Chapter 298: Jade Bamboo Grove Valley

Xuanxi Valley, Spirit Herb Garden, Administrative Hall.

More than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators who passed Xuanxi Valley's recruitment stood silently in the hall's center, waiting.

The fat old man Di Shan, who had never gotten along with Yu Changqing, had also passed the guest cultivator application for Xuanxi Valley.

As soon as he entered, he glared at Qin Ming, pouted, and sulked to one side.

Half a stick of incense later.

An elderly man with golden hair, radiant and sharp-eyed, slowly stepped into the hall and sat directly upon the seat at the head.

He radiated the immense magical power of a False Core realm; the terrifying spiritual pressure he emitted instantly caused all the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the hall to bow their heads, daring not to meet his gaze.

Qin Ming also feigned the same reaction as the others, lowering his head.

But he recognized the man well—it was Xu Elder of Xuanxi Valley, grandfather of Xu Jing of Canghai Immortal City's Dingding Pavilion.

Qin Ming was currently disguised as Yu Changqing; of course, the other could not recognize him.

After settling in, Xu Elder scanned the hall once, then nodded slightly.

"Xu Elder, here is the complete list of guest cultivators assigned to the Spirit Herb Garden."

Then, a Foundation Establishment disciple from Xuanxi Valley stepped forward and respectfully handed Xu Elder a register.

Xu Elder took the register, opened it, and carefully reviewed its contents.

"Hmm. Acceptable, just barely okay."

Next, Xu Elder spoke to the assembled cultivators, his voice filled with authority, calm and measured: "I am Xu Shanzhong of Xuanxi Valley."

"Welcome to join Xuanxi Valley—henceforth, you are one of our sect members, sharing its glory and shame!"

"I have reviewed each of your records—you all come from clean backgrounds and possess outstanding abilities within Liang State."

"From this moment on, you are under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Herb Garden."

The cultivators below quickly bowed and replied: "Yes!!"

"Greetings, Xu Elder!"

Xu Elder nodded in satisfaction, then continued: "Now that you have become guest cultivators of our sect,"

"you will naturally enjoy the sect's many generous benefits."

"But at the same time, you must complete all tasks assigned to you on time."

"You must also strictly abide by the sect's rules—if any are broken, I will show no mercy and punish you without leniency!"

"Of course, for guest cultivators who make outstanding contributions, I will also offer rewards."

Xu Elder employed both benevolence and authority to instill in them the principles of Xuanxi Valley.

Then, he immediately assigned each of them their positions.

"Yu Changqing, you will go to Jade Bamboo Grove."

Qin Ming stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and replied: "Yes! I humbly obey Xu Elder's command!"

Half a day later, all assignments were finalized.

Di Shan was assigned to Misty Pine Ridge, next to Qin Ming.

After giving them their instructions, Xu Elder left the hall.

Afterwards,

Qin Ming, guided by a female inner-disciple, arrived at a lush bamboo grove.

Though this bamboo grove consisted only of first-rank spirit plants, far inferior to his own Void Spirit Bamboo Grove, it still possessed a certain scenic charm.

The female disciple guiding him was named Yan Ruyan, elegant and graceful, around twenty years old.

Her cultivation had just entered the late Qi Refining stage.

"Yu Changlao, this is your residence—I've cleaned it thoroughly for you."

"From now on, this Jade Bamboo Grove and the entire valley fall under your jurisdiction," Yan Ruyan said, her voice clear as a bell, leading Qin Ming to a cluster of houses. Qin Ming glanced at the spotless, tidy rooms and nodded faintly: "Hmm. You may leave."

Yan Ruyan paused, startled, then bowed gracefully: "Yes!"

Then she departed from the Jade Bamboo Grove.

On her way back, Yan Ruyan pouted, muttering to herself: "Ugh! So unlucky! This Yu Changlao is stingy—not even a single spirit stone!"

"Next time, I won't take any task related to him again, hmph!"

She had accepted the assignment at the Administrative Hall to host newly arrived guest cultivators—such tasks were easy but offered few contribution points.

Yet, based on past experience, if one worked diligently, newly arrived guest cultivators usually gave some reward to the disciples who guided them.

But today, Yan Ruyan had encountered an exception.

Qin Ming casually chose a wooden hut to reside in.

This Jade Bamboo Grove valley possessed a second-rank superior spiritual vein—far inferior to his own Wangyue Island, but he wouldn't stay in Xuanxi Valley forever.

For now, he'd have to make do.

Then he took out a jade slip issued by Xuanxi Valley and immersed his spiritual sense into it.

It contained a complete map of Xuanxi Valley.

Xuanxi Valley had thirteen peaks; the Spirit Herb Garden where he now stood was on the southernmost peak, Little Spirit Mountain.

Additionally, Xuanxi Valley had three forbidden zones, with strict rules forbidding any sect elder or disciple from entering without permission.

They were: the rear mountain of the main peak Qianyuan Peak, the Dan Pagoda forbidden zone on Danxia Peak, and the Scripture Library on Luoyun Peak.

Qin Ming pondered briefly—his target, the Core Formation Pill formula, besides being held by the Golden Core Supreme Elder, was most likely among these three places.

"Master, shall I just go straight to these three places and investigate? If I find the formula, I'll snatch it all! Hehehe!" The voice of Shi Tian Rat came from the spirit beast pouch.

He was eager to prove himself, harboring his own little agenda.

Shi Tian Rat had heard Qin Ming say that Xuanxi Valley might possess a pill formula capable of restoring his strength to third-rank demon king level.

Concerning his own future, he had to act proactively.

"Not yet. Xuanxi Valley has a Golden Core late-stage ancestor residing here—proceed with caution. I'll observe for a while before deciding." Qin Ming said calmly.

"Understood, Master," Shi Tian Rat replied.

In the days that followed,

Qin Ming fully embraced the identity of Yu Changqing and settled into the Jade Bamboo Grove.

The selection of disciples for Xuanxi Valley's Dan Pagoda had also concluded.

Among them, the boy Fang Han, who possessed the Sacred Body of Alchemy, had stormed through the seventh level of the Dan Pagoda, causing a huge stir in Liang State's cultivation world.

He was directly accepted as a disciple by Gong Sunyang, a third-rank Alchemy Master of Xuanxi Valley—his cultivation path had soared, promising boundless potential.

To be taken as a disciple by a third-rank Alchemy Master? Most people couldn't even dream of it.

The tasks assigned by Xuanxi Valley to Qin Ming and the other guest cultivators were to submit a set quantity of spirit plants each year.

Whether they recruited sect disciples to grow them or cultivated them personally, they only needed to complete the quota by year's end.

"Thirty shi of first-rank Purple Crystal Spirit Rice."

"Fifteen second-rank spirit herbs, including at least one second-rank middle-grade spirit plant."

"So I'm just a tool."

Qin Ming glanced at his task list and tossed it aside carelessly.

He had no interest in contributing to Xuanxi Valley's grand ambitions—he'd just go through the motions.

……

(End of Chapter)