Chapter 45: Intermediate-Grade Spiritual Planter

Qingyang Marketplace.

Qin Ming returned to the Lingyu Sect’s Administration Hall.

This time, the Intermediate-grade Spiritual Plant Knowledge Examination was far more formal than the first.

Inside a sealed, independent room.

Only Qin Ming and three examiners sat across from him.

The three examiners overseeing this test were all genuine First-Grade High-grade Spiritual Planters of the Lingyu Sect.

All three examiners were elderly, their years evident.

Their gazes toward Qin Ming carried unmistakable admiration.

They had all heard before of a young man among the farm laborers with exceptional spiritual planting talent.

In just one year, he had grown another Intermediate-grade spiritual plant.

Even the most difficult Advanced Spiritual Rain Art had been mastered by him.

The key was his youth—youth held infinite potential.

The bald elder seated farthest to the left spoke first:

“Which other spiritual plant cannot be grown alongside Firegrass, a First-Grade Intermediate-grade spiritual plant?”

Qin Ming pondered briefly, then answered: “Tuli Fruit.”

“Tuli Fruit drains away large amounts of fire spiritual energy from its surroundings, depriving Firegrass of sufficient nourishment.”

“Correct,” the bald elder smiled faintly, his eyes filled with approval.

He had posed a recondite question—he never expected such a swift answer.

And to explain the reason as well? That was rare indeed.

The next examiner began his question.

“What are the growth requirements for Purple Sunflower?”

…

As questions and answers flowed, time passed slowly.

Qin Ming answered nearly all without hesitation; even the few difficult ones were answered after only brief thought.

After the Q&A ended,

they proceeded to the spiritual plant and seed identification test.

Two hours later,

the examination concluded.

All three examiners gave him an Excellent rating.

“The young are truly formidable.”

“Keep striving—your future is bright.”

After passing, the Lingyu Sect’s administrator stamped Qin Ming’s planter credential with a magical power seal.

The second leaf on the back of the credential glowed to life.

It marked Qin Ming’s official status as a First-Grade Intermediate-grade Spiritual Planter.

His social standing had risen dramatically.

Qin Ming rubbed the credential as he left the Administration Hall, his heart brimming with emotion.

Three years ago, he had been a lowly farm laborer struggling to pay his spirit rice tax.

Now, even High-grade Spiritual Planters of the Lingyu Sect looked at him with respect.

The title of Intermediate-grade Spiritual Planter was recognized anywhere.

Leaving the Administration Hall,

Qin Ming followed the main road straight to the Ruan family compound.

Moments later,

he arrived before its gates.

Qin Ming stared at the compound and took a deep breath.

In the past, he had never dared dream

that one day he would move into such an imposing, standalone courtyard.

He gazed at the two characters “Ruan Family” carved on the red-painted gate.

The scene when Ruan Dao you first opened the door for him came vividly to mind.

He reached out and summoned it—the gate plaque fell instantly to the ground.

“From now on, it’s Qin Courtyard.”

Qin Ming smiled faintly, nodding in satisfaction.

He pulled out the wooden token in his hand and deactivated the courtyard’s sealing array—henceforth, only he could enter or leave freely.

Then,

Qin Ming walked through the compound, familiarizing himself with its layout.

It had been completely emptied—no cleaning needed.

The entire courtyard was protected by a concealment array that blocked spiritual detection.

It also featured a Spirit Gathering array, connected to the Second-Grade spiritual vein beneath Qingyang Marketplace.

The spiritual energy here was abundant, incomparable to the shantytown or ordinary dwellings outside.

The higher a cultivator’s realm, the more critical their spiritual environment—especially safety, vastly superior to the shantytown.

No daily murders over treasures here.

After all,

Qin Ming was now an Intermediate-grade Spiritual Planter—likely a target for bandit cultivators.

Unlike before, when as a low-grade farm laborer he had nothing, so poor even bandits would weep at the sight. Qin Ming finished his tour and turned to leave the courtyard.

He planned to move in the next day.

The next day,

Qin Ming paid for a banquet at Juxuan Pavilion to enlist Cai Laojiu’s help with his move.

“What? What did you say?!”

“You’re moving to live inside the marketplace?”

When Cai Laojiu heard the news, he froze in place, stunned for a long while.

Still, he understood.

Over these past years, Qin Ming had advanced at a staggering pace, leaving all the old farm laborers far behind.

Becoming an Intermediate-grade Spiritual Planter and moving into a marketplace courtyard was no surprise.

Qin Ming was sentimental and reluctant to discard large items, which wouldn’t fit in his storage pouch.

He and Cai Laojiu worked hard all morning.

They filled an entire large cart.

As they departed,

Qin Ming looked back at the dilapidated little house, heavy with memories.

Then he turned away, his gaze resolute.

…

The two walked briskly, driving the cart along the alley.

Passing the shantytown canal,

nearby cultivators heard the commotion and gradually emerged to gather.

“Qin Dao you.”

“Cai Laojiu.”

“Where are you two headed?”

The middle-aged female cultivators who often washed clothes by the canal glanced at the cart piled high with bundles.

They asked in confusion: “Huh? Qin Dao you, didn’t you become a First-Grade Low-grade Spiritual Planter?”

“Even if shantytown rent rose a bit this year, it’s not worth moving out, is it?”

Other cultivators, hearing this, joined in: “Qin Dao you, the shantytown’s been unsafe lately—if you’ve got a good place, let us know.”

Before Qin Ming could answer,

Cai Laojiu beside him blurted out: “Young Brother Qin successfully advanced to Intermediate-grade Spiritual Planter yesterday—he’s moving into a courtyard inside the marketplace.”

As his words fell,

the air around them grew silent.

Dozens of astonished, incredulous stares fixed on Qin Ming.

The middle-aged female cultivators, still washing clothes, didn’t even notice their garments being swept away by the current.

Intermediate-grade Spiritual Planter? Moving into a standalone courtyard in the marketplace? Was this real? A cascade of information hammered their minds.

Qin Ming smiled faintly and replied modestly: “A while back, I was fortunate to receive aid from a senior—barely secured a spot.”

Whew! At Qin Ming’s quiet confirmation,

the earlier shock instantly transformed into envy, jealousy, and a trace of reverence.

The status of an Intermediate-grade Spiritual Planter dwarfed their own as scattered farm laborers—there was no comparison.

It's no wonder Qin Ming could afford the exorbitant rent in the marketplace.

The independent courtyard in Qingyang Marketplace.

Not to mention the second-tier defensive formation guarding it, which had filled the precarious itinerant cultivators with envy.

Not to mention the second-tier spiritual vein and the formation that covered the entire courtyard, gathering spiritual energy.

Cultivation becomes twice as effective.

“Congratulations, Brother Qin!”

“Congratulations, Brother Qin, on your promotion to Mid-Grade Spirit Gardener! You’re truly a model for all of us in the farming community.”

“Brother Qin, your fortune is immense and your connections are wide-ranging!”

In an instant.

Along the road beside the river, other cultivators who had heard the news rushed over.

The cultivators continuously praised and congratulated Qin Ming.

One astute cultivator quickly chimed in, “Brother Qin, do you need to hire a steward to manage your courtyard? Do you think I’d be suitable?”

Cai Laojiu on the carriage, hearing this, flew into a rage and shouted, “What the hell! I haven’t even gotten mine yet—how dare you jump ahead?!”

PS: Thank you to “Da Sinong Niu Laozhi” for the recommendation vote.

(End of chapter)