"The youth of the Newborn path are quite formidable—they actually defeated the young experts of the sun elven race!"
Beneath the night mist, people were discussing this across cities far and wide.
"In the past, many held the immortal path in high esteem, but this time they actually collapsed! Unable to withstand the solar fire of an alien race, they dropped the ball at the critical moment!"
With the Great Reclamation fast approaching, many grew dissatisfied with the outer realm. Their performance this time hardly matched their usual lofty, aloof status.
The path-blazing patriarchs of the immortal path hadn't initially cared about this duel among juniors, but hearing the outside criticism, they began to reflect. Perhaps there was still room for improvement in the first two realms.
"It is time to blaze new paths. The territory where the divine tombs and immortal graves lie is the very holy land for our immortal path to take root and draw nourishment. The seventh realm must be broken open."
Even ancient patriarchs harbored immense ambition, yearning to ascend yet another level, eager to launch the Great Reclamation immediately. One could easily imagine the prevailing atmosphere.
"Pass down the orders: learn everything there is to know about the sun elven race as quickly as possible. Stand ready at all times for an expedition deep into the night mist world!"
Clearly, the outer realm had been sharpening their weapons and preparing their steeds for some time. Led by the immortal path, this would mark another Great Opening after a lapse of several centuries.
"Damn, the old men have lost their minds! What ungodly hour is it, and they're still sending messages via lightning sparrows, telling us to train diligently and raise our cultivation!"
Even in Guanghan Palace, high-ranking disciples of the immortal path were complaining.
In fact, every seed-level figure and core disciple had been sternly admonished that night: squander no time, and do everything possible in the coming days to consolidate their cultivation.
It was as though a gale had swept through the outer realm, blowing across every corner that very night.
For the first time, disciples of the immortal path realized that a bloody war of expansion was already upon them, and they might have to set off at any moment.
Xiang Yiwu remarked, "What's going on? Lightning sparrows are flying all over Guanghan Palace, and I saw Pei Shuyan, Cui Chonghe, An Youxing, and the others hurrying away."
"The great war is not far off!" After personally delivering a bottle of fine wine as an apology, the middle-aged woman of Guanghan Palace informed them that the immortal path had already begun making its final preparations.
"Elder Sister, how should we address you? Please tell us more," Wu Yaozu said.
"You make me sound so young; I'm already a hundred and five years old," the middle-aged woman laughed, introducing herself as Liu Qingwan.
Qin Ming and the other two were speechless. What was the deal with Tianque and Guanghan Palace? Why were they all old fairies well past a hundred?
Liu Qingwan said, "The region with the immortal graves and divine tombs must be extraordinary. Just think: a race that reveres nature like the sun elves could excavate only a fraction of that heritage and still progress so far along the immortal path. It is easy to imagine how remarkable that place is. The immortal path is going mad with anticipation; someone might transcend immortals and become a patriarch!"
What she said was partly true. Every Great Reclamation was accompanied by immense opportunity, and a small cadre of patriarchs had risen fiercely in just such a manner.
Lowering her voice, Liu Qingwan said, "Those of the Newborn path and the esoteric sect won't be able to participate at first. That territory was first discovered by people of the immortal path, so it has been claimed as their home turf. Would you like to join the initial expedition right away? You might just be able to compete with those immortal seeds for monumental opportunities!"
The three exchanged glances. It turned out this century-old fairy was a broker.
She explained that high nobles could send their people to march alongside the forces of the outer realm.
"You can accompany direct descendants of the nobility. There are people willing to spend a fortune to hire you..."
"Mm, we'll think it over once we head back," Qin Ming said. Her angle was far too wild and riddled with risks; he had no desire to get involved.
Regardless, in the coming days he just needed to prepare for war and strive to improve himself.
The delegation of sun elves had already arrived outside Guanghan Palace, their striking appearances immediately drawing glances.
In particular, there were well-known figures among them who had defeated immortal seeds, including royalty of the sun elves.
Liguang, once dazzling as a sun goddess, now appeared somewhat despondent.
Qionghui, the Grandmaster of the sun elven race, spoke up. "Do not worry. I have used everything in my power to temporarily suppress the immortal contract. Even if you draw near him, it will not spin out of control."
Liguang nodded, feeling as though she were sleepwalking.
In the duel before the South Heavenly Gate, she had clearly been pursuing and thrashing the boy earlier on. How had it ended in such misfortune? To think that she was the one bound by the immortal contract.
Could she end up recorded in the annals of history? The outcome of a drudge commanding an immortal filled her with shame and indignation, leaving her wanting to crawl into a hole and hide.
"What? The sun elven race is here and wants to meet with me?" Upon receiving the news, Qin Ming knit his brows slightly and pondered it carefully.
He hadn't expected them to come knocking so quickly. Not yet prepared, he said, "Have them wait."
Qin Ming wasn't worried about them turning hostile. This was human territory, and there was more than one Grandmaster present on the moon right now.
"Did your Elven Queen-tier servant arrive?" Xiao Wu chuckled privately.
"Don't talk nonsense; don't provoke them," Qin Ming said. He felt it necessary to invite Meng Xinghai over, while also calling in people from the immortal path.
His understanding of the immortal contract wasn't that deep; he needed professional assistance.
More importantly, if he met with the sun elven race in private, the old fellows of the immortal path might overthink things and constantly watch him afterward.
Evidently, with countless eyes and ears on the moon, there was no way he could hold a secret meeting with the sun elven race to profit surreptitiously.
Rather than inviting suspicion and being targeted later, it was better to be completely open and upright.
Besides, the sun elves had been humiliated—their heads shaved and their royal subjected to a 'drudge commanding an immortal.' They were likely suffocating with resentment. Even if they struck a private deal with him, they would probably sell him out to the immortal path in the end anyway.
"That fellow certainly puts on airs, actually making us wait outside," one of the sun elves grumbled in discontent.
"He is 'avoiding suspicion.' He is deeply wary of us. Just watch—he is definitely waiting for others to arrive," an older sun elf said.
"Unfortunately, we cannot lay a hand on him, or it will trigger a backlash from the immortal contract," the young sun elf He Yan remarked.
"I truly want to kill him!" Chi Yao said.
These two had toured the Shuyu River with Guang Yu and were good friends, naturally wanting to stand up for him.
Furthermore, most young men of their generation harbored deep feelings for Liguang, admiring the future Elven Queen. Yet Liguang was now on the verge of becoming Qin Ming's 'drudge'—a psychological shock far too severe for them to bear.
In their eyes, Qin Ming was nothing more than an 'uncivilized barbarian' from beyond their borders. The thought of him claiming their sun goddess left their chests stifling with fury.
Meng Xinghai arrived right away, as Tianque sat right next to Guanghan Palace, merely a stone's throw away.
The Grandmasters of the immortal path, Ling Canghai and Su Yuxiao, also arrived. However, neither showed their faces; they sat deep within Guanghan Palace, merely watching and listening quietly.
Meng Xinghai was not intimidated in the least. Though his martial uncle hadn't shown himself either, he was nearby keeping close watch—and he was a Grandmaster as well.
Inside Guanghan Palace, tea fragrance curled in the air. Beaming with smiles, Qin Ming stood to look at the sun elves. A whole group had arrived, and even their elder Grandmaster, Qionghui, had come in person.
Liguang remained breathtakingly beautiful. Her delicate brows were faintly furrowed, but when her deep purple eyes gazed toward him, her mind momentarily dazed, a deep-seated urge to submit rising from the bottom of her heart.
This drained the color from her face. Clearly, the immortal contract had taken full effect, and even a Grandmaster's suppression was not entirely effective.
Beside her, a middle-aged female elf hastily supported her.
Conscious of his status, Grandmaster Qionghui did not speak, sitting there with cold eyes.
The entire negotiation was handled by the middle-aged female elf, named Xulin.
She said, "Our two races are on friendly terms and are about to embark on an important partnership. It was merely a spar, yet such an accident occurred. We ask that little brother render assistance as soon as possible to dissolve the immortal contract."
Qin Ming nodded immediately and said, "Most gladly! Anything for the enduring friendship between our two races. I shall naturally treat you with all sincerity!"
The group of sun elves was astonished. Was he really this easy to talk to?
Then Qin Ming added, "However, I have heard that dissolving an immortal contract damages one's foundation. I hope we can find a safe, reliable solution."
Opposite him, the alien group was taken aback. Was there such a saying? How come they had never heard of it?
Grandmaster Qionghui could hardly hold back and let out a soft snort. Was this kid spouting nonsense? As the dominant party, how could he possibly harm himself?
However, actually dissolving it was indeed extraordinarily difficult and came with all sorts of complications.
The sun elves immediately understood: he was... preparing to demand benefits in an elegant and polite manner.
Meng Xinghai sat peacefully at the side, realizing all he had to do was drink tea.
"For Miss Liguang's sake, I am willing to bear injury to myself. But I also ask your esteemed race to lend a hand and restore my vitality. If you have the Golden Crow Illuminates the Night Classic, or the Waxing and Waning Scripture, as well as the Eight Views Divine Radiance Classic and such, perhaps by studying their scriptures I might stabilize my origin."
At this moment, even Grandmaster Ling Canghai's cheek twitched. The kid didn't even ask for extraordinary techniques—every single one was an esoteric manual. What an immense appetite!
Yet the group of sun elves was utterly bewildered. They looked at one another, and someone asked in a low voice, "What scriptures are those?"
"You don't have them over there?" Qin Ming was also shocked.
Xulin nodded. "We truly have never heard of them."
Qin Ming hastily described them, asking them to think carefully.
"We walk the immortal path, so what we excavate are immortal arts. What you describe sound like scriptures for drudges. Let us think," Xulin murmured.
Then she said, "There are several methods, such as swapping divine bones, mending immortal skin, and simmering in an immortal furnace. These were the royal sovereign paths of ancient drudges."
Another person added, "There is also a method where, with another's assistance, characters are carved into one's flesh and blood, branding one with immortal Dao marks. That is also quite orthodox."
One listen was enough for Qin Ming to know these were no good techniques; all of them would leave one subjugated to the immortal path.
His expression darkened slightly. "What kind of godforsaken place do you come from? You don't have this, you don't have that—is it some backwater wilderness?"
Opposite him, the sun elves bristled at the jab, but in the end they swallowed their anger.
Xulin said, "Perhaps they exist, but as we primarily cultivate immortal arts, we may have overlooked them. We will search thoroughly once we return. Or perhaps they remain buried in the immortal graves and have not yet been unearthed."
Then she sighed, "We feel deeply remorseful that we cannot produce those scriptures at the moment, but we still ask little brother to tear apart the immortal contract first."
She proceeded to say a great deal. Severing the bond was far more difficult than imagined. Qin Ming felt that even if he fully cooperated, it would ultimately be difficult to dissolve the immortal contract completely; lingering threads would always remain.
Qin Ming said, "That is easy to discuss. As long as the harm to myself isn't too severe, I am willing to cooperate. Well, if you don't have scriptures to cultivate, do you have legendary sacred baleful auras? Those could also somewhat replenish my origin."
Xulin was startled, then nodded. "We do."
"Mm, do you have 'Flying Immortal baleful aura' over there? How about 'Dao Attainment baleful aura'? Let me think what else I need." In a single breath, Qin Ming reeled off six or seven preposterous baleful auras that were barely even recorded in books.
Sure enough, the sun elves opposite him widened their eyes, finding his demands utterly absurd.
This kid is feinting. In a moment, he will definitely bring up the White Tiger and Xuanwu sacred baleful auras, Grandmaster Ling Canghai chuckled faintly in secret.
And sure enough, Qin Ming brought them up.
"White Tiger sacred baleful aura..." Xulin frowned, pondering carefully.
Just then, she heard a voice transmission.
Su Yuxiao, the Grandmaster of the immortal path, spoke secretly: If you have the White Tiger and Xuanwu sacred baleful auras, trade them to me!
The old fellow was cutting in behind the scenes, not wanting Qin Ming to complete his collection, indicating that the immortal path could finalize any decision here.
Hearing this, Xulin said to Qin Ming, "As for the White Tiger sacred baleful aura and the like... we will have to look into it. We cannot confirm right now."
Qin Ming's expression turned displeased. "Then you tell me: what legendary sacred baleful auras can your side actually deliver?"
Seeing his immense displeasure, the sun elves gathered together, conferring among themselves and checking what legendary baleful auras they had.
In the end, they mentioned two kinds, and among them was something Qin Ming needed!
Showing no outward reaction, Qin Ming grumbled with deep dissatisfaction, "What a true backwater!"
Opposite him, He Yan and Chi Yao nearly stood up to strike him down.
Qin Ming said, "I only want the White Tiger and Xuanwu sacred baleful auras. The two you just mentioned can only count as extras to temper the mental fields of my two brothers beside me."
Su Yuxiao sent another domineering voice transmission in secret: If you have the White Tiger and Xuanwu sacred baleful auras, you must trade them with this old man!
"Let's talk further about the scriptures..." Qin Ming continued smoothly.
The group of sun elves was furious. This wasn't merely asking for the lion's share—it was a gluttonous beast opening its maw!
Wu Yaozu piped up, "You need to get this straight: you were the ones in the wrong first! You actually used an immortal contract trying to subjugate Brother Ming into a drudge! Everything here is what you ought to pay!"
Meng Xinghai nodded and said, "That is indeed how reason lies."
Chapter 288