Chapter 363: Spirit Ore

After giving his instructions to Hua Tianxiong, Qin Ming returned to the spirit fields.

Inside the artifact refining room within the Small Xiao Lingjing.

The Fire Phoenix formed from the Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame danced, while four command flags of varying colors emitted brilliant light amidst the raging flames.

Qin Ming continuously cast the Treasure Refining Art, and as the final few steps were completed, the four command flags radiated astonishing treasure light, flying out of the flames and landing in his hands.

"Finally refined!"

Shortly after.

He summoned the Shi Tian Shu back and handed the Five Elements Flags in his grasp to it.

The Shi Tian Shu took the command flags, overjoyed: "Thank you, Master; we've finally gathered the complete set of Five Elements Flags, hehehe!"

"You little rascal had better cultivate diligently; this set of top-grade magical treasures has gone cheaply to you," Qin Ming said with a smile.

"That goes without saying," replied the Shi Tian Shu, holding the Five Elements Flags and brimming with confidence.

Originally, its strength was already comparable to a late-stage Jin Dan cultivator; now, equipped with this set of top-grade magical treasures, it was like a tiger gaining wings.

"This set of Five Elements Flags, when used individually, can release divine abilities and spells of different attributes; if deployed as a complete set, they can form a formation of unparalleled power, though the consumption is immense—you'll have to explore and study it yourself."

"Yes, Master."

The Shi Tian Shu swallowed the five command flags into its belly and happily went off to refine the magical treasures.

With this set of magical treasures in hand, even ordinary late-stage Tier Three Demon Kings would be no match for it.

Having dismissed the Shi Tian Shu, Qin Ming considered another matter settled.

More than ten days passed.

Hua Tianxiong approached Qin Ming; the investigation into the recent caravan robberies had finally yielded some leads.

After all, no matter how confidential the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance tried to keep things, it was impossible to suppress the news indefinitely.

In recent days, news of incidents involving subordinate shops had gradually spread, striking like a stone thrown into a pond, sending ripples through a thousand layers.

In the Spirit Ruin Market and the Five Elements Mountain Market of the Southern Region, every major shop was terrified for its own safety, daring not to dispatch caravans to transport goods anymore.

As the managing body, the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance also faced its first crisis of trust, its reputation directly damaged.

After meeting Hua Tianxiong, Qin Ming immediately pulled him into the Small Xiao Lingjing.

Hua Tianxiong, sporting a large belly, looked around, his gaze immediately fixing upon a silvery-white, miraculous spirit plant in the center of the spirit fields, unable to look away for a long time.

He then spent a long time examining that vein of Earth Heart Spirit Spring.

His facial expression became extremely shocked: "Th-this is..."

"A Tier Four spirit plant..."

"And the legendary Earth Heart Spirit Spring..."

At this moment, what Qin Ming had displayed completely shattered Hua Tianxiong's worldview.

Compared to this, Elder Qian of the Li Li Huogong seemed utterly weak... Qin Ming then said to Hua Tianxiong: "Stop looking for now; let's discuss serious matters. As long as you serve me well, you might even get to taste these Tier Four spirit fruits."

"Y-yes, yes!" Upon hearing this, Hua Tianxiong became extremely excited, his fat trembling all over.

"Reporting to Master, I have secretly arranged for people to investigate, and this matter of caravan robberies is related to the Shendao Sect."

Hearing this, Qin Ming couldn't help but show extreme surprise: "The Shendao Sect? Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

Hua Tianxiong nodded: "At first, I didn't believe it either, but Elder Jin Han of the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance also traced the matter to the Shendao Sect and hasn't returned yet."

"It is said that a significant conflict has already erupted between the two parties."

"But what benefit could the Shendao Sect gain by secretly sending people to rob those caravans?" Qin Ming pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Not only does it offend the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance, but they even silenced Jin Dan cultivators; this is simply inconceivable!"

Hua Tianxiong explained: "Master, you may not know this, but those few robbed caravans all share one commonality: they had conducted transactions with the Shendao Sect."

"These caravans had recently purchased Blazing Flame Essence Ore from the Tier Four spirit vein occupied by Shendao Mountain."

"However, somehow, the Shendao Sect later discovered among that batch of mined ore that had been hauled away some scattered traces of Flame Marrow Ore."

Qin Ming frowned and said: "Flame Marrow Ore?"

"Exactly; if it were just Blazing Flame Essence Ore, that would be one thing, but Flame Marrow Ore is the accompanying spirit ore of the legendary 'Supreme Grade Spirit Stones'!"

"To prevent the news from leaking, the Shendao Sect naturally spared no cost to silence everyone."

"They even tried to disguise it as rogue cultivators intercepting cargo."

"Unfortunately, the news still leaked out."

"Sigh! To be honest with you, Master, a few days ago I almost sent people to Shendao Mountain to haul ore from their veins."

"Fortunately, Elder Qian had urgent matters on his end, so we didn't go, thus escaping disaster."

"Otherwise, I probably wouldn't be seeing you now."

Speaking to this point, Hua Tianxiong couldn't help but feel a chill of fear in retrospect.

These Nascent Soul great sects are capable of doing anything when profit is at stake.

Supreme Grade Spirit Stones are top-tier resources nearly extinct in the Immortal Realm; even old monsters at the Nascent Soul stage would fight fiercely over them upon sighting one.

Because such spirit stones offer tremendous assistance for breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, one can imagine how precious they are.

Therefore, the appearance of such an item is often accompanied by bloodshed and stormy winds... "Sigh, I didn't expect it to be Supreme Grade Spirit Stones..." Qin Ming sighed.

The Five Elements Mountain spirit fields where he currently resides belong to the Tier Four branch veins occupied by Shendao Mountain and the Li Li Huogong.

The distance to the spirit veins of Shendao Mountain is not particularly far.

"In that case, if Shendao Mountain truly has mined out Supreme Grade Spirit Stones, how could the Li Li Huogong sit idly by?"

"I'm afraid war will break out again."

Hua Tianxiong, however, thought slightly before saying: "Not necessarily; although Flame Marrow Ore is an accompanying spirit ore, there is also a probability of it existing independently."

"Moreover, in the Great Jin Immortal Realm, it has been tens of thousands of years since anyone heard of a Supreme Grade Spirit Stone vein appearing anywhere; I'm afraid they are not so easily formed."

"Otherwise, the founding ancestor of the Li Li Huogong back then wouldn't have needed to seek opportunities for breakthrough outside."

Qin Ming also nodded faintly, feeling that what he said made considerable sense.

"Hua Tianxiong, continue to monitor this matter closely and report to me at any time."

"Yes!"

After seeing Hua Tianxiong off, Qin Ming immediately raised his head to gaze in the direction of the Five Elements Mountain, his eyes deep as a cold pool.

He sensed that the Immortal Realm, which had seemed peaceful for some time, was once again beginning to brew a massive storm.

Several days later.

Qin Ming went to the Five Elements Mountain market again.

From Han Yuan and the other two, he obtained some news: Elder Jin Han of the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance had already returned with his people.

However, even Elder Jin Han, who was at the peak of the Jin Dan realm, seemed to have suffered some minor injuries upon this return, which was somewhat terrifying upon careful reflection.

At the same time, the relationship between the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance and the Divine Dao Mountain began to become increasingly tense.

The Li Li Huogong, on the other hand, maintained an attitude of waiting and watching, not making any rash moves just because the Divine Dao Mountain had discovered a fire marrow mine.

This eased the situation considerably; instead, it was the Divine Dao Mountain and the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance that were thoroughly panicked.

After all, the actions of the Divine Dao Mountain were truly over the line.

"Sigh! Involving the robbery of a merchant caravan and the silencing of witnesses, plus the death of a Jin Dan elder, that is no small matter."

"I tested the waters with the upper echelons of the Shang Alliance; they likely will not let this go easily."

"The Divine Dao Mountain must provide an explanation, no matter what."

Han Yuan sighed as he spoke; people like them at the lower levels had been extremely tense during this period, patrolling the Five Elements Mountain market every day, fearing that the Divine Dao Mountain would pull something outrageous again.

Upon learning this news, Qin Ming immediately felt much more at ease; for now, the conflict between the two factions had not yet escalated to the level of open war....

That afternoon.

Qin Ming was tending to his spiritual fields in the Five Elements Mountain when his divine sense suddenly detected two trails of escaping light flying rapidly toward this area, arriving in the blink of an eye.

As the escaping light dispersed, two figures were revealed.

One was a proud-looking young man in a jade robe, and the other an old man in a golden robe.

Qin Ming's gaze locked onto the young man in the jade robe and suddenly contracted; he discovered that the other's cultivation was unmistakably at the peak Jin Dan realm.

As for the old man in the golden robe, he was at the late stage of the Jin Dan realm.

With the arrival of these two cultivators, the spiritual pressure they emitted caused ripples to spread through the nearby air.

The spiritual farmers working within the Mirror Jing Xue Ge's spiritual fields were so frightened by this imposing manner that they trembled uncontrollably.

However, although the two Jin Dan cultivators arrived with fierce momentum, they were still blocked outside by the third-tier formation surrounding the spiritual fields.

Seeing this, Qin Ming immediately put down his work, went out to meet them, and bowed to the pair, saying, "Two seniors have traveled far to come here; I wonder what instruction you have for me?"

"Are you the person in charge of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge?" The young man in the jade robe frowned, asking in the tone of a superior.

Qin Ming smiled and nodded in affirmation: "Indeed."

"Are you Shopkeeper Lu? I heard you are also a third-tier lower-grade spiritual planting grandmaster?" The old man in the golden robe behind the young man spoke with a relatively kind attitude.

"It is indeed this junior."

Qin Ming did not immediately understand the intent of the two visitors and could not help but become extremely alert.

"This old man is Yun Yangzi of the Divine Dao Mountain, and this is my junior brother, Wen Yuliang."

"Oh! So you are seniors from the Divine Dao Mountain; please, come inside quickly!" Qin Ming invited.

"No need."

"We have come here for an urgent matter and cannot stay long, so let us speak plainly."

"These two hundred mu of spiritual fields, our Divine Dao Mountain wishes to purchase, and we are willing to pay twice the price in spiritual stones."

"In addition, this old man has a heart that appreciates talent; if you are willing, you may also choose to join our Divine Dao Mountain, and I can authorize arranging a good position for you within the spiritual planting garden."

After Yun Yangzi finished speaking, he simply stared quietly at Qin Ming.

Qin Ming pondered only briefly before refusing the two: "Thank you for the kindness of the two seniors, but this junior cannot agree; these two hundred mu of spiritual fields are the foundation upon which our pavilion relies for survival."

"Furthermore, many spiritual plants have already been planted, awaiting harvest next year."

Upon hearing this, Yun Yangzi was stunned; he had not expected that a mere cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment realm would dare to refuse them directly.

Before he could speak, Wen Yuliang beside him narrowed his eyes, his tone cold as he threatened:

"You had better think this through clearly."

Immediately, a massive spiritual pressure rolled toward him; it seemed the two from the Divine Dao Mountain intended to use their power to coerce him into a forced sale.

Qin Ming pretended to be sweating profusely, while internally pondering a countermeasure.

Just then.

In the distant sky, another trail of golden escaping light arrived in the blink of an eye, stopping before the three of them.

"Hmph! You two Daoists truly have no shame at all? Coming here to bully a junior."

As a voice full of vigor rang out, the figure of Elder Jin Han of the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance appeared.

"I wondered who it was; so it is Muhe Muhe Laogui Jin. Why aren't you properly recovering from your injuries, and what are you doing running here?" Wen Yuliang raised an eyebrow, revealing a trace of disdain.

Elder Jin Han's gaze was sharp as torchlight, "Could it be that Daoist Wen wishes to exchange a few moves with this old man?"

"Not to mention that this piece of spiritual field was auctioned off by my Five Fortune Auction House, but even setting that aside, given your Divine Dao Mountain's attempt to seize it by force, and since the Mirror Jing Xue Ge is one of the Ben Alliance's commercial establishments, does this not mean you do not put the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance in your eyes?"

In his words, even when facing the two Jin Dan realm cultivators of the Divine Dao Mountain, he showed not the slightest fear.

In an instant.

The atmosphere at the scene became extremely tense, looking as though a fight would break out at the slightest disagreement.

Qin Ming appeared extremely nervous on the outside, but in reality, his heart was not panicked at all; regarding these three people before him, he felt confident he could deal with them.

'Yun Yangzi has over one hundred years of lifespan remaining.'

"Wen Yuliang, over three hundred years."

"Jin Han, over two hundred years."

"It would be best not to fight here; don't force me to shine my mirror on you."

……

Yun Yangzi's gaze turned slightly cold; he stared at Elder Jin Han for a long moment, then glanced at Qin Ming and sneered, "Heh! Since that is the case, there is plenty of time in the days ahead."

"Junior Brother Wen, let us go."

Immediately, the two from Divine Dao Mountain transformed into two beams of escaping light and departed without looking back.

Qin Ming had not expected these two to arrive and leave so abruptly.

He stepped forward and bowed to Elder Jin Han. "Many thanks, Senior Jin, for resolving this predicament."

"Mm, no need for excessive courtesy," Elder Jin Han said indifferently.

Qin Ming's eyes flickered as he voiced his doubts to Elder Jin Han: "May I ask, Senior Jin, why would Divine Dao Mountain take an interest in my mere two hundred mu of spiritual fields?"

By rights, since Divine Dao Mountain occupies half of a fourth-grade spiritual vein, the value of my third-grade spiritual fields on this branch vein is far inferior to that of the main vein; surely there was no need for two Jin Dan elders to personally make the trip?

"Divine Dao Mountain harbors ulterior motives and is secretly colluding with the Yin Demon Sect of the Great Li Dynasty."

"You need not concern yourself with further details; suffice it to say, if their people come again to your Mirror Jing Xue Ge to purchase spiritual fields, remember this: no matter what price they offer, do not sell."

"Since Mirror Jing Xue Ge has joined our Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance, this elder will naturally stand up for you and provide protection."

"Then many thanks, Senior Jin," Qin Ming could only reply.

After giving his instructions, Elder Jin Han did not linger further; he directly transformed into a beam of escaping light and flew away.

……

In the sky several thousand li away.

The two from Divine Dao Mountain sped through the air.

Wen Yuliang asked with a somewhat dissatisfied expression, "Why were you in such a hurry to leave?"

"That old ghost Jin Han is merely famous in name; could it be that you fear him?"

Yun Yangzi shook his head. "Junior Brother Wen, I know that as the youngest Jin Dan Perfect cultivator in our sect, your divine abilities are extremely formidable."

"Yet there is still a gap between you and that old ghost Jin Han."

"Why provoke a temporary conflict with him?"

Hearing this, Wen Yuliang felt quite unconvinced. "Is it not simply that his natal magical treasure has been nurtured for two hundred years longer than mine?"

"The main matter is urgent, Junior Brother Wen," Yun Yangzi advised earnestly. "Must we draw the people of the Li Li Huogong here before you will be satisfied?"

Only then did Wen Yuliang drop the matter, though he still added, "Hmph! And that junior—let me not encounter him again!"

With that, the two beams of escaping light vanished into the horizon.

……

Meanwhile, Qin Ming returned to his spiritual fields, his eyes flickering incessantly.

Recalling how the two Jin Dan elders from Divine Dao Mountain had gone to such great lengths to come here today, it was most likely related to that spiritual mine.

And Jin Han of the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance had not told him the whole truth either.

(End of Chapter)