"Young friend, as a Magic Soul Body who practices mixed cultivation, not only Soul Cultivation, but Magic Practitioning and Body Cultivation also should not be overly aggressive; I see there are also signs of instability in your Qi-Blood. Did you also use some special method for cultivation? It's better to be steady and solid," Xia Jie continued.

"What Fellow Daoist Xia Jie says is true. However, the Body Cultivation Method I practiced comes from the Demon World, hence I used Demonic Qi to enhance it. Could this be a hidden problem?" Yuan Ming raised his eyebrows and asked.

He had previously spared no effort to increase his power mainly to deal with the invasion of the Wu Yue Sect and the Demon World. Now that the crisis was resolved, he had no intention of using the Shura Blood Devouring Map to speed up his cultivation anymore.

"That won't be a problem. After all, whether it's Demonic Qi or Spiritual Energy, both are the most fundamental forces of this world. They are just different types, neither inherently good nor evil. You just need to be cautious and avoid conflicts between Mana and Demonic Qi," Xia Jie said.

Yuan Ming's heart relaxed upon hearing this, and he immediately took out an item, which was the broken sword fragment he had acquired from the altar of the Stealing Heaven Tripod.

"This item was acquired from the altar inside the Stealing Heaven Tripod. Since Fellow Daoist Xia Jie was the first owner of the Stealing Heaven Tripod, you must know about this item; do you know where this fragment came from?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Hehe, I didn't expect that you would find this item. Among the thirteen owners of the Stealing Heaven Tripod, you are the only one who noticed the existence of this fragment," Xia Jie said with a laugh, taking the broken sword fragment and gently stroking it with his finger.

"This fragment was also acquired from the Wentian Secret Realm. I haven't been able to clarify its origin, but since it cannot be destroyed, it must be a fragment of a powerful artifact. The three runes on it are very mysterious but also exceedingly dominant; you must be careful when using it," Xia Jie said slowly, then handed it back.

Yuan Ming nodded slowly and put away the broken sword fragment.

He then asked about the reason Stealing Heaven Tripod Space was hard to open. The answer was just as he had guessed: the Crystal Stone in the altar of the Stealing Heaven Tripod had exhausted its Spiritual Power.

Unfortunately, Xia Jie didn't have the Crystal Stones needed for the Array either, and Yuan Ming would have to find a replacement himself in the future.

"I have one last question," Yuan Ming said, looking up at Xia Jie, his expression solemn.

"Feel free to ask," Xia Jie replied, his expression indifferent.

"I've heard that above the level of Spiritual Treasures, all items possess an Artifact Spirit. Does the Stealing Heaven Tripod also have an Artifact Spirit?" Yuan Ming asked.

"The Artifact Spirit of the Stealing Heaven Tripod? I cannot answer that question as I've never sensed the presence of an Artifact Spirit inside the tripod. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Xia Jie said ambiguously.

Yuan Ming frowned slightly upon hearing Xia Jie's response, lost in thought.

"Kid, I've helped you a lot; How do you plan to repay me?" Xia Jie suddenly smiled and asked.

"If the senior needs anything from this junior, please speak plainly," Yuan Ming replied, bowing with his fists clasped.

"I've been planning to go somewhere important soon; I might need your help," Xia Jie said solemnly.

"Could the senior tell me where he's going, and what he intends to do?" Yuan Ming asked, frowning.

"You're quite cautious. So, if I don't tell you, you won't agree?" Xia Jie raised his eyebrows, his tone teasing.

Yuan Ming thought for a moment, then said, "I can help, but the senior must wait some time. I have an arrangement with someone else that I need to keep first."

"No matter, you go and attend to your own business first," Xia Jie waved his hand, not minding at all.

"Alright," Yuan Ming replied, bowing with his fists.

"Take this with you; you will find it useful," Xia Jie said, waving his hand, and a yellowed piece of paper fluttered toward Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming caught it and immediately his eyes lit up; it was the recipe for crafting Black Incense.

Initially, he had tried and searched bit by bit himself, so when he saw the list of ingredients on the paper, he recognized them at a glance.

This original recipe for Black Incense was almost the same as what he had deduced himself, especially the choice of several main spiritual materials, which were completely identical.

The only differences were in some auxiliary materials and the ratio of ingredients used.

Even so, Yuan Ming was profoundly grateful.

"Many thanks, senior," he said, bowing in thanks.

"Now go take care of your matters," Xia Jie then waved his hand, indicating it was time for Yuan Ming to leave.

After parting with Xia Jie, Yuan Ming immediately rushed to the place where he had an appointment with Luo Zhu.

It was a bamboo shed built in a secluded and hidden valley in the Southern Border and Northern Territory, not a location rich in Spiritual Energy like an Immortal Mansion.

Upon arriving, Yuan Ming released his Divine Sense to scan briefly and detected Luo Zhu's presence.

He did not deliberately conceal his own aura, so by the time he arrived at the bamboo shed's door, Luo Zhu was already waiting at the entrance.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, you certainly made me wait!" Luo Zhu said somewhat reproachfully.

Yuan Ming smiled but did not respond; the two stepped inside the bamboo shed.

After sitting down at the table, Yuan Ming got straight to the point, "Where is that senior?"

No sooner had he spoken than a purple hairpin on Luo Zhu's head suddenly flashed light, and a hazy, fleeting white shadow emerged, settling beside her and transforming into a dignified old woman with white hair.

She appeared to be in a Spiritual Body state, somewhat ethereal, her form enveloped in a faint mist, which rendered her features somewhat blurred.

However, Yuan Ming sensed that although she was in a Soul Body state, the fluctuations of her soul were not weak. Thus, the ethereal quality of her presence was not due to the dispersal of her Spiritual Body but related to her inherent attributes.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, I'm deeply grateful that you could keep our appointment," the old woman said, offering a gesture of respect.

"Senior, there's no need for formalities. May I know how to address you?" Yuan Ming quickly stood up and bowed in return.

"I am called the Water Spirit Saint Mother. I have arranged to meet with Fellow Daoist Yuan hoping to use your Body of Wanxiang to help open a stone gate," the old woman said.

"If that's all, it shouldn't be too difficult. May I ask where this stone gate is located?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"It is in a deep valley in the mountains of the Northern Territory; we will need to trouble you to come with us," the Water Spirit Saint Mother explained.

Yuan Ming frowned slightly, but, embracing the spirit of 'since I'm here, I might as well adapt,' he nodded in agreement.

Afterward, they left the bamboo shed and headed for the valley.

Upon flying over the valley, Yuan Ming was momentarily stunned; the place was not unfamiliar to him—it was precisely Snake King Valley.

"Could it be Snake King Valley that they wanted to visit?"

As Yuan Ming pondered, he heard Luo Zhu say, "This is the place."

With that, she took the lead and flew down, and Yuan Ming immediately followed.

Although he was highly suspicious, he decided to watch and see how things would unfold, thus he maintained a calm expression and continued on.

Indeed, they eventually reached the depths of the cavern and stood at the entrance of the Underground Palace.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, the stone gate we need your help to open is this one," the Water Spirit Saint Mother reiterated as she emerged from a purple hairpin.

Yuan Ming looked at the two women, his expression filled with doubt.

He was fully aware of what lay behind the gate, but what baffled him was why these two wanted to unlock it?

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, you might not be aware. This stone gate is not as simple as it seems on the surface. It is not only extremely solid, but it also has an unusual forbidden seal inside. Any Spiritual Power that touches the gate gets absorbed by the seal. Our Pan Si Island has tried many methods in the past years but failed to open it," Luo Zhu noticed Yuan Ming's hesitation and decided to explain.

"So, you're planning to break it open with brute force?" Yuan Ming said, upon hearing this.

"Such a gate cannot be broken by anyone other than a Body Cultivator like Fellow Daoist Yuan, who possesses the Body of Wanxiang," the Water Spirit Saint Mother declared.

Yuan Ming sighed internally. He had taken away the black stone pillar, and the gate's original seal should have already been broken; they just needed to try once more, and then they would realize that even without the Body of Wanxiang, it could now be opened.

However, he naturally did not voice these thoughts.

"Since that's the case, then I shall give it a try," Yuan Ming said as he stepped forward and rubbed his hands together. Thanks for reading—brought to you by *.

Upon hearing this, the Water Spirit Saint Mother and Luo Zhu both stepped back a few steps, their eyes gleaming with hopeful joy.

Yuan Ming lifted his hands, the Demon Image Prison Suppression Skill immediately activated within him. His muscles bulged and red steam rose from his body, appearing to exert his full strength; in reality, he had only used 20% of his power.

He stepped forward and threw a punch at the stone gate.

"Bang"

A dull sound echoed as ripples of blue light surged over the surface of the gate.

The three felt the entire cavern shake. Looking at the stone gate, it remained undamaged without a single crack.

This left even Yuan Ming dumbfounded.

He had opened this stone gate before, so he had some understanding of it. The reason he had used only 20% of his strength was intentional—it was sufficient to crack the gate without shattering it.

This way, he could fulfill the task without making the gate seem overly fragile.

But the outcome was completely unexpected.

The Water Spirit Saint Mother also frowned deeply, exchanging a puzzled look with Luo Zhu.

Recovering from his surprise, Yuan Ming immediately activated the Demon Image Prison Suppression Skill again, this time utilizing 50% of his strength, and punched the stone gate.

"Bang" echoed again, shaking the cavern.

Suddenly, a "crack" sound was heard as a fissure emerged from below Yuan Ming's fist, gradually spreading.

Seeing this, the Water Spirit Saint Mother was instantly overjoyed.

Yuan Ming then punched again.

This time, without any surprise, the crack on the gate rapidly widened, and with a "bang," it burst open.

From the destroyed stone gate, black demonic qi coiled out, rolling outward.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming's eyes flashed briefly.

He quickly realized that something else must have occurred in the Underground Palace after he took the Sky-reaching Demon Pillar; otherwise, it wouldn't have accumulated such an immense amount of demonic qi in such a short time.

The next moment, Yuan Ming became even more bewildered.

Because with just a brief sensing, he discovered that the demonic qi here was not only denser but also purer than before!