Chapter 46: Shopkeeper Liao

Time passed slowly.

Ten days slipped by in a flash.

During this period, Qin Ming never left his room, practicing the Great Completion-level Bloodburning Blade Art from dawn till dusk, having fully internalized its insights.

On the eleventh day.

After the term's effect vanished, Qin Ming tried practicing the Bloodburning Blade Art again.

With firsthand experience, Qin Ming spent another two days re-elevating the art from Proficient level back to Great Completion level.

Thus, he had fully mastered this sword art! That day.

Qingyang Marketplace.

Qin Ming returned to Juxuan Pavilion.

Shopkeeper Liao was tallying accounts at the first-floor counter; he looked up and saw his major customer had arrived.

He immediately beamed with joy!

He quickly set down his ledger, wore his signature smile, and hurried out to greet him.

"Brother Qin, you've come at the perfect time—we just received a new shipment of Spirit Bamboo Wine. Please come up to the private room; let me treat you, hehehe."

Qin Ming replied in surprise, "Shopkeeper, I came here today specifically to buy Spirit Wine—I plan to give it as a gift."

Shopkeeper Liao paused, then his smile grew even brighter. "Oh! What a coincidence!"

Inside the private room.

After inviting Qin Ming to sit, Shopkeeper Liao poured him a cup from a flask and smiled warmly. "Brother Qin, please."

"Taste how this Spirit Bamboo Wine is."

Qin Ming lifted the cup, sniffed it at his nose, then drained it in one gulp.

Instantly, the crisp, sweet fragrance unique to Spirit Bamboo filled his mouth; the wine entering his belly even slightly enhanced his magic power! "Excellent wine!"

Qin Ming couldn't help but praise it!

"Hehe, Brother Qin, you may not know—this wine is made from Spirit Bamboo harvested deep within Yunze Dahuang, using bamboo aged over fifty years. The brewing is difficult and output scarce—it's one of the finest wines." Shopkeeper Liao introduced it skillfully.

"I'll take it. How much do you have left?"

"We received twenty casks, but all have been pre-ordered."

"I specially saved two casks for you, hehe."

Saying this, Shopkeeper Liao pulled two casks of Spirit Bamboo Wine from his storage pouch and placed them before Qin Ming.

Qin Ming waved his hand forward, and the wine vanished into his storage pouch; then he asked, "How many Spirit Stones for these two casks?"

"Ah, Brother Qin, you're being too formal—these wines were meant as a gift for you." Shopkeeper Liao waved his hand.

Qin Ming didn't refuse—he had spent over a thousand Spirit Stones on magical tools here last time.

He guessed this old fellow had earned a good commission.

Qin Ming drank another cup of Spirit Bamboo Wine and asked, "Shopkeeper, do you have Frost Dew Juice, Jade Fire Liquid, and Spirit Essence?"

"Of course we do—but… aren't these used for alchemy?" Shopkeeper Liao looked puzzled.

Qin Ming said calmly, "Perfect. Give me ten portions of each."

"Huh? So much? No problem!"

"Brother Qin, forgive my boldness—these materials are for Su Alchemist, aren't they?" Shopkeeper Liao was baffled; he could think of no other possibility.

Qin Ming, mindful of the two casks of wine, didn't hide the truth: "No, they're for me."

"N-n-n?"

A thought flashed through Shopkeeper Liao's mind. He asked cautiously, "Brother Qin, are you studying alchemy?"

"Correct."

"I broke through to Low-Grade Alchemist recently."

"Now I'm buying these materials to attempt brewing Mid-Grade pills." Qin Ming didn't conceal it—he'd need to buy more materials here in the future anyway. Hum—Shopkeeper Liao's mind went blank.

'Mid-Grade Alchemist?'

He was speechless, suddenly realizing those two casks of wine had been the best investment ever! He snapped back to himself, smiling broadly: "Congratulations, Brother Qin! I never imagined you'd achieve such astonishing mastery in alchemy!"

"Could it be… related to Su Alchemist?" he asked cautiously.

Qin Ming nodded slightly.

Shopkeeper Liao finally understood—no wonder his alchemy had advanced so rapidly.

'It seems the Gu Gezhu misjudged—Brother Qin and Su Alchemist aren't just casual acquaintances. If Su Alchemist personally teaches him alchemy, their bond must be deep indeed!'

'If Brother Qin breaks through to Mid-Grade Alchemist, and with the relationship I've built, winning his favor will surely earn me great credit from the Gu Gezhu!'

Shopkeeper Liao's thoughts raced, his eyes brightening.

"Brother Qin, I'll take responsibility for this batch—I'll settle at a fifty percent discount."

Qin Ming blinked, then smiled. "Then I won't refuse your kindness."

Seeing Qin Ming agree so readily, Shopkeeper Liao knew he had a chance—he immediately refilled his cup.

"Brother Qin, I have a humble request."

"If you ever have surplus pills to sell, could you consider this shop first?"

Qin Ming smiled faintly. "I can agree—but right now, I can only brew low-grade pills."

"Don't expect too much, Shopkeeper."

"No problem, no problem! With your talent in alchemy, you'll surely break through to Mid-Grade Alchemist soon."

"Come, let me toast you, Brother Qin!"

Shopkeeper Liao beamed with delight.

The transaction concluded.

The two drank wine for a while longer.

Shopkeeper Liao seemed to suddenly remember something and said with a rather serious expression, "Oh right, Fellow Daoist Qin, the spirit fields haven't been very peaceful lately either; you should be careful and avoid walking into the surrounding forests."

"I heard that a few days ago, four cultivators from the Spirit Feather Sect were killed and their bodies destroyed to erase all traces; the incident occurred in the forest behind the hill of your spirit fields."

"Oh? Have they found any traces of the murderer?" Qin Ming took a sip of wine, asking calmly without revealing his emotions.

"It is said the scene was cleaned too thoroughly; if not for the soul lamps kept within the Spirit Feather Sect's sect grounds extinguishing, they probably wouldn't have been able to determine who had died."

"The four cultivators killed from the Spirit Feather Sect were all at the mid-to-late stages; the murderer's cultivation level must be at least Perfected Qi Condensation."

Hearing Shopkeeper Liao speak thus, Qin Ming immediately felt reassured.

"However, Fellow Daoist Qin need not worry too much; the market city is still very safe, especially since two powerful late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators have just moved in next door to you; they should be enough to deter some petty criminals," Shopkeeper Liao added, fearing Qin Ming was overly worried.

Hearing this, Qin Ming frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "Two new neighbors at the late stage of Qi Condensation?"

"That's right; speaking of those two fellow daoists, Fellow Daoist Qin actually saw them in this shop a few days ago—they are the two cultivators who came down with me that day to sell beast corpses; they are the Feng brothers," Shopkeeper Liao explained.

Upon hearing this, images of two cultivators wearing leather dharma robes floated in Qin Ming's mind, one of whom was bald.

"Oh, so it was those two," Qin Ming said thoughtfully.

Seeing that Qin Ming apparently hadn't encountered the two, Shopkeeper Liao said, "It is quite normal for Fellow Daoist Qin not to have seen them go out; the Feng brothers are beast hunters with formidable strength, returning to the market city only once every ten days or half a month."

Qin Ming nodded.

The conversation between the two parties ended.

Qin Ming left the shop.

Shopkeeper Liao escorted Qin Ming all the way to the entrance, watching as the other party gradually walked away.

Only then could he not help but excitedly clap his hands, saying to himself with a face full of excitement, "The chance to make a great contribution has finally arrived!"

"I must report to the Gu Gezhu immediately!"

(End of Chapter)