Chapter 375: Invitation

Qin Ming raised his hand and summoned four third-rank mid-grade Shouguo Dan into his palm.

"This is the legendary elixir said to extend life by eighty years."

Life-extending elixirs, no matter where they are, are immensely tempting to Gao Jie cultivators.

Especially a third-rank mid-grade life-extending elixir—its value to a Jin Dan cultivator goes without saying.

Any single Shouguo Dan released into the market would cause a stir among Jin Dan cultivators.

After a brief pause, Qin Ming picked up one Shouguo Dan and swallowed it.

Instantly.

The elixir melted upon entry, transforming into a pure medicinal force that instantly merged into his body.

A mysterious sensation arose naturally within Qin Ming's heart.

In some unseen way, his lifespan was extended once more.

When Qin Ming had previously broken through to Jin Dan, his lifespan had already reached nineteen hundred and sixty years.

"Adding these eighty years, it totals two thousand and forty years."

"Good. Such a long lifespan is enough to outlive Nascent Soul elders."

"The path to immortality is within reach!"

"Too bad that each cultivator can consume only one Shouguo Dan in their lifetime."

…

After finishing the alchemy, Qin Ming felt refreshed and stepped out of his cave.

"Hehe! Master, your spiritual rice has sprouted."

"It looks a bit strange."

As soon as he stepped out, the Shi Tian Shu, eyes half-closed, grinned and reported to him.

"Oh? Really?"

"Nearly a year has passed—these third-rank Yu Huang spiritual rice have finally broken ground." Qin Ming's face lit up, and he immediately walked toward the spirit field.

He wondered whether any entry had refreshed.

After all, Yu Wen Hong had only given him a dozen seeds—the chance of an entry refreshing was too slim.

The Shi Tian Shu followed behind him, saying: "That spiritual rice is truly extraordinary—it looks nothing like other spiritual rice, hehe."

Moments later.

In the spirit field, a dozen emerald-green "bamboo shoots" pushed through the soil, emitting streams of verdant mist.

Unfortunately, Qin Ming saw no entry refresh on them.

But once he obtained the Yu Huang spiritual rice seeds in the future, he could expand cultivation—and an entry refresh would only be a matter of time.

"I never expected third-rank Yu Huang spiritual rice to look like this."

Although Qin Ming had seen illustrations of this plant in the Spirit Cultivator's legacy, seeing it firsthand still struck him as peculiar.

The maturation cycle of third-rank Yu Huang spiritual rice is around ten years.

Qin Ming's 【Temporal Leaf】 entry and 【Ripen】 entry were both consumed while preparing materials for Core Formation.

He would have to wait until a new 【Ripen】 entry refreshed in his spirit field before he could turn these dozen plants into a vast field.

Since the island's spiritual vein had been upgraded to third-rank high-grade, the spiritual energy was abundant, and the plants grew well.

He didn't even need to tend to them—they thrived on their own.

Then he activated the Great Five Elements Spell and began summoning spiritual rain over the field.

The Wu family below the island, seeing the familiar spiritual rain clouds above the main peak, sighed in awe.

"See that?"

"What does it mean to love what you do?"

"What does it mean to work hard?"

"Even after becoming a True Person, our Island Master still labors in the fields himself!"

"What an indomitable spirit!"

"If a Jin Dan True Person works this diligently, you all must match his dedication!"

"Yes!"

Wu Jiang lectured his spirit farmers, gazing toward the main peak with deep reverence.

…

Several days later. Qin Ming sat beneath a spiritual peach tree, sipping tea and reading.

The Shi Tian Shu lay beside him, dozing off listlessly.

After devouring Jin Dan and falling into slumber, the Xuan Shui E and Yin Yi Shuang Feng had nothing to do on the island.

Until recently, he'd heard Qin Ming say that once the second and third ones broke through, he'd take them on a journey elsewhere.

It left him itching with anticipation.

During this time, the Shi Tian Shu could only hope the Xuan Shui E and Yin Yi Shuang Feng would break through soon.

As Qin Ming sipped his spiritual tea,

his brows twitched—his powerful spiritual sense suddenly detected a swift light hurtling toward Lingdao.

Qin Ming recognized the figure: Lu Wanjun of Canghai Xiancheng.

He immediately opened the Mist Illusion and let her in.

As Lu Wanjun approached Wangyue Island, she saw a path open through the mist and flew inside.

Once on the island, Wu Jiang guided her to Qin Ming's presence.

Lu Wanjun gazed at the youthful man before her, his ancient trees evergreen, filled with reverence.

Decades had passed, yet Qin Qianbei's appearance had not changed since their first meeting.

His aura remained as tranquil as still water.

She bowed gracefully before Qin Ming.

"Wanjun bows before Qin Zhenjun!"

Qin Ming smiled faintly and said, "Rise. Sit. Since you've come here, don't be formal."

Lu Wanjun playfully stuck out her tongue, then sat across from Qin Ming as instructed.

Qin Ming poured her a cup of Xue Po spiritual tea.

Lu Wanjun lifted the cup, took a sip, and wore an expression of deep delight.

She knew this was the top-grade spiritual tea grown by Qin Zhenjun—unavailable anywhere else, exceedingly precious.

Then Lu Wanjun took out a gilded invitation and handed it to Qin Ming.

"Qianbei, this is the invitation the City Master asked me to deliver."

"He invites you to his small celebration in three days."

Qin Ming took the invitation and smiled slightly. "Oh? A small celebration?"

"Has Master Nanlan Xi broken through to Jin Dan mid-stage?"

Lu Wanjun nodded gently. "Indeed. The City Master emerged from her year-long seclusion and recently broke through to Jin Dan mid-stage."

"That is truly cause for celebration!"

"Tell Master Nanlan Xi I will be there," Qin Ming said with a faint smile.

Nanlan Xi's breakthrough to Jin Dan mid-stage held great significance for Canghai Xiancheng.

It meant the prosperity of this haven for free cultivators would endure another century.

Jin Dan mid-stage cultivators were rare in the Southern Wastes—only Yu Heng Laozu of Xuanxi Valley and now Nanlan Xi.

She likely adjusted her state and took the Mie Chen Dan Qin Ming had traded her.

Otherwise, her chance of breaking through would have been extremely slim.

"Understood, I will deliver your message, Qianbei," Lu Wanjun replied.

Qin Ming studied her again and said, "You haven't slacked off either—your cultivation has broken through to Foundation Establishment mid-stage."

"You haven't disappointed your Master."

"I owe much to Qianbei's care, hehe."

"I've benefited from your glory—since you became a Master, the City Master entrusted me with managing the Xiancheng's Executive Hall."

"My cultivation resources have greatly increased, so I was fortunate enough to break through recently," Lu Wanjun smiled.

"Then this tea is my gift to you," Qin Ming said, extending a box of Xue Po spiritual tea into his palm and handing it to Lu Wanjun.

Lu Wanjun quickly accepted the tea and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Qianbei, for your generous gift!"

The two exchanged a few more words; Lu Wanjun still had to deliver invitations to Wei Wuyan of Lei Yuanzong, so she took her leave.

(End of Chapter)