Chapter 376: Invitation to a Banquet

Several months passed.

The deaths of two elders from the Divine Dao Mountain sent shockwaves through the entire Great Jin Immortal Realm, leaving everyone on edge.

Fortunately, the Divine Dao Mountain did not take any overly extreme actions in response.

Qin Ming knew this was because the Divine Dao Mountain had grand ambitions; all their energy was focused on the secret realm beneath the Five Elements Mountain, and they wished to avoid unnecessary complications.

As a result,

even though the Divine Dao Mountain had lost two elders in succession, one of whom was a Nascent Soul seed, they still refrained from launching major offensives against the other two great powers.

It was easy to imagine that, in order to monopolize this Zuoqingyuan Sect secret realm, the Divine Dao Mountain had chosen to act with greater caution and restraint.

One month later,

Qin Ming received news from Hua Tianxiong's side, stating that the Divine Dao Mountain was once again recruiting high-level spiritual planters.

Furthermore, they had begun planting third-tier Rot Spirit Grass with great urgency, preparing to concoct Spirit Eye Liquid to accelerate the blooming of that Seven Wonders Treasure Tree.

However, Qin Ming had followed the Shi Tian Shu through the tunnels it had dug and gone to inspect the site personally once.

According to the Divine Dao Mountain's crude method, it would likely require irrigating the tree with spirit liquid for another hundred years before it could bloom.

"It seems that before other powers discover this Five Elements Mountain secret realm, it should remain safe for now."

"But the affairs of the Immortal Realm are unpredictable; the Divine Dao Mountain will likely find it difficult to keep this secret hidden forever."

"When that time comes, chaos will surely erupt once again."

Qin Ming pondered silently, already anticipating the coming changes.

Within the two hundred mu of spiritual fields on Five Elements Mountain,

new spiritual plants had been sown, and dozens of spiritual farmers from the Mirror Snow Pavilion were working diligently in the fields under the scorching sun.

This season's planting consisted entirely of spiritual crops of second-tier middle grade or higher, along with high-grade spiritual rice.

The one hundred mu of spiritual fields managed by Li Lan were planted exclusively with third-tier Jade Emperor Spiritual Rice, though its growth cycle was exceedingly long.

Within Qin Ming's ten mu of top-grade spiritual vein fields, he had planted a third-tier top-grade spiritual plant known as the "Heavenly Net Fruit," which served as the primary material for refining the "Heavenly Net Powder."

The Heavenly Net Fruit was originally a unique spiritual plant of the Southern Border region; influenced by the distinct climate and geography here, it was extremely difficult to cultivate elsewhere in the Great Jin.

This "Heavenly Net Powder" was a life-saving spiritual medicine specifically designed to neutralize all manner of poisons and evil entities; even if one suffered from extremely severe poisoning, taking this precious pill would restore them to full health within a short time.

However, as a third-tier top-grade spiritual plant, the Heavenly Net Fruit was exceedingly difficult to cultivate, and even within the Divine Dao Mountain, their numbers were extremely scarce.

The seeds of the Heavenly Net Fruit in Qin Ming's possession had been found while searching through Wen Yuliang's storage bag.

Qin Ming's decision to cultivate this spiritual plant was made after careful consideration.

Although the Divine Dao Mountain was currently hiding the matter of the Zuoqingyuan Sect secret realm very deeply, it would inevitably be exposed sooner or later.

The various powers would inevitably engage in a bloody struggle, and at that time, this life-saving spiritual medicine would become a scarce resource.

His reason for choosing to plant the Heavenly Net Fruit was, firstly, that even when sold to Jin Dan cultivators, the Heavenly Net Powder could fetch an extremely high price.

Secondly, since this spiritual medicine specifically treated all poisons and evil entities, it remained effective even if consumed directly without refinement; most cultivators in this Southern Border region specialized in gu poison, witchcraft, and similar spells.

It was bound to become a rare and precious life-saving treasure, a best-selling item that would allow him to make a handsome profit.

After half a year of cultivation, dark green seedlings of the Heavenly Net Fruit had already sprouted within Qin Ming's spiritual fields.

Within the ten mu of spiritual fields, three golden attribute strips appeared before Qin Ming's eyes: 【Name】: Heavenly Net Fruit 【Attribute】: Source of Qi and Blood x5 (Maturity 2%) 【Name】: Heavenly Net Fruit 【Attribute】: Source of Magic Power x5 (Maturity 1%) 【Name】: Heavenly Net Fruit 【Attribute】: Regenerating Spirit Seed x5 (Maturity 2%).

During this period, Qin Ming had also been continuously studying the rare treasure, the Heavy Water Pearl, obtained from Wen Yuliang.

This was his first encounter with a treasure capable of influencing gravitational space.

Moreover, it could devour and absorb magic power and divine sense; Wen Yuliang had studied it for two hundred years, yet he had likely only unlocked a fraction of its power.

Qin Ming stored away this Profound Yuan Heavy Water Pearl, as it might prove immensely useful in the future.

Inside the spiritual fields,

upon seeing Qin Ming so easily cultivate a full ten mu of Heavenly Net Fruit, Li Lan felt even more admiration for 'Shopkeeper Lu'.

He became even more convinced that Shopkeeper Lu was a grandmaster of spiritual planting who hid his true talents.

"Shopkeeper Lu, your attainments in the path of spiritual planting are truly extraordinary; as far as I know, the Heavenly Net Fruit is notoriously difficult to cultivate, originally growing only deep within the Southern Border mountains, and it is incredibly picky about its growing environment."

"This is your first time cultivating the Heavenly Net Fruit, yet the survival rate is so astonishing; among all the spiritual planting sects in the entire Southern Border region, there are only a few who could achieve this, hehehe!" Li Lan stood by the field edge, offering his flattery.

Previously, Zou Pinghai of the Myriad Dao Shang Alliance had personally visited to poach him, and when Li Lan refused, Zou Pinghai had gone to discuss matters with Shopkeeper Lu instead.

He had feared that Shopkeeper Lu would hold a grudge because of this, but unexpectedly, over the past half-year, Shopkeeper Lu had not only not blamed him but had also occasionally guided him in planting the Jade Emperor Spiritual Rice.

This moved Li Lan deeply.

Qin Ming, however, was indifferent; Zou Pinghai, who had so brazenly come to poach people, had long since been eliminated by the people of the Divine Dao Mountain.

The Myriad Dao Shang Alliance had even caused a huge scene with the Divine Dao Mountain over this matter, unaware that Zou Pinghai was a mole planted by the Divine Dao Mountain within the upper echelons of the Shang Alliance; his death was actually entirely beneficial and harmless to the Myriad Dao Shang Alliance.

Qin Ming had no interest in the struggles between these great powers and was too lazy to participate; he only wished to farm peacefully.

Therefore, he did not expose the truth.

"In another ten years, the Demonic Flame Wine will finally be successfully brewed, and by then I will be able to break through to the peak of the Jin Dan realm."

"At that time, gathering the materials needed for the Nascent Soul Condensing Pill and the Ice Heart Jade Soul Pill, finding a quiet place to refine pills, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, and surviving the Heart Demon Tribulation will be the correct choice."

"All this infighting, chaos, and secret realm treasure hunting within the Immortal Realm is ultimately not suitable for me."

"As long as I keep farming, I can steadily improve; although the opportunities within the secret realm are indeed significant, why take such risks?"

One day, while Qin Ming was tending to his spiritual fields,

he saw the Shi Tian Shu running joyfully from outside; looking around to ensure no one was watching, it shrunk its form, climbed onto Qin Ming's shoulder, and said with a grin, "Master, another good thing has come knocking! Hei hei hei!"

"Oh? What good thing is this?" Qin Ming stopped his work, turned his head, and asked.

"We get to attend another banquet!" the Shi Tian Shu said, its eyes shining brightly.

Qin Ming asked in surprise, "Attend a banquet? What kind of banquet?"

"It's Little Silver Fox; Elder Yue Lingyan of the fox clan will host her Grand Ceremony to ascend to Demon Saint next month and has specially sent me to invite Master to attend the banquet."

"She is waiting outside the spirit fields right now; please go over there," explained Shi Tian Shu.

Qin Ming pondered for a moment and said, "A grand ceremony of the demon race, inviting a single human to attend... isn't that inappropriate?"

"Little Silver Fox is just about to explain this matter to Master," said Shi Tian Shu.

Qin Ming nodded: "Let's go, then; let's go meet her."

Moments later, Qin Ming followed Shi Tian Shu to the Beast Cry Mountain Range outside the spirit fields.

Little Silver Fox leaped down from a tree, her three fluffy fox tails swaying, and gracefully approached Qin Ming to bow: "This humble daughter pays her respects to Qin Qianbei."

Qin Ming smiled and said, "Rise."

Little Silver Fox immediately opened her mouth, retrieved a emerald-green spirit jade leaf, and handed it to Qin Ming, saying:

"Next month, Mother will host the Demon Saint Grand Ceremony at Muxia Mountain and has specifically ordered me to invite Qin Qianbei to attend the banquet."

Qin Ming took the spirit jade leaf and saw an invitation letter personally written by Yue Lingyan upon it.

(End of Chapter)