Chapter 169: Zhao Wuji

Qin Ming heard this, pondered for a moment, and politely declined: "Thank you, Young Master Zhao, for your kindness, but Qin Mou is accustomed to staying on the island, living as a lone hermit."

"Moreover, my talent is limited; I doubt I'll ever advance beyond Foundation Establishment early stage, let alone dare to aspire to the Golden Core path."

Although Qin Ming disapproved of the Zhao family's actions, as long as they didn't trouble him, he was willing to let it slide.

Even if they had leaked some information about Wangyue Island to the Tribulation Cultivators, now was certainly not the right time to break ties with them.

"Qin Daoist, are you truly not reconsidering?" Zhao Wuji was somewhat surprised.

Under normal circumstances, few Foundation Establishment cultivators could resist the lure of Core Formation elixirs.

He had truly not expected that even these terms could not sway Qin Ming.

In fact, Zhao Wuji had come here on the orders of the clan patriarch, tasked with binding Qin Ming to their side.

The Zhao family had long coveted Qin Ming's cultivation skills in spirit planting and alchemy.

What they valued was the immeasurable value of Qin Ming's cultivation arts.

As for his future cultivation potential, as long as he could grow spiritual energy Rice, the Zhao family didn't care at all.

Had the war on the spiritual energy Archipelago not been so dire, the Zhao family's original plan had been to slowly approach Qin Ming, gradually winning his favor.

After all, they were somewhat wary of Qin Ming's status as a distinguished guest of the Mirror Snow Pavilion, even if it was merely a nominal title.

The Mirror Snow Pavilion would never easily allow a cultivator with dual mastery in these arts to be taken by another.

But now the situation was different; with war ignited, the Zhao family had been forced to the brink of survival.

They could only resort to any means necessary.

Originally, Zhao Wuji had secretly leaked a piece of information to the Evil-Faced Old Monster, hoping the bandit cultivators would target Wangyue Island.

At the critical moment, he would intervene, defeat the bandits, and save Qin Ming's life.

Then Qin Ming would owe him a significant favor, and he could easily manipulate him.

But who knew that before Zhao Wuji could even arrive, the Evil-Faced Old Monster's gang had mysteriously vanished.

Only then did Zhao Wuji realize that the waters around Wangyue Island ran deeper than they appeared.

Qin Ming, this spirit planter who seemed harmless on the surface, was far from ordinary.

He gradually shed his underestimation.

"Young Master Zhao, no more persuasion is needed—Qin Mou's decision is final," Qin Ming replied firmly.

This was already the second time Qin Ming had refused the Zhao family's overture despite generous offers.

Afterwards, Zhao Wuji, still unwilling to give up, proposed several other conditions—all of which Qin Ming rejected.

More than an hour later.

Zhao Wuji left Wangyue Island; his composed, capable expression vanished instantly, replaced by a gloomy look as he pondered something.

…

Qin Ming watched Zhao Wuji depart, his gaze flickering uncertainly—he now knew the Evil-Faced Old Monster's gang had targeted Wangyue Island with Zhao Wuji's backing.

But he could not act rashly now.

Zhao Wuji, a prodigy of the Zhao family—one of the seven great powers of the Wei Kingdom's cultivation world—had deep connections and unfathomable strength.

It was said that among Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators, few could match him; he had even fought a Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator to a draw.

Before he broke through to Foundation Establishment late stage, he must still avoid direct confrontation.

I must quickly create the third-stage illusion of the Mist Mushroom!

"This Zhao fellow keeps scheming against me—he's surely plotting something worse."

After some thought, Qin Ming made up his mind.

…

Spring passed, autumn came again—the harvest season.

But it was not Qin Ming's own spirit fields that yielded; his crops were all high-grade second-stage spirit plants, and even the fastest-maturing spiritual energy Rice still had some time to go.

This harvest belonged to the spirit fields he had leased to the Wu family. Early that morning, Wu Jiang had come to Qin Ming.

"Hehe! Qin Daoist, the Ling Rice in the fields I leased from you have all matured."

"Come with me to see them—I'll also pay you the rent I promised."

Qin Ming nodded with a smile.

Wu Jiang then led him down to the spirit fields.

Over a hundred mu of Golden Spirit Rice fields emitted a rich aroma, glowing with golden radiance, dazzling and brilliant.

In addition, Wu Jiang had successfully cultivated five mu of Beast Fang Rice himself—though yields were lower, he had managed to grow them.

Under Qin Ming's supervision, Wu Jiang ordered his family members to begin harvesting the rice.

After a full day of labor, the spirit farmers' spiritual power was completely drained.

Wu Jiang ultimately delivered to Qin Ming over ten shi of Golden Spirit Rice and more than one shi of Beast Fang Rice.

Qin Ming could then resell them to the Mirror Snow Pavilion for a substantial profit.

Qin Ming now understood the feeling of being a landlord, recalling his own days of paying rent—his heart stirred with emotion.

He patted Wu Jiang on the shoulder. "Wu Daoist, you've done well. Keep it up next year—there's still plenty of idle spirit land on the island. Try to lease more fields; your family's rise is within reach!"

Wu Jiang blushed at the praise; even cultivating these hundred mu had nearly exhausted him. But—

For the Wu family, it was still worth it: they had increased their income and now enjoyed the protection of Wangyue Island.

After collecting the rent, Qin Ming returned to his cave to cultivate.

Lately, the conflict between the Seventy-Two Scatter Alliance and the Zhao family remained fiercely deadlocked.

Qin Ming periodically sent Wu Jiang out to gather the latest news from outside.

But it was always the same: neither side could muster large-scale clashes, yet small skirmishes never ceased.

Behind the scenes, the Spirit Feather Sect and the Lei Yuanzong showed no intention of intervening directly—they manipulated the situation from afar.

One day.

Qin Ming arrived at the back mountain of the main peak, gazing at the vast expanse of Mist Mushrooms emitting pink mist.

He then used ten or so 【Ripen】 word-fragments, generated from cultivating low-grade spirit herbs, to fully ripen the three Mist Mushrooms bearing word-fragments.

Instantly, three blue word-fragment leaves appeared in Qin Ming's spiritual sea.

【Soul Force Crystal】 ×5 【Temporal-Spatial Leaf】 ×5 【Spirit Plant Symbiosis】 ×5. Qin Ming stared at these three powerful word-fragments—his spirit surged.

He immediately sat cross-legged on the spot and consumed the 【Soul Force Crystal】 word-fragment to further strengthen his soul.

Boom! The moment he consumed it, the pain was still excruciating—the searing, tearing sensation in his mind was beyond what ordinary cultivators could endure.

But fortunately, Qin Ming clearly felt his soul growing stronger.

Along with it came a massive increase in his spiritual sense.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Sounds like shattering glass echoed repeatedly in his mind.

After consuming five 【Soul Force Crystal】 word-fragments in succession, his soul reached an unimaginable level.

Simultaneously, his spiritual sense broke through to Foundation Establishment late stage—now, when projected beyond his body, it could cover a radius of roughly ten li.

Qin Ming immediately tested it: he could clearly perceive the Wu family's laborers tilling the fields below, and even detect the Darkwater Crocodile lurking behind a reef seven or eight li from Wangyue Island, its eyes half-closed, dozing.

At that moment.

The Darkwater Crocodile suddenly opened its eyes, glancing around in confusion, found nothing unusual, and closed them again.

"This fool dares to slack off."

Qin Ming's lips curled into a faint smile.

He paid it no mind—for his next plan was to use the Temporal-Spatial Leaves and 【Ripen】 word-fragments to ripen a vast expanse of Mist Mushrooms around the entire Wangyue Island, forming the legendary Mist Illusion.

(End of Chapter)