Chapter 76: Second-Rank Spiritual Seeds and Trade [Request Follow Reading]

Qin Ming blinked in surprise.

“Brother Su, if I can do it, I’ll agree.”

Seeing Qin Ming’s prompt agreement, Su Yuqing smiled playfully, pulled five seed kernels from his storage pouch, and handed them to him. “Plant these for me. I’ll take only three fruits when they mature—the rest are yours. I’m sure Brother Qin won’t find this difficult?”

Qin Ming took the seed kernels, no larger than pearls, and examined them closely. After frowning in thought for a moment, he suddenly said, “Aren’t these the seeds of the second-rank spiritual plant, Shen Yuan Fruit?”

He hadn’t expected Su Yuqing could even obtain seeds of a second-rank spiritual plant.

“Correct,” Su Yuqing nodded. “Brother Qin, you truly are a gifted spiritual cultivator—just by looking at the seed, you recognized the plant.”

Qin Ming frowned. “Brother Su, you’re leaving this place. How will I deliver the fruit to you?”

“You can entrust Gu Qing of the Mirror Snow Pavilion to deliver it for you—or if you get the chance, come find me in the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.” Su Yuqing handed him a map jade slip.

Qin Ming took the jade slip and nodded, accepting the task.

For him, cultivating a second-rank spiritual plant was no longer difficult.

“Brother Qin, what are your plans now? With your talent, staying here is a waste.” Su Yuqing asked suddenly.

Qin Ming paused, then replied, “I plan to first advance to second-rank spiritual cultivator, then free myself from Lingyu Sect’s labor obligations. After that, I’ll see.”

“Hmm, I also plan to return and find a way to achieve Foundation Establishment—otherwise, I can’t break through to second-rank alchemist.” Su Yuqing nodded.

Foundation Establishment?

A flicker of envy stirred in Qin Ming’s heart.

Qin Ming asked curiously, “Does Foundation Establishment have anything to do with breaking through to second-rank alchemist?”

“Of course,” Su Yuqing explained simply. “To refine second-rank elixirs, you must use the primordial true fire of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

Qin Ming suddenly understood.

Then Qin Ming took a hundred-jin sack of premium Beast Tooth Rice from his storage pouch and handed it to Su Yuqing. “Brother Su, I have nothing worthy to give you as a farewell gift—this is just a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”

Su Yuqing took the sack, opened it, and was immediately hit by a thick wave of spiritual energy.

“Premium Beast Tooth Rice!”

Su Yuqing grabbed a handful, rubbed it gently, and grinned with delight. “I never expected such a generous gift from Brother Qin—I won’t refuse.”

Qin Ming smiled. Compared to the alchemical knowledge Su Yuqing had shared, this rice meant little.

“Alright, it’s getting late—I won’t be formal. I’ve already informed the Office of Affairs. You can take over my hut in the Slum District anytime.”

“Brother Qin, may we meet again. I hope the next time we meet, you’ll be a second-rank spiritual cultivator.”

“Brother Su, may the Dao endure forever.”

With that, Su Yuqing bowed to Qin Ming and took his leave. Qin Ming watched him go from afar until his figure vanished.

He had bid farewell to a man who had been both teacher and friend to him.

…

Qingyang Marketplace.

Qin Ming returned to Juxuan Pavilion.

Liao the Shopkeeper had long known today was the day of the rice harvest.

He had specially changed into a bright red brocade robe and waited at the shop’s entrance, glancing left and right.

When he saw Qin Ming approaching, his face lit up with a warm smile, and he hurried out to greet him.

“Brother Qin, you’ve arrived.”

Qin Ming smiled faintly. “The rice just ripened—I came right away. After all, I signed an agreement with your pavilion.”

“Good, good, excellent! Hahaha!”

“Brother Qin, please follow me—our Pavilion Master will receive you personally.” Liao the Shopkeeper invited.

Soon after,

Qin Ming followed Liao’s steps to the seventh-floor private chamber of Juxuan Pavilion.

Gu Qingzhao stepped out from within, her starlit eyes smiling. “Congratulations, Brother Qin, on further refining your spiritual cultivation skills!” Qin Ming chuckled. “Not yet. After this transaction, I still need to attend the promotion exam at the Office of Affairs.”

“With your talent, the promotion exam shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Gu Qingzhao offered a rare smile.

“Come, Brother Qin, let me treat you to our newly arrived Gao Jie Lingwu Tea.”

This time, Liao the Shopkeeper didn’t hurry to leave—he clearly wanted to see what premium Beast Tooth Rice looked like.

He personally brewed tea and poured water for both of them.

After some small talk, Qin Ming sensed Gu Qingzhao was growing impatient. He took out the premium Beast Tooth Rice and placed it in the center of the room—six large sacks in total.

Gu Qingzhao’s eyes brightened with delight as she rose to open one sack.

Instantly, a mist of spiritual aura glowed upon her cheeks, the rich energy soothing and invigorating.

She murmured in astonishment, “This… this isn’t premium Beast Tooth Rice.”

“It’s—premium Beast Tooth Rice!”

Liao the Shopkeeper rushed over to look, speechless with shock.

Long silence followed.

Qin Ming spoke. “Six hundred jin total. I kept a bit over a hundred jin for myself.”

“Brother Gu, please verify.”

Liao the Shopkeeper finally came to his senses, pulled out a large measuring device, weighed it all, and exclaimed excitedly to Gu Qingzhao, “Pavilion Master! It’s correct—six hundred jin! Six hundred jin of premium Beast Tooth Rice!”

Gradually, Gu Qingzhao’s astonishment turned to joy.

She smiled warmly at Qin Ming. “I never imagined you’d grow premium Beast Tooth Rice—this pavilion has truly benefited.”

“Here’s what I’ll do: premium Beast Tooth Rice is exceedingly rare on the market. I’ll add extra spirit stones.”

“I’ll buy this batch at twenty spirit stones per jin.”

Qin Ming had no objection and nodded promptly.

Gu Qingzhao’s expression brightened. With this batch of premium Beast Tooth Rice, her branch of the Mirror Snow Pavilion would surely become famous throughout the Yunze Wildlands.

“Here are twelve thousand spirit stones.”

“Brother Qin, please count them.”

Qin Ming cleared his throat. To receive such a sum at once, he couldn’t pretend he wasn’t excited.

This was the result of two years of hard farming—how many times had he cast the Advanced Spiritual Rain Art?

Still, he couldn’t show his emotion here. He kept his demeanor calm, glanced casually at the pile, and said lightly, “I trust your word, Brother Gu.”

He quickly used his spiritual sense to count them, confirmed their accuracy, and stored them in his storage pouch.

Gu Qingzhao’s eyes gleamed brighter. She took out a purple jade tablet and handed it to Qin Ming. “This is our Mirror Snow Pavilion’s High-Level VIP identification token. You now qualify to possess it.”

Qin Ming took the purple jade tablet and asked curiously, “What’s the use of this token?”

Liao the Shopkeeper stepped forward to explain. “Brother Qin, you may not know—this Huang-class Xue token is only granted to cultivators recognized by our pavilion.”

“With it, you may prioritize access to resources—even classified cultivation-world intelligence.”

“And you receive a twenty percent discount.”

Qin Ming hadn’t expected the token to have such power. He immediately tucked it away and said to Gu Qingzhao, “Then thank you, Brother Gu—I won’t refuse.”

The transaction was complete.

“I still need to go to the Office of Affairs for the Senior Spiritual Cultivator promotion exam. I’ll take my leave, Brothers.” Qin Ming bid farewell.

Gu Qingzhao smiled gently. “Such a momentous occasion as your promotion to Senior Spiritual Cultivator—I’d like to witness it. I’ll accompany you.”

“Exactly,” Liao the Shopkeeper chimed in. “Senior Spiritual Cultivators are exceedingly rare—I’d like to see it too.”

Qin Ming blinked slightly, then smiled. “Then let’s go together.”

(End of Chapter)