Yuan Ming instructed Hua Zhi to capture a nearby demon beast for experimentation and discovered that when the soul crow released its “Crow Cry,” it could cause the enemy’s soul to tremble, rendering their consciousness dull and their bodies rigid, requiring some time to recover.

Additionally, during his previous cultivation, he had already preliminarily completed the first realm of the dream butterfly illusion technique, “Mirror Flower.” Now, by combining it with the soul crow’s abilities, he could imperceptibly trap his enemies in an illusion.

This significantly extended the range of Yuan Ming’s illusion techniques, which excited him greatly.

Yuan Ming put away the soul crow and was about to test other soul cultivator abilities when he suddenly felt the “Stealing Heaven Cauldron” mark on his arm grow warm.

With a thought, he summoned the Stealing Heaven Cauldron, and as soon as it appeared, Yuan Ming felt his connection with it deepen significantly.

In the air, strands of invisible force gathered from all directions, merging into the Stealing Heaven Cauldron.

“What is this?” Yuan Ming’s face showed surprise.

He quickly discovered something about this invisible force.

This force was similar to spiritual consciousness, yet different. With a solemn expression, he held the Stealing Heaven Cauldron in his hand, concentrating his mind to sense it. The cauldron emitted a light hum, and a layer of golden runes appeared around it, blocking his spiritual consciousness from advancing even slightly.

Back in the Southern Border, Yuan Ming had tried to refine the Stealing Heaven Cauldron and encountered this golden barrier, which had violently repelled him. Now, the barrier’s reaction was far less intense.

He was secretly pleased, realizing that as his Death Moon method improved, his connection with the Stealing Heaven Cauldron was deepening, and its resistance was weakening. Sooner or later, he would have complete control over it.

Yuan Ming closed his eyes to sense the invisible force gathering around him and soon showed surprise again.

His spiritual consciousness touched this force and absorbed a bit of it, finding it beneficial.

“These invisible forces can absorb souls. It seems they are indeed of the same nature as spiritual consciousness. The warm flow that emerged from the incense burner whenever my soul was injured must be the invisible force collected by the Stealing Heaven Cauldron,” Yuan Ming realized.

Unfortunately, with the golden barrier around the cauldron, he couldn’t penetrate it to manipulate this force; there was still a distance to go.

Yuan Ming set down the Stealing Heaven Cauldron, recalling that it was Xiying who had told him its name. He wondered if she knew about this force.

He took out the communication talisman left by Xiying, intending to inquire, but after some thought, he put it away.

He had been in seclusion in his cave dwelling for five years, focusing on cultivation and rarely contacting the outside world, not even using Black Incense. He didn’t know Xiying’s whereabouts.

His thoughts then turned to his parents, whom he hadn’t seen in many years, and he wondered how they were now…

He took out a stick of Black Incense, ready to project his consciousness into his father to check on him, but suddenly felt the same invisible force lingering on the incense, albeit more diluted.

“The incense also contains this force?” Yuan Ming murmured to himself. After some thought, he took out the only remaining original Black Incense.

The original Black Incense indeed contained that invisible force, which was much more concentrated, even giving him a sense of viscosity.

Yuan Ming seemed to have realized something and then took out the ash used for making incense, discovering that it too was enveloped by the invisible force.

“So that’s how it is.” Yuan Ming suddenly understood and laughed heartily.

He had long suspected that the power to project consciousness through Black Incense lay in a special force within the ash. The more of that force present, the better the projection effect. Now it seemed his suspicion was correct!

The force within the incense ash, seemingly derived from the worship and wishes of sentient beings, Yuan Ming decided to name it “Wish Force.”

His research on Wish Force was still superficial, and he couldn’t figure out much at the moment, so he temporarily set aside his thoughts, lit the Black Incense, and projected into his father.

At that moment, his father was sitting cross-legged in a quiet room, cultivating. Judging by the spiritual power circulating within him, his cultivation had advanced from the seventh level of Qi refining to the ninth level, entering the late stage of Qi refining.

Yuan Ming was happy to detect this progress. If his father could advance further, coupled with some opportunities, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage was not impossible.

However, he then thought of his mother, who had no talent for cultivation. Now that both he and his father had attained longevity, how could he leave his mother with a short lifespan alone?

He resolved to find life-extending elixirs for his mother if he had the chance.

His father was very dedicated to cultivation, his mind neither hurried nor slow. Until Yuan Ming’s projection ended, he did not leave the quiet room.

This also confirmed that nothing major had happened at home, which somewhat relieved Yuan Ming.

After his spiritual consciousness returned, he planned to continue meditating. Vajra had been cultivating inside the spirit beast bag and had devoured all the Copper Skin Elixirs obtained from Liu Su, now relying on regular training.

As Vajra’s spiritual intelligence gradually improved, it recorded its cultivation techniques. Yuan Ming reviewed them and found Vajra’s methods to be extraordinary.

Yuan Ming had also collected some information on physical cultivation and knew that the essence of physical cultivation techniques in the Central Plains was to refine from the outside in, starting with the skin and flesh, then the tendons and bones, and finally the internal organs.

However, the physical cultivation technique Vajra provided started with directly tempering the internal organs in a rather brutal manner, suitable only for demon beasts with exceptional physical talents, and impossible for ordinary cultivators to practice.

He had to put aside his thoughts on physical cultivation for the time being, planning to look for a standard physical cultivation technique later.

Suddenly, he took out a communication talisman from his chest, which cracked with a “snap,” indicating a matter at the spiritual incense shop. A customer wanted to discuss a big deal and insisted on negotiating with the owner. Yuan Ming couldn’t refuse.

His Death Moon method had just broken through, and his soul power was not yet completely stable. He didn’t want to end his seclusion so soon.

However, due to overly optimistic previous estimates, his stock of elixirs was now depleted. The previous one hundred thousand spirit stones would not last if he continued to spend without earning.

The higher the cultivation, the more expensive the required elixirs. To maintain the rapid pace of cultivation and break through to the later stages of Foundation Establishment, he still needed a large amount of spirit stones. He couldn’t miss out on the big deal at the spiritual incense shop.

With this thought, he left Hua Zhi and Lei Yu to guard the cave dwelling and set off for Wangyue City.

Who could this person be, insisting on dealing with him directly? He had entrusted Hu Tu with managing the shop affairs, so what could be so urgent that they needed to discuss with him? Could it be someone with ill intentions?

Yuan Ming was already curious about this person’s strong demand for a face-to-face meeting. Now, as he approached the shop, a series of thoughts flashed through his mind, causing him to instinctively stop.

After a moment’s thought, he released a soul crow, which dove into the city’s underground, heading stealthily towards the spiritual incense shop. After the fourth layer breakthrough of the Death Moon method, the soul crow’s ability to change form had also improved, and it could now fully dematerialize and travel underground.

Soon arriving at the spiritual incense shop, the outer hall was empty except for Mu You at the counter. The soul crow sneaked into the inner hall and peeked out from a hidden corner.

Inside, Hu Tu was conversing with a gray-robed elder, seemingly in good spirits. This must be the customer who had requested to meet with Yuan Ming.

Upon seeing the man’s face, Yuan Ming’s pupils suddenly constricted. The visitor was none other than Zuo Qinghui.

“Why is he here?”

As a cultivator from Changchun Temple and a Nascent Soul stage existence, Yuan Ming had been on high alert since meeting Zuo Qinghui at the Tianxiang Auction.

If it were just a chance encounter in Wangyue City, Zuo Qinghui would have introduced himself. Now, with such secretive behavior and a request to purchase a large quantity of spiritual incense, the visitor likely had malicious intentions.

Yuan Ming quickly decided to return to his cave dwelling, instructing Hua Zhi and Lei Yu to leave and be on guard.

He then laid out the Bronze Thunder Pattern Formation around the cave dwelling, intertwining it with the Five Elements Illusionary Formation. After completing these arrangements, Yuan Ming used the Concealing Yuan Technique to suppress his cultivation to the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage and returned to Wangyue City, entering the spiritual incense shop directly.

“A customer wants to order spiritual incense? Elder Zuo?” Yuan Ming feigned surprise.

“Ah ha, Yuan my friend, it’s been a long time,” Zuo Qinghui said with a light laugh.

Yuan Ming kept a neutral expression, unsurprised. He had used his real name in Wangyue City, and Zuo Qinghui could easily find out with a little inquiry.

Hu Tu, hearing Yuan Ming address the visitor as “Elder Zuo,” froze in place.

Knowing that Yuan Ming was at the Foundation Establishment stage, could this guest be a Nascent Soul stage existence? With this thought, Hu Tu quickly found an excuse to leave discreetly.

“Elder Zuo, I had no choice but to challenge the former National Advisor in the past. For the sake of Changchun Temple’s reputation, it was best to use a pseudonym and keep a low profile. I hope you don’t take offense,” Yuan Ming quickly recovered and greeted with a bow.

“No harm done, that’s all in the past. My friend, you are meticulous and decisive in action, and you have slain Pu Zhengqing, making a great contribution to the Great Jin’s cultivation world. Few of the younger generation can match you,” Zuo Qinghui’s smile widened.

“You flatter me.”

Yuan Ming pondered the hidden meaning behind Zuo Qinghui’s words.

“Why did you suddenly close your thriving spiritual incense shop in Xiaohu City and come to open one in Wangyue City?” Zuo Qinghui looked around and asked.

“Spiritual incense is not like elixirs or spiritual materials; it’s not a necessity for cultivators. Only the wealthy buy it as a novelty. The business in Xiaohu City wasn’t doing well, and continuing it wasn’t profitable,” Yuan Ming replied.

“Oh, I didn’t expect that besides your strength, you also have a unique business insight. It seems I haven’t misjudged you,” Zuo Qinghui chuckled.

“What do you mean by that?” Yuan Ming asked, slightly taken aback.

“To be honest, I’ve come here for a matter that I need to discuss with you,” Zuo Qinghui said as he sat down and waved his hand to create a soundproof barrier, speaking leisurely.

“Please speak, Elder,” Yuan Ming said, his heart tensing but his face still showing innocence.

“Making spiritual incense is a minor matter. I’ve come to revisit an old proposal. Do you remember the suggestion from five years ago?” Zuo Qinghui’s smile became warmer as he spoke.