Chapter 145: Ultimate Wood Body Perfected!

After a day of travel.

After more than half a year, the majestic and grand Canghai Xiancheng reappeared in Qin Ming's line of sight.

This time, Qin Ming traveled to Canghai Xiancheng and brought Gu Qingzhao two rice-flower spirit fish.

In the cultivation world, social obligations must be properly handled.

After all, every time she came, she brought gifts.

And she had helped him considerably.

If he relied solely on himself, gathering all the spirit materials needed to refine a Foundation Establishment pill might take years.

After landing near the gate, Qin Ming obediently joined the queue to enter the immortal city.

After presenting his identity token to enter the city.

He walked through winding streets straight toward the inner city's Jingxue Pavilion.

Gu Qingzhao and Liao the Shopkeeper had been waiting for him a long time.

After all, they had long heard the news that Rice of the Spirit Qi had reappeared on the Spirit Qi Islands.

Gu Qingzhao stepped forward gracefully, a faint smile appearing on her face: "Congratulations, Qin Daoist. You are about to become a Second-Rank Mid-Grade Spirit Planter."

"And you have brought the Rice of the Spirit Qi back to the cultivation world."

Qin Ming was currently at the height of his fame, and Jingxue Pavilion seized the opportunity to build momentum.

Its influence within Canghai Xiancheng would rise another level.

Since Qin Ming's Rice of the Spirit Qi had not yet been released, cultivators knew it would almost certainly be sold through Jingxue Pavilion's channels.

"Congratulations, Qin Daoist! Congratulations!" Liao the Shopkeeper added his praise from beside her.

Qin Ming smiled lightly and replied modestly: "Just a bit of luck—your praise is excessive."

Then.

Gu Qingzhao led Qin Ming into a private room on the seventh floor.

The two spoke at length about recent events.

"By the way, the three Youth-Preserving Pills you entrusted us to auction sold for twenty thousand spirit stones each."

"After deducting the thirty thousand spirit stones I spent gathering the materials for you, the remainder was sent to you by Long Yi—did you receive it?" Gu Qingzhao asked, sipping tea.

Qin Ming nodded. "Thank you, Gu Daoist. I received it."

Gu Qingzhao must have taken one of the Youth-Preserving Pills—her exquisite beauty now radiated even more celestial aura.

After a while longer.

Qin Ming noticed her slightly expectant gaze.

He knew it was time to discuss matters of substance, so he took out two hundred jin of Rice of the Spirit Qi and placed it before Gu Qingzhao.

"Since I am an honorary guest minister of Jingxue Pavilion and enjoy generous treatment, I should do something in return."

"These Rice of the Spirit Qi are entrusted to you, Gu Daoist, for disposal and sale."

Gu Qingzhao and Liao the Shopkeeper stared at the ice-crystal-white Rice of the Spirit Qi, unable to look away.

It was their first time seeing the famed Rice of the Spirit Qi they had only heard rumors of.

For a moment, they were spellbound.

Long moments passed.

Finally, Gu Qingzhao and Liao regained their composure and spoke with admiration: "We never imagined your spirit planting mastery had reached such a level. In spirit planting alone, no one in Canghai Xiancheng could possibly match you."

Qin Ming smiled at this.

He then handed Gu Qingzhao a portion of Focus-Enhancing Tea and Purple Gold Bamboo to auction as well.

One was a second-rank spirit tea that enhanced magic power and spiritual sense.

The other was a spirit bamboo used to forge top-grade magic treasures.

Both were rare beyond price.

With such items as the finale of its auctions, Jingxue Pavilion's reputation would soar.

He immediately took the two rice-flower spirit fish from his spirit beast pouch and handed them to Gu Qingzhao: "These are spirit fish I cultivated on the island—taste quite good. I brought you two to try."

"Then I thank you for your kindness, Qin Daoist," Gu Qingzhao said, her eyes brightening as she smiled and accepted the fish.

The two spirit fish were still lively, wriggling inside the spirit beast pouch.

Each weighed about five or six jin.

Then.

The transaction was complete.

Three days later.

Qin Ming received notice to go to the Spirit Planter Guild of Canghai Xiancheng for the Wood Illusion Trial.

When he arrived at the Spirit Planter Guild.

More than a dozen Second-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Planters were already waiting to enter the Wood Array.

Upon seeing Qin Ming approach, they all greeted him warmly.

"Greetings, Qin Daoist!"

"Qin Daoist, you are our true role model!"

"You brought the Rice of the Spirit Qi back to the world—you've restored honor to all spirit planters."

"Even those arrogant pill masters now have no choice but to admit defeat."

"Qin Daoist, will you take on disciples?"

"..."

Qin Ming's achievements were now widely known.

These spirit planters desperately hoped to learn even a single technique for cultivating Rice of the Spirit Qi from his words.

Soon, the Wood Array activated.

Everyone fell silent and stepped into the spirit plant illusion.

When Qin Ming entered the array.

He found the trial content nearly identical to the one he had undergone at Lingyu Sect.

But the Second-Rank Mid-Grade illusion was significantly harder.

Qin Ming still chose the highest difficulty: Class-A Illusion.

Several hours later.

Spirit planters began exiting the illusion in small groups.

Some looked delighted; others appeared numb and despondent.

The last to emerge was Qin Ming—his expression remained calm, unreadable.

Yet inside, he was ecstatic—he had completed the Class-A Illusion trial.

And he received seven strands of "Ten Thousand Trees Mother Qi" once again.

With this, he could soon perfect the Ultimate Wood Body, preparing for Foundation Establishment.

His Spirit Planter identity token, enhanced by the Wood Array, now bore two spirit plants on its back.

Signifying Qin Ming's official promotion to Second-Rank Mid-Grade Spirit Planter.

A rare profession within Canghai Xiancheng.

…

Elsewhere.

At Jingxue Pavilion.

Gu Qingzhao picked up the two rice-flower spirit fish and casually handed one to Liao the Shopkeeper: "Make one into a spirit fish soup. Serve it to me when ready."

She assumed Qin Ming had simply gifted her ordinary spirit fish, so she gave it little thought.

Still, to honor his kindness, she decided to taste at least one.

"Yes, Madam. Rest for a moment—I'll bring it up right away," Liao the Shopkeeper bowed and took the fish downstairs.

A stick of incense later.

Liao the Shopkeeper arrived with a strange expression, carrying a small basin covered with a lid: "Madam, the soup is ready, but—"

"But what?" Gu Qingzhao rose, her eyebrows knitting. She noticed Liao's odd expression and frowned.

"Madam, you'll see for yourself."

Liao gently lifted the lid.

Instantly, an overwhelming aroma of spirit-freshness surged forth, stirring her taste buds.

Before Gu Qingzhao lay a small basin of soup radiating astonishing spiritual aura—its concentrated spiritual energy could be felt from afar.

"This—"

Even Gu Qingzhao, ever composed, revealed rare astonishment.

She picked up a spoon and gently scooped a portion into her mouth.

The next instant, her eyes widened in disbelief.

This rice-flower spirit fish soup rivaled the legendary "Great Azure Dragon Soup"—it could directly boost her Foundation Establishment cultivation base! She quickly dismissed Liao the Shopkeeper.

Gu Qingzhao drank every drop of the soup without waste and immediately entered cultivation.

An hour later, she felt her magic power had advanced significantly, and she sensed an imminent breakthrough.

After calming herself, she summoned Liao the Shopkeeper back and ordered him to carefully preserve the second spirit fish.

…

Qin Ming finished the Grass and Tree Illusion Trial and returned to Mirror Snow Pavilion.

Gu Qingzhao spotted Qin Ming at once and invited him to a private chamber for a chat.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered as she smiled, her voice gentle: "I've tasted the rice-flower spirit fish you gave me."

"I never expected it to be such a precious gift—I feel almost guilty accepting it."

Qin Ming smiled faintly. "As long as you like it, that's all that matters."

"I don't cultivate many of these rice-flower spirit fish yet—they're rare indeed."

Gu Qingzhao suddenly understood. "No wonder the effect on spiritual power is so strong—they're grown in the spiritual energy Rice paddies!"

"If you have extra spirit fish in the future, I'll pay a high price for them."

Qin Ming chuckled. "You're joking—whenever you want to eat some, just come to Moonwatch Island."

He was quite proud—after all, these spiritual energy Rice rice-flower spirit fish were unique to him alone.

During their conversation,

something unexpected happened.

Shen Yuanxiong, who had once sold him defective Jade Marrow Fungus, had also come seeking him out.

A full Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He pleaded earnestly with Qin Ming to sell him some spiritual energy Rice.

Out of gratitude for the Jade Marrow Fungus he'd sold him, Qin Ming sold him five jin of spiritual energy Rice.

In addition,

he learned from Shen Yuanxiong that their collective effort to refine Foundation Establishment Elixir had failed.

Sun Danshi, an experienced elixir master, had performed poorly during the refining and caused an outright explosion.

They'd wasted two full sets of Foundation Establishment Elixir ingredients.

Shen Yuanxiong was heartbroken and now deeply regretted it—he should have trusted Qin Ming and given him a portion of the Jade Marrow Fungus.

After all,

Qin Ming, so young, had already advanced to Second-Rank Mid-Grade Spirit Planter, and possessed dual Second-Rank cultivation arts.

This alone proved his exceptional skill and extraordinary talent.

But now, it was too late to say anything.

…

Next,

Qin Ming had achieved his main goal for this trip—he should return to cultivate.

After bidding farewell to Gu Qingzhao,

he returned to Moonwatch Island.

Everything on the island had remained peaceful during his absence.

The Blackwater Crocodile was playing in Moonwatch Lake, while Wu Jiang followed behind, feeding it demonic beast meat.

After several days together, Wu Jiang had lost his earlier fear.

As Qin Ming neared the lakeshore, the Blackwater Crocodile sensed his return and rushed toward him joyfully, shaking its head and tail.

In just a few days, it had grown slightly larger.

No wonder—it was a mutated Earth-grade bloodline.

It no longer looked as cute as when it first appeared; its fierce, menacing appearance was beginning to emerge.

Qin Ming patted its head and told it to go find food in the lake.

Then he gave Wu Jiang further instructions.

"Wu Dao You, I'm going to enter seclusion starting today."

"Continue watching over the island for me."

"Let no one disturb me."

Wu Jiang immediately replied, "Qin Dao You, rest assured—I'll take care of everything."

Qin Ming nodded, returned to his cave, prepared himself,

then stood before his Lifevine, his life-spirit plant.

"Today is the day!"

Qin Ming raised his hand and summoned all seven strands of "Ten Thousand Woods' Primordial Qi" directly toward the Lifevine.

Instantly,

the Lifevine began to grow wildly, its vines glowing with purple runes.

After absorbing all seven strands of Ten Thousand Woods' Primordial Qi, the entire life-spirit plant doubled in height again.

It reached thirty zhang tall, its black vines blotting out the sky.

Had it not possessed concealment abilities, such a colossal tree would have been visible from miles away.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh! As the life-spirit plant ceased growing, streams of plant essence flowed from the Lifevine into Qin Ming.

Like a green Milky Way spanning the night sky, it connected directly to him.

Qin Ming activated the "Ancient Tree Eternal Life Technique"; a pale green phantom shadow appeared behind him, mirroring his movements exactly.

Gradually,

as plant essence continuously flowed into his body,

the green phantom shadow grew larger.

It stabilized at eight zhang in height.

At that moment,

the green phantom shadow performed a movement different from Qin Ming's.

It formed a strange hand seal.

The phantom figure instantly became crystal-clear, indistinguishable from Qin Ming himself.

Zzzz—Qin Ming himself seemed to transform into an ancient tree weathered by eons; a vast force of temporal energy swirled around him.

Suddenly!

The massive green phantom behind him abruptly transformed into a single green rune and sank into Qin Ming's forehead.

Like a branded green rune, it imprinted itself upon his brow.

Boom! In the depths of his mind, countless insights into wood-element Dao surged forth.

Like sudden enlightenment—indescribable.

His dantian sea began spontaneously absorbing external spiritual energy, flowing without obstruction.

"The Ultimate Wood Body is complete!"

Qin Ming slowly opened his eyes; two inches-long green rays flashed in his gaze, then faded gently.

A calm smile appeared on his face.

Qin Ming clearly felt that the efficiency of his spiritual roots in converting ambient spiritual energy had increased dramatically.

This sensation was utterly incomparable to before.

Though he still possessed a four-element pseudo-spiritual root, he now had a postnatal spiritual body—his talent rivaled that of a top-grade spiritual root cultivator.

Next,

all was prepared—only the wind remained.

Qin Ming prepared to strike while the iron was hot and immediately begin refining Foundation Establishment Elixir to break through to Foundation Establishment! (End of Chapter)