Chapter 138: Defective 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 behind.

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.

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 will do," Shen Yuanxiong said after a brief pause.

Qin Ming weighed the jade box in his hand and frowned. "This price is a bit steep—after all, less than one-tenth of the medicinal essence remains."

"Ah, in that case, I'll lower it further—two thousand five hundred spirit stones will suffice," Shen Yuanxiong said, his face twitching as he realized he'd overpriced it.

"Deal."

Qin Ming's expression remained calm, but inside he was elated.

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

With this one Zhu 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," Qin Ming said, his mood lifting now that his goal was achieved.

Shen Yuanxiong politely replied, "Why not stay a while longer? I'll have servants prepare a proper reception for you both."

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

"In that case, forgive my poor hospitality. Once my affairs are settled, I'll visit Mirror Snow Pavilion to drink with you both," Shen Yuanxiong said, opening the door and politely seeing them out.

As the group passed through the courtyard corridor,

A burly man with a full beard, dark-skinned and radiating the spiritual power of Foundation Establishment early stage, strode toward them briskly.

Upon seeing Shen Yuanxiong, he barked, "Quick, quick, old man 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 Gu Qingzhao of Mirror Snow Pavilion.

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, a Qi Refining cultivator, was completely ignored.

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

"What? What Brother Qin?" Luo Rong exclaimed in disbelief.

Shen Yuanxiong gestured toward Qin Ming. "This is Brother Qin—he's an honorary guest sage of Mirror Snow Pavilion."

"A genuine second-rank Pill Master."

Luo Rong was stunned, then turned to Qin Ming with renewed respect. "So you're Master Qin—remarkable, young hero!"

Still, he pressed on, "Might I beg you, Master Qin, to sell me that Jade Marrow Lingzhi?"

"I'll pay double the spirit stones."

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

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

Seeing Gu Qingzhao nearby, he dared not press further. After several shifts in expression, he sighed. "Ah, well—it seems this item is not meant for me."

With that, he bid farewell and left awkwardly.

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

He had barely left when

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

Upon seeing him arrive, Shen Yuanxiong gave the two a quick word before hurrying forward.

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

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

Qin Ming nodded.

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

He entered the side hall.

Master Sun's status in Canghai Xiancheng ranked just below the Jin Dan True Person.

After Qin Ming and Gu Qingzhao departed,

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

Shen Yuanxiong immediately recounted everything that had just happened.

When he heard that the Qi Refining 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 face.

Sun Jinian remarked coolly: "That young Qin, likely possesses extraordinary talent in pill refining—he even managed to refine a Youth-Preserving Pill."

"Moreover, he probably carries an extremely advanced pill refining lineage."

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

Shen Yuanxiong was stunned—Sun Jinian's evaluation was far higher than he'd expected.

Since he knew nothing about pill refining, he asked: "Can he refine Foundation Establishment Pills?"

"Naturally. The difficulty of refining a Youth-Preserving Pill is even slightly higher than that of a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"In pill refining, mastery of one method unlocks all others."

"If he can refine a Youth-Preserving Pill, he can certainly refine a Foundation Establishment Pill," Sun Jinian explained slowly.

Shen Yuanxiong stood frozen. "Huh?!"

He suddenly felt he'd missed something crucial.

"But he took that defective Jade Marrow Lingzhi—surely he can't refine anything with it?"

Sun Jinian seemed amused. "Hmph. There are countless pill refining secrets—perhaps he has a method to restore its medicinal essence?"

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

"Why do I feel like I sold that Jade Marrow Lingzhi too cheaply?"

Sun Jinian said: "Enough. Go prepare. I'll wait here—I've made slight progress in my pill refining recently; I guarantee 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 arrangements.

…

On the other side, Qin Ming had secured the crucial main ingredient; the heavy weight on his heart lifted.

He still needed two rare auxiliary ingredients, but they were nowhere near as hard to find as the Jade Marrow Lingzhi.

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

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

Unfortunately, he gained little.

That day,

He was searching for clues in a spirit herb shop.

Behind him came a familiar voice.

"Brother Qin, what a coincidence!"

Qin Ming turned to see a bearded cultivator smiling warmly at him.

It was the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Luo Rong.

(End of Chapter)