Chapter 7: The Visit of Daoist Long

Qin Ming silently pondered.

It seemed the Liao Shopkeeper's connections were no ordinary matter—he could get advance news about upper echelons of the Immortal Realm sects.

Cultivating a good relationship with him might not be a bad thing.

"Thank you for informing me, Liao Shopkeeper."

"But is there anything else?" Qin Ming asked.

The Liao Shopkeeper smiled faintly, then said with deep implication: "Heh, Qin Daoist really is humble!"

"I have an impolite request: when the Beast Fang Rice matures in two years, could you sell some to my shop?"

"Our pavilion will buy it at ten percent above market price."

Qin Ming was startled—this was barely a few days, and the other party already knew this.

"Liao Shopkeeper truly has extraordinary reach—even matters in my spirit field can't escape your notice," Qin Ming said, not immediately agreeing.

"I've planted the Beast Fang Rice seeds, but I can't guarantee they'll mature and be harvested in two years."

So this was it—the Liao Shopkeeper had just paid him for spirit rice at the new higher price, while also revealing numerous details about the Spirit Feather Sect.

He was essentially trying to buy out Qin Ming's entire "Beast Fang Rice" supply channel for the cost of twenty or thirty extra spirit stones.

No wonder he was a seasoned business veteran!

"Of course, if Qin Daoist has other conditions, we can certainly discuss them!" The Liao Shopkeeper observed Qin Ming's reaction and immediately poured him tea.

"You're so young, yet you've already achieved such mastery in spirit cultivation—surely you're exceptionally gifted. Harvesting Beast Fang Rice is surely a sure thing."

After a moment's thought, Qin Ming suddenly changed the subject: "Does your pavilion sell any body-refining techniques?"

The Liao Shopkeeper instantly understood.

He immediately pulled out several body-refining techniques and introduced them one by one: "The Nine Revolutions Returning Yang Art—a top-tier body-refining technique, cultivable all the way to Foundation Establishment, supremely yang and forceful, priced at three thousand spirit stones."

Qin Ming smirked inwardly: 'The technique is good, but the price is outrageous.'

"The Ming King Tempering Scripture—can open 270 acupoints throughout the body, condense true罡, a high-tier body-refining technique, priced at one thousand spirit stones."

"The Golden Strength Forging Soul Art—a mid-tier body-refining technique, takes thirty years of cultivation to reach minor accomplishment, priced at five hundred spirit stones."

…

After exhausting himself explaining, the Liao Shopkeeper drank some tea and continued: "The Heavenly Calamity Summoning Demon Scripture—eighty spirit stones."

"Wait a moment!"

"Shopkeeper, please elaborate on this technique."

"The Heavenly Calamity Summoning Demon Scripture? Hmm—this technique is excellent!"

"Sounds very positive! I'll take it!"

The Liao Shopkeeper: "."

Qin Ming pondered for a long while, then made up his mind decisively.

"This is a demonic technique—anyone who cultivates it will be hunted down by all," said the Liao Shopkeeper.

"Then why are you selling it to me?"

"My apologies—I grabbed the wrong one."

"."

An hour later.

Qin Ming left the Juxuan Pavilion.

The techniques the Liao Shopkeeper had offered were either far beyond Qin Ming's current wealth, or required decades of cultivation to show results.

Desperate for a method—he could only stare helplessly.

But in the end, the Liao Shopkeeper still pointed him toward a clear path.

"Qin Daoist, in the eastern district of Qingyang Market, there is a Ruan family whose fortunes have declined; their ancestral lineage possesses a body-refining technique."

"I once offered one hundred spirit stones to buy it, but that Ruan Daoist refused outright, insisting he'd only sell it if I added some blood-boosting pills or herbs."

"I thought it wasn't worth it."

"Perhaps you could try your luck there."

"But don't hold out too much hope."

The Liao Shopkeeper's implication was clear: Qin Ming currently had Beast Fang Rice on the verge of success—if offered as a bonus, it might sway the other party.

In return for this information, he had agreed to sell a portion of the Beast Fang Rice to Juxuan Pavilion once it matured.

The deal was concluded.

Both parties were delighted.

He had just stepped out the door.

When he encountered a large patrol squad from the Spirit Feather Sect, rushing urgently toward the market's outer gates.

They were fully armed and alert, radiating an intimidating aura.

"Hello, Daoist—could you tell me what's happening?" Qin Ming casually asked a bystander.

"They say they're going to kill a beast?"

"But don't worry—our market's interior is perfectly safe; even a Foundation Establishment beast can't break through the second-tier defensive array."

"Just don't wander around."

Qin Ming fell into thought.

He then followed the Liao Shopkeeper's directions and went to the Ruan family in the eastern district.

But when he arrived, he found the Ruan family's gate tightly shut.

A nearby cultivator told him the Ruan Daoist had gone out on business and wouldn't return for three or four months.

Qin Ming sighed helplessly and decided to come back later…

Back in the shantytown.

Evening.

Inside the house, Qin Ming was preparing dinner.

Somewhat distracted.

The market district of Qingyang is quite safe, but the protective formation's range doesn't extend to their shantytown! "Knock knock knock!"

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

Qin Ming opened the door warily.

The visitor turned out to be Daoist Long.

Rare indeed, a truly uncommon guest!

"Daoist Qin, I heard the yield and quality of your spirit rice are both quite good. I'd like to purchase some from you."

Daoist Long got straight to the point.

Qin Ming deliberated briefly, then forced a slight smile: "That's right, the spirit rice yield has been decent lately, but most of it has already been sold."

Daoist Long's brow furrowed at this, but he still said in a mild tone: "May I ask how much spirit rice you still have on hand, Daoist Qin? I'll take however much you have, all at the market price."

"Daoist Long, I've heard that in the next couple of days, spirit rice prices in the market will rise by around fifty percent," Qin Ming said with slight hesitation.

Although he didn't really want to offend this late-stage Qi Refining cultivator before him, he also didn't want to be taken advantage of for nothing.

Daoist Long clearly paused. He couldn't help but start sizing up Qin Ming—the news of the spirit rice price increase was known to very few.

Although it would be made public in a few days, within the Qingyang market district, only a small circle of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators and a few factions had grasped it.

"Daoist Qin, your information is quite well-informed."

"In that case, then let's do this—I'll purchase at the post-increase price. How does that sound?" Daoist Long said decisively.

Qin Ming nodded in agreement upon hearing this: "I currently have about fifty catties of stock left to sell, no more than that. You'll have to wait until next season."

The spirit rice transaction was completed.

Daoist Long took his leave in haste.

Qin Ming didn't dare truly offend the man to death.

After all, the nearby alleys were all under his protection.

"Sigh, even late-stage Qi Refining cultivators are starting to make preparations. Looks like the heavens really are about to change."

"The rise in spirit rice prices is a good thing for me."

"But it also means the surrounding environment is getting worse and worse."

……

Qin Ming ate a meal of spirit rice.

He went to the bedroom, sat cross-legged on the rush cushion on the bed, and began circulating the "Eternal Spring Art."

In his consciousness sea, two "Faint Magic Power" entries remained.

"Today is the day!"

At a thought from Qin Ming, one "Faint Magic Power" entry vanished.

The magic power surging from his dantian began running through the circuit again and again.

Continuously scouring and widening the meridians.

Finally!

Boom! When the magic power in Qin Ming's dantian accumulated to a certain critical point—

A thin membrane seemed to be torn open.

"Qi Refining Stage Three!"

The magic power fluctuation on Qin Ming's body rose by a notch.

"Hoo—"

Qin Ming exhaled a breath of turbid air.

"How many years has it been? Finally, I don't have to be stuck in Qi Refining Stage Two anymore."

He couldn't help but sigh with emotion, realizing that in this little over a year, he himself had undergone quite a few changes.

'As long as I develop steadily, Foundation Establishment isn't impossible.'

Qin Ming felt the Eternal Spring spiritual power in his dantian, which had grown by nearly double.

Amid his joy, he didn't get carried away: "Qi Refining Stage Three is still unstable. I still need to raise my strength as soon as possible."

"The Immortal Realm's winds and clouds shift unpredictably. Those at the bottom of Qi Refining are like cannon fodder—at the very least, one needs Foundation Establishment to barely hold one's ground. My fate must ultimately be in my own hands."

Living under someone else's roof now brings many inconveniences.

And one can be swept into the whirlpool of sect struggles at any time, unable to act of one's own will.

To be exempted from Lingyu Gate's corvée duties and regain one's freedom, only one of three conditions needs to be met.

First, one's cultivation must break through to Foundation Establishment.

Second, any one of the hundred arts of cultivation must advance to second-tier proficiency.

Third, any one type of Foundation Establishment resource must be paid up.

He understood that he too had to work toward these three directions.

And next—

Breaking through from Qi Refining Stage Three to Stage Four—

For Qin Ming, would be a tremendous test.

Qi Refining Stage Four marked a cultivator's entry into mid-Qi Refining.

It was the first true bottleneck in cultivation in the strict sense.

It was countless times more difficult than when he had just broken through to the third layer of Qi Condensation.

……

Ten days later.

Within the Qingyang Market and in most of the shantytowns on its periphery, cultivators had all learned the news that daily necessities such as spirit rice and meat had skyrocketed in price.

The prices of spiritual tools, pills, and talismans were also rising one after another.

Ever since Qin Ming had planted the 'Beast Tooth Rice,' the overseer Du Haifu had gradually increased the frequency of his patrols around this particular spirit field.

With recent times being quite unsettled, he had specifically added more personnel to patrol the surroundings of the spirit field.

During this period, aside from casting the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique to increase the fertility of the spirit field,

Qin Ming was immersed in studying knowledge related to spirit planting.

Beyond that, he needed to find a suitable body-refining cultivation method.

Qin Ming's 'Beast Tooth Rice' had not yet matured, so there was no rushing it for the time being.

In the blink of an eye,

three months had passed.

Inside the spirit field,

perhaps Qin Ming had exhausted all his luck during this period.

In the four mu of Golden Spirit Rice fields for the second season, he had only harvested two entries of 'Faint Magic Power.'

Fortunately, however,

after breaking through to the third layer of the Qi Condensation stage, Qin Ming's magic power had doubled, so he would no longer face the previous situation where his magic power failed to sustain him when casting the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique.

The yield of the second season's Golden Spirit Rice also reached a new high, exceeding nine dan.

This time, after paying the spirit rice tax, Qin Ming did not rush to sell the remainder.

Instead, he kept a larger portion in storage for any unforeseen needs.

Shopkeeper Liao wanted to take advantage of the price surge to acquire more.

Qin Ming had long since prepared an excuse.

He recounted to him the matter of Fellow Daoist Long requesting to purchase spirit rice.

Recently, the price of spirit rice within the market had soared continuously, with the increase exceeding sixty percent of the original price.

Qin Ming had also made a small fortune.

The spirit stones in his storage bag had, for the first time, broken through the threshold of one hundred and fifty pieces.

He then purchased another low-grade Jin Guang Body-Protection Talisman and a low-grade spiritual weapon, the Cyan Spirit Sword, from Shopkeeper Liao, spending another twenty-five spirit stones.

"In these times, one can't get by without some equipment for self-defense."

(End of Chapter)