Chapter 553: Invitation to the Banquet

Several months passed.

The deaths of two Elders from Shendao Mountain caused the entire Da Jin cultivation world to become tense and fearful.

Fortunately, Shendao Mountain did not take any extreme actions over this.

Qin Ming knew this was because Shendao Mountain had grander ambitions, directing all its energy toward the secret realm beneath Wuxing Mountain and wishing to avoid unnecessary complications.

As a result,

even after losing two Elders in succession—one of whom was a Nascent Soul seed—Shendao Mountain did not launch major attacks against the other two major factions.

It was clear that, to monopolize this Qingyuan Sect secret realm, Shendao Mountain had chosen greater caution and restraint.

One month later,

Qin Ming received word from Hua Tianxiong that Shendao Mountain was once again recruiting Gao Jie spirit cultivators.

They had also begun urgently planting third-rank Rotting Spirit Grass to prepare Spirit Eye Liquid, accelerating the blooming of the Seven Marvelous Treasure Tree.

Still, Qin Ming had followed the Shitian Mouse through its burrow to inspect the site in person.

According to Shendao Mountain's crude method, it would likely take another hundred years of irrigation with spirit liquid before the tree would bloom.

"It seems this secret realm of Wuxing Mountain remains safe—for now, before other factions discover it."

"But the cultivation world is ever-changing; Shendao Mountain will likely struggle to conceal this secret indefinitely."

"When that happens, chaos will surely erupt again."

Qin Ming silently pondered, already foreseeing the coming upheaval.

…

Within the two-hundred-mu spirit field of Wuxing Mountain,

entirely new spirit plants had been planted, and dozens of spirit farmers from Jingxue Pavilion labored under the blazing sun in the fields.

This season's crops consisted entirely of second-rank high-grade and above spirit plants, as well as Gao Jie spirit rice.

The hundred mu under Li Lan's care were planted entirely with third-rank Jade Emperor Spirit Rice, though its growth cycle was exceptionally long.

In Qin Ming's ten mu of supreme spirit vein fields, he had planted a third-rank upper-grade spirit plant called "Tianluo Fruit," the primary ingredient for crafting "Tianluo Powder."

Tianluo Fruit was originally native to the southern frontier; due to the region's unique climate and geography, it was nearly impossible to grow elsewhere in Da Jin.

Tianluo Powder was a life-saving elixir, specifically effective against removing all poisons and malevolent spirits—even if one suffered extreme toxicity, consuming this treasure medicine could restore them to full health in a short time.

Yet as a third-rank upper-grade spirit plant, Tianluo Fruit was extremely difficult to cultivate, even within Shendao Mountain it was exceedingly rare.

The Tianluo Fruit seeds Qin Ming possessed had been found in Wen Yuliang's storage bag.

Qin Ming had carefully considered planting this spirit plant.

Although Shendao Mountain had hidden the Qingyuan Sect secret realm deeply for now, exposure was inevitable.

All factions would inevitably engage in bloody competition; at that time, this life-saving medicine would become a scarce resource.

He chose to cultivate Tianluo Fruit for two reasons: first, Tianluo Powder could fetch an extremely high price even from Jin Dan cultivators.

Second, this medicine specifically cured all poisons and malevolent spirits; even without refinement, direct consumption was effective, and most cultivators in the southern frontier excelled in poison and witchcraft.

It would surely become an irreplaceable life-saving treasure, a bestseller, allowing him to make a fortune.

After half a year of cultivation, Qin Ming's fields had sprouted dark green seedlings of Tianluo Fruit.

Within the ten mu of fields, three golden terms appeared in Qin Ming's vision.

【Name】: Tianluo Fruit 【Term】: Blood Qi Source x5 (Maturity 2%) 【Name】: Tianluo Fruit 【Term】: Magic Power Source x5 (Maturity 1%) 【Name】: Tianluo Fruit 【Term】: Regenerative Spirit Seed x5 (Maturity 2%) During this time, Qin Ming had also been studying the Heavy Water Pearl treasure he obtained from Wen Yuliang.

This artifact, capable of altering gravitational space, was something he had never encountered before.

It could also absorb and devour magic power and spiritual sense. Wen Yuliang had studied it for two hundred years and likely only unlocked a fraction of its power.

Qin Ming stored away the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water Pearl; it might prove immensely useful in the future.

In the spirit fields,

Li Lan, seeing Qin Ming effortlessly cultivate ten mu of Tianluo Fruit, grew even more awed by "Lu Shopkeeper."

He became even more certain that Qin Ming was a hidden master of spirit cultivation.

"Lu Shopkeeper, your expertise in spirit cultivation is truly extraordinary. As far as I know, Tianluo Fruit is notoriously difficult to grow—it only naturally thrives deep within the southern frontier mountains and demands an extremely demanding environment."

"Yet you've cultivated it for the first time and achieved such astonishing survival rates—even among spirit cultivation sects across the southern frontier, few could match this. Hahaha!" Li Lan said respectfully, standing beside the field.

Previously, Zou Pinghai of the Wanda Trading Alliance had personally come to recruit him; after Li Lan refused, Zou Pinghai went to speak with Lu Shopkeeper.

He had feared Lu Shopkeeper might harbor resentment, but over the past half-year, Lu Shopkeeper had not only blamed him not at all, but occasionally offered guidance on cultivating Jade Emperor Spirit Rice.

This deeply moved Li Lan.

Qin Ming didn't care—the man who had brazenly come to recruit him, Zou Pinghai, had already been eliminated by Shendao Mountain.

The Wanda Trading Alliance had even stormed Shendao Mountain over the matter, unaware that Zou Pinghai had been a mole planted by Shendao Mountain in their upper echelons; his death was, in fact, entirely beneficial to the Wanda Trading Alliance.

Qin Ming had no interest in these power struggles among great factions and refused to get involved—he only wished to cultivate his fields in peace.

Thus, he said nothing.

"In another ten years, the Demon Flame Wine will be fully brewed; then I can break through to Jin Dan Completion."

"At that time, I'll gather the materials needed for the Ning Ying Pill and Bingxin Jade Soul Pill, find a quiet place to refine them, and strive for the Nascent Soul realm—surviving the Heart Demon Tribulation will be the correct path."

"All this fighting and scrambling in the cultivation world—seeking secret realms and treasures—simply isn't suited to me."

"As long as I keep farming, I can steadily improve. Though the opportunities within secret realms are great, why risk it?"

…

One day, Qin Ming was tending his spirit fields.

The Shitian Mouse came running in joyfully from outside; seeing no one around, it shrank its form, climbed onto Qin Ming's shoulder, and grinned: "Master, good news has arrived! Hehe!"

"Oh? What good news now?" Qin Ming paused his work and turned to ask.

"We're invited to a feast again!" the Shitian Mouse said, eyes gleaming.

Qin Ming was surprised: "A feast? What feast?"

"Little Silver Fox has come—Lady Yue Lingyan of the Fox Clan will hold her Ascension to Demon Saint ceremony next month and has sent a special invitation for you to attend."

"She's waiting outside the spirit fields right now; she asks you to come over."

Qin Ming pondered: "A demon clan's grand ceremony… inviting a human like me? Isn't that inappropriate?"

"Little Silver Fox was about to explain this to you," said the Shitian Mouse.

Qin Ming nodded: "Alright, let's go meet her."

Moments later, Qin Ming followed the Shitian Mouse to the Shouming Mountain outside the spirit fields.

Little Silver Fox leapt down from a tree, her three fluffy tails swaying as she stepped gracefully forward and bowed to Qin Ming: "Your humble servant greets Elder Qin."

Qin Ming smiled warmly: "No need for formalities."

Little Silver Fox immediately opened her mouth and produced a green spirit jade leaf, handing it to Qin Ming:

"Next month, Mother will host the Demon Saint ceremony at Muxia Mountain and has ordered me to invite Elder Qin to attend the banquet."

Qin Ming took the spirit jade leaf and saw it bore Lady Yue Lingyan's own calligraphy as the invitation.

(End of Chapter)