"These two Demon Pills are of great use to me, I cannot use them to brew wine for now!" Qin Ming sighed and said.

Soon after, the two started chatting about various topics.

Half a day later, Cold Crow Ascendant said with a sigh:

"You, Younger Brother Qin, have it easy! Not only is your cultivation and divine techniques powerful, but you live carefree, without any burdens. No wonder Supreme Yang values you so much."

"He even assigned you to the safest logistics task in the Southern Wilderness."

"Unlike me, I have to fight tooth and nail against those Demonic Cultivators, without enough life-preserving items, I truly feel insecure."

"Hmm, it’s about time we head back too." Qin Ming said.

Cold Crow Ascendant pondered for a moment and said, "Didn’t the Alliance Leader invite us to witness the final duel of the sect’s prodigies?"

"In three days, let’s watch it before leaving, otherwise, it would seem disrespectful to the Celestial Sea Alliance."

Qin Ming nodded.

...

Three days passed in a flash.

On this day, Dragon Abyss Island was extraordinarily lively.

The top ten prodigies of the East Sea Cultivation Realm were about to compete here, aiming to make a name for themselves.

The Nascent Soul Elders from various sects, as well as a few Loose Cultivators who hadn’t left, were all invited by Supreme Yang to witness the event.

Qin Ming and Cold Crow Ascendant walked side by side into the venue.

As they passed a corner of the backstage building, they encountered a person.

It was Liu Yu, preparing to participate in the duel.

Qin Ming glanced over him, noticing that his mana had broken through to the mid-stage Golden Core Realm, clearly indicating he had consumed Demon Flame Wine in advance.

Liu Yu was somewhat surprised to see the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs and hurriedly bowed in salute: "Junior Liu Yu, greets the two True Monarch seniors!"

"Mm, no need for formalities." Qin Ming gave him a faint smile, "Do well in a moment."

Liu Yu looked somewhat unnatural, forcing a smile as he said, "I thought Elder Qin had left Dragon Abyss Island; I didn’t expect you’d still be here to watch."

"Mm, why do you ask? Is there anything inappropriate about us observing the event?" Cold Crow Ascendant asked nonchalantly.

"No, no, I’m just curious." Liu Yu quickly added.

Qin Ming gestured with a wave of his hand: "You go busy yourself; prepare well."

Liu Yu, relieved as if granted amnesty, bowed again respectfully before retreating.

After he left, Cold Crow Ascendant frowned and asked, "Could it be Younger Brother Qin takes a fancy to this kid’s talent, eager at the sight of prey?"

Since Cold Crow Ascendant had arrived at Dragon Abyss Island and reunited with Qin Ming, after half a month’s drinking and carousing, their relationship grew much closer, now casually addressing him as ’Younger Brother Qin’.

"Qin has no such intentions, just a slight acquaintance with this boy, it’s a matter of fate." Qin Ming replied with a soft smile.

Afterward.

The two then entered the round plaza, under the awe-struck gaze of countless cultivators, and took their seats in the main viewing platform.

Then they greeted the fellow cultivators one by one.

"Hehehe! Taking advantage of this sect disciples’ duel, we old fellows are idle anyway, why not participate a bit and place some bets?"

The old man with the surname Huang looked at the duel below with great interest and said.

"I have a Tier Four Low-Grade Cyan Gold Profound Stone, which is useful for crafting either puppets or arrays."

Master Tianji from the West Nether Cultivation Realm’s Kuzhu Sect suddenly brightened up and said with a playful smile: "I’ll bet with you..."

But before he finished.

The old man with the surname Huang quickly refused: "Go away, you old ghost relying on your Divination Divine Techniques, trying to take advantage of me. I’ll bet with anyone in the room but not with you."

Master Tianji: "..."

As for Qin Ming, he was absentmindedly watching the intense duel below.

Now, the duel of the Golden Core Stage, in his eyes, was like two children fighting... full of flaws.

When it was Liu Yu’s turn to take the stage, Qin Ming paid a little more attention. This person was cultivating the Ink-Wash Divine Technique, surprisingly using ink and brush as a core system for his cultivation technique, making him nod silently.

Finally, Liu Yu won this duel; he bowed and stepped down, preparing for the next stage of the competition.

But at this moment.

The mark Qin Ming left on the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Ghostly Palace responded once again.

The two Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals were currently pretending to patrol inside the round plaza’s building, then turned and arrived at an underground room.

"Junior Brother Ling!! Our efforts paid off, the contact from above finally reached us!" The Crab General cautiously set up a barrier first, then excitedly said to the Shrimp Soldier.

The Shrimp Soldier couldn’t contain his excitement either, as their Demon Spirit Talismans were about to expire in two days, and they would definitely face death.

Unexpectedly, a glimmer of hope appeared suddenly.

The two were like drowning men grabbing onto straws, almost moved to tears with their excitement...

"Brother Yan, our brothers have finally gotten through! As long as we complete this task, we can reach success!"

"But... which Demon Monarch took the initiative to contact us?" The Shrimp Soldier tried to suppress its emotions and asked.

The Crab General replied mysteriously: "It’s an insider placed by the top on Dragon Abyss Island. He’s coming to meet us shortly."

"Really? That’s great!"

Half a stick of incense later.

A shadow-cloaked figure cautiously approached the door of the underground room where they were.

This person took out half a talisman, injected mana, and the talisman burned out, turning into a wisp of cyan smoke that drifted inside.

At the same time.

The half talisman in the Crab General’s hand began to burn spontaneously once it encountered the wisp of cyan smoke.