Chapter 381: Unexpected Harvest

Thinking of this, Qin Ming's heart stirred.

"May I ask, Elder, what is the 'Wood Charm's Origin'?"

Aside from that.

Qin Ming also wished to learn the origin of his life-spirit plant, for it was far too mysterious—he had checked many botanical histories and found no record of it.

"Hehe! When your realm reaches a certain point, you'll naturally know. It's purely beneficial to you."

"By the way, why did the Jade Pendant Golden Light Mirror shatter into two pieces?"

"And the spirit of the artifact seems to have changed as well. Why did it forcibly fuse a soul into it?"

Mo Qingshan asked with slight confusion.

He clearly understood the condition of the Jade Pendant Golden Light Mirror inside and out.

"Elder, this is how it happened."

Qin Ming then recounted how the White Bone True Person obtained the Jade Pendant Golden Light Mirror and, to control it, brutally sacrificed his disciple to forge him into the artifact's spirit.

"Oh~ So that's how it was."

"That White Bone True Person was somewhat interesting—he knew he couldn't control our sect's ultimate treasure, so he took an alternate path, refining a soul to merge with the spirit and thus easier control the artifact."

"Yet even so, he could only barely awaken a fraction of the Golden Light Mirror's power."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was momentarily stunned.

The White Bone True Person had used this mirror to sweep through the Golden Core realm and even slain Nascent Soul cultivators across a rank.

And this was still just a fraction of the Golden Light Mirror's power?

Then the ancient Qingyuan Sect must have been an extremely powerful sect.

At the very least, a Nascent Soul sect.

"May I ask, Elder Mo, is the Jade Pendant Golden Light Mirror's rank higher than a third-rank magic treasure?" Qin Ming voiced his doubt.

"Naturally. But it depends on who wields it. If you can repair this treasure and unleash its full third-rank magic treasure power, you'll already tower over all others."

"Hehe! This Jade Pendant Golden Light Mirror complements our sect's 'Green Emperor Scripture.' Only by mastering this scripture can you fully control the Golden Light Mirror."

"And the 'Green Emperor Scripture' is our sect's core inheritance—not taught to anyone below a True Disciple. It's only natural the White Bone True Person didn't know it."

"Incidentally, this ultimate treasure was stolen by a traitor of our sect; otherwise, it would never have fallen into the White Bone True Person's hands."

Hearing this, Qin Ming was deeply astonished—he had never imagined the Jade Pendant Golden Light Mirror had such a grand origin, with such a convoluted history behind it.

"Hehe! But Qin young friend, you carry a Wood Charm's Origin—your fortune is great. Just now, I've transmitted the complete 'Green Emperor Scripture' to you."

"And even more unexpectedly, you've preliminarily awakened the Green Emperor Wood Emperor Body—your immortal path is boundless!"

"Such a special spiritual body in cultivation—even in the Qingyuan Sect's prime, it had never once appeared."

"If you can cultivate this spiritual body to the minor accomplishment stage."

"As long as you don't perish along the way, you have over a thirty percent chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm."

"The Nascent Soul realm is incredibly difficult—few cultivators reach it. A thirty percent chance is already substantial."

Mo Qingshan spoke at length.

Qin Ming suddenly understood—he could only fully wield the Jade Pendant Golden Light Mirror by cultivating the Qingyuan Sect's inherited technique.

He had merely sought to ascend to third-rank Master of Spirit Plants, yet had inadvertently earned Mo Qingshan's approval—it was an unexpected turn of fate.

"Enough. I have little time left."

"You've completed the third-rank Class-A Spirit Plant Illusion trial. You may take one treasure of your choice."

"Only one. Do not take more."

As Mo Qingshan spoke, he raised his hand and swept it.

Before the shattered obelisk, a dozen colorful orbs suddenly surged forth.

Qin Ming gazed closely—they were all top-tier third-rank treasures.

Third-rank Superior Purple Heaven Mystic Stone, Dragon-patterned Dark Gold, third-rank Supreme Ruyi ZaoHua Mud, third-rank Superior Fire-Dispersing Silver Sand, Crimson Spirit Gold Ginseng—even a full vial of Ten Thousand Woods Mother Qi.

Qin Ming stared at these treasures, eyes gleaming, heart thrumming with excitement.

After a moment, his gaze settled on a golden orb.

Inside the golden orb was a massive chunk of Solar Essence Gold, as large as a washbasin.

It was more than enough to fully refine and elevate the power of all eighty-one Wood Emperor Nails, his life-spirit magic treasure, to their peak tier.

Qin Ming pondered long and hard, then finally declared:

"Elder Mo, I shall take this piece of Solar Essence Gold."

Mo Qingshan immediately cast a spell—the massive chunk of Solar Essence Gold floated from the orb and landed before Qin Ming.

Qin Ming's expression brightened; he swiftly stored it in his storage pouch.

'Such a large piece of Solar Essence Gold—only the ancient Qingyuan Sect could have possessed it. Even the Li Huo Palace of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty might not have acquired it.'

'In today's cultivation world, it's nearly extinct. Its value goes without saying—this journey was truly worth it.'

After delivering the treasure, Mo Qingshan smiled warmly at Qin Ming.

"Hehe! May your immortal path flourish forever, Qin young friend."

With that, his short, stout shadow gradually faded away.

At that moment,

the wooden array within Canghai Xiancheng suddenly blazed with spiritual light, surging forth a brilliant emerald radiance.

A column of green light shot from the array, piercing the heavens, then exploded—green light coalesced into the silhouette of a towering spirit plant in the sky.

Three mysterious Dao patterns upon it ignited fully.

Instantly, the fragrance of herbs and plants enveloped the entire Canghai Xiancheng, refreshing every spirit.

"What's happening on the Lord Mayor's joyous day?"

"Look! The disturbance came from the Spirit Plant Master Guild!"

"Someone has ascended to third-rank Spirit Plant Master!"

"Who could it be?"

Finally, a cultivator with discernment spoke the truth.

His words sparked a frenzy among the city's cultivators; crowds surged like tides toward the Spirit Plant Master Guild.

Within the Spirit Plant Master Guild, the ancient wooden array's radiance faded, and Qin Ming's figure reappeared.

"Congratulations, Qin Daoist, you've successfully ascended to third-rank Spirit Plant Master!"

"You've become the first dual-art Master in the history of the Southern Wastelands—congratulations!"

Nalan Xi was deeply stunned by the scene—no third-rank Spirit Plant Master had emerged in the Southern Wastelands for centuries.

"Congratulations, Wangyue True Person, you've broken through to third-rank Spirit Plant Master!"

"Congratulations, Elder Qin!"

The Spirit Plant Master Guild erupted in celebration—witnessing this moment was an honor in itself.

Especially since the third-rank Spirit Plant Master had emerged within the Canghai Xiancheng branch.

After emerging, Qin Ming nodded to Nalan Xi, his expression calm and unruffled.

Clearly, everything had unfolded exactly as he expected.

After exchanging pleasantries with the crowd, he noticed the masses gathering outside and left with Nalan Xi.

As soon as Qin Ming departed, the onlookers outside learned who had ascended to third-rank Spirit Plant Master.

When they heard it was Wangyue True Person, they erupted in excitement.

…

On another front.

Qin Ming bid farewell to Nalan Xi and quietly returned to Wangyue Island.

He disliked grand scenes and slipped away swiftly.

As time passed, the commotion outside would naturally fade.

"I never expected this journey would grant me the hardest-to-obtain Solar Essence Gold."

Qin Ming smiled faintly, approached his life-spirit plant, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, took out the Wood Emperor Nails, and began re-refining them with the Solar Essence Gold.

Half a month later.

Qin Ming completed the refinement of all the Wood Emperor Nails using the Refining Spell and returned them to his life-spirit plant for further nourishment.

He believed that after some time, this set of magic treasures would fully mature into peak-tier artifacts.

A single peak-tier third-rank magic treasure is terrifying enough—let alone a complete set.

When his cultivation base breaks through and he can fully unleash this set of Wood Emperor Nails, what spectacle will it be?

Qin Ming was quite satisfied with his current cultivation progress.

"I never thought you'd gain the Qingyuan Sect's recognition—what the White Bone True Person failed to accomplish, you've achieved."

"Your set of Wood Emperor Nails has surpassed its original rank—few can withstand even a single strike."

"Among peak-tier magic treasures, they rank among the very best."

Jin Lingzi's voice, tinged with surprise, echoed in Qin Ming's mind.

Seeing Qin Ming had actually acquired such a vast quantity of Solar Essence Gold, even he was taken aback and spoke up, rare as it was.

…

(End of Chapter)