Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Beast Tide of the Eastern Sea

He shook his head. With the Purple Mansion newly opened, with vital energy transformed into magical power, there was still only emptiness within; when would it ever be filled?

This was a qualitative change.

As for magical power, he was not worried. With the Jade Spring Residence within him, there was no need for fear.

When he inwardly inspected the Purple Mansion, he saw the point of light connected to the world of Devouring the Starry Sky seated exactly at its center, while the Jade Spring Residence hovered off in a corner.

A thought turned, and his consciousness traversed space. As Qin Ming, he discovered that the mental space of the Devouring world still existed, with no sign of collapse.

What could this mean?

He did not understand. He could not make sense of it.

On the enlightenment platform, Jiang Fan opened his eyes.

Foundation Establishment, Qi Refinement, Innate, Entering the Dao, Spirit Soul, Earthly Immortal: these were the realms of cultivation for the refinement of qi!

The Spirit Soul realm was divided into three steps: Purple Mansion, Spirit Embryo, and Divinization!

In the Purple Mansion realm, one condensed magical power; once it overflowed, it transformed into liquid magical power. When liquid filled half the Purple Mansion's space, that was complete perfection of the Purple Mansion!

Mine... was a little terrifying!

Still, if the Purple Mansion were filled with liquid, no, even if it were filled merely with mistlike magical power, it would be enough to suppress a Divinization expert, the third step of the Spirit Soul realm!

This was not arrogance; his Purple Mansion was simply too monstrous.

After gathering his excitement, he left seclusion and looked around. The Jiang household had not stirred at all, and the county city was likewise very peaceful. Yet beneath that calm, Jiang Fan sensed an unusual aura.

He paid it no mind, returned to his room, and let his body vanish as he entered the Jade Spring Residence.

Pushing open the door into the realm of illusion and reality within the Jade Spring Residence, he stood in the stone courtyard and swallowed vast amounts of spirit spring energy, transforming it into Purple Mansion magical power. Within the hundred-li radius of space, faint wisps of mist had finally begun to form, and without the slightest hesitation he plunged directly into the western mountain forest.

Jiang Fan once again came to a mountain valley, where he had died many times before.

In that valley coiled a monstrous snake beast at the Spirit Embryo realm.

Jiang Fan had always felt that the second-grade spirit spring ought to be here.

Die!

Without hesitation, he let out a thunderous shout. A sword of law condensed in his hand; with one strike he brought it down from the sky, the second strike grievously wounded, the third severed its path to survival.

Overwhelmingly dominant.

After opening the Purple Mansion, Jiang Fan's strength had increased by far more than a hundredfold.

The moment he entered the valley, he discovered a curtain of light upon the cliff wall. Understanding at once, he stepped through it.

The light curtain was clearly meant to keep the great beast of this place out.

Inside, the cave was only the size of a room, yet at the center sat a spirit spring filled with incomparably pure mid-grade spiritual liquid.

Hahahaha, my path is complete!

Jiang Fan sat down cross-legged and began to draw it in, directly converting it into magical power.

Because the spiritual liquid was so exceedingly pure, the transformation was astonishingly swift.

Even so, he still found it too slow. He directly transferred large quantities of the spiritual liquid into his Purple Mansion, refined it there, then left the realm of illusion and reality and returned to the enlightenment platform, where he sat cross-legged.

While refining magical power, he also comprehended the mysteries of space from that other world.

During this period, Jiang Fan returned to the Jiang household several times. He also went out and slew several little monsters at the Entering the Dao realm, delivering them to a branch of the Inspection Office and handing them over to Chang Yuan in exchange for points.

Copper-seal inspectors were divided into three ranks: one-leaf, two-leaf, and three-leaf inspectors.

Above copper seal was silver seal.

At the rank of silver-seal inspector, one could already hold down an entire prefecture, and that counted as real authority. To advance further, one had to slay demons, fiends, and sect disciples who had broken the law within the empire and carried bounties from the Inspection Office.

At the copper-seal level, enough points were all that was needed for advancement.

However, in order to reach silver-seal rank, one not only needed points, but cultivation had to have reached the Spirit Soul realm as well.

Jiang Fan killed a full nine little monsters at the Entering the Dao realm before he was promoted to two-leaf inspector. With the rank promotion came greater authority, and he could also obtain many outside reports through the Inspection Office.

A copper-seal two-leaf inspector was enough for now.

The Jiang household!

Father, I’m going into seclusion for a while! Jiang Fan said to Jiang Zheng'an.

You’re going into seclusion again? Jiang Zheng'an frowned.

Yes. Jiang Fan nodded, and at the same time handed over a treasure pouch. It was the one Nangong Rou had given him. Inside are a few magical implements, along with some secret scriptures and spiritual liquid.

Keep it for yourself. Even if I keep cultivating, I’m afraid it will be hard to break through anymore! Jiang Zheng'an shook his head.

I’ve already broken through to the Spirit Soul realm! Jiang Fan smiled. You should not let your cultivation fall behind either. I don’t know how long this seclusion will last. If anything happens, go find Chang Yuan or the prefect; they will help you!

After giving his instructions, he turned to the two maidservants.

Train properly. If you cannot keep up with me, I’ll sell the two of you little girls to a brothel! Jiang Fan said sternly.

Young Master! Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian were instantly aggrieved.

I’m giving you the best cultivation methods, letting you seek advice from Father, and even providing spiritual liquid for you. If you still do not work hard, then I won’t sell you to a brothel—I’ll simply find some random man and marry you off!

With a final scare, Jiang Fan turned and vanished without a trace.

This time, he planned to enter seclusion for a far longer period.

Comprehending the Dao of Space from another world was not something accomplished in a moment.

The Devouring World.

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Qin Ming opened his eyes aboard the Heaven-and-Earth-class intelligent warplane.

In that other world, he had already spent nearly a year.

The harvest had been so abundant that he was greatly satisfied.

Let’s see whether mid-grade spiritual liquid can improve this world.

With a thought, the transferred mid-grade spiritual liquid entered his mouth in one gulp and went down. At once, he felt every cell in his body let out a greedy cry: treasure, treasure, come quickly, come quickly!

The greed of all his cells gathered together and became the soul’s own longing.

The spiritual liquid rapidly spread through his entire body.

Qin Ming activated the Mystic Dao Art to accelerate absorption.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

His body trembled, his cells underwent transformation, and even the genetic primal energy in his dantian grew at a furious pace.

It was not until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month that Qin Ming finally opened the cabin door and flew down.

So you still know how to come back! Luo Xia was very displeased when she saw her son. From New Year’s Day until today, the fifteenth, you actually never showed your face. Do you know you nearly wore your father and me to the bone?

You’re the one enjoying it, Qin Yicheng said with a smile.

All the flattery every day has made my ears numb, Luo Xia said. It would be better than those peaceful days before! Xiaoming, don’t leave these few days. I’ve invited a few sisters over—they want to meet you!

Of course, and they’re all bringing their daughters at the peak of their bloom, Qin Yicheng added.

Don’t you want to hold a grandchild? Luo Xia glared at her husband unhappily, then tugged at Qin Ming’s arm. This time you must listen to Mom. Go meet them. What if the girl fated to you is among them?

Mom... Qin Ming felt a headache coming on. It’s the reunion dinner for the Lantern Festival. Can we eat first?

Of course! No one is allowed to go hungry, least of all my precious son!

Night fell, and fireworks rose into the sky.

Just as Qin Ming sat down, Qin Yicheng received a phone call and his expression changed violently. He hurriedly called out, Xiaoming, come quickly. It’s Li Dawei on the phone!

Li Dawei? Qin Ming’s heart sank.

He came to his father’s side and took the phone. I’m Qin Ming.

From the other end, he heard the roar of fierce gunfire.

Qin Ming, I’ll get straight to the point! Li Dawei panted. Today the maritime defense base came under attack. At first it wasn’t serious, only at level three. We were able to hold it off, so we didn’t call for support from all sides. But just now, eight commander-class sea beasts appeared all at once, with countless general-class ones. This has already reached the scale of a level-two beast tide, and wait...

After a moment, Li Dawei said anxiously, Qin Ming, this is a level-one beast tide, a level-one beast tide! A king-class fierce beast has just been discovered, rushing toward the base at full speed. I ask for your support, I beg you for your support. Otherwise, even if the maritime defense base can be held, it may be crippled. I know that back then you escaped pursuit by a king-class fierce beast, and after becoming the Invincible War God, you should be able to contend with it. You are the nearest existence capable of standing against a king-class fierce beast. I, I, I beg you, beg you to come in support. On behalf of the one hundred thousand soldiers, I ask you for help. Otherwise, otherwise most of them will...

By the end, Li Dawei’s voice had broken with grief.

Duty-bound! Qin Ming hung up at once, looked at his parents, and said, I’ll come back before we eat!

Be careful! Qin Yicheng patted his son on the shoulder.

Be careful! Though Luo Xia was filled with worry, she made no attempt to stop him.

Brother, kill more of those damned beasts! Lulu clenched her fists.

Okay! Qin Ming answered, and his figure had already vanished without trace. He returned to the warplane and ordered, Little Strong, full speed, for the East Sea Base!

At the same time, he entered the network and found the matter already in an uproar.

All the bases around the world were safe and sound; only here had suffered a sea beast invasion, and it had already reached level one.

Could it be that this is a reaction triggered by the slaughter of too many king-class beasts in Australia last time? A warning from the two beast emperors beneath the sea?

Qin Ming pondered.

At that moment, he had already arrived above the East Sea Base.