Chapter 146: True Person Canghai

He entered the hall.

Qin Ming looked up and immediately saw a female cultivator wearing a green Daoist robe, her hair bound with a tall crown and her attire simple and unadorned; her appearance was maintained at that of a middle-aged woman, yet in reality, she was likely several hundred years old.

The person before him was True Person Canghai—Nalan Xi.

She was also the crucial pillar allowing this Canghai Xiancheng, situated at the convergence of four nations, to stand unshaken through so many years.

Nalan Xi appeared beautiful with enduring charm, lacking any superfluous ornaments on her person; her cultivation aura was completely concealed, making her seem like an ordinary person, rendering her depth entirely indiscernible.

Yet the moment Qin Ming saw her for the first time, he felt a sensation that made his heart tremble with fear.

"Greetings, True Person!"

After entering the hall, Qin Ming bowed deeply and spoke.

No need for excessive formalities.

Nalan Xi smiled slightly, raising her hand to gesture: "Please be seated, Qin Xiaoyou, and have some spiritual tea."

In truth, she had long heard of this person Qin Ming, after all, he was a rogue cultivator capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

Before Qin Ming had even entered the hall just now, she had already reviewed all the archival records concerning his origins.

From his initial conscription by his family to serving as a laborer for a sect as a spiritual farmer planting spiritual rice, growing step by step into a second-tier spiritual planter, leaving the Lingyu Sect, then suppressing all heroes at the Lingxi Archipelago to seize Wangyue Island, living in seclusion and remaining aloof from worldly strife, only farming and planting spiritual crops on the island—his background had been investigated with extreme thoroughness.

This person's origins were clean, and he was no fugitive cultivator.

On the contrary, his story was one of arduous struggle, belonging to the type who cultivates with single-minded devotion.

She had just observed Qin Ming and discovered that this young man was truly not simple; his magic power was incredibly condensed, far surpassing cultivators of the same realm, already comparable to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and he would likely break through soon.

'To cultivate to such a height with four-element spiritual roots is indeed quite remarkable.'

After taking his seat, Qin Ming appeared slightly restrained; he could already roughly guess the other party's intention in inviting him here.

"Qin Xiaoyou, during the trial in the plant illusion realm just now, what you planted should have been a third-tier spiritual plant, the Bathing Fire Golden Lotus, correct?" True Person Canghai, Nalan Xi, said with a faint smile flashing across her face.

Qin Ming had just felt a divine sense sweep over him, causing the hairs on his entire body to stand on end instantly.

"Replying to Senior, that is indeed the case; it was merely a fortunate success," Qin Ming replied, knowing that hiding anything before a Jin Dan True Person was impossible, so he straightforwardly admitted it.

Nalan Xi nodded kindly, "Excellent! For Qin Xiaoyou to possess such attainment in the path of spiritual planting is truly rare."

"Among the fellow Daoists I know, there has never been a spiritual planter capable of growing this spiritual plant."

"With Qin Xiaoyou's level of spiritual planting, becoming a third-tier spiritual planter is likely only a matter of time."

Qin Ming pondered silently; it seemed True Person Canghai already regarded him as a prospective third-tier spiritual planter.

Hence, she looked upon him with higher regard; otherwise, he would not have been able to enter this great hall today.

"True Person overpraises me; the Dao of third-tier spiritual planting is profound and unfathomable, and this junior is still merely exploring it," Qin Ming replied with slight modesty.

Next.

After exchanging words with Qin Ming for a while, Nalan Xi then opened her mouth to speak: "Qin Xiaoyou possesses extraordinary attainments in both the path of spiritual planting and the art of pill refining, and furthermore, Qin Xiaoyou is currently of rogue cultivator origin; I wish to invite you to become a supplier for Canghai Xiancheng; what are your thoughts on this?"

"I can specially approve a third-tier spiritual vein cave dwelling and spiritual fields beneath the main peak of Canghai for Qin Xiaoyou's daily use in planting spiritual plants and cultivation."

Upon hearing these words, Qin Ming's entire spirit was instantly invigorated.

A cave dwelling and spiritual fields within a third-tier spiritual vein environment; such generous conditions would make anyone else eager to nod and agree immediately.

Although Qin Ming was also very tempted, he could not agree to the other party.

Living under the watchful eyes of a Jin Dan True Person carried a high risk of his secrets being exposed.

Furthermore, his natal spiritual plant was still rooted on Wangyue Island; although the Longevity Vine could conceal its traces on its own, whether it could remain hidden before a Jin Dan True Person was also a question.

Qin Ming's own Wangyue Island, although possessing only a second-tier mid-grade spiritual vein, could still be considered a secluded treasure land for cultivation, and after he had reinforced its defenses, its safety was no inferior to that of Canghai Xiancheng.

"Thank you for Senior's kind offer, but I am accustomed to freedom and have no intention of joining any faction; I am still used to the life of farming on the island."

Qin Ming hesitated for a moment, then politely declined True Person Canghai.

Nalan Xi had not expected that Qin Ming would refuse her invitation.

However, she had also long heard that Qin Ming had previously refused Lingyu Sect's attempts to retain him, which was why he came to the Lingxi Archipelago.

After successfully establishing his Foundation, he had similarly refused recruitment attempts from many large factions in the surrounding areas.

It seemed this young man did not like constraints; one could see a hint of this from the calm and leisurely temperament emanating from him.

Among cultivators who could reach such a realm in the hundred arts of cultivation, which one did not have some degree of temper and personality? Thinking slightly on this, she then opened her mouth to speak: "Then it is a pity; since Qin Xiaoyou's ambitions do not lie here, I will not force you."

Having spoken, Nalan Xi produced a gold-stamped token in her hand, then flicked her fingers, sending it flying until it stopped before Qin Ming.

Qin Ming caught the token and saw that it was stamped in gold with the seal script characters 'Canghai'.

"Senior, what is this?"

"This is a Canghai Token; besides the inner and outer cities, the core area beneath the main peak is also open to the token holder," Nalan Xi explained indifferently.

Qin Ming naturally knew the value of this token; with it, the most core area of Canghai Peak, including the third-tier earth fire veins, breakthrough meditation chambers for cultivation, high-grade trading venues, and so on, would all be open to him.

However, he also understood the principle that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

For True Person Canghai to act this way, there must certainly be conditions attached.

"Thank you for Senior's such generous gift; I wonder if there is anything I can do to serve?" Qin Ming stood up, cupped his fists, and said.

Seeing Qin Ming being so sensible, Nalan Xi smiled faintly and said: "I indeed have a matter for which I need Qin Xiaoyou's help."

Immediately, she turned her pale hand over and took out a long, exquisite jade box, which at a glance appeared to be of extraordinary quality.

She gently opened the lid, revealing a spiritual plant resembling spiritual ginseng inside; instantly, a rich earth-yellow spiritual rhyme flowed out from within the jade box.

Even from a great distance, Qin Ming could feel the astonishing spiritual energy emanating from the spiritual plant.

However, when he released his divine sense to examine it carefully, he discovered that the spiritual nature of this spiritual plant was damaged, and a section of its root seemed to have been forcibly snapped off.

After taking out this item, Nalan Xi spoke no further, seemingly intending to test Qin Ming.

"Senior, could it be that this plant is a third-tier low-grade spiritual plant, the Transforming Spirit Hualing Yao Cao?" Qin Ming pondered slightly and said without hesitation.

Hearing this, Nalan Xi's eyes brightened, and she praised: "Correct! It is indeed this spiritual herb; I did not expect Qin Xiaoyou to have such broad knowledge, knowing even such an obscure spiritual plant."

Qin Ming had also learned of it from that third-tier spiritual planter inheritance.

Although this Hualing Yao Cao is a third-tier spiritual plant, it is of little use to cultivators, but to demon beasts it is a heaven-and-earth spiritual treasure.

This spiritual grass can not only heal the severe wounds of demon beasts, every ten years it bears several demon fruits, which can greatly boost a demon beast's cultivation and strengthen its foundation.

It is regarded as an extremely rare treasure by beast-taming sects.

A single third-tier Hualing Yao Cao, if used properly, could even be used to nurture a high-tier demon beast.

"I won't hide it from you, Qin Xiaoyou. Some time ago, when I was fighting that demonic ape, one of my spirit pets was severely wounded in the battle, and its foundation was affected."

"Unless a Hualing demon fruit is used as medicine, it will be hard to heal, and it will affect its future potential."

"That spirit pet has followed me for many years; I cannot bear to see it go to waste."

"Therefore, I wish to entrust you, Qin Xiaoyou, with reviving this Hualing Yao Cao and growing demon fruits from it."

Nalan Xi requested with an extremely sincere expression.

(End of this chapter)