Chapter 521: Spirit Fox Presents a Treasure

After examining the two jade slips, Qin Ming's face broke into a smile of delight.

One of the jade slips sent by Su Yuqing listed several substitute spiritual materials for the Divine Wood Pill, while the other contained the complete alchemical method and insights for the Nascent Soul Pill.

Qin Ming fully absorbed and understood its contents within just a few days.

"Su brother is truly a genius of heavenly talent; in the art of pill refining, even the ancient monsters could not match him."

Qin Ming couldn't help but feel profound admiration.

"The pill formula is settled. Now, as long as I gather the required spiritual materials, I can begin refining."

Within the Small Spirit Realm.

Since Qin Ming's three spiritual pets consumed the Beast Sovereign Pill, after several months, the Blackwater Crocodile and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee naturally broke through to the third-stage mid-level.

The Devouring Sky Rat, having eaten two Beast Sovereign Pills in succession, only saw its demonic power greatly increase—it failed to break through to the late stage, leaving it deeply frustrated.

Once its cultivation had led far ahead, now it was being caught up by its second and third companions; the Devouring Sky Rat's sense of urgency had reached its peak.

Qin Ming had just finished irrigating the spirit fields in the Small Spirit Realm when he saw the Devouring Sky Rat squatting alone beside the Heart-Earth Spirit Spring, lost in gloomy rodent thoughts. Seeing its expression, Qin Ming found it amusing and stepped forward to say:

"Even your master is still striving in the Golden Core mid-stage. Deep accumulation and slow release is the true principle."

"You must also avoid arrogance and impatience, and solidify your foundation."

"You saw for yourself the scene when Ling Yan tried to break through to the fourth-stage shape-shifting beast. The later your cultivation, the harder it becomes to break through."

"It requires not only personal effort, but also great strength and fortune."

"You still must grow through your own trials!"

Qin Ming patted its shoulder.

Instantly stimulated, the Devouring Sky Rat leapt up and cried: "Master's teaching is absolutely right! It has enlightened me completely!"

"I'll go back to the Beast Roar Mountains and train further."

Saying this, the Devouring Sky Rat grabbed its black trident, left the Small Spirit Realm, and plunged into the Beast Roar Mountains. Qin Ming: "..."

After completing his daily cultivation routine, Qin Ming went to the Five Elements Mountain spirit fields to check on the growth of the spirit plants.

As he strolled leisurely along the field ridges, he saw Li Lan walking toward him and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Master Lu."

"Hmm. What do you want?"

Li Lan hesitated, stammering, on the verge of speaking but holding back.

"Speak plainly," said Qin Ming.

The next moment, Li Lan bowed deeply before Qin Ming and spoke with utmost sincerity: "Master Lu, I deeply admire your expertise in spirit cultivation. I humbly beg you to accept me as your disciple!"

"Huh? A disciple?" Qin Ming was taken aback.

He had come to Great Jin solely seeking the chance for Nascent Soul formation; he had no interest in taking disciples.

Though he did admire Li Lan, a cultivator who had risen on his own to become a second-stage top-tier spirit cultivator,

he had no intention of taking him on as a disciple.

"Cough! I'm busy with affairs and have little time to teach you."

"How about this: I'll give you some insights on growing third-stage spirit plants. Beyond that, everything must be learned and understood by yourself."

"But as a condition, if you become a third-stage spirit cultivation master, you must grow spirit rice for me for thirty years without pay."

"And besides Jingxue Pavilion, you must not cultivate land for any other faction."

"As for your free time, you may grow other spirit plants as you wish—I won't interfere; it's outside these terms."

"What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Li Lan didn't hesitate a moment—he immediately agreed.

"I accept."

"Thank you, Master Lu."

Qin Ming smiled faintly, and a jade slip appeared in his right hand, which he handed to him.

Li Lan received it reverently and withdrew as if he had gained a priceless treasure. But no sooner had he left—

than Jia Heyi came running up to Qin Ming, face beaming, clutching something in his hand.

"Good news! Master Lu, tremendous good news!"

Jia Heyi hurried over, trembling with excitement.

Qin Ming frowned and asked: "Old Jia, what's got you so thrilled?"

"Master, look—this is a special invitation from the Ten Thousand Paths Merchant Alliance, inviting Jingxue Pavilion to join them!" Jia Heyi handed the item to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming took it, glanced at it briefly, and asked indifferently: "So it's just joining a merchant alliance? Is that really worth this much excitement?"

Jia Heyi froze, then laughed awkwardly: "Master, you don't understand! Countless merchant houses scramble desperately to join the Ten Thousand Paths Merchant Alliance and fail."

"In Great Jin, the Ten Thousand Paths Merchant Alliance is the third-largest power after the Li Huo Palace and the Divine Dao Mountain, with business networks extending even into the neighboring Da Li and Da Zhou cultivation realms."

"After joining, you gain reduced shop rents and tax exemptions from the Immortal Court, plus various forms of support from the alliance—immense benefits for any merchant house's future."

"Thus, not every merchant house qualifies; only those approved by the alliance's Elder Council receive invitations."

"For a merchant house, it's a great honor and recognition."

Qin Ming nodded. "I see."

Then he asked another puzzling question:

"But in Great Jin, besides shop rent in the marketplace, merchants must also pay taxes?"

Jia Heyi replied: "Correct. The true ruler of Great Jin is the Li Huo Palace; every year, all under the Immortal Court must pay a set tax."

"But joining the Ten Thousand Paths Merchant Alliance grants preferential policies—this is one of the conditions agreed upon by the two powers."

"Moreover, the alliance's high-ups wish to meet with you."

Qin Ming pondered briefly, then replied directly: "So no matter where or when—even in a large cultivation realm like Great Jin—those above always exploit those below. If that's the case, then I'll join."

"I won't attend the signing or any banquets. You handle it."

Jia Heyi hadn't expected Qin Ming to remain so calm at such good news, nor to refuse even meeting the alliance's high-ups. He could only give up and set about organizing everything himself.

Qin Ming's mind was focused solely on his spirit plants; he showed indifference toward all else.

Yet what he hadn't anticipated was—

days later, the Devouring Sky Rat, spurred by his cultivation frustrations, returned from the Beast Roar Mountains.

And with him came none other than Little Silver Fox. The Devouring Sky Rat looked radiant.

The gloom from his failed breakthrough had vanished; along the way, he chatted merrily with Little Silver Fox.

To avoid trouble, Qin Ming quickly summoned both beasts into the Small Spirit Realm.

If anyone had seen this, what chaos would follow?

Qin Ming then confronted the Devouring Sky Rat:

"You, I told you to go train—how did you bring her here?"

"Did your hide get itchy again?"

The Devouring Sky Rat chuckled awkwardly: "Heh! Master, it wasn't my idea."

"She came on her own. We just happened to meet on the way..."

Nearby, Little Silver Fox stepped forward, bowed gracefully to Qin Ming, and said clearly: "Senior Qin, it's not his fault. I've been sent by my mother to deliver something to you."

"Earlier, we owed you a great debt for saving us. Recently, when Mother destroyed her old enemies, she gathered many rare treasures from several tribes. She said you might find them useful."

She then pulled out a storage pouch and handed it to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming took it, opened it, and exclaimed: "Wow."

Inside were full supplies of spiritual materials for pill refining—the very ingredients he had struggled to collect for the Divine Wood Pill, now all gathered at once.

Not only that, the materials needed to forge the Five Elements Flag were also complete.

(End of Chapter)