Chapter 109: Imperfect Jade Marrow Lingzhi (Fourth Update)

Qin Ming took the jade box and examined it closely.

He saw that the Jade Marrow Lingzhi had a broken gap in the center, as if injured by some tool.

Its medicinal essence had leaked out, leaving almost nothing remaining.

Moreover, this Jade Marrow Lingzhi was less than a hundred years old.

It fell far short of the three-hundred-year potency required by the Foundation Establishment Pill formula.

To others, this Jade Marrow Lingzhi was already useless for major purposes.

But for Qin Ming, this problem did not exist.

"May I ask, Elder Shen, what would it take for you to sell it?"

Qin Ming asked bluntly.

"Three thousand spirit stones, or equivalent items," Shen Yuanxiong considered briefly, then said.

Qin Ming hefted the jade box and frowned. "This price is a bit steep. After all, less than one-tenth of the medicinal essence remains."

"Ah, if that's the case, then I'll lower it further—two thousand five hundred spirit stones will do," Shen Yuanxiong's face twitched slightly, realizing he'd overpriced it, and quickly amended his offer.

"Deal."

Qin Ming's expression remained calm as still water, but inside he was overjoyed.

He had expected to pay a heavy price to acquire a Jade Marrow Lingzhi, yet it turned out far cheaper than he imagined.

With this one Jade Marrow Lingzhi, he could revive it and hasten its growth to produce several more.

More than enough for his pill refining needs.

He calmly took spirit stones from his storage pouch and handed them to Shen Yuanxiong.

The transaction was complete.

"Since Elder Shen has urgent matters at home, we won't disturb you further—we'll take our leave now," Qin Ming said, his mood shifting from gloom to brightness now that his goal was achieved.

Shen Yuanxiong politely replied, "Why not stay a while longer? I'll have servants properly entertain the two of you."

"No need, Elder Shen, please attend to your affairs."

"In that case, I apologize for the poor hospitality. Once my affairs are settled, I'll surely visit Mirror Jing Xue Ge to drink with you both," Shen Yuanxiong said, then opened the door and courteously saw them out.

As the group passed through the courtyard corridor.

A burly man with a full beard strode toward them, his skin dark, radiating the magic power fluctuation of early Foundation Establishment.

Upon seeing Shen Yuanxiong, he barked out, "Quick, quick, old ghost Shen—I want that half-dead Jade Marrow Lingzhi of yours!"

"I have other uses for it."

As the bearded man drew closer, he noticed the two beside Shen Yuanxiong— one of them was none other than Gu Qingzhao of Mirror Jing Xue Ge.

He immediately softened his tone and bowed to her. "Gu Pavilion Master is here too."

Gu Qingzhao gave a slight nod in response.

Qin Ming, this Qi Condensation cultivator, was entirely ignored by him.

Shen Yuanxiong glared at the bearded man and said, "Luo Rong, what are you shouting about? You're too late—this Jade Marrow Lingzhi has already been sold to Qin Daoist."

"What?! What Qin Daoist?" Luo Rong exclaimed in disbelief.

Shen Yuanxiong glanced at Qin Ming and introduced him, "This is Qin Daoist—he is an honorary Qin Keqing of Mirror Jing Xue Ge."

"A genuine second-rank Pill Master."

Luo Rong was stunned, then turned to Qin Ming again. "So you're Master Qin! Young hero indeed!"

Still, he pressed on, "May I ask, Master Qin, would you consider selling me that Jade Marrow Lingzhi?"

"I'll pay double the spirit stones."

"This item is vital to me—I cannot sell it," Qin Ming refused outright.

Luo Rong froze. This Qi Condensation cultivator, relying on his second-rank Pill Master status, showed no fear of him at all.

Seeing Gu Qingzhao beside him, he dared not say more; his expression shifted several times before he sighed, "Ah, well—it seems this item is not meant for me."

With that, he bid farewell to the group and left awkwardly.

"Heh heh, Luo Rong is just like this—don't mind him," Shen Yuanxiong chuckled.

He had barely left.

A commotion arose at the courtyard gate. An imposing golden-haired elder, clad in a yellow robe, walked in slowly with his hands behind his back.

Upon seeing this man arrive, Shen Yuanxiong gave the two a quick signal, then hurried forward to greet him.

"Master Sun, please rest in the side hall—the others have all arrived, and we'll begin shortly."

Gu Qingzhao introduced Qin Ming: "This is Master Sun Jinian of Canghai Fairy City."

Qin Ming nodded.

Sun Jinian also noticed Gu Qingzhao and Qin Ming, then walked over and exchanged a cool greeting with Gu Qingzhao.

He entered the side hall.

Master Sun's status in Canghai Xiancheng ranks just below that of a Golden Core True Person.

After Qin Ming and the others departed.

Sun Jinian sat in his chair, sipping tea calmly, and asked Shen Yuanxiong, "Why did Gu Qingzhao come here?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuanxiong immediately recounted everything that had just happened.

When he learned that the Qi Condensation cultivator beside Gu Qingzhao was not only a second-rank Pill Master but had also successfully refined a Youth-Preserving Pill,

A faint, almost imperceptible change flickered across his expression.

Sun Jinian commented coolly, "That Qin Xiaoyou is likely a prodigy in pill refining—he managed to refine a Youth-Preserving Pill."

"Moreover, he may possess an extremely advanced pill refining lineage."

"Otherwise, hearing your account, even I'd consider taking him as a disciple."

Shen Yuanxiong never expected Sun Danshi's evaluation to be so high.

Since he knew nothing about alchemy, he asked: "Can he even brew Foundation Establishment Pills?"

"Naturally. The difficulty of brewing the Youth-Preserving Pill is slightly higher than that of the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"The art of alchemy follows the principle that mastery of one method unlocks all others."

"If he can brew the Youth-Preserving Pill, he can certainly brew the Foundation Establishment Pill," Sun Jinyan explained slowly.

Shen Yuanxiong froze in place. "Huh?!"

He suddenly felt he had missed something.

"But he took that inferior Jade Marrow Fungus—surely he can't brew it anyway?"

Hearing this, Sun Jinyan seemed amused. "Hmph. There are countless alchemical secrets—perhaps he has a method to supplement the herb's potency?"

At that moment, Shen Yuanxiong remembered Luo Rong's words.

"Why do I feel like I got cheated selling that Jade Marrow Fungus?"

Sun Jinyan said: "Enough. Go prepare quickly. I'll wait here. Lately, my alchemical skills have improved slightly—I guarantee you a successful batch this time."

These words put Shen Yuanxiong's mind at ease.

His face lit up with joy, and he hurried off to make preparations.

……

On the other side, Qin Ming had obtained the crucial main ingredient, and the heavy stone in his heart lifted.

He still needed two rare auxiliary ingredients, but none were as hard to find as the Jade Marrow Fungus.

As long as he kept an eye out, he believed he could gather them soon.

Qin Ming stayed an extra day in Yunze Xiancheng, inquiring about the whereabouts of these two auxiliary ingredients.

Unfortunately, he gained little.

That day,

he was searching a spirit herb shop for clues about the auxiliary ingredients.

Behind him came a familiar voice.

"Comrade Qin, what a coincidence!"

Qin Ming turned at the sound and saw a bearded cultivator smiling at him.

It was the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Luo Rong.

(End of Chapter)