Chapter 108: A Turn in the Road (Third Update)

Upon seeing Qin Ming, Gu Qingzhao hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Otherwise, Fellow Daoist Qin, why not join them in pooling resources to refine the pill? The materials you hold are sufficient to qualify."

"I can act as an intermediary."

Hearing this, Qin Ming furrowed his brows slightly; after pondering for a long while, he asked, "I wonder what Pill Refiner Sun Jinnian's success rate is for refining these Foundation Establishment Pills, and what is the quality of the resulting pills?"

"Roughly around thirty percent; if luck is on his side, it might reach forty percent. Pill Refiner Sun is a second-tier upper-grade pill refiner, so this success rate is relatively high already," Gu Qingzhao explained.

"As for the quality of the refined pills, there are occasional cases where one or two premium-grade Foundation Establishment Pills emerge, but the probability is very low."

Upon hearing these words, Qin Ming immediately felt the risk was too high and not very secure.

If he failed, all the materials he had painstakingly accumulated over these years would go down the drain.

Furthermore, his original goal was not for ordinary-quality Foundation Establishment Pills; at the very least, they needed to be of premium grade, though supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pills would be even better.

Even if the Foundation Establishment Pills were successfully refined through pooled resources, how to distribute the pills would still be an issue, and the initiative would not lie in his own hands.

At that time, Pill Refiner Sun would certainly demand a share of the profits.

In the best-case scenario, he would receive at most one pill.

Given his aptitude, a single Foundation Establishment Pill was truly not very safe.

Weighing the pros and cons, Qin Ming decided it was better to keep the initiative in his own hands.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, I have thought it over, and I still decide to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill myself."

"Have you managed to find out who currently holds the main material, the Jade Marrow Ganoderma?" Qin Ming stated his decision and then asked.

Hearing this, Gu Qingzhao smiled faintly, as if she had anticipated that Qin Ming would say exactly this.

"I have already clarified the situation; the main material for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Jade Marrow Ganoderma, is in the hands of the Shen family patriarch in the western part of the city, Shen Yuanxiong."

"Shen Yuanxiong is an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator; presumably, he initiated this pooling of materials for pill refinement to seek a Foundation Establishment Pill for a descendant of his clan."

Qin Ming felt quite puzzled: "I wonder where Shen Yuanxiong obtained the Jade Marrow Ganoderma in his possession?"

"I heard that his ancestors once included an elder of the Shennong Sect; during their tenure, their merits were outstanding, and the sect bestowed several treasures upon them, with this Jade Marrow Ganoderma being one of them."

"Later, after suffering severe injuries that severed the foundation of their immortal path, they came to settle in Yunze Xiancheng, establishing a family and branching out."

"The Foundation Establishment Pill that Shen Yuanxiong used when he himself established his foundation over ten years ago was also obtained by providing the main material, the Jade Marrow Ganoderma, through pooled refinement."

"I truly never expected that the Jade Marrow Ganoderma in his hands would amount to more than one portion."

Gu Qingzhao said slowly.

Upon hearing this, hope rose in Qin Ming's heart.

Thus, he said to her, "Then, Fellow Daoist Gu, are you familiar with the Shen family? If possible, could you introduce me to them?"

Gu Qingzhao pondered briefly before opening her mouth to speak:

"The Shen family is a talisman-making lineage and still maintains cooperation with our Mirror Jing Xue Ge; naturally, I can introduce Fellow Daoist Qin."

"However, whether or not you can successfully obtain the Jade Marrow Ganoderma next depends entirely on fate."

"After all, Shen Yuanxiong intends to pool materials for pill refinement, so the Jade Marrow Ganoderma in his hands will likely not be sold easily."

Qin Ming nodded, and immediately followed Gu Qingzhao out of Mirror Jing Xue Ge, heading toward the Shen family residence in the western part of the inner city.

One incense stick later.

Gu Qingzhao brought Qin Ming to the entrance of the Shen family compound.

After the gatekeeper went inside to announce their arrival.

The main gate opened, and from within emerged a short, stout elderly man dressed in luxurious robes, possessing early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

He greeted them with a beaming smile, bowing to Gu Qingzhao, "So it is Gu Gezhu Gu honoring us with your presence!"

"Please, come inside my humble abode and take a seat."

It seemed this person was indeed Shen Yuanxiong.

Shen Yuanxiong also glanced at Qin Ming; having never before seen a young male cultivator accompanying Gu Gezhu Gu of Mirror Jing Xue Ge, he could not help but feel somewhat surprised.

"May I ask who this is?" He smiled at Qin Ming and asked Gu Qingzhao.

Gu Qingzhao said indifferently, "This is Fellow Daoist Qin, an honorary guest elder of our pavilion."

Upon hearing this explanation, Shen Yuanxiong instantly understood; however, such a young guest elder must be extraordinary. Thus, he politely greeted Qin Ming as well, "Fellow Daoist Qin, please come inside for a cup of spiritual tea."

Immediately, the two entered the Shen family compound.

But the moment they stepped inside, Qin Ming froze.

For at that moment, more than twenty cultivators had gathered in the Shen family courtyard, most of them rogue cultivators.

It seemed these cultivators had all come for the matter of pooling resources to refine pills.

It was estimated that after the Shen family's screening, only four or five would remain here.

Shen Yuanxiong led the two into a room, closed the door, activated a sound-isolating formation, and then asked, "I wonder if Gu Gezhu Gu and Fellow Daoist Qin have come to my humble home today also regarding the matter of pooling resources to refine pills?"

Hearing this, Qin Ming truthfully revealed his purpose for coming to the other party.

And he offered generous conditions.

Upon hearing this, a look of embarrassment appeared on Shen Yuanxiong's face; after a long while, he slowly said, "Gu Gezhu Gu is not an outsider, so this old man can speak the truth to both of you."

"Regarding this Jade Marrow Ganoderma, this old man indeed has two portions remaining, but they are the very last of my stock."

"If it were not for my worthless son, who still has a day when he might reach the peak of the Qi Condensation stage, I would not have planned to bring them out at all."

"All of this old man's hopes are pinned entirely on this, allowing for not even the slightest error."

"Therefore, I fear I must disappoint Fellow Daoist Qin."

Hearing this, Qin Ming furrowed his brows; after pondering for a moment, he decisively said, "In that case, let me also lay my cards on the table for Senior Shen: could you hand over one portion of the Jade Marrow Ganoderma to me for pill refinement?"

"After the pill is successfully refined, I can likewise share one Foundation Establishment Pill with Senior Shen."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuanxiong's eyes widened; he looked at Qin Ming in disbelief, then glanced at Gu Qingzhao beside him, "Gu Gezhu Gu, could it be that Fellow Daoist Qin..."

"That is correct; Fellow Daoist Qin is also a second-tier grand pill refiner." Gu Qingzhao nodded gently, answering with absolute certainty.

Shen Yuanxiong only then realized that he had still underestimated the plainly featured Qin Ming before him.

Then it was no wonder.

"So Fellow Daoist Qin is actually a second-tier Alchemy Grandmaster; my apologies, my apologies!" Shen Yuanxiong recovered from his shock, then asked, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Qin has ever refined a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Hearing this, Qin Ming answered frankly, "Not yet, mainly due to a lack of spiritual materials."

"But rest assured, Senior Shen, I am quite confident in my ability to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Gu Qingzhao also chimed in to help, "I can vouch for this; Fellow Daoist Qin has already successfully refined the Beauty-Preserving Pill, which is quite difficult among second-tier pills."

Hearing this, Shen Yuanxiong immediately froze; if he had never refined one even once, where did such confidence come from?

Moreover, seeing that Qin Ming was only at the late Qi Refining stage and so young, and since this was the first time he had ever heard of this person, he found it hard to trust his alchemy skills.

It seemed he was a newly promoted second-tier alchemist, somewhat young and impetuous.

Thinking this, Shen Yuanxiong had already made his decision.

Even with Sect Master Gu's guarantee, he could not gamble with the immortal path of his clansmen.

After pondering for a moment, he still said with an apologetic expression, "I am truly sorry; I have already reached an agreement with Alchemist Sun Jinnian, and these two portions of Jade Marrow Ganoderma must all be handed over to him for refinement."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was greatly disappointed.

It seemed the other party still did not trust him, though this was quite normal.

"Hmm, however, I do have one more portion of Jade Marrow Ganoderma here, but its spirituality is severely damaged, and its medicinal potency is insufficient..."

"I do not know if it would be of any use to Fellow Daoist Qin; if you need it, I would be willing to sell it to you."

Qin Ming had originally planned to leave in disappointment, yet unexpectedly, the situation had taken a turn for the better.

His eyes immediately lit up, and he hurriedly said:

"Truly!"

Shen Yuanxiong nodded, then took a long, rectangular jade box out of his storage bag and opened its lid.

A spirit ganoderma, crystal clear and translucent like emerald, appeared before the eyes of Qin Ming and the other.

There will be more tonight.

Thanks to fellow daoists for your votes and subscriptions.

(End of Chapter)