In the sky.

"Well? Fellow Daoist Lii, if you’re willing to agree, Vice Alliance Leader Zuo asked me to pass along a message: he can likewise gift you a top-tier Tier Five Spirit Plant inheritance, and all permissions to the Loose Alliance’s library can be completely opened to you."

"In the Cultivation Realm, there are very few cultivators truly proficient in the Path of Spiritual Plants, and those above Tier Five are exceedingly rare. A standout like Fellow Daoist Lii will definitely be given priority in resource allocation—you might even receive Spiritual Objects for impacting Late-stage Nascent Soul, or even a Divinity Transformation Opportunity..."

Nine Profound Ascendant patiently tried to persuade him, speaking with earnest effort.

Yet after he talked for so long, Qin Ming’s expression remained as calm as an ancient well, his heart without the slightest ripple, as if he wasn’t much interested in any of this...

"Spirit Source Talisman Seed?"

Just then, Qingyang the Old Demon inside the Blood Massacre spoke quietly in slight surprise.

Qin Ming immediately asked, "Old ghost, you recognize this talisman?"

"I seem to have some impression of it, but this thing is rather overbearing. In the Spirit Realm, only sects truly proficient in the Talisman Dao have the ability to create such an item. Once a talisman seed is planted, it can unknowingly consume a talisman master’s Divine Soul Power of Origin, thereby increasing talisman making success rate."

"If combined with certain special stimulating Secret Techniques, by paying a definite price, it can even raise the grade of the original talisman’s power severalfold..."

"Of course, there are definitely side effects to doing this. Once a cultivator plants a Spirit Source Talisman Seed... the loss to the cultivator’s own origin is irreversible. That old brat before you seems to still be kept in the dark, looking like he’s unaware of it."

"That so-called Tier Five Talisman Dao inheritance is very likely just Secret Techniques to stimulate the talisman seed. This person is not far from death yet doesn’t realize it. Friend Qin, use your Yin Yang Profound Mirror Divine Techniques—one look and you’ll see."

Qingyang the Old Demon analyzed in a flat tone.

Hearing this.

A strand of emerald light flashed deep within Qin Ming’s pupils as he swept his gaze through Nine Profound Ascendant’s body.

The next moment, sure enough, things were exactly as Qingyang the Old Demon had said. The verdant vitality in the other’s body still appeared fairly dense for now; he still had roughly five hundred years of lifespan.

But that verdant vitality was disappearing at an almost imperceptible speed, constantly being drained away by a blood-colored talisman seed on his Purple Mansion Spirit Platform.

The Nine Profound Ascendant before Qin Ming might look no different in spirit from an ordinary person, yet internally he was already hollowed out, like a walking corpse being manipulated by someone...

Looking at this neighbor of many years, still wearing such a smug expression, Qin Ming couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

No wonder this old brat used to be so stingy and tight-fisted.

Yet in recent years he suddenly started splurging like some nouveau riche, indulging in wild consumption. So there was this hidden story behind it.

Earlier, when he asked Qin Ming to plant that Ghost-faced Silver Hemp, the talismans refined from it were probably not any wholesome things either.

It was just that Qin Ming had already seen the state Nine Profound Ascendant was in now and knew there was no turning back for him, so he couldn’t bear to tell him the truth.

"Many thanks for Fellow Daoist Nine Profound’s kindness. As for this matter, I have already made up my mind long ago—I will not be joining the Loose Alliance camp." Qin Ming refused him outright.

Sometimes a direct refusal lets others know where your bottom line lies.

Even though Qin Ming’s cultivation and strength had greatly advanced now, giving him more than enough ability to protect himself, he still wasn’t willing to get dragged into these disputes.

If he could avoid getting entangled in this karma, he would try his best not to invite trouble onto himself.

"Uh... this..." Nine Profound Ascendant hadn’t expected ’Fellow Daoist Lii’ to be this resolute after his whole effort of kindness. He could only let out a long sigh and say, "Alas! That is truly a pity. I hope our conversation today will not be told to any third party, including Master Yaochen and the others."

"Naturally. When Lii does things, I still have that bit of reputation." Qin Ming nodded.

Right after, the two did not say anything more, simply bade each other farewell. Qin Ming then headed back toward his own Cave Mansion on Black Obsidian Peak.

Nine Profound Ascendant, watching Qin Ming’s departing direction, kept sighing and shaking his head. "Fellow Daoist Lii... what a pity. I originally wanted to save your life."

Immediately after, his figure turned into a streak of white rainbow light and disappeared.

...

After returning to the Cave Mansion.

Qin Ming had no interest whatsoever in the power struggles of Qianji City outside.

To him, at worst he would just change places and keep farming.

"Still, if things go on like this, it ultimately isn’t a solution. Looks like I’ll have to reveal a bit of strength to intimidate those petty lowlifes..."

"Otherwise, if they keep disturbing my peace every few days, that really won’t do."

Qin Ming pondered silently.

Several months later.

Above the Cave Mansion on Black Obsidian Peak, a vast cloud of Spiritual Qi suddenly spread out, echoing with Heaven and Earth.

This was the false appearance Qin Ming deliberately created of breaking through to Late-stage Nascent Soul.

Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators were also extremely few in Qianji City. Even looking across the entire Thousand Mechanism Poison Swamp, aside from Venerable Divinity Transformation, there weren’t any cultivators left who could threaten him.

For Mid-stage Nascent Soul and early-stage cultivators, it was simply a crushing difference in strength...

In this way, he would neither attract the attention of the upper sects, nor fail to intimidate others. Qin Ming felt this was enough.

Besides, he had ultimately smuggled his way up here. In the future he would definitely head to the great Human Race cities to cultivate. By then, his experience of rising to prominence in the Thousand Mechanism Poison Swamp would serve as a reasonable background for his growth.

Inside the Cave Mansions on the nearby peaks.

Master Yaochen, Shii Susu, and Luo Jinghong, who were all cultivating, were startled by this resonance of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

"This enormous Spiritual Pressure—someone in the city is breaking through to become a Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator..."

"Seems to be Fellow Daoist Lii’s Black Obsidian Peak."