Heaven Origin Domain, Hanguang Cave Mountains.
Qin Ming concealed his aura and, well familiar with the route, arrived at the location of the Desolate Realm.
Ever since the Spirit Mist Sect had obtained ownership of this mountain range, it had begun intensive development, and the number of cultivators in the vicinity had also increased.
In the area where Qin Ming stood, a sect's protective formation had even been established, with cultivators patrolling from time to time.
Yet although the Spirit Mist Sect controlled the Hanguang Cave Mountains, it was unable to discover the Desolate Realm, the greatest hidden treasure of all.
Qin Ming secretly summoned Little Qing and had it take him inside.
Little Qing was already exceedingly practiced at this. It transformed into its whale-kun form, opened its mouth, and swallowed him inside. Then it wielded the Power of Space and vanished into the void.
Several breaths later, when its enormous body appeared once more, it had already arrived within the Desolate Realm.
Qin Ming walked out from its abyssal maw.
Several years had passed since his last visit to the Desolate Realm.
The first thing he saw when he looked out was his Natal Spirit Plant, the Black Vine. It soared into the heavens and rooted into the earth, standing in the center of the Desolate Realm like a World Tree.
Mysterious and brimming with the breath of life.
When Qin Ming saw the Black Vine again, it had already undergone an enormous transformation.
Its dense, distinctive vines were covered in transparent, droplet-like wisps of mist.
Qin Ming sensed them slightly and discovered that they were the faith and incense power of the Desolate Realm's natives, all gathered upon the black vines.
Nourished by the natives' incense offerings, the Black Vine had actually grown by another great stretch,