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Chapter 817 Withered Heart Demon Grass

Inside the attic hall.

"Hehehe! This old monk has lost." Master Yuanjue stood up, put his hands together in prayer, and said to Qin Shujian.

He seemed to take winning and losing very lightly, not caring about it at all.

He did not display his strongest Buddhist supernatural powers, but only revealed his swordsmanship skills. The outcome of a real fight is still uncertain.

Qin Shujian also suppressed his imposing aura, reverting to his refined and approachable demeanor, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
"Master Yuanjue, you flatter me. Your wisdom sword technique is the most advanced I have ever seen in my life. You must have just mastered it recently, right?"

"If we both reach the state of Sword Heart Clarity, we will at most fight to a draw."

Master Yuanjue slowly shook his head.

“A loss is a loss. Fellow Daoist Qin’s Sword Heart Clarity Realm actually allows him to briefly foresee the future and strike directly at the weakness. This old monk’s loss is not unjust.”

Master Yuanjue's words surprised everyone even more.

The path of sword cultivation is indeed sharp and powerful.

They had all heard of the reputation of this sword cultivator from Jade Void Palace, but they never expected his strength to be so terrifying.

You should know that Master Yuanjue's cultivation level and strength in Mount Sumeru are among the top.

Moreover, Mount Sumeru, as one of the three major powers in the Tianfan Domain, is much stronger overall than Jade Void Palace, which is also a Fusion Sect.

This is enough to show that Qin Shujian's swordsmanship is extraordinary, even surpassing that of Master Yuanjue.

No one expected this.

Besides exchanging items, they were also thrilled to witness such a sword duel, and everyone seemed quite interested, even wanting more.

Next.

After some philosophical discussion...

This exchange among fellow cultivators at the Void Refinement stage is also about to end.

But at this moment.

The old Daoist Lu from the Wuji Dao Palace suddenly stood up and said:
"Fellow Daoists, please wait a moment. I have an extraordinary opportunity to share with you all. Would you please stay and listen?"

A tremendous opportunity?

Is there such a good thing?

Everyone else stopped in their tracks, wanting to see what the old man had to say.

Qin Ming couldn't help but purse his lips.

He gets a headache whenever he hears the word "great opportunity," thinking it might just be a trap.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, if you truly have an extraordinary opportunity, would you be willing to share it with us? Wouldn't it be better if you took it yourself?" The Confucian scholar surnamed Fang from Haoran Pavilion said with a frown.

They seem to disbelieve in the idea of ​​free lunches.

Old Master Lu noticed that everyone was looking at him.

He immediately covered his mouth and coughed lightly, saying, "Ahem! This matter is quite difficult, and it is not enough for me to accomplish it alone."

"The opportunity I'm referring to is a top-grade sixth-tier spiritual medicine that helps to eradicate the 'illusory self'—the 'Heart-Withering Demon Grass'."

"What?! It's actually such a special spiritual herb, Fellow Daoist Lu, you're not joking, are you?" Several of the old monsters present, who recognized the herb, expressed their surprise.

The remaining veterans looked at each other blankly, clearly unaware of the situation.

As a sixth-order high-grade spiritual plant master, Qin Ming was naturally familiar with this herb, and even a hint of inexplicable emotion appeared on his face.

Qin Shujian, standing beside him, humbly asked Qin, "Fellow Daoist Li, your expertise in spiritual plants is profound. May I ask what this 'Withered Heart Demon-Slaying Grass' is?"

Master Kongzhi and the others also gathered around.

As a cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Void Refinement stage, Zi Chen Divine Lord seemed to already know the effects of this herb, but still wanted to hear Qin Ming's opinion.

Qin Ming said, "This 'Withered Heart Demon Grass' might sound like a poisonous herb at first glance, but it is actually a top-grade sixth-rank immortal herb. Its greatest function is to eliminate the 'illusory self'."

"As cultivation progresses from the mid-stage of Void Refinement, and the primordial spirit further refines its ethereal nature, the inner demons that arise when one merges into the void to comprehend the Great Dao will gradually materialize and give birth to another 'me' as one enters the perfect stage of Void Refinement."

"It is the most crucial test of one's character and temperament before entering the Integration stage from the Refinement stage."

"If one cannot eliminate the false self, the primordial spirit cannot be completely etherealized and enter the perfect state of ultimate emptiness."

"On the contrary, one's Dao heart will be occupied by the illusory self, falling into the stubborn emptiness, doubting oneself, which is unbreakable, and even the meaning of cultivation cannot be found, and one's cultivation can no longer advance."

"This is the greatest mental demon for cultivators who have reached the Void Refinement stage; it is not simply a matter of desire."

"Of course, the Heartless Demon Grass is extremely rare. It is said to grow only in the chaotic boundary where the power of the interface is extremely weak, and it is guarded by powerful Void Beasts. These ferocious beasts that roam the void like to live in groups, and the weakest of them are at least at the mid-stage of the sixth rank. Therefore, this opportunity is not easy to obtain."

"Of course, there are other ways to eliminate the 'illusory self' besides this one, but it is more difficult."

After hearing Qin Ming's explanation, the dozen or so old monsters present suddenly understood.

These key points of cultivation will only truly manifest when one enters the stage of perfect refinement.

However, this 'illusory self' is not formed overnight. Rather, it is formed as the cultivator in the Void Refinement stage deepens their cultivation and their primordial spirit enters an advanced stage of illusory transformation. It will only fully manifest and erupt when the Void Refinement stage is perfected.

Normally, even the cultivators themselves are unaware of it.

If this demonic obstacle is not removed, a cultivator's Dao heart cannot be purified, and their cultivation will stagnate.

Of those present, only Divine Lord Zichen and a few individuals from a few integrated sects knew the secrets of cultivation.

After all, very few cultivators are able to survive three Refinement Heavenly Tribulations and reach the Great Perfection of Refinement.

These matters concerning subsequent cultivation were also told to him by the Old Demon Qingyang.

Master Lu of Wuji Dao Palace stroked his beard and smiled. With the help of the authoritative spiritual plant master 'Li Qianjie' to explain, he saved himself a lot of trouble.

"How about it? Fellow Daoists, are you interested in joining us and heading to the Demon Realm to seize this opportunity?"

"Many hands make light work, and there's more than one of these immortal herbs. I can guarantee that almost everyone will get one or two."

Everyone present was greatly excited when they first heard about this opportunity to refine their spiritual energy.

However, upon hearing that a large group of mid-stage sixth-tier void beasts were guarding them, they all showed signs of retreat.

These void beasts are many times more ferocious than ordinary demonic beasts, making even cultivators in the Void Refinement stage tremble with fear.

After all, most of them were mid-stage Void Refinement cultivators, and it was unknown when they would reach the late stage or the Great Perfection stage.

Therefore, only five or six old monsters with relatively high cultivation levels are still maintaining a wait-and-see attitude.

Seeing this, Lu Laodao of Wuji Dao Palace...

His old face immediately fell, clearly these cultivators were indeed too cautious.

Even when faced with such an opportunity, they remained completely unmoved.

Clearly, they don't want to take any risks at all.

What's the point of cultivating immortality? Pursuing the Great Dao?

You might as well go home and raise pigs.

Although Master Lu was inwardly grumbling, he would not say it aloud.

That place was indeed extremely dangerous; he couldn't possibly handle it alone.

Therefore, it is necessary to recruit other like-minded people to join.

at this time.

One of the remaining five or six cultivators asked Old Daoist Lu, "Where is the 'Withered Heart Demon-Slaying Grass' that Fellow Daoist Lu mentioned? Could you tell me?"

Hear this.

Old Master Lu's expression suddenly became somewhat natural, but he still spoke truthfully:

"This opportunity is not within our human territory, but within the demon realm." "What? Within the demon territory? Then I cannot agree. No matter how great the opportunity, one must be alive to enjoy it."

Upon hearing this, the remaining five or six old monsters immediately withdrew a few more.

Suddenly, only Zi Chen Divine Lord, Qin Shujian, and the Fang surname cultivator from Haoran Pavilion remained, a total of four people.

After thinking it over, Qin Ming and Master Kongzhi decided against joining them.

"Fellow Daoists, please hear what I have to say before making a final decision. I have heard that not long ago, the human race's upper echelons agreed to sign a peace agreement to jointly deal with the insect plague."

"Therefore, our entry into the demon realm as humans is a promising opportunity, and it may be our only chance in this lifetime."

"Once the insect plague is quelled, the conflict between the two races may break out again, and then this opportunity will not come again."

"If you don't believe me, you can ask Commander Zi Chen of Tianxing City."

Master Lu explained the pros and cons of the matter to everyone.

"Commander Zichen, is this true?" someone asked.

Zi Chen Divine Lord nodded without hesitation.

Soon after, two or three more like-minded people joined their group.

After the discussion, everyone dispersed.

"Commander-in-Chief, Master Kongzhi, I have some matters to attend to and will return later," Qin Ming said to the two.

The two nodded without asking any further questions.

After all, this is Qin Ming's privacy. It's likely that someone else had their eye on the spirit rice in Qin Ming's possession and wanted to make a private deal.

"Alright, the Little Mi Mountain Dharma Assembly will begin in a few days. Fellow Daoist Li, please remember not to miss it."

"By the way, could Fellow Daoist Li leave a few grains of your spirit rice for us? We can exchange them for something."

As he was leaving, Master Kongzhi said with a smile.

Qin Ming immediately agreed.

Subsequently.

After leaving the villa, he followed the main road of the city, making several turns, and arrived at a restaurant, where he went up to a private room.

After Qin Ming went inside, he found that Old Daoist Lu was already waiting for him.

Since the transaction involved the 'Enlightenment Flower,' Master Lu dared not let anyone witness it, lest it cause further trouble.

Therefore, there were only the two of them in the private room.

After the two exchanged greetings.

Old Master Lu didn't waste any time. He flicked his sleeve, took out a long, antique-looking wooden box, handed it to Qin Ming, and said with a smile:
"Fellow Daoist Li, here is the Enlightenment Flower you requested. Please examine it."

Qin Ming nodded, took the wooden box, and opened it. Inside was a translucent, crimson spiritual plant, surrounded by a layer of orange light mist, with Dao essence permeating its branches and veins.

At the very top, a seven-petaled, flame-shaped precious flower blooms, and the entire spiritual plant is extremely well preserved.

As for the missing thousand-year-old medicinal potency, he only needs to take it back and accelerate its ripening before it can be used in medicine and elixir making.

At this point, the two main ingredients for refining the Nine-Turn Enlightenment Pill, the 'Purifying Lotus Seed' and the 'Enlightenment Flower', were both obtained.

Ever since.

He closed the wooden box and put it away, then took out a jade box containing six grains of Taiyi Void Rice.

The ethereal energy it contains is enough for Master Lu to cultivate several times and improve his cultivation.

"Hehe! Fellow Daoist Li is quite a straightforward person." After putting away his things, Old Daoist Lu felt refreshed.

With the blessing of sixth-grade high-quality spirit rice, they might be able to improve their skills. When they go to the demon race's spirit realm to obtain that great opportunity, their chances will be much higher.

The exchange is complete.

Old Daoist Lu was still unwilling to give up and invited Qin Ming again: "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Li is really not interested in that 'Withered Heart Demon-Slaying Grass'? With your alchemy skills, you should know that this immortal herb can also be used to refine other rare sixth-order pills."

"Our lineup is quite strong on this trip, and even if we encounter a Void Beast, we will be able to escape unscathed."

"Fellow Daoist Li, would you like to reconsider?"

"I have only recently broken through to the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm. Although such an opportunity is extremely attractive, I must decline Fellow Daoist Lu's kind offer," Qin Ming politely declined.

Seeing that Qin Ming was not interested, Old Master Lu did not press the matter further.

After chatting for a while, the two got up and left the restaurant.

However, when Qin Ming went downstairs and entered the lobby, he ran into two old acquaintances.

Qin Ming was also greatly surprised.

"Yo! Fellow Daoist Li!"

"What, you've come to the Heavenly Brahma Domain too?"

"Senior Li!!"

The person who entered from outside was none other than Qin Ming's old comrade-in-arms—the Xuan Turtle Divine Lord, and the Cold Crow Venerable beside him.
This guy, having lived a life of luxury with the Xuan Turtle God, has actually made considerable progress in his cultivation.

The two people opposite them, who happened to meet Qin Ming here, stared at each other in surprise.

"It's been a long time since we last met, fellow Daoists. What a coincidence that we meet here." Qin Ming greeted the two with a cupped-hand salute.

"Fellow Daoist Li, are you also here to attend the 'Little Mi Mountain Dharma Assembly'?"

"Indeed, I came here because of its reputation."

Seeing Qin Ming encounter an old acquaintance, Old Daoist Lu, not wanting to be present, immediately cupped his hands and said:
"Since Fellow Daoist Li has important matters to attend to, then I will take my leave first."

Qin Ming also said, "Then I won't give you any more gifts."

"Of course, of course. If Fellow Daoist Li has any sixth-grade spirit rice in the future, please be sure to let me know. Putting aside everything else, my Wuji Dao Temple has quite a few good things too," Old Daoist Lu said at the end.

He then left the restaurant as the others watched him go.

After he leaves.

The crow stared wide-eyed at Qin Ming with disbelief and said, "Senior Li, your cultivation has broken through to the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm."

Qin Ming smiled faintly and said, "Not bad."

"Young friend Han Ya Dao is quite lucky, to have been chosen by Fellow Daoist Gu. His cultivation is also progressing by leaps and bounds."

"Not at all, I'm just doing some small business with Senior Gu. He brought me out to broaden my horizons and I'm fortunate to participate in the Dharma Assembly at Xiaomi Mountain. I never expected to meet Senior Li here," Master Hanya quickly explained.

Soon after, the three old acquaintances met and went upstairs to order some food and drinks to catch up.

After some inquiry, it was learned that the Xuan Turtle God had also come to participate in the Dharma assembly at the invitation of the Emperor.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the other party suddenly brought up the topic of 'Yin Lingzi'.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Li, did Fellow Daoist Yin really perish?"

"Based on my understanding of him, he most likely faked his death, right?"

"Others may not know his methods, but I have witnessed them with my own eyes. Even the Linglong Immortal Mansion Secret Realm couldn't capture him back then."

"How could a mere insect valley cause its downfall?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming almost spat out the spirit wine he had just drunk.

Unexpectedly, the Xuan Turtle God was so certain that Yin Lingzi was not dead.

He could only say, "Well, this Fellow Daoist Yin must have indeed perished. It's said that the natal spirit lamp he left behind at the Tianhe Sect has gone out; he's as dead as can be."

Upon hearing this, the Xuan Turtle God still looked somewhat skeptical.

(End of this chapter)