Chapter 5

The Lingyu Sect's newly opened territory lies in Yunze Dahuang, deep within the southwestern reaches of the Southern Wild Immortal Realm, far from human habitation.

Winters here are exceptionally cold.

Had Qin Ming not been reborn into the Immortal Realm, he would never have known that cultivators could also fear the cold.

They still needed to eat, drink, defecate, and urinate.

At Yin Zheng, light snow began to drift over the shantytown.

The alley was eerily quiet, with only a few birds foraging in the trash piles.

After winter set in, the spirit rice fields entered a brief two-month rest period.

The next season's spirit rice would be sown before Qingming, or else frost and cold winds would cause a high rate of empty grains.

Though winter was cold, this chill brought a sense of peace.

The changing seasons told Qin Ming that warmth of early spring was drawing nearer.

Qin Ming was clearing snow from his doorway.

Creak!

The wooden door of his neighbor Li Yanli swung open in response.

She wore a crimson peach-blossom jacket, exuding charm, her body perfumed with a distinctive rouge scent, carrying a wooden basin to pour out her washing water.

"Good morning, Sister Li."

Seeing her step out, Qin Ming smiled faintly and greeted her.

"Morning, Brother Qin—you're truly diligent!" Li Yanli smiled with pursed lips.

"I heard your spirit rice yield last season was astonishing—surely you sold a lot of spirit stones?"

"Heh, just lucky."

Qin Ming had just finished greeting her and was about to return indoors.

But his female neighbor called out to stop him: "Brother Qin, please wait."

Li Yanli's face flushed with shyness, and she said hesitantly: "Lately, my noises disturbed your rest. If you don't mind, would you like to come inside? I'll give you a free session."

"Ah, this…"

Qin Ming was stunned, his face instantly flushing red.

To be honest, he was a young man brimming with vigor—how could he withstand such a test of human nature?

'Has spring's warmth arrived too soon?'

'Or is the economy just that bad?'

'Is it already time for morning practice at this hour?'

'Stay calm. Must stay calm!'

Probably this woman wasn't hungry for his manhood—she wanted his spirit stones.

Qin Ming's Dao heart began to waver again.

Suddenly—

A powerful figure flashed into his mind: the Qi Condensation Stage 8 late-stage cultivator, "Brother Long."

'Can't afford to provoke him. Better to back off.'

Qin Ming instantly deflated, regaining his composure swiftly.

"Er, thank you for your kindness, but I've been digging spirit fields lately, and my lower back's been aching these past two days."

Saying this, he turned and slipped back inside without looking back.

"Sigh—beauty is a skull, it disrupts the human heart!"

Qin Ming quickly washed his face, still lost in chaotic thoughts, when—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A knock came at his door.

'Could it be? Has she come to me?'

'That flirtatious thing really grinds on the nerves!'

'If that's how it is, then I'll fight you!'

Qin Ming opened the door and saw Cai Laojiu standing there.

He glanced left and right, confirmed no one else was around, then said casually:

"Why are you here?"

Cai Laojiu, holding two packages, had been grinning broadly—but at these words, he froze in place.

He looked around, then grew visibly annoyed.

"Wait, I'm confused—why can't it be me?"

"I came all the way to bring you a bottle of my own sweet potato liquor."

"Fine, I'm leaving." Cai Laojiu turned to go.

Qin Ming hurriedly apologized: "Hey hey hey, that's not what I meant—come in, come in, sit down!"

Cai Laojiu handed him the bottle of liquor, grumbling: "Sit? What's the point?"

"Don't you know a new neighbor moved in?"

Qin Ming took the bottle, looking utterly bewildered.

"New neighbor?"

Seeing his expression, Cai Laojiu knew this kid had been cooped up too long and was out of the loop.

He sighed, pointing at Qin Ming: "Sigh, I don't even know what to say about you."

"A few days ago, a new cultivator moved into the alley—he's a genuine alchemist!"

"An alchemist?"

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, pill refining, artifact forging, talisman crafting, and array formation stand head and shoulders above the rest.

For cultivators, medicinal pills are an extremely important resource for cultivation.

Whether for daily cultivation, breaking through bottlenecks, curing illnesses and healing wounds, or extending life and preserving youth, there is always something that requires seeking out a pill master.

Building a good relationship means one might be able to call upon them someday.

"But... how could a figure like an alchemist move into a shantytown?" Qin Ming asked, somewhat puzzled. After all, learning the art of pill refining truly burns through spirit stones; raising even the most talented alchemist requires feeding them vast quantities of spiritual materials, something only great sects and major clans can afford.

"However, why would a figure like an alchemist move into the shantytown?" Qin Ming asked, somewhat puzzled. After all, learning the art of alchemy was the true way to burn spirit stones; raising an alchemist, even one with the best talent, required feeding them vast quantities of spiritual materials, something only great gates and great sects could afford.

"That must just be an ordinary alchemist who hasn't entered any ranked tier, right?"

"I heard they're only staying temporarily for a year; as for the specific reason, they haven't revealed anything!"

"Hurry up and prepare some greeting gifts; let's go over together to pay a visit and get acquainted."

Cai Laojiu urged with some impatience.

"So you giving me a pot of wine was just an afterthought? This is all thanks to that alchemist." Qin Ming was instantly rendered speechless.

"So you giving me a pot of wine was just a side errand? I only benefited because of that alchemist." Qin Ming was instantly rendered speechless.

The two crossed several alleyways.

They arrived before a house, and Cai Laojiu knocked on the door.

Arriving before the door of a house, Cai Laojiu knocked.

The wooden door opened from within.

A white-robed young cultivator in his twenties appeared before them, at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation.

Neither Qin Ming nor his companion had expected the other party to be so young.

"We heard a fellow Daoist alchemist had moved in; we two have come specifically to pay a visit, make our faces known, and since we are all neighbors now, hehe," Cai Laojiu said casually.

After exchanging pleasantries and introducing themselves.

The two then presented the gifts in their hands.

Qin Ming offered five jin of spiritual rice, while Cai Laojiu, besides spiritual rice, added a pot of wine he had brewed himself.

"A trifling gift, hardly worthy of your respect."

The white-robed youth accepted the gifts, stepped aside, and invited the two inside.

"There is no need for such courtesy, fellow Daoists."

"I am Su Yuqing; here is a small token." The white-robed youth took out two ordinary jade bottles.

He handed one to each of them.

Qin Ming politely accepted the jade bottle and glanced at it briefly.

Inside the bottle was a single Qi-Recovery Pill for the Qi Condensation stage, capable of helping cultivators rapidly restore their spiritual energy.

The price of a low-grade Qi-Recovery Pill is five spirit stones per pill.

No wonder he is an alchemist; his generosity is impressive.

In contrast, Qin Ming and Cai Laojiu exchanged a glance, both appearing somewhat awkward.

Compared to the host's return gift, their own offering of spiritual rice seemed rather inadequate.

'It feels as though we came specifically to mooch pills.'

Fortunately, Alchemist Su did not seem to mind.

"I am indeed an alchemist; not long ago I just broke through to become a first-tier mid-grade alchemist, and I came out to relax my mind," Alchemist Su said with a hint of pride in his words.

The status of alchemists is revered; even an ordinary unranked alchemy apprentice who can refine some basic pills can earn a considerable income in spirit stones.

Not to mention a first-tier mid-grade alchemist; such a cultivator, wherever they go, will be an honored guest of any local power.

Moreover, Alchemist Su is so young; he must be someone with extraordinary talent in alchemy and has a high probability of advancing further.

His potential is limitless, and his future looks promising.

Figures like this are often the targets that major powers seek to recruit.

They are not the kind of connections that minor figures like Qin Ming and Cai Laojiu can hope to establish.

Their fate and stature are destined not to be on the same level.

"So Alchemist Su is actually a first-tier mid-grade alchemist."

"Our apologies, our apologies!"

"Please forgive our earlier rudeness, Tang Tu."

Cai Laojiu and Qin Ming hurriedly bowed in salute.

Alchemist Su sat steadily in his chair, took a sip of tea, looking as if this treatment were only natural.

He waved his hand at the two.

Just then.

Someone walked in from outside; the three turned to look.

It turned out to be Fellow Daoist Long who had arrived.

Alchemist Su rose to welcome him.

Fellow Daoist Long also bowed respectfully with clasped fists.

After exchanging greetings, Fellow Daoist Long, right in front of Qin Ming and the other, took out two jade boxes and presented them to Alchemist Su as greeting gifts.

"A first-tier mid-stage beast core, and Xuanling Grass!" A slight smile appeared on Alchemist Su's face.

He patted his storage bag, then with a reverse grip pulled out an exquisite jade bottle and handed it to Fellow Daoist Long as a return gift.

"Two Spirit-Gathering Pills."

"Two Gathering Spirit Pills."

"It can increase one's Qi Condensation cultivation; it is equally effective for later-stage cultivators."

Subsequently, Fellow Daoist Long and Alchemist Su began chatting enthusiastically.

They completely ignored the presence of Qin Ming and the other...

Half a quarter-hour later.

Qin Ming and Cai Laojiu took their leave, both wearing rather ugly expressions.

"Too presumptuous."

"Before you came, why didn't you tell me Alchemist Su was so young? And that he holds a Mid-grade rank as an alchemist?"

"How would I know?"

"Next time there's such a good opportunity, don't call me."

(End of Chapter)