The Vice Alliance Leader Zuo, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but reveal a shocked expression.

"Instant kill Tier Five Demon Venerable?"

"Are you sure you saw it right?"

One-Armed Steward’s forehead was covered in bean-sized sweat beads, and he hurriedly responded, "Replying to Vice Alliance Leader Zuo, this matter is absolutely true."

"Did you clearly see who did it?" The middle-aged man in jade robe asked again.

The steward’s face showed embarrassment, and he truthfully replied, "I do not know, that elder was always shrouded in black mist, so I couldn’t see clearly..."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man in jade robe also fell into deep thought, "Could it be that old ghost in late-stage Divinity Transformation from Netherworld Sect..."

...

On the other side.

Qin Ming did not expect that his true form would encounter the Fierce Centipede that the Demon Infant was secretly searching for soon after arriving in the Spirit Realm.

Later.

He smoothly returned to his cave mansion in Qianji City, dismembered the corpse of the Tier Five Fierce Centipede, extracted all its Essence Blood, and handed it over to the Heaven-Devouring Rat, allowing it to continue using Tier Five Essence Blood to regularly nourish the gray egg.

The rest of the Demon Beast’s corpse was buried under the Brahma Demon Sacred Tree as fertilizer.

After finishing all this, Qin Ming came to the Spirit Field outside the cave mansion at Black Obsidian Peak, looking at the few sprouting Tier Five Demon Grain Spirit Rice, he nodded in satisfaction.

Several days later.

The news of the Thousand Mechanism Poison Swamp Mist Concealment Loose Alliance’s mine area being bloodied by Great Demons and the mysterious cultivator appearing to instantly kill a Tier Five Demon Venerable spread vigorously within Qianji City.

Once this news came out, it not only stirred the Mist Concealment Loose Alliance members but also the upper ranks of the Netherworld Sect.

To be able to effortlessly annihilate a Tier Five Demon Venerable, one must at least be in the late-stage Divinity Transformation.

For a time, everyone was speculating incessantly.

The Netherworld Sect and Loose Alliance both sent many people to investigate the matter later.

Only with Qin Ming’s current means, it was bizarre if they could find anything.

Baili Hui paid a special visit to recount the latest intelligence inside the Immortal City to Qin Ming in detail.

Qin Ming nodded with satisfaction, "Mm, you’re doing well, continue to monitor the movements here for me."

Then he remembered something and asked, "By the way, do you have a way to obtain the Realm Transformation Pill’s pill formula?"

"Realm Transformation Pill?" Baili Hui adjusted his melon-skin cap, showing a look of surprise.

He thought for a moment and said, "Haha! Elder Lii is joking, excuse my audacity, but may I ask, what do you need this pill formula for?"

"To be honest, if my cultivation was still at its peak, I might be able to get a few Realm Transformation Pills, but now it’s quite difficult."

"Although the Realm Transformation Pill is of no great use to cultivators in the Spirit Realm, it is indispensable for those from the Otherworld. I once heard from the sect elders that refining this pill requires several extremely rare Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Materials, which makes it very difficult to produce."

"Moreover, the Realm Transformation Pill is not only restricted in the Human Race but is also banned among other Alien Races, let alone privately refined transactions. The formula is only within the control of large forces, so a city like Qianji City is likely devoid of it."

Qin Ming nodded slightly after hearing this, thinking indeed, as the Realm Transformation Pill is controlled by the upper echelons of the Human Race in the Spirit Realm to restrain cultivators from the Lower Realm.

Naturally, the pill formula wouldn’t be easily released.

"However, if Elder Lii needs it, it’s not impossible to obtain it, I have some special channels, if luck is good, perhaps I can get some black market items, hehe!" Baili Hui added, then rubbed his thumb and forefinger.

Seeing hope, Qin Ming immediately took out a bag of Spirit Stones and tossed it to him, "Alright, continue monitoring this matter for me, if you manage to get the pill formula, there will be heavy rewards."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Baili Hui joyfully accepted the Spirit Stones, filled with delight.

Afterward, he bid farewell to Qin Ming and left.

As Baili Hui departed, he spotted several dark Spirit Plants in the Spirit Medicine Field, causing him to freeze in his tracks...

"Tier Five Demon Grain Spirit Rice..."

He was immediately shocked to his core; earlier, Elder ’Lii’ had employed all measures to inquire about the whereabouts of this rice, yet surprisingly, upon sight, the other party had already cultivated it!!

One must know, these are Tier Five Spirit Rice!

Having once been a cultivator in Divinity Transformation Perfection, he naturally understood what the Spirit Plants before him signified.

’Indeed, people should not be judged by appearance and the sea cannot be measured by a bucket. Elder Lii turns out to be a deeply hidden Tier Five Spirit Plant Master...’

’And able to successfully cultivate such special Demon Grain Spirit Rice... Even within the Thousand Mechanism Poison Swamp area, the Netherworld Sect couldn’t manage it, yet he succeeded.’

’Such Spirit Plant mastery, even placed in my former sect, would be considered a rare talent, sought after by those old fellows.’

’Looks like I’ve encountered a noble person.’

’Incredible... absolutely incredible...’

Baili Hui only paused briefly, not daring to indiscriminately investigate Qin Ming’s affairs, and respectfully left Black Obsidian Peak.

Although unclear what Elder Lii wanted the pill formula for, his motivation was instantly raised to the full.

Next.

Qin Ming settled down in Qianji City, preparing to begin his farming endeavor.

...

Days passed by.

A small half month has passed again.

Qin Ming was tending the Spirit Field on Black Obsidian Peak when he suddenly sensed movement from the Communication Talisman on him.

Opening it, it turned out to be a message sent from Master Yaochen of the neighboring Cave Mansion.

"Fellow Daoist Lii, recently two Fellow Daoists from other peaks have returned from their travels, and I’d like to introduce them to you."

"Besides this, there’s a matter to discuss, confined to our small circle."

Qin Ming, after browsing the content of the Communication Talisman, couldn’t help but wonder: "What are my few neighbors trying to pull this time?"

Nevertheless, he put down the work at hand, tidied up, and prepared to go as invited.

After leaving the Cave Mansion, he quickly arrived at the neighboring peak of Master Yaochen.

Upon entering the courtyard inside.

Qin Ming discovered that the others had all arrived.

Besides Shii Susu, Artifact Refiner Wul Zhongxian, Poison Cultivator Luoo Jinghong, and Puppet Master Que Tianyin, there were also a Daoist with an immortal aura and a young man in a white robe, who by his look and style was a Sword Cultivator.

"Oh! Fellow Daoist Lii has arrived."

"Come, come, let me introduce you."

"This Daoist is Nine Profound Ascendant, a Tier Four Middle-Grade Talisman Master."

"And this is Fellow Daoist Ling Yang, a Sword Cultivator known for his Sword Dao Divine Technique, which is thunderous in Qianji City."

"Greetings to Fellow Daoist Nine Profound."

"Greetings to Fellow Daoist Ling."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lii."

"Please, have a seat."

After Qin Ming sat down, inwardly he mused that each of his neighbors possessed some Cultivation Technique.

Among the same-tier cultivators, they’re considered exceptional.

From Artifact Refining, Alchemy, talisman crafting, Poison Cultivation, Puppet Mastery, Sword Cultivation, to the Array Master, all gathered.

Yet to know what Master Yaochen is planning by assembling such a grand lineup.

Master Yaochen was not in a hurry; he just waited for everyone to gather and exchanged pleasantries.

After three rounds of wine.

He finally spoke mysteriously: "Dear Fellow Daoists, we, as neighbors, have long known each other well, and have been getting along quite harmoniously for a long time. Although Fellow Daoist Lii is the newest to move in, he is quite meticulous, and I can vouch for him."

"Next, I have something monumental to discuss with everyone, a matter known only to me and Fellow Daoist Master beforehand, a heavenly opportunity reason why I invited everyone."

After saying this, Master Yaochen glanced at Shii Susu beside him and asked, "Fellow Daoist Master, should you or I say this?"

Qin Ming and the remaining cultivators, seeing them like this, couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation.

But they knew that both Master Yaochen and Shii Susu hold the position of Honored Guest Elder within Netherworld Sect.

Most likely, it’s related to Sect matters.

Shii Susu smiled warmly, "It’s fine, you can say it."

Master Yaochen lightly coughed, then said: "According to news within the Netherworld Sect, not long ago, a section in the south of the Thousand Mechanism Poison Swamp that’s yet unexplored revealed a highly mineral-rich ring-shaped mountain range, preliminarily explored by the Elders and found to contain substantial Nether Crystal Stone reserves, potentially containing Four-Striped Nether Crystal Stone, perhaps even the legendary Five-Striped..."

Upon hearing this, Poison Cultivation-specialized Luoo Jinghong showed a trace of astonishment: "No way? Five-Striped Nether Crystal Stone...that equivalent to Tier Six Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Materials..."

"Even if there truly is, it’s beyond our touch."

Others too, upon hearing Master Yaochen’s words, expressed agreement.

Qin Ming remained silent, taking a sip of Spirit Wine, listening to them continue.

Master Yaochen said: "Such high-tier Poisonous Ore naturally has nothing to do with us, as it would all fall into the Sect’s hands."

"However, the area awaiting extraction is populated by numerous Demon Beast Clans, compounded by concentrations of Nether Mist far denser than other areas, making it immensely hard to guard against."

"Therefore, the Netherworld Sect wants to recruit Golden Core Stage and above Nascent Soul Stage cultivators to help clear these Demon Beast Clans, to allow Mining Slaves to extract later."

"Several senior members from the Sect have poured considerable resources into this matter, offering extremely high rewards, including resources enough to break through the Late-stage Nascent Soul bottleneck..."

"Also, the spoils from hunting Demon Beasts can be kept for personal use or exchanged with the Netherworld Sect for resources."

"It can even be exchanged for Nether Crystal Stone. You know that this stuff is precious!"

"I wish to invite all Fellow Daoists here to take up this task as a group. We all have our respective skills, moving together and supporting each other should be manageable. What do you all think?"

Master Yaochen paused here to seek the opinion of those present.

After his words, others fell into contemplation.

The enormous opportunity for Late-stage Nascent Soul is extremely tempting for them.

Even with their respective Tier Four techniques, without special opportunities, breaking into the later stage is exceedingly difficult.

What Master Yaochen mentioned holds both risk and opportunity, but requires careful deliberation.

The Thousand Mechanism Poison Swamp is fraught with dangers, not lacking entities like the Five-Tier Demon Venerable.

If another one surfaces as in the last incident in Four Winds Valley, even with them all being Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, it wouldn’t be enough as a mere snack for such a being...