A few days later.

An explosive piece of news quickly spread, centered around Tai Lake.

In the Northern Domain of Liang Country's Jingzhou, Tai Lake has revealed relics!

And they are suspected to be the palace of an Ancient Great Power!

Due to the intense commotion caused by the celestial phenomena accompanying the emergence of the relics, even Profound Creek Valley in Liang Country could not conceal it.

As a result, as soon as the relics appeared, they were witnessed by a large number of cultivators, and thereafter the news spread like a tide in all directions.

Within a very short time, it quickly reached Moyuan Immortal City, then spread continuously towards Vast Sea Immortal City, Wei Country, Jin Country, and Wuu Country—the other three kingdoms.

Moreover, the Tai Lake Ruins that appeared this time were not controlled by any force, consequently attracting a large number of loose cultivators from afar to explore the ancient secret realm and try their luck.

The current Cultivation Realm is in short supply of cultivation resources.

The sects and major forces feast, while loose cultivators struggle even to sip the broth.

They would not miss the slightest opportunity.

In the ancient era of cultivation, Spiritual Qi was said to be extremely abundant, high-tier Spirit Veins and cultivation resources were plentiful, and cultivators with profound cultivation were everywhere.

During idle chatter in teahouses and inns, discussions often turned to tales of destitute loose cultivators accidentally entering relic cave mansions, obtaining spiritual pills inherited from ancient times, and leaping from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core in miraculous stories.

It is precisely due to such real encounters by loose cultivators that has incited those who came to Tai Lake to seek secrets and treasures to become even more fevered and headstrong.

Not even considering whether here is a secret realm or a grave.

The tranquil Tai Lake was suddenly caught in a storm, a portent of impending chaos.

Even the beast tide that was originally itching to move chose to retreat entirely to the Beast Roar Mountain Range upon the arrival of this event.

Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat detected a hint of anomaly, suspecting that the Cyan-faced Poison Flood Dragon Demon King was also aware of the perilous implications within.

Despite its own strength, it still opted to retreat.

...

As for Qin Ming, having undergone thrilling adventures, he had long escaped, fleeing to Moyuan Immortal City.

He knew that beneath Tai Lake, not only was there no secret realm, but it was also a great pit!

He absolutely cannot enter it again, lest he finds no treasures and loses his life within.

Next, Qin Ming plans to wait until Mirror Snow Pavilion's spiritual materials are complete, then return to Wei Country to refine the Golden Core Formation Pill and prepare to advance to the Golden Core Stage.

The commotion here no longer concerns him.

Even if he declares to the outside world now that beneath Tai Lake is a great pit, probably no one would believe him.

There's no stopping it.

Loose cultivators, driven senseless by the allure of relics, will only realize their mistake after a few batches have perished.

Qin Ming was able to relax, finally having the chance to thoroughly inquire about the situation with the Artifact Spirit.

In Mirror Snow Pavilion's private room.

Qin Ming concentrated his thoughts, contacted the Artifact Spirit in his storage pouch, and then straightforwardly asked:

"Golden Spirit, if the Tai Lake Secret Realm continues to develop like this, I'm afraid things won't be too good, right?"

"These cultivators going down there will likely all become the food of the Golden Toad Ancestor."

"And the White Bone King's Hall you mentioned, as well as Master White Bone's resurrection, what's the deal with that?"

Qin Ming couldn't imagine how cultivators from tens of thousands of years ago could reappear in the world.

What terrifying lifespan must that require.

The Artifact Spirit replied, its voice unperturbed: "Back then, the Golden Toad was merely one of Master White Bone's spirit pets, posing very limited threat."

"The truly dangerous one is Master White Bone."

"What? A Demon King with late-stage Tier Three strength, just a step away from complete transformation, is only a spirit pet?" Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat glanced at each other, slightly astonished.

From the silk scroll, Qin Ming had some initial understanding.

Who is Master White Bone?

In the ancient era, he was an invincible existence within the Golden Core Realm.

It is said that with his Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror artifact, he almost swept through everything.

Having a late-stage Tier Three Demon King as a spirit pet makes sense.

"The White Bone King's Hall is Master White Bone's cultivation palace, the place you previously reached is already in the core area, and further inside is the palace itself."

"The being sealed inside is Master White Bone; he possesses extraordinary talent, and coupled with his unique cultivation technique, he can revive through the Soul Implantation Technique."

The Artifact Spirit explained.

"Sealed? Who was it that initially sealed him here?"

"And why do you call him Master?"

Qin Ming continued to ask.

Upon hearing this, the Artifact Spirit fell into a long reverie, seemingly unwilling to discuss this topic with Qin Ming.

But it still replied:

"Master White Bone is my master; I am his seventh closed-door disciple... He refined me into an Artifact Spirit."

"The one who sealed him is an ancient Nascent Soul Realm great power, but it was only with the help of my senior brother and several other junior brothers that they barely managed to seal him in the palace."

Qin Ming and the Heaven-Devouring Rat exchanged glances, shocked by the unexpected revelation!

"Master, Master White Bone is truly cruel to the extreme, refining his disciples into Artifact Spirits alive... It's truly inhumane." Heaven-Devouring Rat secretly transmitted its voice.

Qin Ming nodded in agreement.

This 'Golden Spirit' is indeed pitiful to have such a master.

"Is Master White Bone's power really that terrifying? Although his cultivation is strong, being a Golden Core Perfection cultivator, it surprisingly required a Nascent Soul stage great power to barely seal him." Heaven-Devouring Rat also couldn't help but ask the Artifact Spirit.

"During my master's peak period, he dominated that entire era with the Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror artifact, even possessing the astonishing feat of slaying Nascent Soul stage cultivators..."

"The Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror was reputed as the foremost offensive Supreme Treasure in the Cultivation Realm at that time."

"My master's true cultivation was long able to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, but due to the cultivation technique he practiced, he never chose to advance."

Upon hearing this, Heaven-Devouring Rat secretly clicked its tongue, no wonder this person was able to stir the Cultivation Realm...

"However, no matter how powerful a cultivator is, they cannot achieve an infinite lifespan. Even if he resurrects, it would be in the state of a Ghost Cultivator, and even then, it would be difficult for you to resist."

Qin Ming, having listened to the Artifact Spirit, also fell into a long contemplation.

If such a terrifying existence is released, wouldn't it turn the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm upside-down?

"Geez! The Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm doesn't have any Nascent Soul stage great powers, doesn't that mean almost no one can handle Master White Bone..."

Heaven-Devouring Rat shivered and said.

Qin Ming sighed deeply.

However, such matters involving this level of existence are beyond his control.

After pondering for a long time, Qin Ming asked the Artifact Spirit again:

"Earlier you mentioned that you could exchange the 'Celestial Demon Refining Form Strategy' with me, what conditions are required?"

Golden Spirit replied coolly, "This matter will be discussed once you break through to the Golden Core stage."

"Also, in the future, if you have nothing else, don't awaken me."

"..."

Seeing that the Artifact Spirit was unwilling to talk further, Qin Ming had no choice but to give up.

Anyway, the artifact body of the Hook Jade Golden Light Mirror and the Artifact Spirit are both in his hands, so it's not going anywhere.

Previously, he was busy and didn't have the chance to inspect the storage pouches of Linghu Yang and Elder Yane.

Now that he was free, it was a good time to tally the rewards.

As for Xiao Zhongren, being devoured by the Golden Toad Ancestor left nothing behind, not even his storage pouch, which was truly regrettable.

First was Linghu Yang, as a Golden Core Master, of course, his most precious item was his lifebound artifact, the Golden Meteor Sword, whose sword array's power was actually vast.

It was just coincidentally met by this pair of evil stars, Qin Ming and Heaven-Devouring Rat.

Besides.

Much of Linghu Yang's assets were likely spent on purchasing Core Formation resources, so his storage pouch didn't contain as many Spirit Stones as expected.

However, there were numerous top-tier materials, saving Qin Ming the trouble of gathering spiritual materials.

Useful for future farming and alchemy, as well as puppet refinement.

What delighted him more was Linghu Yang's storage pouch contained a small half-bottle of colorful Spirit Liquid, precisely the 'Ten Thousand Transformations Spirit Liquid', one of the Core Formation spiritual objects, which could increase the chances of core formation by ten percent.

To Qin Ming's surprise, Elder Yane of the Xiao Family during the Fake Pill stage, had a storage pouch with a full twenty pieces of High-Grade Spirit Stones, and over five thousand Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.

The rest mostly consisted of items like cultivation techniques and pills.

Not forgetting, Qin Ming exercised the Thorn Technique when leaving, collecting the Blood Pearl, which was of Fake Pill Level.

A Golden Core Level Blood Pearl, along with a Fake Pill Level Blood Pearl, was believed to allow the Lifebound Spirit Plant to grow significantly and expedite the advancement of the Lifebound Artifact, the Wood Emperor Nail.

Lastly, there was Xiao Zhongren's artifact, the 'Spirit-Locking Net'.

This trip to Tai Lake proved to be immensely profitable for Qin Ming, making the journey worthwhile.

Just as Qin Ming was cheerfully tallying the gains.

Outside the room.

Someone unexpected came knocking.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.