, stretching thousands of miles.


    A formidable pressure scattered the Heavenly Demon Banner.


    "Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Mountain Protection Array, Celestial Movement Extinction Array!"


    Heavenly Demon True Person was visibly wary!


    He had not expected that the Mountain Protection Array of Qingxuan Sect would turn into the Celestial Movement Extinction Array without him realizing it!


    "Heavenly Demon, there¡¯s no need to rush if you wish to find the murderer. Just use the Inquiry Spirit Talisman to ask. As the host, Shen Ji is willing to assist!" Shen Ji True Person said calmly.


    He wasn¡¯t angry.


    The stars in the sky continued to move, and the Spirit Light grew increasingly terrifying.


    And at that moment, Three Swords True Person, North Sword True Person, Negative Sword True Person, and North Ming True Person,


    Four Sword Cultivators from the Wanjian Sect also took their positions.


    And the next thing, Shen Fu True Person, Heavenly Beast True Person, and other True Persons from the Spirit Talisman Sect, as well as True Persons from the Spirit Beast Sect, also took their places one by one! Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 340 - 287: Blue Light, Search (Two in One)

    The True Persons from all sides occupied the mountain peaks, enclosing the entire secluded valley and its small lake in the center.


    Terrifying Spirit Might sporadically overflowed, landing on the bodies of the Foundation Establishment cultivators present.


    They immediately felt as if their feet were heavy as lead, as if they were carrying mountains on their backs, making it hard to breathe smoothly.


    Only those with a True Person on their side who reacted quickly and gained the upper hand felt a little better.


    And the "overflow" from the True Persons never stopped.


    In their eyes, there must be avatars of True Persons from the Qingxuan Sect among those gathered, or perhaps cultivators carrying magical treasures.


    Even Lin Shiming thought so.


    Lin Shiming did not dare to look around, even though he understood in his heart that it should be the last few people who had emerged from the tower.


    He dared not even raise his head, for the towering figures of the True Persons from all sides were not something he could look directly into, especially at this moment.


    The lower his profile, the better.


    Even though the True Persons from the Demonic Path like Heavenly Demon True Person considered these Foundation Establishment cultivators as insignificant as weeds, which angered him,


    True Persons were still beyond their reach.


    He was powerless to resist; he could only take note in his heart and even had to appear much like any other mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    Under pressure, his face turned red from strain, showing signs of faltering!


    Following closely behind Xie An, at this moment, he suddenly discovered that Xie An had, at some point, separated from the other five Soul Summoning Swords and appeared mediocre, just like an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    The fluctuations of Spiritual Energy around them grew more intense, and those thirty-six soaring Heavenly Demon Banners were still trying to encircle the entire valley.


    The Nine Children Dragon Corpse, too, roared furiously in the void like nine flood dragons.


    On Qingxuan Sect¡¯s side, the Heaven-Condemning Star-Shifting Formation had been unleashed to its utmost limit, and the one controlling the main formation was none other than the Body Cultivation Qing Ling True Person.


    At this moment, Qing Ling True Person¡¯s aura suddenly soared, rising by an unimaginable amount.


    Unlike the Sword Intent from Heavenly Sword Peak of the Qingxuan Sect, the four Sword Cultivators from Wanjian Sect all practiced Heavy Sword Intent, and for a time, layers of sword shadows appeared, equally terrifying!


    Yet you could only see Shen Fu True Person and Heavenly Beast True Person, along with the cultivators from Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect, standing out one after another, with countless Divine Skills and Spiritual Talismans, and Nascent Soul primal Demon Kings appeared in the sky.


    They squared off against the four from Wanjian Sect.


    The four from Wanjian Sect were clearly not surprised; from the moment the sword disciples¡¯ Magical Treasure from Qingxuan Sect had made its way to the two sects¡¯ hidden locations and had then fluttered away, the two sects could no longer be disassociated from Qingxuan Sect¡¯s camp.


    Even if Wanjian Sect, Heavenly Demon Sect, and Corpse Refining Sect wished to band together with more forces, they feared backstabbing more!


    Spiritual Energy surged from all sides, and the atmosphere reached a standoff at its extreme, while Foundation Establishment cultivators like Lin Shiming felt even more panic-stricken at this moment.


    If the True Persons were to start fighting right then, from the mere residual might alone, their deaths would be certain!


    However, contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, the Spirit Light from the Shen Ji Tower suddenly swept towards the cultivators below the scene.


    The green light was exceedingly fast, so quick that no one could react to it.


    Let alone Lin Shiming and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators who couldn¡¯t react, even the other True Persons were staggered for a moment!


    But then, all decorum was lost; the seven True Persons from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Corpse Refining Sect almost simultaneously made their move.


    The Shen Ji Tower was blasted hundreds of feet away.


    And the green light disappeared without a trace.


    "Shen Ji True Person, what do you mean by this, trying to arrogantly snatch away the treasure for breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage?" Illusionary Demon True Person was the first to speak up.


    And the True Persons from Wanjian Sect and Spirit Beast Sect were momentarily stunned.


    They had not expected that the emergence of a Nascent Soul stage treasure was actually real.


    Although they did not believe it one hundred percent, the demise of so many cultivators in this secret realm, with not a single True Person¡¯s avatar emerging, made it 80 percent certain that there was a treasure for breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.


    "And what if there is none?" Shen Ji True Person¡¯s face seemed somewhat grim, as if angered by the tower being struck.


    And at this moment, the True Persons from Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect also looked towards Qingxuan Sect.


    At this moment, Qingxuan Sect had not yet attained a true advantage. If a Nascent Soul stage treasure had indeed appeared, then the previous price would not be enough. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 341 - 287: Blue Light, Search (Two in One)_2

    Moreover, at this moment, they worried that once Shen Ji True Person broke through to the Nascent Soul, it would no longer be a mere sharing of cultivation techniques, but rather, they feared he would annex their Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect into the Qingxuan Sect.


    "This can also be considered a sharing of techniques!"


    A group of True Persons once again turned their gazes towards Shen Ji True Person.


    "Just a search will do!" Illusionary Demon True Person said with a cold laugh.


    "Don¡¯t go too far, you Heavenly Demon Sect. Our Qingxuan Sect¡¯s tolerance has its limits. Allowing you to enter the Secret Realm was already the biggest concession!" Heavenly Sword True Person also shouted angrily, his Sword Intent pressing forward half a step, and this half step of Sword Intent made Illusionary Demon True Person unable to help but step back.


    And at his previous position, tiny sword flowers appeared!


    "Sword Birth Myriad Laws!" Illusionary Demon True Person instantly became immensely wary!


    This was clearly the third realm of Sword Dao, Sword Birth Myriad Laws!


    They hadn¡¯t expected that Heavenly Sword True Person had already outpaced Profound Sword True Person.


    You should know that it had been less than five hundred years since Heavenly Sword True Person condensed his Golden Core!


    He could well be considered the number one sword immortal talent of the Qingxuan Sect.


    "Shen Ji, Heavenly Sword, stop pretending. Others may not be able to transmit memories through their avatars, but my Liu He avatar saw with its own eyes the treasure for breaking through to the Nascent Soul, and moreover, it¡¯s right here!" Liu He True Person stepped forward, giving Shen Ji and Heavenly Sword a glance, then his gaze shifted towards the Foundation Establishment cultivators below.


    From Shen Ji True Person¡¯s sudden move just now, they were eighty percent certain that the treasure was below.


    Although the cyan light was fast, they were not unprepared, and moreover, their Demon Cultivator disciples did not sense anything within the cyan light.


    In the span of a single breath, not to give anything away while taking away the treasure, they did not believe it.


    They were more inclined to believe that Shen Ji True Person¡¯s attempt to obtain the treasure had failed, or it was an empty show to blind them.


    As Liu He True Person moved forward, behind him, five Liu He avatars stepped out in unison.


    The reputation of the Liu He avatars was well known amongst the group of True Persons.


    Nine Corpses True Person, Thousand Corpses True Person, and Heavenly Corpse True Person all moved forward.


    It was well known that Nine Corpses True Person not only lost his avatar but also forfeited nine potential-laden dragon corpses!


    Heavenly Corpse True Person even lost a Flood Dragon corpse!


    The three of them, as long as it made life difficult for the Qingxuan Sect, they would do it!


    Even if at this moment the Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect were close with the Qingxuan Sect, or even potentially facing the Demon Sect, they still exerted pressure on the Qingxuan Sect, after all, the treasures and techniques related to the Nascent Soul were of great importance.


    A mere Nascent Soul Technique was not to be feared, but what was more frightening was the Elixir for breaking through to the Nascent Soul.


    And the talent of Shen Ji True Person was without question!


    Not to mention the cultivators of the Wanjian Sect, but their gaze was not just at the techniques; they were also looking at the Soul Summoning Swords in the field!


    A total of five swords!


    And Profound Sword True Person, who had been silent all along, spoke up:


    "If nothing is found, how can you all speak of returning the territory to Zhao Kingdom and not entering the minor worlds in the future?"


    The words of Profound Sword True Person began to make these True Persons hesitate.


    When Lin Shiming¡¯s Storage Bag was opened, many of his Sect peers looked at him with some disdain because inside Lin Shiming¡¯s Storage Bag were countless Spirit Plants, saplings, and seeds!


    Lin Shiming, however, was indifferent. He was more at ease knowing that he was just a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    But it was his Spirit Beast that made the cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect somewhat envious.


    The Golden Winged Mantis had grown eight wings, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey had obtained Strange Fire.


    The Devouring Ant now even possessed starlight!


    Only then did Lin Shiming start to feel a bit bitter.


    Because the looks he was getting from the Spirit Beast Sect cultivators in the distance had changed.


    Being targeted by the Spirit Beast Sect was also not good news.


    But fortunately, after entering the Profound Grade Secret Realm, he had released the Spirit Controlling Seals of the controlled Spirit Beasts, slaughtering them and turning them into spiritual materials!


    If the Spirit Controlling Seal were discovered, that would truly shock the Spirit Beast Sect.


    Xie An¡¯s gains were quite good, having obtained a Third Rank Dragon Elephant whose vigorous vitality even surprised Lin Shiming a bit.


    And there were Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank Spiritual Medicines, but there were no Life-Extending Spiritual Medicines or those that could facilitate a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage.


    The tallying of gains was coming to an end, yet cultivators from factions like the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect were all looking towards Liu He True Person, who in turn was looking at Illusionary Demon True Person.


    Nothing!


    Naturally, it could have been that green light from earlier!


    Illusionary Demon True Person looked towards Shen Ji True Person.


    Shen Ji True Person¡¯s body immediately flew towards the nine heavens.


    "Gentlemen, my innocence is proven. Now, let us discuss the Dao!"


    No sooner had Shen Ji True Person flown out than Heavenly Demon True Person and Nine Corpses True Person almost simultaneously exchanged glances as if by tacit understanding, and they too flew into the nine heavens.


    Although the Demon Sect liked to strike at lower-level cultivators, they still couldn¡¯t lose face at the True Person level!


    Moreover, they had to be wary of the enemy True Persons attacking their own disciples.


    One after another, the True Persons began ascending to the high skies, and with no treasures found, Shen Ji True Person¡¯s flash of green light became the target of everyone¡¯s suspicion.


    Although it was but a moment, for True Persons, if they were prepared, even a moment seemed enough to overturn everything!


    The four True Persons from the Wanjian Sect also instantly flew up, not just for the absent Nascent Soul breakthrough treasures, but there was also the Soul Summoning Sword to compete for!


    The remaining True Persons like Shen Fu True Person and Heavenly Beast True Person also burst forth one by one.


    In contrast, the Qing Mountain lake began to quiet down. As soon as the True Persons left, the Hermit cultivators in the Purple Mansion stage started feeling uneasy and did not move.


    But in the next moment, the cultivators from the Wanjian Sect started looking towards those from the Qingxuan Sect.


    What they were eyeing were the five Soul Summoning Swords.


    It wasn¡¯t just the Wanjian Sect; the remaining cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect all turned their gaze towards the same.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s back was still drenched in cold sweat when he suddenly realized that it seemed as if the Hermits and Foundation Establishment cultivators were also on the verge of starting a fight.@@@@

 Chapter 342 - 288: Teleportation, Epilogue (Combined)

    In the mountain valley¡¯s small lake, an ear-shattering sonic boom exploded above the ninth heaven.


    Numerous dazzling Spirit Lights fell like a series of Spirit Light meteors.


    The residual Sword Qi cut through mountains and rivers, and the radiating Spirit Light churned up thousands of waves on the lake surface.


    The sky was changing, and the void was breaking.


    The might of the True Persons, akin to heavenly punishment, despite the distance, still shook people¡¯s hearts!


    Lin Shiming had not anticipated that even in such a situation, the cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Wanjian Sect were still coveting the Soul Summoning Sword at this moment.


    It¡¯s known that the battle of the True Persons has not ended, wait until it ends, and then there will be accountability.


    So the struggles of this moment are meaningless.


    They only add to the casualties needlessly.


    But, obviously, he was not in a position to decide.


    Those Demon Sect cultivators, along with those from Wanjian Sect, who self-proclaim the orthodox of the Sword Dao, obviously had no such concerns.


    They were one after another riding Flying Swords, driving demonic corpses, and closing in from all sides.


    To them, seizing the Soul Summoning Sword before the reinforcements from the Qingxuan Sect arrived was the true objective!


    Lin Shiming was also holding the Zilai Sword in one hand, while infusing the Poisonous Dragon Vine seed with Spiritual Power in the other.


    He looked towards Qing Zhu Hermit and also at Xie An.


    Xie An clenched his fists, clearly also prepared for the big battle.


    On the contrary, Qing Zhu Hermit remained extremely calm.


    As if not at all afraid of the current encirclement by the cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect, Corpse Refining Sect, and Wanjian Sect.


    One must know that the strength of the Three Sects at this moment should not be underestimated, and the Qingxuan Sect didn¡¯t have many powerful fighters.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shiming noticed that in the void, strands of Spirit Light began to emerge.


    The Spirit Platforms lit up one after another, eerily similar to their entrance into the Secret Realm not long ago!


    It was as if the Transmission Formation was about to activate again.


    The cultivators from the three sects of the Qingxuan Sect had already appeared at the gateway of the Qingxuan Sect.


    In front of the gate was the Ascending Immortal Ladder!


    At this moment, the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s Mountain Protection Array was fully activated.


    And the True Persons from the Heavenly Demon Sect and Wanjian Sect who had been calculated against were charging towards the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s Mountain Protection Array.


    Today, they were determined to break the array.


    The treasure that could advance someone to Nascent Soul must not fall into the hands of the Qingxuan Sect!


    The closer they got to the gateway, the more anxious they became, especially seeing that the people from the Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect were still desperately resisting Wanjian Sect.


    They grew more eager. If they could find the treasure that could advance one to Nascent Soul, the Spirit Talisman Sect and Spirit Beast Sect would definitely not stand with Qingxuan Sect any longer.


    At this moment, the combat prowess of the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s True Persons also made the people from the demon sects more wary.


    Shen Ji True Person single-handedly held his own against the Heavenly Demon True Person and the Nine Corpses True Person without falling short.


    One must know that the Heavenly Demon True Person was not only a Body Cultivator but also possessed a giant Heavenly Demon of the same realm, while the Nine Corpses True Person had the Nine Offspring Dragon Corpses!


    Yet, they were still severely restrained by the Shen Ji Tower and Eight Trigrams Plate, just like in the small world of Taibai Sword Palace.


    But this battle was even more chaotic. The scattering Spirit Light surged beyond the ninth heaven.


    Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person also fought fiercely!


    Of course, what surprised them most was Qing Ling True Person, who, wielding the heaven-subverting Dou Zhuan Xing Yi Execution Array, was even more formidable than the Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person!


    However, Liu He True Person¡¯s Six Paths Heavenly Demon was equally terrifying. Even though he had only five paths present, he still suppressed the Heavenly Sword True Person.


    He was even able to assist the neighboring Heavenly Corpse True Person in suppressing Profound Sword True Person.


    The Thousand Corpses True Person, with ten Golden Core Early Stage Heavenly Corpses, also stood against Qing Ling True Person.


    But faced with the strength of the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi Execution Array, the Thousand Corpses True Person¡¯s Heavenly Corpses couldn¡¯t withstand Qing Ling True Person¡¯s ferocious Body Cultivation attacks.


    He required continuous illusions from the Illusionary Demon True Person at his side to suppress Qing Ling True Person¡¯s offensive!


    Yet the horror of Illusionary Demon True Person was his ability to multiply from one to thousands, from thousands to tens of thousands!


    One of his illusionary avatars suddenly appeared right in front of the gateway of the Qingxuan Sect!

 Chapter 343 - 288: Teleportation, Epilogue (Two-in-One)_2

    There were no words, just a gaze that passed through the Spirit Formation, looking towards the place where Lin Shiming currently was.


    Lin Shiming could not describe what those eyes looked like, but at that moment, illusions appeared in his mind, and he felt as if his soul had been seen through; moreover, layers of illusions were born.


    On his neck, the Jade Pendant emitted Spirit Light, but the next moment, it shattered abruptly.


    Within his body, the root of all deductions also radiated light; only then did he come to a realization.


    His heart once again felt an immense sense of horror.


    The power of the Illusionary Demon True Person, even if it were a complete avatar, could devastate him with just one glance.


    And to think, this was still directed at the vast crowd of several hundred people.


    "Please keep away from Qing Zhu Hermit, and enter the Ascending Immortal Ladder!" A system prompt suddenly appeared.


    Lin Shiming was also startled; he did not know why he should keep away from Qing Zhu Hermit, but as soon as the system prompt appeared, he had no time to hesitate.


    Breaking free from the illusions, he rushed towards the Ascending Immortal Ladder.


    Alongside him, many Qingxuan Sect cultivators who had emerged from the illusions also rushed towards it; these cultivators all possessed treasures that could resist the illusions of Divine Sense.


    "Found it!" Illusionary Demon True Person suddenly exhibited a glimmer in his eyes, as he saw that within Qing Zhu Hermit¡¯s body, a green Spirit Tower had appeared!


    At this moment, the Illusionary Demon True Person was overjoyed. He had not expected that Shen Ji True Person was so cunning that under that green light, it was not about capturing the tower but instead about hiding the tower inside the body of the Qing Zhu Hermit, who was an original outer member of the Purple Mansion cultivators.


    And he had somehow concealed it using some Spirit Art.


    But paired with his Illusionary Demon Eyes and Illusionary Demon Phenomenon, no cultivator below the Golden Core could withstand it; otherwise, he would have truly been deceived by Shen Ji True Person.


    Shen Ji True Person was clever, but that teleportation was his biggest blunder!


    The Illusionary Demon True Person¡¯s avatar instantly transformed into a black fog Heavenly Demon, his entire body dissolving into black fog, and finally, with a wide open maw, he bit towards the Mountain Protection Array of the Qingxuan Sect.


    The Mountain Protection Array was originally the reverse sky slaughtering formation, but now it had been weakened substantially by Qing Ling True Person and could not withstand the devouring of the Illusionary Demon True Person.


    The illusions around Qing Zhu Hermit intensified, but from within him surged an infinite green light as a silhouette of a small tower activated, and Qing Zhu Hermit too rushed towards the Ascending Immortal Ladder.


    This Ascending Immortal Ladder was an extraordinary treasure, and its trials were not only for the cultivators.


    However, with a cold sneer, the Illusionary Demon True Person watched as a Qingxuan Sect cultivator suddenly took out a Dharma Sword and stabbed towards Qing Zhu Hermit.


    "Ye Yun, how dare you!" Qing Zhu Hermit roared in anger.


    But at this moment, the pupils of Ye Yun were filled with bloodlust, his gaze was indistinguishable from that of the Illusionary Demon True Person.


    Clearly, he had been switched with the True Person¡¯s actual body without anyone knowing.


    And this actual body had not entered the World Tower.


    Regardless, Qing Zhu Hermit killed Ye Yun with a single sword strike.


    But the true avatar of the Illusionary Demon True Person appeared, piercing through Qing Zhu Hermit¡¯s chest with one grab, and also yanking out a green Spirit Tower.


    The spreading Spirit Light almost shook to death most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the vicinity.


    It was only when attacking the Ascending Immortal Ladder that the force dissipated into nothingness.


    "Clever strategy!" By now, the Illusionary Demon True Person knew he had been outwitted by the Shen Ji True Person and, of course, blamed his own greed.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been caught in a ripple effect.


    But then again, how many cultivators could remain calm at that time?


    The Illusionary Demon True Person, without hesitation, made all his avatars explode at once.


    Turning into a mist of blood, he also employed Blood Escape.


    The Blood Escape technique of these demonic sect cultivators was not ordinary; just one use could take them a million miles away, or even successive uses could do so, making even a True Person¡¯s divine sense unable to lock on to them.


    Unless there was an early arrangement of the space-stabilizing formation.


    However, such an intense battle would definitely break any prearranged space-stabilizing formation!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming on the Ascending Immortal Ladder, witnessing the entire process in the sky, felt nothing but chills and suffocation.


    The strategy of the Shen Ji True Person was terrifyingly clever.


    And Lin Shiming knew that the Shen Ji True Person must have secured the Ghost Blood Lotus!


    Yet he wondered where the Ghost Blood Lotus was.


    The Illusionary Demon True Person planted a mole and used illusion techniques, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t find it and only found a fake one.


    At this moment, a thought suddenly struck Lin Shiming.


    The treasure had not emerged!


    It was still within the World Tower!


    Realizing this, Lin Shiming was even more stunned, utterly dumbfounded.


    This time, the Qingxuan Sect had reaped a horrifyingly perfect harvest.


    As for the destroyed Mountain Protection Array and the cultivators who had died, they hardly mattered, as their sect now had the potential to become a Nascent Soul Sect in the future.


    Such a loss of disciples was truly negligible.


    The True Persons soon disappeared from sight, leaving behind various Hermits to take charge of the situation.


    And the one appearing before Lin Shiming and Xie An was naturally the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    At this moment, Zi Xuan Hermit was not alone but accompanied by five or six purple-robed sword cultivators from Heavenly Sword Peak, all with solemn expressions, focused on the carrier for the Soul Summoning Sword.


    The Soul Summoning Sword was not theirs to claim as Qingxuan Sect cultivators; it could indeed escape.


    For Zi Xuan Hermit, these Soul Summoning Swords were his pathway to the Golden Core Path.


    How could he afford to relax, to the point where Lin Shiming was no longer even in his sight?


    On the contrary, it was Xie An who received a nod of approval from him!


    Because Xie An¡¯s body also carried the aura of the Soul Summoning Sword!


    Of course, Lin Shiming was more than happy to go unnoticed, and at this moment, he wanted nothing more than to get as far away from the Qingxuan Sect and Qingxuan Mountain as possible.


    To return to Fangmu Mountain.

 Chapter 344 - 289: The Craftsman of the Spirit Coffin, Summoning (Two in One)

    Before the Ascending Immortal Ladder, Lin Shiming stood quietly.


    In front of him, the newly appeared disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak, together with the Purple Mansion Loose of Heavenly Sword Peak, had already surrounded the five Soul Summoning Swords.


    The spiritual bodies formed by two of the Soul Summoning Swords had their eyes brimming with endless Sword Intent!


    In the next moment, like Spirit Swords themselves, they shot towards the sky.


    Since they had been transported to the Qingxuan Sect by the Transmission Formation, these Soul Summoning Swords were clearly unprepared as well.


    Meanwhile, the spiritual bodies inhabited by the remaining three Soul Summoning Swords still stood their ground, as if observing or waiting for something.@@@@


    As Soul Summoning Swords, being Magical Treasures and special kinds of spirits, since the Sword Cultivators of Heavenly Sword Peak in Qingxuan Sect were not weak, they had no need to look elsewhere.


    Moreover, these three felt a faint sense of kinship when they looked towards Heavenly Sword Peak!


    They then turned their gaze towards Xie An!


    And continued to watch the two swords that had flown out!


    Two cries of the swords instantly echoed through heaven and earth.


    Along with the Purple Mansion Loose, all six Purple Mansion Cultivators, adorned in their embroidered robes, extended their spirit palms to capture the two swords!


    But in an instant, they were torn apart by the dazzling Sword Intent.


    The expressions on the faces of Purple Mansion Loose and the other Purple Mansion Cultivators changed drastically in a moment!


    The cries of the two swords grew louder, and for a moment, it was as if the spring rain was continuous, and the threads of the sword poured down.


    There came the sound of thunder, and lightning streaked violently.


    The Sword Intent of the two swords was distinctly different, yet both were innately powerful and torrential, like a natural disaster rushing towards the outside of Qingxuan Sect.


    Just as they were about to break the formation and leave, a burst of starlight poured down.


    Like the Milky Way falling in reverse, countless starlights pulled together, forming one starlight giant after another.


    The reason Xie An was summoned away, he naturally knew.


    The next to be summoned would be him. Enjoy exclusive adventures from novelhall.Co?m


    And he too needed to prepare to face the questioning of Purple Mansion Loose.


    He had also cultivated the Sword Imbuement Technique and entered the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    While he had prepared excuses in advance, now he was to meet alone with the Purple Mansion Loose of the Ruthless Sword Dao.


    To say he did not harbor any trepidation would be false, but luckily, he still had the Family Jade Book.


    Even for a Golden Core True Person, the protection of a Family Jade Book could not be violated by forcibly searching his soul!


    But ultimately, there were certain Secret Techniques, such as he had one to break the Blood Devil Ban, which could completely corrupt the Family Jade Book.


    Naturally, for Lin Shiming, the unexpected appearance of the Soul Summoning Swords was what he was most eager to see.


    He could wait until the system prompt updated again, at least for a short time, Purple Mansion Loose would not come looking for him.


    He still had some time to prepare, and perhaps, he might even return through the guise of mourning Lin Xianzhi¡¯s death, thus avoiding Zi Xuan Hermit completely.


    After all, his Storage Bag had been searched, and he had also entered the Myriad Swords Tomb, Zi Xuan Hermit was well aware of these facts.


    With the dead being the most important, and since Lin Xianzhi had died entering the Myriad Swords Tomb, he had every reason to wail in mourning, sending off the spiritual coffin with due ceremony!


    It was just that it was still the first day, and he still could not be hasty!


    Lin Shiming suppressed the myriad thoughts in his heart, took out the Isolation Formation, and also a meditation mat, trying his best to become more alert, under the effect of the mysterious mat and the Jade Illusionary Artifact, his mind also felt a cool clarity, sweeping away much of his fatigue.


    He exhaled deeply, pushing down all of his tension, and began to recover his True Yuan.


    The cultivation technique he was practicing was, of course, the reverse-cultivated Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    He did not know how long he had cultivated, only that outside the room, the moon had already risen high, though its light was not so bright, perhaps obscured by thick clouds, making the night even deeper and more mystical.


    And the True Yuan within his body, flowing robustly, had already returned to its peak state.

 Chapter 345 - 289: The Craftsman of the Spirit Coffin, Summoning (Two in One) _2

    What delighted him was that, after the experience in the secret realm, he found that the concentration level of his True Yuan had increased by another tier. Although he hadn¡¯t made a breakthrough, this meant he could now launch an assault on the next realm.


    Become a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    For Cultivators, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage often led to frequent encounters with bottlenecks, and it was even possible for some Cultivators to remain stuck at a certain realm within the Foundation Establishment Stage forever.


    His father, for example, couldn¡¯t even sense the existence of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment before consuming the Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea.


    In that case, no matter how much one cultivated, it would just be marking time.


    Lin Shiming previously had no confidence in when he could break through the late-stage Foundation Establishment.


    But now, he felt confident that he could make the breakthrough within the next three to ten years.


    And to think, it had only been five years since he broke through to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment!


    After a brief moment of joy, Lin Shiming once again fell into deep thought.


    The inescapable issue at hand was the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Shen Ji True Person had avoided him because Shen Ji True Person¡¯s concern for him wouldn¡¯t be too great, but the Purple Mansion Hermit was different.


    He was Lin Shiming¡¯s master.


    Moreover, out of the eleven who truly came out of the secret realm, only he and Xie An remained!


    Of course, for him, everything also needed to go smoothly on Xie An¡¯s end.


    As Lin Shiming was contemplating, he suddenly saw endless firelight appear on the summit of Heavenly Sword Peak, and a terrifying Sword Intent descended upon the entire Heavenly Sword Peak.


    For a moment, the Spirit Swords in his Storage Bag began to stir, as if they had been summoned.


    What was even more terrifying was that Lin Shiming felt his Sword Path Grass Seeds also showed signs of activity at this moment.


    His body, like the hum of a sword, began to tremble, ready to transform into a Spirit Sword and soar into the sky for a battle.


    Lin Shiming stepped outside his room, only to see the Mountain Protection Array still suppressing a Fire Sword, while countless Spirit Swords flew towards the summit of Heavenly Sword Peak from all directions.


    Clearly, the others felt the same call.


    And there were those who couldn¡¯t control their Spirit Swords, which flew into the sky.


    The next moment, a thousand Flaming Swords hung upside down from Heavenly Sword Peak, and a figure in a Taoist robe, holding a Flaming Sword, fought alone against many from the Purple Mansion.


    It was none other than Xie An¡¯s clone and the Soul Summoning Flaming Sword!


    Amidst ten thousand sword shadows, one after another Purple Mansion figure was slashed down the mountain.


    The stars in the sky twinkled fiercely, and the river of stars fell again in the daytime, but this time, the power of the falling stars was obviously unstoppable, unlike the vast grandeur of the daytime.


    And the Flaming Sword was charging against the colossal starlight giant in the sky, and behind the Fire Sword, the figures of Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person appeared in succession.


    Only now, it seemed as if they had expended much of their might during the day, and at this moment, they were momentarily unable to handle the Flaming Sword.


    Lin Shiming knew that Flame Yang was not like other Cultivators, inside him was a drop of millennium spiritual milk.


    That was something Flame Yang had coaxed out of him.


    It was also the condition under which Flame Yang had agreed to help Xie An and him.


    Subsequently, Lin Xianzhi also shared his supplementary plan for the family clan with Lin Shiming.


    During his time in the Cave Heaven World, his primary concern was how to ensure the Lin Family could thrive.


    The present Lin Family had undoubtedly become an indispensable Foundation Establishment clan in Yunzhou.


    In the future, the suspicions once directed at the Li Family would inevitably also fall upon their Lin Family.


    Especially now that Shen Ji True Person would probably be preparing for his Nascent Soul breakthrough, the sect was bound to begin a major purge soon.


    And the outer sect disciples would certainly begin to infiltrate in large numbers.


    Lin Xianzhi by no means suited to appear in the Lin Family region of Yunzhou anymore, and not just Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming also had to keep a low profile.


    In Lin Xianzhi¡¯s vision, Lin Shiming must remain in secluded cultivation within the Lin Family compound and break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, whether capable or not.


    Of course, what Lin Xianzhi didn¡¯t know was that Lin Shiming had truly reached the point where he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    Otherwise, his reaction at that time would have been quite amusing to see.


    After discussing the future direction of the Lin Family with Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming felt even more confident in his plans.


    As the departure neared, Lin Xianzhi called out to Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, let this old man take a look at the craftsmanship of his own spirit coffin!" Lin Xianzhi said with a smile.


    Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Lin Shiming took out the spirit coffin and then returned to his room.


    It was the third day.


    Lin Shiming, carrying the spirit coffin jade box and clad in simple mourning attire, walked out of his room.


    The next moment, a cultivator stepped out from beside him, but upon seeing Lin Shiming holding the spirit coffin and dressed in mourning clothes, was clearly taken aback.


    The scolding that was about to erupt was momentarily halted.


    "Senior Brother, I hope you can report to Master that I must send the ancestor¡¯s remains back; we cannot let the ancestor¡¯s soul wander beyond our realm!"


    Lin Xianzhi¡¯s death was for the Zi Xuan Hermit, and at this moment, that Senior Brother was evidently hesitating.


    "Lin Junior Brother, Master seems to have important matters to attend to, please wait a moment, and I will report this for you!"


    Lin Shiming wasn¡¯t surprised, thinking if they let him leave just like that, he might be more suspicious that they intended to silence him. Continue your adventure at novelhall.Co?m


    Lin Shiming walked back, with his room door wide open.


    The cultivator glanced into the room where Lin Shiming was, saw the mostly burned white candles and some mourning white cloth, and then disappeared from the spot.


    After the time it takes for one joss stick to burn, the cultivator returned.


    "Lin Junior Brother, the Master invites you!"


    Lin Shiming followed to the dwelling of the Purple Mansion Loose.


    This was not his first visit, but this time, he could distinctly feel that all the for array protections of Purple Mansion Loose¡¯s dwelling were activated.


    And the Purple Mansion Loose in front of him, though still in a purple robe, seemed much weaker in aura.


    Lin Shiming instantly understood that this Purple Mansion Loose was a clone.

 Chapter 346 - 290: Testing, Returning to the Mountain (Two in One)

    The familiar mahogany table, the familiar Taishi chair, along with a familiar teapot, and a refined fragrance of tea.


    Zi Xuan Hermit, clad in a purple robe, still wore an indifferent expression as he looked at Lin Shiming.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s eyes brimmed with sorrow, his attire a simple white robe.


    However, he did not present himself with an air of holding a spirit coffin or wearing a mourning hat.


    Some matters are better if stopped at the right moment.


    If the Zi Xuan Hermit paid attention, he would naturally notice, and the fact that he sent an avatar to meet him upon his arrival had already signified many things.


    "Master!" Lin Shiming paid his respects as a disciple, still extremely reverent and courteous.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit nodded in response.


    "Shiming, I am fully aware of your situation, including Xianzhi¡¯s matter," the hermit said.


    "For the sect, the sect will surely not chill your heart. Even though the Soul Summoning Sword was not retrieved, this time, the sect has rewards for you!"


    "However, there are some details I need to clearly understand!"


    The Zi Xuan Hermit slowly began to speak, placing his hand on the mahogany table, and soon, a jade slip and two pill bottles appeared on the table.


    These were the so-called sect rewards.


    Lin Shiming did not look at the rewards, knowing that the crux of the matter was to come.


    Sure enough, the system prompt sounded:


    "You are being tested by an Inquiry Heart Talisman, please ensure the truthfulness of your answers!"


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart sank, as expected, the Zi Xuan Hermit had employed stealthy means.


    Although Inquiry Heart Talismans were not rare, normal ones required the caster to cast a spell on the subject.


    The subject would surely know of it.


    He just didn¡¯t know what kind of Inquiry Heart Talisman the Zi Xuan Hermit had used, nor when it had been cast upon him?


    Such a talisman seemed too miraculous, and had he not had the system alert, lying at that time would have been a path to certain death.


    "Additionally, the cultivation technique here is the latter half of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra. After you finish reading it, destroy it. It¡¯s a pity about Xianzhi¡¯s matter. I only hope that in the future you can surpass Xianzhi, leading the family to glory!"


    The Zi Xuan Hermit picked up the jade slip and the two pill bottles.


    Lin Shiming also hesitated, clearly surprised that the Zi Xuan Hermit would be so easily persuaded.


    But soon he reacted, taking the jade bottles and jade slip with both hands.


    However, he only felt a weak surge of True Yuan enter his body and then vanish in an instant between the hermit¡¯s fingers.


    The True Yuan moved so quickly that he would not have noticed it on a normal day, and if it were the Zi Xuan Hermit¡¯s physical body at the Purple Mansion Peak, Lin Shiming wouldn¡¯t have detected it.


    But in that moment, he didn¡¯t dare to let down his guard.


    Never did he expect the Zi Xuan Hermit to still be testing him at that moment!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s lowered gaze hid a trace of fear, which quickly disappeared.


    He was certain that the Zi Xuan Hermit had just probed his True Yuan and even checked whether he had the Sword Imbuement Technique within him.


    The hermit had investigated whether he was cultivating the Purple Wood Heart Sutra and even sensed his Sword Intent.


    Fortunately, upon his return to the Qingxuan Sect, he had not immediately switched his cultivation technique, correcting the Purple Wood Heart Sutra; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.


    At the same time, he had not begun using the Spirit Seed for Sword Dao cultivation.


    The Zi Xuan Hermit withdrew his hand after a while.


    Taking up the Spiritual Tea on the table, he began to drink alone.


    Lin Shiming knew well what the Zi Xuan Hermit implied and immediately spoke up:


    "Master, your disciple takes his leave!"


    Once he returned to his room, he cradled the Jade Box spirit coffin in his hands, donned in mourning attire, and departed towards the sect¡¯s gate.


    Descending the Ascending Immortal Ladder and exiting the gates of the Qingxuan Sect, as he beheld the magnificent landscape beyond the mountains, Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, then tilting his head back to relish the stinging sunshine.


    His heart felt peaceful, as if reborn.


    Yet his facial expression did not change, and could not change, either.

 Chapter 347 - 290: Testing and Returning to the Mountain (Combined Chapter)_2

    ```


    He took out a Third Rank Spirit Boat, hopped onto the bow, and sat alone at the head of the vessel.


    Bracing against the cold, biting wind, behind him rested a Spirit Coffin inside a jade box, heading towards the Lin Family¡¯s Fangmu Mountain.


    It was only after he had left the Qingzhou where the Qingxuan Sect was located that Lin Shiming finally let down his guard.


    He didn¡¯t know if anyone was using their divine sense to observe him from behind, after all, he couldn¡¯t detect the divine sense of either Purple Mansion cultivators or Golden Core cultivators.


    Unless he forced all the Tribulation Forging Divine Flowers within his Cave Heaven to mature, elevating his divine sense from the late Foundation Establishment stage to Foundation Establishment Perfection, perhaps then he might sense a trace.


    ...


    On Fangmu Mountain, a continuous spring rain gently took care of the mountains.


    The fine lines of rain rippled on the Mountain Protection Array of Fangmu Mountain.


    But they caused no ripples and dissipated into the invisible.


    The Spirit Peach Tree on the mountain, deprived of sunlight for an extended period, bore blossoms that appeared rather frail and small.


    A girl in a green dress played an ancient zither with her delicate, graceful hands.


    No one knew how long she had been playing, or for whom she played.


    In the next moment, the strings forcefully gathered and one snapped suddenly.


    The girl then arose abruptly.


    Stood up with the corners of her eyes touched by the spring rain.


    She had waited!


    Standing up at the same time was Lin Houyuan at the peak of Fangmu Mountain.


    Following him, other cultivators began to leave their cave dwellings one after another.


    At that moment, in front of the Formation, a Spirit Boat could be seen quietly resting.


    Before the crowd could begin to celebrate, only to see Lin Shiming spoke out loud:


    "Unfilial descendants, escorting the venerable Seventh Uncle Ancestor home!"


    A long howl echoed through the entirety of Fangmu Mountain.


    The many cultivators were stunned, but seeing the jade box Spirit Coffin in Lin Shiming¡¯s hands, they were thrown into even greater turmoil.


    Lin Xianzhi had fallen, a calamity that the Lin Family felt as if the sky had collapsed and one they found unbearable, given that Lin Xianzhi was the true Protector of the Lin Family and the highest in both cultivation level and seniority.


    Lin Houyuan had been in the family ancestral hall all this time; he naturally knew about the two¡¯s Soul Slips. At this moment, he was somewhat bewildered.


    But immediately upon receiving Lin Shiming¡¯s transmitted message, Lin Houyuan also quickly came to his senses.


    The Formation of Fangmu Mountain was opened, and so too was the funeral bell of the Lin Family on Fangmu Mountain.


    As the bell sounded, the entire mountain of the Lin Family was draped in white cloth in mourning.


    Main members of the family, such as Lin Shiming and Lin Houyuan, along with other key elders, all held a vigil.


    It was also demanded that all Lin Family cultivators in Nanling Mountain, as well as those in Qingyun Square and Xing County Square Market, return.


    For the Lin Family, this day was undoubtedly unforgettable.


    Moreover, the family¡¯s finances had been excellent in recent years, so purchasing some elixirs naturally posed no problem.


    In addition, Lin Shitao would also refine more Cotton Yang Pills.


    Of course, what they didn¡¯t know was that Lin Shiming¡¯s breakthrough to the later stages of Foundation Establishment wasn¡¯t a sham, he was indeed ready to make the breakthrough.


    "Father, here are two Foundation Establishment Pills!" Having said that, Lin Shiming then took out a Storage Bag and handed it over to Lin Houyuan.


    Of course, the Storage Bag contained more than just Foundation Establishment Pills.


    It also held two Superior Grade Spirit Stones, as well as a third-rank, intermediate-grade Magic Sword and a third-rank, intermediate-grade Spirit Armor, along with a Shocking God Drum.


    All were fine examples of magic artifacts, and he had specifically chosen them.


    Among them, the Shocking God Drum was what Lin Shiming had found most handy before, but having reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, he no longer needed it as he was equipped with Supreme Grade magic artifacts. Continue your journey on novelhall.Co?m


    Lin Houyuan, seeing these items, gladly accepted them, a look of joy on his face.


    For this son who had returned with a bounty, he had no need to stand on ceremony. In his view, these magic artifacts were something Lin Shiming could no longer use.


    The Superior Grade Spirit Stones did give him some hesitance, but under Lin Shiming¡¯s encouraging nod, he still accepted them.


    "Shitao, this is a gift for you!"


    Lin Shiming then handed another Storage Bag to Lin Shitao.


    Lin Shitao joyfully accepted the Storage Bag, her face flushed with excitement.


    This caused the others to chuckle lightly.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shitao¡¯s mouth fell open in shock, because inside the Storage Bag there were not only two Superior Grade Spirit Stones but also a third-rank, Supreme Grade Pill Furnace¡ªthe Five-colored Dual-Handled Alchemy Furnace; a third-rank, superior-grade Five-colored Silk Magic Artifact; along with third-rank, intermediate-grade offensive and defensive magic artifacts, and finally, a Jade Slip.


    It contained the Scripture of the Five Flames.


    This was a cultivation technique that could be cultivated until the Golden Core Late Stage, and was also of the Profound Rank¡¯s Superior Grade, most suitable for someone with a Dual Spirit Root of fire and wood!


    After she finished inspecting the Cultivation Technique Jade Slip, another Jade Slip she found was the alchemical inheritance of a Fourth Rank Purple Mansion!


    It included alchemy recipes, some of which were even fourth-rank!


    Lin Shitao was gaping, too shocked to calm down for a long time.


    The treasures here, any single one if taken out, would cause a sensation, and in the past, any few of these would have been the Lin Family¡¯s treasures of heritage.


    But now, they all appeared before her. To think that previously, the Lin Family¡¯s best Pill Furnace was just a third-rank Inferior Grade one, obtained by Lin Shiming, and the alchemy recipes only consisted of three third-rank ones: the Cotton Yang Pill, the Returning Spirit Pill, and the Foundation Establishment Pill!


    Now, the alchemy recipes included more than just three fourth-rank ones, with the alchemical insights of Purple Mansion Cultivators!


    Seeing the envious looks of the others, Lin Shiming continued to take out two more Storage Bags, one for Lin Shiyi and the other for Lin Houwei.


    In Lin Shiyi¡¯s Storage Bag, aside from the fundamental Superior Grade Spirit Stones, was the third-rank Superior Grade Thousand Layer Mountain artifact. The Red-haired Demon Monkeys of the Thousand Layer Mountain didn¡¯t need it now, but there was also a good supply of body-forging Spirit Grass.


    These Spirit Grasses were obtained by Lin Shiming in the little world, and having enough for himself, he had allocated a generous amount to others.


    For Lin Houwei, Lin Shiming gave him the Purple Gold Gourd, which now lacked the Wind Fire Star Sand but still was an artifact of half Supreme Grade and half Superior Grade, bringing great joy to the recipient, who even boldly declared he would grab Lin Shiming for a drink.


    After everyone had received their treasures, they took their leave one by one. Lin Shiming, finally looking toward Lin Xianzhi, who was full of satisfaction, gave an awkward smile and returned the Split Soul Banner to him with both hands.


    Lin Xianzhi accepted it graciously and then spoke up with a serious expression:


    "Shiming, there is still one thing you have yet to handle!"


    ```

 Chapter 348 - 291: Qian Family鈥檚 Legacy Problem, Star Spirit Clam (Two in One)

    At the pavilion, the two men sat across the stone table from each other once more.


    They took out their Go pieces and once again began to play a long-missed game.


    Lin Xianzhi held the white pieces, Lin Shiming the black!


    However, unlike before, every move Lin Xianzhi made caused Lin Shiming¡¯s brows to furrow deeply.


    Lin Xianzhi smiled slightly, silent, but his speed at playing Go grew faster and faster.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming naturally continued to ponder deeply, scratching his cheek and pulling at his ear.


    One slow move led to a cascade of delays, and with each, the sense of peril grew!


    But what he was deeply contemplating was not the Go pieces, but the additional matter Lin Xianzhi mentioned.


    "Qian Family!" With Lin Xianzhi placing the final piece, Lin Shiming found himself with no room to retreat¡ªthe victor and the vanquished were clear! Find your next read on novelhall.Co?m@@@@


    As soon as the word "Qian Family" was mentioned, Lin Shiming instantly became alert!


    Indeed!


    Both Qian Yongfu and Qian Bosheng died at his hand, the Spirit Milk of the Qian Family, along with their Three Pure Qi Gathering Technique and the Split Soul Banner, were now in their possession.


    Moreover, the Qian Family knew that the Lin Family possessed the formula for refining Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, as well as several magical treasures.


    For the Lin Family, a declining Qian Family had become a hidden threat!


    Especially the cultivators who knew about the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid formula.


    They might even threaten the Lin Family to reap substantial benefits.


    After all, at this time, the Qian Family lacked any cultivators capable of breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage.


    If the recipe for the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid leaked, so be it, but how could Qingxuan Sect, which aimed to control the entire Zhao Kingdom and even the Eastern Domain, allow the formula to slip out?


    Moreover, the Qian Family had precedent in this matter. Since the opening of the Xing County Square Market, the Qian Family had already tested the Lin Family with the Formation Artifact Manual, and even threatened them with the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion. Now, knowing about the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid recipe, it had ultimately become a calamity.


    The Formation Artifact Manual, this secret technique, was an innovative breakthrough. Although it depleted the life force of alchemists, the ability to refine at higher levels was something no sect or family could refuse.


    "Shiming, finally, it¡¯s the matter of your marriage!" Having finished all his points, Lin Xianzhi looked at Lin Shiming with an increasingly broad smile.


    After all, a certain someone had promised to provide an answer upon returning from the Secret Realm before leaving!


    "This matter still requires Shitao¡¯s consent!" Lin Shiming felt stirred inside but still exercised restraint.


    After all, he hoped for a natural and mutual fulfillment when it came to matters of the heart.


    Upon returning, how could he not have seen the eagerness in Peach Blossom Forest, nor heard the gentle song?


    That ancient zither, so clear and spiritual, seemed to have gained a few notes of melancholy from waiting.


    And finally, because of his arrival, two strings on the zither broke.


    It showed that at that moment, Lin Shitao¡¯s heart was not calm, and he, due to family reasons, had to pretend it did not matter!


    Perhaps at that moment, Lin Shitao was also somewhat disappointed.


    Lin Shiming was still somewhat nervous about this.


    And Lin Xianzhi didn¡¯t speak further.


    For Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shiming¡¯s wedding was the optimal time for him to act.


    At that time, no matter whether the Qian Family sent someone or not, they could dispel any suspicions regarding the Lin Family.


    Lin Xianzhi left to prepare for the Qian Family¡¯s visit.


    Lin Shiming was left alone in the pavilion.


    The view from the pavilion was more open due to the third-rank superior grade promotion of Fangmu Mountain¡¯s Spirit Vein, the Green Lotuses had grown bigger too.


    Every year, the lotus seeds brought a substantial Spirit Stone income to the Lin Family.


    Seeing the lotus pond, Lin Shiming suddenly remembered something.


    In the Profound Grade Secret Realm, he acquired a mysterious Spirit Clam, whose origins he had yet to understand.


    He returned to his cave mansion and entered the Cave Heaven World; the Cave Heaven World was still lively, with Wang Jiao still clinging to the Spirit Clam, futilely slapping at it while huffing angrily, baring its huge sharp teeth.

 Chapter 349 - 291: Qian Family鈥檚 Legacy Problem, Star Spirit Clam (Two in One)_2

    "Eat meat!" As soon as Lin Shiming entered, the Spirit Body of Wang Jiao controlled by the Soul Binding Forbidden perked up within Lin Shiming¡¯s mind, and its expression became excited.


    As for why it changed from eating stones to eating meat, it started when he took out some of the essence blood from the Taiqing Purple Jade Serpent in the small world and gave it to the Red-haired Demon Monkey, helping it digest the Spiritual Fire from the Pill Furnace Treasure.


    Apparently, Wang Jiao smelled the scent of the Taiqing Purple Jade Serpent, and in an instant, stones were no longer appealing; it was all about eating meat, meat!


    Now, whenever Lin Shiming entered the world, he could hear the clamorous voice of Wang Jiao.


    Having the Soul Binding Forbidden made the communication between Wang Jiao¡¯s Divine Sense and his own much more convenient.


    Lin Shiming took out a large quantity of Beast Nurturing Pills, and also found some flesh and blood of Third-Rank Demonic Beasts, and placed it in front of Wang Jiao.


    Wang Jiao immediately turned its proud head and whipped its tail, giving the Superior Grade Spirit Stones in the Nurturing Spirit Formation beside it a pat.


    It seemed to be indicating that the Beast Nurturing Pills in front of it weren¡¯t as desirable as those stones.


    Lin Shiming was rendered speechless. This Wang Jiao was truly unique; one must know that both the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis never refused the Spirit Meat and Spirit Food he offered.


    Not to mention Beast Nurturing Pills, which they wanted with every meal!


    "Wait till you reach the mid-stage of the Third Rank, then you can eat meat," Lin Shiming left these words behind and paid no further attention to Wang Jiao.


    Instead, he turned his gaze towards the Spirit Shell.


    The mysterious Spirit Shell was quite large, about the size of a calf, with a body covered in beautiful Spirit Patterns that would shine like stars, bright and captivating, come nightfall.


    The sun, moon, and stars within the Cave Heaven World were synchronized as well, so, in Lin Shiming¡¯s view, the Spirit Shell absorbed the starlight from the heavens and, naturally, Spiritual Power too.


    It was this mixture of starlight and Spiritual Power that formed a vast force of vitality.


    The current condition of the Spirit Shell seemed a bit dim in its luminescence, leaving Lin Shiming unsure of how long it had been since the shell had last opened.


    At least, every time he entered the Cave Heaven World, it was found wrapped up by Wang Jiao¡¯s scaled tail.


    Just as he was considering studying it, the system prompt sounded once again:


    "Please feed the Third-Rank Supreme Grade Star Spirit Clam with Spirit Water and Spirit Soil, and you will obtain the starlight force from the Star Spirit Clam, which can enhance the vitality and strength of Demonic Beasts!"


    With the system prompt¡¯s appearance, Lin Shiming also experienced a moment of clarity.


    The Spirit Fish in that subterranean river must have become incredibly strong by devouring the starlight force released by the Star Spirit Clam, with each Spirit Fish proving to be exceptionally fierce!


    There were even Third-Rank Spirit Fish!


    The reason why Wang Jiao kept coming up empty-handed lately was simply because the Star Spirit Clam hadn¡¯t been feeding on Spirit Soil and Spirit Water, preventing it from converting the starlight into starlight force.


    With this realization concerning the function of the Star Spirit Clam, Lin Shiming was all smiles.


    With this Star Spirit Clam, not only could Wang Jiao and the others absorb a more powerful force of vitality in the future, but the Lin Family could also breed those mysterious Black Spirit Fish.


    These Spirit Fish were definitely treasures that any Body Cultivator would dream of possessing.


    And immediately after, it clamped its shell closed again.


    Lin Shiming was not upset but instead prepared even more Spirit Water and Spirit Soil.


    Yet, it took a full three hours before the Spirit Shell deigned to open its mouth again, continuing to draw in the Spirit Soil and Spirit Water with its tendril.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming did not hesitate to use the Split Spirit Blade, slicing off a wisp of his Divine Sense, then solidified the soul contract, exerting the same Soul Binding Forbidden he previously used on Wang Jiao.


    The soul contract was subtle, transformed into boundless Spirit Light, merging into a drop of essence blood.


    With a flick of Lin Shiming¡¯s finger, the essence blood became a Spirit Arrow, shooting towards the Star Spirit Clam.


    "If you refuse again, don¡¯t blame me for taking out the Spiritual Fire and roasting you for real!"


    Lin Shiming coldly shouted, and the Soul Binding Forbidden was incredibly domineering, forming a binding net around the Star Spirit Clam.


    The next moment, the essence blood, now bearing the Soul Binding Forbidden, flew back, manifesting in Lin Shiming¡¯s mind. He could easily sense a Star Spirit Clam glittering with starlight within.


    Soon after, from his Divine Sense, came a faint wave of consciousness.


    It was filled with fear, trepidation, and... hunger!


    It was clear that ever since it was caught in the Cave Heaven World, it had been under Wang Jiao¡¯s influence.


    It¡¯s worth noting that Wang Jiao was unyielding and never let go without laying eggs, and that¡¯s precisely why the Spirit Shell held extreme fear towards Wang Jiao!


    It was almost comical, the Star Spirit Clam was at a late Third Rank, while Wang Jiao was only at the early Third Rank.


    Compared to Wang Jiao, the Star Spirit Clam¡¯s bloodline was significantly weaker.


    Wang Jiao could send out complete waves of Divine Sense, albeit expressing it quite briefly, whereas the Star Spirit Clam still required pondering.


    Now with the Soul Binding Forbidden in place, Lin Shiming could command the Star Spirit Clam to release that Star Spirit Power, or as it can also be called, Star Spirit Fluff.


    The Star Spirit Fluff had an incredibly pleasant fragrance, which was an immense temptation to Demonic Beasts.


    Lin Shiming didn¡¯t harvest the Star Spirit Fluff, as there was no mention in the system prompts that cultivators could directly consume it.


    As Lin Shiming hesitated, he felt a surge of Divine Sense from the Star Spirit Clam.


    The mouth of the shell angled towards the area where the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit and Fourth Rank Spirit Soil lay.


    Clearly, having become a Spirit Pet, the Star Spirit Clam seemed a bit confused about its place.


    Lin Shiming naturally didn¡¯t hesitate to reject it; the value of the Star Spirit Clam was far less than that of the Spirit Trees.


    Rejected, the Star Spirit Clam obediently closed its two shells.


    It seemed to retreat into itself, only the Spirit Light on its shell continued to flicker faintly.


    After dealing with the Spirit Clam, Lin Shiming then started heading towards the Mingxin Tea Tree!

 Chapter 350 - 292: Clan Schooling and Scattered Spirit Mulberry Fruit (Combined)

    At this moment, the Mingxin Tea Tree was just as before, with a large cluster of fresh, tender leaves concealing the vital spirit leaf within.


    Clear spirit patterns coursed through it, emitting bursts of refreshing tea fragrance.


    The rest of the tree, however, was somewhat bare, with only branches bearing a faint hint of green.


    There were no new branches and no new buds had sprouted!


    Lin Shiming stood before the tree, lost in thought for a long time.


    A surge of sword intent naturally emanated from him but quickly disappeared without a trace.


    Lin Shiming took another glance before he took out a small handful of fourth-rank spirit soil and placed it in front of the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    "Work hard to recover, Lin isn¡¯t necessarily a good person, but a promise made is a promise kept!"


    Lin Shiming spoke, not caring if the tree spirit of the Mingxin Tea could hear him or not.


    It had saved Lin Xianzhi¡¯s life and had made their journey in the secret realm much smoother.


    Therefore, he would do what he had promised, so long as it was within his ability!


    Besides, allowing the Mingxin Tea Tree to continue growing might bring him more surprises.


    Of course, since he was now cultivating the Purple Wood Heart Sutra in reverse, he naturally couldn¡¯t use True Yuan to hasten the process anymore, as he did not have that much spirit lifespan to expend.


    After tending to the Mingxin Tea Tree, Lin Shiming released Wang Jiao, the Golden Winged Mantis, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.@@@@


    As soon as the three beasts appeared, the Star Spirit Clam stretched out six tentacles, swiftly engulfing all the surrounding Spirit Water and spirit soil before tightly closing its shell.


    Almost at the same time the clam closed, Wang Jiao charged forward, its tail encircling the shell again and periodically striking it.


    With its mouth gaping wide, having tasted the Star Spirit Fluff, Wang Jiao had clearly developed a craving for it.


    Lin Shiming left the Cave Heaven World and arrived at Qinglian Lake.


    The lake had grown larger, and the lush green lotuses were thriving beautifully. At the center of the spirit lotuses, droplets of water glistened like pearls, exceptionally pretty and clear.


    Although not yet comparable to the Qinglian Pool, it¡¯s worth noting that the Qinglian Lake received occasional infusions of Spirit Water.


    This growth indicated that the cultivation of spirit fish and the symbiosis with the lotus leaves were very successful.


    However, the nearby fishery for the Blood Crocodiles rendered the water somewhat turbid.


    While these blood crocodiles lay in wait, they also enjoyed rolling in the mud by the shoreline from time to time.


    It was now the fishing season at Qinglian Lake, and cultivators from the clan were constantly fishing for Spirit Fish.


    At a distance, the capture of the spirit crocodiles was also underway, though unlike the Spirit Fish, these required the cultivators to put in some effort.


    Otherwise, the blood crocodiles, with their gaping mouths, might mistake the cultivators for a meal delivery!


    Unexpectedly to Lin Shiming, leading the capture of the spirit crocodiles was Lin Shilei, one of the three exceptional talents the Lin Family was currently fostering.


    At this moment, Lin Shilei was looking quite impressive,


    "Family Head!" Lin Shilei, seeing Lin Shiming approach, called out excitedly. Stay updated with novelhall.Co?m


    Apart from Lin Shilei, the other cultivators were also calling out non-stop, extremely excited.


    Among them were the Hou-generation cultivators who were senior in ranking to Lin Shiming, and the Ze-generation cultivators who were junior.


    Thanks to the Lin Family¡¯s policies on procreation, the number of Ze-generation cultivators was on the rise.


    Lin Shiming responded to each one, greeting the elders in a soft voice, while giving nods of acknowledgment to the juniors.


    Finally, his gaze fell upon Lin Shilei.


    "Shilei, are you here to redeem the blood crocodiles? Lin Shiming inquired, somewhat surprised. With Lin Shilei¡¯s status as one of the three prodigies, he naturally did not need to capture blood crocodiles to earn Contribution Points for the family.

 Chapter 351 - 292: Clan Schooling and Scattered Spirit Mulberry Fruit (Combined)_2

    Yet he was not a body cultivator, which surprised him a bit.


    "Family Head, I exchanged it for my grandfather. His health has been deteriorating over the past few years..." The more Lin Shilei spoke, the more disheartened he became.


    His gaze also became dim.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming also felt a jolt, as he suddenly remembered the once Great Elder of the Lin Family, Lin Yuqing, who was now over one hundred and ten years old.


    Although he was a body cultivator and possessed vitality beyond ordinary people, this also meant he had suffered numerous internal injuries.


    Now, judging by Lin Shilei¡¯s expression, it seemed that Lin Yuqing was likely beginning to dissipate his spirit energy.


    "Shilei, where is Great Grandfather now?"


    "He¡¯s at the family¡¯s Preaching Hall!" Lin Shilei replied.


    Lin Shiming nodded and spoke a few words to the deacon in charge of Qinglian Lake, then he used his storage bag to fill it with a large amount of the lake¡¯s water.


    He planned to create a small pond in his Cave Heaven World and plant some Green Lotus to breed Spirit Fish and place Star Spirit Clams.


    The muddy swamp of Wang Jiao was still only suitable for it.


    After storing the Spirit Water, Lin Shiming followed Lin Shilei toward the Preaching Hall.


    The Preaching Hall was located at the entrance of Fangmu Mountain. If cultivating to immortality was like climbing a series of steep mountains, then beginning to preach was like commencing the ascent.


    At the foot of the mountain was a sprawling complex of pavilions.


    Ever since the Lin Family reformed and established its own Preaching Hall, it divided the hall into three sections: Innate Tower, Qi Cultivation Tower, and Clan Academy.


    The Innate Tower is where the cultivators of the Lin Family teach those who have just awakened their Spirit Roots or are Innate cultivators.


    Here, they teach these young children with Spirit Roots some basic cultivation techniques and also provide complete guidance and follow-up on their cultivation process.


    Most of the guides are cultivators from later generations who are older, with no hope of furthering their cultivation. They strive for Contribution Points to support their descendants¡¯ cultivation.


    However, their experience is substantial, and they have their own insights into certain techniques.


    Nothing can go wrong with the issue of cultivation, even a minor problem in the meridians of an Innate Cultivator can completely ruin their path to immortality.


    The Qi Cultivation Tower is prepared for those who are just entering Qi Cultivation. It explains some basic Five Elements Spells, and also discusses matters relating to alchemy and artifact refining.


    Furthermore, every Qi Cultivation Ninth Level Elder and Foundation Establishment Stage Elder of the Lin Family must come to preach every so often.


    Therefore, to the Lin Family¡¯s Preaching Hall¡¯s Qi Cultivation Tower, it¡¯s a place where many mid-stage Qi Cultivators often come to listen in.


    At this thought, Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but touch his nose, knowing that as the Family Head and the founder of the Preaching Hall, he had never come to lecture even once.


    Of course, this was also related to the situation facing the Lin Family, as he had to focus all his efforts on cultivation.


    Even now.@@@@


    As for the Clan Academy, its purpose is more straightforward: to explain the rise and fall of the Lin Family, to foster a sense of family identity, and to instill the grand ambition of cultivation.


    "Family Head, this way." Lin Shilei led Lin Shiming to the Clan Academy.


    When the clan teachings concluded, the youths left one by one.


    Inside the large academy building, only the three of them, including Lin Shiming, remained.


    "Great-grandfather, you really should practice more of the Spirit Art!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    "Family Head, there is no need for this old man to practice the Spirit Art, and besides, the clan teachings are extremely important too. Is there anyone more suitable than me to teach them in the Lin Family?"


    Lin Yuqing said with a touch of pride.


    Indeed, there was no one in the Lin Family more qualified than him.


    "Great-grandfather, how can you be less decisive than Second Great-uncle!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    With that remark, Lin Yuqing also fell silent.


    He knew what Lin Shiming meant.


    Lin Yuqi had died in a forced breakthrough attempt at the Foundation Establishment, in pursuit of the path.


    He indeed lacked such fortitude.


    Before dispersing his spirit, he thought of Lin Shilei; after, he could only contribute to the family¡¯s clan teachings.


    "Shiming, please pardon your great-grandfather for not calling you Family Head this time and forgive me for not complying. I understand you, you¡¯re just trying to provoke me, but even Yu Tie wouldn¡¯t waste a Dragon Blood Pill, so how could I?"


    "Great-grandfather, are you implying you¡¯re one of those who prioritize private interest under the guise of public good?"


    Discover hidden tales at novelhall.Co?m


    Lin Yuqing fell silent for a long time, then spoke.


    The greatest wish of a cultivator is, of course, to explore places they have never seen.


    And Foundation Establishment had been the dream that Lin Yuqing yearned for over a hundred years, even if that dream was shattered after he reached the age of sixty.


    But, as he looked at the mountains and clouds during his cultivation breaks, the thought would still surface; he too wanted to try a forceful breakthrough.


    To see for himself what it was like to reach the stage that promised a lifespan of two hundred fifty years.


    He would even recall Lin Yuqi¡¯s bold declaration before his departure!


    Sometimes after dispersing his spirit, he would dream he was standing in the pavilion, shouting the same words.


    Foundation Establishment, nothing more!


    But he couldn¡¯t!


    He couldn¡¯t waste the Dragon Blood Pill, one such pill, together with a Foundation Establishment Pill, might bring about a Foundation Establishment cultivator proficient in all four aspects of cultivation for the later generations of the family, perhaps for someone like the son of Lin Yutie!


    And in the state of a dispersing spirit, he couldn¡¯t even overcome the first barrier to Foundation Establishment.


    "Great-grandfather, you worry too much. The Dragon Blood Pill isn¡¯t of much use to you now, but Shiming thinks you are not a person of indecision!"


    "And Shiming happens to have a mulberry fruit that prevents the dispersion of one¡¯s spirit. This fruit is meant for those unable to leave a last message to their descendants in their final moments!"


    "If great-grandfather is not afraid and wishes to try, Shiming can offer this Second Rank Spirit Fruit!" Lin Shiming said.

 Chapter 356 - 294: Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, Grand Wedding (Two in One)

    Lin Shiming put down the ancient scroll, his eyes brimming with surprise and delight.


    The magical treasure known as the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda wasn¡¯t difficult to refine.


    Stay tuned for updates on novelhall.Co?m


    But its power was extraordinarily great!


    Not only did it integrate suppression, soul refining, and offensive capabilities in one.


    It could even extract memories from some residual souls.@@@@


    Even if they were obliterated completely, even if there were Family Jade Books.


    The only two drawbacks were that cultivators with too weak a Divine Soul could not extract anything.


    Just like cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Stage might die without leaving behind the slightest Divine Soul; also, it could only extract memories from the Divine Soul at random.


    It wasn¡¯t as direct as breaking the Blood Devil Ban, but Lin Shiming was more eager to use this Soul-Suppressing Pagoda as opposed to the Blood Devil Ban, which required the blood of countless mortals.


    Moreover, this Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, like his Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation, was part of a set of magical treasures; controlling ten Soul-Suppressing Pagodas compared to just one, the difference was at least a hundredfold.


    And if he could control a hundred Soul-Suppressing Pagodas at once, they could contend with even a Fifth Rank magical treasure.


    Of course, this magical treasure also had substantial requirements for a cultivator¡¯s True Yuan, and the materials were not easy to find.


    The main material for this Soul-Suppressing Pagoda was Soul-Suppressing Stone, followed by the soul formation on it, both incredibly precious.


    Fortunately, he was still in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and there was time to search for Soul-Suppressing Stones.


    Lin Shiming carefully stored the scroll, treasuring the magical treasure; with each page of the scroll collected, his anticipation for the magical treasure grew. And indeed, this scroll seemed more like an inheritance magical treasure.


    Perhaps once he had collected and refined all of it, it might just represent the inheritance of a beast-refining clan.


    However, until he obtained it, it remained a mere speculation.


    But the magical treasures for after his Purple Mansion had been decided¡ª the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda must be a treasure requiring careful cultivation; next would be the Taiyi Grass Sword seeds as his Sword Dao magical treasure.


    Lin Shiming took out a green seed.


    Fangmu Mountain was bustling like never before.


    Most of the Lin Family cultivators had returned to Fangmu Mountain to attend the Family Head¡¯s wedding and the clan meeting.


    Upon leaving his cave abode, Lin Shiyi was already waiting outside.


    "Family Head!" Lin Shiyi was clearly worried that Lin Shiming would be too engrossed in cultivation; as today¡¯s protagonist, Lin Shiming¡¯s presence was essential.


    "I¡¯ve kept Second Brother waiting!" Lin Shiming had already changed into his groom¡¯s attire, donning a red robe and a coronet on his head.


    This appearance elicited praise from Lin Shiyi.


    Accompanying Lin Shiyi to the Council Hall, the site of the ceremony.


    Ornate ribbons and bright red ¡¯happiness¡¯ characters were visible everywhere, and the faces of the Lin Family cultivators transformed from reverence and curiosity to congratulatory joy!


    All the cultivators were beaming with smiles.


    When the auspicious hour arrived, countless firecracker Spirit Talismans thundered into action.


    Lin Yuzheng, Lin Shiming¡¯s fifth great-uncle, announced the beginning of the ceremony.


    Lin Shiming left to fetch the bride; today¡¯s Lin Shitao was dressed in a phoenix robe and colorful boots, her red bridal veil embroidered with ¡¯happiness¡¯ characters shaking slightly over her delicate figure.


    Clearly, even as a cultivator, Lin Shitao was excited at this moment.


    Lin Shiming held Lin Shitao¡¯s hand, paid the formal respects, bowed to the elders, and drank the wedding cup.


    Under the blessings of all cultivators, they completed their grand wedding.


    All the Elders and the younger generation cultivators were filled with satisfaction.


    They were grateful to this young generation of the ¡¯Shi¡¯ lineage.


    It was he who led the Lin Family back to prosperity; the welfare of the family¡¯s cultivators and various policies had brought them considerable benefits.


    Previously concerned that Lin Shiming was too focused on cultivation, now he had finally given marriage its due importance.


    And he was marrying the most formidable Alchemist in the family.

 Chapter 357 - 294: Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, Grand Wedding (Two-In-One)_2

    After the ritual came the banquet.


    For this occasion, countless Spirit Fruits, Qing Spirit Wine, and various Spirit Fish delicacies were presented.


    All were products of the clan, which had been actively sold in recent years but many were still retained in the clan¡¯s Treasure Pavilion.


    In addition, Lin Shiming had transplanted numerous ordinary Spirit Plants and Spirit Fruit trees in the secret realm, resulting in a variety of Second Rank Spirit Fruits in abundance.


    Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lin Family, Lin Shiming went even further by presenting a dish of Third Rank Spirit Peaches.


    These Spirit Peaches were precisely obtained from the Star Spirit Clam¡ªit was their tree that is now planted in his Cave Heaven World.


    A round of toasting and feasting followed, leaving everyone satisfied and full.


    After the grand ceremony ended, the crowd did not disperse.


    Following the wedding, the clan assembly was to take place, and as the Family Head, Lin Shiming, no longer in groom¡¯s attire, led the clanspeople to the ancestral hall to pay homage to their ancestors.


    With the completion of the ancestral rites, the event came to an end.


    Everyone then gathered in the Council Hall.


    Due to space constraints, they eventually moved to the square outside the Council Hall.


    Many cultivators engaged in lively discussions.


    Looking out over the throngs of cultivators, Lin Shiming¡¯s heart swelled with joy¡ªsince his ascension as Family Head, the number of cultivators in the Lin Family had more than tripled!


    The Lin Family not only had numerous cultivation techniques to pass down but had also reached the Fourth Rank in alchemy heritage and Superior Grade Third Rank in both artifact refining and talisman training.


    There were now over ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, and more than twenty Qi Cultivators in the ninth level of Qi Refinement.


    Geniuses with Dual Spirit Roots and unusual Spirit Roots had also begun to emerge.


    A Lin Family like this could certainly be said to have a bright future ahead!


    But Lin Shiming understood that what they had to do now was not only to develop the family but also to stay out of the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s sight.


    The treasures they had acquired from the Qingxuan Sect would not stand up to the detailed questioning of an Inquiry Spirit Talisman.


    And time was of the essence.


    Once someone from Qingxuan Sect broke through to Nascent Soul¡ªand when the news of the Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation or Shen Ji True Person¡¯s breakthrough spread¡ªit might signal the Six Sects laying siege.


    As a vassal family to the Qingxuan Sect, the Lin Family would face problems standing with any faction without sufficient strength.


    So, for the Lin Family, securing their position in the Outer Sea was crucial.


    And dealing with the Purple Mansion Family was an imminent concern.


    Below the platform, the rest of the cultivators also looked toward Lin Shiming. Today was not the triennial clan assembly of the Lin Family; it was convened by Lin Shiming in his capacity as Family Head.@@@@


    Thus, they were curious about the meeting¡¯s agenda.


    "I am truly honored to have been chosen by all the clanspeople, allowing Shiming to become the Family Head of the Lin Family at the age of thirty!"


    "The prosperity of our family would not have been possible without everyone¡¯s efforts!"


    The strength of a family compared to a sect lies in its unity.


    If one only focused on cultivating prowess, the future of the family could very well descend into chaos!


    Indeed, having experienced poverty and struggles, the Lin Family¡¯s "hou" and "shi" generations had been wholeheartedly devoted to the family.


    But one must be vigilant in times of peace. The "ze" generation, who had not gone through such hardships, may not share this mindset.


    If the family wished to endure, it must not only prioritize cultivation but also education.


    The rapid development of the Lin Family had much to do with the Preaching Tower.


    But at the same time, the feeling of belonging and unity within the family also needed to be strengthened!


    Those family elders, having gone through much, could see the difference between the "ze" generation and other cultivators.


    For instance, Lin Zekong, from the "ze" generation of the Lin Family with a Dual Spirit Root, whether it was his behavior during the family contests or his persistent delusions over the years, showed the elders the lack of zeal for the family from the "ze" generation.


    Their growth, their experiences, had all been too smooth!


    With various elders, seniors, and division leaders nodding in agreement, the rest of the cultivators also began to nod.


    They also harbored expectations.


    How many cultivators could practice to the Foundation Establishment stage, and how many could reach the Purple Mansion realm?


    Qi Refinement Realm cultivators only lived for one hundred and twenty years. If they could make contributions lauded in the Preaching Tower, that would indeed be a legacy remembered for ages.


    Moreover, if the younger generation of cultivators saw this, they would be further motivated to strengthen themselves!


    Seeing the reactions of the other cultivators, Lin Shiming also nodded, and then, it was time for the third decision.


    "From today onwards, the family will vigorously support the Demon Hunting Hall, and all who can gain double salary in the clan contest may join the Demon Hunting Hall. Moreover, the Artifact Refining Hall will prioritize the provision of magic artifacts, and the Alchemy Pavilion will prioritize the provision of Spirit Pills!"


    This decision was naturally aimed at the major development of Shuangmu Island.


    To the family elders and Foundation Establishment cultivators, this was an obvious directive, but to the rest of the family cultivators, the existence of Shuangmu Island was completely unknown.


    The Lin Family could not possibly disclose the affairs of Shuangmu Island to all clansmen.


    The issue of keeping it secret would be very serious, but too few cultivators on Shuangmu Island would also impact the development of the island.


    Especially for those Lin Family cultivators with Quadruple and Quintuple Spirit Roots still yearning for longevity, he, Lin Shiming, also had to give them a chance. Stay updated with novelhall.Co?m


    Undoubtedly, Shuangmu Island was the best place that combined the ability to practice combat with the improvement of cultivation level.


    After Lin Shiming finished outlining the three points, it was time to decide who would take over the position of Family Head.


    Everyone turned their gaze to Lin Houyuan. As Lin Shiming¡¯s father and the former Family Head, he naturally was qualified.


    Originally, Lin Houyuan was to be cultivated as the family¡¯s highest combat force due to the scarcity of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but now that there were more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was improbable to choose a Qi Cultivator again.


    From another perspective, the direction of the family¡¯s highest combat power naturally lay with the younger cultivators like Lin Shiming, Lin Shijie, and Lin Houwei.


    Therefore, Lin Houyuan was definitely an excellent choice.


    Most importantly, Lin Houyuan was Lin Shiming¡¯s father!

 Chapter 366 - 298: Zekong鈥檚 Transformation, Zhang Family鈥檚 Probing (Two in One)

    Early in the autumn, Fangmu Mountain, with its towering peaks, felt especially chilled like water at night.


    In Lin Shitao¡¯s cave dwelling, Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao snuggled close to each other.


    The Moonlight Stones on the walls illuminated the modest cave, casting a bright yet gentle light.


    On the walls, one could vaguely discern various peach blossom paintings.


    There was also a small latticed window and a dressing table.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s face was slightly flushed, having drunk the Turtle Spirit Coconut indeed had an unusual effect, and subconsciously, he wrapped his arms around Lin Shitao upon arriving in the cave.


    Lin Shitao did not resist. After a symbolic struggle, she ceased to move, only burying her head very low, her breathing growing somewhat hurried.


    Even without seeing her charming face, one could imagine it was a swath of red.


    Lin Shitao¡¯s body trembled, with her snow-white neck, those pair of jade-like ears trembled most violently!


    Even as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she was still a young girl, especially when nestled in the arms of her beloved.


    Most importantly, she kept feeling a Spiritual Artifact pressed against her!


    Lin Shiming had not expected the alcohol to pack such a punch and could imagine what sort of Spiritual Objects had been added to this drink.


    The presence of a graceful, stunningly beautiful girl sitting in his embrace, looking sideways, he could see her dewy eyelashes quivering slightly, which stirred his mind even more, making it hard for him to maintain control.


    Even his hand couldn¡¯t help but move over Lin Shitao¡¯s body.


    A touch of exquisite sensation flooded his mind.


    "Mm..."


    Lin Shitao hummed unconsciously, and Lin Shiming also suddenly felt a surge of exhilaration.


    Around his neck, a Jade Ring Magic Artifact lit up with bursts of white light, making him more lucid.


    Seeing the skirt that was about to slip off, he immediately stopped himself.


    His path of Immortal Cultivation was still long and arduous.


    Lin Shiming had gathered the Tribulation Forging Divine Flowers and handed them to Lin Shitao. Stay connected via novelhall.Co?m


    He tasked her with trying to refine the Tribulation Forging Divine Pill and also gave her the Split Spirit Decision.


    He then made his way to the family¡¯s Martial Practice Hall, as today was the day he was supposed to lead the family cultivators to Qingyun market.


    Aside from Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu, who were participating in the competition at Qingyun, there was also the Lin Family¡¯s merchant caravan making the trip.


    By the time he arrived, everyone else was almost ready.


    Although Lin Shiming was no longer the Family Head, his current status was still higher than that of the Family Head.


    "Fifth Grandfather, Fifth Uncle, Cousin Thirty!" Lin Shiming greeted Lin Yuzheng as well as Lin Houyong as he hurried over to say hello.


    Lin Yuzheng still looked the same as before, but his eyes could not hide the fatigue and aging.


    Lin Yuzheng was also over a hundred years old.


    Behind him stood Lin Houyuan, the round and plump Cousin Thirty, who now appeared even more mature, his shrewd eyes flickering decisively; he was now responsible for the majority of the family¡¯s commercial dealings.


    Following behind the group, Lin Zekong could be seen among the crowd, his gaze somewhat evasive yet resolute, while Lin Zelu seemed curious and somewhat admiring when looking at Lin Shiming!


    "Seventh Uncle!" Despite their distinct actions, the two spoke in unison.


    Under Lin Shiming¡¯s watchful eye, Lin Zekong stepped forward and spoke:


    "Seventh Uncle, Zekong has thought things through. I will redouble my efforts from now on, and I voluntarily give up three times the salary, hoping for your approval, Seventh Uncle!"


    Lin Zekong¡¯s words were resolute, surprising Lin Shiming.


    "For this competition, Zekong also volunteers to fight, to contribute to the family, even if it means death in battle, with no regrets!"


    Lin Zekong¡¯s words finally led Lin Shiming to nod his head.


    The Lin Family did not lack geniuses, and there was no need for people who were arrogant to the point of potentially harming the entire family.


    This had been the reason for his previous dislike of Lin Zekong.


    Moreover, the Cultivation World had never been a place to seek excuses or fairness; indeed, it was not fair for a Qi Cultivation Fifth Rank to battle against a Sixth Rank, but bear in mind the likes of Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng started off with three times the family allowance, choosing Cultivation Techniques more freely, and receiving personal guidance from high-level family cultivators.

 Chapter 367 - 298: Zekong鈥檚 Transformation, Zhang Family鈥檚 Probing (Two in One)_2

    Fighting a Qi Cultivator of the sixth level, if one still needs to find excuses, such a cultivator is not worth the family¡¯s full effort to nurture.


    Such a cultivator lacks courage, how can they establish a foothold in the Cultivation World?


    "The resolution is fine, but what about strength?" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    Lin Zekong didn¡¯t waste words, with a wave of his hand he formed a gesture, and then pinched something from his Storage Bag, suddenly three beams of green light appeared, and in front of him, three Wooden Marionettes emerged.


    The enduring spiritual power of the Qing Mu Art, combined with his Dual Spirit Root possessing more refined spiritual power, allowed him to command three Wooden Marionettes at once for a time.


    Find exclusive stories on novelhall.Co?m


    The aura of these Wooden Marionettes was clearly not inferior to any Qi Cultivator in the latter stages, and with the addition of a blood crocodile and the release of many Wood Vine seeds, a common Qi Cultivator of the latter stages might indeed fall into Lin Zekong¡¯s field of attack.


    Moreover, Lin Zekong¡¯s cultivation technique was obviously no longer the Qing Mu Art.


    "Good!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    He was clearly surprised and pleased with Lin Zekong¡¯s control over the Wooden Marionettes.


    At the same time, the fact that the other had changed his technique and was forging his own path made him even more gratified.


    He hadn¡¯t forgotten that the former Lin Zekong, a Dual Spirit Root, had chosen the more conservative Qing Mu Art instead of better Wood Attribute Techniques, and mainly cultivated the Wood Vine Technique, foolishly copying his own cultivation journey.


    But it should be noted that when he first started cultivating the Qing Mu Art, it was only because the Lin Family¡¯s techniques were scarce, and there were few Wood Attribute techniques available, making it a choice of necessity.


    When Lin Zekong chose his technique, there were plenty of Wood Attribute Techniques in the Lin Family, including those of Inferior Grade of the Profound Rank and even those of Superior Grade of the Yellow Rank.


    One could say that his temperament and choices were very foolish.


    It even made him too lazy to explain!


    "Alright, permission granted, and if you win, your tripled salary will be restored as well!"


    "However, I still need to tell you that Foundation Establishment and a Dual Spirit Root are both gifts from the family and your parents, not your own pride and glory. What you need to do is strive to walk further on the path of immortality, become a Hermit, or even a True Person, protect your family, and make the family proud of you!"


    After Lin Shiming finished speaking, he also looked towards the other Ze-generation cultivators.


    Due to the family¡¯s cultivators growing too quickly and their rapid development, there were some issues with the Ze-generation cultivators, which was why he wanted to reform the Preaching Hall.


    To strengthen the family¡¯s cohesion and allow these juniors who were new to the Cultivation World to at least not die so easily.


    "Thank you, Uncle Seven, for your guidance!" All the Ze-generation family members nodded and expressed their gratitude.


    And elder family members like Lin Yuzheng and Lin Houyong were even more gratified.


    "Uncle Seven, Zelu also wishes to fight for the family!" At this time, Lin Zelu stepped forward from the side.


    In his hands was a set of Array Plates resting upon his palm.


    The appearance of the Array Plate also made Lin Shiming startle.


    "You¡¯re an Array Master?"


    Half a day later, the Spirit Boat landed outside Qingyun Market.


    Having endured the beast tide years ago, the entire market had a huge city wall constructed around it.


    This allowed Qingyun Market to not only recover its former prosperity but also reach a new level of liveliness.


    Lin Shiming occasionally saw Qi Cultivators going in and out of the city,


    before vanishing into the depths of the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    There were also cultivators checking identities on the city walls.


    However, Lin Shiming, piloting the Spirit Boat, continued at full speed, ignoring everything as he headed towards the shops controlled by the Lin Family inside the market.


    This action promptly caused the inspecting cultivators to release various Spirit Talismans.


    Once Lin Shiming entered the market, he saw three Foundation Establishment cultivators flying over from a distance.


    The leading cultivator had a square face and a fairly long beard, with extremely sharp eyes that gave off a terrifying pressure.


    The power of Foundation Establishment Late Stage was indisputably displayed, followed by two cultivators at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    Lin Yuzheng transmitted a message to Lin Shiming,


    "Shiming, that¡¯s Zhang Haogang, the main enforcer for the Zhang Family in Qingyun Market! A Foundation Establishment Late Stage body cultivator!"


    "Who goes there? Don¡¯t you know that flying is not allowed in Qingyun Market?" Zhang Haogang bellowed loudly.


    "Lin Shiming of the Lin Family here. Since when did such a rule exist in Qingyun Market that even the Lin Family is unaware of?" Lin Shiming replied coldly.


    The Zhang Family¡¯s move to hold the market division competition silently was a show of their stance.


    Not only was it domineering, but it was also a test!


    His intention for coming here was indeed to yield and let the Zhang Family take the lead in Yunzhou.


    But he could not appear too weak; retreating too willingly would be too obvious.


    Moreover, he was also representing the Zi Xuan Hermit.


    "Then go ask Yunling Hermit! Zhang is only responsible for law enforcement!" Zhang Haogang pulled out a pair of gauntlets, and with his blood essence surging like mountains, countless punches rushed towards Lin Shiming.


    Yunling Hermit was a Purple Mansion cultivator from the Zhang Family.


    With these words, there was obviously no room for negotiation.


    But regardless of whether there was room to negotiate, Lin Shiming did not believe that a Foundation Establishment Late Stage body cultivator could decide the outcome.


    In his hand, the Zilai Sword flew out, and a limitless sword intent of grass emerged, unleashing a Heaven-Slaying Sword technique.


    In an instant, a single sword cleft through mountains, dispersing countless Spirit Lights in all directions.


    Zhang Haogang¡¯s complexion drastically changed, as he hastily defended with a Yellow Dragon Bell, retreating incessantly.


    "Who gave you the audacity to probe the Lin Family, or is it the Heavenly Sword Peak you wish to test?"

 Chapter 368 - 299: Zhang Family鈥檚 Purpose, Trading Convention (Two-in-One for Subscriptions)

    In the Qingyun Marketplace, a cyan Spirit Shield suddenly rose, enveloping the entire marketplace within.


    Countless cultivators and loose practitioners couldn¡¯t help but look up when they saw Lin Shiming in confrontation, and the crowd was somewhat taken aback.


    In Yunzhou, Lin Shiming¡¯s name had become resoundingly prominent. After all, being both a sword cultivator and a wood cultivator, the addition of Vine Manipulation Technique to his swordsmanship, how could these cultivators not be wary!@@@@


    However, since the Profound Grade Secret Realm event, Lin Shiming had gone into secluded deathlike meditation. The fall of Lin Xianzhi caused the Lin Family¡¯s presence in Yunzhou to weaken considerably.


    Yet, the present confrontation with Zhang Haogang clearly seemed irrational.


    Especially upon seeing that Lin Shiming had not yet broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, it seemed even less advisable.


    But the outcome defied everyone¡¯s expectations.


    With just one sword strike, the yellow bell vibrated madly, emitting a deafening buzz, almost to the point of bursting.


    And this was with Zhang Haogang going all out, even using two Magic Artifacts.


    This scene truly shocked the surrounding cultivators; although sword cultivators were formidable, the body cultivators who struck preemptively were equally terrifying.


    When Lin Shiming stroke with his sword again, it was just like before¡ªa blade of Sword Qi in the shape of grass, shrouded around the Zilai Sword, bringing a terrifying pressure with it.


    Zhang Haogang immediately braced himself as if facing a formidable enemy, circulating his Body Refinement technique; brilliant Spirit Light concealed his surroundings, while his body charged at high speed.


    As a body cultivator, his strength was in speed, and he believed Lin Shiming would certainly fail to detect this dazzling Spirit Light.


    But one must realize that not only was Lin Shiming¡¯s True Yuan vast and refined, his Divine Sense was also at the peak of Foundation Establishment.


    Zhang Haogang¡¯s methods were simply too ordinary.


    Nor could his Heaven-Slaying Sword technique be evaded by mere speed.


    Another terrifying sword strike ensued, and the yellow bell instantly developed a web-like pattern of cracks. Then, large chunks of Spirit Light shattered, revealing the yellow spiritual bell¡¯s true form, rapidly losing Spiritual Energy, causing Zhang Haogang to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    Faced with Zhang Haogang, it was clear who was the more difficult opponent by far. One mention of a Qingxuan Sect disciple erased the embarrassment of the Zhang Family¡¯s loss of face, and by employing Spirit Might along with consuming four Foundation Establishment cultivators above, he exerted pressure on the entire Qingyun Marketplace.


    In a Yunzhou where Qingxuan Sect cultivators did not intervene, who else would dare to challenge the Zhang Family?


    "Daoist Zhang, are you also sending Lin to meet Yunling Hermit? However, I do want to see whether Yunzhou abides by the old rules of Qingxuan Sect or whether the Zhang Family¡¯s rules prevail," Lin Shiming said.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s fingers came together as he retracted the Zilai Sword, and his grizzled hair calmed down.


    Zhang Haogang kept his anger in check, recognizing that today there would be no further gains.


    But for him, as long as the Lin Family could regain attention and maintain their original shares, that was enough.


    What mattered most was how the Lin Family, using special recipes for Spiritual Cuisine and Spiritual Wine and the Golden Iron Stone vein, silently harvested Spirit Stones from loose cultivators.


    And this display would surely reclaim much of the authority that the Lin Family had lost over five years of keeping a low profile.


    "Of course not, it was my oversight. I hope Daoist Lin will come down for tea and a long chat. I will certainly apologize, and the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s deacons will also be there!" Zhang Haoling continued.


    "When the time comes, there will also be a big trade event!" said Zhang Haoling.


    His tone had become more polite.


    Your adventure continues at novelhall.Co?m


    Lin Shiming naturally would not refuse Zhang Haoling¡¯s kindness, knowing he was on a soft-touch mission for his team; he wouldn¡¯t move against the Zhang Family until the Lin Family had a cultivator at the Purple Mansion level.


    The difference between having a Purple Mansion cultivator and not was considerable, and the Zhang Family was, after all, an established Purple Mansion Family.


    But once the Lin Family had Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi successively reach Purple Mansion, he would not hesitate to strike against the Zhang Family.


    The group descended amiably into the Qingyun Marketplace, chatting and laughing, displaying the easy adaptability and broad-mindedness of immortal cultivators!


    The rest of the Lin Family naturally returned to their own shops, while Lin Shiming took Lin Shiyi along to follow Zhang Haoling and Zhang Haogang to Qingyun Marketplace¡¯s Qingyun auction house.


    This auction house was formerly under the control of the Li Family, and hadn¡¯t opened in nearly twenty years after the Li Family¡¯s troubles, while the Lin Family and the Qian Family, planning for the Secret Realm, had also been exceptionally low-profile, all the while making preparations.

 Chapter 369 - 299: Zhang Family鈥檚 Purpose, Trading Convention (Two-in-One for Subscriptions)_2

    Now, it appeared that the Zhang Family was reorganizing.


    The second floor of the auction venue was a private hall, also the place for a small meeting of Foundation Establishment cultivators from Yunzhou.


    What Lin Shiming hadn¡¯t expected was that the room was already nearly full, packed with three to four dozen people.


    The absolute majority of Foundation Establishment cultivators from Yunzhou had arrived, and besides them, there were quite a few Qi Cultivation peak cultivators, though these individuals were seated on the outskirts, their hearts pounding with trepidation.


    Clearly, the meeting for the redivision of the market had already begun.


    "Daoist Lin, let me introduce you to Daoist Qian of the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s Shen Ji Peak!"


    "He is also a major organizer on our side of Yunzhou!"@@@@


    "I¡¯ve met Organizer Qian!" Lin Shiming felt a hint of surprise upon hearing the surname Qian; the original organizer had been from the Heavenly Sword Peak, but it now seemed that after the incident with the Qian Family, the Qingxuan Sect had called back their delegate from Heavenly Sword Peak.


    Even though there were waves of emotion inside him, he showed no change outwardly.


    Loose Cultivators must compete for Spirit Stones too, and Xie An mentioned the opportunity to bid twice because he also wished to continue cooperating with the Lin Family. Your next chapter awaits on novelhall.Co?m


    The Monkey Wine and market shop earnings of the Lin Family could also be of help to him, and in the future, he might even take a few nominal disciples within the Lin Family.


    However, the news of Xie An¡¯s breakthrough to Purple Mansion hadn¡¯t surfaced yet, so he couldn¡¯t visit for now.


    This Organizer Qian merely nodded and didn¡¯t say much.


    The interests of the Qingxuan Sect had always been the foremost layer of shops in the market, which they had in their hands, along with collecting some tribute from the market. To them, the ownership of other shops didn¡¯t matter much.


    Zhang Haoling also started to elaborate under the indication from the other party:


    "Fellow Daoists of Yunzhou, presumably you all are already aware of the reason why I have convened this meeting."


    "Here, I will say it again, and you all are welcome to give your input!"


    Zhang Haoling first looked around to see if there was any dissent and then began to speak.


    "Everyone knows that with the Li Family¡¯s defection and the Qian Family incident, many shops in the Qingyun market have closed down, causing a trend of loss among Loose Cultivators. Therefore, we must reassign the shops and shuffle them toward capable families!"


    "That¡¯s one point!"


    Zhang Haoling paused here, and everyone seemed startled, including Lin Shiming, who was surprised.


    According to what Zhang Haoling said, the Zhang Family had other plans as well.


    "Secondly, more than a decade ago, during the monster horde invasion, though repelled by the great True Persons of the Qingjian Sect, many areas were occupied by Spirit Beasts that did not retreat from the Qingyun Mountain range.


    These included Third Rank beasts and even Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons, severely hindering Loose Cultivators from entering Qingyun Mountain to hunt Demonic Beasts, which also limited the development of the Qingyun market."


    "The Zhang Family, led by me, is willing to take the lead in doing this deed, which will be a present benefit and a legacy for future generations!"


    "Daoist Lin is most righteous, Zhang admires you!" Zhang Haoling bowed his hands in salute.


    The Great Elder from the Chen Family, who was at the later stage of Foundation Establishment, also nodded in agreement.


    Most of the stalls in the market were owned by the Lin Family and the Chen Family. Having benefited from the market¡¯s gains, they would not pull out.


    Their Chen Family also considered themselves to have quite a number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    As the Lin Family and the Chen Family confirmed, several cultivator families with middle-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators also nodded their heads in succession.


    The remaining cultivators had no choice but to agree.


    Though it was voluntary, to contradict Zhang Haoling meant losing face, and without the strength of middle-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, any cultivator the Zhang Family sent out could trip them up with any small excuse.


    As for Qi Cultivation Family Cultivators, it was almost a formality for them to agree as well.


    "Since everyone agrees, I also hope that in this grand undertaking of Qingyun, you all can make a name for yourselves for all eternity!"


    Zhang Haoling, with his spirited speech, captivated the others who nodded and praised him. As for what they really thought, Lin Shiming was not certain.


    However, he was somewhat interested in the real purpose of the Zhang Family.


    "Well, everyone, now that we¡¯ve come to an agreement, the grand competition will be set for seven days from now. Since we are all here by fate and gatherings are incredibly rare, why not hold a Foundation Establishment meeting and have an exchange of goods?" Zhang Haoling spoke.


    This proposal was met with agreement from the cultivators.


    The cultivators of Yunzhou, being near the Qingyun Mountain Range, clenched plenty of materials.


    Moreover, the Zhang Family was an Artifact Refining family, and Yunling Hermit, with his art of refining, was extraordinary even within the entire Zhao Kingdom.


    Sure enough, Zhang Haoling took out a series of magic artifacts.


    One after another, all three of the artifacts were exceptional.


    "Gentlemen, Zhang throws out a brick to attract jade. This time, two Superior Grade magic artifacts, one Supreme Grade magic artifact!"


    "The Supreme Grade magic artifact is the Mountain River Seal. When expanded to its largest, it can compare to mountains and suppress all Demonic Beasts, and it doesn¡¯t require much True Yuan. It¡¯s only for exchange with equally valuable spiritual medicines or precious spiritual materials that are a thousand years old or older!"


    "And these two other artifacts are the Heavenly Fire Tongs and the Profound Gold Spear, also in exchange for spiritual medicine and precious treasures!"


    With these words, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present began to grow eager.


    For most mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Superior Grade artifacts were already their limit, and Supreme Grade artifacts were strenuous to wield.


    But for everyone, if they could obtain higher-grade artifacts, the better it would be.


    Lin Shiming, on the other hand, was quite indifferent; he had numerous Supreme Grade artifacts in his possession, already discarding Superior Grade artifacts to other cultivators in his family, let alone these Superior Grade artifacts.


    Perhaps only a Supreme Grade defensive artifact would catch his eye.


    However, just then, the prompt from his system appeared once again!

 Chapter 370 - 300: Meteorite Iron, Swallowing Spirit Ant Opportunity (Two in One)

    "Please take out treasures of enough value to exchange for the Meteorite Iron, which can help the Swallowing Ants break through!"


    The brief system prompt made Lin Shiming unable to contain his excitement.


    You must know, his Swallowing Ants had not only consumed the Windfire Stardust but also many pieces of Spirit Milk Stone, yet they were still at the peak of the Second Rank, which really worried him.


    Seeing that Meteorite Iron had appeared at this trade conference, he was naturally astonished.


    If the Swallowing Ants could break through, then this trip to the Qingyun market would already be the greatest harvest.


    Second Rank peak Swallowing Ants already have a great advantage when facing some Spirit Formations, and if they evolved into Third Rank Swallowing Ants, ordinary restrictive formations would be devoured in the blink of an eye.


    Even later, there would be a certain chance to break through Fourth Rank Formations.


    However, looking around, he didn¡¯t know whose hands the Meteorite Iron was in, nor whether it was of sufficient size.


    And what exactly should he use to trade for it.


    The biggest variable in bartering is that, clearly, some Cultivators have the item, but they simply do not want to come forth to trade, nor will they really tell you everything they possess.


    Your treasures may not necessarily appeal to their tastes, or they may need it for themselves, so you can¡¯t get it anyway.


    You must know, the material such as Meteorite Iron is used in forging Magic Artifacts, definitely starting from Supreme Grade artifacts, and even enabling some Fourth Rank Artifact Refiners to create Magical Treasures.


    Such material made Lin Shiming hesitate.


    And trying to discern who had the Meteorite Iron based on the expressions of these Cultivators was too difficult, after all, none of the leading Family Heads from various families were novices.


    And the system prompt was, after all, too vague.


    As Lin Shiming hesitated, Zhang Haoling traded all three Magic Artifacts in one go, with a Supreme Grade artifact exchanged by a Foundation Establishment Later Stage practitioner from the Chen Family, and the remaining two Superior Grade artifacts were traded to two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators.


    The Chen Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator also took out three treasures.


    And the price of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk was extremely high.


    Even Zhang Haoling of the Zhang Family was interested.


    When the second Jade Box was opened, it revealed a Pill Furnace. This Pill Furnace had a scent of antiquity, was brimming with Spiritual Energy, its Spirit Light was dazzling, and upon being slightly activated, a scorching Spiritual Flame was produced.


    A few Alchemists in the room watched with covetous eyes that were hard to conceal.


    It was a Third Rank Superior Grade Pill Furnace, one that Lin Shiming had obtained from the Purple Mansion Cave Mansion, second only to the one owned by Lin Shitao.


    Such an Alchemy Furnace had enormous significance for a Foundation Establishment family, and could even improve the alchemy level of a family at times.


    This item, compared to Hundred-Year Spirit Milk, was in no way inferior!


    In fact, in the long run, an Alchemy Furnace would be better.


    Lin Shiming did not stop there, opening the third Jade Box.


    Inside the Jade Box was a miniature Black Tower. The Black Tower looked ordinary and seemed like a common Magic Artifact, but everyone understood that Lin Shiming took out this treasure, and placed it last, it had to be the most precious!


    As Lin Shiming stimulated True Yuan into it, countless Spirit Lights emerged. Read new adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    This Black Tower was actually Xiao Chen¡¯s treasure, a Supreme Grade artifact that combined attack, suppression, defense, and Spell storage in one. Even among Supreme Grade artifacts, it was considered a choice piece.


    This artifact wasn¡¯t made from ordinary iron, clearly hinting at exceptional materials.


    And Lin Shiming actually took out such an artifact, which astonished the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present.


    Even the Zhang Family, at this moment, greatly coveted the Black Tower.


    Especially Zhang Haogang, for whom such a Black Tower, coupled with his Body Cultivation strength, could be used to its fullest extent.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also felt a bit helpless, as he originally had no intention of taking out the Black Tower despite it being the least noticeable among his Supreme Grade artifacts and, to him, an expendable item!


    After all, he had the Rolling Divine Plate, Heavenly Demon Nether Needle, Corpse-Binding Belt, Zilai Sword, Laiyun Sword, and Star Wood Shield.

 Chapter 371 - 300: Meteorite Iron, Swallowing Spirit Ant Opportunity (Two in One)_2

    But it still caused a tremor, considering that he was only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Yet he took out a supreme grade magic artifact, it must be known, even the Zhang Family¡¯s supreme grade magic artifacts were definitely few, after all, the Zhang Family had a vast business and more Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    And such material for a magic artifact was not so easy to find either.


    Now, these scenes filled with calculating and greedy eyes were unmistakably revealed.


    It was exactly as he had speculated in his heart!


    Still, Lin Shiming took a deep breath and spoke:


    "These three treasures, I will only exchange for spirit medicine or secret techniques of the same level that can break through the bottleneck to the late stage of Foundation Establishment!"


    As soon as Lin Shiming spoke these words, the other cultivators immediately understood why Lin Shiming had brought them out.


    It was probably Lin Xianzhi¡¯s legacy.


    And forcefully staying in seclusion without a breakthrough, now he had no choice but to come out and try to find a way to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.


    While the other cultivators were having these thoughts, Lin Shiming¡¯s eyes grew dimmer.


    Elixirs that could break through the bottleneck to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, although worth about as much as Lin Shiming¡¯s treasures, in this world, cultivation level was ultimately supreme, and one¡¯s own cultivation level was the true path.


    Otherwise, Foundation Establishment Pills and Purple Mansion Jade Liquid wouldn¡¯t sell at exorbitant prices.


    And the elixirs that could break through to late-stage Foundation Establishment, the crowd was not willing to part with, of course, it was also possible they did not have any!


    As the bidding went around with no one speaking up, quite a few cultivators privately sent voice transmissions to Lin Shiming with other treasures.


    But just like stones sinking into the ocean, there was not a single response.


    And Lin Shiming¡¯s face grew increasingly unpleasant until, at last, a sigh was heard:


    "Then I will exchange for lifespan extension elixirs!"


    Once lifespan extension elixirs were mentioned, the other cultivators shook their heads again.


    But in their minds, a piece of information formed, especially for the Zhang Family, looking again at Lin Shiming¡¯s graying hair.


    A nominal disciple of the Qingxuan Sect was not so easy to be.


    The meaning expressed in this was somewhat obvious now.


    "I will also accept Soul-Suppressing Stone or Meteorite Iron in exchange!"


    Having said that, Lin Shiming sat down on a chair, a look of disappointment on his face.


    To the others, this scene just seemed like the Lin Family might have reached its end. Continue reading stories on novelhall.Co?m


    Lin Shiming¡¯s potential was exhausted, only his strength as a sword cultivator was keeping him going, and once Lin Shiming¡¯s lifespan ran out, other families would be able to surpass the Lin Family. In their view, the younger generation of the Lin Family was not to be feared, bringing along two cultivators who were only at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation.


    Once Lin Shiming had finished his actions and saw there were no issues, he was also able to let go of his worries.


    If he still couldn¡¯t exchange for Meteorite Iron, he would have had no choice but to shake his head.


    But the next moment, Zhang Haoling stepped forward.


    "What a coincidence, Daoist Lin, I happen to have Meteorite Iron!" Zhang Haoling said as he flipped his hand.


    He couldn¡¯t help but smile goofily, showing impatience as well.


    However, once everyone left the hall, they all began to frown again.


    It was an expedition unsupported by the Qingxuan Sect and fraught with immense danger.


    They were unaware of why the Chen Family and the Lin Family had agreed so quickly to participate, given that both families had backers within the Qingxuan Sect.


    In midst of the confusion, Lin Shiming took Lin Shiyi back to the Lin Family¡¯s Pill Pavilion.


    Lin Yuzheng and others were waiting, and upon seeing Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi return safely, they relaxed and each went about their own business.


    The family had brought many Second Rank Spirit Pills and even Third Rank Spirit Pills this time, which were bound to be bestsellers in the Pill Pavilion.


    It was only due to the shortage of Third Rank Alchemists that the Lin Family had to space out the sales of Third Rank Spirit Pills every few months, or even half a year at a time.


    Lin Shiming, of course, was unaware of Lin Yuzheng¡¯s thoughts and went straight back to his room.


    After setting up the Soundproofing Formation and Spirit Isolation Formation, he entered the Cave Heaven World.


    Underneath a small hill here, an ant nest had been developed, where eighty-one Devouring Ants rested, each bearing fierce fangs, gnawing on the sparse Spirit Milk Stones and Golden Iron Crystals.


    The Golden Iron Crystals were produced in the family¡¯s Stone Ridge Cave, and Lin Shiming had taken quite a few from the family¡¯s treasury.


    These Devouring Ants, sensing Lin Shiming¡¯s presence, buzzed their wings speckled with starry patterns and flew to surround him, some landing on his shoulder and others directly onto his palm.


    In the next moment, as Lin Shiming brought out Meteorite Iron, the swarm of Devouring Ants began to nibble it like a delicious treat, similar to how they ate the Spirit Milk Stones.


    Yet the consumption was slow, and along with the nibbling, beams of starlight appeared across the bodies of the Devouring Ants, while at a distance, the Star Spirit Clam floated above the Spirit Pond.


    Now that Wang Jiao had ceased to trouble it, it finally dared to open its shell, exposing its tentacles.


    In this moment, it also turned its attention toward the Meteorite Iron and the Devouring Ants.


    Starlight appeared on the clam¡¯s shell as well.


    Lin Shiming did not expect the Meteorite Iron to have such a good effect on the Star Spirit Clam.


    However, as the eighty-one Devouring Ants began their feast, the Meteorite Iron visibly started to shrink.


    After half an hour, the Meteorite Iron completely disappeared, and with a wave of contentment passing through his Divine Sense, all the Devouring Ants burrowed into the ground.


    In the blink of an eye, they vanished from sight.


    When Lin Shiming extended his Divine Sense below, he found that the Devouring Ants underground had started to eat each other again.


    Lin Shiming did not intervene; it seemed that the ants¡¯ reproduction and evolution required the nourishment of their own kind.


    Or perhaps the power in their bloodlines was inadequate.


    In the end, only nine remained, reducing the number of Devouring Ants by ninefold.


    These nine ants began to form cocoons, and by the time they awakened next, they might have evolved into Third Rank Devouring Ants.


    It made Lin Shiming look forward to it.


    Having dealt with the Devouring Ants, Lin Shiming found the Tree Spirit of the Mingxin Tea Tree now looking at the Minor Divine Ability Tree.


    Just like how it had previously looked at the Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    This brought Lin Shiming joy, wondering if the Tree Spirit was about to evolve again?

 Chapter 373 - 301: Suggestions, Yunling Hermit (Three-in-one for Subscription and Monthly Tickets)_2

    This could be called killing two birds with one stone.


    Moreover, specifically in artifact refining, many cultivators have different needs for magic artifacts due to different cultivation techniques and combat habits.


    However, general merchant shops that accept custom-made magic artifacts usually start with superior-grade artifacts.


    Intermediate-grade artifacts and inferior-grade artifacts are completely unnecessary for artifact refiners to customize.


    And because artifact refiners themselves need to cultivate, they are subject to quite a few limitations.


    Now with the robust development of the Lin Family, the four arts of cultivation are also greatly supported, so it is entirely possible to do so.


    What troubled Lin Houyuan was that the Lin Family didn¡¯t have enough shops to accommodate the family¡¯s alchemists and artifact refiners for alchemy and artifact refining.


    But the next moment, upon seeing the corners of Lin Shiming¡¯s mouth lift, Lin Houyuan¡¯s worries disappeared.


    They had come this time precisely to divide the shops.


    Giving up a twenty percent share of the strength of the Lin Family in the shops is not a problem at all, with over a hundred shops in the Qingyun market area, twenty percent would make twenty, and vacating a few of them was no problem.


    After discussing the details with Lin Houyuan once more, Lin Shiming also left and went to the Lin Family Restaurant.


    On the second floor of the Lin Family Restaurant, Lin Yuzheng and Lin Shiyi were also there.


    When Lin Yuzheng saw Lin Shiming coming in, both of them stood up with a somewhat serious demeanor.


    Lin Shiyi even opened his mouth to say,


    "Shiming, I went to investigate and sure enough, the Zhang Family had people explore Red Lion Ridge three months ago. If I am not wrong, there must be either an intermediate-grade Spirit Stone mine or a precious third-rank spirit iron mine there!"


    Lin Shiyi asserted confidently.


    With the Lin Family owning the Golden Iron Stone veins of Stone Ridge Cave, their understanding of mine veins was considerable, and they also cultivated quite a few Gold Devouring Rats, a type of spiritual rat. Sending one or two of these spirit rats to investigate was not too difficult!


    And this also aligned more with the interests of the Zhang Family.


    By using the cultivators of Yunzhou to conquer Red Lion Ridge, they not only demonstrated the Zhang Family¡¯s boldness to the Qingxuan Sect but also plotted to seize the spirit vein and a host of resources, and finally, the mine vein itself!


    Lin Shiming did not disturb them.


    Time passed quickly, and seven days later, outside the Qingyun market area, the Zhang Family had cleared dozens of martial contest stages.


    These platforms varied in size, and the numbers they bore also differed.


    A quick glance revealed the largest number to be thirty, followed by numbers twenty and fifteen, with the rest being three number ten stages, as well as twenty stages bearing the number one.


    All numbers added up to the exact count of shops in the Qingyun market area, one hundred and fifteen.


    But this arrangement made Lin Shiming somewhat thoughtful.


    It was obviously intended for him and the old ancestor of the Chen Family to decide a victor.


    Otherwise, there would be no appearance of the numbers twenty and fifteen.


    The subsequent rules were also as Lin Shiming expected. The number represented the amount of shops.


    And the rules were very simple, defend the stage.


    However, those stages marked with a one only allowed cultivators under thirty years of age.


    The other stages had no restrictions.


    But without foundation establishment cultivation, going up would merely be beating a retreat!


    And Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu were also raring to go; they had long wanted to show their prowess on the martial contest stage, especially after receiving guidance and help from Lin Shiming, they were brimming with confidence.


    Of course, they weren¡¯t completely carried away with excitement and continued to size up the young cultivators around them of a similar age.


    Analyzing opponents, they also plotted their strategies.


    This scene made Lin Shiming nod in approval.


    He became even more satisfied with the two of them.


    "Second Brother, you could also try the stage with the number ten!" Lin Shiming said to Lin Shiyi after watching Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu, turning towards him.


    Lin Shiyi, brimming with fighting spirit next to him, nodded. He had broken through to foundation establishment several years ago and was ready for a good challenge.

 Chapter 374: 301

    The greatest growth for a body cultivator comes from sparring, even hand-to-hand combat.


    How quickly Lin Shiming could improve was all thanks to the duels with the Red-haired Demon Monkey transformed into a giant ape.


    As the rising sun reached sufficient height, the area became crowded with Loose Cultivators, and the scene grew noisier.


    This martial arts competition didn¡¯t restrict Loose Cultivators from watching, and for those who were resting, watching others compete was also a way to improve themselves.@@@@


    Even this made Qingyun Square Market busier than usual.


    Cultivators were coming and going non-stop.


    Of course, aside from watching the arena matches, they also planned to secure a shop for themselves after family clans established their dominance.


    Among the Loose Cultivators were not only traders but also Artifact Refiners and Alchemists; owning a shop could unquestionably smooth out their path of immortal cultivation.


    This made Lin Shiming somewhat surprised, thinking that perhaps the Xing County Square Market could do the same in the future, offering some of the shops to Loose Cultivators.


    By organizing such competitions, they could also attract Loose Cultivators to join them and increase the renown of Xing County Square Market.


    However, for Lingnan County Square Market, the Lin Family had no desire for it to grow too much.


    While Lin Shiming was pondering, Zhang Haoling got the signal from the manager and flew up into the air.


    "Alright, the defense of the arena officially begins, each person can only defend one arena, attack one arena, everyone has two opportunities to challenge an arena..."


    With Zhang Haoling¡¯s announcement, the grand competition of the square market was unveiled.


    The manager, as the greatest witness, also found a spot and leisurely sat down.


    Watching as the cultivators went to defend or challenge the arenas!


    Lin Shiyi was the first to take up a position in a cross-shaped arena, while Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu also went to their respective arenas.


    The outcome was quickly determined.


    Apart from Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu, Lin Shiyi also went up to challenge again, this time succeeding, but soon after defending the arena, he was defeated again.


    Lin Shiming was considering whether to console him when he noticed that Lin Shiyi was extremely excited, with a silly grin beneath his weary eyes.


    For him, what mattered was not winning or losing, but what he could learn and how he could hone his skills in the fight.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming smiled, instructed Lin Shiyi to keep an eye on Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu, and then he headed towards an arena.


    It was the number twenty arena.


    The time was about right; he was ready to challenge.


    The defender of the number twenty arena was Chen Family¡¯s patriarch, Chen Xuankong, while the number thirty arena was defended by Zhang Haogang.


    It wasn¡¯t Zhang Haoling; of course, Lin Shiming wouldn¡¯t challenge Zhang Haogang¡¯s arena since winning would only lead to a match against Zhang Haoling.


    Seeing Lin Shiming approaching, Chen Xuankong¡¯s gaze grew unfriendly, and he communicated through a private message.


    "You junior, how could you be so unaware of your limits? You¡¯ve offended the Zhang Family before entering the square market, and now my Chen Family too. Even when Lin Xianzhi was alive, he would call me ¡¯brother¡¯."


    Chen Xuankong¡¯s message was clearly aggravated.


    At the small Foundation Establishment gathering, it was Lin Shiming who first agreed with Zhang Haoling¡¯s proposal, and now Lin Shiming, a middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was challenging him, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, for the number twenty arena.


    "Retreat now, out of respect for Lin Xianzhi, and I won¡¯t harm you. You have time to fight for the number fifteen arena!"


    "Chen Dao-friend, no offense!" Lin Shiming responded, his expression unchanged.


    The shop before them was equally important to the Lin Family, so naturally, he wouldn¡¯t back down.


    However, since Chen Xuankong knew his great-uncle and had even advised him, though harshly,


    Lin Shiming didn¡¯t mind ¡¯pouring water¡¯ at the critical moment.

 Chapter 375 - 301: Suggestions, Yunling Hermit (Three-in-one for Subscription and Monthly Tickets)_4

    Moreover, in a magical duel, he preferred to keep as low a profile as possible.


    "Please go ahead, Daoist Chen!" Lin Shiming gestured with his hand.


    Chen Xuankong¡¯s face indeed turned unsightly. With a flip of his hand, he took out a Dharma Seal, which instantly transformed into the size of a small mountain, smashing towards Lin Shiming.


    The Dharma Seal was clearly a Supreme Grade Magic Artifact, seemingly engraved with wind attribute Spirit Patterns, and its speed was astonishingly fast. In the blink of an eye, it hovered above Lin Shiming, turning into a thick earthen yellow Spirit Mountain, and with a thunderous crash, it bore down, emitting waves of terrifying sounds.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s Rolling Divine Plate immediately raised horizontally, blocking the Dharma Seal.


    At the same time, innumerable Poisonous Dragon Vines wildly danced on the arena, like poisonous dragons releasing a toxic mist, binding towards Chen Xuankong.


    Chen Xuankong didn¡¯t show any surprise; rather, as if he had anticipated this, three Spirit Swords appeared around him, unfolding an impenetrable curtain of swords. In addition to that, a Beast Banner also flapped wildly in the wind.


    Suddenly, a large amount of cold wind swept through, dispersing the toxic mist of the Poisonous Dragon Vines, preventing them from quickly reforming.


    The Beast Banner even manifested several Third Rank late-stage beast spirits, assaulting Lin Shiming.@@@@


    Not only that, but the Spirit Swords that had slashed through the Poisonous Dragon Vines shot out immediately, transforming into three rainbows of light, soaring towards Lin Shiming from behind.


    A hint of a smirk appeared on Chen Xuankong¡¯s lips, attacking a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator from three directions. Even if the cultivator was a genius, or had excellent Sword Dao, in his view, defeat was inevitable!


    However, when he looked again, Lin Shiming had already summoned the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation.


    A total of thirty-six Superior Grade Formation Swords converged into four small Sword Arrays.


    Following Chen Xuankong¡¯s defeat, Lin Shiming also took out an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone, swallowing it, along with a True Yuan restoring Spirit Pill.


    His complexion also turned slightly pale, as if the recent duel had drained a significant amount of True Yuan.


    "Hmm, Daoist Lin is truly formidable, I am incomparable," said Chen Xuankong, his face somewhat unsightly, remembering how he had earlier advised Lin Shiming to concede. He could no longer stay, and headed to the fifteenth arena.


    The defense of the arena ended without surprise, the Zhang Family secured a total of forty-two shops, from the thirtieth arena, the tenth arena, and two single arenas.


    The Lin Family gained twenty-two shops.


    The Chen Family, on the other hand, had eighteen shops, outdoing others in the realm of Qi Cultivation amongst the younger cultivators.


    As the struggle for the shops in the arena came to an end, the atmosphere within the Qingyun Market did not subside; in fact, it began to feel somewhat oppressive.


    And at that moment, in the void above Qingyun Market, an elder wearing Daoist robes appeared, stepping through the air.


    The elder did not seem to emit any True Yuan Spiritual Energy or any imposing aura.


    However, as soon as the elder appeared, Zhang Haoling bowed deeply in respect.


    Joining him in the salute were all the members of the Zhang Family.


    And immediately, the crowd understood the identity of the newcomer.


    Yunling Hermit!

 Chapter 376 - 302: Red Lion Ridge, Fiery Flame Griffon (Combined)

    At the Qingyun Market, the Yunling Hermit stood in the sky like a true immortal receiving the worship of all beings!


    His presence was like that of a celestial being, with his white robe fluttering about him and what seemed like an aura of spirit charm surrounding him.


    A powerful aura spread out, so majestically that it involuntarily made people lower their heads.


    "We welcome the Yunling Hermit, the cultivators from Yunzhou have all arrived. Please give your orders, Hermit!" Zhang Haoling greeted the Hermit with respect, pulling everyone back to reality.


    The other people also quickly began to bow slightly in greeting, having an audience with the Hermit.


    Lin Shiming was also among the crowd below. He had not expected the Yunling Hermit to arrive so quickly, or with such grandeur.


    This spiritual charm and aura completely impressed all the people of Yunzhou.


    However, for Lin Shiming, what was more important was to compare the aura of the Hermit with the newly ascended hermits of the Qingxuan Sect and to gauge the strength of the Yunling Hermit. That was his current priority.


    "Noble ones, I admire your courage. Since ancient times, the Eastern Domain has been the territory of the Human Race, and the area surrounding Red Lion Ridge is also a major city in Yunzhou, only it¡¯s been occupied by a Great Demon of Red Lion Ridge!"


    "Today, though Zhang is not talented, I am willing to lead you in eliminating the demon, and the spoils will be evenly divided according to our efforts!" the Yunling Hermit spoke with righteous conviction.


    Then, without waiting for everyone¡¯s response, he spoke again:


    "Everyone, rest for one day, and then we will set off. Speed is of the essence in war!"


    With that, the Yunling Hermit descended into the market, followed by the cultivators from the Zhang Family.


    Lin Shiming then returned to the second floor of the Lin Family Restaurant.


    There was no need for him to handle the remaining shop assignments and other affairs.


    This trip to Red Lion Ridge, he did not wish to bring many people, only Lin Shiyi, Lin Zelu, Lin Zekong, and Lin Houyuan.@@@@


    The fact that the Zhang Family¡¯s call to action was so urgent meant they didn¡¯t need more cultivators, but rather more capable ones.


    The rest were cultivators from various families of Yunzhou, each wearing their unique attire.


    Chen Xuankong was now much more polite towards Lin Shiming, treating him as an equal. Cultivators always respected strength.


    Yet when looking at Lin Shiming, his eyes would occasionally dart away, tinged with slight redness, as if he recalled the dismissive words he had uttered on the day of the great competition.


    "Daoist Chen, your Chen Family has brought many cultivators this time. If I fail to look after the juniors, I hope we can take care of each other!" Lin Shiming took the initiative to speak up, easing the awkwardness.


    The Lin Family needed to establish themselves in Yunzhou and stay concealed, so naturally, they couldn¡¯t offend either the Zhang or Chen Families, which was why he had been very supportive of Zhang Haoling previously!


    Chen Xuankong hurriedly nodded, repeatedly assuring that the Chen Family would move forward or retreat together with the Lin Family!


    Of course, Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t truly take those words to heart.


    Once aboard the Spirit Boat, Lin Shiming began to survey his surroundings. He noticed that this War Treasure Ship, like his, only had nine spirit storage slots.


    Next to him, Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu were curiously inspecting the War Treasure Ship, especially Lin Zelu who was examining its Spirit Patterns. Explore more stories with novelhall.Co?m


    But after only a short while, he felt extremely dizzy!


    Fourth Rank Spirit Patterns, how could he, a simple Qi Cultivator, grasp or explore them.


    "Uncle Seven, if only our Lin Family had a War Treasure Ship like this!" Lin Zekong sighed with envy.


    A ship capable of rivaling a Purple Mansion cultivator also caused the young boy to feel envious.


    Next to him, Lin Zelu also immediately agreed, even his eyes betraying a sharp gleam.


    Lin Shiming, however, did not respond, merely nodding his head.


    In front of everyone, he certainly couldn¡¯t say that their Lin Family truly had one!


    The War Treasure Ship was extremely fast. Although Red Lion Ridge was not close to Qingyun Market, in less than half a day, one could vaguely see a range of red mountains on the horizon.


    Red Lion Ridge was covered with Fire Maple Trees, always resembling a mountain ablaze with flames, especially at sunset when the hills of red maple would seem to ignite.

 Chapter 377 - 302: Red Lion Ridge, Fiery Flame Griffon (Combined)_2

    It is truly wondrous!


    As the War Treasure Ship approached, it also triggered the alertness of Red Lion Ridge; numerous Fire Cloud Birds flew out from the ridge, swooping towards the Spirit Boat first.


    Each of these Fire Cloud Birds was completely red, like blazing flames, with cultivation levels all above the Third Rank, ranging from the early to the late stages of Third Rank.


    There were more than twenty of them!


    Zhang Haoling from the Zhang Family was also among the first to appear at the head of the Spirit Boat.


    "Everyone, the Purple Mansion Great Demon will be faced by my uncle. The rest of these Fire Cloud Birds are the beasts we need to slay!" Zhang Haoling was the first to speak.


    Then he directly took out the Black Cloud Tower he had exchanged with Lin Shiming, and in his other hand, he held a Supreme Grade magical sword.


    He rushed out first, whereas Zhang Haogang stayed aboard the War Treasure Ship.@@@@


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also took a big step and followed Zhang Haoling in the charge.


    In the market allocation competition, he had already shown the strength of a late-stage Foundation Establishment practitioner. Now, he could no longer conceal his abilities as he used to.


    However, even displaying the strength of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment practitioner was only the tip of the iceberg of his actual power.


    The battle quickly turned into chaos as the Foundation Establishment cultivators faced off against the group of Fire Cloud Birds, while the Qi Refining cultivators attacked from aboard the War Treasure Ship, with a myriad of spells and magical artifacts raining down on the birds.


    As the Fire Cloud Birds rushed out, a number of fiery-red Fiery Flame Lions also surged from beneath Red Lion Ridge.


    They moved swiftly, pouncing directly at the cultivators.


    Among these Fiery Flame Lions, there were quite a few Third Rank beings.


    As a Purple Mansion Great Demon, it possessed significant Spirit Intelligence and even summoned demonic beasts to patrol its territory.


    In the outer regions, there were many Second Rank demonic beasts, which were all handed over to geniuses from various families and the cultivators of the Zhang Family.


    In front of Red Lion Ridge, Lin Shiming faced off against two Third Rank Fire Cloud Birds alone.


    With the Zilai Sword in one hand, the Laiyun Sword in the other, and the tendrils of the Purple Gold Vine, he caused the two Fire Cloud Birds to struggle and wail continuously.


    They unleashed their fiery powers to the extreme.


    But with their speed suppressed by the Purple Gold Vine, their attacks blocked by the Zilai and Laiyun Swords, and endless Sword Qi ravaging them, the two Fire Cloud Birds could only roar helplessly as their wounds multiplied.


    In his spare time, Lin Shiming noticed Zhang Haoling, whose abilities were clearly at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment. Zhang Haoling¡¯s sword techniques also contained Sword Intent, complemented by the grand opening and closing of the Black Cloud Tower, resulting in his slaying of three late Third Rank Fire Cloud Birds in a short time.


    Chen Xuankong, next to him, appeared to be struggling, facing off against two late-stage Third Rank Fire Cloud Birds and occasionally requiring assistance from Zhang Haoling.


    "Roar!" Amidst the extremely chaotic scene, a fiery red figure swept across the void from deep within Red Lion Ridge, heading straight for Zhang Haoling.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s body immediately leaned to the side.


    This red figure was the Purple Mansion Great Demon, the Fiery Flame Griffon!


    As it radiated flames, everyone felt engulfed by a sea of fire, the terrifying heat causing their clothes to spontaneously ignite.


    Only after applying countless Ice Spells and Water Spirit Covers could they finally recover.


    The arrival of Lin Shiming greatly relieved Zhang Haoling!


    The next moment, a fierce look shot from Zhang Haoling¡¯s eyes as he saw at least five Foundation Establishment cultivators take advantage of the fierce battle with the Purple Mansion to disappear from everyone¡¯s sight,


    The reason, he knew all too well.


    But right now, he had no choice but to face the two griffons.


    As for the late Third Rank Fire Cloud Lion, it was Lin Shiming¡¯s task to restrain it!


    Overall, the cultivators from Yunzhou were still gaining the upper hand on the battlefield.


    Yunling Hermit, worthy of being an Artifact Refiner, brought out another Magical Treasure!


    Single-handedly using five Magical Treasures, plus the War Treasure Ship, the early Fourth Rank Fiery Flame Griffon gradually began showing signs of falling apart.


    The intense firelight merged with the multicolored Spirit Light, resembling an erupting volcano, causing everyone to dare not approach.


    At this time, Zhang Haogang was also leading people to set up a Formation to prevent the Fiery Flame Griffon from escaping!


    Under Zhang Haoling¡¯s command, other Zhang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators and those from other clans also began to slowly take down the Fire Cloud Bird and Fire Cloud Lion.


    The conquest of Red Lion Ridge was going very smoothly.


    So smoothly that Lin Shiming was a bit worried.


    In previous attacks on Purple Mansion Great Demons, other Great Demons would usually come to assist.


    But this time, he hadn¡¯t seen any.


    Eventually, Zhang Haoling slaughtered one peak Third Rank griffon, while the remaining one was besieged to death by Lin Shiming, Chen Xuankong, and several other Foundation Establishment cultivators working together!


    Everyone turned their attention to where Yunling Hermit was, only to see that the formation surrounding him had been burnt through a huge hole.


    The Vajra Ring had already tied up one blood-soaked wing of the Fiery Flame Griffon.


    With the War Treasure Ship charging up, a Sword Array appeared the next moment, trapping the Fiery Flame Griffon to its demise.


    Yunling Hermit¡¯s Twin Swords also erupted with peerless Sword Intent.


    And with that, the Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demon was slain on the spot!


    With this, the cultivators from Yunzhou achieved a great victory!


    However, at the same time as the griffons were slaughtered, Yunling Hermit also showed three fresh red claw marks across his chest, and his aura had also dropped to an extreme low.


    The next moment, Yunling Hermit returned to the War Treasure Ship to begin his healing.


    "Fellow cultivators, follow me to clean up Red Lion Ridge!" Zhang Haoling also had a smile on his face, but along with the smile, murderous intent flickered.


    Several cultivators in Foundation Establishment had tried to sneak away to take treasures, and his Divine Sense had seen it all very clearly!


    A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators charged toward the depths of Red Lion Ridge with an imposing momentum, soon seeing a massive fire-red cave dwelling appear before everyone.


    A few early stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were just flying out of the cave dwelling under the leadership of a middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

 Chapter 378 - 203: The Real Harvest (Two-in-One, Subscription Requested)

    Before the cave abode, several Foundation Establishment cultivators bore injuries on their bodies, seemingly having engaged in battle.


    Their eyes also held a flicker of lingering fear and reluctance.


    However, upon emerging, they saw Zhang Haoling and the others shockingly close at hand, their hearts filled with extreme terror.


    They had been constantly monitoring the outside with their Divine Sense, but they never expected Zhang Haoling to conclude the battle so swiftly and without any warning.


    They wanted to offer explanations, but what greeted them was Zhang Haoling¡¯s Black Cloud Tower and Supreme Grade magical sword.@@@@


    The injured cultivators had not anticipated Zhang Haoling to be so resolute. Their explanations were still brewing in their throats when they were instantly overwhelmed by the Black Cloud Tower and the Supreme Grade magical sword!


    In the blink of an eye, several were slain before they could utter a word of explanation.


    "Zhang Daoist friend!" many Foundation Establishment cultivators called out in question.


    And Lin Shiming and Chen Xuankong remained remarkably silent.


    Once a Spirit Talisman that hid Divine Sense was affixed to Zhang Haoling¡¯s body, they knew that this encounter could not end well.


    "These few stealthily sought treasure, violating our alliance¡¯s creed. To use them as a warning isn¡¯t too excessive, right?" Zhang Haoling said coldly.


    And the others immediately halted.


    They understood that speaking out at this moment would be asking for trouble.


    Those newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators were also digging their own graves.


    Not having treasures from the Zhang Family but taking them anyway was a major taboo!


    Not only would they meet their demise, but they might also bring disaster upon their clans!


    No wonder the Lin Family and Chen Family didn¡¯t move or utter a word!


    "Alright, esteemed ones, follow me into the cave abode to inspect our gains from this venture!"


    "Uncle has previously stated, based on the efforts contributed this time, the rewards for everyone will certainly not be scarce!"


    Zhang Haoling packed up the Storage Bag, glanced inside with puzzlement¡ªthe treasures within were few¡ªbut still took the lead towards the depths of the cave abode.


    As everyone stepped forward, they saw that beside the griffon¡¯s nest, a large section had been abruptly dug out, leaving only a thin layer of red crystals visible.


    Experience tales at novelhall.Co?m


    On seeing this, how could anyone not understand what had happened!


    "Seal the Formation, confine the underground!" yelled Zhang Haoling suddenly, his face extremely grim.


    This freshly dug hole was undoubtedly recent.


    And after checking the Storage Bag, he was certain the senseless cultivators hadn¡¯t acquired anything.


    Yet, some of the other cultivators wore odd expressions.


    The whole scene looked like Zhang Haoling was putting on an act.


    Everyone present was accounted for, save for the few who had perished, leaving only the Zhang Family cultivators.


    Lin Shiming, sharing an understanding look with Chen Xuankong, was full of questions.


    Yet the Zhang Family cultivators were setting up numerous layers of Formations, encircling the griffon¡¯s den so tightly that nothing could slip through.


    Not even the slightest trace of Divine Sense or footprints would be ignored by them.


    "Zhang Daoist friend, has there been an unexpected development?" Chen Xuankong also spoke up.


    The current Zhang Haoling was acting like a madman, bombing the cave adobe incessantly.


    This act was simply too overdone!


    He too sensed that something was amiss and looked again at Lin Shiming, who shook his head.


    After an extended standoff, Zhang Haoling arranged for many cultivators to leave before heading further into the cave.


    Now his expression grew even more troubled. He scanned the surroundings once more, before continuing to peer into the depths of the cave.


    However, after surveying the area, his face remained as dark as ever.


    Despite his deep scheming, the entire Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demon¡¯s den offered nothing more than Second Rank Fire Cloud Stones and Third Rank Fire Cloud Crystals, with a mere handful of Spirit Plants that were also Third Rank and less than a hundred years old.

 Chapter 379 - 203: The Real Harvest (Two-in-One, Subscription Requested)_2

    But unfortunately, the cultivators by his side had all followed him in battling the Demonic Beasts of Red Lion Ridge.


    The entire cave dwelling had been turned upside down by him, yet not a single figure could be seen.


    Zhang Haoling took a deep breath. Although he had suffered a setback, the Fourth Rank Fire Attribute Spiritual Vein was still there:


    "Fellow Daoists, this Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein shall be offered to the Yunling Hermit. Our Zhang Family will take sixty percent of the profits from the Third Rank Fire Cloud Crystal Vein and Fire Cloud Stone Vein, and the rest will be distributed to you based on your performance in the arena competition!"


    Zhang Haoling¡¯s tone was extremely unpleasant.


    Naturally, no one objected at this moment. They couldn¡¯t possibly get a share of the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein. Although the Flame Crystal from the pure Fire Attribute Spiritual Vein was indeed precious, they hadn¡¯t lost their senses.


    And with Zhang Haoling¡¯s current tone and demeanor, they didn¡¯t dare to bargain.


    Chen Xuankong also glanced at Lin Shiming. In his view, it was very likely that the Zhang Family had staged the whole scenario themselves, just wanting to take advantage of the situation to increase their share of the profits from the veins.


    But the situation was more compelling than one¡¯s will, so he too had no choice but to bow his head.


    After seeing Lin Shiming nod in agreement, he also regretfully nodded his head.


    The Chen Family was not on par with the Lin Family. If they could fight for a little more benefit, it was not impossible for the Chen Family to rise again!


    As for the mining and guarding that would follow, the major families of Yunzhou would arrange for their cultivators to come and retrieve the resources.


    The Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein would be transplanted away. This Red Lion Ridge would also become a common ridge, reducing the likelihood of attracting a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Next, Zhang Haoling stayed to transplant the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein, while the other cultivators, under the leadership of another mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhang Family, continued to patrol the entire Red Lion Ridge.


    However, everyone estimated that the largest benefit was the Fire Cloud Crystal Vein, and it was unlikely that there were other natural treasures left in Red Lion Ridge.


    Indeed, they found three Fourth Rank Fire Attribute Spirit Grasses and more than a dozen three-hundred-year-old Third Rank Fire Attribute Fire Ginsengs, leaving only the Second Rank Fire Maple Trees.


    Though the Fire Maple Trees had ornamental value, their practical value was not significant.


    The Fourth Rank Spirit Grass naturally belonged to the Yunling Hermit.


    As for the other spirit ginsengs, not a single one was obtained by each family.


    Some Foundation Establishment cultivators were starting to look a bit displeased. Coming to Red Lion Ridge carried many risks, and the only gain was a small share of the Fire Cloud Crystal Vein¡ªafter removing the shares for the Lin and Chen families, there wasn¡¯t much left.


    Fortunately, in the end, they discovered another vein of Spirit Stones, which sent everyone into a frenzy of joy.


    Lin Shiming was also joyful, but not because of this Spirit Stone vein; after all, the system had already notified him of its discovery.


    Moreover, his joy had begun from the moment he emerged from the cave dwelling, but only now did he naturally show it.


    The cultivators from the Zhang Family were also tense, immediately summoning Zhang Haogang over.


    They began setting up a formation, enclosing the Spirit Stone vein.


    ...


    After Lin Shiming and the others had exited the cave dwelling, Zhang Haoling walked up to an elderly cultivator with urgency in his eyes, eager to confirm his answer.


    But the elder slowly shook his head.


    He took out a fiery red Fire Spirit Fox, which quietly lay in his palm.


    The next moment, the Fire Spirit Fox suddenly sprang up and dashed toward the large hole filled with Flame Crystals.


    "Family Head, my Fire Spirit Fox can detect precious Fire Attribute materials even through a Storage Bag, let alone Fourth Rank Flame Crystals!"


    After Chen Xuankong saw through Lin Shiming¡¯s thoughts, he no longer brought it up, and the two parted ways, each finding a cave to cultivate and recover.


    Lin Shiming, on the other hand, continued to inspect the entirety of Hongshi Ridge.


    The fiery Fire Maple Trees still blazed like the burning sun.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming bent down to pick a fifty-year-old Fire Cloud Ganoderma from beneath the Fire Maple Tree.


    Fiery red Spiritual Energy surged, and the void seemed to briefly manifest overlapping shadows of peach blossoms.


    But they quickly disappeared, precisely the effect of combining the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map with the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s expression remained calm as he continued his stroll.


    It was as if he were continuing to search for the few and scattered Second Rank Spiritual Objects.


    Until dusk arrived, and the setting sun fell, the forest of fire maple trees seemed to be tinged with an even richer layer of flames.


    It was the most beautiful time for Hongshi Ridge.


    Lin Shiming then stopped walking and returned to the hills beside Hongshi Ridge, locating Lin Shiyi, Lin Zelu, and others who were recovering in their cave dwellings.


    "Shiming!"


    The few of them were somewhat worried, but when they saw Lin Shiming enter, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "It¡¯s all settled now!" Lin Shiming nodded and then turned to Lin Zelu and Lin Zekong, giving a thumbs-up.


    "Well done!"


    When they first started battling the Demonic Beasts, Lin Zelu and Lin Zekong were a bit disorganized, but after getting used to it, they handled themselves quite well. One with a Dual Spirit Root and the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique, and another a Third Rank Superior Grade Array Master, they both performed commendably.


    Lin Shiming naturally did not skimp on his praise either.


    "Thank you, Uncle Seven, you¡¯re truly formidable!" Lin Zelu and Lin Zekong were both visibly flattered.


    Next to them, Lin Houyuan joked:


    "You two have made a fortune. This is the first time I have seen your Uncle Seven praise the younger generation!"


    "Uncle Thirty is jesting!" Lin Shiming replied with a smile, then proceeded to explain about the Spirit Stone Mine and Fire Cloud Crystal Vein matters.


    Lin Shiyi spoke almost without hesitation:


    "Old Seven, I¡¯ll stay here!"


    Lin Shiyi did not say much, but the tone in his voice was very determined!


    After some hesitation, Lin Shiming also nodded. His second brother¡¯s love for the family was no less than his own, and this was what Lin Shiyi believed was the best thing he could do for the family.


    And this indeed was one of the most important things for a family,


    A family full of ascetic cultivators has no resources.


    A family full of resource managers has no combat power.


    Each with their own responsibilities, they cultivate the Great Dao together!


    After chatting a bit more with Lin Shiyi, Lin Shiming also started to excavate a cave dwelling, arranged everything, and began to truly account for the gains of this expedition! Continue your adventure with novelhall.Co?m


    ```

 Chapter 400 - 312 Bloodline Reversion, Transforming into a Flood Dragon (Two in One)

    In the Cave Heaven World, under the reflection of the azure sky, the tranquil waters of the lake appeared even more limpid and calm.


    From time to time, a Red Spirit Fish or a mysterious black fish would leap out of the water, then plunge back in with a splash, creating ripples upon ripples.


    Nourished by the Third Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Vein and Star Spirit Fluff, the group of Red Spirit Fish had all reached the late stages of the Second Rank.


    And the mysterious black fish had grown even more robust, teeming with vast vitality.


    The Star Spirit Clam lay contentedly by the lakeside, its entire shell emitting a dazzling starlight, with wisps of Star Spirit Fluff appearing intermittently.


    Two years of tranquil life was not easy to come by for it!


    Further away, the wooden demon still sat as still as an old monk before the Minor Divine Ability tree.


    Next to it, the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree had begun to blossom. As a primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment, the flowers were not plentiful, but each radiated astonishing spiritual energy.


    The flashing Golden Thunder Bamboo grew more robust as well, with one stalk reaching the level of a century-old thunder bamboo, while another was about sixty years or so.


    But in the next moment, the Star Spirit Clam leapt into the water!


    The first to come in was the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    It looked around scratching its head and ears at the quickly disappearing Star Spirit Clam, shouting out in frustration.@@@@


    Left with no choice, it held the Beast Nurturing Pill, a host of Spirit Beast meat, and Spirit Water, and went to find the wooden demon.


    There, a good amount of Star Spirit Fluff had been collected by the wooden demon over the two years, all produced by the Star Spirit Clam.


    "Wait for the master!" The wooden demon did not pay any attention to the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey made a move to grab the wooden demon¡¯s Storage Bag, but saw the wooden demon step away and disappear on the spot, reappearing behind the Minor Divine Ability tree.


    Its speed was astonishingly frightening!


    The Red-haired was about to chase when a voice suddenly rang out.


    "Stop!" The Red-haired Demon Monkey, hearing this, instantly got a shock, quickly turning around and ingratiatingly approaching Lin Shiming.


    A Superior Grade Spirit Stone mine could very well harbor a Fourth Rank Demonic Beast, and the fact that such a beast did not attack Wang Jiao could only mean two things: either it feared the Flood Dragon Clan or simply couldn¡¯t be bothered to act.


    Such a Purple Mansion Great Demon would likely be far more formidable than the Sea Cloud Bird with a green crown.


    And now, it was a critical time for Lin Xianzhi¡¯s breakthrough into the Purple Mansion, which could not be disturbed in any way.


    When nearing the breakthrough into the Purple Mansion, a magnificent phenomenon of auspicious clouds would surely occur, which could potentially attract the attention of that Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    That latent danger was precisely why he had made haste to enter the Cave Heaven World.


    At the moment, Wang Jiao was still roaring intermittently, cursing and thrashing about in the air, its flood dragon¡¯s pupils fixed on the Star Spirit Clam, still contemplating the idea of devouring it to become stronger and seek revenge.


    "Are you still harboring chaotic thoughts?" Lin Shiming¡¯s expression turned cold.


    The Star Spirit Clam was now his Spirit Pet, and he would not let Wang Jiao cause trouble.


    Wang Jiao was scared stiff at once, obediently lying at the edge of the swamp, curled up, licking its wounds, its pupils roving, still somewhat defiant.


    Lin Shiming took out several Healing Pills and brought over plenty of Star Spirit Fluff and a few Third Rank mysterious black fish, all of which he gave to Wang Jiao.


    After witnessing its body beginning to shine with Spirit Light and its injuries slowly healing, Lin Shiming took out the Spiritual Medicine he had prepared beforehand.


    The quantity of Spiritual Medicine was quite large this time.


    "If you miss this opportunity, then you deserve to remain a half-flood dragon for the rest of your life!" Lin Shiming spoke coldly.


    These Spiritual Medicines were specifically for Bloodline Reversion. Furthermore, with a wave of his hand, six ice coffins appeared before him, sealing inside them five serpent-like Spirit Corpses.


    And in the last, especially large coffin, Wang Jiao¡¯s eyes immediately brightened.


    "Master, want to eat!"


    "Master, want to eat!"


    ...


    Wang Jiao¡¯s excited and eager Divine Sense fluctuations came continuously, even calling out "master" for the first time!

 Chapter 401 - 312: Bloodline Reversion, Transform into a Flood Dragon (Two in One)_2

    ```


    This spirit corpse was precisely the fourth-rank spirit corpse of the Taiqing Purple Jade Python within the minor world, a fourth-rank Demonic Python that had almost transformed into a Flood Dragon, and had even undergone the Transformation Thunder Tribulation.


    Such a spirit corpse was of tremendous benefit to Demonic Beasts even if consumed whole, not to mention that Lin Shiming was using the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique.


    Lin Shiming ignored Wang Jiao¡¯s impatience, shot it a glare to keep it from moving around, and then took out a huge bathing barrel to begin preparing the medicinal liquid for the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique.


    The liquid this time was vast and had taken the Lin Family nearly a decade to amass.


    It could be called the most extravagant Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique he had ever performed!


    Many of the precious spiritual medicines had been obtained by the Lin Family only by attending various state auctions.


    This was the benefit of having a family behind him; Lin Shiming had more Contribution Points than he could ever use within the Lin Family, even Lin Xianzhi couldn¡¯t come close to Lin Shiming in this regard.


    So, the tasks issued by Lin Shiming were basically the highest Contribution Points tasks of the Lin Family.


    The entire family would spare no effort to accomplish them.


    Even Foundation Establishment cultivators like Lin Shiyi and Lin Houwei would complete some of Lin Shiming¡¯s tasks.


    As the medicinal liquid was mixed and infused with a release of Spiritual Fire, it began melting down.


    As the liquid was properly blended and the fragrance of spiritual essence wafted through the air, Wang Jiao became even more excited, even wanting to leap into the medicine barrel.


    "First, refine the elixir and the Star Spirit Fluff!" Lin Shiming glared at Wang Jiao again.


    Only then did Wang Jiao start circling around, nodding its head, looking very eager.


    Circling in flight around Lin Shiming!


    Lin Shiming then began to cast Spirit Arts, starting with Second Rank, slowly progressing to Third Rank.


    His hands swiftly formed the Spirit Art gestures, and as he repeated the Secret Technique, it became more familiar to him.


    Spirit Light shifted continuously and intertwined within the medicinal liquid.


    Unlike previous occasions, this time he cast two sets of Spirit Arts simultaneously.


    "Condense!" With a soft shout, two Spirit Extraction Nets came into being.


    Under the guidance of a new set of Spirit Arts, the two Spirit Extraction Nets overlapped in the blink of an eye, without merging ¨C perfectly forming a double-layer Spirit Extraction Net.


    The corners of Lin Shiming¡¯s mouth turned up slightly; compared to before, creating the double-layer Spirit Extraction Net this time was much easier.


    But he didn¡¯t stop; spending so many spiritual medicines and using the corpses of the Taiqing Purple Jade Python and six third-rank rare Demonic Pythons, he had only one goal.


    To completely transform Wang Jiao into a true Flood Dragon!


    One hand controlling the Spirit Net, the other continued to cast rapid Spirit Arts.


    After a while, a third Spirit Extraction Net appeared.


    This time, the pressure increased tenfold, and with a loud boom, the Spirit Net fluctuated and overlapped, with large beads of sweat appearing on Lin Shiming¡¯s forehead.


    It wasn¡¯t until after several frantic Spirit Arts that it stabilized.


    Lin Shiming took out the spirit corpse of a Myriad Poison Python and directly used the Blood Demon Refinement Method to refine the spirit corpse into a cluster of Spirit Blood.@@@@


    The Spirit Blood fell into the Spirit Net and immediately stirred up a thousand layers of blood fog; for a moment, it was as if a deadly poisonous Demonic Python was rising from the Spirit Net.


    The medicinal liquid began to boil, countless spiritual bubbles formed, and exploded!


    The next moment, the entire Cave Heaven World began a lengthy roar.


    Pain, wailing!


    The roars expressed all of it.


    Within Lin Shiming¡¯s mind within the Soul Binding Forbidden, he could fully feel Wang Jiao¡¯s agony as the newly scabbed body tore open again, oozing fresh blood.


    The roar grew louder and louder!


    Golden Wing looked over, and so did Red-haired.


    But at this moment, Red-haired was very solemn, lacking his usual irreverent attitude and the disdain he had for Wang Jiao.


    The Star Spirit Clam also rose from the water, releasing a large amount of Star Spirit Fluff, all heading towards Wang Jiao.


    In the end, Wang Jiao swallowed it all in one gulp.


    The Wood Demon had also positioned himself in front of Lin Shiming at some point, his gaze reminiscent of the one he had when observing the Golden Thunder Bamboo and the Minor Divine Ability tree.


    However, after half an hour of watching, the Wood Demon turned away with a look of disappointment.


    The Bloodline Reversion lasted for three full days.


    The elixir gradually faded, eventually becoming as clear as plain water.


    Within it, after countless roars, Wang Jiao had completely taken on a new form.


    His body grew in size, and dark, ink-black scales started to layer and cover him methodically.


    Most crucially, the two bulges on its head now bore cracks, as though the spirit horns could break through at any moment.


    This filled Lin Shiming with elation, a clear sign that the Bloodline Reversion was successful, and the birth of the dragon¡¯s horns was imminent. He then looked toward the bulges under Wang Jiao¡¯s belly, which also started to show cracks.


    And indeed, Wang Jiao¡¯s subsequent action proved it.


    "Master, stones, stones!"


    Wang Jiao needed a great number of Superior Grade Spirit Stones, along with copious amounts of Beast Nurturing Pills and Spirit Beast meat.


    To raise his three beasts, he had stocked up quite a bit of Spirit Beast meat and Third Rank Beast Nurturing Pills, which he now gave almost entirely to Wang Jiao.


    Furthermore, he took out two Jade Boxes.


    One emitted endless green light, the other was shrouded in purple radiance.


    Upon opening the two Jade Boxes, a terrifying surge of True Yuan from the Purple Mansion immediately became apparent.


    Inside the two Jade Boxes were the inner cores of the Fourth Rank Green Crest Sea Cloud Bird and the Fourth Rank Taiqing Purple Jade Python respectively.


    After Wang Jiao consumed them, he collapsed completely upon the marshland, a rich black light emerged and enveloped Wang Jiao, eventually forming a massive black Spirit Egg.


    The presence of Wang Jiao began to rise steadily.


    He fell into a deep slumber!


    When Wang Jiao awoke, at that time, Lin Shiming would possess a genuine Flood Dragon Spirit Beast.


    And facing the possible emergence of a Purple Mansion Great Demon in the future, he felt much more confident.


    Once the elder Xianzhi made his breakthrough, once Lin Shitao made hers.


    They could refine the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, and his time to break through to the Purple Mansion would arrive.


    Furthermore, he did not need to worry about attracting a Purple Mansion Great Demon, with no protector at hand!

 Chapter 314 Chapter 275: Flood Dragon Refining Corpse, Six Paths of Hell

    314  Chapter 275: Flood Dragon Refining Corpse, Six Paths of Hell @@@@


    Spectral lights of various colors filled the void, and sword Qi rampaged over dozens of miles.


    Battles erupted everywhere, leading to extreme chaos, virtually indistinguishable from the battlefield outside Heavenly River City at this moment.


    The only difference was that now, Qingxuan Sect was facing the other Three Sects.


    There were not many casualties, as the primary tactic was restraint.


    Xie An glanced at the other four people on the Spirit Boat, then sent a voice transmission to Chen Daoyuan.


    However, Chen Daoyuan still did not respond.


    Yet Xie An, as if he had anticipated this, did not mind and waved a big hand.


    As Spirit Light suddenly appeared, several Spirit Puppets instantly surrounded the War Treasure Ship.


    Countless Spirit Stones flew from Xie An''s hand, dropping into the various Spirit Stone depots of the War Treasure Ship.


    All eleven Spirit Stone depots were filled in an instant.


    The only empty depot was the one nearest to Lin Shiming''s side.


    Lin Shiming, intuitively understanding, said nothing and immediately went to the empty depot. He pressed his right hand down, drawing the True Yuan from the Superior Grade Spirit Stones while activating the War Treasure Ship.


    Catching a glimpse of the other four, he noticed that their gazes were clearly not the same as before, probably because they had been taken over by the Soul Summoning Sword.


    At this moment, the four of them stood in place, caught in the clash of Sword Intent between Chen Daoyuan and Wan Changqing, but the next moment, one of them looked towards Lin Shiming.


    "Eh!"


    With a sound of surprise, the attention of the other three was drawn, and in the blink of an eye, they started walking towards him, scanning the surroundings before stopping not far from him.


    "Flame Yang?"


    An ancient voice suddenly echoed in his mind.


    Lin Shiming also raised his head but did not respond.


    they would become a joke in front of Qingxuan Sect!


    The two War Treasure Ships raced through the sky, one in front of the other.


    But just at that moment, a terrifying roar of a dragon resounded.


    The next second, two Fourth Rank Demonic Beast corpse puppets, along with a Fourth Rank Flood Dragon corpse puppet, rushed from all directions and slapped the War Treasure Ship with a claw. With a loud bang, the entire ship was forcefully repelled by the Fang Dragon corpse puppet.


    Lin Shiming''s True Yuan was instantly disrupted, causing him to spew out fresh blood.


    He widened his eyes in disbelief.


    Before his eyes, there were not only three Fourth Rank Purple Mansion corpse puppets but also innumerably many Third Rank late-stage corpse puppets. Of course, the most terrifying was the Flood Dragon corpse puppet that had struck them down.


    He could not fathom the strength of this Flood Dragon corpse puppet, nor could he guess which Corpse Refining Sect cultivator''s corpse puppet it was, capable of a Foundation Establishment cultivator controlling a Fourth Rank spiritual corpse.


    14:13


    This Flood Dragon corpse puppet was more than ten zhang long, far larger than the earlier Taiqing Purple Jade Python, covered in spikes and horrifically ferocious. With a belly bearing two claws, its immense fierceness overwhelmed Lin Shiming to the point of dizziness with just a few glances.


    Moreover, most of the Demonic Beasts from Spirit Beast Sect began to grovel restlessly!


    They became extremely frantic.


    He could not fathom the strength of this Flood Dragon corpse puppet, nor could he guess which Corpse Refining Sect cultivator''s corpse puppet it was, capable of a Foundation Establishment cultivator controlling a Fourth Rank spiritual corpse.


    But the next moment, he thought that this Fourth Rank Flood Dragon corpse puppet was definitely not those of the Foundation Establishment disciples; it was likely to be avatars of some True Persons or Hermits!


    Apart from the Flood Dragon corpse puppet, Lin Shiming was equally shocked by the extravagance of Corpse Refining Sect.


    He even suspected that this group from the Corpse Refining Sect hadn''t put any real effort into treasure hunting. Instead, they had been endlessly slaughtering Demonic Beasts and refining corpse puppets.


    Otherwise, it would not be possible to have so many Third Rank late-stage corpse puppets. One must know, even during the great battle at Heavenly River City, the Corpse Refining Sect didn''t have so many corpse puppets.


    He and Lin Xianzhi had also hunted many Demonic Beasts, but they had only managed to control four or five while cautiously avoiding the Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    And behind these corpse puppets were the numerous Cultivators of the Corpse Refining Sect, easily a contingent a hundred strong.

 Chapter 315 Chapter 275: Flood Dragon Refining Corpse, Six Paths of Hell_2

    315  Chapter 275: Flood Dragon Refining Corpse, Six Paths of Hell_2


    Completely blocked the escape route of the War Treasure Ship.


    Xie An also spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, obviously shaken from the attack on the War Treasure Ship, and as the main controlling cultivator, he sustained not insignificant minor injuries.


    Even one of the Spirit Puppets was directly cracked by that swipe.


    Xie An had no choice but to take out several more Spirit Puppets to replace it.


    Only then did the Spirit Light of the Spirit Boat remain undiminished.


    Chen Daoyuan''s expression was extremely unsightly, they had not anticipated that Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect were not merely delayed, but had been fully prepared to ambush their main force here!


    Chen Daoyuan pointed in another direction; however, all around them, black fog suddenly began to rise.


    Like inverted black curtains, one after another ascended, connecting to the sky.


    In front of the black curtains, many Heavenly Demon banners soared into the sky, fluttering in the wind, with demonic fog billowing wildly.


    These Heavenly Demon banners formed a circle, and upon close count, there were precisely thirty-five of them, completely enveloping the surroundings of Myriad Swords Tomb.


    On the banners, demonic spirits surged, their numbers beyond count, exhibiting a densely packed throng, mostly consisting of the spirits of Demonic Beasts'' demonic heads, each more terrifying than the last.


    And each demonic head spirit exuded a powerful aura of demonic energy, among them several in particular were terrifying, truly at the Fourth Rank.


    They were indeed Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Lin Shiming''s uneasiness grew, he had not expected to be drawn into the confrontation of these powerful beings so quickly.


    "You did discover us rather early," a white-haired youth appeared at the end of the Demon banners.


    In his hand, a smaller Demon banner controlled the entire circumstance.


    It was also the very last of the thirty-six Heavenly Demon banners.


    14:15


    Once this banner was planted, the formation would be complete.


    These Demon Cultivators and Corpse Cultivators had obviously arrived near Myriad Swords Tomb long ago, but for some reason, they were not detected by Divine Sense, and they had already set up thirty-five Heavenly Demon Banners.


    If it wasn''t for his early request for Xie An to escape, they would probably still be unaware.


    With the youth''s appearance, Chen Daoyuan, Zhao Wuji, and others came forward.


    However, they could not recall ever seeing such a person among the Corpse Refining Sect''s Cultivators.


    Wan Changqing, Huang Yu, Ying Hongyue, and other Cultivators from the Three Sects also put aside their differences and focused on the Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect individuals.


    Sect conflicts happen among the orthodox sects, but when facing Demon Sects, all Sects would still put aside their differences.


    Still, Huang Yu, Ying Hongyue, and Wan Changqing realized they had never seen this white-haired youth before either.


    But upon closer inspection, they sensed that the white-haired youth''s cultivation level was slowly rising, and in a blink of an eye, the might of the Purple Mansion surged forth.


    "Liu He Old Demon, you''re really willing to come out!" Zhao Wuji and the other young Cultivators did not recognize him, but at that moment, an elder next to Zhao Wuji stepped forward.


    It was the person Lin Shiming had previously failed to understand.


    "Qing Ling, it''s you? Heavenly Sword, Profound Sword, and Shen Ji too, why don''t you come out as well?" the one addressed as Liu He Old Demon also spoke generously.


    "Forget it, whether you come out or not, it''s all the same. I''ll refine you all together. Qingxuan Sect had the audacity to target us Demon Sects, and you should be prepared to be refined by us into demonic heads!" Liu He Old Demon licked his lips, revealing a bloodthirsty expression.


    "We don''t need to know your schemes, because you''re all prey!"


    And as the Flame Yang appeared on his Spirit Platform,


    the voices of the other four Soul Summoning Swords echoed once again in his mind.


    "Flame Yang, weren''t you the epitome of staunch resolution?"


    "Flame Yang, why would you assist these cultivators?"


    ...


    Ignoring these transmissions, Lin Shiming didn''t even bother to look at the four of them.


    Clearly, they all thought that he had lost his Spirit Intelligence, merely pretending for Flame Yang.


    But he couldn''t refute them, more worried that Xie An and Chen Daoyuan were paying too much attention to him at the moment.


    In such a battle, he thought it was good to be a cultivator who provided True Yuan, staying under the radar!


    The less people paid attention to him, the more secure he felt.


    Right now, with the War Treasure Ships making their appearance, who knew how many True Persons were watching this place.


    And as for the concealed True Person avatars, who knew how many there were still hidden.


    But at this moment, the Flame Yang within his Spirit Platform was impatient and agitated,


    constantly drawing upon his True Yuan, with fiery Sword Qi cleansing his entire body.


    "Kid, the True Yuan in your three Spirit Platforms should be enough, right? These juniors dare to babble about me!"


    "Senior Flame Yang, I beseech you to keep a low profile at this time!"


    Lin Shiming wished he could return Flame Yang back to the Cave Heaven World immediately.


    Even the remaining Fourth Rank Corpse Cultivators and demon souls all retreated.


    14:16


    And as Lin Shiming grew anxious, the Heavenly Corpse True Person transformed into the Flood Dragon corpse, alongside the remaining two Purple Mansion corpses and numerous other Corpse Cultivators, positioned themselves before the Liu He True Person''s avatar.


    At this time, the demon heads and souls in the sky swooped down like dark clouds bearing down on the earth.


    Leading them was a massive Fourth Rank mid-stage demon soul bat, charging at the people first.


    Boom!


    Terrible Spirit Light and dark light interwove, forming waves of energy that destroyed everything in their path.


    Several of the weaker War Treasure Ships were instantly blown away, countless Third Rank Corpse Cultivators turned to dust under the residual force.


    Only a few avatars of great True Persons could hold their position, each resisting the onslaught.


    Even the remaining Fourth Rank Corpse Cultivators and demon souls all retreated.


    But there was only the Flood Dragon corpse, formidably blocking in front of the Liu He True Person''s avatar, single-handedly holding off three True Persons!


    And at this time, a laugh burst from the Liu He True Person''s avatar as his body vanished from the spot.


    And far away, from six different directions, six demon heads emerged.


    They were the Asura Path demon head, Human Path demon head, Hungry Ghost Path demon head, Animal Path demon head, Heavenly Dao demon head, and Hell Path demon head.


    The Six Paths of Samsara, formed!

 Chapter 316 Chapter 276 Chen Daoyuan, Start of Sword Palace (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    316  Chapter 276 Chen Daoyuan, Start of Sword Palace (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)


    Endless darkness loomed, the surging demon clouds becoming the only remaining keynote.


    Six great demon souls, carrying layers of demonic might, flocked in succession.


    Countless demon heads'' spirits began rushing toward the six great demon souls, making them grow larger and larger.


    The spirit might became increasingly terrifying, if at first it was merely at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, now it''s reached the pinnacle of the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion.


    "All the spirit souls in this world will fall to the Six Paths, Shen Ji, even if you were a reincarnated True Monarch, today you are still one move behind!" Liu He True Person''s clone said with a smile.


    Although he didn''t see Shen Ji, he believed that at this moment, Shen Ji must be watching this place from somewhere!


    And he was the one to overturn Shen Ji''s chessboard!


    Beside him, the Heavenly Corpse Hermit with a huge dragon mouth also nodded slightly in agreement, revealing a ghastly grin.


    Both the Corpse Refining Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect indeed knew nothing of the Qingxuan Sect''s schemes; as Demon Cultivators, they were too lazy to plan and think.


    If you invite so many cultivators in, you must have a plot, I will kill them all, take the spirit souls, and snatch the corpses.


    This remaining opportunity, I will take it bit by bit!


    The clones of Qing Ling True Person, Heavenly Beast True Person, and Shen Fu True Person all looked extremely unsightly.


    The Flood Dragon practicing corpse refinement was already far beyond the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, its power even comparable to the Late Stage of Purple Mansion; and now, the Six Paths Hell Formation had arrived.


    These six demon heads, not one of them weaker than the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion, and within this Six Paths Hell Formation, they moved as fish in water, receiving great enhancements.


    If more cultivators die, they will become nourishment for the hell, and the Six Paths Heavenly Demon will become even more terrifying!


    "Changqing, you commandeer the War Treasure Ship, and gather all the remaining cultivators onto the treasure vessel!" Qing Ling True Person said with the ugliest expression.


    He absolutely cannot allow the Six Paths Hell to obliterate most of the cultivators from the four sects here; by then, even if there are still some cultivators in the Secret Realm, it would be meaningless!


    The remaining cultivators simply cannot allow the Spiritual Medicine Garden''s Ghost Blood Lotus to mature, and waiting for another thirty years, the other four sects will not be as unprepared as they are now. @@@@


    With a wave of his hand, all six Heavenly Demons stretched out their hands, and the demon clouds condensed into soul soldiers.


    All six demons struck together!


    Only by doing so could they completely destroy the curtain of rain and sword threads, but the lingering power also caused the six demons to pause in midair.


    One sword against six demons!


    The strength of San Jian True Person was beyond everyone''s expectations.


    Qing Ling True Person and the others were overjoyed.


    San Jian True Person deserved to be a Sword Cultivator; even if the clone''s cultivation level was only at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, with mastery over the Sword Dao, he could contend against several levels higher.


    And bear in mind, this was still the first sword of San Jian True Person.


    "Agreed!" Qing Ling True Person responded directly.


    No matter what, a Soul Summoning Sword was just a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    Chen Daoyuan, watching from a distance, was initially displeased, but seeing Qing Ling True Person''s uncompromising gaze, he still lowered his head.


    With the addition of San Jian True Person, and the clones of other True Persons alongside eight War Treasure Ships, the situation began to slowly turn around.


    San Jian True Person alone, with one sword, fended off three demon souls.


    If his first sword was like rain nourishing the earth, his second sword would be a sweeping tempest through the woods.


    Stretching sword threads, bright as stars, swept towards the three demon souls like a stormy tsunami.


    The Heavenly Beast True Person, transformed into a dazzling white tiger, managed to hold off two demon souls at once, with claw lights similar to the Body Cultivator Qing Ling True Person''s. Relying on speed, darting and dodging, he continually inflicted wounds on the demon souls.


    But since the demon souls were formed by spirit souls and demon heads, they quickly recovered from the injuries.


    He was also restraining two demon souls.

 Chapter 317 Chapter 276 Chen Daoyuan, Start of Sword Palace (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2

    317  Chapter 276 Chen Daoyuan, Start of Sword Palace (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2


    Meanwhile, the remaining Shen Fu True Person, stroke by stroke, symbol by symbol, restrained the leftover Heavenly Dao demon souls.


    The Heavenly Dao demon soul was the strongest among the six demon souls, and as Shen Ji True Person continued to write, he was still somewhat no match for the Heavenly Dao demon soul, even coming close to being slain by it.


    The remaining clones of Qing Ling True Person were attacking the powerful Liu He True Person.


    The clone of Liu He True Person, whose strength was formidable, not only cast the Six Paths Hell Formation but also had free hands to clash directly with Qing Ling True Person.


    The body cultivation strength of this Liu He True Person''s clone was clearly no less than that of Qing Ling True Person!


    The remaining eight Spirit Boats bombarded the leftover Flood Dragon corpse and the two Purple Mansion corpses.


    Lin Shiming was also within the War Treasure Ship; although at this moment there were many cultivators inside the treasure ship, who could provide True Yuan at any time, he still frowned incessantly.


    As a clone of the Corpse Refining Sect''s True Person, how could the Flood Dragon corpse be easy to deal with, and how could their War Treasure Ships withstand it?


    At this moment, he touched the Storage Bag where he kept the soul-eating ants.


    Then his gaze continually shifted toward Xie An, but at this time, Xie An wasn''t even making eye contact with him.


    Instead, he was fully focused on controlling the War Treasure Ship.


    Of the eight War Treasure Ships, six aimed at the Flood Dragon corpse controlled by Heavenly Corpse True Person, while the remaining two faced the two Purple Mansion corpses.


    But the situation did not improve in the slightest.


    The physical body of the Flood Dragon corpse was truly terrifying; coupled with Heavenly Corpse True Person''s personal control, wherever its spirit claws passed, Spirit Shields shattered one after another, and War Treasure Ships were blasted away.


    Spirit Puppets were destroyed continuously, but fortunately, there were now an endless stream of cultivators stepping up in their place.


    But at this moment, the cultivators stepping forward were merely delaying time.


    Within the Six Paths Hell Formation, countless demonic auras were still eroding the great treasure ships.


    Zhao Wuji looked at Chen Daoyuan, neither speaking nor sending a telepathic message.


    But that look, and the anxiety beneath it, was unmistakably revealed.


    Chen Daoyuan raised his head for a glance, then took another look at the sword in his hand.


    Finally, he turned back and gave Zhao Wuji a look.


    He sighed, recalling the words of Zi Xuan Hermit in his mind.


    Long moments passed without a word.


    Afar, with a tremendous rumbling, a dazzling Spirit Light split in two.


    A War Treasure Ship with nine Spirit Platforms was instantly torn apart; aside from a few who escaped using the Substitute Disaster Talisman, the rest perished under that one claw.


    The perished souls were pulled out by the demonic fog, and immediately, like fuel being added, the entire Hellish Demonic Array surged layer upon layer.


    "Chen Junior Brother!" Zhao Wuji finally spoke, as they could no longer hold back. At this moment, they had to take action!


    Seeing Zhao Wuji speak, Chen Daoyuan turned to look at Xie An:


    "From now on, it''s up to you. Should something arise, seek Zhao Wuji. This affair of the external incarnation, just say it was taught to you by me!"


    Especially at the moment, as Chen Daoyuan''s hair was white and withered, carrying none of the feeling of a previous sword cultivator but rather resembling an old man in the twilight of his life.


    Clearly, forcibly merging and breaking through to Purple Mansion had exhausted all his vitality, not to mention summoning the mark of Profound Sword True Person and wielding a Fifth Rank magical treasure.


    He was at the end of his tether in a moment''s time.


    However, with a wave of his hand, he struck out with his sword again.


    The second slash of the Fifth Rank Flying Sword magical treasure nearly drained Chen Daoyuan''s entire body dry.


    But the effect was terrifying; the two Purple Mansion Spirit Corpse of Heavenly Beast True Person hadn''t even the chance to escape before they perished under the sword, along with a wisp of Heavenly Corpse True Person''s separated soul.


    Chen Daoyuan also fell from the sky, leaving only a wooden-faced Chen Daoyuan to land atop the War Treasure Ship.


    The original four people had now become five!


    Lin Shiming sighed, and Xie An, by his side, wore a face filled with sorrow.


    Yet the outcome was remarkable; the death of a True Person''s incarnation was absolutely great news for the four sects.


    Lin Shiming felt a wave of relief in his heart as well.


    But before the others could feel at ease, the slain Flood Dragon corpse refining and Chen Daoyuan''s spirit were pulled into the Liu He Hell''s Magic Array.


    14:18


    The six demonic spirits, having absorbed countless demonic souls, climbed higher in cultivation level step by step, reaching the peak of the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, with the Heavenly Dao demonic spirit even reaching the Late Stage of Purple Mansion.


    The incarnation of Shen Fu True Person was instantly sent flying by the Punishment Sword of the Heavenly Dao demonic spirit.


    The True Person of Three Swords was unable to withstand the onslaught of the three demonic spirits, beaten back step by step, his sword turning into a defensive magical treasure.


    But he could no longer break through; the incarnation of Heavenly Beast True Person was being repressed terribly.


    Only thanks to the seven Spirit Boats that came to their rescue was the incarnation of Heavenly Beast True Person saved.


    "Wuji, no need to wait any longer!" Qing Ling True Person decided upon witnessing this scene.


    And Zhao Wuji understood immediately; a hugely magnificent divine chart appeared in his hands.


    At this moment, the treasure chart in Lin Shiming''s Storage Bag began to feel incredibly hot, even the one modified by the Grass Sword started to heat up.


    Lin Shiming was momentarily stunned; he hadn''t expected that Qingxuan Sect could even control when Taibai Sword Palace would open!


    His heart began to pound.


    One should know, the heating of the treasure chart signified not only the Spiritual Medicine Garden and the Blood You Lotus, but also treasures from Taibai Sword Palace, including the cultivation technique Grass Sword had told him about!


    "Flame Yang, quickly contact them, carve out a bloody path!" Lin Shiming couldn''t dare to enter Taibai Sword Palace here.


    At the same time, he feared being pulled into the Spiritual Medicine Garden ¡ª the ploys of these True Persons were far too many.


    Having seen enough, he couldn''t dare to be the slightest bit arrogant anymore!


    So he had to use the Soul-Eating Ants, breaking through the Liu He Hell''s Magic Array.


    To enter the real Taibai Sword Palace.

 Chapter 318 Chapter 277 Fuling Fire Mulberry (Two in One)

    318  Chapter 277 Fuling Fire Mulberry (Two in One)


    The sky was as black as ink, the surging demon clouds rolled in like ocean waves.


    The War Treasure Ship, shining with golden light, seemed like a small flat boat in the vast sea at this moment.


    And the six great demonic souls were the sea beasts within this ocean,


    Boom!


    Amidst a loud explosive noise, the demonic soul transformed by the Heavenly Dao cleaved a Spirit Boat in half with a single sword strike.


    Spirit Light from the shattered Formation exploded into large swathes, creating a terrifying storm of destruction.


    The Spirit Shields of countless cultivators were nearly all destroyed within this storm.


    It seemed as though innumerable cultivators were about to fall.


    Just then, a golden light fiercely pierced through the dark clouds.


    The Formation was forcefully broken, and a splendid palace revealed itself in the sky.


    The blinding golden light caused the demon clouds of the Six Paths Hell Refinement Formation to leak out immensely!


    The strength of the six great demonic souls also leaked out like the clouds, their presence instantly dropping significantly.


    The Heavenly Dao demonic soul lost the most, directly falling to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, and the thirty to forty-zhang-tall Demon Sword in its hands had also shrunk considerably.


    "How could this be?" Liu He the Hermit was also incredulous at this moment.


    He knew that the Taibai Sword Palace must have been summoned by the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect, but he didn''t understand why the Taibai Sword Palace would shatter his Six Paths Hell Refinement Formation.


    At this moment, Xie An was at the helm of a Spirit Boat, standing at the very front.


    However, what he couldn''t believe was that the Soul Summoning Swords behind him were all contacting him.


    Requesting to borrow the Spirit Stones from the War Treasure Ship.


    Xie An couldn''t believe it, but still, countless Spirit Stones flew out of his Storage Bag.


    Then, four figures, along with Chen Daoyuan''s external incarnation, a total of five people and five swords, slashed towards the Hell Path demonic soul among the six great demonic souls.


    The speed of the five Magical Treasure Flying Swords was incredibly fast, and before anyone else could react, the dazzling True Yuan sword light reached its pinnacle, barely distinguishable from the palace above them.


    In no time, they had reduced the Hell Path demonic soul to fragments.


    That cultivator was holding the treasure map, previously proclaimed far and wide.


    "Everyone take out the sword maps from Taibai Sword Palace, it''s time to seize the treasures!"


    Among the crowd of cultivators, those who had been hiding within the War Treasure Ship began to rush out in succession.


    At this moment, voices boomed, many produced the treasure map, and in an instant, golden light descended, enveloping all those who revealed their maps.


    Gradually, they moved towards the cloud ladder leading into the void.


    As one person brought theirs out, others followed suit.


    A golden light.


    Three golden lights.


    Ten golden lights.


    Suddenly, golden lights were everywhere. Those with some strength had almost all obtained a map from Taibai Sword Palace, and those without probably were still waiting outside the World Tower, hoping in vain.


    The crowd was no longer controllable, even the Direct Disciples from The Great Sects couldn''t stop them amidst the frenzy for treasure.


    They could only caution their junior Sect brothers to proceed with utmost care!


    Liu He the Hermit''s complexion grew increasingly grim because under the overwhelming golden light, his Six Paths Hell Refinement Formation was on the brink of obliteration. Not to mention, at this moment, the four True Persons'' avatars looked at him with rage-filled eyes!


    Wishing that the next second, they could crush him to dust.


    Even though they were only avatars, the damage to his six avatars was a significant injury to his true self.


    So he waved his hand grandly, and the remaining thirty-four Heavenly Demon flags turned into small flags, one by one falling into his hand.


    After gathering the Heavenly Demon flags, he left behind a layer of blood mist and fled using the Blood Escape Technique.


    Without the Hell Refinement Formation, he was no match for Qing Ling True Person and the other three True Persons'' avatars.


    Naturally, he wouldn''t stay here waiting for death.


    Meanwhile, the onlooking cultivators from the Corpse Refining Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators also scattered like birds and beasts.


    Only a few Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators, believing in their own escape and concealment techniques, quietly remained, neither approaching nor leaving from afar.


    "Fellow Daoists, there are too many people entering the Sword Palace, please forgive me for being rude, but I shall take my leave to the Sword Palace first!" Seeing that most of the Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators had left, Qing Ling True Person could no longer wait.

 Chapter 319 Chapter 277 Fuling Fire Mulberry (Two in One)_2

    319  Chapter 277 Fuling Fire Mulberry (Two in One)_2


    He took out a sword map and also disappeared under the golden light.


    The Heavenly Beast True Person and Shen Fu True Person''s avatars witnessed Qing Ling True Person, a body cultivator, leave in a hurry.


    At this moment, they no longer had any doubts and likewise took out their Taibai Sword Map to head toward the guiding staircase.


    It was only the Three Swords True Person who glanced at Xie An and said,


    "Soul Summoning Sword, I will be going to get it from Profound Sword Daoist later!"


    Having said that, he also took out the treasure map and headed towards the Taibai Sword Palace.


    Streaks of golden light fell like an entire sect ascending to the heavens, a magnificent sight indeed.


    At this moment, unknown to the others, a figure emerged from the void underneath a formation, holding in his hand a sword map of the Taibai Sword Palace.


    Only it had been modified by the Taiyi Grass Sword, and now the treasure map featured a delicate Spirit Sword radiating an entirely different kind of spirit light.


    This spirit light transformed into a transparent little sword that slowly enveloped Lin Shiming and moved toward the rosy light in the sky.


    Lin Shiming gripped the treasure map in one hand, while on the other he was already extremely tense to the extreme.


    Should there be any sudden change, he needed to summon the War Treasure Ship and Lin Xianzhi at a moment''s notice, while at this moment he didn''t put much hope in the Flaming Sword of the third Spirit Platform.


    Chen Daoyuan had controlled that magical treasure and was directly drained to death there.


    And of the remaining five people, even though they were dead, they had also been drained of True Yuan and even most of their vitality.


    He didn''t believe his True Yuan could exceed that of Chen Daoyuan''s, even if he had a thousand-year-old Spirit Milk, he didn''t dare to try it lightly.


    On the contrary, the War Treasure Ship that had been stripped of its mark and was not under surveillance was his greatest reliance.


    As the golden light grew more intense, Lin Shiming could not help but close his eyes; when he sensed that the surrounding environment had returned to normal, he found himself already upon the golden staircase.


    This golden staircase had exceedingly tall steps and one could not see the end at a glance.


    It bore a strong resemblance to the Sword Dao of the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    Only one was resplendent and golden while the other was dark and unilluminated black.


    Moreover, the aura of this staircase was far less than that of the Myriad Swords Tomb''s Sword Dao.


    It seemed that this golden staircase was actually an imitation of that Sword Dao.


    The staircase was also augmented with Sword Intent, manifesting the aura of a supreme sword sect.


    However, compared to the Sword Tomb, it was much weaker.


    Lin Shiming estimated that as long as one was at the later stages of Foundation Establishment, he could ascend the staircase, or even at the early stage with an understanding of Sword Intent, one could reach the top; unlike the Sword Dao of the Myriad Swords Tomb, where even at the peak of Foundation Establishment, one might only be able to reach the twenty-seventh layer.


    After observing the Sword Dao, twelve Golden Devouring Ants appeared in his hand.


    In this mysterious Taibai Sword Palace, he naturally did not dare to recklessly trespass.


    The Devouring Ants, capable of penetrating formations, were undoubtedly the best scouts.


    The twelve Devouring Ants, now more ferocious after devouring the stalactite in the Stalactite Cave, were the size of small basins, each with long sharp fangs, and they scurried forward, emitting strange cries.


    What he wanted the most, naturally, was the Kuimu Sword Canon mentioned by the Grass Sword, which was the cultivation technique that fit him best.


    It could also be cultivated up to the Nascent Soul Stage, which for him, was the cultivation technique he needed the most.


    On the other hand, other treasures were, at that moment, dispensable and not urgent for him.


    And the Kuimu Sword Canon naturally resided in the Scripture Storage Pavilion of the Taibai Sword Palace.


    "Flame Yang senior, with your knowledge, you must have been one of the True Persons of the Taibai Sword Palace before. I hope you can tell me where the Scripture Storage Pavilion is!"


    "Kid Lin, it''s no use going to the Scripture Storage Pavilion. With those countless cultivation techniques and secrets, it''s really uncertain if you would find the Kuimu Sword Canon. I suggest you go to the Alchemy Pavilion!" Inside the Spirit Platform, Flame Yang said disdainfully.


    "Does the Spirit Pill Pavilion still have Spirit Pills?" Lin Shiming''s eyes lit up.


    "How could that be possible? The Taibai Sword Palace has been a power from many years ago. No Elixir could last that long!"


    "Then what''s the reason? Please enlighten me, senior!" Lin Shiming said respectfully.


    "If I tell you to go, just go. Why so much nonsense? If I meant you harm, my spirit sword would have cut you down long ago!"


    "Choose the second path on the left!" Flame Yang said impatiently.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming, although still somewhat worried, decided to make a decision in the absence of system prompts.


    He chose the second corridor and headed towards the Alchemy Pavilion.


    After traveling for several miles, he saw a colossal pavilion standing against the mountainside.


    It was the Alchemy Pavilion as mentioned by Flame Yang.


    However, at that moment, Lin Shiming''s eyes were not fixated on the Alchemy Pavilion but rather on a fiery red mulberry tree outside the pavilion.


    The leaves of this fiery mulberry tree were as if alive, very strange.


    And extraordinarily lively.


    At the top of the mulberry tree, there were five fiery mulberries.


    At that moment, the mulberries were red as fire.


    "Is this... the Fuling Fiery Mulberry?" Lin Shiming''s entire body shook violently.


    The Fuling Fiery Mulberry was one of the three most elusive Spirit Fruits in the Eastern Domain''s cultivation world, and its effects were precisely what the Lin Family had been desperately seeking - the effect of extending life.


    A single Spirit Fruit could extend one''s life by a hundred years!


    Not only was this a blessing for Lin Xianzhi, but it also meant that the Lin Family''s descendants could strive for higher realms with an extra hundred years!


    Even for him, he might have to rely on this Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit in the future.


    After all, in the later stages of cultivation, each level up would require decades or even a hundred years!


    Who could say for sure that they would be able to continue breaking through before their natural lifespan arrived?


    "Thank you, senior Flame Yang!" Lin Shiming quickly expressed his gratitude.


    This Fuling Fiery Mulberry Tree was absolutely no less significant to their Lin Family than the Nascent Soul Technique!


    After all, even the Qingxuan Sect didn''t have many Life-Extending Elixirs to spare, which were consumable Spirit Plants, whereas the Fuling Fiery Mulberry was a hundred-year Spirit Fruit Tree that could be passed down for generations!

 Chapter 322 Chapter 279: Sword Command, 7th Layer (2 in 1, Requesting Monthly Pass)

    322  Chapter 279: Sword Command, 7th Layer (2 in 1, Requesting Monthly Pass)


    At the entrance of Taibai Sword Palace, there are now two extremes, one side filled with endless Sword Intent, countless Flying Swords.


    Sword Light and Sword Radiance intertwine to form a magnificent world of Flying Swords.


    It was Heavenly Sword True Person leading the way, with numerous cultivators closely following the white-robed cultivator, forming a massive Sword Path Battle Formation.


    On the opposite side of the battle formation, the original stairs were no longer visible.


    Instead, a corpse ladder had appeared, with one Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator after another climbing up, spewing out corpse energy.


    There were Second Rank Corpse Refiners, as well as Third Rank Corpse Refiners.


    There were green-haired zombies, iron zombies, flying-haired zombies, blood corpses.


    Corpses filled the sky, and at the very top was an elder wearing a robe of corpses.


    The elder held a corpse-driving flag in one hand, and a Heavenly Corpse Banner in the other, standing on a yin-yang black coffin.


    Behind him, numerous Corpse Refining Sect Cultivators were mindlessly summoning more corpses.


    One after another, the corpses rushed towards the Sword Cultivators'' battle formation formed by Qingxuan Sect.


    Even the manifestation of Heavenly Sword True Person found the situation extremely troublesome at this moment.


    They had been in this standoff for almost a whole day.


    Their True Yuan was beginning to run low. Had they not occupied Taibai Sword Palace and obtained a trove of treasures earlier, they would''ve been in a much worse situation by now. @@@@


    The elder in the robe of corpses was none other than the Thousand Corpse True Person of the Corpse Refining Sect. His true form was at the Golden Core Middle Stage, but his strength was comparable to that of the Golden Core Late Stage due to his disgusting ability to summon corpses.


    His manifestation was even more so!


    The number of Corpse Refiners was not only immense, but there were also countless self-destructing Spirit Corpses contaminating everything.


    Their magical swords didn''t even know how many times they had been stained.


    They could only rely on Sword Qi and Sword Radiance to slash those Spirit Corpses into dust particles to avoid them.


    And once they launched a sword technique, wanting to attack forcefully, the other side would definitely summon several Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Copper Armored Zombies, relying on that hard copper armor to block the sword techniques.


    They swung their magical swords towards Lin Shiming.


    The Corpses were all deflected by the magical swords.


    But the next moment, a corner of the lid of the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin was lifted.


    Suddenly, a dark shadow resembling a Horned Python shot out at an incredible speed.


    Before the two could see it clearly, they were sprayed with a jet of dark breath.


    The two were shocked and activated their Spirit Shields, but they were smashed by the dark Flood Dragon''s tail, breaking the shields instantly and were overrun by the Corpse Refiners!


    In the blink of an eye, the two cultivators had vanished without a trace!


    As soon as the two Qingxuan Sect cultivators perished, the dark Flood Dragon intended to roar, but Lin Shiming, who had the Soul Arresting restriction, was immediately aware of it.


    "Quiet down, do you still want to become a Flood Dragon?" he chastised.


    A roar at this time was undoubtedly a matter of life and death.


    After being harshly warned by Lin Shiming, the creature hesitantly inflated its cheeks but ultimately did not roar.


    Lin Shiming collected the corpses, their Storage Bags, and the Corpse Refiners and disappeared into the void once again.


    Continuing his stealth in the void, he did not encounter any more Qingxuan Sect cultivators, which greatly relieved him. This meant that Heavenly Sword True Person was under significant pressure and could not spare the attention.


    The Scripture Pavilion of Taibai Sword Palace was in front of a cliff, with a layout similar to that of the Alchemy Pavilion.


    The Scripture Pavilion was a towering six-story structure reaching thirty feet high, with a broad stone sword at its pinnacle. The Sword Intent emanating from the stone sword was so intense that it was daunting and filled onlookers with a sense of insignificance.


    The tower''s body was covered with all sorts of dazzling Spirit Patterns, which gleamed and pulsed with colors in the sunlight. Despite the passage of countless years, it remained vibrant and extraordinary.


    This also meant that various protective Spirit Formations were still active.


    Here, Lin Shiming did not dare to test the Scripture Pavilion in the same way he did with the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map!


    The sword-shaped pavilion that the Scripture Pavilion had become contained six doors in total.


    Each door was ten feet high.

 Chapter 323 Chapter 279: Sword Command, 7th Layer (Combined, Requesting Monthly Pass)_2

    323  Chapter 279: Sword Command, 7th Layer (Combined, Requesting Monthly Pass)_2


    ```


    And it was extraordinarily mysterious.


    To be safe, he still did not immediately enter, but used the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin and the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map to hide again in a corner.


    He was not in a hurry, and he could not afford to be.


    Whether it was falling into a Formation or exposing his identity, neither was acceptable to him.


    The former might result in instant death.


    As for the latter, the consequence of exposing one''s identity would be the Lin Family having to move into Shuangmu Island as a whole.


    Moreover, it was very likely that the Qingxuan Sect would not give him the opportunity.


    The waiting time was torturous, but as he saw two more people walking out of the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Shiming came up with another conjecture.


    The Heavenly Sword True Person''s incarnation of the Qingxuan Sect was also buying time...


    The nature of the Scripture Pavilion meant that if the Qingxuan Sect wanted to obtain as many Cultivation Techniques as possible, they must let all cultivators go to the Scripture Pavilion to snatch them.


    The cultivators who initially went to the Scripture Pavilion would surely have obtained them, and those would be the people at the gate of the sect.


    But the other cultivators who, like him, were checking the Alchemy Pavilion, Artifact Refining Pavilion, and the main hall of the Taibai Sword Palace through the other five passages, would definitely not have enough time to obtain Cultivation Techniques from the Scripture Pavilion.


    With his conjecture confirmed, Lin Shiming felt greatly reassured.


    In his mind, he was still communicating with the Flaming Sword.


    "I hope Senior Flame Yang would inform me about the matters of the Scripture Pavilion. I would be eternally grateful!"


    "Gratitude isn''t necessary, but including the help in breaking the Formation and teaching you how to acquire the Fuling Fire Mulberry Tree, this will be the second time. Now is the last time I will help you, which will compensate for you bringing me out. After this, even if I meet Senior Grass, I shall have no regrets!"


    14:27


    "Gratitude isn''t necessary, but including the help in breaking the Formation and teaching you how to acquire the Fuling Fire Mulberry Tree, this will be the second time. Now is the last time I will help you, which will compensate for you bringing me out. After this, even if I meet Senior Grass, I shall have no regrets!"


    Flame Yang took the initiative to speak, making the matter of leaving very clear.


    This made Lin Shiming feel somewhat dejected, knowing that if they had the Soul Summoning Sword, his Lin Family would be able to develop faster in the Outer Sea.


    But at the same time, he understood that these Soul Summoning Swords, like Flame Yang, would not pay much attention to you if they did not recognize you.


    Not slaughtering your Divine Sense and forcefully occupying your spirit body was already highly ethical.


    Lin Shiming nodded, and Flame Yang continued:


    "As the Taibai Sword Palace was a Nascent Soul Power with some fame at the time, its Scripture Pavilion naturally far exceeded usual sects. There are exactly nine hundred and ninety-nine protective Formations, of which thirty percent are formations within formations, fourth-rank Formations make up another thirty percent, with five fifth-rank Formations and one sixth-rank Formation. Even a Nascent Soul True Person forcing their way through would not have an easy time!"


    "To enter the Scripture Pavilion, there is only that main door leading to the Scripture Pavilion. The main door has two gates, while the false gates are four."


    "Entering through the main gate leads to the six-level inheritance wall. Depending on your Cultivation Level and rank, the appropriate floor will be automatically chosen for disciples. However, entering through a false gate leads directly to a deadly Formation!"


    "And to enter through the main gate, you need the disciple''s Token of the Taibai Sword Palace!"


    "Holding the Token means the main gate, and you need a pair to get through! That''s why you see people always entering and leaving in pairs!"


    Words of light from within the stone wall enveloped him.


    Lin Shiming also drew forth the Laiyun Sword and nine other magic swords.


    He lifted his head as the Sword Path Grass Seed in his chest reached its peak, and torrents of Grass Sword Intent surged forth.


    For a moment, the Sword Intent began to pervade, and one by one, grass seeds appeared in the void.


    With the gentle breeze, the seeds began to sprout.


    Eventually, ten Heaven-Slaying Sword Grasses emerged.


    And at this moment, the Sword Intent in Lin Shiming''s eyes also reached its peak.


    The ten Sword Grasses corresponded to the ten styles of Heaven-Slaying!


    And with the interweaving of sword light, the ten Grass Swords formed a formation, complementing the ten magic swords.


    The Heaven-Slaying Sword Formation took shape, with countless burgeoning Grass Sword Intents filling the air around it, resonating with it.


    "Tribulation Transcending!"


    With a soft cry, a vast expanse of sword light blazed forth like the stars in the sky, slashing out with blinding brightness, and at this moment, Lin Shiming''s spirit soared like the clouds.


    Boom!


    At that instant, the inheritance wall, like a pierced sky, acquired a gigantic hole.


    Yet Lin Shiming was unconcerned with this scene, instead focusing on quickly reciting the sect rules.


    Once, twice!


    Ten times, a hundred times!


    Finally, as the last word was recited, the huge hole transformed into a sky full of starlight, starting to shatter like a mirror.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but shut his eyes involuntarily.


    Upon opening them again, he found himself before three inheritance walls, each representing a different cultivation technique.


    And Lin Shiming was overjoyed, for fewer inheritance walls indicated the higher the floor he had reached.


    If his guess was right, this was the seventh floor, the legendary seventh floor that supposedly had only six.


    "Well done!"


    At that moment, Flame Yang within Lin Shiming''s third Spirit Platform couldn''t help but nod in approval, and the emergence of the seventh floor left him astounded for a long time.


    Lin Shiming approached the three inheritance walls. The first one he saw was brimming with surging waves, embodying the Sword Intent of the great ocean, named the Sword Manual of Oceanic Tides!


    With a slight projection of Divine Sense, he immediately felt as if he were in the open sea, with rolling waves!


    He shook his head and hastily withdrew, fearing he might mistakenly opt for this technique.


    He moved on to the second stone wall, which depicted a sky filled with flames. This was not a sword manual, but a fire attribute cultivation technique called the Fiery Firmament True Scripture.


    Lin Shiming also cast a quick glance before stepping away.


    He then arrived at the last stone wall!

 Chapter 432 - 322: The Token Spell, Lin Shiming (Triple Update for reren1500鈥檚 Reward)

    In the council hall, everyone¡¯s expression began to turn solemn, especially Lin Houyong¡¯s.


    The Chen Family, once ranked third in Yunzhou, was wiped out just like that!


    This signifies that the situation in Yunzhou could be described as extremely chaotic.


    Among the rising major families, besides the Zhang Family, any one of them could possibly be supported by a sect, with a Purple Mansion cultivator behind them.


    "The situation in Qingzhou and Jinzhou is no better either," Lin Houyong spoke up once again.


    Lin Shiming also frowned. The worse the situation, the more turbulent it got for the Qingxuan Sect too.


    They dared not act rashly; they were waiting for the right time!


    And those ¡¯True Persons¡¯ from the other sects were also watching, but they would definitely probe relentlessly.


    And in probing, the damage would inevitably be to the cultivating families and loose cultivators within Zhao Kingdom¡¯s territory.


    "Uncle, temporarily restrict the family¡¯s cultivators from going out, and also increase the production of Spirit Talismans and Spirit Pills needed for war and battle from the Talisman Hall and the pill refining halls. Sooner or later, there will be a tough battle!"


    "In addition, make sure to keep the mountain protection arrays of all key mountain regions within the family¡¯s territory activated all day long. Do not worry about conserving Spirit Stones!"


    Lin Shiming too spoke out.


    The Lin Family now had not only Spirit Stone mines on Spirit Turtle Island, but also income from Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones in the mountain ranges around Feng City in Qingyun.@@@@


    Lin Houyong nodded. This command would certainly impact the family¡¯s finances and business operations for the time being.


    But it was the best countermeasure!


    "Furthermore, increase the frequency of Spirit Root testing to once a year, even if it means a loss for the Spirit Testing Plates. It must be done annually!"


    "Inside the family, also widely distribute Second Rank Turtle Spirit Coconuts!" Lin Shiming spoke up again.


    He looked towards the direction of the Qingyun mountain range, and remembered the conversation between the Yunling hill people and the Green Cloud Fox demonic race.


    Now that they have Foundation Establishment Pills, he no longer needed to worry.


    "Uncle, help me collect any information on Soul-Suppressing Stones as much as possible!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    If he could refine a few Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, he was confident that even those veteran early-stage cultivators from Purple Mansion would be subdued by him!


    "No problem!" Lin Houyong nodded, that was something the family could help with for Lin Shiming.


    Once the main direction was decided, Lin Houyong began adding details to ensure that the family could survive the coming flood and rise to a higher level.


    All family members also immediately sprang into action.


    It was then that Lin Shiming found himself with some free time, holding a Jade Slip, and he returned to the Qinglian Pool once more.


    Within the Jade Slip was a message from Xie An.


    Xie An¡¯s message was brief, with no additional implications.


    But it was precisely its brevity that made him hesitate!


    Enjoy new stories from novelhall.Co?m


    He did not set off right away but returned to the Cave Heaven World instead.


    Before he had figured out how to respond, the longer he dragged out time, the more he could discern.


    He took out the Leaping Void Disk and quietly stimulated it with True Yuan, before finally inserting it into his Purple Mansion and beginning to quietly refine it.


    After ten days, he opened his eyes, and the Leaping Void Disk had appeared within him.


    The next moment, with a burst of light, his figure leaped from the stone platform at the peak¡¯s summit and appeared next to the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Tree, startling the Golden Winged Mantis awake in an instant.


    Its triangular head clearly had no idea what had happened.


    Trying to rub against Lin Shiming¡¯s body, but finding nothing, it was thwarted!


    While Lin Shiming had already made another leap, appearing next to the Red-haired Demon Monkey, the monkey leaped down from under the fruit tree and then looked at Lin Shiming, howling twice as if it was feeding time, its fiery red hands reaching for the Storage Bag at Lin Shiming¡¯s waist!

 Chapter 433 - 322: The Token Spell, Lin Shiming (Triple Update for reren1500鈥檚 Reward)_2

    He cried out excitedly.


    But he still came up empty!


    Afterward, his jaw dropped extremely low as he grumbled nonstop, looking frustrated and muttering to himself!


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming¡¯s body leaped again, returning to the stone platform at the peak!


    Lin Shiming exhaled a breath of turbid air, the Leaping Void Disk appearing in his hand.


    His fondness for the Leaping Void Disk grew once more in his heart.


    Indeed, just as he had guessed, the Leaping Void Disk could leap within a range of a hundred meters, but the consumption of True Yuan was huge, and it demanded a lot from the body.


    Your next read is at novelhall.Co?m


    Every time he leaped through space, his body was squeezed by it.


    However, his physical body was of the Purple Mansion Body Refinement caliber, much stronger than that Taoist Robe Cultivator¡¯s, allowing him to leap three consecutive times. But when he tried to leap again, a severe pain shot through his body, clearly having reached its limit!


    Inside the Leaping Void Disk, it also needed to be primed with True Yuan, transforming it into spatial spiritual power. He estimated that with the Leaping Void Disk fully charged, it could be used to leap five times.


    Having secured the Leaping Void Disk, Lin Shiming did not stop; he also refined the Taoist Robe Cultivator¡¯s three Flying Blade Treasures, along with Longsword Treasures.


    And he didn¡¯t stop there.


    In his hands, without knowing when, two more treasures appeared, a huge gold brick in the left hand and a scroll in the right!


    The gold brick magical treasure was clearly a strength-type treasure, named Golden Light Brick. It greatly aided his physical cultivation strength, while the scroll treasure was an incomplete magical treasure he had longed for countless times.


    Previously, he had no time, but now he could truly try to refine this treasure.


    He first put aside the scroll treasure and quietly refined the Golden Light Brick. To his delight, he discovered that this treasure was actually an Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank Magical Artifact, a grade higher than both his Flying Sword Treasures and the Leaping Void Disk!


    It took a full month to refine the gold brick treasure.


    At the wave of his hand, a huge gold brick suddenly grew many times larger and then smashed into the void, immediately causing a massive distortion in space, revealing its immense power.


    Even if incomplete, if word of this treasure got out, he estimated that every Cultivator in the Eastern Domain would pursue him to the ends of the earth.


    But he still hesitated, unsure if he could use the Spiritual Treasure.


    At this moment, he even worried that if he used it, his True Yuan would be completely drained!


    One should know that a Fifth Rank magical treasure was not something a Cultivator of his realm could use, not to mention a Spiritual Treasure.


    Yet despite the myriad of doubts in his heart, Lin Shiming still wanted to give it a try.


    Perhaps, the incomplete Spiritual Treasure could indeed be used by Purple Mansion Cultivators, but of course, all this depended on whether he could master the core decree.


    He skillfully cast the Spirit Controlling Seal, which appeared on the surface of the scroll treasure. Sure enough, the scroll soon began to radiate layer upon layer of spirit light.


    Above the spirit light, faint letters started to emerge.


    For Immortal Cultivators, a Qi Cultivator could scan and memorize lines at a glance.


    For Purple Mansion Cultivators, roughly a hundred ancient texts can be comprehended in less than a quarter of an hour under the presence of powerful Divine Sense.


    But Lin Shiming¡¯s complexion quickly fell, for he could not comprehend the core decree.


    Even though it was only the first layer of the core decree.


    Even though there weren¡¯t many words!


    He tried hard to manipulate his own True Yuan, attempting to evolve it according to the spirit characters of the core decree, but the more he evolved, the more terrifying it became.


    After a full day, he not only failed to evolve a single word or phrase but his eyes turned bloodshot instead.


    This core decree was simply beyond the grasp of a Purple Mansion Cultivator.


    Lin Shiming had to accept this reality.


    In the distance, the sunrise ascended, marking the arrival of a new day, and the system prompt emerged once again:


    "Please employ the Minor Divine Ability, the Light of Deduction, to accelerate the comprehension of the core decree!"

 Chapter 434 - 322: The Token Spell, Lin Shiming (Triple Update for reren1500鈥檚 Reward)_3

    Lin Shiming heard the prompt and was immediately moved.


    Indeed, he had another Minor Divine Ability, and this one was obviously more powerful than the Revival Wind¡¯s Minor Divine Ability.


    He looked towards the Purple Mansion within him, where the foundational Spirit Patterns had already branched out, and on the leaves, there were speckles of vibrant Spirit Patterns, dazzling to the utmost.


    He did not immediately use it, but instead took out the Mingxin Tea on the spot, began to consume it, and operated the Split Spirit Decision, restoring his condition to its best before taking out the scroll Magical Treasure and also triggering the foundational Spirit Patterns.


    Streams of dazzling Spirit Light surged out from the foundational Spirit Patterns, then spread throughout his mind. At this moment, the complex and difficult-to-understand Magical Treasure Decision had become considerably easier to comprehend.


    He suppressed his excitement, not daring to waste a single second.


    He began to slowly comprehend, and the more he understood, the stronger he realized the Magical Treasure Decision was, and also the more he anticipated the power of the incomplete Spiritual Treasure.@@@@


    Time passed, minute by minute, and after one day, the light from the foundational Spirit Patterns had completely dissipated.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s body was still sitting cross-legged on the stone platform, as he had basically grasped the first layer of the Spirit Art for the Magical Treasure Decision.


    What came next was cultivation.


    Spring turned to autumn, and half a year passed, accompanied by a flash of Spirit Light.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s body seemed to begin circulating with one Spirit Character after another.


    These Spirit Characters, like characters from the heaven, shone with a golden light, yet remained vague and difficult to discern.


    It was at this time that the scroll Magical Treasure finally moved, charging towards Lin Shiming¡¯s Purple Mansion.


    And Lin Shiming suddenly felt a terrifying suction force broadcasting from it.


    It made his expression involuntarily change as he tried to stop the suction force.


    Under such terrifying suction, it wouldn¡¯t be long before his True Yuan would be completely depleted, and if things got worse, he could even lose his life right on the spot.


    However, as the scroll Spiritual Treasure absorbed True Yuan rapidly, it stopped drawing on more just as Lin Shiming¡¯s True Yuan was about to be exhausted.


    And the scroll in his sea of consciousness transformed back to its ordinary appearance, without the Spirit Light, and without the Spirit Might.


    Only his True Yuan was slowly flowing into it.


    Lin Shiming took out the Spiritual Tea, trying to see if it could speed up the recovery, but he soon found that the effects of the Third-Rank Mingxin Tea had completely vanished.


    The recovery period for the Spirit Light remained at ten years!


    Lin Shiming wasn¡¯t too disappointed, for the ability of the foundational Spirit Patterns was equally astonishing; once every ten years, in his eyes, was already quite remarkable.


    After finishing the tests, Lin Shiming¡¯s body could no longer hold back and he fell into a deep sleep.


    ...


    Not far from Fangmu Mountain, a red sword light quickly whisked through the air.


    In the blink of an eye, it headed towards the outer periphery of Qingyun Mountain.


    The black light was fast, but in the blink of an eye, it was blocked by a sword light condensed from five-colored Spiritual Flames.


    The red sword light was Lin Shijie, yet the next moment, his sword was abruptly stopped.


    In his eyes was an expression of disbelief, because the person in front of him should have been long dead!


    "Brother!" The black-robed figure took off the felt hat, revealing an indifferent face, dressed in the garb of the Corpse Refining Sect.


    On his back, he carried a miniature coffin!


    Lin Shijie¡¯s emotions fluctuated violently, certain he hadn¡¯t mistaken the identity.


    "I am not your brother!"


    "You don¡¯t deserve to call me brother!" Lin Shijie¡¯s expression turned cold.


    His eyes briefly closed as if he couldn¡¯t bear it, then quickly opened again.


    Within his gaze, a mix of murderous intent and helplessness each surfaced in turn!


    The person before him was none other than Lin Shimo, who was believed to have perished while treasure hunting with Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi back in the day.


    He was the one who used to vie with Lin Shijie in secret!


    Back then, he was one of the three strongest in the Lin Family!


    At this point, Lin Shijie needed no further proof to understand that Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi had deceived the family, that Lin Shimo hadn¡¯t died but had instead joined the Corpse Refining Sect.

 Chapter 435 - 322: The Token Spell, Lin Shiming (Triple Update for reren1500鈥檚 Reward)_4

    He had even made it to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    But in his view, death was preferable. Joining the Corpse Refining Sect was tantamount to straying into the path of demons!


    "Big brother, although paths differ, we converge on the same goal. Shimo doesn¡¯t see where he¡¯s wrong. Second brother and the seventh have helped me, and I hope for your understanding!"


    "What convergence on the same goal? if you take a good look at your filthy Dao heart, do you still have the audacity to say such words?" Lin Shijie scorned to the extreme.


    What kind of sect was the Corpse Refining Sect? It desecrated ancestral graves, killed living people to refine corpses, and even used women and children for such practices¡ªutterly devoid of any bottom line.


    This twisted pursuit of cultivation and strength was not the Immortal Path at all!


    Stay updated via novelhall.Co?m


    "Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll kill you?" Lin Shijie asked coldly.


    In his hand, the Spiritual Flame once again, under the influence of the fire-forged Sword Intent, transformed into a flame sword!


    "Big brother¡¯s talent truly is the Lin Family¡¯s number one prodigy, but Shimo isn¡¯t here to argue. I¡¯ve come to save the Lin Family!"


    Lin Shiming¡¯s expression showed no fear; his face was as cold and indifferent as those who practice corpse refinement.


    Years of dealing with spiritual corpses had made him forget how to smile.


    "Basically every Foundation Establishment family in Yunzhou is now covertly controlled by The Great Sects, and Heavenly Demon Sect¡¯s next target is Fangmu Mountain, with plans to strike within a year!"


    Lin Shiming continued.


    What Third Rank late-stage spiritual corpse could compare to his Five Extreme Flames?


    But he understood that Lin Shiming also came to provide intelligence, out of goodwill.


    When it came to being competitive, after encountering Lin Shiming, the only one who could incite him to contend and strive during these times was Lin Shiming himself.


    Risking revealing the true strength of Lin Family in such a fight was utterly irrational!


    Lin Shiming wanted to say more!


    But he only saw Lin Shijie mount his Flying Sword and disappear into the mountain range.


    Leaving Lin Shiming alone, standing still, as he tried hard to remember Lin Shijie¡¯s face from the past. But soon he shook his head and caressed the coffin on his back.


    ...


    Inside a pavilion on Fangmu Mountain, Lin Shiming fell silent as he looked over the information delivered by Lin Shijie. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Shiming to appear again.


    And that the next target of Heavenly Demon Sect would actually be their Lin Family.


    "Big brother, speak with fifth uncle. Have the family make preparations to prevent an attack from the Heavenly Demon Sect in a year!"


    "We¡¯ve delayed long enough, it¡¯s also time to visit Qingyun Market, to see Xie An, to see Yunling Hermit!" Lin Shiming muttered to himself.


    As he pondered, the image of a strikingly beautiful silhouette surfaced in his mind!


    At this moment, he suddenly realized he had no choice; reality forced him, and he must walk the same path as Yunling Hermit!

 Chapter 436 - 323: Testing, Purpose (Two in One)

    In Qingyun Marketplace, before the Lin Family Restaurant, Lin Houyuan appeared hurried as he entered the third floor of the restaurant under the curious gazes of the Loose Cultivators dining there.


    The marketplace nowadays¡ªseveral of the Lin Family¡¯s shops had already become household names due to the enormous foot traffic.


    Even the Zhang Family found themselves slightly outmatched.


    After all, the Pill and Magic Artifact Pavilion offered custom services without the need for Spirit Stones, requiring only extra raw materials.


    For those Loose Cultivators, as long as they came out alive from Qingyun Mountain Range, they would have some materials, more or less!


    And the Lin Family Restaurant provided various spiritual dishes, as well as Second Rank Mingxin Tea, Second Rank Monkey Wine, and Qingling Wine.


    They also had the audacity to use some empty shops to offer secluded cultivation facilities.


    Most importantly, the Lin Family¡¯s membership system, the rebate program, and promotions such as giving away Fasting Pills were the earliest forms of marketing in the Qingyun Marketplace.


    Even though the other clans quickly copied these methods, none could match the same effectiveness.


    The unique Blood Crocodile Spiritual Dish, Monkey Wine, and Mingxin Tea had long since become signature offerings of the Qingyun Marketplace.


    What people were curious about was that the third floor of Lin Family¡¯s restaurant had never been open to the public.


    As the restaurant opened up, Lin Houyuan, dressed in a Daoist robe, entered with a smile.


    Inside, a young man in green robe was seated at a table, modestly and courteously brewing tea.


    "Shiming!" Lin Houyuan was obviously excited. For their family, the most stable source of income was now the Qingyun Marketplace, which was also frequented by the Zhangs and Xie An.


    No one had made a move against the Lin Family.


    But that didn¡¯t hinder the multitude of cultivators who covertly coveted what they had. Even after Lin Houyuan¡¯s breakthrough into Foundation Establishment, he was under immense pressure.


    He even dared not fully devote himself to cultivation while in the marketplace!


    "Uncle Thirty!" Lin Shiming too greeted him with a smile.


    The two sat down opposite each other, with Lin Shiming pouring Spiritual Tea for Lin Houyuan.


    "Uncle Thirty, has anyone caused trouble at our Alchemy Pavilion, Artifact Refining Pavilion, or restaurant?" Stay connected with novelhall.Co?m


    "No!" Lin Houyuan¡¯s gaze shifted as he saw the expression on Lin Shiming¡¯s face.


    He began to ponder the implications of Lin Shiming¡¯s words, but he quickly got the point, breaking into a cold sweat with a look of alarm and quickly adding.


    "Shiming, I¡¯ll go contact some Loose Cultivators right away to cause a stir, shall I?"


    "It would be best if they were from the five major clans!" Lin Shiming nodded and added, before taking up his cup of tea and gently sipping it.


    Lin Houyuan instantly understood what was being implied!


    It wouldn¡¯t be surprising for a new cultivator to emerge from the secretive five major clans!


    In the current situation, Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t assume that simply being in the Purple Mansion was enough to ensure victory. His only advantage was his ability to conceal his cultivation level.


    Nobody knew the Lin Family¡¯s true strength!


    Lin Houyuan left quickly, while Lin Shiming closed his eyes, and somehow a Spirit Talisman appeared in his hand.


    He sat quietly, waiting¡ªone moment, two moments!


    The tea had cooled, and unknown to him, a commotion had begun outside.


    In his palm, the Spirit Talisman finally began to emit Spirit Light and then vanished into the void, heading towards the center of Qingyun Marketplace.


    Soon after, he took out a new set of tea ware and a Storage Bag.


    Waiting for the good news!


    After a while, he walked down to the base of the Qingqing Restaurant, and at some point, two factions had begun a standoff.


    Because the third floor had opened, some inquisitive Loose Cultivators were discussing, and now with someone picking a fight, everyone turned to look.


    The assortment was extremely sensitive to the changes in Yunzhou.


    "You of the Lin Family occupy so much terrain; do you have any cultivators in the late stage of Foundation Establishment?" Several cultivators dressed in the Zhao Family¡¯s robes spoke out, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator leading them.

 Chapter 437 - 323: Testing, Purpose (Two in One)_2

    And the one standing against them was none other than Lin Houyuan.


    "Of course, we have cultivators at the later stage of Foundation Establishment, and the division of territory for the market has been witnessed by the deacons of Qingxuan Sect and with the permission of Yunling Hermit!"


    "Even so, the boundaries must be redrawn. Why should you occupy the best location?"


    "On what basis? Are you not from a Foundation Establishment family of Yunzhou? Have you received recognition from the Qingxuan Sect?"


    The spiritual pressure of Lin Shiming, being at the later stage of Foundation Establishment, was suddenly released fiercely.


    The surging spiritual pressure pressed down several cultivators in Taoist robes, including the leading Foundation Establishment cultivator whose face turned remarkably red and whose legs shook with overwhelming humiliation.


    The words of Lin Shiming not only struck the hearts of the Zhao Family cultivators but also resonated with many onlooking cultivators gathered there.


    Among these onlookers were quite a few cultivators acting as informants for the five major families.


    They couldn¡¯t help but ponder over the meaning behind Lin Shiming¡¯s words!


    In particular, several informants from the Zhao Family were utterly dumbfounded.


    Just then, a fiery red streak of Dao light flew across the sky.


    "Shiming has seen Hermit Tai¡¯an, Congratulations on the great achievement of your divine skills!" Lin Shiming hurriedly waved his hand in greeting, and the person who arrived was none other than Xie An, unseen for over twenty years.


    Apart from Lin Shiming, all members of the Lin Family then started to offer their greetings and congratulations.


    For a time, those loose cultivators naturally did not want to offend a hermit, and they too offered their felicitations.


    By contrast, those cultivators from the Zhao Family in Taoist robes did not make a move.


    Of course, already sweating profusely and looking extraordinarily pale under the spiritual pressure of Lin Shiming, they found it difficult even to speak!


    "The hermit has seen something laughable here. A few cultivators boldly demanding a share of Qingyun market just because they rely on their cultivation, I taught them a lesson!"


    "All the families under Yunzhou bear the name Qingxuan!"


    "How can they act so recklessly!" Lin Shiming rebuked angrily.


    His eyes turned to Xie An, and at that moment, Xie An¡¯s gaze also met Lin Shiming¡¯s.


    Xie An¡¯s divine sense was probing Lin Shiming¡¯s body in an extremely covert manner.


    If it had been an ordinary cultivator at the later stage of Foundation Establishment, they might not have noticed, but Lin Shiming¡¯s divine soul was considerably stronger than Xie An¡¯s.


    Xie An¡¯s subtle move was naturally spotted by him but was bound to fail.


    For at this moment, he appeared merely as a cultivator who had just entered the later stage of Foundation Establishment.


    After exchanging glances for a moment, Xie An then looked towards the Zhao Family cultivators:


    "Are you questioning the rules of the Qingxuan Sect?"


    "Back to the hermit, we dare not!"


    The cultivators from the Zhao Family immediately begged for mercy.


    As Lin Shiming¡¯s spiritual pressure increased, a loud boom followed, and the several of them fell flat on the ground, unable to move at all.


    "Uncle Thirty, you¡¯ll handle the rest. Have the Zhao Family come to redeem them!" Lin Shiming waved his hand, took out the Corpse-Binding Belt, tied up the cultivators, and then escorted Xie An into the third floor of the Lin Tavern.


    "The technique to create a spiritual avatar outside one¡¯s body, I can give that to you as well!" Xie An took out a jade slip.


    "Just the information will do!"


    Lin Shiming was somewhat tempted at this moment. By providing information, he could obtain the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit and the technique for creating a spiritual avatar, which was a huge deal.


    Only he didn¡¯t know the whereabouts of the Flaming Sword; indeed, he once thought of deceiving it away, to enshrine it with the Lin Family, and at a critical moment, it could unleash the power of a Golden Core!


    "This is a transmission token; if you have information, come find me anytime!" Xie An said after listening, there was a moment of silence before he stood up and left a transmission token, then departed directly.


    Lin Shiming also immediately saw him off and gave Xie An two-tenths of the income from the market shops of recent years!


    After seeing off Xie An, Lin Shiming returned to his room, still somewhat puzzled as to why Xie An was seeking the Flame Sun Sword.


    In the end, having no leads, he could only let it go.


    But in his heart, he also learned another piece of information: the Zi Xuan Hermit must have solidified his Golden Core.


    This meant that the method to forge the Soul Summoning Sword into a pill was feasible!


    With four Soul Summoning Swords, the Qingxuan Sect could, barring accidents, see the emergence of four Golden Core True Persons.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming suddenly understood why Xie An referred to those cultivators as nothing more than jumping clowns.


    Four Golden Core sword cultivators, paired with Soul Summoning Swords, even if they were new to Golden Core, their combat strength was absolutely not weak.


    That would mean the Qingxuan Sect would have eight Golden Cores!


    At this thought, Lin Shiming broke into a cold sweat. He had previously considered playing both sides, but now it seemed the Qingxuan Sect was more reliable.


    He couldn¡¯t help but doubt Xie An¡¯s motives.


    Was it also for the purpose of solidifying a Golden Core in the Purple Mansion?


    Lin Shiming shook his head; with Flame Yang¡¯s enhancement, Xie An couldn¡¯t withstand even a moment!


    He wouldn¡¯t be able to obtain the secret technique for using the Soul Summoning Sword to solidify a pill in the Purple Mansion!


    On the contrary, it seemed like the Qingxuan Sect was searching for the Flame Sun Sword!


    Did they offer a great reward or maybe a threat?


    While hesitating, Lin Shiming took out the Taiyi Sword Grass Seeds, thinking that to find the Flame Sun Sword, perhaps the Taiyi Sword Grass Seed could be a lead.


    And the system notification suddenly rang out:


    "Let the Taiyi Sword Grass take root, and water it with Sword Intent, it can attract the Flame Sun Sword!"


    As soon as the system notification appeared, Lin Shiming was utterly convinced; indeed, the Taiyi Sword Grass Seeds could work.


    But now, of course, he would not rush to cultivate the Taiyi Sword Grass Seeds!


    Having learned Xie An¡¯s intentions and clarified the situation in Yunzhou, what lay ahead was facing the attack from the Heavenly Demon Sect!


    This time, he only hoped that the Heavenly Demon Sect would send just one Purple Mansion, otherwise even if he could fend them off, he might expose himself.


    And before that, the refining of the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda must also be moved up the schedule.


    He called over Lin Houyuan, and also learned that Yunling Hermit had once again gone to the Feng City in Hong Maple Ridge.


    On the surface, it was to protect Feng City, but in reality, it was for a transaction.

 Chapter 458 Chapter 329: External Incarnation Technique Secret Method, Run Fast (Two in One)

    458  Chapter 329: External Incarnation Technique Secret Method, Run Fast (Two in One)


    On Fangmu Mountain, Lin Houyong directed all the cultivators in cleaning the battlefield, and every cultivator''s face was brimming with smiles.


    All the Third Rank Demonic Beasts had also been taken back, and the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators had concealed themselves within Fangmu Mountain.


    Only Lin Houyong and Lin Shijie remained, organizing everything in the void with efficiency and order.


    And those Qi Cultivation clanspeople of the Lin Family still reveled in the afterglow, both delighted at the family''s strength and filled with even greater expectations for Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion.


    In the past, because the Lin Family had sealed the news, most cultivators only harbored the thought that reaching Foundation Establishment was as hard as ascending to the heavens.


    Especially since Foundation Establishment Pills became increasingly difficult to purchase, even though the family provided an exceptionally generous stipend, for those with less impressive talent, only one or two in a generation could obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill!


    But now, having seen a good dozen of the family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators, how could they not realize the family''s strength far exceeded their imaginations?


    Lin Houfei and Lin Houyong, who achieved Foundation Establishment after sixty, also gave many of the elders over sixty renewed hope!


    "Perhaps everyone is puzzled and confused, wondering why, even though the family''s strength has clearly reached Purple Mansion with over a dozen or twenty people at Foundation Establishment, we did not announce it to the world. Why does the family endure in silence, not allowing you to enjoy the prestige that belongs to a Purple Mansion Family cultivator!" Standing in the void, as the Family Head, Lin Houyong drew everyone''s focus at this moment.


    By this time, the bodies of the enemies from the Heavenly Demon Sect had been cleared, and their Storage Bags had been completely confiscated by the family!


    Lin Houyong gripped a Heavenly Demon banner in one hand!


    After scanning all the clanspeople, he slowly began to speak.


    "Because, you never know when danger will strike!"


    Every member of the Lin Family Clan suddenly fell silent because this was the truth.


    Whether it was a surprise attack by the Heavenly Demon Sect, an assault by an enemy, or even an attack on Lingnan County, it was always the same!


    The Cultivation World is not a place where if you wish to cultivate peacefully, others will let you be.


    "Furthermore, let me clarify here, as long as you are talented enough, as long as you are outstanding, whether it''s your cultivation level, your combat prowess, your skills as an Alchemist, Artifact Refining, or your Formation technique, as long as you can become the best among your peers, a Foundation Establishment Pill will be yours to have!" Lin Houyong spoke again, making a promise.


    "The family''s end goal has never been to stop at Purple Mansion!"


    Boom!


    With these words, numerous people became ecstatic!


    You must know, what they had feared before was the lack of Foundation Establishment Pills, only to find that their worries were in vain!


    And this occasion marked the first public announcement by the Lin Family.


    It was this moment that solidified their determination on the path of Immortal Cultivation and reinforced their loyalty to the family!


    In their eyes, a new world unfolded!


    In the Martial Practice Hall, the sound of cheers began to rise and roll unceasingly!


    Cultivators are human too; they have emotions and desires. Many cultivators deny this, but the truth remains that many cannot escape the greed for longevity or for power, never achieving desirelessness.


    There''s no need to achieve desirelessness either; for cultivators, the only thing that matters is to be true to oneself.


    And for the cultivators of the family, this was even more the case.


    "After this, most of you cultivators will enter another of the family''s clan lands, where you will find a broader platform!" After a while, Lin Houyong spoke again.


    And the clanspeople below harbored no objection; they trusted the family''s arrangements!


    Moreover, most clanspeople had an idea about the other clan land, since many talents had disappeared for a long while.


    The fact that they could go now also signified that the family intended to invest more effort in nurturing them!


    Their hearts swelled with excitement.

 Chapter 459 Chapter 329: External Incarnation Technique Secret Method, Run Fast (Two in One)_2

    459  Chapter 329: External Incarnation Technique Secret Method, Run Fast (Two in One)_2


    "Alright, the clan competition shall continue!" Lin Houyong continued speaking, and the family competition proceeded.


    However, what was different was that in the eyes of each member of the Lin Family Clan, there was now even more passion and fervor!


    Lin Houyong was extremely satisfied and greatly comforted.


    Presumably, in the next twenty to thirty years, the cultivators of the Lin Family would continue to grow at a terrifying rate!


    Of course, the challenges facing the Lin Family would also become greater and greater, with more secrets becoming known to others, necessitating even more caution.


    But ever since the migration of mortals began, the Lin Family''s secrets had been more or less under scrutiny; yet, as long as the Transmission Formation wasn''t leaked, the Lin Family would always have a plan B against others.


    Moreover, ever since the Heavenly Demon Sect came knocking at their door, and with Shen Ji from the Qingxuan Sect suspected of having made a breakthrough to Nascent Soul, and Zi Xuan True Person breaking through to Golden Core.


    The Lin Family found it extremely difficult to stay hidden; they must contemplate each step deeply and strive to improve their strength!


    Foundation Establishment families were oppressed by the Purple Mansion Families!


    Purple Mansion Families were oppressed by Golden Core Sects!


    But once you reach the level of a Golden Core Family, you will naturally fear nothing!


    At Fangmu Mountain, Qinglian Pool, the Green Lotus became increasingly lush, with drops of dew like pearls.


    By the pavilion''s side, nearly all the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lin Family had stopped.


    Then they saw the cave dwelling finally open, and Lin Shiming walked out.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming had completed the soul searching and finally knew the intentions of the Heavenly Demon Sect, which were actually to capture a registered disciple who had practiced the modified cultivation technique from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Currently, Yunzhou was the most chaotic, and the only registered disciple in Yunzhou who had cultivated to Foundation Establishment was Lin Shiming himself.


    Furthermore, together with the Li Family seeking revenge, that was why they made a move against the Lin Family!


    Of course, it was also to keep an eye on the Qingxuan Sect at any time from a base within Yunzhou for the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    Lin Shiming felt rather overwhelmed, not because the Heavenly Demon Sect was after him, but because the Purple Wood Heart Sutra might actually involve Shen Ji True Person!


    In this world, aside from the Qingxuan Sect, he was the only one who knew that the Qingxuan Sect had obtained not only a Nascent Soul Technique but also the Blood Yulan, a treasure that facilitates a breakthrough to a Nascent Soul!


    He had also heard about the battle at Qingyun market, but he felt that it was not the real Shen Ji True Person. @@@@


    He was eighty percent sure that Shen Ji True Person might really be in the midst of breaking through to Nascent Soul. Considering that breaking through to Purple Mansion already required more than a decade, Golden Core even more so with three to four decades, and as for Nascent Soul, it must take at least fifty years to start. His visit to congratulate the Qingxuan Sect seemed fraught with the risk of being probed by Golden Core cultivators.


    And whether his Taoist Scripture could perfectly conceal itself was still an unknown!


    Besides, he had also learned from Xue Yun Hermit''s mouth that the Supreme Elder of the former Heavenly Demon Sect in the Myriad Demons Cave had not yet withered away.


    No less than four Great Sects and four Immortal Cultivation nations were covertly targeting the Qingxuan Sect while simultaneously negotiating with the Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect.


    If successful, it would mean six Great Sects joining together once again to oppose the Qingxuan Sect.


    And not just in Yunzhou, but also many families in Jinzhou and Qingzhou were being secretly controlled at the moment.


    ...


    Besides that, he only acquired some Spirit Stones and some rare Spiritual Medicines.


    "By the way, seventh great-uncle, the second son of Uncle Five has a Wind Spirit Root!" Lin Shiming shared another piece of good news for the Lin family.


    Everyone was overjoyed, but soon some began to frown.


    The Lin family had no wind attribute cultivation techniques, similar to how they lacked a suitable thunder attribute technique until Lei Xuan appeared, bringing forth techniques from the Lei Family!


    But at this moment, finding a wind attribute technique was even more difficult!


    If there were no suitable cultivation techniques, even though Lin Shiyuan possessed an exceptional spirit root, his cultivation speed would not be anything impressive, and he wouldn''t be able to take advantage of the exceptional spirit root!


    While everyone was still discussing, a distant sound was heard!


    "Seventh great-uncle, Uncle Seven!"


    Everyone looked towards the sound, only to see at the foothills of Fangmu Mountain, one figure leading another.


    In the front was Lin Shijie, and the figure following was Lin Shimo.


    Of course, at this moment, Lin Shimo was in tattered clothing, with sword marks all over his body, looking extremely wretched.


    Everybody was somewhat surprised, then turned to look at Lin Shiming, who also appeared somewhat embarrassed, simply shaking his head with a wry smile.


    He then narrated the events and situation of that day.


    Elders of the Lin family clan like Lin Xianzhi furrowed their brows, as this behavior was a violation of a major family taboo, but considering Lin Shiming''s age at the time, they didn''t say much.


    Moreover, it hadn''t led to any serious mistakes, and Lin Shimo didn''t know any family secrets!


    He hadn''t taken any actions detrimental to the family; instead, he had already warned the family twice!


    They all then turned their heads to look at Lin Shijie and Lin Shimo who were being led over.


    "Seventh great-uncle, eldest uncle, second uncle, Uncle Seven, second brother, run quickly, the Heavenly Demon Sect is going to mobilize a Purple Mansion Hermit!"


    "Whether you believe me or not, you must run quickly!"


    "This time, it''s the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Hermit Xue Yun, an old-school Purple Mansion cultivator, who is ruthless in action and has blood-sacrificed countless mortals!"


    "If you don''t retreat now, it''ll be too late!"


    ...


    As soon as Lin Shimo saw everyone, he also immediately shouted.


    At this moment, he didn''t care about the looks from others; although he had indeed defected from his family, his heart had always been with them.


    If only the family was safe this time, even if the elders cursed him, even beat or killed him, it would be fine!


    Just like over fifty years ago when he let Lin Shiming deal with him as he pleased.


    All he sought was to be without shame in his heart!


    ```

 Chapter 465 - 332: Avatar, Great Swathe (Two in One, Thanks for the Reward from No More Mount Fuji)

    In the Cave Heaven World, there was a stone chamber beneath a mountain peak.


    All was silent, severed from the outside by countless arrays.


    The External Incarnation Technique was being performed, allowing for not even the slightest disturbance!


    In front of Lin Shiming lay a spiritual corpse, which had been positioned with several Spirit Talismans.


    Beneath the corpse, a blood-colored array exuded thick spirit light, appearing incredibly sinister. Read new chapters at novelhall.Co?m@@@@


    Lin Shiming completed the final Zhou Tian cycle, exhaling a murky breath, his mental state adjusted to its best.


    At the same time, he had reviewed the secret technique of the External Incarnation Technique several times over in his mind.


    The Dharma Seal he turned was already nearing perfection under the system¡¯s prompt.


    In his mind, the Split Spirit Decision once again circulated, and his Divine Soul fully manifested in the Purple Mansion.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s brow furrowed, and gritting his teeth, he fiercely slashed out with the Split Spirit Blade, severing an entire half of his soul¡¯s arm.


    The arm swiftly transformed into spirit light and began to condense above the Purple Mansion, eventually burrowing into the corpse.


    The orb of light moved exceedingly slow, and with each passing second, the cold sweat on Lin Shiming¡¯s temples increased, his expression growing more ferocious.


    This was unlike the minor splits caused by cultivating the Split Spirit Decision; the tearing of even a small part of a cultivator¡¯s soul could cause an average cultivator to lose consciousness.


    Moreover, he now had to control the severed divine sense, apply a special method to transform it into a light orb similar to that used in possession, and then invade the spiritual corpse.


    Around Lin Shiming¡¯s neck, a Soul Nourishing Pendant began to emit a thick green light, and at the same time, an auxiliary array beneath his feet, concocted of various Spiritual Liquids, surged forth with spirit light, entering his body.


    Eventually the orb of light entered the spiritual corpse¡¯s body, and he sat down on the spot, beginning to form Spirit Arts with his hands. One spirit seal after another struck the array on the corpse, immediately causing torrents of bloody light to burst forth.


    The bloody light transformed into various Spirit Patterns and burrowed into the corpse, while the spiritual corpse, originally controlled by the Spirit Talismans, instantly began to roar madly, and several talismans spontaneously combusted into oblivion.


    The spiritual corpse, becoming uncontrollable, rushed toward Lin Shiming.


    Moreover, the incarnation couldn¡¯t travel too far from the original body, or it would lose control.


    Of course, he also discovered that the spatial interval of the Cave Heaven World did not affect his control over the incarnation, overall, the results completely met his expectations.


    It¡¯s just that such an incarnation, created by this method, could no longer make any progress.


    Lin Shiming then controlled the incarnation to begin cultivating the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, a necessary measure to deceive the several True Persons of the Qingxuan Sect.


    His original self, meanwhile, began to recover his Divine Sense, taking out a large number of Tribulation Forging Divine Pills to begin a period of quiet recuperation.


    Ten days later, Lin Shiming, clad in a green robe, appeared outside his secluded meditation chamber. The Red-haired Demon Monkey immediately approached, and Wang Jiao also kept transmitting divine soul fluctuations.


    "Stone, stone!"


    Clearly, the two beasts hadn¡¯t detected any anomalies.


    What the two beasts didn¡¯t know was that at this moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s original self was also chuckling as he watched this scene from beneath the stone chamber.


    Immediately after, he looked at Golden Wing, looked at the wood demon, looked at the Star Spirit Clam.


    Everything was extremely natural and deeply personal!


    Lin Shiming controlled the incarnation to exit the Cave Heaven World, and began to move around Fangmu Mountain, from the Preaching Hall to the Alchemy Pavilion, then to the Treasure Pavilion, Peach Blossom Forest, and finally stopping at Qinglian Lake.


    During this time, he encountered many cultivators from the Lin Family, including the current Family Head Lin Houyong and the master of the Artifact Refining Hall, Lin Houfei.


    But nothing was amiss, no one perceived anything unusual, their gazes were all very placid.


    Finally, Lin Shiming personally caught a few Red Spirit Fish before re-entering the Cave Heaven World.


    He descended into the meditation chamber to continue cultivating the Purple Wood Heart Sutra.


    He handed countless Cotton Yang Pills and Superior Grade Spirit Stones to the incarnation.


    And Lin Shiming¡¯s original self also settled down on a high platform on the mountain peak, holding a green leaf in his hand.


    This leaf was no other than the final move of the Heaven-Slaying Trio given by the Taiyi Grass Sword!

 Chapter 467 - 333: Hermit of the Ninth Heaven (Two-in-One, Thank You All for the Rewards)

    The council hall, Lin Shiming walked in, Lin Houyong and other elders of the clan were already seated, discussing important matters.


    "Fifth Uncle, Eleventh Uncle, Thirty-first Uncle!" Lin Shiming greeted respectfully.


    Lin Houyong, Lin Houxuan, and Lin Houfei also stood up. Stay tuned with novelhall.Co?m


    "Shiming, you¡¯ve finally left seclusion."


    Everyone was somewhat moved, and they also sharply noticed that Lin Shiming at this moment was different from before, as if they vaguely saw an immortal sword.


    That kind of sharp edge, the feeling of one becoming their own world, made them take notice, and even unconsciously retreat a step.


    "Congratulations, Shiming, for another breakthrough!" Lin Houyong also cupped his hands and spoke.


    "It¡¯s just a minor breakthrough, not worth mentioning!" Lin Shiming shook his head. After breaking through the Third Sword, he could now influence his surroundings at any time. He hadn¡¯t anticipated this outcome before, and now, he must quickly stabilize and contain it.


    Otherwise, if he released his Sword Intent unchecked, people might mistakenly believe he had reached the Sword Dao realm of Sword Saint Myriad Laws.


    Fortunately, he had the Sword Path Grass Seed, which would allow him to fully master it in just a few days.


    "Shiming, coming out of seclusion at this time coincides with two matters for you!" Lin Houyuan invited Lin Shiming to sit down, also poured some Spiritual Tea, and then took out a Jade Slip and a Storage Bag.


    "This contains the texts from the Southern Sea Cultivation World, the family has already sorted it out, and arrangements are being made for cultivators to enter the Southern Sea market to gather intelligence!"


    "Additionally, the purpose of the treasure-seeking cultivator has been discovered, they once encountered the Thunder Spirit Turtle and are now trying to capture its young to sell!"


    "Furthermore, the hundred thousand mortals and a thousand cultivators who migrated with the family are now on the right track!"


    "On the island, we have now developed three outer islands of Shuangmu Island, and we are continuously investing in Second Rank Turtle Spirit Coconuts, and the ordinary ones as well!"


    After all, a cultivation technique that leaked from the Qingxuan Sect was never truly flawless, and it certainly contained some trickery.


    From the memories of a Purple Mansion cultivator of the Heavenly Demon Sect, he was aware that Shen Ji True Person had indeed tampered with the technique.


    Although his system could mitigate this risk, the auction would inevitably involve the Lin Family¡¯s Wind Spirit Root cultivators.


    Of course, if the timing was right and he could avoid the risks, he might consider purchasing it, but he was more inclined to acquire a cultivation technique elsewhere, especially from secret markets.


    Typically with an auction, there will also be secret transactions.


    The real challenge was obtaining access to these markets and concealing one¡¯s identity.


    The Golden Core ceremony was a grand event in the Eastern Domain, and not to mention being organized by the Qingxuan Sect, it would attract much attention. Likely, many Golden Core cultivators would be present to offer their congratulations.


    As for the Purple Mansion, an unimaginable number might appear.


    After all, what Purple Mansion cultivators seek is the Golden Core Path, and a Golden Core cultivator breaking through to the Purple Mansion and speaking about the Great Dao is also a rare opportunity!


    Even the Purple Mansion cultivators from those sects are eager for such lectures!


    However, Lin Shiming was troubled that he could not participate in the sub-meetings for Purple Mansion cultivators.


    Otherwise, as a newly advanced Purple Mansion cultivator, his gains would be even greater.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s financial resources were not slight, whether it be Spirit Stones or Magical Treasures. Moreover, for underground auctions, as long as he had a black mask that blocked Divine Sense and a Sword Storing Book, few could see through him.


    "Fifth Uncle, if the family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators need any treasures, they can also give me a list!" Lin Shiming still offered.


    As a Foundation Establishment clan that only had five or six Foundation Establishment cultivators officially, the Lin Family was only sending two Foundation Establishment cultivators and two senior Qi Cultivation cultivators to the ceremony.

 Chapter 468 - 333: Hermit of the Ninth Heaven (Two-in-One, Thank You All for the Rewards)_2

    Among the two Qi Cultivators, one was Lin Zeli, the new dual Spirit Root Cultivator from the Lin Family, and the other was Lin Zewen, a cultivator favored by Lin Houyuan who was quite astute and might also become the future master of the family¡¯s commerce division.


    As for the one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was Lin Shiming¡¯s thirteen uncle, Lin Houwei, who was famously dedicated to the better study of Spiritual Wine.


    Two days later, a Spirit Boat flew out from Fangmu Mountain, heading towards Qingxuan Mountain!


    ...


    In Qingxuan City, beams of Spirit Light came to a halt around the city.


    Countless cultivators began to line up, entering Qingxuan City.


    The Golden Core ceremony was indeed held on Qingxuan Sect¡¯s mountain, but that was only for the two days of the ceremony; at other times, those who came to celebrate could only enter Qingxuan City.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s party of four also headed towards the city gate, where cultivators had set up stalls early on both sides, attracting Lin Zeli¡¯s eager eyes to survey the surroundings.


    She had clearly heard plenty of tales about finding treasures at these stalls.


    But Lin Zewen, after a few glances, directed his attention forward.


    After paying the Spirit Stone entry fee, they headed towards Laiyue Tower.


    Laiyue Tower was as popular as ever and, as usual, comprised four floors.


    However, the servant welcoming guests at the door had become a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator, and the quality of service was far superior to before, which showed the importance Qingxuan Sect placed on this ceremony.


    Lin Shiming even spotted a Foundation Establishment official greeting cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm.


    They took to the second floor and reserved a private room where Lin Zewen and Lin Zeli experienced the culinary delights of Laiyue Tower¡¯s spiritual meals.


    In particular, Lin Zewen was invited to share his opinion of Laiyue Tower, considering that the Lin Family was also in the restaurant business.


    After a satisfying meal, Lin Houwei proposed that they go out and browse the street stalls and shops within Qingxuan City.


    Lin Shiming, who wanted to test his avatar, naturally did not refuse.


    Returning to his room, he retrieved several sets of specially made Array Plates, released his avatar, and his original body entered the Cave Heaven World to quietly cultivate.


    Lin Shiming, controlling his avatar, led the group first to the street stall area. Compared to the previous Qingxuan conferences, this year¡¯s street market was even more bustling, with fewer Qi Cultivator stalls and most being run by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides this, Lin Shiming even spotted several Purple Mansion Cultivators¡¯ stalls.


    This was something never seen before, indicating that there were indeed many Purple Mansion Cultivators present this time.


    Each Purple Mansion Cultivator¡¯s stall had a pavilion, and their treasures were not displayed in public view, but rather contained within a single Jade Slip.


    Interested cultivators could take a look.


    Of course, those who were allowed to peruse items at a Purple Mansion Cultivator¡¯s stall were at least late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    "Zewen, Zeli, you both can go ahead and browse on your own. If you encounter any unexpected situations, contact us with a Sound Transmission Talisman, and don¡¯t act recklessly!" Lin Shiming spoke to Lin Zewen and Lin Zeli.


    The Jiuxiao Scatter Man was a legend of the Eastern Domain, a loose cultivator who not only reached the Purple Mansion Realm but was also a Fourth Rank, Superior Grade artifact refiner.


    The magical treasures he crafted were all highly sought after by Purple Mansion cultivators! Find adventures on novelhall.Co?m


    Of course, another cause of the Jiuxiao Scatter Man¡¯s fame was his love for wine as if it was his life.


    Countless cultivator families and sects wanted to invite him as a tribute!


    However, he had only one condition: provision of at least five types of Third Rank spiritual wines he had never tasted before!


    It might seem like a simple condition, but in reality, when he raised this condition, Jiuxiao Scatter Man was already in Purple Mansion and was already over three hundred years old. Having traveled all over the Eastern Domain, finding five types of Third Rank spiritual wines that he hadn¡¯t tasted was extremely difficult!


    For who knew whether, in the next moment, he would have already tasted your wine!


    And now, he had set up a stall here.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s mind started to fill with ideas; he was worried about who could refine the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    The artifact refiners of the Lin Family could currently only craft Third Rank, Superior Grade magic artifacts, and they had no clue how long it would take to craft a Fourth Rank, Inferior Grade magical treasure.


    But the Jiuxiao Scatter Man before him, being a loose cultivator with a good reputation, was well-known for his talent in artifact refining!


    And the Turtle Spirit Coconut from the Lin Family was definitely a type of spiritual wine the Jiuxiao Scatter Man had never tried before.


    "Do you have Third Rank spiritual wine? I must caution that it must be something I haven¡¯t tasted before!" said the Jiuxiao Scatter Man with a somewhat cloudy gaze that immediately brightened.


    "As long as you have Third Rank spiritual wine, I can craft Supreme Grade magical treasures!"


    "I do not, senior," replied Lin Shiming, shaking his head.


    The Jiuxiao Scatter Man looked instantly downcast, sitting back down and taking another swig from his gourd. The wine seemed a bit bitter, causing his facial expression to sour once again.


    "Senior, although I do not have it, my elder does have it. It¡¯s mellow yet sweet, called Turtle Spirit Coconut, and he also just happens to need a magical treasure crafted!" Lin Shiming spoke up again, inventing the so-called elder.


    He definitely couldn¡¯t complete the trade with the Jiuxiao Scatter Man right then and there.


    "Could I leave a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman of yours, senior? After I get the spiritual wine from my elder, I will trouble you to craft the magical treasure!"


    "Of course, that¡¯s possible!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man¡¯s eyes lit up; he had indeed never heard of Turtle Spirit Coconut. As for Third Rank spiritual wines, if he had tasted them before, he would definitely know their names.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man quickly handed a spirit talisman to Lin Shiming.


    And Lin Shiming made his polite farewells.


    Having figured out how to deal with the magical treasure made Lin Shiming¡¯s heart fill with joy.


    He headed toward the Foundation Establishment booths to meet up with Lin Houwei.


    However, just at that moment, he heard the system notification.


    "Please be cautious to avoid the True Person Liu He¡¯s incarnation!"

 Chapter 475 - 336: Gathering the Spirit Platform, Samadhi Spiritual Fire

    Laiyue Tower, a spirit light, floated in.@@@@


    Lin Shiming sat cross-legged on the cushion in the room, extending his hand to grasp the spirit light and looking at it for a while before he also fell into thought.


    The message was that Xie An had already arrived in Qingxuan City and planned to go up the mountain the next day to visit the master.


    Although Lin Shiming was reluctant, both emotionally and logically, he had to follow and make the journey.


    Fortunately, the date was set for the next day; otherwise, Lin Shiming wouldn¡¯t dare to ascend until the system prompt had fully cooled down.


    Having experienced the calculations of Huang Mei the Hermit, he was clear that every cultivator capable of reaching the Purple Mansion was an old monster.


    Sometimes, what you consider to be an opportunity might just be bait thrown out by someone else.


    After pondering for a moment, Lin Shiming called for Lin Houwei.


    As Lin Houwei entered, Lin Shiming¡¯s expression turned serious. Seeing this, Lin Houwei also tucked away his gourd and became solemn.


    Once a few soundproofing formations were activated, Lin Shiming began to give instructions.


    "Uncle Thirteen, find an opportunity to notify Uncle Five that the family¡¯s relocation plan must continue. For the mortal news, arrange for demon cultivators to blood sacrifice some greatly wicked and evil mortals!"


    "This will muddle the waters. You can even bring over a Qingxuan Sect official to investigate, but make sure it¡¯s well managed!"


    "The family¡¯s assets also need to start moving gradually."


    Lin Shiming declared.


    Now, both the Qingxuan Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect were actually casting their nets over the Lin Family¡¯s mortals and cultivators, and the Lin Family must give up most of its resources in Yunzhou.


    In this center, the Lin Family no longer had the qualifications to benefit as a fisherman watching the fight.


    The only good news was that the entire Eastern Domain¡¯s attention was currently on the Golden Core Ceremony.


    Especially the sword cultivators.


    Lin Shiming had a hunch that over the years, Qingxuan Sect had also been preserving its heritage, moving out a batch of people, but he didn¡¯t know where they had relocated to.


    "Shiming, the master¡¯s Cave Heaven has moved to the peak of the mountain!" Xie An turned and explained as they walked.


    Lin Shiming nodded and followed behind Xie An. Along the way, many cultivators also greeted Xie An as "Uncle Xie", and Xie An frequently acknowledged them.


    It was clear that Xie An greatly enjoyed the title of uncle, after all, a Purple Mansion cultivator, within Qingxuan Sect, was a rare existence.


    When they finally stopped in front of a four-story palace, above the palace hung a sword signboard.


    The four characters "Zi Xuan Sword Palace" were written with dragons and phoenixes dancing, elegant and extraordinary.


    Furthermore, just one glance made Lin Shiming feel a soaring Sword Intent, as if in the ninth heaven above, there was an unparalleled immortal stroking a sword at the pinnacle.


    That ethereal quality, that elegance, gave Lin Shiming a tremendous shock.


    It was as if this was the true essence of a sword cultivator, floating in the world.


    "Shiming, take a few more glances at this sword signboard to perceive the master¡¯s Sword Intent. These four characters were carved by him after his breakthrough!" Xie An leaned in and explained while looking at the signboard.


    With Lin Shiming¡¯s Sword Intent Realm, he naturally didn¡¯t need to look several times; one glance was enough to see through the Sword Intent meticulously engraved by Zi Xuan True Person.


    But to avoid arousing suspicion, he also bowed slightly before looking again, and the Sword Intent intensified. The sword-stroking immortal changed once more, the sword in hand transformed into a Grass Sword, embodying the Sword Intent of grass.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s sword technique was inherited from Zi Xuan True Person, and now it appeared that he, too, cultivated the Sword Intent of grass.


    In his eyes, he saw something different, something that Xie An might not fully understand but that struck a chord with Lin Shiming at that very moment.


    Your journey continues with novelhall.Co?m


    If his own Sword Intent, under the guidance of the system, traced back to the origin and was the orthodox grand system with Sword Path Grass Seed, then the Sword Intent of Zi Xuan Hermit was a different path, a Grass Sword that cut without return, with the quality of a Grass Immortal.

 Chapter 476 - 336: Gathering the Spirit Platform, Samadhi Spiritual Fire_2

    At this moment, Zi Xuan True Person¡¯s realm was naturally beyond comparison with that of Lin Shiming, many of the Sword Intents causing great emotions to stir within Lin Shiming¡¯s mind.


    Even the system prompts in his mind appeared once again, surprisingly conducting another simulation analysis of this particular sword strike.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart trembled with surprise, yet he felt not a trace of joy.


    Although the Sword Intent was of great help to him, what truly mattered was the system¡¯s premonition of danger.


    This Sword Intent prompt had come at an inopportune time!


    However, now that the system prompt had appeared, Lin Shiming had no choice but to grit his teeth and comprehend, and under the system¡¯s guidance, each Grass Sword improved under the Heaven-Slaying Sword, with leaves becoming wider, larger, and the sword light even more brilliant.@@@@


    If he fully comprehended it, Lin Shiming believed that his own Sword Intents and sword moves would become even more powerful.


    Yet at this time, he dared not release his Sword Intent, only harboring the sword within his heart, keeping all insights hidden within.


    While Lin Shiming was halted in his steps, Xie An also took half a step back, careful not to disturb.


    His eyes, too, held a profound meaning as he observed Lin Shiming, his expression deep in thought.


    And unknowingly, within the palace, a purple-robed elder with his hands behind his back also came forth, watching Lin Shiming.


    He, too, refrained from disturbing.


    But the slightly opened eyes beside him could not help but lift a brow, as if the elder was deep in contemplation!


    Such comprehension lasted a whole half-day, and after confirming there were no additional gains, Lin Shiming reluctantly pulled himself out of the state.


    "Master!" Lin Shiming knelt and spoke.


    "Hmm, not bad! You have excellent comprehension. Come, let your master see how your cultivation has been progressing lately!" Zi Xuan Hermit nodded slightly in affirmation and beckoned to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming naturally did not dare to refuse and was well-prepared for this.


    Concentrating the True Yuan of the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, the Sword Storing Book began to emit light without anyone knowing when.


    Zi Xuan True Person nodded and then lowered his hand.


    "How was your comprehension just now?"


    "Like parting the mists to see the sky, Master¡¯s Sword Dao is something Shiming might never reach in his lifetime!" Lin Shiming paused briefly, then continued with a face full of shock.


    Seeing this, Zi Xuan True Person chose not to say anymore.


    Instead, he opened the palace door and led the way into the Zi Xuan Sword Palace.


    Lin Shiming and Xie An entered as well, and they sequentially served tea and paid respects to Zi Xuan True Person, performing the rituals of disciples to their master.


    "Recently, Qingxuan City has been quite chaotic. Have you encountered any cultivators of suspicious identity?" Zi Xuan True Person set down his teacup and asked Lin Shiming and Xie An.


    "Reporting to Master, not for the time being. However, there have been many cultivators from Purple Mansion, and we have come across quite a few!" Lin Shiming replied, bowing.


    Xie An had just arrived in Qingxuan City, so naturally, it couldn¡¯t be him that was being referred to.


    Zi Xuan True Person nodded, asked a few more questions, and Lin Shiming answered each one. Some of the questions made Lin Shiming break out in a cold sweat from behind, but fortunately, it seemed that Shen Ji True Person had already made calculations for these, otherwise, this series of questions would have definitely led to exposure.


    In contrast, both Golden Wing and Wang Jiao were still only at the late Third Rank.


    The Spirit Extraction Net soon appeared within the wooden tub. Now in his Purple Mansion, Lin Shiming practiced the Spirit Art, which came to him as naturally as breathing and was done effortlessly.


    Even the carcass of the last Fire Ape caused no disruption whatsoever.


    Time ticked by, second by second.


    And the Red-haired Demonic Monkey rapidly absorbed the essence blood for the bloodline reversion. Suddenly, a huge red spirit fire mark appeared on its forehead.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised to discover that this fiery red mark was actually the Spirit Fire Mark that had once appeared on the tail of the Red-haired Demonic Monkey.


    "Ao ao ao!" The Red-haired Monkey howled as its eyes turned ferocious and its body swelled immensely in an instant, reaching a size of twenty zhang.


    Like a small mountain, the tub filled with medicinal liquid shattered to pieces.


    Its massive tail stood erect, and flames exploded across the sky.


    Its forehead changed once again, and this time, two marks appeared together, one of the Spirit Fox Flame Mark and the other of the Fire Ape¡¯s Spirit Fire Mark.


    Three kinds of spiritual fire converged within its body!


    Boom!


    Terrifying waves of heat spread out, and the prepared Third Rank formation was broken. Lin Shiming had to take out an array plate again, while his True Yuan from the Purple Mansion extravagantly blocked the wave of heat.


    "Ao ao ao!" In the next moment, the Red-haired Demonic Monkey began to shrink again, its eyes filled with excitement and exhaustion. It approached Lin Shiming, and its two paws reached for Lin Shiming¡¯s Storage Bag.


    Lin Shiming smiled slightly and took out two Jade Boxes, one containing the Zi Xuan Precious Jade, the other holding the inner core of the Fire Ape beast, along with several Third Rank peak Demonic Monkey inner cores.


    The Red-haired Demonic Monkey snatched them greedily, holding them tight in its embrace, and finally stopped in front of the Fuling Fire Mulberry Tree.


    Its entire body was covered with spiritual fire, forming a tricolor fire cocoon.


    The surrounding fire aura settled down to calm.


    Lin Shiming stared blankly ahead.


    It was not until he heard Wang Jiao¡¯s intermittent words in his mind.


    "Master, bath, bath..."


    Wang Jiao was flying around Lin Shiming in the air, occasionally playing with the broken wooden tub as if to say it was his turn now.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming hadn¡¯t responded, luminescence began to shine from its two horns, and with its mouth wide open, it let out two more roars.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly at Wang Jiao; he was so used to the beast¡¯s roars, the sudden howling caught him off guard.


    But right now, he had neither Fourth Rank Flood Dragon inner cores nor the means to perform another bloodline reversion for Wang Jiao.


    Instead, he took out several Superior Grade Spirit Stones, which Wang Jiao accepted with noisy satisfaction before snuggling down into the marsh to sleep.


    After feeding the Golden Wing and the Star Spirit Clam, Lin Shiming also settled down to cultivate.


    ```

 Chapter 478 - 337: The Auction, the Cultivation Technique and Treasure Map Reappear (Two in One)_2

    Having decided to withdraw from Yunzhou, Lin Shiming naturally couldn¡¯t stop bidding on the Foundation Establishment Pills, as these strategic Spirit Pills were always going to be in short supply, even though the Lin Family owned a Heavenly Spirit Fruit tree.


    However, as the auction proceeded, the price for a set of Foundation Establishment Pills kept soaring, and many cultivators grew so competitive their necks turned red, but Lin Shiming didn¡¯t win the third set.


    Of course, the two sets of six Foundation Establishment Pills he did secure were enough to let the Lin Family keep up appearances for a while.


    The auction continued, and it didn¡¯t disappoint the crowd as items at least at the Third Rank kept appearing, aside from the Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Even cultivators from the Purple Mansion were frequently bidding on items.


    Lin Shiming himself purchased two Magic Artifacts: one was the Five Flames Tower, particularly suitable for Lin Shijie, while the other was a Thunder Spirit Spear, more fitting for Lin Shilei.


    After around a dozen treasures had been auctioned, Qing Zhu Hermit produced a treasure map.


    Your journey continues with novelhall.Co?m


    As soon as the treasure map was revealed, it immediately caught the attention of many Purple Mansion cultivators.


    "Fellow Daoists, this consigned item is a treasure map leading to a node in a Profound Grade Secret Realm. The base price starts at five thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones. It is not within the Eastern Domain, but the reliability of this treasure is immense!" Qing Zhu Hermit explained for the first time in a few words.


    The treasure map once again spurred madness among the cultivators, particularly those from smaller sects and clan cultivators.


    A Profound Grade Secret Realm represented possibly countless opportunities for Foundation Establishment.


    If a Yellow Grade Secret Realm could support a Foundation Establishment family, then a Profound Grade Secret Realm could definitely sustain a Purple Mansion family.


    One could imagine the immense value of the treasure map.


    Many cultivators disregarded the fact that it was not in the Eastern Domain.


    Lin Shiming furrowed his brows in surprise, as the treasure map was the one from the black market, and the region it pointed to was in the Southern Sea Cultivation World.


    If he dared not buy it in the black market, he would certainly have no qualms bidding in such an official auction!


    Not to mention that after this auction concluded, he might cultivate for ten years on the Spirit Gathering Platform of Qingxuan Mountain!


    "Ten thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    Boom!


    The entire auction was once again abuzz; a Profound Rank Secret Realm treasure map and a Profound Rank Body Refining Technique seemed too astonishing for the audience.


    However, after Qing Zhu Hermit explained, the enthusiasm of the cultivators died down considerably.


    Requiring the power of starlight, this was too elusive, and perhaps only ancient Qi Cultivators practicing the art of visualization could cultivate it.


    Today, such methods of visualization had long been lost.


    Nevertheless, there were still many cultivators placing bids.


    After all, thirty thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones might be a lot for a Foundation Establishment cultivator but were just a slightly large number for Purple Mansion cultivators.


    The price quickly surpassed sixty thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones and became the first item in the auction to exceed six million Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    "Eighty thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!" This time, Lin Shiming added twenty thousand Spirit Stones in his bid.


    As he spoke, Lin Shiming also felt a powerful surge of Divine Sense wash over him, leaving a Spirit Light mark on him.


    Lin Shiming was not perturbed; he held onto the Qingxuan Spirit in his hand and then calmly sat back down.


    The Starlight Body Refining Technique smoothly fell into his hands.


    After this Cultivation Technique was auctioned off, Lin Shiming had spent most of his Spirit Stones.


    This was possible largely because the Lin Family owned an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone mine on Spirit Turtle Island; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have afforded so many Spirit Stones.


    As the Starlight Body Refining Technique was auctioned off, Qing Zhu Hermit was all smiles.


    These two items fetched a price most Magical Treasures wouldn¡¯t reach, which greatly stimulated the bidding fervor of the cultivators at the auction!


    With another clap, he started auctioning off Zi Xuan Precious Jade and Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit.


    The demand for these two items among Purple Mansion Family cultivators went without saying.


    Many cultivators bid fiercely; Lin Shiming also made a few symbolic bids, but these treasures were different from treasure maps with no certain location or the Starlight Body Refining Technique that couldn¡¯t be cultivated.


    There was a wealth of bidders; even Sect Cultivators and many Purple Mansion cultivators who had not yet made a breakthrough also bid frequently.

 Chapter 480 - 338: Xuan Feng The Hermit, The Ceremony Begins (Two-in-One)

    "One hundred thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones!"@@@@


    "One hundred and twenty thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    Almost as soon as the auction began, the entire auction hall¡¯s bid had doubled, and the bidding showed no signs of stopping.


    Although its level was not as high as the just-auctioned Star Body Refining Technique, one was unusable, while the other could be cultivated up to the Golden Core Early Stage, its value was incomparably higher.


    Not to mention, the Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture was a specialized Cultivation Technique for wind-attribute Spirit Roots, extraordinarily precious to both clan cultivators and Sect Cultivators.


    Lin Shiming sat in his seat, glancing at Lin Houwei, and felt he had no choice but to give up on the auction.


    He had initially thought several thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones might be enough, but now it seemed, even if the Lin Family put forward all their Spirit Stones, they might still fail to win the bid.


    The Qingxuan Sect was indeed generous, not only offering a Cultivation Technique for special Spirit Roots, but also one that could be cultivated up to the Golden Core stage.


    Find your next read on novelhall.Co?m


    To many Loose Cultivators and the Purple Mansion Family, this was worth spending their entire fortune, and they couldn¡¯t possibly refuse it.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but turn around; in the private compartment for the Purple Mansion cultivators, the bidding continued to soar.


    In the blink of an eye, it had reached one hundred and fifty thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones.


    And among the bidding cultivators, there was one who stood in his compartment.


    "One hundred and eighty thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones!"


    With another bid, the whole auction hall began to quiet down, as one hundred and eighty thousand was almost the limit for a Supreme Grade Profound Rank Cultivation Technique.


    And many cultivators recognized the standing cultivator as one of the famous top ten Hermit Cultivators from the Eastern Domain, the Purple Mansion Late Stage hermit, Xuan Feng.


    Xuan Feng had quite a reputation among Loose Cultivators, not for being a good person, but for his ferocity. Small families and lesser Sects went out of their way to avoid him!


    Lin Shiming was somewhat flabbergasted, but he understood this was probably the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s way of warning the other four Sects that the Spirit Talisman Sect was with the Qingxuan Sect from start to finish.


    This item couldn¡¯t even be described as an auction item; it was a mere formality in this place!


    And there was no doubt that the last auction item would be a treasure consigned by the Spirit Beast Sect.


    "Sixteen thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Eighteen thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones!"


    The auction progressed to the final treasures, and a dramatic scene unfolded: the number of bidding cultivators decreased, and the time between bids increased.


    Only in the second-floor private boxes, core Hermit Elders from the Sects were bidding.


    Their offers had an air of civility and calm about them, as if arranged in advance!


    It was completely just a formality!


    But for the actual embodiment Cultivators of the other four Sects, this was a matter they could not ignore.


    Keep in mind, they had been inquiring about the stance of the Spirit Talisman Sect and probing the intentions of the Spirit Beast Sect.


    If the Three Sects joined forces, they wouldn¡¯t be able to create any momentum for the Golden Core Ceremony, only serving to raise the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s prestige.


    Even if True Person Shen Ji actually managed to attain his path one day, they might not truly be able to stop him.


    The Jiuxiao Heavenly Thunder Talisman was ultimately auctioned off at a final bid of twenty-eight thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones.


    The last auction item, unsurprisingly, turned out to be a Fifth Rank descendant of a Demon King, a Three Flames Green Bull from the collateral line of the Six Flames Green Ox Demon King.


    The starting bid was also an impressive fifteen thousand Spirit Stones, and the final bid was also twenty-eight thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones.


    For the cultivators attending the auction, the final two items were too bland. Aside from the initial surprise, they lacked the excitement of the first three items.


    Even the mentoring opportunity from True Person Zi Xuan seemed predestined, naturally leading to some disappointment among the participants.


    However, for the cultivators from the Zhengyang Alliance, Heavenly Demon Sect, Corpse Refining Sect, and Wanjian Sect, it was undoubtedly agonizing.

 Chapter 481 - 338: Hermit Xuan Feng, The Ceremony Begins (Two In One)_2

    The auction came to a successful conclusion with Qing Zhu Hermit beckoning once more.


    However, for Lin Shiming, his treasure haul this time was not insignificant either; the Profound Rank secret realm treasure map and the Star Body Refining Technique were all precious treasures that were hard to come by.


    Of course, it also drew the attention of many cultivators.


    As soon as the auction ended, many cultivators headed towards the outside of the auction hall. There were no few treasures auctioned this time, and there were quite a few demonic sect cultivators among those present.


    This made the treasure-bidding cultivators unavoidably more cautious; they mostly left in groups and then scattered within Qingxuan City, vanishing without a trace.


    Lin Shiming was also among them, walking with Lin Houwei, feeling the faint divine sense of Huang Mei Hermit on his body.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, not taking it to heart at all.


    If Huang Mei Hermit could follow him for ten years, perhaps he would take a second look at the person.


    In the square, after finding the equally shocked Lin Zewen and Lin Zeli, they also returned to Laiyue Tower together.


    Upon returning to the inn, Lin Zeli was still chattering about the auction, while Lin Zewen was extremely puzzled on the side, especially about the auction of the last two treasures.


    It was Lin Houwei, though, who was always regretting the loss of the Profound Rank Supreme Grade cultivation technique, Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture.


    Lin Shiming could only smile wryly a few times; Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture indeed exceeded expectations, but fortunately, he had also purchased a Yellow Rank Supreme Grade wind attribute cultivation technique in advance. Lin Shiyuan might not match Lin Shilei in the early stages, but upon reaching the Southern Sea Cultivation World, he would always be able to find a more suitable technique.


    After some further discussion, Lin Shiming also returned to his room, activated the formations layer upon layer, and entered the Cave Heaven World.


    Lin Shiming took out the jade slip containing the Star Body Refining Technique. As soon as he held the jade slip, Lin Shiming noticed its difference¡ªit was actually a slightly smaller jade card.


    It was engraved with numerous spirit patterns, yet the method to open it was similar to that of a jade slip!


    Lin Shiming felt a sense of novelty, allowing his divine sense to naturally enter the jade slip.


    However, unlike other jade slips that recorded cultivation techniques, what slowly unfolded before him was an extremely shocking star chart.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t describe what kind of star chart it was, only feeling its profound and boundless depth. That sense of vastness arose spontaneously!


    A sea of stars, endless and infinite.


    But aside from that, it was rather unremarkable.


    The secret arts of the technique recorded on the side were even more scant, merely noting how to absorb the power of starlight and how to condense the Starlight Divine Body.


    But as for how the power of starlight came to be, there was not the slightest record!


    The ranking of the technique, however, was marked very clearly.


    After reading it several times, Lin Shiming began to practice.


    Suddenly, Lin Shiming felt a trace of starlight power appear. He opened his eyes and saw that the Star Spirit Clam had appeared beside him at some point, with countless Star Spirit Fluff falling around him.


    "It really can!" Lin Shiming also spoke with surprise.


    The Star Body Refining Technique was naturally much stronger than the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique by several levels.


    Countless streams of spiritual energy surged toward the huge tower, and clouds of good fortune gathered upon the Taoist¡¯s body.


    Taiyi Grass Sword sighed and descended from the mountain. Then suddenly, it spread its hands, looking surprised.


    A point of green light began to bloom slowly!


    ...


    Another half-month passed, and the Qingxuan Sect was draped in auspicious clouds, with numerous cranes soaring and the sound of fairy music echoing repeatedly.


    Before the Ascending Immortal Ladder, countless cultivators looked towards the mountain, yearning in their hearts.


    Today was precisely the day of the Golden Core Ceremony, and numerous cultivators from the Eastern Domain had come to offer their congratulations.


    The Ascending Immortal Ladder was without a doubt Qingxuan Sect¡¯s way of showcasing the grand style of a great sect.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming, just like Lin Xianzhi fifty years ago, watched Lin Zewen and Lin Zeli ascend the Ascending Immortal Ladder and experience its mysteries.


    After climbing the Ascending Immortal Ladder, a grand banquet was already spread out.


    And Qingxuan Sect¡¯s cultivators responsible for cheering began to sing out their praises one after another.


    "Zhao Kingdom¡¯s Qingzhou Foundation Establishment Yun Family congratulates Zi Xuan True Person and Dao Sword True Person on the great accomplishment of Golden Core; they gift a portion of millennium-aged Spiritual Tea and a portion of millennium-aged Cold Iron!"


    "Zhao Kingdom¡¯s Jinzhou Foundation Establishment Xu Family congratulates Zi Xuan True Person and Dao Sword True Person on the great accomplishment of Golden Core; they gift ten Flame Crystals and three Red Lotus Fruits!"


    ...


    Cheers and congratulations rang out, echoing throughout the entire Qingxuan Mountain!


    Lin Shiming and the Lin Family were naturally part of the crowd.


    After the Foundation Establishment families and cultivators finished cheering, it was the turn of the Purple Mansion families and cultivators.


    "Zhao Kingdom¡¯s Qingzhou Purple Mansion Mu Family congratulates Zi Xuan True Person and Dao Sword True Person on the great accomplishment of Golden Core, gifting two Fourth Rank Magical Treasures!"


    "Zhao Kingdom¡¯s Youzhou Purple Mansion Ye Family congratulates Zi Xuan True Person and Dao Sword True Person on the great accomplishment of Golden Core, gifting ten jin of Geng Metal and ten jin of Fourth Rank Spiritual Tea!"


    ...


    Each cheer from a Purple Mansion family was accompanied by auspicious clouds.


    All of the top ten Purple Mansion hermits arrived, and over thirty members of the Purple Mansion families were present.


    The treasures they gifted filled Lin Shiming with envy, wondering when the Lin Family could also host such a ceremony!


    And as the Purple Mansion families and cultivators finished their ritual greetings,


    Qing Zhu Hermit from Qingxuan Sect¡¯s mountain once again stepped forward, cleared his throat, and spoke out loud.


    "Spirit Beast Sect¡¯s Heavenly Beast True Person sends congratulations to Dao Sword True Person and Zi Xuan True Person for the great accomplishment of the Golden Core, specially gifting one Fifth Rank Xuan Yu Sword and a portion of Fifth Rank Wooden Heart Spiritual Liquid!"


    "Spirit Talisman Sect¡¯s Thunder Talisman True Person sends congratulations to Dao Sword True Person and Zi Xuan True Person for the great accomplishment of the Golden Core, specially gifting one Fifth Rank Heavenly Thunder Bead and one Fifth Rank Fire Shriek Talisman!"


    ...

 Chapter 490 - 341: Breakthrough, Heavenly Tribulation (Two in One)

    The night was cool as water, the Star Chart hung high, and boundless starlight sprinkled down in bundles.


    It scattered upon the Spirit Mountain, the Spirit Tree, and the Spirit Lake.


    The Star Spirit Clam opened its twin shells, revealing a smaller Star Chart within, radiating with exquisite and sparkling stars.


    These stars seemed to correspond one-to-one with the constellations in the sky. Stay connected via novelhall.Co?m


    Countless Star Spirit Fluff was born, drifting out from the clam and falling upon the body of a cultivator bathed in starlight.


    In this moment, Lin Shiming was like a motionless block of starlight stone.


    Only the soaring vitality in his blood indicated his exceptional nature.


    After a long time, the starlight grew so intense that it turned into a ripple and suddenly spread out in all directions.


    The Star Spirit Clam, too, turned pale with fright for a moment and quickly darted toward the bottom of the lake, its shells flapping.


    The water of the lake was whipped up into a ten-zhang-high tidal roar, and numerous defensive arrays were shattered, while Wang Jiao and the Golden Winged Mantis surged forward in one step, blocking the residual power of the starlight.


    Yet all the beasts were somewhat startled, retreating dozens of meters back!


    Wang Jiao let out a woeful roar, its vast body tossing and turning restlessly in the air!


    "Congratulations to my master for ascending to another level!" the wooden demon quickly bowed in salute.


    Lin Shiming opened his eyes too, feeling the power in his entire body, shaking once as a terrifying vitality emanated from him.


    "Finally, my Body Cultivation has reached the Purple Mansion Middle Stage!" Lin Shiming smiled faintly, realizing that five years had passed since he entered the Cave Heaven World.


    In these five years, the Star Spirit Clam had depleted all of its Fourth Rank Spirit Water and Spirit Soil, not to mention, not a trace of the Third Rank Spirit Water and Soil was left.@@@@


    But the results were evident now; at a thought, a thin layer of starlight veil emerged on his body¡¯s surface, making him smile involuntarily.


    This was precisely a complementing Secret Technique for the Star Body Refining Technique, the Seven Stars Battle Garment!


    Its defensive power was not inferior to a Magical Treasure that could be controlled at will.


    Two grass blades, as sharp as precious swords, emitted a fierce cold light.


    Lifting his finger slightly, the Grass Sword sharply unsheathed, and for a moment, the sword light was peerless and utterly brilliant.


    In the void, dark fissures once more appeared!


    The Cave Heaven Lin Shiming was in was just a small world, and he did not dare to try again.


    However, the surprises weren¡¯t over yet; suddenly, from afar, a surge of intense heat rose, with three types of flames erupting almost simultaneously.


    The fearsome high temperature momentarily shocked Lin Shiming.


    With a move of his body, several Array Plates fell from his hands, and the defensive Magical Treasure Cold Dusk Shield slammed down, covering the entire vicinity of the Red-haired Demon Monkey!


    Roar!


    A roaring ape cry echoed throughout the entire Cave Heaven World.


    And in an instant, the body of the Red-haired Demon Monkey transformed into a thirty-zhang giant, with three Spiritual Flames burning ferociously on its forehead, and a pair of scarlet eyes shining like molten rock.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s first Fourth Rank Spirit Beast had finally emerged.


    "Ao ao!" In the next moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey shrank back to its small, original Spirit Monkey form, albeit with even more brilliantly red fur.


    It trotted over to Lin Shiming¡¯s side, its paws reaching towards his waist now and then, in a ceaseless flurry of motion.


    As if it wanted to eat back six years¡¯ worth of rations all at once.


    For the breakthrough of the Red-haired, Lin Shiming was naturally overjoyed; with a wave of his hand, Spirit Beast meat and a considerable amount of Beast Nurturing Pills were already in the hands of the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Beyond that, there was even a jug of Fourth Rank Heavenly Fragrance Spiritual Wine from the Heavenly Fragrance House!


    This made the Red-haired Demon Monkey ecstatic, its face beaming with joy.


    Lin Shiming was happy to see this, but in the next moment, a message from Wang Jiao reached his mind.


    "Bathtime! Bathtime!"


    Clearly, Wang Jiao was also stimulated by the Red-haired¡¯s advancement; the Red-haired and Wang Jiao had always been engaged in a covert rivalry, and with the Red-haired now a Fourth Rank Demonic Beast, Wang Jiao naturally became anxious.

 Chapter 491 - 341: Breakthrough, Heavenly Tribulation (Two in One)_2

    Lin Shiming was calmly comforting the Golden-Winged creature, which greatly pleased him. Its nature had always been peaceful, resting quietly on the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree.


    However, Lin Shiming also noticed that the Golden-Winged creature¡¯s fourth pair of wings had grown longer. Although they were not yet as large as the other three pairs, they had improved significantly compared to before.


    This made Lin Shiming start to consider the creature¡¯s future training direction.


    But before Lin Shiming could give it more thought,


    the system alert suddenly sounded.


    "Please be aware that Shen Ji True Person is about to make a breakthrough. Prepare quickly and summon the Flame Yang Soul Summoning Sword!"


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Five years, nearly half as long as the ten years he had anticipated.


    It turns out Shen Ji True Person had indeed hidden his breakthrough timing.


    With a thought, Lin Shiming transferred his attention to his clone.


    The cultivation chamber was still as before, but he could distinctly feel that the Spiritual Energy was not as abundant as previously, and the cultivation technique in his body, the Purple Wood Heart Sutra, was operating wildly, completely out of control.


    The surrounding walls also began to reveal countless Spirit Patterns, which were fervently absorbing Lin Shiming¡¯s Spiritual Power.


    Lin Shiming tried to break free but found that he simply could not.


    Moreover, he noticed that a wave of Divine Sense was attacking him yet again.


    And this Divine Sense was even more powerful than the last one.


    The terrifying pressure and brazenness almost instantly shattered Lin Shiming¡¯s Soundproofing Formation, leaving nothing behind.


    Luckily, Lin Shiming had not taken out the Blood Demon Disk yet, or else he might have faced retribution at this moment.


    Clearly, at this point, Shen Ji True Person no longer needed to conceal anything; he had to eliminate any and all dangers!


    The Spirit Formations on the walls were becoming more and more distinct!


    ...


    Within Shen Ji Peak, several figures who were meditating suddenly sensed something.


    Several cultivators opened their eyes abruptly!


    Waves of terrifying aura emitted from them, and the next moment, the doors of the secret chamber flung open, and dozens of demon banners flew out. Experience exclusive tales on novelhall.Co?m


    The banners violently hurtled toward the underground.


    Numerous demon heads emerged from the demon banners, swarming and flailing.


    But the next instant, a dazzling sword light erupted, and instantly, all the demon heads were completely obliterated.


    From the underground, Heavenly Sword True Person slowly rose.


    "How is it you?" The Demon Cultivator was shocked, as his Blood Demon Disk attempted to destroy the other stone chambers and send out Spirit Talismans!


    But the next moment, a sword light arrived.


    In an instant, several Demon Cultivators were slashed into ruins.


    The stone chamber was undamaged, and not a single Spirit Talisman was sent out!


    All was settled with a single sword strike!


    "A Purple Mansion clone dares to cause trouble?" The disdain of Heavenly Sword True Person was palpable.


    After speaking, he looked up at the sky, unable to help murmuring.


    "Has it finally begun?"


    ...


    Moreover, the six figures of Liu He True Person seemed to have exhausted much of their spiritual power and began to fade in and out of visibility.


    In the depths of the ground, near the Spirit Vein, Shen Ji True Person stood with closed eyes. At this moment, countless flowers appeared around him, and his aura was rapidly rising. Looking at his Purple Mansion, one could see that his Golden Core had already shattered.


    A Nascent Soul the size of an infant had appeared.


    The Nascent Soul still had its eyes closed, but it was visible that the next moment the infant began to frown, showing an expression of pain.


    Meanwhile, above, numerous chains fiercely struck down!


    "Spiritual Treasure?" Another voice rang out as a phantom-like tower spirit violently rushed towards the Blood Demon Chains.


    It was the Shen Ji Tower!


    All at once, the sound of clashing chains filled the air, and the hitherto unyielding Shen Ji Tower, under this entanglement, actually began to seem illusory!


    Shen Ji True Person¡¯s unfinished Nascent Soul also suddenly felt intense agony.


    But it wasn¡¯t over yet, as six demon weapons also shot down from above!


    Shen Ji True Person¡¯s body moved instantly, and his Golden Core Early Stage avatar almost suicidally charged up.


    An Eight Trigrams Plate, a Taiji Sword.


    In the next moment, they collided fiercely.


    A radiant spirit light instantly blew open the entire Haoran Peak.


    "It¡¯s a pity, still just a bit short!" Liu He True Person suddenly became very anxious, his six avatars were drained into shadows, and the Blood Demon Disk fell from the sky!


    The Blood Demon vanished, and the Blood Demon Chains were withdrawn.


    Above in the sky, the dense clouds began to gather!


    Countless thunders were aggregating within!


    Outside the mountain gate, Heavenly Sword True Person faced off against Heavenly Demon True Person, and Profound Sword True Person confronted the Nine Corpse True Person!


    Qing Ling True Person, coordinating with the entire Qingxuan Sect¡¯s Mountain Protection Array, with the support of Zi Xuan True Person and Dao Sword True Person, held off most of the demon cultivator True Persons!


    "Retreat immediately, and I might let you off on behalf of my senior brother!" Heavenly Sword True Person bellowed.


    The dense sword light in his hand instantly cut Heavenly Demon True Person¡¯s giant demon down by half!


    Through the formation, one could easily see that Shen Ji True Person, now sitting atop the Shen Ji Tower¡ªeven though soaked in blood¡ªradiated a dazzling golden light, with a Nascent Soul murmuring incantations!


    And with the thunderclouds ready in the sky, the Heavenly Tribulation was about to commence!


    The alliance of demon cultivators would no longer have a chance!


    But the next moment, a colossal white fir tree suddenly appeared next to the Shen Ji Tower.


    And Nine Leaves True Person also appeared mysteriously nearby.


    This caused even Shen Ji True Person to narrow his eyes; Qingxuan Mountain¡¯s Mountain Protection Array had not yet been breached!


    Unless Nine Leaves True Person possessed a Minor Divine Ability to teleport, it would be impossible for him to have entered!


    Of course, what most caught his attention was Nine Leaves True Person¡¯s cultivation level, Golden Core Pinnacle!


    The same cultivation level he used to have!


    "Fellow Shen Ji, it¡¯s not yet time for a breakthrough. It seems I can only dash your hopes!" Nine Leaves True Person said, waving his hand.


    Instantly from the void, a streak of cosmic dust broke through space!


    Heading straight for Shen Ji True Person!


    At this moment, with the Thunder Tribulation incomplete, as long as Shen Ji True Person sustained serious injuries, he would absolutely fail to break through the Tribulation!


    ```

 Chapter 493 - 343 Nine Corpses Fall, Liu He Appears (Combined into One)

    Haoran Peak on Qingxuan Mountain, the thunderclouds gradually dissipated, drop by drop.@@@@


    The wails of Shen Ji True Person were still vivid in their minds!


    All the True Persons from the other Sects were half believing, half doubting, but they all retreated beyond the gate of the mountain.


    Even True Person of Nine Leaves, at this moment, had moved beyond the gate of the mountain, ensuring a safe distance.


    Shen Ji True Person was known for his cunning and resourcefulness. His mournful wails made them also worry whether it was a trick of his!


    Having survived the Thunder Tribulation, not vanishing into ash and smoke, signified the possibility of success!


    Several Golden Core True Persons of the Heavenly Demon Sect left, and in this moment, even the Heavenly Demon True Person hesitated immensely!


    Only True Persons of Heavenly Sword, Profound Sword, and Zi Xuan, full of hope, swiftly moved closer.


    The next moment, thunderclouds roared in the sky, and a Thunder Tribulation Pool emerged with countless lightning arcs tumbling within!


    Thunder Palace loomed, faintly visible, and even Thunder Dragons roared inside it. The rumbling Thunder Tribulation emitted Spirit Might capable of annihilating all beings.


    Seeing this, all True Persons could no longer hesitate and scattered like birds and beasts!


    They moved so fast it was hair-raising!


    Even True Person of Nine Leaves burst open the Nine Spirit Tower and fled into the void!


    The appearance of the Thunder Tribulation Pool signified successful breakthrough, and could no longer be faked!


    And the next moment, Shen Ji True Person suddenly soared into the air!


    The terrifying aura of Nascent Soul appeared and charged toward True Person of Nine Leaves, speed far surpassing all Golden Cores!


    With this aura unleashed, the speed of the fleeing True Persons increased manifold, indicating some had previously harbored doubt!


    But now they dared not harbor any hope of luck, for even ten times their number would not be a match for Shen Ji True Person in his current state!


    The few Demonic Path True Persons of the Heavenly Demon Sect even employed Blood Escape to flee in an instant.


    Half of the void was shrouded in blood mist, stretching a million miles in the blink of an eye!


    The True Persons of the Corpse Refining Sect, on the other hand, took out their coffins and shot off into the distance!


    Shen Ji True Person¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he collected the corpse of the Bai Shanmu demon and his gaze shifted again, continuing toward the Nine Zombie True Person entangled by True Persons of Heavenly Sword and Profound Sword!


    The nine dragon corpses, pushed to their limits, each flew out, only to be trapped by a single sword from both True Persons of Heavenly Sword and Profound Sword!


    Nine Zombie True Person was furious!


    Outnumbered by Qingxuan Sect¡¯s Golden Core True Persons, True Persons of Heavenly Sword and Profound Sword were audacious enough to hold him back!


    He was a Golden Core pinnacle, not those at the Golden Core Early Stage or Golden Core Middle Stage!


    The nine dragon corpses, as infuriated as he was, let out fearsome roars, their sound wave attacks echoing between heaven and earth, morphing into a sea of qi that could move mountains and shake the earth!


    Countless high mountains and trees vanished into ash under these roars!


    Nine Zombie, relying on his exceptionally strong body, charged madly towards the sword light, displaying his ferocity!


    But upon seeing Shen Ji True Person approaching, several dragon corpses detonated on their own!


    Even True Persons of Heavenly Sword and Profound Sword¡¯s faces changed drastically; the self-destruction of a Fifth Rank latter-stage corpse refining was as powerful as a strike from a Golden Core pinnacle!


    At this time, the Nine Spirit Tower finally arrived, engulfing the remaining six dragon corpses into the tower, preventing Nine Zombie True Person from further self-detonating Fifth Rank dragon corpses!


    Shen Ji True Person, too, arrived from afar, his eyes filled with rage!


    His Dao turned to emptiness, save for his boundless fury!


    The world obstructed him, so he would kill!


    Centuries of schemes came to naught, and in this moment, only by making the Golden Cores of the world tremble with fear could he uphold the name of Qingxuan¡¯s Shen Ji!


    Nine Zombie True Person was the first one!


    The Taiji Sword once again was thrust out, the unmatched black and white sword light, like the horizon where day meets night, cutting through everything!


    Nine Zombie True Person fiercely exhaled his corpse pearl, which, under this sword, shattered to dust!


    His Golden Core also burst forth in a flash, attempting to wrap his Divine Soul and flee, only to see the Thunder Tribulation Pool in the sky suddenly transform into an Eight Trigrams Plate.


    Continue reading at novelhall.Co?m


    Five-colored Spirit Light shone forth, the Golden Core also exploded into pieces, and Nine Zombie True Person, the Supreme Elder of the Corpse Refining Sect, was utterly vanquished!

 Chapter 494 - 343 Nine Corpses Fall, Liu He Appears (Combined into One)_2

    Shen Ji True Person did not pause and continued to step forward!


    A Golden Core was not enough to pacify the situation, nor was it enough to cause other Golden Core cultivators to tremble in fear!


    At this moment, if there were any cultivators who could see within Shen Ji True Person, they would discover that his Nascent Soul had only a head left, the rest had dissipated!


    And the dissolution was still ongoing, except that the Nascent Soul still had a mouth, with a spirit seal imprinted on its forehead!


    But the spirit seal would not last much longer, a Storage Bag appeared at the waist of Profound Sword True Person at some point, and Shen Ji True Person¡¯s figure, alone and unsupported, vanished once more!


    Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person stood erect in the void, their lips moving slightly. That single word, "Senior Brother," ultimately remained unspoken!


    Shen Ji True Person did not know when he would dissipate, they must gather up the Spirit Veins of Qingxuan Mountain and then flee with the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s legacy and treasures!


    The Nine Spirit Tower as well flew towards the void and disappeared without a trace!


    Shen Ji True Person¡¯s fall had become a certainty, and Qingxuan Sect was bound to decline; he naturally would not linger any longer!


    As Shen Ji True Person fled, the Nine Spirit Tower also vanished, leaving only Heavenly Sword True Person, Profound Sword True Person, and Zi Xuan True Person in the vast emptiness!


    The three of them waved their hands and Purple Mansion cultivators who had been prepared in the distance had already taken out a Spirit Boat, with more from the Purple Mansion gathering Spirit Veins and summoning sect disciples.


    All the disciples, following a plan already prepared, collected the sect¡¯s treasures, even the Ascending Immortal Ladder, which was disassembled and loaded onto the War Treasure Ship!


    Besides, countless Spirit-Seeking Masters also started collecting Spirit Veins.


    But among them, there were only two Purple Mansion Spirit-Seeking Masters that could gather Fifth Rank Spirit Veins!


    And the Spirit Veins of Qingxuan Sect were four Fifth Rank Superior Grade Spirit Veins, with two of them being Pure Spirit Veins, capable of producing treasures as precious as Fifth Rank Spirit Water and Fifth Rank Flame Crystals!


    Profound Sword True Person and Zi Xuan True Person were also taking part in gathering the Spirit Veins, as they were both Spirit-Seeking Masters, and their ranks reached the Fifth Rank as well.


    Shen Ji True Person couldn¡¯t drag on for much longer. Even if they had cleared the area around Qingxuan Mountain, there would surely be spies!


    They had to set off as quickly as possible!


    Each one of the demons took out the Demon Treasure, Heavenly Demon Banner, tossing it into the void.


    The Heavenly Demon Locking Sky Formation was complete!


    "You¡¯re celebrating too soon!" Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person also leaped onto a Spirit Boat!


    This Spirit Boat had three hundred and sixty Spirit Platforms, and it was also the single Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship of Qingxuan Sect!


    Its activation required a full thirty-six Purple Mansion cultivators, and three hundred and twenty-four Foundation Establishment cultivators to input True Yuan together!


    The resplendent Star Shifting Great Formation reappeared!


    Liu He True Person was buying time to set up his formation, but the Qingxuan Sect was not just sitting and waiting for death! Find adventures on novelhall.Co?m


    The heavens once again displayed the starry sky, countless stars shining brightly, and Profound Sword True Person also stepped into the starlight, condensing a gargantuan starlight swordsman!


    A Starlight Slash was unleashed, as if the Milky Way was slashing down!


    Liu He True Person¡¯s expression changed slightly as he continuously formed spirit seals, immediately his figure expanded, showing the power of a Golden Core pinnacle cultivator!


    The Bloodthirsty Blade Treasure in his hand also looked like a bloody river, facing the starlight sword!


    Immediately, a loud rumble resounded!


    Heavenly Sword True Person, however, did not engage in a prolonged battle; he slashed again and again at the Heavenly Demon Locking Sky Formation!


    Qingxuan Sect had no time, nor the luxury, to delay!


    "It¡¯s useless; what you¡¯re attacking are my five demon clones, hidden inside the formation. You¡¯ll never break the formation from within!"


    Liu He True Person shook his head, still confident of victory!


    He held the Blood Saber in one hand and the Demon Chain in the other, behind him hung a Fifth Rank Heavenly Demon Banner!


    Bracing against the starlight giant swordsman!

 Chapter 495 - 343 Nine Corpses Fall, Liu He Appears (Combined into One)_3

    Profound Sword True Person was finally just at the Golden Core Middle Stage!


    ...


    Underground, Lin Shiming observed everything, feeling chills from the scheming of these True Persons!


    He anxiously looked at the Sword Grass within his body!


    And at that moment, a thunderous boom was heard!


    Endless flames appeared, forcefully tearing apart a corner, the Sky Demon Locking Heaven Grand Formation had been shattered from the outside!


    A fiery red treasure sword flew out from the gap!


    "Grass Senior, Flame Yang has had a tough time these days!"


    A sound of grievance left Lin Shiming dumbfounded!


    At this moment, he instantly understood why Flame Yang had rushed over, thinking that the Taiyi Grass Sword had been born!


    But the truth was, it was the Sword Grass Seed from the same origin given by the Taiyi Grass Sword!


    Of course, stunned alongside him were Heavenly Sword True Person, Profound Sword True Person, and others!


    The breaking of the Sky Demon Locking Heaven Grand Formation from the outside naturally delighted them, but they also recognized the fiery red Soul Summoning Sword as the one they had brought from the small world!


    Among them, Heavenly Sword True Person was even more greedy. With this fifth-rank superior-grade Soul Summoning Sword, he even felt confident enough to reach the peak of Golden Core, and as a Sword Cultivator at the Golden Core peak, there would be no need to flee from the Qingxuan Sect!


    But immediately, he shook his head and exchanged glances with Profound Sword True Person, dashing madly towards the outside!


    The legacy and Magical Treasures they currently possessed were far more important!


    The Human Dao and Heavenly Dao incarnations, both Golden Core Middle Stage Sky Demons, also sandwiched Lin Shiming from the left and the right, coming faster than the bewildered Flame Yang!


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate; a Leaping Void Disk sprang forth, evading the pincer attack from Human Dao and Heavenly Dao!


    He reached the Flaming Sword, grabbing it with one hand!


    "Flame Yang Senior, use that move you used to get in!"


    "I am but a sword!"


    Lin Shiming¡¯s True Yuan desperately surged towards Flame Yang, at this moment, he had no concern about his True Yuan and life force being drained!


    Surviving came first, and besides, he still had the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit!


    In a moment of bewilderment, Flame Yang also realized what was happening. Feeling the rich Sword Origin, the eruptive Sword Intent reappeared, and the fiery Spirit Sword slashed out, instantly sending the Heavenly Dao and Human Dao incarnations flying!


    The Flaming Sword was a fifth-rank superior-grade Soul Summoning Sword Magical Treasure, naturally, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to deal with Golden Core incarnations!


    But Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t smile at this moment because his entire body was bereft of True Yuan!


    The Sword Origin in his body was also depleted!


    Scared, Lin Shiming hurriedly swallowed a drop of thousand-year-old spiritual milk!


    "Flame Yang Senior, run in that direction, there is a Carved Sword Stone from the Taibai Sword Palace for you to comprehend!" Lin Shiming spoke once more.


    "Is the kid serious?" Upon hearing this, Flame Yang suddenly perked up, his body¡¯s flames intensifying. Clearly, this strength wasn¡¯t absorbed from him, but rather his own inherent power. In an instant, he fled towards Yunzhou!


    His speed was terrifyingly fast, nearly matching the escape velocity of a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator!


    And the Heavenly Dao and Human Dao incarnations were relentlessly pursuing him at this moment!

 Chapter 496 - 344: The Return of Suotian, The Tragic Huang Mei (Two-in-One)

    Lin Shiming held the Flaming Sword in his hand, somewhat dazed.


    Because at this moment, he suddenly realized that the Soul Summoning Sword did not rely on cultivators to provide True Yuan, which was a huge deviation from what had happened in the small world.


    Yet, at the beginning, the Flaming Yang had fiercely absorbed energy from him.


    It was only after consuming the thousand-year Spirit Milk that he recovered most of his True Yuan.


    However, this moment was clearly not the time to question the Flaming Yang, as his Divine Sense shifted towards behind him.


    Scarlet sword light flashed by, leaving behind a red sword scar that stretched across the sky.


    The speed of the Flaming Yang was naturally unparalleled in his life!


    But under the cover of his Divine Sense, Heavenly Dao and Human Dao¡¯s Heavenly Demon clones were still relentlessly pursuing him from behind, stepping on a Fifth Rank Spirit Boat magical treasure. Find more to read at novelhall.Co?m


    That Spirit Boat was clearly extraordinary, although it was not as versatile in offense and defense as the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s War Treasure Ship.


    Nonetheless, the speed that the Fifth Rank Spirit Boat provided was still irksome to him.


    However, oddly enough, the two Heavenly Demon clones did not launch any more attacks, just hanging far behind, maintaining the distance!


    It was as if they were waiting for something, or perhaps signaling to encircle him!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart suddenly tensed!


    "Senior! They are transmitting signals, they¡¯ve become coordinates, we must destroy their Spirit Boat, and change direction!" Lin Shiming shouted abruptly.


    "They¡¯re but two Golden Core Middle Stage clones, even if they send signals, it doesn¡¯t matter!" Flaming Yang said with some disdain.


    "Senior, there are several more Golden Core Cultivators, perhaps even Golden Core pinnacle waiting ahead to intercept us!"


    "Whatever conditions you have, Senior, please just state them!" Lin Shiming said, somewhat anxiously.


    Qingzhou was not close to Yunzhou, and with the speed of the Flaming Sword, naturally, it was incredibly fast. They could possibly reach Stone Ridge Cave and escape through the Transmission Formation in just a few hours!


    But no matter how fast it was, as long as it was a straight line, it could be intercepted!


    Lin Shiming looked slightly disappointed; this sword move was naturally impressive, beyond his reach, but it had been indeed blocked!


    "Watch closely!" The Flaming Sword still had boundless confidence, looking at Lin Shiming¡¯s puzzled gaze, his words full of pride.


    Lin Shiming also straightened himself and looked again, only to see that the dispersing firelight reappeared nearby, rapidly transforming, and the scattering Sword Intent suddenly became even more piercing, with each sword light instantly turning into a Fire Attribute Spirit Sword!


    Sword Birth Myriad Laws!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s breath quickened, his eyes filled with light.


    And on the opposing Spirit Boat, the Heavenly Dao and Human Dao¡¯s Heavenly Demon clones, who had just heaved a sigh of relief, suddenly had their eyes split with rage, hurriedly taking out several magical treasures.


    A Bloodlight Demon Saber, a Reaper¡¯s Scythe.


    Followed by three or four more Heavenly Demon banners, but the materials barely reached the Fifth Rank!


    The quality of the demon heads was also significantly worse.


    Boom!


    Tens of thousands of Fire Swords, like a volcanic eruption, swept towards the demon treasures and the two Heavenly Demon clones!


    Even the huge Spirit Boat was completely submerged.


    Truly a sword that could overthrow the world!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s face was full of astonishment, but even so, neither the Human Dao nor Heavenly Dao clone perished; they appeared a hundred yards away, each having paid the price of an arm.


    Then they quickly began to flee.


    "Let¡¯s go!" Before Lin Shiming could continue observing or ponder about pursuing, the Flaming Sword suddenly spoke coldly.


    It transformed into a flaming sword light once more and broke through the air!


    This time, the sword light was even swifter than before; the powerful wind forced Lin Shiming to activate a layer of starlight for protection.


    Seemingly noticing Lin Shiming¡¯s confusion, the Flaming Sword also spoke up at this moment:

 Chapter 497 - 344: The Return of Suotian, The Tragic Huang Mei (Two-in-One)_2

    ```


    "You guessed right, there is a Golden Core pinnacle, unfortunately, there¡¯s no reward!"


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat helpless about this; a Golden Core pinnacle peaking had not gone after Qingxuan Sect, but instead, was pursuing him!


    Fortunately, they had already shaken off the two Heavenly Demon clones of Liu He True Person.


    They did not have to worry about being encircled, they just needed to hurry towards Stone Ridge Cave!


    He released his Divine Sense as much as possible and did not sense the presence of the Heavenly Demon True Person, which meant that the Heavenly Demon True Person was still some distance away from them.


    That was one of the few pieces of good news.


    ...


    Stone Ridge Cave, located in the Qingyun Mountain Range, had its Transmission Formation half activated. Several Lin Family cultivators were entering and leaving, checking everything, while the entire cave housing the Transmission Formation was brightly and coldly illuminated by Moonlight Stones.


    Lin Xianzhi sat at the cave entrance, his eyes loosely fixed on the distance.


    He took a deep breath. He had been standing guard here for five years!


    He couldn¡¯t help but resent his own lack of strength!


    Steps echoed as they walked out.


    Lin Shijie and Lin Houwei, followed by Lin Shizhong, appeared, bowing respectfully.


    "Seven Great Uncle, the Transmission Formation has been thoroughly checked. All the Spirit Stones have been properly placed, with only a Superior Grade Spirit Stone needed to complete the setup," they reported.


    Lin Xianzhi simply nodded, remaining silent, continuing to look ahead.


    Lin Houwei bowed his head even lower.


    At first, he hadn¡¯t understood the severity of the situation, but as soon as Lin Xianzhi heard the news, he had immediately arrived in Yunzhou, staying day and night in front of the Transmission Formation!


    It was to ensure that the very instant Lin Shiming arrived, he could be transmitted to Shuangmu Island in the Southern Sea.


    Even a Destruction Formation had been prepared; after this single use, the Transmission Formation would explode, and the corresponding formation on Shuangmu Island would be destroyed as well.


    He was aware of the issues with the cultivation technique, and knew a part of Qingxuan Sect¡¯s plot!


    ...


    "Flame Yang, Senior, turn south!" A red sword light streaked across the sky.


    This was already the third direction change!


    Of course, it was also the last one. Straight ahead lay Lingnan County¡¯s Nanling Mountain.


    Past Nanling Mountain, and flying a million miles ahead into Qingyun Mountain Range, they would reach the Transmission Formation!


    Lin Shiming would finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief.


    The frequent changes of direction had also made it impossible for the Heavenly Demon True Person to arrange for other True Persons to intercept them.


    And the speed of the Flaming Sword did not disappoint Lin Shiming; it still kept them tens of thousands of miles ahead of the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    Now, Lin Shiming could sense the Heavenly Demon True Person, but the latter¡¯s aura was unstable.


    He didn¡¯t have the Fifth Rank Spirit Boat like Liu He True Person.


    It seemed he was also significantly injured.


    "Could it be that Shen Ji True Person has found him again?" Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but be filled with doubt.


    Considering Shen Ji True Person¡¯s vindictive nature, it was really possible he¡¯d confront Liu He True Person, who was, in fact, an imposter of the Illusionary Demon True Person.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming even felt that the Illusionary Demon True Person was more likely dead than alive.


    But for him, it was actually a stroke of good luck.


    Clearly, the Heavenly Demon True Person was not worried about Lin Shiming escaping while he was recuperating from injuries using millennium spirit milk. Experience tales at novelhall.Co?m


    Another half an hour passed, and the rocky landscape of Stone Ridge Cave and its tea-covered hills became easily visible from above.


    The mountain range housing the Transmission Formation was within the reach of Divine Sense.


    Yet, at this moment, rather than feeling elation, Lin Shiming¡¯s heart was filled with an uneasy foreboding!


    This was not the style of the Heavenly Demon True Person, nor did it seem like the actions of a Golden Core pinnacle cultivator.


    ```

 Chapter 498 - 344: The Return of Suotian, The Tragic Huang Mei (Two-in-One)_3

    The might of Shen Ji True Person remained vivid in his memory.


    Heavenly Demon True Person might not be on the same level, but he couldn¡¯t be too far off.


    "Senior, be careful. Once we get past that mountain ahead, we¡¯ll find the Transmission Formation!" Lin Shiming reminded.


    Just as he was issuing the reminder, a thick fog suddenly arose out of nowhere up ahead!


    The fog started as a blinding white but quickly churned into blackness, like ink spreading across paper, and then out surged a massive demon avatar from within the mist.


    A banner of the Heavenly Demon, even larger than the previous one, stood tall in the void, dominating a vast expanse of it.


    And the situation did not end there. In the distance, three more areas began to churn with white fog that rapidly turned black, each giving birth to enormous demon avatars, along with three banners just like the first.


    The grand Heavenly Demon Locking Heaven Formation manifested once again!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s face showed utter shock at the methods of Heavenly Demon True Person, too profound and unconventional for this world.


    From tens of thousands of miles away, he forcefully executed the Heavenly Demon Locking Heaven Formation!


    Even the Flaming Sword began to frown deeply.@@@@


    The complexity of this Formation was immense; he had broken through before because it was from the outside!


    "Senior, another sword strike, please¡ªI have a plan!" Lin Shiming¡¯s body shook as nine Spirit Ants lined up on his back.


    Although the Spirit Ants were only Third Rank, facing down the Fifth Rank Spirit Formation, it was uncertain if they would be effective, but they had to try!


    He also had the Leaping Void Disk; breaking through the locked space would suffice.


    The Flaming Sword nodded, his body once again enveloped in flames, as the realm of Sword Birth Myriad Laws manifested anew.


    Tens of thousands of fiery sword beams charged at the Heavenly Demon Locking Heaven Formation!


    In alarm, Lin Shiming quickly circulated the Star Body Refining Technique to halt the deadly toxin.


    The Flaming Sword shot out once again.


    This flight, in the blink of an eye, had reached the mountains where the Transmission Formation was located.


    The Transmission Formation immediately activated.


    Huang Mei Hermit, sensing the activation of the Transmission, flew out from a concealed Formation, but before he could intercept Lin Shiming, he saw the terrible sword light hitting beneath the mountains.


    It was too swift to defend against!


    Huang Mei Hermit wore a puzzled expression; this was not how he had imagined things unfolding.


    And the Transmission Formation¡¯s mechanisms suddenly activated, with Lin Xianzhi and the others reaching within the Formation, turning into streaks of light that disappeared atop the Transmission Formation.


    Find more chapters on novelhall.Co?m


    Boom!


    An explosive sound rang out as the entire mountain range disintegrated into ash, levelling to flat ground.


    Huang Mei Hermit wore a face of disappointment and confusion, unclear why Lin Shiming had suddenly emitted Golden Core Late Stage power, but before he could dwell on his questions,


    he saw Heavenly Demon True Person approaching angrily from the distance.


    "True Person..." Huang Mei Hermit tried to explain.


    But in the next moment, a massive demon avatar opened its gaping mouth and swallowed Huang Mei Hermit whole!


    Heavenly Demon True Person¡¯s face was solemn as he stood before the ruins, watching as scenes from Huang Mei Hermit¡¯s memories surfaced before his eyes. After clenching his fists in frustration, he had no choice but to depart!


    The Qingyun Mountain Range then echoed with the roars of beasts!

 Chapter 501 - 346 Clan Meeting, Plans (Tri-Unity Alliance Hierarch added update day 4)

    The next day, the proud sun rose from the sea level, painting the entire Shuangmu Island with its orange-red glow.


    The tireless waves continued to beat against the reefs, stirring up tempestuous waves, and occasionally a few Sea Cloud Birds would take flight from the island.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao descended from the Tide-Watching Stone in front of their cave residence.


    Read exclusive chapters at novelhall.Co?m


    The two exchanged smiles and together, headed towards the mid-mountain of Qinglian Peak.


    Today was the Lin Family Clan meeting, and now the number of cultivators in the Lin Family, including Innate Cultivators, was no fewer than four thousand, spanning five generations from the Xian to the Ze generations.


    There were almost twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators. Naturally, it was no longer possible to hold a clan meeting with the entire family as before.


    However, due to the absence of Yunzhou, almost all of the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators, save for a few in seclusion, had gathered.


    The Lin Family¡¯s Council Hall had now been expanded to four levels.


    The meeting took place on the third floor of the Council Hall. By the time Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao entered, most of the cultivators had already arrived.


    Even the newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivators Lin Shizhong, Lin Shiyun, Lin Shijin, Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and Lin Zelu were present.


    Of course, there were also a few Shiming generation cultivators that Lin Shiming was not very familiar with. Currently, the Lin Family had twenty-three Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Lin Xianzhi, as always, occupied the leading position. Seeing Lin Shiming¡¯s improved complexion, his face clearly brightened, and the others also breathed a sigh of relief.


    One must know that Spirit Veins are finite, and the reason for the current deficit is chiefly due to the small-scale Superior Grade Spirit Vein and the small-sized Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone mines.


    That was despite the Lin Family having assigned a significant number of cultivators to mine on Spirit Turtle Island.


    If the Spirit Veins were to be exhausted, the Lin Family would not only have to worry about financial issues, but also might have to cancel policies like the birth incentive award and additional stipend rewards.


    The strength of a Purple Mansion Family was undeniable, but so was the enormity of its expenses.


    Having finished his report, Lin Houyuan gave the floor to Lin Houxuan, who, as the head of the Alchemy Hall, needed to clarify the current situation of the family¡¯s alchemists.


    Lin Houxuan stepped forth radiating joy. Of all the departments in the family, theirs was undoubtedly the most splendid¡ª the Alchemy Hall.


    "Reporting to Seventh Great-Uncle, Ninth Brother, Shiming! Currently, our family has one Fourth Rank Alchemist, one Intermediate Grade Third Rank Alchemist, two Inferior Grade Third Rank Alchemists! Eight Superior Grade Second Rank Alchemists, eighteen Intermediate Grade Second Rank Alchemists! Thirty Inferior Grade Second Rank Alchemists and fifty Alchemy Apprentices!"


    With this introduction, the grimness brought on by the financial concerns eased. If the most important aspect for a family is its strength, then the second most crucial is Alchemy. Alchemy pertains to whether family cultivators can breakthrough major realms, whether they can speed up their cultivation process, or whether they can heal and restore True Yuan.


    It can also bring immense benefits to the family.


    Moreover, the Lin Family boasts a Fourth Rank Alchemist.


    When it was Lin Houfei¡¯s turn to introduce the Artifact Refining Hall, it seemed comparatively lackluster. The Lin Family only had two Intermediate Grade Third Rank Artifact Refiners, two Inferior Grade, five Superior Grade Second Rank, and ten Intermediate Grade Second Rank Artifact Refiners. However, they did have about forty Inferior Grade Second Rank Artifact Refiners!


    This was the result of operating customized Magic Artifact and Spirit Pill shops in Yunzhou¡¯s Qingyun Market. Otherwise, there would have been even fewer experts in Alchemy and Artifact Refining.


    There were reasons for the shortage of talented cultivators, and also because the Artifact Refining inheritance was acquired much later than the Alchemy inheritance.

 Chapter 502 - 346 Clan Meeting, Plans (Tri-Unity Alliance Hierarch added update day 4)_2

    The Lin Family¡¯s alchemy inheritance was already acquired more than thirty years ago, whereas the artificing tradition was only wrested from the Zhang Family six years ago.


    Speaking of which, they also obtained the secret technique for treasure extraction from spirit veins from the Zhang Family.


    After Lin Houfei spoke, it was Lin Houshou who discussed the Formation Hall, where the current array masters of the Lin Family were proving themselves quite capable. There was one third-rank superior grade array master, two third-rank inferior grade array masters, who were the recently advanced Lin Shiyun and Lin Zelu, five second-rank superior grade array masters, five second-rank intermediate grade array masters, and ten second-rank inferior grade array masters!


    This was also the Lin Family¡¯s possession of inheritance skills of the fourth rank in three arts, yet with regards to talisman-making skills, they only had third-rank superior grade inheritance, which was found by Lin Shiming from some unlucky cultivator¡¯s storage bag. The highest-ranking talisman maker was the current Lin Shijin, a third-rank inferior grade talisman maker.


    Following Lin Houshou¡¯s overview, it was Lin Houyuan¡¯s turn, acting as the interim Family Head, to outline the family¡¯s current resources and the quantity of spirit beasts.


    After discussing the various resources, attention turned to Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming.


    The Lin Family was facing a critical juncture as well; if not handled properly, they might not only fail to further advance their family¡¯s interests but also risk the ruin of their foundational enterprise.


    "Hou Yuan, recap the situation in the Southern Sea Cultivation World for us, along with the family¡¯s future plans. The family¡¯s focus was on Yunzhou in the past five years, and now it¡¯s time to take charge in the Southern Sea Cultivation World!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again. Enjoy more content from novelhall.Co?m


    Lin Houyuan nodded repeatedly and said,


    "The information we¡¯ve gathered tells us that the Southern Sea Cultivation World is divided into six major sea domains: Coral Sea Domain, Chi Lan Sea Domain, Nine Dragon Sea Domain, Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain, Xue Yun Sea Domain, and Putuo Sea Domain, each of which is far larger than the Zhao Kingdom."


    "The six major sea domains are each controlled by six Golden Core powers: Coral Alliance, Chi Lan Sect, Nine Dragon Island, Tianzhao Sect, Blood Cultivation Sect, and Myriad Buddhas Island!"


    The first step in their collaboration was the matrimonial alliance between Lin Shiyi and the Ye Family¡¯s Ye Yujiao.


    Lin Shiming truly supported the family¡¯s plans but looked at Lin Shiyi with a slight unease. Seeing his second brother grinning foolishly, he felt relieved. If Lin Shiyi was dissatisfied, he wouldn¡¯t be smiling so happily.


    And with Lin Shiyi¡¯s current mid Foundation Establishment stage body cultivation level, he could easily rank in the top three in strength within the Ye Family and find a solid footing on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    The discussions also included when the Lin Family should increase their shops¡¯ output, when to help the Ye Family rise to become the second power on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and when to cannily replace Purple Jade Sect.


    "Shiming, do you have anything else to add?" After Lin Houyuan spoke, Lin Xianzhi looked towards Lin Shiming.


    "Reporting to Seventh Great-Uncle, the family¡¯s arrangements are very appropriate, but one more thing to note is that we must thoroughly investigate the True Person status of the one behind Purple Jade Sect, and also best to clarify the True Person who used to be in contact with the Ye Family," Lin Shiming added after a pause.


    Even in such a vast sea domain, to occupy an island with a transmission formation of the fourth rank, there must naturally be a Golden Core True Person behind it. Although the Lin Family also had the Flaming Sword in the Sword Pavilion, Lin Shiming was not necessarily someone who could command it.


    Unless he could make the Flaming Sword owe him something!


    On the other hand, the Golden Core True Person of the Coral Alliance was amenable to being persuaded with spirit stone interests.


    "Well, then we¡¯ll handle it this way!" Lin Xianzhi nodded, affirming the family¡¯s direction. The Lin Family could steadily establish shops on Heavenly Phenomenon Island. Since the Ye Family has declined, they naturally couldn¡¯t maintain so many shops. After taking their time to plot and eventually taking over Heavenly Phenomenon Island, securing the income from both the transmission formations and the marketplaces, the Lin Family would truly have a firm foothold among the Purple Mansion families.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, at the Yunzhou auction, I acquired a treasure map, possibly leading to the entrance of a Profound Grade Secret Realm!" After discussing important matters, Lin Shiming took out the treasure map he had auctioned.

 Chapter 503 346 Clan Meeting, Plans (Tri-Unity Alliance Hierarch added update day 4)_3

    Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    The annotations on the treasure map are also in the script of the Southern Sea Cultivation World.


    The most critical point is that the location marked on the treasure map somewhat resembles Sea Bird Island, which Lin Family contended for to seize the Spirit Vein.


    Lin Xianzhi also took the treasure map with utmost seriousness.


    At this moment, the other Cultivators were also inevitably excited, craning their necks to look, even though it was currently in the hands of the great-uncle Lin Xianzhi, they still could hardly restrain themselves.


    If it really were a Profound Grade Secret Realm, it would absolutely be like a long drought meeting sweet rain for Lin Family.


    The foundation of Lin Family was shallow, after all, and because they had withdrawn from the stage in Yunzhou, many spiritual materials and Spiritual Medicines were impossible to buy, leading to the slow cultivation speed of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Lin Family, even though there were Third Rank Water Spirit Shells'' accompanying Spiritual Pearls available. Otherwise, the number of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators in Lin Family might have been double.


    If there were a Profound Grade Secret Realm, they could obtain a large number of Third Rank Spiritual Medicines and even Fourth Rank Spiritual Medicines.


    "I know where it is! I was the one who explored Sea Bird Island at that time!" Lin Xianzhi hadn''t even spoken yet when Lin Shijie took the initiative to speak.


    "That place is an island shaped strikingly similar to a gourd, inhabited by a Fourth Rank Five-colored Python with horns, which is far more powerful than the Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird. However, the strength of the Spirit Vein there is only at the Third Rank Supreme Grade. I was wondering then why a Fourth Rank Spirit Python would seek a Third Rank Spirit Vein!" Lin Shijie continued to affirm.


    Following that, a concerned look appeared in his eyes. A Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird was already a strong Great Demon among the Fourth Rank, and the might of a Fourth Rank Five-colored Python was even greater, and it had horns. Shiming and Lin Xianzhi had not been Purple Mansion cultivators for long; even Lin Xianzhi had only been one for a little over twenty years.


    "It doesn''t matter; the family now has two War Treasure Ships and four Purple Mansion warriors!" Shiming spoke up and then also released a shrunken Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Suddenly, the aura of Purple Mansion spread out, which made the Lin Family Cultivators even happier.


    Together with the Thunder Spirit Turtle, Lin Family had a total of six Purple Mansion warriors, which greatly reduced the difficulty of dealing with the Five-colored Python, including two Sword Cultivators among them.


    Shiming took the Storage Bag, only to see inside two black towers standing quietly, exuding the Spirit Might of Fourth Rank Magical Artifacts.


    And that dark color, as if it could hook people''s souls, greatly pleased Shiming.


    "How goes the matter of taking a disciple?"


    "Thirteen types of Third Rank Spiritual Wine I have not tasted, and three kinds of Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine!" Lin Houwei continued to reply, revealing the conditions set by Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    "Moreover, Jiuxiao Scatter Man controls an ancient Transmission Formation, and has already recorded the spatial information of the Transmission Formation for me. Perhaps, in the near future, we could use Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s Transmission Formation to return to Yunzhou!" Lin Houwei continued.


    He was a bit excited as he said this.


    It was known that Lin Family had destroyed Stone Ridge Cave''s Transmission Formation, and even if Shuangmu Island''s Transmission Formation was repaired, there would be no way to transmit back to Yunzhou.


    Of course, even if they could, Lin Family would not dare to do so, lest they were met with several Golden Core Cultivators waiting for an ambush at the other end.


    The Heavenly Demon Sect, which had lost the Blood Demon Disk, a Spiritual Treasure, was still a significant threat.


    "Did you show this to second uncle?" Shiming asked, also somewhat surprised.


    If it were true, they would not only be able to take Jiuxiao Scatter Man as a mentor and gain a Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Artifact Refiner as a Tribute for the family, but also allow the family to return to Yunzhou and plan in secret!


    The Yunzhou of Lin Family was after all the hereditary land of Lin Family, and there were still many Lin Family mortals who had not had time to relocate.


    "I have shown it, and I''ve also compared it to the spatial information of Stone Ridge Cave''s Transmission Formation; they are quite close!" Lin Hou affirmed with a firm nod.


    For him, taking a mentor was equally important. If he could take Jiuxiao Scatter Man as a mentor and inherit his mantle.

 Chapter 504 346 Clan Meeting, Planning (3 in 1 Alliance Hierarch Added Chapter Day 4)_4

    For him, this was embarking on the true path of Immortal Cultivation.


    "Uncle Thirteen, you have made another great contribution to the clan!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but praise.


    "Where, I just ran an errand!" replied Lin Houwei, feeling a bit embarrassed, and then took another gulp of Spiritual Wine.


    After finishing the drink, his expression turned somewhat desolate.


    "Shiming, the Soul Slip of our fifth brother has shattered!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming also shuddered, finally understanding why his father had been presiding over the speeches, and finally realizing who he had not seen among the crowd.


    It was not difficult to figure out; the Lin Family had retreated en masse in secrecy.


    The fact that the Lin Family had not been discovered before Shen Ji True Person''s breakthrough indicated that Lin Houyong had always been with the Lin Family.


    He also understood why Lin Xianzhi and the others had not told him; they simply feared he would blame himself.


    And the memorial service for Lin Houyong had been completed during the days he was in closed-door cultivation.


    Several other elders from the Hou generation had also been enshrined in the ancestral shrine with him.


    "Shiming, the request of our fifth brother to Uncle Seven was to give Shizhuo a chance at Foundation Establishment, giving Shiyuan the opportunity for the Purple Mansion!" he added, as if seeing self-reproach on Lin Shiming''s face.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, knowing that regardless of any deals Lin Houyong had struck, it was all because of him.


    A forced smile attempted to grace his face, which ended up looking incredibly strained.


    Even though he was a cultivator, he was also a seventeen-year-old youth, one who had lost his father!


    "Uncle Seven, I will avenge our fifth uncle, I swear it!" Lin Shiming also spoke, swearing an oath towards the hundreds of spirit tablets in the Lin Family ancestral shrine.


    "No, Uncle Seven, my father''s death has nothing to do with you. I will avenge him myself; that''s the only way to set my father''s heart at ease!" Lin Shiyuan shook his head, his eyes filled with resolve.


    He then displayed his cultivation level, leaving Lin Shiming surprised to find that the seventeen-year-old Lin Shiyuan was now a Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer cultivator, with a stable and firm cultivation basis.


    And to think, even when he, Shiming, was seventeen, he had only been at the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation!


    Even Lin Shilei, who had the same rare Spirit Root, was not as advanced.


    "Alright!" Lin Shiming watched the determination in Lin Shiyuan''s eyes, nodded fiercely, and then took out a Jade Slip ¨C it was the modified cultivation technique of the Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture.


    "From now on, spend one month per year in my cave dwelling!" After saying this, Lin Shiming mourned for Lin Houyong once more.


    It wasn''t until three days later that he left the ancestral shrine.


    As he was leaving, he faintly heard the heart-wrenching sound of crying coming from inside the shrine.


    Lin Shiming paused for a moment, took one last look at the shrine from a distance, and left. At that moment, within his body, the green Spirit Patterns in his Purple Mansion swelled up once again.


    This signified that his Minor Divine Ability, Revival Wind, could be utilized once more!

 Chapter 513 - 350: Golden Dragon Fruit, Spiritual Body (Two in One)

    In front of the Twin Gourd Islands, Lin Shiming quietly sensed the Minor Divine Ability of the Immortal Wood Shadow within his Purple Mansion.


    His understanding of the Kuimu Sword Canon also grew increasingly deeper, and suddenly, he made a discovery.


    The art of Wood Escape used by the wooden demon, he had also mastered it.


    He just hadn¡¯t had the chance to test the power of the Immortal Wood Shadow.


    Of course, the nature of the Minor Divine Ability was more suitable as a trump card.


    While Lin Shiming was contemplating, the spiraling spiritual energy also began to emit light, the next moment, all the Lin Family Clan members emerged from it!


    Lin Xianzhi, standing nearby, was the first to get up and after checking, he breathed a sigh of relief seeing that no one had remained in the secret realm.


    As for Lin Shiming, he wasn¡¯t too worried, for the soul contracts with his Wang Jiao and Golden Winged Mantis were very normal.


    The chances of something happening to the members of the Lin Family were extremely small.


    Not to mention there was the War Treasure Ship.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Shiming, we¡¯ve made a huge haul this time!" Despite the calmness in their hearts, and even though they were over eighty years old, Lin Shijie and the others couldn¡¯t help being excited!


    He took out his Storage Bag, and Lin Shitao beside him also handed over her Storage Bag!


    Joy was clearly written on the faces of everyone present.


    Even the usually indifferent Lin Shiming showed some emotion on his face.


    There was a concentration of evil Qi on everyone, clearly indicating they had not refrained from hunting numerous demonic beasts during this period.


    As the Storage Bags flew out, Wang Jiao also let out a loud roar from a distance, flying towards Lin Shiming.


    In the end, Lin Shiming, holding the Storage Bag nonchalantly, started imitating the howl of the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    "Please collect the Five Elements Illusion Heart Jade, and refine the matching Illusion Array to activate the formation, and you will obtain a Spirit Body Cultivator!"


    Lin Shiming was once again startled; he had thought the system prompt was about the Dragon Horn Tree, but it was actually about the Five Elements Illusion Heart Jade!


    He widened his eyes in astonishment; his Divine Sense swept through the Storage Bag, but he could not spot that jade. Instead, he discovered that a Spiritual Medicine Garden had appeared inside the Storage Bag.


    This was quite an astonishing and incredulous matter, but he soon realized that this Illusion Array was likely created by the Five Elements Illusion Heart Jade!


    Of course, Lin Shiming had heard rumors about the Five Elements Illusion Heart Jade!


    What mattered more to Lin Shiming was the emergence of a new Spirit Body Cultivator within the family ¨C this was of great significance!


    He himself possessed the Thousand Wood Spirit Body, and after it was awakened, he could easily feel that his cultivation speed had greatly increased, faster than even those with exceptional Spirit Roots!


    The appearance of another Spirit Body Cultivator in the family thus indicated that the Lin Family would at the very least have another Cultivator akin to those with exceptional Spirit Roots!


    After the surprise, Lin Shiming handed the two Storage Bags to Lin Xianzhi for inspection.


    After examining them, Lin Xianzhi too was thrilled to the extreme, finally showing a very joyful and hearty smile. Such a smile was rare on the Seventh Great-Uncle, the last time being when he broke through to Purple Mansion!


    "Shiming, this Dragon Horn-like Spirit Tree is probably a Golden Dragon Tree; it produces Golden Dragon Fruit, a treasure that can significantly elevate the Flood Dragon Bloodline by a whole level!" Lin Xianzhi transmitted his voice to Lin Shiming, not speaking aloud, his voice trembling slightly.


    The Golden Dragon Tree was of great significance; even if the Golden Dragon Fruits ripened only once a millennium, for the Lin Family, it could be the key to firmly establishing themselves as a Golden Core Family in the future.


    A Fifth-Order Jiaolong Demon King could live for three to four thousand years, enough to make a Cultivator Family reach its peak in an era!


    It¡¯s known that the Heavenly Demon Sect once incited a beast tide by stealing the Golden Dragon Fruit from True Person Cloud Jiaolong.


    In Lin Xianzhi¡¯s view, Lin Shiming¡¯s Wang Jiao was the best candidate to consume the Golden Dragon Fruit.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was again astounded by the haul from the Profound Grade Secret Realm ¨C it was beyond imagination!


    Once the shock had passed, Lin Shijie also took out a late Third-Rank Queen Bee, and Lin Shitao produced a Five-colored Python.

 Chapter 514 - 350: Golden Dragon Fruit, Spiritual Body (Two in One)_2

    There was no surprise when the queen bee settled on Lin Shijie, and the Five-colored Python found its master in Lin Shitao.


    Although the Five-colored Python was only a juvenile, its cultivation level had reached the peak of the Second Rank, and it was on the verge of possibly consuming a Demonic Beast¡¯s inner core or taking a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through to the Third Rank.


    Its potential was truly immense!


    As for the remaining resources, each cultivator who wished to keep them could retain thirty percent; those who did not wish to could sell them to the family!


    Items like the Five-colored Illusion Heart Jade and the Golden Dragon Tree would naturally be converted into Contribution Points.


    Moreover, the Thousand-Year Spirit Milk and most of the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk were also exchanged for Contribution Points.


    "I hope Seventh Uncle Ancestor can act as a protector this one time!" Lin Houshou said, stepping forward once all resources had been allocated.


    Having studied transmission formations for over a decade, added to his cultivation breakthrough, the formation heritage brought by Lin Shiming, and the Void Nether Crystal, he finally felt confident to attempt the refinement of a Transmission Formation!


    Once the first Transmission Formation was refined, the Lin Family would be able to connect Spirit Turtle Island with Seabird Island.


    And lay claim to three large islands with the potential of the Fourth Rank!


    On one side would be the Profound Grade Secret Realm, and on the other, a Spirit Vein and a breeding base for Spirit Turtles!


    By then, the foundation of the traditional Purple Mansion Families would definitely not compare to the up-and-coming Lin Family!


    Having said this, Lin Houshou also appeared somewhat nervous.


    A Transmission Formation was not like ordinary formations; its complexity was far greater than many Fourth Rank formations. Find more to read at novelhall.Co?m


    Had Lin Houshou not received the formation heritage of the Zhengyang Alliance¡¯s formation family, replete with detailed annotations, it might have taken the Lin Family over a hundred years to master the Transmission Formation.


    Of course, for the Lin Family, the Transmission Formation would not be placed on Gourd Twin Islands; instead, Seabird Island, not far from here, was a better choice!


    The transplanted Spirit Vein was already prepared¡ªthe Lin Family¡¯s Third Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Vein, along with the Qinglian Pool!


    The breeding of Green Lotus seeds and Blood Crocodiles within the Lin Family would not halt.


    As for the Red Spirit Fish, they would become a delicacy exclusive to the Lin Family and would not be sold to outsiders, for freshwater fish delicacies were exceedingly rare in the Southern Sea!


    If it caught the attention of the true persons of the Coral Alliance, the trouble for the Lin Family would be far from minor!


    A group of people drove a Spirit Boat and once again arrived at Seabird Island!


    As the Spirit Vein had been extracted and many Water Spirit Coconut trees had been transplanted, the entire island looked much desolate, with even some Spirit Plants withered and dead!


    Only on the beach did some low-rank Demonic Beasts like Second Rank Profound Turtles and Green Shell Crabs roam freely, but as they faced the imposing momentum of the Lin Family¡¯s cultivators, they all leapt toward the waves of the sea!


    Lin Xianzhi took out the Spirit-Seeking Disk and flew into the high sky above Seabird Island first.


    He looked for a place to release the Spirit Vein.


    Without the Spirit Vein¡¯s release, even if the Lin Family wanted to set up an Island Protecting Great Array, there would be no Spirit Vein to support it!


    It was only then that Lin Shiming realized, with the passing of his fifth uncle, the Spirit-Seeking Masters of the Lin Family were somewhat lacking in successors!


    Currently, the highest-ranking Spirit-Seeking Master in the Lin Family was Lin Xianzhi, a Fourth Rank Spirit-Seeking Master, and there wasn¡¯t even a single Third Rank Spirit-Seeking Master!


    If this was back in the Qingyun Mountain Range, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal due to geographical constraints, but in the Southern Sea, especially in the Coral Alliance near the Outer Sea, there was a greater need for Spirit-Seeking Masters!


    Lin Shiming also set up a simple isolation formation before entering the Cave Heaven World.


    As soon as he entered, Wang Jiao rushed to his side, circling around him incessantly.


    Its mouth wide open, its eyes shining with light.


    It even looked provocatively at the Red-haired Demon Monkey from time to time as if to say that if he helped it perform the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique, it would have its revenge!


    Lin Shiming patted Wang Jiao¡¯s head and planted the Golden Dragon Tree in its swamp, and after planting, he even sprinkled some fifth-grade Spirit Soil on it.


    As soon as the Golden Dragon Tree was planted, Wang Jiao was ecstatic, circling around the tree for a long while before finally wrapping its body around the tree!


    Then it stared at Lin Shiming with wide eyes.


    Lin Shiming did not disappoint Wang Jiao; he took out a huge jade bucket and began to pour in auxiliary materials for the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique.


    The Lin Family had been collecting these spiritual materials all along, and Lin Shiming always carried them.


    As the concoction in the bucket became more viscous, Wang Jiao could no longer contain itself, spiraling down to hover around the bucket, its jaws opening slightly to drip a sticky venom.


    This was Lin Shiming¡¯s umpteenth time performing the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique, and the half-flood dragons slain in the secret realm were taken out one by one.


    A three-layer Spirit Extraction Net descended, all transforming into droplets of essence blood filled with dragon aura, falling into the spiritual liquid in the jade bucket.


    Lin Shiming felt as though he saw numerous flood dragons swimming within the spiritual liquid!


    Once all three-rank demonic pythons were added, the most crucial Fourth Rank Five-colored Python was put in!


    This time there were four Spirit Nets!


    As the medicinal liquid surged, divine halos burst forth!


    In the lingering fog of spirit energy, countless flood dragons churned among the clouds, with the Five-colored Flood Dragon amongst them shining with the utmost radiance.


    "Get in!" Lin Shiming withdrew the Spirit Nets, and Wang Jiao leaped into them in response.


    A succession of dragon roars could be heard, this Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique was far more potent than the previous time!


    It took a full day of absorption!


    Wang Jiao then flew towards the Golden Dragon Tree, its body beginning to radiate intense Spirit Light.


    Lin Shiming also took out a piece of Zi Xuan Precious Jade and the Fourth Rank inner core of the Five-colored Python!


    As the Spirit Light converged, Lin Shiming could no longer see clearly.


    His face bright with joy, if things went as expected, Wang Jiao¡¯s transformation into a Fourth Rank would be without issue!


    One should know that a normal adult Flood Dragon is a Fifth Rank Demon King.


    And Wang Jiao has long been ranked among the Poisonous Dragons.


    What Lin Shiming needed to do next was simply to wait.


    A month passed, and on Fangmu Island, a dazzling light pierced the sky.


    A terrifying spatial fluctuation appeared above the island!


    ```

 Chapter 519 - 353: Ye Family Cultivation Technique, Trial Business Opening (Two in One)

    As everyone followed along, they quickly arrived at three two-story buildings under Ye Changxing¡¯s lead.


    "These are three core shops, Family Head Lin, the restaurant is next door!" Ye Changxing then directed everyone to the side.


    Lin Houyuan waved his hand, and Lin Shizhong and Lin Houxuan each entered the Pill Pavilion and the Artifact Refining Pavilion.


    They began preparations.


    Read new adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    After showing everyone the core shops, Ye Changxing also hurried along the Lin Family¡¯s betrothal gifts before taking his leave.


    He didn¡¯t even stay for a cup of tea.


    "Shiming, these shops are all adjacent to the Duan and Cheng Families!" Lin Houyuan spoke with some concern.


    Although the Duan Family specialized in artifact refining and the Cheng Family in talisman crafting, both had shops selling elixirs. The Ye Family arranged these shops in this way to help the Lin Family keep the other two in check.


    "No matter, let¡¯s just prepare more in these next few days, refine some Fasting Pills, and start a trial opening ten days in advance. We won¡¯t sell anything, but any cultivator who comes by will receive a Fasting Pill as a gift!" said Lin Shiming.


    The Lin Family¡¯s primary target was never the Duan or Cheng Families; they were just consolidating their position for now. What mattered most was the attitude of the Coral Alliance.


    How to make contact with a True Person of the Coral Alliance without seeming abrupt was currently the most critical issue for the Lin Family.


    Giving away Fasting Pills was also a marketing strategy prepared by the Lin Family, aimed at Qi Cultivators. Although Fasting Pills were not top-grade elixirs, every cultivator needed them, so the first goal was to bring in foot traffic and establish a reputation.


    Then, during the wedding, they would formally introduce the Lin Family Restaurant and Lin Family¡¯s shops into the view of Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    "Second brother, you too should take some time in these days to go out and relax with Yu Jiao. That¡¯s what I did with Shitao back in the day. Lovers can¡¯t be apart all the time. After all, the Ye Family said there are still many people pursuing Yu Jiao!" Lin Shiming then turned to Lin Shiyi with a smile.


    "Is that really all right?" Lin Shiyi scratched his head and laughed sheepishly. Ever since they set the wedding date, he had spoken to Ye Yujiao less.


    Ye Changxing looked at Ye Changfeng, the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Family Head.


    After stating each point, Ye Changfeng constantly nodded.


    "Family Head, are we really going to depend entirely on a family that has appeared out of nowhere?" an elderly man with white hair anxiously spoke out, clearly agitated.


    "Third uncle, this is just a temporary measure. Once Changyu advances to the late-stage Foundation Establishment and with the cultivation technique he is cultivating, he can even withstand the peak of Foundation Establishment!" Ye Changfeng explained.


    They naturally had their preparedness against the Lin Family. If the Lin Family pulled any tricks, they would expose the Lin Family¡¯s secrets.


    "Changxing, continue investigating the Lin Family¡¯s matters; we must clarify where exactly the Lin Family came from!"


    The others nodded upon hearing this, understanding the critical juncture of Changyu¡¯s secluded cultivation.


    As long as Changyu achieved late-stage Foundation Establishment, everything would fall into place, and it would be time to squeeze out the Lin Family.


    "Family Head, Yu Jiao has already gone out with Lin Shiyi of the Lin Family!" Ye Changxing added, somewhat worried. It wasn¡¯t a concern under normal circumstances, but with the wedding approaching, outings held potential dangers.


    "No worries; if the Lin Family can¡¯t handle even this minor trouble, then there¡¯s no need to rely on them!" Ye Changfeng spoke again.


    ...


    At a sea reef on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, waves crashed against the rocks, creating thousands of spray.


    Lin Shiyi looked at Ye Yujiao beside him with a silly grin on his face and handed her a Spirit Jade Magic Artifact.


    "Yu Jiao, this is for you!" Lin Shiyi said with a goofy smile after giving the gift.


    He didn¡¯t say much else. For Lin Shiyi, coming up with superfluous love talk was difficult.


    And Ye Yujiao understood. As cultivators who had practiced for seventy to eighty years, they both lacked experience in romance.

 Chapter 520 - 353: Ye Family Cultivation Technique, Trial Business Opening (Two in One)_2

    But whether it is a true outpouring of emotions, or an act of understanding, remains unknown.


    Her eyes sparkled like stars and gems as they stowed away their Jade Pendant and rose from the sea reef, flying towards the rest of the sea. They journeyed along the way, experiencing the local customs and admiring the beautiful scenery all around them.


    A Spirit Boat, a pair of lovers, drifting in the vast ocean.


    This time belonged solely to them, free from the overbearing presence of the word "Family," as well as the troubles of Cultivation.


    Ye Yujiao could walk barefoot, dipping one foot into the sea and playfully kicking up water towards Lin Shiyi.


    Lin Shiyi would then grab hold of Ye Yujiao¡¯s foot, teasing her with a smile.


    However, unknown to them, an old Foundation Establishment later-stage expert was, at that moment, swiftly approaching from behind.


    The elder took out an Array Plate and began setting up one formation after another, clad in a spirit-repelling fine gauze.


    Array flags dropped into the sea one by one, and a smile began to creep across the elder¡¯s face.


    "Really a pair of naive young ones who do not know the immensity of heaven and earth!" the elder couldn¡¯t help but speak aloud.


    The final array flag settled into place.


    It transformed into Spirit Light, enveloping a vast expanse of the sea under its glow.


    "Oh!" The elder heard a young voice from behind.


    Immediately after, he saw a gigantic black tower, growing larger rapidly, becoming akin to a mountain peak in the blink of an eye.


    As a terrifying suction force emerged, the elder¡¯s face drastically changed color, and he resisted desperately. Countless magic artifacts flew out, but they were utterly useless.


    "You are a Purple Mansion cultivator!" the elder¡¯s complexion turned ashen, as if he had fallen into an ice coffin.


    But before he could finish speaking, he was pulled into the inside of the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    In the next moment, the formations also dispersed without a trace.


    Back on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lin Shiming once again entered seclusion. As soundproofing formations fell into place, Lin Shiming entered the Cave Heaven World.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda landed in front of him, with the third page of the Sword Storing Book stating that the Tower not only combined suppression, attack, and defense all in one, but most importantly, the Soul-Suppressing Stone could bypass the Family Jade Book and, just like the Blood Demon Body Refinement Art, could be used to investigate the memories of the dead.


    Lin Shiming activated the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and soon the body of the elder appeared. As spiritual seals entered the corpse, the outline of the Family Jade Book materialized out of thin air.


    Experience tales with novelhall.Co?m


    Instantly, countless dark glows surged towards the Family Jade Book.


    Boom!


    Shortly afterward, the Family Jade Book exploded, and fragments of memories began to surface.


    After a long while, Lin Shiming opened his eyes, having mostly understood the elder¡¯s memories.


    The elder was Duan Haoran, the Third Elder of the Duan Family.


    In the past few months, both families had reduced the price of their spirit pills and magic artifacts.


    Lin Houyuan was not surprised by this; a new power without reputation or strength would naturally not catch the eye of many cultivators.


    Furthermore, the Duan and Cheng families were selling at reduced prices.


    The only thought was that the Lin Family had plenty of Spirit Stones to afford renting a shop from the Ye Family and withstand the suppression of the Duan and Cheng families.


    Even the cultivators who were interested only lingered on the streets, fearing that if they entered Lin Family¡¯s shops, they would be seen by the Duan Family¡¯s cultivators and miss out on the discounts.


    Lin Houyuan looked at the sky, saw that the time was about right, and took out the sign for the trial opening. At last, cultivators from the distance started to arrive one by one, leisurely browsing the shops.


    After visiting the other shops, they also entered Lin Family¡¯s Pill Pavilion and Artifact Shop. In no time at all, they left with pill bottles in their hands, looking satisfied, prompting many curious cultivators to take note.


    It wasn¡¯t long before several Qi Cultivation hermits became greatly interested and headed towards Lin Family¡¯s Pill Pavilion and Artifact Shop.


    And just like the cultivators before them, upon their exit, their friends were immediately amazed.


    They could naturally tell that the previous batch of cultivators were planted there.


    But the people coming out now were their friends and relatives, who obviously would not easily be bought off; even if they were, as long as the price was right, they could be swayed too.


    "Xu Daoyou, how is it?"


    "Hurry up and go in, I¡¯ll take you!" the cultivator known as Xu Daoyou immediately said.


    "This Lin Family is a major clan, with everything from second-rank to third-rank spirit pills available. The variety probably surpasses Ye Family¡¯s pill shop!"


    "And now, during their trial opening, they¡¯re giving away ten Fasting Pills. Although they¡¯re not worth many Spirit Stones, if cultivators from Heavenly Phenomenon Island were to go, you¡¯d all know how much expenses that involves, right!"


    "Moreover, with the current pre-sale, you only need to pay eighty percent of the price. For us Loose Cultivators, they are definitely a conscientious business!"


    ...


    The stream of enticing words from Xu Daoyou left his fellow hermits speechless!


    If Lin Family Pill Pavilion was really that good, why was it unknown before!


    "Xu Daoyou, have you been bought off?"


    "How could that be possible? How could I, Xu, be bought off? Our years of friendship stand witness here, do I look like that kind of person to you?"


    "Let¡¯s still go then!"


    "Don¡¯t! By introducing other cultivators to pre-order at Lin Family Pill Pavilion, as long as you introduce ten people, you get an inferior grade spirit pill! If you bring in fifty, you get an intermediate grade one!"


    The others were left speechless by Xu Daoyou, but in a blink, they began to entertain the idea.


    "There¡¯s a limit to the number of items available for pre-sale, which is said to be due to the grand wedding of Lin Family¡¯s talented direct descendant and Ye Yujiao of the Ye Family!" Xu Daoyou added again, this time very worried that the others wouldn¡¯t follow him to what he considered the deal of a lifetime.


    Once they entered, they began to call each other, and the front of Lin Family¡¯s Pill Pavilion and Artifact Shop started to buzz with activity, much to Lin Houyuan¡¯s satisfaction.


    Of course, for the Lin Family, establishing the reputation of Lin Family Restaurant on the wedding day was of utmost importance.


    ```

 Chapter 521 - 354: Giving Gifts, Testing (Two in One)

    With bright red lanterns hanging high, the entire Lin Family Restaurant was festooned with decorations of joy, from the inside out.


    Every member of the Lin Family Clan wore a happy expression, attending to tasks and waiting.


    Lin Shiyi had already led the wedding procession to the Ye Family.


    Lin Shiming was also on the second floor of the restaurant, overlooking the entire market, inspecting everything.


    The trial operation of the past few days had undoubtedly been very successful; the pre-ordered Spiritual Medicine and Spiritual Artifacts had nearly depleted the Lin Family¡¯s stockpile of Spirit Pills and Spiritual Artifacts accumulated over ten years.


    Although the prices were much lowered, it undoubtedly provided great financial relief for the Lin Family, not to mention that the Superior Grade Spirit Stones produced by the Lin Family¡¯s minor Superior Grade Spirit Stone vein would not be sold off.


    Stay updated through novelhall.Co?m


    The reason the Lin Family¡¯s finances hadn¡¯t encountered any problems was because the Superior Grade Spirit Stones were propping up the accounts, but these stones were also only used for the Lin Family¡¯s Transmission Formation and the cultivation of Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    With the success of the Lin Family Pill Pavilion and Artifact Workshop, next was the Lin Family Restaurant.


    Of course, this time, he was more anticipatory about whether the Zi Yu Loose Hermit would make an appearance today.


    Meanwhile, on the first floor, cultivators began streaming in to present their gifts, among them were not a few Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Lin Family had specially arranged for staff to record the gifts.


    When Foundation Establishment cultivators presented their gifts, they too would be greeted with a loud announcement.


    Displaying respect for the arriving guests.


    Due to the success of the Lin Family Pill Pavilion and Artifact Workshop, many cultivators were full of anticipation for the opening of the Lin Family Restaurant today, especially those Loose Cultivators who had gotten a good deal at the Pill Pavilion and Artifact Workshop. They had prepared their congratulatory gifts and entered the venue early.


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Island¡¯s Duan Family congratulates the Lin Family and Ye Family on their joyous union and specially presents a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifact, the Golden Yuan Bell!"


    "Heavenly Phenomenon Island¡¯s Cheng Family congratulates the Lin Family and Ye Family on their joyous union and specially presents a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifact, the Mix Yuan Umbrella!"


    Lin Shiming watched as the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Duan Family and Cheng Family swaggered into the Lin Family Restaurant, his face sank involuntarily.


    If the Lin Family acquired it, they could arrange an even more formidable Island Protecting Great Array, in tune with the Heavenly Dao, and protect mortals from the harassment of Demonic Beasts while making it more convenient for Qi Cultivators to guard.


    As the two families took their seats, a beautiful woman with a light veil walked gracefully into the restaurant, offering a Third Rank Magic Artifact and was invited to the upper seats.


    The Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Cheng Family and Duan Family felt a sudden urge to speak but ultimately couldn¡¯t.


    Lin Shiming upstairs couldn¡¯t help but feel taken aback. There was only one female Purple Mansion in Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    No doubt, it was the Loose Hermit Luo Yun.


    Moreover, he noticed that this Luo Yun was also dual-cultivating law and physique!


    Her combat power was far from an ordinary early-stage Purple Mansion cultivator!


    However, Luo Yun had come in the guise of a Loose Cultivator, so naturally, the Lin Family would not expose her.


    At this moment, Luo Yun was anything but calm. The Magic Artifact around her neck sensed the probing of Divine Sense, yet despite her Divine Sense covering the entire Lin Family Restaurant and even the majority of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, she still couldn¡¯t identify who was searching for her.


    This meant that the Lin Family definitely had a Purple Mansion cultivator, and their Divine Sense was much stronger than hers.


    Of course, there was also the possibility of a secret treasure.


    However, she was unclear about the hidden Purple Mansion cultivator¡¯s intentions!


    As the day reached its zenith, the festive wedding procession also returned noisily, with Lin Shiyi riding a tall horse, a red flower on his chest, an official hat on his head, and a rosy face approaching.


    He had obviously drunk quite a bit at the Ye Family. The majority of the wedding procession consisted of Lin Family cultivators, the rest belonging to the Ye Family.


    But the one leading the procession this time wasn¡¯t Ye Changxing; it was Ye Changfeng, the Family Head of the Ye Family.


    With Lin Shiyi¡¯s arrival, the Lin Family¡¯s prepared ceremonial officiant immediately began to conduct the wedding ceremony.


    As Ye Changfeng passed the entrance and saw the cultivators from the Duan Family and Cheng Family sitting helplessly at the door, even the Family Head of the Ye Family, Ye Changfeng, was taken aback.

 Chapter 522 - 354: Giving Gifts, Testing (Two in One)_2

    And Lin Shiyi called out to Lin Shijie with a voice saying "Big Brother,"


    Only then did Ye Changfeng realize that Lin Family¡¯s Lin Shijie might be of even higher cultivation level, and even more terrifying; otherwise, the Duan Family and Cheng Family would never be so compliant.


    All the way here, he had been pondering how to deal with the Duan Family and Cheng Family.


    But this scene before him was entirely beyond his expectations.


    "Brother Duan, Brother Cheng!" Ye Changfeng, despite the surprise, still clasped his hands in greeting, but the latter two, extremely impatient, just raised their cups of Spiritual Wine and took a drink.


    Signalling that they had already offered toasts, they gestured for Ye Changfeng and the others to enter the main hall.


    The ceremony master continued to make arrangements methodically, and as he finished, the bride and groom also completed all the rituals. Now the most critical moment had finally arrived, and Ye Changfeng began to speak.


    Ye Changfeng stood up, he looked around at everyone present, then opened his mouth with a smile,


    "Fellow Taoists, friends, and relatives, I am grateful for your presence at the wedding of my Ye Family¡¯s daughter, and at the same time the Ye Family would like to introduce, the Lin Family is..."


    Ye Changfeng was about to introduce the Lin Family, but in the next moment, he felt an oppressive mountain bearing down on him, making his legs tremble, and he was unable to utter another word.


    Ye Changfeng was suddenly alarmed.


    But before Ye Changfeng could collapse, he saw the oppressive sensation dissipating just as easily.


    On the high platform, the veiled woman¡¯s chair suddenly split into two.


    "Sorry!" The veiled woman exclaimed softly, throwing down three Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones as she walked towards the door!


    Stepping outside, she looked towards the second floor and saw a young man drinking Spiritual Tea, enjoying the scene without sparing her a glance. She ultimately disappeared into the streets, and once she was out of view, she started spitting out mouthfuls of fresh blood.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming on the second floor was also somewhat surprised, because his system prompt now showed,


    "Search for the secrets of Purple Jade Loose and Luo Yun Loose, and you will gain the friendship of a True Person from the Coral Alliance!"


    Lin Shiming¡¯s lips curled slightly in surprise, the system prompt meant that Purple Jade Loose might be colluding with other domains, or they might possess a secret treasure coveted by the True Person of the Coral Alliance.


    The absence of the mention of a rare treasure in the system prompt suggested that the latter possibility was quite significant, especially since he had even felt the aura of a Flood Dragon emanating from Luo Yun Loose!


    As Luo Yun Loose left, Lin Shiming once again turned his attention to the main hall.


    At this moment, Ye Changfeng¡¯s heart was in turmoil. He felt he had overplayed his hand.


    This Lin Family¡¯s power could not possibly be limited to that of a Foundation Establishment family!


    He glanced again at the cultivators from the Duan Family and Cheng Family, and saw their faces were pale!


    One presented a clock, the other an umbrella, and yet Luo Yun Loose stumbled away in escape. Had they known this would happen, even with two extra lives, they would not have dared to do so!


    "Firstly, today at the Lin Family Restaurant, each table will be supplied with a certain amount of Second Rank Mingxin Tea, and in addition, there will also be Third Rank Spiritual Tea, Cui Lan Tea, for our Foundation Establishment friends who have brought generous gifts to enjoy!" Lin Houyuan finished and glanced at the Duan and Cheng Family cultivators.


    Those two wished they could leave immediately, but at this moment, Lin Shijie would not let them go so easily. Now was the Lin Family¡¯s moment to assert their prestige!


    After Lin Houyuan finished speaking, the cultivators began to pour tea. Qi Cultivators who drank Mingxin Tea only felt their thoughts become clear and their spirits refreshed, making their cultivation much smoother, especially for those Alchemists. For them, drinking a pot of this Spiritual Tea before engaging in alchemy could definitely increase their success rate.


    If there were not just a small pot on the table for everyone to have a sip, it would probably have been completely drained by now.


    As for the Foundation Establishment cultivators¡¯ tables, they began to look on enviously. Natural they might have drunk Spiritual Tea before, but this kind of Third Rank Intermediate Grade Spiritual Tea was mostly drunk at ceremonies of the Purple Mansion families.


    The implication of the Lin Family was that, from now on, the Lin Family Restaurant would provide it regularly!


    For those Foundation Establishment cultivators, this was incredible news!


    After all, the cultivators who mingle on Heavenly Phenomenon Island and go out to hunt demons in the Outer Sea often take months or even half a year. Upon returning to the island, they naturally need to drink a cup of Spiritual Tea to relax.


    Not to mention this kind of Spiritual Tea that can improve their cultivation level!


    "Secondly, the Lin Family Restaurant¡¯s Spiritual Cuisine, we also hope everyone will help themselves and give us some guidance!" Lin Houyuan then clapped his hands, and several Lin Family cultivators dressed in family attire came out with serving trays.


    The signature dish of Spiritual Cuisine was naturally the blood crocodile raised by the Lin Family, while the secondary offerings were Second Rank Green Shell Crabs and Second Rank Profound Turtles. For Foundation Establishment cultivators¡¯ tables, some Third Rank Spiritual Cuisine would also be provided.


    The aroma was pleasant and full of spiritual energy. For most cultivators, who have long since ceased eating mundane food but regard Spiritual Cuisine as a form of advancement in their practice, such a meal was rather luxurious!


    But for those cultivators who trained on the edge of the blade, it was especially important to alternate between tension and relaxation, so they savored this kind of Spiritual Cuisine like a delicacy!


    The cultivators present at the event were so enticed that they could hardly wait to stop everything and indulge!


    Read latest chapters at novelhall.Co?m


    "Thirdly, there¡¯s Spiritual Wine, naturally accompanied by fine wine on a joyous day!" Lin Houyuan continued, and many Lin Family cultivators served up Monkey Wine along with some spiritual peaches.


    Monkey Wine might not be considered top-notch Spiritual Wine, but it certainly has a unique flavor.


    "Fourthly, regarding the Lin Family¡¯s cultivation rooms, one may rent the Lin Family¡¯s unique Spiritual Pearls. On this joyous day today, everyone may rent them free of charge for three hours!" Lin Houyuan spoke once again!


    This immediately caused a sensation throughout the venue!


    Now even the Purple Jade Pavilion of the Purple Jade Sect did not have a cultivation room with Spiritual Pearls, which meant that as long as one had enough Spirit Stones, they could cultivate in the Lin Family¡¯s cultivation room and increase their speed. This was something those Loose Cultivators would not have dared to imagine before!


    At this moment, regardless of whether the Lin Family was a Heavenly Phenomenon Island family from three hundred years ago or not, they were now recognized as one.


    "Alright, everyone enjoy the food and drinks. As for the future pricing of the Lin Family Restaurant and the Pill Pavilion Artifact Workshop, that will be announced tomorrow. Today, on this joyous day, let¡¯s not talk about Spirit Stones; it¡¯s all about celebration!"


    After Lin Houyuan finished speaking, he too raised his cup and began to drink with all the cultivators.


    And Lin Shiyi began to respectfully toast each and every one.

 Chapter 523 - 355: The Illusionary Spirit True Scripture, Take Action (Two in One)

    After three rounds of drinking, all friends were merry!


    The wedding banquet concluded successfully; the cultivators either took their leave or queued up to try the cultivation rooms. The reputation of the Spiritual Pearls in the Southern Sea Cultivation World was no small matter, and some lucky cultivators managed to obtain some, with even a few cultivating Spirit Shells.


    But none could produce such treasures for public cultivation.


    The entire Lin Family Restaurant still seemed somewhat lively.


    Moreover, most of the cultivators leaving the restaurant started heading toward Lin Shiming¡¯s Pill Pavilion and Lin Family Artifact Shop, whether to commission Magic Artifacts or to introduce customers with gifts, which also attracted many cultivators.


    The Cheng Family cultivators and Duan Family cultivators at the door, however, had worried expressions as they looked at each other and stood up, preparing to leave.


    Still, they occasionally glanced at Lin Shijie with some concern.


    A Foundation Establishment swordsman in the later stage was not something they could resist.


    "Gentlemen, Hermit invites you!" Just as the two got up, they heard Lin Shijie speak.


    Their hearts once again sank, and sure enough, the Lin Family had a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    And their own Family Heads had asked them to present such Magic Artifacts.


    Although they were unwilling, they were well aware that this was Heavenly Phenomenon Island¡¯s market. The Lin Family, even as Purple Mansion, needed to consider Zi Yu Loose to some extent.


    The pair followed Lin Shijie to the third floor of Lin Family Restaurant, and as the door to the room opened, it revealed a large conference hall. Lin Shiming sat in the center of the hall sipping Spiritual Tea, while Ye Changfeng could also be seen here.


    "Cheng Jiannan of the Cheng Family, Duan Zhiyun of the Duan Family, pay respect to the Hermit!"


    In this moment, seeing Lin Shiming speak in a relaxed and cheerful manner while Ye Changfeng could only sit in a lower position, respectful and deferential, they were reminded of Hermit Luo Yun¡¯s actions.


    The two immediately kowtowed and fled.


    And Ye Changfeng, who observed the scene, also began to feel a sense of doom dawning within.


    At first, he thought Lin Shiming had invited him over for a friendly tea between in-laws. Now it seemed to be a display of power.


    "Ye Family Head, our Lin Family and Ye Family¡¯s cooperation hasn¡¯t mentioned any offense you¡¯ve committed against Purple Jade Sect!"


    "Today, during the wedding, Hermit Luo Yun¡¯s appearance nearly ruined our Lin Family¡¯s grand wedding!" Lin Shiming finally turned to speak.


    "Our Lin Family only wishes to have a place on Heavenly Phenomenon Island. We never wanted to clash with the Purple Jade Sect!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    Ye Changfeng, having served as the Family Head for countless years, would have no need to hold that position if he couldn¡¯t understand Lin Shiming¡¯s implication.


    "Senior Lin, this matter is indeed an oversight by the Ye Family. We never expected that a rankless, attributeless Cultivation Technique of the Ye Family would attract the scrutiny of the Purple Jade Sect!" Ye Changfeng calmly produced a Jade Slip and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    As if it were truly just a rankless Cultivation Technique.


    "Additionally, I ask that Senior Lin, for the sake of our three hundred years of friendship, lend aid to our Ye Family!" Ye Changfeng also clenched his teeth, invoking their three-century-long association once again.


    "The Ye Family was once the ruler of Heavenly Phenomenon Island a thousand years ago. Even after declining to a Foundation Establishment family, we have been conscientious and dutiful, fulfilling the role appropriately. Now the Purple Jade Sect has become increasingly oppressive, even aiming to eradicate the Ye Family!"


    "We hope Senior Lin will stand up for the Ye Family; we are willing to become a subsidiary force to the Lin Family and offer tributes and treasures!"


    "We also wish for Senior Lin, a cultivator of such high virtue and repute, to take charge of Heavenly Phenomenon Island!" Ye Changfeng spoke with great sincerity.


    For the Ye Family, the Lin Family might remain as a second-ranking power on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, but the Ye Family would be the first to perish.


    They only had a chance to survive by propelling the Lin Family to the position of ruler over Heavenly Phenomenon Island.

 Chapter 524 - 355: Illusionary Spirit True Scripture, Take Action (Two in One) _2

    "Oh?" Lin Shiming did not nod, of course, nor was it possible for him to nod now.


    "Reporting to Elder Lin, the Purple Jade Sect now controls a Transmission Formation, one Profound Grade Secret Realm, two Yellow Grade Secret Realms, and additionally, there are three Spirit Stone Veins..."


    Ye Changfeng also began to list them one by one. To demonstrate authenticity, he even took out a Jade Slip to record them all and presented it to Lin Shiming.


    "Do you think I can stand against the Coral Alliance?"


    "Replying to Elder Lin, the true person behind the Purple Jade Sect is Xu Ri True Person from Xu Ri Island within the Twelve Inner Islands. To those True Persons, it doesn¡¯t matter who controls the seventy-two Outer Islands. What matters is having the strength to maintain stability in the Outer Islands while ensuring tribute is paid!"


    "Additionally, Xu Ri True Person has been crafting a set of Lifebound Treasures for nearly a hundred years, requiring countless Fourth Rank Artifact Refiners to assist in refining parts of the artifacts. Among them is Luo Yun Hermit, a Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner!" Ye Changfeng continued to speak.


    These pieces of information finally satisfied Lin Shiming.


    The Ye Family, indeed worthy of being a millennium-old family, knew many secrets.


    And since the system prompt did not go off, it indicated Ye Changfeng spoke the truth.


    Only when Lin Shiming nodded did Ye Changfeng truly relax.


    The fact that Lin Shiming did not immediately agree meant this was not a rash decision made in the heat of the moment, but rather a long-considered plan.


    And his not delaying agreement or asking for this and that showed confidence in his own strength.


    After all, with the treasures of Heavenly Phenomenon Island present, whoever became the Lord of Heavenly Phenomenon Island would naturally own these treasures and Secret Realms.


    "Do the Ye Family possess Buddha Sect treasures?" Lin Shiming asked again.


    Ye Changfeng shook his head.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also picked up his tea cup again and began drinking tea.


    Ye Changfeng respectfully made his leave.


    Though Lin Shiming appeared to be a young Cultivator, Ye Changfeng didn¡¯t assume that his age was truly as it seemed, knowing full well that a Cultivator from the Purple Mansion possesses a lifespan of five hundred years!


    In his view, the age was likely several times his own.


    Once Ye Changfeng left, Lin Shiming took out the first Jade Slip presented by him.


    He couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    The Jade Slip contained the Illusionary Spirit True Scripture that he had acquired from the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    An Earth Rank Inferior Grade Technique, it could be cultivated up to the Golden Core Early Stage.


    The Illusionary Spirit True Scripture did not specify a particular Spirit Root requirement and allowed for rapid Cultivation. As for combat strength, it varied with the individual; someone gifted in Illusion Techniques could kill without a trace when casting them.


    Those without talent could find their techniques broken by an opponent in just a few breaths, forcing them to flee in disarray.


    This Technique, however, reminded him of the Lin Family¡¯s Five Elements Illusory Heart Stone. If paired with the Technique during Cultivation, the progress speed would likely increase significantly.


    Storing the Technique Jade Slip signified the Lin Family now possessed one more Earth Rank Technique.


    And now, it was truly time to strategize for Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Originally, the Lin Family had not intended to act so soon, but from the actions of Zi Yu Loose and Luo Yun Hermit, it was clear that they had been cautious long before.


    Deciding to make a move sooner, Lin Shiming also worried that Zi Yu Loose might summon other Purple Mansion friends.


    The true strength of Zi Yu Loose remained unknown.


    However, as Xu Ri True Person required a Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner, he had a good recommendation¡ªJiuxiao Scatter Man.


    Resounding through the heavens!


    A seven-colored divine elephant emerged from within heaven and earth, shooting seven beams of divine light at Lin Shiming.


    The divine light was just like Lin Shitao¡¯s five-colored ribbon, rolling swiftly towards Lin Shiming.


    The speed was unbelievably fast!


    But Lin Shiming, who was well-prepared, brandished the Cold Dusk Shield, transforming it into a huge ice shield that blocked all seven colors of divine light, which then began to freeze!


    Boom!


    Though the divine light froze, the seven-colored divine elephant swung its limbs and raised its ivory tusks, charging viciously at him.


    From its mouth, it released new beams of seven-colored divine light.


    Lin Shiming struck out with his twin swords, unleashing the Heaven-Slaying Sword Intent, instantly decapitating the divine elephant.


    However, in the blink of an eye, the head reformed from spirit light and reappeared on the divine elephant¡¯s neck, continuing to unleash seven-colored divine light and brutally charging at Lin Shiming!


    Lin Shiming was also having a hard time; his chest heaved uncontrollably, as the elephant¡¯s enormous strength was truly terrifying!


    In just that instant, it felt like he was being hammered by seven mountains each weighing ten thousand tons.


    Boom!


    With another strike of his sword, Lin Shiming was thrown backwards, weakened, and during his retreat, a female cultivator veiled in a light scarf suddenly appeared behind him.


    In her hand, three silver needle magic artifacts shot fiercely towards the back of Lin Shiming¡¯s head!


    Further above Lin Shiming, a dragon claw also fiercely reached down to grab him!


    Lin Shiming was momentarily startled, sure that he hadn¡¯t misperceived¡ªit was definitely the claw of a Flood Dragon!


    Zi Yu Loose is half-Flood Dragon!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming hadn¡¯t fully grasped the situation, but he could feel an aura similar to that of Wang Jiao emanating from Zi Yu Loose!


    No wonder Zi Yu Loose hadn¡¯t appeared on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Perhaps his half-Flood Dragon identity meant he simply couldn¡¯t reveal himself!


    And to his knowledge, this half-Flood Dragon technique was an exclusive Secret Technique of Nine Dragon Island, clearly indicating that Zi Yu Loose was an insider from Nine Dragon Island!


    While pondering, Lin Shiming used the Leaping Void Disk to leap to the side!


    He dodged the pincer attack from both sides!


    And he appeared behind Luoyun Scatter Man, brandishing the Taiyi Grass Sword!


    Directly employing the Tribulation Transcending move, the sky filled with the Sword Intent of grass, raining down on Luoyun Scatter Man!


    "How is this possible!" Both Luoyun Scatter Man and Zi Yu Loose obviously didn¡¯t expect Lin Shiming to be capable of instant displacement, and for a moment, they found themselves encircled by Lin Shiming!


    Feeling the overwhelming offensive power, Luoyun Scatter Man clenched her teeth, pulling out two Defense Talismans, and her hands began to transform into a Flood Dragon¡¯s to staunchly resist.


    Boom!


    The two Defense Talismans, both Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade, were instantly shredded, and Luoyun Scatter Man was not left unscathed; her Flood Dragon-scale hands shed many scales!


    Blood dripped down, bright red.


    "You deserve to die!" Luoyun Scatter Man¡¯s voice also changed.

 Chapter 525 - 356: Divine Skills Showdown, Destruction of the Purple Jade Sect (Combined)

    Luo Yun Hermit¡¯s face was fierce, and on the other side, Zi Yu Loose was also filled with rage.


    "Their transformation into Flood Dragons to enhance their combat abilities is not a controllable secret technique. It¡¯s an irreversible change for them unless they get the antidote from Nine Dragon Island!"


    Zi Yu Loose had been forced into transforming during a sea battle with a Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demon, and now that Luo Yun Hermit was also compelled to transform, even if they killed Lin Shiming, it would be extremely inconvenient for their Purple Jade Sect to rule in the future!


    In the sky, the colorful Divine Elephant seemed just as furious.


    It began to stomp viciously in the void!


    Then there came a terror-inducing roar!


    Wuu!


    Wuu!


    Lin Shiming felt his scalp tingle instantly, unable to withstand the attack on both his Divine Soul and eardrums.


    The Soul Nourishing Pendant emitted a brilliant light, making him feel slightly better.


    In his moment of distraction, terrifying twin Flood Dragon claws fiercely grasped right in front of Lin Shiming.


    There was no escape, no place to hide!


    The fearsome claw light even caused the void itself to start distorting.


    Lin Shiming quickly donned a layer of starlight battle armor on his body. His entire form, like a Star Chart, was displayed in front of the two adversaries!


    He too punched out with both fists!


    Boom!


    Lin Shiming¡¯s body was fiercely thrown backwards.


    "You¡¯re a Body Cultivator at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage!" Zi Yu Loose and Luo Yun Hermit were pushed back a hundred feet, their eyes filled with shock.


    But before they could continue to be shocked, Lin Shiming¡¯s body disappeared from its spot again!


    Moreover, that layer of Evil Qi sought to invade Lin Shiming¡¯s body, but fortunately, his constitution, strengthened by starlight, provided an effective barrier. For an ordinary Qi Cultivator, Evil Qi entering the body would be a horrifying event.


    Fortunately, Lin Shiming¡¯s combat skills were not bad, and with the Wind Chasing Boots on his feet, he was not outpaced, barely blocking the attacks.


    Zi Yu Loose was certainly the most powerful Body Cultivator Lin Shiming had ever fought against.


    "You should pay attention to your wife," Lin Shiming suddenly said.


    Zi Yu Loose, puzzled, thought Lin Shiming was trying to distract him. But when he glanced back, he really saw a War Treasure Ship and a new Sword Cultivator from the Purple Mansion pursuing Luo Yun Hermit!


    At this moment, Luo Yun Hermit was in an extremely bad situation. She had already had her Spirit Talisman and defense shield slashed away by Lin Shiming¡¯s sword.


    And unexpectedly, in the void, a Purple Mansion Sword Cultivator had appeared and attacked her with a Golden Sword Lotus.


    She was almost killed on the spot!


    But she managed to block the attack by continuing her transformation into a Flood Dragon, only to discover a treasure ship appearing from a distance, which surprisingly could also transform into an attacking formation!


    At this moment, she suddenly realized that what was originally their advantage by utilizing formations and outnumbering the enemy to slay their foe had turned into the enemy employing formations to fight outnumbered!


    At this moment, Zi Yu Loose truly experienced a moment of shock!


    Lin Shiming unleashed a horizontal strike, his body sharply retreating as he threw the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda towards Zi Yu Loose!


    The dark light surged out like a mountain of the netherworld, heavily falling down!


    But it was quickly dodged by Zi Yu Loose!


    Even the dark light that was lured out was torn apart by her two claws. At this moment, Zi Yu True Person was almost entirely Flood Dragon-transformed, her eyes crimson red!


    The Flood Dragon was highly resistant to various spells, and this attribute was similarly beneficial to Zi Yu Loose.


    She didn¡¯t continue to approach, but Lin Shiming grew even more anxious at that moment.


    "Blood Explosion!" Zi Yu Loose suddenly bellowed, and the Blood Explosion furiously spread out!


    "Minor Divine Ability!" Lin Shiming¡¯s face also underwent a drastic change. The terrifying spread of bloodlight was clearly not a move from Zi Yu Loose.

 Chapter 526 - 356: Divine Skills Showdown, Destruction of the Purple Jade Sect (Combined)_2

    At this moment, Zi Yu Loose had almost followed the surging blood explosion ripple, charging up together!


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming no longer dared to hesitate!


    Inside his Purple Mansion, the shadow of a tree suddenly expanded, and a verdant spirit light instantaneously spread across the entire heaven and earth.


    Space cracked open beneath Lin Shiming¡¯s feet, countless Spirit Roots emerged from the void, piercing into his body, and directly transformed Lin Shiming into a gigantic tree!


    It was a hundred zhang tall!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming felt extremely peculiar, as if he were a treant, capable of hiding his main body in any part of the giant tree.


    The blood explosion spell, no matter how formidable, only managed to shatter much of the tree¡¯s shadow.


    Countless roots then shot toward Zi Yu Loose, who was charging at him!


    Zi Yu Loose, though greatly shocked and not anticipating Lin Shiming to possess such a powerful minor divine ability, still extended his arms, and with a spin of his crescent moon protective blade magical treasure, smashed all the roots into pieces!


    However, in the next moment, several more terrifying roots emerged from the void beneath him, ensnaring his form.


    At that time, a transparent Spirit Shadow also enveloped him, and the Inner Armor on Zi Yu Loose¡¯s body, even his Flood Dragon Scales, were instantly netted and torn apart, eventually leading to his dismemberment and death.


    It was Lin Shiming¡¯s superior-grade magical treasure, the Invisible Net.


    As the minor divine ability of the Immortal Wood Shadow finally dissipated, Lin Shiming¡¯s body reappeared, and the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda completely engulfed the corpse of Zi Yu Loose!


    Taking Zi Yu Loose¡¯s Storage Bag in passing, he looked towards Lin Xianzhi¡¯s direction, only to realize, to his horror, that Lin Xianzhi was now spitting blood uncontrollably!


    This was the Red-haired Demon Monkey that Lin Shiming had turned into a Thirty Zhang Three Flame Fire Ape to barrier the Hermit Luo Yun and prevent both individuals from escaping.


    Otherwise, Lin Xianzhi would have been in even greater danger!


    The blood explosion minor divine ability from before had clearly triggered the explosion of the qi and blood within Lin Xianzhi¡¯s body, causing chaos in his circulation and greatly diminishing his strength, resulting in Hermit Luo Yun seizing the opportunity to deal him a severe close-range blow.


    Lin Shiming activated his Leaping Void Disk and leaped in front of Hermit Luo Yun, engaging him in close-quarters combat!


    At this juncture, Hermit Luo Yun, knowing that escape was hopeless, began fighting with a do-or-die attitude, hoping to take someone down with him before his last breath.


    But in the end, he was killed by Lin Shiming with a heart-piercing claw.


    The entire corpse was also taken into the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    With the battle over, Lin Shiming breathed a great sigh of relief. Stay updated via novelhall.Co?m


    "Uncle Seventh Ancestor, are you alright?" Lin Shiming looked at Lin Xianzhi.


    "I¡¯m fine, Shiming, seal off Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and take over all the Transmission Formations first!" Lin Xianzhi shook his head; he was merely ambushed and his left arm was injured, which might have been severe for an ordinary cultivator.


    However, for a Purple Mansion cultivator, recovery was not difficult.


    "Understood! I¡¯m on it!"


    Lin Shiming nodded and headed towards Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    In the Southern Sea Cultivation World, it¡¯s not uncommon to obliterate a force and take over an island by killing the leaders and absorbing the remaining cultivators.


    But for the Lin Family, letting a tiger return to the mountain was an endless source of trouble, even if it was just a cub.


    In the Cultivation World, vengeance is never too late, even after thousands of years!


    The Lin Family wasn¡¯t about to leave such a huge loose end!


    The Purple Jade Sect must be cleansed today!


    Above Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the Lin Family¡¯s War Treasure Ship had also arrived, its massive Fourth Rank Purple Mansion power unfolded in an instant, spreading across the entire island.


    At that moment, cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island fell silent, and the display of Purple Mansion power by the Spirit Boat piqued immense curiosity.


    And it wasn¡¯t over yet¡ªLin Xianzhi stood with a sword in his embrace, and the dazzle of golden sword light made the cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island shiver anew!


    Another Purple Mansion cultivator!


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey also showed up, and without the interference of the Formation, its tricolored flames also burst forth before everyone¡¯s eyes!


    Even more bizarrely, the tricolored flames constantly boiled the sea, causing steam to rise as if it were an inverted waterfall¡ªa sight that left everyone in utter amazement!


    Lin Shiming ascended into the sky:


    "Fellow Daoists of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, I, Lin Shiming of the Lin Family, today as I left after purchasing treasures, two Loose Cultivators from the Purple Jade Sect became greedy and sought to ambush me!"


    "Only to be killed in retaliation by myself. However, I found that they were both Half-Dragon Cultivators, very likely spies from Nine Dragon Island!"


    "This is a great disgrace to our Coral Alliance!"


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda that Lin Shiming brought out opened, revealing once again the purple cultivator¡¯s corpse, along with the corpse of the Luo Yun Loose, to everyone¡¯s shock.


    "I, Lin, believe that there are still such spies within the Purple Jade Sect and am determined to thoroughly investigate to inform the world!"


    "Any who obstruct me will be shown no mercy!"


    As he finished his final sentence, a new island-protecting Trapping Formation emerged on the entire island.


    It was Lin Houshou who, using the Array Plates prepared in advance, had set up a Third Rank Supreme Grade grand Formation!


    Instantly trapping Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and with the island caught, Lin Shiming released the Golden Winged Mantis, Lin Xianzhi also flew into the Formation, and after leaving several Spirit Puppets to control the War Treasure Ship, the rest of the Foundation Establishment cultivators flew into the island as well.


    With two Purple Mansion cultivators, several peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, as well as Sword Cultivators and Demon Cultivators, the remaining members of the Purple Jade Sect had no chance of resistance, and some sought to ambush.


    Attempting to bargain with information about secret realms and various opportunities.


    But to Lin Shiming, he was happy to see these cultivators rushing out; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t want to bother having the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda search the souls of everyone.


    Viewing so many people¡¯s Divine Soul memories was a significant burden on him!


    After uprooting Purple Jade Sect from Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lin Shiming continued to steer the Spirit Boat, along with some family cultivators, and cleansed the six subsidiary islands as well.


    Only after ensuring that nothing had been missed did he finally let down his guard.

 Chapter 527 - 357 Huge Harvest, Secrets of the Nine Dragons (Two in One)

    Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Zi Yu Mountain.


    Once a Divine Mountain near the outskirts of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, worshipped by tens of thousands, everyone vied for the status of entering the Purple Jade Sect. Now, it had been thoroughly cleansed.


    Lin Shiming stood within the most central palace, waiting for Lin Houshou, Lin Shiyun, and Lin Zelu, the hermit, to also replace the various Mountain Protection Arrays of Zi Yu Mountain.


    "Shiming, it¡¯s done!" Lin Houshou gasped, and in the distance, Zi Yu Mountain¡¯s radiant light began to reappear, gradually enveloping the area and finally covering the market town below the mountain.


    "Second Uncle, you¡¯ve worked hard!" Lin Shiming looked into the eyes of Lin Houshou, starting the conversation with some concern.


    There were still too few members of the Lin Family who were skilled in formations, which was why the three had to go through such hardship.


    "Second Uncle, try this Magic Artifact!" Lin Shiming then took out the Buddha Beads Magic Artifact and handed them to Lin Houshou.


    The latter was overjoyed to put on the Buddha Beads. The next moment, a faint Buddha light began to shine forth, emitting Sanskrit radiance. Then, a string of Sanskrit characters actively infiltrated Lin Houshou¡¯s body.


    In this instant, Lin Shiming felt as if the blood-red color in Lin Houshou¡¯s eyes had faded a bit.


    "It¡¯s effective!" Lin Houshou also exclaimed with surprise.


    "Don¡¯t worry, Second Uncle. Once we have the cultivation technique, the effect will be even better. With the cultivation of both Buddhist Law and demon magic, you can prepare to rush towards Purple Mansion, with the hope of attaining the Golden Core!" Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but say with a smile.


    With Buddhist Law cultivating the mind and blood demon building the body, Lin Houshou¡¯s future achievements were no longer bound by limits. Adding to that his innate talent for formations, his significance to the Lin Family would only increase as time went on.


    Of course, this was under the premise that the Lin Family would soon find the Buddha Sect Technique.


    "Shiming, let¡¯s use the formation again to see if there are any fish that slipped through the net!"


    "Also, how should we deal with the members of the Purple Jade Sect who are hiding in the market town?" Lin Houshou asked again.


    "As for the hidden cultivators of the Purple Jade Sect, issue a bounty. We¡¯re not lacking Spirit Stones now. Furthermore, announce that the first quinquennial auction will be held in five years. At the auction, the highlight will be treasures that can break through to Purple Mansion. Those harboring remnants of the Purple Jade Sect are not allowed to participate!" Lin Shiming said.


    All of it pertained to futures related to the Purple Jade Sect. As for memories of the secret technique of transforming into a Flood Dragon or anything prior to arriving at Heavenly Phenomenon Island, there was nothing at all.


    Instead, the details of how to bribe Xu Ri True Person were all laid bare before Lin Shiming.


    And with this information, Lin Shiming did not consider his efforts completely fruitless. This indicated that the Lin Family¡¯s feasibility to control Heavenly Phenomenon Island was extremely high!


    Beyond that, Lin Shiming also learned of the real schemes of Nine Dragon Island: the Golden Dragon Fruit tree.


    Explore more adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    This tree turned out to be something that the descendants of the high ranks of Nine Dragon Island had taken with them and needed to be retrieved!


    Of course, Lin Shiming had no more information. This piece of intelligence, he wished to keep to himself.


    The news of the Lin Family having the Golden Dragon Fruit tree must never leak, or they would face extermination from Nine Dragon Island.


    Even if the Lin Family were to submit the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, it would not suffice. After all, even if the tree bore no fruit, absorbing the Flood Dragon essence would still allow some snakes to transform into half-Flood Dragons.


    If this news were to spread, Nine Dragon Island might face the combined oppression of the other five major powers.


    And Nine Dragon Island would never allow such a situation to occur.


    Of course, for the Lin Family, giving up the Golden Dragon Fruit tree was not an option either. Firstly, it could potentially be an opportunity for Wang Jiao to advance to Demon King status.


    Secondly, cultivating snakes and other Spirit Beasts, if they underwent some mutation, those half-Flood Dragons could potentially turn into real Flood Dragons, and the Lin Family could become a household of Flood Dragons.


    Especially since the Lin Family still had the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique!


    Now, with the Purple Jade Sect gone, the Lin Family would definitely face probes from Nine Dragon Island. He could only hope that the Coral Alliance would take things seriously and block any spies from Nine Dragon Island.


    Although he knew the likelihood of Golden Core Cultivators coming was small, the possibility of Purple Mansion Cultivators secretly tampering or soul-searching the Lin Family was very high!


    The Lin Family also needed a new Family Jade Book!

 Chapter 528 - 357 Huge Harvest, Secrets of the Nine Dragons (Two in One)_2

    "At the very least, I must be able to defend against his Soul-Suppressing Pagoda. Only with that level of strength will it suffice!"


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly; he had thought that taking control of Heavenly Phenomenon Island would allow him to develop without worries, yet now he realized that he must always be cautious of Nine Dragon Island.


    He also had to increase his Qi Cultivation level to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage as soon as possible. At this moment, he had quite a few Red Lotus Pills in his Storage Bag.


    Lin Shiming began investigating Luo Yun Hermit and likewise encountered the Flood Dragon Painting Jade Slip.


    Obviously, this Flood Dragon Painting was the Sect¡¯s Jade Book from the major power of Nine Dragon Island, far surpassing any jade slip belonging to other families.


    However, the power of the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda could also capture some information.


    Perhaps only when ten Soul-Suppressing Pagodas are combined can the Sect¡¯s Jade Book of a major clan be completely deciphered.


    After looking into the two Hermits, Lin Shiming began to investigate those five Purple Jade Sect Foundation Establishment peak Cultivators who had fled first.


    After checking each one, Lin Shiming eventually had a grasp on the situation.


    The Southern Sea Cultivation World was indeed much richer than the Eastern Domain. The Purple Jade Sect controlled one Profound Grade Secret Realm and three Yellow Grade Secret Realms. Besides, there were two Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone veins and three Inferior Grade Spirit Stone veins!


    And the income from the Transmission Formation was hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones each year, though seventy percent had to be handed over to Xu Ri Island.


    Almost every hundred years, they would encounter a beast tide as well!


    Moreover, every ten years they had to pay a larger amount of tribute in Spirit Stones, and complete three tasks for the Coral Alliance. These tasks included materials from Purple Mansion Demonic Beasts and Spirit Veins; needless to say, none of the tasks were particularly easy.


    But aside from that, the freedom was quite high, as long as you managed the relationships with the responsible True Persons well, there were basically no restrictions.


    Otherwise, even Zi Yu Loose, who was half-Flood Dragon, could not have stayed on Heavenly Phenomenon Island for so long.


    Of course, what was most important was that Heavenly Phenomenon Island of the Purple Jade Sect had two Fourth Rank Spiritual Veins, one Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Spiritual Vein, and one Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Pure Water Spirit Vein!


    These were the treasures that made Lin Shiming delighted.


    With these Spirit Veins, not only could he use them to nurture treasures and nourish another Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, but he could also feed them to the Star Spirit Clam, aiding in its cultivation of the Starlight Tempering Body Technique.


    Besides, Lin Shiming also learned that every ten years, the Coral Alliance would hold a large auction inside the island, taken turns by the True Persons of the twelve inlying islands. There was only one year left before the next auction started, and the location would be Xu Ri Island.


    This was an excellent opportunity for Lin Shiming to meet a True Person, pay respects to the sect, and, who knows, maybe even sell the Buddha Sect Technique at this grand event.


    After searching through the possessions of several peak Foundation Establishment Elders, Lin Shiming did not continue, as he now felt his Divine Soul to be extremely heavy. Searching through so many souls had exerted great pressure on his Divine Soul.


    He started to examine the gains from this endeavor, seeing seven Storage Bags spread out before him.


    Lin Shiming checked each one, organizing them by category.


    "Good!" Lin Xianzhi nodded in agreement.


    Lin Shiming then turned to Lin Houshou and the others.


    "Second uncle, the Transmission Formation can also start to be repaired now. In a few days, I¡¯ll be heading to Xu Ri Island!" Lin Shiming continued.


    With the remnants of the Purple Jade Sect eradicated, the repair of the Transmission Formation was natural. Otherwise, there would still be many cultivators from other forces on Heavenly Phenomenon Island; if they were to be held accountable together, the Lin Family might not be able to withstand it.


    "No problem!" Lin Houshou nodded, he now had a Buddha Sect magical treasure and was not worried about Blood Demon Soul Invasion.


    After assigning tasks, Lin Shiming then headed towards the Cheng and Duan families!


    But just as Lin Shiming descended from Zi Yu Mountain, he saw the family heads of the two families kneeling at the foot of the mountain.


    "Respectfully reporting to the hermit, the Duan and Cheng families have collected three Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine designs and fifteen Third Rank ones!" Upon seeing Lin Shiming, they repeatedly shouted.


    If they had any luck before, now they only felt fear! Discover exclusive content at novelhall.Co?m


    The Purple Jade Sect was erased in an instant, completely clean, without leaving any trace, truly achieving root and branch eradication.


    If the Lin Family were to take action due to previous events and exterminate both of their families as well, it would be just as effortless. And there were reasons aplenty, collusion with the Purple Jade Sect!


    As they spoke, they also presented their Storage Bags.


    Lin Shiming took the Storage Bags and found that in addition to the complete Spiritual Wine, they also recorded a copy of their core cultivation techniques and family inheritances.


    There were also one million Superior Grade Spirit Stones split between the two families, five hundred thousand for each family.


    Magical Treasures, each of which included one Supreme Grade item!


    For the Lin Family, these Spirit Stones and magical treasures were not considered precious, but for the Cheng and Duan families, it nearly exhausted half of their wealth!


    This was truly the Lin Family¡¯s swift action; in less than a month, they had avenged the incident of Jiuxiao Scatter Man crashing the wedding.


    "Alright, get up. Stabilize the situation in the Heavenly Phenomenon City marketplace. I do not wish to witness the incompetence of your three major families!" Lin Shiming then dismissed the two of them.


    After collecting the Spiritual Wine, Lin Shiming felt his odds of winning had increased once again. By using the Spiritual Wine to summon Jiuxiao Scatter Man as a guest elder, it served as another bargaining chip for when he faced Xu Ri True Person!


    At the same time, his thirteenth uncle could also gain similar cultivation techniques, perhaps even walking the path of a Wine Immortal.


    Lin Shiming took half a drop of each of the Spiritual Wines to taste and confirm there were no issues. Then, he steered the Spirit Boat back to Shuangmu Island.


    This time, Lin Houwei remained behind to bolster defenses. Moreover, the Lin Family¡¯s Illusionary Heart Pavilion was also completed, and Lin Shiming was curious to see who the Lin Family¡¯s second Spiritual Body would be!


    ```

 Chapter 529 - 358: The Illusory Heavenly Spiritual Body, News of the Tongbao Decree (Two in One)

    ```


    Shuangmu Island, Qinglian Peak.


    Above the mountainside, a new hall had risen from the mountain.


    In front of the hall, at this moment, numerous cultivators hesitated outside the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, especially many Qi Cultivators at the pinnacle of their realm.


    These cultivators had been refining spiritual energy for a long time, ready to consume the Foundation Establishment Pill.


    Built with the Illusionary Heart Stone, the Illusionary Heart Pavilion was an ideal place to temper one¡¯s understanding of illusions and strengthen the control over one¡¯s Heart Demon before making a breakthrough.


    It increased the chances of a successful Foundation Establishment!


    "Shiming!"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    Seeing Lin Shiming coming, clan members continuously greeted him.


    The cultivator in charge of the Illusionary Heart Pavilion this time was his thirteenth uncle, Lin Houwei.


    Nowadays, most of the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators had important matters to attend to, and since Lin Houwei was on the verge of breaking through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, he stayed behind to manage the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    "Thirteenth uncle, has the Illusionary Heart Pavilion encountered any problems these past few days?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "No, the family members who are preparing for Foundation Establishment have entered the Illusionary Heart Pavilion first, and the response has been extremely positive. In addition, Shitao has also gone in, and she has already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment!" Lin Houwei said with considerable joy.


    Lin Shitao¡¯s breakthrough speed was already fast, and with a plentiful supply of Spirit Pills and spiritual honey, she had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment a few days earlier.


    "After Shitao enters the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, she can prepare for her Purple Mansion breakthrough!"


    "This Illusionary Heart Pavilion can be divided into three levels according to difficulty, and Shitao is at the highest level, the third level. My second brother mentioned that this third level is comparable to a fourth rank Illusion Array!" Lin Houwei said, pointing towards the inside of the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Lin Shiming nodded; Shitao¡¯s breakthrough was indeed cause for celebration!


    "Shiming, this time a few good seeds have emerged among the Yan-generation. How about letting them try as well!" Lin Houwei spoke up again.


    "It¡¯s already the Yan-generation?" Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of the fleeting nature of time; the Lin Family typically used a forty-year cycle for each generational title.


    Apart from the descendants of the older generational cultivators, who would continue to be added to the Shi-generation or Ze-generation, most other cultivators would be sorted into the Yan-generation.


    Lin Shiming nodded, curious to see these Yan-generation youths.


    Soon, upon Lin Houwei¡¯s signal, a group of young cultivators in their early teens came over.


    They were led by a young girl to the front. Find more chapters on novelhall.Co?m


    "Yanjiao greets Thirteenth Great-Great-Uncle and Seventh Great-Uncle!" Hearing this shout, Lin Shiming felt as if worlds had passed; unwittingly, he had become someone else¡¯s great-uncle.


    And Lin Houwei had become a great-great-uncle!


    "Zeyu, take them to give it a try!" Lin Houwei instructed a Ze-generation cultivator to lead them, then turned to Lin Shiming.


    "This Yan-generation big sister possesses a Dual Spirit Root of water and wood!" Lin Houwei introduced.


    Lin Shiming nodded. There were now quite a few Dual Spirit Root Cultivators in the Lin Family; Shi-generation had Shitao and Shijie, Ze-generation had Zecheng, Zekong, and Zeli.


    Lin Shiming watched as usual, but in the next moment, he saw the Illusionary Heart Pavilion open and Lin Yanjiao¡¯s petite figure appeared in front of him and the others.


    "How can this be?" Everyone was somewhat surprised.


    She had come out too quickly!


    It even made them think there was a problem with the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Only Lin Shiming, seeing Lin Yanjiao with spirit patterns emerging all over her body and spiritual energy continuously rising up within her, causing her some discomfort, was not surprised by this event.


    He recognized it as the release of spiritual power when a Spiritual Body awakens. He had awakened his Acquired Spiritual Body during his Purple Mansion breakthrough, but Lin Yanjiao, stimulated by the Illusionary Heart Stone, had apparently manifested her Spiritual Body ahead of time!


    ```

 Chapter 530 - 358: The Illusory Heavenly Spiritual Body, News of the Tongbao Decree (Two in One)_2

    And this spiritual body, if Lin Shiming wasn¡¯t mistaken, was of the Illusionary Spirit type.


    This type of spiritual body cultivating illusion techniques and formations would be the most terrifying talent.


    "The trial continues for you all!" Lin Shiming alone flew out, took Lin Yanjiao with him, and headed toward the cave dwelling!


    Having awakened her spiritual body, Lin Yanjiao, with her current cultivation technique, naturally couldn¡¯t refine such vast spiritual energy.


    Fortuitously, he had an Earth Rank technique, the Illusionary Spirit Heart Sutra, on him!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, have I succumbed to demonic possession? I saw myself turning back into a mortal!"


    "No, you have awakened your spiritual body, but you mustn¡¯t divulge anything about your spiritual body until you reach the Purple Mansion stage!" Lin Shiming solemnly warned.


    A spiritual body signified an innate minor divine ability, which for the Lin Family, and with Lin Yanjiao also being a dual spirit root, meant she was definitely a Golden Core seed!


    For the Lin Family, she was more important than Lin Shiyuan with the Wind Spirit Root or Lin Shilei and others with the Thunder Spirit Root.


    "Change to cultivating this technique!" Lin Shiming handed the Illusionary Spirit Heart Sutra to Lin Yanjiao.


    After helping her back on the right path, he finally felt relieved.


    In just five days, Lin Yanjiao¡¯s breakthrough speed left Lin Shiming dumbfounded; even though she switched her practice, she was originally at the third layer of Qi Cultivation.


    And after five days, she had already reached the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation!


    However, Lin Shiming also saw that she had reached the limit at the fourth layer.


    The spiritual power released from her spiritual body had also essentially reached its peak.


    The Illusionary Spirit Heart Sutra seemed tailor-made for Lin Yanjiao; as she practiced, various phenomena arose, astonishing Lin Shiming.


    If it weren¡¯t for other pressing matters, Lin Shiming might have continued to observe her progress.


    Lin Shiming called Lin Shitao over and entrusted Lin Yanjiao to her before leaving the cave dwelling.


    A streak of spirit light floated in, and Lin Shiming pinched the Sound Transmission Talisman, taking a look before rising with the wind and taking out a Fourth Rank Spirit Boat.


    Once outside of Spirit Island, Lin Houwei and Lin Shiyun had already been waiting for a long time.


    Lin Houshou was responsible for the primary repair of the Transmission Formation on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, which connected to the Transmission Formation in Jiuxiao Mountain in the Eastern Domain, and Lin Shiyun was also capable of making the connection.


    Lin Houwei had already mastered the spatial coordinates.


    The three flew together to Fangmu Island, where Lin Shiming took out an array plate to set up the formation, then released the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Even when meeting Jiuxiao Scatter Man, Lin Shiming had to be cautious, as he still had a Blood Demon Disk in his possession, a damaged Spiritual Treasure of Liu He True Person.


    The other party could very well plan against him.


    Lin Shiming instructed the Red-haired Demon Monkey, then took out several arrays before finally turning to Lin Houwei and Lin Shiyun.


    The latter two had also just finished interfacing and arranging the Transmission Formation coordinates properly.


    Lin Shiyun first took out a Profound Turtle and applied a Teleportation Talisman to it.


    "Daoist Lin, it is said that there¡¯s a profound technique left on the Qingxuan Sect ruins, and Liu He True Person specifically asked for you to read it!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man spoke again, his words tinged with curiosity.


    Only Lin Shiming felt a jolt of shock; if his guess was correct, that profound technique should be the Scripture of Unparalleled Treasures.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but admire Liu He True Person¡¯s boldness, boldly etching the Scripture of Unparalleled Treasures on the ruins of Qingxuan Sect, even if it meant waiting for him to walk into their trap, it was still full of audacity!


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t too interested in that Scripture of Unparalleled Treasures. The first layer of the scripture only allowed one to take spiritual treasures into their body for basic application, unless the latter had written the second layer of the scripture.


    And the second layer of the Scripture of Unparalleled Treasures, at the very least, required the Golden Core stage to comprehend and refine; Lin Shiming was aware of his limits and wouldn¡¯t risk his own life for a scripture he couldn¡¯t use, that wasn¡¯t his style.


    "Could it be an Earth Rank Technique?" Lin Shiming feigned uncertainty as he spoke.


    Hearing this, Jiuxiao Scatter Man did not question any further. Read new adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    The Jiuxiao Mountain of Jiuxiao Scatter Man belongs inside the territory of Spirit Talisman Sect.


    Lin Shiming then inquired about the situation with Qingxuan Sect with the latter.


    That day, after the failure to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, Shen Ji destroyed True Person Jiuye, then killed True Person Jiushi, and even the final Heavenly Demon True Person was severely injured.


    Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person, however, managed to escape using the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s fifth rank supreme grade War Treasure Ship, fleeing to the grasslands, and joining forces with the Ice Soul Sect, eventually managing to thwart Liu He True Person¡¯s schemes.


    However, the method Shen Ji True Person used to break through to the Nascent Soul stage also became widely known!


    ...


    Lin Shiming listened as Jiuxiao Scatter Man recounted the events of that day, and even though ten years had passed, the furor within the entire Eastern Domain had not yet subsided.


    The once unrivaled Qingxuan Sect left in disgrace, faring no better than the Lin Family.


    However, in the Eastern Domain of Zhao Kingdom, the Spirit Beast Sect held unrivaled power. With Qing Jiao True Person and True Person Jiuye, plus three or four hidden True Persons, there was no need for Qingxuan Sect to effectively resist the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    Besides, there were also rumors in the Eastern Domain Cultivation World of the birth of Innate Spiritual Treasures.


    Innate Spiritual Treasures were even a rank above spiritual treasures, but Lin Shiming had not the slightest interest in them.


    What he was truly interested in was the Profound Grade Secret Realm of Qingxuan Sect.


    One couldn¡¯t take away a secret realm, and inside it were Taibai Sword Palace and Myriad Swords Tomb, and Taiyi Grass Sword!


    However, according to Jiuxiao Scatter Man, the entrance to the secret realm had disappeared, and even if one entered the Profound Grade Secret Realm, there was no World Tower to access the minor worlds within.


    What Lin Shiming didn¡¯t expect was that those who attacked Fangmu Mountain of their Lin Family were none other than the Chu Family, a Foundation Establishment family that had recently risen in Yunzhou.


    The one who killed Lin Houyong was also none other than Chu Xingyun, the Family Head of the Chu Family.


    "Daoist Lin, this poor man still has to advise that now is not a good time for revenge!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man also saw the fury in the three of them and couldn¡¯t help but offer advice.


    "Don¡¯t worry, Daoist Jiuxiao, Lin has some measure of self-control!" Lin Shiming shook his head; he naturally would not seek revenge now. The Chu Family is just a decoy deliberately placed by Liu He True Person!


    One day, cutting down Liu He True Person will be his goal!


    And next, Lin Shiming also took out all the Spiritual Wine.


    After letting Jiuxiao Scatter Man take a look, he then handed over half of them.


    The remaining half required Jiuxiao Scatter Man to sign them as a tribute on the Lin Family¡¯s Family Jade Book!

 Chapter 531 - 359 Xu Ri True Person

    Jiuxiao Scatter Man did not immediately take the Spiritual Wine; instead, he spoke solemnly:


    "Daoist Lin, before becoming a Tribute of the Lin Family, I must make it clear that I am accustomed to living freely like an idle cloud and a wild crane, and may not always stay with the Lin Family. The Lin Family cannot stop me, but I can assure you that I will stay with the Lin Family for at least twenty years every century!"


    "During that time, if I am refining artifacts or teaching the Lin Family Clan members, I will hold nothing back, even if it means passing on Earth Rank Techniques, the Nine Heavens Spiritual Water Scripture!"


    "That is of course acceptable!" Lin Shiming nodded. Recruiting Jiuxiao Scatter Man was only a transition, until Lin Shizhong, Lin Houfei, and other members of the Lin Family Clan could refine Fourth Rank Magical Treasures, at which point the need for Jiuxiao Scatter Man would naturally diminish.


    Secondly, Jiuxiao Scatter Man¡¯s Cultivation Technique was an Earth Rank Technique. If he could teach it to Lin Houwei, the Lin Family would be completely satisfied and naturally could not ask for too much more.


    "Furthermore, in the future, I may also share a great opportunity, the inheritance cave dwelling of a Golden Core True Person, but before that, Daoist Lin also needs to advance to the Purple Mansion Late Stage!"


    "Otherwise, that place is not without its dangers!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man added once again.


    At this, Lin Shiming hesitated; he was not some greenhorn who just entered the Cultivation World, to be moved at the mention of an inheritance cave dwelling.


    Moreover, an inheritance cave dwelling that at least required a Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivator, might even be a place created by some old monster to start a new life or to fish for disciples.


    "Daoist Lin, please rest assured, if the information I have is correct, you might even find Gold Condensation Fruit there!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man saw Lin Shiming hesitate and added once more.


    The Gold Condensation Fruit was the main ingredient for refining Gold Condensation Pills, and one pill could increase a cultivator¡¯s chances of reaching the Golden Core by thirty percent.


    In the entire Eastern Domain, the reason there are no Golden Core Loose Cultivators is because there were no Gold Condensation Fruits available.


    "Alright!" With the appearance of the Gold Condensation Fruit, Lin Shiming naturally had no reason to refuse.


    He could only make thorough preparations for when the time came.


    He then collected all the Spirit Plants from Jiuxiao Mountain, and after more than half an hour, the four used the Transmission Formation to enter the Southern Sea¡¯s Fangmu Island, and then took the Spirit Boat towards Shuangmu Island.


    On Shuangmu Island, Jiuxiao Scatter Man signed the Family Jade Book, and Lin Houwei went through the ceremony to become his apprentice.


    Of course, it was not just Lin Houwei who was overjoyed. Lin Shizhong and Lin Houfei were ecstatic.


    As Third Rank Artifact Refiners in the Lin Family, even with a Fourth Rank inheritance, they never had guidance from a Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner.


    Now that Jiuxiao Scatter Man was generously imparting his knowledge, and the method of water refinement for Artifact Refining was something the two had never heard of before, it opened a new path of thought for them!


    Lin Houwei also began adjusting his cultivation to the Nine Heavens Spiritual Water Scripture.


    Lin Shiming then piloted the Spirit Boat towards Heavenly Phenomenon Island, where the Transmission Formation had yet to be activated, drawing a crowd of cultivators.


    By the time Lin Shiming arrived in front of the Heavenly Phenomenon Island Transmission Formation, many cultivators were discontent with the Lin Family.


    These cultivators were mostly from other outside islands, or even other internal islands¡¯ powers and families, with some backed by Purple Mansion cultivators.


    "Shiming, the formation is almost ready!" Lin Houshou came out and transmitted a message to Lin Shiming.


    Without Lin Shiming, they didn¡¯t dare to activate the Transmission Formation on their own, no matter how much pressure they faced, especially since the Lin Family taking over Heavenly Phenomenon Island was not entirely rightful and legitimate.


    "Fellow Daoists, the Transmission Formation was maliciously destroyed by heretics from the Purple Jade Sect and has only been fully repaired today. Until now, we were also performing tests, delaying everyone¡¯s return to the Inner Islands and their travel plans. The Lin Family expresses its apologies here and also decides to waive ten percent of the Transmission Formation fee!" Lin Shiming continued to pin the blame on the Purple Jade Sect.


    The mole of the Half-Flood Dragon was already in place; the Lin Family would not admit that the Formation was sabotaged by a member of the Lin Family Clan.


    And upon hearing that the Transmission Formation fee would be reduced by ten percent, the cultivators finally felt satisfied. Explore more stories with novelhall.Co?m

 Chapter 532 - 359 Xu Ri True Person_2

    "Additionally, I hope everyone can join us again in the auction five years from now, when the Lin Family will bring out the Zi Xuan Precious Jade as the finale!" Lin Shiming said once more.


    And with these words, all the Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn¡¯t help but show a look of delight on their faces!


    Although the Zi Xuan Precious Jade only increased the probability by ten percent, it was still a spiritual object for breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage!


    The Purple Jade Sect, after all, had never auctioned one before.


    After finishing his speech, Lin Shiming also walked towards the Transmission Formation!


    "Shiming, these are for you as a meeting gift for the Xu Ri True Person!" Lin Houyuan also handed over a Storage Bag.


    Inside the Storage Bag, besides Superior Grade Spirit Stones, were also two millenary Spiritual Medicines.


    These millenary Spiritual Medicines, even Golden Core cultivators found to be of great use.


    Lin Shiming accepted the Storage Bag, and the Transmission Formation activated.


    Lin Shiming was the first to step into the Transmission Formation.


    ...


    On Xu Ri Island, the vast Transmission Formation area saw cultivators coming and going.


    Lin Shiming also opened his eyes. Experience new stories on novelhall.Co?m


    "Hurry up and move on, the Transmission Formation is about to be used, don¡¯t block the way here!" an impatient voice from a middle-aged cultivator rang out.


    "Don¡¯t think just because you¡¯re from the Purple Mansion stage you¡¯re impressive, this time at the Twelve Inner Islands event, many Golden Core True Persons have come!"


    The middle-aged cultivator continued to speak.


    "I am Lin Shiming from the Purple Jade Sect on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, I have urgent matters to report to the True Person, may I inquire where I should go to meet the True Person?" Lin Shiming took out another Storage Bag and casually stuffed it into the middle-aged cultivator¡¯s waist.


    "Oh, so you¡¯re a junior brother from the Purple Jade Sect, to see the True Person, you must first go to the True Person¡¯s chief disciple, San Yang Hermit. With junior brother¡¯s ¡¯brilliance and wisdom,¡¯ the elder brother San Yang will certainly help you!" After saying that, the middle-aged cultivator continued to manage the cultivators arriving on the Transmission Formation.


    Lin Shiming then stepped out of the transmission area and entered the region of Xu Ri Island, his Divine Sense unfurled, and he felt the whole of Xu Ri Island was like a small continent, immensely vast!


    Among the cultivators coming and going, those in the Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion stages were often seen, whereas Qi Cultivators were rarely spotted by Lin Shiming for a long while.


    Inside Xu Ri Island, Lin Shiming also saw cultivators with various strange attires, even austere cultivators from Myriad Buddhas Island, and cultivators from other major powers.


    Clearly, the gathering of the Twelve Inner Islands was not just attended by the Coral Alliance.


    Following the middle-aged cultivator¡¯s directions, Lin Shiming made his way towards a main hall.


    At this moment, the San Yang Hermit was sitting in the great hall, holding a Jade Slip in his hand, as if pondering something.


    "Daoist Lin, although I report for you out of respect for your strength, you did after all destroy the Purple Jade Sect and slapped the face of our Coral Alliance, think carefully about your reason when the True Person decides how to deal with you!"


    "Don¡¯t worry, Brother San Yang, I am also a member of the Coral Alliance, and with the Ye Family of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, we have been allies for three hundred years!" Lin Shiming took out a token from the Ye Family, as well as a Jade Slip which was also an introduction letter from Ye Changfeng.


    "Then that¡¯s even better!" San Yang Hermit nodded.


    "All right, the master summons you. Here¡¯s my token, it¡¯s not very peaceful on Xu Ri Island lately, remember not to cause any trouble!" San Yang Hermit took out a token, and Lin Shiming hurried to express his gratitude.


    He accepted the token, then followed San Yang Hermit¡¯s directions toward Xu Ri Palace.


    In the Cultivation World, Purple Mansion Cultivators reside in halls, while Golden Core Cultivators live in palaces.


    Lin Shiming caught sight of the resplendent Xu Ri Palace!


    He cupped his hands in a salute and waited to be summoned.


    "Come in!" an aged voice rang out, and Lin Shiming finally entered the palace of Xu Ri Palace, only to see a middle-aged and dignified cultivator sitting in the center of the hall.


    "Greetings to the senior!" Lin Shiming bowed, and he also produced the corpses of Zi Yu Loose and Luo Yun Hermit.


    As the Half-Jiao¡¯s corpse was presented, the Xu Ri True Person, who originally wanted to speak, gradually fell silent.


    "Senior, these two from the Purple Jade Sect were spies from Nine Dragon Island and were plotting against our Coral Alliance¡¯s opportunities on Heavenly Phenomenon Island!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    "Furthermore, please give me a chance!" Lin Shiming then took out his Storage Bag, along with the Ye Family¡¯s recommendation letter.


    To him, he did not know if there was an Inquiry Spirit Talisman inside the hall, but since the message was for the Ye Family and so many on Heavenly Phenomenon Island had seen, naturally it could not be faked.


    Of course, Lin Shiming also understood that Xu Ri True Person would not care who controlled Heavenly Phenomenon Island, but would be concerned about the attitude of the Lin Family.


    Inside the Storage Bag was the attitude of the Lin Family.


    Xu Ri True Person shook the Storage Bag, then nodded. Inside was not the previous Transmission Formation¡¯s sixty percent revenue, but seventy percent!


    This also meant that the Lin Family would be submitting an additional layer of Spirit Stone profits in the future.


    Xu Ri True Person looked at the corpse of Luo Yun Hermit again, the intention in his gaze was unmistakable.


    "To the senior, the Lin Family now also has a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Artifact Refiner who is always willing to serve the senior!" Lin Shiming continued.


    "Alright, the Lin Family will be in charge of Heavenly Phenomenon Island. As for these two, you know how to handle it!"


    "To the senior, I don¡¯t know anything!"


    "Okay, go find San Yang, have him register you, remember the rules cannot be broken, and also prepare for the three tasks of the Coral Alliance!" Xu Ri True Person waved his hand, dismissing Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s heart finally felt a sense of relief.


    As Lin Shiming turned around, Xu Ri True Person¡¯s eyes suddenly shone with a red light, looking towards Lin Shiming.

 Chapter 533 - 360: Purple Sun Secret Realm, The Scroll Reappears

    Xu Ri Palace, San Yang Hermit walked into the palace from outside.


    "Master!"


    "You go and investigate this Lin Family!" Xu Ri True Person glanced up, then continued speaking.


    "In addition, change his task to entering the Purple Sun Secret Realm!" Xu Ri True Person added another sentence.


    San Yang Hermit was startled for a moment, and then looked up with disbelief.


    "Master, this is against the rules..."


    "Hmph, against the rules? It has been a full seventy years since anyone from our Inner Islands has brought back Spiritual Medicine of over five thousand years from the Purple Sun Secret Realm!"


    "Not to mention five thousand years, there are hardly any that are even three thousand!" Xu Ri True Person huffed coldly, extremely dissatisfied.


    The Coral Alliance Twelve Inner Islands conference, naturally, was not just a meeting between the twelve island masters; more importantly, it was about the Coral Alliance¡¯s Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    For Golden Core Cultivators, the most important thing for increasing their Cultivation Level is Spiritual Medicine of over five thousand years, and once it has reached five thousand years, it essentially becomes imbued with Spirit Intelligence. Whether refined into an Elixir or not, it¡¯s already a great tonic.


    However, the Purple Sun Secret Realm is a Purple Mansion Secret Realm, only accessible by Purple Mansion Cultivators, and comes with many assessments.


    "Otherwise, what do you think I am keeping Zi Yu Loose for? As long as he can bring me Spiritual Medicine, what does it matter if he¡¯s a spy from another island?"


    "If he doesn¡¯t bring any, and dies in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, there¡¯s no loss! Moreover, the Evil Qi in his body is not shallow!"


    "Hurry up and improve your Cultivation Level. If you can bring me a few Spiritual Medicines of five thousand years for me, I will gift you a set of Superior Grade Lifebound Treasures!"


    "The Centennial Beast Tide is also coming, and the six seas won¡¯t be calm!" Xu Ri True Person shook his head, his eyebrows showing a hint of worry, then waved his sleeve to signal San Yang Hermit to leave.


    ...


    Lin Shiming took the Jade Slip, his eyebrows furrowing, as the slip contained a total of ten tasks¡ªeach task involved finding Spiritual Medicine, and all the Spiritual Medicines were over three thousand years old.


    The majority were actually over five thousand years.


    These Spiritual Medicines were rare even in large auctions.


    And the tasks previously obtained by the Purple Jade Sect were mostly Fourth Rank Spiritual Mines and Fourth Rank Spiritual Medicines, with most being between one and two thousand years old.


    "Could it be they think Lin is easy to bully? Spiritual Medicines of over five thousand years, even throughout the entire Southern Sea and Outer Sea, would be rare to see, right?" Lin Shiming¡¯s tone suddenly rose, and he let out his Cultivation Level.


    "Junior Brother Lin, your task was assigned by Master. Once this task is completed, you can be exempt from task assignment for the next fifty years!" A voice transmission came from afar, and to Lin Shiming¡¯s surprise, he turned and saw San Yang Hermit, who was currently strolling over. Read exclusive adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    "This Spiritual Medicine also has traces to follow, perhaps it will be Junior Brother¡¯s opportunity!" San Yang Hermit continued speaking, and with a wave of his hand, indicated for the Foundation Establishment Cultivator to guide others.


    He then led Lin Shiming to a side hall and invited him to take a seat.


    "Try this Fourth Rank Not-Bitter Tea, Junior Brother!" San Yang Hermit first poured a pot of Spiritual Tea.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother San Yang!" Lin Shiming also bowed his hands, and although he was not in a good mood, he didn¡¯t want to disrespect San Yang Hermit.


    "This Not-Bitter Tea is a specialty of Buddha Island. Furthermore, the Spiritual Tea tree itself is tasteless, requiring an enlightened monk to chant sutras under the tree for ten years before the tea develops flavor!" San Yang Hermit continued to introduce, also taking a sip of the Spiritual Tea.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also took a delicate sip, and immediately upon tasting, the tea was extremely bitter and difficult to drink, but once it filtered through his throat, it seemed to have a completely different flavor.


    This was in line with the state of mind of those monks on Buddha Island.


    Moreover, the Spiritual Tea instantly infused him with a surge of pure Spiritual Energy, not only enhancing his Cultivation Level but also causing Lin Shiming to feel that his Divine Sense had improved slightly!


    Although the improvement was minor, it was enough to reflect the rarity of the Not-Bitter Tea.


    Unable to resist, Lin Shiming took another sip and found that the effect of the Spiritual Tea had diminished slightly, but the taste became more pronounced, the sense of bitterness followed by a sweet aftertaste became even more distinct.

 Chapter 534 - 360: Purple Sun Secret Realm, The Scroll Reappears_2

    "Elder Brother San Yang, please inform me where this five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicine comes from. If it¡¯s from a normal source, I¡¯m afraid Little Brother Lin might have to give up Heavenly Phenomenon Island," Lin Shiming said with a troubled look, shaking his head as he spoke.


    "Does Little Brother know of the Purple Sun Secret Realm?" San Yang Hermit took another sip of Spiritual Tea.


    "Of course, I¡¯ve heard of it; it is the Coral Alliance¡¯s number one secret realm!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    He had heard of the Purple Sun Secret Realm. It was a Purple Mansion secret realm and also an Earth Grade secret realm.


    But what was inside the secret realm, Lin Shiming did not know!


    "Little Brother Lin, in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, there are five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicines, and even some thousand-year spirit medicines that have become sentient. As long as Little Brother has the skill, they can be his!" San Yang Hermit revealed.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming was astonished. Legend had it that thousand-year Spiritual Medicines could even add some chances to breaking through to the Nascent Soul. And in this Purple Sun Secret Realm, there were such medicines.


    "The reason why the Purple Sun Secret Realm is so named is that it contains a Purple Sun Immortal Ban. The Spiritual Medicines inside, regardless of type, can grow against the heavens just like cultivators. Naturally, five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicines are not few in number; they are also the cultivated gardens of ancient Sect Cultivators!"


    "Ordinary plants that have turned into spirits, even becoming thousand-year Spiritual Medicines, are all there!"


    "If Little Brother is fortunate enough to get a thousand-year Spiritual Medicine, even a Gold Condensation Pill reward from our master is possible!" San Yang Hermit continued.


    Lin Shiming nodded upon hearing this, finally understanding.


    But understanding was one thing, being willing to go was another.


    Coral Island had twelve inner islands and seventy-two outer islands, with hundreds of Purple Mansion Cultivators. The chance to obtain a fortune was not an easy task.


    Otherwise, the myriad Spiritual Medicines, thousands or even ten thousand years old, would become empty wishes!


    "Little Brother Lin, rest assured. When we go to the Purple Sun Secret Realm, at least ten people from our master¡¯s lineage will enter. You won¡¯t be alone and powerless!" Seeing Lin Shiming still troubled, San Yang Hermit spoke again.


    "Thank you, Elder Brother, for letting me know. When will the Purple Sun Secret Realm open?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "There is still four and a half years to go. This Coral Alliance auction is also a good opportunity for Little Brother to prepare and buy some treasures!!"


    Lin Shiming nodded. Four and a half years¡ª he had some ideas. He was somewhat confident about breaking through to the Golden Core. After breaking through, he would need those Spiritual Medicines.


    His Cave Heaven was able to store Spiritual Medicines, which meant he naturally couldn¡¯t just work for True Person Xu Ri without any personal gain.


    And if he could break through to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, the Minor Divine Ability, Immortal Wood Shadow, would recover, and in three years, Hermit Jiuxiao would be able to refine at least three more Soul-Suppressing Pagodas.


    Even if he gained nothing in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, he was still confident in his self-preservation.


    "Moreover, Little Brother is a Body Cultivator, right? Elder Brother here has another opportunity for you. Are you interested?" San Yang Hermit offered.


    "Elder Brother, please speak!" Lin Shiming, hearing San Yang Hermit put it this way, asked.


    "Elder Brother has information on two Fourth Rank Shocking Sea Apes. The innate Demon Core and innate Demon Blood of the Shocking Sea Ape are both precious substances for a Body Cultivator. However, one of them has just broken through to the late Fourth Rank, and Elder Brother has only found four people so far. We¡¯re one person short to form the array!"


    For Lin Shiming, this was the perfect opportunity to buy two Supreme Grade Buddha Sect magical artifacts and cultivation techniques for Lin Houshou.


    And just at that moment, the system prompt sounded again:


    "Please search carefully for the scroll magical artifact to complement the Sword Storing Book!"


    Lin Shiming was taken aback, the system prompt this time indicated that he had encountered pages from the Sword Storing Book!


    For him, this was too much of a pleasant surprise.


    The Sword Storing Book itself was an incomplete Spiritual Treasure, and being able to complete it even a little brought with it various secret techniques which had provided Lin Shiming with tremendous gains each time.


    Whether it was the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique, Soul Binding Forbidden, or the method to refine the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, they were all treasures beyond measure!


    Of course, Lin Shiming was more curious about whether adding another page would reveal a new treasure decision.


    Suppressing his excitement, Lin Shiming began his search for scroll treasures!


    There were many precious charts in the Buddha Tower, and the introducing novice monk was spouting flowery praise.


    "Senior, you might want to take a look at this Fighting Buddha Chart, its power is definitely satisfying, especially against demon cultivators, one chart can suppress them!"


    ...


    Eventually, in a corner, Lin Shiming saw an unnamed page, with the same jade-like touch and without the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy.


    The page was mounted with a depiction of the bodhi tree and was being treated as a concealed treasure.


    "Can this treasure chart withstand the divine sense of a Purple Mansion cultivator?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "Of course!" replied a custodian with scars of piety on his head.


    Lin Shiming nodded, then casually started selecting three Buddha treasures, yet the bodhi tree depiction was not among them, which made the custodian momentarily perplexed.


    He was the only one to inquire about the bodhi tree chart, but the only one who did not purchase it.


    "Do you have any Profound Rank Buddha Sect Technique here?"


    "Benefactor, over here!"


    The Buddha Sect only had Intermediate Grade techniques, and the highest among them could only cultivate up to the Late Stage of the Purple Mansion.


    Lin Shiming was not surprised by this and chose one Immovable King Sutra and one Great Brahma Art.


    "Fellow Daoist, having bought two techniques and three treasures, could one perhaps receive a treasure chart as a gift?" Lin Shiming spoke.


    "Benefactor, our Wanfo Tower never gives gifts, but since we have a connection, I will sell it at a discount of 20% to the benefactor!"

 Chapter 535 - 361 True Person鈥檚 Plot, Ten-Winged Frost Moth

    After leaving the Tower of a Thousand Buddhas, Lin Shiming felt a bit strange, because as a body cultivator, he could vaguely sense that these ascetics from the Buddha Sect were almost all practicing both the Dharma and the body together.


    The strength of the Buddha Sect in the Bodhi Sea Domain indeed deserved its reputation as one of the leading powers among the six major sea domains.


    Lin Shiming held the fragments in his hand and continued to explore the shops, purchasing some Foundation Establishment puppets used to activate the War Treasure Ships of the Lin Family, and also bought some Fourth Rank Spirit Talismans.


    It was just a pity that on the day of the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s fall, he did not obtain the method to refine War Treasure Ships!


    Lin Shiming felt regretful, but he had no intention of giving up the research on War Treasure Ships. He planned to wait until a Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner appeared in his family, then, with the system¡¯s prompts and the root of the Minor Divine Abilities¡¯ deductions, he would emulate the research on the Transmission Formation and replicate the War Treasure Ship.


    Upon returning to the tavern, Lin Shiming activated all the formations to prevent any prying eyes.


    Although he was eager, with so many True Persons on Xu Ri Island, Lin Shiming still resisted the immediate impulse to take out the Sword Storing Book.


    Instead, he continued to meditate and cultivate the Kuimu Sword Canon.


    Streams of Kuimu True Yuan entered his body and gradually strengthened, adding a few more touches of joy to Lin Shiming¡¯s expression.


    As his Spiritual Body unfolded slowly, his cultivation speed also increased slightly. Although the improvement was modest, with time, perhaps one day, his cultivation speed could reach the level of a Heavenly Spirit Root.


    ...


    What Lin Shiming did not know was that, within the Xu Ri Palace, the Xu Ri True Person had bloodshot eyes, with a red glow appearing before him.


    The glow was reflected on a small mirror, which perfectly displayed the image of Lin Shiming¡¯s cultivation.


    He was sitting quietly, pinching a Jade Disk in his hand, which bore a dazzling Star Chart that twinkled silently. Read chapters at novelhall.Co?m


    After a while, the Xu Ri True Person put away the Jade Disk and in his hand appeared a set of thirty-two yet-to-be-completed magical treasure Spiritual Pearls.


    ...


    Of course, the remaining page of the Sword Storing Book could only be checked once he was back on Shuangmu Island.


    Lin Shiming in the tavern now cultivated with a sense of restlessness, to alleviate it a bit, he took out the mysterious cushion and sat down, which made him feel somewhat better.


    Time ticked away, and another two days passed, and with the grand meeting of the Twelve Inner Islands, more cultivators arrived on Xu Ri Island.


    The San Yang Hermit finally sent a message, there would be a Purple Mansion trade meeting today, starting at dawn.


    He told Lin Shiming to prepare.


    With the system refresh prompt at dawn, Lin Shiming was rather interested.


    Of course, if the system prompted that Xu Ri True Person had murderous intentions, he would immediately flee through the Transmission Formation.


    Without the transmission array, even if the Xu Ri True Person gave chase, it would take nearly half a month to get from Xu Ri Island to Tian Xu Island.


    As dawn approached, the system did not prompt again and Lin Shiming sighed in relief, put on the spirit-isolating gauze, took out the Purple Yu Cloth Magical Treasure, transforming it into Inner Armor hidden inside his clothes.


    Then he got up and hurried to the location of the small Purple Mansion trade meeting.


    The meeting place was in an unnamed small mountain on Xu Ri Island, surrounded by an array of foggy formations.


    With the Token from San Yang Hermit in hand, Lin Shiming was naturally unobstructed and quickly entered a magnificent hall adorned with various exotic stones and murals, exuding an imposing atmosphere.


    Inside the hall, countless cultivators were already waiting, all wearing spirit-isolating gauze, Lin Shiming also noticed some ascetics in plain view, with no disguise.


    What Lin Shiming did not expect was that one of the people in charge of the trade meeting was the San Yang Hermit.


    The San Yang Hermit, with the Qi Cultivation just entering the Purple Mansion Late Stage and Body Refining Cultivation at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, was naturally not considered top-notch among the hundreds of Purple Mansion Hermits present.


    The mode of the trade meeting was also vastly different from the past, not simply bringing treasures forward in the hall to exchange.

 Chapter 536 - 361 True Person鈥檚 Plot, Ten-Winged Frost Caterpillar_2

    Amidst those magnificent rockeries, there was a row of booths, one for each cultivator, displaying their treasures. Each person had the opportunity to enter a booth once and make exchanges. If one could make a trade, they did so; if not, harboring any covetous thoughts afterwards would be futile since one wouldn¡¯t necessarily know who ended up with the treasures.


    After all, the others¡¯ trades were not known to them.


    The advantage of this small trading event was that it greatly increased security and reduced the likelihood of coveting, but for these Purple Mansion cultivators, the chance of missing out on treasures was also significant!


    Nevertheless, the rules were already set, and Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t change them. For him, this was actually good news.


    He found a booth and began to take out several treasures he had prepared in advance for the exchange.


    He took out three magical treasures that he found no use for, plus some Fourth Rank spiritual medicines and materials, such as Red Lotus Fruits.


    His plan was to exchange them for some inner cores and materials from mantis Great Demons, and moreover, if there were any Buddha Sect Techniques of a higher grade than Intermediate Profound Rank, he would naturally want to exchange for those as well.


    Your next chapter awaits on novelhall.Co?m


    The cultivators who were exchanging with Lin Shiming, seeing that he had brought out three magical treasures, including one Inferior Grade Fourth Rank defensive treasure, couldn¡¯t help but give him a second glance, their eyes filled with a bit more respect.


    However, upon learning what Lin Shiming wanted to exchange for, they all shook their heads, indicating they had neither Demonic Beast materials nor information, and none of the Buddha Monks offered up any techniques in exchange.


    Lin Shiming wasn¡¯t surprised and just continued to wait with his eyes closed.


    "Fellow Daoist, do you need information or corpses of mantises?" Suddenly, a cultivator dressed in black robes transmitted a message to Lin Shiming.


    "If I tell you of a place where there is a Fourth Rank Late Stage Frost Winged Mantis with ten wings, could it be exchanged for a magical treasure?"


    "Information alone can be exchanged for half a treasure. Fellow Daoist, you would still need to offer some spiritual medicines to make an exchange!" Lin Shiming was delighted internally. The Frost Winged Mantis ranked fifty-ninth on the list of heavenly spirit insects; compared to the Eight-winged Sky Mantis, its bloodline was clearly superior and purer.


    If the Golden Winged Mantis could absorb the bloodline of the Frost Winged Mantis, as long as it was successful, breaking through to become a Fourth Rank Great Demon was absolutely no problem.


    Of course, for the Golden Winged Mantis, facing such a high-bloodline Frost Mantis, there was a certain possibility of failure.


    Without taking risks, all that was left was to wait for the Golden Winged Mantis to consume enough Demonic Beast flesh and blood to advance gradually.


    That would take too long and wouldn¡¯t be of much use to Lin Shiming.


    "Agreed!" The cultivator then took out some Fourth Rank Spirit Soil and exchanged it for the Fourth Rank defensive treasure.


    As for the information about the Frost Winged Mantis, he swore an oath by the Heavenly Dao.


    Lin Shiming glanced over it and seeing that the information pointed to the Coral Alliance territory, he was at ease.


    However, Lin Shiming¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened when the man picked up two magical treasures.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s eyes turned cold, but the other party, not caring at all, opened his mouth:


    "I also have a Buddha Sect Technique. I will exchange it for your other magical treasure!"


    Without exception, all five were Purple Mansion Middle Stage Body Cultivators, but Lin Shiming knew that only the male cultivator named Yun Sha from the Purple Cloud Fiendish Couple practiced both Body and Magical Cultivation.


    "This is the Five Elements Thunder Formation, specifically designed to counter Demonic Beasts with strong fleshly power. Everyone, refine the Array Plates," San Yang Hermit took out four Jade Slips and four Array Plates.


    One Array Plate corresponded to one Jade Slip.


    After collecting the Jade Slips, he looked at the four people and did not rest until he saw each of them crush their respective Jade Slip.


    "Let¡¯s all prepare here for a day; we¡¯ll set off tomorrow. Otherwise, if the Shocking Sea Ape escapes, we will all regret it!"


    ...


    Above the calm and sunny sea, a huge dark peak jutted out from the sea¡¯s surface.


    A series of ape calls echoed, startling the sea surface into producing countless terrifying waves.


    A Spirit Boat descended from afar.


    The figures of Lin Shiming and the others appeared.


    "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Shocking Sea Ape is extremely formidable both in water and on land. There are two of them, and I hope everyone will give their all!" San Yang Hermit continued to speak.


    On the Spirit Boat, Lin Shiming and the others nodded in agreement. He raised his hand and already felt a faint gravity.


    Even the water he conjured from the sea was heavier than that from other regions.


    The terrifying waves and the ape calls reverberating through the sky clearly showcased the immense strength of the Shocking Sea Ape.


    "Alright, be careful when setting up the formation. This separating gauze is made from thousand-year ice silkworm threads, and the Shocking Sea Ape should not be able to detect it!" San Yang Hermit took out four Snow Silkworm Garments and distributed them to the four to drape over themselves.


    Lin Shiming took the Snow Silkworm Garment and casually draped it over himself.


    The five took positions in five different directions, encircling the island.


    Since there was a Fourth Rank Thunder Formation in place, naturally, the formation would bombard the demon first.


    Then the five would swarm forward together.


    The closer they got to the center of the island, the more terrifying the gravity felt, causing Lin Shiming to grow suspicious. According to San Yang Hermit, it was caused by a natural Earth Attribute Spirit Vein.


    But the gravity of an Earth Attribute Spirit Vein could not be this strong.


    And at that moment, the system¡¯s prompt sounded again:


    "Please obtain Star Meteor Cold Iron to feed the Devouring Ants, which can induce their next evolution!"


    Lin Shiming¡¯s pace slowed; he realized San Yang Hermit had deceived them. The gravity field below was not produced by an Earth Attribute Spirit Vein, but by Star Meteor Cold Iron!

 Chapter 539 - 363 Heavenly Beast Transformation, Tea Tree Advancement (Two in One)

    Above the island, Lin Shiming also flew out and alighted in the sky.


    "San Yang brother, the Red Dust monk has taken all the remaining treasures!" Seeing San Yang Hermit¡¯s face filled with ease, he looked utterly astonished.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming certainly wasn¡¯t going to take out the remaining corpses of the Shocking Sea Apes!


    Perhaps the Red Dust Hermit and San Yang Hermit had connections.


    Moreover, taking out treasures at this time might actually lead to suspicion that he had secretly taken the rest of the starfall cold iron!


    "It included a piece of cold iron!" Lin Shiming added.


    San Yang Hermit saw Lin Shiming looking frustrated and annoyed, and nodded in agreement.


    He clearly knew about the existence of the starfall cold iron.


    "No harm done, since they took the Spirit Vein for themselves, let¡¯s give it to you!" San Yang Hermit also nodded.


    He did not continue to delve deeper into the matter. For both of them, at this moment, they each had their own apprehensions no matter what the process was, at least the outcome was that both of them were standing here.


    Having the courage to come back here, rather than leaving on their own, signified many things already.


    As a cultivator who had lived for who knows how many years, the treasures meant for five people had now been divided between two, so naturally, he would not ask too many questions.


    San Yang Hermit, being a Fourth Rank Spirit-Seeking Master, was very generous and began to transplant the Spirit Vein.


    However, the transplantation speed was not fast, much slower compared to Lin Xianzhi.


    Clearly, this San Yang Hermit still had his apprehensions about him!


    Keep in mind, Lin Shiming had slain the half-jiao transformed Zi Yu Hermit.


    Lin Shiming was very satisfied with this, after all, Shuangmu Island was still Fangmu Island; with Lin Xianzhi sitting firmly in place, he could rest more at ease.


    In terms of Transmission Formations, Ling Turtle Island, Shuangmu Island, and Fangmu Island had been connected, arguably as secure as a fortress; it was just that Heavenly Phenomenon Island was not yet linked.


    This was also a well-considered strategy by the Lin Family. Traveling from Shuangmu Island to Heavenly Phenomenon Island using the Fourth Rank War Treasure Ship wouldn¡¯t take long, while connecting a Transmission Formation would mean that the risks and benefits weren¡¯t proportional.


    And when he returned, he also learned that Lin Shijie had made a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment peak and, along with Lin Shitao, had begun to go into seclusion to prepare for their Purple Mansion breakthroughs.


    Lin Shiming was relatively at ease with Lin Shijie, but he was a bit worried about Lin Shitao. It was clear from her passage through the Illusionary Heart Pavilion¡¯s Illusion Array that despite being over seventy years old and constantly engaging in alchemy, she lacked experience.


    Only because of her Dual Spirit Root and sufficient Lin Family resources could she cultivate so swiftly.


    And Lin Shijie, now with a transparent Sword Heart and always following his initial intent, coupled with the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, had a rather high chance of success in his Purple Mansion breakthrough.


    Fortunately, the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion did not carry the same risk of falling as during Foundation Establishment, and the Lin Family also had thousand-year-old spirit milk and various restorative medicinal herbs.


    Lin Shiming also found Lin Houshou in front of the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, just as Lin Houshou was happily emerging from inside. Continue reading at novelhall.Co?m


    With the Buddha Beads as his treasure, his recent Blood Demon Soul Invasion had greatly weakened, and he even faintly felt a breakthrough approaching, that comfortable feeling emanating from his soul immersing him completely.


    "Second Uncle, try this cultivation technique!" Lin Shiming stepped forward, took out the Great Sun Tathagata Scripture, a Profound Rank supreme-grade Buddhist Law, that was two levels higher than Blood Demon Body Refinement.


    It was more than enough to suppress Blood Demon Soul Invasion!


    As he spoke, he also took out four supreme-grade Magical Treasures from the Buddha Sect and gave them to Lin Houshou; these were all bought at the Ten Thousand Buddha Tower.


    Lin Houshou accepted the cultivation technique and the magical treasures, filled with joy.


    "Thank you, Shiming!"


    "The family owes a lot to Second Uncle¡¯s hard work!" Lin Shiming replied with a smile.


    The importance of Lin Houshou to the family went without saying; not to mention that Lin Houshou was responsible for both the Illusionary Heart Pavilion and the Sword Pavilion. Solely connecting three islands with Transmission Formations was a great feat.

 Chapter 540 - 363 Heavenly Beast Transformation, Tea Tree Advancement (Two in One)_2

    The various island-protecting formations, both large and small, were also constructed by Lin Houshou.


    If the Buddha treasures obtained from the Hermit of the Dusty World were usable, Lin Shiming would have taken those out as well.


    "Second Uncle, take a look at this Island Migration Great Method, to see if we can move some subsidiary islands and enhance the power of Shuangmu Island¡¯s Island Protecting Great Array!" Lin Shiming said, taking out the Jade Slip he had obtained from Zi Yu Loose.


    "That¡¯s great, the family just obtained a Fourth Rank Array Plate within the Purple Jade Sect!" Lin Houshou agreed cheerfully upon seeing it.


    The importance of subsidiary islands to forming arrays goes without saying, and they also better protect the mortal members of the family.


    "Second Uncle, you also need to put effort into your cultivation. The family is still waiting to craft our own Fourth Rank Array Plate!" Lin Shiming said with a smile.


    Now that the Transmission Formation and Illusionary Heart Pavilion were almost completely set up, it was time for Lin Houshou to focus on his cultivation.


    Lin Houshou nodded his head.


    After some more casual conversation, Lin Shiming returned to the top of Thousand Wood Peak. After activating various prohibitive formations, he entered the Cave Heaven World.


    Having not entered the Cave Heaven World for many days, Lin Shiming felt the unusual tranquility of the Cave Heaven.


    The wood demon was still absorbing spiritual energy, evidently still in the process of advancing. Leaves of spirit radiated a lustrous glow, emitting an invigorating tea fragrance.


    Nearby, the Star Spirit Clam was also submerged at the bottom of the lake, still advancing. Wang Jiao was also in the midst of a breakthrough, surrounded by a torrent of dragon energy. From the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, one could even see strands of dragon energy rushing towards Wang Jiao¡¯s silken cocoon!


    For a time, dragon roars resounded throughout!


    All the spiritual energy was converging towards Wang Jiao, but within the Cave Heaven, the spirit vein was only a Third Rank Supreme Grade.


    The only ones not cultivating were the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey. The Red-haired Demon Monkey was in the midst of the Spirit Peach Tree, eagerly awaiting, and upon seeing Lin Shiming approach, kept howling as if to say that the Spirit Peaches had matured.


    It occasionally reached out tentatively towards the Spirit Peaches and, seeing Lin Shiming did not mind, quickly plucked one and popped it into its mouth.


    Lin Shiming was indifferent to these Third Rank Spirit Peaches, so he let the Red-haired Monkey be. As for the Golden Winged Mantis, it lay there quietly. Now, only the Golden Wing had not yet broken through to the Fourth Rank.


    Unfortunately, he was not confident in dealing with the Ten-Winged Frost Mantis at this time. Otherwise, after obtaining the Fourth Rank spirit vein, he could go and slay the Ten-Winged Frost Mantis to aid the Golden Wing in advancing.


    After observing everything, Lin Shiming finally had time to sort out the gains from his trip to Xu Ri Island. He first took out the Sword Storing Book, then extracted the torn pages of the scripture he had purchased from the Thousand Buddha Building.


    The torn pages, just like before, were extremely smooth like jade. Even if one applied Purple Mansion Divine Sense to it, it would still seem like an odd jade that concealed divine sense.


    This was also why the pages were mistaken for a painting scroll Magical Treasure.


    Lin Shiming took down the pages and placed them together with the Sword Storing Book. Next, a miraculous scene occurred again as spirit light appeared within the scroll and merged into the Sword Storing Book!


    The spirit light was extremely dazzling. After three full breaths, the light disappeared, and the Sword Storing Book once more became primitive, its surface void of any special spirit light.


    In front of him appeared a blue-black stone. As soon as the stone appeared, it seemed the gravity nearby intensified, and the ground started to collapse.


    Lin Shiming hurriedly deployed a Formation.


    Only then did it stabilize: otherwise, if the Cave Heaven World collapsed, the impact would not just be confined to this plot of land ¡ª many surrounding Spirit Plants would be affected too.


    The Starfall Cold Iron, worthy of being a fourth-rank Supreme Grade treasure material, could even potentially be used by a skilled Artifact Refiner to craft a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    Nevertheless, Lin Shiming released the nine Spirit Ants.


    Refining a magical treasure was not as important as allowing the Spirit Ants to advance again. These little creatures, with their sharp teeth and extreme sensitivity to Spirit Formations, had undergone multiple mutations, making them extremely valuable to cultivate!


    Stay connected with novelhall.Co?m


    The reason Lin Shiming was so concerned about the Purple Sun Secret Realm was precisely because of his confidence in the Spirit Ants.


    As soon as the nine Spirit Ants were released, they squeaked eagerly and swarmed towards the Cold Iron!


    However, the normally fast-devouring Spirit Ants began to consume the Cold Iron at somewhat slower pace, taking a long time to consume even a small amount.


    This made the nine Spirit Ants seem impatient, squeaking even more excitedly and ferociously.


    The surface of the Spirit Ants began to twinkle with starlight.


    Clearly, they were using all their might to consume the Cold Iron.


    Lin Shiming was extremely satisfied with the performance of the Spirit Ants. In the end, he also transplanted the Great Strength Fruit Tree into the Cave Heaven.


    As a Fourth Rank fruit tree, it was extremely important to the Lin Family. Its fruits were especially beneficial to those who practiced Body Cultivation in ways they could not imagine.


    As soon as the Great Strength Fruit Tree was properly transplanted, the Red-haired Demon Monkey immediately lost its love for the Spirit Peach Tree!


    It kept circling the Great Strength Fruit Tree nonstop.


    Lin Shiming found it rather peculiar; these Demonic Beasts had an exceptional sense for Spiritual Medicine and Spiritual Objects.


    Lin Shiming had to warn the Red-haired Demon Monkey that these Great Strength Fruits could not be plucked as haphazardly as those Spirit Peaches!


    After transplanting the Great Strength Fruit Tree, Lin Shiming also took out the treasures of the Dust Hermit. Among the Buddha Treasures, the Green Lotus ruler was a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Buddha Treasure, which was quite precious, but it was a pity that one needed Buddha Cultivation Techniques to assimilate the Green Lotus ruler.


    In contrast, the Nine Elements Buddha Beads were only Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank Buddha Treasure, but Lin Shiming could use them. They would likely be useful against some Demon Cultivators, so Lin Shiming gladly accepted them.


    The remaining magical treasures were not impressive, and Lin Shiming handled them casually, planning to deal with them during the next exchange meet. Then, he took out a Seeking Spirit Plate.


    All the treasures had been dealt with, except for the Fourth Rank Earth Attribute Spirit Vein which had yet to be placed.

 Chapter 541 - 364

    On Shuangmu Island, with each booming sound,


    At Qinglian Peak and Thousand Wood Peak, countless cultivators extended their Divine Sense.


    Suddenly, at some unknown time, another towering peak had risen beside Qinglian Peak!


    This newly emerged mountain was even broader and more solid in appearance.


    Next to the mountain, Lin Shiming was seen holding a Spirit Seeking Disc, inserting Spirit Arts and placing Spirit Veins.


    After much consideration, Lin Shiming decided not to place the Earth Attribute Spirit Vein inside the Cave Heaven. Perhaps he would have for a Pure Spirit Vein of Wood Attribute, but for Earth Attribute, it was better to place it on Shuangmu Island.


    It would benefit the cultivators of the Lin Family Clan who practiced Earth Attribute Cultivation Techniques, whereas for him, the Spirit Vein mainly provided Spirit Soil and nourished his Lifebound Treasure, the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda!


    As the last Spirit Art was cast, a dragon-shaped Spirit Vein roared and surged into the mountain!


    Immediately, waves of Spirit Charm spread in all directions.


    The majestic Spiritual Energy also alerted even more cultivators of the Lin Family Clan.


    Especially those who primarily practiced Earth Attribute Cultivation Techniques.


    After the Spirit Vein was set up, Lin Shiming leaped to the top of the mountain. Seeing that the pools of Spirit Soil were undisturbed, he let out a huge sigh of relief.


    He then took out the pre-prepared Array Plate, enveloping the entire mountain within it.


    With the Spirit Vein arrangement complete, Lin Shiming continued to take out the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and began placing it inside to perform the Spirit Vein Treasure Nourishing Secret Technique.


    Similar to the Fire Attribute Spirit Vein setup, there were pillars and platforms connected straight to the ground. As he cast the drawing Spirit Art, dragon roars came from the depths of the earth, and earthen yellow dragons made of Spiritual Energy spiraled upward, breathing out yellow Spirit Light towards his Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    As the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda settled into the central position, waves of faint light emanated, resonating with the yellow glow. In an instant, the entire Pagoda began to flicker with yellow Spirit Light.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s handiwork with the Spirit Art was also completed.


    This series of Spirit Arts were quite draining, and he immediately took out Superior Grade Spirit Stones to recover.


    Meanwhile, at a distance, Lin Houyuan had arrived and was waiting below the Spirit Peak.


    There were many Foundation Establishment cultivators who had comprehended Sword Intent, but it was rare for someone at Qi Cultivation to do so. While the Carved Sword Stone contributed to this success, it also showcased his talent.


    Moreover, Lin Zeli had a Dual Spirit Root of Metal and Water and was only twenty-five years old. He was cultivating the same Golden Lotus Daoist Scripture as Lin Xianzhi did.


    It was just unclear what the Sword Intent might entail.


    In that moment, Lin Zeli, with her eyes gently closed, eyelashes quivering, her hair fluttering in the wind, Sword Intent involuntarily radiating from her.


    Clearly, she had fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment, like Lin Shijie before her.


    Her gaze lifted, and she found herself on the windy border front, with a sky so overcast it seemed oppressively heavy.


    Enjoy new stories from novelhall.Co?m


    In the distance, the howling sound of iron hooves was like a storm, dense and relentless, causing the very earth to tremble.


    Upon the city wall, there stood only a solitary figure, with one sword, one horse.


    Resolved, solemn!


    At that moment, there was no more apt description than ¡¯undertaking the impossible.¡¯


    Lin Zeli felt a stir of compassion and rose, wanting to fight side by side for, in her eyes, they were but mortals!


    But the next moment, a fearsome Sword Intent burst forth, countless golden swords dancing in the sky.


    Lin Zeli herself was forced back by the shock!


    Above the city wall, that lone figure finally raised his eyes and drew his sword!


    A sword¡¯s cold light chilled nineteen provinces!


    Countless swords beamed forward, heading straight for the enemy forces!


    One sword to guard the pass, no ten thousand men can open!


    An enlightenment arose in Lin Zeli¡¯s heart. She looked up once more, only to find herself within the Sword Pavilion, at Qinglian Peak, on Shuangmu Island!


    And with a swing of her sword in hand, numerous blades of light flashed out instantly, one sword¡¯s radiance incomparably sharp!

 Chapter 543 - 365 Sword Birth Myriad Laws, Breakthrough Phenomenon (Three-in-One for Monthly Passes)

    ```


    The Spirit Water and Spirit Soil rolled up, and the surface of the Star Spirit Clam shimmered with starlight, making the star chart on its surface appear even more vast and boundless.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s expression paused; he suddenly realized that this star chart increasingly resembled the one in the Star Body Refining Technique.


    This made him look forward with anticipation to the nightfall, when the stars would emerge, and what kind of spectacle that would be.


    However, at this moment, he didn¡¯t have time to continue absorbing the Star Spirit Fluff but instead turned his attention to the wooden spirit creature beside him.


    The wooden spirit creature still had the appearance of a little old man, standing there respectfully. But it had grown taller, and behind it, the Mingxin Tea Tree had also advanced to a Superior Grade Third Rank Spirit Tree. Especially the life-spirit leaves, which had grown into a bunch and appeared exceptionally vital and extraordinary.


    The rest of the spiritual tea leaves were also lush and verdant, emitting an even richer fragrance.


    In the future, the Lin Family could add another type of tea tree to their collection besides the Cuilan Tea, especially suitable for cultivators who had overused the Formation Artifact Manual; they could consume Superior Grade Third Rank Mingxin Tea.


    Having survived the Heavenly Tribulation and gained a new lease on life, as well as grasping part of the Minor Divine Ability of the fruit tree, Lin Shiming was somewhat expectant.


    "Thank you, Master, for bestowing me this treasure!" the wooden spirit creature bowed deeply in gratitude.


    With its foundation, breaking through to an Intermediate Grade Third Rank would naturally not be a problem, but advancing to a Superior Grade Third Rank was thanks to the Fourth Rank Mu Xin Spiritual Liquid that Lin Shiming provided at the critical moment.


    Lin Shiming also nodded; since the wooden spirit creature could help him take care of the Spirit Plants in his Cave Heaven World, he would naturally not be stingy.


    After checking on the wooden spirit creature, Lin Shiming looked towards the insect chamber, where the Swallowing Spirit Ants were another source of great expectation for him.


    As variant Spirit Insects, they had long since left the ranks of ordinary Spirit Insects.


    Once he arrived at the stone chamber, indeed, after four years, the Swallowing Spirit Ants had completely devoured the Starfall Cold Iron, and the Formation protecting the chamber had been thoroughly consumed as well.


    They had even excavated a large hole in the floor of the chamber.


    This caused Lin Shiming¡¯s expression to darken.


    And the Sword Storing Book, to his view, was certainly no worse than the Blood Demon Disk.


    If his True Yuan was insufficient, even if he could practice the second layer of the Treasure Control Technique, he would not be able to unleash its power.


    You should know, even activating the first layer of the Treasure Control Technique was a considerable struggle for him.


    After much consideration, Lin Shiming eventually decided to comprehend Sword Intent. Sword Intent was what could most improve his strength in a short period of time. The third move of the Grass Sword Art had almost allowed him to grasp the extreme of condensing Sword Qi into threads.


    Even Great Swathe was a prelude to the Sword Birth Myriad Laws.


    If he could break through to the Sword Birth Myriad Laws in Sword Intent, he would have a greater chance of obtaining good Spiritual Medicines in the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    Moreover, Sword Intent could also be used to understand the Carved Sword Stones, possibly with additional benefits.


    As long as he could grasp even a little and combine it with system prompts and Deductive Spirit Light, Lin Shiming was very confident.


    Of course, the critical factor was whether the Flaming Sword also required spiritual medicines aged over five thousand years.


    He needed the Flaming Sword to at least see him through Xu Ri True Person¡¯s challenge within his Cave Heaven.


    With his decision made, Lin Shiming stood up from the high platform and first walked over to the Great Strength Fruit tree.


    Within his body, emerald Spirit Patterns, accompanied by the Thousand Wood Spirit Body, began to surge.


    A rich green Spirit Light blinked into existence, intensifying to the limit.


    The next moment, a green hurricane blew out towards the Great Strength Fruit tree!


    Instantly, vast swathes of Spirit Light began to sway, and at the top of the fruit tree, several Spirit Flowers blossomed all at once, revealing their red cores.


    An overwhelming fragrance began to waft through the air, attracting the Red-haired Demon Monkey, the Golden Winged Mantis, and Wang Jiao to gather around.


    For Demonic Beasts, a Fourth Rank Spirit Fruit like the Great Strength Fruit was a lethal temptation.


    ```

 Chapter 547 - 366: Failure, Success (Two-in-One for Monthly Votes)

    On Shuangmu Island, strange phenomena were occurring frequently, with various colorful clouds gathering, especially those imbued with Fire Attribute Spiritual Qi, which seemed to be enduring without end.


    Waves of heat spread out, causing the hearts of the Lin Family Clan members to once again surge with excitement.


    The simultaneous breakthrough of two Purple Mansion-ranked cultivators sent ripples of excitement through many of the Lin Family Clan members, their emotions running high.


    Even the older generation of cultivators were incredibly thrilled, such phenomena had been beyond their wildest dreams.


    And now, the Lin Family already had several Purple Mansion cultivators.


    Looking towards the sea, one could see waves surging violently, with various creatures that usually hid in the deep sea¡ªlike Green Shell Crabs and octopus demons¡ªbeginning to appear on the surface.


    They whipped up storms and wailed madly, converging from all directions.


    Fortunately, the current Lin Family was not what it used to be, with three Purple Mansion cultivators alone, even if Jiuxiao Scatter Man couldn¡¯t make it in time, there were still two Purple Mansion cultivators. Besides, there were three Purple Mansion Great Demons and two War Treasure Ships!


    With the Transmission Formation, the Lin Family¡¯s Purple Mansion combat power no longer needed to be divided between Spirit Turtle Island and Fangmu Island.


    Lin Shiming had already released Wang Jiao and the Red-haired Demon Monkey early, with his Crescent Moon Guard Blade materializing in his hand.


    Lin Shitao¡¯s breakthrough made him just as anxious.


    As soon as Wang Jiao emerged from the Cave Heaven, he rushed towards the sea and let out a dragon¡¯s roar. Instantly, countless Demonic Beasts began to retreat, and the beast tide was actually curbed!


    On the other hand, after the Red-haired Demon Monkey came out, it turned into a miniature red monkey and eyed everyone¡¯s Storage Bags. After receiving a glare from Lin Shiming, it too transformed into a massive hundred-zhang tall fire monkey, waiting for an opportunity on the side.


    Lin Xianzhi also released a Fourth Rank Thunder Spirit Turtle.


    And at that moment, the Island Protecting Great Array of Lin Family¡¯s Shuangmu Island was also activated once again.


    Everything was ready, and everyone¡¯s eyes turned back toward Thousand Wood Peak.


    The fiery red clouds persisted for half the sky, the vortex of Spiritual Qi still expanding. At the same time, the Divine Souls of the two individuals were growing stronger within their perception.


    Boom!


    At the same time, a massive Purple Mansion Divine Sense landed on everyone present.


    All members of the Lin Family were instantly overjoyed, this Divine Sense was clearly a sign of a successful breakthrough.


    This indicated that the Lin Family had gained another Purple Mansion cultivator!


    The Lin Family now had three Purple Mansion cultivators!


    And now they had one who was under a hundred years old!


    "Shijie has broken through!" Lin Xianzhi¡¯s face was also filled with satisfaction.


    Only Lin Shiming was still worried because in his Divine Sense perception, Lin Shitao¡¯s Divine Soul seemed a bit weak and could not gather strength.


    Seeing Lin Shiming¡¯s expression, Lin Xianzhi also began to worry again.


    Lin Shitao was even more crucial to the Lin Family, already able to refine Fourth Rank Spirit Pills in the late phase of Foundation Establishment, a treasure that any family would cultivate with all their might.


    But precisely because of Alchemy, and even utilizing the Formation Artifact Manual to refine pills beyond his level, he was very likely to end up like Lin Houxuan.


    Especially since Lin Shitao¡¯s insight into Cultivation was minimal, his experience limited, having always had a smooth path.


    Shijie stabilized, and a stream of colorful clouds also descended onto Thousand Wood Peak, absorbed by Shijie.


    Another stream of clouds, however, began to tremble.


    Time passed, and the Divine Soul fluctuation tightened and loosened.


    The enormous Divine Sense suddenly came to an abrupt halt!


    Explore more at novelhall.Co?m


    Lin Shiming¡¯s complexion turned pale; Lin Shitao had failed, failing at the crucial stage of condensing the Purple Mansion Divine Soul.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s body also flew toward Thousand Wood Peak.


    The peach trees beside the cave dwelling seemed to have lost many petals due to the failed breakthrough as well.

 Chapter 548 - 366: Failure, Success (Two in One for Monthly Tickets)_2

    ```


    Lin Shiming crossed the cave dwelling and looked towards Lin Shitao.


    At this moment, Lin Shitao''s face was pale as she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, clearly having suffered a backlash from her failed breakthrough.


    "Seventh brother, I failed..." Lin Shitao looked up at Lin Shiming, who rushed in first, her face full of dejection.


    Just like her, Lin Shijie had consumed Purple Mansion Jade Liquid and also had Dual Spirit Roots of fire and wood, yet Lin Shijie succeeded while she failed.


    Of course, whether Lin Shijie succeeded in his breakthrough or not didn''t greatly affect him; what mattered was that her failure meant the gap between her cultivation level and that of Lin Shiming''s would only grow wider.


    In her view, there might come a day when she was on her deathbed, while Lin Shiming remained in the prime of his life.


    How painful would that be!


    A Foundation Establishment had a lifespan of two hundred and fifty years, a Purple Mansion spanned five hundred years, a Golden Core a thousand!


    Lin Shiming shone like a brilliant star, and she might fade away. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Because of cultivation, it might even be possible that the days Lin Shiming could accompany her would be extremely short.


    It might not even compare to the decades of love between mortals!


    "It''s alright, you just need to try the breakthrough again!" Lin Shiming took Lin Shitao into his arms.


    He gently patted her on the back.


    "Seventh brother, let''s have a child!" Lin Shitao said after a long silence.


    This surprised Lin Shiming as well; clearly, Lin Shitao had lost confidence in breaking through to the Golden Core stage.


    "Don''t worry needlessly, you''re only eighty years old, you still have well over a century left, and there''s always the lifespan fruit. Breaking through to the Golden Core is just a trifle!" Lin Shiming said.


    Of course, his heart was anything but calm at the moment.


    Lin Shitao''s worries were because of him. He knew that before Lin Shitao''s breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, he should perhaps take her around to see the sea, watch the sunrise, and experience the four seasons of peach blossoms.


    Maybe then, the ending would be different.


    Lin Shiming took out some Red Spirit Fish and a black mysterious Spirit Fish and personally started cooking a spiritual meal for Lin Shitao.


    Failing the breakthrough required replenishing her vital energy and blood, and Lin Shiming also pondered that maybe he should enhance the Mingxin Tea Tree again to a Third Rank Supreme Grade and catalyze its innate spirit leaves, perhaps clearing the adverse effects caused by the Formation Artifact Manual.


    Lin Shitao was a Dual Spirit Root cultivator, and while her failure to break through to the Purple Mansion was partially due to lack of experience, after having been through the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, she wasn''t exceptionally bad off. The most significant factor was still the influence from the Formation Artifact Manual.


    Watching Lin Shiming cook the spiritual meal, Lin Shitao''s complexion improved slightly, and a smile squeezed onto her face.


    Lin Shiming caressed her silky hair, and the two spent several hours together in the cave dwelling.


    He hadn''t forgotten that his most crucial objective was to safely retreat from the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    He couldn''t know when Xu Ri True Person would make his move, but only the Purple Sun Sword could guarantee his safe departure.


    Within the Sword Pavilion, Lin Shiming once again stood before the Sword Ladder. This time, Lin Zeli was also attempting to climb, clearly tempering his Sword Intent. Lin Shiming praised him a few words, then began to try transmitting his voice to the Flaming Sword.


    "Senior Flaming Sword?"


    "Lin boy, what''s the matter?" Having witnessed Lin Shiming''s talent in the Sword Dao, the Flaming Sword had become less indifferent and rather more expectant.


    With the Taiyi Sword Grass seeds as a magical treasure, and having reached the third realm of Sword Intent with ease¡ªSword Birth Myriad Laws¡ªit was very likely that in the future, he could enter the Divine Mountain and explore the Taibai Sword Palace once more.


    "May I ask, Senior, does Spirit Cultivation also require Spiritual Medicine?" Lin Shiming ventured cautiously.


    Since the Flaming Sword initially required the cultivation of Sword Imbuement Technique as a carrier, and later on needed Spirit Veins for Spirit Cultivation, he guessed Spirit Cultivation might also require Spiritual Medicine.


    If it did require Spiritual Medicine, then the Flaming Sword could certainly join him.


    After all, protecting Lin Shiming was also protecting Spiritual Medicines that were more than five thousand years old. With his Spirit Ants to capture Spiritual Medicine, he was still quite confident!


    "Of course it''s needed, but my current realm is equivalent to the Golden Core Stage, which your Lin Family can''t provide!" The Flaming Sword didn''t bother to hide this, as it had been impossible to hide since unleashing the sword force capable of slaying the avatar of a Liu He True Person.


    In fact, the transformation to Spirit Cultivation was somewhat similar to that of a wood demon''s. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have been possible for Lin Shiming''s Sword Pill method to involve the Soul Summoning Sword.


    It''s just that the transformation to Spirit Cultivation is much more difficult than that of a wood demon''s.


    "How is Senior Flaming Sword''s recovery? This junior happens to have a secret realm with Spiritual Medicine older than five thousand years, but as for how to protect the Spiritual Medicine, that''s where I encounter difficulties!" Lin Shiming was forthright, sharing about the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    However, he didn''t mention the fact that a Golden Core True Person was coveting his Star Body Refining Technique.


    "I can certainly help with this matter. Moreover, get a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein earlier, as recovering with a Fourth Rank Spirit Vein is too much trouble!" The Flaming Sword spoke without any pretense.


    Although the Fire Attribute Spirit Veins of the Lin Family were pure, their rank was still far too low, and moreover, Lin Shiming had used them for nurturing his Lifebound Treasures, and they were being used by many cultivators for their cultivation as well.


    "Then I shall impose upon Senior!" Lin Shiming said with an embarrassed smile. His nurturing of the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas had indeed divided much of the Spiritual Energy, and he had also opened up Cave Heaven.


    The Flaming Sword was already aware of the Cave Heaven, and Lin Shiming wasn''t worried about it for two reasons. First, there was no system notification to indicate an issue, and second, if the Flaming Sword truly had intentions, everything of the Lin Family, including Lin Shiming, was within easy reach for it. In the secret realm, the Flaming Sword had already entered the Cave Heaven once.


    Additionally, when in Qingxuan Sect, it had saved Lin Shiming''s life at the risk of its own, so naturally, Lin Shiming felt embarrassed to make the Flaming Sword enter the Spirit Beast Bag.


    Packing away the Flaming Sword, after leaving the Sword Pavilion, Lin Shiming headed for the summit of Thousand Wood Peak.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda atop Thousand Wood Peak had been tended to for nearly ten years, and the one on Five Flames Peak had been nurtured for a full four years.


    By the time Lin Shiming reached the summit of Thousand Wood Peak, he saw that at the mouth of the lava, the dragon-shaped Spiritual Energy was still spewing towards the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda had changed drastically, not only richer in Spiritual Energy but its surface was also covered with numerous fiery red Spirit Patterns.


    The entire pagoda seemed even more brimming with Spiritual Energy!

 Chapter 549 - 367: Jiuxiaos Reminder (Extra for Romantic Fish in the Rains Reward)

    Within Thousand Wood Peak, dense spiritual lights flickered constantly, illuminating the cave entrance exceptionally bright.


    Bubbles kept bursting, rising thick steams of heat.


    Lin Shiming lifted his palm, and the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda transformed into a mini-tower, landing into his hand.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda was his Lifebound Treasure, hence it was in tune with Lin Shiming''s intentions. Having been nurtured by a Fire Attribute Spirit Vein, not only had its power increased significantly, but it had also gathered a considerable amount of Spiritual Fire within.


    When suppressing enemies, it could also release Spiritual Fire.


    That was another great benefit of nurturing treasures with a Spirit Vein.


    Lin Shiming stored the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda within his body and also headed towards Five Flame Peak.


    Upon arrival at Five Flame Peak, he likewise gathered another Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, which was also full of radiant Spirit Light, appearing very extraordinary. It was far more powerful than treasures that had not undergone nurturing.


    With two Soul-Suppressing Pagodas in hand, Lin Shiming now possessed four of them. For this upcoming journey to the Purple Sun Secret Realm, his odds of victory had substantially increased.


    After collecting the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, Lin Shiming checked on Lin Yanjiao''s progress. These days, Lin Shitao had also been in seclusion.


    Furthermore, bearing a Spiritual Body, Lin Shiming felt it was necessary to pay attention to her.


    He then made his way to Qinglian Peak, where Lin Xianzhi seemed to have long anticipated Lin Shiming''s arrival, waiting for him at the Pavilion of Tide Watching.


    "Uncle Great Ancestor!" Lin Shiming called out respectfully. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    "What can the family do to assist you on this journey?" Lin Xianzhi spoke after a moment of silence.


    Others might be kept in the dark about Lin Shiming''s affairs, but Lin Xianzhi knew him too well. Since Lin Shiming''s return from Heavenly Phenomenon Island, a trace of concern had always been present between his brows.


    Seclusion, breakthrough, sword practice, collecting towers.


    All these actions signaled that Lin Shiming''s forthcoming trip was anything but simple.


    "A Fourth Rank Array Plate, Fourth Rank Spirit Jade!" Lin Shiming hadn''t expected Lin Xianzhi to say such a thing. He paused for a moment before speaking.


    There was no need to elaborate on the Array Plate; for defense and spirit isolation, it was quite important, and the Fourth Rank Spirit Jade was intended for harvesting Spiritual Medicine.


    "Additionally, materials from Mantis Demon Beast and Heavenly Beast Grass!" Lin Shiming then took out a Jade Slip and added.


    In the Jade Slip were the Secret Technique for Heavenly Beast Transformation and the recipe for the pill.


    The Lin Family possessed the Spirit Controlling Seal and the Soul Binding Forbidden Secret Techniques, so the likelihood of obtaining Essence Blood from a Purple Mansion Great Demon was very high. This was a Secret Technique that could enhance the strength of both Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shijie.


    Moreover, he did indeed need the latter to gather Heavenly Beast Grass.


    The set of magical treasures previously refined by Xu Ri True Person indeed possessed the effects of soul searching and ban breaking.


    And it had a great potential to decipher the Family Jade Book.


    This jade slip contained reminders specifically for Lin Shiming from Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    In it, Jiuxiao Scatter Man also urged with unusual haste.


    Making Jiuxiao Scatter Man somewhat vigilant.


    Considering the system''s prompt and the mysterious eyes of Xu Ri True Person, it was highly possible that the latter would act after he emerged from the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    Besides, the San Yang Hermit had also sent people to contact the Lin Family,


    inquiring when Lin Shiming would arrive at Xu Ri Island.


    Lin Shiming nodded and then took out a storage bag, discussing the true purpose of his visit.


    "Second Brother, this Zi Xuan Precious Jade is for you. Display it at the right time, for the auction must still be carried out!" The Lin Family had earlier promised an auction on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and now the time was almost upon them.


    Even if he were not there, the auction had to go on.


    "Another is a Great Strength Fruit, which will help your cultivation!"


    "Thank you, Old Seven. Second Brother won''t say much, but rest assured, whatever you command later, I will not refuse!" Lin Shiyi also said.


    Following that, Lin Shiming continued to discuss with Lin Shiyi the detailed arrangements for the auction, most of which he had already talked about with Lin Houyuan, who was responsible for strategy and marketing tactics.


    But the Duan and Cheng families of the Heavenly Phenomenon Island could only be dealt with by Lin Shiyi.


    Suppression was definite, and when the time came, these two families had to be replaced.


    Even if the Lin Family truly tolerated them without taking action, they themselves would develop grudges, and at critical moments, they were likely to deal a backhanded blow.


    After dealing with them, it would also be necessary to support the emergence of two new families, for the Lin Family could not simply watch the Ye Family grow unchallenged.


    For both reason and emotion, Lin Shiyi needed to be aware of this.


    An hour later, Lin Shiming left the Lin Family Restaurant and took the transmission formation towards Xu Ri Island.


    Upon arriving on Xu Ri Island, Lin Shiming could not help but take out a token, which emitted a spirit light, revealing it to be from the San Yang Hermit.


    It displayed a message:


    "Come quickly to Xu Ri Palace to hear the preaching and the rules of the Purple Sun Secret Realm!"

 Chapter 550 - 368 Ziji Tan

    Xu Ri Palace was, compared to usual days, gathered with a large number of cultivators; all formations were also activated, looking exceptionally formidable.


    Lin Shiming arrived in front of the palace, and in his mind, he received a voice transmission from San Yang Hermit.


    "Junior Brother Lin, please enter the side hall, the master has summoned you!"


    Lin Shiming nodded and took out his token.


    One of the cultivators guarding the palace gate also stepped forward and took the initiative to lead Lin Shiming towards the side hall.


    "Senior Lin, the True Person is currently engaged in important matters with Red Leaf True Person. Please move to the side hall."


    "Hmm!" Lin Shiming also nodded. The vast Xu Ri Island was home to more than one True Person, openly there were two.


    And the matter of the Purple Sun Secret Realm was related to the cultivation of True Persons, so naturally they were all very concerned.


    The entrance to the side hall was a pavilion built of nanmu wood; passing through the long wooden corridor, one could see an even smaller hall.


    The doors of the hall were tightly closed, but upon seeing Lin Shiming approach, they were immediately opened, revealing San Yang Hermit''s figure.


    San Yang Hermit waved to Lin Shiming.


    "Junior Brother Lin, before entering the Secret Realm, you might try the fragrance of this Ziji Tan. Perhaps your strength could be further enhanced!" San Yang Hermit introduced.


    Lin Shiming responded with a bow and gesture of respect, then he looked inside the hall, only to see that in addition to San Yang Hermit, there were eight other people, all of whom were cultivators above the Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    Among them, there were even two whose cultivation level Lin Shiming could not discern.


    Besides the cultivators, there was the curling fragrance of Ziji Tan throughout the room, which was very peculiar. It divided into nine streams, meandering towards the nine cultivators.


    The smoke from the incense was varying in size, with the largest wafts surrounding the two whose cultivation levels might be at the Purple Mansion Peak, indiscernible to Lin Shiming.


    When Lin Shiming entered, San Yang Hermit closed the door of the room again.


    "Junior Brother Lin, this Ziji Tan is a wondrous object used by the master to temper the Divine Soul. It can enhance Divine Sense, and even when breaking through to the Purple Mansion, if one burns some, it can make the gathering of the Divine Soul easier. The master only brings it out once every ten years. You came a bit late, brother, so please sit down and temper yourself quickly. After all, the Spiritual Medicines in the Purple Sun Secret Realm are not easy to find!"


    "Thank you, Senior Brother San Yang!" Lin Shiming once again expressed his thanks with a bow. This incense which could strengthen the Divine Soul immediately reminded him of Lin Shitao. If she had this incense, her chances of successfully breaking through to the Purple Mansion would surely increase greatly.


    And at this moment, this incense could also enhance Divine Sense, expanding the range of Divine Sense, and in the Secret Realm, it would aid in finding more Spiritual Medicines.


    Just then, the system''s prompt resonated again:


    Inside the hall, the ten people all opened their eyes in succession, and Lin Shiming woke up from his cultivation.


    This time, even though he had cultivated the Split Spirit Decision, his Divine Soul felt not only painless but also exceptionally relaxed.


    He couldn''t help but praise the unique properties of the Ziji Tan incense.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming noticed that many cultivators were sizing him up.


    Lin Shiming responded with a slight smile, and as footsteps resumed, he saw Xu Ri True Person walking in from the side.


    Xu Ri True Person was radiant and exceptionally rosy-cheeked as he approached the group of ten.


    "I have good news for everyone. This time, the cultivators from Tianliu Island will also form an alliance with us, increasing the likelihood of obtaining Spiritual Medicine!" Xu Ri True Person waved his hand and sent a Jade Slip flying to each person.


    When Lin Shiming received it, he sent his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip and discovered it contained information and physical descriptions of the ten people.


    It also detailed their respective islands, although cultivation techniques and levels were not distributed.


    "This alliance is covert. If we work together to obtain Spiritual Medicine, we will opt for an equal split. In the early stages, do make sure not to expose yourself!" Xu Ri True Person added once more.


    "We will not fail True Person''s trust!" Lin Shiming and the others promptly replied.


    Xu Ri True Person nodded in great satisfaction, particularly when he turned to inquire about the Ziji Tan to the two cultivators at the Purple Mansion Peak.


    Clearly, he was more attentive to them.


    Before long, Xu Ri True Person spread his hand again, and another Jade Slip flew out, starting with the two Purple Mansion Peak cultivators to be passed around.


    It was evident that the information pertained to the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    By the time it reached Lin Shiming, he was the sixth in line.


    As expected, the Jade Slip contained information about the Purple Sun Secret Realm. What astonished him utterly was that these Spiritual Medicines were distributed across numerous small secret realms.


    The so-called Purple Sun Secret Realm turned out to be a group of Purple Mansion Secret Realms!


    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Within the Jade Slip, several small Secret Realm Cave Heavens where a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine had previously appeared were recorded.


    "All information must be committed to memory, not to be disclosed, and you are required to take a Heavenly Oath!"

 Chapter 551 - 369: Alliance, Passage (Combined chapter as a reward for the final domain meteors tip)

    The jade slip quickly fell into the hands of the last person; with a light swipe of a finger, it turned into a pile of jade powder and disappeared without a trace.


    Xu Ri True Person also nodded in satisfaction, then with a flick of his embroidered robe, several storage rings flew out again, each landing in everyone''s hands.


    "Inside the storage ring, there are three Fourth Rank Purple Qi Revival Pills, one Boundary-breaking Talisman, and one Spirit Net. These are the basic treasures given to you by the island!"


    "I also hope that you return with a full load, and those who obtain Spiritual Medicine will be greatly rewarded by this True Person. For those who find a five thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine, the reward is thirty years of no missions on their subsidiary island, as well as a piece of Ziji Tan! Five five thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines can be rewarded with a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Magical Treasure, and a hundred years of no missions on the subsidiary island! Anyone who submits more than ten five thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines will be rewarded with a Gold Condensation Pill, which can accumulate!"


    "Furthermore, if you capture Thousand Year Spiritual Medicines, they can be counted as ten five thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines!!"


    After a series of words from Xu Ri True Person, the Purple Mansion Cultivators below were visibly parched and excited, especially the two at the Purple Mansion Peak, their eyes ablaze with heat.


    The Gold Condensation Pill was precisely their goal, not to mention that the pills could accumulate.


    One Gold Condensation Pill alone represented a thirty percent chance of breakthrough, and though two pills could not be cumulative in effect, it still afforded an additional opportunity.


    And as the two highest in Cultivation Level, they were naturally full of confidence!


    Below, Lin Shiming felt somewhat calm inside; San Yang Hermit had already hinted to him earlier that the Spiritual Medicines were not easy to acquire, as those over five thousand years old all had some Spirit Intelligence, and were often Wood Spirits with exceptional concealment abilities.


    Moreover, in the countless small Secret Realm Cave Heavens, they were even harder to find, a fact also known from the introductory information of the Secret Realm.


    Most crucial were the Purple Sun Immortal Prohibitions within, which not only stimulated Spirit Plants but also included attack Formations, Trapping Formations; Purple Mansion Cultivators who didn''t understand Formations could only die helplessly if caught within them.


    Even many Golden Core Cultivators could not escape those Formations.


    This was also the biggest cause of loss for Cultivators in every expedition to the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    Of course, on the surface, he remained undisturbed, pretending to be extremely excited.


    After all, a Gold Condensation Pill was a huge temptation for any Purple Mansion Cultivator, and naturally, he, who was entering the Purple Sun Secret Realm for the first time, would also have great expectations.


    In his spare time, Lin Shiming''s gaze also turned towards the Storage Bag, especially curious about the Spirit Talisman within.


    The Boundary-breaking Talisman didn''t break through realms, but could break through the small Cave Heaven Secret Realms, allowing free travel within them.


    This was also the greatest escape treasure in the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    After all, there were many small Secret Realm Cave Heavens, and in case of danger, even if one blundered into a Formation, it could offer a slim chance of survival.


    And if one encountered other Cultivators'' harassment and robbery, it also provided a chance to escape.


    It could be considered the ultimate life-saving treasure, one that even Lin Shiming coveted.


    It was just a pity that there was only one Boundary-breaking Talisman, and once used, it would disappear.


    As for the remaining Spirit Net and Purple Qi Revival Pills, Lin Shiming was rather indifferent; the Spirit Net was used to capture Spirit Plants, but it was only an Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank Magical Treasure. This type of Spirit Net was a special prohibition Formation, somewhat restricting the art of Wood Escaping.


    And the Purple Qi Revival Pill was a Spirit Pill used to restore a Purple Mansion Cultivator''s True Yuan, somewhat faster than a Superior Grade Spirit Stone, but far less than Thousand Year Spirit Milk.


    Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Next, Xu Ri True Person explained some precautions and techniques for capturing Spiritual Medicine and then announced that everyone could go down and prepare themselves.


    The expedition to the Purple Sun Secret Realm would open the Transmission Formation seven days later, leading to the entrance of the Secret Realm.


    In the following seven days, Xu Ri True Person would not restrict them, allowing them to consolidate the gains from Ziji Tan.


    Lin Shiming followed San Yang Hermit to the Coral Alliance''s branch temple. As a subsidiary force of the Coral Alliance, the ten of them would stay in the branch temple to await the call.


    The room allocated to Lin Shiming was close to that of San Yang Hermit. Along the way, Lin Shiming stayed near San Yang Hermit, who, although not having been to the Secret Realm, knew more than they did.


    And there were two other people who had the same idea as Lin Shiming, both at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage in Cultivation Level.


    However, San Yang Hermit shook his head, indicating that he didn''t know much more.


    "Everyone should consolidate for three days, fully integrating the Spirit Net Magical Treasure, and in addition, the effects of Ziji Tan can be further reinforced. In the Purple Sun Secret Realm, Divine Sense will be absolutely critical!" San Yang Hermit finished speaking and didn''t intend to continue any further.


    The rooms in the branch temple were all Cultivation Chambers, set up with excellent Spirit Gathering Arrays and brimming with Spiritual Energy.


    Lin Shiming entered his room and couldn''t help but ponder. Having received a lot of information about the Purple Sun Secret Realm today, he needed to make some careful plans, especially regarding the Boundary-breaking Talisman, the Spirit Net, and the Purple Qi Revival Pills.


    Fortunately, the system''s alert had not sounded, which meant that Xu Ri True Person had not tampered with these treasures.


    But this journey was certainly not going to be easy; after all, the Purple Sun Secret Realm was an Earth Rank Secret Realm, and in both the small Cave Heavens and the larger Secret Realm, he could not use the Flaming Sword.


    And from the fact that Xu Ri True Person did not require them to advance together, it was clear that the Spiritual Medicine would not be so easy to find; casting a wide net was Xu Ri True Person''s true intention.


    As Lin Shiming contemplated, a Spirit Talisman passed through the door and approached him.


    He took the Spirit Talisman, then looked surprised.


    The person transmitting the message wasn''t San Yang Hermit, but rather Lingxuan Hermit, who had, like him, been inquiring near San Yang Hermit.


    Lingxuan Hermit was also the master of one of the twelve subsidiary islands under Xu Ri Island, Lingxuan Island, with a force called Lingtian Sect behind him.

 Chapter 557 - 371: Taihe Hermit, Deadlock? (Two in One for Monthly Ticket)

    Purple Sun Secret Realm, on the desolate wilderness, streams of Spirit Light burgeoned, illuminating the wilderness completely.


    Countless array flags began to fly out in sequence, landing at the four cardinal directions of the Black Tower.


    As the Spirit Light surged and sealed, a layer of ethereal hills began to unfold and materialize, one by one, eventually enveloping the entire Black Tower.


    With the Spirit Light rippling, it finally disappeared without a trace; at this moment, from a distance, it looked just like Three Finger Mountain.


    Completely different from the previous twin-peak appearance, a thousand miles away!


    It fundamentally altered the previous terrain.


    Within the Spirit Formation, Lin Shiming exhaled a breath of Spiritual Energy. With the Spirit Formation in place, the probability of being discovered wasn¡¯t particularly high, even though his formation was only Fourth Rank Inferior Grade.


    But here, there were few Cultivators who dared to probe the formation; the Taihe Hermit from before who wanted to form an alliance, was simply hoping they, the Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivators, would explore the formation.


    So he could profit as the angler; as for cooperation, how would he need cultivators at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage to share in treasure in his eyes.


    Once the formation was set up, Lin Shiming also took out the Spirit Rat and Spirit Soil, arranging them as before.


    This time, Lin Shiming even mixed in some Fourth Rank Spirit Water into the Spirit Soil.


    Spirit Plants demanded Spirit Soil, just as they needed Spirit Water.


    Afterward, he patted the Spirit Rat¡¯s head, continuing to let it enter into the Secret Realm. Enjoy new adventures at novelhall.Co?m


    This time, the duration of its stay was a full three hours; then he put in another Spirit Rat and Spirit Soil again.


    The second time, Lin Shiming still resisted moving; catching a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine should be approached with caution.


    Five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine was rare. If it was really hidden, even obscured within some Killing Formation or Illusion Array, Lin Shiming would have no way of dealing with it.


    Though the Spirit-Ant-Eating Ants could devour Spiritual Energy, a Killing Formation could slay them in an instant.


    Lin Shiming had no confidence in retrieving treasures within a Killing Formation.


    Moreover, even if the Spirit Plants were hidden, he might not be able to discover them.


    Time ticked away, and Lin Shiming waited until the early hours of the next dawn; the system prompt sounded again.


    "Please enter the Secret Realm Cave Heaven, use Fourth Rank Spirit Soil to fish for Spiritual Medicine, and you will obtain a five-thousand-year medicinal treasure, Red Essence Lingzhi!"


    The most obvious change from yesterday was that the system prompt no longer included the words ¡¯enough patience¡¯.


    Suppressing his excitement, Lin Shiming took out the Spirit Net in his hand while also placing another Spirit Rat inside; only then did he press down his aura and step following into the Secret Realm.


    Upon entering the Secret Realm, Lin Shiming found a verdant grassland; Spirit Grass was extremely abundant, accompanied by several Spirit Flowers, giving off an air of birds singing and flowers fragrant.


    In the distance, a Spirit Shadow resembling a red Spirit Rabbit opened its mouth wide, greedily devouring the Spirit Soil.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda in Lin Shiming¡¯s hand rushed out first, binding the majority of the void, while the Spirit Net he threw out formed a pincer attack from both sides.


    However, the Spirit Rabbit was highly vigilant and, surprisingly, shot out a red beam of Spirit Light.


    It managed to bind the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and the Spirit Net for a moment, causing Lin Shiming¡¯s net to miss its target, and the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda to miss as well, as the Spirit Rabbit was about to disappear in a flash of Spirit Light.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming¡¯s figure also shifted instantaneously.


    Under the movement of the Leaping Void Disk, Lin Shiming directly blocked the Spirit Rabbit¡¯s Escape Light, while the Soul Locking Whip was unleashed, entangling the Spirit Rabbit. The latter began to struggle intensely, with bright red light continuously emerging.


    At that moment, the distant Spirit Net flew back, eventually capturing the Spirit Rabbit within.


    The Spirit Net had a greater suppressing effect on the Spirit Rabbit, whose struggles ceased almost instantly.


    Lin Shiming watched joyously as the Spirit Rabbit transformed into the shape of a Lingzhi, emanating a medicinal fragrance from its body, even causing his True Yuan to become somewhat restless.


    He took a deep breath, feeling even his True Yuan beginning to surge.


    The efficacy of a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine was terrifying compared to a three-thousand-year-old one!


    Clutching the Spirit Net, he affixed two more Spirit Talismans to prevent the Spirit Shadow of the Lingzhi from unleashing any other techniques, only then did his gaze spread to the surroundings.


    At the same time, the Spirit-Ant-Eating Ants and Spirit Rats started their respective detections, according to the information from Xu Ri True Person, there were major Killing Formations within this Cave Heaven.


    Lin Shiming wouldn¡¯t make a mistake at such a critical juncture.


    After losing two Second Rank Spirit Rats, he finally figured out the location of the Killing Formations; what astonished him was that there were two Killing Formations, and the true body of the Red Essence Lingzhi was beneath a rock beside one of the formations.


    Lin Shiming carefully transplanted the Red Essence Lingzhi into a Jade Box, then released the Lingzhi¡¯s Spirit Shadow, which promptly entered the Lingzhi.


    As the two merged, the Jade Box instantly lit up again with red light, and Spirit Patterns began to emerge one after another, five circles in total, with the degree of struggle increasing sharply.


    In an instant, Lin Shiming felt the Jade Box might shatter, hastily pulling out three more Spirit Talismans and sticking them onto the Jade Box to contain the situation.


    As the red light gradually receded, the strands of red light that escaped once again invigorated him.


    Lin Shiming quickly placed the Jade Box into his Cave Heaven; within, even if the Spiritual Medicine wanted to escape, it would have nowhere to run.


    He then resumed collecting other rare Spirit Plants.


    The Spirit Plants in this Secret Realm were somewhat more plentiful than in the previous one, with a greater harvest.


    After collecting nearly half of the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming then exited the Secret Realm, returning to the Black Tower.


    ...


    Outside in the barren wilderness, Hermit Lingxuan cautiously controlled numerous Spirit Bees, exploring in all directions.


    Controlling the queen bee meant controlling the many Spirit Bees.


    He conducted a carpet search, allowing him to bypass any Spirit Formation he encountered.

 Chapter 558 - 371: Taihe Hermit, Deadlock? (Two in One for Monthly Ticket)_2

    He didn¡¯t feel the slightest regret for the death of one or two Spirit Bees.


    Upon this reliance, he had already harvested a three-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine.


    Lingxuan Hermit felt a bit of sneaky joy, for he had discovered that the topography around fully matched the address issued by Xu Ri True Person, and it was recorded to contain a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine.


    A stalk of Spiritual Medicine could be exchanged for Ziji Tan, and it would also exempt him from many years of tasks.


    However, the next moment, his eyes revealed an incredulous look as he gazed upon the mountain peak before him, which differed considerably from the terrain he remembered.


    Lingxuan Hermit stopped in his tracks, paced slowly, and a sharp gleam shone in his eyes.


    He was certain this was a Formation; he controlled the Spirit Bees to fly towards those three peaks. Read latest stories on novelhall.Co?m


    The next moment, the Spirit Bees disappeared from his sight.


    "A Formation!"


    He instantly took out several Magical Treasures, and at the same time, a Sound Transmission Talisman was sent out in an instant!


    But before the Sound Transmission Talisman could fly out, a black Soul-Suppressing Pagoda completely enveloped the Spirit Light.


    The Sound Transmission Talisman also ended in failure.


    "Is it you?" Lingxuan Hermit was astounded beyond belief, but the next moment, his expression turned utterly cold.


    "Fellow Daoist, why did you knock down my Sound Transmission Talisman?"


    "Lingxuan Daoist Friend, it seems like a flood has washed over the Dragon King Temple, a complete misunderstanding!" Lin Shiming also couldn¡¯t help but smile, showing an apologetic expression.


    "I even thought it was a cultivator from the Blood Cultivation Sect!"


    "Hmph, Qian Mu Daoist Friend truly has some impressive tricks, to have harvested a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine!" Lingxuan Hermit snorted coldly, his words full of envy, as he put away two of the Magical Treasures in his hand, leaving out only a cyan-colored flag.


    "It would have been fine if it had been really captured, but it¡¯s a pity it got away!" Lin Shiming expressed great regret in the face of Lingxuan Hermit¡¯s probe.


    Afterward, he collected the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and walked away without the slightest pause.


    Not showing any intention to stay any longer.


    This made Lingxuan Hermit also dumbfounded.


    Could it be that he truly did not harvest the five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine?


    However, the moment he turned around, the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda in the air suddenly came to a halt and released countless flames, instantly burning a great expanse of the void.


    Lingxuan Hermit was immediately frozen in his steps; he hadn¡¯t expected Lin Shiming to have the intention of silencing him right from the start!


    However, he wasn¡¯t completely unprepared; in his hand, the Wind Banner was activated, instantly transforming into countless whirlwinds that howled as they swept across the land.


    The eye of the cyclone was upon him, making him an outsider looking at the storm, turning all the flames into nothingness.


    The Wind Banner was his Lifebound Treasure, on par with a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure, which was also his greatest source of confidence!


    But the next moment, the Purple Spirit Cloth fluttered, and a Crescent Moon Guard Blade unexpectedly appeared behind him, slicing towards his neck.


    The sharp Evil Qi nearly gave Lingxuan Hermit no room to react.


    Easily bisected by the Crescent Moon Guard Blade.


    Only, Lin Shiming¡¯s anticipated realization of his attack did not occur.


    Only to see Lingxuan Hermit¡¯s body split into two sections turn into a piece of Spirit Talisman, then into Spirit Light, disappearing into the air.


    It was clearly a Substitute Talisman.


    A hundred meters away, Lingxuan Hermit¡¯s figure reappeared.


    At this moment, Lingxuan Hermit looked somewhat disheveled and incredulously at Lin Shiming.


    "A spatial Magical Treasure?"


    "No wonder you could slay Zi Yu Loose!" Lingxuan Hermit¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of ruthlessness, and without any hesitation, he took out his Spirit Boat Treasure, planning to fly away to the side.


    He wasn¡¯t sure whether Lin Shiming could still teleport, but being in such close proximity to a Body Cultivator was a danger he couldn¡¯t deal with.


    Moreover, there was no need for him to fight Lin Shiming head-on!


    Lin Shiming immediately reacted; his spread-out Divine Sense had sensed Spirit Beasts frantically rushing this way, signaling that other cultivators were approaching.


    And the cultivators who could be arriving were naturally the Taihe Hermit!


    Lin Shiming suddenly thought of something¡ªthe Myriad Thousand Jade.


    Lingxuan Hermit was indeed treacherous, not only notifying with a Spirit Talisman but also using the Myriad Thousand Jade to transmit sound.


    Lin Shiming continued to rapidly advance forwards; he couldn¡¯t possibly let go of Lingxuan Hermit, otherwise being pincered later would make things even worse for him.


    And he was aware that Lingxuan Hermit still held another item, the Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    Fortunately, it seemed that the other party had quite the confidence and hadn¡¯t used it immediately.


    The Leaping Void Disk activated three consecutive spatial leaps, closing the distance in an instant.


    The Wind Chasing Boots on his feet were also exerted to the extreme.


    Lingxuan Hermit was terrified, hastily taking out three Magical Treasures¡ªthe Wind Banner continued to be raised, unleashing terrifying strong winds as if capable of sweeping away one¡¯s soul.


    Behind the Wind Banner was a huge Golden Bell Treasure, casting a golden Spirit Shield over him, while behind the Golden Bell, two Sword Snake Treasures transformed into crafty spirit snakes, poised for action.


    The three Magical Treasures were interlinked, forming a tripod formation, but the most desperate of them was the Spirit Boat beneath his feet.


    But at this moment, Lin Shiming likewise took out numerous Magical Treasures, the four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas forming four positions, trapping Lingxuan Hermit, and in his hand, a stalk of Grass appeared.


    And with the appearance of this stalk of Spirit Grass, Lingxuan Hermit¡¯s expression drastically changed, for somewhere around them had transformed into an ocean of Sword Intent.


    Sword Cultivator!!!


    A sword strike, like celestial punishment, descended from the sky.


    Lingxuan Hermit had never seen such a terrifying sword technique, and he didn¡¯t realize when he held a Spirit Talisman in his hand.


    However, the next moment, the four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were simultaneously activated, their soul-suppressing effects stacking upon each other, releasing a terrifying light of soul ensnaring, trapping Lingxuan Hermit for a moment.


    Behind Lingxuan Hermit, stalks of Grass Sword emerged, each of them raising the Heaven-Slaying Grass Sword!


    Boom!


    One by one, the Grass Swords fell, slicing through the storm, and the Golden Bell lost its luster. Luckily, the last two Sword Snake Treasures withstood the remaining sword might.

 Chapter 559 - 371: Taihe Hermit, Deadlock? (Two in One for Monthly Ticket)_3

    The Sword Birth Myriad Laws Realm allowed Lin Shiming¡¯s sword might to appear anywhere at will, yet the Taihe Hermit¡¯s magical treasure was not weak either.


    He had a smile at the corner of his mouth, because he had already seen the distant Taihe Hermit, whose speed at the Purple Mansion Peak Cultivation Level, was extraordinary.


    And the Boundary-breaking Talisman in his hand would save him from peril.


    But before he could successfully activate his Spirit Talisman, his body began to disintegrate into countless pieces; he looked down in disbelief as a Spirit Net had appeared in front of him at some unknown time.


    He left with a despondent face, full of resentment.


    All the magic artifacts also fell into Lin Shiming¡¯s hands.


    However, in the next moment, a supreme grade magical sword slashed towards Lin Shiming, unleashing a thunderous roar as it cut through the air.


    Although Taihe Hermit¡¯s Sword Dao realm was insufficient, his Taihe Sword was a fourth rank supreme grade magical treasure in itself, its might overpowering multitudes.


    Facing the terrifying sword might, even Lin Shiming had to be extremely cautious, and he raised his Taiyi Grass Sword.


    He released the Sword Birth Myriad Laws Realm and the enormous expanse of the Sword technique, similarly slashing out with a sword strike.


    The sky full of Grass Sword transformed into thousands of Grass Swords, further condensing into a Sword Array.


    It crashed down with a boom!


    The dazzling white Spirit Light spread out, instantly enveloping the original colors of the entire world.


    Taihe Hermit was forced to retreat while Lin Shiming also appeared somewhat distressed.


    After all, he was only at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, and blocking that sword strike had depleted much of his Sword Origin.


    And to withstand it using the Star Body Refining Technique would not be a wise choice.


    "Qian Mu, you have been overtaken by Demonic Cultivation Technique, slaying your companions; today, I, as an old man, shall act on behalf of True Person to put you down, to prevent you from causing further harm!" Taihe Hermit declared righteously, as if he were the embodiment of justice. Beneath his Daoist robe, apart from the Taihe Sword, five golden rings appeared.


    These five Jin Beast Rings, also glittering in gold and each a fourth rank supreme grade magical treasure, possessed tremendous power. The five rings released together, transforming into five fierce beast forms, stepping towards Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s Soul-Suppressing Pagodas also immediately enlarged countless times, forming a straight line before him. In addition, Wang Jiao and the Red-haired Demon Monkey were also released.


    The pressure Taihe Hermit put on Lin Shiming was indeed colossal.


    Even though he had comprehended Sword Birth Myriad Laws, the Taiyi Grass Sword was only just equivalent to a fourth rank inferior grade Lifebound Treasure, not even reaching intermediate rank.


    And his Cultivation Level was merely at Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    Taihe Hermit was a seasoned Purple Mansion Peak Cultivator, and the disparity was all too clear.


    Unless Lin Shiming used his strongest sword attack, but after that sword strike, he would be at the end of his tether.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were deployed, and with another slash of the Taiyi Grass Sword executing the Heaven-Slaying Sword technique, Wang Jiao released its venom, the Red-haired Demon Monkey hurled the Golden Light Seal, and only with so many methods could they barely neutralize part of the attack; in the end, it was the Cold Dusk Shield, an intermediate grade defensive Magical Treasure, that blocked the final five beasts.


    "Qian Mu, you have fallen deep into demonic ways, stooping to collude with Demonic Beasts!" Taihe Hermit¡¯s mouth was full of righteous words, his tone fervent, yet a flash of gold gleamed in the corner of his eyes, and the Flood Dragon too was a treasure all over; not to mention it had grown three claws.


    In his view, it was just as tempting.


    This Qian Mu Hermit was his great opportunity!


    Lin Shiming instantly teleported away using the Leaping Void Disk, dodging an attack, and once again swung his Hidden Heaven Net towards the Taihe Hermit.


    However, the Taihe Hermit appeared extremely disdainful, as one of the five Golden Beast Rings separated and flew through the air to knock away the Hidden Heaven Net.


    As someone at the Purple Mansion Peak, his Divine Sense was inherently strong, not to mention it had been amplified by the Ziji Tan.


    The remaining four rings, one attacked Wang Jiao, causing it to roar in anger continuously. The grade of the Magical Treasure was simply too high, and even with Wang Jiao¡¯s thick skin, it roared in rage as numerous dragon scales were sent flying.


    Another ring attacked the Red-haired Demon Monkey, rendering it even more miserable at the moment, with its Three-colored Spiritual Fire crazily suppressed and blood spewing non-stop.


    Even with three rings left, Lin Shiming was still overwhelmed. The luminosity of the four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas diminished greatly. Thankfully, the first two pagodas, which had been endowed treasures by the Spirit Veins, managed to barely withstand, while the remaining two were damaged.


    Because they were his Lifebound Treasure, Lin Shiming also suffered significant internal injuries.


    Lin Shiming urged the Leaping Void Disk to continue teleporting.


    However, as if the Taihe Hermit had long anticipated this, he stomped fiercely into the void, and suddenly four Spirit Seals, transformed from four spiritual elephants, appeared in the void, binding the entire surrounding space.


    "Minor Divine Ability!" Lin Shiming saw the Leaping Void Disk becoming ineffective and his expression turned particularly awful. The move locking the void was exactly the Taihe Hermit¡¯s Minor Divine Ability.


    What alarmed him further was that the nine Spirit-Devouring Ants, biting towards the Spirit Formation of the Four Symbols and Stars, moved extremely slowly, and the Spirit Seals were continuously replenished. As the Spirit-Devouring Ants devoured a bit, the Spirit Seals were restored by the same amount.


    Compared to a normal Spirit Formation, it was much more troublesome to deal with.


    "Boom!" The Taihe Hermit cleaved the four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas with a single sword strike, and three Golden Rings also reached in front of Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming knocked away two of the Beast Rings with a swing of his sword, and was forced to lift the Crescent Moon Guard Blade to deflect the remaining one.


    In his hand, a dazzling Spirit Talisman appeared, releasing a special spatial power. With a wave of his hand, he retracted both the Red-haired and Wang Jiao.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s figure passed through the void, while the Taihe Hermit seemed not at all surprised.


    His Minor Divine Ability was indeed formidable, capable of locking the void to trap his opponents, but it was still countered by the Boundary-breaking Talisman,


    However, Lin Shiming only had one Boundary-breaking Talisman, and it required advance refinement. So even though Lin Shiming had taken the Spirit Talisman from the Lingxuan Hermit, he still couldn¡¯t use it.


    Explore new worlds at novelhall.Co?m


    Out in the expanse of the void, Lin Shiming staggered forth, swallowing a Millennium Spirit Milk to recover most of his True Yuan, his figure once again activated the Leaping Void Disk and headed towards the Black Tower!


    "Using the Black Tower¡¯s Formation technique? Foolishness!" The Taihe Hermit remained confident, certain that no one could stop him from gathering ten stalks of five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine and obtaining the Gold Condensation Pill.


    His figure also pursued Lin Shiming.


    Soon, he arrived in front of the Black Tower.


    "Using the void to teleport and ambush me?" The Taihe Hermit sneered, as a set of dazzling five-colored armor appeared on his body.


    This set of Five-Light Spirit Crocodile Armor, even among Superior Grade defensive Magical Treasures, was top-notch. Together with his Golden Beast Rings, Lin Shiming¡¯s ambush would hardly cause any harm to him.

 Chapter 563 - 373: Sudden Crisis (Two in One)

    Under the boundless pale yellow expanse, Lin Shiming came to a halt.


    Around him, nine Spiritual Ants formed a circle, flicking their sharp fangs as they continuously probed their surroundings.


    Lin Shiming looked down at the ants, his expression solemn.


    In the next moment, he understood the situation.


    He had not fallen into a Formation.


    However, the situation was not particularly good for him. Under the perception of the Spiritual Ants, many newly laid Formations were detected nearby, which didn''t seem to instill fear in the ants.


    This suggested a high likelihood that the Formations were laid by Cultivators, and to lay so many indicated that a force of Immortal Cultivators was even more likely.


    The unknown was always more terrifying!


    At this moment, even the prospect of Thousand Year Spiritual Medicine could not attract him.


    He only hoped that the other party, eager to capture the Spiritual Medicine, would pay him no attention!


    Lin Shiming continued to dart forward, the Starlight Tempering Body Technique gleaming beneath his Taoist robe.


    With trepidation, after covering ten thousand miles, Lin Shiming found a cave dwelling to stop and continued to escape underground.


    He laid out the Six Talent Spirit Concealment Formation to serve as a temporary cave dwelling, quietly waiting for the system prompt to refresh.


    As time passed, more Purple Mansion Cultivators, those in the Late Stage and at the Peak, would appear in greater numbers and more Cultivators would congregate. Unless he continuously exploited the Secret Realm to eliminate those Cultivators.


    But if those Cultivators did not enter, or if there were any oversights, the situation he would face upon going out would be countless times worse.


    ...


    While Lin Shiming stayed put, a giant golden eagle soared through the sky above him.


    On top of the golden eagle were six ascetic monks with stern faces, holding wooden fish or Buddha Rulers, and carrying Buddha Scrolls on their backs.


    "We absolutely cannot let You Ye of the Blood Cultivation Sect succeed this time. They even used a Fifth Rank Formation to occupy a Secret Realm, where they''ve been cultivating Body Refinement Spiritual Medicine for a long time," the leading Buddha Monk said, pinching his Buddha Beads with some concern.


    "Aren''t the cultivators of the Blood Cultivation Sect afraid of being discovered by the Coral Alliance?" another younger middle-aged Buddha Monk couldn''t help but ask.


    Discover? Those greedy fellows from the Coral Alliance will certainly take their share. Besides, the Spirit Restrictions of the Purple Sun Secret Realm, besides raising the limit of Spiritual Medicine, also have an effect in accelerating the growth of Spiritual Medicine, which is beneficial to them all!" the leading Buddha Monk continued.


    The Purple Sun Secret Realm was valued highly by the Coral Alliance, certainly not just for the ephemeral and naturally occurring Spiritual Medicine.


    The inner island Cultivators of the Coral Alliance would claim various Secret Realm Cave Heavens.


    They would dispatch trusted Cultivators to install Fifth Rank Arrays while transplanting and harvesting every ten years.


    These Secret Realm Cave Heavens had one feature in common: the original prohibitive Arrays had completely degenerated over time, posing no new threats.


    But the restrictive Spirits Enchantments were still effective.


    This time, he had the task of opening up a Secret Realm for Myriad Buddhas Island and also destroying the Secret Realm of the Blood Cultivation Sect.


    To seize their five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine.


    Every bit of strength that the Blood Cultivation Sect gained was equivalent to a loss for Myriad Buddhas Island.


    "Brother Yuangu, I''ve found the cultivator who troubled our Red Dust brother, and he''s alone now!" Just then, the Buddha Monk at the rear suddenly spoke up.


    He held a Token in his hand, and if Lin Shiming were there, he would recognize it as identical to the one given to him by San Yang Hermit.


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    And this Buddha Monk was the very one who had locked gazes with Lin Shiming in an auxiliary hall of Xu Ri Palace.


    At this moment, on the token were two light dots, one of which represented them, while the other was right below their feet.


    "Moreover, he likely has Starfall Chill Iron on him!"


    "If Brother Yuangu finds it inconvenient, I and Zhi Neng can handle it," said the Buddha Monk named Hong Li, who was also the elder brother of Red Dust Hermit.


    Seeing Yuangu Hermit''s hesitation, he further pressed the point.


    The monk called Zhi Neng, donned in red, also stepped forward, expressing his agreement.


    Starfall Chill Iron was immensely useful to the Cultivators of Myriad Buddhas Island.


    Whether for tempering the body, forging a Buddha''s physique, or crafting a Buddha Pagoda, it was an excellent choice!


    And two Purple Mansion Late Stage Cultivators against one in the Middle Stage, even with some tricks up his sleeve, presented no real threat!


    The Buddha Monk known as Yuangu Hermit wavered for a moment, looking at the thick bloodstain on his wooden fish, and then nodded in agreement.


    In their eyes, dealing with a Middle Stage Purple Mansion Cultivator was all too simple.


    The main concern was about Lin Shiming''s identity. Now that he was finally alone, they naturally wanted to seize the opportunity.


    Otherwise, hunting down a Cultivator from the Coral Alliance in broad daylight would be too good for those Golden Core True Persons to pass up!


    And the Blood Cultivation Sect could hunt down their enemies freely within these three months.


    "Let''s go together!" Yuangu Hermit confidently looked down at the golden eagle.


    In the span of a few breaths, they could afford it!


    "Return to shore, go down!"


    The golden Spirit Eagle nodded smartly, its plumage shimmering gold, and spiraled down to the earth.


    A golden Spirit Bowl then descended towards the underground!


    Boom!


    The Spirit Shield of the Six Talent Spirit Concealment Formation collided with the golden bowl, awakening Lin Shiming suddenly underground.


    His face turned extremely ugly, thanking his luck that the Six Talent Spirit Concealment Formation was a superior-grade Fourth Rank Array; otherwise, if it had been an average Spirit Formation, that one move would have cost him the initiative!


    Naturally, what puzzled him was why these Buddha Monks had attacked him without a word.


    Moreover, among them, two at the Peak of Purple Mansion and four in the Late Stage¡ªtheir collective strength was terrorizing to him!


    But soon, a hint of a dark light flashed between his brows.

 Chapter 564 - 373: Sudden Crisis (Two in One Part 2)

    These Buddha Monks made a move, definitely because of that Layman in the Red Dust; there was already a hint of this in a side hall of Xu Ri Palace.


    Now, thinking back, the San Yang Hermit probably betrayed him long ago!


    Given the San Yang Hermit''s temperament of fighting at first sight, it''s absolutely possible!


    After all, the Shocking Sea Ape was acquired, and the meteoric cold iron as well!


    In those thoughts, he also threw out the token of the San Yang Hermit from his storage bag.


    At the same time, he raised his left hand slightly, and two Green Snake Swords flew out from his sleeve, turning into two thick Sword Qi serpents, causing the golden bowl to deviate slightly off course!


    "Sword Cultivator?" Yuangu Hermit was also taken aback. You should know, his Demon-Extinguishing Bowl is a Supreme Grade magical treasure. Although it is more restraining for Demon Cultivators, Lin Shiming being able to do this with his Sword Qi shows that his Sword Intent was not bad!


    Seeing this, the other five did not hesitate and descended from six directions.


    Encircling Lin Shiming within.


    Although they were facing at least a middle-stage Purple Mansion Cultivator, for the sake of speed, they did not care to avoid gaining a reputation for an inglorious victory; after all, they still needed to vanquish demons and protect the path later!


    Lin Shiming''s face was as pale as death. He activated the Leaping Void Disk five times in succession, without the slightest intention to resist.


    One teleport was three hundred meters; five teleports made a total of one thousand five hundred meters!


    At this moment, all six Buddha Cultivators were extremely amazed, as he actually had a spatial treasure in his possession!


    "Benefactor, turn your head and shore is there!" A Buddhist chant resounded, and a scroll depicting the endless sea of suffering unfolded, stretching across heaven and earth.


    Lin Shiming''s soul trembled involuntarily, and thoughts of turning back surfaced in his mind.


    This Buddhist chant was clearly a Secret Technique, and that "Sea of Suffering" scroll was obviously a Supreme Grade trapping magical treasure. Any who turn back would be sucked into the scroll!


    But at this moment, the Sword Storing Book in Lin Shiming''s possession began to flash with a trace of Spirit Light.


    Lin Shiming instantly woke up.


    His back was drenched with cold sweat. The distance covered by the five leaps of the Leaping Void Disk was, in his view, still insufficient!


    A Boundary-breaking Talisman in his hand then lit up brilliantly, with countless rays of Spirit Light flowing out.


    Lin Shiming''s body then appeared a thousand miles away!


    "He must have some strange treasure on him, to be able to evade my Great Scroll of the Sea of Suffering!" Yuangu Hermit''s eyes sparkled sharply, somewhat greedily.


    The six once again mounted the golden eagles, known as the Return-to-Shore Eagles, and pursued!


    Underneath Lin Shiming''s feet was the Spirit Boat he found in the storage bag of the Taihe Hermit. Although it was only an intermediate grade Fourth Rank magical treasure, because it specialized in speed, it was comparable to a superior grade Fourth Rank magical treasure in that aspect!


    The expression on Lin Shiming''s face was terribly somber. Without a secret realm nearby and facing against six Myriad Buddhas Island Cultivators, he had no chance of winning at all.


    The system prompt was still in cooldown!


    His only option was to head toward the Defensive Array he had just passed, hoping that the cultivators who set up the Formation belonged to the internal forces of the Coral Alliance.


    Although there is fierce competition within the Coral Alliance, if they were to face the oppression of Myriad Buddhas Island, they would band together!


    Once again, he returned to the place that made him uneasy. Meanwhile, the golden Buddha Eagle chasing him was clearly a Great Demon of the late Fourth Rank, and its flying speed was much faster than his Spirit Boat.


    "You''re seeking your own death!" Lin Shiming was still looking behind when suddenly ahead of him, a Formation abruptly opened, revealing two cultivators clad in blood robes!


    Lin Shiming had passed by just before, and they had refrained from acting in order not to spoil big plans, yet he did not anticipate Shiming''s folly!


    Two Blood Sabers were slashed through the air, unleashing a terrifying presence of blood qi, endlessly churning!


    Eventually, they transformed into a qi-blood tiger, rolling in attack.


    Both blood-robed cultivators were at the peak of Purple Mansion, and launching this strike in anger was horrific in its ferocity!


    Yet at that moment, Lin Shiming was not only untroubled but actually wore a look of joy!


    The cultivators in front of him, although not from the Coral Alliance, were the sworn enemies of Myriad Buddhas Island: the Blood Cultivation Sect!


    Peak-level Purple Mansion Cultivators were just right to face off against those from Myriad Buddhas Island, perfectly suiting a situation of dog eat dog!


    The Green Snake Sword in Lin Shiming''s hand once again flew out from his sleeve, and at the same time, four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas formed into a Spirit Formation. With all four pagodas vibrating simultaneously, even peak-level Purple Mansion Cultivators quivered!


    And Lin Shiming once again activated the Leaping Void Disk to leap out, and this time, he aimed directly behind the two Blood Cultivators¡ªtoward the Black Tower!


    "Looking for a way to die?" The two Blood Cultivation Sect Cultivators scoffed somewhat mockingly.


    However, they wouldn''t be merciful just because Lin Shiming presented himself to them!


    One of them lifted his hand, transforming it into a terrifying giant blood hand that grasped toward Lin Shiming, while the other spat out three blood-red Silver Needles aimed at the back of Lin Shiming''s head!


    The former used Minor Divine Ability, with the blood hand covering everything below, even binding the space.


    And the latter was a Supreme Grade attack magical treasure!


    At that moment, Lin Shiming had already used the Leaping Void Disk six times in succession, his body so compressed by the space travel that blood streamed from him, as the Leaping Void Disk''s teleportation had its limits.


    That was only because he had cultivated the Starlight Tempering Body Technique; otherwise, for an ordinary Purple Mansion Middle-Stage cultivator, teleporting four times in succession would already be the limit.


    And with the incoming attack, even a Boundary-breaking Talisman was too late!


    The very next moment, Lin Shiming''s body burst into brilliant Spirit Light, transforming into an Immortal Wood, as cracks in the void opened and countless roots pierced through.


    In the blink of an eye, Lin Shiming''s body swelled to a hundred zhang tall!


    In front of Lin Shiming at that moment, even the Blood Hand appeared somewhat frail, striking the Immortal Wood Shadow to no effect on Lin Shiming.


    And the three Blood Demon Needles were knocked away by the countless Spirit Roots that had pierced out from the void!


    "How long do you think your Minor Divine Ability can last?" the two Blood Cultivation Sect cultivators snorted coldly,


    But the next moment, their faces drastically changed because the cultivators from Myriad Buddhas Island had already arrived.


    Six paintings rolled out, pressing down on this side!


    The cultivators from Myriad Buddhas Island did not hesitate at this moment!


    All were enemies, all could be suppressed.


    Six paintings, six ancient Buddha figures appeared.


    Some ancient Buddhas came with Buddha chants, stepping across the sea, others descended from the sky on auspicious clouds.


    Each of the six Buddhas had distinctive features, but without a doubt, all six Buddhas were incredibly powerful!


    "You''re courting death!" The two Blood Cultivation Sect cultivators looked extremely ugly at this moment, taking out an Array Plate, and instantaneously activating a Fifth-Rank Formation.


    A gigantic light barrier was formed, blocking the advance of the six Buddhas!


    However, a Fifth-Rank Formation, which specialized in concealment, only had defensive power comparable to a Fourth Rank.


    If not so, a pure Fifth-Rank Defensive Array plus a Concealment Formation would not be controllable by a Purple Mansion cultivator!


    And those six Buddha Treasure Paintings were clearly a set of Supreme Grade magical treasures, and moreover, they were being activated by six cultivators together, which instantly overwhelmed the two Blood Cultivation Sect cultivators who were controlling the formation.


    "This is perfect to catch them all in one net!" the Yuangu Hermit exclaimed with great joy!


    They did not expect that in pursuing Lin Shiming, they would also find these Blood Cultivation Sect cultivators.


    And the Secret Realm they controlled was evidently right here!


    "Six Buddhas converge, establish the formation, tonight we eradicate demons!" With the loud command of the Yuangu Hermit,


    The six Buddha Monks all walked towards the Buddha figures in those six paintings! Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Moreover, they stepped into the void, merging directly with the Buddha figures!


    At this moment, they became the Buddhas!


    Those Buddha figures started to solidify, and in their hands appeared a series of magical treasures like the Wooden Fish, Ancient Scrolls, Buddha Ruler, and so on!


    Brilliant golden light shone, and an immense Buddha Might spread out!


    The golden Buddha Eagle also transformed into a beam of golden light, charging at the formation!


    "Stupid bald fools, seek death!" In the distance, three more Blood Cultivation Sect cultivators came riding on a Great Demon Dark Tiger!


    They of the Blood Cultivation Sect controlled two Secret Realms, and just as they were about to harvest all the remaining Spiritual Medicine, they never imagined Myriad Buddhas Island would come charging in.


    How could they tolerate this!


    The three Blood Cultivation Sect cultivators all exuded clouds of blood mist, and in a moment, the three, two Purple Mansion Late Stage and one Purple Mansion Peak, manifested even greater Spirit Might!


    Charging towards the six golden Buddhas!


    Conversely, Lin Shiming''s Minor Divine Ability came to an end, leaving him extremely weakened as nine Spirit-Absorbing Ants flew out, gnawing a hole in the Fifth-Rank Formation.


    He then used the Leaping Void Disk once again, teleporting away to enter the Black Tower, and directly entering the Secret Realm!


    Although he knew that entering the Secret Realm might lead to an even worse situation, if he did not enter the Secret Realm, even with a Boundary-breaking Talisman, he would not be able to escape far. His ultimate fate would only be to be slain by a slap from those golden Buddha figures, each as terrifying as a Purple Mansion Peak.


    Without the Minor Divine Ability Immortal Wood Shadow, he certainly could not defend against them!


    But as soon as he entered the Secret Realm, the next moment, an extremely rich Spirit Light emanated, causing Lin Shiming to feel somewhat dazed.


    He suddenly discovered that this Secret Realm was somewhat different from the other Secret Realms he had encountered before!

 Chapter 570: 375

    The most important aspect was that the Primordial Magnet Crystal emitted the Primordial Magnet Divine Light, which subdued most of the Five Elements Spells.


    This extent of subjugation was far more severe than that of the Primordial Magnet Seal, although this Primordial Magnet Ring was still small, and its specific degree of effectiveness needed to be assessed by Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming also tried to channel his True Yuan into it to see whether he could activate the Primordial Magnet Ring.


    The next moment, he was delighted to discover that he could indeed activate the Primordial Magnet Ring. After all, the Primordial Magnet Stone was difficult to craft into a Magic Artifact. The Lin Family had always directly bound it with a Formation to use as a gravity-type Magic Artifact, and the suppressing Array on it was relatively simple.


    Refining the Primordial Magnet Crystal was even more challenging, usually manifesting in the world as mountain-shaped Magical Treasures, but this time, it appeared as a ring-shaped Magical Treasure.


    However, its demand on True Yuan was extremely high, and a repelling force emanated from within the ring, causing his complexion to shift slightly.


    He managed to withstand this force using the Stellar Refinement Art, finally able to deploy it.


    Since the Primordial Magnet Ring could be refined, Lin Shiming simply wore it on his hand, exercising this sensation in normal times so that the sudden repulsion would not impact his strength during a significant battle.


    Two fine Magical Treasures appearing in succession made Lin Shiming''s expression even more pleased.


    He then turned his attention to the remaining treasures, including a Buddha Ruler, a Hundred Buddha Scroll, and a string of Divine Beads of Mystical Power.


    The Buddha Ruler and Hundred Buddha Scroll had, on entering his hands, elicited a sigh from him because these two treasures were obviously Buddha Sect Magical Treasures, greatly diminished in power when used by cultivators not practicing Buddhist Law.


    For him, they were not very useful. However, if Lin Hou Shou could break through to the Purple Mansion in the future, they could indeed be of use to him.


    The surprise from the last Divine Bead of Mystical Power was immense for Lin Shiming, as there were a total of twelve beads, with each bead capable of storing one Spell to be used at a critical moment.


    Moreover, even Minor Divine Abilities could be stored in the same manner.


    This was also how the Buddha Sect cultivator under the onslaught of the Flaming Sword was the only one able to use Minor Divine Abilities by utilizing the Minor Divine Ability stored in the Divine Bead of Mystical Power!


    For him, this was equally invaluable treasure.


    It also made up for the shortcomings of the Immortal Wood Shadow, and in addition, he could also store the Great Spread Sword Style of the Sword Birth Myriad Laws.


    Even cultivators at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage were able to activate it.


    Lin Shiming held the Divine Bead of Mystical Power in his palm, continuously polishing it, feeling its smoothness, and couldn''t help but sigh in his heart, thinking that if he had this treasure before entering the Purple Sun Secret Realm, he wouldn''t have been reduced to fleeing when facing a cultivator at the peak of Purple Mansion.


    He also kept the Divine Bead of Mystical Power on him.


    Only then did he turn to look at the Fourth-Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasures, among which the sword-related Magic Artifacts immediately caught his attention, as he was a Sword Cultivator.


    The two Green Snake Swords, although not bad, were after all only Intermediate Grade of the Fourth Rank.


    Lin Shiming picked up the sole Golden Sword, which shone brilliantly, three feet long, with the name "Jin Ye" engraved on its hilt.


    At a glance, an intimidating chill emanated from it, and the golden light seemed capable of slicing through the void.


    With a flick of his finger, a crisp sword melody rang out, lingering on.


    He swiftly moved his hand from the sword hilt towards the blade, but before he could reach it, the golden sword light had already cut his finger.


    "What a fine sword!" Lin Shiming exclaimed in admiration. While the sword could not rival the Taiyi Grass Sword, which could nurture a Lifebound Treasure, it was certainly the weapon that best suited him at the moment.


    After placing the sword in his possession, his gaze was drawn entirely to the six scrolls of paintings, each depicting a Buddha. However, the Buddhas now appeared somewhat weakened, especially the scroll obtained from the monk Hong Li!


    These Buddhist images could be activated through Buddhist power to enhance a cultivator''s Body Cultivation strength; few cultivators could stand against the blow of a Buddha''s palm.


    However, he was perplexed about how to activate them.


    Unable to use the Buddha Scrolls, he looked towards the remaining Buddha Sect Magical Treasures. He could not activate any of the four, which made him shake his head.


    His attention eventually fell on the four treasures belonging to the Blood Cultivation Sect, among which was a Heavenly Demon Rod.


    The rod was covered in black flames that resembled the demonic fire of hellfire, and it felt as heavy as mountains.


    It was definitely a fitting treasure for the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    At this moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey could only use the Golden Light Brick and Grasp the Spiritual Fire for attacking, which was a bit one-dimensional compared to Wang Jiao''s venom and close combat.


    He wasn''t sure, however, whether his Spiritual Fire and the Hellfire displayed on the Heavenly Demon Rod conflicted.


    He opened up the Cave Heaven World and released the Red-haired Demon Monkey, which at that moment was eating with his mouth full of Spirit Light and protested with a couple of howls upon suddenly appearing outside without the Buddha Eagle in sight.


    However, upon seeing the rod in Lin Shiming''s hand, it showed a spark of interest.


    "This rod seems just right for beating up Jiao!" it thought.


    Upon receiving the Heavenly Demon Rod, it swung it a few times, and green flames emerged along with the black flames on the rod, while its own threefold flames also momentarily appeared on the rod, turning it into a four-colored fire rod.


    After swinging the rod for a while, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had to rest for a moment, for the consumption of a Fourth-Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure was not trivial.


    Lin Shiming was pleased; if the Red-haired Demon Monkey could increase its strength even slightly, he felt even more excited.


    There were three remaining treasures: a set of Red Spirit Armor, a Blood Flame Knife, and a Wicked Ghost Banner.


    The Red Spirit Armor was made of Flame Heart Iron and was also a fine Magical Treasure, though it was somewhat inferior to the Five-Light Spirit Crocodile Armor.


    The Blood Flame Knife wasn''t suitable for Lin Shiming, but he had intentions of refining the Wicked Ghost Banner a bit more, which seemed somewhat similar to the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Heavenly Demon Banner.


    It did not require the use of Demonic Cultivation Techniques to activate; it was more akin to a Ghost Cultivator''s Magic Artifact.

 Chapter 578 378: Rescuing People, Fairy Yulin (5000-Character Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe)

    The boundless Outer Sea, beneath the azure sky, spawned one tsunami after another on the tumultuous ocean surface.


    Towers of tsunamis, a hundred zhang high, like ancient colossal beasts, engulfed everything in their path.


    Atop an island shaped like a turtle, Xu Ri True Person and Red Leaf True Person exchanged glances before Xu Ri True Person decisively spoke:


    "Red Leaf, go search for them. Only three have survived, San Yang is dead too, you must ensure the remaining ones stay alive!"


    Xu Ri True Person''s complexion was somewhat pale. Not to mention the gains provided by the others, the mere fact that San Yang had not emerged was his greatest loss. As for the Thousand Year Spirit Medicine, he had already abandoned all hope.


    This expedition to the Secret Realm was a mistake!


    He could only hope for two or three five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines at most, which might somewhat improve his Cultivation progress and ensure no mishaps in the upcoming demonic tide.


    As for Xue Shan True Person''s commands, following them halfway would suffice; otherwise, if all the Cultivators die, he wouldn''t get a single Spiritual Medicine!


    Moreover, he had already decided to fight and retreat at the same time.


    He didn''t believe the others would fully commit to intercepting on the outside!


    Red Leaf True Person nodded too, swiftly turning into a streak of red rainbow light and retreating.


    As for Xu Ri True Person, his eyes were exceptionally cold, and suddenly, in front of him, a wisp of golden smoke appeared.


    Within the smoke, a mirror materialized.


    In the mirror, a Cultivator who was stirring the winds and waves was shown, the only difference being a pair of red pincer hands!


    "You brought this upon yourselves. If you can''t find millennium Spiritual Medicine, then I''ll take a few Demonic Beast Golden Cores!"


    Xu Ri True Person took a step forward, rushing towards the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King, and then a Golden Seal appeared, with dazzling golden light that flattened the tsunami, leaving the sea as calm as a mirror.


    With a flip of his hand, another mirror thrust towards the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King!


    ...


    In a certain sea area, Jin Lei True Person held a Thunder Hammer, invoking the Nine-Thunder Extinction, and for a moment, golden arcs of electricity set the entire sea area ablaze.


    Two ink-colored Flood Dragon Demon Kings leaped from the sea, charging towards Jin Lei True Person.


    All along their way, they left behind trails of ink light too swift for the naked eye to capture.


    Many arcs of lightning were dodged.


    And Jin Lei True Person, even more so, surrounded himself with twelve Golden Thunder Swords, instantly forming a golden sword array that encircled both Flood Dragons within!


    "As expected of Jin Lei from Golden Thunder Island, master of the Golden Thunder Bamboo forged Qingyun Golden Thunder Sword!"


    Another voice rang out, revealing a red-robed youth floating on the ocean''s surface.


    "Crimson Flood Dragon Great Demon, do you three think you can hold back this old man?" Jin Lei True Person was full of disdain.


    "Whether we can hold you back or not is another matter, but wouldn''t it be better to let those youngsters exercise properly?" Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King replied with a cold smile, and then the three Demon Kings besieged the Golden Core Demon King!


    Jin Lei True Person''s face instantly paled. Leaving the Demon Kings behind naturally meant letting countless Purple Mansion Great Demons pass, and that would be disastrous for the Purple Mansion Cultivators who were being teleported out.


    Of course, the most crucial issue were those five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicines.


    ...


    Between two islands, a willow tree rooted in the void, next to which stood a woman Cultivator in blue robes, her face veiled, holding three willow leaves in her hand, gazing intently with anticipation.


    Numerous willow branches reached into the distance, casting vast expanses of green glow.


    Blocking the rampaging tsunamis.


    A white-robed Sword Cultivator then appeared, wielding a silver Longsword. Strangely enough, instead of a hand, the tip of the sword was connected directly to the body of the Sword Cultivator.


    "So it is the Tianliu Fairy. Today, Jin Jian comes to challenge the Sword Dao!"


    ...


    At this moment, throughout the entire Outer Sea, numerous islands echoed with the astonishing battles of Golden Core Cultivators, centered around Purple Sun Secret Realm island.


    In the very center of the Outer Sea, Purple Mansion Great Demons one after another advanced inward, each led by an extremely thin leech.


    However, these leeches were incredibly fast, not at all inferior to those Great Demons.


    ...


    In an underground cave, Lin Shiming''s expression was somewhat ugly. His Sword Origin had not recovered much, and many Magical Treasures needed to be re-cultivated.


    In the distance, his Divine Sense swept over a leech that skimmed past.


    This leech was only the size of a thumb, but just like that day in front of the tower in Purple Sun Secret Realm, there was no doubt what it represented!


    As the leech swam by, Lin Shiming breathed a sigh of relief. It signified that his Concealment Formation was fairly effective.


    He must not have been discovered.


    Yet he found it odd; the waves seemed larger, and even the seabed was tumultuous. Moreover, being in this location, he couldn''t sense any small fish or shrimps, no low-tier Demonic Beasts either.


    At this thought, his heart skipped a beat.


    He suddenly remembered that day on the island, where these leeches were no match at all.


    "Not good, I''ve been discovered!"


    Lin Shiming was alarmed in his heart. It was clear these leeches had detected something; otherwise, one wouldn''t have appeared right above him alone. Since the leeches were scouts, searching for Cultivators, they hadn''t taken any action.


    Leaving the Concealment Formation in place with a Superior Grade Spirit Stone to sustain it, Lin Shiming then used a Leaping Void Disk to leap out, fleeing toward the distance.


    He didn''t know if the leeches had found the Formation or him, but for safety''s sake, he immediately abandoned the valuable Formation.


    After all, without a system alert, he had to be exceptionally cautious, otherwise he faced utter doom.


    Staying with the Coral Alliance Cultivators, at least for a short while, Xu Ri True Person would provide him protection, and the adversary wouldn''t attack here.


    But if he fell into the hands of the Demon Kings and couldn''t be teleported back, he''d be like fish on the chopping board, subject to the slaughter of the Demon Kings.


    Using the Sword Storing Book, Lin Shiming suppressed his Spiritual Energy fluctuations to the lowest, applied the Spirit Art to conceal his aura, and finally covered himself with a warding veil.

 Chapter 579 378: Rescuing People, Fairy Yulin (5000-Character Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe)_2

    He quickly made his way into the distance. At this moment, he also followed the direction of the waves, knowing they naturally surged from the Demonic Beast towards Purple Sun Island.


    Taking advantage of the tsunami''s momentum, those Purple Mansion Great Demons were able to move much faster than Cultivators, unless Lin Shiming was willing to fly into the sky.


    But that would make him a real target.


    However, as he traveled with the current, Shiming''s eyes couldn''t help but turn cold; behind him, three Purple Mansion Great Demons rushed forward from afar.


    Leading the charge was a leech.


    This leech was obviously skilled in water escape, moving at an alarmingly fast pace.


    Shiming increased his speed once more.


    With a quick glance, he assessed the three Great Demons behind him: two were Fourth Rank Late Stage Great Demons, and one was a Fourth Rank Mid Stage Great Demon.


    Although they posed little threat to him, at this point, he had no idea how many Demonic Beast reinforcements were behind them. Getting entangled would be dangerous.


    As his speed increased, the leech''s speed increased even more, clinging there like a piece of sticky candy, serving as a signal to attract the following Great Demons.


    Those Great Demons, swept by the waves, were much faster than Cultivators traveling through water.


    His expression furrowing, he applied a Fourth Rank Water Escape Talisman, and his speed surged once again.


    As expected, the leech abandoned the three Great Demons, its speed significantly increasing.


    But in the next moment, Shiming''s figure reappeared behind the leech, using the Leaping Void Disk.


    With tremendous speed, Shiming moved swiftly; the leech had no time to react before he grabbed it, and in the end, it disintegrated into dust, dispersing.


    These leeches had terrifying speed, but their strength was only comparable to the Early Stage of Purple Mansion.


    Now, Shiming, having ingested the Great Strength Fruit, could even fight a Flood Dragon of the same rank face-to-face.


    These leeches could be crushed with a pinch.


    Moreover, he always felt these leeches were like incarnations, similar to when he observed Liu He True Person''s incarnations.


    Almost at the same moment he grabbed the leech, the three Purple Mansion Great Demons behind him struck: one spat a Spirit Sword, another roared, sending water arrows raining down.


    In the end, they clanged against Shiming''s Cold Dusk Shield.


    The treasured shield immediately lost its glint of cold light, getting struck and sent flying away, while Shiming dispersed the three attacks with the Crescent Moon Guard Blade, his entire body leaping away on the Leaping Void Disk.


    The Water Escape Talisman sped him away once more!


    The three Great Demons wanted to pursue, but as they passed the spot where Shiming had remained, a Spirit Talisman suddenly appeared and exploded.


    It enveloped the three Great Demons, who wanted to continue the pursuit but had already lost track of Shiming.


    At this moment, Shiming activated his Spirit Boat, rapidly passing over the sea surface.


    The Spirit Boat was none other than the Zifeng Boat. After throwing off the three Purple Mansion Great Demons, Shiming stowed away the Zifeng Boat.


    This Zifeng Boat, after all, had been snatched from the Blood Cultivation Sect, and if seen by their Cultivators, it would cause unnecessary trouble.


    Thus, Shiming flew for half an hour before he saw, in the distance, a striking figure on a Spirit Boat, fleeing in panic.


    Three Purple Mansion Great Demons were also behind her.


    This woman was extremely annoyed by the leech.


    She could have widened the gap using a magical treasure for a short time, but the leech remained tethered in the distance.


    And looking at her aura, it was clear she was not in good condition, obviously having suffered serious injuries and unprepared for the unexpected early closure of the Secret Realm.


    "Fellow Daoist, could you possibly rescue this little lady!"


    "I am Fuling from Tianliu Island. In the future, I will definitely repay the favor!"


    Shiming, however, did not react. No matter how beautiful the woman, they were all but skeletons covered in skin.


    He certainly had no interest in meddling.


    However, upon hearing it was Tianliu Island, Shiming hesitated.


    One must know that Xu Ri True Person in the annex of Xu Ri Palace had clarified that Tianliu Island and Xu Ri Island had an alliance in the shadows.


    According to his memory, Tianliu True Person from Tianliu Island was also a mighty Golden Core Late Stage power!


    The delegation from Tianliu Island this time also comprised about twenty individuals.


    Even if some were lost, there should still be quite a few left.


    In a split-second decision, Shiming''s figure suddenly disappeared, and he was soon by the side of the leech.


    But this leech was clearly forewarned, transforming into a blue streak of light that vanished in the sea in a flash!


    Surprise flickered across Shiming''s face, but he was not without backup plans.


    Unseen until now, the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda descended, binding the leech in an instant.


    Endless flames erupted, immediately obliterating the leech.


    After killing the leech, Shiming flashed onto the woman Cultivator''s Spirit Boat.


    "You should be able to widen the distance now, right?" Shiming asked.


    "Thank you, fellow Daoist. After some time, there naturally won''t be a problem," Fuling Hermit responded, and then with a wave of her hand, the Spirit Boat''s speed exploded once again, turning into a green rainbow that vanished on the sea''s surface in the blink of an eye.


    Unlike the Eastern Domain, the Spirit Boats in the Southern Sea Cultivation World mostly pursue speed.


    This was related to the frequent beast tides and the abundance of Demonic Beasts.


    If one''s speed was slow, they would have been torn apart by Demonic Beasts long ago.


    Sometimes, in the Southern Sea, it wasn''t only your strength that mattered. Even Golden Core True Persons who dared to behave recklessly in the Outer Sea where Demon Kings abounded could easily fall.


    "No need for thanks, I am Lin Shiming of Xu Ri Island, currently the island master under Xu Ri Island of Heavenly Phenomenon Island," Shiming introduced himself.


    With this introduction, the Fuling Fairy sighed in relief.


    Everyone had emerged from Purple Sun Secret Realm, and even though it was easy to fight here, attracting the attention of Golden Core True Persons and the risk of having treasures snatched were significant.


    But now in such chaos, swept by the beast tide, who knows if there would be Cultivators trying to snatch advantage from danger.


    And being part of the same alliance as Tianliu Island lessened the danger significantly for Xu Ri Island.

 Chapter 580 378: Rescuing People, Fairy Yulin (5000-Character Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe)_3

    "It turns out to be Daoist Lin," Fuling couldn''t help but speak, and in front of Lin Shiming, she began to take out Superior Grade Spirit Stones to recover her True Yuan.


    To recover True Yuan in front of an outsider, one could tell that Hermit Fuling''s True Yuan had indeed depleted to a certain extent.


    "Fairy Fuling, may I ask if you have a map to Purple Sun Island?" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but ask.


    The safest place at the moment was naturally Purple Sun Island, but it was too far away, and the sea tides could only be simply judged. If there were a map, it would be extremely beneficial.


    "No!" Fairy Fuling shook her head; the location of Purple Sun Island was the Coral Alliance''s sect secret, almost deemed the highest confidentiality. No one knew where it was or how to get there.


    And those Golden Core True Persons would also guard it closely for the sake of their interests.


    "However, Daoist Lin, I have the position of our Tianliu Island''s Sister Yulin. Let''s go find them; Tianliu True Person will come looking for her!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming naturally nodded in great joy; finding a Golden Core True Person as soon as possible was the only way to survive.


    Otherwise, in the midst of the beast tide, being targeted by several leeches meant having no escape to heaven or earth.


    Lin Shiming also put away all his magical treasures, so Fairy Fuling didn''t have to continue worrying, and his Body Cultivation strength could solve most problems.


    Soon, with the swift flight of the Spirit Boat, an island came into view.


    "Daoist Lin, Sister Yulin is right ahead!" Fairy Fuling exclaimed with joy once again.


    To her, it was now that they were truly saved.


    Lin Shiming also quickly discovered that there was a Formation on the island!


    "Sister Yulin!" Fairy Fuling landed in front of the Formation and transmitted her voice inside.


    The Formation opened, revealing the situation inside the island. There were six cultivators from Tianliu Island and, in addition, Hermit Guanghao from Xu Ri Island was also there.


    "Fairy Yulin!" Even though Hermit Guanghao was present, Lin Shiming still greeted the stronger Hermit Yulin first.


    The other party was also a disciple of Tianliu True Person and, if he wasn''t mistaken, her Storage Bag should contain no less than five thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines at this moment.


    Of course, apart from her strength, her appearance was also quite astonishing.


    With willowy eyebrows and finely drawn facial features, her stunning eyes were like stars. From afar, she appeared to be a Banished Immortal with an otherworldly temperament!


    Even Lin Shiming couldn''t help but take another glance.


    The presence of Hermit Guanghao here was somewhat intriguing.


    However, Lin Shiming still greeted Hermit Guanghao.


    "You didn''t bring any tails with you, did you?" Hermit Guanghao''s voice rang out.


    Lin Shiming was suddenly taken aback; the cultivators from Tianliu Island hadn''t spoken, yet Hermit Guanghao was the first to speak.


    "No, Daoist Lin is quite adept with divine skills!" Lin Shiming didn''t speak, but instead, it was the astute and lively Hermit Fuling who took the initiative to reply.


    "You recover first. Xu Ri Island and our Tianliu Island are allies, and the same goes for when we get out of the Secret Realm!" Hermit Yulin also spoke; she noticed Fuling''s weakness.


    She let Fuling go to Cultivate first, and with a wave of her hand, the Formation once again covered the island.


    And gradually faded from sight.


    From the outside, one would absolutely not be able to discover that there were cultivators here.


    It seemed that the perplexity in Lin Shiming''s eyes did not go unnoticed, and Fairy Yulin spoke again:


    "With the raging tides, those Great Demons are too fast, many Daoists have fallen prey to their schemes. On the way here, there were even more formidable Great Demons lying in ambush, specifically targeting cultivators from the different islands. It''s better to wait for reinforcements here!" Fairy Yulin explained to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement. Those leeches were indeed formidable and it was indeed possible that there were Great Demons lying in ambush.


    Here, relying on formations, they might still be able to defend the island.


    Lin Shiming also looked over the island. There were two at the Purple Mansion Peak, followed by five at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, including Fairy Fuling, making a total of six Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivators.


    Instead, it was he, a Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivator, who was lagging behind.


    The other Purple Mansion Peak cultivator was also from a family affiliated with Tianliu Island, the Family Head of the Xu Family, Hermit Chen Tian, whose name was the same as his Daoist title.


    Indeed, a fascinating person.


    Everyone had already sent out Sound Transmission Talismans, and they believed that it wouldn''t take half a day for a True Person to come and fetch them.


    Lin Shiming casually found a spot and took out an Array Plate to isolate himself, then he began to cultivate the Kuimu Sword Canon.


    Recovering True Yuan was important, but most crucial was regaining Sword Origin.


    Many of the cultivators here were meditating.


    This was why the group of cultivators did not forcefully rush back.


    Their condition was not good, and those Great Demons were extraordinarily fierce.


    Time ticked away, second by second.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming opened his eyes and looked into the distance. He saw leeches circling the island ceaselessly.


    From afar, more Purple Mansion Great Demons were approaching.


    The island was quickly besieged by those Purple Mansion Great Demons, and everyone awoke with extremely grim expressions.


    Because circling the island were three Purple Mansion Peak Great Demons and a whopping seven Purple Mansion Late Stage Great Demons, with more than a dozen Purple Mansion Middle Stage Great Demons.


    Boom!


    The Great Demons did not hesitate and soon began assaulting the island.


    The loud roar was incessant, and a Spirit Shield appeared above the island, which, at its center, was bolstered by a huge Yingchun tree skyrocketing towards the sky!


    This Yingchun tree was also a Purple Mansion Late Stage Great Demon, possessing a wood demon within its body. Countless branches infused into the shield, making the Spirit Shield even more unbreakable.


    Besides the Yingchun tree, there were two more wood demons that appeared¡ªthe Lihunfi Wood Demon and Fulingzi Wood Demon, both being Purple Mansion Middle Stage demons.


    When deployed, they were also quite powerful.


    All the cultivators on the field also took to the sky, attacking the Purple Mansion Great Demons outside.


    "Everyone, try your best to kill those Purple Mansion Middle Stage Great Demons. The formation will not break in a short period of time!" Fairy Yulin was the first to speak, following which two Ice Swords appeared, causing the temperature in the vicinity to drop suddenly, with frost condensing in the distance.


    This Fairy Yulin was clearly an Ice Spirit Root, cultivating an ice attribute Cultivation Technique!


    Lin Shiming also took out the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, suppressing two demonic beasts with it.


    Purple Mansion Great Demons were of great use to the Lin Family with the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique; the Thunder Spirit Turtle, Xuan Spirit Turtle, and Sea Cloud Bird of the Lin Family all had the potential to undergo Bloodline Reversion, enhancing their potential.

 Chapter 581 379: Leech Crisis, Interrogation (215,000-Word Mega Chapter)

    The massive tsunami made the entire island seem like a tiny boat amid the vast ocean.


    More than twenty Purple Mansion Great Demons roared furiously, their growls drowning out the sound of the tsunami.


    Their huge bodies emitted extraordinary spirit light, besieging the island so tightly that not even water could escape.


    Hermit Yulin was the first to strike with his Ice Soul Sword, encasing thousands of miles in frost. After the rainbow-like sword qi, a blizzard of cold air swept through.


    A strike landed on a Purple Mansion Peak twin-headed python, which let out cry after cry in anger.


    Large patches of its body turned into white solid ice. Fortunately, one of the python''s heads was red and it spat out red flames, melting the ice away, but still leaving behind a massive wound.


    This caused its eyes to blaze with fire.


    Both heads dove into the sea and soon broke through the surface again, bringing with them the overwhelming force of myriads of tons of seawater.


    With a shake!


    It crashed violently against the Spirit Shield, and everyone felt the entire island begin to tremble, the Spirit Formation struggling to hold!


    And the red-headed python, sticking close to the Spirit Shield, spat out a vast swath of red flames!


    Hermit Yulin struck with his sword again, forcing the twin-headed python back.


    "Chen Tian, I urge you to join in the fight as well. My Welcoming Spring Wood can still withstand a Purple Mansion Peak Great Demon!"


    Hearing this, Hermit Chen Tian took out a treasure resembling an Eight Trigrams Plate, and though different in power, it directly transformed into eight different Magical Treasures: blades, halberds, swords, hammers, axes, hooks, spears.


    He launched them towards another, a Thousand-Handed Octopus.


    The might of this octopus was no less than that of the twin-headed python. Its countless tentacles, covered in suction cups, grabbed the entire Spirit Shield and tried to peel it away, causing Spirit Island to also seem disturbed.


    Once the eight Magical Treasures struck, they severing the countless tentacles at the root. The power of these treasures was indeed terrifying.


    This set of different Magical Treasures combined into one suit was the first time Lin Shiming had seen such a thing.


    But their strength was indeed formidable.


    Working together, they left the octopus with no opportunity to prevail.


    There was still one Purple Mansion Peak Great Demon remaining, a Thunder Spirit Turtle. Lin Shiming watched with some covetousness, thinking that if he could secure the Thunder Spirit Turtle''s inner core, the Lin Family''s Thunder Turtle might even advance a realm.


    For Demonic Beasts, a Demon Core of the same type was a major supplement!


    The Thunder Spirit Turtle kept releasing lightning, but it was countered by the Welcoming Spring Wood''s numerous tentacles, which repeatedly slapped the turtle away, preventing it from focusing.


    Even so, the whole island was still occasionally shaken by the assaults of the three beasts.


    As for the rest of the Purple Mansion Great Demons, they were continuously attacked by the cultivators.


    Several Tianliu Island cultivators, aided by Demonic Beasts resembling trees, exhibited their formidable might as well.


    To Lin Shiming''s astonishment, the hermit Guanghao was extremely diligent, using four Magical Treasures at once, one of which was a Supreme Grade treasure. Single-handedly, he fought against two Purple Mansion Late Stage Great Demons.


    It was clear that he was expending an enormous amount of True Yuan, but fortunately, he was somewhat generous, ingesting Thousand-Year Spirit Milk.


    Lin Shiming caught a glimpse of this and naturally did not understand why he was holding a tower with both hands and constantly suppressing a Fourth Rank Middle Stage Thunder Turtle. Although a Fourth Rank Peak Thunder Turtle was difficult to deal with, a Fourth Rank Middle Stage one, in his opinion, was also quite decent!


    The Thunder Turtle could be devoured as well.


    But his face was pale, and he was sweating profusely, as if he would collapse at any moment.


    In his view, it was still necessary to hide his true strength for now.


    After all, if the Formation were to break, he would need to have enough strength to break through.


    Lin Shiming was not optimistic that the isolated island could hold out, but he was anticipating the arrival of Tianliu True Person.


    "Everyone, remember not to hold back. If we defend the island, we can wait for the True Person to arrive!" Hermit Guanghao spoke again, his gaze sweeping towards Lin Shiming.


    It was as if he was questioning why Lin Shiming wasn''t exerting his full strength.


    He was even putting on a show.


    Lin Shiming did not even glance at him, wondering why cultivators who had reached the Purple Mansion were still so competitive at such a time.


    With so many Tianliu Island cultivators around, it would be good enough if they were not killed!


    While Lin Shiming remained silent, Hermit Guanghao was distracted and one of his Magical Treasures was knocked down. It was his Lifebound Treasure, and he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning extremely pale as he looked resentfully towards Lin Shiming.


    But at that moment, he dared not continue to shout orders and instead focused on defending earnestly!


    The strength of the Tianliu Island cultivators was quite formidable, and the scene was frequently punctuated with Demonic Beasts of Fourth Rank Early Stage being killed by cultivators and plummeting into the sea.


    And the Array was still holding steady. From this, it was apparent that the Array Plate presented by Hermit Yulin was no ordinary item. Had it been a common Supreme Grade Array under the relentless charges of three Purple Mansion Peak Great Demons, along with the onslaught of the tsunami, it would not have lasted long.


    Not to mention there were so many great Purple Mansion Demons.


    This was the confidence of Hermit Yulin.


    But Lin Shiming had an uneasy premonition, because right before him, he suddenly realized that the leeches were emitting a faint spirit light.


    At first glance, a single leech quietly floating in the seawater seemed inconspicuous, but since Lin Shiming was presently finding it too easy to fend off the Thunder Spirit Turtle, he looked around.


    Upon looking, that''s what he saw; a dozen or more were all doing the same!


    And the assaults of a few Purple Mansion Great Demons upon the Formation became increasingly effective.


    Especially the twin-headed python, despite enduring a large section of its body being ripped apart by the Ice Soul Sword, was already charging forward!


    Boom!


    The Spirit Shield was struck, and a huge web-like dent appeared, shocking everyone!


    Hermit Yulin''s brow furrowed deeply.


    The time that the Spirit Formation could withstand was diminishing, which was related to the increasing number of Great Purple Mansion Demons and appeared to be because these demons were discovering more clever ways to break the Formation.


    Although they still used brute force, they did so more cunningly.


    Unless all the cultivators used their full strength, but at this point, many cultivators had Boundary-breaking Talismans and were not truly as close as brothers, so they would not give their all in the fight.

 Chapter 582 379: Leech Crisis, Interrogation (215,000 Words Mega Chapter)_2

    Tianliu Island couldn''t even be reached!


    All were secretly storing True Yuan; for some cultivators, not only had their True Yuan not decreased after a battle, but it had continuously increased due to the recovery from the use of Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    It was just that everyone''s complexion looked better than the next.


    "Fairy Yulin, we must slay those leeches. Those leeches might be the avatars of the Golden Core Demon King, capable of analyzing the flaws in the Spirit Formation and allowing those Purple Mansion Great Demons to attack the weak points of the formation''s foundation!"


    "Moreover, they are continuously summoning more Purple Mansion Great Demons!" Lin Shiming reminded.


    "Daoist Lin speaks the truth!" Yulin Hermit was momentarily stunned but then finally noticed the leeches.


    It wasn''t that she had been inattentive before, but she was overwhelmed with controlling the Formation, slaying the two-headed python, also dealing with controlling the wood demon, and contending with a Fourth Rank Peak Thunder Turtle.


    As for the Outer Purple Mansion Great Demons, though some had been slain, their numbers had surprisingly not decreased.


    "But, those leeches aren''t coming close. To cross them and slay them, a vast amount of strength is required!" Yulin Hermit frowned.


    Lin Shiming, however, did not respond. By pointing this out, he had done as much as he could. After all, he was only waiting for rescue.


    As for rushing out and killing the leeches, that was absolutely beyond his capabilities - whoever wanted to could go ahead and do it!


    "Fairy Yulin, use the Boundary-breaking Talisman!" The nearby Guanghao Hermit seemed to have made a significant decision,


    he said through gritted teeth.


    His interjection drew everyone''s gaze, even Lin Shiming felt some admiration for his bravery.


    The opposition, at that moment, also seemed to defiantly look his way.


    This made Lin Shiming hesitate for a moment, as he suddenly got the feeling that Guanghao Hermit perhaps had some special feelings for Yulin Hermit.


    But this was truly foolish.


    To exhibit such reckless courage here, at least a hundred years old, was not a wise decision. Of course, unless the other party had some life-saving treasure on hand.


    And if there was a treasure, in his view, it still wasn''t worth such wasteful use.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming wouldn''t be the one to remind him, rather he was somewhat eager to see it unfold.


    And Yulin Hermit, too, nodded happily, her brows relaxing at the gesture.


    "Daoist Guanghao, I have a Soul Losing Bell here, which can immobilize the enemy in a blink. Do you have the confidence to kill those leeches?"


    "Yes!" Guanghao Hermit looked at Yulin Hermit with even more fervor. Of course, with the Ice Spirit Power fully unleashed, the cold and aloof Fairy Yulin indeed seemed extraordinarily breathtakingly beautiful!


    "However, I also want to recommend another person. Our Daoist Lin from Xu Ri Island is a Body Cultivator at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, with strength comparable to the Late Stage of Purple Mansion. He is even more adept with instants slays!"


    Guanghao Hermit spoke again, causing Lin Shiming to suddenly emanate a terrifying chill, but considering the current situation, its intensity quickly returned to normal.


    The glare startled Guanghao Hermit as well; he felt as though he had encountered a breath of Sword Intent, which sent chills through his body.


    Regardless, he still stood his ground, for as a Late Stage Purple Mansion cultivator, he was not afraid of Lin Shiming.


    Upon seeing this, Yulin Hermit also looked towards Lin Shiming.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming couldn''t well refuse. After all, so many cultivators were watching them, and Xu Ri Island was already low on numbers and without a Peak Purple Mansion cultivator present.


    If it had been any other peak cultivator, it might already have been a command.


    "I am indeed a Body Cultivator, but I do not possess a Boundary-breaking Talisman; I used it all in the Purple Sun Secret Realm!" Lin Shiming spoke diplomatically.


    "No matter, I have here two unrefined Boundary-breaking Talismans that Daoist Lin can freely use!" Yulin Hermit waved and produced two Spirit Talismans, which landed in Lin Shiming''s hands.


    After examining them for a moment, Lin Shiming channelled True Yuan into them; unrefined Boundary-breaking Talismans were relatively simple to refine.


    Once ready, he nodded at Yulin Hermit, then turned to Guanghao Hermit who was still vigorously wielding several Magical Treasures, executing kills.


    Seeing Lin Shiming looking over, Guanghao Hermit snorted coldly.


    Yulin Hermit transmitted a message to the others:


    "Everyone, leaving the island on one''s own will definitely result in being hunted to death by those leeches along with Purple Mansion Great Demons; their Divine Sense is far superior to ordinary Purple Mansion Peak cultivators, as is their speed. Only by slaying them can we have a thread of a chance at survival!"


    "Therefore, I hope everyone will protect Daoist Guanghao and Daoist Lin well!"


    Having spoken, Yulin Hermit''s hands suddenly revealed a bell.


    This bell was only the size of a palm and was not golden but rather a rare red ominous bell.


    Sword in hand, she executed a slash, instantly freezing a large area, and then violently shook the bell.


    "Ling ling ling!"


    A wave of blood-red ripples spread out and settled onto the group of demons, causing nearly all of the Demonic Beasts to pause for a half moment.


    Then, seizing the moment, she launched three strikes, sweeping towards several Purple Mansion Great Demons!


    Lin Shiming and Guanghao Hermit used their Boundary-breaking Talismans together, appearing behind the leeches.


    Guanghao Hermit employed two Longsword Treasures, sweeping through them one after another!


    Lin Shiming, on the other hand, released the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda to its fullest extent, making it large like a small hill, enveloping all the leeches and even five or six Early Stage Purple Mansion Great Demons within it.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda began to shake violently and he then placed another Earth Attribute Soul-Suppressing Pagoda on top, heavily suppressing it. As the Spiritual Fire surged, most of the leeches and Demonic Beasts were refined within.


    A few managed to escape, but Lin Shiming moved his Leaping Void Disk, and with a pinch, crushed the two, turning them into Spirit Light.


    Lin Shiming acted decisively and with meticulous thought. Supported by the Soul Losing Bell, he perfectly accomplished his task!


    On the other side, Guanghao Hermit, at that moment, with two Supreme Grade Longsword Treasures, also slaughtered all the leeches, but upon seeing Lin Shiming still manage to clean up two more Great Demons, he chased down a Purple Mansion Late Stage Great Demon for the kill!

 Chapter 583 379: Leech Crisis, Interrogation (2-in-1 5000-Word Mega Chapter)_3

    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but wonder how there could be such foolish cultivators.


    In a brief moment, the Purple Mansion Great Demons awoke one after another, launching even more fierce attacks.


    Lin Shiming used two towers for restraint, then immediately escaped into the formation with a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    The advantage of the Boundary-breaking Talisman lay exactly in that, no need to open a formation, nor giving the Purple Mansion Great Demons any opportunity!


    While Guanghao, the hermit, got himself entangled with three Purple Mansion Late Stage Great Demons because of his show of capability and competition.


    Even if the cultivators from Tianliu Island coordinated as best as they could, they could barely hold on at this moment. However just at the critical time, a golden light appeared on Guanghao, which was actually a piece of Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Armor!


    This caught even Lin Shiming by surprise; Guanghao was far too rich.


    The Supreme Grade Spirit Armor withstood a hit, and by then, he also became anxious, quickly using a Boundary-breaking Talisman to enter the island, though his complexion turned a bit red and purple!


    Once Lin Shiming entered the formation, he also felt embarrassed to continue using just one Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, so he deployed both Soul-Suppressing Pagodas at once.


    Of course, his face dripped with even more cold sweat, and he seemed increasingly overwhelmed!


    For him, a Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivator, he didn''t think this was excessive at all!


    The situation on the island slowly improved, many cultivators pulling out more strength, the formation stabilizing further, complemented by several Purple Mansion woody demons, the island seemed to become as impregnable as a fortress.


    Of course, to a great extent, this was all thanks to Hermit Yulin. Lin Shiming didn''t think that he and Guanghao had played a significant role.


    Nevertheless, he made a mental note of Guanghao.


    And as time passed by, the Purple Mansion Great Demons grew more frantic, and two Purple Mansion Peak Great Demons appeared.


    It seemed that all the obstructing Great Demons had returned, causing the formation to falter slightly.


    While Lin Shiming held several Boundary-breaking Talismans in hand, ready to flee instantly if the formation broke, as for resisting...


    He thought it best to leave that to the likes of Guanghao, the hero.


    Boom!


    Finally, six Purple Mansion Peak Great Demons shattered the formation, yet just as the group of Purple Mansion Great Demons thought to launch their attacks, several figures swept towards them from afar.


    Lin Shiming and the others looked closely and saw that the Golden Core True Persons were on their way, striding thousands of miles in a single step through the void, their speed inconceivably fast.


    And around them, Golden Core Demon Kings were entangled in battle.


    However, there was an extremely powerful willow tree, upon which Tianliu True Person was commanding, relentlessly driving several Flood Dragon Demon Kings back!


    Lin Shiming also spotted Red Leaf True Person!


    Clearly, with all the Golden Core True Persons turning out in force this time, those Demon Kings did not gain the upper hand!


    For the sake of obtaining Spiritual Medicine, the Golden Core True Persons, at this moment, were fighting almost desperately.


    A strand of willow was the first to fall upon the island, causing the Purple Mansion Great Demons to fall in droves.


    Pierced by the willow strands, blood flowed copiously.


    Even the Purple Mansion Great Demons could not withstand a single blow!


    Red Leaf True Person and another Xuan Yu from Tianliu Island landed, took out a Fifth Rank Spirit Boat, and gathered everyone into the Spirit Boat, retreating while fighting!


    They moved swiftly into the distance, with Tianliu True Person and the Qing Liu Demon King''s abilities commanding Lin Shiming''s respect.


    When these woody demons became fearsome, they were not much inferior to the Flood Dragon Demon Kings.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but think of the Golden Thunder Bamboo in his own Cave Heaven. If the Golden Thunder Bamboo became a woody Demon King, he estimated it would be very powerful, and now that he had obtained the Purple Sun Tower, there might be an opportunity in the future.


    As Lin Shiming speculated with envy, the Spirit Boat continued its journey, rapidly streaking across sea after sea.


    They quickly encountered True Persons from Coral Island; their Spirit Boat was even larger, casting shadows that blotted out the sun, carrying many Golden Core True Persons and Purple Mansion cultivators!


    Clearly, these were the ones rescued by Coral Island, and those Demon Kings had also retreated temporarily.


    Lin Shiming stood on the massive Spirit Boat, observing the Purple Mansion cultivators around him, only to see a pitifully small number of them.


    Previously, nearly three hundred Purple Mansion cultivators had entered, but less than a hundred stood on the Spirit Boat, even though many others still remained.


    But one must know that there were no Demonic Beasts in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, so this level of loss was absolutely unprecedented.


    The Great Demons likely contributed to half of that number.


    And at that moment, a Blood Pupil cultivator suddenly fixed his gaze on him, making his heart skip a beat involuntarily.


    Because this time, only one cultivator from the Blood Cultivation Sect remained, and this person''s strength was not to be trifled with, his pair of blood pupils being a natural anomaly.


    Lin Shiming had also heard of the other''s reputation, and being stared at by them did indeed make him feel guilty.


    This made him feel quite uneasy!


    He then looked towards Red Leaf True Person, while also watching the sky gradually darkening towards sunset, somewhat anticipating the passing of twilight and the arrival of dawn.


    "Why are only the two of you left from the secret realm?" Red Leaf True Person still communicated through a spiritual voice transmission.


    "In reply to senior, I have been traveling alone in the secret realm, and I am not clear about many things!" Lin Shiming answered without a blush or heartbeat, unaffected by the pressure from the other even while feeling it.


    Moreover, he had already faced pressure from many True Persons, developing a certain resistance, not to mention that Red Leaf True Person was not even on par with Xu Ri True Person.


    After Lin Shiming responded, he thought that Red Leaf True Person would continue to press for answers, but unexpectedly, the other did not speak again.


    The Spirit Boat kept moving forward across the sea, and those Purple Mansion Great Demons and Golden Core Demon Kings did not dare to approach this Spirit Boat.


    Xue Shan True Person stood at the very front as if he were a flag himself, exuding an aura that soared to the heavens, which Lin Shiming had only seen before in Shen Ji True Person!


    More and more Purple Mansion cultivators boarded the Spirit Boat, and when they arrived at a smaller island, they saw the continuous bombardment of Golden Thunder, its might boundless.


    These were the cultivators from Golden Thunder Island; most of them were clad in golden robes and were extremely proficient in Thunder Techniques, making defense quite straightforward. At that moment, they were even beginning to counterattack!


    Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised because there were still eleven disciples left from Golden Thunder Island, which was five more than those from Tianliu Island.


    The cultivators who arrived at the island seemed overjoyed.


    And as more True Persons arrived, in the end, Jin Lei True Person and Xu Ri True Person also returned.


    Seeing that there was one less cultivator, Xu Ri True Person couldn''t help but twitch his face!


    From a team of ten, only two remained, and he could anticipate that the Spiritual Medicines gathered would be pitifully few, not to mention the need to share with Red Leaf True Person.


    Xu Ri True Person sat down to recover immediately, and at that time, they had again reached the island where they were originally transported to.


    Unnoticed, the sky had also passed into the early hours of the morning.


    Lin Shiming let out a long sigh of relief.


    Xu Ri True Person opened his eyes, also prepared to start inquiring about the Spiritual Medicines. Although he expected there to be very few, he still needed to ask!


    He took out a Formation, isolating the entire Spirit Shield.


    Inside the Spirit Shield, only Lin Shiming and Guanghao Hermit remained.


    "How many Supreme Grade Spiritual Medicines of three thousand years and how many of five thousand years did each of you obtain?"

 Chapter 592 383: The Final Kill of the Rising Sun, The Mantis Decision (Two in One Subscription)_2

    Boom!


    The Crimson Crow and Wind-Calming Pearl were both cleaved apart, and even Xu Ri True Person was pierced through the chest with a sword!


    Yet he still managed to yank out a Spirit Talisman and flee!


    But that escape faced the encirclement of Lin Shiming''s Crimson Flood Dragon, the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and the Wood Demon Golden Winged Mantis on all sides.


    Lin Shiming also released a sweep of his Great Swathe Sword.


    This Great Swathe Sword was not only Lin Shiming''s own technique but also contained a Great Spread Sword Style stored within the Divine Bead of Mystical Power.


    The one and a half months he spent resting was just enough time to store a Sword Origin and recover!


    Additionally, a beam of primordial magnet light was shot from the Primordial Magnet Ring!


    Xu Ri True Person could only pull out a Fifth Rank magical treasure shield to forcefully defend!


    The rarity of a Fifth Rank magical treasure far exceeded that of a Fourth Rank, by a significant amount.


    Even Xu Ri True Person had only one set of inferior grade Fifth Rank Wind-Calming Pearls and one Fifth Rank Xu Ri Sword, besides that one Flame Dragon Shield.


    As the Primordial Magnet Ring happened to restrain the Five Elements Magical Treasure, and though the ring was only a Fourth Rank supreme grade, Xu Ri True Person, in his hasty escape with his focus entirely on the Flaming Sword, was still affected for a half breath.


    The Flaming Sword slashed once more, burning another five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine in the process.


    Boom!


    The Flame Dragon Shield was sent flying, Xu Ri True Person''s injuries worsened, and the Wang Jiao Red-haired along with the others shot out venom and Samadhi Spiritual Fire respectively.


    Lin Shiming spurred on the Illusionary Spirit Vine seeds, binding Xu Ri True Person tight!


    Boom!


    Xu Ri True Person used a Transforming Fire Secret Technique to break free from all attacks, his whole form blazing like fire, piercing through, then quickly recovering his shape, about to transform into an Escape Light, fleeing towards the distance!


    But at that moment, an eight-winged Golden Winged Mantis turned into a beam of golden light and struck heavily upon his neck.


    Xu Ri True Person''s face showed great alarm, naturally not allowing the Golden Wing to make a true hit, given that he was not a Body Cultivator.


    With a wave of his hand, he let loose a Crimson Crow Spirit Finger, which pierced through half of the Golden Wing''s wing and even chopped off one of those seemingly indestructible scythe feet.


    The Golden Winged Mantis screamed in pain and plummeted into the vast ocean.


    Upon examination, its eyes were filled with blood!


    But it was this moment of pause that allowed the Flaming Sword''s light to sweep by.


    Xu Ri True Person tried to transform into flames to escape once again, but it was already too late.


    Facing the Golden Core Late Stage Flaming Sword, he was already outmatched and had been wounded repeatedly, draining his foundation.


    Further delayed, he fell on the spot.


    Leaving behind only two lifebound treasures and a pair of crimson Dharma Eyes.


    Lin Shiming swept up his sleeve, taking all the remnants and treasures into his Cave Heaven, including the Golden Winged Mantis and several other Great Demons.


    After collecting everything, he then took out the Primordial Magnet Ring, firing a primordial magnet light that scattered the surrounding Spiritual Energy into complete chaos.


    Not yet satisfied, Lin Shiming laid out a Formation right there and detonated it on the spot, erasing every trace of the battle!


    Afterward, his body turned into a beam of Spirit Light and escaped from the seabed.


    As for the Spiritual Medicine on the Mantis Island and even the treasures of the Twelve-Winged Frost Mantis, he did not touch them at all!


    The implications involving a Golden Core True Person were too significant; he had to leave no trace whatsoever.


    The experiences with the Blood Cultivation Sect''s blood-eyed cultivators were still vivid in his mind.


    And without any system prompt, in case it attracted another Golden Core True Person or a Demon King, that would only provoke more complications.


    ...


    On Xu Ri Island, Red Leaf True Person was still discussing the matter of the beast wave with her father, Falling Leaf True Person.


    The next moment, a Purple Mansion cultivator came rushing in, flustered and exasperated.


    "Xu Hao, why are you in such a panic?" Red Leaf True Person frowned, clearly displeased.


    "To report to the True Person, something has happened to the master of Xu Ri Island..." Xu Hao''s face was somber, as Xu Ri True Person''s Soul Slip had shattered, leaving him unable to calm down.


    Although Xu Ri Island may not rank high within the Coral Alliance, owing to Xu Ri True Person''s strength and a pair of Crimson Crow Dharma Eyes, it held a not so insignificant position among the Twelve Inner Islands.


    Now that Xu Ri True Person''s Soul Slip had shattered, he could imagine the massive shock this would cause to their interests.


    "Who knows about this?" Red Leaf True Person quickly asked.


    "Only I and a Foundation Establishment disciple who was sweeping the hall, but now it''s just me!" Xu Hao hastily responded, fear in his eyes.


    He had silenced the disciple and naturally also feared being silenced by Red Leaf True Person.


    However, Red Leaf True Person''s reputation for benevolence on Xu Ri Island was well-known.


    If it were her who had fallen and he had to report to Xu Ri True Person, he wouldn''t dare to be so bold!


    "You''ve done well. Dad, please erase his memory for me. Then, as acting island master, I must quickly take control of Xu Ri Island. We cannot let Xu Ri Island be shaken; otherwise, everything about the Ye Family will be finished!" Red Leaf True Person spoke decisively.


    The old man also turned his gaze to Xu Hao.


    Those profound eyes plunged Xu Hao into oblivion.


    And Red Leaf True Person, in a haste, exited the grand hall!


    At this time, who killed Xu Ri True Person didn''t matter; the most important thing was to prevent the news of his death from leaking out.


    And the message was simple: Xu Ri True Person had entered closed-door cultivation to break through the Golden Core Late Stage!


    For a Golden Core Cultivator to go into seclusion, let alone fifty years, even two hundred or three hundred years would not be unusual.


    Even more so for a death seclusion!


    ...


    On a Nameless Island, Lin Shiming entered the Cave Heaven World. He looked at the downtrodden Golden Winged Mantis before him, which was making intermittent squeaking noises.


    Having lost a scythe and half a wing, the Golden Winged Mantis had suffered unprecedented damage.


    The strike from Xu Ri True Person carried the true flames of the Crimson Crow, which not even a Limb-Regrowing Pill could fix.


    It could be said that it had already lost half its life.


    Lin Shiming felt a pang of sorrow for this¡ªthe Golden Winged Mantis had been his earliest beast companion, accompanying him for a full seventy years or more.

 Chapter 597 385: Flood Dragon Nest, Star Pearl (Two-in-One, Subscription and Monthly Pass Requested)

    ```


    Within the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming took out the Jade Slip with utmost solemnity.


    The secrets of Nine Dragon Island were too precious and significant.


    The identity of the cultivator was also very clear, he could only be a core cultivator who defected from Nine Dragon Island, or a spy planted by the Flood Dragon Clan.


    However, Lin Shiming was more inclined to believe it was the latter; although sects were not as cohesive as family clans, acts of betrayal were still not common.


    Only those trusted from the bottom up were nurtured.


    It would be difficult for a core cultivator to betray, but for a spy to be inserted, with the strength of the Flood Dragon Clan, it was absolutely possible.


    Otherwise, it would not have resulted in the appearance of four Flood Dragons.


    He continued to look into the Jade Slip, and in the next moment, his face was suddenly filled with shock, which then turned into joy.


    He suddenly understood the foundation and purpose behind the establishment of the Flood Dragon Clan and Nine Dragon Island, and more clearly, why the cultivator from Nine Dragon Island had three Flood Dragons.


    The secret technique inside the Jade Slip was the creation of a Flood Dragon Nest.


    Its greatest effect was to help some spirit snakes with decent bloodlines accelerate their dragon transformation process, having a terrifying effect on bloodline solidification and ancestral regression.


    This was also why Nine Dragon Island had always firmly held the top position in the strength rankings of the six major seas, occupying the most central position and not worrying about demonic invasion.


    Even in the event of beast tides, they were always the side providing assistance, profiting greatly from the war, and even committed mass slaughter of the Flood Dragon Clan. This, in turn, would provoke a backlash from the Demonic Beasts, leading to an increasingly severe beast tide.


    Yet the other five major sea regions had no choice but to spend a great deal to request Nine Dragon Island''s help with protection.


    Lin Shiming studied for a full incense stick of time, his heart surging with emotions, and he understood the crux of it all¡ªwhich lay with the Golden Dragon Fruit tree coiled by Wang Jiao.


    In Nine Dragon Island and the Flood Dragon Clan, it was also known as the Dragon Transformation Tree.


    It was said that the Golden Dragon Fruit tree was formed from the corpse of a Sixth Rank Flood Dragon, nurtured day and night by the essence of dragon blood from its entire body.


    In the Southern Sea Cultivation World and the Eastern Domain Cultivation World, where not a single Nascent Soul cultivator would currently emerge, naturally, there would be no new Sixth Rank Flood Dragons.


    Therefore, every Golden Dragon Fruit tree was a treasured heritage of Nine Dragon Island.


    It could not only produce Golden Dragon Fruits, but also exude Flood Dragon Qi, which, however, could easily be mistaken for the Spiritual Energy from Spirit Veins, thus losing its original effects.


    Therefore, a Spirit Formation was needed to gather this Flood Dragon Qi together.


    This Formation was also an Intermediate Grade, Fourth Rank Array.


    Moreover, it was a compound Formation that consisted of three arrays together, with extremely high requirements for mastery, and Lin Shiming had never heard of its name or content before.


    The Formation was beyond his comprehension as well.


    But he knew one thing.


    He had the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, and now he also possessed the Formation, so the construction of the Flood Dragon Nest could be scheduled.


    He had been puzzled that despite the Golden Dragon Fruit tree not bearing fruits, there were still so many half-Flood Dragons in that Secret Realm.


    It was highly likely to be influenced by the Golden Dragon Fruit tree.


    Lin Shiming suddenly felt a mix of laughter and tears, realizing that his Second Uncle Lin Houshou might be burdened with even greater responsibilities.


    In the next ten years, improving Lin Houshou''s mastery of formations would surely be the main focus.


    Both the Flood Dragon Nest and the Purple Sun Tower required his expertise in formations.


    The only hesitation he had was how the Golden Dragon Fruit tree appeared in that Profound Grade Secret Realm.


    Moreover, it was known from Zi Yu Loose that Nine Dragon Island was aware of the tree''s existence, but did not know its exact location and did not dare to make a large incursion into the Coral Alliance territory.


    Speaking of half-Flood Dragons, he couldn''t help but think of Lin Shitao''s Five-colored Python offspring, which could also be cultivated into Flood Dragons. It was unknown whether it would have single attributes or directly become a Five-colored Flood Dragon after transformation.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but yearn for it, but he also knew clearly that the existence of the Golden Dragon Fruit tree must not be revealed.


    He could also not plant it on the Lin Family''s sea island; the most likely place would be within his own Cave Heaven.


    Otherwise, whether it''s the cultivators from Nine Dragon Island discovering its essence or the Flood Dragon Clan finding out, the only outcome for the Lin Family would be destruction.


    Even if they were to purchase Demonic Snakes in the future, a very good excuse would be needed.


    The construction method of the Flood Dragon Nest had also excited Lin Shiming for a good while.


    Only then did he begin to continue examining the formations.


    As a spy, the contents of these Jade Slips were also unexpected to Lin Shiming, including the Supreme Grade method for refining the Dragon Binding Chain, a Magical Treasure. Besides that, there was also the method for crafting the Savage Blood Pill.


    The Savage Blood Pill was exactly what the cultivator gave to the Flood Dragons when they were pulling the tower at the last moment.


    After consuming the Savage Blood Pill, that Demonic Beast would almost deplete its potential, suffer a great reduction in lifespan and bloodline. This was why he decisively controlled the Flood Dragon to self-destruct.


    The Savage Blood Pill did not apply only to Flood Dragons; it could also increase nearly half the strength of other Demonic Beasts.


    The Savage Blood Pill was divided into Third Rank Savage Blood Pill and Fourth Rank Savage Blood Pill; the former was for Third Rank Demonic Beasts, and the latter was for Fourth Rank Demonic Beasts.


    For the Lin Family, this matched perfectly with the Spirit Controlling Seal. The Spirit Controlling Seal could temporarily control Demonic Beasts, while the Savage Blood Pill could maximize their strength.


    As for potential, if they were not Spirit Beasts raised from a young age, why would potential be needed?


    The Demonic Beasts controlled by the Lin Family''s Spirit Controlling Seal were presumably all cannon fodder.


    But ultimately, it circled back to the problem that Nine Dragon Island must not find out.


    Otherwise, the Lin Family would face stormy threats far more terrifying than the Coral Alliance. A combination of Golden Core True Persons and Golden Core Demon Kings would be nearly insurmountable unless Lin Shiming could bring back the Myriad Swords Tomb.


    And turn them all into Spirit Cultivators.


    Otherwise, the Lin Family was doomed.


    The rest of the Jade Slips did not contain other good secret techniques or pill recipes.


    The only one was an improved version of the Beast Nurturing Pill recipe, which was better than what the Lin Family had obtained before, reaching the category of a Supreme Grade, Third Rank Spirit Pill, having an even greater effect on the growth of Spirit Beasts.


    ```

 Chapter 600 386: Hidden World? Silence Them! (Two-in-One Mega Chapter)

    Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lin Family Restaurant.


    At this moment, Lin Family Restaurant, with its four floors, had replaced the Purple Jade Pavilion, situated at the very center of the market on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    A cultivator dressed in spirit-repelling gauze entered the restaurant and took a seat by the window.


    "Waiter, a jug of Monkey Wine, and a serving of Crocodile Blood Cuisine!" he called out.


    At the sound of his voice, a Lin Family Qi Refining cultivator, dressed in hemp and wearing a towel, hurried over.


    He presented the spirit-repelling gauze-wearing cultivator with a cup of ordinary Qing Mountain Tea.


    "Sir, please enjoy your tea. May I ask, do you have a Lin Family VIP card?" The youngster spoke neither servile nor overbearing, and with utmost politeness.


    "I do not," the spirit-repelling gauze-wearing cultivator responded, slowly shaking his head.


    The waiter proceeded to give a leisurely introduction.


    He went on to present the various cultivation rooms provided by the Lin Family Restaurant, the spiritual cuisine, as well as the pairing of Lin Family''s Pill Pavilion and Lin Family''s Magic Artifact Forge.


    "No need for that!"


    "All right then!" The waiter, having been interrupted, also withdrew slowly.


    Yet, if anyone else could lift the spirit-repelling gauze to look, they would find the cultivator''s eyes brimming with satisfaction.


    Naturally, this cultivator was Lin Shiming.


    For the Lin Family, their current strength was not sufficient, but once they thoroughly assimilated Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the family would venture to other islands, with Lin Family Restaurant as the forefront.


    Lin Family''s cultivation rooms, Cui Lan Tea, Crocodile Blood Spiritual Cuisine, and even future Turtle Spirit Coconuts were to be spread far and wide.


    It wasn''t just necessary to consider the overall strength of the Lin Family.


    The comprehensive performance of Lin Family Restaurant also mattered. If the Lin Family cultivators were arrogant and disrespectful, it surely would not do.


    A family like that could not go far.


    That was also why he had come incognito to investigate.


    And if they were subservient, bending the knee at everything, that too would not befit the dignity of the Lin Family.


    His cultivation level now appeared as late-stage Qi Cultivation, which was just right.


    Moreover, the waiter''s eagerness to introduce Lin Family''s VIP policy to an unfamiliar cultivator also pleased him.


    Lin Shiming leaned against the restaurant table, only to overhear a nearby cultivator speaking vividly and without any concealment.


    "Do you guys know the background of Heavenly Phenomenon Island''s Lin Family?"


    "Heh heh, a family hidden from the world for three hundred years, once allied by marriage with the Ye Family. Three hundred years later, they are once again related to the Ye Family. Just take this auction, not to mention the Zi Xuan Precious Jade, just the five supreme grade Magic Artifacts alone drove all the cultivators mad!"


    "There were indeed more than thirty powers competing fiercely for them, along with countless loose cultivators who came in admiration!"


    "There were even Purple Mansion cultivators who made a move, wanting to pluck the fruit by force, only to be suppressed by a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator of the Lin Family!"


    "Their ashes were scattered in the flowerbeds in front of the auction hall. If you all go now, you might as well trample on a Purple Mansion great power and rub some of that great fortune on yourselves!"


    "The Lin Family really is a crouching tiger, hidden dragon!"


    "At least four Purple Mansion cultivators, no wonder they could bring out the Zi Xuan Precious Jade!"


    ...


    The leading cultivator became more animated as he talked.


    The other few loose cultivators listening were all shaken and astounded.


    Their eyes were full of admiration, and some even declared on the spot an intention to participate in the Lin Family''s son-in-law recruitment event.


    The Lin Family currently had many female cultivators with good aptitude. Longing for the path of immortality, the Lin Family naturally didn''t ask much.


    But with the Lin Family''s procreation policy in place, those female cultivators also needed to prepare for the family''s future generations.


    Such a vast base of cultivators naturally could not rely solely on some Lin Family cultivators who had changed their surname or those connected to the Lin Family Clan across many generations.


    Entering into marriage and matrimonial alliances had now become the primary theme for the Lin Family, and with the Inquiry Spirit Talisman, the Lin Family also didn''t fear any significant issues.


    Moreover, the newly joined loose cultivators were all settled on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, not entering the Lin Family Clan lands.


    "My friend, may I ask who ended up with the Zi Xuan Precious Jade in the end?"


    Another cultivator inquired.


    These cultivators might not even have been able to enter the auction, but their yearning for Purple Mansion treasures was no less than that of others.


    "Well asked! The auction of the Zi Xuan Precious Jade naturally electrified the entire auction hall. You know, it''s rare for Xu Ri Island, one of the Twelve Inner Islands of the Coral Alliance, to auction Purple Mansion treasures!"


    "The loose cultivators who came for the name were like fish leaping across the river, the numbers were endless. Among them were many fierce and ruthless cultivators, and no shortage of local big families from other regions!"


    "A motley crowd, the competition was extraordinary!"


    "Nevertheless, it ended up in the hands of the Duan Family!"


    ...


    "Not bad for an old Foundation Establishment family of Heavenly Phenomenon Island!" The other cultivators also showed looks of admiration.


    Hearing this, the leading cultivator was disdainful.


    He then continued, "Humph, although the Duan Family has power, those outsiders'' thirst for the Zi Xuan Precious Jade was not low either. The Duan Family could bid successfully because they joined hands with the Cheng Family!"


    "Now both families have secluded themselves and become new hidden cultivation families, just like that!"


    "Who knows, maybe after three hundred years, there will be another Lin Family hidden from the world!"


    ...


    As more and more cultivators listened to the tale, Lin Shiming was among them, taking it all in.


    Hearing about the Chen and Duan Family''s seclusion, he downed his Spiritual Wine in one gulp.


    Collecting his Spiritual Cuisine as well, he left behind a Spirit Stone and headed towards what used to be the Purple Jade Sect''s gate.


    In his heart, he already had an overall picture and was very satisfied with the Lin Family.


    Without him, the Lin Family was gradually taking control of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the only thing lacking was time. Such a family was healthy, and only a family like this could mutually benefit with him.


    This was also his ideal kind of family.


    Now, Zi Yu Mountain was still Zi Yu Mountain, only its master had become the Lin Family.


    The Lin Family''s branch on Heavenly Phenomenon Island was located here.


    Seeing the state of Zi Yu Mountain, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile. At the foot of the mountain lay a flight of stairs, identical in nature to the Ascending Immortal Ladder once belonging to the Qingxuan Sect.

 Chapter 601 386: Hide from the World? Silence the Voices! (Two in One Big Chapter)_2

    It was but a name for ascending immortality, lacking the reality of it.


    Of course, if he had the strength in the future, he could indeed draw on the Ascending Immortal Ladder for inspiration.


    Spread the fortunes of immortality far and wide to enhance the prestige of the Lin Family.


    Passing through the Ascending Immortal Ladder would be the Peach Blossom Forest, followed by the main buildings of the Lin Family.


    However, when his divine sense looked towards the mountain gate, he saw hardly any cultivators.


    The one with the highest cultivation level actually turned out to be Lin Hou Yong, who was stationed there.


    As the eldest uncle of the Lin Family, he was still at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.


    This was already the limit for Lin Hou Yong, whose cultivation level had been broken through with the help of Dragon Blood Pills and Foundation Establishment Pills, and he was approaching a hundred years old at the time of the breakthrough.


    Fortunately, with a higher cultivation technique, his strength was exceptionally formidable.


    "Shiming, you''re finally back!"


    "Uncle." Lin Shiming politely responded as well.


    "Shiming, Seventh Great-Uncle said that as soon as you return, we should send a message immediately!"


    "Mhm mhm, no rush!" Lin Shiming felt warmth in his heart. His seventh great-uncle''s affection for him was no less than that of his father, Lin Houyuan.


    Each time he left on a journey, the other party would give all-out support and care about everything.


    "By the way, Shiming, Shijie and Elder Jiuxiao have both gone out!"


    "Their mission is to eliminate the Cheng Family and the Duan Family!"


    Lin Shiming nodded upon hearing this, not surprised.


    He was no stranger to the storyteller''s pattern.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, that storytelling cultivator was a plant by the Lin Family.


    When the Lin Family first entered Heavenly Phenomenon Island, they employed a great number of plants.


    It only took a short time for the name of the Lin Family''s Pill Pavilion, artifact shops, and taverns to become famous in the area.


    Now it was the same. With the Lin Family''s publicity, besides a few local forces and loose cultivators, future cultivators coming to Heavenly Phenomenon Island would know only of the Lin Family there.


    And not of the once Purple Jade Sect.


    Such is the trend of public opinion.


    The fact that the Duan and Cheng families were able to acquire the Zi Xuan Precious Jade was clearly arranged by the Lin Family.


    As for shutting the mountain gate in seclusion, he did not know how Lin Shijie persuaded the Duan and Cheng families.


    But he guessed they were also probably desperate.


    Without a Purple Mansion cultivator, these two families could only allow others to manipulate them.


    Although the Lin Family did not say so, the Duan and Cheng families would not let it lie, only harboring resentment in their hearts.


    "The remaining cultivators from the Cheng and Duan families?" Lin Shiming asked again.


    To annihilate a clan naturally means to remove it root and branch. The Purple Jade Sect was exactly such a case¡ªthe Lin Family directly sealed off the island and Liu Zi Island.


    The cultivators of the Purple Jade Sect naturally could not escape.


    But for the Duan and Cheng families, the Lin Family had plans to stay hidden.


    Thus, they could not brazenly kill the cultivators of the Cheng and Duan families on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    "Rest assured, Shiming, the family has arranged for the Ye Family, Zhao Family, and Primordial Yang Gate, three major powers, to infiltrate the Cheng and Duan families."


    "They did not take a single penny for the treasures, letting them clear up the scattered cultivators and subsidiary islands. They have always been deeply at odds with each other, knowing each other inside out. Even the head of the Ye Family sent out most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators of their family!" Lin Hou Yong spoke.


    Lin Shiming nodded as well, the latter two powers were newly supported forces by the Lin Family, most of whom were relatives by marriage of the Lin Family.


    With these three powers against the Duan and Cheng families, they would certainly show no mercy.


    They would even be more worried about the repercussions of not completely eliminating a problem.


    "Uncle, has there been any news from Xu Ri Island?" Lin Shiming asked once more.


    This was also the most critical issue.


    "Yes, Xu Ri True Person has gone into closed-door cultivation to break through to the late stage of Golden Core, and Red Leaf True Person has raised the taxes by twenty percent!" Lin Hou Yong spoke somewhat indignantly.


    Xu Ri True Person''s breakthrough was of no benefit to the Lin Family, but he took the opportunity to raise the taxes, wanting the entire Xu Ri Island''s forces to assist Xu Ri True Person''s breakthrough.


    Lin Shiming also breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.


    For Red Leaf True Person to operate so boldly, this was clearly based on two considerations: one was to prevent the leakage of information, and the other was to use this as an opportunity to buy Spirit Pills and improve his strength.


    No news leaking would be good for the Lin Family; the Coral Alliance would not intervene, and Red Leaf True Person might even be overjoyed at this moment.


    He certainly wouldn''t seek revenge for Xu Ri True Person.


    With his mind made up, Lin Shiming felt immense relief.


    ...


    ```


    A giant disc-shaped island was enshrouded in the endless sea mist,


    appearing and disappearing within the vast ocean.


    Sea birds periodically flew out from the island and then back in.


    However, the next moment, in the sea, a Green Shell Crab Purple Mansion Great Demon, along with a Thousand-Legged Chapter Purple Mansion Great Demon, surfaced,


    sticking out a head before submerging again in the sea.


    Also emerging were more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Demonic Beasts, quietly surging towards the sea mist.


    Behind the mist, Jiuxiao Hermit and Lin Houwei appeared, steering a Spirit Boat.


    "Master, let''s wait for Shijie to make the first move over there; their island has interconnected transmission formations!"


    Lin Houwei, holding a gourd of wine, respectfully addressed the Jiuxiao Hermit beside him.


    Now that he had switched to cultivating the Nine Heavens Spiritual Water Scripture, he could fight without worrying about drinking interfering with matters.


    After all, their cultivation technique revolved around wine.


    Moreover, Jiuxiao Hermit consumed much more than him.


    "Mm!" The Jiuxiao Hermit nodded his head and took a swig from his wine gourd.


    Although he had recently broken through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, he had also sensed the presence of Golden Core energy on the island.


    He understood that the Lin Family was a true den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with Golden Core Cultivators moving methodically; such a clan was exceedingly formidable!


    Additionally, the Lin Family had shown him sufficient goodwill, appointing him as the first external Elder.


    Most of the secret methods and artifact refining inheritances were made available to him.


    Especially the Spirit Controlling Seal, which made him feel the Lin Family''s boundless trust.


    Such a Lin Family was worth his wholehearted allegiance; he even saw hope for Golden Core.


    His cultivation technique was different from others, requiring the refinement of a vast amount of Spiritual Wine.


    Entering the path through Spiritual Wine, he spent most of his time in the Eastern Domain collecting Spiritual Wine, but with little success.


    After all, at that time, he was collecting on his own. Now in the Southern Sea with the help of the Lin Family, his task would only become more convenient and rapid.


    Of course, he was also aware that given his knowledge, if he harbored any thoughts of picking the peaches, the Lin Family would probably strike viciously.


    Not to mention the mysterious Golden Core, in his view, Lin Shiming was quite terrifying.


    ...


    In another part of the vast sea, a transparent soul coffin quietly floated in the void.


    It was the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin.


    Inside the massive coffin, there were a dozen or so cultivators, led by Lin Shijie.


    "Zehu, are you sure the Duan Family has a transmission formation to other islands?"


    "Uncle, I''m certain. That formation was refined by a son-in-law requested by the Duan Family. Though they call him son-in-law, in truth, the Duan Family gave ten female cultivators to that Purple Mansion Cultivator as Furnace Cauldrons for the Array Master to do his work!"


    "Moreover, the Duan Family has control over a type of berry that nurtures serpent Demonic Beasts, possessing a large number of serpent Demonic Beasts!"


    "Uncle, we should still be cautious!"


    "Good, Zehu, your merit is noted!" Lin Shijie nodded, then turned his head to look at the silent Lin Shiming.


    "Shimo, once the action begins, you will take the Five-colored Silkworm Coffin and the Peach Blossom River Scenic Map. You must make sure to destroy the transmission formation. With Shiming not here, the Lin Family must still stand as the Lin Family!"


    "Mm!" Lin Shiming nodded. Although he didn''t say much, his eyes shone with a unique light.


    "Fourth Uncle, I want to go too!" Lin Zekong, who was nearby, spoke up as well. Lin Zekong, with his Dual Spirit Root of water and wood, had always received great care from Lin Shiming.


    One specializing in cultivating corpses, the other in Wooden Marionettes, they shared similarities.


    "You''re only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage!" Lin Shiming glanced at him, while Lin Shijie spoke up directly.


    Going to sabotage the transmission formation was not a safe task.


    "I have the Heavenly Wood Seed Secret Method, Dual Spirit Platforms, and with both the Poisonous Dragon Teng and Green Snake Teng, I can certainly provide cover!" Lin Zekong stated, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.


    With Lin Shiming''s legendary accomplishments before him, he, the second member of the Lin Family with Dual Spirit Platforms, couldn''t just hide away.


    The family cultivates more outstanding cultivators, and the outstanding cultivators then enhance the family''s strength.


    None of those older generation cultivators in the Preaching Hall would shrink back.


    "Good!" Lin Shijie''s eyes lit up as well.


    This was not the time for hesitation.


    He raised his hand to form hand seals.


    The other cultivators also formed hand seals, activating the Spirit Controlling Seal, causing the waves to start building in the sea, rushing towards an empty expanse of sea.


    A massive Spirit Shield appeared, beneath which was an island twisted like a spirit serpent.


    Boom!


    A Thunder Longspear suddenly struck down upon the Spirit Shield.


    The Thunder Spirit Turtle also surfaced in the vast sea.


    ```

 Chapter 604 388: Iron Forest Sword, Knocking (Two in One)

    Zi Yu Mountain, Artifact Refining Pavilion.


    One refining room lined up after another; all the ground fire rooms opened year-round. Despite the formations shielding them, waves of scorching heat still emanated relentlessly.


    Apprentices of the Lin Family Clan hammered and forged away in those rooms, practicing their sword-making skills.


    Walking through the Artifact Refining Hall somewhat reminiscent of Fangmu Mountain''s own, Lin Shiming felt a tide of emotions.


    Just like the Artifact Refining Hall on Fangmu Mountain, the heat here was similarly intense, the only difference being that Fangmu Mountain''s formations were of lower quality.


    But in Zi Yu Mountain''s Artifact Refining Hall, the intensity stemmed from the incredibly powerful fire vein below.


    Even with numerous formations set up, the high temperature could not be completely contained.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    Along the way, many cultivators of the Lin Family greeted Lin Shiming respectfully.


    Every now and then, someone would call out "Seventh Great-Uncle," making Lin Shiming feel somewhat dazed.


    Unwittingly, he too had become an elder of ''Great-Uncle'' status.


    However, most of those Lin Shiming greeted he had only met once, and apart from especially outstanding Artifact Refiners, there were few whose names he could remember.


    "Zeyue, where is Uncle Shizhong?" Lin Shiming asked.


    Lin Zeyue was considered a cultivator with quite a talent for artifact refining, having now broken through to a Second Rank, Superior Grade Artifact Refiner, and thus had his own refining room within the pavilion.


    The only pity was that, much like Lin Shizhong, Lin Zeyue possessed only a Third Spirit Root, meaning his cultivation progress was somewhat slow.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Uncle Shizhong is next to the central position in the Artifact Refining Hall!" Lin Zeyue replied with visible delight upon seeing Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming nodded, encouraged Zeyue with a few elder-like words, then turned his gaze deeper into the hall.


    The center of the Artifact Refining Hall featured a large opening that exposed roaring earth fire.


    Around the fire were the four largest refining rooms.


    These were further categorized by ''Heaven'' and ''Earth'' designations.


    Only Jiuxiao Scatter Man could enter the ''Heaven'' designated rooms, where the supporting formations that controlled the fire''s temperature were all Fourth Rank.


    Lin Shizhong was refining in an ''Earth'' designated room.


    Feeling the high temperature inside the refining room, Lin Shiming was not in a rush.


    He simply observed the earth fire.


    Time passed unknowingly.


    "Seventh Brother!" Following an excited shout, the door to the refining room swung open.


    Lin Shiming looked up to see a middle-aged man, his face flushed red from the heat, wielding a sword in his hands.


    His eyes were bloodshot, and he gripped a magic sword in his trembling hands.


    Tears glistened in his eyes, which also sparkled with joy.


    Clearly overwhelmed with emotion!


    "Seventh Brother, I did it! I''ve succeeded with Grandpa Si''s sword, and it''s a Third Rank Supreme Grade magic sword, a whole rank higher than what Grandpa Si had envisioned!" Lin Shizhong said excitedly, and Lin Shiming turned to look at the sword in Lin Shizhong''s hands.


    The sword, primarily forged from the Lin Family''s Golden Iron Crystal, radiated with a brass hue.


    The spirit light it emitted also confirmed it as a Third Rank, Supreme Grade artifact.


    "Well done, Shizhong, Grandpa Si would definitely be proud of you!" Lin Shiming gave him a thumbs up, deeply moved.


    This sword, the Iron Forest Sword, originated from Lin Yutie''s lifelong efforts. Lin Yutie had only passed it on to Lin Shizhong before his death, entrusting him with the task.


    Lin Shizhong still remembered Lin Yutie''s final wishes and had been striving to honor them for years.


    Now, not disappointing the expectations, under Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s guidance, he finally succeeded and even advanced to a Third Rank Supreme Artifact Refiner.


    And to think, Lin Shizhong''s cultivation level was only at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Clan swords and Sect magic artifacts were weapons carrying deep meaning, although not much different in form from other artifacts.


    They could unify the clan''s cultivators'' hearts and also signified that the Lin Family''s artifact refining industry was ready to be discussed alongside pill concoction.


    Reliance on seizing artifacts was not a sustainable strategy; after all, artifacts wear out and plundering carries risks. Only self-made artifacts accounted for enduring wisdom.


    Moreover, should Lin Shizhong manage to break through, it would mean the Lin Family, at last, had a fourth-order Artifact Refiner of their own bloodline.


    There''s a difference between clan members and Guest Elders.


    "Seventh Brother, this Iron Forest Sword also comes with a sensing stone. Within a thousand li, it allows mutual sensing, and it can faintly detect the bloodline of the Lin Family. It will facilitate mutual care among Foundation Establishment cultivators of our family when they explore Profound Grade Secret Realms!" Lin Shizhong introduced with renewed excitement.


    His eyes shone bright. If he could choose anyone to first introduce his crafted artifact to, it would be his master and Great-Grandpa Lin Yutie first, and naturally, Lin Shiming second.


    The former would have to be informed with incense at the ancestral shrine.


    But the latter stood right before him.


    "Shizhong, while refining artifacts, you must also take care of your health and aim to break through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment soon," Lin Shiming said with a tinge of concern.


    A Third Rank Supreme Grade artifact naturally involved the utilization of the Formation Artifact Manual.


    Although the Lin Family traditionally prohibited this, how could they control the desires of their pill concoctors and artifact refiners?


    The clan''s combat power had reached the Purple Mansion level, and while they could not fight like Lin Shiming, the pill concoction and artifact refining for the Lin Family were their greatest tasks.


    Lin Shizhong nodded as well; indeed, he needed to break through.


    As the Lin Family''s first Artifact Refiner, resources for cultivation, such as Spirit Pills, Spiritual Medicines, Spiritual Pearls, and Spirit Honey, were readily available to him.


    Advancing to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment was not difficult. His focus had simply been on consulting Jiuxiao Scatter Man and refining artifacts for rapid assimilation.


    It could be said that Jiuxiao Scatter Man had two spiritual successors within the Lin Family: Lin Houwei inherited the cultivation techniques, while Lin Shizhong inherited the artifact refining skills.


    "Shizhong, here''s a Spirit Puppet inheritance!" Lin Shiming then took out a Jade Slip.


    It was the Spirit Puppet Jade Slip he had traded for with a cultivator from Shen Ji Island.


    Lin Shizhong was thrilled after examining the Jade Slip. Artifact refining and Spirit Puppet creation were closely related, and Artifact Refiners were naturally adept at it.


    Previously, the Lin Family had lacked a quality Spirit Puppet inheritance, but now even with only the Foundation Establishment inheritance, it was a windfall for the family.

 Chapter 605 388: Iron Forest Sword, Knocking (Two in One)_2

    The Lin Family currently lacks nothing more than resources.


    With the several secret realms from the Purple Jade Sect added to their own, various kinds of spiritual wood were piling up.


    What they truly lacked was talent.


    "Shizhong, in twenty years, the centennial beast tide will arrive, and by then the danger could far surpass the last time!"


    "Big brother, if that''s the case, I have a cultivator I must introduce to you!" Lin Shizhong suddenly said, his eyes lighting up.


    "Big brother, do you remember Zecheng from the ''Ze'' generation?"


    "Of course, I remember!" Lin Shiming nodded. Lin Zecheng and Lin Zekong were the two oldest in the Lin Family''s ''Ze'' generation, always competing with each other. Both of them had dual spirit roots.


    However, Lin Zecheng had gold and fire dual spirit roots, and during his first visit to Shuangmu Island, his performance was far superior to Lin Zekong''s.


    It was only later when Lin Zekong cultivated the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique and then practiced wooden marionette puppetry¡ªan alternative wood attribute puppetry¡ªdid he surpass Lin Zecheng.


    "Big brother, Zecheng is now an artifact refiner of the third rank at the inferior grade, and he has already started researching spirit puppets. The issue is that the spirit puppetry heritage purchased by the family is inadequate!"


    "He started studying artifact refining after his Foundation Establishment, right?" Lin Shiming''s eyes shone. Lin Zecheng hadn''t been at the Foundation Establishment stage for long, yet in such a short period, he had cultivated artifact refining to the third rank at the inferior grade, showing a talent even stronger than Lin Shizhong''s.


    Lin Zecheng''s research on spirit puppets could also bring rapid cultivation results for the Lin Family.


    After talking with Lin Shizhong for a while longer, Lin Shiming saw rainbows appearing in the distance, and spirit boats appeared at Zi Yu Mountain.


    It was Lin Shijie and others, returning from their trip.


    Lin Shiming saw that each person''s face was filled with joy.


    Descending from the spirit boats.


    "Uncle Thirteen, Second Uncle..." Lin Shiming greeted each of them in turn.


    Through his perception, he noticed that his Uncle Thirteen had already broken through to the peak of the Foundation Establishment middle stage and would soon reach the late stage.


    Lin Shijie''s True Yuan in his Purple Mansion was even more profound, and the aura of his Second Uncle Lin Houshou was mysteriously extraordinary; with the support of both Buddha and demon, his strength was on par with that of other sword cultivators of the same rank.


    In the distance, the hermit Jiuxiao had also broken through to the late stage of the Purple Mansion.


    Standing at the back, he still appeared carefree and unrestrained, casually drinking down a mouthful of spiritual wine and belching loudly.


    "Elder Jiuxiao!" As Jiuxiao Scatter Man was now a guest elder of the Lin Family, Lin Shiming naturally grew more affectionate.


    Moreover, Jiuxiao Scatter Man enjoyed his wine, and the Lin Family could supply him with spiritual wine, forming the best kind of mutual benefit.


    "Shiming, the Cheng Family and the Duan Family have been eradicated, but there''s still the Ten Thousand Snake Lair..." Lin Houshou inadvertently began.


    He then related the full account of the great battle.


    The Ten Thousand Snake Lair was not close to Spirit Snake Island; that place might well be rampant with a Demon King and he had spread the news of the Duan Family patriarch''s breakthrough.


    "I shall handle this matter myself!" Lin Shiming could not help but feel greatly pleased.


    He had been concerned about how to conceal the Flood Dragon Tide, but the appearance of Spirit Snake Island and the Ten Thousand Snake Lair was a fantastic piece of news to him.


    With the Ten Thousand Snake Lair, the Lin Family would have a few more Flood Dragons, even if it was just a few half-Flood Dragons in the short term.


    "Have all of the Duan Family''s secret techniques been obtained?"


    "We have!" Lin Houshou nodded and then took out a tome inscribed with serpent secret methods.


    Not only was it inscribed with methods of defending and commanding spirit beasts,


    it also detailed the cultivation of the Blue Serpent Berry.


    Lin Shiming took the jade slip and looked through it, also extremely satisfied:


    "Second Uncle, promote the Serpent Secret Method for free within the family and reward every Lin Family cultivator who reaches the later stages of Qi Refinement with a spirit snake egg!"


    Lin Houshou was visibly startled, not expecting Lin Shiming to propose such a thing.


    To date, the demonic beasts suitable for the Lin Family cultivators to command were the Xuan Ling Turtle and the Sea Cloud Bird, both of which were being cultivated by the Lin Family.


    Yet, Lin Shiming chose to focus on the various spirit snakes, which were admittedly weaker in strength.


    The only advantage might be that spirit snakes were more common and could be more widely adopted within the Lin Family.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming could not explain his true motive in front of so many Lin Family cultivators at this moment.


    The Dragon Nest and the Purple Sun Tower were matters of great importance.


    He could not afford any leaks.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming did not answer, Lin Houshou nodded his head.


    Though he did not understand, he still firmly supported Lin Shiming''s decision.


    "Shiming, this is a portion of the Serpent Spirit Flame!" Lin Shijie also spoke up, passing a piece of Spirit Jade, within which was half of an extracted Spiritual Flame.


    This Spiritual Flame was naturally prepared for Lin Shitao.


    Lin Shitao also practiced the Scripture of the Five Flames, and with the addition of a Spiritual Flame, her chances of breaking through to the Fourth Rank would definitely increase significantly.


    "Thank you, big brother!" Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised, but he didn''t hesitate to accept the Serpent Spirit Flame.


    With the Serpent Spirit Flame, the Ziji Tan wood, and the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, the possibility of breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage would definitely increase tremendously.


    In the following time, the others took out a great number of treasures, and Lin Shiming let his big brother, Lin Shijie, handle them according to the family rules.


    They would keep thirty percent for themselves, and the remaining seventy percent also had the right of first exchange.


    For example, Lin Shimo exchanged for the corpse of the Hehuan Scatter Man.


    After the arrangements were made, Lin Shiming took out the Zifeng Boat, riding the wind as he, along with Lin Houshou, Lin Shijie, and other cultivators, once again hurried non-stop toward the deep parts of the Outer Sea.


    While venturing into the Outer Sea might be dangerous for Lin Shijie and the others, Lin Shiming felt confident that as long as they did not encounter a Demon King, there would be no problems.


    Even Jiuxiao Scatter Man was brought along by Lin Shiming.


    Although he was Lin Houwei''s and Lin Shizhong''s master and had already gone through a major battle, for Lin Shiming,


    regardless of what the other party had done, he planned to give Jiuxiao Scatter Man a glimpse of his strength and appropriately assert his position.


    Although the restrictions of the Family Jade Book were numerous, the authority of the host was stronger than that of the guest, which was more beneficial to the development of the Lin Family.


    The group had just returned from Spirit Snake Island and left Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi to guard Heavenly Phenomenon Island before they departed in a hurry, submerging into the vast sea.


    The speed of the Zifeng Boat naturally amazed all cultivators.


    Even Jiuxiao Scatter Man, a Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Artifact Refiner, was astounded.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, these Magical Treasures might still need the help of the Elder to be repaired!" Lin Shiming took out two Soul-Suppressing Pagodas and also brought out other treasures such as the Hiding Heaven Net, which had been frozen by the San Yang Hermit, among others.


    Besides those, he also took out a Ziji Tan wood.


    He had a total of six Ziji Tan woods: one was exchanged for a Spirit Puppet, one was used by himself, giving one to Jiuxiao Scatter Man meant he could just leave one for Lin Shitao and Lin Houshou, with one remaining.


    The reason he gave a Ziji Tan to Jiuxiao Scatter Man was to have him refine more Soul-Suppressing Pagodas for him.


    And now, Jiuxiao Scatter Man was not considered an outsider any longer.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man nodded in agreement, but his joy was not overwhelming; the Ziji Tan was indeed precious to him.


    But clear to him was the purpose of Lin Shiming calling him out again.


    Now, to repair so many Magical Treasures.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, this is a jug of Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine, the Purple Jade Mature Liquor that Shiming came across by chance!" Lin Shiming, without any regrets, continued and took out a Jade Bottle.


    "A special invitation for the Elder to taste!"


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man smelled the fragrance of the wine and his expression eased as the two began toasting and drinking.


    This made Lin Houwei, who was observing, also salivate involuntarily.


    Lin Shiming then handed over half a bottle to Lin Houwei for him to distribute.


    But he specifically cautioned that cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage should consume no more than one drop.


    Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine was no ordinary item.


    While the others distributed the Spiritual Wine on the Spirit Boat, Lin Shiming also raised his cup, sharing drinks with Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, to the everlasting prosperity of the Elder and the Lin Family!" After Lin Shiming finished his drink, he excused himself and left.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man remained in place, suddenly shuddering; he only felt that as Lin Shiming turned to leave, his imposing aura was not far from a peak Purple Mansion Cultivator.


    And he understood clearly, Lin Shiming was dissatisfied because he did not volunteer to lead Lin Shijie and others to the Thousand Snake Lair!


    After all, the Thousand Snake Lair was much more dangerous than Spirit Snake Island, but its threats were also greater. The cultivators of the Thousand Snake Lair must have already known of the annihilation of the Duan Family.


    A leak of this information would be a minor issue for Heavenly Phenomenon Island, but affecting the whole Coral Alliance was the last thing the Lin Family would want to see.


    And with his strength, Jiuxiao Scatter Man was entirely capable of leading the Lin Family to silence them.


    Even if there were threats, they would not be significant.


    But before this, he, Jiuxiao Scatter Man, had been a Loose Cultivator!


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man shook his head with a wry smile, realizing that in truth he was just a Guest Elder.


    But witnessing the assertive strength of Lin Shiming, and seeing the Spiritual Wine and Ziji Tan in his hands, he suddenly discovered that it was time for him to change his outlook.

 Chapter 606 389: Hydra Division (Two in One Thanks to Zhan6 Sauce and Zi Mus Reward)

    In the midst of a nameless island, it was dark, gloomy, and damp, with most of the vegetation being low bramble bushes.


    This contrasted greatly with other islands in the sea.


    On the island, accompanied by a fluctuation of spirit light.


    Inside a snake lair, countless rainbow lights appeared.


    They were dressed in Duan Family attire, carrying spirit hoes, and charged into a gigantic black ironwood tree with immense joy.


    Upon their charge, the black ironwood tree bizarrely shattered into pieces, revealing the unique spirit light of a formation.


    It also revealed a vast complex of buildings, neatly arranged on the flat land.


    "Fifth Elder, there''s a new discovery!"


    Several cultivators dressed in Duan Family attire spoke with boundless excitement.


    Handing over a Spirit Beast Bag to a middle-aged cultivator.


    The middle-aged cultivator had a mole on his mouth, and he habitually tilted his head slightly, releasing the Spirit Beast Bag to reveal a gigantic snake egg in front of them.


    The size of the snake egg could rival a wooden hut; though it didn''t emit spirit light, it seemed extraordinary in front of everyone.


    After all, even they only stood as tall as a corner of the giant egg.


    "Fifth Elder, a new hall was excavated in the Serpent''s Lair, and inside the hall there was nothing but a snake egg, no giant snake shedding!" the leading youth with blue eyes continued joyfully.


    The absence of shed skin meant there was no giant snake and no danger.


    And the potential of this snake egg was such that it could grow into at least a Fourth Rank Demonic Beast in the future.


    Even the eggs of Flood Dragons were not this big; had it not been for the absence of spiritual energy, they would have even believed it to be the egg of a True Dragon''s True Spirit.


    "Fifth Elder, has Uncle Ancestor Zhengxing come out of seclusion? Should we show it to him?"


    "We mustn''t disturb Uncle Ancestor. He is in a critical breakthrough to the Purple Mansion and has entered a sealed meditation. The formation is destroyed, and even the Lin Family won''t be able to find us. However, it is thanks to the Lin Family''s complacency that our Duan Family had the opportunity to break through to the Purple Mansion." The middle-aged cultivator shook his head.


    He glanced at the leading youth but didn''t continue speaking. He knew the young cultivator''s thoughts, but the ownership of the egg could only be arranged by Duan Zhengxing, the highest cultivator of the Duan Family.


    The blue-eyed cultivator was clearly worried that he would claim the spirit egg for himself.


    For this, he couldn''t help but sigh; who would have thought that at such a time, there would still be those in the Duan Family who would scheme against one another!


    "Since such a spirit egg has been excavated beneath the Serpent''s Lair, we need to be wary of the Cheng Family as well!"


    "They might also excavate such a spirit snake!"


    "Moreover, we absolutely must not close the formation, so as to ensure that not an ounce of spiritual energy leaks into the sea. With so many snake eggs, there might be Great Serpent Demons exceeding the Fourth Rank!"


    The middle-aged cultivator was arranging things, frowning all the while.


    ...


    On the Zifeng Boat, Lin Shijie stood at the helm, leading several cultivators in bracing against the fierce winds.


    Lin Shijie resisted with his Sword Intent.


    Other Lin Family cultivators, such as Lin Houwei and Lin Houshou, either used their bodies or their own Spirit Shields.


    Even Jiuxiao Scatter Man on the deck couldn''t help but glance sideways; the Lin Family was indeed the most unique family he had ever seen.


    From top to bottom, they gave him a feeling of extreme unity in will.


    Using the fierce winds to train their bodies and spiritual power at every moment.


    Not to mention, now a group of cultivators was doing just that.


    The Lin Family cultivators also had a limit; once their spiritual power reached a certain boundary, they would stop to replenish it, or if their bodies were injured, they would immediately recover.


    Nothing would change, whether Lin Shiming was present or not.


    It''s just that with Lin Shiming present, a few more cultivators could do the same.


    Suddenly, two Third Rank Demonic Beasts sprang up in front of the Spirit Boat, charging and threatening to knock it down.


    Lin Houwei sent a gourd flying with a flick of his hand, forcing it down towards the two Third Rank Demonic Beasts.


    Two drops of heavy water instantly crushed the beasts into a pool of flesh and blood.


    He waved his hand and gathered up the remains of the spirit beasts without showing any emotion, as if he had merely scooped up a bottle of seawater.


    The others showed no change of expression either, as if nothing had happened, and the Spirit Boat continued forward.


    The Jiuxiao Scatter Man looked at Lin Shiming, but Shiming was too calm, which made him a bit uneasy.


    To think that there were too many Demonic Beasts encountered on this trip.


    Far beyond their expectations.


    A few Purple Mansion Great Demons had even appeared, making this trip far from ordinary in terms of danger.


    If this was just to discipline him, he found Lin Shiming a bit naive.


    This was not in line with his previous impression of Lin Shiming.


    "Roar!"


    Just then, another Demonic Beast surged from below, charging towards the Spirit Boat.


    This Demonic Beast was only slightly slower than the Zifeng Boat.


    Huge tentacles, like dense vines, made it impossible for the Zifeng Boat to break free.


    Each tentacle was covered in suction cups that stuck to the deck, the tremendous force holding the Zifeng Boat firmly in place.


    The Spirit Light of the octopus Great Demon manifested, signifying it was a Purple Mansion Late Stage Great Demon.


    At that moment, even Jiuxiao Scatter Man grew pale.


    Engaging in battle with an equally ranked Demonic Beast in the ocean was definitely not a wise choice.


    The other Lin Family cultivators also prepared to engage, for this was not the first Purple Mansion Great Demon they had encountered. However, this one was a late Fourth Rank Great Demon.


    In terms of cultivation level, only the Jiuxiao Scatter Man could compare, and he had only just broken through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    "Daoist Lin, we have to fight quickly and decisively!" the Jiuxiao Scatter Man motioned, releasing thirty-six Silver Snow Needles.


    They shot towards the octopus Great Demon.


    Another hand sent out several flying knife treasures, slicing off the tentacles to allow the Zifeng Boat to continue to escape.


    The octopus Great Demon instantly became furious, wildly shooting out tentacles.


    The dense frenzy tumbled the seas over and over.


    The Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s complexion worsened even further. Although he still held the advantage, Lin Shiming had not yet taken action.

 Chapter 607 389: Hydra Division (Two in One Thanks to Zhan6 Sauce and Zi Mus Reward)_2

    And he sensed that many Purple Mansion Great Demons in the vicinity were rushing in this direction.


    Here in the Outer Sea, it was very likely for Golden Core Demon Kings to appear.


    And at this moment, he finally witnessed Lin Shiming''s solemn action.


    With a press of his finger upwards, a Primordial Magnet Ring shot towards the octopus Great Demon.


    The Spirit Patterns on the body of the octopus Great Demon scattered instantly, and a Golden Brilliance Sword burst forth, carrying supreme Sword Intent.


    Heaven-Slaying technique was unleashed!


    In an instant, countless sword lights manifested, one Grass Sword after another, incessantly surging forth.


    In his eyes, there was also an air of incredulity, this was clearly the third realm of the Sword Dao, Sword Birth Myriad Laws.


    Lin Shijie, standing beside him, also watched with utmost seriousness, his eyes filled with fervor but exceedingly focused.


    He was working hard to find the common ground between his own fire-forged Sword Intent and the Sword Dao, even if it could just allow him to achieve the condensation of Sword Qi into threads, he saw that as a substantial improvement.


    Though the paths were different, the goals of the Sword Dao were the same.


    With a single stroke, the octopus Purple Mansion Great Demon was savagely cleaved into halves, but its demonic power was still formidable; however, in the next moment, the Illusionary Spirit Gourd flew out, and with the cover of Illusionary Spirit Mist, the Great Demon became even more disoriented.


    Lin Shiming slew it with several swift and clean cuts.


    Lin Shiming collected both the Demonic Beast Inner Core and the beast itself then quickly flew away aboard the Zifeng Boat.


    "Time to make full speed ahead!" Lin Shiming, sensing the approaching Great Demons behind him, had a clear realization.


    Within these waters, Fourth Rank Spiritual Veins were rare, and the fact that so many Purple Mansion Great Demons were appearing meant that there was a Demon King driving them towards the Human Race territories, in preparation for the impending beast tide.


    In the territories of the Human Race in the Southern Sea, the strength was far from weak and there were no agreements between any Demon Kings and Golden Core True Persons.


    Once the beast tide commenced, it would be a full-scale activation.


    There were many Demonic Beasts in the sea areas, but it took time to assemble them.


    In the next twenty years, it was feared that more and more Demonic Beasts would enter the six major sea areas.


    For now, they were concentrated on the periphery of the six great sea areas, waiting for the right moment to surge in.


    And Lin Family must seize this opportunity to further enhance its strength, with at least a few more Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    His Cultivation Level, too, must break through to the late stage of Purple Mansion, otherwise even with the Flaming Sword, he''d struggle alone.


    Lin Shiming steered the Zifeng Boat, naturally at a speed not of the same level.


    The Cultivators of Lin Family could no longer train their physiques but were making all-out efforts to head towards the Myriad Snakes Island.


    Along the way, the Demonic Beasts could only see a streak of rainbow light and were unable to stop them in the slightest.


    Half a day later, the Lin Family finally saw a black island appearing in the distance at the end of the sea.


    "Shiming, that island in the distance is what the Duan Family refers to as the Spirit Island, with a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein on it!"


    "There''s a Myriad Snakes Den above, filled with a large number of newly hatched Spirit Snake Demonic Beasts, as well as a great number of Spirit Snake eggs!"


    "According to the Duan Family, there might be an earth vein beneath it that is beneficial for snake species!"


    "Hmm, and the cultivators of the Duan Family are still there. Second Uncle, it seems we''ve been quite fortunate this time!" Lin Shiming nodded in agreement.


    The Formation was still active and emitting Spirit Light, which indicated that the Duan Family had not yet realized that Lin Family had made the discovery.


    After all, Lin Family''s Spirit Boat had returned on Heavenly Phenomenon Island the other day; if there was a spy, they would have assumed that Lin Family had ceased their efforts.


    But Lin Shiming led a group of Cultivators to leave Heavenly Phenomenon Island by a different and more secretive route.


    The Zifeng Boat did its utmost to conceal its presence, virtually undetectable to anyone below the level of Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    It was normal that the Duan Family had not noticed.


    [Please, if possible, slay the Demon King''s clone to prevent the Nine-Headed Serpent Demon King from recovering Fifth Rank strength!]


    A system prompt suddenly appeared, causing Lin Shiming to be taken aback.


    There was a Demon King on this island!


    But it seemed to be one that had suffered an unexpected setback.


    And surprisingly, the system suggested that he go and slay it.


    While surprised, Lin Shiming did not shrink back; his greatest confidence was that he had the Flaming Sword with him, which might get returned to Sword Pavilion if he went back to Shuangmu Island.


    But at the moment, he could still ask the Flaming Sword for assistance using five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicine.


    With the presence of a serpent class Demon King, the abundance of snake eggs and Spirit Snakes in Myriad Snakes Den could be explained; he even felt that he might encounter a Fifth Rank Spiritual Vein, or at least a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein!


    This thought made his heart race.


    His Cave Heaven, at this moment, just so happened to be in need of a strong enough Spiritual Vein.


    Of course, he was also curious why the cultivators from the Duan Family remained unharmed and were able to survive on the island.


    "Second Uncle, take out the War Treasure Ship!" Lin Shiming said.


    The Zifeng Boat is a type of magical treasure known for its speed, but its defensive capabilities are incomparable to that of the War Treasure Ship.


    The group shifted from the Zifeng Boat to the War Treasure Ship, activating the concealment formation, and set off toward Myriad Snakes Island.


    ...


    Above the island, a heavily-guarded mansion stood.


    Two Duan Family cultivators carrying storage bags entered the mansion''s gate but paused right at the entrance.


    It was these two young men who, after discussions in the Duan Family hall, managed to retrieve the giant egg from the hands of the Duan Family''s Fifth Elder under the pretense of being fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators, and it was their job to deliver it to Duan Zhengxing, who was breaking through.


    Duan Zhengxing was indeed within the mansion, in closed-door cultivation aiming for his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage.


    The leading young man with azure eyes stopped in the mansion''s courtyard, then took out the giant egg and began to drop his essence blood on it.


    The cultivator beside him became anxious, as this was not what they had agreed upon beforehand, but clearly, they had not anticipated the young man with azure eyes would act on his own and directly establish a blood covenant with the giant egg.


    As the essence blood dropped, the blood covenant began to form.


    The young man with azure eyes glared at the other, warning him to know his place.


    However, in the next moment, spirit patterns began to appear one after another on the giant egg, looking incredibly eerie.


    And fluctuations of spiritual power also gradually emerged.


    This made the azure-eyed cultivator ecstatic, as the giant egg indeed had boundless potential, showing such an extraordinary phenomenon just upon the establishment of the blood covenant.


    More and more spirit patterns appeared on the egg, and in the next moment, they had covered the entire shell of the egg.


    "Crack crack crack!"


    Web-like cracks started to form on the shell of the egg.


    This delighted the azure-eyed cultivator even more, but the cultivator next to him couldn''t help but say,


    "Qingyun brother, this doesn''t seem like an egg..."


    "Of course, this is an egg. We''ve already established a blood covenant, and this aura, at the very least, is that of a naturally born Third Rank demonic beast!" said the azure-eyed cultivator, who was initially excited but became visibly irritated by the interruption.


    Just as he thought of continuing his lecture, he saw the giant egg behind him transform into a giant red spirit snake with spikes, which opened its gaping mouth and swallowed the azure-eyed young man in one gulp.


    It was still crunching on its meal.


    ...


    Above the island, the arrival of the Lin Family''s cultivators went completely unnoticed by both the Duan Family and the Cheng Family on the other side of the island.


    Demonic beasts make a grand entrance, unlike the Lin Family''s approaches.


    As the War Treasure Ship made its appearance, the formation shook violently, causing the Fifth Elder of the Duan Family''s face to become extremely unsightly.


    "Quickly go invite Elder Duan Zhengxing, and the rest of you prepare to scatter and flee. If one can survive, then it''s one!" The Fifth Elder of the Duan Family urgently gave the order.


    And just then, the formation was directly shattered, while some of the Lin Family''s spirit beasts began to slaughter the Duan Family''s cultivators.


    The Duan Family''s Fifth Elder''s anxiety grew even more intense, and finally, he directly headed towards the place where Duan Zhengxing was undergoing his closed-door cultivation.


    Others were too slow; he decided to go by himself, considering that Duan Zhengxing had the Zi Xuan Precious Jade, with which he could find a place to survive on his own.


    That way, the Duan Family could still be a Purple Mansion Family!


    But when he arrived at the mansion, it had already turned into ruins, only to see a fearsome fire snake with an open bloody maw coming to bite him.


    "What a strange Purple Mansion Peak demonic beast!" At that moment, Lin Shiming and Jiuxiao Scatter Man also arrived.


    The one speaking was none other than Jiuxiao Scatter Man, whose spiritual power was continuously surging.


    Only Lin Shiming had somewhat of a sudden realization.


    This demonic beast seemed to have a rebirth similar to that of a wooden demon''s tribulation rebirth.


    His divine sense penetrated the ground, vastly different from that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator; a Purple Mansion cultivator''s divine sense was many times larger.


    He quickly discovered the other eight giant eggs.


    These eggs, too, started to manifest spirit patterns, and the fluctuations grew increasingly intense.


    And within the depths of the earth, countless streams of spiritual energy surged towards it.


    With the abnormal changes in the spirit eggs, the spiritual vein was completely unfolded.


    And just as he had predicted, it was a hidden Fourth Rank Supreme Grade spiritual vein, not far from a Fifth Rank spiritual vein.


    If the Lin Family handled it properly, they could entirely upgrade the spiritual vein to a Fifth-Rank spiritual vein.


    And those eight giant snake eggs were unmistakably the incarnations of a nine-headed serpent.


    However, the states of his nine incarnations were all different!

 Chapter 608 390: Wang Jiao Devours the Egg, Slaying the Hydra (Two in One)

    Lin Shiming watched the spirit egg''s drastically altered state, knowing that the nine-headed serpent Demon King had not yet reached its strongest state.


    "Jiuxiao, leave the eggs in the serpent''s lair to you!"


    At that moment, Jiuxiao Scatter Man also felt the abnormality of those snake eggs and instantly took to the air.


    Accompanying him were Lin Shiming''s Wang Jiao and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    As two Purple Mansion Great Demons, there was no need to elaborate on Wang Jiao, which had grown a third claw, making it much more formidable than the average Fourth Rank mid-stage Great Demon.


    Feeling those spirit eggs, its eyes shone with a sharp light, finding the eggs unusually fragrant and delicious!


    Without needing Lin Shiming to say more, with a single swoop, it rushed into the vein.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey also howled, and though it had no interest in those snake eggs, it shared the same interest as Wang Jiao.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man also released two Purple Mansion Great Demons, a thousand-legged chapter Purple Mansion Great Demon and a Green Shell Crab King.


    Both were controlled by Spirit Controlling Seals; this would have been even smoother had the Lin Family not run out of Blood Burst Pills.


    Seeing so many Great Demons appear, the red serpent with lantern-like red eyes glared furiously and spoke directly in human language:


    "You human ants, disturbing the king''s affairs, the king will swallow you all whole today!"


    The belly-speech issued by the red snake was accompanied by the spewing of a red fire dragon from its massive mouth toward Jiuxiao Scatter Man, who, being at the late stage of Purple Mansion, was seen as the greatest deterrence.


    Its body also lunged towards Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    Under the terrifying speed, everyone only saw a red streak.


    It reached Jiuxiao Scatter Man in no time, who was greatly startled and hurriedly took out thirty-six Silver Snow Needles, creating a dense rain of needles that no ordinary Purple Mansion Peak cultivator could escape from.


    But the fire dragon that was sprayed out was scattered by the Silver Snow Needles, yet the red serpent was seen opening its bloody mouth, truly coming to devour him.


    From that bloody mouth, some fragments of clothing were evident, belonging to the cultivators of the Duan Family, clearly having swallowed quite a few of them.


    However, just as a shift in space was seen, Lin Shiming''s Leaping Void Disk had already soared out, his Crescent Moon Guard Blade fiercely sweeping at the vital point seven inches above the nine-headed serpent''s avatar.


    Suddenly countless golden speckles spilled out like an upside-down Milky Way, dazzlingly brilliant.


    A loud metal friction sound followed.


    Lin Shiming frowned, his hand''s starlight power surged, and he slashed down viciously once more!


    The next moment, a torrent of blood burst forth.


    Lin Shiming''s face paled, and no wonder this creature was akin to a Demon King. Even its avatar, only at Purple Mansion Peak, could somewhat withstand the Crescent Moon Guard Blade at its weakest spot, the seven inches.


    "Roar!"


    The red snake roared in fury, biting fiercely at Lin Shiming, but Lin Shiming''s Primordial Magnet Ring fiercely shone at the red serpent.


    The red flame breath became a thick red smoke, causing the entire red serpent to quiver fiercely in midair.


    Lin Shiming then took out the Evil Spirit Banner, and countless evil ghost heads rushed toward the red serpent, which was transformed by the nine-headed serpent avatar.


    Simultaneously, the Illusionary Spirit Gourd was called out, covering the red serpent with numerous illusionary mists!


    The onslaught of evil ghosts and the engulfing mists caused the red serpent to become momentarily bewildered.


    But being a Purple Mansion Peak Demonic Beast, it was incredibly tough and thick-skinned, its red scaly hide even thicker than that of a typical Flood Dragon.


    And to note, this red serpent was far from its peak!


    What greatly changed Lin Shiming''s expression was the fluctuation of Spiritual Energy coming from the ground, signaling yet another egg had cracked open, revealing a blue serpent.


    That blue serpent''s Spiritual Energy fluctuation instantly reached late Purple Mansion stage, contending with Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    Meanwhile, to Lin Shiming''s delight, Wang Jiao had opened his jaws wide and swallowed a Spirit Energy-radiating huge snake egg, completely corroding it with venom.


    Then ingested it into its belly, its body swiftly spiraling in the subterranean hall, exuding a terrifying black light that dazzled everyone for a moment.


    The red serpent in front suddenly screamed.


    At the same time, its body was engulfed in a fearful red flame, reaching the pinnacle of fury.


    A Purple Mansion Peak level wave of Spiritual Power pressed down on Lin Shiming, who also hurriedly released his entire Sword Intent Domain and then slashed out with his sword.


    It was a full-powered strike from the Great Swathe Sword Style.


    And this strike was made with the Fourth Rank Superior Grade Jin Ye Sword.


    In the void, a multitude of Sword Intents activated, and under Sword Birth Myriad Laws, one Grass Sword after another sprang forth.


    In the fiery expanse of the void, Grass Swords were forcibly sprouted, forming a special Sword Array and slashing toward the red serpent!


    Boom!


    The endless Sword Intents fell, all landing on the red serpent.


    Space trembled, Spirit Light shone resplendently, turning momentarily into a sword light sun.


    Yet, the red serpent''s hide was terrifyingly tough, actually withstanding all the Sword Intents.


    Lin Shiming turned pale, having underestimated the strength of a Purple Mansion Peak Demonic Beast, and per the system''s notification, this nine-headed serpent would become a Demon King once all nine avatars merged.


    Luckily, Wang Jiao had already devoured one.


    The red serpent broke through the Sword Domain and charged toward the Myriad Snake Lair, unable to contain its rage because of Lin Shiming, but it was determined to let the remaining avatars emerge.


    The blue serpent, displaying as much might as the red one, was driving Jiuxiao Scatter Man back relentlessly, but thankfully, the Lin Family''s two War Treasure Ships had already dealt with the cultivators of the Duan and Cheng Families, managing to hold off with a struggle when combined with the two War Treasure Ships.


    But then, the red serpent staggered yet again!


    From Lin Shiming''s side, the disturbance caused by the Red-haired Demon Monkey was felt, with a serpent avatar egg being roasted alive by the Samadhi Spiritual Fire!


    Then the Red-haired Demon Monkey smashed it with the Fourth Rank Superior Grade Heavenly Demon Rod and devoured it in large chunks!

 Chapter 609 - 390: Wang Jiao Devours the Egg, Slaying the Hydra (Two in One)_2

    Whatever Wang Jiao could eat, it could eat too.


    And, what it ate was even more delectable than what Wang Jiao consumed!


    Lin Shiming chose the relatively weaker spirit snake avatars for his two Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Instead, a Green Shell Crab Purple Mansion Great Demon, while crushing a spirit egg avatar with its pincers, unexpectedly faced a golden snake that charged out and bit the Green Shell Crab Great Demon.


    Spitting out a golden great sword, and although it had just broken out of its shell, recovering only to Purple Mansion Middle Stage strength, the Green Shell Crab Great Demon was still too weak and was devoured alive by the golden snake.


    The Thousand-Legged Worm Purple Mansion Great Demon was quickly broken through by an orange giant snake. However, this orange giant snake had also just hatched, possessing only the strength of the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, managing barely to suppress the Thousand-Legged Worm Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    On this end, Lin Shiming also seized the opportunity, as the Red Snake stumbled and received countless sword wounds without anyone knowing how many.


    The Leaping Void Disk leaped once more, positioning itself under the Red Snake''s belly. Lin Shiming flung the seeds of the Illusionary Spirit Vine from his hand, igniting countless spirit vines and activating an Illusionary Spirit Gourd, entwining and covering the Red Snake in an illusory fog.


    Had the two spirit snake avatars not died in succession, with the Red Snake''s divine soul intact, naturally, such illusory fog would not have enveloped it. But now, the Illusionary Spirit Vine was indeed a Supreme Grade magical treasure producing an illusory fog.


    In an instant, it held the Red Snake immobilized for three breaths'' time.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming''s body reached the already injured site, once again cutting open a huge fissure, and he reached his hand inside the Red Snake''s body.


    He forcibly extracted the Demonic Beast inner core from the Red Snake.


    Upon seeing this Demonic Beast inner core, Lin Shiming took one look and sensed its uniqueness¡ªit was only one-ninth the size of a normal Demonic Beast inner core, yet it emitted a hint of golden essence.


    Furthermore, it was ravaged with some force of thunder and lightning within.


    This thunderous intent was not unfamiliar to Lin Shiming, it was precisely the murderous thunder of undergoing Heavenly Tribulation.


    The Red Snake had clearly undergone a Heavenly Tribulation.


    Only, it had not made it through.


    In the end, it activated a secret technique, turning into nine spirit snake eggs, separating to heal and diminish the thunderous force.


    Even if one died, for the Nine-Headed Snake, life would still go on, and since it had already endured the tribulation, if there were more than six avatars left, it might possibly regain its status as a Demon King!


    And there wouldn''t be a need to undergo the Heavenly Tribulation for the Golden Core again.


    It was the best strategy.


    After all, this was the Outer Sea, where normally no human cultivators, let alone Golden Core Cultivators, would be found.


    But it happened to be discovered by the Duan Family, and Lin Shiming also followed the trail here.


    With its Demonic Beast inner core taken, the Red Snake''s power was greatly diminished, and Lin Shiming finished it with one sword strike, severing the snake''s head.


    Lin Shiming''s body didn''t stop at all; he only consumed a few inner cores to restore his True Yuan, and then he rushed toward the Lair of a Thousand Snakes.


    The Nine-Headed Snake Demon King was unresolved, and the crisis intensified.


    And at this moment, fully five of the Nine-Headed Snake avatars had hatched.


    Lin Shiming also faced the newly hatched pair of Nine-Headed Snake avatars, and at the same time, he transmitted a message to Wang Jiao through his mind.


    "Wang Jiao, swallow the remaining spirit snake egg. The Golden Dragon Fruit from the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree is yours!"


    Upon receiving Lin Shiming''s transmission, Wang Jiao, who was rolling about in midair, digesting the spirit egg avatars of the Nine-Headed Snake, suddenly turned its eyes longingly toward Lin Shiming, full of pain yet desire, and finally let out three great bellows before decisively charging toward the last spirit snake egg.


    At this moment, little did it know that the Golden Dragon Fruits of the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree were solely for it.


    But the Red-haired Demon Monkey had only eaten half before being entangled by the golden snake avatar. For a while, the Heavenly Demon Rod continuously danced in the air, while three types of Spiritual Fire were spat continuously toward the golden snake.


    However, now that the golden snake had devoured the Green Shell Crab, it had recovered to the Purple Mansion Late Stage of cultivation, forcing the Red-haired Demon Monkey into retreat!


    Its cries echoed furiously, constantly calling for Lin Shiming to come help.


    But Lin Shiming was also entangled by two spirit snake avatars.


    One avatar was a yellow snake and the other a white snake.


    Without hesitating, Lin Shiming released the Divine Bead of Mystical Power from his hand and headed straight for the newly hatched white snake avatar.


    The Great Spread Sword Style was utilized to its maximum potential, with the sky full of Sword Intent and sword light striking down.


    At that very moment, the white snake avatar, having only recovered to the Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivation level, was instantly slain.


    Meanwhile, the yellow snake avatar suddenly condensed numerous earthy yellow walls, blocking all the remaining sword light.


    It then set off immediately toward the side.


    Gathering with the orange snake avatar that had already devoured the Thousand-Legged Worm.


    On the other side, Wang Jiao, seeing the cobweb-filled spirit egg avatars, bellowed twice, emitting the Flood Dragon''s Roar, and then swallowed the remaining spirit snake egg whole, not caring that it was about to hatch.


    Its black Flood Dragon belly instantly became massive, and its entire dragon body began to spin continuously in the air.


    In the end, it coiled together, its sharp angles continuously emanating a faint light, while the venom inside its belly was pushed to the limit!


    Numerous dragon scales began to stir as if there was a Demonic Beast struggling inside.


    But it ultimately failed to break free.


    Nonetheless, this still caused Wang Jiao to howl repeatedly in pain, its eyes drooping, having devoured the spirit egg avatars of two Nine-Headed Snake avatars, its belly was filled to the brim with Spiritual Energy, on the verge of falling asleep.


    For a Demonic Beast, after devouring its fill, sleep was indeed the best way to digest.


    On the other flank, the remaining four snake avatars began to converge, ultimately fusing together into one, giving rise to a four-headed snake with each head appearing one after the other.


    Their aura reached a peak in an instant, just a notch below that of a Demon King.


    Lin Shiming stood at the forefront, his Divine Sense highly concentrated, not daring to be the slightest bit careless. If there was any sign that the four-headed snake was about to break through, he was ready to release the Flaming Sword.

 Chapter 610 - 390: Wang Jiao Devours the Egg, Slaying the Hydra (Two in One)_3

    A five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine, he would not skimp on it if it could be spared.


    However, they had also consumed the Flood Dragon''s rebirth after its tribulation without fully recovering, transforming into a spirit egg clone, dissipating most of the thunderous power.


    Only, the Duan Family discovered it too early, with the Red Snake being the first to break the shell, while the remaining were subsequently slain by Lin Shiming and Wang Jiao, killing five clones.


    Only four remained, with their Divine Souls already heavily damaged.


    Four heads, four pairs of eyes stared fixedly at Lin Shiming and Wang Jiao.


    Lin Shiming had ruined its good fortune, whereas Wang Jiao, as a Flood Dragon, would also be a great nourishment if devoured.


    "Insects, die!" the four-headed snake was the first to fly out towards Lin Shiming.


    But what met it head-on was, once again, Lin Shiming''s Magnetic Divine Light.


    As a Supreme Grade Magical Treasure that countered the Five Elements Spell, the Magnetic Divine Light turned the four-headed snake into a magical-less brawling Demonic Beast.


    Lin Shiming then leaped out with a Leaping Void Disk, instantly dodging the attack.


    At the same time, where he landed, two Soul-Suppressing Pagodas also instantly fell, along with the Illusionary Spirit Vine Seed Talisman, which was activated again!


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey, Jiuxiao Scatter Man Lin Shijie, and the two War Treasure Ships also unleashed their strongest moves.


    Launching an assault on the four-headed snake!


    At the same time, Lin Shiming also cast the Flaming Sword, while countless Fourth Rank Spirit Talismans bombarded the four-headed snake.


    Suddenly, the region where the four-headed snake was became a sea of Spirit Light, with various sparks of swordsmanship, spells, and Spirit Light emerging in rapid succession.


    Creating gust after gust of Spirit Light storms, ravaging the entire island''s void.


    However, even with so many attacks, the four-headed snake remained unscathed, its constitution several times stronger than that of the Red Snake.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also hesitated no more.


    He unleashed the Flaming Sword.


    Such a Fourth Rank Peak Demonic Beast, just a hair''s breadth away from becoming a Demon King, was not something he could resist.


    Furthermore, his Hidden Sky Net was under repair, the two Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were being repaired, and his Sword Origin was completely depleted.


    Even the Divine Bead of Mystical Power''s stored Great Swathe Sword Style had been used.


    For the sake of prudence, Lin Shiming could not take any more risks.


    Once the Flaming Sword was released, a single sweep generated countless flames, with Sword Qi traversing three thousand miles.


    The four-headed snake was filled with disbelief, but in the end, all four heads were cleanly sliced off.


    For such a severely injured pseudo-Golden Core Demonic Beast, it was far too easy for the Flaming Sword to slay.


    Meanwhile, Jiuxiao Hermit was shocked to the extreme.


    He had thought that the surge in the Lin Family''s strength was all he had seen, only to realize that Lin Shiming could slay a Purple Mansion Late Stage Demonic Beast while being at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage himself.


    He even had a chance to ambush and kill an average Purple Mansion Peak Demonic Beast.


    Now, the Lin Family had produced a Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Cultivation sword.


    The difference from what he had envisioned about the Lin Family was simply too great!


    Fortunately, he had always been diligent in his service to the Lin Family.


    Refining Magical Treasures for them, teaching Lin Houwei cultivation techniques, and instructing Lin Shizhong in Artifact Refining.


    He never held anything back.


    Such a Lin Family was too terrifying.


    Of course, in his view, the most terrifying was undoubtedly Lin Shiming.


    It had not been long since Lin Shiming broke through to the Purple Mansion, less than thirty years have passed.


    He even felt that the Gold Condensation Fruit tree was not far off.


    By then, Lin Shiming''s chances of reaching the Golden Core would certainly be much greater than his own.


    Previously, he thought it would take at least a hundred years; now, it seemed that twenty to thirty years would suffice, and Lin Shiming''s strength would be greater than his!


    Unless he could further improve his Artifact Refining skills and create a set of Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Magical Treasures for himself!


    But even then, he might not be a match for Lin Shiming.


    Because Lin Shiming was progressing faster!

 Chapter 611 - 391: Four-Colored Demonic Beast Inner Core (Happy New Year)

    Lin Shiming put away the corpses of the four snakes, his eyes still showing a tinge of distress.


    "You must know, every use of the Flaming Sword costs a five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicine."


    And now, he had one less of the five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicines with each use.


    However, thinking that these four snakes were quasi-Demon Kings, and their Essence Blood could be used to refine Divine Beast Pills, which could become his new trump card, he felt somewhat relieved.


    There were also four Demonic Beast Inner Cores. Two of them had been swallowed whole by Wang Jiao, naturally leaving no remainder, while the Inner Core of the Red-haired Demon Monkey that had been burned to death also seemed somewhat dim.


    Its efficacy wasn''t great, but should a serpentine Demonic Beast advance to a Flood Dragon in the future, it could serve as an aid.


    Only the last four-colored Inner Core he put away was extremely precious.


    Its colors even approached those of a Golden Core.


    Even if it were fed to Wang Jiao for it to break through to the Fifth Rank, the effect would not be especially significant, but breaking through was a fine line between life and death.


    After securing the corpses, Lin Shiming looked towards the Red-haired Demon Monkey. At this moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey was brandishing the Heavenly Demon Rod with great force, still leaping up and scampering about.


    Even so, it brought over the remaining half of the roasted Spirit Snake egg and did not allow others to come near.


    Using both its hands and feet, it seemed to be telling everyone else that it had roasted the Spirit Egg itself.


    Lin Shiming also put away the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and the Spirit Egg was his as well.


    The Red-haired had only eaten a small part, yet it was already too much for it to digest and had to keep the rest.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but worry about Wang Jiao.


    Wang Jiao had swallowed a full two of the nine-headed snake''s avatars, each avatar''s Spirit Egg containing terrifying True Yuan.


    Even though Wang Jiao was of the Flood Dragon kind, higher in the hierarchy of life than the nine-headed snake, the wailing from its Divine Soul still made him deeply concerned.


    He headed for the underground hall, which was now a complete mess, turned upside down by Wang Jiao''s lashing tail.


    Coiled against the wall, it lay curled up, its dragon eyes drooping, its body emitting black Spirit Light that flickered on and off.


    This made Lin Shiming anxious, for he knew this was Wang Jiao''s inability to suppress the True Yuan within its body.


    After all, that True Yuan didn''t belong to it.


    And Wang Jiao was only a Great Demon of the Purple Mansion Early Stage.


    "Come for hand-to-hand combat!" Lin Shiming suddenly ordered, similar to how the Red-haired waved the Heavenly Demon Rod that it usually didn''t wield so vigorously in both jumps and dives.


    Only by engaging in close combat, and exhausting the True Yuan through fighting, could the problem be resolved.


    Upon hearing Lin Shiming''s command, Wang Jiao''s body shot forward, charging towards Lin Shiming with a burst of speed.


    The uniquely Flood Dragon style of close combat, the terrifying speed, and the ultimate attacks.


    Lin Shiming also had to activate the Starlight Tempering Body Technique to defend himself.


    The two continued to bombard each other.


    At this moment, even Lin Shiming, a Purple Mansion Middle Stage Body Cultivator not using a Magic Artifact, was barely Wang Jiao''s match, particularly that third claw, which was more fearsome than the Superior Grade Magical Treasure Crescent Moon Guard Blade.


    Additionally, Lin Shiming had the impression that the third claw was growing longer and sharper.


    "Uncle, have the Myriad Snakes Island outfitted with a Concealment Formation and the Island Protecting Great Array, and cover the surrounding thousand miles of sea. Furthermore, pursue and eliminate the Cheng Family and Duan Family cultivators with all our might!" Lin Shiming arranged with Lin Houshou in the distance as he fought. The biggest pseudo-Demon King nine-headed snake on Myriad Snakes Island had been slain.


    No other Demonic Beasts could contend with Lin Houshou and the others.


    The cultivators from the Cheng and Duan families who had hidden themselves were even less of a threat.


    A large number of the Duan Family cultivators had fallen prey to the Red Snakes, whereas the Cheng Family cultivators had fled early, concealing many of their cultivators, who the Lin Family had sent some cultivators to chase and kill.


    Due to the Duan Family''s precautions against the Cheng Family, the cultivators left behind by the Cheng Family weren''t very strong.


    About a quarter of an hour later, all the Lin Family cultivators returned from their pursuit.


    All the cultivators were somewhat excited, both by Lin Shiming''s strength and by the Flaming Sword that supported the Lin Family, which left them shocked.


    Previously, they had only heard about the legend of the Flaming Sword in the Sword Pavilion, but they hadn''t witnessed it, nor did they know that the opponent was at the Golden Core level.


    Seeing this, they knew their Lin Family was a true Golden Core power.


    Moreover, the fighting techniques Lin Shiming demonstrated while wrestling with the Flood Dragon greatly helped the Body Cultivators of the Lin Family, who were all watching closely.


    On the other hand, the spellcasters were somewhat idle.


    After all, they hadn''t practiced Body Refinement and couldn''t engage in close combat with an opponent.


    Even if they learned those techniques, once they were approached closely, without sufficient physical strength and speed, it was useless.


    After the better part of a day, having burned through a portion of True Yuan, Wang Jiao sent out waves indicating a desire to sleep.


    Lin Shiming nodded and put the latter into the Cave Heaven World.


    Wang Jiao should have a greater endurance than the Red-haired Demon Monkey and be more capable of absorption, but absorbing two was overambitious.


    Now, Lin Shiming was unable to intervene; he could only instruct the Tree Demon to offer some Five-colored Star Spirit Fluff to Wang Jiao should the need arise.


    From his trip to the Purple Sun Secret Realm, Lin Shiming had also obtained many Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Fifth Rank Spirit Water, which could produce quite a lot of Five-colored Star Spirit Fluff for the Star Spirit Clams.


    At this moment, he was naturally not stingy.


    Having settled the matter of the Star Spirit Clams, Lin Shiming flew into the high skies.


    "The rules for dividing the spoils remain the same. Additionally, everyone must keep silent about today''s affairs. Those who violate this will be dealt with according to family rules!" Lin Shiming spoke commandingly.


    At this moment, he was not the same person who had just become the Family Head seventy years ago.


    Now, he displayed a seasoned and authoritative presence, and looking at his eyes, even the Jiuxiao Scatter Man nodded in agreement, his expression solemn and respectful.


    As for the other Lin Family disciples, they naturally did the same.


    "Moreover, everyone has half a month''s time to mine the Myriad Snakes Cavern for Spirit Snake eggs and Spirit Medicine Resources!"

 Chapter 612 - 391: Four-Colored Demonic Beast Inner Core (Happy New Year)_2

    ```


    "The spoils of war principle remains the same, you mine as much as you can!"


    "The family will still purchase it at 70% of the market price!" Lin Shiming added again.


    His divine sense fell upon the Myriad Snakes Nest, beneath which lay a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Vein, suppressed by a formation, entering the hall where the nine avatars of the Nine-Headed Serpent''s spirit eggs were stored.


    At the perimeter and above the hall, countless spirit snake eggs were also being nurtured.


    The hatching success of these spirit snake eggs was not great because beforehand, almost the entire Spirit Vein had been used for the Nine-Headed Serpent Demon King''s healing.


    It was unclear whether those spirit eggs were truly the offspring of the Nine-Headed Serpent or not.


    But it was certain they were intended to protect the Nine-Headed Serpent while it recovered from injuries.


    Such spirit eggs should not be disturbed; their power would be much diminished if they hatched prematurely.


    Against a normal Demon King, Lin Shiming wouldn''t be able to withstand even a single blow.


    However, for Lin Shiming, none of this mattered; what was important was how many spirit snake eggs the Lin Family could take with them.


    The beast tide was coming, and the Lin Family''s future would incontrovertibly involve abandoning Myriad Snakes Island, and possibly even Spirit Turtle Island when the time came.


    All those nurtured Spirit Turtles and Spirit Fish would have to be relocated near Shuangmu Island.


    The Lin Family had only one Golden Core Spiritual Cultivator, and only Shuangmu Island was somewhat closer to Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    As for Fangmu Island, with its Transmission Formation to the Eastern Domain, the Lin Family might also have to give it up when the beast tide struck.


    Only Shuangmu Island formed a strategic angle with Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    After all, Heavenly Phenomenon Island was going to receive support from Xu Ri Island, and at that time, a Golden Core True Person would surely be stationed there.


    With time pressing, they utilized the enthusiasm of the family''s cultivators to move as many spirit snake eggs as they possibly could.


    Then, the Lin Family would become known for their snake-controlling demonic beasts.


    Moreover, they could buy up many naturally talented snake-type demonic beast cubs or spirit snake eggs throughout the entire Coral Sea Domain.


    Thus, even the Flood Dragon Nest could make a formidable show of force.


    By the time Nine Dragons Island noticed, the Lin Family might already have several Golden Core Cultivators and quite a few Golden Core Flood Dragons.


    Even within the Coral Alliance, the Lin Family would be able to secure a certain standing.


    And would be fearless against others.


    As for the retaliation from the Flood Dragon Clan, Lin Shiming was even less concerned. The Coral Alliance and the Flood Dragon Clan were mortal enemies, with no chance of reconciliation.


    Even if the other sea areas within the six great sea domains colluded with the Demonic Race, neither the Coral Sea Domain nor the Chi Lan Sea Domain would do so.


    Years of relentless beast tides and continuous warfare had long placed the two factions at each other''s throats.


    In the distance, with layer upon layer of translucent ripples of spirit light, like water patterns slowly covering the entire island.


    The island''s formation was finally complete.


    Lin Houshou''s talent in formations, with the blood cultivation hidden dangers resolved, seemed to rise once again.


    Now, the formations he deployed all used Fourth Rank Array Plates, and he added many of his self-refined Third Rank formations within the formations.


    An average Early Stage Purple Mansion Cultivator might not even notice them.


    After tallying up their gains and recording them, the rest of the Lin Family Cultivators also headed towards the Myriad Snakes Nest to dig.


    Lin Shiming and other Purple Mansion Cultivators like Lin Shijie could ignore these spirit beast eggs, but the Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not. Among the eggs, those that might not reach Fourth Rank but could achieve Third Rank would be a great boon.


    After all, the sea snake demonic beasts of the Southern Sea Cultivation World could battle in the sea, and were also formidable on land.


    Even those spirit beast eggs with a little less potential could still be sold to the family for the family''s Qi Cultivators.


    After all, the Lin Family''s Sea Cloud Birds were scarce, and many cultivators were still using bulky Xuan Spirit Turtles as spirit pets.


    At worst, they could be made into a spiritual feast.


    However, if that were the case, it would be more difficult for the Lin Family to build an influential snake-controlling clan.


    Lin Shiming and hermits like the Jiuxiao Scatter Man, instead, found a cave dwelling on the spot and began to slowly recover their True Yuan.


    Recovering with the Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Vein was much faster than with superior grade spirit stones.


    Lin Shiming hesitated over how to take away the Spirit Vein and learned that the Jiuxiao Scatter Man was also a Spirit-Seeking Master.


    Lin Shiming was naturally surprised by this, but he soon came to terms with it, understanding that as a Loose Cultivator, one generally has some knowledge in all four major skills.


    ```


    After all, they didn''t have the help of a clan; everything had to be done by themselves.


    Of course, the difficulty of obtaining an inheritance was also greater, and striving for mastery in their skills was even more difficult.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man, being one of the top ten Purple Mansion Hermits in the Eastern Domain, naturally had his opportunities and outstanding talents.


    Once Shiming was sure the Spirit Vein had been gathered properly, he also put his mind at ease and made up his mind that even if he wasn''t skilled in other arts, he still needed to learn the profession of Spirit-Seeking Master whenever he had time.


    Being a Spirit-Seeking Master wasn''t as complex as being an Alchemist, Artifact Refiner, Array Master, or Talisman Master, and in fact, it was more akin to being a Spirit Plant Master.


    The time spent wouldn''t be too much.


    As he continued to practice the Kuimu Sword Canon, strands of pure True Yuan circulated within his body, passing through the Purple Mansion and through the Sword Path Grass seed.


    It nourished the Sword Origin and fostered the Taiyi Grass Sword.


    Although the current Taiyi Grass Sword wasn''t as good as Shiming''s other precious swords, in terms of potential, the Taiyi Grass Sword could outstrip a Supreme Grade magical Flying Sword by a long mile.


    As long as Shiming continued to nourish it, its power would surely be extraordinary.


    Shiming then swallowed several Healing Pills, but his Storage Bag was nearing empty, which unavoidably made him miss Shitao a bit.


    He had bid farewell to his Seventh Great-Uncle when he left for the Purple Sun Secret Realm, but he had not said goodbye to Shitao.


    Shiming was somewhat worried, but immediately shook his head and swallowed the Spirit Pill.


    Half a month blinked by, and the entire Myriad Snakes Lair had undergone a significant transformation. Many cultivators from the Lin Family had arrived, and most of them were Foundation Establishment Cultivators and late-stage Qi Cultivators.


    The efficiency of harvesting Spirit Snake Eggs was much higher than that of the pioneer forces arranged by Duan Family and Cheng Family.


    Moreover, the latter were extremely cautious, fearing that there might be Great Demons lurking beneath the Myriad Snakes Lair.


    The Lin Family didn''t need to worry about such things.


    After the count, the Lin Family had gathered over four thousand Spirit Snake Eggs.


    However, it remained to be seen whether there were any special Spirit Snakes among them until after hatching.


    Everyone beamed with smiles; Myriad Snakes Island wasn''t just a Serpent and Spirit Island, it also contained many Spiritual Medicines, after all, it was a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Vein.


    Shiming didn''t say much but watched as Jiuxiao Scatter Man took out a Spirit-Seeking Plate and began to search for and summon spirits.


    Suddenly, a dragon''s roar could be heard, and a shadow of a dragon flew into the Spirit-Seeking Plate. An immense amount of Spiritual Energy came and went.


    The entire transplantation process went very smoothly.


    As soon as the Spirit Vein was transplanted, the Spirit-Seeking Plate also fell into Shiming''s hands.


    Along with it came a Hidden Heaven Net, the least damaged of all. Jiuxiao Scatter Man had also re-cultivated and restored the magical treasure over the past half month.


    Shiming was extremely pleased with Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s transformation and even more grateful as he said,


    "Thank you, Elder Jiuxiao!"


    With the Spirit Vein collected, the Lin Family brought out a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Zifeng Boat and took the Lin Family members towards Shuangmu Island.


    Before leaving, Shiming also allowed the Red-haired Demon Monkey to go on a rampage with the Heavenly Demon Rod and the Primordial Magnet Seal.


    Shiming couldn''t guarantee that the Demon Kings didn''t have magical treasures capable of recording the scene, but after the experience in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, he had grown more cautious.


    The journey back across the sea furrowed Shiming''s brow even deeper.


    Along the way, there were more Purple Mansion Great Demons and Foundation Establishment Demonic Beasts appearing, and the beast tide was drawing ever closer, so much so that in his view, it might not even take twenty years!


    Of course, on their way, Shiming also supplied Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Shijie with more Purple Mansion Great Demons under the control of the Spirit Controlling Seal.


    The previous Green Shell Crab and the Thousand-footed Purple Mansion Great Demon had both been killed.


    With these new forces being delivered to their doorstep, Shiming couldn''t possibly refuse them.


    Moreover, he kept two Swordtooth Shark Purple Mansion Great Demons for himself, both of which were mid-stage Fourth Rank.


    In the future, when he made Frenzied Blood Pills, these Swordtooth Sharks could be crucial at critical moments.


    Half a month later, as an island with several sub-islands came into view in the distance, Shuangmu Island also appeared within sight of the Zifeng Boat.


    On the island, there was an unusually high number of cultivators flying in and out, more hurried than before, with bloodstained Lin Family uniforms, suggestive of intense battles. This made Shiming somewhat uneasy.


    The Lin Family''s Demon Hunting Team hadn''t been this large before.


    "Great Grandfather!" The leading cultivator of the team was Lin Yuqing, from the Yu generation of the Lin Family.

 Chapter 613 - 392: The Three Leaderboards, Lin Family Plan (Two in One)

    The mission hall of the Lin Family was now teeming with people.


    From time to time, people came and went, mostly consisting of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading a group of Qi Cultivation late-stage Cultivators.


    Everyone appeared quite solemn. Lin Shiming, together with Lin Yuqing and others, entered and finally met Lin Houyuan, the current acting Family Head of the Lin Family.


    Since Lin Houyong¡¯s departure, Lin Shiming had also been absent, and with no suitable candidates within the Lin Family, the role of acting Family Head continued to fall on Lin Houyuan.


    Lin Houyuan was also visibly tense, but his expression relaxed a bit at the sight of Lin Shiming¡¯s return.


    Lin Shiming had the highest cultivation level and the strongest combat power in the Lin Family, and even the Flaming Sword recognized only him.


    "Father!" Lin Shiming hurriedly greeted, and then took a seat at the side, allowing Lin Houyuan to take the main seat, followed by Lin Yuqing, Lin Houshou, Lin Shijie, and others.


    A string of people sat down, amounting to more than a dozen, and those who could be here were at least at the Foundation Establishment level.


    And to think, the Lin Family also had Fangmu Island and Spirit Turtle Island, plus many stationed Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    As well as the Foundation Establishment squads that just came and went.


    Adding the Cultivators from Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the Lin Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators had, without realizing it, grown to over forty.


    There were five in the late Foundation Establishment stage.


    The Shi-generation had become the core strength, and the Ze-generation was also flourishing.


    The next generation, the Yan-generation, though not yet grown up, had the best Spirit Roots, with not a few Dual Spirit Root Cultivators, and also Lin Yanjiao, the elder sister with a Dual Spirit Root Spiritual Body.


    Their future was the most promising!


    "Shiming, Xu Ri Island has sent word, the Demonic Beasts are already becoming restless!"


    "It¡¯s possible that the real beast tide will arrive in less than twenty years!"


    Lin Houyuan divulged this news, and Lin Shiming nodded, already clear about the situation from the tense atmosphere within the Lin Family.


    However, Lin Shiming was also aware that the beast tide wouldn¡¯t come too quickly.


    After all, the Demonic Race had obtained many spiritual medicines that were five thousand years old, and it would take a considerable amount of time to assimilate them.


    Once assimilated, the Cultivators of the Demonic Race would become even stronger.


    In fact, both Human Cultivators and Demonic Race Cultivators shared a mentality: when their strength had grown sufficiently and resources were exhausted, they would initiate a plunder.


    "Xu Ri Island has sent word that Xu Ri True Person is in seclusion for a breakthrough, so the cost for using the Transmission Formation on Heavenly Phenomenon Island has been halved, encouraging Hermits and some smaller clans to go to Heavenly Phenomenon Island to slay Demonic Beasts!"


    "In addition, they¡¯ve established the Purple Mansion Heroes List, Foundation Establishment Heroes List, and Qi Cultivation Heroes List!"


    "The top three on the Purple Mansion list will receive rewards from Xu Ri Island, settled every five years, with the first-place winner receiving a Ziji Tan, the second-place winner receiving a Superior Grade Profound Rank Cultivation Technique that can be cultivated up to the late Purple Mansion stage, and the third-place winner receiving a Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade defensive Magical Treasure. The minimum requirement is to slay two Purple Mansion Great Demons! Consecutive two-time first-place winners will be rewarded with a Zi Xuan Precious Jade!"


    "The top ten on the Foundation Establishment list will receive rewards from Xu Ri Island, settled every three years, with the first-place winner receiving a Supreme Grade defensive Magic Artifact, the second and third-place winners receiving Supreme Grade offensive Magic Artifacts, and the fourth to tenth place winners receiving Third Rank Superior Grade defensive Magic Artifacts! Consecutive three-time first-place winners will be awarded five Foundation Establishment Pills!"


    "The top hundred on the Qi Cultivation list who slay will receive rewards from Xu Ri Island, settled annually, with the first to tenth place winners receiving Second Rank Supreme Grade defensive Magic Artifacts, and they will also have the qualification to enter Xu Ri Island as disciples of the inner islands! From the tenth to the hundredth place, they can also choose Magic Artifacts in order!"


    "Among them, all Purple Mansion treasures and seventy percent of the Foundation Establishment treasures are covered by Xu Ri Island, and the remaining thirty percent of Foundation Establishment treasures and those for Qi Cultivation, are covered by the Lin Family of Heavenly Phenomenon Island!"


    ...


    Lin Houyuan introduced these one by one, and Lin Shiming finally understood why the Lin Family had been continuously deploying troops and generals.


    Xu Ri Island¡¯s actions were indeed generous.


    Having experienced the journey to the Outer Sea himself, he was well aware that this was not an unfounded rumor.


    The future of Heavenly Phenomenon Island was certainly not going to be peaceful.


    Normally, Demonic Beasts and Purple Mansion Great Demons would stay within the Spirit Vein of the Outer Sea, but now those Great Demons have been driven into the Coral Sea Domain.


    Chased toward the surroundings of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, once the number of Demonic Beasts increased, they would inevitably assault the Human Race¡¯s Spirit Vein islands.


    If the Demonic Race was allowed to mobilize without prior preparation, even if the Demon Kings did not emerge,


    the Coral Alliance would be doomed, and Xu Ri True Person was not actually in seclusion but had already perished.


    The influence of Xu Ri Island was now basically at the bottom among the Twelve Inner Islands.


    It was possible that the island could become a breakthrough point for the Demonic Race.


    In an instant, Lin Shiming thought of many things.


    Reducing the cost of the Transmission Formation and setting up the three leaderboards were the best self-help measures for Xu Ri Island.


    When the time came, the influx of Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment Cultivators into Heavenly Phenomenon Island and other outer islands would certainly be substantial. The Golden Core combat power might not be enough, but the Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment combat power would seize the initiative.


    Also, establishing these ranks would help Cultivators to improve their strength.


    By then, the Foundation Establishment Heroes List was likely to be the most fiercely contested.


    Many Hermits were skilled in slaying Demonic Beasts, while Purple Mansion Hermits were extremely rare to find.


    The competition for the Purple Mansion list was expected to be the weakest, though there were quite a few Human Purple Mansion Cultivators, once dispersed into the vast sea, they would not seem so numerous.


    However, Lin Shiming estimated that at that time, the inner islands near the inner sea in the Coral Sea Domain would also support Heavenly Phenomenon Island and other such outer islands.


    Lin Shiming wasn¡¯t interested in this leaderboard, but rather felt that the appearance of the Purple Mansion list might not actually be beneficial for the Lin Family.


    With more Purple Mansion Cultivators around, Jiuxiao Scatter Man would need to keep an eye on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    The Lin Family would need to arrange for Purple Mansion Cultivators on both Shuangmu and Fangmu Islands.


    Spirit Turtle Island would also need the Thunder Spirit Turtle to be placed there.


    After all, it had a Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mine as well as the Lin Family¡¯s Spirit Turtle breeding grounds.


    The abundant talent of the Lin Family¡¯s Yan-generation was partly due to the success of the Spirit Turtle breeding grounds.

 Chapter 614 - 392: The Three Leaderboards, Lin Family Plan (Two in One) _2

    ```


    "Shiming, the family has decided to sponsor a higher-tier Magic Artifact for the cultivators who will fight, and for the cultivators with exceptional cultivation techniques, Dual Spirit Roots, and family support, sponsor two higher-tier Magic Artifacts, as well as one Lifesaving Talisman. The exchange rates for Array Plates and Talisman Artifacts will also be reduced by eighty percent!"


    "Do you see anything that needs to be optimized?" Lin Houyuan also asked.


    He then looked at the others.


    If anyone had any opinions, they were welcome to share them.


    Of course, this was all for those who had just returned from Myriad Snakes Island like Lin Shiming and Lin Houshou.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement; the decisions made by the Lin Family were indeed quite good.


    The use of even one tier-higher Magic Artifact was possible; the Lin Family, having plundered the Purple Jade Sect and the Duan and Cheng Families, could certainly afford this, and now was the perfect time to digest and convert it into combat power.


    After all, the strength of the Lin Family had grown explosively.


    The Cultivators of the ¡¯Hou¡¯ and ¡¯Shi¡¯ generations possessed impressive combat abilities.


    However, the combat abilities of the ¡¯Ze¡¯ generation Cultivators and those from the ¡¯Yan¡¯ generation were somewhat lacking.


    This was despite the Lin Family¡¯s triennial clan competition.


    Otherwise, the combat abilities of the lower-level cultivators within the Lin Family would be even poorer.


    This issue was a common problem for any Cultivator Family growing in strength; without decades, if not centuries, it was difficult to turn things around.


    This beast tide was a crisis, but also an opportunity.


    "Father, I fully support this reward policy. Additionally, I suggest that the Cultivators within our family specialized in Formation should also join the battle lineup!"


    "A family¡¯s Demonic Beast Hunting Squad should be led by a Purple Mansion cultivator from our family. This squad will be divided into six Foundation Establishment teams; each Foundation Establishment team must have one Supreme Grade Third Rank Spirit Boat. The Demonic Beast Hunting Squad must have one War Treasure Ship. Additionally, each Foundation Establishment team should include two Foundation Establishment cultivators and must use the Spirit Controlling Seal to control enough Third Rank Demonic Beasts! Each team and squad must also have the assistance of an Array Master!"


    "At the same time, the cultivation of the Tribulation Forging Divine Flower should be a priority for the family, and we should purchase more to provide for our Foundation Establishment cultivators practicing the Tribulation Forging Divine Technique, to enhance Divine Sense and control over beasts. Additionally, cultivators of Wood Attribute Techniques can popularize the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique..."


    Lin Shiming proposed suggestions one by one; after he finished, Lin Shijie, Lin Houshou, and others also shared their thoughts.


    It took a good half a day before everything was completely settled.


    And as they were leaving, Lin Shiming spoke up again:


    "Father, this time we acquired more than four thousand Spirit Snake Demonic Beast eggs. The family should buy them all and then distribute one to each Cultivator who participates in the battle!"


    "Good!" Lin Houyuan¡¯s eyes lit up, not expecting Lin Shiming and the others to have reaped such a bounty.


    As Spirit Beasts, Spirit Snakes could be used in both sea and land combat and were excellent in actual combat.


    Their cultivation value need not be overstated; after all, Lin Shiming¡¯s Poisonous Dragon evolved from a Horned Python, and many Cultivators in the Lin Family recognized that Spirit Snakes had the potential to transform into Pythons or Dragons!


    The intensity of their cultivation would therefore be greater.


    For Lin Shiming, as long as they cultivated valuable Spirit Snake eggs, or his system indicated the presence of Spirit Snake eggs, he could assist in their cultivation within the Flood Dragon Nest.


    Most crucially, following this battle, the Lin Family¡¯s reputation as a family of snake tamers would spread far and wide.


    In time, it would become even easier for the Lin Family to acquire Spirit Snakes with exceptional talents.


    After discussing family matters, Lin Shiming took out several Storage Bags, preparing one for each Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the family as well as those entrusted by Lin Houyuan, who the family supported.


    Among them, the Magic Artifacts and Magical Treasures were the finer ones from his spoils of war.


    For Lin Houyuan, Lin Houshou, Lin Shijie, and a few others with better talent or whom he was particularly close to, there was also a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    In the end, he kept only three of the more than a dozen Boundary-breaking Talismans for himself.


    Since there was a Purple Mansion list and a Foundation Establishment list, there were bound to be some cultivators with malicious intent.


    Demonic Beasts were straightforward, but if his family¡¯s Cultivators were trapped by other cultivators¡¯ Formation Artifacts, their deaths would be truly wrongful.


    He had encountered this many times, but it was less common for other members of the Lin Family.


    They had entered Secret Realms a few times, but it was always just the Lin Family, with no other families involved.


    After distributing the treasures, Lin Shiming held Lin Houshou back.


    "Second uncle, in the next ten years, you may need to intensify your study of formations. Your Divine Sense should rival that of the Purple Mansion, and your proficiency in Formations should successfully advance to at least the peak of the Inferior Grade Fourth Rank, or even Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank," Lin Shiming said.


    "Shiming, this..." Lin Houshou hesitated, already doubtful about becoming a Fourth Rank Array Master, let alone reaching the peak of the Inferior Grade Fourth Rank or even the Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank. However, seeing the seriousness on Lin Shiming¡¯s face, he refrained from outright refusal.


    But his reluctance was clear.


    "Second uncle, don¡¯t worry. The Tribulation Forging Divine Pill of the family will be available to you without condition. Furthermore, here is a piece of Ziji Tan!" Lin Shiming handed over the Ziji Tan to Lin Houshou.


    And he proceeded to explain the effects of the Ziji Tan to him.


    ```


    This immediately made Lin Houshou shiver involuntarily.


    "Shiming, this is too valuable!"


    "Second Uncle, listen to me, this is about whether the Lin Family can truly become a Golden Core Family!" Lin Shiming spoke earnestly.


    "Besides, Second Uncle, you must keep this matter to yourself today, even from other cultivators in the family, you must do so under the pretext of breaking through the peak of Foundation Establishment!" Lin Shiming continued with utmost seriousness.


    "You only need to spend these ten years improving your Divine Sense and studying Fourth Rank formations as much as possible!"


    "As for what comes after, I will help you!"


    After hearing Lin Shiming speak this way, Lin Houshou nodded heavily. Although he still had some doubts about himself,


    since Lin Shiming had said so, he must put forth his utmost effort.


    He never forgot that if it weren¡¯t for the Dragon Blood Pill offered by Lin Shiming, he might already be a handful of yellow soil.


    Nor had he forgotten that, if it weren¡¯t for the Blood Demon Body Refinement technique given by Lin Shiming, he might have died on Shuangmu Island, let alone learned Buddhist Law afterward.


    For the family, for Lin Shiming, he was willing to do it all!


    If there is a Dao in immortal cultivation, then his Dao now is that of assisting immortals!


    "Second Uncle, please!"


    "Rest assured!" Lin Houshou had never seen Lin Shiming with such a tone, and this made his heart even more resolute.


    Lin Shiming, seeing Lin Houshou nod, felt relieved at last. The Flood Dragon Nest and the Purple Jade Tower were both extremely important.


    These were the real deciding factors in whether the Lin Family could rise in the Southern Sea Cultivation World,


    and become a true Golden Core Family.


    After bidding farewell to Lin Houshou, Lin Shiming returned to Thousand Wood Peak. With all affairs settled, the only thing left for him was to assist Lin Shitao in breaking through to the Purple Mansion.


    And it was indeed time for him to spend time with Lin Shitao.


    Before Lin Shitao¡¯s cave on Thousand Wood Peak stood the peach tree, still bearing, exuding tender green sprouts, its branches all faced towards the sea,


    like a young girl craning her neck in anticipation.


    Lin Shitao was still in closed-door cultivation while Lin Shiming sat under the peach tree. The warmth from the tree lingered, and on a stone table lay remnants of the fragrance of Emerald Orchid Tea.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but sigh, not uttering a word, and just sat in meditation under the peach tree.


    His back turned to the direction of the young sprouts, facing the cave.


    He knew very well that Lin Shitao had already come out of seclusion, with nearly a year having passed since the failure to break through to the Purple Mansion.


    The peach blossoms had bloomed and withered again, and under the autumn breeze, the peach leaves were replaced by tender shoots.


    It was only probably because she knew Lin Shiming had participated in the Purple Sun Secret Realm without telling her.


    Lin Shiming indeed felt somewhat helpless, as at that time Lin Shitao was recovering from her Purple Mansion failure, and it wasn¡¯t a good time to bring it up.


    Someone who also sighed for the situation like Lin Shiming did, was Lin Xianzhi on Qinglian Peak.


    He was well aware of the circumstances because, two months after Lin Shiming¡¯s passage, Lin Shitao had come to find him.


    He could only smile wryly at the matter between the two of them.


    The sky was gradually darkening, and the coast¡¯s rocks were reverberating with the increasingly fierce sound of the waves. Lin Shiming continued to meditate, but the next moment, the sound of a spirit pot pouring tea rang out.


    A warm aroma of tea wafted over,


    dispersing the coldness of the sea breeze.


    Lin Shiming couldn¡¯t help but smile at the corners of his mouth, opening his eyes. He thought he might have to wait at the cave¡¯s entrance for half a year or even a year.


    "Seventh Brother, tea!" A graceful figure in peach-red garments stood before him.


    Without a word, Lin Shiming embraced her in his arms.


    "This time, Seventh Brother won¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll stay on Shuangmu Island!" With that simple sentence, Lin Shitao swallowed any words she might have used to blame him, ending with a nod in agreement.


    Cultivation was never easy; how could Lin Shiming¡¯s thoughts be unknown to her?


    Yet her own thoughts were in constant turmoil.


    "In the next ten years, you¡¯ll teach me alchemy, how to cultivate the Spirit Peach Tree, and how to play the zither!" Lin Shiming recalled the scene of his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion and gained a deeper understanding of his own heart.


    He knew the heart knot for Lin Shijie was Sword Intent, the promise with his grandfather; for Lin Xianzhi, it was for the Lin Family, for the rise of the younger generation.


    But as for the reasons behind Lin Shitao¡¯s failed breakthrough, he knew not much, although he understood the Formation Instrument Manual; it should be known that Lin Shitao was also a Dual Spirit Root genius who breached Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill.

 Chapter 615 - 393: What is Seen and Contemplated, Breakthrough of Divine Sense (Two in One)

    Beneath the peach blossom tree, the wispy green smoke of the spiritual tea drifted through the branches and wafted far away.


    Lin Shitao sipped her tea, gazing at the distant Peach Blossom Mountain, eerily silent, then at the bustling Shuangmu Island, suddenly lost in thought.


    She then shook her head and finished the cup of tea she had set down in one gulp.


    "Shiming, I alone am enough for alchemy!"


    She knew Shuangmu Island was already in turmoil, and so was the Southern Sea; she really could leave Lin Shiming aside.


    But the Lin Family, Shuangmu Island, they needed Lin Shiming too.


    And most importantly, Lin Shiming needed her.


    She would brew any elixir for Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected Lin Shitao to say such a thing.


    But after meeting her eyes, Lin Shiming suddenly understood.


    Lin Shitao was still that same girl; she had her thoughts and considerations.


    Her thoughts were meticulous, yet she still took care of the big picture.


    The Immortal Path in her heart wasn¡¯t what she wished for, naturally causing great trouble in her state of mind.


    "Shitao, I want to know, what did you see in the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, and what did you see during your breakthrough to Purple Mansion?" Instead of answering, Lin Shiming asked her back.


    He had wanted to ask this for a long time.


    And Lin Shitao was also startled, having not expected Lin Shiming to ask this question.


    But she would not lie to Lin Shiming, and thus she spoke.


    "Shiming, in the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, I saw that we were all mortals. That year, you passed the imperial examination, and I was a lady of the county. In Peach Blossom County, we served as parental officials for the people, leading a plain yet profound life, and we had a son and a daughter, the son named Zeying and the daughter named Zeqing..."


    Lin Shitao spoke simply, but her eyes were full of light, especially when mentioning Zeying and Zeqing, her eyes brimmed with longing.


    That was the life she desired, naturally and effortlessly, even though she knew she didn¡¯t want to wake up from the illusionary realm.


    In that illusion, she saw Lin Zeying¡¯s face, youthful as ever, an exact image of that young man by the small window from years ago.


    How could she ever wake up?


    "When I was breaking through to Purple Mansion, I saw the failure of the Golden Core, Shiming, you achieved the Golden Core, and met the Heavenly Maiden of the Coral Alliance from Coral Island..."


    When talking about her Purple Mansion breakthrough, Lin Shitao was filled with regret.


    Although she didn¡¯t finish her sentence, Lin Shiming understood Lin Shitao¡¯s intentions clearly.


    His path was one of immortality.


    And Lin Shitao¡¯s path, was just him.


    Even if he led the Lin Family to glory, from a Foundation Establishment family to a Purple Mansion family, and perhaps one day to a Golden Core family.


    For Lin Shitao, without his company, that would all be just a lengthy illusion.


    Immortal cultivation, in the end, is a much longer solitude.


    She feared she couldn¡¯t keep up with Lin Shiming¡¯s immortal cultivation path and might only watch as Lin Shiming found someone else in the end.


    That was her source of anxiety.


    Lin Shiming embraced Lin Shitao, making her look closely at him, feel his warmth.


    He gazed at Lin Shitao¡¯s long eyelashes, trembling like the pistils of peach blossoms in their prime.


    "Shitao, if you don¡¯t try, how can you maintain your position as the Lin Family¡¯s top alchemist?"


    "If you don¡¯t look, how can you be satisfied with just a hundred years together?"


    "Since you saw Zeying¡¯s face clearly, why not see him with your own eyes in reality?"


    "You should understand my intentions, Shitao!" Having said his piece in four sentences, Lin Shiming said no more, and the two pressed close in an embrace.


    A gentle sea breeze blew, and evening approached.


    Some people are together, not doing anything yet feeling content.


    After a long embrace, Lin Shiming took Lin Shitao up to the mountaintop.


    The setting sun sank from the depths of the sea, carrying its long afterglow, scattering it, and then a bright moon rose coolly from the sea.


    The two exchanged a smile; at that moment, silence was more eloquent than words.


    The bright moon and the gentle breeze were witnesses.


    Lin Shiming¡¯s state of mind became even more serene; he didn¡¯t know how long it had been since he had sat atop the peak like this, enjoying the breeze and the moon, watching the waves surge and recede.


    Lin Shitao smiled radiantly, and for a moment, Lin Shiming thought the spring wind had bloomed the peach blossoms.


    The two sat together for a long while, and the night quietly passed.


    Dazzling golden speckles gradually appeared on the sea, occasionally crossed by a few seabirds.


    And the sun slowly rose from the end of the sea.


    That brilliance, turning into a long ray of light, entered their hearts.


    At that moment, the two seemed somewhat out of place with the Lin Family.


    Shuangmu Island shook tremendously, with everyone gearing up for battle, the sequence of combat thundering into existence.


    The Spirit Beast egg and the superior rank magic artifacts stirred up the cultivators, and now that the Lin Family were the rulers of Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    As members of the Lin Family, they naturally wanted to dominate the three leaderboards.


    Although reaching Purple Mansion might be hard, but for the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation leaderboards, the Lin Family¡¯s clansmen fiercely swore to triumph, right in the family¡¯s Preaching Tower.


    They did so before the spirited ancestors of the Lin Family in the Preaching Tower.


    However, for Lin Shiming, what was most important now was to stay with the Lin Family and protect Lin Shitao¡¯s path, allowing Lin Shitao to break through to Purple Mansion.


    He was also waiting for Lin Houshou to have his Dao Enlightenment and for the two Minor Divine Abilities to refresh.


    Although a beast tide was imminent, compared to the crisis facing the Qingxuan Sect and the crisis of Xu Ri True Person, the pressure was, in fact, the least.


    After all, the beast tide targeted the entire Southern Sea Cultivation World.


    The Golden Core Demon Kings would come, but naturally, there would be the Golden Core True Persons of the Coral Island to hold the fort.


    And Lin Shiming, indeed, should take some time to rest.


    Immortal cultivation needed both relaxation and intense effort.


    From Lin Shitao¡¯s words, he also knew that Lin Houxuan had reached the rank of a Third-Rank Superior Grade Alchemist, able to produce Tribulation Forging Divine Pills without difficulty.


    Lin Shiming decided to let Lin Shitao lay down all her alchemy responsibilities, taking her to watch and observe the sea.

 Chapter 616 - 393: What You See, What You Think, Breakthrough of Divine Sense (Two in One)_2

    Lin Shitao¡¯s injuries were no longer a concern; she could once again prepare for her breakthrough at Purple Mansion.


    However, an immediate breakthrough would invariably end in failure.


    Now, the most important thing was to relax Lin Shitao¡¯s mind, at least to the point where she could break through within the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Only then would her chances be fully assured.


    Lin Shiming also submerged the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda entirely into the Spirit Vein to continue nurturing it. In his Sword Path Grass Seed, the Taiyi Grass Sword was also being continuously fostered.


    After everything was in place, Lin Shiming took Lin Shitao to the subsidiary islands of Shuangmu Island, to the towns of mortals.


    The mortal town of Qingtao Town, once on mainland, was still called Qingtao Town on the island, only that the spirit peach trees on that mountain had not completely grown yet.


    Lin Shiming also transformed into a mortal and followed Lin Shitao, planting ordinary spirit peach trees in the open fields on the mountains.


    In the world of mortals, most rise with the sun and rest with its setting.


    Lin Shiming also built a wooden hut, where he and Lin Shitao took up residence.


    During this period, neither of them used spiritual power or cast any spells.


    Under the sun, both of them were still drenched in sweat as Lin Shiming used a hoe to dig and mound the earth, while Lin Shitao held a water cup and teapot, pouring wild mountain tea for Lin Shiming.


    They drank and reveled!


    The citizens of Qingtao Town, who initially joked about the two only planting peach trees, soon found new subjects for their post-meal banter.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao tilled the fields through spring, summer, fall, and winter.


    For a full two years!


    The two of them did not know how many spirit peach trees they had planted; all they knew was that next to Qingtao Town, a new Qingtao Mountain had emerged.


    Atop the mountain, Lin Shitao and Lin Shiming looked at the spirit peach trees they had individually planted, their faces brimming with smiles.


    Lin Shitao took out her zither, the broken strings of which had been mended at some unknown time.


    Lin Shiming also pulled out a wooden stool, letting Lin Shitao sit down.


    Lin Shitao gently began to play the very piece Lin Shiming had performed the day she had her Foundation Establishment breakthrough.


    The melody was joyful and as lively as a mountain spring.


    Lin Shitao laughed, Lin Shiming laughed, and the entire Qingtao Mountain seemed to laugh with them.


    Amidst the blossoming peach flowers of brilliant purples and pinks, accompanied by the zither¡¯s music, it seemed as if the falling petals too started to dance.


    As the music ended, the two embraced each other for a long while.


    With the mountain fully abloom, it was time for the two to depart, and they began to travel once more.


    Starting with the mortal world, they traversed it one by one, saw the common folk of Xing County, and even encountered the descendants of Wang Guanglin.


    Disguised as pilgrims, they entered the Wang Family and offered three sticks of incense for the long-departed Wang Mazhu.


    They also met with the descendants of the Wang Family.


    The Wang Family had grown even more robust and powerful in the mortal world, becoming a significant force within it.


    The family actively participated in the ascension conference held every three years.


    The two then quietly departed, embarking on a journey that took them everywhere.


    Without using any spells and merely walking, they held a scroll in their hands.


    Traveling thousands of miles, reading thousands of books.


    They witnessed the quarrels of mortal couples and the companionship of the very old; they traveled for another year.


    Finally, Lin Shitao, who was first to stop, and Lin Shiming came to rest upon a rocky reef by the sea.


    Behind them, waves as tall as two men crashed, Lin Shitao grabbed Lin Shiming¡¯s palm and then looked out towards the ocean.


    "Shiming, let¡¯s go back and practice alchemy, I¡¯ll teach you alchemy. Over the years, I¡¯ve witnessed your valor, now it¡¯s time for you to see Shitao¡¯s mastery of alchemy!"


    At that moment, the Southern Sea was even more chaotic. Lin Shiming nodded, his eyes gazing into the depths of the ocean.


    With that look, he stretched out his Divine Sense, seeing quite a few cultivators battling demonic beasts in the sea.


    However, in his eyes, it was all quite indifferent.


    None of it was as significant as Lin Shitao¡¯s state of mind, for her breakthrough was what mattered most.


    "Yes!" Lin Shiming nodded his head.


    The two of them then flew back to Thousand Wood Peak, landing there to reenter the Cave Heaven world.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey had completely consumed that snake egg, its fur now a more fiery red with mystical Spirit Patterns on its forehead.


    Wang Jiao still lay under the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, exuding a dark light that made it inscrutable.


    Off in the distance, the Golden Winged Mantis had transformed into a spiritual cocoon and had not yet broken through.


    As for the Star Spirit Clam, it appeared exceptionally lively atop the Spirit Lake, and further away, one could see the Chi He that had once been a Thousand Year Spirit Medicine, now unafraid of Lin Shiming.


    The elder formed from the tree spirit respectfully followed behind these Spirit Shadows.


    ```


    Like an old servant, he was meek and showed a cautious timidity.


    "Seventh brother, what are these?" Lin Shitao asked, astonished.


    "These are spiritual medicines that our Golden Core needs, one of which is greatly useful for breaking through to Nascent Soul!" Lin Shiming said confidently.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shitao was astounded beyond measure. She had thought it was her turn to demonstrate alchemy, but Lin Shiming had stolen the show first.


    However, this only strengthened her conviction that with these spiritual medicines, as long as she worked hard, she would definitely be able to keep up with Lin Shiming.


    A Purple Mansion cultivator has a lifespan of five hundred years, and Lin Shiming can devote a tenth of it to accompany her for fifty years!


    A Golden Core cultivator has a millennium of longevity, and by taking a tenth, Lin Shiming could accompany her for a hundred years!


    Nascent Soul cultivators live for two thousand years, and Transforming Spirit cultivators for five thousand!


    The higher Lin Shiming cultivated, the longer he could stay with her.


    With this in mind, why not strive for that longer journey?


    Lin Shitao took out her five-colored alchemy furnace and began to practice alchemy.


    She was refining the Savage Blood Pill.


    The spiritual medicines for Savage Blood Pills had been completely collected by the Lin Family over the years.


    As the ruler of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, collecting these elixirs had been far too easy.


    Although she was supposed to teach Lin Shiming, Lin Shitao knew full well that Lin Shiming didn¡¯t truly have the time for a systematic study of alchemy at present.


    Nevertheless, Lin Shitao could teach him the Savage Blood Pill.


    From charging the furnace, kindling the fire, controlling the temperature, melting the medicines, to forming the pills!


    She taught Lin Shiming step by step, with exceptional care and a gentle smile on her face.


    Lin Shiming watched as spirit patterns were seamlessly integrated and, under precise temperatures, the exact doses of spiritual medicines were added.


    After a day had passed, the pill furnace was opened, and a batch of Third Rank Savage Blood Pills were produced, with six pills successfully formed.


    Producing six pills in one batch was undoubtedly a display of terrifying alchemical prowess.


    It should be noted that this was Lin Shitao¡¯s first attempt at pill production.


    Lin Shiming didn¡¯t cease his efforts and continued to refine Savage Blood Pills; during this time, he even tested a batch, aided by system prompts, yet he still ended up failing.


    After completing ten batches, Lin Shitao began refining Fourth Rank Savage Blood Pills.


    Both Lin Shiming and Lin Shijie, the Jiuxiao Scatter Man, now controlled a few temporary Purple Mansion Great Demons using the Spirit Controlling Seal.


    Having Savage Blood Pills at critical moments could prove immensely useful.


    The ingredients for Fourth Rank Savage Blood Pills were even more precious and complex.


    Lin Shitao still had a smile at the corner of her mouth, but her brows slightly furrowed.


    For a Third Rank alchemist, refining Fourth Rank elixirs naturally presented some difficulties.


    Yet in the end, surprisingly, she once again succeeded in producing a single pill in one batch.


    However, it was just one pill.


    But that was enough to earn Lin Shiming¡¯s praise.


    With only three sets of materials available for the Fourth Rank Savage Blood Pill, Lin Shitao succeeded with all three batches, netting a total of five Fourth Rank Savage Blood Pills.


    Following this journey, Lin Shiming saw that Lin Shitao had gained much more self-confidence and her alchemy skills had become more profound.


    After the Savage Blood Pills were refined, next up was the Divine Beast Pill.


    The Divine Beast Pill was even more precious. Lin Shiming had a total of two Divine Beast herbs, one of which had been aged for over a thousand years.


    Paired with the essence blood of a four-headed serpent, it fit perfectly, leaving one Divine Beast herb to be paired with the essence blood of a Chi He.


    However, after reviewing the recipe for the Divine Beast Pill, Lin Shitao was somewhat uncertain.


    Lin Shiming then took out the Ziji Tan for Lin Shitao to practice the Split Spirit Decision.


    As soon as the Ziji Tan was ignited, all the fragrant smoke headed straight toward Lin Shitao.


    She was immediately taken aback, not expecting the Ziji Tan to be so remarkably effective.


    Lin Shiming, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t surprised; back then, even he had been just as amazed.


    While Lin Shitao practiced with Ziji Tan, Lin Shiming took out the Star Spirit Fluff and began practicing the Star Body Refining Technique.


    Twenty days later.


    Lin Shitao opened her eyes, and her immense divine sense spread out, instantly comparable to that of a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    To think that even when Lin Shiming had broken through to Purple Mansion, he hadn¡¯t possessed such a vast divine sense.


    This had its advantages and disadvantages, as it made the soul more difficult to congeal.


    But Lin Shiming was well aware that as long as one¡¯s Dao heart was steadfast and one united the myriad Dao within oneself, one could unite the soul in the Purple Mansion!


    "Seventh brother, I¡¯ve made a breakthrough with my divine sense!" Lin Shitao exclaimed joyously!


    After preparing, she, too, began to open the furnace to refine the Divine Beast Pill!


    ```

 Chapter 619 - 395: The Tree Demons Promotion, Shimos Bottleneck (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets)

    Illusionary Heart Pavilion, as the last ray of the setting sun disappeared, the stars faintly emerged in the night sky.


    The Spirit Light of the Spirit Pavilion dimmed with each flicker until it finally faded away.


    Lin Shiming''s hanging heart also eventually settled down.


    Off in the distance, Lin Shitao also strode out from the Spirit Pavilion with a beaming smile on her face.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming even felt that the True Yuan within Lin Shitao had undergone a change.


    The aura of the Purple Mansion was also getting closer and closer.


    "Seventh Brother, I need to go into seclusion!" Lin Shitao firmly stated, then took the lead in flying toward Thousand Wood Peak.


    Lin Shiming followed close behind, for Thousand Wood Peak bore a pure Fire Attribute Spirit Vein, and it was most conducive for Lin Shitao''s breakthrough.


    After breaking through the Illusionary Realm and undergoing nearly five years of trials, her cultivation technique had improved by refining the Serpent Spirit Flame, her Divine Sense had broken through the Purple Mansion realm, and there were also breakthroughs in her alchemy skills.


    At this moment, her confidence was also full.


    Lin Shiming nodded; he was full of confidence in Lin Shitao as well.


    Accompanying Lin Shitao, they both descended onto Thousand Wood Peak. Lin Shitao sealed the cave dwelling, naturally, Lin Shiming was also inside. Before breaking through to the Purple Mansion, preparation was still needed and cultivating one''s spirit, energy, and mind to their best state was essential.


    Moreover, the most important thing was to refine a portion of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    Lin Shiming had a total of five Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits. He had used one himself, while Lin Shijie and Lin Shitao had used one, leaving two Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits remaining.


    Afterward, either Lin Shiming had to catalyze it, or they would have to find a way to obtain new Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits.


    And even catalyzing with the Revival Wind would require at least five or six attempts.


    Favorably, Lin Shimo''s method of gathering for the Purple Mansion could use a Five Elements Heavenly Armor Corpse.


    It would only take one Zi Xuan Precious Jade, although Lin Houshou was about to break through and needed preparation.


    While Lin Shitao was refining the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid in the cave dwelling, Lin Shiming also continued in seclusion, comprehending the Tongbao Technique of the Star Pearl.


    This fragment of a Spirit Treasure bathed in starlight, Lin Shiming was confident it would be more convenient to use than the Blood Demon Disk and Sword Storing Book.


    After all, he practiced a body-forging cultivation technique that had the same origin as this Spirit Treasure.


    With each segment of the Tongbao Technique understood, his body seemed to feel the suction of the Star Pearl.


    This was different from the other two fragmented Spirit Treasures and only increased his anticipation.


    Time also gradually passed with the mundane cultivation.


    As a surge of Spiritual Energy flowed, Lin Shiming woke from a deep state, only to see Lin Shitao successfully complete her alchemy.


    The Purple Mansion Jade Liquid fell into Lin Shitao''s hands, carrying with it a refreshing fragrance of elixirs.


    Lin Shitao was smiling broadly; ever since Lin Shiming''s return, things had been going extremely well.


    Lin Shiming was genuinely happy for Lin Shitao and, at that moment, he discovered that his Minor Divine Ability of Revival Wind had finally recovered.


    Lin Shiming informed Lin Shitao and then stepped into Cave Heaven, arriving at the specially designated Spiritual Medicine Garden, where the Tea Tree Wood Demon was guarding the Thousand Year Spirit Medicine.


    The Chi He still looked down upon the Wood Demon.


    But the Wood Demon didn''t mind, busily and happily doing its duty, and upon seeing Lin Shiming arrive, it hastily called out to its master.


    "Mingxin, the catalyzation I promised you last time, I will give it to you now!"


    The Wood Demon was immediately overjoyed; it darted onto the main body of the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    Ever since becoming a Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Tea Tree, its branches were even more luxuriant, and its life essence leaves had turned into a cluster, looking exceptionally lush.


    The emanating Spirit Light was continuous and verdant in the extreme.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming discovered that, perhaps because he hadn''t paid much attention in these five years, the Mingxin Tea Tree had grown much broader.


    The foundation possessed by this Mingxin Tea Tree seemed to far exceed Lin Shiming''s expectations.


    "Mingxin, let''s agree beforehand, I still need half of your life essence leaf!" Lin Shiming stated once again.


    The face of the Mingxin Tea Tree Wood Demon suddenly appeared old.


    "For the lady master, Mingxin is willing!"


    Unexpectedly, the Mingxin Tea Tree agreed very readily.


    Lin Shiming, with his Soul Arrest, naturally understood that the Wood Demon was not speaking against its will.


    And the loss of the life essence leaf would also be a depletion of Mingxin Tea Tree''s accumulated foundation.


    The previous time it was given to Lin Xianzhi, the Mingxin Tea Tree had a buffer of at least a dozen or twenty years.


    "Don''t worry, this time you should reap some benefits. Besides, once the Purple Sun Tower is successfully built, your main body can also enter it!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    While he couldn''t promise the next Revival Wind, once Lin Hou Shou successfully breaks through to a Fourth Rank Formation, then, after the Purple Sun Tower is built and the Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Vein is concealed within, the Flood Dragon Nest and Purple Sun Tower will surely be formed.


    At that time, the Wood Demon''s gains will definitely be greater than its losses.


    Lin Shiming didn''t speak further. Inside the Purple Mansion, green Spirit Patterns emerged one after another, soon spreading out into a continuum.


    His body began to exude a verdant True Essence, which resonated, and a green tornado surged forth toward the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    Wherever the tornado passed, the tea leaves started to grow wildly.


    Like the branches under the influence of the Wood Vine Technique, new Spirit Leaves appeared, and the branches grew thicker, the leaves greener.


    The Wood Demon''s face displayed a look of ecstasy, having witnessed Lin Shiming''s power before but never having experienced it firsthand.


    But now, it truly felt the strength of Lin Shiming''s Spiritual Body.


    Its Divine Soul was filled with gratitude towards Lin Shiming, almost babbling incoherently.


    And it was fully digesting this marvelous Wood Attribute True Essence.


    The Spirit Tea Tree grew larger and larger, its Spirit Light becoming denser and denser.


    In the distance, several five-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicines, led by countless other Spirit Medicines, were also attracted to this side, clearly sensing the benefits of the Revival Wind here.


    In Lin Shiming''s hands, two Flying Swords flew out, repelling those Spirit Medicines.

 Chapter 620 - 395: The Tree Demons Promotion, Shimos Bottleneck (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets)_2

    The benefits promised to the Wood Demon must not be shared at this moment.


    Moreover, the Treasured Leaves of the Wood Demon are also crucial for Lin Shitao''s breakthrough assistance.


    The Spiritual Medicines were naturally frightened by the Spirit Sword and scattered back.


    And the Revival Wind also quickly came to an end.


    As the last wisp of green light disappeared, the Mingxin Tea Tree dramatically transformed once again.


    At this moment, the tea tree''s trunk was as large as a tower, its dense and delicate leaves hanging on every branch, radiating waves after waves of Spirit Light.


    At its pinnacle, a cluster of the tree''s Treasured Leaves had even subdivided to form another small cluster, which only had two tiny leaves.


    Delicate as dewdrops, lush and verdant.


    This was also considered the most essential part of the Mingxin Tea Tree.


    One could even see clear droplets of Spiritual Liquid falling from the leaves.


    And without a doubt, the rank of the Mingxin Tea Tree climbed once more, comparable to a Third Rank Supreme Grade, which, converted to a Wood Demon''s strength, was equivalent to a peak Third Rank martial prowess.


    The next moment, a Wood Demon with a tree-like face emerged, holding in its hand that half of its Treasured Leaf.


    It placed it in Lin Shiming''s hand.


    "Master!" the Wood Demon said with some weakness, but its eyes were blood-red, harboring no resentment at all.


    The Treasured Leaves of the Mingxin Tea Tree''s main body began to rapidly disappear, like the melting snow and ice of February, until only the bare branches remained standing tall.


    This time, the Wood Demon''s loss was also substantial.


    It had once again fallen back to the late Third Rank in its cultivation level.


    However, it did not fall into a slumber like the last time.


    "Hmm!" Lin Shiming also nodded, taking out some Fifth Rank Spirit Water and Spirit Soil to give to the Wood Demon.


    This made the Wood Demon quite delighted.


    It was well aware of the immense value of Fifth Rank Spirit Water and Spirit Soil to Lin Shiming.


    For itself, they could greatly shorten its period of weakness and possibly bring some unexpected benefits.


    But Lin Shiming was willing to give them, and naturally, it was moved.


    Moreover, it had witnessed Lin Shiming''s progression from Foundation Establishment to Purple Mansion and was familiar with Lin Shiming''s character, which was why it resolutely split off half of its Treasured Leaves again.


    "Thank you, Master!" said the Wood Demon of the Mingxin Tea Tree, bowing again before retreating into its main body, which began to hibernate.


    Meanwhile, those Spiritual Medicines aged five thousand and ten thousand years were also flying towards Lin Shiming.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming had not harmed them for so many years, they now dared to come before him to request Spirit Water and Spirit Soil.


    Especially that ten-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine, Chi He, which was brazen.


    It even gestured at the Mingxin Tea Tree, as if to say that if the Wood Demon could get some, they should too.


    Lin Shiming performed a Spirit Art and used a Formation to envelop all the Spiritual Medicines.


    As for these Spiritual Medicines, they might be needed in the future, so Lin Shiming was not going to be soft-hearted.


    Allowing them to grow wildly was also to preserve their Spirit Intelligence.


    Lin Shiming left Cave Heaven, handing a leaf of Spiritual Tea to Lin Shitao.


    Lin Shitao was somewhat puzzled at the moment, but sensing the spiritual charm of the leaf, she also knew that this treasure might be helpful for her Purple Mansion.


    "This leaf can eliminate some side effects of the Formation Artifact Manual and can temporarily enhance some understanding!" Lin Shiming explained.


    Even Lin Houxuan, who had failed in Foundation Establishment, relied on this Spiritual Tea, although it was not the Treasured Leaf, including the subsequent Lin Houfei and Lin Shizhong.


    Lin Xianzhi also managed to improve his Sword Intent to half-step Sword Qi filament with this Treasured Leaf.


    Lin Shitao nodded upon hearing this and started her closed-door cultivation right away.


    Lin Shiming also bade farewell and left. A breakthrough into Purple Mansion should not tolerate the slightest disturbance.


    He also took this time to successfully cultivate the Star Bead Fortune Technique.


    Back in Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming took out a meditation mat and built a pavilion by the Spirit Lake.


    The Star Spirit Clam frolicked above the Spirit Lake, Lin Shiming sitting just a pond''s distance away.


    During the day, he refined the stored Star Spirit Fluff and cultivated the Fortune Technique, his entire body radiating with starlight.


    At night, the Spirit Lake mirrored the starry sky, while the Star Spirit Clam ingested Fourth Rank Spirit Soil and Water to temporarily create Star Spirit Fluff.


    Lin Shiming''s Starlight Tempering Body Technique was fully activated, absorbing Star Spirit Fluff day and night, comprehending the Fortune Technique and appearing divine, repelling starlight like a holy radiance.


    A Star Chart began to emerge in his mind.


    This chart corresponded to the heavens, mysterious and profound, infinite in scope.


    The Star Pearl in his hand also began to reveal point after point, slowly showing the outline of a star chart.


    Lin Shiming felt that grasping even the first layer of the Star Pearl would definitely provide him with a powerful weapon, assuredly no less formidable than his Minor Divine Ability, the Immortal Wood Shadow.


    However, the further he progressed with the Fortune Technique, the more arcane and elusive it became, often requiring system prompts to advance even a single step.


    To enhance his comprehension just a little.


    Even with a shared origin, a Spiritual Treasure was far beyond what a Purple Mansion cultivator could fathom.


    But once successfully deployed, its power would surely be earth-shattering.


    Liu He True Person had nearly caused Shen Ji True Person, who was about to break through to Nascent Soul, to perish by using only a clone to unleash the Blood Demon Disk.


    Lin Shiming still vividly recalled that event!


    While refining the Star Pearl, Lin Shiming''s strength in Body Refinement also greatly increased.


    However, the consumption of Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Water was astronomically high; aside from those seized in the Purple Sun Secret Realm and the constant production from the Lin Family''s two Spirit Veins.


    He also continuously purchased them from Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Having the backing of a clan was beneficial at times like this.


    Fourth Rank Spirit Soil and Water were still manageable, but Fifth Rank was much more elusive.


    Otherwise, Lin Shiming was confident that within five years, his Body Refining Cultivation would be the first to break through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage.

 Chapter 621 - 395: The Tree Demons Promotion, Shimos Bottleneck (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets)_3

    After all, the Lin Family did not lack Spirit Soil and Spirit Water now.


    ...


    Another four years have passed!


    At Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the Lin Family Restaurant was so popular that it was bursting at the seams, having long been overwhelmed with patrons.


    All four floors of the Lin Family Restaurant were packed to the brim, and even on the first floor, there were no Qi Refining Cultivators to be seen¡ªit was all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, a throng of them, easily over a hundred.


    As for Qi Cultivators, they had all gone to the neighboring restaurant opened by the Ye Family.


    And the topic of everyone''s conversation was also the three major rankings.


    The three major rankings had been going on for nine years, and today marked the update of the third round of rankings.


    What was being updated were of course the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation rankings; the Purple Mansion ranking remained unchanged, for there were less than ten Purple Mansion Cultivators in the entirety of Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Besides Jiuxiao True Person remaining steadfast at the top with his Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivation level, followed by Hermit Liu An with a Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivation level securing second place, the rest were all Early Stage Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    It''s important to note that all twelve subsidiary islands under Xu Ri Island had launched their rankings, and Heavenly Phenomenon Island was not the most peripheral, so initially the competition among Purple Mansion Cultivators was not too fierce.


    However, with the increasing number of Purple Mansion Great Demons, it was inevitable that the number of Purple Mansion Cultivators would also grow.


    Moreover, as soon as the Purple Mansion rankings were updated, there was a good chance that both Jiuxiao Scatter Man of the Lin Family and Lin Shijie would fall out of the rankings.


    At this moment, the topic most discussed in the Lin Family Restaurant was naturally the Foundation Establishment Heroes Ranking.


    As the large Spirit Screen, which had previously been used for auctions, began to glow, followed by the emergence of names one after another, it immediately sent the crowd of Cultivators into an uproar.


    "As expected, the first place on the Foundation Establishment Ranking is still Lin Shiming from the Lin Family, the genius of Corpse Refining. It is said that he alone can command five peak Corpse Refiners, and when facing those third-rank peak Demonic Beasts, he kills each one with certainty!"


    "Not just Shiming alone, look, out of the ten names on the Foundation Establishment Ranking, five are from the Lin Family. Of the remaining five, three are Loose Cultivators, with one from the Ye Family and one from the Zhao Family!"


    "It''s actually seven, as one among those three Loose Cultivators is about to marry into the Lin Family, and another was originally a Cultivator who had married into the Lin Family!"


    People kept talking, and their yearning for the Lin Family was self-evident.


    The Lin Family''s actions over the years had captured the hearts of many Loose Cultivators. After all, Loose Cultivators could cultivate on the Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein on Zi Yu Mountain and were entrusted with heavy responsibilities on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    ...


    The crowd looked at the rankings and engaged in lively discussions.


    The once aloof Foundation Establishment Cultivators had now all become subjects of gossip.


    In a room on the second floor, several Cultivators from the Lin Family were also present.


    When Lin Shiming saw the updated ranking, he simply nodded slightly, showing no sign of delight.


    After all, to him, with five Heavenly Armored Corpses under his command and no Purple Mansion Great Demons to contend with, no third-rank Demonic Beast was his match.


    He also possessed numerous treasures, including the Spirit Controlling Seal, through which he commanded a late-stage third-rank Sea Cloud Bird and a late-stage third-rank Green Shell Crab.


    There were also not a few late-stage third-rank Corpse Refiners.


    Although the Lin Family wasn''t as powerful as the Corpse Refining Sect, the Sect wouldn''t have provided as many resources for Shiming to utilize. Moreover, this was the time for his Five Elements Heavenly Corpse Decree to be put to use.


    On the other hand, Lin Shilei felt somewhat discouraged because on the ranking list, Lei Xuan, with his late-stage lightning-based Foundation Establishment cultivation, was ranked second while Shilei with his peak middle-stage Foundation Establishment was ranked eighth.


    They were both of an unusual Spirit Root, and although Shilei was a bit younger, in his eyes, he still needed to work much harder!


    On the list, Lin Shiyi was ranked third, and Lin Houwei, who had just made a breakthrough to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, was ranked sixth.


    Lin Houyuan, at the peak of late-stage Foundation Establishment was ranked ninth.


    However, everyone was aware that there was still some inflation in the rankings. For instance, the Family Heads from both the Ye and Zhao Families could rank in the top ten, maybe even higher, if only they had made a move.


    Even if they had secretly killed late-stage third-rank Demonic Beasts, they would have left only the Demonic Beast materials without leaving any recorded proof.


    Aside from the Foundation Establishment Hermit Cultivators who truly wanted the rewards, none of the larger affiliated clans had made much effort.


    After all, the Lin Family was the highest authority on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    If the Lin Family''s members weren''t on the list, only then would the small powers on the island genuinely feel threatened.


    "Fourth Brother, you must be preparing to make a breakthrough to Purple Mansion, aren''t you?" Lin Shiyi couldn''t help but express his envy.


    It''s well-known that Shiming was of the Four Spirit Roots, and his rapid progress in cultivation was not only due to Corpse Refining but also due to his hard work.


    "I''m still stuck at the bottleneck of the late stage Foundation Establishment and can''t progress to the peak. I want to try hunting down a Purple Mansion Great Demon!!" Shiming paused for a moment, then suddenly declared.


    And with that declaration, he indeed made a startling announcement!

 Chapter 624: 397 Formation Breakthrough, Purple Sun Tower Success (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    Lin Houshou''s cave abode was, at this moment, cluttered with array flags arrayed haphazardly throughout.


    Several shelves were also filled with one jade slip after another.


    "Second Uncle, how is the progress of your research?" Lin Shiming''s heart sank slightly at the sight of Lin Houshou''s complexion.


    Although his Minor Divine Ability was formidable, it didn''t provide a precise measure of progress.


    If Lin Houshou''s comprehension was a bit lacking, even using the Minor Divine Ability might not help in refining the formations, which would be troublesome.


    They might even have to wait another ten years!


    One must know that the Storage Spirit Formation in the Purple Sun Tower requires at least eighteen Spirit Platforms, while the Flood Dragon Nest is a Compound Formation consisting of three different formations.


    Both are Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Formations, and when combined, even a regular Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Array Master might not be able to refine them.


    "Shiming, your second uncle is dull; of the Compound Formations you gave me, I have only fully understood one. The Storage Spirit Formation I can set up only has nine Spirit Platforms!" Lin Houshou bitterly stated.


    One must know that Lin Shiming had tasked him with the duty of a Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Array Master, yet he''d used Ziji Tan to barely elevate his Divine Sense to Purple Mansion level, making him at best a peak Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Array Master.


    However, Lin Shiming was immensely delighted upon hearing this.


    He had initially thought that Lin Houshou''s pallor meant he had not reached the Fourth Rank Array Master level.


    Now it seemed that not only had Lin Houshou reached it, but he had also far exceeded his expectations.


    Paired with the deducing Spirit Light, he was not fully guaranteed to succeed, but he did have an eighty to ninety percent chance.


    "Second Uncle, excellent!"


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming hastily took Lin Houshou back to Thousand Wood Peak.


    After arranging everything, he also shared about the Cave Heaven World with Lin Houshou.


    Lin Houshou was not overly surprised.


    Although Lin Shiming had never mentioned it, the presence of the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Tree, the previous tree with Minor Divine Ability, and the Mingxin Tea Tree all indicated that Lin Shiming possessed a Cave Heaven.


    After all, during the time at Fangmu Mountain when they went to face the beast tide, Lin Shiming had confided about these treasures to Lin Houshou.


    It''s just that members of the Lin Family Clan were strictly forbidden from contemplating that direction, even naturally sealing away that part of their memory.


    Seeing Lin Houshou nod, Lin Shiming also raised his hand, drawing the latter into the Cave Heaven as well.


    Despite being prepared, upon entering the Cave Heaven, Lin Houshou''s astonishment remained unabated for a long time.


    Standing there, he gazed at the calm Spirit Lake where even the floating scallops were Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    In the distance, there were Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit Trees, Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Trees, and Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    As for the Third Rank Supreme Grade Mingxin Tea Tree, it was ignored by him.


    Third Rank Spirit Plants were simply too common!


    As common as the Spirit Peach Tree!


    In the distance, Wang Jiao was breaking through, while the Golden Wing and Red-haired exuded the formidable might of the Purple Mansion.


    Finally, when he saw Lin Shiming''s Spiritual Medicine Garden, and glimpsed the string of Spirit Shadows,


    he vigorously rubbed his eyes.


    Thinking he had seen incorrectly or was it merely an Illusion Array?


    Yet, he thought, what purpose would Lin Shiming have in casting an Illusion Array on him?


    At this moment, he even wished he hadn''t seen any of it.


    "Shiming, when the time comes, seal my memory," Lin Houshou still said.


    The secrets of Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven were too numerous, so momentous that he dared not keep them.


    Not to mention the Spiritual Medicine Garden, just the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit Tree alone, capable of extending the life of a Spirit Beast by a hundred years, would be enough to tempt a Golden Core Cultivator.


    "Second Uncle, we''ll discuss sealing the memory later. First, you should sit on this cushioned spirit bed," said Lin Shiming.


    This spirit bed was the very same one he had previously given to Lin Shitao.


    It had effects that could refresh the mind and calm the qi, and Lin Shiming didn''t want to divulge the root of the Minor Divine Ability he used for deductions.


    As for treasures like the Flood Dragon Nest and Purple Sun Tower, they were too visible to hide; otherwise, he would seal away all the Spiritual Medicines as well.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Houshou paused for a moment before sitting on the cushioned bed without further words.


    He knew that whatever he asked, Lin Shiming would answer.


    But as an elder, he understood that it was crucial not to ask anything at this time; he would do whatever Lin Shiming instructed.


    Whether or not Lin Shiming sealed his memory, it was part of his duty.


    Lin Houshou closed his eyes, and Lin Shiming activated the root of deduction within him; numerous deducing Spirit Lights soon overflowed, turning him into a being of light.


    The golden light then flowed through the cushion into Lin Houshou.


    At that moment, Lin Houshou felt an epiphany, like a stream of divine revelation, as previously incomprehensible formation knowledge suddenly became clear.


    The Storage Spirit Formation of the Purple Sun Tower and the Compound Formation of the Flood Dragon Nest also emerged one by one in his mind.


    He felt his brain working overdrive, any and all bottlenecks now appearing trivial.


    From surface to depth, from shallow to profound!


    One after another, these insights fully dawned upon him.


    Naturally, the formation knowledge he had accumulated before this was also fully comprehended.


    Through this enlightenment, his formation cultivation continued to break through.


    His previous concepts were continuously overturned.


    As the deducing Spirit Light came to an end, Lin Houshou remained with eyes closed.


    Lin Shiming did not disturb him, just as when Lin Shitao absorbed the alchemy knowledge before.


    After all, once you understand something, you still need to integrate it, to deduce, to digest.


    He settled nearby, continuing to cultivate his Starlight Tempering Body Technique.


    The cushioned bed truly played its role, allowing Lin Houshou to focus more intensely on his studies.


    Time trickled away, and gradually, Lin Houshou began to bring out array flags.


    The speed with which he wielded the array flags grew increasingly rapid and intricate.


    Starting with First Rank formations, Lin Shiming could see them all very clearly.

 Chapter 625 - 397: Formation Breakthrough, Purple Sun Tower Complete (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2

    Following that were the Second Rank, Third Rank.


    By the time he reached the Third Rank, Lin Shiming started to feel the struggle.


    Because the formations Lin Houshou was constructing weren''t simply of the Third Rank, but rather a complex mix of the First, Second, and Third Ranks.


    Their complexity was such that they were not far behind those of the Fourth Rank.


    And as time passed, Lin Houshou also began to lay out Fourth Rank formations and formation flags.


    His pace slowed down, after all, Lin Houshou''s cultivation level was only at the later stages of Foundation Establishment.


    He began to clutch a Superior Grade Spirit Stone, taking Spirit Pills that supplemented his True Yuan.


    One formation flag after another was placed.


    After a long time, a Fourth Rank formation was fully laid out, perfectly integrating with the previous formations.


    Lin Houshou''s hand was still taking formation flags, moving to establish new formations. By now, Lin Shiming could no longer see clearly and even began to feel threatened by the formations.


    The Golden Wing and Red-haired came over to his side, accompanied by nine Spirit Ants.


    Lin Shiming hurriedly gave orders to the Spirit Ants, because if they encountered someone else laying out formations, the ants were very likely to go up and devour the Spirit Light.


    Days passed, and at this moment, the formation Lin Houshou laid out was already a Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade formation.


    He was now using a Formation Artifact Manual, and his placement became even slower, taking steps one by one, his True Yuan depleted countless times, needing breaks to replenish it.


    Boom!


    Accompanied by a surge of Spirit Light, the first Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade formation was successfully established; it was the most complex one within that Flood Dragon Nest Compound Formation.


    What was most important is that it had integrated many of the previous formations!


    Formation within a formation, hundreds, thousands of formations!


    Lin Shiming was at a loss for words to describe it.


    At this moment, Lin Houshou''s body was also absorbing Spiritual Energy incessantly.


    In Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven, two Fourth Rank Spiritual Veins had already been released, followed by the addition of a Fourth Rank pinnacle Spiritual Vein.


    The density of the Spiritual Energy was close to that of the Fifth Rank.


    Countless Spiritual Energy moved towards Lin Houshou, visible in the air turning into liquid.


    This was clearly on the verge of a breakthrough at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment.


    However, even while breaking through, Lin Houshou continued to study formation knowledge.


    He kept on laying out formations, which made Lin Shiming anxious.


    He worried that laying out formations might affect the breakthrough, and any delay in the breakthrough would be distressing.


    Lin Shiming wanted to remind him verbally but was also worried about causing confusion at this critical time.


    He could only wait anxiously, ready to enter with the Leaping Void Disk at the first sign of trouble.


    However, just at that moment, Lin Houshou had finally completed his formation layout. All the formations were dispersed by one of his formation flags.


    With a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, he began to concentrate on his breakthrough.


    Lin Shiming breathed a sigh of relief.


    Breaking through was not an overnight affair.


    Lin Shiming then started practicing the Starlight Tempering Body Technique again.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Shiming felt a violent fluctuation of Spiritual Energy and opened his eyes to see Lin Houshou finishing his practice.


    Half of the light was like Buddha''s glow, half like blood.


    Looking at Lin Shiming, his face was full of joy.


    "Shiming, I don''t even know what realm my formation knowledge is in now?"


    Lin Houshou was indeed puzzled.


    He felt that his progress was too substantial. Now, what limited his ability to lay out formations wasn''t his knowledge of formations but rather his True Yuan, his cultivation level.


    Even with the Formation Artifact Manual, it was still the same.


    "Second Uncle, is it possible to lay out that Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Compound Formation and at least eighteen Storage Spirit Formations?" asked Lin Shiming.


    "Ninety-nine percent sure!" Lin Houshou was extremely confident at this moment.


    He started taking out all the materials he had prepared beforehand. The first to be laid out was the Storage Spirit Formation for the Purple Sun Tower.


    After all, Wang Jiao was still residing under the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree, but there were no such restrictions for the Purple Sun Tower.


    Regarding the layout of the formation platforms, Lin Shiming was an outsider. He relayed the connection between the layout, the Purple Sun Tower, and the opposite side to Lin Houshou.


    Lin Shiming then assisted Lin Houshou on the side.


    As of now, they were essentially creating a base for the Purple Sun Tower.


    Fortunately, without the previous protective formation, Lin Shiming alone could lift the Purple Sun Tower.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to find the three Flood Dragons.


    As time passed, Lin Shiming watched little by little as a formation gradually took shape.


    It was unclear how much time had passed when Lin Houshou suddenly scattered the formation flags in his hand like a goddess scattering flowers, embedding them into the eighteen Storage Spirit Platforms.


    Instantly, eighteen Spiritual Energy whirlpools were formed.


    Then, the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Veins surged toward these whirlpools!


    These whirlpools had immense suction power; normally, a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein wouldn''t be sufficient, which was why the Flaming Sword had said that at least two Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank Spiritual Veins were required.


    With the appearance of the Spiritual Energy whirlpools, the Spirit Patterns on the Purple Sun Tower also began to wash over themselves, circle by circle.


    "Puh!" Lin Houshou suddenly spat out fresh blood.


    "Second Uncle, you can''t look at those Spirit Patterns!" Lin Shiming quickly warned.


    It was obviously too late, but fortunately, since the Spirit Patterns were only initially activated, their power was much less.


    Nevertheless, it made Lin Houshou extremely wary.


    Lin Shiming, whose mind was always active, walked towards the interior of the Purple Sun Tower and quickly discovered that the first floor of the tower was just like the one he had seen in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, with a whirlpool, one that led to a Cave Heaven Secret Realm.


    This Purple Sun Tower was clearly also a Secret Realm Cave Heaven, and now it was like a cave within a cave heaven.


    Lin Shiming stepped directly into the Cave Heaven, and since he had memorized the interior formation when it was not activated, there was no danger.


    A new cave heaven appeared before him, though somewhat barren.


    After all, all of the Spiritual Medicine had been moved out by Lin Shiming.


    After observing for a moment, Lin Shiming found that, aside from the insufficient Spiritual Energy compared to the Cave Heaven of the Purple Sun Secret Realm, it was similar.


    Lin Shiming also knew that his Storage Spirit Formation was still too basic.


    One should know that the Cave Heavens in the secret realms could drain the Purple Sun Secret Realm to barrenness; those Storage Spirit Formations were much more powerful than the ones currently established.


    But for Lin Shiming, it was sufficient, and even for the future of the Lin Family, it would be more than enough. In time, there would naturally be no shortage of Golden Core Spiritual Medicine.


    Lin Shiming suppressed his elation and walked out of the Purple Sun Tower. At this moment, at the gate of the tower, the Spirit Shadows of those five thousand and ten thousand year old Spiritual Medicines all came running over.


    Each one was very impatient. In the Purple Sun Tower, they could obtain benefits beyond their imagination.


    Naturally, they didn''t wish to stay longer in Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven.


    And since Lin Shiming didn''t harm them, they were fearless.


    Lin Shiming didn''t refuse them and transplanted these Spiritual Medicines back into the Purple Sun Tower, one by one. Finally, he also transplanted the Golden Thunder Bamboo and the Wood Demon into the tower.


    However, the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit, and the Great Strength Fruit Tree, as well as other Spirit Fruit Trees, were not transplanted.


    After all, these Spirit Fruits were critical to the advancement of the Lin Family''s cultivators.


    It would be better to wait until there were no issues before placing them into it.


    "Second Uncle, you''ve made a great contribution, truly amazing!" Lin Shiming kept praising Lin Houshou, and his praise came from the heart.


    The Purple Sun Tower was too important for the Lin Family, and it might decide what name the Coral Alliance would carry for hundreds or thousands of years to come.


    After all, cultivators couldn''t just enter the Purple Sun Secret Realm at will. If the Demonic Race found the location and the Golden Core True Persons of the Coral Alliance weren''t strong enough, they might not be able to claim it back.


    But there were no such restrictions with this Purple Sun Tower of the Lin Family.


    "This is all thanks to you! Second Uncle only contributed a bit of brute strength!" Lin Houshou shook his head, but he was very content.


    Lin Shiming also gazed towards the Flood Dragon Nest.


    The Flood Dragon Nest was equally important.


    The Lin Family''s Spiritual Serpent clan had completely spread the word about this event in the rankings, not just on Xu Ri Island, but throughout the entire Coral Alliance.


    In time, they could continuously acquire Spirit Snakes with unique talents and cultivate Spiritual Flood Dragons.


    It might take a considerable amount of time, but cultivators could wait!


    Lin Houshou nodded in agreement, first taking out a Spirit Pill to restore True Yuan, and after swallowing it, he looked at Lin Shiming.


    Naturally, the Formation could not be set up while Wang Jiao was around.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement. He tried to send a message to Wang Jiao through sound transmission.


    The other party seemed to sense Lin Shiming''s intention, and a big cluster of dim light moved towards a nearby mud swamp.


    Leaving the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree exposed in front of the two.


    And the big clump of dark light also gave the two men quite a scare.


    Wang Jiao had grown almost twice as big.


    It was just that it had always been coiled up, so they hadn''t noticed, but one could imagine that when Wang Jiao finished seclusion, it really might reach the mid-phase of a Fourth Rank Great Demon!

 Chapter 628 - 399: Slaying the Horned Python, Volunteering to Join? (Two in One for Monthly Votes)

    Above the sea, Lei Xuan felt at this moment that the True Yuan within his body was starting to unravel as if it were being bound, to the point where even walking upon the sea was no longer possible.


    His body slowly began to sink toward the seabed.


    The icy cold seawater gradually submerged him, reaching the position of his chest in the blink of an eye.


    Clearly, the two purple-robed individuals from Sanxiao Island were not really discussing the matter with him.


    Lei Xuan had no doubt that refusal would leave him without a corpse to be found.


    "Senior, even if this junior had such an idea, my Divine Soul has entered the Lin Family''s Family Jade Book, how about I return to Lin Family..."


    "This matter, you just need to go back with your master, I''m certain the Lin Family wouldn''t dare refuse!" said the purple-robed young man without any discussion.


    Meanwhile, the Sanxiao Hermit spread his hands wide and produced a black Poison Pill, shooting it directly towards Lei Xuan''s mouth.


    Despite not speaking, there was no doubt that the pill was a Poison Pill.


    "Come up!" With a gesture, the Sanxiao Hermit caused Lei Xuan''s Thunder Ropes to disappear, and his whole body was raised by a force of Spiritual Power, landing on the Sanxiao Hermit''s Spirit Boat.


    The contents of Lei Xuan''s Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Bag also fell one by one into the hands of the Sanxiao Hermit.


    After a quick glance, he took out the Iron Forest Sword of the Lin Family and threw it onto the island, then after checking several times to make sure there were no other tracking Magic Artifacts or Jade Slips, he returned the Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Bag to Lei Xuan.


    "Let''s go this way!" The Sanxiao Hermit pointed in the direction opposite to the return to Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    This scene made Lei Xuan feel utterly helpless once again.


    The policy of the Lin Family was a joint policy, with Qi Cultivators guarding the stage while Foundation Establishment Cultivators lurked nearby, and when Foundation Establishment Cultivators went hunting, Purple Mansion Cultivators were surely in the vicinity.


    If he were to return to Heavenly Phenomenon Island normally, he would definitely encounter Lin Shijie.


    Yet, after the Sanxiao Hermit issued such an order, he had no chance to warn the Lin Family.


    ...


    On Deep Blue Island, a casual flick of the tail from the Horned Python sent several armored corpses flying off into the distance.


    Although the Horned Python had just given birth not long ago, its Fourth Rank Cultivation Level, combined with the fog, made Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi hesitant to approach.


    "We can''t wait any longer!" Lin Shiming frowned and, seeing several of the armored corpses were not lightly wounded, formed hand seals once more.


    The remaining five blood corpses all began to self-destruct.


    The self-destruction gathered countless clumps of blood.


    These blood clumps, like globs of mud, spread throughout the fog, causing the Deep Blue Horned Python to roar out in distress.


    The fog, contaminated by the blood clumps and filled with corrosiveness, greatly reduced its ability to move freely, forcing the python to disperse the fog and reveal its enormous, deep blue skin.


    The python''s skin was covered in blue patterns, but the most terrifying feature was the huge hump on its forehead with a grotesque horn, radiating intense spirit light.


    Splat!


    At that moment, several Corpse Blood Needles shot precisely towards the Deep Blue Horned Python.


    Lin Shiyi''s Rolling Divine Plate also descended; at this point, if they did not take the opportunity to suppress it, the loss of too many armored corpses might even affect Lin Shiming''s Foundation Establishment process.


    The Deep Blue Horned Python was instantly pressured by the divine plate at the vital seven-inch spot, and the Corpse Blood Needles penetrated it, injecting a potent toxin that started corroding its flesh, which gleamed as if the shiny snake skin was barely coping.


    This potent toxin was precisely the corpse poison inherited from the Black Mountain Hermit by Lin Shiming, extremely powerful in effect.


    Moreover, its rapid spread at the python''s critical seven-inch spot was alarmingly fast.


    Furiously, it thrashed and roared.


    The singular horn flashed wildly as countless volumes of seawater converged toward it, coalescing into water dragons in the void, charging at the divine plate in an attempt to break free.


    Without any hesitation, Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi, each clutching the Iron Forest Sword, instantly arrived and slashed towards the Deep Blue Horned Python.


    Five Third Rank peak armored corpses and two late-stage Foundation Establishment practitioners ¨C and both practiced Body Cultivation.


    In an instant, there was a continuous booming, and the Deep Blue Horned Python let out a long howl, wildly thrashing its body as numerous water dragons formed and shattered, sprinkling vast volumes of seawater into the void.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shijie also watched intently as Foundation Establishment fought a Purple Mansion Great Demon. Although they fought in groups and used blood corpse needles, he still didn''t dare to let his guard down.


    As expected, the Deep Blue Horned Python began to issue a Purple Mansion inner core, paired with its venomous horn. A tsunami suddenly surged skyward, inundating Lin Shiyi and Lin Shiming.


    Boom!


    Huge swaths of seawater swept over the island, and the formation that had been set up just a moment ago was shattered cleanly.


    Having lower Cultivation Levels, Lin Shiyun and Lin Zelu had set up a formation that was adequate for blocking messages but hopelessly inadequate against a Fourth Rank Great Demon.


    Lin Shiming''s five armored corpses were nearly flung out in an instant!


    His gaze was firmly fixed on Lin Shiming.


    As a practitioner of Body Cultivation, Lin Shiyi displayed extraordinary ferocity at this moment, having cultivated the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique to an exceptional level.


    The Horned Python also planned to eliminate Lin Shiming first.


    By releasing its inner core, it indicated its desperation; the Deep Blue Horned Python displayed overwhelming power at this moment.


    Lin Shijie didn''t hesitate any longer and cast out his sword!


    His Five Flame Sword carried Sword Intent, and at this moment, Lin Shijie had also comprehended half-step Sword Qi cohering into filament.


    Along with the Serpent Spirit Flame''s Spiritual Fire.


    This sword strike reached an unprecedented level of power.


    With full force, the sea curtain was split asunder, and the slash landed on the Purple Mansion Great Demon Horned Python''s inner core, cleaving it in two.


    Without hesitation, Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi also swung their swords and decapitated the Deep Blue Horned Python.


    Though they lost the inner core, the Horned Python''s horn was still extremely valuable and could even be used as material for Bloodline Reversion.


    Both Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi were overjoyed at their faces.


    This battle, though they had lost ten blood corpses, had yielded them tremendous gains.


    It was also a great boon to their Dao hearts ¨C a battle against a Purple Mansion-level opponent while only at the Foundation Establishment level. Even if they would have failed under normal circumstances, they had achieved their goal.

 Chapter 629 - 399: Slaying the Horned Python, Volunteering to Join? (Two in One for Monthly Votes)_2

    Under this immense pressure, Lin Shiming also felt his realm loosening.


    Perhaps with ten or twenty years of guarding the Sword Pavilion, he would be able to reach the peak, and by then it would be time for his breakthrough into the Purple Mansion realm!


    "Brother, go get the Deep Blue Horned Python hatchling. We need to leave quickly!" Lin Shiyi had also gained greatly, but he quickly regained his composure, becoming a father after his marriage to Ye Yujiao had made him much more steady.


    After all, the formation set by the Lin Family hadn''t locked down the island''s movements as imagined, and there would definitely be no shortage of Demonic Beasts attracted by the smell of blood or the fluctuation of spiritual energy.


    Even a Purple Mansion Great Demon might appear.


    They were not close to Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Lin Shijie did not hesitate and stepped onto the island in one stride.


    Soon, he retrieved a snake egg that was flickering with blue light.


    The snake egg had clearly been laid recently, still emitting its characteristic residual warmth.


    In addition, Lin Shijie also casually picked a few Sea Blue Flowers, a third rank superior grade spiritual material, better than nothing.


    They were also meant for Lin Zelu and Lin Shiyun, who had followed them here. It wouldn''t be fair if they left without any gains.


    After packing up, just when the group was about to leave, countless beastly roars emerged all around them.


    Numerous waves surged, and Demonic Beasts began popping their heads out of the tide.


    The expressions of the group suddenly turned rather dismal, as they saw, under scrutiny, at least three Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Amongst them was even a massive Thunder Eel.


    In the sea, it released endless lightning, crackling with immense power!


    Demonic Beasts with lightning attributes becoming terrifying was akin to being the sword cultivators among Demonic Beasts.


    From how the Lin Family dealt with the Thunder Spirit Turtle back in the day, one could see the trouble lightning attribute Demonic Beasts posed.


    "Quickly, get on the Spirit Boat!" Lin Shijie took out the War Treasure Ship.


    But it was already too late; waves were surging up, easily reaching over a hundred feet in height.


    The War Treasure Ship of the Lin Family was trapped by the three Purple Mansion Great Demons, and they could only look for an opportunity to break through.


    And at this moment, another arc of rainbow light appeared.


    This made everyone''s eyes heat up at once.


    They saw that midway through, the rainbow light swung out a large golden sword.


    Carrying the momentum of Heaven-Slaying, the golden sword with infinite Sword Intent appeared out of thin air.


    It was aimed directly at the Fourth Rank Middle Stage Thunder Eel.


    Boom!


    A dazzlingly extreme Lightning Spear crashed down.


    Colliding with the Jin Ye Sword, but the Jin Ye Sword was a Fourth Rank Superior Grade magical treasure, not something that could be deflected by a mere Thunder Spear.


    The sword continued to fall, and the Thunder Eel desperately lashed out its whip-like tail, aiming to forcefully knock away the Jin Ye Sword.


    Yet another streak of Yuan Magnet Divine Light fell, dispersing much of the gathered lightning.


    The tail, lacking strength, failed to knock away the Jin Ye Sword but also exposed the entirety of the Thunder Eel''s body in the void.


    At the same time, a Concealing Heaven Net fell and instantly shattered the Thunder Eel''s large head into countless pieces.


    The remaining two Purple Mansion Great Demons became panic-stricken and fled toward the depths of the sea.


    "Shiming!"


    "Seventh Brother!"


    "Seventh Uncle!"


    Many cultivators on the War Treasure Ship exclaimed in surprise.


    The newcomer was indeed Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shijie, Lin Shiyi, and Lin Shiming were addressed as Shiming; Lin Shiyun and Lin Zelu as Seventh Brother and Seventh Uncle, respectively.


    Lin Shiming''s single sword strike instantly killed the Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Which left several people dumbstruck.


    Of course, they were not only amazed at Lin Shiming''s display of power but also curious about the extent of his realm after he emerged from seclusion.


    Lin Shijie felt an intense urge to battle, having someone to chase seemed like a good thing indeed!


    "Shiming isn''t pursuing?" Lin Shiyi asked from the side.


    Slaying those two Purple Mansion Great Demons would yield a huge amount of artifact refining materials.


    If incorporated into the family''s resources properly, they could also help advance the family''s Spirit Beasts.


    "No pursuit, Lei Xuan is in trouble, he sent me a message!" Lin Shiming shook his head, his expression still somewhat grave.


    Then he casually took out the Zifeng Boat.


    He got everyone onto the Zifeng Boat and continued to speed towards the Outer Sea in the north.


    Of course, he hadn''t received a transmitted message; in his mind, the system alerts were still displaying.


    [Please head north for ten thousand miles, rescue Lei Xuan, gain mastery of the Gengjin God Thunder secret technique, and take control of a miniature high-grade thunder attribute Spirit Stone mine!]


    Lin Shiming didn''t know what had happened, but the Gengjin God Thunder secret technique was one of the Five Elements Divine Thunder secret techniques, and its power, when cultivated to great achievement, was comparable to a Minor Divine Ability.


    Not to mention the high-grade thunder attribute Spirit Stone mine, a high-grade Spirit Stone mine was already precious enough. As for thunder attribute Spirit Stones, although it was just three more words, their significance was even more extraordinary.


    This would be enough to train both Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan up to the Purple Mansion stage.


    Furthermore, in the future, the Lin Family would not lack thunder attribute treasures, and new Thunder Spirit Root Cultivators would cultivate at the utmost speed.


    Such treasures could hardly be compared to just two Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Even if it only took a few moments, in his view, the loss would outweigh the gains!


    Of course, he also thought it was very possible that Lei Xuan had discovered the thunder attribute Spirit Stone mine.


    Then he might have been targeted by other Purple Mansion cultivators from outside, something all too common in the vast Southern Sea Cultivation World.


    The Zifeng Boat swept away, and as a flying magical treasure specializing in speed, it encountered several Purple Mansion Great Demons along the way but none could stop it.


    Even a few that brazenly charged at it were cleaved in half by Lin Shiming''s sword.


    In this way, in less than an hour, Lin Shiming arrived at the island where Lei Xuan was. As soon as the Iron Forest Sword was taken out, the faces of everyone changed.


    The Iron Forest Sword left here naturally couldn''t have been discarded by Lei Xuan. Moreover, a third rank supreme grade magical treasure was not an ordinary object; it must have been noticed for the bloodline resonance information within it.


    "Who can track Lei Xuan?" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but ask.


    Without the Iron Forest Sword, Lin Shiming wasn''t sure if he could find Lei Xuan in the vast sea.


    If he waited another day, by then, the other party might have already escaped using a transmission formation.


    The entire Coral Sea Domain was so huge that finding a cultivator who wanted to remain hidden was like looking for a needle in the ocean.


    And the system''s prompt was from several hours ago, so there might be a deviation.


    "Uncle Qi, I can, I have a Wind-Chasing Wolf spirit pet. It''s sense of smell is advanced; even after half a month, it can still smell the scent!" Lin Zelu spoke at this moment.


    He took out a wolf around half the height of a person, its nose noticeably larger, making the wolf''s head look somewhat incongruous.


    Its cultivation level was decent, third rank inferior grade, but considering its growth potential, there was still vast room for improvement.


    Its nose twitched and it barked toward the front.


    Lin Shiming responded immediately.


    The Zifeng Boat followed the trail of the wolf.


    Since the location matched the system''s prompt to head north, Lin Shiming''s belief became even stronger.


    As they went deeper into the Outer Sea, the wind and waves grew larger, and they encountered more Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Fortunately, with the Zifeng Boat''s speed, after enduring most of the day, Lin Shiming finally spotted a Spirit Boat.


    The Spirit Boat was not heading to Heavenly Phenomenon Island but rather toward the neighboring Lianyun Island.


    Only two cultivators in purple robes were on it. When they saw the Lin Family''s Spirit Boat, their own boat accelerated sharply.


    But the Hermit''s Spirit Boat was still no match for the Zifeng Boat by more than just a notch.


    Lin Shiming intercepted them on the spot.


    The Hermit in purple robes frowned upon seeing this.


    However, the young man, at the sight of the Zifeng Boat, lit up; the purple boat matched the Hermit''s purple robed thunder cultivator''s attire perfectly.


    It was too fitting!


    As for Lin Shiming''s strength, thunder and sword cultivators were revered among those of the same stage.


    Furthermore, Lin Shiming was only at the Purple Mansion middle stage!


    "Master, a Spirit Boat was sent to us..." The youth''s expression was excited.


    "Shut up!" However, he was silenced by the loud reprimand from the Hermit.


    "Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by this?" The Hermit looked at Lin Shiming, currently not at ease.


    They, of course, had investigated Lin Shiming''s background: he had slain Zi Yu Loose, showed great might in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, and even rescued Yulin and Fuling fairies!


    If he foolishly thought that Lin Shiming was just so, he would not be fit to have cultivated to the level of a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    After all, a Purple Mansion middle stage dare to intercept a Purple Mansion late stage?


    This was not something a normal Purple Mansion cultivator could do.


    "Then, Your Excellency, capturing a Lin Family cultivator, what is your intention?" Lin Shiming asked back.


    In his hand, he pointed to the Wind-Chasing Wolf at the side.


    "Rest assured, it doesn''t smell Lei Xuan''s scent but that of your disciple!" Lin Shiming continued.


    This scene also made the two''s expressions darken.


    They had already hidden Lei Xuan.


    But if they were discovered, there was no longer any need to hide him.


    "Lei Xuan voluntarily joined our Golden Thunder Island!" The Hermit spoke again!

 Chapter 630 - 400 Immortal Wood Shadow Shows Off, Bone-Eroding Pill (Two in One for Monthly Votes)

    "Whether you''re willing or not, fellow Daoist, your word doesn''t count!" Lin Shiming looked at Sanxiao Hermit with resolute eyes, yet he felt greatly assured inside.


    Even though Sanxiao Hermit spoke with a righteous indignation, seemingly fearless,


    In reality, his confidence was lacking.


    Back then, True Person Jin Lei was incredibly domineering.


    If it weren''t for True Person Tianliu, Shiming being forced to open his Storage Bag or being questioned by an Inquiry Spirit Talisman would have been highly likely.


    True Person Xu Ri simply couldn''t have stopped it.


    Shiming believed that if there were a True Person Jin Lei above, with sufficient benefits at stake, they would fear nobody at all.


    Clearly, Sanxiao Hermit was not one such figure.


    It was highly probable that he, just like Shiming as an outer island''s master, didn''t possess a core jade book like the one from the Sect''s Jade Book or the Coral Alliance, so naturally, Shiming did not fear him.


    However, there was still one thing he needed to confirm.


    "Fellow Daoist, you might as well bring Lei Xuan out to speak. Lei Xuan is a cultivator married into the Lin Family, naturally, he is part of our family!" Lin Shiming continued speaking.


    His voice was still cold and calm, but now anyone could feel a hint of indignation in Lin Shiming''s words.


    "What if Lei Xuan voluntarily joined our Golden Thunder Island?"


    "Lei Xuan is not your Lin Family cultivator, if he can marry into your family once, naturally he could marry into our Golden Thunder Island again. Are you implying that our Golden Thunder Island''s female cultivators are inferior to those of the Lin Family, or are you suggesting that your Lin Family can also offer a female cultivator with a Thunder Spirit Root?" Sanxiao Hermit''s tone also grew increasingly assertive, binding himself to Golden Thunder Island as he spoke.


    The answer from Lin Shiming was neither yes nor no.


    Especially if the latter was secretly recording with a jade slip.


    No matter Shiming''s response, he would offend Golden Thunder Island, offending Jin Lei True Person!


    "As I said before, whether you''re willingly or not, you have no say on the matter!" Lin Shiming changed his approach and did not directly answer.


    Internally, he was full of disdain, finding such an old monster to be quite troublesome.


    However, now, the advantage lay with him, not with Sanxiao Hermit.


    Without the courage to fight one-on-one, what more could be argued over?


    Lin Shiming''s hands also brought forth several banner-like objects, which he threw towards the Spirit Boat''s surroundings, starting to set up a Formation.


    This action made Sanxiao Hermit''s eyes burn with rage.


    This was provocation, and a prelude to starting a fight.


    "Moreover, fellow Daoist, did you report this matter of joining forces with the master of Lianyun Island to True Person Xu Ri?" Lin Shiming didn''t wait for Sanxiao Hermit to speak and pressed on with his questioning.


    This question made Sanxiao Hermit''s gaze shift evasively, afraid to answer.


    While Shiming feared Golden Thunder Island, Sanxiao Hermit was equally fearful of True Person Xu Ri of Xu Ri Island.


    Shiming felt increasingly assured in his heart.


    Sanxiao Hermit''s reaction indicated Shiming had guessed correctly, the transfer point must be Lianyun Island, and just as expected, Lianyun Island was probably covertly supported by Golden Thunder Island.


    Thus, if Sanxiao Hermit disappeared, it would have nothing to do with Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Linked to the system prompt, Sanxiao Hermit was acting on his own accord.


    After all, with the beast tide imminent, even Jin Lei True Person had to be conscientious, and now was not the time for Xu Ri Island and Golden Thunder Island to declare war on each other.


    With their status as True Persons, they would not care for Lei Xuan or a Superior Grade Thunder Spirit Stone Mine.


    While Shiming deliberated, he also couldn''t help but sigh internally.


    Heavenly Phenomenon Island was infiltrated by Nine Dragon Island, Lianyun Island by Golden Thunder Island; True Person Xu Ri was indeed handling things well.


    "Where I teleported from is none of your concern, my disciple, go and invite young friend Lei Xuan out!" Sanxiao Hermit subtly signaled a youth in purple by his side.


    He gestured for the youth to enter the boat behind him.


    Before long, Lei Xuan indeed appeared on the deck of the Spirit Boat.


    Shiming also watched Lei Xuan, and the formation setup halted.


    At this moment, Sanxiao Hermit wanted to use Lei Xuan''s willingness to pressure the Lin Family.


    And Shiming was all the more eager to witness during this coercion, the bond between Lei Xuan and the Lin Family.


    At this time, he also realized that Golden Thunder Island''s interest probably wasn''t in Lei Xuan himself but in the Geng Metal Divine Thunder Secret Technique that Lei Xuan somehow leaked!


    Lei Xuan withheld information from the Lin Family!


    He hesitated at first, wondering why Sanxiao Hermit, if in possession of the Secret Technique, would still make a move on Lei Xuan; now it seemed the Secret Technique was in Lei Xuan''s hands.


    That could explain why they needed to take Lei Xuan away because even if the mine was discovered by Lei Xuan, Sanxiao Hermit could simply kill to silence any witnesses.


    There wouldn''t be such a drama, only with the Secret Technique, because of the Family Jade Book, it couldn''t be deciphered.


    At least Sanxiao Hermit didn''t have such means.


    But Shiming couldn''t say anything, as when Lei Xuan married into the Lin Family, he provided Lin Shilei with a Profound Rank Cultivation Technique, the Purple Dawn Divine Thunder Sutra.


    Back then, the Lin Family was merely a Foundation Establishment family, and the sentiment was quite significant!


    The remaining Secret Technique, Lei Xuan chose not to reveal, and that was indeed Lei Xuan''s own matter.


    However, the point still remains, whether withholding treasures or not, it''s crucial where one''s heart lies with respect to the Lin Family.


    Just as with Lin Shiming, he could seek a higher Cultivation Level and seek teachers afar.


    But he could not remain indifferent upon seeing the Lin Family in peril.


    That is the most fundamental point for the family, and it''s also the most critical.


    Thus, the direction today''s events would take still depended on Lei Xuan.


    "Young friend Lei Xuan, think carefully, was it I who coerced you? Besides providing Purple Mansion Jade Liquid and helping you establish a family, I can also introduce you to Jin Lei True Person, and I''m willing to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao for all this!" Sanxiao Hermit''s words were very tempting indeed.


    Not only could he assist Lei Xuan''s breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage, but he could also introduce him to Jin Lei True Person, and he was willing to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao for it.


    Even if Shiming were in that position, he might not suppress the temptation.


    Moreover, seeing the stern face of the young person beside him, one could imagine that there must have been some intimidation on board the Spirit Boat.


    At this moment, in front of the Spirit Boat, Shiming did not speak, nor did the other cultivators of the Lin Family.

 Chapter 631 - 400 Immortal Wood Shadow Shows Off, Bone-Eroding Pill (Two in One for Monthly Votes)_2

    Although over the years, they had grown familiar with Lei Xuan, and Lei Xuan''s son even called them uncles.


    But their thoughts were the same.


    "Shiming, Lei Xuan has never had second thoughts about the Lin Family, and he will never harbor them in this lifetime. I hope Shiming and big brother will look after Shiqi, take care of Zeyu and Zelin!" Lei Xuan burst out after holding it in for a long time.


    "You''re courting death!" Immediately, the young man exploded with anger, for Lei Xuan had not spoken like this inside the Spirit Boat.


    Moreover, he had destroyed the antidote for the poison right in front of Lei Xuan.


    Without the antidote, Lei Xuan was bound to die!


    This was by no means a joke, hence why the two were so resolute.


    Yet, they hadn''t expected that at this moment, Lei Xuan was utterly fearless.


    And at that moment, Lin Shiming stepped forward, three Soul-Suppressing Pagodas descended, pinning the void in a triangular hold, and he unleashed the Soul-Snatching Melody.


    These three Soul-Suppressing Pagodas had been nurtured within the Pure Spirit Vein for ten years, among them, the Fire Attribute pagoda had been nurtured for twenty.


    The Soul-Snatching Melody was intense.


    The Hermit from the Skies was indeed cunning to the extreme, holding a Shen Fu talisman.


    It enveloped him, rendering him completely unaffected, and the magical treasure of the Spirit Boat was also retracted in an instant, revealing a Thunder Formation.


    Clearly, the Hermit from the Skies had also been preparing.


    In a blink, thunderous roars descended, countless arcs of lightning streaked through the dark clouds, and the Hermit from the Skies stood amid the thunder as if he were a Thunder God.


    Countless arcs of electricity condensed around his body, forming a cloak of lightning.


    The three Thunder Spears in his hands were all Fourth Rank Superior Grade magical treasures.


    With a throw of his hand, all were shot toward Lin Shiming.


    The actions of the Hermit from the Skies greatly surprised his disciples but caused the cultivators from the Lin Family to frown.


    The might of this Thunder Cultivator was truly extraordinary.


    However, for Lin Shiming, such strength was barely worth mentioning. Lin Shiming manipulated hand seals, and from a Water Attribute Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, countless Spirit Vines surged out, the Illusionary Spirit Vine precisely.


    The Illusionary Spirit Vine aimed to bind the Hermit from the Skies, but the Thunder Spears were powerful, and aided by the Thunder Formation, even the Supreme Grade magical treasure Illusionary Spirit Vine couldn''t get close.


    It was even suppressed!


    Only when the three Soul-Suppressing Pagodas pressed down together were they able to block the myriad thunderbolts.


    But the Hermit from the Skies moved again, making use of the thunderbolts, his speed was terrifying.


    In the blink of an eye, he was upon Lin Shiming, his hand extending a thunder claw toward Lin Shiming.


    The other hand was held behind his back, not without readiness, but in preparation to unleash a secret palm thunder technique.


    It was exceedingly devious.


    This move had blindsided many cultivators!


    Lin Shiming''s Crescent Moon Guard Blade also bombarded the Hermit from the Skies.


    He was also a Body Cultivator, and having recently assimilated the Star Pearl, he possessed immense strength.


    With a thunderous crash, lightning flashed and gold light splattered everywhere. The strike was evenly matched, but the secret palm thunder was the true lethal blow.


    The fearsome thunder streaked towards Lin Shiming.


    But in an instant, it was dodged by a rift in space.


    The Leaping Void Disk appeared, and in a leap, emerged behind the Hermit from the Skies.


    In his hands, the Jin Ye sword and the Great Spread Sword Style unfolded.


    A myriad of sword rays, like a waterfall of the Sword Dao, released towards the Hermit from the Skies.


    The palm thunder struck empty air, and at this moment, the Hermit from the Skies, having no new moves, was forced to flee in panic, extracting a Thunder Tribulation Bead and shooting it towards Lin Shiming.


    The Thunder Tribulation Bead''s power was extraordinary, a one-time magical treasure that only Purple Mansion Thunder Cultivators could refine.


    The Hermit from the Skies'' Thunder Tribulation Bead was particularly astonishing.


    But Lin Shiming''s Great Spread Sword Style could even duel with Purple Mansion Peak cultivators.


    With a terrifying storm of Spirit Light sweeping through the entire void.


    Countless sword rays seemed to pierce through the light, slicing the thunderbolts apart and continuing towards the Hermit from the Skies.


    The latter''s face changed drastically. He took out another shield magical treasure, but the rank of this treasure was only an Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank.


    With a loud boom, the shield flew out and the Hermit from the Skies was immediately in a sorry state, spewing fresh blood.


    The thunder robe was also shredded into countless pieces by the Sword Intent.


    His attempts to use the Thunder Formation to gather thunder spirit power were cut off by no less than four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas.


    The thunder wouldn''t fall, and Lin Shiming wasn''t about to wait in place.


    He activated the Leaping Void Disk once more, while the Fourth Rank Superior Grade Space-breaking Needle was also shot out at the same time.


    With the Crescent Moon Guard Blade in his hand and the Space-breaking Needle shooting forward, the outcome for Hermit Sanxiao was looking grim.


    At this moment, he finally understood why Lin Shiming was able to obtain so many Spiritual Medicines in the Purple Sun Secret Realm and even managed to save Fairy Yulin and Fairy Fuling.


    It was because Lin Shiming truly possessed such strength.


    In his heart, he no longer harbored any thoughts of resistance, taking out two more Thunder Tribulation Beads.


    He threw them towards Lin Shiming and then took out a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    He planned to directly break through space and escape.


    The Thunder Tribulation Beads and Boundary-breaking Talisman were inescapable forces; Lin Shiming had to dodge, had to defend.


    No matter what, neither would stop Hermit Sanxiao from escaping with the Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    But at this time, Lin Shiming showed not the slightest sign of worry.


    A string of beads appeared on his chest, the Divine Bead of Mystical Power.


    There were a total of twelve beads, five of which were filled with Spirit Light.


    Among them were two Minor Divine Abilities called Immortal Wood Shadow and three instances of the Great Spread Sword Style.


    This was Lin Shiming''s greatest assurance.


    A bead lit up, and suddenly, a space storm swept through the void, while a green essence supported Lin Shiming, transforming him into a towering giant tree. Countless branches appeared from the void, positioned in front of Lin Shiming.


    They blocked the might of the Thunder Tribulation Beads.


    Moreover, countless Spirit Vines surged from the broken space created by Hermit Sanxiao''s Boundary-breaking Talisman, tying him up tightly.


    Hermit Sanxiao was utterly horrified, not expecting Lin Shiming to have such a powerful Minor Divine Ability, and at that moment, his heart sank in despair.


    As the residual power of the Thunder Tribulation Beads struck down, Lin Shiming took a large step forward, and the Jin Ye Sword in his hand flew out.


    "Daoist Lin, I am a sworn disciple of Jin Lei True Person!" Hermit Sanxiao roared.


    Still, Lin Shiming''s Jin Ye Sword continued to descend.


    At this time, let alone a disciple of Jin Lei True Person, even if it were Jin Lei True Person''s son, Lin Shiming would kill him if he had the chance.


    After all, out here in the Outer Sea, where Demonic Beasts run rampant, being killed by a Purple Mansion Great Demon or a Demon King was not an unusual occurrence.


    It was an era of catastrophic upheaval caused by Demonic Beasts.


    Moreover, Hermit Sanxiao had most likely come from Lianyun Island; the fact that Lin Shiming hadn''t exposed the island was already merciful.


    If Lianyun Island dared to pursue the matter, it would be a one-way journey to death.


    Lin Shiming collected Hermit Sanxiao''s Storage Bag, and the young man in the purple robe immediately knelt on the spot.


    "Elder Lin, spare my life, I can cure the Bone Eroding Pill''s poison, I beg you to spare me!"


    Before Lin Shiming even made a move, Lei Xuan broke free and a Thunder Sword in his hand cut the young man''s body in two.


    "He swore an oath on the Heavenly Dao just now, and he has destroyed all the antidotes!" Lei Xuan spoke nonchalantly, seemingly having anticipated the outcome, his words laden with profound sorrow and rage.


    With Hermit Sanxiao dead, there would be no antidote, and there was no reason to keep such an arrogant and domineering person alive.


    "Shiming, let''s have a private chat!" Lei Xuan sighed deeply.


    The Bone Eroding Pill was a dreadful poison; without the antidote, even a Purple Mansion cultivator might die, not to mention one at the Foundation Establishment level.


    He had exerted all his thunderous techniques as well.


    After collecting Hermit Sanxiao''s Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Spirit Boat, Lin Shiming also took out a Primordial Magnet Ring, causing the void to become chaotic again, then, using a Spirit Controlling Seal to manipulate a Purple Mansion Great Demon, stirred up waves to erase all traces of the encounter.


    Afterwards, the Lin Family group, aboard the Zifeng Boat, once again turned into a streak of light and fled.


    On the Spirit Boat, Lei Xuan and Lin Shiming watched in solitude.


    Without saying much, Lei Xuan took out a Jade Slip.


    "Shiming, this is the Lei Family''s most closely-guarded secret, the Geng Metal Divine Thunder Secret Technique, which only Purple Mansion cultivators specializing in thunder can cast! Its power is comparable to a Minor Divine Ability, I''ll give it to Shilei!" Lei Xuan said with a resigned shake of his head.


    They were once a Purple Mansion noble family, naturally having had Purple Mansion experts among them.


    After taking the Jade Slip, he also produced a Storage Bag and a Spirit Beast Bag.


    "Give these to Shiqi, and as for how to divide them between my two sons, let her decide!"


    "Brother-in-law, it''s better if you decide on the division of the spiritual assets. The secret formula for the antidote to the Bone Eroding Pill has been obtained, once we return to Shuangmu Island, just have Uncle Fifteen refine it!" Lin Shiming shook his head and said with a smile.


    He had the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, capable of soul searching; he had sensed that Hermit Sanxiao indeed wasn''t in the Coral Island Sect''s Jade Book, so he could search his soul smoothly.


    And naturally, he had found the secret formula for the antidote to the Bone Eroding Pill.


    Beyond that, he had also learned why Hermit Sanxiao had captured Lei Xuan and why he had appeared near Heavenly Phenomenon Island.

 Chapter 632 - 401: The Lei Familys Potential (Extra for Monthly Passes)

    "Is this truly the case?" Lei Xuan couldn''t help but be startled.


    As a cultivator, what he sought was eternal life. If it weren''t for lack of choice, he would naturally wish to continue on this path.


    Moreover, he had a wife and two sons, and both of his sons were about to face the challenge of Foundation Establishment.


    "Of course, you can just rest assured!" Lin Shiming also nodded in response, then looking at the jade slip, he said to Lei Xuan again,


    "In addition, for your contribution of the secret technique, both the child you have with your third sister or the son that your son bears may carry the Lei surname and can establish the Lei Family as a subsidiary clan of the Lin Family!" Lin Shiming said once more.


    This declaration filled Lei Xuan with overjoy.


    His body trembled with emotion.


    Heaven knows how tempted he was when the Hermit of Sanxiao agreed to allow him to establish a clan, only hesitating because of the thought of Lin Shiqi and the thought of Lin Zeyu and Lin Zelin, which is why he eventually gave it up.


    He didn''t quite trust the Hermit of Sanxiao.


    But the thought of restoring the Lei Family never ceased in his heart.


    Especially after the Zhang Family was punished.


    Although he had avenged them, he carried the hopes of all his Lei ancestors ever more.


    He should have fought for the Lei Family, but he unexpectedly fell into the Lin Family and had no choice but to marry into it.


    Yet, in his heart, there were always some lingering thoughts.


    Hearing such a promise from Lin Shiming now, he was naturally overjoyed to the extreme.


    "Of course, I should clarify in advance that foreign cultivators cannot use Lin Family''s cultivation sites such as the Illusionary Heart Pavilion and the Sword Pavilion. The Lin Family''s cultivation techniques must not be taken out, and the cultivation resources can only be provided by you, not by the Lin Family!"


    Lin Shiming continued, noting that the Lin Family, now abundant in resources, was sparing no effort in cultivating their young cultivators.


    Even he, a cultivator at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, had to regularly hold lectures in the Preaching Hall.


    This involved some of the Lin Family''s secrets, and even for the descendants of Lei Xuan, they could not be allowed to grow under the Lin Family''s tutelage and then become a subsidiary family; that would be terribly ineffective for confidentiality.


    "Naturally, the secret techniques and cultivation methods of your Lei Family can be passed down!"


    "The Lin Family will also provide an island with a Third Rank Spirit Vein for the Lei Family''s cultivation, and there is also the possibility that in the future, it could replace the Zhao Family of Heavenly Phenomenon Island or the Primordial Yang Gate!"


    Lin Shiming went over these points one by one.


    Having finished, he looked at Lei Xuan, just as he had when he first recruited Lei Xuan to marry into the family.


    The only difference this time was that back then, they drank Mingxin Tea together, and Lin Shiming had been driving a hard bargain, whereas now, he was doing his utmost to secure benefits for Lei Xuan.


    "This is truly a great boon. I understand all of this!" Lei Xuan nodded. He understood all that Lin Shiming had said; if he were in his position, he would do the same.


    As long as the Lei Family''s legacy continued, even after his death, he would be able to face his ancestors with dignity.


    What was most important was that he felt an unexpected sense of clarity.


    His body felt inexplicably lighter, even though he was still being tormented by the Bone Eroding Pill.


    But his joy was undeniable and could not be concealed.


    Lin Shiming was also pleased to see this. Lei Xuan and Lei Xuan''s two sons naturally could not be separated; there were too many complications involved.


    And using one or even several unborn cultivators to continue the Lei Family''s line was also a good deed.


    Besides, there''s a chance that Lei Xuan''s breakthrough to the Purple Mansion would be easier, and by then, the Lin Family would gain a Purple Mansion-ranked Lei cultivator.


    And the Lei Family would also be a subsidiary clan of the Lin Family.


    Having come to the Southern Sea Cultivation World, he understood that sometimes subsidiary clans were necessary.


    After discussing this, Lin Shiming chatted with Lei Xuan about the matters concerning Shiqi along with Zeyu and Zelin.


    The latter two, being cultivators with a Third Spirit Root, were also progressing well in their cultivation; at over forty years of age, they had already tempered their spiritual energy. It was just a matter of waiting for the Foundation Establishment Pills, which should take only a few years before they could break through.


    As for Lin Shiqi, having failed to break through to Foundation Establishment once, he is now approaching a hundred years old. Should there be no accidents, in over twenty years, he would turn into a handful of yellow soil.


    Within the family, he had left behind several Fortune Longevity Fruits. As for whether Lei Xuan would exchange them or not, the Contribution Points were not low, and Lin Shiming did not intervene.


    It was also not his place to intervene.


    He simply made up his mind that whenever he had time, he would also pay a visit to his third sister.


    After the negotiation, Lin Shiming returned to the deck, and while using his Divine Sense to search through the memories of the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda''s Hermit Sanxiao, he also manipulated the Zifeng Boat.


    For safety''s sake, he released both the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Upon their release, the former was still manageable, lying on the Spirit Boat and exuding a chilling aura.


    Its shining golden body


    garnered a few extra glances and envy from the people around.


    Meanwhile, the Red-haired made the rounds, soliciting for Beast Nurturing Pills and Monkey Wine.


    In the Lin Family, almost every cultivator had Beast Nurturing Pills, especially after obtaining a large number of snake eggs, most of the elixirs refined by the Lin Family''s alchemists had turned into Beast Nurturing Pills.


    After the Red-haired solicited a round, it laughed gleefully, scratching its head, then hugged everything it had gathered to a comfortable position and began to eat and drink with abandon.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming began searching the soul in earnest.


    As he had suspected, Hermit Sanxiao was indeed the lord of a subordinate outer island of Golden Thunder Island and one of the worst in that category.


    The reason he came to Heavenly Phenomenon Island was indeed to have discovered a vein of superior-grade, thunder-attribute Spirit Stones. He had mined most of the superior-grade Spirit Stones, but his pet beast, the Thunder Leopard, was killed in an ambush by a Purple Mansion Great Demon that arrived during the mining.


    Capturing Lei Xuan was also because Lei Xuan was a married-in cultivator who, in their eyes, was not valued while also subtly possessing the Cultivation Technique of Geng Metal Divine Thunder.


    Even if it was just a suspicion, Hermit Sanxiao could not help but take action.


    Beyond this information, Lin Shiming also acquired the method to refine the Thunder Tribulation Bead, as well as the method to refine the Bone Eroding Pill and its antidote.


    As for other cultivation techniques, they were not recorded, which was a bit disappointing for Lin Shiming.


    After the soul search, Lin Shiming activated the isolation formation and looked into Hermit Sanxiao''s Storage Bag.


    The first thing that caught his eye was a small hill of superior-grade, thunder-attribute Spirit Stones.


    These Spirit Stones were extremely precious; at times, one could be exchanged for three to ten ordinary superior-grade Spirit Stones.


    The glittering Spirit Stones before his eyes were roughly estimated to be around four to five hundred pieces.


    It was just a pity about the Spirit Stone mine; according to the memory, it had already been occupied by demonic beasts, and it was very likely that even a Demon King had taken residence there.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming would not consider sending cultivators to mine there. It could be possible after the end of the beast nest in the future.


    Besides the Spirit Stones, there were three superior-grade Thunder God Spears, thunder-attribute magical treasures that he did not need, but which could be placed in the Treasure Pavilion of the Lin Family for Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan to exchange later.


    The materials and methods for setting up the Thunder Formation were also quite precious.


    Lin Shiming collected them all.


    The remaining treasures did not catch his eye.


    Unintentionally, night fell, and in the depths of the ocean, several islands gradually came into view.


    It was also the location of the Lin Family.


    Just then, Lin Shiming felt a fluctuation of energy.


    A purple auspicious cloud began to condense.


    This was clearly Lin Shitao attempting to break through to the Purple Mansion again.


    "Everyone prepare to welcome the beast tide!" Lin Shiming immediately ordered.

 Chapter 634: 402

    The rest of the people were also ecstatic. The breakthrough of the Lin Family''s Alchemist to the Purple Mansion stage meant that the production of fourth-rank elixirs by the Lin Family would no longer be confined to the inferior grade.


    At the same time, the Lin Family had gained another Purple Mansion Cultivator, reaching a total of five including Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    The family''s prosperity was further solidified, making it all the more stable in the face of future beast tides.


    Lin Shiming held the Jin Ye Sword in his hand and also threw several Blood Burst Pills to the core Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the family.


    This was the time to test the amplifying effect of the Blood Burst Pills on third-rank Demonic Beasts. Even if the Demonic Beasts were exhausted, they could be quickly replenished.


    Lin Houshou and Lin Houyuan quickly understood as well.


    Lin Shiyi and Lin Shiming, on the other hand, did not accept them; one focused on refining corpses, and the other on tempering the flesh.


    Both of their eyes were similarly filled with fervor, having felt unsatisfied after their battle with the deep blue Horned Python.


    Clearing a path through the Demonic Beasts on Shuangmu Island, they were not worried about any reinforcements coming to aid the beasts.


    As the spiritual light arrived, everyone finally saw the incoming Demonic Beasts clearly. There were as many as ten fourth-rank Demonic Beasts this time.


    The most formidable among them was a Five-colored Sparrow that had reached the late stage of fourth rank.


    This also indicated that the situation on Heavenly Phenomenon Island was becoming even more dire.


    Such a Demonic Beast was not commonly seen in the Southern Sea, but it was a sign that its strength was certainly not weak.


    At a hundred li from the island, the Five-colored Sparrow even spoke human language, giving orders to the other nine Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Accompanied by a hundred zhang high tsunami, it inundated the surrounding islets connected to Shuangmu Island.


    It finally crashed onto the defensive Spirit Formation, immediately making a thunderous noise.


    It was like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami striking.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming released two Purple Mansion Great Demons controlled by the Spirit Controlling Seal, along with the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    On the other side, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shijie also flew out to confront these Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    The Lin Family was not afraid of the ten Purple Mansion Great Demons, and even if a Demon King appeared, they would not fear it, for the Flaming Sword sat in the Sword Pavilion.


    However, if a Demon King did appear and was killed by the Flaming Sword, the Lin Family might have to relocate afterward.


    After all, the loss of a Demon King would mean Shuangmu Island would attract tremendous firepower when the real beast tide erupted.


    The entire ocean was instantly covered in countless Spirit Lights, as numerous magical artifacts bombarded the waters, and from within, more Demonic Beasts surged forth, biting and clawing at the Cultivators in the air, or spitting spirit feathers and light.


    Explosions, roars, the steaming of water, and churning noises all intertwined.


    Lin Shiming engaged the Five-colored Sparrow, at this moment, he was curious whether the sparrow could emit a Five-colored Spirit Light similar to that of the Five-colored Python.


    That sort of Five-colored Spirit Light that could immobilize magical artifacts was still vivid in his memory.


    However, much to Lin Shiming''s disappointment, the Five-colored Sparrow couldn''t emit the Five-colored Spirit Light. Instead, it spat out a Five-colored Fire towards Lin Shiming.


    This Five-colored Fire was incredibly potent, turning into a fire dragon that instantly vaporized much of the water, creating terrifying steam and instantaneously cooking many Demonic Beasts on the spot.


    Lin Shiming used the Blue Fin Fan, once wielded by the Sky Whale Hermit. Against this fire attribute Demonic Beast, the Blue Fin Fan was quite effective. With a casual wave, it summoned thousands of waves to surge toward the Five-colored Fire.


    Where water and fire collided, the resulting mist spread over the entire sea area.


    The Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators, wielding Iron Forest Swords and adorned with Spirit Talismans, were unaffected.


    In recent times, the Lin Family had stockpiled a considerable number of Spirit Talismans through Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    With the help of Demonic Beasts, they were turning the tide against the beast tide.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey, wielding the Heavenly Demon Rod, pounded a Purple Mansion Great Demon, forcing it to continually dive into the water. The Monkey''s Three-colored Spiritual Fire was also extraordinary.


    When ignited, ordinary Purple Mansion Great Demons had no way of resisting and were forced to hide in the water, which frustrated the Red-haired Demon Monkey, causing it to howl repeatedly in anger.


    Although the Golden Winged Mantis had just broken through, its terrifying speed and ability to briefly freeze the sea made it target a Purple Mansion Octopus Demon.


    As a golden light flashed by, it was the first to achieve a kill, decapitating the Purple Mansion Octopus Demon''s head.


    With its fearsome speed and the ice slowing the octopus''s reactions, these two factors combined led to the first fall of a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shijie, two Sword Cultivators, each faced off against a Purple Mansion stage Great Demon in the middle stage.


    Both of them had fiery looks in their eyes, with Lin Shiming present, they could both let loose even more.


    A metal attribute sword cultivator unleashed the Golden Sword Lotus. As Lin Xianzhi, who had broken through the earliest, his Sword Intent was even more mysterious and unfathomable. Although these years he had not broken through to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, both his magical treasures and Sword Intent had become more terrifying.


    Slash after slash of the Golden Sword Lotus cut the sword-toothed shark he was confronting into pieces, leaving the black body covered with bloodstains.


    The other was a Five Flames Sword Cultivator, wielding five Spirit Swords that were mysterious and unfathomable, all forged from Spiritual Fire. The Five Flame Sword, condensed from Serpent Spirit Flame, was comparable to a superior grade Magical Treasure.


    Easy to handle, not to mention infinitely powerful.


    As for the Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Lin Family also held the advantage.


    The entire island''s situation was looking great.


    The Demonic Beasts, stimulated by the blood-explosive elixir, were slaughtering wildly. Even though their strength had not increased by a whole level, they still had gained half a realm''s worth of power.


    Lin Shiming also couldn''t help but look forward to the power of the fourth rank blood-explosive elixir.


    However, the spirit materials for the fourth rank blood-explosive elixir were much more precious, so naturally, it wasn''t appropriate to use them at this moment.


    Seeing that the Lin Family controlled the entire scene, Lin Shiming also paid even closer attention to the Five-colored Sparrow.


    At this moment, he thought that the Five-colored Sparrow''s Five-colored Spiritual Flame could be used to forge five-colored sword Lifebound Treasures for Lin Shijie and Lin Shitao.


    Once the pair had the Spiritual Flames of the Scripture of the Five Flames integrated into their own five-colored sword Magical Treasures, the power would be even more extraordinary.


    He raised his hand, and four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas floated out, locking the Five-colored Sparrow from four directions.


    The Five-colored Sparrow, naturally unwilling, continued to spew colorful flames towards the four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, and its wings that obscured the sky also flapped frantically.


    The Spiritual Fire surged violently.


    But the spirit materials used in Lin Shiming''s Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were all quite extraordinary, especially the one nurtured by the Fire Attribute Spirit Vein, which solely bore a great swath of the flames.


    However, what troubled Lin Shiming was that the Five-colored Spiritual Flame could even burn the soul, actually scorching his Divine Sense on the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas. If it were any other non-Lifebound treasures, just one blaze might have caused the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas to fall.


    Lin Shiming immediately hastened to activate the Illusionary Spirit Vine, sending it rolling towards the Five-colored Sparrow from behind.


    The Illusionary Spirit Vine didn''t manage to bind the Five-colored Sparrow, a flying Purple Mansion Great Demon was too agile.


    However, as the Five-colored Sparrow dodged, Lin Shiming spotted a different gleam inside its beak.


    "No, within those Spiritual Flames, there''s a bead!" Lin Shiming''s heart trembled!


    That bead was definitely a Magical Treasure, and one that matched the Five-colored Sparrow!


    This meant that just like in the Eastern Domain, the Southern Sea Cultivation World had Cultivators selling Magical Treasures to these Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Or perhaps, these Great Demons had captured some Alchemists and Artifact Craftsmen.


    Whichever possibility it was, it wasn''t good news for the Lin Family.


    "This batch of Demonic Beasts, they must all be left behind, not a single one can be let go!" Lin Shiming''s gaze suddenly became intense!


    A Great Demon of Purple Mansion capable of wielding Magical Treasures certainly wasn''t of a trivial background.


    If allowed to return, it would indeed be like releasing a tiger back to its mountain.


    Lin Shiming hesitated no more, he took out the Divine Bead of Mystical Power and directly unleashed the Great Spread Sword Style.


    Seeing the formidable Sword Qi and countless sword lights, the Five-colored Sparrow''s colorful pupils filled with a humanized fear.


    The five-colored feathers also receded backward.


    But Lin Shiming had already anticipated this.


    The Primordial Magnet Ring shot fiercely towards the Five-colored Sparrow.


    The Five-colored Sparrow''s Five-colored Spiritual Fire scattered greatly, and its body staggered involuntarily in the void.


    In an instant, it was enveloped by the Great Spread Sword Style.


    Under the sword lights, the Five-colored Sparrow did not die on the spot but was fatally wounded, with a Spirit Shield still faintly shining.


    It still wanted to flee but was approached by Lin Shiming with his Leaping Void Disk, and he directly struck down the Five-colored Sparrow.

 Chapter 635 - 403 Seeking Help (Two in One)

    Near Shuangmu Island''s sea territory, Lin Shiming put away the corpse of the Five-colored Sparrow and then, upon confirming that the five-colored pearl was a magical treasure, his expression became even more serious.


    This magical treasure and the Five-colored Sparrow were indeed too well-matched.


    It made it extremely difficult for him not to suspect that there were cultivators of the Human Race colluding with them.


    Although the Coral Alliance wouldn''t support the Demonic Race, there were still cultivators from the four great sea domains; they didn''t approach the Outer Sea, so they weren''t worried.


    While Lin Shiming had dealt with the Five-colored Sparrow, on the other side, Lin Xianzhi had taken the lead in slaying that Purple Mansion Middle Stage Great Demon, the Swordtooth Shark.


    Even though Lin Shijie''s methods were equally extraordinary, he was helpless against the Purple Mansion Great Demon''s slippery nature and its thick hide, allowing it to escape.


    With the Lin Family having three fewer Purple Mansion combatants available, the remaining several Purple Mansion Great Demons'' faces changed instantly, and they tried to dive into the sea to flee.


    Lin Shiming''s face also changed instantly, and from his Storage Bag, another Spirit Puppet flew out.


    This Spirit Puppet was indistinguishable from an ordinary person, but the Spirit Might it emitted was surprisingly at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    In its hand, it also held a magical treasure and chased after a Purple Mansion Early Stage Great Demon.


    The others, having seen this scene, were all deeply shocked.


    "Leave as many Demonic Beasts as possible!" Lin Shiming transmitted his voice to Lin Houshou once again.


    The remaining seven Purple Mansion Great Demons were left to the three Purple Mansion cultivators, four Purple Mansion spirit pets, and one Purple Mansion Middle Stage Spirit Puppet, which naturally meant no pressure.


    Moreover, due to the Purple Mansion phenomenon, these Purple Mansion Great Demons were almost all from the sea area near Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Those farther away wouldn''t be able to make it over in a short time.


    Lin Shiming stepped in, chasing after the Purple Mansion Middle Stage Great Demon confronting Lin Shijie.


    After using the Leaping Void Disk to leap through space five times consecutively, the immense pressure made Lin Shiming''s body shine like starlight, dazzling in its brilliance.


    Once again, the Crescent Moon Guard Blade in his hand chopped down, and since the Purple Mansion Great Demon was focused on fleeing, it was once again slain by Lin Shiming.


    On the other side, Lin Shijie and Lin Xianzhi faced a Purple Mansion Early Stage Great Demon, which was much simpler; after they expended more than half of their True Yuan, they successfully slew it.


    Out of these ten Purple Mansion Great Demons, only the Five-colored Sparrow had a magical treasure, and Lin Shiming secretly prayed that the magical treasure was obtained by the Five-colored Sparrow after killing a human.


    But he couldn''t gamble on that, he had to intercept all the Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Fortunately, the Lin Family currently had a considerable number of Purple Mansion combatants, and that Purple Mansion Spirit Puppet was extremely effective; Lin Shiming even considered exchanging for another one with Qian Ji Island.


    In the end, Lin Shiming personally slayed three Purple Mansion Great Demons, Lin Xianzhi two, Lin Shijie one, the Golden Winged Mantis two, the Red-haired Demon Monkey one, and the Purple Mansion Spirit Puppet one, while the Thunder Spirit Turtle, Green Shell Crab, Sea Cloud Bird, and other Purple Mansion Spirit Controlling Seals failed to make any contribution.


    However, holding back the Demonic Beasts at the critical moment was already a significant achievement.


    As for the Foundation Establishment Demonic Beasts, the multitude of Purple Mansion cultivators showed no mercy, leaving as many behind as possible; Lin Shiming''s expression at this moment was extremely serious.


    Lin Shiyi and Lin Shiming had completely gone into a frenzy, openly confronting Demonic Beasts even at the bottom of the sea, plunging into the seabed with their trained corpses.


    The female corpse and the Wooden Corpse refined by the combined efforts of the Hermit made their eyes look somewhat strange.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming quickly stopped, constantly prompting the Spirit Art.


    These Heavenly Armor corpses were crucial to his breakthrough; if they absorbed too much blood and developed some other kind of bloodlust, not to mention being backfired on the spot, even during cultivation, it could plunge him into an unrecoverable disaster.


    Afterward, Lin Shitao also burst forth, beginning to slay Third Rank Demonic Beasts.


    The entire pursuit lasted for half a day.


    The Lin Family''s several Purple Mansion cultivators and countless Spirit Ships carrying Foundation Establishment cultivators chased thousands of miles before finally gathering the spoils of war and pulling back.


    Using spells at the seabed, they condensed all the blood and eventually collected it.


    This blood could not be ignored, for though it might not be an issue in the short term, over a long term, it would attract a large number of Demonic Beasts.


    The Lin Family''s campaign this time was extremely fruitful; in the council hall, countless cultivators celebrated, and inevitably, rows of white cloth appeared before the ancestral hall.


    Many cultivators were somewhat sorrowful.


    But even more were brimming with increased confidence.


    After all, the Lin Family had withstood a beast tide this time, and although it couldn''t compare with a full-scale outbreak, it also signified that today''s Lin Family would not need to consider every possible retreat when faced with any danger, unlike the Lin Family of Fangmu Mountain from before.


    They wouldn''t need to leave behind seeds for the family here and there, or leave some backups elsewhere.


    And the family''s geniuses wouldn''t be able to fight all out.


    But a genius who hasn''t experienced trials and tribulations is just a genius.


    However, these celebrations and mourning rituals had nothing to do with the current Lin Shiming.


    He took all the Great Demon corpses from the Purple Mansion and used the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda to search their souls.


    The Five-colored Sparrow gave him a sense of a different shadow because when he attempted to search the soul of the Five-colored Sparrow, he encountered a Sect''s Jade Book magical treasure similar to the Coral Alliance''s, which was unsearchable.


    This indicated that behind the Five-colored Sparrow, there had to be a Demon King.


    Lin Shiming examined the remaining Purple Mansion Great Demons one by one.


    The memories of these Great Demons were extremely disordered; those who had basic Spirit Intelligence were better off, but those without Spirit Intelligence were in complete chaos when observed.


    All their memories consisted of hunting and sleeping.


    However, while examining the last Swordtooth Shark, Lin Shiming saw an immensely large bird that covered the sky, as big as a small island, which was also the one that commanded the Fourth Rank Five-colored Sparrow to the sea area near Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    And by its appearance, the two Demonic Beasts evidently came from the same source.


    "Demon King!"


    Lin Shiming felt a chill in his heart.


    Indeed, the descendants of this Purple Mansion Great Demon were already being spurred on by a Demon King, and its location was deep near the Out Sea area close to Heavenly Phenomenon Island.

 Chapter 636: 403

    ```


    Lin Shiming had seen that island before on the map of the Heavenly Phenomenon Island territory.


    Those maps were once compiled by the Purple Jade Sect and were extremely detailed.


    They had also subsequently fallen into the hands of the Lin Family.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was worried that the Demon King would launch an attack on Heavenly Phenomenon Island first.


    Indeed, the location of that island was not close to Lianyun Island. It would be great if it could be driven towards Lianyun Island.


    But it was impossible for Lin Shiming to venture deep into the Outer Sea; at this time, there could be an unknown number of Demon Kings.


    Even using the Flaming Sword, success was not guaranteed.


    Lin Shiming stood in front of the window in deep thought, at this moment, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shijie also came in.


    With Lin Houyuan in charge outside, everyone was at ease. In the later stages of the family''s affairs, the overall direction was mainly controlled by Lin Houyuan, who was also nurturing a new Family Head.


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shiming''s main focus was on cultivation.


    As for Lin Shijie, there was even less need to say, his heart for pursuing the Dao was no less than Lin Shiming''s.


    "Shiming, how is the situation?" Lin Xianzhi also looked at Lin Shiming.


    He, too, felt something was wrong because Lin Shiming had taken a five-colored bead Magical Treasure from the mouth of the Demonic Beast. The bead could enhance the Five-colored Sparrow''s flame spiritual power and even burn divine senses.


    If it were another cultivator that day, even with defensive Magical Treasures, they might have been burned and died from the injuries.


    "The situation is bad. The Demon King has appeared on the outskirts of the Heavenly Phenomenon Island territory!"


    "Moreover, it''s a Five-colored Sparrow Demon King. Its flying speed is so fast that even a Golden Core Middle Stage True Person might not be able to compare!" Lin Shiming said, worried.


    "Shiming, we could inquire about the opinion of Xu Ri Island. Xu Ri True Person would definitely care about this matter! Xu Ri True Person''s reputation is not low. At this time, he can also come out of his seclusion!" Lin Xianzhi suggested after a moment of silence.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but give a bitter smile.


    There was no such person as Xu Ri True Person anymore; Xu Ri True Person had already fallen long ago.


    However, Lin Shiming thought again, at this time, it wasn''t he who should be most anxious, but rather, it should be Red Leaf True Person.


    Those Demon Kings would definitely choose a breakthrough point and gather a large number of Demonic Beasts to take the lead in the charge.


    Red Leaf True Person would surely worry about the Demon Kings gathering on Heavenly Phenomenon Island. It was known that the location of Heavenly Phenomenon Island was not particularly external. Should Heavenly Phenomenon Island fall, at least half of the Twelve Outer Islands of Xu Ri Island would be lost.


    And it could also endanger one of the Twelve Inner Islands, Lanling Island.


    The most critical point was, Red Leaf True Person did not want Xu Ri Island to become the first Inner Island to be overtaken. She must strike hard in the early stages of the war.


    From being the first to implement the Three Great Heroes List, to being the first to reduce Transmission Formation fees, to being the first to clear the field and fortify defenses.


    It was evident that Red Leaf True Person did not want any surprises during the beast tide.


    "Seventh great-uncle, I understand!" Lin Shiming nodded, his mind forming a plan.


    It was naturally the safest to go to Xu Ri Island this time. If this battle turned out effective, Heavenly Phenomenon Island might not be conquered in the future. At that time, Heavenly Phenomenon Island could become a supporter instead.


    Just as the Eastern Domain once supported Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect.


    Even if they were to lose the war, it would not harm the Lin Family''s foundation.


    "Seventh great-uncle, big brother, it''s likely that we won''t be able to keep this Five Flames Bead this time, nor the corpse of the Five-colored Sparrow!"


    "Additionally, at least four Purple Mansion Great Demon corpses must be taken away!"


    "The remaining Purple Mansion Great Demon corpses must all be hidden!" Lin Shiming looked at Lin Shijie and Lin Xianzhi again.


    The Magical Treasures that were initially settled upon with the corpses of the Five-colored Sparrow and the Five Flames Bead that burns divine senses were meant to be one for Lin Shitao and one for Lin Shijie. But given the current circumstances, naturally everything had to be yielded.


    Otherwise, they would lack credibility.


    The remaining Purple Mansion Great Demon corpses also needed to be selected, with half being taken out.


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shijie also nodded their heads, neither of them minded.


    Lin Shiming then left the room. He first went to the ancestral hall to bow, then met with Lin Shitao. Their brief exchange was filled with deep affection.


    However, there was no time for idle chatter, as Lin Shiming was worried that the Five-colored Sparrow Demon King really would do whatever it took to come to the Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island for vengeance.


    He had also left the Flaming Sword on Shuangmu Island; deploying it there would not require the payment of a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine.


    Lin Shiming took out a set of Early Stage Purple Mansion Magical Treasures for Lin Shitao, asking him to refine them. Then, Lin Shiming took out the Zifeng Boat and flew towards Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Previously, for the sake of secrecy and safety, no Transmission Formation had been set up to Heavenly Phenomenon Island, but now it had become a problem.


    ```


    Lin Shiming immediately sent a sound transmission to Lin Houshou.


    "The beast tide is imminent, and the transmission formation to Heavenly Phenomenon Island must be opened."


    "Only in this way can the Lin Family conveniently integrate its strength. At the same time, both the Sword Pavilion and Illusionary Heart Pavilion must prepare to close. Those two buildings contain great secrets and must not be displayed openly."


    "In doing so, the cultivators of the Lin Family on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, as well as those loose cultivators who have married into the family and the subordinate forces, can all provide support to Shuangmu Island at any time."


    "As for the rewards, it''s also easy to manage. The Lin Family''s spiritual snake eggs have not yet been distributed completely. Setting some aside, those subordinate forces will also be very pleased."


    "At the same time, the reputation of the Lin Family''s spiritual snake clan will grow even greater and more renowned."


    "The construction of the Flood Dragon Nest will be even more secure."


    Along the way, Lin Shiming thought of many things. Upon arriving at Heavenly Phenomenon Island, he informed Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Lin Houyong to raise the island''s defense level to the maximum, especially the transmission formation. This is crucial for reinforcements from Xu Ri Island; we absolutely cannot afford any slip-ups."


    After discussing, he also went directly to Xu Ri Island through the transmission formation.


    Upon arrival at Xu Ri Island, compared to the last time, the atmosphere was noticeably more tense, and there were significantly fewer cultivators around.


    Many of those cultivators had gone to the Outer Sea.


    At the transmission portal, Lin Shiming could still see teams after teams, each led by a Purple Mansion cultivator, with squads of Foundation Establishment juniors."


    As soon as Lin Shiming was transmitted to Xu Ri Island, those cultivators used a mirror-like magical treasure to scan over his head. After seeing nothing abnormal, they checked Lin Shiming''s identity token.


    After taking out the island master token of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the latter apologized and let Lin Shiming leave.


    Lin Shiming took out a Sound Transmission Talisman to confirm Red Leaf True Person''s location, then headed straight for Red Leaf Palace.


    Now that Red Leaf True Person was in charge, naturally, the decision-making center had also become Red Leaf Palace.


    Lin Shiming also noticed that on the way there, the number of cultivators heading to Red Leaf Palace was not small.


    Several of them, Lin Shiming was familiar with, were cultivators from other outer islands.


    This made Lin Shiming''s expression quite grim; this could represent that the other outer islands might also be here for assistance.


    As far as he knew, there were only two True Persons left on Xu Ri Island, and even if there were some hidden, there couldn''t be many, since they still needed to protect Xu Ri Island.


    The destination of these reinforcements was somewhat thought-provoking.


    And the actions of everyone were extremely unified; all pretended not to know each other and flew to Red Leaf Palace on their own.


    The location of Red Leaf Palace was directly opposite to that of Xu Ri Palace, situated north to south.


    Even though the size was slightly smaller than Xu Ri Palace, from afar, it appeared more elegant and lacked a bit of grandiosity.


    When Lin Shiming came to the side hall to wait, there were already several people there. A Purple Mansion female cultivator was standing there, watching everyone coldly and had also prepared a token for Lin Shiming.


    She asked Lin Shiming to quietly wait for Red Leaf True Person to summon him one by one.


    Seeing the other Purple Mansion cultivators were also eager and their faces showed an expression that if anyone jumped the queue, there would be trouble, Lin Shiming could only wait quietly.


    After waiting for two full hours, it was finally Lin Shiming''s turn.


    He followed the Purple Mansion female cultivator to the main hall.


    The main hall was very spacious, and its decoration and furnishings were in no way inferior to those of Xu Ri Palace.


    The eight immortal table for receiving guests and the Taishi chair made of thousand-year-old spiritual nanmu wood were all exuding spiritual energy, enlightening Lin Shiming''s vision.


    On the table, a pot of spiritual tea was quietly emitting wisps of smoke.


    The smoke was filled with the fragrance of crabapple flowers, and upon smelling it, one would seem to see a sea of crabapple flowers, quite marvelous.


    "How is the situation with the slaying of great demons on the three major lists of Heavenly Phenomenon Island? How many Purple Mansion cultivators are needed to provide support this time?" Red Leaf True Person, wearing a red robe and a golden hairpin, fixed her beautiful eyes upon him.


    "Back to True Person senior, Heavenly Phenomenon Island has slain more than ten Purple Mansion Great Demons!" Lin Shiming respectfully saluted and hastily replied.


    "This time, we need the support of a Golden Core senior!"


    No sooner had Lin Shiming spoken than Red Leaf True Person was taken aback.


    On her way here, those seeking support were asking for Purple Mansion cultivators, but Lin Shiming had directly requested a Golden Core True Person.


    "Back to the senior, I encountered the Five-colored Sparrow Demon King in the periphery of Heavenly Phenomenon Island. It has gathered a large number of Purple Mansion Great Demons and is likely to use Heavenly Phenomenon Island as the breakthrough point. This could put pressure on the other outer islands!"


    "Audacious!" Red Leaf True Person''s eyebrows knitted tightly, and she spoke decisively.


    "You are merely a Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivator. If you encountered a Demon King, how could you possibly have escaped with your life?"

 Chapter 638 - 404: Hong Yes Terms, Golden Thunder Bamboo Tree Demon (Two in One Subscription)_2

    Lin Shiming''s rescue of Fuling was truly life-saving!


    When the Tianliu True Person acted that day, it could at best be considered gilding the lily.


    After all, with the Coral Alliance Leader present, no matter what, Lin Shiming and Xu Ri True Person would be fine, at worst having to give up a few Spiritual Medicines.


    And the Tianliu True Person, he doesn''t get along with Golden Thunder Island itself either.


    After all, among the Coral Alliance''s Twelve Inner Islands, there''s naturally competition between the powerful islands.


    "Rest assured, this negotiation is naturally not just a verbal one!" Red Leaf True Person was no longer beating around the bush with Lin Shiming at this moment.


    "Xu Ri Island will also prepare treasures, after all, Xu Ri True Person does not wish to see Xu Ri Island decline upon emerging from seclusion!"


    As he spoke, Red Leaf True Person took out a Storage Bag and placed it on the Eight Immortals Table, looking at Lin Shiming.


    "If you can successfully negotiate this matter, you may select any three items of your choice from treasures below the fifth rank!"


    "Additionally, starting today, Xu Ri Island will also form the Xu Ri Army, you should understand what I mean!" said the Red Leaf True Person as he spoke up.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but fall silent; Xu Ri Island''s treasures were surely those that had been shown to Tianliu Island.


    So, in his view, he was still gambling.


    And if this gamble failed, it would mean facing the wrath of Tianliu Island.


    A Purple Mansion cultivator haggling with a Golden Core Cultivator ¡ª there would be no good outcome.


    However, at this moment, the system prompt rang out again:


    [Please accept the negotiation with Red Leaf True Person, and request for one Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Ziji Tan Spirit Wood, and you will gain the friendship of Tianliu Island, as well as the expulsion of the Heavenly Phenomenon Island Demon King!]


    Upon the system prompt, Lin Shiming was momentarily startled.


    He didn''t expect the system prompt to appear at this time.


    The condition seemed extremely strange to him.


    Yet, with the system''s many correct prompts, Lin Shiming naturally nodded in agreement.


    "Senior, I am willing to give it a try. However, Yulin Fairy once mentioned that her master is in search of Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Ziji Tan Spirit Wood! Additionally, there''s also a shortage of Spirit Soil and Spirit Water!" Lin Shiming spoke confidently, making use of the three treasures Red Leaf Hermit had promised.


    With the system prompt, he had some level of confidence.


    Now, he could potentially expel the Demon King and gain the friendship of both Xu Ri and Tianliu Islands.


    And given the strength shown by the Lin Family, Xu Ri Island might even strongly support the cultivation of the Lin Family.


    As for Spirit Soil and Spirit Water, he did not specify a rank, only Red Leaf True Person mentioned fourth rank treasures.


    But he was betting that Red Leaf True Person would bring out the fifth rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Water.


    And the quantity would certainly not be small.


    "Very well, I can rest assured with this. I will hand over the three treasures to you in one day, along with this Storage Bag!"


    "As for the Five-colored Demon King, I will immediately form the Xu Ri Army to slay the demon!" The three treasures Lin Shiming spoke of, except for the Ziji Tan Spirit Wood which pertained to Xu Ri Island''s special produce, were considered not precious in the eyes of Red Leaf True Person, so he gladly agreed.


    After both were satisfied, Red Leaf True Person once again poured some Spiritual Tea for Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming also generously accepted it and drank it in one gulp, feeling a warm current throughout his body; the Wood Attribute True Essence in the Spiritual Tea surged continuously, traveling through his Spirit Veins straight to the Purple Mansion!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming even felt his Cultivation Level creeping upwards.


    It was more effective than any ordinary Fourth Rank Spirit Pill!


    It even surpassed the inherent flavor of the Spiritual Tea.


    "Excellent tea!"


    Lin Shiming quickly suppressed his True Yuan and also bid his farewell with cupped hands.


    Red Leaf True Person waved his hand and returned the Five Flame Beads and the corpses of several Purple Mansion Great Demons that Lin Shiming had offered.


    This naturally made Lin Shiming very happy; although these items were insignificant to Red Leaf True Person,


    they were rare treasures for the Lin Family.


    Especially for Lin Shitao and Lin Shijie, the feathers of the Five-colored Sparrow and the Five Flame Beads were most suitable treasures!


    "Thank you, Senior!" Lin Shiming bowed once more.


    Then, he slowly exited.


    After leaving Red Leaf Palace, he found another room to assimilate the gains for half a day before teleporting towards Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    After Lin Shiming''s departure, Red Leaf True Person didn''t continue to summon others but instead went to another side hall, soon arriving at the Treasure Pavilion.


    The attendant Ye in the Treasure Pavilion still appeared to be dozing.


    Seeing Red Leaf True Person''s arrival, he was somewhat curious.


    Red Leaf True Person revealed everything that Lin Shiming had told him.


    "Hmm, well done. Tianliu True Person cares a lot about face, and so does that old fellow. Even if Tianliu True Person pays him back, the old fellow will have to do so as well!" said Elder Ye, who then turned to look at Red Leaf True Person:


    "It''s a pity that the old fellow won''t let his daughter become your disciple; otherwise, Xu Ri Island wouldn''t have had to go to such lengths."


    Elder Ye sighed, and Red Leaf True Person also shook his head.


    "By the way, regarding the situation on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the head alliance has also sent a message. It should only be the Five-colored Sparrow King relying on its speed that arrived first on the island, but you had better still bring along a Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet, and bring the Red Whale too!" Elder Ye added.


    Red Leaf True Person nodded!


    ...


    On Shuangmu Island, Lin Shiming breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the island was safe; it seemed that for now, the Five-colored Sparrow King hadn''t gone mad in this direction.


    However, it was still necessary to make thorough preparations.


    He had gained quite a lot this trip. If Red Leaf True Person were a bit more generous, giving more Supreme Grade Spirit Soil and Supreme Grade Spirit Water, perhaps he wouldn''t even need to risk going to Tianliu Island to buy them.


    After all, when Spirit Soil and Spirit Water reached the Fifth Rank, interested people would start to investigate.


    With Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Water, Lin Shiming felt confident that within five years, his Body Refining Cultivation would break through to the late stages of the Purple Mansion.


    Only then would he feel truly confident in his strength.


    Against weaker Demon Kings, he wouldn''t necessarily face them head-on, but he should be able to flee for a while.


    Lin Shiming felt greatly assured in his heart. However, at that moment, he sensed the Tea Tree Wood Demon transmitting sound to him through the Soul Binding Forbidden.


    Lin Shiming was stunned for a moment.


    The Wood Demon was in a deep slumber, recuperating within the Purple Sun Tower.


    Now, not only had it left seclusion, but it was also sending him messages.


    He greeted the Lin Family Clan members on the island, sent messages to Lin Xianzhi, Lin Houyuan, and Lin Shitao, and then left his cave dwelling to enter the Cave Heaven.


    The Wood Demon that had transformed into a little old man had already come out of the Purple Sun Tower and hurriedly bowed upon seeing Lin Shiming arriving.


    "Master, the Golden Thunder Bamboo seems to be about to give birth to a Wood Demon!"


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming was surprised.


    Then he felt an overwhelming joy!


    Initially, his plan for the Golden Thunder Bamboo was to refine the Golden Thunder Sword, a Magical Treasure useful against Blood Cultivators and Demon Cultivators.


    But now, first, he didn''t have a good method for refining Magical Treasures and Flying Swords.


    Secondly, he had the Taiyi Grass Sword, whose growth potential exceeded that of the Golden Thunder Bamboo Magical Treasure.


    However, if the Golden Thunder Bamboo turned into a Wood Demon, that would change everything.


    A Wood Demon from the Golden Thunder Bamboo would not be like the Mingxin Tea Tree Wood Demon¡ªits combat power would be incomparably stronger.


    This could be seen from the past experiences of the Nine Leaves True Person''s Bai Shanmu and Tianliu True Person''s Tianliu Demon King.


    Some Wood Demons could become so powerful that they were even more formidable than ordinary Demon Kings.


    "Lead the way!" Lin Shiming instructed the Wood Demon to lead the way, and they quickly entered the Purple Sun Tower.


    Inside the Purple Sun Tower, the place had turned into a lush area full of flowers and plants, extremely verdant. The Wood Demon occupied one corner of it. Although it wasn''t the most dazzling, after so many years of recuperation, Spiritual Tea leaves once again appeared on its branches.


    The tender leaves were exceptionally vibrant and gleamed with an abundance of Spirit Light.


    Opposite the Wood Demon, the millennia-old Golden Thunder Bamboo was emitting a golden light with bolts of thunder.


    The other Spirit Plants kept their distance from the Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    After all, the Golden Thunder Bamboo would occasionally attract thunderstorms.


    Only the Wood Demon, this exotic creature, seemed to enjoy watching the thunder with great interest.


    The Golden Thunder Bamboo now had a total of ten sections.


    And on the fourth section, a baby''s face began to emerge, looking somewhat similar to Lin Shiming.


    Clearly, the Wood Demon of the Golden Thunder Bamboo had just been born.


    The input of the Purple Sun Tower had likely contributed to this event.


    "Master, the Golden Thunder Bamboo has not yet gained consciousness. I, this little demon, am willing to guide it and teach it for my master. However, if you wish for the Golden Thunder Bamboo to fight for you, you will still need to find it a method geared towards consolidating the strength and combat cultivation of a Wood Demon!"


    The Wood Demon bowed and spoke.


    "Please rest assured, Master. I have no ulterior motives. If you are unwilling, I will certainly not cultivate in secret!" The Wood Demon, sensing that Lin Shiming was looking at it with a significant gaze, hurriedly added.

 Chapter 641 - 406: Forbidden Army Island, Demon King Emerges Together (Two in One for Monthly Pass)

    ```


    The sea, once as azure as the sky, now cast heavy with beastly shadows, turbulent and unending.


    Many cultivators started to feel a tingling of dread, especially at this moment, for even from such a distance, they witnessed countless dark shapes in the waters and endless flying demonic beasts in the sky, with no end in sight.


    Even though cultivators can read at a glance and never forget, they could only feel that the number of demonic beasts was as infinite as the ocean, impossible to ascertain.


    Indeed, what filled their hearts was more fear than courage.


    Upon witnessing this sight, some cultivators from Heavenly Phenomenon Island were already thinking of retreating.


    They began to target the Fourth Rank Spirit Boats and those of the Third Rank.


    Even the cultivators of the Lin Family had heavy looks in their eyes, as these young cultivators had never seen such a vast scene before.


    Even though a beast tide had hit the Lin Family a few days ago, its scale paled in comparison to what they saw now!


    Lin Shiming also started to worry.


    This Fifth Rank Spirit Boat was not the same as a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship, and with no islands beneath them, if they become targets in the sky, surrounded by the demonic beasts, this demon-hunting army might end up being the hunted by the beasts.


    By then, perhaps only the Xu Ri Army would survive, with few others left.


    While Lin Shiming pondered, Red Leaf True Person over there suddenly took out a small seal.


    The seal was square and small, engraved with an ancient city. Upon her incantation, the seal fell into the ocean. Accompanied by a thunderous rumble, the seal transformed into an island in the blink of an eye.


    On that island stood a massive wall, over a hundred feet tall.


    The wall, made from a special spiritual material known as Dark Azure Stone was covered with densely packed, tadpole-shaped spirit patterns, which added a forbidding aura to it.


    "All cultivators below Purple Mansion, head to the Forbidden Army City on Forbidden Army Island!" Red Leaf True Person commanded coldly.


    In the ocean, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would drain their True Yuan if they flew for an extended period, severely affecting their combat strength.


    Only Purple Mansion cultivators could rely on their True Yuan to fight even against Purple Mansion Great Demons without being too impacted.


    Seeing this magical treasure known as Forbidden Army Island lightened Lin Shiming''s heart greatly, for in a critical moment, its role was tremendous.


    Meanwhile, the demonic beasts in the distance also noticed the changes, as the sea rose by hundreds of feet, and countless demonic beasts swarmed in.


    Each beast was more ferocious than the last.


    At this moment, the sound of the hundred-foot tsunamis seemed subdued compared to the roars of those beasts.


    All cultivators had no choice but to seal their hearing and communicate through voice transmission.


    If not, they wouldn''t be able to fight amid the roar of the beasts!


    First was the endless swarm of flying demonic beasts pressing down toward Forbidden Army Island, with numerous bird-like Great Demons and Purple Cloud Peng Great Demons in the forefront, which were quickly lured away by the Purple Mansion cultivators brought by Red Leaf True Person.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shijie of the Lin Family were also among them.


    At such a time, Lin Shiming, naturally, did not dare to be careless. He spotted a peak Middle Stage Purple Mansion Great Demon and took out four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, beginning to trap and kill it.


    While trapping and killing, he also observed Red Leaf True Person as well as Lin Shijie. Although Lin Shijie was a Sword Cultivator, his opponent was an Early Stage Purple Cloud Peng, a flying Great Demon. With its swift speed, it was difficult for a Sword Cultivator to unleash powerful attacks.


    As for the Late Stage and Peak Purple Mansion Great Demons, Lin Shiming planned to leave them to the Xu Ri Army brought by Red Leaf True Person.


    The number of flying Purple Mansion Great Demons was thirty to forty. Just then, countless Fourth Rank sea pythons emerged from the sea.


    They charged toward the Purple Mansion cultivators.


    When Lin Shiming saw this, his eyes suddenly gleamed. These Fourth Rank sea pythons were ideal for the Lin Family''s Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique. Some of the sea pythons even had traces of Flood Dragon traits. Though not obvious, the accumulation mattered.


    Currently, the Lin Family had many snake eggs, but few Fourth Rank serpent demonic beasts.


    So Lin Shiming summoned the Golden Winged Mantis.


    While he defended against a Mid-Fourth Rank Great Demon, he ordered the Golden Winged Mantis to continuously launch sneak attacks.


    With speed not inferior to a Mid-Purple Mansion flying Great Demon, its five pairs of wings emitted a dazzling Spirit Light.


    Coupled with its freezing ability, it was particularly effective against Early Fourth Rank Purple Mansion big pythons.


    Additionally, Lin Shiming had the leisure to employ the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas to emit soul-capturing sounds, assisting the Golden Winged Mantis.


    Thus making the Golden Winged Mantis'' assassinations even smoother.


    Of course, besides Lin Shiming''s stealthy kills, the two Peak Purple Mansion cultivators from Xu Ri Island also showcased impressive combat prowess. One wielded a giant blade, gathering the intent of the blade and using both Magic Artifact and body cultivation to fight, causing a Peak Purple Mansion Thunder Horned Turtle to roar in anger continuously.


    The other was a rare Wood Cultivator who took out many Spirit Vine seeds, continually using them to bind a Peak Fourth Rank Split Wind Bird.


    The bird, which was extremely fast, found itself suppressed by the Wood Cultivator with countless rare Spirit Vines.


    Observing this made Lin Shiming somewhat envious. With his Thousand Wood Spirit Body, using Spirit Vines would be no less powerful than that Wood Cultivator''s.


    As for the Late Stage Purple Mansion cultivators in the Xu Ri Army, each of them was also quite extraordinary.


    Not only were they rich in combat experience, but they also had numerous Magical Treasures.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    As the Purple Mansion cultivators engaged with the Purple Mansion Great Demons, the hundred-foot tsunamis and countless Second and Third Rank demonic beasts also headed for Forbidden Army Island.


    The whole island began to shake, the earth heaving.


    However, those tadpole-like spirit patterns on the walls of Forbidden Army City all started to move, forming a layer of black Spirit Pattern protective shield.


    It held steadfast.


    Countless demonic beasts surged toward the wall, while the cultivators on top began to unleash various spells, Spirit Talismans, and Magic Artifacts, slaying the demonic beasts.


    ```

 Chapter 642: 406

    The corpses of the Demonic Beasts kept piling up on the city walls, and more Demonic Beasts kept charging up using the bodies of their counterparts as stepping stones.


    Given the robust physical strength of the Demonic Beasts, as soon as they breached the walls and held on for a few moments, the cultivators atop Forbidden Army City would find it difficult to sustain the fight.


    This was a common strategy employed by the Demonic Beast tides.


    The cultivators of the Lin Family commanded the rest of the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Heavenly Phenomenon Island to defend a section of the wall while the remaining three sections were defended by the cultivators of the Xu Ri Army, although a number of Qi Cultivation late-stage cultivators from Heavenly Phenomenon Island also provided support.


    The entire sea was in utter chaos.


    Above and below, even at sea and underwater, battles raged in unparalleled disarray.


    After hunting down a few Purple Mansion pythons, Lin Shiming turned his gaze toward the city walls.


    In the next moment, his pupils shrank uncontrollably as he saw the corpses of the Demonic Beasts on Forbidden Army Island decomposing step by step, turning into Spiritual Power and strengthening the black Spirit Patterns shield.


    The magical treasure of Red Leaf True Person had indeed caught Lin Shiming by surprise.


    Following this trend, as long as the Purple Mansion cultivators could withstand the surge of the Purple Mansion Great Demons, it was very likely that this preemptive attack could thwart the Demonic Beasts'' plan to create a breach, resulting in their strategy being undone at the last moment!


    The region affected by the beast tide was extremely vast, and, like the Human Race, it was evident that not all Demon Kings were united in purpose; all desired to occupy the human islands and devour the flesh and blood of human cultivators.


    At the same time, they also feared the islands of the powerful; if they could intimidate the Demon Kings this time, perhaps the next breakthrough would target other islands, and the goal of the Lin Family would be achieved.


    And he believed that Red Leaf True Person''s thoughts were the same.


    Otherwise, there wouldn''t be so many Purple Mansion cultivators present this time, nor would there be a magical treasure like that of Forbidden Army Island.


    Red Leaf True Person was leading a team on her own. He guessed that the measures she had prepared were no less than those of the former Xu Ri True Person.


    Suddenly, Lin Shiming realized that at the realm of the True Person, one would seldom resort to moves; a big reputation didn''t necessarily equate to great strength, after all, as some techniques were not to be used lightly.


    "Chirp!"


    "Chirp!"


    Suddenly, two piercing cries came from the island.


    In an instant, a dazzling five-colored light appeared, like a stretch of five-colored red clouds, emerging amidst the dark tide of beasts and shedding limitless brightness.


    Red Leaf True Person''s brows finally began to furrow.


    The five-colored light and shadow were also recognized by Lin Shiming, for they belonged to the Five-colored Demon King.


    Its body as large as an island and the blazing five-colored fiery feathers bestowed immense Spirit Might upon the crowd.


    Even many spirit pets belonging to the human cultivators began to lose control to some extent.


    Of course, the most despairing aspect wasn''t just that; far in the distance, there wasn''t just one stream of five-colored flames, but two.


    There were two Five-colored Sparrows in succession.


    One after the other, they dashed towards Red Leaf True Person, and the auras of the two Five-colored beings were of the Fifth Rank Mid-Stage Demonic Beasts.


    The surging five-colored Spiritual Flames emitted a terrifyingly high temperature.


    He had only felt such a heat on the Flaming Sword before.


    At this moment, seeing this, Lin Shiming was considering whether to take the cultivators of the Lin Family and flee aboard the Zifeng Boat.


    Finally, Red Leaf True Person made her move as well. In her hands, a golden figure appeared first, shining bright with golden light, as if a Buddha Cultivator.


    The aura it radiated, however, was at the early stage of the Fifth Rank, specifically a Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet.


    Beyond that, there were twelve magical red leaves in her hands that spun around her in the air. The next moment, the twelve leaves scattered and shot towards the two Five-colored Demon Kings.


    The golden figure also charged toward one of them, facing the five-colored Spiritual Flames without a hint of fear.


    "Courting death!" the two Five-colored Demon Kings exclaimed in unison.


    Their five-colored Spiritual Flames were so powerful they could even melt a Fifth Rank Xuan Iron Crystal.


    To their colossal form, the twelve red leaf magical treasures seemed incredibly insignificant.


    As expected, the Twelve Red Leaves were easily swept aside by their assault.


    The Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet was engulfed by the firebird made of five-colored Spiritual Flames and its golden sheen began to melt rapidly.


    But in the next moment, a Fifth Rank Spirit Talisman was deployed, and a golden Muyu appeared in the hands of the Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet.


    The Muyu instantly opened up its suction force, absorbing all the five-colored Spiritual Flames into it.


    The Spirit Talisman in hand was a Fifth Rank Windshadow Talisman, greatly increasing the speed of the Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet as it charged towards one of the Five-colored Demon Kings.


    That Five-colored Demon King immediately flew into a rage.


    A pair of fiery red spirit claws viciously reached for the Spirit Puppet!


    Boom!


    In an instant, the Spirit Puppet was grasped so fiercely that it nearly shattered, even showing signs of cracking.


    However, just then, deep in the ocean, a red shadow appeared.


    That red shadow was incredibly fast, and the resultant tsunami soared to a height of a thousand feet.


    The next moment, the red shadow rapidly transformed into a black silhouette, becoming a giant undersea black hole, slowly rising upward.


    Boom, Boom, Boom!


    Having swallowed a thousand feet high worth of seawater, Lin Shiming only then realized it was an enormous red whale. With a single swallow, it seemed capable of devouring the sky and Earth.


    Countless Second and Third Rank Demonic Beasts, as well as several Purple Mansion Great Demons, were like tiny shrimp in the whale''s colossal mouth, utterly insignificant.


    The black hole also unleashed a massive suction force, along with the spread of black spirit light. Touched by the black spirit light, the bodies of all demonic beasts couldn''t help but freeze.


    Among them was the Fifth Rank Five-colored Demon King!


    "Red Whale, you''re still alive!!" one of the beasts trapped by the black spirit light shouted, realizing it was about to be devoured and hastily attempting to ingratiate itself.


    Another Five-colored Demon King beside it suddenly spat out a five-colored pearl.


    This pearl was extremely similar to the one Lin Shiming had obtained earlier. However, the former was a Fourth Rank Magical Artifact, while this one was Fifth Rank.


    The released flames transformed into a hundred-yard-long Five-colored Firebird that bit towards the Red Whale.


    And it emitted layer upon layer of soulful spirit light. Lin Shiming felt as if the divine sense of all his magical treasures was stripped away in an instant.


    This Fifth Rank Magical Artifact was countless times more tyrannical than the Fourth Rank one; not only could its flames injure one''s divine sense, but even the light it cast could burn the divine sense as well.


    And to think, he was a full thousand li away from where the Demon Kings battled. But the Five-colored Demon King and the Red Whale seemed so huge, it felt as though they were nearby.


    At that moment, like Lin Shiming, many Human Race Purple Mansion Cultivators found their magical treasures suddenly inoperative, while the Purple Mansion Great Demons faced no such issues and instantly swooped in aggressively.


    The Purple Mansion Great Demon targeting Lin Shiming was also instantly overjoyed, having been suppressed by him for so long and filled with rage.


    A pair of claws ferociously swept towards Lin Shiming''s neck.


    At that moment, it seemed as if its beastly pupils could see Lin Shiming torn to shreds with ease, just like its previous prey!


    However, a suit of Starlight Armor suddenly materialized on Lin Shiming''s body.


    Simultaneously, a pair of Iron Fists fiercely blasted forward!


    Bang!


    The Purple Mansion Great Demon naturally disdained Lin Shiming, a human cultivator relying on the little beings of the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, to withstand its claw.


    Yet the next moment, what was once the Purple Mansion Great Demon''s unstoppable claw was smashed to pieces by Lin Shiming''s fist!


    It must be known that Lin Shiming''s cultivation of the Starlight Tempering Body Technique, an Earth Rank Technique, enabled him to fight even with Fourth Rank Flood Dragons.


    The might of his punch was far fiercer than that of a Middle Stage Purple Mansion Shocking Sea Ape.


    The Purple Mansion Great Demon had never imagined it would not only survive being suppressed by Lin Shiming''s four Soul-Suppressing Pagodas for a stick of incense''s time but would actually meet its end under Lin Shiming''s Iron Fist!


    Lin Shiming, however, was unsurprised and, with a quick movement, also rescued Lin Shijie.


    At this moment, the seascape became even more chaotic; numerous Human Cultivators were cut down by the seizing opportunity of the Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Meanwhile, the Red Leaf True Person sent twelve red spirit leaves towards the remaining Five-colored Demon King.


    This time, the brilliance of each spirit leaf was even more intense.


    Unleashing tremendous Spirit Might from twelve directions, they slashed towards the Five-colored Demon King.


    The Five-colored Demon King hastily released Spiritual Fire again, fanning out fierce winds.


    The violent winds instantly formed several tsunami whirlwinds, which, however, were effortlessly sliced apart by the red spirit leaf magical treasure and continued to slash with undiminished force.


    "A Fifth Rank Middle Stage set of Magical Artifacts?" The Five-colored Demon King was also somewhat panic-stricken at this point, as its Fifth Rank Five Flames Pearl had already been used once, and there seemed to be no time for another release.


    More crucially, the figure of the Red Leaf True Person had disappeared from afar, and in a peculiar turn, reappeared behind the twelve red leaves.


    Every single image was incredibly realistic!


    This left the Demon King completely unable to distinguish the real from the illusory.

 Chapter 647 - 2)

    Lin Shiming nodded in response one by one, greatly satisfied with the invitation.


    If he had to say what he lacked now, the biggest would be connections; treasures of Purple Mansion cultivators were relatively scarce across the major islands, basically controlled by the Purple Mansion cultivators themselves.


    Only at the Purple Mansion Trading Event could one obtain many of the treasures one desired.


    For example, the news of Lin Shiming''s Ten-Winged Frost Cicada from before.


    And a Purple Mansion Trading Event might not happen even once in ten years, so he needed someone to notify him whenever there was one.


    Even if he couldn''t attend, Lin Shijie, Lin Xianzhi, and Jiuxiao Scatter Man could all participate; it made little difference whether they or Shiming himself acquired the treasures.


    After Red Leaf True Person led the Xu Ri army away, Lin Shiming began to arrange for the cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island. For instance, those Purple Mansion cultivators were all assigned tasks, and as for treasures,


    Lin Shiming simply distributed a Ziji Tan, several Fourth Rank Demonic Beast inner cores, and a few Red Lotus Pills as rewards to them.


    Of course, the main focus was on those cultivators who didn''t speak much while he gave his speech; these cultivators knew how to behave, wouldn''t cause trouble, and being slightly stronger was seen as beneficial in his eyes.


    Now of the twelve Purple Mansion cultivators, only seven remained.


    The few who didn''t receive rewards were aware of their shortcomings and, after witnessing Lin Shiming''s strength, none dared to speak out.


    The subsequent formation and even the arrangement of Jiuyue Island needed to be set up by the Lin Family''s cultivators. Even though there was a Fourth Rank Array Master among the Purple Mansion cultivators, Lin Shiming still didn''t feel confident enough.


    Instead, he had all the Array Masters of the Lin Family gather, with Lin Zelu and Lin Shiyun overseeing, allowing him to handle the setup.


    The advantage of an Array Plate is that any cultivator with enough True Yuan can set it up.


    And with Lin Shiyun and Lin Zelu providing guidance, Shiming wasn''t worried about any significant issues.


    After the formation was set up, an immense Spirit Light began to surge throughout Jiuyue Island.


    At this point, they weren''t afraid of being discovered by Demonic Beasts, as the island was originally the main stronghold of the Demonic Race and the frontline for those flying Demonic Beasts to land.


    The Jiuyue Formation lived up to its reputation as a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade formation; Shiming quietly tested it and even the strike of the Jin Ye sword left no trace on it.


    Once the formation was dealt with, Lin Shiming also landed on the island.


    He left all the cultivators from the Lin Family and Heavenly Phenomenon Island behind, as naturally, there would now be the issue of changing guards.


    Of course, the main concern was for the local families of the Lin Family and the original Hermit cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island. To those Hermit cultivators and families who came to support, generous conditions needed to be given.


    After all, the Lin Family did not wish to open the Transmission Formation from Heavenly Phenomenon Island to Xu Ri Island for the time being.


    Once these cultivators left, it wouldn''t be easy for them to return.


    And Red Leaf True Person''s intention for him to develop Jiuyue Island naturally included the thought to retain these cultivators.


    Publicly giving Lin Shiming so many treasures also implied that he was expected to distribute some of them.


    "My fellow cultivators, with the establishment of Jiuyue Island, a market will naturally be set up, including restaurants, Pill Pavilions, and equipment shops. The Lin Family alone is not enough to handle it, and these market shops will be allocated based on the ranking in slaying the Demonic Beasts!" Lin Shiming cleared his throat and spoke.


    Upon hearing this, the Hermit cultivators didn''t react much, but the families began to ponder.


    They were aware that Red Leaf True Person had executed two Demon Kings with his thunderous methods, ensuring that Heavenly Phenomenon Island would be much safer.


    Following the usual pattern of beast tides, initially, it was those less fortunate Demon Kings from the Demonic Race who came out to test the waters.


    The markets of Heavenly Phenomenon Island had their owners, but the markets of Jiuyue Island were still undeveloped; the Spirit Stones to be earned there would certainly be substantial.


    Even those with Purple Mansion cultivators were contemplating venturing to develop the islands near Jiuyue Island.


    As for the Hermit cultivators, they didn''t have much fluctuation; their Demonic Beast slaying count was not significant, they had almost no shops, and they only wanted to go back to practice in the Lin Family Restaurant on Heavenly Phenomenon Island to strengthen their abilities as much as possible.


    "In addition to the markets, as long as you defend Jiuyue Island against the Demonic Beasts, you can purchase the Lin Family''s Second and Third Rank Beast Nurturing Pills at half price. Moreover, the Lin Family will also offer a 20% discount on some of the Spirit Snake eggs to those who participated in the defense of Jiuyue Island!" Lin Shiming continued to speak.


    This benefit was naturally aimed at the Hermit cultivators.


    The low-priced sale of Beast Nurturing Pills was to help Hermit cultivators improve their rearing of Spirit Beasts.


    And with the extensive use of Beast Nurturing Pills requiring a large amount of Spirit Beast meat and Spirit Water, it was natural not to worry about these cultivators leaving Jiuyue Island.


    With the announcement of the three major Hero Rankings, the desire of Loose Cultivators to leave significantly decreased.


    Lin Shiming nodded at this. Once he returned to Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the Hero Rankings would be updated. Unless something unexpected happened, the Demonic Beasts he had killed would place him first, and the rewards of Ziji Tan would naturally be his. Moreover, he could even allocate some Ziji Tan to obtain the Profound Rank Superior Grade Cultivation Technique that was the second prize of the Purple Mansion rank.


    After arranging everything on Jiuyue Island, Lin Shiming started to go into seclusion right there, waiting for Lin Hou Shou''s arrival. Now, Jiuyue Island was just one Transmission Formation away from becoming stable.


    In the center of the island, constructions were burgeoning into action, with buildings beginning to rise.


    Lin Family Cultivators also started to search Jiuyue Island.


    Although those Purple Mansion Cultivators had already searched it, there were still some Second and Third Rank treasures that the Cultivators from Xu Ri Island might not value highly.


    As expected, they eventually discovered a small-sized Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine on the island.


    After a preliminary survey, as long as the mine was properly exploited, the Lin Family could acquire three to four thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones each year. If they mined at full capacity, they could produce tens of thousands of Spirit Stones annually, but doing so would also damage the foundation of the Spirit Vein.


    However, with the beast tide looming, the Lin Family wouldn''t care. Once the Transmission Formation was established, they would transfer a large number of Cultivators to mine it.


    With this mine, the Lin Family''s treasury, which had been strained due to war preparations, finally showed signs of improvement.


    The journey from Heavenly Phenomenon Island to Jiuyue Island took about half a month with the War Treasure Ship. Lin Shiming began to use Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Fifth Rank Spirit Water to create Star Spirit Fluff and cultivate the Starlight Tempering Body Technique.


    Bright starlight fell into Spirit Lake, and the dazzling Spirit Light on the Star Spirit Clam grew stronger. Its twin shells expanded another ten feet without realizing it, and the star patterns on it became more lifelike. The Five-colored Star Spirit Fluff it produced also increased.


    Sitting in the pavilion, Lin Shiming felt his body''s strength growing stronger.


    He even noticed that within his body, there was a tendency for Spiritual Power star cores to begin to condense.


    He couldn''t help but look forward to it. Perhaps by that time, he could suppress a Flood Dragon with just the Spiritual Power star cores within his body.


    The power of this starlight seemed too magical.


    At that moment, he even felt that the Starlight Tempering Body Technique was not just of Earth Rank; it was labeled as Inferior Grade Earth Rank only because there was no way to cultivate starlight power.


    Meanwhile, the Star Pearl within him also felt increasingly effortless.


    As long as he broke through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, he would have one more trump card.


    The annihilating power of the Star Pearl, like a star core explosion.


    The power it would wield at that time was something Lin Shiming hardly dared to imagine.


    Lin Shiming even wondered if the Divine Bead of Mystical Power could seal this move, considering even Minor Divine Ability could be sealed by it.


    From Lin Shiming''s guess, the twelve Golden Long Spears of Red Leaf True Person must have been accumulated and condensed over time.


    The power of the twelve spears was indeed terrifying.


    Combined with her secret technique like the wind following the leaves, it might not be easy for the average Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator to match Red Leaf True Person.


    Lin Shiming pondered, and just then, the Spirit Talisman he had placed in the outside world was activated. He immediately left the Cave Heaven World.


    He found Lin Shijie outside his cave residence.


    At this moment, Lin Shijie''s eyes were filled with both worry and excitement:


    "Shiming, Shiyuan rashly chased after a Demonic Beast and found a group of Water Spirit Shells larger than those of our Lin Family, and among them, even a Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell!" Lin Shijie suddenly transmitted his message.


    Lin Shiming was also stunned. They were not unfamiliar with the Water Spirit Shell group; the Lin Family had hunted them before.


    That time, however, the Water Spirit Shell group they caught only had Third Rank creatures the size of a basin.


    This time there was actually a Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell.


    What concerned him more, however, was Lin Shiyuan''s wellbeing, especially since Lin Shijie''s expression didn''t look too good.


    "Where is Shiyuan, and how is he?" Lin Shiming asked anxiously


    "He''s already taken an Elixir and is healing. Fortunately, he''s a Wind Spirit Root Cultivator and also used a Boundary-breaking Talisman!"

 Chapter 648 - 409: Reprimand and Arrest (Double for 1000 Monthly Votes from Last Month)

    The night was clear, and the island seemed even colder.


    In a room, Lin Shiyuan was currently shirtless, a vast bloodstain visible across his upper chest.


    His eyes were closed as he applied Third Rank medicine powder for external injuries.


    He also swallowed healing pills, and the wound emitted a spirit light as it slowly healed.


    But the intense pain was real and present, making his body tremble slightly.


    The door soon opened, and Lin Shiming walked in. Seeing Lin Shiyuan in such a state, he felt a complex mix of emotions.


    "Seventh brother..." Lin Shiyuan lowered his head. Shiming had always been very good to him and often taught him, repeatedly advising him to be cautious. Yet, in pursuit of strength, he had been impulsive many times.


    Now, he was seriously injured and had used a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    But the anticipated reprimand did not come.


    Instead, in Shiming''s generous palm, there was a Boundary-breaking Talisman and a Fourth Rank Healing Pill, extended in front of him.


    He was somewhat stunned and did not immediately take them.


    He just heard Shiming sigh and said,


    "Shiyuan, a cultivator''s revenge is never something that can be achieved in a day or two; your enemies are not mortals with lifespans of a mere hundred and twenty years, but those who live for thousands of years!"


    "You have plenty of time, but if you can''t even reach Golden Core, let alone Purple Mansion, your revenge is nothing but a joke!"


    Shiming''s words were extremely calm, but the calmer he spoke, the more seriously Shiyuan took them.


    He knew that Shiming was already suppressing his feelings. Other cultivators would have already imposed a family punishment.


    He was different because his father once stayed behind at Fangmu Mountain for Shiming''s sake.


    "Shiyuan, I hope you understand that in the Cultivation World, fate is not solely dictated by one''s Spirit Root. There are Golden Core True Persons with Quadruple and Quintuple Spirit Roots, and there are also those with Heavenly Spirit Roots who perish at Foundation Establishment. The Taoist heart is important, and so is taking steady steps!"


    "Your current goal is to become a Golden Core Cultivator as securely as possible!"


    "Before that, how to build a strong foundation is your most important goal!" Shiming spoke again.


    Finally, Shiyuan nodded his head.


    "Seeing how things have turned out, the clan punishment must still be carried out. You are to guard Jiuyue Island for ten years and are not to leave the island!"


    Shiyuan nodded. His path had always been smooth sailing, but having recently faced a life-and-death crisis, he knew that if it weren''t for Shiming''s Boundary-breaking Talisman, he would have disappeared in that vast ocean.


    Apart from seaweed, no one would remember his deeds, and his enemies would continue to roam free in the Eastern Domain.


    Although the clan punishment was severe, as long as he was on Jiuyue Island, he believed there would be a time for him to fight.


    "Additionally, I hope that in ten years, you can reach the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. By then, I will return to the Eastern Domain. Although I cannot settle the score with the Heavenly Demon Sect, I will personally deal with some of their subordinate forces and those who have set foot into Fangmu Mountain," Shiming said as he walked out. Halfway through, he looked back.


    And finally, Shiyuan raised his head, his eyes turning red with emotion, another firm nod of his head as he clenched his fists tightly.


    The Eastern Domain had always been the most important region in his heart.


    And once again, the wound on his chest began to throb, causing him to grunt in pain quietly, yet he never shouted out loud.


    Just like that time, in the ancestral temple, when he wore sackcloth and performed filial piety, holding back his grief for three days without crying aloud.


    Shiming and Lin Shijie moved to the adjacent hall.


    Having checked on Shiyuan''s injuries, it was naturally time to plan for the Water Spirit Shell group.


    The Lin Family owned nearly a thousand Water Spirit Shells, which elevated the reputation of the Lin Family Restaurant so significantly that it became extremely renowned, even among Xu Ri Island''s twelve outer islands.


    If they could acquire this larger group of Water Spirit Shells, the cultivators of the Lin Family could improve their own strength more rapidly, and the Lin Family Restaurant could expand its territory, at least covering Jiuyue Island.


    This time, there were even Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells. If they obtained Fourth Rank Water Spirit Pearls, the cultivation speed of the Lin Family''s Purple Mansion cultivators could increase once again.


    "Shiming, it has been so long since the Water Spirit Shells were spotted, they have probably escaped already!" Lin Shijie couldn''t help but express his concern, also handing over a Jade Slip.


    Inside the Jade Slip was the route provided by Shiyuan, already extremely distant, and carrying the risk of encountering a Demon King.


    Hearing this, Shiming also couldn''t help worrying; it had been at least two days since the Water Spirit Shells were discovered.


    Naturally, having encountered cultivators, the Water Spirit Shells wouldn''t stay in one place any longer.


    However, just at that moment, the system notification sounded again.


    [Please head ten thousand miles northwest, where you will find a large group of Water Spirit Shells. Beware of the water-escape techniques of several Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells!]


    Shiming couldn''t help but feel overjoyed. According to the message, there were not only one, but multiple Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells; even he could boost his cultivation with the help of Water Spirit Pearls.


    That would accelerate his advancement to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, requiring only that he purchase some Spirit Pills on Tianliu Island.


    Thinking of this, Shiming too felt a surge of excitement.


    "Elder brother, you guard Jiuyue Island for now. Take this Fourth Rank Middle Stage Spirit Puppet to assist you!" Shiming handed the Storage Bag containing the Spirit Puppet to Lin Shijie.


    Jiuyue Island was also very important at the moment, and not only the Demonic Beasts were a threat, but also the Purple Mansion cultivators who might fancy their chances, especially since there was a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Formation and a small Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine.


    Cultivators often took risks for resources.


    Shiming had to be cautious.


    Especially the Loose Cultivators; many were honorable, but many were not.


    Shijie was a Sword Cultivator himself and had even commanded a Third Rank Great Demon with the Spirit Controlling Seal, combined with a Fourth Rank Middle Stage Spirit Puppet, along with the Formation, making it virtually foolproof.


    For this reason, Shiming took out the Myriad Thousand Jade he had obtained from the Purple Sun Secret Realm earlier and gave one piece to Shijie, instructing him to contact him if anything arose.

 Chapter 649 - 409: Reprimand and Arrest (Combined for 1000 Monthly Votes from Last Month)_2

    He then took the Jade Slip, which contained recorded information, from Lin Shijie''s hands.


    He didn''t explain much further.


    Lin Shijie didn''t ask any further questions.


    In his view, Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense was vast and far-reaching, and he wanted to give it a try.


    If it weren''t for his lack of strength, he would have liked to try it himself.


    With the Spirit Puppet and the Formation at his disposal, he really wasn''t afraid of the other Purple Mansion cultivators on Jiuyue Island.


    After Lin Shijie reminded him a few more times,


    Lin Shiming took out the Zifeng Boat and, taking advantage of the tumultuous night, left immediately.


    The best time to capture Water Spirit Shells is in the early morning. According to the speed of the Zifeng Boat, he should be able to arrive at the location of the Water Spirit Shells just as dawn breaks.


    Along the way, Lin Shiming was quite cautious, not only wearing the Five-Light Spirit Crocodile Armor but also draping the Starlight Battle Clothes over his body to ensure that even if he encountered a Demon King, he would have a chance to unleash the Flaming Sword.


    This sea area was not near Heavenly Phenomenon Island, so the appearance of a Demon King was not surprising.


    Because of the concentrated beast tide, there weren''t many Great Demons in the sea at this time, but some scattered Second and Third Rank Demonic Beasts had not yet been completely cleared.


    On his way, he also encountered some cultivators from Heavenly Phenomenon Island. As the horizon began to show the first light of dawn, the sky slowly brightened. Lin Shiming finally saw an island emerging in the distance.


    This island was similar to the one near Spirit Turtle Island where Lin Shiming had previously been, with one side being a rocky beach and the other covered with trees, with abundant vegetation and a lush expanse.


    Lin Shiming landed from the Spirit Boat, not daring to proceed by Spirit Boat any further. Instead, he began to take out his purple jade Fabrication Magical Treasure and employed the Divine Concealment Ability from the Sword Storing Book.


    Step by step, he stealthily approached the island.


    Upon arriving near the island, Lin Shiming indeed saw an extensive cluster of Water Spirit Shells.


    These Water Spirit Shell clusters were small; some were only the size of a palm, while others were as large as a hut, lying on the shallow beach, rhythmically contracting and absorbing the essence of Spiritual Energy.


    They were packed densely, far more than ten times the number of the group Lin Shiming had previously captured.


    Those huge Water Spirit Shells were naturally Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell Great Demons.


    They were roughly the same size as the Star Spirit Clams in Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven, but their preciousness naturally paled in comparison to the Star Spirit Clams.


    Within the gaping mouths of these four Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell Great Demons, Lin Shiming could vaguely see the Fourth Rank Water Spirit Pearls emitting a unique Spirit Light.


    Strangely enough, the Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell Great Demons each contained at least two Fourth Rank Water Spirit Pearls in their shells, with the largest one containing three pearls.


    Each Fourth Rank Water Spirit Pearl was the size of a fist, sparkling brightly with Spirit Light.


    In the distant dawn light, Lin Shiming''s heart bloomed with excitement.


    He focused his mind, knowing that although the Water Spirit Shells were not as formidable in combat as other Demonic Beasts, their water escape technique was terrifying.


    He had to strike like a thunderbolt.


    The Second and Third Rank Water Spirit Shells could escape, but it would be a great pity if even one of the Fourth Rank ones did.


    He first took out all six Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, and then retrieved the Illusionary Spirit Gourd and Illusionary Spirit Vines.


    Between the sound that ensnared souls and the Illusion Technique, he was confident he could bewitch even the Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells.


    He planned to then gather them all into the Illusionary Spirit Gourd.


    As he took out these Magical Treasures, he also secretly transmitted his voice to the wood-attribute Star Spirit Clam, Golden Wing, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey, instructing them.


    Apart from the wood-attribute spirit beast, he had the other three each focus on one shell. All three had the combat power of Fourth Rank.


    Though the wood spirit beast did not, it could pay attention to the Third Rank Water Spirit Shells.


    The largest one, with three Water Spirit Pearls, was naturally his own to observe.


    This was a precautionary measure.


    The key was his use of the Illusionary Spirit Vines entanglement and Illusion Technique.


    For the Second and Third Rank Star Spirit Clams, he took out two Spirit Controlling Seals used to control Purple Mansion Demonic Beasts. These Demonic Beasts, kept in the Spirit Beast Bag, had been secretly marked with the Spirit Controlling Seal by him to be used for herding.


    To secure the Fourth Rank ones while acquiring as many Water Spirit Shells as possible.


    Everything set, Lin Shiming slowly began casting the Spirit Art with his hands.


    The six Soul-Suppressing Pagodas suddenly appeared from the void, arranging themselves in a hexagonal formation and trapping much of the sea area.


    The Water Spirit Shell Great Demons quickly reacted, stirring up towering waves.


    The momentum was tremendous, and those clam shells could also shoot out sharp sand and stones, not a small force.


    When they struck the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, a roaring sound was emitted.


    Just then, the sound of soul capturing also activated, and as expected, all of those Second and Third Rank as well as the remaining three Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells were momentarily stalled.


    But only the one at the mid-stage of the Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell still transformed into resplendent Spirit Light and burst forth.


    Lin Shiming''s Soul-Suppressing Pagoda immediately reacted, blocking the mid-stage Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell. At the same time, the Illusionary Spirit Gourd released the Mystic Fog first, closely followed by the Illusionary Spirit Vine appearing, turning into countless vines, and binding the three Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Water Spirit Shells first!


    The Illusionary Spirit Vine also began to form a gourd, releasing the Mystic Fog.


    The green Mystic Fog covered most of the island in the blink of an eye.


    It trapped most of the Second and Third Rank Water Spirit Shells, but there were still quite a few that escaped towards the sea. At this time, Lin Shiming''s wood spirits and even the Golden Winged Mantis Spirit Shell started to drive them away!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming didn''t pay attention to these but was watching the most powerful Water Spirit Shell.


    In his hand, the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda constantly moved about, and the Watery Escape Technique of the Water Spirit Shell proved extremely potent, the six Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were somewhat unable to restrain it, forcing Lin Shiming to use the Space-breaking Needle, striking the shell of the Water Spirit Shell heavily.


    Instantly, the Great Demon let out a clicking roar of anger.


    Its body involuntarily stalled, halting its escape. After all, the Space-breaking Needle was a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure.


    And just then, Lin Shiming leaped behind the Water Spirit Shell using the Leaping Void Disk, and with a fierce punch, he smashed it into the air.


    With a shake, the Water Spirit Shell was violently knocked into the air by Lin Shiming; at this point, he couldn''t let the Water Spirit Shell dive back into the water.


    As a body cultivator, Lin Shiming was not only comparable to a Flood Dragon of the same rank but had also consumed the Great Strength Fruit, so that punch left the Water Spirit Shell somewhat dazed.


    The Illusionary Spirit Gourd was then recalled, and with a swoop, it sucked in the Water Spirit Shell.


    Lin Shiming hurriedly affixed a Spirit Talisman.


    Finally having dealt with the most dangerous mid-stage Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell, Lin Shiming was able to deal with the remaining three Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells.


    These three had already broken free from the Illusionary Spirit Vine, two of them trapped by the Red-haired Demon Monkey and Golden Winged Mantis, desperately darting about in a panic.


    The remaining one was completely immobilized under the tentacles of the Star Spirit Shell.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming suddenly felt he had underestimated the battle strength of the Star Spirit Shell.


    He had thought the Star Spirit Shell lacked fighting capabilities because it had never attacked before.


    But now, seeing that it could produce Star Spirit Fluff and that its physical body was extremely strong, how could it possibly lack combat abilities?


    Entangling a Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell was the best example of that!


    Lin Shiming, therefore, first helped the Red-haired and Golden Wing to subdue those two, applied the Spirit Controlling Seal to briefly control them, then started using the Cave Heaven to sweep the surrounding seas, drawing all the Water Spirit Shells affected by the Mystic Fog into the Spirit Lake within the Cave Heaven.


    Currently, the Spirit Lake was inhabited only by some mysterious black fish and Red Spirit Fish, not a match for this group of Water Spirit Shells.


    He wasn''t concerned about them escaping.


    Nevertheless, because many of the Second and Third Rank Water Spirit Shells had such speed, a lot of them still managed to escape.


    Being accidentally killed by several Demonic Beasts, Lin Shiming felt greatly pained.


    But thinking of the four Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells, his mood was soon lifted.


    In the Spirit Lake, formations had already been set up, initially to prevent Wang Jiao from targeting the Star Spirit Shell.


    Now, it was just right to accommodate this group of Water Spirit Shells.


    Though this was only a temporary solution as his Cave Heaven couldn''t nurture so many Water Spirit Shells.


    In time, he would have cultivators who specialized in breeding Water Spirit Shells apply Soul Binding Forbidden to these Second and Third Rank Water Spirit Shells.


    The early-stage Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells would then be given to Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shitao, and Lin Shijie, one each.


    The mid-stage Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell could be kept in his Cave Heaven.


    This way, all the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family, except for the Guest Elder Jiuxiao, would have a Water Spirit Shell. Of course, even if the latter did not have one, he would also provide a Fourth Rank Water Spirit Pearl for him to cultivate with.


    Moreover, on his upcoming trip to Tianliu Island for negotiations, he already had a gift for Hermit Yulin.


    After all, the four Water Spirit Shells yielded a total of nine Water Spirit Pearls.


    Feeling delighted, Lin Shiming lost the interest to continue capturing the escaped Second and Third Rank Water Spirit Shells as scattering around to catch them further would be meaningless.


    Instead, it might lead to encountering dangers in the vast ocean.

 Chapter 652 - 411: Missing, Birthday (Two in One)

    Lin Shiming looked over to Hermit Guanghao, and Hermit Guanghao, with unkind eyes, glanced back at him.


    Cultivators of the Purple Mansion are extremely sensitive, and even though Lin Shiming had not used his Divine Sense, he was sensed.


    Lin Shiming, however, turned his head away as the scenery of Tianliu Island was beautiful, and he did not want to spoil it.


    Hermit Guanghao had come to Tianliu Island, most likely in pursuit of Hermit Yulin.


    Thinking of this, he naturally felt some disdain; the situation on Xu Ri Island was not good, and Hermit Guanghao, as a late-stage cultivator of the Purple Mansion and one of the island owners subordinate to Xu Ri Island, actually came to Tianliu Island.


    However, seeing his excited expression, which did not seem like he was competing for the Purple Mansion Demon-Slaying List, left him somewhat puzzled.


    On the first floor of the Qi Jing Tower, a list was hung, and Lin Shiming had not seen Hermit Guanghao''s name.


    In the midst of Lin Shiming''s contemplation, the maid quickly presented the Spiritual Meal and Spiritual Tea he had ordered; the Qi Xing Tea was a Third-Rank Supreme Grade Spiritual Tea, one level higher than the Cui Lan Tea of the Lin Family.


    Once it was brought over, the fragrance of the tea pervaded the room, refreshing the mind and spirit.


    Moreover, two maids approached: one took out a lute while the other began to perform, causing Lin Shiming to be momentarily startled before he observed the layout of Qi Jing Tower; there was a chessboard etched on the wall, and there were chess rooms in the private rooms on the second floor.


    The setup of Qi Jing Tower was indeed unique.


    Qi Jing complemented by Si Ya.


    Just to retain an Immortal Root, they indeed had a full array of strategies.


    Lin Shiming took a light sip of the Spiritual Tea, only to see Hermit Guanghao approach him.


    "Daoist Lin, you really have quite the leisure, with the beast tide impending, yet still interested in enjoying the serenity of Qi Jing Tower?"


    "Isn''t Daoist Guanghao doing the same?" Lin Shiming did not expect the other party to follow up on him.


    He shook his head at the mockery.


    He had long passed the age of acting impulsively in his early twenties.


    Besides, in the world of immortal cultivation, such foolishness as exhibited by Hermit Guanghao was his first encounter.


    Even for the sake of a Gold Condensation Pill, to grovel so, how could he be looked upon by Hermit Yulin.


    "Naturally, it''s different for me, this time I am here on behalf of Xu Ri Island to pay respects to a senior!" Hermit Guanghao snorted coldly.


    Lin Shiming was immediately startled.


    At that moment, he even suspected that Red Leaf True Person had invited two people over.


    However, he had also investigated Hermit Guanghao before; the other party had no other background and did not have close ties with Tianliu Island.


    The only thing noteworthy about him was that he had reached the late stage of the Purple Mansion before the age of one hundred fifty.


    "I won''t disturb Daoist Lin''s enjoyment any further; I will take my leave now!" Seeing that Lin Shiming wore a puzzled face and did not answer, Hermit Guanghao unexpectedly left straight away.


    It was as though he had already confirmed something.


    Lin Shiming was also left completely confused by this series of actions.


    It wasn''t long after Hermit Guanghao left that two individuals dressed in black veils walked in.


    The people in black were fully covered, leaving their faces unseen.


    The next moment, they both sat down opposite Lin Shiming.


    Then they called over the server and ordered a pot of Fourth-Rank Qi Jing Tea.


    Seemingly noticing Lin Shiming''s confusion, the people in black slowly spoke:


    "The Fourth-Rank Qi Jing Tea comes from the spiritual leaves of the Qi Jing tea tree, and drinking it is smooth and refined, a perfect match for Daoist Lin!" The fervent words, however, made Lin Shiming feel a chill.


    The identity of the person before him was thus self-evident.


    Lin Shiming didn''t stop them; for them, Fourth-Rank Spiritual Tea was also quite precious, but it was within their means to enjoy.


    "Daoist Lin, shall we move to another room and try out the Qi Jing Tower''s chess game?" The person in black spoke again.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement, and the three of them entered a private room on the third floor; inside the room was a golden nanmu square table with a golden birdcage, and next to the cage was placed a chessboard.


    Upon entering the room, the two individuals in black removed their veils, revealing two exceptionally beautiful faces.


    One appeared fervent and moving, the other cold as ice.


    "Big Brother Lin, forgive us for the secrecy; there were too many people outside!" Hermit Fuling was the first to speak.


    Then she invited Lin Shiming and Hermit Yulin to sit down together.


    "Big Brother Lin, it has been a long time since we parted in the Purple Sun Secret Realm. Why has it taken so long for you to come to Tianliu Island?" Hermit Fuling, quiet outside, now actively poured tea for Lin Shiming with the pot in the private room.


    The fragrance from the Fourth-Rank Spiritual Tea gave off a far more abundant aroma compared to the Third-Rank.


    In addition, within the spiraling spiritual mist, some illusions became visible; they included the Yellow Stone Immortal Path and Fish Mountain Sutra Chants...


    Seven wondrous sceneries alternated, each with profound implications, causing Lin Shiming to feel somewhat self-mocking.


    To think that he had so firmly believed earlier, yet now it seemed he had fallen into a cliche? himself.


    "To be honest, I was tied up with the beast tide and couldn''t get away. Otherwise, I should have come to visit you both sooner and also to thank Tianliu True Person for his kindness!" Lin Shiming spoke with a hint of self-reproach.


    He also made it clear why he was there.


    Then Lin Shiming took out two Jade Boxes and passed them to Fairy Yulin and Fairy Fuling.


    "Fairy sisters, this is a little token of my esteem, and also to thank you for saving my life that day!" Lin Shiming continued.


    "Daoist Lin, that day was but a trivial help, and you saved Fuling; we have not yet thanked you. How can we accept such a gift?" Hermit Yulin rejected the gifts with a push.


    Hermit Fuling seemed a bit startled, as if she wanted to accept the Water Spirit Pearl Jade Box from Lin Shiming.


    But seeing Yulin''s gesture, she too nodded and pushed the box back again.


    "Daoist Lin, you''ve come to see my master, haven''t you? My master is currently in Tianliu Palace, and we can introduce you!" Hermit Yulin spoke again.


    Hermit Yulin''s gaze was extremely sharp, and her mind was much more sensitive than Fuling''s; she guessed Lin Shiming''s intentions in an instant.

 Chapter 653 - 411: Missing, Birthday (Two in One)_2

    ```


    "Then I thank the two fairies for your kind introductions. Consider this gift as an introduction gift from you two!" Lin Shiming was not beating around the bush.


    ```


    ```


    He came to Tianliu Island indeed for negotiations.


    ```


    ```


    Then he would seek elixirs and methods for the wood demons to practice.


    ```


    ```


    "Even common friends carry gifts when they visit, so I hope the two fairies won''t disdain this!" Seeing Yulin and Fuling still seemed hesitant, Lin Shiming added once more.


    ```


    ```


    This time, the two exchanged a glance before accepting the gift.


    ```


    ```


    "Big brother Lin, no need for formal titles; if you regard us highly, just call us by our names. We both have the surname Zhao, Yulin and Fuling!" Fuling called out.


    ```


    ```


    With Fuling starting the conversation, the three of them became more chatty.


    ```


    ```


    The topics ranged from the interesting stories of Tianliu Island to the situation on Xu Ri Island.


    ```


    ```


    Lin Shiming tentatively mentioned Red Leaf True Person''s feats of slaying two Demon Kings.


    ```


    ```


    Zhao Fuling even boasted that next time they go to battle, they could call on the Purple Mansion army of Tianliu Island.


    ```


    ```


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile.


    ```


    ```


    An hour later, Lin Shiming followed Zhao Yulin to Tianliu Palace.


    ```


    ```


    Tianliu Palace was extremely easy to find, located right beside the roots of the Tianliu Demon King''s body, and at the very center of the island.


    ```


    ```


    Inside and outside the palace, Spirit Plants were planted everywhere, the area was verdant and full of vitality.


    ```


    ```


    Compared to the Red Leaf Palace and Xu Ri Palace, Tianliu Palace was also somewhat more inviting.


    ```


    ```


    Lin Shiming looked behind the palace, but it was all Misty, and he couldn''t see the body of the Tianliu tree.


    ```


    ```


    Zhao Yulin also began to use the Sound Transmission Talisman, while Zhao Fuling was brimming with confidence, suggesting Lin Shiming stay for a few more days as Tianliu Island would hold an auction in half a month.


    ```


    ```


    The auction wouldn''t be as grand as those held by the Coral Alliance, but it was certainly not a small event organized by Tianliu Island, and this time, only Purple Mansion cultivators were allowed to participate.


    ```


    ```


    Lin Shiming nodded, he would naturally like to attend if that were the case.


    ```


    ```


    In recent years, he had no lack of Spirit Stones on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    ```


    ```


    In his storage bag, he had three thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones and added to the Intermediate Grade ones, he had nearly ten thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones in total.


    ```


    ```


    Compared to the wealth of an average Golden Core True Person, his was more substantial.


    ```


    ```


    Of course, most of it was the Spirit Stones Lin Shiming had taken from the Storage Bag of Xu Ri True Person.


    ```


    ```


    "Daoist Lin..." However, at this moment, the expression on Hermit Yulin''s face suddenly turned very bad.


    ```


    ```


    And Lin Shiming felt a sudden dread in his heart.


    ```


    ```


    "The Venerable Master has suddenly gone into seclusion!" Zhao Yulin''s eyes shifted, unsure of what to say.


    ```


    ```


    After all, Lin Shiming had saved Zhao Fuling and had stood together with them in defense of the island.


    ```


    ```


    Lin Shiming''s heart started to feel a bit chaotic. The system prompted him to just bring the Ziji Tan Spirit Wood, but now Tianliu True Person wouldn''t even see him. This couldn''t be a real seclusion.


    ```


    ```


    He suspected that it was an avoidance of collaboration with Xu Ri island.


    ```


    ```


    This was even more terrifying.


    ```


    ```


    He preferred to believe that Tianliu True Person had already repaid the favor and looked down on meeting with a Purple Mansion cultivator like him,


    ```


    ```


    Rather than secretly worrying about something.


    ```


    ```


    Previously, he was curious how Tianliu True Person managed to negotiate a collaboration with Xu Ri True Person during the beast tide, but now he was unwilling to cooperate.


    ```


    ```


    It now appeared that the situation might be worse than he imagined.


    ```


    ```


    From this perspective, it was a trivial matter that he failed to negotiate successfully and didn''t get the Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Water.


    ```


    ```


    Zhao Fuling wouldn''t give up, using the Sound Transmission Talisman again, but the outcome was the same, no matter how many times it flashed.


    ```


    ```


    [By attending Kuangfeng True Person''s birthday celebration, you will meet Tianliu True Person, present the Ziji Tan Spirit Wood, and achieve cooperation!]


    ```


    ```


    Lin Shiming was startled by the system prompt that appeared again.


    ```


    ```


    Only this time, it was about Kuangfeng True Person''s birthday celebration.


    ```


    ```


    "Big brother Lin, perhaps the Venerable Master really has gone into seclusion!" Zhao Fuling''s voice became low.


    ```


    ```


    Cultivators may have sudden enlightenment and go into seclusion; it was not out of the ordinary.


    ```


    ```


    Zhao Fuling could only think of it that way.


    ```


    ```


    Otherwise, she couldn''t fathom why Tianliu True Person wouldn''t meet with Lin Shiming.


    ```


    ```


    "It''s alright, no bother to you two. I was wondering if your esteemed father is also in seclusion, as I would like to pay him a visit as well!" Lin Shiming shook his head and then turned to ask Zhao Yulin.


    ```


    ```


    If he could succeed in negotiating, Lin Shiming still wanted to succeed, and perhaps, he could also find out why Tianliu True Person was unwilling to see him.


    ```


    ```


    Lin Shiming inquired cautiously, not mentioning the word "birthday."


    ```


    ```


    After all, there was no news about the birthday of Kuangfeng True Person outside. If he was too clear on it, it would seem too intentional.


    ```


    ```


    And one can visit once, or even twice.


    ```


    ```


    Keep pushing back the birthday of Kuangfeng True Person, and at that time, it would naturally be possible to see Tianliu True Person.


    ```


    At that time, Tianliu True Person had no reason to avoid anymore.


    At this moment, Zhao Fuling also looked towards Zhao Yulin.


    "Alright, let it be three days later!" Zhao Yulin spoke as well.


    Once the date and meeting place were set, the three of them prepared to part ways. Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling needed to speak with Kuangfeng True Person.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming left, strolling through the market district of Tianliu Island.


    A great beast tide was imminent, and naturally, it was best to enhance one''s cultivation as much as possible.


    As for him, he was not lacking in magical treasures¡ªin fact, he possessed numerous supreme-grade magical treasures¡ªwhat he lacked was cultivation level.


    With sufficient cultivation level, his strength would climb to another level. By then, unless he encountered a Purple Mansion Peak cultivator capable of breaching barriers, he would fear no one.


    The largest Pill Pavilion on Tianliu Island was called Liudan Pavilion, a five-story building of imposing grandeur that shook Lin Shiming to the core.


    Could it be that Liudan Pavilion also sold fifth-rank elixirs?


    In the cultivation world, the more prosperous the area, the more exquisite the buildings.


    It''s basically unlikely that you would find fourth-floor selling Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Pills.


    So Lin Shiming did not doubt that this was simply a gimmick.


    He was just astonished by the power of Tianliu Island.


    Guided by a female attendant of the pavilion, Lin Shiming quickly ascended to the fourth floor and ultimately spent five hundred thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones to purchase five bottles of Yuqing Pills.


    Yuqing Pill was an elixir consumed by Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivators to increase their True Yuan.


    Its medicinal effect was far greater than that of the Red Lotus Pill, and even Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivators would purchase Yuqing Pills to enhance their cultivation level.


    Lin Shiming could afford more than just five bottles, but during the beast tide, the number of cultivators buying Spirit Pills increased by an unknown fold. Even if he wanted to buy more, he could only place a pre-order at the moment.


    The wait time for pre-orders was a whole month or more.


    However, for him, a bottle of Spirit Pills contained five pills, and five bottles amounted to twenty-five pills, which was enough for his cultivation for a while.


    This was also in line with his identity as a Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivator. If he bought too many, he was concerned about potential robbery incidents.


    Although he was not afraid, he did not wish to cause unnecessary trouble.


    After leaving Liudan Pavilion, Lin Shiming visited other pavilions, continuing to purchase another bottle of Yuqing Pill and many elixir recipes.


    Especially those that the Lin Family did not possess.


    What disappointed him, however, was that Tianliu Island''s market did not sell secret techniques for wood spirit combat.


    He could only look forward to the auction that Zhao Fuling mentioned.


    The three days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon they arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place. Zhao Fuling and Zhao Yulin had already been waiting for quite some time.


    "Brother Lin, aboard the Spirit Boat, my father has prepared some light wine!" Zhao Yulin also spoke.


    Afterward, he took out the Spirit Boat and flew towards the edge of Tianliu Island.


    Tianliu True Person was in the center, while Kuangfeng Palace of Kuangfeng True Person was on a subsidiary island next to Tianliu Island.


    Lin Shiming was not surprised, after all, Tianliu Island ultimately belonged to Tianliu True Person.


    And if Kuangfeng True Person were to reside under the body of Tianliu Demon King, it''s likely he would feel uncomfortable.


    Owning an entire island to himself on a subsidiary island, on the other hand, seemed far more serene.


    As a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, he did not need much ostentation.


    His presence was authority itself.


    The journey on the Spirit Boat was not long, and they quickly landed at the foot of a mountain filled with stone statues.


    A few simple tile-roofed houses and a plain table.


    A pot of Spiritual Wine and several dishes of spiritual cuisine.


    Standing beside the table was an old Taoist with white eyebrows, looking benevolent at the moment.


    But what caused Lin Shiming to be stunned was that Hermit Guanghao was also present by the side.


    Lin Shiming began to understand why the other party had come looking for him that day.


    It seemed that he knew about Kuangfeng True Person''s birthday in advance and was trying to fish for information then.


    "Elder Kuangfeng!" Despite his internal contemplations.


    Lin Shiming still waved his hands in greeting time and again.


    He then took out a Jade Box.


    Inside the Jade Box was a Fortune Longevity Fruit.


    This made Hermit Guanghao beside him inwardly curse in frustration.


    Lin Shiming clearly knew about Kuangfeng True Person''s birthday, and that day, he was just pretending.


    Just then, a voice suddenly came from outside the house.


    "Kuangfeng, you don''t mind gathering together, do you?"

 Chapter 654 - 412: Do You Want a Gold Condensation Pill? (Two in One)

    Outside the room, a woman in a green robe strolled in.


    She was none other than Tianliu True Person who Lin Shiming had met before, and the very person he had wished to see three days ago but failed to find.


    "Ji Tianliu, you''re still as domineering as ever!" Kuangfeng True Person said with dissatisfaction, yet he took out another chair and set aside an extra set of tableware.


    It was as common as any mundane family meal, akin to a gathering of ordinary relatives.


    Tianliu True Person didn''t reply, but instead sat down straight away, took the Spiritual Wine and began to pour.


    While the two True Persons seemed indifferent to others, the rest were not quite the same; the hermit Guanghao appeared somewhat constrained, particularly upon seeing Lin Shiming, his expression bitter as if he had swallowed a fly.


    "Ji Tianliu, let me introduce them. This one is a descendant of an old friend, and this one is the life-saving benefactor of my niece!" Kuangfeng True Person said while pouring wine for Tianliu True Person.


    Tianliu True Person was utterly indifferent as he replied, "I know them!"


    Both Lin Shiming and the hermit Guanghao had participated in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, thus Tianliu True Person was naturally familiar with them.


    What Lin Shiming hadn''t expected was that this hermit Guanghao turned out to be a descendant of Kuangfeng True Person''s old friend.


    No wonder the other party was so persistent; it turned out that there was this connection.


    Plus, Kuangfeng True Person mentioned that he would give a Gold Condensation Pill.


    The behavior of hermit Guanghao had an explanation, yet Lin Shiming still needed to find an opportunity.


    He hadn''t come for the birthday celebration, nor for the hermit Yulin.


    Instead, it was to get the two to nod in agreement and accept the gift from Xu Ri Island.


    So that he could return to Heavenly Phenomenon Island to report back.


    In his own Cave Heaven World, he possessed a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Spirit Vein, which was entirely suitable for secluded cultivation and breakthrough.


    Meanwhile, Kuangfeng True Person and Tianliu True Person began recalling old times, seeming like two acquaintances who hadn''t seen each other for a long time. Contrary to his name, Kuangfeng True Person appeared somewhat modest and tranquil, while Tianliu True Person was utterly different from his name, extremely overbearing.


    Everything had been turned on its head.


    Yet to know, the distance separating this small island was but a moment''s flight for the two True Persons.


    But in truth, one was the number one Golden Core Loose Cultivator, and the other was the island master from the top three islands among the Twelve Inner Islands of the Coral Alliance. To stand together like this, without a complicated past to bind their emotions, Lin Shiming didn''t believe it was possible.


    The two chatted enthusiastically, leaving no space for others to interject.


    Even Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling couldn''t join the conversation.


    However, the latter also glanced at Lin Shiming, signaling to try the Spiritual Meal on the table.


    Since Kuangfeng True Person hadn''t mentioned it was a birthday celebration, it was just a simple family meal. With the two elders discussing matters and already toasting, it was time to start the meal.


    The hermit Guanghao sitting nearby saw this and appeared even more livid.


    It seemed as if, were it not for Lin Shiming, the one invited by Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling would have been him.


    Lin Shiming naturally paid no heed, carefully picking up his chopsticks and sampling a bite.


    The next moment, he felt a burst of delightfulness unfold in his mouth and suddenly sensed a surge of abundant Spiritual Energy blooming within his belly.


    Inside his body, the Kuimu Sword Canon activated on its own, and still, he couldn''t help but inhale sharply.


    This Spiritual Meal before him was at least a Superior Grade Fourth Rank!


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t have had such an effect on him.


    He had speculated that Kuangfeng True Person might be a Golden Core Alchemist, considering he had produced not a Gold Condensation Fruit but a Gold Condensation Pill. But now, it seemed the other party was the even rarer Fifth Rank Spirit Meal Master.


    Spirit Meal Masters, though not as renowned as Alchemists, were just as adored by certain Cultivators.


    This kind of Spiritual Meal that could satisfy both the tongue''s desires and enhance one''s Cultivation Level was an irresistible temptation for those Cultivators.


    Lin Shiming himself couldn''t help but eat a few more bites.


    After a few bites, his body was filled with overflowing Spiritual Energy and True Yuan, even starting to radiate Spirit Light.


    Lin Shiming felt his outer layer of True Yuan begin to swirl, and he immediately sat down cross-legged to meditate and exert full effort into his Cultivation.


    On the other hand, the hermit Guanghao was somewhat restrained, eating sparingly, trying to maintain his decorum.


    But Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling also soon began to sit cross-legged.


    He couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    Such Spiritual Meals from Kuangfeng True Person weren''t available every day!


    Moreover, even a Golden Core True Person couldn''t afford to eat a Superior Grade Fourth Rank Spiritual Meal daily.


    Meanwhile, Tianliu True Person and Kuangfeng True Person continued to drink.


    At that moment, they were without words, simply drinking continuously.


    Lift the cup, and drink; pour it, and drink!


    Neither used Spiritual Energy nor True Yuan.


    After a long while, the wine was gone, and the two still sat.


    Finally, Kuangfeng True Person frowned and glanced at Lin Shiming meditating next to him, eventually speaking calmly:


    "Since young friend Lin is here, what''s your opinion?"


    "My favor has been repaid on Purple Sun Island!" responded Tianliu True Person directly, giving no quarter.


    And Kuangfeng True Person remained silent, continuing the stillness.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also emerged from his Cultivation.


    He hadn''t expected that, while he pondered in deep thought about how to broach the topic, Kuangfeng True Person had done it for him.


    Now, awkwardly enough, it was Kuangfeng True Person himself who was in a difficult position.


    Xu Ri Island''s intended collaboration was naturally with Tianliu Island, and even if Kuangfeng True Person agreed on his own, he couldn''t represent Tianliu Island.


    Bear in mind that the Ji family of Tianliu Island did not just have one Golden Core True Person.


    "Senior Tianliu, this is from Senior Hongye who entrusted me to bring this to you. You should like it!" said Lin Shiming, now opportune in personally offering the Storage Bag with both hands.


    Inside the Storage Bag was indeed that Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Ziji Tan plant, as well as a Jade Slip which Lin Shiming could not comprehend.


    The Jade Slip likely contained additional benefits.


    With things having reached this point, Lin Shiming also felt more at ease, having met Tianliu True Person and presented the Ziji Tan wood.


    It was just that, in his prior impression, Loose Cultivators like Kuangfeng True Person were not the same.

 Chapter 655 - 412: Do You Want a Gold Condensation Pill? (Two in One)_2

    Tianliu True Person finally accepted the Storage Bag and glanced over the Jade Slip before speaking:


    "Who prepared this Ziji Tan Spirit Wood?"


    At this moment, Tianliu True Person''s gaze was extremely terrifying, as if a Cultivator had been discovered to have some flaw.


    This made Lin Shiming feel the pressure increase even more.


    However, in his heart, he knew that this treasure was not only given to the right person, but it had also touched them deeply.


    It was just that the Ziji Tan Spirit Wood seemed to be of great importance, otherwise Tianliu True Person wouldn''t have spoken with such a tone.


    But he was willing to bet that at this moment, there were no Inquiry Spirit Talismans in this room.


    "Replying to senior Tianliu, it was Red Leaf True Person who entrusted this junior!" Lin Shiming''s expression was extremely calm, and his words exceedingly respectful.


    In the past, he didn''t know how many True Persons had oppressed him, Tianliu True Person''s aura was indeed strong, but it was still lacking compared to the past''s Shen Ji True Person.


    Shen Ji True Person''s scrutinizing gaze back then was what truly made him feel suffocated.


    "Tell Red Leaf True Person, it''s approved!" Tianliu True Person nodded and then turned to look at Kuangfeng True Person.


    "You owe me another one!"


    Kuangfeng True Person didn''t mind, merely smiling in response.


    Tianliu True Person then took his leave directly after that.


    Guanghao Hermit waited for Lin Shiming to leave, clearly wanting Lin Shiming to go first before he did!


    After all, he was a friend of the family.


    Lin Shiming was just someone who came to find Tianliu True Person.


    Moreover, in his eyes, Lin Shiming was merely lucky for saving Zhao Fuling.


    "Guanghao Daoist, my father still has something for Brother Lin!" Zhao Yulin''s voice sounded, still as cold as ever.


    The clear intent to see the guest out made Guanghao Hermit''s face change.


    He had brought a meticulously selected treasure this time.


    Yet he did not expect to be sent away before Lin Shiming.


    Although Guanghao Hermit was reluctant, he still left.


    Once Guanghao Hermit had left, Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling also departed together.


    Inside the room, it wasn''t long before only Lin Shiming and Kuangfeng True Person remained.


    And at this moment, without Zhao Fuling, without Zhao Yulin, and after Tianliu True Person had gone,


    Lin Shiming looked again at Kuangfeng True Person only to feel an invisible pressure slowly closing in on him.


    Kuangfeng True Person remained calm as ever:


    "Young friend Lin has courage and insight!"


    With that, an Inquiry Spirit Talisman fell onto the table and was torn in two by Kuangfeng True Person.


    Lin Shiming had not expected that Kuangfeng True Person actually used an Inquiry Spirit Talisman secretly just now.


    However, he was not in a hurry, because the system prompts had not alerted him.


    Kuangfeng True Person surely bore him no ill will.


    Moreover, this time, if it weren''t for Kuangfeng True Person, he might not have been able to come to an agreement with Tianliu True Person.


    Keep in mind, he had collected quite a few fifth-rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Earth.


    Upon his return to Shuangmu Island, he would be able to go into seclusion, break through to the late stage of Purple Mansion in Body Cultivation, and even in Qi Cultivation, as long as he had enough time!


    "Senior, you flatter me!" Lin Shiming continued to bow in salute.


    "And thank you, Senior!"


    Kuangfeng True Person hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to say this and didn''t point it out. Instead, he looked at Lin Shiming and said:


    "Do you know why Red Leaf True Person is in such a hurry?"


    "Please enlighten me, Senior!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    "The target of the Sea Demon King Court could be one of the three islands: Xu Ri Island, Golden Thunder Island, or Qian Ji Island. Are you aware of this?" Kuangfeng True Person didn''t beat around the bush.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat astonished.


    He didn''t know what Kuangfeng True Person meant, but he somewhat trusted the words of Kuangfeng True Person.


    Indeed, Xu Ri Island''s reaction had been unusually fierce, and if he hadn''t seen Tianliu Island, perhaps Lin Shiming would have believed it.


    But he was not sure what the Demon King was searching for?


    Moreover, Lin Shiming remembered the Purple Jade Sect, the former Zi Yu Loose, and Lianyun Hermit from Lianyun Island.


    Zi Yu Loose was the inside agent of Nine Dragon Island, while Lianyun Island was that of Golden Thunder Island.


    Guanghao Hermit was close to Kuangfeng True Person, so there was a possibility that Guanghao Hermit was an inside agent for Tianliu Island.


    Then the situation with Xu Ri Island was not ordinary.


    Adding to this the betrayer from Nine Dragon Island in the Purple Sun Secret Realm,


    Lin Shiming even suspected that the Sea Demon King Court was searching for the Golden Dragon Fruit tree.


    After all, the strongest of the Sea Demon King Court would naturally be of the Flood Dragon Clan.


    For a moment, Lin Shiming contemplated much, and his gaze shifted slightly.


    Seeing Lin Shiming react this way, Kuangfeng True Person nodded and continued,


    "Indeed, past beast tides were orchestrated by the Demon King to control the number of demonic beasts in the sea and to covertly whittle down underlying uncertain powers!"


    "Therefore, if Heavenly Phenomenon Island encounters trouble, or if Xu Ri Island does, don''t hesitate to come to Tianliu Island!" Kuangfeng True Person added, making Lin Shiming jump.


    Kuangfeng True Person was actually undermining him.


    Even though Kuangfeng True Person had started as a Loose Cultivator, it now seemed he had indeed tied himself to Tianliu True Person.


    Moreover, the relationship between the two was far from ordinary. If it were not for the presence of Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling, Lin Shiming might even suspect that Kuangfeng True Person and Tianliu True Person were a couple.


    His undermining was laden with deep implications.


    Added to that were the generous rewards given to him by Red Leaf True Person.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but feel a headache brewing. Why was the vortex dragging him in yet again?


    "Of course, I have another question for you." Kuangfeng True Person''s tone changed, and then he looked intently at Lin Shiming.


    "Do you desire the Gold Condensation Pill?"


    Lin Shiming''s heart skipped a beat. Even with all his experience, he couldn''t help but feel somewhat panicked by this question.


    "I dare not!"


    "There is nothing to dare or not dare. Either you desire it, or you don''t!"


    "Do you think I don''t have another Inquiry Spirit Talisman?" Kuangfeng True Person spoke again.


    And Lin Shiming was left somewhat bemused.


    Kuangfeng True Person was very different from the other True Persons he had met.


    "Senior Zhao, I am wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao, and I already have a wife back home!" Lin Shiming replied, as tactfully as possible.


    At this moment, he was genuinely scared. Having come to Tianliu Island, he was also worried about potential trouble on Shuangmu Island, where the Flaming Sword remained.


    Now the only thing he could rely on was that the system alert had not sounded.


    Kuangfeng True Person did not harbor killing intent.


    Otherwise, he would have been in a state of panic.


    "Yulin possesses the Pure Jade Body, and the possibility of a Golden Core or Nascent Soul is very high. Don''t reject it so quickly!"


    "As a Spiritual Body holder, you should know how important a Spiritual Body is to a Cultivator!"


    Whoosh!


    Lin Shiming''s heart shook intensely, and he staggered. He had no idea how Kuangfeng True Person had discerned his Spiritual Body, but it was known neither in the Southern Sea nor in the Eastern Domain.


    The Lin Family only suspected that Lin Shiming might have a Spiritual Body, but no one ever confirmed it, nor had Lin Shiming ever mentioned it.


    Now, the revelation from Kuangfeng True Person was truly astonishing.


    As for Zi Yu Loose being a Spiritual Body, Lin Shiming had guessed as much.


    Yet, it had nothing to do with him.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, a mixture of helplessness and bitterness in his expression.


    "Don''t worry, it''s just that when you consumed the Spirit Meal, the overflow of Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy gave you away. You must have a Minor Divine Ability of the Wood Attribute!" Kuangfeng True Person then waved his hand and turned his head away.


    Taking out a cup of Spiritual Wine, he drank it down.


    "Every skill in this world is extremely useful¡ªAlchemy, Spirit Meals, Spirit Plants..."


    Kuangfeng True Person seemed somewhat reflective.


    "Alright, you already know enough, and my answer is clear. Regret is pointless now. You cannot have the Gold Condensation Pill!"


    "However, if you use your Minor Divine Ability to do me a favor in the future, I am willing to save the Lin Family three times!"


    After Kuangfeng True Person finished speaking, he left behind a Jade Talisman.


    The Jade Talisman was similar to a Commander''s Seal, palm-sized, with a character for ''wind'' engraved on it.


    The writing was loose and elegant yet profound, and upon deeper inspection, it seemed to possess endless significance.


    "I have accepted your birthday gift. Additionally, there are treasures in my room, and you may take one with you!"


    "This is a return gift, no need to refuse!" Kuangfeng True Person proceeded to produce a Jade Box containing the Fortune Longevity Fruit.


    Kuangfeng True Person''s face was full of smiles, seemingly reverting to the warm old man who had been sitting by the table earlier.


    He stepped out and disappeared from the spot.


    And before Lin Shiming, the previous four courtyards reappeared.


    Still ordinary, with common chairs and tables, just like any mundane courtyard.


    In Lin Shiming''s hand, he now held the Jade Talisman, which he decisively decided to keep.


    Kuangfeng True Person meant no harm, nor did Lin Shiming mind having a contingency plan.


    Being discovered as a Spiritual Body was his own fault for not exercising restraint when consuming the Spirit Meal.


    However, for him, what came next was his forte.


    After all, the system prompt had not yet sounded.


    He might be able to take the most valuable treasure left by Kuangfeng True Person!

 Chapter 660: 415 Transmission Jade, Ready (Two in One for Monthly Pass Subscription)

    Lin Shiming was somewhat stunned, Zhao Fuling had actually gifted him the Pill Patterned Perfection worth nearly two thousand superior-grade Spirit Stones.


    These elixirs naturally tempted Lin Shiming, the Yuqing Pills he had previously bought only enabled him to quickly reach the peak of the Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    But breaking through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage was still not particularly secure.


    After all, even though he was a Spiritual Body and had come across numerous opportunities, his time for consolidation was relatively short compared to other Cultivators at the Purple Mansion stage.


    However, if he were to accept these two Pill Patterned Perfection pills, there would basically be no problem.


    But how could Lin Shiming have the face to accept the Pill Patterned Perfection pills?


    "Thank you, Fuling, but I cannot accept rewards without merits, so I shall not take them!" Lin Shiming still shook his head.


    Despite his desire for the Spirit Pills, he did not take them.


    "Who says you don''t have merits? Don''t you know how annoying that Guanghao Hermit is? If it weren''t for you half a month ago, I would inevitably have been troubled by him!" Zhao Fuling spoke without hesitation, then grabbed Lin Shiming''s hand and firmly placed the two Pill Patterned Perfection pills in his hand.


    "Besides, these pills were specifically bought for you!"


    "I''ve just made a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, and it''s not suitable for me to continue consuming elixirs, while Sister Yulin has already reached the peak of Purple Mansion, and she no longer needs these pills."


    "But it''s different for you; once you make a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, it will be more secure for us to team up and hunt Demonic Beasts!" Zhao Fuling continued to speak.


    At that point, Lin Shiming also realized that Zhao Fuling''s cultivation level had indeed broken through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage not long ago and still needed further refinement.


    Her talent was not as good as Zhao Yulin''s, and her cultivation required even more time.


    However, Lin Shiming then thought that Zhao Fuling and Zhao Yulin, both core Cultivators of Tianliu Island, couldn''t possibly lack elixirs.


    Even the Demon Codex and the Pill Patterned Perfection were auction items prepared for him.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    On Tianliu Island, he had searched for the Demon Codex and Spirit Pills, and with a bit of effort, one could find out about them.


    Not to mention the identities of Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling.


    Nevertheless, accepting their kindness made him feel quite indebted.


    But seeing the intentions of the other party...


    Lin Shiming only felt more overwhelmed.


    "Brother Lin, if you feel it''s inappropriate, just help me give that Guanghao Hermit a lesson next time. His grandfather and my great-uncle have quite a history, and we can''t take action against him on Tianliu Island!" Zhao Fuling spoke again.


    Zhao Yulin also nodded, evidently also somewhat vexed, as the cultivation level of Guanghao Hermit was not even up to hers, and his courage and insights were far inferior.


    After much deliberation, Lin Shiming ultimately accepted them, mainly because he couldn''t refuse the two treasures.


    Having auctioned the Demon Codex, he had already accepted a favor; to continue to dither would make him seem indecisive and ungrateful.


    And he indeed intended to teach Guanghao Hermit a lesson.


    However, he resolved to visit Tianliu Island less in the future.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile wryly and shake his head.


    "Brother Lin, this is a gift from my master to you!" Zhao Yulin also took out a piece of jade next to him.


    This jade was square and shaped hexagonally.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but feel surprised, as he had never seen such jade before.


    Upon taking the jade, he found that it was sealed with some peculiar Spirit Patterns, giving him a feeling similar to that of a Transmission Order from a transmission formation.


    "This is a Transmission Jade from Tianliu Island''s Transmission Formation. With this jade, you can be directly transported to Tianliu Island!" Seeing Lin Shiming''s confusion, Zhao Yulin explained.


    Lin Shiming nodded upon hearing this.


    The Transmission Jade, as its name implies, is a one-time transmission address that can locate the spatial coordinates of Tianliu Island''s Transmission Formation.


    With this Transmission Jade, the Lin Family could directly use the Transmission Formation on Shuangmu Island to reach Tianliu Island.


    Clearly, the Transmission Jade was also meant to allow the Lin Family to have a chance to escape in the event of disaster without revealing Tianliu Island''s spatial coordinates.


    It was considered a unique Magic Artifact jade of the Southern Sea Cultivation World.


    "Please convey my thanks to Tianliu True Person!" Lin Shiming carefully accepted the Transmission Jade, expressing his gratitude.


    This jade was indeed helpful to the Lin Family, almost giving them an additional escape route.


    The safety that Red Leaf True Person''s Xu Ri Island could provide for Lin Shiming was indeed questionable.


    The three then flew back to Tianliu Island, and upon landing, it was time to part ways.


    Lin Shiming was to return to Shuangmu Island, while the other two had to handle matters on Tianliu Island.


    "Yulin, Fuling, let us part here. I hope that by the time we meet again, both you and I will have made new breakthroughs!" Lin Shiming said with clasped hands, then resolutely walked toward the interior of the Transmission Formation.


    "Brother Lin, have a smooth journey!"


    Zhao Fuling and Zhao Yulin stood in place, watching Lin Shiming depart until he disappeared, still not moving.


    Zhao Yulin, despite the veil of Spirit Fabric between them, couldn''t see Zhao Fuling''s face.


    But she couldn''t help but sigh.


    How could she not know her little sister!


    Yet she couldn''t comfort her, she could only stand there with her.


    Cultivators are destined to be lonely, but some people, once they see a glimmer of light, can''t bear the loneliness.


    ...


    After leaving Tianliu Island, Lin Shiming went to Xu Ri Island to relay the message to Red Leaf True Person. After that, Lin Shiming went straight back to Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    This time, Red Leaf True Person did not provide any additional rewards, but simply exempted the Lin Family from all its tasks for the next hundred years.


    Including the previous exemption of fifty years, for the next hundred and fifty years, the Lin Family would not need to complete the tasks of the Coral Alliance.


    They only needed to pay the Spirit Stones.


    Considering everything, it was a decent reward. Otherwise, the Lin Family would need to arrange for a Purple Mansion Cultivator to complete tasks every ten years, and there was also the Purple Sun Secret Realm in the future.


    If the Demon King discovered them during their venture in the Secret Realm, the next time would certainly be more dangerous.


    And with the reduction in Spirit Stones for the transmission formation, the Lin Family also had to pay less.


    Lin Shiming was not surprised in his heart; Red Leaf True Person was indeed trying to retain him again.

 Chapter 661: 415 Transmission Jade, Preparation (Two in One for Monthly Pass Subscription)_2

    ```


    Her intention was crystal clear: going to Tianliu Island definitely required completing a task, whereas on Xu Ri Island, not only would one manage their own territory, but they also wouldn''t need to complete any tasks.


    However, Lin Shiming also shook his head, leaving or staying was up to fate.


    If he could avoid relocation, he naturally wouldn''t move.


    But to die defending Heavenly Phenomenon Island was, of course, impossible.


    Not to mention, now that he had Tianliu Island as an alternative, escaping to the Eastern Domain was also feasible.


    Nearly forty years had passed since Shen Ji True Person''s breakthrough.


    On Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the population had started to dwindle, Lin Shiming went to see Jiuxiao Scatter Man, and at the same time, delivered some of Tianliu Island''s finest Spiritual Wine.


    These wines included both Third Rank and Fourth Rank, all top-quality Spiritual Wine, purchased specifically for Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    In return, Jiuxiao Scatter Man gave him a Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    Only, what troubled him was that the Soul-Suppressing Stones had been completely exhausted, and he currently only had seven pagodas.


    While the Southern Sea Cultivation World had no Soul-Suppressing Stones, they were available in the Eastern Domain''s Qingyun Mountain Range.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but think of the Flying Fox Order in his Storage Bag; perhaps he could visit again next time.


    At least to exchange for some Soul-Suppressing Stones, some Fortune Longevity Fruit, and with the Flaming Sword in his possession, he was not afraid of the Green Cloud Fox Clan''s Demon King.


    If only he could encounter that demon fox from last time again.


    Lin Shiming remembered the fox aunt with three tails from before, who had given him a Storage Bag, only to deceive him in the end.


    Now that he was approaching the late stage of Purple Mansion, even if she had broken through to Purple Mansion Peak, he would be ready to fight.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, I will have to trouble you with Heavenly Phenomenon Island again!" Lin Shiming handed a piece of Myriad Thousand Jade to Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    Then, he took the Transmission Formation toward Shuangmu Island.


    Myriad Thousand Jade was divided into three parts, allowing them to contact each other; now, one piece was with Lin Shijie, another with Jiuxiao Scatter Man, and the remaining one with Lin Xianzhi.


    They could coordinate among the three parties at any time, considered a rather fine treasure.


    Accompanied by a flash of light, the familiar sensation of teleportation vertigo washed over him.


    "Uncle Seven!" With a voice that called out, Lin Shiming also saw a Ze-generation Cultivator calling for him.


    The Lin Family had subtle markers for generational hierarchy and attire.


    "Hmm!" Lin Shiming smiled and nodded at the other party.


    This Ze-generation Cultivator''s cultivation level was not bad, probably not over sixty, but already at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.


    "Keep up the good work!" Lin Shiming left these words behind and headed straight for Qinglian Peak.


    The Ze-generation Cultivator was excited and nodded eagerly.


    "Next time I will definitely make Uncle Seven remember my name!"


    ...


    Atop Qinglian Peak, Lin Xianzhi was not in cultivation but was in the Preaching Hall, explaining spells to the juniors who were either Innate or just starting Qi Cultivation.


    With the beast tide imminent, he knew his chances of breaking through were slim, and with Lin Shiming and Lin Shijie away, he simply did not cultivate.


    Lin Shiming also found a spot to sit down.


    Looking earnest!


    Ironically, this was the first time he was being instructed in low-level spells by Uncle Seven.


    When his cultivation level was low, he had no access to Uncle Seven, and when his cultivation level was high, the guidance from Uncle Seven was not as systematic as the prompts.


    At this moment, Uncle Seven did not stop, teaching and educating, ever since Lin Shiming had become the Family Head, had been prioritized at the highest level.


    Moreover, at this moment, Uncle Seven also wanted to instruct Lin Shiming, otherwise, in a different setting, it would be Lin Shiming instructing him instead.


    Meanwhile, some of the Innate juniors and Qi Cultivation juniors were gaping, looking at Lin Shiming with curiosity and trepidation, not daring to recognize or speak to him.


    This made the scene somewhat comical.


    After all, it was a class taught by an old ancestor of the Lin Family.


    Only after the lesson ended did Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi walk out together, causing those Yan-generation juniors to begin discussing in a somewhat shocked manner.


    And Lin Shiming was already flying with Lin Xianzhi to an arbor on Qinglian Peak while the Sound Transmission Talisman gathered most of the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Yet this time, Lin Houshou was nowhere to be seen, and neither were Lin Shiyi and Lin Shiming.


    "All three parties have already begun preparations for Purple Mansion!" Lin Houyuan also emerged.


    As the current Family Head of the Lin Family, he was the busiest one, especially at a time when it was not feasible to choose a new Family Head.


    "Father!"


    Seeing everyone gathering, Lin Shiming also called out, and then he paid his respects to the cultivators who were senior to him in rank.


    ```


    However, there aren''t many left at this moment. Many cultivators from the Lin Family are now residing on Jiuyue Island.


    While defending against the Demonic Beast islands, they are also mining Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone veins.


    "Seventh great-uncle, father, I''ve called you here today to share two pieces of news!"


    "We have reached a cooperation agreement with Tianliu Island. Hereafter, Xu Ri Island and Tianliu Island will form an alliance for both attack and defense. However, this time the Demon King may not be done yet, so the clan must have Spirit Ships and life pouches ready on every sub-island to respond at full speed when necessary, and every sub-island must also have a Transmission Formation!"


    Lin Shiming spoke, noting that the Lin Family currently has eight sub-islands surrounding Shuangmu Island and two more surrounding Fangmu Island, with nearly five hundred thousand mortals.


    This is after years of beast tides and teleportation from the Eastern Domain, which affected many things.


    But Fangmu Island has already been retracted by the Lin Family, there is only a Profound Grade Secret Realm there, which is not of much significance for defense to the Lin Family.


    The mortals from that place can also be withdrawn. Although the Lin Family could abandon these mortals from the perspective of a cultivator,


    unless it''s the most critical moment, the Lin Family will bring them along as they should.


    Those mortals who were willing to come to the Southern Sea from the Eastern Domain should not be abandoned.


    "Good!" Lin Zelu nodded his head.


    Currently, only Lin Zelu is present as a Formation Cultivator in the Lin Family. Another, Lin Shiyun, is on Jiuyue Island.


    Therefore, the upcoming Transmission Formations could only be set up by Lin Zelu and his team.


    Having one more Transmission Formation would allow the Lin Family to expand to any territory in the future.


    "Additionally, father, we must command people to lay out a sensing Formation around Shuangmu Island and even around Fangmu Island!"


    "If possible, it should cover a large part of Heavenly Phenomenon Island. It doesn''t need to be too secretive; as long as it''s established, it''s enough!" Lin Shiming continued.


    He was somewhat worried that the Demon Kings'' target might be the Golden Dragon Fruit tree.


    There''s news confirming the existence of the tree on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and those Demon Kings might have received the same message.


    Given the immense importance of the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, it''s highly likely the Flood Dragon Clan would take significant action.


    "Lastly, I plan to enter seclusion for five to ten years!" Lin Shiming announced.


    He was exceedingly well-prepared for this session of seclusion.


    He had purchased many Fourth Rank Spirit Soils and Fourth Rank Spirit Waters on Tianliu Island, and with the Yuqing Pill and the Extreme Essence Pill, he was confident in his body cultivation and Qi Cultivation, hopeful for breaking through to the late stages of Purple Mansion.


    If Lin Shiming was to enter seclusion for five to ten years, the overall defensive coordination of Shuangmu Island and Heavenly Phenomenon Island under the Lin Family would have to be elevated to the strictest level.


    The others nodded in agreement, and Lin Xianzhi along with Lin Houwei were especially relieved and pleased.


    If Lin Shiming was going to seclude himself for such an extended period, it indicated that a breakthrough for Lin Shiming was highly plausible.


    And that would mean greater stability for the Lin Family.


    Lin Shiming also listened to the family cultivators'' reports on the situation. Upon hearing that there were no anomalies, he nodded and heaved a sigh of relief.


    If it were possible to defend Tian Beast Island, he would naturally wish to do so.


    Next, Lin Shiming handed over the Fourth Rank thunder attribute Demonic Beast inner core prepared for Lei Xuan to him.


    He handed the Divine Beast Pill to Lin Xianzhi and released both the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey to guard Shuangmu Island.


    After all arrangements were securely in place, he left Green Lotus Peak and went to Thousand Wood Peak, where he met Lin Shitao. At the time, Lin Shitao was still engaged in alchemy, crafting the Yuqing Pill.


    After watching over for two days, Lin Shitao finally emerged, handing two bottles of Yuqing Pills to Lin Shiming.


    Within were a full ten pills, still emanating a slight warmth.


    Clearly, Lin Shitao had solidified her cultivation in Purple Mansion and had crafted these elixirs for him as a priority.


    She was well aware that Lin Shiming needed them now.


    "Thank you, Shitao!" Lin Shiming embraced Lin Shitao, then took out the Purple Spirit Armor and dressed her in it.


    Lin Shitao''s face flushed crimson, too shy to meet Lin Shiming''s gaze, her demeanor bashful.


    Lin Shiming felt a bit restless, but he still adhered to his principle of waiting until the Golden Core stage.


    Suppressing those thoughts, he continued to help Lin Shitao with the Purple Spirit Armor, urging her to assimilate it as soon as possible.


    Although the Purple Spirit Armor was of an Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank, its defensive capability was among the forefront of Intermediate Grade magical treasures.


    Lin Shitao nodded happily in response.


    "Shitao, you should also hand over your Five-colored Python to me!" Lin Shiming went on to say.


    Lin Shitao''s Five-colored Python had already reached the Third Rank middle stage and could attempt to absorb the essence of Flood Dragons to prepare for its transformation.


    The coming ten years could not be wasted.


    Naturally, Lin Shitao nodded her head, and the two spent a lot of time chatting.


    As the day darkened and the sunset began to fade, Lin Shiming returned to his cave dwelling,


    ready to begin his seclusion!

 Chapter 662 - 416: Wang Jiao Wakes Up, Double Breakthrough (Two-in-One for Cumulative Rewards)

    Entering the Cave Heaven World, since the Spirit Plants had been relocated by the Purple Sun Tower, the whole Cave Heaven now seemed unusually empty.


    The blue sky, white clouds, along with the Spirit Lake and Spirit Mountain, all contributed to the beautiful scenery of the entire Cave Heaven.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was also considering whether to plant more ordinary peach trees within the Cave Heaven, so that peach blossoms would bloom all year round. The thought of strolling among the peach blossoms with Lin Shitao, playing the zither in the spring rain, was very pleasant indeed.


    But for now, cultivation was still the priority.


    On Spirit Mountain, the Golden Winged Mantis and Red-haired creature were gone, leaving only Elder Mu teaching Jin Tong.


    An old small figure with the spirit shadow of a golden child did seem quaintly heartwarming. By the spirit shadow''s side, a Star Spirit Clam continuously emerged from the lake surface, with a Fourth Rank mid-stage Water Spirit Shell following behind it.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming had already subdued the Water Spirit Shell with the Soul Binding Forbidden. His Soul Arrest could bind up to five souls¡ªthose of the Star Spirit Clam, the wood demon, Wang Jiao, Red-haired, and now the Water Spirit Shell.


    This reached the full capacity state.


    "Master!" Elder Mu, seeing Lin Shiming approaching, hurriedly got to his feet, pulling along Lei Tong who was transformed from the Golden Thunder Bamboo.


    "Call me Master, and remember to obey the master''s orders from now on!" Elder Mu instructed seriously.


    And the latter opened its mouth in a childlike voice:


    "Mas... Master!"


    "Good!" Seeing this, Lin Shiming was very pleased, satisfied with Elder Mu''s instruction.


    He took out a portion of Fourth Rank Spirit Water and Spirit Soil and gave it to the two.


    At the same time as he gave the Spirit Soil and Spirit Water, a Jade Slip also made its way into Elder Mu''s hands.


    The excitement on his wrinkled face was palpable, and he looked up unbelievingly at Lin Shiming.


    Only after seeing Lin Shiming nod did he completely give in to his joy.


    He knelt down on the spot.


    "Thank you, Master. Elder Mu will serve you to the utmost!"


    "Mhm, take good care of Lei Tong and focus on your cultivation!" Lin Shiming said, sensing the Blood Covenant with Lei Tong.


    The Blood Covenant was quite weaker compared to the Soul Arrest, but it was not inferior for someone like Lei Tong who recognized a master upon gaining Spirit Intelligence.


    Take the Golden Winged Mantis, for example; it had already become so reliant on Lin Shiming that it harbored no thoughts of betrayal.


    After dealing with the wood demon and Lei Tong,


    Lin Shiming also released the Five-colored Python from the Flood Dragon Nest. Coiled and as large as a water buffalo, the python''s eyes lit up upon seeing the Flood Dragon Nest, and it turned into a stream of five-colored light, swiftly flying towards it.


    It roared with delight.


    Then it started to gulp voraciously.


    But after a short time, it had to coil up and digest again.


    Both impatient and eager!


    Meanwhile, a huge shadow in the distance began to move, emitting an astonishing Demonic Aura, which frightened the Five-colored Python into retreating.


    It was the shadow of Wang Jiao breaking through. The faint sounds of the Flood Dragon''s roar made the python even more terrified and fearful, not daring to open its mouth and only flicking its tongue, curling up within the Flood Dragon Nest.


    "Master, help me capture this clawless five-colored reptile. When I come out, I''m going to eat it!" Wang Jiao''s angry voice echoed in Lin Shiming''s mind.


    Compared to before, Wang Jiao''s Spirit Intelligence was now extremely high, and it was no longer just simple vocabulary.


    But it still couldn''t change its fondness for eating.


    "This is your mistress''s Spirit Beast, you cannot eat it!" Lin Shiming warned, then after a thought, added:


    "Also, don''t call it a reptile anymore; you came from the same beginnings!"


    Upon hearing this, Wang Jiao reluctantly roared three times in protest.


    Then the shadow shook violently as Wang Jiao turned its head away.


    No longer looking at the Five-colored Python, it now needed to focus entirely on absorbing the True Yuan inside its body to break through as soon as possible.


    Once it broke through, all the Flood Dragon energy of the Dragon Nest would belong to it.


    How could the python, with its tiny mouth, compete with that?


    It could even pin the python down with its claws!


    "Master, those fruits are mine!" Wang Jiao, after pondering delightfully, still reminded through telepathy in the end.


    That was one thing it definitely couldn''t forget.


    It had fought to death for them!


    Lin Shiming was somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry. It was still uncertain when the Golden Dragon Fruits would ripen.


    Yet Wang Jiao kept thinking about them.


    After settling the matters with the Demonic Beast, Lin Shiming entered the Purple Sun Tower. Approaching the nearest Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, he cast the Minor Divine Ability of Revival Wind.


    He would not forget these two Minor Divine Skills, which he hadn''t used in five to ten years of seclusion.


    He had given the Deductive Light to Lin Houshou, but he still retained the Revival Wind from the last time.


    After attending to the Spirit Plants, he settled himself atop the pavilion above the Spirit Lake.


    Instead of advancing immediately, he sat cross-legged on a mysterious cushion, gathering his thoughts and calming his spirit, watching the clouds float by and the ripples dance over the water to ease his restless heart.


    And he waited for nightfall.


    The Star Spirit Clam had long been ready, prepared to feed on whatever Lin Shiming offered.


    Lin Shiming did not start with Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Water but instead used Fourth Rank to generate enough Star Spirit Fluff, to fully cultivate the Starlight Tempering Body Technique to the peak of Fourth Rank mid-stage.


    Then he would use a large amount of Fifth Rank Spirit Water and Spirit Soil to advance.


    As daylight faded, night descended.


    Above Bi Lake, the reflection of the stars sparkled over the water, while across the sky, the whole river of stars shone brightly.


    The Star Spirit Clam then opened its shells, continually devouring the Spirit Water and Spirit Soil.


    On its shell, countless Spirit Patterns of starlight manifested, forming a more delicate Star Chart.


    Star Spirit Fluff continued to be born, drifting up from the lake''s surface to land on the pavilion above.


    Lin Shiming''s body became increasingly translucent, with numerous acupoints lighting up, resembling an even more mysterious universe of stars.


    In the world of cultivation, the days slipped by unnoticed, one after another.


    Only Elder Mu, with Lei Tong in tow, moved tirelessly through every corner of Cave Heaven, with Lei Tong learning more and more.


    And because he practiced the Demon Codex, he occasionally shot out seeds the size of sunflower kernels as bolts of lightning, with exuberant laughter following.

 Chapter 663 - 416: Wang Jiao Wakes Up, Double Breakthrough (Two-in-One for Cumulative Rewards)_2

    He would receive Elder Mu''s praises.


    On a certain day, the stars in the sky shone exceptionally bright.


    Making the night in the Cave Heaven as bright as day, above Bi Lake, five-colored Star Spirit Fluff floated all around.


    And Lin Shiming, at this moment enveloped by the five-colored Star Spirit Fluff, had his fleshly body''s stars shining ever brighter.


    A powerful surge of blood energy spread out in all directions.


    Elder Mu and Lei Tong walked over, and even the Five-colored Python and the Water Spirit Shell turned to look.


    The Five-colored Python had grown bigger, bulges starting to appear on its head, and though there had been no change under its belly, it was still astounding.


    Just at that moment, Lin Shiming''s body clearly moved.


    The Star Spirit Clam only felt that Lin Shiming was absorbing the five-colored Star Spirit Fluff faster and faster.


    The next moment, it even seemed as if Lin Shiming was drawing in the starlight from the void into his body.


    Boom!


    An overwhelming tide of blood energy was released, and Lin Shiming''s body shone like a humanoid star.


    A pressure unique to the late fourth rank spread out across the Cave Heaven.


    "Congratulations, Master, for breaking through to the late stage of the Purple Mansion!" Elder Mu was the first to speak!


    "Congratulations, Master, for breaking through to the late stage of the Purple Mansion!" Lei Tong and the Water Spirit Shell quickly joined in.


    The Five-colored Python, being unable to speak, simply roared out its celebration.


    It also opened its huge mouth and sucked in a large amount of flood dragon energy.


    Lin Shiming got to his feet and looked at his fist, radiating with the brilliance of Spirit Jade stars.


    He was spirited and full of pride.


    Furthermore, he found that cultivating the Star Body Refining Technique seemed to benefit the release of his Spiritual Body.


    When he looked within his Divine Sense, he could see green True Yuan continuously flowing within his Taoist Meridians, and even realized at this moment that his Minor Divine Ability, Revival Wind, might not require a complete five years anymore.


    Although the progress was not great, it was nonetheless an opportunity.


    The growth of the Spirit Plants within his Cave Heaven could not be hurried, requiring hundreds to thousands of years.


    Lin Shiming could afford to wait, but the Lin Family clan might not necessarily be able to do so.


    "Elder Mu, how long has it been?" Lin Shiming asked indifferently.


    "Master, it''s been four years, less one autumn!" Elder Mu replied respectfully.


    Lin Shiming nodded, at this moment the Star Spirit Clam had already retreated back into the Spirit Lake.


    These years, with a great amount of fourth-rank Spirit Soil and Water as well as fifth-rank Spirit Soil and Water.


    It had the opportunity to breakthrough again and had communicated with Lin Shiming that it would go into seclusion.


    Lin Shiming was naturally overjoyed, as he would need the Star Spirit Clam when he later makes a breakthrough to the peak of the Purple Mansion.


    "Roar!" Just that moment, a roar sounded from the sky.


    A gigantic Poisonous Dragon wound its way through the void, occupying a large swath of the space.


    The Poisonous Dragon had grown much larger than before, its scales darkly luminous like cold iron, orderly and dense, containing mysterious laws.


    The two legs under its belly had grown a small foot, showing a tendency to transform into a three-clawed Flood Dragon!


    "Roar! Red-haired and Golden Wing, come out! The Demon King wants to eat you!"


    "And you, Star Spirit Clam, and you reptiles, all four of you, come at me together!"


    "And add on... Master!"


    Wang Jiao roared excitedly, having awaited this day for too long. It cast its gaze all around¡ªit wanted to eat.


    It was very hungry!


    And it yearned for battle.


    "Is that so?" Lin Shiming, observing Wang Jiao who had just broken through to the mid-phase of the fourth rank, couldn''t help but respond.


    He had just had his breakthrough and was eager to test out the late-stage cultivation of the Starlight Tempering Body Technique.


    His body, like starlight, left countless star trails in the void.


    Boom!


    A punch landed directly on Wang Jiao, who was immediately sent flying.


    Wang Jiao''s gaze turned grave as it clearly hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to have broken through to the late stage of the Purple Mansion.


    "Roar!" But what of a breakthrough? It was a Flood Dragon!


    Its body turned into a spectral light, charging at Lin Shiming.


    The sound of clashes filled the air.


    However, ultimately, it was Lin Shiming who had the upper hand.


    But at that moment, Lin Shiming''s gaze also turned serious. Wang Jiao, the three-clawed Poisonous Dragon, was indeed worthy of its name. Having reached the late stage of the Purple Mansion, he could only just suppress Wang Jiao, who was at the mid-phase of the fourth rank.


    This was without Wang Jiao using his three claws and venomous horn.


    But after a series of punches and kicks, Wang Jiao grew compliant.


    Gone were the days of his haughty demeanor.


    Now, it was "Master" this and "Master" that.


    "Master, stones, the glowing stones, and the Star Spirit Fluff!" Wang Jiao''s massive claws gestured comically in the void.


    The next moment, he glared fiercely at the Five-colored Python:


    "Mottled reptile, scram! That spot is reserved for this Flood Dragon!"


    The Five-colored Python was also extremely frightened and quickly scattered away.


    However, Lin Shiming didn''t stop it. Over the years, the Five-colored Python had absorbed a lot of Flood Dragon qi and could now start preparing for its Bloodline Reversion.


    Lin Shiming took out a Storage Bag, which was also prepared with Spirit Food, Superior Grade Spirit Stones, and Spirit Water Beast Nurturing Pills.


    Although Third Rank Beast Nurturing Pills were of little use, his three Demonic Beasts had been raised on them from a young age and couldn''t do without them now. The Lin Family didn''t care about this little expense and naturally did not interfere.


    "From now on, this is your companion, a Flood Dragon, and also your mistress''s spiritual pet. Be more courteous!" Lin Shiming still reminded.


    Wang Jiao occupied most of the territory in the Flood Dragon Nest but still left a small area for the Five-colored Python, before starting to devour the Spirit Food.


    Lin Shiming then left the Cave Heaven once, checking the Jade Slip and discovering that in the nearly four years, despite the fierce beast tides, Heavenly Phenomenon Island had indeed become truly peaceful.


    This brought him great relief.


    As for the several large outer islands next to Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the situation was quite severe.


    They had started to continuously call for aid within the Coral Alliance. Tianliu Island had also received support from a True Person.


    Besides that, Golden Thunder Island and Qian Ji Island were also subjected to the most ferocious beast tides, with numerous Demon Kings now appearing and confronting the True Persons of the Coral Alliance.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming hardened his heart once again and entered the Cave Heaven to continue his seclusion.


    He wanted his Qi Cultivation to also break through to the Late Stage of Purple Mansion.


    Only then could he truly be fearless within the Purple Mansion.


    After the breakthrough in his Body Refining Cultivation, his trump cards increased from two to three.


    He could now barely use the damaged Spiritual Treasure, the Star Pearl, and at a critical moment, coupled with the teleportation ability of the Leaping Void Disk, he could definitely achieve a fatal blow.


    Even, he felt that if a common Human Race Golden Core True Person was careless enough to be hit by him, they would also be seriously injured.


    But such thoughts were just that, thoughts. How could a Golden Core True Person easily let him get close?


    Therefore, it wasn''t enough. He needed to break through again!


    Upon entering the Cave Heaven again, he held two additional Jade Bottles in his hands, containing Yuqing Pills.


    Now that the Lin Family occupied Jiuyue Island and Heavenly Phenomenon Island, resources were not lacking. They were also purchasing Spiritual Medicine in large amounts, and Lin Shitao, who refined Elixirs, delivered them to the entrance of Lin Shiming''s cave dwelling without delay.


    Entering the cave dwelling, Lin Shiming once again started his Cultivation.


    This time, he was seated atop a mountain peak, with a Water Spirit Pearl in his hands and the Yuqing Pills as well.


    A Yuqing Pill entered his mouth, and immediately a vast amount of True Yuan began to surge, stimulating Lin Shiming''s Kuimu Sword Canon in an instant.


    Cycle after brutal cycle progressed.


    As an Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank Elixir, a Yuqing Pill was effective even for someone at the Late Stage of Purple Mansion.


    As Lin Shiming consumed it, his True Yuan roared tumultuously. Fortunately, his body was strong enough not only to take the Elixir but also to absorb the Water Spirit Pearl in his other hand.


    At this moment, even taking a bit of a risk, he couldn''t care less.


    Although he had the Flaming Sword, in the end, it still depended on his own strength. He would not reveal it unless necessary.


    The stronger he became, the less likely he was to be seen as expendable within the Coral Alliance.


    Below the mountain range, the Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Spirit Vein was now completely split into two streams, one continuing towards the Purple Sun Tower, and the other rushing towards Lin Shiming.


    The immense Spiritual Energy and surging True Yuan even caused a hint of green mist to appear around Lin Shiming.


    This phenomenon, if examined closely, somewhat resembled the Spirit Patterns displayed by Lin Shiming''s Spiritual Body.


    Cultivation is bound to be monotonous, days passing one by one, and dust began to settle on the straw mat around Lin Shiming.


    Then, one day, Lin Shiming''s eyes opened again, and with a flip of his hand, a Jade Bottle appeared.


    Within the Jade Bottle, two Spirit Pills bearing Pill Patterns were clearly visible.


    He placed one of the pills into his mouth.


    His gaze was resolute!


    "Break for me!"


    Violent True Yuan surged into his body, repeatedly washing over his meridians.


    As time passed by, his accumulated True Yuan reached a sufficient level, yet there was still no sign of a breakthrough.


    Once again steeled his resolve, Lin Shiming produced another Extreme Essence Pill.


    After swallowing it, a sudden surge of green radiance and brilliant light enveloped his body.


    And Spiritual Energy crazily flowed towards Lin Shiming, even though the Purple Sun Tower could only spare a small part of its energy.


    Then, at a certain point, the Spiritual Energy and True Yuan stirred into stormy ripples, rippling outward.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense reached new heights.


    He stood up, True Yuan thundering like the sound of rolling thunder.


    The Late Stage of Purple Mansion had been reached!

 Chapter 666 - 418: Blue Neighbor Python, Red and Blue Twin Jiaos (Two in One)

    Fangmu Island''s Transmission Formation brightened with white light, and soon, twenty to thirty people appeared.


    At the mouth of the Transmission Formation, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Lin Family, who was guarding this place, hurriedly stepped out.


    "I pay respects to Seventh Brother!" This Foundation Establishment cultivator was named Lin Shizheng, at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, having reaped the benefits of the family clan to achieve his current level of breakthrough.


    With numerous offspring, among whom many possessed a Spirit Root, he enjoyed access to resources far surpassing those of ordinary people.


    Being assigned here was considered an easy position, with no need to fight in the marine domains.


    "What is the situation on Fangmu Island? Have there been any Demonic Beasts attempting to break through the Formation?"


    "No, there haven''t been any since the Spirit Vein was evacuated!" Lin Shizheng also spoke up.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming nodded and quickly led Lin Zeli and others towards the twin Gourd Islands.


    The entrance to the Secret Realm on the twin Gourd Islands wasn''t particularly hard to find.


    Lin Shiming needed to get ahead of everyone else and destroy the remnants of the Golden Dragon Fruit trees inside.


    At the same time, he planned to harvest the resources of this Profound Grade Secret Realm once more.


    "Shilei, Zeli, this time, you two are the strongest among the clan''s Foundation Establishment cultivators in terms of combat abilities. This time, you must lead our clan members and accomplish this task!" Lin Shiming said, looking at Lin Shilei on the Spirit Boat, who was closely following him.


    Lin Shiyi, Lin Shiming, and Lin Houshou had already left Shuangmu Island and headed to Tianliu Island in advance, where they rented a cave dwelling to prepare for their breakthrough in the Purple Mansion stage.


    Thus, the Lin Family''s peak Foundation Establishment combat power was somewhat scarce, but fortunately, Lin Shilei had already made it to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Together with Lin Zeli, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator, and Lin Shiyun, who was also in the mid-stage and an Array Master, the Lin Family was not without sufficient fighting strength for the task.


    After all, the Profound Grade Secret Realm had been exploited several times, and the Demonic Beasts inside were now weak, with much-reduced danger.


    It''s just a pity that Lei Xuan, Lin Zekong, and Lin Zecheng were still on Jiuyue Island; with their strength, they would have been capable of leading the mission as well.


    Following that, Lin Shiming began to take out Storage Bags one by one, distributing them to the Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Inside each bag were treasures taken from the family''s Treasure Pavilion.


    Magic Artifacts, Spirit Talismans, and Spirit Pills that restored True Yuan.


    Lin Zeli and Lin Shilei, in particular, received Boundary-breaking Talismans.


    As key disciples supported by the clan, they naturally had a trump card to rely on.


    In the end, Lin Shiming also handed the Primordial Magnet Seal to Lin Shilei.


    He instructed Shilei to use it at the end to not only destroy the Golden Dragon Pool in the Secret Realm but to also let the Five-colored Python enter, as it was highly sensitive to the aura of Flood Dragons.


    With its guidance, the destruction would be more thorough.


    If other areas could also be destroyed and a scene of a fierce battle between beasts could be staged, then even if it were discovered, it would only be seen as an ordinary Profound Grade Secret Realm.


    A Purple Mansion Family possessing a Profound Grade Secret Realm is not especially remarkable.


    After all, there were several such realms under the control of Heavenly Phenomenon Island in the past.


    Considering this, Lin Shiming decided that if there was time, he must also harvest other Profound Grade and Yellow Grade Secret Realms to minimize any potential impact and avoid raising suspicion.


    Soon, the Spirit Boat arrived at the twin Gourd Islands, which still consisted of one large and one small island. Due to the rainy season, the seawater had risen higher, making the islands appear significantly smaller than before.


    The Spirit Plants on the island were lush, and due to the erected Formation, the number of Demonic Beasts taking shelter had decreased.


    Lin Shiyun had taken part in setting up the Formation, so he quickly went forward to dismantle it.


    "Seventh Brother, there are no anomalies!" Lin Shiyun said.


    Lin Shiming nodded and instructed the group to get ready to enter the Profound Grade Secret Realm, while he found a secluded spot to meditate.


    However, his Divine Sense was intently monitoring a vast expanse of the sea, staying alert to any disturbances.


    As a middle-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, he possessed Divine Sense like that of a late-stage Purple Mansion practitioner; now that he had made a breakthrough, it was as strong as that of a peak Purple Mansion practitioner.


    He felt confident in handling Purple Mansion Peak Demonic Beasts, but if a Demon King appeared, Lin Shiming would immediately use the Boundary-breaking Talisman to flee to the nearby Fangmu Island and transmit back to Shuangmu Island.


    He had not brought the Flaming Sword this time, as Shuangmu Island needed it more than he did.


    ...


    Inside the Profound Grade Secret Realm.


    At the Serpent Pool, Lin Shilei held a Jade Slip in his hand, with several Lin Family Clan members following behind him.


    His brow was furrowed, and he suddenly shouted:


    "Shiyun, set up the Formation, there''s a formidable snake!"


    Lin Shilei then waved his hand, and a Third Rank Intermediate Grade Thunder Spirit Turtle flew out. This turtle, raised from a young age by Lin Shilei and nourished by the abundance of turtles on Spirit Turtle Island, had undergone one Bloodline Reversion.


    Now, a thunder horn had grown on its head, which showed even greater potential than the Fourth Rank Thunder Spirit Turtle owned by Lin Xianzhi.


    The thunder horn took the lead, blasting out thunder and lightning.


    It struck the surface of the pool, immediately causing countless flashes of lightning, as numerous Demonic Pythons flew up, shrieking and writhing.


    Many early-stage Second and Third Rank Spirit Snakes were instantly paralyzed.


    Lin Shilei''s Thunder Yuan Spear shot out from his hand, severing a late-stage Third Rank Red-Scaled Python into three pieces.


    The other Lin Family cultivators also launched their magic artifacts, slaying the rest of the paralyzed Demonic Snakes.


    But just then, large waves surged up from the pool, turning into blue waves and rushing towards them.


    Caught off guard, even the Thunder Spirit Turtle was knocked away.


    "A late-stage Third Rank half-fledgling, the Blue-Scaled Python!" Lin Shilei''s pupils contracted.


    Another half-fledgling appeared, and Shilei finally understood Lin Shiming''s purpose.


    The Golden Dragon Fruit trees had been rooted here for too long. Some half-fledglings had absorbed the aura of Flood Dragons and might have left the pool waters, with the chance of returning just now!


    Lin Shilei then released the Five-colored Python, ready to take action.

 Chapter 667 - 418: Blue Neighbor Python, Red and Blue Twin Jiaos (Two in One)_2

    The Five-colored Python had already grown horn scales and could barely release the Five-colored Divine Light.


    Upon the emergence of the Divine Light, the Blue-Scaled Python was immediately immobilized for a short while.


    And Lin Shilei was overjoyed.


    In his hands, he began to frantically form hand seals. At this moment, countless golden lightning arcs danced in his hands, and in the next moment, a bowl-sized ball of lightning appeared.


    The lightning ball was small, but the surging Thunder Spirit Energy within was extremely rich and dense, filled with a tyrannical aura.


    It was the simplified version of the Geng Metal Divine Thunder given to the Lin Family by Lei Xuan, the Geng Metal Palm Thunder, which a cultivator at the later stage of Foundation Establishment could use.


    Boom!


    The lightning ball smashed onto the vital point of the Blue-Scaled Python, scattering its scales and eliciting a pained scream from the python.


    The Five-colored Python seized the opportunity and landed a fierce strike with its tail, causing the Blue-Scaled Python''s body to soften once again.


    And Lin Shilei''s three Thunder Spears flew back into his hands, piercing into the Blue-Scaled Python.


    Killing the Blue-Scaled Python.


    Back on the spot, Lin Shilei gasped for breath; the Geng Metal Palm Thunder was powerful but extremely draining on Thunder Attribute Spiritual Power.


    Only after reaching the Purple Mansion would he be able to use this Palm Thunder effortlessly.


    With the Blue-Scaled Python slain, other spirit snakes couldn''t escape the clutches of the Five-colored Python and the Thunder Spirit Turtle, nor the venomous hands of the other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Lin Family.


    "Everyone, quickly clean up the battlefield and use your Divine Sense to check carefully, see if there are any snake eggs. The eggs here have a high probability of containing a Flood Dragon!" Lin Shilei instructed the other members of the Lin Family Clan, pointing at the Five-colored Python.


    Immediately, everyone showed expressions of delight and began to collect them.


    "Here is a blue spirit snake egg, could it be from that Blue-Scaled Python?" A Lin Family Foundation Establishment cultivator spoke up, and the spirit snake egg fell into Lin Shilei''s hands.


    Seeing this, Lin Shilei also nodded hastily.


    "Yes, it''s very likely that the Blue-Scaled Python came here to lay its spirit eggs, especially since there was once a Golden Dragon Fruit Tree here!"


    "Okay, everyone back off a bit!" After the excitement, Lin Shilei took out a Jade Bottle and began to collect all of the pond water.


    This was where the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree had been, and who knows, maybe this pond water could have some wonderful uses!


    After collecting the water, he took out the Primordial Magnet Seal and fiercely swept it across the entire dried-up spirit pond, flattening it.


    "Seventh brother''s Magic Artifact is really useful!" Lin Shilei couldn''t help but remark as he looked at the churning mud pond.


    He then instructed another cultivator:


    "Zemu, you are a Wood Cultivator. Scatter some fast-growing common Spirit Plants here and catalyze them!"


    As Lin Shilei spoke, another cultivator began to release seeds and catalyze them.


    Until it looked the same as the surroundings.


    ...


    In an unnamed Spiritual Medicine Garden, Lin Zeli led other Lin Family cultivators, slowly making their way there.


    But the scene before her caused Lin Zeli''s elegant brows to furrow deeply.


    She saw that the Formation set up by the Lin Family had a massive hole ripped open at some unknown time.


    "Be careful, everyone, a formidable Demonic Beast must have entered!" Lin Zeli cautioned warily.


    She held the Iron Forest Sword at the forefront.


    As the family''s Magical Artifact, the Iron Forest Sword, a Supreme Grade Third Rank Magical Artifact, had been granted as a reward for substantial merits, and as the Lin Family''s fourth Sword Cultivator, Lin Zeli naturally had the right to possess it.


    "Spread out, everyone, and release your Spirit Beasts!" Without a capable Array Master and no late Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lin Zeli acted with greater caution.


    All of them released their Spirit Beasts; there were Third Rank Sea Cloud Birds, Third Rank Green Shell Crabs, and Spirit Snakes were scarce, given the recent acquisition from Myriad Snakes Island.


    Among them, Lin Zeli''s late-stage Third Rank Green Feather Sea Cloud Bird was the strongest.


    Once the Sea Cloud Bird flew towards the Spiritual Medicine Garden, it soon encountered layers of earthy yellow Spirit Light shooting out from within.


    With a bang!


    A massive earthy yellow hillock smashed onto the wing of the Green Feather Sea Cloud Bird, sending the bird tumbling several zhang away.


    Only then did everyone see that it was a mid-Third Rank Earth Dragon Beast!


    "It''s a Dragon Beast; we must not let it escape!" Lin Zeli''s eyes flashed with excitement.


    Dragon Beasts could be refined into Dragon Blood Pills, which could extend the lifespan of cultivators breaking through to Foundation Establishment. Many of the older generation cultivators from the Lin Family had broken through using Dragon Blood Pills combined with Foundation Establishment Pills.


    She stepped forward, and the Iron Forest Sword in her hand danced out a sky filled with golden sword shadows.


    She also cultivated the Golden Lotus Dao Scripture.


    However, her Sword Intent was that of critical containment.


    Continuous and unending, one sword to block the way!


    The golden sword light, like endless waves, constantly slashed at the Earth Dragon Beast from the gap in the formation.


    The latter roared incessantly, spewing out countless earthen hillocks.


    But they were all reduced to ash by the sword light.


    This gap was Lin Zeli''s to dominate; in fact, she feared not even two more Earth Dragon Beasts, let alone one.


    In this position, this was her domain.


    ```


    Boom!


    The Sea Cloud Bird released countless Wind Blades, shattering tons of rocks and finally bisecting the Earth Dragon into two segments.


    However, each segment then split again and charged out!


    The other Lin Family Foundation Establishment cultivators also immediately joined in, and after it finally became ten segments, they managed to subdue the Earth Dragon.


    Lin Zeli took out a Returning Yuan Pill and swallowed it, then opened his mouth and said,


    "Uncle Shi Hao, it''s tough on you to repair the formation, and the rest of you start transplanting the Spirit Plants, especially when moving the Heavenly Spirit Fruit Tree, be extremely careful!"


    Since the Lin Family might leave Shuangmu Island, these Heavenly Spirit Fruit Trees naturally cannot remain here, even if there will be some damage, it''s better than letting other families take possession of them later.


    Inside the Spiritual Medicine Garden, the two Heavenly Spirit Fruit Trees were still intact, and the Emerald Blue Tea Trees were also undamaged, which made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.


    Lin Zeli also collected the carcass and the Demonic Beast Inner Core of the Earth Dragon, and sealed them with a Spirit Talisman.


    Next, inside the Secret Realm, Lin Shilei and Lin Zeli also led the team to several locations marked by the Lin Family.


    ...


    Outside, Lin Shiming''s eyes were slightly closed, his Divine Sense continuously reaching out.


    However, his Divine Sense did not detect anything, but the system notification sounded.


    [Please be careful of the Fourth Rank Crimson Flood Dragon and Fourth Rank Blue Flood Dragon''s sneak attacks!]


    Lin Shiming''s eyes narrowed, these Crimson and Blue Flood Dragons obviously have treasured artifacts that grant invisibility!


    Otherwise, they couldn''t have escaped his Divine Sense.


    He appeared calm as still water, but his Sword Intent was churning around him, and the Star Pearl quietly flowed towards his left hand.


    Dealing with two Flood Dragons at once, ones from the Sea Demon King Court, Lin Shiming wasn''t overly confident.


    But he knew, this time he couldn''t let these two Flood Dragons get away.


    And it was a good opportunity to test the power of the Star Pearl.


    The sea was still rolling with wave after wave, crashing onto the rocks with a thunderous sound.


    The wind scraped against Lin Shiming''s face, the waves grew even bigger!


    Suddenly, at a certain moment, a wave surged up hundreds of feet, rushing to overwhelm the entire island.


    The speed of the wave was too fast.


    Of course, faster still was a blue claw that ferociously reached for Lin Shiming.


    In another direction, a massive Flame from a Flood Dragon fell behind Lin Shiming.


    An attack from both front and back.


    The sharpest claws of a late Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon, along with the strongest innate Spiritual Flame of a late Fourth-Rank Crimson Flood Dragon.


    Boom!


    Then, starlight dazzled, at that moment, it seemed as if the two Flood Dragons glimpsed nightfall, saw the Milky Way spread across the sky, and a star plummeted from the heavens.


    Boom!


    Fist against claw!


    In an instant, even the void seemed to twist, and the Blue Flood Dragon''s claw along with its belly caved in.


    The terrifying force made the Blue Flood Dragon unable to resist.


    Its entire body broke through countless surging waves.


    And two beams of the Purple Dawn Sword, with purple light shining for thousands of miles, brutally slashed across the neck of the Blue Flood Dragon.


    The Blue Flood Dragon''s body split in two, leaving behind a vast expanse of blue Flood Dragon blood.


    "Roar!"


    The Spiritual Flame attack hit nothing but air as the Crimson Flood Dragon cried out in utter panic.


    It roared angrily, trying to overcome the terror in its heart.


    Just now, what did it see?


    A human, with one punch, burst a Flood Dragon of the same rank!


    If this were told anywhere, it wouldn''t believe it.


    But its roar was useless, as seven Soul-Suppressing Pagodas had already descended around the Crimson Flood Dragon,


    blocking all possible escape routes, leaving no space to flee.


    "What are you looking for?" Lin Shiming asked, knowing these Flood Dragon Great Demons certainly have enough Spirit Intelligence.


    They also understand human speech.


    Of course, his hands were shaking behind his back.


    The Star Pearl, truly a Spiritual Treasure, with that strike just now, he felt most of the meridians in his arm were shattered, all from the raw force.


    And now, he could only control the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda with his right hand making signs, while his Divine Sense controlled the Purple Dawn Swords, ready to slash out at any moment.


    ```

 Chapter 670 - 420: Laying out the Formation, Full Counterattack (Two in One)

    Jiuyue Island was beginning to get drizzled upon, yet only the area covered by the Jiuyue Formation remained dry.


    But the waves were getting higher and higher, and their crashing sounds grew ever more ferocious.


    The seawater, far murkier than before, bore no resemblance to its initial azure hue, occasionally whipped into gigantic tsunamis by the Demonic Beasts.


    Cultivators flew to and fro across the island, each with a gloomy and anxious expression on their face.


    The Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine had ceased its excavation, for even with an abundance of Spirit Stones, they dared not to be too scattered; Jiuyue Island was vast, and should the Formation fail¡ª


    At that time, any cultivator not by the Transmission Formation would face almost certain death!


    To the Lin Family, the lives of cultivators were far more precious than any Spirit Stones laid there.


    Small groups of Demonic Beasts still continuously rushed onto the island, only to be slain by the Jiuyue Formation and the cultivators guarding the city.


    "Zelu, how''s the arrangement of the formation coming along?" Lin Shiming inquired on the island.


    Lin Zelu looked at the Jade Slip and Array Plate in his hands, his expression somewhat strange.


    The Formation he was holding was merely a Fourth Rank one, with power significantly inferior to the Jiuyue Formation, and although it consisted of a set of Array Plates, which he could naturally arrange¡ª


    The Jade Slip given by Lin Shiming included a few extra formation flags and Array Plates.


    This was clearly the setup for one and a half Formations.


    "I can do it!" Lin Zelu pondered in his heart, but seeing Lin Shiming''s eyebrows twitch slightly, he agreed without hesitation.


    He didn''t believe the Formation that Lin Shiming had was incorrect; it implied that Lin Shiming had done it intentionally.


    He naturally nodded; not only did he have to arrange it, but he also had to set up the rest of the formation flags provided by Lin Shiming to the letter.


    Lin Zelu led the arrangement at the front while also explaining it to Lin Shiming, who, in turn, requested some formation flags from Lin Zelu.


    However, it seemed that for every formation flag Lin Zelu gave to Lin Shiming, Lin Shiming would place two.


    With each circle of placement, they buried over a thousand formation flags.


    Seeing Lin Shiming so meticulous, Lin Zelu dared not slack off; after a day''s work, he felt somewhat drained and exceptionally tired.


    Even as a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, he found it somewhat overwhelming.


    But seeing Lin Shiming''s eyebrows finally relax, Lin Zelu''s heart also couldn''t help but loosen.


    Of course, he was also extremely shocked in his heart; the number of formation flags just now seemed... to exceed the amount required for a Fourth Rank Formation!


    "Rest well, for tomorrow, we begin the counterattack!" Lin Shiming bestowed two Spirit Pills for recovery and granted Lin Zelu a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    "Yes, Uncle Seven!" Lin Zelu nodded, then gathered up the Spirit Pills and talisman before slowly taking his leave.


    "Remember in both cultivation and formation setup, you must alternate between tension and relaxation!" Watching Lin Zelu''s receding figure, Lin Shiming felt as if his silhouette overlapped with the one in the armchair, prompting him to speak up once more.


    Lin Zelu''s stride halted slightly, but then he turned around, nodded, and continued on his way.


    He knew his Uncle Seven must have been reminded of his grandfather again, but he was not his grandfather, who was stuck at the Foundation Establishment; his goal had always been to become the top Array Master of his family.


    Of course, there was also carrying the hopes of his mortal father...


    As night approached, Lin Shiming watched Lin Zelu depart, then turned his gaze back to the sea.


    The water was even murkier, and the waves grew larger and more tumultuous.


    He continued to gaze out, utterly indifferent to the Divine Senses of those far away.


    These Purple Mansion cultivators were observing him, but he was there for them to watch.


    He remained standing firm.


    Of course, his Divine Sense had already entered the Cave Heaven World, communicating with the Flaming Sword; the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation, a Fifth Rank Formation, could only unleash its full power with the sword. Although he could barely execute it, its power was nowhere near what it would be when wielded by the sword.


    Besides, the sword''s insight far surpassed his own, facilitating a check to ensure additional safety.


    Having confirmed the Formation was without issues, Lin Shiming let out a long breath.


    "You really do love to gamble, but what makes you think there are only one or two Demon Kings?" Even the Flaming Sword couldn''t help but speak up at this moment.


    Since getting to know Lin Shiming, it had understood his cautious nature.


    Just like the current arrangement, no one understood the earth-shattering act that Lin Shiming intended to perform.


    "I''m not gambling, for the Lin Family is fated to be the rearguard. I''m merely betting that those Flood Dragons will not let us peacefully teleport away through the formation!" Lin Shiming shook his head slightly.


    The cultivators on Jiuyue Island, many elites having been rotated back for defense, would naturally not raise any suspicions in the eyes of ordinary Demonic Beasts.


    Apart from conjuring waves and baring their fangs, these Demonic Beasts didn''t show much in the way of Spirit Intelligence.


    But the cunning he had witnessed in those Flood Dragons was something else altogether, and with so many Magical Treasures in sight and the panic spreading across Jiuyue Island, it was only a matter of time before the defenses crumbled.


    He couldn''t possibly stay on Jiuyue Island forever.


    Instead of waiting for that day to come, it was better to take the initiative and bring it forward; at least now he had the Flaming Sword and the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation, and this outbreak provided him with a reason to justify himself to Xu Ri Island.


    As for the Flood Dragons, he guessed they were not ready either.


    The raging waves rose again, and from afar a multitude of Spirit Light flashed into view, their roars and impact sounds drowning out even the noise of the waves.


    Clearly, another assault of the beast tide had begun.


    Lin Shiming remained expressionless gazing into the distance.


    Among those defending were many from the Lin Family, and every so often, another Lin Family cultivator would fall forever.


    While he could save these kinsmen of the Lin Family Clan, that is not the way of the Cultivation World, and he could not shelter them at every moment.


    All he could ensure was to provide them with the best Magical Treasures and the finest Spirit Pills.

 Chapter 671 - 420: Laying out the Formation, Full Counterattack (Two in One)_2

    His gaze landed on Lin Shiyuan, who at the moment still wore a cold expression, yet there was now a hint of light in his eyes.


    Previously, he solely used slaughter to numb himself, but now, he was clear that soon, Lin Shiming would grant him an opportunity for revenge.


    Naturally, he was extremely focused on this.


    He wore a wind robe with a Third Rank Superior Grade Iron Forest Sword in his hand.


    Practicing the Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture, his True Yuan was also unimaginably robust. On the battlefield, he constantly dodged and weaved, delivering fatal strikes to the Demonic Beasts from behind.


    Lin Shiming even thought of mundane assassins.


    Lin Shiyuan was exactly such a figure.


    He never engaged in direct and tough battles.


    The ones he had slain included Third Rank Mid-Stage Demonic Beasts, and even some injured Third Rank Late-Stage Demonic Beasts.


    Seemingly sensing Lin Shiming''s gaze, the determination in the other''s eyes hardened further.


    He wanted to prove himself!


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat gratified and at the same time, he also spotted Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.


    At this moment, the two were making Lin Shiming even more satisfied.


    Both had raised their own teams within the Lin Family. One specialized in training the Lin Family''s combat Artifact Refiners, instructing them in refining Spirit Puppets as well.


    Depending on the strong Divine Sense trait of the Lin Family Cultivators, they organized a large number of Spirit Puppets to attack the Demonic Beasts, while their true bodies released Flying Swords and Flying Needles from afar.


    The other was coordinating with the Cultivators from the Lin Family Sword Pavilion.


    He had a large number of Wooden Marionettes and the Wood Vine Technique, which when deployed along the coast, could bind large numbers of Demonic Beasts in an instant, with the Poisonous Dragon Vine and Green Snake Vine being deployed in unison.


    The Lin Family''s Sword Cultivators were responsible for the attack.


    Although these Sword Cultivators had not comprehended Sword Intent, their sword techniques were nonetheless not lacking, and the Flying Sword Magical Treasures in their hands were also of superior quality.


    Their slaying of Demonic Beasts was extremely swift.


    Apart from these, the other Lin Family Cultivators also employed the previously used trio tactics.


    Even the other Cultivators guarding Jiuyue Island did the same.


    However, they appeared somewhat unpolished and did not use them as skillfully as the Lin Family.


    Moreover, due to the rotation of defensive Cultivators, other Loose Cultivators and other family clan Cultivators had their combat capability reduced too much, barely holding on.


    It was still Lin Shijie who activated the Jiuyue Formation; nine gigantic mountains pressed towards the distance.


    Each time a mountain descended, a thunderous rumble resounded, accompanied by a Third Rank Peak Demonic Beast being crushed into pulp!


    The tide of beasts was quickly pushed back, and celebratory cheers of the Cultivators echoed from afar.


    However, that celebratory cheer, after one numb celebration after another, was rarely heartfelt, and rather felt like going through the motions.


    And now the Demonic Race''s beast tides were merely whittling away the patience of the defending Cultivators. Every attack involved at most one Purple Mansion Great Demon remotely controlling Third Rank Late-Stage and below Demonic Beasts to attack.


    They would attack for one to two hours.


    As soon as Jiuyue Island fully activated the Jiuyue Formation and summoned the nine mountains, the Demonic Beasts would retreat.


    Preparing for the next assault.


    Just like this, it had already persisted for three years.


    Lin Shiming was aware that this was still the consequence of Heavenly Phenomenon Island''s scorched earth policy.


    Due to the previous counterattack and the arrangement of a large number of Self-Destructive Formations on the surrounding islands, a large number of flying Demonic Beasts were slain, which affected the attacking rhythm of the Demonic Beasts.


    Those Fifth Rank Demon Kings and Fourth Rank Jiaolongs needed to gather more lower-ranked Demonic Beasts from even farther away, as cannon fodder.


    Time slowly passed, and soon the next day arrived.


    Lin Shiming gathered everyone on top of the city wall, including all four Purple Mansion Cultivators and all Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Everyone''s expressions were a bit unusual because Lin Shiming said three days.


    Yet today was only the second day.


    Even the previous Purple Mansion Cultivators were somewhat puzzled.


    But thinking it over, they came to terms with it.


    Jiuyue Island belonged to the Lin Family, as did Heavenly Phenomenon Island. Defending for three days or two days was both a heavy responsibility.


    So it was better to retreat earlier.


    "Today we will counterattack, and tomorrow we will leave. Today I will also make a move, slaying all those Purple Mansion Great Demons lurking in the distance to the brink of extermination," Lin Shiming said.


    "Therefore, the Spirit Pills forged by the Alchemy Hall, the Spirit Talismans crafted by the Talisman Hall, and even the Spirit Armor and Spirit Weapons and one-time-use magical treasures forged by the Artifact Refining Hall, all of them will be distributed to you!"


    "Keep them or use them at once, it''s up to you!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    His eyes were filled with a murderous aura.


    "And in this battle, the Demonic Beasts that are slain will be converted into points on the three hero leaderboards at a rate of one and a half times!"


    Lin Shiming issued another cold command.


    His Cultivation Level at the Purple Mansion Late Stage was unmistakable, as the highest among them, none dared to disagree.


    "Yes!" Everyone nodded in unison.


    If previously the crowd only felt that Lin Shiming''s attack was merely symbolic, a 1.5-fold reward for slaying Demonic Beasts had already ignited the cultivators'' desires, even those of the Purple Mansion cultivators.


    The first on the Purple Mansion Heroes Ranking was Ziji Tan, the second was Cultivation Technique, these were what they all needed.


    The crowd began to wait in front of the city wall, waiting for the Demonic Race to advance.


    Sure enough, accompanied by a massive tsunami rolling towards the shore, countless Demonic Beasts appeared on top of the waves, exposing their sharp claws and fangs, and releasing a sky full of water arrows and golden spears.


    There were even many Wind Blades and Thunder Orbs.


    The Demon King leading this wave was a Fourth Rank mid-stage Red Carapaced Giant Crab.


    Its enormous pincers were almost the size of a hut.


    Within the waves, it spit out lively bubbles incessantly.


    Lei Xuan was the first to charge out; a Thunder Bow appeared in his hands, and with a strong pull, three lightning-imbued arrows shot out, instantly igniting a massive amount of thunder and lightning in the sea.


    Large swathes of Demonic Beasts were electrocuted.


    At the same time, other members of the Lin Family Clan also rode out on Sea Cloud Birds or drove Green Snakes.


    Countless Spirit Talismans and Magic Artifacts flew out, densely packed, slaughtering untold numbers of Demonic Beasts within the seawater.


    The Fourth Rank Red Carapaced Giant Crab, its protruding eyes suddenly whirled around, spitting out even more multicolored bubbles.


    It seemed to be in a hurry.


    It had not expected the Human Cultivators to be so fierce this time.


    The very next moment, the Red Carapaced Giant Crab let out a loud cry and then burrowed towards the seabed.


    In the sky, Lin Shiming''s figure was also revealed, as he had crossed over using the Leaping Void Disk.


    However, the Red Carapaced Giant Crab seemed to have detected him, and those red bubbles also rushed in front of Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming''s Twin Swords of the Purple Sky continuously slashed, bursting countless bubbles, but red Spiritual Liquid flowed out, beginning to erode his swords.


    But how could a Fourth Rank mid-stage Great Demon erode a Supreme Grade Magical Treasure?


    After losing a layer of Spirit Light, the sword remained clear. Lin Shiming''s Bluefin Fan also fanned fiercely, blowing the waves hundreds of miles away into nothingness.


    The Red Carapaced Giant Crab''s immense figure was revealed once more.


    Three Demon Blood Needles were thrust into its shell.


    Immediately, three large holes appeared, and the Red Carapaced Giant Crab''s body collapsed with a thunderous crash.


    With the death of the Purple Mansion Great Demon leading the beast tide, the Demonic Beasts fell into complete chaos. Lin Shiming also spotted the other Great Demons.


    They were each hiding behind the scenes, usually inconspicuous. But as Lin Shiming slew the Red Carapaced Giant Crab, their bodies began to stir.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense was immense; at this moment, he released it wantonly, discovering them all.


    Seven Soul-Suppressing Pagodas flew out one by one, each covering a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    As Lifebound Treasures, those nourished for a long time had power far beyond the Inferior Grade of the Fourth Rank, and with Lin Shiming deploying them, their might was even greater.


    "Qian Mu Hermit, we''ll assist you!" The remaining four Purple Mansion cultivators from Heavenly Phenomenon Island also expressed great joy, with Lin Shiming being so fierce, they too could seize the opportunity to slay Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    After Lin Shiming killed those few, he did not take further action, allowing the other cultivators to do the slaying.


    He only stepped in when he saw unusual Demonic Beasts, while his Divine Sense covered all the fleeing beasts.


    As the Demonic Beasts'' heads were severed, they would scatter in all directions, but they would also flee back to their previous gathering spots, where there was certainly at least a Demon King or a Fourth Rank Jiaolong.


    The presence of a Demon King was unlikely, but Lin Shiming was exceptionally confident in the existence of Fourth Rank Jiaolongs!


    Indeed, as the Demonic Beasts collapsed and fled north, his Divine Sense followed suit, and he took out the Zifeng Boat.


    Reaching the front before those Demonic Beasts, he surged ahead.


    A small island appeared in the distance.


    Along with the dense crowd of Demonic Beasts.


    And on the island, three half-Jiaolong shaped cultivators stood within, observing the direction of Jiuyue Island.


    "Humans, you''re courting death!" The three half-Jiaolong cultivators, obviously transformed from Flood Dragons, shouted.


    There were two Wind Jiaolongs and one Poisonous Jiaolong.


    The two Wind Jiaolongs were at the late stage of the Fourth Rank, while the Poisonous Jiaolong was at the peak of the Fourth Rank.


    And Lin Shiming rejoiced greatly.


    Should he kill these three Jiaolongs and hang them on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, he didn''t believe those of the Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank Jiaolongs would restrain themselves tomorrow.


    They would surely all come to surround the island!

 Chapter 675 - 442: This is a Trap (5000-word Mega Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes/Subscriptions)

    Lin Shiming reached the space above the island, where the sea was still incredibly turbulent.


    The pitch-black, muddled seawater surged with waves higher and more dangerous than the last.


    Several divine senses recklessly explored this way, seemingly trying to discern everything on the island.


    And Lin Shiming''s divine sense probed towards them as well.


    When divine senses clashed, Lin Shiming naturally wouldn''t lose, as he was now comparable to the peak of the Purple Mansion, and with his long-term cultivation of the Split Spirit Decision, his endurance was extremely high.


    The next moment, his face suddenly filled with shock and fear.


    Within the range of his divine sense, there were at least seven or eight fourth-rank Flood Dragons, including blue ones, crimson ones, wind ones, and one with flashing lightning¡ªa Thunder Flood Dragon.


    Among them, the Thunder Flood Dragon had the highest cultivation level, reaching the pinnacle of the fourth rank.


    To know, in the Southern Sea Cultivation World, a fourth-rank pinnacle Thunder Flood Dragon was almost a synonym for an invincible Purple Mansion cultivator.


    Of course, the horror and panic on Lin Shiming''s face starkly contrasted with the excitement in his heart.


    In just half a day, nearly ten Flood Dragons had arrived.


    By tomorrow morning, when there would be even more Flood Dragons, his risky venture would be all the more worthwhile.


    As Lin Shiming''s divine sense spread, the Flood Dragons had somehow organized another wave of lower-ranking Demonic Beasts to launch a suicidal assault.


    Despite their more than ten fourth-rank Flood Dragons, Lin Shiming, alone, had slaughtered three of them, so they were also waiting and dared not make any rash moves!


    But since Lin Shiming had discovered them, they had no choice but to arrange for cultivators to hold back those from Jiuyue Island.


    Otherwise, the Transmission Formation would send all the cultivators away before tomorrow morning.


    "Continue arranging for the cultivators to evacuate. The Lin family will retreat half of its Qi Cultivation mid-stage and late-stage cultivators. The remaining cultivators will continue to defend the city!" Lin Shiming commanded through a voice transmission.


    His powerful voice spread throughout Jiuyue Island, and those few Purple Mansion cultivators suddenly looked horrified again.


    They also faintly felt the terrifying crisis with the appearance of so many Flood Dragons.


    It was clear that there was an intention to annihilate Jiuyue Island and Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    At this moment, they finally understood why Lin Shiming had arranged for early evacuation.


    It was because he had advance knowledge of the Flood Dragons'' attack.


    And to them, this information was surely passed from Xu Ri Island.


    For a moment, the way they looked at Lin Shiming became even more respectful.


    True Person Qian Mu embodies righteousness!


    Although they might not agree with cultivators like Lin Shiming, it didn''t stop them from respecting him.


    After all, this time, the evacuating cultivators consisted mainly of those from other families, while Lin Family''s cultivators were placed last in the retreat.


    The few people also continued arranging for the core disciples of their families to evacuate through the Transmission Formation, while the other dispensable disciples and cultivators were left as cannon fodder to continue defending the city!


    The cruelty of the Cultivation World was unmistakably exposed.


    The Transmission Formation kept lighting up, with spiritual energy fluctuations and ripples, hardly ever stopping.


    The Demonic Beasts on the other side grew increasingly frantic.


    Lin Shiming landed at the very top of the island, with Lin Shijie controlling the Jiuyue Formation, and the nine mountains were also mobilized, flickering in and out of visibility on the island, ready to be sacrificed at any moment to slay Great Demons.


    The crowd of Flood Dragons immediately became incredibly anxious, furrowing their brows, unable to decide whether to attack or not.


    In the end, they had to summon quite a few fourth-rank Great Demons.


    These fourth-rank Great Demons, however, were not very powerful; the strongest was only at the mid-stage of the fourth rank.


    Most of them were pythons.


    Lin Shiming didn''t make a move himself but instead let Lin Shijie control the Jiuyue Formation while also unleashing the Red-haired Demon Monkey and the Golden Winged Mantis.


    The two Demonic Beasts knew that after slaying a Great Demon, there would be a Demonic Beast Inner Core to swallow.


    Although after reaching the Purple Mansion stage, they could no longer employ the Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique.


    But consuming the inner core of a fourth-rank Demonic Beast could still rapidly increase their strength.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey was especially loud, with spiritual flames flickering ceaselessly on its eyebrows, and the Heavenly Demon Rod smashing down repeatedly.


    It worked extremely hard, while the Golden Winged Mantis showed no expression, its compound eyes turning in all directions. Every time it locked on a target, it turned into a golden afterimage, swiftly sweeping across the air.


    The terrifying chaos of battle could be seen everywhere on the island.


    The boundary between the sea and the island once again became a purgatory on earth, where the sounds of spiritual explosions, beast roars, and even the wails of cultivators rose and fell in turn, completely blending with the roar of the tsunami, indistinguishable from one another.


    However, since the Flood Dragons hadn''t acted, the situation remained in favor of Jiuyue Island.


    Of course, at this moment, Lin Shiming didn''t know just how many fourth-rank Flood Dragons had arrived.


    The absence of the Wind Flood Dragon even made Lin Shiming suspect that there might be twice the number of fourth-rank Flood Dragons lurking in the shadows.


    After all, there were two of those talismans capable of hiding divine sense and body in his Cave Heaven.


    What reassured him the most, though, was that he had a system alert.


    Once the system alert sounded a crisis, Lin Shiming would immediately use the Transmission Formation, even if it meant losing a fifth-rank formation, he would still teleport away.


    The strength of a Flood Dragon Demon King was stronger than that of a typical Demon King.


    This was something he had to guard against.


    Although the Flaming Sword was powerful enough to harness the strength of a Golden Core Late Stage and he had the Ten Directions Crimson Crow Formation, he wasn''t arrogant enough to dismiss everything else.


    Moreover, they couldn''t keep delaying; he had to speed up the process again!


    He looked at Lin Shijie, who nodded repeatedly.


    The Jiuyue Formation started to operate, and the beast tide failed once again.


    Excited cheers came from Jiuyue Island.


    This victory, with the Transmission Formation lighting up, filled every cultivator with extreme excitement.


    Unlike before, when faced with endless assaults and ceaseless defenses, even cultivators would become exhausted and numb.


    Remaining on the edge of life and death without release caused many cultivators to become delirious.


    And being delirious on the battlefield could very well mean becoming fodder for the Demonic Beasts.

 Chapter 676 - 442: This is a Trap (5000-Word Mega Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes/Subscriptions)_2

    ```


    "Shiming, this time we''ve slain four Great Python Demons!" Lin Shijie came over and spoke.


    ```


    His face, however, was devoid of joy.


    Under normal circumstances, he would have been overjoyed at the slaying of four Great Python Demons.


    But now, a new wave of Demonic Beasts had surrounded the island, and there were likely even more powerful Great Demons lurking in the dark.


    Regrettably, it was time to evacuate.


    Jiuyue Island had been personally bestowed to the Lin Family by Red Leaf True Person; the Lin Family could not be the first to retreat.


    Even if they were to retreat, in his opinion, they should also dismantle and take the Jiuyue Formation with them.


    Otherwise, to just let a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade formation be destroyed would be a tremendous loss of foundation.


    "Big brother, continue the evacuation arrangements!" Shiming''s face was still filled with worry.


    However, his tone was quite calm.


    Listening to Shiming''s tone, Lin Shijie felt somewhat reassured.


    Although they let other clans evacuate first, the craftsmen from the Lin Family''s Talisman Crafting Hall, Alchemy Hall, and Artifact Refining Hall could naturally evacuate early, and they would also take away the wealth of the Lin Family market.


    This included a large number of Demonic Beasts'' corpses, materials for artifact refining, and a vast amount of Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones.


    Each time the Transmission Formation lit up, it could transport a hundred people.


    After one transmission, the Transmission Formation would need to wait for a while to prevent the Spirit Patterns from breaking.


    Simultaneously, new Spirit Stones also had to be placed on it.


    Naturally, there was a difference in the consumption of Spiritual Energy between transporting one person and transporting a hundred people at once.


    And every few hours, the Demonic Beasts would attack in waves, and then Fourth Rank Blue Flood Dragons appeared among these Demonic Beasts. These Blue Flood Dragons released streams of water dragons toward the Jiuyue Formation but did not advance.


    When Shiming led people out to pursue and kill, these Blue Flood Dragons would flee.


    Once they returned to the island, those Blue Flood Dragons would come back again.


    In this way, the retreat of the cultivators on Jiuyue Island was greatly affected, after all, chasing and exterminating Demonic Beasts also required cultivators.


    As Shiming needed to conserve his True Yuan, naturally, the other cultivators had to take action.


    After continuing like this four times, on Jiuyue Island, the remaining cultivators numbered just over two hundred people. Half of them were from the Lin Family. The remaining quarter were from the Zhao Family, Ye Family, and Primordial Yang Gate. The rest were cultivators from other families who remained to cover the retreat.


    However, among these two hundred plus people, nearly a hundred were Foundation Establishment cultivators, which represented the bulk of Jiuyue Island''s former combat power.


    The Demonic Beast tide was becoming increasingly urgent, and at that moment, System notifications were vigorously ringing in Shiming''s mind.


    [Please beware of stealth attacks by the Blue-Eyed Demon King and Chi Yu Demon King. Activate the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation and release the Flaming Sword!]


    Shiming looked up to see that the rain on the sea had intensified, pouring down like thick lines of water onto the sea, causing the water level to rise sharply.


    And it was still dark today; the two Demon Kings had arrived earlier than he had expected.


    However, it suited him perfectly!


    The raging sea surged with higher tsunamis, not waiting for the Transmission Formation to light up again.


    In the waves, one could vaguely see the heads of Demonic Beasts popping up, and in the sky, many flying Demonic Beasts were approaching.


    There were Sea Cloud Birds, Golden Rocs, and flying Spirit Sparrows.


    The faces of all the protecting cultivators went pale.


    For behind them, they could see more than ten Flood Dragons flying toward them.


    The immense Flood Dragons, radiating formidable demonic might, each carried a momentum that could topple an island.


    Even from a distance, the thick spiritual power that formed a dazzling aura was blinding to the cultivators!


    And this time, there were more than a dozen of them.


    "Continue transmitting with the Transmission Formation, Lin Family and Purple Mansion cultivators will cover our retreat!" Shiming spoke.


    This sentence was practically a blessing to the cultivators on Jiuyue Island.


    Although they did not understand, they also rapidly entered the Transmission Formation, activating the Transmission Formation under the stakes of their lives and property.


    Almost only Lin Family cultivators and Purple Mansion cultivators were left, including the Zhao Family, Ye Family, and Primordial Yang Gate''s lead Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Since the Lin Family were covering the rear, they naturally could not leave first.


    They could only wait for the last transmission.


    Boom!


    Ten Flood Dragons finally appeared, but they reached the island ahead of the other Demonic Beasts.


    Among them was the Wind Flood Dragon.


    It ferociously stared at Shiming.


    And also at the Red-haired Demon Monkey and Golden Winged Mantis; it had to personally reclaim the humiliation it suffered!


    The previously invincible Jiuyue Formation, each of the mountain peaks, was now being swept away by the tails of those Fourth Rank Flood Dragons.


    Although the Jiuyue Formation was powerful, facing the many Flood Dragons sharing the attack, it now seemed somewhat insufficient.


    That Thunder Flood Dragon in particular, with lightning arcs dancing between its horns, pressed down its mouth violently in the next moment.


    A thick arc of lightning arrow surged out, hitting the formation, instantly igniting hundreds of miles of thunderous turbulence, the continuous crackling sound echoing endlessly.


    Like a net of electricity, it covered the Spirit Shield of Jiuyue Island.


    Boom!


    The Jiuyue Formation began to totter, the entire colossal Jiuyue Island shaking.


    "Everyone, clear out the Demonic Beasts, then return to the formation!" This time, it was Shiming who was controlling the Jiuyue Formation.


    Others running the Jiuyue Formation would not have enough True Yuan, and secondly, their Divine Sense was insufficient to unleash its full power.


    Shiming alone was controlling the nine mountains and seven Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, fending off the attacks of over a dozen Flood Dragons.


    The roaring sounds were endless!


    Hearing Shiming''s command, the cultivators also immediately used their strongest techniques, preparing to clear the Demonic Beasts approaching the formation to prevent the Jiuyue Formation from being worn down.


    However, one of the Purple Mansion Loose Cultivators immediately flew toward the Transmission Formation, not intending to stay at all.


    And this person was none other than the Qing Mountain Hermit who had contradicted Shiming on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.

 Chapter 677 - 442: This is a Trap (5000-word Mega Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes/Subscriptions)_3

    More than a dozen Flood Dragons appeared; he simply did not believe Lin Shiming could hold the defense.


    Moreover, having previously offended Lin Shiming, he had no intention of protecting anyone at this moment.


    He wanted to activate the Transmission Formation immediately!


    Even if all the cultivators behind him died, he would be able to explain it away.


    After all, the beast tide was too terrifying!


    The Lin Family, arrogant as ever, had not sought help and was unlikely to hold out!


    Seeing the Hermit of Qing Mountain flee first caused quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators to also start running.


    After all, no one believed the Lin Family could hold back the onslaught.


    In the end, only sixty or seventy people from the Lin Family remained on the spot, looking at each other with very unsightly expressions.


    Some even cursed aloud, criticizing the Lin Family for covering their retreat and providing them with Spirit Talismans, yet now these Loose Cultivators wouldn''t even release a portion of their True Yuan to help hold off the attackers for a moment!


    "Shijie, you all go too! I will cover the rear!" Lin Shiming transmitted his voice as well.


    He had originally planned to let everyone break through part of the Demonic Beasts before teleporting away.


    But now, he could not ask the Lin Family cultivators to wait any longer.


    There was a certain interval needed to initiate the Transmission Formation.


    Whether it was for the Spirit Patterns to recover or to replace the Superior Grade Spirit Stones, all these actions required time.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to deploy the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation or unleash the Flame Yang Sword.


    "We shall stay together!" Lin Shijie shook his head.


    "Lei Xuan, you go, you''re only at Foundation Establishment!" Lin Shijie spoke to Lei Xuan.


    The three Purple Mansion cultivators, hearing this, took it as if Lin Shiming had already given them the green light to leave. They carelessly attacked, drove back the majority of the Second and Third Rank Demonic Beasts, then boarded the Spirit Boat and quickly headed towards the Transmission Formation!


    The Hermit of Qing Mountain was already preparing to activate the Transmission Formation, so naturally they did not dare to delay.


    Lei Xuan wanted to say something but was instantly persuaded by the voice transmission from Lin Shiming.


    Along with a group of cultivators, they too quickly left!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming released the two Purple Mansion Great Demons he had previously controlled with the Spirit Controlling Seal, along with Wang Jiao Lei Tong.


    The combat power of Lei Tong at this moment was no less than that of a Purple Mansion Lightning Cultivator!


    However, even so, with the dozen or so Flood Dragons converging, Lin Shiming simply couldn''t take care of everything.


    While the Jiuyue Formation''s nine great peaks were formidable, they were too cumbersome to deploy; if someone helped to restrain, it would have been fine, but without it, they could only follow from behind.


    And the Soul Suppressing Pagoda, being only a Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Magical Treasure, even as a lifebound treasure, appeared somewhat lacking in a battle of magic.


    Just then, the Thunder Flood Dragon continued its assault: this time, it didn''t spit out from its mouth but struck the void with the Spirit Light from its twin horns!


    Suddenly, the sky filled with thunder clouds, and the next moment, massive Thunder Spears crazily smashed towards the Jiuyue Formation!


    The Jiuyue Formation, too, roared and instantly collapsed,


    turning into Spirit Light and vanishing one by one.


    With over a dozen Flood Dragons attacking together, accompanied by a Fourth Rank Peak Thunder Flood Dragon, even a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Formation could not hold.


    From a distance, two even more terrifying Divine Senses approached.


    It was clearly the two Demon Kings checking if there were any Golden Core True Persons on the island.


    They had not shown up before because they were afraid the island was a trap.


    A trap specifically targeting the Flood Dragon Clan.


    After all, everything was quite peculiar, and the Flood Dragon Demon Kings, in their quest to search the entire Xu Ri Sea Domain and the neighbouring Lanling Sea Domain, were far too scattered.


    Accompanied by this was the distant seawater, which began to churn and roll back, raising huge yellow waves.


    A blue-eyed cultivator and a red-feathered cultivator appeared in the void.


    The two were the transformed forms of two great demons, the Blue-Eyed Demon King and the Red-Feathered Demon King.


    "Humans, you have quite the gall, daring to strike against our clan without a Golden Core human!"


    As soon as the Demon King spoke, a terrifying pressure descended like Mount Tai.


    Boom!


    Lin Shiming''s legs trembled involuntarily, even though he had reached the late stage of Purple Mansion and his physical body was not inferior to an ordinary Purple Mansion peak, he was still suppressed by that spiritual pressure!


    Golden Core and Purple Mansion, though only two words apart, had a heaven and earth difference.


    "There is no need for pleasantries, there''s no True Person from Nine Dragon Island!" Lin Shiming shook his head, withstanding the Spirit Might and unfearful.


    In that breath''s time, space fluctuations suddenly occurred at the distant Transmission Formation, and three or four Fourth Rank Flood Dragons materialized, heading straight for the Transmission Formation!


    They had long been hiding in the void with concealment magical treasures, ready to destroy the Transmission Formation as soon as the Formation was broken.


    And to their shock, the Qing Mountain Hermit immediately activated the Transmission Formation.


    While the other major forces were still fine, the Lin Family and others only managed to retreat by half, and a small group of cultivators led by Lei Xuan did not enter the Transmission Formation!


    The Spirit Light flashed, and the transmission vanished once more.


    The Transmission Formation had ended, and the Lin Family''s Spirit Boat was just arriving at the site of the Formation.


    Many cultivators from the Lin Family were instantly filled with extreme panic.


    Even Lei Xuan was somewhat flustered, only Lin Zelu remained composed.


    Looking at the distant Flood Dragons and Demon Kings, he felt, at that moment, Lin Shiming was like a deity!


    Boom!


    Before the attacks from the Flood Dragons could land, the whole Jiuyue Island suddenly exuded a strange gold light, within which terrifying golden Spiritual Flames brewed.


    As the Spiritual Flames rose, a golden Spirit Shield emerged,


    Blocking the bodies of the several Flood Dragons.


    Moreover, as the Spiritual Flames surged, several Crimson Crows flew out, spewing flames at the three concealed Fourth Rank Flood Dragons, causing them to immolate themselves within moments.


    "The Fifth Rank Crimson Bird Formation, who are you related to Xu Ri True Person?" the distant Blue-Eyed Demon King and Red-Feathered Demon King exclaimed in shock.


    In an instant, the two transformed back into their true forms, one a blue-scaled Flood Dragon reaching fifty to sixty zhang, the other a forty zhang Red-Feathered Flood Dragon.


    The two Flood Dragons roared together, and their True Yuan fluctuated to the extreme in a moment!


    In the air, a deafening spiritual explosion occurred!


    And at that moment, a Flaming Sword also suddenly appeared.


    With fearsome flames and sword light, it swept towards the two Demon Kings.


    The terrifying might of the sword extended for dozens of miles, even the residual Sword Qi severely wounded and caused the Fourth Rank Great Demons to fall.


    The might of a True Person was terrifying to the extreme!


    The two Flood Dragon Demon Kings also changed their expressions in an instant, and after exchanging a look, they almost simultaneously fled into the distance.


    Because at that moment, the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation had also been reinforced on the two Demon Kings.


    This was all a trap!

 Chapter 680 - 444: Wrathful Strike on Qing Mountain, Arrival of the Rising Sun (combined chapter)

    As the Transmission Formation lit up, Lin Shiming and the others appeared inside it, Lin Shiming clutching his chest with both hands.


    The colossal claw wound spread directly to the area around the heart, blood flowing profusely, a ghastly sight to behold.


    Flood Dragon energy kept rampaging outwards, even visible was the twitching flesh being battered by that same Flood Dragon energy!


    Injury, recovery, the cycle repeated without end!


    Lin Shiming''s face was also extremely pale, while the other members of the Lin Family Clan were in utter horror.


    "Quickly destroy the transmission array!" Lin Shiming''s face drastically changed as he said in terror.


    He attempted to raise his hand, but there was still not the slightest bit of True Yuan.


    In the end, he could only feebly lower it.


    Only Lin Shijie beside him, with a sword in his hand, its light rampaging forth, cut the transmission array in half.


    As if he feared that Demonic Beasts might teleport over from the opposite side at any moment.


    With the appearance of a magical treasure from the Demonic Race, it was natural that they might also have a Transmission Order or Teleportation Talisman.


    Thus, it was imperative to destroy the transmission array immediately.


    All these actions occurred in the span of a moment, underlining the direness of the situation.


    They also allowed the Cultivators to imagine just how tragic Lin Shiming''s final moments must have been.


    A nearly fatal claw strike, void of a trace of True Yuan!


    Lei Xuan also looked at Jiuxiao Scatter Man:


    "Jiuxiao Elder, do you have any healing Spirit Pills or Spirit Pills for recovering True Yuan? Shiming has already consumed them all!" Lei Xuan said urgently.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man, not even minding Hermit Qing Mountain, hastily walked forward, offering Spirit Pills and Spiritual Medicine.


    A few Purple Mansion Cultivators also took out Healing Pills, their respect for Lin Shiming still immense at this moment.


    Not to mention his noble act of covering their retreat this time, just Lin Shiming''s strength alone was worthy of their respect.


    "Hermit Qian Mu, here are some heart-protecting pills and body-restoring elixirs!" several people said together.


    On the other hand, Hermit Qing Mountain had a very ugly expression; he hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to still be alive.


    However, Jiuxiao Scatter Man retrieving his magical treasure also provided him with an opportunity to quickly flee into the distance.


    Just then, Lin Shijie suddenly shouted:


    "Qing Mountain, you old thief, I, Lin Shijie, will kill you!"


    Lin Shijie''s eyes seemed ready to shoot fire, full of boundless anger.


    In his hands, the Five Spirit Flames transformed into five swords.


    He slashed toward Hermit Qing Mountain.


    The terrifying Sword Intent of a Purple Mansion Cultivator, coupled with the Sword Intent forged by fire, possessed an unparalleled attack power, even more extreme than the attack of Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    Five-colored fire swords struck from all directions toward Hermit Qing Mountain.


    Although he did not speak, seeing that it was only Lin Shijie at the early stage of Purple Mansion, he too steeled his heart, his eyes filled with even more disdain.


    At that moment, he even thought of capturing Lin Shijie and using him to threaten the Lin Family.


    Having climbed to the Purple Mansion rank by his own efforts in Qi Cultivation, he had this confidence.


    In his hands, the Qing Mountain stamp flew out once more, and the Crimson Sword followed closely behind.


    Meanwhile, his magical treasure pouch angered him somewhat; had it not been for the resounding puncture by Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s Magical Needles, he would have had more tactics at his disposal.


    And he would have been more certain.


    The Qing Mountain stamp turned into a giant mountain in the blink of an eye, and on the mountain, there was even a staircase engraved.


    From a distance, that staircase seemed to be Spirit Patterns, but in the next moment, it transformed into a giant green-armored python slithering toward the Five Flame Sword.


    "Beast Soul Treasure!" This scene caught the attention of others as well.


    A treasure infused with a beast soul was somewhat superior to ordinary treasures.


    This Qing Mountain stamp was unmatched in defense, could suppress opponents, possessed a beast soul, and was extremely flexible and versatile.


    Yet at this moment, Lin Shijie''s expression remained unchanged.


    Out of his Five Flame Sword, the blue Spirit Sword led the charge, transformed by the Serpent Spirit Flame.


    With a shake, the green-armored python was cleaved apart, and the force continued to penetrate the very body of the Qing Mountain stamp.


    The rest also all struck the Qing Mountain stamp, causing it to fly far away in an instant.


    But the might of the Five Flame Sword was exhausted, turning into red light, and then dissipating.


    "I still have my Lifebound Treasure, the Crimson Cloud Sword. What will you use to block it?" Hermit Qing Mountain''s face flashed with ruthlessness.


    The Crimson Cloud Sword rose in the void, nurturing a red glow that obscured a vast area.


    Lin Shijie also took out the Five Flame Bead.


    This Five Flame Bead was what Lin Shiming had obtained from killing a Fourth Rank Five-colored Sparrow.


    Of it, the Five Flame Bead was given to Lin Shijie, and the sparrow feathers and even the Demon Core were given to Lin Shitao.


    The Five Flame Bead instantly triggered a terrifying eruption of five-colored spiritual flames.


    Rising to the extreme, they became five Crimson Fire Sparrows that attacked the Crimson Cloud Sword.


    Once the Crimson Cloud Sword was obstructed, inside it were revealed five Crimson Blood Needles hidden by the red mist and now becoming apparent.


    Hermit Qing Mountain let out a malevolent smile.


    He had used such tactics before to slay countless Cultivators.


    However, the next moment, he could only feel his Divine Sense being scorched completely, the five Crimson Blood Needles falling out of control; nevertheless, the Crimson Cloud Sword, being his Lifebound Treasure nurtured over many years, remained unaffected.


    But the spiritual flames from the Five Flame Bead overpowered the Crimson Cloud Sword, and Lin Shijie was also preparing a new Five Flame Sword, bringing it slashing down with one stroke!


    Boom!


    Hermit Qing Mountain did not dare to delay and quickly used a Spirit Talisman; his body vanished in the void in a flash, avoiding the lethal sword strike.


    It was a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    But Lin Shijie, with a Boundary-breaking Talisman of his own in hand, followed closely, his intent to kill unmistakable.


    After crossing thousands of miles and reaching the edge of the sea, Hermit Qing Mountain had no more room to avoid!


    He charged straight at Lin Shijie, who couldn''t help but frown.


    Hermit Qing Mountain taking the initiative to rush toward a Sword Cultivator was most certainly a ruse.


    Lin Shijie also quickly retreated.


    Yet he saw Hermit Qing Mountain laugh and say:


    "You, a cultivator from a family clan, how could you understand the hardships of a solitary cultivator? Today, I shall give you a lesson!"


    As Hermit Qing Mountain spoke, although his words were few, they carried a bewitching effect that eerily resonated, affecting Lin Shijie''s mind and slowing his speed.

 Chapter 681 - 444: Wrathful Strike on Qing Mountain, Arrival of the Rising Sun (combined chapter)_2

    This was clearly a secret technique, but since Lin Shijie had always been with the Lin Family, and had taken the Tribulation Forging Divine Pill, and even had the Split Spirit Decision.


    The impact was not significant, and at the critical moment, there was a figure who rushed out first, meeting the Qing Mountain Hermit head-on.


    Boom!


    A terrifying thunder bead was sacrificed, and the figure of the Qing Mountain Hermit turned into a lump of soft mud, binding itself towards this side!


    Wrapping the figure resembling Lin Shijie completely, leaving no room for escape.


    The Thunder Tribulation Bead exploded in an instant.


    Stirring up a thunderstorm thousands of feet high, which did not disperse for a long time.


    In the distance, the Qing Mountain Hermit let out a light laugh and flew away towards the distance.


    But at this moment, a Five Flame Sword pierced into him from behind!


    The Qing Mountain Hermit turned his head in disbelief, only to see Lin Shijie completely unscathed, while a Spirit Puppet at the mid-stage of Fourth Rank in the distance appeared quite battered and severely damaged.


    The Qing Mountain Hermit''s eyes rapidly dimmed, and in the last glimmer of light, there was also a trace of regret.


    He had lived a cautious and lowly life, and had thought he could finally stand tall upon reaching the Purple Mansion stage, but he hadn''t expected that it was his pride that had led him to his current predicament.


    He felt some regrets.


    But it was too late!


    Lin Shijie grabbed the head of the Qing Mountain Hermit and flew towards the Heavenly Phenomenon Island''s Transmission Formation.


    In just a few breaths, he arrived at the place before the crowd.


    "Shiming, big brother has slain this evildoer for you!"


    Lin Shijie spoke and looked towards Lin Shiming, who also nodded.


    "Thank you, big brother!"


    After expressing his thanks, Lin Shiming looked around at the entire Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and then Lin Shijie coldly addressed them:


    "The Lin Family has protected Heavenly Phenomenon Island from the beast tide for more than twenty years, never failing a single Hermit or Cultivator of Heavenly Phenomenon Island!"


    "Hundreds of new tablets in the Lin Family ancestral shrine can bear witness!"


    "But if any Cultivator wishes harm upon my Lin Family, from Innate to Purple Mansion, all shall be executed!"


    Having said this, Lin Shijie''s Sword Intent fully emerged, and countless Sword Intent became visible, achieving the state of Sword Qi coalescing into threads at that moment.


    The Five Flame Sword solidified in the air almost entirely.


    The oppressive might of Sword Intent extended across the entire Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    In the next moment, the corpse of the Qing Mountain Hermit was flung into the sky, a striking spectacle.


    The Cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island all looked up into the void, silent, and then several Cultivators shouted:


    "We swear to coexist with the Lin Family and Heavenly Phenomenon Island!"


    "We swear to coexist with the Lin Family and Heavenly Phenomenon Island!"


    ...


    As one person started, even those Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment Cultivators who came for the rewards of the ranks were filled with fervor and felt compelled to speak out.


    The presence of the Lin Family was currently too awe-inspiring.


    After all, not a single Cultivator could fault the deeds of the Lin Family.


    Some had even begun to suspect that Lin Shiming had indeed pursued and slain the Flood Dragon, otherwise why would the entire Flood Dragon Clan be so aggressively involved.


    But afterwards, they still considered the possibility that Xu Ri Island was behind the Flood Dragon''s attack more likely.


    After all, it was just two days from Lin Shiming''s full-blown counterattack to his arrival on Jiuyue Island.


    They deemed strategizing in just two days to be impossible.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, it will be up to you to arrange the defenses of Heavenly Phenomenon Island next!"


    "Also, order all Cultivators of the Heavenly Phenomenon Island''s sea areas to rush to Heavenly Phenomenon Island; it seems that none of the other islands will be able to hold out!" Lin Shijie then turned to look at Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was seriously injured, and Lin Shijie himself had also expended much energy, while the defense of Heavenly Phenomenon Island was urgent.


    Furthermore, with Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s status and cultivation level, he was certainly competent for the task.


    The ones in seclusion included the last of the Cultivators who had teleported back with Lin Shiming.


    They had all reached Zi Yu Mountain and began an intense retreat.


    From now on, any visitors from Xu Ri Island could only be received by Lin Shiming for questioning, as he was wary of exposing them and would not let them come out of seclusion.


    As for him, with the system prompt updates, he didn''t need to worry too much.


    The Lin Family Clan, led by Jiuyue Island, together with Lin Family in-laws and cultivators, as well as the three affiliated powers of the Zhao Family, Ye Family, and Primordial Yang Gate, frantically set up formations around Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    With so many Flood Dragons appearing, if Xu Ri Island previously faced great pressure from various aspects and did not provide support,


    but now that it was all out in the open, with more than twenty Flood Dragons on Heavenly Phenomenon Island,


    it meant that Xu Ri Island would become the third major direction of the Demonic Race''s attack after Golden Thunder Island and Qian Ji Island.


    By then, as a member of the alliance, Tianliu Island and even Nine Dragon Island would come to defend Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Of course, the support would mainly consist of high-rank Cultivators, so these low-rank Defensive Arrays, Trapping Formations, and Self-Destructive Formations still needed to be set up in advance by Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Beyond that, all the Cultivators of the Heavenly Phenomenon sea area must be concentrated on Heavenly Phenomenon Island and its surrounding islands.


    Especially the Mortals would all be evacuated to the sub-islands.


    This was agreed upon by all Hermits and Cultivator Families.


    After all, the Transmission Formation of Heavenly Phenomenon Island was still one-way, only allowing exit without the ability to leave the island.


    ...


    While Heavenly Phenomenon Island was urgently reinforcing its defenses, at Xu Ri Island''s Red Leaf Palace,


    many Cultivators were coming and going, as all twelve external islands of Xu Ri Island required support and emergency messages were frequently sent out.


    Everyone''s face was filled with urgency.


    At this moment, Red Leaf True Person was also entertaining two True Persons from Nine Dragon Island with Spiritual Tea.


    Sandalwood incense burned, wafting up and filling the air with a special spiritual fragrance.


    Besides, the Spiritual Tea was also Fourth Rank Supreme Grade.


    "Red Leaf Dao Friend, isn''t Xu Ri Dao Friend coming out of seclusion?" Bai Yu True Person of Nine Dragon Island, dressed in a White Dragon Robe, couldn''t help but speak.


    The situation of the entire Coral Alliance was not looking good.


    Golden Thunder Island''s gathering of two factions'' Golden Core might, had already surpassed thirty to forty individuals.


    They were locked in fierce combat, and more Cultivators from the Sea Demon King Court continued to rush there.

 Chapter 682 - 444: Wrathful Strike on Qing Mountain, Arrival of the Rising Sun (combined chapter)_3

    "At the critical moment when Xu Ri Shixiong first entered his seclusion, he instructed us not to disturb him too much," Red Leaf True Person shook his head as well, displaying a sense of helplessness.


    "His lifespan is not long, and this time he is staking it all, entering a deadly seclusion!"


    "However, Bai Yu Dao You need not worry, our Xu Ri Island has already formed a defensive and offensive alliance with Tianliu Island. At the critical moment, Kuangfeng True Person will lead his Spirit Beast, Fengyun Flood Dragon King, to rush over!"


    Red Leaf True Person added.


    Just then, suddenly a Spirit Light appeared, which Red Leaf True Person caught in his hand.


    The expression on Red Leaf True Person''s face immediately turned very ugly. Generally, news would not appear before him immediately, but the emergence of twenty to thirty Flood Dragons on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, along with two Demon Kings, would naturally prompt an immediate reminder to Red Leaf True Person.


    "Bai Yu Dao You, isn''t your Nine Dragon Island renowned for its secret technique of commanding Flood Dragons? Now happens to be a good opportunity!" Red Leaf True Person said candidly as he tossed the Jade Slip toward Tianliu True Person.


    Tianliu True Person was dressed in a white robe, with a handsome appearance.


    After looking at the Jade Slip, he then showed a grave expression, his brows deeply furrowed.


    But Red Leaf True Person was well aware how delighted Tianliu True Person was inside.


    "Red Leaf Dao You, you can rest assured when it comes to defending against the beast tide. Nine Dragon Island will not overlook the greater good!" Tianliu True Person remained righteous.


    At these words, Red Leaf True Person''s face showed his gratitude.


    "Bai Yu Dao You''s righteousness is commendable. Once Xu Ri Island drives out the beast tide, you may choose any treasure from Xu Ri Island!"


    Upon hearing this, Tianliu True Person quickly gave an order.


    He called for the cultivators of Nine Dragon Island to assemble.


    "Red Leaf Dao You, we should hurry to Heavenly Phenomenon Island. The emergence of so many Flood Dragons most certainly means some treasure has been discovered on Heavenly Phenomenon Island!"


    Tianliu True Person spoke truthfully at this moment since the intelligence of Nine Dragon Island included the existence of a Golden Dragon Fruit tree on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Therefore, he had no doubt about the news.


    On the contrary, he was concerned that if the Golden Dragon Fruit tree was discovered, it would be too late for Nine Dragon Island to regret it.


    "Alright, I will contact Tianliu True Person and Kuangfeng True Person immediately!" Red Leaf True Person nodded and dashed off with a Spirit Talisman.


    The whole of Xu Ri Island also went into full gear activating the Island Protecting Great Array once again.


    At the same time, countless cultivators gathered at Red Leaf Palace.


    Half an hour later, at Tianliu Island, Kuangfeng True Person appeared at the Transmission Formation.


    The three parties, totaling seven Golden Core combatants, teleported towards Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Aong them, Tianliu Island''s Kuangfeng True Person and his Spirit Beast constituted two Golden Core combat powers, while Nine Dragon Island openly had two Nine Dragon Island Golden Core Cultivators.


    Among the commanded Spirit Beasts, there would definitely be a Golden Core Demon King.


    As for Xu Ri Island, there were only Red Leaf True Person and Red Whale Demon King.


    As for Purple Mansion cultivators, almost more than a hundred people, not to mention the combat power of the Spirit Beasts in the Spirit Beast Bag.


    The Transmission Formation quickly lit up.


    ...


    On Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Jiuxiao Scatter Man had been waiting beside the Transmission Formation from an early time, as instructed by Lin Shiming.


    When the Transmission Formation lit up, signifying the arrival of someone, Jiuxiao Scatter Man promptly spoke:


    "We welcome the arrival of all esteemed True Persons!"


    "We welcome the arrival of all esteemed True Persons!"


    ...


    As Jiuxiao Scatter Man spoke, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Cultivators who had been prepared also spoke one after another.


    "Please forgive us, Red Leaf Elder. Both Lin Shiming and Lin Shijie of the Lin Family have suffered serious injuries and are still in seclusion, unable to come out and welcome you," Jiuxiao Scatter Man spoke again.


    "Where is Lin Shiming? I have important matters to discuss with him!" Red Leaf True Person spoke coldly.


    To her, the appearance of the Flood Dragons was somewhat suspicious.


    She certainly did not wish for the Flood Dragon Clan to target Xu Ri Island.

 Chapter 683 - 445 True Person Tests and Organizes Loot (Two in One for Subscriptions)

    Zi Yu Mountain, several Golden Core cultivators followed the Lin Family''s flying boat, slowly arriving at the mountain peak, in front of Lin Shiming''s dwelling.


    The dwelling was located at the highest peak of Zi Yu Mountain, once the abode of Zi Yu Scatter Man.


    Although Lin Shiming rarely came here, this place was still reserved for him.


    Moreover, peach blossom trees were planted all around, and there was a pavilion built at the entrance to the cave, with a well-placed stone table.


    A black and white chessboard was clearly defined in the center of the pavilion.


    The chessboard was still the one from Fangmu Mountain years ago, which made the Lin Family cultivators feel a sense of kinship every time they saw it, as if they were at Fangmu Mountain, with a mixture of affection and the indignity of being forced from their homeland.


    Red Leaf True Person walked at the forefront, followed by Kuangfeng True Person, with Bai Yu True Person and White Lake True Person bringing up the rear.


    At the entrance of the dwelling, Lin Shiming also emerged.


    He was now dressed in plain white robes, his complexion still extremely poor, but the hideous wound on his chest had been treated, although his chest still heaved from time to time.


    "I have seen Red Leaf senior, Kuangfeng senior, and the two seniors from Nine Dragon Island!" Lin Shiming invited the visitors into the pavilion, where he brewed a pot of spiritual tea on the chessboard.


    The spiritual tea was a fourth-rank spiritual tea, Hongyu Tea, with a color as red as hongyu. Brewed, it was clear and vibrant, as if hongyu gems were dancing in the water. Upon tasting, its smoothness was unrivaled. It was a type of spiritual tea Lin Shiming had purchased on Tianliu Island.


    A small bag cost upward of ten thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones, exceptionally precious.


    Although it was somewhat lacking for entertaining these True Persons, for the Lin Family of the Purple Mansion Family, this was the highest courtesy they could afford.


    "Please forgive me, esteemed seniors, for not greeting you from afar!"


    "It''s fine. I have two Saint Body Pills here, which are extremely effective for Flood Dragon injury recovery!" Red Leaf True Person frowned upon seeing Lin Shiming''s slowness and trembling, taking out a Jade Bottle.


    In the Jade Bottle were two thumb-sized golden elixirs.


    "Thank you, True Person. However, your generosity shames me. I failed to protect Jiuyue Island and betrayed the trust you placed in me, please punish me as you see fit, senior!" Lin Shiming did not immediately take it.


    Although he had resisted valiantly, losing Jiuyue Island was still a crime.


    Whether the rewards and punishments could cancel each other out was for Red Leaf True Person to decide.


    To accept it openly in front of so many cultivators without hesitation would be somewhat presumptuous.


    "No matter, the fault doesn''t lie with you. You should tell us what you saw and heard instead!" Red Leaf True Person spoke up.


    And at this moment, the system alert sounded again:


    [Please note that Bai Yu True Person and White Lake True Person are secretly using a Fifth-Order Inquiry Spirit Talisman!]


    Lin Shiming''s heart tightened. He hadn''t expected that it wasn''t Red Leaf True Person using the Inquiry Spirit Talisman, but those two from Nine Dragon Island.


    He glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Red Leaf True Person standing there, still cold and beautiful, completely stern in appearance.


    As if unaware of the Inquiry Spirit Talisman.


    Nobody touched the Hongyu Tea on the table, allowing the red mist from the tea to scatter.


    Lin Shiming straightened himself, trying to find a more comfortable position, and after carefully considering his speech to ensure there were no gaps, he began to talk slowly:


    "To respond to senior, the incident started three days ago when I left seclusion!"


    "I had just made a breakthrough, so I headed to Jiuyue Island, planning to counterattack before the Demonic Beasts could gain momentum, and to continue enlarging the great cause you seniors left with your scorched earth strategy!"


    "I did not expect to encounter a Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon. After using all my means and slaying a late-stage Fourth-Rank Wind Flood Dragon, I unwittingly drew a larger tide of monsters, as many as over twenty Fourth-Rank Flood Dragons, and hidden behind them were two Demon Kings. They only gave me the opportunity to escape because they feared an ambush on Jiuyue Island!"


    Lin Shiming sighed as he looked at his wound.


    He did not elaborate further, but instead took out the inner core of the Wind Flood Dragon.


    He handed it directly to Red Leaf True Person.


    "You may keep this inner core. The Flood Dragon Inner Core might be something you can exchange for good items with the friends from Nine Dragon Island!" Red Leaf True Person did not keep the inner core; he merely glanced at it from a distance and then looked towards Bai Yu True Person and White Lake True Person from Nine Dragon Island, with a hint of implied meaning.


    "Flood Dragon Inner Cores are indeed something we need on Nine Dragon Island. If you have a Fifth-Order Inner Core, it can be exchanged for a Gold Condensation Pill on our island. As for a late Fourth-Order Inner Core, it can only be exchanged for treasures of the same rank, such as Fortune Longevity Fruit or Pill Patterned Perfection!" Bai Yu True Person also spoke up.


    Lin Shiming''s heart fluttered, not over the Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon Inner Core but considering the Fifth-Order Flood Dragon Inner Core.


    If one day he reached the Golden Core Stage and gained a small reputation among Golden Core True Persons, he might indeed be able to exchange a Fifth-Order Flood Dragon Inner Core for a Gold Condensation Pill.


    His Storage Bag, after all, contained the inner cores of the Chi Yu Demon King and the Blue-Eyed Demon King.


    He had kept the corpses of both Fifth-Order individuals.


    But until he reached Golden Core, he would never dare to make the exchange.


    Even with the Flaming Sword, revealing too much would be risky.


    Not to mention he could not explain it, but if Nine Dragon Island decided to take action, could he really plan to slay the True Persons from Nine Dragon Island?


    If he succeeded, it would be fine, but if he failed, the Lin Family would have no choice but to hide away in the Northern Plains or Western Desert.


    Moreover, as soon as the tide of monsters had passed, he could accompany Jiuxiao Scatter Man to the Eastern Domain to find a place with Gold Condensation Fruit.


    Before that, he needed to remain hidden.


    As Lin Shiming contemplated, White Lake True Person stepped forward and asked:


    "May I inquire, young friend Lin, how many Blue Flood Dragons and how many Poisonous Dragons were there amongst them? Which two Great Demons were the Demon Kings? And how did you manage to escape that day?" White Lake True Person asked several questions all at once.


    The others hadn''t had the chance to intervene, or perhaps they did not intend to.


    White Lake True Person''s eyes were like torches.


    For a moment, an intangible pressure filled the air. The chess pieces on the board started to crack, ripples formed on the surface of the spiritual tea, and the direction in which the Spiritual Energy dispersed pointed towards Lin Shiming.

 Chapter 684 - 445 True Person Tests and Organizes Loot (Two in One for Subscriptions)_2

    "Don''t worry, Lin, please speak freely. The appearance of so many Flood Dragons is indeed strange!" Kuangfeng True Person also nodded and spoke.


    Upon speaking, Lin Shiming only felt the previous momentum dissipate, the mist from the tea returned to calm, and the Red Jade Spiritual Tea was still as tranquil as Spirit Jade, calm as a mirror within the teacup.


    Kuangfeng True Person then looked towards Red Leaf True Person:


    "Red Leaf, your protectiveness is well-known. Perhaps you would even slay those wicked Flood Dragons for him!"


    He continued, looking at Red Leaf True Person with a half-smile.


    The White Jade True Person and Baihu True Person of Nine Dragon Island seemed somewhat discolored.


    Clearly, they also did not understand why Kuangfeng True Person would actually stand by Lin Shiming.


    However, both looked towards Red Leaf True Person, their expressions rather unpleasant.


    They had some suspicions that Red Leaf True Person was intensifying the conflict between Tianliu Island and Nine Dragon Island to increase her own influence.


    And the catalyst was Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming looked towards Kuangfeng True Person with gratitude.


    "Please rest assured, senior. This junior will certainly tell the truth. The Fifth Rank Demon King was a Crimson Flood Dragon and a Blue Flood Dragon, while there were many Fourth Rank malicious Flood Dragons, some hidden; the strongest was a Thunder Flood Dragon!"


    "As for why this junior can stand here by sheer luck, it is related to a Minor Divine Ability Fruit I swallowed in my early years," Lin Shiming explained slowly.


    These words had been pondered over in his heart for a long time.


    Although the words were not detailed enough, and might not have passed scrutiny in other scenarios, for Lin Shiming, as long as he made Red Leaf True Person understand, that would suffice.


    Kuangfeng True Person was on the same side as him.


    "Well then, you should heal first. Next, Heavenly Phenomenon Island will be defended by Xu Ri Island. When your injuries are a bit better, you won''t be able to avoid taking on tasks!" Red Leaf True Person said with a nod.


    She knew that Lin Shiming possessed Minor Divine Abilities¡ªand not just one, but three.


    Having three Minor Divine Abilities meant that Lin Shiming was certainly a Spirit Body Cultivator because a cultivator could only consume a Minor Divine Ability Fruit once.


    For more, one would need to comprehend or have the Spiritual Body autonomously activate them.


    Baihu True Person wanted to say more but was silenced by a glare from White Jade True Person.


    Afterward, several True Persons departed, and Lin Shiming also had Jiuxiao Scatter Man arrange for several True Persons to set up Cave Dwellings on Zi Yu Mountain.


    He also arranged rooms for the True Persons at the Lin Family Restaurant.


    As for how and where the True Persons chose to stay, it was all up to their personal preference.


    Ultimately, it was evident that Kuangfeng True Person and Red Leaf True Person decided to stay on Zi Yu Mountain, while the two True Persons from Nine Dragon Island chose to stay at the Lin Family Restaurant.


    They claimed they didn''t trust the safety of the town, worrying that members of the Demonic Race might infiltrate and sabotage the Transmission Formation.


    Lin Shiming was unaware of their true intentions.


    Lin Shiming returned to his Cave Dwelling, but his heart was still laden with concerns.


    Upon leaving, both Kuangfeng True Person and Red Leaf True Person gave Lin Shiming a deep and meaningful look.


    Such expressions, Lin Shiming did not believe were expectations of a junior, but rather seemed to say, "You''re quite the storyteller!"


    Lin Shiming''s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at his chest wound, recalling the expressions of the two people.


    After much deliberation and shaking his head, he stopped thinking about it and instead cranked up his Formation to the extreme and continued his healing.


    Because he had to exhibit his injuries, Lin Shiming was controlling his body not to recover too soon.


    ...


    Inside the town, on the fifth floor of Lin Family Restaurant, Baihu True Person placed the Formation flags in his hand down, and instantly, the room''s Formation completely changed from before.


    White Jade True Person also took out a copper dragon spout and set it on the table.


    Mists started to emerge from the dragon spout, filling the room.


    The mist divided into two parts, one turning into rolling waves, the other into a series of islands.


    The rising mist continued to swirl, and after a while, the entire room was filled with the illusory sight of mist and the sea with its islands.


    The islands and the sea were clearly delineated, forming a maritime chart that, from a distance, was very similar to the Heavenly Phenomenon Sea Region.


    Inside the dragon spout, a red bead started to spin continuously.


    Both persons'' expressions turned eager, with an undertone of anticipation in their throats.


    However, the red bead just kept spinning, not stopping.


    Both of them felt somewhat disappointed.


    Real Person Bai Yu raised his sleeve, and the copper dragon mouth ceased spouting, swiftly causing the strange phenomenon within the room to disappear.


    "The Golden Dragon Fruit Tree is not to be found anywhere on the island!"


    "This means that our chances of obtaining the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree are still quite good!" Real Person Bai Yu sat at the side, feeling a mix of joy and worry in his heart!


    "Brother, Lin Shiming clearly lied, even if he was fairly well prepared, he can''t withstand questioning."


    Seeing Real Person Bai Hu''s eagerness, Real Person Bai Yu slowly shook his head:


    "Even if the Inquiry Spirit Talisman finds out, so what? Real Person Kuangfeng is clearly protecting him, and Real Person Red Leaf is also somewhat protective of him!"


    "Continuing this discussion is pointless. It would be better to ask some loose cultivators instead, as the cultivators on Jiuyue Island are not just from the Lin Family!"


    "Of course, if we could find a spy secretly from the Lin Family, that would be even better!" Real Person Bai Yu spoke up.


    Real Person Bai Hu also nodded his head.


    "In addition, pay attention to which direction the flood dragons are heading. With so many flood dragons appearing, perhaps the Flood Dragon Clan already has a lead on the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree!"


    "Also keep an eye on our cousin disciple Zi Xiao from Purple Dragon Island. Although we from White Dragon Island lead the operation, after all, they once arranged spies on Heavenly Phenomenon Island!"


    ...


    The prolonged rainy season continued, and the swelling sea waters became increasingly turbulent.


    In the following days, cultivators constantly flew out from Heavenly Phenomenon Island on their Spirit Boats to scout the situation, even the Golden Core True Persons took turns to go out.


    In the heavy rain, they tried their best to gather information.


    Several times they encountered tidal waves of flood dragon beasts chasing from afar.


    The entire Heavenly Phenomenon maritime region was thoroughly in a state of alert.


    Meanwhile, on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the original Heavenly Phenomenon Formation had been replaced by Real Person Red Leaf with an even more powerful Fifth-Rank Spirit Formation, and along the coastline, a large number of controllable Self-Destructive Formations had been laid out.


    And around the island, countless small islands had gathered.


    All these small islands were equipped with numerous formations, waiting for the flying Demonic Beasts to land and deliver a fatal blow to them.


    Quite a few cultivators from the Lin Family were distributed among them.


    On the contrary, Lin Shiming, now that his injuries had improved, left Elder Mu in the room. He summoned nine Soul Devouring Ants and after arranging a formation that blocked Divine Sense on the perimeter, he entered the Cave Heaven World.


    With this barrier formation in place, along with the Soul Devouring Ants'' keen sensitivity to formations, any Golden Core Cultivator''s Divine Sense that probed would trigger an immediate sound alert, and Elder Mu would promptly inform Lin Shiming.


    Inside the Cave Heaven World, Lin Shiming landed on a high platform.


    Wang Jiao had already drawn close to Lin Shiming while even Golden Wing and Red-haired were excited.


    Only the Five-colored Python half-dragon was somewhat eager to try but dared not approach from a distance.


    Because Lin Shiming was about to inventory his gains from this island expedition.


    Having taken such great risks, his harvest was naturally immense.


    Among them, two Fifth-Order Jiaolong and as many as twenty-four Fourth-Rank Jiaolong, in addition to the Poisonous Dragon and Thunder Flood Dragon previously slain, and the Crimson Flood Dragon and Blue Flood Dragon killed near Fangmu Island.


    A total of twenty-eight Fourth-Rank Jiaolong.


    Laid out there, they filled up much of the Cave Heaven World''s space, with various scales and draconic qi rampaging, colored lights shimmering, and rich with Spiritual Energy.


    Faint roars echoed, and when combined with the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree, even more peculiar phenomena appeared.


    Even Lin Shiming himself felt it was a magnificent sight.


    He was momentarily stunned in place.


    This wasn''t even counting the treasure and Storage Bags of these flood dragons.


    These flood dragons were clearly faring much better than other Demonic Race Great Demons, with some flood dragon Great Demons owning Storage Bags and not lacking in Magical Treasures.


    And for this expedition, he had only spent three five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines.


    With these flood dragons combined with the Lin Family''s Bloodline Reversion Secret Technique, Lin Shiming was confident that in the future, he could cultivate more than a dozen true flood dragons for the Lin Family.


    By then, the Lin Family wouldn''t just be the Green Snake clan, but a genuine Flood Dragon clan.


    "Master, master!" Wang Jiao circled around Lin Shiming, continuously flattering him with warm breaths, yet his gaze involuntarily shifted towards the corpses of the flood dragons.


    At first, he focused on the Fourth-Rank peak Poisonous Dragon, and finally his gaze moved towards the two Fifth-Rank Poisonous Dragons.


    Countless drops of toxic drool fell from his mouth.

 Chapter 686: 446

    ```


    This was a pleasant surprise for him. Once refined into a magical treasure, the Blue Pupil wouldn''t be any less impressive than Xu Ri True Person''s Dharma Eye.


    This made Lin Shiming pay extra attention to the Chi Yu materials. However, Chi Yu was quite ordinary, merely materials from a common Fifth Rank Demonic Beast without the spirit patterns of a Minor Divine Ability.


    But in the future, crafting it into a Spirit Boat or a cape magical treasure would still be an excellent choice.


    Lin Shiming then took out a piece of the Crimson Yuan Shield that was split in half. The Crimson Yuan Shield was an Inferior Grade defense magical treasure of the Fifth Rank, cut into two by the Flaming Sword.


    Although its spiritual energy was greatly diminished, it was still a Fifth Rank magical treasure. The fire-red spirit patterns on its surface were still vivid and scorching, with just a single half being comparable to a Superior Grade Fourth Rank defense magical treasure.


    If repaired by a Fifth Rank Artifact Refiner, it might even be restored.


    That was all that remained of the Fifth Rank magical treasures. Lin Shiming estimated that the Artifact Refiners among the Flood Dragon Clan probably didn''t include a Fifth Rank Artifact Refiner.


    It might also be a tacit agreement among the Human Race not to exchange Fifth Rank magical treasures with the Demonic Race.


    After all, Fourth Rank magical treasures were not much of a concern for True Persons, but Fifth Rank magical treasures could influence them, and they exercised extremely strict control over them.


    Only a Demon King slaying a human True Person might be able to seize one.


    As for the remaining Fourth Rank magical treasures, there were many. The one from the peak Thunder Flood Dragon was a Blue Thunder Sword, a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade lightning sword magical treasure.


    Lin Shiming loved it immensely. It required lightning True Yuan to unleash its full power, but it would be great for Lin Shilei in the future.


    Beyond that was the Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Shield, the Golden Yang Shield.


    This was the magical treasure of the peak Poisonous Dragon, with exceptionally strong defense. Lin Shiming had bypassed the shield and directly used the Star Pearl to slay the Poisonous Dragon.


    He planned to directly refine this treasure. With the beast tide approaching, dangers were still plentiful.


    As for the other magical treasures, most were Medium Grade and Inferior Grade of the Fourth Rank. Lin Shiming put all of them into a Storage Bag.


    He was planning to let Lin Shijie, Lin Shitao, and his seventh granduncle choose from them.


    The rest would be placed into the clan treasury as part of the Lin Family''s foundation.


    There would be more and more Purple Mansion cultivators in the family. In the last beast tide, Red Leaf True Person also rewarded the Lin Family with a portion of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    Together with the last portion the Lin Family had, Lin Shiyi and Lin Houshou received one each, while Lin Shiming used the Zi Xuan Precious Jade.


    After all, his Five Elements Heavenly Corpse Decree, with the Five Elements Heavenly Corpse Bead, increased his chance of ascending to the Purple Mansion by thirty percent.


    Had the Five Elements Heavenly Corpse Decree not been so demanding, the Lin Family would have strongly promoted it.


    After collecting all the Demonic Beast inner cores, each Flood Dragon was placed into a Jade Coffin and sealed with Spirit Talismans.


    Lin Shiming then proceeded to open each of the Demonic Beasts'' Storage Bags, which contained numerous ores and Spirit Fruits.


    However, the precious Spirit Fruits were few. These Great Demons would have already devoured any valuable ones, leaving none behind.


    On the contrary, there was an abundance of Artifact Refining materials, most of which were Third Rank Spiritual Materials, and there were also some of the Fourth Rank. In the Storage Bags of the two Fifth Rank Demon Kings, Lin Shiming discovered Heavenly Colored Clay, one of the three main ingredients for crafting Fifth Rank spiritual puppets.


    This was an incredible surprise for Lin Shiming.


    The materials for a Fifth Rank spiritual puppet were no secret to Qian Ji Island.


    After all, only Qian Ji Island could refine a Fifth Rank spiritual puppet. If you possessed Heavenly Colored Clay, you could only go to Qian Ji Island.


    They could help you craft it, but they would take half of your Heavenly Colored Clay, and you would still need to purchase the other three main materials, two-thousand-year Netherworld Heavy Ironwood and Black Light Crystal.


    Qian Ji Island was not at a loss at all.


    Of course, it wasn''t just the conditions for the spiritual materials. An introduction from one of the Twelve Inner Island''s island masters was also needed, or crafting orders would still be denied.


    In the short term, Lin Shiming, not having enough spiritual materials and not yet reaching the Golden Core, would not consider crafting it.


    Lin Shiming stored the Heavenly Colored Clay carefully and continued looking through the other Spiritual Objects with anticipation. The Flood Dragon Clan truly possessed many treasures in the deep sea.


    However, he didn''t encounter any more Fifth Rank spiritual materials, just numerous Fourth Rank ones.


    Besides those, a Fifth Rank Spirit Jade Box caught Lin Shiming''s eye. It was from Chi Yu Demon King''s Storage Bag. Other spiritual objects were simply scattered around carelessly.


    This Jade Box was so elegantly made and used Fifth Rank Spirit Jade.


    Lin Shiming was immediately filled with anticipation. He carefully peeled off the Spirit Talisman from the Jade Box, and a palm-sized token appeared before Lin Shiming.


    This token was especially peculiar; the spirit patterns on it were in constant motion.


    The spirit patterns depicted islands in the sky, with clouds drifting and islands floating, immensely sacred, as if they were palaces in the heavens.


    ```


    Yet when his Divine Sense swept over it, it felt like an ordinary object, as if this treasure could only be one of two possibilities. Either it was truly mundane, or the magical treasure was beyond Lin Shiming''s comprehension.


    Lin Shiming picked up the token, caressed the patterns, and took another look at its back.


    But all he saw were three words, "Yunzhong Palace!"


    The strokes of these three characters seemed as if they were written by true dragons and phoenixes. One glance would make the world spin around, and in a daze, it was as if he had stepped into a palace.


    The palace floated in the air, surrounded by thriving Spirit Plants and an overflow of floral fragrances, including Spiritual Tea trees that towered into the sky¡ªthese trees were even larger than the Nine-leaved Pine Trees that Lin Shiming had seen before.


    The veins of each leaf seemed to outline an entire world.


    Spirit Cranes flew around, with melodies like those from immortals. The celestial palace was a hundred zhang tall, adorned with dragons and phoenixes, its grandeur unsurpassed by anything Lin Shiming had ever seen!


    And there were golden-armored warriors standing guard on each side of the immortal palace.


    In the next instant, an ordinary golden-armored warrior opened his eyes and glared angrily at him.


    With a light shout, Lin Shiming felt a pain as if his spirit was being slashed, and in an instant, he pulled himself out of the vision.


    Lin Shiming''s back was soaked with sweat, his face filled with shock. He thought it was an illusion, yet he realized that his spirit had indeed been injured for real.


    "Could all those rank and file golden-armored warriors be Golden Core cultivators?" Lin Shiming murmured to himself.


    This token seemed to be an identity token of an inheritance power, much like Taibai Sword Palace.


    If that were the case, then how powerful Yunzhong Palace must be, for even the warriors guarding it to possess Golden Core cultivation levels.


    Moreover, this was just the charm left behind by the token. If Lin Shiming were truly glared upon by one of those golden-armored warriors, he felt he would be even less able to withstand it.


    Lin Shiming tried to recall the ancient books from Kuangfeng True Person, but he still had no clue about Yunzhong Palace.


    He acquired the token from the Blue-eyed Demon King, and it must have an extraordinary origin.


    Strangely, the system prompt did not sound.


    Over the years, Lin Shiming discovered certain patterns to the system''s prompts.


    The prompts appeared mysteriously when they related to something good or bad involving him, with timing varying from the very day to several months in the future.


    Lin Shiming felt that these prompts were like cause and effect, triggered only after he made contact with something.


    Right now, with no prompt from the Yunzhong Palace token, the likelihood was that it would not be activated anytime soon.


    After a moment of contemplation, Lin Shiming carefully put away the token.


    He had a premonition that this would be a great opportunity in the future.


    Lastly, Lin Shiming looked at the Five-colored Python who was also drooling incessantly, as the three beasts were not discreet about their eating.


    However, after witnessing Lin Shiming collect all the Flood Dragon Demonic Beasts and even the corpses of those ordinary Great Demons,


    Its two Five-colored eyes revealed a sense of distress; after all, it was not Lin Shiming''s Spirit Beast, and for now, it could only suck in the lingering aura of the Flood Dragon''s nest from the sidelines.


    It dared only to use its tongue to lick, softly and gently, lest it incur the roar of Wang Jiao.


    Lin Shiming took out a Medicine Barrel and beckoned to the Five-colored Python.


    The latter, perceiving the gesture, slithered forward with its vibrant colors making it look exceptionally beautiful; Lin Shiming also gently stroked the head of the Five-colored Python.


    He then released the Bloodline Reversion Spiritual Liquid and took out the corpse of a Blue Flood Dragon that had just entered the early stages of the Fourth Rank:


    "You''re luckier than Wang Jiao was¡ªback then, Wang Jiao didn''t have a Flood Dragon corpse for its first Reversion!" Lin Shiming chuckled lightly. The Five-colored Python seemed to understand, as it raised its three-angled, colorful head and nodded slightly while its forked tongue involuntarily flicked out.


    Although it did not understand what Lin Shiming was doing, seeing him integrate countless incomplete Flood Dragons and serpent corpses into the Body Refinement liquid, expectation filled its eyes.


    Lin Shiming began to calm his mind, and his hands continuously formed Spirit Arts. Then, one after another, Spirit Extraction Nets appeared.


    As the final Spirit Extraction Net settled, the Medicine Barrel''s brew became so concentrated that it emitted various five-colored lights.


    Since the Five-colored Python possessed Five Elements attributes, Lin Shiming had many options among the half-Flood Dragons.


    If not for the worry that the Five-colored Python couldn''t handle it, Lin Shiming would have liked to release five Fourth Rank Flood Dragons at once.


    The Five-colored Python also let out a low roar and dashed towards the Medicine Barrel.


    Then, heart-shaking beastly roars ensued.


    One must realize that Bloodline Reversion is far from a comfortable process!

 Chapter 694: 450

    Lin Shiming also released the Purple Mansion Great Demon controlled by the Spirit Controlling Seal; at this moment, he could no longer care about hiding the Spirit Controlling Seal.


    He had to ensure the safety of his family''s cultivators. As for other defensive lines, he had no control over them, but he had to do his utmost to protect the Lin Family''s defense.


    In the end, he released both the Golden Wing and Red-haired; one transformed into a hundred-zhang Fire Ape, wielding the Heavenly Demon Rod with its tri-colored flames bizarrely beautiful, each strike brutally vicious to the extreme!


    The Golden Winged Mantis became a golden assassin, its iciness slowing enemies, while its golden edge was like the scythe of the Grim Reaper.


    Pushing the beast tide back once again.


    This time, the Lin Family had a total of twelve battle formations!


    But now, more than half were dead or injured, leaving only six battle formations to be consolidated!


    Lin Shiyuan, Lin Shilei, Lei Xuan, Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and Lin Zelu were each responsible for a battle formation, continuing to resist the demonic beast tide.


    At the same time, the self-destructive formations on the outermost layer were also activated one by one.


    Blowing up a large number of demonic beasts on the spot.


    The horror-stricken island had turned into hell, with the blood of various creatures flowing everywhere.


    And Red Leaf True Person also took out Forbidden Army Island, absorbing the bodies of demonic beasts, continuing to resist tenaciously on the outskirts of Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    The murky sea had already turned blood-red, still continuously assaulting Heavenly Phenomenon Island, trying to wash away the bloodstains.


    Apart from the heavy casualties of the Lin Family''s cultivators, the other guardian formations suffered even more tragic losses compared to the Lin Family.


    Among them, forces like the Zhao Family and Primordial Yang Gate, which were based on Foundation Establishment, also basically only had a few main family cultivators left.


    Their eyes were filled with grief, a substantial Foundation Establishment family shattered, their eyes bloodshot, their mouths unknowingly having consumed countless consolidating pills.


    However, thanks to the help of the Lin Family, the Ye Family, leveraging their family''s ancestor, a peak Foundation Establishment force, and possessing the Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture, managed to barely hold off with two battle formations!


    But these two battle formations also began to falter, and finally, they had no choice but to merge into one.


    However, while the frontline held off, inside Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Blue Dragon Island monks, one by one, were using grey bags to capture Flood Dragons!


    This infuriated Lin Shiming; what were they thinking capturing these Flood Dragons alive at such a time?


    But one must know that fully mature Flood Dragons naturally couldn''t be easily captured.


    Capturing them alive was far more difficult than killing them, since Flood Dragons were significantly powerful entities with strong bodies and dual cultivation of spirit and form.


    This action, not only failed to protect the formation base, but it also allowed those Flood Dragons to escape everywhere within Heavenly Phenomenon Island, wreaking havoc recklessly!


    And gradually, they spread towards the outer perimeter.


    Just then, a Fourth Rank Thunder Flood Dragon violently surged toward the area where the Lin Family''s battle formation was located!


    There was a major formation base of the Immovable Black Tortoise Formation, and just then, the monks of Blue Dragon Island were all trapped.


    Lin Shiming''s heart immediately raced, glaring at the Poisonous Dragon.


    The Poisonous Dragon before him had long been somewhat afraid of Lin Shiming, only daring to release its venom from a distance. Seeing Lin Shiming glare, it instantly faltered, wanting to flee.


    But it was too late, three Demon Blood Needles shot out, blocking the Poisonous Dragon''s three directions.


    The Great Swathe Sword Style of the Twin Flaming Swords descended, and in the sea, myriad Grass Swords emerged, blooming like a prairie.


    The dense Sword Qi affected many nearby demonic beasts, shredding them into pieces.


    And with a single sword strike, the Poisonous Dragon died on the spot!


    Lin Shiming swept it up with a Storage Bag.


    Lin Shiming''s sword carried a powerful momentum, so much so that even Red Leaf True Person and Tianliu True Person couldn''t help but look toward Lin Shiming.


    Especially the latter, who looked at Lin Shiming with newfound respect.


    Only those who were also at the Sword Birth Myriad Laws Realm could truly understand the difficulty of reaching such a level in Sword Dao.


    And before, Lin Shiming had shown himself to be a pure body cultivator!


    While everyone was surprised, Lin Shiming rode the Leaping Void Disk swiftly into the distance, slashing at the Thunder Flood Dragon!


    The situation had come to this, he no longer feared exposure.


    As long as his Flaming Sword was not exposed, the higher his strength appeared, the better!


    By now, he had guessed that both Kuangfeng True Person and Red Leaf True Person had already surmised that he had a Golden Core Cultivator backing him.


    The Transmission Formation was destroyed, so now the more Fourth Rank Great Demons he killed, the better it was to guard!


    Otherwise, if Heavenly Phenomenon Island were to fall, the first to suffer would definitely be them, the Purple Mansion Foundation Establishment cultivators!


    Upon the Leaping Void Disk, Lin Shiming''s figure quickly vanished, flashing twice consecutively, slashing at the interior''s Poisonous Dragon of Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    The Twin Flaming Swords had already stained with who knows how much dragon blood, their spirit intelligence grown, issuing a clanging sword cry.


    Transforming into cold and fierce Twin Swords lights, they slashed at the Thunder Flood Dragon from the left and the right.


    Boom!


    The Thunder Flood Dragon spewed out a Thunder Dragon, which ferociously collided with the Twin Swords.


    Countless thunderbolts and sword lights flashed into existence, creating a display of splendor to the extreme.


    With a roar, the Thunder Flood Dragon continued its charge towards Lin Shiming, who, in turn, didn''t flinch in the slightest. His body shone with the brilliance of stars, and for a moment, it seemed as if a myriad of stars were twinkling within him.


    Boom!


    Fist and claw clashed, emitting a massive sound. Thunder and starlight surged, and both the man and the beast were sent recoiling by the force of the impact.


    However, while retreating, Lin Shiming threw the Illusionary Spirit Vine from his hand, which rapidly spread and ensnared the Thunder Flood Dragon. The Demon Blood Needle struck again at the Thunder Flood Dragon, while the sound of the Metal Beast Whistling Rings came crushing down.


    In the end, the Twin Swords of Purple Dawn slashed out once more, enhanced with Sword Intent, and the Thunder Flood Dragon was slain on the spot!


    Such a terrifying display led the Lin Family''s crowd to cheer uncontrollably!


    However, it seemed that because Lin Shiming had slain two Flood Dragons in succession, a Human Cultivator from afar suddenly approached him.


    "Die!" Lin Shiming''s expression turned grave, knowing that ordinary cultivators wouldn''t attack him. The only explanation for this attack was a leech clone!


    Rays from his Primordial Magnet Ring shot out!


    Within the blink of an eye, the cultivator dissolved into leeches, scattering all over the ground.


    Yet before Lin Shiming could catch his breath, those countless leeches reformed into one gigantic leech.


    "Demon King!" Lin Shiming''s heart sank in an instant!


    He hadn''t expected that what he faced was not a clone of a leech, but the Leech Demon King itself!


    Countless bubbles appeared, shooting towards Lin Shiming.


    These bubbles were somewhat similar to the Sword Intent of the Tianliu True Person; they appeared slow but were actually incredibly fast, carrying with them a touch of illusion.


    Even the divine light of the Primordial Magnet Ring couldn''t dispel these strange bubbles.


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to use the Leaping Void Disk to spring away.


    But yet again, countless leeches appeared to his right, transforming back into a giant leech and bringing forth numerous colorful bubbles.


    Lin Shiming directly slashed out with the Twin Swords of Purple Dawn, but they were wrapped by the colorful bubbles, completely immobilized and unable to move!


    The gap between the Demon King and those of the Purple Mansion was too vast!


    Even a Fourth Rank Magical Artifact was as if a mere toy!


    Lin Shiming felt a chill deep in his heart!


    The worst-case scenario he had feared had come true; he had been singled out by a particularly troublesome Leech Demon King!


    It could be that he had drawn attention after slaying two Flood Dragons or perhaps since the moment he emerged from the Purple Sun Secret Realm. It might even be possible that he was targeted because of his earlier schemes.


    But regardless, at this moment, he was in grave danger!


    In this instant, Lin Shiming''s entire body couldn''t help but tremble uncontrollably.


    In his hand, a Jade Talisman engraved with the Zhao character was drawn out.


    Crushed!


    It was the talisman given by Kuangfeng True Person, good for three uses!


    At this moment, he did not hesitate to use it.


    His inner Divine Sense was also connecting with the Flaming Sword; he was preparing to launch a sneak attack and slay the Leech Demon King!


    Given the circumstances, even if Red Leaf True Person had doubts, there was nothing that could be done!


    He couldn''t just sacrifice himself!


    Moreover, if Red Leaf True Person was sensible, then Xu Ri True Person, who was in seclusion, would be as good as dead!


    After all, the wielder of the Flaming Sword was a Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Cultivator, and considering his strength, could be even more formidable than Xu Ri True Person. By siding with the Lin Family, his association might even elevate the status of Xu Ri Island.


    Just like how Tianliu True Person and Kuangfeng True Person from Tianliu Island supported each other!


    As the Jade Talisman was crushed!


    Kuangfeng True Person quickly reacted:


    "Leech, you bully a junior?" Kuangfeng True Person''s body suddenly jolted, and the next moment, he manifested an external incarnation.


    As a Loose Cultivator Golden Core, Kuangfeng True Person truly had a multitude of tricks up his sleeve.


    He was not only an Alchemist, but also a Spirit Meal Master, commanding a Wind Flood Dragon, and possessing an Early Stage Golden Core external incarnation!


    With a shout from Kuangfeng True Person, he momentarily halted the Leech Demon King, allowing Lin Shiming to instantly escape the trap of the bubbles!


    Yet the Leech Demon King still harbored an unyielding intention to kill Lin Shiming!


    At this moment, the latter seemed convinced that Lin Shiming had some treasure on him!


    Splitting one into two, the Demon King''s specialty was obviously the creation of clones, dividing into two Golden Core clones, one to deal with Kuangfeng True Person''s incarnation and the other with Lin Shiming!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was also deeply serious. He unleashed the full power of his seven Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, and even if they were destroyed by the bubbles, he couldn''t care less at this point. Facing a Demonic Beast like the Leech Demon King, he had to strike a deadly blow!

 Chapter 701 - 454: A Long Talk Over Drinks, The Final Battle (Two in One, Please Subscribe)

    Returning to Zi Yu Mountain, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but once again visit Lin Shilei''s cave dwelling.


    If it were said that Lin Yuqing had watched over his growth, then Lin Shilei too had grown up before his eyes.


    Even when he first awakened his Spirit Root, Lin Shilei clung to the hem of his mortal father''s robe, appearing somewhat slow-witted.


    The day Lin Yuqing died had also nearly brought Lin Shilei to the brink of collapse.


    Inside the dwelling, Lin Shilei clearly wasn''t cultivating; his eyes were red. It seemed as if sensing Lin Shiming''s arrival, he began to pretend and closed his eyes to feign cultivation.


    Just like that day, even though his grief was overwhelming, he was trying hard to persuade Lin Shiming and also convincing himself.


    Lin Shiming sighed, didn''t enter, but slowly spoke:


    "The strength of a cultivator can also be said to be the strength within the heart!"


    "The more we lose, the stronger we should become, so that we won''t lose again in the future!"


    Lin Shiming slowly spoke, with images of Second Elder Lin Yuqi, Lin Yutie, and finally Great Elder Lin Yuqing flashing through his mind.


    The strength of the heart is why those of the Yu generation, despite not high cultivation levels, were sufficiently impressive.


    "Seventh brother!" Lin Shilei also lifted his head, his eyes red, looking at Lin Shiming.


    Inviting Lin Shiming into the cave dwelling, the place was filled with furnishings, all somewhat old, many of which were from Lin Yuqing''s own dwelling.


    Lin Shiming also spotted the Second Rank Supreme Grade Thunder Knife he had given to Lin Shilei hanging on the wall.


    "Seventh brother, I''m alright now, just wanted to take my time!"


    Lin Shilei said in a soft voice. He then proceeded to make tea for Lin Shiming, taking out the Emerald Orchid Tea produced by the Lin Family.


    In the eyes of most cultivators of the Lin Family, Lin Shiming loved to drink Spiritual Tea.


    But Lin Shiming took the teapot and with a gesture from his bosom, a bottle of Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine appeared in his hand.


    Spiritual Wine is a famously potent Ruby Dew from Xu Ri Island. When poured into the cup, it glistened like sweet nectar, crystal clear and also fiery red.


    The fragrance it emitted instantly filled the entire room.


    And it was very domineering.


    Even Jiuxiao Hermit praised it as the fieriest of liquor.


    After that, Lin Shiming handed a cup to Lin Shilei, signaling him to drink it down.


    Lin Shilei didn''t hesitate and drank the liquor in one gulp, immediately feeling a fiery sensation in his mouth and his Spiritual Power chaotically surging inside him, uncontainably violent.


    His face turned crimson, and he hurriedly circulated his cultivation technique.


    "Does it burn?"


    "It burns!" Lin Shilei replied.


    "This, it works better than taking things slowly!"


    "Tonight you can speak out all the anger, unease, and regrets in your heart!"


    "Tomorrow, we will go and kill Demonic Beasts. Just like Shiyuan, we will take revenge for Great Grandfather!"


    Saying this, Lin Shiming downed nearly half a bottle of the liquor.


    Glug glug!


    Lin Shiming''s body also began to redden. The potency of Ruby Dew liquor couldn''t even be dissipated with Spiritual Power.


    Thus, at this moment, Lin Shiming was more drunk than Lin Shilei.


    And his mouth was even spicier.


    Lin Shilei''s heart ached; his heart was just as pained.


    The liquor was harsh, but it was also to remember this moment.


    "Let''s set a small goal, kill ten Fourth Rank Flood Dragons!"


    Lin Shiming gesticulated on the table while looking at Lin Shilei.


    Lin Shilei took up his cup again, drank another sip, his complexion even redder, his throat feeling incredibly spicy.


    Even the Spiritual Energy inside him was becoming uncontrollably violent.


    But in this moment, Lin Shilei''s eyes shone even brighter by three parts.


    He too play-acted on the table:


    "Tomorrow''s goal, slay twenty Third Rank pinnacle Great Demons!"


    The two men looked at each other and smiled. Lin Shiming then took out another jug of liquor.


    At this moment, even if they couldn''t drink more, it wouldn''t matter. Just like those memories, they couldn''t bear them, but they had to endure.


    "Seventh brother, Grandfather said to me before he passed on!"


    "He was very disappointed, he said, I have the best Spirit Root in the family, yet I didn''t become the family''s leader!"


    "He said, I''m not as good as elder brother when he was young!" Lin Shilei spoke again.


    "I know, Grandfather was competing with Second Grandfather, their generation was all like that. I''m sorrowful because, even though Grandfather lived so much longer than Second Grandfather, he didn''t see me surpassing big brother!"


    "Not to mention you!" Lin Shilei''s gaze was resolute at this moment.


    Perhaps it was the liquor''s courage, or maybe these words had long been brewing in his heart.


    "Big brother is waiting!" Lin Shiming, seeing this, replied with a smile and took another drink.


    "I''m also waiting!"


    Under the moonlight, the two men talked deeply into the night.


    A gentle breeze brushed over the hillside and also through Lin Shilei''s cave dwelling.


    Mists began to rise slowly; the clear morning after rain often brought heavy fog, and the sea was no exception.


    From a distance, Zi Yu Mountain at this moment looked like a wild beast licking its wounds!


    The long night seemed like the calm before dawn.


    The Transmission Formation was nearing completion, and in the void, spatial fluctuations started to appear.


    This was the tuning of the Void Formation, and of course, it was also the most dangerous time.


    The distant sea began to surge, and rain started to fall gently from the sky once again.


    Countless cultivators stepped out of their dwellings, and several Golden Core Cultivators stood in the highest reaches of the void, overlooking the entire island.


    Lin Shiming was no exception, and Lin Shilei, Lei Xuan, Lin Shijie, and others followed behind.


    This time, the Human Race held the advantage, and their goal was singular, kill beasts!


    Take revenge!


    The light wind gradually intensified, wailing and bending the treetops.


    Boom!


    A massive bolt of lightning struck, thundering like an explosive, unsettling the entire sea area.


    A huge wave began rolling toward the island.


    In the sky above, a Profound Tortoise Spirit began to rise slowly, as if awakened by the thunder.

 Chapter 702 - 454: A Long Talk Over Drinks, The Final Battle (Two in One, Please Subscribe)_2

    Apart from the Immovable Black Tortoise Formation, at this moment, there were also five Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Formations.


    The Spirit Vein of Heavenly Phenomenon Island had gradually risen to a Fifth Rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein, and the surging Spiritual Energy caused the bodies of all the cultivators on the island to shudder involuntarily.


    Clearly, in these past few days, several True Persons had infused the Spirit Vein with more energy; otherwise, Heavenly Phenomenon Island''s Spirit Vein could not have sustained five grand formations!


    Almost at the instant that the formations rose into the sky, Red Leaf True Person also shouted loudly:


    "All cultivators of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, take your positions. This time, if we survive the defense of the island, we live, but if we lose and the Transmission Formation is destroyed, once the demonic race''s reinforcements arrive, everyone will die!"


    Red Leaf True Person''s voice was extremely loud!


    The Transmission Formation was for the reinforcements from Nine Dragon Island as well as to provide a lifeline for Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    After all, Heavenly Phenomenon Island was not only the essential path to attack Xu Ri Island but could also be considered the required route to circumvent Nine Dragon Island.


    The Flood Dragon Clan aimed for the Flood Dragons imprisoned and raised on Nine Dragon Island, as well as for the Golden Dragon Fruit trees!


    Once Nine Dragon Island had organized sufficiently terrifying combat power, it would be time for the Flood Dragon Clan to retreat.


    That moment would not be too far off.


    So if the Transmission Formation were to be thoroughly destroyed, Heavenly Phenomenon Island would be besieged and doomed!


    One after another, the battle formations were set up, and every cultivator held a large handful of Spirit Talismans in their hands.


    Even a number of cultivators were holding Magic Artifacts in their hands!


    At the critical moment, under the protection of the Formation, Foundation Establishment cultivators could unleash a strike worthy of a Purple Mansion cultivator, which could seriously injure even the Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    And in the chaos of battle, grave injury also meant demise!


    At this moment, the cultivators of the Lin Family had also made their preparations. Lin Shiming had emptied the family''s treasury, equipping every Lin Family cultivator with extravagantly luxurious Spirit Talismans and Magic Artifacts!


    Among them, Lin Shilei, Lei Xuan, Lin Zekong, and Lin Zecheng, several cultivators in the later stages of Foundation Establishment, all had Magic Talismans on them!


    Boom!


    Another thunderclap fell, and the lines of rain in the sky suddenly became thicker and longer!


    Da-da-da-da-da!


    The distant waves turned into a tsunami, and countless Demonic Beasts surged within it, fiercely charging towards Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    As the tsunami began, in the void, Tianqing Flood Dragon King was at the lead, followed by at least four late Fifth Rank Flood Dragons, followed by more than a dozen Demon Kings!


    However, this time, the Demon Kings were not only comprised of Flood Dragons but also Red Cloud Birds, Five-colored Sparrows, and Swordtooth Sharks.


    And the Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons were even more numerous, densely packed and attacking Heavenly Phenomenon Island from all directions!


    Tianqing Flood Dragon King still unleashed a claw that tore through the void!


    A colossal blade of azure, occupying the entire void, slashed towards Heavenly Phenomenon Island. Even Tianliu True Person didn''t dare to confront its sharpness directly, but instead, the spirit tortoise from the Immovable Black Tortoise Formation emerged!


    Boom!


    Without any suspense, the spirit tortoise shattered once again, and Tianliu True Person and Tianliu Demon King charged forward once more.


    At this moment, Tianliu True Person once again demonstrated her exceptional swordsmanship.


    Yet at this moment, Lin Shiming had no mind to carefully observe any more!


    Today, he intended to slay those Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Today, he intended to kill Flood Dragons!


    Of course, it was not solely for revenge, nor was it to show off.


    But rather, because the status of Protector for the Flaming Sword demanded it!


    The True Persons had not reminded Lin Shiming, only Kuangfeng True Person had given him an affirming look.


    All the True Persons appeared somber.


    Compared to the last time, this battle was definitely not going to be any easier!


    Very soon, those True Persons collided with the Demon Kings!


    It was still Tianliu True Person and Tianliu Demon King along with Red Leaf True Person, Gufeng True Person and even Xue Yun True Person, all tackling the Tianqing Flood Dragon King together!


    And this time, Tianliu True Person and Xue Yun True Person directly sacrificed damaged Spiritual Treasures.


    Amid a series of incantations, Tianqing Flood Dragon King also appeared somewhat beleaguered, yet its ferocity greatly increased!


    On the side of this battlefield, Kuangfeng True Person and his Wind Flood Dragon confronted two late Fifth Rank Flood Dragons, while the remaining three late Fifth Rank Flood Dragons were held back by Lan Yu True Person and Bai Yu True Person.


    Especially the True Persons from Nine Dragon Island, because their alliance had been breached and the destruction of their three branch islands seemed inevitable, were even more ruthless in their attacks.


    They fought with a vicious and lethal edge, having abandoned the previous notion of capturing Flood Dragons!


    Without the Golden Dragon Fruit trees, even if they were to capture Flood Dragons, they couldn''t carry out the previous strategy.


    It was safer to let their Spirit Beasts consume the Flood Dragon Pills instead!


    The Spirit Beasts of the several True Persons also faced off against those Demon Kings.


    One by one, the terrifying fluctuations of combat began to spread, occasionally waves of the aftermath hitting Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and at this moment, the other formations that had been prearranged also demonstrated their effectiveness.


    With these formations in place, the number of cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island who were killed by the aftershocks was greatly reduced.


    And these Fifth Rank formations could even block some Demon Kings!


    Although not as formidable as the Immovable Black Tortoise Formation, they nonetheless held extremely high value!


    Boom!


    As the battle between Demon Kings and True Persons raged on, those Purple Mansion Great Demons also made their appearance.


    And this time, the one that set its sights on Lin Shiming was none other than a Purple Mansion Peak three-colored Flood Dragon!


    Lin Shiming''s strength had also been displayed before the Demonic Race, and there were even Demon Kings who wanted to assassinate Lin Shiming directly!


    However, they were once again impeded by the massive mouth of Red Leaf True Person''s Red Whale Spirit Beast!


    Terrifying suction power created vortex after vortex!


    Lin Shiming''s body also soared out!


    Heading straight for that three-colored Flood Dragon.


    He didn''t use the Leaping Void Disk right from the start; the device had detrimental effects on the body, and his target this time was to slay more than a dozen Flood Dragons!


    The Purple Dawn Swords took the lead in striking, transforming into two gleaming sword lights, one even more brilliant than the other!


    At this moment, compared to a few days ago, Lin Shiming''s swordsmanship had more flavor.


    This was also the effect from Yangliu Bank yesterday.


    Though he had only experienced it for half a day, Lin Shiming was already at the realm of "Sword Birth Myriad Laws," so it was natural for him to better understand after watching Tianliu True Person''s demonstration.


    The three-colored Flood Dragon took these two swords very seriously; it opened its massive mouth and expelled three-colored Spirit Light, landing on the two swords and instantly causing rust marks to appear on the Purple Dawn Swords!


    This scene made Lin Shiming narrow his eyes.


    This three-colored Spirit Light turned out to be an intense poison.


    Seeing its effectiveness, the three-colored Flood Dragon let out an excited roar with its mouth agape.


    Then it tumbled in the air, whipping out with its tail, knocking both Purple Dawn Swords away!


    But before its tail could fall, Lin Shiming''s Primordial Magnet Ring had already shone upon the three-colored Flood Dragon.


    The Primordial Magnet Divine Light, which overcomes the Five Elements, immediately made the Flood Dragon''s three colors vanish.


    The Purple Dawn Swords, at this moment, burst forth with infinite sword lights once again!


    The essence of "Sword Birth Myriad Laws" descended upon the vast area nearby, and the Flood Dragon''s scales made cracking noises.


    The Purple Dawn Swords also fiercely struck the three-colored Flood Dragon.


    "Die!" Lin Shiming hadn''t expected the opponent to even cope with that much.


    Although the three-colored Spirit Light was powerful, with his Sword Intent wrapped around it, it wasn''t corroded so easily!


    His body vanished in an instant, and the seven Soul-Suppressing Pagodas fell together.


    Landing on the three-colored Flood Dragon and activating soul capture!


    At the same time, three Demon Blood Needles shot straight towards the Flood Dragon''s vitals!


    Thud!


    A breaking sound was heard, but at the critical moment, the three-colored Flood Dragon twisted its body and dodged the attack.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shiming had already encircled the Flood Dragon tightly with five Beast Rings.


    Immediately after, they constricted, and the Heaven-Slaying Sword technique fell!


    This time it wasn''t two swords, but three!


    The dazzling sword light was enough to split the void.


    With the suppression of the Primordial Magnet Ring''s divine light, and the Five Metal Beast Roaring Rings circling around, the three-colored Flood Dragon couldn''t even dodge and could only stare with wide eyes, letting out consecutive roars, seemingly trying to scare away Lin Shiming like it would startle a small animal!


    Boom!


    Sword light swept across, and three huge cracks appeared on the three-colored Flood Dragon, eventually torn into pieces by Lin Shiming''s close proximity with the Leaping Void Disk!


    Thrown into the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda!


    The first three-colored Flood Dragon was slain on the spot by Lin Shiming!


    And the system prompt also sounded synchronously:


    [Please be cautious of the three hidden Demon Kings!]


    Lin Shiming sneered in his heart, unsurprised.


    He had long suspected that the Flood Dragon Clan would come after him swiftly!


    The cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island designated as Protectors, those of the Flood Dragon Clan must have also harbored such thoughts.


    Only, three Demon Kings seemed a bit too few!


    Lin Shiming thought to himself.

 Chapter 707 - 457: Leech Monster Skin, Green Fish Mirror (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass Votes)

    The Spirit Boat, following the golden light, landed before Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Underneath the shabby island, the magnificently decorated, gigantic Spirit Boat, along with the True Persons dressed in flowing robes, made them appear like the saints who rescued all beings.


    Only this time, there were no auspicious clouds nor cheers.


    Lin Shiming did not request anyone to do so either. After all, their support had been too late, and the losses of Heavenly Phenomenon Island were so significant; success or failure hinged on the whims of those True Person Cultivators.


    Even Red Leaf True Person gave no orders.


    This final time, they had transferred over in advance and lay in ambush, without informing any cultivators below the Golden Core stage.


    If they had appeared earlier, perhaps there would have been no need for so many deaths in the last battle.


    "Everyone, disperse. The beast tide is over!"


    "Seven Fifth Rank Demon Kings have perished, and only the Demon Core of the Tianqing Flood Dragon King escaped. The Flood Dragon Clan will lack a king for the next hundred years!"


    "Even after a hundred years, the Demonic Race will have no possibility of initiating such a massive beast tide!"


    "You are all heroes!" Xue Shan True Person remained as indifferent as always.


    At this point, people finally began to get excited.


    It wasn''t for the rewards, but because the beast tide had finally ended and they had survived the ordeal.


    Unlike at the beginning of the beast tide when the Transmission Formation was open to all, and cultivators sought resources,


    by the end of the tide, the Transmission Formation was forcibly closed, and they had to fight desperately just to survive.


    Xue Shan True Person glanced once more at Kuangfeng True Person and Tianliu True Person:


    "Kuangfeng, Tianliu, my friends, you have worked hard!"


    The final strike from Tianliu True Person was critical; without that decisive blow, the Flood Dragons would have been more cautious.


    They would not have rushed forth, and it would have been more difficult to inflict severe injury upon the Tianqing Flood Dragon King or slay other Demon Kings.


    "Red Leaf, Gufeng, both of you did well. I will report to the Alliance and celebrate your achievements!"


    "Thank you, Alliance Leader!" Red Leaf True Person and Gufeng True Person both spoke in quick succession to express their gratitude.


    The two of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    For over twenty years, due to the fall of Xu Ri True Person and receiving the news that Xu Ri Island was one of the three major directions of the demonic race''s assault, they had been utterly exhausted.


    Whether it was allying with Tianliu Island or inviting peers from Nine Dragon Island, or borrowing the Immovable Black Tortoise Formation from Xue Shan True Person,


    the great effort they invested was significant, even causing the storerooms of Xu Ri Island, after years of accumulation, to become somewhat empty. Finally, there were results.


    The two were all smiles.


    "Kudos also to Fengxing, Xue Yun, Bai Yu, and Lan Yu, as well as my friend from White Lake. My heart aches for him. Next, I shall prepare a modest celebration banquet to honor everyone, and I hope that you all can bring the True Persons from your respective islands to join!" Xue Shan True Person said with a slight smile, inviting all the True Persons to the celebration banquet.


    Of course, this banquet also symbolized the future direction of the Coral Alliance.


    "Lin, you should come too!"


    What Lin Shiming hadn''t expected was that Xue Shan True Person would extend the invitation to him as well.


    But then he understood, the Flaming Sword was for Spirit Cultivation, and everyone could see it.


    The identity of a Protector was indeed beyond doubt, so there would be no problem for him to attend!


    Even so, without any system prompts, Lin Shiming dared not make any rash decisions.


    He looked towards Kuangfeng True Person and Tianliu True Person and, only after receiving nods from the latter two, did he feel completely at ease.


    "Thank you, Alliance Leader!" Lin Shiming bowed in gratitude.


    Xue Shan True Person nodded and led the way toward Lin Family Restaurant.


    The other True Persons followed, and seemingly to assuage any doubts Lin Shiming might have, Red Leaf True Person even sent a message to him:


    "The hidden Transmission Formation is on the fifth floor of Lin Family Restaurant!"


    Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised by this, but it was indeed the best answer he could think of.


    The known Transmission Formations numbered ten, and the remaining ones, if they were to be concealed, could only be at Lin Family Restaurant.


    Only there, with so many True Persons residing within, would the Demonic Race have no way of detecting them.


    This was to say nothing of the fact that the Water Leech Demon King had also been slain by Lin Shiming''s Flaming Sword.


    Elsewhere, concealing the spatial fluctuations would be extremely difficult.


    "The celebration will take place on Xu Ri Island, in one day''s time. Remember to listen more and speak less!" Red Leaf True Person reminded once again.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming became somewhat alert. Red Leaf True Person might not blame Lin Shiming, since Xu Ri True Person had gone out on his own,


    but for the Coral Alliance Leader, if he exposed the fact that Lin Shiming had slain Xu Ri True Person, then for the sake of face, he would have to kill Lin Shiming.


    Even Tianliu True Person wouldn''t be able to keep him safe.


    Having killed so many Flood Dragons, the corpses and materials were extremely rare, not to mention the several Fifth Rank Demon Cores.


    With these thoughts, Lin Shiming''s heart grew heavier.


    The True Persons as well as the forces from other realms left one after another through the Transmission Formation.


    Lin Shiming also took a look at that Transmission Formation, situated in Red Leaf True Person''s room. That day, he had thought Red Leaf True Person would seek him out,


    but in reality, only Kuangfeng True Person and Xue Yun True Person had been looking for him. At that time, the latter was likely setting up the Transmission Formation at a critical moment.


    Lin Shiming had plans to seal off that Transmission Formation.


    Thus, he looked towards Lin Zelu and Lin Shiyun. Since Lin Houshou was not present, they would have to take action.


    "Shiyun, Zelu, it''s hard work, but the Transmission Formation depends on you two. Now that the beast tide has ended, we must let those Loose Cultivators and families leave as soon as possible!"


    "Don''t worry, big brother Seven!"


    "Don''t worry, Uncle Seven!"


    Both nodded and then quickly stepped out.


    At this moment, there were no strange thoughts in their minds; compared to the life and death struggles they witnessed, now they merely needed to set up a few Transmission Formations!

 Chapter 708: 457

    And this time, although the Lin Family suffered substantial damage, the mortals of the Lin Family and most of the cultivators from the generations of the Lin Family with ''Yan'' in their given names were unscathed.


    They might not have experienced the full beast tide, but being displaced and relying on the hospitality of others, that feeling, could still inspire them to fight bravely.


    Furthermore, with so many Lin Family cultivators here, having gone through the beast tide was like having passed through a baptism.


    Lin Shiming arranged the Transmission Formation and had Jiuxiao Scatter Man help with the recovery of the market.


    The Transmission Formation wouldn''t be ready anytime soon, but the market could be restored.


    The Lin Family could also rely on their vast clan resources to exchange for Spirit Beast resources among the loose cultivators and smaller clans.


    Moreover, this time, the Lin Family could once again open their doors, and with their current prestige, recruiting sons-in-law and taking in Guest Elders would be much simpler than before.


    Apart from Jiuxiao Scatter Man managing the market, Lin Shijie was in charge of rebuilding Zi Yu Mountain, which had also been severely damaged this time.


    Once everything was arranged, Lin Shiming also spread the news that in one month''s time, the Lin Family would hold an auction on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    This time they generously put forth Zi Xuan Precious Jade, along with a substantial number of Spirit Snakes and spiritual pets, and dozens of Foundation Establishment Pills.


    This was something the Lin Family had promised before the war, so naturally, they couldn''t go back on their word.


    This news was disseminated by Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.


    As members of the ''Ze'' generation, they were now considered core forces and could take on certain responsibilities.


    After making the arrangements, Lin Shiming returned to his cave dwelling on Zi Yu Mountain to fully focus on recovering from his injuries.


    His left arm had been shattered by the Star Pearl once again, making Lin Shiming eager to further enhance his Body Refining strength.


    If his Star Body Refining Technique could reach the peak of the Purple Mansion, then perhaps he could withstand at least two punches by that time.


    At that point, any Golden Core True Person he ambushed would definitely not fare well.


    As we all know, the physical bodies of True Persons are not as strong as those of a Fifth-Order Jiaolong.


    However, he also considered how to approach True Persons closely.


    The next morning, Lin Shiming opened his eyes.


    Heavenly Phenomenon Island already showed a new atmosphere; the market was bustling again, and even Zi Yu Mountain was filled with blooming peach trees, the fragrance of peach blossoms filling the air.


    In front of the Ascending Immortal Ladder on Zi Yu Mountain, many loose cultivators were discovering the wonders of the ladder, including a Spirit Talisman Master that Lin Shijin had recruited. Back then on Jiuyue Island, he said he would test it out, but Lin Shiming still didn''t have time now.


    The new vitality of the clan made him feel at ease, so he then went to activate the Formation and entered the Cave Heaven World.


    Wang Jiao instantly arrived before Lin Shiming, the latter''s eyes glaring at him.


    Full of grievance.


    After all, Lin Shiming had released both Red-haired and Golden Wing, but had unfairly not released him.


    Even the Crimson Flame Sword on the other side had been let out!


    It was truly boring for him to stay in the Cave Heaven!


    "Rest assured, your reward is not small either. You must work hard and break through again soon!" Lin Shiming handed the corpses of a late Fourth Rank Poisonous Dragon and a peak Fourth Rank tricolored Poisonous Dragon, as well as their Demon Cores, to Wang Jiao.


    Wang Jiao had no problem devouring the nine-headed serpent, so naturally, these wouldn''t be an issue for him either.


    Now, Lin Shiming had so many Jiaolong corpses that he didn''t need to worry about any waste.


    Upon seeing this, Wang Jiao immediately roared excitedly.


    "Master is mighty, roar!"


    "Roar!"


    After being sent away, Wang Jiao, Red-haired, and Golden Wing each were fed some Spirit Beast materials.


    Only then did Lin Shiming turn his attention to the Flaming Sword.


    "Senior, you have worked hard these past days!"


    "Kid Lin, if we''re to count your five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines, you''d be out of them by now, but after acting so many times, I''ll give you a discount, leaving one last one!" the Flaming Sword lifted its head and spoke.


    "Many thanks, senior!" Lin Shiming knew by now that the Flaming Sword was protecting him.


    Intentionally saying there was one last chance, he was naturally very grateful.


    "You, kid, remember to nourish your Sword Intent, and don''t just fiddle around aimlessly!" the Flaming Sword spoke again.


    Lin Shiming nodded again and again, knowing he still had a long way to go on his Sword Dao journey. From Tianliu True Person''s Sword Lake, the move Willow Bank was not just about the wine!


    He needed to nurture his Sword Path Grass, and his Taiyi Sword Grass also required nurturing, a process that needed time, bit by bit.


    Once the Flaming Sword finished speaking, Lin Shiming also started to look over the gains from this venture.


    The remains of a fourth-rank Flood Dragon had increased by twelve, reaching an impressive total of forty, although many of them could only be referred to as half-dragons.


    There were seven carcasses of fifth-rank Flood Dragons, two from Jiuyue Island, two Wind Flood Dragons from Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and three that had come to confront him in the final battle.


    Among these, the most rare was the fifth-rank Chameleon Flood Dragon King. Lin Shiming planned to refine a secret magical treasure with the Flood Dragon King''s material¡ªno need for fifth-rank materials, but something that required an extremely terrifying degree of concealment!


    This would be a great help for his future journey to the Eastern Domain.


    Apart from the Chameleon Flood Dragon King, Lin Shiming then turned his attention to the carcass and Demon Core of the Leech Demon King.


    He found these materials quite baffling, particularly the latter''s Demon Core and its powerful clone technique.


    At the moment he picked up the flesh, he could still feel the softness of the leech as if it contained not a hint of strength.


    Yet every time he tore a piece off it would transform into an even smaller leech carcass.


    This made Lin Shiming feel quite peculiar; such material would likely be a great asset for creating clones, albeit a bit weak.


    Lin Shiming''s gaze then fell upon the scalp of the Leech Demon King, which bore a skin with an extraordinary amount of Spirit Patterns.


    While it hadn''t reached the same level as the Blue-eyed Demon King''s eyes, it was still incredibly unusual.


    He touched it with his hand and in the next moment, felt his blood crazily surging towards the skin.


    For a while, the circulation of his True Yuan became chaotic, and even the strength of his body was greatly affected.


    This caused Lin Shiming to rejoice; if he could refine this spirit skin into a Spirit Drum and beat it, it would probably affect both Qi Cultivators and Body Refining Cultivators greatly, rendering even Magical Treasures that defend against Divine Sense useless.


    It directly affected the blood.


    If it hadn''t been for the Flaming Sword, Lin Shiming might very well have perished at the hands of the Leech Demon King.


    He carefully removed the Leech Demon King''s spirit skin.


    And sealed it in a Jade Box.


    Only then did he look at a blue mirror and a blue long sword.


    The blue longsword was obviously a fifth-rank Magical Treasure, but it only possessed the strength of an inferior-grade, fifth-rank treasure. Since it resembled a swordfish, Lin Shiming named it the Green Fish Sword.


    The sword was fine, but Lin Shiming couldn''t use it, especially since it was a Water Attribute treasure.


    What caught his eye the most was the blue mirror.


    This mirror could lock space in its reflection, rendering even Boundary-breaking Talismans useless, unquestionably a magical treasure on par with the Leaping Void Disk.


    The mirror too, resembled a broad Spirit Fish and seemed to be part of a set with the Green Fish Sword.


    Behind the mirror, it was covered with blue fish-scale Spirit Patterns, which looked extremely complicated.


    Lin Shiming simply named the mirror the Green Fish Mirror.


    Although the mirror was also a fifth-rank magical treasure, Lin Shiming still couldn''t use it at the moment. He would have to wait until his breakthrough to the Golden Core, but he was very eager for this treasure.


    With this magical treasure in hand, once he reached the Golden Core Stage, he would definitely not be one of those at the early stage of Golden Core who were weak in magical combat.


    Next, Lin Shiming began examining the Storage Bags of several Demon Kings.


    These Demon Kings could transform into humans, and usually stored their treasures in Storage Bags.


    To his surprise, a piece of Black Light Crystal appeared in his hand.


    It turned out to be a Supreme Grade Black Light Crystal, another key material for a fifth-rank Spiritual Puppet. Including the Heaven Color Clay, he now had two of the main materials for a fifth-rank puppet.


    All he required now was some two-thousand-year-old Heavy Ironwood to refine a fifth-rank puppet.


    If he could collect it, perhaps through the relationships with Kuangfeng True Person, the Lin Family might gain the foundation of a Golden Core puppet.


    Lin Shiming carefully put away the Black Light Crystal and prepared a Spirit Talisman Jade Slip, so that Lin Family Cultivators could search for news of the Heavy Ironwood.


    Compared to Black Light Crystal and Heaven Color Clay, Heavy Ironwood was the easiest treasure to find.


    Besides the Black Light Crystal, Lin Shiming also found a five-thousand-year-old Crimson Flame Grass, which he estimated the Demonic Race acquired by killing cultivators from the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    He directly handed it to the Crimson Flame Sword.


    The remaining ores and Spirit Grass were also plentiful, though all of them were fourth-rank and immature, with a few still having their roots intact. Lin Shiming planted them in the Purple Sun Tower and cultivated them with care.


    As for whether they would mature, that he could only leave up to fate.


    After sorting out the treasures, Lin Shiming glanced once more at the chrysalis of the Five-colored Python, which was still emitting a five-colored dim light, showing that the rebirth had been successful.


    Lin Shiming then left Cave Heaven and headed to Xu Ri Island to join the victory celebration.

 Chapter 709 - 458: Dual Island Rewards, Celebration Banquet (Two in One)

    Xu Ri Island, just outside the Transmission Formation.


    Lin Shiming felt as if he were witnessing the scene after the beast tide ended, with the number of cultivators gradually increasing once more.


    Row upon row of glazed tile buildings, paired with mahogany bay windows, exuded a unique aura.


    On the streets, cultivators of all colors and varieties bustled about.


    There were those in Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, and even Purple Mansion cultivators were not rare; their eyes were filled with exhaustion, yet also gleamed with the joy of surviving a calamity.


    Some merchant caravans, dressed in satin robes, were especially hurried in their steps.


    After experiencing the beast tide, the Coral Alliance was naturally in possession of a vast quantity of Demonic Beast materials. Demonic Beast body parts could be transformed into magic artifacts, Spirit Beast meat could be sold, and most importantly, Demonic Beast inner cores could be used to refine elixirs.


    In the Southern Sea Cultivation World, many cultivation-enhancing elixirs use Demonic Beast inner cores as the main ingredient.


    The elixirs that Fairy Yulin and Fairy Fuling gave Lin Shiming were primarily based on Demonic Beast inner cores.


    Now was also the time when the prices of Demonic Beast materials were at their lowest. However, within a few years, prices would rise again. With the beast tide over, the number of Demonic Beasts would also be significantly reduced.


    Thinking of this, Lin Shiming even considered getting in touch with the merchant caravans.


    The Lin Family also had many Demonic Beast materials, and at the end of the tide, they had begun to buy back these materials.


    While the Lin Family could eventually use up these materials, circulating a portion them right away could be more helpful for the development of the family.


    The key point was that the Lin Family could get to know the merchant caravans. Then, the Lin Family''s tavern, and even their other materials, could all be sold.


    This could also help to establish the Lin Family''s reputation. Maybe even the Turtle Spirit Coconuts could be sold.


    Possessing the potential to increase the favorability among high-level cultivators, within the Southern Sea, Lin Shiming had yet to hear of similar spiritual objects. The Lin Family had stumbled upon success with them by mistake.


    As long as they could properly market it, he believed there would still be many True Persons, Hermits, or even large clans willing to purchase them.


    This was more reliable and safer than doing business with the Qingyun Fox Clan.


    After all, the Lin Family also had True Person-level strength, and Lin Shiming was even vaguely known as the number one of the Purple Mansion in the Coral Alliance.


    This title was naturally somewhat exaggerated, but for the Lin Family, it was a mixed blessing.


    Lin Shiming was also urgently in need of further increasing his strength.


    This time, he had essentially revealed all his methods.


    This made him feel very insecure.


    "Island Master Lin, the True Person requests your presence!" At that moment, a beautiful woman in a purple dress spoke in a gentle voice.


    The woman was extremely beautiful, with a ponytail that was bursting with energy, and her cultivation level was in the late stage of Purple Mansion, which made him take another glance at her.


    "Then I shall trouble the fairy for her guidance!" Lin Shiming was still somewhat puzzled, but then the woman took out a token, after which the words "Red Leaf" were inscribed.


    Lin Shiming then understood that Red Leaf True Person had finally sought him out.


    This meeting was delayed due to the arrangement of the transmission formations; otherwise, it should have started right after his conversation with Kuangfeng True Person.


    For Lin Shiming, it was also essential to have a talk with Red Leaf True Person.


    After all, Red Leaf True Person was his direct superior.


    However, surprisingly, the place they were going was not Red Leaf Palace, but Xu Ri Palace instead.


    Lin Shiming''s expression turned solemn; he was unclear whether Red Leaf True Person was hinting at something or trying to glean some information from him.


    But since the system prompt hadn''t sounded, and he had also notified the Flaming Sword, he felt somewhat reassured.


    He continued to follow the woman in the purple dress, trying to fish for information along the way.


    Yet the woman in the purple dress was also skillful in dodging his questions, not directly answering Lin Shiming.


    They moved quickly, and soon arrived in front of the palace.


    As he approached Xu Ri Palace and saw the extremely luxurious palace, Lin Shiming felt a slight sense of emotion.


    The last time he came here, it was under Xu Ri True Person''s plotting, and this was where he first learned of Ziji Tan.


    "Island Master Lin, Red Leaf True Person awaits you in the palace. Also, Xu Ri True Person is in closed-door cultivation, so I hope Island Master Lin can keep the noise to a minimum!" The woman in the purple dress bowed slightly, then withdrew.


    Lin Shiming''s curiosity deepened even more, but without saying anything, he entered Xu Ri Palace.


    There he saw Red Leaf True Person, wearing a red silk garment.


    Today''s Red Leaf True Person wore a long red headband, her hair still bound with a red cord, robust yet stunningly beautiful, like a fire maple.


    "You''ve arrived, sit down!" Red Leaf True Person''s tone was very calm.


    "I apologize for making you wait, senior!" Lin Shiming also hurriedly paid his respects, then took a seat.


    "Lin young friend, I would like to know what you think about the current situation on Xu Ri Island?" Red Leaf True Person did not avoid the subject and was extremely direct.


    This took Lin Shiming by surprise; he had thought Red Leaf True Person would ask about his background, why the Lin Family kept secrets, but he didn''t expect Red Leaf True Person to avoid all that.


    Instead, she started discussing the current situation, and his mind raced with thoughts, but he still couldn''t grasp Red Leaf True Person''s main point, so he could only take one step at a time:


    "Senior Red Leaf, Xu Ri Island, being on the outskirts of the Coral Sea Domain, is rich in Demonic Beasts and certainly occupies a strategic location..."


    "I want to hear the hard facts, just like I did not inquire about your origin or Xu Ri True Person, I hope you won''t evade the issue either!" Red Leaf True Person interrupted him directly.


    Impatience laced her tone, causing Lin Shiming to flinch, and then he made up his mind.


    He paused for a moment before responding:


    "Xu Ri Island''s location is certainly good, but it is also an extremely awkward position. Towards the inner sea, it is close to the Nine Dragon Sea Domain, the outer sea borders the Demonic Race, and it is situated in the middle between Tianliu Island and Golden Thunder Island, making it a fiercely contested area!"

 Chapter 710 - 458: Dual Island Rewards, Celebration Banquet (Two in One)_2

    ```plaintext


    "This is also the place where monster tides are most likely to erupt!"


    This time, Lin Shiming himself felt a chill; no wonder, before this, it seemed that the twelve outlying islands of Xu Ri Island had been infiltrated.


    The lord of the Heavenly Phenomenon Island was from Nine Dragon Island, Lianyun Island belonged to someone from Golden Thunder Island, and of the remaining twelve outlying islands, it was very likely that Guanghao Island was under someone from Tianliu Island.


    As for the other islands which Lin Shiming was not familiar with, he guessed the situation there was no better.


    Yet, the previous Xu Ri True Person did not try to eliminate the issue but instead often provided sanctuary.


    This was naturally not due to the person''s good nature, but because he was unable to cleanse it.


    The implications were far-reaching.


    Lin Shiming had moved against Zi Yu Loose without issue because Nine Dragon Island, after all, was an external force; being killed by a cultivator in the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, they could only suffer the loss in silence.


    Xu Ri True Person, lacking in strength, could only strive to increase his power, and rarely interfered with the outlying islands.


    Lin Shiming looked up again, and took in Red Leaf True Person''s thoughtful expression, as if she had become somewhat interested.


    And the Red Leaf True Person before him had repeatedly earned Lin Shiming''s high regard.


    While the governance of Xu Ri True Person was one thing, Red Leaf True Person was obviously different; she was bold and decisive, from taking the initiative to attack, to arranging an alliance with Tianliu Island, borrowing the arrays from Coral Alliance.


    She was a True Person who wanted to turn Xu Ri Island into the private property of the Ye Family.


    In comparison, Xu Ri True Person would probably have fled long ago.


    However, Lin Shiming was somewhat puzzled, Gufeng True Person was after all a Golden Core Late Stage being, so why did he not take charge of Xu Ri Island before, leaving it under the control of Xu Ri True Person?


    Unless, Gufeng True Person''s breakthrough had happened recently...


    "Very well said," Red Leaf True Person nodded.


    "The Coral Alliance is currently divided into three factions: the neutral faction led by the Alliance Hierarch, the radical faction dominated by Golden Thunder Island who have advocated for expanding the territory of the Human Race by another half of the sea domain, and the defensive faction headed by Tianliu Island!"


    "The location of Xu Ri Island is of utmost importance!"


    "Therefore, for the peace of the sea domain, I believe that the Lin Family is also on the same path as us, and should rightfully assume the responsibility of guardianship!"


    "How about the Lin Family taking charge of both Heavenly Phenomenon and Lianyun Islands?" Red Leaf True Person spoke up.


    At this remark, Lin Shiming was startled!


    He knew Red Leaf True Person would want to keep him, after all, Xu Ri Island needed reorganization, requiring many Purple Mansion cultivators, and those with courage and ideas were few.


    But for the Lin Family, one Heavenly Phenomenon Island was actually enough.


    Even while developing Heavenly Phenomenon Island, they could similarly develop on Tianliu Island!


    But by offering Lianyun Island, Red Leaf True Person was giving up a massive cake of interests and also tying down the Lin Family''s Golden Core combat power.


    And at that moment, Lin Shiming couldn''t refuse.


    He had already offended Jin Lei True Person, and in addition to being close to Tianliu Island, Lianyun Island too had previously been completely overrun by the Demonic Race.


    Even if the Lin Family were to take control, they would need to relocate cultivators and mortals, and also prevent the infiltration of cultivators from Golden Thunder Island once more.


    Thus, the cultivators the Lin Family had sent to Tianliu Island would also have to be moved back.


    Taking charge of two islands.


    It would inevitably cut some ties with Tianliu Island.


    But for Lin Shiming, developing on Tianliu Island was not good news either; going there would inevitably clash with the core interests of Tianliu Island.


    There, the monster tides were not as severe; only a minority of Purple Mansion cultivators and a large number of Foundation Establishment Qi Cultivation practitioners were harmed.


    "Additionally, I can promise you that for the next hundred years, Heavenly Phenomenon Island and Lianyun Island need not complete any alliance tasks, and the Transmission Formation''s commission will only take ten percent for the alliance from Heavenly Phenomenon Island!"


    If before, the benefits offered by Red Leaf True Person were intangible, now the benefits made it impossible for Lin Shiming to refuse.


    This was almost like gifting these two outlying islands to the Lin Family.


    The paltry ten percent commission was also for the alliance, and would not pass through Xu Ri Island''s hands but go directly to the Coral Alliance.


    Red Leaf True Person had indeed offered a great price.


    From twelve outlying islands to just ten.


    "Thank you, True Person!" Lin Shiming eventually agreed.


    Not to mention the reputation the Lin Family had built on Heavenly Phenomenon Island and the potential to connect with the Eastern Domain, there was also a Jiuyue Island that could be encompassed within Lin Family territory, giving them considerable autonomy.


    It wouldn''t have been as favorable on Tianliu Island.


    ```


    ```


    He also had confidence that he would break through to the Golden Core within a hundred years, and even if the beast tide were to come again, the Lin Family''s ability to survive would be much stronger!


    Moreover, in a hundred years'' time, the Lin Family would already be a Flood Dragon Noble Family!


    "Also, let me remind you, do you know why Kuangfeng True Person has so many secret manuals and ancient rumors? He may not necessarily be a Loose Cultivator..."


    After saying this, Red Leaf True Person also sat down in his chair, no longer speaking.


    He picked up his tea and began to slowly sip.


    Lin Shiming, sensing what was appropriate, took his leave, becoming a bit more guarded against Kuangfeng True Person. However, he didn''t take Red Leaf True Person''s intention to sow discord seriously.


    His dealings with Kuangfeng True Person were mostly transactional, so naturally, he couldn''t be without any wariness.


    But to keep his distance from Kuangfeng True Person was unnecessary, for he also had system prompts, and he trusted his judgment on where to draw the line.


    After Lin Shiming left, Gufeng True Person also emerged unhurriedly.


    ...


    The celebration banquet was held at noon, and the location was at the Coral Alliance''s subsidiary palace on Xu Ri Island.


    Lin Shiming had also undertaken missions here before.


    Soon, he arrived at a grand hall where Purple Mansion Cultivators specifically stood guard at the entrance, and Lin Shiming just happened to see Kuangfeng True Person. Kuangfeng True Person was smiling at Lin Shiming.


    And he transmitted his voice directly:


    "Did that old man Gufeng speak ill of me?"


    His voice transmission caused Lin Shiming to startle slightly, followed by a hint of embarrassment.


    "Rest assured, even if you don''t answer, I already know. His daughter wants to marry me, and I, too, dislike the Golden Core True Person''s daughter like you do!" Kuangfeng True Person said again, in his irreverent manner.


    This made Lin Shiming somewhat ashamed.


    The two of them entered side by side.


    Once inside the hall, Lin Shiming became somewhat restrained. The entire hall was arranged with five or six tables, on which at the very least, Fourth Rank Spirit Fruits and Spirit Food were set out.


    Among them, a pot of wine was even emitting the spiritual fragrance of the Fifth Rank.


    Even Lin Shiming couldn''t help but swallow his saliva.


    This was a true Golden Core spiritual feast.


    Xue Shan True Person and Fengxing True Person were sitting at the main seat, and even Tianliu True Person was only at one side.


    Within the entire hall, Lin Shiming roughly estimated that there were more than thirty True Persons.


    Most of them were True Persons from the Coral Alliance, a few from Nine Dragon Island, and two True Persons from Thousand Buddhas Island.


    Among the True Persons from the Coral Alliance were those from their respective internal islands. Golden Thunder Island had sent one True Person, although it wasn''t Jin Lei True Person.


    Clearly, with Golden Thunder Island being breached, Jin Lei True Person was seriously injured.


    Still, the True Person from Golden Thunder Island was at the Golden Core Late Stage, showcasing formidable strength.


    This time, the one showing fear was actually Lanling True Person. Previously on Purple Sun Island, Lanling True Person had shown evident hostility towards Xu Ri Island, and Golden Thunder Island had suffered heavy losses during this beast tide.


    It put Lanling True Person in a disadvantaged position, both in terms of backing and personal strength.


    "Alright, everyone is here, let''s start the celebration banquet!" Xue Shan True Person clapped his hands and stood up.


    The other True Persons also stood up, and everyone looked towards Xue Shan True Person, waiting for instructions.


    "This is both a celebration banquet and a banquet of vigilance!"


    "Do you know why the celebration banquet is held on Xu Ri Island?"


    "Because Xu Ri Island held off the attack of the Flood Dragon Clan of the Demonic Race!"


    As soon as Xue Shan True Person began speaking, the True Person from Golden Thunder Island lowered his head.


    "Golden Thunder Island, having failed in its defense, will have fewer quotas for the Purple Sun Secret Realm and reduced shares in the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm!"


    "Xu Ri Island will have ten more spots in its secret realm, and additional shares in the Heavenly Rank Islands according to the Golden Core battle strength!"


    "Tianliu Island will have ten more spots in the Purple Sun Secret Realm and additional shares in the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm!"


    ...


    The punishments and rewards were given without any concealment, and it was clear that these had already been negotiated, with no one raising any objections.


    It also informed the True Persons from Nine Dragon Island and Thousand Buddhas Island.


    Beyond his surprise, Lin Shiming''s understanding of the Coral Alliance deepened, though, of course, he was not clear whether this apparent transparency was for the benefit of outsiders or if it was always this way.


    ```

 Chapter 725 - 466: Divine Sound Conch (Two-in-one extra chapter for MeOwO_0s 5000 reward)

    "At the moment, testing it on myself is possible!" Lin Yanjiao nodded.


    The excitement in her heart took a long time to settle.


    "Even more, I can control the content of the Illusion Array, creating any scene, and I could even rely on the Illusion Technique of the Illusionary Heart Stone to evolve it!" Lin Yanjiao spoke again.


    "Even the battle scenes of the past can be replayed, which could greatly benefit my own cultivation practice and even future negotiations!"


    Just now, she had inquired about the secrets of the Sword Pavilion using her own Family Jade Book.


    If she had used other Inquiry Spirit Talismans or even Spirit Secret Methods, it might have involved the Family Jade Book, which would make it impossible to speak of and might even trigger a warning.


    But in this Illusion Technique, she had no such problems.


    She perfectly avoided the Family Jade Book.


    The advantage of this was that if any cultivator from the Lin Family harboring ill intentions infiltrated in the future, they could be discovered through this Illusionary Heart Pavilion, no matter how cunningly hidden their Secret Techniques were.


    After all, the Inquiry Spirit Talisman had many limitations, just like for Shiming, as long as he knew about the Inquiry Spirit Talisman and kept his answers simple, there would be no issues.


    Just like Shiming himself knew how to infiltrate the Lin Family and avoid the Inquiry Spirit Talisman.


    For example, Yu Jing came to the Lin Family to break through to the Purple Mansion and also to seek revenge.


    However, she concealed her intention to use the Lin Family''s Illusionary Heart Pavilion to rid herself of her Heart Demon.


    For instance, if the target was the Lin Family''s Golden Dragon Fruit tree, Shiming would not be able to ask if the other party came coveting this treasure tree.


    Otherwise, he would be the one to reveal it.


    But it''s not necessarily the same with the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, as it can more thoroughly unearth the fears hidden deep within the other party''s heart.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, I''m just not sure if it works on Purple Mansion cultivators!" Lin Yanjiao spoke with some lack of confidence.


    She had tested on herself but not on someone at the Purple Mansion level, so she was somewhat uneasy.


    "Wait a moment, I''ll go with you to test it!" Lin Shitao volunteered.


    She was also at the Purple Mansion level.


    Shiming nodded; he had many secrets, some of which he preferred not to let Lin Yanjiao know, after all, her Cultivation Level was only at Foundation Establishment.


    Moreover, Lin Shitao could also be tested.


    The two went out together and entered the Illusionary Heart Pavilion once more, while Shiming waited quietly in the room with a cup of Spiritual Tea.


    After the time it took for one incense stick to burn...


    As the yellow wooden door opened, Lin Yanjiao and Lin Shitao walked in.


    There was a look of surprise on both faces:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, it works!" Lin Yanjiao was extremely excited.


    "Yanjiao, you''ve done a great service!"


    Shiming also nodded and praised Lin Yanjiao before taking out a Peach Blossom River Scenic Map, a Magic Artifact from his early years, and rewarded it to Lin Yanjiao as well.


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Yanjiao''s face was full of smiles.


    "Prepare well, your responsibility is not light!" Shiming added.


    With this remark, Lin Yanjiao''s smile was irrepressible.


    She then took her leave.


    Lin Shitao sat down beside him and took over the teapot, pouring tea for Shiming.


    "Seventh Brother, isn''t making Yanjiao Family Head a bit of an overkill?"


    Shiming looked towards the door, somewhat surprised by Lin Shitao''s words.


    He knew she was referring to his implication of Yanjiao''s matter.


    "For her, if she wants to create a legend within the Lin Family and surpass me, this is the path she must take, it is her Dao heart!"


    "From the family''s point of view, when she becomes Family Head, she will carry a greater sense of responsibility for the family!"


    "Then why not fulfill it?" Shiming replied, his heart filled with gratification.


    He once did not understand some of Lin Xianzhi''s actions, but now that he had reached this point, he understood them all.


    Perhaps if his Dao journey had stopped at the Purple Mansion, he felt that he would be more like Lin Xianzhi of the Purple Mansion.


    But there were no ''ifs''; he was not Lin Xianzhi, nor would he stop at the Purple Mansion.


    Lin Shitao simply nodded and asked no more, her face beaming with smiles. Although she did not fully understand, as long as Shiming was happy and the Lin Family was prosperous, she too was content.


    She raised her tea cup and drank together with Shiming.


    After the tea, the two proceeded to the Council Hall.


    The Council Hall had been renovated again; this time it was a full five stories high, symbolizing the Lin Family as a Golden Core Family.


    This construction also considered the Spirit Cultivator of the Flame Yang Sword.


    Giant sculptures of spirit snakes adorned both sides of the gallery, and the plaques were written with vigorous and powerful strokes, showcasing the Lin Family''s grandeur.


    Shiming entered the hall.


    The hall was also decorated more luxuriously, and every decoration was filled with Spiritual Energy, all belonging to Second Rank spiritual wood.


    Even the potted plants and grasses visited in the courtyard were Second Rank Spirit Flowers and Spirit Grasses.


    Of course, he did not think this was an excessive display; during family negotiations, if your family seemed small-minded with nothing to show, it would be looked down upon by other families.


    In the middle of the hall, a middle-aged man in a white silk robe kept producing Jade Slips in his hand.


    Cultivators from the Lin Family constantly came and went within the room, and the middle-aged man''s brows were tightly furrowed, as if he was worried about something.


    Then occasionally his expression would relax a little amidst his busy work.


    Shiming found himself slightly embarrassed, knowing that it was his faked death and stepping down as Family Head that brought Lin Houyong back to this position.


    "Father!"


    "Shiming, Shitao are here?" Lin Houyuan also put down the Jade Slip and looked at Shiming and Shitao with delight in his heart, showing on his face.


    "Father, you''ve been working hard!" Shiming handed Lin Houyuan a cup of Spiritual Tea, letting him take a break.


    Handling family matters was no more relaxing than cultivation.


    Lin Houyuan then invited the two to sit.


    The father and son had not seen each other for a long time, but as they hadn''t interacted much before, the two men sitting face to face found it hard to make conversation.


    In the end, they discussed the family''s situation.


    They talked about everything from the current personnel and finance to the future direction of the Lin Family.

 Chapter 726 - 466: Divine Sound Conch (Two-in-one extra chapter for MeOwO_0s previous 5000 reward)_2

    Lin Shiming''s cultivation retreat was all too ordinary, and indeed, it had been a long time since he last caught up with family affairs.


    The two chatted away the entire afternoon.


    However, at this very moment, a Spirit Talisman transformed into a streak of firelight and came flying over.


    But, it wasn''t addressed to Lin Houyuan, it was sent directly to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming received the Transmission Talisman, somewhat puzzled.


    After reading the contents, however, his face lit up with joy.


    "Father, Spirit Turtle Island has actually discovered a group of Tianyin Conchs, including a Fourth Rank Tianyin Conch Great Demon!" Lin Shiming said.


    As he sent out his voice, Lin Shiyuan and Lin Shilei promptly emerged.


    The expressions on their faces were dramatically better than before, with Lin Shilei gradually overcoming his grief.


    At that moment, he directly took out a Jade Slip and placed it in front of them.


    The Jade Slip depicted a painting of an island with an inland lake encircled at its center.


    The location was formerly used by the Lin Family to raise Spirit Turtles, but now, the Spirit Lake was no longer sky-blue; instead, it featured various colors.


    Upon closer inspection, they were all elongated conchs.


    The surface of the conchs was covered with blue symbols, resembling musical notes.


    "Seventh brother, we were originally planning to drive out the Demonic Beasts from Spirit Turtle Island and rebuild the Transmission Formation. This time, we even invited Brother Yun, but to our surprise, Spirit Turtle Island had already been overtaken by a group of Tianyin Conchs!" Lin Shilei spoke.


    Tianyin Conchs were also a rare type of Demonic Beast in the Southern Sea. Their Spirit Shells could be used to craft soundwave Magic Artifacts, and the Fourth Rank Tianyin Conchs could even be used to forge Fourth Rank soundwave Magical Treasures.


    They could also be used to make defensive Magic Artifacts.


    Their value was even greater than that of raising Spirit Turtles.


    For the Lin Family, these Tianyin Conchs could also be used to prepare spiritual meals.


    Ordinary conchs could at most reach the mid-stage of the Second Rank, and although they tasted good, they lacked in Spiritual Energy.


    But Tianyin Conchs were different; they ranged from Second to Fourth Rank.


    According to the records that Lin Shilei and Lin Shiyuan brought back on their Jade Slip, there were even a few Fourth Rank Tianyin Conchs.


    Clearly, they had been driven from the inner sea by a beast tide, but having found the inland lake, they were too lazy to leave.


    Spirit Turtle Island itself was a place quite suitable for the Demonic Race to breed, especially since the Lin Family had remodeled it, and there were many Spirit Coconut Trees on the island.


    "Shitao, you stay at home. I will make the trip!" Lin Shiming also looked to Lin Shitao.


    It was impossible for the family to be without a Purple Mansion cultivator, but in order to retake Spirit Turtle Island, they could not do without a Purple Mansion cultivator either.


    It was better for Lin Shiming to go by himself.


    The harvest of these Tianyin Conchs, in terms of value, was not the slightest bit inferior to subduing the Water Spirit Shells.


    In the future, as Lin Family Restaurant expanded beyond Heavenly Phenomenon Island and spread throughout the entire Southern Sea region, it might well depend on this group of Tianyin Conchs.


    Moreover, raising Tianyin Conchs alongside the Profound Spirit Turtles posed no worry of the two species fighting each other.


    Even if they did decide to quarrel, both were known for their defense and wouldn''t cause much harm.


    No sooner said than done, Lin Shiming, along with Lin Shiyuan, Lin Shilei, and Lin Shiyun,


    took out the Fourth Rank War Treasure Ship.


    However, after Lin Shiming took out the Zifeng Boat, they all grinned and put away their War Treasure Ship.


    The Zifeng Boat was faster, and naturally, they preferred it. With its speed, they could make the journey at least half as quick again. Considering that Lin Shilei and Lin Shiyuan had used the War Treasure Ship to escape, which certainly alerted the Tianyin Conchs,


    Lin Shiming didn''t think the group of Tianyin Conchs would leave.


    After all, with a Fourth Rank Great Demon among them, they were equally confident.


    Ordinary Great Demons and Purple Mansion cultivators might not necessarily be a match for this group of Tianyin Conchs.


    Their soundwave attacks alone were enough to incapacitate most cultivators, rendering them unable to fight, even closing off one''s senses would be of little use.


    The Zifeng Boat was also incredibly fast. In less than a day, they could already see an island on the horizon, slightly smaller than average.


    The surrounding waters were unusually clear, a beautiful azure blue.


    There were very few Demonic Beasts around the island, and the entire island itself was eerily quiet.


    Seeing this scene, even without using his Divine Sense, Lin Shiming knew that the group of Heavenly Sound Conchs were still there.


    The Heavenly Sound Conchs extremely favored peaceful and tranquil environments, any noise emitted would cause all the Heavenly Sound Conchs to simultaneously use their heavenly sound waves, which layered upon each other.


    Not many Demonic Beasts could withstand it.


    Previously, when Lin Shiyuan and Lin Shilei saw it, they also directly controlled the War Treasure Ship to escape.


    "Scatter and hide beneath the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas!" Lin Shiming took out a total of eight Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, pressing down in all eight directions across the entire Spirit Turtle Island.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagodas each transformed into the size of a mountain peak.


    As soon as the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas appeared, countless Heavenly Sound Conchs flew out from the inner lakes. They released a mist of water, moving agilely within it.


    All the Heavenly Sound Conchs arranged themselves in a certain pattern, as if setting up a battle formation, and with the appearance of a blue light, they began to release heavenly sound waves.


    Especially the three Heavenly Sound Conchs the size of small mountains, their mouths opened wide, emitting heavenly sound waves that were incredibly terrifying.


    However, Lin Shiming''s Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were also soul-arresting magical treasures. As the black Spirit Light was released, they began to withstand the ripples of the heavenly sound waves from all eight directions.


    Lin Shiming then took out the Illusionary Spirit Gourd and Illusionary Spirit Vine Seed Talismans.


    With the Spirit Art executed, one after another, Illusionary Spirit Gourds appeared in front of Lin Shiming, beginning to spew Illusionary Spirit Mist.


    The weakness of these Heavenly Sound Conchs was also very apparent¡ªthey had low resistance to Illusion Techniques. Normally, capturing such Heavenly Sound Conchs also relied on an Illusion Array.


    But for Lin Shiming, the Illusionary Spirit Mist released by the Illusionary Spirit Vine, a Supreme Grade magical treasure, was the best Illusion Array.


    As the Illusionary Spirit Mist enveloped them, those Third Rank and below Heavenly Sound Conchs immediately suffered the effects of the Illusion Array.


    But those three Great Demons among the Heavenly Sound Conchs were exceptionally angry, bellowing loudly.


    They released even more terrifying heavenly sound waves, but Lin Shiming then took out the Azure Cloud Bell, a Fourth Rank Superior Grade magical treasure.


    With a slight movement of his fingers, the Illusionary Spirit Vines wrapped around and bound all three Great Demons, subsequently capturing them into the Azure Cloud Bell.


    "Seventh Brother''s strength has grown even stronger!" The seamless sequence of Lin Shiming''s techniques, observed by Lin Shilei, Lin Shiyuan, and Lin Shiyun, made them envious.


    They were unsure when they could reach that level.


    "You will reach it too!" Lin Shiming responded with a smile, feeling very pleased with himself for the harvest of so many Heavenly Sound Conchs.


    The Lin Family''s finances saw a new source of income.


    "This time, half of the profits from the Heavenly Sound Conchs will be yours!"


    "Thank you, Seventh Brother!!"


    ...


    They all replied with joy. Even though they had reached Foundation Establishment, the Lin Family had many places to spend Contribution Points.


    Having more Spirit Stones and profits naturally made them happier.


    Moreover, the Heavenly Sound Conchs were not a minor source of income.


    "Shiyun, you set up the Transmission Formation. I will guard this place for the next few days!" Lin Shiming said as he landed on Spirit Turtle Island.


    The Spirit Turtle Island hadn''t been much disturbed by Demonic Beasts, possibly due to that group of Heavenly Sound Conchs. For the Lin Family, this was good news, as there was no need for further arrangements before it could be put back into use.


    It was just a pity that the Superior Grade Spirit Stone veins here had been fully mined.


    Otherwise, the Lin Family''s profits would have been even higher.


    The Great Demons among the Heavenly Sound Conchs and even the Third Rank Heavenly Sound Conchs would be controlled by the Lin Family using the Spirit Controlling Seal or the Soul Binding Forbidden in the future. As for those Second Rank juvenile Heavenly Sound Conchs, there was no need to control them¡ªcontrolling the larger ones meant the smaller ones naturally didn''t need to be controlled as well.


    This was like controlling bee queens to manage bee colonies.


    The Spirit Formation was set up three days later, and Lin Shiming also summoned the Thunder Spirit Turtle to continue overseeing Spirit Turtle Island, raising the Spirit Turtle along with them.


    Because of the Soul Binding Forbidden, the relationship was mutually beneficial, since those Profound Spirit Turtles also favored peaceful Demonic Beasts.


    Upon returning to Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lin Shiming did not proceed to reclaim Fangmu Island. Although it had Gourd Twin Islands and a Profound Grade Secret Realm, because of the Golden Dragon Fruit trees, he was worried there might still be members of the Flood Dragon Clan lurking there.


    Without the Flaming Sword, putting any Cultivator in danger was a risk. Additionally, since the Secret Realm had just been harvested before, reclaiming it was not very valuable.


    At this time, the auction on Jiuyue Island was about to start. Jiuyue Island spread the news that this time the Fengxing Business Alliance had added a large number of treasures to the auction.


    Included among them, even the finale treasure was a pureblood descendant of the Wind Scaled Python.


    If such a Wind Scaled Python youngster was well nurtured, it was highly likely to become a half-Flood Dragon in the future.


    However, the meaning behind all this made Lin Shiming frown involuntarily.


    The probing from Nine Dragon Island was evidently underway!

 Chapter 727 - 467: Auction Begins (Combined Chapter, Subscribe for Monthly Pass)

    Jiuyue Island, the transmission formation gleamed uninterruptedly, and with a burst of light, Lin Shiming, Lin Shiyuan, Lin Shilei, and Lin Shiyun appeared in the center of the formation.


    At this moment, the transmission formation was extremely busy, with a significant number of cultivators coming from Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    The setup of the transmission formation was also much more luxurious than before, with various redwood pavilions standing tall, piled with golden glazed tiles that shone brilliantly in the sunlight.


    If Jiuyue Island was previously in a state of strict readiness, guarding against a beast tide,


    now it seemed to have subtly replaced Heavenly Phenomenon Island, becoming even more flourishing and prosperous, more like an island brimming with vitality.


    The Lin Family cultivators guarding the formation hastily exchanged pleasantries with Lin Shiming and the others.


    "With Fengxing Commercial Alliance here, it''s indeed bustling!" Even Lin Shiyun couldn''t help but express amazement.


    "They''re known to traverse the six great seas in their trade, naturally impressive!" Lin Shiming also nodded in agreement.


    This time they didn''t bring many people; of course, if Lin Family cultivators wanted to attend the auction themselves, they simply came on their own.


    Now with the transmission formation, it was quite convenient,


    but for Lin Shilei and Lin Shiyuan, Lin Shiming had taken the initiative to bring them along, wanting them to clear their minds. Cultivation and revenge were not matters of a single day or night.


    The Cultivation World was not an ordinary mortal world where one could achieve everything they desired through mere passion and scheming.


    In the Cultivation World, there were only magical techniques and martial might.


    As for why Lin Shitao did not come, it was because Lin Shiming had taken the Flaming Sword with him, and Shuangmu Island could not be without a Purple Mansion cultivator in charge.


    And without the Flaming Sword, Lin Shiming truly felt vulnerable when facing many True Persons from Nine Dragon Island.


    Apart from Lin Shitao, Lin Shiming also left behind the Golden Wing, Red-haired, and Wang Jiao, the three beasts.


    All three beasts were digesting demonic beast materials to grow stronger; bringing them would serve no purpose in a fight, meanwhile, leaving them with the family was more beneficial.


    "This auction will indeed have some nice items!" Lin Shiming smiled as he spoke, then without divulging more, led the group towards the market within.


    The market interior was now more lavishly arranged, with shops big and small, built in tidy rows.


    The entire Jiuyue City was divided into four districts: one for restaurants, one for shops, one for street stalls, and the last area was a vast auction site.


    There were three auction venues, distinguishing between major auctions and smaller ones.


    In large cities, the auctions differed in scale and rarity between Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion, and each was categorized separately.


    Before, the Lin Family was managing fine, but now with Fengxing Commercial Alliance involved, not only did they set up large shops, but they also made the auctions more orderly.


    Cultivators shuttled through the market, nearly all with joyful expressions, while many discussions erupted, most of which revolved around the auction.


    This time, the Lin Family had made a bold move for the auction: one Zi Xuan Precious Jade, a full hundred Foundation Establishment Pills, plus countless rare Second and Third Rank magical treasures; they nearly couldn''t control the scene!


    Unlike before, when the auction''s influence was confined within Heavenly Phenomenon Island and the Lin Family could determine who would obtain the Zi Xuan Precious Jade,


    this time, the auction''s impact was so extensive that even Lin Shiming noted several monks from other families.


    This too was the reach of Fengxing Commercial Alliance.


    Although the Lin Family was under surveillance by Nine Dragon Island, correspondingly, the Fengxing Commercial Alliance also brought many business opportunities to the Lin Family.


    Even outside the city, there were numerous street vendors and countless cultivators occupying mountaintops.


    However, the risks outside and inside the city were vastly different.


    Of course, if the Lin Family''s treasures were compared with those of Fengxing Commercial Alliance, they would seem insignificant.


    This time, Fengxing Commercial Alliance had treasures such as a Fourth Rank pure-blooded Wind Scaled Python cub, five or six Fourth Rank magical artifacts, a recipe for a pill that enhanced the cultivation of Purple Mansion cultivators, and it was said they even had secret techniques for sale.


    This was why Lin Shiming insisted on personally attending the auction.


    It was a matter of utmost importance. Nine Dragon Island was also setting traps for him from the shadows.


    Whether or not to bid on the Wind Scaled Python and the price to bid would only become clear after seeing it in person.


    Moreover, it would be best if the system prompt also indicated it.


    Otherwise, not bidding would show that the Lin Family had something to fear. Would a lineage known for their spirit snakes not bid on a Wind Scaled Python?


    Yet, bidding too high would reveal overwhelming desire from the Lin Family!


    The right balance needed to be struck with great care.


    In the center of the market stood a five-story tower, so large that just one floor could seat a thousand people, and it had second, third, fourth, and fifth floors as well.


    Each corresponding to the private box seats of True Persons.


    Naturally, True Persons wouldn''t appear here this time; at such realms, they participated in exclusive True Person trade events which rarely took the form of auctions, for they were hardly in need of Spirit Stones.


    After checking out the auction, Lin Shiming entered the adjacent Lin Family Restaurant.


    In a room on the third floor, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shijie had long been waiting!


    "Uncle Ancestor, elder brother!"


    "Shiming is here, have a seat!" Lin Xianzhi spoke, while Lin Shijie poured a cup of Emerald Orchid tea for Lin Shiming.


    The fragrance of the tea filled the entire room.


    Once Lin Shiming was seated, Lin Xianzhi immediately activated the room''s isolation formation.


    As the Spirit Light covered the entire room, Lin Xianzhi''s originally relaxed expression turned serious.


    "Shiming, Nine Dragon Island is becoming highly suspicious of us, constantly probing!"


    "Their overseer in charge of the auction, named Yun Chengzi, a Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivator, has been incessantly inquiring whether our Lin Family is willing to sell spirit snakes and if we want to buy spirit snake secret techniques."


    Lin Xianzhi didn''t hesitate and went straight to discussing the critical issue of the whole matter.


    The Lin Family''s situation was not good, and the only point was that the other party wouldn''t act without evidence; even if they became suspicious, as long as they couldn''t see the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, they wouldn''t make a move.

 Chapter 728 - 467: The Auction Begins (Two in One, Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Passes)_2

    ```


    After all, with the Coral Alliance here, it''s impossible for a true person to simply exchange a hermit of the Lin Family for them.


    The fear is that should anyone discover the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, then the Lin Family would be accused of colluding with the Flood Dragon Clan.


    Keep in mind all three Golden Dragon Fruit trees have been taken by the Flood Dragon Clan.


    If the Lin Family suddenly had one, there would simply be no explanation for it.


    And since Lin Shiming survived the previous Flood Dragon encirclement without dying, and the Lin Family didn''t suffer significant losses, having this tree would warrant a thorough investigation, something neither Lin Shiming nor the Lin Family could afford.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, how did they react?" Lin Shiming also asked.


    "Moreover, they possess hidden Inquiry Spirit Talismans!"


    Lin Shiming thought for a moment and then added, he had never seen such hidden Inquiry Spirit Talismans, and presumably, only Golden Core Cultivators could own them, beyond the reach or purchasing power of the Lin Family.


    As for the Spirit Talisman inheritance of the Lin Family, it also had nothing to do with it.


    Ordinary Inquiry Spirit Talismans must be activated with Spiritual Energy, and they need to be directed at cultivators, rather than being hidden.


    "No matter, our Lin Family has always been a family of Spirit Snakes, so naturally, we require the Secret Techniques of Spirit Snakes. As for selling, ordinary Spirit Snakes can be sold just the same, business can still be done!" Lin Xianzhi responded.


    Lin Shiming breathed a sigh of relief at this, but remembered that the person in front of him was an old progenitor of the Lin Family, his Seventh Great-Uncle.


    Having seen all sorts of turmoil, Yun Chengzi over there naturally couldn''t fool Lin Xianzhi.


    "Shiming, this auction is quite important, we need to consider carefully. Aside from the pure-blooded Wind Scaled Python juvenile, there is also the formula for the Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine Sturgeon Dragon Liquor, and the formula for the Fourth Rank Beast Nurturing Pills..."


    Lin Xianzhi began to speak.


    And hearing this, Lin Shiming also drew in a sharp breath.


    He had initially thought it was just some Fourth Rank Magical Treasures, which weren''t in high demand by the Lin Family.


    But these three things, the Lin Family simply couldn''t refuse.


    Yet, these three things could also potentially expose matters of the Lin Family.


    Nine Dragon Island is now in urgent need of knowing the exact location of that tree.


    Sturgeon Dragon Liquor is a kind of Spiritual Wine mixed with sturgeon fish and half Flood Dragon blood, greatly nourishing the flesh.


    The only drawback is that it consumes a fair amount of Flood Dragon blood.


    And the Lin Family also needs the formula for the Fourth Rank Beast Nurturing Pills.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, in my opinion, if we need to buy, we must buy without hesitation!" Lin Shiming said with a serious expression, taking the initiative to speak.


    They didn''t care about other magical treasures and items, but they must buy the formula for the Sturgeon Dragon Liquor and the Fourth Rank Beast Nurturing Pills.


    The Lin Family has many Spirit Beasts, what they lack are Spirit Beasts that have grown.


    There''s no need to mention the importance of the Beast Nurturing Pill formula, and as for the Sturgeon Dragon Liquor formula, it''s not only useful to Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Lin Houwei, but the Lin Family also has a large stock of Flood Dragon beast fright.


    "That is precisely my plan as well!" Lin Xianzhi nodded in agreement.


    The three continued their discussion for a while longer.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, regarding the family matters, Lin Yanjiao''s Cultivation Technique aligns well with the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, I think she could take on the role of Family Head!" Lin Shiming introduced the idea.


    His father is also in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and with enough resources piled up, there is hope for reaching Purple Mansion.


    However, if he stays in the position of Family Head, delaying his cultivation, he will have wasted time on top of his already subpar talent, leaving him with no hope at all.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming hoped his father could live for many more centuries.


    The lifespan at the Purple Mansion is twice that of Foundation Establishment.


    "That''s acceptable, let''s put her to the test at that time!" Lin Xianzhi nodded, he felt reassured about Lin Yanjiao, that clever spirit of hers was reminiscent of Lin Shiming''s younger days.


    But the position of Family Head cannot be passed on lightly.


    After discussing important matters, the three drank another cup of Spiritual Tea and then dispersed.


    ...


    The next day, the sun hung high in the sky.


    After the continuous rainy season during the Beast Tide, the scorching sun blazing in the sky was a welcome change.


    Countless cultivators in Jiuyue City were filled with excitement, converging towards the city.


    This time, the Lin Family auction had set the baseline at the late stage of Qi Refinement for entry, with the threshold also being the payment of ten Spirit Stones.


    The Spirit Stones weren''t much, but it served to prevent an overwhelming number of cultivators from attending.


    Yet the auction house, capable of holding three thousand people, was already filled to capacity early on, with a long line of cultivators still standing outside.


    ```


    And the private booths on the second floor were also taken up by Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    There were quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, so instead of private rooms, the second floor had booths where ten Foundation Establishment cultivators would sit around a table with some ordinary Spiritual Tea and Spirit Fruit.


    Besides Spiritual Tea and Spirit Fruit, there was also a Jade Slip containing information about the auction items and the rules.


    It even included special rules unique to the Lin Family.


    Anyone who won an auction item for more than ten thousand Spirit Stones could, on their next visit to the Lin Family''s Pill Pavilion or Artifact Workshop, enjoy a discount of one hundred Spirit Stones on purchases over ten thousand!


    For auction items that sold for over one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, the next visit to the Lin Family''s Pill Pavilion or Artifact Workshop would include a discount of one thousand Spirit Stones on purchases of one hundred thousand!


    ...


    Following this model, the novel auction method immediately piqued the interest of those cultivators who had never attended an auction on Jiuyue Island or Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    One should know that the Lin Family''s commission for consignments was only five percent.


    The Lin Family giving nearly one percent back in promotions was a significant move, not to mention the free Spiritual Tea and Spirit Fruit provided at the tables.


    Such incentives had never been seen before at other auctions, at least not at ones on such a large scale where Foundation Establishment cultivators like them could enjoy such benefits.


    Apart from the booths on the second floor, the private rooms on the third floor were also filled to capacity.


    Wearing green silk robes, Yun Chengzi sat in one of the private rooms. He observed the booths, the jade slips, and especially the reactions of the cultivators below.


    Even as the head of the Fengxing Trade Alliance, he had to admit that Lin Family''s sales strategy was quite helpful.


    "Indeed, it''s beneficial for Loose Cultivators," a young man in a wind robe nodded in agreement beside Yun Chengzi.


    The Lin Family''s reward policy was akin to gaining something for nothing; the auction items were likely to sell at a premium, and the discount could only be used on a future purchase,


    It was like gaining something for nothing, which greatly fueled the enthusiasm of the cultivators present.


    "What a pity that our trade alliance can''t take advantage of it," the young man sighed.


    "How so?" asked Yun Chengzi with apparent interest.


    "Replying to Uncle Yun, the Lin Family is just a small trade team making small transactions; it''s normal for them to offer concessions. But for our Fengxing Trade Alliance, we have a renowned reputation without offering concessions," the young man replied.


    "Of course, there are lessons to be learned," he added.


    "Well said. But remember, today''s goal isn''t just to watch the Lin Family put on a show," Yun Chengzi said.


    "Bid intelligently; don''t make our True Person masters think we''re truly incompetent," Yun Chengzi concluded.


    In his hand, he also held a Crystal Ball.


    As a chubby cultivator took the stage, the Crystal Ball lit up completely, and both Yun Chengzi and the young man became solemn.


    The room quickly became silent as a tomb.


    ...


    In another private room on the third floor.


    Lin Shiming and other key members of the Lin Family gathered together.


    Their gaze was directed towards the central hall on the first floor.


    With a series of heavy footsteps, Lin Houyuan also in loose green silk robes, stepped up to the high platform.


    Today, he looked radiant and healthy. Although he was only at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, no cultivator dared to underestimate Lin Houyuan.


    All of the Lin Family''s small and large trade groups were managed by Lin Houyuan.


    "Distinguished seniors and fellow Daoists, thank you for traveling from afar to join us," he began.


    "I am Lin Houyuan, head of the Lin Family''s commercial hall and also the overseer of this auction," he continued.


    "This auction is hosted by the Lin Family, but we also thank the Fengxing Trade Alliance for their strong support!" Lin Houyuan briefly established the Lin Family''s central role yet caused the young man beside Yun Chengzi in the third-floor private room to look somewhat displeased.


    This time, the treasures offered by the Fengxing Trade Alliance were even more abundant.


    "Well, without further ado, the auction will go to the highest bidder. If one doesn''t have enough Spirit Stones, treasures can be used as credit!" he announced.


    "The first item for auction: a batch of ten Foundation Establishment Pills. The starting bid is one thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, with each bid increase no less than one hundred. Additionally, Foundation Establishment families or Loose Cultivators who participated in defending Heavenly Phenomenon Island will receive an additional discount of one hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones on the basis of the existing policy!" Lin Houyuan declared.


    As soon as he finished, quite a number of Foundation Establishment and even Qi Refining cultivators began to get excited on the spot.


    Many of the cultivators in attendance had participated in the beast tides, and this auction was almost like getting an extra pill for every ten purchased.


    While the Southern Sea Cultivation World''s Foundation Establishment Pills could be more easily manufactured using Demonic Beast inner cores and were not monopolized, Foundation Establishment Pills were still treasured elixirs.

 Chapter 729 - 468: Taking a Different Path with Alcohol (Two-In-One)

    "One thousand one hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    "One thousand three hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    Numerous bids rose one after another, echoing throughout the auction hall.


    Although there were plenty of Foundation Establishment Pills this time, there were far too many cultivators and small clans bidding for them.


    The Lin Family was even willing to waive the cost of one Foundation Establishment Pill in Spirit Stones for those who had fought for them.


    How could they not go crazy?


    The Lin Family''s three major affiliate clans, the Ye Family, Zhao Family, and Primordial Yang Gate, were even more vigorous in their efforts.


    With a Golden Core True Person in the Lin Family, it was estimated that they would not suppress these Foundation Establishment clans, and so they were naturally more eager to show off, especially since the Lin Family''s performance and reputation had been notable in the past few decades, with a limitless future ahead.


    "Two thousand one hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!" The final price reached more than double.


    "Does anyone wish to bid higher?" Lin Houyuan continued to shout.


    "All right, congratulations to this fellow Daoist!"


    With a loud bang, Lin Houyuan hammered down, and the first Foundation Establishment Pill was sold, yielding astonishing results.


    The Lin Family''s marketing strategy truly managed to drive up the price.


    After the sale of the Foundation Establishment Pills, Lin Houyuan then brought out a Jade Disk, which contained a bottle of Spirit Pills.


    These weren''t ten Spirit Pills but five, and their color had also changed.


    "This elixir is the Tribulation Forging Divine Pill, a third rank Superior Grade Spirit Pill, which can enhance a cultivator''s Divine Sense. It is the prime choice for improving one''s divine sense before breaking through to the Purple Mansion. Additionally, pill and tool cultivators should pay more attention, as the stronger your Divine Sense, the better you can improve your skills!"


    "Moreover, two of these pills feature Pill Patterns, making their effects even better!"


    "The starting bid for this elixir is seven hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    Lin Houyuan spoke again.


    The appearance of this Elixir caused some cultivators who were eagerly waiting to bid on the Foundation Establishment Pills to be somewhat confused; normally, Foundation Establishment Pills would be auctioned off continuously at the auction.


    However, for the Lin Family, continuous auctioning would indeed cause the cultivators to prematurely expend their effort, with some even leaving early.


    The Tribulation Forging Divine Pill crafted by Lin Shitao just happened to be suitable for this auction.


    Owing to the presence of Pill Patterns, the Tribulation Forging Divine Pill eventually was auctioned off for the high price of one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.


    The auction continued in an orderly fashion, with each sale running very smoothly, and Lin Family members at the Foundation Establishment stage like Lin Shilei and Lin Shiyuan also made several bids.


    Each of these items was consigned by the Fengxing Commerce Alliance and indeed quite precious.


    Among them, Lin Shilei obtained a Thunder Element Stone, and Lin Shiyuan obtained a third rank Supreme Grade ice attribute Spirit Talisman, the Ice-Sealing Coffin.


    All were rather practical treasures.


    Every auction was exceptionally heated, which was related to the number of cultivators, the relationship with Fengxing Commerce Alliance, and also due to the number of shills hired secretly by the Lin Family.


    As a result, even the later batches of Foundation Establishment Pills fetched higher prices than the first batch, and not a single third rank magic artifact or third rank Spirit Talisman went unsold.


    "Alright, up next are treasures that may interest the seniors. Of course, if some fellow Daoists are also interested, you can also bid with confidence. Here in Jiuyue Island''s Jiuyue City, the Lin Family can ensure everyone''s safety!" Lin Houyuan spoke again.


    With these words, many cultivators on the third floor began to focus and quieten down.


    Items of the second and third ranks were beneath their notice.


    Lin Houyuan clapped his hands, and several beautiful female cultivators from the Lin Family, carrying Jade Disks, walked slowly onto the high platform.


    "This first treasure is a Fourth Rank Water Spirit Pearl from a Water Spirit Shell. Esteemed seniors, I need not elaborate on the rarity of Water Spirit Shells, and those of the fourth rank are even more so. Therefore, the starting bid for this Water Spirit Pearl is five thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, with each increment not less than one hundred!"


    When Lin Houyuan removed a piece of brocade cloth, a spirit light appeared in the hall, followed by a torrent of Spiritual Energy like a surging wave from the sea.


    Lin Houyuan covered it again with the brocade cloth.


    The wave of energy dissipated.


    What followed was the competitive bidding of Purple Mansion cultivators on the third floor:


    "Five thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Five thousand three hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    If one were to ask what the most valuable items were before a Demonic Beast tide, they would be defensive treasures, Spirit Talismans, and offensive magic artifacts.


    After the Demonic Beast tide, naturally, resources that could elevate one''s cultivation level became even more precious.


    These Purple Mansion cultivators were not stingy with Spirit Stones at all; following the tide, almost all of them had made a fortune, and currently, the prices of Demonic Beast materials were still much lower than before.


    Most still had a batch of resources they hadn''t sold, and now the most important thing was to increase their cultivation level.


    Even the young person beside the person in charge of Nine Dragon Island made a bid.


    The final auction price also reached eight thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, instantly bringing the auction to a climax.


    "The second item up for auction is also from Fengxing Commerce Alliance. The reputation and value of the treasures from Fengxing Commerce Alliance need no further introduction; everyone can see for themselves!"


    "Fourth Rank Purple and Green Calabash, capable of capturing Demonic Beasts, refining souls, releasing Gang Winds, impervious to water and fire, and even among fourth rank Intermediate Grade magic artifacts, it is a rare treasure!"


    "The starting bid is six thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!" Lin Houyuan declared.


    This allowed the Lin Family''s female cultivators to hold the Purple and Green Calabash high for all the Hermits to see, though this time, it was not put away.


    "Seven thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Eight thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    In the end, it was also acquired by a Hermit Purple Mansion cultivator.


    Lin Houyuan then moved to the third female cultivator, his expression somewhat solemn.


    Even the Lin Family members on the third floor, including Lin Shiming, were similarly serious.


    As the brocade cloth was unfolded, a wine gourd appeared before all the cultivators.


    Many cultivators felt a sense of nostalgia upon seeing the gourd, and some even doubted whether the Lin Family had run out of other treasures and had simply brought out a gourd of Spiritual Wine to make do.

 Chapter 730 - 468: Diverging Paths of Alcohol (Two-In-One) _2

    You must know, unless it''s a fourth rank supreme grade Spiritual Wine, which is extremely helpful for one''s Cultivation Level, otherwise it couldn''t be brought out at this moment.


    They could only conclude that the Lin Family was desperate for Spirit Stones.


    And Lin Houyuan seemingly had anticipated this outcome, holding the wine pot in his hand.


    "Everyone must be wondering why Lin would bring out a pot of wine!"


    "To be honest, I don''t mind if it makes everyone laugh. When the consignor brought it over, I didn''t agree either. But after I tried it, I couldn''t help but acknowledge its uniqueness. I can only say this Spiritual Wine takes an unconventional path and is quite distinctive!"


    "It''s also a type of Spiritual Wine that has never been seen before in the entire Coral Alliance!"


    An unconventional path, quite distinctive.


    With just a few words, Lin Houyuan had stirred up the crowd''s emotions.


    "What''s this unconventional method, and what makes it distinctive?" Many Cultivators asked.


    And Lin Houyuan spoke up:


    "The magic of this wine is indescribable, but for those Hermit predecessors who want to establish a family, it is an invaluable treasure!"


    "It can be said that this wine can improve the likelihood of progeny by at least ten percent!" Lin Houyuan raised a finger and then gradually spoke.


    As soon as these words were said, even the faces of those from the Purple Mansion Family showed some changes.


    A ten percent increase in the likelihood of progeny may not be much for Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Cultivators, as they can have offspring easily if they wish. But for Purple Mansion Hermits and Golden Core True Persons, it''s extremely difficult.


    The path of Immortal Cultivation is also the way of shunning the mundane, but the higher the Cultivation Level, the rarer the chance of begetting offspring.


    "This wine is a fourth rank inferior grade Spiritual Wine, and the starting bid is three thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones!"


    Lin Houyuan announced the starting price.


    The price wasn''t too high, considering this type of wine was being offered for the first time.


    This also happened to be the Lin Family''s Turtle Spirit Coconut, only it wasn''t a third rank Spiritual Wine, but a fourth rank Turtle Spirit Coconut Spiritual Wine. After Jiuxiao Scatter Man joined the Lin Family, he and Lin Houwei together improved the formula of this Spiritual Wine.


    Its medicinal effect was greater, and among them, the Lin Family''s fourth rank Thunder Spirit Turtle had indeed conceived offspring, though they had not yet been born.


    And the third rank Turtle Spirit Coconut had also received recognition from the Qingyun Fox Clan, which gave the Lin Family confidence to put it up for auction.


    Of course, this auction wasn''t primarily for earning a lot of Spirit Stones, but to draw out the formula for a fourth rank Spiritual Wine.


    With so many True Persons regularly on Jiuyue Island from Nine Dragon Island, the Lin Family was also troubled. Constantly laying traps would eventually lead to exposure.


    At such a time, the Lin Family only had to raise the stakes.


    To make the Coral Alliance pay more attention to Heavenly Phenomenon Island, preferably when Fengxing True Person was present, so that Red Leaf True Person could also visit.


    At the same time, it also paved the way for the future development of the Lin Family; only mutual benefits could make the Lin Family truly integrate into the Coral Alliance.


    Just like the mighty Coral Alliance also had to allow other five major forces to infiltrate the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    "Five thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones!" This time the bid came from Yun Chengzi!


    Yun Chengzi''s voice also started to get a bit unsteady.


    This time the bid was not his own, but came from several True Persons of Nine Dragon Island.


    If this Spiritual Wine really was effective, it was good news for Nine Dragon Island.


    Especially if they could study the composition of the wine.


    "Seven thousand!" The words "five thousand" did not last long before a Buddha Hermit spoke up.


    "Eight thousand!" Yun Chengzi continued.


    "Nine thousand!"


    "Ten thousand!" Yun Chengzi stood up.


    "Eleven thousand!"


    "Brother Tian Buddha, why do Buddha Cultivators also need this kind of Spiritual Wine?" Yun Chengzi spoke impatiently.


    This was the first time a dispute had arisen!


    "What? Are you, Yun Chengzi, trying to use your status as a True Person to pressure me?" Tian Buddha Hermit was not pleased and retorted coldly.


    He effectively shut Yun Chengzi down.


    The two could only continue to bid.


    In the end, the price was called out to thirty-five thousand intermediate grade Spirit Stones.


    It was secured by Yun Chengzi.


    This scene thoroughly shocked the Cultivators at the auction.


    After all, this was a location for a Foundation Establishment auction, incidentally including items for the Purple Mansion, but no one expected a pot of Spiritual Wine to fetch a price several times higher than the Zi Xuan Precious Jade.


    ```


    "May I ask, young Lin, what is the name of this wine?" Yun Chengzi still asked Lin Houyuan.


    "The name of this wine is ''Daughter''s Red,'' containing the sentiment of longing and affection. However, the owner of the wine is not willing to reveal their name," Lin Houyuan replied with neither servility nor arrogance.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi were both present, so at this moment, he was not afraid that Yun Chengzi would bully him using his power.


    Besides, this place was ultimately the territory of the Coral Alliance.


    After the auction of the Spiritual Wine ended, Lin Houyuan then took out an item that many cultivators longed for, the Zi Xuan Precious Jade!


    It could increase a cultivator''s chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion by ten percent.


    It was also the target of contention for most Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    They were somewhat expectation of the Lin Family''s reward policy, and Lin Houyuan completely met their expectations:


    "The Zi Xuan Precious Jade¡ªLin won''t go on about it. Esteemed friends and seniors, you undoubtedly understand its value. The starting bid is eight thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones, with each bid increment being no less than one hundred Spirit Stones!"


    "In addition, cultivators who participated in the defense battle at Heavenly Phenomenon Island can receive a discount of one thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones!"


    With these words, the Lin Family''s boldness was fully displayed.


    For those Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators, it was like a blessing.


    However, the families with power could only smile bitterly. The Lin Family''s move was essentially no different from no discount at all; after all, this was an auction, and an extra thousand would still be added on.


    Of course, many cultivators were also learning from the Lin Family''s auction method. Although it was a small trick, it indeed greatly enhanced one''s reputation.


    "Ten thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Ten thousand and one hundred intermediate-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Ten thousand three hundred intermediate-grade Spirit Stones!"


    ...


    The scene was unprecedentedly fiery!


    ...


    Meanwhile, in a pavilion on Jiuyue Island, a bronze Flood Dragon figure spat out mist again, spreading out and revealing a chart of the nearby sea.


    Several True Persons then appeared above a Crystal Ball.


    "The Lin Family is willing to bring out such Spiritual Wine? The likelihood of them having the Golden Dragon Fruit tree has decreased!" lamented Bai Yu True Person, airy as a Banished Immortal.


    He had felt from the beginning that the tree was not in the hands of the Lin Family. Otherwise, why would they trade for his Gold Condensation Pill recipe? To trade, they should at least offer a Gold Condensation Pill.


    Now that they had even brought out Spiritual Wine, which increases the chances of progeny, the likelihood of them having the Golden Dragon Fruit tree was even lower.


    Such enhancement-type Spiritual Objects were not sought after by Nine Dragon Island because they possessed Spiritual Objects that could boost by a full thirty percent. This was why they had so many Flood Dragons and yearned for the Golden Dragon Fruit tree.


    But they would not bring them out, even if the outside world was unaware.


    "Let''s keep watching, and if really necessary, we can storm the Dragon Nest!" Even Fengxing True Person hesitated.


    As Bai Yu True Person said, at this moment, it was indeed not possible for the Lin Family, even if the Tianqing Flood Dragon King made a move against them.


    But it was also possible that Lin Shiming had slain more than just two Flood Dragons.


    After all, Lin Shiming had a Protector.


    Without news of the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, they may have to take a trip to the Dragon Nest to give an account. Otherwise, they did not know how to explain.


    "Red Leaf True Person will probably also return to Jiuyue Island in a few days," Xue Yun True Person sighed as well.


    ...


    Back in the auction hall, the auction continued fervently, and the Zi Xuan Precious Jade finally sold for an astonishing high price of thirty-three thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones.


    This reignited the fervor within the auction, and the person who won the Zi Xuan Precious Jade was a peak Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator.


    This Loose Cultivator came to seek fortune amidst the beast tide, being one of the earliest to defend Jiuyue Island against it.


    After the auction of the Zi Xuan Precious Jade, that Loose Cultivator strode out of the auction hall. Following the departure of this Loose Cultivator, many Foundation Establishment cultivators also promptly left.


    Even a few members from the three affiliate families of the Lin Family immediately followed, but the main Foundation Establishment cultivators still stayed out of respect for the Lin Family''s reputation.


    "Alright, the following treasures are also of exceptional quality. This next item is a recipe for a Fourth Rank Beast Nurturing Pill, which can accelerate growth. This recipe comes from the Fengxing Commerce Alliance, and its credibility is unquestionable. Those friends and seniors who breed Spirit Beasts may start the bidding."


    "The starting bid is seven thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones, with each bid increment being no less than one hundred intermediate-grade Spirit Stones."


    With the reveal of this recipe, Lin Shiming''s body also trembled.


    If nothing unexpected happened, the next three treasures would be the three great items prepared by the Fengxing Commerce Alliance for the Lin Family.


    Tests and counter-tests started at this moment.


    To Lin Shiming''s delight, the system prompt also rang out at this very moment.


    ```

 Chapter 732 - 469 Repeated Failures, Open Conspiracy (Two in One, Subscription for Monthly Pass)_2

    Whether they were discovered or not, it did not affect their investigation of the Lin Family.


    He also ran out of time, as the appearance of the Lin Family''s daughter''s red wine would inevitably attract the attention of the high-level members of the Coral Alliance.


    If they stayed here and did not go to the Dragon Nest, then everyone would know their intentions.


    At that time, even if they were able to stay on Jiuyue Island, they would be surrounded by a multitude of fellow cultivators.


    "The following probes will continue, only this time we won''t look at the results, just let Yun Chengzi freely perform!"


    As he spoke, Fengxing True Person suddenly produced some five-colored blood. If Lin Shiming were here, he would find the blood similar to that of the Chameleon Flood Dragon he had slain.


    When the dragon blood was dropped into the Bronze Long Lamp, it immediately began to burn intensely, and the emanating spirit mist began to churn, transforming from white spirit mist into five-colored spirit mist.


    The entire room''s atmosphere changed drastically.


    In the next moment, the bronze dragon head suddenly turned into a five-colored pattern, and even grew the body, claws, and tail of a flood dragon.


    It was as if the bronze dragon head had come to life.


    What appeared before the True Persons was a Fourth Rank late-stage Chameleon Flood Dragon, rather than a stiff bronze statue.


    The Chameleon Flood Dragon continuously swam about; one could only see the sea region''s images reeling backwards, flowing swiftly past on both sides, with great velocity, and the area it swam in was none other than close to Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island.


    Clearly, Fengxing True Person had come prepared.


    ...


    The auction continued, and the Beast Rearing Pill Recipe for Fourth Rank was taken by a Purple Mansion Hermit, selling for thirty-two thousand.


    Lin Houyuan looked regretful. Although he was not sure why the Lin Family had given up, he did not say more. As a businessman, he knew better than to let his thoughts show on his face.


    "Next up for auction is the recipe for Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade Sturgeon Dragon Liquor, also provided by Fengxing Commerce. This liquor recipe uses deep-sea sturgeons and flood dragons in its brewing process. The taste is rich and intense, and it greatly enhances the physical body, truly a divine medicine. Body Cultivators who are interested can start bidding!" Lin Houyuan continued to the side of a new female cultivator, removed the brocade cloth, and the Jade Slip revealed a faint glimpse.


    The latter part was sealed with secret arts, accessible only by the original owner of the Jade Slip.


    "The starting bid is ten thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, with each bid increment no less than five hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Fifteen thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    This time, again a Purple Mansion Loose Cultivator directly added five thousand to the price.


    And Lin Shiming also stood up once more.


    "Twenty thousand!"


    With just two increases in the bid, several of the Body Cultivators who had ideas instantly stopped.


    This time Lin Shiming''s momentum was even more formidable, as if he would not rest until he obtained it.


    The opposing Purple Mansion cultivator also shouted a new bid, not showing any weakness, and this time not even being polite with Lin Shiming.


    "Twenty-three thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Twenty-eight thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!" Lin Shiming added another five thousand.


    His face showed no expression, as if the Spirit Stones he mentioned were Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    "Twenty-nine thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!" the Purple Mansion Loose Cultivator said with a flushed face.


    "Thirty-four thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!" Lin Shiming once again raised the bid by five thousand, his momentum clearly different this time.


    And many Loose Cultivators also knew that the Lin Family had slain many Flood Dragons and Python Great Demons.


    They indeed needed this recipe for Sturgeon Dragon Liquor.


    Clearly, he was determined to win.


    What surprised everyone, though, was that the Purple Mansion Loose Cultivator spoke up again:


    "Thirty-five thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones!"


    Inside the auction booth, many cultivators were shocked, and some had already guessed the identity of the third-floor Purple Mansion cultivator.


    This was the Lin Family''s auction, after all!


    "Could it be that the Fengxing Commerce''s own cultivator is buying from themselves?" In the hall, some cultivators raised doubts.


    Especially since the Beast Nurturing Pill recipe from before was the same case.


    It seemed even more likely.


    Of course, what they did not know at the moment was that inside the third-floor private box, Yun Chengzi also looked puzzled.


    They had arranged for cultivators to bid, but at this moment, it seemed like there was no need to arrange for it anymore.


    A Purple Mansion cultivator had already taken the initiative to test the Lin Family.


    He looked at the Crystal Ball, which was no longer glowing.


    The True Persons over there seemed to have lost interest in this side as well.


    The young man beside him also looked over, full of questions.


    Because, even he was wondering if that Purple Mansion Loose Cultivator was secretly arranged by Yun Chengzi.


    Sturgeon Dragon Liquor was almost a must-win for the Lin Family.


    And the price on the floor responded accordingly.


    Lin Shiming bid thirty-eight thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones.


    But the bidding hadn''t ended yet.


    "Forty thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones!" the Purple Mansion cultivator spoke up again.


    In the Lin Family''s private box, there was no further sound.


    Lin Shiming gave up again.


    With this forfeiture, it also meant that the Lin Family had missed another pill recipe.


    To the cultivators present, it appeared as if Fengxing Commercial Alliance was simply buying from themselves, with no real intention to sell the pill or liquor recipes.


    In Yun Chengzi''s box, he sighed and looked at the younger person:


    "Arrange for those cultivators to stop bidding, and let the Lin Family get the Wind Scaled Python''s offspring!"


    With those True Persons not watching, it signified that the Lin Family wouldn''t face much trouble; even if they kept watching, there wouldn''t be much to discern.


    However, if the Lin Family failed to obtain this auction item again, it would be intriguing whether Fengxing Commercial Alliance truly intended to ally with them.


    They from Nine Dragon Island had entered Jiuyue Island by hitching a ride with the trade convoy alliance.


    If an item didn''t fall into the Lin Family''s hands, then Red Leaf True Person would have to speak up.


    Besides, Lin Shiming was backed by spirit cultivation masters and Tianliu Island.


    Representing the Coral Alliance Shoucheng Lineage, in that case, Nine Dragon Island can forget about entering the Outer Sea again.


    The implications were enormous.


    The young person nodded, his fingers moving slightly, and a piece of Spirit Jade began to change. The transformation was so subtle, it was invisible to the naked eye of outsiders.


    And Divine Sense need not be mentioned; they had a blocking formation.


    After all arrangements were made, he looked towards the adjacent box, his eyes filled with a fighting spirit.


    ...


    Lin Houyuan looked regretful. Even for him, with his deep calculations, his complexion was somewhat unsightly.


    Lin Shiming''s bidding in increments of five thousand clearly showed his irritation, but he still lost to someone else.


    His face also looked unpleasant.


    But they were the hosts of the auction, and it wasn''t possible to trouble any cultivator participating in the bidding, not to mention ensuring the safety of these cultivators in Jiuyue City; otherwise, who would come to the Lin Family''s auctions to make purchases?


    What would become of their carefully cultivated reputation then?


    Many cultivators in the hall also felt that Lin Shiming was very patient. If it were another cultivator at the peak of Purple Mansion acting as a hermit, they might have slammed the table already.


    Reluctantly, Lin Houyuan still composed his expression:


    "Congratulations to this fellow daoist for obtaining the Sturgeon Dragon Liquor recipe!"


    "Coming up next is the most anticipated treasure of this auction!"


    "Offered by Fengxing Commercial Alliance, the offspring of a Fourth Rank pure-blood Wind Scaled Python Great Demon, a Demonic Beast of the Third Rank intermediate stage at birth, its rearing value need not be overstated, and it even has a potential to transform into a Flood Dragon, possibly achieving the legendary status of a Demon King!" Lin Houyuan spoke with great enthusiasm.


    As if before him truly was a Wind Scaled Python about to transform into a being like the Tianqing Flood Dragon King in the future.


    While speaking, he moved next to a female cultivator, lifting the brocade cloth to reveal a Spirit Beast Bag.


    To give everyone a better view, a Jade Slip was situated beside the Spirit Beast Bag. As Lin Houyuan took hold of the Jade Slip,


    it lit up with a spiritual glow, displaying the juvenile form of the Wind Scaled Python in everyone''s vision.


    Of course, even as a juvenile Wind Scaled Python, it was three to four zhang long, its body armored with densely packed scales, each inscribed with blue whirlwind Spirit Patterns; its fierce python head with a slight bulge on the skull, as if it could grow dragon horns at any moment.


    It was clearly a pure-blooded Wind Scaled Python of utmost purity, not long since its birth, yet already possessing the potential to transform into a dragon.


    "The starting bid for the Wind Scaled Python offspring is twenty thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones! Each increment must not be less than one thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones!" Lin Houyuan announced.


    "Twenty-three thousand!"


    "Twenty-five thousand!"


    ...


    Instantly, there were countless voices bidding.


    At that moment, within the box where Lin Shiming was, another voice rang out.


    "Forty-five thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones!"


    A price more than double the previous instantly appeared before everyone.


    Many cultivators directly gave up, knowing that even Yun Chengzi, although eager to test the field at that moment, would offend people if he pushed further.


    In the end, he had no choice but to give up, and Lin Shiming finally secured his first auction item of the event - the Wind Scaled Python offspring!

 Chapter 735 - 471: Clan Conference, Summary (Two in One, Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)

    The gentle morning sun shone from the depths of the sea, spreading across the entire Shuangmu Island.


    With the crisp sound of bells ringing, it was as if, at this moment, all things awoke, and flowers and plants vied to bloom resplendently.


    And the cultivators of the Lin Family all donned neat and unified clan attire.


    They arrived at the Lin Family square either in pairs or groups.


    Today''s clan assembly held profound significance for the Lin Family, incomparable to any previous ones, with each clan member meticulously grooming themselves.


    After all, it was the first clan assembly following the beast tide, and it was to determine the Lin Family''s development plans for the coming decades or even centuries.


    The elders, deacons, and hall masters of the Lin Family stood at the front, and at the very front of the square was a large black lacquered ebony Eight Immortals table.


    On the Eight Immortals table, there was a row of jade slips.


    Lin Xianzhi sat at the forefront. He was the first to stand up, he looked at all the members of the Lin Family Clan, and then spoke in a loud voice:


    "Distinguished members of the Lin Family Clan, today, after decades in the Purple Mansion Family, we have reached the point where we have five Purple Mansion cultivators, all thanks to the efforts of every clan member!"


    "But, this is not the end, it''s the beginning!"


    "For the clan to thrive and even ascend to the ranks of the Golden Core Family, we must all work hard!"


    ...


    Lin Xianzhi was arranging the family manifesto, all the human race members were exceptionally solemn, and Lin Shiming was also in this vast square, seeing many faces he hadn''t seen in a long time.


    They were busy at various places within the family, often unable to return and stay for long, sometimes for years or even decades.


    At the same time, Lin Shiming also noticed that, compared to the last assembly, too many faces were missing.


    "A family cannot be without a head for a day; today, the Lin Family must also choose a new Family Head!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again.


    And at these words, all members of the Lin Family began to take it seriously.


    Since retreating from the Eastern Domain and the passing of Lin Houyong, the Lin Family had no Family Head. It was Lin Houyuan who had been in charge temporarily, but now Lin Houyuan had also reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment and was preparing to break through to the peak, even to temper his heart for a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion.


    "After deliberation, the candidates for the temporary Family Head will be two people for a term of two years: one is Lin Zewen, and the other is Lin Yanjiao. In the clan meeting two years from now, the true Family Head will be determined!"


    "Zewen will take charge of Lianyun Island, while Yanjiao will take care of matters on Shuangmu Island and Wanxiang Island!"


    As soon as Lin Xianzhi''s words came out, they stirred a great commotion.


    Lin Shiming had not expected this, because at this time Lin Xianzhi had also spoken to him, perhaps even to his father.


    But then, Lin Shiming understood that the Lin Family naturally approved of Lin Yanjiao, but her talent was obvious. Not only did she have a dual Spirit Root, but she was also a Spirit Body Cultivator with the illusion attribute. Now she had also reached the early stage of Foundation Establishment and wouldn''t need much time to break through to the middle stage.


    Both Lin Yanjiao and Lin Zewen were taken aback, clearly neither had been informed previously.


    But for both, it was a challenge.


    No need to say more about Lin Yanjiao; she had always been ambitious, and within the Lin Family, she had always used Lin Shiming as a benchmark.


    As for Lin Zewen, he was someone Lin Shiming had watched advance step by step; his talent wasn''t high, but he presented a refined exterior. However, when determined, he didn''t hesitate at all. At the Lin Family''s Commerce Hall, he had been deeply involved for years.


    He had already been managing it for a number of years.


    Perhaps, disregarding talent, Lin Yanjiao was more suitable, but including talent, it made Lin Zewen perform even better.


    "Thank you, great ancestor. Yanjiao accepts the command and will not fail the trust!" Lin Yanjiao also gestured.


    "Thank you, seventh-generation ancestor. Zewen accepts the command and will not fail the trust!" Lin Zewen also spoke.


    Only then was Lin Xianzhi satisfied.


    "Having determined the two candidates for the temporary Family Head, we will now continue to determine the choices for hall masters of each hall. Houyuan, pass the list of candidates to Yanjiao and Zewen!" Lin Xianzhi continued.


    Lin Houyuan held a jade slip in his hand and handed it to both Lin Yanjiao and Lin Zewen.


    In the new clan year, the Lin Family had also increased the number of halls, from the initial Commerce Hall, Alchemy Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, Demon Hunting Hall, Bounty Hall, Preaching Hall, Spirit Talisman Hall, and Formation Hall.


    They had added the Spirit Puppet Hall and Spirit Beast Hall.


    After the beast tide, spirit puppets and spirit beasts had become the Lin Family''s most indispensable combat forces.


    They naturally required substantial support.


    Each hall had one hall master and three deputy hall masters.


    The hall masters were all talented cultivators of the Lin Family, such as Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, Lin Zelu, and others.


    And the deputy hall masters were cultivators proficient in the management of each respective hall.


    This arrangement not only ensured the strength of the force but also guaranteed the efficient operation of each hall.


    Each hall master was also supported by a chief officer.


    Hall masters and deputy hall masters were all at least at the Foundation Establishment stage, while most chief officers were at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Level.


    Lin Shiming fondly watched these younger generations take up the role of hall master, as if with each appointment, another heavy responsibility was added to his heart.


    This sight made him somewhat sentimental; there was a time when he too had just become the Family Head, full of passion and boundless enthusiasm.


    When the roles of each hall were confirmed, they also meticulously detailed and divided the responsibilities of each hall, which concerned the entire family''s operation. They spoke more in detail.


    At the same time, they began to eradicate certain opportunistic practices.


    For example, there had been an ongoing practice in the Lin Family: exchanging Contribution Points to obtain precious treasures from the family.


    Now, aside from inheritance, one could only obtain Contribution Points oneself, even gifting them was not permitted.


    And in the Demon Hunting Hall, they explicitly stipulated how often one must hunt a demon and the number of demons to be hunted.


    Lin Shiming was happy listening to this; the more perfected the Lin Family''s system, the further the family could go in the future.


    And from today, he also clearly understood that the Lin Family''s territory would keep expanding, and the main house and branch houses would inevitably become more clearly separated. Even without competitors, each branch house and even the main house could remain competitive, ensuring the family''s positive development.

 Chapter 736 - 471: Clan Conference, Summary (Two in One, Subscription and Monthly Ticket Request)_2

    The clan meeting had reached this stage, with the burning sun hanging high in the sky, and the sea''s surface beginning to gather clouds. The flocks of Sea Cloud Birds that had ventured out from the Lin Family to forage were also making their way back, one by one.


    They too landed by the Lin Family''s plaza, as if in this moment, they too had joined the clan meeting.


    The Lin Family began their ancestral worship, a practice carried out at every clan meeting as it was the root of the Lin Family, important and not to be forgotten under any circumstances.


    Especially this time, as the monster tide had caused too many casualties among the cultivators of the Lin Family.


    On the eight-immortal table, superior-grade Third Rank sandalwood began to be slowly ignited.


    At the same time, superior-grade offerings were being presented one after another, including the head of a Green Ox Great Demon, and also the head of a Flood Dragon that the Lin Family had slain during the monster tide.


    Each one was incredibly ferocious, full of demonic energy, and not one was below Fourth Rank.


    Placed on the table, this display of power instilled a spontaneous sense of pride in the hearts of all Lin Family members.


    That feeling of irritation in their chests also dispersed all at once.


    Even the head of a Flood Dragon could be placed upon this ceremonial table, suggesting endless possibilities for the Lin Family''s future.


    "This monster tide has claimed many of our cultivators for the immortal realm, this wine, this incense, let it be their send-off!"


    "At the same time, the Contribution Points inheritance of our ancestors who have passed away during this calamity will be handed down to their descendants, in accordance with the rules!"


    "Among those who have ascended this time was Lin Yuqing, once the Great Elder of the Lin Family, whose remaining one hundred thousand Contribution Points will be inherited by Lin Shilei!"


    ...


    With the ceremony of worshiping the ancestors complete, the Contribution Points of the fallen cultivators were also distributed to their descendants, one by one. Even if they had no descendants, as long as someone with a Spirit Root emerged from their direct mortal kin, the inheritance would be passed on again.


    This also provided comfort among the Lin Family cultivators. The pursuit of immortal cultivation would accumulate from generation to generation; even if one wasn''t talented enough, there was still the motivation to strive.


    The clan meeting continued until evening, and then the Lin Family began the feast.


    On this day, the fires under the Lin Family''s cooking pots burned brightly, and each large pot was stewing Spirit Beast meat.


    This Spirit Beast meat had been collected by the Lin Family during the monster tide, and now was the perfect opportunity for all Lin Family members to have a feast.


    Meanwhile, the Lin Family''s main Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even Purple Mansion cultivators, had already ascended Qinglian Peak and settled in the pavilion on the mountaintop.


    Seeing the pavilion brought a smile to everyone''s faces, and even Lin Shiming felt that the pavilion was warmer and more familiar.


    Compared to the five-story Council Hall, Lin Shiming also preferred it here.


    The pavilion was well arranged with chairs, and under the night sky, overlooking the freshly dug Qinglian Lake with occasional jumps of Red Spirit Fish, a sense of Fangmu Mountain also arose in the hearts of the older generation of cultivators from the Lin family.


    Everyone felt an inexplicable sense of comfort.


    Once the Formation was activated, shielding the area from Divine Sense detection, Lin Yanjiao began to speak freely:


    "Elders, the real tally of this clan meeting is only just beginning!"


    "Now, please, let each hall master report on the current situation of the Lin Family!"


    "Let me start with the situation of our family''s cultivators," Lin Houyuan was the first to step out, being most familiar with the Lin Family''s cultivators. With the plaza crowded with many Lin Family cultivators, it was not appropriate to speak in detail there.


    "Currently, the Lin Family has five Purple Mansion cultivators, including one Guest Elder. Among them, Shiming is at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, Seventh Great-Uncle, Shitao, and Shijie are at the Purple Mansion Early Stage. Our Purple Mansion Great Demon Spirit Beasts, including those controlled by the Spirit Controlling Seal, number more than a dozen. Among them are four Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells, one Flood Dragon Great Demon, the Red-haired Demon Monkey, Golden Winged Mantis, and Thunder Spirit Turtle are all Great Demons with exceptional talents!"


    "There are a total of four cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment, among them, Lin Houshou, Lin Shiyi, and Lin Shiming are all preparing for the breakthrough to Purple Mansion, and Lin Houwei has just made the breakthrough recently!"


    "The Lin Family also has six cultivators at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, including Zekong, Zecheng, Lei Xuan, Shilei, Hou Yuan, and Zelu. There are as many as thirty cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, which also includes the current talented generation of the Lin Family''s ''Ze'' generation and the main masters of the Lin Family''s techniques, such as the Sword Cultivator Zeli, Artifact Refiners Lin Shizhong and Lin Houfei, Alchemists Lin Houxuan and Lin Houjing, Array Master Lin Shiyun, and Spirit Talisman Master Lin Shijin, all of whom are at this stage!"


    "In addition, there are one hundred and thirty cultivators at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment!"


    "Three hundred at the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation and six hundred in the later stages of Qi Cultivation!"


    ...


    With each number Lin Houyuan announced, the faces of all Lin Family members couldn''t help becoming festive. Compared with when they first arrived in the Southern Sea, the Lin Family had improved by a lot. Even without Lin Shiming, the Lin Family could truly be called a Purple Mansion family now and had enough strength to take control of Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    This change would bring even more dramatic developments in the future, especially for the three hundred Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivators and six hundred Qi Cultivation Late Stage cultivators.


    Most of these cultivators were from the Ze and Yan generations, each with boundless potential.


    In addition to the Lin Family''s Water Spirit Shells and Water Spirit Pearls, there were also the peak Third Rank Spirit Bees they raised, which could produce Spirit Honey, as well as various resources of Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Cuisine.


    "Also, currently the Lin Family has access to two Profound Grade Secret Realms and three Yellow Grade Secret Realms, and that is not even counting the resources of Lianyun Island. Once the Lin Family takes over Lianyun Island, there will be an addition of one Profound Grade Secret Realm and two Yellow Grade Secret Realms!"


    "As for breakthrough resources, presently we have one Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Tree, seven Heavenly Spirit Fruit Trees, and a total of twelve Fourth Rank fruit trees!"


    "Among these, there is still one portion of Purple Mansion Jade Liquid available, three Zi Xuan Precious Jades, three Fortune Longevity Fruits that can extend life by thirty years, and one hundred thirty Foundation Establishment Pills!"


    "There''s one Sword Pavilion, one Illusionary Heart Pavilion, and one Ascending Immortal Ladder!"


    "Regarding Spirit Veins, we are currently lacking, only having one medium-sized Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine on Jiuyue Island!"


    "There are six Sword Cultivators, three with unusual Spirit Roots, twelve with Dual Spirit Roots, and two with Spiritual Bodies!"


    ...


    Lin Shiming also felt that the Lin Family was indeed becoming much wealthier as each item was listed off.


    And it should be known that he still had many resources of his own, not added to the clan, with some even needing to be kept secret.


    Among these were the Flood Dragon Nest, Purple Sun Tower, Thousand Year Spirit Medicines, and five thousand year Spirit Medicines!


    There were definitely also some resources that members of the Lin Family had obtained themselves and managed personally.


    After Lin Houyuan finished reporting the resources of the Lin clan, next was for the Alchemy Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, Formation Hall, and Spirit Puppet Hall to report the current situation of the Lin Family.


    Currently, the Lin Family had one Fourth Rank Alchemist, seventeen Third Rank Alchemists with two of them capable of crafting Superior Grade Third Rank Spirit Pills, and not to mention the Second Rank Alchemists, whose numbers exceeded one hundred.


    This number does not even include the guest elders of the Lin Family.


    The same was true for the Artifact Refining Hall. Although the Lin Family did not have a Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner of their own, Jiuxiao Scatter Man could now be counted as one. Aside from him, Lin Shizhong could refine Supreme Grade Third Rank Magic Artifacts, and Lin Houfei could refine Superior Grade Third Rank Magic Artifacts. There were also twenty Third Rank Artifact Refiners, even more than the number of Alchemists.


    Of course, this did not mean that the Lin Family had better talent in Artifact Refining, but rather because the Lin Family was situated in the Outer Sea, which offered a vast amount of refining materials, leading to the family gaining more experience in crafting Magic Artifacts.


    As for Array Masters, besides Lin Houshou, a Fourth Rank Array Master, Lin Shiyun and Lin Zelu had also reached Superior Grade Third Rank Array Masters and were tantamount to Supreme Grade Third Rank Array Masters considering certain formations.


    However, the Spirit Puppet Hall was just starting out and had not achieved much yet.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, esteemed elders, I would like to go to Thousand Trees Island for training, to further study the crafting of Spirit Puppets, and if possible, I hope to establish a branch there!"


    Lin Zecheng''s eyes were resolute as he stepped forward.


    The words he spoke created a stir among the whole clan, but none could deny that Lin Zecheng''s idea was better.


    Working behind closed doors was not advisable, and the Lin Family needed reform and to learn.


    Going to Thousand Trees Island for training and experiencing the Spirit Puppets there was indeed beneficial, as it was one of the islands not breached by the beast tide along with Xu Ri Island.


    Conversely, the much stronger Golden Thunder Island was breached.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Ninth Uncle, Seventh Brother, I would also like to go to Golden Thunder Island for training. My Thunder Technique cannot progress much within the Lin Family!" Lin Shilei also spoke up.


    Of course, Lin Shilei was not the only one; many Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Lin Family expressed their wish to train. However, there was no second cultivator like Lin Zecheng who wanted to establish a branch.


    Lin Xianzhi exchanged a glance with Lin Shiming, and after a moment of eye contact,


    They agreed to all requests.


    In times of peace, without tough challenges to overcome, the challenge became the Lin Family itself.


    As for the outcome, it would be seen at the Lin Family''s next major clan meeting!


    As the clan meeting concluded, every member was left with a sense of awe.

 Chapter 746 - 476: Taibai Xinmi (Two in One, Asking for Subscriptions and Monthly Votes)

    In the room, Lin Shiming had digested the memory fragments, and the smile on the corner of his mouth grew thicker.


    Having obtained the Gold Condensation Fruit Tree, the greatest goal of this trip had been achieved.


    Next would be to demand some interest from the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    He was not inclined to wade into the troubled waters of the Eastern Domain at the moment, but he did not mind making them even murkier.


    With a plan in mind, Lin Shiming felt extremely at ease.


    Inside the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, one could now see a large mass of vibrant blue soul power, pure to the point of being free from any imperfections, yet it was continuously dissipating.


    Even the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda could only slow the rate of dissipation, not stop it entirely.


    Nevertheless, this was still a considerable opportunity for Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming operated the Soul Fusion Secret Tome''s Soul Fusion Art.


    With each sequence of the Spirit Art formed, a transparent Spirit Net emerged once again, filtering through the mass of pure blue soul power, beginning to filter this refined divine soul force and strip away the residual consciousness and memory fragments.


    This process was extremely complex.


    Of course, this was also the strength of the Soul Fusion Secret Tome.


    Otherwise, if an ordinary person dared to absorb it at random, it would only bring about a fate filled with disjointed memories and a great loss of mental clarity.


    However, this Spirit Art also consumed a great deal of mental energy, and after the Spirit Net filtered through layer by layer, the initially massive ball of soul power had shrunk to the size of a basin.


    It had reduced by nearly eighty percent.


    But this divine soul force had become even purer and more transparent, emanating an imposing aura.


    It even caused Lin Shiming''s heart to palpitate faintly.


    Lin Shiming focused and took a deep breath, then began to form the gestures again, and at that moment, the true Soul Fusion Art commenced.


    A longsword formed by divine intention appeared in the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, absorbing the newly joined divine soul power on the surface of the sword, slowly seeping into the longsword. This penetration would once again sift out impurities, marking the completion of the initial fusion with the divine.


    Only after subsequent adaptation would the sword formed by divine intention polish the absorbed divine soul power once more, and by then, the divine sense would truly be enhanced.


    The process of absorbing soul power was also a tedious one, but despite the tedium, Lin Shiming greatly enjoyed it.


    He could feel his divine sense and divine soul improving almost every moment.


    By the time Lin Shiming opened his eyes again, three days had passed.


    The divine soul had been fully absorbed, and his face still held a look of longing for more.


    Unable to help himself, he released his divine sense outward, sweeping across the surrounding seas, which had increased by nearly twenty percent.


    This lifted his spirits once more.


    In just a few days, his divine sense had increased so much, this terrifying method would cause a huge stir if it became known.


    However, he then smiled wryly and shook his head; as fast as this method was, its biggest drawback was that it was quite wasteful for a Golden Core Demon King!


    Of course, if it were the divine soul of a Human Cultivator, the increase might have been even greater.


    Lin Shiming dismissed these impractical thoughts and returned to focus on himself. The strength of his divine sense could help him control more Magical Treasures.


    But most importantly, he needed to improve his Body Cultivation strength to better utilize the Star Pearl.


    With such a Spiritual Treasure, the power manifested by the second layer of the unlocking art would be even greater.


    Just like on the day the Blood Demon Disk unleashed its power, a memory that was still vivid in Lin Shiming''s mind.


    That was definitely not the power that could be delivered by the first layer of the unlocking art!


    Lin Shiming did not get up; in his hand appeared a Storage Belt, an ancient artifact, not something that belonged to the octopus Demon King.


    Instead, it was a treasure left within the Secret Realm''s cave dwelling, looted by the octopus Demon King.


    Now it had fallen into Lin Shiming''s hands too; since the Demon King had been slain by the Flaming Sword, there was no need to share with Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    With no use for the Flaming Sword, naturally, it was a windfall for him.


    The Storage Belt, like the Storage Bag, was a space-containment artifact, but the space inside startled Lin Shiming¡ªcomparable to his own Cave Heaven, not much smaller.


    It was large enough to fit an entire mountain peak.


    The only flaw was that it could not contain living beings, yet the Storage Belt''s value was still immense.


    With hope, Lin Shiming opened the Storage Belt, but was greeted by emptiness; all sorts of Spiritual Medicines were gone, as the Spiritual Medicine Garden had already been completely ravaged by the octopus Demon King and its offspring.


    He only saw rows of Jade Slips laid out.


    These Jade Slips were equally ancient, clearly from a very distant past.


    In fact, Lin Shiming saw that many of the Jade Slips had already broken edges and corners.


    This made him feel quite distressed.


    He picked up the Jade Slips one by one to inspect them. The first Jade Slip contained diary entries of ancient Immortal Cultivation.


    Notably emblazoned on the first page were the prominent words "Taibai Sword Palace"!


    From that aspect, this Taiyi True Monarch might also belong to the Taibai Sword Palace.


    What moved Lin Shiming was that the very first Jade Slip recorded the secret tales and life story of a Taiyi True Monarch.


    After reading through most of it, Lin Shiming picked up the second Jade Slip.


    The second Jade Slip also contained the exploits of a True Monarch, prompting Lin Shiming to wonder if this could also be a Jade Slip from the Taibai Sword Palace, intended to record and promote the deeds of True Monarchs.


    Ten consecutive Jade Slips were like this, astonishing Lin Shiming with the Taibai Sword Palace''s strength, yet also starting to bore him a bit.


    Fortunately, on the eleventh Jade Slip, a few Jade Slips with pill formulas began to appear. These formulas were for Fourth Rank pills, and there was even a Fifth Rank pill formula named Snow Spirit Pill, a secret recipe for advancing the Cultivation Level of Golden Core Cultivators.


    The main ingredient used was Spiritual Medicine with a cold attribute of over three thousand years old.


    For Lin Shiming, this was extremely meaningful.


    Although he had already given his five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine to the Flaming Sword, he still had plenty of three-thousand-year-old ones in his Purple Sun Tower.

 Chapter 747 - 476: Taibai Xinmi (Two in One, Asking for Subscriptions and Monthly Votes)_2

    With an elixir formula, naturally, it would be better than simply absorbing spiritual medicine.


    Having acquired the first jade slip, what followed was a massive number of autobiographies and immortal cultivation travelogues.


    After reviewing several jade slips, Lin Shiming found another ice attribute cultivation technique; this technique was indeed that of True Person Qiu Hong''s, the Extreme Cold Water Scripture, an Earth Rank Inferior Grade cultivation technique that could be practiced until the Golden Core Late Stage.


    It also contained many of True Person Qiu Hong''s insights on immortal cultivation. If the Lin Family had ice spirit root cultivators, then they would have ready-made insights from Qi cultivation to the Golden Core, and their speed of breakthrough might even be faster than Lin Shiyuan''s cultivation of the Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture.


    This made Lin Shiming overjoyed once again; the only ice attribute cultivation technique the Lin Family lacked was now in their collection.


    They had reached a total of five Earth Rank cultivation techniques.


    After the cultivation techniques, there was a large number of useless jade slips until the very last one.


    And the information inside the jade slip shocked Lin Shiming immensely.


    It did not contain text, but rather an image.


    In front of his eyes, two men with immortal aura, both with their hair tied up, were bickering in a pavilion, unable to stop!


    Both men were wearing the robes of the Taibai Sword Palace, with nothing on the robes.


    If Lin Shiming did not know about the Taibai Sword Palace, it would not matter, but after viewing so many jade slips, it was clear that these were Taibai Sword Palace''s highest-level formless sword robes, only wearable by the Supreme Elders.


    And the sole requirement of the Taibai Sword Palace''s Supreme Ancestor was to become a Divinity Transformation Elder!


    "Myriad Swords Divine Mountain is a trap, a trap that could destroy the entire cultivation world!"


    "Only by sealing Myriad Swords Divine Mountain can the cultivation world naturally develop!"


    "Myriad Swords Divine Mountain is a more terrifying existence than Ancient Demons..."


    "The seal is a must, it must be sealed..."


    "Even if the Taibai Sword Palace sinks into obscurity!"


    ...


    The words were few, but they shook Lin Shiming''s spirit, causing him to stand still, speechless for a long time.


    Myriad Swords Divine Mountain also had another name, Myriad Swords Tomb.


    And according to the contents of this jade slip, it seemed that the Taiyi Grass Sword had deceived him, and he had already fallen into cause and effect.


    Lin Shiming thought of the Flaming Yang Sword, which upon emerging from the secret realm, had progressed so rapidly from Purple Mansion strength to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    If all swords from the Myriad Swords Divine Mountain could do this, it would be a catastrophic disaster.


    Lin Shiming did not believe that such a rapid increase in cultivation strength could be achieved through cultivation in an instant.


    Lin Shiming pondered for a long time, originally planning to visit the Taibai Sword Palace Minor World as soon as possible, but now he hesitated.


    He also thought about the Nine Spirit Tower, which had always helped Shen Ji True Person to break through to the Nascent Soul, while also acting as an interface linking the secret realm and the Minor World. Was it just for an Innate Spiritual Treasure?


    Could he be certain that an Innate Spiritual Treasure would fall into his hands?


    Lin Shiming felt that what he had previously thought was somewhat clear, was becoming vague once again.


    Why did the Innate Spiritual Treasure emerge, and why the Taibai Sword Palace would seal the Myriad Swords Divine Mountain.


    According to the clue from the Taiyi Grass Sword, Taibai Sword Palace was once an obscure and nameless sect.


    ...


    Lin Shiming''s head felt heavy as he looked inside himself, at the Taiyi Grass Sword nurtured by the Sword Imbuement Technique, now with a smidgeon of suspicion in his heart.


    Yet the system alert did not sound.


    Lin Shiming considered it for a long time but still could not clarify his thoughts, and in the end, had no choice but to let it go.


    Pondering these matters was not as good as focusing on cultivation, striving to condense a Golden Core as soon as possible.


    Having cultivated a Minor Divine Ability, his own probability of breaking through to the Golden Core was ten percent higher than most people.


    Together with the Gold Condensation Pill, and considering his Thousand Wood Spirit Body, he was confident he could succeed in forming the Golden Core in one attempt.


    But first and foremost, the Gold Condensation Pill needed to be successfully cultivated, and Lin Shiming also planned to provide all the Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shells and the Red Lotus Pills and Projected Spirit Light to Lin Shitao, from the Lin Family''s resources.


    After these thoughts, Lin Shiming''s mind felt much more at ease, and he continued to explore the remaining items.


    There weren''t many treasures left; most were spirit minerals from the ocean, predominantly Fourth and Third Rank materials.


    The most precious were two Fifth Rank Cold Essence Crystals.


    In the future, when Jiuxiao Scatter Man made a breakthrough, it could be given to him to refine a Fifth Rank magical treasure.


    Of course, he would need to provide a significant number of Contribution Points, and it would be best if he owed the Lin Family a favor!


    After coming out of closed-door cultivation, Lin Shiming also found Lin Shiyun and the other three, who all now had their True Yuan fully restored, even Lin Shiyun had completely recovered.


    And there were only a few days left until the trading meeting with the Fourth Rank ice Flood Dragon.


    Lin Shiming then took out the Zifeng Boat and the Eternal Night Umbrella, activating them together to head towards the distance.


    ...


    On a secluded island, several palaces stood tall.


    A young man with the tail of a flood dragon, clad in golden-yellow armor, stood at the forefront of the island, like a majestic and imposing general.


    Meanwhile, in the sea, waves surged intermittently, and one by one, cultivators with half-beast features emerged.


    In the blink of an eye, they had all landed on the shore, each holding a gift.


    "Bing Feng, my friend, did you seize that armor from the Human Race again?"


    "Bing Feng, has your cultivation level broken through once more?"


    ...


    A series of flattering remarks passed around, clearly delighting the man in armor, who responded courteously to everyone.


    "Just a minor gain, hardly worth mentioning!"


    "Brother Turtle, this time, we must negotiate some worthy treasures!"


    ...


    It wasn''t until the afternoon, when the sunlight dappled across the waves, that the armored man returned to the palace, starting the trading session with utmost satisfaction.


    This gathering of the Demonic Race was the largest he had ever hosted.


    However, it was at this moment that several figures emerged from the waves once again.


    The man transformed from Bing Feng turned around and inquired:


    "Fellow Daoists appear unfamiliar. In which sea domain did you achieve your transformation?" His eyes still held a hint of wariness.


    "We achieved our transformations at Yuhai City!" came the calm reply from the cultivator who led the four from within the waves.


    At these words, the color drained from the face of the man in armor.


    "Daoist friend, that''s a poor joke to make!"


    Yuhai City was the domain of the Heavenly Demon Sect. As he looked at the four individuals, he realized two among them were only at the Foundation Establishment Stage and plainly could not have taken Transformation Pills.


    "Despicable Human Race, how dare you show yourselves in these waters?" the Bing Feng-man roared, and soon, dozens of figures emerged from within the palace.


    All exuded the formidable presence of Purple Mansion Great Demons, with the most powerful among them being two snow pythons, a blue flood dragon, and a crimson flood dragon.


    All possessed the strength of the late Fourth Rank.


    Yet, at that moment, Lin Shiming also unveiled a massive black banner.


    The banner was shrouded in demonic fog, teeming with countless hungry ghosts¡ªit was the Evil Ghost Banner Lin Shiming had seized in the Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    The Evil Ghost Banner fluttered, its many demon heads shifting menacingly.


    And next to him, the Jiuxiao Scatter Man produced a demon cultivator''s Magical Treasure.


    Lin Shiming even let out a chilling cackle.


    Ultimately, the Evil Ghost Banner, which blotted out the sky, struck terror in all who saw it.


    The dozens of Purple Mansion Great Demons all employed their skills simultaneously.


    However, Lin Shiming and the Jiuxiao Scatter Man on the surface wielded the Evil Ghost Banner, while secretly they used three Demon Blood Needles, along with a Five Metal Beasts Ring.


    Not to mention a slightly effective Divine Mind Weapon.


    The Divine Mind Sword, facing these Purple Mansion Great Demons, gave Lin Shiming an overwhelming advantage.


    Within moments, several Great Demons sustained soul damage, becoming sluggish and listless. Lin Shiming''s figure charged among them, his iron fist, transformed from a Star Pearl, striking several of the pinnacle Fourth Rank Great Demons led by Bing Feng.


    In the vicinity, an unnoticed formation had been completed.


    Mournful demonic fog billowed out as demonic heads appeared out of thin air.


    The Purple Mansion Great Demons, upon seeing their leaders such as Bing Feng fall within mere moments, perished on the spot.


    They roared in terror and began to flee in all directions.


    Lin Shiming in turn used the Evil Ghost Banner to absorb them one by one.


    The Evil Ghost Banner, an artifact from the Blood Cultivation Sect, naturally possessed the ability to refine demons. Although Lin Shiming was not a demon cultivator, simple conversion was still possible for him.


    However, this process did waste some divine soul essence, but the absorbed souls, once contained inside the Evil Ghost Banner, would become more potent.


    In the end, only a Profound Water Spirit Turtle managed to escape.


    Lin Shiming watched its fleeing figure without the slightest concern.


    "On to the next location, continue!" Lin Shiming''s expression was cold as he felt the limits of his left hand and swallowed several elixirs prepared by Lin Shitao.


    After collecting all the magical treasures and the flood dragon demonic beast materials, the Third Rank Intermediate Grade demonic fog formation set up by the group was detonated one by one.


    With the terrifying explosion, the black demonic fog dissipated.


    The four figures disappeared from the island as well.

 Chapter 748 - 477: A Strong Wind Rises, The Heart Soars (Two in One)

    Zhao Kingdom, Shuangmu Mountain, a dark underground location.


    Terrifying beast bones formed a circle, with a sinister altar placed in the hall.


    Numerous blood had condensed into a blood pool, which constantly bubbled with heat. Nine eerie red serpent shades flickered within it, accompanied by strange howling sounds.


    Next to the blood pool, two black-robed middle-aged men stood silently. At this moment, a jade slip flew in, snatched by two cultivators in black robes whose figures were indistinct.


    "Now we just wait for the time to come!" one of them nodded, appearing somewhat satisfied.


    "Liu He, I still have an uneasy feeling," a hoarse voice rose inappropriately, its owner also lifting his head, eyes flickering with demonic light. If Lin Shiming were here, he would recognize this as the Heavenly Demon True Person who had pursued him that day.


    "Demon Soul Uncle has used the Seven Stars Plate, determining that the opponent will come at this time, so he will surely come!"


    "It''s a pity that Demon Soul Uncle''s lifespan wasn''t sufficient; otherwise, if we had used the Seven Stars Plate for precise calculations, we wouldn''t have needed to do this," Liu He True Person said with a hint of disappointment.


    But then his eyes hardened with determination.


    "However, once he comes, he''ll have no choice but to fall for the trap; it''s not up to him. For a genius cultivator like him, still staying within the clan and even taking risks for the family, he truly follows the family path!"


    "The Chu Family is their enemy, holding the Lin Family ceremonial rites on their land, and their Ice Spirit Root talent... he has to come whether he wants to or not!" Liu He True Person crushed the jade slip he held, turning it into ash, and pressed it down, dropping it into the blood pool.


    Instantly, the blood pool roared terrifyingly, the serpent shades of the blood snakes surging forth violently.


    Crack, crack, crack!


    All the jade ash was devoured.


    It even roared at Liu He True Person with a momentum not the least bit weak!


    Liu He True Person raised his hand again, and the serpent shades once more sank into the blood pool. He continued speaking:


    "Unless he doesn''t want to break through to the Golden Core!"


    When condensing the Golden Core, facing the Heart Demon Tribulation is much more difficult than the Purple Mansion''s Illusionary Realm!


    Even if Lin Shiming were to feint to the east while attacking to the west, he had made preparations.


    In the ruins of Qingxuan Sect, he had also set up a Transmission Formation. The Blood Demon Disk''s passcode was indeed real, but who could actually take the passcode from the Qingxuan Sect ruins?


    "What do you think about the internal strife within the Demonic Race?" the hoarse voice fell silent for a while, seemingly persuaded, but Heavenly Demon True Person, also a late-stage Golden Core, guess his own thoughts as well, and thus spoke up.


    "No need to watch it; those old immortals from the Spirit Beast Sect will investigate thoroughly. They are the most anxious!" Liu He True Person once again spoke.


    His eyes were filled with bloodthirsty desire.


    It was as if in his gaze, he already possessed Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven World, along with more than two damaged Spiritual Treasures...


    ...


    Eastern Sea, in the depths of the Nameless Sea Area.


    Here, the water was calm and exceptionally clear, with countless corals forming a beautiful underwater world.


    If cultivators saw these corals, they would retreat far away; these colorful corals were not ordinary. They were extremely poisonous, and even Purple Mansion cultivators might not be able to suppress them.


    Within the blood corals, there was an enormous palace comparable to Yuhai City, exhibiting both grandeur and extravagance, with numerous serpent Demonic Beasts guarding its surroundings.


    Even amongst these, one could see Great Demons casually prowling.


    At that moment, a middle-aged man wearing a golden dragon robe sent off a woman with four tails.


    "Lady Bai Ling, rest assured. In the Eastern Sea, a monster tide will certainly arise within three years!"


    "Then, my thanks to the Golden Emperor on behalf of the Cloud Emperor!" Bai Ling also bowed, giving a charming smile.


    Bai Ling''s appearance was extremely attractive; her beautiful smile paired with her four tails swaying spiritedly behind her made her look like a celestial fox fairy.


    At that moment, a young cultivator standing behind the gold-robed middle-aged man''s eyes gleamed brightly.


    Bai Ling also felt the intense gaze of the young cultivator, but her heart couldn''t help but flicker with the shadow of someone else.


    Her eyes flashed with ruthless intent.


    If not for that person, how could her cultivation level have stagnated?


    If not for that person, how could her heart have been burdened with a knot?


    ...


    Meanwhile, at that time, the sea area was already in complete chaos.


    Lin Shiming was once again making use of the system prompts; with the prompts, he was unbridled in his search for Fourth Rank Flood Dragons.


    Inside the evil banner, several Fourth Rank Flood Dragon demon heads were already wreaking havoc.


    Each bout of devastation would infuriate the Flood Dragons even more.


    And yet, Lin Shiming also carried the banner of controlling the seas.


    Whenever he encountered Fifth Rank Demon Kings, he did not engage in direct combat, rather using the system prompts to evade beforehand.


    The Fourth Rank Supreme Grade magical treasure, Eternal Night Umbrella, also played a tremendous role.


    Of course, over these few days, Lin Shiming also acquired several Fifth Rank materials. Each member of the Flood Dragon Clan was incredibly wealthy; he even obtained two pieces of Zi Xuan Precious Jade. For the Lin Family, it was a cause for celebration; after all, more and more members of the family would be breaking through to the Purple Mansion in the future.


    In the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea, movements had already commenced, with several Demon Kings'' Divine Senses sweeping through the Outer Sea.


    But Lin Shiming, with the guidance of system prompts, had long since disappeared again within the Outer Sea.


    On a remote small island in the Eastern Domain near the sea, the island was scattered with rocks, covered in moss and cliff faces.


    With a surge of Spirit Light, the Eternal Night Umbrella retracted its cover.


    Revealing the figures of Lin Shiming and three others, along with the sight of the dawn at the far end of the sea.


    It was not dazzling, but in the darkness, it provided great comfort.


    Like a glimmer of hope, affirming that the future for them would be successful.

 Chapter 749 - 477: A Strong Wind Rises, The Heart Soars (Two in One)_2

    Lin Shiming felt at ease when the system prompt did not appear, at the same time countless array flags began to fly out.


    They were already close to the shore, and those Golden Core True Persons might sense something amiss and send out some Divine Sense for a brief sweep.


    Over a thousand array flags landed, and in the void, they resembled a crawling old turtle.


    The next instant, they vanished completely.


    Lin Shiming ascended into the sky and, feeling the concealment provided by the formation, also relaxed.


    This formation was indeed one of the two spoils of war Lin Shiming had seized from Xu Ri True Person, the Great Turtle Hiding Spirit Formation.


    The formation''s efficacy in concealing and hiding was not inferior to the Eternal Night Umbrella in some aspects, but its only weakness was that it could not withstand a Golden Core True Person''s meticulous and inch-by-inch land inspection.


    But to Lin Shiming, stationed in Yuhai City all year round, there was only one Golden Core Cultivator. Based on the deployments of Golden Core True Persons by Heavenly Demon Valley and other places, even if there were two Golden Core True Persons, Lin Shiming would not be too fearful!


    Lin Shiming, to ensure foolproof measures, also had the Flaming Sword come out for a glance.


    Although there were still loopholes, Lin Shiming would not be discovered before something went wrong and he teleported away.


    Lin Shiming left this formation as a surefire precaution to prevent both escape routes from being blocked.


    Even to alternate between two teleportation formations!


    If possible, Lin Shiming also did not want the locations they teleported to be exposed.


    After Lin Shiming finished the inspection, Lin Shiyun was already tirelessly setting up the transmission formation below.


    Even Lin Shiyuan was helping out.


    At this juncture, Lin Shiyuan''s mentality had also improved a lot, patiently assisting Lin Shiyun.


    Meanwhile, Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Lin Shiming were gathering their strength to raid the Demon Cave. Naturally, the main force for the Demon Cave was Lin Shiming and Jiuxiao Scatter Man, which of course included Lin Shiming''s Spirit Beasts as well.


    At this moment, the biggest preparation for the two was to adjust their condition, otherwise even if the Flaming Sword could block Golden Core prowess, if they were no match for the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Purple Mansion power, they would still face danger in return.


    While the island was extremely quiet, the vast sea was still raging. Although unable to find the culprit, it was time for the Dragon Palace to initiate a beast tide to the shore and even start slaughtering the Human Race.


    The surging waves kept rising, and a fierce storm broke out beneath the sky, heralding another rainy season!


    Boom! Thunder crashed down, and outside Yuhai City, Cultivators continued entering the city, while the Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion Cultivators at the city gate frowned deeply, unaware of why the Eastern Sea was turbulent.


    Even within the main city of Yuhai, at the moment, a Purple Mansion Cultivator kept requesting an audience.


    "Please inform Hao Yun Senior Brother to relay a message to Illusionary Demon Teacher Uncle, that the Demonic Race is very likely stirring up trouble!" said a Purple Mansion Cultivator dressed in a black robe, his expression filled with panic.


    He paced back and forth outside a palace.


    "Chen Junior Brother, I''ve already reported it, but the Master has indeed had an epiphany and has entered closed-door cultivation!" Hao Yun Scatter Man continued to speak.


    "However, I have informed the headquarters in Demonic Valley. If someone continues to frame our Heavenly Demon Sect, they will also deduce the truth. With the Supreme Elder Demon Soul Teacher Patriarch still present, along with Liu He Teacher Uncle and the Great Elder of Heavenly Demon Sect, small Demonic Race, once on shore, they''re not worth mentioning!"


    "But before that, please Chen Junior Brother, gather all Human Cultivators in Yuhai City for a battle against the Demonic Race!!"


    The young Purple Mansion Cultivator dared not delay and flew out of the palace into the skies of Yuhai City, as the sound of thunder rolled on.


    All the Loose Cultivators and family Cultivators of Yuhai City, as well as Sect Cultivators, were shocked as if struck by thunder, greatly shaken!


    "Someone has framed our Heavenly Demon Sect, and all True Persons will arrive soon, so, effective immediately!"


    "All Cultivators, do not leave the city, all family Cultivators and Loose Cultivators are conscripted without condition!"


    "Offenders, kill!"


    "Retreaters, kill!"


    "Those with ill-intentions, subject to be scorched by Demon Fire and torment the Divine Soul for a hundred years!"


    Batch after batch of Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators and the Law Enforcement Team surged out, and one after another, Heavenly Demon banners rose around Yuhai City, gathering massive amounts of demonic fog!


    ...


    The disturbance in the Eastern Sea quickly reached Demonic Valley.


    A valley built of skeletons, with only a cave big enough for two people at its entrance.


    A middle-aged Cultivator, holding a long-range jade, arrived in front of the cave.


    "Demon Soul Teacher Uncle!" Blood Rain True Person softly called out.


    After calling out three times, he then threw a giant Fourth Rank blood beast into the cave.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    As a few eerie sounds arose, there was only the wailing of a beast''s roar.


    After a long while, the beast roars subsided.


    A jade slip was also tossed out.


    "Go notify Liu He, his arrangements are amiss!"


    An ancient voice sounded, followed by coughs, one after another.


    "Thank you, Elder!" True Person Blood Rain also nodded, his face full of joy.


    Within the jade slip was nothing else but the reflection of the Seven Stars Plate, which bore only one name, Lin Shiming.


    The one who triggered this beast tide had been identified; holding the name from the Seven Stars Plate was enough to make the Demonic Race retreat.


    After all, they were an enemy.


    At that time, a few kind words, and the Demonic Race would step back.


    Of course, it was because of the Qingxuan Sect triggering the beast tide that they were able to counterattack the Three Sects of the Zhao Kingdom, thanks to the distraction of the Demonic Beasts by the Seven Stars Plate in the later stages.


    The Sect''s power remained unaffected, and as for those small island families and Loose Cultivators at sea, the Heavenly Demon Sect did not care about them at all.


    What hesitated him was the vows made by True Person Liu He at the assembly of True Persons.


    And now, Lin Shiming had appeared in the Eastern Sea...


    ...


    Beneath Fangmu Mountain, the Blood Pool was still churning, and True Person Liu He''s confidence had now changed.


    Lin Shiming''s appearance in the Eastern Sea made it certain that there was no mistake on the Seven Stars Plate, which meant the situation was genuine.


    "Why did Demon Soul Elder fail to pinpoint the exact location?" he clenched his fist.


    "You do not know the lifespan of Demon Soul Elder," interjected the Heavenly Demon True Person next to him, his gaze filled with disdain.


    This time''s action was proposed by True Person Liu He, and the lost Blood Demon Disk was also said to be Liu He''s responsibility.


    The only point he could bring up was that True Person Liu He had deceived everyone, had reached the late Golden Core stage, and was also the second in the Heavenly Demon Sect with the hope of reaching the peak of Golden Core.


    "I''m done playing with you. Yuhai City must not fall!" Heavenly Demon True Person shook his head, ready to leave.


    "That''s a feint, he will certainly go to Fangmu Mountain!"


    "Moreover, we''ve obtained so much Void Nether Crystal from Qingxuan Sect, and the Transmission Formation we set up is strong enough to face them!" True Person Liu He spoke again.


    Just as he finished speaking, a serpentine shadow suddenly emerged from the Blood Pool, looking ferocious.


    The Heavenly Demon True Person glanced at it, his eyes clearly filled with indignation.


    "Demon Soul Elder''s jade slip can quell the Heavenly Demon Sect''s wrath. Please trust me this once, Elder Brother. If this succeeds, I will share with you a strip of Osteodevouring Blood Demon Serpent!"


    ...


    The second day at the island.


    Among the surge of waves, no Demonic Beasts could now be seen, and Lin Shiming stood on the shoreline, unusually calm.


    This position wasn''t the best point for attacking Yuhai City, hence even fewer Demonic Beasts were visible now than before.


    The assembly of the Demonic Race had even surpassed his expectations, more tumultuous and vicious!


    Just like the rain before him, it invigorated Lin Shiming''s heart even more!


    Perhaps this beast tide would lead to the deaths of many innocent cultivators, adding to his infamy. But for Lin Shiming, his Dao heart remained as steady as ever.


    He felt compassion, but it was for his family.


    He looked at the rain, with the Transmission Formation already over halfway set up.


    And at that instant, his Cave Heaven trembled.


    In the Spirit Lake, the Star Spirit Clam suddenly opened its shells, revealing an expansive star chart. Its aura climbed steadily, transforming it into a mid-Fourth Rank.


    The Fifth-Rank Spirit Soil allowed the Star Spirit Clam to achieve its breakthrough.


    And it didn''t end there; with the breakthrough of the Star Spirit Clam, bursts of five-colored light emerged. Next to the Flood Dragon Nest, the Five-colored Python also completely transformed at this moment, turning into a dragon.


    One by one, the scales of the Five-colored Flood Dragon appeared, accompanied by numerous spirit lights.


    The Five-colored Python had successfully broken through, transforming into a Fourth-Rank Flood Dragon.


    As a Five-colored Flood Dragon, it unfolded its divine light, exuding the majesty of a dragon!

 Chapter 750 - 478: Wang Jiao Emerges from Seclusion, Advancing to the Demon Cave (Two in One)

    "Master!"


    "Master..."


    Two consecutive calls¡ªthe former naturally came from the Star Spirit Clam. As a Great Demon who had already reached the Purple Mansion stage, its ability to speak had long been indistinguishable from that of ordinary people.


    Furthermore, without realizing it, it had also started drawing closer to Lin Shiming''s other Demonic Beasts, staring at Lin Shiming with hopeful eyes.


    As for the latter voice, it belonged to the Five-colored Flood Dragon. Its voice was somewhat dull and stiff, unnatural, and extremely hesitant, perhaps even shy.


    After all, its true master was Lin Shitao, but the thought of the numerous Flood Dragon corpses Lin Shiming possessed,


    made that bit of unnaturalness completely vanish.


    "Master!" It even sounded a bit excited in its tone.


    "Very good, Five-colored, how is your Five-colored Divine Light?" Lin Shiming looked at the Five-colored Flood Dragon.


    This was the crucial question. In the Profound Rank Secret Realm, Lin Shiming had witnessed the Five-colored Python''s Five-colored Divine Light, which could even immobilize magical treasures.


    At a critical moment, it would undoubtedly be of great use!


    The Five-colored Flood Dragon, having a Bloodline ostensibly stronger than that of the Five-colored Python, thus even having just broken through to Purple Mansion, excited him greatly.


    The Five-colored Flood Dragon nodded and let out a long roar towards the sky.


    Issuing a series of roars, its mouth opened wide, scales shimmering in a cascade of five-colored light.


    And the next moment, brilliant light surged from its horns, and a burst of five-colored radiance shot out.


    The Purple Dawn Sword in Lin Shiming''s hand also leapt forward, slashing at the five-colored radiance. However, as soon as the Purple Dawn Sword entered the area of radiance, it paused noticeably.


    Even as his Sword Intent burst forth anew, at that moment, it felt like it was caught in a quagmire,


    slowing him down immeasurably.


    "Break!" With another gesture of Spirit Art in his hands, Lin Shiming unleashed all his Sword Intent, and the Sword Intent broke free once more, shattering the five-colored radiance amidst a clash of metals, dissolving it into Spirit Light which then disappeared.


    The Five-colored Flood Dragon whimpered, clearly somewhat disheartened.


    "You are already very strong!" Lin Shiming encouraged, noting that the Five-colored Flood Dragon had just achieved a breakthrough and was still unskilled with its Five-colored Divine Light. Once it stabilized its Cultivation Level at the Purple Mansion stage, its Divine Light would undoubtedly be formidable.


    "This is for you!" Lin Shiming took out two Storage Bags, handing them to the Star Spirit Clam and the Five-colored Flood Dragon, respectively.


    Inside the Star Spirit Clam''s bag were Fourth Rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Water, with a small portion of Fifth Rank included.


    The Five-colored Flood Dragon''s bag, on the other hand, contained the corpses of several Fourth Rank Great Demons. Though not Flood Dragons, they were nonetheless Great Demons with strong Bloodlines.


    Extremely beneficial for the Five-colored Flood Dragon.


    "Roar!"


    It seemed to sense that Lin Shiming was bestowing treasures.


    At that moment, from the vicinity of the Flood Dragon Nest, a dark light suddenly soared, and a terrifying aura of Spirit Might emerged, as a massive black dragon transformed into a bolt of black lightning, shooting towards the sky.


    "Master, dragon corpses, tasty!" Wang Jiao roared with excitement in the void.


    Wang Jiao had not yet broken through to the late stage of Purple Mansion, still residing in the middle stage, but his body radiated with Spirit Light even more so than before, and his dark dragon scales were finer, containing countless Spirit Patterns.


    Even among Flood Dragons, there were distinctions, and after consuming so many Poisonous Dragons, Wang Jiao''s level was, in Lin Shiming''s view, at least among the top-tier Flood Dragons of the Demonic Race¡ªnot on the level of the Tianqing Flood Dragon King, but certainly high-ranked.


    The most significant change was found in his Poisonous Dragon horns.


    Now, the horns were not only more elongated, but they also bore layers of Spirit Patterns oozing ominously with potent venom.


    Opening its large maw, numerous toxic secretions emerged, and at this moment, with Wang Jiao''s intervention, a trace of that venom, if harvested, could corrode any ordinary Fourth Rank Great Demon.


    And beneath its belly, the massive claws remained unchanged, but that one smaller dragon claw had grown considerably and looked even more fearsome.


    With a single roar, the entire Cave Heaven began to tremble, its might reaching for the heavens.


    And Lin Shiming, surprisingly, did not prevent Wang Jiao''s outburst; Cultivators needed to vent after a breakthrough, let alone Demonic Beasts.


    Hence, he was pleased to witness their frenzied roars, though if this occurred routinely in the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming would certainly use the Soul Binding Forbidden to discipline them.


    Before Lin Shiming could speak again, Wang Jiao turned his gaze towards the Five-colored Flood Dragon:


    "Reptile, stay away from me, or beware lest I eat you!" Wang Jiao menacingly flashed his fangs.


    "Enough, Five-colored is now a Flood Dragon too. Stop calling him a reptile!"


    "Maintain your strength; we might face tough battles ahead!" Lin Shiming was extremely pleased to see Wang Jiao''s breakthrough.


    Having three beasts advance, his strength in the Purple Mansion realm expanded, giving him greater confidence to venture into the Demon Cave!


    Lin Shiming then took out another Spirit Beast Bag and handed it to Wang Jiao.


    After issuing a few instructions, he exited the Cave Heaven World.


    The island was still engulfed in a downpour, with the sea level having risen several tens of feet higher than before.


    The surging waves continued to head towards Yuhai City.


    Lin Shiming''s gaze towards the end of the sea turned even more resolute.


    Within the Great Turtle Hiding Spirit Formation, the setup of the Transmission Formation was nearing completion.


    Finally, as the dazzling Spirit Light fell and spread out in ripples underneath the Formation, it returned to tranquility.


    Lin Shiming also felt a shift in space.


    "Seventh Brother, the Transmission Formation is ready!" Lin Shiyun emerged from underground, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and reported to Lin Shiming.


    After inspecting the Formation himself and receiving a nod from Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Lin Shiyuan, Lin Shiming took out the Zifeng Boat and boarded it, taking his place at the bow.


    "Let''s go!" Lin Shiming opened the Eternal Night Umbrella,


    setting it atop the Zifeng Boat like a sail.


    And the Zifeng Boat, like a fish diving into the sea, vanished in an instant.

 Chapter 751 - 478: Wang Jiao Emerges, Advancing towards the Demon Cave (Combined Part 2)

    Completely merged with the gloomy skies, amidst the heavy rain.


    As if they had never appeared at all!


    ...


    Yuhai City, lying a mere hundred li from the sea, was distant enough for a mortal to take a whole day and night to traverse.


    However, at this moment, that stretch of land was overwhelmed by surging waves, covering more than half of it.


    Most cultivators stood atop the city walls, where they could faintly see countless Demonic Beasts, surfacing and roaring in the water, ferociously waving their claws.


    The cultivators on the city walls readied themselves even more for the impending crisis, their hands filled with Spirit Talismans and Magic Artifacts, while at their side thousands of differing sized banners of the Heavenly Demon fluttered in the gloomy weather.


    Atop the banners, demonic heads, hidden within demonic mists, twisted their bodies as if they were impatient to burst forth from the banners and slaughter to their hearts'' content.


    As Yuhai City''s deputy master, Chen Xuan felt extremely uneasy at this moment.


    He sensed that this beast tide was different.


    There had been numerous beast tides in the Eastern Sea, but as the sea monsters were adept at underwater combat, once on land, apart from the Fourth-Rank Great Demons and Fifth-Rank Demon Kings, the other Second and Third-Rank Demonic Beasts did not have much combat power.


    This was why the Heavenly Demon Sect was so fearless.


    But this time, the waves were huge, the rain unrelenting, and under the dark skies, the water level crept closer and closer to Yuhai City step by step.


    At that moment, atop the city wall, suddenly, a figure in a black robe ascended the ramparts.


    "We welcome the True Person''s emergence from seclusion!" Immediately, a series of flattering voices echoed from the ramparts.


    The cultivation level of the Illusionary Demon True Person was even higher, his aura more intimidating; just standing there made many Demon Cultivators wish they could prostrate themselves in worship.


    Furthermore, within the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Illusionary Demon True Person was the most feared, for he could create myriad avatars, and one could never know if one of those avatars was lurking nearby.


    Yet, the Illusionary Demon True Person''s face did not look good at the moment. He lifted his head to look forward:


    "Hao Yun, go and report to Heavenly Demon Valley, ask for reinforcements, we must act quickly!"


    "This time, the Demonic Race might be seriously aiming to attack!" After speaking, the Illusionary Demon True Person also personally waved his hand, and countless formation flags appeared, falling into his hands.


    In the center of the city, the suppression of the Fifth-Rank Spirit Vein was suddenly released, and the City Protection Great Formation also activated to its utmost.


    Under the dazzling Spirit Light, nine larger Heavenly Demon banners materialized before the formation.


    The demonic mist gradually spilled forth from them.


    Ghostly wails and wolf howls resonated; at this moment, many cultivators felt as if they were envisioning mountains of corpses and seas of blood, seeing miles of floating corpses.


    Seeing countless demonic heads swaying, and these countless demonic heads then condensed into one immensely large demonic head!


    The Spirit Arts of the Illusionary Demon True Person continued, and the demonic mist of the nine great Heavenly Demon banners gradually joined together, no longer distinguishable from each other.


    They formed an even larger Heavenly Demon Sealing Sky Great Formation.


    Instantly boosting the confidence of the cultivators in Yuhai City.


    In the distance, it seemed as if the rain grew more intense with the appearance of the Illusionary Demon True Person, the large raindrops brutally smashing into the waves.


    They then turned into tsunamis tens of zhang high, barreling towards Yuhai City.


    In the waves, silhouettes of Flood Dragons appeared intermittently amidst the ocean.


    The usually rare Fourth-Rank Great Demons were now emerging en masse.


    Those Second and Third-Rank Demonic Beasts were even more numerous, so dense that their numbers could not be ascertained.


    The next moment, three figures were seen floating across the sea, rolling towards this side.


    The three figures moved extremely fast, displaying the cultivation of Golden Core True Persons, but these three were not cultivators; they were avatars of three Demon Kings!


    Even the heart of the Illusionary Demon True Person finally sunk to the bottom.


    All three were Fifth-Rank Demon Kings, among them the most troublesome being the one in the center, Ao Yu, the Demon King, who was also at the advanced stage of Fifth-Rank.


    And within the same rank, the Flood Dragon Demon King was almost synonymous with one-on-one combat.


    "Ao Yu, are you Demonic Race of the Eastern Sea declaring war on the Human Race, becoming an enemy to all of humankind?" The words of the Illusionary Demon True Person thundered out like rolling thunder.


    "Illusionary Demon, the three of us are here not to attack the Human Race but for revenge!" The lead middle-aged man replied coldly.


    "To use a saying from your Human Race, ''one must pay with life for murder, and repay debts with money''!"


    In his hand, a Jade Slip appeared, depicting the scenes of the wicked banners ravaging, slaughtering several Flood Dragons within the demonic banners, and the shadow within it gradually merging with the figure of Lin Shiming.


    With the name and calculations from the Seven Stars Plate, the cause of the beast tide became completely clear!


    "This is a false accusation, the Heavenly Demon banners of the Heavenly Demon Sect are not like this!" The Illusionary Demon True Person pointed at the nine Heavenly Demon banners in the void, speaking coldly.


    "This is information from the Seven Stars Plate, Golden Emperor won''t doubt it!" the Illusionary Demon True Person threw out a Jade Slip, which also exploded in the void, transforming into Lin Shiming''s name, revealing even his appearance on it.


    It was almost identical to the Jade Slip in Real Person Ao Yu''s hand.


    For True Persons, it was naturally possible to distinguish!


    At this moment, the hearts of all Cultivators in Yuhai City were caught in their throats.


    The last beast tide was also caused by Qingxuan Sect slaying members of the Flood Dragon Clan, leading to their retaliation.


    That time, after using the Seven Stars Plate for predictions and compensating with some treasures, the Demonic Race finally retreated.


    This time, they naturally hoped it would be the same.


    "That Lin Shiming is also the enemy of our Heavenly Demon Sect. Within a month, our Heavenly Demon Sect will be able to capture the culprit!"


    "At that time, Real Person Ao Yu can deal with him as you please!"


    The Illusionary Demon True Person said without spilling a drop of water.


    However, Ao Yu''s expression remained unchanged¡ªas did the relentless waves and the aggressive intent of the Demonic Race.


    "No, Bing Feng is a descendant of a close friend of the Golden Emperor. Today, we must hand over that person!" Ao Yu shook his head.


    Then he pointed a finger deeply towards the back of Yuhai City.


    "Of course, you don''t have to hand him over. I can take him myself!"


    After speaking, Ao Yu''s body suddenly leaped high into the void, transforming into a massive sky-blue Blue Flood Dragon.


    With a roar, countless Demonic Beasts began to leap out of the ocean, charging toward the City Protection Great Formation of Yuhai City!


    All beasts roared in unison, and waves capsized.


    Boom! The entire Sealing Sky Great Formation began to tremble.


    And countless Demonic Beasts, one after another, flew out of the waves, howling toward the Human Race to attack.


    The Illusionary Demon True Person was also facing off against three Great Demons, and the scene suddenly became perilous.


    Hao Yun and Chen Xuan, the two of Purple Mansion, also felt the seriousness of the crisis at this moment.


    Clearly, the Demonic Race had no intention of talking this time.


    They only wanted to rampage and vent!


    Two Fifth Rank Demon Kings, Blue Flood Dragons, and one Fifth Rank Demon King with a Sky-Horned Shark, all three charged at the Illusionary Demon True Person, who was also confronted by no fewer than nine Golden Core Demon Heads.


    Only, those demon heads sealed by the Sealing Demon Banner were naturally not as powerful as real Golden Core Cultivators. Facing these physically strong Demon Kings, they seemed somewhat inadequate.


    Luckily, the Heavenly Demon Sealing Sky Great Formation was sturdy enough, supported by a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, it could still delay for a considerable amount of time!


    ...


    Atop a barren mountain near the Demon Cave, the Eternal Night Umbrella dispersed, revealing Lin Shiming and his three companions on the mountain.


    "Wait until morning!" Lin Shiming was not in a hurry, for he always adhered to one principle: he must have system prompts.


    It took them an entire day''s flight on the Zifeng Boat to arrive near the Demon Cave.


    During that day, under the system prompts, they dodged several Demon Kings.


    Now that the Demon Cave was before them, without knowing the specific defenses, Lin Shiming naturally would not act.


    Although he was eager for revenge and wanted to obtain the Netherworld Heavy Ironwood,


    The prerequisite for all this was to be cautious.


    The four of them continued to wait quietly, the other three had absolute trust in Lin Shiming,


    Each settling down in a spot to restore their Cultivation Level, striving to bring their conditions to the most perfect state.


    Soon, dawn came, and the sunrise started to appear from the other side of the mountain, casting the first rays of light.


    And Lin Shiming''s mind indeed received a prompt:


    "Please be aware of the hidden Demon King in the dark, you will obtain five thousand years of Netherworld Heavy Ironwood!"


    With the system prompt, Lin Shiming was completely astonished.


    The presence of a Demon King lurking in the shadows was something he had never anticipated.


    In this situation, he was clearly not the only one looking to take advantage of the opportunity to raid the Demon Cave for resources.


    But he could not understand why a Demon King would come to rob the Demon Cave.


    However, this was indeed great news for him!

 Chapter 752 - 479: Exposure, Netherworld Heavy Ironwood (Two in One)

    Above Kusen Mountain, Lin Shiming still couldn''t figure out the reason for the Demonic Race''s presence in the Demon Cave. It was known that the materials from the Demon Cave were of a Yin nature and, apart from refining artifacts like the Heavenly Demon Banners and Spirit Puppets, they were not very useful.


    For the Demonic Race, this was even truer.


    That was why the defense of the Demon Cave by the Heavenly Demon Sect had never been particularly strict. The fact that Jiuxiao Scatter Man knew this so clearly was also because he once needed some Yin-attribute spirit wood and had visited this Demon Cave.


    Lin Shiming shook his head and stopped pondering the motives of the Demonic Race.


    For him, as long as the Demonic Race wasn''t here to protect the Heavenly Demon Sect, that would be fine.


    And all he needed to do was prepare to snatch the five-thousand-year-old Netherworld Heavy Ironwood.


    Such a spiritual material could be used to refine a Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet, which would likely be much more formidable than ordinary ones.


    Lin Shiming looked at Lin Shiyun, signaling him to begin setting up the Formation. Although they did not have Fifth Rank Formations, there were still quite a few Fourth Rank ones.


    Of course, while setting up, they were also extremely cautious, as the Demon Cave was only a half-hour journey by Zifeng Boat.


    If a Golden Core True Person fully focused on searching, even the Eternal Night Umbrella would hardly be able to keep them completely concealed.


    Lin Shiyun began to arrange the Formation, with Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Lin Shiyuan assisting on the side and Lin Shiming continued to be alert. The four of them had clear roles.


    As the crucial moment approached, they could not afford any mistakes, and everyone was extremely tense.


    Even after the Formation was set up, the four did not move out immediately.


    The faces of the three cultivators alongside Jiuxiao Scatter Man were all somewhat strange, as Yuhai City was now truly in dire straits.


    Logically speaking, this was the best opportunity.


    "Flame Yang Elder has found something, let''s wait a little longer," Lin Shiming explained telepathically, seemingly addressing the confusion of the three.


    Any slight disturbance at this time could have an impact, and now they were not in the Southern Sea but in Chu Country, in the territory of the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    Upon hearing this, the three had a moment of realization and nodded, their expressions even more serious, daring not to be the slightest bit careless.


    "Let''s go, switch to two more locations, and set up a few more Fourth Rank Formations!" Lin Shiming judged that it was still early and the Demonic Race was not likely to make their move at this time.


    After all, if a fight started here, it would certainly attract enough Golden Core cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect to Yuhai City.


    Thus, leading the three, they teleported across several mountains.


    By the time they were setting up the fourth Transmission Formation, night had completely fallen, and suddenly, a terrifying sound could be heard from the dark valley in the distance.


    Dazzling Spirit Light exploded in the void afar, making the figures and aura of the Golden Core True Persons and Demon Kings unmistakable!


    The roars of beasts, clashes of spells, and even massive explosions were incessant!


    "The Transmission Formation has been destroyed!" Lin Shiyun declared conclusively beside him.


    He was quite familiar with Transmission Formations.


    At the same time, he was hinting to Lin Shiming that it was time to act. With the Transmission Formation destroyed, the group of Demon Kings must have already been prepared.


    If they were too slow, they might not even get the leftovers.


    "Let''s go!" Lin Shiming quickly gave the order.


    Underneath the Eternal Night Umbrella, the four moved forward in utter silence once again!


    This time, Lin Shiming deliberately slowed down their pace. Knowing that the Transmission Formation had been destroyed, there was no significant benefit to arriving too early.


    On the contrary, hiding in the shadows was of greater value.


    After more than half an hour, Lin Shiming and the other three finally approached the vicinity of the Demon Cave.


    The Demon Cave was located in a secluded valley that never saw sunlight all year round, with only one entrance and exit at the mouth of the valley.


    The valley was enveloped by demonic energy throughout the year, reducing visibility.


    Even the plants here were almost all black.


    The surrounding mountains towered immensely, and at this moment, the two Great True Persons and several Golden Core demon heads were confronting three Fifth-Order Jiaolongs.


    In the sky, they engaged in a fierce battle!


    "That''s True Person Bi Chen and True Person Sang Hun!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man also introduced.


    Lin Shiming had also glimpsed the true faces of the two True Persons. The True Persons of the Heavenly Demon Sect had one thing in common: they all wore very wide black robes.


    True Person Bi Chen was even rarer as a female cultivator of the sound path. With an extremely cold demeanor, she played a green flute with a ghostly tune.


    Surrounded by her, numerous demons ran rampant, and under the influence of the tune, they turned into the most ferocious beings.


    Her adversary was an Early Stage Fifth Rank Crimson Flood Dragon.


    Covered in scales shimmering with fiery light, it was fearsome as if a flame-warrior deity, tearing countless demons to shreds, with only that Golden Core demon head barely managing to resist.


    But at this moment, the Crimson Flood Dragon kept wailing, clearly in great agony.


    It was evident that the flute was not just for controlling demons.


    True Person Sang Hun was a standard user of the Heavenly Demon Banners in the sect, wielding three such banners that spun tightly, releasing a great amount of demon fog.


    Relying on the three Heavenly Demon Banners, Sang Hun alone was evenly matched against a Blue Flood Dragon King and a Wind Flood Dragon King.


    The entire sky was occupied by the attacks of the Golden Core Cultivators.


    Inside the Demon Cave at this moment, chaos reigned, as numerous Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons rampaged.


    Total destruction.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was quite surprised; the Demonic Race was clearly seeking revenge, destroying the Demon Cave, killing the masterless demons, and obliterating the Formations.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, can you take us directly to the place with the strongest demonic energy?" The Golden Core True Persons were tied down.


    And no new Golden Core cultivators had arrived; either the Golden Core True Persons from the Heavenly Demon Sect were held back, or the Transmission Formations were destroyed and they couldn''t arrive immediately.


    For Lin Shiming and the others, it was an enormous opportunity.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man nodded repeatedly.


    He had visited the Demon Cave before and had long coveted its numerous Yin-attribute spiritual woods. In his view, the Heavenly Demon Sect''s practice of only refining Heavenly Demon Banners was a waste of good spiritual wood.

 Chapter 753 - 479: Exposure, Netherworld Heavy Ironwood (Two in One) _2

    The Eternal Night Umbrella was deployed to its extreme, and this time Lin Shiming had Lin Shiyun and Lin Shiyuan wait outside; right now, since they could not use the Zifeng Boat, bringing the two of them would be a burden.


    Of course, on the surface, he left them outside, but in reality, Lin Shiming avoided the Jiuxiao Scatter Man and took both of them into the Cave Heaven.


    Only within the Cave Heaven did Lin Shiming feel at ease.


    Underneath the Eternal Night Umbrella, in the darkness, their stealthy progress was extremely smooth.


    The most perilous moment was when they were only a few dozen feet away from a Fourth Rank Flood Dragon and a Purple Mansion Cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    A Demon Cultivator who clearly sensed something released Silver Needles towards them, as if worrying about a Great Demon hidden in the shadows.


    Lin Shiming''s eyes hardened, and they barely managed to evade, but he also became warier of the various techniques in the Cultivation World.


    Under normal circumstances, Golden Core Cultivators wouldn''t have detected them, but at close range, many Cultivators could sense something, especially those with Secret Techniques, who could discover them even amid the intensely tense life and death battles.


    The entrance to the Demon Cave wasn''t wide, only about fifty feet across, and the massive characters for "Earth Demon Cave" were placed above the entrance.


    The ground was littered with corpses of Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivators, some dismembered, some bitten to death in large numbers.


    All sorts of Magic Artifacts and Storage Bags were left untouched.


    Clearly, many Great Demons had already rushed into the valley seeking the Demon Cave!


    The two heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that with Great Demons having passed this way, their path would be easier.


    However, as they passed the signboard, the characters for "Earth Demon Cave" suddenly shone brightly.


    A black mist emanated towards the Eternal Night Umbrella.


    The mist was too fast, and they were too close; with no time to react, the Eternal Night Umbrella manifested in the void, and their figures appeared above the valley entrance.


    "We''ve been exposed!" Lin Shiming''s eyes sharpened, realizing that the Earth Demon Cave''s hidden Formation, much like the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation, could lock onto cultivators hidden in the dark, even seeing through their identities.


    No matter how effective their stealth was!


    While Jiuxiao Scatter Man was still in shock, he saw Lin Shiming suddenly gesture, and both the Five-colored Flood Dragon and Wang Jiao appeared at the entrance of the valley.


    Each mounted a dragon and rushed into the valley.


    Wang Jiao, naturally faster than the Five-colored Flood Dragon, especially in this valley, maneuvered with great ease.


    Wang Jiao also spit out a mouthful of poison mist very similar in color to the Demon Mist, which would cause heavy casualties should any Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivator come close.


    The Five-colored Flood Dragon, lacking such abilities, feared Wang Jiao within the Cave Heaven, but outside, seeing a chance to show its mettle, it roared as it surged forward.


    Unwilling to fall too far behind Wang Jiao, as if to prove that it was not just any reptile but a proud Five-colored Flood Dragon!


    Seeing they were Flood Dragons, the Demonic Race lurking in the shadows respectfully roared back.


    The skirmish intensified.


    Every now and then, Purple Mansion Cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect fell, as did Great Demons from the Demonic Race.


    The Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators mistook Lin Shiming and his two dragons as remnants of the Demonic Race.


    They had no idea that on the backs of the dragons, two Cultivators were concealed.


    The vegetation inside the gloomy valley was abundant, with various Yin attribute trees like Heavy Ironwood, Corpse Ironwood, and Cloud-Breaking Wood!


    Many of these spirit trees had been destroyed, knocked over by the Great Demons rampaging through.


    It seemed they were there to attract enmity.


    This only puzzled Lin Shiming more.


    The Demonic Race''s vengeance couldn''t possibly be because of him.


    His forgery skills wouldn''t have caused such a huge commotion.


    The Demonic Race wouldn''t resort to childlike actions.


    These spirit trees might be useful to the Lin Family but were useless to the Demonic Race.


    Moreover, many Great Demons from the Demonic Race had perished, and Lin Shiming even saw half-dragons entering the Cultivators'' Storage Bags, with their Demon Souls falling into the flags and becoming subordinate to the chief demons.


    Even as enemies, Lin Shiming had to acknowledge that the Cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect were far stronger, more tenacious, and their methods were bizarre and varied, far surpassing those from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Lin Shiming had also killed several Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators along the way, obtaining several decent Magical Treasures.


    However, he never stopped moving.


    And at this moment, there were Cultivators who recognized Lin Shiming.


    "That''s Lin Shiming, a remnant of the Qingxuan Sect, the target Master Liu He seeks to eliminate!" shouted a Purple Mansion Cultivator suddenly.


    Lin Shiming''s expression turned cold, and before Wang Jiao could act, he leapt onto his Leaping Void Disk.


    Falling behind the Mid Stage Purple Mansion Demon Cultivator, who had participated in Qingxuan Sect''s previous Secret Realm expedition and recognized Lin Shiming when he was at Foundation Establishment.


    Lin Shiming had a faint impression of this person too.


    Seeing Lin Shiming so close, the Demon Cultivator''s eyes were filled with panic.


    "You should be at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion after your recent breakthrough, right?" The last time he saw Lin Shiming, he was at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.


    At that time, he could have easily crushed Lin Shiming.


    In his view, in less than a hundred years since their last encounter, even if Lin Shiming had made a breakthrough, it should have only been to the Early Stage of Purple Mansion.


    However, he was no longer able to think.


    Lin Shiming''s hands had pierced through his chest.


    His heart was crushed, and he died on the spot.


    Lin Shiming''s strength in body cultivation of the Purple Mansion stage was even more intimidating at such moments.


    Killing an unprepared cultivator at the Purple Mansion stage was far too easy.


    Lin Shiming also casually threw the corpse into the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    Although the soul force was not much, it was still a bit of help.


    With the Soul Fusion Secret Tome, the sooner he could break through his divine sense, the more it would help him in breaking through to the Golden Core stage in the future.


    However, even though Lin Shiming had killed this man,


    another Purple Mansion cultivator spoke up from afar, his voice spreading throughout the entire Demon Cave:


    "Elder Sanghun, Elder Bichen, Lin Shiming is here!"


    This shout was clearly amplified with a magical incantation, audible across the entire battlefield.


    Above the sky, a Golden Core demon instantly descended and headed straight for Lin Shiming.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but want to curse out loud.


    The three Demon Kings hadn''t stopped the two Golden Core True Persons, obviously recognizing Lin Shiming.


    They knew that Lin Shiming was the instigator of the turmoil in the sea region!


    For Lin Shiming, demons were the most troublesome at present; whether it was a spirit puppet at the Golden Core stage or a Golden Core cultivator with a cultivated corpse, which were weaker than a normal Golden Core cultivator,


    he was confident in coping with them using the Star Pearl.


    But a Golden Core demon was an intangible entity.


    The Star Pearl simply wouldn''t work!


    He had to use the Flaming Sword!


    Lin Shiming didn''t dare to hesitate and immediately released the Flaming Sword.


    The Golden Core demon tried to act ferociously but fled in less than a breath''s time.


    However, how could a Golden Core Early Stage demon dodge the Flaming Sword''s mighty Crimson Flame Sword?


    Under the intense sword strike, it seemed as though the entire Demon Cave was split in two, the crimson sword qi flashing between heaven and earth, turning all the demonic fog into nothingness!


    The Crimson Flame Sword did not stop there, slashing towards True Person Bichen.


    The strength of a musician cultivator was unfathomable, but what they truly feared was close combat.


    The Flaming Sword was comparable to a body cultivator at the Golden Core Late Stage!


    With one strike, True Person Bichen intensely regretted her actions. Although she was well aware of Lin Shiming''s Soul Summoning Sword at the Golden Core Late Stage, comparable to the Nine Spirit Tower,


    she still wanted to give it a try in her heart!


    Now, however, she was caught between the Crimson Flood Dragon and the Crimson Flame Sword!


    The Crimson Flood Dragon also roared madly, already annoyed by the demonic sounds and now charging with almost all its might towards True Person Bichen!


    Lin Shiming did not watch the Flaming Sword.


    He knew that with the arrival of the Demonic Race, the likelihood of Golden Core Late Stage cultivators coming here was very small.


    But once his name was out, True Person Liu He and the Heavenly Demon True Person would definitely not be able to sit still!


    He crossed the outer perimeter of the Demon Cave.


    Here, numerous lesser demons could already be seen,


    casually being locked into the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda by Lin Shiming.


    Demon souls were also beings of soul force, and Lin Shiming was curious if they could be utilized by the Soul Fusion Secret Tome.


    If so, he could specialize in killing the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Purple Mansion and Golden Core cultivators in the future.


    Each of them carried a plethora of demons.


    Having passed through the outer area, where the demonic qi was extremely concentrated, unclaimed demons of the Fourth Rank Late Stage had already appeared.


    Lin Shiming drove Wang Jiao straight through them.


    By now, very few Great Demons of the Demonic Race could make it here.


    No fewer than ten Soul-Suppressing Pagodas descended upon the demons'' heads, activating their soul-absorbing sound simultaneously.


    As a set of magical treasures, especially as lifebound treasures, the ten pagodas already had attribute enhancements, not to mention several magical treasures that had been nourished by spirit veins for decades.


    Their power was immense.


    A Purple Mansion Late Stage demon was ensnared in an instant, and the Five-colored Flood Dragon also released a five-colored divine light.


    Finally, its life was ended by a sword strike from Lin Shiming, whose soul was then collected into the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    And Lin Shiming had reached the very center, where before his eyes stood a full ten Netherworld Heavy Ironwood trees!

 Chapter 756 - 481: Breaking the Seal, Guardian Mountain Ape (Combined)

    Under the overcast sky, a streak of Sword Qi pierced through several mountain peaks, and both Lin Shiyuan and Lin Shiyun appeared upon the Flaming Sword.


    "Flee towards Yuhai City!" Lin Shiming shouted.


    The Flaming Sword also nodded in agreement; the direction from which the Heavenly Demon True Person and Liu He True Person were coming was precisely opposite to that of Yuhai City.


    Three Flood Dragon Demon Kings were also fleeing; they probably hadn''t expected that, while Yuhai City was holding back a number of Golden Core True Persons, there was another location with a Transmission Formation capable of transporting two more late-stage True Persons.


    "Shiming, your shoulder!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man also reminded at this moment.


    Even Lin Shiyuan and Lin Shiyun were looking at Lin Shiming, their eyes filled with worry.


    The sight of Lin Shiming was extremely distressing; his shoulder was continuously emitting a demonic fog, within which one could even see tiny insects squirming.


    The Demon Mark was clearly not simply a marker; it was also incessantly devouring Lin Shiming''s blood essence.


    Thus, empowering the Demon Mark.


    What was previously the size of an egg, the Demon Mark had spread and grown larger within the span of a short incense stick''s time.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also felt a surge of anxiousness.


    Such a Demon Mark was unheard of.


    His inner Sword Qi attempted to cut away the Demon Mark, but it seemed to have fused with his flesh. When he cut it, it reassembled, and in the process, it took the opportunity to devour more of Lin Shiming''s blood essence.


    Not to mention his True Yuan, if sent, would instead enhance the Demon Mark converting it into nourishment!


    "I have never seen such a Demon Mark either!" Seemingly noticing Lin Shiming''s anxiousness, the Flaming Sword also shook its head.


    "However, lad, I suggest you try using your insects. Those few bugs have undergone some mutations; they don''t look like ordinary Soul Devouring Ants anymore!" the Flaming Sword offered another suggestion.


    Lin Shiming also nodded.


    His Soul Devouring Ants had indeed undergone numerous evolutions and mutations, though not quite reverting to their ancestral bloodline.


    They had certainly deviated from the category of normal Soul Devouring Ants.


    He took out one of the Soul Devouring Ants, the least aggressive one among the five.


    But the moment it was released, it still buzzed incessantly.


    Its wings flapped continuously, revealing a back where the black and star shimmer intersected, reflecting each other.


    The abdomen seemed even more swollen.


    Lin Shiming continued to direct the Soul Devouring Ant towards the Demon Mark on his shoulder.


    True to expectations, the ant hissed, sss-sss-sss, first devouring the demonic fog and the tiny insects within, one by one.


    While it ate, the demonic fog desperately tried to flee!


    But there was no escape from the Soul Devouring Ant''s voracity.


    "It works!" Lin Shiming was overjoyed at this moment.


    However, the next instant, he couldn''t help but grunt in pain as he saw the giant fangs of the ant fiercely pierce into his chest.


    The ant, half the height of a person, was almost entirely clamped onto his shoulder at that moment.


    An excruciating pain spread throughout his body, followed by a terrifying suction force that spread across his shoulder!


    The ant''s abdomen visibly swelled, as if it was about to burst at any moment.


    After sucking for a quarter of an hour,


    Lin Shiming''s complexion had turned deathly pale, completely bloodless, while the Soul Devouring Ant finally withdrew from his chest.


    The Demon Mark inside his body had vanished, and the feeling of being watched and devoured had finally disappeared, making his body relax involuntarily.


    Yet, the next moment, he noticed the abdomen of the Soul Devouring Ant, a faint Demon Mark emerging on it.


    The entire Demon Mark had been consumed by the Soul Devouring Ant.


    And the Demon Mark was gradually fading, presumably it wouldn''t be long before it disappeared.


    With a relieved heart, Lin Shiming stowed the Soul Devouring Ant back into his Cave Heaven.


    ...


    At this moment, in the midst of a wilderness, a huge Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship was soaring through the sky, hurtling towards this area.


    Atop the War Treasure Ship, both Liu He True Person and Heavenly Demon True Person stood ready for battle.


    The two of them, at this point, were extremely frustrated.


    Not only because of Lin Shiming, but also due to the attack by the Demonic Race.


    The only two Demon Caves under attack; what was critical was that Yuhai City was in an extremely precarious situation, with the Demonic Race deploying over a dozen Flood Dragons, resulting in almost all of the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Golden Core True Persons engaging in a standoff there!


    "The Heavenly Demon Blood Mark has been eradicated!" The Heavenly Demon True Person exclaimed in shock at this moment, his expression changing dramatically as he looked towards Liu He True Person in disbelief.


    "His insects are quite powerful!" Liu He True Person seemed to have anticipated this, and consequently, appeared much calmer.


    He had seen Lin Shiming''s insects in Qingxuan Sect and Jiuye City, which were exceptionally effective against Formations and seals!


    "So we''re just being led by the nose like this?" The Heavenly Demon True Person was unwilling to accept this.


    At this point, he was truly angered. Back in Zhao Kingdom, he had let Lin Shiming escape, and now, even though they believed their scheme to be perfect, at this moment, they were being played by Lin Shiming again.


    And it seemed that the beast tide had also been triggered by Lin Shiming!


    Liu He True Person didn''t respond.


    A lack of response was a response in itself.


    Aside from the fact that Lin Shiming had grown too much, the Crimson Flame Sword alone caused them great difficulty.


    "Continue to drive the War Treasure Ship!" Liu He True Person finally spoke after a long while.


    In his eyes, there was less of the usual wisdom, and more resignation.


    They had ultimately been outplayed by such a junior!


    ...


    Under the full-speed assault of the Flaming Sword, within half a day, the group was already able to catch a glimpse of a corner of Yuhai City from afar.


    Except at this moment, Yuhai City was on the verge of falling.


    Demonic Beasts had charged onto Yuhai City''s walls, and in the sky above, several Demon Kings and Golden Core True Persons were locked in battle. On the ramparts, there stood no fewer than four Golden Core True Persons from the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    This scene was also beyond Lin Shiming''s expectations.


    To think that there were four Golden Core True Persons at the Demon Cave alone. Certainly, there were more Golden Core True Persons guarding the Heavenly Demon Valley. The strength of the Heavenly Demon Sect was indeed formidable enough to dominate a country.

 Chapter 757 - 481: Breaking the Seal, Guardian Mountain Ape (Two in One)_2

    But even with the strength of the Heavenly Demon Sect, half of Yuhai City had fallen.


    This signified that the Demonic Race was truly sparing no effort this time.


    Unlike before, when they didn''t encroach on the mainland at all.


    "Lin lad, Liu He and that old man from the Heavenly Demon are nearly here!"


    The Flaming Sword couldn''t help but remind him.


    And Lin Shiming also felt the presence behind him; though it was very far, it was negligible given the speed of a Golden Core True Person.


    Lin Shiming didn''t hesitate either, as his trip to the Eastern Sea had gone extremely smoothly.


    With a charge led by the Flaming Sword, Lin Shiming headed directly toward a corner of the island.


    The Great Turtle Hiding Spirit Formation was also packed away by him.


    However, at that moment, thunderous sounds rumbled from afar:


    "Lin friend, you really are good at escaping, abandoning your clan land and people just like that!"


    "I wonder, how can someone as cowardly as you ever achieve the Dao!"


    Liu He''s figure appeared in the distance, stepping on a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship, like a war fortress in the sky.


    Six identical figures stood on the Spirit Boat, each face mocking him.


    Beside Liu He, there was the Heavenly Demon True Person as well.


    It was as if Lin Shiming had become the laughingstock at this moment.


    And these two lines had also burrowed into Lin Shiming''s heart.


    It was as though two great mountains were pressing down into Lin Shiming''s heart.


    The Transmission Formation was instantly activated.


    With bursts of spiritual light, Lin Shiming''s figure reappeared on the Transmission Island from which he had come.


    The first thing Jiuxiao Scatter Man did was to take out the Silver Snow Needle and destroy the Transmission Formation with a strike.


    To prevent the other side from coming through.


    Then he turned with an anxious face to Lin Shiming.


    Though he was unclear of the tactic Liu He True Person had just used, it was obviously not a simple two lines.


    They contained an unknown mighty power.


    And at this moment, Lin Shiming also stood still in place, motionless, his eyes empty. It took a long while before they regained their usual appearance.


    "Shiming, how are you?" Jiuxiao Scatter Man asked, somewhat worriedly.


    "I''m fine now. He wants to disrupt my Dao heart, but I want to see if he really has the ability to!" Lin Shiming said with utter disdain.


    Of course, in his heart, he couldn''t help but curse at Liu He True Person''s cunning.


    Those two sentences had contained words of the Great Dao.


    They had even guessed his Dao heart.


    This was forcing him to go to Fangmu Mountain in Zhao Kingdom.


    And as the other side was so confident, they probably had a way to teleport back to Fangmu Mountain from Yuhai City again.


    And if he didn''t go, this matter might indeed become the Heart Demon when Lin Shiming was breaking through to the Golden Core stage.


    Although unsure of how great this Heart Demon would be, for him, breaking through to the Golden Core stage was of the utmost importance.


    If possible, he still wanted to handle this matter in Zhao Kingdom.


    "Let''s go back to Zhao Kingdom!" Lin Shiming still said after all.


    Here, in the end, above the Eastern Sea, the Heavenly Demon True Person and Liu He True Person could still find them.


    Lin Shiming''s condition was still very poor at this point.


    The Transmission Formation lit up again, and the voices of the four disappeared once more above the island. With a flicker, they had already appeared on Jiuyan Mountain.


    The formations of Jiuyan Mountain were all intact, and the mountain gate was still the same as before, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, untouched by dust.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man continued to sort his Jade Slips, wanting to check if there were any recent messages.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming found a cave dwelling and began closed-door healing.


    This trip to the Eastern Sea had been quite smooth, and there was still a ten-day period before the grand event where the Chu Family from Fangmu Island would be hosting clans.


    This was why Liu He True Person called out to Lin Shiming towards the end.


    This was almost an open declaration of war.


    Because, no matter what, Liu He True Person would be able to hurry back again.


    The only good news was that the Heavenly Demon True Person probably wouldn''t be there.


    ...


    The night was as cool as water, and Lin Shiming walked out of his cave dwelling under the moonlight.


    He was dressed in a white robe, with a calm expression.


    The moon of Jiuyan Mountain was the same as that of Fangmu Mountain; both were in Zhao Kingdom and shared the same autumn season.


    Unlike the still-sweltering Shuangmu Island, here the north wind had already begun to blow.


    A few trees had already begun to wither, revealing their bare branches.


    And under the moonlight, a figure also stood beneath the tree canopy, gazing at the moon in a trance.


    Lin Shiming also sat down to the side.


    "Seventh Brother!" Lin Shiyuan opened his mouth and looked at Lin Shiming.


    "Seventh Brother, this time, we should head back first. The family''s vendetta can wait another hundred years!" Lin Shiyuan still spoke.


    Although he did not know what it meant to be the Liu He True Person during daylight, he knew it was definitely related to Fangmu Mountain, and with it came great danger.


    According to their previous expectations, the Heavenly Demon Sect was not supposed to interfere further with the Chu Family.


    Now it was clear that it was a trap, and he did not wish for Lin Shiming to take the risk.


    "Rest assured, Seventh Brother has already made a decision in his heart!" Lin Shiming shook his head, did not speak, and continued to sit.


    Such ease and comfort in watching the Eastern Domain''s moon, it had been fifty or sixty years since the last time.


    ...


    Early the next day, Lin Shiming departed from Jiuyan Mountain at dawn with the Eternal Night Umbrella, leaving without a sound.


    This time, he did not bring anyone, nor did he go to Fangmu Mountain or Qingxuan Mountain.


    Both places had been arranged by a Liu He True Person, and without preparation, he would not venture there rashly.


    This time, his destination was the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    He gently ran his hand over the Flying Fox Order.


    The best plan to investigate the Demonic Race was to start with the Qingyun Fox Clan.


    In the blink of an eye, a day''s journey passed, and Lin Shiming once again arrived at Qingyun City.


    The city here had grown larger, with city walls erected a hundred zhang high, and divided into inner and outer cities.


    Cultivators bustled in and out of the inner and outer cities, creating quite a lively scene.


    Remnants of the old Qingyun City could faintly be seen.


    However, the cultivators in Qingyun City were all strangers to Lin Shiming.


    After that catastrophe, the four continents of the Qingxuan Sect were completely shuffled, and what made Lin Shiming ponder was that within Qingyun City, the Chu Family''s influence still existed.


    Their Alchemy Pavilion and Artifact Refinery Workshop now occupied the very spots where the Lin Family''s had been.


    Even the names were uniformly called Fumu Tower!


    Lin Shiming felt a surge of anger in his heart, yet he did not act rashly; he continued towards the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    Until he reached the former Red Maple City.


    Now Red Maple City had fallen into ruins, inhabited by Demonic Beasts resting amidst the debris, but still bearing traces of the Human Race''s past.


    Lin Shiming felt a wave of sentiment as he looked at those fiery red maple trees and stood still for a moment.


    Then at a certain moment, he drifted away, and finally, atop a mountain peak, Lin Shiming suddenly saw a Mountain Guardian Ape.


    This ape was not only a late Fourth Rank Great Demon but was also squatting at the mouth of the mountain, having fiercely battled a late Fourth Rank Golden Tusked Elephant.


    Its fierce appearance caused Lin Shiming to pause briefly.


    It was as if he recalled something.


    His second brother Lin Shiyi had, because of a Mountain Guardian Ape, taken a different path with the Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique.


    Lin Shiming''s interest was piqued.


    As Lin Shiming appeared at the mountain pass, the Mountain Guardian Ape immediately became extremely alert, baring its teeth and snarling viciously at Lin Shiming.


    Its large black eyes seemed to burn with a terrifying madness.


    Finally, it lunged at Lin Shiming in a frenzy.


    Its speed was very fast, faster than Lin Shiming had imagined!


    He too raised his fist!


    Boom!


    Lin Shiming''s body shook violently, and he involuntarily stepped back.


    Of course, the Mountain Guardian Ape retreated even further, a full hundred zhang away.


    Lin Shiming''s physical body was not inferior to that of a Flood Dragon of the same rank. Although the Mountain Guardian Ape was fierce, there was still some distance compared to the Shocking Sea Ape!


    "Second Brother would like this!" After testing its strength, Lin Shiming directly took out the Five Metal Beast Alarm Ring and threw it at the Mountain Guardian Ape.


    He then cast out ten Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, pairing them with the Soul Capturing Sound.


    Finally, the Mountain Guardian Ape was also captured alive by Lin Shiming.


    Having captured the Mountain Guardian Ape, Lin Shiming took out the Flying Fox Order on the spot.


    As the token''s light flashed, a distinctly different spiritual luster appeared.


    Lin Shiming then crouched at the mountain pass where the Mountain Guardian Ape had been, silently waiting.


    ...


    Deep within the Qingyun Mountain Range, a woman in a white dress walked quietly through the woods. The next moment, her expression suddenly changed, and then she dashed towards the outside of the mountain!


    "Lin Shiming, today I will see to it that you die!" As the white-robed female cultivator charged out, several figures also followed closely behind her.

 Chapter 760 - 483 Action Begins

    Under the barren cliffs,


    with the sunlight shining down, a shallow Spirit Shadow was revealed.


    And beneath the Spirit Shadow, as Lin Shiyun placed the last formation flag, the Transmission Formation in front of him finally spread out a large circle of Spirit Light ripples.


    Then it returned to calm.


    Lin Shiyun wiped off his sweat and patted Lin Shiyuan on the shoulder; Lin Shiyuan had continued to assist him with the Transmission Formation this time.


    Just then, the entrance to the adjacent cave dwelling opened.


    Lin Shiming had already sketched out a Spirit Map in his hands.


    The Jiuxiao Scatter Man and three others gathered around the Spirit Map.


    The map showed the original layout of the Qingxuan Sect, but now several marks of transmission platforms had been added to the Spirit Map.


    "These are the addresses of several new Transmission Formations found by Elder Flaming Sword," Lin Shiming spoke slowly; these addresses had been obtained from system prompts in recent days.


    There were a total of three Transmission Formations.


    Two were overt and one covert, and Liu He True Person indeed put in great effort. One overt formation was beneath Fangmu Island, right atop Fangmu Mountain.


    The remaining two Transmission Formations were one overt and one covert at the ruins of the Qingxuan Sect.


    The covert one was located a thousand zhang beneath the surface of the ruins of the Qingxuan Sect, where ordinary Qi Cultivators couldn''t stay at such depths.


    Clearly, in Liu He True Person''s eyes, Lin Shiming''s desire for the Blood Demon Disk technique would be higher.


    After all, it was a damaged Spiritual Treasure; if it were Lin Shiming himself, he would naturally choose the same.


    But he felt guilty toward Lin Houshou and couldn''t bear to see Lin Shiyuan''s heartache or Fangmu Mountain being renamed to Fumu Mountain!


    He couldn''t truly ruin his own path either.


    If possible, he certainly wanted to destroy the Chu Family first.


    But before that, the Transmission Formation had to be destroyed, to prevent the Golden Core cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect from rushing over.


    "Next, I will have the Purple Mansion Great Demons controlled by the Spirit Controlling Seal take Divine Beast Pills and destroy the overt Transmission Formation at the Qingxuan Sect ruins. If possible, I''d also like to ask Elder Jiuxiao to destroy the underground Transmission Formation!"


    "Of course!" Elder Jiuxiao nodded his head. With the Flaming Sword on their side, he also felt more assured, and since they had thoroughly investigated, there wasn''t anything to worry about.


    When they were in Yuhai City, there were no fewer than ten Golden Core Demon Kings from the Demonic Race.


    Unless the Heavenly Demon Sect did not want to keep Yuhai City or the Demon Cave, they would have to stand firm there.


    This time, the Demonic Race was clearly intending to plunder resources along the way.


    And as long as the Cloud Flood Dragon broke through, the Heavenly Demon Sect would then have to stay in a corner thereafter, with no chance of uniting the rest of the Human Race''s sects against the Demonic Race of the Eastern Sea!


    "Everyone should now adjust their states!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    This statement was mainly directed at Lin Shiyuan. If he wanted revenge, the Chu Family was definitely within his ability to deal with.


    Although they had already planned everything and the Transmission Formation was fully set up, for Lin Shiming, it still wasn''t the most secure time. The best would be to wait for the system prompt to refresh.


    There were still four days left until the Purple Mansion ceremony of the Chu Family.


    Lin Shiming didn''t need to rush for the moment.


    His biggest worry was that Liu He True Person would have already teleported over by the time they were en route to the Transmission Formation.


    Whether encountered by him or by Jiuxiao Scatter Man, it was something he couldn''t accept.


    Of course, unless he used Spirit Controlling Seal to control a Purple Mansion Great Demon with Earth Escape Skill!


    The group returned to the cave dwelling once more, and Lin Shiming checked the Transmission Formation again.


    After confirming there were no problems, he also returned to the cave dwelling and closed his eyes to rest his mind.


    And the next morning, Lin Shiming joyfully opened his eyes; the system prompt did not sound, and in front of him, the Divine Bead of Mystical Power was once again charged with the Great Spread Sword Style!


    Lin Shiming walked out satisfied, and Lin Shiyuan had already been waiting in the hall.


    It so happened that Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Lin Shiyun left at almost the same time as Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, we''re all prepared!"


    "I''ll also help you check out the Treasure Seeking technique!" Jiuxiao Scatter Man couldn''t help but speak up.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming nodded as well. With Liu He True Person and Heavenly Demon True Person unavailable,


    he felt extremely confident that if they could also secure the Treasure Seeking technique, it would be for the best!


    Lin Shiming took out the Eternal Night Umbrella and handed it to Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    He then took out two pieces of Spirit Jade.


    Similar to Myriad Thousand Jade, one piece for Lin Shiyun and one piece for Jiuxiao Scatter Man.


    This time, Lin Shiyun would also go to the Qingxuan Sect ruins. After all, Jiuxiao Scatter Man was an outsider. By doing this, Lin Shiming wanted to make clear to Jiuxiao Scatter Man that the Lin Family didn''t regard him as a sacrificial pawn.


    "This Spirit Jade is a one-time Myriad Thousand Transmission Jade. If anything happens, I will sketch inside this jade, and you guys just focus on escaping!"


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man and Lin Shiyun both nodded continuously.


    After handling these matters, Lin Shiming also gave several Boundary-breaking Talismans to Lin Shiyun, just in case!


    Once everything was ready, Lin Shiming also released three Sea Cloud Bird Great Demons that he had captured in the Southern Sea, which were controlled by the Spirit Controlling Seal.


    After the three Spirit Beasts emerged, Lin Shiming imposed another layer of Spirit Controlling Seal to ensure a smooth journey.


    At the same time, he took out three Savage Blood Pills and handed them to Jiuxiao Scatter Man to be administered to the three Purple Mansion Great Demons just before reaching the ruins.


    That way, even if Liu He True Person had left some traps, the Transmission Formation could be firmly destroyed.


    Seeing so many measures from Lin Shiming, Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s confidence also grew significantly.


    But then, Lin Shiming produced yet another pill as if performing a magic trick.


    This pill was the size of a longan and upon seeing it, Jiuxiao Scatter Man could only feel a surging dragon aura.


    "What is this?" Jiuxiao Scatter Man asked with a hint of hesitation.

 Chapter 761 - 483: The Action Begins_2

    "The Divine Beast Pill can temporarily turn one into a half-Jiaolong being, enhancing one''s strength by half a realm!" Lin Shiming explained.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man also hesitated, looking at Lin Shiming.


    "What about you, Shiming?"


    The casual address had become more intimate without meaning to.


    "I still have the Flaming Sword senior; I hope Jiuxiao Elder won''t blame me for preparing too few means!" Lin Shiming said with a smile.


    Jiuxiao Scatter Man nodded as well, and the two groups parted ways on the cliffside.


    Lin Shiming looked at the endless abyss, thinking of Lin Yushui, the former Third Elder of the Lin Family.


    That time, it was to protect the Foundation Establishment Pill of the Lin Family; this time, it was for revenge for the Lin Family.


    That time, he looked at the abyss filled with regret and helplessness.


    This time, however, he had become a Purple Mansion Hermit, and even the end of the abyss was within his sight.


    "This time, I must succeed!"


    Lin Shiming''s eyes hardened, and he exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    Taking Lin Shiyuan with him, he headed toward Fangmu Mountain!


    ...


    Eastern Sea, Yuhai City.


    The battle of the Golden Cores was still ongoing, with half of Yuhai City already destroyed.


    The Heavenly Demon Sealing Sky Great Formation had also been reset for the third time.


    Liu He True Person and Heavenly Demon True Person, facing the Golden Emperor, felt exceptionally troubled.


    Liu He True Person, all six of his avatars equally agitated.


    He looked at the Demon Soul True Person next to him:


    "Uncle Demon Soul really gave that answer?"


    "Yes!" Demon Soul True Person replied truthfully:


    "Liu He, my senior, uncle said that at the cost of thirty years of his lifespan, he saw a towering figure. That person might be the reincarnation of a powerful being or possess the legacy of such a power!"


    "Uncle said he couldn''t calculate, ''Better not to calculate than to calculate wrong, for the other party seems to anticipate it!''" After saying this, Demon Soul True Person sighed.


    He was well aware of how much Liu He True Person had prepared, and yet, at this time, they couldn''t make predictions.


    The mental effort expended, as well as the problems left behind.


    Moreover, three calculations had already consumed fifty years of Demon Soul True Person''s lifespan.


    It was precisely because Liu He True Person was greatly favored by Uncle Demon Soul!


    Otherwise, for any other True Person, losing the Blood Demon Disk and avoiding the punishment of Demon Soul True Person would be a fortune in itself!


    Liu He True Person clenched his fists tightly.


    Yet he did not doubt the authenticity of this matter because Lin Shiming had indeed been prescient.


    There must be a magical treasure just like the Seven Stars Plate.


    As for reincarnation, he did not believe it.


    Nor did he dare to believe it.


    It would be the Heavenly Demon Sect''s nightmare.


    But he knew of the strange treasure that Lin Shiming possessed.


    "If only..." Liu He True Person slowly closed his eyes!


    His Transmission Formation, his Blood Pool!


    Outside, the attacks continued with booming sounds.


    Apparently the Demonic Race had launched another assault.


    "Golden Emperor, if you want to fight, I will keep you company today!" Liu He True Person, full of fury, stepped forward and charged outside!


    After him, four avatars took action simultaneously.


    Leaving the most cunning Asura Path avatar in place, still staring blankly in the direction of Zhao Kingdom.


    ...


    Zhao Kingdom, Yunzhou.


    The closer he got to Fangmu Mountain, the more stirred Lin Shiming''s mood became.


    Scenes of the past emerged one after another: Peach Blossom Town, Peach Blossom Valley, Artifact Refining Hall, Treasure Pavilion...


    As these scenes surfaced, he suddenly realized that his heart, which had long been calm, was also warming slightly.


    He always said it was for avenging Lin Shiyuan.


    But in reality, how could he swallow his pride?


    Lin Hou Shou stayed behind in Fangmu Mountain to prevent leaks and was ultimately harmed by a few arrogant youngsters from the Chu Family.


    He could remain calm before because he was better at restraining himself.


    He tilted his head, looking at Lin Shiyuan.


    Lin Shiyuan also tilted his head to look back.


    "Seventh Brother..."


    Lin Shiyuan didn''t say much more, perhaps at this moment, for him, who was not good with words, he really couldn''t say anything else.


    But the gratitude in their eyes, as well as their identification with the clan, was indeed unmistakable!


    The closer the two of them approached Fangmu Mountain, the more indescribable their emotions became.


    Soon, Lin Shiming was only twenty li away from Fangmu Mountain.


    For a cultivator at the Purple Mansion stage, this distance could be covered in an instant.


    He had already caught glimpses of the mist on Fangmu Mountain from a distance. The peach trees still stood erect on the mountain, but by late autumn, they had already begun to wither.


    The Spirit Lake and Qinglian Pool were still there, and so was the pavilion, yet what enraged Lin Shiming was that it was inscribed with the words "Fumu Pavilion"!


    This caused Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyuan to seethe with anger.


    This sacred place of the Lin Family was also being desecrated!


    Lin Shiming, holding back his rage, shifted his gaze to the peak next to Fangmu Mountain.


    He had once practiced his spells on that mountain peak.


    And the Transmission Formation of the Liu He True Person was situated beneath that mountain, expertly concealed!


    Just then, Lin Shiming''s system prompt sounded again:


    [Please pay attention to the Heavenly Blood Demon Snake in the blood pond!]


    Lin Shiming instantly turned grave.


    As expected, Liu He True Person had left behind his schemes.


    Lin Shiming drew out his Flaming Sword.


    "That blood pond is unusual!" As soon as the Flaming Sword appeared, it also sensed the strangeness of the blood pond.


    Lin Shiming then conveyed the system prompt''s mention of the Heavenly Blood Demon Snake to the Flaming Sword.


    The Flaming Sword immediately began to display a dense array of Spirit Patterns amidst its sword light.


    Watching this made Lin Shiming feel slightly dizzy; there were at least a thousand Spirit Patterns!


    "Shiyuan, wait here!" Lin Shiming commanded Lin Shiyuan to stay put as he and the Flaming Sword carefully made their way towards the underground.


    Soon, they came upon an underground hall, within which sat a bone palace.


    At the mouth of the palace, countless bones piled into a mountain, densely packed and terrifying.


    And in the blood pond, bubbles continuously surfaced, with the shadow of snakes discernible, sliding within.


    In an instant, the Flaming Sword released the most terrifying blood glow.


    It struck towards the blood pond!


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Waves of blood surged with each slash, and in the next moment, nine huge blood serpents emerged from within the blood pond. They had green eyes and twin snake mouths, looking like the abyss itself.


    With one breath, they spewed out copious amounts of bloody essence towards the Flaming Sword.


    In an instant, it was almost a match for the terrifying sword might of the Flaming Sword.


    The bloody essence and the sword light were evenly matched, and what was more alarming was that this peculiar bloody essence behaved as if it were alive, continuing to surge toward the Flaming Sword and even capable of devouring Sword Qi.


    While the Flaming Sword fought against the blood snakes, Lin Shiming also struck out with two swords only to be disrupted by the blood spat indiscriminately from the blood pond, with attacks that were completely seamless.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t even disrupt the formation.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the ruins of Qingxuan Sect, with a rumbling sound, three Sea Cloud Birds took Savage Blood Pills and trapped and killed a Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivator at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, destroying the Transmission Formation as well.


    In the deep underground hall of Qingxuan Sect, Jiuxiao Scatter Man had transformed into a half-serpent and was battling a Purple Mansion Late Stage Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivator.


    Lin Shiyun destroyed the Transmission Formation.


    Both Transmission Formations were destroyed at the same time.


    And Jiuxiao Scatter Man was not someone his opponent could contend with. The Divine Beast Pill he had taken was of the Superior Grade Fourth Rank, and Jiuxiao Scatter Man was known for his rich arsenal and battle prowess!


    ...


    In Yuhai City, the remaining Asura Path avatar suddenly changed in complexion.


    His senses told him that something was happening to the blood pond, the Qingxuan Sect''s transmitter had also moved.


    He desperately headed towards the Transmission Formation, calling upon the Heavenly Demon True Person who had just retreated from the battlefield for healing.


    Yet the Transmission Formation did not light up.


    Obviously, the Transmission Formation on Fangmu Island had already dimmed, destroyed by Lin Shiming.


    ...


    Underneath Fangmu Mountain, Lin Shiming had transformed into Immortal Wood, with countless roots piercing through the void, striking towards the Transmission Formation.


    Even if the blood shadows could block him, Lin Shiming''s Immortal Wood emerged from the void, utterly unpreventable.


    The blood snakes immediately erupted in immense fury.


    "Their weakness is the blood pond itself!" the Flaming Sword suddenly exclaimed at that moment.


    Lin Shiming quickly took note.


    The blood snakes were infinitely enraged.


    But the Flaming Sword had already transformed into a giant sword, its Sword Intent soaring and fire piercing the sky, instantly bursting through the blood clouds of the blood snakes.


    And Lin Shiming seized this opportunity to unleash Immortal Wood Shadow once more, striking the very top of the blood pond.


    Countless Spirit Patterns began to dissolve and shatter, and the gigantic blood snakes could no longer sustain themselves!


    They crashed down with a thunderous fall!

 Chapter 764 - 485: The Final Method of True Person Liu He (2 in 1 for Monthly Pass)

    ```


    It was not just Lin Shiming and his three companions who owed an explanation to these mortals, but the entire Lin Family as well.


    It was the Lin Family who had abandoned these mortals in the first place.


    And Lin Shiyuan was no exception; his father had been the Family Head of the Lin Family, so it was his father''s debts that he was there to repay!


    In the face of Lin Shiming and the others'' deep bow,


    the mortals appeared even more reserved as they looked at each other.


    In their hearts, they naturally bore resentment, but when had they ever seen such high and mighty Immortal Masters apologize, bow deeply, even kneel down!


    "Immortal Master, it is we who should be thanking you. If it weren''t for you, Immortal Master, we would have perished in the water dungeon!"


    "Yes, for the sake of the entire Lin Family, we are willing!"


    Finally, a mortal spoke up.


    Their eyes were extremely clear; all they wanted was a small piece of land to live on, that would have been enough for them.


    After expressing their gratitude, Lin Shiming left behind that Ice Spirit Root genius and Lin Shiyuan!


    The rest of the mortals were sent out of the Cave Heaven by him; he arranged for Foundation Establishment cultivators to find a sub-island specifically for these mortals to live on, and of course, these mortals would be under Lin Shiming''s surveillance for the next hundred years!


    After all, these mortals had entered the Cave Heaven and witnessed its wonders. Although the chance of exposure was slim, it was still the Southern Sea!


    Moreover, surveillance was also a form of protection!


    "What is your name?" Lin Xianzhi was the first to take out the Lin Family Jade Book.


    The Family Jade Book would bear the bloodline of the Lin Family.


    After seeing that the Ice Spirit Root genius did indeed cause the Family Jade Book to emit some light, Lin Xianzhi also asked for the Ice Spirit Root Cultivator''s name.


    "Lin Yanqu!" The resentment of the Ice Spirit Root youth had not diminished one bit.


    "From now on, you''ll cultivate with the Lin Family!" Lin Xianzhi nodded, then touched Lin Yanqu''s hand to simply check his bone age, before he began giving orders!


    To the current Lin Family, one more or one less genius made no difference.


    If Lin Yanqu didn''t understand the rules, he would be sent to the family''s Preaching Hall to be tempered.


    As the four of them now held almost the highest status within the Lin Family, bowing to these mortals was no issue, but if a junior here started acting self-important and overstepped their boundaries, they wouldn''t tolerate it!


    Lin Shiming, on the other hand, handed over the Ice Spirit Root cultivation technique, the Taihan Ruoshui Scripture he had just acquired, to Lin Houyuan for safekeeping, to find another opportunity to give to Lin Yanqu.


    This technique was too significant as it was not only an Earth Rank Technique but also contained a cultivator''s insight from Qi Cultivation to Golden Core, making it the most comprehensive cultivation technique in the Lin Family.


    It was even better than Lin Shiyuan''s Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture and Lin Yanjiao''s Illusionary Spirit Heart Sutra.


    "Shiming, you spend more time with Shitao!" Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan took their leave one after another, smiling gently as they watched the two.


    The two hadn''t seen each other for nearly a year, and now they had much to catch up on.


    Lin Shiming briefly recounted his journey in the Eastern Domain, then pointed to a nearby formation, from which a Five-colored Flood Dragon flew out.


    It landed in front of Lin Shitao.


    Compared to the black ink scales of Wang Jiao, the Five-colored Flood Dragon''s scales were obviously more vibrant and enchanting, and Lin Shitao loved it even more.


    "Seventh brother, is this?" Lin Shitao was still somewhat in disbelief; twenty years ago, when the Five-colored Python was handed over to Lin Shiming, it was merely a Third Rank Demonic Beast.


    Now, not only had it become a Fourth Rank Demonic Beast, but it had also transformed into a Flood Dragon.


    That meant that the Lin Family now had two Flood Dragons.


    "In the future, we will have even more Flood Dragons!" Lin Shiming smiled faintly, dissipated the concealing formation, revealing the Flood Dragon Nest.


    In the Flood Dragon Nest lay Wang Jiao, wrapped around the Golden Dragon Fruit tree, taking up vast amounts of space.


    But the aura of Flood Dragon was still diffusing.


    Lin Shiming planned to cultivate three more Flood Dragons next.


    And his targets had already been set: Lei Xuan''s Thunder Spirit Snake, Lin Shijie''s Fire-Scaled Python, and Lin Shiyuan''s Green-Scaled Python; all three were creatures with pure bloodlines, each possessing a sliver of the potential to regress to their ancient forms.


    Seeing this, Lin Shitao was sincerely happy, especially upon seeing Lin Shiming''s smile, she felt even more content.


    She stretched out her hand, and the Five-colored Flood Dragon, like a well-behaved snake, rubbed up against Lin Shitao, its colorful horns caressing Lin Shitao''s hand.


    It had always been Lin Shitao''s Spirit Beast, and even though it had grown comfortable under Lin Shiming''s care, it was ultimately bound to Lin Shitao by a soul contract!


    "By the way, Shitao, how is your alchemy coming along?" Lin Shiming asked again.


    "Seventh brother, did you get the Gold Condensation Fruits?" Instead of answering directly, Lin Shitao asked with some excitement.


    "Yes!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    But Lin Shitao shook her head:


    "Seventh brother, I can only barely reach the level of a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Alchemist, and I''m not particularly reliable in refining Gold Condensation Fruits!"


    "Fourth Rank Superior Grade is already enough!" Lin Shiming did not feel that Lin Shitao''s progress was slow.


    In fact, he was extremely satisfied with it.


    He still needed some time to break through to the Peak of the Purple Mansion, and during this time, Lin Shitao could definitely improve her alchemy within his Cave Heaven.


    Moreover, his Minor Divine Ability of Deductive Enlightenment was just a few years away from being ready to use again!


    "Shitao, focus on your alchemy these years, I still have some time until I reach the Peak of the Purple Mansion!" Lin Shiming said, pulling Lin Shitao into his embrace.


    The two of them sat in the pavilion by the Spirit Lake.


    Watching the Red Spirit Fish and the mysterious black fish swimming in the lake.


    Star Spirit Clams shot forth, chasing after the Spirit Fish and adding an amusing aspect to the scene on the Spirit Lake.


    Next, the two discussed the mundane affairs of their family.


    This time, Lin Shitao had an extensive understanding of the family''s matters.


    It seemed she was well-prepared for any questions Lin Shiming wanted to ask, answering each of them in turn.


    ```

 Chapter 765 - 485: The Last Resort of True Person Liu He (Two in One for Monthly Votes)_2

    For example, the improved policies of the Lin Family''s Sword Pavilion have started to show results, as another sword cultivator has joined their ranks, and it is none other than Lin Yanxing, who has claimed he would surpass Lin Shiming.


    When Lin Yanxing comprehended Sword Intent, he was only at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, which was clearly a higher aptitude for the Sword Dao compared to Lin Zeli at that time.


    Besides that, Lin Shimo has already returned to Shuangmu Island and, after a visit to the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, has begun his closed-door cultivation to make a breakthrough.


    In just a few years, he should be able to break through to the Purple Mansion stage.


    Lin Shijie is now also stationed on Lianyun Island all year round; the current state of the Lin Family can be described as unprecedentedly prosperous!


    ...


    Joyous are the hours spent drinking with kindred spirits, tiresome is the conversation that doesn''t resonate!


    This was precisely the situation between Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao.


    They had watched the sunset over the Spirit Lake and, under the starlight, witnessed the Star Spirit Clams dancing gracefully over the shimmering waters of the Spirit Lake.


    Late into the night, Lin Shitao wished to play the zither, so they left the Cave Heaven and went to the Peach Blossom Forest, where Lin Shitao played her melodies while Lin Shiming enjoyed his tea.


    It was in this moment that Lin Shiming, who had been on edge in the Eastern Domain, finally relaxed completely.


    Immortal Cultivation, Immortal Cultivation, Lin Shiming, in this moment, also savored another artistic beauty of cultivation through the music of the peach blossom zither.


    He had a family, a partner, and in the future, he would have descendants!


    Unwittingly, from the depths of the sea, the afterglow was transmitted.


    A new day was on the rise.


    However, it was at this moment that the system alert sounded again:


    [Please be wary of the remnant soul fragment of Liu He True Person hiding within Lin Yanqu''s body!]


    Upon hearing the system alert, Lin Shiming felt a chill, his expression changing dramatically.


    In an instant, his back was covered in cold sweat.


    That person, who stuck out within the crowd and harbored deep hatred for the Lin Family, turned out to be Liu He True Person''s greatest deception and his final safeguard.


    His defiance and hatred made Lin Shiming, and even Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan, believe there was nothing wrong with Lin Yanqu.


    But Liu He True Person was clearly leveraging this aspect.


    Moreover, even when they were in the Eastern Sea, he had set traps for Lin Shiming; they had the Ice Spirit Root prodigy of the Lin Family.


    This subtle influence had also swayed Lin Shiming.


    In hindsight, if it were a normal Ice Spirit Root Cultivator, why would Liu He True Person easily let him join the Lin Family!


    After all, if he were to grow, he could potentially reach the Golden Core stage!


    "Shitao, I need to handle a matter," Lin Shiming didn''t dare to hesitate.


    His Divine Sense instantly expanded to cover the entirety of Shuangmu Island.


    The next moment, he stepped into the attic of the family''s Preaching Hall.


    Inside Lin Yanqu''s attic, a formation had already been set up.


    This formation was somewhat beyond Lin Shiming''s understanding.


    His back was drenched with cold sweat.


    If Lin Yanqu kept lurking around, setting up a Transmission Formation on Shuangmu Island and allowing several Golden Core members of the Heavenly Demon Sect to infiltrate the island.


    The Lin Family would face an irreversible disaster!


    He also recalled the technique of external incarnation used by Liu He True Person, which he had previously utilized to deceive Shen Ji True Person.


    It seems he had still underestimated Liu He True Person!


    He had further optimized the technique of external incarnation.


    Luckily, he had the system alert!


    He burst into the attic, and Lin Yanqu was still coiled on the bed, seemingly surprised by Lin Shiming''s intrusion.


    He hadn''t immediately set up the formation yet.


    He was probably worried about the Lin Family conducting sudden inspections.


    "What now, you want to confine me? Because of my defiance?" Lin Yanqu mocked coldly.


    His gaze was full of scorn as he looked around at the world, as if to say, not a single place belonged to the Lin Family, nowhere was safe to settle.


    Yet at this moment, no matter how skillful his acting was, Lin Shiming trusted the system alert even more!


    "Senior Liu He, my apologies for the inadequate hospitality!" Lin Shiming spoke calmly.


    "You''re calling that bloodthirsty Liu He old demon, Liu He True Person?" Lin Yanqu''s expression didn''t change at all.


    Instead, it was tinged with anger.


    However, this display of emotion was full of flaws in Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    After all, Lin Yanqu was just a child not yet twenty years old.


    "If Senior Liu He does not speak, then I must bid you farewell," Lin Shiming did not elaborate further, as he drew his Purple Dawn Sword and struck directly at Lin Yanqu''s chest.


    In Lin Yanqu''s eyes, disbelief was evident.


    But soon after, they dimmed completely.


    Even his body was placed by Lin Shiming inside the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    ```


    However, Lin Shiming''s attempt to extract memories failed.


    The True Person of Liu He''s main body had apparently sensed something and burned the remaining soul.


    But the one thing Lin Shiming felt relieved about was that Lin Yanqu probably hadn''t managed to contact the True Person of Liu He even once.


    After all, there was only one day''s time, which was far too hurried.


    Otherwise, if it had been any slower, Shuangmu Island might have been exposed, and the True Person of Liu He might indeed have come knocking on the door.


    This kind of avatar, without using special treasures for contact or meeting in person, cannot transfer memories.


    Lin Shiming also checked Lin Yanqu''s Storage Bag and, unsurprisingly, found no special treasures.


    Clearly, the True Person of Liu He wouldn''t make a mistake on the Storage Bag!


    Nevertheless, this incident served as a lesson for Lin Shiming.


    His system prompts had loopholes, and one could not underestimate the cunning of those centenarian Golden Core True Persons!


    Lin Shiming took out a Sound Transmission Talisman and shared the incident involving Lin Yanqu with Lin Xianzhi and others.


    Although they were one Ice Spirit Root short, it didn''t really matter much to the Lin Family.


    Lin Xianzhi was startled initially, but after knowing that Lin Shiming had handled it, he was also reassured.


    He was increasingly confident in Lin Shiming''s handling of affairs.


    At the same time, Lin Xianzhi also announced that he would go into seclusion to prepare for his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    Excited, Lin Shiming took the opportunity to teach at the Preaching Hall with Lin Shitao, a rare occurrence, for two days.


    Looking at the teenagers of the Yan generation, all around ten years old, Lin Shiming also had a smile filled with satisfaction.


    The two days passed in the blink of an eye.


    At this moment, in the distance, following the flash of the Transmission Formation, only Lin Shiyi emerged.


    Now, Lin Shiyi exuded the aura of a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, his face brimming with smiles.


    Clearly, his gains over the years were not small.


    He passed directly through the Transmission Formation and flew towards Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, I''ve found an intermediate grade Spirit Stone vein!" Lin Shiyi started off with a surprise for Lin Shiming.


    Then he took out a Storage Bag.


    In the Storage Bag were quite a few Soul-Suppressing Stones.


    "Thanks, second brother!" Lin Shiming smiled as he looked at Lin Shiyi.


    He then took out a Spirit Beast Bag.


    "Second brother, I''ve also prepared a gift for you!"


    The Spirit Beast Bag was handed to Lin Shiyi, and the next moment, his face revealed extreme elation.


    "Shiming, for this righteous path you have set me on, I am truly grateful, second brother!"


    Inside was the Mountain Guardian Ape from the vicinity of Red Maple City in the Qingyun Mountain Range.


    Back when Lin Shiyi had been stationed in Red Maple City, that''s where he had undergone his transformation, and his Mountain Ape Body Refining Technique was influenced, making his Body Refinement truly extraordinary.


    However, the beast tide had erupted too suddenly back then, and Lin Shiyi had no time to capture this Mountain Guardian Ape.


    "I didn''t expect it to have reached the late Third Rank!" Lin Shiyi was somewhat moved.


    "Second brother, before you go into seclusion, wait another two days, and you can visit the Illusionary Heart Pavilion!" Lin Shiming persuaded once more.


    By saying to wait another two days, he was naturally referring to the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    He had obtained two Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits from the Qingyun Fox Clan, and naturally, Lin Shiyi was to have a share of the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    The portion for the Lin Family was in Lin Houshou''s hands.


    Lin Shiyi, upon hearing this, hesitated initially, but after hearing about the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, he was immensely grateful.


    While Lin Shiming began to investigate the news of the Spirit Stone Mine.


    The Spirit Stone Mine was on the outskirts of Lianyun Island.


    Now that the beast tide was gone and the danger was less, Lin Shiming directly arranged for Lin Zekong to handle it.


    As Lin Zecheng had already traveled to Thousand Trees Island to establish a branch family, Lin Zekong also felt a tremendous pressure.


    After bidding farewell to Lin Shiyi, Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao returned to Thousand Wood Peak once again.


    Lin Shitao went to close the door to refine Elixirs.


    And Lin Shiming was to start sorting out the gains from this trip.


    Especially the strategic points from the Blood Demon Disk.


    He didn''t start practicing them right away.


    Not until the next day''s arrival did the system prompt reappear as expected.


    This time, a large section of the strategic points appeared.


    It was mostly consistent with the one left by True Person Liu He, but upon careful examination, a large section was entirely wrong in the middle.


    Lin Shiming felt a chill at the methods of True Person Liu He, and he couldn''t help but feel a renewed sense of fear.


    He also felt some admiration; if the roles were reversed, he truly didn''t compare to True Person Liu He.


    ```

 Chapter 768 - 487: The Gold Condensation Pill is Complete (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    At this moment, Lin Shitao also remembered the scene from the last time she concocted Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    That time, too, was atop Lin Shiming''s straw mat.


    She found that her thoughts were exceptionally clear, and she had suddenly grasped all the pharmacological principles of elixirs that she once could not understand or control well.


    "Seventh brother, if that''s the case, Shitao is willing to give it her all!" Lin Shitao also spoke.


    Her words, of course, also included the use of the Lin Family''s Formation Artifact Manual.


    Although reaching the Fourth Rank, the Formation Artifact Manual''s improvements were limited, unlike before when it could leap an entire rank.


    But there were still some enhancements, which had a significant effect on alchemy.


    Add to that the aid of her own Strange Fire, the Serpent Spirit Flame!


    "Good!" Lin Shiming nodded, but he did not start immediately.


    Instead, the two of them lit another Ziji Tan incense stick together.


    Nowadays, the Turtle Spirit Coconut from the Lin Family was selling even better in the Coral Alliance, and although the Lin Family would only sell one pot a year, they could exchange it for rare Spiritual Medicine every year.


    For example, the Gold Condensation Pill and the Supreme Grade Spirit Soil and Spirit Water of the Fifth Rank.


    This Ziji Tan was exchanged with the Red Leaf True Person.


    Although the Lin Family was not sure who the Red Leaf True Person would give it to.


    But judging from the effects over the past ten years, probably many families within the Coral Alliance had already benefited.


    After all, now there were quite a few Dual Spirit Root Cultivators in the Lin Family, but the sole flaw was that, as of now, the Lin Family did not have a Heavenly Spirit Root.


    Under the Ziji Tan, both cultivated the Soul Fusion Art, trying to raise their Divine Sense even a bit higher.


    A day''s time passed, and both opened their eyes, their pupils emanating streams of Spirit Light.


    This round of cultivation not only increased their Divine Sense slightly but also brought both their conditions to the peak state.


    Lin Shiming looked at Lin Shitao, and they shared a smile before heading up the mountain together, hand in hand.


    Atop the mountain, the straw mat had already been laid out.


    Lin Shitao took out the Jade Slip for the Gold Condensation Pill, ready to have it within reach for any epiphany moments during her examination of the pill recipe.


    The straw mat itself carried the effect of refreshing the mind and calming the spirit.


    Therefore, Lin Shitao directly placed the Jade Slip on her forehead and began to comprehend!


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming no longer hesitated. His body once again emitted golden light, which slowly spread to Lin Shitao.


    And Lin Shitao, in an instant, dove into an epiphany, closing her eyes. Not only did the Gold Condensation Pill''s recipe become clear in front of her eyes.


    But also all the alchemy techniques she had mastered over the years, surged into her mind at once.


    The parts that were previously obscure and misunderstood, even those with minor errors that did not significantly impact the outcome,


    Were all deduced, corrected, and summarized in Lin Shitao''s mind.


    The golden light kept flashing. Seeing Lin Shitao''s state, Lin Shiming also took a deep breath.


    He did not retain a shred of the deducing Spirit Light.


    This was to ensure, to the greatest extent, a significant breakthrough in Lin Shitao''s alchemy.


    Actually, the Gold Condensation Pill was already one of the hardest Fourth Rank Spirit Pills to concoct, and it could even be considered a Fifth Rank Spirit Pill.


    So at this moment, Lin Shiming was somewhat anxious.


    However, all he could do right now was wait.


    Wait for Lin Shitao to emerge from seclusion, wait for Lin Shitao to concoct a few Supreme Grade Fourth Rank elixirs.


    The deducing Spirit Light continued for about a day before it slowly dissipated.


    But the gains from that deduction would take more than a day to digest.


    So Lin Shitao continued on the straw mat and began refining elixirs.


    This time, as she refined, she focused intently just as before, disregarding everything around her, whether Lin Shiming was beside her or not, entering a profound state!


    Lin Shiming then left the mountain summit and landed above Spirit Lake, starting to cultivate using the Starlight Tempering Body Technique.


    Over the past decade, the Star Spirit Clam had accumulated a vast amount of Star Spirit Fluff.


    Making his refinement exceptionally easy.


    And there was not a small amount of Five-colored Star Spirit Fluff either.


    After the Star Spirit Clam broke through to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, the Star Spirit Fluff it refined became even more pure.


    Under the starry sky, the Star Chart within Lin Shiming''s body became clearer and clearer.


    That day, Lin Shiming could not help but grow curious about the starry skies.


    Various small worlds shared the same starry sky, a single timeline.


    He was somewhat puzzled about what the barrier between them truly was?


    And why could starlight power be transformed into blood and qi?


    Clearly, this was a sort of power completely different from Spiritual Energy.


    Lin Shiming hesitated for a long time but still could not find an answer.


    The system''s prompt did not provide any clues either!


    Lin Shiming could only give up regretfully and continue cultivating.


    The Spirit Fish in Spirit Lake continued to grow day by day.


    One day, Lin Shiming saw that among them, Fourth Rank mysterious black fish had appeared in the lake.


    At this moment, he was incredibly surprised.


    He saw that the mysterious black fish was as large as a house.


    In Spirit Lake, it was like a whale, stirring up waves with each movement.


    Lin Shiming had no time to lament the swift passage of time when suddenly, a fragrance of elixirs emanated from the sky.


    Lin Shitao had succeeded in concocting elixirs again!


    Lin Shiming looked over and saw Lin Shitao exhaling a breath of turbid air.


    In front of her, a furnace of Spirit Pills gently settled down.


    With the lid of the furnace slightly open, that rich fragrance was precisely emanating from within the Pill Furnace.


    At that moment, one could see inside the furnace a brilliant golden color.


    "A Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Poison Attracting Pill has been refined, and there are Pill Patterns!" Lin Shitao breathed a sigh of relief. Two months had gone by since the day of realization.


    And the presence of Pill Patterns on the elixir signified that Lin Shitao had thoroughly reached the standard of a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Alchemist.


    The only regret was that the Lin Family had only two Supreme Grade Fourth Rank pill formulas, one of which was the Poison Attracting Pill, and the other for which they bitterly could not find the main ingredient!


    "Congratulations to Shitao for another breakthrough!" Lin Shiming also plucked a large loop of peach blossoms and tied them into a bouquet!

 Chapter 769 - 487: The Gold Condensation Pill is Complete (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2

    Xin Yingying offered her congratulations.


    Lin Shitao took the flower, and looking at Lin Shiming, she still lacked confidence.


    "Shitao, with your current alchemy skills, you should be more than capable. It''s just about shaking off the nerves!" Lin Shiming knew exactly what Lin Shitao was thinking.


    He took Lin Shitao to the Lin Family''s Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    He also called for Lin Yanjiao, and at this moment, Lin Yanjiao had already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and her Illusion Technique had improved further.


    Her True Yuan was also profoundly abundant.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Seventh Great-Aunt!" Lin Yanjiao also spoke with a smile.


    After becoming the Family Head, Lin Yanjiao had grown more steady, her eyes carrying an additional power of deterrence, but this force dissipated easily when facing Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao.


    It turned into deep respect instead.


    "Yanjiao, I called you here because I want you to help your Seventh Great-Aunt to simulate the scenario of failing the alchemy using illusion techniques!" Lin Shiming then said.


    Lin Shitao was mainly too worried about failing the Gold Condensation Pill, which would indefinitely postpone Lin Shiming''s breakthrough to Golden Core.


    So, Lin Shiming planned to let Lin Shitao experience it several times in the Illusionary Heart Pavilion first!


    Lin Yanjiao nodded her head, she had controlled the Illusionary Heart Pavilion many times over the years.


    She let Lin Shitao enter the Illusionary Heart Pavilion seven times consecutively.


    Seven days later, as Lin Shitao and Lin Yanjiao walked out together,


    Lin Yanjiao was visibly tired and covered in sweat.


    Lin Shitao was also exhausted, but what was different was that her eyes were now filled with determination, and the previously defeated air about her had been thoroughly swept away!


    "Yanjiao, you''ve worked hard!" Lin Shiming passed over a Storage Bag, which contained a Supreme Grade defensive Magic Artifact and a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    Lin Yanjiao, not standing on ceremony, accepted them graciously:


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle and Aunt, and let me also extend my early congratulations for Seventh Great-Uncle''s successful formation of the Golden Core!"


    Lin Shiming did not immediately proceed with alchemy with Lin Shitao; instead, they went back to enjoy the flowers, play the zither, and drink tea in the Peach Blossom Forest on Shuangmu Island, letting Lin Shitao''s mood settle first.


    The more critical the moment, the less one can rush.


    Although Lin Shiming had the Gold Condensation Fruit tree, to hasten its growth would require five years for a single opportunity, accumulating to around fifty years in total.


    If he failed this time, the wait Lin Shiming faced would not be short.


    After adjusting her mood, Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao still entered the Cave Heaven.


    Lin Shitao started alchemy with Second Rank elixirs.


    Having experienced many failures in the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, she now needed to practice with as many elixirs as possible.


    Heating the furnace, melting the ingredients, and forming the pills were almost done in one go.


    The fragrance of the elixirs kept emerging, and rows of Spirit Pills began to appear before Lin Shitao.


    Another ten days passed, and before Lin Shitao, many elixirs had been successfully crafted during that time.


    At this moment, a furnace containing Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Poison Attracting Pills appeared before her.


    Lin Shiming stayed by her side, ensuring that Lin Shitao''s alchemy environment was secure, even within the Cave Heaven.


    As the rich fragrance of the elixirs emerged once more, Lin Shitao''s fingers pinched together,


    the lid of the furnace lifted, and a golden luster revealed three Spirit Pills, each marked with Pill Patterns and full of Spirit Patterns, for both to see.


    "Seventh Brother, we''re set!" Lin Shitao nodded at Lin Shiming, her confidence at its peak at this moment!


    Entering that state twice had benefited her alchemy immensely.


    Lin Shiming then took out the Gold Condensation Fruits.


    All three were revealed.


    As the Gold Condensation Fruits appeared, Spiritual Energy began to surge throughout the Cave Heaven.


    Lin Shitao looked at the three Gold Condensation Fruits, with stars shining in her eyes.


    Even with her preparations, the sight of the three fruits made her take a deep breath.


    She then took the Spirit Fruits and retrieved the other main ingredients for the Gold Condensation Pill.


    She had studied the formula for the Gold Condensation Pill for nearly twenty years and knew it inside out.


    She first set up the Formation from the Formation Artifact Manual before hiding several Reviving Pills in her mouth,


    in case she needed more True Yuan at the critical moment.


    With all preparations complete, she began cleansing the Pill Furnace and heated it with the Serpent Spirit Flame!


    In terms of alchemy, Lin Shitao''s Five Flames Scripture and the Serpent Spirit Flame also gave her certain advantages.


    The temperature of the flame soared instantly.


    Making the entire Pill Furnace sizzle and hiss.


    After making sure not even a single impurity was left, she started with the refinement of the Spiritual Medicine, progressively and meticulously.


    She quickly entered a rhythm, and her calm and effortless alchemy method also put Lin Shiming completely at ease.


    The alchemy process was smoothly underway.


    On the other hand, Lin Shiming started to get a bit restless on the side, left with no choice but to stay alert while watching Lin Shitao''s delightful technique.


    The Gold Condensation Pill required over a hundred different Spiritual Medicines.


    Sometimes one was added at a time, and sometimes several at once.


    The meticulousness here was extremely standardized; even Lin Shitao did not dare to slack off in the slightest.


    Soon, it was time for the Gold Condensation Fruits, and this time, Lin Shitao also experienced her first pause.


    At this stage, the control of heat and timing was crucial.


    As the Gold Condensation Fruit entered the furnace, a massive surge of spiritual energy erupted, causing the entire pill furnace to begin lifting off.


    Lin Shitao''s face turned pale with shock, and she hurriedly attempted to compensate.


    But her reaction was still slightly delayed.


    The alchemy failed!


    The first Gold Condensation Fruit had also been wasted.


    Regret showed on Lin Shitao''s face, but it quickly dissipated.


    Having practiced several more times in the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, she adjusted her mindset very quickly.


    She first took out a jade slip and recorded the entire process again, then took out the alchemy recipe and began to compare it item by item.


    After completing the summary, she consumed another spirit pill to ensure she was fully prepared.


    Only then did she start the alchemy process again.


    This time, compared to the first attempt at alchemy, Lin Shitao was much more adept.


    The various spiritual medicines were released just right, and the heat was wonderfully exquisite; even a layer of spiritual mist began to form on both sides of the pill furnace!


    Lin Shitao''s eyes lit up with joy.


    She continued to move her hands, persevering in her alchemy.


    Upon completing nearly a hundred types of spiritual medicines in the early stage, Lin Shitao once again took out a Gold Condensation Fruit.


    She took a calm breath, and her slender jade hand pinched and maneuvered again.


    The Gold Condensation Fruit fell almost perfectly into the pill furnace, which began to shake again, but this time, Lin Shitao seemed prepared, and the flames started to whirl.


    The lid of the furnace kept trembling, and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on Lin Shitao''s forehead.


    Above the pill furnace, streaks of spirit patterns also began to flash.


    Under the terrifying high temperature, the pill furnace seemed to struggle, its spirit patterns flickering.


    The spiritual mist grew more and more dense.


    At the same time, this also meant Lin Shitao had reached the final stage: nurturing the pill into completion.


    The final nurturing process was even more of a test of the alchemist''s skill.


    It required much longer time.


    At this moment, Lin Shitao had already begun consuming elixirs and started activating the Formation Artifact Manual.


    Lin Shiming too was on edge at this point.


    This nurturing process lasted a full three days!


    Now at her limit, Lin Shitao could be seen shaking slightly as her supply of restorative elixirs had been used up, and her whole body began to sway.


    Just then, the spiritual mist around the pill furnace suddenly turned into layers of golden mist.


    And it grew thicker and more abundant.


    "Buzz!"


    There was a fierce buzz from the pill furnace.


    The lid was completely shot off.


    Revealing swathes of rosy light.


    Within the rosy light, one could vaguely see the shadow of a golden pill the size of a thumb!


    The fragrance of the pill completely enveloped the entire Cave Heaven, causing the spirit fish in the Spirit Lake to leap up in excitement.


    Even the Star Spirit Clams and the Water Spirit Shells couldn''t help but fly out of the Spirit Lake.


    In the distance, the Golden Winged Mantis woke up, transforming into a streak of golden light as it came, along with Elder Mu, Lei Tong, and the Five-colored Flood Dragon.


    All of them were startled.


    Lin Shitao, using the last ounce of her True Yuan, placed the Gold Condensation Pill into the pill bottle.


    The rosy light vanished in an instant, the Gold Condensation Pill, complete!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, I have not failed you!" Lin Shitao handed the Gold Condensation Pill to Lin Shiming.


    Though her body was weak and severely depleted of True Yuan, the smile on her face remained indelible!


    Two Gold Condensation Fruits yielded one Gold Condensation Pill, which wasn''t considered great.


    But for Lin Shitao, who had been under tremendous pressure, it was a significant breakthrough.


    It also meant that Lin Shiming could now prepare for his Golden Core breakthrough, and the future of the Lin Family would be that of a Golden Core Family!


    Lin Shiming carefully stored the Gold Condensation Pill.


    Then he took out a True Yuan restoring elixir for Lin Shitao to consume.


    "Congratulations, Master, Mistress!" Elder Mu bowed and spoke, the first to offer congratulations.


    "Congratulations, Master, Mistress!" Lei Tong, as Elder Mu''s sidekick, also followed with a childish cheer.


    Even under Elder Mu''s prompting, a few streaks of thunderbolts burst forth in the sky, setting off golden fireworks.


    The last to express their hesitations were the Star Spirit Clam and the Five-colored Flood Dragon while the Water Spirit Shell and the Golden Wing also spoke out in turn.

 Chapter 770 - 488: Seclusion, Shimos Breakthrough (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    In the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao stood nestled together.


    Meanwhile, countless Spirit Beasts were showering them with compliments and congratulations.


    Lin Shiming did not interrupt them; his confidence in breaking through to the Golden Core was much greater than when he was aiming for the Purple Mansion.


    If one were to say that when he reached the Purple Mansion his mind was still not set, he still had worries and reservations, and there were grievances and hatred.


    Then, having taken his revenge on the Chu Family, and having married Lin Shitao, with the Lin Family burgeoning and controlling two small islands.


    Now, he could at least truly claim a guilt-free conscience in his pursuit of the Dao!


    At that moment, the Star Spirit Clam also floated out and fell upon Spirit Lake, with a flash of starlight passing by.


    The surface of Spirit Lake glistened in an instant.


    In the next moment, the Spirit Fish in the lake leaped towards the sky like carps jumping through the dragon gate, seemingly vying to join the celebration.


    Even the enormous Fourth Rank mysterious black fish took to the air, then slammed back into the water, causing countless glistening splashes.


    It let out a brisk, spirited roar!


    Lei Tong was also grinning from ear to ear, as countless sunflower seed-sized Golden Divine Thunders flew into the sky, one by one exploding brilliantly.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao didn''t expect that the first to congratulate them would be these Spirit Beasts!


    "There are rewards for all!" Lin Shiming said with a smile and waved his Storage Bag, taking out a huge amount of Beast Nurturing Pills and Spirit Beast meat.


    After rewarding all the Spirit Beasts, Lin Shiming looked at Lin Shitao.


    "Shitao, let''s travel through every piece of land in the Southern Sea one more time!" Lin Shiming said, looking at Lin Shitao with doting affection.


    The next part of their journey was to relax Lin Shitao''s mind.


    It was also the best testimony to their family''s devotion to the Dao.


    Lin Shitao nodded with a smiling face, too. Producing the Gold Condensation Pills had taken much of her effort.


    Having Lin Shiming with her, she was very satisfied.


    The two left the Cave Heaven and first climbed Qinglian Peak to visit his father, Lin Houyuan.


    After speaking of their traveling plan.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao started their journey. This time, they began again from the mundane world, starting and ending with the heart of Dao.


    ...


    Atop a Peach Blossom Mountain, the two stood in plain clothes on the peak.


    Before them, there stretched hundreds of miles of peach blossom trees, swaying gracefully, a sea of pink.


    With a gust of wind, a flurry of petals filled the air, transforming the scene into a fairyland!


    Both were so taken by the sight before them, they couldn''t move at all.


    After a while, as an evening breeze passed by, they took out a cyan stone boundary marker.


    The boundary marker fell onto the mountain and embedded itself into the earth.


    Engraved upon it were the words "Qingtao Mountain"!


    The last time was for planting trees and seeking the Dao, this time for setting up a marker to fulfill a vow!


    ...


    The bustling streets were surrounded by newly built grey bricks and red tiles.


    The constant flow of people covered with dust had faces that showed exhaustion, but amidst the weariness, there was an added hint of happiness.


    They had returned to the Lin Family and rebuilt their homes.


    "Steamed buns, fresh out of the oven steamed buns!"


    From a distance, the aroma of the buns wafted over, and many could not help but salivate, finding it hard to move on.


    The buns looked large and soft, surrounded by steaming heat, with the savory scent carrying for miles.


    "Boss, how much are you selling these buns for?" An old man unable to hold back his saliva was the first to ask.


    "We have good news at home, two for free!"


    "Congratulations to the boss, then. I''ll take two!"


    "There you go, take care!"


    One after another, people came to buy two or three buns, in an never-ending stream.


    The steamer that held eight full tiers of buns didn''t last long before it was completely emptied.


    Everyone, half-choking on their buns, gestured with their fingers, continuously singing praises.


    The bun shop owner and his wife still wore broad smiles, leaving a lasting impression on many of the amiable couple''s kindness.


    The bun shop was open for a full month, and with two figures, it finally disappeared among the green walls and red tiles.


    Naturally, they were Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao.


    To the immortals they granted divine methods, to the mortals they bestowed full bellies!


    ...


    After that, the two continued their smooth journey through the mundane world, now narrating stories, now playing the zither.


    They experienced the vastness of the world''s roads!


    Felt the difficulty of ordinary lives!


    And witnessed the suffering of the human realm.


    ...


    Half a year later, on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the Lin Family''s inn.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao, hand in hand, entered.


    This was Lin Shitao''s first visit to Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Lin Shiming narrated the interesting stories of Heavenly Phenomenon Island to Lin Shitao.


    He also observed the prosperity of the Lin Family; Heavenly Phenomenon Island had flourished even more than it had a decade ago.


    Even though the merchants from Fengxing Alliance and the Cultivators from Nine Dragon Island only appeared on Jiuyue Island, the location of Heavenly Phenomenon Island was more favorable than that of Jiuyue Island.


    And because the Lin Family had Turtle Spirit Coconuts, many other inner islands had opened shops on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Thus, the reputation of Heavenly Phenomenon Island had become famous once again!


    "Shiming, Shitao!" Just then, Lin Houwei walked over from a distance.


    "Uncle Thirteen!" Lin Shiming saw Lin Houwei and quickly got up.


    "Uncle Thirteen, I am going to hold a lecture conference, for the small families and Cultivators who participated in the beast tide!"


    "In the spirit of comradeship, also to provide them with an opportunity!"


    "All right, I''ll start spreading the word!" Lin Houwei nodded in agreement.


    The lecture conference was something many Purple Mansion families would host, both to win people''s hearts and to spread good deeds!


    He knew that Lin Shiming was about to break through to the Golden Core!


    To establish good karma, to perform noble deeds!


    The lecture conference was soon underway.


    A single lecture drew countless Cultivators who flocked to hear it, including even those from the Purple Mansion coming to observe.


    Many Cultivators felt as though they received enlightenment, similar to the gains from previous lectures held by the Lin Family.


    The name of the Hermit Qian Mu also grew ever more illustrious.


    And Lin Shiming quietly departed the day after the lecture.


    ...


    On Fangmu Island, this time, he was alone.


    Lin Shiming went to the ancestral shrine to pay tribute to Lin Yuqi, Lin Yuqing, and many others he once knew from the Yu and Hou generations!


    Before the ancestral shrine, he bowed earnestly!

 Chapter 771 - 488: Seclusion, Shimos Breakthrough (Two-in-One for Monthly Vote)_2

    He murmured to himself, recounting everything about the Lin Family at present.


    He then took out Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine to fill the cups for several departed elders.


    He went to the Preaching Hall and gave lectures to those young cultivators who had just entered the mountain.


    He lectured about the rules he had personally set, and the lessons he himself owed.


    He spoke of spells as well as the unique world of cultivators.


    Every time the Preaching Hall was packed with cultivators, even those in the middle and later stages of Qi Cultivation came to listen.


    Even if it was only minor spells like the Fireball Technique and Wood Vine Technique.


    Everyone was thrilled beyond measure.


    And cherished the days when Lin Shiming taught.


    A month later, Lin Shiming exited the Preaching Hall once more and entered the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Inside the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, all illusions easily shattered before his eyes.


    His eyes shining brightly, he emerged from the Illusionary Heart Pavilion and set foot on Qinglian Peak with an unprecedented heroic spirit.


    He met with Lin Houyuan and also saw Lin Xianzhi, who had just broken through to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    In his hands, he now held a Storage Bag and a Spirit Beast Bag.


    Within the Spirit Beast Bag were three Demonic Beasts the Lin Family hoped would become Flood Dragons, needing to be placed into the Flood Dragon Nest to absorb the aura of Flood Dragons!


    Within the Storage Bag were ten drops of thousand-year-old Spiritual Milk prepared by the Lin Family for Lin Shiming, a Supreme Grade defensive Magical Treasure, and two sets of Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Great Formations for tribulation!


    He carried the expectations of everyone, with the determination to oversee not just Fangmu Island but the entire Southern Sea.


    Lin Shiming then entered the cave dwelling on Thousand Trees Peak and began his seclusion!


    ...


    Shuangmu Island, Qinglian Peak, a pavilion.


    This place sat on the mountainside and now included a Spirit Lake developed to nurture the Lin Family''s Red Spirit Fish and Blood Crocodile.


    Resonating with Shuangmu Island.


    Lin Xianzhi arrived early in the pavilion, dressed in the clan attire of the Lin Family. All Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even Purple Mansion cultivators, were assembled here.


    That included Lin Shijie, who had returned from Thousand Trees Island.


    Of course, except for Lin Shiming.


    Everyone had a faint guess in their hearts.


    And the next moment, Lin Xianzhi cleared his throat and spoke resolutely,


    "Although the clan has moved from Yunzhou to the Southern Sea, it still finds itself in uncertain times and amidst chaos!"


    "Starting today, the Island Protecting Great Array of Shuangmu Island will be constantly activated, and no one but Lin Family Clan members are allowed on the island. Additionally, all Internal Teleportation Formations will be shut down!"


    "Fifth Rank Formations will be guarded by Purple Mansion cultivators on a rotation basis!"


    "All subsidiary islands must be equipped with Fourth Rank Formations, guarded by at least three Foundation Establishment cultivators!"


    "Furthermore, the clan will once again start a scorched earth policy, eradicating all Demonic Beasts within the Heavenly Phenomenon Archipelago!"


    "On Heavenly Phenomenon Island, the purchase price for Spirit Beast materials will be increased, even if it means depleting our stock, the same still applies!"


    Lin Xianzhi''s orders fell one after another.


    Just as it had been before when Lin Shiming had his breakthrough to Purple Mansion.


    Now that Lin Shiming had broken through to Golden Core, although the Lin Family could not contribute more, they could muster the entire clan''s strength to clear the path for Lin Shiming.


    "This matter is also the Lin Family''s top-secret, everyone must carry it out in secrecy!" Lin Xianzhi swept his gaze over everyone again, warning them.


    "Yes!" everyone answered in unison. At this moment, they all had their guesses and naturally would not spread the word carelessly.


    At the same time, each of them was extremely excited inside.


    With Lin Shiming''s breakthrough to Golden Core, the Lin Family would become a true Golden Core Family.


    ...


    At Thousand Trees Peak, Lin Shiming breathed a sigh of relief, sitting on a meditation cushion and cultivating with closed eyes.


    In front of him was the remaining Yunji Pill.


    Undergoing Heavenly Tribulation was a given when breaking through to Golden Core, and naturally, he could not cultivate within the Cave Heaven.


    While cultivating in the outer world, the Lin Family had also given up most of the Spirit Veins'' cultivation, and now the entire Fangmu Island had a total of five Fourth Rank Spiritual Veins with ample Spiritual Energy.


    If it hadn''t been necessary to maintain the purity of the Spirit Veins, the Lin Family could have merged all the Spirit Veins into one, and they would have had a high chance of giving birth to a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein.


    Lin Shiming took the Yunji Pill.


    He began circulating the Kuimu Sword Canon, slowly filling his True Yuan to the brim.


    At that moment, he constantly compressed the Sword Origin, allowing as much True Yuan as possible to convert into Sword Origin.


    His Sword Origin became more solid and abundant.


    His Sword Intent was released automatically.


    Also, inside the Sword Path Grass Seed, the Taiyi Grass Sword had now grown its fourth tender shoot.


    Its power was no less than that of a Superior Grade Fourth Rank Magical Treasure.


    The rapid pace of its growth was astonishing.


    As the Heavenly Circuit circulated again and again, nurturing the Sword Intent, Lin Shiming''s body became like an emerald, suffused with green True Yuan.


    Cultivation is monotonous.


    Inside the cave dwelling, dust gradually began to accumulate.


    The silence was deafening.


    ...


    A decade had passed in the outside world, and just then, the spiritual energy in the sky suddenly burst forth.


    Strange phenomena began to appear all over Shuangmu Island.


    This scene had the well-prepared members of the Lin Family Clan all on high alert.


    Lin Xianzhi even soared into the sky, directly manipulating the formation with his hands.


    But the next moment, their expressions turned peculiar.


    Because the commotion wasn''t coming from Thousand Wood Peak, but from Five Flame Peak.


    It was also the place where Lin Shiming was in seclusion.


    "Everyone, be on guard against demonic beasts!" Lin Xianzhi still bellowed.


    Lin Shiming''s breakthrough was a joyous occasion; it signified that the Lin Family would have one more Purple Mansion cultivator.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming''s combat prowess would stand out among his peers.


    His five Heavenly Armored Corpses could not only substitute in his tribulation, but each one would also possess Fourth Rank combat strength.


    Above Five Flame Peak, five clusters of blood gathered as well.


    The forming clouds of rosy light were bizarre beyond compare, as if there were fierce beasts roaring within them!


    Immediately afterward, five Five Elements Corpse Beads appeared, unveiling the Five Elements True Essence.


    All five visions manifested simultaneously, causing the distant sea to churn violently as well.


    However, because the Lin Family had thoroughly made defensive preparations, there weren''t many beasts around at the moment, and not a single Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demon appeared.


    The phenomena of the breakthrough lasted for a good half a quarter of an hour.


    A massive aura of the Purple Mansion spread out, sweeping across Shuangmu Island.


    Lin Shiming had succeeded in his Purple Mansion ascension!


    He was now the fifth Purple Mansion cultivator of the Lin Family!


    Just as Lin Shiming''s aura spread out, the five cultivated corpses also let out roaring cries that echoed throughout the entire Shuangmu Island.


    Yet that was not all; in the distance, thunderclouds began to gather, and Heavenly Tribulation started to descend.


    Minor Divine Ability Tribulation!


    This development surprised everyone. Neither Lin Shitao nor Lin Shijie had faced a Minor Divine Ability Tribulation.


    But Lin Shiming did.


    At this moment, even Lin Xianzhi was somewhat panicked. Possessing a Minor Divine Ability indicated a greater potential for breaking through to Golden Core!


    If Lin Shiming were to fall during the Minor Divine Ability Tribulation, it would be a colossal loss for the Lin Family.


    Regrettably, they had not anticipated that Lin Shiming would face a Minor Divine Ability Tribulation.


    Initially, Lin Shiming had prepared himself and notified Lin Xianzhi in advance; although they were prepared now, everything had already been provided to Lin Shiming.


    However, unprepared as they were, Lin Xianzhi still took out a set from his storage bag, ready to help Lin Shiming withstand the tribulation.


    And in the distance, a rainbow light appeared, and a Spirit Boat landed before Shuangmu Island.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, it seems I''ve not returned too late!"


    The onlookers turned their gaze and saw the figure of Lin Houshou, clad in a time-worn Taoist robe.


    At this moment, Lin Houshou, with his weathered face, exuded the aura of an Early Stage Purple Mansion cultivator.


    The Lin Family''s count of Purple Mansion cultivators wasn''t five, but a full six.


    And with Lin Houshou present, it was as if the Lin Family had gained an Array Master of Superior Grade Fourth Rank strength.


    Lin Houshou wasted no time; he took out two sets of formations from his storage bag and cast them towards Lin Shiming.


    He managed to sever the controlling banners before the thunderclouds could fully gather, allowing the Spirit Formation to activate automatically and aid Lin Shiming in transcending the tribulation!


    The Heavenly Tribulation was not as severe as Lin Shiming''s Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulation; it was a more standard Thirty-Three Heavenly Tribulation.


    The only addition was a Heart Demon Tribulation.


    But for Lin Shiming, this was practically a test of his most steadfast Dao heart.


    For the Immortal Path, he had no regrets!


    He left home and had fought desperately for his family.


    In order to break through, he battled against Purple Mansion Great Demons!


    Each time, he narrowly escaped death.


    As the Heavenly Tribulation dispersed, Lin Shiming''s voice also rang out:


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle, thank you Second Uncle, and thank you to all the members of the Lin Family!"


    In Lin Shiming''s voice was filled with gratitude and excitement.


    He had finally reached the realm he had once dreamt of.


    "First consolidate your cultivation level!" Lin Xianzhi continued to transmit his voice.


    Lin Shiming accordingly closed the formation again and continued to consolidate his cultivation level.


    "What about Shiming?" Lin Houshou looked around at the Lin Family members before tentatively asking.


    Both Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shitao nodded in response.


    "That kid really did it!" Lin Houshou also smiled. At the same time, he naturally stood beside Lin Xianzhi and took over the control of the banners.


    Guarding, he was even more adept at!

 Chapter 772 - 489: Broad Deduction, The Method of Sword Pill (Two in One)

    The Southern Sea was in the midst of summer, with the fierce sun hanging high in the sky, and a light breeze that was not too dry.


    The undulating waves continued to surge, lifting up waves of golden brilliance.


    A few giant sand crabs were washed up onto the beach.


    They lifted their huge pincers, appearing somewhat joyous as they scuttled across the sand!


    In the next moment, a sword light flew out, and the sand crabs were instantly turned into chunks of flesh.


    The cultivator in the sky above remained indifferent, as if such a scene had become common and sparse to them.


    At this moment, even an ant entering the Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island would not survive if it didn''t carry the surname Lin!


    Nineteen years had already passed, and every member of the Lin Family Clan was even more cautious.


    Each one harbored a breath of determination in their hearts; once they overcame this stage, the Lin Family would achieve a feat even their ancestors hadn''t accomplished, becoming a Golden Core Family!


    This was an unprecedented honor for the Lin Family.


    It was then that many cultivators suddenly began to feel somewhat stifled.


    Although it was summer and the temperature extremely high, not to mention that they were cultivators, even the Lin Family''s clothing had the effect of warmth in winter and coolness in summer.


    Lin Shiyuan also felt the oppressiveness; he had now reached the later stages of Foundation Establishment, and his cultivation progress could be said to be extremely fast.


    In the thirty years since he had returned from the Eastern Domain, he had advanced from the early stages to the later stages of Foundation Establishment.


    He had fully displayed his terrifying Wind Spirit Root talent.


    Since returning from the Eastern Domain, he seemed to have become a different person.


    A smile could often be seen on his face; although he was still a man of few words, the Lin Family''s cultivators were now more willing to chat with Lin Shiyuan than before.


    "It does feel quite oppressive!" Lin Zelu and Lin Zekong beside him nodded in agreement.


    Although Lin Zekong, Lin Zelu, and Lin Shiyuan were not of the same generation in terms of their generational names, due to their similar age, they had more in common and were closer to each other, often engaging in friendly competition.


    "This feeling isn''t just something you and I alone perceive, it''s the same for everyone!" Lin Shiyuan continued to speak.


    He looked around, checking the nearby guarding cultivators, and found they were all feeling the same way!


    This could be the work of Lin Shiming, or the arrival of a powerful demonic beast.


    For cultivators, intuition sometimes served as a premonition!


    "I''m going to report to Second Uncle!" Lin Shiyuan''s heart tightened, and he flew off to find Lin Houshou, who was in charge of the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation.


    And just at that moment, the oppressive pressure grew even stronger.


    In the next instant, a vortex began to appear in the void.


    From within the vortex, a terrifying suction force emerged, drawing all the spiritual energy of Shuangmu Island and the surrounding islands towards the vortex!


    The resulting ripples of spiritual energy, like streams of delicate dawn light, poured into a vast lake of a spiritual energy vortex.


    The shocking sight left many cultivators stunned, some completely dumbfounded!


    And the direction of the vortex was right towards the Lin Family''s Qian Mu Peak.


    Atop Qian Mu Peak, a colorful radiance began to slowly emerge; first a swath of rosy clouds, and the next moment, condensed into countless colorful clouds that lingered in the sky, growing larger and more persistent!


    This scene once again alarmed everyone!


    "It''s Shiming!" The next moment, as a massive aura burst forth, a resplendent pillar of spiritual light descended upon Qian Mu Peak.


    The Lin Family''s five Purple Mansion all appeared in the sky, forming a pentagonal array, protecting Shuangmu Island.


    In the distance, a tremendous Poisonous Dragon rode the waves, then sprawled across the sky, its majestic dragon might fully displayed, impressively daunting.


    Accompanied by a loud noise and a flash of firelight, a giant Three Flame Fire Ape, thirty zhang tall, appeared.


    It wielded a demonic staff and let out a skyward roar!


    It was completely like a sea-god beast, guarding over the area!


    The Lin Family''s cultivators also made their moves, drawing out their magical treasures and artifacts.


    They spread out in an octagonal formation, defending Qian Mu Peak on Shuangmu Island!


    At this time, any cultivators or creatures not belonging to the Lin Family would become targets of annihilation for all members of the Lin Family Clan!


    The Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation started to coalesce into shape, as unyielding golden flames gathered in many places around the island.


    In the absence of demonic beasts, they were reluctant to fully activate the formation, as it would recklessly snatch a substantial amount of spiritual energy from Lin Shiming, possibly affecting his breakthrough; but without activation, they felt insecure. This approach was also the most focused.


    Lin Zeli, Lin Zeyi, and Lin Yanxing, a few sword cultivators, stood at the entrance to the Sword Pavilion, ready to summon the Crimson Flame Sword at the first sign of trouble.


    Inside Qian Mu Peak, Lin Shiming had his eyes slightly closed at this moment.


    Yet his furrowed brows clearly showed that he was not at ease.


    Breaking through to the Golden Core, an ordinary person, even with the aid of a Gold Condensation Pill, only had a thirty percent chance of success!


    It showed the difficulty of the breakthrough!


    Surrounding him, the Sword Intent was thriving unrestrainedly, and countless highly condensed Sword Origins were present; even a Purple Mansion body cultivator might not be able to withstand the Sword Intent near Lin Shiming with their bare flesh!


    Besides the Sword Intent, the Kuimu Sword Canon''s Zhou Tian cyclone was spinning wildly, causing his entire body to overflow with radiance, resembling a being of light.


    Moreover, the intertwining radiance of three Minor Divine Abilities ¨C green, gold, and azure ¨C reflected off each other!


    And they even transformed into various colored spirit patterns, which in the next moment, directly manifested illusions!


    A primordial tree stood erect in the void, unfurling countless branches and rooting itself within. At this moment, it appeared to draw out all the spiritual energy within the void!


    This prompted the spiritual energy in the sky, insufficient as it was, to surge once more with a roar, raising by a notch!


    Flowing into the lake of spiritual energy, Lin Shiming''s aura also rose drastically once again!


    At this moment, those near Qian Mu Peak felt the abundance of spiritual energy, and even some low-level cultivators sensed their bottlenecks loosen, as if stirred by the spiritual energy''s tide!

 Chapter 773 - 489: Grand Deduction, The Method of Sword Pill (Two in One)_2

    Even the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lin Family began to slowly rise with this feeling.


    But surprisingly, not a single person sat down to meditate on the spot; instead, everyone''s gaze was locked onto the direction of the sea!


    Even more alert!


    "The Minor Divine Ability can increase the probability of forming a Golden Core by one layer, it really is true!" At a distance, Lin Xianzhi was also overjoyed at this moment.


    Looking at this phenomenon, he was clear in his heart.


    Because Lin Shiming had once wanted to give him that Minor Divine Ability fruit!


    Plus, Lin Shiming had passed the Minor Divine Ability tribulation twice!


    This meant that the probability of Lin Shiming breaking through to Golden Core had reached at least fifty percent!


    The vision in the sky did not stop there, the ancient wood illusion continued, and behind Lin Shiming''s body, the previously closed Taoist meridians of the Purple Mansion were now completely opened, with verdant spirit patterns emerging one by one. They intertwined with each other, forming long bundles of spirit patterns, and finally converged into a whirlwind of verdant spirit patterns!


    They evolved into ancient woods, spirit grasses, spiritual flowers!


    Brimming with life, as if an illusionary realm, stirring up the Revival Wind.


    During this phenomenon, Lin Shiming''s body also began to grow taller, and the Starlight Tempering Body Technique was automatically activated.


    One after another, light acupoints appeared on Lin Shiming''s surface, making him look like a shimmering, boundless star chart.


    The strength of his fleshly body was also rapidly increasing!


    His aura also progressed from the late Purple Mansion stage toward the Purple Mansion Peak!


    The Thousand Wood Spirit Body was further developed!


    Following the second phenomenon, the third one quickly emerged as well!


    A huge Enlightenment Disk appeared in the colored clouds and finally gathered beneath Lin Shiming.


    As if a platform for Dao Enlightenment.


    "Three visions converging together, I wonder what kind of Golden Core it will condense!"


    The distant Lin Family Clan members also had bright eyes!


    Even though they had been worried whether a breakthrough could be achieved, the appearance of the three visions, plus the effect of the Gold Condensation Pill itself, rendered the result of Lin Shiming''s breakthrough self-evident!


    The only concern was that with such a strong myriad of phenomena, the Golden Core Tribulation that would come would be even more terrifying!


    With the emergence of the phenomena, far away, the sea began to stir.


    Strange beasts continually emerged, and even farther away, roars could be continuously heard!


    This phenomenon had already been reflected throughout the heavens, and even if the Lin Family used all its defenses, the news of this phenomenon had spread!


    In the Outer Sea, it was like a beacon, attracting countless demonic beasts!


    At this moment, the sea was still calm and sunny, but the waves were getting bigger and bigger, accompanied by countless demonic beasts surfacing within the breakers!


    Far away, Fourth Rank Great Demons gradually appeared.


    One, two!


    Three!


    "Hou Shou, you control the formation, stand until the end, everyone else, protect Shiming with your lives!"


    The condensation of the Golden Core had just begun, and Lin Xianzhi was unsure of how many more Great Demons would appear.


    But no matter the number, the five Purple Mansion cultivators had to defend Shuangmu Island!


    Lin Shiming was the first to charge out, and behind him, five Fourth Rank Heavenly Armored Corpses, their fur surging wildly, each more ferocious than the last!


    His eyes shone brightly; today, he really wanted to test his Minor Divine Ability!


    Following behind him, Wang Jiao and Red-haired Demon Monkey also rushed out, especially Wang Jiao, carrying an overwhelming momentum!


    The Purple Mansion Great Demons that came were one by one stopped by Lin Shiming, Wang Jiao, and Red-haired.


    Several weaker Purple Mansion Great Demons couldn''t hold on for a moment and were torn to shreds!


    ...


    The blood in the sea had already dyed the surface red!


    And on Thousand Wood Peak, the whirlwind of spiritual energy also reached its zenith.


    Condensing countless droplets of spiritual energy.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming suddenly opened his eyes.


    He had already taken the Gold Condensation Pill, and he was at the final juncture of his breakthrough!


    Solidifying Pill!


    His gaze pierced the sky, and the incoming spiritual energy became even more ferocious, forming a fist-sized spiritual pill within the Spirit Platform inside his body.


    The structure of this spiritual pill was not yet smooth, just a rough embryo!


    It even looked like a ball of spirit mud.


    Only by compressing all the spiritual power and True Yuan within the body into the spirit mud and refining it to the extreme, transforming it into a real Golden Core capable of absorbing and exhaling True Yuan.


    The more extreme the refinement, the greater the storage and strength of the spiritual energy and True Yuan in the future Golden Core.


    If compressed by half, it''s an Inferior Grade Golden Core!


    One to three times compression yields an Intermediate Grade Golden Core!


    And three times or more it becomes a Superior Grade Golden Core!


    Lin Shiming''s goal was precisely that, the Superior Grade Golden Core!


    Of course, condensing a Golden Core is not so simple. Apart from the True Yuan within Lin Shiming''s body, the lake of Spiritual Energy outside must also eventually be completely integrated into the Golden Core. This is the most complex part!


    It must be understood that this lake of Spiritual Energy outside, compared to the True Yuan within Lin Shiming''s body, is several times more overwhelming!


    The liquid of Spiritual Energy continues to pour, and at this moment, the Spirit Pill also begins to rotate swiftly.


    The rough embryo of this Spirit Pill is naturally a Solidifying Pill, which is why it can increase the chance of a successful Golden Core by thirty percent.


    Otherwise, to condense a Spirit Pill from thin air would already be a tremendously arduous task.


    If there is the slightest interruption in this process, it would lead to the dispersal of the lake of Spiritual Energy and the failure of the pill''s solidification.


    "Spin!" Lin Shiming shouted coldly.


    The Spirit Pill within his body spun rapidly, and the Kuimu Sword Canon was operating beyond its limits.


    In refining the Golden Core into a smoother sphere, and under the premise of swallowing countless amounts of Spiritual Energy, the core was not growing larger but instead gradually shrinking!


    The Kuimu Sword Canon, being an Earth Rank Technique for condensing True Yuan, and Lin Shiming being a Body Cultivator, managed to endure at this moment!


    However, even so, Lin Shiming''s complexion did not look good, as he might only be able to form an Inferior Grade Golden Core in the end. Because of the reason of the three Minor Divine Abilities of Xia light, the lake of Spiritual Energy was several times larger than anticipated.


    The overflowing Spiritual Radiance was so potent that if a Purple Mansion Cultivator approached and absorbed a small part, they could explode and perish on the spot!


    And at this time, within Lin Shiming''s mind, a prompt from the tableau once again sounded.


    Only this time, what appeared was an image, where on the surface of the Golden Core, patterns of Elixir began to take shape one by one!


    Lin Shiming''s eyes lit up instantly at this scene!


    Just as there is talk of Pill Patterns in elixirs, so too can there be in a Golden Core!


    He originally thought the more spherical the Golden Core, the better, but with the system prompting like this, it was clear that if he formed specific Pill Patterns, the effects would definitely be superior!


    At this moment, his thoughts spun rapidly, and beneath him, the Green Lotus Enlightenment Disk shone brightly. And right then, Lin Shiming also activated the Deductive Light that had been updated in the past decade!


    Nobody said you can''t use Minor Divine Abilities when breaking through!


    As the golden light of Spirit Patterns appeared, the Enlightenment Platform grew exponentially!


    That golden light, in a fleeting moment, surpassed the green light of the Immortal Wood Shadow and spread across the vast majority of Thousand Wood Peak!


    Lin Shiming''s condensation of the Golden Core hastened, and at this moment, his mind was exceptionally clear!


    But what was gathering was not him but the Sword Intent he had comprehended!


    His cultivation was in the Sword Canon, and his True Yuan was also filled with Sword Origin!


    The next moment, a Sword Grass Seed gradually appeared atop the Golden Core!


    As soon as this scene appeared, the Sword Qi of Thousand Wood Peak surged!


    The Sword Qi and Spiritual Energy became indistinguishable to everyone!


    As the Sword Grass Seed began to sprout, so did Lin Shiming''s Grass Sword Intent!


    Countless Spiritual Energy converged into the Golden Core and into the Grass Spirit Patterns.


    The Golden Core became even smoother and visibly shrank to the naked eye.


    This filled Lin Shiming with immense joy!


    Yet Lin Shiming did not stop. Under the Deductive Light, he tried to depict as many Seed Patterns as possible!


    And just then, the Sword Path Grass Seed within Lin Shiming''s body also started to act abnormally.


    This caused Lin Shiming to hold his breath involuntarily.


    He felt a sense of urgency in his heart.


    The Sword Path Grass Seed was actually merging with the Golden Core to become one!


    On the Golden Core, a Grass Sword Pattern was imprinted once again.


    The Taiyi Sword Grass Seed Talisman began to revolve around the Golden Core.


    And at this time, the Flaming Sword in the Sword Pavilion, far from the scene, flew out.


    This startled Lin Zeli, Lin Yanxing, and Lin Zeyi.


    At this moment, the Flaming Sword was focusing on Lin Shiming!


    If before, Lin Shiming was considered a half-baked Sword Cultivator, now, he truly piqued its interest!


    Because Lin Shiming was now condensing what was indeed a real Sword Pill!


    Those who had previously broken through to the Golden Core using the Soul Summoning Sword were practitioners of fake pill methods!


    The radiance of Thousand Wood Peak intensified, already emitting a fragrance as if a Spiritual Medicine was ripening.


    The commotion over the sea grew stronger, and from afar, even a Fifth Rank Blue Feather Great Peng could be seen flapping its wings toward them!

 Chapter 774 - 490: Breaking Through to the Golden Core (Two in One, Asking for Monthly Pass)

    ```


    "A Fifth Rank Demon Core, just the right gift to celebrate with!" the Flaming Sword glanced at the distant Fifth Rank large roc!


    Leading the charge, it transformed into a firelight and shot forth!


    In an instant, the resplendent Sword Qi dazzled all who beheld it!


    Like a fire dragon leaving its nest, its brilliance overshadowed everything!


    In a flash, it headed straight for the unprepared Azure Feather roc Demon King!


    Lin Xianzhi and the other Purple Mansion cultivators were also immensely relieved at this moment!


    Thankfully, the Lin Family had the Flaming Sword; without it, either the Fifth Rank Demon King would have broken through the Lin Family''s Formation,


    Or the Lin Family would have had to control the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation to stop that Fifth Rank Demon King!


    But this would certainly have drained a great amount of Spiritual Energy, causing damage to Lin Shiming''s breakthrough!


    The quality of the Golden Core he could eventually condense might not have been ideal!


    The might of the Crimson Flame Sword as it flew out was terribly ferocious!


    The Azure Feather roc, which had hoped to take advantage by swooping in at the opportunity of a secret treasure''s emergence, suddenly retreated, flapping its wings to escape!


    "Spirit Clan friend, this king was just passing by!"


    "Please forgive the offense, please be lenient!" the Azure Feather roc kept shouting!


    But it had fallen into Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and passed through the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation!


    This scene amazed the Lin Family, and naturally, they couldn''t let the Flaming Sword let it go!


    As the dazzling sword light surged, Lin Shijie, Lin Zeli, and Lin Yanxing far away were captivated by the sight!


    Sword cultivators should strive for this!


    With one sword slash, one can slay the heavens and part the seas!


    The Azure Feather roc unleashed several methods in succession, countless hurricanes, and countless beams of Spirit Light, conjuring Divine Skills that were by no means weak!


    However, the Crimson Flame Sword had set its resolve, first severing the Azure Feather roc''s wings, breaking its azure glowing spiritual feathers!


    Then, with another slash, it slew the Azure Feather roc Demon King on the spot!


    The fiery Sword Intent turned that area into a veritable hell on earth, with copious amounts of steam evaporating and creating an unbelievable vacuum within the ocean!


    The Crimson Flame Sword returned to Shuangmu Island with the corpse in tow.


    It also shocked countless Demonic Beasts, and those Great Demons, even the Third Rank Demonic Beasts, dared not advance further!


    Only numerous lower intelligence Second Rank Demonic Beasts, sensing the opportunity on Shuangmu Island, still howled and surged toward Shuangmu Island with the waves!


    All the cultivators of the Lin Family breathed a sigh of relief!


    Lin Xianzhi and the other Purple Mansion members of the Lin Family hurriedly expressed their gratitude:


    "Many thanks to Elder Flaming, this is a grace of attaining the Dao, Xianzhi will first thank you on Shiming''s behalf!"


    Everyone voiced their gratitude in turn.


    Of course, what the Flaming Sword cared about more was Lin Shiming''s gratitude!


    Therefore, it returned to the Sword Pavilion, perched on the tip of the pavilion, and coldly observed Lin Shiming''s breakthrough!


    By now, the Spiritual Energy lake was nearing its end!


    A terrifying momentum began to emerge!


    The next moment, a flash of golden light shone forth brilliantly!


    All the rays of light could not cover it up!


    And Lin Shiming''s form also appeared before everyone!


    Only now, Lin Shiming still stood aloft in the air, like a towering pine!


    The Golden Core was now fully formed!


    The most crucial moment had arrived, the Divine Soul was entering the Golden Core!


    By becoming a Golden Core Cultivator, as long as one did not die and the Golden Core could escape, they could also seize a new body and be reborn. The only thing lacking compared to a Nascent Soul True Monarch was that the Nascent Soul could cast spells, while the Golden Core could only flee!


    The Divine Soul entering the Golden Core would also bring about the Heart Demon Tribulation!


    And this was exactly what Lin Shiming was facing at the moment!


    His eyes closed, his face alternating between joy and sorrow, sometimes he roared skyward, sometimes he cursed in frustration!


    In a moment, all manner of emotions played out on Lin Shiming.


    He seemed to return to the days when he first arrived at Fangmu Mountain!


    He practiced one spell after another, one Cultivation Technique after another!


    He was filled with Lin Houyuan''s expectations!


    Subsequently, he became the pride of the Lin Family, the pioneer of the younger generation!


    He even became the Family Head!


    He became the helmsman of the entire Lin Family!


    He ventured beyond Fangmu Mountain, beyond Yunzhou, even beyond Zhao Kingdom, and out into the Southern Sea!


    ...


    Scenes of the past flashed by, but Lin Shiming''s emotions became increasingly tranquil!


    The Lin Family was improving, and was about to become a Golden Core Family!


    His Daoist heart was unashamed!


    Therefore, this Heart Demon Tribulation was insignificant to him!


    In fact, it was the easiest challenge to overcome!


    Meanwhile, within his body, strands of Divine Soul strength continuously merged into the Golden Core.


    During this process, the Divine Sense began to compress and grow!


    The amplification of the Golden Core was comprehensive for a Cultivator!


    With a surge of Divine Sense, the next moment, waves rippled out towards the surroundings!


    Ten li!


    A hundred li!


    A thousand li!


    Ten thousand li!


    A range of a hundred thousand li of Divine Sense!


    It covered countless islands!


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense reached an unprecedented height!


    The regions he could not see before were now clearly visible before his eyes.


    Once faced with the ocean, he always felt its majesty, vastness, and boundlessness.


    But now, in his eyes, even the ocean seemed somewhat sparse and ordinary. In this world, he could even claim to be the absolute ruler!


    It was at this time that the Flaming Sword was the first to speak out:


    "Congratulations to Qian Mu friend!"


    With this statement, it was clear that Lin Shiming had now formed his Golden Core and stepped through the gate to becoming a True Person!


    The title "friend" also represented the Flaming Sword''s acknowledgment!


    "Congratulations to Shiming on becoming a True Person!"


    "Congratulations to Seventh Brother on becoming a True Person!"


    "Congratulations to Seventh Uncle on becoming a True Person!"


    "Congratulations to Seventh Great-Uncle on becoming a True Person!"


    ...


    The congratulations from all over Shuangmu Island were incessant!


    Everyone was genuinely ecstatic!


    From now on, the Lin Family would also be a Golden Core Family, sharing some influence alongside top forces like the Coral Alliance!


    Moreover, it also represented that the Lin Family had the opportunity to return to the Eastern Domain!


    For the cultivators of the Lin Family, steeped in the traditions of the Preaching Hall, no one could forget the humiliation of being chased out of the Eastern Domain!


    Atop Thousand Wood Peak, Lin Shiming also opened his eyes at this moment, smiling at the Lin Family members and conveying his gratitude with his gaze.


    ```

 Chapter 775 - 490: Breakthrough Golden Core (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2

    Without the protection of the Lin Family over these years, his progress wouldn''t have been so smooth!


    He even looked at the Flaming Sword with gratitude in the end.


    But there wasn''t time to express his thanks!


    In the sky, the atmosphere grew even heavier, as a unique spiritual light appeared, stirring and dragging the spiritual energy from thousands of miles around to converge together!


    As time passed, a vast thundercloud appeared in the sky!


    The Heavenly Tribulation had arrived!


    But at this moment, Lin Shiming was full of confidence!


    If an outsider could see it, they would notice that Lin Shiming''s Golden Core was only the size of a thumb!


    It was four or five times smaller than the fist-size it had been before!


    This indicated that Lin Shiming had achieved a Superior Grade Golden Core!


    Moreover, three Spirit Patterns of the Grass Sword appeared on the surface of the Golden Core!


    One was in the seed state, corresponding to the Slash of the Great Swathe from the Heaven-Slaying trio.


    One was a seedling, corresponding to the Tribulation Transcending of the Heaven-Slaying trio.


    One was a mature Grass Sword, corresponding to the Heaven-Slaying of the Heaven-Slaying trio.


    Included within them was Lin Shiming''s Sword Path Grass Seed!


    They had fused into one!


    From now on, as long as Lin Shiming''s cultivation level broke through, his Sword Intent and Sword Dao would automatically grow and strengthen!


    With the newly condensed Golden Core, Lin Shiming was confident that, as long as he stabilized, ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivators would be no match for him!


    Furthermore, his Sword Intent was now fully embracing the idea of nurturing it!


    If Tianliu True Person''s was a Sword Lake!


    Then his would be a Sword Plain!


    Just waiting for his Secret Technique to be completely deduced, once he employed the Sword Plain, very few would be able to withstand it!


    It would also become Lin Shiming''s most powerful method!


    Of course, for Lin Shiming, breaking through to Golden Core meant that he could once again cultivate the second layer of his techniques!


    Like the Sword Storing Book, the Star Pearl, and the Blood Demon Disk, he could practice the second layer!


    The thunderclouds began to rumble!


    Lin Shiming also took out several array flags, which were exactly the formation prepared by the Lin Family to resist the Heavenly Tribulation!


    A fourth-rank Supreme Grade formation, the Heavenly Mansion Xuanxiao Array!


    As Lin Shiming formed a hand seal, spiritual energy surged into the array flags.


    The next moment, they condensed into a glowing Heavenly Mansion, settling above Lin Shiming!


    Boom!


    The long-silenced thunder finally struck, and this Divine Thunder was as big as a fist, streaking across the vast void!


    It smashed into the glowing Heavenly Mansion with immense speed!


    At the top of the Heavenly Mansion, it dispersed into countless smaller thunders, which spread throughout the whole Heavenly Mansion and then showered down in front of Lin Shiming!


    Lin Shiming threw a punch and scattered most of it, feeling the power of the Heavenly Tribulation!


    A portion of the lightning entered Lin Shiming''s body, causing it to crackle nonstop, but his Purple Mansion Peak physique was still not weak!


    Moreover, Lin Shiming adhered to the principle of destroying the old to establish the new!


    Using the Heavenly Thunder, he sought to elevate the strength of his physical body directly to the rank of Golden Core Cultivators!


    Boom boom!


    The second wave of Heavenly Thunder struck down!


    This time, the golden Divine Thunder was even more terrifying, and there were two of them at once!


    The first was blocked by the glowing Heavenly Mansion!


    But the second one pierced through the formation and the glowing Heavenly Mansion, striking directly at Lin Shiming!


    Lin Shiming did not dare to rely on his physique alone to withstand it and took out the Purple Mansion Swords, slashing towards the Divine Thunder!


    This slash contained an even stronger Heaven-Slaying force!


    It split the Divine Thunder in two!


    Striking Lin Shiming, it turned into various colored thunders, ravaging his physical body!


    Within him, countless Starlight Cave Heavens frantically surged with vital energy, continuously healing his body!


    The rolling thunderclouds, at this moment, didn''t rush to bring the third wave of Heavenly Thunder!


    Instead, they seemed to be expanding again.


    It was as if covering the entire Thousand Wood Peak wasn''t enough, and they needed to expand to encompass the full breadth of Shuangmu Island!


    After a looming silence of twenty breaths'' time, three thunders formed within the thunderclouds and struck down at Lin Shiming in an instant!


    These thunders were twice the size of the previous ones!


    This scene made the distant members of the Lin Family Clan start to worry!


    The intensity of this Heavenly Tribulation was at least ten times stronger than that of Lin Shiming''s previous encounter!


    The Heavenly Tribulation smashed into the glowing Heavenly Mansion, and instantly, countless cracks began to appear!


    It was nearly shattered!


    The blocking of the thunder could only be considered to have stopped half of it!


    The remaining two and a half thunders almost entirely struck Lin Shiming!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s thoughts moved, and the Purple Mansion Swords slashed out again. At the same time, he activated the Illusionary Spirit Vine seeds, which instantly transformed into Illusionary Spirit Gourds and countless Supreme Grade Spirit Vines!


    However, these two methods could only provide momentary support!


    Lin Shiming then took out a pale yellow small tower!


    The small tower flew high into the sky, transforming into a massive tower of thick earth, withstanding the onslaught of the vast Golden Thunder!


    This was also the second Thunder Tribulation magical treasure that the Lin Family prepared for Lin Shiming!


    However, after this wave of Heavenly Tribulation, the Illusionary Spirit Vine seeds, the Twin Swords of Purple Dawn, and even the tower of thick earth were all severely damaged!


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to take out new magical treasures to face the new wave of Heavenly Tribulation!


    The fourth wave quickly arrived, and this time there were still three!


    But the time in-between was too short, not giving Lin Shiming any time to rest!


    With a thunderous roar, it hammered down fiercely!


    The void was covered by arcs of thunder!


    The Spirit Energy Heaven''s Treasury shattered at the first instance!


    Afterward, Lin Shiming once again brought out the Azure Cloud seeds and the Golden Yang Shield Taihe Sword to resist!


    The rumbling noise was incessant!


    The three magical treasures were damaged once more!


    But the Heavenly Thunder was weakened to just a shallow layer!


    Lin Shiming''s body, facing the Heavenly Thunder, rose up, and with one punch, scattered the remaining thunder, absorbing the Heavenly Thunder with his physical body!


    At this moment, the nodes of his physical body''s Cave Heaven shone even more brightly, dazzling like the stars!


    The thunderclouds once again began to roll, and this wave would be the fifth strike of Heavenly Thunder!


    The thunderclaps transformed into four columns, each as thick as a man''s thigh!


    The void filled with thunderous light, crackling and buzzing!


    This time, Lin Shiming took out a full ten Soul-Suppressing Pagodas!


    In the air, the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were arranged in a specific order!


    They took on the brunt of this wave of Heavenly Thunder!


    All ten Soul-Suppressing Pagodas were covered in cracks!


    Lin Shiming once again withstood it with his physical body alone!


    The sixth wave of thunder was also four columns!!


    By then, Lin Shiming had also taken out a new set of Array flags, reconstructing the previous Spirit Light Heaven''s Treasury!


    After withstanding the first strike of Heavenly Thunder, Lin Shiming directly executed the Great Swathe Sword Style!


    This time, nearly the entire Thousand Wood Peak was covered with the tangible Sword Intent!


    One by one, Sword Path Grass condensed in the void!


    From afar, the beginnings of a Sword Grass Spirit Field were taking shape!


    Under this sword strike, the four columns of Heavenly Thunder were slashed into fragments!


    Turning into specks of thunderous light, they scattered upon Lin Shiming''s body!


    Witnessing this sword might!


    Lin Shiming felt extremely satisfied in his heart!


    However, the consumption of the Great Swathe Sword Style had increased!


    Coupled with withstanding several strikes of Heavenly Thunder earlier, his True Yuan had somewhat depleted!


    He consumed several drops of the Thousand-Year Spirit Milk that the family''s cultivators had purchased at a high price!


    True Yuan also rapidly recovered significantly in an instant!


    At this moment, he looked at his Golden Core with great satisfaction!


    A single drop of Thousand-Year Spirit Milk is enough to restore the True Yuan of a common Golden Core Early Stage cultivator!


    And he had consumed several drops, yet it hadn''t fully restored even half of his True Yuan, which was enough to show that his Golden Core was far superior to that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators!


    The seventh wave of thunder finally descended, this time, there was only one!


    However, this single column of Divine Thunder was as thick as a water bucket.


    The moment this Heavenly Thunder struck, the entire thundercloud involuntarily contracted!


    As though the sheer force of this thunderbolt had exhausted too much life force!


    Lin Shiming''s breathing became somewhat rapid!


    But that was all, his body began to emanate starlight!


    This one, he intended to try and physically withstand!


    Of course, before that, he had to weaken it first!


    The Taiyi Grass Sword appeared before him, with a full four Spirit Leaves waving in the air!


    In the next moment, the Grass Sword cut down!


    The Great Swathe Sword Style reappeared!


    Having broken through to the Golden Core, Lin Shiming''s Sword Origin could fully support him in executing several strikes!


    With one slash of his sword!


    A sword imbued with the essence of the Taiyi Grass Sword was even more astonishing!


    The Sword Origin once again emerged, with the Taiyi Grass Sword forming the most terrifying strike within!


    In just an instant, it was as if ten thousand swords had slashed through!


    The Heavenly Thunder turned into countless arcs!


    This strike''s effect was unexpectedly formidable, and Lin Shiming charged into the midst of the thunder arcs.


    Blocking the seventh wave!


    In the ocean of thunder arcs, his physical body''s limits broke through once again!


    Several starlight nodes began to show signs of connection!


    A terrifying surge of blood essence soared to the skies!

 Chapter 778 - 492: Three and a Half Jiao, Strengthened Divine Skills (Two-in-One for Monthly Votes)

    Thousand Wood Peak, as Lin Shiming secluded himself for cultivation, surging spiritual energy transformed into invisible dragons, soaring toward the summit!


    The cultivators who gained from the immense spiritual energy had no choice but to awake; all the spiritual energy flew toward Thousand Wood Peak, rendering it difficult to have a breakthrough when there''s no rice to cook!


    They had no choice but to use the transmission formation and head to Heavenly Phenomenon Island for their breakthrough!


    Even the passing members of Lin Family Clan couldn''t help but marvel at the degree of the spiritual energy''s turbulence!


    This is the power of a Golden Core True Person, even the commotion from their full-force cultivation is so immense!


    The light in their eyes grew even stronger, with a firmer resolution hidden deep within them.


    Of course, aside from the aura of Thousand Wood Peak, the spiritual peaches that covered the mountains also drew countless desires from Lin Family cultivators.


    After all, these spiritual peaches were each more huge and full than the last, with alluring colors.


    Amidst the overflowing peach fragrance, few cultivators have ever witnessed such a bountiful harvest.


    Especially for those from the Lin Family''s Spirit Plant Hall, tasked with picking the spiritual peaches, they felt an even greater joy!


    One must know that within the Spiritual Medicine Garden, aside from spiritual peaches, there were plenty of spiritual medicines and Heavenly Spirit Fruits!


    Moreover, at this moment, the Lin Family''s higher-ups had finally put an end to the several decades of vigilant repression.


    One could see Lin Yanjiao''s face filled with joy as she flew into the sky:


    "To celebrate Uncle Shiming''s breakthrough to Golden Core, the clan competition''s rewards for the next ten years will be doubled!"


    "Illusionary Heart Pavilion will lower its threshold for ten years!"


    "Exchange of Foundation Establishment Pill for Contribution Points cut in half!"


    ...


    A series of benefits sent all Lin Family cultivators into a frenzy!


    This scene also made Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shijie, and others extremely satisfied!


    This is truly the grand age for the Lin Family!


    Currently, the Lin Family has over three hundred individuals at the Foundation Establishment stage, and with the forthcoming surge of Foundation Establishment Pills, there will be even more!


    And beneath everyone''s happy expressions.


    A figure lingered in front of Thousand Wood Peak for a long time, appearing extremely out of place!


    He held a jade slip in his hand, as if he had made up his mind, and yet seemed to recall something, ultimately standing still, unable to advance.


    In the distance, Lin Shiyun and Lin Shizhong watched this scene, letting out long sighs.


    They didn''t know what to say, nor how to say it!


    ...


    Regarding the outside world, Lin Shiming knew little, still immersed in his cultivation!


    After consolidating his cultivation level, he took out a magical treasure and began to refine and nurture it!


    In the blink of an eye, several months passed by!


    A layer of dust had covered the stone table which, with an exhale of foul breath, swirled into the air.


    Lin Shiming also opened his eyes, full of joy!


    The green light receded, with True Yuan returning to the body!


    He stood up and saw sprouts of unknown grasses protruding from his cave''s stone walls, which were covered with formations!


    He stepped forward, pinching the grass between his fingers.


    And circulated True Yuan again!


    After examining it, he gained a new understanding of his spiritual body!


    After his Golden Core breakthrough, his Thousand Wood Spirit Body seemed to be more stimulated!


    Now, his capability to invigorate plants was even stronger!


    If Lin Shiming was willing to use some True Yuan, even the cultivation of common spiritual medicines would be much more efficient than before!


    With this, Lin Shiming looked forward with anticipation, wondering if his Minor Divine Ability, Revival Wind, had made significant progress!


    Of course, his consolidation of cultivation level this time brought more than just these gains!


    He stepped into the Cave Heaven!


    Thirty years had passed in this Cave Heaven!


    The previously relocated Spiritual Medicine Garden had grown dense vegetation, transforming into an impeccably manicured forest!


    The mountain peaks remained as before, and the stone platform was spotless!


    The water in the Spirit Lake was even greener, with spirit fish leaping occasionally.


    The mysterious black spirit fish had increased in number and become bolder!


    Inside Cave Heaven, only the Red-haired Demon Monkey and Wang Jiao regularly feasted on spirit fish. With their absence, the spirit fish in Spirit Lake had a minor explosion in both cultivation level and quantity!


    The Star Spirit Clam lazed atop the gazebo, seemingly quite bored.


    Seeing Lin Shiming approach, it instantly sprang to life, its entire body dazzling with starlight, its presence even stronger!


    "Congratulations, Master!"


    It handed over a storage bag filled with Star Spirit Fluff!


    Accompanied by the Star Spirit Clam, Elder Mu and Lei Tong also arrived beside the Purple Sun Tower!


    Lei Tong still appeared childlike, whereas Elder Mu looked much more invigorated!


    Leading the way, Elder Mu bowed respectfully!


    "Congratulations, Master, on achieving the Golden Core Path!"


    "Congratulations, Master, on achieving the Golden Core Path!" Lei Tong, with utmost respect, mimicked the gesture somewhat comically!


    "Very good!" Lin Shiming was exceedingly satisfied with both, his Divine Sense reaching the Purple Sun Tower to find all spirit plants well-cared for.


    The Spirit Light on Lei Tong''s body flickered even more intensely, suggesting an even deeper mastery of the Thunder Technique!


    All these aspects pleased Lin Shiming.


    He then turned his gaze to the Flood Dragon Nest, which was one of the most critical points.


    At that moment, the Flood Dragon Nest was surrounded by three half dragons!


    The Green-scaled Serpent occupied the highest and best position, its head now transformed into an immense inverted triangular shape.


    On its bald head were two newly emergent bulges, covered with wind-attributed spirit patterns, harmonizing with the scales on its body!


    Oozing an imposing aura, it had reached the late Third Rank!


    Although it noticed Lin Shiming''s gaze, it continued to open its wide mouth, drawing in most of the Flood Dragon''s qi!


    Its belly was beginning to show signs of claws!


    Indeed, with impressive innate talent, it was worthy of being the descendant of a pureblooded Demon King!


    In comparison, the Thunder Spirit Snake and Red-scaled Serpent were somewhat lacking in both size and aura.


    But one must not forget that both the Thunder Spirit Snake and Red-scaled Serpent were older in years!

 Chapter 780 - 493 Shijins Heart Knot, Preaching (Two in One for Monthly Tickets)

    The sea breeze brushed over, creating waves of green atop Thousand Wood Peak!


    It was just like Lin Shiming''s heart, stirring ripples within!


    Lin Shiming sighed softly, with things having reached this point, all he could do was pray that Lin Shiyi encountered no issues!


    He collected all the Jade Slips and headed down the mountain!


    At the mountain''s base, there still stood a man in Taoist robes.


    He had grown a beard, and his eyes carried much more of the world''s weariness!


    As if waiting for a long time, he was slightly stunned, not even noticing an additional figure had appeared behind him.


    "Shijin, why bother yourself?" Lin Shiming sighed softly!


    This figure was none other than Lin Shijin, who had once been infatuated with Yu Jing. He had made Lin Shijin face the wall in contemplation for twenty years!


    It was also to help Lin Shijin step out into the world!


    But now, seeing Lin Shijin looking so weathered, and his cultivation having stopped at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!


    His heart let out a long sigh.


    In truth, he had noticed Lin Shijin from the very beginning.


    "Seventh Brother!" Only now did Lin Shijin come to his senses, continuously bowing in greeting!


    "Shijin, have you still not understood?" Lin Shiming looked at Lin Shijin once more.


    Lin Shijin was over twenty years his junior and was also one he had watched grow up; the Lin Family held immense hopes for him!


    Yet now, both Lin Shizhong and Lin Shiyun had already reached the later stages of Foundation Establishment, even Lin Zelu who was younger than him had reached that stage.


    Not to mention, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng with their dual Spirit Roots, had both reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment and were already planning for their breakthrough to Purple Mansion!


    "Seventh Brother, Shijin has already come to an understanding and is willing to give up all contribution points for Yu Jing''s chance at a breakthrough, and moreover, Yu Jing has agreed to marry into the Lin Family, with absolutely no second thoughts, as for revenge, we won''t seek it until we''ve reached the Purple Mansion Late Stage!"


    "As for the Xu Family''s cave dwelling and the taboo, Yu Jing is also willing to disclose everything!" Lin Shijin said.


    Lin Shiming did not answer.


    Yu Jing had spoken to him before about the Fifth Rank inheritance cave dwelling, but back then, the risks were too great for Lin Shiming, and he was certain Yu Jing had some things hidden!


    So, even after more than thirty years, he never inquired about it.


    "I''m not asking if you understand this, but whether you understand Yu Jing''s intentions. Do you understand that?"


    Lin Shiming spoke again.


    He seemed rather earnest:


    "Do you truly believe that today''s Lin Family would still fear a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Yu Jing? Seventh Brother is just worried that you can''t see through Yu Jing. In the end, between Yu Jing and the family, you won''t be able to find your standing!"


    "If you really are willing, go find Yanjiao and let Yu Jing enter the Illusionary Heart Pavilion once. However, this time, it will involve a test!" Lin Shiming said.


    Lin Shijin stood rooted to the spot for a long while before nodding his head!


    He knew the test to come might be cruel, possibly involving the Lin Family, even touching upon revenge!


    If Yu Jing were to reveal herself amidst the illusions, his heart would suffer even more!


    Because, Yu Jing came with a purpose to begin with!


    Lin Shijin nodded.


    And Lin Shiming flew toward Qinglian Peak.


    In the days that followed, Lin Shiming chatted idly with Lin Xianzhi and other elders.


    Lin Shitao had already gone into seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage!


    During this time, what made Lin Shiming reflective was that many of the Lin Family''s younger generation had yet to undergo Foundation Establishment and had passed away.


    Among them was also his third sister, Lin Shiqi, the female cultivator who once taught him about Spirit Plants!


    Another row had been added inside the ancestral shrine.


    When Lin Shiming arrived at the ancestral shrine, Lei Xuan and his descendants were all present.


    Lei Xuan now had three sons, and the aura about him was at its peak, clearly on the verge of breaking through to the Purple Mansion!


    Perhaps he had repressed the urge to break through for many years!


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming, Lei Xuan stood up as well.


    The younger generation also continuously greeted him as "Uncle Seven."


    Lei Xuan''s eyes were faintly glistening.


    "Shiming, Shiqi is gone!"


    "She asked me to tell you, she wishes you success in your Golden Core breakthrough. This is the gift she prepared for you!"


    Lei Xuan took out a Jade Slip about Spirit Plants, which contained all of Lin Shiqi''s efforts over the years!


    "She said her biggest regret was not being able to give it to you personally!" Lei Xuan''s expression also turned somber, perhaps overcome with grief.


    Or perhaps the air in the ancestral shrine was a bit damp.


    Lin Shiming nodded as well, feeling a sense of loneliness well up inside him!


    Immortal cultivation is such that as you move forward, there will always be those who cannot keep pace, even if you have been very caring towards the family!


    Lin Shiqi had attempted to break through Foundation Establishment four times, using four Foundation Establishment Pills.


    "Shiming, the Lei Family will not divide any further, from today on, I, Lei Xuan, seek only longevity, perhaps by ascending the path to immortality, I can even revive Shiqi!" Lei Xuan''s eyes were filled with reluctance.


    This time, Lin Shiming and Lei Xuan talked for a long time.


    Lei Xuan recounted his first encounter with Lin Shiqi, back when he was a prisoner!


    Only Lin Shiqi had given him a smile!


    It was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen!


    Inside the ancestral shrine, the candles had been replaced with better spirit candles, and the oil had been changed to a special ancient oil.


    The two of them talked all night long, and the next day, Lei Xuan decisively departed, taking one last look at the Lei Spirit Snake before entering the cave dwelling to close up for a breakthrough to Purple Mansion!


    And Lin Shiming stayed at the ancestral shrine, sharing some words with Lin Yuqing and Lin Yuqi.


    He had made promises to these elders.


    After breaking through to Golden Core, he would come to tell them!


    The wind outside was strong, and he feared they wouldn''t hear him.


    But inside the ancestral shrine, Lin Shiming''s joy at forming his Golden Core was shared one by one, accompanied by the ancient lamp and yellow wine.


    One sip at a time!


    ...


    As the morning sun rose, Qinglian Peak was decorated with lanterns and streamers, with a huge plaza now cleared!

 Chapter 781 - 493 Shijin鈥檚 Heart Knot, Preaching (Two in One for Monthly Tickets)_2

    Every cultivator looked exceptionally excited today, as it was Lin Shiming''s day to deliver his Daoist lecture.


    In the square, a full thousand seats were arranged!


    These thousand seats, each one was for a Lin Family cultivator entitled to three times the normal stipend, and this count excluded those rewarded for childbirth!


    The Lin Family''s cultivators now numbered close to eight thousand!


    Therefore, earning a place was already enough to fill them with pride!


    Especially for the majority of Foundation Establishment cultivators who had previously attended the lectures at the Purple Mansion, they knew that Lin Shiming''s lectures were unlike any other cultivator''s!


    As time drew nearer!


    All the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Shuangmu Island as well as from Heavenly Phenomenon Island and the cultivators from Jiuyue Island and Lianyun Island, almost all had returned to Shuangmu Island!


    Even though the cost of a single use of the Transmission Formation was not cheap, at this moment, they all had basically returned!


    The seats for Foundation Establishment cultivators were filled to the brim!


    At this moment, many cultivators were also exchanging pleasantries.


    But then, Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shijie, Lin Shiming, Lin Houshou, and other Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family also took their seats in the very front!


    It was clear they were there to listen to Lin Shiming''s lecture!


    And this was surprising to everyone in the Lin Family Clan!


    Of course, Lin Xianzhi at the very front of the square truly had no other intentions!


    He had foreseen this scene when Lin Shiming had just made his breakthrough!


    Therefore, he had asked Lin Yanjiao to reserve a seat for him well in advance!


    In his hands, even a jade slip appeared, ready to record parts of the lecture into the jade slip whenever he encountered something he did not understand!


    Lin Shijie and Lin Shiming too had similar preparations to Lin Xianzhi''s!


    In the upper echelons of the Lin Family, Lin Shiming''s lectures had long been rumored to be exceedingly profound!


    And just then, Jiuxiao Scatter Man, brought Lin Houwei who arrived fashionably late!


    "Elder Clan Head, Jiuxiao isn''t late, right?" Jiuxiao Scatter Man might be older than Lin Xianzhi, but now, as he was of the same generation as Lin Shiming, he naturally could not go by age.


    The presence of Jiuxiao Scatter Man with Lin Houwei also surprised everyone!


    The thousand seats were quickly occupied, yet the number of cultivators in the square far exceeded a thousand!


    As the sun climbed high, Lin Shiming flew in from afar, landing on the high platform!


    Since this was a family lecture, Lin Shiming had nothing to conceal.


    "Thanks to the protection of all the clan members, Shiming was fortunate enough to achieve Golden Core. Today I am here to share some insights, wishing for all Lin Family members to tread the path towards eternal life!"


    ...


    Lin Shiming slowly began his lecture!


    He started from the very beginning with Innate Qi Cultivation!


    Every word and every sentence was delivered with utmost seriousness; some were his own insights, while others were challenges he had faced himself, solved by system prompts revealing the truth!


    And he explained these one by one!


    Below, all the cultivators listened as if intoxicated!


    Even Purple Mansion cultivators like Lin Xianzhi felt considerably moved listening to points about Qi Cultivation!


    Not to mention the Qi Cultivators, who were finding many of their perplexities resolved in an instant.


    Many who were trapped by bottlenecks gradually gained clarity, and their cultivation levels began to loosen!


    Three hours into the lecture, quite a few Qi Cultivators seated in the square subtly began to make breakthroughs!


    They were inherently more talented than ordinary people, mostly possessing Second or Third Spirit Roots!


    At this moment, Spiritual Energy surrounded their entire body, transforming into a spectacle of Spiritual Energy phenomenon!


    Such phenomena were few at first, but in the next moment, a number of people were experiencing it!


    Lin Shiming himself felt somewhat hesitant at this point, sensing that his way of teaching the Dao was indeed different!


    This sensation was profound and mysterious!


    He had not paid attention to it during his last Purple Mansion lecture!


    But now, it seemed truly remarkable!


    Yet he could not pinpoint the reason and could only continue lecturing!


    Within the square, Lin Shiming''s voice continued to flow!


    At this moment, the Lin Family members forgot about time, forgot about the changing sky!


    They did not even have time to praise the level of Lin Shiming''s lecture!


    Many Foundation Establishment cultivators began taking notes!


    As the setting sun dipped towards the sea level, Lin Shiming continued onto the topic of Foundation Establishment!


    The transcendence of a realm caused the Qi Cultivators to gradually become overwhelmed, causing them to leave the square one after another with regret!


    Digesting the entire day''s lectures into the evening!


    At this moment, the record jade slips of many cultivators became highly sought after, as countless members of the Lin Family Clan began to exchange readings!


    As for the Foundation Establishment cultivators, they listened even more attentively, forgetting everything else and discovering that they didn''t even have time to make any records!


    Lin Shiming''s lecture was the accumulation of a Golden Core cultivator, as well as system prompts, the countless accumulations during peaceful days!


    One must know that when Lin Shiming cultivated, if the system prompts didn''t bring about other opportunities, it was all about the knowledge and secrets of immortal cultivation!


    Although he was only at the Golden Core stage, even if a Nascent Soul cultivator came to discuss the Dao with him, they absolutely couldn''t match up to Lin Shiming!


    And Lin Shiming did not hide anything from these family cultivators!


    The sea breeze continued to howl, the Qi Cultivators had already left the stage, and among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, some began to gather Spirit Light!


    Among them was Lin Shijin!


    Yu Jing had entered the Illusionary Heart Pavilion and had also passed the family trial!


    He could marry Yu Jing!


    Together with Lin Shiming''s lecture, he also became the first Foundation Establishment cultivator ready to break through!


    However, he did not make his breakthrough immediately; instead, he persisted with gritted teeth, wanting to listen to Lin Shiming''s lecture on the realm of Foundation Establishment in its entirety!


    There were many cultivators who acted as Lin Shijin did!


    By the second day!


    At that moment on the plaza, Spirit Light surged, Spiritual Energy phenomena began to appear, and even the void started to condense into Spirit Halos!


    However, it was the outlying Qi Cultivators who were excited, watching the spectacle.


    After all, the Foundation Establishment cultivators didn''t dare to be distracted and look at others!


    In the end, out of over three hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, as many as twenty showed signs of making a breakthrough.


    And those whose bottlenecks had loosened reached fifty or sixty!


    This scene, if put on any other Dao lecture, would probably scare some cultivators to death!


    The Dao lecture for the Foundation Establishment realm lasted two days, one day longer than for Qi Cultivation!


    Finally, it was time for the most critical Purple Mansion Dao lecture!


    All the Foundation Establishment cultivators left the stage, and they began searching for jade slips recorded by others, exchanging them with each other!


    Trying to reap even greater benefits!


    And those who had a chance for a breakthrough immediately returned to their caves and sequestered themselves for cultivation!


    This included Lin Yanjiao, the Family Head!


    Included also were Lin Houwei, Lin Shilei, Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng¡ªfour who were on the cusp of breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage, all entering seclusion together!


    It was even conceivable that in the following days, Shuangmu Island might constantly witness the phenomena of breakthroughs to the Purple Mansion stage!


    Only five at the Purple Mansion stage remained on the plaza!


    Lin Shiming took out an array and began to isolate the area.


    After all, the Dao lecture for the Purple Mansion stage was of great importance and could be considered a family secret!


    After the array was set up, Lin Shiming continued to lecture as always, even though the cultivators before him were his elders.


    And even though there were only five of them!


    He continued starting from the early stages of the Purple Mansion realm, lecturing even more meticulously, allowing the five to ask questions about the subtleties!


    Unsurprisingly, Lin Houshou and Lin Shiming asked the most questions!


    And the brilliant explanations given by Lin Shiming made all five of them slam the table in admiration!


    As time went on, Lin Shijie, Lin Xianzhi, and even Jiuxiao Scatter Man all began to radiate unusual phenomena!


    On Lin Xianzhi''s body, Green Lotus Spirit Halos appeared, lotus after lotus sprouting forth, while Lin Shijie manifested countless flames, matching his Sword Intent of fire forging!


    The Jiuxiao Scatter Man, on the other hand, produced jar after jar of Spiritual Wine!


    This scene was incredibly spectacular!


    The Dao lecture for the Purple Mansion stage also lasted a full four days!


    It was four times that of Qi Cultivation, twice that of Foundation Establishment!


    When the lecture ended, all five had immense radiance in their eyes!


    "Shiming, half a year later at the Golden Core ceremony, you may need to hold back a bit with your lecture," Lin Xianzhi hesitated for a long time before speaking!


    After speaking, his expression was also strange.


    When others held Dao lectures, most were concerned that they had just made a breakthrough and the lecture might be lacking!


    Especially for the younger cultivators, everyone''s expectations would often be much lower!


    But in Lin Shiming''s case, he was even worried that the other venerable Golden Core freaks would grow suspicious!


    Because they were somewhat puzzled at the moment.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, that, Shiming will be mindful of when the time comes!" Lin Shiming also couldn''t help but scratch his head!


    The result of the lecture had surpassed everyone''s expectations, naturally including his own!

 Chapter 782 - 494: Undersea Vein, Demon King Mushan (Two in One)

    Fangmu Mountain, Lin Family Council Hall!


    Following Lin Shiming''s breakthrough, the previously four-story pavilion has been raised by one more level, now boasting a grand and solemn five-story Council Hall.


    Especially the topmost layer, it was inlaid with several lifelike giant pythons, posed as though soaring up into the skies!


    Like the finishing touch that brought the entire palace''s aura to prominence, it stood out magnificently!


    Of course, upon closer inspection, these pythons more closely resembled the younger Wang Jiao!


    Such a carving was at the request of Lin Shiming, since the Lin Family was a Spirit Snake lineage, not yet worthy of the Flood Dragon family''s title.


    Therefore, they depicted Wang Jiao, the symbolism being hardly inferior¡ªafter all, the current Wang Jiao had reached the peak of the Fourth Rank, with the Fifth Rank being within reach any day now!


    And when the Lin Family had a sufficient number of Golden Core combatants, then they could confidently declare to the world that they were a Flood Dragon lineage, also becoming the third major Flood Dragon power after Nine Dragon Island and the Flood Dragon Clan.


    Lin Shiming walked into a reception room on the second floor, only to see that Yu Jing and Lin Shiyun had already been waiting at the door for a long time.


    Lin Shijin was already in closed-door breakthrough, and even Lin Yanjiao was the same!


    Moreover, aside from them, after Lin Shiming''s teachings, many Foundation Establishment cultivators also entered seclusion, causing the present Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment leaders to be somewhat overstretched.


    In the end, the reception responsibilities had to fall on Lin Shiyun.


    "Seventh Brother!"


    "Senior Lin!" Upon seeing Lin Shiming appear, Lin Shiyun and Yu Jing respectively paid their respects.


    Yu Jing was still the same as she had been over thirty years ago, gentle and generous with an elegant demeanor, maintaining the appearance of a lady from a noble family!


    Lin Shiyun, on the other hand, had become much more seasoned, his years of dedication to Formation cultivation not only allowed his cultivation level to break through to the later period of Foundation Establishment, but his personality had also become increasingly steady.


    He met situations with even more calmness.


    After the formal greetings, Lin Shiyun found an excuse to take his leave first!


    After all, what followed concerned Golden Core inheritance, and even Lin Shiming had to be careful in handling it.


    Without Lin Shiming''s orders, he wasn''t particularly interested in it either!


    "You should also call me Seventh Brother." Lin Shiming was the first to push open the reception hall''s large door, took a seat at the head of the table, and began to pour hot tea.


    In the end, he thoughtfully offered a cup to Yu Jing as well.


    After all, Yu Jing now served as a Guest Elder of the Lin Family.


    She was also the Lin Family''s first Talisman Master, capable of forging Fourth Rank Spirit Talismans.


    With these Spirit Talismans, the safety of Lin Family members when travelling or for some important members of the clan was greatly increased!


    "I must implore the senior''s forgiveness. After the matter of the Golden Core inheritance grotto, there exists a guardian beast that once belonged to the Xu Family''s ancestors, and only the descendants of the Xu Family''s Purple Mansion carrying the Xu Family''s token can obtain the Xu Family''s Golden Core inheritance!"


    Yu Jing finished speaking and took out a golden token.


    When she talked with Lin Shiming initially, Yu Jing had given Lin Shiming the location.


    However, she had secretly held back one thing¡ªthe token!


    And this token was also the main reason Yu Jing''s nemesis pursued her relentlessly.


    Otherwise, Yu Jing could have simply found a place to break through to Purple Mansion and seek the Xu Family''s inheritance.


    Indeed, Yu Jing initially thought just that!


    But when trying to break through to Purple Mansion, her naturally gentle disposition and her focus on talisman crafting within her family meant she couldn''t commit acts of slaughter!


    Yet, that day she watched her family cultivators die while she hid in the shadows, surviving by not moving an inch!


    Nevertheless, this became her Heart Demon, causing her to fail in her breakthrough to Purple Mansion, despite consequently allowing her to craft Fourth Rank Spirit Talismans.


    However, she dare not attempt it again, and of course, the Spiritual Medicine required for breaking through to Purple Mansion became a rare treasure for her.


    Lin Shiming took the token and began to examine it closely.


    He didn''t take Yu Jing''s deception to heart¡ªafter all, he had already refused her that day.


    The token was made of an unknown mystical jade and engraved with a special Array!


    And what might connect to the Demon King was probably this Array!


    After a glance, Lin Shiming shook his head.


    The Array inside was obviously a family Array, necessitating the Xu Family descendants'' Essence Blood!


    It was somewhat similar to the Lin Family''s Iron Forest Sword!


    "In a few days, I will accompany you on this journey. After the success, all inheritance-related items will be replicated for you, and all treasures and Spiritual Medicines will belong to me. Are you willing?"


    "Yu Jing is naturally willing!" Yu Jing replied joyfully.


    Her initial goal was simply the Lin Family''s Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Before this, she had already passed the Lin Family''s test and obtained the opportunity for a second visit to the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Now, to also receive the inheritance of a Fifth Rank Spirit Talisman, she was exceptionally delighted!


    Lin Shiming raised the teacup and began to slowly sip.


    Thereupon receiving the hidden meaning within, Yu Jing bowed and began to take her leave!


    The hall quickly fell silent!


    Lin Shiming pondered for a while, and seeing that it was getting late, soon after took flight from the hall and headed towards the sea!


    He landed on a coconut grove, first taking back the Red-haired Demon Monkey and then, over a tract of the sea, took back Wang Jiao as well.


    Upon their reunion, the Red-haired Demon Monkey was extremely enthusiastic, howling and eager to enter the Cave Heaven, clearly missing the Star Spirit Fluff and the Spirit Fish in the Spirit Lake.


    Wang Jiao was rather excited, ceaselessly circling around Lin Shiming!


    "Master, stones, lots of stones!" Wang Jiao communicated telepathically, a revelation that left Lin Shiming immediately astonished!


    Because the stones that caught Wang Jiao''s eye were naturally Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    This indicated that Wang Jiao had once again discovered a Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mine vein!


    This was a major gain for the Lin Family''s rapidly expanding operations!


    Given that the Lin Family currently operated numerous Transmission Formations, their consumption of Superior Grade Spirit Stones could be described as vast!

 Chapter 783 - 494: Undersea Vein, Demon King Mushan (Two in One)_2

    Last time we found Spirit Turtle Island, it was also thanks to Wang Jiao''s hard work!


    "Roar Roar!"


    "Meat!" Wang Jiao, seeing Lin Shiming''s face full of joy, became proud and started to demand demonic beast flesh!


    Through divine soul communication, it kept expressing that it was not like Red-haired; for the past thirty-some years, it had always been looking for big and fragrant stones!


    As it spoke, it roared three more times!


    Showing utter contempt for the Red-haired Demon Monkey!


    "Understood, you''re doing great!" Lin Shiming nodded in approval of the other party and then took out a late Fourth Rank Poisonous Dragon Demon Core!


    Of course, this wasn''t Lin Shiming being wasteful. He had noticed that in the past thirty years, alongside Wang Jiao''s significant growth in size,


    its cultivation aura had actually become extremely stable in the late stages of Purple Mansion!


    It was just about to break through to the peak of Purple Mansion!


    Moreover, with the Lin Family''s Golden Dragon Fruit tree bearing fruit, perhaps Wang Jiao would become the second Golden Core combatant in the Lin Family following Lin Shiming!


    Furthermore, a Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mine was indeed worth a reward!


    Although Lin Shiming was about to seek a Fifth Rank inheritance, having a Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mine nearby before obtaining the inheritance was naturally an opportunity not to be missed!


    Wang Jiao swallowed the Demon Core in one bite and its body began to emanate waves of dark Spirit Light. The Spirit Light rippled through its body like waves,


    flowing around three or four times before completely settling down to calmness!


    Wang Jiao roared again.


    "Master, roar, not enough!"


    "Wait until you lead me to the mine!" Lin Shiming was also astonished at Wang Jiao''s digestion speed. He had noticed that ever since Wang Jiao began consuming large amounts of Poisonous Dragon flesh and its inner core, and after the appearance of its third claw, its digestive capabilities had been getting stronger.


    But surprising as it was, he wouldn''t give another Fourth Rank inner core before seeing the Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mine!


    Wang Jiao then humanely nodded its huge dragon head and turned around, its waist and abdomen swaying pleasingly, gesturing for Lin Shiming to mount it!


    Lin Shiming stepped onto the back of the Flood Dragon.


    And turned into a gust of wind, flying towards the distance, crossing over the coast before plunging into the depths of the sea!


    Over the years, Lin Shiming had to hide his identity, so Wang Jiao had always been moving through the water!


    Riding now, Lin Shiming discovered that Wang Jiao''s speed in water was even faster than in the air!


    The Poisonous Dragon itself belonged to a kind of water attribute Flood Dragon.


    And in the sea, it felt even more like a fish in water!


    Moreover, without the need for Lin Shiming to cast a spell, Spirit Light automatically emerged from the dragon''s scales, forming a sky-blue Spirit Shield.


    Enveloping Lin Shiming within, the feeling was no different from flying through the void!


    The underwater world was even more magnificent, with countless corals and various small Spirit Beast materials everywhere.


    The Lin Family had also mined underwater Spirit Beast materials, but firstly, they were hard to find, secondly, the exploitation was difficult, and precious materials were rare!


    Wang Jiao''s speed was very fast, but this time, it delved deep for three full days!


    Even surpassing Jiuyue Island!


    Warnings were transmitted from above Jiuyue Island!


    When Lin Shiming received the transmission, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly!


    Clearly, it was the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation that had detected him!


    Nine Dragon Island had now given up on retrieving the Golden Dragon Fruit tree!


    So Jiuyue Island no longer had any Golden Core True Persons, but for the Lin Family, the Spirit Formation was akin to the entrance of their home. Since Red Leaf True Person didn''t take it away, there was no way the Lin Family would shut it down!


    Wang Jiao looked baffled at Lin Shiming, evidently because it had left Jiuyue Island''s range several times before but no one had transmitted any messages to it!


    Nor had it experienced the Transmission Talisman scene!


    So it seemed somewhat perplexed!


    "Keep looking!" Lin Shiming didn''t explain. Of course, explaining might only anger Wang Jiao.


    "Roar!"


    "Stones!" Wang Jiao didn''t dwell on it and after rushing for tens of thousands of miles more, Lin Shiming suddenly paused in a deep sea area.


    There, Wang Jiao dove towards the deep sea!


    It was a scene reminiscent of the Eastern Sea once again!


    The mine was within the seawater!


    This was the hardest to detect!


    The depth of the seawater was immense, with some areas reaching tens of thousands of feet, especially in the Outer Sea, where even Purple Mansion Cultivators might not be able to explore the seafloor!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming felt even more reassured!


    However, Wang Jiao stopped when it reached a certain point.


    System prompt also appeared at this moment:


    [Beware of the hidden Wood Shan Demon King beneath the sea, for you shall obtain a small Superior Grade Spirit Stone vein!]


    With the system prompt, Lin Shiming instantly understood the reason for Wang Jiao''s hesitation!


    There was a Demonic Beast Demon King below.


    Just like the last time, evidently, Wang Jiao had sought him out as a savior.


    Lin Shiming pondered for a moment, his interest greatly piqued.


    Having just broken through, he had not yet fought against a Demon King; this was the perfect moment to test his combat strength. Without any danger indicated by the system prompt, Lin Shiming was fearless now!


    But to be cautious, Lin Shiming still released a Fourth Rank Formation and began arranging the formation flags.


    Although a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Formation was not of much help at this time, if he was defeated, it could still buy him some time to escape!


    As one formation flag after another was refined into the water, what troubled Lin Shiming was that, in the deep sea, the immense pressure significantly reduced the power of the formation by more than threefold!


    Wang Jiao then roared three times in succession!


    Lin Shiming also extended his Divine Sense and saw from afar countless blood-red coral tentacles stretching out toward him!


    These tentacles were densely packed, and in the pitch-black deep sea, they revealed a red glow, looking like numerous terrifying and eerie monsters!


    Lin Shiming hastily drew the Green Fish Sword.


    A clear sword chime sounded, and the Green Fish Sword transformed into a beam of sword light, instantly speeding away and leaving a trail of dust behind!


    All the tentacles were slashed away in one fell swoop!


    After his breakthrough to Golden Core, although his Sword Dao realm remained the same at the Sword Birth Myriad Laws Realm, both the magical treasure Green Fish Sword and his own Sword Origin had undergone transformation beyond comparison!


    Even Lin Shiming himself was somewhat surprised by this slash!


    However, the Wood Shan Demon King was not an ordinary figure either!


    Suddenly, from beneath his feet, countless tentacles surged out of the muddy coral, grasping towards him along with a terrifying poisonous fog!


    Lin Shiming didn''t dare to be careless and quickly took out eighteen Wind-Calming Pearls stitched with star patterns.


    On the ocean floor, he completely turned the world upside down!


    Those tentacles and poisonous fog couldn''t get anywhere near Lin Shiming!


    And as the Wind-Calming Pearls were released without restraint, those tentacles were instantly smashed into a muddy mess!


    Yet, Lin Shiming could not find the Wood Shan Demon King''s main body!


    Unrushed, the Wood Shan Demon King continued to lurk in the shadows, merely throwing out tentacles and spewing poisonous fog continuously.


    If the Wood Shan Demon King was not in a hurry, Lin Shiming was even less so, having originally intended to test his capabilities.


    Wang Jiao, however, was extremely anxious, tumbling and releasing its own poisonous fog.


    After testing enough strength, Lin Shiming concluded that the Wood Shan Demon King''s offense was not strong, probably due to always staying in the deep sea.


    So he cast aside any desire to probe further!


    He sacrificed his Green Fish Mirror and aimed it toward the distance!


    Suddenly, a beam of green light penetrated the deep sea and reached a giant tree-like blood-red Wood Shan hundreds of feet away!


    The Wood Shan''s face was somewhat distorted, but for Lin Shiming, it was the best opportunity. The Green Fish Sword performed a Heaven-Slaying slash, piercing through the sky, shattering countless red coral tentacles.


    The Wood Shan Demon King also fell on the spot!


    The wooden inner core was shattered!


    Lin Shiming took out the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and captured the Wood Shan''s Divine Soul.


    Afterwards, he collected the materials from the Wood Shan in a Jade Box; the Demonic Beast Demon King''s materials were just as precious, perhaps capable of refining a Fifth Rank Wooden Heart Spiritual Liquid.


    While Lin Shiming collected the materials of the Wood Shan, Wang Jiao had already started to rise up the ground beside the Wood Shan.


    The soil was dug up, and streaks of Spirit Light appeared, followed by a wealth of Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Each Spirit Stone was dazzling beyond compare, abundant with Spiritual Energy.


    This Wood Shan Demon King was indeed rooted in this small Superior Grade Spirit Stone vein.


    It is likely that the Spirit Stone vein catalyzed the Wood Shan Demon King''s realm.


    But due to being under the sea, without sunlight, his combative capabilities were not great!


    Lin Shiming marked this place and used the Myriad Thousand Jade to send a message.


    This location would naturally have an Undersea City established, along with a Transmission Formation!


    Owing to its position in the deep sea, Lin Shiming felt it would be much safer than an island!

 Chapter 784 - 495 Wooden Bloodwood, Yunyue Archipelago (Two in One for Monthly Tickets)

    The bottom of the sea was gloomy and dark, but after being equipped with countless Moonlight Stones, it was now vaguely visible.


    One could now make out the grey-black seabed soil and the fragments of Superior Grade Spirit Stones that had been exposed!


    After estimating and scouting around, Lin Shiming also got a rough idea of the extent of the mineral vein and then set up a Fourth Rank Formation!


    To prevent the leakage of Spiritual Energy.


    Although the remnants of the Demonic Beast King''s aura still lingered in the seabed, preventing ordinary Demonic Beasts from approaching,


    it was still better to set up the Formation than not; after all, the Lin Family could now afford the waste of a Fourth Rank Formation.


    After all, a small vein of Superior Grade Spirit Stones, if mined properly, would be enough to supply the Lin Family for nearly a hundred years!


    The consumption of the Formation was negligible in comparison.


    Wang Jiao, meanwhile, was tirelessly galloping across the ocean floor. Spotting embedded Superior Grade Spirit Stones, it would open its massive jaw in delight and then directly place them into its Storage Bag!


    One piece, two pieces!


    Countless pieces!


    With every Spirit Stone it absorbed, it let out a low roar, and as it continued, its roars of excitement grew louder and louder!


    It had started to ignore Lin Shiming completely.


    After setting up the Formation, Lin Shiming also directly took out the carcass of the Demonic Beast King and started to examine it closely.


    He had seen the remains of a Fifth Rank Demonic Beast countless times, but this was the first time he saw the corpse of a Fifth Rank Wooden Demonic Beast King!


    The colossal wooden remains lay before Lin Shiming, resembling a towering tree that had been hollowed out.


    Under the lock of the Green Fish Mirror, Lin Shiming had only managed to shatter the Demon King''s core.


    The core of a Wooden Demon, like the inner core of a Demonic Beast, was a fatal injury.


    At this moment, one could still faintly see the patterns on the body of the Fifth Rank Demon King. The transformed essence of the Mudshan tree looked similar to ordinary blood coral!


    However, as soon as Lin Shiming touched it, he could feel the unimaginable hardness.


    It was as tough as mountain stone or dark iron, and blackness quickly began to spread across the palm of Lin Shiming''s hand, accompanied by strange black glimmers!


    It was the toxin. Lin Shiming''s body shook as stars fell and the Body Forging Technique was fully activated. As each node flickered like stars, the black light finally scattered away!


    This toxin...


    Lin Shiming found himself amazed by the toxin; although his Body Tempering Technique could resolve it, his own body was cultivated to the Golden Core level. If an average Golden Core Cultivator were infected, they wouldn''t be so lucky.


    If one were contaminated during a battle, it would be even more troublesome!


    With his interest piqued, Lin Shiming poured True Yuan energy into the wooden remains from afar and found that the hard-as-iron coral wood began to grow and stretch, sprouting countless tendrils as if the Mudshan Demonic Beast King had come back to life!


    The fierce coral horns could even release bursts of poisonous mist!


    This sight startled Wang Jiao, who was nearby, causing it to fly up abruptly!


    After realizing it was just Lin Shiming casting a spell, it let out a low roar and continued to gather Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Lin Shiming''s eyes lit up with pleasure!


    This colossal coral Demonic Beast, if divided into countless sections, could absolutely be used as Illusionary Spirit Vines.


    Not inferior to Fifth Rank Spirit Vines!


    Although they couldn''t regenerate, the vast body of the Mudshan Demonic Beast was enough for Lin Shiming to use for a long time!


    Having received the first surprise, Lin Shiming then looked towards the huge hollow that was carved out; he could still see the essence of the wooden heart flowing faintly within.


    There wasn''t much of the wooden heart essence, but as it was from a Fifth Rank, Lin Shiming took out a Jade Pot to collect the essence thoroughly, finally collecting a small Pill Bottle''s worth.


    The Spiritual Liquid was red as blood; now isolated, it even evolved into coral Spirit Shadows within.


    Lin Shiming''s gaze hardened, his Divine Sense probed out, even employing the Divine Soul weapon from the Fusion Spirit Classic.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense weapon now had a distinct form, with countless sword patterns arranged on it!


    If one didn''t sense it, they might think it was a real Magic Artifact sword.


    In fact, it was only condensed from Divine Sense!


    Should the Divine Soul of an average Golden Core Cultivator be struck inadvertently, they could suffer severe damage or even be killed with a single blow!


    The Divine Sense weapon swept over, but there was no trace of the Mudshan Demonic Beast''s Divine Soul in the Spiritual Liquid.


    Lin Shiming eased his mind, realizing that the wooden heart essence still contained some of Mudshan''s instinctual residues.


    Lin Shiming also casually collected the wooden heart essence; then, as if remembering something, he split two more Pill Bottles to take two drops each, leaving only six drops.


    Lin Shiming summoned Mu Xin and Lei Tong, who initially appeared uncomfortable being at the bottom of the sea.


    Even under the glow of Moonlight Stones, the deep sea was still very gloomy.


    Mu Xin swiftly adapted, showing only a slight hint of heaviness on its face before quickly recovering!


    Lei Tong, however, truly started to become gloomy and dispirited.


    It was only upon sensing the astonishing Spiritual Energy from the mineral vein beneath the ground that both Demons became doubtful and surprised!


    "Master, could this be the lair of a Fifth Rank wooden demon?" Elder Mu observed more meticulously.


    "Indeed it is, and as of now, that Fifth Rank wooden demon is in my hands. These two vials are also rewards for the two of you!" Lin Shiming opened his palm, revealing two drops of Fifth Rank wooden heart essence in each Pill Bottle!


    The revelation made both Demons immediately overjoyed.


    "Thank you, Master!"


    Elder Mu immediately kowtowed to Lin Shiming, and Lei Tong, not wanting to fall behind as before, kowtowed alongside Elder Mu.


    This pleased Lin Shiming even more. After putting away the two Demons, he once again started waiting on the sea floor.


    He waited for a full five days before several figures leisurely appeared in the distance!


    Leading them was Lin Shiming''s second uncle, Lin Houshou.


    Having learned that Lin Shiming had discovered a new vein of Superior Grade Spirit Stones, he had rushed over without stopping!


    The reason for the long journey wasn''t due to Lin Houshou and his party delaying but because they had not arrived by teleportation from Jiuyue Island!

 Chapter 785 - 495 Bloodwood, Yunyue Archipelago (Two in One for Monthly Tickets)_2

    The transmission out was of great importance, for on Jiuyue Island, there were also spies from Nine Dragon Island and Xu Ri Island!


    A small superior-grade Spirit Stone vein could, in a short period of time, yield benefits not inferior to those Lin Family would obtain from controlling a large island!


    Moreover, it was an island that required no investment and no taxes!


    If it were to be exposed, it would inevitably attract trouble from Nine Dragon Island or the Demonic Race.


    Although Nine Dragon Island''s pursuit of the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree had lessened, Lin Family still took precautions and did not mind the few days of hard travel!


    "Second Uncle!" Lin Shiming called affectionately.


    "Shiming, you''ve worked hard!" Lin Houshou also had a face full of ruddy glow.


    Becoming a Purple Mansion cultivator of Lin Family and having used Lin Family''s Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, he naturally wanted to contribute even more to Lin Family!


    "Seventh brother!" Following Lin Houshou, Lin Shiyun and two Foundation Establishment cultivators of Lin Family''s Ze generation also arrived¡ªseveral cultivators with some achievements in Formation within Lin Family!


    Arriving at the main point of the vein, the first important task, naturally, was the Transmission Formation and the Island Protecting Great Array!


    The few had also been brought by Lin Houshou to learn and understand.


    "Second Uncle, we may need to establish an underwater city here, and the required Formation might need at least a fourth rank superior-grade Island Protecting Great Array!"


    "Rest assured, Shiming, this time we happen to have a Yunshui Heavenly Palace Array!" Lin Houshou nodded.


    Lin Shiming then began to show Lin Houshou and the others around the superior-grade Spirit Vein.


    Previously, Lin Family had a micro superior-grade Spirit Stone vein, and it was that vein that supported Lin Family''s footing in the Purple Mansion Families!


    Now, the small superior-grade Spirit Stone vein was just the beginning for a Golden Core Family.


    Lin Houshou cautiously prospected, even when looking for Spirit Stone veins, he also sought the best base for the Formation.


    In the distance, Wang Jiao was still searching for Spirit Stone; seeing this, Lin Shiming casually tossed him into the Cave Heaven.


    "Second Uncle, it looks like we''ll need Foundation Establishment cultivators for mining the Spirit Stone!" Lin Shiming voiced his concerns.


    Despite being underwater where the soil is loose, it''s only a layer of silt on the surface.


    Just below it is as hard as cold iron!


    Not to mention the pressure at the bottom of the sea is not small either!


    Ordinary Qi Cultivators simply can''t manage this.


    And although Lin Family has quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it seems a bit overqualified to use them solely for mining!


    "Shiming, you forgot how Lin Family mined for Golden Iron Crystal in the Eastern Domain. Those Gold Devouring Rats, each one raised plump and chubby in Lin Family, spend all day burrowing holes and wreaking havoc on Shuangmu Island!" Lin Houshou said with a laugh!


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming also nodded gladly. He had been away from the Family Head position for too long, which led him to forget many of the Spirit Beasts Lin Family owned.


    Now that the mining issue had been resolved as well, Lin Shiming finally set his mind at ease.


    In the next few days, Lin Shiyun set up the Transmission Formation!


    Meanwhile, Lin Houshou began arranging the Yunshui Heavenly Palace Array!


    The base of the Yunshui Heavenly Palace Array was somewhat peculiar, with the biggest base being a palace and several pillars of the Formation.


    This reminded Lin Shiming of the ruins of a Golden Core cave dwelling in the Eastern Sea.


    They were similar, building underwater palaces separated from water.


    It was also that cave dwelling that made clear to him the many secrets of the Taibai Sword Palace and how he obtained the Gold Condensation Pill!


    Boom!


    With a loud noise, in an instant, Spirit Light flowed in waves, and numerous streams began to reverse flow!


    This scene, like a waterfall flowing backward, was spectacular to the extreme!


    The Foundation Establishment cultivators of Lin Family watched, dumbfounded.


    Even Lin Shiming could not help but admire the power of the Formation!


    Soon, a huge Spirit Shield fifty zhang high appeared underground, spanning a range of fifty li!


    It completely encircled the entire mining area, with plenty to spare.


    "It looks like I can cultivate here in the future too!" Lin Shiming laughed.


    Underneath this vein, naturally, there was a fifth-rank Spirit Vein!


    But Lin Family couldn''t move the Spirit Vein, otherwise, it would be equivalent to a one-time extraction of superior-grade Spirit Stone, causing great waste to the vein!


    "Then I''ll have to design a five-story palace for our True Persons of Lin Family, for this place can cultivate a Dragon Palace!" Lin Houshou saw Lin Shiming laugh and joind in the jest, after a long absence.


    ```


    "Second Uncle, that''s drawing too much attention!" Lin Shiming also made a continuous series of polite gestures, but his heart felt at ease.


    Lin Houshou may be joking, but it could very well be implemented.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming wouldn''t really build a Dragon Palace here!


    That would be giving the biggest excuse to the Nine Dragon Island!


    After Lin Houshou''s Yunshui Heavenly Palace Array was established, this place also became one of the Lin Family''s treasured locations.


    Half a day later, Lin Shiyun''s Transmission Formation was also set up, and after running smoothly, Lin Shiming left behind a storage bag and once again teleported away!


    The storage bag contained the Buddha treasures that Lin Shiming had obtained earlier¡ªthe Buddha Ruler, Hundred Buddha Scroll, and the Towards Buddha Picture!


    These magical treasures were all at least of superior grade, and for the moment, Lin Houshou couldn''t utilize them.


    But for Lin Shiming, keeping them was not of much use anyway, so it was better to give them in advance to the Lin Family''s sole Buddha Cultivator!


    After Lin Shiming left, the seabed palace quickly started operating, with countless Lin Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators, alongside third-rank Gold Devouring Rats and Xuanling Turtles, entering the seabed to mine superior grade Spirit Stones.


    All the work proceeded in an orderly fashion!


    The Lin Family members also experienced breakthroughs one after another on Shuangmu Island!


    The effects of Lin Shiming''s lectures were gradually reaching their peak impact!


    After a few years, when the time came for the Foundation Establishment of the Lin Family to break through one after another, a new wave would emerge!


    Atop Thousand Wood Peak, Lin Shiming could vaguely see vigors rising towards the sky every morning.


    The Golden Core family foundation of the Lin Family was faintly emerging in the previous exhibition, and this time with the Spirit Vein and the overall breakthroughs of the Lin Family Cultivators, the foundation was even more solidified!


    ...


    On a spring breeze-caressed island, a fourth-rank Spirit Boat leisurely flew over the sea.


    On the Spirit Boat, three or four young Cultivators landed on the deck.


    The leader still sat at the very front of the boat.


    The other Cultivators settled steadily in the rear.


    The Spirit Boat''s defensive array was not activated, letting the wind howl into the vessel.


    Striking the faces and bodies of the Cultivators with a cracking sound, their robes flapped loudly!


    The female Cultivator at the back clearly wasn''t used to it, but still persisted using her own body and Wood Shield Technique.


    This group of people was naturally led by Lin Shiming!


    The purpose of their trip was the Xu Family''s heritage cave dwelling.


    The Xu Family in the Chi Lan Sea Domain was also close to the Demonic Race domains.


    The area belonged to the Chi Lan Sect, and nearly all Cultivators of Purple Mansion status from various families were registered with the Chi Lan Sect!


    However, the laxity within the sect wasn''t much different from that of the Coral Alliance.


    Once there were more Golden Core True Persons in the main sect, it turned into individual True Persons developing their own Golden Core Families!


    The sect seemed more like a name on paper.


    Used to resist the beast tide that occurred every hundred years!


    "Senior, ahead is the Chi Lan Sea Domain, the southern part of the Yunyue archipelago, and further south is the Taiqian Abyss! The Taiqian Shark Tribe lives here, and their population scale is no less than the Thunder Roc Clan, with seven or eight Golden Core Demon Kings among them. However, luckily the Taiqian Shark Tribe, aside from the times of beast tides, rarely leaves the Taiqian Abyss and seldom comes to the islands to fight. Even so, since the Xu Family''s fall, there has been no Golden Core Family establishing a foothold in the Yunyue archipelago, but a few Purple Mansion Families under the Chi Lan Sect manage this area..."


    Upon arriving at their destination, the group saw a vast array of small islands. Yu Jing used a Spirit Talisman to block the strong winds and moved to the front to explain to Lin Shiming.


    Yu Jing was obviously very familiar with the Yunyue archipelago.


    She spoke softly and detailed the general situation of the Yunyue archipelago and the Taiqian Abyss.


    Although the Taiqian Abyss was dangerous, it had the richest Spiritual Energy of the Yunyue archipelago and harbored many opportunities.


    Therefore, many exploratory Cultivators were on the islands, and the ancestral inheritance cave dwelling of the Xu Family was also in the Taiqian Abyss.


    This was why it remained for so long and had not been fully explored!


    After all, even an average Golden Core Cultivator had to be wary of the Taiqian Shark Demon Kings deep within the Taiqian Abyss.


    They couldn''t act recklessly!


    "Senior Lin, according to my inquiries, the reason why the Xu Family ancestor stayed in the Taiqian Abyss and the Yunyue archipelago was because of the Taiqian Shark''s hides, which are some of the best materials in the world for crafting talismans. Even when used to make magical talismans, it could enhance the power by an additional twenty percent..."


    "Especially the extremely powerful fifth-rank Taiqian Sword Talisman of the Xu Family, which is considered the pinnacle strike of a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, was made from Taiqian Shark!" After Yu Jing finished, she realized something was incorrect and quickly corrected herself.


    "However, Senior Lin, if it can be avoided, we should avoid being discovered by the Taiqian Shark Tribe!"


    ```

 Chapter 786 - 496: True Person Yuhe, The Backup Treasure (Two-in-One for Monthly Votes)

    In front of a massive deep-sea abyss, the persistent fog stretched endlessly over the sea.


    At this moment, three Spirit Boats, each marked with different insignia, paused at the edge of the fog.


    The fog appeared extremely mysterious, vast and dense, constantly churning but never surpassing its boundaries!


    It seemed like a natural Formation, or as if the fog possessed Spirit Intelligence.


    Even as fierce winds howled and waves surged ceaselessly over the sea.


    The fog remained confined within its domain, perpetually dense and impenetrable.


    "Is this the final resting place of that old monster from the Xu Family, the Taiqian Abyss?" Behind the three Spirit Boats, a giant white crane now emerged.


    An old man with the aura of an immortal, dressed in tattered hemp robes, stepped down from the crane, his presence unassuming like a simple mortal hermit!


    But the crane''s aura was so powerful, it was no less than that of a great demon at the peak of the Purple Mansion!


    At this point, no one would consider the elder anything less than a cultivator of extraordinary measure!


    "Jade Crane True Person, indeed this is where the Xu Family''s ancestor hid his legacy, and where the Mysterious Soul Python Demon King resides to guard the Xu Family''s Tao!" said a middle-aged man respectfully from the Spirit Boat bearing the Chen Family''s crest.


    As he spoke, he gestured towards a clever-looking man beside him.


    Signaling that this man had once seen the Mysterious Soul Python in the Taiqian Abyss.


    "Then let us all proceed together!"


    "As it happens, my Jade Crane is also nearing the time to achieve its dao, as long as you guide me without any mishaps, once the time comes, the Xu Family''s inheritance¡ªaside from the fifth rank Spirit Talismans and fifth rank treasures¡ªwill be evenly shared among your three Yunyue families!" Jade Crane True Person nodded his head and then continued to steer the white crane forward.


    "Thank you, senior, for your generosity. We younger generations are deeply grateful for your immortal demeanor!" the Chen surnamed middle-aged man exclaimed with ecstasy.


    The other two families did not dare to be negligent, expressing their thanks again and again, each wishing they could serve the Jade Crane True Person hand and foot!


    Despite knowing that Jade Crane True Person''s reputation for noble character was widespread in the Chi Lan Sect.


    Hearing his promise, they were even more convinced.


    After all, a promise from a Golden Core True Person was taken extremely seriously in the eyes of other True Persons!


    Although they could only participate in treasures of ranks below the fifth, the wealth of a fifth rank Golden Core Family was beyond their imagination, and even a fourth rank treasure was enough for the three families to share!


    All three heads of the families exchanged nods and took the lead, cautiously probing into the fog.


    It was the season when the fog was at its thinnest in the Taiqian Abyss, and the Tai Qian Sharks usually did not roam the outskirts!


    This piece of common knowledge had been confirmed by the three families time and again!


    Thus, while navigating the Spirit Boats with caution, they still sent out numerous loose cultivators from their families to lead the way through the fog.


    Their three Spirit Boats followed behind these vanguard cultivators, advancing slowly.


    Soon, the three Spirit Boats disappeared on the spot, leaving only a shallow layer in the mist.


    After several breaths, they had completely vanished!


    Accompanying them, the white crane also quickly disappeared from sight.


    ...


    After a long while, a purple, ten-zhang long Spirit Boat once again arrived before the fog.


    The fog remained as it was before.


    Yu Jing also approached, taking out a token inscribed with the Xu character.


    The token shimmered with flowing light.


    She guided towards the mist with it.


    "Elder Lin, this is the Taiqian Abyss, also known as the Taiqian Mist. It greatly restricts Divine Sense, so in here, we cultivators are at a significant disadvantage!" explained Yu Jing excitedly.


    Lin Shiming nodded, because just a moment ago, his Divine Sense had pierced through a shallow layer of spiritual fog.


    But the reach of his Divine Sense had shrunk by more than a hundred times.


    Even clarity was significantly decreased, and such a drastic reduction inside would naturally lead to a significant drop in the power of those magical treasures dependent on Divine Sense!


    Take Lin Shiming''s Green Fish Sword, the Stellar Refinement Art-calibrated Wind-Calming Pearl, or even the newly acquired Wooden Coral Vine, as examples!


    After all, the Wood Vine Technique also required Divine Sense to control. On the contrary, the Green Fish Mirror wasn''t greatly affected!


    However, it was estimated that the fog would also blur the immobilizing divine light.


    For Lin Shiming, his greatest advantage turned out to be his Stellar Refinement Art and the Body of Stellar Essence.


    "Elder Lin, the mist is thinner now, it''s considered light at this time of the year. But come winter, although the range of the fog remains the same, it becomes thick, much like cotton candy in the mortal world, and many cultivators who enter must endure the awkwardness of having their Divine Sense constrained beyond the body!"


    "And at that time, Fourth Rank Tai Qian Sharks become exceptionally active, roaming the abyss in search of food..."


    Yu Jing continued to introduce the details one by one.


    "Shiyun, set it up!" Although Lin Shiming had achieved Golden Core, he still instructed Lin Shiyun, who was behind him, to set up a Formation. This time, it was a direct setup of a prepared Array Plate, thus, it did not take much time.


    Nonetheless, the best Array Plate the Lin Family could bring out was only a Fourth Rank Array Plate!


    But even if it was Fourth Rank, in critical moments, it could provide them with some chance.


    It was worth spending a negligible amount of time to prepare an escape route for the Lin Family members.


    This time, Lin Shiming hadn''t brought his Flaming Sword, as he wasn''t overly confident in his own strength.


    He knew well that there are always stronger beings out there, and even the most common Inferior Grade Golden Core could capsize his boat if they possessed a secret treasure or a Minor Divine Ability.


    The Immortal Cultivation World, having existed for countless millennia, was never short of stories about capsized vessels!


    In any case, caution and vigilance were never wrong!


    Although the system notifications were reassuring, they had their downsides: first, they could only be used once a day, and second, they tended to refresh opportunities ahead of him.


    In previous instances, he had nearly made grave mistakes, such as when Liu He True Person left a part of his soul in that Ice Spirit Root!

 Chapter 787 - 496: True Person Yuhe, The Backup Treasure (Two-in-One for Monthly Votes)_2

    Upon reaching the Chi Lan Sea Domain, Lin Shiming naturally decided to proceed with caution. For this trip, in addition to Yu Jing and Lin Shiyun, Lin Shiming also brought Lin Zeli, who had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage but encountered a bottleneck.


    So, Lin Shiming simply took Lin Zeli out for a journey to gain experience.


    Under his supervision, the chances of Lin Zeli running into trouble were slim!


    He could also guide Lin Zeli in her swordsmanship.


    Now, she was only a step away from reaching the realm of Sword Qi becoming like silk threads!


    Once she broke through to the realm of Sword Qi silk threads, her breakthrough to the Purple Mansion would likely follow soon. Initially, Lin Xianzhi had gained an understanding of Sword Qi silk threads, which then gave him a push during his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion.


    After setting up the formation, Lin Shiming was the first to steer the Zifeng Boat into the midst of the mists.


    At this moment, the Spirit Boat he controlled slightly deviated from the surface of the sea.


    He had already tested and found that this region of the Taiqian Abyss had an unknown fog pervading even the seabed, worsening the descent of divine sense.


    If you landed below, the Zifeng Boat would not be as smooth to operate!


    Moreover, Demonic Beasts were more likely to hide at the seabed, and crises more easily birthed.


    In contrast, the sky was safer with flying birds and Great Demons also experiencing blurred vision and greatly impaired divine sense, compared to the seabed.


    Soon, the Spirit Boat entered the mist, the grey-white fog appearing somewhat heavy.


    That feeling of not being able to see one''s fingers in front of them made everyone''s faces slightly uneasy.


    Even Lin Zeli, at this moment, had her Supreme Grade magical sword drawn, looking around coldly and carefully, not daring to be negligent!


    Yu Jing was in front, holding several Fourth Rank Spirit Talismans in her hand, glowing brightly with Spirit Patterns endlessly flowing, ready to be activated at any moment.


    In her other hand was a Token, guiding the way.


    After approximately half an hour, seeing the guiding Spirit Light drawing closer, Yu Jing finally let out a sigh of relief,


    "Senior Lin, we are nearing our destination..." Yu Jing raised her brows, her demeanor becoming somewhat agitated.


    However, before Yu Jing could finish speaking, a thunderous noise came from a distance, with bursts of Spirit Light spells echoing ahead!


    Even through countless layers of Taiqian fog, the sounds gradually reached them.


    "It must be the Yunyue Three Families that invited a Golden Core Cultivator, damn them!" Yu Jing clenched her teeth, her face full of fury!


    That hatred burst forth from her eyes!


    Lin Shiming also increased the speed of the Zifeng Boat, breaking through the fog in an instant!


    Soon, on a small island not too far away, an elder in white robes, holding three Profound Commands, was continuously smashing them onto a huge Ice Python!


    The Ice Python''s body was covered with thick ice armor, spewing out terrifying ice cone storms with its breath, in dense clusters aimed at the elder!


    Among the three tokens, the red one burst forth with countless terrifying flames.


    These flames transformed into fiery ravens, Fire Snakes, and even fire bulls!


    There were over a hundred such spectacles, immensely powerful, turning numerous Profound Ice Storms into ordinary water, adding ever more to the mist!


    The other two, one was a purple Zixiao Command, with lightning gathering within it, turning into arcs of lightning with each thunderous boom, incessantly striking the huge Ice Python.


    Unlike the flames that couldn''t breach the Ice Python''s thick armor, the Zixiao Command''s lightning was causing severe pain to the Ice Python!


    Each strike blasted sparks and scorch marks.


    The ice armor could hardly withstand it!


    Besides that, the elder in white also had an earthy yellow token hovering in front of him,


    as a precaution against any unexpected events!


    Even though the elder in white had the upper hand, outside, a white crane continuously circled the outskirts of the battlefield, releasing sharp feathers, while on three huge Fourth Rank Spirit Boats, people were arranging formations, blocking the escape path of the Ice Python!


    It was a surefire trap!


    Roar!


    The huge Ice Python, unwilling to give in, let out an angry roar, sending out more Profound Ice Storms. At this moment, its eyes also turned a fierce white.


    Yet it still struggled to withstand the onslaught!


    Furthermore, Lin Shiming continued to observe, only to see a bizarre vermillion appearing on the belly of the Ice Python,


    a vermilion that twisted continuously, evidently afflicted by a terrifying fire poison.


    If it were an ordinary time, the fire poison wouldn''t pose much of an issue!


    But at such a critical moment, it was practically a death sentence!


    "That''s the Xu Family''s ancestor''s Tai Qian Python!" Yu Jing was slightly anxious at the moment, obviously worried for the Tai Qian Python!


    And the Tai Qian Python, at this moment, also noticed the token in Yu Jing''s hands!


    The roar was even louder from his mouth!


    For a moment, a frosty storm descended, and the fog in the sky seemed to freeze. From the depths of the sea, several Flood Dragons formed from cold water shot towards the old man in white robes!


    They fiercely slammed into the earthy yellow Token, creating countless Profound Ice flowers that turned into a torrential ice rain.


    The terrifying sound startled all around!


    Yet the old daoist remained composed. He looked at Lin Shiming, even comfortably transmitting his voice,


    "Is this unfamiliar friend coveting the private affairs of my family?" the old daoist''s voice arrived, while on his body, a gigantic crimson robe appeared.


    The crimson robe was filled with red orchids, like a bloody picture painted in Chi Lan!


    It looked extremely unsettling!


    And it was also a warning!


    Clearly, True Person Yu He had realized that Lin Shiming also held a Golden Core status and thus mentioned the name of the Chi Lan Sect.


    He did not recognize Lin Shiming, naturally assuming that Lin Shiming was a newly advanced Golden Core Loose Cultivator!


    But Lin Shiming shook his head from a distance:


    "Unfortunately, I am also here to take care of family matters," Lin Shiming said with a new name, unhurriedly speaking. Then, only to see the Green Light Mirror in Lin Shiming''s hand shining towards True Person Yu He!


    The green light pierced through countless fogs, instantly immobilizing True Person Yu He''s body!


    The crimson glow on True Person Yu He faded in an instant!


    The forming of his Spirit Art weakened, even the three Token Magical Treasures slowed down considerably!


    "You!" True Person Yu He''s face suddenly changed radically!


    He didn''t expect Lin Shiming to act so swiftly, nor care for the threats of the Chi Lan Sect!


    "Roar!"


    A great sound echoed, and the Profound Soul Python broke through the three Tokens, sending numerous Profound Ice Storms smashing down on True Person Yu He!


    The giant white crane and Cultivators of the three families next to him all changed color, ready to rush to assist True Person Yu He!


    But they saw a huge pitch-black Flood Dragon surge out of the sea in front of Lin Shiming!


    In addition, there was a shattered Spirit Puppet, and in the hands of the Spirit Puppet was a Jade Box. It was faintly visible that inside the Jade Box was a brand-new Fourth Rank Taiqian Shark skin!


    On it, aside from the Spirit Light, bloodstains were also present!


    "Do you three families really think this old daoist would share treasures with you?" Lin Shiming said with utter disdain.


    "It''s laughable. In the end, you will all become nothing more than Spirit Food for the Taiqian Sharks!" Lin Shiming sneered.


    This scene caused True Person Yu He''s face to change drastically!


    Indeed, that was precisely what he had in mind. Even if it was a Fourth Rank treasure, he didn''t want to share it, and among the Xu Family''s ancestral treasures was something that absolutely couldn''t be exposed!


    Yet now, even a few more Purple Mansion Cultivators might add to his chances of success!


    After all, at this moment, the Profound Soul Python wasn''t doing too well!


    The poison he laid was the Fifth Rank Vermilion Crane Red fire poison. Even a Golden Core Demon King couldn''t expel it quickly, let alone engage in combat and deepen the circulation of True Yuan and blood, allowing the virulent poison to spread throughout the python''s body!


    Quickly growing in strength, the fire snakes that would form might not necessarily be less than the Profound Soul Python Demon King!


    Just a few more breaths, and even several Purple Mansion Cultivators could stop it!


    "How did you find out about that Spirit Puppet below!" True Person Yu He asked coldly.


    The Spirit Puppet below was his hidden trump card!


    It was meant to attract the Taiqian Sharks to silence them!


    But he never expected that Lin Shiming would discover it as soon as he arrived!


    Lin Shiming didn''t answer, but instead glanced at the system notification inside him, feeling increasingly anticipatory of the Xu Family ancestor''s treasures!


    The system notification didn''t pop up any treasures but revealed True Person Yu He''s backup plans!


    Inside the Taiqian Abyss, using the Taiqian Shark skin as a backup, True Person Yu He was clearly trying to silence someone!


    Even Lin Shiming felt somewhat wary of this tactic!


    After all, with many Great Demons bursting out, amidst the unique fog of the Taiqian Abyss, escape wasn''t necessarily guaranteed!


    In True Person Yu He''s hands, there might still be an incredible Magical Treasure!


    Otherwise, True Person Yu He really wouldn''t have the boldness or the notion to think about silencing within this region!

 Chapter 789: 497

    Submerge it in an instant!


    How could Lin Shiming not be clear that True Person Yu He had left a backup plan, luring him in!


    So his approach was a feint, releasing a sufficient amount of Wooden Coral Vines was the real trick!


    These vines were here, and the releasing distance was not too far.


    He could only release them when he was close.


    Then he used the Leaping Void Disk to leap away!


    The toxin from the Fifth Rank coral wood instantly caused True Person Yu He''s face to darken, and a red light began to emerge on his skin!


    It angered him to the point where he wanted to hysterically lose his temper on the spot!


    Just moments ago, he was the one poisoning the Xuanpo Python, but now he was poisoned by Lin Shiming.


    At this moment, he didn''t have time to suppress his injuries and had to take out another Spirit Pill to consume.


    Protected by a tricolored token, he finally broke through Lin Shiming''s sea of Wooden Coral Vines.


    However, Lin Shiming was already waiting leisurely on the outside!


    Only to see the Green Fish Mirror shining towards True Person Yu He''s forehead!


    Large swaths of green light fell, instilling an immense fear and trepidation in True Person Yu He, even now!


    And Lin Shiming once again slashed with his sword.


    The Green Fish Sword directly executed the Great Swathe Sword Style, and countless Grass Swords sprang up as if there was a faint existence of a sword field!


    At this sight, True Person Yu He''s pupils contracted, seemingly filled with immense fear.


    However, when the Great Swathe Sword Style fell in front of him, only a patch of earthy yellow light appeared, and the Thick Earth Command released its terrifying power again!


    But, the city walls formed by that earthy yellow spiritual glow were covered by Sword Intent in the blink of an eye, and the Thick Earth Command was sent flying hundreds of yards away!


    In the end, a golden Spirit Talisman once again enveloped True Person Yu He.


    And at this moment, True Person Yu He took out a Fifth Rank Spirit Boat, ready to escape into the distance!


    Just when Lin Shiming was about to pursue him, he suddenly felt an immense Divine Sense coalescing into a psychic needle coming at him!


    True Person Yu He''s escape was fake, an attack using his Divine Sense was real!


    He''d already seen Lin Shiming was recently advanced to the Golden Core stage and, although his Magical Treasures were in no way inferior to those of older Golden Core cultivators, his combat experience was very rich!


    Lin Shiming was also surprised at this point, for he had anticipated True Person Yu He''s underhanded methods, but he thought True Person Yu He would launch his assault when he executed the Great Swathe Sword Style!


    He had not expected the latter to launch an attack using Divine Sense!


    It was... exactly to his liking!


    You should know, within his sea of consciousness was a sword formed by Divine Sense, which slashed out in an instant!


    The condensed Spirit Patterns made the Divine Sense incredibly focused!


    With a single sword strike, the coalesced psychic needle was split into two, severed by the blade!


    In the distance, True Person Yu He let out an extremely painful scream!


    And the numerous soul forces were instead dragged over by Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense weapon, and the Soul Fusion Secret Tome was executed automatically!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming couldn''t care about the surprise in his sea of consciousness; his Green Fish Sword cut through the mist, instantly killing True Person Yu He!


    After the killing, he took a long breath!


    With the death of True Person Yu He, the countless Black-Boned Bees continued to swarm towards Lin Shiming, but without True Person Yu He, these Black-Boned Bees could no longer cause any trouble.


    Especially since numerous Black-Boned Bees were dividing and attacking the Yunyue three families!


    Their numbers had decreased by more than half!


    Lin Shiming then took out eighteen star-patterned Wind-Calming Pearls and, together with the Green Fish Sword, began to slay them one by one, but eventually, they couldn''t keep up with the speed!


    Lin Shiming once again called forth countless Wooden Coral Vines, releasing countless poisonous mists, and slaughtered those Black-Boned Bees into oblivion!


    Meanwhile, Wang Jiao beside him was biting the White Crane, having already swallowed more than half of its body!


    "Master, it was this big bird that started the fight!" Seeing Lin Shiming''s gaze coming over, Wang Jiao stopped continuing to devour the White Crane.


    But his throat still couldn''t help but throb.


    Lin Shiming then shifted his gaze away, landing on the three Spirit Boats.


    At this moment, the Yunyue three families were in a state of utter disarray.


    And many Black-Boned Bees continued their oppressive attack.


    "This senior, Chi Lan Sect''s Yunyue Chen Family is grateful to the senior for the great kindness, willing to offer the family''s treasure as thanks!"


    "This senior, Chi Lan Sect''s Yunyue Li Family is grateful to the senior for the great kindness, willing to offer the family''s treasure as thanks!"


    ...


    All three families from Yunyue had each expressed their gratitude, but Lin Shiming''s gaze remained unmoved.


    His eyes became even colder.


    "I''ve already said before that I came to resolve a family matter!"


    Lin Shiming continued to speak, still using the name of the Yu Family to refer to himself.


    Afterward, the Green Fish Mirror shone forth once more!


    The three families all yelled in unison!


    "Split up and run!"


    But the Twin Swords of Purple Dawn and the Green Fish Sword had already broken through the sky and arrived!


    Not to mention, beside them, Lin Shiyun had already, without anyone realizing, set up another Fourth Rank Array Plate, transforming it into a formation, trapping most of the island!


    None could escape!


    Apart from that, Wang Jiao was occasionally bursting out from the seabed!


    All the Purple Mansion Foundation Establishment cultivators failed to evade, and all perished at the hands of Lin Shiming!


    From afar, Yu Jing also silently watched the three families'' only remaining half-broken Fourth Rank Spirit Boat Magical Treasure.


    For a moment, her eyes glistened.


    And as Lin Shiming spoke again:


    "These corpses shall be considered as the dowry the Lin Family has prepared for you. The future of Yunyue Island is yours and Shijin''s to seize!" Lin Shiming spoke softly, then began collecting all the Magical Treasures and Storage Bags, one by one.


    He also gathered up the three Fourth Rank Spirit Boats and the one Fifth Rank Spirit Boat!


    As for the affairs of the three Yunyue families, Lin Shiming naturally wouldn''t concern himself at this moment!


    Not to mention the involvement of the Chi Lan Sect; even this expedition alone was not something he wished to disclose.


    Eliminating any witnesses was inevitable.


    This time, having clashed with True Person Yu He had also given him a greater understanding of his own strength!


    True Person Yu He dared to attack him with Divine Sense, which showed how confident he was in his own Divine Sense and Secret Techniques!


    In other words, the Soul Fusion Secret Tome that he obtained from the Sword Storing Book was truly considered extremely precious even among Earth Rank Techniques!


    In the future, should he encounter those whose Divine Sense was slightly weaker, he could use Divine Sense attacks to create an opening!


    At the same time, the Wooden Coral Vine from the Flood Dragon monarch''s corpse proved to be very useful.


    But it was a consumable!


    Lin Shiming briefly summarized in his mind, then took out the Primordial Magnet Ring and directed its Primordial Magnet Light at the island, eradicating all traces of their presence!


    The Chi Lan Sect had lost a Golden Core and would undoubtedly pursue the matter; Lin Shiming naturally had to be cautious!


    After completing these actions, he continued to look towards the island.


    The damaged island now lay riddled with countless ravines, and many rocks and boulders had collapsed, creating numerous ruins!


    "Senior Lin, the Xu Family ancestor was also a person of astonishing talent. Once the Yunyue archipelago proved insufficient for the Xu Family''s expansion, they set their sights on the Taiqian Abyss. There used to be a Transmission Formation here..."


    Yu Jing continued to explain, leading the way for Lin Shiming, toward the island''s surface.


    Despite being heavily damaged and bearing the scars of countless battles!


    Not a single structure remained intact on the island!


    Only the grim piles of beast bones spoke of the long time the Mystical Soul Python had lived on this island.


    "Senior Lin, the underground palace below is where the Xu Family''s foundation lies!" With Yu Jing leading the way, Lin Shiming and Lin Zeli followed closely behind.


    Soon, they arrived at the entrance to an underground palace.


    There was a barrier here.


    Yu Jing took out a Token, and the barrier began to flash with light.


    It seemed there was slight resistance, so Yu Jing bit her fingertip and let the blood drop onto the Token.


    "Senior Lin must have guessed by now; my mother is of the Xu Family, and my father is of the Yu Family!"


    Lin Shiming nodded; Yu Jing''s hatred was so profound, it clearly wasn''t simply due to being a cultivator from a subsidiary family of the Xu family!


    Moreover, the fact that Yu Jing could possess a Token had already said something!


    But whether she called herself Xu Jing or Yu Jing made no difference whatsoever!


    Yu Jing had passed the Lin Family''s assessment, and was willing to marry Shijin without the aid of the Lin Family. That was enough!


    The Lin Family wouldn''t sweep away the Chi Lan Sect''s Yunyue archipelago for Yu Jing''s sake; if she and Shijin wanted vengeance, they had to seek it themselves!


    The Lin Family wouldn''t stand in their way, but for now, they wouldn''t offer support either!


    Unless, one day, the Lin Family truly became a Flood Dragon noble clan!


    The barrier gate opened quickly.


    A stone cave appeared!


    Inside the cave, all the mist was blocked out!


    Clearly, there was a special formation within the cave!


    And on the cave walls, inscriptions detailed one after another the secrets of crafting Spirit Talismans.


    There were Fireball Talismans and Wood Tendril Talismans; these were all basic Second Rank Spirit Talismans!


    Past the cave''s initial passage was a long corridor!


    The same held true for this corridor, and at the end of it was a hall!


    Within the hall, there were no fewer than one hundred and eight cave entrances!


    "Senior Lin, these are the Xu Family''s one hundred and eight Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens at the height of their power!"

 Chapter 794 - 500: Slay and Escape (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions)

    The Sea of Mist was still boundless, and the Zifeng Boat continued to flee!


    It kept breaking through the clouds and mist, sprinkling a long purple rainbow in its wake!


    Three dazzling Sword Qi, breaking through the fog, splitting the sea, rending the mist, their killing intent so intense it seemed to pierce the heavens, incredibly sharp!


    And the direction of their slashes was not only aimed at Lin Shiming, but they also sought to destroy his Zifeng Boat!


    After all, Lin Shiming was burdened with three extra people, and even if he could run, he couldn''t take the other three with him!


    Lin Shiming also felt somewhat frustrated by the cunning of these three Taiqian Sharks.


    He drew out the Green Fish Sword and unleashed a slash, while the Blood Demon Disk was also once again brought into play!


    With one hand outstretched, the Green Fish Mirror fell, releasing dazzling beams of green light.


    Under the green light, space seemed to freeze, even their speed was significantly reduced!


    The Green Fish Sword produced a stirring surge of Sword Qi, countless Grass Swords slashing upwards towards the sky!


    It blocked the three swords, but the Blood Demon Disk''s Blood Demon Eyes, along with two Blood Demon Warriors and numerous Blood Demon Chains, surged fiercely towards the previously injured Taiqian Shark!


    The goal was clear, to strike it down while it was weakened!


    Boom!


    The two Blood Demon Warriors once again struck the previous wound, along with the Green Fish Mirror!


    The Taiqian Shark Demon King thrashed madly in the sea!


    Letting out anguished howls of pain!


    And Lin Shiming''s figure suddenly vanished from atop the Zifeng Boat!


    Flashing along, Lin Shiming could now use the Leaping Void Disk seven or eight times in a row!


    The Starlight Body continuously sparkled!


    Lin Shiming''s figure also appeared near the Taiqian Shark!


    This scene was exceedingly swift!


    None of the three Taiqian Shark Demon Kings expected Lin Shiming to actively approach them, as the human cultivators they''d observed always hid behind, controlling various Magical Treasures from a safe distance!


    Fearing close combat!


    But as unbelievable as it was, it was true!


    At that moment, the three Demon Kings each took a deep breath, as if whales drawing water, attracting countless streams of Spiritual Energy into their bodies!


    Their scales shone to the extreme, flashing cold light as if the scales were the most ferocious of spikes!


    They charged headlong at Lin Shiming!


    But Lin Shiming ignored the other two sharks, focusing solely on the injured Taiqian Shark!


    At that moment, he clenched a fist full of endless starlight.


    Like stars in the sky that were growing ever closer!


    It was at this moment that the three Demon Kings seemed to see an inverted Star Chart, stars falling from the Milky Way, covering the vast sea!


    This sight was spectacular and mystical!


    Boom!


    A punch filled with the power of the Star Pearl landed squarely on the head of the injured Taiqian Shark.


    Previously, as a Purple Mansion Body Cultivator, Lin Shiming would hold back some force when using the Star Pearl to prevent his arm from bursting suddenly!


    But after breaking through to Golden Core, he had no worries and could use it full strength!


    A horrifying noise resounded, and the entire sea area suddenly surged with waves over a hundred feet tall, covering all of the Taiqian Mist!


    The waves slowly dissipated, and the skull of the Taiqian Shark instantly shattered.


    It kept writhing in pain!


    It couldn''t even let out a roar and could only try desperately to flee!


    And Lin Shiming gained a new respect for the physical sturdiness of a Golden Core Demon King, but his techniques were far from being just that, and since he had decided to kill, he would not hold back!


    He threw out a string of Divine Beads of Mystical Power, two beads worth of Great Spread Sword Style falling down upon it.


    Under the coverage of the two swords, the Sword Qi was unmatched, spanning from the void to the Sea of Mist!


    The Sword Qi rose one after another, each Grass Sword reaching its peak!


    If the Divine Beads of Mystical Power weren''t Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Magical Treasures, not yet Fifth Rank Magical Treasures, their might would have been even greater!


    In the end, the Taiqian Shark Demon King managed to escape by spitting out a Golden Core and fleeing into the distance!


    But Lin Shiming had already planed for it!


    The Golden Core was intercepted halfway by a ray of green light.


    A Soul-Suppressing Pagoda also drifted out, directly drawing the Taiqian Shark''s Golden Core into it!


    The remaining two Taiqian Sharks furiously charged at Lin Shiming!


    At this moment, because Lin Shiming had activated too many Magical Treasures, he only had the Green Fish Sword and Purple Mansion Twin Swords left to form a Sword Qi Barrier!


    But it was still broken through by the impact, slamming heavily onto Lin Shiming''s body!


    The Starlight Robe instantly tore, and even the Fourth Rank Superior Grade defensive Magical Treasure, the Five-Light Spirit Crocodile Armor, collapsed completely!


    Landing on Lin Shiming''s body, his figure was sent flying in an instant!


    Intense pain overtook Lin Shiming; the potential of these two Taiqian Sharks was clearly not lesser than the one he had slain!


    As Lin Shiming was knocked away, the two Taiqian Sharks unleashed two sword beams of several tens of feet long, even splitting the sea in half!


    They cut straight towards Lin Shiming!


    In a critical moment, Lin Shiming''s figure suddenly vanished, transforming into an ancient towering tree!


    It materialized out of nowhere!


    The sword light split the ancient tree into three pieces, cutting it thoroughly!


    However, countless Void Tendrils sprouted in the void, also densely entwining around the Taiqian Sharks!


    At this sight, the two Taiqian Sharks became alert once again, breaking free from the Void Tendrils of the Immortal Wood Shadow, maintaining some distance!


    Sure enough, in the next moment, along with the countless Void Tendrils, numerous wooden spikes shot up from the seabed, accompanied by a surge of poisonous mist that filled a vast area of the sea!


    The Blood Demon Disk was once again activated, the Blood Demon''s figure appearing above the sea, countless Void Chains stretching out!


    The entire void was filled with chains, wooden spikes, and ancient trees!


    For a moment, it was crowded and endless, as far as the eye could see!


    Lin Shiming''s figure reappeared, and seeing no opportunity to strike, and having expended quite a bit of True Yuan, he employed several Leaping Void Disks and made his escape!

 Chapter 795 - 500: Kill and Escape (Two in One for Monthly Pass Subscription)_2

    A dozen breaths later, he had landed on the Zifeng Boat!


    He was gasping for air, his body faintly shimmering with starlight patterns, and in his hand appeared several Superior Grade Spirit Stones, as he fully focused on recovering his True Yuan!


    He also took out several Healing Pills and swallowed them all at once.


    Just now, enduring the attacks of two Demon Kings and killing one Taiqian Shark Demon King had pushed him to his limits!


    The Five-Light Spirit Crocodile Armor he wore was completely destroyed!


    Fortunately, with his successful kill, those two Taiqian Sharks did not dare to get too close, only trailing from a distance, continuing to wait for other Demon Kings!


    The Zifeng Boat, meanwhile, accelerated once again!


    A few breaths later, he finally broke through the Taiqian Mist!


    In the distance, the azure sky and the undulating waves, as well as a few seabirds, soared to their fullest!


    Everyone''s heart surged with emotion; they had truly emerged from the fog to see the clear sky.


    However, they didn''t dare stop, as two more Taiqian Shark Demon Kings appeared in the distance!


    A total of four, and their speed was increasing fast!


    In the end, they directly chased them out of the Taiqian Abyss, and as the mist dissipated, everyone could see the appearance of the Taiqian Sharks clearer: their scales were blue, but their bellies and dorsal fins were white!


    Their Spirit Patterns were striking!


    At this moment, they were quickly chasing them across the sea!


    However, when they reached a small isolated island nearby, the entire island suddenly exploded!


    In an instant, a massive cloud of smoke billowed, filled with Fourth Rank poison fog!


    This was something that Lin Shiyun had prepared in advance before entering the Taiqian Mist.


    The Zifeng Boat continued to tear through space towards the distance!


    This direction was indeed towards the Yunyue Archipelago, which possessed a Transmission Formation; they must use the Transmission Formation to leave!


    Even if the Yunyue Archipelago had shut down their Transmission Formation, with the archipelago present, those Demon Kings wouldn''t be able to bypass Yunyue Island to chase after them!


    Instead, it was more likely for them to charge directly into the Yunyue Archipelago!


    For this island, Yu Jing rejoiced, while Lin Shiming and others remained unfazed!


    After being impeded by the Self-Destructive Formation, the Taiqian Sharks behind them had fallen far behind!


    But the furious Taiqian Sharks were still creating a white trail in the waves as they pursued!


    "Shiyun, keep detonating!" Lin Shiming commanded once more.


    Indeed, on their journey, they hadn''t set up just a single Fourth Rank Formation!


    Lin Houshou, now a Purple Mansion cultivator, with his Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Formation skills, had crafted numerous Fourth Rank Array Plates.


    They had brought quite a few with them this time!


    Lin Shiyun took out several Jade Slips and Array Plates, activating them one by one!


    In a blink, behind the Zifeng Boat, successive Formations were self-destructing!


    They unleashed waves of poison fog.


    Continuous explosions made the Taiqian Shark Demon Kings utterly miserable; they raged, but in the end, could only watch as Lin Shiming left them far behind!


    After pulling away to nearly the core range of the Golden Core''s Divine Sense, Lin Shiming also opened up the Eternal Night Umbrella.


    With flashes of Spirit Light passing by, the entire Zifeng Boat vanished into the void.


    Lin Shiyun and Lin Zeli, feeling this scene, finally put their minds at ease.


    The Spirit Boat continued at high speed, but with the Self-Destructive Formations dispersing one by one behind them, they could no longer see the Taiqian Shark Kings that had been hanging back from afar.


    Lin Shiming exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    Following that, he released the Red-haired and Golden Winged Mantis.


    With two demons at his side, he felt more secure.


    "Senior Lin, I feel there''s something wrong with the Taiqian Abyss this time!" After hesitating for a long time, Yu Jing still spoke up.


    During the off-peak seasons, she had entered the Taiqian Abyss several times, and such a situation had never occurred.


    "It must be an issue with one of the Yunyue tri-families. This time, we''ll bypass Yunyue Island and return to Heavenly Phenomenon Island through Taoming Island!" Lin Shiming replied indifferently.


    He had no system prompt and couldn''t guarantee that all members of the Yunyue tri-families had died by his hand!


    But if he hadn''t guessed wrong, it was probably a contingency left by those three families!


    After all, True Person Yuhe had planned to strike those families with lethal force!


    Furthermore, he noticed that the cultivators they encountered along the way were all in a hurry, which was unusual since there should normally be a great many cultivators during the off-peak season.


    After Lin Shiming finished speaking, he did not elaborate further, instead allowing the Golden Winged Mantis that had just made a breakthrough to take control of the Spirit Boat!


    He then found a cabin and began to heal his injuries.


    ...


    With the bright light from the Transmission Formation flaring up, Lin Shiming and his group returned to Shuangmu Island.


    At this moment, the cultivators guarding the Transmission Formation were once again replaced.


    Seeing Lin Shiming approach, they quickly greeted him, calling out "Brother Qi!"


    Lin Shiming nodded in acknowledgment and took out a Storage Bag, handing it over to Yu Jing.


    "Yu Jing, the treasures within this Storage Bag are now yours. From now on, you''ll set up the Spirit Talisman Pavilion on Qinglian Peak. It will become the third pavilion of our Lin Family. Additionally, the position of the Spirit Talisman Hall Master will be held by Shijin, and you will be the Deputy Hall Master," Lin Shiming entrusted the Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens to Yu Jing with great trust.


    Yu Jing, upon seeing this, nodded vigorously. Lin Shiming''s words had essentially established her status among the upper echelons of the Lin Family!


    One should know that Yu Jing had not yet married Lin Shijin!


    But such trust was enough to warm Yu Jing''s heart!


    After confirming everything with Yu Jing, Lin Shiming headed towards Thousand Wood Peak.


    He needed to sum up the gains from this venture and to heal his wounds!


    Nowadays, the Spiritual Energy on Thousand Wood Peak was even more concentrated, and the mountain ranges towered even higher, appearing more majestic from a distance!


    After Lin Shiming deposited the pure Fire Attribute Spirit Vein, the Spirit Veins on this mountain had also been enhanced several times by the Lin Family Clan!


    Moreover, as Lin Shiming was now the only Golden Core Cultivator of the Lin Family, even the height arrangements for the Lin Family on Thousand Wood Peak surpassed those of Qinglian Peak.


    Lin Shiming let out a sigh, aware that this arrangement must have involved the strategy of his Uncle Ancestor Lin Xianzhi!


    Otherwise, without Lin Xianzhi''s consent, no other member of the Lin Family Clan would dare to handle matters in such a way without discussing it with him.


    Lin Shitao''s cave dwelling remained tightly sealed, clearly indicating a critical moment in his breakthrough.


    Lin Shiming left behind a Jade Slip and then descended into his cave dwelling, entering into the heart of the Cave Heaven!


    He continued to take Elixirs and heal his wounds.


    As time passed, another month went by.


    A mysterious black fish leapt out of the water and then splashed down heavily, seemingly overjoyed.


    However, upon the high platform atop the mountain, Lin Shiming opened his eyes, and the Spirit Fish was instantly startled and scattered in all directions.


    Lin Shiming exhaled a breath of stale air and dusted himself off.


    By now, his injuries had mostly healed!


    At this moment, the wood demon came out from the Purple Sun Tower to report to Lin Shiming about the situation within the Cave Heaven.


    Once everything was in order, Lin Shiming retrieved the Storage Bag of True Person Yuhe to examine his spoils!


    The first thing that caught his eye was naturally the three Tokens.


    The Purple Crest Command, Fire Cloud Command, Thick Earth Command!


    Each command was an Inferior Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure when separate, but when combined into one, their power was no less than an Intermediate Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure, and most importantly, the Thick Earth Command was a defensive Magical Treasure!


    For him, that was incredibly precious!


    After this journey to the Taiqian Abyss, Lin Shiming''s understanding of Magical Treasures had deepened. Without the Five-Light Spirit Crocodile Armor, without the Starlight Robe, his injuries could have been much more severe!


    Beyond the three Token Magical Treasures, Lin Shiming took out a palm-sized Spirit Boat the next moment.


    The Spirit Boat was incredibly exquisite, etched with various Spirit Patterns.


    It also featured several fairy-like cranes, their figures more lively and imposing than those on the Spirit Cranes of the Jade Crane Demon King.


    Lin Shiming infused it with True Yuan and gently activated it, immediately becoming flushed with joy and excitement!


    This Spirit Boat was indeed a legitimate Intermediate Grade Fifth Rank flying Magical Treasure!


    No wonder True Person Yuhe dared to provoke the Tai Qian Shark with sharkskin, as he had enough confidence to escape from the Taiqian Abyss!


    The power of the Gathering Immortal Talisman was fully capable of allowing True Person Yuhe to seclude himself for a breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage!


    Not to mention the vast inheritance of the Spirit Talisman from the Xu Family and the unimaginable Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens!


    Lin Shiming was even more satisfied with this expedition. Now that he had this Intermediate Grade Fifth Rank Spirit Boat, be it traveling or escaping, his safety had greatly increased!


    The only pity was that this Fifth Rank Spirit Boat was still inferior to the War Treasure Ship of the Qingxuan Sect from the Eastern Domain!


    "Let''s name it the Crane Shadow Boat," Lin Shiming decided on a name for this Intermediate Grade Fifth Rank Spirit Boat.


    After storing the Spirit Boat, Lin Shiming continued to explore the Storage Bag of True Person Yuhe.

 Chapter 804 - 505 Sword Cultivation Family Lin Family (Two-in-One Subscription for Monthly Ticket)

    For the ceremony, there usually are competitions among the younger generation.


    One reason is to add flair, and the other is to motivate the younger ones.


    Especially for major forces, this is also a time to showcase the family''s elegance and the sect''s potential.


    It not only pleases the cultivators attending the ceremony but also showcases the future prospects of one''s own force.


    Of course, there are also some loose cultivators who will try their best to show off themselves at such ceremonies, hoping to be noticed by major forces!


    However, at this moment, the Golden Core Cultivators were somewhat surprised because the one who proposed the competition as an entertaining act, was not someone else but the True Person Lan Kui from Golden Thunder Island.


    True Person Lan Kui, in a blue robe, had a smiling face.


    People thought of the feuds between Golden Thunder Island, Xu Ri Island, and even Tianliu Island.


    But it felt unlike them.


    As the host, Lin Shiming, although a bit puzzled in his heart, still stepped forward.


    "Thanks to Daoist Lan Kui for the suggestion, since the banquet is ready, let''s start the competition!"


    Lin Shiming waved his hand, and a small seal-like Fourth Rank Magical Treasure flew out of his hand, expanding almost a hundred times in the air, reaching a radius of five miles.


    Occupying a part of the void, Lin Shiming dispersed his cultivation level, ensuring that the magical treasure was not under his control, yet it could still provide a fair venue for the competition.


    Such a venue could even allow Purple Mansion Cultivators to exchange moves.


    The other Golden Core True Persons nodded their heads, they could naturally tell, Lin Shiming did not hold back, of course, there was no need to hold back, as it was normal for the younger generation to win or lose in a competition.


    As long as it wasn''t too embarrassing a defeat, it was just an act for entertainment.


    "Let the Qi Cultivators come first!" Lin Shiming also spoke softly.


    Following Lin Shiming''s words, a Qi sect member with a sword on his back walked out from the cultivators of the Lin Family.


    This clan member looked nervous. Although he had been practicing in the family for a long time, it was after all his Seventh Great-Uncle''s Golden Core ceremony, and he was facing so many True Persons.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Lin Yanchang wishes to be the first to exchange pointers in order to present a gift to you and the senior True Persons!" Lin Yanchang bowed to Lin Shiming and the other Golden Core True Persons.


    True Person Lan Kui didn''t move, but then, a loose cultivator stepped forward, this was a good time.


    Especially seeing that Lin Yanchang''s words and expressions didn''t feel very natural, it was clear that he might be a pampered talented individual from the Lin Family.


    Such individuals are formidable, but may not necessarily have much experience in combat.


    Even if it''s Qi Cultivation Ninth Level!


    "Loose cultivator Xu Qian''an, willing to try!"


    The two stood facing each other on the magical treasure platform, and with a soft shout, the competition officially started!


    Xu Qian''an was also confident, but his confidence, in front of Lin Family''s Lin Yanchang, seemed a bit far-fetched.


    Nowadays, those in the Lin Family who can carry heavy swords, none were not from the Sword Pavilion, and they could remain under Lin Shiming''s Sword Testing Stone for a quarter of an hour.


    The reason for not breaking through to Foundation Establishment was also to try comprehending the complete Sword Intent before breaking through!


    Thus, faced with Xu Qian''an, Lin Yanchang did not even draw his sword, only using spells to cope!


    After coping for nearly a quarter of an hour, Xu Qian''an felt extremely bitter. Although he was a loose cultivator, he also had a father who was a Foundation Cultivator, so he had lived comfortably and had a bit of a reputation among the Qi cultivators on Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    Yet, he couldn''t force Lin Yanchang to draw his sword!


    And knowing that the time had come, Lin Yanchang also drew his sword, using the move Thousand Shadows, which he was adept with, defeating Xu Qian''an in one move!


    "Sorry to be humble!" Lin Yanchang cupped his hands, showing his grace.


    When Xu Qian''an fell down, a young man in a blue robe casually walked up to the high platform.


    Once on the high platform, the youth lost his laziness and his gaze sharpened.


    "Heavenly Thunder Island''s Fang Tian, pleased to meet!"


    "Xu Ri Island''s Lin Family''s Lin Yanchang, pleased to meet!"


    "Daoist Lin, you need to be careful, although I''m the least of Heavenly Thunder Island, I pride myself on being able to dominate the cultivators of other islands!" After saying his piece, Fang Tian was extremely arrogant!


    Although Lin Yanchang did not speak, at this moment, he drew his sword immediately!


    The flying sword flew out, turning into countless sword shadows!


    And that Fang Tian concentrated his Thunder Robe, with countless falling thunder spells smashing down onto the field!


    During this time, the power of his Thunder Technique was not inferior to ordinary Foundation Cultivators!


    Boom¡ªLin Yanchang''s flying sword could not get close!


    "Daoist Lan Kui, this disciple of yours has robust Spiritual Power, not far from Foundation Establishment, right?" Lin Shiming softly spoke.


    "Daoist Lin''s young cultivator is also adept in swordsmanship, how about an added flair!" Daoist Lan Kui also sighed.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming''s heart lightened a bit.


    He glanced at True Person Fengxing and True Person Xue Yun, seeing that both were quite interested.


    Lin Shiming then returned to normal, looking towards the platform.


    "What flair does Daoist Lan Kui want?"


    "How about exchanging the Thunder Technique, the Geng Metal-based Geng Metal Thunder Technique!" True Person Lan Kui continued smiling.


    Lin Shiming then relaxed with a smile, the current situation was turbulent, no one in the Coral Alliance dared to fight internally, Golden Thunder Island was originally after Lei Xuan''s Geng Metal Thunder Technique.


    "Daoist Lan Kui jests, the Lin Family doesn''t have any Thunder Technique, it''s just that our swordsmanship and snake commanding have some minor accomplishments!" Lin Shiming lightly laughed.


    Then from his fingers, he took out a Demon Core of a Fourth Rank Late Stage Thunder Flood Dragon.


    "Daoist Lan Kui, what do you think of this Demon Core?" Lin Shiming shifted the topic away.


    True Person Lan Kui still looked at Lin Shiming, as if wanting to see through him at that moment, but afterwards, she returned a smile.


    Her palm opened, revealing a Jade Slip and Jade Bottle.


    The Jade Slip was then put away by True Person Lan Kui, ending up with a Jade Bottle.

 Chapter 810 - 508: Purple Sun Secret Realm Slots (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    ```


    In the pavilion, both Lin Shiming and Profound Mechanism True Person were very satisfied; they bid farewell to each other with a salutation and departed.


    And at this moment, Lin Shiming only had one last treasure left, the inner core of a Fifth-Order Tai Qian Shark.


    This time, the number of cultivators bidding was fewer, and the bidding nearly halted for the span of ten breaths.


    Eventually, Fengxing True Person from Nine Dragon Island transmitted his voice to him.


    "A five-thousand-year-old Wood Attribute Spiritual Medicine, the Tianxin Fruit!"


    Having said that, Fengxing True Person also sat back down.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but inwardly curse "cunning old fox"; Fengxing True Person, worthy of having founded the Fengxing Commerce Alliance, had intentionally waited until the end, probably aware that his Tai Qian Shark inner core wasn''t very popular.


    And at this point, with his bid, unless Lin Shiming truly disregarded it, there would be no way to raise the price.


    A five-thousand-year-old spiritual medicine naturally wasn''t quite enough, but for Lin Shiming, the Tai Qian Shark inner core wasn''t of much use, whereas the spiritual medicine could be used to refine Spirit Transforming Pills to increase cultivation level, and a five-thousand-year maturity was already quite substantial.


    However, if Fengxing True Person got it that easily, Lin Shiming naturally wouldn''t stand for it.


    After all, if it hadn''t been for the breakthrough of the Golden Winged Mantis, whose strength was not meager, he would have lost an inner core of a Fifth-Order Jiaolong.


    And he might have even risked revealing the Jiaolong Fruit Tree!


    His gaze constantly shifted to Kuangfeng True Person, as if Kuangfeng True Person was communicating with him through divine sense.


    With Kuangfeng True Person''s cultivation level, their divine sense communication could naturally not be heard by Fengxing True Person.


    And Kuangfeng True Person was extremely cooperative.


    He repeatedly smiled at Lin Shiming.


    This caused Fengxing True Person''s expression to change slightly, and he transmitted another message to Lin Shiming:


    "Daoist Lin, this Tai Qian Shark inner core can assist a Mist Jiaolong on our Fengxing Island. I hope Daoist Lin can part with it. I am willing to add three more three-thousand-year-old spiritual medicines!"


    "But what about Senior Kuangfeng..." Lin Shiming still seemed a bit embarrassed as he looked towards Kuangfeng True Person.


    Kuangfeng True Person was, surprisingly, very cooperative and looked at Fengxing True Person.


    It was as if Lin Shiming had disclosed the matter of the spiritual medicine, causing dissatisfaction from Kuangfeng True Person.


    "One five-thousand-year-old plus four three-thousand-year-old spiritual medicines!" Fengxing True Person said this with a gaze that was slightly unfriendly!


    One ought to know that the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit was merely one five-thousand-year-old spiritual medicine coupled with two three-thousand-year-old spiritual medicines.


    "Senior''s generosity, naturally I have no reason to refuse!" Lin Shiming also immediately nodded, then deliberately put on an apologetic smile, looking towards Kuangfeng True Person.


    Kuangfeng True Person was so angry he was puffing up his beard.


    Fengxing True Person''s face twitched slightly, although the act was good, he was also clearly aware in his heart.


    This was merely paying for the foolish actions of Xue Yun True Person.


    Both parties didn''t expose it, and the Tai Qian Shark inner core was indeed useful to him.


    The final auction item was exchanged, and Lin Shiming also stepped out from the central pavilion, finding a seat in the surrounding pavilions.


    Yunli True Person was the second to go up, asides from Lin Shiming who was both the host and organizer, others naturally couldn''t compete with the True Persons from Coral Island.


    Yunli True Person also brought out a Fifth-Order Intermediate Grade defensive magical treasure, and a set of Fifth-Order Flying Needle magical treasures¡ªthere were nine needles in total, all refined from a millennium Cold Silkworm Silk and Extreme Cold Crystals.


    Even divine sense could be frozen for a few breaths.


    Truly a lethal weapon!


    What Yunli True Person wanted to exchange for was also simple: treasures that increase lifespan, somewhat like the previously mentioned Ming Deng True Person.


    Although Lin Shiming was also envious, he couldn''t produce any more life-extending spiritual medicines.


    Instead, it was Tianliu True Person from Yutong Island who made the exchange.


    Yunli True Person was extremely satisfied and walked down, having obtained two life-extending treasures, his gaze softened a lot, but he also became a bit more guarded.


    He had many treasures on him.


    At this moment, he only thought about returning to Coral Island quickly through the transmission formation.


    The third person to come up was Red Leaf True Person, and the treasure that Red Leaf True Person brought out was a Fifth-Order piece of Ziji Tan.


    Seeing the Fifth-Order Ziji Tan, Lin Shiming was also stunned for a moment!


    If he had this Fifth-Order Ziji Tan, he was confident that he could succeed in mastering the first level of the Soul Fusion Secret Tome''s consciousness-transforming into weapons.


    However, what Red Leaf True Person wanted to exchange for was three drops of Thousand Year Spiritual Milk.


    No other treasures would be accepted.


    After making a round, not a single cultivator had it, and Red Leaf True Person returned to the pavilion with regret.


    Next came Kuangfeng True Person, Tianliu True Person, Profound Mechanism True Person, and even the True Persons from Nine Dragon Island, one by one taking the stage!


    These Fifth-Order treasures also broadened Lin Shiming''s horizons!


    It''s just that the demands of these Golden Core True Persons were also high.


    In the end, Lin Shiming only used the inner core of a Fifth-Order Intermediate Grade Jiaolong from Xue Yun True Person to exchange for an Inferior Grade Fifth-Order defensive magical treasure!


    This magical treasure was named Qingyuan Armor and was obtained from Lanfeng True Person.


    During the exchange, it was clearly visible that Xue Yun True Person''s cheeks twitched slightly!


    On the other hand, Lanfeng True Person did not feel embarrassed at all!


    After all, a Fifth-Order Intermediate Grade Jiaolong inner core could not necessarily compare with Qingyuan Armor, but for them on Blue Dragon Island, it could almost be used with a secret technique to create a Fifth-Order Jiaolong!


    The trade meeting finally ended successfully, and each True Person left one after another, with not a single one using the transmission formation in the center of the pavilion.


    Lin Shiming didn''t mind this and heard the divine sense transmission from Red Leaf True Person in his mind.


    He also remained in the pavilion.


    The scenery of Zi Yu Mountain must be said to be sometimes even better than that of Shuangmu Island; there are now over thirty pavilions built around the lake.


    Moving with the green waves, animated by the mountains and greenery.


    From afar, one could also see the sea of clouds rising and falling!


    From nearby, it was possible to take in the entirety of Heavenly Phenomenon Island at a glance.


    "Senior Red Leaf!"


    ```

 Chapter 811 - 508: Purple Sun Secret Realm Slots (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2

    "Simply call me Sister Red Leaf, since we are currently at the same cultivation level and both under the Coral Alliance, there''s no need for such formality!" Red Leaf True Person shook her head.


    She stood with her hands behind her back, then turned to look into the lake.


    With a flick of her finger, a small stone plopped into the lake, creating ripples that spread outward layer by layer!


    "Sister Red Leaf, what does this mean?" Lin Shiming asked, puzzled.


    Red Leaf True Person threw two more stones into the lake.


    This time, the ripples in the Spirit Lake grew larger and more numerous.


    "If this were the sea, these small stones might even stir up waves!"


    "What do you think, Brother Lin?" Red Leaf True Person asked.


    "Of course!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    He stared at the lake surface, unsure of Red Leaf True Person''s intentions.


    According to his previous guess, Red Leaf True Person should have allied with him to turn Red Leaf Island into the fourth most influential island.


    But now, it seemed there could be more to it.


    "What if this lake represents the Coral Sea Domain?"


    "What if certain people do not wish for Xue Shan True Person to breakthrough?" Red Leaf True Person spoke again, looking at Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming was stunned, then felt bitterness within!


    He hadn''t expected that he just barely escaped turmoil in the Eastern Domain, only for disturbances to emerge in the Coral Sea Domain due to the deterrent power of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs.


    Naturally, he even less understood which side Red Leaf True Person was on.


    Recalling Tianliu True Person and Kuangfeng True Person who had formed alliances and entrusted him with responsibilities!


    He shook his head; he originally thought it was the turmoil in the Eastern Domain, but now it seemed the Eastern Domain''s turmoil wouldn''t have such a significant impact on the Southern Sea unless the Yunzhong Palace in the Eastern Domain was completely opened and the Innate Spiritual Treasures entirely taken.


    And what alarmed them enough for concern was possibly that their alliance with Red Leaf True Person was in a disadvantaged position!


    "Who?" Lin Shiming asked.


    Red Leaf True Person didn''t answer, unsure whether she was unclear or unwilling to respond.


    However, the former was more likely.


    This must be an internal conflict within the Coral Alliance, definitely involving other forces.


    Nine Dragon Island, Chi Lan Sect, and Tianzhao Sect are all possibilities.


    Whereas the Blood Cultivation Sect and Myriad Buddhas Island wouldn''t be, those two sects are too busy fighting each other to spare effort for other domains.


    So whether Xue Shan True Person is actually breaking through and to what extent it has reached has become a mystery.


    Just like Shen Ji True Person in the past, except Shen Ji was a loner without support.


    "By the way, now that your Lin Family has a Golden Core True Person, let me tell you about the responsibilities of a Golden Core True Person!" Lin Shiming nodded, thinking ahead.


    "Should any crisis arise in the domain of Red Leaf Island in the future, you must stand up!"


    "Also, both Red Leaf Island and the Lin Family are now in a situation where one''s glory is the other''s; without Red Leaf Island, your Lin Family cannot protect the Daughter''s Red; without the Lin Family, Red Leaf Island cannot keep the Ziji Tan!"


    "Do you understand this?" Red Leaf True Person looked into Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    "Understood!" Lin Shiming also nodded.


    The Lin Family now holds interests in three islands, Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lianyun Island, and Jiuyue Island, and naturally, they would not concede these interests.


    "Of course, the Lin Family now also has additional rights!" Red Leaf True Person spoke again.


    "Now that Xu Ri True Person has been slain, your Lin Family gets three spots for the Purple Sun Secret Realm, and also can obtain twenty percent of the spots for the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm through Red Leaf Island!"


    "In the future, Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lianyun Island, and Jiuyue Island will all be under complete control of the Lin Family; any new islands developed will also be under your management, and Ziji Tan can also flow towards the Lin Family, naturally, this is mutual!" Red Leaf True Person listed one by one.


    These were the things Lin Shiming cared most about; if anything was most important, it was naturally the Spiritual Medicine of the Purple Sun Secret Realm and the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm, though Lin Shiming had not entered before, he guessed that was what Golden Core True Persons cared about the most.


    The three spots also came as expected, and Xu Ri True Person''s mentioning again was just Red Leaf True Person reminding him who had killed Xu Ri True Person!


    Lin Shiming was also quite satisfied with this and tacitly understood.


    Their Lin Family doesn''t have many Purple Mansion Cultivators, and Lin Shijie had the highest cultivation and combat power, even if they got in, Lin Shiming had to arrange for Wang Jiao and the Red-haired Golden Wing to follow.


    Too many spots would be redundant.


    Besides, the twenty percent from the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm also greatly satisfied him!


    He just didn''t know when Heavenly Rank Secret Realm would open!


    And the circulation of Ziji Tan was even better news for the Lin Family, exchanging Daughter''s Red for Ziji Tan was definitely a sure-win deal for the Lin Family!


    The only possibility was that after numerous trades, the formula for Daughter''s Red might have been infiltrated by Red Leaf True Person, but that was inevitable eventually.


    Better to owe Red Leaf True Person a favor.


    "Purple Sun Secret Realm opens once every ten years, and it will be in five years; furthermore, Heavenly Rank Secret Realm opens once every fifty years, and it will be in ten years!" Seeing Lin Shiming''s confusion, Red Leaf True Person decided to explain everything.


    After speaking, he also gave a Jade Mirror to Lin Shiming.


    "From now on, if there''s anything important, just contact me through this Jade Mirror!"


    "Also, don''t go to the Chi Lan Sea Domain recently, a beast tide has reappeared in the Yunyue Archipelago, and the city has been breached!"


    After finishing speaking, Red Leaf True Person also left.


    Watching Red Leaf True Person leave, Lin Shiming had not expected that the events that had occurred in the Taiqian Abyss of the Chi Lan Sea Domain had already reached Red Leaf True Person''s ears.


    Perhaps Red Leaf True Person''s extensive discussions with him this time also stemmed from his wariness of his three Minor Divine Abilities and his strong martial force and prospects!


    Lin Shiming then shook his head; naturally, he wouldn''t go to the Chi Lan Sea Domain, not even to the Eastern Domain anytime soon!


    This time, with so many three-thousand and five-thousand-year-old Wood Attribute Spiritual Materials, all refined into Spirit Transforming Pills, his cultivation level might even make another significant leap within the Golden Core Early Stage.


    Even with the aid of a Fifth Rank Gathering Immortal Talisman and Spirit Vein, breaking through to the Golden Core Middle Stage wasn''t impossible.


    Together with the comprehension of the Universal Treasure Resolution and the refinement of a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure, there was just so much he could do.


    Eventually, Lin Shiming also entered into Zi Yu Mountain and disappeared from sight!


    ...


    On the third day, at the foot of Zi Yu Mountain, a vast square had been set up!


    The square was filled with nearly thirty thousand seats!


    Even more than those arranged by the Lin Family!


    Unlike the family lectures, this time the lectures would be shorter and more basic!


    But the scale had to be significant; thirty thousand seats spread out, even Purple Mansion cultivators were somewhat shocked by the Lin Family''s influence!


    You see, cultivators are not mortals; these cultivators had all previously given gifts to the Lin Family.


    Even creating an ambiance so well, these thirty thousand cultivators were now VIPs in the Lin Family marketplaces!


    They had either purchased a large number of Spiritual Objects or sold some!


    Because of the Lin Family''s seating arrangement, the first three thousand seats were assigned based on the gifts received, the next seventeen thousand seats were based on historical spending.


    The last ten thousand seats, however, had no particular order.


    Of course, apart from foreign cultivators and other families, many Lin Family cultivators appeared in these seats as well!


    Especially those Loose Cultivators who had married into the Lin Family, generally stationed at Zi Yu Mountain and Lianyun Island, they had not been able to attend Lin Shiming''s previous lecture!


    But having heard of its effects, they naturally could not miss this one!


    Each of them excitedly burned incense, changed their clothes, and chose their seats early!


    Even though their chosen seats were not among the first three thousand, they indeed were within the middle batch of consumer seats.


    Within these consumer seat arrangements, there were also Lin Family-affiliated families, Ye Family, Zhao Family, Primordial Yang Gate, and forces from Lianyun Island, Zeng Family, Mu Family.


    This made the seventeen thousand seats feel like those at an auction, only being finalized on the day of the lecture!


    Lin Shiming sat on the high platform, looking over the cultivators on the entire square, and was momentarily shocked; besides the absence of Golden Core Cultivators listening, the scale was much larger than the lecture sessions held by Zi Xuan True Person from Qingxuan Sect before!


    Lin Shiming straightened his clothes and began the lecture!


    He still started from discussing Qi Cultivation, and as the square was so filled with cultivators, even without anyone talking, there was still considerable noise.


    However, as Lin Shiming slowly lectured, the square gradually fell into respectful silence!


    They each felt that this was the most comprehensive and correct lecture they had ever heard!


    Every cultivator could find something relatable within it.


    From afar, Lin Shijie and Lin Xianzhi were in charge of patrolling; seeing this scene, Lin Xianzhi slightly worried, having already instructed Lin Shiming to keep it basic, yet the effect was still far beyond what usual Golden Core Early Stage cultivators could achieve!


    And with a helpless shake of his head, the next moment, he too began to listen carefully.

 Chapter 816 - 511: Consecutive Breakthroughs (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets)

    Cultivation knows no passing of years; a decade has blinked by.


    On Shuangmu Island, the addition of the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein has elevated the mountain peaks of Qinglian Peak once again.


    The mountain summit is now perennially snow-covered, forming yet another marvel of the Lin Family.


    The Spirit Peaches of Thousand Wood Peak, the Spirit Lake of Qinglian Peak, have also become the Lin Family''s unique features.


    The Preaching Hall has also expanded significantly. A group of young cultivators with long ancestral names, under the guidance of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, is now reviewing the monumental stele of the Lin Family''s achievements.


    The stele is inscribed with names of cultivators from not only the ''long'' generation but also the ''hou'' and ''shi'' generations.


    "These are the great figures who have passed away from our Lin Family. Of course, everyone should also know that the current situation of our Lin Family is largely thanks to our ancestors Shiming and Xianzhi among others..."


    The Foundation Establishment Cultivator nearly listed all the ancestors at the Purple Mansion stage.


    But at this moment, a tremendous ripple of spiritual energy appears over Thousand Wood Peak.


    Clearly, it''s a breakthrough at the Purple Mansion stage. The elders'' generation of cultivators all crane their necks in eager anticipation!


    "That''s Shitao, the ancestor of Shiming, and also the daoist partner of ancestor Shiming!" the Foundation Establishment Cultivator tutor continued, his eyes filled with joy.


    Lin Shitao''s breakthrough signifies yet another addition to the Lin Family''s mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators!


    Most crucially, Lin Shitao''s breakthrough also signifies further advancement in the Lin Family''s alchemy!


    Lin Shitao''s five Spirit Flames appeared in the sky above Thousand Wood Peak, among which the Serpent Spirit Flame shone the most brilliantly.


    Soon, the ripple dissipated. Now that Shuangmu Island has one Fifth Rank Spirit Vein and three Fourth Rank Pure Spirit Veins, the veins are not affected at all.


    Just as the ripple of the Spirit Vein was about to fade, everyone felt a disturbance on Qinglian Peak. Suddenly, an enormous surge of spiritual energy burst forth, and the imposing aura of the Purple Mansion began to spread outwards!


    Numerous Spirit Beasts begin to roar!


    Condensing the Purple Mansion!


    This signifies someone breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage!


    The Foundation Establishment Cultivator immediately cried out in surprise, the long-ancestor generation cultivators showed even greater interest and reverence.


    The current education within the Lin Family is said to be the strictest among all clans.


    It includes assessments of temperament, resolve, reverence, rituals, and only then the innate Spirit Root and Cultivation Level as well as the four arts of cultivation!


    After all, the Lin Family of today is certainly not lacking in resources!


    Atop Qinglian Peak, numerous cultivators flew out, leading them was Lin Xianzhi. Nowadays, to Lin Xianzhi, each additional Purple Mansion Cultivator brings even more ease of mind.


    Of course, several Formation flags appeared in his hand, in an instant, Shuangmu Island''s Island Protecting Great Array rose up.


    Even the Ten Directions Scarlet Flame Formation was under his control!


    Shuangmu Island now swims in abundant spiritual energy, and if a Demonic Beast tide disrupts the breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, it would be a loss for the Lin Family!


    Lin Xianzhi steps out, Lin Shitao also emerges from Thousand Wood Peak. Although her cultivation level also needs to be stabilized, it is, after all, only a minor breakthrough. Moreover, if Lin Shiming were here, he would have appeared immediately.


    And the matters of Lin Shiming are his own!


    "Great Uncle Seven, is this Lei Xuan''s breakthrough?" Lin Shitao inquires.


    "Indeed it is Lei Xuan. His journey has been quite arduous, but within our Lin Family, finding his footing and breaking through the Purple Mansion is not difficult!" Lin Xianzhi comments, although not a direct descendant of the Lin clan, Lei Xuan had married into the family and served the Lin Family with diligence, as if he were one of their own.


    This also marks the appearance of the Lin Family''s first cultivator with an unusual Spirit Root.


    Likewise, he will become the Lin Family''s sixth Purple Mansion Cultivator!


    In the distance, Lin Yanjiao rises as well, her cultivation level startlingly in the later stages of Foundation Establishment, not far from the peak.


    "Great Aunt Seven, Great Ancestor Seven Xuan!" Lin Yanjiao greets with respect, as the other Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family are currently not on Shuangmu Island.


    Lin Houwei is stationed on Jiuyue Island and the Spirit Vein-rich Undersea Dragon Palace, Lin Shijie guards Lianyun Island, Lin Shiming guards Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    "Very good!" Lin Xianzhi is naturally extremely pleased with Lin Yanjiao.


    Although there''s a suspicion she might be following the old path of Lin Shiming, when compared, Lin Yanjiao, as a Spiritual Body, leads the Lin Family ever forward.


    Especially with Lin Yanjiao pairing with the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, removing who knows how many spies, maintaining the mystery of the Lin Family.


    In the past, before the Lin Family became a Golden Core Family, they didn''t dare to act so boldly; only those doubted ones were placed on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    But now, if the married-in cultivators perform well, they can come to Shuangmu Island too.


    Now in the realm of Spirit Talisman, Artifact Refining, Formation, Spirit Plants, and Spirit Puppet, all have reached Fourth Rank!


    The spiritual halos in the sky grow more numerous, Lei Xuan''s body also manifests a Spirit Shadow in the void, the spiritual energy appearing somewhat wild!


    Then in the next moment, another spiritual energy storm rises not far away!


    Two storms stand opposing over mountains, a sight that sends all Lin Family cultivators into a frenzy!


    "This is Lin Shilei, if Yu Qing has a spirit in heaven, she can rest in peace!" Lin Xianzhi at this moment also seems somewhat trembling.


    Lin Shilei of the Lin Family is now also about to break through to the Purple Mansion.


    He too cultivates the Thunder Technique, and in time he will even cultivate the Geng Metal of the Five Elements Divine Thunder!


    This scene is nothing short of a golden age for the Lin Family!


    On Shuangmu Island, more and more cultivators emerge, although not as prepared as when Lin Shiming broke through to the Golden Core, there were still plenty of cultivators stepping out!


    Among them are more than twenty in the later stages of Foundation Establishment, with Lin Zeli also among them!


    And around Shuangmu Island, a tide of beasts begins to gather!


    Attracted by the strange phenomena of the Purple Mansion breakthrough!


    "The formations of the sub-islands are also activated!" Lin Xianzhi calls out again!


    In the distance, large sub-islands raise their formations; the beast tide rises, and the sub-islands housing numerous mortals may come under attack!

 Chapter 817 - 511: Consecutive Breakthroughs (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets)_2

    The Lin Family needed the common mortals for their thriving development as well!


    "Sword Pavilion clansmen, get ready with me, draw your swords!" Lin Zeli took the lead, as a Golden Sword Lotus bloomed upon her!


    It was the Sword Qi Condensation Technique achieved to a minor degree!


    In the distance, Lin Yanxing, Lin Zeyi, and other cultivators who comprehended Sword Intent all stepped forward; at this moment, eight people had understood Sword Intent!


    Those who grasped the threshold of Sword Intent included Foundation Establishment cultivators and Qi Cultivators, who also stepped forward.


    "Members of the Demon Hunting Hall, step out too!"


    Compared to the previous monster waves, which required all cultivators to come forth, the Lin Family now relied just on the Sword Pavilion and Demon Hunting Hall, both already formidable in combat strength, not to mention having the advantages of time, place, and unity of people.


    Two Purple Mansion stages breaking through together, the spiritual radiance also covered the void above Shuangmu Island.


    Boom!


    However, before the light could fade, a surge of Spirit Light rose again from afar at Five Flame Peak!


    This time, not one, but two dazzling Spirit Lights appeared!


    It was a race against each other!


    "It''s Zekong and Zecheng!" all cultivators looked towards the direction of that cave dwelling!


    Their names were immediately called out!


    "Those two have been competing since childhood!" Lin Xianzhi also felt somewhat emotional.


    Pride radiated from his eyes which he couldn''t easily dispel.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng were both from the ''Ze'' generation with Dual Spirit Roots, one mainly cultivating Wood Attribute Techniques, the other Fire Attribute Techniques!


    One practiced the Art of Spirit Puppets, the other the Art of Wooden Marionettes!


    In the Lin Family, they each had established the Spirit Puppet Hall and Wood Puppet Hall!


    Now they were breaking through together!


    The aura of four streams of Spiritual Energy spread in all directions!


    Causing an even greater sensation!


    And the monster wave was also rolling in from afar!


    At this moment, Lin Shitao took a big step forward, stepping out of the Formation.


    Drifting behind her, the Five-colored Flood Dragon elegantly emerged, circling overhead above Shuangmu Island.


    From the seabed, the Thunder Spirit Turtle drilled out, its massive head covered in lightning, and it had somehow become a Great Demon of Purple Mansion Middle Stage!


    In the distance, the Transmission Formation lit up!


    Only to see Lin Shijie and Lin Shimo, Lin Houshou almost simultaneously appearing!


    The breakthroughs of four Purple Mansion stages in the Lin Family had been transmitted to them through their thousand-mile talismans!


    The three appeared together and soon joined Lin Shitao to fight shoulder to shoulder!


    This time, among the monster wave, there were as many as five Purple Mansion Great Demons!


    "The Demonic Race is not content again, it seems!" Lin Shijie narrowed his eyes, his gaze now frighteningly sharp!


    Like threads of Sword Qi!


    Five Magical Treasure Spirit Swords rose, and in an instant, they soared through the sky!


    Lin Shimo, on the other hand, had five Purple Mansion Spirit Corpses, each floating out as well!


    In contrast, Lin Shitao and Lin Houshou seemed to have some leisure now, because both the Five-colored Flood Dragon and Thunder Spirit Turtle were also engaged in battle.


    The two shared a helpless smile, but it was a smile from the depths of their hearts.


    Especially Lin Houshou, once that Lin Family from Fangmu Mountain healing from their wounds, inadvertently had now grown to such a towering presence!


    ...


    While resisting the monster wave outside, Lei Xuan and the others began to consolidate their Purple Mansion.


    Lei Xuan looked at Lin Shiqi before him, who was showing full tenderness, and this time, it was not him who had married into the Lin Family, but her who had married into the Lei Family!


    They got along harmoniously, cultivated Qi, and built their Foundation together.


    Even breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage together.


    Becoming the envy of everyone.


    However, the next moment, Lei Xuan spoke indifferently:


    "Though you seem real and are beautiful, you are not Shiqi after all. She has too many imperfections; she''s silly, she''s greedy, but she is my one and only. If there is an Immortal Path, I shall ask her to return from beneath the five heavens, and that time, I will bring an extravagant wedding palanquin!"


    Lei Xuan shattered all illusions with a single punch.


    His resolve towards the Taoist path also reached Perfection in an instant. Forget the Lei Family and all romantic sentiments; he now saw things clearly!


    He simply wished to ascend to immortality and find Lin Shiqi again. The Lin Family had shown him kindness, and he would grow alongside them!


    That was all, the path of immortality is utmost simplicity!


    Boom!


    It was in this moment that myriad Divine Soul powers began to converge, forming within the Purple Mansion!


    Purple Mansion, achieved!


    ...


    Lin Shilei punctured the Taoist Meridians of his Purple Mansion as the torrential Fire Attribute True Yuan entered his body.


    His aura soared once more.


    Inside his body, a rudimentary Purple Mansion appeared.


    Various illusions flooded in!


    In these visions, he too had broken through to the Purple Mansion stage; only this time, Lin Yuqing stood behind him as his protector.


    Lin Yuqing still had some white hair, yet he was also full of vigor!


    He became the first person of the Lin Family with the Fire Attribute, leading the Lin Family to continue moving forward!


    It all seemed so natural.


    However, Lin Shilei''s gaze was resolute, he shook his head.


    "Thank you for letting me see my grandfather again, after walking with him for so long, he''s still the same, a tired gaze, yet so proud looking at me!"


    "But in my grandfather''s heart, the clan is more important than his own life!"


    "I have to go now, I have to break through to the Purple Mansion stage, to protect the Lin Family!"


    Lin Shilei murmured, tears streaming down like rain.


    "Grandfather, goodbye!"


    With Lin Shilei''s farewell, the scene before him vanished, and a terrifying force of the Purple Mansion began to purify!


    A radiant glow filled the air, and even the sky thundered with amazing thunder!


    A Purple Mansion Divine Soul, perfectly complete!


    ...


    Lin Zekong also opened his Taoist Meridians, with a powerful aura flowing out!


    The Purple Mansion slowly formed within him as well.


    Various fantasies came one after another.


    In the illusion, Lin Zekong became the foremost person of his generation within the Lin Family Clan, and this time, he had the chance to compete with Lin Shiming!


    And behind him, Lin Zecheng had already been defeated by him.


    Lin Zekong, with an expressionless face, was surrounded by the Lin Family members.


    "Although I''ve experienced this feeling several times in the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, it really is addictive!"


    Lin Zekong murmured.


    "But remember, Zecheng will not lose to me that easily!"


    Lin Zekong stepped forward with a determined Daoist heart, also beginning to condense his Purple Mansion!


    And just as Lin Zekong was condensing his Purple Mansion, Lin Zecheng was also forming his Purple Mansion Divine Soul!


    The two were surprisingly in sync.


    The aura of four Purple Mansions spread, turning into ripples of Spiritual Energy that lingered over Shuangmu Island for a long time!


    Meanwhile, the battle at sea was also drawing to a close, all Foundation Establishment Cultivators had returned, and what remained were Yan and Chang generation Qi Cultivators, testing their skills.


    Every member of the Lin Family was extremely excited, at this moment, the Lin Family had an astonishing number of ten Purple Mansion Cultivators!


    Not to mention Lin Shiming, a Golden Core Cultivator.


    "Now, it all depends on when Hou Wei and Hou Yuan will break through, both of the Hou generation have been surpassed by our Ze and Shi generations!" Lin Xianzhi also laughed heartily!


    He even made a rare joke!


    After all, the breakthroughs for Lin Houyuan and Lin Houwei had also been going on for quite some time.


    "Father, uncle thirteen will surely break through soon too!" Said Lin Shitao with a light smile nearby.


    "Yanjiao, prepare a banquet in a month''s time!"


    "This time, we have five pieces of great news!" Lin Xianzhi extended his hand.


    And Lin Yanjiao nodded again and again.


    "Great Uncle Seven, four pieces of good news will suffice!" Lin Shitao shook her head, she didn''t want such a big fuss.


    "But you are the Lin Family''s chief Alchemist, your breakthrough naturally calls for great celebration!" Lin Xianzhi disagreed.


    At this moment, everyone couldn''t help but look towards Thousand Wood Peak.


    Right now, Lin Shiming was still in closed-door cultivation!


    Another ten years had passed by now!


    Lin Shijie had even entered the Purple Sun Secret Realm once, acquiring many Spiritual Medicines. After submitting his share, there were still plenty left.


    He was also waiting to give them to Lin Shiming!


    While the outside world was lively, at this moment, Lin Shiming was sitting at the peak, nearing the end of his comprehension of the Universal Treasure Decree. Behind him, a blood demon shadow appeared, revealing six arms and three heads!


    Three Demon Weapons were deployed simultaneously, utterly captivating!


    And Lin Shiming also opened his eyes.


    He exhaled a long breath of turbid air!


    "Finally, I have mastered the second layer of the Universal Treasure Decree for the three incomplete Spiritual Treasures!"


    He spread open his palm, and in front of him appeared a scroll, a palm-sized blood plate, and a dark and deep stone bead!


    Compared to before, his aura was yet again more profound.


    Roar!


    Roar!


    Roar!


    With the roars of the Flood Dragons resonating,


    Lin Shiming also looked towards the Flood Dragon Nest, only to see that at some point, the three half-dragons had completely transformed into Flood Dragons!


    And they had reached the level of Purple Mansion Great Demon!


    Roar!


    Not far away, Wang Jiao also roared loudly.


    "Roar! What''s there to shout about, you''re all just reptiles! Always occupying my territory!"

 Chapter 818 - 512: Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets)

    Inside the Flood Dragon Nest, a Green Wind Flood Dragon was the first to spiral out!


    It extended its massive Flood Dragon head, letting out a reluctant low roar in response, yet it didn''t dare to look directly at Wang Jiao.


    At this moment, its body was covered with green scales. The scales shimmered with the color of green, bearing Wind Attribute Spirit Patterns.


    Hearing this low roar, Wang Jiao also let out another long bellow.


    The sky-blue Wind Flood Dragon then ceased responding.


    It lowered its proud Flood Dragon head.


    At this moment, Wang Jiao was at the late stage of Purple Mansion, nearing the peak. Naturally, its imposing pressure was something a newly entered Purple Mansion flood dragon could not compare to.


    Moreover, Wang Jiao had three claws under its belly and its twin horns on the head were faintly beginning to fork, carrying a hint of a true dragon''s aura.


    Lin Shiming was even somewhat anticipative of the scenario of harvesting the Golden Dragon Fruit beneath Wang Jiao''s belly.


    With the Green Wind Dragon yielding, the Thunder Flood Dragon and the Crimson Flood Dragon were even more so.


    Compared to the Green Wind Dragon, Thunder Flood Dragon and Crimson Flood Dragon were much thinner, not even daring to let out a low roar at this moment.


    Seeing Lin Shiming look over.


    The three flood dragons quite spiritually shouted:


    "Qian Mu, senior!"


    Having grown up in the Lin Family from a young age, they too considered the Lin Family their home, and it was under Lin Shiming''s care that they successfully transformed into flood dragons!


    Besides their master, they held utmost respect for Lin Shiming.


    "You three flood dragons have succeeded, I will also gift you each a Fourth Rank flood dragon''s inner core!" Lin Shiming then took out three Jade Boxes, handing them to the three.


    After handing them over, Lin Shiming grasped the Star Pearl.


    As deep and mysterious Spirit Arts were cast, the next moment only felt a beam of starlight leading the way; the Star Pearl entered into the void, and the next moment, starlight descended!


    Just like a night of stars above the great sea, a star plummeted down!


    It was as if the world was ending!


    Lin Shiming eventually didn''t manage to draw it down completely, for if the second decree concerning the Star Pearl was enacted, its power would be many times greater than what was kept hidden within his body.


    He feared that his Cave Heaven would suffer great destruction!


    Even just with this trial, he was able to estimate roughly his combat strength at present.


    Now, he indeed felt confident in battling against someone at Golden Core Middle Stage, yet whether he could defeat or even kill such an opponent, Lin Shiming still had no confidence!


    The power of the Sword Storing Book was to divide, to pressure, similar to the minor domain suppression only a Nascent Soul True Monarch would possess.


    The Blood Demon Disk relied on phantom images of demon gods, using Demon God Chains and demon god blood warriors as its mainstay, and the Star Pearl continued to be renowned for its great power!


    Having properly stored these three incomplete Spiritual Treasures, Lin Shiming then fell through the air, refining the Fifth Rank magical treasure, the Crane Shadow Boat.


    After all was done, he also stood up. At this moment, he also noticed, the Red-haired Demon Monkey once again transformed into a flame. Clearly, after consuming a lot of high-rank Spirit Beast meat, it was about to break through to Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    Lin Shiming, along with the Thunder, Wind, and Crimson Flood Dragons exited the Cave Heaven, first checking the messages left by his family, which were all in normal condition.


    The entire Coral Alliance also appeared unusually calm, even the beast tides were remarkably few.


    Lin Shiming''s brow furrowed deeply, it was too calm, for him this hinted at a deeper, lurking danger.


    He didn''t believe that the worries of Red Leaf True Person, Kuangfeng True Person, and other True Persons were baseless!


    After checking the situation, Lin Shiming also sent a Sound Transmission Talisman to Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shitao!


    His father was still in the midst of a breakthrough, so he didn''t disturb him.


    After briefly meeting with Lin Shitao, she continued to refine Spirit Pills. With many in the Lin Family breaking through to Purple Mansion, a lot of the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid and Zi Xuan Precious Jade had been used up; they had no choice but to refine new Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    Lin Shiming also caught a glimpse of the Five-colored Flood Dragon, then once again descended into the Peach Blossom Forest, which now bloomed lushly.


    It was currently the full bloom season, and the Third Rank peach blossoms across the mountains were extremely eye-catching.


    In the sky, countless Spirit-seeking Bees were buzzing loudly.


    Compared to over a hundred years ago, the number of these Spirit-seeking Bees had exceeded ten thousand, providing the Lin Family with a significant amount of Spirit Honey annually.


    Lin Shiming chose a stone table and took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, sending it in three directions.


    "Seventh brother!" Lin Shiyuan was the first to arrive.


    He was now dressed in a robe of wind, his eyes bright, already at the peak of Foundation Establishment late stage, not far from preparing to break through to Purple Mansion!


    His cultivation speed could be described as extremely fast!


    "Shiyuan, have a seat!" Lin Shiming also invited Lin Shiyuan to sit down.


    Lin Shiyuan sat down generously.


    In the more than fifty years since returning from the Eastern Domain, such progress could indeed be called miraculous.


    "Your Green Scaled Python has broken through!" Lin Shiming took out a Spirit Beast Bag, handing it over to Lin Shiyuan.


    Lin Shiyuan also received the Storage Bag, but the next moment, his mouth opened wide, the slight pride previously there vanished, replaced by a bit of shame!


    His Spirit Beast had reached Purple Mansion before him!


    And moreover, it had become the same species as the Tianqing Flood Dragon King, a Green Wind Flood Dragon.


    This was a pure blood Green Scaled Python''s advancement; back then, it was Nine Dragon Island who had tested the Lin Family to see if they had a Golden Dragon Fruit Tree. Now, it had become the Lin Family''s third Wind Flood Dragon.


    "Work hard, revenge is not far now!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    Having exchanged with the Southern Sea for so long, the Eastern Domain definitely had cultivators infiltrated into the Southern Sea; he could roughly understand the potential crisis at the moment.


    With his understanding of the Heavenly Demon Sect, their invasion into Heavenly Phenomenon Island was a matter of time!


    This was also why he had been endeavoring to enhance his strength lately.


    The Flaming Sword indeed was powerful, but most likely, two Golden Core Late Stage opponents would come.


    And moreover, not just any ordinary Golden Core Late Stage opponents.


    Lin Shiyuan nodded, no longer speaking, currently still immersed in sorrow.


    He found he was somewhat unable to face the massive eyes of the Green Wind Dragon!

 Chapter 819 - 512: Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet (Two in One for Monthly Pass)_2

    ```


    Unable to face Lin Shiming''s eyes, he just caught hold of the Spiritual Tea on the table and drank it in silence.


    The second to arrive was Lei Xuan.


    "Shiming!"


    At this moment, Lei Xuan, dressed in a blue robe with sparkling eyes, showed an unprecedented change in temperament after his Purple Mansion breakthrough.


    He too looked towards the Peach Blossom Forest, his gaze eventually dimming somewhat.


    At the very beginning, it was Lin Shiming''s elder sister, Lin Shiqi, who took care of the Peach Blossom Forest.


    Seeing Lei Xuan somewhat sorrowful, Lin Shiming directly handed over a Spirit Beast Bag to him.


    "This?"


    Lei Xuan''s eyes were full of disbelief, if it weren''t for the continued connection with the Soul Binding Forbidden, he might not even dare to recognize it.


    "Remember to keep it secret, especially do not reveal it in front of the cultivators from Nine Dragon Island!"


    Lin Shiming warned.


    The latter nodded repeatedly, the gleam in his eyes even brighter.


    He had long known that the Thunder Spirit Snake was extraordinary, but now seeing it transform into a Purple Mansion Thunder Flood Dragon, he was still somewhat unable to get over the shock.


    "Congratulations to Elder Lei on your Purple Mansion breakthrough!" Lin Shiming also offered his congratulations.


    Lei Xuan lifted his cup of Spiritual Tea in return.


    Lin Shijie was the last to arrive.


    "Shiming!"


    "Big Brother!"


    Lin Shijie came up and took out a Storage Bag, handing it to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming glanced at the Storage Bag, only to see inside were two five-thousand-year Wood Attribute Spiritual Medicines and ten three-thousand-year Spiritual Medicines!


    "Shiming, your method is quite effective. I tried each one and although it was a bit wasteful, the gains are indeed substantial!" Lin Shijie said with a smile.


    These gains were what he obtained from entering the Purple Sun Secret Realm, after setting aside what was to be contributed to Red Leaf Island.


    Seeing Lin Shiming''s joy, Lin Shijie also felt a surge of happiness in his heart.


    After all, Lin Shiming had helped him a lot, and as time went on, he felt he could help less and less.


    "Big Brother, take a look at yours too!" Lin Shijie took the Spirit Beast Bag, and in the next moment, his eyes also shone with light.


    To each cultivator, the allure of a Flood Dragon as a Spirit Beast was undeniable.


    Especially after seeing Lin Shiming''s Wang Jiao and Five-colored Flood Dragon!


    He had not expected that his Crimson Armored Python would also transform into a Crimson Flood Dragon.


    Thinking back on Lin Shiming''s planning from those years, it now seemed immensely valuable!


    Even at this moment, he was planning for the next forty years, that is, when the next Beast Tide arrives, so he could slay more Flood Dragons.


    To better feed his Crimson Flood Dragon.


    "Keep the affairs of these beasts a secret in your daily life, especially you, Big Brother, on Lianyun Island, we are currently still unable to contend with Nine Dragon Island!" Lin Shiming cautioned again!


    All three nodded. Being over half a century old, Lin Shijie and Lei Xuan, both over a hundred and fifty, naturally understood the implications.


    After admiring the Spiritual Tea with the three for a while, Lin Shiming then set off on the Transmission Formation towards Qian Ji Island!


    The Transmission Formation first passed through Heavenly Phenomenon Island, then transferred to Red Leaf Island, and finally to Qian Ji Island.


    Upon reaching Qian Ji Island, Lin Shiming immediately noticed the differences between Qian Ji Island and other islands.


    He saw female cultivators'' Spirit Puppets dressed in revealing attire, greeting the arriving cultivators along the streets and beside the Transmission Formation.


    Moreover, on Qian Ji Island, there were very few who rode Spirit Beasts or Spirit Boats. Instead, countless numbers piloted various Spirit Puppets.


    It seemed here, if one did not possess a Spirit Puppet, they would be seen as a poor Loose Cultivator.


    Lin Shiming casually took out a Spirit Puppet, heading to the address given by Profound Mechanism True Person!


    At the Golden Core ceremony, he had commissioned Profound Mechanism True Person to refine a Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet, and now was the time to collect it.


    Once the Spiritual Puppet was collected and Jiuxiao Scatter Man achieved a breakthrough, the Lin Family''s Golden Core fighting force would reach a total of four!


    Lin Shiming first arrived at the Coral Alliance branch of Qian Ji Pavilion.


    Here, it was mostly the cultivators from Qian Ji Island. Lin Shiming took out a Token, and following its trace, a female cultivator dressed in a purple group emerged.


    "May I ask, are you Hermit Qian Mu?"


    ```


    "Indeed!"


    "Senior, please follow me. Senior Profound Mechanism and Senior Qian Ji are both waiting for you!" Lin Shiming was taken aback at this moment.


    However, he followed generously right after.


    Soon, they arrived at an extremely mystical hall.


    This hall was only half the size of a normal hall, resembling a miniaturized version.


    "Senior Qian Mu, this is the Qian Ji Pavilion that only our sect can produce, with functions that can equal a small Cave Heaven. It can house living creatures, cultivate Spirit Plants, and its space contains a universe within!" The female cultivator introduced with pride.


    Quickly, the two entered the Qian Ji Pavilion, and the space inside was ten times more spacious, adorned with ornate dragon and phoenix carvings, emanating an overwhelming presence.


    Lin Shiming nodded his head, acknowledging the marvel of the Qian Ji Pavilion.


    However, having his own Cave Heaven, he naturally found the limited space of the Qian Ji Pavilion less attractive. Moreover, while it could be used to cultivate spiritual plants, only those of lower ranks were viable.


    Passing through the graceful corridor, they reached a vast redwood hall where Senior Qian Ji, Senior Profound Mechanism, and Senior Bailin were all present.


    These were the three True Persons of Qian Ji Island.


    Of course, one should not underestimate Qian Ji Island for only hosting three True Persons; it was quite common for them to summon seven or eight Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppets.


    This number had been even greater fifty years ago, before the fierce tide of beasts destroyed many Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppets, or else it would be even more formidable!


    This was also why Qian Ji Island could maintain a neutral faction within the Coral Alliance!


    "Senior Qian Mu, welcome, welcome!" The three True Persons, including Senior Qian Ji and Senior Profound Mechanism, all stood up to greet him.


    "Such a grand reception from the three esteemed seniors, Lin is both honored and surprised!" Lin Shiming greeted them with continuous bows.


    Subsequently, he took out three jade boxes from his Storage Bag and pushed them into the hands of the attendant maid.


    Since the three seniors had prepared a banquet, he naturally could not come empty-handed. So, from his Storage Bag, he presented three common Fifth Rank spiritual treasures.


    "Senior Qian Mu is too courteous!" Senior Qian Ji spoke with a hint of surprise.


    Senior Qian Ji, being in the Golden Core Late Stage, was a cultivator on the same level as Tianliu True Person and Kuangfeng True Person. He wore a slim Daoist robe that still appeared somewhat loose on him.


    His eyes were profound and vast, and Lin Shiming was greatly alarmed at a glance!


    He feared Senior Qian Ji''s Divine Sense was even more terrifying than that of Kuangfeng True Person or Xue Shan True Person.


    "Please, take a seat, Senior Qian Mu. This is your first time visiting Qian Ji Island, isn''t it?" Senior Profound Mechanism added from the side while beginning the introductions.


    Lin Shiming gave a slight smile and nodded.


    In his mind, he already had a clear understanding of the positions of the three True Persons.


    Senior Qian Ji was obviously the face of Qian Ji Island, while Senior Profound Mechanism was more diplomatic and responsible for foreign affairs. As for Senior Bailin, Lin Shiming couldn''t quite see through him.


    Yet, the other''s expression did not seem as rich in variety, leading him to boldly guess: could it be that Senior Bailin was actually a Spiritual Puppet?


    Of course, at this moment, he could not be certain and indiscriminately speculate.


    Instead, he carried on a flattering conversation with the three seniors.


    Senior Profound Mechanism also opened the wine jug, pouring out fourth-rank Supreme Grade Jade Pure Dew, once again releasing a rich aroma.


    A table of spiritual meals was served, all consisting of fourth-rank Supreme Grade dishes, signifying a grandeur reception.


    "Senior Profound Mechanism, Lin has come to retrieve the Spiritual Puppet as agreed!" In his heart, Lin Shiming had some clarity that Senior Qian Ji probably had important matters to discuss!


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t have gone through the trouble of hosting such a banquet exclusively for him!


    After all, he was just a customer with a bit of strength and wealth.


    Such customers were not rare in the Coral Alliance.


    Yet Senior Profound Mechanism talked about nothing of substance, only mentioning family affairs and Qian Ji Island''s extraordinary tales.


    Lin Shiming naturally had little interest and was no longer beating around the bush.


    "Senior Qian Mu, it has already been refined, and you haven''t noticed for so long. It seems our Qian Ji Island''s Spiritual Puppets have met your expectations," Senior Profound Mechanism said with a relieved smile, pointing at Senior Bailin. Then, with a change in posture, Senior Bailin transformed into another appearance.


    Lin Shiming was startled but regained his composure quickly.


    A wry smile crept onto his face; Senior Qian Ji and Senior Profound Mechanism truly were interesting characters.


    One must know, Senior Bailin was a real person...


    "This Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet possesses Golden Core strength, the Divine Soul used is that of a Demonic Beast''s Divine Soul, which can easily contend against Golden Core Early Stage cultivators, and it can also change its appearance. However, it cannot withstand the scrutiny of Golden Core Divine Sense..." Senior Profound Mechanism began to introduce one by one.


    In his hand, he passed a compass to Lin Shiming.


    This compass was the key to controlling the Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet!

 Chapter 822 - 514: Discovery of a Minor World, Heavenly Spirit Root (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    ```


    In the Sword Pavilion, the Crimson Flame Sword was currently covered in red, with a spirit line running through its center, constantly being purified.


    A faint Sword Intent continuously surged forth.


    And this Sword Intent was connected from the body of the Crimson Flame Sword to the eighteen Sword Ladders!


    At this moment, it was apparently using the eighteen types of Sword Intents to nourish its own intent.


    Seeing Lin Shiming approaching, the Crimson Flame Sword also dispersed its Spirit Light to reveal its sharp body, and hung high in the void.


    It looked at Lin Shiming with some surprise, not expecting him to ask such a question.


    "Not much different from your Human Race!"


    After a long pause, the Crimson Flame Sword finally spoke.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming was also taken aback.


    He naturally understood what the Crimson Flame Sword meant; he had methods to create Sword Pills in his Storage Bag!


    "That day on Qingxuan Mountain, you didn''t really think I was deliberately waiting there for a day, did you?"


    The Crimson Flame Sword spoke with some profound meaning.


    Lin Shiming was startled too, remembering that day, the Crimson Flame Sword agreed to his request without hesitation.


    And afterwards, it waited for half a day before breaking the Formation and leaving.


    "Anyone who is about to Solidify Pill, or has already directly Solidified Pill can do it!"


    "The path of Spirit Cultivation also lies in the word ''cultivation''!"


    "You can also understand it as, your Cultivators'' path also lies in the word ''spirit'', and logically, a pseudo Sword Pill formed by the Soul Summoning Sword can also be considered as an alternative form of Spirit Cultivation!"


    The Crimson Flame Sword was not secretive, just looking at Lin Shiming.


    It surely knew what Lin Shiming was thinking at the moment.


    "But I advise you not to go too early!"


    The Crimson Flame Sword spoke again.


    "Even if you go, if you haven''t reached the fourth level, where Sword Annihilates All Laws and formed the Sword Domain, it will be in vain!"


    "Or you could cultivate the Taiyi Grass Sword to the Fifth Rank!"


    "As for more, I do not have the right to tell you, nor the qualifications to tell you, that should come from the grass senior!"


    The Crimson Flame Sword said a lot, and Lin Shiming nodded in response.


    "Then how do I get to that small world?"


    "Your Grass Sword!" the Crimson Flame Sword answered again!


    Lin Shiming also nodded:


    "Thank you, Senior Crimson Flame!"


    "Then junior will not disturb senior any longer!"


    Lin Shiming exited the Sword Pavilion; although he did not receive the answer he imagined, it seemed not too bad, as if he could just wait for his Sword Dao to advance a bit further!


    And the further advancement of the Sword Dao is the Sword Annihilates All Laws!


    That is what Tianliu True Person refers to as nurturing the sword; her Sword Lake, and his, the Sword Origin.


    As for the Grass Sword floating within his Golden Core, Lin Shiming didn''t place much hope on it.


    And in his view, advancing through the Sword Dao realm might be quicker than breaking through in Cultivation Level; after all, in his Divine Bead of Mystical Power right now, there are three chances to deduce Spirit Light, and three Revival Winds.


    The Revival Winds, he did not plan to use to ripen the Gold Condensation Fruit Tree, but to hasten the growth of the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree!


    Wang Jiao was already at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, perfectly capable of devouring the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree, then consuming a Fifth Rank Poisonous Dragon''s inner core and corpse.


    The probability of breaking through to become a Fifth Rank Demon King was extremely high!


    Lin Shiming walked out of the Sword Pavilion and headed towards the clan hall.


    Since he was preparing for seclusion, the Flood Dragon Nest also needed to be utilized, as long as a serpent was born, it would be almost like having another formidable Purple Mansion combat power.


    "Yanjiao, arrange some Spirit Pythons with high potential!"


    At this moment, Lin Yanjiao was busy handling family matters. Seeing Lin Shiming arrive, she quickly called out:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Yanjiao will immediately tally up the promising Spirit Pythons of the family!"


    Being the Family Head, she was naturally aware of the existence of the Lin Family''s Flood Dragon Nest!


    And that was what she had been doing previously, only this time Lin Shiming didn''t mention the quantity, suggesting that a significant number of potential snakes and pythons would be accommodated!


    So she needed to recount them!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, there''s another matter, what do you think?" after Lin Yanjiao finished dealing with Lin Shiming''s request, she then took out a Jade Slip.


    The Jade Slip was handed to Lin Shiming!


    Within the Jade Slip was a scene.


    The scene depicted a huge island where waves were turbulent, continuously crashing toward the coast. A Cultivator in Lin Family attire was flying over the island.


    At this moment, the sunset was level with the island, and just at that moment, a gigantic vortex suddenly appeared above the island!


    As the Lin Family Cultivator was about to explore it, a massive Crimson Bird burst forth from within!


    Its wingspan stretched over thousands of miles, never-ending!


    Definitely a Fifth Rank Great Demon!


    And that was where the scene cut off!


    "That clan member is Lin Yanping, a clan brother of Yanxing, with a Third Spirit Root, at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; it''s a pity!" Lin Yanjiao spoke out.


    Lin Shiming also knew what the end of the scene implied.


    And at this moment, the system prompt sounded:


    [Please exterminate the Fifth Rank Crimson Bird group, you will obtain a permanent small world!]


    Lin Shiming felt a thrill of excitement in his heart upon hearing the system prompt!


    He was previously worried about where the Lin Family should retreat to!


    Now a small world suddenly presented itself!


    And the entrance to the small world must have something to do with the intersection of the setting sun and sea level!


    That is to say, if the Lin Family took control of this island, and used Formation to block off the sunset, perhaps they could maintain the opening and closing of the small world''s entrance!


    This would be the true cornerstone for the Lin Family''s eternal existence!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, if it''s a risk, we can wait for Elder Jiuxiao!" seeing Lin Shiming lost in thought, Lin Yanjiao thought Lin Shiming found the small world''s Demon King Crimson Bird too daunting!


    So she also suggested!


    After all, waiting for Elder Jiuxiao to break through to Golden Core, the Lin Family would have three Golden Core combat powers!


    They could also use a Fifth Rank Formation and Fifth Rank Magical Treasure to contend with it!


    No need to take risks!


    After all, it''s unclear how many Demonic Beasts and Demon Kings are inside the small world!


    And that Demon King is clearly cunning.


    "It''s alright, but just to be safe, bring along the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation from Shuangmu Island!" Lin Shiming was not afraid of the Crimson Bird. Right now, he was actually eager to test the might of his three damaged Spiritual Treasures!


    ```

 Chapter 823 - 514: Discovery of a Minor World, Heavenly Spirit Root (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)_2

    ```


    But just to be safe, he still planned to bring along the Crimson Flame Sword and the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation!


    Before any incidents occurred on Red Leaf Island and Xue Shan Island!


    The Lin Family was safe, after all, within the Coral Alliance, aside from Golden Thunder Island, the other islands had all shown varying degrees of goodwill towards Lin Shiming!


    That meant, the Coral Alliance was at least well-disposed towards the Lin Family!


    "By the way, Seventh Great-Uncle, from this year onwards, the family is planning to hold the Ascension Ceremony on the main island!"


    "To increase the cohesion of the mortals, and also let them see what true cultivators are like!"


    Lin Yanjiao suddenly spoke up!


    This decision was clearly the result of consideration by numerous elders.


    "Sure!" Lin Shiming also nodded his head in agreement!


    He was curious at that moment, just how many children would participate in the Lin Family''s Ascension Ceremony that was held every three years!


    And how many cultivators would be born!


    In the past, they would go to the towns!


    But now, the mortals of the Lin Family were all on the sub-islands!


    Not only was gathering them together convenient, but there were also more cultivators in the Lin Family!


    They arranged for Spirit Boats to directly transport them over to Shuangmu Island to hold the Ascension Ceremony together!


    One reason was to demonstrate the foundation of a Golden Core Family, and at the same time, to deepen those mortals'' yearning for the Cultivation World!


    To get them to have more children!


    After all, the Lin Family was not lacking resources now!


    What they were lacking were cultivators with high talent; Dual Spirit Roots were many, but compared to the entire Southern Sea Cultivation World, they still seemed sparsely ordinary. Spiritual Bodies were even rarer, with only Lin Yanjiao being one, and currently, there were only three with unique Spirit Roots!


    Back in the Eastern Domain, they had an Ice Spirit Root Cultivator, but it was a pity that the Ice Spirit Root Cultivator''s soul was merged by True Person Liu He!


    "What about from Seventh Great-Uncle''s side?"


    "Seventh Xuan Ancestor has already agreed, and so have the other elders!"


    Lin Shiming nodded again.


    "When is the date?"


    "In five days, but mortals will start to arrive over the next few days, each child accompanied by an adult!"


    Lin Yanjiao continued to reply.


    Lin Shiming nodded as well; adults were to encourage those who had not embarked on the path of cultivation to have more children and to experience the Immortal Path!


    The children, on the other hand, were to increase cohesion!


    And to boost their confidence!


    Nowadays, each year the Lin Family had quite a few Spirit Root Cultivators born, but once these Spirit Root Cultivators went up the mountain, they often felt no different from the others, which dampened their spirits!


    But if out of one hundred thousand people, one hundred emerged, even if their Spirit Root was not that strong, they would have much more confidence in themselves!


    This confidence, sieved out of many, was enough to support them for a long journey!


    Instead of continuing to slack off and live off the Lin Family''s bare minimum support!


    After discussing the details with Lin Yanjiao, Lin Shiming prepared to return and spend a few days refining the Xu Ri Sword!


    Xu Ri True Person''s Magical Treasure Flying Sword was at least a fifth-rank intermediate-grade, still somewhat more powerful than his Green Fish!


    He wasn''t comfortable using it in front of the Coral Alliance''s cultivators, but against the Demon King, he was quite confident!


    ...


    Time also quickly passed.


    With the arrival of the first ray of golden sunlight five days later, it sprinkled over Shuangmu Island!


    On Qinglian Peak, the bell that signified enduring prosperity rang out, echoing across the entire Shuangmu Island!


    The huge square at the foot of Qinglian Peak also began to buzz with excitement!


    The elders of the Lin Family who were not in closed-door cultivation appeared one after another upon the high platform: Demon Hunting Hall, Alchemy Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, Formation Hall, Spirit Plant Hall, Spirit Puppet Hall, Commerce Hall...


    Not a single one was missing, and this unprecedented Ascension Ceremony not only sparked Lin Shiming''s curiosity but also that of many Lin Family cultivators!


    They too wanted to know, how many Spirit Root Cultivators could the Lin Family''s triennial Ascension Ceremony bring forth this time!


    Even many of those who were preparing to enter seclusion showed up here!


    Lin Shiming also descended onto the high platform, along with Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shitao!


    "Back in the day, I witnessed your Spirit Root being detected. Now I''m going to test for Spirit Roots with you," Lin Xianzhi said, feeling somewhat odd and somewhat sentimental!


    Lin Shiming also felt a surge of emotion!


    Lin Xianzhi wasn''t wrong in saying this because as the son of the Family Head, his Spirit Root was detected in the council hall!


    But he tested for Lin Shitao''s Spirit Root in Qingtao Town!


    At this moment, Lin Shitao also wore a look of joy!


    Dressed in a light pink skirt, she looked exceptionally beautiful!


    "Seventh Brother, this Ascension Ceremony is really not bad!" Lin Shitao also expressed her joy!


    Some cultivators would fear a large stage, but some cultivators would rise because of a large stage!


    ```


    Lin Shiming also looked down at the mortals below!


    His Divine Sense swiftly swept over, and he found that there were already over eight thousand young children around ten years old.


    And to know, a hundred years ago, the Lin Family only had a total of just over two hundred thousand mortals!


    "Now there are over a million mortals, and eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-two will participate in the Immortal Cultivation Ceremony this time!" It seemed as if she saw Lin Shiming''s confusion!


    Lin Yanjiao also responded with a smile!


    "Yanjiao is much more competent than you were back then!" Lin Xianzhi also jokingly said, a rare instance on his part.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile awkwardly; when he was the Family Head, he indeed only grasped the big picture, and next was to enhance his Cultivation Level!


    Leading the way for the Lin Family!


    And Lin Yanjiao, concerning the hearts of the Family members and the family affairs, was more meticulous than he was!


    Just like the exploration of the minor world yesterday, it was an order given by Lin Yanjiao, also to investigate the opportunities around the Lin Family!


    Though it meant losing some of the clan members,


    sometimes understanding what is around you is more important!


    And just at this moment, the system prompt also sounded again:


    [Please carefully screen the Lin Family''s young children, and you will obtain a Heavenly Spirit Root Cultivator]


    Just at this moment, the system prompt sounded again!


    Lin Shiming was also startled!


    A Heavenly Spirit Root appeared in the Lin Family!


    Followed by joy and anticipation!


    It should be known that many of the Lin Family''s higher-ups consumed Turtle Spirit Coconuts and also produced offspring, resulting in quite a few Dual Spirit Roots!


    Now that a Heavenly Spirit Root has appeared in the Lin Family, Lin Shiming was very curious!


    This feeling was different from the day when he found Lin Shitao, which was for the reward of Spirit Stones!


    And now, it is from the viewpoint of the reigning Family Head!


    "I am the current Family Head of the Lin Family, and I announce, today''s Immortal Cultivation Assembly begins!" While Lin Shiming was pondering!


    Lin Yanjiao, standing on a high platform, announced the beginning of the Immortal Cultivation Assembly!


    You could see many fireworks suddenly ignited in the sky!


    At the same time, several Sea Cloud Birds that blocked out the sky began to circle overhead, stirring up waves of spiritual radiance!


    As the spiritual radiance and spirit birds swept over!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming found that the eyes of those eight thousand some children all shone with light.


    That desire for Immortal Cultivation, far more shocking than a Qi Cultivator performing a few small fireballs!


    And under such a ceremony, those adult mortals also had a different feeling in their eyes!


    As if at this moment, they too were bathed in the chance of immortality, experiencing a scene on the Immortal Island that they would never forget in this lifetime!


    The spirit birds disbanded, and the spiritual radiance also vanished!


    On the high platform, a full twenty Spirit Platforms began to test for Spirit Roots!


    Each young child would line up to get tested!


    And the Spirit Testing Platform on the testing station would show different reactions!


    Initially, they were ordinary mortal Cultivators, and not many showed Spirit Light!


    Many looked disheartened!


    But there would typically be one in every hundred!


    And later on, many of them were descendants of Cultivators or descendants from Shuangmu Island!


    Their Spirit Light brightly illuminated!


    Quadruple Spirit Roots, Triple Spirit Roots!


    A dazzling array to behold!


    "A Dual Spirit Root genius!" Just at this moment, an outcry arose from below!


    Many Cultivators showed envious gazes, for that person was a descendant from a Foundation Establishment family of Shuangmu Island!


    Having a Dual Spirit Root genius for descendants would almost double their stipends!


    However, soon there were new Dual Spirit Roots!


    In the end, a total of three Dual Spirit Roots appeared, and the Lin Family members were somewhat numb!


    "Heavenly Spirit Root!" A shout rang out!


    At this, all the Cultivators on the Lin Family''s high platform were shocked!


    They saw on the third testing station, a child about ten years old!


    He touched a Spirit Stone, and the light from that Spirit Stone overflowed in an instant, shooting up into the clouds.


    Turning into a sensational vision!


    "It is a Water Spirit Root of the Heavenly Spirit Root!" Lin Shiming also recognized at a glance, this new Heavenly Spirit Root Cultivator of the Lin Family!

 Chapter 828 - 517: Zewens Predicament

    The temperature in this small world is noticeably higher, possibly due to the effect of the volcano, so much so that even the jungle is a bit too hot.


    The majority of the spiritual herbs and trees here also possess the fire attribute.


    At this moment, Lin Shijie is also standing at the mouth of the volcano, watching the surging lava, equally thrilled to the extreme.


    "Shiming, I feel that cultivating here is even more effective than at our family''s Thousand Wood Peak!"


    The Lin Family''s Thousand Wood Peak is a fire attribute Pure Spirit Vein, albeit only of the Fourth Rank Inferior Grade, while this place not only has a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade vein, but also abounds in pure fire attribute energy and a Nanming Crystal Mine, naturally offering greater aid to Lin Shijie!


    "Big brother, if you''re preparing to break through to the late stage of Purple Mansion, I can still offer you some help!"


    "As for Lianyun Island, there''s no need to worry, with Zekong''s strength and vision, he can manage it on his own for years!"


    "Good! I indeed feel the opportunity arising." Lin Shijie nodded his head.


    Without hesitation, Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense entered the Cave Heaven space, and the Xu Ri Sword also flew out from the cave.


    The intense flames burned like the red glow of the sky, continuously rising, especially vibrant.


    "This is..."


    At this moment, Lin Shijie hesitated as well, since Lin Shiming had slain the Crimson Xia Bird within the Sword Storing Book''s space and hadn''t seen the Chi Ming Xia Flame.


    But now, as soon as the temperature rose, his face also turned pale with alarm.


    "This is the Chi Ming Xia Flame, probably born from this volcano, having been refined by that demonic bird. It is considered a Fifth Rank Spiritual Fire, though I''ve reserved a portion of this flame for Shitao and my Spirit Beast," Lin Shiming explained.


    "Of course!" Lin Shijie nodded, this Fifth Rank Spiritual Flame, if entirely given to him, would be too much for him to handle, and it could even be dangerous.


    Even though he is cultivating the Five Flames Scripture.


    Lin Shiming wielded the Xu Ri Sword, drawing a sword trail through the air, and caused thirty percent of the vigorously burning Chi Ming Xia Flame to split off.


    The Spiritual Flame was still chaotically flickering, unwilling to separate, as if it had developed a hint of Spirit Intelligence.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming again performed a Spirit Art, causing the Xu Ri Sword to grow another three folds in size, and sounded a clear, sharp sword cry!


    As the sword''s light flashed by, the Chi Ming Xia Flame was finally split off.


    And as it seemed to reunite again, Lin Shiming once more waved his sleeve,


    Gathering most of the Chi Ming Xia Flame along with the Xu Ri Sword into the Cave Heaven!


    "Big brother, you can just use a fire attribute Magical Treasure to attract it!" Lin Shiming suggested from the side.


    This fire is extremely fierce, so even just a portion of it is not something ordinary cultivators can touch recklessly.


    "Don''t worry, the Cultivation Technique I practice specializes in handling fire!" Lin Shijie shook his head and replied with a smile!


    From his chest, he produced five streams of Spiritual Flame, which in the blink of an eye, transformed into five swords and flew forwards!


    At this moment, it was visible that one of the Spirit Swords, made of the green Serpent Spirit Flame, was particularly eye-catching!


    Now, as the five Spirit Swords flew out, the Chi Ming Xia Flame also landed on one of the swords, continuing to burn fiercely!


    "Shiming, I might need to cultivate here for a while!" Lin Shijie looked at the Spirit Sword and didn''t immediately take it back.


    Although he had connected it with the Spirit Sword, he didn''t believe it would be so simple to refine it.


    "Alright, I''ll have Zelu help you set up a Fourth Rank Formation here, and if it affects it, we can also temporarily halt the extraction of the Nanming Fire Crystal Mine!" Lin Shiming nodded his head, then called over Lin Zelu through sound transmission.


    After everything was taken care of, Lin Shiming, Lin Zekong, and Lin Zeyi left first!


    Lin Zelu is an Array Master, and he needed to stay behind to set up more formations, as well as adjust the direction of the island, reducing the time the setting sun falls upon the island.


    While the small world wouldn''t be completely closed off now, reducing the time would still lower the risk.


    After all, the duration of the sunset on the island is not short.


    Once all this was done, Lin Shiming felt reassured, with Lin Zecheng and Lin Zelu around, and in addition, Lin Shijie''s Crimson Flood Dragon was inside the volcano!


    At this moment, the Crimson Flood Dragon is frolicking inside the volcano, although there is no Flood Dragon qi to absorb, it feels much better than being suppressed by Wang Jiao, unable to even breathe freely; it now truly relishes in the joy of being a Flood Dragon!


    Lin Shiming, accompanied by Lin Zekong, flew into Lianyun Island. This time, unlike the urgency on his arrival, he didn''t haste, strolling leisurely through the markets of Lianyun Island.


    The place is quite inferior compared to Heavenly Phenomenon Island, yet the Lin Family Restaurant and Pill Pavilion seemed as bustling as always.


    In front of the Lin Family Restaurant, a power from the Xu Family caught Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    He walked into the shop.


    "Senior, what would you like to order?" A cultivator dressed in coarse hemp instantly came forward.


    "We are a centuries-old shop, all kinds of Spirit Pills and Spiritual Medicines are guaranteed!"


    "Oh?" Lin Shiming showed a mildly interested expression, went into the shop to have a look, but then shook his head and left the storefront.


    He continued to walk deeper into the streets, this time visiting other family''s shops and the street market stalls.


    After roughly browsing around, he finally took his Flying Sword to the Yunmu Mountain of the Lin Family on Lianyun Island.


    Yunmu Mountain is the Lin Family''s ancestral mountain on Lianyun Island, named for its connection to both Lianyun Island and the Double Wood Forest!


    Though not very tall, the mountain itself was also home to a Fourth Rank Spiritual Vein.


    However, planted all over the mountain was a kind of miraculous Yunmu tree.


    These Yunmu trees grew extremely tall, with bark that was covered in cloud-like patterns, incredibly light yet being Third Rank Superior Grade magical material. The Third Rank Magic Artifacts made from them are far easier to control compared to ordinary artifacts; a cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage could easily handle an entire set of more than a dozen Yunmu Magic Swords!


    This too was a unique feature of Yunmu Mountain!

 Chapter 829 - 517: Zewens Dilemma_2

    In the grand hall of Yunmu Mountain, Lin Zewen stood, his brows tightly furrowed, as if pondering important matters.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Upon seeing Lin Shiming appear, Lin Zewen hurriedly called out!


    At this moment, he was somewhat surprised.


    He had not expected Lin Shiming to appear here at this moment.


    However, while Lin Zewen was surprised, Lin Shiming was disappointed.


    In the past, the Lin Family had chosen two successors for the Family Head position, one was Lin Yanjiao, and the other was Lin Zewen!


    Yet two years later, the better candidate became apparent; Lin Yanjiao was almost unanimously chosen by the Elders Council!


    Whereas Lin Zewen seemed to fade into obscurity.


    Even now, Lin Shiming was even more disappointed!


    Originally, Lin Yanjiao was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and now she is at the late stage.


    Whereas Lin Zewen, originally at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, is still at the middle stage!


    Even with a Third Spirit Root, given the current resources of the Lin Family, this should not be the case.


    In terms of development, under the leadership of Lin Yanjiao, Shuangmu Island has thrived, and Heavenly Phenomenon Island has also made considerable progress. The prosperity of the Lin Family''s markets, spirit cuisine restaurants, taverns, Alchemy Workshop, and Artifact Refinery Workshop are evident!


    But Lianyun Island, has no distinctive features, causing it to be far outstripped by Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    The key issue is, Lin Zewen seems to have lost his sharpness.


    At this moment, he looks much older.


    And to think, Lin Zewen, belonging to the Ze generation, is just over a hundred years old, definitely in his prime among Foundation Establishment cultivators!


    Originally, when he accompanied him to the Qingxuan Sect for the Golden Core Convention, he did not look like this.


    "Zewen, coming up, your uncle will be in closed-door cultivation for a while, and in the future, it will be Zekong, your elder brother, who will be guarding Lianyun Island!"


    "Yes!" Lin Zewen nodded.


    "Zewen, for the future of Lianyun Island, I have three requests!"


    "First, pay close attention to the situation on Lanling Island, even take the initiative to encroach upon some territories. We are all affiliated forces, there is no need for strong boundary awareness!"


    "Second, I want to see Lianyun Island''s affiliated forces reshuffled. Among them, some old forces inherited from the previous Lianyun Island, I do not wish to see them a second time!"


    "The third request is that I hope you can see yourself clearly. One failure is not a failure, nor are two failures; only lifelong failure is true failure."


    "Our Lin Family does not lack competitive individuals, but we lack those who are truly progressive. In this, you can learn much from Zekong!"


    Having said this, Zekong also turned his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.


    After all, he too had been rebuked by Lin Shiming, but he somewhat understood Lin Zewen''s feelings!


    Although competing with Lin Yanjiao at the same time, he was definitely at a disadvantage!


    Lin Yanjiao possesses a Dual Spirit Root, is a Spiritual Body, can control the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, and also leads the Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island and Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    Lin Shiming did not continue speaking and left directly!


    These matters, Lin Zewen had to figure out on his own. If not, in the future, at most he could only control the small Lianyun Island.


    And the first two instructions he had given were extremely urgent.


    Lanling Island has always been at odds with Red Leaf Island, and during his participation in the Purple Sun Secret Realm, the other side even tried to drag him down!


    They also belong to the Golden Thunder Island alliance!


    Previously, Lianyun Island was infiltrated by Golden Thunder Island!


    But in fact, next to Lianyun Island is not Golden Thunder Island, but White Ice Island which is under Lanling Island.


    Thus, whether Lanling Island might collude with Golden Thunder Island this time or not, he must start probing!


    If Lanling Island retaliates strongly and negotiates multiple times with the Lin Family, there might not be a big issue. But if Lanling Island tolerates everything, then there''s a big problem!


    This is why Lin Shiming made such demands!


    As for the previous affiliated forces, in his view, none are necessary to retain.


    Because Lianyun Island is like a card shuffled by the Demonic Race.


    It''s impossible for those who could still maintain a decent reputation under the Demonic Race''s onslaught to not have any background!


    And this background could certainly not come from Red Leaf Island.


    Lin Zewen would not be blamed for this in the past!


    But after he had conducted the Golden Core Ceremony and the situation remained the same, it meant Lin Zewen was incompetent.


    Lin Shiming went straight to the Transmission Formation!


    In the hall, only Lin Zewen and Lin Zekong remained.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle must be very... disappointed!" Lin Zewen paused for a long while before finally letting out a sigh.


    Lin Zekong looked at Lin Zewen, and at this moment, he also spoke:


    "Zewen, you needn''t feel so disheartened. Sometimes, there''s no need to be so conciliatory. Our Lin Family is already a Golden Core Family!!"


    "Every great clan that rises inevitably experiences various killings and bloodshed!"


    "But all difficulties, in front of our Lin Family as a Golden Core Family, are but clouds and smoke!"


    "Since Lianyun Island belongs to us, then all its affiliated families must either be thoroughly understood, supported by us, or fully open to our Lin Family. As for those with schemes in their hearts, kick them all out of this game!"


    "Do you know how many spies from other forces Yanjiao has killed on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and even Shuangmu Island? Those unclear and ambiguous forces, even if the Lin Family doesn''t cleanse them, the Ye Family and Zhao Family from Primordial Yang Gate will act!"


    "Golden Core Families are different from Purple Mansion Families!" Lin Zekong spoke again.


    "And about you, the future of the Lin Family cannot be limited, and your future is also limitless!"


    "Even mortals have their prime years to influence the court and the fields; isn''t it laughable for cultivators to set a fixed limit for themselves?" After saying this, Lin Zekong also began searching for a Cave Heaven in Yunmu Mountain!


    With these words, whether Lin Zewen could see through and understand depended on him!


    Today, he and Lin Shiming have spoken enough!


    If he is still trapped in the space where he was crushed by Lin Yanjiao and cannot extricate himself, then speaking more is also useless!


    Moreover, he understands the intention of Lin Shiming!


    For the stabilizing compass of the family, having Lin Yanjiao alone is enough.


    But the family still needs someone for expanding!


    The territory of the Lin Family, two islands will not be enough!


    Such a candidate cannot be from Purple Mansion, Foundation Establishment is just right.


    ...


    Returning to Shuangmu Peak, Lin Shiming also went straight to the Council Hall!


    Lin Yanjiao was still here, seemingly having waited for Lin Shiming for a long time!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Seeing Lin Shiming enter, Lin Yanjiao repeatedly bowed.


    "The small world is completed, next, the family will continue to use the methods from the Eastern Domain, relocating mortals, entering that small world to live, and operating Spirit Ships for mortals!" Lin Shiming took out the Jade Slip, thoroughly recording the sea chart of the small world and the method to contact Lin Zelu!


    He handed it over to Lin Yanjiao!


    "Additionally, the recent batch of immortal seedlings can also be brought into the small world to start training in the Preaching Hall, as for the other cultivators, you arrange them!"


    Lin Shiming directly handed it over to Lin Yanjiao, he was still very satisfied with her way of handling things now!


    "Alright, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Yanjiao nodded her head.


    "Furthermore, keep an eye and probe Lanling Island together with Zewen!"


    "You can even notify Red Leaf Island; they know much more than us about that area, we belong to Red Leaf Island and can communicate with them anytime!" Lin Shiming added a few more sentences.


    "Alright." Lin Yanjiao also nodded her head!


    Having finished these tasks, Lin Shiming then headed towards his own Cave Heaven!


    Upon reaching the Cave Heaven, he directly entered into it!


    Upon entering the Cave Heaven, Wang Jiao at this moment eagerly looked over!


    His huge dragon pupils shone like two large lanterns!


    Continuously staring at Lin Shiming, emitting a low growl!


    "Master, ate fruit, still want meat!" Wang Jiao, though his speech was slow!


    His mouth drooled quite a bit of venom, now all falling out!


    Falling inside the Flood Dragon Nest, fortunately, the other four snakes also had resistance to poison!


    Otherwise with his antics!


    These snakes wouldn''t need to transform into flood dragons.


    "Don''t worry, you won''t be left out!" Lin Shiming patted Wang Jiao''s head, and also took out the Golden Dragon Fruit!


    Apart from the Golden Dragon Fruit, there was also an inner core of a Fifth Rank Poisonous Dragon, both taken out!


    At this moment, the Golden Dragon Fruit also emitted a vast flood dragon aura, the Fifth Rank Poisonous Dragon''s inner core also emitted a huge flood dragon aura!


    Faintly, it seemed like two flood dragons were confronting each other.


    "And that reptile''s poison sac, roar!" Wang Jiao at this moment still remembered!

 Chapter 830 - 518: Comprehending the Sword, Zewen Holds a Banquet (Combined Two in One Update)

    Inside the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming extracted the Poisonous Dragon''s poison sac!


    Previously, Lin Shiming had sealed it within a jade box encased in ice, affixed with several Spirit Talismans!


    The moment it was taken out, the jade box had turned completely into black jade, and much of the ice had also turned into a faint black!


    Evidently, the toxicity of the poison sac was beyond Lin Shiming''s expectations!


    "Roar!" Wang Jiao roared excitedly at this moment.


    Opening its mouth wide, it revealed its fierce and sharp gigantic dragon teeth, with terrifying venom covering them. It gazed at Lin Shiming:


    "Master, throw it in, it''s so fragrant, unbearable, roar!"


    Wang Jiao was extremely excited.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming''s mouth twitched, but he nodded in agreement. He removed the sealing Spirit Talismans, and tossed the ice and jade box together into Wang Jiao''s mouth!


    It was like eating a layered meat pie.


    Roar!


    The moment the poison sac entered its mouth, the Golden Dragon Fruit and the fifth-rank inner core were also swallowed by it!


    In an instant, black blood began to seep out from the crevices of Wang Jiao''s dragon scales!


    On top of its scales, those Spirit Patterns seemed to come alive, becoming extremely eerie.


    Wang Jiao''s body continuously rolled over, eventually plunging violently into a mud pit in the Flood Dragon Nest.


    It directly dived in, and a fierce dark light completely engulfed the mud pit.


    At the same time, the aura of the Flood Dragons in the Flood Dragon Nest surged towards the cave as well.


    However, even when fully submerged in the mud pit, muffled cries could still be heard!


    And from the mud pit, black poisonous water kept bubbling up!


    Lin Shiming had no choice but to deploy an Array to contain all the poisonous liquid from the mud pit!


    The four Spirit Snakes nearby, absorbing the aura of the Flood Dragon, shrank their heads and squeezed further away as well!


    They didn''t dare get close, fearing contamination by the venom.


    Hearing Wang Jiao''s painful cries, Lin Shiming was also somewhat worried. Even the Soul Arrest within him was throbbing, showing a tendency to quiet down.


    Clearly, it was somewhat risky for Wang Jiao to take three items at once!


    However, fortunately, there was no system alert, which meant that the chances of Wang Jiao failing were not great.


    Lin Shiming then set up a Soundproofing Formation; letting Wang Jiao''s screams echo throughout the entire Cave Heaven was not an option.


    Otherwise, he himself wouldn''t be able to cultivate, but it might be beneficial for the four Spirit Snakes to listen to it.


    Perhaps listening to the voice of the Flood Dragon could help them in their transformation.


    After the Array was arranged, Lin Shiming looked at the floating Xu Ri Sword in the center of the Cave Heaven.


    Lin Shijie was in seclusion, digesting the Fiery Energy, but there was still a large amount left!


    However, at this moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey filled with fiery light suddenly opened up a bit, revealing a monkey face and then, with a big open mouth, it sucked towards the Fiery Energy!


    Moreover, it was about to take in two-thirds of it!


    Lin Shiming was incredibly shocked at this moment!


    He didn''t expect the Red-haired Demon Monkey to be so eager just after coming out of seclusion, and at this moment, its Cultivation Level was obviously at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage!


    Just after breaking through to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, to absorb the complete Fiery Energy was madness!


    Lin Shiming maneuvered the Xu Ri Sword, retrieving all of the Fiery Energy.


    At the same time, the Soul Arrest began to activate!


    This was also the first time that Lin Shiming activated the tribulation of Soul Arrest. Inside his mind, the Soul Arrest restriction suddenly began to contract, and a tiny monkey shadow within let out a pained roar!


    This time, Lin Shiming was angry. The Red-haired Demon Monkey used to just ask, but now it was taking by force!


    He had the Soul Arrest and could know the thoughts of the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    At this moment, it was natural to punish it!


    At this point, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had just broken through to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage. Although its Divine Soul had grown stronger, in front of the Soul Arrest, it was as fragile as a piece of white paper!


    With just a thought from Lin Shiming, the Red-haired Demon Monkey could lose its life!


    This time, it was also to give this impudent monkey a warning!


    Otherwise, the next time it secretly consumed the Fiery Energy, it might turn to ash!


    This Fiery Energy was not a matter for jest; even Lin Shijie, with his Five Flames Scripture, was very cautious!


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey, although also a fire controller, still had a long way to go compared to him.


    After teaching it a lesson with the Soul Arrest for a full quarter of an hour, Lin Shiming finally stopped. The Red-haired Demon Monkey huddled under a Spirit Peach Tree, shrinking into a ball.


    Continuing to be a mini monkey.


    Lin Shiming did not bother with it but left the Cave Heaven; right now, he wanted to deliver half of the Fiery Energy to Lin Shitao.


    Lin Shitao also needed the energy to refine Spirit Pills, especially since there was a Gold Condensation Fruit. The stronger Lin Shitao''s flame, the more certain she could be in refining the Gold Condensation Pill.


    As for the Red-haired Demon Monkey, it also made him ponder. These Spirit Beasts had accompanied him in growth; otherwise, if it were other Cultivators, the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s journey would likely end at the Purple Mansion.


    ...


    Atop Thousand Wood Peak, Lin Shitao''s dwelling still had several peach blossom branches and a stone table with two stone stools.


    Now, there was also a lush tea tree added.


    Lin Shiming did not disturb; instead, he sat at the stone table, took out some Spiritual Tea, and sipped it lightly.


    Now that the Lin Family had a future to look forward to, his mood was much more relaxed. Next was to improve his Sword Intent.


    And Sword Intent could not be rushed!


    At this moment, looking at the fresh green peach blossom branches, it was the time of year for new buds.


    He seemed to see a sea of swords and couldn''t help but slightly smile.


    In the past, the Taiyi Grass Sword had claimed he was not a Sword Cultivator, but now he felt as though he was indeed walking along the path of a Sword Cultivator.


    Only that he was, following the Sword Cultivator within his heart!

 Chapter 831 - 518: Comprehending the Sword, Zewen Hosts a Banquet (Combined Update)_2

    Lin Shiming only felt a long-absent smile, which required neither sound nor company, sipping tea and savoring young green dots, indeed a different flavor.


    Until the tea was finished, he couldn''t pour a full cup anymore.


    Behind him, a new teapot was handed over, gently filling the not-quite-full cup.


    The color of the tea was even richer.


    "Seventh Brother!" Lin Shitao also sat down beside him.


    She obviously had just finished making Spirit Pills, still somewhat tired!


    After all, there were many Purple Mansion cultivators in the Lin Family now, including Lin Shitao, who required a lot of Spirit Pills.


    However, her fatigue still did not hide her joy.


    "Seventh Brother, does Shitao''s tea meet your expectations?"


    "It could be considered the best!" Lin Shiming drank the tea with a smile.


    "Seventh Brother, did Big Brother and Seventh Uncle ever say not to always frown, more like this is better!" Lin Shitao added with a laugh.


    "Really?" Lin Shiming responded, somewhat unnoticing.


    But indeed, he had been too worried about the Lin Family.


    "I won''t frown anymore!" Lin Shiming said with a laugh.


    The two continued to drink Spiritual Tea for a long time, pot after pot!


    By the end, it was even changed from the brightness of the moon to the fierceness of the sun.


    Lin Shiming gave one-third of the Red Ming Xia Flame to Lin Shitao, then returned to his cave dwelling!


    He was going to continue his closed-door cultivation.


    This time, he planned to cultivate for thirty years, preparing for that impending disaster!


    Whether it was Sword Intent or the Divine Thought Weaponization from his Soul Fusion Secret Tome, he needed to cultivate!


    His advantage now lay not only in the three incomplete Spiritual Treasures but also in his physical body and Divine Soul!


    Returning to the Cave Heaven World.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey came up to him first.


    "Master, Red-haired is willing to accept punishment, to face the wall for ten years!" After kneeling, the Red-haired Demon Monkey headed towards the wall.


    At this moment, its ability to speak had improved much more compared to Wang Jiao.


    But Lin Shiming was not surprised.


    He didn''t care.


    Red-haired moved next to Golden Wing, like him, quietly facing the cliff.


    The latter closed its eyes to rest, while he controlled the Spiritual Fire, managing the skill of controlling the fire.


    Lin Shiming just nodded, then landed on a high mountain.


    He took out a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Defensive Array, enveloping himself within!


    He would not go to the Sword Ladder; it was helpful for beginners of Sword Intent!


    But for him, advancing from the third level to the fourth level, from the Sword Birth Myriad Laws Realm to the Sword Extinguishing Myriad Laws of the Sword Domain Realm, it was of no help!


    This time, he relied only on three spirit light simulations from the Divine Bead of Mystical Power inside!


    And the spirit light simulation for the next ten years.


    His mind as still as water, he did not immediately start the simulation for Dao Enlightenment!


    Instead, he started serenely from the understanding of Sword Intent.


    At this moment, it was as if he had returned to when he first encountered the Grass Heaven Slasher, experiencing its three styles.


    Grass Sword scattering seeds, sprouting, breaking through the soil.


    He contemplated these over and over, and gradually Sword Intent began to arise around him!


    Circles of Sword Intent rippled, ravaging inside the array.


    And he continued to understand slowly; naturally, he didn''t need to hurry this time, he wasn''t in a rush.


    He had plenty of time!


    While Lin Shiming was understanding, the system prompt image also appeared again; at this moment, he saw a real sword origin!


    Or a real grassland!


    Green all over, the sky bright blue, the wind gently blowing, the grass subtly moving!


    There were no sprouts, nor any skyrocketing slashes!


    As if all that was illusionary.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming resolutely turned on the Divine Skill Light simulation!


    As the Divine Skill Light covered his body, his understanding of Sword Intent rose several levels!


    He continued to watch that sword origin, his body also slightly swaying with the grass!


    One day.


    Ten days.


    A hundred days.


    A thousand days!


    This time, Lin Shiming did not get up; he merely opened his eyes and raised his head, he didn''t release Spiritual Energy, but in his chest, it seemed as if there was a sword field.


    Just like previously with Tianliu True Person, with a sword lake undulating in his heart.


    "Not enough!" Lin Shiming closed his eyes.


    Continued!


    The system prompt would continue for about half an hour each day!


    But he was watching every day!


    And unwittingly, his Golden Core, through these unwitting Sword Cultivator practices, also began to become more rounded and more dazzling!


    When the gains diminished, Lin Shiming once again initiated the next derivation of Spirit Light.


    Thus, the cycle repeated!


    ...


    Lianyun Island, the banquet was grandly held!


    On the third floor of Lin Family Restaurant!


    Various Spiritual Wines and Spiritual Meats were laid out, today is the one hundred and tenth birthday of Lin Zewen, the Vice-Island Lord of Lianyun Island!


    Today, Lin Family Restaurant was not open to the public, only inviting guests, holding a grand feast, and sharing the blessings!


    Every power on Lianyun Island received an invitation!


    Especially the Xu Family, Wei Family, Zheng Family, and Single Blade Pavilion, four Foundation Establishment powers!


    In addition, there were also many Qi Cultivation powers!


    Every cultivator had smiles beaming, and Lin Zewen was dressed in a festive robe early, personally greeting guests at the entrance of Lin Family Restaurant.


    Naturally, this scene made all the powers on Lianyun Island take it very seriously, bringing gifts forward to congratulate repeatedly.


    Nobody dared to be negligent.


    However, some also sensed something unusual, this time Lin Zewen did not invite any Loose Cultivators.


    Not a single one, even if they were Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators!


    This also made several Foundation Establishment powers somewhat hesitant!


    Nevertheless, as the restaurant''s atmosphere grew grander, the heads of those powers still stepped forward to offer their congratulations.


    "Lord Lin, congratulations, here is a Third Rank Xuyun Wood!"


    "House Leader Zheng is too kind!" Lin Zewen replied repeatedly.


    After exchanging greetings, Zheng Family''s head Zheng Qiang was the first to be invited up to the loft.


    With the head of the Zheng Family setting an example, other leaders also came forward.


    Especially those Qi Cultivation families, who even brought out Third Rank treasures:


    "Lord Lin, congratulations on your grand birthday, I specially present a Third Rank Biqing Stone!"


    "Lord Lin, congratulations on your grand birthday, I specially present a Third Rank Luoyun Fruit!"


    "Lord Lin, congratulations on your grand birthday, I specially present a Third Rank Hundred-Year Luoxia Grass!"


    ...


    Gifts continually presented, Lin Zewen invited everyone in one by one, this politeness made all cultivators even more unable to fathom!


    They felt today''s Lin Zewen was different from the usual Lin Zewen.


    The usual Lin Zewen was more serious, but today''s Lin Zewen was more mysterious and unfathomable!


    Soon, the head of the Wei Family and the leader of Single Blade Pavilion also entered.


    Lin Family Restaurant gradually filled.


    Lin Zewen checked the time and then the sky.


    He then whispered to someone nearby:


    "Close the doors!"


    After speaking, Lin Zewen too entered the restaurant, up to the third floor!


    Inside the third floor, all cultivators were watching Lin Zewen!


    At the same time, they were looking at a table next to him, which was specifically reserved for the Xu Family, but not a single person from the Xu Family came, not even the family head!


    This scene made everyone quite awkward.


    However, Lin Zewen wasn''t uncomfortable, and they felt it was not the time nor did they dare to bring it up openly.


    They just sat upright, smiling, watching Lin Zewen, waiting for him to speak!


    Lin Zewen also directly raised his wine cup.


    "It''s embarrassing to say, I''ve never celebrated my birthday in over a hundred years, today on a whim I decided to celebrate my birthday, making everyone laugh!"


    Lin Zewen continued with seemingly incomprehensible words!


    This made the leaders and heads of those powers even more baffled.


    "Cheers to everyone first!" Lin Zewen downed his drink in one gulp!


    The rest of the cultivators also hurriedly drank, not daring to neglect.


    After one drink was finished, Lin Zewen''s expression changed, becoming somewhat mournful!


    "My friends, don''t laugh, but I have been scolded by the family elders, saying that I am incompetent!"


    "Saying I cannot control Lianyun Island!"


    "Also saying how many Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment cultivators there are on Lianyun Island, I am totally unaware!"


    "It''s disgraceful!"


    Lin Zewen''s series of lamentations changed everyone''s expressions!


    This moment, within all their hearts, a sense of panic spread!


    This feast was not a simple banquet, but a Hongmen Feast, also a Military Feast, and further a showdown!


    "Friends, I don''t know if you would help Lin out on his birthday!"


    "Let Lin know, how many Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment there are on Lianyun Island!"


    Lin Zewen took out an Inquiry Spirit Talisman and stuck it on the table!

 Chapter 832 - 519: Purple Extreme Sandalwood Demon (Two in One, Subscription Request)

    At this moment under the banquet, everyone felt dry mouth and parched throat!


    As if the wine they just drank had a spicy aftertaste taking over their mind.


    Lin Zewen''s words seemed light, but the murderous intent was unmistakable!


    Even some people regret attending the banquet, as if they hadn''t attended, none of this would have happened, their gaze shifted towards the empty seats.


    As if the Xu Family had sensed it early on.


    It seems, at this moment, the Xu Family was the wisest.


    Lin Zewen''s expression remained unchanged, the first to look towards the Wei Family:


    "Wei brother, are you willing to see Lin in trouble?"


    Lin Zewen''s expression remained calm yet filled with a hint of humiliation, like a mortal scholar.


    "Island Master Lin, I beg your pardon, our Wei Family ancestors were once under the protection of Yutong Island, but after the beast tide, we lost contact. Although the Wei Family now has one Purple Mansion and ten Foundation Establishments, we are merely protecting ourselves, with absolutely no intentions of offense!" Wei Family Head, Wei Jinzhong was the first to speak.


    His statement shocked everyone, the strength of the Wei Family, not only contained ten Foundation Establishment but also one Purple Mansion, as for how many Qi Cultivators there were, was not mentioned!


    But one can imagine, the seeds for Foundation Establishment wouldn''t be few.


    "Furthermore, our Wei Family would like to serve the Lin Family from here on, remitting 30% more of our market''s revenue, and, additionally offering tributes every ten years!" Of course, if the first part of the statement was mild, what followed shook everyone so profoundly that they were at a loss for words.


    Directly switching allegiance to the Lin Family, with increased tributes and market revenue.


    "Wei brother''s righteousness, Lin cherishes this first favor!" Lin Zewen then took out a drink and toasted with Wei Jinzhong.


    The clinking of glasses was so loud in the hall.


    Lin Zewen drank heartily, and Wei Jinzhong pretended to drink heartily!


    Lin Zewen''s gaze shifted to the remaining families!


    These families also confessed everything under the Inquiry Spirit Talisman!


    They revealed which power they belonged to, how many Purple Mansion Cultivators, how many Foundation Establishment Cultivators their family had.


    And these hidden powers were greatly beyond Lin Zewen''s expectations!


    Truly, major families!


    If he had not tested these four families with his drink today, he would never have discovered it.


    The main force of these families was not on Lianyun Island, rather like Lin Family of old, most of their power lay on their own main island.


    Even those Qi Cultivation powers had Foundation Establishment Cultivators!


    After the three major family heads candidly confessed everything, they also pledged allegiance, and Lin Zewen nodded in acknowledgment one by one.


    "Dare I ask Island Master Lin about the Xu Family?"


    "Xu Family?" Lin Zewen''s eyes narrowed, and the Inquiry Spirit Talisman in his hand transformed into a token and a Jade Slip.


    The token represented Red Leaf Island, as well as Red Leaf True Person.


    "The Jade Slip contains the crimes of the Xu Family, their absence is merely out of fear!" Lin Zewen said with a smile.


    His face slightly reddened from drinking, matched with his smile, made it seem quite eerie.


    At this moment, they truly felt the terror of Lin Zewen.


    They understood, had they not attended, or had they not pledged allegiance, their crimes would also be listed in this Jade Slip.


    By then, they would have nowhere to escape.


    "There will be people who will demand justice, it won''t ruin everyone''s banquet!" Lin Zewen spoke.


    Then, turning his gaze back to everyone:


    "Gentlemen, how do you find Lianyun Island as a location, and how do you find your family''s finances?"


    "If you have ideas or ways to generate wealth, feel free to suggest them, if not, perhaps Lin can introduce some in the future!"


    "But today, let it still be centered on joy as we are celebrating!" Lin Zewen lifted his hand, encouraging everyone to continue drinking.


    Drink by drink, no one dared to disrespect.


    In drinking, no one dared to linger either.


    But the delicious taste they were used to at the Lin Family''s winehouse was unattainable now.


    The rich colors and flavors, had all turned bitter.


    ...


    Before the Xu Family Elixir Shop, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators surrounded the area!


    Among them, Lin Family Sword Cultivators stood in the forefront, the Sword Qi was almost breaking down Xu Family''s pavilion doors.


    "Inside Xu Family Cultivators, listen up, Coral Alliance has issued an investigation order, we hope for your cooperation!"


    Immediately as the sentence was finished, several Third Rank Spirit Puppets rushed in, along with several Third Rank Spirit Snakes!


    The scene was overly domineering.


    Inside, just a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators also dared not resist!


    Certainly, this scene was not only happening at the Xu Family''s Elixir Shop, their Armament Shop, Spiritual Medicine Shop, Talisman Pavilion were all the same!


    Among those who sealed off the place, there were Lin Family Cultivators, also married-in Cultivators, and some Loose Cultivators who had joined.


    Even a small mountain base of the Xu Family on Lianyun Island was breached by Lin Family.


    ...


    And at this time, on a small island, Lin Zekong was flying in the sky.


    Behind Lin Zekong, similarly, were dozens of Lin Family Cultivators.


    A purple-robed old man flew out from the island, looking at Lin Zekong:


    "Lin Family just sent a young one like you?"


    "To kill a few unscrupulous old thieves, I alone should be enough!" Lin Zekong showed no fear, and glancing to the side, the void rippled, revealing another old man.


    "How did you find out?"


    "Think you can surely win two against one?" Lin Zekong showed utter disdain!


    In the next moment, from his Storage Bag, three Wooden Marionettes flew out.


    These Wooden Marionettes, each possessing Purple Mansion level combat ability, transformed from wood demons, had extremely high combat power.


    They were even more precious compared to Spirit Puppets!


    Suddenly, it turned into a four versus two situation, and Lin Zekong began to reach for his Spirit Beast Bag, releasing a fierce Sea Cloud Bird!


    This Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird was controlled by Lin Zekong using the Spirit Controlling Seal, intermittently reinforced by the Spirit Controlling Seal.

 Chapter 833 - 519: Purple Extreme Sandalwood Demon (Two in One, Subscription Request)_2

    At this moment, he even fed the Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird a Savage Blood Pill!


    The expressions of the two old men changed drastically!


    "Trying to buy time?" Lin Zekong sneered coldly again!


    The next moment, a thunderous noise erupted from the island below, countless Second Rank and Third Rank Wooden Marionettes were already causing chaos inside!


    You should know, this time, behind Lin Zekong, there were also many cultivators who practiced with Wooden Marionettes.


    And he had cultivated the Heavenly Wood Spirit Cultivation Secret Technique and Soul Refinement Decision, his Divine Soul and True Yuan were not those of an ordinary Purple Mansion cultivator!


    Boom!


    The two old men tried to escape, only to see Lin Zekong activating the Wood Vine Technique!


    Countless Green Flood Dragon Vines flew out, entwining towards the two men!


    Dense and numerous, covering a large area.


    Lin Zekong had Dual Spirit Root of water and wood; at this moment, he was using the Fourth Rank Spirit Vines that Lin Shiming had used before!


    As the Green Flood Dragon Vines entwined, even though the two Purple Mansion cultivators took out several magical treasures, they could only sorrowfully perish under the assault from Lin Zekong, the Spirit Puppets, and the Sea Cloud Bird.


    Even their corpses were collected into the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    With the death of the two Purple Mansion cultivators, the remaining Xu Family cultivators were also no threat!


    Lin Zekong began to refine the Divine Sense of the two Purple Mansion cultivators, and the next moment, his eyes lit up!


    "This Xu Family really did collude with Golden Thunder Island!"


    "They''ve even secretly communicated with Lanling Island during this period!"


    "However, this Xu Family actually has such treasures!" Lin Zekong was somewhat surprised!


    He wasn''t interested in ordinary magical treasures and Fourth Rank materials at this moment.


    "Big brother, all cultivators of the Xu Family have been cleared, none escaped!" At this time, the Lin Family cultivator responsible for the killings also came to report.


    "The external formation, no one escaped either!"


    "Hmm!"


    Lin Zekong arranged briefly, then headed towards the clan mountain on Xu Family''s island!


    The Xu Family''s island was not small, similar to the Fangmu Island controlled by the Lin Family.


    And the central mountain was even more imposingly crafted by the Xu Family!


    At this moment, Lin Zekong landed on the mountain peak, then several Spirit Banners appeared in his hands.


    The Spirit Banners waved continuously, causing vast patches of Spirit Light to rise within the mountain.


    The next moment, a vortex appeared above the mountain peak, followed by numerous misty seas gushing out!


    Lin Zekong stepped in!


    And entering the midst of this mist, the space inside was quite narrow, yet it was filled with Spirit Stones, various magical treasures, magic artifacts, and countless Jade Slips.


    This was truly the Xu Family''s treasure trove!


    If it wasn''t for Lin Zekong''s soul searching, he would never have discovered the existence of this treasure trove.


    And in the center of the treasure trove, a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Ziji Tan Spirit Wood stood solemnly.


    Emitting countless streams of Purple Soul Essence.


    If Lin Shiming were here, he would recognize that Red Leaf True Person once presented a larger Fourth Rank Superior Grade Ziji Tan Spirit Wood to Tianliu True Person as a peace offering.


    Its value was naturally immense!


    And with this Ziji Tan Spirit Wood, the Lin Family could also manufacture Ziji Tan in the future.


    Although the quantity wouldn''t be much, it could improve the Divine Soul and Divine Sense of the Lin Family''s Purple Mansion cultivators.


    "Lin Ze asks you to come out!" Lin Zekong was excited for a moment, then spoke solemnly again.


    However, no one answered.


    It seemed like Lin Zekong''s casual probing was in vain.


    "Lin Ze is an expert in crafting Wooden Marionettes. If you refine Wooden Marionettes, your thousand years of Dao will be ruined in an instant!" Lin Zekong continued to speak.


    He then displayed several Wooden Marionettes.


    These Wooden Marionettes were all indifferent, except for their tree-like appearance, they were not much different from Spirit Puppets.


    At this moment, in front of the Ziji Tan Spirit Wood, a small old man in a purple robe also hurriedly came out and bowed:


    "I''ve seen this fellow Daoist!"


    "Fellow Daoist, don''t be impulsive!"


    "These little Wooden Marionettes are not as great as the opportunities I can provide for you, Daoist!"


    "If you protect me, I can elevate your Divine Sense to near Golden Core level Divine Sense!" The small old man was clearly the wood spirit of the Ziji Tan Spirit Wood.


    "Take this drop of blood!" Lin Zekong directly formed a Soul Binding Forbidden on the spot!


    This made the wood spirit''s face change drastically!


    "Daoist friend, such actions might lead us to mutual destruction!" The Ziji Tan Spirit Wood spirit sternly cried out.


    The scene converged into a purple Divine Soul Arrow, shooting towards Lin Zekong!


    Just as it reached the front of Lin Zekong''s neck, it was greatly weakened by a Spirit Jade!


    Meanwhile, Lin Zekong also condensed a Split Soul Blade.


    Boom!


    The purple light vanished, and Lin Zekong''s soul blade also dissipated.


    The Wooden Marionette''s face changed drastically, but they could see four Wooden Marionettes rushing out!


    The Wooden Marionette could only jump out from its Purple Extreme Sandalwood spirit wood body!


    However, Lin Zekong then took out his Flying Sword magical treasure!


    "Fellow Daoist, this old one was wrong, is there still room for negotiation?" The face of the Wooden Marionette appeared, now looking somewhat mournful!


    "Submit, or die!" Lin Zekong replied coldly.


    He also fully condensed the blood of the Soul Arrest.


    The Wooden Marionette could only obediently come out and accept Lin Zekong''s Soul Arrest.


    This Purple Extreme Sandalwood spirit wood, although a Fourth Rank Superior Grade spirit wood, this Wooden Marionette, however, only reached the early stage of Fourth Rank, and this type of Marionette was not adept in combat.


    When Lin Zekong searched its soul, the fate was pretty much sealed!


    It was also with this spirit wood that the Xu Family could have two Purple Mansion cultivators and amassed a great fortune!


    However, much of the Purple Extreme Sandalwood spirit fragrance previously accumulated by the Xu Family was contributed to Golden Thunder Island and Lanling Island, which also irritated Lin Zekong!


    ...


    Lanling Island, Lanling Palace.


    True Person Lanling sat on a thousand-year-old golden nanmu chair. At this moment, a Spirit Light appeared within the palace.


    True Person Lanling also stood up, quickly seeing a Purple Mansion cultivator walking in.


    "Master, it''s not good, the subordinated force of Lianyun Island has seized a spirit mine vein on our subordinated island. This means the Lin Family is turning against us?" The youth was quite anxious!


    "What''s there to panic about, it''s just subordinate forces fighting. Let them fight. Golden Thunder Island is now getting benefits from Tianliu Island everywhere, and Red Leaf Island can''t be provoked at this moment. Just let the subordinate forces find their own solution!" True Person Lanling reprimanded.


    "But..."


    "There''s no ''but''!"


    "The pattern of the Coral Sea Domain will be broken. Their fleeting moment of pride counts for nothing, especially the Lin Family!"


    "The Golden Core ceremony, dozens of Golden Core True Persons sending gifts¡ªit does seem impressive, but after offending so many people, how long can he jump around? Does he really think Golden Cores can''t die?" True Person Lanling snorted coldly.


    ...


    Changes continued to occur in the external world, and the power of the Lin Family also continued to grow.


    Meanwhile, within the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming was still calmly comprehending the Sword Dao.


    Compared to before, his eyes were even more serene.


    Less sharpness, more free and steady.


    Only at this moment, the rampant Sword Intent truly demonstrated the terror of Lin Shiming.


    This moment, he had long forgotten the time.


    "One last time!" Lin Shiming felt the last trace of golden Spirit Light at the Golden Core.


    He also opened the Minor Divine Ability of deducing the light again.


    Terrifying thoughts of Sword Dao emerged anew in his mind, further perfecting Lin Shiming''s Sword Intent.


    In front of him, a small Sword Domain emerged anew.


    This small Sword Domain had now almost materialized.


    The Sword Intent of True Person Tianliu was the endless willow strands beside the lake.


    While Lin Shiming now, denser than willow strands, was countless Grass Swords.


    The Sword Domain kept expanding, and Lin Shiming still kept his eyes closed!


    His breath grew even longer, the Golden Core within his body also grew larger.


    At a certain moment, the Sword Domain had fully merged with his surrounding environment, and the Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Defensive Array, at this moment, completely fell apart, turning into fragments of Spirit Light!


    And the Sword Domain also once again expanded throughout the whole Cave Heaven!


    Inside the Cave Heaven, four half dragons raised their heads, immensely fearful.


    Within the Spirit Lake, Star Spirit Clams and Water Spirit Shells flew out, along with a huge black fish.


    On the walls, the Golden Winged Mantis and the Red-haired Demon Monkey each flew out, watching this scene, filled with shock and doubt!


    In the next moment, Lin Shiming opened his eyes; the entire Cave Heaven''s Grass Swords abruptly vanished.


    As if they had never existed!


    "Finally, I have broken through to the Sword Annihilation Realm, it can also be called the Sword Domain!" Lin Shiming opened his eyes.


    He let out a long breath!


    From today onwards, his Sword Dao cultivation could even match that of Tianliu True Person!

 Chapter 834 - 520: Naming, Situation (Two-in-One for Monthly Votes and Subscriptions)

    Within the Cave Heaven World, the Sword Qi settles into tranquility.


    All Spirit Beasts and Cave Heavens begin to stir.


    "Congratulations, Master, for ascending another level!" Elder Mu is still the first to emerge; after all this time, his appearance has become even more radiant.


    He has astonishingly reached the Middle Stage of the Purple Mansion, becoming an Intermediate Grade Mingxin Tea of the Fourth Rank.


    Clearly, he has benefited greatly from the Purple Sun Tower.


    Following Elder Mu, Lei Tong also steps out:


    "Congratulations, Master, for ascending another level!"


    Lei Tong has grown much taller, if he looked like a child before, he now looks like a teenager, wearing golden thunder robes, like a little thunder god.


    "Congratulations, Master, for ascending another level!"


    Following immediately, the Star Spirit Clam, Water Spirit Shell, and even the mysterious black fish begin to speak, congratulating Lin Shiming.


    "Congratulations, Master, for ascending another level!" The Red-haired Demon Monkey also speaks.


    It has refined Spiritual Fire for twenty years, mastering it to perfection, and has also meditated for twenty years; it has lost much of its previous temper.


    Only Golden Wing remains silent, merely squeaking a few times.


    Finally, it calls out "Master."


    At this moment, Lin Shiming is also quite reflective; this meditation retreat is arguably the most remarkable one he has had in years!


    He used the deduced Spirit Light five times, adding up to his original three, and after a full twenty years, he finally broke through the fourth realm of the Sword Dao.


    Previously, understanding the sword in twenty years, he would never have believed it to be possible.


    Fortunately, he succeeded in his breakthrough; now, he is confident he could slay most cultivators at the Golden Core Middle Stage and even faces typical Golden Core Late Stage cultivators with some confidence!


    Of course, there are also unexpected surprises; his Golden Core has now grown larger again, with an even richer Sword Intent aura!


    Even though he has been grasping the sword for these twenty years, the accumulation of Sword Qi during this time has still enhanced his Cultivation Level, almost as much as if he were purely cultivating.


    This is related to the Sword Pill he had condensed.


    Moreover, he feels that if he was to retreat for another ten or so years, he would be confident in breaking through the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    Such speed, if spoken of, would probably shock many cultivators!


    At the Purple Mansion stage, advancing a level of cultivation would require decades as a cycle!


    Upon reaching the Golden Core stage, it wouldn''t be unusual for there to be no progress or changes even after a hundred years.


    Yet Lin Shiming now stands at a scale of decades per cycle.


    "Red-haired Demon Monkey, you now possess ample Spirit Intelligence; calling you Red-haired no longer fits¡ªyou shall be called Lin Shiyan from now on!"


    "Master, you are giving me a name?" The Red-haired Demon Monkey is taken aback; after meditating for twenty years, it thought Lin Shiming would forgive it.


    But it never expected Lin Shiming to bestow upon it a name.


    "Not satisfied?" Lin Shiming asks in return.


    "Very satisfied, thank you, Master. Shiyan will certainly do his utmost to assist the Master in ascending the Immortal Path!" Lin Shiyan quickly kneels in gratitude.


    "Golden Wing, you shall be called Lin Shijin!" Lin Shiming then turns to Golden Wing.


    Golden Wing still has ten wings, four pairs of golden wings, and one pair of snowy white wings.


    It squeaks twice, indicating agreement.


    "Master!" It blurts out ambiguously once more.


    "Star Spirit Clam, you shall be Shixing!"


    "Water Spirit Shell, you shall be named Shishui!" Nowadays, there aren''t many cultivators of the Lin Family bearing the generation name ''Shi,'' especially those who haven''t broken through; almost all have completely passed away.


    Adding so many ''Shi'' generation names to the Lin Family won''t seem out of place!


    To Lin Shiming, the emergence of these new ''Shi'' generation names might also bring greater comfort to his heart, lessening the impact of the passage of time.


    "Master, so shall I be called Lin Shilei?" Lei Tong curiously asks.


    "No, there is already a Shilei; you shall be Lin Shizhu!" Lin Shiming explains.


    Lei Tong is extremely happy and repeatedly bows in thanksgiving:


    "Thank you, Master, for such a beautiful name!"


    "Elder Mu, how about the name Lin Houming, drawing from the meaning of Mingxin Tea?" Lin Shiming turns his attention to Elder Mu.


    Elder Mu is also taken aback for a moment; he did not expect to receive a name.


    He has been called Wood Demon, Elder Mu, and Mingxin Tea, but Lin Houming is new.


    He is naturally excited, but after careful consideration, he speaks up:


    "I dare not take on the ''Hou'' generation name; I ask the Master to retract it!"


    Lin Shiming thinks for a moment and then nods: "Then it shall be Lin Shicha; I will continue to call you Elder Mu in daily life!"


    "Quite so, thank you, Master!" Elder Mu nods as well; now all beasts have a name.


    This represents Lin Shiming''s recognition of everyone.


    Only the black Spirit Fish appears somewhat disheartened.


    Its lack of a name signifies that it has not received Lin Shiming''s recognition, even though it is a Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    "Master, what shall Wang Jiao be called?" Lin Shiyan, previously the Red-haired Demon Monkey, inquires.


    Wang Jiao is still in the midst of breaking through, with no movements yet.


    It is evident that becoming a Fifth-Order Jiaolong requires much more time.


    "He shall be called Lin Shilong; may he one day transform into a true dragon!" Lin Shiming speaks after hesitating for a moment.


    After saying this, he recites everyone''s names once again to ensure there are no mistakes, then nods in satisfaction.


    The four-and-a-half jiaolong on the other side have also absorbed enough of the Jiaolong essence and have reached the late stage of the Third Rank, simply awaiting Lin Shiming''s Bloodline Reversion to become full Jiaolong!


    They will be the sixth to the tenth Jiaolongs of the Lin Family!


    Lin Shiming doesn''t immediately proceed with the Bloodline Reversion; instead, he prepares to leave the Cave Heaven to observe the changes in the Lin Family.


    After exiting the Cave Heaven, he extends his Divine Sense outward.


    He sees an island, Shuangmu Island, larger than before, with construction sprawling across it and a total of six Spirit Peaks.


    Among them, Qinglian Peak is the largest and exudes an air of immortality, perpetually shrouded in mist, with Sword Pavilions and Illusionary Heart Pavilions dotting it from top to bottom, with countless cultivators flying in and out.

 Chapter 835 - 520: Naming, Situation (Two in One, Seeking Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions)_2

    Many cultivators are in seclusion on Qinglian Peak, as the Lin Family''s richest source of spiritual energy. It is undoubtedly the most transcendent place.


    Aside from Qinglian Peak, there are also Thousand Wood Peak, Five Flame Peak, Green Peach Peak, Hundred Formations Peak, and Shanmo Peak.


    These five peaks were designated after the first five individuals from the Lin Family to make a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion.


    All five peaks are interspersed with Fourth Rank Pure Spirit Veins.


    Thousand Wood Peak has a fire attribute spirit vein, with a volcano crater on the mountain that nurtures magical treasures and is filled with Spirit Peach Trees, creating another marvel for the Lin Family.


    Five Flame Peak is home to the Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens and the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, with an earth attribute pure spirit vein there.


    In summary, evolving up to the present, each of the five peaks has its own characteristics.


    His divine sense passed over the Preaching Hall and the colossal Lin Family plaza, the site of the Lin Family''s ascension ceremonies.


    He also observed the Alchemy Pavilion and the Artifact Refining Pavilion.


    While feeling nostalgic, a sense of relief also lifted his heart.


    The prosperity of Shuangmu Island indicates that Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Jiuyue Island, and Lianyun Island would also be safe.


    However, in the Preaching Hall, he saw his father again.


    A white-haired Lin Houyuan.


    Lin Shiming''s body trembled; his father had failed.


    He is still in the late stages of Foundation Establishment!


    This time, he saw Yu Jing and Lin Zeli from the Purple Mansion but never thought that his father would fail in his breakthrough.


    He felt a pain in his heart and went to the Preaching Hall, sitting behind the seats of the senior generation.


    Lin Houyuan, upon seeing Lin Shiming, was surprised but didn''t stop preaching. For the Lin Family, passing on legacies and preaching is of utmost importance and must not be interrupted.


    Those from the senior generation also noticed Lin Shiming''s arrival, their surprise evident, but they remained silent, their faces filled with excitement; they learned with even more fervor.


    After discussing the key points of the Fireball Technique, Lin Houyuan and Lin Shiming left.


    Lin Houyuan walked in front, and Lin Shiming followed behind.


    Just like in the past when Lin Houyuan was instructing Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming remained tall and upright, whereas Lin Houyuan was now somewhat stooped.


    "Father, in a few more years, you can try to break through again; the family has the Illusionary Heart Pavilion and the longevity fruits!" After a long while, Lin Shiming spoke up.


    "Of course, you think your father is old?" Lin Houyuan retorted, neither affirming nor denying.


    "How I taught you cultivation back then, I naturally won''t be defeated so easily. It''s just that after the failure to breakthrough, suddenly there seems to be nothing else to do. After all, many cultivators in the family have grandchildren to teach; I don''t have any grandchildren, so I can only teach the senior generation!" Lin Houyuan continued, instantly turning Lin Shiming''s face pale.


    He was unexpectedly putting the responsibility onto Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, I think there''s no need to wait any longer!" Lin Houyuan spoke again.


    "I know, father!" Lin Shiming also nodded in agreement.


    "If you are not ready to be a father, sooner or later you have to take that step. If we wait for Shitao to reach the Golden Core stage, I might not be here anymore to see that day!"


    "I dreamed of your mother; she wants to see her grandchild!" Lin Houyuan uttered again.


    Lin Houyuan didn''t respond, his mind going numb.


    He understood Lin Houyuan''s concern; he was worried about the next beast tide.


    This change concerns breakthroughs to the Nascent Soul and the transformation of the Coral Alliance. By then, the Coral Alliance might become history. How could he not worry about Lin Shiming?


    But Lin Houyuan didn''t say it outright; he just wanted to leave a trace of thought.


    Also, to leave a trace of thought for Lin Shitao.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Houyuan walked for a long time, then went back for another lesson.


    By the time the sun set, Lin Shiming had left the Preaching Hall and appeared in the family''s Council Hall.


    Lin Yanjiao''s cultivation had become more robust, reaching the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment. The Council Hall''s group of family advisors had also changed, including both young cultivators and older ones from the senior generation.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, the family''s circumstances for these twenty years are as follows!" Lin Yanjiao took out a jade slip to start her report.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, in these twenty years, four members of the family have successfully broken through to the Purple Mansion. They are Aunt Zeli, Uncle Hou as an elder, Aunt Yu Jing, and Uncle Zelu!"


    "The number of cultivators at the peak of the Foundation Establishment has increased by twenty, and the total number of Foundation Establishment cultivators has increased by two hundred!"


    "In terms of Spirit Veins, the family has acquired four more Fourth Rank Spiritual Veins!"


    "We''ve also obtained two more Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mines, two Yellow Grade Secret Realms, and an additional Profound Grade Secret Realm!"


    "All of these achievements are thanks to Uncle Zewen and Uncle Zekong!" Lin Yanjiao reported each one.


    What Lin Shiming didn''t expect was that Lin Zewen had truly succeeded, and now, our subordinate forces have taken over a great part of White Ice Island in Lanling Island''s domain!


    Although nominally, White Ice Island is within Lanling Island''s sea domain, the Lin Family of Lianyun Island administers most of it now.


    "Additionally, the family has acquired a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Ziji Tan Spirit Wood!" Lin Yanjiao also continued with excitement.


    "Mhm, well done!" Lin Shiming praised after listening, feeling somewhat reassured inside.


    The praise and reassurance were for Lin Yanjiao and Lin Zewen; they deserved commendation for these twenty years.


    However, a peaceful twenty years without problems also meant that a future crisis could sweep through even more areas.


    At that time, how many of the six major sea domains like Coral Sea Domain, Chi Lan Sea Domain, and Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain will remain intact?


    "By the way, Seventh Great-Uncle, a year ago, someone from Qian Ji Island sent over a Storage Bag, instructing us to wait for you to open it!"


    Lin Yanjiao handed over a Storage Bag.


    Lin Shiming took it seriously, and upon opening the Storage Bag, he indeed found a glittering golden Spirit Puppet!


    This Spirit Puppet was made of precious gold, supplemented with Black Light Crystal, Heavy Ironwood, and Heaven-Colored Clay; it radiated Spirit Light, with numerous Spirit Patterns.


    In its eyes, a Flood Dragon seemed to flow, suggesting that the Divine Soul used was a Flood Dragon Divine Soul.


    Truly a magnificent expenditure.


    Qian Ji Island indeed didn''t cut any corners, Lin Shiming released the Spirit Puppet.


    Lin Yanjiao was also curious; she had seen a Golden Core Early Stage Spirit Puppet once before, kept by Lin Xianzhi.


    But she didn''t expect this to be another Spirit Puppet, and it seemed much more powerful than the last one.


    "Good!" Lin Shiming clasped hands with the Spirit Puppet, and this time, unlike when he had the upper hand before, the Spirit Puppet actually had the advantage in this contest of strength!


    However, Lin Shiming was puzzled as to why Qian Ji Island would send back the Spirit Puppet without waiting for him.


    "Was it Profound Mechanism True Person or Qian Ji True Person who came with it?" Lin Shiming continued to ask.


    "Profound Mechanism True Person!" Lin Yanjiao pondered for a bit before nodding her head.


    "What about Red Leaf True Person? Any instructions?" Lin Shiming asked again.


    "Yes, it seems you are urged to definitely attend the next Golden Core Assembly!"


    "Furthermore, the next Golden Core Assembly will be held on Coral Island, with only two years left!" Lin Yanjiao added.


    "Yanjiao, starting today, declare martial law on Shuangmu Island, and begin stockpiling family seeds en masse. Moreover, Lianyun Island should completely withdraw from White Ice Island and defend Lianyun Island!"


    "The defenses on Jiuyue Island and Heavenly Phenomenon Island must be strengthened, ensuring that the family''s Purple Mansion battle strength is above five!"


    Lin Shiming had a bad premonition in his heart that the calamity might occur within ten years!


    Perhaps even at the Golden Core Assembly two years from now.


    Although this feeling was inexplicable, he somewhat believed in it.


    Before that happens, Lin Shiming wanted to make a trip to the Eastern Domain, and visit the small world of Taibai Sword Palace once more.


    To see the Taiyi Grass Sword once again!


    He must make complete preparations, even if Kuangfeng True Person has handed over such heavy responsibilities, why shouldn''t he make even greater preparations, whether it''s to protect the Fairy Yulin, for the Sixth Rank inheritance, or to repay the favor owed to a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    After leaving the Council Hall, Lin Shiming went to the Sword Pavilion. Upon seeing Lin Shiming standing there, the Flaming Sword was so surprised that he couldn''t speak for a long time.


    "You made it, kid?" The Flaming Sword could hardly believe it.


    "I made it!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    "Damn, you''re faster than I am!" The Flaming Sword couldn''t help but curse!


    This scene left Lin Shiming dumbfounded, but thinking about the old times of Flaming Sword, it felt extremely reasonable!


    "With your current realm, you can go there now. In the present situation, only the elder spirit of the sword can take control!"

 Chapter 838 - 523: Heavenly Swords Request, Dark Spirit Clan (Two-in-one subscription request)

    In the minor world, Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense nearly traversed most of the territory.


    He also found many cultivators from Qingxuan Sect, mainly at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with a few being Foundation Establishment avatars, but possessing the strength of Purple Mansion.


    They were attacking numerous Demonic Beasts.


    Among them, a few were Third Rank Demonic Beasts, and there were even several Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Lin Shiming discovered several heavenly and earthly treasures, such as the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree and the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit tree.


    Both of these treasures moved Lin Shiming deeply. One could increase the Purple Mansions within the Lin Family, and the other could extend a cultivator''s lifespan by a whole hundred years.


    Whether exchanged or given to a family elder, both were excellent choices.


    Moreover, the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit and Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit had already borne fruit, soon to mature.


    To Lin Shiming, this was merely a matter of employing the Revival Wind Minor Divine Ability.


    With the expansion of his Divine Sense, Lin Shiming found more treasures, and even located the Qingxuan Sect''s portal.


    That location also held a giant tower spanning two realms, although it was much smaller than the tower Lin Shiming had visited before.


    Its suppression was also far weaker, clearly, the previous tower must have been the Nine Spirit Tower itself, whereas this one was just an ordinary Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    Even things he once couldn''t understand were now clearly revealing themselves before his eyes.


    "Second Uncle, let''s go get something!" Lin Shiming spoke to Lin Houshou.


    The latter nodded, and with the radiance of the Eternal Night Umbrella manifesting, the two instantly vanished, leaving only a light breeze blowing towards the distance.


    ...


    In a certain desert, two cultivators walked side by side when one of them suddenly looked at the other, alarmed.


    "There''s a True Person with great powers!" one of them spoke anxiously.


    "Ye Elder Brother, what''s the matter?" The other immediately communicated telepathically.


    "This is the detection talisman given by my master, that person has indeed entered!" The cultivator known as Ye Buhui was a disciple of Profound Sword True Person from Heavenly Sword Peak.


    "Who?"


    "You know about that person from our Heavenly Sword Peak, who once made True Person Liu He a laughingstock, right?" Ye Buhui spoke, his eyes filled with emotion.


    Over a hundred years ago, he was at Foundation Establishment; Lin Shiming was also at Foundation Establishment. But a hundred years later, he was still at late Foundation Establishment, while the other had become a Golden Core True Person.


    If it weren''t for the talisman given by Qingxuan Sect, which also involved the Sect''s Jade Book of Qingxuan Sect, he wouldn''t have believed it.


    "That genius of the Lin Family?"


    "Yes!"


    "Let''s go, let''s wait for him at Myriad Swords Divine Mountain, my master has instructed a trade, hoping it can be successful!"


    "Our Qingxuan Sect might be able to return to Qingxuan Mountain," said Ye Buhui, hastening his steps toward the distance.


    "Those treasures..."


    "Forget them!"


    Regarding treasures, he now had the self-awareness that the good treasures were not for Qingxuan Sect to meddle with.


    The Lin Family owed nothing to Qingxuan Sect!


    ...


    In front of a gigantic Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree, all shimmering in a purple crystalline form, the place also marked a boundary.


    This Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree was even larger than the one encountered last time.


    It bore a total of eight Taiqing Purple Jade Fruits, a rare spectacle on other trees.


    And in front of the Purple Jade Fruit tree was an enormous Purple Jade Python.


    This python was all transformed into purple crystal, its huge eyes like lanterns, and its forehead slightly bulging, from which countless Spirit Lights flew out.


    At this moment, many cultivators dabei artnering to compete for the fruits, though they were all nearly life-and-death.


    These Foundation Establishment cultivators were no match for the Taiqing Purple Jade Python.


    Even if they deployed several puppets, they were instantly swatted away with a single sweep of its tail.


    They could only rely on a Fourth Rank defensive array to hold on desperately.


    At that moment, a flash of azure light appeared.


    The Purple Jade Python continued swinging its tail forward, but contrary to what happened before, it was suddenly sent flying back.


    Immediately afterward, a Metallic Beast Binding Ring entrapped it, and finally, it was collected inside a Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    "Daoist Lin..." The leading Qingxuan Sect cultivator hesitated for a moment, then feeling it inappropriate, corrected himself:


    "Elder Lin!"


    Lin Shiming also turned to look, remaining silent, his hand emitting divine light to take away the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, preparing to move aside.


    Lin Shiming harbored mixed feelings towards Qingxuan Sect.


    Both Shen Ji True Person and Zi Xuan Hermit plotted against his Lin Family but also once gave protection, and even a revered ancestor from the Lin Family came from Qingxuan Sect.


    Now, both the chief culprits, Shen Ji True Person and Zi Xuan Hermit, had perished.


    His hatred for Qingxuan Sect had diminished a lot, especially since the Qingxuan Sect was now like a house_dx000D


    _charless dog that had received its due karma.


    Most importantly, he no longer feared nor owed anything to Qingxuan Sect.


    "Are you really Elder Lin?"


    "Does it matter whether I am or not?" Lin Shiming collected the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Tree, barely glancing at the others before swiftly departing.


    While the cultivator in the azure Daoist robe felt a bitter taste.


    "Qing Zhu Elder Uncle, was that the person from the Lin Family?" Another Qingxuan Sect cultivator asked.


    "Yes, but from now on, call him Elder Lin; he''s someone I, too, need to address as Elder Uncle!" Qing Zhu Hermit couldn''t help but sternly reprimand the group.

 Chapter 839 - 523: Heavenly Swords Request, Dark Spirit Clan (Two-in-one subscription request)_2

    He then sighed deeply.


    Perhaps being a token disciple of the Lin Family was a mistake. But whether it was a mistake or not, how could he, a Purple Mansion cultivator who has made no progress for years, decide?


    All he knew was that during the first opening of the little world years ago, he was a Purple Mansion cultivator. However, now he was still at the same stage, only able to enter the small world using his Foundation Establishment doppelganger.


    And the other party had become so strong that even the world''s rules could not stop them.


    ...


    Lin Shiming and Lin Houshou visited many places, successively collecting the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit trees and the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit trees.


    Their harvest was substantial.


    After all, although many cultivators have recently arrived, they were all at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and even those with Purple Mansion doppelgangers might not compare to those powerful Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    So many areas remained unclaimed.


    But for the current Lin Shiming, it was much too easy.


    The 3,000-year-old Soul Resurrection Grass, the 2,000-year-old Flame Yang Lotus, and other such spiritual medicines indeed brought great satisfaction to Lin Shiming.


    Apart from heavenly materials and earthly treasures, he also captured many demonic beasts with impressive potential.


    The Purple Jade Python''s future was not to be underestimated either; if it became a Flood Dragon, it would have prospects for the future.


    After all, with his current strength, capturing a Purple Jade Python was as easy as catching a small snake.


    He could simply give it to a Lin Family cultivator to contract with the Soul Binding Forbidden.


    After they collected some important heavenly materials and earthly treasures, Lin Shiming and his companion reached a place enveloped by black mist.


    Lin Shiming''s expression turned solemn; if at the time of Foundation Establishment he only felt it was a layer of mist,


    Now it seemed, this black fog was Sword Intent, a Sword Domain equivalent to his original sword domain.


    He also recalled the words spoken by the Taiyi Grass Sword.


    He too let out a sword strike, only to see it disappear into it in a blink of an eye.


    No trace, no response.


    Myriad Swords Divine Mountain was clearly submerged.


    The last time he was there, the black fog was only shrouding the Divine Mountain, and all cultivators could still approach it, but now it had already covered a hundred-mile radius around the Divine Mountain.


    When Lin Shiming took out the Taiyi Grass Sword, he found the latter emitting a faint Spirit Light, as if it had come to life.


    And in that mist, an echo came faintly, revealing a Divine Mountain shrouded in the black fog.


    This made Lin Shiming extremely excited.


    The Myriad Swords Divine Mountain was still there!


    "Senior Lin!" Just then, Ye Buhui and others approached.


    Seeing the two from Qingxuan Sect, Lin Shiming did not respond.


    But no response was the best response. If the other party became presumptuous, he wouldn''t be blamed for his ruthlessness.


    Although he was reluctant to confront Qingxuan Sect, if they challenged the dignity of a Golden Core True Person, he wouldn''t be lenient.


    "Senior Lin, Heavenly Sword Master has asked me to convey a message. If honorable you still remember the sword strike in Yunzhou, just nod your head. If you don''t, I will turn around and leave, and from then on, Qingxuan Sect will never enter this small world again!" said Ye Buhui decisively.


    But in saying this, he was very nervous.


    Speaking such words in front of a Golden Core True Person was very risky.


    Lin Shiming surprisingly nodded. The sword strike in Yunzhou was referring to the initial beast tide at Qingyun Mountain Range, when Heavenly Sword True Person repelled the schemes of the Li Family.


    And also saved him and Zi Xuan Hermit.


    Yes, he did owe Heavenly Sword True Person at that time.


    Seeing Lin Shiming nod, Ye Buhui was overjoyed.


    "Heavenly Sword Master said he wishes to join forces with Senior Lin to pursue the great undertaking of revenge, to eradicate the Heavenly Demon Sect from Eastern Domain, see the Lin Family take charge of Chu Country, and Qingxuan Sect returning to Qingxuan Mountain!" continued Ye Buhui.


    "If this can be accomplished, both the Profound Rank secret realm and this small world will be presented as gifts!"


    Ye Buhui added, at these words, Lin Houshou also raised an eyebrow.


    Taking charge of Chu Country was naturally great news for the Lin Family.


    Although the Lin Family had secured a foothold in the Southern Sea, they were, after all, from the Eastern Domain, and many cultivators thought of returning.


    If the Heavenly Demon Sect were removed and the Lin Family took over, the benefits were naturally self-evident.


    As for the secret realm, it began to seem somewhat trivial.


    "Tell Heavenly Sword that I want the method for refining the War Treasure Ship. If it''s feasible, then do it; if not, then forget it!" Lin Shiming replied as well.


    Upon hearing this, Ye Buhui hesitated for quite some time.


    The method for refining the War Treasure Ship was a closely guarded secret of the Qingxuan Sect, even during the struggles for supremacy among the Seven Sects, Qingxuan Sect had never let this secret out.


    "Elder Lin, I must return and report this to my master!"


    "You have ten days. After ten days, I will be leaving!" Lin Shiming continued.


    Having said this, he continued to gaze into the mysterious dark fog.


    He certainly intended to enter Myriad Swords Divine Mountain, and this time, even if he could not take the Taiyi Grass Sword with him, he would bring back several Soul Summoning Swords.


    Hence, he gave Qingxuan Sect a ten-day deadline.


    [Please be cautious of the Black Sword Puppets within the black fog. Slaying them can also yield Soul Summoning Swords!] The system prompt also sounded, and Lin Shiming''s heart immediately took note.


    He had not expected that Black Sword Puppets would appear within this fog.


    "Uncle, you go into the Cave Heaven first. I can handle the rest on my own!" Lin Shiming said.


    "Good, it''s been a long time since I went into the Cave Heaven. I''ll set up a couple of Formations inside!" Lin Houshou nodded. His implication was that should Lin Shiming need help, he could also use the Formations to provide support from within the Cave Heaven!


    After all, Lin Shiming did not bring the Flaming Sword this time; his real trump card was himself.


    Lin Shiming nodded, then took out the Taiyi Grass Sword and the Xu Ri Sword.


    The former was to sense his predecessor among the grass, while the latter was a genuine Fifth Rank Magical Treasure Flying Sword.


    As Sword Intent was released, Lin Shiming seemed to be treading upon a field of swords as he made his way toward the dark fog!


    Upon clashing with the green field of swords, the black fog also started to recede backwards.


    However, what made Lin Shiming frown was the fact that even within his field of green swords, he could faintly see a lot of black fog.


    "You''ve arrived!" Lin Shiming didn''t know how far he had gone when a Taiyi Grass Sword suddenly appeared in front of him, with its back to Lin Shiming, speaking in a faint voice.


    "Predecessor Grass!" Lin Shiming hurriedly bowed.


    "Don''t you know that this place is dangerous? This is the territory of the Dark Spirit Clan!" that ancient voice resonated once more, with a hint of reprimand!


    "I''m giving you a Sword Talisman. Take it and retreat for now. This isn''t a place for you at the moment!"


    A blue Sword Talisman flew out, looking very similar to the one previously given to Lin Shiming!


    However, upon receiving it, Lin Shiming instantly activated his Leaping Void Disk and leapt behind Predecessor Grass, also summoning the Star Pearl and punching toward the Grass Sword!


    Clearly caught off guard, the Grass Sword hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to strike without a word!


    Struck by a terrifying punch, it was immediately sent hurtling toward the ground.


    Lin Shiming then took out the Sword Storing Book, drawing the Grass Sword into the spatial dimension of the book!


    A sky full of sword grass pressed down, like myriad blades of grass cleaving the heavens.


    The terrifying might of the swords left the Grass Sword struggling to catch its breath.


    Finally, another Star Pearl descended from the sky, striking the Grass Sword and forcing it into the shape of a black Demon Sword.


    Lin Shiming once again wielded his divine awareness as a weapon, slashing at the Demon Sword to ensure it had no remaining will before stowing it away.


    Then, he continued toward Myriad Swords Divine Mountain.


    This Black Sword Puppet''s disguise was quite convincing, but one must know that he had the Taiyi Grass Sword in hand, so how could he not recognize Predecessor Grass.


    Even if he were mistaken, given Predecessor Grass''s strength, it was more likely that a strike from him would injure himself instead.


    The Dark Spirit Clan that the Black Sword Puppet spoke of, and the territory, were probably real, and even the Nine Spirit Tower was likely a member of the Dark Spirit Clan.


    Lin Shiming suddenly felt the vastness of the world, and that the future crisis might be not just in the Southern Sea.


    This Eastern Domain was also in peril!


    In the distance, Lin Shiming once again saw the Sword Ladder, but stepping on it this time did not yield the previous trial effect.


    "Just come directly to the top of Divine Mountain!" A familiar voice came from the mountaintop again.


    Lin Shiming looked at the Grass Sword in his hand and nodded.


    "I''m in your debt, Predecessor Grass!"

 Chapter 844 - 526: Eight People Enter the Palace

    "Some more time is needed. Use this Jade Talisman to sense it when the time comes!" The avatar of Heavenly Sword True Person tossed over another Sword Talisman.


    The Sword Talisman was palm-sized and somewhat resembled the Flying Fox Order.


    Lin Shiming also casually placed it into his Storage Bag.


    "From today onwards, neither this Small World nor the Profound Grade Secret Realm will be tread upon by the Qingxuan Sect!" Heavenly Sword True Person promised again.


    Lin Shiming simply nodded without saying much.


    Although he didn''t care about the cultivators of the Qingxuan Sect entering, he naturally preferred to be without such disturbances.


    Moreover, there was no need to give anything in return.


    After Heavenly Sword True Person left, Lin Shiming promptly took out the War Treasure Ship.


    This War Treasure Ship was incredibly massive, entirely cyan in color, covered with many cloud patterns, four stories tall, and armed with countless spirit weapons and Spirit Talismans.


    At the center of the ship, there were as many as eighty-one Spirit Platforms, and to know, the Lin Family''s two Fourth Rank Inferior Grade War Treasure Ships only had nine Spirit Platforms each, making the difference starkly obvious just in terms of Spirit Platforms.


    Apart from that, this Fourth Rank Supreme Grade War Treasure Ship could be operated by up to seventy-two Foundation Establishment cultivators and nine cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment, comparable to the peak of Purple Mansion.


    If presided over by a Purple Mansion cultivator, the demonstrated power would be even more formidable.


    Of course, the consumption of Superior Grade Spirit Stones would also be massive.


    However, that amount of Spirit Stones was naturally not a concern for the Lin Family now.


    The Lin Family''s small Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mine produced thousands of Superior Grade Spirit Stones yearly, in addition to the revenue from Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lianyun Island, and Jiuyue Island.


    Lin Houshou really enjoyed manipulating the War Treasure Ship.


    Even Lin Shiyan, who had turned into a hundred-zhang tall giant ape at the instructions of Lin Houshou, engaged in a sparring contest with him.


    The result was that Lin Shiyan narrowly lost, which infuriated him to the point where he almost wanted to take out the Heavenly Demon Rod and smash the entire War Treasure Ship!


    And to know that although Lin Shiyan was currently in the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, with his power transformed into a ten-zhang Fire Ape, not all Purple Mansion Late Stage Great Demons would necessarily be his match.


    Lin Houshou was overjoyed at this moment, and Lin Shiming also smiled.


    The Fourth Rank Supreme Grade War Treasure Ship was actually just a bonus.


    The method for refining a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship was the greatest gain.


    When Shen Ji True Person made a breakthrough, Lin Shiming had witnessed the power of a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship, which nearly preserved most of the disciples of the Qingxuan Sect unharmed.


    Without that Fifth Rank treasure ship, the Qingxuan Sect would have faced three hundred years of devastation.


    Lin Shiming gave the method for refining the War Treasure Ship a cursory look; its most important material turned out to be Thousand-Year-Old Bitter Bamboo!


    However, considering that the most abundant plant on the Qing Ling Peak was the Three Thousand-Year Bitter Bamboo, Lin Shiming felt somewhat relieved.


    Aside from Three Thousand-Year Bitter Bamboo, the War Treasure Ship still required rare materials like Star Meteor Cold Iron, Profound Wood Crystal, and Heavenly Color Clay.


    Gathering these together would also be difficult.


    But for the current Lin Family, as long as they made the effort, rallying family members to various auctions and Purple Mansion trade fairs, it was still possible to gather all parts.


    Especially for the Thousand-Year Bitter Bamboo, if they couldn''t find one of three thousand years, Lin Shiming could still hasten its growth.


    This made things much less difficult.


    "Second Uncle, let''s go to Taibai Sword Palace!" Lin Shiming safely put away both the Jade Slip and the treasure ship.


    The War Treasure Ship, akin to a Magical Treasure, was something he couldn''t study further; knowing the main materials was enough to ensure he wouldn''t miss out on them in the future.


    Once collected, he could have Jiuxiao Scatter Man refine it.


    It was estimated that Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s breakthrough to Golden Core would happen within the next few years.


    Perhaps if he returned early, he could even witness Jiuxiao Scatter Man''s tribulation.


    Lin Hou Shou also nodded, his mood lifted after having his fill of controlling the War Treasure Ship.


    Lin Shiming took out a treasure map, and faint Spirit Patterns began to emerge on it.


    Lin Shiming released his Divine Sense to confirm there were no other cultivators in the Small World, and then once again took out the Eternal Night Umbrella and the Crane Shadow Boat.


    Following the Spirit Patterns on the treasure map, they made a swift departure!


    They soon arrived at a valley, which Lin Shiming found somewhat familiar - it was the same valley through which he had left on that day.


    The treasure map began to glow, tearing into the void.


    Above the sky, light began to radiate as if unfolding a scroll, within which a colossal palace was faintly emerging.


    Various celestial tunes emanated, along with the shadows of celestial cranes and phoenixes within.


    It was like a palace of the immortals.


    "Truly deserving of the palace of a Divinity Transformation ancestor!" Lin Shiming felt some envy, and even though this was his second entry into the Taibai Sword Palace, he was still amazed.


    Yet at this moment, Lin Shiming realized that the palace wasn''t fully opened.


    It seemed to glance at him with a spirit of its own and had the tendency to close again!


    This scene was naturally not something Lin Shiming wanted to see.


    "Second Uncle, set up the enchantment to fix its space!" Lin Shiming spoke out directly.


    At the same time, the Immortal Wood Shadow began to unfold!


    The Immortal Wood Minor Divine Ability directly took root within the Taibai Sword Palace, tendrils reaching out, opening a path of Immortal Wood.


    Lin Hou Shou also took out several Spirit Talismans designed to anchor the space.


    At this moment, both of them refused to let the Taibai Sword Palace escape!


    With the vein of the Immortal Wood drawing it in, the palace had no choice but to comply.


    Lin Shiming took the opportunity to rush inside.


    Soon, he entered the Taibai Sword Palace.


    The initial part was still the Sword Ladder, with a total of one hundred and eight steps, but now there were only ninety steps.


    Eighteen steps were missing, a sight that immediately changed Lin Hou Shou''s expression.


    He finally began to understand why the palace seemed somewhat unwelcoming to Lin Shiming just now.


    The missing steps were clearly the eighteen from the Lin Family''s Sword Pavilion!

 Chapter 845 - 526: Eight People Enter the Palace_2

    "Second Uncle, let''s head to the Scripture Pavilion of Taibai Sword Palace first!" Lin Shiming looked up, deciding that the affair of the Sword Ladder naturally must wait until the end; otherwise, being teleported out again without gaining anything would be quite frustrating.


    Lin Shiming took the lead, and at this moment the cultivation of Sword Intent was not his concern, as his Sword Intent Realm was such that these Carved Sword Stones would not benefit him. Most importantly, when the time came to leave, he would still pry off a few.


    As for Lin Houshou, it was naturally not necessary for him either.


    Lin Shiming''s Sword Intent enveloped Lin Houshou, allowing both of them to move exceedingly fast, and they quickly came across six passageways.


    One led to the Alchemy Pavilion, one to the Artifact Refining Pavilion, another to the Spiritual Medicine Garden, the Martial Training Hall, and the Sect Main Hall!


    Nevertheless, Lin Shiming, along with Lin Houshou, directly chose the Scripture Pavilion.


    Taibai Sword Palace had been scoured once, including by Lin Shiming himself, and aside from the Scripture Pavilion, there were no other treasures left.


    Soon, the two of them arrived at the Scripture Pavilion.


    The Scripture Pavilion still resembled a giant tower with six exits.


    The tower was mysterious and exceptional, and just a few glances seemed enough to immerse oneself within it.


    At this moment, Lin Houshou''s eyes also shone brightly; he desired an inheritance of Formations, preferably Fifth Rank Formation inheritance!


    To him, Cultivation Techniques were not as attractive, but Formation inheritance was different.


    The Lin Family''s inheritance was still a bit too weak today.


    Lin Shiming gazed at the tower, pondered for a moment, and then released Lin Shiyan, Lin Shixing, Lin Shizhu, Lin Shijin, Lin Shicha, and Lin Shishui!


    However, just as he was about to take out the Blood Demon Disk to unleash the Demon God Chains and replicate the previous feats of Shen Ji True Person and Heavenly Demon True Person by pulling away the remaining inheritance of Taibai Sword Palace,


    a system prompt suddenly rang out:


    [Please adhere to the rules, or you will face eradication by the weapon spirit of Taibai Sword Palace.]


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was startled!


    He looked at the Scripture Pavilion, and the fire in his heart died down significantly!


    Apparently, the fact that a part of the Scripture Pavilion had been pulled away years ago had angered the weapon spirit.


    Seeing that he couldn''t pull away the inheritance, Lin Shiming could only take out eight Taiyi Sword Commands.


    These Taiyi Sword Commands were tokens of Taibai Sword Palace.


    The Scripture Pavilion contained even Sixth Rank Formations, so Lin Shiming naturally did not dare to seize them by force.


    Moreover, the design of the Scripture Pavilion included both life and death gates.


    Only by holding Taiyi Sword Commands and entering from opposite sides would they be entering through the life gate!


    As the Taiyi Sword Commands were distributed,


    Lin Shiming and Lin Houshou were the first to enter from opposite sides.


    At this moment, Lin Houshou felt amazed by the design of these life and death gates. Such a design was sufficient to inspire him greatly. If the Lin Family''s Scripture Pavilion could also be designed this way in the future, it would ensure the security of the Lin Family''s Scripture Pavilion and prevent thieves from infiltrating and stealing the secret manuals.


    Lin Houshou entered the tower and saw a wall of shadowed engravings. The tower was tall and lacked stairs, which Lin Shiming had told him about, but even so, he was still profoundly shaken.


    This sensation of spatial Formation was enough to occupy his studies for a lifetime.


    Then, he started examining the shadowed engravings, which were inscribed with records of how Taibai Sword Palace grew from a minor power to become one of the strongest in the Eastern Domain.


    It documented a multitude of glorious deeds, and Lin Houshou realized that if one''s Divine Soul were slightly weaker, one might be brainwashed by looking at the shadowed engravings.


    Becoming a transgenerational descendant of Taibai Sword Palace!


    Ling Houshou sighed once again.


    After that, he took out a Formation and prepared to set up a powerful Killing Formation!


    This magical aspect of the Scripture Pavilion was also displayed; whatever you demonstrate, it would transfer you to the corresponding section.


    Thus, Lin Houshou prepared to set up a Fifth Rank grand array.


    This Fifth Rank grand array was naturally only an Array Plate, which Lin Shiming had prepared in advance.


    Before long, the Formation was completely set up, and with a full-power strike, he hit the shadowed engravings.


    Lin Houshou''s figure then disappeared from the first floor of the tower!


    At this moment, it wasn''t just Lin Houshou; Lin Shiyan, Lin Shijin, all disappeared from the first floor!


    They had each utilized their strongest methods!


    And at this time, Lin Shiming reappeared on the seventh floor, where there were still only three walls.


    On one of the walls, carved there was the Kuimu Sword Canon that he was practicing.


    "It seems there is no eighth floor," sighed Lin Shiming.


    He had exerted his full strength last time and reached the seventh floor, and now as a Golden Core, with full effort, still only reached the seventh floor.


    Of course, this might also be related to age, but Lin Shiming estimated that there was a high likelihood that there was no eighth level.


    After all, he was not yet two hundred years old and had already attained the cultivation level of Golden Core Early Stage. Given his talent, even if he were placed in the Taibai Sword Palace of those years, he would definitely be a rare and exceptional individual.


    Lin Shiming shook his head and first looked at the stone wall for the Kuimu Sword Canon.


    Seeing the Kuimu Sword Canon again, Lin Shiming felt somewhat emotional, but then he turned his head away; as he already possessed this technique, he naturally would not choose it.


    Instead, he looked at the other two stone walls he had not examined last time, one of which was the Fiery Firmament True Scripture, a fire attribute cultivation technique, and even better than the Lin Family''s Five Flames Scripture!


    The remaining stone wall was the Wave Sword Canon!


    Both techniques were undoubtedly of the Intermediate Profound Rank category.


    Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose the Fiery Firmament True Scripture.


    Although the Lin Family now has a Water Spirit Root and a Heavenly Spirit Root, the Lin Family also has the Inferior Profound Rank Cold Water Scripture.


    In contrast, what Lin Shitao and Lin Shijie were practicing was just the Superior Profound Rank Five Flames Scripture, which could only be cultivated up to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Perhaps it would be okay for a short time, but for both of them to break through the Golden Core and reach the Nascent Soul stage,


    They naturally needed higher-level techniques.


    Lin Shiming hesitated for a while but eventually selected the Fiery Firmament True Scripture, starting to read it.


    With the stone wall locked in, an image of a red-robed elder appeared, sitting at the mouth of a volcano, facing the waves of fire, and began to cultivate slowly.


    Layer upon layer of fiery qi congregated and formed silhouettes of fire dragons around his body.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the others'' location, Lin Houshou''s stone wall in front of him was a lecture on various Fifth Rank formations.


    Although he could only choose one Fifth Rank formation, Lin Houshou was nevertheless extremely excited.


    The inheritance here was taught through the stone walls, which were far more powerful than ordinary techniques.


    However, very soon, he became hesitant again. He had never heard of these Fifth Rank formations before, and he wanted to study all of them.


    At this moment, a book of armor-piercing techniques appeared in front of Lin Houshou.


    This armor-piercing book was not a formation, but it taught how to disassemble Fifth Rank formations thoroughly and how to grasp Fifth Rank formations the fastest.


    Lin Houshou instantly decided and chose the book of armor-piercing techniques. It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.


    This technique could entirely overturn his knowledge of formations, allowing him to delve deeper into the field.


    One Fifth Rank formation could not compare to the book of armor-piercing techniques.


    ...


    Lin Shiyan was currently also looking through various levels of stone walls, and he chose a crimson fire wall. If Lin Shiming had been there, he would have realized that Lin Shiyan was on the sixth level.


    Moreover, the techniques recorded above were all beast scriptures.


    "Supreme Profound Rank, Heavenly Fire Beast Scripture!"


    "I will certainly not let the master down again!" Lin Shiyan murmured, filled with excitement, and quickly became immersed.


    ...


    Lin Shijin and other Spirit Beasts were now each appearing on the fifth and sixth levels!


    Among them, Lin Shixing, Lin Shijin, and Lin Shizhu appeared on the sixth level, while Lin Shicha and Lin Shishui were on the fifth level!


    Lin Shijin obtained the Supreme Profound Rank Cold Soul Beast Scripture.


    Lin Shixing obtained the Supreme Profound Rank Star Body Beast Scripture.


    Lin Shizhu received the Supreme Profound Rank Great Geng Thunder Formation!


    Lin Shicha obtained the Superior Profound Rank Green Wood Longevity Scripture.


    Lin Shishui obtained the Superior Profound Rank Profound Water Beast Scripture!


    Each person reaped a full harvest, and when the eight gathered in front of the Scripture Pavilion, everyone looked at Lin Shiming, filled with excitement.


    "Second Uncle, you arrange the Transmission Formation and remember the spatial coordinates to transport here in the future!" Lin Shiming said.


    Afterward, this small world belonged to the Lin Family¡ªLin Shiming naturally intended to monopolize this Scripture Pavilion as the Lin Family''s Scripture Pavilion, arranging for family cultivators to come over whenever there was time.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shiming became somewhat annoyed; all formations arranged within the Taibai Sword Palace would dissipate.


    This caused Lin Houshou''s expression to become somewhat embarrassed, Lin Shiming sighed as well.


    The treasure map to enter the Taibai Sword Palace was a one-time use item.


    To come in again next time, he would need the Taiyi Grass Sword.


    "Let''s go, let''s go get the Sword Ladder!" Unable to obtain more benefits from the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Shiming directly headed towards the Sword Ladder!

 Chapter 846 - 527: 60 Carved Sword Stones, Joyful News (2 in 1, Seeking Monthly Support)

    Inside the Taibai Sword Palace, the Lin Family group, comprising two men, four beasts, and two demons, all headed towards the Sword Ladder together.


    At this moment, half of the Sword Ladder was still vacant, with as many as eighteen Carved Sword Stones.


    Above the Sword Ladder, the four characters of "Taibai Sword Palace" were equally grand and majestic, inspiring awe and respect in those who saw them.


    Lin Shiming did not take immediate action; instead, he began to sit cross-legged on the spot, recovering his True Yuan.


    Seeing this, the others were exceedingly curious. After all, up till now, they had only visited the Scripture Pavilion, and Lin Houshou had even suggested exploring the other five passages for treasures.


    Lin Shiming nodded and let them go while he continued to meditate and cultivate.


    Including the Spirit Beasts, Lin Shiming generously allowed them to go.


    From the moment he named these Spirit Beasts, Lin Shiming slowly eased the restrictions on them.


    He was already at the Golden Core Stage, and most of these Spirit Beasts were of Purple Mansion rank, making it increasingly difficult for them to catch up with him.


    If these Spirit Beasts could find their own place in the Lin Family, perhaps that would sometimes be better.


    During Lin Shiming''s hesitation, the Spirit Beast Wood Demons and Lin Houshou also disappeared together from the front of the mountain gate.


    However, the search didn''t last long before Lin Houshou was the first to return, and after coming back, he chose another passage.


    After exploring two passages, Lin Houshou ultimately had to give up.


    The cultivators from Qingxuan Sect had plundered too severely, leaving few stone tables and benches behind.


    Even the beams and pillars were taken away, which was why Lin Shiming did not continue the search.


    Naturally, he found nothing and eventually joined Lin Shizhu in studying the Taoist Scripture of Escaping next to him.


    The other beasts also returned empty-handed, except for Elder Mu and Lin Shicha, who were currently beaming with joy.


    Together with Lei Tong and Lin Shizhu, they had gathered quite a bit of Spirit Soil within the Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    Though the harvest wasn''t huge, it was their first treasure hunt, and the fun they had was what mattered most.


    And when the next day arrived, the system finally refreshed, and as expected, the notification was about the Sword Ladder''s Carved Sword Stones.


    [Please operate the Sword Storing Book to the extreme, covering the Sword Ladder, and you will have ten breaths'' time to use the Soul Devouring Ants to collect the Carved Sword Stones!]


    Upon receiving the system prompt, Lin Shiming was overjoyed.


    Now that both Soul Devouring Ants had reached the Purple Mansion Great Demon level, their devouring power had significantly increased compared to before, and with ten breaths, ninety Carved Sword Stones, he was confident in collecting half.


    This would allow the Lin Family''s Sword Pavilion to expand fivefold!


    He began to form seals, and the Treasure Law slowly appeared, while a Sword Storing Book made its way towards the Carved Sword Stone Sword Ladder!


    As waves of Spirit Light surged, the Sword Ladder seemed to be collected by Lin Shiming''s Sword Storing Book.


    And at that instant, Lin Shiming released the two Purple Mansion Soul Devouring Ants, biting into the junction of the Carved Sword Stones.


    With each Carved Sword Stone bitten, Lin Shiming stored it into his Cave Heaven.


    The speed of the two Soul Devouring Ants didn''t disappoint him, significantly faster than before when he had eighty-one ants.


    Now with just two ants, one could bite through three Carved Sword Stones in a single breath, collecting sixty stones in ten breaths!


    As the last moment arrived, a terrifying presence emerged, and Lin Shiming''s face instantly turned pale, intending to react, but he found that the Spirit Light had already shattered the space of the Sword Storing Book, exposing it within the Taibai Sword Palace!


    And it transformed into a vortex, emitting a terrifying suction force towards the group.


    This suction was so strong that even Lin Shiming could not withstand it and ultimately entered the passage.


    At the same time, an ancient and formidable pressure descended upon him.


    In that instant, he felt an overwhelming sense of oppression.


    Knowing that he was a Golden Core Body Cultivator, this made him worry about the safety of Lin Houshou and the others.


    Soon, the vortex transported Lin Shiming and Lin Houshou out of the Taibai Sword Palace.


    As soon as the valley appeared, the two Purple Mansion Soul Devouring Ants were somewhat baffled, flying around the valley.


    They couldn''t understand why the Carved Sword Stones had disappeared.


    There were still thirty Carved Sword Stones left; they only needed five more breaths.


    The confusion of the two Soul Devouring Ants didn''t clear until Lin Shiming took out another Spirit Mineral and some Spirit Beast meat, after which they calmed down.


    One by one, they squeaked excitedly and ran back, starting to feast voraciously!


    Meanwhile, the other four beasts and two demons were collected by Lin Shiming into the Cave Heaven ahead of time.


    Of course, inside the Cave Heaven right now, the Qiu Xue Sword and the other four Soul Summoning Swords were all dumbfounded, astounded by the appearance of sixty new Carved Sword Stones!


    At this moment, the Ying Fengjian was also stunned, somewhat believing that the Flaming Sword should be doing well.


    After all, aside from not appearing like a Sword Cultivator, Lin Shiming was impeccable in all other aspects, with surprisingly numerous methods.


    The Qiu Xue Sword and Leiming Sword were fine, but the Ying Fengjian began to size up Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven, and started inquiring about Elder Mu, Lei Tong, and the others who had just entered...


    ...


    "Uncle, we can leave now; it''s time to return to the Southern Sea!" With the Carved Sword Stones and Soul Summoning Swords in hand, he had also learned about the higher realms above the Sword Domain.


    This was a tremendous harvest.


    Although he also wanted to try his luck in the Yunzhong Realm, the situation in the Southern Sea was gradually changing, whether it was Jiuxiao True Person''s breakthrough or the Coral Alliance''s Golden Core Conference, both were opportunities that could influence the overall situation.


    "Okay!" Lin Houshou nodded. His purpose for coming here was to assist Lin Shiming, and this time their gain had been tremendous.


    Just in terms of resources, Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit trees, Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit trees, several thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines, sixty Carved Sword Stones, and the Fifth Rank Formation analysis inheritance.

 Chapter 847 - 527: Sixty Carved Sword Stones, Good News (Two-In-One for Monthly Ticket)_2

    He was utterly satisfied.


    Lin Shiming took out the Crane Shadow Boat once again, along with the Eternal Night Umbrella, and headed towards the hill they had come from.


    The scenery of the hill remained the same. As Lin Shiming took out the Taiyi Grass Sword and slashed at the void once again, a vortex passage appeared in the void once more.


    The two leaped forward and appeared in the Qingxuan Mountain Range.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense spread out again, probing the surrounding area.


    But after scanning over and over, there was still no answer.


    Lin Houshou was also looking at Lin Shiming with confusion at this moment, not knowing what Lin Shiming was searching for.


    Although the area was occupied by some Foundation Establishment forces, there was nothing else remarkable, nor was there a Spirit Vein above the Third Rank.


    "Second Uncle, this Qingxuan Sect is not simple. We''ve been outmaneuvered!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    As these words were said, Lin Houshou was still puzzled, but then he suddenly had an epiphany thinking about their actions during this trip.


    "This method is unheard of!" Lin Houshou was also incredibly astonished.


    Had Lin Shiming not mentioned it, it would have never occurred to him.


    Lin Shiming also looked towards the Northern Wastes with his eyes. His Divine Sense had covered the area just now, trying to figure out if the Qingxuan Sect was nearby.


    With only a few days since they had parted from the Qingxuan Sect, if the sect''s cultivators had already infiltrated this vicinity, his Divine Sense should have been able to detect them.


    And without any traces to be found, nor discovered by the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    This indicated that the Qingxuan Sect could enter this Secret Realm right in the Northern Wastes.


    Such spatial transportation had gone beyond the scope of normal Transmission Formations!


    Normally, to enter a Secret Realm, one would pass through spatial nodes, just like Lin Shiming. To enter a minor world, he would have to use the Taiyi Grass Sword and be at a specific location.


    However, Lin Shiming also guessed that such a Secret Technique likely had its limitations. Otherwise, those who appeared in the minor world wouldn''t be limited to Foundation Establishment cultivators and some Golden Core avatars of Foundation Establishment.


    After clarifying, Lin Shiming took out the Spirit Boat again and flew towards the Jiuyan Mountain Range.


    The Transmission Formation was still intact, and following the transfer to Fangmu Island, Shiming was transmitted to Shuangmu Island once again.


    Upon arriving at Shuangmu Island, Lin Shiming instantly felt a tense atmosphere. The Island Protecting Great Array of the entire Shuangmu Island was fully activated, with many cultivators in the sky standing in strict formation.


    At the forefront was Lin Shiyi. Lin Shiyi at this moment had also become a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    "Congratulations, Second Brother!" Lin Shiming quickly clasped his fists in congratulations.


    The Lin Family finally had a second Purple Mansion Body Cultivator with Lin Shiyi''s strength in Body Cultivation. It was very possible for him to achieve Golden Core in the future.


    The experience in the Chi Lan Sea Domain had indeed allowed Lin Shiyi to grow considerably.


    "Not bad at all, Shiyi!" Lin Houshou also spoke with a smile.


    However, Lin Shiyi spoke again:


    "Second Uncle, you''ll have to work harder, or else Zelu will overtake you!" Lin Shiyi said.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense also perceived, and sure enough, he discovered Lin Zelu, who was consolidating his cultivation in closed-door cultivation on Qinglian Peak, had already made a breakthrough to Purple Mansion.


    Moreover, it was not just Lin Zelu, Lin Zeli had also made a breakthrough. Clearly, in this period, the Lin Family had experienced another surge in breakthroughs to Purple Mansion!


    By now, the number of Purple Mansion cultivators in the Lin Family had exceeded a dozen.


    "Shiming, but the person who really deserves congratulations is actually you!" Lin Shiyi added with a smile.


    This left Lin Shiming a bit confused, but a guess suddenly emerged in his heart.


    "Shitao is with child!" Lin Shiyi said.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also felt a surprising joy, and Lin Houshou beside him was overjoyed as well.


    "Shiming, this occasion calls for a grand celebration!"


    "It must be as grand as the Golden Core ceremony!" Lin Houshou said seriously, without a hint of jest.


    The fact that Lin Shiming was to have an offspring was absolutely the most important matter for the Lin Family.


    You should know that in the family''s status hierarchy, even Lin Xianzhi could not compare to Lin Shiming.


    Those of the Ze generation, Yan generation, even the current Long generation had all grown up listening to the tales of Lin Shiming.


    "I will go see Shitao first!" Lin Shiming was also overjoyed!


    Although at this moment, many members of the Lin Family Clan are protecting the law for Jiuxiao Hermit''s breakthrough, Lin Shiming still finds it hard to suppress this joy.


    Heading towards the cave dwelling on Thousand Wood Peak.


    Unintentionally, it has come to the blossom season again, as the entire Thousand Wood Peak sinks into the fragrant aroma of peach blossoms, countless spirit-seeking bees circling above.


    Since Lin Shiming''s breakthrough generated the Yimu anomaly, Thousand Wood Peak has now become a sacred place for peach blossoms and spirit-seeking bees.


    Now, the Lin Family produces three types of Spirit Honey: Third Rank Superior Grade Spirit Honey, Third Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Honey, and Second Rank Spirit Honey.


    Most of the Spirit Veins are sold to the various inns of the Li Family, and with the development led by Lin Yanjiao, now, apart from a few islands like Golden Thunder Island, the entire Coral Island has Lin Family Restaurants.


    And in front of Lin Shitao''s cave dwelling, a pot of tea quietly brews, making regular Mingxin Tea.


    Lin Shitao walks out from the cave dwelling, and upon seeing Lin Shiming, rushes to embrace him.


    Lin Shiming''s trip to the Eastern Domain took nearly two months, which might be just a period of closed-door cultivation for cultivators.


    But Lin Shitao is now pregnant, naturally she cannot be in closed-door cultivation, nor can she practice alchemy, at this time, the most important task is to nourish the fetus.


    Every day, she drinks energizing Spiritual Tea and eats Spirit Meals rich in vitality.


    For this, the Lin Family even personally selected the best Spirit Meal Master.


    "You''ve worked hard!" Lin Shiming hugged Lin Shitao tightly.


    He couldn''t help but look at Lin Shitao''s belly; although Lin Shiming had lived two lifetimes and is now nearly two hundred years old, it is his first time becoming a father, and the feeling is wonderfully mysterious.


    "Seventh Brother, I feel like it''s going to be Zeying!" Lin Shitao says with a smile blooming like the vibrant peach blossoms all over the mountain.


    The entire Thousand Wood Peak is basking in the warm spring breeze!


    Lin Shiming gently nods, holding Lin Shitao in his arms, carefully admiring the peach blossoms.


    At this moment, his mood also becomes extraordinarily uplifted.


    It''s not just happy events, but also for the uncertainties of the future, this time, he has made ample preparations.


    Should anything change in the Coral Sea Domain, let it be.


    Even if members of the Heavenly Demon Sect come knocking, he''s not that afraid anymore.


    After a pot of Mingxin Tea, Lin Shiming also feels a fragrant tea aroma spreading throughout his body, enjoying the long-missed comfort.


    "By the way, Shitao, this is a new cultivation technique I found inside Taibai Sword Palace!" Lin Shiming takes out the Fiery Firmament True Scripture, an Earth Rank Technique, which could help Lin Shitao break through to Golden Core.


    The higher the cultivation technique, the better the chances.


    Lin Shitao is now at the peak of Purple Mansion Middle Stage, and it won''t take much time for her to break through to Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    However, she will need a lot of polishing at the Purple Mansion Late Stage realm.


    After all, the Golden Core comes with Heavenly Tribulation.


    "By the way, Seventh Brother, Uncle Seventh Ancestor said there have been signs of a beast tide near Jiuyue Island again!" Lin Shitao also spoke with concern.


    Now guarding Jiuyue Island is Lin Xianzhi.


    So after Lin Shiming left, Lin Shitao is actually the highest in cultivation level on Twin Wood Island.


    Lin Zeli, Lin Zelu, Lin Shiyi have all just broken through to Purple Mansion.


    "No worries, this time we''re well-prepared!" Lin Shiming says confidently.


    A beast tide would be good, as the Lin Family actually needs Purple Mansion Peak cultivators, or a Golden Core Demon King to come.


    After all, the five Soul Summoning Swords still haven''t been converted to Spirit Cultivation.


    Seeing Lin Shiming''s confident demeanor, Lin Shitao also smiles, continuing to pour him more Spiritual Tea.


    But after some thought, Lin Shitao''s expression shows a hint of worried uncertainty.


    "Seventh Brother, what if Zeying... doesn''t have a Spirit Root..." Lin Shitao dared not continue.


    For cultivators, the biggest fear is their descendants not possessing Spirit Roots; with the cultivators'' lengthy lifespans, if the descendants lack Spirit Roots, they will inevitably experience the heartache of white-haired individuals sending off those with black hair.


    This is also why many cultivators would rather pursue cultivation all their lives than risk having offspring.


    "Don''t worry, there will be one, otherwise Turtle Spirit Coconuts wouldn''t sell so well!" Lin Shiming says confidently.


    Today, the prosperity of the Lin Family owes much to the fourth-rank Turtle Spirit Coconut, apart from the crucial contributions made by Lin Shiming himself!

 Chapter 848 - 528: Four Sword Pavilions, Yanjiaos Defense Strategy (Two-in-One)

    Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Shiming comforted Lin Shitao for a long time, before finally leaving to the council hall.


    Lin Yanjiao and the current Elders Group were still discussing the situation; after nearly eighty years of silence, the landscape was beginning to change again.


    The century-long beast tide calamity may also arrive early.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Yanjiao exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Lin Shiming, then her expression turned to one of delight.


    Now, Lin Shiming was the backbone of the Lin Family; with him present, other cultivators would feel much more at ease!


    The other members of the Elders Group also paid their respects one after another.


    The current Lin Family Elders Group was full of talented and intelligent individuals, all at the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    Among them, most belonged to the ''Ze'' generation, with a few from the ''Yan'' generation.


    The Lin Family''s core strength had already transitioned from the ''Shi'' to the ''Ze'' generation and was even subtly progressing towards the ''Yan'' generation.


    There weren''t a few amongst the ''Yan'' generation who had reached Foundation Establishment.


    "Continue, I''ll listen," Lin Shiming said, gesturing with his hand.


    He wasn''t very familiar with the current situation in the Southern Sea and preferred to listen from the sidelines.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, we''re preparing to publish a heroes'' list!"


    "The list will be similar to the one from the previous century, divided into the Purple Mansion Demon Slaying List, the Foundation Establishment Demon Slaying List, and the Qi Cultivation Demon Slaying List!"


    "To fight the enemy and beyond!"


    "Moreover, this time we''re planning to combine the lists from Lianyun Island and Jiuyue Island!"


    "This increases competition, but correspondingly, the rewards must be greater!" Lin Yanjiao explained slowly.


    In the previous century, the successful defense by Red Leaf Island set a precedent; now many inner islands were implementing demon slaying lists and incentive policies in advance, encouraging a large number of Loose Cultivators and some families to head to the Outer Sea.


    If the Lin Family didn''t offer greater rewards, the appeal wouldn''t be strong enough.


    But similarly, if the rewards were set too high and stood out among the islands, it could offend the cultivators from other islands.


    They weren''t sure about the right balance.


    "It''s okay, but keep the Purple Mansion Demon Slaying List unchanged!" Lin Shiming nodded in agreement, believing that the rewards for the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Lists could be increased a bit to attract more.


    However, the Purple Mansion Demon Slaying List should be more conservative.


    One reason was to avoid offending other islands by inflating the overall rewards of the lists.


    Additionally, the Lin Family had been consuming a lot of the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid recently, and this amount was expected to increase in the future.


    Even if it was used as a reward, the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family must bring it back.


    "What other ideas besides the list?" Lin Shiming continued to ask.


    He didn''t believe that the only strategy Lin Yanjiao had was the list.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, indeed there is another idea: to host a Purple Mansion cultivators'' grand auction on Jiuyue Island. This way, it won''t conflict with the Golden Core grand auction on Coral Island!"


    "It will attract a lot of Purple Mansion cultivators, and we can feature the Fourth Rank Heavenly Sound Conch and the Water Spirit Pearl from the Fourth Rank Water Spirit Shell as specialties. For the finale, we''ll bring out our Daughter Red Wine, and the Fourth Rank Sturgeon Dragon Liquor!"


    "Of course, if we still have the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit, we could offer that too!" Lin Yanjiao hesitated for a moment before adding.


    "The Purple Jade Fruit works, and I also have a Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit!" Lin Shiming added.


    Since they wanted to build an auction, then auction off a Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit that would even cause a stir at the Golden Core trade fair!


    A whole century of lifespan would indeed make it highly sought after by cultivators.


    Coincidentally, Lin Shiming had acquired a Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit tree and a Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree on his trip to the Eastern Domain, just waiting for him to find time to catalyze them.


    The maturation times of the two fruit trees were not far off, and a single use of the Minor Divine Ability Revival Wind could accomplish it.


    "Besides, set up a Purple Mansion trade fair and send out invitations, and let Shijie handle this task!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    Now, Lin Shijie had also achieved a breakthrough ten years ago, advancing to the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Moreover, having refined the Chi Ming Flame, his strength was not weak among those in the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    If he could acquire a few more Strange Fires at the trade fair, his strength could rise even higher.


    "Also, gather these materials!" Lin Shiming took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Lin Yanjiao.


    With the auction, naturally, they could also purchase treasures.


    And what he had in the Jade Slip were the materials for a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship!


    This War Treasure Ship was a significant weapon, and if they could forge it before their trip to Coral Island, it would certainly increase the Lin Family''s odds of victory!


    Many of the materials inside were not on hand and quite rare, but they might become available at the Purple Mansion trade fair and grand auction.


    Given the special times, as possible turmoil approached the Southern Sea, many cultivators would be willing to trade their treasured items from the bottom of their chests for resources to survive.


    "By the way, for the auction, extend more invitations to the forces from Red Leaf Island and Nine Dragon Island!"


    "Just invite them in my name!" Lin Shiming continued.


    At these words, Lin Yanjiao''s face showed great delight.


    With the auction and the list released, the number of cultivators on Jiuyue Island would far exceed previous counts, and the Lin Family''s chance of holding down Heavenly Phenomenon Island and Jiuyue Island would be much greater.


    If possible, the Lin Family still did not want to hide in that volcanic micro-world.


    After Lin Shiming made his decisions, Lin Yanjiao continued to plan and arrange.


    The policy of scorching the earth and clearing the fields needed to be implemented, along with the deployment of various sensing formations.


    And so did the seed project.


    Lin Shiming listened to all of these preparations, and he was extremely satisfied with Lin Yanjiao''s arrangements.


    Once all plans were in place and all members of the Elders Group began to implement them.


    And after encouraging Lin Yanjiao, Lin Shiming headed towards the Sword Pavilion.

 Chapter 849 - 528: The Four Sword Pavilion, Yanjiaos Strategy to Repel the Enemy (2-in-1)_2

    This time, he also called upon Lin Houshou.


    The two rode the Spirit Boat, and within dozens of breaths, they arrived at the Sword Pavilion.


    Nowadays, the Sword Pavilion is looking more and more majestic, with all its buildings emitting a golden aura.


    At this moment, there are still quite a few cultivators in front of the Sword Pavilion, and as the ''Chang'' generation emerges, the sword talents of the Lin Family continue to burst forth.


    Even now, although Lin Shiming has established the Sword Stele Sensing Stone to sense Sword Intent, the Sword Pavilion still seems somewhat inadequate.


    Many cultivators are also lining up.


    The cultivators guarding the Sword Pavilion now belong to the ''Shi'' generation, with Lin Shicheng, at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, hurriedly stepping out to greet Lin Shiming''s arrival.


    "Seventh Brother, Second Uncle, they all meet the test requirements of the Sword Stele!" Lin Shicheng spoke with some panic.


    "No matter, I am here today to solve this problem!" Lin Shiming said with a smile.


    At this moment, in front of the Sword Pavilion, many cultivators began to worry!


    They feared that at this very moment, Lin Shiming would once again raise the threshold for entering the Sword Pavilion!


    No one knows better than they do how insufficient the Sword Intent of the Sword Pavilion is nowadays, and no one knows better than they do how much the Sword Pavilion can enhance their understanding of the Sword Dao!


    Even just observing the Sword Ladder is a complete trial for them.


    Lin Shiming did not offer too much explanation regarding this.


    He went straight into the Sword Pavilion.


    Only Lin Hou Shou patted Lin Shicheng on the shoulder and looked towards the other Lin Family cultivators.


    "Don''t worry, the Sword Pavilion is about to expand!"


    "From now on, everyone doesn''t need to worry about the limited space in the Sword Pavilion, but the same rules apply: those with talent can use it, those without should not force themselves!"


    ...


    Entering the Sword Pavilion, Lin Shiming once again saw many Lin Family cultivators, with Lin Yanxing, Lin Zeyi, and Lin Zeli present at the moment.


    Each of them occupied one Sword Ladder, with some other Lin Family cultivators in front of the Sword Ladder. Although they couldn''t directly sense the Sword Intent, it wasn''t much less.


    In short, aside from the Sword Ladder itself, the Sword Pavilion was packed to the brim!


    Lin Shiming ignored the other cultivators and went directly to the highest eighteenth stone step!


    The Flaming Sword also awoke, looking at Lin Shiming.


    "Have you succeeded?"


    "I''ve met with Taiyi Grass Sword''s predecessor, but still fell short!" Lin Shiming said with a helpless wry smile.


    Although his journey went smoothly, he indeed did not catch the Taiyi Grass Sword''s eye.


    "Normal!" The Flaming Sword wasn''t surprised.


    "Which one came out this time?" The Flaming Sword suddenly thought about it and began to smile.


    Now at the pinnacle of the Golden Core Late Stage, those Soul Summoning Swords still haven''t found proper vessels; at most, they can display the strength of the Golden Core Early Stage, which is already remarkable.


    "Qiu Xue, Ying Feng, Leiming, Feibang, Ming Lun!" Lin Shiming enumerated one by one and also took out the Soul Summoning Swords.


    As all five swords appeared, the Sword Intent within the Sword Pavilion erupted once again.


    All Lin Family cultivators felt a more intense Sword Intent emerge.


    Many cultivators with their eyes closed opened their eyes and, seeing six swords in the sky, were stunned to the extreme!


    "Qiu Xue Brother, you came out as well?" The Flaming Sword at this moment appeared rather obsequious towards the Qiu Xue Sword.


    This scene also left Lin Shiming somewhat stunned; while he expected the Flaming Sword to be inferior to Qiu Xue Sword, he did not anticipate the extent of Flaming Sword''s deference.


    However, the situation was different when looking at Ying Feng Sword and Leiming Sword.


    The Flaming Sword still had a haughty air as it is now at the peak of the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Cultivation and not far from the pinnacle, already preparing to break through to Nascent Soul.


    Ying Feng Sword, rarely speaking, felt it meaningless to talk now that he is being suppressed by the Flaming Sword.


    You must know, they once were nearly equal, perhaps even slightly better than the Flaming Sword.


    They silently looked at the others and the Carved Sword Stone, finally understanding why the Flaming Sword could progress so rapidly.


    This privilege, even in the former Taibai Sword Palace, they couldn''t have achieved. Their favor towards the Lin Family increased significantly.


    Yet seeing the many Lin Family cultivators, their expressions changed once more.


    "Flaming Sword Ancestor, now with sixty more Carved Sword Stones on the Sword Ladder, the Lin Family will add three Sword Pavilions each with fifteen Carved Sword Stones. At that time, all ancestors will be able to freely choose their Sword Pavilion!"


    "This Sword Pavilion shall be called the East Sword Pavilion!" Lin Shiming spoke, sharing his thoughts.


    At the same time, he also planned to specifically set aside a West Sword Pavilion for these Soul Summoning Swords.


    After all, there are not a few cultivators in the Lin Family, and sometimes they may disturb these Soul Summoning Swords.


    "This matter is excellent!" Ying Fengjian nodded in approval, he was utterly supportive.


    Lin Shiming also nodded, leaving behind the five swords and Flaming Sword to catch up with each other, while he himself left the Sword Pavilion to let Lin Houshou arrange the construction of new Sword Pavilions.


    And when the Lin Family eventually had four grand Sword Pavilions, all Lin Family cultivators were ecstatic!


    Some even volunteered to help with the construction of the Sword Pavilions.


    Lin Shiming let Lin Houshou make the arrangements; the East Sword Pavilion was constructed by Lin Houshou himself, as he had experience in this area.


    Once the Sword Pavilion was arranged, Lin Shiming returned to the Cave Heaven to catalyze the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree and the Fuling Fire Mulberry tree.


    He also looked towards the Red-haired Demon Monkey, who was still facing the stone wall, refining flames.


    And cultivating the beast cultivation technique he had newly acquired.


    "Shiyan!" Lin Shiming called to awaken the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The latter hurriedly stepped forward:


    "Master!"


    Lin Shiming flipped his hand and the Xu Ri Sword appeared, now featuring a blazing crimson flame. After decades of burning, even a third of the flame had grown significantly stronger.


    "You couldn''t assimilate it before, but now you should be able to. Remember not to be too impulsive in the future, practice cultivation according to your capabilities!" Lin Shiming handed over the crimson flame to him!


    The latter was overjoyed.


    This time, instead of swallowing it directly, the flame pattern on its forehead emerged, emitting a red spirit light that took in the crimson flame!


    "Thank you, Master!" The Red-haired Demon Monkey, Shiyan, knelt once more in gratitude.


    Lin Shiming waved his hand, allowing him to return to diligent cultivation.


    He walked around the Cave Heaven, noticing that the other Demonic Beasts and Wood Spirits were all practicing cultivation techniques. This journey to the Eastern Domain had allowed them to obtain techniques, making the Cave Heaven seem somewhat quiet.


    Lin Shiming was pleased with this and checked on Wang Jiao''s progress, as well as the progress of the other four half-dragons. After confirming there were no issues, he left the Cave Heaven and headed for Jiuyue Island.


    Although Jiuxiao Scatter Man was currently in seclusion making a breakthrough, the combat power of Shuangmu Island was not to be underestimated, with a Golden Core Early Stage Spirit Puppet, along with Flaming Sword and the five Qiu Xue Swords.


    Even if a Golden Core Demon King appeared, it would merely come to provide a host body.


    There was no need for him to worry.


    But for Jiuyue Island, Lin Shiming had to start planning.


    Hadn''t Nine Dragon Island previously lost their Nine Dragons Fruit tree?


    This time, Lin Shiming found a new tree for Nine Dragon Island, his Golden Core Early Stage combat power and a Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet.


    Working hard for Nine Dragon Island, he wondered if they would agree to his offer.


    Next, Red Leaf Island was probably also worried about this beast tide. Thus, they would likely agree to fortify and clear the fields in advance.


    However, this time Lin Shiming''s fortifications were not for ordinary Demonic Beasts, but for Demon Kings!


    Both as Golden Core vessels and as Fifth Rank Spirit Veins!


    This was the biggest reason why he wanted Lin Yanjiao to invite Nine Dragon Island and Red Leaf Island to join the event.


    The Transmission Formation began to operate, and Lin Shiming arrived on Jiuyue Island.


    Upon entering the Transmission Formation, he saw an unprecedentedly grand city!


    The city walls were a hundred zhang tall, constructed entirely out of Xuan iron and engraved with various Spirit Patterns, with assorted Spirit Crossbows set up above the walls, and the defensive structures were thoroughly built!


    From afar, it was like a prehistoric behemoth, exuding immense deterrence!


    Many cultivators patrolled the walls, while countless Spirit Boats entered and exited the island. It could also be seen that many Loose Cultivators had already set out to hunt Demonic Beasts, vying for the leaderboard.


    Looking at the towering city walls, Lin Shiming also felt somewhat relieved; Lin Yanjiao had not let him down!


    Such a grand city was more than adequate for the task of resisting the beast tide. This time, there might be no need to retreat to Heavenly Phenomenon Island; Jiuyue Island alone could be sufficient to fend off the invaders!


    At the same time, Lin Shiming realized that many cultivators who had heard of the auction event were equally astonished by the city walls themselves.

 Chapter 850 - 529: Delayed Rankings, Taking the Initiative (Two-in-One for Monthly Tickets)

    Having observed the city walls, Lin Shiming changed his attire and mingled into the crowd, heading towards the city gate.


    At the entrance of the city gate, there was a line of cultivators dressed in Lin Family attire who were inspecting entrants, accompanied by a Demon Detection Disk on the side that would activate if members of the Demonic Race tried to infiltrate.


    Of course, for Jiuyue Island and Jiuyue City, the best effect still came from the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation.


    This formation could reveal any Great Demons with Golden Cores should they pass within thousands of miles.


    Although some Purple Mansion Great Demons could transform into human forms, they were few.


    Entering Jiuyue City would cost twenty Inferior Grade Spirit Stones for each entry and exit.


    Lin Shiming searched for a long time in his Storage Bag before finding twenty Inferior Grade Spirit Stones. Although he had plenty of Intermediate Grade and several Superior Grade Spirit Stones, the Inferior Grade Spirit Stones were now rare.


    Once inside the city walls, Lin Shiming was quite satisfied with the city''s cultivators.


    Each of them was very attentive to their duty, showing neither discrimination against Loose Cultivators nor any arrogance.


    Such cultivators of the Lin Family truly represented the face of their clan.


    And as for collecting Spirit Stones, Lin Shiming found it reasonable, although the Lin Family had spent quite a few Spirit Stones building Jiuyue City.


    One must note that the city now had a considerable flow of people.


    Moreover, twenty Spirit Stones were not considered high for Foundation Establishment cultivators; as long as they frequently went out to hunt Demonic Beasts and cleared the fields, they almost needed to enter and exit the city every few days.


    With such a base number, the total would be even larger.


    And once these cultivators used the Transmission Formation, that base number would grow significantly.


    And the Lin Family''s revenue would increase accordingly.


    Jiuyue City appeared even more bustling, with four distinct city districts.


    The West City was a residential area, East City was the commercial district, South City was owned by the Lin Family, while North City was half owned by Red Leaf Island and half by Nine Dragon Island; such an arrangement ensured that Nine Dragon Island would not overreach.


    And it also highlighted the status of Red Leaf Island.


    Lin Shiming''s destination was naturally the bustling East City.


    East City, with Lin Family Restaurant being the tallest and most luxurious building there, located right at the heart of East City and built with magnificent splendor.


    Next in importance was the Lin Family''s Pill Pavilion and arms workshop, followed by the shops of Red Leaf Island and Nine Dragon Island.


    In this commercial street, most shops also adopted the marketing methods of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, implementing a VIP system and giving away small gifts had become commonplace.


    After all, the Lin Family had perfected these strategies, and other clan forces would lose business if they did not do the same.


    East City had recently issued the Demon Slaying Rankings. The Purple Mansion Slaying Rankings could be checked at Lin Family Restaurant, the Foundation Slaying Rankings at Lin Family Pill Pavilion, and Qi Cultivation Slaying Rankings at Lin Family Arms Pavilion.


    Thus, although there were many cultivators on the streets, none were as busy as the Lin Family''s shops.


    Even now, Lin Shiming saw that some cultivators were already queuing at the Lin Family Pill Pavilion and Arms Pavilion.


    And to Lin Shiming''s satisfaction, the current ranking listings were not only updated at Lin Family establishments; other shops and taverns also updated them, albeit one day later on Red Leaf Island and Nine Dragon Island, three days later in the shops of other clan forces, and ten days later in the Loose Cultivators Square!


    If one wanted real-time rankings, they had to visit a Lin Family shop.


    This policy centered Jiuyue Island around the Lin Family, yet with clear distinctions among others.


    Lin Shiming took a seat by the window on the second floor of Lin Family Restaurant, ordering a pot of Green Orchid Liquor and sipping it lightly.


    Because it was the Purple Mansion Slaying Lists at Lin Family Restaurant, there were fewer cultivators viewing it.


    Thus, the second floor was not too crowded.


    But the cultivators'' comments also reached Lin Shiming''s ears one after another; some discussed where Great Demons were spotted, some discussed who recently rose in the ranking lists.


    Of course, most were marveling at how many Lin Family cultivators appeared on the ranking lists.


    Lin Shiming shook his head after listening for a while, and his Divine Sense spread out, encompassing the whole Jiuyue Island.


    Being in the Golden Core Stage now, due to his cultivation of the Soul Fusion Secret Tome, his Divine Sense was much stronger than typical elder cultivators in the early Golden Core Stage.


    Almost reaching the Middle Stage of the Golden Core.


    Should Nine Dragon Island or Red Leaf Island have prearranged for Golden Core Cultivators to come over, he could detect them immediately.


    After scouting around and finding nothing amiss, he stopped and continued drinking, also gathering information about nearby happenings.


    After about half an hour, Lin Shiming restored his original appearance and headed to the fourth floor.


    At this moment, Lin Xianzhi also walked out from a room.


    Currently, Lin Xianzhi appeared quite pale, clearly having sustained serious injuries not long ago.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiming spoke with some concern.


    Although he was aware of the recent rampages of Demonic Beasts, he did not expect Lin Xianzhi to be injured. He had just scanned with his Divine Sense and the only place he did not scout was Lin Family Restaurant.


    And Lin Xianzhi had evidently detected him using the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation, which is why he had emerged.


    "It''s nothing serious. But, Shiming, we need to start devising strategies because the Demonic Race is already stirring to action!" Lin Xianzhi expressed his concerns.


    "I was patrolling the Underground Dragon Palace when I was injured by a Late Stage Purple Mansion Great Demon!"


    "And furthermore, I suspect that behind this Great Demon, there might be a Demon King!" Lin Xianzhi continued with a worried tone.


    Ever since Lin Shiming had advanced, Lin Xianzhi rarely showed such concern.


    Initially, they thought the last beast tide was the biggest calamity, and this time it would not be as severe.


    But clearly, it was not the case; the nearly a hundred years of hidden development allowed those Demonic Races to become drastically stronger!


    Especially since the Lei Peng Clan had stolen the Golden Thunder Fruit Tree, and the Flood Dragon Clan had taken two Nine Dragons Fruit Trees from Nine Dragon Island!

 Chapter 851 - 529: Delaying the Chart, Taking the Initiative (Two in One for Monthly Tickets)_2

    The beast tide has only just begun, and traces of a Demon King have already started to emerge.


    It must be known that in the last century, it wasn''t until a few years before the catastrophe that Demon Kings began to appear in succession.


    Having said that, Lin Xianzhi took out a Jade Slip, which contained the recorded image of a jade-green python.


    This python was also covered in scales reminiscent of a Flood Dragon, making it a half Flood Dragon.


    No wonder Lin Xianzhi was no match!


    A Sword Cultivator of the same cultivation level and a Flood Dragon of the same realm would nearly have similar strengths, but Lin Xianzhi, after all, is currently at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage and has yet to break through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Had it not been for the existence of a Purple Mansion Late Stage puppet on Jiuyue Island, Lin Xianzhi might not have been able to retreat unscathed!


    "Okay, Seventh Great Uncle, this time, we must continue to fortify our defenses and clean the field!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    He then asked for more details.


    After understanding everything completely, Lin Shiming also found a room and began to quietly cultivate the Soul Fusion Secret Tome.


    At this point, he had almost completely refined the first manifestation of the Soul Weapon¡ªthe Sword of Mind. Next were the Axe of Mind and the Spear of Mind!


    According to the Soul Fusion Secret Tome, as long as one can manifest eight types of weapons with their soul, they can deploy the Eight Trigrams Array.


    On the third day of Lin Shiming''s arrival on Jiuyue Island, Lin Shijie also arrived at Shuangmu Island. Today he was dressed in the attire of the Lin Family and met up with Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi.


    On the fourth day, Fengxing True Person and Xue Yun True Person from Nine Dragon Island, as well as Red Leaf True Person from Red Leaf Island, also arrived.


    Lin Shiming personally set up a banquet on the fifth floor of Lin Family Restaurant.


    This time, the beverage of choice was the Superior Grade Fourth Order Sturgeon Dragon Liquor, which, incidentally, was a formula sold by Nine Dragon Island. The Lin Family had arranged for Loose Cultivators to buy it, but it actually ended up in the hands of the Lin Family.


    This fact, should Nine Dragon Island investigate, could also be found out later, something Lin Shiming did not bother to conceal.


    On the contrary, flaunting it openly would create the impression that the Lin Family did not have the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree.


    Today, Red Leaf True Person was still dressed in a red robe. Compared to thirty years ago, her aura was even more stable, breaking through to the Golden Core Late Stage seemed to be only a matter of time.


    In fact, Lin Shiming even speculated that Red Leaf True Person might have already made the breakthrough.


    Her appearance had also become more beautiful, carrying the air of a supreme ruler that had existed through the ages, becoming increasingly similar to Tianliu True Person!


    "Red Leaf Senior Sister, this invitation is necessary due to another situation arising on Jiuyue Island. It''s possible that the Flood Dragon Clan is becoming restless again, so I have a plan that requires Senior Sister''s consideration!" Lin Shiming forthrightly revealed his plan.


    This time, he needed the support of Red Leaf True Person to ensure sufficient benefits.


    And Red Leaf True Person was well aware of this; she nodded in agreement, accepting the notion, and entered the banquet.


    She went straight to the seat of honor.


    Following her were the True Persons from Nine Dragon Island.


    Fengxing True Person, as ever, was elegant. Xue Yun True Person, who followed behind him, was as before, but his brows appeared much more relaxed, indicating that perhaps a new Golden Core Cultivator had been born on Blood Cloud Island.


    "Daoist Lin, long time no see. Your cultivation has become much more profound," Fengxing True Person was the first to speak.


    "Fengxing Senior is joking. Against a senior like you, my modest cultivation is hardly worth mentioning!" said Lin Shiming with repeated hand waves, welcoming Fengxing True Person and Xue Yun into the banquet, arranging to seat them on the right.


    As for himself, he took the second seat on the left.


    "Daoist Lin can just call me Feng by my name, no need for the ''senior''. Without reaching the Nascent Soul, one cannot transcend the thousand-year lifespan, so where''s the seniority?" Fengxing True Person settled into his seat and tasted the Sturgeon Dragon Liquor on the table.


    His expression revealed nothing, but he seemed to pay particular attention to the way Lin Shiming addressed him.


    "In that case, I shall take the liberty of referring to you as Elder Brother Feng!" Seeing Fengxing True Person''s comment, Lin Shiming changed his address accordingly.


    Of course, in his heart, his wariness towards Fengxing True Person was the greatest.


    Nowadays, Lin Shiming no longer feared ordinary Golden Core Late Stage practitioners, but he remained cautious of Fengxing True Person, a veteran of this stage capable of battling the Tianqing Flood Dragon King.


    At the Golden Core stage, the smallest gap in cultivation could translate into a vast chasm.


    If this were not the case, Xue Yun True Person, also at the Golden Core Late Stage, would not be so deferential to Fengxing True Person.


    "Elder Brother Feng, Senior Sister Red Leaf, please take a look at this Jade Slip!" Lin Shiming directly took out the Jade Slip from Lin Xianzhi.


    However, this Jade Slip had been processed to remove the appearances of the Lin Family''s underground locations, showing only the sea bottom.


    At the bottom of the sea, the half-Flood Dragon form of the jade-clear python was revealed.


    "The Jade Clear Python has already appeared near Jiuyue Island, and when the time comes, the Flood Dragon Clan will most likely still focus on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, or even take the same route through Nine Dragon Island!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    His words were not an exaggeration; Jiuyue Island had already suffered a loss last time!


    Otherwise, the people who came this time would not include Fengxing True Person, and at most, it would have only been Xue Yun True Person and Lanfeng True Person.


    "Daoist Lin''s brilliant insights?" Fengxing True Person asked.


    "Strike first, scorched earth policy, sweep away several Fifth-Order Spirit Veins and a few Demon Kings!"


    "The Monster Tide has not officially started yet, those Demon Kings also have their own territories!" Lin Shiming spoke out!


    "What if we are besieged? After all, it is the Demonic Race''s territory!" Xue Yun True Person spoke once more!


    With these words, Red Leaf True Person and Fengxing True Person also revealed a similar concern in their eyes!


    Clearly, they were worried about this too!


    Humans have Transmission Formations, who can guarantee that the Demonic Race does not have Transmission Formations!


    If that''s the case, being besieged, it would be difficult for the four of them to escape at that time.


    "Xue Yun Daoist friend, please rest assured on this matter, I am confident in locating the Transmission Formations, and as for the Golden Core Demon Kings rushing here for support, that will be up to everyone to hold them back!" Lin Shiming spoke!


    Without Transmission Formations, the incoming Demon Kings, at most, there would only be two or three, and with their strength, it might be too difficult to slay four Flood Dragon Demon Kings, but three, or picking off reinforcements, would be more than sufficient!


    After all, the greatest advantage of Cultivators over the Demonic Race is the Human Race''s Magical Treasures and Arrays!


    When Lin Shiming said this, the others showed some movement!


    Striking first would not only weaken the strength of the Demonic Race but also reap quite a lot!


    After all, those Flood Dragon Demon Kings, each one of them is extremely wealthy.


    They occupy the most resource-rich Outer Sea.


    If it weren''t for the Coral Alliance owning treasures like the Purple Sun Secret Realm and the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm, perhaps the Human Race would have already been overrun by the Sea Demon King Court.


    "What about the sea charts of the nearby Demon Kings?" Fengxing True Person began to inquire.


    Naturally, Nine Dragon Island was the most eager to slay members of the Flood Dragon Clan.


    In Nine Dragon Island, it is possible to exchange the inner core of Fifth-Order Jiaolongs for Gold Condensation Pills.


    "Please rest assured, Brother Feng, on this matter, I have already prepared everything!"


    Lin Shiming confidently said, as the one who had mastered the Soul Binding Forbidden and Spirit Controlling Seal, the Lin Family had long captured many Purple Mansion Great Demons and had them scout the whereabouts of Demon Kings!


    The regions near Jiuyue Island and Lianyun Island have already been thoroughly scouted.


    "Good, but this trip is still not safe, let me send a message, and call a few more people!" Fengxing True Person spoke again!


    Although everyone from Nine Dragon Island has a Fifth-Order Spirit Beast, they didn''t trust the strength of Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person as much.


    Going to a place like the Demonic Race''s territory is undoubtedly licking blood off the edge of a knife, even Fengxing True Person was extremely cautious!


    Now is a critical period, anything could happen.


    "Additionally, before we leave, please make Heavenly Dao oaths, Sister Red Leaf, Brother Feng and Daoist Xue Yun!" Lin Shiming spoke again before departing!


    This time, he had to be the bad guy, this had to be made clear in advance, otherwise, if the news leaks, the ones who die will be the rest.


    With this reminder from Lin Shiming, all four nodded their heads, made Heavenly Dao oaths, and they all felt reassured!


    Furthermore, if new True Persons join, they too must make oaths!


    The more poisonous, the better.


    And when Fengxing True Person and Xue Yun True Person left, only Red Leaf True Person and Lin Shiming were left in the room.


    The latter frowned, looking at Lin Shiming.


    "Do you know that Coral Island is soon to hold a Golden Core Auction?" Red Leaf True Person asked, clearly somewhat dissatisfied.


    After all, she has a cooperative relationship with the Lin Family, but Lin Shiming provoking the Demonic Race at this juncture was not a good idea!


    "Moreover, this calamity might not come from the Demonic Race!" Red Leaf True Person added.

 Chapter 852 - 530: Yanjiao and Zewen, Purple Flood Dragon Island (Two in One for Monthly Votes)

    In the room, Red Leaf True Person was still somewhat perplexed.


    She put down the Sturgeon Dragon Liquor, disbelief also appearing in her eyes.


    She allied with Lin Shiming not only because of his potential, but also because Lin Shiming had clear insight; he wasn''t simply a family scion who knew nothing but cultivation.


    But now, she began to harbor some doubts.


    Not to mention how perilously fraught with danger the territory of the Demonic Race was, the mere several True Persons of Nine Dragon Island alone were not entirely trustworthy.


    Of course, at this time, Lin Shiming also knew that Red Leaf True Person could not be blamed.


    If he didn''t have the Soul Summoning Sword, perhaps he wouldn''t take the risk either.


    After all, the real crisis was imminent. If he was seriously injured and couldn''t recover in time, it might affect the overall situation.


    However, as it currently stood for Lin Shiming, what he needed was a living Golden Core Demon King or fresh Golden Core corpses.


    He had no other choice.


    He moistened his throat and then took out a Soundproofing Formation, enveloping the courtyard once more, before pointing in the direction of Nine Dragon Island:


    "Red Leaf Senior Sister, in the face of interests, it is not impossible for Nine Dragon Island to turn coat. After all, any enmity can be overturned given enough time and benefits," Lin Shiming said, and upon hearing this, Red Leaf True Person''s expression changed.


    She hadn''t thought of this before. After all, Nine Dragon Island and the Flood Dragon Clan were mortal enemies, engaging in battling upon sight.


    But if Nine Dragon Island coveted the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm and Purple Sun Secret Realm of the Coral Alliance.


    And if there were middlemen bridging the gap, it indeed could be a possibility.


    The tension felt both inside and outside the Coral Alliance this time was mainly due to collusion between internal and external parties.


    If they could collude with the Demonic Race, why not with Nine Dragon Island?


    Moreover, in the previous beast tide, Nine Dragon Island did not reveal its full strength. If they were determined to reduce the Six Great Powers to five, the consequences would be terrifying.


    "Red Leaf Senior Sister, putting that aside, now is also the best opportunity to weaken the Flood Dragon Clan. If the beast tide starts early, the Flood Dragon Clan, even those Demon Kings, will be the real main force. By taking out those Demonic Kings closer to the Coral Sea Domain and more familiar with the Human Race conditions in advance, we can also prevent leaking our defensive positions. Even if the beast tide and internal troubles arise simultaneously, we can better cope!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    "Furthermore, if Red Leaf Senior Sister still has concerns, this Junior Brother also has a Golden Core Early Stage Spirit Puppet, and counting the Protector, there is no need to be too afraid of Nine Dragon Island''s scheming from behind. Additionally, this Junior Brother has also received a Jade Talisman from Kuangfeng True Person," Lin Shiming said once more.


    He knew what Red Leaf True Person was most concerned about. Though there were Heavenly Dao oaths, any oath could have loopholes.


    Clearly, she did not fully trust the strength of Lin Shiming.


    Perhaps in Red Leaf True Person''s view, Lin Shiming was after all just a Golden Core Cultivator who had only made his breakthrough for fifty years; it was uncertain whether he could even gather Fifth Rank Magical Treasures.


    You must know that the Lin Family elevated to a Golden Core Family because of Lin Shiming; prior to this, they had no Golden Core foundation.


    Within the bounds of the Coral Alliance, Red Leaf True Person could act fearlessly, but in the territory of the Demonic Race, she obviously feared lacking allies.


    Now that Lin Shiming had shown a Golden Core Early Stage Spirit Puppet and the Flaming Sword, she naturally adjusted her opinion.


    Of course, what she didn''t know was that Lin Shiming''s current strength might not necessarily be inferior to hers; besides, Lin Shiming also had a Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet.


    These things, Lin Shiming did not intend to reveal beforehand; in fact, with the hints from his system, the likelihood of them encountering danger was very low.


    Red Leaf True Person worried about danger, Lin Shiming also worried about revealing his strength too early.


    "Let''s also agree that Nine Dragon Island cannot bring more than four people!" Red Leaf True Person cautioned again. Now that things were set in motion, Red Leaf True Person was basically persuaded.


    She also began to ponder the forthcoming action.


    The benefits of this operation were naturally exceedingly attractive; whether it was the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, the resources of a Fifth Rank island, or the value of the Demon Kings themselves, all were immeasurable.


    Otherwise, Red Leaf True Person would not risk it no matter what.


    After pondering for a while, Red Leaf True Person also took her leave. Lin Shiming was clear that this time, Red Leaf True Person might bring Gufeng True Person along, after all, Gufeng True Person was at the Golden Core Late Stage, and with his numerous treasures, he could stand equal to Fengxing True Person.


    And for this, Lin Shiming was more satisfied.


    The more Golden Core Cultivators, the quicker they could clear the fields and fortify.


    Following the method of Spirit Cultivation conversion of the Flaming Sword, Lin Shiming merely needed a few Golden Core Early Stage Demon King bodies to transform into Spirit Cultivation for the five Soul Summoning Swords.


    Then, by finding enough Spirit Veins to cause trouble for these Soul Summoning Swords, that would suffice.


    While Lin Shiming was also preparing for the trip, the auction was also in full swing.


    Lin Shijie was continuously meeting various Purple Mansion Cultivators. This Purple Mansion trade fair aimed not only to earn Spirit Stones and attract enough Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    It also sought to collect materials for the War Treasure Ship, thus making the Purple Mansion small trade fair even more crucial.


    Among them, Lin Zecheng, Lin Zeli, and Lin Zelu also came to help, simultaneously expanding Purple Mansion connections and incessantly exchanging resources.


    And Purple Mansion Cultivators on Jiuyue Island were becoming more numerous, with even more heading out of the city to hunt monsters.


    The leaderboard also updated more frequently!


    When night fell and many Cultivators returned to Jiuyue Island from afar, the bustling scene was somewhat on par with Red Leaf Island.

 Chapter 856 - 532: Consecutive Kills (Two in One)

    On Purple Flood Dragon Island, the True Persons from Nine Dragon Island all began to hesitate, as more and more Demon Kings would arrive through the Transmission Formation.


    Especially when Shiming''s Three Xiaos Order was blocked, and the Green Fish Sword was held hostage by a Demon King with Spirit Light, not advancing an inch further.


    Even Red Leaf True Person wasn''t very confident; what he was uncertain about was why Shiming had not yet used the late-stage Golden Core Spirit Puppet.


    Nor had he unleashed the Flaming Sword.


    The situation was now precarious and had deviated too much from what they had envisioned.


    If Shiming did not make a move soon, even he would flee without looking back, using the Transmission Formation to make an escape.


    It was then that Shiming''s form slowly transitioned from the minor divine ability Immortal Wood Shadow back into a normal shadow.


    But in the next instant, Shiming took out eighteen Star-patterned Wind-Calming Pearls.


    Countless whirlwinds rose up, arranged in a specific formation to create a Gangfeng Great Formation.


    The Star-patterned Wind-Calming Pearls charged wildly, smashing towards a newly arrived Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King!


    That Demon King, although just an early-stage Golden Core Demon King, was an established old Demon King with decent strength, and a fifth-rank Magical Treasure¡ªa huge bowl¡ªwas used to cover the Wind-Calming Pearls!


    At the same time, it spat out a long dragon of fierce flames, tens of meters long, setting the entire island ablaze.


    However, the bowl did manage to block the Wind-Calming Pearls, but a black pearl among them crashed into the bowl like a meteor, sending it flying and smashing towards the Transmission Formation!


    This black pearl was naturally the Star Pearl; though a damaged Spiritual Treasure, its power was not something an ordinary fifth-rank Magical Treasure could collide with.


    Those Demon Kings thought he was just an early Golden Core and let down their guard, playing right into Shiming''s hands.


    Now in the field, nine Demon Kings, battling against Shiming''s side with nine Golden Core combat powers¡ªjust the right match.


    This was exactly the scene Shiming loved to see!


    Many Demon Kings spewed Divine Skills, trying to block the Star Pearl, but they were either intercepted by Fengxing True Person and the other True Persons, or directly and brutally knocked aside by the Star Pearl.


    Finally, it landed on the Transmission Platform, and a dim light piled up!


    A loud rumble echoed!


    The entire Transmission Platform, under the smash of the Star Pearl, turned into a huge crater, shocking and enraging the Demon Kings.


    There was no possibility of repair, which also meant that even if the nearby Sea Demon Kings rushed over, it would take several hours. You see, each Demon King has their own Spirit Land, just as vast.


    It is no less extensive than any inner island area of the Coral Alliance.


    Without the Transmission Formation, the chance of support dropped countless times.


    "Wait, the Sea Demon King Court over there will surely come to rescue us!" the Purple Flood Dragon Demon King spoke up.


    He was the master of Purple Flood Dragon Island, and at the moment he needed to stabilize the military heart, otherwise, while the others could flee, he might not be able to escape.


    At this time, Fengxing True Person was nearly fixing him with a death stare!


    Letting a late Golden Core Feng Jiao suppress the Purple Flood Dragon Demon King, if it weren''t for its destructive Purple Escape Light and its formidable Purple Light Escape, it would have already fallen!


    And at this moment, the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King was outrageously angered too; even under his protection, the Transmission Formation had been destroyed!


    It opened its huge mouth, even releasing its Golden Core, intending to burn Shiming to death with fire.


    However, in the next moment, a massive space began to pull at him!


    It was Shiming''s Sword Storing Book.


    As a Spiritual Treasure book opened, countless Spirit Light surged forth, enveloping the entire area of both.


    Shiming and the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King disappeared from everyone''s sight.


    This scene made all the Demon Kings extremely angry, while the True Persons like Red Leaf True Person were shocked.


    In their eyes, Shiming taking away the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King alone meant he was confident in slaying a Demon King of the same rank.


    And you should know, it''s been less than a hundred years since Shiming''s Golden Core breakthrough.


    If this trend continues, how much would Shiming''s strength grow over time?


    Of course, everyone''s shock soon disappeared, as Shiming winning the fight was a good thing.


    At least their pressure would lessen a lot.


    The Demon Kings were plentiful now, they didn''t have to worry about not having enough to share.


    Meanwhile, inside the Sword Storing Book, at this moment, the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King felt immense fear.


    Shiming, holding the Xu Ri Sword, released an immense Sword Intent to the extreme.


    This was different from when Shiming released Sword Intent earlier; if it was 10% before, now it was 100%.


    In the void, there was a field of swords, with countless Grass Swords rising from the ground, slashing towards the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King!


    It surged, trying to flee in all directions, but discovered a terrifying spatial pressure bearing down, and the Fire Attribute Spiritual Power around it seemingly began to peel away, greatly reducing the power of the fire dragon it unleashed.


    The red bowl was also used to its fullest extent!


    Yet it only felt a huge Star Pearl smashing towards it!


    Boom!


    The tremendous force almost shattered the Demon King''s Divine Sense; that backlash made it feel like it was struck by a star from the heavens!


    But before it could hesitate, Shiming''s Xu Ri Sword slashed down, a simple yet extraordinary Heaven-Slaying strike, slaying the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King!


    A Golden Core attempted to flee, but this was the Sword Storing Book¡ªit couldn''t escape and was suppressed by Shiming using the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, taken into Cave Heaven, with the corpse sealed by a Secret Technique.


    This was for the conversion of five Soul Summoning Swords'' Spirit Cultivation; Shiming naturally wanted to preserve it intact!


    After doing all this, he threw the Storage Bag into Cave Heaven, then left the space of the Sword Storing Book!


    At this moment, outside, the appearance of Shiming alone startled the Demon Kings!


    Because it was too fast, so fast that everyone couldn''t react in time.

 Chapter 857 - 532: Consecutive Kills (Two in One)_2

    This probably lasted less than ten breaths, indicating a vast gap in strength between Lin Shiming and the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King!


    Red Leaf True Person and Fengxing True Person''s faces changed as they naturally assumed Lin Shiming had slain with the Flaming Sword.


    They had been holding back a late-stage Golden Core expert, only to have Lin Shiming swoop in to reap the benefits, which greatly displeased them.


    However, they were still in the midst of battle, and a moment''s distraction could lead to danger.


    They could only reluctantly accept this.


    But then, Lin Shiming once again deployed the Sword Storing Book, this time taking away the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King who was fighting against the Red Whale Demon King.


    Red Leaf True Person''s expression remained unchanged; he was allied with Lin Shiming within the alliance!


    Moreover, she could now join forces with the Red Whale Demon King against another Demon King, possibly slaying a middle-stage Golden Core Demon King on her own!


    Fengxing True Person, on the other hand, looked unhappy. Their prior agreement was based on personal kills.


    Now with Lin Shiming having both the Sword Storing Book and the Flaming Sword, he could nearly assassinate all Golden Core mid-stage and below Demon Kings!


    "Xue Yun Daoist, let our Spirit Beasts hold the line while we go slay those Golden Core mid-stage Demon Kings!" Fengxing True Person was the first to abandon his late-stage Golden Core Crimson Flood Dragon and directly target a mid-stage Purple Flood Dragon Demon King!


    He was quite pleased with the Purple Flood Dragon''s obliteration by Purple Light!


    This scene also led to chaos on the battlefield, with Xue Yun True Person and Lan Yu True Person following suit.


    Letting their Spirit Beasts forcefully hold back.


    While they themselves sought out mid-stage Golden Core Demon Kings, aiming to swiftly achieve battle merits.


    However, the next moment, they had to change faces and revert to their original positions!


    Both Lan Yu True Person and Xue Yun True Person''s Spirit Beasts were mid-stage Demon Kings, capable of oppressing mid-stage Flood Dragons, but they would be suppressed by late-stage Demon Kings.


    Fengxing True Person fared well, his strength allowing him to effortlessly suppress the Purple Flood Dragon Demon King and this time, he no longer thought of capturing alive!


    His Golden Light Tower and White Dragon Whisk were driven to the extreme, leaving the Purple Flood Dragon Demon King only able to flee.


    Meanwhile, inside the Sword Storing Book, Lin Shiming devised the same tactics, without any intention of concealing his skills.


    At this moment, it was most important to slay as many Demon Kings as possible, transforming the Soul Summoning Sword into Spirit Cultivation.


    Now a Golden Core Cultivator himself, he needn''t continue with the previous restraint, and even now using the Xu Ri Sword would not draw many Cultivators'' objections.


    However, Lin Shiming did not wish to tear open that window, so the Xu Ri Sword was only used inside the Sword Storing Book.


    Both the Sword Origin and the Sword Storing Book suppressed, that Blue Flood Dragon Demon King resisted even less than the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon King.


    The latter at least possessed a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure bowl.


    While the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King only had a piece of Fifth Rank Geng Metal as a shield-type Magical Treasure.


    Though durable enough, it didn''t stand a chance against Lin Shiming taking out the Blood Demon Disk, with four Blood Demon Weapons and Blood Demon Chains, it too was felled.


    Lin Shiming then claimed another Golden Core and a Golden Core corpse.


    Lin Shiming left the Sword Storing Book, the scene at this moment having greatly processed, with Red Whale Demon King and Red Leaf True Person about to slay a middle-stage Golden Core Demon King, six golden spears, along with several red leaves, striking towards a middle-stage Thunder Flood Dragon Demon King!


    Those six golden spears could also teleport according to the Spirit Leaves, making them hard to defend against!


    With Red Whale True Person and Red Leaf True Person working together, they finally dealt severe damage to the Thunder Flood Dragon, which began to flee chaotically!


    Not only here, but the Purple Flood Dragon Demon King had already had its head taken by the White Dragon Whisk.


    Those few late-stage Golden Core Demon Kings began breaking through the island''s Formation, starting to flee towards the Outer Sea!


    Upon seeing this, Lin Shiming also flew out again, attacking a mid-stage Golden Core Wind Flood Dragon Demon King that had fled towards him.


    As for Red Leaf True Person and Fengxing True Person, they each pursued!


    The situation on the field also turned into a pursuit.


    Pulling the Wind Flood Dragon Demon King into the Sword Storing Book, Lin Shiming, aiming for speed, also directly took out a late-stage Golden Core Spirit Puppet!


    Since the Netherworld Heavy Ironwood had absorbed a lot of the scent of blood, this Spirit Puppet appeared particularly bloodthirsty, with intense blood light charging towards the Wind Flood Dragon Demon King!


    The Wind Flood Dragon''s advantage was its speed, and it also wanted to use Lin Shiming being at early Golden Core stage to escape.


    It hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to actually dare to pull him in, along with a late-stage Golden Core Spirit Puppet!


    At this moment, it deeply regretted its actions, but it was already pointless!


    Several Demon God Chains of the Blood Demon Disk had already been pulled out, and the compressing space of the Sword Storing Book also moved towards the Wind Flood Dragon!


    Even though the Wind Flood Dragon Demon King emitted intense blue light, unleashing countless Wind Blades, it was still beaten to death by Lin Shiming''s various methods!


    At this point, Lin Shiming had slain three Demon Kings.


    Truly second to none in prominence!


    However, for Lin Shiming, that was still not enough!


    He exited the Sword Storing Book space, and by this moment, all the True Persons had already chased down the traces of their targets!


    Lin Shiming also lost more information about the Demon Kings, leaving him no choice but to search for treasures deeper on the island. He could ignore other treasures, including the Zifan Crystal Vein!


    But those thousand-year-old bitter bamboos were the very items Lin Shiming had long been searching for.


    Lin Shiming released Elder Mu to start transplanting one by one!


    These bitter bamboos, unlike the Netherworld Heavy Ironwood, were less demanding of their environment and could grow anywhere!


    Naturally, Lin Shiming planned to move all of them into his Cave Heaven!


    Impatient with the slow progress, Lin Shiming also released Lei Tong and Lin Shizhu to assist him!


    As for any damage, Lin Shiming no longer cared; he thought he could just spend more time on it later!


    Even for those severely damaged, he planned to directly use them to refine a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship!


    Lin Shiming also began transplanting by himself!


    In the final few breaths, he transplanted thousands of bitter bamboo plants, among which only about thirty were thousand-year-old bamboos, most were hundred-year-old, and three to four hundred were immature bamboos under a hundred years old!


    Just when Lin Shiming finished collecting the bamboos, Red Leaf True Person had also returned, clearly overjoyed having slain the Thunder Flood Dragon. Her face was filled with delight!


    Even though there was only one corpse of a Fifth Rank Demon King, Thunder Flood Dragons were rare among flood dragons.


    Their value was even higher than those of the same rank, like the Blue Flood Dragons!


    "Daoist Lin, let''s go collect the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein and the Zifan Crystal Vein!" Red Leaf True Person spoke up!


    Although the treasures would be divided equally, they needed to collect them first, fearing reprisals after slaying so many Demon Kings this time!


    They needed to secure all resources earlier.


    At this moment, a rainbow light appeared in the distance; it was Xue Yun True Person with an unhappy expression, clearly having lost track of the Demon King he was chasing.


    Hence, he was quite eager for the island''s resources, as failure to secure a significant share of the Fifth Rank Zifan Crystal Vein or a Flood Dragon would mean his efforts were in vain this time!


    "I''ll go dig up the Zifan Crystal Vein!" Xue Yun True Person declared.


    "You all go take the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein!"


    "Okay!" Red Leaf True Person didn''t hesitate, obviously also being a Spirit-Seeking Master.


    She landed on a purple lake at the very center of the island, holding a glittering Spirit-Seeking Plate in her hand!


    This Spirit-Seeking Plate was covered with mysterious and intricate runes. As Red Leaf True Person continuously cast her spells, it quickly began to emit dazzling Spirit Light!


    The next moment, this Spirit Light transformed into a chain that surged toward the bottom of the lake!


    Boom!


    A terrifying sound echoed as a dragon-shaped Spirit Shadow started to struggle violently!


    Clearly, Red Leaf True Person''s extraction of the Spirit Vein was by forceful means, disregarding any subtlety.


    The Spirit Light chains emitted noises continuously, tugging fiercely.


    Soon, the embryonic form of the Spirit Vein''s dragon shadow could be seen!


    Meanwhile, Xue Yun True Person also deployed all his methods, took out several Magical Treasures, and began frantically digging up the Fifth Rank Zifan Crystal Vein.


    Seeing the slow progress, he even called Lin Shiming for help.


    Lin Shiming did not refuse.


    At this moment, with everyone dispersed, he was worried someone might go to the one-time Transmission Formation first!


    If the Transmission Jade was destroyed, their journey back would be much riskier.


    Hence, they needed to be quick!


    Lin Shiming also took out the Green Fish Sword to start extracting Zifan Crystals!


    Eventually, he even summoned two Spirit Devouring Ants!


    He instructed them to start devouring!


    The soil in the Zifan Crystal Vein was extremely tough. Ordinary Fourth Rank Magical Treasures could only mine it with difficulty!


    Thus, Xue Yun True Person was in a rush, but with the two Spirit Devouring Ants joining, the speed of excavation suddenly increased greatly!


    The two Spirit Devouring Ants were also quite excited at this moment, as if these Zifan Crystals could aid their evolution!


    Lin Shiming instructed them to harvest while devouring all they can!


    Because he knew that the Zifan Crystals would eventually need to be divided, and those swallowed by the Spirit Devouring Ants naturally wouldn''t count¡ªmerely considered as loss due to official duties!

 Chapter 858 - 534: Accident or Trap?

    At this moment, Lin Shiming didn''t know how much he had mined, only that the look in Xue Yun True Person''s eyes changed once again as he watched him.


    Because not only did the two Spirit Ants nibble off large chunks at a time!


    Lin Shiming''s Sword Intent was also used to mine Zifan Crystal Spirit Mine.


    With swathes of sword light falling down, countless Zifan Crystal Spirit Mines were also severed.


    The purple light interwoven with the sword light, dazzling beyond compare.


    Compared to Xue Yun True Person using a Magical Treasure, the speed was much faster.


    If at this moment the Taiyi Grass Sword were by his side, it would probably say once again that Lin Shiming wasn''t considered a Sword Cultivator.


    After all, Sword Cultivators are known to cherish their swords as they do themselves, but Lin Shiming did not bother with such niceties.


    To him now, the Green Fish Sword didn''t seem like much of a good sword either.


    In the distance, with a massive roar, the Spiritual Power chains finally retracted the dragon shadow.


    The struggling dragon''s roar disappeared in an instant.


    The dazzling Array Plate gradually disappeared as well.


    The island''s Spiritual Energy plummeted in a flash, even causing many of the Spirit Plants on the island to wither due to lack of Spiritual Energy.


    Even the Zifan Crystal Vein began to look somewhat dim.


    "Quickly leave! Something''s wrong!" Red Leaf True Person spoke out.


    Lin Shiming also became instantly wary.


    He quickly collected the two Spirit Ants and gave up on excavating the Zifan Crystal Vein.


    Even though there was some left, it wasn''t much, and it was scattered.


    Seeing this, Xue Yun True Person also gritted his teeth and gave up on continuing the excavation, following behind Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person.


    Fengxing True Person and Lan Yu True Person had been chasing for so long and still had not returned, which was much longer than the time they had agreed upon.


    Mind you, even though they destroyed the nearby Transmission Formation, the Sea Demon King Court could still transfer to other Demon King Islands.


    The three of them decisively made for the Transmission Formation paved with one-use Transmission Jades.


    Soon, they landed on the secluded island, and the Transmission Jade formed a Transmission Formation was still there, but at this moment, the three could not directly transport!


    The disadvantage of the one-use Transmission Jade is that it can only be used once, when they came, the five of them had made a Heavenly Dao oath, not to leave early!


    They must wait for Fengxing True Person and Lan Yu True Person to return, and then the five could transport away together!


    "Set up an Array, I feel restless!" Red Leaf True Person spoke again, taking out an Array Plate and starting to set up a great array. This great Formation was a Fifth Rank Inferior Grade defensive array and could also take on detection capabilities!


    It would ensure that no concealed Cultivators would appear nearby.


    Quickly, as the Spirit Light converged from all around and rose into the high sky, it finally formed a Spirit Shield, and the Spiritual Energy slowly sank down again.


    The Fifth Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Formation, Three Dragons Overwhelm the Sea Array, was finally set up.


    Only then did the three feel reassured.


    However, Fengxing True Person and Lan Yu True Person still hadn''t shown up, which made the three extremely anxious.


    Even if they hadn''t caught up or they were just a hair''s breadth away, they should have returned ahead of time after such a delay.


    This was not the Coral Sea Domain, nor was it the Nine Dragon Sea Domain; if there was trouble, it would be difficult for them to escape.


    In the distance, the blazing sun also slowly began to sink, and the sky became increasingly late.


    "Xue Yun Fellow Daoist, better hurry and urge them, you should have an Assassination Token!" Red Leaf True Person looked at Xue Yun True Person discontentedly.


    Lin Shiming also turned his gaze to Xue Yun True Person.


    "I''ve already urged them three times, but there''s been no response each time!" Xue Yun True Person also looked embarrassed, thinking that if only they had been more conservative with their Heavenly Dao oath and set a specific time!


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t be feeling so uncomfortable now!


    It was just that at the beginning, everyone was thinking about looting and didn''t take care of this loophole.


    And at this moment, a terrifying sound suddenly came from a distance!


    A giant Gold Light Tower, shining the entire far distance, was like a ball of the blazing sun, even from tens of thousands of li away, it was bright and dazzling!


    Apart from the Gold Light Tower, they also felt a familiar aura, that thick shade of green.


    Both felt a bad premonition in their hearts, but the next moment, a terrible aura spread once again.


    "It''s the Tianqing Flood Dragon King!" Both Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person''s faces changed dramatically; the power that Fengxing True Person was emitting at this moment was not in pursuit, but rather in escape.


    And the only able one to make Fengxing True Person flee would be the Tianqing Flood Dragon King!


    As one of the Flood Dragon Clan''s One Emperor and Four Kings, he was definitely among the top ranks in the Golden Core Late Stage.


    It was all too normal that Fengxing True Person couldn''t win!


    Moreover, it was very likely that it wasn''t just the Tianqing Flood Dragon King.


    With the Sea Demon King Court taking action, there would be at least seven or eight Demon Kings, plus the unrivaled Tianqing Flood Dragon King, even if they were to regroup, they wouldn''t be able to resist!


    "This is a disaster; prepare to activate the Transmission Jade!"


    "Now it''s Fengxing who brought this upon himself, going after resources recklessly, chasing out for so long!" Red Leaf True Person also spoke out; the fluctuations from Fengxing True Person''s battle were already not far away.


    Even if there was a Heavenly Dao oath, they would have to leave now.


    In such a situation where they already know the other party is doomed, they are allowed to flee separately, which naturally includes the use of the Transmission Formation.


    "I agree, I support it!"


    Xue Yun True Person, after seeing the commotion, was nodding repeatedly. Although he was also from Nine Dragon Island, at this moment, he was rather displeased with Fengxing True Person and Lan Yu True Person chasing out so far.


    Most crucially, without Lan Yu True Person''s presence, the outcome was extremely delicate!


    And at this time, from afar, they could also see several rainbow lights coming their way!


    Obviously, the other side had more Demon Kings in pursuit.


    Their target, aimed directly at Lin Shiming and the others.


    Among the several rainbow silhouettes, it was clear that all were of Golden Core Late Stage Cultivation Levels, the Spirit Might emitted was enough to cause the sea to surge.

 Chapter 859 - 534: Accident, Setup? _2

    At this moment, Red Leaf True Person also started to form hand seals, ready to activate the single-use Transmission Jade.


    But just then, out of nowhere in the void, a dazzling Spirit Light descended; it was a Thunder Arrow.


    With a loud boom, it struck the Spirit Shield of the Fifth Rank Formation, and suddenly, lightning spread across the entire shield, emitting a deafening thunderous roar.


    "There''s a Demon King with a hidden Magical Treasure nearby!" Lin Shiming remembered the Token he received near Fangmu Island!


    However, that time, it was a Fourth-Rank hidden Magical Treasure. Now, it seems that the Demon Kings'' hidden treasures have all reached the Fifth Rank!


    Their power was greater and even more unexpected, leaving no chance to guard against them!


    In the void at this moment, a blue Thunder Flood Dragon appeared, clearly afraid of the trio teleporting away, using its tail to strike the Spirit Shield repeatedly, trying to disrupt Red Leaf True Person.


    Lin Shiming and Xue Yun True Person hurriedly went to cover her, but just then, out of nowhere, leeches appeared on the rocks!


    These leeches had clearly been there all along, invisible to Divine Sense and undetectable by the naked eye!


    In the next moment, the leeches merged together, opening their mouths, and spat a beam of blood light at Red Leaf True Person!


    This scene was strikingly similar to what had once happened on Heavenly Phenomenon Island!


    Only this time, Lin Shiming had taken out the Flaming Sword!


    Whereas this time, Red Leaf True Person took out an Early Stage Golden Core Spirit Puppet, along with the Demon King Red Whale, to give her cover!


    However, the leech Demon King''s clone appeared next to the Transmission Jade again, in a mysteriously eerie way!


    No one knew just how many leech clones there were, nor how many could morph into the leech Demon King!


    What was most critical was that despite the presence of an Inferior Grade Fifth Rank Formation, they failed to detect when exactly the leech Demon King had hidden itself.


    Boom!


    The Transmission Jade was destroyed again!


    At the moment of the Transmission Jade''s shattering, Lin Shiming felt absolutely terrible!


    "Escape!" Red Leaf True Person, in a burst of anger, smashed the leech Demon King''s clone with a golden spear, turning it into countless small leeches!


    But at this moment, she did not have the slightest intention to linger and kill the leech Demon King!


    From the moment they had been waiting, they clearly had become the hunted from the hunters without realizing it!


    This trap had not just appeared.


    If they hesitated any longer, not even a chance to escape would remain!


    "Split up and flee!" Almost as soon as Red Leaf True Person finished speaking, Xue Yun True Person''s body started emitting blood light, and in an instant, he turned into a mist of blood and began to vanish, directly employing the Blood Escape technique.


    Red Leaf True Person also took out a Boundary-breaking Talisman, starting to move through the void!


    Lin Shiming was not to be outdone and used a Boundary-breaking Talisman as well!


    There was no time to delay this moment!


    They had to escape and find a way to deal with this Fifth-Rank Magical Treasure that could block off a Golden Core''s Divine Sense!


    Thankfully, they discovered it in advance; otherwise, by the time they reached Heavenly Phenomenon Island or even Jiuyue Island, the Human Race Golden Core cultivators would certainly suffer a huge setback!


    Lin Shiming used ten Boundary-breaking Talismans in quick succession!


    The Thunder Flood Dragon and leech Demon King, though furious, could not stand up against the Boundary-breaking Talismans!


    Such Spirit Talismans could even escape through space, and the Thunder Arrows couldn''t hold them back!


    However, without a Transmission Formation, the distance from Purple Flood Dragon Island to Jiuyue Island was a long one!


    The three of them split into three directions, and at this moment, no one cared about Fengxing True Person.


    In fact, they even hoped that Fengxing True Person would not escape, to buy them more time.


    The path Lin Shiming chose was the safest, which he had detected through his system hints; there were no Demon Kings, and even Purple Mansion Great Demons were rare, so no Demonic Beasts would stop him from escaping!


    After using ten Boundary-breaking Talismans, he also took out the Shadow Crane Boat and began to flee at high speed!


    At this moment, the significance of the Fifth-Rank flying Spirit Boat Magical Treasure was evident!


    Lin Shiming''s escape speed was extremely fast, and he also took out numerous sets of prepared Formations, sprinkling them across the nearby sea, waiting to detonate in ten breaths'' time, to keep the pursuit engaged!


    However, there were still several long rainbows trailing behind him. Lin Shiming, without system hints, didn''t know how they were tracking him!


    But the only good news was that the Tianqing Flood Dragon King seemed to still be entangled with Fengxing True Person, and the Demon King pursuing him was just a Blue Flood Dragon King in the Late Fifth-Rank!


    This Blue Flood Dragon was a Water Attribute Flood Dragon, considered the weakest among the Flood Dragons!


    Clearly, the Demon Kings also believed Lin Shiming to be an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator!


    Sending out a Late Golden Core Demon King was already giving Lin Shiming considerable attention.


    As for Red Leaf True Person and Xue Yun True Person, they are both old True Persons recognized by the Demon Kings.


    Only Lin Shiming is a newly advanced Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator.


    To have a Golden Core Late Stage Demon King already take quite an interest in Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming also took out another Boundary-breaking Talisman and, together with the Heron Shadow Boat, crossed over a thousand miles!


    The distance was once again increased, and this time it was three talismans at once!


    However, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King obviously reached the pinnacle of speed in the sea!


    Not showing any signs of being left behind; on the contrary, it was getting closer!


    Seeing this scene, Lin Shiming also frowned!


    He began to rummage through his Storage Bag and finally took out a token from each of the Storage Bags of the three fifth-order Jiaolongs he had slain!


    Upon seeing the appearance of this token, Lin Shiming instantly realized.


    He then threw all the treasures out of the Cave Heaven!


    Clearly, their location was being disclosed by that token!


    After the magical combat was over, they each took their Storage Bags, who would have thought that inside these bags, there was a trap!


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but worry about Red Leaf True Person!


    Red Leaf True Person was his ally, as well as the medium for his rise within the Coral Alliance.


    As for Xue Yun True Person, Lin Shiming couldn''t wait for the other party''s death!


    How many times had Nine Dragon Island secretly tripped up the Lin Family?


    As the distance closed in, the speed of Lin Shiming''s Heron Shadow Boat once again surged!


    Meanwhile, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King thought Lin Shiming had run out of Boundary-breaking Talismans and was at his wits'' end!


    Suddenly overjoyed, escaping through the waves in the sea!


    The speed of the waves themselves, combined with its Escape Technique, reached a terrifying level in that moment!


    Lin Shiming, with a look of astonishment, directly set off several Formations on the Spirit Boat, starting to self-destruct!


    However, in the sea, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King was not the least bit afraid, as wave after wave of water dragons emerged and even its speed was not affected!


    In the blink of an eye, it was only tens of miles away from Lin Shiming!


    At this distance, a Golden Core Cultivator could arrive within the duration of two breaths!


    Around him, a total of eight water dragons emerged, moving in eight directions, converging towards Lin Shiming''s Heron Shadow Boat!


    And at this moment, Lin Shiming made another move!


    However, he was not escaping, instead, he launched the Leaping Void Disk towards the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King!


    "How dare you!" The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King was instantly extremely angry, a Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator actually struck at him!


    Its entire body of blue scales released to the extreme, suddenly a mass of seawater began to condense, turning into a powerful water dragon about to smash towards Lin Shiming!


    But then, in the next moment, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King''s expression began to change!


    In the sky, a golden shining book also began to emit Spirit Light!


    Enclosing the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King within it!


    Simultaneously, a Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet also engaged in close combat with the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King!


    Those bloodthirsty and fervent eyes, together with the aura of blood, were chilling to behold!


    The two engaged in close combat, producing a loud booming sound!


    What was more terrifying was the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King felt an enormous pressure converging towards it from the void!


    And it no longer had any water Spiritual Energy, nor the sea, to borrow from.


    "Is this a domain?"


    "No, it''s a secret treasure!"


    The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King instantly became extremely greedy!


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shiming took out several damaged Spiritual Treasures from his hand!


    Blood Demon Disk, Star Pearl, Sword Storing Book, all were pushed to their limits!


    Simultaneously, even the Sword Origin was driven to the extreme!


    If he couldn''t escape, Lin Shiming was ready to expend his last bit of True Yuan to slay this Blue Flood Dragon Demon King!

 Chapter 860 - 535: Weapon of Divine Thought, Hard Escape (Two in One, Subscribe for Monthly Ticket)

    The Sword Storing Book was pushed to its limits, causing the very space itself to distort, and it pressed down furiously toward the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King!


    The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King also let out a roar, its entire body''s scales began to flicker, transforming one scale into a water shield. This not only blocked the attack of the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet but also exploded in mid-air, forming a massive lake the next moment!


    Filling up the space of the Sword Storing Book completely.


    This significantly counteracted the pressure, making it somewhat inappropriate for the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet to continue its attack!


    You must know, this water is not ordinary, with the Spirit Puppet submerging in it, it faced tens of thousands of kilograms of immense force!


    If it had been a weaker Golden Core Cultivator, they might not have been able to move normally in the water.


    If Lin Shiming were to move this water aside, then the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King would also escape, and he would not be pulled back into it again!


    Lin Shiming could only deploy his swordsmanship, the Xu Ri Sword transforming into a brilliant burst of Spirit Light that shot forth.


    Like a Chi Long, corresponding with it was the sky filled with Sword Intent falling like countless Judicial Grass Swords, densely packed and slashing toward the immense body of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King.


    The Sword Intent passed over the lake but was greatly weakened!


    When it hit the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King, it only left numerous fine scratches on the scales.


    Of course, this is not to say Lin Shiming''s Sword Intent was inferior to the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King, but with the disparity in realms, even if the Sword Intent was higher grade than the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King''s, it was still pulled down.


    At this moment, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King was unusually calm, its eyes not only without panic, but it was as if it was watching Lin Shiming''s joke!


    It had its own Spirit Lake, with each scale able to store a lake-sized Spirit Water!


    These Spirit Waters, under its usual cultivation, had already become as heavy as a thousand kilograms, and it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to call it impervious to all methods!


    Lin Shiming frowned and took out eighteen Wind-Calming Pearls, continuously deploying them.


    However, the terrifying wind could only create waves a few meters high on the lake, still unable to generate a more formidable force.


    Lin Shiming once again summoned, continuously forming the symbols for using treasures, and the chains of the Blood Demon Disk also began to clank and quiver as they directly bound toward the vitals of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King.


    The four arms and dual heads of the gigantic Blood Demon figure deployed Demon Weapons and Demon Eyes.


    The Demon Weapons unleashed tremendous power, while the Demon Eyes directly penetrated through the Spirit Lake, shooting toward the eyes of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King!


    At this moment, the damaged Spiritual Treasures were unexpectedly useful!


    Nevertheless, Lin Shiming had no choice but to swallow an Elixir to restore his True Yuan!


    Even though he was renowned for his far superior True Yuan compared to others of similar realm, now controlling three damaged Spiritual Treasures, he still felt his True Yuan was somewhat lacking!


    In his hands, he quietly picked up the Jade Talisman given to him by Kuangfeng True Person, which contained the wrathful strike of a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator.


    Although Kuangfeng True Person said to wait for a critical moment to use it, it had now reached a life or death situation, if the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet was torn apart, next would be Lin Shiming!


    Before deploying the Jade Talisman, Lin Shiming formed another spell, transforming the Star Pearl into a giant star, smashing toward the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King!


    At this moment, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King also felt that power, cautiousness appearing in its eyes!


    It suddenly spat out a net bag!


    This net bag was clearly a Fifth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure, aiming at Lin Shiming''s Star Pearl!


    This net bag Magical Treasure, seemingly naturally designed for this type of heavy Magical Treasure, caused the Star Pearl to fall into the net bag, causing the net bag to violently shake, twist, and deform!


    However, ultimately it was not smashed through, and Lin Shiming''s connection to the Star Pearl gradually weakened, making his eyes even more solemn!


    This net bag Magical Treasure was obviously not simple.


    The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King appeared even more smug!


    As if playing with an ant in its eyes.


    The Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet also began to gradually show signs of weakening!


    Lin Shiming knew that continuing like this was not going to work!


    He retracted the space of the Sword Storing Book, sucking all the Spirit Water out!


    Pouring it into the ocean, those Spirit Waters once entering the ocean, were like terrifying heavy waters, crazily dropping toward the seabed.


    The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King also likewise found a loophole and escaped the Sword Storing Book!


    But the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet immediately followed!


    And just then, within Lin Shiming''s mind, suddenly surged a Divine Sense Sword and a Divine Sense Spear!


    These were refined by Lin Shiming using the Soul Fusion Secret Tome.


    He was now betting that this newly advanced Golden Core Late Stage Demon King had a Divine Sense equivalent to the Golden Core Middle Stage, or even if it was the Golden Core Late Stage, it shouldn''t be too outrageous!


    As the Divine Sense Weapons slashed out, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King finally showed panic!


    It was the speed of the Divine Sense Weapons that was incredibly fast!


    Without comparable Divine Sense Magical Treasures, one could only endure!


    Boom!


    The Divine Sense Weapons slashed down, and the large body of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King was suddenly stunned atop the sea!


    Its eyes appeared somewhat stunned, while the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet could autonomously attack!


    Frantically targeting the vitals at the reverse scale of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King.


    Copious amounts of terrifying dragon blood spurted out!


    In the next moment, a mysterious force nearly ripped off half of the giant head of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s body was also staggeringly unsteady!


    Blood began to flow from all his orifices!


    Regardless of his Divine Sense not being as strong as ordinary cultivators, even though he had just advanced, it was still the Golden Core Late Stage!


    Both of Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense Weapons were shattered by the enormous impact!


    His Divine Soul was greatly damaged!


    Seriously injured, he couldn''t even deploy the Jade Talisman!


    But fortunately, at this juncture, he unleashed Lei Tong, Elder Mu, Golden Wing Red-haired Star Spirit Clam, etc.


    Although they were only Purple Mansion combat strength, the Divine Sense of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King was also greatly damaged, and no better than Lin Shiming!

 Chapter 864 - 537: Another Trade, Unwilling to Just Watch (Seeking Monthly Votes and Subscriptions!)

    On the fifth floor meeting hall of Lin Family Restaurant, when everyone heard the news that Xue Shan True Person was about to undergo tribulation and break through, they couldn''t help but be surprised.


    However, after the initial surprise, they nodded in agreement.


    After all, the Coral Alliance now needed a Nascent Soul Cultivator, otherwise, being one of the six major forces in the Southern Sea would be a joke.


    But before the people could recover, Red Leaf True Person glanced at Tianliu True Person and spoke again:


    "Moreover, we have received information that Jin Lei True Person will collude with other forces to prevent Xue Shan True Person from making her breakthrough, with a high probability including the Demonic Race and Tianzhao Sect!"


    "We must repel the Demonic Race!" declared Red Leaf True Person.


    Upon hearing this, the other True Persons were stirred once again.


    Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji True Person, however, appeared completely calm.


    "How is that possible? Doesn''t Jin Lei have a Heavenly Dao oath? Hasn''t he signed the Sect''s Jade Book?" asked Yu Tong True Person.


    At this remark, Lin Shiming also became curious, as he had also signed it and thought he would have no chance of betraying the Coral Alliance, unless in the future his power surpassed that of the Coral Alliance Leader''s Island, and he might replace Coral Island.


    To become an Alliance Leader was one thing, but to monopolize the entire Coral Alliance was another.


    "The Coral Alliance was initially proposed by the three islands of Qian Ji Island, Xue Shan Island, and Golden Thunder Island as the main islands to form the alliance, and they made a Heavenly Dao oath not to betray Golden Thunder Island. The Golden Thunder Island signatory of that time was not the current Jin Lei True Person, but Jin Lei True Person''s great-grandfather!"


    "It has been three to four thousand years since then!"


    "Both Jin Lei True Person and I actually do not have such restraints!" Qian Ji True Person said openly, very frankly!


    This clearly showed that there really was a Heavenly Dao oath and a Sect''s Jade Book within the Coral Alliance!


    But those who signed this Jade Book and the Heavenly Dao oath have long since passed away and ascended.


    Jin Lei True Person and Qian Ji True Person, due to their strength not being inferior to that of Xue Shan True Person, always postponed the signing under the pretext of practicing a Secret Technique.


    After all, the interests of the three islands were linked together, and there were no signs from the Coral Island side, nor was it possible to determine if Golden Thunder Island had defected.


    Moreover, in the last centennial calamity, Golden Thunder Island suffered the heaviest losses, and Xue Shan True Person couldn''t bring up the issue of the alliance''s stability.


    This led to the present situation where all signs indicated that Golden Thunder Island was dissatisfied with the current state of the Coral Alliance and wanted to overturn the table.


    "Additionally, both Lanling Island and Yuqing Island have recently appointed new Golden Core island masters who are siding with Golden Thunder Island! As for the original island masters, they have already gone to the Eastern Domain to seek treasures in the Yunzhong Realm!" Red Leaf True Person delivered one heavy piece of news after another.


    This made everyone''s faces change drastically!


    The situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable for the entire alliance!


    But they could not ignore it, as they were all bound by a Heavenly Dao oath.


    Moreover, even now, with only one or two years left to hide, it was not possible to do so.


    Unless they were unaware and went into secluded meditation!


    But now, that was obviously not possible, and with less than two years left, they could only band together.


    "Next, let''s discuss how to repel the Demonic Race. Everyone, don''t be so disheartened. The power behind Coral Island maintaining its position as the Coral Alliance Leader is unimaginable!" Seeing everyone a bit dispirited, Red Leaf True Person spoke again!


    At this moment, they had no other choice but to repel the Demonic Race or give up the entirety of Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Xu Ri Island, and even potentially Tianliu Island afterwards.


    By then, isolated Qian Ji Island would also not last long and would merely become a backdrop for the rampaging Demonic Race.


    This was a scenario no one wanted to see.


    "Of course, there will also be True Persons coming from Nine Dragon Island, so this time, we must deliver a... painful blow to the Flood Dragon Clan!!!" When Red Leaf True Person uttered the final words ''painful blow,'' they resounded with particular firmness.


    The plan for this time was clearly already well prepared.


    What made Lin Shiming curious was whether Fengxing True Person had survived.


    But Lin Shiming speculated that since Nine Dragon Island was getting involved, Fengxing True Person must have escaped.


    He was the only one who could convince the master of Nine Dragon Island of the severity of the current situation.


    "Everyone state your position. If we succeed, the corpse of a Fifth-Order Jiaolong will also present a significant opportunity this time!" Red Leaf True Person then spoke, looking towards everyone.


    This counterattack was naturally risky, even with Nine Dragon Island''s involvement and all the grand talk.


    "I agree!"


    "I agree!"


    Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji True Person voiced their agreement without hesitation.


    And Lin Shiming also spoke up after them.


    He was the third to do so, and at the moment he was frustrated as he hadn''t found a Wood Attribute Jiaolong to transfer cultivation to the Minglun Sword, so he naturally agreed.


    After all, what he was protecting now was Lin Family''s territory.


    After thinking it through, the rest also finally agreed.


    Seeing this, Red Leaf True Person''s gaze softened considerably.


    "Alright, then it''s decided. The True Persons from Nine Dragon Island will not arrive immediately to avoid being sensed by the Demonic Race. In three days, we will activate the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation, which will lock down all Transmission Formations and Golden Core Demon Kings within ten thousand miles!"


    "As long as the Golden Core Demon King is not more than twice our strength, this operation will not be canceled!"


    ...


    Red Leaf True Person then arranged all matters, including assigning Lin Shiming to block a Golden Core Middle Stage Demon King, and even requesting that a Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet be brought out to delay another Demon King!


    This left Lin Shiming somewhat helpless, as his intention was to slay a Fifth-Order Early Stage Wood Attribute Flood Dragon at the first opportunity.


    But since Red Leaf True Person made the request, he couldn''t refuse.


    "Additionally, gentlemen, there''s no need to venture out in these three days. Stay here on the ninth floor, and I believe Daoist Lin''s Sturgeon Dragon Liquor will not disappoint!" Red Leaf True Person added with a smile.

 Chapter 874 - 542: Jiaowangs Action, Jiuxiao Emerges (Two-in-One for Subscription and Monthly Pass)

    As the dawn surged, a red spiritual glow and a streak of green shadow shot across the sky!


    The speed of the two figures was alarmingly fast, like meteors streaking through the sky.


    One dove towards the seabed, while the other headed towards the interior of Crimson Flood Dragon Island.


    Naturally, the green figure was Lin Shiming; the red figure was the Crimson Flame Sword.


    Although it was said that currently, the Flaming Sword''s move would yield a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine,


    now it was the transplantation of a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, moreover a Fire Attribute Spirit Vein.


    Not only would the Flaming Sword and other Soul Summoning Swords benefit greatly, the Lin Family would also stand to gain.


    After the last adventure, Lin Shiming was not willing to take even the slightest risk.


    Last time, there was Fengxing True Person from Nine Dragon Island to share the risk; on the battlefield, the presence or absence of cultivators from Nine Dragon Island had a significant impact on the Flood Dragon Clan.


    Even with the Flaming Sword and a Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet, Lin Shiming was unwilling to face the potential risks of the Transmission Formation.


    Returning to the seabed, Lin Shiming found that the Transmission Formation here was identical to the one on Purple Flood Dragon Island.


    However, the Guardian Spirit Beast here was significantly weaker, only a Blue-Scaled Python in the middle stage of Purple Mansion and its strength was further reduced due to its proximity to Crimson Flood Dragon Island.


    Lin Shiming slayed the Blue-Scaled Python with a single sword strike, and the Transmission Formation also collapsed completely with a roaring sound!


    His casual sword strikes now seemed to contain the essence of the sword; the overwhelming Sword Intent utterly destroyed the Transmission Formation.


    Reconstructing it would require a very long time.


    Now that they were near Jiuyue Island, Lin Shiming naturally could not allow the Transmission Formation to be repaired.


    There were many Transmission Formations scattered around; either they belonged to Formation Cultivators who had taken refuge or become slaves to the Flood Dragon Clan.


    Lin Shiming could not kill those Array Masters, but he could slow down their attack.


    Aside from the Transmission Formations, Lin Shiming also found plenty of Crimson Spirit Crystals here, which were Fourth Rank treasures.


    Releasing the Wooden Spirit and Lei Tong, he put them to work collecting, before heading towards Crimson Flood Dragon Island!


    As he flew up from the sea, a tremendous roar came from Crimson Flood Dragon Island.


    The Transmission Formation there, too, was utterly destroyed.


    The Flaming Sword had no concept of mercy; by the time Lin Shiming reached the island, he saw a Fifth Rank ferocious Red-haired Bird Demon King split in two by the Crimson Flame Sword, slain with astounding efficiency!


    The ground cracked open with fissures spanning several dozen meters, and dense magma was seen below.


    Emitting terrifyingly high temperatures, many rocks fell into the magma only to be vaporized into volcanic ash halfway.


    Provoking even higher flames.


    Lin Shiming glanced at the magma and was unsurprised by the Flaming Sword''s swift dispatch of a Fifth Rank avian; here, it had quite the advantage.


    Meanwhile, the absence of the Flood Dragon Demon King led Lin Shiming to guess that the Flood Dragon Clan was likely running short of Demon Kings, which was welcome news.


    He surmised that many nearby islands would be similar!


    After all, they were concerned that Lin Shiming and his companions would emerge once more to defeat these Demon Kings one by one, whereas they were not as concerned about the avian Demon Kings.


    Without hesitation, Lin Shiming looked towards the center of the island where the Spirit Vein was.


    The Spirit Vein was a deep red, emitting surging Spiritual Energy, and within the crimson walls of the mountain, one could faintly see twinkling red crystals.


    These were Fifth Rank Flame Crystal accompanying minerals!


    Lin Shiming first released two Spirit-Devouring Ants, then the Golden Wing and the Red-haired Demon Monkey to collect the Fourth Rank Crimson Spirit Crystals, while he and the Flaming Sword began to gather Fifth Rank Flame Crystals together with the ants.


    After sixty breaths, Lin Shiming released the Spirit-Seeking Plate.


    The unique spirit light from a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure blossomed above the island.


    As Lin Shiming injected True Yuan, the Spirit-Seeking Plate enlarged several times in the next moment, and chains emerged from the plate.


    These chains were blue all over, somewhat similar to the Blood Demon Disk!


    The chains extended into the magma, with a swaying sound.


    At the same time, dragon roars erupted from the bottom of the volcano, and the entire Spirit Mountain began to shake violently!


    The dragon roars intensified; the next moment, the volcanic magma began to churn violently!


    Spiraling Spiritual Energy formed various phenomena!


    Some turned into fire dragons, some into firebirds, struggling madly underground!


    However, as Lin Shiming continued to inject True Yuan, the Spirit-Seeking Plate released an even more terrifying Spirit Light, and several more chains appeared, each becoming more solidified.


    Boom!


    Another loud noise, a dragon shadow was bound and pulled out.


    Finally, it was absorbed into the Spirit-Seeking Plate.


    The spiritual energy in the void began to weaken rapidly.


    And the system prompt began to sound:


    [Please note that the Sea Demon King Court''s Flood Dragon Demon King has begun to rally!]


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming was not surprised!


    With this place compromised, although they couldn''t teleport over, they could move to adjacent Fifth Rank Spirit Islands.


    They were surrounded in such a manner last time!


    This time Lin Shiming naturally wouldn''t make the same mistake twice!


    He immediately gathered the Spirit-Devouring Ants, Golden Wing, Red-haired, and the Wooden Spirit and Lei Tong from the seabed onto the Shadow Crane Boat, sailing away rapidly over the sea!


    Then above the island, a beam of Magnetic Spirit Light fell, rendering the island even more in disarray.


    And even if the Flood Dragon Clan had Minor Divine Abilities to trace, they couldn''t track down Lin Shiming.


    The Shadow Crane Boat flew halfway into the sky, then submerged into the True Person Fengxing''s Eternal Night Umbrella.


    Vanishing from the sea surface, and after half an hour, the Tianqing Flood Dragon King swiftly appeared above Crimson Flood Dragon Island, letting out a series of angry roars upon seeing the ruins!

 Chapter 875 - 542 Jiao Kings Move, Jiuxiao Emerges (Two in One, Please Subscribe Monthly Ticket)_2

    "Qing Wang, this must have been the work of that kid from the Lin Family, which is the same as the Magical Treasure on that island!" a figure in a Flood Dragon robe next to Tianqing Flood Dragon King spoke.


    A hundred years ago, he also visited Gourd Island.


    "Indeed, the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree must be on Shuangmu Island, but it is not the time yet, let''s wait for the Coral Alliance to fall into chaos first."


    "The Emperor of Flood Dragons is still in the midst of a breakthrough, we must wait too!" affirmed Tianqing Flood Dragon King.


    Yet afterwards, he flew towards the distance somewhat helplessly.


    "In addition, notify all the Demon Kings who are far away to retreat, and send them several Fifth Rank Spirit Veins!"


    As the Flood Dragon Clan cannot relocate Spirit Veins, this was their only option to preserve more vitality.


    If Lin Shiming chose wrongly and picked an island where several Fifth Rank Demon Kings gathered, it would spell death for Lin Shiming. However, if Lin Shiming chose correctly,


    In their view, it would merely be Lin Family safeguarding the Spirit Veins for them!


    ...


    Underground Dragon Palace. Lin Shiming appeared again in the Dragon Palace, where the Gold Devouring Rats were still busily mining the Spirit Mine.


    He also instantly saw Lin Shiyi in the distance.


    At this moment, Lin Shiyi was covered in sweat, appearing to be handling the ultimate limit, seemingly sensing Lin Shiming''s arrival.


    Lin Shiyi finally got up, his body radiating even brighter Spirit Light before finally falling into the Formation of the Dragon Palace.


    "Shiming, you''ve arrived!" Lin Shiyi spoke first.


    "There was something in the Outer Sea, and I took the opportunity to check on Second Brother!" Lin Shiming handed over a Storage Bag, which contained nothing other than some Third Rank Superior Grade mysterious black fish!


    Currently in Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven''s Spirit Lake, there was only one Fourth Rank black fish, and Lin Shiming was reluctant to consume it.


    But these Third Rank ones weren''t so rare!


    They indeed greatly supplemented Lin Shiyi''s vigor and blood!


    Although the Lin Family had Sturgeon Dragon Liquor, the combination of both would probably allow Lin Shiyi to progress faster.


    After all, the Lin Family was not short on resources, what they lacked were powerful cultivators to ensure these resources!


    He can only do so much alone, it would truly matters when he and other Lin Family cultivators such as his elder brother rise.


    "Thanks, Shiming, Second Brother also congratulates you!" Lin Shiyi was defending this area and had no chance to congratulate Lin Shiming before.


    Envy filled his eyes.


    After all, Lin Shiyi and Ye Yujiao also had numerous offspring, but none with outstanding talents, not even a dual Spirit Root had appeared.


    Regarding this, Lin Shiming naturally couldn''t say much.


    He simply took the Storage Bag handed over by Lin Shiyi, which contained a Fourth Rank defensive Magical Treasure.


    This Magical Treasure was not for Lin Shiming, but for Lin Zeying.


    So, Lin Shiming thanked him with a bow.


    Afterwards, he discussed Body Refinement techniques with Lin Shiyi.


    Since his breakthrough to Golden Core, the Star Body Refining Technique had slowed down, since the Star Spirit Fluff, which was only Intermediate Grade Fourth Rank, no longer allowed Lin Shiming to advance as rapidly as before.


    Lin Shiyi also gained a lot from the discussion shared by Lin Shiming.


    "Second Brother, do you think a Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator could withstand the pressure of the ocean depths!" Lin Shiming suddenly asked.


    "Yes, but they must use external aids, the effects are not bad, and having a sip of Sturgeon Dragon Liquor would be ideal!" Lin Shiyi said.


    "Great, Second Brother, talk to Yanjiao about this, let her arrange it. The number of our family''s Body Cultivators needs to increase!" Lin Shiming said.


    Currently, the only ones in the Lin Family who have surpassed the Purple Mansion stage in Body Cultivation are Lin Shiyi and himself, and a halfway there Lin Shimo!


    Compared to the Lin Family''s Sword Cultivators and those specializing in lightning, both are fewer.


    Let alone the ordinary Law Cultivators!


    This was related to the Lin Family''s inadequate foundations, but more so because the Lin Family''s treasures weren''t fully utilized yet.


    After staying in the Underground Dragon Palace for three more days and confirming that the Demonic Race wasn''t pursuing them, Lin Shiming also made a trip back to Shuangmu Island.


    Finally, he landed on the summit of Thousand Wood Peak.


    He held the Tai Cang Spirit-Seeking Plate, Lin Xianzhi and other family elders were also watching!


    As Spirit Light surged out, a Spirit Shadow also emerged from the Spirit-Seeking Plate, falling towards the magma beneath Thousand Wood Peak!


    In that instant, the entire mountain range began to stir!


    In the next moment, accompanied by a dragon''s chant, the whole Thousand Wood Peak surged up with a torrential Spiritual Energy, which spread out as a terrifying tide of Spiritual Energy!


    Many Lin Family cultivators stuck at cultivation bottlenecks, or those changing their cultivation techniques, as well as key members supported by the Lin Family, were all positioned at the very center of the tide!


    Each cultivator gained immensely!


    With the emergence of the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, most of the Spiritual Energy also flowed into the Northern Sword Pavilion, and a smaller portion into the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.


    The Fifth Rank Spirit Vein on Qinglian Peak suddenly felt a significant decrease in pressure!


    The whole island also exhibited numerous strange phenomena.


    Every cultivator was beaming with joy.


    "Shiming, it would be better to place the Spirit Vein in your Cave Heaven!" Only Lin Xianzhi expressed concern somewhat worriedly.


    He was considering the upcoming beast tide!


    By then, there might not be time to move the Spirit Vein!


    "There''s no need to worry, seventh great uncle. There are still many Spirit Veins to come!" Lin Shiming confidently declared!


    Then, taking advantage of the system prompt, he once again headed toward the Flood Dragon Islands in the Outer Sea!


    He didn''t even have time to check on Lin Zeying.


    A single Fifth Rank Spirit Vein was naturally not enough to satisfy him.


    If the opponent stirred up another beast tide, he might still fear it slightly, but without one, he became even more bold!


    As for ambushes, he was the least afraid of them.


    Lin Shiming next set his sights on a Blue Flood Dragon Fifth Rank island!


    This island was somewhat similar to Spirit Turtle Island.


    It enclosed an inner sea within it, which also contained a Water Attribute Spirit Vein!


    The previous Demon King had been an early stage Fifth Rank, not very strong.


    Upon arriving at the island, there indeed were two Transmission Formations again!


    After waiting for a day, both Transmission Formations were destroyed by Lin Shiming and the Flaming Sword, and with no Demon King on the island, Lin Shiming was thoroughly excited!


    It was just a pity that the Spirit Vein was no longer a Pure Spirit Vein.


    There was no Spirit Mine, and even Fourth Rank Spirit Grass was scarce!


    Lin Shiming shook his head at this, knowing that it was a result of his own greed.


    Obtaining a Spirit Vein was already quite good.


    On the island, Lin Shiming continued his search for sixty breaths of time, then decisively left and continued forward to the Underground Dragon Palace, returning to Shuangmu Island!


    In the following month!


    Lin Shiming obtained a total of five Fifth Rank Spirit Veins!


    Arranged on Shuangmu Island, they emitted a terrifying Spirit Light, and the level of Spiritual Energy almost doubled, though no more Pure Spirit Veins were found!


    Lin Shiming also gave up the idea of continuing to steal Spirit Veins, as he discovered that the remaining islands each had at least three Demon Kings!


    Some even had late-stage Demon Kings!


    For such islands, Lin Shiming did not have the confidence to instantly break the Transmission Formations!


    Moreover, he discovered that these islands now had three Transmission Formations!


    This made Lin Shiming immediately abandon the idea!


    One of the five Fifth Rank Spirit Veins was implanted into the Cave Heaven, and the remaining four were implanted into Shuangmu Island.


    The increase in Spiritual Energy levels significantly sped up the conversion rate of the Soul Summoning Sword within the Northern Sword Pavilion!


    According to the estimate of the Flaming Sword, it would take about a year to recover!


    After all, they were using Flood Dragons as carriers, which were stronger than the carriers used by the Flaming Sword!


    Originally, the Flaming Sword had chosen a Purple Mansion Peak carrier.


    This gave Lin Shiming even more peace of mind, as the timing was perfectly aligned!


    It would be just in time before the warfare!


    Half a month later, Jiuxiao True Person also came out of seclusion ahead of schedule, his face glowing with a red light!


    The first thing he did was come to Lin Shiming''s dwelling.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, congratulations!" Lin Shiming greeted with a bow.


    But Jiuxiao True Person directly performed a significant bow to Lin Shiming!


    This startled Lin Shiming, who hastily helped Jiuxiao True Person to stand.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, what is the meaning of this?"


    "Shiming, the grace of achieving the Dao is like being reborn. Today, you must accept it!" Jiuxiao True Person spoke very seriously.


    "That earlier was enough, and besides, Elder Jiuxiao, there is another task here that might trouble the elder!" Lin Shiming took out a Jade Slip, and also took out a Storage Bag!


    Inside were the methods for creating a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship, and the materials for a Fifth Rank Treasure Ship!


    These days, the Lin Family had already gathered all materials except for bitter bamboo!


    And those bitter bamboos, Lin Shiming had obtained plenty on Purple Flood Dragon Island.


    "Is this the War Treasure Ship technique of the Qingxuan Sect?" Jiuxiao True Person was immediately stunned!

 Chapter 876 - 544: Open Strategy, Apology (Two-in-One for Monthly Subscription Votes)

    "Indeed, I just don''t know if Elder Jiuxiao is capable of refining it!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    The reason why Jiuxiao True Person was so surprised was that Qingxuan Sect regarded this secret technique with great importance.


    Not even the Spirit Beast Sect or the Spirit Talisman Sect had any methods to refine War Treasure Ships.


    They could only pay a hefty price to purchase them from the Qingxuan Sect.


    Moreover, only the Fourth Rank War Treasure Ships were available for unlimited purchase. Every single one of the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ships was recorded in the annals of the Qingxuan Sect and was not easily taken out.


    For an Artifact Refiner, the crafting of Spirit Boats and War Treasure Ships was something they aspired to delve into.


    After all, these are treasures used for escaping!


    But it''s unfortunate that the Qingxuan Sect controls them too strictly.


    "It is possible, but it will require a lot of time to research!" Jiuxiao True Person replied.


    He was only a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner before, and though he has now broken through to Golden Core, refining a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure would take some effort!


    Not to mention a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship.


    Lin Shiming nodded; he hadn''t expected Jiuxiao True Person to have worked it out in a little over a year, as he had seen the complexity of War Treasure Ships himself.


    Besides, a Fourth Rank War Treasure Ship could allow Foundation Establishment Cultivators to exert the battle power of Purple Mansion, whereas a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship could also allow many Purple Mansion Cultivators to join forces and unleash the combat power of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Such treasures would have been easily reproduced by the Spirit Beast Sect and Spirit Talisman Sect if they were easy to refine using the existing products as a reference.


    "By the way, Shiming, you can give me the Eternal Night Umbrella, and I will reforge it. It''s a bit of a waste for such a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Magical Treasure to be made from such precious materials!" Elder Jiuxiao spoke somewhat sheepishly.


    The Eternal Night Umbrella was crafted from the skin of a Chameleon Flood Dragon and could perfectly camouflage at any time.


    But it was still limited by its status as a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Magical Treasure.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming directly took it out.


    Then he suddenly remembered something and took out two items from his Cave Heaven.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, do you think this magical treasure can be improved?" Lin Shiming took out a palm-sized transparent spirit disk.


    It was indeed the Leaping Void Disk, but now the distance of a single leap was not only short, but after several leaps, his body could withstand it while the disk itself could not.


    If it could be reinforced and its rank raised a few grades.


    Even if it couldn''t leap further distances, being able to leap more times would significantly enhance his combat power.


    The second treasure was the spirit skin of a blood leech Demon King he had slain on Heavenly Phenomenon Island, which was also extremely peculiar and had been preserved by him at that time.


    Now that he had dealt with many blood leech Demon Kings of the Demonic Race, he found them rather bothersome.


    So in his eyes, this spirit skin was also a treasure!


    If Kuangfeng True Person were present, he might have let Kuangfeng True Person refine it, but since Kuangfeng True Person was in secluded cultivation, he could only give it to Jiuxiao True Person.


    "Alright, no problem, but it will take a bit longer!" Jiuxiao True Person immediately agreed.


    It wasn''t that he was confident!


    But this was the best way he could think of to report back to Lin Shiming, so even if he spent the next few years in closed-door research on magical treasures, he had to figure it out!


    As for the Fourth Rank Magical Treasures of Lin Family now, Lin Shizhong and another Lin Zewen had both broken through to Purple Mansion not long ago, and their artifact refining had reached the level of Fourth Rank Artifact Refiners.


    The former, although slightly lower in cultivation, having just barely broken through to Purple Mansion, was profoundly skilled in refining due to their true inheritance, the latter, although not as proficient in refining, had stronger cultivation and better talent.


    With the improvement of several magical treasures, Lin Shiming was also very pleased; he then took out the spiritual materials and treasure crystals from his Storage Bag.


    He made a list for both Fifth and Fourth Rank; if Jiuxiao True Person needed them, he would give them to him!


    Among them, Jiuxiao True Person''s favorites were the Fifth Rank Flame Crystal and the Fourth Rank Crimson Spirit Crystal.


    Additionally, there was also a spirit skin from a Tai Qian Shark.


    Lin Shiming kept only part of each, giving the rest to Jiuxiao True Person. After everything was settled, he bid farewell to Jiuxiao True Person.


    He headed towards Thousand Wood Peak!


    In recent months, he had been constantly on the move, unfortunately neglecting his son.


    ...


    Lin Family, Qinglian Peak Council Hall.


    Lin Zewen and Lin Yanjiao arrived together, each followed by numerous Elders.


    Now that the Lin Family was large and its business extensive, there were many Elders in charge of managing affairs!


    Otherwise, if Lin Yanjiao and Lin Zewen were in seclusion, it would lead to chaos in the family.


    "This Jade Slip is too important, I''ll go inform Seventh Great-Uncle first!" Lin Yanjiao said.


    She looked at Lin Zewen, surprised at how ruthless the other was!


    A small family was directly pushed out, resulting in the arrogant families of White Ice Island falling prey to Lin Family''s strategy!


    The most crucial part was, in this Jade Slip, there were cultivators from Lanling Island appearing as well!


    Although the beast tide on Jiuyue Island has receded, other islands are still facing sieges by Demonic Beasts.


    These Demonic Beasts are still gathering, but no Golden Core Demon Kings have appeared yet.


    But this doesn''t diminish the seriousness of the current situation!


    If Lanling Island incites an internal beast tide now, it will naturally be punished by the Coral Alliance!


    Lin Yanjiao took out a Sound Transmission Talisman and sent it to Thousand Wood Peak!


    After a while, a cultivator in a green robe entered the hall, it was Lin Shiming.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was carrying a baby.


    The baby was Lin Zeying, and Lin Shiming actually didn''t really want to bring Lin Zeying to the Council Hall, but currently Lin Shitao was busy refining Purple Mansion Jade Liquid!


    Many from the Lin Family had recently broken through to Purple Mansion, now many of the Ze and Yan generations were preparing, or they only needed Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.


    "Seventh Uncle!" Lin Zewen called out repeatedly!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Yanjiao gave a salute as well.


    The other Elders of the Lin Family also saluted in unison.

 Chapter 878 - 546: Myriad Beasts Banner, Lanling Islands Response (Two-in-One for Monthly Ticket)

    After storing away the Storage Bag, although the expression on Red Leaf True Person''s face remained unchanged, one could still feel that Red Leaf True Person had become somewhat more approachable through her demeanor.


    As the two exchanged toasts and clinked their cups, their conversation naturally grew livelier.


    Jade Pure Dew itself was an exceptionally soothing and high-quality Spiritual Tea.


    "Junior Brother Lin, when the time comes, I hope you''ll make more preparations. Give up Jiuyue Island and Shuangmu Island if necessary!"


    "If this calamity passes, the reshuffling of sea territories will provide plenty of Spirit Veins!" Red Leaf True Person suggested earnestly.


    When she said these words, Red Leaf True Person was very serious!


    "Thank you for the advice, Senior Sister!" Lin Shiming responded, inadvertently frowning.


    According to Red Leaf True Person''s suggestion, Red Leaf Island might even be abandoned in the process.


    It would be up to Nine Dragon Island to bear the pressure here.


    By then, Lin Shiming might have to hastily collect important pavilions treasures such as Lin Family''s four major Sword Pavilions, Spirit Talisman Pavilion, and Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    "Moreover, always have a contingency plan. Jin Lei is domineering but not reckless; the forces backing him are likely not weak!"


    "It could be Tianzhao Sect, but it might not only be them; Chi Lan Sect might also make a move, and perhaps even other cultivators from different places..."


    ...


    After Red Leaf True Person finished speaking, she drank up her Jade Pure Dew in one gulp.


    Leaving Lin Shiming to ponder deeply on the spot.


    Her words brought the Heavenly Demon Sect to Lin Shiming''s mind!


    With the capabilities of the Heavenly Demon Sect, supporting the Southern Sea through the Transmission Formation with five or six Golden Cores was feasible.


    After all, no one in the Eastern Domain would know if their Golden Cores came to the Southern Sea; instead, this could be an opportunity to annihilate the Lin Family!


    Lin Shiming had also been worried about this earlier, and now it coincided with his concerns.


    Therefore, this matter was certainly not baseless.


    "Thank you, Senior Sister Red Leaf. This is very useful for me!" Lin Shiming thanked her repeatedly and also drank up his Spiritual Tea.


    If the Heavenly Demon Sect was indeed so, Lin Shiming thought of a good ally.


    The Qingxuan Sect by this time must also be eager.


    The Qingxuan Sect has hidden its strength for a century, Lin Shiming guessed they were not simple; their willingness to bring out a War Treasure Ship indicated they made good use of nearly half of the Taibai Sword Palace''s scripture tower and reaped quite the benefits.


    He guessed that in recent years, their number of Golden Cores had recovered substantially.


    After a long conversation with Red Leaf True Person, Lin Shiming took his leave and on Red Leaf Island, he found and stayed at the Lin Family Restaurant.


    Due to the presence of Daughter Red Wine, the Lin Family had opened Lin Family Restaurants on many islands now.


    As for the Alchemy Pavilion and Artifact Refining Pavilion, they had not been extended outwardly.


    Primarily because the Lin Family currently lacked Fourth Rank Alchemists and Artifact Refiners.


    The Lin Family''s restaurant on Red Leaf Island only opened up to the fourth floor, which was one floor less than other restaurants on Red Leaf Island, adhering to the rules.


    The person in charge here was a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Ze generation, who appeared composed. Lin Shiming did not engage much, he directly went up to the fourth floor, found a room, and started studying the newly acquired pages of the Sword Storing Book.


    This page from the Sword Storing Book was different from the ones he had obtained before, obviously, it had been studied countless times by Hermit Guanghao.


    If it weren''t for system prompts, Lin Shiming would have missed it, of course, it was also a coincidence!


    Lin Shiming summoned the Sword Storing Book, and as the page merged once again.


    A gentle Spirit Light like white jade slowly fused together.


    The next moment, a vast surge of Spiritual Energy fluctuation occurred in Lin Shiming''s mind, causing him a jolt.


    As the treasury decision in the Sword Storing Book began to operate, it suddenly became more arcane.


    And in a trance, the treasury decision also seemed to undergo a transformation.


    This startled him; it was a critical moment, and if the Sword Storing Book couldn''t function at this time, his methods would significantly be reduced.


    This was not what he wanted to see.


    However, fortunately, as the treasury decision slowly operated, the arcane feeling gradually disappeared.


    But the pressure he had to endure was now twice as before.


    Moreover, he had a feeling that the grade of the Sword Storing Book had increased by a notch, almost higher than that of an incomplete Spiritual Treasure!


    He activated the Formation in the room and also released the space of the pages of the Sword Storing Book.


    With the compression of space, Lin Shiming found that his control over the Sword Storing Book''s space had increased significantly.


    Now, if he confronted the Golden Core Late Stage Blue Flood Dragon, he would not have to rely solely on Divine Sense as before.


    It is known that competing with Divine Sense against the Demonic Race is still feasible, but against a human race of Golden Core Late Stage, it is almost certain death!


    Even though Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense had reached the Golden Core Middle Stage, and he also had the Soul Fusion Secret Tome''s spirit weapon.


    But the gap in Divine Sense was like a vast chasm.


    Even an Earth Rank Secret Art could not bridge it.


    Now with greater suppression, as long as he could get the opponent into the Sword Storing Book, his chances of winning had almost doubled.


    Coupled with his Sword Intent and Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet, his odds were much improved.


    He even hoped, at this moment, that Liu He True Person would give it a try.


    However, he soon shook his head; Liu He True Person''s six-path incarnation was also extremely strong; working in conjunction, it was almost equivalent to five or six Golden Cores of the Late Stage.


    Lin Shiming studied the space of the Sword Storing Book further and looked forward to finding more pages.


    Afterward, he exited the space and started to check what the new page was about.


    The last page was an Earth Rank Secret Art, the Soul Fusion Secret Tome; thus, this time, he also anticipated something new.


    As the last page unfolded, it revealed a colossal soul banner.


    This soul banner, unlike the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Heavenly Demon Banner©¤©¤which is full of demon heads.


    Here, however, was a myriad of beast souls.


    And this giant banner was named Myriad Beasts Banner!


    This Myriad Beasts Banner, containing the souls of myriad beasts, was indeed a Magical Treasure of the Golden Core Late Stage!

 Chapter 879 - 546: Myriad Beasts Banner, Lanling Islands Response (Two in One for Monthly Tickets)_2

    According to the introduction, if the soul of a Nascent Soul Stage Demonic Beast in the late stage could be placed inside, and the number of souls reached one hundred thousand, it would automatically advance to a Sixth Rank Magical Treasure!


    This was what truly excited Lin Shiming.


    Moreover, the most critical part was that the main material for the Myriad Beasts Banner was something Lin Shiming was familiar with and happened to possess, which was also the Netherworld Heavy Ironwood, and the crafting was not particularly difficult.


    Lin Shiming glanced at the crafting method and was extremely satisfied with the method to craft the Myriad Beasts Banner.


    In the future, not only he could use the Myriad Beasts Banner, but other Golden Core members from the Lin Family could also craft it.


    It was much better than using Netherworld Heavy Ironwood to craft a Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet.


    Lin Shiming was overjoyed and took the Sword Storing Book, then began to quietly cultivate the Soul Fusion Scripture.


    As the Golden Core Conference approached, Lin Shiming felt an increasing sense of urgency.


    This short period was not suitable for closed-door cultivation but was good for training Divine Sense.


    A strong Divine Sense often had miraculous effects.


    With both the Sword of Divine Thought and the Spear of Divine Thought condensed, Lin Shiming now began to gather the Axe of Divine Thought.


    Each Divine Thought weapon had different runes and gathering them felt like starting from scratch each time.


    One by one, he gathered them and then struck them on the Divine Thought weapons.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also somewhat anticipated the power when all eight Divine Thought weapons gathered.


    As time passed, Lin Shiming''s room also fell into solitude.


    After a long while, as a beam of Spirit Light pierced the sky, a Spirit Talisman fell into Lin Shiming''s room.


    Lin Shiming also opened his eyes and pinched the Spirit Talisman on the desk.


    After a glance, he hurried towards the Transmission Formation.


    The Transmission Formation in Red Leaf Island was constructed enormously, capable of connecting to the twelve inner islands of the Coral Alliance, as well as the twelve outer islands of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    And even some rather famous outer islands.


    Such as Jiuyue Island.


    In front of the Transmission Formation, Red Leaf True Person was already there early, along with Tianliu True Person and Yunli True Person.


    Tianliu True Person, still in a willow robe, was strikingly beautiful, while Yunli True Person wore his signature coral red robe with a pleasant demeanor.


    As the diplomatic True Person of Coral Island, Yunli True Person was considered top-notch in handling worldly affairs.


    "Yunli Senior Brother, Tianliu Senior Sister, Red Leaf Senior Sister!" Lin Shiming greeted each one sequentially.


    Each of them responded in turn.


    "Fellow Daoists, this matter is of great importance; we cannot delay any longer and must go immediately!" Red Leaf True Person handed the Jade Slip to the other two for inspection.


    After reading, their expressions were exactly like Lin Shiming''s when he first saw it.


    For these Golden Core True Persons, sometimes the authenticity of evidence wasn''t as critical as one would imagine.


    "Let''s go to Lanling Island now!" Tianliu True Person nodded, taking the initiative to speak.


    With his words, the other two had no objections.


    The Transmission Formation instantly began to light up, emitting a fierce white light.


    The four stepped into the Transmission Formation, and with a surge of spirit light, they disappeared within the Formation.


    ...


    Lanling Island, unlike the eternal spring of Red Leaf Island, had significantly lower temperatures, and even now, snowflakes were drifting in the sky.


    The snowflakes fell in the sky, exceptionally beautiful, and finally, were isolated by a Spirit Shield over the sky of Lanling Island.


    If one looked into the distance, they would see a vast expanse of white.


    The slightly higher mountains on the island were also white, almost entirely covered by snow and ice.


    The Transmission Place in Lanling Island was as expansive as that in Red Leaf Island, with several dozens of Transmission Formations to different locations.


    For the major inner islands, Transmission Formations were not passed through just one Formation to ensure that if any site needed to close its transmission, it could be done immediately.


    Furthermore, the Formation for destroying and closing Transmission Formations had a backup inside Lanling Island.


    They could be closed remotely at any time.


    However, as soon as the four appeared, several Purple Mansion Cultivators came up as if to habitually interrogate them, but upon seeing their faces clearly, they all involuntarily stepped back.


    "Where is Lanling True Person? Bring out all the True Persons of Lanling Island!" Yunli True Person spoke.


    He also took out a blood-red coral Token.


    The token had ''coral'' written on it, followed by an Elder''s signature.


    It represented Yunli True Person as the Law Enforcement Elder of the Coral Alliance.


    "Replying to Senior Yunli, Lanling True Person is in closed-door cultivation, as is Profound Ice True Person!" the Purple Mansion Cultivator immediately responded.


    Then, as if a bit worried, he added:


    "They are both in a dead-end cultivation, not breaking out until they advance!"


    Yunli True Person''s face turned unsightly in an instant; he was well aware


    that Tianliu True Person was avoiding them.


    At this timing, going into seclusion could either mean defying Golden Thunder Island with ill-intentions or having already perished with the Soul Slip shattered.


    However, the latter was obviously not possible, the former was a hundred percent likely.


    Tianliu True Person probably had already anticipated Lin Shiming and the others'' arrival.


    As long as they do not appear now, there would be no issues.


    Even Lanling Island might have been abandoned already.


    The crucial point is, the Coral Alliance can''t finalize the crimes of Tianliu True Person and Xuanbing True Person until they show up.


    This was a rule set at the founding of the Coral Alliance.


    Unless they summon a third of the Elders.


    And if his guess was correct, the location of the true persons'' seclusion wasn''t Lanling Island, but Golden Thunder Island, just waiting for the variables to arrive.


    Lin Shiming and the others coming here might just be a wasted trip, achieving nothing.


    Yunli True Person glanced at Tianliu True Person and Red Leaf True Person, while courtesy allowed him to exert pressure.


    But in terms of strength, he was far behind.


    He could only leave it to the latter.


    "Where is the place of seclusion?" Tianliu True Person inquired.


    "Senior, this junior genuinely does not know!" A Purple Mansion cultivator trembled, hardly daring to even breathe.


    He deeply regretted why he had the urge to skim profits from the Transmission Formation today.


    "Not sure?" Tianliu True Person''s tone grew incredibly cold, asking once more.


    "I truly don''t know, the true persons disappeared three years ago!" The Purple Mansion cultivator immediately knelt down.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also felt troubled.


    Lanling Island obviously came prepared.


    They were ready for them to force a coup.


    At some point, Tianliu True Person''s expression turned cold, and a Jade Slip was launched into the sky above Lanling Island, soon turning into a huge Spirit Shadow.


    Displayed across the entire Lanling Island, every cultivator could look up and see it.


    A gigantic willow tree rooted itself in the void, an immense aura erupting over Lanling Island.


    Everyone prostrated under the immense willow tree''s spirit shadow.


    Their breathing quickened.


    "Today, Lanling Island colluding with Demonic Beasts is proven without doubt; if Tianliu True Person does not appear for a trial within a month, it will be deemed a default admission and punished accordingly!"


    "Also regarded as fleeing out of guilt, one month later Tianji Pavilion''s Tianji True Person will assist in deducing the location for execution!"


    Upon the announcement, the whole of Lanling Island was shocked.


    Tianliu True Person, one of the masters of the Twelve Inner Islands, is now facing expulsion for colluding with Demonic Beasts.


    Even risking execution if not coming forward to prove innocence.


    Meanwhile, as everyone discussed, Tianliu True Person, along with the other three, headed towards Lanling Palace, waiting for a month.


    They would see if Tianliu True Person would show up.


    If he did not appear, Lanling Island would change leaders and also be deduced by Tianji True Person.


    Successfully deducing, especially if on Golden Thunder Island, would be even better, possibly allowing them to strike Golden Thunder Island in advance.


    Wherever else doesn''t matter.


    Once the accusation is set,


    removing it would not be easy.


    Moreover, Tianliu True Person''s influence would diminish significantly, making it impossible to organize an army of cultivators for expansion.


    By then, with or without Tianliu True Person wouldn''t make much difference; once the island is redistributed, she still believes many families are eagerly watching.


    "Tianliu Sister, are we really waiting a full month?" Red Leaf True Person hesitated.


    "Half a month will suffice, capture beforehand, catching him off-guard," Tianliu True Person confidently stated.


    With those words, the other three nodded repeatedly.


    Since you do not respond, you have flaws in your spirit; it''s a situation you won''t be able to evade no matter what.


    Unless he could receive notifications like Lin Shiming.


    "Additionally, all Purple Mansion cultivators belonging to Lanling Island are required to gather; failure to do so within three days will be considered as fleeing out of guilt!" Tianliu True Person spoke again.


    If the previous matters were only related to Tianliu True Person and Xuanbing True Person, at this moment, all Purple Mansion cultivators started to worry.

 Chapter 884 - 549: Strategy to Repel the Enemy, Rewards (Two-in-One for Monthly Votes)

    In the hall, as time went by, more and more Golden Core Cultivators continued to make their way here.


    By the end, there were as many as twenty-three people.


    And bear in mind, this was after each of the inner islands had left at least one Golden Core to guard them.


    Lin Shiming roughly estimated that the Coral Alliance had about fifty Golden Core True Persons!


    Even more than the entire Eastern Domain.


    But upon further thought, Lin Shiming felt this was normal, given the centennial Demonic Beast tide related to the Demonic Race.


    Every hundred years, the Southern Sea''s beast tide is fought with real swords and spears.


    The beast tide of the Eastern Domain is but a skirmish of minor Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Obtaining Fourth Rank materials is quite difficult.


    Once upon a time, the Lin Family, a Foundation Establishment family, managed to survive for a long time on Fangmu Mountain in Yunzhou.


    In the Southern Sea, it''s estimated they would have had a hard time lasting a hundred years.


    This leads to the Southern Sea having no shortage of Demonic Beast Inner Cores or Demonic Beast materials.


    Of course, the abundance of Spiritual Energy in the Southern Sea also plays a significant role.


    Otherwise, it would be impossible for cultivators in the Southern Sea to far exceed those in the Eastern Domain.


    After all, finding so many Spirit Vein lands in the Eastern Domain is extremely difficult.


    But in the Southern Sea, by occupying several islands, Lin Shiming has acquired five Fifth Rank Spirit Veins.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Chi Shan, and in the absence of Brother Xue Shan who is in seclusion for a breakthrough, I am currently in temporary charge of Coral Island!" As most attendees had arrived, Chi Shan True Person stepped forward, and beneath her blood-red coral robe, her exquisite figure could not be hidden.


    Her aura lightly dispersed.


    Releasing her Golden Core Late Stage Cultivation Level.


    Instantly, the previously somewhat noisy hall quieted down.


    "Everyone, since the great changes have occurred and the Yunzhong Realm has opened, the Nascent Soul Realm is no longer seen as an unreachable realm!"


    "However, similarly, the barriers of the Dongyu Realm will gradually weaken, and if you wish to continue enjoying the esteemed status provided by the Six Great Powers as you do now!"


    "Our alliance must have Nascent Soul Cultivators!"


    "On this matter, Brother Xue Shan has been in seclusion for over a hundred years, and after taking Thousand Year Spirit Medicine, is nearing the day of his breakthrough!"


    "Before long, Coral Alliance will still lead the Six Great Powers, and all of you will be able to maintain your status just as before. This was also Brother Xue Shan''s promise before his seclusion!"


    Chi Shan True Person continued to speak, and many True Persons who had not received the news were now full of surprise and uncertainty.


    Whereas Lin Shiming and others thought nothing strange of it.


    However, the speech of Chi Shan True Person was indeed passionate, and it was no wonder that Coral Island sent her out.


    After looking around, Lin Shiming realized that there were still another two at the Golden Core Late Stage on Coral Island.


    Given the many years of dominance in the Purple Sun Secret Realm and the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm, the strength of Coral Island was indeed frightening.


    Lin Shiming even suspected that there is more than one person on Coral Island about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.


    After all, if he could obtain Thousand Year Spirit Medicine from the Purple Sun Secret Realm, there''s no reason Coral Island couldn''t catch some.


    A terrifying number indeed over the years.


    However, Lin Shiming was quite satisfied that Xue Shan True Person had clarified in advance that other inner islands'' status would not change.


    And the latter obviously chose a path very different from that of the former Shen Ji True Person.


    After all, a Golden Core Middle Stage has a chance against a Golden Core Late Stage,


    But a Golden Core Late Stage stands no chance against a Nascent Soul True Monarch.


    Without sufficient guarantees, numerous Golden Core True Persons naturally harbor fear and worry.


    Lin Shiming approves of Xue Shan True Person''s vision.


    "But even with the alliance''s united heart, there are inevitably a few ingratitude-filled individuals with ambitious designs!" Chi Shan True Person spoke again.


    Her chest puffed out, her tone was icy cold.


    And naturally, she was referring to Jin Lei True Person of Golden Thunder Island and Xuan Bing True Person of Lanling Island.


    "Before the celebratory banquet representing the Golden Core Assembly, as the alliance''s acting Hierarch, I''ve decided that, effective immediately, we commence a campaign against Golden Thunder Island to eliminate the threat in advance!"


    "Those who fall in this campaign, the alliance promises to protect their families for a hundred years without decline, and also ensure priority in exchanging for Gold Condensation Pills!"


    "Similarly, slaying an enemy True Person will be rewarded with four types of corresponding Spiritual Medicines, with no delay in payment!"


    "Moreover, those who perform outstandingly, once Xue Shan True Monarch breaks through, will be granted one question by the Nascent Soul True Monarch!"


    "And as long as the question does not involve Coral Island''s secrets, it is permissible!"


    ...


    Chi Shan True Person unveiled the plan completely, no longer fearing information leaks at this moment.


    After all, almost everyone here has signed a Heavenly Dao Oath and the Sect''s Jade Book.


    Even Lin Shiming did the same.


    Leaking information would be akin to destroying one''s own future.


    Lin Shiming naturally would not do so.


    Even if there were a few Golden Core Cultivators with limited life expectancy who had devious thoughts, they would likely be suppressed by the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation that looms over the island.


    But the most essential point is the reward, which is so generous that even Lin Shiming is tempted.


    For Golden Core Cultivators, the most needed are Spiritual Medicines of over three thousand years.


    For Golden Core Middle Stage and Late Stage Cultivators, it is those over five thousand years.


    Killing an enemy Golden Core could earn four, to think, at the time, Lin Shiming only needed one five thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine to engage the help of the Flame Yang Sword.


    Not to mention that performing well grants one a question to Xue Shan True Monarch, which has hardly any limitations.


    Currently, throughout the entire Dongyu Realm, the number of Nascent Soul Cultivators can be counted on one hand, so the value of this question can be imagined.


    Most importantly, even if one falls, the family is still protected for a hundred years, and they also have priority in exchanging for Gold Condensation Pills.


    This essentially removes all worries from the minds of all Golden Core Cultivators.

 Chapter 885 - 549: Strategy Against Enemies, Rewards (Two in One, Request for Monthly Tickets)_2

    Now, almost every Golden Core True Person in the Coral Alliance has family responsibilities.


    Lin Shiming looked around, and indeed, many cultivators'' faces were brimming with excitement, clearly tempted by the reward.


    "Substitute Leader, but Jin Lei is colluding with the Tianzhao Sect and unknown forces from the Eastern Domain, they are not weak either..." Red Leaf True Person spoke up then.


    Although they are on good terms, this mission is not as easy as everyone imagines.


    Not to mention the force of Golden Thunder Island itself, the reinforcements and external forces are all formidable!


    The enemies are not as weak as imagined; if they underestimate them, they will certainly die a terrible death.


    If this battle isn''t absolutely certain, True Persons like Red Leaf True Person would definitely refuse.


    Attacking another''s island and defending one''s own are completely different matters!


    "Do not worry about this. If Jin Lei can find allies, our Coral Alliance can naturally find allies too, and their power is not weak, but for now, it cannot be revealed!" Chi Shan True Person confidently replied.


    Upon hearing this, many people started guessing, even Lin Shiming wondered if it could be Nine Dragon Island.


    But he quickly shook his head; Nine Dragon Island is highly unlikely to advance or retreat together with the Coral Alliance.


    Rather, it''s possible that they could take this opportunity to take over Jiuyue Island and position themselves against the Flood Dragon Clan.


    That possibility was something Lin Shiming had heard of before coming to Coral Island, with more and more personnel from the Fengxing commerce alliance appearing.


    Of course, they appear to be commerce personnel, but each has the strength of Purple Mansion, and even Golden Core are concealed among them.


    However, for the Lin Family now, it''s naturally a case of turning a blind eye.


    He would rather more from Nine Dragon Island come, as long as they do not invade Shuangmu Island, the Lin Family would even concede Jiuyue Island.


    "The attack plan for Golden Thunder Island has also been tentatively drafted. Tianliu True Person will lead the left army, Qian Ji True Person the right army, and I lead the center, attacking Golden Thunder Island from three directions. For this, Coral Island will provide Fifth Rank Superior Grade Spirit Talismans, Great Binding Void Talismans!"


    Chi Shan True Person, seeing no one objected, nodded in satisfaction and began to outline the specific plans for the battle.


    From the vanguard to the reinforcements, to the Spirit Talismans, everything has been arranged very properly.


    All of these represent that this half month, Coral Island has indeed thought through, it''s not a spur-of-the-moment decision.


    And the distribution of Golden Core Cultivators in the three armies is very reasonable, basically equally divided between Coral Island, and both Golden Core Late Stage and Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators are evenly distributed without any discrepancies.


    At this juncture, no one dared to tamper in these affairs.


    Lin Shiming was assigned to the army led by Tianliu True Person, including familiar True Persons like Red Leaf True Person and Yunli True Person, with Yunli True Person of Coral Island also in the left army.


    "Next, we distribute the strategic materials!"


    "Each army will have two temporary Transmission Portals, two Fifth Rank Boundary-breaking Talismans, and several Fifth Rank Thunder Talismans!" Chi Shan True Person spoke again, taking out two Storage Bags, handing them each to Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji True Person.


    With these resources, Lin Shiming''s confidence in this operation was certainly boosted.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, rest here today, tomorrow we set out on the campaign!" Chi Shan True Person quickly gave the command.


    The pace of the campaign exceeded everyone''s expectations, many cultivators still wanted to go back to arrange things for their families.


    But now that clearly wasn''t possible.


    After finishing the arrangements, Chi Shan True Person clapped her hands, and suddenly many Purple Mansion female cultivators, dressed in neat uniforms, carrying Spirit Fruits, Spirit Meals, and Spiritual Wine, entered in succession!


    Obviously, before the assault, these True Persons could not go out.


    For this, these Spirit Meals, Spiritual Wine, and Spiritual Tea are at least of the Fourth Rank Supreme Grade.


    The hall was overflowing with Spirit Light, the fragrance filling the air, and some plump cultivators had already started consuming the Spirit Meals, feeling extremely content.


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat ashamed.


    Chi Shan True Person, watching all these, then nodded her head and pointed to one side.


    The Spirit Light shifted, and the Formation suddenly began to change.


    Then, next to the grand conference room, a compartment opened, she waved her hand, and gestured to Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji True Person.


    Telling the two to go in and discuss.


    As the two entered, the compartment gradually faded from view, invisible to both Divine Sense and the naked eye.


    Obviously, this was a Formation within a Formation.


    The existence of a Formation within a Formation, if Lin Houshou had been here, Lin Shiming would have certainly allowed Lin Houshou to study it at length and learn.


    Coral Island, as the largest island of the Coral Alliance, its foundation is beyond everyone''s expectations.


    In the small meeting room, Lin Shiming appeared relaxed, sipping Spiritual Wine here, tasting Spirit Meals there.


    Truly enjoying himself for the time being.


    That even prompted many other cultivators to imitate him.


    ...


    In the small meeting room, apart from Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji True Person, next to Chi Shan True Person, there was an additional bald monk in robes.


    Behind the old monk followed a young man full of disciplinary scars.


    "Master Mingdeng, as long as Golden Thunder Island is destroyed, the entire Five Elements Thunder Technique of Golden Thunder Island can be previewed and copied by Master Mingdeng. By then, with the prestige of Myriad Buddhas Island, it''s very possible to annihilate the Blood Cultivation Sect!" Chi Shan True Person couldn''t help but speak.


    "I am not so attached to the Thunder Technique, but these practitioners of blood cultivation have caused too much slaughter, they must be stopped!" Master Mingdeng declared righteously.


    "Master Mingdeng''s righteousness, when the time comes, please let Master Mingdeng take action with all your strength, saving one life is better than building a seven-tier pagoda!" Tianliu True Person also complimented.


    The strength of Myriad Buddhas Island was not small, this time seven or eight True Persons had come.


    This was the confidence of Chi Shan True Person.


    If things are as expected, probably these half-month were spent in contacting Myriad Buddhas Island.


    ...


    Upon a massive mountain, there was a vast valley mouth.


    The valley howled, surrounded by nine eerie winds, wailing tremendously.


    As if it might blow away souls.


    Here, the Spiritual Energy was even richer, and from time to time, auspicious signs descended from the sky.


    A cultivator in a Taoist robe, his whole body''s Spiritual Energy had reached its peak.


    He too was thrilled, extremely satisfied with this Spirit Vein, only to suddenly have a change of face as if he remembered something unpleasant.


    However, soon after, his eyes turned unusually cold, and he took out a Spirit Pill from his Storage Bag and happily consumed it.


    ...


    Golden Thunder Island, a secret place, countless Formations began to be set up within several valleys.


    Multiple blood pools were arranged among them.


    These blood pools were surrounded by numerous Formation Patterns, looking incredibly eerie.


    In the blood pools, constant mournful wails were heard, and one living being after another was thrown into the pools.


    A golden-robed cultivator furrowed his brows, looking ahead, silent.


    "Jin Lei, do you feel reluctant?"


    "Not reluctant, just emotional. On the path to achieving immortality, which part isn''t a trivial matter?"


    "That''s good, this time, the Six Great Powers should also be rewritten, and by then, True Person, you will be the first leader of the Anti-Demon Alliance!"


    "The Nascent Soul Path is promising!"


    "So before that, we must not be careless, as far as I know, there''s a person from Red Leaf Island who is exceptionally astute..."


    ...


    In a mysterious underwater palace, Tianqing Flood Dragon King was ranked in front of the palace!


    With him, there were three middle-aged men of similar stature, all wearing python robes and looking angry.


    If Lin Shiming were here now, he would recognize that these four were the Flood Dragon King and the other three Kings from the Flood Dragon Clan!


    In front of them, a cultivator in a golden dragon robe radiated dazzling Spirit Light.


    All four bowed their heads, showing great respect to the person in front of them.


    "Go handle this matter. This time, we must take over Shuangmu Island, destroy Coral Alliance, and find the remaining Golden Dragon Fruit Tree!"


    "Don''t let Nine Dragon Island benefit either."


    "Yes!" The four also nodded continuously.


    With the emperor''s approval, they all exited from the palace.


    A myriad of sound transmissions and beast roars also reached their peak today, scattering in all directions.


    Until the four demons left, the golden-robed dragon figure also revealed the scale-covered body beneath the dragon robe.


    It looked at its own claws, filled with rich Spirit Light.


    Inside its body, the Demon Core nearly transformed into a sphere.


    It murmured: It''s close!


    ...

 Chapter 888 - 551 Gathering from All Directions (Two-in-One for Subscription and Monthly Pass)

    On Coral Island, the pervasive celestial fire is now visible everywhere, making the entire island resemble a volcano on the verge of eruption.


    And this celestial fire appears to be somewhat similar to Lin Shiming''s Minor Divine Ability, Immortal Wood Shadow, bursting forth and disappearing abruptly in the void above the island with no discernible pattern at all.


    Meanwhile, at the heart of the island, the celestial fire has begun to transform, taking the shape of a fiery red phoenix.


    A resonant phoenix cry echoes out, the scarlet celestial fire illuminating the entire sea area brilliantly.


    As the cry of the phoenix resonates, the coral steam Spirit Shadows on the periphery begin to respond, creating a cacophony as if a myriad of beasts roared in unison.


    Lin Shiming also felt some amazement at the power of the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation; even with his limited Formation knowledge, he understood that this formation was clearly a Fifth Rank Compound Formation, an array within an array. The deep foundation of Coral Island was truly terrifying!


    Even if these beast shadows had no combat strength, their sheer speed was extremely horrifying!


    After all, this Coral Fire from Coral Island had long been infamous in the Southern Sea¡ªanything it touched had never been extinguished, earning it a reputation for incinerating everything.


    Even Purple Mansion Cultivators, upon contact, could only sever their own bodies immediately.


    Should it burn the head or chest, one had to either dig it out or forsake the physical body altogether!


    As time passed, three Spirit Boats had already approached near the island.


    Lin Shiming never expected that their side, originally divided into three forces to attack Golden Thunder Island, would now, in turn, see Golden Thunder Island split into three forces, attacking the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation on Coral Island from three different directions.


    The Cultivator who first shouted the enemy raid was called True Person Huoyu, and he was also the operator of this Forbidden Formation:


    "We ask everyone to rely on the Array to hold them off. Please take care of the successive island lords and the current island lord on behalf of Huoyu!" True Person Huoyu''s face was solemn.


    True Person Chishan was trapped; True Person Xueshan was in closed-door cultivation; they currently lacked a true leading figure.


    Only two Golden Core Late Stage cultivators were left, but in Lin Shiming''s eyes, their lifespans were nearly exhausted, and the strength they could exert was at most probably only at the peak of Golden Core Middle Stage.


    Perhaps, after this battle, they might pass away at any moment.


    Rather, the ones most reliable had become True Person Tianliu and True Person Qianji.


    "Huoyu Daoist Friend, trouble you to use the Array to delay the Golden Core Late Stage cultivators from Tianzhao Sect. Qianji and I will block the Golden Core Late Stage cultivators from the other two boats!" True Person Tianliu also spoke up.


    Inside the three Spirit Boats, the strongest were undoubtedly the Golden Core True Persons from Tianzhao Sect.


    Golden Core True Person Jin Lei''s thinking was inscrutable¡ªthis was like inviting wolves into the house. Even if he won, how would he control the entire Coral Sea Domain?


    True Person Tianliu and Lin Shiming headed toward one side, and Heavenly Demon Sect was approaching from another direction.


    It was clear that Liu He True Person had set his sights on him, yet he was just as intent on setting his sights on Liu He True Person. Such a ferocious character could not be left unslain without causing him unease.


    Of course, at this moment, True Person Tianliu was also targeting Liu He True Person.


    The oppressive aura of Liu He True Person''s Six Paths Heavenly Demon Technique could be felt even from afar; this made the neighboring Heavenly Demon True Person seem like mere background.


    True Person Tianliu almost merged his figure with a giant willow tree, and a Supreme Grade, Fifth Rank Qing Liu Sword flew out, instantly unleashing countless streams of Sword Qi and sword light, annihilating the Heavenly Demon Sect''s War Treasure Ship!


    Under this dense Sword Intent assault, the demonic flag on the treasure ship unexpectedly began to expand, finally reaching a height of a hundred zhang.


    Swirling demonic aura gave form to numerous demon heads.


    Within them were over ten thousand demon heads!


    The Fifth Rank demon heads were nine in number, the Fourth Rank almost approached three hundred, while the Third Rank reached more than a thousand, densely packed and fearsomely grotesque!


    They boldly met the oncoming Sword Qi.


    Sword Qi dissipated, demon heads shattered!


    Lin Shiming also took out his Inferior Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure, Green Fish Mirror, and Inferior Grade Fifth Rank Wind-Calming Pearl!


    The light from the Green Fish Mirror shone toward the War Treasure Ship, preventing it from getting any closer to the Formation!


    Such a Fifth Rank treasure ship was more dreaded than the ordinary ones because it could ram into the Mountain Protection Array.


    And Heavenly Demon Sect''s treasure ship had precisely such intentions!


    Under the green light, the treasure ship could no longer move.


    However, Lin Shiming felt it was a close call, as if the treasure ship could tear through the green light at any moment.


    His Wind-Calming Pearl tore towards Heavenly Demon True Person and Liu He True Person at any moment.


    At that instant, Heavenly Demon True Person suddenly merged into the giant Heavenly Demon appearing above the demonic flag, his own figure vanishing as he fused with the Heavenly Demon on the flag.


    An aura far surpassing Golden Core Late Stage emerged, making True Person Tianliu even more wary!


    And just then, the giant Heavenly Demon''s mouth opened wide and suddenly spit out countless corpses!


    This scene made Lin Shiming extremely nervous.


    This was the Blood Contamination Secret Technique used by Heavenly Demon Sect when they once broke the Zhao Kingdom''s Array!


    "True Person Tianliu, we must not allow these blood-contaminated corpses to dirty and dismantle the Array!" Lin Shiming urgently advised!


    However, it was evidently a bit late; they were ultimately trying to hold off within the Formation!


    The giant Heavenly Demon opened its mouth wide like a volcanic crater¡ªmoving and alive¡ªcountless contaminated corpses headed for the Spirit Shield of the Array!


    Accompanied by the raging celestial fire that instantly incinerated most of the contaminated corpses!


    However, a few still landed on the Array, and in an instant, they melted away like snow in the heat, causing the Island Protecting Great Array to be punctured with gaping holes unable to heal.


    This scene left the other Cultivators on the island completely terrified, even True Person Huoyu urgently waved his hand, summoning two Demon King Fire Lizards to rush over!

 Chapter 890 - 552: Slaying the Six Paths, Breaking the Formation (Two-in-One for Monthly Votes)

    Outside Coral Island, this place has long become a Spirit Light purgatory.


    Various streaks of spirit light bombarded relentlessly, the seawater had been lifted dozens of feet high, continuously pouring over from afar.


    That rolling momentum, as if a natural disaster.


    Lin Shiming and Tianliu True Person''s complexions had slightly changed at this moment. They saw the giant Heavenly Demon no longer devouring corrupt cadavers but instead spewing out an immense wave of demonic mist towards them.


    Lin Shiming and Tianliu True Person were still managing, but beside them, Yunli True Person and the Fire Lizard Demon King, even when facing this demonic mist, seemed somewhat overwhelmed.


    Beside them, Liu He True Person had now split into six bodies.


    Six grand demon heads, their demonic might was formidable.


    It was only Tianliu True Person who, with a Supreme Grade Willow Sword and a Supreme Grade Mirror Magical Treasure, single-handedly withstood the four demons from Liu He True Person''s Evil Spirit Path, Asura Path, Animal Path, and Heavenly Dao.


    And that Tianliu Demon King, now shimmering with radiant spirit light, each willow branch seemed like chains of order, resisting in the air against the two demons of the Human Path and Hell Path.


    The remaining Lin Shiming, Yunli True Person, the colossal lizard Demon King, and Yunmo True Person, the four individuals, could barely hold off the giant Heavenly Demon.


    Even so, they still needed occasional assistance with a few sword strikes from Tianliu True Person.


    Otherwise, with the giant Heavenly Demon''s gaping maw, it could swallow Yunli True Person whole.


    Lin Shiming, although a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator, had also taken out his damaged Spiritual Treasure, the Blood Demon Disk, and eighteen Star-patterned Wind-Calming Pearls, occasionally unleashing terrifying Great Swathe Sword Styles.


    The rampaging Sword Intent also caused both demons to harbor fear.


    However, at this moment, Lin Shiming also sneered coldly, knowing that both demons were probing, testing his trump cards.


    Then to strike him down with a thunderous blow.


    If other True Persons came here, it would be for profit, but these two demons definitely would not share any benefit, as their motive was nothing more than to annihilate the Lin Family.


    To eliminate future troubles.


    And Lin Shiming was also continuously confronting the two, but now with Tianliu True Person and Tianliu Demon King blocking in front, he wasn''t particularly anxious.


    He even released a Golden Core Late Stage spirit puppet when the Heavenly Demon True Person''s demonic might was vast.


    As for the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet, he had no intention to conceal it.


    After all, he had released it on Jiuyue Island, refined for Qian Ji True Person; it wasn''t a secret.


    But as soon as the Blood Demon Disk and the Spirit Puppet were wielded, the Heavenly Demon True Person became immensely furious!


    He knew that the Blood Demon Disk had been taken from Shen Ji True Person by Lin Shiming, and that the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet clearly utilized Netherworld Heavy Ironwood from their Heavenly Demon Sect!


    The Heavenly Demon Sect had cultivated it for thousands of years, yet never expected Lin Shiming to reap the fruits!


    The enormity of the giant Heavenly Demon, as it absorbed the demonic mist, became even more immense, as if swelling countless times in an instant!


    Already comparable to Tianliu Demon King, resembling an island, now it was even larger than Tianliu True Person.


    The next moment, the giant Heavenly Demon fiercely blew towards Tianliu True Person.


    This terrifying demonic windstorm seemed in an instant as if the entire colossal Coral Island would be blown to shreds.


    The Spirit Shield of the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation also began to distort.


    Tianliu True Person''s Sword Lake was also extinguished under this breath.


    Also injured, was Tianliu Demon King.


    In an instant, six devilish avatars of Liu He True Person, all freed their hands!


    A huge demonic bowl tipped over.


    Coming down towards Lin Shiming:


    "This bowl is the Sky-Trapping Bowl, you shall not escape into space again!" The six avatars of Liu He True Person shouted in unison.


    At the same time, six giant black spikes of Divine Sense shot towards Lin Shiming!


    Lin Shiming was vastly strained in his Divine Sense, indeed a typical move of Liu He True Person, not acting until the moment came, and then aiming for Lin Shiming''s life with a merciless strike.


    The six spikes of Divine Sense were inconceivably fast!


    Moreover, they were the full-strength assault of the vast Divine Sense of a Golden Core Late Stage!


    Lin Shiming did not dare delay, his mind''s Divine Thought Swords and Axe of Divine Thought all floated out, besides that, even the half-condensed Divine Thought Spear was also sacrificed by him!


    His Divine Sense by now was comparable to a Golden Core Middle Stage.


    Yet under the six Demon God Spikes, it instantly began to shatter, and furthermore, it bolted towards Lin Shiming''s Sea of Consciousness!


    Just then, Lin Shiming''s Sword Storing Book activated automatically, securely wrapping his Sea of Consciousness, dispersing those six Demon God Spikes!


    But even so, Lin Shiming''s body, like a kite with a snapped string, was about to fall into the sea!


    In the distance, Tianliu True Person frantically swung his sword, and in that moment, a terrifying Sword Lake poured forth the front!


    To block all six avatars!


    Only, at this moment, the six avatars wouldn''t give Tianliu True Person the chance.


    The Heavenly Dao and Human Path avatars flew out, each one wielding a Demon Treasure, madly resisting, while the other four rushed towards Lin Shiming''s heart to claw at it!


    Beside them, Yunli True Person and Lin Shiming''s Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet, were just being blocked by the giant Heavenly Demon.


    At this moment, having just repeated a previous move, the Heavenly Demon True Person himself seemed to be straining, yet the Heavenly Demon Banner behind him waved to its extreme, countless Heavenly Demons entwining towards the other individuals!


    Today, Liu He True Person was determined to see Lin Shiming dead!


    Even at the cost of destroying two of the six path avatars!


    And at this moment, Tianliu Demon King, with his entire body jolting, pressured the remaining two avatars further!


    The last two avatars finally reached in front of Lin Shiming, but just then, a dazzling spirit light drifted out, and in an instant, the two avatars fell into a tiny space.


    There was no sea here, no coral, no more Coral Island, no War Treasure Ship, no unyielding Heavenly Demon Banner behind them.


    "You indeed had a reserve move!" The two avatars of Liu He True Person, looking down at the land of swords below, and that increasingly terrifying Sword Intent.


    Could not help but exclaim!


    He was still at ease, yet at this point, Lin Shiming''s system prompt sounded once again:

 Chapter 891 - 552: Slaying the Six Paths, Formation Broken (Two in One, Seeking Monthly Ticket)_2

    [Be cautious about Liu He True Person''s real body; slaughtering Liu He True Person''s real body will grant you a Wood Attribute Thousand Year Spirit Medicine and an Earth Rank Technique: Six Paths Heavenly Demon Technique...]


    Lin Shiming''s gaze sharpened; indeed, all these six avatars were Liu He True Person''s avatars, and his real body was still hidden above these two avatars.


    Each of these six avatars possessed the combat power of a Golden Core Late Stage, exhibiting even greater power when deploying certain Demonic Cultivation Techniques.


    "You have another dimension, right? And you also possess three damaged Spiritual Treasures, don''t you? If you hadn''t stolen the Spiritual Treasures from Heavenly Demon Sect right from the start, I might not have been inclined to kill you!" At this point, Liu He True Person seemed somewhat calmer.


    However, this calmness was not only a probe but also hidden with deadly intent!


    His real body had already started to move forward!


    But, just as Lin Shiming wished!


    He raised his hand, and the Sword Intent fiercely slashed out, meanwhile, the Sword Storing Book began to compress. Ever since an additional page was added to the Sword Storing Book, its power had increased significantly, reducing even the power of a Golden Core Late Stage!


    Next to the Sword Storing Book, the Star Pearl transformed into a dazzling star, smashing towards the two Heavenly Demon avatars!


    If it weren''t for the fact that Lin Shiming''s True Yuan was somewhat insufficient at that moment, he would have even deployed the Blood Demon Disk.


    However, the two avatars were laughing because at some point, a dark shadow had already appeared behind Lin Shiming!


    And behind Lin Shiming, a spatial vortex had also manifested.


    "Haven''t you always wanted to see my space?"


    "Today, you''ll get your wish!" Lin Shiming sneered coldly, his body at that moment, deploying a Minor Divine Ability, Immortal Wood Shadow!


    And the three Soul Summoning Swords revealed themselves in the space!


    Ying Feng Sword, Leiming Sword, Feifu Sword!


    The three Soul Summoning Swords, each used the best vessels that matched their respective attributes!


    Now, the intense sword light emitted was far more terrifying than Lin Shiming''s Sword Qi!


    After all, Lin Shiming was only at Golden Core Early Stage, but these three swords were now comparable to Golden Core Late Stage!


    And Liu He True Person should not have emerged to sneak attack!


    The Sword Intent of Ying Feng Sword was like a violent tornado in a valley, dazzling blue light, enough to obliterate everything.


    As for the Leiming Sword, its Sword Intent described by Heavenly Tribulation, was the most terrifying sword intent, fierce thunder attribute at its core.


    With one slash, a thousand thunders roared!


    The Feifu Sword was of Geng Metal attribute, its sword light intensely radiant as the hot sun, sharpened to perfection!


    As the three swords descended, even Liu He True Person''s real body, pulling out three Magical Treasures, all shattered to pieces!


    His real body even perished on the spot, turning into a fractured corpse!


    Even though Lin Shiming had deployed Immortal Wood Shadow, transforming into ancient void wood, and had the Sword Storing Book as a buffer, countless ancient woods still shattered, annihilating into ash!


    And Lin Shiming''s figure staggered out from the void, the Minor Divine Ability of Immortal Wood Shadow shattering under this remaining might.


    "I hope the three seniors can instantly cut down these two avatars." Lin Shiming continued to speak!


    The three swords did not hesitate at all, with the suppression of the Sword Storing Book and the cooperation of Lin Shiming, in this narrow space, the two avatars could only show some panic!


    And were slain!


    "Liu He True Person must not be dead yet, get out!" Lin Shiming, too, held great apprehension towards Liu He True Person, even though the real body was dead, the avatars still had consciousness!


    This is probably the legendary external incarnation; even in death, he could survive in the avatars!


    But just as Lin Shiming put away the Sword Storing Book and entered the Outer Sea, he saw that Tianliu True Person had also slashed the two Liu He True Person avatars with a single sword.


    The remaining two bodies of Liu He True Person that were entangled by Tianliu True Person started to transform into blood mist!


    However, before the blood mist could spread, it was fixed in place by a cyan mirror!


    However, the mirror was not powerful enough, shredded by the blood mist''s light, but Tianliu True Person used her mirror Magical Treasure to fix one avatar!


    And Tianliu Demon King thrust a willow branch into the blood mist, with a fierce inhale, cut down Liu He True Person''s Hell Path incarnation!


    That blood mist then re-condensed ten miles away in the blink of an eye!


    And started to transform into blood mist again!


    Liu He True Person felt horror, he had to continuously perform Blood Escape!


    And at that moment, Heavenly Demon True Person, upon seeing this scene, was terrified out of his wits!


    He did not know what was happening inside; all he knew was that once Liu He True Person was finished, great disaster would befall him!


    The massive Heavenly Demon Banner instantly surged towards Tianliu True Person and Tianliu Demon King!


    The next moment, everyone''s faces changed involuntarily, even Lin Shiming took out the Divine Bead of Mystical Power and again deployed a Minor Divine Ability, Immortal Wood Shadow!


    With the appearance of the ancient void wood!


    The Magical Treasure comparable to a Supreme Grade Fifth Rank, Heavenly Demon Banner, burst instantly!


    The terrifying demonic light ravaged everything, even tearing a huge gap in the Fifth Rank Grand Array, the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation!


    Lin Shiming''s Minor Divine Ability, Immortal Wood Shadow, shattered again in an instant!


    He could only rely on his powerful Fifth Rank physical body to withstand it!


    After the storm, Lin Shiming''s body seemed like countless stars of Spirit Light bursting forth!


    But his momentum was still somewhat weak!


    At that moment, the Ying Fengjian had already chased out!


    Chasing after the Liu He True Person''s avatar!


    The Heavenly Demon True Person might escape, but the Liu He True Person cannot!


    This person is too dangerous.


    The speed of the Ying Fengjian indeed far surpassed Lin Shiming''s imagination; this wind attribute spirit cultivation''s speed was truly terrifying to the extreme!


    The Leiming Sword and Feifu Sword also pursued the Heavenly Demon True Person!


    But it was delayed due to the explosion of the Heavenly Demon Banner, and the Heavenly Demon True Person took the opportunity to deploy the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship!


    The sweeping speed was equally terrifying!


    Watching the spirit light tail and after images of the treasure ship, it was clear that it was over-exerting the Fifth Rank Treasure Ship!


    Lin Shiming had previously obtained the method of refining the War Treasure Ship and naturally knew that a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship could exhibit a flight speed comparable to a Supreme Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure if the main ship''s body was not spared!


    Back then, Qingxuan Sect managed to escape using this tactic!


    However, when Qingxuan Sect deployed this tactic under the pursuit of Heavenly Demon Sect, it was because they had two Fifth Rank War Treasure Ships.


    Heavenly Demon True Person using it was undoubtedly with the idea of escaping first!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming still wanted to pursue!


    But in the next moment, everyone''s expressions changed because the explosion of the Heavenly Demon Banner shattered one of the foundational points of the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation!


    The distant effects of the Tianzhao Sect''s terrifying secret technique caused so much steam to rise that it directly led to the complete collapse of the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation!


    Meaning, Coral Island''s gates were completely opened to everyone!


    To ensure the power of the Forbidden Formation, the other arrays were auxiliary Fourth and Third Rank formations!


    At this moment, for these Golden Core True Persons, it was as if they were nothing!


    Jin Lei True Person even transformed into a huge golden thunder god figure at this moment!


    Obviously, it was Jin Lei True Person''s Minor Divine Ability!


    In an instant, lightning descended upon Coral Island.


    "Quick, stop him!" Qian Ji True Person and Tianliu True Person, both had their expressions change.


    As expected, as soon as Jin Lei True Person descended on the island, at a valley on a giant mountain on Coral Island.


    In a flash, terrifying Spiritual Energy was released!


    This momentum was stronger than a late-stage Golden Core but hadn''t reached Nascent Soul!


    However, no one sensed the spirit breath of Xue Shan True Person!


    Evidently, there was another formation in that valley!


    But with the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation already shattered, even if there was a Fifth Rank Formation, it was not to be feared!


    Moreover, it was probably a defensive array meant to prevent Heavenly Tribulation!


    If this formation is broken, Xue Shan True Person won''t be able to pass the Heavenly Tribulation, and Coral Alliance would become history!


    "It''s indeed these recent days!" Jin Lei True Person laughed loudly!


    The air of triumph made him utterly reckless!


    At this moment, the lightning he deployed was terrifying to the extreme.


    His hand stretched out, revealing five small spheres in the palm of his hand!


    These five spheres were of different colors, all pulsing with lightning arks within them!


    It was indeed the collecting of the Five Elements Divine Thunder ¨C Geng Metal Divine Thunder, Kuei Water Divine Thunder, Wu Earth Divine Thunder, Yihuo Divine Thunder, Ding Wood Divine Thunder!


    This scene also made the other True Persons of Coral Island look increasingly worried!


    "Qian Ji Dao Friend, help me block this Jin Lei, I owe you a favor!" Tianliu True Person shouted angrily!


    At this moment, Tianliu Demon King and Tianliu True Person abruptly merged together!


    That incredible Sword Qi, even Lin Shiming felt immensely fearful of it at this moment!


    Obviously, this was Tianliu True Person''s final Divine Skill and Secret Technique!

 Chapter 896 - 555: Summary of Gains (Two-in-One for Monthly Pass)

    In a red attic, the spiritual energy of a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein slowly rose, transformed into countless rays of rosy light, and converged towards a Jade Bed.


    Lin Shiming settled down upon the Jade Bed, his eyebrows also relaxed considerably, and as he opened his eyes, he looked around with a glint of surprise in his eyes.


    This Jade Bed was clearly not made of Spiritual Eye Jade, but its effect was not far off.


    This Jade Bed had the feature of automatically absorbing spiritual energy.


    As long as a cultivator sits on the Jade Bed, even without cultivating, merely sleeping, their cultivation level would slowly grow.


    Not to mention the incredible speed of growth when earnestly refining and cultivating.


    And this attic that had been prepared to receive guests was even built temporarily.


    Lin Shiming was naturally very interested in this Jade Bed, except that the bed was covered by an array that would self-destruct if Divine Sense attempted to probe it.


    Being a guest and also a subordinate on Coral Island, he naturally wouldn''t be so bold as to delve into the restricted array inside.


    Even though he had established no small merit by now.


    Otherwise, he would probably have no place to shelter himself when the time came.


    Having examined the Jade Bed, Lin Shiming exhaled deeply. Three days had passed since the day of the battle, and he had finally recovered almost fully.


    The surging spiritual energy within him had become Kuimu True Yuan, more refined than before.


    His injuries were not particularly severe, and after taking Fifth Rank Healing Pills, his recovery was extremely fast, especially given that he possessed the Thousand Wood Spirit Body.


    Lin Shiming once again reflected on his visit to Coral Island, and a sense of hindsight fear couldn''t help but arise in his heart.


    This time, he was lucky to have the four Soul Summoning Swords; otherwise, facing Liu He True Person''s six doppelga?ngers plus his main body, he would have had no chance of survival.


    The opponent''s visit to the Southern Sea obviously had only one purpose¡ªto kill him.


    Fortunately, he managed to slay the opponent this time.


    However, the Heavenly Demon True Person escaped with the War Treasure Ship.


    That left behind a not insignificant hidden danger.


    Nevertheless, once Heavenly Demon True Person returned to the Eastern Domain, it was anticipated he would not meet a good end.


    After all, according to the plan, Qingxuan Sect should now be attacking the Valley of the Lost Souls.


    This fact, Lin Shiming had no doubts about.


    He had signed a Spirit Contract with Qingxuan Sect, and with their wish to be restored to power, seizing the chance to eliminate the Heavenly Demon Sect was a good choice.


    After all, it was impossible that the Heavenly Demon Sect lacked cultivators attempting breakthroughs. With Liu He True Person and Heavenly Demon True Person present here, it naturally followed that the one breaking through to Nascent Soul would be the Valley of Lost Souls True Person.


    Lin Shiming took out the Qingxuan Sect''s Sword Talisman, and after a long look, since no message had come through, he put away the Jade Talisman again and took out a Jade Slip to start recording the insights on Nascent Soul breakthroughs passed on by Kuangfeng True Person.


    A Qi Cultivator facing Foundation Establishment must overcome the True Yuan Barrier, the Physical Body Barrier, and the Divine Consciousness Barrier.


    For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to break through to Purple Mansion cultivator status, the Taoist Meridians must be widely opened and the Divine Soul must be condensed.


    Purple Mansion cultivators aiming to reach Golden Core must transcend the Sea of Consciousness, condense the Golden Core, and lure the Divine into the Core.


    And for Golden Core to break through to Nascent Soul, one must shatter the Core to nurture Qi and gather the Infant to join the Tao.


    Once successful, magical abilities and Divine Skills are beyond comparison to before, and it is also possible to start making contact with Divine Skills.


    Among the most basic of these is the Space Escape Divine Power of the Nascent Soul; thus, at the Nascent Soul Realm, killing a peer is nearly impossible unless one possesses some unique treasures by their side.


    With the Space Escape Divine Power, even some of the Fifth Rank or Sixth Rank Arrays can be escaped from.


    With a Nascent Soul, there are benefits far beyond these, such as fleeing and body seizing, refining the soul, and various mystical methods, enough to astonish other cultivators!


    In a certain sense, one can even be considered to have transcended the physical body.


    At that realm, cultivators can recover quickly from even the gravest injuries.


    If Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment belong to the top three realms of cultivation, known as laying the foundation,


    Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul mark the beginning of truly entering the path.


    The reason this realm could not break through to Nascent Soul before was that an Innate Spiritual Treasure was born, absorbing all the Dao Qi.


    It is because Cloud Flood Dragon broke through, moving the Innate Spiritual Treasure,


    That the Dao Qi began to flow out, and while still difficult, the breakthrough was no longer impossible.


    By the time Lin Shiming finished recording all his insights, the Jade Slip was filled with densely packed text.


    But as different as the contents of the Jade Slip were, his heart felt somewhat wistful.


    The matter of Kuangfeng True Person really made him sigh.


    Although there had been signs all along, thinking about how the other was only one step away from successfully gathering the Nascent Soul still caused him some emotional turmoil.


    Kuangfeng True Person had treated him well, and although there might have been some trading involved, at least the other party never really had any ulterior motives.


    At the time, he was only at Purple Mansion, and the secrets he carried were not insignificant.


    Even though he didn''t know why Kuangfeng True Person chose to die for Coral Island, to stand in for Xue Shan True Person,


    But in the last scene, Kuangfeng True Person didn''t act out, and Tianliu True Person also didn''t take his anger out on Coral Island, suggesting that there was significant undisclosed information.


    Even that Thousand Year Spirit Medicine might have been provided by Coral Island.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, unable to figure out the threads, so he stopped pondering and began to organize the spoils from this trip.


    He had killed quite a few Golden Core True Persons, and their Storage Bags had all fallen into his hands.


    Among those he was familiar with were Real Persons Lanling and Liu He, along with a Real Person from Golden Thunder Island.


    At that thought, Lin Shiming took out the Storage Bag of Liu He True Person.


    Liu He True Person''s Storage Bag numbered seven, one for each doppelga?nger, and the main body had one too.


    The Divine Sense in the Storage Bag of Liu He True Person, now deceased, was easily erased by Lin Shiming.


    He opened all six Storage Bags and looked inside!


    All he saw in the six Storage Bags were mostly Spirit Stones, with just the Superior Grade Spirit Stones amounting to more than a thousand pieces.

 Chapter 897 - 555: Summary of Gains (Two in One for Monthly Subscription)_2

    And in the next moment, what shocked Lin Shiming was the sight of a gigantic Fifth-Order Spirit Jade Box radiating bursts of azure halos.


    Accompanied by the extraordinary vision of a wooden lotus, this scene was beyond Lin Shiming''s expectation!


    As he picked up the jade box, he saw within a crystal that shone with a green brilliance even more dazzling than Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    "Top-grade Wood Spirit Stone!" Lin Shiming''s breath hitched involuntarily.


    With this Top-grade Wood Spirit Stone, coupled with the Lin Family''s Gathering Immortal Talisman, he was confident that he could immediately isolate himself for a retreat and make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    The purity of Spiritual Energy contained within the Top-grade Spirit Stone was perhaps incomparable even to a Fifth-Order Top-Grade Spirit Vein.


    That Liu He True Person had one was truly beyond his expectation!


    Lin Shiming directly stored the Top-grade Spirit Stone inside his Cave Heaven, feeling that it was somewhat improper to place it anywhere else.


    Even if it''s a Top-grade Spirit Stone, its Spiritual Energy can still recover.


    It''s just that the recovery speed is quite slow, but Lin Shiming was only willing to use it for making breakthroughs, like advancing from the Golden Core Middle Stage to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    That will undoubtedly be a very lengthy process.


    The preciousness of the Top-grade Spirit Stone was not less than that of the Gathering Immortal Talisman.


    Having finished examining the spirit stone, he then turned his attention to the Magical Treasures of Liu He True Person!


    Now, his highest-ranked Magical Treasure had become the Fifth-Order Intermediate Grade Xu Ri Sword and the combined Three Orders of the Sanxiao Order.


    Therefore, Liu He True Person''s Fifth-Order Superior Grade Magical Treasures were something Lin Shiming was highly anticipating.


    The first treasure was the Sky-Trapping Bowl, which appeared to be made from a terrifying Profound Turtle''s shell and emanated a profound netherworld aura.


    This bowl, once placed over, was specifically designed to restrict the Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    Lin Shiming estimated that if this bowl was activated, even Red Leaf True Person''s Trickling Leaves Principle and his Leaping Void Disk would become unusable.


    Beyond its trapping function, the Sky-Trapping Bowl could also isolate, refine, and suppress.


    This made Lin Shiming extremely satisfied.


    He stored the Sky-Trapping Bowl away, planning to find time to refine it.


    The second Magical Treasure was a three-inch-long crimson needle.


    This needle, named Extreme Blood Needle, was a terrifying blood path Magical Treasure that could pierce through anything; in the standoff with Liu He True Person, Lin Shiming''s Golden Core Late Stage Spiritual Puppet was not only pierced.


    It was only because of the Fifth-Rank Spirit Intelligence and the core of the Spiritual Puppet not being found by Liu He True Person.


    Otherwise, his Golden Core Late Stage Spiritual Puppet would likely have been ruined.


    Having secured both Fifth-Order Superior Grade Magical Treasures, next were six Fifth-Order Intermediate Grade Demon Treasures.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t use these six Demon Treasures, so he sealed them all up.


    Perhaps when Lin Shimo and Lin Houshou make their breakthroughs, these treasures could come into use.


    After examining all the Magical Treasures, Lin Shiming proceeded to check numerous jade boxes!


    Among them, five thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines and even one that was eight thousand years old, not far from the ten thousand-year mark.


    It was a Wood Yuan Ginseng Mushroom, brimming with Spiritual Energy and sealed with more than ten Spirit Talismans.


    Lin Shiming had tested this at Kuangfeng True Person''s place and was naturally overjoyed at this moment.


    He had one thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine, but he had promised that to the Crimson Flame Sword.


    In contrast, the Wood Yuan Ginseng Mushroom had a Wood Attribute, most suitable for him.


    And he also possessed the Minor Divine Ability of Revival Wind, so advancing the Wood Yuan Ginseng Mushroom to a thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine was not particularly difficult.


    Lin Shiming placed all the Spiritual Medicines into the Purple Sun Tower to continue their growth and push beyond their limits.


    In a corner, Lin Shiming also found three pieces of Netherworld Heavy Ironwood.


    The Heavenly Demon Sect clearly had more than one Demonic Secret Realm with Netherworld Heavy Ironwood.


    But now, they all fell into Lin Shiming''s hands.


    He had no problems with the excess of Netherworld Heavy Ironwood.


    After all, one piece was equivalent to a Golden Core combat strength, something the Lin Family would never consider too much at any time.


    He was only disappointed that there weren''t ones that were seven thousand or even eight thousand years old, like before.


    After storing away all the Spiritual Medicines, what came next was what Lin Shiming was most looking forward to: the Jade Slips and Secret Techniques.


    His Divine Sense spread out, probing all the Jade Slips.


    Liu He True Person was evidently very confident in himself, having left the Six Paths Heavenly Demon Technique on the Jade Slip, along with the cultivation methods for an External Incarnation.


    As well as a method to utilize the External Incarnation to train one''s Divine Sense.


    Amusingly, this method was created by Liu He True Person himself!


    He could continuously utilize his incarnations to experience the mortal world, to comprehend the hardships of junior cultivators.


    Therefore, his previous incarnations in the Qingxuan Sect, as a Qi Cultivation servant, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and a Purple Mansion Hermit, were all part of his trials.


    However, this cultivation technique also has its limitations; at most, only two cultivators can undergo such experiences.


    This was also the reason why Liu He True Person previously created five Golden Core avatars and one Purple Mansion avatar.


    Beyond this cultivation technique, Lin Shiming also discovered a secret technique called the Demon God Spike.


    It belongs to a category of divine sense offensive secret techniques.


    On ordinary days, one can condense a Demon God Spike within one''s mind, and at critical moments, unleash up to six spikes. Even cultivators of the same level with extraordinary divine sense would struggle to resist.


    The reason Lin Shiming was unharmed was naturally credited to the Sword Storing Book''s power.


    Otherwise, even within the space of the Sword Storing Book, even if Lin Shiming cultivated the Soul Fusion Secret Tome and managed to create two and a half divine sense weapons, he might not be able to withstand it!


    After all, Lin Shiming''s divine sense is at most equivalent to the Golden Core Middle Stage, while the latter is clearly at least at the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Having undergone the tempering of an external avatar, they have at least the level of a Golden Core pinnacle.


    Lin Shiming put away the Demon God Spike technique once more, treating this technique with more caution than that of the divine sense weapons!


    The most critical point is that the Demon God Spike is pre-refined and already separated!


    Even if one strike fails, it doesn''t greatly affect the spellcaster.


    Divine sense weapons are different; they are extensions of one''s own divine sense. If they are damaged, backlash is likely to occur.


    In one breath, Lin Shiming briefly looked through all of Liu He True Person''s treasures and cultivation techniques.


    Lin Shiming then found another insight for breaking through to the Nascent Soul.


    However, these insights came from a Demon Cultivator; they could serve as a reference, but could not be copied verbatim.


    Having examined the insights of Liu He True Person, Lin Shiming was extremely satisfied and turned his attention to other hot Storage Bags.


    Among them, the Storage Bag of Profound Sword True Person was also extremely valuable, containing a thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones. Aside from that, there were countless ice attribute spiritual materials and earth treasures.


    Clearly, Lin Shiming and the others obtained nothing last time because Profound Sword True Person had taken away the treasures in advance.


    Now, they all ended up in Lin Shiming''s hands.


    Within Profound Sword True Person''s Magical Treasures, a mysterious white Profound Cold Pearl caught Lin Shiming''s eye.


    This Profound Cold Pearl is also a Fifth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure, capable of fully unleashed to freeze seas for thousands of miles, as solid as a rock. Even Golden Core Cultivators caught by it would suffer greatly weakened bodies and slowed movements.


    Beyond that, there is also a Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade Black Cloud Sword.


    This Black Cloud Sword may not be as powerful as Xu Ri True Person''s Xu Ri Sword, but Lin Shiming could use it freely with no concerns, making it a fine treasure indeed.


    After inspecting Profound Sword True Person''s Storage Bag, Lin Shiming looked towards the Storage Bags of the True Persons from Golden Thunder Island.


    The subsequent treasures were not much different, and since the True Persons from Golden Thunder Island were only in the Golden Core Early Stage, they didn''t have the likes of a proper Fifth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure.


    The Five Great Divine Thunder Secret Arts were nowhere to be found.


    Lin Shiming sighed; these secret arts and treasures must be in the hands of Jin Lei True Person.


    Now, they were most likely in the hands of Tianliu True Person.


    Lin Shiming organized the Storage Bags, naturally not planning to ask Tianliu True Person for them.


    Just then, a Spirit Talisman slowly floated over.


    It was sent by Yunli True Person.


    Coral Island had a complete victory, slaying four Fifth-Order Top-Grade Flood Dragons and more than five Golden Core Late Stage cultivators, with countless Purple Mansion cultivators going unaccounted.


    After resting for three days, it was finally time for the celebration feast.


    ...


    At this moment, upon a vast island, a huge Spirit Boat slowly progressed; various cultivators flew past on both sides of the Spirit Boat, oblivious.


    Atop the Spirit Boat, a figure in black robes held a Jade Disk in hand.


    The Jade Disk marked the locations where the Valley of Soul Loss had been conquered.


    The black-robed figure looked miserable; it was none other than the Heavenly Demon True Person.


    After escaping from Coral Island, he commandeered his War Treasure Ship to flee back to the Eastern Domain.


    But to his surprise, the Valley of Soul Loss had actually been breached.


    The Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person returned with several Golden Core True Persons!


    He immediately destroyed the Transmission Formation, then headed straight for Lin Shiming''s Shuangmu Island!


    Seeking revenge, as a Demon Cultivator faced with such a blow, they naturally choose revenge!


    Soon, Shuangmu Island, which was marked on the Spirit Map, appeared before his eyes.


    Licking his lips, the War Treasure Ship suddenly appeared and charged fiercely towards the Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island!

 Chapter 898 - 556: Qiu Xue Appears, Identity of the Wild Wind (Two in One)

    Shuangmu Island, today''s waves are exceptionally tumultuous.


    The blazing summer day often heralds even more terrifying storms.


    On the island, there are mainly elderly members of the Lin Family and the primary Foundation Establishment cultivators; the rest of the talented cultivators have already been transferred by the Lin Family.


    Everyone''s expression is very solemn; this caution from top to bottom had already been prepared within the Lin Family three or four decades ago.


    In the distance, a massive nine-sailed War Treasure Ship barrels forward, like a horrifying ferocious beast.


    Boom!


    The Fifth Rank Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation is shaking continuously.


    Jiuxiao True Person has charged out early.


    "Good, very good, I knew it was you who had assisted Lin Shiming!" Heavenly Demon True Person lands on the Spirit Boat, seething with boundless fury!


    Lin Shiming has never been to the Eastern Sea of the Eastern Domain; sure enough, he knows not the whereabouts of the Transmission Formation, but Jiuxiao True Person has traveled there during his Purple Mansion days!


    At this moment, upon seeing Jiuxiao True Person''s face, the Heavenly Demon True Person instantly understands.


    "Lin Shiming is not here, you''ll all come to know what it means to be inviolable as the Heavenly Demon!" Heavenly Demon True Person is overwhelmingly furious.


    "Today I will live-refine the entire Shuangmu Island; my Heart Demon shall cease, and the attainment of my Nascent Soul will be fulfilled today!" As furious as Heavenly Demon True Person is, he is also brimming with soaring confidence!


    The territory of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the Eastern Domain has already been breached; Qingxuan Sect, Spirit Talisman Sect, Spirit Beast Sect, and even the Corpse Refining Sect have all struck Chu Country, and he can no longer return!


    Now, he has no hesitations left; he will live-refine the Lin Family of Shuangmu Island!


    In the Cultivation Technique of demon cultivators, it is possible to eradicate the Heart Demon, after all, every demon head achieves enlightenment through slaughter.


    The more one kills, the more steadfast their Taoist heart becomes.


    And live-refining Shuangmu Island might allow his Giant Heavenly Demon to advance, thereby nourishing him in return.


    Of course, the side effects are not insignificant; it could even turn against its master, but he is left with no other choice!


    Lin Shiming is still on Coral Island, this is his only opportunity.


    Moreover, by exterminating the Lin Family, and then going into hiding, it would equally shatter the Taoist heart of Lin Shiming!


    The Fifth Rank Ten Directions Crimson Bird Great Array turns into a dense Crimson Crow.


    Jiuxiao True Person is controlling the Array, but it cannot withstand the onslaught of the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship for long, as cracks in the Spirit Net start to appear one after another.


    The massive Heavenly Demon Banner of the Heavenly Demon True Person rises to the sky, ready to descend upon Shuangmu Island!


    At this moment, compared to the battle at Coral Island, the density of the Heavenly Demons has thinned considerably, but the Giant Heavenly Demon at the center remains as immense as ever!


    Upon witnessing this scene, many Lin Family cultivators begin to panic, while Lin Xianzhi orders decisively¡ªif the Array breaks, all shall scatter and flee.


    Save whoever can be saved.


    And he, will initiate the self-destruction of the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation on the island.


    He departed from Fangmu Mountain back in the day, but today on Shuangmu Island, he has no wish to leave again!


    However, at the next moment, the magical swords in the hands of the many cultivators begin to hum softly.


    The next moment, they start to tremble.


    Even including the Fourth Rank Magical Artifacts, this spectacle shocks even Lin Xianzhi. Then, all of a sudden, from the Northern Sword Pavilion, a streak of crimson blood light appears.


    As the sword light speedily emerges, it breaks through the sky.


    Heading straight for the Giant Heavenly Demon.


    The immense Heavenly Demon opens its cavernous maw, beginning to spew forth countless corrupt corpses, but that crimson sword light has already pierced the Giant Heavenly Demon!


    Boom!


    Likewise, countless demonic clouds scatter away, merging with the Crimson Crow of the Ten Directions Crimson Bird Formation, emitting a deafening screech!


    Heavenly Demon True Person instantly experiences goosebumps, his eyes reveal shock, and he spits out a mouthful of fresh blood!


    In his mind, the connection and the soul contract with the Giant Heavenly Demon vanish completely!


    The Giant Heavenly Demon, on which his fame rested, has now split in two, thoroughly vanquished!


    "Shuangmu Island has a Nascent Soul!"


    At this moment, he curses the intelligence provided by Liu He True Person profusely!


    They had sworn on their Heart Demon that the Lin Family only had two Golden Core level combatants!


    Even if there were improvements or hidden strengths, it shouldn''t be outrageously different!


    But now, able to slay the Giant Heavenly Demon with a single sword strike, aside from a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he can''t fathom any other explanation!


    He steers the War Treasure Ship to escape!


    But unbeknownst to him, in the direction of his flight, a patch of crimson rosy clouds has appeared.


    The rosy clouds look enchanting indeed!


    But the Heavenly Demon True Person''s pupils can''t help but constrict. The ocean just before was covered in true dark clouds, and the waves tumultuous!


    He feels a chill down his spine, hastily makes hand signs, and pushes the War Treasure Ship to its limit, while also taking out four treasures!


    Even at this moment, under this appalling pressure, he feels a loosening in the cultivation he has not stirred for over a hundred years!


    But there is no time for joy!


    The crimson radiance falls, and a broken sword flies out!


    This stroke of the sword is dealt so slowly, as if an aged old man is slowly making his solitary way under the setting sun!


    Yet, this one strike, inevitably inescapable, will grow mightier with the passage of time, the force of the sword radiance increasingly formidable!


    Boom!


    An indescribable strike splits the Spirit Shield of the War Treasure Ship in two, continuing its path through the hull. Two Fifth Rank Magical Artifacts are struck away; the Heavenly Demon True Person narrowly escapes with his body intact!


    However, the next sword strike is already on its way.


    "I beg the senior to spare my life, I am willing to serve as a Sword Servant..."


    Before he can finish his plea, the rosy light has already fallen, sweeping toward Shuangmu Island!


    In the sea, there are only remnants of two vast treasure ships, along with the Storage Bag of the Heavenly Demon True Person!


    The rosy light arrives quickly and vanishes just as swiftly!


    As if nothing had ever happened, the cultivators of the Lin Family are stunned, including Jiuxiao True Person.


    "That was a... senior, right?" Jiuxiao True Person murmurs somewhat.


    He holds even greater reverence for the Northern Sword Pavilion and feels more mystified about Lin Shiming.


    He has no idea where Lin Shiming found such terrifying Spirit Cultivators.

 Chapter 899 - 556: Qiu Xue Appears, Identity of the Mad Wind (Combined)_2

    ...


    Coral Island, the celebration banquet commenced as scheduled.


    The newly constructed hall was more magnificent and spacious; the ceiling was adorned with Fourth Rank colorful jade spirit lamps, and the tables were made from Third Rank Spirit Jade, rich in Spiritual Energy.


    On these tables, Fourth Rank Spirit Fruits and Fourth Rank Spiritual Wines were displayed.


    When the banquet began, there would even be Fourth Rank spirit dishes.


    What''s more, it was said that there would be a Fifth Rank Dragon Slaughtering Feast!


    Previously at Lin Shiming''s Golden Core ceremony, he had desired to host a Dragon Slaughtering Feast, but at that time he had prepared dishes from an early Fifth Rank Demon King!


    This time, it was a feast from the late Fifth Rank Tianqing Flood Dragon King, arguably the Coral Alliance''s most extravagant gesture!


    Shiming didn''t know whether Coral Island was truly benefiting the masses or doing it for Tianliu True Person.


    But one could imagine that Tianliu True Person probably had no feelings about it.


    The entire hall was filled with opulence, symbolizing the highest standard of celebration by the Coral Alliance.


    According to the Coral Alliance''s thousands of years of history, such a grandeur had only happened three times.


    And this was the fourth.


    Above Coral Island, brilliant fireworks started to light up, with bursts of Spiritual Radiance appearing.


    These Luminous Auras evolved into over a thousand different Spirit Beast phantasms.


    With each phantasm''s formation, it would become a Spirit Shadow of Luminous Aura, randomly descending into the crowd, creating a Fourth Rank opportunity.


    The minimum requirement to attend this banquet was the rank of Purple Mansion cultivators.


    Soon enough, many people acquired their opportunities, and even Shiming received one; a surge of Spiritual Energy rushed into his body, threatening to run rampant everywhere.


    The effect of the Elixir was even comparable to a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Spirit Pill that advances one''s cultivation level.


    Within it, one could feel the essence of many thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines.


    Shiming wasn''t surprised by this; if he could find a way to acquire an incomplete Purple Sun Tower, then it''s plausible Coral Island could as well.


    Besides, they controlled the Purple Sun Secret Realm, with the most number of cultivators entering each time, the highest cultivation levels, the strongest power, and the widest knowledge!


    Securing numerous Thousand Year Spirit Medicines, Shiming found it believable.


    After all, the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation was also provided by Coral Island.


    "My fellow Daoists and friends, I, Chizhi, thank you all for your desperate defenses!" Chizhi True Person strode forward majestically, took her place at the head seat, and boldly raised her wine cup to toast.


    Shiming and other True Persons also picked up their cups, but compared to before the battle, there were noticeably fewer figures among the True Persons.


    "But unfortunately, we have lost," Chizhi True Person clenched her fist tightly before instantly releasing it.


    "My friends, surely everyone has many doubts!"


    "The Gale Tribe Elder is the fifteenth of the Zhao Family''s Yao generation under the Coral Alliance, and is also Chizhi''s fifteenth uncle!"


    "It''s just that he went out of the family for trials when he was young and fell in love with a Loose Cultivator, which caused some conflicts with the family, but he reconciled with the family fifty years ago and began attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough!"


    "It''s a pity that the Nascent Soul path is difficult to achieve and there were villains causing trouble!"


    "How despicable!" Chizhi True Person downed her drink in one gulp; at this moment, her female form emitted an indescribable boldness!


    Other True Persons and even Purple Mansion cultivators in attendance were all shocked to the extreme!


    Before this, they always thought Kuangfeng True Person was a Loose Cultivator.


    And while Coral Island has always been considered part of the Coral Alliance, many forgot that most of the Purple Mansion and Golden Core members within the Coral Alliance bore the surname Zhao.


    After all, upon reaching Purple Mansion and Golden Core, most would use their cultivation titles.


    Shiming looked towards Tianliu True Person and saw him with an expression of calm.


    Equally calm was Red Leaf True Person.


    This meant the matter of Kuangfeng True Person was almost certainly true.


    They were the two most familiar with Kuangfeng True Person.


    After some contemplation, Shiming also understood that the possibility of Kuangfeng True Person being from a great family was indeed larger.


    After all, Kuangfeng True Person possessed Sixth Rank Alchemy lineage, Sixth Rank Formation lineage, and Sixth Rank Spirit Dish lineage.


    For an ordinary Loose Cultivator to have such fortune would be extremely difficult.


    Without experiencing the life of a Loose Cultivator firsthand, one can hardly comprehend the hardships involved.


    In fact, relatively speaking, when Jiuxiao True Person became a Purple Mansion, he was already considered fortunate among Loose Cultivators.


    His Cultivation Technique was the Nine Heavens Spiritual Water Scripture, and drinking Spiritual Wine could improve his cultivation level.


    Another inheritance of a Golden Core hermitage has been passed down.


    Though my cultivation level has reached the late stage of Purple Mansion, life is still like walking on thin ice, largely because artifact refining and cultivation have consumed massive amounts of time.


    Unlike me, True Person Kuangfeng excels in Spirit Pills, Formations, and Spiritual meals ¨C he has high proficiency in all!


    The key point is, he owns quite a few ancient tomes. Such extensive knowledge would be difficult for a Loose Cultivator to possess.


    It would be even harder for them to achieve greater heights in these three arts.


    Shiming couldn''t help but smile wryly. He believed about eighty percent of what True Person Kuangfeng had said.


    However, he was also aware that there must be some hidden truths.


    For example, True Person Kuangfeng''s lifespan must not be much longer.


    True Person Red Leaf is already over eight hundred years old. True Person Kuangfeng is Red Leaf''s clan elder, so he is probably over nine hundred, and his life force and blood are likely in decline.


    Perhaps there is a sense of desperation for a final struggle within him.


    As for the source of the Thousand Year Spirit Medicine, Shiming guessed that it''s most likely a gift from Coral Island.


    Shiming continued to ponder in his heart.


    True Person Red Leaf had already started to bestow a posthumous title on True Person Kuangfeng, even using the rank of True Monarch.


    Once this process was finished, True Person Red Leaf took out a bottle of Spiritual Wine and raised a toast to the assembly of True Persons.


    This cup of Spiritual Wine was still of Fifth Rank, comparable to Golden Core Spiritual Medicine. Shiming couldn''t help thinking of True Person Kuangfeng, remembering the last celebration feast.


    True Person Kuangfeng had even taken more than half a bottle of Fifth Rank Spiritual Wine for himself.


    But now, this Jade Dew, when he drank it, was quite bitter.


    The influx of Spiritual Energy was not as refreshing and cool as before.


    Instead, it brought a trace of heavy sorrow.


    "Next, we will proceed with the rewards for the valiant efforts of everyone present!" True Person Red Leaf finished his cup of Spiritual Wine and called forth numerous stunningly beautiful female cultivators in red robes!


    Each of them in the prime of their youth, mesmerizing, holding a Jade Disk, which in turn held a Jade Box.


    Within the Jade Boxes were Spirit Medicines!


    The sight made everyone''s breathing turn rapid.


    All of them were Spirit Medicines over three thousand years old. These were attractive to all the Golden Core Cultivators present.


    Especially now that the breakthrough to Nascent Soul was no longer a dream, each cultivator''s heart was stirred even more.


    "This time Daoist Mingdeng, Daoist Tianliu, and Daoist Lin each slayed four True Persons and have each won twelve strands of five thousand year old Spirit Medicine!" True Person Red Leaf handed three Jade Disks to True Person Mingdeng, Shiming, and True Person Tianliu respectively.


    The Spirit Medicines for True Person Mingdeng were Fire Attribute, Shiming''s were Wood Attribute, and True Person Tianliu''s were Water Attribute, all matching the elements of the receivers.


    This clearly showed the Coral Alliance''s grandeur.


    Such riches made Shiming hesitant ¡ª is Coral Island truly just assisting Xue Shan True Person and True Person Kuangfeng in their Nascent Soul breakthrough?


    "Additionally, the three of you will each get to pose three questions to True Monarch Xue Shan. I hope you will all come well-prepared!" True Person Red Leaf announced again, this time with a smile at the corner of his mouth.


    Although the cultivators were not surprised by this revelation; since True Person Kuangfeng had a Nascent Soul breakthrough at Coral Island, it was highly likely that True Monarch Xue Shan was breaking through elsewhere at the same time. Otherwise, there was no need for such fanfare.


    Possibly, True Monarch Xue Shan had even broken through earlier.


    Though that''s what they thought inwardly, outwardly everyone was offering congratulations.


    True Person Red Leaf then continued to announce the rewards.


    Both True Person Qian Ji and True Person Red Leaf had each slain two people.


    The former had plenty of Spirit Puppets at his disposal; without his desperate defense against True Person Jin Lei, he would''ve slain even more.


    As for the latter, True Person Red Leaf''s strength was in his Minor Divine Ability that could follow like a shadow.


    "Alright, next, serve the Dragon Slaughtering Feast, let''s drink the blood of Tianqing and eat the meat of the Flood Dragon King!" True Person Red Leaf made the declaration, and the cultivators began to bring out platters. The Spirit Beasts consumed by the Hermits of Purple Mansion were only bite-sized pieces.


    Of course, even a single piece contained astonishing Spiritual Power, indigestible for ordinary cultivators of Purple Mansion.


    However, the tables of Golden Core True Persons were served with large platters.


    Shiming recalled how Tianqing Flood Dragon King once ambushed him, which opened up his appetite greatly.


    But after finishing, Shiming shook his head.


    This Flood Dragon which had undergone two Tribulations didn''t taste much more delicate than ordinary snake meat!


    "Ladies and gentlemen, True Monarch Xue Shan''s Grand Ceremony approving the True Monarch rank will be held in ten years. I hope everyone present can attend without fail!" As the event drew to a close, True Person Red Leaf raised his cup for the final toast.

 Chapter 900 - 557: The Gale Jade Slip, The Void Bottle (Two-In-One)

    The banquet dispersed, and all the cultivators were jubilant with their feast.


    Xue Shan True Person''s breakthrough to True Monarch also signifies that the Coral Alliance no longer needs to fear being overturned by the tides of time.


    Moreover, Coral Island has promised that the rules of the Coral Alliance will remain unchanged.


    As for Kuangfeng True Person''s failed breakthrough, it gradually fell into silence.


    Apart from Tianliu True Person and Red Leaf True Person, even Qian Ji True Person paid little attention to this matter.


    However, those who partook in the Dragon Slaughtering Feast were vivid and vibrant.


    Lin Shiming tasted a few bites, but found it tasteless. Even though Spirit Light was abundant, at his Golden Core Early Stage of Body Cultivation, he wasn''t in need of that bit of Spiritual Energy.


    Nevertheless, the cooking methods and techniques of the spiritual feast closely resembled those of Kuangfeng True Person.


    At the end of the banquet, Red Agarwood True Person actually sent him a sound transmission.


    "Daoist Lin, please stay behind for a moment!" Lin Shiming did not respond, sitting in his seat without leaving.


    The other True Persons also said their farewells to Lin Shiming.


    If before, there were few who knew of Lin Shiming, then after this battle, the Lin Family has carved out a significant place in these people''s hearts.


    Even in their eyes, in the future, Golden Thunder Island might become a base for the Lin Family.


    After all, of the largest forces at present, Qian Ji True Person and Tianliu True Person, are unlikely to claim more¡ªit''s nearly impossible!


    Their plates are already full, and even if they can swallow Golden Thunder Island, they would worry about the apprehensions of Coral Island.


    At first, everyone was Golden Core, and you had apprehensions as well.


    But now, someone is a Nascent Soul, and that changes everything.


    Even if others are willing to recognize your status, by the time another event like Lin Shiming''s Golden Core ceremony occurs, sitting in the main seat will no longer be Tianliu True Person and Red Leaf True Person, but Yunli True Person.


    In the Cultivation World, strength is always respected.


    Staying behind along with Lin Shiming were Red Leaf True Person, Tianliu True Person, and Qian Ji True Person.


    It seemed that Red Agarwood True Person had something to discuss with them.


    After waiting for everyone to leave,


    "Fellow Daoists, please follow me!" said Red Agarwood True Person before turning around, leaving behind a glimpse of her red coral figure.


    The group followed and came to a slightly smaller pavilion.


    This pavilion was set up in a standard manner for hosting guests: several ancient redwood and gold-threaded Taishi chairs, an Eight Immortal''s table etched with Spirit Patterns with a Pill Furnace lit on top.


    From the Pill Furnace wafted curling fragrant smoke, which was none other than Ziji Tan from Red Leaf Island.


    The room was gracefully supported by redwood columns.


    "My friends, I believe you all have many unanswered questions. This is a Jade Slip left by my tribal uncle. It was entrusted to me thirty years ago for you to see!" Red Agarwood True Person took a Jade Slip and replicated three copies on the spot, handing them out to Qian Ji True Person, Red Leaf True Person, and Lin Shiming.


    The last Jade Slip was given to Tianliu True Person.


    Lin Shiming did not say much, instead started examining the Jade Slip right away.


    "What you see here, my friends, is this Jade Slip rather than the words from me, which means I have failed. After eight hundred ninety-seven years of cultivation, it has come to naught," the sentiment in Kuangfeng True Person''s words was full of sorrow.


    It was as if he had resigned himself to fate.


    But this mentality is not beneficial when attempting to break through to a new realm.


    "I cultivated in my family for over three hundred years, but due to the person I loved, I became a Loose Cultivator, estranged from my family. Four hundred years later, I had a daughter, but unfortunately, we couldn''t cultivate to Golden Core together. I owe so much to my family, and as the years draw to a close, I''ll help my family one last time, dispel my Heart Demon, succeed or not, I will have no regrets!"


    The Jade Slip ended there. It didn''t provide many details, but it explained why Kuangfeng True Person took this blow for Xue Shan True Person.


    The tone was indicative of Kuangfeng True Person, and the energy left behind was unmistakably his.


    Lin Shiming could not help but look towards Tianliu True Person, and at that moment, he saw the other''s shaking body. However, after a moment, he could not bear to look any longer and turned to address Red Agarwood True Person:


    "Thank you, Red Agarwood Daoist, for sharing the contents of the Jade Slip."


    "My tribal uncle ordered it, no need for thanks!" Red Agarwood True Person shook her head.


    "By the way, fellow Daoists, when my tribal uncle was breaking through, you fought desperately to hold back, leaving only one corpse of the Demon King on Coral Island."


    "The remaining three corpses are yours to take!" Red Agarwood True Person was particularly generous.


    She drew out the corpses of the Skywind Dragon King, Skyrain Dragon King, and Skyfury Dragon King.


    This time, Red Leaf True Person took the initiative to back out without going to receive, given that her combat capability was currently the weakest.


    Lin Shiming already possessed four, Fifth Rank Spirit Swords.


    Certainly, at this moment, Red Leaf True Person feels not envy or apprehension, but a sense of relief.


    Knowing that she could not overcome the Lin Family by force, she had always tried to win them over.


    Otherwise, if Lin Shiming pulled out these resources, the heritage of Red Leaf Island might just vanish.


    Lin Shiming did not demur, taking the weakest body of the Skyrain Dragon King.


    The Skyrain Dragon King matched the Qiu Xue Sword, and perhaps could speed up the sword''s progress a bit.


    "Additionally, the four of you may enter the treasure tower of Coral Island to choose one treasure each; this is also my tribal uncle''s command!" Red Agarwood True Person spoke up once more.


    But with so many treasures at hand, it caused Lin Shiming to ponder deeply.


    Yet, for all his thoughts, Lin Shiming would not act rashly.


    The True Monarch''s ceremony was already confirmed, and any action at this point could provoke mortal danger.


    This was a special period, and to be justified in one''s actions was all too easy.


    "By the way, in about ten years, the Coral Alliance will also take action against the Tianzhao Sect, so you all might want to prepare for that," Red Agarwood True Person revealed once more!

 Chapter 901 - 557: The Gale Jade Slip, The Void Bottle (Two-In-One) _2

    Nascent Soul Cultivators stabilize their Cultivation Level, which obviously requires a longer time.


    And the inevitable battle between the Coral Alliance and Tianzhao Sect is almost a certainty set in stone.


    Blocking one''s path is an enmity as insurmountable as ascending to the heavens.


    There is absolutely no room for reconciliation in this matter.


    Everyone nodded, acknowledging that when the time comes, all parties involved will be the main force.


    Previously, some islands could refuse to participate in such battles, but with the presence of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, acting like a mere spectator would be courting death.


    Under the leadership of Red Leaf True Person, this time they ascended Coral Peak.


    The Spiritual Energy of Coral Peak reached the extent of Fifth Rank Supreme Grade.


    Therefore, the Spirit Trees and Spirit Grass on the mountain were all blooming with Spirit Intelligence, and Lin Shiming had seen quite a number of tree spirits.


    However, there weren''t many that were truly unique.


    After passing through many places, they saw a tower!


    Earth Tier cultivators who establish a Treasure Pavilion would construct it as a loft.


    While major powers would almost always form the Treasure Pavilion in the shape of a tower.


    Moreover, this tower was at least at the level of a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    This was convenient in case of unexpected events; a major power could secure the treasure tower and thus secure the family''s heritage.


    The entrance of the tower was still guarded by the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation, scanning around the four of them.


    "Daoist Lin is indeed very young!" Red Leaf True Person couldn''t help but speak out.


    This Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation was clearly much better than the one on Jiuyue Island.


    With such a scan, even their bone age was revealed.


    The four of them were not surprised and continued towards the treasure tower.


    "Everyone, once you enter the treasure tower, you will be on the fifth floor. Take one item and you will be transported out!" Red Leaf True Person explained again.


    Lin Shiming was indifferent to this as he had system prompts, which would surely allow him to obtain the best treasure, so at this moment, he was also looking forward to it.


    But he masked his expression extremely well.


    The four entered the tower, and, as expected, with the emergence of a surge of tower light, they disappeared from their original spot.


    When they reappeared, they could no longer see each other.


    At this, Lin Shiming could not help but smile bitterly; it seems the treasures were also divided accordingly!


    He estimated that the treasure obtained by Tianliu True Person would be much better.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, stopped his wandering thoughts, and began to seriously examine the ancient and fragrant wooden racks before him.


    On the racks were placed various Magical Treasures and Spiritual Materials.


    Each item was covered with a light shield, and one could only reach into the Spirit Shield once to take the treasure away.


    The treasures before him included swords and axes, with the highest aura seemingly of a Fifth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure.


    And the lowest was a Fifth Rank Inferior Grade Magical Treasure.


    In addition to these Magical Treasures, there were also Elixirs among them, including the Gold Condensation Pill.


    This made Lin Shiming hesitate; although Lin Shitao could refine the Gold Condensation Pill.


    Its success rate was not high, but with this pill, at least there was hope for Lin Shitao to break through to Golden Core without having to refine the Elixir.


    [Please choose the void bottle containing Nascent Transformation Grass seeds; you will gain a 30% increased chance to enhance your Nascent Soul in the future!]


    The system prompt appeared, causing Lin Shiming''s spirits to surge.


    Nascent Transformation Grass is the main material for refining Nascent Transformation Pills.


    Like the Gold Condensation Pill and Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, the Nascent Transformation Pill is an Elixir for making breakthroughs in great realms!


    This time, however, to Lin Shiming''s surprise, there were also seeds for Nascent Transformation Grass.


    Even if Nascent Transformation Grass alone couldn''t yet be used to refine Nascent Transformation Pills, at the very least, it provided hope for the future, and even if the Lin Family couldn''t refine the Nascent Transformation Pills,


    the powder of the millenniums-matured Nascent Transformation Grass could increase the chances of breaking through to Nascent Soul by 30%.


    However, now Lin Shiming needed to search for it, just like when he once sought for the Illusionary Spirit Gourd.


    The Illusionary Spirit Gourd also contained seeds inside it.


    But those seeds were also Magical Treasures!


    This time, however, it turned out to be actual seeds of a medicinal herb.


    Lin Shiming fully extended his Divine Sense, searching continuously within the treasure building, but after circling around and examining about fifty or sixty treasures, he did not see any bottle-like Magical Treasures.


    Among them, there were a few that even he was tempted by.


    One of them was a Mountain River Seal.


    With mountains and rivers engraved on the seal, when the seal is cast, it can suppress all things.


    Besides that, there was also a Fifth Rank Superior Grade Spirit Armor, the Burial Spirit Armor, which is definitely considered one of the strongest defensive Magical Treasures of the late Fifth Rank.


    "No, there are some other displays that do not have Spirit Shields; perhaps they could also be Magical Treasures!" Lin Shiming, failing to find the void bottle, suddenly realized, and he began to inspect the artistic bottles placed around.


    Indeed, after examining them, he found one bottle that stood out as unusual.


    This bottle is covered in green light and carved with numerous spirit patterns, a scene that Lin Shiming has seen on the Blood Demon Disk; it is clearly an incomplete spiritual treasure.


    However, he soon shakes his head.


    The bottle is too incomplete.


    So much so that many spirit patterns have already vanished.


    And there is no way to find the treasure command.


    For a spiritual treasure, without the treasure command, it''s equivalent to an ordinary object made of harder material.


    Lin Shiming''s divine sense probes inside but only feels an aura that is even more mysterious.


    Having said that, Lin Shiming pockets the bottle and, without looking back, begins to prepare for his departure.


    There are too many treasures here, and he now can''t guarantee that he won''t be tempted.


    Thus, it''s better to leave sooner rather than later.


    Exposing the Cave Heaven is certainly not a good choice either.


    Almost as soon as he touches the bottle, the transmission formation starts to activate.


    The white light appears again, and Lin Shiming has already emerged at the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion.


    Lin Shiming''s arrival follows both Red Leaf True Person and Qian Ji True Person, and after a while, Tianliu True Person also steps out.


    Then the four of them exchange compliments for a time before each departing their own way.


    This time, Tianliu True Person is unusually silent, as are Red Leaf True Person and Qian Ji True Person.


    They all knew that Tianliu True Person was not feeling well inside, which was clear from the white hair that hadn''t turned back yet.


    Lin Shiming, this time, leaves together with the Red Leaf True Person; the island''s transmission formation has been repaired and opened.


    Soon, they arrive at Red Leaf Island.


    Seeing the island in peace, both heave a sigh of relief.


    Red Leaf True Person is concerned about Red Leaf Island, and Lin Shiming naturally worries more about the Lin Family.


    "By the way, Lin Junior Brother, there was a report online; it seems your Shuangmu Island faced a crisis a few days ago."


    "Thank you, Senior Sister Red Leaf!!" Lin Shiming''s face shows urgency at this moment.


    This kind of crisis is very likely from the Heavenly Demon True Person of the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    And the defenses of Shuangmu Island might not necessarily withstand it.


    "Junior Brother, you might also think about what rewards the Lin Family should offer when the time comes!" Red Leaf True Person leaves these words behind.


    These words, however, are profound.


    Ten years later, the islands will certainly be redistributed.


    This is Red Leaf True Person asking about Lin Shiming''s stance.


    It is also inquiring about Lin Shiming''s ambition; the currently vacant islands include Golden Thunder Island and Lanling Island.


    By then, the Lin Family will certainly reward those involved.


    "Senior Sister jokes; the Lin Family is still weak now, it can''t sustain it!" Lin Shiming shakes his head, not answering, knowing that now, any answer is useless.


    Only by enhancing one''s cultivation level and strength does one truly hold power.


    Afterward, he also steps into the transmission formation.


    And appears on Shuangmu Island!


    Lin Shiming''s divine sense stretches out, first looking towards Thousand Wood Peak; most of the peach trees are still there, and the Spirit Pool on Qinglian Peak is also intact.


    This brings him a sigh of relief as well.


    But at the next moment, Lin Shiming discovers the corpse of the Heavenly Demon True Person right at the doorstep of Northern Sword Pavilion!


    The Qiu Xue Sword has made its move.


    Lin Shiming then shows his delight.


    This means that his adventure to the mystical world was worthwhile.


    Now, it seems the crisis has been averted once more.


    Lin Shiming appears in the transmission formation, and from afar, Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shijie, and others also emerge, along with Jiuxiao True Person.


    "Shiming, how did it go?"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, it''s resolved; from now on, the Lin Family can enjoy a hundred years of security!" Lin Shiming happily answers.


    This time the threat from the Heavenly Demon Sect is removed, the menace from Golden Thunder Island is gone!


    The Flood Dragon Clan will also most likely not attack again!


    And with a True Monarch in the Coral Alliance, there''s a very slim chance of future turmoil.


    All is well now.


    "Let''s go play chess!" Lin Xianzhi, equally in high spirits, even bursts into laughter while speaking!


    The Lin Family''s potential is boundless; all they lack now is time!


    After another hundred years, even without Lin Shiming, the Lin Family will undoubtedly possess the majesty of a Golden Core Family!


    You should know, the number of cultivators has already nearly surpassed ten thousand!

 Chapter 904 - 559: Void Star Sand, Heart Demons Decision (Two in One)

    In the Cave Heaven, at this moment, there remains a serene and auspicious scene.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey became less mischievous, quietly cultivating in front of the stone wall. Ever since it acquired a cultivation technique from the Taibai Sword Palace, one can see that its entire being has undergone a qualitative transformation.


    Its control over flames has reached another level, and with the refining of the Red Luminance Flare, it now possesses not three types of Spiritual Fires, but four.


    When all are unleashed together, even a cultivator at the Late Stage of the Purple Mansion would find it difficult to withstand their sharp edge.


    While the Red-haired Demon Monkey toils in its cultivation, the Golden Wing does even more so, sticking to the stone wall and remaining utterly silent.


    The golden radiance and silvery light on its body harmonize unexpectedly, with eight wings of gold and two of frost.


    The pair of Golden Sickles have also become sharper, gleaming with a dazzling light.


    Now, both creatures seem to be holding their breath, competing to be the first to break through the Late Stage of the Purple Mansion.


    On the other hand, the situation by the Spirit Lake is much more harmonious.


    The Star Spirit Clam habitually perches atop the cool pavilion, also akin to Lin Shiming, except it does not cultivate. During the day, unable to refine moonlight, it leisurely watches the large black fish and other mysterious fish frolic at the bottom of the Spirit Lake!


    And the Water Spirit Shell quietly bides its time on the shallow shores of the lake.


    Unmatched tranquility.


    Looking towards the Flood Dragon Nest, the aura of Wang Jiao grows ever stronger, appearing as if a breakthrough is not far away!


    The Spiritual Energy from the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein within the entire Cave Heaven also converges towards the Flood Dragon Nest.


    Lin Shiming estimates that it would take but a few more years for the breakthrough to occur.


    And at the time of breakthrough, he plans to let Wang Jiao out, for it is naturally impossible to face the Heavenly Tribulation in this miniature world.


    Otherwise the Tribulation for the Golden Core could shatter his Cave Heaven.


    The three serpent spirits undergoing Bloodline Reversion to transform into Flood Dragons are nearly finished; Lin Shiming is quite expectant, for the Lin Family will soon gain three Flood Dragons.


    Having observed everything within the Cave Heaven, he finds Elder Mu walking over with Lei Tong.


    Lei Tong has matured a lot now, no longer merely echoing Elder Mu in conversation.


    "Master!"


    "Take me to see the Purple Sun Tower!" Lin Shiming walks into the Purple Sun Tower. Inside, the Spiritual Medicines are growing splendidly, among which Lei Tong''s own form flourishes even more, with countless thunders gathering around it.


    The Thousand Year Spirit Medicine, transformed into the Chi He Grass, still approaches Lin Shiming, expressing great interest in his Minor Divine Ability, the Revival Wind.


    But each time, Lin Shiming does not grant its wish, causing it to become even more stubborn.


    Lin Shiming, however, flicks a finger, sending the Chi He flying away, then exits the Purple Sun Tower to retrieve the Void Bottle he acquired from the Coral Alliance.


    This Void Bottle, a Superior Grade magical treasure of the Fifth Rank, when activated, functions like a Cave Heaven World, capable of temporarily trapping a Golden Core Cultivator!


    Its effect is somewhat similar to that of the Sword Storing Book!


    For Lin Shiming, it still serves a purpose, since although the Sword Storing Book can separate cultivators, if there are too many True Persons sealed, it becomes difficult to exert the book''s suppression ability.


    Using the Void Bottle, one can trap an enemy first.


    Moreover, there are ten specks of Void Star Sand within this bottle.


    These specks of Void Star Sand, like meteors, appear tiny, yet are terrifyingly heavy. It is precisely these ten specks that make this magical treasure, among the treasures of Coral Island, count as a Supreme Grade item.


    Of course, Lin Shiming''s interest lies not only in the treasure itself, but also in the fact that within it there is a seed of a Nascent Soul Fruit!


    This seed has been consecrated and was mistaken for a speck of star sand.


    Even with a system alert, Lin Shiming took a long look to discern it!


    However, he is not certain how much Spirit Intelligence the seed retains.


    But at least, with the system alert, there should be no problem growing a Nascent Soul Fruit Tree.


    With this seed of the fruit tree, Lin Shiming even considers the possibility of continuous hard cultivation in the Southern Sea, potentially breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage!


    But the thought of the trade with the Taiyi Grass Sword has him scratching his head.


    After a hundred years, the pressure of a major Nascent Soul Tribulation awaits!


    Moreover, according to the Taiyi Grass Sword, only at the Nascent Soul Stage does one qualify to enter the battlefield.


    Even the Early Stage of Nascent Soul might not be secure.


    Therefore, in the following time, he plans to dedicate the Revival Wind entirely to the Nascent Soul Fruit seed.


    As the Void Bottle is refined, a seed, like a speck of star sand, falls into Lin Shiming''s hand, its surface covered with a layer imitating star sand.


    It cannot be distinguished by Divine Sense, only by feeling its slightly different weight.


    Lin Shiming beckons with his palm and summons the Extreme Blood Needle. With one prick, the star sand layer is pierced, perfectly revealing a green seed!


    Lin Shiming pinches it in his hand and then takes out the Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Nurturing Spirit Liquid prepared by his family.


    He submerges it in the Nurturing Spirit Liquid to absorb nutrients, then takes out Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Fifth Rank Spirit Water, and on the peak of a mountain within the Cave Heaven, plants the seed!


    Now, the Nascent Soul Fruit tree is still too small. If placed inside the Purple Sun Tower, it might not compete well for Spiritual Energy; it is steadier outside!


    He can also sense it immediately and can simply let Golden Wing guard it during routine days.


    After the seed is buried, a faint vortex forms in the mountain, which ordinary Cultivators might not detect, but it is very conspicuous for Golden Core Cultivators.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming realizes that the seed''s vitality is low.


    The Revival Wind is activated immediately, and in a flash, a rich green light envelops the Fifth Rank Spirit Soil!


    A sapling visible to the naked eye sprouts, growing into a small tree about three inches tall.


    The small tree is covered with a glow of dawn light, clearly mysterious and extraordinary!


    This even makes Golden Wing and Red-haired in the Cave Heaven look up!


    Elder Mu also gazes over, with an expression in his eyes that hasn''t been seen for a long time, as if he is about to start observing the Nascent Soul Fruit tree again.

 Chapter 905 - 559: Void Star Sand, Heart Demons Decision (Two in One)_2

    Lin Shiming was fully supportive of this, as Elder Mu''s progress was also beneficial to him.


    What he didn''t expect was that the Revival Wind, despite being a hundred-year catalyst, only made the sapling grow by three inches.


    "Perhaps the effect is somewhat weaker on this type of Spiritual Medicine!" Lin Shiming concluded in his heart.


    Fortunately, he could summon the Revival Wind once every five years, so he wasn''t particularly concerned about the slow growth of the Huaying Fruit Tree.


    As for the Gold Condensation Fruit Tree and the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit Tree, Lin Shiming could only postpone their cultivation.


    Fortunately, the only member of the Lin Family currently qualified to make a Golden Core breakthrough was Lin Shijie!


    Lin Shitao had reached the Purple Mansion Middle Stage some time ago, but her progress was delayed due to childbirth.


    The next in line was Lin Xianzhi, who was on the verge of breaking through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Even after making the breakthrough, it would take at least several decades of refinement before one could aspire to form a Golden Core!


    Lin Shiming was not in a hurry about this; the Lin Family still had a Gold Condensation Fruit, from which they could refine a Gold Condensation Pill.


    Lin Shiming then began to set up an Array. After arranging the Array and forming a large Spirit Shield, he finally felt at ease and had Golden Wing and Red-haired stand guard.


    Although Red-haired had become somewhat obedient now, Lin Shiming was still genuinely worried that its blazing flames might accidentally kill the Huaying Fruit Tree.


    After emerging from the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming found that Lin Shitao, holding Lin Zeying, had already arrived at Thousand Wood Peak.


    Little Zeying seemed unaware of Lin Shiming''s recent visit to Coral Island, smiling at Lin Shiming and reaching out for him to give them a hug.


    Lin Shiming also embraced them in his arms, spending a warm afternoon.


    The next day, as the sunrise ascended from the east, Lin Shiming headed towards the Transmission Formation on Shuangmu Island.


    This time, he was going to Tianliu Island for the purpose of the heritage trade with Kuangfeng True Person!


    The Transmission Formation quickly lit up, and Lin Shiming appeared in the city of Tianliu City.


    The giant willow that used to be there had disappeared, replaced by a new Fourth Rank willow tree.


    If nothing unexpected, the owner of this willow tree should be Zhao Yulin.


    It seemed that Tianliu True Person and Tianliu Demon King had suffered heavy injuries in Coral Island and were likely in recovery now.


    Upon his arrival in the Transmission Formation, a group of Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment cultivators on Tianliu Island saluted Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming waved his hand, sensing a Divine Sense briefly sweep over him before quickly dissolving away.


    He was no stranger to the owner of this Divine Sense; it was Zhao Yulin.


    But Zhao Yulin seemed disinclined to meet him; her Divine Sense had scanned over him without even a greeting.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile wryly, sensing that this visit might not be so easy.


    Lin Shiming released a Spirit Talisman, requesting a meeting with Zhao Yulin.


    Since Zhao Yulin was Kuangfeng True Person''s daughter, he had to go through her to obtain the heritage.


    However, this time, he was exasperated by her response: she was in closed-door cultivation.


    It was exactly the same as the first time he requested to meet Tianliu True Person.


    Women from this lineage seemed to share the same practices.


    Her Divine Sense had clearly just swept over him.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat vexed, but he wasn''t angry. He then went to the tavern where he had previously met the two, chose a position by the window, and bought a pot of Spiritual Wine.


    Afterward, he watched the bustling crowd of cultivators on Tianliu Island by himself.


    There were more cultivators here now. Tianliu True Person''s prestige in the Coral Sea Domain had grown, and with the fall of Golden Thunder Island, many cultivators were worried about being affected and withdrew from Golden Thunder Island!


    Next, the cultivators of the Coral Alliance would surely explore the Golden Thunder Archipelago, attempting to harvest as many resources as possible.


    This was all too common in the power struggles of the Cultivation World!


    If the Lin Family were defeated, their Jiuyue Island, Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and Shuangmu Island would face the same fate.


    As he drank the pot of wine through the afternoon, twilight descended over the sea, and the distant willow was covered in hues of red from the sunset glow.


    At some point, a cultivator appeared opposite Lin Shiming at his table.


    She was still clad in gauze, her face unclear, and a faint aura of ice cold permeated the air near Lin Shiming.


    "Fairy Zhao, it has been many years, and you look even more divine!"


    "To receive such compliments from the renowned True Person Qian Mu, I''m not sure I can bear the honor!" Zhao Yulin''s cold voice sounded.


    Lin Shiming felt helplessly resigned.


    "Gather outside Tianliu City tomorrow morning," Zhao Yulin said before departing, vanishing into the crowd.


    Her manner was still as decisive as ever. Lin Shiming was a bit perplexed.


    What he was curious about this time was the absence of Zhao Fuling.


    And Tianliu True Person still had a deal for Zhao Fuling''s breakthrough with him.


    If Zhao Fuling''s Heart Demon was indeed him, that would indeed be tricky.


    Lin Shiming, not understanding the reason, could only follow Zhao Yulin''s lead.


    At the break of dawn the next day, he arrived just outside of Tianliu City.


    Zhao Yulin was still alone, with no sign of Zhao Fuling.


    Once Lin Shiming arrived, Zhao Yulin brought out the Spirit Boat, inviting Lin Shiming onto it, and set off towards Kuanfeng Island!


    Upon arriving at Kuanfeng Island, Lin Shiming was somewhat taken aback. He saw that at the entrance to the courtyard of the former abode of Kuangfeng True Person, Zhao Fuling was standing.


    Dressed in a red gown, she looked unusually beautiful today.


    The courtyard was adorned with countless red cloths, decorated for utmost festivity ¨C it was clearly arranged for a wedding ceremony.


    "Daoist Lin, walk down the red-clad path once, and at the end you will find the Sixth Rank inheritance, including the Alchemy, Tool Refining, and Spiritual Cuisine inheritances ¨C I offer them all!" Zhao Yulin spoke up.


    At these words, Lin Shiming''s form froze instantly.


    He had not expected such an outcome upon arriving here!


    "Fairy Yulin, Fairy Fuling, I already have a wife and a son, and I can only fail to live up to the regard of the two fairies!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    He turned around and left towards the distance without hesitation.


    If he betrayed Lin Shitao today, then having the Sixth Rank inheritance would be meaningless.


    This scene also plunged Zhao Fuling into a somber mood, and as Lin Shiming left the island, three Jade Slips fell in front of him!


    "Daoist Lin, it was just a jest earlier, but we still offer the inheritances!" The three Jade Slips fell into Lin Shiming''s hands. After hesitating for a while, he accepted them nevertheless.


    "Thank you, if there''s ever a need in the future, feel free to visit Shuangmu Island or seek me out anytime!"


    "The Lin Family will always be the most loyal ally of Tianliu Island and the Zhao Family!" Having said that, Lin Shiming left for the distance!


    He no longer wanted to face all this.


    After Lin Shiming left, Zhao Yulin arrived in front of Zhao Fuling, with Tianliu True Person also making an appearance.


    "Fuling!"


    Both called out with concern.


    "Master, sister, it''s all right. After today, I will no longer be burdened, and I want to go into seclusion to break through!" Zhao Fuling said, and then in one motion, she tore all the red cloths in the courtyard to shreds.


    She also took off her red robe.


    She entered the innermost courtyard to begin her seclusion.


    "Master, Fuling this..." Zhao Yulin was still worried.


    "It''s alright, Fuling should be able to get past this. Seeing as the Sixth Rank inheritances could not hold her back, she must be truly heartbroken now!" Tianliu True Person replied reassuringly.


    "To overcome the Heart Demon, one must either defeat it or come to a realization!"


    "Today, she should have her realization," said Tianliu True Person, and with that, she waved her hand, and a great wind began to rise on Kuanfeng Island, consolidating into an even larger Array, shrouding the entire island.


    "Go back and take control of the situation on Tianliu Island. With me here, there will be no issue!" Tianliu True Person waved her hand, then walked out of the courtyard.


    She was tired too; she just wanted to stroll around the yard, seeking the trace of the past!


    Even if it was but a faint hint.


    Zhao Yulin nodded at this.


    When she returned to Tianliu Island, she found that Lin Shiming was still waiting for her at that tavern.


    She made her way up to the tavern as well.


    They sat opposite each other once again.


    "I apologize!" Zhao Yulin broke the silence.


    "It''s nothing!" Lin Shiming, by this time, clearly understood all that had transpired.


    "Join me for a drink!" Zhao Yulin took out the Spiritual Wine somewhat abruptly!


    Lin Shiming nodded his head.


    The two of them drank in silence, consuming pot after pot.


    As their faces turned crimson, Lin Shiming stood up:


    "Fairy Zhao, I must take my leave now!"


    "Hmm! Remember to cultivate diligently!"


    "Next time we meet, I will show you the might of the Profound Cold Spirit Body!" Zhao Yulin suddenly said.


    Lin Shiming felt a headache coming on, but still he left for the distance.


    Without turning back.


    When he returned to Shuangmu Island, he took out the three Jade Slips and started to examine them.


    And as he looked them over, he discovered that the Spirit Jade used for these Jade Slips was very special, and the contents they held far exceeded ordinary Jade Slips.

 Chapter 906 - 543: Nascent Transformation Pill Recipe, Seclusion (Two in One)

    Three Spirit Jade pieces were laid out in front of Lin Shiming, and after some study, he couldn''t help but speculate.


    This Spirit Jade should have been inherited from ancient times.


    It is different from ordinary Jade Slips, which are very fragile; on the contrary, this Jade Slip is like a Magic Artifact, capable of being preserved for a very long time.


    The first thing he examined was the Sixth Rank Artifact Refining inheritance; after all, the highest-skilled artisan in the Lin Family is Jiuxiao True Person, who is also the only Fifth Rank Artifact Refiner.


    For a Magical Treasure, the most crucial aspect is the treasure pattern on it.


    Otherwise, even with Sixth Rank materials, it would be impossible to craft a Sixth Rank Magical Treasure!


    Within this Sixth Rank Artifact Refining inheritance, it just so happens to include several Sixth Rank treasure patterns, which are the most precious parts of the inheritance.


    With these treasure patterns, Artifact Refiners can freely craft various Sixth Rank Magical Treasures.


    Of course, freely crafting poses extremely high demands on the Artifact Refiner.


    In this Sixth Rank inheritance, there are also recorded three crafting plans for Sixth Rank Magical Treasures, including a Sixth Rank Profound Water Mingxin Bell, a Sixth Rank Sky-Defying Qin, and a Sixth Rank Triple Fiery Fan.


    As for the Fifth Rank Magical Treasures, there are more, about a dozen standard Magical Treasures.


    Within these, there are also three of Superior Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasures.


    For the Lin Family, this is undoubtedly a huge gift.


    He is currently in debt to Tianliu Island, as well as Zhao Yulin and Zhao Fuling.


    And after thinking about the Sixth Rank Spirit Pill inheritance and the Sixth Rank Spirit Feast inheritance, it feels even more so!


    The Jade Slip of Artifact Refining inheritance was put away by Lin Shiming; he plans to transcribe the Fifth Rank inheritance later for Jiuxiao True Person to review.


    And the Sixth Rank inheritance would naturally wait until the Lin Family produces a real Sixth Rank Artifact Refiner before he takes it out!


    Otherwise, even if a hint of this inheritance were leaked, it could expose the Lin Family to tremendous risk.


    After all, in today''s world of Immortal Cultivation, it is no longer the era where the Golden Core reigns supreme.


    Who knows where a Nascent Soul Cultivator might emerge from? At that time, no matter what the Coral Alliance is, it would be powerless in the face of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    And a Sixth Rank inheritance would definitely be enough to incite them to act.


    Things like moral integrity and reputation mean nothing to a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    After all, when you can live for two thousand years, would you care about a century of defamation?


    After securing the Artifact Refining Spirit Jade, Lin Shiming picked up the Sixth Rank Spirit Feast inheritance.


    This Sixth Rank Spirit Feast inheritance is relatively simpler.


    It has a similar mystery to Alchemy.


    It''s all about combining various Spirit Feasts to form a delicious and efficacy-rich Spirit Feast.


    For example, the method to create a Flood Dragon Feast increases vitality and is an advanced version of Dragon Blood Grass and Dragon Blood Pills.


    And it''s important to know how much of the Flood Dragon Feast can be made.


    It can almost allow cultivators with declining vitality and no hope of breakthrough to have a chance to break through again.


    It records one Sixth Rank Spirit Feast and three Fifth Rank Spirit Feasts.


    The Sixth Rank Spirit Feast is called Thunder Feather Peng King Banquet, mainly made with Sixth Rank Thunder Peng Spirit Beast meat, although using Fifth Rank Thunder Peng Spirit Beast meat is possible too but the effects would be greatly diminished, falling into the realm of Supreme Grade Fifth Rank.


    One bite can increase one''s intrinsic thunder energy, and for those practicing thunder cultivation, accumulating enough could possibly even develop thunder-type Minor Divine Abilities.


    The three Fifth Rank Spirit Feasts include the Dragon Slaughtering Feast, Taiyuan Cloud Shark Feast, and Fiery Barbaric Bull Flame, which had been eaten at Coral Island this time.


    All three beasts are capable of producing Fifth Rank Demon Kings.


    The efficacies of the three Spirit Feasts are also different.


    But each one is worth a fortune.


    As for Fourth Rank Spirit Feasts, there are even more.


    Overall, Kuangfeng True Person''s gift was immense.


    In the future, the Lin Family''s restaurant could include several more Spirit Feasts, even several kinds of Fourth Rank Spirit Feasts, which would be enough to make the Lin Family''s restaurant renowned throughout the entire Coral Alliance.


    Lin Shiming looked to the last inheritance of Alchemy.


    What caught his eye was the crafting recipe for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    This Nascent Transformation Pill is similar to the Gold Condensation Pill, capable of enhancing a cultivator''s chance of condensing a Nascent Soul by three levels!


    And to know, a Thousand Year Spirit Medicine can only increase by one level, and they cannot be stacked!


    To most cultivators, a mere ten percent chance is certainly not satisfactory.


    And Lin Shiming also has the Nascent Transformation Fruit; he only lacks two main materials and over a hundred secondary materials to refine the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    At that time, with a three-layer chance, plus him being a Thousand Wood Spirit Body, the probability of breaking through to Nascent Soul stage is extremely high.


    Lin Shiming was full of anticipation, for that would mean a lifespan of two thousand years.


    Considering some life-extending Spirit Fruits and Spiritual Objects, living up to 2500 years is highly possible.


    Whilst excited, Lin Shiming continued reading; in addition to the Nascent Transformation Pill, there was also the Infant Nurturing Pill, Fifth Rank Barrier-Breaking Pill, and other Sixth Rank progression elixirs.


    And there are six types of Fifth Rank pill recipes, including the Fifth Rank Bicloud Pill for healing, the Fifth Rank Inferior Grade Taiyuan Pill for advancing cultivation level, the Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade Golden Foundation Pill, the Fifth Rank Superior Grade Condensed Purple Pill, and the Demon Breaking Pill for dispelling illusions.


    Each type of Fifth Rank Spirit Pill is currently needed by the Lin Family; as soon as Lin Shitao breaks through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, she can begin trying to craft them.


    Lin Shiming was very satisfied and packed all three Spirit Jade pieces into his Storage Bag.


    With this, the Lin Family''s future potential to become the seventh major power in the Southern Sea is substantial.


    After returning from Tianliu Island, Lin Shiming didn''t have any other matters to attend to.


    Currently, all matters concerning the Lin Family were thoroughly delegated, needing no intervention from him.


    And Lin Zewen had become the Family Head, a decision made during another family conference.


    After Lin Yanjiao concludes her closed-door cultivation, she will become a Purple Mansion cultivator, which as a Spirit Body Cultivator, nobody doubted.


    After all, Lin Yanjiao was practicing the complementary cultivation technique, and Illusion Techniques were mere trivial matters to her.


    People were even curious about what Minor Divine Ability Lin Yanjiao would awaken.


    Under Lin Zewen''s management, the Lin Family is now focusing on developing Lianyun Island and searching for some Profound Rank and Yellow Rank Secret Realms.

 Chapter 907 - 543: Nascent Transformation Pill Recipe, Seclusion (Combined Part 2)_2

    Also explore for veins of ore.


    This time, the death of the four great Flood Dragon kings of the Flood Dragon Clan led to a significant retreat of Demonic Beasts, to the extent that human Cultivators have even begun to establish marketplaces on the previously Crimson Flood Dragon Island.


    Many Cultivators made a fortune, of course, a large part of these profits, through the Transmission Formation and the marketplaces of Jiuyue Island, fell into the hands of the Lin Family.


    As for the power of Red Leaf Island on Jiuyue Island, practically as soon as Red Leaf True Person returned from Coral Island, he withdrew.


    The Lin Family''s Soul Summoning Sword wielders numbered five, at this time, they were no longer deemed mere guardians.


    This clearly was the Lin Family''s foundation.


    With so many Golden Core combatants, whether it''s to curry favor or to save resources for Red Leaf Island, it''s worth the effort.


    Aside from Red Leaf Island, the forces from Nine Dragon Island also gradually retreated, leaving only one Purple Mansion Cultivator to oversee the guild on Jiuyue Island.


    Knowing the Lin Family had so many Golden Core fighters, even with knowledge of the Lin Family''s Golden Dragon Fruit Tree, he would not dare act like before.


    Thus, the Lin Family''s actions now need not be as restrained as before.


    The number of Guest Elders and Cultivators marrying into the family also increased, to which the Lin Family welcomed all comers, with Illusionary Heart Pavilion''s presence, internal betrayal was nearly impossible.


    Unless they do not ascend to Shuangmu Island, and not ascending to Shuangmu Island has only a pitifully small impact on the Lin Family.


    After spending several pleasant days on Shuangmu Island, Lin Shiming began preparing for seclusion.


    It has been four to five decades since his breakthrough to the Golden Core Early Stage, so advancing to the Golden Core Middle Stage is not abrupt at this moment.


    Especially now that the Lin Family''s Spiritual Energy is rich, with five lines of Fifth Rank Spirit Veins, his confidence is greatly bolstered.


    He took out a Sword Talisman, only to see that within the Sword Talisman was an invitation from Heavenly Sword True Person.


    The invitation was for the Lin Family to return to the Eastern Domain.


    Lin Shiming put the Sword Talisman away again.


    He will return to the Eastern Domain, but not now!


    The territory of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the Cultivation World''s Chu Country right now is no place for the benevolent.


    Given the madness of Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators, they probably wouldn''t hesitate to utterly wreak havoc.


    One could even flee to the Eastern Sea!


    But if the Lin Family went, they would not only gain no advantage but also have to bear the risk of resisting the Eastern Sea!


    Once he breaks through to the Golden Core Middle Stage and his own strength is assured, he will return.


    With this thought, Lin Shiming made his way towards the Spirit Talisman Pavilion!


    The Spirit Talisman Pavilion was established atop the Five Flame Peak, situated midway up the mountain, and at this moment, it was magnificent.


    And a continuous stream of Spiritual Energy surged towards the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.


    The Cultivator guarding the Spirit Talisman Pavilion was Yu Jing. Now having broken through to Purple Mansion, while Lin Shijin was in seclusion and on the verge of a breakthrough.


    "Seventh Brother!" Although Yu Jing was quite a bit older than Lin Shiming, because she was united in marriage with Lin Shijin, she now had to call Lin Shiming Seventh Brother.


    She was quite grateful to Lin Shiming as well.


    "Prepare well, your enemy''s complete downfall is not far away!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    This time with Tianzhao Sect assaulting Coral Island, the Coral Alliance and Tianzhao Sect are bound to clash.


    And Lin Shiming could not extricate himself from it, but it could be an opportunity to visit the Taiqian Abyss to take a look, and by the way, help Yu Jing with her revenge.


    "Seventh Brother, Yu Jing can wait for her husband. With our strength and Spirit Talismans, there''s no need for Seventh Brother''s assistance," Yu Jing confidently said.


    Previously, Lin Shiming had confirmed with her that vengeance must be sought by oneself.


    She certainly had not forgotten.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming was quite satisfied with Yu Jing, but he didn''t explain further.


    As long as one could achieve this extent, the Lin Family naturally wouldn''t be stingy, even if it meant playing the villain once.


    In the world of Immortal Cultivation, what''s right and wrong all comes down to one word - conflict.


    "Take me to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion to have a look!" Lin Shiming said.


    Yu Jing nodded her head, leading Lin Shiming into the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.


    The Spirit Talisman Pavilion is a half-embedded in the mountainside and half-external palace.


    Thus after walking down a long corridor, a vast hall appeared before them!


    This hall was somewhat similar to the Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens of Yu Jing''s family in the Taiqian Abyss.


    And to Lin Shiming''s satisfaction, the interior was adorned with the symbols of the Lin Family. Spirit Talisman runes, genealogy, ancestral teachings, naming generation characters, all lined the walls.


    "Mom, I''ve crafted a Supreme Grade Third Rank Spirit Talisman, quickly give me a break, I want to go on an adventure, even my grandnephew has gone to the seas around Jiuyue Island to gain experience!" echoed a delightful female voice from within the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.


    Yu Jing''s face instantly turned pale.


    And Lin Shiming also saw a female cultivator resembling Lin Shijin walking out!


    She wore a red robe, with exquisite features, a slender and tall figure, yet she carried a somewhat casual and carefree demeanor.


    "Seventh Uncle!" Upon seeing Lin Shiming, she quickly composed herself.


    Lin Zehong possessed a Dual Spirit Root, and her talent for talisman creation was almost a perfect inheritance, making her the Lin Family''s future hope in the way of the Spirit Talisman!


    However, Lin Zehong did not like creating talismans, nor did she enjoy cultivation; she only loved slaying Demonic Beasts and exterminating demons!


    The greatest drive in her cultivation was not wanting to be outdone by Lin Changxing.


    Lin Changxing was a Water Spirit Root cultivator in the Lin Family, and after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, he began his life''s experiences and trials.


    This naturally filled Lin Zehong with envy.


    "Zehong is doing quite well; she has the same spirit as your father did!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile.


    Reaching the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in his fifties, he was considered a small genius within the Lin Family.


    "Seventh Uncle, you''ve come just in time. You tell my mom, she clearly promised me that after I''ve crafted a third-rank Supreme Grade Spirit Talisman, she would let me go out, and now my grandnephew is about to become number one on the Foundation Establishment Demonic Slayers list!" Lin Zehong suddenly remembered something and hurriedly spoke, snitching.


    At this, Lin Shiming could only respond with a wry smile.


    "This matter is out of Seventh Uncle''s control, you have to discuss it with your mother!" Lin Shiming shook his head, indeed pulling out a third-rank Supreme Grade Magic Artifact.


    "Let''s consider this Red Thousand Silk as a gift from your Seventh Uncle!" Lin Shiming said with a smile.


    Lin Zehao was also exceptionally delighted.


    With an additional treasure, she could slay even more Demonic Beasts.


    The treasures bestowed by Lin Shiming were naturally not ordinary Magic Artifacts.


    "You should thank your Seventh Uncle!" Yu Jing suddenly glared.


    "Thank you, Seventh Uncle!"


    Lin Shiming nodded, feeling somewhat gratified, but he still remembered the purpose of his visit. He entered the highest cave abode, and inside, there was indeed a table!


    And on the table lay the Gathering Immortal Talisman!


    The great formation of Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens was much stronger than that of Taiqian Abyss.


    Therefore, the Gathering Immortal Talisman was even more suffused with Spirit Light.


    It could almost momentarily elevate the fifth-rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein inside the cave to a fifth-rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein!


    With this, his breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage was almost certain!


    Lin Shiming took the Gathering Immortal Talisman and also took another look at the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, then flew towards Thousand Wood Peak.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zehong was tugging at Yu Jing from behind.


    "Mom, when did Seventh Uncle break through to Foundation Establishment Late Stage?"


    "You should ask your father about that, but for sure faster than you, that''s the truth!" Yu Jing glared fiercely at Lin Zehong, then said with irritation.


    ...


    Inside the Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming sat quietly on a high platform, nearly two hundred years of ups and downs had left a trace of indifference on his face.


    And his previous impatience had completely vanished.


    He still habitually began cultivating the Kuimu Sword Canon!


    The Sword Pill within his body started to vigorously refine True Yuan, transforming it into the existence of Wood Attribute Sword Origin!


    His body also emitted a sharp Sword Qi!


    At this moment, his Sword Intent was still inwardly restrained.


    Once it reached a certain degree, he would ingest a few Spirit-Tempering Pills made from three-thousand-year-old Wood Attribute Spiritual Medicines to slowly catalyze the process!


    His aura suddenly intensified once more!


    True Yuan began to emit a faint roaring sound.


    Half a month later, as he opened his eyes, the Gathering Immortal Talisman in his hand finally flew out and landed on the fifth-rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein. In an instant, a terrifying storm of Spiritual Energy appeared, almost condensing into tangibility.


    Countless rays of Spiritual Energy fell, and the Spiritual Energy of the Spirit Vein began to climb from fifth-rank Inferior Grade to Intermediate Grade.


    Finally, it reached the level of fifth-rank Superior Grade.


    The rich Spiritual Energy made Lin Shiming''s cultivation even more swift!


    He immediately sat cross-legged and commenced his cultivation!


    The Kuimu Sword Canon automatically formed a small Sword Domain around him.


    Unbeknownst to Lin Shiming, the enhancement of the fifth-rank Spirit Vein was not only beneficial to him but also to the several Bloodline Reverted Flood Dragons in the Flood Dragon Nest.


    It also included Wang Jiao, which had taken root in the Poisonous Dragon Pond and consumed the Golden Dragon Fruit, showing signs of coming out of seclusion!

 Chapter 910 - 560: Hou Yuans Inner Demons, Jiuxiao Refines Treasures (Two in One)

    Within a cave dwelling, a figure in green robes sits cross-legged; behind him, countless spiritual glimmers cascade down, merging into his body.


    A massive force of divine soul slowly starts to gather.


    Yet the eyes of the figure at this moment appeared extraordinarily vacant and lost.


    In that instant, he clearly saw his younger self.


    Back then, he was full of youthful vigor, with sharp features. As a Third Spirit Root and the fastest cultivator in his family, he was intelligent from a young age and received meticulous nurturing from the previous Family Head.


    What he could not bear to look back upon, what he could never escape, was always Duan Ming Mountain.


    ...


    "Has the young master awoken?"


    "Where is this?" Lin Houyuan opened his eyes to see a gentle woman dressed in a red robe.


    This woman had a pair of indescribably beautiful eyes brimming with tenderness.


    "This is the Ye Estate on Duan Ming Mountain, quite safe. I saw the young master alone, fallen in the wilderness, concerned that an accident had befallen you, hence I took the liberty of bringing you back!"


    "My name is Ye Hongdou."


    "The red beans that grow in the southern lands and sprout a few branches come springtime."


    "And you, young master, what is your name?"


    "Hou Yuan, but I am no sort of young master."


    "A good name, suggesting heavy responsibilities and a long journey. Surely, your family holds you in high esteem!"


    "Does the young master need assistance in contacting anyone, need help...?"


    "Why are you crying, young master? Has Red Bean hurt you?"


    As Ye Hongdou was speaking, Lin Houyuan began to cry.


    "I remembered a happy moment," Lin Houyuan replied, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes.


    Through the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, he had visited this scene countless times.


    Initially, he was addicted to it, falling in love with Ye Hongdou, having a child, but due to family obligations, he returned to Fangmu Mountain.


    By the time he came back to Duan Ming Mountain, rebels had overrun it, Ye Hongdou''s life and death unknown, leaving behind only Lin Shiming, who silently lay under the bed, still in swaddling clothes.


    An unending cycle of repetition, an unending cycle of debts owed.


    Latterly, he could distinguish reality from illusion.


    Yet each time he thought he could let go, he found he never could.


    Ye Hongdou was very tender; her name was just like her, sweet enough to make one suffocate.


    He knew each time that it was an illusory realm, a phantasm.


    But a lifetime''s worth of debts, how could he possibly let go?


    "Red Bean, shall I take you to cultivate immortality? Let''s go to Fangmu Mountain, go cultivate!" Lin Houyuan suddenly said.


    The words he spoke shocked Ye Hongdou.


    Instantly, Lin Houyuan began to tell stories of cultivators, talking about the Lin Family and talking about the future.


    Speaking to this point, he felt much more at ease.


    Ye Hongdou listened with a smile, even though her face was full of disbelief, she still listened with a smile, that gentle smile lingering on her lips.


    Lin Houyuan wanted to explain further.


    It was just that the scene vanished. When it reappeared...


    Flames soared to the sky, tragic cries echoed, pavilions collapsed, and the ground was stained with fresh blood and corpses.


    As Lin Houyuan stepped into the pavilion, the scene that haunted his memories countless times reappeared. Ye Hongdou''s eyes, like watery pools, were wide open, her fingers pointing under the bed, as if telling him there was a baby there.


    The bedding was soaked with blood, and beneath the bed, a baby lay silent without a cry.


    Lin Houyuan picked up the baby, anger in his heart. He resented why the illusion couldn''t provide an ending at Fangmu Mountain, even just to show Ye Hongdou the mountains of Fangmu Mountain, show her the lotus pond of Fangmu Mountain.


    But seeing the state Ye Hongdou was in, he suppressed his anger again.


    Holding the baby, he moved to the side:


    "Red Bean, you don''t know how outstanding your son is, he became a Golden Core True Person, living for a thousand years. He found a gentle maiden just like you, and they had a son whose eyes very much resemble yours..." Lin Houyuan spoke with a tenderness he had never had in this life.


    Two clear tears ran down his cheeks.


    "Only, I can''t talk to you any longer, I need to take care of our grandson..." Lin Houyuan continued speaking.


    The illusion vanished, and he reappeared in a pavilion. Before him stood Lin Shiming, behind were his own past moments.


    Lin Shiming had already achieved Golden Core status, while he remained at the Foundation Establishment stage.


    "Father, why didn''t you bring mother to the mountain that day, leaving me without a mother since childhood?"


    "If you cherish mother so much, why fear the divide between immortals and mortals? You could have taken her to Fangmu Mountain; none of this would have happened!"


    "Today, you are unworthy to be my father!" Lin Shiming said with resounding, angry force.


    Lin Houyuan''s pain was heart-wrenching, this very scene before him was the Heart Demon he truly couldn''t let go of, couldn''t overcome. But at this moment, he suddenly remembered Lin Zeying, remembered Ye Hongdou''s pair of eyes.


    "Shiming, I went to see your mother. She repeatedly entrusted me to take good care of Zeying. You surely have no time on normal days, so today, whether you scold or hate, is fine!"


    "Today, I must break through the Purple Mansion!" Lin Houyuan declared.


    As he watched the illusion shatter one step at a time, he returned to the cave dwelling on Qinglian Peak.


    And his divine soul had already coalesced into greatness, having realized the Purple Mansion.


    But the clear tears at the corner of his eyes were still not dried.


    He stood up and looked outside.


    There was his family, his son, and even more so, his grandson!


    Lin Houyuan had broken through.


    ...


    And almost at the moment Lin Houyuan made his breakthrough, Lin Yanjiao also took her step forward.


    Looking at Lin Shiming before her, her mind was filled with the words of others, claiming she could never surpass Lin Shiming.


    But she just shook her head disdainfully.


    "Why should I surpass Seventh Great-Uncle? Both of us are protectors of the family''s path, and in this path, I am not the slightest bit weaker!" Lin Yanjiao spoke and stepped forward, breaking through.


    At the same moment, her eyes sparked with spirit light; as she gazed at the wooden table, she saw its past, once just a tree growing in the wilderness.

 Chapter 911 - 560: Hou Yuans Inner Demons, Jiuxiao Refines Treasures (Two in One)_2

    Having weathered countless years of wind and rain,


    She gazed upon the cave dwelling, and also saw the appearance of the attic that the Lin Family had once built.


    And in the sky, dark clouds began to gather, a heavy atmosphere pressing down towards her.


    "Is this my Minor Divine Ability?" Lin Yanjiao murmured to herself, feeling the power within her eyes.


    She then leaped forward with a single step.


    "Yanjiao, enter the formation!" Lin Shiming instructed.


    Thunder Tribulation cannot involve outsiders; otherwise, the more one tries to cross, the more violent it becomes.


    The Cultivators who attempt to help are all in danger.


    However, fortunately, Cultivators can use Magic Artifacts and Formations.


    With the Lin Family''s Fifth Rank Formation in place, the Thunder Tribulation that Lin Yanjiao was to cross naturally posed no difficulty.


    When Lin Shiming faced his Tribulation, it was difficult precisely because the Lin Family didn''t even have an Inferior Grade Fourth Rank Formation at that time.


    Thunder Tribulation comes quickly and leaves just as fast; soon, the Thunder Tribulation Pool appeared.


    And the beast tide on the distant islands had also been suppressed by the Lin Family, not even a few Purple Mansion Cultivators had emerged.


    The century beast tide ended a few years ago; due to scorched earth tactics, not many Demonic Beasts remained.


    Thus, the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment Cultivators could handle it completely.


    "Congratulations to father, and also congratulations to Yanjiao!"


    Lin Houyuan and Lin Yanjiao both flew up into the void; this time, Lin Houyuan directly took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming was very puzzled by this, but after looking at it, he finally understood why his father had not been able to make a breakthrough despite numerous visits to the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Now, nearly all the failed breakthroughs in the Lin Family were due to not overcoming their Heart Demon; there were no issues with the condensation of the Divine Soul or Taoist Meridians.


    The Lin Family currently had no shortage of such treasures.


    "Father, when you come out of seclusion, let''s go pay respects to mother together with Zeying!" Lin Shiming spoke, not expecting such a truth to exist.


    As for holding grudges, there was no room for that; he had never met Ye Hongdou and was already at Fangmu Mountain when he crossed over.


    It was the Lin Family that gave him the feeling of having a home.


    And indeed, the difference between immortals and Mortals is a regrettable matter.


    In this age, Mortals who can live past eighty without diseases or disasters are in the minority.


    However, even the weakest Qi Cultivator can live to be over one hundred and ten.


    "Congratulations to Houyuan and Yanjiao!" Lin Xianzhi and others nearby also came forward.


    The sounds of celebration continued unabated.


    "Zewen, in next year''s Immortal Ascension Assembly, arrange a clan meeting!" Lin Xianzhi said.


    Lin Zewen nodded repeatedly.


    Indeed, due to successive beast tides, the Lin Family had hidden many trump cards.


    But now, for the sake of the family''s development, these trump cards were no longer needed.


    As for how many Purple Mansion Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators the family currently had, he really wasn''t sure.


    Eventually, others quickly dispersed, leaving only Lin Yanjiao and Lin Shiming behind.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, my Minor Divine Ability should be the Dharma Eye of Rebirth. It can discern some past events of Cultivators and create painful illusions!" Lin Yanjiao said.


    Since it hadn''t been tested yet, she wasn''t particularly confident about it.


    "But Seventh Great-Uncle, I always feel that the power of this Minor Divine Ability seems different from Spiritual Power; it''s like a separate variant of magical power."


    "Indeed, perhaps on other pages, there are Cultivators who specialize in cultivating Divine Skills!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    As for Minor Divine Abilities, he also couldn''t fully understand them.


    "Here is some of my understanding of Minor Divine Abilities, take a look!" Lin Shiming nodded, taking out a Jade Slip.


    Lin Yanjiao was instantly overjoyed.


    After Lin Yanjiao left, Lin Shiming also headed towards Thousand Trees Mountain, and there, in front of their cave dwelling, Lin Shitao stood with a young boy by her side, gazing at him.


    The boy''s appearance was very familiar to him, feeling like looking at a younger version of himself, ineffable and indescribable.


    Of course, there were differences, such as the ears, which seemed more like Lin Shitao''s.


    "Zeying, quickly call your father!" Lin Shitao said, pulling on Lin Zeying.


    "Father!" Lin Zeying called out repeatedly.


    "Not bad, sturdy enough!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    "Father, when can I start cultivating to become an immortal?"


    "Also, mother said that as long as I have a Spirit Root, I can have the Ze Ying Sword." Lin Zeying, like a child full of questions, kept asking.


    Lin Shiming was extremely patient and answered each one.


    "Wait until next year!"


    Generally, one must be nine years old to test for a Spirit Root. At this moment, the rudimentary build of the root bone is forming, and although it''s not impossible to test before nine, it could easily damage the Spirit Root.


    "However, even if you can only begin cultivation next year, your daily training must not lessen!" Lin Shiming said, his face filled with sternness.


    He then took out some mundane martial arts and began teaching Lin Zeying, and he could also start to impart some common knowledge about spiritual medicines and immortal cultivation.


    This would let Lin Zeying get ahead of his peers who are cultivators.


    He now also understood why Lin Houyuan was so strict with him back then.


    In the days that followed, Lin Shiming did not cultivate, choosing instead to accompany Lin Shitao. This warm scene, in turn, made Lin Shitao extremely satisfied.


    It even seemed to improve her state of mind quite a bit, and she even showed signs of a potential breakthrough,


    This made Lin Shiming eagerly push Lin Shitao to advance.


    Lin Shitao wanted to wait another year, to know about Lin Zeying''s Spirit Root, but unable to withstand Lin Shiming''s persuasions, she finally went into seclusion.


    In the days that followed, Lin Shiming also often took Lin Zeying to the family''s Preaching Hall.


    Here, Lin Zeying would not normally have been allowed, but Lin Shiming was frequently giving lectures in the Preaching Hall at this time.


    Lin Zeying followed alongside, not listening to the knowledge of cultivation techniques and spells that Lin Shiming did not permit him to, only acquainting himself with the family and getting to know more of the Lin Family''s younger generation. In this way, he was not breaking the Lin Family''s rules.


    But it did allow Lin Zeying to better understand the world of immortal cultivation.


    And to everyone there, the youngest of their generation yet the one with the highest seniority was quite beloved.


    After all, Lin Zeying had inherited Lin Shiming''s humility.


    Lin Shiming''s frequent appearances in the Preaching Hall also made it increasingly crowded, with many Qi Cultivators in the mid and late stages coming to listen.


    If it weren''t for the rules of the Preaching Hall, perhaps even Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Purple Mansion Cultivators would have come in great numbers.


    Today, Lin Shiming was still giving a lecture in the Preaching Hall. But at that moment, a Sound Transmission Talisman was sent over.


    Lin Shiming flew over to one side.


    At last, he landed in front of Jiuxiao True Person''s cave dwelling.


    There he saw the latter holding a Spirit Boat in his hands, full of excitement.


    "Shiming, I''ve successfully refined the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship!" Jiuxiao True Person began.


    Lin Shiming was also somewhat excited and took the treasure ship, seeing that although it was only the size of an arm, once spiritual power was input, it could grow to a hundred zhang in size, comparable to an island.


    In the future, with this Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship,


    The Lin Family, even if struck by a great calamity, would be like the former Qingxuan Sect, having a way out.


    And with the War Treasure Ship, the Lin Family''s mission to take over the territories of the Heavenly Demon Sect wouldn''t suffer from cultivators of varying speeds.


    And the treasure ship itself was equivalent to the strength of a Golden Core cultivator.


    "Jiuxiao Elder, this is an occasion to celebrate. Let''s find a place to have a good drink!" Lin Shiming inspected it and found it identical to the War Treasure Ship he had purchased, even better in certain aspects.


    After all, when True Person Heavenly Sword gave Lin Shiming the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship, he didn''t say it was new; this treasure ship had naturally been used by the Qingxuan Sect quite a few times.


    "Shiming, not so fast, take a look at this treasure!" Jiuxiao True Person smiled and spoke again.


    In his hand appeared an ink green umbrella,


    It was the earlier mentioned Eternal Night Umbrella, made from the hide of a Five-Colored Crocodile Dragon.


    Previously it was a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Magic Artifact, but its concealment effect was such that many True Persons could not detect it.


    The Eternal Night Umbrella was now evidently an Inferior Grade Fifth Rank Magic Artifact!


    Its concealment effect reached a point where many Golden Core Late Stage cultivators could not detect it.


    Of course, it required being still and holding one''s breath; otherwise, the effect was somewhat reduced, but it was still extremely valuable.


    Clearly, passing on the Fifth Rank Artifact Refining legacy to Jiuxiao True Person before his seclusion was the right decision.


    Seeing Lin Shiming''s face filled with smiles, Jiuxiao True Person once again produced a Storage Bag.

 Chapter 912 - 561: Heavenly Domain Disk, Ziyang Spiritual Body (Two-in-One)

    Watching Jiuxiao True Person fumbling with his Storage Bag, it was evident that there were more treasures to be revealed, treasures that couldn''t possibly have been seized, thus more likely forged by Jiuxiao True Person himself.


    Sure enough, this time, Jiuxiao True Person pulled out an extremely small spirit disk.


    The disk was jet black and shiny, yet inside, it looked like an ink painting, marked with many strokes of black ink.


    Upon closer inspection, they resembled tiny tadpoles from the mortal world, and moreover, they were constantly squirming, which was quite marvelous.


    "Shiming, take a look at this treasure, I''ve named it the Heavenly Domain Disk," said Jiuxiao True Person.


    This Heavenly Domain Disk was evidently made from the bizarre skin of the Demon King leech ¨C a material that even Lin Shiming had found somewhat incomprehensible, resembling as if it were a Minor Divine Ability that had shed its old self.


    But without doubt, the material was extremely precious, akin to the Tai Qian Shark skin he had previously obtained from the Taiqian Abyss.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming hesitated slightly. When he took the Heavenly Domain Disk, he saw a myriad of spirit shadows within.


    These spirit shadows were very difficult to detect with Divine Sense, but they could be released.


    "Can this treasure create innumerable clones just like the leech Demon King?" Lin Shiming quickly grasped the functionality of the Heavenly Domain Disk.


    Jiuxiao True Person nodded.


    "It could be comparable to the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation, but what''s more powerful than the Soul Locking Great Formation is that it cannot be detected by Cultivators'' Divine Sense. It can only be discovered through direct line of sight. If it''s hidden at the bottom of the sea, only those Cultivators who have cultivated the Dharma Eye will be able to detect it," Jiuxiao True Person explained.


    This treasure almost replicated the Demon King leech''s ability to monitor through its clones.


    Of course, it also had its flaws, lacking the Soul Locking Great Formation''s function to remove cloaking, thus if there was anything invisible, the Heavenly Domain Disk would have difficulties detecting it.


    But so long as this treasure remains unknown to others, it is certainly a highly valuable secret treasure.


    Lin Shiming was extremely delighted with this treasure, which could prove unimaginable whether it was used for monitoring around Shuangmu Island or future treasure hunting.


    Especially when venturing into the Yunzhong Realm''s Secret Realm, it would unquestionably be of great use.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, you have made significant achievements this time!" Lin Shiming expressed his joy with praise.


    "It''s all thanks to the Lin Family''s Fifth Rank Artifact Refining legacy, many of the Formation Patterns within were beyond my prior experiences," Jiuxiao True Person said, shaking his head and not taking sole credit for the achievement.


    His Gold Condensation Pill and legacy were all given by the Lin Family.


    Indeed, he owed the Lin Family too many Contribution Points, an amount that an ordinary family wouldn''t easily extend to a Guest Elder.


    Without the Lin Family''s legacy, had he been left to his own devices, he wouldn''t have known how long it would take him to figure it out.


    In the end, it was he who benefited from the legacy.


    "Shiming, the research on the Thousand Beasts Tower is also mostly complete. It''s primarily lacking several materials, as well as numerous beast souls, but I estimate it can be refined in another decade!" Jiuxiao True Person added.


    The Thousand Beasts Tower is a Superior Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure, much more difficult to refine compared to other treasures.


    And what Jiuxiao True Person meant was that he was also capable of refining it.


    This came as a surprise to Lin Shiming.


    "The family''s Formation Artifact Manual is an extraordinary legacy, and there''s also the family''s Artifact Refining Charms which can enhance artifact refining," Jiuxiao True Person said with a wry smile, seeming to discern Lin Shiming''s confusion.


    Although the Formation Artifact Manual required a lot of effort and was hard to replenish, after Jiuxiao True Person''s breakthrough to Golden Core, his lifespan reached a thousand years, which made facing the consumption from the manual manageable.


    He also knew that the current Lin Family hadn''t yet firmly established its foothold.


    The true situation would only be evident after Xue Shan True Monarch concluded the Nascent Soul convention.


    You must know, it''s the Nascent Soul convention that''s the most crucial. As for the promises given before by Xue Shan True Monarch, they''re supposed to remain unchanged, but currently, there''s only one Nascent Soul True Monarch.


    The specifics are yet to be known.


    After all, this world ultimately still respects power above all else.


    Subsequently, Lin Shiming and Jiuxiao True Person drank some Spiritual Wine together; it had been a long time since both had indulged, and they were both somewhat longing for it.


    Moreover, drinking on Shuangmu Island is different from drinking in the Eastern Domain; the mood is different, and so is the drinking experience.


    For the two Golden Core cultivators at this moment, their hearts naturally overflowed with heroic spirits.


    Gazing at the ocean, they felt as if they could swallow Liu He and sweep across the vastness of all lands.


    ...


    Time slowly passed, and another year went by.


    The square on Shuangmu Island was once again bustling with activity.


    Countless Cultivators were organizing the event, and numerous mortals in coarse clothing were accompanied by a variety of children with different expressions.


    Some were nervous, some were bold, some were yearning, and some were fearful.


    For Mortals, the Immortal Cultivation convention is an opportunity to defy fate and change one''s destiny.


    If a Cultivator emerges, it greatly elevates the status of their siblings and parents.


    Nowadays, the number of Mortals in the Lin Family has surpassed a million across a dozen nearby islands.


    The Lin Family''s reward and compensation policy for Cultivators is in place, and corresponding benefits are also provided for Mortals.


    As for the land and food, the Lin Family is certainly not short on territory; what is needed is sufficient Cultivators to protect those territories and ward off attacks from Demonic Beasts.


    This time, the number of children being tested had reached a staggering seven thousand.


    Of course, this was the result of the Lin Family''s restraint over the past decade, considering the potential beast tide they might have faced.


    The next Immortal Cultivation convention is expected to see even greater numbers.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also understood the feelings of the Mortals below, as beside him stood a youth that reached his shoulders.


    The youth had a boyish face mixed with nervousness.


    If he were just any Mortal being tested, it would be fine, but he was the son of Lin Shiming, the Lin Family''s cultivator with the highest Cultivation Level, and one can imagine the pressure that entailed.


    Even though it was known that he might possess a Spiritual Body, having a Spirit Root and a Spiritual Body weren''t necessarily connected.

 Chapter 913 - 561 Heavenly Domain Disc, Ziyang Spiritual Body (Two in One)_2

    Today''s host is Lin Zewen, but nearly all the Lin Family elders, both major and minor, have arrived.


    From the Xian generation, Lin Xianzhi is the only surviving elder while from the Hou generation, the survivors are Lin Houyuan, Lin Houshou, Lin Houwei, Lin Houxuan, and Lin Houfei.


    There are slightly more from the Shi generation, but the members of today''s Shi generation are almost around two hundred years old, each showing signs of aging.


    All eyes are focused on one person, truly one, Lin Zeying, who has held a generational name since birth.


    "Today''s Ascension Conference begins, all Spirit Testing Platforms, begin spirit testing!" Lin Zewen cleared his throat and spoke loudly.


    Immediately following this, numerous streaks of spiritual light ascended into the sky, and visions of flood dragons and Lei Pengs appeared, captivating the attention of all children for a time.


    And for the Lin Family''s spirit testing conference this time, it''s not just one Spirit Testing Platform, but thirty platforms conducting tests simultaneously. Nonetheless so, due to the large number of children needing testing, each platform must perform two hundred tests.


    "Father." Lin Zeying appeared slightly nervous, unwittingly clenching his teeth.


    "Just relax, either way, your father believes in you!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    Although Lin Shiming usually puts pressure on Lin Zeying, he naturally wouldn''t at a time like this.


    As the Spirit Testing Conference began, spirits lights also started appearing continuously.


    "No Spirit Light, no affinity with immortality, next!"


    "A foot of Spirit Light, has affinity with immortality, Quintuple Spirit Root!"


    "A Zhang of Spirit Light, a Third Spirit Root!"


    ...


    With each announcement, everyone''s attention shifted towards the Spirit Testing Platforms, which included many family cultivators.


    Although most participants this time are mortal children, there are still seven hundred descendants of the family''s cultivators.


    The Lin Family promoted Turtle Spirit Coconuts naturally first within the family, and those who wished to earn their keep are exerting all effort, contributing their distinct strength to the family.


    "Two Zhang of Spirit Light, has affinity with immortality, dual Fire and Wood Spirit Roots!"


    As time passed, a timid little girl was detected to have Dual Spirit Roots, and fittingly, as standard Artifact Refiners and Alchemists.


    This indeed delighted the investigating cultivator.


    And such scenes continued to unfold.


    While many cultivators paid attention, Lin Shiming''s gaze went towards Lin Zeying, who was now in line.


    Even though others didn''t want Lin Zeying to queue, Lin Shiming still insisted on abiding by the family rules.


    If he, leveraging his cultivation level, were to disregard it, would other descendants of the Golden Core cultivators also start to disregard it?


    Or even other Purple Mansion cultivators.


    It sets a precedent.


    By the time Lin Zeying was checked, five Dual Spirit Roots had been detected, including Gold and Wood Dual Spirit Roots, and Fire and Earth Dual Spirit Roots.


    And these mortal advancements still use the long generational titles.


    "Uncle Zeying, please place your hands here!" The Yi generation cultivator, who was younger than Lin Zeying by a generation, was testing Lin Zeying.


    Even though the latter called out, there was no feeling of inconsistency. This is the birth of a vision, the scion of one of the only two Golden Core True People in the Lin Family.


    Lin Zeying nodded, placing his hands on the Spirit Testing Platform. In the next moment, dazzling spiritual light exploded forth like a tide of spiritual energy.


    This spiritual light was a deep red color.


    And just one color.


    "One Zhang, two Zhang..."


    "Ten Zhang!"


    "Fire Spirit Root!" The testing cultivator''s face flushed with excitement, overwhelmed!


    This also meant that the Lin Family had a second Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator; the first one being Lin Changxing.


    Now in his thirties, he is already at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, almost reaching the Late Stage.


    The cultivation speed of a Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator is simply too fast in the early stages.


    If the absorption efficiency of Quintuple Spirit Root cultivators is marked as one, then the Four Spirit Roots would be five, Three Spirit Roots ten, Dual Spirit Roots fifty, and a single attribute Heavenly Spirit Root definitely two hundred.


    Given no accidents, Golden Core is almost assured.


    With sufficient opportunities, even Nascent Soul is possible, such favor from the heavens, even the Heart Demons are much weaker.


    "This vision!"


    And yet, the surprise of the crowd had not fully unfolded when they saw the Spirit Light begin to transform into various extraordinary visions.


    These visions depicted a crimson Purple Mansion Temple.


    "A Purple Yang Physique!"


    The knowledgeable Lin Xianzhi was the first to exclaim!


    The Purple Yang Physique, even as documented in the records of the Southern Sea Cultivation World, ranks among the top five, considered one of the finest Spiritual Bodies and especially potent against Demon Cultivators and the Blood Cultivation Sect.


    The minor divine ability of the Purple Yang Physique is none other than the Purple Yang Spiritual Fire.


    This Purple Yang Spiritual Fire is said to be born from Heavenly Thunder, belonging to the purest flames between heaven and earth.


    "This elder declares, Zeying will be part of Lin Family''s Dragon Son Plan, receiving five times the usual emolument, and also listed as a candidate for the future Family Head!" Lin Xianzhi announced.


    Being the senior-most member of the Lin Family, not even Lin Shiming could refute him at this moment or at this venue.


    "Additionally, all that has been seen and heard today must not be disclosed!" Lin Xianzhi spoke again.


    He then transmitted a message to Lin Zewen.


    "For family cultivators, record today''s events as a forbidden formation in the Family Jade Book, and as for mortals, arrange for cultivators to erase their memories!" Lin Xianzhi said.


    Although the Lin Family is now a Golden Core Family, their power is incomparable to before.


    However, the greatest threat of rogue cultivation power still stems from the Blood Cultivation Sect, and its intimidation remains significant.


    The Lin Family would rather not take this risk if possible.


    As for the time delay for some cultivators, let it be delayed.


    Lin Zewen nodded, as Lin Shiming and the top family elders indeed began to vanish.


    Afterwards, they had no more expectations.


    Sure enough, during this last ascension conference, there emerged only one Heavenly Spirit Root with an innate spiritual body, seven Dual Spirit Roots, eighty Third Spirit Roots, and one hundred fifty Fourth Spirit Roots.


    Heavenly Spirit Roots and excellent Spiritual Roots are very rare.


    Even though the Lin Family tested almost four hundred Spirit Root Cultivators this time, they only found one Heavenly Spirit Root.


    Of course, for the Lin Family, this one Heavenly Spirit Root could outweigh everyone else.


    Moreover, unlike Lin Changxing who could only cultivate his combat strength and cultivation level, Lin Zeying could be trained in both alchemy and artifact refining.


    Furthermore, Jiuxiao True Person is the best Fifth Rank Artifact Refiner, and Lin Shitao is a Fifth Rank Inferior Grade Alchemist.


    This advantage is too significant.


    Lin Shiming took Lin Zeying to the ancestral shrine; although Lin Zeying had earned a rank in the family, visiting the ancestral shrine and the Family Jade Book was essential.


    All the Lin Family elders followed.


    In their view, it was also important to properly worship some of the Lin family ancestors.


    Let them continue to protect the prosperity of the Lin Family.


    This time, the ancestor worship lasted half a day, with every family member taking their turn to pay respects.


    Lin Shiming also made a special offering, informing ancestors like Lin Yuqing, Lin Yutie, and Lin Houyong of the good news.


    During the proceedings, nearly all the elders presented Lin Zeying with a gift.


    Some were Magic Artifacts, others were Spirit Talismans and Spirit Pills, and some even gave Magical Treasures!


    Lin Shiming wanted to refuse, but was simultaneously glared at by Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan.


    In their view, such a jubilant occasion could not go without gift-giving.


    For such an outstanding descendant, having more valuable gifts wasn''t an issue. In fact, if they possessed a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure, they''d be willing to gift that as well.


    After all, in their eyes, it was only a matter of time before Lin Zeying cultivated to Golden Core.


    By the time they returned to Thousand Wood Peak, the sky had already darkened, leaving only a faint red afterglow deep in the sea.


    "Zeying, even though you have received supreme honors today, you must understand, all respect is earned through strength. You may not understand now, but you must learn it slowly!" Lin Shiming watched as Lin Zeying''s face relaxed significantly, his eyes and brows lifted, and thus he began to instruct.


    Indeed, Lin Zeying had experienced much today, from initial tensions to later fulfilling expectations, astonishing everyone, and receiving countless compliments and gifts from family elders.


    Such experiences are indeed in need of more guidance for a child just over nine years old.


    He didn''t expect Zeying to understand all at once, similar to Lin Zekong, who may initially have other thoughts due to surrounding admiration and flattery,µ«Ö»ÒªÄܼ°Ê±¸ÄÕý¶¼²»Íí(detail missed in translation).


    After all, for cultivators, ten years is just a matter of a retreat.


    "From today, I will supervise your cultivation of the Fiery Firmament True Scripture, a cultivation technique that your mother is also practicing!" Lin Shiming then took out a Jade Slip and started guiding Lin Zeying in his cultivation.

 Chapter 914 - 562: Clan Celebration Ceremony

    A wisp of purple dawn emerged from the sea''s horizon, and Shuangmu Island was now bustling with excitement.


    Today is the Lin Family''s clan gathering, as well as the Golden Core and Purple Mansion Ceremonies.


    However, today''s protagonist of the Golden Core Ceremony is Wang Jiao.


    As for the Purple Mansion Ceremony, there are quite a few protagonists, including those who made breakthroughs to Purple Mansion in the recent three years, such as Lin Shijin, Lin Shizhong, Lin Houfei, Lin Xianzhi, Lin Yanjiao, and another member of the ''Shi'' generation with a Third Spirit Root.


    The ceremony will not involve outsiders; the stated purpose for this gathering is a clan meeting.


    As for foreign spies, ever since Lin Shiming achieved his Golden Core, it has become difficult to find any spies on Shuangmu Island, not to mention the resounding reputation he and numerous Soul Summoning Swords built on Coral Island nine years ago.


    Spiritual glows constantly filled the sky, along with countless fireworks bursting forth.


    The Lin Family''s ancestral bell rang nine times in a row.


    This represents the family''s everlasting vitality and is a significant celebration.


    After breaking through to the Golden Core, Wang Jiao was also able to transform, but to Lin Shiming''s surprise, Wang Jiao took the form of a young man.


    Somehow similar to Lei Tong.


    Wang Jiao was known for his dominance within his Cave Heaven.


    But he ended up transforming into an elegant young man.


    Seeing the puzzled look on Lin Shiming''s face, Wang Jiao explained with his fingers,


    arguing that with a Golden Core''s lifespan of at least a thousand years, and as a Flood Dragon Demon King, his own lifespan was even three thousand years.


    Being just over a hundred years old, it was reasonable for him to take such a form.


    Lin Yanjiao and Lin Houyuan were also dressed in magnificent attire today.


    They were equally puzzled by Wang Jiao''s appearance, but fortunately, as senior members of the Lin family, they were very restrained and maintained neutral expressions.


    On this day, Wang Jiao, true to his nature, was enjoying the festival, tasting Spirit Fruits here, sipping Spiritual Wine there, and occasionally chewing on Superior Grade Spirit Stones taken from his Storage Bag.


    Seeing other Spirit Beasts of the Lin Family, he displayed contempt, which was particularly amusing.


    At the grand ceremony, many cultivators who had been stationed abroad were called back, including Lin Shimo from Heavenly Phenomenon Island, Lin Shiyi from Jiuyue Island, and Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng from Lianyun Island.


    Thanks to the widespread use of Transmission Formations, the Lin Family did not worry that anything would go wrong over these two days.


    By noon, spiritual glows in the sky intensified, and for this celebration, the Lin Family even brought in a Spirit Vein, upgrading it to generate a tide of Spiritual Energy.


    Of course, this energy tide was not particularly strong; it was more for symbolism.


    What followed was the gift-giving session, with today''s Wang Jiao grinning from ear to ear. He had his own private Storage Bag, and now it seemed too small to hold all the treasures.


    Even though Fourth Rank Magical Artifacts were of no use to him now, Wang Jiao''s desire to collect was just as strong.


    He accepted everything that was given.


    Lin Shiming also presented the Green Fish Sword to Wang Jiao, a Water Attribute Spirit Sword, to unleash its full might.


    As for Lin Shiming now, his Taiyi Grass Sword had finally reached the Fifth Rank level, and together with his Sword Intent, it was even stronger than an Intermediate Grade Flying Sword.


    "Thank you, Master!" Wang Jiao bowed to the others but flattered and ingratiated himself with Lin Shiming''s smile.


    In his view, none of the Magical Treasures here were as numerous as those of his master''s, and any single one was a treasure.


    Beyond Wang Jiao receiving gifts, the Purple Mansion Cultivators of the Lin Family also began to receive gifts.


    Wang Jiao immersed himself in the process, continuously taking out scales he had previously shed, definitely considered Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Magical Artifact materials.


    This made Lin Yanjiao and Lin Houyuan extremely happy.


    Among them, Lin Yanjiao was a Dual Spirit Root with a Heavenly Illusory Spiritual Body.


    She was now ready to refine Water Attribute Magical Treasures.


    After the gift exchange, it was time for a grand banquet.


    Countless treasured Spiritual Wines were brought out, along with exquisitely prepared spirit delicacies.


    Today''s Lin Family had Fifth Rank Spiritual Wine made from Amber Spirit Dew exchanged for Daughter''s Red, Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine including Sturgeon Dragon Liquor, Daughter''s Red, as well as four types of Liquor like Green-Red Willow and Bamboo Dew, and more than a dozen types of Third Rank Spiritual Wine like Monkey Wine and Red Valley Liquor.


    There was even less need to mention the Second Rank Spiritual Wine.


    For this celebration, the Lin Family had refrained from bringing out only the Fifth Rank Spiritual Wine.


    With spirit dishes, there were even more to choose from; with the recent tide of beasts, the Lin Family had stockpiled an abundance of Demonic Beast materials, including Fourth Rank birds, fish, wild beasts, Flood Dragons, all part of a vast mix.


    It also included the blood alligator, mysterious black fish, Red Spirit Fish, Xuan Ling turtle, and Green Shell Crab which the Lin Family had been raising for a long time.


    As for Spirit Fruits, the variety was countless.


    Lin Shiming also took out the Great Strength Fruit from the fruit tree.


    But since the fruit was limited, a few were given to members of the family with great potential.


    Among them, Lin Yanjiao received one, Lin Changxing received one, Lin Zeli received one, and Lin Shiyi also received one.


    When the banquet concluded, it was time for the lectures. Naturally, Wang Jiao was not the one to lecture, and even if he did, it was unlikely many would dare to listen.


    So, the lecturing was done by Lin Houyuan and Lin Shijin.


    ...


    Simultaneously during the lectures, at the peak of Qinglian Peak, in the pavilion beside the Spirit Lake,


    there were now forty-odd people present.


    All forty-odd were Purple Mansion Cultivators!


    Including Lin Shiming who''d never expected, that in the fifty years since his Golden Core breakthrough, the Lin Family would produce over thirty Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    Among them, Lin Shijie and the seven great-uncles like Lin Xianzhi were in the late stage of Purple Mansion, those in the middle stage included Lin Shimo, Lin Shitao, Lin Houshou, Lin Houwei, as well as Lin Shilei who rose later.


    The rest were newly advanced early-stage Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    "Great-uncle Seven, why don''t you start the lecture?" Lin Shiming turned towards Lin Xianzhi.


    "Shiming, your great-uncle is old now, the matters of the family should be arranged by you!" Lin Xianzhi shook his head. Though he was a senior family head and of an older generation,

 Chapter 915 - 562: Clan Gathering Celebration_2

    But the Lin Family''s highest combat power is still Lin Shiming.


    When Lin Shiming lets him speak, it shows his respect.


    Seeing Lin Xianzhi''s demeanor, Lin Shiming did not insist and looked around at everyone before speaking out loudly:


    "Now that there are too many Lin Family members, family clan meetings in the future will only be held by Purple Mansion cultivators to decide on family matters!"


    "Also, the head of each hall, including the Family Head, should now be held by Purple Mansion cultivators!"


    Lin Shiming first improved the family''s system once again.


    As the Lin Family is now a Golden Core Family, the minimum qualification for the Family Head is to be a Purple Mansion cultivator, which is a consensus in the Cultivation World.


    Even if he wanted to change this, there would be no way.


    Unless in the future Lin Family does not interact with other Golden Core families.


    Otherwise, if another family''s head is a Purple Mansion cultivator and yours is only at Foundation Establishment, both the experience and strength would be severely lacking.


    The same applies to each hall; without Purple Mansion strength, it would be difficult to command respect.


    In response to Lin Shiming''s new system, the rest of the Purple Mansion cultivators were surprised but then nodded in agreement.


    This promotion of policy was inevitable.


    "Alright, then I will announce the appointments. The Family Head is still Lin Yanjiao; the Alchemy Hall Master is Lin Houxuan; the Artifact Refining Hall Master is Lin Shizhong; the Formation Hall Master is Lin Zelu; the Spirit Talisman Hall Master is Lin Shijin; the Spirit Plant Hall Master is Lin Zekong; the Spirit Puppet Hall Master is Lin Zecheng; the Sword Hall Master is Lin Zeli; the Demon Hunting Hall Master is Lin Shilei; and the in charge of the Treasure Pavilion is Lin Houyuan!"


    As the appointments were announced, those named nodded their heads, understanding that by relying on the Purple Mansion Jade Liquid obtained through the family and the experience gained in the family''s Illusionary Heart Pavilion, it was natural for them to shoulder the family''s responsibilities.


    "The salary for each hall master will be double that of an ordinary Purple Mansion cultivator, and in addition, besides each hall, the family will also open Jiuyue Island, Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and Lianyun Island for residency, with island masters receiving double salaries as well."


    Previously, the Lin Family''s salary system only went up to the Foundation Establishment level, and once reaching Purple Mansion, the potential for cultivation was not significantly different, thus requiring a great deal more resources and salary.


    Except for truly gifted geniuses such as those with a Heavenly Spirit Root, who would otherwise all receive the same salary.


    So now, being a hall master or island master is certainly a benefit.


    "In addition, for each hall, an assessment system will be implemented by Yanjiao to choose the top three halls or islands that have shown the most progress, giving them an additional double reward!"


    Upon hearing this, everyone''s expressions changed.


    Such progress actually meant internal competition.


    In the past, this only applied to Qi Cultivators and Foundation Establishment family members.


    But now it was aimed at Purple Mansion family members.


    "Of course, this includes the strengths of the island masters. Those who are not island masters or heads of halls can also challenge for these positions. Island masters by strength, heads of halls by skill!"


    "In addition, every hall master and island master can choose two late-stage Foundation Establishment family members as deputies!" Lin Shiming finished speaking, and everyone hesitated.


    They naturally understood the policy.


    In essence, it was not much different from the past, but at present, it seems that Lin Shiming did not want these Purple Mansion cultivators to start slacking off after reaching Purple Mansion,


    Thinking that with five hundred years of lifespan, they could afford to relax.


    "Furthermore, those not listed here can compete based on strength for the top three of each Purple Mansion realm!"


    "They too can get an additional double the salary!"


    The salary system was swiftly decided upon, with no one objecting or needing to object.


    "Alright, now that the system is updated, Yanjiao, you should have reviewed it with Zewen, so please report the current situation of our family!"


    "Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Yanjiao nodded, then proceeded to report on the strength of the family cultivators.


    "Reporting to Seventh Great-Uncle, currently the family has two Golden Core True Persons, one Golden Core Demon King, forty-three Purple Mansion cultivators, eighty-eight Purple Mansion Great Demons and Spirit Beasts, four hundred eighty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and seventeen thousand three hundred Qi Cultivators!"


    "As for the family''s Spirit Roots, currently we have three individuals with Spiritual Bodies, two with Heavenly Spirit Root, six with Unique Spirit Roots, forty-eight with Dual Spirit Roots, and one thousand eight hundred with Third Spirit Roots!"


    "In terms of family assets, the family currently controls three trading Spirit Islands¡ªHeavenly Phenomenon Island, Jiuyue Island, and Lianyun Island, along with five resource Spirit Islands including Spirit Turtle Island, Undersea Dragon Palace, Hulu Island, Fangmu Island, and small worlds. In terms of Secret Realms, we have four Profound Grade Secret Realms and ten Yellow Grade Secret Realms."


    "In financial aspects of family resources, we have one small-size High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine, two Crimson Flame Crystal Mines, one Intermediate-Grade Spirit Stone Mine, three Low-Grade Spirit Stone Mines, and five Second-Rank Spirit Mines."


    "Regarding Spirit Beast resources, the family breeds a group of Water Spirit Shells, with six Fourth-Rank Water Spirit Shells, eighty Third-Rank Water Spirit Shells, and four hundred Second-Rank Water Spirit Shells."


    "One Blood Alligator group, one Xuan Ling Turtle group, one Sea Cloud Bird group, and one Spirit Snake group."


    "One Heavenly Sound Conch group with three Fourth-Rank Heavenly Sound Conches, plus one Algae Worm Spirit group."


    ...


    Lin Yanjiao listed them one by one.


    After Lin Yanjiao finished speaking, each division reported in turn.


    The reports from the Alchemy Hall, Artifact Refining Hall, Formation Hall, and Spirit Talisman Hall were much the same as what Lin Zewen had reported earlier.


    Among the other divisions, the Sword Hall was the most striking. The Lin Family now has four Sword Cultivators of the Purple Mansion level, and as many as twenty-eight who have comprehended Sword Intent.


    This number is extremely exaggerated, of course, and is related to the expansion of recruitment by the Sword Pavilion.


    The other divisions have also made full advances. For example, the Spirit Puppet Hall can now refine Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade puppets. Even though they are still in the experimental stage, the potential of the Spirit Puppet Hall is extremely high.


    Everyone did not expect that the progress of the Lin Family now exceeded their imagination.


    Today''s clan meeting will surely be recorded in history.


    Of course, these are all resources the Lin Family possesses, and they do not even include what Lin Shiming has.


    One must know that Lin Shiming now has the Purple Sun Tower, the Flood Dragon Nest, and six Golden Core Spirit Swords.


    He has a Thousand Year Spiritual Medicine, a Nascent Fruit Tree.


    H a Gold Condensation Fruit Tree.


    And many other treasures.


    The clan meeting lasted a full day, everyone was brimming with pride, as the Lin Family is now truly in its prime, not like before when only Lin Shiming could stand out for the family.


    Every individual can now exert their strength in their respective fields, and the Lin Family does not lack various legacies, and basically has no upper limit.


    After the clan meeting dispersed, Lin Shiming kept Lin Yanjiao, Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and Lin Zelu behind.


    At this moment, the four of them were confused but saw Lin Shiming take out four Spirit Beast Bags.


    These Spirit Beast Bags still resonated with them, clearly indicating they contained their own Spirit Beasts.


    However, the next moment, through the Soul Arrest Forbidden, they distinctly felt a presence that was no weaker than their own.


    Purple Mansion Great Demon!


    It was also a Flood Dragon.


    All four of them were overjoyed. Who wouldn''t want to ride atop a Flood Dragon? But at this moment, they had achieved it.


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    "Thank you, Seventh Great-Uncle!" They thanked him repeatedly.


    "Yanjiao, continue to seek out strong-blooded Spirit Snakes for the family, we still have too few Flood Dragons!"


    At this point, he was no longer afraid of Nine Dragon Island, even if they knew the Lin Family had a Golden Dragon Fruit Tree, Nine Dragon Island might not dare to come and plunder.


    This is the fairness brought about by strength.


    Moreover, the Lin Family is now proclaimed as a Spirit Snake lineage.


    The Flood Dragons have the potential of Fifth Rank every day!


    After entrusting the Flood Dragons, and with the clan meeting concluded, for Lin Shiming, the only event left was the Nascent Soul conference at Coral Island.


    This conference was something Lin Shiming did not really wish to attend, and it certainly would not be peaceful this time.


    But the other party is after all a True Monarch, and he has to attend whether he wants to or not.


    However, before going, Lin Shiming turned towards the Northern Sword Pavilion of his family.


    Based on previous estimates, the Qiu Xue Sword should be ready by now.


    The Qiu Xue Sword has dropped from being a Sixth Rank Magical Treasure, but its strength has been restored, comparable to a Half-Step Nascent Soul, which is Lin Shiming''s confidence.


    The Northern Sword Pavilion is still guarded by a sole person, yet the Sword Intent inside is densely concentrated and terrifying.


    Upon entering, Lin Shiming immediately felt the Sword Intent envelop him.


    It made him feel quite oppressed, and considering that his own Sword Intent is now comparable to the Sword Domain.


    One can imagine the strength of the Qiu Xue Sword might have greatly increased again!


    "Senior Qiu Xue, I would ask for your assistance!" Lin Shiming bowed respectfully.


    Regarding True Person Xue Shan, Lin Shiming still felt very uneasy in his heart.


    The main reason is that the opponent''s scheming is too terrifying, manipulating everyone within the grasp of their hand.

 Chapter 916 - 563: The Cohesion of the Soldiers of Divine Thought, Red Leaves Invitation

    "No worries, Daoist Lin, feel free to give your instructions directly. Last time, I failed to transfer my cultivation successfully, which delayed things. If there are any problems with the tasks you assign me today, I would be too ashamed to stay here any longer!" Qiu Xue Sword spoke slowly.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming could see that the blade of Qiu Xue Sword seemed to have been significantly restored, not by replenishing the blade itself but by solidifying the sword light into the tip of the blade.


    And its aura was even more imposing than the pressure exerted by Tianliu True Person and Liu He True Person.


    "Senior, have you recovered your cultivation level?" Lin Shiming asked with some pleasant surprise.


    "No, with a broken sword body, how easy could it be to speak of recovery!" Qiu Xue Sword shook its head, its gaze tinged with a trace of sadness.


    "Of course, a temporary eruption of Sixth Rank power is still manageable, but if I truly have to face a Nascent Soul Cultivator, I can only flee!" Qiu Xue Sword spoke frankly and openly.


    Still, despite this, Lin Shiming was overjoyed. No wonder it could cleave a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship with a single strike; its power truly places it as the prime warrior below Nascent Soul level.


    "The possibility of this matter being an accident is not significant. It just requires Senior to make a trip with me when the time comes!" Lin Shiming said.


    After settling things with Qiu Xue Sword, Lin Shiming left the Northern Sword Pavilion and returned to start practicing the Soul Fusion Secret Tome.


    During the Golden Core Early Stage, he had already condensed the Axe of Divine Thought, along with the Sword of Divine Thought and the Spear of Divine Thought, although only half of the Axe of Divine Thought was completed.


    This time, he planned to refine all nine Divine Thought Weapons; now that he had broken through to the Golden Core Middle Stage, his Divine Sense was already comparable to that of the Golden Core Late Stage, and there was no doubt that he could condense nine weapons.


    As for Lin Zeying, in the past few days, he has officially entered the Preaching Hall. He was previously auditing the classes, but now he has begun to formally attend them.


    In the Lin Family''s Preaching Hall, there''s almost a Purple Mansion cultivator presiding every month now, so Lin Shiming is not worried about Lin Zeying encountering difficulties that he can''t resolve.


    Moreover, even in the field of Immortal Cultivation, if he meets a difficult and thorny doubt, now that he is already ten, he should solve it independently.


    He can seek guidance from any Purple Mansion cultivator on the Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island.


    He can also consult the Jade Slips documents in the family''s Treasure Pavilion.


    This also helps maintain relationships.


    After leaving the Northern Sword Pavilion, Lin Shiming made a trip to Lin Houyuan''s Cave Heaven, had a brief conversation, and entrusted Zeying to his father''s daily care, but also asked his father not to be too indulgent.


    On this point, he believed his father would know moderation.


    After all, even as the son of the Family Head, he had not received much preferential treatment since childhood.


    Within the Cave Heaven, Wang Jiao had also returned, now spending each day in the Flood Dragon Nest, counting its treasures. It watches over its Superior Grade Spirit Stones, and from time to time checks on the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree, seemingly pondering the next time it will bear fruit.


    It''s acting like a miserly treasure hoarder.


    "Master!" As soon as Wang Jiao saw Lin Shiming come in, it immediately came over obsequiously, feeling most satisfied with Lin Shiming''s treasures among all its possessions.


    Thinking that it didn''t present a gift when Lin Shiming reached the Golden Core stage, it felt even more endeared calling him ''master''.


    "Keep working hard. If you''re not useful in future battles, you won''t get a share of the Spirit Fruit from the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree!" Lin Shiming said outright.


    This statement indeed caused Wang Jiao''s face to change dramatically.


    "Master, I guarantee I''ll be useful, roar!" Wang Jiao, getting excited, couldn''t help but roar as it used to.


    It then returned to the bottom of the Flood Dragon Nest and began to absorb Spiritual Energy and the air of Flood Dragons in large gulps.


    Its massive body coiled around the entire Golden Dragon Fruit Tree.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming was satisfied and returned to the high platform, took out a rush mat, and felt his mind become serene as the Kuimu Sword Canon activated automatically.


    Once his mood was calm and his body radiated with Spirit Light, Lin Shiming began to cultivate using the Soul Fusion Secret Tome.


    Unlike other Cultivation Techniques, this Secret Technique was related to the Divine Soul and thus required extra caution. A misstep here could lead to more than just a minor injury. It could even affect one''s future path.


    Lin Shiming began by cultivating the Soul Fusion Secret Tome, slowly increasing the strength of his Divine Sense, until his whole body''s Divine Sense couldn''t help but burst forth, reaching a state of overflowing.


    If his Divine Sense was a cotton ball just after breaking through to the Golden Core Middle Stage, then after practicing the tome, that airy state was compressed to its minimum.


    Then, Lin Shiming began to concentrate on the Axe of Divine Thought.


    One by one, Spirit Patterns condensed, branding themselves upon the axe''s handle and blade.


    The Axe of Divine Thought being formed shone brilliantly, growing more and more formidable. The Sword of Divine Thought was valued for its agility, the Spear of Divine Thought for its piercing power, and the Axe of Divine Thought for its cleaving force.


    The Soul Fusion Secret Tome, worthy of an Earth Rank Secret Art, whether in unifying the soul, refining, or the weapons of Divine Thought, was wondrously extraordinary.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but look forward to the power of nine Divine Thought Weapons united.


    But the current pace of progress was still slow.


    Each Divine Thought Weapon required a different set of Spirit Patterns to condense, and the number of patterns as well as their placement varied.


    Aside from the replication branding, Lin Shiming also had to learn and understand the essence of the Spirit Patterns of Divine Sense.


    Understanding them took up the bulk of the time.


    Though these Spirit Patterns of Divine Sense were much easier to grasp than those of the Tung Bao Scriptures, the former were tied to the Divine Sense and allowed no room for error; Lin Shiming had to be extremely careful.


    Moreover, the number of Spirit Patterns for Divine Sense was no less than those of the Tung Bao Scriptures.


    Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and Lin Shiming frowned; his Axe of Divine Thought was still lacking three Spirit Patterns.


    This was already the outcome with the system''s daily guidance.


    Otherwise, the pace would be even slower.


    Lin Shiming frowned; he wasn''t very satisfied with the speed.

 Chapter 917 - 563: The Cohesion of the Soldiers of Divine Thought, Red Leaves Invitation_2

    Not to mention the True Monarch Conference at Coral Island is drawing near. If he keeps up this pace, by the time it arrives he may only have enough time to fully refine the Axe of Divine Thought.


    Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment, finally setting his gaze on the predictive Spirit Root within him.


    The next moment, under his control, the Spirit Root began to emit Spirit Patterns, radiating endless Spirit Light.


    The Spirit Light quickly enveloped Lin Shiming''s entire body, even covering the area around him.


    The previously elusive method of condensing seemed now surprisingly clear to him.


    In the sky, the Axe of Divine Thought rapidly condensed, and moreover, he made many improvements on the original secret technique of Divine Thought Weapons, making the Axe of Divine Thought more solid.


    It looked even more terrifying; seeing this, Lin Shiming was delighted, yet did not dare to delay and also improved on the Sword and Spear of Divine Thought.


    This improvement exhilarated him; although he was only at the Golden Core Middle Stage, his Divine Sense had reached the Golden Core Late Stage. He even felt now that even if he encountered an established cultivator in the Golden Core Late Stage, he would dare to confront them using his Divine Sense!


    And if he encountered a Demonic King from the Demonic Race, even a Golden Core Late Stage Demonic King, he also had the confidence to break through just using his Divine Sense.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s comprehension had reached its peak, and one should know that he still received daily system prompts to clarify his doubts.


    This cumulative effect greatly increased his speed of refining Divine Thought Weapons, and he even felt his Divine Sense seemed to be insufficient, lighting up a few Ziji Tan as well.


    As time passed, numerous weapons floated before Lin Shiming.


    The Knife, Tower, Hammer, Halberd, and Seal of Divine Thought were all condensing.


    A total of eight Divine Thought Weapons, each one refined as if they were real Magical Treasures.


    Emitting a terrifying aura, this pressure was different from Spirit Pressure; the Spirit Beasts in the Cave Heaven could still endure a bit using their physical bodies.


    While Lin Shiming was refining the Divine Thought Weapons, all Spirit Fish trembled violently, this included the Water Spirit Shell and Star Spirit Clam, and even the conditions of the Golden Wing and Red-haired were slightly better, but they still looked up at the sky, immensely frightened.


    The only one less affected was Wang Jiao.


    But at this moment, even Wang Jiao''s eyes were filled with wariness.


    In its view, if Lin Shiming used this move on it, it might not even be able to resist at all.


    At this time, Lin Shiming also opened his eyes.


    There was bitterness and joy in his eyes, but soon after, he shook his head, scattering all these thoughts away.


    Until today, the effect of the predictive Spirit Light had completely passed, leaving no chance to comprehend the Divine Thought Palace anymore.


    He also discovered that the more he progressed, the harder it became to refine Divine Thought Weapons, and the more Divine Sense it required.


    Furthermore, the Spirit Patterns of the Divine Thought Palace were far beyond what the Sword or Axe of Divine Thought could compare.


    This was a point of disappointment for Lin Shiming.


    But looking at it now, even the power of the eight Divine Thought Weapons was already quite remarkable.


    He stood up, not continuing to refine the Divine Thought Palace, after all, without the enhancement of predictive Spirit Light, it might take him another half-year or he might not even be able to refine the Divine Thought Palace.


    Moreover, it was almost time already.


    Lin Shiming descended from the high platform.


    "Congratulations, Master, on emerging from seclusion!" Wang Jiao was the first to speak.


    The other Spirit Beasts followed suit.


    Lin Shiming was also in a very good mood, rewarding each of them with some Demonic Beast Inner Core before leaving the Cave Heaven.


    Lin Shitao was still in seclusion, sensing a breakthrough opportunity and estimating her emergence from seclusion as being in the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Lin Shiming was considerably relieved in his heart.


    Currently, Lin Zeying had his own dwelling in Thousand Wood Peak, but now, he was not in the dwelling.


    Lin Shiming took a step and headed towards the family''s Preaching Hall.


    Today in the Preaching Hall, they were explaining the Second Rank Inferior Grade Spell, Fireball Technique.


    At this moment, Lin Zeying was at the very front, being used as a demonstration.


    The teacher explaining was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Ze generation, at this moment his face full of surprise and emotion.


    For Lin Zeying had only cultivated for barely over half a year, yet he had already reached the second layer of Qi Cultivation, and his comprehension of Fire Attribute Spells was terrifying.


    One could see that in Lin Zeying''s hand, a fireball fiercely smashed towards the side, creating a two-foot-deep huge hole.


    And it also caused the cheers of the other clan members, also chosen as Immortal Seedlings.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming nodded satisfactorily and did not interrupt.


    Instead, he quietly left, heading towards the Council Hall.


    Now Lin Yanjiao had returned, while Lin Yanjiao was the Family Head, practically the affairs were still managed by Lin Zewen.


    After all, Lin Yanjiao, having reached the Purple Mansion stage, also needed to consolidate her Cultivation Level.


    And Lin Zewen, did indeed perform well.


    "Uncle Seven!" Lin Zewen looked at Lin Shiming, his eyes filled with surprise and delight.


    "Uncle Seven, your arrival is timely. Red Leaf True Person sent a message a few days ago, inviting you to join him in going to Xue Shan Island, and True Person Yulin will accompany us!" Lin Zewen spoke slowly.


    Since Lin Shiming was in seclusion, all messages had been sent to the Lin Family''s Council Hall.


    "Alright, I understand this matter!"


    "Additionally, Uncle Seven, the family also prepared a Fifth Rank Fire Elemental Fruit a few days ago as a gift for congratulation!" Lin Zewen slowly continued.


    Lin Shiming nodded, satisfied with the family''s arrangements, although Lin Zewen did not present it immediately, fearing that the Fire Elemental Fruit was with his father Lin Houyuan.


    "You must also diligently cultivate, and cultivate potential successors for the Family Head position. You are not far from reaching the Purple Mansion stage, and if you have any doubts, feel free to come to me!" Lin Shiming advised Lin Zewen before leaving again.


    This time, he went to the Treasure Pavilion.


    As the Treasure Pavilion contained increasingly valuable treasures, it now required at least a Purple Mansion stage cultivator for its custody.


    His father, is now similar to his previous second uncle, Lin Houshou.


    However, his father was secretly involved; officially, he still appeared as a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator from the "Shi" generation!


    This generation of cultivators was now almost two hundred years old, viewed as absolute elders within the clan.


    "Brother Seven, Uncle Nine is on the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion!" Seeing Lin Shiming arrive, the clan member quickly notified him.


    But before Lin Shiming could go upstairs, Lin Houyuan had already come down.


    After breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage, Lin Houyuan appeared much younger, and it seemed that he had overcome his Heart Demon, resolving his mental knots, which in turn accelerated his cultivation speed.


    "Shiming, this is the Fire Elemental Fruit!" Lin Houyuan took a jade box and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming took the jade box into his hands.


    "Thank you for the trouble, father!"


    "Seems you have it even better!" Lin Houyuan knew what troubled Lin Shiming, but his following words made Lin Shiming smile bitterly.


    Indeed, whether a cultivator or a mortal, favoritism between generations exists.


    "Be cautious at Coral Island this time, and regarding the family''s islands, avoid conflict if possible!" Lin Houyuan frowned as he spoke.


    "Father, I understand these measures!" Lin Shiming nodded, but worry was evident on his face!


    This Nascent Soul ceremony was not only for the ceremony itself but also for the enfeoffment and rewards of Coral Island.


    It would also be a reshuffling of the Coral Alliance!


    Golden Thunder Island and Lanling Island would definitely be assigned out, but to whom it would go remains a sensitive topic.


    Otherwise, Tianliu True Person wouldn''t intentionally avoid any appearance of bias by sending Zhao Yulin there.


    He guessed that Qian Ji True Person would also send a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator there.


    The intention being to show that Qian Ji Island is not contesting for Golden Thunder Island.


    But according to the trend set by Red Leaf True Person, his side wants to compete.


    Golden Thunder Island has a better location, more room for development, and an abundance of treasures.


    Most importantly, Red Leaf True Person qualifies, with the presence of the Lin Family adding weight!


    In this way, Lin Shiming must also support Red Leaf True Person.


    After all, Red Leaf True Person is also helping the Lin Family to secure a position!


    And certainly, there will be resistance!


    Thus, Lin Houyuan was worried.


    Leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Lin Shiming then went to consult Lin Xianzhi.


    The latter, however, had few suggestions for Lin Shiming.


    Only that Lin Shiming could take a stance, but should not speak out!


    Lin Shiming nodded, though it was unclear whether he agreed or disagreed, which made Lin Xianzhi somewhat anxious.


    But thinking of how Red Leaf True Person had been looking after the Lin Family over the years, Lin Xianzhi remained silent.


    "Uncle Seven, I now have an answer in my heart!" Lin Shiming spoke!


    He then departed from Qinglian Peak.


    Lin Xianzhi watched the Qinglian Lake, where the lotuses in the lotus leaves were blooming splendidly, looking extremely dazzling!


    He couldn''t help but shake his head!

 Chapter 918 - 564: Bi Chun Tea, Situation

    Red Leaf Palace, the light red sandalwood incense burned slowly, as Red Leaf True Person and Gufeng True Person sat facing each other.


    "Has there still been no reply from the Lin Family?" Gufeng True Person''s expression remained calm as he took a sip of Spiritual Tea.


    "Father, not yet. It is said that he is in seclusion!" Red Leaf True Person was still dressed in red robes today.


    "Hmph, seclusion is but an excuse!" Gufeng True Person was somewhat dissatisfied.


    They have been quite generous with the Lin Family; other True Persons would have already suppressed the Lin Family by now.


    And now, they have even made way for the Lin Family, yet still, the Lin Family does not offer their support!


    Red Leaf True Person did not speak, her thoughts were not much different at this point.


    "Father, why must we insist on contending for Golden Thunder Island this time?" After a moment of silence, Red Leaf True Person spoke again.


    "This is a great competition of power, we cannot afford not to contend, the future belongs to Nascent Soul, without a Nascent Soul True Monarch, one simply cannot withstand the changes!"


    "Although the Red Leaf Archipelago is vast, the resources of the Red Leaf Archipelago are too scarce. Compared to Golden Thunder Island, the difference is not just a single level. This time, the only one who can compete with our Red Leaf Archipelago is the Ye Family of Coral Island!"


    "If we have enough support, even the Zhao Family, owing to our successful protection last time, will have to capitulate and concede Golden Thunder Island!"


    "As for staying on Red Leaf Island, hmph, didn''t you see the celestial phenomenon at Shuangmu Island the other day? That was the sign of a Flood Dragon''s breakthrough, the thunder and momentum of it, slightly similar to the Tribulation Transcending of Nine Dragon Island!"


    "This makes it clear, there''s a Golden Dragon Fruit Tree on Shuangmu Island, whether the Lin Family will become a family of Flood Dragons or Spirit Snakes in the future is uncertain!" Red Leaf True Person continued.


    Upon these words, the color drained from Red Leaf True Person''s face.


    At this moment, she also thought back to the legend of Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    "You have already taken many blows for the Lin Family, but after all, the Lin Family is still part of our alliance. In the future, should the Red Leaf Archipelago face external troubles, the Lin Family will repay the debt. That Lin Shiming is truly not simple!" Gufeng True Person spoke again, his eyes filled with wariness towards Lin Shiming.


    He was not worried that Lin Shiming couldn''t withstand the erosion from Nine Dragon Island.


    On the contrary, he thought the incoming confrontation might be very interesting.


    But for the Ye Family of Red Leaf Island, staying here had no meaning whatsoever.


    The saying that a mountain cannot contain two tigers was something they understood well.


    The reason the Lin Family has not acted is because their foundation is too weak to manage such a large endeavor, but just wait until the Lin Family has built another hundred years of foundation, by then, even Red Leaf Island will not be sufficient for the Lin Family''s expansion.


    The air fell into silence, Gufeng True Person continued to drink tea, and Red Leaf True Person''s eyes also held a different color, seemingly deep in thought.


    Just at this moment, a Sound Transmission Talisman floated in from afar and landed in Red Leaf True Person''s hand.


    "Father, Daoist Lin and Zhao Yulin have arrived!" Red Leaf True Person''s eyes gleamed with excitement!


    "You go greet them!" Seeing this, Gufeng True Person too set down his tea cup gently, no longer gulping down his tea, but instead savored it in his mouth.


    ...


    Outside the Red Leaf Palace, Lin Shiming and Zhao Yulin walked side by side, though their conversation was sparse.


    This time, Tianliu True Person of Tianliu Island used injuries as a reason to go into seclusion for healing.


    The one going to Coral Island was none other than Zhao Yulin.


    As the daughter of Kuangfeng True Person and a descendant of the Zhao Family, this trip might grant her some other rewards.


    Of course, Zhao Yulin also wished to obtain more news about her father.


    And Lin Shiming had merely encountered her by chance at the Transmission Formation.


    Both entered the Red Leaf Palace, where Red Leaf True Person had already taken her place at the host''s seat, she rose to welcome the two inside.


    "Daoist Lin, Zhao Daoyou, what timing, I just acquired a new cultivar of Bi Chun tea!"


    "Both of you should have a good taste!" Red Leaf True Person took out a teapot, started brewing the tea with a slight movement of her hand.


    An invigorating fragrance filled the air in an instant, like the fresh and lush landscape of a tea mountain caressed by the spring breeze.


    Moreover, the tea was rich in Spiritual Energy, clearly another Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spiritual Tea.


    Red Leaf True Person poured a cup for both Lin Shiming and Zhao Yulin.


    The tea appeared pale green in the cup and, set against the white porcelain, seemed even fresher and more vibrant.


    "Red Leaf Senior Sister, Junior Brother was practicing a Secret Technique and has delayed his time, causing you to wait long!" Lin Shiming took the tea and started to apologize.


    However, his gaze concealed a flicker of change.


    Now his Divine Sense was stronger than that of an ordinary Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, especially after cultivating the eight Divine Sense weapons, his Divine Sense became even sharper.


    He suddenly realized that the current Red Leaf True Person was indeed at the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Sixty years had passed since her last breakthrough!


    For cultivators, the higher the level, the more difficult it is, especially when reaching the Golden Core stage.


    Like Zhao Yulin, who broke through earlier than Lin Shiming, is still at the Golden Core Early Stage.


    "No matter, with your cultivation level, Junior Brother, could it be that you have made another breakthrough?" Lin Shiming could clearly see through Red Leaf True Person.


    Red Leaf True Person, however, appeared somewhat hesitant.


    If before, she could see through Lin Shiming, now she could not, and moreover, she even felt that Lin Shiming seemed to have seen through her as well.


    "A minor breakthrough, nothing worth mentioning!" Lin Shiming shook his head without elaborating further.


    Red Leaf True Person did not persist in inquiring and turned her gaze towards Zhao Yulin.


    "Zhao Daoyou, how has Tianliu True Person been lately?"


    "Still in the healing process, Yulin can only hope for her speedy recovery!" Zhao Yulin shook her head.


    "With Tianliu True Person''s strength, even advancing to Nascent Soul won''t take long, she''ll be fine!" Red Leaf True Person added reassuringly.


    The topic was evidently not cheerful, so they all raised their cups and took a drink of tea together.

 Chapter 919 - 564: Bichun Tea, Situation_2

    As soon as the Bi Spring Tea entered his stomach, Lin Shiming was stunned.


    For he saw the Spiritual Tea entering his flesh and blood, and in the next moment, it actually began to enhance his vitality.


    This was clearly something that could increase lifespan!


    Lin Shiming also saw the look of shock on Zhao Yulin''s face.


    Clearly, he was also shocked by the Spiritual Tea.


    This Mingxin Tea Tree is truly defying the heavens.


    Although the increase in lifespan is not much, it is still Spiritual Tea, which can be consumed at any time.


    "This Bi Spring Tea is a mutated variety, belonging to the old tree blooming anew, with not much tea produced each year, and the increase is not much either!" Red Leaf True Person began to explain.


    Lin Shiming understood the meaning of old tree blooming anew, similar to the Mingxin Tea Tree experiencing Heavenly Tribulation and bearing a second life, able to treat the heartblood consumption of Cultivators.


    Most of them are created by facing the tribulation of thunder fire.


    A look of envy appeared on Lin Shiming''s face.


    Of course, he was not pretending, nor was it a compliment. If he had such a mutated Bi Spring Tree, he could greatly enhance the Bi Spring Tree with the Revival Wind combined with the Purple Sun Tower, the effects would likely be quite remarkable then.


    After having the Spiritual Tea and chatting about minor matters concerning their respective islands, the three decided to rest for a day and set off for Coral Island the next day.


    This was also the first True Monarch ceremony of the Coral Alliance.


    And on this day, there would also be contests among the junior Cultivators as an addition, and the results of these contests were important for the future distribution within the Coral Alliance.


    Just like the Lin Family, this time Lin Shiming brought Lin Zeli from the Ze generation, Lin Yanxing from the Yan generation, and Lin Changxing from the Chang generation, in addition to two talents from Lin Family commerce, one being Lin Shirong from the Shi generation, and the other Lin Zeshang from the Ze generation!


    These two were the Cultivators currently in charge of commerce for the Lin Family.


    Of course, the True Monarch ceremony this time, besides celebration and preaching, will also include discussions on how to approach the Tianzhao Sect along with the winds of change among the Twelve Inner Islands and the grand competition among the younger generations.


    The last incident at Coral Island with the Heavenly Fire Forbidden Formation being broken and the death of Kuangfeng True Person has yet to be resolved, nor can it be left untouched.


    After all, a True Monarch has emerged from Coral Island, whereas the Tianzhao Sect has not reported such news!


    Plus, Tianzhao Sect recently lost the leader of Renmen and even a magical treasure from Renmen fell into the hands of Coral Island.


    Its strength has greatly weakened, and the number of Golden Core Cultivators has not returned to its former glory!


    Even if there are Cultivators who advance to Golden Core in these ten years, there won''t be many.


    By then, it is possible that Coral Alliance could become the thirteen or even fourteen Inner Islands.


    Lin Shiming wasn''t overly concerned, since no matter how the talks go this time, the impact on the Lin Family wouldn''t be significant, at worst maintaining the current situation.


    If better, they could occupy the entire Red Leaf Archipelago, and even if slightly worse, they might be able to take the entire Lanling Island.


    But Lin Shiming estimated that the latter scenario was less likely, as Lanling Island has many hidden agents, and Coral Island would not trust these agents to continue developing.


    They would surely arrange a force of their own to establish presence in Lanling Islands, or even directly set up a Lanling branch family.


    Instead, it was he himself who might gain something this time.


    As for the True Monarch''s preaching, it goes without saying, he had the system prompt, unless Xue Shan True Monarch completely retained his revelations and mentioned nothing.


    But that possibility is very small, which is also why Lin Shiming decided to come, after all currently he only knows two Nascent Soul Cultivators, one is Jiuye True Monarch from the Eastern Domain, and the other is the current Xue Shan True Monarch.


    He missed the ceremony of True Monarch in the Eastern Domain.


    Besides preaching, there will also be the biggest auction in history and a trade meet attended by about fifty to sixty Golden Core True Persons.


    Even Xue Shan True Monarch will participate in the trade meet.


    Thanks to the system prompt, Lin Shiming has a great advantage.


    There will certainly be treasures at the auction!


    And if luck is good, the materials for Nascent Transformation Pill might even be gathered!


    He has the recipe for Nascent Transformation Pill and Nascent Transformation Fruit, but many other main ingredients are impossible to find on the market.


    Even using the entire Lin Family.


    Although the possibility of them appearing at the auction and trade meet is not large, the probability is much larger compared to searching elsewhere.


    Meanwhile, whether the Lin Family can become one of the Twelve Inner Islands is also one of his focal points for this trip.


    Being part of the Twelve Inner Islands, the slots for Purple Sun Secret Realm and Heavenly Rank Secret Realm would no longer be just Red Leaf Island''s quota.


    At that time, the Lin Family''s gains would be greater.


    Currently, Lin Shijie is in the late stage of Purple Mansion, and with his identity as a Sword Cultivator, his gains in the Purple Sun Secret Realm are certainly not small.


    ...


    A day quietly passed, Lin Shiming awoke from his cultivation, stepped outside the door, where Lin Zeli, Lin Yanxing, Lin Changxing, and Lin Zekong were already waiting outside the room.


    Among them, Lin Changxing appeared very restrained, Lin Yanxing seemed extremely disheartened, on the contrary, Lin Zeli and Lin Zehong appeared rather excited.


    And beside these four, there were also Lin Shirong and Lin Zeshang.


    These two seemed much more tactful, always smiling at the side, and after Lin Shiming came out, each of them handed Lin Shiming a Jade Slip.


    In it, were their discoveries and summaries after touring Red Leaf Island.


    The task of these two was to learn the business models of other islands, while also identifying rare market opportunities!


    Now, the Lin Family''s strength was already comparable to any of the Twelve Inner Islands of the Coral Alliance.


    Naturally, their business ventures would also extend throughout the Coral Alliance.


    They even planned to venture out to Nine Dragon Island and Chi Lan Sect for selling goods.


    One reason was that the family was getting larger, necessitating an increase in financial revenue.


    Secondly, with more high-ranking cultivators in the Lin Family, the search for rare materials and spiritual objects would also increase.


    Lin Shiming was quite satisfied with their Jade Slips and summaries.


    "Let''s go, set off. Today, we head to Coral Island!" Lin Shiming declared.


    As they exited the inn, Zhao Yulin was also almost downstairs at that moment.


    This time from Tianliu Island, among the cultivators brought, four participated in the competition.


    Among them, two were from Purple Mansion stage and two from Foundation Establishment stage.


    Among those from Purple Mansion stage, one was in Purple Mansion Middle Stage, the other in Early Stage, while among those from Foundation Establishment, there were two at the Later Stage.


    At this True Monarch Conference, everyone would only bring more talented juniors to broaden their horizons and enrich their experiences!


    But they wouldn''t bring the most formidable cultivators.


    Otherwise, winning too much would actually become a problem!


    After Zhao Yulin and his party arrived, in the distance, Red Leaf True Person also arrived with his juniors.


    Red Leaf True Person brought many more cultivators, numerous of whom also seemed very talented.


    Among Purple Mansion cultivators, there were three, two in Middle Stage, and one in Early Stage, who all looked quite young, and there were even more Foundation Establishment Later Stage cultivators.


    There was one Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator who looked to be just over twenty years old.


    This scene truly satisfied Lin Shiming immensely.


    This would serve as a wake-up call for those from the Lin Family.


    For the current younger generations of the Lin Family, everything had been too smooth sailing.


    Just like Lin Changxing and Lin Zehong, both approaching thirty.


    In the Lin Family, however, there were still many cultivators who were much older, in their sixties and seventies.


    Arrogance had also accumulated quite a bit, but as one who had come from their path, Lin Shiming was indeed aware that cultivators needed to be more low-key and reserved.


    Standing out too much was not good, no matter what.


    "Sister Red Leaf!" Lin Shiming greeted, and Zhao Yulin did the same.


    For both of them, Red Leaf True Person could indeed be considered an elder.


    She was from the same generation as Tianliu True Person and Kuangfeng True Person.


    "There are quite a few people attending this time, my apologies!" Red Leaf True Person also spoke.


    After speaking, they briefly introduced their respective juniors to each other.


    The four from the Lin Family were quite decent; one with Heavenly Spirit Root, two Sword Cultivators, and one Talisman Cultivator.


    From Tianliu Island, there was one Heavenly Spirit Root and two other Spirit Roots.


    Red Leaf Island was even more impressive, with one Spirit Body Cultivator, one Heavenly Spirit Root, indeed causing Lin Changxing and Lin Zehong''s expressions to change.


    Keep in mind, these were not even the core successors of the various Inner Islands, and these talented ones were all Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    It''s likely that there were quite a few wonderfully talented Purple Mansion cultivators too.


    They just hadn''t been sent!


    "The four of you must strive harder!" Lin Shiming transmitted his voice to the four, smiling all the while.


    In his view, such pressure was suitable for the young people.

 Chapter 920 - 566: Welcoming Lin Palace, Twelve-Winged Mantis (Combined)

    Coral Island, Transmission Square.


    As a burst of white light flashed, several figures appeared within the Transmission Formation.


    In the sky, auspicious clouds continuously rose, and a group of female cultivators welcomed the guests in the square.


    At the entrance of the Transmission Formation, some Spirit Fruits and Spiritual Wine were also placed.


    Although these Spirit Fruits were only Second Rank and not considered much, one must know that the banquet had not yet begun, and this was just the area around the Transmission Formation, facing cultivators from the entire Coral Sea Domain.


    This time, the Nascent Soul Gathering of the Coral Sea Domain even set up a diversion system.


    Qi Cultivators would be directly led to an adjacent subsidiary island.


    Only if they were vouched for by a Purple Mansion cultivator, could they stay on the main island of Coral Island.


    This shows how vast the gathering of cultivators was this time.


    At the auction, the subsidiary islands will mainly handle the auctions for Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivators, with items such as Foundation Establishment Pills and Purple Mansion Jade Liquid to be auctioned, truly an unprecedented event.


    "When will our Lin Family have such a grand scene!" Lin Zehong couldn''t help but mutter to herself as she watched the lively scene.


    "Better to have expectations for oneself than for others!" Lin Shiming looked at Lin Zehong, with the exhortations of Lin Shijin and Yu Jing in mind.


    Indeed, they needed to keep a closer eye on their daughter.


    Although the other three''s eyes were filled with wonder, they did not speak, simply keeping their thoughts to themselves.


    To them, such a grand scene also served as a motivation.


    "True Person Qian Mu, True Person Yulin, True Person Red Leaf, I am Zi Yu, at your service, True Person Yunli specifically instructed us..." Just then, a Purple Mansion cultivator approached the trio.


    This Purple Mansion cultivator wore a purple gown with a transcendent air, appearing to be under a hundred years old yet already at the peak of the Purple Mansion Middle Stage in terms of cultivation level!


    "Thank you for the trouble, young friend!" Lin Shiming initially wanted to call her ''fairy'', but considering the two fairies beside him and his own younger generation, he instead spoke with an air of seniority!


    After all, he was also a two-hundred-year-old elder, so addressing her as a young friend wasn''t excessive.


    Zi Yu led the way, with Lin Shiming and the three others following behind.


    Passing through the Transmission Formation, they arrived at a small group of Spirit Boats.


    These Spirit Boats were all Fourth Rank, seemingly crafted from fire coral, each one crafted beautifully.


    Moreover, there were Celestial Music Masters performing on them, and at the bow of each Spirit Boat stood a majestic snow-white Spirit Crane.


    "Immortal Cranes lead Immortal beings, esteemed seniors, these are our Coral Island''s Crane-Leading Boats!" Zi Yu introduced.


    Subsequently, three boats were prepared for the three parties.


    Zi Yu then took out three Jade Slips.


    "Esteemed seniors, please take a look and choose the music piece you would like!"


    "Let''s choose this ''Calm the Winds and Waves''," Lin Shiming spotted a familiar title.


    A surge of emotion filled his heart.


    And he directly made his choice.


    Surprisingly, both True Person Red Leaf and True Person Yulin also chose ''Calm the Winds and Waves''.


    They thought Lin Shiming had heard it before, and of course, Lin Shiming thought he had heard it as well.


    When the music began, the musician gently strummed, the ethereal tune combined with the festive Spirit Boats and gracefully dancing Spirit Cranes indeed presented a unique flavor.


    The younger generation was even more excited; they looked around curiously. Although the Lin Family was considered top-tier on Heavenly Phenomenon Island,


    once on Coral Island, they realized they were dwarfed by far more impressive entities.


    An under-hundred-year-old Purple Mansion prodigy came to see them off, Second Rank Spirit Fruit available for casual consumption, Fourth Rank Spirit Boats used for transportation, and even the Spirit Cranes were Superior Grade Third Rank.


    Even Lin Zeli, who was at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, felt somewhat less arrogant, and instead, more cautious!


    This kind of Nascent Soul ceremony was meaningful to them, and only then could they witness the true prodigies of the Coral Sea Domain.


    In the past, they were protected by the Lin Family, but this time, they were to bring glory to the Lin Family!


    For Immortal Cultivation powers, individual strength is certainly important, but the prosperity of the younger generation is what truly entices other powers to forge connections and alliances.


    Lin Yanxing and Lin Changxing shared similar sentiments to Lin Zeli.


    The honor of the Lin Family that they bore; if they were to be defeated in the first round of competition, that would truly be a disgrace.


    For Lin Yanxing, this was not only his chance to establish his reputation but also his opportunity for a breakthrough.


    The Spirit Boat soon arrived at its destination, a complex of palaces, each with its own name.


    For instance, the palace where the Lin Family stayed was called Welcoming Lin Palace.


    The palace where True Person Red Leaf stayed was called Heavenly Leaf Palace.


    The palace where Zhao Yulin stayed was called Wind Zhao Palace.


    ...


    This manner of naming held deeper meanings and further represented the grandeur of Coral Island, elevating the Lin Family to the status of an inner-island power.


    This made Lin Shiming very satisfied.


    "Esteemed seniors, this is the palace prepared for you. The banquet will be held in one month, and the auction will take place on the fifth day following the commencement of the banquet..."


    Zi Yu handed out the introductory Jade Slips in turn.


    "These are some of the less convenient areas of Coral Island; elsewhere, the esteemed seniors, and the younger generation of the esteemed seniors, are free to visit at your leisure!"


    "Many thanks to Zi Yu for your guidance!" True Person Red Leaf first nodded in gratitude, then took out a bottle of Spirit Pill that aids Purple Mansion cultivators in improving their cultivation level.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming and Zhao Yulin also took out Spirit Pills.


    After some more polite exchanges, Zi Yu left behind a Spirit Talisman and departed from their company.


    At this moment, True Person Red Leaf transmitted her voice:


    "Junior Brother Lin, this time I''ve invited quite a few friends to hold a small inner-island gathering, and I hope you will attend when the time comes!"


    As True Person Red Leaf spoke,


    Lin Shiming was well aware of the implications of such a small gathering.


    And he was also well aware of the grand display of Coral Island.


    Perhaps starting from today, all the inner-island powers would no longer be an alliance but subservient to Coral Island.

 Chapter 921 - 566: Welcoming Lin Palace, Twelve-Winged Mantis (Combined) - Part 2

    This is about demonstrating status.


    The invitation from Red Leaf True Person is also to increase her influence, enabling her to successfully acquire Golden Thunder Island.


    Of course, these two matters, for Lin Shiming, as long as they do not affect the interests of the Lin Family, he is willing to accept them.


    "Then, thank you Senior Sister for the introduction!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    When the time comes, besides the actual trade conference, it is also when Red Leaf True Person introduces Lin Shiming to the island.


    After all, the inner island has its own circle.


    For instance, the Spirit Puppets from Qian Ji Island, the Ziji Tan from Red Leaf Island, the Dragon Blood Shrimp from Yutong Island, and the Jade Rosy Cloud Fruit from Jade Cloud Island, these are all unique to their respective islands.


    If you''re not in that circle, you can''t trade.


    The Lin Family naturally qualifies now and has brought Lin Shirong and Lin Zeshang.


    "Go in, everyone pick a room. Tomorrow, I will take you all for a tour, and if there''s anything you need to buy, prepare ahead!" Lin Shiming instructed.


    In Coral Island now, not to mention the cultivators from the Coral Sea Domain, but also from Thousand Buddhas Sea Domain, Blood Cultivation Sea Area, and Chi Lan Sea Domain and Nine Dragon Sea Domain, this is truly an unprecedented flourishing age.


    But it is also more mixed with fish and dragons, these younger generations of the Lin Family, although experienced, especially Lin Zeli and Lin Yanxing.


    However, if truly compared to the entirety of the Southern Sea, they are still slightly immature, needing more tempering experiences.


    "We will heed the orders of Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Zeli and the others all nodded.


    ...


    Lin Shiming also stayed in this Welcoming Lin Palace.


    The entire palace is built with white Qingyun stones, famous because its textures resemble white clouds.


    Moreover, the stone itself is considered a Third Rank material, making constructions such as swords naturally possess some elegance.


    The entire main hall is divided into two levels; the second level is for Golden Core Cultivators to reside, and the first level is for the younger disciples and relatives to reside and receive guests.


    The carvings at the top of the palace depict python patterns.


    This represents a symbol of affiliation, but of course, it is also noble.


    Lin Shiming glanced a few times and after examining it with a Formation, also closed his eyes to rest, without cultivating.


    Now, under the watch of Nascent Soul Cultivators, he did not have the interest to cultivate.


    He just closed his eyes to rest.


    Time passed in the blink of an eye, and Lin Shiming took Lin Zehong and Lin Shirong and others out of Welcoming Lin Palace, heading towards the market on Coral Island.


    Currently, nearly all in this market are Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion Cultivators, but even so, the cultivators seen were swarming like bees.


    The unique method of refining Foundation Establishment Pills from Demon Cores in the Southern Sea, makes the Foundation Establishment Cultivators here far more numerous than in the Eastern Domain.


    "Seventh Uncle, shall we first take a look at the street stalls? With Purple Mansion seniors and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, surely those Loose Cultivators have good items!" Lin Zehong suggested eagerly.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile.


    He suddenly remembered that at his age, he also liked to frequent Loose Cultivator''s stalls.


    Moreover, he did indeed find incredible items at Loose Cultivator''s stalls.


    For instance, the news about the transport to the Southern Sea''s Secret Realm, the Poisonous Dragon, and the Ten-Winged Frost Insect.


    So the group split into two paths, Lin Shirong went to look at various shops and also at various taverns.


    Studying business models and also looking for possible business opportunities.


    Such as Spiritual Medicine and treasures not found on Heavenly Phenomenon Island and Jiuyue Island.


    The Lin Family seniors also needed them to gather information in advance for treasures they were looking for.


    While Lin Shiming and the others had a much easier time.


    They soon arrived at the Loose Cultivator''s market stalls, where the stalls were distinctly organized along the long cobblestone streets on both sides.


    There was a street for early and middle stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, a street for late stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, a street for early stage Purple Mansion cultivators, and a street for early Purple Mansion stage and above.


    However, the last street had very few people.


    Conversely, the Foundation Establishment streets were very crowded.


    There were lots of family disciples passing by, and one characteristic of these cultivators is that very few of them changed their appearances.


    Lin Shiming could only sigh at this, you dress so extravagantly, it''s difficult to pick up bargains among these sharp people.


    "Seventh Uncle, how about we all split up? There are too many people, it''s hard to find bargains. I''ll go with my great-grandnephew!" Lin Zehong with his mischievous character, proposed again.


    "You go with Zeli!" Lin Shiming decisively refused.


    With Lin Zeli present, it''s easier to manage Lin Zehong. If she were paired with Lin Changxing, Lin Changxing would certainly just follow her lead, and who knows what mistakes might be made.


    "Yanxing, why don''t you pair up with Changxing, and I''ll go check out the Purple Mansion street!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    "Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Yanxing nodded his head. Compared to the others, Lin Yanxing, with his four Spirit Roots, was more steady. Although his talent in the Sword Dao was quite high, in cultivation, he faced one bottleneck after another.


    Now, he had already mastered the Sword Qi Silk!


    But his cultivation level was stuck at the Late Foundation Establishment stage.


    He hadn''t reached the point where he could make a breakthrough.


    Lin Shiming letting Lin Yanxing roam alone was also for the latter to gain experience.


    As for himself, he wasn''t too interested in street stalls.


    With so many Golden Core True Persons and major Purple Mansion forces around, what chances could there be for him to find a loophole to exploit?


    However, just then, a system notification suddenly sounded:


    [Please proceed to the Purple Mansion Cultivator street stalls, you will obtain a clue regarding a Fifth Rank Twelve-Winged Mantis!]


    Lin Shiming''s breath hitched.


    He hadn''t expected to actually possibly find a loophole.


    But soon, he just gave a wry smile.


    It was just a clue, and fishing that clue out among the Purple Mansion Cultivators could be extremely difficult.


    But challenging as it was, this also signified that within the stalls, the best treasure for him was the news about the Eleven-Winged Mantis.


    Lin Shiming headed towards the Purple Mansion street stalls, his form shifting in the movement, discreetly transforming into a middle-aged man with a broad face.


    His spiritual aura also adjusted to that of a Late Purple Mansion stage, his expression utterly indifferent.


    Completely the image of a cultivator who had endured many years of harsh cultivation.


    The stalls set up on the street by Coral Island all formed a unique Spirit Shield, enclosing the treasures within. Divine Sense couldn''t probe inside; only when the stall owner took them out could the customers inspect them.


    Upon reaching the Purple Mansion area, Lin Shiming observed that more cultivators were dressed in spirit-blocking clothes, with their faces concealed.


    Lin Shiming also scanned each stall one by one.


    Since it was about a clue, Lin Shiming figured it was related to spiritual medicine ingredients, so he first made a quick round of the area.


    But he couldn''t find any leads.


    This made Lin Shiming shake his head, and then he approached a Zhao Family Deacon managing the stalls to rent a table.


    He started setting up his stall.


    However, he didn''t activate the Spirit Shield. Instead, he took out a Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Puppet, a small Ziji Tan of the Fourth Rank, a Purple Spirit Pill that enhances Purple Mansion Cultivation, and a Fourth Rank Boundary-Breaking Talisman!


    This was truly a collection combining means of escape, power enhancement, cultivation improvement, and divine sense, all in one.


    He then took out a piece of paper, directly writing on it that he was exchanging for rare Fourth Rank or higher Ten-Winged Mantis materials!


    Beyond that, he wrote down a few rare materials needed for the Nascent Transformation Pill, although he greatly reduced the age requirement by about thirty percent.


    Such a list wouldn''t make others suspect he was aiming for the Nascent Transformation Pill, yet it could help collect materials. Of course, it was mostly for the clue to the Fifth Rank Twelve-Winged Mantis.


    Now that Golden Wing was close to breaking through to the Late Purple Mansion stage, with this same lineage Fifth Rank Demon King, the possibilities of breakthrough were significantly high!


    Such a display by Lin Shiming also attracted a lot of attention.


    Many cultivators sent sound transmissions to him, asking if they could exchange other materials.


    Lin Shiming shook his head, refusing each one.


    He also kept an eye on the stall owners, and just at that moment, one of the stall owners approached Lin Shiming.


    "Fellow Daoist, I have a piece of news that is worth your four treasures!" This person wore a spirit-blocking black veil, their face unclear but their voice was extremely hoarse.


    "Oh, what news?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "This piece of news will definitely meet your desires, but I can only reveal it after we have exchanged, otherwise you might reconsider!"


    Clearly, this cultivator thought that Lin Shiming, upon hearing it was about a Fifth Rank Demon King, would back off.


    After all, Lin Shiming''s cultivation was only at the Late Purple Mansion stage.


    But just at that moment, a monk from Thousand Buddhas Island approached.


    "Amitabha, for this Ziji Tan and Fourth Rank puppet, this monk will exchange two thousand-year-old Thousand Changes Fruits!"


    This statement immediately made the cultivator anxious!

 Chapter 922 - 567: Split Soul Fruit, Dimen Sect Leader (Two in One)

    "Bald donkey, I was clearly the first one to make an offer!" The cultivator was anxious; he had given up his stall to come here, just for the Fourth Rank Spirit Puppet and Ziji Tan.


    Now, seeing it about to be snatched away by someone else, he was naturally unable to contain his anger!


    "If you couldn''t agree on a price, am I not allowed to outbid you?" The monk retorted.


    "This benefactor has set a fixed price; if you can''t meet it, am I not allowed to pay it?" The monk''s words left the man speechless.


    However, he then looked towards Lin Shiming:


    "Do you dare to trade for the information about a Fifth Rank Mantis?" The person communicated in secret.


    "Moreover, I guarantee you don''t know of the mantis''s spoils. You should know that Demonic Beasts always have Companion Spirit Medicine, right?"


    "It''s doable if it''s clearly marked; everything can be traded!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    "Although you say it''s information about a Fifth Rank Mantis, it''s just a piece of information and can only be traded for one treasure!" Lin Shiming firmly said.


    As he spoke, Lin Shiming also released his Cultivation Level, indicating that he was only at the Purple Mansion stage.


    "Trade it for a Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Puppet then!" The hoarse-voiced stall owner was silent for a while before finally making the swap.


    Of course, when trading, he glared viciously at the monk; if it wasn''t for the monk, he would have demanded at least two treasures from Lin Shiming.


    And he was also very interested in the monk''s treasures.


    To think it was even a two-thousand-year-old Thousand-Change Fruit, a name not just for its varying color and shape, but because it''s essential for many Spirit Pills.


    What''s rare about this Spiritual Medicine is its age.


    It has stringent growth requirements, and if the environment isn''t up to par, it would mature and fruit prematurely.


    And a two-thousand-year-old Thousand-Change Fruit can be used in Sixth Rank pill formulas, where the Nascent Transformation Pill specifically requires a two-thousand-year-old Thousand-Change Fruit.


    Of course, this Thousand-Change Fruit is just a secondary ingredient and can even be substituted.


    Therefore, the efficacy of the Thousand-Change Fruit is priced like a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spiritual Medicine.


    To trade for a Ziji Tan and a Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Puppet could be said to be a loss.


    Seeing that Lin Shiming had completed the trade with the stall owner, the monk''s face also looked quite unsightly:


    "Benefactor, this Ziji Tan is far from enough!"


    "Rest assured, Master, I never said it was just one Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Puppet!" Lin Shiming shook his head and took out another Spirit Puppet.


    This Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Puppet can now be produced by the Lin Family, and though it might not compare to those from Qian Ji Island, it wouldn''t be much worse.


    For those with slightly weaker combat power, a Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Puppet is more precious than a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Magic Artifact.


    After all, you might not always be able to use a Magic Artifact, but give Spirit Stones to a Puppet and it will work.


    "This Thousand-Change Fruit, take good care of it, no returns once you leave the stall!" After inspecting the Ziji Tan and the Fourth Rank Inferior Grade Puppet, the monk also spoke up.


    Lin Shiming glanced at it, felt that there were no issues, and considered the transaction complete.


    But afterwards, Lin Shiming did not pack up his stall, he continued trading, dealing in Spiritual Medicine, still the supplementary materials for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    And then, he managed to trade for another supplementary material.


    Lin Shiming was quite satisfied with this, and he also checked the information in the Jade Slip.


    It was about a Fifth Rank Middle Stage Twelve-Winged Demonic Mantis.


    And the guarded herb was actually a Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade Split Soul Fruit.


    This Split Soul Fruit provided even greater enhancement to cultivators than the Ziji Tan.


    However, this Split Soul Fruit tree produces only one fruit per tree, and once it matures, the tree will wither, and a new, smaller tree will sprout in its place, beginning a new cycle.


    For Lin Shiming, this Split Soul Fruit was not of much use, especially since he was already at the Golden Core Late Stage with strong Divine Sense.


    But for Lin Shitao, it was an exceptionally precious treasure, as her Divine Sense was already far beyond the Purple Mansion Late Stage due to her cultivation of the Soul Fusion Secret Tome and the use of Ziji Tan.


    Now, giving her the Split Soul Fruit could further enhance her chances of breaking through to the Golden Core stage.


    Of course, for Lin Shiming, a Minor Divine Ability fruit tree would be ideal!


    One Minor Divine Ability could increase the chances of breakthrough by ten percent.


    However, of course, Minor Divine Ability fruit trees are even more cherished.


    This auction, he would also keep an eye out for treasures useful for the family''s Purple Mansion cultivators.


    As dusk approached, Lin Shiming managed to trade for a few more Soul-Suppressing Stones.


    Nowadays, the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda has become one of the Lin Family''s more popular Magical Treasures.


    Basically essential for Purple Mansion cultivators, it can extract souls and has decent power, and it''s a set Magical Treasure. It''s just that the Lin Family''s Pure Spirit Vein is not abundant enough to cultivate each one with the Treasure-Nurturing Technique.


    After Lin Shiming finished trading, he went looking for Lin Zehong and others at the Foundation Establishment stalls.


    Lin Yanxing and Lin Changxing were quickly found, both of whom also looked quite satisfied.


    It seemed they had traded for some decent treasures.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Yanxing and Lin Changxing called out one after the other.


    "Let''s go, I''ll bring you to experience the auction again next time!" Lin Shiming said.


    Lin Zehong and Lin Zeli were found at the last Foundation Establishment Middle Stage stall.


    But now, the stall owner seemed quite reluctant to sell.


    At this moment, the three were arguing fiercely over a jade bracelet, all red-faced and in high spirits.


    Upon seeing Lin Shiming''s arrival, Lin Zeli quickly approached him.


    "Seventh Uncle, this stall owner reneged after we agreed on a price!" Seeing this, Lin Shiming roughly understood the character of the stall owner.


    Many cultivators here ensure their safety since this is a large market.


    So when they see some naive young descendants, they would bring out treasures that they themselves cannot identify.


    After negotiating a price, they would either jack the price up on the spot or refuse to sell.


    It was only Lin Zehong''s every expression that gave it away.


    And with just a quick glance, Lin Shiming noticed that the jade was double-layered, with the surface being a defensive Magic Artifact, and, unexpectedly, it held a secret within.

 Chapter 923 - 567: Split Soul Fruit, Dimen Sect Leader (Two in One)_2

    "Don''t think you can just rob me because you''re at the Purple Mansion cultivation level. Today, it''s either five thousand intermediate-grade Spirit Stones, or no sale at all!" The stall owner gritted his teeth as he spoke.


    Quite a few people also gathered around to watch.


    But when Lin Shiming came over, the stall owner''s face was filled with bitterness.


    His gaze was vacant.


    Because at that moment, Lin Shiming''s cultivation level was obviously radiating outwards.


    Here, Purple Mansion cultivators aren''t much, so the stall owner wasn''t afraid, but upon seeing Lin Shiming, he instantly recognized him.


    Instantly, he regretted his actions.


    And repeatedly knelt down begging for mercy:


    "Miss, please take this Spirit Jade as a gift!"


    Right at that time, a voice also rang out in Lin Shiming''s mind.


    "Daoist Lin, how about a meeting at the Shanshan Inn on Coral Island?"


    Lin Shiming was taken aback, and upon looking at the stall owner again, some understanding dawned on him.


    "Zeli, you take Zehong, Yanxing, and Changxing back home first!"


    Afterwards, Lin Shiming also headed outside the market.


    The Shanshan Inn was located next to the market and was the largest inn on Coral Island. Many of the external Purple Mansion powers stayed here.


    When Lin Shiming went up to the third floor and found a table near the window, soon a middle-aged cultivator with his face covered entered.


    The cultivator sat down naturally opposite Lin Shiming and took out a jug of very peculiar wine.


    The wine was dark red with purple mist drifting above it.


    As soon as the wine was uncovered, a strong fragrance wafted towards them.


    "Daoist Lin, may I borrow a few cups?" the middle-aged cultivator asked as if he was well acquainted.


    Lin Shiming did not hesitate and took out two cups. He wanted to know what this cultivator was hinting at!


    "First let me introduce myself, the master of the Dimen of Tianzhao Sect, Cao Yuran. Cao Taisheng is also my younger brother!" The middle-aged man leisurely poured wine for Lin Shiming, which gave Lin Shiming quite a shock with his revelation.


    It should be known that the Coral Alliance and Tianzhao Sect are currently in a state of war.


    The Coral Alliance wants an explanation from Tianzhao Sect, but naturally, Tianzhao Sect won''t just show up to be killed.


    This Dimen master would not possibly come just to beg for mercy.


    But stalling for time seemed highly likely.


    "To my knowledge, this time the aspirations of Red Leaf True Person will be in vain. Golden Thunder Island has already gone to Chi Shan True Person. As a branch of Golden Thunder Island, it seems that Lin Family and Red Leaf Island will be dividing the Red Leaf Archipelago and the Lanling Archipelago!"


    "But what does this imply, Daoist Lin surely doesn''t need me to spell it out!" Cao Yuran spoke calmly, leisurely pouring wine, yet the news he relayed was incredibly startling.


    Lin Shiming squinted his eyes, releasing all of his Divine Sense, but still wasn''t able to see through Cao Yuran.


    He thought of Cao Taisheng''s Renmen.


    This Cao Yuran surely had the Dimen with him.


    Obviously, it was at the level of an incomplete Spiritual Treasure, and might even be no worse than his own Sword Storing Book.


    Yet the news the other party spoke of, he had to admit, was indeed a possibility.


    From what he had seen on Coral Island.


    This alliance might truly become a Sect this time.


    This ceremony had external enemies, had pressure, and at the same time, Xue Shan True Monarch had absolute military power!


    He only needed to use his might to slightly coerce others.


    It might just result in a great rebellion!


    And this time, Xue Shan True Monarch really might use Red Leaf Island and Lin Family as objects of pressure.


    The reward was still the Lanling Archipelago.


    But anyone with a discerning eye knew, Red Leaf True Person really wanted the Golden Thunder Archipelago.


    The gap between the two was too vast.


    And as for the Lin Family, they would either go to Lanling Archipelago, or it would be Ye Family of Red Leaf True Person going to Lanling Archipelago.


    This clearly was an unreasonable reward.


    But this move of openly rewarding while secretly demoting truly served Coral Island''s interests the most.


    And it might be possible that before long, Coral Island would begin to form major marriage alliances!


    Merging the talented younger generations of all the major families, either through matrilineal marriages or matrimony.


    Gradually, it would no longer be an alliance, but a Sect just like Chi Lan Sect!


    That would be like cutting the flesh with a blunt knife, step by step!


    As long as Coral Island did not have a second Nascent Soul cultivator, they could not change this situation.


    Lin Shiming''s eyes narrowed, and he paused. The middle-aged man was not in a hurry, as he slowly sipped on the purple Spiritual Wine!


    Behind him, some mist started to form, filling the whole room with it.


    Mystical, with a hint of something eerie.


    "Daoist Lin, won''t you try this Purple Illusion Sky Smoke?"


    "This is the only fifth rank superior grade Spiritual Wine from Tianzhao Sect, consuming it allows a Cultivator to temporarily master a Minor Divine Ability of heavenly smoke, free from the Binding of the Heavenly Dao and Sect''s Jade Book!"


    "Moreover, this heavenly smoke can also be concealed, truly miraculous!" The middle-aged man spoke again.


    But Lin Shiming remained unmoved.


    This caused the middle-aged man''s expression to change slightly.


    "If Daoist Lin needs to consider, then do so. If you agree to serve as a covert agent for Tianzhao Sect, the Lin Family can obtain a territory as large as two Red Leaf Archipelagos!" Having said that, the middle-aged man walked towards the outside of the room, leaving the wine on the table.


    Lin Shiming still did not move, but the wine on the table had been taken into his Cave Heaven from afar.


    He admired Cao Yuran''s boldness.


    But in that moment, he truly hesitated.


    If the wine really had that effect,


    Then at that time, it''s likely that the majority of Golden Core True Persons of the Coral Alliance would be unbound.


    The Sect agreement of Coral Island would turn into empty words.


    And the entire Coral Alliance would be in danger from within!


    As for reporting this to Xue Shan True Monarch, that was unquestionable; not a single person would snitch.


    Because the constraints that Xue Shan True Monarch would set by the Sect''s Jade Book and Heavenly Dao vows could greatly limit each True Person!


    The benefits are still protecting the interests of their own islands.


    That was what Xue Shan True Person promised in the beginning, but the obligations may change as well.


    That is the clever maneuver of Xue Shan True Monarch.


    Lin Shiming looked at the bustling crowd and felt more and more that the world of Immortal Cultivation is just an even bigger jianghu (martial world).


    Only, how difficult it is to step out of it.


    He didn''t drink the Purple Illusion Sky Smoke, but instead took out some Monkey Wine.


    The taste of Monkey Wine has been improved countless times by the Lin Family.


    It''s sweeter and more fragrant.


    After drinking two mouthfuls, he left the room and headed towards Welcoming Lin Palace!


    No matter what, Lin Shiming wasn''t in a hurry.


    He had system prompts; he could take greater initiative.


    That was his biggest weapon.


    And in his opinion, it was highly probable that the Heavenly Gate Sect Master of Tianzhao Sect hasn''t broken through to Nascent Soul, a bit too anxious!


    Once his mind was made up, Lin Shiming crossed the streets. On leaving, he also entered a shop and bought several auxiliary materials for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    Only this time, the age of the materials he bought wasn''t sufficient.


    But to Lin Shiming, as long as they could still be planted, age wasn''t a problem!


    The variety and quantity of treasures on Coral Island also broadened Lin Shiming''s horizons; there were fourth rank and fifth rank Magical Treasures available, including fifth rank Array Plates, though they were all quite ordinary treasures.


    If Lin Shiming wanted to buy better ones, he was told he needed to attend an auction.


    He nodded his head in understanding, not irritated, as this was within his expectations.


    If so many good treasures were circulated out, that would be the greatest failure of the auction.


    Lin Shiming returned to Welcoming Lin Palace.


    At the entrance, Lin Zehong and Lin Zeli were facing the wall as punishment.


    "What happened to you both?" Lin Shiming asked with curiosity.


    "Uncle Seven, mother said we must face the wall and reflect upon our mistakes!" Lin Zehong spoke.


    "You did nothing wrong, go back and rest!!" Lin Shiming spoke from a distance.


    This time, the stall owner changed the price, probably by the will of the Dimen Sect Master.


    And these treasures were brought out specifically to wait for Lin Shiming.


    "That treasure within the jade is a piece of fourth rank Rosy Cloud Jade, able to refine fourth rank Magical Treasures and fourth rank Jade Talismans!" Lin Shiming added as he was leaving.


    Yu Jing was the highest skilled in crafting talismans within the Lin Family, so this Spirit Talisman could be left for Lin Zehong to handle himself.


    "Zeli, here I''ve bought a Sword Dao Secret Technique; give it a try!" Lin Shiming then took out a Jade Slip.


    Inside the Jade Slip was a secret technique for condensing a Heavy Sword of a thousand weights, a fine technique within the Sword Dao, perfectly suited for Lin Zeli''s use!


    "Thank you so much, Uncle Seven!" Lin Zeli eagerly accepted it.


    In the following time, Lin Shiming stayed within the Welcoming Lin Palace.


    Quietly practicing the Kuimu Sword Canon, according to this routine, the future days were unlikely to be as calm as imagined.


    And on the next day, system prompts indeed flashed first, unsurprisingly concerning the secrets of the Purple Illusion Sky Smoke Spiritual Wine.

 Chapter 924 - 568: Move After the Spiritual Wine, The Meeting Begins (Two in One)

    [The Spiritual Wine of Purple Illusion Sky Smoke you have obtained can block the perception of Heavenly Dao oaths, but please note that you must use at least a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Fire to evaporate the Spirit Insect Gu hiding inside!]


    As soon as the system prompt appeared, Lin Shiming''s eyes also became sharp, sure enough, the master of Dimen from the Tianzhao Sect was up to no good.


    He gave away Spiritual Wine of Purple Illusion Sky Smoke that could shield the effects of Heavenly Dao oaths, but it was setting a trap for all the True Persons.


    Very few people have even heard of this Spiritual Wine of Purple Illusion Sky Smoke, let alone know about the Spirit Insect Gu within it.


    Moreover, the Purple Illusion Sky Smoke did a great job of masking the scent inside.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense finally noticed something different, seeing some red mist inside the purple wine bottle.


    These mists contained no trace of life, but they were the eggs of the gu insects, just waiting for the master of Dimen to activate them from his end, allowing the gu insects to come to life.


    To rekindle life force.


    By that time, it is estimated that the gu insects would have already entered the cultivators'' bodies, hiding in some vital places.


    Even if someone else discovered the issue inside, there would be no way to expose it once they had taken the Spiritual Wine of Purple Illusion Sky Smoke.


    After all, exposing it would mean being associated with the Tianzhao Sect.


    If nothing is said now, the future may be uncertain.


    The current situation of the Coral Alliance is indeed very delicate.


    Lin Shiming summoned the Red-haired Demon Monkey, which had become much calmer now and was engulfed in a four-colored flame.


    As if it was born from fire, it appeared extraordinarily mystical.


    Among the four-colored flames, the red flame was the most domineering, and when it burned fiercely, even Golden Core Cultivators dare not face it head-on.


    Of course, with the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s strength, it could not fully unleash the power of the red flame, but only limit it superficially.


    Now, the aura of the Red-haired Demon Monkey had surpassed the Golden Winged Mantis.


    Once it completely refines the red flame, it might just break through to the Late Stage of the Purple Mansion.


    By then, advancing to Golden Core would be possible.


    "Red-haired, bake this spiritual wine a bit!" said Lin Shiming as he took out the Spiritual Wine of Purple Illusion Sky Smoke.


    Since he knew the Coral Alliance would make him and the Ye Family choose between Lanling Island and the Red Leaf Archipelago,


    the Lin Family couldn''t possibly sign his Heavenly Dao oath in earnest.


    Otherwise, they would be constantly restrained by Coral Island in the future, which isn''t greatly beneficial to the development of the Lin Family.


    So the Spiritual Wine of Purple Illusion Sky Smoke was quite necessary.


    After all, Lin Shiming was quite reassured by the system''s prompt.


    "Rest assured, Master. In no more than ten days, I can make the Spirit Insect Gu in this wine disappear!" The Red-haired Demon Monkey inspected the Spiritual Wine of Purple Illusion Sky Smoke but really couldn''t locate the so-called gu insects.


    So the original estimate of three days was stretched to ten days.


    There was still time to prepare.


    After all, Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense was at the Golden Core Late Stage, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s Divine Sense, probably wasn''t even at the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement.


    He was extremely confident in the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s Spiritual Fire.


    Following that, Lin Shiming''s days became calmer, guiding the younger generation when he had time and understanding their gains from the market this time.


    He suddenly realized that it was still possible to pick up overlooked treasures, but now that Lin Shiming had advanced to the Golden Core Middle Stage, his system wouldn''t alert him to many treasures.


    This subtle change felt very miraculous to Lin Shiming.


    This time, among the younger generation, the biggest gains were not made by Lin Zehong, but Lin Changxing, who acquired a piece of Water Soul Jade for five thousand Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones.


    This Water Soul Jade was very similar to the Water Light Jade, including the state of Spiritual Energy, but its value was nearly ten times less.


    The Water Soul Jade could heal Water Attribute cultivators'' Divine Souls, whereas Water Light Jade was for increasing cultivators'' Spiritual Power.


    It was also precisely because Lin Changxing had a Heavenly Spirit Root that he felt a connection and acquired it.


    However, Lin Changxing''s disposition was the exact opposite of Lin Zehong''s: the former was calm and composed, while the latter was carefree.


    Ironically, she did not much resemble a female cultivator!


    But Lin Shiming held both juniors in high regard; the former shouldn''t have a problem reaching Golden Core, while the latter, with such a strong talent for Spirit Talisman, would be greatly nurtured by the Lin Family.


    Besides guiding the younger generation, Lin Shiming spent the rest of his time refining the Spirit Patterns for his Divine Palace of Thoughts.


    Because these Spirit Patterns were more complex and numerous, Lin Shiming was indeed very busy.


    Every time he refined a Spirit Pattern, he felt a sense of achievement and joy.


    Moreover, he felt that once the Divine Palace of Thoughts was complete, his Secret Technique of Divine Soldiers would truly reach fruition.


    At that time, its power would be incomparably greater.


    With his other methods, by then, Lin Shiming might not even need to draw his sword against a Golden Core Late Stage Divine Soul, as long as the opponent wasn''t known for their Divine Sense.


    Such days continued until the eighth day,


    when a Spirit Talisman flew out from one side and landed in Lin Shiming''s hands.


    This Spirit Talisman was precisely sent by Red Leaf True Person.


    Her small trade meeting had begun.


    As a guest of honor, Lin Shiming naturally had to attend.


    And the location was right within the Heavenly Leaf Palace, conveniently next door.


    The trade meeting, if on Coral Island, could not escape the oversight of the Zhao Family from the Coral Island.


    Therefore, Red Leaf True Person simply chose to have it at the Heavenly Leaf Palace.


    This was more straightforward and was almost a direct statement that she wanted Golden Thunder Island.


    Lin Shiming approved of Red Leaf True Person''s actions; after all, there was no need for the Lin Family to skulk in secrecy.


    Moreover, it would be a chance to test the intentions of Coral Island.


    Red Leaf Island hosting this trade meeting meant they wanted a clear stance.


    And for the Lin Family, the goal was to support the Ye Family of the Red Leaf Archipelago, while in exchange, obtain a certain amount of treasures.


    Of course, the most important thing was to establish resource contacts with other inner islands.

 Chapter 925 - 568: After the Spiritual Wine, The Minor Meeting Commences (Two in One)_2

    For instance, trading the daughter of the Lin Family, Lin Shitao, for Ziji Tan or for a Fourth Rank Spiritual Puppet from Tianji Island.


    Or trading for Dragon Blood Shrimp from Yutong Island and so on...


    Although Lin Shiming had previously made a breakthrough to Golden Core, and most of the True Persons from the other inner islands had attended his Golden Core ceremony, at that time he was still in the capacity of an island lord of an outer island subordinate to the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    And the spiritual objects the Lin Family privately traded for using Lin Shitao were mostly at a discounted exchange.


    This was because the strengths were not equivalent, and also because previously, the Lin Family could not bypass the restrictions imposed by the Ye Family of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Now it''s naturally different. With the Lin Family''s strength, plus the acquisition of Welcoming Lin Palace alone, the situation has dramatically turned around.


    The trading meeting is set one day later, and Lin Shiming also begins organizing his Storage Bag.


    Among Golden Core True Persons, Lin Shiming is not considered wealthy, mainly because the Lin Family has not been developing for long, including Lin Shiming''s breakthrough to Golden Core which was just fifty or sixty years ago.


    This time, Lin Shiming apart from exchanging for materials needed for the Nascent Transformation Pill, is only trading for some other Spirit Talismans, and he will also exchange for treasures that could be useful for future generations of his family.


    As for the materials to trade, Lin Shiming could think of not many; he has several Fifth Rank Magical Treasures, but few could be traded.


    For instance, the Flame Dragon Shield, the Wind-Calming Pearl engraved with star patterns, and the Xu Ri Sword, these treasures are not something that can be put on the front for trading.


    To trade them would cause embarrassment for the other party.


    Especially for Red Leaf True Person, it would be even more difficult to save face.


    After all, Xu Ri True Person was previously the ruler of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    And he also perished due to a failed breakthrough retreat.


    Now having these treasures appear in Lin Shiming''s hands is naturally not a trivial matter.


    And among other treasures, the Three Heavens Command and the Crane Shadow Boat also couldn''t be taken out, as they belong to Yunli True Person from Tianzhao Sect.


    Out of the remaining Superior Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasures, Lin Shiming naturally would not trade the Sky-Trapping Bowl, Extreme Blood Needle, or Profound Cold Pearl, as these were treasures he needed for himself.


    Moreover, the Void Bottle was a reward from Coral Island and couldn''t be traded either.


    Although his Green Fish Mirror and Sky-Trapping Bowl had overlapping functions, even if Lin Shiming were to give the Green Fish Mirror to other cultivators in the family, it would still be beneficial.


    This treasure could lock the void, preventing some escape tactics, making it more convenient to eliminate future troubles.


    It would be a pity to trade it away.


    The inner cores and materials of the Flood Dragon Clan are also extremely precious to Lin Shiming.


    After all, now that a Fifth-Order Flood Dragon Demon King has emerged in the Lin Family, if Dragon Island fails to respond in time, it wouldn''t be Dragon Island anymore.


    At this time, the Lin Family need not pretend and can openly nurture the Flood Dragon Clan to enhance the family''s strength.


    It''s just that no one knows when the next Golden Dragon Fruit Tree will mature.


    These Flood Dragon inner cores and materials are naturally not something Lin Shiming wishes to trade away.


    That leaves the Spirit Medicine Resources, of which Lin Shiming still has some.


    For example, the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit trees, a type of Spirit Fruit that is almost non-existent in the Southern Sea.


    It can also extend one''s lifespan by nearly a hundred years, and is regarded as a Supreme Grade material for extending life.


    Because the Nascent Soul is no longer out of reach, many Golden Core Cultivators have kindled a higher aspiration for enlightenment.


    As a result, the value of life-extending spiritual medicines has significantly increased in recent years.


    Besides, the price of spiritual medicine over three thousand years old has also risen a lot.


    As for Netherworld Heavy Ironwood, Lin Shiming also has several trees, but this wood can be used to create Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppets, and naturally, he is not keen on trading it away.


    However, regarding Demonic Path magical treasures, Lin Shiming then recalls that in his Cave Heaven, there is still a Storage Bag from a Heavenly Demon True Person, which he has yet to inspect.


    Although this Heavenly Demon True Person, like Liu He True Person, was also a user of demon treasures, a Golden Core True Person from the Blood Cultivation Sect might show up this time.


    Lin Shiming is quite interested in this.


    Shortly after, a Storage Bag appears in his hand.


    The space within the Storage Bag is beyond imagination, as big as Welcoming Lin Palace, and it houses numerous wooden shelves and compartments.


    There are as many as six thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Among the treasures, the first to catch the eye are eight huge Heavenly Demon Banners.


    These Heavenly Demon Banners are somewhat similar to the Myriad Beasts Banner, but after studying them, Lin Shiming discovers that these Heavenly Demon Banners seem to be imitations of the Myriad Beasts Banner.


    After all, the true Myriad Beasts Banner, with its condensed myriad beast shadows, could continuously devour souls to grow stronger.


    While these Heavenly Demon Banners, upon absorbing the spirit shadows of demons, only increased in quantity, not quality.


    Unless the demons refined into it were of a high level to begin with.


    Of course, these eight Heavenly Demon Banners were only one short of being able to deploy the Heavenly Demon Sealing Sky Great Formation.


    However, even after collecting all the Jade Slips, Lin Shiming did not find any trace of this great formation, and besides, controlling these Heavenly Demon Banners required Demonic Cultivator''s cultivation techniques.


    It can be completely used to trade treasures with the cultivators from the Blood Cultivation Sect.


    Besides the Demon Treasure, there are also two shields.


    These two shields, while on Coral Island, have even resisted the Tianliu Sword from Tianliu True Person.


    Named Seven-Injuries Shield, when the shield is unfolded, seven fierce ghost faces appear, enhancing defensive strength.


    However, both shields only just reach the intermediate grade of the fifth rank, which does not help Lin Shiming much at present.


    Lin Shiming continued to look and found within the Storage Bag, there were also three 3,000-year-old Netherworld Heavy Ironwood.


    Lin Shiming planned to use this Netherworld Heavy Ironwood to refine fifth-rank inferior grade Spirit Puppets.


    But currently, the Lin Family does not have a cultivator who can refine fifth-rank Spirit Puppets, and since he also has a few left in his Storage Bag, they can similarly be taken out to trade.


    As for the other treasures, they are almost all damaged Magical Treasures.


    The Qiu Xue Sword was too strong, and many Magical Treasures were destroyed.


    Lin Shiming also briefly glanced at the Jade Slip, but clearly, the Heavenly Demon True Person did not bring the sect''s secret manuals.


    Instead, he obtained a Secret Technique for the Life-Replace Blood Escape Technique.


    This Life-Replace Blood Escape Technique was the Blood Escape Secret Technique the Heavenly Demon True Person used to flee Coral Island that day.


    This Secret Technique is by preparing in advance by sacrificing blood to a demon, then during escape, sacrificing the demon, thus enabling a blood escape to thousands of miles away.


    Moreover, there is no need to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Sect''s Cultivation Techniques.


    This made Lin Shiming secretly take note.


    He could prepare it when he had time in the future.


    Lin Shiming put down the Storage Bag, then also relaxed.


    Although he might not be able to trade for great Magical Treasures tomorrow, he can still make a trade.


    And the materials for the Nascent Transformation Pill, Lin Shiming is not in a hurry for now.


    After all, he now has the most important Nascent Transformation Fruit, and his Cultivation Level is only at the Golden Core Middle Stage, and it will probably take nearly a hundred years to make a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul.


    And for Lin Shitao to reach close to the level of a sixth-rank Alchemist, there is still a long distance to go.


    As time passed, the next day quickly arrived.


    Lin Shiming headed towards the Heavenly Leaf Palace.


    The Heavenly Leaf Palace, compared to the Lin Family''s Welcoming Lin Palace, had some red phoenix carvings, which only suggested that the phoenix and vermilion bird, these True Spirits, were slightly inferior.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming shook his head regarding the master plan of Coral Island.


    He only felt that Coral Island was a bit hasty at the moment.


    It wasn''t yet the end of their tether, after all, Tianzhao Sect was still around.


    "Daoist Lin, my aunt is waiting for you in the hall!" the niece of Red Leaf True Person, Ye Zimei, said.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiming also nodded and proceeded towards the hall.


    In the hall, it is now quite spacious, and many tables have been set up.


    And beside the tables, there are already many figures present.


    Such as Zhao Yulin, Yunli True Person, also Red Leaf True Person, and many other True Persons from the respective islands.


    Qian Ji True Person did not come, but Profound Mechanism True Person arrived instead.


    Seeing Lin Shiming coming in, Profound Mechanism True Person also clasped hands in greeting.


    "Sorry to have kept senior sister waiting, I had some insights and was delayed for a while!" Lin Shiming did not expect that recently, he would actually be the last to arrive.


    "No worries, we are still waiting for Chi Shan True Person!" Red Leaf True Person shook her head.


    It''s still not the agreed time yet, so naturally, it doesn''t matter who comes early or late.


    And after hearing Red Leaf True Person speaking, Lin Shiming also nodded; Red Leaf True Person was indeed meticulous in her actions.


    Chi Shan True Person was the person who initially promised the reward.


    Now that Red Leaf True Person has invited her over and Xue Shan True Monarch failed to show up, it''s clear she wishes to revert to the situation where Chi Shan True Person made the decisions without Xue Shan True Monarch''s presence.


    However, it became clear that Red Leaf True Person''s hopes were dashed as a Jade Slip appeared in the air, and the Jade Slip recorded that Chi Shan True Person had urgent matters to handle!


    She had to break the appointment for today!


    Of course, Lin Shiming suspects that maybe Chi Shan True Person only received Red Leaf True Person''s invitation this morning.


    Red Leaf True Person had a look of disappointment on her face, but she quickly adjusted!


    "Ladies and gentlemen, this time I invited everyone here for three purposes; firstly, to invite everyone to taste the new Spiritual Tea we''ve acquired on Red Leaf Archipelago, secondly, about the questions everyone has been asking about the production of the Red Daughter''s goods, with Daoist Lin present, you can feel at ease inquiring!


    "And lastly, it''s to consider engaging in some trading before the True Monarch ceremony so everyone may exchange for more desirable treasures that can be gifted at the ceremony, perhaps even gaining an opportunity from the True Monarch!"

 Chapter 928 - 571 True Monarchs Appear Together (Two in One)

    At the foot of Coral Mountain, the crowd surged.


    Along the way, large red lanterns hung high, each not containing a light, but a Spirit Formation made from Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, causing the concentration of Spiritual Power in the air to reach its peak once again.


    Lin Shiming, along with the Lin Family members, were also astonished by this luxurious act.


    The pathway to open the mountain had not been opened yet, and the auspicious time had not arrived.


    However, the spiritual mists had already begun blossoming in the sky, intermittently falling and merging into the bodies of some fortunate cultivators.


    These spiritual mists are formed through the combination of Spirit Formations and Spiritual Medicine, equivalent to an Elixir full of Spiritual Energy.


    Every time such an opportunity occurred, the cultivators would bow on the spot, thanking the True Monarch for his gift.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, this is far more luxurious than your Golden Core ceremony!" Lin Zehong couldn''t help but mutter beside him.


    Glared at by Lin Zeli.


    "This is a True Monarch ceremony, probably the grandest Coral Sea Domain will see in a century!" Lin Shiming declared.


    This True Monarch ceremony has not officially begun yet, but the Spirit Stone lanterns, the spiritual mist blessings, and the various offerings from mystical creatures have already appeared.


    Once it officially begins, it will likely cause even more of a sensation.


    This relates to the first True Monarch as well as the generosity of the Coral Alliance.


    If the Lin Family were to have a True Monarch and hold a ceremony now, they couldn''t achieve even half of this grandeur.


    "Don''t think about anything else, prepare well, today the Lin Family comes to also straighten out the Inner Island''s qualifications!" Lin Shiming told Lin Zehong and Lin Zeli and two others.


    This competition required these four to participate, and while they didn''t necessarily need to come out on top, they must at least demonstrate the Lin Family''s prowess.


    Otherwise, if they truly didn''t win a single event, future dealings with other Inner Island powers would become very passive.


    "Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Zeli and Lin Zehong were the first to pledge, patting their chests.


    "Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    "Yes, Seventh Ancestral Uncle!" Lin Yanxing and Lin Changxing also nodded repeatedly.


    "Junior Brother Lin!" From a distance, Red Leaf True Person and Zhao Yulin brought their clan members over too, though the former greeted while Zhao Yulin merely gave a cold look, which also counted as a greeting.


    Lin Shiming returned the courtesies one by one.


    As time progressed, the number of cultivators at the base of the mountain kept increasing, reaching over ten thousand!


    And mind you, this is the main island, where only Foundation Establishment cultivators are allowed; only a few exceptionally talented Qi Cultivators were brought here.


    These tens of thousands of Foundation Establishments are naturally enough to cause a sensation.


    This is still without Coral Island deploying a spiritual screen to project the image of Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivators from the sub-islands here, otherwise, the spectacle would be even more magnificent.


    The sky gradually began to resonate with the sound of bells, which sounded divine, one chime after another.


    Then, a high-pitched dragon''s roar was heard, and the next moment, a Fifth Rank golden dragon appeared from afar, landing on the peak of Coral Mountain, bellowing loudly!


    Fierce golden light, like a long-lasting sun.


    Magnificent and heroic!


    Following the dragon''s offering, the sea also began to stir, and a huge sky-blue tortoise emerged from the sea, its tail extremely long, resembling the Profound Tortoise!


    After the giant tortoise finished its offering, next came a crimson Fifth Rank Chi Xia Bird and a Fifth Rank Bai Yu Tiger.


    All with Fifth Rank combat power.


    Although not the true Four Divine Spirits, Suzaku (the Vermilion Bird), Baihu (the White Tiger), Qinglong (the Azure Dragon), and Xuanwu (the Black Tortoise), having bloodlines reaching such a level was sufficient to showcase the foundation of Coral Island.


    After the four beasts, it was followed by a chorus from hundreds of beasts.


    And Chi Shan True Person also descended in the sky, shouting:


    "The auspicious time has arrived, the True Monarch ceremony formally begins!"


    After Chi Shan True Person, there were more than a dozen True Persons, forming two rows, spreading across the mountainside.


    As the True Persons emerged, at the very back, a figure in a blood-red Daoist robe also appeared.


    This figure was not unfamiliar to Lin Shiming, as he had seen Xue Shan True Person on Purple Sun Island and Red Leaf Island.


    But upon meeting again today, the other party had already become a senior True Monarch.


    His cultivation aura was profound and unfathomable, even a glance from Lin Shiming felt a tremendous pressure.


    This pressure was something that even the Qiu Xue Sword could not provide.


    Of course, this could also be related to Xue Shan True Person releasing part of his aura; otherwise, such an existence, even if Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense made another breakthrough, would still only see emptiness.


    "Congratulations, True Monarch!" Everyone spoke in unison, like thunder.


    The sound waves crossed the islands, spreading to the sea, stirring countless waves.


    Xue Shan True Monarch did not speak, but it seemed as though he had already said countless words.


    Coral Mountain began to open, and cultivators started heading towards the peak.


    Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators and Foundation Establishment powers presented gifts, merely making a mark in the ceremony register, without even a cheer!


    And the lowest level of cheer was from Purple Mansion powers and Purple Mansion cultivators.


    "Red Fish Island Hermit presents a Fourth Rank Golden Peach Fruit, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on a successful Immortal Path!"


    "Thousand Lakes Island Hermit presents three Fourth Rank Water Abyss Crystals, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on a successful Immortal Path!"


    "Chenglin Island Tailin Hermit presents three Fourth Rank Golden Spiritual Treasures, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on a successful Immortal Path!"


    ...


    Chants of congratulation resounded one after another, as more cultivators walked towards the peak.


    Atop the mountain, there were now nine pathways, enough to accommodate countless cultivators climbing simultaneously.


    Every congratulating cultivator possessed Purple Mansion cultivation.


    And on those mountain paths, those cultivators suddenly changed their expressions, then were thrilled and continuously congratulated the True Monarch.


    Each one felt that the journey was well worth it.


    The entire process was very rapid, and spiritual mists in the sky began to appear even more frequently and densely.


    Even Lin Zehong was quite fortunate to be favored by the spiritual mists.


    The young girl smiled very happily and even declared that she also wanted to present a gift.

 Chapter 929 - 571 True Monarchs Appear Together (Two in One)_2

    Lin Shiming approached and felt the Ling Ze, indeed equivalent to an intermediate-grade, third-rank Spirit Pill, and there was no need for immediate refinement.


    The gesture from Coral Island was truly generous!


    As half an hour passed, a group of True Persons also started walking towards the middle of the mountain.


    This was the main path, and also the tenth mountain trail for ascending.


    It signified that the extreme number nine was surpassed, and the ceremony for the Nascent Soul True Monarch was complete.


    This was also the route for Golden Core True Persons and Golden Core powers to ascend the mountain.


    The first to ascend were the True Persons from the three lowest of the Twelve Inner Islands and those Loose Cultivator True Persons.


    "Yutong Island''s Yutong True Person specially bestows one fifth-rank Dragon Blood Shrimp Demon King and several Dragon Blood Shrimp eggs, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    "Yutong Island''s Profound Cloud True Person specially bestows one fifth-rank Red Blood Ginseng, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    Yunli True Person was the one cheering this time, his voice echoing like the laws of the Heavenly Dao, spreading throughout the entire island.


    At this moment, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, and to the bewilderment of everyone present, a Thunder Tribulation Pool formed and bestowed the baptism of the Thunder Tribulation Pool upon the group from Yutong Island!


    Simultaneously, the rosy clouds in the sky intensified, turning into a crane that headed towards the group from Yutong Island!


    This scene shocked all cultivators, even Lin Shiming was astounded.


    This appearance of the Thunder Tribulation Pool was far more terrifying than imagined.


    However, in the next moment, Lin Shiming realized that this Thunder Tribulation Pool was not a real one, but an anomaly of rosy clouds condensed from thunder-attribute treasures.


    Of course, this anomaly of the Thunder Tribulation Pool also amplified the physique of cultivators!


    One after another, True Persons continued to ascend the mountain, but the underlying strength of Coral Island indeed surpassed everyone''s expectations.


    Lin Shiming even believed that Coral Island might be in sole control of a fifth-rank secret realm ¨C otherwise, relying solely on the manifest Purple Sun Secret Realm and Heavenly Grade Secret Realm in the Coral Sea Domain could not have achieved this level.


    Furthermore, the place where Xue Shan True Monarch achieved breakthrough deserves deep thought.


    Of course, while they were talking, Red Leaf True Person Zhao Yulin also began to move.


    "It''s our turn now, absorb more from the Thunder Tribulation Pool later!" Lin Shiming transmitted his voice to several juniors; the spiritual pool and Spirit Shadow were naturally useless to him.


    For Purple Mansion and Foundation Establishment, the uses were tremendous.


    Since the treasures were already presented, if the Ling Ze and Spirit Shadow were not absorbed, they would be reclaimed by the formations at the foot of the mountain.


    "Qian Mu True Person from Shuangmu Island of the Lin Family presents a fifth-rank Intermediate Grade Fire Elemental Fruit, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    "Qian Mu True Person from Shuangmu Island of the Lin Family presents a fifth-rank Fire Elemental Fruit, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    Yunli True Person shouted twice, also signifying that the Lin Family now qualified to join the middle tier of the Twelve Inner Islands!


    Two Thunder Tribulation Pools appeared in the sky, and two rosy Spirit Cranes approached Lin Shiming and his group of seven!


    Lin Shiming hardly absorbed any of the rosy light; Lin Shirong and Lin Zeshang, responsible for business, also absorbed little, but they did absorb some.


    The bulk, however, remained with the four individuals Lin Zeli and others.


    This also showcased their talents; Lin Yanxing absorbed the least, while Lin Changxing absorbed the most.


    Spirit Light was abundant for a moment, as if ready to break through once again!


    To know, Lin Changxing was currently at the peak of the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, and another breakthrough would be the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment!


    And because Lin Yanxing was already in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, although he encountered a bottleneck, there now seemed to be a sign of loosening!


    Moreover, they discovered that this stairway path was not ordinary either; it contained an inexplicable Spirit Might, which could refine the cultivation level of Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators!


    "Red Leaf True Person from Red Leaf Island of the Ye Family presents a fifth-rank superior-grade Ziji Tan and a pot of fifth-rank Bi Jing Wine, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    "Red Leaf True Person from Red Leaf Island of the Ye Family presents a fifth-rank superior-grade Ziji Tan and a pot of fifth-rank Bi Jing Wine, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    "Red Leaf True Person from Red Leaf Island of the Ye Family presents a fifth-rank superior-grade Ziji Tan and a pot of fifth-rank Bi Jing Wine, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    The cheers from Red Leaf True Person came in three waves, and Yunli True Person was extremely excited; three Thunder Tribulation Pools and three red rosy Spirit Cranes appeared in the sky.


    "Profound Mechanism True Person from Qian Ji Island presents a fifth-rank mid-stage Spirit Puppet, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    ...


    "Yulin True Person from Tianliu Island presents three fifth-rank intermediate-grade Endless Wood, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    ...


    Then came Zhao Yulin and Qian Ji True Person.


    They also had three cheers each, and three Thunder Tribulation Pools.


    It could be said to be a powerful display, which took a long time to subside.


    The top three islands of the past have now changed to one, with Golden Thunder Island being replaced by Red Leaf Island.


    This filled Red Leaf True Person with immense joy!


    And after all the True Persons had left, distant dragon shadows began to emerge, followed by the silhouettes of Flood Dragons appearing amidst the sea fog, until finally, a full nine Flood Dragons appeared above the sea surface.


    Following the nine Jiaolongs was a thirty-foot-long golden chariot.


    This spectacle shocked everyone present.


    Nine dragons pulling a chariot, and moreover, these nine were all fifth-rank intermediate-grade Flood Dragons of various colors.


    After the chariot pulled by the nine dragons, several True Persons were seen arriving on the backs of several Flood Dragons.


    Among them, Lin Shiming recognized some acquaintances, such as Fengxing True Person and Lan Feng True Person.


    Then, inside the golden chariot of nine dragons must be Nine Dragon True Monarch.


    "Nine Dragon Island''s Nine Dragon True Monarch presents a fifth-rank juvenile Flood Dragon, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    "Nine Dragon Island''s Nine Dragon True Monarch presents a fifth-rank juvenile Flood Dragon and a stalk of a fifth-rank supreme grade celestial blood ginseng aged eight thousand years, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    ...


    Ten consecutive announcements echoed throughout Coral Island.


    Lin Shiming''s expression changed dramatically, as expected, other True Monarchs from the Six Great Powers of the South Sea had already appeared.


    This Nine Dragon True Monarch, neither participating in the last beast tide catastrophe nor in this one, was clearly preparing for a breakthrough.


    And today, surely enough, he had become a Nascent Soul True Monarch.


    It is known that if there is news of a Flood Dragon appearing in the Lin Family, especially a Tribulation Transcending Flood Dragon, it must be due to the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree.


    If Nine Dragon Island were to suddenly make trouble, there could indeed be a problem!


    At this moment, Xue Shan True Monarch finally took a step forward and invited Nine Dragon True Monarch up the mountain.


    Nine Dragon True Monarch had a stunningly beautiful appearance, resembling a youthful prince with a dragon crown, exuding a regal aura.


    In comparison to Nine Dragon True Monarch, the remaining True Persons of Nine Dragon Island also presented their gifts, though their presence was significantly less imposing.


    In the sky, a total of nine Thunder Tribulation Pools appeared, along with nine spirit crane shadow images heading towards the nine Flood Dragons.


    This scene astounded countless cultivators!


    Following the arrival of Nine Dragon Island, soon after, the sound of Buddhist mantras could be heard as monks riding upon fifth-rank Thunder Roc Birds approached from afar.


    The leading monk had a face full of Buddha''s light and an aura of profound serenity, far surpassing fellow cultivators.


    Lin Shiming felt the pressure enveloping him.


    Yunli True Person once again excitedly cheered:


    "Thousand Buddhas Island''s Golden Light True Buddha specially presents a fifth-rank supreme grade Buddha map, and a ten-zhang Cave Heaven, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"


    In Buddha Sect, True Monarchs are also called True Buddhas, highlighting the true essence of the Buddha Sect.


    This time, the same ten cheers rang out to the heavens.


    Nine more Thunder Tribulation Pools appeared again.


    The True Persons present had been wondering why Xue Shan True Monarch had not responded to them, but now it seemed, Xue Shan True Monarch was waiting for his peers.


    The other True Persons from Thousand Buddhas Island also began to speak out in celebration.


    Of course, for Lin Shiming, this spectacle seemed somewhat eerie.


    After all, the True Monarchs from the other six sea domains had never before held a True Monarch ceremony, yet today, they were all gathered here.


    To attend the True Monarch ceremony of Xue Shan True Monarch.


    Naturally, he did not believe that all these True Monarchs had made their breakthrough recently.


    They should have long since stabilized.


    Lin Shiming also thought of the master of Dimen.


    A wry smile couldn''t help but appear on Lin Shiming''s face.


    The master of Dimen had taken so much trouble, infiltrating Coral Island, probably because the master of Heavenly Gate was making a breakthrough.


    Wanting to delay the time, going by this trend, it seems likely that the six sea domains might be reduced to five, or even four!


    If True Monarchs have emerged on Thousand Buddhas Island, then surely Blood Cultivation Sect must have them too, and the Demonic Sect in this respect would not fall behind.


    Sure enough, as a series of blood-red banners appeared in the distance, followed by an eeriness of chilling smiles:


    "Blood Cultivation Sect''s Demon Blood True Monarch presents a fifth-rank Minor Divine Ability fruit, and a fifth-rank Demon Soul Crystal, congratulating Xue Shan True Monarch on the great achievement in the Immortal Path!"

 Chapter 930 - 572: Additions, Sword Waterfall (Two in One)

    On Coral Island, at this moment, the figures of the four True Monarchs stand tall like three majestic mountains.


    They resemble the gods of the entire island, overseeing everything on it.


    Atop Coral Mountain, the tolling of bells resounds again, accompanied by various ceremonial music, featuring flutes and guzhengs!


    This is a melodious tune, symbolizing dignity and, more importantly, an offering to the heavens!


    Above in the skies, it is now covered with numerous dawn lights and Thunder Tribulation Pools.


    Because of the abundance of Thunder Tribulation Pools, some haven''t even fully transformed into Thunder Tribulation before they burst forth.


    Upon careful observation, one would realize that these Thunder Tribulation Pools are essentially the evolution of a thunder attribute Spiritual Medicine, further empowered by a Formation.


    But without a doubt, the appearance of these three True Monarchs signifies a grand gesture by the Coral Alliance.


    It also establishes the new Six Great Powers of the Southern Sea, and it''s uncertain whether it''ll still be six powers in the future.


    The development of a Fifth Rank Golden Core Family might suffice with one marine region, but a Sixth Rank Nascent Soul Family undoubtedly needs more resources and better Spirit Veins.


    Therefore, foreseeing the outcome for Tianzhao Sect is possible for Lin Shiming; paradoxically, Tianzhao Sect has no means to respond, and at the same time, Lin Shiming thinks of Chi Lan Sect which also did not have a True Monarch present.


    The next moment, a giant phoenix appears in the distance, terrifying flames like ignited red dawn, lighting up the horizon of the sea.


    All eyes turn toward it, but on the mountain peak, the figures of the four True Monarchs remain ethereal.


    Clearly, the absence of a True Monarch from Chi Lan Sect is sensed by Lin Shiming as well.


    Currently, his Divine Sense is strong even among those in the Golden Core Late Stage.


    "Chi Lan Sect''s Tianlan True Person particularly presents a piece of Superior Grade Fifth Rank Soul Revival Wood, one Superior Grade Fifth Rank True Yang Umbrella, one Superior Grade Fifth Rank Infernal Blaze, and one Superior Grade Fifth Rank Eternal Peach, to congratulate Xue Shan True Monarch on his great achievement on the Immortal Path, and to honor all True Monarchs!" Yunli True Person calls out again.


    This succession of announcements shocks everyone, as such treasures are beyond valuation.


    Superior Grade Fifth Rank Soul Revival Wood can nurture spirits and refine souls, and it can also be used to craft Superior Grade Fifth Rank Divine Sense Magical Treasures; the True Yang Umbrella is slightly more common.


    The Infernal Blaze, on the other hand, is a flame even more formidable than the Red Dawn Flame.


    The Eternal Peach can extend one''s life by three hundred years, and for cultivators whose end of life is approaching, this treasure is comparable to a Sixth Rank Magical Treasure.


    After all, life span is priceless!


    "We beg forgiveness from the senior True Monarchs, as our Chi Lan elder uncle recently had a breakthrough and is still in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation!"


    "He cannot congratulate the senior True Monarchs in time!"


    Tianlan True Person speaks towards the mountain peak.


    Her tone is neither servile nor overbearing, and she pulls out a Jade Slip from her hand.


    "We are well aware of elder Chi Lan''s situation, no worries, once the ceremony concludes, the noble nephew will also bring some healing sacred medicine from Coral Island to reinforce!" Xue Shan True Monarch says.


    This is also the first time Xue Shan True Monarch has spoken.


    With this statement made, Tianlan True Person repeatedly expresses gratitude.


    It was also received by Chi Shan True Monarch, taking the entire True Monarch ceremony to its climax.


    As for Tianzhao Sect, all cultivators understand well, Tianzhao Sect could not possibly appear on Coral Island.


    Under the prosperity of Coral Island, the expressions of other True Persons of the Coral Alliance vary; some who had accepted Red Leaf True Person''s Biji Tea are now deliberately keeping their distance.


    As if they do not acknowledge the events of that day.


    Of course, Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person don''t have many remedies for this situation either.


    To leave room, they only conducted talks over tea last time, which wasn''t officially binding.


    Lin Shiming now sees disappointment and hesitation on the face of Red Leaf True Person.


    After all, now that Xue Shan True Monarch is getting closer to other True Monarchs, does she still have the leverage to demand Jin Lei Island?


    In the mountain peak, the shadows of the four True Monarchs have become quite indistinct, and even for a True Person like Lin Shiming, the True Monarchs are exceedingly distant.


    Unable to see their faces, one can only feel their powerful True Yuan and aura.


    "The ceremony begins, please, fellow Daoists and young friends, take your seats!" Xue Shan True Monarch speaks again.


    The cultivators then start to take their seats, with specific places for True Monarchs, Golden Core True Persons, and seats for the family members and descendants of Golden Core True Persons.


    As for the Purple Mansion Family and cultivators, they are seated further down.


    Once everyone is seated, many cultivators from Coral Island begin to arrive at Coral Mountain, carrying various Spiritual Dishes and Spiritual Wine.


    For the table of Lin Shiming and other True Persons, each has a jug of Fifth Rank Red Blood Jade Spiritual Wine and a serving of Fifth Rank Spirit Swordtooth Fish.


    For the family members, the offerings are slightly less premium, but still include Fourth Rank Spiritual Wine and Spirit Fish.


    But considering the sheer number of cultivators from six marine regions, the spectacle is unprecedented.


    Lin Shiming can anticipate how grand the auction following the ceremony and the crucial Golden Core trade will be, looking forward to it with eagerness.


    "Junior Brother Lin, try this Red Blood Jade Spiritual Wine; the last time I had it was on Coral True Person''s birthday!" Red Leaf True Person remarks with a sigh.


    Meanwhile, her expression relaxes noticeably, indicating she won''t bring up the matter of Jin Lei Island again.


    All her previous schemes now seem naive to her in light of current circumstances.


    The times have changed.


    Seeing Red Leaf True Person like this, Lin Shiming also smiles knowingly, pouring himself a cup and then standing to pour one for Red Leaf True Person.


    He then pours for Profound Mechanism True Person and other male True Persons before turning to Zhao Yulin.


    "This Red Blood Jade not only aids in strengthening vitality but also greatly benefits the consolidation of True Yuan, especially with a taste that seems to carry a light, ethereal essence of the ocean floor, suitable for Junior Sister Zhao as well!" Seeing Lin Shiming hesitate, Red Leaf True Person explains from the side.

 Chapter 931 - 572: Additions, Sword Waterfall (Two in One)_2

    Zhao Yulin also looked at Lin Shiming, her eyes shimmering like sapphires from a millennium-old snow mountain.


    Lin Shiming felt rather awkward as he poured a cup of wine for Zhao Yulin.


    "Today, this cup is a toast to honor all fellow Daoists here, and to congratulate the esteemed True Monarch!" Lin Shiming raised his glass and drank it down in one gulp.


    Unlike Spiritual Tea, which requires careful savoring, experiencing the flow of the tea at the tip of the throat.


    Spiritual Wine, on the other hand, is all about enjoying the drink heartily.


    With one gulp, it was as if one could hear the great fish of the deep sea; that momentary sense of transcendence intoxicated Lin Shiming as well.


    Furthermore, the tremendous influx of Spiritual Energy entered his body, automatically activating the Kuimu Sword Canon, swiftly refining the True Yuan.


    If Lin Shiming felt this way, it goes without saying that the other True Persons at this moment were also brimming with Spirit Light, looking content and composed.


    Including Zhao Yulin, whose cheeks were slightly flushed, an extraordinary allure.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, since it''s a ceremony, it must include some competition among the juniors as an added highlight; today shall be no different!" The Nine Dragon True Monarch from Nine Dragon Island was the first to speak up.


    And with that remark, he turned his gaze towards Fengxing True Person.


    "Xue Shan True Monarch, I happen to be acquainted with the Lin Family of Shuangmu Island, why not let one of my juniors take the lead?" Fengxing True Person said.


    As he spoke, a cultivator at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage stepped forward from behind him.


    And he was directly targeting Lin Zeli.


    "Esteemed seniors, I am Xu Pingzhi from the Feng Long (Wind Dragon) Island of Nine Dragon Island, and I specially request the honor of showing my gift of battle!"


    Lin Shiming''s eyes narrowed, conveying a terrifying prescience.


    He had not anticipated that, even at the Coral Island ceremony, Nine Dragon Island would still refuse to change its ways.


    "Junior Brother Lin, be careful. If it doesn''t go well, Red Leaf Island will take over!" Red Leaf True Person said.


    Clearly, this Nine Dragon True Monarch had hostile intentions.


    The female cultivator from Red Leaf Island, not only possessing a Heavenly Spirit Root but also a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, believed she was not inferior to this Xu Pingzhi.


    "Uncle Qi, I, Zeli, am willing to accept the challenge. Today, let him be my sword sharpening stone!" Lin Zeli volunteered to step forward, not the slightest bit intimidated!


    Just like the first words of the Lin Family''s Preaching Hall: honor must be fought for by oneself. If a Sword Cultivator cannot even face oneself and challenge the limits, then one does not deserve to wield a sword.


    "Granted!" Lin Shiming nodded his head.


    He also had great confidence in Lin Zeli.


    "If there are problems, release your Spirit Beast!" This time it was a whispered transmission.


    Lin Zeli''s Spirit Beast was a Blue Flood Dragon, though it recently advanced, it still possessed considerable combat strength.


    Lin Shiming said this because he was certain Xu Pingzhi had a Fourth-Order Jiaolong.


    As for fear, Lin Shiming was not afraid, unless the Xue Shan True Monarch sought to alienate his peers!


    Lin Shiming also had his trump cards!


    Just now, he inquired with the Qiu Xue Sword, and the sword informed him that these four were not true Nascent Soul Cultivators!


    Because they have yet to comprehend the real domain of a True Monarch.


    "Daoist Lin, how about spicing things up with a wager?"


    "An inner core of a Fifth-Order Jiaolong?" Fengxing True Person spoke up again.


    "There''s no need for an additional wager!" Lin Shiming refused without hesitation.


    To him, an additional wager was not necessary, as it would only increase the pressure on Lin Zeli.


    As for treasures, Fengxing True Person was unlikely to offer a Nascent Transformation Pill, so why should he ask for one!


    Fengxing True Person apparently did not expect Lin Shiming to refuse so quickly, wanted to say something, but eventually did not speak.


    At this moment, True Person Chi Shan from Coral Island took out a square large seal, which, once placed on a distant open ground, transformed instantaneously into an arena spanning dozens of spans.


    "This arena is a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure. Both participants can unleash their full potential, but as this is just a ceremonial gift, please restrain from injuring each other seriously!" True Person Chi Shan said.


    Both stepped onto the arena, while all cultivators atop Coral Mountain also turned their gaze this way.


    "I am Lin Zeli of the Coral Alliance''s Shuangmu Island, please enlighten me!" Lin Zeli waved her hand gracefully and made a courteous gesture, then she grasped a Qinglin (Green Forest) Sword, a magical treasure.


    This Green Forest Sword treasure was forged by Lin Shizhong after he broke through to the Fourth Rank Artifact Refiner; it was an upgraded magical treasure version of the Iron Forest Sword!


    For the Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family, they each now possessed one, including Lin Shiming.


    Besides the Green Forest Sword, Lin Zeli took out a Soul-Suppressing Pagoda treasure, placing it behind her, and then no other magical treasures were visible.


    To sword cultivators, this is what truly defines a sword cultivator.


    As for Lin Shiming himself, he never admitted to being a sword cultivator.


    After all, he lacks the aloofness typical of sword cultivators.


    In his opinion, any means that can defeat the enemy is a good method.


    "Daoist Lin, I am a beast tamer. I''ve heard that the Lin Family is of the green snake lineage, so feel free to unleash your full power!" Xu Pingzhi spoke up.


    Then, with a flip of his Spirit Beast Bag, a Crimson Flood Dragon landed behind him.


    This Crimson Flood Dragon was at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage of cultivation; man and beast charged towards Lin Zeli.


    Xu Pingzhi''s magical treasure was a Qiankun Circle Treasure, accompanied by several wooden vine treasures.


    It was somewhat similar to the combat methods previously used by Lin Shiming.


    Xu Pingzhi let out a cold shout, and the Qiankun Circle Treasure was the first to encircle Lin Zeli.


    At the same time, countless vine tendrils headed towards Lin Zeli, all spells activated in an instant.


    Lin Zeli''s face did not change in the slightest upon seeing the multitude of vines and the Qiankun Circle approaching.


    She raised her hand, and in an instant, countless golden sword shadows appeared, rolling forward.


    When these Sword Qi struck the Qiankun Circle Treasure, they released a dense golden light, and behind the golden glow, a Sword Lotus seemed to emerge, unfurling in a dispersing manner.


    The Qiankun Circle Treasure was sent flying, and the countless vine treasures were likewise sliced into golden Spirit Light!


    And yet, it split into two beams of sword light: one heading towards Xu Pingzhi and the other slashing at the Crimson Flood Dragon waiting to sneak attack.


    "Sword Qi Condensed Threads!" Xu Pingzhi looked at the several notches left on the Qiankun Circle.


    He instantly became extremely cautious.


    He then took out another magical treasure from his hand, a string of twelve Silver Needle treasures!


    However, what Lin Zeli''s Sword Intent feared least was being besieged!


    Those dense and numerous golden sword shadows were akin to a gigantic sword waterfall!


    This scene even made Lin Shiming raise his eyebrows in surprise.


    It seemed Lin Zeli had come into contact with the same Sword Intent that he was now in touch with.


    Although it was only a hint of its embryonic form, this direction was even more correct than the one he had taken before!


    Clearly, with the addition of three new Sword Pavilions to the clan, Lin Zeli and the others'' swordsmanship talents had become even more formidable.


    On the platform, Lin Zeli wielded her sword again, while the Crimson Flood Dragon, enduring the sword Qi attack, lunged at Lin Zeli with an open maw, spewing intense flames!


    However, the terrifying flames turned into a fire dragon were directly split in two by the Lotus Sword Light.


    The final strike landed on the Crimson Flood Dragon.


    At this moment, the twelve Silver Needle treasures shot towards the back of Lin Zeli''s head.


    Following the Silver Needles, Xu Pingzhi again wielded his Spirit Beast Bag, seemingly about to release another Spirit Beast!


    But just then, a streak of light flashed across Lin Zeli''s feet¡ªnone other than the Wind Chasing Boots, once a treasure of Lin Shiming, had clearly been exchanged by Lin Zeli from the clan treasury.


    In an instant, Lin Zeli''s speed reached a terrifying climax, as she fiercely brandished her sword, bringing forth a sword waterfall several meters long right in front of Xu Pingzhi.


    Xu Pingzhi couldn''t help but be greatly shaken, and from his Spirit Beast Bag emerged a Fourth Order large python!


    However, the python collided with the sword waterfall, and in no time, numerous Lotus Sword formations appeared, tearing the python apart.


    The final blow landed at Xu Pingzhi''s forehead.


    Meanwhile, behind Lin Zeli, the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda trapped the Great Demon Crimson Flood Dragon.


    No matter how much the Crimson Flood Dragon struggled, it could not escape.


    "I yield!" Lin Zeli spoke calmly, already holding two Superior Grade Spirit Stones in her hand.


    Even though Lin Zeli exhibited terrifying combat power, she was still at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, and in terms of Spiritual Energy, she was not as abundant as Xu Pingzhi.


    Xu Pingzhi''s face turned red with shame; although reluctant to admit it, he still lost, and lost thoroughly at that.


    Lin Zeli hadn''t used any Spirit Beasts, whereas he had used both the Crimson Flood Dragon and the large python.


    "Lin Zeli wins!" Chi Shan True Person announced the result.


    Fengxing True Person''s face was extremely unsightly, realizing that he had underestimated the Lin Family''s sword cultivators!

 Chapter 934 - 575: Slaying True Monarch for Fun (Two in One for Monthly Votes)

    Atop Coral Island, a scarlet flamingo appeared upon the mountain peak.


    Even as night drew near, the sky still blazed like the midday sun, casting an extraordinarily brilliant light.


    The cultivators on the mountain peak were all rubbing their hands in eagerness, reaching the zenith of excitement at this moment.


    They originally thought that the True Monarch''s teachings would be the greatest opportunity, but now, they even had the chance to observe a contest of spells between True Persons.


    All were rejoicing in their hearts.


    Getting to Coral Island was no easy task. Aside from preparing gifts, one also had to prepare Spirit Stones for teleportation. Some cultivators had to teleport from distant places, passing through several islands¡ªjust the teleportation fees alone cost them a pretty penny.


    "Use my treasure, I have a Fifth-Rank Demon-suppression Seal made from a Fifth-Rank Chi Gold Fire Crystal!" Golden Light True Buddha also spoke up at this moment.


    The duel between two True Persons naturally couldn''t use the platform used before.


    Otherwise, they would have to duel in the open sea.


    However, such a duel in the sea wouldn''t carry the same significance as the True Monarch''s gift-giving event.


    Of course, it''s called a Demon-suppression Seal, but in reality, its suppression effect on the Demonic Path isn''t so significant¡ªit''s just that on Thousand Buddhas Island, the name is more popular.


    If one were to go to the market there, it would be possible to find a thousand different Demon-suppression Seals and magical treasures.


    Once the Demon-suppression Seal appeared, it hovered over Coral Mountain, and Xue Shan True Monarch also waved their hand, adding another layer of Array around the perimeter of the Demon-suppression Seal.


    In this way, there would be no risk of the energy spilling out.


    Of course, at this time, it was under Xue Shan True Monarch''s gesture that Chi Shan True Person spoke:


    "Fellow Daoists on Coral Mountain, as well as on Coral Island, the battle between Golden Cores is bound to be of grand scale, please take caution!"


    After Chi Shan True Person finished speaking, Lin Shiming and True Person Youyun both climbed onto the Demon-suppression Seal.


    The two stood facing each other, and an aura of tyranny began to surge violently between them.


    "Qian Mu of the Coral Alliance''s Lin Family, I look forward to your guidance!"


    "Youyun of Nine Dragon Island, please enlighten me!"


    Following the two polite remarks, True Person Youyun was the first to slap his Spirit Beast Bag, and two Fifth-Order Flood Dragons appeared.


    Of the two Flood Dragons, one was a Thunder Flood Dragon and the other an Ice Flood Dragon.


    The Thunder Flood Dragon was fifty zhang in length, and the Ice Flood Dragon thirty zhang. The enormous Flood Dragon heads rivalled the size of a small house.


    "They''re Flood Dragons that have transcended tribulations!" Lin Shiming had already anticipated that Youyun might have assembled many Flood Dragons from Dragon Island.


    Now on seeing them, he still frowned deeply!


    Although both Flood Dragons were of intermediate Fifth Rank, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say they could match a late Golden Core.


    Apart from the Flood Dragons, True Person Youyun also took out five Beast Ring Treasures.


    "Roar!" With a ferocious dragon roar, the Thunder Flood Dragon darted into the sky, with countless thunder clouds beginning to gather, evidently brewing a more terrifying thunderstrike.


    In contrast, the Ice Flood Dragon, with a flick of its tail, sent an ice crystal storm billowing towards Lin Shiming to engulf him.


    Correspondingly, the five Beast Rings were also pushed to their ultimate performance.


    All five Beast Rings were superior Fifth-Rank magical treasures, which indicated that True Person Youyun''s Divine Sense was also formidable!


    "Go!" Lin Shiming now also brought out a snow-white ice pearl; this ice pearl was the superior Fifth-Rank magical treasure¡ªthe Profound Cold Pearl.


    The Profound Cold Pearl emitted a terrifying coldness, not the least bit inferior to that of the Ice Flood Dragon.


    The aura of profound coldness collided with the Ice Flood Dragon''s ice crystal storm, and in an instant, numerous ice sculptures appeared in the space.


    In the face of the five Beast Rings, Lin Shiming then made a grand gesture, swinging out the Taiyi Grass Sword.


    A field of sword shadows emerged behind Lin Shiming, and with a Heaven-Slaying strike, it swept down!


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    A series of thunderous explosions sounded as countless grass sword lights appeared on the five Beast Rings, shattering the beast shadows within the rings continuously.


    Even though they reformed, they could only end up shattered eventually.


    The Taiyi Grass Sword had been nurtured by his Sword Pill, ascended to the status of an inferior Fifth-Rank existence, but by virtue of being a Lifebound Treasure, it could exert the power of an intermediate Fifth-Rank.


    With the enhancement of Sword Intent, in a flash the five superior Fifth-Rank Beast Rings were unable to approach him.


    "A Sword Cultivator beyond the Sword Birth Myriad Laws Realm!" At this moment, True Person Youyun''s face also showed a trace of irritation!


    Lin Shiming''s troublesome nature had clearly exceeded his expectations.


    And Lin Shiming''s use of the Sword Field Heaven-Slaying technique also drew the attention of all the Sword Cultivators on Coral Island.


    Lin Zeli and Lin Yanxing were completely captivated!


    Compared to the Sword Intent within the Sword Pavilion, Lin Shiming''s swordsmanship stirred them even more, giving them the feeling of being oppressed by the Sword Dao amongst the sword field, which could provoke their own Sword Intent.


    And from it, they could learn much.


    "Roar!" Seemingly dissatisfied with Lin Shiming having the upper hand, the Thunder Flood Dragon let out a low growl, and suddenly numerous thunderbolts smashed down.


    These thunderbolts converged to form Thunder Spears, layered upon each other, having been nurtured within the thunder clouds for a long time.


    Lin Shiming, with a flick of his hand, drew out a Spirit Bowl, which upon leaving his hand expanded countless times, trapping the Thunder Flood Dragon along with the thunderclouds within it.


    The Thunder Flood Dragon struggled relentlessly, but the Sky-Trapping Bowl was not considered weak amongst superior Fifth-Rank magical treasures.


    Lin Shiming released Wang Jiao into the Sky-Trapping Bowl as well.


    At this moment, Wang Jiao''s form was not lesser than the Thunder Flood Dragon''s, and due to Bloodline Reversion and Tribulation Transcending, its Divine Skills were even more superior.


    Facing the Thunder Flood Dragon, there was not the slightest fear, but rather excitement as it let out a loud roar.


    From its mouth, it spewed terrible venom towards the Thunder Flood Dragon.


    Sizzle!


    A barrage of Thunder Spears flew out, striking the venom, and in an instant, arcs of electricity raged forth.


    But the Poisonous Dragon had already leaped to one side; its horns shooting out dark light,


    which enveloped the Thunder Flood Dragon, instantly slowing its speed considerably, especially as the Thunder Flood Dragon was still under the oppression of the Sky-Trapping Bowl!

 Chapter 935 - 575: Beheading True Monarch for Fun (Two-in-One, Request Monthly Ticket)_2

    The Poisonous Dragon seized the opportunity and swiftly flew over, mercilessly tearing with its sharp claws.


    Rip!


    A bloodstain appeared, but pulsating arcs of lightning instantly covered Wang Jiao''s entire body.


    This made Wang Jiao bellow in irritation!


    Lin Shiming was also surprised to see that Wang Jiao could still suppress the Thunder Flood Dragon with the Sky-Trapping Bowl.


    "Qian Mu, your beast taming skills are indeed formidable!" Youyun exclaimed with joy instead of anger at the sight of Wang Jiao''s appearance.


    This indicated that Lin Shiming truly possessed the Golden Dragon Fruit Tree!


    He then slapped his Storage Bag, and two small square seals flew out of it.


    These small seals transformed into two Flood Dragon Seals in mid-air.


    The souls of two Flood Dragons flew out from them, pressing down towards Lin Shiming.


    These seal Magical Treasures were more specifically aimed at Sword Cultivators than a Beast Ring.


    With a seal in front and another behind, even Lin Shiming found it hard to utilize his sword technique to its fullest extent.


    Meanwhile, the Ice Flood Dragon also recovered at this moment, clearly not suppressed by just one Profound Cold Pearl.


    Lin Shiming waved his hand, and a Spirit Puppet of the Golden Core Late Stage flew towards the Ice Flood Dragon for suppression!


    The movements of the Ice Flood Dragon were noticeably more agile. Against the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet, it was somewhat uncontrollable.


    After all, the strength of the Spirit Puppet was only equated to a typical Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, while the Ice Flood Dragon possessed strength beyond that of a usual Fifth Rank middle stage Flood Dragon.


    Under the control of True Person Youyun, the latter unexpectedly ended up in a tug-of-war with the Golden Core Late Stage Spirit Puppet.


    The Profound Cold Storm substantially reduced the Spirit Puppet''s speed.


    The Spirit Puppet, despite its strength in body cultivation and endurance, was momentarily suppressed by the Ice Flood Dragon.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming once again used the Profound Cold Pearl, and the situation improved slightly.


    The battlefield situation became greatly advantageous for Lin Shiming.


    Anyone with clear eyes could see that Lin Shiming was handling the situation with ease using just one sword.


    In contrast, True Person Youyun seemed to be running out of tricks.


    Even though he possessed many Magical Treasures, they ultimately lacked enough power.


    But Lin Shiming didn''t let his guard down, knowing well that True Person Youyun, daring to initiate this battle, must have been thoroughly prepared.


    The preparations he made were definitely significant.


    Otherwise, challenging him would be equivalent to handing over treasures.


    Given the cunning of Nine Dragon Island, they certainly wouldn''t make such a mistake.


    "Condense!" With a light shout, five Beast Rings unexpectedly formed a Magical Treasure Formation, adding two seals, and pressing down on Lin Shiming!


    Although previously unnoticed, he now discovered that these seven Beast Treasures actually encompassed the attributes of metal, wood, water, fire, earth, thunder, and wind from the seven attribute Flood Dragon Beast Treasures.


    This directly launched a Beast Formation!


    This Beast Formation also created a very special domain field.


    This domain field was somewhat similar to the domain field of Lin Shiming''s Sword Storing Book.


    It greatly suppressed cultivators. For a moment, Lin Shiming felt as if he were in a world of exotic beasts, with numerous beast souls pressing towards him.


    "You''ve been tricked!" True Person Youyun shouted loudly!


    While suppressing Lin Shiming, his body started to scale like a flood dragon.


    In the next moment, he transformed into a half-flood dragon individual.


    With his inherent strength of Body Cultivation at Golden Core Middle Stage, this transformation suddenly elevated him to the strength of Golden Core Late Stage Body Cultivation momentarily.


    Under his feet, streaks of Spirit Light appeared.


    Making his movements ghost-like, he instantly appeared before Lin Shiming, clawing towards him!


    "Clang!" With a crisp sound.


    Lin Shiming raised his hand, blocking True Person Youyun''s claw with a sword.


    The latter seemed incredulous, but soon he noticed that a faint Spirit Light had appeared beside Lin Shiming at some point.


    This Spirit Light was like a scroll.


    It countered the beast domain formed by his seven Magical Treasures, keeping it unaffected.


    "A Spiritual Treasure?" True Person Youyun was slightly puzzled.


    But there was no time for doubts.


    The next moment, a gigantic fist was already greeting him!


    Boom!


    True Person Youyun was struck by the fist and sent flying, continuously spitting blood in the air.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was also radiating with a full body of starlight, his fists even more intensely luminous!


    Just then, he had used the power of the Star Pearl!


    After breaking through the Golden Core Middle Stage, although Lin Shiming''s physical body had not made a breakthrough!


    But his understanding of how to apply the Star Pearl had deepened.


    [Please be careful of the Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Divine Soul Annihilation Talisman!]


    Just then, the system alert sounded.


    Lin Shiming''s eyes narrowed, he hadn''t expected this final killer move to come now!


    Nine Dragon Island is truly vicious!


    Using Spirit Talismans is one thing, but to use such a terrifying Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Talisman.


    It is known that by the standards of a genius cultivator, at the Golden Core Middle Stage, the Divine Soul reaches at most Golden Core Late Stage.


    Struck by this Spirit Talisman, the Divine Soul would likely dissipate instantly.


    It would lead to immediate death on the spot!


    The people of Nine Dragon Island clearly harbored a murderous intent!


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming employed the Sword Storing Book to protect his sea of consciousness.


    At that moment, True Person You Yun surged forward again, compressing towards Lin Shiming with five Beast Rings and two Beast Seals!


    Simultaneously, True Person You Yun also threw out two Fifth Rank Thunder Tribulation Beads.


    However, it was clear that the Fifth Rank Thunder Tribulation Beads were just a diversion.


    All of a sudden, he produced a Spirit Talisman in his hand and fiercely threw it towards Lin Shiming.


    The power of this Spirit Talisman made the cultivators outside the Formation tremble with fear.


    Some of the weaker Foundation Establishment cultivators even began to stagger!


    All the Golden Core cultivators on the field suddenly changed their expressions.


    Xue Shan True Person also turned to Nine Dragon True Monarch.


    "Nine Dragon, what is the meaning of this!"


    "If it''s a duel, naturally I will go all out!" Nine Dragon True Monarch blocked in front of Xue Shan True Monarch!


    It was just a moment.


    And on that side, dust settled!


    However, what shocked everyone was that the one remaining in the arena was not someone else, but Lin Shiming.


    Contrarily, Lin Shiming''s claw shattered True Person You Yun''s chest.


    The latter was dead beyond dead!


    The outcome of the duel was evidently determined!


    Everyone was dumbstruck, and the atmosphere on the field was extremely eerie!


    It was True Person You Yun who had taken out a powerful weapon, yet now, the tide turned, and it was You Yun who fell.


    True Person You Yun''s Storage Bag and Magical Treasure fell into Lin Shiming''s hands.


    Lin Shiming also wanted to go kill the Thunder Flood Dragon and Ice Flood Dragon!


    Just at that moment, a terrifying spiritual pressure from Nine Dragon True Monarch surrounded Lin Shiming.


    This spiritual pressure was like countless true dragons roaring towards him!


    Lin Shiming''s body began to tremble, under this terrifying pressure, he was nearly out of breath!


    The gap between Nascent Soul and Golden Core revealed itself once again; at this moment, Lin Shiming didn''t even have the thought to resist!


    Fortunately, at the last moment, Xue Shan True Monarch intervened, and Lin Shiming''s body, with lingering fear, managed to jump out.


    However, Nine Dragon True Monarch still showed no signs of relenting.


    "Xue Shan, this junior shows no respect for True Monarchs. He carried out a massacre during the ceremony of a True Monarch. Let me discipline him for you!" Nine Dragon True Monarch stood, crowned and overwhelming with power!


    A majestic nine-colored Spirit Light appeared, making him seem like an emperor.


    With a wave of his hand, golden light shot towards Lin Shiming!


    This golden light was quickly blocked by Xue Shan True Monarch!


    "What do you mean by this, Nine Dragon fellow Daoist?" Xue Shan True Monarch said coldly!


    Lin Shiming is representing Coral Island; at this moment, how could he let anything happen to Lin Shiming!


    Yet Nine Dragon True Monarch seemed as if he hadn''t heard, continuing his strike towards Lin Shiming!


    However, just at that moment, everyone felt a surge of crimson blood light appear.


    The hearts of everyone seemed to have a sword fall into them.


    Boom!


    A sword light indescribable, akin to the evening sunset, swallowed all darkness!


    Nine Dragon True Monarch''s figure was forced to retreat step by step, even after deploying the Nine Dragon Protective Divine Ability, he still kept retreating!


    The power of this sword was truly too terrifying!


    Even Nine Dragon True Monarch spat out a mouthful of fresh blood on the spot!


    With a pale face!


    True Monarch spits blood!


    Everyone was shocked to the core, and they also noticed that behind Lin Shiming, a crimson broken sword had appeared there.


    "Sixth Rank Soul Summoning Sword!" All True Persons and True Monarchs were profoundly shocked!


    Even Xue Shan True Monarch was slightly taken aback.


    Nine Dragon True Monarch and others were a bit incredulous!


    "I wonder, Xue Shan senior, if today you would like to assist in slaying a True Monarch to boost the spirit!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    At this moment, he was utterly domineering.


    This statement was also directed to Xue Shan True Monarch; clearly, Nine Dragon True Monarch did not regard Xue Shan True Monarch highly, blatantly making a move!

 Chapter 936 - 576: Compensation (Two in One)

    Atop Coral Mountain, the atmosphere at this moment is bizarre to the extreme.


    Nine Flood Dragons have appeared beside the Nine Dragon True Monarch.


    But at the realm of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, those Flood Dragons are merely for show.


    He is staring intently at the crimson sword behind Lin Shiming.


    Nobody knows what he is feeling at this moment.


    Meanwhile, Xue Shan True Monarch is also silent, neither agreeing nor refusing.


    Lin Shiming understood the mind of Xue Shan True Monarch quite well.


    True Monarchs like True Monarch Qiance celebrating with him is naturally welcome, after all, he could truly be considered the foremost among True Monarchs, and even the Golden Light True Buddha and Demon Blood True Monarch would be willing.


    Many cultivators are coveting the big piece of meat that is Nine Dragon Island.


    After all, that place can nurture Flood Dragons for the long term, on par with the Flood Dragon Clan in terms of grandeur.


    If they can slay the Nine Dragon True Monarch today, they will be scheming against not just the Tianzhao Sect, but also Nine Dragon Island.


    However, they are also unsure of the Nine Dragon True Monarch''s strength.


    So they remain silent, but if they see hope, they will directly join the fray and take a gamble.


    "I kindly ask senior to continue!" Seeing Xue Shan True Monarch remain silent, Lin Shiming knew there was still a chance.


    Following Lin Shiming''s telepathic message, the Qiu Xue Sword at this moment began to condense Sword Intent.


    Behind it, a lake of blood formed.


    In the Blood Sword Lake, countless blood-stained swords vibrated incessantly.


    As the sound of the swords trembling echoed, all cultivators felt as if their minds were filled with a vision of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.


    A horrific and bizarre group of Blood Swords sweeping through all life.


    In comparison to Lin Shiming''s Sword Domain, this Blood Sword Lake evoked a great response from Lin Shiming!


    This is a true Sword Domain!


    "Chi!" Under the trembling of the sword sound, the Blood Sword Lake surged towards the Nine Dragon True Monarch!


    Even at this moment, Lin Shiming felt that his Taiyi Grass Sword was somewhat affected.


    The Nine Dragon True Monarch''s face also changed greatly, as he took out a Golden Dragon Seal, which flew up. In an instant, nine dragons soared wildly.


    This Twin Flood Dragon Seal is the Lifebound Treasure of the Nine Dragon True Monarch, reaching the Supreme Grade of Fifth Rank!


    But how could a Supreme Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure stop the sixth-rank Qiu Xue Sword!


    Even if the sword is broken, the Sword Intent is real and solid.


    The nine true dragon shadows roared unwillingly before they were reluctantly split in half.


    The entire golden seal was knocked flying, and the Nine Dragon True Monarch had to use several more Magical Treasures to barely hold off the attack!


    This scene also made the already pale face of the Nine Dragon True Monarch look even more unsightly.


    As Qiu Xue Sword put it, although these True Monarchs had broken through to Nascent Soul, they lacked sixth-rank heritage and truly did not understand the might of a real Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    At most, they could only be considered a sixth-rank True Person!


    Seeing this, Xue Shan True Monarch almost stepped forward at the same time.


    In his hand appeared a crimson coralline fan.


    With a vicious wave of the coralline fan, red Heavenly fire burned across the sky, turning into countless crimson Fire Phoenixes!


    Rushing towards the Nine Dragon True Monarch!


    "Daoist Lin, Daoist Zhao, it is my fault. I am willing to make compensation!"


    "I hope we can avoid injury and maintain harmony today!" the Nine Dragon True Monarch pleaded repeatedly!


    At this moment, however, his gaze was fixed on the Demon Blood True Monarch.


    If we were to talk about the True Monarchs present, the one he feared the most was the Demon Blood True Monarch, a notorious hardliner.


    Now the resources in the Southern Sea are scarce, and all major clans are definitely vying for these resources to become a new force in the chaos.


    And the Blood Cultivation Sect has long coveted the Flood Dragons of Nine Dragon Island.


    However, both Qiu Xue Sword and Xue Shan True Person did not stop.


    The Nine Dragon True Monarch was insincere, apologizing and offering compensation but not mentioning any tangible treasures.


    Neither Lin Shiming nor Xue Shan True Monarch are a kind bunch, and wouldn''t be fooled by such trifling gestures.


    Lin Shiming knew that killing the Nine Dragon True Monarch today wasn''t likely, but causing him to retreat to heal serious injuries was achievable.


    Now was also an exceptionally critical time.


    "I am willing to provide a Thousand Year Immortal Ganoderma, and a Supreme Grade Fifth Rank Flood Dragon inner core!"


    "In addition, Nine Dragon Island will provide ten young Flood Dragon spawn for the Coral Alliance!"


    "And in the future, an additional one every hundred years!"


    The Nine Dragon True Monarch''s offer of compensation is quite sincere.


    Even Xue Shan True Monarch is visibly moved. A Supreme Grade Fifth Rank Flood Dragon inner core and an Eight Thousand Year Immortal Ganoderma are rare treasures in the world.


    As for obtaining sixth-rank items, neither Xue Shan True Monarch nor Lin Shiming had thought about it.


    After all, they themselves did not possess many sixth-rank items.


    So far, no True Monarch was seen wielding a sixth-rank Magical Treasure.


    Probably even if they had any, they would not easily bring them out.


    "I take an oath by the Heavenly Dao!" Seeing that both Qiu Xue Sword and Xue Shan True Monarch were not stopping, the Nine Dragon True Monarch quickly started making an oath by the Heavenly Dao.


    After the oath was made, Qiu Xue Sword and Xue Shan True Monarch finally stopped.


    The Nine Dragon True Monarch waved his hand, and instantly threw out three Jade Boxes; one of them flew towards Xue Shan True Monarch, the remaining two towards Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense flashed across the Jade Box, which furnished an Eight Thousand Year Immortal Ganoderma and a Seven Thousand Year Heavenly Soul Fruit.


    Both treasures were extremely important to Lin Shiming.


    His cultivation of the Kuimu Sword Canon was Wood Attribute Techniques, and the Heavenly Soul Fruit was one of the three main ingredients for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    Now he was only one Jade Spirit Marrow away from obtaining the main ingredients for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    This Jade Spirit Marrow and the Thousand Year Spiritual Milk were similar, except the Spiritual Milk was the essence of a Thousand Year Spiritual Milk.


    Whereas Jade Spirit Marrow is the essence of thousand-year-old Mystic Jade, almost unfindable in the Southern Sea.


    Nevertheless, acquiring these two precious treasures was enough to send Lin Shiming into raptures of joy.


    And yet, his gains were not limited to these two treasures.


    He had also slain True Person Youyun, among which were the Superior Grade Fifth Rank Five Flood Dragon Rings, and the Twin Flood Dragon Seal.

 Chapter 937 - 576 Compensation (Two in One)_2

    All of them top-tier Magical Treasures.


    Even, two Jiaolongs have now fallen into the hands of Lin Shiming.


    The Thunder Flood Dragon and the Ice Jiaolong were also slain on the spot by the Qiu Xue Sword.


    Now that the Nine Dragon True Monarch has left, naturally, they could only end up in Lin Shiming''s hands.


    After all, Lin Shiming triumphed in a battle of spells.


    The one who initiated the deadly move was True Person Yunli, with a Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Soul-breaking Spirit Talisman, which without a Supreme Grade Divine Sense Magical Treasure, almost inevitably leads to death.


    After casting the magical treasure, Nine Dragon True Monarch directly left with a flick of his sleeves.


    At this moment, as the other party''s face has been lost, naturally, they would not stay.


    For Lin Shiming and Xue Shan True Monarch, the two main treasures have already been secured, and they are not afraid of Nine Dragon True Monarch reneging.


    Even without a Heavenly Dao oath, he would still send over the remaining Jiaolong hatchlings.


    After all, for Nine Dragon Island, Jiaolong hatchlings aren''t particularly difficult; what''s difficult is nurturing them to Fourth Rank and Fifth Order Jiaolongs.


    "Let the ceremony continue, everyone, please dine, and we''ll start lecturing on Dao tomorrow. Three days of lectures and on the fourth day, the auction will be convened!"


    After this incident, almost all True Monarchs of Nine Dragon Island have left.


    After all, with the Nine Dragon True Monarch gone, the remaining True Persons would be isolated if they stayed!


    Atop Shanshan Mountain, the banquet continues.


    However, compared to the spell battle just now, when people started eating spiritual dishes and drinking Spiritual Wine again, the taste seemed much blander.


    And the gazes everyone cast towards Lin Shiming have changed once more.


    Even among the assembly of True Persons, all of them tacitly placed themselves below Lin Shiming, continuously toasting to Lin Shiming.


    And previously, the True Persons who had Lin Shiming pour wine for them, were now all smiling and pouring it back.


    Lin Shiming did not stop them, knowing that preventing them would only cause anxiety.


    In the Cultivation World, in the end, it is strength that dictates one''s influence.


    At this moment, even the gaze of Red Leaf True Person towards Lin Shiming has changed; if previously it was amiable and respectful as equals, now it''s awe.


    The shock and pleasant surprises the Lin Family gave her were simply too many.


    The first time she met Lin Shiming, he was still at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, and his family was just a Purple Mansion Family.


    Back then, she only felt that Lin Shiming''s mindset was extremely terrifying.


    Now it seems that his talent and opportunities must also be frighteningly high.


    Of course, she did not feel envious; for those Soul Summoning Swords, she could guarantee they weren''t Protectors, nor could she make those Soul Summoning Swords serve her.


    "Junior Brother Lin, when the time comes, you can choose Golden Thunder Island!" Red Leaf True Person hesitated for a long time before speaking out.


    Now with the strength of Lin Shiming and the Lin Family, securing Golden Thunder Island is almost a certainty.


    Xue Shan True Monarch probably will change his mind even if Lin Shiming doesn''t speak up.


    After all, Xue Shan True Monarch''s initial attitude towards Lin Shiming wasn''t bad, but it wasn''t particularly good either.


    Moreover, through many previous actions, it was almost like giving Red Leaf Island and Lanling Island to Lin Shiming to choose.


    This move can be regarded as a reward but also as a tactic of alienation.


    For the Lin Family, naturally, it wasn''t hugely beneficial.


    To make amends, Xue Shan True Monarch will certainly allow the Lin Family to go to Golden Thunder Island.


    "Senior Sister Red Leaf, the Lin Family''s strength isn''t capable of holding Golden Thunder Island; our family''s foundation is too weak, lacking both Golden Core and Purple Mansion cultivators!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    He then added:


    "On the contrary, Senior Sister, your Ye Family is the most suitable for Golden Thunder Island!"


    Lin Shiming continued.


    With these words, Red Leaf True Person was ecstatic.


    She knew the Lin Family indeed had that predicament.


    And indeed, the Lin Family would certainly develop better in the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    But that said, if the Lin Family wanted to secure Golden Thunder Island for the future, she would have no recourse.


    "Thank you, Junior Brother Lin!" Red Leaf True Person repeatedly expressed gratitude, lifting her cup, and toasted to Lin Shiming.


    She knew that with just a word from Lin Shiming today, the Ye Family''s access to Golden Thunder Island was pretty much guaranteed.


    "Senior Sister is too kind. This is also beneficial to the Lin Family, and I hope that in the future, Senior Sister can spare some extra consideration for your junior brother!" Lin Shiming said.


    The two toasted to each other.


    As it happens, the only person whose attitude towards Lin Shiming remained unchanged was Zhao Yulin.


    As the sky darkened once again, only the Flamingo high above maintained the brightness.


    The banquet also slowly came to an end.


    All cultivators felt the event had ended all too soon.


    Whether it was the spectacular cheers of the True Monarch''s ceremony,


    or the successive appearances of four True Monarchs and the subsequent duels, all were topics they delighted in discussing.


    And this feat, it is estimated, would remain unsurpassed for hundreds of years.


    However, as much as they thought about it, few dared to discuss it openly.


    For the numerous loose cultivators and small families, neither Nine Dragon Island nor the Coral Alliance could be offended.


    ...


    "True Person Qian Mu, the True Monarch invites your presence!" Just as Shiming was about to leave with Lin Zeli and the others.


    It was at this moment that Chi Shan True Person suddenly spoke up.


    The current Chi Shan True Person had shed much of her haughtiness and righteousness, instead exuding a delicate and gentle charm.


    This left Shiming somewhat puzzled.


    Of course, the most crucial point was the invitation from True Monarch Xue Shan!


    Shiming guessed it might be related to the Tianzhao Sect, or even True Person Xue Shan.


    Of course, Shiming also worried about the dangers; he didn''t believe possessing the Qiu Xue Sword would guarantee safety.


    However, at the moment, he still had system notifications untriggered, so there was no need for immediate concern.


    Shiming proceeded towards the Coral Hall on Coral Island.


    The Coral Hall was not only the council hall of Coral Island but also served as the council hall of the Coral Alliance.


    Upon Shiming''s arrival at the grand hall, he saw someone coming towards him¡ªit was Zhao Yulin.


    Seeing this, Shiming was somewhat surprised.


    But upon further reflection, some understanding dawned on him.


    The two entered the palace and arrived at the second-floor hall.


    Yunli True Person was guarding the entrance:


    "Daoist Lin, Fairy Yulin, please come inside!"


    Shiming and Zhao Yulin entered to find a small conference room.


    The conference room was constructed with high-grade spiritual wood, and the spiritual power emanating from it was exceptionally strong, with a revitalizing effect.


    Compared to the Lin Family''s council hall, it was much more powerful.


    Inside the hall, there were already several people seated, including Demon Blood True Monarch, Golden Light True Buddha, and even Nine Dragon True Monarch had also arrived.


    This took Shiming by surprise, but he quickly composed himself.


    "The junior pays his respects to True Monarchs Xue Shan, Demon Blood, and Golden Light True Buddha!" Shiming greeted them one by one.


    "Daoist Lin, there''s no need for such politeness. You''re of the same realm, so let''s address each other as peers," said True Monarch Xue Shan.


    "Otherwise, we couldn''t accept it!" he continued.


    "Daoist Lin, I was rash today. I hope you can disregard past grievances, after all, the six great domains of the Southern Sea are far too fragmented!" Nine Dragon True Monarch lifted his cup towards Shiming in toast.


    "Predecessor Nine Dragon, the matter is already behind us, the junior isn''t someone who harps on trivial grudges!" Shiming replied with a smile on his face.


    Of course, his thoughts were not as he expressed.


    He knew that at this moment, Nine Dragon True Monarch, too, wished him dead!


    He felt the same, but it was difficult for the Qiu Xue Sword to triumph over Nine Dragon True Monarch, and now Nine Dragon True Monarch couldn''t defeat the Qiu Xue Sword. Not to mention, the Lin Family and Coral Island were aligned in power!


    Thus, everyone could sit here amicably, jointly discussing the future layout of the Southern Sea!


    Tianzhao Sect was absent and thus became the primary target for exclusion; the fall of Chi Lan Sect also signified something.


    Even though Chi Lan Sect produced numerous treasures,


    True Monarchs knew that by absorbing Chi Lan Sect, they could gain even more treasures.


    And only with more treasures could they support their progress to the mid and late stages of the Nascent Soul.


    And perhaps even ascend to the stage of Divinity Transformation!


    The Cultivation World is inherently competitive; if you don''t vie for power, others will.


    There is no such thing as a permanent ally.


    However, Shiming was still unclear as to why Zhao Yulin was also present.


    "Alright, everyone is here now!"


    "Let''s talk about how to deal with Tianzhao Sect next and how to divide their assets!" True Person Xue Shan didn''t hide his intentions and spoke directly.


    At the Sixth Rank, one requires more Spirit Veins, more territories; only through plundering can one achieve the fastest gains!


    Moreover, this was precisely what Tianzhao Sect had brought upon themselves!


    If they had not taken the initiative to strike at the Coral Alliance, such a situation might not have arisen.

 Chapter 938 - 577: Thoughts Sharing (Two-in-One for Monthly Ticket)

    "Everyone, look at this Spirit Map!" Xue Shan True Monarch walked to the innermost part of the conference room, and with a wave of his hand, a Spirit Map suddenly appeared.


    This Spirit Map was vast, and it featured countless small islands and various sea areas.


    All the layouts were extremely clear; one could even say it was a miniature version of the entire sea domain.


    All the islands and rivers could be magnified with Divine Sense within it.


    Certain key locations were also marked.


    Among them, the Taiqian Abyss was also depicted on the Spirit Map and was similarly highlighted.


    Clearly, Xue Shan True Monarch also harbored wariness toward the Tai Qian Sharks inside the Taiqian Abyss.


    "The head of the Tianzhao Sect''s Heavenly Gate has two possibilities for seclusion breakthroughs!"


    "One is within this Taiqian Abyss, and the other is within the Heavenly Gate itself!"


    Upon hearing this, a few others showed surprise, and even Lin Shiming was somewhat puzzled at the moment.


    The Heaven, Earth, Humans Three Gates were obviously incomplete Spiritual Treasures.


    It''s even possible that they are complete Spiritual Treasures.


    The function of the Renmen is to transfer all kinds of Taoist methods and also has an effect similar to spatial movement.


    This point, Lin Shiming had witnessed during the last defense battle on Coral Island.


    The only flaw is that the gate appears first, and then the person can emerge from it.


    But for Taoist methods, it''s different; it can directly transfer your attack thousands of miles away!


    Therefore, the greatest effect of the Renmen is to transfer away Taoist methods, making it a terrifying defensive Magical Treasure.


    If it weren''t for Kuangfeng True Person''s using a True Monarch''s power and casting a Sixth Rank Array in the end, making it unavoidable, they would have never been able to kill the master of Renmen.


    Now Renmen has also fallen into the hands of Coral Island.


    As for Dimen, it''s even more profound and unfathomable. Although Lin Shiming was unclear about its exact effects, the fact that someone could evade detection by a True Monarch''s Divine Sense and appear on Coral Island shows extraordinary strength.


    Putting himself in their shoes, if the Lin Family had such an enemy appear on Shuangmu Island, he would feel equally uneasy.


    Of course, if that situation really happened, Lin Shiming''s system prompt would definitely give an early warning.


    Moreover, he estimated that Dimen must have flaws too; otherwise, it would be too formidable.


    "Daoist Blood Coral, this Heavenly Gate must be hard to find, right?" Demon Blood True Monarch hesitated for a while before probing tentatively.


    The reason why the four of them appeared here was precisely to divide the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    As for congratulations and gifts, that was secondary.


    But if the head of Tianzhao Sect''s Heavenly Gate also advanced to the level of True Monarch, they might have to reconsider their intention to divide the spoils.


    Otherwise, an undying True Monarch is enough to cause headaches for all of them.


    For the Six Great Powers, what made them deter one another was the fact that you have family disciples, and I have family disciples.


    We restrain each other, you do not offend me, and I do not offend you.


    But once this opening is torn, there will not be so much benevolence and morality.


    Endless retaliation will become the theme.


    "This Heavenly Gate is indeed hard to find. To my knowledge, there''s only one person who knows the location of the Tianzhao Sect''s Heavenly Gate head¡ªDimen''s lord!" Xue Shan True Monarch continued to speak.


    "Daoist Blood Coral, Dimen is known as the Gateless Gate. If its master does not emerge from the gate, it would be difficult for you and me to detect him!" Golden Light True Buddha also spoke up on the side.


    They had long heard about the Three Gates of Tianzhao Sect.


    The Heavenly Gate was known as the Heavenly Dao Gate, containing a minor world inside, with rumors that it was a Heavenly Rank Secret Realm and also rumors that there were secret treasures within the minor world.


    Dimen was known as the Gateless Gate, whose greatest effect is to twist and project space.


    What seems to be a mere inch apart may in fact be tens of thousands of miles distant.


    Yet you would feel as if he were right here.


    He can strike at you, but you find it hard to counterstrike.


    It can even be said that it can project at will.


    Of course, the strength of the projection will be significantly reduced, and this reduction will vary with the distance.


    "Rest assured, Golden Light Daoist friend, the Heavenly Gate and Dimen both are indeed hard to find, but the Heaven, Earth, Humans Three Gates were all refined from the same void fruit, originally a set of Spiritual Treasures. It''s just not something that a Golden Core Cultivator can refine and activate alone."


    "And the three gate masters are also brothers!"


    "By using the Renmen to cast a Secret Technique, one can speculate the location of the Heavenly Gate and, in the end, can directly teleport there!" Xue Shan True Person clenched his fist, making a sweeping gesture as if capturing everything.


    As he spoke, he produced a palm-sized small gate.


    The aura of this small gate was somewhat similar to the Sword Storing Book owned by Lin Shiming, emitting a faint treasure light that had not been noticed before.


    Upon closer inspection now, they discovered there was a thin layer of treasure patterns.


    It seemed to also involve the Communication with Treasures Technique.


    After a glance, the remaining True Monarchs also nodded.


    Most of their concerns were dispelled.


    Naturally, the division this time was not carried out openly but justified as seeking justice for the Coral Alliance as the victimized family.


    If they could not meet the head of the Tianzhao Sect''s Heavenly Gate, this quest for justice could not cease.


    "Once we agree on the strategies, it will be time to divide the major islands. The distribution of sea domains and the division of Secret Realms also need to be predetermined. Based on the territories, I have also made a preliminary division!"


    "Of course, this is just preliminary. The real situation will depend on everyone''s strength. If you can''t even deal with the remnants of Tianzhao Sect, others have the right to continue sharing the spoils!" Xue Shan True Monarch added.


    What followed was a series of divisions of the islands, something that Lin Shiming found utterly tedious to listen to.


    According to the division of the sea domains, the Coral Alliance occupied the lion''s share, claiming nearly half of the territory, while the other half was left for the remaining three parties.


    This division was clearly counting Lin Shiming as one of them.


    And Lin Shiming, aligned with Xue Shan True Monarch within the Coral Alliance, had the strength of two Golden Core Cultivators, sufficient to claim a greater share of the benefits.

 Chapter 939 - 577: Sharing Insights (Two-in-One for Monthly Passes)_2

    Moreover, this time the Coral Alliance is in the dominant position.


    Although the other True Monarchs hesitated a bit in their words, they ultimately agreed.


    Especially when it was added later that actual situations could be reconsidered separately, the three nodded their heads; naturally, they wanted to occupy more territory.


    And Xue Shan True Monarch also understood their thoughts; no power is completely clean, but since the Coral Alliance already controls half of the territory from the start, sharing a bit more wouldn''t hurt.


    It''s just that these matters are not discussed openly.


    As for Lin Shiming, his situation is tied to the Coral Island.


    Once the Coral Alliance rises, it will surely allocate some territories to the Lin Family.


    And for Lin Shiming, the best territories are not any single enclave but the Red Leaf Archipelago along with the Lanling Archipelago.


    The Red Leaf Archipelago should not pose too many problems now, but the Lanling Archipelago might still have some.


    Next, they discussed some details. For Lin Shiming and Zhao Yulin, it was a matter of listening on the side without much chance to express their opinions.


    In fact, this was the case even for Demon Blood True Monarch, Golden Light True Buddha, and Nine Dragon True Monarch.


    All these arrangements have already been made by Xue Shan True Monarch over the past few years.


    When the last sentence was finished, Xue Shan True Monarch spoke again:


    "Esteemed ones, you must have also noticed that the power of a True Monarch should far exceed what we currently possess. The main issue is the lost Sixth Rank inheritances. In my opinion, we should piece together and exchange the Sixth Rank inheritances, maximizing our strength. Otherwise, when we compete for treasures in the Eastern Domain in the future, we will have no advantages!" Xue Shan True Monarch declared.


    "Those Nascent Soul True Monarchs over there may not have our problem; they don''t have the Sixth Rank inheritance at all!" Xue Shan True Monarch added.


    Upon hearing this, even Lin Shiming was shocked.


    The ambitions of Xue Shan True Monarch were indeed extensive.


    And these words were indeed true, beneficial to all four True Monarchs.


    "This idea is exquisite!" the others also agreed.


    Even the usually reticent Golden Light True Buddha made a Buddha Sect gesture and nodded in agreement.


    Then, their gazes turned to Lin Shiming, obviously expecting him to release the Qiu Xue Sword.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but curse the True Monarchs in his heart.


    Indeed, he had been calculated against.


    Although he initially thought they were putting him on a pedestal, now he realized they were scheming for the Qiu Xue Sword behind his back.


    "Daoist Lin, we can also share the experiences of our breakthroughs to the Nascent Soul stage, and your Protector can be counted as one!"


    "This assembly of fellow daoists is a rare occasion..." Xue Shan True Monarch spoke up.


    At this point, Lin Shiming began to inquire about the Qiu Xue Sword. Naturally, he wanted to know the experiences of these four individuals in their Nascent Soul breakthroughs. This was not only helpful to Lin Shiming but also of extraordinary significance to the rest of the Lin Family!


    The experience of a single Nascent Soul breakthrough could serve as the foundational legacy of a Golden Core Family.


    And there were four of them, encompassing the Buddha Cultivator, Demon Cultivator, Fire Cultivator, and Beast Cultivator!


    "Yes!" the Qiu Xue Sword nodded. It was now, to be honest, different from before; it used to be a mere Magical Treasure, but now it had become a Spirit Cultivation.


    It had entered the path of cultivators.


    Useful references were naturally there to be drawn upon.


    As the Qiu Xue Sword was brought forth, Lin Shiming made the introductions.


    "This is Elder Qiu Xue!"


    "Daoist Qiu Xue, please don''t take offense at what happened earlier!" Nine Dragon True Monarch was the first to speak.


    These True Monarchs were indeed capable of rising above. Bear in mind that if anyone should take offense, it would be the Qiu Xue Sword, which had been severely slashed by them.


    Yet it was Nine Dragon True Monarch who first apologized!


    The Qiu Xue Sword didn''t respond, after all, it was a sword.


    Swords don''t need to apologize, do they?


    And the other True Monarchs also greeted the Qiu Xue Sword.


    After the greetings, Xue Shan True Monarch immediately began to explain.


    "The Nascent Soul is about transforming the Golden Core into a baby form. In my view, it consists of three steps: the Flawless Body, introducing Dao Qi into the core, and condensing the Nascent Soul!"


    "The most crucial aspect is introducing Innate Heavenly Dao Qi into the body!"


    "Why there has been no way for the Nascent Soul before is precisely because the Innate Heavenly Dao Qi was elusive!"


    "It''s blocked by this realm, and failing in solidifying the core only leads to one outcome: the Divine Soul shatters, the True Yuan is depleted, the lifespan is exhausted, and death ensues!"


    "However, this Innate Heavenly Dao Qi is like the innate qi of a newborn baby, capable of anchoring life extension!"


    ...


    Xue Shan True Monarch kept explaining.


    Some parts came from the ancient manuscripts of the Coral Island, while others were Xue Shan True Monarch''s own interpretation!


    Lin Shiming listened with great intent and was captivated.


    He now wished they would keep talking for ten and a half days.


    After half an incense stick''s time of their explanation, the system prompt also corrected a point for Lin Shiming.


    This caused Lin Shiming some heartache.


    Xue Shan True Monarch seemed to want Qiu Xue Sword to explain more, and truly held nothing back at the moment.


    The explanations were all quintessence.


    After nearly a thousand years of research, their understanding of realms and Cultivation Level was indeed profound.


    That it took half an incense stick''s time for a prompt to appear confirmed this.


    After Xue Shan True Monarch finished, it was Demon Blood True Monarch''s turn, whose explanations were about demonic techniques.


    "Xue Shan True Monarch''s points are valid, I will add to this; in my view, to achieve the Flawless Body, besides one''s physical vitality, True Yuan, and Divine Sense all reaching their peaks, one also needs clear thoughts and a resolute Dao heart. In our Demonic Sect, we seclude ourselves in mountains of corpses and seas of blood for thirty years to eliminate all extraneous thoughts..."


    Demon Blood True Monarch''s methods sounded somewhat bloody upon first hearing.


    But in fact, they sometimes end up being congruent, with one relying on detachment, another on natural law.


    Having finished, Golden Light True Buddha was eager to begin his explanations.


    "Friend, such heavy slaughter may cause difficulties in overcoming the Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation and Heart Demon Tribulation..."


    After Golden Light True Buddha added his part, it was Nine Dragon True Monarch''s turn.


    "Coincidentally, I tapped into the tribulation energy of a Tribulation Transcending Flood Dragon..." Nine Dragon True Monarch also began to explain.


    Lin Shiming remembered it all clearly in his mind, and he also used a soul pact to make Elder Mu record everything word for word in the Cave Heaven using a Jade Slip.


    These were all precious experiences, and he trusted Elder Mu''s Spirit Intelligence immensely.


    Moreover, he could also correct them daily with the system prompt in the future.


    That way, the Lin Family would have four nearly perfect insights on breaking through to the Nascent Soul.


    After Nine Dragon True Monarch finished, two hours had passed without noticing, and Lin Shiming just felt time was flying too fast.


    At this moment, the four True Monarchs were eagerly looking at Qiu Xue Sword.


    Paying no attention to Lin Shiming at all.


    Qiu Xue Sword did not hide anything and began to explain.


    It was all theory that was being explained, though.


    Of course, even theories were greatly helpful to the four of them!


    And Lin Shiming also took notes on Qiu Xue Sword''s explanations.


    This made five sets of insights.


    After explaining for half an hour, Qiu Xue Sword shook its head and entered Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven.


    Xue Shan True Monarch and the others felt it was a pity.


    They wanted to continue asking, but ultimately gave up.


    "Fellow Daoists, prepare well, for within the Tianzhao Sect, there must also be some secret manuals!" Xue Shan True Monarch seemed very easygoing and was the first to recover from the instructing session.


    Saying this straightforwardly.


    His words also stirred the desires of the other three.


    Having already broken through to the Nascent Soul, they were all thinking about advancing further, to transform themselves and Ascend through tribulation!


    It is said that life-extending treasures in the Spirit Realm start at a thousand years...


    The three quickly took their leave, and after, only Lin Shiming, Zhao Yulin, and Xue Shan True Monarch remained in the room.


    "Aren''t you curious why I asked the two of you here?" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke.


    "Just look at this Storage Bag and you will understand!" Xue Shan True Monarch raised his hand.


    Zhao Yulin also took the Storage Bag.


    Inside was a thousand-year Ice Heart Fruit!


    And a thousand-year Yun Liu Mu Xin!


    These two treasures were specifically beneficial for Zhao Yulin and Tianliu True Person.


    "He bargained for three Thousand Year Spirit Medicines in exchange for covering for me!" Xue Shan True Monarch said.


    Lin Shiming was not surprised by the Thousand Year Spirit Medicine; other powers might be lacking.


    But Coral Island of the Coral Alliance surely wasn''t, seeing as the Purple Sun Secret Realm had them, and at that time Lin Shiming himself had obtained a Red Dawn Grass.


    Gauging by the Coral Alliance''s Coral Island quotas and its understanding of the Secret Realm, it''s quite possible they might acquire one every fifty years.


    Even at the beginning, it''s possible they could get one every twenty years.


    And regarding Kuangfeng True Person, Lin Shiming also felt deep regret.


    "You are of our Zhao Family lineage, regardless of whether you return to the clan or not, as your clan uncle, I hope you succeed in forming your Nascent Soul!"

 Chapter 940 - 578: Golden Core Trade Fair

    Zhao Yulin hesitated for quite some time but ultimately accepted the Storage Bag.


    For her, it was something she actually didn''t want to do at heart.


    But her father had already traded his life for a chance for her to achieve Nascent Soul, she couldn''t possibly give it up.


    She couldn''t make decisions for Tianliu True Person either.


    In this regard, Kuangfeng True Person had obviously planned extremely well.


    There was no need to worry that Zhao Yulin would capriciously reject it.


    His views of Xue Shan True Monarch had also changed a little, but not much.


    "Daoist Lin, what do you think about the distribution of Golden Thunder Island and Lanling Island?" Having dealt with Zhao Yulin''s affair, Xue Shan True Monarch also unsurprisingly inquired Lin Shiming.


    By asking so, he was granting Lin Shiming a favor.


    And even if Lin Shiming''s Lin Family wanted Golden Thunder Island, he would agree.


    Only, Lin Shiming was well aware that Xue Shan True Monarch did not wish him to occupy Golden Thunder Island.


    After all, the Lin Family was much more fearsome than Jin Lei True Person.


    And even more unpredictable in the future.


    "Elder Xue Shan, I believe that among the Twelve Inner Islands of the Coral Alliance, only Red Leaf Island and Red Leaf True Person are fit for Golden Thunder Island!"


    "Red Leaf True Person has repeatedly achieved victories lately, and his cultivation level ranks among the top in a group of true monastic persons!"


    "Good, your thoughts Daoist Lin coincide with my own!" Xue Shan True Monarch said with a smile.


    He then looked towards Lin Shiming again:


    "As for the selection of a suitable candidate for the Lanling Archipelago, our Coral Island cultivators are currently overwhelmed and unable to spare any hands, as we need to focus on the preparations for Tianzhao Sect, does your family have any cultivators?"


    "Replying to the Alliance Hierarch, the Lin Family indeed has one!" Lin Shiming nodded in response.


    Since Xue Shan True Monarch was willing to offer, Lin Shiming had no reason to refuse.


    Moreover, accepting it meant getting on board with Coral Island.


    Otherwise, just like the previous scenario, Xue Shan True Monarch would be worried about him.


    "Alright, it''s settled then, we''ll discuss again after tomorrow''s ceremony!" Xue Shan True Monarch nodded.


    His tone also implied it was time to see the guests out.


    "Then, many thanks to the elder!" Lin Shiming and Zhao Yulin expressed their gratitude together.


    The two also left the palace gate of Xue Shan Palace.


    "Thank you for today!" Zhao Yulin spoke up.


    "There''s no need to thank me, it has nothing to do with me!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    He knew what Zhao Yulin meant.


    If it weren''t for Lin Shiming and his Qiu Xue Sword this time.


    He and Zhao Yulin definitely wouldn''t have been able to participate.


    Now Lin Shiming has obtained four shares of enlightenment.


    Zhao Yulin is different, she has obtained five paths.


    If Tianliu True Person could overcome his qualms, he would definitely be preparing to breakthrough to Nascent Soul right now.


    Moreover, this time both the Thousand Year Spirit Medicines were exceptionally compatible with their respective attributes!


    "Still, I want to thank you, but for the matter of Fuling, I will eventually even the score, I hope you don''t slack off!" Zhao Yulin continued, then turned into a streak of light and flew away.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but shake his head, he had no way to interfere with Zhao Yulin''s intentions.


    He then returned to the Welcoming Lin Palace.


    It must be said that his gains this time were quite significant.


    Magical treasures, Flood Dragon corpse, Heavenly Soul Fruit, and even Immortal Woodgrass.


    All of these were extremely valuable treasures!


    Now, he was only missing one main ingredient for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    As for not being old enough, it actually wasn''t a big deal for him.


    Next, Lin Shiming checked the Storage Bag of True Person Youyun.


    Inside, Lin Shiming found two Fifth Rank Spirit Talismans.


    Beyond that, there was a set of Five Flood Dragon Rings and the Twin Flood Dragon Seal.


    Without a second thought, he prepared to refine these two Magical Treasures. Although he had many Superior Grade treasures, only a few were truly useful.


    The remaining spirit stones and treasures within the Storage Bag may have been plentiful, but none caught Lin Shiming''s special attention.


    The Soul-breaking Talisman was apparently also prepared by Nine Dragon Island.


    There was no second one inside.


    However, Lin Shiming was not too disappointed about this Spirit Talisman.


    After all, such talismans were incredibly powerful, and if there were so many, he would need to seriously consider the implications.


    And even be concerned about the true strength of Nine Dragon Island.


    Now it seemed that although the Qiu Xue Sword was revealed, the Lin Family had also gained many unexpected benefits.


    For instance, Golden Thunder Island as mentioned by the Dimen Master would belong to Red Leaf True Person, and naturally, the Red Leaf Archipelago would sooner or later have to be renamed Shuangmu Archipelago.


    Or maybe named Fangmu Archipelago.


    Lin Shiming put away his gains, then proceeded to take out the Jade Slip.


    This Jade Slip contained records from the wood demons, and Lin Shiming immediately took it out for comparison.


    After all, it was through knowledge transmission from heart to heart.


    After checking two of them, Lin Shiming nodded with satisfaction, finding no issues.


    Once all five Jade Slips were examined, Lin Shiming took out a new Jade Slip.


    This Jade Slip recorded the Qiu Xue Sword''s daylight strike.


    That one strike was too dazzling, to the extent that even Nine Dragon True Monarch barely managed to parry it.


    For Lin Shiming, there were many aspects of that one strike worthy of learning.


    After summarizing everything, the next day had quietly arrived.


    The banquet plaza on top of Coral Mountain had been emptied out.


    In front of the square was a high platform.


    In front of the platform, several partitioned areas were already set up, with seating and standing areas behind these partitions!


    This preaching session was arranged in front of the partitions for the various Golden Core Family forces and cultivators from the other five major forces!


    The Nascent Soul cultivators and Purple Mansion Family members were seated, while Foundation Establishment Cultivators, quite obviously, could only stand at the back.


    And they still needed to demonstrate some power and background, or else their spot would be even further back.


    "So many people!" Lin Zehong couldn''t help but stick out her tongue, turning to her side and speaking to Lin Changxing.


    She was very attentive to this great-grandnephew of hers.


    And Lin Changxing was not annoyed, maintaining adequate respect for Lin Zehong, the first lesson from the Lin Family''s Preaching Hall.

 Chapter 941 - 578: Golden Core Trade Fair_2

    Lin Changxing, as the foremost of the Chang generation, excels in every aspect.


    "When can the Lin Family hold such a grand event!" Lin Zeli spoke with some regret.


    Her eyes also lit up with the effect of Lin Shiming''s sermon, feeling even more regretful for a moment.


    In her view, Xue Shan True Monarch''s sermon surely couldn''t compare to Lin Shiming''s.


    "I am very grateful that everyone could attend my True Monarch ceremony. Next, I will share some of my insights and experiences!"


    ...


    Xue Shan True Monarch stepped onto the stage and began to share as well.


    However, unlike other ceremonies that begin from Innate Qi Cultivation, Xue Shan True Monarch started from Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    And this coincided with the theme of this event.


    The number of Qi Cultivators here did not exceed the count of two hands.


    Talking about Qi Cultivation was indeed somewhat superfluous.


    Xue Shan True Monarch truly deserved to be the Alliance Hierarch of the Coral Alliance.


    Many of his insights left Lin Shiming with no room for critique.


    However, it would be extremely difficult for Lin Shiming to gain anything substantial.


    The True Monarch ceremony only discussed up to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Yet to Lin Shiming, reaching the Golden Core Late Stage wasn''t too challenging.


    Of course, the system notification did point out one aspect of Xue Shan True Monarch''s explanation.


    But Lin Shiming did not refute it.


    For him, refutation would bring no benefits.


    The ceremony lasted for two days and nights!


    For other Cultivators, it was a great harvest.


    But for Lin Zehong, Lin Yanxing, and a few others, it was less stimulating.


    Even the disciples from Red Leaf True Person''s side showed some disappointment.


    They had attended Lin Shiming''s Golden Core ceremony, where they truly gained a lot.


    Of course, what they didn''t know was that Lin Shiming had held back during his Golden Core ceremony.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, next, Coral Island will host its largest auction. At that time, the Gold Condensation Fruit will serve as the finale treasure, and there will also be a Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet and 5000-year-old Golden Thunder Bamboo of the Fifth Rank!"


    "Of course, fellow Daoists are also welcome to contribute treasures to enhance the grandeur of the auction!"


    Chi Shan True Person added by the side.


    At this moment, the skies had turned to dusk, casting a reddish hue over Coral Island.


    And hearing that the Gold Condensation Fruit would be the finale treasure, even Lin Shiming was extremely eager!


    Currently, the family only has one Gold Condensation Fruit that has not been made into a Gold Condensation Pill, which naturally is a shortfall for the Lin Family.


    However, he was also aware that the competition would be intense.


    He didn''t feel assured that he could definitely win the bid for the Fifth-Rank Gold Condensation Fruit; on the contrary, his interest in the auction waned.


    "Daoist Lin, at that time, we will also uphold the largest Golden Core trade meeting, which will be anonymous. We hope that Daoist Lin will participate!" Chi Shan True Person extended the invitation to Lin Shiming at this moment.


    Lin Shiming was indeed very interested in this.


    Especially being a secretive trade meeting, it meant that stolen goods could appear there.


    He had many treasures that he could trade.


    Moreover, at that time, there would likely be more treasures appearing.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was a bit concerned that the system notification might be used up before the trade meeting commenced.


    Chi Shan True Person presented Lin Shiming with a Token.


    The sermon meeting also came to a perfect end.


    By that time, the True Monarch ceremony could be considered concluded!


    What followed was the era of prosperity for the Coral Alliance, or perhaps, for Coral Island.


    Some Cultivators were hesitant before, but now very few Cultivators were in doubt!


    Even if they couldn''t purchase the Gold Condensation Fruit, many Loose Cultivators, even just by catching a glimpse, felt it was a great honor.


    Moreover, many Loose Cultivators harbored the thought of miraculously encountering a Gold Condensation Fruit in the wild one day.


    Hence, at this time, to observe the appearance of the Gold Condensation Fruit and understand its aura became very necessary.


    "At the auction, Zeli, you take the others for the participation!"


    Regarding the auction, after taking a glance at the auction list, Lin Shiming decided not to go.


    Otherwise, if he encountered a treasure and the system notification was used up, it wouldn''t be good.


    "Uncle Seven, this..." Lin Zeli hesitated a bit.


    "Don''t worry, although the Lin Family isn''t wealthy right now, we still have enough resolve to make bold moves!"


    "Remember to buy anything that benefits the family!"


    "At this time, don''t worry about Spirit Stones!"


    Lin Shiming spoke with a bit of confidence.


    Before wars and magical contests conclude, the victors always have Spirit Stones, have Spirit Mines.


    "I will not disappoint you, Uncle Seven!" Lin Zeli responded with a bow.


    At this moment, there are still two elders from the clan''s commerce hall present at the venue, and Lin Zeli naturally felt greatly valued!


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming has already begun to look forward to the Golden Core trading event.


    ...


    Time quickly passed, and two days have arrived.


    The auction has also started, and this time, the auction is being held in an open-air setting.


    Simply because there were too many cultivators attending.


    For those who came to participate in the banquet, the extra few days hardly mattered.


    Furthermore, Coral Island presented so many treasures this time.


    Even the Lin Family found them exceedingly tempting.


    Soon, the place became bustling with noise.


    While the auction was in full swing,


    Lin Shiming, holding a token, headed towards another location.


    At the auction, with fewer Golden Core cultivators present, not only did the enthusiasm for the auction not fade, it escalated even higher.


    After all, they had been worried before that the presence of Golden Core True Persons might pressure them with their status, leading to exorbitantly high prices!


    Now, there was no need to worry!


    And for those powers with Golden Core cultivators, they bid as they intended to, even more relaxed than before.


    Especially since there were no True Persons supervising on the side.


    At this moment, Lin Zeli''s gaze was also very tense!


    Lin Shiming had given her a considerable amount of Spirit Stones, and naturally, she set her sights on the three major finale treasures of the event!


    Besides that, there were also items required by each True Person and Purple Mansion of the Lin Family.


    In her heart, she had already made a checklist.


    The first tier of treasures was what Lin Shiming needed, the second was what the clan needed, and the third was what those of the Purple Mansion and True Persons of the Lin Family needed.


    ...


    What Lin Shiming did not expect was that this Golden Core trading event was still being held over the lake.


    This was somewhat similar to the one Lin Shiming had attended in the Red Leaf Archipelago!


    There were many pavilions on the lake.


    Each pavilion had its own Formation.


    And the treasures would be transported through the transmission array on top of the pavilions!


    You only need to take out whatever treasures you have and display them atop the pavilion.


    This arrangement was to Lin Shiming''s satisfaction, as it meant that even if he were to trade with the Heavenly Demon True Person and Liu He True Person for their treasures, no one could say anything about it.


    Moreover, his main goal was to find the last main medicine and a few auxiliary medicines.


    He is currently in the Golden Core Middle Stage, but he was confident that he wouldn''t need fifty or sixty years to break through to the Golden Core Late Stage!


    Additionallp>, various Spiritual Medicines might require an increase in age, necessitating the Revival Wind Minor Divine Ability.


    Preparations also needed to be made in advance!


    "Esteemed guests, according to your tokens, please proceed to the pavilions. Each token can only open one pavilion!"


    Most people beside the Spirit Lake wore cloaks of invisibility!


    Even Lin Shiming did so, thus there was no need to worry about identity exposure!


    With their tokens in hand, they each ascended to a pavilion.


    The pavilions quickly lit up with bright lights, apparently moving over the lake''s surface, scrambling their order!


    When more than seventy pavilions appeared on the lake,


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but sigh at the scale of this Golden Core trading event.


    Once everyone was situated in a pavilion, a mist began to form over the lake surface.


    The mist slowly spread out, and the pavilions began to sparkle, soon followed by the emergence of a Spirit Shield.


    Within the Spirit Shield, there was also a Spirit Screen.


    At this moment, the figure of Chi Shan True Person appeared on the Spirit Screen!


    "Esteemed guests, the upcoming trading event will showcase treasures pavilion by pavilion. Each pavilion will have its corresponding transmission platform."


    "Once you have agreed on a trade for treasures, you can exchange them through the transmission platform!"


    "Moreover, at the end of the trading event, this pavilion will also teleport everyone out, so there''s no need to worry about your treasures being exposed!" Chi Shan True Person continued to explain.


    After the explanation, she took out four Jade Boxes!


    "Now, let me throw out a brick to attract jade!"


    After saying that, she began to open the Jade Boxes one by one.


    Inside the four Jade Boxes, there was a bead, a long wooden stem, a Spirit Talisman, and a shining Spiritual Egg, respectively.


    "This bead is a Fifth Rank Cave Heaven Bead, containing a space of Cave Heaven equivalent to about one hundred square meters!"


    "This wooden stem is from a Fifth Rank Heavenly Longevity Tree, lacking in Spiritual Energy but still definitely a secret treasure, especially for Wood Attribute cultivators!"


    "This Spirit Talisman is a Fifth Rank Heavenly Trapping Formation Talisman, capable of trapping a Golden Core Cultivator for an hour!"


    "This Spiritual Egg is the Blood Jade Spider listed on the rankings of heavenly-earthly Spirit Insects..."

 Chapter 942 - 579: Profound Star Stone

    "All Magical Treasures are only exchangeable for Nascent Transformation Pills, life-saving Secret Techniques of equivalent level, or other Magical Treasures!"


    Chi Shan True Person moistened her throat and began to speak.


    She was also at the Golden Core Late Stage, and preparing for the Nascent Soul breakthrough.


    With Xue Shan True Monarch present, Chi Shan True Person clearly had greater convenience.


    It offered her a guarantee during the breakthrough.


    She didn''t need to be as overly cautious as other Cultivators, fearful of being discovered and intercepted before reaching the Nascent Soul stage.


    However, reaching the Nascent Soul wasn''t the same as breaking through to Golden Core; there were not only the Heavenly Tribulations to contend with, but also the need for a Flawless Body and attracting qi into the pill.


    All these processes required magical items for cultivation.


    Many at the Golden Core Late Stage, let alone achieving a Flawless Body, hadn''t even reached the upper limits of their vitality or Divine Sense.


    This is where the Nascent Transformation Pill or Thousand Year Spirit Medicine is needed.


    But unless the Thousand Year Spirit Medicine is of the same origin, it''s not very reliable, given less than a ten percent chance of success; to some Cultivators, that''s even more difficult.


    Moreover, failing a Nascent Soul breakthrough isn''t as simple as failing a Purple Mansion breakthrough; it doesn''t just mean starting over and overcoming the Heart Demon.


    Each failure in the Nascent Soul breakthrough intensifies the difficulties of achieving a Flawless Body.


    Meaning, the chance of a second Nascent Soul breakthrough is less than half that of the first one.


    Many Cultivators won''t rashly start the breakthrough without confidence.


    Otherwise, the Six Great Powers wouldn''t only have four True Monarchs to this day.


    However, the news of Chi Shan True Monarch exchanging for Nascent Transformation Fruits was still understandable, but the escape Secret Technique made Lin Shiming and others hesitate.


    At this moment in Lin Shiming''s Storage Bag, there happened to be a Secret Technique, the Life-replace Blood Escape Technique of the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    The preciousness of this Secret Technique was beyond doubt, as Chi Shan True Person could clearly see during the siege of the Cultivator island.


    However, the treasure he wanted to exchange for left him in hesitation.


    A Cave Heaven Bead is an extraordinary Magical Treasure; he himself owned one, but to his surprise, Chi Shan True Person offered it for exchange.


    But his own bead was much larger than Chi Shan True Person''s.


    Almost the difference between a mountain and an island.


    Decapolis might seem vast, but to a Golden Core Cultivator, who doesn''t possess an abundance of treasures?


    "How could this wooden stem be exchanged?"


    Lin Shiming was most interested in the stem of the Longevity Tree.


    Although the Lin Family had obtained the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit, the Longevity Fruit produced by the Longevity Tree could increase life expectancy by three hundred years, three times that of the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit.


    Even a Wood Attribute Cultivator would progress much faster in cultivation under this tree.


    For Lin Shiming, these extra three hundred years might allow Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan to break through to Golden Core or even Nascent Soul.


    And of course, much needn''t be said for Lin Shitao¡ªLin Shiming would support her fully.


    Chi Shan True Person''s face darkened slightly.


    Clearly, no one had information about Nascent Transformation Fruits.


    Moreover, it might be possible that no one wanted to exchange with him.


    After all, those present were all Golden Core True Persons, each possibly in need of a Nascent Transformation Fruit.


    Of course, if Chi Shan True Person knew about the seed hidden in the Star Sand within the Void Bottle, that Lin Shiming had taken from them, it would be interesting to see her thoughts.


    That seed was the real Nascent Transformation Fruit seed.


    "Fellow Daoist Chi Shan, I have a Cultivation Technique here!" Lin Shiming used a transmitting Array on the pavilion to send a new Jade Slip, cutting off a portion of the footage.


    The footage appeared above the pavilion, catching Chi Shan True Person''s eye.


    "Acceptable, but this Jade Slip Secret Technique does have some flaws, so it can only be exchanged for one item!" Chi Shan True Person replied through a sent message.


    "I''ll take the stem of the Longevity Fruit then!" Lin Shiming responded.


    They both placed their treasures on the transmitting dish, and next, a miraculous scene unfolded as the spreading Spirit Light covered both items, and in the next moment, the exchange was complete.


    Lin Shiming, holding the Longevity Fruit stem, was immediately filled with joy.


    Just touching the Longevity Fruit stem made him feel invigorated, just like with the Bi-Gold Tea.


    Its exterior was also extremely smooth, resembling green spirit jade.


    Of course, he also sensed the depletion in the wooden stem, and that its vitality was on the brink of expiry.


    Another Cultivator might not be able to revive it.


    But not including Lin Shiming, who himself was of the Thousand Wood Spirit Body, and had Minor Divine Abilities like the Revival Wind.


    After Chi Shan True Person completed the exchange, another pavilion appeared before the crowd.


    The True Person in this pavilion had his features concealed by the pavilion and his true face was unclear.


    He too was somewhat surprised, evidently unaware of why he was the second up.


    But the emotion didn''t last long, as then he took out three Jade Boxes.


    "Five-thousand-year-old Wu Shouzhi, exchanged for a five-thousand-year-old Lightning Attribute Spiritual Medicine!"


    He unveiled the first Jade Box.


    Then he opened the second one, revealing a reddish pearl.


    "Chi Ming Pearl, a Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade Fire Attribute Magical Treasure, capable of assimilating various Strange Fires. The more Strange Fires assimilated, the stronger the treasure''s power. This treasure is exchangeable for a Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade Lightning Attribute Magical Treasure or a defensive Magical Treasure."


    After that, he presented the third Jade Box:


    "This treasure is a piece of Profound Star Stone, useful for certain special Demonic Beasts and treasures!"


    Just then, Lin Shiming suddenly had a jolt of excitement, as he noticed his system prompt lighting up again.


    [Please exchange for the Profound Star Stone, and you will obtain an opportunity to promote the Star Spirit Clam!]


    This Profound Star Stone, clearly an artifact of starlight power, was of great use to the Star Spirit Clam.


    The reason for Lin Shiming''s shock was also because he had left the Star Spirit Clam behind.


    Still at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, it wasn''t of much help to him.


    However, if it could continue to advance, even to the level of a Golden Core Demon King, then Lin Shiming''s prospects for the Starlight Tempering Body Technique were promising!


    At that time, he could potentially contend with a Tribulation Transcending Flood Dragon of the same level.


    While Lin Shiming felt joy inside, he didn''t show much reaction.

 Chapter 943 - 579: Profound Star Stone_2

    For he noticed that the cultivator still hadn''t spoken, but seemed to be constantly exchanging messages through sound transmission.


    There, engaging in holding out for higher offers.


    As expected, after a brief pause, he finally spoke:


    "This Profound Star Stone will only be traded for a fifth rank superior grade lightning attribute treasure, and is not restricted to magical treasures or precious materials!" the cultivator declared.


    After he finished speaking, the Chi Ming Pearl and the Wushou Fungi were quickly exchanged out.


    However, the Profound Star Stone remained uninterested by anyone.


    While the object was indeed uniquely special, the cultivators could not find its true use.


    They knew it to be exceedingly sharp, yet vastly inferior to a fifth rank superior grade magical treasure.


    But when activated by True Yuan, it failed to produce much of a commotion.


    "A fifth rank intermediate grade magical treasure would also suffice!" the cultivator lowered the price in the remaining moments.


    "Fellow Daoist, what do you think of a fifth rank inferior grade Thunder Flood Dragon inner core!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    After a few moments of silence, the other party nodded, and with the activation of the transmission array plate.


    A palm-sized stone with patterns of starlight emerged before Lin Shiming.


    He gently infused some of the starlight from the Starlight Tempering Body Technique, and the next moment, as expected, spirit patterns lit up.


    On the other side of the transmission array plate, the cultivator''s face was filled with even more joy, and he directly crushed the Spirit Talisman, disappearing from the main hall.


    Lin Shiming did not continue to input True Yuan, but instead stored the two stones into his Storage Bag for safekeeping.


    This was not the time to inspect the treasures.


    In regards to this auction, Lin Shiming felt it was already extremely worthwhile.


    But it was only now that two had taken out their own treasures.


    Shortly after, the third and the fourth followed.


    All the cultivators began to produce their treasures.


    Mostly fifth rank treasures were brought out, many of which greatly impressed Lin Shiming, including wood attribute five thousand year Spiritual Medicines; however, the treasures the others sought in exchange were also quite exotic.


    And soon, it was Lin Shiming''s turn.


    Lin Shiming also took out four Jade Boxes this time.


    First, he opened the first Jade Box, revealing a Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit within.


    This Spirit Fruit, which much appealed to many Golden Core Cultivators lacking in lifespan, was quickly followed by Lin Shiming, who continued to open the second Jade Box.


    Inside the second Jade Box was a three thousand-year-old Netherworld Heavy Ironwood.


    The third Jade Box contained the Seven Demons Flag that Lin Shiming had placed in it.


    The fourth Jade Box contained a fifth rank intermediate grade defensive magical treasure, the Seven-Injuries Shield.


    "All items will be traded for either the Nascent Transformation Fruit or Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow or their secrets or treasures; other than these, rare treasures can also be traded, and if the value is insufficient, I will add superior grade Spirit Stones!" Lin Shiming declared.


    What he really lacked was the Cold Jade Marrow, but asking for the Cold Jade Marrow specifically would make the target too obvious.


    Just like Chi Shan True Person, she only sought the Nascent Transformation Fruit, indicating she had both the Cold Jade Marrow and the Heavenly Soul Fruit.


    If Lin Shiming too sought only the Cold Jade Marrow, it would be clear to the other party that he was privy to the secret of the Nascent Transformation Fruit.


    That would not be good news for Lin Shiming.


    On the contrary, exchanging for all three items would not be a loss for Lin Shiming.


    As for other rare treasures, he also adopted an attitude of giving them a try.


    As expected, after a while, cultivators began to send messages to him, with the majority interested in the Seven Demons Flag, fewer in the Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit, and some in the Seven-Injuries Shield.


    Only one person was interested in the Netherworld Heavy Ironwood.


    Although Lin Shiming could not discern the identity of this person, he guessed that it was most likely Profound Mechanism True Person.


    Only someone from Qian Ji Island would value the Netherworld Heavy Ironwood so highly.


    "Fellow Daoist, I have a Minor Divine Ability Fruit tree that is about to mature; how about exchanging it for the Seven Demons Flag?"


    Among the numerous sound transmissions, Lin Shiming became interested in the Minor Divine Ability Fruit tree at this moment.


    Even in the Eastern Domain where he had been, such trees were rare to see, and even more so in the Southern Sea, mainly because this precious tree wilts after each cycle of blooming and fruiting, unable to be utilized a second time.


    Additionally, there is no set pattern to its fruiting times.


    When mature, its effect is best.


    It can help cultivators break through on the spot during the Qi Refinement Realm.


    "Fellow Daoist, Minor Divine Ability Fruits are but spells from the Purple Mansion stage, and they are not worth so much Spirit Stone!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    Indeed, the Minor Divine Ability was formidable at the Purple Mansion stage but somewhat common amongst Golden Cores.


    For instance, Lin Shiming''s Immortal Wood Shadow, up to now, naturally doesn''t possess the same power as it did during the Purple Mansion stage.


    However, the greatest benefit of the Minor Divine Ability Fruit is that it can allow both cultivators and Spirit Body Cultivators to increase their chances of advancing to the Golden Core stage by several fold.


    Lin Shitao and Lin Xianzhi of the Lin Family''s rear courtyard all need preparation.


    This Minor Divine Ability Fruit is precisely what Lin Shiming prepared for Lin Shitao.


    Speaking of which, this Spirit Fruit has only appeared for the second time!


    The first time was within the gifts for a True Monarch''s ceremony.


    "A mere Minor Divine Ability Fruit tree naturally isn''t much, but I possess a Secret Technique that can cultivate Minor Divine Abilities, enhancing their power!" the person continued to speak.


    Confidence filled their eyes as they transmitted a Jade Slip to Lin Shiming, which contained the imagery of cultivating the Minor Divine Ability and the Secret Technique to enhance it.


    This was of great interest to Lin Shiming.


    After all, his three Minor Divine Abilities were extremely formidable.


    However, he soon shook his head, acknowledging the Secret Technique''s prowess but noting that it only amplified the fruit''s Minor Divine Ability, not the practitioner''s own.


    For instance, Lin Shiming''s Immortal Wood Shadow could be strengthened, but Revival Wind and the Light of Deduction could not be further enhanced.


    Otherwise, Lin Shiming wouldn''t hesitate to offer even Thousand Year Spirit Medicine in exchange, let alone the Eight Trigrams Demon Banners.


    The importance of this Secret Technique left Lin Shiming in indecision.


    Seeing Lin Shiming''s hesitation, the other party bit their lip:


    "In addition to the Secret Technique and the Minor Divine Ability Fruit tree, I will also provide information about a piece of Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow!"


    "Agreed!" Lin Shiming nodded, no longer hesitating.


    The Seven-Injuries Shield may be powerful, but it is useless for cultivators like them.


    Only deviant practitioners could refine it.


    Lin Shiming placed the Seven-Injuries Shield into the transfer platform.


    Soon after, a flash of Spirit Light lit up, and on the platform appeared a long Jade Box and two Jade Slips.


    Lin Shiming didn''t look at the Minor Divine Ability Fruit tree, but rather at the two Jade Slips.


    One contained the Secret Technique to enhance the Minor Divine Ability, while the other provided information about the Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow.


    Yet, what caused Lin Shiming to frown was that the Cold Jade Marrow wasn''t located somewhere else, but rather within the Secret Realm of Yunzhong Palace.


    This cultivator clearly had been to Yunzhong Palace and had seen the Thousand Year Profound Cold Jade Marrow.


    However, it seemed they failed to obtain it.


    Lin Shiming carefully put away the two Jade Slips.


    With a plan now in mind, he finally opened the Jade Box to examine the Minor Divine Ability Fruit tree.


    He saw that the tree was merely seven inches tall but still shining brightly.


    Once the tree grows to one zhang in size, it would produce Minor Divine Ability Fruits.


    Among the remaining treasures, a Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit was exchanged for an auxiliary ingredient for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    A three-thousand-year-old Netherworld Heavy Ironwood was traded for a dose of Bone Eroding Spirit Fire.


    The leftover Seven-Injuries Shield was exchanged for a fifth-rank intermediate-grade Array Plate.


    Besides these, Lin Shiming also exchanged for many treasures needed by the family.


    For example, the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit tree could increase the number of Purple Mansion cultivators in the family.


    There were also other three-thousand-year and five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicines.


    Though some Spiritual Medicines were not useful to him, the Lin Family had many Purple Mansion cultivators and the Soul Summoning Sword of the Sword Pavilion.


    They would eventually be needed.


    Soon, the Golden Core Cultivators'' trade meet also came to an end, and each pavilion disappeared above the lake.


    Lin Shiming looked at the lake, feeling calm within, admiring the auction''s excellent techniques.


    Not only was it secure, but it also allowed the cultivators to offer their treasures without any reservations.


    Undoubtedly, this stimulated the cultivators.


    In Lin Shiming''s plans, the islands of the Lin Family should also be arranged like this in the future.


    Otherwise, they would be nurturing cultivators for others.


    After a few moments passed, Lin Shiming''s figure suddenly appeared on an island above Coral Island.


    Lin Shiming looked at the scorching sun in the sky, chose a direction, donned a Spirit Isolation Charm, and disappeared from the spot.


    He did not attend the auction; since the auction''s offerings were scarce nowadays, he was not in a rush.


    He believed Lin Zeli could handle it well.


    Instead, what he was more eager to do now was to let the Star Spirit Clam consume the Profound Star Stone.


    If the Star Spirit Clam breaks through, his chances of advancing to the Golden Core Middle Stage in Body Cultivation would be even higher.


    Soon, Lin Shiming returned to Welcoming Lin Palace.

 Chapter 944 - 580 King Island

    Upon returning to Welcoming Lin Palace, Lin Shiming eagerly entered into the Cave Heaven.


    At this point, there was no need to hide the matter of the Cave Heaven anymore.


    Chi Shan True Person even took out the Cave Heaven Bead for trade.


    It''s possible that his Cave Heaven Bead is slightly bigger, no longer vulnerable to envy now.


    Moreover, as he often released the Soul Summoning Sword, he guessed other True Persons could probably surmise it too.


    Things belonging to True Spirits couldn''t be put in a Storage Bag, and the Spirit Beast Bag definitely wouldn''t do.


    Inside the Cave Heaven, the grass was still lush green and all the plants were growing extremely well.


    Since this place turned into a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, many ordinary grasses have turned into Spirit Grasses now.


    After all, the positions within this Cave Heaven are highly concentrated; over time, that''s just how it is.


    Elder Mu and Lei Tong were still pondering in the Purple Sun Tower.


    Now, unless Lin Shiming instructs Elder Mu, the latter would go and observe the transformation tree of Infant Fruit.


    To Elder Mu''s behavior, he had become accustomed, rather he was somewhat looking forward to Elder Mu''s rapid changes.


    As for Lei Tong, it purely has a habit of following behind Elder Mu, it couldn''t tell much.


    But staying near its origin, it could enhance its strength better.


    Lin Shiming looked towards Spirit Lake; the lake was now even more shimmering, filled with Spirit Fish swimming inside.


    These Spirit Fish were having an extremely nourishing life.


    After all, Lin Shiming''s strength definitely wouldn''t spare these Second and Third Rank spirit dishes.


    Wang Jiao now also disdains them, only having a special fondness for Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Even the Red-haired Demon Monkey that often stole food before, now seemed to have turned over a new leaf, cultivating tiresomely in a nearby stone room.


    Thus, these Spirit Fish almost had no natural predators.


    Star Spirit Clam still liked to disperse some Star Spirit Fluff into the Spirit Lake.


    "Master!"


    "Master!" Along with ripples appearing on the surface of Spirit Lake, two shells emerged.


    The one belonging to Star Spirit Clam was the largest, as wide as twice arm-span, while the Water Spirit Shell was slightly smaller.


    Although the Water Spirit Shell was captured, it was controlled using the Soul Arrest Forbidden.


    Thus, in recent years, it had been quite obedient, albeit feeling somewhat wronged each time Lin Shiming took a Water Spirit Pearl.


    "Recently, A Shui is about to break through, Master, I''ve shared some Star Spirit Fluff with it!" Star Spirit Clam spoke.


    Lin Shiming nodded; this was not Star Spirit Clam taking initiative on its own, rather he had instructed it that it could share some Star Spirit Fluff with other Spirit Beasts in the Cave Heaven.


    Like Wang Jiao who often asked for it.


    If it did not receive any, it might threaten Star Spirit Clam, trying to get more.


    But Star Spirit Clam was never afraid, it would just dive into the lake and vanish.


    Water Spirit Shell was also considered his Spirit Beast.


    And to reach the Late Stage of Purple Mansion, the Water Spirit Pearls by then should be even better.


    It would be better for Lin Shitao and Lin Xianzhi to cultivate with them.


    Both of them were likely to be in the Late Stage of Purple Mansion this time.


    Upon cultivating to the peak, they could prepare for Solidifying Pill.


    "Here is a Demon Core, take it along!" Lin Shiming took out a Jade Box from his Storage Bag, which was a Water Attribute Spirit Beast Inner Core from the late Fourth Rank period.


    He had planned to bring it to a trade fair, but clearly, such a Fourth Rank inner core wasn''t fit for display; it would be laughable unless he brought out the Tai Qian Shark''s inner core.


    But he had greater uses for the Tai Qian Shark''s inner core.


    "Thank you, Master!" Water Spirit Shell was overjoyed as it swallowed the Demon Core and closed its shells tightly.


    It then bid farewell and sank below the water.


    Compared to above water, Water Spirit Shell preferred making a breakthrough underwater.


    And also, due to the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, the Spiritual Energy underwater was also abundant.


    "Master..." Seeing that Water Spirit Shell had received its share, Star Spirit Clam slightly opened its shells too.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile, and he took out the Profound Star Stone obtained in trade; the next moment, Star Spirit Clam''s eyes lit up.


    And on its shells, stars sparked as if forming a small piece of star map.


    "This is for you!" Lin Shiming handed the Profound Star Stone over to Star Spirit Clam.


    The latter was repeatedly overjoyed.


    "Thank you, Master!" Star Spirit Clam wrapped the Profound Star Stone tightly with its shells and dove towards the bottom of Spirit Lake!


    As it moved, countless stars converged!


    Leaving behind a trail of star marks, slowly making its way to the bottom of the lake.


    The next moment, Spirit Lake also began to ripple, as if there was a sea of stars underwater.


    Extremely spectacular.


    And this was just the view from above the lake; if one were to go to the lake''s bottom, it would be even more beautiful.


    Groups of Spirit Fish swam joyfully, and that huge mysterious black fish also swam to the side; it was still at the Early Stage of Purple Mansion unchanged, Lin Shiming casually threw a Spirit Pill to it.


    He then arrived at the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s seclusion spot.


    At this moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had reached the peak of Middle Stage of Purple Mansion, poised to enter the Late Stage at any moment!


    Once it reaches the Late Stage of Purple Mansion, Lin Shiming could then find Demonic Beast Inner Cores to prepare for the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    "Master!" At this moment, the Red-haired Demon Monkey looked somewhat dejected.


    After all, it had refined the Chi Ming Xia flame, and with its own three kinds of flames, now there were four, yet it still hadn''t broken through to the Late Stage of Purple Mansion.


    "Here is a Bone Eroding Spirit Fire, refining it should enhance your Divine Skills!" Lin Shiming spoke, still dividing the Bone Eroding Spirit Fire into three parts, one for the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The remaining two parts were prepared for Lin Shijie and Lin Shitao.

 Chapter 945 - 580 King Island_2

    "You should focus on your cultivation!" Lin Shiming instructed.


    After sending away the Red-haired Demon Monkey, he went straight to the Purple Sun Tower alone.


    The Thousand Year Spirit Medicine still transformed into a small Red Crane Spirit Shadow, trying to approach Lin Shiming.


    Life inside the Purple Sun Tower had long made it complacent, without any alertness.


    He then flicked his fingers again, releasing a Sword Qi that instantly shattered the Red Crane Spirit Shadow.


    The remaining Spirit Light hastily fled in fear.


    "Master!" Elder Mu and Lei Tong greeted him one by one.


    "No matter, you continue!" Lin Shiming spoke and walked to a vacant corner, then took out a handful of Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and placed it in front of him, followed by taking out the wood stem of the Fifth Rank Longevity Wood.


    Then he poured on it Nurturing Spirit Liquid and Fifth Rank Spirit Water.


    Next, he controlled the Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy to flow towards the wood stem!


    As time passed, the wood stem began to emit Spirit Light, showing much more vitality than before.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming nodded approvingly.


    As long as there was increased vitality, it was enough; if it revived directly, Chi Shan True Person would not trade it.


    Lin Shiming only needed to wait for the Revival Wind Minor Divine Ability after five years.


    That would allow the Longevity Wood to come back to life.


    This would add another layer of foundation for the Lin Family.


    After finishing these tasks, Lin Shiming also sent some Spirit Food and Spirit Pills to Jin Lei and Wang Jiao.


    Wang Jiao now needed to consolidate his cultivation level, while Jin Lei was already advancing towards the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Upon leaving Cave Heaven, Lin Shiming found that Lin Zeli and others had already returned in front of Welcoming Lin Palace.


    Their faces were full of joy.


    It seemed they had acquired many good items.


    Once in the hall, Lin Zeli joyfully spoke:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, many of the items you wanted were purchased, but not the Gold Condensation Fruit!" Lin Zeli said.


    Lin Shiming also nodded, not getting the Gold Condensation Fruit was something he had anticipated.


    Although the Lin Family was wealthy, it was still much more naive compared to other inner islands.


    Some inner islands possess two or three High-Grade Spirit Stone Mines.


    Not to mention their years of accumulation.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, we also bought a thousand-year-old Jade Dragon Flower and Fifth Rank Taiyi Cloud Water for you!"


    Having said that, she passed over a Storage Bag.


    Inside was indeed a Jade Dragon Flower with its roots still intact, besides that there was Taiyi Cloud Water.


    The Jade Dragon Flower was very easy to recognize, with python patterns on its roots, while the flower often had many jade beads akin to white jade attached to it year-round.


    The Cloud Water was even more special; it''s not real water, but mist.


    However, if touched with Spiritual Power, it turns into water, and vice versa, it becomes mist.


    It was quite magical.


    Both of these treasures are auxiliary materials for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    This way, Lin Shiming''s Nascent Transformation Pill only lacks the main ingredient, Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow.


    No wonder Lin Zeli was so excited.


    After discussing Lin Shiming''s treasures, Lin Zeli spoke again:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, aside from the treasures bought for you, we also acquired a Thousand Buddha Beads and a Blood Demon Bead!"


    "These two treasures are both Fourth Rank beads that enhance the cultivation level of Buddha Cultivators and Demon Cultivators, suitable for Grandpa. We also got a Fifth Rank Pill Furnace..."


    Lin Zeli listed the procured treasures one by one, and Lin Shiming nodded as well, quite satisfied with Lin Zeli''s actions at the auction.


    Lin Shijie, Lin Shitao, Lin Xianzhi, Lin Houyuan, Lin Houshou all had treasures.


    Lin Zehong was also quite agitated at the moment, describing how grand the auction was. She even bid herself, buying a Spirit Talisman.


    Although Lin Changxing didn''t buy anything, he was also smiling.


    For cultivators, participating in such a large-scale auction was indeed a joyous occasion.


    But one must be sure because of it!


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, when are we going back?" Just then Lin Yanxing also spoke up.


    Having experienced the competition during the ceremony, his heart was somewhat stirred; he was now eager to break through to Purple Mansion.


    He was now fully confident.


    However, it still was a great pressure for him, as he had publicly stated he would surpass Lin Shiming.


    "We''ll wait two more days!" Lin Shiming was waiting for Xue Shan True Person to convene the Alliance meeting.


    Although the ceremony has ended, the most important alliance meeting has yet to begin.


    This alliance meeting will determine the changes in the major Twelve Inner Islands, and will also decide the allocation of treasures in the future Fifth Rank Secret Realm and Purple Sun Secret Realm.


    This is also extremely important for the Lin Family.


    However, Lin Shiming already knew the benefits that the Lin Family was going to receive.


    Next, Lin Shiming also continued to refine the Spirit Mind Soldiers through the secret technique of the Spirit Mind Palace.


    Currently, the rough outline of the palace has been sketched out in his mind; only more Spirit Patterns are needed to strengthen and enhance it.


    Refining each Spirit Pattern brought him considerable joy for a long time.


    As time passed, on the third day, a Spirit Talisman finally flew into the Welcoming Lin Palace of the Lin Family.


    Lin Shiming flew out alone and coincidentally met Red Leaf True Person, who today wore a striking red leaf dress and had her hair elegantly pinned behind her head, making her look dignified and breathtakingly beautiful.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but take a few extra glances.


    "Sister Red Leaf!" Lin Shiming greeted Red Leaf True Person and then walked side by side with her.


    Halfway there, Zhao Yulin also caught up.


    Today, Zhao Yulin was also dressed beautifully in a white dress, which made her appear even more strikingly beautiful and cold.


    The three of them walked together into the Council Hall of the Coral Alliance.


    The other True Persons couldn''t help but chuckle lightly at Lin Shiming.


    To them, Lin Shiming always seemed to be close to Zhao Yulin and Red Leaf.


    This inevitably led to some speculation.


    As for their glances, Lin Shiming simply ignored them.


    This kind of speculation was meaningless to him.


    Soon, a Golden Core True Person from each island arrived, making a total of ten True Persons present.


    And this implied, as many understood,


    that the Lin Family was about to take control of two inner islands.


    Otherwise, this scene wouldn''t have unfolded, but what wasn''t clear was how Lin Shiming would choose!


    After all, Golden Thunder Island was the best among the inner islands, while Red Leaf Island and Lanling Island were quite similar.


    Suddenly, Xue Shan True Monarch also walked in, wearing the iconic coral robe of Coral Island.


    He entered with a dignified face.


    For many True Persons, what was about to happen was also crucial, even the most critical part of this ceremony.


    Even Lin Shiming was somewhat hesitant seeing Xue Shan True Monarch today.


    His previous speculations seemed once again to weigh on his mind.


    Based on the practices of Coral Island, he was to become the Supreme Sect of the Coral Alliance.


    To govern the entire Coral Alliance.


    "Greetings to senior True Monarch!" All the True Persons began to pay their respects, even Lin Shiming did the same!


    "Fellow island lords, True Persons, it has been nearly a hundred years since we last convened this grand meeting of the Coral Alliance. Today, we finally have the opportunity!" Xue Shan True Monarch exclaimed with much emotion.


    Then he waved his hand, and a group of female cultivators stepped forward, serving tea to all the True Persons.


    After pouring the tea, they respectfully retreated again.


    This spiritual tea was Fifth Rank, but none of the True Persons were in the mood to appreciate it.


    "Fellow island lord True Persons, in launching this Coral Alliance meeting, I will not beat around the bush!"


    "Tianzhao Sect dared to provoke our Coral Alliance right in front of us, we must seek revenge!"


    "And this plan for revenge has already been tentatively prepared. The departure date is within a year, and at that time a Sound Transmission Talisman will notify you all!"


    "Of course, if any of you have objections, you may raise them now!"


    Xue Shan True Monarch still asked once again.


    "Well then, concerning the True Persons, each island should send two True Persons, or two with the combat power of True Persons, up to the three islands of Tianliu Island, Red Leaf Island, and Qian Ji Island, each need to dispatch a Golden Core Late Stage combat power!" Xue Shan True Monarch continued giving instructions.


    "Additionally, in my vision, our Coral Alliance is already powerful enough to have the presence of King Island, and from now on Coral Island and Shuangmu Island will be King Island!"


    Xue Shan True Person spoke at this moment, shocking everyone, including Lin Shiming.


    He hadn''t expected Xue Shan True Monarch to have such determination!


    He actually involved the Lin Family into the royal lineage of the Coral Alliance!


    This meant there were huge benefits being conceded!


    And it might even mean that the Coral Alliance would eventually be divided in two!


    This was inevitable with the passage of time.


    Thus, the motive behind this move by Coral Island became even more elusive!

 Chapter 946 - 581: Resource Allocation, Red Leaf Handover

    The True Persons in the meeting room were all utterly silent.


    But, undeniably, this news had indeed shocked them for quite some time.


    After some thought, Lin Shiming also understood.


    Xue Shan True Person didn''t want to give up Coral Island''s transcendent status.


    After all, Coral Island was once just one of the inner islands, without any greater advantage.


    Moreover, according to the original plan, it was estimated that there would only be one King Island, which was Coral Island.


    It was only because a True Monarch combat power emerged from the Lin Family that the situation had changed.


    Of course, perhaps in the future, when all Nascent Souls wield the power of their domains, Coral Island may yet stir up some trouble.


    After all, the Qiu Xue Sword is but a broken sword, its strength fluctuating between Nascent Soul and Golden Core, only occasionally bursting with more.


    The reason it could defeat Dragon True Person before was that these True Persons had mastered less power, having just broken through without access to many ancient texts of Sixth Rank Nascent Soul True Monarchs.


    On this matter, Lin Shiming was reminded of Qingxuan Sect and Taibai Sword Palace.


    The Qingxuan Sect had taken away part of its heritage, and within the Sword Palace, there surely were some secret techniques and divine skills related to Sixth Rank Nascent Souls.


    For Lin Shiming, who had reached Nascent Soul, he certainly wouldn''t be short of divine skills and secret techniques.


    This period of advancement for Nascent Soul Cultivators was also a time for rapid development of the Lin Family.


    Lin Shiming did not object, as King Island also had benefits for the Lin Family, at least in the future distribution of Secret Realms and when fighting Tianzhao Sect, the Lin Family would gain more advantages.


    However, this also meant that in the campaign against Tianzhao Sect, the Lin Family would have to exert a lot of effort.


    But in fact, without accepting the title of King Island, Lin Shiming would still have to make such efforts.


    "Alright, that settles it. The island''s governance model remains the same as before, with major issues being voted on, ordinary inner islands getting one vote, the Upper Three Islands two votes, and King Island four votes. Aside from that, Red Leaf Fellow Daoist of Ye Family, who stood out in this internal strife, will henceforth control the Jin Lei Archipelago, and both Red Leaf Archipelago and Lanling Archipelago will be managed by Qian Mu Fellow Daoist''s family!"


    "What do you all think?" Xue Shan True Monarch continued to speak.


    The assembly of True Persons looked at each other and then shook their heads.


    They had not voiced any objections regarding King Island before, so naturally, they were unlikely to do so now.


    After all, Xue Shan True Monarch had spoken for the interests of both Red Leaf Archipelago and the Lin Family, so no one dared to object.


    Nor did anyone have the qualifications to object.


    The only ones who could have objected, Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji True Person, were absent this time, which itself conveyed much information.


    "What are Red Leaf Fellow Daoist and Qian Mu Fellow Daoist''s opinions?"


    "Many thanks to True Monarch!" Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person both expressed their gratitude with clasped hands.


    Xue Shan True Monarch nodded in satisfaction and then spoke again:


    "Since the alliance status has changed, the allocations for Coral Island''s Purple Sun Secret Realm and the Heavenly Rank Secret Realms should also be modified!"


    "Would everyone please express their opinions? Let''s hear them!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke once more.


    Once again, the True Persons'' expressions turned somewhat troubled.


    Initially, they were not allowed to express their opinions; now that the statuses of King Island and the inner islands had been confirmed, allowing them to voice their opinions left little room for input.


    Previously, the distribution was in three tiers: the weakest inner islands had ten spots, those with Golden Core Middle Stage or multiple Golden Cores had twenty spots, and those with Golden Core Late Stage cultivators had thirty spots.


    Coral Island had forty spots.


    This certainly had to change now.


    "In my opinion, ordinary inner islands should still have ten spots, the Upper Three Islands thirty spots, and King Island fifty spots. Regarding the benefits within the alliance, the profits of transmission formations in the various markets, with ten percent being contributed to the alliance, King Island would take fifty percent, the Upper Three Islands thirty percent, and the ordinary inner islands twenty percent," proposed Yu Mo True Person, somewhat helplessly making the suggestion.


    This model meant that the interests of ordinary inner islands would definitely be compromised.


    But it was something that had to be discussed.


    And he couldn''t harm the interests of the Upper Three Islands either.


    For the distribution, Lin Shiming was naturally satisfied.


    The other True Persons were also very satisfied with this allocation, whereas Xue Shan True Monarch had not expressed a stance yet.


    And at this moment, Lin Shiming stood up; others might not express a stance, but that didn''t mean he could afford not to.


    "Fellow Daoists, True Monarch, I believe that although the Lin Family has Nascent Soul combat power, it is not a true Nascent Soul. Forty spots in the Purple Sun Secret Realm are sufficient, and twenty percent of the alliance''s profits will suffice!" Lin Shiming said.


    Upon hearing this, the others nodded, and at this moment, Xue Shan True Monarch spoke:


    "That''s not appropriate."


    "True Monarch Senior, the Lin Family is aware of its limited foundation and cannot accept so much; it is also hard to convince others. The alliance should naturally receive wholehearted support!" Lin Shiming knew well how to handle Xue Shan True Monarch''s pleasantries.


    If he failed to know when to advance or retreat after being given the title of King Island, he would indeed be walking a narrow path.


    "Then let''s settle the matter this way!" Xue Shan True Monarch agreed with some apparent difficulty.


    The other True Persons all nodded in agreement.


    Xue Shan True Monarch''s nod was in fact the moment the plan was confirmed.


    "Then everyone please go back and get ready. In the campaign against Tianzhao Sect, there will surely be extra islands to be allocated!" Xue Shan True Person concluded the meeting.


    He then raised his cup, inviting everyone to drink heartily.


    A cup of Fifth Rank Spiritual Wine made many of the cultivators feel much refreshed.


    At least the oath sworn by Heavenly Dao that Lin Shiming had anticipated was gone.


    Not establishing a new Heavenly Dao oath or rules was beneficial for all the True Persons.


    Lin Shiming was also able to retain the Purple Illusion Sky Smoke Wine.


    After leaving the Xue Shan Palace, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Lin Shiming with a trace of gratitude in their eyes.

 Chapter 947 - 581: Resource Allocation, Red Leaf Handover_2

    If Lin Shiming hadn''t been holding back from the inside.


    Today would have certainly been a one-man show.


    Even so, one can imagine that if Coral Island does not gain enough benefits in this expedition, the ordinary internal islands among the Twelve Inner Islands will definitely be encroached upon.


    This time everyone is clear about the strength of Coral Island, capable of resisting the three upper islands on its own.


    After returning to Welcoming Lin Palace, Lin Zeli and the others had already been waiting for a long time.


    "This time, our family takes control of the Red Leaf Archipelago and the Lanling Archipelago!" Lin Shiming declared.


    At these words, the Lin Family members were overjoyed.


    It meant that the Lin Family''s influence could expand nearly tenfold!


    They could have more than twenty subordinate forces.


    Of course, those who were previously affiliated with the Red Leaf Archipelago might follow Red Leaf True Person and head towards Golden Thunder Island.


    After all, Golden Thunder Island is richer, and Jin Lei True Person''s power has been completely reshuffled.


    It''s an ample land with a sparse population.


    However, for the Lin Family, this is preferable, as they can nurture more of their own forces.


    By now, the Lin Family must certainly support some of the Purple Mansion Families.


    "We can begin to prepare for our return!" Lin Shiming instructed, looking at Lin Zeli and the others.


    The cultivators also started to pack their things. As for everything at Welcoming Lin Palace, no one cared, as the cultivators from Coral Island would arrange for its cleaning and upkeep.


    Even if they left people here, it would be unnecessary.


    If Coral Island is not at ease, they will not benefit anyway.


    The group headed towards the Transmission Formation plaza.


    On the plaza, Red Leaf True Person and Zhao Yulin were there, seemingly waiting and greeted Lin Shiming upon his arrival.


    They all greeted Lin Shiming, especially Red Leaf True Person, who truly experienced great fluctuations this time.


    Initially thinking they could take over Golden Thunder Island, only to be struck down by one True Monarch after another, it was still Lin Shiming''s Qiu Xue Sword that demonstrated strength,


    allowing Ye Family to reclaim Golden Thunder Island once again.


    Lin Shiming exchanged pleasantries with Red Leaf True Person, then they entered the Transmission Formation together.


    Zhao Yulin, on the other hand, entered another one, as Tianliu Island and Red Leaf Island have different formations and destinations.


    As a white light shone, Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person''s party appeared on the Transmission Formation of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Red Leaf Island is very large, and the Red Leaf Archipelago''s maritime area is even larger.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense spread out, seeing countless mountains and rivers, market towns, and residential areas.


    In the seas, he saw many busy cultivators!


    He couldn''t help feeling somewhat bewildered and emotional.


    Remember, when he first arrived at the Red Leaf Archipelago, he was shocked by its prosperity and vastness.


    Now, as time has passed, it won''t be long before it becomes Lin Family''s territory.


    For Lin Shiming, it indeed feels like a dream.


    But such is the world, where the strong prey on the weak.


    "Junior Brother Lin, our father just sent a message, inviting Junior Brother Lin to come and sit on the island for a while. You didn''t get enough of the Bi Chun Tea last time, this time it''ll be plenty!" said Red Leaf True Person.


    "Then thank you, Senior Sister!" Lin Shiming nodded, not refusing.


    This conversation was also about discussing when the Ye Family of the Red Leaf Archipelago would move out.


    It was also about the coordination of the archipelago''s future management.


    For the Lin Family, naturally the sooner the Ye Family leaves, the better.


    But before that, the Red Leaf Archipelago will certainly harvest many resources for the last time.


    Even many Spirit Veins will be moved.


    But it is necessary to leave some Spirit Veins on the Red Leaf Archipelago; otherwise, without enough veins compared to Shuangmu Island, defense will become an issue!


    As for the Array, there''s no need to worry, since he acquired a Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade defensive array at the trade fair, which can be precisely arranged over the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Upon reaching the center of Red Leaf Island, Lin Shiming gestured that Lin Zeli and the others should also explore the marketplaces of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Lin Zeli was fine, but Lin Zehong showed particular excitement, taking the initiative to take Lin Changxing away.


    Claiming that he wanted to show his great-nephew around properly.


    Lin Shiming naturally had a strange expression on his face, but now that they were on the Red Leaf Archipelago, the likelihood of danger was reduced.


    With few Purple Mansion cultivators around, and Lin Zeli''s strength, there wouldn''t be too many who could match up to him.


    So Lin Shiming could be at ease.


    Passing through the streets, they arrived at Red Leaf Palace.


    Inside Red Leaf Palace, many cultivators were bustling about.


    And now, Gufeng True Person, who once guarded the Treasure Pavilion, also stands watch at the entrance of Red Leaf Palace.


    "Elder Gufeng!" Lin Shiming greeted with folded hands.


    As the father of Red Leaf True Person, his being addressed as an elder by Lin Shiming was certainly fitting.


    "Just refer to me as Daoist Ye; thanks are owed to Daoist Lin this time!" Gufeng True Person shook his head, ushering Lin Shiming into the palace.


    Although they had long known the Lin Family was no ordinary clan, this time not only did they possess considerable Golden Core strength, but they also had Nascent Soul capabilities.


    While grateful, they also felt fortunate.


    If they really continued to develop within the Red Leaf Archipelago, and once the Lin Family had more True Persons emerge, the Ye Family would face difficulties in their dealings.


    That would indeed be quite awkward.


    By taking the initiative to move out now, they could gain access to a vastly bigger stage and avoid offending the Lin Family.


    It was truly a win-win situation.


    Entering the palace, inside there was already a celebratory feast.


    A Dragon Slaughtering Feast was laid out, and although not all were Fifth Rank Demon Kings, it included a Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Flood Dragon.


    Both the color and taste were complete, and the cooking was impeccable.


    And the Spiritual Tea was Fifth Rank Bichun Tea.


    Besides the Spiritual Tea, there was also a jug of wine, a Fifth Rank Spirit Dew.


    There were just three places set.


    "There''s no rush today; Daoist Lin, let''s have a good talk!" Gufeng True Person remarked.


    The three took their seats at the table, and Red Leaf True Person began to raise a cup, drinking precisely that Spirit Dew.


    This wine''s flavor was mellow, filled with abundant Spiritual Energy, equivalent to a Golden Core''s months of arduous cultivation.


    After drinking, Red Leaf True Person''s complexion turned slightly flushed, looking beautifully radiant.


    "Daoist Lin, this old man also thanks you for your assistance to the Ye Family!" Gufeng True Person also raised a cup to Lin Shiming once again.


    Lin Shiming responded in kind and subsequently raised his cup too.


    "Daoist Ye, Elder Red Leaf, I too am thankful for the Ye Family''s care towards our Lin Family!" Lin Shiming raised a toast to the two elders.


    This exchange left everyone with dignity and led to a more enjoyable feast.


    "Daoist Lin, the Ye Family''s base is quite substantial; it may take about half a year to move out!" Gufeng True Person spoke up after they had drunk quite a bit.


    Lin Shiming nodded at this statement.


    Now, not just the Ye Family, even the Lin Family would not be swift in relocating.


    And likely, the Ye Family had even more mortal cultivators.


    "However, rest assured, Daoist Lin, in terms of Spirit Veins, the Ye Family will not take the Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade peak Spirit Vein with them. Furthermore, there''s also a Fifth Rank Inferior Grade pure Earth Spirit Vein that they won''t take; it can produce Spirit Soil, which I believe the Lin Family will find useful in the future..."


    Gufeng True Person enumerated the details of the asset transfer.


    Beyond the Spirit Veins, the Red Leaf Archipelago also has one Earth Grade Secret Realm, two Profound Grade Secret Realms and eight Yellow Grade Secret Realms, which will be handed over to the Lin Family.


    However, the Ye Family will not touch the Yellow and Profound Grade Secret Realms.


    But for the Earth Grade Secret Realm, the Ye Family will enter once every ten years for a hundred years.


    After all, the Ye Family has cultivated many Spiritual Medicines within the Secret Realm that cannot be moved immediately.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but marvel at the wealth of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    He also became curious about the secret realms of the Golden Thunder Archipelago.


    Aside from the Secret Realms, Gufeng True Person also informed the Lin Family about three small Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mines, and one large Inferior Grade Spirit Stone Mine.


    There were also two small Second Rank Spirit Jade Mines.


    As these veins had been mined conservatively, there was still half of the reserves left, which would also be transferred to the Lin Family!


    Having heard all the benefits, Lin Shiming felt somewhat dizzy.


    The Ye Family today was undeniably generous.


    "Daoist Lin, these are all things the Ye Family can currently offer, and we hope the Ye Family can continue to be an ally of the Lin Family!" After saying so much, Gufeng True Person''s final words were heartfelt.


    Although they had been allies before.


    But at that time, Red Leaf Island was strong, and the Lin Family was weak.


    Now the tables have turned; the Ye Family is weak, and the Lin Family is strong.


    And this time, they indeed relied greatly on the Lin Family.


    Otherwise, the situation of the Ye Family would be extremely delicate.


    "By the way, Junior Brother Lin, regarding the situation in the Lanling Archipelago, I will also thoroughly inform you when the time comes!" Red Leaf True Person continued.


    Lin Shiming repeatedly expressed his gratitude, though he didn''t hold out much hope for the Lanling Archipelago.


    After all, it had been under the control of Coral Island for several years.


    And there was still a handover period...

 Chapter 948 - 582: Development Strategies

    At the entrance of Red Leaf Palace, Lin Shiming walked out, accompanied by Gufeng True Person and Red Leaf True Person.


    Upon departure, a Storage Bag fell into Lin Shiming''s waist.


    "Just some Spiritual Tea, think nothing of it!" Gufeng True Person laughed and said.


    Lin Shiming at first did not accept it.


    "This is to thank you for your help with Golden Thunder Island; my father has an obsession with it!" Red Leaf True Person said, explaining as Lin Shiming looked over.


    Afterwards, they sent Lin Shiming to the Transmission Formation entrance, along with Lin Zehong, Lin Zeli, and others who had returned with him.


    At this moment, they were quite excited.


    Especially Lin Zehong, the key point was, they were thinking that they could always stay on Red Leaf Island in the future.


    On the other hand, Lin Changxing and Lin Zeli, Lin Yanxing were as calm as still waters.


    The former had a nonchalant temperament, while the latter two only liked staying in places with a Sword Pavilion.


    Since Sword Pavilion couldn''t be on Red Leaf Island, no matter how rich the Spiritual Energy here, they wouldn''t consider coming.


    The significance of Shuangmu Island to the Lin Family is not trivial.


    "Let''s go, we''ll come back next time!" Lin Shiming instructed, leading the others onto the Transmission Formation to depart.


    As the light of transmission brightened, the group appeared on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    This time, Lin Shiming did not linger and went straight to Shuangmu Island.


    Upon arriving at Shuangmu Island, Lin Shiming convened a meeting of the family elders.


    Attending this time were all the family''s Purple Mansion Cultivators.


    Lin Shijie also attended this time, his Spirit Light plentiful, evidently reaching the Purple Mansion Peak, ready to break through to Golden Core at any moment.


    He greeted Lin Shiming with a fervent look in his eyes.


    And Lin Xianzhi had also reached the Late Stage of Purple Mansion.


    In the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion, there were Lin Houshou, Lin Shilei, Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and Lei Xuan, not to mention Lin Shitao and Lin Shiyi, who were in seclusion.


    As for the Early Stage of Purple Mansion, there were even more; from the descendants bearing "Hou," there were Lin Houfei, Lin Houxuan, Lin Houwei, with descendants bearing "Shi" there were Lin Shizhong, Lin Shijin, Lin Shiyun, Lin Shiyuan, and from those bearing "Ze" there were Lin Zeyi, Lin Zeyuan, Lin Zeli, and even from the descendants with "Yan," Lin Yanjiao had also broken through to the Early Stage of Purple Mansion.


    The entire Qinglian Peak was bustling with activity.


    The pavilion of the past could now only accommodate Cultivators of Middle and Late Stages of Purple Mansion.


    At this moment, the Lin Family was reaching another pinnacle of its strength.


    Even the lotus pond in the distance, nourished by the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, now had broad and verdant lotus leaves, appearing like pieces of emerald emerging from the water surface.


    The lotus flowers on the pond bloomed distinctly red, each more gorgeous than the last.


    Aside from the lotus leaves, there were countless Spirit Fish and Spirit Shrimp beneath the surface.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, one piece of good news and one piece of bad news!" Lin Shiming said as the attendees were almost all present.


    This remark left the others somewhat puzzled.


    "Let''s skip the good news and bad news, just get straight to the point!" Lin Houyuan said impatiently.


    He hadn''t realized before that Lin Shiming was one to keep people in suspense.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile wryly, his own father putting him in a spot.


    "Our family has obtained Lanling Archipelago and Red Leaf Archipelago!"


    "Both archipelagos require Golden Core Cultivators to be stationed; our Lin Family is certainly short on strength at the moment!" Lin Shiming looked at Lin Shijie and Lin Xianzhi!


    In his heart, there was also some relief.


    He always felt that Lin Xianzhi seemed a bit constrained.


    He guessed it was because he was being caught up by younger generations.


    Feeling old.


    After all, the members of "Chang" generation in the Lin Family now called him an ancestor, with a gap of five generations between.


    Such pressure, should be able to invigorate Lin Xianzhi a bit more.


    After all, Lin Xianzhi too possessed a Dual Spirit Root, and in those days in the Eastern Domain, he was no slouch in terms of Sword Dao talent, belonging to the level of a minor genius.


    However, Lin Shiming was now unsure how far Lin Xianzhi''s realm in the Sword Dao had progressed.


    "Besides Golden Core Cultivators, our family is also very short on Purple Mansion Late Stage and Middle Stage Cultivators. In the future, our quota for Purple Sun Secret Realm will be forty, and our Lin Family will also take a twenty percent share in the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm!" Lin Shiming continued.


    With this, everyone felt the pressure.


    Of course, there was more excitement.


    Other powers would wish for this kind of pressure but wouldn''t have the means to handle it.


    "All these transitions will happen in half a year; Yanjiao, you need to arrange things soon, especially the relocation of the family''s Mortals! Of course, the development of the family''s small worlds shouldn''t stop either!" Lin Shiming continued.


    In the future, the Lin Family would replace the old triangle of Shuangmu Island, Heavenly Phenomenon Island, and Jiuyue Island with a new triangle of Shuangmu Island, Red Leaf Island, and Lanling Island.


    As for Jiuyue Island, its importance will be greatly reduced.


    In recent years, the forces on Red Leaf Island have withdrawn a lot, coupled with the withdrawal of Fengxing Commerce Alliance, and the retreat of the Flood Dragon Clan, the strategic significance of Jiuyue Island has decreased a lot.


    Only the High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine made it still necessary for the Lin Family to pay attention.


    Of course, Jiuyue Island can still utilize the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation to serve as the gateway for the Lin Family.


    For trade development, the Lin Family will still prefer Red Leaf Island and Lanling Island in the future.


    "Yanjiao, what is your view on the development of the family''s two islands?" Lin Shiming finally spoke again.


    This was both a test and an inquiry.


    "Replying to Seventh Great-Uncle, this matter is straightforward; we can just hold another birthday feast in Zewen Uncle''s name to express loyalty; our family is a Nascent Soul family, so they can either stay or move out. As for the spies from Coral Island, if they reveal their identities, we will keep them; if not, then we won''t know about them either!" Lin Yanjiao said.


    When she spoke, she was filled with a murderous aura.


    In such a vast Southern Sea, and with the Lin Family being such a huge clan,


    It is simply impossible to make progress only through appeasement.


    "Additionally, Seventh Great-Uncle, Seventh Ancestor, I think it''s time for the family to implement a competition system among the islands!"

 Chapter 949 - 582 Development Planning_2

    "Otherwise, without competition, the clan will gradually decay, and corruption and devious acts will increasingly prevail!"


    "Only with the Preaching Hall and the competition between bloodlines can we ensure the Lin Family''s continued prosperity."


    "In the future, it will be divided into three main branches: Shuangmu Island, Red Leaf Island, and Lanling Island. Each will be a main branch, yet distinct from one another, with a grand competition every ten years and a smaller one every three years. The losing island branch from the small competition will lose ten percent of their base stipend and many clan treasures, while the winner will be rewarded with an increase of ten percent to their base stipend and more treasure allocations!" Lin Yanjiao said at a steady pace.


    This system was clearly something she had considered for a long time.


    But in essence, it was turning the Lin Family into a Lin Family Alliance, following the format of the Coral Alliance exactly!


    Although this method might lead to strained relationships within the clan, it cannot be denied that it is a good policy and system.


    "What about the Purple Mansion and Golden Core Cultivators?" Lin Xianzhi asked from the side.


    "To answer Elder Seven, those from the Purple Mansion and Golden Core are above this system and are not affected by it!"


    "Moreover, to prevent an excess of cultivators within the clan, the disciples from the Preaching Hall will be randomly allocated to the three islands in the future."


    "Every cultivator must undergo trials and grow; otherwise, no amount of clan resources can withstand profligate waste!"


    In recent years, there have been quite a few in the Lin Family who have broken through to the Purple Mansion stage, but the momentum for Foundation Establishment breakthroughs has not been as strong as before.


    Fortunately, in the Southern Sea, the preparation of Foundation Establishment Pills does not require Heavenly Spirit Fruits and other three major Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects.


    Otherwise, the momentum for the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment would be completely broken.


    This was still a result of the Lin Family having the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    "Second Uncle, Thirty Uncle, Fifteen Uncle, what do you think?" Lin Shiming also looked to the other elders.


    "I think it''s appropriate, but the stipends for the major Purple Mansion cultivators, as well as the defense rules, also need to be changed¡ªit is essential to rotate them!"


    "The family''s succession can be competitive, but at the higher levels, we still need mobility to maintain the unity of the upper echelons of the family!" Lin Houyuan also nodded in agreement.


    Although Lin Shiming did not ask him, he was the father of Lin Shiming, and naturally, he had to speak at this moment.


    "Alright, then it''s decided. In addition, we also need to consider the names of Lanling Island and Red Leaf Island, as these represent the future sea territories of the Lin Family!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    At this, the others did not respond.


    They could offer suggestions on the system, but when it came to naming, whoever secured it got to name it.


    "Shiming, you should name them; your names have always been good!" Lin Xianzhi spoke up.


    "Uncle Seven flatters me!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile wryly, but he understood the reason behind it.


    "Then let''s call them Redwood Island and Soarwood Island. Redwood Island represents the friendship between the Ye Family and the Lin Family, and Soarwood Island signifies our aspiration to soar!" Lin Shiming said.


    "Redwood Archipelago, Soarwood Archipelago, not bad!" The rest of the people also nodded in agreement.


    For everyone, the name wasn''t a big deal as long as it represented the Lin Family.


    Just like the Twelve Inner Islands, nobody knows how many times their names have been changed.


    "Regarding defense, we also need two Purple Mansion Cultivators!" Lin Shiming said.


    As the linchpin of the Lin Family, he was certain to stay in Shuangmu Island.


    "I''ll suppress Redwood Archipelago in the future, and let Shijie handle Soarwood Archipelago!" Lin Xianzhi promptly replied.


    This answer delighted Lin Shiming greatly.


    Suppressing these two archipelagos would certainly require Golden Core strength to deter the troublemakers.


    As for other matters, they did not need to intervene much; the Lin Family would have specialized cultivators for that purpose.


    This also represented Lin Xianzhi''s considerable determination now.


    There was no need to mention Lin Shijie, the Lin Family''s current second-in-command.


    "Alright, everyone get ready. In about half a year, we will probably have another battle. Those who want to participate can inform Lin Yanjiao!" Lin Shiming announced.


    As for the campaign against the Tianzhao Sect, Lin Shiming wasn''t too worried.


    With four True Monarchs, if there were still problems, that likelihood would be too low.


    Actually, the Lin Family also just needed to go through the motions, as the benefits they could gain were not great.


    After all, this time the territories the Lin Family needed to assimilate were extensive, including many mines and resources waiting for the Lin Family to exploit.


    What restricted the Lin Family was actually the rapid population growth that they had been vigorously promoting.


    Although there were already millions of mortals, the family''s cultivators were still one in a thousand.


    Even with the support of Turtle Spirit Coconuts, it was still possible for children without a Spirit Root to appear.


    "Yanjiao, the Family Master Guidance Group still needs to be expanded, and your cultivation must not fall behind!" Lin Shiming addressed Lin Yanjiao once more.


    Although she was managing everything orderly, cultivation was equally important for Lin Yanjiao.


    Once everything had been discussed, Lin Shiming had Lin Yanjiao distribute the treasures they had purchased this time to the other Purple Mansion cultivators.


    This time, Lin Zeli and Lin Zeying bought quite a lot on Coral Island.


    Especially for Yu Jing and Lin Shijin.


    However, Lin Changxing only had a simple few items in his hands.


    Lin Houshou and Lin Xianzhi both had them, and everyone was also relieved for Lin Zeli.


    Especially Lin Xianzhi, Lin Zeli''s cultivation technique was just like his, and his talent in the Sword Dao, partly guided by Lin Xianzhi.


    Lin Houshou even had the Buddha Sect''s bead and a demon bead, which could help him cultivate to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, then he could prepare for the breakthrough to Golden Core.


    But before breaking through to Golden Core, they had to wait for Lin Shitao to finish her closed-door training. After all, the Lin Family currently didn''t have a ready Gold Condensation Pill. The only one that was a congratulatory gift, was given to Jiuxiao True Person.


    To gather a new Gold Condensation Pill, they would have to wait for Lin Shitao''s breakthrough.


    Take advantage of this interval to refine another Gold Condensation Pill.


    The family meeting dispersed, and everyone started to attend to their own duties.


    Lin Shijie stayed behind, his eyes showing some hesitation.


    He looked at Lin Shiming, and the next moment, his eyes showed a bit of courage.


    "Shiming, can I have a friendly sparring with you, without any reservation? To tell you the truth, my illusions in the Illusionary Heart Pavilion have all turned into you," Lin Shijie said.


    In these years, he and Lin Shiming had always been competing in secret.


    Even though he had never surpassed Shiming, he didn''t forget Lin Yuqi''s disappointment in him!


    And in these years, he also proved that even without practicing alchemy, he could still protect the family.


    But compared to Lin Shiming, he had never won, and it was always Shiming who gave him guidance.


    But he had never thought that his Heart Demon would turn out to be Shiming.


    "Okay!" Lin Shiming nodded and agreed.


    But he wouldn''t hold back, nor did he intend to. Lin Shijie''s defeat was his defeat!


    Lin Shijie''s Sword Intent was of fiery forge, and its power was not small either!


    In a moment, five groups of Spiritual Fire emerged and transformed into five Spirit Swords, slashing towards Lin Shiming.


    But it was quickly broken by a single sword strike from Lin Shiming.


    At this moment, it was evident that Lin Shijie was also stuck at a bottleneck in Sword Dao, just a hair away from entering the Sword Annihilation Realm!


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming directly displayed the Sword Origin.


    However, the strength he used was that of the Purple Mansion Late Stage, and the vast Sword Intent pressed towards Lin Shijie.


    The latter immediately showed joy in his eyes.


    And his heart suddenly became clear.


    So this is where the breakthrough for Sword Dao lies.


    Lin Shijie lost miserably, defeated in one move.


    However, there wasn''t much dissatisfaction in his eyes.


    In fact, he was eager to go into the wild and swing his sword hundreds of times.


    "Big brother, this is the Bone Eroding Spirit Fire. You should break through to Golden Core as soon as possible; the family doesn''t need you to act for now," Lin Shiming said.


    And Lin Shijie also nodded, indicating his agreement. He indeed needed to break through to Golden Core.


    This was not something that could afford the slightest delay!


    After Lin Shijie had arranged everything, Lin Shiming went to the Preaching Hall to check on Lin Zeying.


    Lin Zeying''s temperament was somewhat similar to Lin Shiming''s, both extremely cautious.


    In the Preaching Hall, his relationships and reputation were very good, and many Cultivators got along well with Lin Zeying.


    This also pleased him. If Lin Zeying were to bully others with his status or power, he would look down upon that.


    As for the others, he didn''t pay much attention.


    And just at this moment, at the top of Thousand Wood Peak, Spiritual Energy surged, causing swathes of red glow to fall from the sky.


    "Shitao has made her breakthrough!" Lin Shiming was overjoyed in his heart.


    He didn''t expect that just as he was considering the matter of pill refining, Lin Shitao would break through.


    Moreover, judging by this momentum, it was a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, which was perfect for holding a celebration and a ceremony on Red Leaf Island at the same time.


    This also signified that Lin Shitao now had the capability to refine Fifth Rank Spirit Pills!


    After all, she had already refined the Gold Condensation Pill before.


    If it weren''t for the lack of time, Lin Shitao could have researched even more pill recipes.


    Now with the breakthrough, the chances of succeeding with the Gold Condensation Pill were even greater!

 Chapter 950 - 583: Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Talisman Master, Wan Beast Tower Success

    In front of Thousand Wood Peak, Lin Shitao was wearing a pink peach blossom dress, her face brimming with smiles.


    After over a decade of seclusion, she had finally reached the Late Stage of the Purple Mansion.


    She could choose a day to start refining her True Yuan, preparing for the breakthrough to the Golden Core.


    Once she achieved the Golden Core, she could extend her life by thousands of years, allowing her to spend even more time by Lin Shiming''s side.


    "Shitao, congratulations!" Because of Lin Shiming, only he and Lin Zeying came to congratulate her.


    For everyone else, it seemed more appropriate to leave the time to the couple.


    "Congratulations, mother!" Lin Zeying also spoke.


    Now, Lin Zeying had already broken through to the third level of Qi Cultivation, and yet he was only a little over eleven years old.


    He was over four feet tall, and even more handsome than Lin Shiming was at his age, especially since Lin Shiming didn''t have the advantageous family environment that Lin Zeying has now.


    The cultivation resources now were incomparable to that time.


    "Seventh Brother, Zeying!" Lin Shitao''s face was full of joy; to her, this was the life she desired.


    "Zeying, come here, have there been any issues lately?" Lin Shitao eagerly scanned Lin Zeying.


    Because of her cultivation practices, she had gone into seclusion when Lin Zeying was just over a year old, now, seeing Lin Zeying, she was filled with affection.


    "Mother, there are no issues, I am currently studying in the Preaching Hall, and I''ve achieved the first place in the early stage of Qi Cultivation in the clan competition!" said Lin Zeying confidently.


    He had too many paths to inquire about now, with guidance from Lin Shiming, Lin Houyuan, and several clan elders.


    Lin Zeying harbored no arrogance, though his pride was hard to conceal.


    Lin Shiming didn''t mind this; some youthful rashness could lead to greater ambition, as long as it didn''t go too far.


    "You have the Heavenly Spirit Root and Spiritual Body, remember to keep up with Changxing!" Even though he felt it was trivial, Lin Shiming still cautioned Lin Zeying.


    In the Lin family, there were only two people with Heavenly Spirit Root, Lin Zeying and Lin Changxing.


    Lin Changxing was now in his twenties, not yet thirty, and had already reached the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, stronger than Lin Shiming had been at his age.


    Not to mention Lin Changxing, even Lin Zehong, who had a Dual Spirit Root, reached the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment by his early thirties.


    "Yes, father!" Lin Zeying bowed his head, naturally reverent towards Lin Shiming.


    "Zeying, remember to listen to your father. In the Dongyu Realm, there aren''t many like your father!" Lin Shitao spoke proudly.


    Although she doted on Lin Zeying, she knew well that sometimes better guidance was necessary.


    Otherwise, even if his father was a Golden Core True Person, or even a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he might still suffer great losses, or even fall.


    "Mother, I have learned how to make elixirs, let me cook a spiritual meal for you!" Lin Zeying suddenly said.


    Lin Shiming also felt some gratification upon hearing this.


    For a moment, the family was harmonious and joyful.


    The troubles of immortal cultivation dissipated, and for Lin Shiming, this moment was exceptionally heartwarming.


    It was also a peace he hadn''t felt in a long time.


    A day passed, and the next morning, Lin Shiming came to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.


    The current master of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion was Lin Shijin, who had also broken through to Purple Mansion and was now managing the pavilion with Yu Jing.


    "Seventh Brother!" Both had just finished crafting a talisman and were sharing their experiences.


    Seeing Lin Shiming, they quickly called out.


    At that moment, Yu Jing seemed as calm as ever, but Lin Shijin spoke:


    "Seventh Brother, we now have four Supreme Grade Spirit Talisman Masters in the Lin family. Yu Jing has crafted a Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Formation-breaking Talisman capable of breaking any Fourth Rank Supreme Formation with a single talisman!" Lin Shijin spoke proudly.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat startled upon hearing this, but then realized that Yu Jing had, at some point, broken through to the Middle Stage of Purple Mansion.


    Given her proficiency in talisman crafting, it indeed seemed possible.


    Lin Shiming took the talisman, examined it briefly, and praised it profusely.


    "Seventh Brother, it''s all thanks to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion and also the assistance of the Formation Artifact Manual," Yu Jing humbly said.


    "No need to be modest, you are now part of the Lin family, naturally deserving of reward. From now on, your Purple Mansion stipend will be doubled!" said Lin Shiming.


    With that statement, Yu Jing was overjoyed.


    Even though she didn''t need many resources, they needed to nurture Lin Zehong!


    Currently, Lin Zehong was their cherished treasure, and it was because of their indulgence that she had become somewhat unruly and disrespectful.


    Of course, Lin Zehong was inherently good-natured and intelligent.


    It was just a matter of time before she would be polished into a flawless gem.


    "By the way, how is the Gathering Immortal Talisman recovery going?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "Thanks to the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, it should be fully charged and restored in ten years!" Yu Jing responded.


    The Gathering Immortal Talisman could utilize the Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens to restore its power; its material was crafted from the hide of the Tai Qian Shark.


    Lin Shijie, Lin Xianzhi, and Lin Shitao were all close to breaking through to the Golden Core.


    For Lin Shiming, having an additional Gathering Immortal Talisman would make their advancement more secure.


    And ten years, neither too long nor too short, would be just right.


    "Thank you, Seventh Brother, for taking care of Zehong these days!" Yu Jing bowed.


    Lin Shiming inspected the talismans for a while longer, then left the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.


    Exiting the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, Lin Shiming then entered the space between the heavens.


    This time, with a wave of his hand, he took out two small trees, each three feet tall, from his Storage Bag.


    These trees emitted a treasure light, and a radiant glow swiftly formed above them.


    Both trees were Minor Divine Ability Fruit Trees, one acquired by Lin Shiming at Red Leaf True Person''s trade meeting in exchange for a five-thousand-year-old Wood Attribute Spiritual Medicine.


    The other was obtained in exchange for a Demon Banner from a cultivator of the Blood Cultivation Sect.

 Chapter 951 - 583: Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Spirit Talisman Master, Wan Beast Tower Success_2

    From the aura emitted by these two Minor Divine Ability fruit trees, one bears Water Attribute Minor Divine Ability fruits and the other Fire Attribute Minor Divine Ability fruits.


    The Water Attribute Minor Divine Ability fruit goes without saying; it is definitely prepared for Lin Xianzhi.


    As for the Fire Attribute Minor Divine Ability fruit, Lin Shiming also plans to reserve it for Lin Shitao.


    Although he has a desire to help Lin Shijie, after all, he is his elder brother.


    But it''s not just that Lin Shijie is close to making a breakthrough; these Minor Divine Ability fruits also cannot mature in a short time.


    Firstly, the very first Gold Condensation Fruit must be used on Lin Shijie.


    The Minor Divine Ability fruit must also end up with Lin Shitao.


    Both Minor Divine Ability fruits have consumed a lot of Lin Shiming''s True Yuan to plant well, all radiating abundant Spirit Light.


    He summoned Elder Mu to see if he was interested in these two Minor Divine Ability fruit trees.


    But soon, he discovered that Elder Mu was very obsessed with the Nascent Soul fruit and lost interest in other Spirit Fruit trees.


    Naturally, Lin Shiming did not disturb him but instead summoned plenty of Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Fifth Rank Spirit Water to nurture the Minor Divine Ability fruit trees.


    Now, the Lin Family has a Fifth Rank Water Attribute Pure Spirit Vein and a Fifth Rank Fire Attribute Pure Spirit Vein, capable of producing Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Fifth Rank Spirit Water.


    Naturally, there is no need to worry about this Spirit Soil and Spirit Water.


    This Spirit Soil was transported by Lin Shiming from the Crimson Flood Dragon Island using the Spirit-Seeking Plate, and the Water Attribute Pure Spirit Vein was a gift from Red Leaf True Person.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming looked towards the bottom of the Spirit Lake, where the sea of stars still filled the seabed sky, the stars shining brightly, and the Spirit Shells seemed to have evolved into a true Star Chart.


    After a glance, Lin Shiming was also full of anticipation.


    With the opportunity provided by the Star Spirit Clam this time, it might stabilize the Fifth Rank, and then, Lin Shiming''s Body Cultivation level may break through once again.


    At this thought, Lin Shiming felt a surge of excitement.


    Because he cultivates the Starlight Tempering Body Technique, even a Flood Dragon of the same rank without having transcended tribulation cannot contend with his physical body.


    Inside his body, countless Star Cave Heavens are contained.


    Even so, Lin Shiming still anticipates whether, when the Cave Heaven cultivation reaches its peak, it could evolve into a Star World.


    At that time, what kind of existence will he be.


    After thinking for a bit, Lin Shiming shook his head.


    That is still far away from him. What he needs to do now, however, is to improve his strength as much as possible, so he can have the power to resist when the Dark Spirit Clan comes in the future.


    Lin Shiming left the Cave Heaven and found that his Sound Transmission Jade Slip was buzzing. Then, he flew out of Thousand Wood Peak, heading towards Clear Lotus Peak.


    The Cave Dwelling of Jiuxiao True Person is also on Clear Lotus Peak.


    Lin Shiming entered Jiuxiao True Person''s Cave Dwelling and conveniently took out two exquisite porcelain cups.


    He also took out the fifth-rank Spiritual Wine, Jade Pure Dew, and poured a cup for Jiuxiao True Person as well as one for himself.


    Jiuxiao True Person wasn''t shy and picked up the cup, signaled to Lin Shiming, and then drank it down.


    After drinking, with a comfortable expression on his face:


    "This Jade Pure Dew is truly ever pleasing, its fusion of Spiritual Energy and the potency of the alcohol is like drinking a divine elixir that is unmatched by any in the mortal world!" Jiuxiao True Person was full of emotion, and at this moment, he was especially carefree.


    Lin Shiming let out a light chuckle, it had been a long time since he had seen Jiuxiao True Person in such a mood.


    It seems that at this moment, Jiuxiao True Person has become unrestrained.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, it seems the view of the mountain today is not bad!" Lin Shiming chuckled.


    "Of course, drinking wine and appreciating the scenery are indispensable. Moreover, watching the sea is also quite spectacular!" Jiuxiao True Person was especially joyful today, discussing the scenery as Lin Shiming brought it up. Both were quite relaxed.


    After a while, seeing Lin Shiming still hadn''t spoken, Jiuxiao True Person started feeling a bit bored.


    Then he slapped his Storage Bag, didn''t open it immediately, but took it off and passed it to Lin Shiming, signaling for Lin Shiming to open it himself.


    Lin Shiming opened the Storage Bag and saw only one thing inside.


    A nine-layered miniature tower.


    This exquisite little tower is jet black, and every layer is carved with more than ten tiny beast-shaped Spirit Shadows.


    At the pinnacle of the tower, a legendary beast crouches.


    "Thank you for your hard work, Elder Jiuxiao!" Lin Shiming''s face lit up with joy; this tower was the Wan Beast Tower mentioned in his Sword Storing Book.


    "This tower currently contains a hundred beast souls, including one Fifth Rank beast soul, six Fourth Rank beast souls, and ninety-three Third Rank beast souls!" Jiuxiao True Person began to explain.


    The power of this Wan Beast Tower relates to the beast shadows contained within.


    The more beast shadows, the stronger the power, and the Tower of Longevity can accommodate up to nine Fifth Rank beast souls, three hundred Fourth Rank beast souls, five thousand Third Rank beast souls, and there is no limit for Second Rank beast souls.


    Once all are collected, it can be compared to a Supreme Grade Fifth Rank magical treasure!


    The only pity is that there are still nearly a hundred years until the next beast tide, otherwise Lin Shiming could have collected them all in one tide.


    If he truly ventures into the Flood Dragon Clan now, Lin Shiming doesn''t have much confidence.


    Even with the Blood Sword, after all, if Nascent Souls appeared among the Human Race, there naturally wouldn''t be a small chance of them appearing among the Demonic Race as well.


    Moreover, the Nascent Soul of the Flood Dragon Clan will definitely awaken its Innate Divine Ability, and their strength is much stronger than those True Monarchs like Xue Shan, who do not comprehend realms.


    "Come, Elder Jiuxiao, a toast to celebrate!" Lin Shiming said with a light laugh, raising his cup and clinking it with Jiuxiao True Person as they drank heartily.


    Now that he has the Tower of Ten Thousand Beasts, Lin Shiming''s collection of magical treasures is also complete.


    In terms of offense, he currently has the Twin Flood Dragon Swords and the Five Flood Dragon Rings, the Extreme Blood Needle, the Profound Cold Pearl, and the Void Bottle.


    When it comes to trapping, he has the Sky-Trapping Bowl and the Green Fish Mirror.


    For hiding, he has the Eternal Night Umbrella.


    For escaping, he has the Leaping Void Disk.


    Although the Leaping Void Disk is not Fifth Rank, for Lin Shiming, as long as it is sturdy enough to support multiple leaps, that naturally won''t matter.


    After finishing a round of drinks, the sun sets and waves surge in the east.


    It started raining, a rare drizzle on Shuangmu Island.


    "The heavens are not obliging; we''ll have to drink another time!" Lin Shiming couldn''t help feeling a bit disappointed as he picked up the Tower of Ten Thousand Beasts and went back to start refining it.


    The things he took with him on his return also included a few Fire Attribute Pure Spiritual Medicines, all starting at three thousand years old, perfect for the cultivation of Jiuxiao True Person.


    The latter was extremely satisfied.


    Apart from the Spiritual Medicines, Lin Shiming also left behind an entire pot of Jade Dew Liquor.


    Lin Shiming returned to Thousand Wood Peak and immediately began the refining process, which took him five days.


    But the results were pleasing, as he gained complete control over the Tower of Longevity. Besides the Tower of Longevity, he now also had the vast Spirit-Seeking Plate.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming took out a Jade Slip and began to study it again.


    This Jade Slip was acquired by Lin Shiming from a stall on Coral Island.


    It contained information about a Fifth Rank Mantis, as well as the Spiritual Medicine it guards, the Split Soul Fruit.


    This Spirit Fruit is not yet mature, so Lin Shiming is not in a huge rush.


    He is not worried that the Mantis Demon King would swallow the immature Split Soul Fruit on the spot.


    After all, when judging the ripeness of Spirit Fruits, Demonic Beasts are often more accurate than Human Cultivators.


    One day, Lin Shiming left the market town and disappeared atop a Formation.


    ...


    On Lanling Island, there were many fewer cultivators due to the arrival and control of Coral Island, as many cultivators would rather become Loose Cultivators than admit they had followed Lanling True Person.


    The number of Loose Cultivators and those attached families also gradually decreased as they all sought other paths early on.


    Currently on Lanling Island, not to mention those with sharp ambition, even the number with strong talents is only a few.


    Lin Shiming also met with the True Person in charge of Coral Island, whose face looked somewhat ugly upon seeing Lin Shiming, as their collection of resources and treasures wasn''t complete yet.


    They hadn''t taken control of the Secret Realm either.


    But now that Lin Shiming had arrived, they could only leave.


    After all, the Lin Family is now a power of King Island on Coral Island.


    If Lin Shiming pressed into the matter, those True Persons in the middle ranks would be the ones at a disadvantage.


    As for the treasures in the Secret Realm, they are of secondary concern.


    After all, they couldn''t get much to begin with.


    "Daoist Lin, since you''re taking over this time, I will return to Coral Island to report. Furthermore..."


    Lin Shiming wanted to explain, but the other party didn''t give him a chance to speak, immediately saying farewell.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat dumbfounded, then left the Red-haired Demon Monkey on Lanling Island.


    The Coral Sea Domain is quite peaceful now, Golden Core True Persons are not common, and with Red-haired''s strength, suppressing one island is more than enough.


    So, after Lin Shiming instructed Red-haired, he entered into the sea!

 Chapter 952 - 584: Frost Demon Mantis, Spirit Vein (Two-in-One)

    The vast ocean was dotted with numerous white glints.


    The weather on Lanling Island was somewhat worse than on other islands.


    On this island, any peak that was slightly taller was covered in swathes of snow.


    Lin Shiming''s figure landed in front of a camel-shaped snowy peak.


    This snowy peak was also known as Twin Camel Island, a gateway island under the jurisdiction of the outer islands of Lanling Archipelago.


    It served a function similar to that of Jiuyue Island for the Lin Family.


    Passing through Twin Camel Island, one would find an ice field, which also belonged to the territory of Demonic Beasts.


    There were fewer Spiritual Medicines there, but underwater, there was an abundance of Spirit Beasts.


    The cultivators here were either Ice Spirit Root or Water Spirit Root cultivators, while Fire Spirit Root cultivators were extremely rare in this area.


    Hunting sea monsters on the ocean floor posed some difficulty for those Fire Attribute cultivators.


    Neither the time nor the environment was in their favor.


    Lin Shiming swept his Divine Sense over Twin Camel Island and, following the Jade Slip, crossed over it, disappearing into the vast sea fog.


    Soon, he arrived at a long, strip-shaped island.


    "This should be the place!" Lin Shiming checked the terrain and released Wang Jiao.


    "Wang Jiao, guard beneath the island!" Lin Shiming commanded.


    This Fifth Rank Golden Winged Mantis, a frost variant, didn''t have many wings but could dive into the sea.


    Lin Shiming''s Golden Winged Mantis had five pairs of Golden Wings and one pair of Frost Wings.


    Lin Shiming planned to enhance that pair of Frost Wings.


    Being of the same origin, it would be easier to make progress.


    "Master, rest assured, roar!" Wang Jiao was incredibly excited. It hadn''t explored new seas in a long time and was so eager that had Lin Shiming not been controlling it with his Soul Arrest, it would have already plunged into the sea to look for new Spirit Stone veins.


    For it, eating was of the utmost importance, and eating even better stones was especially crucial.


    Wang Jiao dived into the ocean floor, while Lin Shiming, still feeling uneasy, took out a set of Fifth Rank Array Plates and began to set them up slowly.


    This Array Plate was obtained in exchange for his Seven-Injuries Shield.


    Named the Primordial Liuhe Formation, the whole Array consisted of six Array bases and one Array Plate, each base being of Intermediate Grade Fifth Rank material.


    If utilized above a Spirit Vein, even a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator could be held at bay for a while.


    However, now that the Array was powered by the Spiritual Energy of the Array Plate, it was somewhat weakened.


    But it was sufficient to prevent the frost variant Golden Winged Mantis Demon King from escaping.


    As Lin Shiming set up the Array Plate, although he was extremely discreet, he quickly felt the surrounding temperature drop sharply, as if the sky was filled with falling goose feathers.


    The snowflakes landed on the ocean surface and quickly vanished into thin air.


    They melted swiftly when they fell on the island as well.


    But the moisture of the Water Spiritual Energy in the air began to increase, which naturally put Lin Shiming on alert.


    With a wave of his hand, the Array Plate gathered the six bases in an instant.


    Countless Spirit Lights appeared in the air, forming a Spirit Shield that trapped a large expanse of the sea bed!


    However, at that moment, a streak of cold light flashed by.


    A razor-sharp snow blade had already slashed and sent one of the Array bases flying, reducing the hexad to a pentad.


    The Array Formation had already formed but was still forcibly broken.


    This was the first time Lin Shiming had witnessed such an event.


    But his eyes slightly narrowed.


    He was extremely interested in this frost variant Golden Winged Mantis.


    Apparently, the recent snowfall was just a means to perform its Snow Escape Technique.


    Its speed was incredibly fast, so much so that even Lin Shiming could barely keep up.


    However, if the frost variant Golden Winged Mantis thought it had secured victory, it might be in for a disappointment.


    With a flip of his hand, Lin Shiming pulled out a Sky-Trapping Bowl and covered it towards the island.


    There was no need for Lin Shiming to cover the entire island; just enveloping the area shrouded in ice and snow was sufficient.


    As expected, in the next moment, countless white glints appeared within the Spirit Light of the Sky-Trapping Bowl.


    "Seeking death, human!" the mantis let out an enraged roar.


    Clearly, it had not anticipated that Lin Shiming possessed objects capable of constraining space.


    The more confined the space, the more disadvantageous it became for the mantis.


    Its strong suit was speed.


    Under the Sky-Trapping Bowl, Lin Shiming finally got a clear view of the frost variant Golden Winged Mantis.


    It still retained a half-human form, with three pairs of frosty wings on its back, while its own hands were not hands, but two frigidly cold snow blades.


    What took Lin Shiming by surprise the most was that this frost variant Golden Winged Mantis was adorned with numerous Magical Treasures.


    Two silver rings were at its waist, and it wore two pairs of blue boots on its feet.


    There was also a thin layer of feather gauze on its wings!


    "Your Excellency surely plays a good game, deceiving many of our Human Race''s Demon Kings!" Lin Shiming commented.


    Seeing the appearance of the frost variant Demon King, how could Lin Shiming not realize that this mantis was likely to have fabricated various messages of adventure and secret treasure caches?


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t have so many Magical Treasures.


    And at its waist hung four or five Storage Bags, seemingly imitating human cultivators.


    As for the one who sold him the message, he likely had a brush with this frost variant Golden Winged Mantis and managed to escape from its grasp.


    In exchange for the information, despite some concealment, at least the messages were correct.


    However, the strength of this mantis was not merely at the mid-Fifth Rank Demon King but had reached the level of late Fifth Rank Demon King.


    "Your Human Race does the same. This king simply uses your own methods against you!" the mantis coldly retorted.


    And again, it transformed into a streak of white light!


    Even under the Sky-Trapping Bowl, the mantis retained its terrifying speed.


    Lin Shiming had to focus and once more flipped his hand, producing a transparent bottle Magical Treasure!


    It was indeed the Bottle of Void!


    The Bottle of Void directly sucked towards the frost variant Golden Winged Mantis!


    The space within the Bottle of Void was somewhat similar to the Sky-Trapping Bowl.

 Chapter 953 - 584: Frost Demon Mantis, Spirit Vein (Two in One)_2

    Lin Shiming quickly absorbed the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis into it, though the latter still showed disdain at this moment.


    After all, in its eyes, both the Sky-Trapping Bowl and the Void Bottle were the same.


    It only needed to kill Lin Shiming, believing that Lin Shiming still could not match its speed.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming sneered coldly, and within the Void Bottle, a flash of starlight passed by.


    Ten void star sands began to sparkle dazzlingly.


    These sands, containing terrifying Spirit Might, moved constantly throughout the space within the Void Bottle.


    Without any pattern, but terrifyingly powerful.


    With ten star sands present, the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis no longer had a speed advantage, and the silver rings around its waist began to disappear.


    The next moment, it lunged towards Lin Shiming, and at the same time, the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis harshly slashed, creating a piercing shriek from a few star sands.


    For a time, the Void Bottle could no longer contain it.


    This was enough to show the strength of the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis.


    Lin Shiming waved his hand again, this time summoning a small black tower.


    The small tower spun around, and in an instant, numerous Spirit Beast shadows surged out, rushing towards the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis.


    At this moment, the latter''s eyes showed fear, of course, it wasn''t afraid of the myriad of beast shadows, but the Myriad Beasts Tower itself.


    It felt like its Divine Soul was about to be sucked in.


    That fear was flowing out from the depths of its soul.


    A flash of white light, and that blade was extremely sharp, also containing a profoundly strong blade intent.


    Even Lin Shiming felt that there were some aspects of it from which he could derive insights for his own swordsmanship.


    The Myriad Beasts Tower still couldn''t stop the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis.


    Lin Shiming, holding the Taiyi Grass Sword, struck and sent the twin silver ring magical treasures flying.


    But the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis also closed in.


    "Human, didn''t your elders tell you, when you clearly know it''s a trap, you should run immediately!"


    "Indeed I should run, but you... you are not qualified enough!" Lin Shiming''s lips slightly curled up.


    Following that, the Sky-Trapping Bowl and the Leaping Void Disk were enhanced together in the sky; unbeknownst to when, the surrounding Formation had also been successfully gathered by Lin Shiming once more.


    For cultivators setting up Formations, except for the Array Plate that cannot have duplicates, all other base components of a formation come in pairs.


    Of course, Lin Shiming did just that!


    Trapped by the Formation and the triple enhancements, Lin Shiming then conjured a Leaping Void Disk in his hand.


    His figure disappeared from the original spot and appeared at the back of the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis'' neck.


    Boom!


    A punch filled with absolute fury smashed down, and the body of the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis blew apart significantly!


    This Tianshuang Demonic Mantis apparently, like the Golden Winged Mantis, had slightly weaker defense.


    Far incomparable to the Red-haired Demon Queen and Wang Jiao.


    That was also something it lost after gaining extremely high speed.


    "Merciful fellow Daoist, I have a Split Soul Fruit tree, and secrets to water and hasten its growth..." the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis still had some breath left.


    From its corpse, an inner core emerged.


    This inner core was that of a Golden Core Demon King, and as long as it wasn''t dead, it could re-cultivate a terrifying new body.


    "Don''t worry, that Lin will naturally find it himself!" Lin Shiming pressed down with both hands, and the Sky-Trapping Bowl fell and covered the Tianshuang Demon King''s Golden Core.


    It could no longer break free.


    He had time and a lead, there was absolutely no need to worry about passing up treasure.


    Rather, he was more concerned that the Demon King might escape, given its too fast speed with its Escape Technique.


    The next moment, Lin Shiming called out the Myriad Beasts Tower again, and fiercely sucked at the Golden Core.


    In an instant, a snowy white frost mantis spirit shadow was sucked into the Myriad Beasts Tower.


    The spiritual essence of that Golden Core also gradually dimmed.


    For Golden Winged advancement, naturally, no Divine Soul is needed; its body and Golden Core are the best nourishments.


    Moreover, even if other True Persons collected the Demon King''s Golden Core, they would erase the Divine Soul immediately, as having a Divine Soul could still harbor potential countermeasures.


    Lin Shiming stored the frost mantis''s corpse.


    Wang Jiao also emerged, its eyes somewhat discouraged, showing even greater fear towards Lin Shiming.


    Obviously, not having taken action left it somewhat displeased.


    However, Lin Shiming didn''t see it as much of an issue. Wang Jiao was his backup plan after all; with the Tianshuang Demonic Mantis''s terrifying speed, it escaping would have been truly problematic.


    Lin Shiming then removed the thin feathers from the frost mantis''s wings, revealing them to actually be a fifth rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure, the Cold Snow Spirit Veil!


    The effect of the Spirit Veil was simple and clear, it increased speed, which for Lin Shiming too, was quite beneficial.


    He was also a Body Cultivator; with this Cold Snow Spirit Veil, his speed could be much faster.


    However, this wasn''t quite suitable in such a manner.


    After hesitating for a moment, he put away the gauze garment and prepared to return to Shuangmu Island to have Jiuxiao True Person remodel it.


    As for giving it to Lin Shitao, there was no rush.


    Even though she had broken through to the Golden Core stage, she couldn''t use a Fifth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure.


    Among the remaining magical treasures, there were still the spirit boots and two silver rings.


    These two treasures were both of the Fifth Rank Inferior Grade, and seemed less impressive.


    But Lin Shiming collected them one by one.


    The boots could be given to Lin Shijie later on.


    According to the current trend, Lin Shijie would be the fastest to break through to the Golden Core stage.


    Lin Shiming collected the mantis materials and also landed on the island.


    "You can wander around at will!" Lin Shiming knew Wang Jiao was anxious, so he let it roam freely for a while.


    If it discovered something good, that would be better, but if not, it didn''t matter, as the Lanling Archipelago would be the Lin Family''s territory in the future, and touring it now was also appropriate.


    Moreover, Wang Jiao was a Fifth Rank Early Stage Demon King who had undergone tribulation, thus currently, only someone at least at the Fifth Rank Late Stage Demon King could slay it.


    By that time, he would definitely have responded.


    Lin Shiming walked onto the island, and at this moment, the system prompt unexpectedly sounded.


    [Please proceed to the center of the island, where you will find a Split Soul Fruit tree, plus an Ice-Attribute Mutated Pure Spirit Vein!]


    Lin Shiming was not surprised about the Split Soul Fruit tree since it was also his target for this trip.


    But the Ice-Attribute Mutated Pure Spirit Vein greatly surprised him.


    However, this surprise soon turned into joy.


    He had brought the Spirit-Seeking Plate this time.


    It was just the right time to relocate the Spirit Vein as well.


    Lin Shiming landed on the island, which was all glaciers.


    There were also some other demonic beasts on the island, including a group of monkeys.


    These monkeys were all snow apes, evidently the food cultivated by the Frost Mantis.


    The snow apes could neither fly nor escape through water techniques, so they were stuck on the island, relegated to being food.


    Lin Shiming had no interest in these snow apes, as they were merely Second Rank and Third Rank beasts, and he directly headed towards the very center.


    On top of the snowy peak, there was more ice and snow here.


    And upon this ice and snow, there was currently a valley that contained an extraordinarily full garden of life.


    There in the middle was a tree, thirty feet tall, whose canopy exactly covered the entire valley, but only bore one unripe spirit fruit.


    It was indeed the Split Soul Fruit.


    But, one should not assume that the unripe spirit fruit was about to mature.


    The cycle of the Split Soul Fruit was very long, even if it looked almost ripe.


    In reality, it still needed fifty to sixty years!


    To other cultivators, this might mean a wait, but Lin Shiming did not need to do so.


    He was of the Thousand Wood Spirit Body and could inject Thousand Wood True Yuan, which was highly beneficial for Spirit Plants, and he also had the Minor Divine Ability of Resurrection Radiance.


    It inducess maturation.


    However, his Minor Divine Ability was currently in a cooldown period and required a five-year wait.


    Lin Shiming quickly called upon Elder Mu to help transplant the Split Soul Fruit tree!


    Elder Mu''s transplantation techniques were clearly more exquisite; the spirit essence on the Split Soul Fruit tree showed no change whatsoever.


    After transplanting the spirit fruit tree, Elder Mu bowed to Lin Shiming and also entered into the Cave Heaven.


    Underneath the Split Soul Fruit tree was a huge nest, which was exactly the lair of the Celestial Frost Wolf.


    Under his perception, the spiritual energy emerged from the nest.


    He entered the nest, where it was even colder.


    This brightened Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    There might be Cold Jade here.


    But soon, he realized that he was thinking too much. There really was Spirit Jade here, but it was not Cold Jade.


    And it was not the Profound Ice Cold Marrow he was looking for either.


    Lin Shiming took out the Spirit-Seeking Plate and also came to the very center of the nest.


    The cold air here rose from the ground like fog.


    Inside were countless pieces of Profound Ice.


    Lin Shiming activated the Spirit-Seeking Plate and collected the Spirit Vein.


    But in his mind, he received the joyful thoughts from Wang Jiao.


    Clearly what he did not expect was that Wang Jiao actually found something...

 Chapter 954 - 585: Preparing Top-grade Spirit Stones

    A bottomless deep sea, where white corals flourish.


    These corals emit a faint spiritual aura on the seabed.


    Lin Shiming''s figure also dives down from above the sea surface, his body currently enveloped by a Spirit Shield.


    The sea pressure here is even greater than that of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Even he had to don a layer of Spirit Armor to alleviate some of the water pressure.


    Lin Shiming glanced at the white corals, then shook his head.


    From afar, these corals seemed to carry a spirit light, but upon closer inspection, they fell short of expectations.


    They could be harvested, but at best, they were comparable to Third Rank Spiritual Medicine.


    Such Spiritual Medicine wouldn''t be much help to the Lin Family.


    The Lin Family would be better off searching for more Secret Realms.


    "Roar!" In the midst of Lin Shiming''s distraction, a roar from a jiao echoed in the distance.


    Simultaneous with the roar, countless waves and undercurrents swept in this direction, accompanied by spirit light and other forms of spiritual energy.


    It was clearly a battle of magic.


    Apparently, Wang Jiao had engaged in combat with another Demon King.


    Lin Shiming dared not delay and promptly turned into a streak of azure rainbow as he sped away.


    Soon, in a distinct area of ocean bedrock.


    He spotted Wang Jiao locked in fierce combat with another Spirit Beast.


    "Master, this reptile is truly courting death. It tried to seize our Spirit Stones, but I have sensed even more fragrant Spirit Stones!" Wang Jiao hurriedly roared to Lin Shiming.


    At the moment, Wang Jiao was clearly at a disadvantage, facing off against a Dark Sea Jiao Python.


    Its strength was at the mid-stage of the Fifth Rank, accustomed to life in the deep sea.


    Its flesh was extremely resilient.


    Its scales were covered with backward-pointing spines.


    The two jiaos were engaged in fierce combat, exchanging blow for blow, foot to foot.


    The struggle was intense.


    Wang Jiao''s physical prowess was not weak; after all, it had once transcended a tribulation, but it still suffered from a lower cultivation level.


    "Roar! Human, you''ve come to our Flood Dragon Clan''s territory in the deep sea, you''re seeking death!" The voice of the Jiao Python Demon King was extremely dry, sounding awkward and unpleasant.


    It then released a beam of spirit light, as if trying to drive Lin Shiming away.


    But how could Lin Shiming fall for the Jiao Python''s trick? His eyes dodged, clearly not concerned with the human aspect.


    This guilty demeanor hardly seemed characteristic of its clan''s style.


    His Divine Sense spread out, but he detected no other Demon Kings nearby.


    The only Demon King was now lying inside his Storage Bag, still warm to the touch.


    Lin Shiming took out the Sky-Trapping Bowl and covered the Jiao Python with it.


    The Jiao Python apparently sensed the extraordinary nature of Lin Shiming''s Sky-Trapping Bowl and, bypassing Wang Jiao, actually tried to flee.


    "Human, await the vengeance of the deep sea clan!"


    "Is that so?" Lin Shiming''s form suddenly flickered, and in the next moment, he appeared in front of the Jiao Python.


    "How could this be!" The Jiao Python was somewhat in disbelief.


    Seeing Lin Shiming''s body shimmering with starlight, the next moment, it revealed greed.


    It lunged at Lin Shiming, mouth wide open to bite.


    The terrifying bite force instantly caused a tsunami to rise.


    Even Lin Shiming was somewhat wary of that scene.


    However, as the Dark Sea Jiao Python got closer, in the next moment, it discovered that the sea water and deep sea it was adept in had vanished.


    Around it was a space it had never seen before.


    And there were terrifying pressures coming from all around, squeezing towards it.


    Normally, no such pressure would be significant to it.


    But soon, it realized that this was not the case.


    This terrifying pressure turned out to be a form of Spiritual Energy, and even its robust body could not resist.


    What''s critical was that Lin Shiming was now wielding the Taiyi Grass Sword, striking down with it and a sword formation emerged.


    The Dark Sea Jiao Python desperately tried to resist, but its resistance was completely ineffective under the oppression of the Sword Storing Book that had been elevated to the second level.


    Simultaneously, Lin Shiming''s divine soldiers manifested.


    Now with as many as eight divine soldiers deployed, even a late-stage Golden Core Demon King would be defeated, let alone this clearly cognitively deficient Jiao Python.


    The sword light from the sword formation covered it, leaving behind a giant carcass.


    Lin Shiming collected it and his figure reappeared in the waters.


    "Roar!" Wang Jiao eagerly swam over, circling around Lin Shiming continuously.


    Extremely sycophantic.


    "Master, that reptile would just be perfect for me to eat!" Wang Jiao roared excitedly.


    Lin Shiming had only one Flood Dragon Spirit Beast, so at this moment, it was already fantasizing.


    "There are so many in the deep sea, kill them yourself!" Lin Shiming had thought to give it to Wang Jiao, but the Lin Family had so many Flood Dragons waiting to undergo metamorphosis and return to their ancestors.


    Lin Shiming therefore refused Wang Jiao.


    But Wang Jiao was not in the least bit upset, instead it continued:


    "Master, then I want more stones!" Wang Jiao, having learned to be sly, tried to bargain with Lin Shiming.


    And within the Soul Arrest Forbidden, Wang Jiao''s thoughts were completely exposed to Lin Shiming.


    Without responding, Lin Shiming followed Wang Jiao''s gaze to a cluster of reefs.


    This cluster of reefs was clearly a type of exotic stone that imposed substantial limit on divine senses, and in some places beneath those stones, corners of Spirit Stones were exposed.


    Untouched Spirit Stones appeared exceptionally radiant.


    Filled with Spirit Light.


    Lin Shiming approached and to his delight, he found that this was indeed a High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine.


    And this High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine seemed quite extensive.


    His Divine Sense continued to extend further and ultimately, he reached a conclusion.


    This was a small vein of High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine.


    This was considerably richer than the tiny High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine under Jiuyue Island owned by the Lin Family. If that mine produced only three hundred high-grade Spirit Stones a year.


    This one could definitely yield seven hundred stones, and it''s sustainable development at that.

 Chapter 955 - 585: Top-grade Spirit Stone_2

    The richness of this Spirit Stone Mine is quite evident.


    "Master, roar!" Wang Jiao grew anxious seeing Lin Shiming not responding.


    But Lin Shiming ignored it nonetheless. In front of his master, Wang Jiao still had secrets to hide, and it was already a mercy that Lin Shiming hadn''t reprimanded it.


    "Master, there are better stones here, bigger and shinier!" Wang Jiao tried to gesture earnestly.


    However, its massive claws didn''t quite seem to get the point across.


    Yet Lin Shiming''s eyes suddenly snapped open.


    "Where!" Lin Shiming was incredibly eager.


    He looked at Wang Jiao, even ready to use the Soul Binding Forbidden technique on it.


    "Over there, it smells wonderful!" Wang Jiao spoke.


    At this moment, it was somewhat afraid of Lin Shiming.


    Having not replied for so long, could it be that he no longer wanted a Flood Dragon?


    Faced with Wang Jiao''s direction, Lin Shiming took out the Xu Ri Sword and started to make a path.


    The stones below were even more solid, to the point that even Lin Shiming using his Fifth Rank Flying Sword seemed somewhat strained.


    While making his way, he also mined three Spirit Stones.


    Two of them were Superior Grade Spirit Stones, and one was a slightly inferior Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone.


    But this was enough to show that the Spirit Vein was incredibly rich in Spirit Stones.


    Lin Shiming continued wielding the Xu Ri Sword; the next moment, a bright light appeared.


    Simultaneously, an astounding wave of Spiritual Energy surged towards Lin Shiming.


    It made his body shudder uncontrollably.


    What fell before his eyes was a palm-sized, massive rhombus-shaped Spirit Stone.


    The Spirit Stone was magnificent, with Spiritual Energy at its purest peak.


    "Top-grade Spirit Stone?" Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment.


    Top-grade Spirit Stones were even more precious than Superior Grade ones; a single Top-grade Spirit Stone could be worth a hundred Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    But in the current Southern Sea, let alone a hundred Superior Grade Spirit Stones, even a thousand might be traded for a single Top-grade Spirit Stone.


    The purity of the Spiritual Energy in a Top-grade Spirit Stone was comparable to that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.


    Therefore, for regular Cultivators, possessing a Top-grade Spirit Stone increased the probability of breaking through to the Golden Core stage significantly.


    Even advancing from the Golden Core Middle Stage to the Golden Core Late Stage or breaking through from the Golden Core Late Stage to become a True Monarch was the same.


    This was why Top-grade Spirit Stones were so highly sought after.


    Lin Shiming quickly took out a Jade Box, onto which he had placed a Spirit Isolation Charm.


    Besides, not feeling secure enough, Lin Shiming took out another Jade Box and wrapped the Top-grade Spirit Stone with three layers of protection both inside and out.


    "Roar, master..." Wang Jiao displayed an immensely longing look, but seeing that Lin Shiming had already secured the Top-grade Spirit Stone away, it felt regretful.


    Once something was in Lin Shiming''s possession, it was certain not to come out again.


    As for the mine, Lin Shiming''s eyes also shone with a spiritual light.


    If there was one Top-grade Spirit Stone, then there would be a second and a third.


    "Wang Jiao, keep looking!" Lin Shiming ordered, and after the order, he also released the Golden Wing and Lei Tong Star Spirit Clam to seek out new Top-grade Spirit Stones.


    Meanwhile, he himself took out a series of Formation flags and began setting up a Formation.


    Top-grade Spirit Stones were of utmost importance.


    Even he needed to create a Formation.


    To hide this mine.


    Otherwise, if a True Person were to see it and discover it, then things would become much more troublesome.


    The rarity of a Top-grade Spirit Stone meant that even Xue Shan True Monarch would likely regret allowing the Lin Family to continue controlling Lanling Island


    Then simply assign Lin Shiming to some other inner island.


    Top-grade Spirit Stones were of great importance, not to mention, it could be an entire Spirit Vein.


    For the Lin Family''s higher-ups to experience a complete transformation, it would only take ten Top-grade Spirit Stones.


    Such was the allure of Top-grade Spirit Stones.


    Fortunately, the Lanling archipelago was already remote, with few True Persons, and whether they could reach these depths was still unknown. Moreover, this area had already left the range of the Lanling archipelago and instead entered the territory of the Demonic Beast Clan.


    However, judging by Wang Jiao''s behavior, it seemed that there weren''t many Top-grade Spirit Stones here.


    It might even just be these few.


    If that were the case, the Lin Family might not be able to mine this vein yet.


    After all, veins are part of the world''s most mystical Formations, and if not mined or disturbed, this Formation will continuously produce Spirit Stones.


    Naturally, it would also yield Top-grade Spirit Stones.


    It''s just that the process would be quite lengthy, yet the Lin Family could afford to wait.


    This still required Lin Shiming to check several more times.


    Following the outskirts of the underground sea territory, Lin Shiming set up ten Formations in one breath.


    It included three Fifth Rank formations and seven Fourth Rank formations.


    If the Third Rank formations weren''t useless at the sea bottom,


    or even likely to be crushed, he would set them up as well.


    Only then would he feel at ease.


    Once everything was prepared, Lin Shiming went back to Wang Jiao''s side.


    But at this moment, Wang Jiao seemed a bit dispirited,


    apparently because it hadn''t found a second Top-grade Spirit Stone.


    "Master, I haven''t smelled any new, more fragrant stones!" Wang Jiao shook its head; it was particularly obsessed with Spirit Stones, especially those of Superior Grade and above.


    Superior Grade Spirit Stones were okay; it had plenty of those.


    But as for Top-grade Spirit Stones, the Lin Family only had that one piece Lin Shiming just found.


    "You keep searching here; there must still be some!" Lin Shiming said.


    It was hard to use Divine Sense to explore ordinary stones in the deep sea, let alone Top-grade Spirit Stones hidden in the depths of the vein.


    Lin Shiming could only judge based on the intensity of the Spiritual Energy emitted.


    But after a few attempts, he still hadn''t found any new stones.


    Lin Shiming could only wait for the mystic system prompt to refresh.


    Upon hearing Lin Shiming''s words, Wang Jiao immediately surged forward and resumed its search.


    Its way of searching was quite peculiar, peering here and there,


    sometimes even exhaling heavily.


    But after half a day, Wang Jiao grew even more disheartened.


    It had not found a Top-grade Spirit Stone, and while it was usually content with Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mines,


    today, after seeing a Top-grade Spirit Stone, its attitude had changed.


    ...


    At the bottom of the sea, one cannot see the sunrise, nor is it easy to distinguish between day and night.


    The light here comes from some luminescent corals and special Spirit Stones on the ocean floor,


    along with some glowing fish species, forming a magnificent underwater world.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat stare-struck by the view, as it was his first time spending a day and a night at the sea bottom.


    [Please dig in the direction of 30 feet due north, and you will find a Top-grade Wood Attribute Spirit Stone!]


    With the system prompt, Lin Shiming was extremely delighted.


    There indeed was a second Top-grade Spirit Stone within the Spirit Vein,


    and it was even a Top-grade Wood Attribute Spirit Stone.


    Like Spirit Veins, some Spirit Stone Mines are pure, while others are not.


    This one evidently was not a pure Spirit Stone Mine.


    His first Top-grade Spirit Stone was a Water Attribute one; this one, being Wood Attribute, was the most beneficial for him.


    Therefore, the system prompt refreshed immediately.


    Without a second word, Lin Shiming took out the Xu Ri Sword.


    In the past, this sword would collect dust in his Storage Bag, but now it came in handy for excavation.


    As chunks of debris flew up, Lin Shiming dug for more than ten feet until at this depth, his Divine Sense could no longer probe further.


    The next moment, as brilliant green light appeared, an incredibly potent Wood Attribute Spirit Stone was revealed to Lin Shiming, who then collected it in a Jade Box.


    This Wood Attribute Top-grade Spirit Stone was exceedingly important to Lin Shiming,


    even crucial for his potential breakthrough to Nascent Soul; using this stone along with a Gathering Immortal Talisman could maximize his chances of success.


    At this time, Wang Jiao also rubbed its massive Flood Dragon Head, peering over in this direction.


    Seeing Lin Shiming obtain another Top-grade Spirit Stone, its previously disappointed gaze began to change.


    Then, it started digging its own hole in a spot where the Spiritual Energy was dense, imitating Lin Shiming.


    And it dug very deep, seemingly believing it had found the secret technique.


    Lin Shiming didn''t discourage Wang Jiao, mainly because he believed there still might be more below.


    While watching Wang Jiao dig, he took out the Myriad Thousand Jade to send a message to his family.


    This time, there was no need to arrange for people to come and mine.


    However, Lin Houshou needed to come to connect the formations, forming an array within an array.


    Besides that, it was time for the Lin Family to take over Lanling Island.


    The proposal to rename Lanling Island and start moving the Lin Family''s mortals there could also commence.


    Of course, Lin Shiming did not need to worry about these matters.


    After making contact, Lin Shiming found a spot to sit down and began to quietly wait.

 Chapter 956 - 573 Island Arrangement, Golden Wing Breakthrough (Two in One)

    On the surface of the sea, a massive Spirit Boat gently descended from the sky.


    The azure sky, where at the horizon it melded with the ocean, merged into one hue.


    On the Spirit Boat were several Cultivators dressed in Lin Family garb.


    Underwater, a Spirit Talisman emerged and rose to the Spirit Boat, where it was caught by Lin Houshou.


    "Over here, all of you use your Magical Treasures, the impact of the deep sea is even greater than below Jiuyue Island!" Lin Houshou retracted the Spirit Boat and they took flight, instructing as they went.


    This time, many members of the family had come, but most of them were stationed on Lanling Island, which is now called Soarwood Island.


    And the sea area would also be called the Soarwood Sea Area.


    Among those who had come now, aside from Lin Zeli who had a Blue Flood Dragon in the Purple Mansion stage, the rest of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were juniors learning Formations under Lin Houshou, including Lin Shiyun.


    This time, to come to the sea bottom, it was necessary to set up multiple layers of Formations.


    The group descended into the deep sea, and as the pressure mounted, they saw vast white coral reefs.


    Finally, they arrived at the cluster of reefs where the Spirit Stone Mine was located.


    Lin Shiming was still meditating with his eyes closed, while Wang Jiao was still tirelessly digging nearby.


    However, it still hadn''t found anything, a scene that caused Lin Houshou and his group''s expressions to be slightly surprised.


    "Second Uncle, Zeli, Shiyun, you''ve arrived?" Lin Shiming got up.


    "Shiming, leave the Array to me, and in the inheritance of the Windstorm True Monarch, there is an Array for assessing Spirit Stones which can determine the abundance of Top-grade Spirit Stones!" Lin Houshou spoke with a face full of shock and excitement.


    If he had been composed on the Spirit Boat and during the journey, now, after sensing the level of Spiritual Energy from the small High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine, he could barely contain his joy.


    Lin Shiming nodded, allowing them to proceed, and Lin Zeli also released the Blue Flood Dragon to patrol the area.


    Now in the Lin Family, beneath the sea islands, they all use Flood Dragons for patrolling.


    This greatly reduces the chances of being discovered by Demonic Beasts.


    Many Demonic Beasts, even if their Cultivation Level is higher than that of the Flood Dragons, will give some face to the Flood Dragons.


    This time, Lin Zeli was also transferred here to assist in warding off attacks, but of course, the most key figure was Lin Shijie.


    Yet, since Lin Shijie is preparing for his Golden Core breakthrough, Lin Houshou would also guard the Soarwood Archipelago here.


    As the glow from the Formations continuously emerged.


    The Sea Partitioning Array was first activated.


    As soon as this great Array was activated, the seawater around the reef was pushed away, repelled outside the Array.


    The Apprentices of Array, let out a sigh of relief at this moment.


    The pressure they faced at the bottom of the sea was tremendous.


    Now they could finally protect their entire bodies without needing treasures.


    As soon as the Sea Partitioning Array was in place, Lin Houshou began to link up the Fifth Rank Arrays of Lin Shiming.


    Once linked, these Arrays naturally formed strongholds for each other, so even if the Demonic Race attacked, the Purple Mansion could hold for a moment, enough time for the reinforcements from the Lin Family to arrive at the sea bottom.


    With the Fifth Rank Arrays all set up, next was the Transmission Formation.


    By this time, Lin Houshou had to rest for a while.


    After all, he was only at Middle Stage Purple Mansion, and it would take some time to reach Late Stage Purple Mansion.


    Luckily, this place was filled with High-Grade Spirit Stones. Simply picking one up and using it to recover was incredibly fast.


    After a short rest, they began to set up the Transmission Formation, and on the side, many pavilions were also constructed.


    As residences for the Cultivators of the Lin Family who would later ward this place.


    Another day passed before the Transmission Formation was fully set up. With dazzling white light emerging, Lin Houshou exhaled a long breath of relief.


    Finally, the Transmission Formation was completed. With this Transmission Formation, whether connecting to Shuangmu Island or Soarwood Island, it was very convenient.


    This place, after all, was not in the sea area controlled by human Cultivators.


    "Shiming, now start setting up the Spirit Testing Array!" Lin Houshou exclaimed, appearing extremely excited.


    Even Lin Shiming felt the same way.


    His system notification refreshed once again; this time it was for a Top-grade Fire Spirit Stone.


    This made Lin Shiming quite astonished. With this Top-grade Fire Spirit Stone, the chances for Lin Family members'' breakthrough to Nascent Soul stage were increased.


    And there were stones of various attributes.


    The Spirit Testing Array was slowly set up. With Array flags appearing one after another, a thin layer of light glowed from the Array.


    These light ripples spread out towards the depths of the earth and around, like ripples on water.


    In the sky, a spirit screen appeared, on which many points of dense Spiritual Energy were marked.


    The next moment, a star of extreme density appeared.


    And that was precisely the location of the Top-grade Fire Spirit Stone indicated by the system notification.


    Lin Shiming''s expectations for this spirit array grew even more.


    However, after the Array was fully operated, there were only five stars of extreme density, including Lin Shiming''s previously obtained Top-grade Wood Spirit Stone and Top-grade Water Spirit Stone.


    Altogether there were seven.


    More than what Lin Shiming had anticipated, but for such a vast Lin Family Clan, seven seemed rather few.


    Nevertheless, the Spirit Testing Array had thoroughly analyzed the High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine.


    It was not a small mine, but a medium-sized Spirit Stone Mine.


    As long as the Lin Family mined it carefully, it could be mined for a thousand years without issue.


    This could be considered the greatest foundation of the Lin Family now.


    To think, Top-grade Spirit Stones would continue to emerge with the Spirit Veins; those dense points of Spiritual Energy were potential new Top-grade Spirit Stones.


    The Lin Family only needed to mine carefully according to the Spirit Testing Array.


    At this moment, Wang Jiao watched from the side, wishing it could go down and mine itself.


    Receiving a stern glance from Lin Shiming, it shrank back.


    With the Soul Arrest Forbidden in place, Lin Shiming naturally understood Wang Jiao''s thoughts.

 Chapter 957 - 573: Island Arrangement, Golden Wing Breakthrough (Combined Chapter)_2

    But it must be said, leaving Wang Jiao here was indeed a wise decision.


    After all, in the sea, the latter is free to come and go and is even stronger than an average Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator.


    Even the deep-sea Flood Dragon cannot overcome Wang Jiao in a short time.


    This alone is enough to demonstrate Wang Jiao''s combat power in the sea.


    As for the latter''s craving for Spirit Stones, Lin Shiming could care less.


    Perhaps Wang Jiao could even locate a few Superior Grade Spirit Stone Mines.


    At the Demon King rank, Lin Shiming does not wish to be overly restrictive towards Wang Jiao. For tasks that are not of special importance, he prefers to let Wang Jiao roam free for a while.


    To let it enjoy the life of a Flood Dragon.


    "Second Uncle, I''ve left Wang Jiao here, you can directly command it in the next few days!" Lin Shiming said aloud.


    After giving his instructions, Lin Shiming also returned to Shuangmu Island through the Transmission Formation.


    Upon returning to the island, Lin Shiming headed straight for the Council Hall.


    At this moment, inside the Council Hall, Lin Yanjiao and Lin Zewen were both present.


    Even Lin Shiyi, who rarely appears, was there.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    "Seventh Uncle!"


    ...


    All cultivators turned their attention to Lin Shiming.


    "Continue, I''ll just listen in!" Lin Shiming waved his hand.


    Lin Yanjiao and Lin Zewen also nodded in agreement; they were currently arranging affairs for Soarwood Island.


    The Red Leaf Archipelago is still in the process of being handed over, and Red Leaf True Person has given them many treasures, so they naturally cannot rush matters.


    However, the situation is different for the Soarwood Archipelago.


    The handover has started, and a group of cultivators have already been dispatched to take control of Soarwood Island.


    Among them, the one responsible for managing the affairs of Soarwood Island is Lin Shijie.


    But there are twelve other surrounding islands.


    Among these twelve islands, the Lin Family must have actual control over at least three and clandestine control over another three.


    Only by controlling more than half, can the Lin Family ensure their interests are protected.


    Moreover, implementing this in Soarwood Island is quite feasible, knowing that the place has been sorted out by Coral Island.


    No family would dare to station themselves there for the time being.


    This provides a perfect opportunity for the Lin Family.


    At the moment, Lin Zewen and Lin Yanjiao are also choosing suitable island masters.


    After all, cultivators of the Purple Mansion and Golden Core ranks wouldn''t have the time to attend to many miscellaneous matters; only Foundation Establishment cultivators would be arranged for such experiences.


    And indeed, many cultivators are accustomed to power and adept at scheming; they can also play to their strengths.


    Once all arrangements are made, Lin Shiyi then spoke up.


    "Shiming, I came this time to secure an island for the Ye Family!"


    "An elder of the Ye Family has made a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage!" Lin Shiyi said.


    He seemed somewhat nervous when he said this.


    After all, Ye Yujiao is his wife, making the Ye Family somewhat his own.


    "Agreed!" Lin Shiming said, immediately consenting.


    "However, the choice can only be made among the Soarwood Archipelago."


    For the Ye Family, Lin Shiming is somewhat more lenient.


    When the Lin Family first arrived.


    It was through a marriage alliance with the Ye Family that the Lin Family gained the reputation to settle on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Over the years, it is precisely because of Heavenly Phenomenon Island that the Lin Family was able to gain a firm foothold and gradually ascend.


    Moreover, back then the Ye Family also provided their clan''s Cultivation Technique.


    The Heavenly Illusion Heart Sutra practiced by Lin Yanjiao was provided by the Ye Family.


    It doesn''t surprise Lin Shiming that a Ye Family cultivator has broken through to the Purple Mansion stage.


    Therefore, he is willing to give the Ye Family an opportunity.


    However, giving an opportunity is one thing; the island is something the Ye Family must strive for themselves.


    Soarwood Island at present is a good choice.


    "Shiming, of course it''s Soarwood Island!" Lin Shiyi initially thought the family would not agree, which is why he seemed reserved.


    Over the years, although his personality has changed a lot, his heart is still the same.


    He wouldn''t consent to ask for other islands either, since the Ye Family itself probably wouldn''t dare.


    The current Lin Family is not just like any Purple Mansion family of the past; they are now regarded as a Nascent Soul family.


    In the future, who knows how many forces will come to join the Lin Family? Now, trying to enter the Lin Family through marriage is much more difficult than before.


    In the past, being a Third Rank Alchemist, Artifact Refiner, or Spirit Talisman Master had a great chance.


    Now, one must be at least a Fourth Rank Alchemist, Artifact Refiner, or Spirit Talisman Master.


    Otherwise, one can only become a non-official resident of an island affiliated with the Lin Family.


    He is considered the lowest among the cultivators who have married into a family.


    Lin Shiming nodded, and there was even less concern on Lin Yanjiao''s end.


    Her cultivation technique came from the Ye Family, so she is also considered to have received half of the Ye Family''s favor.


    "This matter is thus decided!"


    "Second Brother, there is also a mission now that might require your help!" Lin Shiming said with a smile on his face.


    "We need to expand our territory in the Soarwood Archipelago quickly, pushing the boundary line from Shuangtu Island to Frost Mantis Island!"


    Although Lin Shiyi is only in the early stage of the Purple Mansion, he is not far from the middle stage, and he also needs such expansion for training.


    Body cultivation is not just about withstanding pressure at the bottom of the sea; he needs more real combat practice.


    Only with the expansion of the boundary line can the Lin Family better defend the Spirit Stone mine veins underneath the White Sand Sea.


    "Good, no problem!" Lin Shiyi nodded.


    "By the way, Shiming, the Fourth Brother has recently left seclusion, he is now at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage and has five corpse cultivators under his control!" Lin Shiyi continued.


    "No problem, let the Fourth Brother join as well!" Lin Shiming nodded. Now there is no need for Lin Shimo to guard Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    A newly advanced cultivator at the early stage of the Purple Mansion will suffice to take care of the entire island.


    After all, Redwood Island will be under the control of the Lin Family, with Heavenly Phenomenon Island in the middle, so no one would dare to act recklessly.


    Meanwhile, both Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi need to go out and look for resources since one practices body cultivation and the other corpse cultivation; both require a massive amount of resources.


    Having arranged matters for Soarwood Island, Lin Shiming returned to Thousand Wood Peak.


    In the following time, life settled down. He spent time with Lin Shitao, instructed Lin Zeying, and the days passed very quickly.


    It was during this period that Lin Shiming''s Soul Binding Forbidden suddenly moved.


    Lin Shiming entered the Cave Heaven and saw that the place where the Golden Wing was in seclusion was filled with golden light and white light, its aura much stronger.


    "Master!" With a shout, a ten-winged mantis flew out.


    The Golden Wing hasn''t changed much in appearance from before, still having four pairs of golden wings and one pair of frost wings.


    However, its scythe-like limbs have grown much larger.


    Its compound eyes have become more vivid.


    The aura has grown significantly, indicating it has already broken through to the late stages of the Purple Mansion.


    At this level, the Golden Wing can begin preparations to break through to Demon King.


    It has acquired the Golden Core and flesh of the frost mantis, which it can now consume to enhance itself.


    But not just yet.


    Lin Shiming waved his hand, allowing the Golden Wing to showcase its speed.


    The next moment, a flash of golden light appeared, reaching a speed beyond belief ¨C not much different from that of a Demon King.


    This demonstrates the dominance of the Golden Wing''s speed within its rank.


    Lin Shiming joyfully produced several elixirs, concocted by Lin Shitao. This was the perfect moment to use them.


    He then retrieved a good amount of Star Spirit Fluff.


    Golden Wing quickly began to feast on them.


    After consuming the Star Spirit Fluff and the elixirs, Lin Shiming then brought out numerous Beast Nurturing Pills and Spirit Beast meat.


    After so many beast tides, he was hardly short of Spirit Beast meat.


    He even fed the Golden Wing a considerable amount of Flood Dragon meat.


    Once the Golden Wing had finished eating, it once again lay down on the stone wall, quietly digesting its meal.


    Lin Shiming looked to the side, where the Red-haired Demon Monkey had turned into a ball of flames, seemingly at a critical moment of breakthrough.


    His heart couldn''t help but feel delighted.


    If the Red-haired also breaks through, then here, all his Spirit Beasts would be at the late stages of the Purple Mansion, all with the potential to break through to Demon King.


    Lin Shiming then glanced at the Star Spirit Clam, whose current aura made his heart tremble.


    It seems that the Profound Star Stone has caused it to start skipping ranks.


    The stone emanates a massive starlight, useless to cultivators, but clearly a treasure to the Star Spirit Clam.


    No wonder at that Fifth Rank Golden Core trade meeting, the system immediately highlighted this item.


    Rather than the Minor Divine Ability fruit tree or any other Fifth Rank magical treasure.


    Lin Shiming exited the Cave Heaven, and just at that moment, a Jade Slip flew towards him.


    Lin Shiming went out, heading towards the Council Hall.


    This time, even more cultivators had come, including Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shitao, Lin Yanjiao, and many other Purple Mansion cultivators.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, a secret order has come from Coral Island!" Lin Yanjiao spoke up.


    She then took a Jade Slip and passed it to Lin Shiming.


    The Jade Slip opened, and within it were only a few sparse words.


    Between the lines, there were details on the number and cultivation levels of the people the Lin Family needed for the looming battle!

 Chapter 958 - 586: Beginning of the Expedition, Flame Yang in Seclusion (Combined)

    Lin Shiming was not at all surprised by this expedition against Tianzhao Sect; the Lin Family dispatched one surpassing Golden Core, two Golden Cores, ten at the Purple Mansion stage, and a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    As for the one surpassing Golden Core, naturally, it was the Qiu Xue Sword.


    Xue Shan True Monarch had calculated extremely well, fully aware that the Lin Family''s trump card was none other than the Qiu Xue Sword, not mentioning a Nascent Soul but only the surpassing Golden Core.


    However, Lin Shiming had long known that the Qiu Xue Sword would participate in the battle.


    It was not at all unexpected.


    After all, it was better that Xue Shan True Monarch was aware of this, as he would definitely not allow the Qiu Xue Sword to remain in the rear, causing him unease.


    As for the Golden Core and Purple Mansion cultivators, they were indeed taken care of by the Lin Family.


    Other clans from the inner islands all had two Golden Cores and thirty Purple Mansion cultivators.


    Of course, even if such a demand was made, the Lin Family would not bring thirty at the Purple Mansion stage.


    The Lin Family did indeed have more Purple Mansion stage cultivators in recent years, but that was only relative to the past, and they couldn''t compare with other inner islands.


    If they were forced to bring thirty, he would fill in with Spirit Beasts.


    Of course, this time with the ten at the Purple Mansion stage, the Lin Family would also fill in with over ten Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    These Great Demons were not the Lin Family''s Lifesource Spirit Beasts but those controlled by the Spirit Controlling Seal.


    Then, when the time comes, they would also use Spiritual Medicines like the Explosive Blood Pill to stimulate the Great Demons'' potential and unleash greater combat power.


    This way, the Lin Family''s risk of exposure would be slightly reduced.


    Besides that, this time the Lin Family also plans to use a Fourth Rank War Treasure Ship.


    After all, the Lin Family is currently considered the second-largest power in the Coral Sea Domain, with no need to hide any of their strength.


    Hiding it further would only make Coral Island more wary.


    On the contrary, openly displaying their power might even gain recognition.


    "Yanjiao, how many Fourth Rank War Treasure Ships does our family have now?"


    "Reporting back to Seventh Great-Uncle, we have ten Fourth Rank War Treasure Ships, eleven Fourth Rank Early Stage puppets, besides that, we have controlled fifteen Fourth Rank Purple Mansion Great Demons with the Spirit Controlling Seal, mainly the Sea Cloud Bird, the Mysterious Spirit Turtle, and the Azure Feather Peng..."


    Lin Yanjiao listed the family treasures, detailing the Lin Family''s current foundations.


    There''s no need to elaborate on the Fourth Rank War Treasure Ships; that''s the construction technique obtained from Qingxuan Sect, and now the Lin Family has even built one Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship.


    It was personally crafted by Jiuxiao True Person.


    Besides that, the method for crafting Spirit Puppets was obtained from Qian Ji Island, although clearly, Lin Zecheng can currently only craft Fourth Rank Early Stage Spirit Puppets.


    This wasn''t because Lin Zecheng lacked talent in crafting Spirit Puppets, but because he was also dedicating himself to earnest cultivation. He is now a Middle Stage Purple Mansion cultivator in the Lin Family, not far from reaching the Late Stage Purple Mansion.


    "Alright then, this time the family will dispatch ten Fourth Rank clan treasure ships, ten Purple Mansion Great Demons, half Sea Cloud Birds and half Mysterious Spirit Turtles, and bring along five puppets!" Lin Shiming instructed.


    "As for the candidates at the Purple Mansion stage, are there any who volunteered to sign up?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "A lot, quite a few!" Lin Yanjiao said with a wry smile.


    As far as she knew, there were many Purple Mansion cultivators including Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, Lin Zeli, Lin Zelu, Lin Shiyun, Lin Shijin, Lei Xuan, Lin Shilei, Lin Shiyuan, and others.


    Not to mention Lin Shiming, Lin Shiyi, and Lin Shijie.


    These three were currently opening up Soarwood Island and could not spare their efforts.


    "Then let''s go with the luck of the draw, and also, the extra share obtained from this opening up operation, 40% will go to the family. An additional 10%, the bonus, will be awarded to the cultivators stationed at various locations!" Lin Shiming continued to add.


    By general principles, it should only be 30% for the family.


    But since this operation was almost impossible to fail, with four True Monarchs from the four major forces, it was an overwhelming advantage.


    Given the amount of preparation the Lin Family had made, they were practically headed there for the gains.


    Thus, it was natural to reduce the individual''s share.


    Otherwise, this time selecting ten people would not have been so straightforward.


    Moreover, it would be unfair to Lin Shijie, Lin Shiming, and Lin Shiyi, among others.


    Taking an extra 10% changed things.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Yanjiao nodded and repeatedly proceeded to give the instructions to prepare.


    "Furthermore, at the next council meeting, invite Jiuxiao True Person!" After hesitating for a moment, Lin Shiming spoke.


    Jiuxiao True Person was nearly devoting his whole heart to the family, first by crafting Magical Treasures for them, and later by building treasure ships.


    It can be said that since his breakthrough to Golden Core, he hadn''t had a proper cultivation session.


    He can certainly be invited to ordinary family meetings.


    In addition to that, Lin Shiming was also considering inviting Lei Xuan. As for Yu Jing and other family-affiliated or Guest Elders, he wouldn''t consider them.


    Without a hundred years of loyalty, it would not be so easy to earn his trust.


    Once the candidates and rules were decided, the selection for the Foundation Establishment participants would also proceed in the same way. Those willing to participate would draw lots.


    Luck is also a form of cultivation in Immortal Cultivation.


    Besides, there might be dangers this time, and surely some people would not be willing to go.


    After establishing the rules, Lin Shiming headed to the Northern Sword Pavilion. Since this involved the Qiu Xue Sword, he naturally needed to consult with the Qiu Xue Sword.


    If the Qiu Xue Sword was unwilling to go, he could not compel it.


    Soon, he arrived at the Northern Sword Pavilion.


    The guardian of the pavilion was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the ''Shi'' generation. However, although Lin Shiming was still young, the other party appeared somewhat elderly.


    The oldest of the ''Shi'' generation in the Lin Family was Lin Shijie, at over two hundred and thirty years old.


    And Lin Shiming was also over two hundred and twenty years old.


    Lin Shiming went straight into the Northern Sword Pavilion.


    He saw that the Sword Intent inside was thicker than before, but now pervaded by the bloody intent of the sea of swords.


    In this moment, Lin Shiming could feel a surge of Fire Sword Intent rising up unexpectedly.


    Within the Sword Pavilion''s sky, the Flaming Sword rested upon the Sword Ladder. This time, the crimson spiritual aura manifested a volcano.


    The heaven-reaching intent of the Fire Sword, like magma, kept erupting.


    After a while, as if noticing Lin Shiming''s arrival, the crimson light receded.

 Chapter 959 - 586: Beginning of the Expedition, Flame Yang in Seclusion (Combined) - Part 2

    As the Flaming Sword descended, several other swords accompanied it.


    The Qiu Xue Sword led the way.


    From their expressions, they were very satisfied with Shuangmu Island.


    The position now held in the Northern Sword Pavilion is also a substantial Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, for their cultivation.


    Add to that the Sword Intent from Taibai Sword Palace, it is better than staying at Myriad Swords Divine Mountain, which is divine, but also a cage.


    It''s not that there isn''t much room for advancement there, but it''s already been eroded significantly; only by relying on the Taiyi Grass Sword can they resist a bit.


    "Fellow seniors!" Lin Shiming spoke up.


    "Lin has a request to make."


    "No problem, just say it!" Ying Fengjian replied.


    His recent increase in strength was commendable, but the problem is, it was far less compared to the Flaming Sword.


    Moreover, the Flaming Sword recently received guidance from the Qiu Xue Sword.


    "It''s about the Xue Shan True Monarch, isn''t it!" Qiu Xue Sword spoke as well.


    He saw the issue right away.


    At present, the troubles at the Golden Core stage are few that could trouble Lin Shiming.


    It''s not that Lin Shiming is invincible at the Golden Core stage.


    The key is that those with advanced Golden Core cultivation are now preparing to break through to Nascent Soul.


    And those with lower realms, naturally are not a match for Lin Shiming.


    "Exactly!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    "No problem, I too need to travel more, perhaps I can see the path of Spirit Cultivation more clearly!" Qiu Xue Sword nodded in agreement.


    However, the Flaming Sword hesitated.


    "Shiming, I am nearly at the point of breakthrough..." Flaming Sword said.


    "Naturally, the cultivation of Senior Flaming takes precedence, this time with Senior Qiu Xue, Senior Ying Feng, and Senior Lei Ming it should be sufficient, for the remaining seniors, please help protect Shuangmu Island!"


    After Lin Shiming finished speaking, the other swords also nodded in agreement, in fact, both Feifu Sword and Minglun Sword wanted to go.


    But since Lin Shiming said only three people later, they could only nod in agreement, after all, Shuangmu Island was also crucial.


    The current state of the Lin Family if truly all hands were on deck, it might indeed be susceptible to unforeseen risks.


    And in Lin Shiming''s heart, he was now quite determined.


    The Flaming Sword had long been at the Golden Core Late Stage, having prepared for nearly one hundred fifty years.


    Nowadays, the Nascent Soul realm is not as completely sealed off as before.


    What the breakthrough entails goes without saying.


    "Seniors, wait a moment for this junior!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    Subsequently, his figure also disappeared beside, entering into the Cave Heaven.


    Since all the swords have stayed in the Cave Heaven, there was no need for Lin Shiming to hide it.


    After about ten moments, Lin Shiming walked out generously.


    "Senior Flaming, I have some tokens of appreciation here!" Lin Shiming took out a Storage Bag, ready to hand it to the Flaming Sword.


    The Flaming Sword seeing this, hesitated a bit.


    He could guess what was inside.


    Although Lin Shiming had mentioned it before, that was a Thousand Year Spirit Medicine, and fire attribute at that.


    Enough to enhance the chances of breaking through to Nascent Soul.


    "If Senior can wait, Lin might be able to collect some other treasures!" Lin Shiming added.


    Flaming Sword also spoke at this point:


    "There''s no need for so much, when fate arrives, there''s no need to fear!"


    "Our path of Spirit Cultivation is different, this time this sword greatly appreciates it, in the future, I will definitely not act against the Lin Family and as long as I am alive, I will protect the Lin Family for ten thousand years!" Flaming Sword spoke, using a Heavenly Dao oath.


    This statement carried weight, more advantageous to the Lin Family compared to the previous Jade Slip.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also hesitated no more and handed out the Storage Bag.


    The latter took a look inside, and was even more surprised to find that next to the Thousand Year Rochia was a Supreme Grade Fire Spirit Stone.


    The effect of this Supreme Grade Fire Spirit Stone on their Spirit Cultivation was no less than the Thousand Year Spirit Medicine.


    It certainly isn''t something that Superior Grade Spirit Stones can measure up to.


    "Great kindness doesn''t require thanks!" Flaming Sword spoke respectfully.


    The other swords at this moment, were curious, but since Lin Shiming did not bring it out, and Flaming Sword did not say it was bad, they refrained from asking.


    But now, they were thinking of doing more for the Lin Family.


    Perhaps, in the future, the Lin Family could also find them some breakthrough treasures.


    After chatting with Flaming Sword a few more times, Lin Shiming also took his leave, taking Qiu Xue Sword and Lei Ming Ying Feng with him before departing.


    In Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven, it''s also extremely convenient.


    When Lin Shiming returned to the Council Hall again.


    He discovered that the selection for the Purple Mansion cultivators was already confirmed. This time, the cultivators participating in the battle included Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, Lin Shijin, Lin Shilei, Lei Xuan, Lin Shiyuan, Lin Zeyi, Lin Houwei, Lin Zelu, and Lin Shizhong.


    This lineup was quite comprehensive, with Lin Shijin as the Spirit Talisman Master, Lin Zeyi among the Sword Cultivators, Lin Shizhong as the Artifact Refiner, and Lin Zelu as the Array Master.


    The others, Lei Xuan and Lin Shilei, were Thunder Cultivators, while Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng need no further mention.


    The entire lineup, although lacking in Late-Stage Purple Mansion cultivators, had no shortage of Middle-Stage ones.


    As for the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Lin Shiming paid them less attention.


    However, what surprised him was that Lin Changxing and Lin Zehong, along with several other Foundation Establishment cultivators of the senior generation, were also participating.


    Finally, everyone assembled at the Transmission Formation plaza.


    Every Purple Mansion cultivator brought along a Fourth Rank treasure ship, a Fourth Rank Spirit Puppet, and a Fourth Rank Great Demon.


    In this way, even if there were unexpected changes in the chaos of battle, there would be room to maneuver, avoiding a complete loss in one battle.


    Now, the Lin Family had many promising Array Masters. Setting up Transmission Formations in common areas no longer required the personal intervention of Lin Shiyun, Lin Zelu, and Lin Houshou.


    The Transmission Formation plaza was also built exceedingly large.


    It connected all of the Lin Family''s territories, including various secret realms.


    The idea was that as soon as a message came through the Transmission Formation, Lin Family cultivators could react immediately.


    As the Transmission light illuminated.


    A group of people appeared on Red Leaf Island.


    At this moment, Red Leaf Island had become much desolate, and the Spiritual Energy had also decreased significantly.


    This was related to the relocation of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Nevertheless, there were still Fifth Rank Spirit Veins on it.


    The market, however, became more bustling.


    Due to the relocation of the Red Leaf Archipelago, the affiliated powers also moved, and some immovable assets, like shops, were sold off.


    Of course, it wasn''t the Lin Family''s shops that were sold.


    The Lin Family merely took over the earlier shares of Red Leaf Island, leaving the treasure shops still belonging to those affiliated families.


    Apart from the shop deeds, there were also purchases of Spirit Veins.


    After all, Red Leaf True Person could take some Spirit Veins, but still left behind two Fifth Rank Spirit Veins, including one pure Water Attribute Spirit Vein.


    These affiliated families, even if they took Spirit Veins, had to leave some publicly known ones.


    That way, when they went to Golden Thunder Island, they still needed to purchase Spirit Veins.


    Hence, this led to a situation where the market here was not depressed, but rather felt even more thriving.


    "Senior Lin, my master requests your presence!" At that moment, next to the Transmission Formation, a female cultivator greeted Lin Shiming.


    She led Lin Shiming and his entourage toward Red Leaf Palace.


    Although Red Leaf Palace was relocating, they still needed to provide quite a number of people this time.


    They were also considered one of the top three islands.


    Soon, Lin Shiming and his group arrived at Red Leaf Palace and found that quite a number of people had already gathered in the plaza.


    Lin Shiming swept his Divine Sense over.


    He was surprised to find that this time, Red Leaf Island also had two Golden Core cultivators, but as many as forty Purple Mansion cultivators, and reached up to five hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators!


    That was much more than the Lin Family.


    In the upcoming battle, not to mention they would have an advantage in magical combat, even if they won, they would also have an advantage in claiming territories.


    Lin Shiming also wanted to provide more Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators, but the Lin Family did not have such extensive resources.


    Fortunately, the Lin Family had many Spirit Beasts and Spirit Puppets.


    "Junior Brother Lin!"


    "Daoist Lin!"


    The voices of two female cultivators rang out as they approached.


    "This is Daoist Xu, and she''s also my father''s closed-door disciple!" explained Red Leaf True Person.


    Red Leaf True Person was dressed in a red soft armor, exuding an indescribable heroic spirit.


    The female cultivator beside her appeared much more delicate, and somewhat resembled Zhao Fuling.


    She was dressed in a blue Taoist robe, and her cultivation was in the Early Stage of Golden Core.


    Clearly, she had just broken through to the Golden Core stage.


    Unlike the Lin Family, who had so many Soul Summoning Swords.


    They at least retained one Golden Core cultivator, still under True Person Gufeng.


    Just like Tianliu Island and Qian Ji Island would definitely keep Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji True Person.


    Lin Shiming smiled inwardly, well aware of their schemes.

 Chapter 960 - 587: The Appearance of an Ancient Treasure, The Heavenly Luo Spiritual Treasure

    "There''s no time to lose, let''s set off now; our frontline this time is Yuntie Island!"


    "Yuntie True Person is responsible for that island, and it''s also the one closest to the Tianzhao Sect!" Once all the cultivators had gathered, and various Magic Artifacts, Spirit Boats, and Spirit Talismans had been prepared, Red Leaf True Person introduced it to Lin Shiming.


    Because of the number of people, this time the journey is divided into ten batches of teleportation, a hundred people each batch. This is also due to the smaller number of the Lin Family; otherwise, the number of teleportations would take even longer.


    This first batch is exactly where Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person are leading their own cultivators from the Purple Mansion first.


    The radiance of the Transmission Formation flickers, and when Lin Shiming opens his eyes again, what he sees is a vast wilderness.


    Yuntie Island is enormous, even larger than Red Leaf Island, but when it comes to the quality of Spiritual Energy and location, it falls far short of Red Leaf Island.


    Moreover, if you look down from high above, you''ll find that Yuntie Island resembles a giant iron bull.


    Yuntie Island, also known as Iron Bull Island, is governed by Yuntie True Person.


    With the strength of Golden Core Early Stage, in the Twelve Inner Islands, his power is considered relatively weak. However, he is extremely shrewd in his dealings, closely aligned with Qian Ji Island, and thus Yuntie Island has always thrived.


    Yuntie Island is rich in a type of Yunxiao Red Iron, which is a Superior Grade material of the Fourth Rank, mainly used in the construction of Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank Spirit Boats, making it highly sought after.


    This is the characteristic product of Yuntie Island.


    Yuntie Island is also famous for this.


    Among the Twelve Inner Islands, Yuntie Island is one of the few that have only one True Person, which allows it to confront the Tianzhao Sect while stationed on Yuntie Island. The capabilities of Yuntie True Person''s Yunxiao Iron Bull, also known as the formidable Iron Bull Demon King, should not be underestimated.


    The cultivation of the Iron Bull Demon King is at the Golden Core Middle Stage, stronger than Yuntie True Person himself.


    "True Person Red Leaf, Daoist Lin, my apologies for not meeting you from afar, my apologies!" Yuntie True Person has slightly dark skin and a tall stature, always wearing a smile. He hurries over from a distance with quick steps.


    "You''re too kind, Daoist Yuntie!" Lin Shiming hastens to return the greeting upon seeing Yuntie True Person.


    It is said that Yuntie True Person also emerged from a Loose Cultivator background, and after reaching the Purple Mansion, he established his own clan. Unexpectedly, the situation escalated beyond control, leveraging the support of the Family Head, and he successfully broke through to the Golden Core, advancing to the powers of the Twelve Inner Islands.


    He even has a Demon King Spirit Beast, which is considered to be an outstanding figure rivalling Lin Shiming in reputation.


    "True Monarch is already rallying the forces in the distance!" Yuntie True Person introduces.


    Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person exchange glances, then nod their heads and, after thanking him, head toward the distance!


    Soon they see Xue Shan True Monarch, who is wearing a robe of blood-red, with a stern face, personally studying a sea area map.


    Many islands on the map of the Coral Area have been crossed out.


    "This Dimen Sect''s Master is truly a thorny character, taking advantage of our preparations, they have already destroyed most of the Transmission Formations within Yuntie Island and in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain!" Xue Shan True Monarch speaks up.


    Lin Shiming is not surprised to hear this. After all, the other party is the type who dares to invade the island alone.


    Such actions are indeed normal.


    If it were Xue Shan True Monarch, he would have made his move already.


    However, he conjectures that Xue Shan True Monarch is not certain either because if the Tianzhao Sect were to face a True Monarch of the same rank, the armies of Nine Dragon Island and Myriad Buddhas Island from the Blood Cultivation Sect might not turn traitorous in a single stroke, but they would certainly flee.


    For a Nascent Soul Cultivator, killing is too difficult.


    Even if they slay the flesh, the adversary''s Nascent Soul could jump away, and no ordinary treasure could stop it.


    Once the Nascent Soul recovers its strength, that becomes a nightmare for the sects.


    This is why all the major powers are wary of each other.


    You have a clan to protect; so do I, thus we cannot recklessly fight each other to the bitter end.


    The current situation is because a Nascent Soul Cultivator appeared, and Tianzhao Sect didn''t have one, and acted rashly.


    Otherwise, the Tianzhao Sect wouldn''t be weaker than the Coral Alliance.


    And now, with Xue Shan True Monarch present here, it''s certain that he has verified that the Heavenly Gate Master hasn''t achieved a breakthrough successfully.


    Otherwise, it would be possible to wait another half a year.


    "Daoist Lin, do you have any ingenious strategies for defeating the enemy this time?" Xue Shan True Monarch asks.


    "True Monarch flatters me; since childhood, I''ve been engrossed in cultivation and know little about warfare," Lin Shiming shakes his head.


    "However, please be extra cautious if approaching from Taiqian Abyss!" He remembers Taiqian Abyss.


    That place is definitely a force not inferior to the Flood Dragon Clan.


    Those Tai Qian Sharks and the mysteries of Taiqian Mist are just like the black spiritual fog within the secret realm of Taibai Sword Palace.


    In the battle against Tianzhao Sect, Lin Shiming naturally does not want any accidents to occur, as the Lin Family has dispatched quite a few of its younger generation this time.


    All talents with Heavenly Spirit Root and Spirit Talismans are there, as are a good number of Purple Mansion cultivators from the Lin Family.


    "I have considered this matter!" Xue Shan True Monarch nods.


    "We''ll wait for the other islands for half a day; Nine Dragon Island, Myriad Buddhas Island, and the Blood Cultivation Sect will move towards Tianzhao Sect from various places!" Xue Shan True Monarch adds.


    Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person understand immediately and take their leave after bidding farewell.


    In the Coral Alliance''s military encampment, one can now see the market on Yuntie Island.


    "How about we visit the market together?" Red Leaf True Person suggests.


    "Certainly!" Lin Shiming nods his head; he does not know why Red Leaf True Person is so enthusiastic.


    But he has indeed not yet explored the market of Yuntie Island.


    The market, like those on other islands, is divided into four areas, but now only three are bustling with people.


    "That''s the area previously jointly managed by Tianzhao Sect and Yuntie Island. There was once a battle here, and it was the Iron Bull Demon King who quelled it!" Seemingly seeing Lin Shiming''s confusion, Red Leaf True Person speaks up.


    Lin Shiming nods; with the two sects in turmoil, that area lies abandoned now.

 Chapter 961 - 587: Ancient Treasure Appears, Heavenly Spiritual Treasure_2

    It seems that other areas are very lively.


    "Daoist Lin, Sister Red Leaf, I have another old friend..." The cultivator with the surname Xu from Red Leaf Island also took his leave.


    At that moment, only Red Leaf True Person and Lin Shiming remained on the field.


    Red Leaf True Person was guiding at the front, while Lin Shiming was listening behind.


    At the market, quite a few things were introduced.


    And Lin Shiming came to know more about Yuntie Island.


    "Daoist Lin, I''ve heard of your deeds; you come from the Eastern Domain. If possible, could you leave some seeds for the Ye Family!"


    Red Leaf True Person suddenly transmitted her voice.


    This transmission, on the surface, showed her remarkable calmness.


    "Moreover, if possible, Sister would like to invite you to join me at Yunzhong Palace''s Secret Realm!" Red Leaf True Person added.


    "All is possible!" Lin Shiming sighed upon hearing this from Red Leaf True Person, guessing that Gufeng True Person must also be on the verge of breaking through to Nascent Soul.


    Now is not a good time to attempt a breakthrough to Nascent Soul, especially since Red Leaf Island has just relocated to Coral Island.


    But without breaking through to Nascent Soul, in the ever-changing Southern Sea Cultivation World, one would appear weak and vulnerable to exploitation.


    [Search the street vendors, find the cultivator wearing a hat, and you will obtain a sealed ancient treasure!] Just then, Lin Shiming suddenly froze.


    He had frequented many markets, always hoping to find some treasures.


    Yet whether on Coral Island or Red Leaf Island and Lanling Island, he had always returned empty-handed.


    Today he hadn''t thought about hunting treasures on Yuntie Island, yet a hint about discovering an ancient treasure appeared.


    In the world of cultivation, First, Second, and Third Rank are all Magic Artifact levels.


    Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Rank are all Magical Treasures.


    Above these are Spiritual Treasures and Ancient Treasures.


    The weakest complete Spiritual Treasure is stronger than a Sixth Rank Magical Treasure, and unlike a Sixth Rank, which only a Nascent Soul Cultivator can deploy,


    Spiritual Treasures can be activated by Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul cultivators through universal rituals.


    And the Ancient Treasures are another category; they are Magical Treasures crafted by ancient cultivators.


    Also, Golden Core Cultivators can use them.


    However, they cannot be stored in a Storage Bag, so often many bring out various unique items from inherited cave heavens, such as baskets, hats, belts, etc.


    All are highly likely to be Ancient Treasures.


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat excited.


    "Thank you, Daoist Lin!" Red Leaf True Person saw Lin Shiming visibly excited and also smiled, expressing her gratitude.


    Now her power is definitely not as great as Lin Shiming''s, but she had to go to Yunzhong Palace''s Secret Realm; otherwise, the recent resources on Red Leaf Island wouldn''t be enough to support another person breaking through to Nascent Soul.


    Lin Shiming walked ahead, Red Leaf True Person quickly followed with small steps, and soon, Lin Shiming reached a small stall.


    He crouched down.


    Finally, he looked at the magic artifact on display.


    "How much for this Ruyi Card?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "Senior, you really have good taste; this card is called the Taihe Ruyi Card, symbolizing everlasting harmony and prosperity. It''s a Third Rank Divine Sense defense magic artifact, best used by juniors. It only costs 18,000 inferior-grade Spirit Stones!" The vendor with the hat said with a flattering smile.


    Lin Shiming''s Divine Sense fell on the hat, only to find that its appearance could not be discerned.


    It seemed to have been sealed by an Array.


    Many families, feeling they cannot adequately protect their Magical Treasures, create various sealing Arrays.


    This is most common among those desolate Purple Mansion families.


    The families do not have a new Purple Mansion cultivator to utilize the Magical Treasures.


    "Too expensive, add something extra. I''m just buying it for a niece who likes this type of card, but that doesn''t mean I don''t know its worth!" Lin Shiming spoke.


    With these words, that cultivator immediately felt extremely embarrassed.


    He thought Lin Shiming, a Golden Core Cultivator like him, wouldn''t mind a slightly higher price,


    especially with such a beautiful female True Person next to him.


    Now exposed, he suddenly felt awkward.


    "Senior, please say any add-on you like!" The vendor could only say, though it clearly pained him to do so.


    "Your hat is nice, what kind of magic artifact is it?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "Senior, good eyesight, it is indeed an Ancient Treasure!" The cultivator said as if it was true.


    At this, Lin Shiming was startled,


    but then he shook his head.


    Anger showed on his face.


    This scene made the vendor look embarrassed.


    "Senior, I''m not lying, this treasure can''t be stored in a Storage Bag, and it''s also beneficial for keeping warm in winter, cool in summer, and refreshing the mind!"


    "Oh, why has no one bought your ancient treasure then!" Lin Shiming spoke again, he examined the hat and couldn''t detect the Formation traces on it, which implies that the sealing array on it might very well be a Sixth Rank Array!


    Hearing about the ancient treasure, Red Leaf True Person beside him also looked over, equally intrigued.


    Ancient treasures are rarely seen, and the known ones in the Southern Sea are all in the hands of powerful True Persons.


    However, after a glance, Red Leaf True Person also showed a peculiar expression and did not speak.


    The peddler was immediately disheartened.


    He had consulted ancient texts; these were characteristics of an ancient treasure, but he had shown it to many shops.


    No one offered a price, not to mention anyone secretly following him.


    Since then, he just wore it on his head, waiting for someone to take interest so he could name his price.


    But now, Lin Shiming had pointed it out.


    "Senior, please add two hundred Spirit Stones!"


    "Agreed!" Lin Shiming said nonchalantly.


    This was indeed an ancient treasure, and at this point, the other party wasn''t thinking about overcharging him anymore.


    To him, two hundred Spirit Stones was now an utterly insignificant amount.


    And he felt like he was getting a bargain.


    But it was of no use to that loose cultivator anyway.


    "Here!" After the transfer of Spirit Stones was complete, Lin Shiming also took the hat, holding a Jade Card in his hand.


    For a moment, he seemed somewhat out of place.


    "I''ve also bought a gift for your son!" Red Leaf True Person spoke again.


    As she spoke, she took out a Storage Bag and handed it to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming nodded; he knew this was not just a gift, but a stake for establishing roots in the Eastern Domain.


    People like Red Leaf True Person are very clear about dividing interests.


    They wouldn''t easily owe others favors.


    After wandering for a while, the two returned to their base, and Lin Shiming took the moment to place the ancient treasure hat into his Cave Heaven.


    Cave Heaven and Storage Bag, Spirit Beast Bag are different; Cave Heaven possesses complete world laws, whereas Storage Bags are purely for storing space.


    Thus, ancient treasures can be placed into the Cave Heaven.


    Lin Shiming also had Qiu Xue Sword, Ying Feng Sword, and Leiming Sword check it out for him.


    By the time they returned to their base, it was already filled with cultivators.


    Most of the True Persons had already arrived.


    From Tianliu Island was still Zhao Yulin, from Qian Ji Island still was Profound Mechanism True Person, and other True Persons were the same.


    Similar to the last Nascent Soul conference, but with many unfamiliar True Person figures this time.


    Of course, unfamiliar to Lin Shiming doesn''t mean these True Persons are unknown.


    This time for the campaign, all major inner islands dared not defy the war''s demands.


    And this time it was also largely about sharing the benefits.


    This reassured the cultivators.


    Looking at the enormous numbers from Purple Mansion, Lin Shiming could not help but lament that Lin Family''s development speed was not sufficient.


    And Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and the others were instantaneously filled with fighting spirit.


    For the two of them, seeing a broader sky was what expanded their horizons.


    At this moment, Lin Zekong was most interested in Tianliu Island, while Lin Zecheng was greatly interested in Qian Ji Island, it''s just that the campaign was about to start soon.


    Otherwise, they both looked forward to a grand exchange conference.


    "Boom!" A startling gong sound rang out.


    Everyone looked up, only to see a huge treasure ship in the sky, appearing out of nowhere.


    This treasure ship had five levels, resembling a lofty sky pavilion.


    Each level was extremely large, with countless Spirit Patterns carved on them, which looked exceedingly profound at a glance.


    Furthermore, each level had three or four masts.


    The canvases on those masts flickered with Spirit Shadows, seeming to be treasures like Beast Banners.


    And the most dazzling was the gong itself.


    That gong was impeccably round, and just looking at it made it seem profound and ancient, with patterns that resembled the void.


    Striking it made everyone''s hearts surge, significantly boosting their combat prowess.


    The key was that the aura of this treasure gave him the same feeling as his Sword Storing Book.


    This was clearly a damaged Spiritual Treasure.


    "Board the boat, prepare to set off!" Xue Shan True Monarch was the first to board the Spirit Boat, followed by the True Persons from Coral Island.


    Lin Shiming and others also followed them onto the Spirit Boat.

 Chapter 962 - 588 Variables, Traitor

    With a resonant humming sound, the enormous Spirit Boat began to unfurl several cloud sails.


    At this moment, the deck of the Spirit Boat was already crowded with Cultivators.


    Everyone was aboard the Spirit Boat, and in the next instant, the vessel somehow blended into the clouds, becoming indistinguishable from them.


    The Purple Mansion Qi Cultivators couldn''t even capture the Spirit Boat with their Divine Sense.


    Only Golden Core Cultivators could barely sense it.


    Lin Shiming and the Lin Family members were among them, briefly observing their surroundings before Lin Shiming diverted his attention.


    In his hand, he now held a blood-red Token.


    This Token was engraved with three distinct stripes.


    It was a Three-Stripe Order issued by the Coral Alliance.


    The Three-Stripe was something only Golden Core Late Stage Cultivators could possess, but Lin Shiming was an exception, and at present within the Coral Alliance, only Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person possessed this Token.


    The rest of the Golden Core True Persons had Two-Stripe Orders.


    As for those in the Purple Mansion Late Stage, they held the One-Stripe Order.


    Those below Purple Mansion Late Stage and Foundation Establishment had none.


    Orders were issued through the Three-Stripe Order each time.


    This Three-Stripe Order was not bound by time or space, and could truly be considered an ancient treasure, also reflecting the profound resources of Coral Island.


    Lin Shiming returned to his own room, which was located on the fourth floor.


    This time, the lowest rank of cultivators on the military expedition were at Foundation Establishment, and not a single Qi Cultivator was present.


    Every ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators shared a room.


    Purple Mansion Cultivators were given individual rooms on the second layer, ordinary Golden Core occupied the third layer, and the fourth layer was for Cultivators like Lin Shiming.


    As for the fifth layer, it was exclusively for the Real Monarch of the Coral Alliance.


    Lin Shiming returned to his room; for him, now was the time to examine his gains closely.


    The ancient treasure hat was his first acquisition of ancient treasure.


    He just didn''t know how to break its seals.


    He entered his Cave Heaven, where the Qiu Xue Sword and Ying Fengjian were positioned to the left and right of the hat.


    "Shiming, this ancient treasure of yours appears to be sealed with a Bloodline Seal. You''ll need the fresh blood of a bloodline descendant!" the Qiu Xue Sword spoke.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but feel a headache coming on.


    Where was he supposed to find the fresh blood of a descendant of the Bloodline Sealing Method?


    "However, apart from this method, you can use a very strong Divine Sense to forcefully break it open, but you need to know where the foundation of the sealing technique is. I have the Divine Sense capable of breaking it, but even I can''t find the foundation!" Qiu Xue Sword, upon seeing Lin Shiming''s difficulty, spoke again.


    As it spoke, Ying Fengjian also indicated its helplessness.


    If Qiu Xue Sword couldn''t find the array''s foundation, it was even less likely for him.


    Lin Shiming, however, became interested; others might not locate the array''s foundation, but his system prompt could.


    So, he wasn''t in a hurry.


    He took out the Storage Bag given to him by Red Leaf True Person.


    Upon opening the Storage Bag, inside was a Fifth Rank Spirit-Seeking Plate, and within the Spirit-Seeking Plate, there was a strand of pure Wood Attribute Fifth Rank Spirit Vein.


    Lin Shiming was incredibly surprised at this moment.


    In the Southern Sea, he had seen many pure Water Attribute, Fire Attribute, and Earth Attribute Spirit Veins, but pure Wood Attribute and Metal Attribute Spirit Veins were rare.


    And this one was a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein, no less.


    Red Leaf True Person had indeed given him a generous gift.


    With his cultivation of the Kuimu Sword Canon, refining under a Fifth Rank pure Wood Attribute Spirit Vein would enhance his speed, and many other Spirit Plants would also benefit.


    The foundation of Red Leaf Island was indeed formidable.


    When confirming with Golden Thunder Island, they had already gifted the Lin Family a pure Water Attribute Spirit Vein.


    The reason so many True Persons now sought to open new territories and embark on military expeditions, essentially boiled down to the competition for Spirit Veins.


    At this time, none of the Spirit Veins of Coral Island had reached the Sixth Rank.


    One could only imagine how Coral Island would plunder this time.


    Once enough Spirit Veins were pillaged, they would all be relocated to Coral Island, and the remaining areas, left desolate and sparse in Spiritual Energy, were of no concern to Coral Island.


    After all, it wasn''t feasible to kill all the Cultivators within the Tianzhao Sect''s domain and plunder their Spirit Veins and resources thoroughly while still suppressing the growth of these Cultivators.


    This was precisely the outcome that the various major powers were pleased to see.


    The vast sea was never short of islands and territories, but it lacked Spirit Veins.


    However, the principal Golden Core and Purple Mansion members of Tianzhao Sect could absolutely not be spared.


    Lin Shiming placed the pure Wood Attribute Spirit Vein against a mountain within his Cave Heaven.


    This Spirit Vein, he intended to use exclusively for his own cultivation.


    Wood Attribute Cultivators in the Lin Family were relatively rare to begin with.


    Moreover, a Wood Attribute Spirit Vein could also cultivate Spirit Plants, and currently in his Cave Heaven, there were two Minor Divine Ability fruit trees, a Huayin fruit tree, and a Gold Condensation fruit tree.


    The Purple Sun Tower could supply these Spiritual Medicines with more Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy, allowing them to grow better.


    In the time that followed, Lin Shiming continued to refine his Divine Sense weaponry with the Secret Technique of the Divine Sense Palace.


    After so long a period of Cultivation, the Divine Sense Palace was starting to take shape.


    Moreover, he now felt that comprehension was no longer his limitation, but rather that the quantity of his Divine Sense was somewhat insufficient.


    Time ticked away gradually.


    Yet in the Early Stage, no news came, and with the terrifying speed of the Spirit Boat, even the expansive Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain could be traversed by half.


    Lin Shiming came out of his Cave Heaven to the deck of the Spirit Boat, where not just he was puzzled, but many others were equally befuddled.


    Lin Shiming took a look at the sea and islands below, having familiarized himself with the distribution of Tianzhao Sect''s maritime domain.


    The domains of Tianzhao Sect were divided into seven island groups.


    These seven island groups were then divided into seven gate islands, known as the Seven-Injuries Marine Realm.


    Each of these gate islands bore names reflecting emotions: Heavenly Joy, Heavenly Rage, Heavenly Sorrow, Heavenly Thought, Heavenly Grief, Heavenly Fear, and Heavenly Shock.


    The range of each island group was approximately the size of a Lanling island group.


    Beyond these seven gates, there was the Heavenly Earth Island.


    As a Sect, the three gate masters of Heaven and Earth Gate conducted their cultivation on Heavenly Earth Island.

 Chapter 963 - 588: Variables, Traitor_2

    Heavenly Earth Island is also the largest Spirit Island in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    As for the Taiqian Abyss, it is within the range of the Seven Injuries Archipelago.


    Because it is located in the inner sea, the sea domain controlled by the Tianzhao Sect is not as extensive as that of the Coral Alliance.


    In addition, the resources in the Outer Sea are rich, and the cultivators of the Outer Sea are also slightly stronger than those of the Tianzhao Sect.


    Nevertheless, each sect island possesses vast opportunities, coveted by other major sea domains.


    After all, each of the seven sect islands has Golden Core Cultivators, with at least two or three Fifth Rank Spirit Veins.


    Some, like Red Leaf Island, might even have five or six.


    There are also Fourth Rank Secret Realms, Third Rank Secret Realms, and various treasure resources which are invaluable assets for a force.


    And each sect island''s power also inherits ancient traditions.


    And they each have their respective core secret techniques and inheritances.


    However, Lin Shiming has now discovered that this Spirit Boat not only passed through the sea area near Yuntie Island...


    It also skimmed over the Heavenly Wrath Sea Domain.


    It seems utterly indifferent to each of the archipelagos.


    Heading straight for Heavenly Earth Island.


    But even so, the distance to Heavenly Earth Island is still extremely far.


    Without a Transmission Formation, that is just the way it is on the sea.


    At this moment, the token suddenly starts flickering.


    Upon this command, everyone holding a two-stripe or three-stripe token heads towards the fifth floor of the Spirit Boat.


    Unexpectedly to everyone, the fifth floor is a hall.


    In front of the hall is the damaged Spiritual Treasure, Blood Sky Raider.


    The astonishing roar is still vivid in the mind.


    People walked past the raider, feeling an inexplicable Spirit Might.


    Inside the hall, Xue Shan True Monarch frowned deeply, looking at the Spirit Map.


    When everyone arrived.


    He spoke: "I know what you want, We will get three out of the Seven Injuries Archipelago for the Coral Alliance during the time, and two of them will be given to you, Coral Island won''t claim any!" As soon as Xue Shan True Monarch spoke, he blocked any intention everyone might have had.


    The benefits a group of islands could share were enough for four or five inner island powers to divide.


    With the existence of transmission formations and being located in the inner sea without the danger of beast tides, many families are still willing to strategize their territories behind the scenes.


    You see, according to ancient texts, the Coral Sea Domain and the Chi Lan Sea Domain have been countless times submerged by beast tides and then recaptured by later generations of cultivators.


    With such words from Xue Shan True Monarch, many Golden Core True Persons are somewhat tempted, even Lin Shiming is somewhat moved.


    But he knows, the bigger the benefit, the greater the risk.


    "We''ve received information that the enemy is on Heavenly Earth Island, but on Heavenly Earth Island, there might be Nascent Soul Cultivators guarding, and the Spirit Veins and formations of the island have been upgraded to Sixth Rank, we will arrange a transmission formation to send you to Heavenly Earth Island!"


    At these words, everyone was somewhat shocked.


    This plan was beyond their expectations.


    In their expectations, this time they just needed to follow and pick up treasures.


    After all, there are four Nascent Soul Cultivators on their side.


    And clearly, the Tianzhao Sect hasn''t broken through to Nascent Soul.


    Otherwise, powers like Nine Dragon Island and Blood Cultivation Sect would immediately give up their campaigns.


    An assisting Nascent Soul is just an assistant, he has formations to resist against one or two.


    Without formations, they would automatically retreat.


    No need to be wary.


    Therefore, this campaign will not stop.


    But after all, they have to pass through formations, confronting all the Golden Cores of the Tianzhao Sect.


    During their journey, Xue Shan True Monarch did not visit those archipelagos, maybe there is not a single Golden Core Cultivator on those islands now.


    But the Spirit Veins and treasures are there, just waiting for them to seize them.


    They now need to buy time.


    In the view of the Tianzhao Sect, as long as the Heavenly Gate''s sect leader can breakthrough, anything is worth it.


    A few treasures, they simply don''t care.


    So, on Heavenly Earth Island, there are definitely more than twenty Golden Core Cultivators.


    There are certainly many in their late Golden Core stage.


    The Tianzhao Sect is a sect, its bindings are much larger compared to the Coral Alliance.


    Plus, there''s also the mysterious and unfathomable Dimen''s sect leader.


    This is what they are worried about.


    "Don''t worry, our five Nascent Souls, against a Sixth Rank formation and a fellow daoist, as long as there''s any opportunity, we can break the formation!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke.


    The five True Monarchs clearly included Lin Shiming''s Qiu Xue Sword in their count.


    But for everyone else, it still seemed somewhat risky.


    However, considering the momentum of Xue Shan True Monarch and that roar outside.


    We certainly cannot leave it at that.


    "You only need to destroy the base of the formation inside as much as possible!" Xue Shan True Monarch added again.


    "Besides you, Nine Dragon Island and other island sects will also send Golden Core Cultivators!"


    "It''s not just you; this time, our strength is about four to five times that of the opponent!" Nine Dragon Island spoke.


    With these words, they were reassured.


    Everyone nodded, just when they thought this was the end.


    Xue Shan True Monarch took out a Spirit Talisman.


    "Of course, before going to Heavenly Earth Island, this Jade Talisman must be dealt with!" Xue Shan True Monarch said.


    As soon as he spoke, everyone''s expression tightened, even Lin Shiming''s face changed drastically.


    This Jade Talisman was clearly for sending messages.


    This implies there is a traitor within the Coral Alliance.


    Ordinary traitors naturally wouldn''t concern Xue Shan True Monarch; presenting it now also indicates that among the True Persons involved, there is a Golden Core Cultivator who is a traitor.


    But at this moment, everyone felt somewhat surreal.


    After all, all True Persons here have sworn Heavenly Dao oaths, all recently promoted, with none being former True Persons.


    Soon, Lin Shiming thought of something, Purple Illusion Sky Smoke Wine.


    This Spiritual Wine can block Heavenly Dao oaths; perhaps it can block former ones too.


    But it is infested with insects and gu from the Tianzhao Sect.


    Only by burning with at least Fourth Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Fire can the effect be removed.


    So, that True Person clearly fell for the tricks of the Dimen Sect Master.


    "This Jade Talisman is for transmitting messages; everyone, come claim it, I know Heavenly Dao oaths may not work on you, so let''s try the Fifth Rank Late Stage Soul Locking Great Formation!" Xue Shan True Monarch said.


    He also took out a gateway, which was an empty door frame.


    The frame was covered with Spirit Patterns and various odd and profound stones.


    Xue Shan True Monarch spoke, and a line of cultivators queued up towards the gateway.


    The first to go was Profound Mechanism True Person, who appeared very composed.


    Apparently not worried in the slightest,


    Next was Red Leaf True Person, it was Lin Shiming.


    Passing through the gateway, he only felt a massive Divine Sense passing through his body.


    This feeling was the same as when he was in the Eastern Domain, being probed by Shen Ji True Person.


    And at this moment, the nodes of stars in his body also shone to their utmost.


    Previously probed by Shen Ji True Person for his cultivation path and Spiritual Energy, this time he would not repeat the same mistake.


    Although it was claimed to be a check for traitors, who could expect if Xue Shan True Monarch had multiple goals?


    Lin Shiming walked through calmly.


    Xue Shan True Monarch said nothing, continuing to watch the next person.


    After Lin Shiming, it was Zhao Yulin, she passed without any issue.


    After Zhao Yulin, it was Yuntie True Person.


    Everyone was thoroughly focused.


    Yuntie True Person, being the closest island master to Tianzhao Sect, had the greatest chance of being compromised.


    So even though they saw Yuntie True Person confident,


    Everyone thought as much.


    But clearly, Yuntie True Person was not the one; the gateway remained tranquil.


    It wasn''t until Yutong True Person, who suddenly radiated a bright red glow.


    Countless gu and Spiritual Eggs in Yutong True Person''s mind magnified, dazzling Spirit Light emerged.


    And Xue Shan True Monarch immediately raised his hand.


    At that moment, a streak of blood light swept across, and Yutong True Person fell dead instantly.


    Even his Golden Core did not escape.


    Xue Shan True Monarch wiped his hands, and took away Yutong True Person''s corpse.


    "Next, continue!"


    This scene made everyone feel panic.


    Only then did they remember they were facing True Monarchs, Nascent Soul Cultivators.


    And they, merely True Persons.


    Could not even withstand a single move.


    Even Yutong True Person didn''t have a chance to react.


    But fortunately, subsequently, no new cultivators controlled by insect gu appeared.


    The cultivators deceived by the Dimen Sect Master were after all few.


    Each True Person involved had vast experiences and wouldn''t easily trust others.


    "Alright, everyone get ready, the Transmission Formation will soon be set up!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke, revealing yet another astonishing piece of news!

 Chapter 964 - 590: The First Battle on the Island

    As soon as the meeting concluded, the speed of the Spirit Boat almost doubled.


    It tore through the clouds and soared into the sky.


    The cultivators watching on the deck all felt a bout of dizziness.


    The speed was simply too fast.


    After about fifteen minutes, the Spirit Boat began to descend, with an island appearing below.


    This island, when viewed from above, seemed to have nothing out of the ordinary, and even appeared somewhat plain.


    However, when Lin Shiming and the others extended their Divine Senses to inspect it, they found the island was already engraved with various Spirit Patterns.


    These Spirit Patterns were somewhat similar to a Transmission Formation but much more complex and nearly covered the entire island.


    "Is this a one-time Transport Spirit Formation?" Lin Shiming was somewhat astonished.


    "To transport the entire Spirit Boat?"


    Indeed, a huge number of Superior Spirit Stones were arranged on the island, which then immediately lit up.


    It seemed that they would be transported directly without the need for preparation.


    "This kind of Transmission Formation is called a One-Time Transport Spirit Formation!"


    "Once transported, the entire island would be unable to withstand the strain and turn to dust!" explained Red Leaf True Person, seemingly noticing Lin Shiming''s confusion.


    As expected, to no one''s surprise, the island was completely lit up.


    Subsequently, it began to weave together a mass of white light.


    Correspondingly, the Spirit Boat they were on shone with a brilliant Spirit Light.


    This dazzling Spirit Light was somewhat similar to a Transmission Order, shielding the Spirit Boat from being crushed by the void storms.


    While Lin Shiming was observing, Lin Zelu next to him was completely entranced.


    These kinds of Spirit Boats and Secret Techniques were new to him.


    If he could master this technique, it would greatly benefit the Lin Family in future relocations of mortals and their return to their homeland.


    "This Secret Technique, if Junior Brother Lin desires it, I have it here!" Red Leaf True Person thought for a moment, seemed to realize something, and directly took out a Jade Slip.


    Previously, she thought the Lin Family had it, given that the Lin Family had migrated many mortals from the Eastern Domain.


    It now seemed that the Lin Family had used other methods.


    Next, they would rely on Lin Shiming to leave a glimmer of hope in the Eastern Domain.


    There was of course no need for her to hold back the Jade Slip.


    "Thank you, Senior Sister!" Lin Shiming nodded and unceremoniously accepted the Jade Slip.


    Finally, with intense Spirit Light descending, the Spirit Boat finally reached the airspace above the island.


    Following this, Lin Shiming felt dizzy once again.


    This time, after some time had passed within the Transmission Formation, and once they could see again, the white light faded and the crowd found themselves at the bottom of the sea.


    The Spirit Boat had turned into a huge Spirit Shield, preventing seawater from entering.


    "Everyone, get ready. We are about to approach Heavenly Earth Island!" declared Xue Shan True Monarch.


    Simultaneously, the Spiritual Treasure Blood Sky Raider above the Spirit Boat sounded once again.


    Boom!


    This sound, like the clash of iron cavalry, stirred the hearts of the cultivators.


    The Spirit Boat rose, much like a Kunpeng, gradually ascending.


    Finally, it broke through the sea surface, akin to a Kunpeng spreading its wings, soaring straight to the heavens.


    Countless clouds came into view.


    Arriving here, more Formations started appearing nearby.


    This was obviously a trap designed by Heaven and Earth Gate.


    But with this Spirit Boat, there was hardly any need to worry.


    The speed of the Spirit Boat had reached its peak.


    A series of small archipelagos gradually appeared at the edge of the sea.


    They were a vast archipelago.


    These islands were like mountains, one larger than the next.


    And at the very center of the islands was an even taller one; its peaks seemingly piercing into the heavens.


    At a glance, one felt a sense of boundlessness.


    "Heavenly Earth Island!" A thought flashed through everyone''s mind.


    Among the six great sea domains, only six islands stood so towering.


    Any other power, even if they found such imposing islands, would have cut down the peaks to reduce their height.


    As the Spirit Boat ascended, Heavenly Earth Island clearly had a response ready.


    Lin Shiming also saw the Dimen Sect Master again.


    At the high altitudes above Heavenly Earth Island, he held several Formation Flags.


    Beneath his feet was an exquisitely mysterious gate.


    Lin Shiming was not unfamiliar with this; he had seen Renmen on Coral Island, but compared to Renmen, Dimen was more complicated.


    The gate was covered with dense Spirit Patterns, emitting a resplendent Spirit Light.


    And it seemed ready to open at any moment.


    It was obvious that Tianzhao Sect had been waiting for a long time, prepared in the air, regardless of when Xue Shan True Monarch would arrive.


    Or to put it another way, no matter when the True Monarch came, they would be waiting here.


    Aside from the Dimen Sect Master, several True Persons were positioned on Heavenly Earth Island, according to specific coordinates.


    As for the other sub-islands and archipelagos, they didn''t care at all.


    Even if the Coral Alliance was destroyed, or they were all killed, they were indifferent.


    For them, if these mortals or those in Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment could delay by just a few seconds, it would be a victory and serve their purpose.


    If the Coral Alliance really acted that way, they might not only fail to stop the Heavenly Gate Sect Master from breaking through but might also provoke the enmity of the entire Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    "Have the various major families launch attacks against the sub-islands!"


    "There''s no need to break through; just keeping them too busy to interfere with us will suffice!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke.


    Although they would not exert full strength to take over sub-islands.


    That was not feasible either.


    Otherwise, if they let a fraction of the force accumulate on the sub-islands and they launched a surprise attack later, it would result in a loss out of proportion to the gain.


    "Seventh Uncle, we''ve received the order to take over the sub-island!" Just then, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng both emerged.


    Within their one-pattern tokens, orders had already appeared.


    The Lin Family''s Purple Mansion was to take over a slightly outer sub-island.

 Chapter 965 - 590: The First Battle on the Island_2

    Such sub-islands might be slightly less dangerous.


    As long as this sub-island is suppressed and no cultivators emerge, that will do.


    "You all go, remember to be careful, and do not skimp on the use of Mirror-breaking Talismans!"


    "At the critical moment, all Spirit Beasts, all Spirit Boats can be destroyed; as long as you are safe, that''s what matters."


    Lin Shiming still admonished.


    This time, he seemed to sense an unusual scent in the air.


    The forthcoming battle might not go as smoothly as imagined.


    Otherwise, the Dimen Sect''s Master wouldn''t have appeared so ostentatiously in the formation.


    At least twenty True Persons have already been waiting inside the formation.


    And to know, the Tianzhao Sect had already suffered significant True Person losses previously.


    The presence of so many True Persons not only showcases the strength of the Tianzhao Sect, but it also indicates that they have gathered all their forces on Heavenly Illumination Island.


    Otherwise, such a large power would not be concentrated here.


    The clamor once again rose at this moment.


    It struck the hearts of the people like the drumbeat of war.


    A stern killing intent permeated the air.


    Lin Zecheng, Lin Zekong, and others also descended from their island, heading towards their respective sub-islands.


    Each of these sub-islands is protected by a Fifth Rank Array, requiring the cultivators to grind away slowly.


    Lin Shiming had given Lin Zekong a late-stage Fifth Rank Spirit Puppet, which he should know how to handle.


    He was slightly more at ease then.


    Lin Shiming also felt a system prompt.


    But there was no movement from the system prompt yet.


    This was another point of reassurance for Lin Shiming.


    The Spirit Boat moved forward again, passing several sub-islands, and now, finally arrived in front of Heavenly Earth Island.


    Because each major sub-island had defenses.


    So at this moment, everyone felt little fear.


    Though there were Sixth Rank Formations, Nascent Soul Cultivators were more.


    The strongest force of the opposition, the Heavenly Gate Sect Master, was still breaking through.


    "Everyone else get ready to break the formation!" Xue Shan True Monarch commanded.


    All True Persons dispersed in all directions.


    In their hands, they held several Boundary-breaking Talismans and Formation-breaking Talismans.


    The former was for passing through formations, while the latter was for destroying them.


    However, faced with a Sixth Rank Formation, the effect of the Formation-breaking Talismans might be minuscule.


    The best strategy was still to use the Formation-breaking Talismans to initiate ripples in the formation, then use the Boundary-breaking Talismans to penetrate inside.


    Whether it was about destroying the base of the formation or causing a commotion to affect the Heavenly Gate Sect Master''s breakthrough, it would be a great merit.


    Even snatching treasures on the Heaven and Earth Gate could be an option.


    Lin Shiming was also amidst the crowd; this time, he stayed relatively close to Zhao Yulin.


    Last time he did not have the opportunity to save her; now, he could protect her.


    Zhao Yulin was at the Golden Core Early Stage, also having broken through not long ago, and was far behind compared to him.


    Even though she also possessed a body of Xuan Han (Mysterious Cold).


    However, Zhao Yulin clearly had no such concerns and did not appreciate his approach.


    Lin Shiming did not mind.


    In essence, if the danger was great enough, he would also flee.


    This was his principle.


    The Sixth Rank Array''s Spirit Might was immense, covering the entire island, and on the horizon and in the sea, Spirit Patterns spread like water.


    Dense, profound, and terrifying!


    Xue Shan True Monarch didn''t immediately activate the Blood Sky Raider Spiritual Treasure or the various sail arrays on the Fifth Rank Formation.


    Instead, he took out a Renmen Gate.


    Upon this gate being revealed, the Dimen Sect Master''s expression instantly changed.


    And then, Xue Shan True Monarch struck a Spirit Art!


    Boom!


    It hit the gate.


    The Ren Gate on the gate burst into a dazzling Spirit Light.


    At the same time, a terrifying sound of Heavenly Dao emerged.


    Even Lin Shiming was profoundly moved by this.


    This ripple quickly swept across the Sixth Rank Formation, reaching the Dimen Sect Master.


    Simultaneously, the gate of the Dimen Sect Master began to flicker.


    The next moment, it wasn''t flickering on top of Heavenly Earth Island.


    Instead, it appeared on a neighboring sub-island.


    The Dimen Sect Master hid within the sub-island.


    But quickly, the figure within the sub-island dimmed, and another figure reappeared on Heavenly Earth Island; this figure was indeed the true Dimen Sect Master.


    The expression on the opposition''s face had a sullen look, clearly not expecting Xue Shan True Monarch to have this trick up his sleeve.


    But that wasn''t all; the ripple crossed over to the mountain peak of Heavenly Earth Island.


    Suddenly, another gate materialized above the peak.


    This gate looked like the doors to the heavens themselves, instilling an irresistible urge for reverential worship and an overwhelming presence that could not be looked upon directly.


    The Spirit Patterns upon it were even more intricate.


    At the same time, suddenly, the gate showed a vision within once again.


    Inside, a figure could be seen, his eyes tightly shut at the moment.


    And on his body, an endless, brilliant halo had appeared.


    This halo extended dozens of yards, and a terrifying vortex of Spiritual Energy swirled around like a tornado, its dreadfulness peaking.


    The image ultimately froze on the man''s face, which seemed to be in the throes of confronting his Heart Demon¡ªhis expression was a vivid mix of emotions.


    One moment joy, the next anger, then worry!


    The changes were endless!


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming also felt a sense of trance.


    Is this what it''s like for a Nascent Soul Cultivator to make a breakthrough?


    And seeing this gate, with the silhouette of the Tianzhao Sect''s Sect Master.


    "Fellow Daoists of the Blood Cultivation Sect, what is the meaning of this?" The Master of the Dimen Sect stepped forward.


    "If you desire treasures, we can provide them!"


    "We can offer Spirit Veins too, but to rob us so brazenly?"


    The Master of the Dimen Sect kept speaking.


    In his eyes, there was anger but also an apparent hope that Xue Shan True Monarch''s attack would be late; after all, a moment''s delay could mean a successful breakthrough.


    If successful, the crisis of the Tianzhao Sect would be entirely averted.


    On the contrary, it would usher an era of even more vigorous growth.


    Xue Shan True Monarch finally spoke:


    "Dimen Sect Master, there''s no need for your petty schemes, I will not allow you to buy time. When you Tianzhao Sect obstructed my path in the past, you should have foreseen today''s retribution!"


    "Of course, today if you succeed, I, Zhao, will apologize; if not, it indicates that it''s the will of heaven, you''ve brought this upon yourself!"


    "Heaven wants to obliterate your Tianzhao Sect!"


    Just then, three gigantic Spirit Boats were seen rushing from the distance.


    These three Spirit Boats were easy to recognize, one of which was being pulled by numerous Flood Dragons, echoing the scene of the ''Nine Dragons Chariot''.


    Only this time, what they pulled was a Spirit Boat, clearly indicating that Nine Dragon True Monarch and the forces of Nine Dragon Island had come.


    The number of True Persons upon Nine Dragon True Monarch''s island was sizeable, and the terrifying part was their possession of numerous Flood Dragons.


    This is why other forces did not dare to offend them fiercely.


    Behind Nine Dragon True Monarch, there were two other enormous Spirit Boats.


    One of them shone with a golden light, from which three thousand shramanas were chanting sutras together, and the golden runes congealed into a breathtaking scroll.


    Within the scroll, a sacred monk wearing a kasaya was also chanting.


    This saintly monk bore the likeness of Golden Light True Buddha.


    Apart from Myriad Buddhas Island, the Spirit Boat and the flag of the Blood Cultivation Sect were far more domineering, and dripping with blood.


    Countless demonic banners spread out above the Spirit Boat, emitting a terrifying power.


    Demonic heads adorned the banners.


    It left an impression similar to that of the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    The only difference was the added presence of many heterodox cultivators.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming also noticed many Corpse Cultivators.


    The Blood Cultivation Sect was essentially a collective Sect of blood, demon, corpse, and nefarious cultivators.


    The mere reputation was enough to strike terror.


    And this time, Golden Core True Persons who arrived numbered no less than twenty!


    Four True Monarchs, over eighty Golden Cores.


    Such power was an unstoppable force anywhere!


    Lin Shiming was utterly shocked at this moment.


    The three major forces were apparently serious this time.


    The Master of the Dimen Sect''s face was the palest; so many True Persons and True Monarchs.


    And at that moment, in Xue Shan True Monarch''s hands, the Blood Sky Raider appeared.


    And with a clang, it was struck!


    This sound was different from before.


    It transformed into a golden sound wave, charging towards the Sixth Rank Array!


    Boom!


    The Sixth Rank Spirit Shield collided with the golden sound wave, producing a blinding display of Spirit Might, causing the entire island to shake and tsunamis to frequently occur.


    The scene was terrifying!


    Apart from Xue Shan True Monarch, the other three True Monarchs had made their moves as well.


    Nine Dragon True Monarch produced a Nine Dragon Ring Spiritual Treasure.


    Golden Light True Buddha took out a string of seven-colored Buddha Beads Spiritual Treasure.


    And Xue Sha True Monarch on the side produced a Xue Sha Blade Spiritual Treasure!


    All of the Spiritual Treasures exuded an enormous aura, striking towards Heavenly Earth Island!


    In an instant, a huge wave of terror was formed.


    At this moment, however, an alert sounded in Lin Shiming''s mind.


    "Please be cautious of the stealth attack from the Taiqian Shark Demon Emperor!"


    Just as the alert rang out, Lin Shiming''s eyes snapped open, and a chill ran down his back!

 Chapter 966 - 591: Granny Qingyu, Taiqian Shark Emperor

    The sixth-rank grand formation emitted a terrifying spirit light, as four True Monarchs took turns bombarding the sixth-rank formation with their Spiritual Treasures.


    The kind of apocalyptic suffocation was circulating throughout the entire sea area.


    What made everyone take notice was, this sixth-rank formation not only covered Heavenly Earth Island, it actually connected to the sea, covering a vast distance.


    One could see the Spirit Shield like a gigantic Spirit Net, draped over Heavenly Earth Island and the seas around the nearby islands. Therefore, each attack from the four True Monarchs flowed into the seabed and the entire Heavenly Earth Island.


    Above the island, large boxes of Superior Grade Spirit Stones were thrown onto each of the main array foundations.


    With each circulation of spirit light, numerous Spirit Stones turned to dust and dissipated in the air.


    Among the four True Monarchs, Xue Shan True Monarch with his Blood Sky Raider and the Blood Cultivation Sect''s Xue Sha Blade were the most fearsome.


    Every attack on the Spirit Shield made the more than twenty True People inside unable to resist groaning.


    There was a small gasp, as if they swallowed fresh blood.


    Clearly, these True People, whilst operating the sixth-rank formation, still somewhat lacked the capacity to withstand attacks from Nascent Soul Cultivators, let alone the present attack from four Nascent Soul True Monarchs.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming felt absolutely nothing towards the skyful of spirit light and the myriad of Spiritual Treasures.


    His nerves were on edge as he looked around, because he felt that the Taiqian Demon Emperor could be lurking anywhere.


    He knew his matter of being a Nascent Soul Spirit Cultivator should''ve been notified to Heavenly Earth Island; therefore, represents the covert Nascent Soul Demon Emperor, just waiting for him to reveal a flaw, ready to strike him dead.


    This would reduce one True Monarch threat to Heavenly Earth Island.


    That is also why Xue Shan True Monarch did not have him wield the Qiu Xue Sword.


    Because he knew that Lin Shiming couldn''t wait much longer before he would use it himself.


    Moreover, before the battle, he had reminded Lin Shiming, even if something went wrong and he didn''t die, Lin Shiming couldn''t blame him.


    At that time, it could only be said that Lin Shiming was not careful.


    Furthermore, Xue Shan True Monarch in doing so, might very well be employing fishing tactics.


    To bait one or two Demon Emperors, in order to besiege them.


    Because of this, Lin Shiming became even more cautious.


    He had already communicated with the Qiu Xue Sword, preparing to summon it at any time, and he had already activated his Sword Storing Book and Minor Divine Ability.


    Ensuring his own safety at all times.


    The only point he was unclear about was when exactly the Taiqian Shark clan had begun cooperating with the Tianzhao Sect.


    Whereas previously the Taiqian Shark clan were quiet and unnoticeable, this time they had emerged from seclusion.


    As time progressed, the sixth-rank Spirit Shield started to show signs of strain, and a crowd of True People also began to act.


    They each unleashed formation-breaking techniques.


    These Formation-breaking Talismans were of fourth and fifth rank, and when cast against the sixth-rank grand formation, they only stirred some ripples.


    They couldn''t shake the foundation of the Spirit Formation at all.


    Of course, at this time, no True Person dared to use the Boundary-breaking Talisman to enter the formation.


    After all, there were surely contingencies within the Heavenly Earth Island at this moment.


    Everyone was waiting.


    Combat noises were now coming from the subsidiary islands, where battles also erupted.


    Just as previously expected, these subsidiary islands were all populated by Purple Mansion Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    There were no True People; Lin Shiming estimated that those True People were also within the Heavenly Earth Island.


    Without Nascent Soul Cultivators present, a large number of True People would definitely be needed to maintain the sixth-rank formation.


    Moreover, due to the attacks from the four True Monarchs, those True People occasionally had to spit blood and retreat, replaced by new Golden Core True People.


    The attacks on the main island were still manageable, but on the various subsidiary islands, the conflict had become intensely fierce.


    There was also the opportunity for plunder on the subsidiary islands.


    For these Purple Mansion Cultivators, it was just perfect; the only difficult part was breaking through the fifth-rank formations on the subsidiary islands.


    The Lin Family was also embroiled in fierce combat.


    Lin Zekong handled three mid-Fourth Rank Wooden Marionettes, while Lin Zecheng was even more formidable, commandeering three large Spirit Puppets, one of which was a Late Stage Purple Mansion Spirit Puppet!


    Together, they were comparable to eight Purple Mansion Cultivators; coupled with the Lin Family''s Sword Cultivators and Talisman Cultivators,


    Their island also began to shake swiftly.


    Even compared to the other subsidiary islands, theirs showed more signs of breakthrough.


    Over the years, the Lin Family''s Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion Cultivators had experienced many beast tides, and their strength was exceptionally good.


    But at this moment, Lin Shiming began to worry a bit because the current Lin Family seemed to stick out too conspicuously.


    He predicted that the enemy''s subsidiary islands could teleport.


    There was a chance they could suffer a great loss!


    "Zekong, Zecheng, be careful!" Lin Shiming promptly cautioned.


    Although the two had undergone training before, after all, they had never faced such top-notch forces.


    "Uncle Seven, we received the order!" Lin Zekong seemed hesitant.


    He pointed to the Token in his hand but did not look towards Lin Shiming.


    He was aware that right now, Xue Shan True Monarch was watching.


    And upon seeing this scene, Lin Shiming''s eyes narrowed.


    He knew he had been calculated.


    This Xue Shan True Monarch, was using him as bait.


    He initially thought Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng had acted impulsively.


    Now it seems, Xue Shan True Monarch had given orders to Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng individually using the Token.


    "Continue with the standoff, but be ready to withdraw at any moment, there''s grave danger on your end!" Lin Shiming said.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Zekong''s expression also became much more solemn, far more mature than the disapproving youth at the grand competition years ago.


    After sending a message to Lin Zekong,


    Lin Shiming then communicated with Lin Shilei, Lei Xuan, and Lin Shiyuan.


    From their responses, he also learned that the commands they received were similarly as such.


    Furthermore, they mentioned that indeed the island seemed to be somewhat neglected in defense.


    "Be careful!"


    At that moment, Lin Zekong roared loudly.


    The next moment, a great burst of spirit light appeared on their subsidiary island, revealing the arrival of a True Person.


    Their purpose was to head straight for Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.


    Clearly, he had discerned the unusual identities of Lin Shiming and the others.

 Chapter 967 - 591: Granny Qingyu, Taiqian Shark Emperor_2

    Almost simultaneously with the appearance of the True Person, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng released all the Spirit Beasts of the Lin Family.


    These Spirit Beasts had all ingested Blood Bursting Pills and activated their Spirit Controlling Seals, madly charging towards the True Person!


    However, evidently, the gap between the Golden Core and Purple Mansion couldn''t be bridged merely by a few Great Demons and elixirs.


    All that could be seen was Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng suffering a massive defeat, forced to flee.


    Lin Shiming''s mind was also drawn, and he couldn''t help but look over.


    At this moment, from the sea suddenly surged forth billows of white mist.


    The speed of the mist was so fast, it was as if it had been there all along.


    In an instant, Divine Sense and Spirit Might were both exerted upon Lin Shiming.


    This feeling was akin to his Sword Domain, except his Sword Domain had not yet formed, while the other''s Mist Domain was already in existence.


    "The Taiqian Shark Demon Emperor!" Lin Shiming''s heart tightened.


    At the same time, he too promptly employed a Minor Divine Ability, the Immortal Wood Shadow.


    A dazzling white Sword Light headed straight for him.


    Atop this sword strike, it seemed as if a sea of mist was dispersing.


    Light as a feather, appearing extremely slow yet in reality, astoundingly fast.


    In the Cave Heaven space of Lin Shiming, he had barely managed to open it when he saw a strike of crimson Blood Light slashing from within.


    Sword Lake and Sword Sea collided fiercely.


    In this moment, everyone felt as if they were immersed in a world of two sword paths, one red and one blue.


    The terrifying Spirit Might made all True Persons present take notice.


    In the end, the two Sword Lights were evenly matched, and the circulating Sword Intent around them proved how horrifying the previous strike had been.


    The Spirit Light took a long time to dissipate, also revealing two figures.


    One of the figures was incomparably crimson¡ªit was the Qiu Xue Sword.


    The other figure appeared to be a middle-aged man with demonic fins on his head; upon seeing the Qiu Xue Sword, there was also a hint of fear in its eyes, and then it tentatively asked:


    "Are you from the Earth Spirit Realm?" The Taiqian Shark Demon Emperor was clearly perplexed.


    The phrase ''Earth Spirit Realm'' also seemed very unfamiliar.


    Lin Shiming''s heart understood immediately; this Tai Qian Shark clan really didn''t belong to this realm, otherwise, it wouldn''t have thought that the Qiu Xue Sword was not from this realm and mentioned the realm where the Spirit Cultivation race resided.


    Through ancient texts and the Taiyi Grass Sword, Lin Shiming knew that the number of worlds, large and small, was countless.


    Some are directly under the Cultivation World, where cultivators in the Late Nascent Soul Stage can fly to the Spirit Realm.


    Whereas for realms like the Eastern Domain and Southern Sea, one needs to be at the Divinity Transformation late stage.


    It''s not that this realm is larger or has more resources.


    Quite the contrary, because the Dongyu Realm has fewer resources and fewer ascended cultivators, the Spirit Realm scarcely pays attention to such a realm and is even less likely to lower an Ascension Array.


    Not to mention that the Dongyu Realm has been sealed for too long due to an Innate Spiritual Treasure.


    Even the great beings of the Spirit Realm can''t enter.


    This realm has been without ascending cultivators for tens of thousands of years.


    This has led to a rarity of Sixth-Order Magical Treasures seen here.


    "So it''s the Taiqian Shark Emperor from the Taiqian Realm!" Qiu Xue Sword spoke out.


    But without any further conversation, the Qiu Xue Sword continued to burst forth with crimson Sword Qi, and the Tai Qian Shark Demon Emperor too, erupted with Taiqian Sword Qi!


    "I''ve heard that the skin of the Taiqian Clan is a treasured material for refining high-grade Spirit Talismans; this humble monk wishes to try making a Buddha Scroll!" The Golden Light True Buddha appeared nearby, seemingly out of nowhere.


    Apart from the Golden Light True Buddha, only Xue Shan True Monarch remained in the assault on the Sixth-Order Formation; the others had already surrounded the Taiqian Shark Demon Emperor.


    Four True Monarchs slaying the Taiqian Shark Demon Emperor!


    This task naturally had its difficulties but succeeding would reap numerous benefits from the various Demon Cores, not to mention the immeasurable value of the Taiqian Shark''s skin!


    Moreover, Lin Shiming was worried about the Tai Qian Shark clan.


    How could they not be worried.


    If these foreign cultivators truly invaded the Southern Sea, then, at that time, all five major powers would suffer misfortune.


    This was another reason for their determination to attack the Tianzhao Sect.


    Now they let Xue Shan True Monarch alone hold off the Sixth-Order Array, while the remaining cultivators killed the Taiqian Shark Demon King.


    This calculation was excellent; Lin Shiming, if not for being used as bait himself, would consider this plan flawless.


    But now, he could hardly feel jubilant.


    Moreover, just at this moment, a change occurred again; in the distance within the Array, an old crone in blue robes slowly walked out.


    The old crone was dressed in a blue floral robe, her face covered with the traces of time, yet her eyes were exceptionally bright.


    With every step she took, it seemed as if blue Spirit Flowers bloomed in her wake.


    At the same time, behind her followed precisely ten female cultivators in the same kind of robes.


    These female cultivators had only one distinguishing feature: they were all True Persons.


    And all of them were Wood Attribute True Persons.


    "Granny Qingyu?" Xue Shan True Monarch''s face darkened.


    Lin Shiming also found this unexpected, and only after Xue Shan True Monarch''s remark did he recall a cultivator from his memory.


    Granny Qingyu''s reputation was not a small one, not just in the Southern Sea, but also in Nan Jiang.


    Just like the Eastern Domain is to the Eastern Sea, the Southern Sea also has a side close to the mainland, where the cultivation world is known as the Nan Jiang Cultivation World.


    Granny Qingyu happens to be the renowned Supreme Elder of the Qinghua Sect in that region.


    Now it seemed, she too had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.


    And she was invited by the Tianzhao Sect.


    No wonder the Sect Master of Tianzhao Sect was confident about making a breakthrough directly above the Tianzhao Sect.


    With two True Monarchs and a Sixth-Order Array to hold off five or six True Monarchs, it''s naturally not a problem!


    You should know, there''s a Sixth-Order Spirit Vein on Heavenly Earth Island.


    Plus their unrestrained use of Spirit Stones, it''s possible for a counterattack once the five great True Monarchs are running low on True Yuan!


    All at once, the situation began to look different.


    Moreover, for the several True Monarchs, they also have to consider the possibility of the Tianzhao Sect Master''s breakthrough.


    With Granny Qingyu taking over, the Sixth-Order Array also began to evolve, not only presenting the previously seen Spirit Shield but now also two Qinghua wood demons.


    Each wood demon condensed a terrifying Qinghua Spirit Light.


    Fluttering in the air, in the next moment, it transformed into a giant flower, biting towards Xue Shan True Monarch!


    Besides this, Granny Qingyu also pulled out a green qin.


    One hand controlled the Array, and the other hand played the qin.


    This qin was clearly a damaged Spiritual Treasure, under the empowerment of the Spirit Controlling Seal, it was not weaker than that Blood Sky Raider.


    With this change of events, Xue Shan True Monarch became perilously endangered.


    Granny Qingyu seemed to have the legacy of the Sixth-Order, whether it was controlling a Sixth-Order Array or using a Spiritual Treasure, she was much more at ease than Xue Shan True Monarch.


    On the other side, Nine Dragon True Monarch had no choice but to stand out and shield Xue Shan True Monarch.


    Otherwise, a single person absolutely could not face the current Granny Qingyu alone.


    Apart from Granny Qingyu, the battle against the Taiqian Shark Emperor did not look optimistic either.


    The latter dove into the sea and was much stronger than the other True Monarchs.


    It stirred up storms and possessed unparalleled Sword Intent!


    Only the Qiu Xue Sword could withstand a bit!


    Xue Sha Demon Lord and Golden Light True Buddha turned out to be on the back foot.


    "All True Persons, enter Heavenly Earth Island without hesitation and destroy the Array!"


    "And attack the so-called Heavenly Gate nodes!" Xue Shan True Monarch shouted directly.


    This time, he didn''t use Divine Sense to transmit his voice, he spoke to everyone.


    It was both an order and the only hope for everyone.


    Otherwise, if defeated, the True Monarchs could take their cultivators and leave calmly.


    But those Golden Core subordinates would not be so safe.


    They would surely face retaliation.


    "Go!" The first to use a Boundary-breaking Talisman was Chi Shan True Person, as a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator of Coral Island, she was the first to rush out.


    The Boundary-breaking Talisman proved to be formidable.


    Unless the Sixth-Order Array rejected it forcefully.


    But now the Sixth-Order Array was being held back by both Nine Dragon True Monarch and Xue Shan True Monarch.


    As Chi Shan True Person entered, another five or six True Persons proceeded as well, all from Coral Island.


    In that moment, Fengxing True Person and Lanfeng True Person from Dragon Island also used their Boundary-breaking Talismans.


    They unleashed a dozen seals with their Boundary-breaking Talismans.


    Besides Dragon Island, Myriad Buddhas Island and Blood Cultivation Sect did the same.


    Everyone knew that as long as the Sect Master of Tianzhao Sect perished, the Taiqian Shark Emperor would retreat.


    Granny Qingyu would retreat as well.


    After all, a force without a True Monarch doesn''t need protection!


    In fact, it was very possible they would join hands to share the spoils.


    Apart from the major forces, upon witnessing that Lin Zekong and company were unharmed, Lin Shiming also took out a Boundary-breaking Talisman.


    He also needed to get inside.


    Not only to stop the Tianzhao Sect Master''s breakthrough but also because the Tai Qian Shark posed a greater threat to him!

 Chapter 968 - 592: The Traits of Dimen, Slaying the Heavens Lament

    On Heavenly Earth Island, nearly a dozen Formation-breaking Talismans light up, flying towards the Sixth Rank Array.


    In a flash, even a powerful Sixth Rank Formation now experiences a tremendous surge of Spiritual Energy, roaring incessantly over the island, a spectacle to behold.


    The Spirit Shield begins to flicker, showing some inconsistency in brightness, and shakes violently, as if it would be breached in the next moment.


    The principle of the Formation-breaking Talisman is to block the connection between the various formation bases.


    One Fifth Rank Formation-breaking Talisman might not have a significant impact on a Sixth Rank Formation, but with so many talismans working together, it''s already impressive that the Sixth Rank Formation isn''t affected more.


    After all, even a Sixth Rank Formation wouldn''t have an exaggerated number of formation bases.


    Moreover, there are two Nascent Soul True Monarchs there, opposing the Sixth Rank Formation.


    At this moment, Xue Shan True Monarch, besides unleashing Blood Sky Raider, has also taken out a sky-blue treasure mirror.


    This mirror is a Supreme Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure capable of emitting Fifth Rank Qing Yu precious light.


    Equally formidable.


    Nine Dragon True Monarch, too, has brought out a new Supreme Grade Fifth Rank Magical Treasure, a Slaying Dragon Staff.


    He stands on a Supreme Grade Fifth Rank Flood Dragon Demon King, equally commanding the scene.


    However, when facing Granny Qingyu, he always feels somewhat helpless, as if he can''t fully exert his power.


    Her Wood Attribute Techniques are like a huge mass of cotton.


    Along with the Sixth Rank Array, Granny Qingyu still maintains a subtle advantage at this moment.


    Apart from Granny Qingyu, Taiqian Shark Emperor appears even stronger.


    Even when facing the Golden Light True Buddha''s golden Buddha incarnation and Xue Sha Demon Lord''s Blood Evil true form.


    For a time, he resists without any deficiency, and only the strikes of the Qiu Xue Sword cause the latter to be wary; otherwise, Taiqian Shark Emperor appears composed.


    He is like the supreme ruler of the sea.


    Clearly, this is the difference between a Nascent Soul Cultivator with a legacy and one without.


    One can utilize their domain, while the other is consumed by the domain.


    Moreover, what makes them even more apprehensive is their sense that the Taiqian Shark Emperor doesn''t seem like he''s only just broken through.


    In their hearts, a more troubling conjecture emerges.


    ...


    As the Spirit Formation fluctuates, even more Boundary-breaking Talismans light up with dazzling brilliance.


    At this moment, all True Persons realize that only by stopping the Heavenly Gate Sect Master from breaking through can they secure the benefits they were promised.


    And they must do so before the Sect Master transcends the Heavenly Tribulation.


    Previously, when the Renmen showed signs of collapse, under the mirror Magical Treasure of Xue Shan True Monarch, it revealed that the Nascent Soul was almost condensed, undergoing the Heart Demon Tribulation.


    If the Heart Demon Tribulation ends, then the Heavenly Tribulation will descend.


    At that time, even if they attempt to interfere, it would be as futile as moths to a flame, only increasing the power of the Heavenly Tribulation, which could not only fail to stop it but also cost them their lives.


    They must sever the Heavenly Gate Sect Master''s breakthrough beforehand.


    Just the backlash alone would be enough to cause the death of the Heavenly Gate Sect Master.


    As the Boundary-breaking Talismans fluctuate, numerous True Persons now emerge within Heavenly Earth Island.


    Among them are True Persons from the Coral Alliance, as well as from Nine Dragon Island, and even those from the Blood Cultivation Sect and Myriad Buddhas Island.


    Each immortal sect''s Cultivators, their strength, and Techniques vary, their Spirit Light robes all distinct.


    The Cultivators from Myriad Buddhas Island each hold a Buddha Scroll, resplendent in golden light, most practising dual cultivation of Dharma and body, following the Buddha Beads, they charge forward topless with Arhat Boxing.


    True Persons from the Blood Cultivation Sect, surrounded by immense evil Qi, each hold a huge ax and Blood Saber, formidable and fearsome.


    There are also Demon Cultivators like those from the Heavenly Demon Sect, lurking at the back.


    In comparison, the True Persons from the Coral Alliance appear the weakest; after all, each individual from Nine Dragon Island has at least one Flood Dragon at their disposal.


    But facing the invasion of numerous True Persons, more True Persons from Heavenly Earth Island emerge within the sea island.


    These True Persons previously oversaw the Sixth Rank Formation, but now due to Granny Qingyu and the True Persons she brought, they are left vacant and all head towards Lin Shiming and the other True Persons.


    However, their numbers are still too few compared to those from the four major sects.


    Just then, a larger expanse of Taiqian Mist rises above the sea outside.


    This Taiqian Mist is all too familiar to Lin Shiming, the very same as the mist within Taiqian Abyss.


    Simultaneously, numerous shark fins appear, along with unparalleled Sword Qi.


    This Sword Qi is immensely powerful, akin to the Taiqian Shark Demon King witnessed by Lin Shiming before.


    The Taiqian Mist hasn''t fully risen yet.


    Therefore, while their Divine Sense is still effective, a glance sends many True Persons'' complexions turning stark white.


    After all, their kindred and disciples are outside.


    Within the Taiqian Mist, there are seven or eight Demon Kings, as well as several Fourth Rank Tai Qian Sharks, each with penetrative Sword Intent, seemingly natural Sword Cultivators.


    Even Lin Shiming is moved by the sight.


    Moreover, these Tai Qian Sharks are extremely adept at underwater combat, stirring up waves as easily as breathing.


    In the sea, a Tai Qian Shark of equal rank can nearly match double the core disciples of the sects.


    Not many True Persons remain outside at this moment.


    Their descendants are at risk.


    At this moment, many True Persons begin to hesitate.


    While the decisive ones immediately use more Boundary-breaking Talismans, escaping outward.


    They begin to confront those of the Tai Qian Shark clan.


    Seeing that many people have left, the remaining individuals become more at ease.


    As long as no Golden Core Demon Kings slaughter Nascent Soul and other Cultivators, it should be fine.


    Within the Formation, some Cultivators rush towards the Formation''s bases, intending to block the True Persons brought by Granny Qingyu.


    Their aim is to dismantle the Sixth Rank Formation; among them, Mo Yu True Person from the Blood Cultivation Sect and Bai Xuan True Person from Nine Dragon Island take the lead.


    Both are at the Golden Core Late Stage from their respective islands, with their strength already approaching the peak of Golden Core.


    However, to their frustration, near those formation bases, there are also Fifth Rank Arrays, and these female Cultivators from the Qing Yu Sect unexpectedly begin to release Wood Demons.

 Chapter 969 - 592: Dimen Characteristics, Slaying Tianai_2

    Twenty towering demon trees appeared as Demon Kings, causing everyone''s gaze to drastically change.


    "Fire Cultivators!" True Person Moyu bellowed, the Blood Cultivation Sect held no advantage against these wood demons.


    They could only call for True Persons adept at fire magic.


    Soon enough, many True Persons came to break the formation and slaughter those wood demon kings.


    Naturally, at this moment, another group of True Persons were scaling towards Tian Di Peak.


    They could not wait any longer; they had to intervene immediately.


    After all, each second''s delay could mean that the Heavenly Gate''s Sect Master had already broken through.


    Now with two True Monarchs guarding the formation, simply attempting to destroy the formation''s base would be rather one-dimensional.


    The fastest among them was none other than True Person Chi Shan.


    Although a lone female cultivator, she wielded a crimson Fang Tian Halberd, which itself was also a damaged Spiritual Treasure.


    Every move she made danced out a series of halberd shadows, carrying an unparalleled halberd intent akin to Sword Intent, shattering all objects and unstoppable by any adversary.


    With one strike of the Fang Tian Halberd, a True Person and a Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppet were felled.


    However, at that moment, the master of the Dimen made an appearance before the group.


    The enigmatic gate of Dimen was also opened.


    Chi Shan True Person''s Fang Tian Halberd thrust down, but it stabbed into the midst of the Dimen, twisting as it entered.


    It was as if she had stabbed into an illusion.


    And somewhere in the sky, the void rippled, and the halberd unexpectedly thrust toward an Early Stage Golden Core True Person from the Blood Cultivation Sect.


    With this thrust, the impact was earth-shattering.


    Blood sprayed wildly, instantly turning into a mist of blood.


    This Dimen could not only reflect attacks but also release them elsewhere.


    Extremely terrifying.


    All were greatly shocked, and in that instant, no one dared to engage each other at full power anymore, being very cautious, in fear that in the next moment, they might be unexpectedly attacked by the Dimen''s master again.


    The Fang Tian Halberd was a damaged Spiritual Treasure, wielded by True Person Chi Shan.


    An Early Stage Golden Core True Person caught off guard could not possibly withstand it.


    And before Lin Shiming, a person with a pale complexion had also appeared at this moment.


    "True Person Tian''ai?" Lin Shiming recognized the newcomer.


    This was an island master from the Tian Shang Seven Islands, a veteran island master with strength already in the Late Stage of Golden Core.


    This time, deploying a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator demonstrated considerable faith in Lin Shiming''s potential.


    After all, the other True Persons were being opposed by those of the same cultivation level.


    Only Lin Shiming faced an obstacle whose Cultivation Level was higher than his own.


    It''s worth noting that the Qiu Xue Sword was still outside.


    "Daoist Lin, concede!" True Person Tian''ai also spoke up.


    Although he sounded like he was suggesting a friendly sparring match, and his attitude was courteous, in reality, it was just to lull Lin Shiming into complacency.


    In his hands, seven Four-Leaf Flying Daggers circled around him, and at the same time, he took out a zither.


    The zither, also known as the Tian''ai Zither, was extremely famous within the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    Zheng!


    The sound of the zither rang out, and Lin Shiming felt as if he was suddenly on the battlefield.


    Countless tragic illusions appeared, Lin Family members kept falling, wrenching his heart.


    But in the next moment, the light from the Sword Storing Book slowly emanated, and those illusions vanished without a trace.


    Appearing in front of him were numerous Spirit Wave Flying Swords, and with them, seven Four-Leaf Flying Daggers hurtled towards him.


    The power was equally terrifying.


    If Lin Shiming had remained in the illusionary realm even for a second longer, he would have faced endless peril.


    "Go!" Lin Shiming commanded, summoning the Myriad Beasts Tower with a wave of his hand.


    In a flash, myriad beasts roared, among them a Frost Specter Mantis Beast Soul and a Deep Sea Python.


    Leading over a hundred beast souls, fierce and formidable, the whole Myriad Beasts Tower expanded to its limits, blocking all attacks.


    The two beast souls surged forward, charging towards True Person Tian''ai.


    The latter once again summoned two Fifth Rank Flying Swords, managing to shatter the beast souls.


    But as the beast souls were destroyed, they reassembled atop the Myriad Beasts Tower; such was the power of the tower that as long as it remained intact and the cultivator''s True Yuan was not exhausted, the Myriad Beasts Tower could be endlessly formidable.


    Lin Shiming saw that his opponent had just escaped and was preparing to recover his Spiritual Power, so he directly took out the Sky-Trapping Bowl and covered the True Person Tian''ai with it.


    True Person Tian''ai''s face changed dramatically; he hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to be completely unaffected by the influence of his Heavenly Sorrow Zither within two breaths.


    And now he''s successively taking out such strong Magical Treasures.


    For a moment, he was stricken with terror over and over.


    "Take action now!" he shouted loudly. He was more proficient in Illusion Techniques and zither arts, and at this moment, he knew he couldn''t withstand Lin Shiming and called for assistance repeatedly.


    And this newly appeared True Person had obviously been hiding for a long time.


    "You''re too hasty!" the True Person in hiding cursed silently.


    He hadn''t found the right opportunity, but now he was sold out by True Person Tian''ai, and if he continued to hide, he would indeed be waiting to be made a target.


    Although he was extremely confident in his own hiding Secret Technique, he had no confidence if he had to face being scrutinized inch by inch by the Divine Sense of a True Person who might be comparable to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Furthermore, several array flags appeared in his hands and covered Lin Shiming.


    These array flags quickly formed a Superior Grade Fifth Rank Trapping Formation.


    However, the array flags had not yet completely closed, when Lin Shiming took out the Taiyi Grass Sword and made a sword cut, instantly shattering all the array flags.


    A swath of Sword Intent instead swept towards the old man.


    The next moment, while the two people were still rejoicing over something, they saw Lin Shiming use the Leaping Void Disk and suddenly appear behind True Person Tian''ai.


    True Person Tian''ai''s reaction was also extremely fast.


    He threw out a Spirit Talisman, which was precisely a Fifth Rank Substitution Talisman.


    But as if Lin Shiming had anticipated this, he made a sword cut and then his body leaped again.


    This time, he leaped three times in succession, and True Person Tian''ai, failing to widen the distance, could only take out a defensive Magical Treasure to block.


    He took out a Crimson Shield, but not feeling secure enough, he also took out a small black cauldron as another defensive Magical Treasure.


    Then he took out the Heavenly Sorrow Zither again.


    He slowly played the zither.


    But it had no effect the first time. Now with the Sword Storing Book present, not even a single breath could influence Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming was enveloped in the luminance of the Sword Storing Book, barely pausing at all.


    Then with a boom, he unleashed a punch that contained the Star Pearl''s power to its fullest extent!


    This punch caused an echoing boom in all directions, directly smashing the Crimson Shield away with a single hit, and even the small cauldron Magical Treasure didn''t resist for long before continuing to smash towards True Person Tian''ai.


    Boom!


    True Person Tian''ai''s body was directly blown away!


    His heart caved in significantly; luckily his Golden Core shifted position, otherwise, this punch would have killed him on the spot.


    Yet True Person Tian''ai still had a sorrowful expression.


    This Lin Shiming was not just difficult to deal with as they had initially discussed, but rather he was frighteningly formidable.


    He was far from the most top-tier Golden Core cultivators, but unlike other top-tier Golden Cores who have their own grandeur and monopolize the majority of fighting strength, Lin Shiming was inconspicuous.


    In a crowd, he looked just like an ordinary cultivator at the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    And at this moment, Lin Shiming flashed again!


    True Person Tian''ai also wanted to escape, he thought of taking out a Substitution Talisman, but the next moment, he found that the space he was in had changed, an awful pressure attacking him.


    The next moment, a Sword Intent fell.


    True Person Tian''ai took out two Magical Treasures again, but at that moment, he saw Lin Shiming''s nine Divine Sense soldiers attack together, raining down on True Person Tian''ai!


    Caught off guard, True Person Tian''ai''s gaze became lifeless, and he was frozen for a moment.


    Swept over by the Sword Intent, he was killed on the spot. Not even his Golden Core could escape, as it was suppressed by the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.


    The remaining Golden Core cultivator was also startled.


    Lin Shiming did not pursue, but headed towards the Heavenly Earth Mountain.


    In just a short while, he caught up with Chi Shan True Person, and together they faced the Dimen Sect Master.


    "Daoist Lin, if you withdraw now, my Tianzhao Sect will definitely offer up territories as large as three Red Leaf Archipelagos for the Lin Family to recuperate and multiply on!"


    "Moreover, the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain is located in the inner seas, unaffected by the Demonic Beast tides. Daoist Lin, what do you say? Please consider it!" The words of the Dimen Sect Master were filled with temptation.


    But Lin Shiming treated it as if it was just wind beside his ear.


    At this time, it was already fated that they could only be enemies.


    "I wonder how long your Dimen''s defense can withstand an attack!" Lin Shiming brought out the Void Bottle and offered it towards the Dimen Sect Master.


    At the same time, he also had the Sky-Trapping Bowl; he wanted to try sealing off that piece of void, to see if it could suppress the shifting of Dimen.

 Chapter 970 - 593: Heavenly Gate Fails, Taiqian Crisis?

    The Sky-Trapping Bowl and the Void Bottle descended together, and in an instant, that expanse of void was locked in place.


    Within it, a total of nine astral sands were shimmering incessantly.


    Each grain of astral sand was as heavy as a tiny star, a casual drop of which could smash the flesh of a Fifth Rank Demon King.


    This was also the reason why the Void Bottle could be considered a Superior Grade artifact of the Fifth Rank.


    Most crucially, the astral sands were bound to the Void Bottle, and could be instantly pulled back even if they were teleported away.


    The sect master of Dimen was holding the Dimen door, continuing to emit brilliant Spirit Light, the door was like a giant maw of the void, radiating a faint glow.


    What made everyone wary was that these astral sands passed through the Dimen door as well as the sect master of Dimen, without being teleported away nor did they attack anyone else.


    "I''ve locked down the void, he is now just a projection!" thought Lin Shiming, recalling the scene of the sect master of Dimen appearing on Coral Island, then he confidently spoke out.


    He bet that this sect master of Dimen wasn''t his real body but a projection so realistic it was to the extreme. If they truly tangled with this sect master of Dimen, they would play right into his hands.


    Chi Shan True Person, who was next to him, also nodded upon hearing this, thinking of the time she had just lost, and instant regret filled her.


    After giving a furious glance, she continued towards the mountain!


    In her hand, the Fang Tian Halberd was still unstoppable.


    At this time, the sect master of Dimen also showed an annoyed expression.


    Lin Shiming released the Void Bottle and the Sky-Trapping Bowl, and he didn''t dare to come in his real body, hence he couldn''t create an attack.


    Instead, he fixed his projection right here.


    Although Dimen could create a projection, moving back and forth, he could only have one projection.


    One at this side of the door, and one at that side.


    Almost at the moment when Chi Shan True Person appeared on the mountainside, another sect master of Dimen appeared before their eyes, holding a portal in one hand, but the other hand was no longer empty.


    Instead, it was the green Green Snow Spear!


    "I''ve long heard about Chi Shan True Person''s prowess with the halberd, today I want to test my Green Snow Spear against it!" The sect master of Dimen still intended to use his words to drag out some time.


    But Chi Shan True Person simply ignored him.


    In her hands, the Fang Tian Halberd emitted a dazzling spear glow, with a slash of her halberd, it seemed as if Mount Tai was descending.


    It struck towards the sect master of Dimen.


    The opponent raised the Dimen door, at this moment the door did not open, but still endured the attack while simultaneously.


    The Green Snow Spear transformed into an extreme cold storm; a spear thrust accompanied by an ice dragon surged towards Chi Shan True Person within the storm.


    The latter then took out another pearl.


    She tossed the pearl upwards, and at that moment, a Crimson Crow Spiritual Fire emerged.


    This Spiritual Fire transformed into a Crimson Crow and blocked that very spear thrust!


    Almost at the same time of the blockage, a Buddha Monk from Myriad Buddhas Island known as Golden True Person made his move.


    He threw out three Buddha Scrolls, and in an instant, Spiritual Energy gathered, forming three gigantic golden Buddha figures.


    These three Buddha figures were in three different poses.


    "Is this the Arhat Formation?" the sect master of Dimen''s face changed once again at this moment.


    This Arhat Formation was an absolute treasure on Myriad Buddhas Island, each piece alone was an Intermediate Grade magical treasure of the Fifth Rank.


    If eighteen pieces were gathered together, they could be comparable to a Supreme Grade magical treasure of the Fifth Rank.


    The three pieces present were the top three arhats from the Eighteen Arhat Formation, each of which was equivalent to a Superior Grade magical treasure of the Fifth Rank, and were much more powerful than a Superior Grade puppet of the Fifth Rank.


    After all, a puppet only has a strong body, but these golden Buddha figures also understood the Buddhist Law.


    And they were beyond the control of Buddha Monks.


    By leveraging these Buddha figures to channel the Buddhist Law, the power was much stronger!


    The channeled Buddha''s Palm of Tathagata was tremendously powerful.


    This left the sect master of Dimen caught between a rock and a hard place in an instant.


    Both Golden True Person and Chi Shan True Person were among the top True Persons in their respective sea domains, facing one of them alone, he believed he wouldn''t be at much disavantage.


    But now, facing two of them, the pressure was indeed too great.


    Especially now, as he couldn''t leverage the special traits of the Dimen, while his other projection was trapped by Lin Shiming.


    It was like facing three top Golden Core True Persons at once, the pressure made him complain incessantly.


    And indeed the situation at the moment was as such.


    Whether within the sea domains or outside, they had garnered a massive advantage, those female True Persons who followed Granny Qingyu were initially very strong, but once the tree demons were restrained by the Fire Cultivators, they also began to show signs of decline!


    After all, it was four sea domains against one!


    Moreover, on the summit of the mountain, at this moment, there shone again Spirit Light, marking the last line of defense by Heavenly Earth Island.


    One could see a True Person from Nine Dragon Island, riding a Chameleon Flood Dragon, had already reached before the Heavenly Gate.


    This shocked all of Tianzhao Sect''s True Persons.


    Fortunately, at this time, there was still one Supreme Grade Formation of the Fifth Rank above.


    This Formation blocked the path of that True Person.


    And that True Person, once again released a Formation-breaking Talisman.


    This Formation-breaking Talisman possessed the prowess of five colors.


    It seemed like a piece of five-colored profound jade.


    Upon seeing this Spirit Talisman, all the True Persons of Heavenly Earth Island felt their hearts clench.


    This talisman was known as the Five-colored Formation-Breaking Talisman, its reputation was only second to Sixth Rank Spirit Talismans in the Southern Sea.


    The effect of this Spirit Talisman was singular: to break apart any Formation of the Fifth Rank.


    Once the Five-colored Formation-Breaking Talisman was deployed, all the True Persons revealed smiles.


    Lin Shiming also took this opportunity to slay a True Person from Heavenly Earth Island.


    The situation was now nearly secured, and he began to slay several Golden Core Early Stage True Persons, to plunder for treasures.


    Moreover, those he killed were core True Persons of Heavenly Earth Island, which meant more treasures.


    Otherwise, when the time came to divide the spoils, his advantage would not be as great as the other major powers!


    The Five-colored Formation-Breaking Talisman unleashed the might of five colors, and the final Spirit Formation, as if ravaged by a five-colored storm, began to disintegrate, layer by layer.

 Chapter 971 - 593: Heavenly Gate Fails, Taiqian in Crisis?_2

    The Spirit Light above began to crack.


    Several formation bases started to blur and become illusory.


    Eventually, the formation faded, revealing a valley!


    Above the valley, a gigantic Heavenly Gate stood there!


    There were no more defensive lines!


    The Chameleon Flood Dragon True Person also joyfully stepped forward.


    As for the True Person Cultivator controlling the Formation, they also suffered a backlash due to the broken array and took out another Fifth Rank Demon King from the Spirit Beast Bag.


    Blocking that last person controlling the array.


    And at this moment, the Chameleon Flood Dragon True Person dashed towards the Heavenly Gate.


    The speed was like a Five-colored Mysterious Light!


    The horn of the Five-colored Flood Dragon instantly collided with the Heavenly Gate.


    Unleashing a terrifying boom.


    This collision seemed to strike at the hearts of everyone, causing diverse expressions on their faces.


    The four major powers, of course, were all smiles and joyous.


    But for the cultivators of the Tianzhao Sect, it was a different story.


    One by one, they were hysterical.


    This scene, Lin Shiming felt as if he had seen it somewhere before.


    On Coral Island, the Renmen sect leader of Tianzhao Sect did the same, preventing Kuangfeng True Person from breaking through.


    One could only say it was an act of karmic retribution!


    The Five-colored Flood Dragon kept ramming frantically, and the entire island began to shake.


    At the same time as the Heavenly Gate ran into trouble, the female Wood Cultivator from Nan Jiang now could no longer withstand the attacks of the Crimson Flood Dragon and the Demon Cultivator; three of the array bases were shattered.


    The Sixth Rank array, its might diminished by half.


    Xue Shan True Monarch held the Blood Sky Raider in one hand and the Qing Guang Treasured Mirror in the other, and for a moment, his True Yuan roared, akin to that of a deity.


    Granny Qingyu''s attack gradually weakened, and without the Sixth Rank formation, there was simply no way to resist the Nine Dragon True Monarch and Xue Shan True Monarch.


    Even outside, a True Person had slain a Taiqian Shark Demon King and was exuberantly holding its skin. This True Person, Lin Shiming recognized; it was Lan Feng True Person from Nine Dragon Island.


    The shark skin of the Taiqian Shark was quite famous; it was universally acknowledged and could even be used to refine high-quality Spirit Talismans.


    It was rumored that the Five-colored Formation-Breaking Talisman was refined using the skin of Taiqian Shark.


    Even the Demon Emperor, under the siege of the Blood Sand Demonic Body, the Golden Light Buddha Body, and the Qiu Xue Sword, showed signs of downfall.


    For the Tianzhao Sect, it was entirely a picture of impending defeat.


    This scene caused a shift in Granny Qingyu''s eyes.


    She also sighed, knowing that it was too late to turn the tides.


    "Dimen sect master, I have done my best today and wish not to be involved with the matters of the Southern Sea anymore!"


    "I have repaid the favor I owed. Moreover, Daoist Blood Coral, Daoist Nine Dragon, I apologize for offending you today. Another day, I will visit to offer my apologies!" Granny Qingyu placed her basket-based Spiritual Treasure into the air, and at the same time took out a jade-green colored bead.


    The bead instantly enlarged, covering both Granny Qingyu and the female True Person below her.


    Neither Nine Dragon True Monarch nor Xue Shan True Monarch obstructed her.


    They did not wish to become overly entangled with Nan Jiang.


    But beneath their gaze, a hint of ruthlessness flickered.


    They would certainly remember this incident, and if Granny Qingyu did not offer them an explanation,


    With the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain close to Nan Jiang, they would have much to do in the future.


    As Granny Qingyu retreated, the Sixth Rank great formation disappeared.


    In the sky, the Heavenly Gate was being struck by more and more Flood Dragons.


    At the same time, Xue Shan True Monarch and Nine Dragon True Monarch simultaneously unleashed their True Monarch strikes.


    Xue Shan True Monarch''s strike was still with the Blood Sky Raider, while Nine Dragon True Monarch wielded the strike of the Nine Dragons Staff.


    Each one was like Mount Spirit pressing down, nearby True Persons just feeling the power were terrified!


    Boom!


    With the fall of the Nine Dragons Staff and the Blood Sky Raider, the Heavenly Gate finally swung wide open!


    It also exposed the inside¡ªa pitiful figure.


    At this moment, that figure with disheveled hair had his aura halted at the peak of the Golden Core.


    Without even a brief chance for Nascent Soul.


    It was even more wretched than the Shen Ji True Person and Kuangfeng True Person once were.


    He glared fiercely at Nine Dragon True Monarch and Xue Shan True Monarch.


    Then he began to cackle maniacally.


    "Do you think that by stopping me, you are the winners?"


    "Do you think the power of Heavenly Gate is just a small world?" the Heavenly Gate master laughed eerily.


    This statement made everyone feel their hair stand on end.


    They had won; they had stopped the Heavenly Gate master''s breakthrough; the Tianzhao Sect was almost annihilated.


    The Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain would become history.


    But the wicked laughter of the Heavenly Gate master at this moment left the several True Monarchs puzzled.


    "The power of Renmen is to teleport, the power of Dimen is to project, and the power of Tianmen is to break through the heavens!"


    "There will be no more barriers in this world, just like a Boundary-breaking Talisman, a spiritual treasure!"


    If the three gates are gathered together and merged into one, it might even be possible to draw forth the gateway to the Spirit Realm.


    The Tianmen Sect Master kept speaking.


    However, before he could finish his words, in the next moment, a Taiqian Sword Qi pierced through the Tianmen Sect Master.


    This shocked everyone immensely.


    Because the one who slew the Tianmen Sect Master was not any True Monarch.


    It was the Taiqian Demon Emperor!


    The latter had shark fins, hands like grey swords.


    Eyes terrifyingly frightening, and its aura had also changed from the early stage of Nascent Soul to the peak of the early stage of Nascent Soul.


    This gap, although not spanning a whole rank, was still even greater than the difference between the Golden Core Middle Stage and the Golden Core Late Stage!


    Moreover, this Taiqian Demon Emperor seemed to have held back just a while ago.


    Only now did he explode with his full strength!


    And that Tianmen was also taken into his hands by the Taiqian Demon Emperor!


    Layers of white spirit mist continued to appear.


    This time, the spirit mist was even greater than before.


    And aside from the Tianmen Sect Master, now the Dimen Sect Master also wanted to flee.


    A Sword Qi shot towards the Dimen Sect Master.


    That Sword Qi was too fast, and in the midst of the Taiqian Mist, a new Demon Emperor appeared.


    The Taiqian Shark clan had been holding back all along!


    Everyone was shocked to the extreme, even feeling that this was all a conspiracy.


    Xue Shan True Monarch and Chi Shan True Person were reminded of Jin Lei True Person, who also mentioned the forces behind them before his death; they had thought Jin Lei True Person''s forces belonged to the Tianzhao Sect.


    Now it seems clear it was the Taiqian Shark clan all along.


    And perhaps the Tianzhao Sect has also been calculated against.


    All of this has been a trap.


    If one looks back, it''s clear that when reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, every True Monarch felt they had the power to match a nation.


    Fearless of any conspiracy.


    Now, however, they have been thoroughly outplayed by the Taiqian Shark clan!


    "Save him!" At this moment, the four great True Monarchs were quite anxious!


    Because the Tianmen Sect Master was not disgusting them just now, but reminding them.


    For the Southern Sea, the Six Great Powers are, after all, locals of this realm.


    If the Taiqian Shark clan were to enter, they would enslave the entire Dongyu Realm.


    It would not only be the Southern Sea, but also Nan Jiang, the Eastern Domain, the Eastern Sea, and the Northern Plains would become a world of slaves.


    All resources would be stripped away by the Taiqian Shark clan.


    "Save me, their Taiqian Shark clan will seize the gates!"


    Fortunately, when the Sword Qi slashed towards him, the Dimen Sect Master opened the gateway once again.


    The Sword Qi raged past, and his body along with Dimen became streaks of spirit light shadows, dispersing into the air.


    The Dimen Sect Master once again took the initiative to enter the gateway.


    And his true form also appeared within Lin Shiming''s Spatial Bottle and the Sky-Trapping Bowl.


    The Dimen Sect Master also knew that this time, only the few great True Persons could save him!


    At this moment, Lin Shiming also felt an incomparable aura of murderous intent gathering around him.


    His complexion likewise underwent a drastic change, and the Divine Bead of Mystical Power was released once more, turning his entire body into the shadow of Immortal Wood.


    A massive piece of Immortal Wood grew out of the void!


    At the same time, a Sword Qi as if cutting through the sky descended.


    The shadow of the Immortal Wood was split into two.


    Fortunately, at this moment, the Qiu Xue Sword swiftly landed in front of Lin Shiming.


    While the other great True Monarchs also made their moves, they could only see that the Taiqian Mist actually began to recede.


    The two Demon Emperors and those Taiqian Demon Kings all disappeared without a trace.


    Quietly withdrawing.


    The commotion on Heavenly Earth Island had completely ceased.


    There was no sound of battle, no spirit light, but everyone felt a heavy weight.


    Compared to the previous lofty spirits, everyone''s heart seemed to have a piercing thorn at this moment.


    They did not know when this thorn would erupt.


    Seizing Tianmen was obviously part of the Taiqian Shark clan''s strategy!


    And their victory now seemed laughable.


    This point, Lin Shiming had also considered the fearsomeness of the Taiqian Shark clan.


    But he did not expect them to be so cunning and deep-plotted!

 Chapter 972 - 594: Cave Heaven Treasure Pavilion, Utterly Luxurious

    On Heavenly Earth Island, after a moment of silence, a group of cultivators still began to plunder, each taking responsibility for their respective sub-islands, scavenged by the attacking families.


    True Persons who were slain belonged to the one who killed them.


    However, with the escape of Granny Qingyu and the news of the Tai Qian Shark King, there were not many True Persons left.


    After all, Tianzhao Sect was the weaker side in this conflict.


    The only True Person that remained in the end was the Sect Leader of Dimen.


    He still wanted to use Dimen to escape.


    But in the next moment, he was fiercely illuminated by the Qiu Xue Sword of Xue Shan True Monarch.


    And was frozen in place immediately.


    He only had two projections to begin with.


    To protect the Heavenly Gate Sect Leader''s breakthrough, he had placed the projections above the islands.


    Now it seemed that if he had placed the remaining projections on other islands, it wouldn''t have come to this.


    "I know where the remaining treasure vault is, please spare my life!" Dimen Sect Leader shouted urgently.


    At this moment, he was sweating profusely, and his expression seemed somewhat fearful.


    Gone was the earlier composure when he alone had infiltrated Coral Island.


    "That won''t be necessary, I just happen to have a Minor Divine Ability!" Nine Dragon True Monarch declared.


    With that, he pointed a finger and eradicated Dimen Sect Leader as well.


    Although this might attract an invasion from the Tai Qian Sharks clan in the future, it was crucial not to overlook the vengeance owed to the Dimen Sect Leader.


    Thus, not a single Tianzhao Sect''s True Person here could be left alive.


    This was something that none of the four True Monarchs present would be lenient about.


    After all, if these True Persons sought revenge, they could still create a lot of trouble.


    While killing the Dimen Sect Leader, they saw the Nine Dragon True Monarch''s Flood Dragon, which had been sitting nearby, suddenly fly out and spit smoke, infiltrating the corpse of Dimen Sect Leader.


    "Is this a Dream Flood Dragon? Daoist Nine Dragon really has impressive skills!" Xue Sha True Monarch and Xue Shan True Monarch both expressed a bit of envy.


    Although Nine Dragon Island''s Secret Techniques were lacking, their mastery in rearing Flood Dragons was unmatched.


    Not to mention their feat of pulling chariots with nine dragons, already beyond the ability of other True Monarchs.


    "It''s not really a Dream Flood Dragon, more like a Dream Serpent at best, just filling the numbers!" Nine Dragon True Monarch appeared humble at this moment.


    This Dream Jiao had only grown a single horn and snake tail, but lacked claws; it could be called a horned creature or a snake python.


    As expected, under the cover of the purple smoke, the Dream Flood Dragon began to speak in human tongue.


    "Reporting to the True Monarchs, half of Tianzhao Sect''s treasures are hidden within Heavenly Gate, and the other half is on a sub-island. Furthermore, there is a Transmission Formation¡ªif the Transmission Formation isn''t deactivated in time, the entire vault will teleport away!" the Dream Flood Dragon declared.


    Upon hearing this, all five together grew tense.


    If the treasures were teleported away, it would not only mean their efforts were in vain, but it could also invite new troubles.


    After all, the Tai Qian Sharks clan had been released this time.


    The Dream Flood Dragon, after speaking, also pointed towards the direction of a certain sub-island, coincidentally the one that Dimen Sect Leader had stayed on.


    The group took out a Fifth Rank Spirit Boat, and with the speed of True Monarchs, they rapidly approached their destination.


    "Dream Flood Dragon, coordinate with the others to ensure all of Tianzhao Sect''s core disciples and talents are slain, leave none behind!" Only leaving behind these words, Nine Dragon True Monarch flew off the main island of Heavenly Earth Island as well.


    "Daoist Lin, you should come along too!" Xue Shan True Monarch invited again.


    At these words, Lin Shiming also nodded.


    But gratitude was not quite the word for it; wielding the Qiu Xue Sword, he was entitled to his share.


    Therefore, Lin Shiming also commanded a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship to fly over.


    As for the other treasures, Lin Shiming was not in a hurry, even if Lin Zekong and the others didn''t get a split, it was no concern.


    By the end of the great battle, he had already slain four True Persons.


    Including two Golden Core Late Stage cultivators, True Person of Heavenly Sorrow and True Person of Heavenly Joy, hence, his harvest this time was bound to be great.


    The Treasure Ship was fast, stopping above the sub-island in no time.


    At this point, Nine Dragon True Monarch directly used the Nine Dragons Staff to smash down below.


    The Nine Dragons Staff emanated the Nine Dragons Spirit Light, not to attack but to probe.


    As the Nine Dragons Spirit Light dispersed, a Transmission Platform emerged.


    The Transmission Platform was already halfway lit; any further delay and the treasury would have been teleported away.


    Forever to be remembered by the cultivators of Tianzhao Sect, by then, it might indeed fall into the hands of some hidden members of the Tianzhao Sect, who could rise rapidly and begin the prelude to their revenge.


    What a pity, all these schemes pale in front of true power.


    It''s just unfortunate that the Tianzhao Sect was too greedy.


    If the Secret of Renmen hadn''t fallen into the hands of Xue Shan True Monarch, none of this would have happened.


    With the power of the Heaven, Earth, Humans Three Gates, it was highly probable that the Sect Leader of Heavenly Gate would have broken through to Nascent Soul stage.


    Even the future breakthroughs of the Sect Leaders of Dimen and Renmen were highly possible.


    "Next, let''s see what treasures Tianzhao Sect''s vault hides!" Golden Light True Buddha said, somewhat sarcastically, as before, Tianzhao Sect was once a rival among the Six Great Powers.


    Now, only the Five Great Powers remained.


    Of course, he had no remorse, as Tianzhao Sect were the ones who had pushed themselves too far, and the Coral Alliance simply responded in kind.


    They were but helping fishes caught up in the net.


    Soon, the treasury was opened, the five set up a Formation, and then they entered into the treasury.


    The treasury was a small Cave Heaven Bead.


    This Cave Heaven Bead placed on the Transmission Formation was indeed not easy to find, even camouflaged as a normal bead.


    "This is a beadless Cave Heaven Bead, let''s all enter and take a look!" Xue Shan True Monarch was the first to speak.


    Cave Heaven Beads are like small worlds, with the difference being their size.


    The Cave Heaven capable of holding the entirety of Tianzhao Sect''s lineage and treasures could be imagined.


    And for the True Monarchs present, almost all of them possessed Cave Heaven magical treasures like Cave Heaven Beads.


    If they were to enter one by one, everyone would be suspicious; even Heavenly Dao oaths can be circumvented by some special heavenly substances and treasures¡ªLin Shiming now even had the Purple Illusion Sky Smoke drink.

 Chapter 973 - 594: Treasure Pavilion of Cave Heaven, The Utmost Luxury_2

    So it''s obviously better to go in together.


    The five of them nodded and entered the Cave Heaven Bead as one.


    Lin Shiming, at this moment, also took out the Qiu Xue Sword.


    He worried that the moment he entered the space, he would be found at an opportune moment.


    Everything had to be safe and secure, not just for Lin Shiming, but also for the other True Monarchs, who were clearly on guard against each other.


    As a cultivator who had been scrambling around in the Cultivation World for who knows how many years, he was especially cautious when it came to dividing treasures.


    The five entered the cave heaven.


    Inside the cave heaven, it was like a paradise with birds singing and fragrant flowers, with a landscape of stunning beauty and spiritual energy equivalent to a Superior Grade Fifth Rank Spirit Vein.


    That Spirit Vein alone was worth a fortune.


    Beyond the Spirit Vein, there was a distant plot of Spiritual Medicine Garden that was teeming with a sizable quantity of precious medicinal herbs.


    Underneath the array, Lin Shiming caught sight of Gold Condensation Fruit trees and Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit trees.


    And there wasn''t just one, but a whopping three Gold Condensation Fruit trees and eight Purple Jade Fruit trees.


    The largest Gold Condensation Fruit tree, with luminous spirit leaves, had apparently lived through many years and was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.


    Of course, these fruit trees, even with their significant age, would generally not turn into tree demons or other creatures.


    Because all their essence is concentrated on the Gold Condensation Fruit, every few hundred years, they would experience a decline in spiritual power.


    The Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit trees were even deliberately planted on a land of purple jade.


    That expanse of purple jade itself was highly valuable, with abundant spiritual energy.


    As for other medicinal herbs, there were even more, and further away, there was a garden that contained numerous medicinal herbs aged over three thousand years. As for those over five thousand years old, there was only one.


    After all, this was only half of the treasures, the other half had already fallen into the hands of the Taiqian Shark clan.


    Beyond the Spiritual Medicine Garden, there was a massive treasure tower ahead.


    In front of this tower, several Fifth Rank Spiritual Puppets stood guard.


    "Identify yourselves!" A cold command came from a puppet.


    But in the next moment, Xue Sha Demon Lord waved his sleeve, and the Spirit Puppet instantly shattered into pieces.


    "Quiet!"


    "Fellows, let''s go inside and have a look!" Xue Sha Demon Lord said.


    Everyone was in no hurry, first assessing all the treasures, even if they were to be divided equally, they wanted to see everything first to find the most valuable treasures.


    The five entered the Black Tower, which also had an array on its first level, but facing the combat power of five True Monarchs and one Golden Core, the array was as good as nonexistent.


    They forced their way straight through.


    The first floor of the treasure pagoda was filled with spirit slots, which were densely packed.


    In front of these spirit slots was an incense burner, into which several sticks of sandalwood were inserted.


    The sandalwood wasn''t a treasure, but the incense burner was a Superior Grade Fifth Rank Pill Furnace, also a rarity in its own right.


    Lin Shiming was somewhat tempted; with this Pill Furnace, Lin Shitao''s chances of concocting Nascent Transformation Pills would be even greater in the future.


    Moreover, he noticed that the incense burner contained a layer of gold cloud sand.


    This was sand of the Fifth Rank.


    It could even be used to make a sand magical treasure of the Fifth Rank.


    Of course, while Lin Shiming was slightly excited, the other True Monarchs looked calm and collected; they stormed the Tianzhao Sect not for such treasures.


    "I''ll collect this treasure for now; let''s divide it later!" said Xue Shan True Monarch at that moment.


    The others nodded as well.


    Since Xue Shan True Monarch initiated this expedition and had contributed the most, including having Renmen under his command, it was only right to do so.


    Everyone then proceeded to the second floor.


    This level was much simpler; there were hundreds of Storage Bags placed here.


    Seeing these densely packed Storage Bags, scattered around like Spirit Stones, was a profound shock.


    Nobody touched the Storage Bags, and Xue Shan True Monarch took out his mirror again, shining it to reveal the treasures within the bags.


    Most of the Storage Bags contained Spirit Stones, with the Superior Grade Spirit Stones numbering over ten thousand. Besides those, there were even more Intermediate Grade and Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    Lin Shiming estimated that even if he only got a tenth, he could collect five or six million Inferior Grade Spirit Stones.


    In addition to the Spirit Stones, there were various Spirit Pills and Spirit Talismans, ranging from Second to Fourth Rank, whose sheer quantity also stirred Lin Shiming.


    Indeed, such a major power possesses a vast array of treasures, even just half of them are so numerous.


    After the Spirit Talismans and Spirit Pills were accounted for, what remained were some basic materials, such as Qingyun Wood, Black Cloud Bamboo, Gold-glint Sand, Flame Crystal, Spirit Soil, Mu Xin...


    Lin Shiming felt dazzled by the array, and was incredibly shocked for a moment.


    Half of the treasures here could not be gathered by the Lin Family.


    And to think, the Tianzhao Sect is still distributing treasures on their island, who knows how many more there are.


    The Spirit Stones consumed by the Sixth Rank Formation alone are countless.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming guessed that the Storage Bags in the hands of the Golden Core True Persons also contained a vast amount of treasures.


    "Let''s divide the basic Spirit Stones and Storage Bags evenly between us," Xue Shan True Monarch said.


    Then, he distributed hundreds of Storage Bags in front of them to the five individuals.


    All of the Storage Bags were quickly taken into the hands of the five.


    Clearly, all five possessed Cave Heaven magical treasures.


    The group then went up to the third floor, which was lined with bookshelves.


    These shelves were filled with countless Jade Slips, and upon seeing this, everyone was overjoyed.


    These were the real treasures they were looking for.


    They were eager to learn more about the Nascent Soul stage.


    The strength of the Taiqian Shark Demon Emperor this time, as well as the power of the Qiu Xue Sword, made them all feel their own strength was insufficient, plus the crisis of the Tai Qian Shark clan left no room for the True Monarchs to slack off.


    The Jade Slips were agreed to be copied once over.


    This time it was Nine Dragon True Monarch who brought out a treasure.


    He produced a Jade Disk, which emitted a jade light, covering all the Jade Slips.


    The next moment, beside the original Jade Slips, four identical copies appeared, clearly duplicated by the treasured item.


    After all the Jade Slips were duplicated, they turned back into individual Jade Slips and flew into the hands of the five individuals.


    The distribution of the Jade Slips wasn''t even; originally they almost split evenly between Xue Shan True Monarch, Lin Shiming, Xue Sha Demon Lord, and Golden Light True Buddha.


    As for Nine Dragon True Monarch, he only took the copies, ensuring no one would be suspicious.


    Moreover, with the Divine Sense of several True Monarchs focused here, Nine Dragon True Monarch couldn''t succeed if he attempted any tricks.


    Duplicating these Cultivation Techniques and legacies once helped all five major powers.


    If they were to pick and choose individually, many would be missed out, and any calculations at that time would cause significant delays. For the True Monarchs, once the treasures were distributed, they needed to return to their own powers to discuss how to withstand the Taiqian Shark Clan!


    Otherwise, when the time comes and the entire Southern Sea is enveloped in the Taiqian Mist, that would signal a real nightmare.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was also extremely delighted; this duplication was most advantageous for the Lin Family.


    After all, the other sects might overlap more or less with these secret manuals.


    But the Lin Family would surely have the least overlap.


    And it could greatly enrich the Lin Family''s library of cultivation techniques.


    In the future, the members of the Lin Family could cultivate to higher realms without worrying about lacking sufficient cultivation methods.


    Within these Jade Slips, not only were cultivation techniques outlined, but also included were secret techniques, methods of Spirit Talismans, Spirit Pills, weapon refining techniques, secret realm maps, immortal cultivation autobiographies, travel records, tales of ancient curiosities...


    In short, Lin Shiming could hardly take it all in.


    Among them, there are two sets of Earth Rank Techniques, although none of Heavenly Rank and both of the Earth Rank Techniques are of Inferior Grade.


    When compared to the Taibai Sword Palace, the legacy of the Tianzhao Sect is not as impressive.


    Keep in mind, the highest cultivation method of the Taibai Sword Palace is the Superior Grade Earth Rank Kuimu Sword Canon.


    And they have quite a few Intermediate Grade Earth Rank techniques as well.


    However, Lin Shiming quickly came to terms with it, noting that after all, the Taibai Sword Palace is a Seventh Rank power.


    Its vastness is something the current Fifth Rank Tianzhao Sect cannot compare to.


    Moreover, many legacies now are broken.


    But for Lin Shiming, the gains of this occasion were absolutely unprecedented.


    In the future, the Lin Family''s foundation will not be much inferior to that of other major powers.


    Once the Flaming Sword breaks through as well, the Lin Family will have two True Monarchs. He himself is currently at the Golden Core Middle Stage, and after a period of closed-door cultivation, he should reach the Golden Core Late Stage.


    For his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, he only lacks the Thousand Year Cold Marrow Jade.


    He has already collected the other necessary items like the Nascent Transformation Pill, Heavenly Soul Fruit and the Variable Fruit!

 Chapter 974 - 595: Broken Spirit Formation, Choosing Treasure First

    After reading the Jade Slip, the True Monarchs were extremely satisfied. Obtaining the inheritance of the Cultivation Technique was already considered a huge gain.


    Moreover, the inheritance from Tianzhao Sect, when combined with their respective legacies, indeed brought significant impact to them.


    "The real treasures must be on the upper floors!" The crowd directed their gazes toward the stairs, now filled with even greater anticipation.


    Nine Dragon True Monarch continued to walk at the forefront with a bold and unrestrained laugh.


    At this moment, another layer of a mystical barrier appeared at the stairway.


    "This is the Broken Spirit Formation!" Nine Dragon True Monarch''s complexion turned slightly grim.


    Hearing this, the others also cast their glances, only to see the blue patterned formation converging together, forming a pulsating gateway symbol.


    Instantly, everyone''s expression turned unpleasant.


    They were of course familiar with the Broken Spirit Formation, as it was a treasure equivalent to the secret scrolls of the family and Sect.


    With this Broken Spirit Formation in place, as long as outsiders lacked the specific Spirit Art or the specific bloodline, they would be unable to enter.


    But the slightest mistake would cause the Broken Spirit Formation to self-destruct.


    And thus, the treasures within could be destroyed.


    Should the treasures within be Magical Treasures, it would be better since the power of the Broken Spirit Formation generally was not enough to destroy some defensively strong Magical Treasures.


    But the treasures protected by the Broken Spirit Formation definitely counted as the core secret treasures of the Sect.


    That is to say, regardless of the treasures in the outside Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    It remained the case.


    "Nine Dragon Daoist, what about your Dream Jiao?" Golden Light True Buddha and Blood Coral True Monarch were both a bit anxious.


    They couldn''t help but ask.


    Their own power circles also had this Broken Spirit Formation; they had not anticipated this before.


    But now that the master of Dimen had died, and the master of Heavenly Gate was also dead.


    Only Nine Dragon True Monarch''s Dream Jiao has entered the dreams before.


    Naturally, they hoped that the Dream Jiao had such considerations.


    "I''ll call for the Dream Jiao. Gentlemen, feel free to distribute the Spiritual Medicine outside and the Pill Furnace on the first floor. As for these treasures, let Daoist Blood Coral handle it. In the Six Major Seas, everyone knows of Daoist Blood Coral''s character, and I am also at ease!"


    Nine Dragon True Monarch snapped his fingers, and a piece of Spirit Jade appeared, which directly attracted another Dream Jiao.


    Meanwhile, while waiting, the group went out to the Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    "Mainly it''s about the distribution of the Gold Condensation Fruit Trees and the Purple Jade Fruit Trees, as well as the three-thousand-year and five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicine!"


    "Let''s count each Gold Condensation Fruit Tree as three five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicine, and Purple Jade Fruit Trees as half a piece. What do you all think?" Blood Coral True Monarch spoke up.


    For the several powerful figures present, they naturally valued the Gold Condensation Fruit Trees and Purple Jade Fruit Trees more.


    "No problem!" Everyone nodded in agreement.


    "This time, let Blood Coral True Monarch start choosing!" Nine Dragon True Monarch suggested.


    The other three people nodded at his proposal.


    However, Lin Shiming''s expression changed, but in the end, he did not say anything.


    Being the first to choose meant that Blood Coral True Monarch would definitely be the last to choose later on.


    And without a doubt, Lin Shiming did not get to choose any of the three Gold Condensation Fruit Trees in the end.


    He only managed to choose six Purple Jade Fruit Trees.


    To the Lin Family, these powers did not wish to see the number of Golden Cores in the Lin Family increase.


    And Lin Shiming also had a simple solution: if they didn''t want the number of Golden Cores to increase, then boost the Purple Mansions of the Lin Family.


    Six Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit Trees, in addition to the three originally owned by the Lin Family, meant that from this point on, the Lin Family would no longer be short of any Purple Jade Fruit Trees, with an average of one maturing every thirty years.


    If the trees bore slightly more fruit, the Lin Family could have the chance to add an additional Purple Mansion every ten years.


    For the Lin Family, this was also tremendously good news.


    After this power struggle, it was clear to see that the other powers boasted over a hundred cultivators at the Purple Mansion level, as they wouldn''t bring all their resources out.


    But excluding the Spirit Beasts and Spirit Puppets, the Lin Family only had around thirty Purple Mansions.


    A hundred years from now, that number would be different.


    Therefore, Lin Shiming didn''t have other thoughts.


    As for the five-thousand-year Spiritual Medicine, Lin Shiming also acquired a strand, which was a Qing Mu Jade Vine.


    This Qing Mu Jade Vine was not like other vines.


    Its vine did not exceed one zhang (3.3 meters), and the entire vine could be used as medicine, a truly valuable treasure.


    This was also a reward for Lin Shiming being the last to choose in the first round.


    Soon enough, the rest of the Spiritual Medicine was allocated, and Lin Shiming also got quite a few auxiliary ingredients for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    When Lin Shitao went to concoct the Nascent Transformation Pill, she would have several more chances, instead of total failure after one attempt.


    Apart from these Spiritual Medicines, Lin Shiming also obtained a small piece of Soul Nourishing Wood.


    This Soul Nourishing Wood, only twenty years old and not very vigorous, was typically cast aside in the Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    Otherwise, it would not have come Lin Shiming''s turn.


    For at its peak, this Soul Nourishing Wood could transform into ten-thousand-year Soul Nourishing Wood, capable of crafting a Sixth Rank soul-protecting Magical Treasure.


    For the other Cultivators, such a period of ten thousand years was simply too long, which is why they made such a choice.


    "Recently, Tianzhao Sect committed a great slaughter in the Tian Ai Archipelago, likely for this Soul Nourishing Wood. Daoist Lin, you''ve picked up a great bargain indeed!" Nine Dragon True Monarch still spoke up.


    Lin Shiming, however, did not respond.


    He was aware that what these people esteemed about him was his Qiu Xue Sword, and not much flattery was afforded to Lin Shiming himself.


    After all, there''s a difference between a True Monarch and a True Person.


    Lin Shiming was not annoyed, recognizing he was indeed slightly behind in Cultivation Level.


    He relied on the Qiu Xue Sword.


    Moreover, at this point, he was well past the age of impulsiveness.


    Let Nine Dragon True Monarch say as he pleases.


    After all, the grievances between them would eventually come due for settlement one day.


    So he did not indulge in momentary satisfaction.


    "The Dream Jiao has arrived!" Nine Dragon True Monarch spoke.


    With this announcement, the others were instantly invigorated.


    The arrival of the Dream Jiao meant that they could continue to challenge this treasure tower.

 Chapter 975 - 595: Broken Spirit Formation, Taking the Lead in Choosing Treasures_2

    They looked at the Jade Slip and the Storage Bag, knowing that neither the true treasures nor the true lineage had been obtained just now.


    They need to ascend to higher floors.


    And they must pass through the Broken Spirit Formation.


    The Dream Jiao attacked from a distance, its tail still wrapped around two Purple Mansion cultivators.


    Both of these Purple Mansion cultivators were at the Purple Mansion Peak cultivation level, but now they were affixed with Spirit Talismans.


    "The Dream Jiao says that the Dimen Sect Master also doesn''t have a method to break the Spirit Formation, including the bloodline!"


    "Their lineage should be a collateral branch of the Cao Family of the Tianzhao Sect!" Nine Dragon True Monarch frowned.


    The mystery of this Broken Spirit Formation is that no matter which collateral branch, it''s equally useless.


    Unless, of course, several True Monarchs are willing to gamble.


    So, in front of several True Monarchs, the Dream Jiao once again began to induce dreams.


    It exhaled Purple Illusion Sky Smoke, and in a moment, the two Purple Mansion cultivators closed their eyes.


    Afterward, the Dream Jiao''s eyes opened, while the two Purple Mansion cultivators, seemingly because of the effect of the Sect''s Jade Book, had their Divine Souls destroyed in an instant.


    The Dream Jiao''s eyes were somewhat dim.


    This time, its search was extremely thorough, triggering even the Sect''s Jade Book.


    And the expression of Nine Dragon True Monarch turned extremely ugly.


    "We''ve been tricked, the Dimen Sect Master and the main lineage of the Cao Family were unaware; it might have been entrusted to a collateral branch, and that entrustee might be waiting on the other side of the Transmission Formation, expecting the Cave Heaven Bead to be sent over!" Nine Dragon True Monarch said, his eyes also showing some anger.


    The planning of the Dimen Sect Master was truly meticulous.


    "Is it possible to use Dimen and Renmen to enter?" Golden Light True Buddha also asked Xue Shan True Monarch.


    They currently possess the Dimen and Renmen, these two spiritual treasures.


    "No!" Xue Shan True Monarch shook his head.


    If it were possible, he would have already used Dimen and Renmen to start.


    Dimen can only leave a shadow behind, and since they haven''t entered, there are naturally no shadows.


    As for Renmen, it can only randomly transport divine skills, secret techniques, and magic artifacts.


    It''s useless for the displacement of cultivators.


    The group looked towards Lin Shiming again.


    "What is that Astral Evasion artifact that friend possesses?" The others obviously remembered the image of Lin Shiming''s spatial leap.


    "No good!" Lin Shiming shook his head; he had sensed it just now.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t suggest taking a look at the treasures inside first and then deciding.


    After all, he has the Purple Illusion Sky Smoke liquor.


    However, quietly taking away the treasures before the four of them would be exceedingly difficult.


    Each person is shrewd to the extreme.


    The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward, given that the Broken Spirit Formation was overly troublesome.


    The four were somewhat at a loss.


    Unwilling to give up, the four continued to lead Lin Shiming to the stairway of the third floor.


    Though they attempted various spatial artifacts.


    But the Broken Spirit Formation obviously anticipated this, its vicinity fortified with isolating formations.


    It''s considered the number one formation for confidentiality.


    For the time being, they were all somewhat at a standstill.


    After all, if several True Persons went elsewhere to retrieve other means, it would cause delays.


    "I have something here that can work!" Lin Shiming suddenly spoke up.


    At this remark, the rest were somewhat skeptical.


    Because if they couldn''t do it, they didn''t believe Lin Shiming could.


    The Broken Spirit Formation isn''t just any ordinary formation.


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t be so disheartened.


    "Friend, please do tell!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke up.


    After all, he was allied with Lin Shiming; at this moment, he naturally supported Lin Shiming.


    And they truly had no better solution.


    The Broken Spirit Formation is quite tyrannical.


    It''s not like any other formation.


    "I have two Fourth Rank Spirit-devouring Ant Insects, but I must have the first choice of treasure!" Lin Shiming declared.


    His expression at this moment was very determined.


    Actually, from earlier on, their courtesy in letting Xue Shan True Monarch choose first almost guaranteed that Lin Shiming would choose last.


    In that case, even if there were magical treasures, they would be chosen before his turn.


    He would be left with nothing.


    Now he possesses the Qiu Xue Sword, which is essentially Nascent Soul combat strength.


    So, before entering, he must make things clear.


    The other four immediately fell silent.


    After all, this statement was not something that the others wished to witness.


    Everyone wanted to choose first, but likewise, no one wanted to be last.


    Including Xue Shan True Monarch, this was his moment of hesitation.


    If Lin Shiming chose first, it would mean that Xue Shan True Monarch would choose last, a situation difficult for the initiator to accept.


    But if Lin Shiming didn''t choose first, the latter wouldn''t bring out the Soul Devouring Ants.


    Thus, the scene quickly fell into silence.


    At this moment, everyone was a Nascent Soul True Monarch, none willing to submit to another.


    They were certainly not about to make concessions here.


    Even the more modest Golden Light True Buddha was now tight-lipped.


    All the more so for Xue Sha Demon Lord.


    For them, these treasures could embody the true foundation of the Tianzhao Sect and possibly even items capable of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.


    "Such delays aren''t helpful, we can choose! But there must be one guarantee!"


    "If it''s Cultivation Techniques or Secret Techniques, one shouldn''t select them alone; they must be duplicated again, with everyone getting a copy, otherwise, it goes against our original intent!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke.


    With this remark, the others nodded.


    Indeed, what they most desired was better heritage, as exemplified by the Nascent Soul combat power demonstrated by the Tai Qian Shark Tribe, far superior to their own.


    Keep in mind, they were also the top Nascent Soul combat forces of their respective sects.


    Their Demonic Cultivation Techniques and Buddhist Law were both on the brink of full mastery.


    "In addition, besides Cultivation Techniques, the first and second to choose must also compensate the last two with some 5,000-year-old Spiritual Medicines!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke again, stressing the unfair advantage of being the first or second to choose.


    Such 5,000-year-old Spiritual Medicines could be provided by all major powers.


    These Spiritual Medicines were beneficial for Golden Core Late Stage cultivators and to some extent useful for Nascent Soul Cultivators; whereas those under 5,000 years had too few medicinal properties.


    They were simply not enough for a Nascent Soul Cultivator''s usage.


    "Alright, then let''s decide on that!" Nine Dragon True Monarch also nodded.


    "However, another point, if there are less than five items, then this arrangement must be reconsidered, and the cultivators in front must provide enough treasures to those behind, or else they can''t enjoy them solely!" Xue Sha Demon Lord added.


    This statement met with no objection.


    And Xue Shan True Monarch also spoke:


    "Then, I shall be the last, when the time comes, I hope the companions of Dimen will not compete with me!" Xue Shan True Monarch declared.


    Yet, this statement stirred some reluctance among the others.


    "Your Dimen must also be counted as one of the treasures!" Nine Dragon True Monarch said.


    Now with Dimen in Xue Shan True Monarch''s hands and Renmen too, they couldn''t really snatch them away.


    But they must be counted as treasures.


    "No problem, but that doesn''t count for the first and second rounds. If there aren''t enough for three rounds, then I''ll provide other treasures to be divided equally among us all!" Xue Shan True Monarch nodded.


    The final proposal was quickly settled, and now it was time for the True Monarchs to discuss the sequence.


    Of course, the sequence mainly involved Golden Light True Buddha, Xue Sha Demon Lord, and also Nine Dragon True Monarch.


    Nine Dragon True Monarch, by offering several Flood Dragon offspring, secured the right to choose second.


    Golden Light True Buddha was third, and surprisingly, Xue Sha Demon Lord was fourth.


    Thus, the sequence set, everyone swore oaths to the Heavenly Dao.


    Lin Shiming then took out two Spirit-devouring Ants.


    The current pair of Spirit-devouring Ants were the size of face basins, covered in bizarre starlight patterns shimmering upon their surfaces.


    At the same time, their sharp teeth and wings also struck a chord with the crowd.


    This was the first time they had seen such fierce Mutated Soul Devouring Ants.


    No wonder Lin Shiming was confident.


    Without delay, Lin Shiming directed the Spirit-devouring Ants forward, to begin devouring the Spirit Formation.


    The two ants crouched before the massive Spirit Light gateway Formation and viciously sucked at the portal''s Spirit Patterns.


    In an instant, they were like inhaling smoke, all of the Broken Spirit Formation''s Spirit Light was drawn in.


    Everyone held their breath in suspense.


    Fearing the Spirit Formation might shatter.


    If so, it would all be for naught, like a wasted effort in fetching water with a bamboo basket.


    Fortunately, as the Spirit Formation gradually dissipated, it unveiled a higher level.


    Everyone entered the fourth level.


    They discovered a larger offering table.


    On the table, there were precisely ten Jade Boxes, and three Jade Slips.


    All of these Spirit Boxes and Jade Slips were encompassed within a Spirit Shield, preserving their pristine condition.


    This indicated that on this level, there were ten ultimate treasures!

 Chapter 976 - 596: Cold Marrow Jade, Heavenly Thunder Pill

    The Spirit Shield used here is the most common type of Essence-Gathering Spirit Shield, which can maximize the preservation of the artefact''s spirit intelligence, although not as outstanding as the Ling Family''s Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens.


    Nevertheless, it belongs to one of the best methods for preserving Spiritual Objects in the world of Immortal Cultivation.


    This Spirit Shield does not block Divine Sense, thus everyone can easily see the treasures inside the Jade Box.


    Within the most central box, a square piece of Cold Marrow Jade exuded a radiant and mysterious blue Spirit Light.


    But when his Divine Sense infiltrated, he felt as though his Divine Sense was frozen, his entire body starting to experience an intense chill to the bones.


    And to know, he is a Golden Core Body Cultivator, whose resistance to cold and flames has reached a terrifying realm.


    To be able to make him feel so cold, there was only one possibility!


    "Thousand Year Cold Marrow Jade!" Lin Shiming was so shocked that he was beyond words, his eyes also emitting Spirit Light, his heart reaching an extreme excitement.


    This was the very Thousand Year Cold Marrow Jade that he had been planning for a long time.


    With this treasure, he would have gathered all the ingredients for the Nascent Transformation Pill.


    He only needed to wait for the age of the Nascent Fruit, and to know, his Minor Divine Ability Revival Wind could increase almost two hundred years every time it was used.


    The only pity was that the Minor Divine Ability would still need more than four years to gather once again.


    But it was highly possible to achieve the effect of a million years after his breakthrough to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Apart from the Cold Marrow Jade, the other treasures were enough to leave Lin Shiming parched and breathless.


    His eyes were shocked to the extreme.


    One of the Jade Boxes contained a Spirit Fruit resembling a baby; the Nascent Fruit was only palm-sized, crystal clear and translucent, emitting a dazzling Spirit Light.


    "Eight thousand-year-old Nascent Fruit!" It was also the other Spiritual Material required for the Nascent Transformation Pill, the Nascent Fruit.


    Lin Shiming continued to look at the next treasures, his shocked eyes turning numb!


    This was no doubt the wealth of a Fifth-Rank Supreme force.


    "Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Gathering Immortal Talisman!"


    "Thousand Year Spiritual Medicine, Thousand Variance Fruit!"


    "A segment of Thousand Year Soul Nourishing Wood!"


    "Thousand Year Spiritual Medicine, Nine-Colored Flower!"


    "Sixth Rank Spiritual Fire, Heavenly Heart Fiery Flame!"


    "Five Elements, Five Top-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Heavenly Thunder Pill!"


    "Sixth Rank Spiritual Material, Meteor Sky Sand Crystal!"


    At least ten treasures were at the level of the Sixth Rank materials.


    One could see the magnanimity of the Tianzhao Sect.


    At this moment, even other True Persons had their pupils shooting out Spirit Light, evidently just as excited.


    Even each of them started to keep a distance, as if afraid that others would take advantage of the situation.


    Even Lin Shiming kept the Qiu Xue Sword right behind him, and at the same time, he was holding the Divine Bead of Mystical Power, ensuring he could use the Immortal Wood Shadow Minor Divine Ability at any time.


    No wonder he was cautious, as the treasures in front of him really involved too much.


    Even a Heavenly Dao vow could not guarantee security.


    However, fortunately, the four True Persons seemed somewhat wary and did not act rashly.


    Moreover, they all looked towards the three pieces of Spirit Jade, believing that the Secret Techniques engraved within would not be subpar.


    After all, in the Cultivation Technique Jade Slips underneath, they found an Earth Rank Technique.


    This indicates that the treasures within the three Jade Slips were even more valuable than the Earth Rank Technique.


    Perhaps there lay a Sixth Rank Secret Technique or Divine Skill.


    Cultivators in the stage of Nascent Soul, unlike the use of Minor Divine Abilities, could wield true major Divine Skills.


    And such Divine Skills were cultivable through later efforts.


    Of course, Sixth Rank Divine Skills were not that easy to cultivate.


    "Daoist Lin, choose first; let''s not look at the Secret Techniques for now!" Xue Shan True Monarch said.


    Picking among the ten artifacts was not difficult as the differences were slim; to be honest, these treasures appeared average to them, as their own forces had them in more or less quantities.


    This accumulation over thousands of years afforded each major force at least two opportunities to condense a Nascent Soul.


    For instance, Coral Alliance had both Kuangfeng True Person and Xue Shan True Monarch.


    Moreover, there were treasures given to Tianliu True Person for the breakthrough later.


    It shows that more treasures were available.


    Hence, what attracted them the most were the Soul Nourishing Wood and the Heavenly Heart Fiery Flame.


    As for Lin Shiming, he would definitely choose the Nascent Fruit and the Thousand Year Cold Marrow Jade.


    So they were even less anxious.


    However, as for the Cultivation Techniques, everyone was watching closely.


    Especially Nine Dragon True Monarch and Xue Sha True Monarch appeared close, obviously guarding against Xue Shan True Monarch and the Qiu Xue Sword, or even against the possibility of a sudden coalition with the Golden Light True Buddha.


    After all, there were exactly three Jade Slips.


    So the atmosphere in the room became somewhat delicate.


    Nevertheless, Xue Shan True Monarch did not hesitate, shining the Green Light Mirror on the three Jade Slips.


    In an instant, the three Jade Slips split into fifteen portions.


    At this time, the atmosphere relaxed further.


    Lin Shiming was the first to choose the Cold Marrow Jade; he used his Spirit Ant to devour the Spirit Shield and summoned the Cold Marrow Jade into his hands, entering his Cave Heaven.


    Compared to other True Monarchs, Lin Shiming seemed more at ease, given that he had the Qiu Xue Sword to keep an eye on things.


    So when the Cold Marrow Jade was secured, even if there were any sudden developments, he felt slightly more relaxed.


    "Let everyone continue to choose. After leaving this place, we must unite and confront the Taiqian Shark clan!" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke again.


    At this word, others nodded as well.


    The reason they were willing to share the Jade Slips lay in the threat of the Taiqian Shark clan.


    The Taiqian Shark clan took the Heavenly Gate and according to the Heavenly Gate sect master, they were certain to open the passageway between two worlds.


    Which other world, of course, was the Taiqian Realm of the Taiqian Shark clan.


    This was evident from the discussions between the Taiqian Shark Demon Emperor and the Qiu Xue Sword.


    At that time, there might be many Nascent Soul Demon Emperors in the Southern Sea.


    They must unite to have a chance to defend the Southern Sea.


    Soon it was Nine Dragon True Monarch''s turn to choose, and unsurprisingly, he went for the Heavenly Heart Fiery Flame. With this Spiritual Fire, perhaps he could cultivate a Sixth Rank Flood Dragon Demon Emperor.

 Chapter 977 - 596: Cold Marrow Jade, Heavenly Thunder Pill_2

    Golden Light True Buddha chose the Soul Nourishing Wood, while Xue Sha Demon Lord seemed a bit regretful, as he also yearned for it, but in the end had no choice but to select the Gathering Immortal Talisman.


    Xue Shan True Monarch chose the Nascent Transformation Pill, seemingly seeking a breakthrough treasure for Chi Shan True Person.


    And soon the second round began, with Xue Shan True Monarch choosing the Nine-Colored Flower.


    After several people made their choices, in the end, there was only one Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Heavenly Thunder Pill left for him to select.


    Of course, the only benefit of this Heavenly Thunder Pill was that it could withstand some Heavenly Tribulation.


    For most cultivators, they are confident about facing Heavenly Tribulation, especially those from large powers with no shortage of high-level arrays and treasures.


    Lin Shiming, although he still desired the Meteor Sky Sand Crystal, had no choice but to abide by the rules and could not continue to choose.


    He reluctantly accepted the Heavenly Thunder Pill.


    The fifteen Jade Slips were also divided into five parts, each drifting towards the individuals.


    Lin Shiming received three Jade Slips and scanned them, indeed finding that one contained a Divine Skill Secret Technique named Tai Qing Xuan Light.


    The remaining two Jade Slips were an Intermediate Grade Earth-level Cultivation Technique, Cave Profound Sky Scripture, and an insight on the Nascent Soul stage.


    However, these insights on the Nascent Soul stage were quite ancient.


    And the Cave Profound Sky Scripture was even more restrictive, as only Wind Spirit Root Cultivators could cultivate it.


    Lin Shiming dared not look too long, as there were still several True Monarchs present.


    As for Xue Shan True Monarch cheating or making unauthorized copies, he was not worried.


    He had system prompts that could let him discern the truth.


    Moreover, the lack of objections from the other True Monarchs indicated that there was a very small possibility of any issues.


    "As for this Cave Heaven''s Spirit Vein and that Pill Furnace, even the Cave Heaven itself, I, Zhao, will not take them!" Xue Shan True Monarch announced.


    He had chosen Dimen.


    At this point, the others frowned slightly, because neither the Cave Heaven itself nor the Pill Furnace was as valuable as Dimen.


    "I''ll supplement everyone with some Spiritual Medicines then!" Xue Shan True Monarch said, and then gave out a 5000-year-old Spiritual Medicine to each.


    With that, the matter was settled.


    Lin Shiming also unexpectedly discovered that he had been allotted this Fifth Rank Supreme Grade Pill Furnace.


    With this Pill Furnace, the success rate of producing Nascent Transformation Pills could increase by a few percentages.


    For him, this was naturally good news.


    As for the Spirit Vein, the Lin Family had few high-level cultivators at the moment, so the demand was not great.


    Moreover, he also had the Gathering Immortal Talisman.


    After dividing the last of the treasures, everyone was extremely satisfied.


    They left the Cave Heaven and headed towards Heavenly Earth Island.


    After dividing the treasures of Tianzhao Sect, there was still the aftermath of Tianzhao Sect to deal with.


    For everyone, assessing the damage was also important.


    "In half an hour, let''s have another meeting. Even if the Taigian Shark Tribe opens the Barrier, they won''t be able to do it so quickly. The Domain Barrier is not that relaxed yet!" Xue Shan True Monarch said.


    The others nodded as well, apart from their own division of treasures, they were also interested in seeing how the lower forces divided theirs.


    Lin Shiming, however, did not feel the same.


    After all, aside from himself, the Lin Family had no other Golden Cores.


    They hardly acquired any treasures.


    Moreover, the Lin Family was searching another subsidiary island.


    But he was somewhat concerned that the family''s losses might be significant.


    Lin Shiming arrived at the subsidiary island and found many Lin Family cultivators in grief.


    "Seventh Uncle, it''s my fault, the family has sacrificed a Purple Mansion and five Foundation Establishment!" Lin Zekong said, bowing his head proactively.


    The number of Purple Mansion cultivators in the Lin Family was small, and despite having won a major victory, losing a Purple Mansion was, in his eyes, a fatal mistake of his own.


    Without receiving Lin Shiming''s news, he became bait for Xue Shan True Monarch and was also unable to protect the others adequately afterward.


    To know, the strength of the Lin Family''s Purple Mansion was not lower than other families and big islands.


    "Who was sacrificed?" Lin Shiming''s voice also lowered unavoidably.


    In such a complex situation, he couldn''t do anything either, unable to control the overall situation.


    After all, the battlefront was drawn out far and wide.


    And it wasn''t something he could influence alone.


    But before he received an answer, a glance was enough to clarify that the one who was sacrificed was Lin Zeyi.


    The latter was the only sword cultivator this time and ultimately ended his path of cultivation under the swordsmanship.


    Lin Shiming closed his eyes slightly, unable to bear it, even if he had not witnessed the situation, he could roughly guess what happened.


    Lin Shiming glanced once more at the Foundation Establishment cultivators, relieved that Lin Changxing, Lin Zehong, and a few talented Golden Core prospects were present.


    The Lin Family hadn''t experienced such a departure in a long time.


    "For this matter, I must reflect on my actions. Once back to Shuangmu Island, I will isolate myself in seclusion on the peaks of Qinglian Peak within our clan for a decade!" Lin Shiming knew it was not Lin Zekong''s fault.


    But clearly, Lin Zekong could have done better to prevent the losses of the Purple Mansion Family.


    He then turned to Lin Zecheng:


    "You too!" Lin Zecheng was also partially in command of this operation for the Lin Family.


    "What about the family''s treasures?" Lin Shiming asked again.


    After doling out punishments, Lin Shiming enquired about the family''s gains.


    These cultivators were all competing for just ten spots; without substantial gains, this selection and drawing of lots would be rather pointless for the Lin Family.


    However, the gains that followed were beyond Lin Shiming''s expectations.


    In terms of magical treasures, they each obtained one or two Fourth Rank Magical Artifacts.


    In addition, there was a large number of Spirit Stones and various inheritances.


    The Tianzhao Sect left behind a way out, taking with them their inheritances and family fortunes.


    The subordinate islands, like the Tian Shang Seven Islands, did the same.


    Although the Lin Family''s islands are affiliated with several Purple Mansion Families,


    they lack a Golden Core Family, but combined, their foundation is not weak.


    After all, the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain is not like the Coral Sea Domain, with frequent changes, where subordinate forces rise and fall every day.


    Because the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain has no threats, it is more like a stagnant pool.


    Lin Shiming nodded repeatedly to this.


    He then arranged for other family cultivators to sort out the gains, to thoroughly plunder the sub-islands as quickly as possible, not to overlook the Spirit Soil, Spirit Vein, or even the Formation.


    The threat posed by the Tai Qian Shark Clan is too great; the islands of the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain can only be abandoned for a while.


    Naturally, the treasures therein must be taken.


    Spiritual Medicines need to be transplanted, Spirit Veins relocated, and Formations dismantled.


    Half an hour later, Lin Shiming flew towards Heavenly Earth Island.


    The time had come to negotiate with the True Monarchs.


    Several True Monarchs gathered in a new hall, illuminated by five-colored crystal lights.


    The table was set with Fifth Rank Spiritual Tea and Jade Dew.


    The complexions of the True Monarchs had improved significantly.


    Certainly, they had divided the other treasures on the island.


    Most importantly, they had acquired quite a few things in their Storage Bags.


    In this respect, neither Lin Shiming nor the Lin Family could compare.


    Other powers had about a dozen Golden Cores each, while the Lin Family had none.


    That he could share in the treasury was already quite extraordinary.


    After all, this time he relied on the might of the Qiu Xue Sword.


    "Alright, now that everyone is here, let''s block the Shark Hunting League from today onward!"


    "If possible, we must storm into the Taiqian Abyss before the Heavenly Gate opens!"


    "We cannot afford to delay even for a moment!" Xue Shan True Monarch said.


    The Nine Dragon True Monarch was also somewhat anxious.


    After all, without the Tianzhao Sect, they are closest to the conflict.


    If the Tai Qian Shark Clan were to launch an attack, the first targets would definitely be the Coral Alliance and Nine Dragon Island.


    Moreover, the Coral Alliance also has to worry about the Flood Dragon Clan.


    Caught between two fronts, the danger and severity are much greater.


    After all, the Coral Sea Domain is somewhat preoccupied with its own affairs.


    "Although it is so, if there are more than two Demon Emperors in the Tai Qian Shark Clan, and we rashly enter the Taiqian Mist..." Golden Light True Buddha spoke up with some concern.


    This is not the outside, where they have the advantage.


    In the Taiqian Mist, they have had their experiences.


    They are naturally wary now.


    "Then at the very least, we must stand guard near the Taiqian Abyss, establish a well-rounded Transmission Formation system, and we True Monarchs must stand united in our enmity. Otherwise, a solitary wood cannot support an edifice, and if we are broken one by one, that''s not what everyone wants to see, right?" Xue Shan True Monarch spoke up again.


    Golden Light True Buddha did not respond this time.


    After all, they understand the principle of a collapsing wall dragging down its neighbors; they really can''t just stand by and watch.


    If the Tai Qian Sharks arrive, it could be a crisis for their entire race.

 Chapter 978 - 597: The Offensive and Defensive Alliance, The Spiritual Treasure Reappears

    "Since it is so, then let it be agreed upon!"


    "The first layer of defense will be established on Yunyue Island. Each of our five families must guarantee the presence of at least two Nascent Soul True Monarch Cultivators on Yunyue Island at all times, with no more than two cultivators in seclusion, ensuring that five people can convene at any moment!"


    "Secondly, each family must have at least four Golden Core Cultivators, of course, except for Daoist Lin!"


    "Thirdly, each family must contribute at least one fifth-rank Superior Grade Spirit Vein to ensure that the Spirit Veins of Yunyue Island are sufficient to set up a sixth-rank grand formation. It is best to transplant the Spirit Veins from Heavenly Earth Island, as the Tai Qian Shark clan is very familiar with the sixth-rank grand formation of Heavenly Earth Island!"


    "As for Purple Mansion cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators, they must not be less than one-quarter of this time''s number!" Xue Shan True Monarch stated each term.


    This agreement did not present any problems.


    Two Nascent Soul True Monarchs could prevent the island from being instantly breached.


    And others could teleport at any time for timely assistance.


    Originally, it was Yunyue Island that guarded the Taiqian Abyss in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    Now, the three families of Yunyue are still the sworn enemies of Yu Jing and the Xu Family behind her.


    "I have no issue with these, but there are two points that must be made clear. I will not travel with Xue Sha, and the Chi Lan Sea Domain must also be involved regardless of whether their sect has a True Monarch or not. If they don''t have a True Monarch, then they must send twenty Golden Core True Persons. They definitely have the strength to do this!" Golden Light True Buddha also spoke up.


    Upon hearing this, the rest nodded in agreement.


    All the forces of the Southern Sea would be drawn into this affair.


    The Chi Lan Sea Domain naturally could not stand aloof.


    As for Myriad Buddhas Island and Blood Cultivation Sect, they have always been at odds; the fact that they could come together this time without conflict was already giving face to Xue Shan True Monarch.


    If it were any other time, the two would start fighting upon meeting.


    "In addition to the Chi Lan Sea Domain, we must also reach out to Nan Jiang!"


    "If they don''t want their coastal areas to be occupied by the Tai Qian Sharks, then we''ll open up the passage to the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain!" Xue Shan True Monarch added once again.


    He thought again of Granny Qingyu, who had excellently defended her position; the Qing Yu Flower Sect was also one of the major powers in Nan Jiang.


    With their participation, defense and garrisoning would go more smoothly.


    Especially since when Granny Qingyu fled, she mentioned she would visit to apologize.


    This was a good opportunity.


    The next matters concerned the details of defending the entire Yunyue City.


    For the several major powers, this was an unexpected situation, so they had to plan again.


    As for matters concerning the construction of the city, Xue Shan True Monarch would have True Persons in charge, so there was no need for the Lin Family to help.


    Moreover, the other party had taken the initiative to assume most of the garrisoning tasks on behalf of the Lin Family.


    The Lin Family just needed to arrange for Golden Core and Purple Mansion cultivators.


    Lin Shiming was also well aware of this.


    This was because Xue Shan True Monarch was worried that the Lin Family would retreat to the Eastern Domain and take root there.


    After all, the Lin Family had their own territory in the Eastern Domain, and the Qingxuan Sect there could call upon the Lin Family to venture to Chu Country and seize the former territories of the Heavenly Demon Sect at any time.


    If the Lin Family were to flee outright, the status of the Coral Alliance might be greatly undermined.


    It wouldn''t be like now, with Xue Shan True Monarch commanding like the Alliance Hierarch of the Southern Sea, issuing orders with great authority.


    Having discussed the defensive strategy, the next matter was the division of the islands.


    After all, there was a large expanse of territory in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain, and even though the Tai Qian Shark clan''s threat made it impossible to cultivate it slowly, they could still take the opportunity to plunder while it was still peaceful.


    Especially in terms of Spirit Veins, as well as some minor secret realms.


    Like Profound Grade Secret Realms, Yellow Grade Secret Realms, and even Earth Grade Secret Realms.


    The Lin Family, along with Tianliu Island, Red Leaf Island, Qian Ji Island, and Yuntie Island, jointly divided the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    Of course, don''t think this is too little, as the entire Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain only consists of seven archipelagos, plus the surrounding seas of Heavenly Earth Island.


    The seven archipelagos are Heavenly Joy Archipelago, Heavenly Wrath Archipelago, Heavenly Sorrow Archipelago, Heavenly Sorrow Archipelago, Heavenly Fear Archipelago, Heavenly Shock Archipelago, and Heavenly Contemplation Archipelago.


    The entire Coral Alliance occupies Heavenly Earth Archipelago, and the other True Persons and True Monarchs of the Coral Alliance occupy Heavenly Wrath Archipelago and Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    The remaining internal island powers of the Coral Alliance then divide Heavenly Wrath Archipelago.


    Among them, Heavenly Joy Archipelago is considered average amongst the seven sea domains, while Heavenly Wrath Archipelago is classified as the worst.


    However, this is normal. The remaining three powers divide the remaining five of the Seven Injuries Archipelago.


    Naturally, they would choose the larger islands, and for the other Golden Core powers without a True Monarch, it was generous of Xue Shan True Monarch to allocate territories to them.


    After the negotiations were done, they prepared to return on their own.


    However, unlike the trip there, which required a Spirit Boat, one could use a Transmission Formation to leave.


    While the True Monarchs were in a meeting, the other True Persons had already constructed the Transmission Formation.


    At this time, Lin Shiming could teleport to the Red Leaf Archipelago whenever he wished.


    Once the Lin Family has settled its own matters, it could proceed to the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    Of course, Red Leaf Archipelago is no longer called Red Leaf Archipelago, but has been renamed to Redwood Archipelago.


    However, at this moment, it was still not time to leave.


    Although the assault was over, the internal division of interests within the Coral Alliance had not yet concluded.


    Xue Shan True Monarch reconvened the True Persons for another meeting.


    For Lin Shiming, this meeting seemed quite routine, essentially reiterating the important matters once again.


    These included garrison duties and the layout of the forces.


    He also informed all True Persons that the true war was not yet over, and the defense of Yunyue Island was still necessary.


    Many True Persons were not surprised, as they had witnessed events on Heavenly Earth Island and knew of the threat posed by the Tai Qian Shark clan; they could not possibly neglect it.


    Before they arrived at Heavenly Earth Island, in fact, many True Persons were aware that the Taiqian Abyss was a dangerous place in the Southern Sea.

 Chapter 979 - 597: The Offensive and Defensive Alliance, The Spiritual Treasure Reappears_2

    In that place, it''s said that even Cultivators at the Golden Core Late Stage have never made it out alive.


    Now, knowing that the opponent is a Spiritual Object from another realm, although still surprised, their minds were somewhat prepared.


    Some True Persons had already started planning an escape route, or seeking a glimmer of opportunity for their family''s lineage.


    Yet there were also True Persons who were sharpening their fists, eager to take this opportunity to slay more Taiqian Sharks.


    The carcasses of Taiqian Sharks are basically Spirit Stones.


    Their inner cores can be used to comprehend and deduce Sword Intent.


    Their Spirit Beast flesh is a great supplement for Cultivators with a Water Attribute, and the hide of the Taiqian Shark is even more precious.


    It can be regarded as the finest Spirit Talisman paper among its peers in the world.


    Even Lin Shiming had kept a piece of Fifth Rank Taiqian Shark''s hide in his Storage Bag.


    That was what he had obtained previously when he entered the Taiqian Abyss.


    And he has not traded it away to this day.


    He also planned to use this Taiqian Shark hide to refine the Gathering Immortal Talisman later on, nurturing it within the Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens, to maximize the benefits of the talisman.


    At the same time, Xue Shan True Monarch had also allocated the islands.


    The principle of allocation was the same as what was discussed in advance at the True Monarch Conference; other True Persons had no objections, and Lin Shiming was equally agreeable.


    Only he exchanged a subtle indication with Zhao Yulin, Red Leaf True Person and Profound Mechanism True Person through glances.


    The four forces divided their shares, not too much nor too little.


    Overall, the territory that the Lin Family could divide was roughly the size of the power of the three outer islands of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Of course, it couldn''t be called small, because after all, the real control of power by the Lin Family at present was only that big.


    Even still not enough, after all, the Lin Family currently only has actual control over Heavenly Phenomenon Island and Lianyun Island.


    As for the other islands, the Lin Family is only laying a foundation at the moment, waiting for Red Leaf True Person''s Ye Family to actually move out.


    The Lin Family could then be considered the true ruler of the Redwood and Soarwood Archipelagos.


    Therefore, this time, besides gaining a large territory, the Lin Family also needed a large number of Cultivators.


    To explore and to manage.


    And for Lin Shiming, there were quite a few opportunities within the Heavenly Joy Archipelago, waiting for his system prompts.


    Not to mention finding another Top-grade Spirit Stone vein.


    But finding a Profound Grade Secret Realm would be easy.


    Of course, Lin Shiming was also looking forward to the method to unlock the ancient treasure.


    His second system prompt was used on the Taiqian Shark Emperor, the new day had not yet arrived, and the prompt had not been refreshed.


    Apart from the prompts, he also had a number of True Persons'' Storage Bags in his body that needed to be inspected.


    This included the Storage Bag of Heavenly Worry Sage.


    An island lord of an archipelago, although not managed for long, must have quite significant treasures.


    The conference ended quickly, and the sky gradually became dusky, a red cloud emerging at the horizon.


    This red cloud seemed like a fiercely burning flame, even more vibrant than the ones over the Outer Sea by a fraction.


    Lin Shiming and Red Leaf True Person entered the hall, Red Leaf True Person actively sought out Profound Mechanism True Person and Zhao Yulin.


    He even took out the Spirit Map, and proactively allocated the best piece to the Lin Family.


    "We might as well explore together when the time comes!" said Red Leaf True Person.


    The others nodded as well, they too hoped Lin Shiming would accompany them.


    Lin Shiming now was considered to have the fighting power of a True Monarch.


    In the current Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain, they really feared that the Taiqian Shark clan would come and go as they pleased.


    With Lin Shiming watching over them, it would definitely be more stable and safe.


    Moreover, the fact that their three families could divide half an archipelago was already considered to be riding on the coattails of the Lin Family''s luck.


    After all, Tianliu Island without Tianliu True Person and Qian Ji Island without Qian Ji True Person, their power would be much weakened.


    Only Red Leaf True Person still had the fighting power of the Golden Core Late Stage, but compared to his own Coral Island, it was far from comparable.


    "Okay, we can look out for each other when the time comes!" Lin Shiming nodded, almost without hesitation he agreed.


    His Lin Family naturally needed to collect resources, and they had already divided an area near Heavenly Joy Island within the Heavenly Joy Archipelago to maximize their interests, so of course, he was extremely satisfied.


    After the agreement was settled, Lin Shiming also returned to his own room.


    Waiting for the Transmission Formation to be fully operational, the current Transmission Formation was transmitting forces from Myriad Buddhas Island, the Blood Cultivation Sect, and Nine Dragon Island.


    After all, they were further away and needed to make an early move to gather at the three Yunyue Islands.


    Lin Shiming returned to his room and immediately took out the storage bags of a few True Persons.


    Among the storage bags of True Persons were two from those at the Golden Core Middle Stage, which Lin Shiming didn''t expect much from, only the storage bag of Heavenly Worry Sage had Lin Shiming full of anticipation.


    A Golden Core Late Stage island master, combined with over a thousand years of management.


    It was enough to look forward to the treasures inside bringing surprises to the Lin Family.


    The first storage bag Lin Shiming inspected was from a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator, and the first thing he saw inside was a Fifth Rank Spirit-Seeking Plate, containing a Fifth-Order Middle-Stage Spirit Vein.


    Also, there were massive amounts of Top-grade Spirit Stones and a variety of precious materials.


    In the storage bag, Lin Shiming also found two Purple Jade Fruit trees.


    Adding to the previously harvested, the Lin Family now had a total of twelve Purple Jade Fruit trees.


    Following this, barring any accidents, the Lin Family wouldn''t lack Purple Mansion cultivators for the next thousand years.


    As for Magical Treasures, they seemed rather common and were casually tossed by Lin Shiming into his own storage bag.


    He always offered such treasures to the family.


    So they could grow faster and better.


    It was the same with the storage bag of the other Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator; Lin Shiming glanced at it and lost interest.


    But when it came to the storage bag of Heavenly Worry Sage, Lin Shiming''s first glance fell upon a palm-sized Jade Box, which contained exactly two Gold Condensation Fruits.


    This meant Lin Shitao could continue refining two more batches of Gold Condensation Pills, and if lucky, the Lin Family might have the spiritual objects needed for Lin Shitao and Lin Xianzhi''s breakthrough to Golden Core.


    However, before that, he needed to help both of them catalyze the Minor Divine Ability Fruit trees.


    That would increase the chances of their breakthrough to Golden Core considerably.


    Apart from the Gold Condensation Fruit, another Spirit-Seeking Plate also caught Lin Shiming''s attention.


    This Spirit-Seeking Plate was even larger than the standard Fifth Rank ones.


    This made Lin Shiming somewhat surprised and doubtful.


    After a closer look, he discovered that this was a Fifth-Order Top-Grade Spirit Vein.


    The joy in Lin Shiming''s heart grew even more.


    What the Lin Family now lacked the most was Spirit Veins.


    In fact, they originally had enough, but now the Flaming Sword was undergoing a Nascent Soul breakthrough.


    That made the lack of Spirit Veins much more acute.


    Replacing it with a Fifth-Order Top-Grade Spirit Vein would greatly assist the Flaming Sword.


    Together with the ten-thousand-year Falling Sunset Grass, Top-grade Fire Spirit Stones, the Sword Intent from the Sword Storing Pavilion, and the intrinsic foundation of the Flaming Sword, the chances of breaking through to Nascent Soul almost reached seventy percent.


    Lin Shiming felt somewhat envious.


    After all, even if he refined the Nascent Transformation Pill, with a thirty percent chance of breakthrough, plus his own Spiritual Body and talent, he would only have at most a fifty percent confidence.


    Even with Top-grade Wood Spirit Stones, it''s just fifty-five percent.


    After securing the Spirit Vein, Lin Shiming continued to look at the other treasures.


    There were obviously an immense number of treasures here, clearly, the possessions of Heavenly Worry Archipelago had been emptied.


    All True Persons had kept their treasures on themselves, convenient for fleeing at any moment.


    But in front of the True Monarch, these True Persons'' resistance was too weak.


    One by one, they were executed on Heavenly Earth Island.


    Aside from Spiritual Fruits and Spirit Veins, Lin Shiming this time also found an ancient map; the map seemed somewhat aged, appearing to be another Secret Realm map as well.


    It was somewhat similar to the first Profound Grade Secret Realm map obtained by the Lin Family.


    However, the map was not complete, and Lin Shiming couldn''t help but look forward to a system prompt that could make up for this map.


    Yet the time had not come.


    Besides the ancient map, in his hand, he once again held a three-inch Silver Needle.


    At first glance, the Silver Needle seemed unremarkable, just like any ordinary Magical Treasure.


    But upon close sensing, it was similar to Lin Shiming''s Blood Demon Disk from the Sword Storing Book; clearly, it was also a damaged Spiritual Treasure.


    It was a stealthy type of damaged Spiritual Treasure; the only downside was, this treasure lacked communication with the treasure decree.


    And this was obviously why the Heavenly Worry Sage hadn''t used this Spiritual Treasure.


    After all, a damaged Spiritual Treasure without a decree is nearly the same as an ordinary weapon; its only feature is being more durable and indestructible.


    But Lin Shiming wasn''t worried; he had the system prompt and perhaps could get some hints!

 Chapter 980 - 599: Spirit Vein Upgrade, Formless Hat Ancient Treasure

    The summer weather is always unpredictable. The surging sea breeze drives massive waves, pushing them one after another onto the island.


    In the sky, seabirds follow a set pattern, patrolling the surroundings.


    On Shuangmu Island, the cultivators of the Lin Family remain busy as ever.


    Every cultivator radiates confidence, and each day, cultivators depart via the Transmission Formation, heading toward the Soarwood Archipelago and the Redwood Archipelago.


    The Lin Family still adheres to the 30-70 principle.


    Apart from the main island, Soarwood Island, all other islands are developed 30% by the Lin Family and 70% by affiliated forces.


    Thus, large numbers of Purple Mansion cultivators, Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Qi cultivators are required.


    For the rapidly progressing Lin Family, the child stipend policy ensures the feasibility of this expansion.


    However, the Lin Family''s leadership still laments the lack of Array Masters, Purple Mansion cultivators, and Golden Core cultivators.


    Each external island requires the reestablishment of Transmission Formations and the opening of Lin Family Restaurants.


    Currently, the Lin Family''s Water Spirit Shell population has grown to 3,000, and every few years, they can produce a single Water Spirit Pearl.


    In addition to the Water Spirit Shells, there are also Heavenly Sound Conchs, Mystic Spirit Turtles, and Green Shell Crabs, which have reproduced in significant numbers.


    This is enough for the Lin Family Restaurants to establish a formidable reputation.


    Although the Redwood Archipelago has not yet begun its construction and garrison rotation,


    the Lin Family must prepare in advance. Rapidly exploiting the clan''s resources and enhancing its foundations is a responsibility for every member of the Lin Family to fulfill.


    As the Transmission Formation continually activates, at this moment, the formation suddenly lights up in reverse.


    Lin Shiming, along with Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and Lin Shilei, appeared on Shuangmu Island.


    After announcing the next strategy, Lin Shiming immediately returned to Shuangmu Island. He planned to take some time off to recover.


    For the establishment of Yunyue City, the first to garrison it would be Xue Shan True Monarch and Xue Sha Demon Lord.


    The Lin Family only needed to send two Purple Mansions.


    Regarding the candidates, Lin Shiming already had choices in mind: Lin Zeli, Lin Shilei, and Lin Shiyuan. The former was a Sword Cultivator, while the latter two were specialized in lightning cultivation and wind cultivation, respectively.


    They all possessed variant Spirit Roots.


    As for the Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Lin Family had no specific requirements. It was up to the Purple Mansions to decide whom they wanted to bring along.


    Xue Shan True Monarch would also pay attention to these individuals on account of Lin Shiming.


    This matter did not concern Lin Shiming too much. After all, if Xue Shan True Monarch didn''t pay attention now, when his turn for rotation came, he likewise wouldn''t bother with the cultivators on Coral Island.


    This was a reciprocal arrangement.


    The agreed rotation timeline was once every ten years.


    To a Nascent Soul cultivator, ten years was merely the equivalent of one secluded cultivation session; it might not even be enough for a full retreat.


    Of course, during this time, Lin Shiming only aimed to achieve two things: perfect the Divine Thought Weapon technique from the Soul Fusion Secret Tome, and advance his physical body to the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    Additionally, he intended to leverage the system prompts to incorporate the resources from the Heavenly Joy Archipelago into the Lin Family''s holdings.


    "Shilei, Shiyuan, prepare yourselves. Also notify Zeli. If Yanxing breaks through to the Purple Mansion stage, bring Yanxing along as well!" Lin Shiming instructed, and the group nodded repeatedly.


    After delegating tasks to the various cultivators, Lin Shiming headed to the Lin Family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    The Lin Family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden was now located atop Qinglian Peak.


    This time, with a total of eleven Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit trees, naturally, they had to be planted in the family''s Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    However, to prevent unforeseen events, Lin Shiming decided to plant six of the Taiqing Purple Jade Fruit trees on Qinglian Peak, three in the Lin Family''s hidden small world,


    and the remaining two on Soarwood Island. This setup ensured that the Lin Family would not collapse entirely should they face unexpected calamities.


    As for the harvested spiritual medicines over 3,000 years old, Lin Shiming still kept them stored in his Purple Sun Tower.


    "Shiming!" Lin Houyuan and Lin Yanjiao hurried over from the family''s Council Hall at this moment.


    Both of them wished to understand Lin Shiming''s war efforts and requirements.


    Lin Shitao also accompanied them, clearly worried about him.


    Seeing these familiar faces from his family, Lin Shiming couldn''t help but smile warmly.


    "Father, Shitao, everything went smoothly. The Tianzhao Sect has been erased, and we''ve gained control of most of the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain!"


    "However, the sea domain cannot currently be developed, but we can prepare to assign cultivators to explore secret realms!" Lin Shiming remarked.


    Although the Tianzhao Sect had focused all its efforts on defense, concentrating most of its resources, Spirit Stones, and wealth, there were still many basic assets that hadn''t been taken away.


    While other families might overlook such resources, to the rapidly expanding Lin Family, they were still a considerable prize.


    Particularly the Profound Grade and Yellow Grade Secret Realms.


    Because secret realms are difficult to locate, many remained unexplored or underdeveloped.


    The Lin Family''s next focus would also be on these secret realms.


    "However, the Tai Qian Shark clan might be external invaders, and the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain cannot be used as a development zone for now!" Lin Shiming added.


    "For our Lin Family, not developing it might actually be better. Our family''s current scope is already extensive. The Redwood Archipelago and Soarwood Archipelago have left us overwhelmed. In many places, Purple Mansion Early Stage cultivators have to rely on Spirit Beasts to take on major responsibilities. If we expand further, it will create even bigger problems!" Lin Houyuan remarked.


    After speaking with Lin Shitao and Lin Houyuan for a while, Lin Shiming proceeded to the Five Flame Peak, which housed the family''s Northern Sword Pavilion.


    Ascending the peak, other cultivators accompanied Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming first placed the Qiu Xue Sword and Ying Feng Sword into the Northern Sword Pavilion.


    Then, in his hand, a Fifth Rank Spirit-Seeking Plate appeared.


    The Lin Family lacked a Fifth Rank Spirit-Seeking Master, but when it came to transplanting Spirit Veins, the collection process was key, and Lin Shiming possessed the special artifact: the Tai Cang Spirit-Seeking Plate.

 Chapter 981 - 599 Spirit Vein Upgrade, Formless Hat Ancient Treasure_2

    He cast the Spirit-Seeking Plate into Five Flame Peak, and instantly, a massive dragon shadow dove toward the interior of the mountain.


    In that moment, all Lin Family cultivators turned to look.


    This Spirit Vein was precisely what Lin Shiming retrieved from Heavenly Worry Sage''s Storage Bag using the Spirit-Seeking Plate.


    It contained a Fifth-Order Supreme Grade Spirit Vein.


    As the Spirit Vein was embedded, the entire mountain peak instantly radiated a dazzling spiritual glow.


    The dense Spiritual Energy surged forth, like a fountain bursting out.


    Coupled with the original Spirit Vein''s intensity, this Spirit Vein rivaled the Lin Family''s finest vein.


    Of course, placing this vein on Qinglian Peak or Thousand Wood Peak could benefit Lin Family cultivators even more.


    But since this Spirit Vein was secured with the help of Qiu Xue Sword and Ying Feng Sword, and the latter required neither treasures nor spiritual medicine...


    What Lin Shiming could do was provide them better Spiritual Energy conditions.


    And also to aid Flaming Sword in its breakthrough.


    With this Fifth-Order Supreme Grade Spirit Vein, though the likelihood of success wouldn''t increase drastically, it could at least improve by half a tier.


    By then, with two Nascent Souls in the Lin Family, the clan would be much more secure.


    Most importantly, if Flaming Sword breaks through, then Ying Feng Sword, Leiming Sword, Feifu Sword, and Minglun Sword would soon follow.


    The vein''s spiritual glow overflowed, spreading throughout Shuangmu Island.


    Those in secluded cultivation all felt as if the path of cultivation had suddenly become simpler.


    For some cultivators stuck at bottlenecks, the dense Spiritual Energy even helped them overcome their obstacles.


    From afar, Lin Houshou, having received the news, was already rushing over. The latter was now at the Late Purple Mansion stage.


    With further tempering, he could soon begin attempting a Golden Core breakthrough.


    "Shiming, I have a set of Fifth-Order Supreme Grade Formation suitable for our Lin Family. This formation is called the Profound Heavenly Water Great Formation!"


    "I must admit with shame, if my cultivation weren''t so weak, the Sixth-Order Taiqian Water Great Formation would''ve been a better fit!" Lin Houshou said.


    With the Spirit Vein in place, the family''s formation naturally needed upgrading.


    Yet Lin Houshou''s cultivation level was still too low to set up a Sixth-Order Formation.


    This formation''s legacy came from Kuangfeng True Person.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but think fondly of the latter, feeling a trace of regret.


    "Second Uncle, there''s also a disposable Transmission Formation here; take a look!" Lin Shiming handed over the jade slip inheritance given by Red Leaf True Person to Lin Houshou.


    This formation would be vital for the Lin Family in the future, allowing them to transmit along with the War Treasure Ship to the Eastern Domain.


    For the Lin Family, returning to the Eastern Domain was an ambition deeply planted in their hearts.


    Especially among the "Hou", "Shi", and "Ze" generations.


    They had gone through the darkest period of the Eastern Domain and were therefore more driven.


    "Thank you!" Lin Shiming heard transmissions from several Spirit Swords in his mind.


    If Lin Shiming had placed the Fifth-Order Supreme Grade Spirit Vein on Qinglian Peak, they wouldn''t have uttered a word of complaint.


    But by placing it on Five Flame Peak, where the Northern Sword Pavilion stood, it was undeniably a great gesture of goodwill toward them.


    Lin Shiming smiled faintly, said nothing further, and returned to Thousand Wood Peak.


    In his mind, a system prompt appeared:


    [Using Devouring Spirit Ants can break the seal formation on ancient treasures!]


    Lin Shiming smiled wryly; he truly hadn''t thought of it earlier.


    In fact, Devouring Spirit Ants were also effective in breaking the formation on Heavenly Earth Island.


    However, at that time, even if the ants were used, it wouldn''t have done much. After all, Devouring Spirit Ants were easily slaughtered by True Monarchs.


    Granny Qingyu and Taiqian Shark Emperor were far from merciful individuals.


    Lin Shiming released two Devouring Spirit Ants and retrieved the ancient treasure hat.


    The hat was a straw hat, woven from a kind of icy Spirit Grass.


    As soon as the Devouring Spirit Ants saw the ancient treasure, they lunged forward eagerly, baring their fangs.


    They began voraciously absorbing, and suddenly, a transparent Spirit Shield appeared atop the straw hat.


    This shield was like a thin layer of jade, adorned with intricate Spirit Patterns.


    Simultaneously, a drop of bright red locking essence appeared.


    This lock was undoubtedly the sealing formation discussed by Qiu Xue Sword; it required a bloodline to unlock.


    The Spirit Shield quickly grew thinner under the bites of the two Devouring Spirit Ants.


    After half an hour, the Spirit Shield completely disappeared, revealing the true form of the ancient treasure hat.


    The hat was small and resembled a standard straw hat, but when True Yuan was infused, Lin Shiming discovered that his hand had vanished¡ªand even his own Divine Sense was unable to track it.


    Evidently, this ancient treasure could conceal the wearer''s form.


    It was far superior to the Eternal Night Umbrella.


    Additionally, he found that the treasure could absorb various magical items and Secret Techniques.


    It bore somewhat similar effects to Renmen''s capabilities, shocking Lin Shiming greatly.


    With this ancient treasure, his defensive tactics had reached a whole new level.


    "Let''s call it the Five-Aspect Hat!" Lin Shiming named the treasure.


    As a special kind of Magical Treasure, ancient treasures didn''t require refining, so Lin Shiming promptly began using it.


    The only drawback was the system''s limitation to one item per day.


    He wanted to inspect the ancient map and the remaining spiritual treasure, the Shadowless Needle''s Treasure Decision, but couldn''t for now.


    He had to wait until the next day for the system refresh.


    "This ancient treasure''s power is truly impressive!" Subsequently, Lin Shiming wielded the ancient treasure with one hand and launched offensive techniques with the other.


    Yet he discovered his Grass Sword Art combined with Sword Essence couldn''t penetrate the Five-Aspect Hat.


    Only a damaged spiritual treasure caused slight changes in the hat''s hue, indicating some upper limits of resilience.


    If he''d had the Five-Aspect Hat before his last battle, he wouldn''t even have needed to use Immortal Wood Shadow as a hidden trump card.


    This discovery left Lin Shiming exhilarated.


    This time, it was unquestionably his greatest find to date.


    Of course, calling it a "find" felt generous; acquiring the Five-Aspect Hat on Yuntie Island was by no means easy. The local cultivation forces were far weaker than those on Red Leaf Island, roughly comparable to those on Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    Even if others recognized it as an ancient treasure, they couldn''t break the sealing formation.


    Without the system prompt or mutated Devouring Spirit Ants, it wouldn''t have been accessible to Lin Shiming either.


    After one last inspection of the treasure, Lin Shiming started forging his Divine Will Soldier.


    At this time, his Divine Will Palace already bore over a dozen Spirit Patterns. Another dozen, and it would be complete. Then, with his Divine Will Soldiers assembled, he wouldn''t hesitate to face even Late Golden Core cultivators.


    ...


    In the Spirit Talisman Cave Heavens, Lin Shijin entered.


    Yu Jing was still studying a Spirit Talisman, focused and intensely absorbed, her hands touching a talisman as if summarizing and researching its intricacies.


    Her stunning eyes shone with the light of scholarly pursuit.


    Lin Shijin couldn''t help but gaze at her in a daze.


    "Jing''er, Seventh Brother promised us we''d go to Yunyue Mountain this time to seek revenge!"


    Lin Shijin seemed rather excited.


    He knew he was an inadequate husband, unable to seek swift vengeance for his wife.


    In cultivation or talisman-making, he was far inferior to Yu Jing.


    Yu Jing had now mastered Superior Fourth-Rank Spirit Talismans and was at the peak of Early Purple Mansion stage.


    She was nearing Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    He, however, remained at Early Purple Mansion, capable of crafting only Inferior Fourth-Rank Spirit Talismans.


    Yet, he had never forgotten Yu Jing''s grudge.


    Today marked a pivotal opportunity, and he intended to seize it.


    "Is it true?" Yu Jing paused, surprised.


    "Absolutely. Though Seventh Brother won''t join us today, Shilei is leading the group. This time, there are seven slots for Purple Mansion cultivators¡ªShilei, Shiyuan, Zeli, you, me, Shiyun, and Yanxing¡ªwe''re all set!"


    Lin Shijin explained.


    The Lin Family was stretched thin, and despite years spent fostering ties with other clan members...


    Going to Yunyue City this time wasn''t about treasures¡ªthere weren''t any treasures there.


    Thus, he refrained from asking the ordinary Lin Family members to join.


    Still, their confidence remained unshaken!


    Yu Jing pondered briefly before nodding.


    "Thank you, Jin Lang, and thank you, Seventh Brother!" Yu Jing said with a tinge of emotion.


    She reflected on the past, when her own clan wouldn''t avenge her.


    In hindsight, it seemed Lin Shiming simply hadn''t yet acknowledged her plight.


    Now, however, she realized the Lin Family stood behind her.


    Without the Lin Family''s support, even with three or four more Purple Mansion cultivators, Yunyue''s Three Islands couldn''t be breached, as it was protected by a Fifth-Order Formation.


    This time, however, even a Sixth-Order Formation couldn''t withstand Xue Shan True Monarch''s purge!

 Chapter 982 - 600: 5 Corpse Hidden Dangers, Secret Realm Spirit Mine (Two in One)

    Double Hump Island, unlike the rainy days in other places, appeared serene and sunny here.


    Not a cloud in sight.


    On the island, the two massive humps that once stood tall had vanished, replaced instead by waves of dense mist.


    Since the Lin Family intended to expand the borders of Soarwood Island and incorporate the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone mine into their territory, they naturally could no longer use the Double Hump Peaks as the boundary. Instead, the expansion stretched further southward.


    At the foot of the Double Hump Peaks stood rows of cold bamboo, leaving only a narrow trail between them.


    Within the bamboo forest were numerous narrow lanes, and scattered among them were several loose cultivators who had arrived here in great excitement.


    As the Lin Family sought to expand its territory, they naturally relied heavily on loose cultivators. After all, no matter how many cultivators the Lin Family possessed, they were still insufficient when spread across such a vast number of islands.


    Thus, loose cultivators were indispensable.


    Alongside them were affiliated families.


    Among these families, the Ye Family''s cultivators were particularly prominent.


    In the market town, only a small portion of shops had opened, but at the town''s center, there was currently a courtyard.


    Lin Yanqing sat in the courtyard, his gaze filled with confidence as he observed the surrounding cultivators.


    Lin Yanqing was the son of Lin Zewen, now just over thirty years old, but his cultivation level had already reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Most importantly, his cunning rivaled¡ªand perhaps even surpassed¡ªhis father''s.


    "Regarding the policy for sea territory expansion, does anyone have differing opinions? Speak freely. In the future, whether it''s Soarwood Sea Area or Redwood Sea Domain, the Lin Family possesses vast territories. We lack subordinates who are merely content to maintain what is established; rather, we need allies brave enough to open up new frontiers!" Lin Yanqing spoke slowly.


    The other cultivators present were almost exclusively family heads of affiliated powers or Foundation Establishment elders.


    As for the meeting involving Purple Mansion cultivators, that was being held elsewhere. However, this gathering would determine the direction of the Soarwood Sea Area.


    The cultivators still hesitated as they contemplated.


    "Our Ye Family naturally supports this initiative. Furthermore, our Ye Family is willing to contribute one Purple Mansion cultivator and four Foundation Establishment cultivators to the effort!" Ye Yulan spoke first.


    Ye Yulan was the newly appointed head of the Ye Family, at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. He wasn''t particularly powerful, but his identity carried significant weight¡ªhe was the biological younger brother of Ye Yujiao.


    The highest-ranking cultivators overseeing this Lin Family expedition to expand the Soarwood Sea Area were Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi.


    The former was at Purple Mansion Late Stage, the latter at Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    "We have no objections either!"


    Other families followed suit, one by one nodding in agreement. Many of the families present were affiliates of Lianyun Island or Heavenly Phenomenon Island.


    They were well-acquainted with the Lin Family''s methods, and all nodded their approval.


    "Then let it be settled. First, all Secret Realms are to be owned by the Lin Family. However, each Secret Realm will be opened once every ten years, allowing five slots for each affiliated family. If a Secret Realm is jointly discovered by multiple families, a maximum of ten slots will be allocated, and distribution will be decided among the affiliated families. This rule shall apply to Yellow Rank, Profound Rank, and even Earth Rank Secret Realms."


    "Second, all islands will be managed, leased, and rewarded by the Lin Family based on merit, determined through the Demon Slaying Ranking and the Potential Contribution Ranking. Rewards may include some Spirit Vein areas, though the Lin Family will retain forty percent of the yield."


    "Third, all affiliated families must strictly follow the directives of the Lin Family and are prohibited from disobedience and private actions."


    As Lin Yanqing continued speaking, the faces of the cultivators grew increasingly grim. The policies laid out by the Lin Family were clearly designed to benefit their own interests, leaving little to gain for others.


    "Of course, I understand what you are all thinking¡ªthe rewards do not seem proportionate to your contributions!"


    "But, the next two points are what you truly want!"


    Lin Yanqing offered a deliberately mysterious smile.


    "The Soarwood Archipelago will allocate four affiliated islands as rewards. Purple Mansion families may compete for them. In addition, thirty Third Rank Spirit Vein sub-islands beneath these affiliated islands will be offered as rewards to Foundation Establishment families!" Lin Yanqing announced.


    The moment he said this, the expressions of the heads of Foundation Establishment families and Purple Mansion families changed.


    After all, following the ruling by True Person Lanling, the power structure of the Soarwood Archipelago underwent a complete reshuffling. Some former families from Lanling Archipelago pledged allegiance, while others fled, guilty of various offenses.


    Many island territories were now vacant.


    Moreover, the islands of Lanling Archipelago were much more desirable than those beyond the Double Hump Peaks.


    They were more stable and safer.


    The only issue was that the rights to distribute these territories, previously held by certain Purple Mansion families, had been revoked.


    Under the Coral Alliance''s rules, Inner Island lords had the right to allocate the entirety of their archipelago, dividing it into twelve Outer Islands.


    Outer Island lords, in turn, could further divide the smaller sea areas under their dominion.


    This was similar to how the Lin Family operated under Heavenly Phenomenon Island, which itself was subordinate to Red Leaf Island.


    Now, the prior system was abolished, placing territorial distribution solely under the Lin Family''s control.


    This approach would prevent Outer Islands from accumulating independent power.


    At the same time, the Lin Family''s influence would swiftly spread across the entire Soarwood Archipelago.


    Most critically, the sea area surrounding the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone mine within a radius of ten thousand miles was prohibited from hosting any other cultivators. Given the importance of Supreme Grade Spirit Stones¡ªenough to tempt even the Demonic Race and Nascent Soul families¡ªthe Lin Family could not afford to relinquish control.


    Supreme Grade Spirit Stones were especially critical for Nascent Soul cultivators. Even possessing a single Spirit Stone could greatly enhance their breakthroughs.


    The Lin Family''s primary goal, therefore, was this sea territory, which would not be divided among others.


    "Lastly, you can rest assured¡ªthis time, the Lin Family will distribute disposable Spirit Talismans and Spirit Pills to all contributing families based on their contributions. For cultivators who sacrifice their lives, their families will receive equal compensation. Furthermore, Lin Family will deploy Hermit Five Corpses, Hermit Tianyi, Hermit Yujiao, and other hermits to provide support. Additionally, the Golden Core Demon King will join the fray!"


    "So everyone can rest assured!"


    If the previous terms were seen as rewards, then this final promise was the reassurance they needed.


    In past expansions and campaigns, affiliated forces were often expected to contribute resources and treasures on their own.

 Chapter 983 - 600: 5 Corpse Hidden Dangers, Secret Realm Spirit Mine (Two in One)_2

    The Lin Family''s provision of assistance, along with compensation, was undoubtedly great news for them.


    Moreover, with the Demon King''s battle formation, their last remaining concerns were dispelled.


    The Soarwood Archipelago, unlike other islands near the Outer Sea, frequently experienced outbreaks of demonic beast tides.


    On the Soarwood Archipelago, those demonic beasts preferred to lurk on the islands or hide beneath the sea.


    Therefore, even if cultivators attempted to develop the area, they would have to bear significant risks.


    Especially since some of the beasts were adept at concealment.


    However, since the Lin Family was willing to take on these risks, the others were naturally more than willing.


    The meeting concluded, and Lin Yanqing raised his cup to celebrate with everyone.


    After the celebration, the heads of the various families withdrew one by one.


    Lin Yanqing also walked toward a staircase inside the hall.


    Upon ascending, he found Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi already waiting for him.


    "Second Grandpa, Fourth Grandpa, all arrangements have already been made without any issues, and all information has been recorded!" Lin Yanqing said.


    "Very well, this achievement will be noted. You might even qualify for the Council of Elders!" Lin Shiyi nodded and praised him further.


    The Lin Family currently handled governance with one Family Head, one Deputy Patriarch, and two Councils of Elders.


    Originally, the Elders were restricted to Foundation Establishment cultivators, but now that the Lin Family was considered a Nascent Soul family, Foundation Establishment cultivators could no longer serve as Elders.


    Thus, the Council of Elders was established as a place to train the Lin Family''s younger generation in management.


    The future Family Head would also be selected from the Council of Elders.


    "Second Grandpa, you overpraise me!" Lin Yanqing shook his head, recalling the case involving his father¡ªduring one banquet, they subdued all the families on Lianyun Island and uncovered their secrets.


    Thinking of that, he realized he was still far from achieving such heights.


    "Being overly modest won''t help. You shouldn''t emulate your father in that regard¡ªhe once got scolded by your Seventh Grandpa for it!" Lin Shiyi chuckled faintly.


    Seeing this, Lin Yanqing hastily agreed and set off to begin preparations.


    As Lin Yanqing exited, Lin Shiyi''s expression returned to normal, and he shifted his gaze toward two spiritual points on the wall.


    "According to Shiming''s Wang Jiao directions, these two points might have Spirit Stone mines. One should be a high-grade micro Spirit Stone mine, while the other is likely a medium-grade large Spirit Stone mine!" Lin Shiyi said, pointing to the two spiritual points.


    "However, one of the Spirit Stone mines is peculiar; its spiritual energy is not palpable!" Lin Shiyi added.


    "If the spiritual energy isn''t palpable, there may be a Secret Realm¡ªa potential Earth Grade Secret Realm!"


    "If that''s the case, this would be a wonderful opportunity for you and me. Shiming sent us here precisely with that intention!" Lin Shimo stated.


    His tone carried a hint of coldness, yet the wrinkles on his face softened his demeanor, making him appear less aloof than before.


    "However, the high-grade Spirit Stone mine likely harbors a Golden Core Cold Turtle."


    "Let Wang Jiao handle the battle formation. I want to test the Spirit Might of the Golden Core Demon King." Lin Shimo''s eyes gleamed with dazzling spiritual light.


    Back when he was in Foundation Establishment, he challenged Purple Mansion cultivators. Today, he wished to test himself once more¡ªthis time, challenging Golden Core.


    Of course, his opponent would be the Cold Turtle, known for its defensive abilities.


    "Old Fourth, isn''t this a bit too risky?" Lin Shiyi hesitated.


    The gap between Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion was vast, but compared to the chasm between Purple Mansion and Golden Core, it was nothing short of immeasurable.


    A thousand Purple Mansion cultivators might not even be able to kill a single Golden Core cultivator.


    Success would depend on battle formations, favorable timing, and advantageous terrain.


    Though it was "merely" a Cold Turtle, it was still a Fifth Rank Demon King.


    From Lin Shiyi''s perspective, Lin Shiming was acting like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.


    "Second Brother, rest assured¡ªI''ll be using my Five Heavenly Corpses this time!" Lin Shimo said.


    "My five natal Heavenly Corpses have now reached the Purple Mansion Late Stage in cultivation level..."


    His Five Elements Heavenly Corpse technique had recently encountered bottlenecks, hindering its progress.


    This feeling was reminiscent of the obstacles he encountered during Foundation Establishment.


    Now, unexpectedly, the sensation resurfaced.


    Although he had formed an agreement with the five spiritual corpses during Foundation Establishment, he sensed that this time would not be as straightforward.


    Purple Mansion Heavenly Corpses were far wiser than Foundation Establishment ones.


    Compounding the issue was the fact that his corpse refinement technique wasn''t entirely orthodox, raising concerns and doubts about the path he had chosen.


    Before delving into corpse refinement, he had attempted to follow Lin Shiming''s example¡ªintegrating with mortals and experiencing secular life.


    However, that route didn''t suit him. His path was one of blood and corpses.


    After all, he was merely a Third Spirit Root cultivator, vastly inferior in talent compared to Lin Shiming or Lin Shijie.


    For instance, Lin Shijie was currently in seclusion, poised for a breakthrough.


    Whereas the two of them, even with vast resources poured into their cultivation, remained stuck at their current levels.


    Thus, he had no choice but to gamble.


    The Five Elements Heavenly Corpses¡ªdestroy them and replace them, fail and rebuild.


    His greatest fear was the absence of worthy adversaries.


    "Count me in!" Lin Shiyi chimed in.


    Although he was only at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, rendering him even less capable, the pressure exerted by the Cold Turtle was not something encountered under ordinary circumstances.


    Although he had undergone several training sessions at the sea floor, the static pressure of the ocean was incomparable to the live threat posed by a Golden Core Demon King.


    Moreover, they planned to use Wang Jiao''s battle formation¡ªthe Cold Turtle would undoubtedly be no match for Wang Jiao.


    Thus, they weren''t worried about actual danger but rather how many moves they could endure and for how long they could persist.


    Naturally, their approach would be gradual and methodical.


    By relying on subordinate clans and loose cultivators to open up the territory first, they had made a significant breakthrough in their strategic planning.


    In the future, they wouldn''t have to announce lists of their own family members who perished in these battles.


    Finally, Lin Shiyi began to understand why the major powers always rallied their subordinate clans as cannon fodder at the onset of wars.


    "Yujiao, how are the arrangements for your family''s island?" Lin Shiyi suddenly asked Ye Yujiao.


    The Ye Family''s island had been relocated from Heavenly Phenomenon Island and now qualified as a Purple Mansion Family.


    They were currently the Lin Family''s most promising subordinate force.


    The Ye Family had even surpassed the former Primordial Yang Gate and Zhao Family, gaining significant renown throughout the Coral Sea Domain.


    This was due to the Ye Family''s foundation and their collaboration with Lin Shiyi and Ye Yujiao.


    Currently, the Ye Family boasted one Purple Mansion cultivator and over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Excluding Ye Yujiao herself.


    The Ye Family''s island was also renamed Muye Island.


    Naturally, this was also due to the Ye Family''s ability to adapt and seize opportunities¡ªwhether cooperating with the Lin Family initially, marrying their daughters into the Lin Family, or showing loyalty without reservation¡ªthey had done everything to the utmost, with no complaints, even willingly sharing the Heavenly Illusion Heart Sutra.


    Even Lin Yanjiao had to favour the Ye Family somewhat.


    Moreover, while everyone fixated on the Lin Family''s rising dominance, the Ye Family successfully branched out beyond the Lin Family''s Shuangmu Island.


    This move, in fact, benefited the Lin Family, as it deflected any investigations into the Ye Family''s early assistance to the Lin Family.


    Though this wouldn''t truly harm the Lin Family, it could tarnish their reputation¡ªsomething any great family found deeply irksome.


    "Yilang, it''s all been properly arranged. This time, even my father and his cohort will participate in this expansion!" Ye Yujiao nodded.


    She was deeply grateful to Lin Shiyi and the Lin Family.


    She had entered the Lin Family''s Illusionary Heart Tower and consumed their Purple Mansion Jade Liquid; without these resources, her advancement to Purple Mansion might have been an impossible feat.


    Now, not only had she achieved a breakthrough, but even a distant cousin in the Ye Family managed to reach Purple Mansion as well.


    The Ye Family had finally reclaimed their ancestral glory, rising to the status of a Purple Mansion Family once again.


    Furthermore, they were no longer content with being a Purple Mansion Family.


    The Lin Family was a Nascent Soul family, so perhaps they could aspire to grow into a Golden Core Family.


    Her only regret was that her two sons, shared with Lin Shiyi, were not particularly gifted¡ªboth possessing Third Spirit Roots and showing little inclination toward alchemy, artifact refining, or any of the four major cultivation arts.


    Even the Turtle Spirit Coconut they both consumed seemed to yield no extraordinary results.


    ...


    While the Lin Family was finalizing their plans, Lin Shijin, Lin Shilei, and others arrived at the three islands closest to Yunyue Island.


    Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan led the charge.


    Following behind them were Lin Shiyun, Lin Zeli, and Lin Yanxing.


    "Currently, the cultivators of the five major forces have yet to arrive. The entirety of Yunyue is ours for the Lin Family!"


    "So this time, the Lin Family must execute this flawlessly!" Lin Shilei declared.


    Previously, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng had been more prominent in tactical command, but with their recent punishments, leadership now rested with him.


    His cultivation level, along with that of Lei Xuan, had already reached the Purple Mansion Late Stage!

 Chapter 984 - 601: Destroy Yunyue, Break the Demon Barrier (Two in One)

    Yunyue Island is shrouded year-round by a layer of impenetrable mist.


    Even sunlight cannot pierce through the clouds of Yunyue Island, making spirit plants extremely rare.


    From afar, it looks just like the canopy of a towering tree reaching the heavens.


    A spirit boat slowly approached the island.


    Before the spirit boat could draw near, countless spirit glimmers appeared in the sky.


    The glimmers stretched into two long rainbows, forming a cloud path filled with festive joy.


    This was followed by several bursts of fireworks-like spirit light scattering, while, at the same time, a layer of mist turtles from the ground formed an avenue to welcome the spirit boat.


    "Are those elders from Coral Island ahead?" From afar, three elderly figures appeared, accompanied by a group of younger cultivators, flying into the air to greet them with bows.


    "So, you''re the Yunyue Three Families?" Lin Shilei stepped forward.


    Lin Shilei was dressed in a purple thunder robe, embroidered with a large ''Lin'' character on it.


    He had a square-shaped face and exuded an air of authority.


    "Indeed, I am Chen Buruo, Family Head of the Chen Family!"


    "I am Li Yunduan, Family Head of the Li Family!"


    "I am Wei Changsheng, Family Head of the Wei Family!"


    "Why haven''t you paid your respects to the Supreme Sect yet?"


    The three elders respectfully responded, and then turned to instruct their juniors to bow as well.


    The young people and other cultivators quickly bent forward to perform greetings.


    However, after doing so, a curious question arose:


    "May I ask this Lin senior, why haven''t the other families or the other Supreme Sects arrived?" Chen Buruo shivered slightly, as his question was indeed daring.


    But his curiosity couldn''t be concealed.


    "The other families have important matters to attend to. As long as the Lin Family has time, we have come ahead to arrange the formation. Your three families'' cultivators are present, correct? This time, it''s to defend against the Taiqian Shark Clan. If no one puts in effort to build the city, and penalties arise later, don''t expect the Lin Family to shoulder the blame for you!" Lin Shilei frowned deeply.


    He was clearly displeased by Chen Buruo''s probing question.


    The latter immediately replied obsequiously:


    "Rest assured, all three families are here. This is our homeland, our roots are right here!" Chen Buruo finished speaking and handed over a storage bag.


    "Inside here is a roster of individuals from our three families!" Chen Buruo spoke with a deferential tone, stepping aside with a gesture to invite the Lin Family inside the island.


    This matter Lin Shilei spoke of could very well be true, as building a formation is different from leading a massive contingent.


    Additionally, the transmission formation still needed inspecting.


    To the three families'' view, this arrangement was quite normal.


    Otherwise, if a large force truly pressed in, it could very well mean their extermination.


    "Good, as long as everyone is here!" Lin Shilei nodded.


    These words left the three elders of the Chen, Li, and Wei families puzzled, uncertain of Lin Shilei''s intentions.


    "I am not the overseer this time. The overseer for this mission is Yu Jing, the Hermit of Cloud-Slaying!" Lin Shilei suddenly announced.


    At this moment, the three elders'' faces grew even darker.


    Cloud-Slaying Hermit¡ªit wasn''t a name easily heard.


    Then, Yu Jing stepped forward.


    Yu Jing was dressed in a red robe, distinctively lacking the ''Lin'' character.


    Instead, it bore the character ''Xu.''


    The sight of that ''Xu,'' paired with Yu Jing''s appearance, caused Chen Buruo''s face to instantly turn ashen.


    Beside him, Li Yunduan and Wei Changsheng looked equally pale.


    "You are?"


    "Xu Yujing, the traitor of the Xu Family!" Yu Jing replied in an eerily calm tone.


    Following this, a spirit talisman floated into the air, adhering directly to Chen Buruo''s forehead.


    In the next moment, it exploded with a deafening roar¡ªit was a Space-Separation Talisman.


    This talisman served one purpose only: to prohibit spatial escape and block cultivators from fleeing with Boundary-breaking Talismans.


    Simultaneously, the Lin Family''s war treasure ship roared to life, its destructive might unleashed. At the bow of the ship stood Lin Zehong, who, on this day, was no longer the unruly youth she once was.


    She understood how profoundly this day mattered to her mother.


    This was family vengeance, unresolved hatred!


    The war treasure ship was fully activated, alongside Lei Xuan, Lin Zeli, Lin Shiyun, and Lin Yanxing.


    At the same time, Lin Zeli, Lei Xuan, and Lin Shiyuan released a series of flood dragons.


    One Thunder Flood Dragon, one Blue Flood Dragon, and one Green Wind Flood Dragon.


    The bloodline of the Green Wind Flood Dragon was the richest, towering over the others in size, dwarfing the other two by a considerable margin.


    Lin Shilei also released the Thunder Spirit Turtle. Almost instantly, nearly ten Purple Mansion combatants were gathered.


    Simultaneously, Lin Shijin landed beside Yu Jing.


    "These three old wretches are ours to handle, the rest is up to Shilei and Shiyuan!" Lin Shijin declared.


    Though Lin Shilei and Lin Shiyuan carried the generational marker, ''Shi,'' they were of similar age to Lin Zekong, barely over a hundred years old.


    Yu Jing''s eyes burned with hatred, as did Lin Shijin''s.


    He understood Yu Jing, her pain, and those countless nights when her gaze lingered on the starry sea, lost in thought.


    So, today, even as they were at Early Purple Mansion stage and their adversaries¡ªthe elders of Yunyue''s three families¡ªwere at Middle Purple Mansion stage, they felt no fear.


    "We''ve already pledged allegiance to Chi Shan True Person!" Chen Buruo from the Yunyue Three Families still held onto a shred of hope.


    But in the next instant, Lin Shijin unleashed a thunder talisman.


    A purple thunder spear shot straight at Chen Buruo.


    Meanwhile, the Lin Family members charged toward Yunyue''s three islands.


    The battle began, and there could be no survivors. The transmission formations needed to be destroyed first¡ªno one from the Yunyue Three Families could remain.


    The Lin Family, over these years, had refrained from committing indiscriminate evil, yet in the cultivation world, eliminating loose ends was a necessity.


    Otherwise, the cultivation world''s adage of "a gentleman''s revenge spans a hundred years" would ripple endlessly.


    Though their enemies couldn''t match the Lin Family''s speed of advancement, they remained an unrelenting nuisance.

 Chapter 985 - 601: Destroy Yunyue, Break the Demon Barrier (Two in One)_2

    The response from Yunyue Island was swift, as a Fourth Rank Formation was quickly activated.


    Leveraging the surrounding mist, the formation appeared quite formidable.


    However, before the Green Wind Flood Dragon, it was utterly insignificant. The fierce Wind Blades transformed into a massive storm, overturning the formation!


    Simultaneously, the Water Flood Dragon and Thunder Flood Dragon unleashed immense lightning might!


    The strikes shattered the Formation Spirit Shroud in an instant, reducing it to nothingness!


    Lin Shiyuan, who cultivated the Jiuyou Profound Wind Scripture, activated the secret technique innate to his cultivation method, transforming into a spectral Wind Blast that headed straight for the Transmission Formation on the island. In a flash, the formation''s foundation was obliterated.


    Countless exceptionally talented disciples were killed in the explosion before they could even be transmitted away.


    This scene made the trio of Chen Buruo, Li Yunduan, and Wei Changsheng grit their teeth in rage and unbearable anguish!


    "Your Lin Family will suffer retribution for this!" Chen Buruo roared, his tone bordering on madness.


    Yet at this moment, Yu Jing chuckled coldly:


    "Today marks the reckoning for your Chen Family and the other two! Back then, when our Xu Family treated you with such generosity, you savages turned on us just because a Golden Core True Person fell and our Purple Mansion weakened!"


    As Yu Jing spoke, her anger grew fiercer. In her hands appeared a deep crimson sword.


    "This sword is called the Cloud-Extinguishing Sword, my Lifebound Treasure nurtured daily with my essence blood. This treasure exists for the sole purpose of destroying you today!" Yu Jing declared.


    With her words, the sword soared forward, aiming directly to cut down Chen Buruo.


    Nearby, Lin Shijin retrieved the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and directed it towards Li Yunduan and Wei Changsheng.


    Simultaneously, countless Spirit Talismans were hurled out as if priceless treasures meant nothing.


    But bear in mind, these were no ordinary First, Second, or even Third Rank Spirit Talismans¡ªthese were Fourth Rank talismans.


    Their landing caused a massive commotion, overwhelming in its intensity.


    In an instant, the situation turned from two against three to Lin Family''s utter dominance everywhere!


    Of course, what tortured the three Family Heads the most wasn''t their suffering under Spirit Talismans; it was watching the cultivators of their clans being slaughtered directly by Lin Family cultivators.


    Aside from the old heads of the Yunyue Three Families, each clan had a single Purple Mansion junior.


    But all had merely just broken through into Purple Mansion.


    Yet they faced Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan, both Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivators, who wielded the Five Elements Thunder Technique and grasped Geng Metal Divine Thunder in their hands. One strike of Divine Thunder obliterated a Purple Mansion Early Stage cultivator.


    The disparity was simply too vast. Even magical treasures couldn''t hold up against a single Divine Thunder.


    As for Lin Shiyuan and Lin Zeli¡ªno further detailing was required. One was a Wind Spirit Root Cultivator, the other a Sword Cultivator. Even if ten more Purple Mansion cultivators from the Yunyue Three Families came, they wouldn''t be enough to survive against them.


    In mere moments, bodies lay scattered.


    Lin Zehong, fueled by Yu Jing''s grudge, piloted the War Treasure Ship with unparalleled savagery. Numerous small hills across Yunyue Island were flattened. Aside from mortal inhabitants, every other cultivator fled towards the peripheral regions¡ªbut the released Thunder Spirit Turtle, Wind Flood Dragon, Thunder Flood Dragon, and Water Flood Dragon ensured no one escaped.


    Left with utter despair, they could only surrender to the inevitability of death!


    The old ancestors of the Yunyue Three Families clenched their chests in fury, their faces brimming with unending hatred.


    Among them, Chen Family Head Li Yunduan was the first to succumb, charging towards Lin Shijin with intentions of self-detonating his Purple Mansion for mutual destruction.


    However, he was spotted by Lin Yanxing, who was overseeing the battle. With his Four Spirit Roots and piercing swordsmanship, despite lacking Purple Mansion cultivation, his combat prowess was nearly equivalent.


    Yanxing killed Li Yunduan with a single strike before the latter could self-detonate.


    Almost simultaneously, Lin Shijin unveiled a Talisman Treasure.


    But this was no regular Fourth Rank Talisman Treasure¡ªit was a Fifth Rank one.


    Specifically handed down by the Lin Family for self-defense, given that both Lin Shijin and Yu Jing had the highest Spirit Talisman talent within the family.


    Upon release, the Fifth Rank Talisman Treasure instantly killed Wei Changsheng.


    Only a Storage Bag remained, while nearby Yu Jing retrieved a crimson Spirit Talisman.


    Tossing the talisman forward, it transformed into crimson brilliance.


    Chen Buruo summoned a magical treasure to block it, but to no avail. This talisman targeted the Divine Soul.


    Named the Soul-Breaking Talisman, it was a Superior Grade Fourth Rank talisman capable of killing even a Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivator.


    Chen Buruo, unable to resist, was struck dumb, his eyes void of life.


    He was decapitated by Yu Jing''s sword on the spot!


    With this strike, Yu Jing''s face streamed with hot tears!


    A grudge carried for a hundred years¡ªfinally avenged!


    "Shilei, Shiyuan, Zeli, Lei Xuan, Yanxing, thank you all!" Yu Jing expressed her gratitude after executing Chen Buruo, as the carnage on Yunyue Island neared its conclusion.


    Though the island was vast, against continuous hunting by Purple Mansion cultivators, it soon became riddled with slaughter.


    No distinction was made between those from the Yunyue Three Families and others.


    No survivors would escape.


    Besides, with the Tianzhao Sect defeated, most loose cultivators from the area had already fled, unwilling to risk their lives on Yunyue Island, especially knowing the Tai Qian Shark Clan could invade at any time.


    Only the Yunyue Three Families remained, unwilling to abandon their ancestral land.


    No matter how bleak, they were tied to the Tianzhao Sect.


    Hovering above, Yu Jing fell to her knees before the group.


    Alongside her, Lin Shijin and Lin Zehong knelt as well.


    "Elder Brother Shijin, Sister-In-Law Shijin, your kneeling shames us! We''re all family; there''s no need for excessive gratitude!" Lin Shilei spoke first.


    Lin Shiyuan also nodded.


    "Aunt Shijin, just craft us a few protective Spirit Talismans now and then!" Lin Zeli added.


    At this, Lin Shijin and Yu Jing finally rose to their feet.


    "Rest assured, as long as we can craft them, my husband and I will never charge you any fees!" Lin Shijin and Yu Jing vowed together.


    Their words carried firm conviction.


    Lin Shilei and the others rejoiced immensely.


    After all, Yu Jing was now a Purple Mansion Late Stage Spirit Talisman Master.


    Should she advance further, crafting Fifth Rank Spirit Talismans would be within reach!


    The Gathering Immortal Talisman itself was a Fifth Rank talisman.


    Even if they broke through to Golden Core cultivation, they might still rely on Lin Shijin and Yu Jing.


    Especially Lin Zehong¡ªwith innate talent even more terrifying than Yu Jing!


    Currently at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, rumors suggested she was already attempting to craft Fourth Rank Spirit Talismans!


    Such talent placed her among the seed-level geniuses of the Lin Family.


    "Shiyun, we''ll leave the Transmission Formation in your capable hands. Any allied cultivators will arrive through it!"


    Destroying the Yunyue Three Families was merely a minor episode. The real purpose of their presence here was to lead the charge, construct the Transmission Formation, and set up initial formations to guard against the Tai Qian Shark Clan''s interference.


    There was no time to delay.


    The Tai Qian Shark Clan was a formidable race.


    If they attacked before the Transmission Formation was complete, even with Fifth Rank Spirit Puppets in hand, their survival would be doubtful.


    Lin Shiyun led several clan Array Masters onto Yunyue Island to commence setting up the formation.


    Other cultivators delegated the cleanup of the battlefield to Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation juniors.


    "I''ll go patrol the outer areas!" Lin Zeli, accompanied by her Water Flood Dragon, volunteered.


    The Water Flood Dragon moved swiftly in its domain, minimizing risk. As a Sword Cultivator, her suggestion received collective approval.


    "I''ll accompany you!" Lin Shiyuan offered.


    Having avenged his grudge, he empathized with Yu Jing''s complex emotions. Moreover, helping her find closure unexpectedly brought him peace, as if he too was avenging personal wrongs.


    Yet he knew these sentiments were misplaced. The Heavenly Demon Sect and Chu Family had already been obliterated.


    His revenge was complete.


    Thus, he volunteered to patrol.


    Lin Shilei nodded. Lin Shiyuan possessed numerous life-preserving techniques.


    The remaining Purple Mansion cultivators began meditating on the spot, restoring their True Yuan.


    Lei Xuan, with minimal expenditure, retrieved an Array Plate to initiate a formation on-site.


    The formation was temporary.


    Once Coral Island reinforcements arrived, the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein and Mountain Protection Array would be installed.


    Until then, rudimentary measures sufficed.


    The formation was completed within a day.


    Once the Transmission Formation was operational, the arrival of Coral Island''s Chi Shan True Person ensured its reliability, allowing Lin Shilei and the others to finally relax.


    From then on, their primary task was joint defense.


    The Coral Alliance would shoulder the bulk of operations.


    With a functioning Transmission Formation, a steady influx of True Persons and Purple Mansion Hermits expanded their ranks.


    The entirety of Yunyue Island was fortified immensely.


    In addition to the main island, they annexed ten satellite islets for additional protection.


    The patrol leadership entailed two True Persons per unit, with two units on rotation daily, switching monthly!


    The atmosphere grew tense to the extreme.


    Yu Jing and Lin Shijin found an opportunity to accompany Lin Zehong back to Shuangmu Island.


    As Spirit Talisman Masters, their value lay in crafting talismans on the rear lines rather than on the front.

 Chapter 986 - 602: God-breaking Needle, Cold Jade Vein (Two in One)

    Inside the Cave Heaven, another injection of a fifth-rank supreme-grade wood-attribute Spirit Vein occurred.


    A small jungle had already emerged here.


    These jungles were still just trees infused with plenty of Spiritual Energy for the time being.


    Additionally, some birds and beasts had been introduced, frolicking within the jungle, bringing a touch of vitality and Spiritual Energy to the Cave Heaven.


    Lin Shiming awoke from his cultivation, and at this moment, he could see within the Sea of Consciousness, his Divine Sense Palace had become further refined.


    Aside from the Divine Sense Palace, there were eight Divine Sense Soldiers encircling its sides.


    He felt his Divine Sense had grown stronger once again, but compared to breaking through, there was still much to be desired.


    However, at the Golden Core Late Stage, every bit of progress was worth celebrating.


    Finishing his cultivation, he turned his gaze toward the Cave Heaven.


    He saw the Spirit Lake shimmering with starlight, as if a colossal star beneath the lake was radiating luminous spiritual light.


    At the moment, it was nearing dawn, and the starlight in the sky resonated with the starlight beneath the lake, casting expansive rays of tranquil light, forming a breathtaking morning scene.


    The Star Spirit Clam was currently undergoing a breakthrough below.


    What puzzled him was that the aura of the Star Spirit Clam was already nearing Purple Mansion Late Stage strength but still hadn''t emerged, seemingly aiming directly for the fifth-rank Demon King realm.


    Seeing this, Lin Shiming naturally rejoiced¡ªif the Star Spirit Clam could reach the fifth rank, his physical body could potentially advance to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Currently, his physical body was merely at the Golden Core Early Stage. For him to perform so dominantly among Golden Core True Persons, it was largely thanks to the combined strength of his Divine Sense, physique, Secret Techniques, and an abundance of Magical Treasures and Spiritual Treasures.


    Moreover, advancing his physical body to the Golden Core Late Stage would aid his breakthrough to Nascent Soul. Given his Thousand Wood Spirit Body constitution, the results from this synergy would naturally be enhanced.


    Within the Spirit Lake, countless Spirit Fish swam at the moment, among which the black Spirit Fish seemed noticeably larger. Lin Shiming found this somewhat surprising. Besides the black Spirit Fish, the Water Spirit Shell exuded spiritual brilliance in the lake; its open shell revealed the newly nurtured Water Spirit Pearl inside.


    It, too, seemed on the verge of reaching Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Lin Shiming was highly satisfied. Beyond the Spirit Lake lay fruit trees in the distance. While most of the spiritual fruit trees were inside the Purple Sun Tower, the Transforming Infant Fruit Tree was planted within the Cave Heaven.


    On a faraway hillside, Elder Mu still observed the Transforming Infant Fruit Tree.


    His eyes gleamed increasingly brighter, as if some significant discovery had been made.


    Lin Shiming didn''t concern himself much with Elder Mu, as the Transforming Infant Fruit Tree was only two centuries old, far from its fruit-bearing period.


    Behind the Transforming Infant Fruit Tree was a stone wall, where the Golden Winged Mantis, having devoured the inner core of the fifth-rank Frost Demon Mantis, was now undergoing its own breakthrough.


    Within the Flood Dragon Nest, several snake and python hatchlings absorbed the essence of the Flood Dragon, representing the latest generation of Flood Dragon offspring within the Lin Family.


    This time, there were as many as five fairly gifted snake and python specimens.


    Once they absorbed enough Flood Dragon essence, they could undergo Bloodline Reversion and become Flood Dragons.


    As the morning light broke across the land, Lin Shiming lifted his gaze to greet a new day, and the notification from his system finally chimed.


    [Use your Divine Sense to break the array protecting the Broken Divine Needle. You will obtain the fragmented Spiritual Treasure, Broken Divine Needle!] Lin Shiming was slightly astonished.


    It was no wonder he hadn''t considered it¡ªafter all, among fifth-rank treasures, Divine Sense treasures were exceedingly rare. Until now, he had only counted the Sword Storing Book as half a Divine Sense treasure.


    Now, however, there was a fragmented Spiritual Treasure-level Broken Divine Needle.


    Not only had this caught him off guard, but even Heavenly Worry Sage likely hadn''t anticipated this.


    Otherwise, the sage might have tried using Divine Sense on it.


    Of course, it was also possible that even with Divine Sense, success was not guaranteed.


    Lin Shiming activated his Divine Sense and summoned all eight Divine Sense Soldiers, aiming them at the Broken Divine Needle.


    In an instant, spirit shadows of blades, spears, axes, and swords descended upon the Broken Divine Needle, but even so, the needle remained utterly unmoved.


    Lin Shiming''s brows furrowed deeply; this fragmented Spiritual Treasure was proving to be more challenging than he had imagined.


    The absence of the Divine Sense Palace meant a significant reduction in Divine Sense attack power.


    He took out the Divine Bead of Mystical Power, which stored one more assault from the Divine Sense Soldiers.


    The next moment, he launched another attack.


    This time, the exertion left him feeling slightly dizzy. Although the Divine Sense Soldiers refined his Divine Sense, the consumption was far too exhausting to sustain.


    Fortunately, with the double-strength assault of the Divine Sense Soldiers, the Broken Divine Needle finally showed signs of reaction. A faint barrier seemed to dissipate under the assault.


    In the following moment, intricate treasure markings surfaced, appearing before Lin Shiming''s eyes.


    Lin Shiming dared not lower his guard; he hastily recorded every treasure marking.


    He even used Spirit Jade to create another record and then returned to refining his Divine Sense Palace.


    The cultivation of the Treasure Mark technique also required an immense investment of time, and compared to its efficacy, the refinement of the Divine Sense Palace was considerably faster.


    The crisis of the Taiqian Shark Tribe¡ªits timing remained uncertain¡ªnecessitated urgent focus on breakthroughs.


    This would prepare him for any impending danger.


    With the refining of the Divine Sense Palace, the Cave Heaven returned to tranquility once more.


    ...


    In the Soarwood Sea Area, behind Twin Camel Island, countless Spirit Boats were already rushing outward.


    Underwater glaciers and mountain islands of ice were teeming with Spirit Beasts emerging and engaging in battles both above the air and within the icy depths.


    Among the cultivators, the Ye Family, positioned somewhere in the middle, found themselves hesitating. In their eyes, the Lin Family was no better than other factions.


    To them, all families were using them as cannon fodder.


    Sending them forward to gauge the strength of opposition with their lives.

 Chapter 987 - 602: God-breaking Needle, Cold Jade Vein (Two-in-One)_2

    As for this so-called Spirit Island, it seemed rather illusory.


    At that moment, countless refined corpses appeared in the sky, along with a colossal Heavenly Corpse Banner.


    Inside the Heavenly Corpse Banner were countless refined corpses.


    These refined corpses were only at the early to late stages of Second Rank, the lowest-tier Blood Corpses.


    They crazily charged ahead.


    Only to be bitten and torn apart by hidden Demonic Beasts.


    This left the cultivators somewhat puzzled.


    They had never seen such a main force before.


    "You must cherish the time with refined corpses. For certain corpses with less valuable materials, you can hand them over to our Lin Family. Our Lin Family''s Heavenly Corpse Hermit will refine even more formidable Blood Corpses for you!"


    "The goal of the Lin Family today is not to sacrifice you, but to achieve mutual prosperity and pursue the path of immortality together!" Lin Yanqing''s voice rang out just in time.


    It immediately drove the cultivators to frenzy. One by one, they summoned their Spirit Beasts and drew out their treasured Magic Artifacts to attack the Spirit Beasts ahead.


    The cultivators of the Lin Family also fell back, clearing the remnants as well.


    This three-layered offensive appeared overwhelming, forcing its way onto Ice Island.


    On the island, countless Ice Wolves emerged!


    It was the first location identified by Wang Jiao that had a Spirit Stone Mine, occupied by a pack of ice wolves.


    Among the ice wolves, the strongest was a Double-Tailed Ice Wolf King at the peak of Fourth Rank.


    It was on the brink of breaking through to Fifth Rank and becoming an Ice Wolf Demon King.


    Before dealing with the Cold Turtle Demon King, Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi wanted to practice against the Ice Wolf Demon King.


    As the battle erupted, enormous ice fog began descending from the icy peaks.


    The fog froze countless Blood Corpses into ice sculptures.


    It also included many reckless Loose Cultivators.


    In the sky, five Ice Wolf Great Demons appeared.


    The leader among them, as large as a small hill, had two tails, and roared furiously like thunder.


    It charged down fiercely.


    "This Great Demon is mine!" Lin Shimo was the first to rush forward, leading the way with his Fire Corpse, followed by his Wooden Corpse, then his Earth Corpse, Ground Corpse, and Water Corpse.


    Each refined corpse possessed late Fourth Rank strength. These natal Spirit Corpses were far more savage than other Spirit Beasts or cultivators.


    Bloodthirsty and insensate to pain or death.


    Boom!


    Countless storms were torn apart on the spot, as the five Heavenly Corpses lunged toward the Ice Wolf King.


    After Lin Shimo, Lin Shiyi also acted, targeting a mid Fourth Rank ice wolf.


    Of the three remaining early Fourth Rank wolves, Ye Family handled one, and the other two Purple Mansion affiliate families handled one each.


    It was well balanced.


    Meanwhile, the numerous Second and Third Rank ice wolves were surrounded and hunted down by other cultivators.


    During the sieging, Lin Zelu was setting up a Formation.


    When large-scale battles ensue, Formations are indispensable.


    This was a Lin Family tradition.


    Only through such measures could the Lin Family ensure everything goes smoothly during conquests.


    Even if there were accidents, there would always be contingency plans.


    However, it wasn''t others who achieved the first kill¡ªit was Lin Shiyi. Everyone could only feel that he resembled a humanoid feral beast, as a gigantic shadow of the Shocking Sea Ape appeared behind him.


    After years of cultivating in the seabed, his Mountain Ape Integration Technique transformed the ape shadow from an ordinary mountain ape to a Shocking Sea Ape.


    Each punch seemed infused with the power to shake the seas, relentlessly hammering forward.


    Bam! Bam! Bam!


    Everyone felt dizzy from the spectacle.


    Ice crystals shattered, ice blades broke apart.


    Even frigid storms dissipated into nothingness, vanishing into the void.


    At that moment, Lin Shiyi resembled a deity of slaughter.


    He slew the ice wolf!


    Meanwhile, though the Ice Wolf King put up a brutal fight, it stood little chance under the assault of five Heavenly Corpses.


    The five Heavenly Corpses displayed immense physical strength, unleashing volley after volley of corpse needles. These Five Element Corpse Needles, when combined, were even mightier than a set of supreme-grade Fourth Rank Magic Artifacts.


    It was another secret technique of the Five Elements Heavenly Corpse Decree¡ªthe Corpse Needle Rain!


    The Ice Wolf King suffered numerous injuries; its originally white fur began turning green.


    Eventually, Lin Shimo summoned the Demon-suppression Tower Magical Treasure, locking down its body entirely. A Flying Sword darted past, slaying the Ice Wolf Great Demon in an instant.


    With the two strongest Great Demons slain, the remaining demonic wolves were overwhelmed.


    In the distance, snow-white ice birds appeared, seemingly planning to aid the ice wolf pack, but upon realizing the tide had turned, they fled back quietly.


    Vanishing into the horizon.


    Lin Zelu gathered his Formation, and Ice Wolf Island was secured.


    Everyone wore faces of joy.


    The Ye Family''s Purple Mansion cultivator, along with the remaining two Purple Mansion affiliates, slew the remaining three Ice Wolf Great Demons.


    Compared to Demonic Beasts, human cultivators still held an advantage when it came to Magic Artifacts.


    Furthermore, with the two wolf kings already killed, the battle was decisively won.


    "Clean up the corpses, calculate points and Contribution Points!" Lin Yanqing''s voice rang out again.


    He then instructed cultivators to scour the mountain peaks; naturally, the very top would belong to the Lin Family, as that''s where the mineral veins lay.


    Other areas were left for the affiliate forces to pillage.


    "It''s indeed a large intermediate-grade Spirit Stone mineral vein!" When Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi landed at the summit, spotting countless Spirit Stones embedded in a wolf den, both couldn''t help but smile.


    The Lin Family would only need to send in the Gold Devouring Rats to mine it.


    These Gold Devouring Rats had been brought over from the Eastern Domain and had been assisting the Lin Family with mining Spirit Stones.


    After a hundred years, the Lin Family possessed over a thousand Gold Devouring Rats, with the strongest ones at Fourth Rank, comparable to Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Thus, the Lin Family never lacked miners.


    "Ice Wolf Flowers¡ªthese can be given to Changxing. This might help him break through to late Foundation Establishment!" Lin Shiyi remarked again.


    Within a cave, ice crystal-like flowers bloomed.


    These flowers, called Ice Wolf Flowers, were immensely beneficial for cultivators with Water or Ice attributes. Consuming them would greatly enhance their Spiritual Power.


    Given Lin Changxing, already at the peak of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and born with a Heavenly Spirit Root.


    Breaking through to late Foundation Establishment seemed within reach.


    "Wait, there''s also a Cold Jade Mine here!" Lin Shimo suddenly exclaimed. Entering deeper into the cave, they were hit by a chilling aura even colder than that of the Ice Wolf Great Demon.


    Reaching the depths, they encountered two Ice Wolf pups snarling softly at them. These pups displayed the aura of Third Rank.


    Born at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, it was clear these pups had remarkable potential.


    They could be captured and tamed.


    But the true treasure lay behind¡ªthe appearance of Cold Jade.


    These Cold Jade pieces were at least ten years old, but to the two cultivators, the focus was hundred-year Cold Jade.


    Hundred-year Cold Jade could suppress Heart Demons, while thousand-year Cold Jade had even greater effects.


    For Lin Shimo, this was tremendously significant.


    The Spirit Stone vein was merely a bonus; the Cold Jade Mine was the true lifesaver!


    Based on the cave''s size and chill aura, the two estimated the mine to be a small-scale Cold Jade Mine.


    It likely contained at least hundred-year Cold Jade.


    The chance of finding thousand-year Cold Jade would depend on luck!


    No matter the outcome, this operation had yielded a fortune for the Lin Family.


    Spirit Stone and Cold Jade Mines¡ªinvaluable rewards. Furthermore, pre-battle agreements had already stipulated that the island wouldn''t be shared; it would remain with the Lin Family.


    Other families could only take some Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Beast materials.


    "Let''s capture these two little ones. My Zehao still needs a Spirit Beast!" Lin Shiyi remarked with a smile.


    Unlike Lin Shimo, who remained unattached, Lin Shiyi already had three sons, though they were all Third Spirit Root.


    Their other talents were not particularly outstanding, except for his youngest, Lin Zehao, who excelled in Beast Taming.


    The Ice Wolf pups were promising¡ªif their bloodline underwent reversion, they might even reach the level of a Demon King.


    "Alright, Second Brother. When Zehao reaches Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, let me know. It''s been awhile since I''ve shared a meal with Zehao!" Lin Shimo smiled faintly.


    He was deeply involved in Lin Shiyi''s children''s lives.


    Unlike Lin Shiming, who had failed to repay him in any capacity, Lin Shimo felt more inclined to repay Lin Shiyi''s kindness.


    After all, Lin Shiyi had stood by him during critical moments.


    This gratitude extended to his three children, whom Lin Shimo treated exceptionally well.


    As for others, the only one who caught his interest was Lin Zekong.

 Chapter 988 - 603: Qing Yu Visits, Treasure Map in the Clouds

    Inside the underground mine, accompanied by golden light, a golden figure appeared.


    The surrounding cold jade shimmered with radiance. In the next moment, a claw light flashed by, and a piece of cold jade fell, seized within its mouth, before crawled out of the cave.


    Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi stood waiting outside. Seeing the cold jade radiating an intense chill, joy flashed in both of their eyes.


    They took the cold jade into their hands, completely oblivious to the frost forming all around them.


    "With this cold jade, our family''s cultivators who practice corpse refinement techniques can increase significantly!" Lin Shiyi said happily to Lin Shiming.


    For a powerful Golden Core family, and one with aspirations to become a Nascent Soul family in the future, development in multiple areas was essential.


    On a personal level, having more cultivators who practice corpse refinement techniques would bring Lin Shiming a sense of connection as well.


    At the very least, he''d have juniors to guide¡ªenvironment matters greatly.


    Of course, even more important than that was the cold jade''s ability to reduce the emergence of heart demons.


    The cold jade before them was a hundred-year-old cold jade.


    If they could acquire thousand-year or even ten-thousand-year cold jade, its value would be immeasurable.


    Yet, the two of them looked at the hundred-year cold jade brought by the Gold Devouring Rat and realized that the maximum potential here might only extend to thousand-year cold jade.


    Ten-thousand-year cold jade would require the local spirit vein to upgrade to a fifth-rank vein, along with releasing an enormous amount of Spirit Stones for specialized cultivation.


    Not to mention fully elevating the cold jade mine to the level of a ten-thousand-year cold jade mine.


    If they could produce even one or two pieces of five-thousand-year-old cold jade in the future, it would count as a peerless treasure.


    "Second Brother, once the transmission formation is set up, we''ll head to the Cold Turtle''s location. The family still greatly needs us!" Lin Shiming nodded and clenched his fists tightly.


    The group continued to wait for the transmission formation to be arranged and the formations to be set up.


    This would require Lin Zelu''s assistance, and could not be rushed.


    The two then sought out Lin Yanqing to confirm there were no further issues before beginning to excavate a cave residence and entering closed cultivation.


    ...


    On Shuangmu Island under the Lin Family, today marked the third day. As dawn arrived once more, system notifications updated again:


    [Congratulations on acquiring one treasure map of the Yunzhong Palace Secret Realm!] Lin Shiming had not expected the treasure map to be related to Yunzhong Palace.


    Looking at it this way, he had gained quite a few treasures from the Heavenly Worry Sage this time.


    No wonder there was information on the Spirit Map that he couldn''t recognize.


    Thinking of this, Lin Shiming took out the treasure map once more, studying it for a long time. However, finding no further clues, he stored the map back away and continued refining his Palace of Divine Sense.


    The atmosphere grew calm once again.


    By sunset, as brilliant evening clouds painted the sky, their reflection on Spirit Lake created a breathtaking scene.


    Lin Shiming found himself momentarily entranced.


    He realized it had been a while since he felt such leisure and serenity.


    Of course, what broke his reverie wasn''t an accident¡ªit was the arrival of guests on the island.


    Lin Shiming changed into clean robes and stepped out of his Cave Heaven. Shuangmu Island was still bustling with energy and filled with throngs of people.


    At present, the Lin Family had over ten thousand cultivators.


    Due to their need to manage both the Soarwood Archipelago and the Redwood Archipelago, there were extensive changes happening.


    Nearly everyone over the age of twenty was assigned family tasks.


    Lin Shiming headed towards Qinglian Peak.


    The family''s Council Hall was still located there.


    As he arrived at the entrance to the Council Hall, he saw an elderly woman dressed in Qinghua Sect robes, supported by two lively, graceful young ladies.


    The trio had evidently been waiting for quite some time, with Lin Yanjiao handling reception nearby.


    "Granny Qingyu!" Lin Shiming greeted with a ceremonial bow.


    After all, Granny Qingyu had once been an enemy, so naturally, his demeanor couldn''t be overly cordial.


    "Daoist Lin calls me ''Daoist,'' yet your Lin Family is now a peak-level power!" Granny Qingyu spoke slowly.


    "I just hope Daoist Lin doesn''t feel bothered by this old woman''s intrusion!"


    After saying this, she took out a jade box and sent it flying toward Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming glanced at the jade box and saw that inside was a Condensed Gold Fruit.


    This Granny Qingyu was indeed generous.


    Her first gift was a Condensed Gold Fruit.


    Lin Shiming didn''t decline¡ªit was clear that Granny Qingyu had come with apologies and reparations.


    After all, Qinghua Sect had once collaborated with Tianzhao Sect. The Lin Family and Coral Alliance had legitimate reasons to target Tianzhao Sect.


    Moreover, later on, Xue Shan True Monarch and other True Monarchs had spared Granny Qingyu.


    Otherwise, that day would not have ended so peacefully.


    Of course, the Lin Family was indeed lacking in Condensed Gold Fruits.


    At present, Lin Shijie had already used a Condensed Gold Pill. Previously, they had obtained one Condensed Gold Fruit from a trade convention, but currently, Lin Xianzhi, Lin Shitao, Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, Lin Shilei, Lei Xuan, and Lin Shiming were all already at the late Purple Mansion stage and needed to prepare for breakthroughs to Golden Core. The shortage of Condensed Gold Fruits was critical.


    "Daoist Qingyu, please come in!" Having accepted the gift, there was no way Lin Shiming could leave her standing outside, especially since she was a Nascent Soul True Monarch.


    Still, courtesy aside, Lin Shiming maintained a safe distance.


    Though he extended the invitation to Granny Qingyu, the Qiu Xue Sword remained hanging atop Five Flame Peak, ready to assist at any moment.


    Inside the large hall, Lin Shiming offered tea to Granny Qingyu.


    "Back then, Qinghua Sect owed Tianzhao Sect a debt of favor, but I''ve already repaid that favor. Daoist Lin need not remain so cautious!"


    "Besides, your Lin Family is on the verge of producing a second True Monarch combatant¡ªI wouldn''t dare offend you!" Granny Qingyu leaned on a cane, her movements appearing weak either due to a secret technique or intentional pretense.


    Still, Lin Shiming did not doubt Granny Qingyu''s strength; back then on Heavenly Earth Island, she single-handedly operated a sixth-rank formation to block two True Monarchs.

 Chapter 989 - 603: Qing Yu Visits, Treasure Map in the Clouds_2

    Lin Shiming was slightly surprised, but then let it go. The commotion on Five Flame Peak couldn''t possibly be hidden from others.


    To Lin Shiming, there was no need for secrecy. In this chaotic era, greater strength was the real deterrent.


    Moreover, the Lin Family wouldn''t be met with heavy resistance unless they produced their first Nascent Soul expert.


    "Daoist Qingyu, you must be joking. I''ve been timid since childhood!" Lin Shiming gestured for Lin Yanjiao to serve tea to Granny Qingyu.


    As the latter had two maidservants, their statuses were equal, so it was naturally inappropriate for Lin Shiming to personally serve the tea¡ªunless the Lin Family was far inferior to the Qinghua Sect.


    After serving the tea, Lin Yanjiao stood respectfully to the side.


    "This junior of yours is not bad. She has the makings of a future True Monarch!" Granny Qingyu took a sip of tea, her attention falling on Lin Yanjiao instead of the Spiritual Tea.


    It was clear she had noticed Lin Yanjiao''s Spiritual Body.


    Lin Shiming, too, felt a hint of admiration for Granny Qingyu''s insight.


    "True Monarch, your saying so flatters her. However, if you have advice to offer, we would be most grateful!" Lin Shiming shook his head modestly.


    Unexpectedly, the latter truly took out a Jade Slip.


    "Here is a Secret Technique named Thousand Illusory Clones. It''s particularly suited for cultivators gifted in Illusion Techniques, so I''ll gift it to the young friend!" Granny Qingyu handed the Jade Slip over without hesitation.


    "Thank you, Senior!" Lin Yanjiao glanced at Lin Shiming before clasping her hands in gratitude.


    "No need for thanks¡ªit''s nothing. This old woman has lived long, and all I have over you youngsters is a few years of experience!" Granny Qingyu shook her head nonchalantly and took another sip of Spiritual Tea.


    After finishing the tea, she stood up and said:


    "Daoist Lin, I''ve troubled you long enough. I shan''t linger. As for Taiqian Abyss, I am somewhat worried. If a true crisis arises, the three factions of Nan Jiang will not sit idly by!" Granny Qingyu spoke before taking her leave.


    Drinking tea showed respect, gifting the Gold Condensation Fruit was an apology, and offering guidance on a Secret Technique was a gesture of goodwill.


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help but feel a growing fondness for Granny Qingyu.


    Though she reminded him of Kuangfeng True Person, she was far more approachable.


    And much more thoughtful.


    Lin Shiming escorted Granny Qingyu to the Transmission Formation on Shuangmu Island.


    For an esteemed visitor, it was naturally impossible to let her fly off in a Spirit Boat.


    In the past, the Lin Family would have moved cautiously and secretively, but now, there was no need.


    After all, the only force capable of breaching Shuangmu Island was the Taiqian Shark Tribe, and as for other True Monarchs, they had no reason to do so.


    After all, if you destroy my island, I''ll destroy yours¡ªthere was no point in such behavior.


    The three sects of Nan Jiang were not unfamiliar to Lin Shiming.


    The Qinghua Sect, adept at flora and fauna; the Five Poisons Sect, masters of venomous creatures and toxins; and the Heavenly Sun Sect, skilled in alchemy and formations.


    These three major sects ruled over the entire Nan Jiang. If nothing unexpected occurred, Lin Shiming assumed the other two sects had also produced Nascent Soul True Monarchs.


    As seals continued to be lifted, restrictions on Innate Spiritual Treasures loosened, and Nascent Soul True Monarchs became increasingly common.


    It was like the arrival of a grand era, with everyone rushing forth.


    Lin Shiming wasn''t sure if this was a good thing, but compared to the alternatives, he preferred such times.


    The threat of the Taiqian Shark Tribe, coupled with the looming danger of the Dark Spirit Clan, painted a picture of turbulent undercurrents within the Cultivation World of the Great Yu Dynasty.


    Even the Golden Core Stage was becoming insufficient.


    Feeling the bottleneck of his own Golden Core Middle Stage cultivation, Lin Shiming sighed helplessly.


    His cultivation speed was actually quite fast. At less than two hundred years old, he had reached the Golden Core Middle Stage, and he was confident he could break through to the Golden Core Late Stage before turning three hundred.


    But even this pace wasn''t fast enough!


    Watching Granny Qingyu disappear into the Transmission Formation, Lin Shiming shook his head.


    He could only hope the Taiqian Shark Tribe would grant him more time to prepare.


    Even mastering the Divine Palace of Spiritual Will and the God-Piercing Needle could elevate his strength to stand out even among Golden Core Late Stage cultivators.


    Without relying on the Soul Summoning Sword, however, he was no match for Chi Shan True Person, whose incomplete Spiritual Treasure, the Fang Tian Halberd, was extremely formidable.


    His foundation in the Golden Core realm still had many gaps, and these couldn''t be closed in a short time.


    Fortunately, he had plenty of time¡ªand the backing of the Myriad Swords Divine Mountain.


    Lin Shiming''s thoughts drifted to the Taiyi Grass Sword, which still contained numerous Soul Summoning Swords. He wondered when he might extract a few more.


    Quickly shaking off these thoughts, Lin Shiming returned to his Cave Heaven to resume closed-door cultivation.


    The condensation of the Divine Palace of Spiritual Will couldn''t be delayed even for a moment.


    ...


    In the waters surrounding the Soarwood Archipelago, countless drifting icebergs floated on the ocean.


    Cold Turtles rested in the sea, some of them resembling small glaciers. Only upon closer inspection would they open their gaping mouths.


    Their teeth were astonishingly hard, and they could shoot freezing beams of light to immobilize other creatures.


    Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi stood on the water, surrounded by three Fourth Rank War Treasure Ships. Beside the ships were various subordinate factions and a number of Purple Mansion cultivators.


    Compared to the attack on Ice Wolf Island, this time, there were even more cultivators. In addition to their original affiliated forces, several more Purple Mansion factions had joined the effort. Additionally, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng had come to lend their aid.


    This operation was critical to securing the underground top-grade Spirit Stone mine.


    Once Cold Turtle Island was taken, the Spirit Stone mine beneath the sea would fall within the Lin Family''s territory. Using Cold Turtle Island as a defensive point for Jiuyue Island, they could guard the border without fear of demonic beast invasions.


    Of course, even with everyone present, they still felt cautious. Their gazes frequently shifted toward Wang Jiao beneath the sea.


    "Rest assured. This king will crush their shells one by one. With me overseeing the battle, there will be no issue!" Wang Jiao declared confidently.


    While it couldn''t defeat deep-sea Flood Pythons, it was well-equipped to handle an old Cold Turtle.


    Were it not for Lin Shimo and the others desiring some sparring, it would have rushed the island on its own long ago.


    Trusting in Wang Jiao''s confidence, they nodded in agreement.


    After all, they had more than just Wang Jiao¡ªthey also possessed a late Fifth Rank puppet stored in their Storage Bag. If they truly found themselves outmatched, they could unleash the Spirit Puppet for an all-out assault.


    "Yanqing, instruct them to begin clearing out the Cold Turtles on the periphery!" Lin Zekong commanded.


    Uninterested in leading, Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi preferred the heat of battle. Thus, Lin Zekong took charge this time.


    Lin Shimo immediately released several blood corpses, though fewer than during the attack on Ice Wolf Island, given the short preparation time.


    However, the Lin Family had gained numerous Spirit Puppets, galvanizing the subordinate forces as they charged fervently toward the island.


    Cold Turtles awoke, their fierce heads emerging as they fired a barrage of ice spikes. From the depths, icy spears also surged upward, targeting the cultivators above.


    Whenever a Fourth Rank Turtle Demon appeared, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng would summon their Spirit Beasts to assist in its destruction.


    As most of the Cold Turtles were roused, concealed icebergs began to shift, unleashing waves of violent energy.


    Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi charged decisively toward the island.


    On the island, a massive ice mountain was flung aside, revealing a giant turtle the size of a mountain, barreling toward them!


    As it advanced, the area was engulfed in an extreme icy storm, and countless ice crystals began to form.


    Lin Shimo dared not be careless, hastily summoning five Heavenly Corpses.


    Yet, under the overwhelming power of the Golden Core realm, all five Heavenly Corpses were rapidly frozen and significantly impaired.


    Lin Shimo''s expression turned pale.


    The gap between the Golden Core Stage and the Purple Mansion Stage was truly immense!


    Lin Shiyi produced a Soul-Suppressing Pagoda to block the way, but even the pagoda was soon encased in ice.


    As the Cold Turtle Demon King drew ever closer, Lin Shimo formed a hand seal, summoning five streaks of blood light that spurred the Heavenly Corpses to attack the Profound Turtle!


    "If any of you hesitate even slightly today, be prepared to be replaced with new corpses!" Lin Shimo seemed to address the Heavenly Corpses directly.


    The statement was eerie, as the Heavenly Corpses were his own life-bound creations.


    Yet, as if understanding his words, the blood light radiating from the five Heavenly Corpses grew more intense as they charged the Cold Turtle Demon King.


    Even so, the gap in strength remained insurmountable. The five Heavenly Corpses were further weakened by the freezing aura, their eyes showing signs of fear. The weakest Earth Attribute corpse even began to crack under the impact of the Cold Turtle Demon King''s charge!

 Chapter 990 - 604: 5 Corpses Soul Division, Earth Rank Secret Realm

    The entire scene devolved into a completely one-sided situation.


    The enormous Cold Turtle Demon King, with each icy breath, would create a massive storm of ice blades.


    Each ice blade was about a foot long, numbering in the tens of thousands, each with spirit patterns emerging, even stronger than a strike from a third-rank magic artifact!


    And this was just a casual breath from the Cold Turtle Demon King.


    The five Heavenly Corpses, though shrouded in a rich five-colored light, were truly insignificant before the Cold Turtle Demon King. All the Heavenly Corpses were sliced into tatters, their spirit light dissipating.


    Even the formidable aura triggered by secret techniques seemed to be faltering.


    Boom!


    After the Earth Attribute corpse fell apart, the Fire Attribute Heavenly Corpse also neared collapse.


    And one must know, this Fire Attribute Heavenly Corpse was the most formidable female corpse, the spirit corpse that Black Cloud Hermit once sought to resurrect, yet it was also the one most heavily restrained.


    The corpses let out piercing sounds of lament.


    Lin Shimo, observing from afar, grew even more resolute, releasing various magical treasures, among them the Heavenly Corpse Banner and the Demon-suppression Tower¡ªfive such towers in total.


    At this moment, however, he made no surplus moves, focusing instead on cultivating the Soul Fusion Art in his mind.


    Finally, he executed the External Incarnation Technique.


    He split off five soul fragments, directing them toward the five Heavenly Corpses through the Blood Covenant.


    This caught the five Heavenly Corpses somewhat off guard.


    As if there was a faint disturbance.


    Witnessing this, Lin Shimo''s resolve only hardened.


    He needed to solidify his pill; this was a step he had to take!


    "Wang Jiao, I''m counting on you!" Lin Shimo transmitted a mental message to Wang Jiao.


    This time, he also intended to use the Cold Turtle Demon King''s icy storm to freeze the divine souls of the five Heavenly Corpses.


    Their divine souls were actually long extinguished, but they continually spawned due to gathering Xue Sha energy. These Xue Sha divine souls typically stayed hidden, but could spell disaster during critical breakthroughs.


    This was the greatest flaw of the Five Elements Heavenly Corpse Art¡ªit endowed cultivators with formidable breakthrough capabilities while enhancing the spirit intelligence of the five corpses.


    But today, he aimed to use the Soul Fusion Art and the unique External Incarnation Technique of True Person Liu He to transform his five Heavenly Corpses into incarnations, cultivating them to ensure perpetual security.


    His chances of breaking through to the Golden Core would become unprecedentedly high!


    In the distance, Wang Jiao had been waiting in the lake for a long while.


    It had already slaughtered several peripheral Cold Turtles in the sea for practice and could hardly suppress its urge to demonstrate its power.


    Though Lin Shiming''s Cave Heaven was good, the Star Spirit Clams and Water Spirit Shells within it could not be eaten by Wang Jiao, and furthermore, it was not respected there.


    In the outside world, however, it could consume anything.


    Especially this Cold Turtle Demon King, and its Golden Core!


    Wang Jiao let out a mighty roar, breaking out from the sea, its black horns emitting a pitch-black spirit light.


    The light struck directly upon the Cold Turtle Demon King''s shell. At the same time, although its form had not yet arrived, its poison preceded it.


    Under the black light''s cover, the Cold Turtle Demon King could not evade.


    Even with its superior defensive shell, the poison continued to corrode it.


    However, under the icy storm, the corrosion occurred exceedingly slowly.


    "Roar roar! Come into my mouth!" Wang Jiao roared mightily, soaring through the clouds with terrifying speed. Even Lin Shiyi, maintaining the formation nearby, found it hard to discern its form clearly.


    As for other Lin Family members and affiliated forces, their eyes displayed varied emotions.


    The former were overwhelmingly excited, proud of the Lin Family''s strength.


    The latter were both pleased and considerably apprehensive.


    At this moment, the five Heavenly Corpses ignited with various colored spirit lights. Lin Shimo sat down on the spot, while Lin Shiyi guarded his side, not moving an inch!


    This was the time Lin Shimo could not afford to be disturbed.


    Fortunately, at this moment, Wang Jiao had completely suppressed the Cold Turtle Demon King.


    The Demon King roared incessantly, releasing profound ice storms furiously, but when they landed on Wang Jiao''s dark scales, they seemed somewhat impotent.


    Wang Jiao was practically half a Water Attribute Flood Dragon.


    The Cold Turtle Demon King''s most lethal divine skill was this profound ice storm.


    Yet, every time Wang Jiao''s third claw struck, a crack would appear on the Cold Turtle Demon King''s shell.


    Finally, with a roar, the Cold Turtle Demon King couldn''t endure any longer and attempted to bite Wang Jiao, only to have its head struck by Wang Jiao''s tail, shattering most of its skull.


    It was left half-dead.


    Wang Jiao grasped the shell with one claw, reached towards its head with the other, turning the Cold Turtle Demon King into a bloody pulp.


    Opening its bloodied mouth wide, it began to devour.


    "Zeyun, arrange the formations; everyone else, clear the entire island!" Cold Turtle Island was finally conquered, and several fourth rank Cold Turtles were slain, with two captured alive by the Lin Family and controlled using the Spirit Controlling Seal.


    After all, this place was more suitable for Cold Turtles, and keeping them would obviously be advantageous.


    Moreover, these Cold Turtles had significant talents and great potential for cultivation.


    The Demon Emperor here didn''t have a Golden Core to control, but could still control Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng also performed incredibly exceptionally, and occupying Cold Turtle Island meant the Lin Family''s Soarwood Island''s sea domain extended yet another insiders'' distance.


    Today, Cold Turtle Island could already be used as a defensive fortress, guarding the Soarwood Archipelago''s frontier.


    Of course, this also meant the Lin Family acquired another Spirit Stone mine and a fifth rank Spirit Vein.


    As well as a Secret Realm.


    Everyone wore smiles on their faces, including those affiliated cultivators.


    Even though they could not claim any territory on Cold Turtle Island, by following the Lin Family, they at least had a place on the islands of Soarwood Archipelago.

 Chapter 991 - 604: 5 Bodies Split Souls, Earth Rank Secret Realm_2

    According to the Lin Family''s plan, if one does not make a contribution, they can only purchase resources at the Soarwood Archipelago auction.


    The price to be paid at that time won''t be something that can easily be obtained through a simple offering.


    For the Lin Family, losing a few expendable members is equally acceptable.


    At this moment, however, they were merely sealing off the formation and developing Cold Turtle Island''s periphery, waiting for Lin Shimo.


    Lin Shimo was still refining the five Heavenly Corpses.


    Wang Jiao lingered in the innermost lake on the island and swam about constantly, appearing quite pleased.


    It was evident that beneath this inner lake lay the high-grade Spirit Stone vein.


    To Wang Jiao, occupying the Spirit Stone vein was an exhilarating accomplishment.


    For this vein, he wanted to enrich himself a little more, especially given that one was overseen by Lin Shiming while this one was not. And currently, Wang Jiao was the strongest here.


    What he feared most now was Lin Shimo and the others reporting him!


    Lin Shiming spent an entire day splitting his spirit soul.


    As night fell, the stars appeared over Cold Turtle Island.


    However, compared to the Redwood Archipelago, the stars here appeared sparse and their radiance less brilliant.


    Lin Shimo opened his eyes, followed by the five Heavenly Corpses simultaneously opening theirs.


    Six pairs of eyes met each other, and at this moment, all six smiled the same way.


    It was a success. His breakthrough to Golden Core no longer faced any obstacles.


    He was brimming with confidence.


    The Five Elements Heavenly Corpse Technique not only assisted with condensing a Purple Mansion but had benefits for forming the Golden Core as well.


    A Golden Core condensed with Five Elements Heavenly Fire held greater power; unfortunately, it consumed significant resources. As for the Gold Condensation Pill, its whereabouts were unknown.


    This was the point that made Lin Shimo hesitate the most.


    However, for now, his priority was to explore the secret realm and the mining vein.


    "Second Brother, how long have I been in secluded cultivation?" Lin Shimo asked with a relaxed smile, his mood noticeably light.


    "Just a single day! The formation is ready, and after exploring the secret realm and mining vein, you can return to Shuangmu Island!"


    Currently guarding Soarwood Island was Lin Shijie, who was also in the process of breaking through to Golden Core. Meanwhile, staying on this side were Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng, both of whom were some time away from their own Golden Core breakthroughs.


    If Lin Shimo made his preparations, he could return to the Lin Family to prepare for training in Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    Once his mental state advanced, he could then prepare for a Gold Condensation Pill or other spiritual medicines required for solidifying a pill.


    "Let''s try the secret realm first!" Lin Shimo shifted the conversation so as not to dwell too long on whether the family had spiritual medicines for him.


    In fact, at this very moment, he hesitated to consider that should the family not provide him a Gold Condensation Pill, could he still act independently like before, venturing out to find one himself?


    The answer, evidently, was no.


    He was now deeply tied to the Lin Family, and time had proven him wrong, whereas Lin Shiming was right.


    Within the family, as long as one contributes, it is sufficient.


    As for the Gold Condensation Pill, he could wait!


    Conviction filled Lin Shimo''s heart. His eyes shone with extraordinary brightness.


    Near the center of Cold Turtle Island, a city had already been established.


    This city would one day become the fortress of Cold Turtle Island, where the Lin Family would maintain a permanent presence.


    The two entered the city, which had now reached a considerable scale. Lin Family''s restaurant and pill workshop had opened, while other shops were undergoing preparations and would be operational soon.


    This place, in the future, would resemble Jiuyue Island as a frontline post!


    Of course, they still needed to wait for Lin Houshou to arrive. With Lin Houshou''s expertise in formations, only a Fifth Rank formation setup would make things secure.


    Additionally, the transmission formation had been established, and instantaneous travel to Shuangmu Island was now possible.


    This had made the island virtually impenetrable!


    After all, the Lin Family''s islands possess Nascent Soul True Monarch battle strength.


    Even if faced with the Demonic Race''s beast tide here in the icy seas, there would be no cause for concern.


    "That''s the auction hall over there!" Lin Shiyi occasionally introduced sections of Cold Turtle City''s layout.


    Lin Shimo seemed genuinely delighted.


    The group found Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng in an auction hall.


    Currently, the battle results had begun to show success.


    The most crucial point was attracting cultivators to stay in Cold Turtle City, thereby fortifying the area, clearing out threats step by step, and developing Soarwood Archipelago as well as this stretch of the icy sea.


    Contrary to their original thoughts, there turned out to be a decent quantity of spiritual medicine here.


    After inspecting the island thoroughly, they discovered that the island yielded a unique spiritual material, Ice Crystal Flowers.


    The Ice Crystal Flowers were Superior Grade Third Rank materials and formed an important auxiliary ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    For the Lin Family, this presented a highly advantageous path.


    It could be developed further in the future.


    The group of four came together and headed toward the inner lake.


    To them, the richness of the mining vein and the secret realm were of paramount importance.


    This place, unlike Ice Wolf Island, did not contain cold jade veins.


    However, their expectations for the secret realm were undoubtedly high.


    Most secret realms were partially exploited.


    Then they would change hands.


    But this secret realm was untouched ¡ª even though the Cold Turtle Demon King had entered, it hadn''t been able to exploit it.


    It didn''t know artifact refining or mining.


    It might have eaten quite a few spiritual medicines.


    Nonetheless, resources inside a secret realm are far from limited to spiritual medicines.


    The group arrived at the inner lake, which resembled the Lin Family''s Spirit Turtle Island.


    That Spirit Turtle Island was currently used for breeding spirit turtles and Water Spirit Shells, forming an extremely important clan land for the Lin Family.


    However, this inner lake likely couldn''t be developed the same way.


    After all, beneath it seemed to be cold veins with low temperatures.


    This somewhat affected the growth of ordinary spirit beasts.


    Given that the Lin Family was expanding production to supply the Coral Alliance''s Lin Family Restaurants.


    Over these years, Water Spirit Shells and Spirit Turtles had been cultivated for decades but still struggled to meet demand.


    The group dove to the lakebed where Wang Jiao lay resting, excavating high-grade Spirit Stones with its claws.


    Nearby also lay a corpse.


    "Caught a thief! This king discovered it!" Wang Jiao bellowed, holding its head high, radiating arrogance.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng''s expressions darkened. It seemed that despite strict Lin Family orders, some cultivators dared to take the risk.


    This realization emphasized that even affiliated families may have been treated too leniently.


    The expendable members must have the mindset of expendable members; this time, the losses included Lin Family''s Spirit Puppets and Lin Shimo''s blood corpses.


    Affiliated forces suffered casualties, which was comparatively more common and less concerning.


    However, this hinted that these forces might assume the Lin Family now prioritized them heavily.


    "I''ll ensure Yanqing handles this strictly. Today we also need to reflect!" Lin Zekong said solemnly, implying they must emulate Lin Zewen''s harsher methods.


    Such points warranted improvement.


    After deliberating they examined the ore vein ¡ª a micro-sized high-grade Spirit Stone vein.


    It bore some resemblance to Jiuyue Island''s vein.


    To the Lin Family, it was a monumental resource.


    Currently, the Lin Family''s Purple Mansion cultivators were numerous, and the consumption of high-grade Spirit Stones was substantial.


    Add to that the numerous transmission formations.


    The Supreme Grade Spirit Stone vein in the Undersea Dragon Palace.


    The high-grade Spirit Stones within were strictly reserved.


    Saved to cultivate Supreme Grade Spirit Stones.


    Upon finishing the ore vein inspection, the group spotted a giant ice cave near the lake''s edge, where Ice Crystal Flowers of two-thousand-year maturity grew.


    This scene left them astonished.


    Exploring deeper into the cave led them to discover the entrance to a secret realm embedded within the frozen cavern.


    Within the cave''s depths, was a grand hall.


    The hall resembled ancient cultivators'' abodes.


    It seemed like an inheritance cave of the ancient cultivators.


    The discovery stirred joy among the group.


    "This appears to be an Earth Rank Secret Realm, with a maximum capacity for Purple Mansion cultivators!" Lin Zelu, who had joined the exploration, offered his insightful evaluation of the secret realm.


    "Inform Seventh Uncle; he should organize things here and be prepared for potential dangers!" Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng exchanged glances.


    Finally, their gaze fell upon Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi.


    "Better call for Shiming; he always manages to uncover incredible treasures, and with him involved, nothing will go awry!" Lin Shiyi agreed with a nod.


    As the Myriad Thousand Jade was retrieved.


    Lin Shiming received the message and emerged from seclusion. This was the Lin Family''s first discovery of an Earth Rank Secret Realm capable of providing Purple Mansion-level resources.


    It might contain some of the Lin Family''s current resource shortages.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming couldn''t remain calm. Accompanied by a group of Lin Family members, he rushed over hurriedly!

 Chapter 992 - 606: Descendant of the Phoenix Demon, Ruins of the Taihan Sect

    In the middle of the icy lake, Wang Jiao repeatedly used its claws to scoop up pieces of uncut Superior Grade Spirit Stones and stuffed them into its Storage Bag.


    Lin Shiming had given it specific instructions at the Top-Grade Spirit Stone Mine, so after taking a few pieces, it stopped.


    However, Lin Shiming had no knowledge of this new Superior Grade Spirit Stone mine.


    As for Lin Shimo and the others, who were merely in the Purple Mansion stage, they had no authority over it.


    "Wang Jiao, what are you doing?" Suddenly, a voice rang out.


    Wang Jiao''s massive body trembled as it turned around, only to find that Lin Shiming had appeared behind it at some unknown moment.


    "Master, why are you here?" Wang Jiao couldn''t help but ask.


    "Roar, Master, I''ve already completed the mission successfully and found two Spirit Stone veins!" Wang Jiao hurriedly explained.


    "You already have enough Superior Grade Spirit Stones. Leave some for the clan!" Lin Shiming commanded.


    He then followed Wang Jiao onward, heading straight toward the Ice Cave.


    Behind him were Lin Houyuan, Lin Xianzhi, and Lin Houshou.


    The emergence of an Earth Rank Secret Realm was no trivial matter.


    If not for Lei Xuan and Lin Shilei heading to Yunyue Island,


    the lineup of the Lin Family on this occasion would have been even grander.


    "Shiming, Seventh Granduncle, Second Uncle, Ninth Uncle!" Lin Shiyi quickly stepped forward and respectfully greeted Lin Xianzhi, Lin Houyuan, and Lin Houshou.


    Although Lin Shiming wasn''t considered an elder, he was undeniably the backbone of the Lin Family now.


    "This Earth Rank Secret Realm hasn''t been explored yet. We don''t know what lies inside, so we''ll need to test it first!" Lin Xianzhi suggested.


    The Earth Rank Secret Realm was not like a Profound Grade Secret Realm; an Earth Rank Secret Realm was sure to contain Purple Mansion Great Demons.


    There might even be a peak-stage Purple Mansion Great Demon.


    Thus, careful planning was absolutely necessary.


    "Count me in. I have the Five Elements Heavenly Corpse and can take on Tribulation Transcending duties at any moment!" Lin Shimo spoke up.


    His words were always concise, never wasting a single unnecessary sentence.


    "Also, include the Red-haired Demon Monkey, Lei Tong, and the Swallowing Spirit Ant!" Lin Shiming added, dispatching two of his Spirit Beasts.


    The Golden Wing Spirit Beast could also participate, but it was currently in a breakthrough stage after consuming the inner core of the Frost Demon King.


    Naturally, it couldn''t join this time.


    Lei Tong, after years of cultivation and Elder Mu''s teachings, had come to understand most key issues. Moreover, it possessed the Sunflower Spirit Manual.


    In some respects, the Divine Thunder it released with Geng Metal attributes was even stronger than those controlled by the Thunder Spirit Root Cultivators Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan.


    "I''ll go as well, to scout the area first!" Lin Shiyi stated.


    No matter the secret realm, the family''s principle was always the same: lower-level cultivators collect resources while higher-level cultivators focus on cultivation.


    This principle was firmly adhered to.


    But before anything else, checking the Spirit Formation for issues was of paramount importance.


    "Bring more puppets this time, including ones at the Golden Core Early Stage!" Lin Shiming supplemented.


    This suggestion wasn''t opposed.


    Lin Shiyi, Lin Shimo, Lei Tong, and the Red-haired Demon Monkey were indeed well-suited for the task.


    Naturally, several Flood Dragons from the Lin Family would also join.


    As for array masters, Lin Zelu was chosen.


    Initially, Lin Houshou had wanted to go, but because the Cold Turtle Island needed a larger Fifth Rank Formation to be set up,


    Lin Zelu had to be the one to deploy to the Ice Cave Secret Realm.


    Though Lin Zelu was only at the Purple Mansion Early Stage, his talent for formations was exceptionally formidable, capable of setting up Fourth Rank Intermediate Grade pinnacle-level formations.


    He was only a step away from achieving proficiency in Fourth Rank Superior Grade formations.


    With everything decided, everyone gathered at the vortex entrance of the Ice Cave Secret Realm.


    "Take these ¨C the Primordial Magnet Ring, the Demon Blood Needle, and the Five Metal Beast Resonance Ring. Use them well!" Lin Shiming produced several Fourth Rank Supreme Grade Magical Treasures and handed them to Lin Shimo and the others.


    The recipients didn''t refuse. At this critical moment, all was done for the family.


    As the Lin Family''s first Earth Rank Secret Realm expedition, no mistakes could be afforded.


    Currently, what the Lin Family lacked most was Spiritual Medicine for Golden Core Cultivators.


    "Let''s wait another day. It''ll give you time to refine these treasures!" After hesitating for a moment, Lin Shiming suggested.


    These treasures had already been cleansed of Lin Shiming''s spiritual link,


    making them relatively fast to refine.


    Simultaneously, this also allowed Lin Shiming to await a prompt from his system.


    After all, his system''s prompt had just been used to unlock the Treasure Accumulation Technique and to refine the Divine Palace of Mental Consciousness.


    Now, he needed to wait another day.


    Everyone nodded and began refining immediately.


    Lin Shiming, meanwhile, wandered outside, surveying the surroundings.


    When the second day arrived, Lin Shiming''s system prompt rang out as expected.


    [Assign cultivators to enter the secret realm. You will receive the inheritance of the Tai Han Sect, three Gold Condensation Fruit trees, and a True Spirit Phoenix Demon bloodline-bearing cub!]


    The system prompt sounded, and Lin Shiming was overjoyed.


    The treasures of this Earth Rank Secret Realm seemed incredibly valuable.


    Moreover, it contained a sect''s inheritance treasure.


    For the Lin Family, this was akin to a heaven-sent blessing.


    Especially the True Spirit Phoenix Demon bloodline-bearing cub, which made Lin Shiming''s eyes gleam with excitement.


    Phoenixes, like True Dragons, were recognized as the strongest True Spirit species in existence.


    Though it only carried a portion of the bloodline, it was undoubtedly comparable to the Flood Dragon Clan.


    Particularly those Flood Dragons that had transcended tribulation multiple times.


    "Be extra mindful. I sense there may be an inheritance inside!" Lin Shiming instructed.


    Upon hearing this, the others strongly agreed.


    This secret realm did indeed appear to resemble an ancient sect''s inheritance site.


    The island not only contained Spirit Stone veins but was also guarded by the Cold Turtle Clan.


    "Once you''ve scouted thoroughly, try to send someone back out to bring Seventh Granduncle Xianzhi and Second Uncle inside!" Lin Shiming ordered.


    If he himself weren''t unable to enter the Earth Rank Secret Realm, he would have preferred to go personally.


    Additionally, he had yet to master the External Incarnation Technique.


    "Alright!" Realizing the gravity in Lin Shiming''s tone, Lin Shiyi replied firmly.

 Chapter 993 - 606: Descendant of the Phoenix Demon, Ruins of the Taihan Sect_2

    The three people brought several Spirit Beasts and numerous Spirit Puppet Beasts into the whirlpool.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, I''ll ask Shijin to send some Spirit Talismans over now!" Lin Shiming spoke again.


    This Earth Grade Secret Realm was a matter of utmost importance to him.


    After all, this was the inheritance ground of a Sect, and even had the offspring of a Phoenix Demon.


    Lin Xianzhi and the others did not fully understand, but since Lin Shiming took such measures, there was certainly a reason behind it.


    They did not object.


    The transmission through Myriad Thousand Jade was efficient, and in less than half an hour.


    Lin Shijin arrived at Cold Turtle Island.


    He held numerous Spirit Talismans in his hands and also brought two Fifth Rank War Treasure Ships.


    Unlike Fifth Rank Spirit Puppets which might be restricted by the Earth Grade Secret Realm, the War Treasure Ships were unaffected.


    Almost simultaneously with Lin Shijin''s arrival, Lin Zelu also emerged.


    "There''s no danger inside, and it''s filled with numerous buildings, similar to our Small World. It''s likely a Secret Realm of inheritance!" Lin Zelu spoke excitedly to the group.


    Lin Shiming nodded slightly, while the others were instantly overjoyed.


    A Sect possessing an Earth Grade Secret Realm must at least be a Golden Core Sect.


    This meant the chances of finding Fifth Rank inheritances were high, and there might even be Sixth Rank inheritances.


    "However, the Secret Realm inside contains numerous formations as well. Second Uncle, we might need your assistance!" Lin Zelu scratched his head and spoke hesitantly.


    His level of formation knowledge was still relatively weak.


    Although he could proceed slowly, the Lin Family could not afford to wait.


    At any moment, they might have to face the Tai Qian Shark clan.


    The Lin Family needed to fully explore this Earth Grade Secret Realm as soon as possible.


    "Alright!" Lin Houshou nodded. With Lin Shiming present, there was no immediate urgency for Fifth Rank formations on Cold Turtle Island.


    After all, Lin Shiming''s current strength was undeniably among the top ranks of Golden Core True Persons.


    "Let us venture in together!" Accepting the War Treasure Ships, Lin Xianzhi revealed a rare spark of excitement in his eyes.


    It had been ages since he last explored a Secret Realm.


    All these years, it had always been Lin Shiming supporting the family.


    At this moment, he too wanted to contribute something to the family.


    "Seventh Great Uncle, my Red-haired Demon Monkey told me there might be fire attribute treasures around, so keep an eye out!"


    "Understood!" Lin Xianzhi nodded, deeply trusting Lin Shiming''s intuition.


    Having said that, they did not hesitate and stepped through the whirlpool, entering the Secret Realm.


    Within the ice cave, calm soon returned, leaving only Lin Shiming quietly meditating.


    ...


    Inside the Earth Grade Secret Realm, it was a world frozen in ice.


    Everywhere were ice sculptures, with snowflakes drifting through the air.


    Lin Xianzhi and the others appeared in a forest of ice and snow.


    Lin Shiyi and Lin Shimo, accompanied by five Heavenly Corpses, landed nearby.


    "Seventh Great Uncle!" Lin Shimo called out.


    "The fluctuations of the Purple Mansion Great Demon here are incredibly strong, suggesting there might be some formidable Demonic Beasts nearby. Seventh Great Uncle, it''s best if we split into two teams for exploration!"


    "Agreed. I''ll team up with Hou Yuan and Zelu, while you and Houshou form another team!" Lin Xianzhi nodded as well.


    Going directly as one group would waste time.


    While this Secret Realm contained numerous powerful Great Demons, their current strength was formidable as well.


    They had War Treasure Ships, Spirit Puppets, and Spirit Beasts at their disposal.


    "Lei Tong and the Red-haired Demon Monkey will accompany your team too!" Lin Xianzhi added.


    "As for the Spirit Devouring Ants, each person gets one!"


    Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi did not refuse.


    They parted ways.


    One group headed for the tallest snow peak.


    Lin Xianzhi, along with Lin Houyuan and Lin Zelu, advanced toward a large cluster of buildings instead.


    In a Sect inheritance Secret Realm, treasures were most likely to be found in either the building clusters or at the summit of the tallest snow peak.


    Lin Shimo''s group prioritized the snow peak, while Lin Xianzhi''s team chose the buildings.


    They did not forget Lin Shiming''s advice to look for fire attribute treasures.


    Any hint of fire attribute energy seemed likeliest to be hidden within the building clusters.


    As Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan arrived at the building clusters, they discovered these were extremely ancient structures, with each column carved with unfamiliar Spirit Patterns.


    Their appearance exuded an eerie aura.


    At the entrance of the buildings was a massive Formation.


    Lin Zelu stepped forward without hesitation, producing one array flag after another.


    He attempted to break the Formation using a formation-breaking technique!


    But when that failed, he had no choice but to send the Spirit Devouring Ants to consume the Spirit Light.


    After breaking the Formation, they found numerous cave residences, each tightly shut with courtyard gates.


    Lin Xianzhi and his team broke through the gates one by one, only to find the interiors barren.


    Only Spirit Beds and Spirit Tables remained, with everything else vanished.


    It seemed the cultivators had left suddenly due to some urgent matter.


    Seeing this, the passion in Lin Xianzhi''s heart cooled significantly.


    If this courtyard was barren, the other courtyards were likely the same!


    However, in the next moment, he saw within a shrine a solitary meditation mat.


    This meditation mat bore some resemblance to the Spirit Grass meditation mats owned by the Lin Family.


    But upon closer examination, they discovered this mat could absorb Spiritual Energy.


    Even their Divine Sense was slightly drawn into it.


    "Let me test it out!" Lin Zelu offered.


    It was natural for him to experiment with the meditation mat, as he was the youngest among them and still slightly embarrassed from failing to break the Formation earlier.


    Sitting upon the mat, he immediately felt a wave of clarity sweep over his mind.


    To Lin Zelu, however, it didn''t seem extraordinary¡ªafter all, the Lin Family''s meditation mats could produce similar effects.


    But in the next moment, he was astonished to see detailed formations appear before him, simulated with such realism and precision that it made him ecstatic.


    "Seventh Ancestral Uncle! This is a Dao Enlightenment Mat!" Lin Zelu exclaimed, making the others equally thrilled.


    This meditation mat was undeniably extraordinary.


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan each took turns sitting upon it, and when they rose, their spirits were invigorated.


    Such a treasure was unmatched even by a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    The Lin Family had undoubtedly found a rare artifact.


    They continued searching the remaining courtyards but were disappointed to find nothing comparable save for the solitary meditation mat.


    The courtyards remained barren.


    "Seventh Ancestral Uncle! There''s an Alchemy Room over there, and the temperature is astonishingly high!"


    At that moment, Lin Zelu called out excitedly once more.


    The trio moved toward the Alchemy Room.


    They soon encountered a new Formation.


    This time, Lin Zelu needed no assistance from the Spirit Devouring Ants; he broke the Formation single-handedly.


    Upon entering, an intense blaze of fiery light engulfed the room!


    They ventured deep into the Alchemy Room.


    To their surprise, the Earth Fire had already been extinguished, leaving them puzzled.


    If the Earth Fire was extinguished, why was there still such strong flame light?


    Finally, their gazes settled on four fiery pillars and the pill furnace bound by chains at the center.


    As their Divine Sense probed the pill furnace, they were shocked to find an egg within.


    The ancient cultivators hadn''t crafted a Spirit Pill¡ªthey had refined an egg.


    "The egg is still alive¡ªit absorbed all the flames!" Lin Houyuan exclaimed in astonishment.


    "Boom!" Suddenly, waves of firelight erupted!


    Lin Xianzhi immediately stepped forward, slicing with his sword to manifest a golden lotus that shielded against the raging fire.


    Yet this scene startled him profoundly!


    The egg could attack¡ªit even possessed Divine Sense.


    A truly baffling phenomenon.


    Moreover, the firelight''s power matched Lin Xianzhi''s strength!


    This indicated the Spirit Egg possessed at least the Early Stage of Purple Mansion-level strength.


    After all, Lin Xianzhi had only casually counterattacked.


    "This must be the extraordinary treasure Shiming mentioned!" Lin Xianzhi laughed heartily.


    Adventuring and treasure-hunting like this was a thrill he hadn''t felt in centuries¡ªnow it was thoroughly exhilarating!


    "This Demonic Beast seems to carry the aura of an Ancient Phoenix!" Lin Xianzhi remarked.


    "Use the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda to subdue it!" Knowing it was a juvenile made things much easier.


    Though the Spirit Egg displayed immense Spirit Might, its Divine Soul was still lacking, given it hadn''t yet hatched.


    The Soul-Suppressing Pagoda was the perfect tool for the task!


    Each of the three men cast two Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, pinning them atop the pill furnace.


    Sure enough, the Spirit Egg''s aura weakened significantly.


    "It succeeded!" Lin Houyuan cheered joyfully as he retrieved the Spirit Beast Bag and stored the egg within.


    "These pillars are treasures too¡ªnot inferior to Supreme Grade Fourth Rank Magical Treasures!"


    "This Sect''s inheritance undeniably belongs to a Golden Core Sect!" Lin Zelu added excitedly.


    The pillars were difficult for Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan to handle, but Lin Zelu had no such problem¡ªhe deftly collected them all!

 Chapter 994 - 607: Snowman Formation, Powerful Ice Sculpture (Two-in-One)

    On a snowy mountain, the entire area was blanketed in pure white snow, stretching for hundreds of miles.


    Snowflakes continued to drift down from the sky above.


    Lin Shiming, Lin Houshou, and Lin Shiyi descended in front of the snowy mountain:


    "This should be the peak where that sect''s inheritance lies. We''ve seen plenty of abandoned houses along the way. Hopefully, there are some treasures here!" Lin Shiyi said anxiously.


    Within the Secret Realm, they hadn''t encountered many Spirit Beasts or found any treasures thus far.


    Now, they had finally reached the center of the Secret Realm.


    "Let''s release the Blood Corpses first. If a fight breaks out, it might cause an avalanche, which would hinder our treasure hunting!" Lin Houshou suggested.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement, taking out the Heavenly Corpse Banner. From within the banner, numerous Blood Corpses emerged.


    These Blood Corpses were automatically converted by his Heavenly Corpse Banner.


    This artifact could refine the newly dead bodies of Spirit Beasts and cultivators into Blood Corpses.


    As the Blood Corpses crawled out of the Heavenly Corpse Banner, they roared defiantly against the biting cold.


    However, in the next moment, as they moved into the freezing air, they became unable to take a single step forward.


    Moreover, what shocked Lin Shiming and the others was that the snowfall on the mountain suddenly intensified.


    The massive snowflakes fell densely, creating a nearly impenetrable curtain of white.


    Evidently, they had triggered a Formation.


    In the next instant, the three of them frowned deeply, as they saw giant snowmen beginning to take shape on the snowy mountain. These snowmen appeared identical to the Blood Corpses they had summoned.


    The snowmen were carved in vivid detail, resembling the Blood Corpses to an astonishing degree.


    The only difference between them was their color.


    Boom!


    The Blood Corpses and the snowmen clashed.


    A fierce battle broke out in an instant.


    Though battles between Qi Cultivation-level beings were trivial in the eyes of the three cultivators, they couldn''t help but worry¡ªafter all, if they themselves entered, would their own abilities also be duplicated?


    If their Purple Mansion-level powers were replicated, how could they possibly overcome this challenge?


    The group continued observing, evaluating the snowmen''s Spiritual Power, combat techniques, endurance, and other traits.


    But the more they watched, the more worried they became.


    The snowmen and Blood Corpses exhibited identical behaviors, relying on clawing and roaring.


    The snowmen felt like part of an Illusion Array, but the key issue was that the snowy mountain suppressed cultivators, limiting their abilities.


    As this balance shifted, many of the Blood Corpses began to fall in battle.


    Lin Shiming ordered some of the Blood Corpses to retreat. Interestingly, as soon as they exited the snowy mountain''s range, the snowmen automatically disintegrated.


    Evidently, this Formation not only repelled intruders but also served to train the sect''s own cultivators.


    From this perspective, the inheritance of this sect seemed extraordinary.


    "Let''s keep observing. There''s no rush!" Lin Houshou said as he noticed Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi''s eagerness to test the situation themselves.


    Lin Shiyi and Lin Shiming looked puzzled.


    To them, they had already spent ample time studying the Formation and felt they understood it well enough!


    "Not yet. We must observe longer. Right now, our Lin Family is the only group in this Secret Realm. There''s no need to take risks!"


    "The family can''t afford the loss of even a single Purple Mansion cultivator!"


    "We need to observe the Formation''s endurance. Everyone knows that the stronger and stranger a Formation is, the more Spiritual Energy it consumes. Some Formations draw from Spirit Veins, while others rely on Array Plates and Spirit Stones."


    "When these Formations aren''t activated, they don''t consume energy, and the Spirit Stones can even regenerate Spiritual Energy. So, as long as a Formation isn''t triggered, it can last indefinitely!"


    "Of course, if it''s absorbing energy from a Spirit Vein, then our plan will fail!"


    "Even then, we can mobilize a large number of Spirit Beasts and additional Blood Corpses to break through the Formation together!"


    "At the very least, they''ll draw some of the energy away!"


    "Alternatively, we can also try using Formation-breaking Talismans or Boundary-breaking Talismans!" Lin Houshou explained in great detail.


    Hearing this, Lin Shiyi and Lin Shiming were momentarily stunned, then nodded in agreement, realizing how limited their earlier thinking had been.


    This was, after all, a Secret Realm¡ªa place of inheritance for a sect. But that didn''t mean it was free of danger.


    Carelessness could easily lead to disaster.


    Sometimes, what seemed like an opportunity could also be a deadly trap.


    "Thank you, Second Uncle, for the explanation!" Lin Shiyi said. He had tempered himself extensively in other regions, and Lin Shiming had experienced even greater challenges, including being schemed against by the Hermit Black Cloud from the Corpse Refining Gate.


    Yet, both of them had fallen into the trap of assuming opportunities would present themselves unconditionally.


    There might not be any cultivators in the snowy mountain, but the presence of Spirit Beasts was highly likely. The Cold Turtle Demon King outside served as a prime example, acting as a guardian beast.


    After all, it was normal for turtle-type Demonic Beasts to live for tens of thousands of years, making them ideal for guarding mountains and Secret Realms.


    Having finalized their plan, the group refrained from acting rashly. Instead, they carefully sent in some Spirit Beasts to test the Formation''s limits along the edges.


    Sure enough, after some probing, they discovered that the Formation had an upper limit. When three Purple Mansion-level Demonic Beasts attacked simultaneously, the Formation started to struggle.


    Based on this calculation, even if the Formation retained some power, duplicating more than five Purple Mansion-level beings at once would be impossible.


    After all, the five Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family were far from ordinary.

 Chapter 995 - 607: Snowman Formation, Powerful Ice Sculpture (Two in One)_2

    Lin Houshou was at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, Lin Shiyi at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, Lin Shimo at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, the Red-haired Demon Monkey at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, Lei Tong at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage Peak, and five refined corpses also possessed the power of the Purple Mansion Late Stage!


    Duplicating such power takes quite a toll.


    After all, this was an Earth Rank Secret Realm, and the Spirit Vein here was not exceptionally strong, just barely at the strength of a Fifth Rank Inferior Grade Spirit Vein.


    After testing, the group felt significantly more relaxed.


    If it truly replicated endlessly, that formation would be terrifying.


    Let''s try it with a Boundary-breaking Talisman first!


    Lin Shimo took out a Fourth Rank refined corpse.


    Even for Lin Shimo, this Fourth Rank refined corpse was highly valuable, but compared to the Five Elements Heavenly Corpse, it was far less precious.


    Even if destroyed, it would hardly matter.


    Beside him, Lin Houshou released a Sea Cloud Bird.


    This Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird was merely a means of transportation¡ªits loss was inconsequential to him.


    Two Boundary-breaking Talismans were taken out.


    The Purple Mansion refined corpse and the Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird advanced together.


    As Spirit Light rippled, the Purple Mansion refined corpse and the Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird indeed crossed the snowy mountains, appearing at a mountainside where a stone tablet stood.


    Three large characters descended onto the stone tablet: Taihan Sect!


    Upon seeing the characters, an intense and terrifying chill engulfed them, as though they had fallen into a ten-thousand-year-old icy crypt, the cold piercing to the bone.


    The three had no knowledge of the Taihan Sect''s origins¡ªLin Houshou was the most scholarly among them, but even he surmised that the Taihan Sect had faded from history long ago.


    Its significance was nonexistent in many ruins.


    "This stone tablet is an extraordinary treasure for cultivators with water or ice attributes!" Lin Shimo remarked with a trace of awe.


    Yet, at that moment, Lin Shimo and Lin Houshou sensed its mysteries¡ªone through a Blood Covenant, the other through the Soul Binding Forbidden technique.


    Beyond the stone tablet lay a long, icy staircase.


    Upon observing it, they noticed a still ice sculpture resembling an Ice Bird gazing motionlessly at the steps ahead.


    Its form was distinctly avian, yet indistinct as to what Demonic Beast it was.


    Still, Lin Houshou felt an eerie presence as he commanded the Sea Cloud Bird to unleash Wind Blades toward the ice sculpture.


    Just as the foot-long Wind Blade was about to strike the ice sculpture,


    The Wind Blade abruptly transmuted into another ice sculpture, falling straight down.


    The Ice Bird instantly spread its wings, a surprising sight that left the group astonished.


    The aura of the Ice Bird revealed it to be at Purple Mansion Peak.


    The Ice Bird, provoked by the Sea Cloud Bird and Purple Mansion refined corpse, flapped its wings furiously, materializing countless Ice Blades.


    This blizzard of Ice Blades was not as formidable as the one unleashed by the Cold Turtle Demon King outside, but not far off either.


    Evidently, the Secret Realm had suppressed the Ice Bird''s cultivation; otherwise, it would have long been a Golden Core Demon King.


    The Purple Mansion refined corpse and the Sea Cloud Bird could not endure long before succumbing as blood offerings that fell into the Ice Bird''s maw!


    Yet, despite this, the Ice Bird remained unsatiated. It let out a long cry and spread its wings, tracing an uncanny trajectory as it descended toward the snowy mountain''s base.


    Clearly, the Ice Bird had been lying in wait,.


    But after Lin Houshou discovered it, it grew enraged and prepared to strike at Lin Houshou''s group!


    "Prepare for battle; I''ll handle the formation!" Lin Houshou commanded.


    He swiftly retrieved two Array Plates along with countless formation flags, immediately arranging a Compound Formation.


    The Ice Bird clearly seemed unfamiliar with such a grand setup.


    It spread its wings once more!


    Meanwhile, Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi charged forward to confront it.


    Lin Shimo began by activating the Primordial Magnet Ring, yet its divine light was not very effective against ice-type Secret Techniques.


    Instead, Lin Shiyi summoned the Spirit Shadow of a Shocking Sea Ape, whose devastating blow shattered countless icy storms into fragments.


    However, Lin Shiyi''s hands appeared infected with icy toxins, inch by inch freezing solid!


    Frowning deeply, Lin Shiyi unleashed a burst of blood energy, shattering the icy crystals entirely.


    Lin Shimo maneuvered several Soul-Suppressing Pagodas overhead.


    In addition to the Soul-Suppressing Pagodas, he retrieved his Heavenly Corpse Banner and a Poison Needle Magical Treasure!


    Their activation incited a striking spectacle.


    But the Ice Bird, blinded by battle rage, seemed unimpressed by the trio, continuing to charge downward at Lin Shiyi!


    The attack landed with a thunderous crash on the Soul-Suppressing Pagada.


    The pagada released soul-capturing light, yet it was entirely ineffective.


    Instead, two Pagodas were flung away by the strike.


    The Poison Needle was instantly frozen by icy crystals.


    "The Ice Bird''s mastery over ice is extraordinarily terrifying!" Lin Shiyi remarked, finding himself in an unenviable position.


    Every step closer to the Ice Bird caused his body to stiffen further, as though his blood itself threatened to freeze over.


    This type of Secret Technique was particularly disadvantageous for body cultivators.


    And mind you, this was only because they had yet to ascend the snowy mountain or face the suppression awaiting them.


    In a formation, that moment would leave them truly without any escape!


    Facing the Ice Bird alongside its duplicates was overwhelmingly nightmarish!


    Lin Shimo still hoped to conserve his Five Heavenly Corpses, reserving them for use once Lin Houshou''s formation was complete.


    But now, Lin Shimo had no choice but to deploy three Heavenly Corpses ahead of schedule.


    At this moment, he felt as if confronting the Ice Bird was akin to facing Lin Shiming at the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    The overwhelming strength was almost beyond what cultivators of this stage should possess.


    In fact, Lin Shimo speculated that Lin Shiming back then might have been less fearsome than this Ice Bird.


    With the addition of three more Heavenly Corpses, the situation slightly improved¡ªafter all, five against one!


    Finally, the formation laid by Lin Houshou was complete.


    The countless flags interconnected, forming an enormous Spirit Shield.


    For a moment, the Ice Bird grew anxious.


    It attempted to spread its wings and escape.


    But it found itself unable to exit the formation.


    Endless flames emerged around the formation''s periphery, prompting the Ice Bird to let out an angry cry.


    Yet, even so, any flame approaching the Ice Bird was extinguished, replaced by icy smoke.


    This sight left the group horrified¡ªit had been so long, and they had yet to land even a single strike on the Ice Bird.


    For now, the formation merely made it more frantic.


    With the formation set, Lin Houshou released his Red-haired Demon Monkey and Lei Tong, while Lin Shiyi unleashed a Fourth Rank Superior Grade Spirit Puppet.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shimo let loose the remaining two Heavenly Corpses!


    The Ice Bird was momentarily stunned, not understanding how the three opponents suddenly swarmed into six, then multiplying into over ten.


    Red-haired Demon Monkey''s appearance dramatically shifted the tide¡ªit transformed into a ten-foot-tall giant ape, engulfed in terrifying flames.


    Its flames now consisted of four colors, among them the infamous Chi Ming Xia Flame, known for its inextinguishable nature.


    The flames inflicted significant damage on the Ice Bird, which actively avoided clashing with the Red-haired Demon Monkey, instead flapping its wings to unleash icy storms against the Spirit Puppet and Heavenly Corpses.


    With each strike, it generated an icy hand, a testament to its remarkable intelligence.


    Yet, despite its evasive maneuvers, the formation had already confined it¡ªstripping it of its speed and geographic advantage.


    In an instant, the Red-haired Demon Monkey landed a direct punch, shattering the Ice Bird''s icy exterior and causing it to wail in agony.


    Simultaneously, a golden sunflower burst apart, transforming into hundreds of Geng Metal Thunder Seeds.


    These explosions engulfed the Ice Bird.


    A haunting cry echoed from deep within its soul, as the Ice Bird''s crystalline exterior shattered, revealing a layer of its feathers beneath.


    The white feathers were now stained black¡ªa sign that while the Ice Bird could freeze flames and other elements, it could not freeze lightning.


    Unable to defend itself further, Lin Shimo''s Poison Needle pierced through one of its wings.


    The Poison Needle unleashed its venom, which promptly spread.


    In moments, the poisonous mist permeated the surroundings.


    "Do not kill this beast¡ªit possesses great intelligence!" Lin Houshou interjected.


    Such a Spirit Beast, if brought back to the family, would become a Golden Core Demon King.


    "Let''s call you Ice Bird. If you submit today, I shall spare you!" Lin Houshou declared, employing his Secret Technique.


    His voice resembled divine lightning from the heavens, striking like thunder.


    The Ice Bird naturally screeched in defiance.


    Without hesitation, it rejected his offer.


    Faced with this refusal, Lin Houshou remained unperturbed; this only proved the Great Demon''s exceptional intelligence.


    And with intelligence, there was still hope for submission, making taming it a worthwhile endeavor!


    The Lin Family''s possession of such an Ice Bird would greatly enhance its foundation!


    "Refuse and face death!" Lin Houshou commanded, raising another formation flag.


    A massive fireball struck the Ice Bird head-on, prompting a pained cry!


    "Submit, and you may yet have hope of breaking through to the Demon King realm. Our Lin Family lacks no treasures for breakthroughs and can take you out of here as well!"

 Chapter 996 - 608: Gold Condensation Fruit Tree, Ice Pagoda Legacy (Two in One, Subscribe Request)

    On the snow mountain, as Lin Houshou spoke, the ice bird finally showed some emotion.


    "Can you really take me out of here?"


    The trembling voice made Lin Houshou pause momentarily, then he rejoiced.


    "Of course! The Lin Family not only has Purple Mansion cultivators but also more powerful Golden Core True Persons and Nascent Soul True Monarch combat force!"


    "Getting you out of this secret realm is naturally simple!" Lin Houshou said.


    The ice bird finally nodded.


    At the same time, Lin Houshou began to condense the Soul Binding Forbidden.


    This type of soul contract, once established, is no less binding than raising a spirit beast from a young age.


    Moreover, due to its intelligence, it can accomplish even more things.


    The only concern is the need to nurture the ice bird; the worry is that while it accepts orders, it might occasionally act perfunctorily.


    On this point, Lin Houshou was confident. After all, this ice bird had significant potential to break through to the rank of True Person, which could provide ample opportunities for negotiation.


    A drop of essence blood condensed, also splitting off a portion of Lin Houshou''s divine soul, which immediately surged toward the ice bird.


    The ice bird''s eyes still showed some fear and tried to evade, but in the next moment, Lin Houshou glared sharply, exerting the Split Soul Blade, causing the ice bird to let out a piercing cry.


    The Soul Binding Forbidden then settled into its physical body, quickly coalescing into shape, pulling out a smaller demon soul, which entered Lin Houshou''s mind.


    "Alright, Shiming, Shiyi, you can let go now!" Lin Houshou, sensing the formation of the Soul Binding Forbidden, exhaled a sigh of relief.


    This spirit beast was quite challenging to deal with; facing it alone would have been extremely dangerous for any one of them.


    After binding its soul, Lin Houshou discovered the formidable nature of the ice bird.


    Since birth, this ice bird had appeared atop Taihan Mount.


    It had devoured all the demonic beasts in the area, which was why only the ice bird remained here alone.


    Furthermore, the ice bird had deciphered the advantages of the formation, often hiding near the steps to ambush demonic beasts drawn by the ripening Spirit Fruit of Taihan Mount.


    Without Lin Houshou''s warning, Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi might have fallen into the ice bird''s trap this time.


    "Let''s go this way; it knows the loophole in the formation!" Lin Houshou didn''t remove the formation. Leaving it here would only consume some spiritual energy, but it might prove useful at a critical moment.


    The trio, along with several spirit beasts, stepped out of the formation and began ascending a path of the snow mountain.


    The loophole in this formation essentially served as its life gate, which the ice bird had deduced from observing experiments conducted by other spirit beasts.


    Thus, the group followed the path leading to the life gate.


    Soon, they arrived at the stone monument of Taihan Mount.


    Standing before the monument, Lin Shiming and Lin Houshou felt an even deeper sense of awe.


    Both of them bowed slightly, and Lin Shiyi followed suit repeatedly.


    If all went as expected, this secret realm would still hold most of its treasures here, serving as a training ground for the Lin Family cultivators. After all, if the Lin Family members sought to break through their limits, this realm would function as a "secret realm cave heaven" for the Lin Family.


    It could serve as a place for self-transcendence.


    For example, after Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi eventually mastered the formation and the inheritance of Taihan Mount, they could challenge themselves.


    Preparing to break through to the Golden Core.


    As the group traversed the stone path, they soon arrived at a junction of three forks.


    This area was once the main sect mountain of Taihan Sect.


    According to what Lin Houshou had gleaned from the ice bird''s divine soul, Taihan Mount was divided into two main areas.


    One part consisted of the "Disciple Heaven," accessible through one of the three paths.


    This was where all the Taihan Sect cultivators'' abodes were located. The remaining two paths led elsewhere¡ªone to the Council Hall connected to the sect, known as "Purple Dawn Heaven!"


    The final path led to "Spirit Realm Heaven."


    As the name suggests, Spirit Realm Heaven consisted of the Spiritual Medicine Garden, Alchemy Room, Artifact Refining Room, and other secret realms.


    Within the Spiritual Medicine Garden were three fruit trees favored by the ice bird.


    "Let''s head straight to the Spiritual Medicine Garden. There aren''t any valuable treasures in Disciple Heaven or Purple Dawn Heaven!" Lin Houshou suggested.


    The trio resolved to take the leftmost path to Spirit Realm Heaven.


    As the trail stretched onward, the group began to witness the unique scenery atop Taihan Snow Mountain.


    They eagerly anticipated discovering what secrets the Spiritual Medicine Garden held within the snow mountain.


    Their first sight was a Third Rank Spiritual Medicine Garden.


    Inside were various frost-attributed spiritual herbs¡ªIce Heart Flower, Frost Grass, Water Shadow Lotus...


    Numerous treasures predominantly consisted of water-attributed items, which made Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi somewhat troubled.


    After all, neither of them specialized in water-attribute cultivation techniques.


    Fortunately, as they passed through the first Spiritual Medicine Garden, the second garden presented an entirely different scene, like a Peach Blossom Sanctuary.


    What lay before them was a forest in full bloom, starkly contrasting the prior garden, which contained only water- and frost-attribute spirit plants.


    Here, all kinds of spiritual medicines flourished, and most importantly, numerous spiritual flowers shone brightly.


    "That''s a Fourth Rank Heavenly Fire Ganoderma, Fourth Rank White Jade Lotus, and Fourth Rank Heavenly Sunflower Seeds..." Lin Shiyi exclaimed in excitement. This time, their harvest would be significant¡ªthese Fourth Rank spiritual medicines alone would deepen the Lin Family''s foundation at the Purple Mansion level.


    Many of the spiritual medicines would also be useful for his body refinement.


    "Harvest all the mature spiritual medicines here and leave the unripe ones where they are!" Unlike the preceding Third Rank Spiritual Medicine Garden, which Lin Houshou had instinctively bypassed, this garden required thorough collection.


    This was intended as a reward for Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi.


    During the first exploration of such secret realms, cultivators were allowed to keep half of their discoveries.


    This was because they bore certain risks, with the remaining half given to the family.


    From the second exploration onwards, however, clan members would only retain twenty percent of their findings, handing over eighty percent to the family.

 Chapter 998 - 609: Earth Rank Technique, Supreme Grade Cold Jade (Combined)

    When it came to the Ice Bird, Lin Houshou was filled with anticipation.


    The same was true for Lin Shiming and Lin Shiyi.


    After all, the pressure emanating from the Ice Bird was immeasurable.


    Moreover, being able to clear out all the Spirit Beasts within the Taihan Secret Realm was by no means an easy task.


    As Lei Tong and the Ice Bird advanced forward,


    the Ice Pagoda began radiating an endless stream of Spirit Light. The radiance extended far and wide, enveloping everything in its reach.


    Before long, the talents of the two individuals were revealed.


    "Purple Mansion Late Stage, top-tier potential, rewarded with an Inferior Grade Earth Rank Technique: Eternal Night Thunder Codex!"


    "Purple Mansion Peak, top-tier potential, rewarded with an Inferior Grade Earth Rank Technique: Nether Frost Ice Codex!"


    As the two lines of light inscriptions appeared, everyone''s jaws dropped in amazement.


    There were truly numerous Inferior Grade Earth Rank Techniques here.


    The Lin Family had indeed struck gold this time.


    The heritage of the Taihan Sect was truly terrifying.


    Both Spirit Beasts were visibly elated, having acquired Earth Rank Inferior Grade techniques.


    "Continue to guard well, and we shall continue exploring this Secret Realm!" Having gained so much, the trio''s minds brimmed with thoughts of further opportunities.


    The three of them descended from Taihan Mountain once more.


    They proceeded to search the Secret Realm, while also preparing to send a message to the Lin Family to bring some promising young talents over.


    In terms of cultivation techniques, the more the Lin Family''s lineage inherited, the better. After all, the current number of geniuses in the Lin Family was staggering.


    Moreover, those with the generational "Chang" and "Yan" names held immense potential.


    The rise in the Lin Family''s high-level cultivators could be attributed to two main factors: an abundance of resources and the increase in Spirit Roots and techniques.


    All in all, with enough time, the Lin Family was poised to become the new Sixth Great Power.


    ...


    Meanwhile, far off in the range of palace structures, Lin Xianzhi, Lin Houyuan, and another member of their group arrived at a different cluster of mountains.


    The temperature here was exceedingly frigid, with snow accumulating to a depth of four or five feet¡ªa realm of ice and cold.


    Notably, their arrival wasn''t random¡ªit was instigated by the sighting of an Ice Rabbit.


    The Ice Rabbit itself wasn''t particularly striking, but the fact that it could perform Ice Evasion stood out.


    Additionally, they noticed that this Ice Rabbit was merely the shadow of a Spirit Beast.


    This suggested the Ice Rabbit was linked to an ice-attribute Spiritual Medicine of at least five thousand years.


    This discovery prompted the trio to pursue it to their current location.


    However, upon reaching this place, they were at a loss. The Spiritual Medicine displayed exceptional Spirit Intelligence, and they couldn''t locate its true body, making it impossible to chase further.


    Its speed during evasion was also alarmingly fast.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, this place seems unusual!" Lin Houyuan remarked.


    The cold energy here was exceedingly bizarre. The three of them had to activate Spirit Shields and take out several Flame Crystals just to stave off the intrusion of the icy energy.


    If it were ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, they might have suffered frostbite from the cold energy alone.


    This peculiarity marked the area as unusual.


    "There are traces of a Formation here, but it seems like the Formation was frozen and damaged!" Lin Zelu added.


    He found it odd as well. This location must have been a Spirit Land in the past, but now it was buried under layers of ice and snow, with snowflakes still falling incessantly from the skies.


    "Be careful, everyone. If we cannot discern the situation here, we''ll need to transmit a message to Shiming and the others so that we can investigate together!" Lin Xianzhi advised.


    By this point, they had explored a fair bit.


    They had discovered various Spiritual Medicines, a meditation cushion, a Pill Furnace, and even an egg containing the True Phoenix Bloodline.


    Their harvest had already been substantial.


    Nonetheless, caution was paramount.


    Lin Houyuan and Lin Zelu nodded in agreement beside him.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, I have another secret technique to sense Spirits. Should I try it while we wait?" Lin Zelu proposed.


    The Formation was derived from the teachings of Kuangfeng True Person.


    He was confident that, in small-scale detection, it could rival the Heavenly Gate Soul Locking Great Formation.


    Moreover, the fact that a five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine freely roamed the perimeter suggested that the internal dangers might not be overwhelming. Otherwise, such a valuable medicine would have either been confined or devoured long ago.


    There was no way it could still linger freely as it was.


    "Do it. Go ahead and use it!" Lin Xianzhi nodded, agreeing that the area was indeed strange.


    Strange places often meant hidden treasures.


    For a cultivator, avoiding every risk and never daring to try would never lead to true progress.


    Lin Zelu began by deploying a temperature-raising Formation.


    As Lin Houshou''s prized disciple, he was skilled in using formations within formations.


    Attempting to deploy a Formation under this kind of extreme cold directly would likely damage the flags and materials required.


    He had to use a minor Spirit Formation to forcibly raise the temperature. Even if this Formation only lasted briefly, it would suffice.


    The first Formation deployed was the Heavenly Fire Formation, an Inferior Grade Fourth Rank technique.


    If he had relied on a Third Rank technique, the temperature boost would have been negligible.


    This explained why the original array was frozen and damaged to begin with.


    As ten array flags landed in place, Lin Zelu''s face flushed with exertion.


    He had never tried deploying a Formation in such a hostile environment; the difficulty was immense.


    Fortunately, with the addition of two Superior Grade Fire Spirit Stones and two Fourth Rank Flame Crystals,


    the Formation began emanating heat. Wisps of steam rose into the air as some of the ice layers melted slightly, though much of it was quickly buried under fresh snow.


    For Lin Zelu, however, achieving even this much was enough.


    He took out another set of Array Plates and flags. This time, the number of materials was eight times that of the Heavenly Fire Formation.


    The densely packed array flags darted in all directions.


    The array included three plates, and over time, Spirit Light threads began to connect the flags and plates, linking them gradually.


    A circular Formation emerged, radiating waves of Spirit Light.


    The light ripples swept outward, undeterred by the ice and snow, expanding far into the surroundings.


    One wave after another quickly enveloped the small hill in their vicinity.

 Chapter 999 - 609: Earth Rank Technique, Supreme Grade Cold Jade (Combined)_2

    "There are no creatures, and no Guardian Spirit Beasts!" Lin Zelu exclaimed excitedly.


    Clearly, the conditions here are only suited for some extreme Demonic Beasts to survive; otherwise, it would consume an enormous amount of Spiritual Energy on a regular basis.


    For Demonic Beasts, they require a large intake of blood and meat.


    There is nowhere here that could provide such sustenance.


    Even common ice-attribute Demonic Beasts might experience crisis if placed here.


    "It seems like this place is more of a valley, not just a mound!" Lin Zelu continued, his face full of doubt.


    No matter how one looked at it, this small hill didn''t resemble a valley.


    But precisely because it was a valley, it made the place appear even more terrifying.


    Who knows how massive the glacier underneath might be.


    "Maybe there''s some kind of cold-attribute treasure below; let''s dig and take a look!" Lin Xianzhi suggested.


    Since there were no Demonic Beasts or other cultivators around, they might as well dig and see.


    For them, it was worth giving it a try.


    "One person digs, two keep watch!" Lin Xianzhi added.


    Even though it didn''t seem dangerous, being cautious was still a better approach.


    Having two people keep a careful watch was more secure for their group.


    For this reason, Lin Xianzhi even took out a Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship. Unlike Fifth Rank Spirit Puppets or Heavenly Corpses, this ship would not be transported out of the Secret Realm.


    The ship, though, lacked the true Spirit Might of a Fifth Rank item; its power came from its massive structure, which aggregated the might of Spirit Stones to manifest its strength.


    "I''ll dig!" Lin Zelu volunteered without hesitation, but Lin Houyuan stopped him.


    "Zelu, let me handle the digging. You''re an Array Master, so you need to focus on observation." Lin Houyuan stepped forward.


    Although Lin Houyuan was a junior, in this instance, prioritizing the bigger picture made more sense. Lin Houyuan''s approach was undoubtedly more reliable.


    Lin Xianzhi nodded in agreement. Lin Zelu, though a bit disappointed, began surveying the area closely instead.


    He then shifted his gaze toward Lin Houyuan.


    Lin Houyuan pulled out a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure and began digging straight into the ground.


    Soon, he discovered something resembling pieces of Spirit Jade underground.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Zelu, it''s Cold Jade!" Lin Houyuan picked up a piece, his voice brimming with excitement.


    They were no strangers to Cold Jade; it could be found on Ice Wolf Island, where they had previously mined some.


    However, the highest grade of Cold Jade they had obtained there was merely a Thousand-Year Cold Jade.


    But here, the three of them were utterly elated, as the terrifyingly low temperatures implied that there must be Thousand-Year Cold Jade¡ªor even higher-grade Cold Jade¡ªbeneath the surface.


    No one knew for how long this Secret Realm had been abandoned.


    But judging by the presence of cold-attribute Spiritual Medicine with an age of at least five thousand years, its value was unquestionable!


    And possibly, there wasn''t just one plant of five-thousand-year-old cold-attribute Spiritual Medicine¡ªthere could be even older specimens.


    Lin Houyuan continued digging, placing the extracted Cold Jade into his Storage Bag.


    These ordinary Cold Jades could only serve as array foundations or be used for cultivation by the Lin Family''s lower-level cultivators and Spirit Beasts.


    With this Cold Jade, the Lin Family cultivators could afford to train more aggressively without worrying as much about Heart Demons.


    Moreover, the family''s water-attribute members could fully specialize in ice-attribute cultivation techniques, potentially accelerating their cultivation progress.


    Take Lin Changxing, for example. He cultivated the Taihan Waters Scripture, and now, with Cold Jade at his disposal, it likely wouldn''t be long before he became the first "Chang" generation Purple Mansion cultivator.


    It was worth noting that even the "Yan" generation only had fewer than ten Purple Mansion cultivators!


    In other words, Lin Changxing''s progress would surpass an entire generation in cultivation level.


    While the group reflected on these prospects, Lin Houyuan kept digging.


    Soon, he had reached a depth of five zhang.


    "Hundred-Year Cold Jade!" Lin Houyuan announced.


    At this depth, the entire area was filled with Hundred-Year Cold Jade.


    Even the ordinary Cold Jade had become rare.


    Considering that this location was a valley rather than a mound, it was easy to imagine the vast reserves of Thousand-Year Cold Jade below¡ªand perhaps even a considerable amount of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade.


    After digging for another half hour, Lin Houyuan had reached a depth of twenty zhang. The Cold Jades at this depth resembled resplendent Spirit Jades, brimming with dense Spirit Light and exuding an even more piercing cold. At this point, Lin Houyuan could feel his own Spirit Light growing insufficient, with symptoms of cold invading his body.


    Even though he was only in the early stage of the Purple Mansion, he was still a Purple Mansion cultivator.


    "Thousand-Year Cold Jade!" Lin Houyuan exclaimed upon unearthing a piece of Thousand-Year Cold Jade. After retrieving it, he decisively exited the deep pit.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Zelu, there must be Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade below¡ªor perhaps even Thousand-Year Cold Jade Marrow!" Lin Houyuan raised the Thousand-Year Cold Jade, his voice filled with excitement.


    His words carried boundless enthusiasm as well.


    Commanding such a Secret Realm represented an unimaginable foundational wealth for the Lin Family''s future.


    At this point, the Lin Family merely needed to secure their current territory; there would be no need to compete with other factions. In a hundred years, they could grow into a formidable superpower.


    "Let''s not mine further for now. We should have Elder Jiuxiao craft suitable cold-resistant Magic Artifacts first!" Lin Xianzhi remarked, noticing Lin Houyuan''s condition.


    It was evident that the depths below were anything but ordinary.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, I think there''s a natural cold-aggregating array down here, which grows stronger as the ice layers accumulate!" Lin Zelu expressed his findings. After observing for so long, he had calmed himself considerably.


    He no longer felt as agitated as he had initially.


    "Let''s send word to Shiming and the others. Perhaps his Spirit Corpses can excavate and retrieve the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade!" Although they planned to wait, obtaining a piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade in advance would lend greater credibility to their claims.


    The Lin Family might even develop Cold Turtle Island into their second-largest island. After all, it housed the Taihan Secret Realm.


    Not to mention a nearby supreme-grade Spirit Stone mine, which was far more valuable than Shuangmu Island.


    Lin Houyuan nodded and retrieved a Jade Slip, transmitting a message into the distance.


    Soon, the Jade Slip responded.


    Lin Shiming established another cold-resistance array, within which Lin Houyuan rested to recover his cultivation level.


    An hour passed, and in the distance, a Spirit Boat appeared. Aboard the boat, Lin Shiming and Lin Houshou''s silhouettes emerged.


    As soon as the three of them disembarked, they couldn''t help but furrow their brows¡ªthe cold here was simply overwhelming.


    Even as Body Cultivators, they felt significant pressure.


    However, Lin Shiming was secretly pleased. The intense cold here was perfect for breaking through to the Golden Core stage; the only regret was that breakthroughs to Golden Core weren''t allowed within an Earth Rank Secret Realm.


    "Shiming, Houshou, you came at just the right time. This may very well be a Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade mine!" Lin Xianzhi said.


    "We''ve already mined Thousand-Year Cold Jade; now we just need the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade!"


    "Really?" Lin Shiming and Lin Houshou were overjoyed.


    The marrow from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade could be used to refine the Nascent Transformation Pill, a fact they knew well.


    Moreover, Thousand-Year Cold Jade Marrow could assist Purple Mansion cultivators in breaking through to the Golden Core stage.


    Thus, discovering a Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade mine signified an unprecedentedly massive gain for the Lin Family.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, we''ve also had significant findings. We discovered an array that can enhance cultivation limits and a spiritual tower of enlightenment, gaining two Earth Rank cultivation techniques!" Lin Houshou reported.


    Hearing this, even Lin Xianzhi, prepared as he was for their findings, gasped.


    The cold air from that sharp gasp almost caused him to choke.


    The chill here was truly bone-piercing.


    "Excellent!"


    "The heavens favor the Lin Family!" Lin Xianzhi celebrated.


    But then he turned to look at Lin Shiming, considering that his water-attribute Heavenly Corpses might endure the cold better.


    At that moment, Lin Houshou spoke up:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, let me let my newly tamed Spirit Beast try!" Lin Houshou released an Ice Bird, instructing it to fly into the mining pit to begin excavating.


    Compared to Lin Houyuan, who needed a Spirit Shield, the Ice Bird required no protective measures. It moved through the area as if it were level ground.


    It even seemed the Ice Bird had been here before.


    Its familiarity with the area was evident.


    Soon, it emerged with several pieces of Thousand-Year Cold Jade.


    Though these pieces were of little importance to the Ice Bird, they were invaluable treasures to the Lin Family cultivators.


    As time passed and anticipation grew, a dazzling, palm-sized piece of Cold Jade suddenly flew out.


    The moment it emerged, it gathered tremendous ice energy on its surface, forming a massive ice sculpture.


    It became an enormous block of ice.


    "Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade!" The group had only one thought¡ªthis was a piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade!


    "Let''s head out and inform Shiming!" At this moment, they no longer planned to linger. While the Secret Realm contained its dangers, with enough time and effort, they could clear the area of threats and safely assign more cultivators and Spirit Beasts to mine and advance their cultivation!

 Chapter 1000 - 611: The Phoenixs Gift and Lin Familys Strategy (Two in One)

    Cold Turtle Island, Lin Shiming waited atop the island.


    At the moment, he furrowed his brows slightly. After all, it had already been three days. According to their agreement with Lin Xianzhi and the others, they should have returned with a report after just two days.


    The reason he wasn''t too worried was because his Lei Tong, the Red-haired Demon Monkey, and the two Soul Devouring Ants were all unscathed.


    These beings were all connected to him through the Soul Binding Forbidden technique.


    He could sense their life states at any time.


    As for communication, it was impossible across the boundary walls, especially with the restrictions of this place¡ªone side being an Earth Rank Secret Realm and the other a Great World.


    Just then, a burst of light appeared.


    Lin Houyuan, Lin Xianzhi, and Lin Houshou stepped out.


    "Shiming, the exploration inside is mostly complete. We obtained a Phoenix Demon spiritual egg, and it''s been given to Zeying!" Lin Xianzhi casually produced a spiritual egg.


    The aura of this spiritual egg was overwhelmingly scorching, even more powerful than that of a newly born Wang Jiao.


    Of course, Wang Jiao had undergone one Tribulation Transcending and several ancestral regressions, so it was naturally stronger than this Phoenix Demon.


    But it nonetheless demonstrated the extraordinary talent of this Phoenix Demon.


    At that moment, Lin Houshou stood nearby, his eyes burning with envy.


    No wonder Lin Xianzhi and the others had acted so cautiously; the value of this Phoenix Demon surpassed that of his Ice Bird.


    His Ice Bird might only reach the level of a Golden Core Demon King, whereas the Phoenix Demon could undoubtedly aspire to become a Demon Emperor akin to Wang Jiao.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, how can this be appropriate!" Lin Shiming shook his head.


    "Why not? We two old men can''t even procure a spiritual egg for Lin Family''s foremost prodigy?" Lin Xianzhi retorted.


    This statement left Lin Shiming momentarily speechless.


    Indeed, the foremost prodigy of the Lin Family was no longer himself but had become his son, Lin Zeying¡ªat least in terms of Spirit Root and Spiritual Body.


    The boy possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root and a Spiritual Body.


    Perhaps more importantly, the fire attribute Phoenix Demon was perfectly suited for him.


    "The inner region is an icy world; it may require Spiritual Fire to assist the incubation. For this, Shitao and your demon monkey should be able to help!" Lin Xianzhi added.


    The temperature within the Taihan Secret Realm was frighteningly low, and they had relied heavily on four fire pillars and a Pill Furnace to keep the Phoenix Demon alive.


    Otherwise, the Phoenix Demon would have long since lost its vitality.


    After all, it was a fire attribute demon beast trapped in such a secret realm.


    Surviving this long was already a miracle.


    Yet its essence had still been partially damaged.


    Restoration through the Crimson Radiant Flame would be necessary.


    "By the way, Shiming, there''s a thousand-year cold jade vein inside, along with Taihan Sect''s cultivation technique tower and testing mountain!" Lin Xianzhi began enumerating the treasures and resources within the secret realm.


    Even Lin Shiming couldn''t help but be astonished by the abundance upon hearing the details.


    This Earth Rank Secret Realm was undoubtedly part of Taihan Sect''s contingency plan.


    Setting up such measures within the secret realm suggested they had encountered some formidable adversary.


    And now the realm had fallen under the control of the demonic race.


    Lin Shiming''s gaze revealed his unease about the depths of the icy expanse!


    Nonetheless, amidst his concerns, Lin Shiming experienced great joy at the discovery of the Thousand Year Cold Jade. The potential for Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow meant that crafting Nascent Transformation Pills was within reach, provided they could acquire the final materials: the Thousand Changes Fruit and the Heaven Spirit Fruit.


    In the future, figures like Lin Shitao and other members of Lin Family could advance to Nascent Soul without undue difficulty.


    Moreover, the cultivation technique tower and something resembling the Ascending Immortal Ladder offered an opportunity for Lin Family cultivators to hone their skills.


    It could also aid in overcoming bottlenecks in cultivation.


    Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi hadn''t returned yet because they were still venturing deeper into the secret realm¡ªalongside Lin Zelu.


    "Let''s return to the family; this Taihan Secret Realm must be utilized swiftly!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    Lin Family members were numerous, and the sooner they could tap into this resource, the better.


    Additionally, Lin Zeying and Lin Changxing could explore Taihan Sect''s cultivation tower. They might even secure additional Earth Rank cultivation techniques for the family.


    "Here''s a piece of Thousand Year Cold Jade!" Lin Houshou produced a chunk of cold jade.


    "Excellent!" Lin Shiming accepted the cold jade, feeling its intense chill that brought an unexpected tranquility to his heart.


    He could sense improvement in his refinement of the Divine Palace of Mental Energy.


    With the Thousand Year Cold Jade, Lin Family had acquired a highly strategic resource.


    In the future, it could be exchanged for treasures from other major powers. At that moment, the Lin Family would truly ascend to the status of a top-tier power.


    If the Lin Family had previously been a Nascent Soul clan in name only, they were now rich with foundations.


    The Lin Family could now genuinely rank among the Six Great Powers.


    Still, the Lin Family''s current domain was inferior to those of the other five major powers.


    However, much of those territories were superficial; truly valuable locations included the Purple Sun Secret Realm and the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm.


    But the Lin Family already had Taibai Sword Palace Minor World in the Eastern Domain and Taihan Sect Secret Realm here.


    The difference compared to Coral Alliance was negligible.


    Moreover, Lin Family could still actively participate in both the Purple Sun Secret Realm and the Heavenly Rank Secret Realm.


    ...


    On Shuangmu Island of Lin Family, brilliant transmission lights flashed as Lin Shiming emerged from the Transmission Formation.


    Lin Shiming strode into the Council Hall to find Lin Yanjiao and a gathering of elders discussing the expansion of Tianzhao Sect.


    Upon noticing Lin Shiming''s arrival, Lin Yanjiao promptly called out:


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!"


    Most of the other elders present were surnamed "Ze," while those of the "Shi" generation had grown scarce.


    After all, these elders were mostly Foundation Establishment-level cultivators, while Purple Mansion cultivators were preoccupied with their own cultivation.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, Tianliu Island, Qian Ji Island, and Red Leaf Island have all sent messages requesting cultivators to search the Heavenly Joy Archipelago within the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain!"

 Chapter 1001 - 611: Phoenix Gifts, Lin Family Strategy (Two-in-One)_2

    Lin Yanjiao spoke up.


    Lin Shiming, seeing this, wasn''t surprised. Over at the Taiqian Abyss, no major changes had occurred for some time, leading many families to let their guard down.


    For Red Leaf True Person and Qian Ji True Person, they were both preparing to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, so naturally, they had to concentrate on gathering resources.


    Whether it was spirit veins or other treasures, everything was essential.


    The Lin Family didn''t need to rely on that as much because Shiming had previously discovered many spirit veins and even had fortuitous gains in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    He also took control of the spirit vein in the Tianyou Archipelago.


    In the battle with the Tianzhao Sect, four major factions had participated in the attack. If Lin Shiming remembered correctly, Coral Alliance''s Chi Shan True Person had killed one island lord, Shiming himself had killed one, and the remaining five were taken by the Blood Cultivation Sect, Myriad Buddhas Island, and Nine Dragon Island.


    "We are currently discussing candidates!" Lin Yanjiao hesitated slightly, as the Lin Family was currently stretched very thin.


    Lin Shijie was breaking through to Golden Core, Lin Shitao was refining the Gold Condensation Pill, and she herself was an alchemist.


    Meanwhile, Lin Xianzhi, Lin Houshou, Lin Zekong, and Lin Zecheng had all gone to Soarwood Island.


    Lin Shilei, Lin Shiyuan, Lei Xuan, and Lin Zeli, on the other hand, had gone to Yunyue Island.


    The remaining Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family weren''t particularly strong overall.


    Heading to the Tianxi Sea Domain might not yield any favorable outcomes.


    The secret realms of the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain were likely to hide remnants of the Tianzhao Sect.


    If they sent weaker cultivators, not only would they alert the enemy, but those sent could become easy prey.


    "There''s no rush in this matter. Let''s talk about it again in a month!" Lin Shiming said aloud.


    Since the Lin Family didn''t have suitable candidates at the moment, there was no need to hurry!


    "First, arrange for the family''s talented individuals. Gather all Foundation Establishment cultivators ranked among the top ten, as well as cultivators with Heavenly Spirit Roots, mutated Spirit Roots, and dual Spirit Roots!"


    "Also, gather all cultivators practicing water attribute cultivation techniques!" Lin Shiming ordered.


    Hearing this, Lin Yanjiao hesitated.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, this is...?"


    Lin Shiming spoke again:


    "Yanjiao, you should join as well. On Cold Turtle Island in the Soarwood Archipelago, the family has discovered an Earth Rank secret realm with a cultivation method tower. You can go try your luck!" Lin Shiming explained.


    Lin Yanjiao had a spiritual body. Her cultivation technique was the Heavenly Illusion Heart Sutra, but it was only of Supreme Grade at the Profound Rank and hadn''t reached Earth Rank yet.


    Perhaps she could find something valuable in the Taihan Sect site. Most importantly, the Taihan Mountain sect''s effects could also help the Lin Family''s promising talents take fewer detours.


    Especially Lin Changxing, who had already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. He was just one step away from the late stage, at which point he could prepare to break through to the Purple Mansion stage.


    If successful, he would be the first among the Lin Family''s "Chang" generation to enter the Purple Mansion realm.


    The Lin Family''s cultivators assembled quickly. Aside from organizing the gathering, Lin Shiming also planned to visit Thousand Wood Peak to find Lin Zeying. As a Lin Family prodigy, he naturally deserved to try his luck in the Taihan Secret Realm; however, the phoenix egg couldn''t be given to him yet.


    It was best not to let it hatch at this time.


    Otherwise, Lin Zeying''s divine soul wouldn''t be strong enough to sustain the Soul Binding Forbidden technique before breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    Without the Soul Binding Forbidden technique, the situation would be too precarious.


    The Lin Family cultivators were bustling with activity as they gathered, and there was an unspoken tension among everyone.


    Even Lin Zeying, in the midst of practicing spells, felt an unusual thrill when Lin Shiming brought him along.


    At his age, he was deeply curious about the happenings of the cultivation world. If not for the Lin Family''s restrictions, he would have long proposed going on a journey.


    Half a day later, more than two hundred cultivators had gathered before the transmission formation.


    Half of them were Lin Family prodigies, while the other half were water attribute cultivators.


    The Taihan Secret Realm was undoubtedly worth developing. While cultivators practicing other types of techniques might not adapt well to living there, those practicing water attribute techniques would find no such difficulty.


    Though not as compatible as ice attribute techniques, water attribute cultivators could still make breakthroughs there.


    Furthermore, the abundant spiritual energy within would significantly benefit the Lin Family.


    Additionally, once the magical artifacts were researched, these cultivators could begin mining cold jade.


    As a relatively rare treasure in the cultivation world, cold jade had three major uses: to aid cultivation, refine more powerful jade talismans with immense power, and ward off heart demons.


    As they gathered, Lin Shiming had already arrived atop Five Flame Peak.


    In front of Jiuxiao True Person''s cave abode stood a newly constructed pavilion, along with several cellars.


    Although Jiuxiao True Person was now a Golden Core True Person, he still enjoyed brewing wine.


    Brewing wine, tasting wine, and artifact refining had become three of his main hobbies. Living this way within the Lin Family, he felt his life was rather content.


    Moreover, researching spiritual wine was also a means to aid his breakthrough.


    If his progress went well, he retained hope of eventually reaching the Nascent Soul True Monarch stage.


    "Elder Jiuxiao!" Lin Shiming called out toward the cave abode.


    Soon, Jiuxiao True Person emerged.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, our family has discovered a cold jade secret realm, an Earth Rank secret realm. I hope Elder can refine some protective magic artifacts against the cold!"


    Lin Shiming handed over a batch of Thousand Year Cold Jade and even some Thousand Year Cold Jade to Jiuxiao True Person.


    "If these cold jades are useful, please take them all!" Lin Shiming said.


    Jiuxiao True Person nodded repeatedly.


    "No problem, but there''s no need to use the Thousand Year Cold Jade!" Jiuxiao True Person accepted the thousand-year batch but returned the Thousand Year Cold Jade.


    "Elder Jiuxiao, please don''t be reserved. Our family has plenty of this Thousand Year Cold Jade!" Lin Shiming laughed.


    He then left Five Flame Peak.


    Escorting these family members to Cold Turtle Island also required his supervision.


    Knowing Cold Turtle Island could pose dangers, he planned to stay stationed there for some time.


    Upon arriving at the transmission formation¡ª


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, everything has been arranged!" Lin Yanjiao approached proactively.


    "Good, then let''s set out!" Lin Shiming nodded and led the group of family members toward Cold Turtle Island.


    ...


    Cold Turtle Island, Taihan Secret Realm''s Taihan Mountain.


    Lin Shimo, Lin Shiyi, and Lin Zelu stood before the mountain gate, all three of them feeling a surge of enthusiasm.


    For them, competition within the Lin Family was intense, and they would absolutely not want to miss such an opportunity.


    "Is this the place where snowman doppelgangers can be conjured?" Lin Zelu murmured.


    Lin Shiyi nodded in agreement beside him.


    "Fourth Brother, you go first!" Lin Shiyi suggested, looking toward Lin Shimo.


    Among them, Lin Shimo was the closest to achieving the Golden Core stage and had put in the most effort. This moment was his chance to begin.


    Lin Shimo did not hesitate, striding forward boldly. As he advanced, a spiritual light illuminated the area, and the distant snowstorm became more intense.


    The next moment, a snowman materialized, its form mirroring Lin Shimo''s exactly.


    Lin Shimo summoned five Heavenly Corpses, and, in response, the snowman conjured five snowman clones!


    "As I thought, progress is required to break through this formation!" Lin Shimo was not angry but instead overjoyed, his face alight with fervor.


    He launched into battle immediately.


    The clash was fiercely intense.


    Fortunately, the feared snow mountain collapse did not occur. Instead, it remained solid and extraordinary.


    The grandeur of the scene grew more impressive.


    The raw, visceral nature of the fight filled Lin Shiyi with excitement.


    Lin Zelu, however, thought it felt somewhat reckless.


    For him, developing formations held more potential. He remained curious about whether the snowman could replicate the secrets of formation techniques.


    Lin Shimo, after persevering for an hour, was eventually bested.


    As the snowman mirrored his techniques precisely, any lack of progress made it nearly impossible to break through.


    Additionally, the ever-present cold further exhausted him.


    "Zelu, it''s your turn next!" Lin Shiyi said again.


    Initially, Lin Zelu wanted to decline but ultimately nodded in agreement.


    He, too, wanted to test the icy formation.


    Was it truly capable of replicating formation techniques?


    As Lin Zelu stepped forward, he raised his banners.


    Sure enough, the snowman in opposition raised banners as well.


    The two engaged in a duel of formations.


    After the formations were exhausted, Lin Zelu brought out his magic artifact, entering combat once more.


    As before, breaking through proved challenging.


    However, the experience helped them better understand their weaknesses and pinpoint areas that required improvement.


    Once those areas were addressed, they could successfully break through.


    Lin Zelu''s endurance only lasted fifteen minutes, but even so, his eyes sparkled with determination.


    Seeing the two recuperating, Lin Shiyi refrained from proceeding and chose to wait instead.


    They all remembered the instructions from Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houshou.

 Chapter 1002 - 612: The Palace of Divine Thoughts is Completed (Two in One)

    Cold Turtle Island, with the massive arrival of Lin Family cultivators, affiliated clans also kept watch over the depths of the island.


    Their gazes burned with curiosity, for they knew that the Lin Family must have discovered some treasure.


    But alas, they had agreed with the Lin Family before the campaign began.


    All newly expanded islands would fall under Lin Family management.


    Only the more inland islands would be distributed to them, which left them feeling somewhat disappointed.


    "Stop staring. The Lin Family treats us well enough. If it were another major power, they wouldn''t even provide puppets or blood corpses for us, let alone having Nascent Soul combat strength!" A Ye Family cultivator stepped forward, and his words caused the others to nod in agreement.


    To them, the earlier part of the statement might be ignored, but the mention of Nascent Soul combat strength was undeniable.


    Re-evaluating the earlier words in light of this point, they found the arrangement more acceptable.


    It was precisely for this reason that they were willing to become an affiliated clan of the Lin Family.


    At that moment, a voice echoed from the distance.


    "Everyone, come take a look! The Lin Family has issued missions, and all cultivators can participate!"


    "All mission rewards will be distributed in high-grade Spirit Stones!" This scene left everyone deeply shaken.


    "It seems the island has yielded a high-grade Spirit Stone mine!" Others became equally elated.


    Though they might not get a direct share.


    But with the Lin Family offering high-grade Spirit Stones for completing tasks, it gave them some benefits in return.


    This made them respect the Lin Family even more.


    "There''s a time limit on the missions. Hurry up, everyone!" Another wave of sound transmissions urged many clans to venture deeper into the Outer Sea.


    ...


    Cold Turtle Island, the newly established assembly hall of the Lin Family.


    Lin Zekong nodded as he reviewed Lin Yanqing''s strategies.


    The Taihan Secret Realm on Cold Turtle Island carried great significance.


    The Lin Family also needed to guard against news leaking out and attracting the covetous eyes of other powers.


    Especially those of the Spirit Beast clans.


    If they discovered a secret realm filled with Thousand-Year Cold Jade on Cold Turtle Island, they likely wouldn''t allow the Lin Family to claim it.


    Thus, the Lin Family spread the word that it was merely a site for high-grade Spirit Stones.


    This way, even if some information leaked from affiliated clans through soul-searching or other means, it wouldn''t cause major problems.


    To high-level Demonic Beasts, only supreme-grade Spirit Stones and Thousand-Year Cold Jade were truly valuable.


    High-grade Spirit Stones had minimal utility for Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators already.


    At this stage, the Lin Family only needed to consolidate their current territory firmly. A steady and thorough approach would lead to a prosperous Lin Family era.


    "Distributing these missions was a brilliant move. Keep up this momentum, and once the Heavenly Joy Archipelago of the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain is fully absorbed, both you and I will have the opportunity to reach the peak!" Lin Zekong remarked.


    Lin Yanqing nodded in agreement.


    The assembly hall continued its orderly deliberations, from structuring the marketplaces, to mission assignments, and further exploration of the surrounding seas.


    Lin Yanqing felt deeply encouraged. Seeing Lin Zekong''s approval was enough to make all his efforts worthwhile.


    And his policies, implemented within the Lin Family, were indeed yielding extraordinary results.


    ...


    The Taihan Secret Realm entrance.


    Lin Shiming arrived once more with a group of cultivators, this time accompanied primarily by Lin Yanjiao, Lin Zeying, and Lin Changxing.


    These three were seen as the ones most likely to possess extraordinary talent and potentially obtain Earth Rank Techniques.


    Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houshou personally escorted the three toward the interior of the secret realm.


    As they approached the entrance, Lin Houshou glanced at Lin Shiming.


    "Shiming, this is my newly tamed Ice Bird¡ªcould you take care of it for me?" Lin Houshou said, as he produced an Ice Bird.


    He wanted to ensure that he was truthful to the Ice Bird.


    By letting it experience the laws of the wider world,


    it could potentially advance further without remaining trapped in the Purple Mansion tier.


    Lin Shiming nodded at Lin Houshou''s words and immediately called forth Wang Jiao, instructing it to take the Ice Bird along.


    "This is Lin Qian Mu, True Person of the Lin Family. Remember to treat all Lin Family members with the same respect you would show to the main house!" Lin Houshou continued introducing.


    He had already briefed the Ice Bird about the Lin Family, but repeating it again served to reinforce its memory.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming''s overwhelming cultivation level served as a commanding presence for the Ice Bird.


    For Lin Houshou, displaying the Lin Family''s strength appropriately in such moments was beneficial.


    Otherwise, if this Ice Bird ever broke through the Fifth Rank later, it might cause unnecessary trouble.


    As the light of the teleportation array shone once more, this group of young Lin Family members stepped into the secret realm.


    This group also included those cultivators with water attributes.


    Inside the secret realm, Lin Xianzhi turned to Lin Houyuan.


    "Let''s set up a Lin Family building right at the secret realm entrance."


    "Understood, Seventh Great-Uncle. I''ll leave Zeying and Changxing in your care for now!" Lin Houyuan nodded. Since development here was necessary, rearrangements were naturally required.


    Thus, the group of several hundred was divided into three teams.


    Those with higher talent headed for Taihan Mountain.


    Those with lesser talent were sent toward Cold Jade Valley.


    The remainder stayed behind to build the foundational structures.


    This task, too, would be a great merit.


    At the foothills of Taihan Mountain, a tiny Spirit Boat appeared on the horizon, gradually expanding against the backdrop of the white, snowy world.


    Lin Shiyi rose to his feet, but upon recognizing the occupants of the Spirit Boat as Lin Xianzhi and a group of younger Lin Family disciples, he let out a long sigh of relief.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle!" Lin Shiyi greeted with a respectful bow.


    The latter waved dismissively, indicating that Lin Shiyi need not overly adhere to formalities at this moment.


    For the Lin Family, securing treasures from the secret realm was the true priority.


    "Has Shimo''s team already tested it?" Lin Xianzhi asked, his tone laced with curiosity.


    He had not yet seen this formation, and his interest in Taihan Mountain''s Taihan Gate was palpable.


    "Seventh Great-Uncle, I can demonstrate it for you!" Lin Shiyi offered.

 Chapter 1003 - 612: The Palace of Divine Thoughts is Completed (Two in One)_2

    At this moment, he was also feeling a bit impatient. The reason he hadn''t entered earlier was that Lin Shimo and Lin Zelu were both cultivating and healing, and his entry would have caused unnecessary complications.


    Now that Lin Xianzhi was here, he naturally had no concerns.


    Lin Xianzhi nodded as well; he was also eager to see just how powerful this formation truly was.


    Lin Shiyi stepped into the heavy snow at the mountain gate.


    In an instant, the snowstorm intensified considerably compared to the tranquil tea-sipping moments earlier.


    Moreover, before Lin Shiyi, a massive snowman truly materialized.


    This snowman''s strength and techniques mirrored Lin Shiyi''s exactly. At this moment, not only Lin Xianzhi, but even Lin Yanjiao, whose Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Body made her usually unshakable, showed a noticeable change in expression.


    One could not tell whether this was an Illusion Array, but without a doubt, it was no ordinary formation.


    This formation represented an unprecedented depth in the foundation of the Taihan Sect.


    RUMBLE!


    With a thunderous roar, everyone felt as though two towering humanoid beasts were clashing incessantly on Taihan Mountain''s peak.


    At this moment, Lin Shiyi felt utterly exhilarated.


    Unlike spell cultivators, body cultivators like him often lacked opportunities for this sort of sparring.


    While training in the ocean depths had strengthened his physique, making him akin to a Shocking Sea Ape¡ªamong the strongest in raw power¡ª


    only through sparring could he truly hone his body and push towards a breakthrough in the Purple Mansion Middle Stage.


    Lin Shiyi persisted for a full hour before finally falling in defeat.


    This intense sparring match left many of the Lin Family''s younger generation dazzled and inspired.


    Following Lin Shiyi''s demonstration, Lin Yanjiao also stepped forward, striding towards the snowy peak.


    As the current Family Head of the Lin Clan, she rarely had opportunities to make a move.


    This was primarily because she cultivated the Heavenly Illusion Heart Sutra and possessed a Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Body.


    At this moment, she was curious to see whether this formation could replicate her illusions and spiritual body.


    And evidently, it could.


    The dreadful capability of this formation seemed as if it was specifically designed to shatter limits.


    Every Lin Clan member had the opportunity to test themselves against it.


    Before Lin Yanjiao, too, a snowy figure appeared.


    As Lin Yanjiao formed hand seals, summoning two illusionary clones, the snowman replicated her actions exactly as well.


    "This formation can only be sustained through breakthroughs in the moment. Only by breaking one''s limits can the formation be overcome!" Lin Xianzhi, too, felt the terrifying nature of the formation at this moment.


    Following this, all the Lin Clan''s prodigious cultivators tried it out one by one.


    After their trials, every face was alight with uncontainable excitement.


    With such a formation at their disposal, they felt confident in achieving breakthroughs more quickly.


    Thus better prepared to face any upcoming crises threatening the Lin Family''s future.


    After all the formation tests were concluded, Lin Xianzhi led Lin Yanjiao, Lin Changxing, and Lin Zeying to the top of the Taihan Mountain''s Ice Pagoda.


    "Yanjiao, Changxing, enter from opposite directions!" Lin Xianzhi instructed, with Lin Shiyi, who observed from the side, adding his agreement.


    Having experienced it once themselves, they understood the process better.


    And so, with Lin Yanjiao and Lin Changxing''s entry¡ª


    layers upon layers of glowing spiritual words appeared on the Ice Pagoda.


    "Purple Mansion Early Stage, Dual Spirit Root, Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Body, supreme talent, rewarded with an Inferior Grade Earth Rank Technique: Heavenly Illusion Secret Tome!"


    "Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Heavenly Spirit Root, supreme talent, rewarded with an Earth Rank Technique: Heavenly Cold Abyss Tome!" Another Earth Rank Technique was granted, further exciting the Lin Clan cultivators.


    The Lin Clan originally possessed fewer than five Earth Rank Techniques, but now, they had obtained four just in front of this Ice Pagoda of the Taihan Sect.


    This demonstrated the profound foundation of the Taihan Sect.


    However, when Lin Zeying and Lin Xianzhi entered next,


    the techniques granted began to repeat themselves.


    Moreover, they weren''t fire-attributed techniques.


    Though Lin Xianzhi sighed at this, there was little he could do.


    Evidently, even the Taihan Sect''s Earth Rank Techniques were not infinite.


    Fortunately, Lin Zeying''s cultivation already focused on fire-attributed Earth Rank Techniques.


    ...


    Amid the fervent development efforts of the Lin Clan,


    Lin Shiming had once again entered closed-door cultivation.


    This time, he felt as though something had shifted. The final stages of his Divine Sense Palace seemed to have commenced.


    He entered the Cave Heaven, his mind fully concentrated.


    Before him lay two blocks of Millennial Profound Jade, ensuring his spirit remained at an unprecedented peak state as he cultivated the Soul Fusion Secret Tome.


    At this moment, the previously incomprehensible Spirit Patterns of his Divine Sense Palace were one by one revealed.


    ...


    Cultivation renders time irrelevant, and so three months passed.


    Lin Shiming''s form remained seated on the high platform, but the platform itself now exuded a suffocating intensity.


    His Divine Sense swirled like storms raging in every direction.


    In the next moment, as Lin Shiming opened his eyes and let out a low shout, the final Spirit Pattern of the Divine Sense Palace before him solidified completely.


    All the Spirit Patterns linked together, radiating infinite streams of multicolored light, forming what resembled a truly magnificent palace.


    Lin Shiming''s eyes focused, a flicker of joy within them, though he didn''t stop there. He released other Divine Sense Weapons from within his spiritual consciousness.


    Instantly, nine Divine Sense Weapons formed a strange Divine Sense Array in mid-air.


    Each weapon shone with unique Spirit Patterns, akin to resplendent stars inlaid upon them.


    It was worth noting that these nine Divine Sense Weapons were all formed entirely from his Divine Sense.


    At this very moment, Lin Shiming felt that his Divine Sense had reached an unprecedented peak.


    Upon completing the Divine Sense Weapons, his Divine Sense was fed back and amplified.


    The increase was significant, reaching a Divine Sense strength at the peak of the Golden Core Stage, which astonished even Lin Shiming himself.


    Although he still remained at the Golden Core Middle Stage, even ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivators without treasures augmenting their Divine Sense would struggle to match him.


    The nine Divine Sense Weapons ensured he remained unmatched in Divine Sense manipulation, and combined with his numerous techniques, he could easily suppress his opponents.


    Though Lin Shiming was a reserved individual, he couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement. After all, he was inching ever closer to the Nascent Soul stage.


    The nine Divine Sense Weapons soon vanished as he retracted them. He then retrieved the Soul-breaking Needle, a Spiritual Treasure.


    Mastering the Divine Sense Weapons and pairing them with the Soul-breaking Needle now gave him a total of ten Divine Sense Weapons.


    In critical moments, this would undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable advantage.


    Lin Shiming''s excitement was palpable at this point.


    These past days, the system prompts had all centered around insights into the Divine Sense Weapons and the Soul-breaking Needle''s associated Treasure Unlocking Technique.


    This greatly boosted his confidence in mastering the Soul-breaking Needle''s Treasure Unlocking Technique.


    After all, he had already grasped the Treasure Unlocking Techniques for three fragmented Spiritual Treasures before this; now, this marked his fourth!


    This familiarity made the process feel almost effortless.


    ...


    While Lin Shiming cultivated the Treasure Unlocking Technique, nearby, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng were once again steering the War Treasure Ship, heading towards the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    The situation at Yunyue Island had stabilized, but the Lin Clan''s spoils from the battle with the Tianzhao Sect hadn''t been completely collected.


    A final sweep of the Heavenly Joy Sea was needed to claim the remaining spoils.


    This was an unspoken rule among major powers.


    Otherwise, it would dampen the motivation of each faction.


    At its core, the Lin Clan was also a family built on plundering resources; however, its relatively moderate tactics had earned it a decent reputation among the islands.


    Aboard the Spirit Boat, Wang Jiao was present as well.


    At this moment, Wang Jiao was filled with enthusiasm, having been tasked once again with locating secret realms¡ªa skill he excelled in.


    The most exciting part for him was Lin Shiming''s willingness to allocate a 20% share of the mineral veins to him this time!


    This prospect had Wang Jiao practically brimming with energy like a rooster in its prime.


    He was particularly obsessed with Spirit Stones.


    When the Spirit Boat reached an island, they found a gathering of cultivators already present there.


    Among them, the leader was none other than Profound Mechanism True Person, accompanied by Red Leaf True Person and Fuling True Person.


    Indeed, this time, Yanjiao Island''s representative wasn''t Zhao Yulin, but Zhao Fuling, who had recently achieved a breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, becoming an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator.


    However, Zhao Fuling''s gaze was now cold and her demeanor exuded oppressive Evil Qi¡ªa far cry from her former self.


    "Lin Shiming didn''t come?" Zhao Fuling''s icy voice rang out.


    "Seventh Uncle is breaking through and cannot come at this time!" Lin Zekong replied.


    "However, Seventh Uncle''s Spirit Beast is here. If there''s anything, you can speak with his Spirit Beast!" Lin Zekong added, taking out the Spirit Beast Bag and releasing Wang Jiao.


    Wang Jiao''s enormous body instantly blocked out a large portion of the sky, gazing curiously at Lin Xianzhi and the others.


    They hadn''t even reached their destination yet¡ªwhy had they called him out?


    "You are Lin Shiming''s Spirit Beast. Do you dare to spar with me?"

 Chapter 1004 - 613: Arrival at Heavenly Joy Island, Sky Domain Disc (Two in One)

    On the War Treasure Ship, Wang Jiao occupied a floor alone, watching Zhao Fuling fly toward him with little interest.


    "No sparring. You''re not even enough to fill my stomach. Roar!" Wang Jiao rejected her without hesitation.


    He let out a low growl, shaking his massive Flood Dragon Head.


    To him, there was no distinction between female cultivators and male cultivators.


    But he wouldn''t fight battles that brought no benefit.


    Now, he was heading for the Heavenly Joy Archipelago to search for veins and secret techniques.


    Lin Shiming had finally been generous for once¡ªthis time, Wang Jiao could claim twenty percent of the rewards.


    The remaining thirty percent would go to the cultivators who found the veins and techniques.


    This time, leading the team were Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and Lin Zelu. The three of them were considered steady-handed among the younger generation of the Lin Family.


    Among the Ze-generation, they were quite outstanding and could now hold their own within the Lin Family.


    "What if I promise you a Fifth-Order Demon Core?" Zhao Fuling asked.


    She wasn''t confident in defeating Lin Shiming.


    But today, she was determined to show Lin Shiming that she, Zhao Fuling, was no less than Lin Shitao.


    When a Fifth-Order Demon Core appeared, only then did Wang Jiao nod his massive Flood Dragon Head.


    When it came to a delivered Demon Core, he naturally wouldn''t show restraint.


    Forget fighting a Golden Core Early Stage; he was thoroughly confident even against a Golden Core Middle Stage.


    After all, he was a Tribulation Transcending Flood Dragon.


    With a low growl, he soared into the air, riding upon the mist.


    The Spirit Boats of the Tianliu Archipelago and the Lin Family retreated.


    Their sparring was between one beast and one person, so even if they were unwilling, they could only wait nearby and observe.


    Only to see Zhao Fuling draw out a Green Flood Dragon Sword, releasing unparalleled sword energy. Today, the sword technique she practiced was the Ruthless Sword¡ªeach strike colder and more ruthless than the last.


    The concentrated Sword Intent had clearly reached the Sword Birth Myriad Laws Realm.


    Although there was still some distance before she could form a Sword Domain, as a Sword Cultivator, she already dominated others of the same stage.


    Wang Jiao, on the other hand, acted quite courteously, since she had gifted him a Demon Core¡ªbest to let her have a few moves.


    Otherwise, there''d be no gifts in the future.


    His eyes emitted Spirit Light, and as his two claws stirred, brilliant claw light slashed outward.


    Boom!


    The claw light collided with the Green Flood Dragon Sword, eliciting a pained roar from Wang Jiao.


    In pain, venom sprayed from his mouth in torrents, rushing toward Zhao Fuling.


    The terrifying venom corroded the entire sky.


    At the same time, black Spirit Light emerged from his two Flood Dragon Horns, shrouding Zhao Fuling.


    She immediately brought out three additional Magical Treasures, though their nurtured essence fell short.


    Trapped under the black light, she couldn''t move and had to endure the toxic liquid.


    At that moment, Wang Jiao''s massive Flood Dragon Tail descended. Boom!


    It smashed Zhao Fuling into the sea.


    "Roar, get back up here! Quit pretending to be dead in front of this king!" Wang Jiao bellowed once more.


    Saying that, he swept his tail harshly across the sea floor, stirring up countless waves.


    The sheer dominance of the Flood Dragon Tail was on full display.


    From the depths of the sea, a Demon Core emerged, followed by Zhao Fuling''s figure. At this moment, she looked quite disheveled, biting her lip with a dim light in her gaze.


    Wang Jiao, however, paid her no mind. He swallowed the Demon Core and returned to the Fifth-Rank War Treasure Ship, continuing onward with the Lin Family members toward the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    No matter what, he couldn''t afford delays in the search for new Spirit Stone veins and treasures.


    The Fifth-Order Demon Core was just an appetizer, far from being comparable to the inner core of a Fifth-Order Flood Dragon.


    As for Zhao Fuling''s expressions, Wang Jiao cared even less¡ªafter all, it was Lin Shiming''s business and had nothing to do with him.


    At present, the transmission formations of the Tianzhao Sect were not yet fully functional. The previous ones had long been destroyed.


    At this moment, for the Lin Family''s War Treasure Ship to reach the Heavenly Joy Archipelago, they had to take the transmission formation to the Iron Cloud Archipelago, then transfer to the Heavenly Earth Island, then sail Spirit Boats to transmit to the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    Fortunately, Heavenly Joy Archipelago wasn''t too far from Heavenly Earth Island.


    For the Lin Family, possessing a Fifth-Rank War Treasure Ship meant greater safety and convenience.


    Its speed rivaled that of a Fifth-Order aerial Demon King.


    Once they transmitted to Heavenly Earth Island, they found it had already been occupied by the Coral Island, Nine Dragon Island, the Blood Cultivation Sect, and the Myriad Buddhas Island¡ªthe four sects.


    Each had seized a portion of territory, effectively controlling the gateway to the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    Utilizing the transmission formation here, they aimed to develop the entire Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    The Lin Family relied specifically on the transmission formation of Heavenly Earth Island''s Coral Island.


    A small market had already been established here as well.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng chose not to take action immediately; instead, they waited for cultivators from the Red Leaf Archipelago, Tianliu Island, and Profound Mechanism Island to act together.


    Though the slower pace increased the chances of unforeseen events, Lin Shiming had not joined them this time. For them, arriving safely at the Heavenly Joy Archipelago and setting up a transmission formation was paramount.


    Ensuring Lin Shiming and the Qiu Xue Sword could reach the Heavenly Joy Archipelago at the first opportunity was crucial.


    Otherwise, if there were Golden Core cultivators secretly lurking on Heavenly Joy Archipelago, it would be extremely disadvantageous.


    Because the arrangements had already been made, Profound Mechanism True Person and Red Leaf True Person led the expedition and arrived soon after.


    For the Lin Family, without Golden Core cultivators leading the way, there simply was no other option.


    Now, Lin Shiming needed to guard Cold Turtle Island, given the presence of the Cold Jade Mine and the top-grade Spirit Stone veins.


    The Lin Family only had two Golden Core True Persons left. Although Lin Shijie was making progress with his breakthrough, he still needed significant time to succeed.


    Meanwhile, Jiuxiao True Person had been assisting the Lin Family with forging the Fifth-Rank War Treasure Ship.


    At the moment, the Lin Family only had one War Treasure Ship, but with such expansive territory and abundant resources, it was only natural to aim for more.


    "Zekong, Zecheng, let''s depart!" Red Leaf True Person initially seemed surprised, but upon considering the Lin Family''s situation, he chuckled and nodded in understanding.


    The Lin Family''s foundations were evidently still lacking. While they had combat strength, they didn''t have enough Golden Core True Persons capable of holding their own.

 Chapter 1005 - 613: Arrival at Heavenly Joy Island, Celestial Domain Disc (Two-in-One)_2

    This time, the decision to use the Lin Jiaze generation name along with the Wang Jiao Demon King in the naming convention was quite a clever choice.


    Red Leaf True Person spoke, and Profound Mechanism True Person and Zhao Fuling nodded in agreement, setting off together.


    However, as soon as they departed, they realized that the Lin Family''s War Treasure Ship was unusual.


    Usually, Spirit Boats are engraved with stabilization and acceleration Spirit Patterns.


    But the Lin Family''s boat was different; it was covered entirely in Formation Patterns, and the connections between the patterns were not something they could fully comprehend.


    This type of Spirit Boat was something they had never encountered before.


    Of course, despite their surprise, Red Leaf True Person did not say much, knowing that Lin Shiming was not present.


    As the four Spirit Boats sped forward at top speed,


    after one day, they arrived at the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    The vastness of the sea was evident this time as well.


    Even a Fifth Rank Spirit Boat required such a long journey to reach an archipelago.


    And this was using a Spirit Boat with replaceable Spirit Stones ¡ª if it had been a Golden Core True Person traveling, it would have taken even longer.


    Once they landed on Heavenly Joy Island,


    the group expected to engage in a battle, but the Heavenly Joy Archipelago turned out to be entirely deserted, with not even a single mortal in sight.


    The Spirit Veins consisted of only a few Second and Third Rank ones, even less valuable than an ordinary barren island.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zeying were somewhat puzzled at that moment.


    They suspected they might have come to the wrong location.


    "This is it. All of it must have been taken away during the resistance at Heavenly Earth Island!" Red Leaf True Person decisively confirmed, clearly not lying to Lin Zekong and the others.


    "I''ve brought a Superior Grade Fourth Rank Spirit Vein that should suffice. In addition, let''s first establish a Fifth Rank Formation and a Transmission Formation!"


    "Developing the archipelago will definitely require a Transmission Formation!" Red Leaf True Person emphasized.


    However, despite what was said, the three Spirit Boats belonging to Red Leaf True Person and the others did not land on the island.


    When the division of islands was initially negotiated, it had been made explicitly clear: the main island and its nearby marine regions belonged entirely to the Lin Family. They naturally refrained from landing on the island to set up a Transmission Formation.


    Those Spirit Veins could only be considered borrowed.


    Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, and others were well aware of this.


    As for proposing that the three clans be allowed to land and divide the island, they would never entertain such a notion.


    When it comes to the interests of major powers, sentimentality cannot always resolve issues.


    Clarity is required where due.


    Moreover, the Lin Family, as a Nascent Soul-level family now, deserved their standing.


    "Senior Red Leaf, Senior Profound Mechanism, and Senior Fuling, the Seventh Uncle said that with regards to the subsidiary islands, you are free to occupy them as you wish. After the Taiqian Abyss matter is settled, he will personally choose mountain ranges for your sects on Heavenly Joy Island!" Lin Zekong offered.


    The main island could not be allocated, but the subsidiary islands posed no issue.


    Moreover, the presence of the three sects enhanced the security of the Lin Family for the time being.


    Once the four families had reached an understanding, Lin Zekong and Lin Zelu began arranging the Spirit Veins, with Lin Zelu specifically setting up the Island Protecting Great Array, while other Lin Family Array Masters worked to establish the Transmission Formation.


    Only by preparing the Transmission Formation could the Lin Family ensure constant reinforcement if necessary.


    As for anything more substantial, the Lin Family didn''t harbor high expectations since the place had clearly been thoroughly cleared out beforehand.


    But abandoning the claim entirely did not seem wise either.


    Thus, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng were sent here as a token effort.


    Of course, the key figure was Wang Jiao.


    Wang Jiao''s sensitivity to mineral veins was extraordinary because it was a mutated water-attribute Poisonous Dragon.


    Its perception of the seabed far surpassed that of others.


    The Lin Family had come, willing to test their luck.


    Currently, their primary focus was still on developing the Soarwood Archipelago.


    Once the Red Leaf Archipelago was entirely vacated, the Lin Family could then proceed to develop it too.


    At present, the Lin Family''s greatest challenge remained a shortage of high-level cultivators.


    The Transmission Formation and Formation were quickly established. As soon as they were completed, Wang Jiao vanished into the sea with a splash, leaving behind a massive wave.


    The other three sects also began bidding farewell one by one.


    What they had claimed were merely some subsidiary islands under the archipelago,


    equivalent to islands like Heavenly Phenomenon Island and Lianyun Island under the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    ...


    Shuangmu Island, Thousand Wood Peak.


    As an intense aura emerged, the Spiritual Energy of the entire island surged toward Thousand Wood Peak.


    Many Lin Family cultivators opened their eyes and looked toward the peak.


    There, atop Thousand Wood Peak, a dazzling array of Spirit Light had appeared.


    Lin Shijin and Lin Shiyun both flew out, as did Jiuxiao True Person.


    He sensed that this time, Lin Shitao wasn''t refining ordinary Spirit Pills but rather Gold Condensation Pills.


    Moreover, for such a phenomenon to occur signaled that the refining process was remarkably smooth.


    Meanwhile, numerous messages were sent toward Cold Turtle Island.


    Soon, Lin Shiming also appeared on the Transmission Formation, arriving near Thousand Wood Peak.


    After quite a while, the Spirit Light subsided, and Lin Shitao emerged from her cave abode.


    She held a Pill Bottle in her hand, her face glowing with joy, although her eyes were clearly fatigued.


    Inside the Pill Bottle, there weren''t just one but two Gold Condensation Pills.


    This meant that not only had Lin Shitao succeeded in her refining, but she had crafted two pills in one go.


    "Give these to the Seventh Uncle Ancestor and Shimo. They''re close to breaking through to the Golden Core realm!" Lin Shitao smiled faintly.


    "You''ll need one as well!" Lin Shiming shook his head, taking only one pill.


    The other was obviously reserved for Lin Shitao herself.


    Although Lin Shitao had just recently broken through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage and still needed considerable time to stabilize her foundation,


    the Gold Condensation Pills could be refined again, whereas these higher-quality pills were better saved for Lin Shitao to ensure her breakthrough to Golden Core.


    "Don''t worry, before long, the family will have more Gold Condensation Fruits!" Lin Shiming assured with a smile.


    In the Taihan Secret Realm, the Lin Family had secured three entire Gold Condensation Fruit Trees.


    One of the trees had even borne unripe Gold Condensation Fruits.


    Once Lin Shiming''s Minor Divine Ability matured, he could urge them to produce new fruits,


    yielding at least three fruits at a time.


    If the alchemy progressed smoothly, Lin Zekong, Lin Zecheng, Lin Shilei, and Lei Xuan could all use the Gold Condensation Pills to break through to the Golden Core realm.


    Hearing this, Lin Shitao finally nodded in agreement.


    "You''ve worked hard!" Lin Shiming embraced Lin Shitao.


    Lin Shitao seemed to recall something, her expression showing a hint of hesitation.


    She was naturally aware of the rumors surrounding Tianliu Island.


    However, after a moment of hesitation, she chose not to bring it up, trusting Lin Shiming instead.


    "Seventh Brother, how has Zeying''s cultivation been lately?"


    "Even better than expected!" Lin Shiming replied with a smile.


    This time, Lin Zeying''s performance in the Taihan Secret Realm had truly been remarkable, not just in cultivation technique, but also in breaking through the Yeti''s avatar formation as the first person to do so.


    Of course, this was partly because Zeying was still at the Qi Cultivation Late Stage level.


    Yet, even so, resisting the cold aura was no easy feat.


    ...


    Heavenly Joy Island, Lin Family Hall.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng stood before the Spirit Map as Lin Yanxu reported on the current situation.


    The surroundings were devoid of any human inhabitants, and the circumstances suggested not relocation but a direct blood ritual.


    This was the true source of their concern.


    This indicated that an evil cultivator had taken advantage of the chaos in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain, infiltrating the area recently.


    The danger aside, it also meant that any treasures here had likely been looted by the infiltrator.


    "Should we notify the Seventh Uncle about this?" Lin Zecheng asked hesitantly.


    "Not yet. We don''t know the opponent''s cultivation level. First, we''ll activate the Soul Locking Great Formation to scan the nearby sea region, and then use the family''s Heavenly Domain Disk," Lin Zekong said, taking out a Fifth Rank Magical Treasure.


    This treasure had been refined by Jiuxiao True Person using the spiritual hide of a Fifth Rank Water Leech Demon King.


    The Heavenly Domain Disk was especially unique, as even a Purple Mansion cultivator could utilize it to perform Formation techniques.


    It was, by design, a detection-type magical treasure.


    Once they confirmed the traces and cultivation level of the evil cultivator, they could then formulate a targeted plan of action.


    Seeing the Heavenly Domain Disk, Lin Zecheng felt a surge of relief.


    With such a powerful item, their worries were alleviated.


    "Perhaps we might even manage to scavenge some treasures through this!" Lin Zekong said with a smile.


    He then pulled out a Jade Slip.


    This specific Jade Slip was used for contacting Wang Jiao. Since the area had been infiltrated by a blood cultivator, the search for mineral veins would have to be delayed.


    First, eliminating the hidden evil cultivator was of utmost importance.


    Otherwise, there was a chance that the individual might act against the Lin Family in the future.


    If the adversary turned out to be weaker, Lin Zekong could even deploy a Spirit Puppet to capture and kill them outright.


    Utilizing the Heavenly Domain Disk to scan the surrounding sea regions in advance would also assist the Lin Family in resource exploration!

 Chapter 1006 - 614: The Evil Jade Hermit, Mysterious Domain (Two in One)

    The continuous streaks of rain kept falling into the sea, stirring up waves of surging darkness.


    On a dark green island, a black-robed cultivator emerged from the sea.


    He landed on the island and, with several swift leaps, entered a massive dark chasm where seawater also seeped in.


    Though the seawater here appeared even darker.


    It was as if it had been dyed in ink.


    After the cultivator leapt into the chasm, he vanished inside. Shortly thereafter, tiny drops of ink began landing beside the island.


    The ink drops surged towards the mountain chasm as well.


    Yet soon, a flash of sword light emerged within the chasm, obliterating the ink drops in an instant.


    Simultaneously, the silhouette of the black-robed man appeared inside the chasm.


    He frowned slightly, showing clear discontent toward the spiritual light of the ink drops.


    Especially when he saw the ink drops reform, his displeasure deepened.


    The cultivator continued to wield his sword, swiftly dispersing the ink drops once again.


    Again and again, the process repeated itself nearly ten times.


    Then, from the horizon, a massive Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship appeared.


    At the sight of the treasure ship, the black-robed cultivator''s expression changed yet again.


    "Are you the demonic cultivator persecuting the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain?" Lin Zecheng''s voice echoed from the sky.


    "No, I am merely a humble loose cultivator!" The black-robed man shook his head without hesitation.


    Immediately, he tossed out an Inquiry Spirit Talisman towards Lin Zekong.


    He seemed exceedingly familiar with the current situation.


    As soon as the Inquiry Spirit Talisman landed in Lin Zekong''s hand, the black-robed man spoke directly:


    "I am Xian Yun, a mere loose cultivator, simply seeking a realm to marry, bear children, experience mortal life, and eke out the remainder of my existence. I beg the Lin Family for leniency."


    After he finished speaking, he took out a jade box and sent it flying to Lin Zekong.


    Inside the jade box lay a piece of fine Geng Metal.


    This type of Geng Metal belonged to Fifth Rank magical materials. Even for forging a Fifth Rank flying sword, it was exceedingly exceptional.


    It was highly prized among sword cultivators.


    As the Lin Family hailed from a sword cultivation lineage, it was evident that Xian Yun, the hermit loose cultivator, had long been aware of the Lin Family''s affairs and likely conducted a thorough investigation.


    "Your words may be one thing, but we must dispatch people inside!" Lin Zekong announced decisively.


    Persecuting mortals as a demonic cultivator was not to be forgiven.


    After all, massacring mortals and blood sacrifices were heinous acts condemned by the heavens, even in the Southern Sea.


    Of course, if there was any treasure hidden within the secret realm, the Lin Family would want their share.


    As the current rulers of the Heavenly Joy Archipelago, the Lin Family held exclusive privileges granted by the Tianzhao Sect.


    Furthermore, Lin Zekong was highly suspicious of the black-robed cultivator before him. He felt that the man did not come across as a mere hermit loose cultivator seeking peace and serenity.


    Regarding the Inquiry Spirit Talisman, Lin Zekong had even less confidence. He was well aware that various secret techniques or Minor Divine Abilities could bypass the Inquiry Spirit Talisman''s verification.


    "No problem!" The black-robed cultivator responded with unexpected straightforwardness.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng disembarked from the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship and moved towards the dark chasm.


    Clearly, beneath the chasm lay a secret realm. Given that the cultivator could enter, it indicated that the chasm likely concealed at least an Earth Rank Secret Realm.


    To the Lin Family, owning an Earth Rank Secret Realm was a rare occurrence¡ªeven the entire Southern Sea might not hold more than ten such realms.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng advanced one after the other.


    Soon, they spotted a faint vortex before the chasm.


    At the vortex''s far end lay a mountain cave.


    At the cave''s entrance, a Spirit Formation isolated the seawater''s intrusion.


    However, this Spirit Formation was rather simple; even Divine Sense could penetrate through it.


    Deep within the cave was a genuine Realm Vortex.


    This vortex served as the entrance to the Earth Rank Secret Realm.


    "You go in first," Lin Zekong said to the black-robed cultivator.


    These words made the black-robed man pause in surprise.


    Nevertheless, he nodded and was the first to step into the vortex inside the mountain cave.


    His movements were exceptionally slow, as though afraid the Lin Family would suspect him.


    He kept his hands away from his Storage Bag. Upon nearing the vortex, he finally leapt forward and entered it.


    Everything seemed ordinary.


    Lin Zecheng looked at Lin Zekong in slight surprise.


    "Brother Kong, this..."


    "There is no such person as Xian Yun Hermit in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain. Second Uncle trained here before; this man is stalling for time!" Lin Zekong replied resolutely.


    Lin Zecheng was momentarily stunned.


    After all, they held the Inquiry Spirit Talisman.


    "Then shall we...?" Lin Zecheng hesitated.


    "Report it immediately!" Lin Zekong ordered.


    "Hmph, report it? Too late! All of you, stay here!" A cold voice rang out.


    A blood net descended instantly, enveloping both Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.


    Yet in the moment the Spirit Net descended, the spot where the two stood revealed two Substitution Talismans instead.


    Simultaneously, over a dozen formation flags flew from the sky.


    The black-robed cultivator''s blood formation had not just failed; it had swiftly been overtaken by the Lin Family.


    Furthermore, the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship emitted spiritual light, enveloping the black-robed man entirely.


    The War Treasure Ship was fortified with Fifth Rank formations.


    Its mobility even rivaled a stationary Fifth Rank Mountain Protection Array.


    This was the true power of the Lin Family''s Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship.


    The black-robed hermit was obviously unaware of this fact.


    Now trapped within the spiritual light, his expression grew utterly shocked. He had not anticipated the Lin Family''s counter-strategy, complete with Substitution Talismans, would ensnare him.


    At this moment, he found himself the one imprisoned.


    "I presume that you must be the Evil Jade Wanderer!" Lin Zekong declared.


    The Lin Family had conducted a thorough investigation of notable figures in the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    The most formidable among them was unquestionably the Evil Jade Wanderer.

 Chapter 1007 - 614: The Evil Jade Hermit, Mysterious Domain (Two in One) - Part 2

    This hermit not only possesses formidable strength but also employs extremely cruel methods. He was once a wanted criminal of the Tianzhao Sect, having slaughtered several islands, though he excelled at evasion.


    He had never been apprehended.


    As soon as these words were spoken, the hermit''s expression changed abruptly, revealing a hint of deflation.


    "I didn''t expect that someone in the Lin Family would know of my reputation!" the black-robed cultivator uttered in a hoarse and ancient voice. His pupils started to shift, and then the old man used a high-level secret technique, transforming into a mist of blood and reappearing nearby.


    He directly moved towards the secret realm.


    He knew that the Lin Family still had Fifth Rank combat power, including True Person Puppets and True Person Cultivators, which were highly likely threats.


    The secret realm was his only refuge.


    However, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng would not allow him to retreat into the secret realm.


    Otherwise, the disadvantaged party would become Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.


    After all, their reliance now rested upon the Fifth Rank War Treasure Ship and Fifth Rank Spirit Puppet.


    Yet, almost simultaneously as the attack fell, he transformed into a beam of blood light again and seeped into the surroundings.


    Ignoring the formations and Spirit Light attacks entirely.


    Just then, a massive figure surged up from the seawater, blocking his path.


    It was none other than Wang Jiao, who had been lying in wait nearby.


    At the moment the blood shadow condensed, a black light descended, anchoring the blood shadow firmly.


    At that same moment, a Sky-Trapping Bowl fell and encompassed the blood shadow.


    This bowl had been specifically handed to Wang Jiao by Lin Shiming.


    And at this moment, it proved remarkably effective.


    It restrained Xieyu Hermit completely, and Wang Jiao swung its tail, smashing the figure into pulp.


    Xieyu Hermit perished instantly.


    Faced with the Golden Core Demon King, although the latter had myriad cunning strategies and secret techniques, he now tasted bitter defeat.


    Three storage bags fell to the ground, along with a Spirit Beast Bag.


    Yet Wang Jiao did not take a single one of them, handing them all over to Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng.


    It let out two low roars, signaling that once its task was done, it would search for the Spirit Stone mine.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng immediately began inspecting the items. The storage bags were mostly typical Magical Treasures, Spirit Pills, and various enigmatic Magic Artifacts.


    But the contents of the Spirit Beast Bag left everyone furious. Inside were pools filled with mortal blood, and some demonic beast blood.


    These pools were enormous, their surfaces covered with eerie demonic path arrays.


    Clearly, mortal blood was being used to corrupt the formations.


    At this moment, the two felt an unsettling curiosity about what lay within the secret realm.


    High in the sky, Lin Zelu, who had finished setting up the formation, stepped forward.


    "Brother Kong, Brother Cheng, the formation is set. Could this be a Demonic Cultivator stronghold?" Lin Zelu expressed his concerns.


    For the three of them, this was an Earth Rank Secret Realm where Purple Mansion cultivators might be waiting for them.


    It was undoubtedly dangerous to venture in lightly.


    No one could afford such risks.


    "There might indeed be a blood-path secret realm inside. Let the puppets go first!" Lin Zecheng suggested. As an expert in puppetry, he possessed several Fourth Rank Spirit Puppets.


    Although losing Fifth Rank Spirit Puppets was intolerable, Fourth Rank ones were still expendable.


    "And bring in a Fourth Rank Great Demon as well!" Lin Zekong agreed.


    After inspecting the Spirit Beast Bag, the two felt a chill run down their spines!


    Both grew increasingly cautious.


    Using the Spirit Controlling Seal to control Fourth Rank Great Demons wasn''t a heavy loss.


    Even if something went wrong, the Lin Family held no fear at present.


    After extensive preparation, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng approached the secret realm entrance.


    Accompanied by two Fourth Rank Spirit Puppets and a Fourth Rank Sea Cloud Bird.


    The Sea Cloud Bird was a Spirit Beast known to the Lin Family. The family owned several Sea Cloud Birds, many of which had survived for over a hundred years and grown into Third Rank and even Fourth Rank Demonic Beasts.


    One of them entered the whirlpool, along with a Fourth Rank Spirit Puppet.


    "All clear!" Lin Zekong exclaimed in excitement. Lin Zecheng mirrored his sentiment.


    To them, as long as the secret realm entrance wasn''t ambushed, no other area could easily trap them.


    "Bring the Heavenly Domain Disk to scour the secret realm!" Lin Zekong instructed.


    Lin Zecheng nodded in agreement.


    Both were visibly excited; it was their first time exploring an Earth Rank Secret Realm.


    Obtaining Fourth Rank treasures here meant priority selection.


    And the experience provided was no less valuable than what Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi had gained.


    For the most elite of the Lin Family''s "Ze" lineage, their ambitions naturally extended beyond peers¡ªtoward the elder successors Lin Shimo and Lin Shiyi.


    Within the Lin Family, most Purple Mansion cultivators were fixated on the sequence of breakthroughs to Golden Core.


    The top candidates were Lin Shijie, Lin Xianzhi, followed by Lin Shitao and Lin Shiming.


    Then came Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan.


    Lin Shiyi barely trailed behind them.


    For cultivators, the earlier the breakthrough, the greater the advantage for their future paths.


    Fortunately, the Lin Family wasn''t lacking opportunities at this time.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng steadied themselves, securing numerous Magical Treasures before venturing into the secret realm.


    The moment they entered, they found themselves in an enormous realm of dark clouds.


    The setting was dim, yet neither blood pools nor other evil cultivators were apparent.


    Instead, deafening thunder resounded across the sky.


    A colossal Thunder Mountain stood tall.


    Beyond the Thunder Mountain was a vast Spirit Lake.


    The scene defied all expectations.


    Numerous forbidden arrays surrounded the Thunder Mountain.


    On one side of the arrays, a large portion of the area was corrupted, cloaked in crimson hues.


    On the Thunder Mountain itself, numerous structures stood.


    Evidently, this was a sect inheritance site.


    This discovery elated Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng instantly.


    The slaughter of mortals and the utilization of cultivator blood pools served only to corrupt the Thunder Formation and exploit the inheritance within.


    The entire truth came to light.


    The two released a long sigh of relief.


    Though these treasures couldn''t be directly utilized by them.


    Any finds reported to the Lin Family entitled them to a thirty percent share.


    They could exchange this for resources aiding their breakthroughs.


    Given that this sect inheritance held substantial worth.


    Being a sect of the thunder attribute, the Thunder Mountain''s value was self-evident.


    Nonetheless, the Thunder Formation was exceedingly dangerous, preventing them from daring to approach. Using puppets to explore further resulted in their immediate obliteration.


    Only the areas polluted by the blood pools were somewhat less hazardous from the thunder strikes.


    Clearly, this realm was a natural convergence zone for thunder pools.


    This explained the immense power of the Thunder Mountain.


    "Uncle Shilei and Uncle Lei Xuan would envy us greatly!" Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng remarked.


    The opportunities here were undoubtedly geared toward thunder-attribute cultivators.


    What had driven Xieyu Hermit to covet these treasures remained a mystery.


    ...


    The two stepped out of the formations and began setting up arrays and transmission formations across Wuqing Island.


    Once the transmission formation was completed, they could teleport back at will.


    This would be highly convenient for Lin Family cultivators.


    Moreover, the site required stationed cultivators to ensure the clan''s safety, for which the transmission formation was necessary.


    Once the preparations were complete, Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng sent reports to Shuangmu Island.


    The Thunder Formation and mysterious sect demanded immediate notification of the family, possibly prompting Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan to withdraw from Yunyue Island.


    Currently, Yunyue Island remained quiet, with the Taiqian Abyss showing no signs of activity.


    Since acquiring the Heavenly Gate, the abyss seemed to have fallen into deep silence.


    Even its surroundings lacked the presence of even ordinary Third Rank Taiqian Sharks.


    This phenomenon appeared particularly eerie to the sects across the Southern Sea.


    While the Lin Family settled their affairs, news arrived from Tianliu Island.


    Holding a Sound Transmission Talisman, Lin Zekong learned that Tianliu Island had confronted a sub-island of Nine Dragon Island.


    Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng were helpless about this confrontation.


    They could only reply while quickly contacting Lin Shiming.


    They asked Lin Shiming to handle matters in the Heavenly Illumination Sea Domain.


    Of course, amid the troubling information came good news from Wang Jiao.


    Wang Jiao had discovered a pure intermediate-grade water-attribute Spirit Stone vein.

 Chapter 1008 - 615: Acquired Thunder Body, External Incarnation Technique (Two in One)

    Beneath the Heavenly Joy Archipelago lie eight main sub-islands.


    Among them, Joy Island has the largest area, while Fish Gut Island is the smallest.


    At the edge of Fish Gut Island, it borders the Heavenly Fury Archipelago.


    At this moment, as the seawater churned and waves rolled, several Flood Dragons and cultivators from Tianliu Island stood in confrontation.


    "Fairy Fuling, this Yang Ironstone vein was discovered by our White Dragon Island and is within the territory of our Heavenly Fury Island!" Bai Yu True Person couldn''t help but speak.


    "Bai Yu True Person, what you say is incorrect. This island belongs to Fish Gut Island, and even if judged by the thousand-li vicinity rule for sub-island jurisdiction, this small island falls under the domain of Fish Gut Island!" Zhao Fuling refused to give way.


    For Tianliu Island, supporting Tianliu True Person''s breakthrough at this moment was crucial.


    Naturally, the need for resources was exceptionally high.


    It was impossible to casually give up any resource, especially a vein of intermediate-rank superior ore like the Yang Ironstone vein.


    Such a vein, while not as valuable as a superior-grade Spirit Stone mine, was hardly inferior.


    Intermediate-grade superior Yang Ironstone was the primary material for many fourth-rank magical artifacts. Moreover, Yang Ironstone refined into shield magical instruments was extraordinarily sturdy.


    "Then let us await the arrival of the respective island masters!" Zhao Fuling directly declared.


    As for Bai Yu True Person''s brazenly unrestrained gaze, she remained entirely indifferent.


    Tianliu Island naturally wouldn''t fear White Dragon Island.


    It should be noted that White Dragon Island ranked among the lowest of Nine Dragon Island''s nine divisions.


    In contrast, Tianliu Island was one of the leading islands within the Coral Alliance.


    "Daoist Bai Yu, visiting here today, is there joyous news to celebrate?" A hearty laugh came from afar.


    Lin Shiming, stepping atop his Spirit Boat, descended onto the island.


    Seeing Lin Shiming''s arrival, Bai Yu True Person''s expression turned dour. If it had been the Lin Shiming of earlier days, he would naturally not have been concerned.


    A mere Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator ¡ª but the Soul Summoning Sword at Lin Shiming''s back was something he could not afford to provoke.


    Not to mention, even Nine Dragon True Monarch of Nine Dragon Island had suffered setbacks before Lin Shiming.


    From Lin Shiming''s use of the term "visiting," Bai Yu True Person clearly caught his meaning.


    However, behind Bai Yu True Person stood not only himself ¡ª Nine Dragon Island also had Nine Dragon True Monarch.


    "Island Master Lin, according to the sea chart, this location resides along the border between the Heavenly Fury and Heavenly Joy sea regions. In the Southern Sea Cultivation World, treasures found along border lines belong to whoever discovers them first!"


    "If we refer to the sea chart, this location is part of Fish Gut Island. If discovery is the principle, then it should be Tianliu Island''s Liu Changqing who discovered it first!" Zhao Fuling argued.


    Her brows furrowed deeply, showing signs of anger.


    "Our White Jade Flood Dragon discovered it as well!" Bai Yu True Person immediately retorted, pointing towards the sea below.


    From beneath the sea, a White Jade Flood Dragon instantly leapt out of the water.


    "Since you put it that way, Fairy Zhao, report to Coral Island. Let Coral True Monarch come and make a judgment!" Lin Shiming suggested, looking toward Zhao Fuling.


    Then, turning to Bai Yu True Person:


    "Daoist Bai Yu, why not invite Nine Dragon True Monarch as well? Today, we can settle everything here!" Upon Lin Shiming''s words, Bai Yu True Person''s face became ashen.


    With Lin Shiming present, he could, of course, summon his Qiu Xue Sword at any time.


    But Bai Yu True Person lacked the ability to call on Nine Dragon True Monarch so readily.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming''s intention was evident ¡ª with Coral Island boasting two True Monarch combatants, even if Nine Dragon True Monarch arrived, the situation would not favor Bai Yu True Person.


    "Island Master Lin, Fairy Zhao, White Dragon Island concedes in this matter!" Understanding there was no room for maneuver, Bai Yu True Person decisively retreated.


    Lin Shiming glanced at Zhao Fuling.


    He hadn''t anticipated their reunion to unfold in such a manner.


    "Congratulations, Fairy Zhao, on achieving Golden Core Perfection!" Lin Shiming cupped his hands in greeting.


    Zhao Fuling returned the gesture with a bow.


    "Thank you, Daoist Lin. Today''s events likely reflect Nine Dragon Island''s attempt to test my master!" Lin Shiming nodded.


    He naturally understood Zhao Fuling''s reasoning.


    Engaging in standoff and resorting to underhanded tactics here clearly extended beyond a mere mine.


    Regarding the Southern Sea''s five great factions.


    The five True Monarchs continually elevated the Nascent Soul cultivator numbers on their respective sides while also guarding against increases on the opposing side.


    Originally, Coral Alliance had only two Nascent Soul combatants. If they gained another, the disparity between the major factions would widen once more.


    At that point, even Tianzhao Sect would lose its ability to divide the balance.


    "No need for formalities. Our two factions are allies and should naturally support one another!" Lin Shiming remarked.


    Just then, Wang Jiao emerged from the seabed, soaring upwards.


    "Wang Jiao, apologize to Fairy Zhao!" Lin Shiming commanded Wang Jiao.


    Upon arriving at the Heavenly Joy Archipelago, Lin Zekong had already informed him of the circumstances.


    Regarding Wang Jiao''s actions, Lin Shiming felt somewhat helpless.


    A Fifth Rank Demon King bullying a recently advanced Golden Core Early Stage cultivator.


    It could be considered an unworthy victory.


    Of course, Lin Shiming had no intention of returning the Demon Core.


    Wang Jiao growled deeply in apology.


    Zhao Fuling nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Master, this Yang Ironstone vein surely contains Supreme Grade Yang Ironstone!" At that moment, Wang Jiao transmitted excitedly.


    Its roar carried a sense of eagerness.


    The Flood Dragon''s heightened perception had indeed become remarkably sharp.


    When Lin Shiming arrived, he had already sensed that beneath the Yang Ironstone vein lay hidden treasures.


    However, it wasn''t the Supreme Grade Yang Ironstone Wang Jiao mentioned ¡ª it was the Yang Ironstone Essence.


    This was Fifth Rank treasure material, specifically Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade treasure material, capable of being used as the primary substance for crafting Fifth Rank Lifebound Treasures.


    Extremely precious.


    Lin Shiming speculated the true reason Bai Yu True Person refused to give up was precisely this.


    After all, Bai Yu Flood Dragon, like Wang Jiao, belonged to the water attribute Flood Dragons.

 Chapter 1009 - 615 Acquired Thunder Body, External Incarnation Technique (Two in One)_2

    It''s not strange that it can be sensed.


    This Yang Ironstone vein was mined before, but only by a small faction.


    Their mining pace was slower, and they likely didn''t sense the Yang Ironstone Essence within.


    They might have also thought it was just Supreme Grade Yang Ironstone.


    After all, Supreme Grade Yang Ironstone is only a Fourth Rank Inferior Grade material, which isn''t particularly rare for cultivators.


    So, the faction that mined it wouldn''t directly exploit the vein with full effort.


    Instead, it ended up benefiting Tianliu Island.


    "Let''s go, Wang Jiao!" Lin Shiming directly stepped onto the flood dragon''s head and headed towards the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    Now that this matter was dealt with, he left right away.


    "Master, that young woman''s gaze towards you isn''t normal. Also, why didn''t we take that vein? Roar!" Wang Jiao asked with palpable confusion after traveling some distance.


    "There''s no need!" Lin Shiming immediately interrupted and didn''t allow Wang Jiao to continue speaking.


    He naturally understood Zhao Fuling''s condition. Hatred flashed in her eyes, which he suspected stemmed from her cultivation technique.


    But deep in her gaze, there was also a trace of sentiment.


    However, Lin Shiming was fully aware that if Zhao Fuling were to act on those emotions, it would mean shattering her cultivation path and technique.


    Her True Yuan would regress.


    Lin Shiming certainly wouldn''t be the type to sabotage someone''s Dao and technique.


    "Master, you''re very kind to her. Roar!" Wang Jiao continued.


    This was its first time apologizing!


    Even though it merely roared, Wang Jiao was still a Demon King!


    "Stop talking nonsense." Lin Shiming scolded, and Wang Jiao finally fell silent.


    It then quietly sensed its surroundings, guiding Lin Shiming in searching for Spirit Stone veins.


    Eventually, near the Heavenly Joy Archipelago, they found two Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone veins and one Third Rank Jade Separation Crystal vein.


    This trip proved fruitful.


    In addition to the veins, the Lin Family quickly located three Yellow Rank Secret Realms and one Profound Rank Secret Realm.


    However, cultivators ready to enter the secret realms hadn''t been prepared yet.


    The Heavenly Joy Archipelago cultivators had likely hidden inside the secret realms.


    Of course, quite a few loose cultivators and mortals had also taken refuge on Joy Island within the archipelago.


    That island is the largest and even features a Fifth Rank Formation, along with a Purple Mansion Late Stage cultivator, Taiyun Hermit, overseeing it.


    Upon the Lin Family''s arrival, Taiyun Hermit surrendered everything to them.


    That included the market shops, Joy Island''s formations, and all sorts of veins.


    Moreover, Taiyun Hermit had managed Joy Island in an orderly manner.


    The Lin Family decisively annexed Joy Island.


    Once their exploration of the thunder-oriented sect inheritance on Wuqing Island is completed, the Lin Family plans to withdraw from the Heavenly Joy Archipelago.


    Given the ongoing crisis in Taiqian Abyss, the Lin Family couldn''t manage such a far-reaching domain. Annexing a distant vassal might be the most considerate decision.


    Lin Shiming didn''t pay much attention to these lower-level secret realms and resources. Instead, he landed on Wuqing Island.


    Sitting quietly, he meditated.


    By now, Wuqing Island boasted a modest complex of palace structures.


    A Transmission Formation was also being diligently installed.


    Three days later, as a streak of Spirit Light appeared, Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan emerged from the Transmission Formation, accompanied by Lin Houshou.


    Lin Houshou''s Formation cultivation had reached Fifth Rank Intermediate Grade.


    As for Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan, both possessed Thunder Spirit Roots and had recently reached the Purple Mansion Late Stage.


    Both were noticeably excited, having heard about the Thunder Sect inheritance, prompting their swift arrival. As for guarding Yunyue Island, the Lin Family had entrusted the Leiming Sword to Lin Zeli. With her at the helm, no one dared question the Lin Family''s authority there.


    After all, in terms of combat force, a single Leiming Sword dwarfed countless Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan combined.


    Besides, there wasn''t much activity on Yunyue Island at the moment.


    The Taiqian Sharks seemed genuinely dormant.


    They were exhibiting even more restrained behavior compared to before.


    And with such silence, none of the five major factions dared send cultivators into Taiqian Abyss.


    Instead, they became highly concerned about the number of Nascent Soul cultivators held by each faction.


    After all, in this changing era, only Nascent Soul True Monarchs could determine the rise and fall of an immortal cultivation faction.


    The group arrived at the mountain ravine on Wuqing Island.


    Lin Zecheng was now stationed there.


    Between Lin Zekong and Lin Zecheng, the former exhibited broader strategic thinking, while the latter possessed a more meticulous mind.


    "Uncle Shilei, Uncle Lei Xuan, Seventh Uncle, Second Grandfather!" Lin Zecheng eagerly greeted upon noticing their arrival.


    All four responded with nods, and Lin Houshou as well as Lin Shilei entered the secret realm instantly.


    Lei Xuan remained outside, waiting.


    "Lei Xuan, you should enter as well. No need to hold back. You''ve been part of the Lin Family for years, and when it''s time to vie, you should. We don''t treat you as an outsider in the Lin Family!" Lin Shiming said with a smile.


    Embarrassed by this, Lei Xuan scratched his head and grinned awkwardly before eventually nodding and entering the mountain ravine into the Lei Xuan Secret Realm.


    Lin Shiming remained outside, waiting.


    By now, he was feeling somewhat frustrated. With his high cultivation level, he couldn''t enter many of the lower-tier secret realms.


    He began considering the use of the External Incarnation Technique.


    After all, his cultivation level had reached a bottleneck. Qi Cultivation at Golden Core Middle Stage and Body Refining Cultivation at Golden Core Middle Stage.


    Improving either in the short term wouldn''t be easy.


    The incarnation technique, however, could prove immensely helpful.


    Sometimes, an incarnation is more convenient, and even in emergencies, it can act as a shield against danger.


    For instance, during his time in the Qingxuan Sect in the Eastern Domain, Lin Shiming had relied on an incarnation to evade Shen Ji True Person''s schemes.


    Back then, he had used a special incarnation refined through corpse transformation.


    Now, if he cultivated an External Incarnation from scratch, it would offer greater growth potential and benefit him far more.


    After deliberating, Lin Shiming took out the cultivation jade slip of Liu He True Person and began studying.


    ...


    While Lin Shiming immersed himself in the study of incarnations, Lin Houshou, Lin Shilei, and Lei Xuan had already arrived at the ruins within the secret realm.


    Thunder rippled fiercely here, its rumbling deafening.


    Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan both stared in awe, their expressions lit with exhilaration.


    "This is definitely a Sixth Rank Thunder Formation!" Lin Houshou exclaimed, equally ecstatic.


    Although he couldn''t comprehend Sixth Rank formations yet, his yearning was undeniable.


    Moreover, breaking through Fifth Rank Golden Core and studying Sixth Rank formation artifacts would be tremendously beneficial.


    His cultivation path revolved around formations.


    The broader his journey, the higher his chances for breakthroughs.


    Of course, Sixth Rank formations also represent formidable obstacles.


    Even without a cultivator controlling it, acquiring the inheritance within wouldn''t be easy.


    Otherwise, the likes of Xie Yu Hermit wouldn''t have had such difficulty either.


    "Second Uncle, could we train here? I feel that cultivating our techniques here would yield double the results. Additionally, by honing ourselves under such lightning, we may possibly achieve Acquired Thunder Body!" Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan said.


    Both were practitioners of the Purple Sky Thunder Scripture, a technique passed down from Lei Xuan''s ancestors.


    The scripture also included secret techniques for harnessing Geng Metal Divine Thunder.


    Aside from this, it contained a method for attaining an Acquired Thunder Body.


    The requirements for this method in terms of thunder intensity were exceptionally high.


    Anywhere else, they wouldn''t be able to accomplish it.


    But here, under a Sixth Rank Thunder Formation, as long as they endured without perishing, they felt confident their chances at attaining an Acquired Thunder Body were considerable.


    This body may not compare to an Acquired Spiritual Body, but for cultivators, the pseudo-spiritual body it provides would already be remarkable.


    It was worth the risk.


    Moreover, once the thunder body is formed, they might even withstand the formation''s power and retrieve the inheritance within.


    However, for now, that was still beyond their current capabilities.


    "Let me arrange a supporting formation to assist you!" Lin Houshou agreed, clearly valuing the potential of these two juniors.


    Encouraged by the prospect of attaining an Acquired Thunder Body, his interest also heightened.


    He took out formation flags and began redirecting portions of the lightning.


    Given the sheer power of these thunderbolts, caution was necessary. Diverting just one-tenth of the intensity was sufficient for Lin Shilei and Lei Xuan''s cultivation.


    After all, this was a Sixth Rank Thunder Formation.


    Naturally, their curiosity deepened regarding both the sect''s name and its inheritance.


    Soon, the formation was set up. Lin Houshou utilized a single pattern, creating an auxiliary dispersing lightning array.


    Yet even so, within seconds, the formation turned completely charred, battered beyond recognition, and shattered violently.


    The two gazed at it with some trepidation but gritted their teeth and stepped into the auxiliary dispersing lightning array.

 Chapter 1012 - 617: Shijie Breakthrough, 5 Swords Combined into 1 (Updated 2 in 1)

    As time passed, the crimson clouds in the sky coalesced into the image of a volcano and descended above Shuangmu Island.


    This extraordinary sight resembled Lin Shijie''s Sword Intent.


    Gathering high in the sky, it stirred envy in all the cultivators present.


    After all, this phenomenon heralded the breakthrough to Golden Core True Person.


    And it descended upon Thousand Wood Peak, precisely above Lin Shijie''s cultivation abode.


    At this moment, a pure Fifth Rank fire-attributed Spirit Vein was channeling energy around him, while he held a Supreme Grade Fire Spirit Stone in his hand.


    The Spiritual Energy stored within this Supreme Grade Fire Spirit Stone was so potent that it could even be of use during a Golden Core''s breakthrough to Nascent Soul.


    To use it now for the condensation of a Golden Core, its assistance was naturally even more significant.


    "Condense!" Lin Shijie shouted lightly, and immediately, the Purple Mansion within him split into five parts.


    This was the effect of his Five Flames Scripture cultivation technique; although it wasn''t as refined as other Earth Rank Techniques, when paired with his flame-forged Sword Intent and five types of Spiritual Fire,


    it turned out to be more suitable for him, proving advantageous for condensing a Golden Core.


    With the convergence of the five types of Spiritual Fire and the five sections of his Purple Mansion,


    beads of sweat lined his forehead; despite his efforts, the condensation remained immensely challenging.


    Though Southern Sea was populated with numerous cultivators skilled in the Purple Mansion level, the count of Golden Core cultivators barely exceeded a hundred. This alone was testament to the difficulty of forming a Golden Core.


    At this moment, Lin Shijie also felt the strain, but having begun the condensing process, how could he afford to halt now?


    With a flip of his hand, he retrieved a golden elixir pill¡ªspecifically, a Gold Condensation Pill refined by Lin Shitao.


    Taking a deep breath and without any hesitation, he swallowed the Gold Condensation Pill.


    The instant the pill entered his system, his body erupted with even greater streams of Spirit Light, and his Divine Sense began to surge uncontrollably.


    Previously arduous steps now became significantly easier; not only did the condensation of True Yuan and the Purple Mansion proceed more smoothly, but even his Divine Sense merged seamlessly into the process.


    "Indeed, forming the Golden Core without the Gold Condensation Pill is unbelievably difficult!" Lin Shijie murmured with a slight sigh.


    But quickly, he resumed the condensation with renewed focus.


    Before long, the formation of an Inferior Grade Golden Core began.


    At this sight, Lin Shijie''s eyes narrowed sharply.


    An initial condensation resulting in an Inferior Grade Golden Core made advancing it to Superior Grade nearly impossible.


    To him, remaining at merely Intermediate Grade was absolutely undesirable.


    His True Yuan did not possess the refinement of Lin Shiming''s, nor would the might of his Golden Core come close in comparison.


    Momentary hesitation flickered in his gaze.


    Yet in the next moment, gritting his teeth, he drew out a Soul Summoning Sword.


    This Soul Summoning Sword was one of the Spirit Swords Lin Shiming had acquired after slaying enemies in Taibai Sword Palace.


    Its spirit had been erased, leaving it available for the refinement of a Sword Pill.


    Among the Lin Family members, Lin Shiming had claimed six such swords, ensuring Lin Xianzhi and Lin Shijie each held one.


    This safeguard guaranteed that even if the Gold Condensation Pill failed, they could still rely on refining a Sword Pill.


    With the Lin Family no longer lacking Gold Condensation Pills, Lin Shijie''s thoughts grew increasingly daring.


    Now that the Lin Family had transcended its traditional limits as merely a Golden Core family, for him, condensing a Superior Grade Golden Core and striving for Nascent Soul was naturally the superior choice.


    After all, he himself was a Sword Cultivator.


    Although this type of Sword Pill paled in comparison to the natural integration of Sword Intent featured in Lin Shiming''s Sword Pill, enhancing the quality of his Golden Core to Superior Grade would suffice to satisfy him.


    With this thought, Lin Shijie decisively wielded the Soul Summoning Sword, employing a Secret Technique to merge it with his Golden Core.


    Sure enough, the Golden Core gradually enlarged, and sword patterns began to manifest on its surface.


    An indeterminate amount of time elapsed.


    With a resounding boom, Lin Shijie opened his eyes to behold a perfectly round Superior Grade Golden Core within him.


    A sense of deep satisfaction washed over him.


    At that very moment, the Heart Demon Tribulation arrived.


    Lin Shijie found himself gazing at a distant back¡ªa silhouette stretching further and further away, as though impossible to catch.


    "Shiming?" Lin Shijie murmured to himself softly, followed by a hint of disdain.


    After his numerous trials within Illusionary Heart Pavilion, he had long since dispelled this lingering shadow.


    But he hadn''t anticipated the Heart Demon Tribulation to summon it anew.


    Previously, he might have been tormented by this specter.


    After all, he possessed the Second Spirit Root while Lin Shiming held the Third Spirit Root.


    Furthermore, Lin Shiming''s Sword Intent and cultivation level consistently widened the gap between them.


    But what did it matter?


    Their Great Dao was intrinsically tied to the path of their family.


    Lin Shiming was the Lin Family''s first blade, capable of cutting down all rivals ahead.


    Meanwhile, he would serve as the second blade, safeguarding the Lin Family''s enduring foundation for generations!


    Previously, encountering that distant back had left him conflicted and hesitant.


    Now, facing that same back, he felt his resolve strengthen further.


    Even his Sword Intent became more refined; fiery volcano Spirit Shadows materialized around him.


    Swords of flame were being sharpened.


    In that instant, he felt as though it was himself being polished.


    A content smile spread across Lin Shijie''s face.


    That distant back abruptly vanished.


    Before him now stood a white-haired elder.


    Upon seeing this elder, Lin Shijie''s smile deepened.


    Suddenly, he felt that this Heart Demon Tribulation wasn''t so terrifying after all.


    "Shijie, it was Grandpa''s fault for pressuring you into alchemy. Won''t you stay and spend more time with Grandpa?" Lin Yuqing''s face was brimming with kindness and affection.


    "No, you weren''t wrong, Grandpa. None of us were. The fault lies in our family not being strong enough. For instance, look at us now¡ªthe family thrives with talents in alchemy, artifact refining!"


    "Even in Spirit Talismans, we have prodigies. Do you know who the Spirit Talisman genius is? It''s Shijin''s daughter."


    "Moreover, the family has truly ascended to a peak force within the Southern Sea, boasting Nascent Soul battle prowess, three Golden Core cultivators, and..."


    Lin Shijie wanted to recount all of this to Lin Yuqing.


    Even though he knew the one before him was not truly his grandpa,


    he understood even more deeply how desperately the Lin Family''s Yu generation and Xian generation had yearned for their family to transform into what it had become now.

 Chapter 1013 - 617: Shijies Breakthrough, 5 Swords Combined into 1 (Part 2 has been updated)_2

    But the Heart Demon Tribulation did not give Lin Shijie a chance.


    It quickly dissipated.


    At this moment, Lin Shijie felt a heaviness in his heart and tilted his head upward.


    Above him, a cluster of dark clouds had already formed.


    He stood and headed toward the nearby island prepared for Heavenly Tribulation breakthroughs.


    The next moment, he was somewhat surprised, as he realized the formation had recently been used.


    He saw Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi among others and knew that the entire family had come to protect him.


    His heart warmed with gratitude.


    The Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation was activated again, manifesting a massive thunder tower.


    Lin Shijie sat at the center of the tower, as the thunderclouds in the sky grew larger and heavier.


    "Shijie, take this Thunder Tribulation Pill!" Lin Shiming tossed out a pill bottle, knowing Lin Shijie''s tribulation would be no minor matter.


    Unlike the Star Spirit Clam with its powerful physical body and natural resistance,


    Lin Shijie''s physique was far less effective in resisting a Heavenly Tribulation.


    At this critical moment, Lin Shijie did not feign humility. Additional preparation was always better.


    As for owing Lin Shiming a Spirit Pill, there was no helping it.


    He could repay it after advancing to the Golden Core realm.


    Within the family, such distinctions were unnecessary at times like this.


    As he received the pill bottle, the Heavenly Thunder finally began to descend.


    The power of this thunderbolt exceeded even the Star Spirit Clam''s tribulation by a significant margin.


    However, Lin Shijie retrieved five magical swords.


    These were five superior-grade fourth-rank lifebound treasures crafted by Jiuxiao True Person upon his request.


    Due to the refinement process, even after his Golden Core breakthrough, he could use further refinement and special materials to elevate them to fifth-rank treasures.


    Additionally, he could utilize the Lin Family''s fifth-rank Pure Spirit Vein to nurture these treasures.


    The family had once obtained the Treasure-Nurturing Technique and had now fully implemented it across all Spirit Veins. Yet, the scarcity of Spirit Veins limited the nurturing process.


    With recent rapid advancements, Lin Shiming had refrained from nurturing other treasures excessively.


    He was only using the fifth-rank Spirit Vein to nurture the Myriad Beasts Banner.


    The thunderbolt struck the Thunder Tower, scattering layer upon layer of energy before reaching the bottom, significantly weakened.


    The Thunder Tower formation had drawn inspiration from a secret Heavenly Tribulation realm discovered by Lin Houshou.


    Yet even weakened, the tribulation retained annihilating force!


    Lin Shijie raised the five magical swords, slashing at the remaining Heavenly Tribulation.


    Boom!


    The sword light from the Five Flame Sword intertwined with thunderous lightning.


    In the end, the lightning prevailed, continuing downward. Lin Shijie activated his Spirit Shield to endure part of the impact.


    For Golden Core cultivators, tribulations are resented, yet indispensable.


    These trials temper the cultivator''s body and refine their True Yuan.


    Soon, the second wave of the tribulation descended, striking the Thunder Tower and erupting in unmatched brilliance, causing the entire tower to shake.


    This sight brought unease to everyone present.


    During the Star Spirit Clam''s tribulation, the shaking began with the third wave.


    For Lin Shijie, even the second wave caused tremors.


    This demonstrated the greater intensity of his tribulation.


    Fortunately, he still had the Thunder Tribulation Pill and numerous tribulation-related treasures at hand.


    The Thunder Tribulation Pill was discovered by Lin Shiming in the Tianzhao Sect''s Secret Realm¡ªa treasure of immense value.


    It could even assist in overcoming the tribulation between Golden Core and Nascent Soul, meant for emergencies.


    The second wave and the third wave of the tribulation swiftly followed.


    At this moment, dazzling Spiritual Fire coalesced before Lin Shijie¡ªfive strands of Heavenly Spiritual Fire descended, transforming into five spirit shadows and merging into his lifebound treasures.


    This immediately elevated the power of his swords to a new level, easily repelling the tribulation.


    Soon, the final wave arrived. Lin Shijie''s tribulation was the Seven-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, surpassing the Star Spirit Clam''s, yet inferior to Lin Shiming''s.


    The thunderclouds depleted entirely, condensing into a single, bucket-thick bolt of lightning that roared downward.


    The Thunder Tower was reduced to fragments of Spirit Light and vanished.


    At this moment, Lin Shijie hesitated briefly over consuming the Thunder Tribulation Pill but ultimately refrained.


    Instead, his five swords suddenly converged.


    It seemed they were merging into one!


    Even Lin Shiming was somewhat shaken by this display.


    Evidently, Lin Shijie had gained some insight during the tribulation.


    The combined sword struck the tribulation, splitting it into two waves that descended.


    He activated the Heavenly Thunder Shield before the two waves, blocking much of the impact.


    Lastly, the residual energy cascaded onto his body.


    A surge of Golden Core True Person aura radiated outward.


    The Lin Family had gained another True Person.


    A Thunder Tribulation Pool appeared in the sky as Lin Shijie was the first to enter it.


    Meanwhile, the surrounding beast tide no longer required Lin Shiming''s intervention.


    Due to measures like scorched-earth tactics, no fifth-rank Demon King remained in the area¡ªonly fourth-rank Great Demons.


    These fourth-rank Great Demons struggled against even the weaker Lin Family cultivators.


    Let alone the numerous protective formations.


    And the myriad Lin Family Spirit Beasts.


    These converging demonic beasts would only serve as opportunities for the Lin Family''s younger generation to gain experience.


    Thus, Lin Xianzhi and the others did not take action.


    "Thanks, Shiming. Let this pill be saved for Shitao instead!" Lin Shijie tossed the Thunder Tribulation Pill back to Lin Shiming.


    Lin Shiming nodded, his face alight with joy.


    He was naturally pleased that his elder brother had overcome the tribulation without needing the pill.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming felt that Lin Shijie had refined not just a Sword Pill but also a superior-grade Golden Core¡ªfar surpassing Zi Xuan True Person.


    Comparable even to Heavenly Sword True Person and Profound Sword True Person.


    Lin Shiming''s thoughts turned to Eastern Domain matters.


    His recent emergence from seclusion was timely for considerations regarding the Eastern Domain, including returning there for ancestral rites.


    This was a major event for the Lin Family, especially as the area contained the Yunzhong Palace Secret Realm and Chu Country''s territory waiting for development.


    Additionally, he had promised Red Leaf True Person to bring along some Ye Family members on the journey.


    Lin Shiming planned to take some Lin Family members to the Eastern Domain as well¡ªit was their ancestral land, after all.


    Many Lin Family cultivators eagerly anticipated this journey.


    Not to mention Chu Country''s untouched territories and the potential opportunities in the Eastern Sea.


    Though the Eastern Sea had fewer islands, its opportunities for cultivators remained abundant. Some were unusable by Spirit Beasts but invaluable to cultivators.


    However, meticulous planning was required, as the Lin Family lacked sufficient capable cultivators.


    With only three Golden Core cultivators in the family, Lin Shiming also pinned his hopes on Lin Shimo reaching a breakthrough.


    Lin Shimo''s chances of advancing seemed promising, followed by Lin Shilei, Lin Shitao, and Lin Xianzhi among others.


    With these thoughts, Lin Shiming decided to nurture the Minor Divine Ability Fruit trees.


    Years ago during the Golden Core trading conference, he had acquired a jade slip containing augmenting techniques for Minor Divine Ability.


    Unfortunately, this technique only applied to abilities derived from the Minor Divine Ability Fruit.


    It couldn''t enhance abilities like Revival Wind or Light of Fate.


    The tribulation soon disappeared, and breakthroughs to the Purple Mansion realm increased within the family, flourishing across Shuangmu Island.


    The festive atmosphere brought joy to the elders.


    Leading the breakthroughs was Lin Changxing.


    Lin Changxing had reaped immense rewards from the Taihan Secret Realm, surpassing the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and now attempting a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm.


    It was a testament to the immense advantage of the Heavenly Spirit Root!


    Lin Shiming also turned his attention to his son, Lin Zeying, noticing that Zeying had now reached the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.


    Moreover, his cultivation was steady, seemingly nearing a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.


    This brought some emotion to Lin Shiming.


    The Lin Family''s younger generation seemed poised to surpass the elders, driving him to strive harder.


    With the Star Spirit Clam''s breakthrough, Lin Shiming might struggle to improve his own cultivation further, but advancing his Body Refining cultivation was now an attainable goal.


    After exchanging pleasantries following the breakthroughs, Lin Shiming entered the Cave Heaven.


    Inside, the Star Spirit Clam lounged atop a pavilion, its shell open and exuding a sense of profound leisure.


    Additionally, it was scattering abundant Star Spirit Fluff.


    In the past, it would only release this fluff at night, but today, it spread it even in broad daylight, seemingly in delight!


    A true display of generosity.

 Chapter 1014 - 618: Sunset Flower, Moonlight of Stars (Two-in-one)

    Within the Spirit Lake, all the Spirit Fish gathered together, including the enormous black fish of the Purple Mansion and the Water Spirit Shell at the late stage of Purple Mansion.


    At this moment, they were surrounding the Star Spirit Clam as though it were their new king.


    For Lin Shiming, this scene felt rather peculiar.


    "Master!" The Star Spirit Clam called out hurriedly upon seeing Lin Shiming enter.


    It understood very well the reason for its breakthrough.


    If not for Lin Shiming, it would still be trapped in the Qingxuan Sect''s Profound Grade Secret Realm, likely spending its entire life as a relatively unique Third Rank Spirit Clam.


    But now, it had become a new generation Demon King.


    It could even assume human form.


    However, the Star Spirit Clam was still unaccustomed to its transformation, and Lin Shiming himself remained unused to seeing it in human form.


    Nonetheless, its breakthrough to Demon King status was undoubtedly worth celebrating.


    Lin Shiming took out a significant amount of Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Water, and just as he prepared them, the Star Spirit Clam spoke:


    "Master, now that I''ve condensed my Golden Core and refined the Star Moon Essence, it''s far more potent. I believe it will be of great benefit to Master''s cultivation level!"


    The Star Spirit Clam declared.


    Soon after, an intricate star chart behind it began to shimmer brightly, and moments later, it condensed a glowing white Spiritual Liquid.


    This sight left Lin Shiming intrigued.


    Initially, the Star Spirit Clam had only been able to condense Star Spirit Fluff, which was a fog-like Spiritual Liquid. Over time, it refined more potent Five-colored Star Spirit Fluff.


    Now, it was directly condensing Moon Essence Elixir.


    Compared to the Star Spirit Fluff, its efficacy was overwhelmingly greater.


    And as the surrounding fish sensed the Moon Essence, all the Second and Third Rank Spirit Fish began leaping out of the water.


    In contrast, the massive black fish of the Purple Mansion did not move at all.


    It merely scoffed at the smaller fish, thinking they were courting death.


    Because the cultivator standing before them was the master of this world, yet they dared to fight over Star Spirit Fluff.


    Seeing these gluttonous Spirit Fish, Lin Shiming waved his sleeve, knocking them all back into the water.


    He then accepted the Star Moon Essence and began to slowly absorb it.


    As the Moon Essence merged within him, the **Star Body Refining Technique** automatically activated.


    Countless nodes within his flesh seemed to transform into miniature Cave Heavens, growing immensely powerful.


    This feedback left Lin Shiming deeply fascinated.


    Yet he understood his current priority.


    After fully absorbing the Star Moon Essence, he descended from the platform, handing the prepared Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Spirit Water entirely to the Star Spirit Clam before stepping into the Purple Sun Tower.


    Inside, two Minor Divine Ability Fruit Trees appeared to be thriving.


    It wouldn''t be long before they matured.


    Lin Shiming activated the green Spirit Patterns within his Golden Core. As each Spirit Pattern lit up, he felt the energy of his Spiritual Body being consumed.


    Lin Shiming had no idea where the special Spiritual Power of the Minor Divine Ability came from.


    But since the system hadn''t issued any warnings, he felt reassured in using it.


    Suddenly, a system prompt rang out.


    Lin Shiming paused, stunned.


    [Focus the power of the Revival Wind on one tree to ensure the maturity of one Minor Divine Ability Fruit!]


    Lin Shiming couldn''t help feeling a little disheartened.


    With only one fruit maturing, it meant either Lin Shitao or Lin Xianzhi would have to wait five more years.


    But since the system had provided this directive, he couldn''t go against it by splitting the resources between the two trees.


    He resolved himself and catalyzed the slightly redder Minor Divine Ability Fruit Tree.


    Though he didn''t know the tree''s exact attribute, its reddish hue suggested a close connection to the Fire Attribute.


    While Lin Xianzhi had broken through the Purple Mansion late stage earlier than Lin Shitao, within the Lin Family, Lin Shitao, being an Alchemist, held greater importance than Lin Xianzhi.


    Besides, to Lin Shiming, Lin Shitao was his wife. If she could achieve a faster breakthrough, it would lay a solid foundation for future cultivation of the Great Dao, enabling her to reach Nascent Soul or even Divinity Transformation, perhaps advancing together with him.


    Call him selfish if you will, but Lin Shiming wouldn''t second-guess his decisions once made.


    He trusted that Lin Xianzhi would understand.


    As the Revival Wind swept through, the Minor Divine Ability Fruit Tree''s leaves stretched upward at incredible speed.


    In an instant, it blossomed and bore fruit.


    An intense red fruit began to emerge.


    Lin Shiming then witnessed a vision¡ªa scene of an intense red flame falling upon the western edges of the world.


    Fiery red embers cascaded across the ground.


    In the next moment, the fiery spark erupted violently upward.


    It surged into the skies magnificently, resembling the descent of the setting sun, as if even the heavens struggled to bear its sheer might.


    Meanwhile, streaks of dark lightning appeared in the sky.


    These bolts were undoubtedly more terrifying than the standard Heavenly Tribulation.


    Lin Shiming was awestruck. What kind of miraculous evolution had shaped this Minor Divine Ability Fruit Tree?


    He recalled that his **Immortal Wood Shadow** bore a similar nature¡ªit could shatter the void and take root within it.


    This fiery spark seemed capable of severing the blazing sun; it could perhaps be named the "Falling Sun Blossom."


    Such an unparalleled strike was undoubtedly soul-shaking.


    If Lin Shitao could master its mysteries, she would gain an invaluable weapon¡ªand there were Secret Techniques that amplified the power of Minor Divine Ability Fruits.


    Such advantages would apply to both Lin Shiming and Lin Shitao.


    The illusion of the Minor Divine Ability Fruit soon vanished.


    The tree''s trunk began to wither, its leaves fell, and the fruit dropped quickly.


    Lin Shiming used a prepared Jade Box to catch the fruit.


    As for the remaining parts of the Minor Divine Ability Fruit Tree, they completely disappeared, leaving no trace behind.


    Lin Shiming felt slightly regretful that the tree couldn''t be replanted or grow other fruits.


    He didn''t know what kind of magical abilities those masters of Spirit Plants possessed.


    Perhaps the Minor Divine Ability Fruit itself was just a projection of some incredible Spiritual Object.


    Unable to untangle the mystery, he chose not to dwell on it. For now, his priority was preparing Lin Shitao to break through the Golden Core stage.


    Once Lin Shitao broke through the Golden Core stage, she could refine Superior Grade Fifth Rank Spirit Pills, and there would even be a chance to successfully refine a Nascent Transformation Pill.

 Chapter 1015 - 618: Sunset Flower, Moonlight of Stars (Two-in-one)_2

    For Lin Shiming and the Lin Family, this was an immensely joyful event.


    Lin Shiming carefully held the Minor Divine Fruit in his hands.


    Then, he picked up a meditation mat.


    This mat had been acquired by Lin Xianzhi from the Taihan Secret Realm and possessed the effect of enhancing Dao Enlightenment.


    While its effect wasn''t overwhelmingly strong, it was perfectly suitable for Lin Shitao to use while consuming the Minor Divine Fruit.


    These mats were quite rare and were even of a higher grade than the mysterious mat Lin Shiming had previously found.


    Lin Shiming took the mat, then picked up the Minor Divine Fruit. Before leaving, he glanced at the spot where the Golden Winged Mantis was undergoing its breakthrough.


    Currently, that area had the richest Spiritual Energy concentration in the entire Cave Heaven, with nearly half of the Spiritual Energy condensing there.


    In contrast, the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s side had weakened considerably.


    Lin Shiming estimated that the Golden Winged Mantis would likely break through faster.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey might progress a bit slower.


    Lin Shiming sighed. He had done everything he could for the two beasts.


    But indeed, they seemed to struggle to keep up with his pace.


    Lin Shiming left the Cave Heaven and headed toward Lin Shitao''s abode.


    Outside Lin Shitao''s abode, the Spirit Peach Tree had grown even larger. Even ordinary peach trees without Spiritual Energy had transformed into Spirit Peach Trees, appearing to be of Second Rank Superior Grade.


    This was largely due to Lin Shitao''s meticulous care and the abundant Spirit Vein of Thousand Wood Peak.


    Now, standing outside the abode, one could admire the sea, sip tea, and, if the peaches ripened, pick a few to enjoy.


    Such a scenario was quite leisurely.


    Lin Shitao hadn''t been refining pills recently. At this moment, she was studying a Jade Slip, but when she saw Lin Shiming arrive, she spoke up:


    "Seventh Brother, Zeying also wants to apply to explore the Secret Realm!"


    "Let him go. Grant him a few more treasures; he does indeed need some tempering!" Lin Shiming replied.


    He understood Lin Shitao''s concerns.


    But Lin Zeying had his own path to walk.


    He had been sheltered for more than twenty years now.


    At this point, having reached Foundation Establishment Early Stage and soon to advance to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, he indeed needed some experience.


    Moreover, while arrangements for others'' trials could be handled by the family, any trial arrangement for Lin Zeying would inevitably come back to Lin Shiming for discussion.


    This was unavoidable.


    According to Lin Shitao, however, the Secret Realm he would enter was decent, with dangers that were at least within limited bounds.


    Lin Zeying would naturally explore a Profound Rank Secret Realm, where there wouldn''t be any Purple Mansion cultivators present.


    Most of Lin Zeying''s treasure trove came from what Lin Shiming himself had used during his younger years.


    In addition, True Persons like Lin Shizhong, Lin Houfei, and others had crafted Magic Artifacts specifically for him.


    Thus, Lin Shiming wasn''t overly worried.


    Recently, Lin Zeying had been receiving numerous birthday gifts, including Magic Artifacts and other items.


    This came despite Lin Shiming''s strict rule that he not accept gifts from peers and only receive presents from elders.


    Otherwise, Lin Zeying would have garnered even more.


    "Shitao, you should begin preparing for your breakthrough!" Lin Shiming said, producing two Jade Boxes and a meditation mat.


    Lin Shitao set these aside temporarily to pour Lin Shiming some Spiritual Tea.


    This tea happened to be the renowned Red Leaf Tea from the Red Leaf Archipelago. Not only was it a Fifth Rank Spiritual Tea, but it also had life-extending properties¡ªthough minor¡ªmaking it a signature treasure of the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Ordinary forces, even if they wished to buy it, might not be able to obtain it.


    "This Spiritual Tea was sent by Red Leaf True Person?" Lin Shiming asked.


    "Yes, Red Leaf True Person sent it. Their forces have already withdrawn from the Red Leaf Archipelago, and our family is gradually taking over. Fortunately, Shijie just broke through; otherwise, arranging personnel for the family would have been challenging!" Lin Shitao replied. She had grown knowledgeable about family affairs in recent times.


    Lin Shiming deduced that the tea sent over was likely a show of goodwill, considering recent developments surrounding the Taiqian Abyss.


    The Lin Family indeed planned to venture into the Eastern Domain soon.


    If the Red Leaf Archipelago wished to keep a backup plan, the Lin Family was also ensuring their own preparations were in place.


    However, Lin Shiming knew that the Eastern Domain wasn''t safe either, given the looming threat of the Dark Spirit Clan.


    The Southern Sea faced the menace of the Taiqian Shark Tribe.


    Meanwhile, he wondered if the Cultivation Worlds of the Western Desert and the Northern Plains might also have other racial forces lurking in the shadows.


    Lin Shiming speculated that these cultivators were coveting this realm''s Innate Spiritual Treasure.


    After all, Spiritual Treasures were vital to Divinity Transformation cultivators.


    And Innate Spiritual Treasures could even be termed treasures above the Divinity Transformation realm.


    However, these Innate Spiritual Treasures possessed self-protection mechanisms, fortifying this world''s barriers with extraordinary strength.


    But with someone breaking through to Nascent Soul, those barriers had started to loosen.


    At present, they were loosening further, and it wouldn''t be long before more intense conflicts erupted.


    At that time, the land might be rife with battles.


    Lin Shiming was feeling increasingly urgent¡ªhe needed to break through to Nascent Soul as quickly as possible.


    "Shitao, here''s a Minor Divine Fruit and a Supreme Grade Fire Spirit Stone to aid your Golden Core breakthrough!" Lin Shiming said.


    "Thank you, Seventh Brother!" Lin Shitao replied joyfully. Yet, moments later, she furrowed her brows.


    "Has Seventh Granduncle taken one yet?"


    "Rest assured, Seventh Granduncle will get his chance. This time, it happens to be a Fire-Attuned Minor Divine Fruit¡ªmuch more suited for you. The next one might be perfect for him!" Lin Shiming explained.


    Lin Shitao was somewhat skeptical at his words.


    But a breakthrough was an occasion worth celebrating.


    Moreover, it related to whether she could remain by Lin Shiming''s side in the future.


    Thus, she accepted happily.


    After some heartwarming moments of sipping tea, moon-viewing, sea-gazing, and playing music together, Lin Shitao began her seclusion.


    She consumed the Minor Divine Fruit and began her breakthrough process.


    Lin Shiming didn''t leave, either.


    Gaining enlightenment and a Minor Divine Ability from consuming the fruit wouldn''t take much time.


    However, since it was being consumed at the Purple Mansion stage, it would trigger a Minor Divine Ability Tribulation.


    This type of tribulation, while challenging for newly advanced cultivators, was far easier for those at the Purple Mansion Late Stage, especially with the family''s Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation to assist. Overcoming it was essentially guaranteed.


    Nonetheless, Lin Shiming remained uneasy. Considering cultivation wouldn''t delay him by too many days, he decided to stay a bit longer to ensure everything went smoothly.


    It didn''t take long¡ªtwo days later, as the sun dipped toward the horizon in a blaze of red light, casting vast crimson rays onto the shimmering sea, creating a stunning view...


    The atmosphere around Lin Shitao''s abode suddenly shifted, exuding a heart-stirring intensity as a scarlet flame shot skyward.


    The flame ultimately plunged into the distant deep sea, creating terrifying waves in its wake.


    Even Lin Shiming, witnessing this strike, was somewhat amazed.


    Lin Shitao emerged, her Spiritual Energy now appearing much fiercer.


    "Seventh Brother, I succeeded!" Lin Shitao exclaimed with a smile.


    However, thunderclouds began to gather in the sky.


    The Minor Divine Ability Tribulation had arrived.


    Lin Shitao relocated to a nearby island, positioning herself in the center of the Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation.


    The Minor Divine Ability Tribulation consisted of a Four-Nine Thunder Tribulation, less potent than a Golden Core Tribulation.


    It wasn''t too difficult to endure.


    Moreover, it boosted Lin Shitao''s confidence. When she eventually faced the Golden Core Tribulation, she would approach it with even greater composure.


    This reinforced Lin Shiming''s resolve to have Seventh Granduncle consume the fruit.


    A cultivator could consume only one Minor Divine Fruit in their lifetime.


    Among them, Lin Xianzhi had a comparatively lower likelihood of advancing to the Golden Core stage.


    Of course, if Lin Shiming obtained a new Minor Divine Fruit, he would undoubtedly prioritize offering it to his father.


    However, Lin Xianzhi was already over 400 years old.


    The lifespan of a Purple Mansion cultivator was around 500 years.


    Even though Lin Xianzhi had consumed Fuling Fiery Mulberry Fruit to extend his life, his prior cultivation of the Renshui Geng Metal Art had significantly drained his lifespan.


    His actual remaining lifespan might not even reach 500 years.


    In contrast, Lin Xianyuan was less than 300 years old, with ample years left to live, so Lin Shiming didn''t have to worry about him so soon.


    From another perspective, Lin Xianzhi seemed to lack the drive and ambition he had in his youth.


    For a Sword Cultivator, this was an exceptionally dangerous sign.


    The greatest fear was a heart that had succumbed to age.


    This was why Lin Shiming was so eager to support Lin Xianzhi.


    "Seventh Brother, I''ve succeeded!" Lin Shitao quickly emerged from the formation after her tribulation was over.


    She stepped out of the tower with a composed expression and a confident smile.


    For her, this was a step closer to Lin Shiming.


    "Let''s take a walk together for the next few days!" Lin Shiming proposed.


    Lin Shitao nodded in agreement.


    She understood that after a few days of leisure, it would be back to cultivation and seclusion.


    She couldn''t afford to falter. She absolutely had to break through to the Golden Core stage.


    After all, she now had a child and a husband she couldn''t stop thinking about.


    "As for the Illusionary Heart Pavilion, I''ll have Yanjiao assist you!" Lin Shiming further added, still somewhat uneasy.


    Lin Shiming worried most about Lin Shitao''s Heart Demon Tribulation.


    Even though she had already overcome two heart demons...

 Chapter 1016 - 619: Body Cultivation Breakthrough, Red-haired Mutation (Two in One)

    The time spent together is always fleeting, as the peach blossoms are about to fall.


    Lin Shitao once again entered the Illusionary Heart Pavilion.


    This time, she must ensure her Heart Demon breakthrough proceeds without issue.


    Only then can preparations for breaking through to the Golden Core stage begin.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming entered the family hall. Lin Yanjiao was absent, and this time it was Lin Zewen who was present.


    At this moment, Lin Zewen''s face glowed with vigor, as if bathed in the spring breeze.


    Not only had he broken through to the Purple Mansion stage, but he had also become the family''s Deputy Patriarch. Moreover, his son Lin Yanqing performed outstandingly and now managed most of Soarwood Island.


    The importance of the Soarwood Archipelago to the Lin Family at present was self-evident, as Cold Turtle Island, which produced Thousand Year Cold Jade, was located within the archipelago.


    Additionally, there were also top-grade Spirit Stone veins within it.


    "Seventh Uncle!" Seeing Lin Shiming''s arrival, Lin Zewen immediately stopped what he was doing.


    "Zewen, how has the family been faring recently?" Lin Shiming asked.


    Over the last ten years, Lin Shiming had not paid much attention to the family''s situation.


    "Seventh Uncle, the family has now fully integrated with the Red Leaf Archipelago. However, each sub-island still requires planning. The family has preliminarily decided to directly control two resource-rich sub-islands while leaving two islands to the two Purple Mansion families that have pledged allegiance during the integration process. As for the remaining six sub-islands, they will be allocated to subordinate clans. The current conditions for establishing allegiance with the Lin Family require intermarriage with family members, acceptance of Purple Mansion cultivator deployment during turbulent times, and completion of family-assigned tasks once every ten years!"


    Lin Zewen began to systematically explain.


    He disclosed all the specific arrangements regarding the Red Leaf Archipelago.


    Listening to the setup, Lin Shiming found it thoroughly reasonable.


    The family had no need to control too many islands; otherwise, it would only become a burden. Instead, fostering more subordinate clans would enhance the overall economy and cultivation environment of the Red Leaf Archipelago and the Soarwood Archipelago.


    "Seventh Uncle, as for the eight sub-islands of the Soarwood Archipelago, they have now all been brought under submission. Three families appear to have external backing, but each of them carried unique Fourth Rank resources and made significant contributions to the development of the archipelago. The remaining four sub-islands have fully come under family control. Currently, two islands have been developed into large-scale Spiritual Medicine Gardens, while the other two islands have become trading hubs with expansive marketplaces!"


    Lin Zewen continued his orderly explanation.


    "Additionally, concerning the cultivators in the family, in these ten years, there have been ten new Purple Mansion cultivators. Among them are two Fourth Rank Alchemists, three Fourth Rank Qi Cultivators, and one Fourth Rank Spirit Talisman Master!"


    "Seventh Uncle, you would absolutely never guess who the Fourth Rank Spirit Talisman Master is!" Lin Zewen added with an air of mystery.


    This piqued Lin Shiming''s curiosity.


    "Could it be Zehong?"


    "Seventh Uncle, indeed, it''s Zehong! She''s only at the late Foundation Establishment stage!" Lin Zewen looked quite excited.


    Though he hadn''t expected Lin Shiming to guess so quickly.


    "The family is now preparing for conflict, focusing on stockpiling Spirit Talismans and formations. Once Shimo breaks through to the Golden Core stage, the family will head to the Eastern Domain. Additionally, arrangements for managing cultivators and duplicating the ancestral hall''s spirit tablets have already begun!"


    "Once Shimo emerges from seclusion, the family will unsheath its sword for the Eastern Domain!"


    "Return home!" Lin Shiming declared resolutely.


    Lin Zewen listened, his blood ignited with passion.


    Unlike those of the Yan generation, most of the Ze generation cultivators had been to the Eastern Domain.


    They understood everything about Fangmu Mountain.


    It was precisely because of this knowledge that they grasped the helplessness of the Lin Family''s migration back then.


    Were it not for the threat of annihilation, who would willingly relocate their entire clan?


    From the inland to the islands.


    "Seventh Uncle, I promise to handle this matter flawlessly!" Lin Zewen assured.


    It was the shared dream of the Shi and Ze generations.


    And now, it was finally about to come true.


    This time, the Lin Family was returning to the Eastern Domain, not in defeat, but with dignity, claiming their rightful place in Chu Country.


    They would re-establish their family in the Qingyun Mountains, reclaim Fangmu Mountain, and responsibly resettle the mortals there.


    After assigning tasks to Lin Zewen, Lin Shiming returned to Thousand Wood Peak.


    The Lin Family''s return to the Eastern Domain would undoubtedly require Golden Core cultivators as guardians at the very least. After all, it involved reclaiming the majority of Chu Country.


    There would undoubtedly be remnants of the Heavenly Demon Sect hiding within various Secret Realms. They dared not face the Qingxuan Sect but might attempt to challenge the Lin Family.


    After all, they were unaware of the Lin Family''s current strength.


    Lin Shiming, of course, could not stay there permanently.


    On the contrary, it was more suitable for Lin Shimo to oversee the region, especially as Lin Shijie had just broken through and needed time to stabilize his cultivation.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming himself intended to use this period to enhance his body cultivation.


    Lin Shiming entered the Cave Heaven, where he held a newly unearthed chunk of Thousand Year Cold Jade.


    One such piece was with Jiuxiao True Person, and this was another newly excavated by the Lin Family.


    It proved immensely beneficial for Lin Shiming.


    The piercing cold also served to refine his physical body.


    The Star Spirit Clam was trembling from the cold, yet its gaze was filled with fascination.


    "Can you absorb this Cold Jade?" Lin Shiming thought of how it previously absorbed Spirit Water.


    This Cold Jade was essentially a variant of a different kind of jade.


    As expected, the Star Spirit Clam began nodding, a sight that delighted Lin Shiming.


    Previously, he had been worried about obtaining Sixth Rank Spirit Water.


    But this Thousand Year Cold Jade seemed capable of substituting for Sixth Rank Spirit Water.


    "Master, this Cold Jade is far better than Fifth Rank Spirit Water; I can refine even more powerful Starlight Essence!" The Star Spirit Clam confirmed to Lin Shiming.


    With this assurance, Lin Shiming''s heart brimmed with joy.


    Given the prior projections, even exhausting all of the Fifth Rank Spirit Soil and Fifth Rank Spirit Water wouldn''t guarantee his breakthrough to the Golden Core Middle Stage in body cultivation.

 Chapter 1017 - 619: Body Cultivation Breakthrough, Red-haired Mutation (Two in One)_2

    Now that there''s Thousand Year Cold Jade to substitute, it''s much easier.


    Lin Shiming directly fed the Cold Jade to the Star Spirit Clam.


    At the same time, he sent word to the family, asking them to deliver all the mined Thousand Year Cold Jade to Thousand Wood Peak.


    The Star Spirit Clam wrapped the Cold Jade, placing it between its two shells, and in an instant, dense starlight began to condense.


    This starlight emitted a chilling aura, causing the entire Spirit Lake to start freezing over.


    Even Lin Shiming couldn''t help but shiver uncontrollably.


    But soon, a layer of starry moon-glow began to emerge from the clam''s shell.


    This moon-glow resembled crystalline structures.


    It was evidently a tier higher than Spiritual Liquid.


    Lin Shiming collected the starry moon-glow.


    His body involuntarily activated the Starlight Tempering Body Technique.


    Countless Cave Heavens manifested within his body, while a Star Chart appeared in the sky, mirroring the internal phenomena with dazzling precision.


    The splendor was boundless.


    From afar, Elder Mu, who was observing the Nascent Soul Fruit Tree, also glanced over. Seeing the myriad glaciers, he shrank back slightly, though thanks to the protective formation, he continued to hide near the fruit tree.


    Beyond the Nascent Soul Fruit Tree, in the nearby Flood Dragon Nest, several half-Flood Dragons absorbing Flood Dragon Qi let out low growls.


    But one Ice Serpent was utterly exhilarated!


    After all, this icy energy was immensely helpful for its breakthrough.


    With the illumination of the stars, the entire sky grew even more tranquil.


    Meanwhile, the Lin Family was experiencing some turbulence.


    For the Lin Family, there were numerous preparations to be made.


    The first priority was gathering cultivators for battle¡ªto clear out remnants of the Heavenly Demon Sect in Chu Country. This would certainly require many skilled clan members.


    Beyond that, large supplies of Spirit Pills and Spirit Formations needed preparation.


    Spirit Formations were especially crucial, and Transmission Formations had to be constructed in great quantities¡ªrequiring abundant Void Nether Crystals.


    The second priority was cultivating large numbers of Devourer Demon Trees. Within Chu Country''s territory, overrun with Heavenly Demon Sect remnants, there were endless mass graves, Hundred War Graves, and Demon Head Valleys.


    Many of these were filled with demonic and ghostly qi. While a few of these Secret Realms could be left intact for the Lin Family''s use, most required purification.


    The third priority was concerning mortals.


    The Lin Family had relocated numerous mortals to the Southern Sea. The Eastern Domain lacked substantial numbers, but now in the Southern Sea, the Lin Family''s mortal population had surpassed one and a half million.


    Fortunately, the Lin Family''s territories had continued to expand; otherwise, there would not have been enough islands to accommodate all the mortals.


    Now that they controlled land in the Eastern Domain, it was natural for the Lin Family to relocate some mortals there.


    Moreover, this could be achieved using a one-time Transmission Spirit Formation to transport everything¡ªincluding the War Treasure Ship¡ªin a single move.


    This arrangement would be overseen by Red Leaf True Person.


    After all, they required the Lin Family to assign them a territory.


    Besides that, the Lin Family''s Artifact Refiners needed to begin crafting thunder-attribute treasures, which would be highly advantageous for purging the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    In the Eastern Domain, with no affiliated families to command, the Lin Family''s footing was weaker, and resistance would undoubtedly be substantial.


    At a pavilion.


    A gathering was underway, with Lin Shiyi, Lin Shiyuan, and Lin Shilei all present. Lin Shiyi was on the verge of a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, while Lin Shilei had already mastered Geng Metal Divine Thunder and was readying for a Golden Core breakthrough.


    Lin Shiyuan, who also possessed a Wind Spirit Root, was preparing for a Purple Mansion Middle Stage advancement.


    Yet all were focused on the Spirit Map laid out before them.


    For them, breakthroughs mattered less than the return to the Eastern Domain.


    Even as breakthroughs loomed, they held back, resolved to first clear the Eastern Domain before entering seclusion.


    For now, they only waited for Lin Shimo, Lin Shijie, and Lin Shiming''s emergence from seclusion.


    "Summon Zelu, Zeyun, Shiyun, and Shijin as well¡ªthis time, we''ll return to the Eastern Domain with grandeur!" Lin Shilei declared.


    At these words, the others nodded in agreement.


    ...


    Within the Cave Heaven, five years passed.


    The Spirit Lake was now mostly covered with glaciers, and the Star Spirit Clam''s twin shells shimmered even more brilliantly. In this span, it had absorbed seven pieces of Thousand Year Cold Jade, pushing its aura closer to the Mid Fifth Rank Demon King level.


    In these five years, it had refined a significant amount of starry moon-glow, all of which Lin Shiming had absorbed.


    Opening its twin shells, the Star Spirit Clam gazed at Lin Shiming''s figure, showing no extraneous movement.


    It knew Lin Shiming was now at a critical point in his breakthrough.


    In another corner of the Cave Heaven, the frigid energy seemed to have reached the Golden Winged Mantis, whose frosty wings had grown more robust.


    Screeching twice, its aura suddenly shifted.


    In an instant, golden light surged across half the sky, accompanied by countless spiritual radiances.


    It was unmistakably on the verge of breaking through to Demon King.


    Almost simultaneously after the Golden Winged Mantis manifested signs of breakthrough, the nearby Red-Haired Demon Monkey refused to be outdone.


    Scarlet clouds filled the sky, four-colored Spiritual Fire soared wildly, instantly melting countless glaciers.


    The entire Cave Heaven had transformed into a realm divided into three formidable territories.


    And it was at this moment that Lin Shiming''s body suddenly trembled.


    Simultaneously, a terrifying surge of blood-red radiance erupted outward. This time, three Cave Heavens emerged within his body.


    These Cave Heavens, distinct from earlier spatial forms, brimming with immense blood energy.


    He opened his eyes, astounded.


    Finally, he had broken through to the Golden Core Middle Stage in Body Cultivation, forming three Starlight Cave Heavens.


    Unlike starlight nodes that could merely store blood energy, these Cave Heavens were capable of holding starlight power.


    Once unleashed, it would undoubtedly be cataclysmic.


    Especially when paired with the residual Spiritual Treasure, Star Pearl.


    Even Golden Core Late Stage Body Cultivators might struggle to endure it¡ªit was akin to carrying three stars within one''s form.


    This was precisely what Lin Shiming found awe-inspiring, and he sensed that it was possible to condense even more stars.


    The only limitation being insufficient Cold Jade. Even so, his breakthrough had finally slowed as the progress plateaued.


    Still, the results were particularly gratifying, as his Qi Cultivation level had also advanced significantly. In his estimation, a brief period of seclusion could propel him to the Golden Core Late Stage.


    The manifestation of the Starlight Cave Heavens appeared to have improved his constitution.


    And it was worth noting that he was already a Thousand Wood Spirit Body user.


    The Star Body Refining Technique seemingly exceeded the standard of earth-tier techniques, otherwise, it could never have reached such heights.


    Of course, for outsiders, lacking the Star Spirit Clam rendered cultivation impossible.


    It wouldn''t even measure as yellow-tier.


    As Lin Shiming completed his breakthrough, he turned his gaze toward Golden Wing and the Red-Haired Demon Monkey.


    "Good thing I came out early, or the two of you would''ve torn this Cave Heaven apart!" Lin Shiming said with a laugh.


    He then led both of them out of the Cave Heaven.


    The Red-Haired Demon Monkey took its place on Thousand Wood Peak, while the Golden Winged Mantis settled on an unnamed water-attribute Spirit Peak within the Lin Family territory.


    Yet their breakthroughs had drawn the attention of quite a few Lin Family cultivators.


    Moreover, Lin Shiming noticed that Lin Shilei, Lin Shiyuan, and the others were standing guard nearby.


    Their stance was one of vigilant protection for Lin Shimo.


    His eyes turned to Five Flame Peak.


    There, a similarly formidable presence brewed, with countless spiritual radiances surging.


    This marked a triple blessing.


    The breakthroughs of Lin Shiming''s two spirit beasts and Lin Shimo alike.


    During Lin Shimo''s breakthrough, the sound of corpse howls resounded endlessly!


    The scene was remarkably shocking.


    "It seems we''ll need to strengthen the Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation or design a new tribulation-crossing island!" Lin Houshou quipped with a smile nearby.


    This occasion had drawn many key Purple Mansion cultivators of the Lin Family to Shuangmu Island.


    Lin Shiming was well aware that everyone was waiting for him and Lin Shimo.


    Now, with three tribulations underway, the family''s anticipation had been met with the best possible response.


    As time passed, the Golden Winged Mantis grew its sixth pair of wing feathers first.


    It officially became a Twelve-Winged Demon Mantis.


    Four of its wings transformed into Frost Wings.


    Its blade-like forelimbs became even more lethal, massive, and overwhelming in presence.


    Its tribulation arrived first.


    Under Lin Shiming''s command, the Golden Wing moved toward Thunder Tribulation Island, entering the Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation.


    There, it awaited the descent of the thunder tribulation.


    Boom!


    Due to the congregation of tribulations, the first thunder strike came swiftly, exploding upon the island.


    The Golden Wing slashed with its blade-like limb, cleaving the first, weakened thunder strike into two halves.


    It allowed the fragments to land upon its flesh, absorbing them gradually.


    It was at this moment that an unexpected change occurred. The flames surrounding the Red-Haired Demon Monkey seemed insufficient!

 Chapter 1018 - 620: Demonic Monkey, Dragon Ape? (Combined Update)

    When the three-colored flame condensed into a single-colored flame, it suddenly began to slow down.


    Moreover, the spiritual glow in the sky above the Red-haired Demon Monkey also seemed to start solidifying. This scene caused Lin Shiming''s expression to change drastically.


    It was clearly the trend of a breakthrough failure.


    He had worried many times before about failing to break through to the Golden Core, but unexpectedly, the first to face failure was his spirit beast, the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Upon reflection, he understood that compared to other spirit beasts, the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s bloodline was still too inferior.


    Even the Golden Winged Mantis possessed the bloodline of a twelve-winged mantis, and its native bloodline was not weak either.


    To demonic beasts, bloodline was the most important.


    In fact, even for cultivators, such disparities existed, though their differences lay in spirit roots.


    Breaking through for cultivators with Heavenly Spirit Roots and Dual Spirit Roots had significant advantages.


    Conversely, breaking through with Third Spirit Roots or Fourth Spirit Roots was much more challenging.


    This time, the Red-haired Demon Monkey clearly exhibited signs of failure.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey roared unwillingly, its frustration evident. It even overexerted its potential, causing the fiery spirit patterns on its forehead to erupt from its body.


    But it was of no use at all.


    Its demonic essence couldn''t condense to the necessary degree to form a Golden Core.


    The fundamental difference between a Fourth-Rank Demon Core and a Golden Core was immense.


    Its divine soul also couldn''t enter into the Golden Core.


    Its gaze turned toward Lin Shiming, filled with pleading¡ªit didn''t want to fail.


    For it, its pride was immense. From the very beginning, it loved to compare itself to the Golden Winged Mantis and Wang Jiao.


    Now, Wang Jiao and the Golden Wing were both becoming Demon Kings, yet it alone still couldn''t break through.


    Even the Star Spirit Clam, which arrived later, had surpassed it and successfully broken through to become a Demon King.


    Such a blow to the Red-haired Demon Monkey was incomparably severe.


    In the past fifty years, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had rarely shown itself on Shuangmu Island.


    Previously, it would guard the Spirit Peach Tree and the coconuts on the island.


    Its current mood could easily be imagined.


    [Grant the Red-haired Demon Monkey two Crimson Flood Dragon Demon Cores, and it may rise from its failure, awakening a Dragon Ape Bloodline!]


    At that moment, the system prompt rang out once more.


    This scene caught Lin Shiming completely off guard.


    He had Crimson Flood Dragon inner cores, but this time, it wasn''t one core being requested¡ªit was two.


    The risk involved was not insignificant, but for Lin Shiming, the system prompts over the years had never been wrong.


    This was now the critical moment.


    Without hesitation, he took out two Fifth-Order Crimson Flood Dragon inner cores and tossed them toward the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    "Swallow them!" Lin Shiming commanded directly.


    There could be no hesitation at this moment, so he employed the Soul Binding Forbidden technique.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey swallowed the two Demon Cores. Instantly, it let out a long roar¡ªa roar that seemed to carry a different weight to it.


    Its physical body began to crack.


    Blood oozed out of its body surface¡ªclearly, not even a Fourth-Rank peak Great Demon could withstand such terrifying power.


    What''s more, the Red-haired Demon Monkey had just failed its breakthrough, and its physical body was already in a compromised state.


    Yet, from its bloodline, flames of power also surged forth, converging into a fiery cluster in mid-air, unexpectedly merging with the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s Spiritual Fire.


    Soon, both engulfed the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    The entire series of transformations happened so quickly that even other Lin Family cultivators couldn''t react in time.


    Nearby, Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan both expressed some regret.


    After all, those were two Fifth-Order Flood Dragon inner cores.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey might fail its breakthrough, but it wouldn''t die.


    However, Lin Shiming knew that if the Red-haired Demon Monkey failed, its spirit and drive would likely be entirely depleted.


    Though this wouldn''t necessarily be a terrible outcome, for the current Lin Family, it was far from ideal.


    The Lin Family now lacked Golden Core cultivators and Golden Core Demon Kings.


    They lacked everything.


    Only the Red-haired Demon Monkey''s successful breakthrough aligned with the Lin Family''s current interests.


    Of course, Lin Shiming also held deep feelings for the Red-haired Demon Monkey.


    Otherwise, he would never have dedicated so much effort to it.


    After all, this spirit beast had followed him through life-and-death battles for over a hundred years.


    The Red-haired Demon Monkey''s breakthrough started showing signs of hope, while on the other side, Lin Shimo and the Golden Winged Mantis were progressing smoothly.


    Lin Shimo''s Dao Heart was remarkably steadfast. His challenges in the Cold Turtle Secret Realm, coupled with his reforging of the Five Heavenly Corpses, had solidified his confidence and Dao Heart to an unparalleled degree.


    Now, no heart demon could shake him.


    In fact, his breakthrough was progressing remarkably smoothly. His entire figure was radiating spiritual glow, while thunderclouds began brewing in the skies, clearly heralding his breakthrough.


    Meanwhile, the Golden Winged Mantis had already entered its tribulation phase.


    With four Frost Wings and eight Golden Wings, its speed was terrifyingly swift.


    Its pair of massive, golden scythe-like limbs also wielded incomparably immense power.


    Each strike carried an ineffable blade intent that stunned everyone.


    For a demonic race to bear blade intent demonstrated how overwhelmingly powerful its bloodline was.


    Its heavenly tribulation was a Six-Nine Thunder Tribulation, signifying that the Golden Winged Mantis would achieve a superior-grade Golden Core¡ªa truly fantastic development for the Lin Family.


    And shortly after the Golden Winged Mantis passed through its tribulation and entered the Thunder Tribulation Pool, Lin Shimo descended onto the island, beginning his own tribulation using the Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation.


    Although such a thunder formation couldn''t compare to the original tribulation stages, it was more than sufficient for Lin Shimo.


    He also had five Heavenly Corpses, which required tempering by heavenly thunder.


    Simultaneously, they could help him share the burden of the heavenly thunder.


    This was Lin Shimo''s unique advantage.


    As the five Heavenly Corpses surged forth, they unexpectedly formed a subtle synergy with the Nine Tribulations Thunder Tower Formation, transforming the original nine-layer formation into what seemed like a ten-layer formation.


    With the first strike of thunder descending, the situation took an unforeseen turn¡ªthe force engulfing Lin Shimo''s head imbued him in a crimson glow.


    That crimson glow wasn''t ordinary¡ªit was Xue Sha energy, which typically remained dormant but was now seemingly triggered during his tribulation, entangling Lin Shimo''s body and continuously surging forth.