Chapter 537: Anomaly

Li Lan pondered for a moment before replying:

"Hehe, Elder Zou flatters me—I'm just trying to make a living."

"Besides, Young Master Lu has treated me well, and working at Mirror Snow Pavilion has been quite pleasant."

"And isn't Mirror Snow Pavilion one of your Shangmeng Society's members?"

Li Lan smiled, his tone exceedingly tactful.

Zou Pinghai heard this and smiled without warmth, showing no sign of anomaly, then spoke bluntly:

"Actually, I've come here on a personal matter—I wish to invite you to become a guest advisor of the Zou clan, to cultivate some Gao Jie spiritual plants for our family."

"As for terms, I'll offer double what Mirror Snow Pavilion pays you, and if you have any other demands, feel free to state them."

After hearing this, Li Lan paused briefly, then politely declined: "Thank you, Elder Zou, for your generous favor."

"But I've already pledged to Young Master Lu, signed an agreement to cultivate land at Mirror Snow Pavilion for thirty years, and during that time I cannot join any other faction—I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Elder Zou."

Zou Pinghai frowned at this—he hadn't expected such an agreement existed between them, so he asked:

"Hehe! What if I can persuade Young Master Lu?"

"Would you be willing then?"

Li Lan hadn't anticipated such persistence; his refusal had already been unmistakably clear.

"This—"

Though Li Lan was now a third-rank spiritual cultivator, he dared not offend this high-ranking elder of the Shangmeng Society.

He found himself unable to decide.

"Master Li seems hesitant? Then perhaps I'll go speak with Young Master Lu first."

Before Li Lan could react, Zou Pinghai took his leave.

"Ah!" Li Lan sighed heavily.

His wife, having overheard their conversation, said anxiously: "Husband, do you think the Shangmeng Society's arrival means trouble?"

"Zou Elder's matter isn't the issue—I'm just afraid Young Master Lu will misunderstand!" Li Lan said.

Inside the Five Elements Spirit Fields.

Qin Ming was tending the spirit fields with a spirit hoe when a purple light streaked from afar and landed outside the formation.

He merely released his spiritual sense for a brief scan and recognized the visitor.

"Why has he come?" Qin Ming thought, then set down his hoe and opened the formation to greet him.

"Oh! Elder Zou's esteemed presence! My apologies for not welcoming you sooner! Please come in!" Qin Ming smiled warmly and bowed to Zou Pinghai.

Zou Pinghai's face showed no expression; he merely waved a hand indifferently. "No need. I've come to discuss something with you."

"Oh? What matter does Elder Zou wish to discuss?" Qin Ming showed a hint of surprise—he hadn't expected such a high-ranking Shangmeng Society elder to seek him out.

Zou Pinghai then recounted his interest in Li Lan to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming listened, momentarily stunned.

A Shangmeng Society elder openly poaching a cultivator was indeed brazen.

Yet the terms Zou Pinghai offered were highly tempting to both Mirror Snow Pavilion and Li Lan—undoubtedly sincere.

But—

Qin Ming had no need for such petty gains, so he smiled faintly and bowed in refusal: "I'm afraid Lu Mou must decline your kind offer, Elder Zou."

"Mirror Snow Pavilion has just acquired these two hundred mu of spirit fields and requires a third-rank spiritual cultivator like Li Lan to manage cultivation."

"We've invested considerable effort in nurturing him, so we cannot release him for now."

Zou Pinghai's expression froze.

"Hehe, if Young Master Lu has made his decision, then I won't overstay my welcome."

With that, he arrived and departed in haste, flying off immediately. Qin Ming watched his retreating figure, pondering: 'Wasn't Zou Pinghai traveling with Hua Tianxiong?'

'Why is he now interested in spiritual cultivators?'

He immediately contacted Hua Tianxiong via the Black Talisman.

"Hua Tianxiong, are you still transporting Zou Pinghai's goods?"

"Reporting to my master—I've delivered several shipments. What's wrong?"

"Is Zou Pinghai up to something?" Hua Tianxiong replied from the other end, "I've noticed he's been acting strangely lately."

"Oh? What unusual behavior?" Qin Ming asked.

"Over the past two years, Zou Pinghai has been recruiting large numbers of Gao Jie spiritual cultivators—no one knows why."

"And it has little to do with the Shangmeng Society; it seems entirely his personal affair."

"Understood. Keep watching him and report any developments immediately."

"Yes, Master!"

……

Several days later.

The Devouring Rat emerged from beneath the spirit fields, looking disgruntled. "Master, I've dug through every inch of the land below and found no Gao Jie spirit ore."

"Did the Shendao Mountain people make a mistake?"

Qin Ming replied: "Impossible. As the saying goes, no one visits the Three Treasures without reason—Shendao Mountain's two Elders wouldn't come without purpose."

He frowned, thinking for a moment, then added: "Try digging outward from the spirit fields in all directions."

The Devouring Rat nodded and immediately set off to tunnel in other directions.

Just as Qin Ming resumed his work—

Hua Tianxiong's voice came urgently through the Black Talisman.

"Master! Disaster!"

"Our caravan was ambushed near the Five Elements Mountains—Elder Zou. Elder Zou Pinghai has perished."

Qin Ming's brow shot up in shock. "What? Do you know who was responsible?"

"I—I think it was Shendao Mountain," Hua Tianxiong stammered, "A Shangmeng Society Elder's death is a major matter—this will surely be blamed on me."

"I have another piece of news: the goods Zou Pinghai had us transport were a third-rank spiritual herb called 'Fulingsao'—a large quantity. He secretly orchestrated this, and it seems tied to Shendao Mountain's control of the Four-Stage Spirit Vein in the Five Elements Mountains."

"Shendao Mountain did it?" Qin Ming pondered silently, puzzled. But he had some knowledge of this third-rank low-grade Fulingsao—it releases its entire essence upon decay, transforming into nourishment that accelerates the growth of other spiritual plants.

It was a rare type of nourishing spiritual material.

'It seems Zou Pinghai went to great lengths to gather so much Fulingsao—he's likely continuously feeding it to some specific spiritual plant.'

This piqued Qin Ming's curiosity.

The next instant, Qin Ming vanished from his spot.

Hua Tianxiong was a crucial pawn—he must be protected.

……

A stick of incense later.

Qin Ming arrived at the location Hua Tianxiong had indicated.

When he arrived, Hua Tianxiong was frantically fleeing near the Five Elements Mountains, riding alone in his Golden Throne Chariot.

Behind him, a Jin Dan cultivator pursued relentlessly. Qin Ming extended his spiritual sense and recognized the pursuer: Yun Yangzi, the Jin Dan late-stage Elder of Shendao Mountain.

(End of Chapter)