Chapter 152: Mo Lingwei

Half a month later.

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

Yet in the cultivation circles of the spiritual energy Archipelago and Canghai Xiancheng, Qin Ming's inspiring tale—rising from a lowly spirit farmer with a false spiritual root to achieve Foundation Establishment—remained wildly popular.

It was the staple topic of conversation over tea and meals among cultivators.

After all, achieving mastery in two of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation was rare even across the entire Wei Kingdom's cultivation world.

Mastering just one of the Hundred Arts was enough to occupy a cultivator's entire life; how much more so two?

And one of them was the most difficult of all: alchemy.

Moreover, a certain rumor had quietly begun to spread.

Namely, many speculated that Qin Ming's alchemical skill had already reached the level capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

After all.

Before he achieved Foundation Establishment, he had spent considerable time in Canghai Xiancheng gathering the spirit materials needed to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

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

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

Yet Qin Ming's demeanor remained excessively humble—he lived in seclusion, rarely leaving Wangyue Island, and refused all overtures from any faction.

Thus, he grew even more mysterious.

However.

No matter how popular a topic, it inevitably fades with time.

In addition.

The demand for spiritual energy Rice from the major factions remained undiminished.

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 reception gatekeeper, several Lingdao family clans had begun courting the Wu family.

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

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 cottage, eating the delicious meal delivered by Mu Ruyin.

They chatted as they ate.

"Qin Daoist, I have another piece of news to share with 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 Refining; he'll never achieve Foundation Establishment again in this life."

"Previously, the Yu family offended many neighboring Lingdao clans; they're in for a rough time ahead."

Qin Ming listened without a flicker of emotion, though the Yu family's dramatic rise and fall was inextricably tied to him.

Should the Yu family ever disturb his farming in the future, he'd feed them all to the Changsheng Vine.

"By the way, I see you've nearly finished planting Jin Ling 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 opportunity again, and hurriedly said: "I'm at your command, Qin Daoist—look at this—"

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

"Your Gao Jie Spirit Rain Technique can now be used occasionally."

"Why not try planting Shouya Rice?"

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

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

Qin Ming nodded. "Of course—but these Shouya Rice spirit seeds aren't free. You'll pay market price."

"The same goes for the spirit veins outside the island—I can lease them to you, uh… charging you thirty percent of your rice harvest as tax."

Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin exchanged glances, then broke into broad smiles.

The spirit vein conditions on Wangyue Island were 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 lifeline.

The three were still eating when.

A green aura streaked across the distant sky.

Qin Ming looked up to see a breathtakingly beautiful figure gliding gracefully before them.

"Qin Elder, you have such refined tastes—enjoying the lake and mountains while dining here."

"I heard you've successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, stirring the entire spiritual energy cultivation world. On behalf of the Mo family of Qingxiadao, I've come to pay my respects."

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

"Mo Daoist, no need for formality—just call me Qin Daoist." Qin Ming rose to greet her.

"Please, do sit on the island."

Mo Lingwei's eyes fixed on Qin Ming, sensing a new tranquility in him—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 never imagined the young cultivator she had once rejected as a co-renter of a spirit island had become someone she now had to look up to.

Qin Ming informed Wu Jiang and his wife, then led the Qingxia Immortal Mo Lingwei into the Reception Pavilion.

Mo Lingwei followed him up the main peak, deeply captivated by every blade of grass and tree—the Gao Jie Zhongpin Jushen tea plants blanketed the hillsides, and lush purple-gold bamboo forests stretched across every slope.

These were all spirit plants rarely seen outside.

From the balcony beside the Reception Pavilion's window, one could gaze far across Wangyue Lake.

Qin Ming brewed a pot of Jushen Spirit Tea for Mo Lingwei. She took a small sip, her eyes widening in surprise, and praised it endlessly.

Then she took out a gift box and presented it to Qin Ming.

The two chatted idly for a while.

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

Qin Ming did not rush her—he quietly brewed more tea and waited.

Finally.

Mo Lingwei's delicate hand clenched her robe slightly, her red lips pressed tight, then she asked Qin Ming: "I'd like to ask you something."

"Please, speak," Qin Ming said, refilling her cup.

Mo Lingwei hesitated, then asked bluntly: "There are rumors abroad that you can refine Foundation Establishment Pills—is this true?"

Qin Ming paused, startled she'd asked this.

Yet he did not conceal it—he nodded. "Yes, I can refine them."

Right now, in his storage pouch lay three ordinary Foundation Establishment Pills, and one premium one.

Such a strategic resource, touching upon the interests of major sects.

Qin Ming dared not refine many—if the major sects learned of it, he'd become a target.

At that point, he'd be in deep trouble.

After all, Foundation Establishment Pills were precisely the tool major sects used to control low-level cultivators.

Of course, as long as it wasn't excessive, occasionally letting one or two slip out, the sects would turn a blind eye.

"Then… do you have any extra Foundation Establishment Pills?"

Qin Ming's brow twitched slightly—her question had crossed into his privacy.

Mo Lingwei noticed his expression darken and quickly added: "I mean—if you have any spare Foundation Establishment Pills, I would pay any price to acquire them."

As she spoke, her gaze was resolute.

Any price? Qin Ming thought. The Mo family could barely afford their island rent—what could she possibly offer in exchange?

He could understand her desperation—she was the most gifted young leader of the Mo family.

She needed to lead her entire clan through this cruel cultivation world; her Qi Refining peak cultivation alone wouldn't carry them far.

"Mo Daoist, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

"I spent immense effort gathering materials to refine just one Foundation Establishment Pill—I used it myself when I broke through." Qin Ming sighed.

He naturally wouldn't reveal the full truth to her.

Mo Lingwei seemed to have anticipated his answer—calmly, she withdrew a black, withered branch from her storage pouch, its surface rotten and crumbling, placing it on the table.

Qin Ming scanned it with his spiritual sense and immediately sensed its hidden depth—it was no ordinary object.

Then Mo Lingwei took out an ancient, plain jade slip and placed it gently before Qin Ming.

"Qin Daoist, don't refuse me yet—I wish to trade these two items for one Foundation Establishment Pill."

Qin Ming did not answer immediately—he wanted to know what value these items held.

Mo Lingwei pointed to the thick, black, rotting wood. "This is Xuan Yin Black Wood, formed from the decay of a Gao Jie Shangpin spirit plant—quite rare."

"But what's truly precious isn't the wood itself—it's the spirit seed sealed within."

"It's the spirit seed of the Gao Jie Jipin spirit plant: Mist Illusion Mushroom."

"Though cultivators cannot consume it, Mist Illusion Mushroom is an exceptional material for cultivating and crafting illusion techniques and illusion magic treasures."

"It can also be used to feed demonic beasts with related abilities or to refine special elixirs."

"Moreover, as the Mist Illusion Mushroom grows, it continuously releases a hallucinogenic mist—legend says that if accumulated over time, it can form a hallucinatory realm rivaling a San Jie illusion array, self-contained and independent."

When Qin Ming heard this, he was greatly startled and couldn't help but covet the item.

That's a spiritual artifact, not a magical tool! Spiritual plants capable of crafting illusionary artifacts are rare even in the cultivation world.

As for a third-rank array, you simply cannot buy it no matter how much money you have.

If one could grow such a third-rank illusion within the vicinity of Wangyue Island, wouldn't even Jin Dan elders be powerless against me? "Then what is this item?" Qin Ming asked, pointing to the ancient-looking jade slip.

Mo Lingwei replied, explaining, "This jade slip contains the inheritance of a third-rank spiritual botanist."

"These two items were brought back by my father before his death, at great peril, from a secret realm."

At this point, Mo Lingwei's expression grew somber.

Qin Ming, upon hearing this, suddenly understood.

He thought to himself: the Mo family's ancestors could never have produced a third-rank spiritual botanist.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been reduced to clinging to life in a corner of the spiritual energy Archipelago.

After listening to Mo Lingwei, Qin Ming fell into thought.

To be honest, the weight and value of these two items were indeed considerable.

He was considering whether to offer her a Foundation Establishment elixir in exchange.

But he had some reservations.

Seeing Qin Ming's hesitation, Mo Lingwei assumed he was unwilling to agree. She bit her silver teeth and said, "If Brother Qin feels these two items aren't enough..."

"I can add one more condition."

"For the next ten years, the Mo family will be subordinate to Wangyue Island. Brother Qin may command us at will."

"Including..."

"Including myself—if Brother Qin makes any request, I will not refuse."

As Mo Lingwei spoke the last words, her voice grew faint as a mosquito's buzz, and she lowered her head, blushing deeply.

"Huh?!"

Qin Ming was stunned upon hearing this.

(End of Chapter)