Chapter 120: Mo Lingwei

Half a month later.

Qin Ming's Wangyue Island had once again returned to its former tranquility.

Yet in the Immortal Realm of spiritual energy Archipelago and Yunze Xiancheng, Qin Ming's inspiring cultivation story—rising from a farmhand with a false elemental root to Foundation Establishment—remained wildly popular.

It was still a major topic of conversation among cultivators over tea and meals.

After all, achieving dual second-rank True Cultivation Arts was rare even across the entire Wei Kingdom's Immortal Realm.

Mastering just one True Cultivation Art was enough to occupy a cultivator's entire life; let alone two.

One of them, moreover, was the most difficult of all: alchemy.

And a certain rumor had quietly begun to spread.

That was, people speculated, Qin Ming's alchemical skill might already be capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

After all.

Before he reached Foundation Establishment, he had spent a period collecting medicinal materials for Foundation Establishment Pills in Yunze Xiancheng.

This fact had been witnessed by many cultivators within the Xiancheng.

Once this speculation arose, Qin Ming's reputation soared again, even temporarily surpassing Sun Dadan.

Yet Qin Ming's demeanor remained excessively humble, secluded and reclusive, almost living in isolation on Wangyue Island, and he refused to accept overtures from any faction.

Thus, he grew even more mysterious.

However.

No matter how popular a topic, it would gradually fade with time.

In addition.

The various major factions' demand for spiritual energy Rice remained unchanged.

But since they learned they could purchase small quantities of spiritual energy Rice through Jingxue Pavilion, few came to bother Qin Ming anymore.

There was another matter.

Since Wu Jiang became Qin Ming's guest reception gatekeeper, several Lingdao families had begun courting the Wu family.

According to Wu Jiang himself, his family's Baiyan Island had recently been flooded with guests, truly benefiting greatly from Qin Ming's association.

Wu Jiang made no secret of it—he told Qin Ming everything, in full detail.

One day.

Qin Ming and Wu Jiang sat outside the lakeside wooden house, eating the delicious meal brought by Mu Ruyin.

They ate while chatting.

"Comrade Qin, I have another piece of news to tell you."

"That day you severely injured Yu Wanheng on Fengqi Island; I heard the old bastard lost more than half his life—his dantian and qi sea were shattered."

His cultivation regressed back to Qi Condensation, and he'll likely never reach Foundation Establishment again in this lifetime.

Previously, the Yu family offended many surrounding Lingdao families; they'll have a hard time ahead."

Qin Ming listened without a ripple in his heart, despite the Yu family's dramatic rise and fall being inextricably tied to him.

If the Yu family disturbs his farming in the future, he'll feed them all to the Longsheng Vine.

"By the way, I see you've nearly finished planting Golden Spirit Rice—what are your plans next?" Qin Ming asked, picking up a bite of food and putting it in his mouth.

Wu Jiang perked up instantly, sensing another opportunity, and hurriedly said: "At your command, Comrade Qin—look at this—"

Qin Ming smiled faintly, set down his chopsticks, and took a small bag of Beast Tooth Rice seeds from his storage pouch, placing it on the table.

"You've now reached the point where you can occasionally use the Advanced Spirit Rain Technique."

"Why not try planting Beast Tooth Rice?"

"There are still many idle spirit veins on the island—you can bring your clan members over to continue planting Golden Spirit Rice on them."

Wu Jiang's expression turned ecstatic: "Really?"

Qin Ming nodded. "Of course—but these Beast Tooth Rice seeds aren't a gift; you'll have to pay market price."

"The spirit veins and spirit fields outside too—I can lease them to you, ahem, charging you thirty percent of the Spirit Rice as tax."

Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin exchanged glances, then their expressions lit up with joy.

The spirit vein environment on Wangyue Island was incomparably superior to their own Baiyan Island.

Wu Jiang felt profound emotion—he had served loyally, tirelessly, and now, finally, he received recognition and reward.

This time, he had truly secured this powerful connection.

The three were still eating.

In the distance, a green cultivation light flew toward them.

Qin Ming looked up and saw a breathtakingly beautiful figure descend gracefully before them.

"Comrade Qin, you have such fine taste—enjoying the lake and mountains while dining here."

"I heard you've successfully reached Foundation Establishment and made your name resound across the spiritual energy Immortal Realm. I represent the Mo family of Qingxia Island, here to pay my respects."

Mo Lingwei, like a fairy stepped from a painting, wore a pale green robe and long skirt, her demeanor gentle and serene, her smile radiant as dawn.

"Comrade Mo, no need for formality—just call me Comrade Qin from now on," Qin Ming said, rising to greet his guest.

"Please, Comrade Mo, come sit on the island."

Mo Lingwei's beautiful eyes fixed on Qin Ming, sensing in him a new quality—calm as water, like an ancient evergreen tree.

Since she last saw him years ago, his appearance had not changed at all.

His cultivation realm was now utterly inscrutable, immeasurably deep.

She had never imagined the young cultivator she once declined to co-rent a spirit island with had now become someone she must look up to.

Qin Ming informed Wu Jiang and his wife, then led Qingxia Xianzi Mo Lingwei into the Guest Reception Tower.

Mo Lingwei followed him up the main peak, deeply captivated by every blade of grass and tree—the second-rank high-grade Shen Shen Cha tea plants blanketed the hillsides, and lush purple-gold bamboo forests stretched across every mountain.

All of these were spiritual plants rarely seen in the outside world.

From the balcony by the window of the Guest Reception Pavilion, one could gaze far out at the scenery of Moon-Gazing Lake.

Qin Ming brewed a pot of Spirit-Gathering Tea for Mo Lingwei; she took a delicate sip, her eyes revealing surprise as she praised it endlessly.

Afterwards, she also took out a box of congratulatory gifts and presented it to Qin Ming.

The two chatted for a while.

Mo Lingwei seemed to have something to say, yet her expression became hesitant.

Qin Ming did not rush or urge her, but simply sat quietly brewing tea, waiting for her.

Finally.

Mo Lingwei's soft, jade-like hands gently clenched the hem of her dress; biting her red lips, she opened her mouth and asked Qin Ming, "I wish to ask Fellow Daoist Qin about one matter."

"Fellow Daoist Mo, please speak," Qin Ming said, refilling her cup with tea.

Mo Lingwei hesitated for a moment before asking bluntly, "There are rumors and speculations in the outside world that Fellow Daoist Qin can refine Foundation Establishment Pills; I wonder if this is true."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was momentarily stunned, not expecting her to ask such a question.

However, he did not hide the truth and nodded, saying, "That is correct; I am capable of refining this pill."

At this very moment, inside his storage bag lay quietly three ordinary Foundation Establishment Pills and one premium Foundation Establishment Pill.

This kind of spiritual pill was a strategic resource touching upon the interests of major sect powers.

Qin Ming dared not refine too many; if the major sect powers were to find out, he would surely become the target of all attacks.

By that time, he would be in serious trouble with no way out.

After all, items like Foundation Establishment Pills were the best means for major sects to control the scattered cultivators at the bottom tier.

Of course, as long as it was not too excessive, the sects would turn a blind eye if one or two pills occasionally leaked out.

"Then, does Fellow Daoist Qin happen to have any extra Foundation Establishment Pills on hand?"

Qin Ming's brows furrowed slightly; the other party's words were somewhat intruding upon his privacy.

Mo Lingwei noticed the displeasure on Qin Ming's face and quickly said, "What I mean is, if Fellow Daoist Qin still has extra Foundation Establishment Pills, I wish to purchase them at any cost."

As she spoke, her eyes were filled with determination.

At any cost? Qin Ming pondered silently; the Mo family could barely afford the rent for their leased island, so what could she possibly offer to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill?

He could understand this woman's current longing for a Foundation Establishment Pill, for as the most talented young clan leader of the Mo family,

she needed to lead a large group of clansmen to continue surviving and developing in this cruel Immortal Realm; relying solely on a cultivation base at the peak of Qi Condensation would not take her far.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, I am afraid I must disappoint you."

"I racked my brains to gather enough materials for just one batch, which yielded only a single Foundation Establishment Pill, and I already used it when I broke through," Qin Ming said with a sigh.

Naturally, he would not tell the other party the whole truth all at once.

Mo Lingwei seemed to have expected Qin Ming's response; unhurriedly, she took a piece of black withered wood from her storage bag, which looked somewhat rotten and decayed, and placed it on the table.

Qin Ming swept it slightly with his divine sense and immediately knew that this object concealed mystery and was extremely extraordinary.

Afterwards, Mo Lingwei took out an ancient-looking jade slip and gently placed it before Qin Ming.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please do not rush to reject me; I wish to use these two items to exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill from Fellow Daoist Qin."

Hearing this, Qin Ming did not agree immediately, as he also wanted to know exactly what value the items in her hand possessed.

Mo Lingwei pointed to that arm-thick section of black rotten wood and explained, "This object is Profound Yin Black Wood, formed after a second-tier top-grade spiritual plant decayed; it is quite precious."

"However, what is most precious is not this object itself, but the spiritual seed sealed within it."

"It is the spiritual seed of the second-tier supreme-grade spiritual plant, 'Mist Illusion Mushroom'."

"Although cultivators cannot consume this Mist Illusion Mushroom, it is an excellent material for practicing and casting illusion techniques, as well as refining illusion-type spiritual artifacts."

"It can also be used to raise demonic beasts with related abilities, and to refine special pills."

"Furthermore, during the growth process of the Mist Illusion Mushroom, it continuously releases a hallucinogenic mist into the outside world; it is said that if accumulated to a certain degree over time, it can even form an illusion realm comparable to a third-tier illusion array, creating a domain of its own."

Hearing these words, Qin Ming was immediately greatly shocked in his heart and felt an intense craving for this object.

That was a spiritual artifact, not a magical tool! A spiritual plant capable of refining illusion-type spiritual artifacts was rarely seen even in the Immortal Realm.

As for third-tier arrays, those were something money could not buy.

If such a third-tier illusion realm were grown around Moon-Gazing Island, wouldn't even a Jin Dan Yunxi Laozu be helpless against him? "Then what is this object?" Qin Ming asked, pointing to that ancient jade slip.

Hearing this, Mo Lingwei immediately explained, "Within this jade slip is recorded the inheritance of a third-tier spiritual planter."

"These two items were also brought back by my father at the cost of his life from a certain secret realm."

Speaking to this point, Mo Lingwei's expression became somewhat gloomy.

Hearing this, Qin Ming suddenly realized the truth.

He thought to himself that based on the Mo family's ancestors, it was impossible for them to have ever produced a third-tier spiritual planter.

Otherwise, they would not have been reduced to huddling in a corner of the Spirit Perch Archipelago, barely surviving.

After listening to Mo Lingwei's words, Qin Ming fell into contemplation.

To be honest, the weight and value of these two items were indeed not small.

He was considering whether to take out a Foundation Establishment Pill to exchange with her.

Yet, there were some concerns in his heart.

Seeing Qin Ming's demeanor, Mo Lingwei thought he did not wish to agree; she immediately bit her silver teeth and said, "If Fellow Daoist Qin feels that these two items are insufficient in value,"

"I can add another condition."

"For the next ten years, the Mo family will attach itself to Moon-Gazing Island; whatever orders Fellow Daoist Qin gives, we will obey without hesitation."

"Including..."

"Including... myself; as long as Fellow Daoist Qin makes a request, I will agree to anything."

By the time Mo Lingwei spoke these final words, her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, growing quieter and quieter, and she lowered her head, her face flushed with shame.

"Ah?!"

Hearing this, Qin Ming couldn't help but stare in astonishment.

(End of Chapter)