Chapter 19: A Great Thunder Sweeps Across the Golden Sea!

"Xuewei, do not give him any unrealistic fantasies. There are countless beings in the lower realms, more than one can count."

"But... how many cultivators are truly capable of ascending?"

Zhou Lin spoke with indifference. There was no sharpness in her tone, only the condescension of a superior looking down upon an inferior. This detached air of superiority was enough to shatter the Dao heart of an ordinary cultivator. Even those with the most resilient spirits would be deeply shaken. Speaking the most brutal truths in the calmest of voices often carries a certain magical power.

Moreover, it was not that Zhou Lin looked down on Qin Ming; it was that she did not regard the beings of the Xuanxiao Continent as worthy of notice at all. While the Heavenly Dao may be fair, the chasm that exists from birth was made manifest in this moment.

Facing such heart-piercing words, Qin Ming’s expression remained indifferent. The Immortal Mansion, the Upper Realm—are they truly so remarkable? Before the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burial Cauldron, which refines the heavens, the earth, and all things, and possesses a hundredfold time acceleration, any sense of superiority would be shattered.

"So, the Immortal Mansion? One day, I shall descend upon it as a ruler."

Qin Ming said "descend as a ruler," not "ascend to visit." Within the heart of the youth, there lay his own vast landscapes and heavens.

A trace of surprise flickered in Zhou Lin’s beautiful eyes. That he could utter such domineering words under her powerful pressure proved that this youth possessed some spirit. It was a pity. On the path of cultivation, one does not look at the vigor of youth. Either one succeeds, or one fails. If one's innate talent is lacking, even if given thousands or tens of thousands of years, one still would not be able to ascend.

"Little one, I hope you truly manage to ascend to the Immortal Mansion one day. I’ll grant you a few hundred years."

"By then, I might perhaps acknowledge you as Xuewei’s little lover."

With those words, Zhou Lin took Leng Xuewei and left through the air. Phantoms of towering mountains and vast ranges emerged beneath her feet, blooming and flickering. In just a moment, Zhou Lin and Leng Xuewei vanished, having traveled who knows how many thousands of miles.

"So strong!"

Qin Ming recognized it at a glance; it was the formidable martial art known as "Shrinking the Earth into Inches." Or perhaps it could no longer be called a martial art—it was an Immortal Technique! It was said that with this technique, there was no forbidden land one could not tread.

"Envious?" The Cauldron Lord’s voice rang out.

"A little." Qin Ming rubbed his nose. To say otherwise would be dishonest. Yet, it was precisely this yearning for power that provided the drive to move forward.

"The Immortal Mansion is merely a pure land on the fringe of the Immortal World, catching the overflowing immortal energy. Do the cultivators there really think so highly of themselves?"

"Cauldron Lord, how strong is the Immortal World?" Qin Ming remembered that the Cauldron Lord seemed to originate from the Immortal World, and was even its premier treasure.

"The Immortal World? Have you ever seen a bubble? After a brief moment of dreamlike splendor, it shatters."

The Cauldron Lord’s voice echoed. It seemed to say everything, and yet, nothing at all.

***

Qin Ming nodded thoughtfully and then left the Hundred-Fractured Mountain Range. He had thoroughly looted that old serpent. If the creature were to lose its mind and chase after him for retribution, he would certainly be no match for it at present.

After leaving the mountain range, Qin Ming departed in a hurry. He made brief stops at three major mountains before finally doubling back to the first one after a wide circuit. Once he was certain no one was following, he found a safe and secluded spot, carved out a simple cave, and slipped inside.

He had gained much this time! There were no shortage of rare treasures. Spirit stones, spirit jades, and Immortal Origin essence were countless. The only slight regret was a lack of metallic materials for refining magical artifacts.

"I will elevate my cultivation first!"

Qin Ming’s eyes flashed. He immediately took all the spirit stones, spirit jades, and Immortal Origin essence he had obtained and cast them into the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burial Cauldron.

"Boom!" The cauldron shook slightly. Having received so much at once, even the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burial Cauldron required a moment to process it.

A quarter of an hour later, fifteen drops of golden liquid floated out, resembling fifteen tiny golden suns. This was energy refined to its ultimate purity—the kind that could be absorbed directly without any side effects or obstacles.

Qin Ming entered the space within the cauldron. The flow of time inside was a hundred times faster than the outside world; refining here would be even swifter. One year inside the cauldron was merely three or four days in the outside world.

Facing the fifteen drops of golden liquid, Qin Ming set aside ten. These were reserved for the elders of the Tongtian Immortal Sect. He took the remaining five, popped them into his mouth, and began circulating the Immortal Emperor Scripture to fully digest their power.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Qin Ming’s cultivation surged rapidly during this period, triggering another wave of breakthroughs.

Third level of the Soul-Building Realm!
Sixth level of the Soul-Building Realm!
...
Ninth level of the Soul-Building Realm!

At this moment, Qin Ming felt as if his Dantian had been melted away. Finally, with a resounding boom, it dissolved completely. In truth, the concept of a Dantian no longer existed within him; it had transformed into a vast, boundless ocean of gold.

Qin Ming was stunned. The "Bitter Sea" of an ordinary cultivator was typically a dull, grayish-blue, devoid of life—which is why it was called a "Bitter Sea." But his sea was golden. As a breeze blew, golden ripples surged across the surface, scattering light as if the sea were paved with crushed gold. The crashing of the waves sounded like the rumbling of heavenly thunder!

Qin Ming wore a strange expression. He felt his sea shouldn't be called a Bitter Sea; it should be called the Golden Sea Realm!

He clenched his fists and circulated his power. The golden sea within him surged, churning with terrifying waves. As the sea moved, his magic power and Daoist cultivation increased exponentially. Even Qin Ming was slightly shocked. This was far, far stronger than the Soul-Building Realm; the two were simply not on the same level.

Rather than leaving, Qin Ming chose to continue his cultivation. He struck his storage bag, and a crimson force rushed out, hovering in the cauldron’s space. Crackling lightning circled the crimson filaments—this was the Heavenly Tribulation Root he had seized.

"The Heavenly Tribulation Root is a good thing."

"If you can guide it into your sea, it could double your offensive power!"

The Cauldron Lord’s voice carried a hint of envy. If even the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burial Cauldron spoke of it this way, it seemed this so-called Heavenly Tribulation Root truly had its merits.

"Guide it into the sea?"

To guide such a fierce object into his own sea? Would he destroy himself before he even succeeded? This method of cultivation was something Qin Ming had never heard of.

"The Bitter Sea is not just a stage of cultivation; it is a secret realm of the human body."

"And a golden Bitter Sea is the strongest in history—there is no other."

"Everyone who has condensed a golden sea is a person of heaven-defying talent."

Qin Ming listened intently, his understanding expanding.

"Although there are very few who condense a golden sea, they do exist. If you wish to remain transcendent in this realm, you must manifest a 'Sea Phenomenon'."

"By guiding this Heavenly Tribulation Root into your sea, it may become one of your phenomena, allowing you to master the power of heavenly tribulation!"

Hearing this, a glimmer of anticipation rose in Qin Ming’s eyes. Mastering the power of tribulation? One had to know that tribulation lightning was renowned for its peerless destructive power. If he could master such a force, it would be terrifying.

Thinking of this, Qin Ming’s eyes brightened. Imagine it: a golden sea with thunder sweeping across the sky. With a slight exertion, his magic and attack power would multiply. To his enemies, this would be nothing but despair. This would surely be his greatest asset in sweeping across those of his own level, and perhaps even higher.

"Thunder across the golden sea..."

Brilliant light radiated from Qin Ming’s eyes. He was ready!