Raindrops fell, carrying threads of Sword Intent that seeped into the Spiritual Field.

CRACKLE!

Sizzling sounds erupted as the hidden Blood Marrow Golden Insects were shredded to pieces.

As for the ones buried deeper, Qin Xuan didn’t bother clearing them out.

"Leave a path for them to escape. We’re only driving them out. As long as they don’t remain in my Heart Rot Valley, let them go wherever they please."

A Spiritual Farmer said, "Valley Master Qin, some of the Blood Marrow Golden Insects are too crafty. They refuse to move..."

"If they don’t know what’s good for them, just inform me."

Qin Xuan faced the densest part of the swarm from a distance and pointed lightly with two fingers.

BOOM!

An invisible ripple vibrated through the air.

Dozens of Blood Marrow Golden Insects, impervious to both fire and water, had been frantically devouring the Spiritual Plants in Heart Rot Valley. Suddenly, their movements stiffened.

It was as if all their Vitality had been drained away, yet their dark-red carapaces remained completely unharmed.

But in an instant, their scarlet compound eyes went dim.

"They’re dead! They’re all dead!" a Spiritual Farmer exclaimed in delight.

A rapid series of soft popping sounds echoed out.

In an instant, the massive, rampaging swarm that had refused to leave fell completely silent.

"It’s a Divine Sense attack!"

A Spirit Plant Cultivator finally realized what had happened, his gaze toward Qin Xuan filled with awe.

"To kill hundreds of Blood Marrow Demon Insects with a single thought, without even scratching their carapaces... W-what kind of terrifying Divine Sense control is this?"

The Demon Cultivators all looked at Qin Xuan, their eyes filled with shock.

’The Valley Master’s Cultivation is probably high enough to slay a Purple Mansion Cultivator!’

But Qin Xuan acted as if he had done something utterly trivial and gave a simple command:

"The carapaces of the dead insects are tough and sharp; they are Artifact Refining Materials, so collect them. As for the damaged areas of the Spiritual Field, nourish them with the Ganlin Technique as soon as possible. You might be able to salvage some of the losses."

"As you command!" The Spiritual Farmers immediately got to work.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Spiritual Field.

Tan Fu stared at the ravaged Spiritual Field, his brow deeply furrowed.

Qin Xuan’s figure appeared silently.

"Junior Brother Tan, do you have a plan for dealing with the losses to the Spiritual Field?"

Tan Fu hastily saluted and said with a wry smile, "Driving out the Blood Marrow Golden Insects is just a temporary fix, not a cure. The swarm has burrowed too deep to be completely eradicated. Unless... unless we can find a variety of rice with stronger pest resistance."

Qin Xuan nodded slightly.

"Very well. I’m putting you in charge of cultivating a new rice species. You’ll have free rein over the valley’s resources. If you need to, you can go to the second floor of the Sect’s Scripture Pavilion to borrow texts. I’ll cover the Contribution Points."

Upon hearing this, Tan Fu’s body trembled, and his eyes filled with disbelief and excitement.

"Thank you for this opportunity, Valley Master!"

Qin Xuan nodded and added, "This insect plague isn’t unique to our Heart Rot Valley. I’ve heard the Spiritual Fields at the neighboring Blood Spring Mountain and Withered Marrow Cliff have also suffered similar infestations and sustained heavy losses."

"Compile a detailed report of this information and submit it to the Sect. Say that a rare insect plague has broken out simultaneously in all three locations, and request a reduction of this year’s agricultural tax..."

Tan Fu’s eyes lit up.

’Right, why didn’t I think of that?’

’So this was the Valley Master’s real reason for driving the Demon Insects away!’

The two looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

...

「Several days later, in the Valley Master’s private chamber.」

Several objects floated before Qin Xuan.

There was a bizarre, massive, black-purple eyeball and half a length of jet-black vine that shone with a metallic luster.

There were also a few sealed jade boxes.

Inside them were other, intact Secondary Eye Pupils.

’For a Spiritual Plant to actually produce a Demon Pill, and one that still retains a trace of instinctual Spiritual nature...’ Qin Xuan mused for a moment, clicking his tongue in amazement.

His fingertips caressed the black-purple, eye-shaped Demon Pill.

’No wonder Wei Dragon tried so hard to stop me from Subduing Demons. It seems he had his own agenda!’

’It would be a waste to refine it directly.’

’I recall that the *True Yin Yang Fire Demon Pill Heart Method* contains a ’Blood Refining Coexistence Technique’. It might be worth a try.’

Qin Xuan cut his fingertip, forcing out a few drops of Essence Blood.

Along with a series of complex inscriptions, he slowly infused the drops of Essence Blood into the Demon Pill.

The Yin Vine’s eye-like pill trembled slightly, attempting to resist.

But under the pressure of Qin Xuan’s powerful Divine Sense, its faint bit of Spiritual nature was forcibly branded and it became docile.

"From now on, you’ll guard the Spiritual Fields for me."

Qin Xuan buried the Yin Vine Demon Pill in a patch of Spiritual Soil he had prepared.

He then sprinkled some powdered Wood Attribute Spirit Stones over it.

Next, he picked up the length of Tier Two Top Grade vine and the few Secondary Eye Pupils.

’This vine is tough enough to be refined into a suit of close-fitting Spiritual Armor. And these eye pupils... they’re excellent materials for refining Soul-Loss Golden Needles. Paired with the Curse Bone Heart-Eroding Nail, they specialize in wounding the Divine Soul. They’d be impossible to defend against.’

Ever since obtaining the *Eight Desolates Dao Artifact Sacrificial Refining Spell*, his understanding of similar principles had grown.

Now, Qin Xuan could even attempt to refine Tier Two Spiritual Artifacts!

...

After dealing with the Hundred-Eyed Yin Vine, Qin Xuan made his way to Yu Qi’s residence.

Yu Qi lay on the bed, his face ashen. He had lost both his legs, and his Cultivation had plummeted.

The door to the private chamber opened.

Qin Xuan walked in slowly. He placed a jade vial on the table, then tossed over two leg bones he had taken from the Copper Bone Shadow Soldiers.

"This is a Star Essence Pill. It can neutralize Demon Poison."

Qin Xuan’s voice was calm and even.

"This Copper Bone Yin Artifact can be used to reattach limbs. Remember to properly stabilize your Cultivation."

Yu Qi’s eyes shot open, welling with hot tears that rolled down his cheeks in large drops. "Hh... hh..."

He struggled to sit up, wanting to express his gratitude but unable to form the words.

"I forgot you can’t move."

Qin Xuan tipped out a Star Essence Pill—one that was overflowing with fragrance and concealed a Bone-Transforming Corpse Beetle—and tossed it into Yu Qi’s mouth.

Yu Qi’s mouth instantly began to water, and he swallowed it down without a moment’s hesitation.

BOOM!

In an instant, the majority of his injuries healed.

Yu Qi’s lips trembled. He prostrated himself on the floor, a thousand words of gratitude condensed into a single vow.

"For this grace of giving me a new life, Valley Master, I, Yu Qi, will follow only your command for the rest of my days... I will face mountains of blades and seas of fire, and I would die ten thousand deaths for you without regret!"

Qin Xuan accepted his kowtow and smiled faintly.

"Focus on your recovery. There will be a place for you in the valley’s future."

’Qin Xuan intended to build Heart Rot Valley into the main base for his assault on the Purple Mansion realm!’

「One year later, deep within Heart Rot Valley.」

A dense, poisonous miasma filled the air, with Qin Xuan sitting cross-legged in meditation at its center.

Behind him, a great golden sun hung high in the air, burning brilliantly. Wisps of True Sun Fire flowed from it, hot enough to melt gold.

"True Sun Flame, withdraw!"

BOOM!

The great golden sun abruptly shrank into a golden seal and settled between Qin Xuan’s eyebrows.

A smile tugged at the corner of Qin Xuan’s mouth as he slowly opened his eyes.

A golden True Flame seemed to flicker deep within his eyes, and his aura was majestic and boundless.

’After a full year, I’ve finally managed to refine a single trace of this True Flame.’

The True Sun Flame was of a higher grade and far more powerful than the Profound Cyan Cave Nether True Flame he had previously obtained.

It also contained the scorching power of the great sun, a force of the purest Supreme Yang.

The perfect counter to all things evil and unholy!

’It’s still not enough. If, within the Star Palace system, the Seven Luminaries Star Palace is comparable to the most powerful Ziwei Circle, then the Sun Fate Star is equivalent to the Ziwei Emperor Star.’

Qin Xuan spread a set of bamboo slips before him and began to recall the information from his inherited memories.

’To open the Seven Luminaries Star Palace and draw upon the strongest Sun Fate Star, I need more than just the inheritance. I also need these items.’

Countless Tier Two Spiritual Objects were laid out before Qin Xuan.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would likely have to go bankrupt to gather all of these, yet to Qin Xuan, they were piled up like junk.

He swept his Divine Sense over them, cataloging each of the Treasures of Heaven and Earth that could help him open his Star Mansion. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

He ultimately sorted them into three main categories.

Materials for refining the Crystal Condensation Opening Pill, which stabilizes the Divine Sense.

The Thousand-Year Soul Nourishing Wood, which can shield the Divine Soul and Flesh Body from the corrosive power of the True Sun Fire.

And finally, the Starlight Jade Liquid, for cleansing Demonic Essence and purifying his Cultivation!