384: Dragon's Nest, Star Bead

Inside the Grotto-Heaven, Lin Shiming solemnly took out the Jade Slip.

The secret that Nine Dragon Island did not transmit was too valuable.

The identity of this Cultivator was also very clear: either a core Cultivator who defected from Nine Dragon Island, or a spy arranged by the Jiaolong Clan.

However, Lin Shiming believed it was the latter. Although a Sect did not have the same cohesion as a Family Cultivator, betrayals were not common.

Only those whose roots were known would be nurtured.

It was difficult for such core Cultivators to betray, but it was absolutely possible for spies to be inserted, given the strength of the Jiaolong Clan.

Otherwise, there would not have been four Dragons.

He continued to look into the Jade Slip, and the next moment, his face was filled with shock, which then turned into joy.

He suddenly understood the foundation of the Jiaolong Clan and Nine Dragon Island's establishment, and also clearly understood why this Nine Dragon Island Cultivator had three Dragons.

The secret technique in this Jade Slip was the construction of a Jiaolong Nest.

Its greatest effect was to help Spirit Snakes with good Bloodlines accelerate their transformation into Dragons, having a terrifying effect on Bloodline condensation and Bloodline Restoration.

This was also why Nine Dragon Island had always held the top spot in the Six Great Sea Regions' power rankings, occupying the most central position in the Six Great Sea Regions, without worrying about the Yao Race invading.

Even during a beast tide, they were the ones providing aid, and during the beast tide, they profited greatly from the war, even wantonly slaughtering the Jiaolong Clan, which would also cause a backlash from the Yao Beast, leading to the beast tide escalating.

Yet, the other five Great Sea Regions had no choice but to spend a fortune to invite Nine Dragon Island to help defend their islands.

Lin Shiming examined it for a full stick of incense, his heart surging with emotion, and he understood the key: the golden dragon fruit tree where the Dragon was coiled.

Of course, among Nine Dragon Island and the Jiaolong Clan, it was also known as the Dragon Transformation Tree.

Legend has it that the golden dragon fruit tree was formed from the corpse of a Sixth-Order Dragon after its death, nourished day and night by the essence of its entire Dragon Blood.

And in the South Sea Cultivation World and the Eastern Region Cultivation World, there were currently no Nascent Soul Cultivators, so naturally, there would be no new Sixth-Order Dragons.

Therefore, every golden dragon fruit tree was a treasure that Nine Dragon Island used to suppress its Sect.

It could not only produce golden dragon fruit but also Dragon Qi. However, this Dragon Qi was easily mixed with the Spiritual Qi of the Spiritual Vein, losing its original efficacy.

Therefore, a Spirit Formation was needed to gather this Dragon Qi.

And this Formation was also a Fourth-Order Medium Grade Formation.

Moreover, it was a composite Formation of three together, requiring extremely high attainment in Formations. Lin Shiming had never heard of its name or content.

Its Formation was also beyond his comprehension.

But he knew one thing.

He had the golden dragon fruit tree, and now he had the method for the Formation, so the construction of the Jiaolong Nest could be put on the agenda.

Originally, he was puzzled as to why there were so many half-Dragons in that Secret Realm even though the golden dragon fruit tree had not borne fruit.

This was most likely influenced by the golden dragon fruit tree.

Lin Shiming immediately felt a bit helpless and amused. It seemed his second uncle's burden had grown heavier.

For the next ten years, the focus would definitely be on improving Lin Houshou's Formation attainment.

Both the Jiaolong Nest and the Ziyang Pagoda required his Formation skills.

However, he hesitated, wondering how the golden dragon fruit tree appeared in that Mysterious Grade Secret Realm.

And from Purple Jade Sanren, he also learned that Nine Dragon Island knew of the golden dragon fruit tree's existence, but did not know its exact location, nor did they dare to invade the Coral Alliance's sea domain in large numbers.

Speaking of half-Dragons, he couldn't help but think of Lin Shitao's Five-Colored Python cub, which could also be cultivated into a Dragon. He just didn't know if it would have a single attribute or directly become a Five-Colored Jiao after becoming a Dragon.

Lin Shiming couldn't help but yearn for it, but he also knew that the golden dragon fruit tree must never be exposed.

It was also impossible to plant it on the Lin Family's island; the most likely place was still in his Grotto-Heaven.

Otherwise, whether it was Nine Dragon Island Cultivators discovering the clue or the Jiaolong Clan discovering it, the Lin Family would only face destruction.

Even if they vigorously purchased Yao Snakes in the future, they would have to find a very good excuse.

The method for building the Jiaolong Nest excited Lin Shiming for quite a while.

Then he continued to examine the Formation.

As a spy, the content of these Jade Slips also exceeded Lin Shiming's expectations. There was even the method for refining the top-grade Magic Treasure, the Dragon Locking Chain, and in addition, the method for refining the Blood Burst Pill.

The Blood Burst Pill was what that Cultivator fed to the Dragon at the last moment when the three Dragons were pulling the pagoda.

After consuming the Blood Burst Pill, that Yao Beast had almost exhausted its potential, its Lifespan was greatly damaged, and its Bloodline plummeted, which was why he decisively controlled the Dragon to self-detonate.

This Blood Burst Pill was not limited to Dragons; feeding it to other Yao Beasts could also increase their strength by nearly half.

The Blood Burst Pill was also divided into Third-Order Blood Burst Pill and Fourth-Order Blood Burst Pill; the former was for Third-Order Yao Beasts, and the latter for Fourth-Order Yao Beasts.

For the Lin Family, this combined with the Spirit Control Seal was the most appropriate. The Spirit Control Seal could temporarily control Yao Beasts, and this Blood Burst Pill could maximize their strength.

As for potential, for Yao Beasts not raised from a young age, why would potential be needed?

The Yao Beasts controlled by the Lin Family's Spirit Control Seal were probably all cannon fodder.

It just couldn't get around that problem: Nine Dragon Island couldn't know.

Otherwise, the storm the Lin Family would face would be even more terrifying than the Coral Alliance. The combination of a Golden Core True Person and a Golden Core Demon King—at that time, unless Lin Shiming could bring back the Ten Thousand Swords Graveyard.

And have them all transformed into Spirit Cultivators.

Otherwise, the Lin Family would perish.

There were no other good secret techniques or Pill Formulas in the remaining Jade Slips.

The only one was an improved Beast Nurturing Pill Pill Formula, which was better than any the Lin Family had previously obtained, reaching the level of a Third-Order Top Grade Spirit Pill, and playing a greater role in the growth of Spirit Beasts.

Moreover, this Spirit Pill could be fully promoted within the Lin Family, as Beast Nurturing Pills were too common for Nine Dragon Island to trace.

As long as it wasn't circulated, this Beast Nurturing Pill would be an ordinary Beast Nurturing Pill.

Lin Shiming collected all the Jade Slips, still feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Then he looked at the Ice Flood Dragon's corpse. Lin Shiming didn't move it, but carefully separated it with Spirit Talismans and Spirit Jade.

After all, with the Lin Family's Bloodline Restoration, if there were Ice Pythons in the future, they could be catalyzed by the Ice Flood Dragon's Bloodline, and with the effect of the Jiaolong Nest, the Lin Family would have a second Dragon.

As for the Heavenly Beast Transformation, he thought it would be better to buy some essence Blood or kill some Great Yao.

A Middle Stage Fourth-Order Ice Flood Dragon didn't offer much of an increase in effect for him anymore.

Lin Shiming finished examining the Nine Dragon Island Cultivator's Storage Pouch, and it was time for the most crucial Storage Pouch, that of Immortal Master Xuri.

This was Lin Shiming's first time obtaining a Golden Core True Person's Storage Pouch. For Cultivators, unless they went into a Secret Realm with a high probability of death, it was absolutely impossible to leave their entire fortune in one place.

For example, if Lin Shiming were killed, his Magic Treasures and Spirit Medicines would all become the spoils of war for the other party.

It wasn't that those treasures and Cultivation Techniques would all be left with the Lin Family.

Immortal Master Xuri came out to deal with him this time, so naturally, he couldn't have had the mindset of possibly never returning.

After all, he was just a Purple Mansion Cultivator.

Sure enough, Lin Shiming opened the Storage Pouch, and a huge square appeared before his eyes.

It was incomparably large; this Storage Pouch was ten times the size of Lin Shiming's Storage Pouch.

It was also divided into five sections.

The Magic Treasure section, Spirit Materials section, Cultivation Technique Jade Slip section, Spirit Pill section, and Spirit Talisman Formation section.

Among the five sections, the Spirit Materials section and the Cultivation Technique Jade Slip section were the most numerous, while the Magic Treasure section and the Spirit Talisman Formation section were the fewest.

Lin Shiming first looked at the Spirit Materials, and saw a small mountain of High-Grade Spirit Stones, which dazzled him. Roughly, there were probably five or six thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones.

There were even over a hundred thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones.

It was a huge fortune. If there were an auction for Core Formation Pills anywhere, Lin Shiming felt he could compete for it.

However, this was just a thought. Core Formation Pills were basically not exposed, which was why there were many Purple Mansion Loose Cultivators in the entire South Sea Cultivation World, but very few Golden Core Loose Cultivators.

In addition, Lin Shiming saw many relatively rare Spirit Materials: Skygang Crystal, Golden Sand, Three-Yuan Heavy Water... Most were Fourth-Order Spirit Materials, which could be used to refine various treasures. There were also many Fifth-Order Spirit Materials. As one of the twelve island masters of the Coral Alliance, Immortal Master Xuri was truly too wealthy.

After looking at the treasures in the Spirit Materials section, Lin Shiming then looked at the adjacent Spirit Talisman Formation module. Formation Plates, along with Formation annotations, were dazzling and numerous, making him dizzy.

He didn't know where to start.

Finally, after seeing a Formation Plate like a small mountain, he couldn't take his eyes off it and began with this enormous Formation Plate.

Upon the Formation Plate, scarlet crow Spirit Images were carved, one after another, like a picture of scarlet crows paying homage.

Besides the magnificent Formation Plate, the Formation Flags distributed around it were made of at least Fourth-Order Magic Treasure Materials. Individually, while not as good as a Magic Treasure, they were not far off.

There were a hundred such Formation Flags, and next to the Formation Plate was a Jade Slip introducing the Formation and its setup method.

This Formation was named the Ten Directions Red Crow Formation!

It was also a Fifth-Order Formation!

It required a Fifth-Order Spiritual Vein or a Golden Core True Person to activate.

Its value was immeasurable. If the Lin Family could find a Fifth-Order Spiritual Vein and deploy the Ten Directions Red Crow Formation, even if four or five Golden Core Cultivators came, as long as they weren't too far beyond the Late Golden Core Stage, they wouldn't be able to do anything to the Lin Family, which possessed the Yan Yang Sword.

However, the Lin Family currently had no Fifth-Order Spiritual Vein, so it was difficult to set up.

Lin Shiming felt a surge of emotion. Killing a Golden Core Cultivator was extremely dangerous, but the rewards were unexpectedly rich.

Lin Shiming then began to examine the remaining Formation Plates and Formations, not missing a single one. The quality of the Formations kept in Real Person Xuri's Storage Pouch was self-evident.

Although dazzling, this feeling of not knowing where to start looking only filled him with a strong sense of joy.

In other words, he liked this kind of trouble.

However, besides that set of Fifth-Order Formation Plates, the remaining Formations were all Fourth-Order Formation Plates.

Among them, a Fourth-Order High Grade Grand Turtle Concealment Formation particularly pleased Lin Shiming. This Formation had excellent breath-concealing effects. If Lin Shiming had this Formation in the Ziyang Sea Region, he wouldn't have to worry about those Leech Clones at all.

Among the remaining Formation Plates, there were none that Lin Shiming particularly liked. There were attack-type island-protecting Grand Formations, but they were not suitable for carrying around.

It was also impossible for the Lin Family to openly display these island-protecting Formations on their island unless the Lin Family could eliminate Real Person Xuri's influence within the Coral Alliance.

Otherwise, if they killed a Golden Core True Person, the Cultivators of the Coral Alliance would definitely have reason to suspect that Lin Shiming was a spy from another force.

They might even suspect Lin Shiming was a spy from the Yao Race.

At that time, Lin Shiming wouldn't be able to argue his way out of it.

After examining some fifty large and small sets of Formations, Lin Shiming was extremely satisfied. Although these Formations couldn't be taken out, they could be given to Lin Houshou to study and improve his Formation attainments.

They were perfectly suitable for preparing the layout of the Jiaolong Nest and the Ziyang Pagoda.

Lin Shiming once again looked at the Cultivation Technique Jade Slips, but to his disappointment, Real Person Xuri's Cultivation Technique was not among them, nor were there any Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques.

There wasn't even a single Profound Rank High Grade Cultivation Technique.

The highest was a Profound Rank High Grade Cultivation Technique called the Azure Life Tide Scripture, which could be Cultivated up to the Golden Core Stage.

Moreover, this Cultivation Technique was likely obtained by Real Person Xuri as spoils of war.

The rest were mostly miscellaneous notes and travelogues, concerning the South Sea Cultivation World and the Ancient Immortal Realm.

Lin Shiming naturally had no interest in examining them at this moment.

Clearly, Real Person Xuri's Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals and Cultivation insights were still kept on Rising Sun Island.

Otherwise, even the Breakthrough insights of a Golden Core True Person would be regarded by Lin Shiming as a treasure.

Lin Shiming was a little disappointed, but he also knew that his gains this time were plentiful enough.

He shook his head and looked at the Magic Treasure section again, and at this moment, his melancholy vanished completely.

His gaze was quickly drawn to the several Fifth-Order Magic Treasures.

The first to catch his eye were the eighteen Star Pattern Wind Stabilizing Pearls. These eighteen pearls were considered Real Person Xuri's Lifebound Treasure, but he hadn't had time to nurture them.

There were eighteen in total, each equivalent to a Fifth-Order Low Grade.

When all eighteen were deployed to form a star map, probably no Fifth-Order Medium Grade Magic Treasure could compare.

Lin Shiming picked up a pearl. The Wind Stabilizing Pearl was an iron-black color, carrying a unique chilling aura of the stars.

There was also a familiar feeling belonging to a soul suppressing stone.

Lin Shiming suddenly realized that Real Person Xuri's Star Pattern Wind Stabilizing Pearls could not only stabilize wind but also stabilize souls.

Since the family jade book couldn't break Divine Souls, it could naturally search souls at will.

Lin Shiming carefully put away the eighteen Wind Stabilizing Pearls. He would naturally use them when he reached the Golden Core Stage in the future.

His gaze shifted, falling upon the Rising Sun Sword. The sword's brilliance, even covered by Spirit Talismans, could not be completely concealed. Upon closer inspection, one could feel a soaring Sword Qi.

Lin Shiming naturally loved this sword. Moreover, the Rising Sun Sword was Real Person Xuri's only Fifth-Order Medium Grade Magic Treasure.

When Materials reached the Fifth-Order, Magic Treasures became even more difficult to refine.

It was even possible that some Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators still used Fourth-Order High Grade Magic Treasures.

Lin Shiming looked at the Rising Sun Sword for a while before turning to the flame dragon shield. The value of this Fifth-Order Spirit Shield was no less than that of a Fifth-Order Medium Grade offensive Magic Treasure.

If not for this flame dragon shield during Real Person Xuri's battle with the Yan Yang Sword, Real Person Xuri wouldn't have been able to withstand even a single move.

After examining the three Magic Treasures, Lin Shiming looked at a pair of magical eyes nearby, seeing two Red Crow figures constantly circulating within them.

It should be known that Red Crows, like Flood Dragons, possessed powerful Bloodlines. Golden Crows and True Dragons were True Spirits, so the Fifth-Order Low Grade Magic Treasure refined from these Red Crow magical eyes had even more Heaven-Defying abilities.

As long as a Red Crow mark was left, the Red Crow magical eyes could be used, and with a Fourth-Order mirror Magic Treasure, the scene could be recreated, just like the Blood Child Cultivator did that day.

This was also why Lin Shiming always used the Yuan Magnetic Ring or Yuan Magnetic Seal to erase traces after every battle.

In addition, it could also shoot out True Red Crow Flames, see through illusions, and its flame effect was far more powerful than the Red-haired Demon Monkey's Samadhi True Fire.

It was just a pity that these Red Crow magical eyes were also Fifth-Order Magic Treasures, and Lin Shiming couldn't use them. He could only carefully put them away and reapply Spirit Talismans.

There were several remaining Fourth-Order Magic Treasures, but for Lin Shiming, they seemed a bit ordinary.

Most of the powerful Magic Treasures were probably either bestowed upon relatives or exchanged for Spirit Stones.

Just like Lin Shiming's Third-Order Magical Artifacts, they were now basically all placed in the Lin Family's Treasure Pavilion.

However, next to the Magic Treasures, Lin Shiming saw a palm-sized, jet-black stone bead. This stone bead was incredibly ancient. A quick glance could reveal its long history, yet it unusually lacked any Spiritual Qi aura.

It seemed like an ordinary object, but Lin Shiming's heart couldn't help but pound.

An ordinary object without Spiritual Qi wouldn't be placed here with such solemnity by Real Person Xuri.

There was only one possibility for this Magic Treasure: like the Book of Hidden Paths and the blood demon disc on him, it was a 'Star Bead,' a broken Spirit Treasure as indicated by the System.

He placed the Star Bead in his palm, and at the same time, the Starlight Body Tempering Art began to manifest.

If it weren't daytime, one could see his Physical Body, like a star map.

And the brilliant starlight all surged into the stone bead.

Surprisingly, spiritual characters began to appear on the stone bead, one after another.

Lin Shiming was no stranger to these spiritual characters; they were precisely the first level of the Treasure Unlocking Art!

However, it was incomplete and seemed to require more starlight power.

Real Person Xuri had obviously seen through his Physical Body, wanting to activate the Star Bead and learn the Treasure Unlocking Art.

Lin Shiming quickly put away the Star Bead. Now was not the time to Cultivate the Treasure Unlocking Art. After putting the Star Bead into his Storage Pouch,

He was satisfied and finally looked at the area where Spirit Pills were placed. He still had some expectations for the existence of Core Formation Pills.

After all, Real Person Xuri had boasted that whoever could provide ten five-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicines or one ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine would receive a Core Formation Pill.

However, after a quick scan, Lin Shiming was a little disappointed.

Real Person Xuri had lied; he did not have any Core Formation Pills.

However, his goal was indeed achieved, making Loose Immortal Taihe and Tianjing Hermit fight for him.

If not for Lin Shiming's presence, Real Person Xuri would have definitely reaped a full harvest.

Of course, although there were no Core Formation Pills, there were quite a few restorative Spirit Pills and healing Spirit Pills.

Among them were two bottles of Fourth-Order High Grade Golden Origin Pills.

Although the Golden Origin Pills had 'Golden' in their name, they were not Spirit Pills effective for Golden Core Cultivators, but rather used by Purple Mansion Late Stage Cultivators to Cultivate to the Purple Mansion Peak.

By the Purple Mansion Late Stage, naturally, those Red Lotus Pills and Fourth-Order Medium Grade Spirit Pills no longer had much effect.

And the Golden Origin Pill was the best among the Fourth-Order High Grade ones, also signifying that a Cultivator was only one step away from becoming a Golden Core Cultivator.

Thus, Cultivators gave it the beautiful name Golden Origin Pill, symbolizing the imminent arrival of the Golden Core Dao path.

Lin Shiming was extremely satisfied with the Golden Origin Pills. At least after he broke through to the Purple Mansion Late Stage, he would have Spirit Pills again.

Lin Shitao's failure to break through to the Purple Mansion naturally meant that the Lin Family's Alchemy level would stagnate for a long time.

And next, Lin Shiming also had to prepare to return to the Lin Family's Shuangmu Island.

As for whether to remain anonymous or feign ignorance, it would depend on Real Person Hongye's attitude.