Chapter 597: Guests of the Spirit Field

Qin Ming looked at the Devouring Sky Rat, looking mysteriously secretive.

He put down the Shen Nong hoe and couldn't help smiling as he asked:

"Who's here?"

"Why are you so delighted?"

The Devouring Sky Rat winked and grinned at Qin Ming: "It's Elder Yue Lingyan of the Silver Moon Tianhu Clan, come with Little Silver Fox to visit you, hehehe!"

"Oh? So it's Yue Lingyan herself who came?" Qin Ming was genuinely surprised.

"Say what you will, but why are you winking at me like that?"

"Why don't you go welcome them in right away?"

The Devouring Sky Rat scratched his scalp and replied: "It's because you and Elder Lingyan are so close—you've even hugged each other."

"What nonsense are you spouting? Are you trying to say you need more labor?" Qin Ming ruffled the Devouring Sky Rat's head.

"Alright, alright, I'll go fetch them right away, Master."

At that moment:

"No need, Qin Daoist, I've already arrived."

As a clear, melodious voice echoed:

A noble, beautiful woman in a palace gown appeared suddenly above the spirit field, like an immortal stepping out of a painting, cradling a pure white little silver fox.

The spirit farmers working below looked up and, seeing such an otherworldly beauty, were utterly spellbound.

Their farming tools slipped from their hands and fell to the ground.

Old Jia rushed out, equally stunned.

But what shocked him was the visitor's cultivation base—utterly unfathomable.

Even with his Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivation, he couldn't sense a single hint of her power.

That meant only one possibility:

This woman, with her transcendent aura, was likely a high-ranking cultivator—possibly even a Jin Dan cultivator, perhaps even mid-Jin Dan.

But even more astonishing was what came next: such a stunning elder appeared as if she had known Lu Mou for years, speaking with intimate familiarity—this was beyond belief, outside the spirit field.

"Hehe! Elder Lingyan has come! Please step inside for a chat. Why didn't you let me know ahead of time? I'd have come out to greet you." Qin Ming smiled and bowed.

"Qin Daoist, no need for such formality."

Yue Lingyan descended gracefully and followed Qin Ming into his room.

Qin Ming first brewed her a pot of premium Snow Soul Spirit Tea, then served the little silver fox and the Devouring Sky Rat some spirit fruits, snacks, and spirit wine.

Only then did he turn to Yue Lingyan and ask with a faint smile: "Elder Lingyan, you've come all this way—what brings you?"

Yue Lingyan gave a knowing, graceful smile. "Must I have a reason to visit Qin Daoist and catch up?"

"Hehe! Of course not—your visit is most welcome, Elder Lingyan."

After a long pause:

Yue Lingyan took a small sip of the Snow Soul Spirit Tea, then softly added: "Actually, Qin Ming is right—I did come to inquire about something."

"Oh? What would Elder Lingyan like to know? I'll answer without reservation," Qin Ming declared confidently.

But the next question Yue Lingyan asked instantly left him speechless.

"I'd like to ask, Qin Daoist—do you know how the Blood Refining Sect's Holy Son died?"

Qin Ming's face twitched. Could he tell her directly that Jiang Yuan had been killed by him? Obviously not.

Jiang Yuan's corpse had already been buried as fertilizer. Qin Ming feigned surprise, then replied calmly: "Ah, that matter? To be honest, I've heard rumors, but I don't know the details."

"I've sent people to investigate."

"But I can tell you about other things."

Then:

Qin Ming recounted every detail of recent events in the southern reaches of Great Jin.

"Hmm. I heard about this from the Ancient Mountain Spirit Sage and others, so I came to confirm it myself."

"So the Blood Refining Sect's Holy Son truly perished. It seems the Five Elements Mountains truly harbor hidden dragons and tigers."

"I also heard the Holy Son was nearly at the Nascent Soul realm."

"Only a Nascent Soul cultivator could have annihilated him so swiftly."

Yue Lingyan frowned slightly, then added:

"With the Holy Son's death, the balance here will shift drastically. Qin Daoist, be cautious."

Qin Ming smiled lightly: "Thank you for the warning—I have some means of self-preservation. Elder Lingyan need not worry."

"Besides, I plan to move to the central lands of Great Jin after this season's spirit crop harvest."

"That's excellent," Yue Lingyan nodded.

Then Qin Ming chatted with her, catching up and exchanging insights on cultivation.

In the spirit field:

The spirit farmers and Li Lan all gathered around Old Jia, their faces filled with envy as they asked:

"Master Jia, who was that heavenly beauty just now?"

"She clearly knows Lu Mou well! Hehehe!"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

"But she's clearly a Jin Dan elder."

"If Lu Mou can win her over, our Mirror Snow Pavilion will rise completely!"

"Shoo, shoo! Why are you prying?"

"Go back to your farming."

As the crowd buzzed with speculation:

Suddenly!

The nearby space rippled like water, then began to violently tremble.

Not knowing what was happening, everyone immediately summoned their magic power to brace themselves.

At that moment, a green lightning streak shot from afar—the overwhelming spiritual pressure made every cultivator present turn pale.

The green aura ignored the outer protective arrays and plunged directly into the sky above the spirit field.

When the aura dissipated, a young man in a green robe stood there, his face refined and delicate.

The instant he appeared, the spirit farmers and Old Jia trembled violently and collapsed to the ground.

"What?! A Nascent Soul True Person!"

Fear filled the faces of these low-level cultivators!

They couldn't fathom how such a top-tier cultivator—a legendary figure—could appear here. Legends said Nascent Soul elders were capricious, acting purely on whim; one misstep, and they'd be reduced to ash, their cultivation and lives obliterated.

The young man in green made no effort to conceal his magic power. Even if they couldn't gauge his exact realm, they could guess it clearly.

The visitor was the Cold Crow Elder. He had suffered a great loss in his last transaction with Qin Ming and had come to reclaim his dignity.

And to properly chastise this insolent upstart.

The door to the side house opened.

Qin Ming stepped out—he had sensed the commotion.

He walked to the edge of the spirit field, bowed respectfully to the sky, and smiled: "If it isn't Elder Cold Crow gracing us with your presence! I apologize for not greeting you sooner."

"Hmph! You dare speak?" The green-robed youth snorted, then vanished from midair.

He reappeared instantly, standing right before Qin Ming.

He glared at Qin Ming with displeasure, ready to bring up old grievances and give him a proper scolding.

But then:

"Qin Daoist, a guest has come—why not invite them inside for a chat?" The Cold Crow Elder's gaze shifted past Qin Ming, landing on the palace-gowned woman within.

In the next instant:

His pupils shrank sharply.

'A fourth-stage transformed spirit sage!'

In that moment, the Cold Crow Elder's heart churned like a stormy sea.

'How is this possible?'

'How could this boy be with such a great demon?'

Even in his prime, the Cold Crow Elder would have no chance against a fourth-stage transformed spirit sage—he'd be dead.

Once a demon clan ascends to spirit sage status, their power typically exceeds that of human cultivators by one full realm—equivalent to mid-Nascent Soul.

And the Cold Crow Elder was not at full strength. This palace-gowned female spirit sage seemed to have an extraordinary background—possibly far beyond an ordinary spirit sage. Originally, he had come to reclaim his honor.

Now, faced with this situation, he was caught between retreat and confrontation.

Humans and demons were sworn enemies, locked in constant conflict.

If this transformed spirit sage attacked him, death was certain—yet—

The Cold Crow Elder, a seasoned veteran of the cultivation world, instantly devised a plan.

He forced a hollow laugh: "Hehe! Then I shall not refuse your kind invitation."

The Cold Crow Elder abandoned his arrogance and suppressed his spiritual pressure.

The crushing spiritual weight lifted from the crowd like a receding tide, and Old Jia and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

The successive arrivals of such great figures had shattered the Mirror Snow Pavilion's worldview.

They were dazed, trembling, utterly overwhelmed.

Qin Ming ushered the Cold Crow Immortal into the house.

"Senior Cold Crow, please try the Snow Soul tea I grew myself."

After entering the house, the Cold Crow Immortal discovered two third-rank great demons inside, eating fruit and drinking spiritual wine—one of them even a semi-cultivated King of the Devouring Sky Rat, at late-stage third rank.

When his gaze fell upon the little silver fox, his heart suddenly cleared—he immediately turned to Yue Lingyan and asked cautiously, "Could it be… that you are the newly ascended Fox Great Sage of the demonic clans, from several years ago?"

"Correct. It is this palace," Yue Lingyan said after sipping her tea, glancing at the Cold Crow Immortal with a cool gaze.

"Are you the Cold Crow Daoist of the Great Zhou's Xuanqing Temple?"

"Indeed. This old man has never dealt with demonic clan Daoists before—my apologies, my apologies!" The Cold Crow Immortal shuddered, bowing respectfully to Yue Lingyan.

Seeing this scene, Qin Ming sighed inwardly: in the cultivation world, strength truly reigned supreme wherever you went.

Even a Nascent Soul True Person like the Cold Crow Immortal now appeared timid before Yue Lingyan.

Completely opposite to his earlier arrogant, swaggering arrival.

Humble and reserved.

Gentle yet courteous.

"May I ask, Senior Cold Crow, what brings you here today?"

At this, the Cold Crow Immortal's face twitched.

Any normal person could see that "Manager Lu" and this Fox Great Sage had an extraordinary relationship.

Otherwise, how could they be sitting together, sipping tea and chatting merrily?

"Haha! Manager Lu, you jest. What guidance could this old man possibly offer?"

"Last time, thanks to your trade of the Nine Yang Soul-Continuing Elixir, this old man regained his life."

"I am deeply grateful, so I came specifically to thank you in person."

"Cough! That is the only reason—no other intent."

After speaking, the Cold Crow Immortal withdrew an item from his storage pouch and placed it gently before Qin Ming.

As he pulled his hand back, one could sense his inner agony—Qin Ming looked closely and saw a small packet of spirit rice radiating astonishing spiritual essence.

"Fourth-rank low-grade Phoenix Blood Spirit Rice!"

Even Qin Ming couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

He had just happened to see this type of high-grade spirit rice mentioned on a jade slip in Jiang Yuan's bookshelf.

"Manager Lu, you truly conceal your depth—you recognize this rice without needing my introduction, haha!" The Cold Crow Immortal's heart bled.

"Senior Cold Crow, as the saying goes, one does not receive gifts without merit."

"The matter before was a fair trade—you owe Qin Mou nothing."

"But I never expected that a land said to possess phoenix blood crimson gold might occasionally produce phoenix blood spiritual rice—so the rumors were true after all."

"Still, I never expected that the legendary land bearing Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold might produce Phoenix Blood Spirit Rice—so the rumors were true," Qin Ming said politely.

Fair trade?

Hearing those four words, the Cold Crow Immortal fell silent.

"Manager Lu, your knowledge is truly exceptional—you know the origin of this rice so well," the Cold Crow Immortal said, slightly surprised. "These two spiritual items were found by chance on an island in the Outer Seas."

"This is merely a small token of my gratitude—Manager Lu, please do not refuse!"

"Otherwise, refusing back and forth would be embarrassing before this Fox Daoist."

"Very well. Thank you, Senior Cold Crow—I shall not refuse your kindness."

Qin Ming waved his hand toward the table, and the packet of spirit rice vanished, absorbed into his storage pouch.

"Come, Senior Cold Crow—try this Jade Lin Wine. I brewed it myself; it has quite a flavor."

Qin Ming never expected someone would voluntarily bring him treasures while he sat at home—his spirits soared.

He inwardly marveled: "This Cold Crow Immortal is truly a good person."

Afterwards,

the three raised their cups, drank heartily, and exchanged words freely.

After half a day, the Cold Crow Immortal realized Yue Lingyan, though a demonic clan member, held no ill will toward human cultivators, and he finally relaxed.

Otherwise, his Nascent Soul would have been a prime nourishment for a Great Sage.

The young man in the blue robe, Master Han Ya, rose and took his leave from Qin Ming and the other: "Time is about up. I've enjoyed speaking with both of you today—I'll take my leave first."

The green-robed youth, the Cold Crow Immortal, rose and bowed to Qin Ming and the others: "Time has passed. Today's conversation with you two has been most enjoyable—I shall take my leave."

"Manager Qin, thank you for your hospitality. The Jade Lin Wine is truly excellent—it ranks among the top three spiritual wines I've ever tasted."

"When I have time, I shall come again for more of your wine, haha!"

Qin Ming immediately withdrew a jar of Jade Lin Wine as a return gift. "Senior Cold Crow, you jest—this humble spirit wine cannot compare to your generous gift."

The Cold Crow Immortal accepted the wine, his face twitching again—he longed to flee this place of sorrow. "No need to see me off."

"Mountains remain green, waters flow forever—until we meet again."

In an instant, ripples surged around the Cold Crow Immortal, and his figure vanished above the spirit fields.

Master Han Ya's refined face instantly twisted into another expression as he muttered curses under his breath: "What bad luck! This kid's got bad energy for me—I'll never wish to see him again."

the Cold Crow Immortal's handsome face twisted into a scowl as he muttered curses: "What bad luck! This brat is cursed against me—I'll never meet him again."

"In just a few days, I've given away three fourth-rank spiritual items."

"If I keep this up, the last of Xuanqing Temple's wealth will be donated to him."

"Sigh! I truly shouldn't have left my quarters lately—everything I do ends in disaster!"

"I must return and settle down properly."

……

(End of Chapter)