Chapter 467: Black Rune

Inside the room.

Qin Ming then examined several other intelligence jade slips of different ranks.

I have to say, the intelligence-gathering capability of this Qianji Pavilion is truly impressive.

"Just these few."

Qin Ming selected several intelligence items that interested him, not taking too many at once—perfectly matching his current Foundation Establishment late-stage identity.

To avoid drawing unnecessary suspicion by flaunting wealth.

At first, Shopkeeper Wei thought this outsider cultivator might not spend much.

After all, few cultivators were willing to waste large sums on high-tier intelligence.

He hadn't expected the man to buy several at once, and his opinion of Qin Ming rose slightly.

On his usually impassive face, Shopkeeper Wei finally smiled and said, "Three Class-A intelligence slips, one each of Class-B, Class-C, and Class-D—total two thousand six hundred middle-grade spirit stones."

"Since you purchased so many at once, I can authorize an extra Class-C and Class-D intelligence slip as a gift."

"Should you need anything else in the future, come back to our shop—I guarantee your satisfaction."

As a seasoned veteran who had operated here for years, Shopkeeper Wei knew how to handle people.

Qin Ming handed over the exact amount of spirit stones to Shopkeeper Wei, then put away the jade slips.

The transaction was complete.

Qin Ming left the shop.

…

Next, following the map's directions, he arrived at the Mirror Snow Pavilion in the Spirit Ruins Bazaar.

Still the iconic nine-story building, ancient and elegant.

This branch of the Mirror Snow Pavilion, established in Da Jin, maintained a few resident cultivators to manage operations.

Gu Qingzhao had assigned Qin Ming the identity of the new shopkeeper.

As Qin Ming stepped inside, a servant immediately approached to greet him.

"Esteemed elder, welcome to our shop—we carry all manner of cultivation resources. What might you need?"

"Call your supervisor out," Qin Ming replied indifferently.

The servant froze but dared not defy this Foundation Establishment elder.

Moments later.

A man in brown robes descended the stairs—early Foundation Establishment, sharp-faced, with a short beard.

"I am Jia Heyi. What brings you to me, fellow cultivator?"

"Let us discuss upstairs."

"I am Lu Mou, sent by Grandmaster Gu," Qin Ming said bluntly, handing over his identity token and letter.

Jia Heyi examined the items, then immediately bowed deeply to Qin Ming. "Greetings, Elder Lu!"

He then summoned all his subordinates within the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

"This is Elder Lu, the new shopkeeper appointed by Grandmaster Gu. Pay your respects at once."

"From now on, all affairs within the pavilion are under Elder Lu's authority."

Around twenty to thirty people stood in the courtyard, bowing in unison to Qin Ming.

"Greetings, Elder Lu!"

Qin Ming's face remained expressionless. He waved his hand indifferently. "Rise."

"Return to your duties."

Then he turned to Jia Heyi. "Old Jia, bring the ledgers with you."

Jia Heyi hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir."

…

Half an incense stick later.

In a private room on the fourth floor of the Mirror Snow Pavilion, Qin Ming sipped spirit tea, pretending to study the ledgers.

Through brief conversation with Jia Heyi, he now understood the pavilion's current state.

Not only was it low-tier within Da Jin, it barely ranked among the bazaar's many shops.

Compared to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, backed by the Li Huo Palace, the gap was glaring.

Currently, the Mirror Snow Pavilion's operations in the Spirit Ruins Bazaar were mediocre at best.

Besides its tavern business, it still traded cultivation resources, but as an outsider, it lacked the procurement advantages of local shops. Of course, Qin Ming's main purpose here wasn't to run a shop—he cleared his throat and said to Jia Heyi with meaning, "Old Jia, I'm only temporarily serving as shopkeeper."

"I'm unfamiliar with the place, so you handle daily affairs as usual."

???

"I reviewed recent revenues—you're quite capable, managing things well!"

At this, even the cautious Jia Heyi froze.

His sharp mind instantly flashed a thought: 'Is this new Elder Lu trying to set a trap?'

'Who shows up and immediately abdicates all responsibility?'

Jia Heyi chuckled nervously and poured Qin Ming more tea. "Elder Lu, rest assured—I'll keep a close eye on everything and report any issues immediately!"

"Hmm, good," Qin Ming nodded, showing satisfaction.

He chatted a while longer, learning the specifics of the Spirit Ruins Bazaar.

"By the way, is there a major trading fair coming up?" Qin Ming suddenly asked.

Jia Heyi paused, then replied, "Now that you mention it, I recall something."

"The Five Blessings Auction House, operated by the Ten Thousand Dao Alliance on Five Elements Mountain, will hold a major auction after three months—but only affiliated shops have entry."

"Otherwise, you need Golden Core cultivation to participate."

Qin Ming asked this to find a chance to dispose of the demonic cultivators' items—he had no use for them.

He could also acquire spiritual materials and elixir formulas, such as high-grade formulas for brewing pills from the core of the venomous green-faced jiao.

Having talked enough, Qin Ming dismissed Jia Heyi.

As the newly appointed shopkeeper of the Mirror Snow Pavilion, Qin Ming had been assigned a private courtyard in the Spirit Ruins Bazaar.

This made his cultivation convenient.

Since he always cultivated inside the Small Spirit Realm, his daily farming and practice remained unaffected.

Since arriving in Da Jin, the Devouring Sky Rat had been constantly nagging him to go outside, to see the world and breathe the air.

Qin Ming told it to be patient and wait a while longer.

"What's the rush? The spiritual veins here are still better than outside. Are you not satisfied?"

"I think your hide's getting itchy again."

…

One day.

Qin Ming was inside his room in the Small Spirit Realm, fully focused on crafting an item.

A wooden black seal, its entire surface surging with demonic energy, was drawing in dense death energy from several Golden Core cultivator corpses on the ground.

As Qin Ming continuously formed hand seals, intricate runes etched themselves onto the seal, intertwining and radiating an eerie aura.

Finally, a thread of emerald-green Four Seasons Divine Light appeared in his hand and flowed into the seal.

In an instant.

The seal shattered, and a pitch-black rune floated out!

Qin Ming's gaze sharpened; he reached out, seized the rune, and it vanished.

Yet as soon as he willed it, the black rune reappeared, radiating a malevolent aura.

This was a black rune he forged using the "Life-Death Rune" technique from the Art of Artifact Crafting, combined with the secret method "Human Puppet Technique" from the True Scripture of Yuan Sha's Demon Seeding.

The rune's greatest power: once implanted in a cultivator's body, they become his complete puppet.

He could perceive every move, every thought, even their intentions—life and death rested solely in his will.

After personally assessing the situation in Da Jin, Qin Ming realized it remained perilous—he decided to install a puppet to act as his public face, taking on dangerous tasks in his stead.

After completing the Life-Death Rune, Qin Ming exited the Small Spirit Realm and went to the shop to drink tea.

He gazed out the window at the bustling streets of the Spirit Ruins Bazaar, where merchants shouted incessantly.

Suddenly, a chaotic clamor erupted.

Pedestrians scattered, and nearby stalls were smashed by the surge.

A golden imperial carriage, pulled by two magnificent sea beasts, rolled down the main road.

Inside sat a cultivator dressed in lavish robes, not concealing himself at all—quite the opposite, he was openly flamboyant.

Qin Ming stared, instantly recognizing the man.

(End of Chapter)