Night had deepened, the Silence of All Sounds prevailed.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night for Qin Ming.
He lay in bed, staring blankly at the Rooftop.
Qin Ming truly could not have imagined it.
In the blink of an eye, several of his neighbors had been inexplicably wiped out.
His mind ceaselessly replayed the information Feng Yuan had given him. He simply didn't sleep and carefully considered his future plans.
...
The next day, as the rising sun ascended, all things awakened.
Qin Ming got up, opened the window, and exhaled a mouthful of Turbid Qi towards the outside.
After a night of contemplation, he had made his decision.
After breakfast.
Qin Ming arrived at the Seventh Floor of the Gathering Pavilion.
Sitting opposite him was Gu Qingzhao, ethereal and detached from the world.
"Daoist Friend Gu, the current Situation is chaotic, and a storm is brewing. I wish to purchase some powerful items for self-protection. I wonder if you have any recommendations?"
Gu Qingzhao smiled pleasantly, her breath as fragrant as orchids, and said, "Naturally, we do."
Having spoken, she retrieved several items from her Storage Bag and placed them before Qin Ming.
"Yin Thunder Pellet, a single-use consumable. Once released, even Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators must avoid its edge."
"Talisman Treasure, Golden Spirit Brick, can still be used three more times, with power equivalent to a full-force strike from an Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator."
...
Qin Ming spent a huge sum of Spirit Stones, purchasing five Yin Thunder Pellets and the Golden Spirit Brick Talisman Treasure, directly shrinking the Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag by more than half.
But this was still not enough.
While putting away the items on the table, he casually asked Gu Qingzhao, "By the way, Daoist Friend Gu, there's something I'd like to ask."
"What is Protector Huangfu's Strength in your esteemed pavilion?"
Gu Qingzhao was slightly surprised by Qin Ming's question, but she still stated frankly:
"Protector Huangfu is the strongest among the three Protectors of our pavilion in the Wei Kingdom."
"It is no exaggeration to say that although Protector Huangfu's Cultivation is only at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, his Strength is enough to rank among the top ten of all Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators in the Wei Kingdom."
Who would have thought that Huangfu Qi, with his gentle and refined demeanor, would possess such formidable Strength!
Hearing her say this, Qin Ming felt more confident.
After concluding the Trade with Gu Qingzhao.
Qin Ming took his leave.
As soon as he reached the Main Hall on the first floor, he overheard Sect Disciples at a wine table conversing.
"Hey, we've been in this forsaken place for half a year, why hasn't the Sect given the order to contend for that Tier 3 Spirit Vein yet?"
"Exactly! Continuing to drag things out like this isn't a solution!"
"Are you all fools?"
"Right now, whoever dares to make a move on this Tier 3 Spirit Vein, the Upper Sect's Butcher's Knife will fall upon their head."
"Look at the Spirit Feather Sect and Golden Cloud Valley, even though they occupy Spirit Veins, do they dare to blatantly exploit the Resources within?"
"Don't even consider their own Standing. Are that Third Rank Spirit Vein and Ancient Ruins so easy to take?"
"Do you know why the Upper Sect clearly knows about the Third Rank Spirit Vein but hasn't sent anyone to the Cloud Marsh Great Wilderness?"
"They're watching to see who can't resist jumping out first, preparing to make an example of someone to warn others!"
Qin Ming only paused his steps slightly before leaving the Gathering Pavilion.
Qin Ming naturally knew of the 'Upper Sect' mentioned by those Sect Disciples.
In the Wei Kingdom, the Thunder Origin Sect, with a Core Formation Grandmaster overseeing it, was the undisputed sole Major Power.
It governed the Spirit Feather Sect, Golden Cloud Valley, Hundred Flowers Sect, Shennong Sect, and three other Cultivation Families with Pseudo-Core Stage experts, totaling seven second-rate Powers.
Qin Ming's Cultivation Family belonged to the third-rate Powers. These Cultivation Families could produce Great Foundation Establishment Cultivators in every generation.
However, the entire Qin Family's combined Power could only barely cultivate one Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.
Below them were countless Qi Condensation Families and other Powers.
Gu Qingzhao had long hinted to him that the reason behind the current bizarre Situation was very likely the Thunder Origin Sect pushing things from behind the scenes. None of the seven second-rate Sect Powers dared to make the first move on the Third Rank Spirit Vein and Ancient Ruins because the Thunder Origin Sect had not yet expressed its stance, causing everyone to hesitate to act against evil for fear of involving the innocent.
They could only target Loose Cultivators.
Because it was uncertain if there were third-rate Powers secretly instructed by the Upper Sect, lying in wait to replace the positions of the seven major Powers at any time.
For a time, the Situation in the Cloud Marsh Great Wilderness had fallen into a delicate state. No one was willing to be the first to stick their head out and break this balance.
Because otherwise, it was very likely that whoever moved on this piece of cake first would be jointly attacked and annihilated by other Powers.
Qin Ming directly left the Green Sun Market.
He summoned the Spirit Light Flying Shuttle and headed straight for Cloud Dream Mountain.
After half an incense stick's time of rapid flight, he arrived at the cloud-entwined mist-surrounded Cloud Dream Mountain.
He landed on the mountainside and informed the guards.
Before long, a guard returned and said respectfully, "Fellow Daoist Qin, Protector Huangfu invites you in!"
Following his memory from last time, Qin Ming quickly arrived before Huangfu Qi's Cave Residence.
The Restriction Array outside the Cave Residence rippled, revealing an entrance.
Qin Ming stepped inside.
In the Study of the Cave Residence, Huangfu Qi was practicing calligraphy with vigorous strokes using a writing brush.
Seeing Qin Ming arrive, he put down the brush in his hand and hurriedly greeted him, "Fellow Daoist Qin, you've come! Come, come, help me see how my newly practiced calligraphy is today?"
Hearing this, Qin Ming respectfully bowed to the other party first.
Then, he walked over and looked down at the calligraphy copybook.
Truthfully, he couldn't discern anything special about it.
"Excellent calligraphy! Graceful like a startled swan, vigorous like a swimming dragon, truly vibrant with ink and powerful in strokes!" Qin Ming used all the idioms he could think of and flattered him appropriately.
After all, he had a request to make of him later.
Huangfu Qi smiled knowingly and pointed at Qin Ming, "You little rascal, you really know how to talk."
"Speak, what brings you here?"
"Senior Huangfu, I wish to use the Promise you made to me." Qin Ming stated his purpose directly.
Hearing this, a warm smile appeared on Huangfu Qi's face, "Speak, what do you want me to do?"
A hint of nervousness flashed across Qin Ming's eyes. He cleared his throat and mustered his courage to say, "I have heard that Senior Huangfu is an existence of exceptional Strength, even in the entire Wei Kingdom Cultivation World."
"I have long admired you. This time, I wish to use Senior's Promise to broaden my horizons."
"Senior Huangfu... could you possibly demonstrate for me, Senior's Strongest Strike in Life Spell?"
Huangfu Qi: "???"
"Fellow Daoist Qin, have you thought it through clearly? Just this and nothing more?"
Huangfu Qi was also puzzled, somewhat unable to grasp the young man's train of thought.
"Alright, since I promised you, I will not go back on my word."
"Follow me outside, this place is too small, inconvenient to use."
Seeing that he agreed, Qin Ming's face immediately lit up with joy! The two left the Cave Residence and soared into the sky on Magical Artifacts.
After half an incense stick's time.
Even Cloud Dream Mountain behind them was no longer visible.
Qin Ming was also puzzled. Just to demonstrate a Spell, was it necessary to go so far?
Finally.
Huangfu Qi stopped. His sleeves fluttering, he stood with his hands behind his back.
Then, he turned his head and said to Qin Ming, "Watch carefully, I will only demonstrate it once."
Qin Ming was excited. This was also his first time witnessing a Foundation Establishment Great Expert casting a Spell. He obediently nodded his head.
In the next moment.
Huangfu Qi began to move.
And so.
Qin Ming personally witnessed the most shocking scene since he transmigrated to the Immortal Realm. ...
Following closely, the purple [Spell Replication] leaf in Qin Ming's Sea of Consciousness disappeared.
End of Chapter