Chapter 25: Shifts in the Situation

Qin Ming looked at this entry with some puzzlement.

【Spirit-Restoration Seed】: After use, can cause a dead spirit plant to regain vitality and be reborn.

"Even the divine soul can be strengthened now."

"And this 'Spirit-Restoration Seed' — it can actually revive even a dead spirit plant."

"In the future, if some precious spirit plant dies, this will be of great use."

Qin Ming stared at the entry before him, thinking to himself.

After finishing his work, he tidied up and cooked.

The meal was only half-cooked.

The transmission talisman on Qin Ming's body suddenly stirred.

He took it out and looked — it was actually a message from Shopkeeper Liao.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I have important matters to tell you. Come to the shop at once."

Qin Ming's brow furrowed. "Could something be happening again?"

Shopkeeper Liao's messages were always related to shifts in the situation at Qingyang Market.

This was very important to him.

Qin Ming tossed down his kitchen tools, washed his hands, and headed out.

The third month of spring.

Qingyang Market, Juxuan Pavilion.

Shopkeeper Liao sat by a second-floor window. Seeing Qin Ming arrive, he hurried down and led him into a private room on the fourth floor.

He then ordered someone to brew a pot of fine Spirit Mist Tea.

"Shopkeeper Liao, summoning me in such a rush."

"Has something happened?"

Qin Ming asked, puzzled.

Shopkeeper Liao did not rush to reply, first pouring Qin Ming a cup of spirit tea.

Then he took out a sound-isolating talisman and cast a small-scale soundproofing barrier.

Only then, with an expression grave, did he say to Qin Ming: "The dispute between Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley has reached a result."

"Huh? That fast?" A look of surprise crossed Qin Ming's face.

"This time, something major is likely about to happen."

"Just half a month ago, Lingyu Gate's frontline wilderness-opening war camp was once again wiped out — only a few cultivators escaped back."

"I heard even two Foundation Establishment predecessors perished!"

An even more explosive piece of news came from Shopkeeper Liao's mouth.

Qin Ming grew even more astonished and hurriedly asked: "Could those barbarians really be that powerful? Even Foundation Establishment cultivators can be slain?"

"Exactly. Lingyu Gate had previously misjudged the strength of these barbarians — among them are no few barbarian cultivators whose power rivals Foundation Establishment."

Shopkeeper Liao took a sip of tea and continued: "Once this happened, Lingyu Gate could no longer sit still."

"Setbacks on the frontline, and Jinyun Valley dragging things out in the rear."

"The upper echelons of Lingyu Gate finally made a decision."

"They will temporarily compromise with Jinyun Valley. The two sects will jointly develop the third-grade spirit vein occupied by those barbarian cultivators."

Qin Ming said, astonished: "They were fighting so fiercely just before — even destroying the teleportation array — and now they've turned swords into ploughshares?"

"Sigh, this is reality. In the face of profit, if they can fight, they can also negotiate." Shopkeeper Liao sighed.

"I heard that this time Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley have dispatched most of their elites from both sects, preparing to make a big move."

"Of course, besides that, even more loose cultivators have been conscripted."

"Just the first batch of conscripted loose cultivators alone numbers five thousand."

Shopkeeper Liao's words reached this point.

Suddenly a trace of an amused smile appeared on his face. He posed a riddle: "Does Fellow Daoist Qin know what price these two sects paid to recruit so many cultivators?"

Qin Ming shook his head.

"Foundation Establishment Pills!"

Shopkeeper Liao uttered these words with deliberate emphasis.

"What? Foundation Establishment Pills?!" Qin Ming was greatly shocked.

It seemed Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley were truly going all out this time.

But on second thought,

these Foundation Establishment Pills were probably not so easy to obtain.

The two sects must have been in cahoots, taking out precious spirit pills like Foundation Establishment Pills as bait to lure large numbers of low-level loose cultivators to serve as cannon fodder opening the way for them.

Once the Foundation Establishment Pills appeared, a steady stream of low-level loose cultivators joined in.

After all, breaking through from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment was a hurdle most low-level cultivators could never overcome.

In any case, the Immortal Realm never lacked for such people — kill one batch and another comes, endless as the mowing.

"So, Fellow Daoist Qin, Qingyang Market will certainly not be able to hold so many cultivators when the time comes."

"Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley will jointly build a Yunze Xiancheng in Yunze Dahuang, to serve as the garrison for both sects."

Shopkeeper Liao's news grew more explosive with each one — Qin Ming could barely keep up.

"That really is a grand undertaking."

"The first batch of elite cultivators from Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley will arrive at Qingyang Market today."

Hearing this, Qin Ming asked: "Has Lingyu Gate's teleportation array been repaired?"

Shopkeeper Liao shook his head gently and said, "It has not been repaired yet, but I hear it will be soon, likely within this year."

Qin Ming rested his chin on his hand and mused silently, 'Could it be that the price of spirit rice will drop back down?'

"Fellow Daoist Qin need not worry about the price of spirit rice; there will be no major fluctuations in the short term."

"After all, with the two sects constructing Yunze Xiancheng this time, the number of cultivators will be extraordinarily high, making logistical supply a major issue."

Shopkeeper Liao, seeming to perceive Qin Ming's concerns, spoke frankly.

Hearing this, Qin Ming felt much more at ease.

"With the current situation about to change drastically, Fellow Daoist Qin must make preparations early."

"Aside from these matters, there is one important issue I need to discuss with Fellow Daoist Qin."

Shopkeeper Liao changed the subject.

"What is it?"

"It is like this: after we purchased one hundred jin of Beast Tooth Rice from Fellow Daoist Qin last time, it attracted the Gu Gezhu's attention."

"The intention from above is that, provided Fellow Daoist Qin agrees to sell half of every season's harvest of Beast Tooth Rice to our pavilion when it ripens,"

"we can add twenty percent to the original price, making it nine spirit stones per jin."

"Of course, this requires Fellow Daoist Qin to sign an agreement with our pavilion."

Qin Ming curled his lips in a barely perceptible sneer.

'This old rascal is starting his tricks again.'

However, this time, he simply nodded and agreed to the other party.

"Agreed."

The information from Shopkeeper Liao was very important; he would certainly need to inquire further later.

Seeing Qin Ming agree so readily, Shopkeeper Liao was momentarily stunned; he had already prepared arguments for bargaining.

For a moment, they were entirely useless.

"Hehehe, Fellow Daoist Qin is truly straightforward!"

Shopkeeper Liao immediately struck while the iron was hot, taking out paper, brush, and ink that he had prepared long ago.

Both parties signed the agreement.

"May I ask how many mu of Beast Tooth Rice Fellow Daoist Qin planted this year?" Shopkeeper Liao asked expectantly.

"Three mu."

Qin Ming did not hide it; sooner or later, the other party would find out anyway.

Hearing the reply, Shopkeeper Liao's face instantly bloomed with joy, and he smiled even more happily.

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave," Qin Ming said as he stood up. "Shopkeeper Liao, if you hear any news later, remember to tell me."

"Certainly, certainly."

"Let me see Fellow Daoist Qin off."

Their conversation ended, and they opened the room door.

Just as they were about to go out, a man and a woman walked down the stairs, meeting them face to face.

He recognized the man; dressed in a white robe, it was none other than Su Yuqing.

And the woman beside him.

She appeared to be around twenty years old, with a clear and refined beauty that transcended the mundane, like a lotus emerging from the water or a hibiscus fresh from the dew, her figure curvaceous and perfectly proportioned.

Her eyes were clear, revealing an aloof nobility that could hardly be concealed beneath their transparency.

She was not wearing solemn or luxurious attire, but rather a plain-colored long skirt.

As for her cultivation base, Qin Ming could not see through it at all; she should be in the late Qi Condensation stage. The woman noticed Qin Ming's gaze.

Yet she did not pay it much mind, ignoring him as she continued walking down.

Qin Ming withdrew his gaze.

"Greetings, Gu Gezhu!"

At this moment, Shopkeeper Liao nearby hurriedly bowed deeply to that woman.

(End of Chapter)