Chapter 405: Gifts and Farewells

In the Central Prefecture of Great Jin, there stands Litian Immortal City.

Inside a magnificent great hall, a burst of brilliant light flashed, and the figures of Qin Ming and the crowd from the Mirror Jing Xue Ge instantly appeared.

Those from the Mirror Jing Xue Ge with slightly lower cultivation levels felt dizzy one after another, taking quite a while to recover their senses.

Qin Ming led the way out of this transmission great hall.

"Welcome, fellow Daoists, to Litian Immortal City!"

"Oh! If it isn't Shopkeeper Jia from the Mirror Jing Xue Ge! Haha!"

The duty officer guarding the great hall, seemingly quite familiar with Old Jia, stepped forward to greet everyone enthusiastically.

Originally, transmitting from the Five Elements Mountain Market to within the Central Prefecture region covered a vast distance, and a single transmission required a considerable amount of spirit stones.

However, after Qin Ming gradually relocated the Mirror Jing Xue Ge's enterprises to Litian Immortal City, using the transmission array here allowed them to enjoy a significant discount.

Thus, they had chosen the method that saved the most time.

After exchanging pleasantries with the cultivator on duty at the hall, Qin Ming followed Old Jia and the others to the shop established by the Mirror Jing Xue Ge within the immortal city.

The quota for this shop was something Qin Ming had asked Hua Tianxiong to obtain from Elder Qian of the Li Li Huogong.

After all, Litian Immortal City was founded by the Li Li Huogong, and all quotas for establishing commercial houses within it were strictly controlled by the Li Li Huogong.

As the number one immortal city in Great Jin, the prosperity and grand scale of this place were enough to make powers from all sides scramble, willing to pay any price just to establish enterprises in Litian Immortal City.

Its geographical location was superior, serving as the hub for trade throughout Great Jin.

Many powers had earned fortunes within the immortal city.

Inside Litian Immortal City, as long as one had enough spirit stones, almost no spiritual item was unobtainable, except for certain strategic-level resources.

Being able to establish a presence here meant entering the category of mid-to-high tier powers.

Furthermore, the immortal city was heavily guarded by the Li Li Huogong's elite troops, possessing formidable defensive strength and extremely high security.

Basically, no one dared to harbor schemes against this place.

This was also the crucial point valued by all major commercial houses.

Even among the ten great commercial houses of the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance, seven had established enterprises in Litian Immortal City.

It was not just anyone who could obtain the right to open a shop in Litian Immortal City.

Therefore, Old Jia was utterly impressed by 'Shopkeeper Lu's' ability to secure such a channel.

The Mirror Jing Xue Ge's shop was located in the eastern district of Litian Immortal City, close to the core area.

Both in terms of location and the surrounding foot traffic, it was among the superior spots within the immortal city.

To secure this place, Hua Tianxiong had also expended considerable effort, begging Elder Qian of the Li Li Huogong and pulling many strings.

His Thousand Mechanisms Commercial House was also established on a nearby street, making future interactions convenient.

Over the past two years, Old Jia had managed the shop quite well, and it was gradually beginning to operate smoothly.

Besides this, Litian Immortal City itself was decorated with lanterns and festive banners, with every street and alley buzzing with discussions about Su Yuqing achieving the status of a fourth-tier Pill King.

Such a major event in the Immortal Realm naturally captured everyone's attention.

Even the Li Li Huogong did not hesitate to promote it within Litian Immortal City, adding momentum to the occasion.

After all, the Su family had originally separated from the Li Li Huogong, so there must still be secret contacts and cooperation between the two sides.

In these past few days, everyone had likely come specifically for this grand ceremony; the number of cultivators in the immortal city had surged, with many large powers moving in groups through the city.

For a time, the inns within the immortal city were packed to capacity; despite accommodation prices having multiplied several times over, they remained completely full.

After resting for a day in Litian Immortal City, Qin Ming led everyone aboard the Mirror Jing Xue Ge's dharma ship, non-stop flying toward Dragon Court Lake in the Central Prefecture.

Several days later, a massive lake came into view.

The entire Dragon Court Lake resembled a sapphire-blue pearl embedded in the earth.

Above the firmament, countless trails of spiritual light streaked past.

Various high-grade spiritual carriages, beast-drawn carts, giant dharma ships, and flying mounts of powerful aura swept across the sky, leaving colorful trails of light.

All of this displayed the extraordinary status of their respective powers.

The Mirror Jing Xue Ge had only brought out a medium-sized dharma ship for this trip, which appeared very low-key compared to these luxurious carriages and mounts.

The Mirror Jing Xue Ge's dharma ship moved forward slowly and steadily, neither fast nor slow.

Just then.

A crimson streak of light flew rapidly from afar outside, arriving before everyone in merely an instant.

A large contingent of people charged recklessly across the sky as if entering an uninhabited realm.

Cultivators nearby feared them and scrambled to get out of the way, hastily retreating.

"It's the convoy of the Brocade Sky Commercial House; they're going to collide, quick, move aside!"

Inside the Mirror Jing Xue Ge's dharma ship, Old Jia also directed the ship to change course to avoid friction or collision with the Brocade Sky Commercial House.

Even so, the aggressively approaching Brocade Sky Commercial House nearly collided with the Mirror Jing Xue Ge's dharma ship, passing by in a hair's breadth.

"Don't you have eyes? Do you know how to pilot a dharma ship?"

A cursing voice rang out from the ship of the Brocade Sky Commercial House.

Inside the cabin, Qin Ming, who had been sitting in meditation cultivating, opened his eyes and asked Old Jia, who had entered to report, in a faint tone: "What is the background of this Brocade Sky Commercial House? Why do they act so arrogantly?"

"Reporting to Shopkeeper Lu, this Brocade Sky Commercial House is the twelfth-ranked great commercial house of the Ten Thousand Dao Shang Alliance."

"They have grown accustomed to arrogance relying on the background of the Li Li Huogong, but it is fine now; they have already left."

Old Jia reported truthfully.

"Mm." Qin Ming merely gave a faint response.

One incense stick later.

The dharma ship landed before the mountain gate of the Su family; after various powers verified their invitation letters, they entered one after another into the Su family grounds.

The entire area of Dragon Court Lake was filled with a festive atmosphere, decorated everywhere with lanterns and festive banners to celebrate this largest grand ceremony in history.

After entering the Su family estate, Qin Ming likewise spotted Hua Tianxiong, who had come to attend the celebration.

"Master, you've arrived as well? Hehe!"

"The last few spiritual materials you instructed me to gather, I have already collected in full; after the celebration concludes, I will find a separate opportunity to hand them over to you."

Hua Tianxiong secretly transmitted his voice to Qin Ming via the black talisman.

"Very good, you have done well." Qin Ming replied with praise; with this, all the spiritual materials he needed to refine the Infant-Condensing Pill could be said to be fully assembled.

The venue for the celebration was set in an extremely spacious plaza within the Su family estate, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of cultivators as spectators.

Upon the plaza, seats had already been arranged in dense rows for representatives of various factions to take their places.

Qin Ming led the members of the Mirror Jing Xue Ge to sit at several round tables located toward the rear center of the plaza.

This seating arrangement was also organized by the Su family according to the hierarchical ranks of the major factions.

After taking their seats, Qin Ming observed that the prominent factions capable of ranking within the Great Jin Immortal Realm were also entering one after another in sequence.

This included the other three of the Great Jin's four Jin Dan families, and even the Li Li Huogong had dispatched several representatives to offer congratulations.

Furthermore, it was Elder Qian, a highly respected and virtuous figure of the Li Li Huogong master, who had come in person.

This was also Qin Ming's first time seeing Hua Tianxiong's so-called 'great backer'; he saw that Elder Qian wore a set of gray robes, bound his hair with a wooden crown, adorned himself with extreme simplicity, maintained a calm countenance, and projected an awe-inspiring dignity without anger.

Elder Qian and his party were ushered into the seats of highest honor, which was only natural.

The upper echelons of the Myriad Dao Commerce Alliance had also dispatched a representative at the peak of the Jin Dan realm.

Qin Ming even caught sight of Elder Jin Han; it appeared that since his severe injury last time, he had recovered.

Just as Qin Ming and the others sat waiting for the celebration to begin,

a group of people approached, cultivators dressed in the attire of the Brocade Sky Merchant House.

Among them, a young cultivator in splendid robes who led the group smiled and said to Old Jia:

"Excuse me, this is the seating area for the Mirror Jing Xue Ge, correct?"

"Our Brocade Sky Merchant House suddenly has extra personnel and not enough seats; could your merchant house spare a table?"

Hearing this, Qin Ming could not help but furrow his brows; they had nearly collided with that faction's dharma boat upon entry earlier, and now they were clearly looking for trouble.

Old Jia was also extremely annoyed and directly refused: "Lu Huayuan, our pavilion's seats are already full; please go elsewhere."

Old Jia clearly recognized the cultivators from the Brocade Sky Merchant House.

As for the people of the Brocade Sky Merchant House, seeing that the Mirror Jing Xue Ge had only just relocated to Yunze Xiancheng and lacked any background or roots, they intended to issue a warning.

Just as that young man surnamed Lu from the Brocade Sky Merchant House prepared to push his luck further,

a portly cultivator in golden robes, surrounded by a crowd of other cultivators, strolled up to the group.

The newcomer was none other than Hua Tianxiong; when it came to arrogance and tyranny, no one within Great Jin was more domineering than him.

It was just that in recent years, he had become much more low-key.

Lu Huayuan of the Brocade Sky Merchant House, upon seeing Hua Tianxiong approach, immediately changed his expression and stepped forward to flatter: "Oh! President Hua has arrived as well."

Hua Tianxiong, however, paid him no heed, directly slapping Lu Huayuan across the face and angrily cursing: "You surnamed Lu, others may not dare to teach you a lesson, but I dare!"

"I've long found you eyesore; looking at your despicable appearance, if I don't teach you a lesson, you'll soon think you can reach the heavens."

"Do you not know that the Mirror Jing Xue Ge is now my partner?"

Lu Huayuan stood frozen on the spot, his mind buzzing.

No matter how powerful the Brocade Sky Merchant House was, they would not dare to offend a great deity like Hua Tianxiong.

This was not solely because Hua Tianxiong relied on Elder Qian of the Li Li Huogong as a backer, but because successive demonic cultivators who pursued Hua Tianxiong had perished without cause.

On the last occasion, even with the demise of a Holy Son of the Demonic Sect, Hua Tianxiong had returned safely.

Yet no valid evidence could be found.

As a result, external speculation regarding his true strength had reached an unimaginable level.

Some had even begun to respectfully address Hua Tianxiong as the 'War God of the Southern Region'! With Hua Tianxiong's appearance, the people of the Brocade Sky Merchant House dared not express their anger verbally, and furthermore, being at the Su family's celebration, they did not dare to act recklessly, so they slunk away with their tails between their legs.

Subsequently, Hua Tianxiong pasted on a smiling face and sat down beside Qin Ming.

Old Jia was also overwhelmed with honor, never expecting that Shopkeeper Lu could have cooperative ties with the Thousand Mechanisms Merchant House, one of the top ten merchant houses of the Myriad Dao Commerce Alliance.

This was merely a small interlude; soon the Pill King Celebration began.

Su Yuqing, dressed in white robes, made his entrance amidst the gaze of the multitude.

Qin Ming had already sent him a message upon arrival, so at this moment they merely exchanged glances as a signal.

Immediately following this,

with the announcer's chanting voice, the factions present to witness the ceremony and offer congratulations presented their gifts one after another.

In order to curry favor with Su Yuqing, this fourth-tier Pill King, various spiritual materials rarely seen in the Immortal Realm were presented in endless succession.

Even Qin Ming could not help but click his tongue in amazement; such immense wealth and boldness were simply incomparable to those factions in the Southern Wild Immortal Realm.

As the protagonist of this grand event, Su Yuqing merely showed his face briefly before disappearing from sight.

It was primarily the Su family clan leader who handled the social engagements.

Qin Ming smiled faintly; he had actually anticipated this long ago, given Su Yuqing's nature, if not for the pressure from his family, he probably would not have organized this so-called Pill King Celebration at all.

The celebration continued in full swing.

After eating and drinking for a while at their seats, Qin Ming received a voice transmission from Su Yuqing:

"Brother Qin, please come to my cave dwelling for a discussion."

Qin Ming immediately rose and said to Old Jia: "You all continue eating; I will return shortly."

"Very well, Shopkeeper Lu, please go ahead." Old Jia's expression stiffened with alertness; he also understood that Qin Ming was surely going to attend to important business.

With Hua Tianxiong sitting here, no one would dare to target the Mirror Jing Xue Ge again.

Half an incense stick later,

Qin Ming proceeded without any obstruction, going straight into the courtyard of Su Yuqing's cave dwelling.

"Brother Su, long time no see; congratulations on your promotion to the fourth-tier Jin Dan Su Danwang realm." Qin Ming smiled as he handed over two jade boxes and a jar of Demon Flame Wine. "This is a small token of congratulations from Qin Mou."

Su Yuqing offered a faint smile; toward Qin Ming, he was not in the least polite.

"Oh? Let me see what fine gift Brother Qin has brought me this time."

Su Yuqing opened the two jade boxes and immediately froze in place.

"Nascent Soul-Nurturing Fruit! Ten-Thousand-Year Green Spirit Saliva!"

Inside the jade boxes lay precisely these two items.

With these two primary ingredients added, Su Yuqing now had all the main components needed to refine the Nascent Soul-Concentrating Pill; as for the remaining auxiliary ingredients, given his connections, obtaining them would likely not be difficult.

Ten-Thousand-Year Green Spirit Saliva required only a tiny amount during pill refinement, yet Qin Ming possessed an entire bottle and had portioned out several dozen drops for him.

"Brother Qin, you this—"

Even with Su Yuqing's broad horizons, he was stunned by Qin Ming's extravagant generosity.

"Heh! Did not Brother Su also give me the Taiyi Bodhi?"

"These two spiritual treasures were also obtained by chance through my own fortune; today being your joyous occasion, please simply accept them," Qin Ming explained.

"Then I shall gladly accept them, hehehe!"

Su Yuqing stored away the two great spiritual materials.

However, what would shock him even more was yet to come.

Su Yuqing weighed the jar of spiritual wine in his hand, then looked at Qin Ming with curiosity and asked:

"Demon Flame Wine? Why have I never heard you mention it before? Could its taste possibly be even more exquisite than your Bai Yulin Wine?"

Qin Ming smiled freely. "Brother Su need only taste it to know."

"This wine is a top-tier third-grade spiritual wine, far surpassing Bai Yulin Wine; I brewed it using the demon core of that Green-Faced Poisonous Flood Dragon."

"Upon first consumption, this wine can assist you in breaking through to the Jin Dan perfection realm."

At these words,

Su Yuqing's mind went blank; for a long moment, he could not recover his senses.

"W-what did you say?!"

"Brother Qin, surely you are not teasing me?"

Su Yuqing, his face filled with disbelief, gazed at Qin Ming and murmured.

The corner of Qin Ming's mouth curved into a smile; he then slightly released and revealed a trace of his magic power at the Jin Dan perfection realm.

Su Yuqing's eyes instantly widened. "Jin Dan perfection; Brother Qin, you..."

He found it hard to believe that Qin Ming's cultivation had already surged ahead of his own.

At this very moment, Su Yuqing was completely convinced of the Demon Flame Wine's efficacy.

"Unexpected... the effects of spiritual wine can actually reach such a level."

"Even the high-grade pills I refine cannot achieve this."

"Brother Qin, you always exceed expectations!"

Su Yuqing then opened the wine jar; pitch-black Demon Flames rose, releasing a soul-seizing fragrance, while inside lay spirit-suffusing nectar.

In an instant,

Su Yuqing sealed the wine jar again, pondered briefly, and asked with some uncertainty:

"Brother Qin, since you have gifted me so many things at once, could it be that you are preparing to depart?"

The smile on Qin Ming's face remained unchanged; he gave a noncommittal slight nod and voiced his thoughts:

"Indeed; besides coming to congratulate Brother Su on achieving the fourth-tier Su Danwang status, Qin Mou has also come specifically to bid farewell."

"The materials for refining the Nascent Soul-Concentrating Pill are now mostly gathered; I am preparing to return to Huinan to plan for my Nascent Soul breakthrough."

(End of chapter)