Chapter 34: Shifts in the Situation

Qin Ming looked at this entry with some confusion.

【Rebirth Spirit Seed】: After use, it can revive a dead spiritual plant, restoring its vitality.

“Even the spiritual soul can be strengthened.”

“And this ‘Rebirth Spirit Seed’—it can even bring a dead spiritual plant back to life.”

“If any precious spiritual plant dies in the future, this will be extremely useful.”

Qin Ming stared at the entry before him, pondering silently.

After finishing his work, he put away his tools and cooked.

He was halfway through preparing the meal.

Suddenly, the message talisman on Qin Ming’s person stirred.

He pulled it out and saw it was a message from Shopkeeper Liao.

“Brother Qin, I have urgent news—please come to the shop at once.”

Qin Ming frowned. “Could something else be happening again?”

Shopkeeper Liao’s messages usually concerned shifts in the Qingyang Market’s situation.

This mattered greatly to him.

Qin Ming dropped the kitchen utensils, washed his hands, and stepped out.

The third month of spring.

Qingyang Market, Juxuan Pavilion.

Shopkeeper Liao sat by the window on the second floor; seeing Qin Ming arrive, he hurried down to greet him and led him to a private room on the fourth floor.

He then ordered tea—premium Spirit Mist Tea—to be brewed.

“Shopkeeper Liao, why the rush to summon me?”

“Has something happened?”

Qin Ming asked, puzzled.

Shopkeeper Liao did not answer immediately. First, he poured Qin Ming a cup of spirit tea.

Then he pulled out a soundproof talisman and cast a small barrier to block auditory detection.

Only then did he speak with grave seriousness: “The conflict between Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley has reached a conclusion.”

“What? So soon?” Qin Ming’s face showed surprise.

“This time, something big is about to happen.”

“Half a month ago, Lingyu Gate’s frontier outpost, which was clearing land, was wiped out entirely—only a few cultivators escaped.”

“Rumors say two Foundation Establishment elders perished!”

Shopkeeper Liao revealed an even more shocking piece of news.

Qin Ming was even more startled. “Could these barbarians really be that powerful? Even killing Foundation Establishment cultivators?”

“Precisely. Lingyu Gate previously underestimated these barbarians—they include many whose strength rivals Foundation Establishment.”

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

“They suffered defeats on the frontline, while Jinyun Valley dragged them down from behind.”

“The upper echelons of Lingyu Gate finally made their decision.”

“They will temporarily compromise with Jinyun Valley—the two sects will jointly develop the Gao Jie spiritual vein now held by the barbarians.”

Qin Ming exclaimed: “They were fighting so fiercely just now—even the teleportation array was destroyed. Now they’re turning swords into plowshares?”

“Sigh, this is reality. When interests are at stake, those who can fight can also negotiate,” Shopkeeper Liao sighed.

“I hear Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley are deploying most of their elite cultivators, preparing for a major operation.”

“Of course, many more freelance cultivators have been conscripted.”

“Just the first batch of conscripts numbers five thousand.”

Shopkeeper Liao paused here.

Then a sly smile appeared on his face. He dropped a riddle: “Brother Qin, do you know what price these two sects paid to recruit so many cultivators?”

Qin Ming shook his head.

“Foundation Establishment Pills.”

Shopkeeper Liao spoke each word slowly and clearly.

“What? Foundation Establishment Pills?!” Qin Ming was stunned.

Clearly, Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley were willing to make a massive investment.

But Qin Ming thought again.

Those Foundation Establishment Pills were unlikely to be easy to obtain.

The two sects were surely colluding, using such precious elixirs as bait to lure countless low-rank freelance cultivators into serving as expendable pioneers.

Once Foundation Establishment Pills were offered, low-rank freelance cultivators would flood in endlessly.

After all, breaking from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment was a barrier most lower-tier cultivators could never cross.

In the cultivation world, such people were never in short supply—kill one batch, another would appear, endlessly replaceable.

“So, Brother Qin, the Qingyang Market won’t be able to hold so many cultivators.”

“Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley will jointly build a Xiancheng in Yunze Wildlands as their base.”

Shopkeeper Liao’s revelations came one after another, leaving Qin Ming barely able to process them.

“That’s truly a grand move.”

“The first wave of elite cultivators from Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley will arrive at Qingyang Market today.”

Qin Ming asked: “Has Lingyu Gate repaired their teleportation array?”

Shopkeeper Liao shook his head slightly. “Not yet. But I hear it’s nearly done—likely within this year.”

Qin Ming rested his chin in thought: ‘Will the price of spirit rice drop again?’

“Brother Qin, don’t worry about the price of spirit rice—it won’t change much in the short term.”

“After all, with both sects building a Xiancheng, the number of cultivators will be enormous, and logistical supply will be a major issue.”

Shopkeeper Liao, sensing Qin Ming’s concern, spoke plainly.

Hearing this, Qin Ming felt somewhat reassured.

“With the situation about to shift, Brother Qin, you must prepare early.”

“Besides this, there’s another important matter I need to discuss with you.”

Shopkeeper Liao changed the subject.

“What is it?”

“After purchasing one hundred jin of Beast Tooth Rice from you last time, the Pavilion Master took notice.”

“The higher-ups’ request is this: if you agree to sell half of your annual Beast Tooth Rice harvest to our Pavilion each season upon ripening—”

“We’ll raise the price by two-tenths—from seven to nine spirit stones per jin.”

“Of course, this requires you to sign an agreement with our Pavilion.”

Qin Ming subtly curled his lips.

‘This old fox is pulling his usual tricks again.’

But this time, he nodded immediately in agreement.

“Fine.”

Shopkeeper Liao’s information was crucial—he’d need to gather more details later.

Seeing Qin Ming agree so readily, Shopkeeper Liao was momentarily stunned—he’d already prepared a full set of bargaining lines.

They were now useless.

“Hehehe, Brother Qin, you’re truly straightforward!”

Shopkeeper Liao seized the moment, pulling out paper and ink he’d already prepared.

Both parties signed the agreement.

“How many mu of Beast Tooth Rice did you plant this year?” Shopkeeper Liao asked eagerly.

“Three mu.”

Qin Ming didn’t hide it—he knew the man would find out eventually.

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Liao’s face lit up with joy.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” Qin Ming stood up. “If you hear any further news, let me know.”

“Of course, of course.”

“Let me see you out.”

The two finished speaking and opened the door.

Just as they were about to step out, a man and a woman descended the stairs toward them.

The man—he recognized him. Dressed in a white robe: Su Yuqing.

The woman beside him—

She appeared around twenty, her features ethereal and refined, like a lotus emerging from clear water, her figure graceful and curvaceous.

Her eyes were clear, revealing an unyielding cold nobility.

She wore no heavy, ornate attire—only a simple long dress.

As for her cultivation base, Qin Ming could not perceive it at all—likely late Qi Refining. The woman sensed Qin Ming’s gaze.

But she paid it no mind, ignoring him as she continued down the stairs.

Qin Ming withdrew his gaze.

“My lord!”

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

(End of Chapter)