Chapter 40: Hand It Over

Qingyang Marketplace, main thoroughfare.

Qin Ming received Liao Shopkeeper’s transmission talisman.

He immediately put down his work and rushed to Juxuan Pavilion.

Lately, the marketplace had been packed, with unfamiliar faces making up the majority.

Just as Qin Ming prepared to move forward.

A large crowd blocked the center of the main thoroughfare ahead.

Blocking his path.

The ground was covered with onlooker cultivators.

He frowned, lifting his gaze forward.

He saw an elderly man and his grandson kneeling on the ground, desperately pleading with several young cultivators before them.

“My lord, this piece of Bi Shui Golden Crystal is a family heirloom passed down through generations.”

“If you offer only a hundred spirit stones, I’d rather not sell it at all!”

“Please return the Golden Crystal to me! I beg you!”

The grandson joined in, weeping and begging uncontrollably.

Qin Ming glanced at the young cultivators and instantly recognized one of them.

He wore a blue robe with golden thread embroidery—the mark of a core disciple of Lingyu Gate.

He suddenly remembered.

‘Isn’t this one of the core disciples who disembarked from the Lingyu Gate’s Du Yuan Magical Vessel?’

Among them, he was clearly the leader, yet he had said almost nothing from start to finish.

Instead, a short young cultivator beside him snapped out:

“Who told you this is Bi Shui Golden Crystal?”

“This is ordinary Cold Iron. Are you trying to fool us into thinking we don’t know our goods?”

“A hundred spirit stones is already generous.”

“Get out of the way before you block the road.”

With that, the short young cultivator paid no mind to the crowd watching.

He kicked the old man hard, sending him flying far away—unconscious instantly.

The boy’s cries grew even more heart-wrenching.

The short young cultivator didn’t care.

He slipped the spirit ginseng into the hand of the Lingyu Gate core disciple with a smug grin.

Those around watched this scene.

Yet none dared intervene—after all, he was a core disciple of Lingyu Gate.

Qin Ming watched this, silently thinking to himself.

‘Coercive purchase?’

The young cultivators, having finished their deed, walked away as if nothing had happened.

“Sigh, how did this old man get mixed up with this brute?”

“Who were those men? How arrogant and tyrannical!”

Jiang Kun, the son of the Elder of the Punishment Hall of Lingyu Gate, a core disciple.

“Absolutely lawless! No one can rein him in—this is already the third time this month!”

“In the marketplace, anything they set their eyes on gets snatched away.”

“Bah, better avoid them entirely.”

Some nearby onlookers, furious, hurried over to check on and help the old man.

Qin Ming shook his head and sighed.

He did not linger.

Juxuan Pavilion.

Liao Shopkeeper spotted Qin Ming from afar and greeted him with a warm, beaming smile.

He sensed the magic power fluctuation on Qin Ming’s body.

His eyes lit up instantly: “Congratulations, Qin Daoist, on breaking through to Qi Refining Mid-Stage—your cultivation has advanced further.”

Truly, a seasoned veteran of the marketplace.

Smooth talk, flattery—utterly seamless.

“I heard Master Gu wants to see me?” Qin Ming cut straight to the point.

Liao Shopkeeper led Qin Ming upstairs as he replied: “Correct! The rental quota for Ruan Family Courtyard has been secured by the Pavilion Master.”

“But whether you’ll actually get it depends entirely on how your negotiations with the Pavilion Master go.”

Qin Ming remained silent, nodding.

Juxuan Pavilion had nine floors.

Liao Shopkeeper brought him to the seventh floor.

The door to the innermost private room stood open.

Liao Shopkeeper bowed and reported: “Pavilion Master, Qin Daoist has arrived.”

“Let him in,” came a cool voice from within. Qin Ming stepped forward.

Inside the room.

Gu Qingzhao, dressed in plain robes, sat reading a scripture, making no move to rise.

On the table beside her, a spirit incense stick burned, its smoke curling gently.

The fragrance entered Qin Ming’s nose, instantly sharpening his spirit and bringing deep comfort.

“Gu Daoist,” Qin Ming greeted first.

Gu Qingzhao finally set down her scripture and invited coolly: “Please sit.”

Qin Ming took the chair opposite her.

“Qin Daoist, how did you come to know Su Danshi?” Gu Qingzhao asked, not looking at him, instead gently stirring her tea with the lid.

Qin Ming paused, unsure of her intent.

He had nothing to hide—he recounted the full story of how he met Su Yuqing.

Gu Qingzhao realized their acquaintance was merely ordinary.

A faint, almost imperceptible flicker of disappointment crossed her brow.

Then she said coolly, “I hear you want the rental quota for Ruan Family Courtyard?”

“Correct. Liao Shopkeeper said this quota is now in your hands. What price must I pay to obtain it?” Qin Ming said bluntly.

Gu Qingzhao did not answer directly but asked instead: “What can you offer?”

“Tell me.”

“You know, quotas are scarce right now.”

Qin Ming pondered for a long while.

From the moment he entered the room to Gu Qingzhao’s current reaction,

she had intended to use his connection to court Su Yuqing, the young top-grade Danshi.

But she discovered Qin Ming was only an ordinary acquaintance of Su Yuqing.

Her interest vanished instantly.

Qin Ming's thoughts turned here, and he understood clearly.

Unless he offered something real, his goal would be unattainable.

“What about premium-grade Beast Tooth Rice?”

At these words,

Gu Qingzhao, seated across from him, showed a flicker of surprise.

She set down her scripture and asked seriously: “You mean premium-grade Beast Tooth Rice?”

“Yes. In one year, the Beast Tooth Rice from my fields will be premium quality,” Qin Ming stated without hesitation.

She studied him. “If that’s true, then it’s acceptable.”

“If you add a clause to your existing agreement, increasing the Beast Tooth Rice sold to this Pavilion by twenty percent—”

“I will sell you the quota.”

Qin Ming frowned.

He thought for a long while.

After all, with Blood Locust Rice now in his possession, premium-grade Beast Tooth Rice would eventually be sold anyway.

So he didn’t hesitate—he nodded: “Agreed.”

Both parties immediately signed the supplementary agreement.

Gu Qingzhao pulled out a jade token and handed it to Qin Ming: “This token is the prohibition mark for the Pavilion’s quota.”

“Take it to Lingyu Gate’s Administrative Hall to register and pay the additional rent.”

“Additionally, you must pay three hundred spirit stones extra—not included in the rent.”

Qin Ming: “.”

The deal was concluded.

Leave the shop.

Qin Ming flipped through the jade tablet given by Gu Qing, which bore a single character: “Mirror.”

He made his way to the Lingyu Sect’s Administrative Hall.

When he found the hall’s staff and began registering his name.

A lazy voice came from behind: “Hold on!”

Qin Ming turned around.

It was those Lingyu Sect disciples led by Jiang Kun.

Qin Ming glanced at the group, and instantly felt their spiritual power, thick as a mountain.

It blocked his spiritual sense entirely.

All of them without exception were at the late Qi Refining stage.

Jiang Kun, likely, had reached the peak of Qi Refining and was on the verge of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Kun glanced at Qin Ming: “Qi Refining fourth layer? Hand over your quota.”

PS: Thank you to “Jiu J” for the monthly vote.

(End of chapter)