Chapter 162: Visit and Response

After mastering the Demonic Ape Transformation, Qin Ming’s physical recovery capabilities were enhanced once again.

The internal and external injuries he had suffered from the recent intense battle were now mostly healed, leaving him full of life and vigor once more.

This demonstrated that mastering the second transformation of the Qi and Blood True Essence brought numerous benefits, making him look forward even more to what the third transformation would be like.

Would it be so powerful that even Core Formation ancestors could not stop him?

Next, Qin Ming used his spells to clean up the traces left behind in the back mountain of Wangyue Island.

Remembering that the members of the Wu family were still hiding on the island, he immediately sent a transmission message to Wu Jiang, asking him to come over so that he could brief him on a few matters.

A moment later.

Wu Jiang nervously walked up to Qin Ming, anxiously sizing him up from head to toe. Seeing that his expression appeared completely normal, he let out a long sigh of relief and said,

"Fellow Daoist Qin, it is such a relief that you are unharmed!"

"The commotion just now was truly terrifying!"

To be honest, when Wu Jiang had heard the sounds of collapsing mountains and roaring seas, along with beast roars and dragon cries coming from the direction of Wangyue Island's back mountain, and felt the earth-shaking vibrations of the battle, he had been subjected to severe mental torture.

He had almost thought that Wangyue Island was about to sink...

At the same time, seeing Qin Ming again, Wu Jiang felt an indescribable sense of inexplicable palpitations, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed.

"Ah, just a minor incident occurred, which I have already settled," Qin Ming said in a calm tone.

Then, fixing a burning gaze on Wu Jiang, he instructed with a serious expression, "Fellow Daoist Wu, I hope you will take the events of today and bury them deep in your stomach. Otherwise, it could easily bring calamity to you and your clansmen. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Wu Jiang broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly nodded like a pecking chick, replying, "Fellow Daoist Qin, rest assured! I swear by my inner demons! I will never speak of this haphazardly, and when I return, I will make sure my clansmen forget about today's events as well."

"Cough! Well, that is for the best." Qin Ming patted Wu Jiang's shoulder with a meaningful look, startling him into a shiver.

"Actually, it's not as serious as you imagine. It's just that someone might still come to investigate the vicinity of the spiritual island recently, and it's better to avoid extra trouble."

Qin Ming had already roughly guessed that this double-pupiled demonic ape would not have run into this northernmost region for no reason, blindly fleeing all the way into Wangyue Island.

Clearly, it had been chased here by someone.

Within the entire Lingqi Archipelago, the only ones capable of posing a threat to a severely injured demonic ape were, without a doubt, the people of the Thunder Origin Sect.

Seeing that Qin Ming had no intention of sharing further details, Wu Jiang tactfully took his leave.

After putting Wu Jiang in his place, Qin Ming gazed deeply at the boundless azure ripples of Wangyue Lake.

'Although I am no longer afraid of cultivation elites like Wei Wuyuan, it is still better to avoid falling out with them if possible.'

'Otherwise, if someone keeps meddling in my affairs every other day like Zhao Wuji, it would disrupt my farming, which is hardly ideal.'

...

Three days later, exactly as Qin Ming had anticipated.

The people of the Thunder Origin Sect had indeed tracked him down.

The huge Dharma ship that Qin Ming had encountered previously, its hull spanning hundreds of zhang and blotting out the sky, appeared above Wangyue Lake.

On the topmost deck of the Dharma ship, Wei Wuyuan, with his towering crown and jade-like face, gazed into the pink misty illusion ahead with a furrowed brow.

"Reporting to Senior Brother, the Spirit-Tracking Compass also shows traces that the demonic ape was active near this region," a Thunder Origin Sect disciple reported respectfully beside Wei Wuyuan.

"Only..."

"After reaching this place, the demonic ape's aura completely disappeared."

"Could it be that it turned around and fled somewhere else?" the disciple ventured cautiously, glancing at the misty illusion that even Core Formation ancestors could not penetrate.

Wei Wuyuan pondered for a long time before speaking concisely, "Since we are already here, we might as well pay a visit to the renowned Master of Wangyue Island."

"Ah—Understood!" The Thunder Origin Sect disciple was stunned for a moment before hurriedly nodding in compliance.

Afterward, he produced a transmission talisman and tossed it straight into the mist.

...

Inside Wangyue Island.

"They're here after all!" Qin Ming’s powerful divine sense had long since detected the Thunder Origin Sect's Dharma ship.

Down on the spiritual island, Wu Jiang hurried over to Qin Ming, handed him a transmission talisman, and said with an urgent tone, "Fellow Daoist... Daoist Qin, Wei Wuyuan of the Thunder Origin Sect has come to visit."

Wu Jiang had not slept peacefully for several days, constantly feeling restless and ill at ease.

And now, even Wei Wuyuan, known as the "Number One Sword of the Wei State," had arrived...

Qin Ming took the transmission talisman, opened it, and nodded.

"Ah, I am already aware. It is nothing major; I will handle this matter myself, so you need not worry."

"Go back to your own affairs."

Hearing this, Wu Jiang felt somewhat skeptical and incredulous. 'Even such a towering figure of the Wei State has arrived, yet he says it's nothing at all? That's far too absurd!'

However, he only dared to complain inwardly and would never dare show it in front of Qin Ming.

Wu Jiang then bowed out and returned to the lower part of the island to tend to the spiritual fields.

Qin Ming immediately cast a spell, manipulating the misty illusion to open up a path.

His two injured spiritual pets had already been stowed away into his spirit beast bag.

On the Thunder Origin Sect's Dharma ship.

Witnessing the miraculous scene before him, Wei Wuyuan couldn't help but praise, "Truly a remarkable method."

With a casual instruction to the Thunder Origin Sect disciples behind him, he leaped forward and plunged into the passageway.

During his flight, he attempted to project his divine sense into the mist, only to be shocked to find that his consciousness vanished as if a clay ox had entered the sea, frightening him into instantly withdrawing his spiritual sense.

Within the span of a few breaths, Wei Wuyuan had passed through the misty illusion and, transforming into a stream of white light, appeared on Wangyue Island.

He was momentarily taken aback by the utopian scenery of the island.

On Wangyue Island, dwellings were orderly and pavilions stood in rows; tea gardens and bamboo groves were lush and verdant, while spiritual waterfalls and springs complemented each other amidst the mountains. Hazy, drifting mist gave the place a dreamlike quality, resembling an immortal sanctuary secluded from the mortal world.
"Senior Wei has come from afar, forgive me for failing to welcome you properly!"

At that moment, the figure of a young cultivator appeared in Wei Wuyuan's line of sight—it was none other than Qin Ming.

Qin Ming had now concealed his cultivation aura down to the early Foundation Establishment stage. Wei Wuyuan was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, a full three minor realms higher than him. According to the strict hierarchy of the cultivation world, he still deserved to be addressed respectfully as "Senior."

Wei Wuyuan’s gaze fell upon Qin Ming, sizing him up. A smile then blossomed on his face as he cupped his hands in a friendly greeting, "You must be the renowned Island Master Qin, am I right?"

"Fellow Daoist Qin, there is no need to stand on ceremony. I was merely passing by Wangyue Lake, and having long admired your great name without the chance to make your acquaintance, I decided to drop by for a visit. If this is abrupt, I hope Fellow Daoist Qin will not mind."

"Given Fellow Daoist Qin's current status, you may simply address me as Fellow Daoist."

"Very well, Fellow Daoist Wei," Qin Ming smiled slightly, then warmly ushered him into the guest pavilion.

Though both were in the early Foundation Establishment stage, Wei Wuyuan's attitude toward Qin Ming now compared to his previous attitude toward the bearded burly man disguise was a world of difference.

The reason was Qin Ming's identity as a Tier 2 High-Grade Spiritual Plant Master, coupled with his widespread fame and exceptionally high prestige in the cultivation circles of Canghai Immortal City and the Lingqi Archipelago.

Even though he currently displayed only early Foundation Establishment cultivation, no one dared to look down upon him.

After inviting Wei Wuyuan to be seated, Qin Ming produced a jar of Spirit Fire Wine, poured a full bowl for him, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Wei, this is my exclusive homemade Spirit Fire Wine, which possesses a rather unique flavor. Have a taste."

Without needing Qin Ming's introduction, the moment the seal was lifted, Wei Wuyuan was completely captivated by the intoxicating and mellow fragrance of the Spirit Fire Wine.

"Oh? I truly never expected to have the privilege of tasting Fellow Daoist Qin's signature spiritual wine. In that case, I won't stand on ceremony." Wei Wuyuan possessed the unyielding pride and unconstrained demeanor unique to sword cultivators; he immediately picked up the large bowl and drained the entire contents in one go.

As the Spirit Fire Wine slid down his throat, a surge of warmth spread throughout his body. Wei Wuyuan’s sword-like brows danced with delight as he immediately praised, "Fine wine!"

"This wine can actually enhance Foundation Establishment cultivation; the ingredients used must not be cheap, surely? Both its texture and efficacy can be considered top-tier among wines. It seems I came to the right place today, haha!"

Wei Wuyuan was a connoisseur who understood the precious value of Spirit Fire Wine.

"To receive Fellow Daoist Wei's approval means my brewing was not in vain," Qin Ming smiled, then refilled his bowl.

Afterward, the two of them chatted idly in the private room, gradually growing more familiar with one another.

After three rounds of drinks, they had exhausted most of the casual topics.

Wei Wuyuan's tone then shifted, steering the conversation toward the matter of the double-pupiled demonic ape. "Haha, Fellow Daoist Qin, to be frank with you, my arrival here by coincidence is due to a certain matter."

"I wish to presumptuously ask Fellow Daoist Qin for some information."

"Please go ahead and ask, Fellow Daoist Wei. Qin will certainly tell you everything he knows," Qin Ming replied with an unchanged expression and a very calm tone.

Naturally, Qin Ming knew the purpose of Wei Wuyuan's visit, knowing that if he failed to dispel the other party's suspicions, the man would not easily give up.

Therefore, he had long since cleared away all traces related to the double-pupiled demonic ape and used the smoke of the Illusion Mist Mushrooms to completely cover the traces in the back mountain.

Let alone Wei Wuyuan, even if a Core Formation ancestor came, they would absolutely not detect any anomalies.

"It's like this: I have been tracking that demonic ape that brought blood and chaos to the Lingqi Archipelago, and after much difficulty, I discovered its tracks some time ago."

"Following a chase, I found that the spiritual tracking mark left upon it vanished near Wangyue Lake."

"Hence... I wanted to ask Fellow Daoist Qin about it."

Wei Wuyuan asked bluntly.

Putting on a look of lingering fear, Qin Ming immediately replied, "So Fellow Daoist Wei is here for that beast?"

"Alas! Speaking of that demonic ape, it is truly terrifying. It did indeed come near Wangyue Lake, but fortunately, there is this misty illusion here. Otherwise, Fellow Daoist Wei might not have been able to see Qin today."

"It must have fled in another direction... As for the specifics, Qin did not dare to venture out and investigate."

Since the fact that the double-pupiled demonic ape possessed the ability to break illusions was known only to himself, Qin Ming spoke his lies smoothly, without his face flushing or his heart beating fast.

As Qin Ming spoke, Wei Wuyuan closely observed his expression, yet found no anomalies.

Moreover, upon entering the island, he had already released his divine sense to thoroughly search the entire island, indeed failing to sense even a shred of the demonic ape's aura.

Even the Spirit-Tracking Compass on his person showed no reaction whatsoever.

Thinking it over, he reasoned that if that demonic ape had entered this place, given its violent and ferocious nature, probably not a single living soul would have remained on the island.

Even Wei Wuyuan himself, if pitted against a peak-condition double-pupiled demonic ape, would likely end up being hunted down by the beast instead.

At this thought, a smile returned to Wei Wuyuan's face as he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for informing me, Fellow Daoist Qin. I still have matters to attend to, so I shall no longer disturb you."

"Ah, right, Fellow Daoist Qin, the taste of this Spirit Fire Wine is truly lingering and memorable. In this life, apart from the Sword Dao, the only thing Wei is truly interested in is this very cup."

"If Fellow Daoist Qin has any spare Spirit Fire Wine, would you be willing to part with a jar and sell it to me?"

"Wei can trade for it with spirit stones or other items."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was slightly stunned, not expecting Wei Wuyuan to be such a wine enthusiast.

And upon hearing the request, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile.