Longevity: Start by refreshing your entries through farming.

Chapter 899 Huantianhai City
"Junior Brother Li, could it be that you and Junior Brother Lü have known each other for a long time? You two seem to have a good relationship."

"He even spoke up for you during the initial entrance exam."

Zhao Xuan walked over and asked Qin Ming.

When Qin Ming saw that it was her, he cupped his hands in greeting and replied, "Senior Sister Zhao, I met Fellow Daoist Lü on the way here. We chatted for a bit and found that we got along quite well."

“Oh, I see. Junior Brother Lü is highly regarded by my Uncle Chen. It is said that in addition to possessing a spiritual body, he also has remarkable talent in alchemy,” Zhao Xuan explained.

"He will definitely stand out in the sect in the future. It would be good for you to get along with him. You might get unexpected benefits in the future."

Qin Ming nodded, but didn't take her words to heart.

He has now killed several powerful figures who have combined the strengths of the demon and monster races, and his mentality has already changed. As for the minor cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul stage, everything is just a matter of letting things take their natural course.

After giving Qin Mingzong some instructions on what to pay attention to, Zhao Xuan rode away on her crane.

Qin Ming also summoned the Devouring Sky Rat, mounted it, and prepared to return to the Spirit Herb Garden.

However, just as he was halfway there...

His powerful divine sense detected that in the back mountain not far from Qinglu Peak, Peak Master Qingluzi, his Daoist companion Fairy Suxin, and Elder Chen were secretly discussing something.

Qin Ming's spiritual power was on a completely different level from the three of them, so it was extremely easy for him to probe without being detected.

"Junior Brother Chen, the Illusionary Sky Market Secret Realm in Bihua Cave will be open for about half a month in six months. Would you like to come with us and join in the fun?"

"I heard that during this market opening, even the 'Nine Revolutions Enlightenment Pill' that can enhance the Void Refinement stage, as well as other high-level pill formulas, have appeared. The Golden Dragon Old Monster of the Taiyi Sect even has a batch of top-grade sixth-level spiritual materials that he wants to get rid of."

Elder Chen, with his protruding belly, said rather nonchalantly:
"Hmph! If the Spirit Realm hadn't been facing such chaos, these old guys wouldn't have been brought out. Everyone knows what they're up to."

"Such opportunities to advance to the Void Refinement stage will inevitably be subject to exorbitant prices. They won't be so easy to obtain. I won't join the fun. You two can go and participate. I'll stay here to guard the mountain gate."

"I failed in my alchemy attempt a few days ago and suffered a huge financial loss. I'm currently short of money."

Upon hearing this, Fairy Suxin smiled inexplicably and added:
"Elder Chen, are you really not going? I heard that there's an ancient formula for a 'Divine Forging Pill' brought out from a secret realm by a fellow cultivator at the Illusionary Heaven Market. It's specifically designed to target the soul of cultivators."

Upon hearing this, Elder Chen immediately changed his mind, saying, "Junior Sister Wen, you're not joking with me, are you? Since ancient times, there have only been a handful of elixirs that can enhance the soul, and those that can enhance cultivators above the Void Refinement stage are practically impossible to find."

“The rogue cultivator Fellow Daoist Mei who obtained this pill formula happens to be an old friend of mine. I can guarantee that this matter is genuine.”

"It was very certain," said Fairy Suxin.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming's heart stirred, and he also became quite interested in the matter.

After exchanging words, the three parted ways and left.

"The Illusory Sky City? The Divine Forging Formula? That's quite interesting."

These days, Qin Ming has been researching how to use the sixth-grade Nianxin Lotus Seed to refine pills and maximize its value. Unexpectedly, such a pill formula has appeared nearby.

He rode away on the Sky-Devouring Rat without making a sound.

Next.

After returning to Cui Xu Garden, he only needed to make a slight inquiry to learn about the matter concerning 'Illusory Sky City'.

This mysterious place, unique to the Tianyuan Domain, appears once every three hundred years at Moon Spirit Lake near Bihua Cave. It is a rather mystical trading place.

Anyone with a cultivation level of Nascent Soul stage or above can enter this place through mental projection. It is said that as long as one can afford the price, one can obtain any cultivation resources needed here.

Furthermore, there are no identity restrictions for the cultivators who come here to trade; they are all mid-to-high-level cultivators from all over the world.

In the past, this place was always quite lively when the market opened, with not only elders from various sects participating, but also many well-known independent cultivators.

The main advantage is that resources that are usually difficult to obtain can be easily acquired within the Illusionary Sky Market.

Qin Ming secretly noted down the time, planning to make a trip there in six months to join in the fun.

Perhaps then I'll have the resources to reach the pinnacle of the Void Refinement Realm.

After becoming an apprentice in the Lingmiao Sect, one is required to complete assigned sect tasks and cannot act as freely as before.

Life at the Spirit Herb Garden is relatively stable; the main task is to cultivate some spirit grains and plants, and submit them on time.

The sect will issue rewards as appropriate, and will also conduct assessments of cultivation progress every now and then.

After Qin Ming returned to Cui Xu Garden, Elder Chen, who was in charge of managing the spirit herb garden, handed him a small package and instructed him:
"Junior Brother Li, here are some fifth-grade Qinghe spirit rice seeds, along with their planting methods, as well as several kinds of spirit herbs and auxiliary materials for refining healing spirit pills. These are all urgently needed supplies for the front-line battlefield. Just hand them over within the specified time, and you can arrange the rest of the time as you see fit."

"If the planting task is completed on time, the corresponding sect merit points will be obtained."

"The remaining jade slips contain our main cultivation techniques for Qinglu Peak, as well as some books on spiritual plants and such. You can take them back and take a look."

"Remember, even in the spirit herb garden, you must not neglect your cultivation or fail to complete sect tasks for an extended period. Otherwise, the Punishment Hall may re-evaluate you at any time, resulting in penalties ranging from deduction of merit points to expulsion from the sect."

Old Chen patiently explained the implications to Qin Ming.

However, he glanced into the Cui Xu Garden and saw that part of the original wasteland had been cleared and was well-managed, which reassured him somewhat.

Qin Ming accepted the gift from the other party, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I will remember this."

"Hmm, this young man is teachable." Old Chen stroked his beard with great satisfaction, then rode away on a spirit leopard.

Before leaving, he kindly gifted Qin Ming two demonic plants that guarded and patrolled the spirit fields.

After returning to his cave, Qin Ming opened the package and briefly examined its contents. Cultivating fifth-grade spirit rice and spirit grains was now incredibly easy for him.

He can also browse some keywords while he's at it, killing two birds with one stone.

Qin Ming directly planted all of these fifth-grade green rice grains in the spirit fields cultivated by the Devouring Sky Rat.

He had also looked at the techniques of Qinglu Peak, but they were indeed of little use to him.

He is currently cultivating the "Eternal Azure Emperor Technique," which allows him to progress all the way to the Mahayana stage without needing to change his cultivation method.

However, he still practiced it symbolically, just in case the sect members came to check later.

that's it.

Qin Ming devoted himself to cultivating the land in Cui Xu Garden, quietly practicing his cultivation, living a simple yet fulfilling life, free from worldly strife. He was untroubled by the crisis of the war between alien races.

Half a year later.

The green rice that Qin Ming planted has already sprouted from the soil, and the tender green shoots are thriving.

However, he had heard from Zhao Xuan that a serious insect infestation had occurred in this area, so he left the Devouring Rat and the Little Silver Fox to watch over it.

After giving them some instructions, he left the mountain gate and prepared to try his luck in Huantianhai City.

He first went to the Hall of Affairs at the main peak of Qinglu to report his arrival, and then left the sect.

Once outside, Qin Ming used the "Myriad Forms Without Self Heavenly Demon Freedom True Skill" to transform into a burly man with a bushy beard. To make things easier, he revealed his cultivation level to the early stage of the Void Refinement realm.

He then chose a direction, transformed into a streak of blue light, and flew towards the direction of Bihua Cave.

Bihua Cave Spirit Land is located at the junction of the three major sects in Tianyuan Domain. It is said that a powerful rogue cultivator once emerged from there, which is why it is quite famous.

Moon Spirit Lake covers a vast area with a tranquil environment and abundant cultivation resources, attracting many independent cultivators from all over to gather here, gradually forming a prosperous blessed land.

A few days later.

Following the map and jade slip, Qin Ming arrived at a place blessed with beautiful mountains, rivers, and lakes.

It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with a bright blue lake in the center where the sun and moon shine, like an emerald embedded in the water.

A thin mist rose from the surface of the lake.

Qin Ming looked up and saw a lake island in the middle of the lake, which was hundreds of miles in size. The place where the Illusory Sky City would appear should be this place.

When he arrived, the small Moon Spirit Lake was already densely packed with cultivators.

They're probably all here for the mirage that happens only once every few centuries.

Many people set up stalls around the area and started doing business, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Qin Ming used his divine sense to scan the area and discovered that among these cultivators, there were quite a few old monsters in the Void Refinement stage, and the three members of the Lingmiao Sect, including Qing Luzi, had arrived earlier than him.

At this moment, the three of them were sitting in a lakeside restaurant, drinking spiritual tea and waiting for the Illusionary Sky Market to open.

After a while, several Void Refinement Elders from Taiyi Sect and Beast King Sect also arrived.

When these people of high status and influence arrived, all the independent cultivators kept their distance with respect.

These old monsters greeted each other and then chatted casually.

Qingluzi greeted the person who came up, saying, "Fellow Daoist Jinlong, why are you a step late today? You are indispensable at these occasions in the past."

"Hehe! How could I be as carefree as you and Fairy Suxin? I was held up by something, wasn't I?"

The leader of the Taiyi Sect was an old man with golden hair and a late-stage Refinement Void cultivation level, while the Beast King Valley side was led by a burly man in purple robes, both with similar cultivation levels.

Halfway through their conversation, the red-haired elder from the Taiyi Sect suddenly spoke:
"Now, with the large-scale invasion of the Demon Race and other alien races, the situation on the front lines of our human race is not optimistic. It is said that several immortal cities in the Tianji Mountains have fallen one after another. The Demon Race is extremely ruthless. The scene can be described as purgatory."

"Don't be fooled by our current peaceful life in the rear. If there are large-scale casualties on the front lines, we'll probably have to go up there too."

"One of our sect's Void Refinement Elders has unfortunately passed away some time ago."

Upon hearing this, the burly man in purple from Beast King Valley immediately frowned and said, "Didn't you say that under the leadership of that white ape demon general of the demon race, the human and demon races had already formed an alliance, and that they, along with several other races that had also been invaded by the demon race, had joined the camp? How come the situation is so one-sided?"

Qingluzi and the others also looked rather grim. If things continued like this, they would eventually invade Tianyuan Domain.

The situation facing those three sects is extremely dangerous; after all, they would have to bear the brunt of any potential collapse.

"Alas! It's fortunate that the White Ape Demon General stepped forward; otherwise, relying solely on our human race's defenses on the border, we'd probably have already invaded our heartland by now." The Golden Dragon Old Monster seemed to have many sources of information and knew a lot about the higher-ups.

"I have also heard of the great name of the White Ape Demon General of the Demon Clan. It is said that he was the first to detect the unusual movements of the Demon Clan. His cultivation and strength are simply astonishing. Even among those in the Integration stage, he has few rivals."

"The twelve demon stars of the demon race, I'm sure you fellow cultivators are already familiar with them, right?"

"That was a top-tier existence in the Demon Realm, something we could only look up to. Yet even such a terrifying avatar of a demon in the Integration Stage was annihilated by him, which shows just how terrifying the power and abilities of this powerful demon were."

Qingluzi nodded slowly and said, "I heard this matter mentioned by the Supreme Elder of our sect. The fusion clone that was killed by the White Ape Demon General was the most troublesome Succubus Star. It was full of illusion magic and demonic arts, which caused the death of countless high-level human cultivators."

"According to the estimation of our sect's Supreme Elder, with the strength of the White Ape Demon General, plus the enhancement of the True Spirit Bloodline, I'm afraid no one among our human race at the same level of the Fusion Stage can match him."

"Fortunately, they took the initiative to choose to join forces with the human race; otherwise, conservatively speaking, more than half of the spiritual lands in the Sky Ridge Mountains would have been lost."

After exchanging words, the atmosphere among the sect elders became somewhat somber, mainly due to their deep concern about the situation at the front lines.

When the great calamity of the alien races arrives, even these usually aloof Void Refinement experts can no longer remain uninvolved.

Therefore, as soon as the Illusionary Sky City opened, he rushed here to participate, in order to prepare more life-saving measures for the future and to be prepared for any eventuality.

Qin Ming observed from the shadows, a strange expression on his face, and he couldn't help but touch his chin.

After all that, I ended up getting caught up in the drama myself.
It seems that his demonic infant spirit's name is not only known among the demon race, but also has a notorious reputation among several surrounding races.

"Fortunately, it's just my own demonic infant. If I had shown myself like this, things would have been really bad."

However, when he heard the news that the demons were coming on strong and the human camp was suffering repeated defeats, he couldn't hold back anymore.

I didn't expect that even after he came all this way, it still didn't seem very safe.

Several more days passed.

It was close to midnight.

Suddenly, a large expanse of purple mist appeared above Moon Spirit Lake, and a wondrous scene of the sun and moon shining together emerged on the lake's surface.

Gradually, streaks of light burst forth from the surrounding purple mist, forming rings of neon that stretched across the entire lake.

Suddenly.

Above the island in the middle of the lake, a series of pavilions and streets suddenly appeared, connecting to form a sizable market town, as if they had appeared out of thin air, like a dream.

(End of this chapter)