Chapter 28: The Saint-Realm Underling

Shangguan Ya also felt a lingering fear; it was fortunate that Qin Tian had no intention of killing her. Otherwise, she would have ended up just like the Black Dragon.

Qin Tian looked at the two golden dragons and asked, "Are you willing to follow me to Cangjian Peak and act as gatekeepers?"

The two golden dragons glanced at the corpse of the Black Dragon on the ground and dared not refuse. "We are willing!" they said in unison.

Afterward, Qin Tian stored away the Black Dragon's body, thinking it could be used for another medicinal bath back home. Once these powerhouses were dealt with, Qin Tian walked to the ancient tree that bore the Saint Spirit Fruit and waited quietly. He could sense that the ancient tree possessed its own consciousness. He tapped the trunk twice with the Life-Death Sword and said, "From now on, you're with me."

The ancient tree played dead, offering no response. Qin Tian made a show of preparing to strike it down with his sword, and the tree immediately sent a telepathic plea for mercy. In the end, the tree agreed to follow Qin Tian; its true name was the Saint Spirit Tree.

Qin Tian kept watch until late at night, when the Saint Spirit Fruit finally reached its ten-thousand-year maturity, becoming a low-grade Imperial-tier spiritual fruit. After harvesting the fruit, Qin Tian departed with the two dragons and the tree. Upon exiting the God-Hidden Forest, he summoned the Horse Demon King and boarded the carriage with An Miaoling. The two dragons and the tree transformed into human forms and followed behind.

Inside the carriage, Qin Tian smiled. "Once we cultivate a group of Imperial-level subordinates, you can just give the order, and we’ll flatten the forces of all your enemies."

A group of Imperial-level subordinates? An Miaoling didn't know what to say. Only someone like her, who had ascended to the Imperial realm, knew how difficult it was to achieve such a status. However, she kept it to herself, not wanting to dampen Qin Tian's confidence. She was touched that he had such intentions, and at the thought, she subconsciously leaned against his shoulder. Qin Tian placed his hand on her shoulder and patted it. As the night deepened and the sky grew darker, Qin Tian's hands began to wander. Ultimately, she could only pinch his waist in a shy warning. With the two dragons and the tree following behind, she felt too embarrassed to say, "Don't move, Master, you are overstepping your bounds."

The next day, Qin Tian returned to Cangjian Peak with his new followers. Just as they entered the sect, Xu Ming appeared, having sensed the presence of three Saint-level entities, two of whom were stronger than himself. When he saw the two dragons and the tree, he was shocked, fearing that the Demon Saints had come to attack Kunlun once more. He shouted, "Qin Tian, I will hold them off! Quickly, call Junior Sister Jiang to come and help!"

Qin Tian shook his head and said, "Uncle-Master, don't make such a fuss. These are just three new subordinates I’ve recruited for Cangjian Peak."

Saint-level subordinates? Xu Ming found this information impossible to believe. He looked at the two dragons and the tree, who all smiled kindly in return. Only then did Xu Ming reluctantly believe him, and after reminding Qin Tian to treat them well, he left. Once he had left Cangjian Peak, Xu Ming went to tell Mo Wentian about it, looking forward to seeing his expression of surprise. Beyond his shock, Mo Wentian was overjoyed. "With so many Saint-level experts, our Kunlun Sword Sect will deservedly become the number one power in the Eastern Continent."

Qin Tian brought the two dragons and the tree to the Spirit Sword Pavilion and told them to settle in. For convenience, he named the dragons Long Yi and Long Er to make them easier to distinguish. He then handed them two mid-grade Imperial-tier cultivation manuals; since he had taken them in, he should provide them with some benefits.

After settling them in, Qin Tian returned to the Cangjian Pavilion with An Miaoling. Soon, Mo Wentian arrived. "I heard you recruited three Saint-level powerhouses?"

Qin Tian nodded.

"Do I need to pay them a visit?" Mo Wentian asked cautiously.

"Why visit them? They are just my subordinates."

"Sub... subordinates?" Mo Wentian was bewildered.

"If there’s a fight in the future, you can go to them. As for other matters, forget it!"

Mo Wentian nodded subconsciously, chatted a bit more with An Miaoling, and prepared to leave. At that moment, Qin Tian took out the complete version of the Great Radiance Immeasurable Technique and handed it to him. "Take this manual and cultivate it. As for the others, do as you see fit."

Mo Wentian took the manual and began to read. His expression froze, and he stood perfectly still, staring intently at the text. Qin Tian said, "Take it back to read; no one is going to snatch it from you."

Only then did Mo Wentian snap out of it. Excitedly, he said, "Thank you for this gift, Junior Brother. I will definitely see the Kunlun Sword Sect flourish and make it your strongest pillar of support."

After Mo Wentian left, Qin Tian prepared to refine alchemy. He carefully studied the pill recipe several times and simulated the process in his mind; he could not afford a mistake, as these primary ingredients were not easily obtained. Once confident, he began, first igniting the flames. Then came the addition and adjustment of the herbs—the most critical step. If the herbs were not properly balanced, the pill would fail; any interruption would spell disaster.

Qin Tian synchronized his spirit and energy, calming his breath as he purified the ingredients step by step to preserve their essence. After the first stage, he began to control the fire and the formations on the furnace to fuse the essences together. Once fused, he sealed the furnace. The final step was to control the heat to slowly solidify the pill, a process that consumed the most time. Since he was refining a low-grade Imperial-tier pill, the solidification was extremely slow.

An Miaoling stayed by his side to ensure no one disturbed him, and later, the little fox Bai Xiaoru joined them. Qin Tian spent three days on this refinement. Finally, the furnace stopped vibrating. Qin Tian was exhausted, having maintained high mental focus for three days. With a wave of his hand, the lid flew off, and three low-grade Imperial-tier Saint-Replenishing Pills flew out. They attempted to escape, but Qin Tian had already set up a formation around the furnace, turning them into trapped prey. He then sealed each pill and stored them away.

Qin Tian gave one to An Miaoling for her breakthrough; since this would be a breakthrough into a major realm, he himself would receive a reward. After An Miaoling left, Bai Xiaoru looked at Qin Tian with eager, expectant eyes. Qin Tian held up a pill and asked, "Do you want it?"

Bai Xiaoru nodded repeatedly. "I do!"

"Call me Master," Qin Tian said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Bai Xiaoru hesitated, but finally lowered her head and whispered, "Master!"

"Change back into your human form," Qin Tian commanded.

"What do you want to do?" the little fox Bai Xiaoru asked, looking guarded.

"Hurry up!" Qin Tian urged.

Bai Xiaoru thought for a moment and complied; after all, she had already called him Master, and it would be a loss not to get the pill. Instantly, a breathtaking beauty appeared before Qin Tian once more. Qin Tian’s eyes glinted with mischief. "Show your tails."

Bai Xiaoru cast a disdainful look at him, surprised by his peculiar fetish. Nonetheless, seven fluffy tails sprouted from behind her. With a face flushed with embarrassment, she said, "Give me the pill, quickly!"

Qin Tian stuffed the Saint-Replenishing Pill into her mouth. Feeling the surge of medicinal power within her, Bai Xiaoru sat cross-legged and began her breakthrough to the third layer of the Half-Saint realm.