Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 332 - 244 seeking help from an old acquaintance_1

Chapter 332: 244 seeking help from an old acquaintance_1

The Mantuo Mountain Range is located in the central part of the Southern Border Cultivation World and is named for the abundant growth of Mantuo Trees; this place is the ancestral land of the Song Family.

The Song Family has a legacy over ten thousand years, boasting numerous Nascent Soul Cultivators and a host of powerful experts.

A group of Song Family disciples was on patrol, led by a tall young man in a purple robe.

"Someone’s coming."

The youth in the purple robe waved his hand, signaling his clansmen to stop.

A red Escape Light appeared in the distant sky and, with a flash, stopped. The light retracted to reveal a red-glowing Flying Boat with four men and three women aboard. Besides Shen Long and five others, there was also a tall, thin man in a red robe.

The man in the red robe had handsome features, and a small tree emblem adorned his clothes, the symbol of the Mantuo Song Family.

"It’s Patriarch Weiguang!"

The youth in the purple robe recognized the identity of the man in the red robe and bowed respectfully.

"Continue with your patrol."

Song Weiguang instructed.

The youth in the purple robe and the others acknowledged the command and flew off into the distance with their magical instruments.

Senior Du Yinyin made a hand gesture, and the red Flying Boat headed forward.

After a while, the red Flying Boat came to a halt in front of a vast expanse of purple miasma covering hundreds of miles.

Song Weiguang took out a square command token that flickered with purple light, poured mana into it, and shot out a beam of purple light into the miasma. The purple miasma boiled and surged, then gradually dissipated, revealing a series of undulating mountains filled with numerous buildings and Cultivators.

"Senior Du, please wait a moment; I will go and report to Aunt Xueqing."

Song Weiguang greeted, then turned into an Escape Light and flew in.

Senior Du Yinyin nodded and waited where she was.

Less than half a quarter of an hour later, Song Weiguang flew out, and respectfully said, "Senior Du, Auntie Xueqing invites you. Please follow me."

Song Weiguang led the way, and Senior Du Yinyin followed closely behind with the red Flying Boat.

They landed in a vast estate with many poisonous flowers planted in its courtyard, complete with pavilions and terraces.

A woman in a white dress with a graceful figure was sitting in a green stone pavilion. Her features were picturesque, and there was a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth.

"Madam Du, it’s been a long time."

The woman in the white dress greeted her with a beaming smile.

"Madam Song, you’ve advanced to the Middle Stage? Congratulations!"

Senior Du Yinyin was full of envy.

Madam Song Xueqing invited Senior Du Yinyin to sit down, and they chatted over tea, with Shen Long and the others standing on the side.

After a few pleasantries, Senior Du Yinyin pointed at Ice Silkworm True Person and said, "Madam Song, this is Master Nephew Lin, who has been afflicted with the Blood Defeat Soul Destroying Curse. Do you have any way to lift this curse?"

They had spent the better part of a year to reach the Southern Border Cultivation World.

"Roll up your sleeve, let me have a look."

Madam Song Xueqing instructed.

Ice Silkworm True Person did not dare to delay and honestly rolled up his sleeve, revealing a pattern of blood on his arm.

"When were you cursed, and do you feel any discomfort? Tell me everything in detail."

Madam Song Xueqing ordered.

Ice Silkworm True Person recounted the event truthfully. Thanks to the Qinglian Origin Charm, he hadn’t felt any discomfort for the time being.

"So you have the Qinglian Origin Charm; no wonder you’ve been able to hold on for so long,"

Madam Song Xueqing suddenly understood.

"Madam Song, is there a way to resolve it?"

Senior Du Yinyin asked.

"Of course, there is, but it requires several rare materials. I’ll contact my clan to see if we have these materials."

Song Xueqing took out a Law Disk that flickered with white light, imbued it with a spell, and made a series of gestures.

"The other materials are easy to come by, but we’re missing three: eight-hundred-year-old Jinni Grass, a poison sac from a third-order Dark Beast, and an eight-hundred-year-old Snow Ginseng. Dark Beasts usually dwell in places with dense Yin Qi and have become quite rare. We might find one in the Profound Yin Cave Heaven. The Jinni Grass and Snow Ginseng require special growing conditions and aren’t easy to find, though we do have Jinni Grass that’s over seven hundred years old,"

Song Xueqing said.

"Dark Beasts, Jinni Grass, Snow Ginseng!"

Du Yinyin’s brows slightly furrowed.

"Next month, the Shangguan Family is preparing to hold a large auction, attracting many Nascent Soul Cultivators to participate. It’s possible that these three items will be available there,"

Song Xueqing said.

"It’s already been more than half a year, and the Qinglian Origin Charm is about to lose its effectiveness. If we can’t acquire these three items at the auction, Master Nephew Lin will be in danger,"

Du Yinyin said, frowning.

They were racing against time, the longer they delayed, the more dangerous it was for Ice Silkworm True Person.

"Master Aunt Du, I am willing to go to the Profound Yin Cave Heaven to search for a Dark Beast,"

Shen Long volunteered.

Wu Shan was meant for Shen Long; Ice Silkworm True Person was suffering on Shen Long’s behalf.

"There are many high-level ghost creatures in the Profound Yin Cave Heaven, even Nascent Soul stage ghost creatures. Relying on you alone, the chances are not great,"

Song Xueqing warned.

"I will go with Taoist Friend Shen!"

Han Yuwei volunteered.

"Mom, I want to go too,"

Lin Yutong chimed in.

"The Profound Yin Cave Heaven is vast, and it’s not easy to find a Dark Beast. Having more people won’t necessarily be helpful,"

Song Weiguang explained.

"Fairy Lin and I going will be enough,"

Shen Long said.

"Let’s do that then! Shen Shizhu, Friend Lin, you two go to the Profound Yin Cave Heaven to search for the Dark Beast. Do what you can, and we will try to gather the three items at the auction,"

Du Yinyin said.

"Yes, Master Aunt Du (Senior Du),"

Shen Long and Lin Yutong readily agreed.

Song Xueqing took out a black Law Disk and handed it to Shen Long, saying, "This is the Ghost-Seeking Disk. Within a certain range, it can detect the presence of ghost creatures. But it’s only effective on common ghosts; it won’t detect more powerful ones. Be extra cautious!"

"Thank you, Senior Song,"

Shen Long expressed his gratitude and took the Ghost-Seeking Disk.

"Be careful, do what you can, and don’t overexert yourself,"

Ice Silkworm True Person cautioned.

Shen Long nodded and promised to heed the advice.

Du Yinyin gave a few more instructions, and Song Xueqing had Song Weiguang send Shen Long and Lin Yutong on their way.

Once they left the Song Family, Shen Long summoned the Seacrossing Boat, stepped aboard, and Lin Yutong followed.

With a gesture of his spell, the Seacrossing Boat shone with a dazzling blue light, soaring into the sky and quickly disappearing into the horizon.

······

The Five Sage Sect was once the foremost sect in the Southern Border Cultivation World, with an abundance of experts. However, after several calamities, the high-level cultivators of the Five Sage Sect suffered severe casualties, and the sect is now a shadow of its former self.

The Five Poisons Marketplace was established by the Five Sage Sect and is a hub for merchants and travelers.

The streets were crowded and noisy with the hustle and bustle of people and carriages.

In a secluded manor, Qin Ming and a voluptuous woman in a black dress sat within a cyan stone pavilion, enjoying tea and leisurely conversation.

Qin Ming had already reached Core Formation, currently at the early stages of Core Formation.

"The Shangguan Family is hosting a large auction, let’s make a trip there! We might be able to obtain the items we need," the woman in black suggested.

Qin Ming nodded, and was just about to say something when he took out a gold-lit Messaging Plate. After channeling a spell into it, a respectful male voice sounded, "Master, there’s a Senior named Shen Long who says he’s an old acquaintance of yours and wishes to speak with you."

"Shen Long? It’s him! Lead him here," commanded Qin Ming.

"Yes, Master," the man responded.

"It has been many years, and he has also advanced to the Core Formation Stage."

Qin Ming remarked with a sigh.

"Husband, who is this Shen Long? Why have I never heard you mention him before?" the woman in black inquired, puzzled.

Lin Lin, at the early stages of Core Formation, was Qin Ming’s martial partner.

"I traveled to the Donghua Cultivation Realm in my early years, and met him at a gathering. I traded a Spirit Beast Egg that was pursuing a Spirit Beast for a Hundred Eyes Cicada’s egg with him," Qin Ming explained.

"I see, what’s his background?" asked Lin Lin curiously.

"According to him, he’s a Loose Cultivator, but since he is skilled in Insect Repelling and Controlling Beast Taming Technique, he is probably not a Loose Cultivator. It’s been many years since we’ve seen each other, and if he’s come to seek me out, he must have something important in mind," said Qin Ming.

Before long, a short and chubby man in a red robe walked in with Shen Long.

"Taoist Friend Shen, it’s been a long time," Qin Ming said warmly.

"After many years, Taoist Friend Qin has advanced to the Core Formation Stage, and this fairy is?" Shen Long’s gaze fell upon the woman in the black dress.

"I am Lin Lin, having long heard from my husband about Taoist Friend Shen, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person," Lin Lin said gracefully, giving a curtsy.

"So, you are Madam Qin, please accept this bottle of superior Beast Nurturing Pills as a small token of my congratulations on your union," Shen Long said cheerfully, handing over a cyan porcelain bottle to Qin Ming.

"Superior Beast Nurturing Pills?" Qin Ming was slightly taken aback.

He had only met Shen Long once and did not have much of a relationship with him, so for Shen Long to give him a vial of Beast Nurturing Pills right off the bat, there must be a reason.

"Taoist Friend Shen, you are too kind. We are alone here, so feel free to speak frankly," said Qin Ming seriously.

"I am looking for a Dark Beast’s Poison Sac of the third order. I wonder if Taoist Friend Qin can help me find it. I am willing to pay a high price or trade for it," Shen Long got straight to the point.

The legacy of the Five Sage Sect was ancient, and they might have a Dark Beast’s Poison Sac of the third order. Even if they did not, Qin Ming had deeper knowledge of the Profound Yin Cave Heaven, which could help Shen Long find the Dark Beast.

"A third order Dark Beast?" Qin Ming frowned, then shook his head and said, "To be honest, our Five Sage Sect is also purchasing Dark Beast’s Poison Sacs of the third order at a high price. I’m afraid I can’t be of help."

He returned the porcelain bottle to Shen Long, who refused to accept it.

"It’s just a bottle of elixir; I made it myself, so it’s not worth much. This time, I accompanied Master Aunt Du to the Southern Border Cultivation World on business and thought I’d pay a visit to Taoist Friend Qin,"

Shen Long said with a smile.

When he first met Qin Ming, he had been a loose cultivator.

"Taoist Friend Shen is an alchemist? Can you refine high-quality elixirs?"

Lin Lin asked in surprise.

"Yes, I can refine high-quality elixirs. Does Madam Qin need my help with alchemy?"

Shen Long said enthusiastically.

Profound Yin Cave Heaven was not a place to be trifled with, and naturally, Shen Long wouldn’t venture into Profound Yin Cave Heaven in search of a Dark Beast just with a Ghost-Seeking Disk. If he could get Qin Ming’s help, perhaps he could avoid taking unnecessary detours.

Qin Ming and Lin Lin’s eyes lit up, and they exchanged a glance.

"Taoist Friend Shen, do you have any high-quality elixirs that heal fire poison? For Core Formation Stage cultivators to take."

Qin Ming asked, his face full of anticipation.

"I’ve used up what I had, but I could purchase materials to make more,"

Shen Long said.

He had plenty of Ice Snow Pills on him, which could cure fire poison.

Things that were too easily obtained wouldn’t be cherished by others.

"Taoist Friend Shen, what materials do you need? I’ll go find them. My older brother has been afflicted with fire poison and needs high-quality elixirs to heal,"

Lin Lin said earnestly.

"Does your Five Sage Sect not have any alchemists who can refine high-quality elixirs?"

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

"Of course, we do, but not many. One is away, and another is in closed-door cultivation facing life and death. Please help, Taoist Friend Shen. I will help you gather information about the poison sac of a third-grade Dark Beast,"

Qin Ming promised.

"I have materials on me; it will take some time, but I can refine them. If there are no third-grade Dark Beast poison sacs, knowing where a third-grade Dark Beast lurks would be sufficient,"

Shen Long said.

Qin Ming nodded, "Alright, we’ll head back to the headquarters immediately to seek information on the third-grade Dark Beast poison sac. Taoist Friend Shen, please start the alchemy process right away."

To tell the truth, Qin Ming hadn’t taken Shen Long’s words seriously at first, as they had no close relationship, and he wouldn’t have gone to great lengths to find the inner core of a third-grade Dark Beast. Now, the situation was different; his uncle needed high-quality elixirs to cure fire poison.

"It’s a deal,"

Shen Long agreed.

After some small talk, Shen Long took his leave.

A quarter of an hour later, he appeared in a secluded courtyard with green tiles. Inside the courtyard was a two-story green pavilion and a green stone pavilion where Lin Yutong sat with an anxious look on her face.

"How did it go, Taoist Friend Shen? Did they agree to help?"

Lin Yutong asked.

"They agreed to help, but we can’t put all our hopes on them. Fairy Lin, please take the trouble to investigate the marketplace for us, offer a high price to purchase the poison sac of a third-grade Dark Beast, gather some intelligence and maps of Profound Yin Cave Heaven, and buy talismans and treasures that can counter ghost creatures. I can’t show my face for the time being, as I need to help them refine a batch of elixirs."

Shen Long said.

In matters regarding Ice Silkworm True Person’s life and death, Shen Long wouldn’t place all his hopes on Qin Ming and Lin Lin; he needed to be prepared on multiple fronts.

"No problem, leave it to me,"

Lin Yutong assured him.

After exchanging a few more words, Shen Long entered the green pavilion.

He walked into the Alchemy Room where there was a red cushion. Sitting on the cushion, he took out the Scarlet Crow Cauldron and alchemy materials, and began the alchemy process.

He planned to refine some extra healing pills; Profound Yin Cave Heaven was a dangerous place, and it was best to have plenty of healing pills at hand.