Chapter 390: No Door to Seek Medicine, the Star Sea Divine Vine

In Great Jin, at the Su family estate by Longting Lake in Central Province.

After suffering a setback at the Five Elements Mountain market, the Luo family party traveled without stopping to reach this place.

Since the other party's price was too high, they could only come here to try their luck.

Perhaps matters might yet take a turn for the better.

"Hmph! That Hua Tianxiong and that Shopkeeper Lu have appetites that are far too large!"

"In my opinion, they want to use this opportunity to extort a huge sum from us; they actually demand fourth-tier spiritual materials before agreeing to trade."

"Do they really think this Young Master is a fool easy to fleece?"

Luo Chen, having shed his previous sickly appearance, sat inside the dharma boat and spoke with extreme indignation.

"Uh, Young Master, it is not that we cannot produce fourth-tier spiritual materials."

"But if we do so, should the news leak, it will inevitably cause unnecessary trouble."

"If we attract the attention of the Great Li Demonic Path, the loss would outweigh the gain!"

"Not to mention those demonic cultivators from the Blood Refining Sect who descended from the lower realms..."

At this moment, Elder Luo Xi changed how he addressed Luo Chen, and his tone was filled with respect, clearly indicating the two were not father and son.

Instead, their interaction resembled that between a master and a servant.

"Mm, let us observe the situation first."

"If all else fails, we will think of another way."

"This matter absolutely cannot be delayed any longer; you understand that as well."

Luo Chen pondered for a moment before speaking with a grave expression.

"Yes, Young Master," Luo Xi replied.

Yet when they piloted their dharma boat to the gates of the Su family sect, they were completely shocked by the scene before them.

It truly allowed the Luo family members to witness what was meant by 'a courtyard bustling with visitors'! Before the Su family main gate, noble families and disciples from various sects coming to seek pills arrived in an endless stream, including even some prominent figures famous throughout the Immortal Realm.

Compared to them, the mere Great Zhou Luo family could only be counted as a mid-to-lower tier power.

Upon seeing such a scene, both Luo Chen and Luo Xi felt their hearts grow cold; Luo Chen secretly suffered in his heart.

At this rate, when in the year of the monkey and month of the horse would they ever meet the legendary Grand Alchemist Su?

Thus.

He had Elder Luo Xi find an opportunity to secretly stuff a large sum of spirit stones into one of the stewards, asking him to facilitate a report.

It was the old steward's first time encountering such a generous cultivator; having taken the money, he happily went inside to deliver the message.

After all, he was merely passing along a word; as long as the message was delivered, whether Young Master Su met them or not was no longer his concern. Inside Su Yuqing's study.

Fragrant incense curled upwards, burning the third-tier Soul-Cleansing Incense that Qin Ming had gifted him.

Wreaths of misty vapor filled the room, immersing the spirit in a state of profound tranquility.

Su Yuqing, dressed in white robes, was holding an ancient book, studying and flipping through its pages.

Just then.

From outside the room came the old steward's respectful report:

"Young Master Su, among the visiting cultivators outside, the 'Luo family,' a Jin Dan clan from Great Zhou, has brought people to seek an audience, claiming they come to request a pill."

"Furthermore, the Luo family members stated they are willing to meet any condition."

"Their words were earnest, suggesting they have an urgent matter; do you think... should we meet them?"

Hearing this, Su Yuqing put down the book in his hand and murmured with some surprise, "They actually came to the door?"

"I wonder what tricks Qin Ming is up to this time."

"But since he gave notice, I suppose I must just..."

Thus, he spoke directly to the steward outside: "Tell the Luo family people to leave; say that my appointment slots for pill refining this year are already full."

"Ah? This..." The old steward felt helpless upon hearing this.

Young Master Su spent every day either burning incense and brewing tea or tending to flowers and plants; where could there be any appointments?

However, he dared not disobey Su Yuqing's words and could only comply.

"Yes! Young Master Su!"

A moment later.

The Su family steward returned to the sect gate, found the Luo family members, and with a somewhat embarrassed expression spoke the truth: "Elder Luo, my young master says his pill refining appointments for this year are fully booked."

"Furthermore, he cannot temporarily cut in line nor accept any new pill refining commissions; perhaps you should look elsewhere?"

"So as not to delay your urgent matters."

Luo Chen and Luo Xi, who had already been waiting outside in anxiety and longing, had not expected to receive such a result. "Steward Su, could you ask Grand Master Su to make an exception?"

"Our Luo family can afford any price whatsoever."

"If this matter can be accomplished, our Great Zhou Luo family will owe Grand Alchemist Su a tremendous favor."

"In the future, should you have any commands, we will agree to them all!"

Elder Luo Xi still wanted to try again, feeling somewhat unwilling to give up.

The old steward sighed once more: "Elder Luo, please return; I have already tried, but Young Master Su truly has no time to spare."

"I fear I must disappoint your kind intentions."

Luo Chen gazed far into the interior of the Su family estate, then could only grit his teeth and say to Luo Xi, "Let us go."

Both of their faces looked extremely ugly as they slunk away from the place.

Having traveled ten thousand li to reach Great Jin only to encounter rebuffs twice in a row, anyone would be in a bad mood.

On the dharma boat, Luo Chen's tone was somewhat dejected.

On the Dharma Boat, Luo Chen's voice sounded somewhat dejected.

"What should we do? Time is pressing; I never expected this Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill to be so difficult to obtain."

Elder Luo Xi pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

"Young Master, how about this? Methods for treating the divine soul are not limited to just the Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill."

"Other heavenly and earthly spiritual treasures can also work; it's just that their effects aren't as good as those of the Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill."

"We can only settle for the next best option."

"We can discreetly keep an eye on the major immortal city markets to see if any such spiritual treasures appear."

"If, in the end, there is truly no other way... even if we suffer some losses and take greater risks, we will have to ask the Mirror Jing Xue Ge to intervene."

"Sigh, I don't know why that Shopkeeper Lu has so much face; why is it that when we go to beg an audience with Alchemist Su, it doesn't work?"

Luo Chen heard this and slowly nodded.

Several days later.

News arrived from Hua Tianxiong; he entered the main hall with a roguish grin and reported to Qin Ming: "Hehehe! Master, news has come back from Grand Alchemist Su: the Luo family indeed came to beg him to refine pills, but Alchemist Su has already refused."

"It is said that after failing to obtain the pill, the Luo family people are searching everywhere in the major immortal city markets for spiritual materials; it seems they are not quite ready to give up." Hua Tianxiong felt immense admiration for Qin Ming in his heart, seeming certain that the Luo family was already in his grasp.

"Mm, wait until they come looking for you again, then we'll see."

Qin Ming nodded; he estimated it wouldn't be long before the Luo family people definitely came looking for him again.

"Yes! Master!" Hua Tianxiong replied respectfully, "If there is nothing else, I won't disturb you further; I will take my leave now."

"If you need anything here, just give the order, and I will handle it."

Qin Ming immediately called him back, took a list from the table, and handed it to Hua Tianxiong, "Help me gather these spiritual herbs and materials listed above."

"Yes!" Hua Tianxiong took the list and glanced at it; it was densely recorded with dozens of types of spiritual materials.

He asked with some hesitation: "Master, could the spiritual materials recorded here possibly be the ingredients needed to refine the Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill?"

"That's correct; I already have part of the spiritual materials in hand; what I'm having you collect are the remaining auxiliary ingredients, which shouldn't be difficult to obtain," Qin Ming said lightly.

Upon hearing this, Hua Tianxiong knew that Qin Ming intended to personally refine the Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill.

He was well aware of Qin Ming's attainments in the Dao of Pills; they were divine and transformative, not inferior in the slightest to Grand Alchemist Su Yuqing.

Immediately, he asked no more questions and went to the market to purchase the materials.

Taking advantage of this free time,

Qin Ming left the courtyard gate and made a trip to the Mirror Jing Xue Ge branch in the Five Elements Mountain Market.

Old Jia was at the front counter, clacking away on an abacus and checking the accounts, when he saw 'Shopkeeper Lu' enter.

He hurriedly put down his work, plastered on a smile, and went over to greet him.

"Shopkeeper Lu, have you finished dealing with matters at your spiritual field?"

"Lü'e, why aren't you quickly brewing a pot of top-grade spiritual tea for Shopkeeper Lu?"

"Never mind, I'll do it myself."

Old Jia moved with deft hands; after welcoming Qin Ming into the elegant room on the fourth floor, he brewed a pot of spiritual tea for him and ordered someone to arrange some spiritual fruits and snacks.

"Old Jia, has business in the shop been good recently?"

Qin Ming took a sip of the spiritual tea, set down his teacup, and asked lightly.

"Hehehe! Thanks to your blessings, this quarter's revenue has increased considerably compared to before." Old Jia quickly handed the account book to Qin Ming for inspection.

Qin Ming merely flipped through it casually, then nodded with satisfaction, "Mm, not bad."

"I suppose by the end of this year, Pavilion Master Gu will reward you again."

"This old man's meager abilities are hardly presentable; if it weren't for you, Shopkeeper Lu, how could our Mirror Jing Xue Ge's influence in Great Jin have reached its current state?"

"Shopkeeper Lu is the one who truly made the indispensable contribution."

Old Jia replied with great understanding, yet what he said was also the truth.

If it weren't for Qin Ming securing the Five Elements Mountain spiritual field, growing various types of spiritual rice, and refining the exclusive third-grade Soul-Cleansing Incense to build a reputation,

the Mirror Jing Xue Ge would likely still be struggling in some obscure corner of the Spirit Ruin Market.

"Mm, let's not talk about that."

"By the way, have any major events occurred in the market over the past few days?" Qin Ming then asked.

Old Jia recalled for a moment and was just about to shake his head when his eyes suddenly lit up as he said:

"If Shopkeeper Lu hadn't asked, I would have almost forgotten about this matter."

"Recently, within the Five Elements Mountain Market, there is indeed one incident causing quite a stir."

"Oh? What matter is this?" Qin Ming asked with confusion.

Old Jia explained: "I heard that the Myriad Dao Shang Alliance is organizing an auction soon, and someone has entrusted the Alliance to auction off a section of Star Sea Divine Vine."

"Moreover, its age and grade seem to be quite high."

"Many cultivators are coming attracted by its fame; presumably, they are all aiming for this item."

"The Star Sea Divine Vine, one of the five great divine trees of the Immortal Realm?"

"Is this information reliable?" Qin Ming set down his teacup and exclaimed in surprise.

However, this made him detect a hint of something sinister.

This was because the greatest efficacy of this Star Sea Divine Vine, much like that of the Soul-Nourishing Wood, lay in strengthening and repairing the divine soul.

Combining this with the fact that the Luo family people had recently been searching everywhere for medicines to treat the divine soul,

Qin Ming even suspected whether someone was secretly setting a trap, using the Star Sea Divine Vine as bait to lure someone onto the hook.

Old Jia seemed to notice that Qin Ming was quite interested in this legendary Star Sea Divine Vine, so he cautiously asked:

"Has the Shopkeeper taken a liking to the Star Sea Divine Vine? If so, our Mirror Jing Xue Ge can also participate in the bidding; after all, the funds on the books of each shop are currently very sufficient."

"Since this comes from the Myriad Dao Shang Alliance, there are naturally no issues."

"If you need it, I can bid on it and bring it back for you."

Hearing this, Qin Ming shook his head. "We don't yet know the full situation; let's not act rashly. Let's just wait and see how things develop."

"When does this auction house event begin?"

"The Myriad Dao Shang Alliance has set the date for the fifteenth of next month," Old Jia replied.

"Very well, I understand. You may go attend to your duties."

Qin Ming waved his hand to dismiss Old Jia, then sat alone to ponder.

Half a month later.

Hua Tianxiong had gathered all the spiritual materials on the list and handed them over to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming then found time to review the formula for the Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Pill several times before beginning to refine it within the small courtyard.

This pill formula was recorded in the "Classic of Source Dao Alchemy" that Su Yuqing had given him, which also described the pill-refining steps and experience in great detail.

Clearly, Su Yuqing had refined this pill more than once.

Refining this pill posed no difficulty whatsoever for Qin Ming.

It was far simpler than the Divine Wood Pill.

Only three days later.

Within Hua Tianxiong's small courtyard, a rich, unusual fragrance erupted, accompanied by the heavenly phenomena that occur when a high-grade pill successfully forms.

However, all of it was concealed and isolated by the high-grade formation barriers arranged throughout the courtyard.

Inside the room, Qin Ming beckoned to the third-grade upper-tier Feng Lei Ding; three spirit pills, glowing with multicolored light throughout, fell into his hand.

Hua Tianxiong stood nearby, watching eagerly; he had just witnessed Qin Ming's entire pill-refining process.

It could be described as utterly smooth, flowing like drifting clouds and running water.

It truly broadened his horizons.

When he had gone to the Off-Flame Palace to handle affairs for Elder Qian, he had once been fortunate enough to witness a third-grade grand alchemy master from a Nascent Soul sect refining pills.

Yet compared to Qin Ming's skill, that was like a small witch standing before a great wizard.

(End of Chapter)