Chapter 143: Trial for Second-Rank Upper-Grade Spiritual Planter

During this period.

The spiritual plants Qin Ming had cultivated on the island successively reached maturity.

Within the spiritual pool beneath the main peak, over ten lotus seed pods hung down like emeralds; the Jade Brilliance Spiritual Lotus was valuable in its entirety, with its seeds, pods, and rhizomes all usable for medicine and pill refinement, serving as extremely rare primary ingredients seldom seen in the Immortal Realm.

Even Su Yuqing, residing in the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty where cultivation resources were abundant, had to commission Qin Ming to cultivate them.

On the rear mountain of the main peak, atop over a hundred pieces of second-rank rotten wood, clusters of Mist Illusion Mushrooms had also matured, each pink mushroom continuously emitting wisps of pink mist.

Qin Ming guided all of them into the Mist Illusion Realm; as time passed, if development continued this way, the mist guarding Moonwatch Island would reach a terrifying level.

Next.

Qin Ming had no choice but to leave Moonwatch Island for a trip.

He needed to begin preparations to advance to a second-rank upper-grade spiritual planter, participate in the trial assessment within the Plant Illusion Realm, and obtain the Mother Qi of Ten Thousand Woods.

After informing Wu Jiang, Qin Ming summoned his Silver-Winged Frost Bees and departed Moonwatch Island.

Having not left the island for so long, gazing upon the outside world, he suddenly felt as though an entire lifetime had passed.

After the bloodline of the Silver-Winged Frost Bees improved, their flight speed increased significantly.

Moving with the speed of wind and lightning, it took less than half a double-hour before Qin Ming arrived at the Chu Tianhe Market.

After passing inspection, he entered the market.

This time, he did not conceal his appearance or identity, after all, he was going to the Spiritual Planter Guild to handle matters regarding his advancement.

He walked along the main thoroughfare.

"Did I see that correctly?"

"Wasn't that senior who just passed by the Master of Moonwatch Island, Master Qin?"

"What? Didn't they say Moonwatch Island was surrounded by eerie mist, where even those at the late Foundation Establishment stage entered never to return?"

"It really is Qin Qianbei!"

"He's heading toward the Spiritual Planter Guild."

"Could it be that he is preparing to advance to a second-rank upper-grade spiritual planter?"

"Has Master Qin cultivated some extraordinary spiritual plant again?"

"Indeed, I said so; how could anything possibly happen to Master Qin?"

"First he cultivated Spiritual Perch Rice, then he refined Foundation Establishment Pills."

"He has truly become a major figure in the Lingxi Immortal Realm."

"Impossible for him to die young."

Within the market, with Qin Ming's appearance, various discussions and speculations regarding Moonwatch Island arose once more.

Qin Ming paid no heed to these matters and went straight to the Spiritual Planter Guild.

When he appeared here once again, the spiritual planter registrar responsible for registration and record-keeping was considerably startled.

The elderly registrar with graying hair, upon hearing that Qin Qianbei had come to prepare for advancing to a second-rank upper-grade spiritual planter, became even more filled with awe.

Subsequently, Qin Ming took that registrar and, under the gaze of the crowd, flew toward Moonwatch Island.

When the two arrived near Moonwatch Island, pink mist that obscured the sky and blocked out the sun began to appear.

The bald, white-haired old man halted in his tracks and began to hesitate, unwilling to proceed.

"Heh heh, it is fine." Seeing this, Qin Ming waved his hand, and the mist instantly scattered, revealing a passage wide enough for two people to pass through.

The old man from the Spiritual Planter Guild, witnessing this unbelievable scene before his eyes, was immediately shocked beyond measure.

"F-Fellow Daoist Qin truly possesses remarkable methods!"

Afterwards.

The two entered Moonwatch Island.

When this registrar saw the various rare, high-grade spiritual plants within the island, the booklet in his hands dropped to the ground with a 'pat'.

"This..."

"Fully matured second-rank top-grade spiritual plants, Jade Brilliance Spiritual Lotuses!"

"Second-rank top-grade spiritual plants, Mist Illusion Mushrooms; so the illusion realm capable of blocking even a Jin Dan old ancestor was actually released by this spiritual plant."

"And... am I seeing things?"

"Oh my heavens, the legendary Dragon Blood Divine Tree!"

"And countless second-rank spiritual herbs and medicines..."

The old man from the Spiritual Planter Guild was already numb; he remembered that during his last visit here, merely witnessing the emergence of Spiritual Perch Rice had greatly shocked him.

He never expected that this time would broaden his horizons even further.

Some of these spiritual plants existed only in books and were rarely seen in the outside world.

This was also the first time he had seen them with his own eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, no, Master Qin, this old one has finished recording on this end."

"Forgive this old one for speaking plainly, but Master Qin is the most formidable spiritual planting master I have encountered in all my years as a spiritual planter registrar, bar none." The bald, white-haired old man did not hesitate to praise Qin Ming. "Regarding the trial quota for advancing to a second-rank upper-grade spiritual planter, I fear no one can compete with Master Qin."

After matters were concluded, the elderly registrar from the Spiritual Planter Guild was escorted out of Moonwatch Island by Qin Ming, looking back every few steps.

Next.

Qin Ming was to depart for the Canghai Immortal City to participate in the trial assessment of the Plant Illusion Realm.

Before leaving, he found Wu Jiang to give another set of instructions.

For this trip, Qin Ming brought both of his spiritual pets, the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Winged Frost Bees.

After all, so many major events had occurred over the past year; it was best to proceed with utmost caution.

With these two powerful Foundation Establishment great demons by his side, even if danger arose, he could withdraw safely.

Qin Ming mounted the Yin Yi Shuangfeng, stored the Profound Water Crocodile into his spirit beast bag, and turned into a streak of silver light heading toward Canghai Xiancheng, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

The Canghai Xiancheng, which previously required a full day's travel to reach, was now arrived at in less than two hours.

After arriving at Canghai Xiancheng this time, Qin Ming did not rush to find Gu Qingzhao of the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

Instead, since the trial of the plant illusion realm was about to begin shortly, he went directly to the headquarters of the Spirit Planter Guild within Canghai Xiancheng.

This time, Liu Guchang, the guild master of the Spirit Planter Guild, personally received Qin Ming.

He had received news sent back from the Tianhe Market, which greatly astonished him.

This young cultivator before him would likely soon become a second-rank upper-grade spirit planter, just like himself.

After a round of pleasantries.

Qin Ming also learned that, including himself, there were only three second-rank middle-grade spirit planters participating in this plant illusion realm trial assessment.

Furthermore, the other two were both quite advanced in age; from this, one could imagine how rare second-rank upper-grade spirit planters were.

Both of those individuals came over to express their goodwill to Qin Ming.

Since they had arrived earlier, they had already heard rumors that Qin Ming had a very high probability of successfully advancing to second-rank upper-grade.

As for the two of them, neither had much confidence; they were simply old and wanted to take a final gamble.

Spirit planters who could reach this stage were becoming increasingly scarce.

Under the direction of the guild master, the magnificent wooden array passed down from ancient times was activated.

Green light showered down upon the three spirit planters, and subsequently, their figures vanished from the spot.

Liu Guchang, the grand master of the Spirit Planter Guild, gazed deeply in the direction of the wooden array, lost in thought.

"Guild Master, do you think there is a high possibility that the three of them will pass the advancement assessment this time?"

"Hmm, it is hard to say about the other two, but this old man is quite optimistic about Daoist Qin."

"As long as he does not choose an illusion realm with excessive difficulty, there should be no major problem."

"Then doesn't that mean the Wei State Immortal Realm will gain another second-rank upper-grade spirit planter?"

"It has been several decades since such a talented newcomer appeared."

"We old fellows should step down and make way for the worthy."

A moment later.

Guild Master Liu Guchang's gaze fell upon the wooden stele representing Qin Ming's entry.

Subsequently, the expression on his face became extremely complex, filled with incomprehension and shock.

"This Daoist Qin actually chose the Grade-A difficulty plant illusion realm trial."

"If it were a second-rank lower-grade trial, it would be one thing, but this is a second-rank upper-grade assessment, alas!"

"In the history of second-rank upper-grade spirit planter assessment trials, no one in the Wei State Immortal Realm has ever passed an illusion realm of such difficulty."

"Since the birth of the plant illusion realm, the number of second-rank middle-grade spirit planters who have succeeded is countable on one's fingers."

"Although Daoist Qin possesses extremely high attainment in the path of spirit planting, isn't this somewhat overly arrogant?"

"Sigh, let us just wait and see."

Within the plant illusion realm.

It was still that same small wooden hut; after Qin Ming finished selecting the Grade-A difficulty for the plant illusion realm.

The wooden door opened with a "creak."

Boom!

A earth-shaking roar echoed beside Qin Ming's ear.

Countless scorching lava plumes and smoky mountain ash shot straight into the sky!

A magnificent and spectacular flame mountain range appeared within Qin Ming's line of sight.

The scalding heat of the hot waves immediately rushed toward his face!

(End of Chapter)