Chapter 81: Pursuit and a Way Out

Amidst the clouds.

Qin Ming let out an excited, long whistle.

At this very moment, he felt an indescribable sense of relief and joy.

The feeling of not having to rely on others turned out to be so wonderful.

He next planned to find Gu Qingzhao to see if he could board the Mirror Snow Pavilion's dharma boat and leave this chaotic region of Yunze Dahuang.

Qin Ming piloted the Spirit-Light Shuttle, looking down at the scenery rushing past below.

Memories constantly surged in his mind of the bitter journey since being exiled here as a spirit farmer, all still vivid as if it happened yesterday.

Now that he had become a second-tier spirit planter, he could be a honored guest of any power faction wherever he went.

However.

Qin Ming still decided to find a place with abundant spiritual energy to farm alone, develop steadily, and plan for Foundation Establishment.

Suddenly!

Just as he was silently pondering.

Qin Ming's powerful divine sense detected two cultivators with formidable magic power chasing him from behind!

"They are at the Foundation Establishment stage!"

His heart immediately tightened; he didn't need to think to know what was happening.

Qin Ming spread his divine sense again and discovered that a few hundred zhang behind him, it was indeed Elder Gu of the Spirit Feather Sect and another Foundation Establishment elder, both pursuing him at full speed.

Without further hesitation, he immediately activated the Spirit-Light Shuttle at full speed, turning into a streak of light that vanished into the horizon.

"This kid actually has a top-grade flying magical artifact!"

"Don't hold back anymore; let's chase at full speed too. We must stop him before he enters Qingyang Market."

"Let's agree on this beforehand: the Ten Thousand Wood Mother Qi on him belongs to me, and you can deal with the person as you wish."

"Agreed!"

Qin Ming frowned, sensing that the two Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him were rapidly closing the distance.

He knew they would likely catch up to him very soon.

Qin Ming gritted his teeth.

He took two spherical objects out of his storage bag and waited for the right moment.

As he flew around a mountain peak, he suddenly threw them backward! In an instant.

A strong sense of unease suddenly rose in Elder Gu's heart, and he hastily took out a defensive magical artifact to shield himself.

Boom-boom! A violent explosion rang out, accompanied by flashing blue lightning arcs that filled the sky behind them.

In that instant, the mountains shook and the earth trembled! A small mushroom cloud slowly rose in mid-air.

Caught off guard, the other Foundation Establishment elder beside Elder Gu had one of his arms blown off by the blast.

The two Foundation Establishment elders of the Spirit Feather Sect had not expected that he would possess such a thing.

"Damn it! That kid actually has Yin Thunder Pellets!"

The other Foundation Establishment elder, now injured and pale-faced, hastily took out a healing pill and swallowed it.

He then formed a hand seal to stop the bleeding from his wound.

A rare look of apprehension appeared on his face.

For he did not know how many of such items Qin Ming still had in hand.

If they continued the pursuit, they might end up capsizing in a shallow ditch.

Elder Gu stared in the direction where Qin Ming had fled, furious and frustrated.

"Hmph! Let him count himself lucky!"

One incense stick later.

Qin Ming returned to Qingyang Market.

He knew that Elder Gu and the other would absolutely not dare to chase into Qingyang Market, after all, the Spirit Feather Sect still had to care about its image.

Besides that.

The current Qingyang Market was a mix of dragons and fish, like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment, lacking only a fuse.

One careless move could easily trigger a fierce reaction from other powers within the market.

Qin Ming returned to his Clear Cool Abode.

His expression was extremely ugly; he hadn't expected the Spirit Feather Sect's methods to be so despicable. If he hadn't prepared a backup plan in advance.

He probably wouldn't have been able to escape so easily. "I just wanted to farm in peace."

"Since you are forcing me so relentlessly, don't blame me for what comes next!"

Rage burned in Qin Ming's heart, and suddenly a very sinister idea sprouted in his mind!

Subsequently.

He harvested and took away all the spirit herbs in the courtyard that could be carried.

But when it came to that native spirit plant, the Black Vine, Qin Ming couldn't help but feel troubled.

Because living things could not be directly stored in a storage bag; what if it died? This was his native spirit plant that he had worked so hard to refine successfully; he couldn't just leave it behind.

Just as Qin Ming was pondering a strategy, that Black Vine seemed to comprehend his thoughts.

To his astonishment.

The Black Vine twisted and danced, crawling toward his arm like a pool of ink, wrapping tightly around it as if it were a vine tattoo.

"Whoa, this works too?"

Looking at the Black Vine coiled around his arm, Qin Ming exclaimed in surprise.

……

Yunmeng Mountain.

Qin Ming once again arrived at Gu Qingzhao's cave abode.

"Fellow Daoist Qin! Have you finished your trial assessment?" Gu Qingzhao invited him to take a seat and poured tea for Qin Ming.

Qin Ming nodded, took out his spiritual planter identity token, behind which a spiritual plant was illuminated, shining brilliantly.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qin, on advancing to a second-tier spiritual planter!" Gu Qingzhao's beautiful eyes lit up as she offered her heartfelt congratulations.

Although she had long known that Qin Ming could cultivate second-tier spiritual plants, and of no low quality.

Yet his passing of the trial assessment within the plant illusion realm still shocked her considerably.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, I have now been exempted from Lingyu Sect's corvée labor and restored to freedom."

"I wish to ask, is there any method to leave Yunze Dahuang?" Qin Ming accepted the spiritual mist tea brewed by Gu Qingzhao, took a slight sip, and asked.

Hearing this, a glint of light inadvertently flashed in the depths of Gu Qingzhao's eyes; she stood up directly and, with great sincerity, extended her invitation once more: "I wish to once again invite Fellow Daoist Qin to become a Qin Keqing of our pavilion; if you have any demands, feel free to raise them with me."

"As for the method of departure—"

"In half a month, our pavilion will withdraw from the Yunhuang Great Marsh; at that time, Fellow Daoist Qin may accompany us and depart aboard the dharma boat."

Seeing Gu Qingzhao extend such a fervent invitation, Qin Ming found it difficult to refuse for the moment.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, forgive me, but I cannot agree to join your pavilion; I am unwilling to be bound, otherwise I would not have severed ties with Lingyu Sect. However, regarding future transactions, I can choose to cooperate more with your pavilion."

Hearing this, a trace of disappointment flashed in Gu Qingzhao's starry eyes; after pondering briefly, her eyes brightened, and she immediately said, "Then could Fellow Daoist Qin become an honorary Qin Keqing of our pavilion?"

"It would merely be a title registered with our pavilion; normally, we would not trouble Fellow Daoist Qin."

"Fellow Daoist Qin may enjoy certain privileges and discounts within our pavilion, and resources can be supplied to you with priority."

Hearing this, Qin Ming pondered briefly; since Gu Qingzhao had spoken to this extent, for him to decline further would be far too unreasonable.

Thus, he nodded. "Then let it be as Fellow Daoist Gu says."

Hearing this, Gu Qingzhao felt delighted in her heart; raising her teacup, she said, "Then let us wish for a pleasant cooperation."

The two symbolically drank a cup.

"I wonder where Fellow Daoist Qin intends to go henceforth?" Gu Qingzhao set down her teacup and suddenly asked.

Qin Ming smiled slightly. "To be honest, I have not yet determined where to settle; there are still a few matters I have not finished handling. Once those are done, I will make my decision."

Subsequently.

Qin Ming took fifty jin of second-tier five-colored spiritual rice from his storage bag, placed it before Gu Qingzhao, and said, "Since I have already agreed to become an honorary Qin Keqing for Fellow Daoist Gu, please handle the auction and sale of this spiritual rice on my behalf."

Gazing at the colorful five-colored spiritual rice, Gu Qingzhao momentarily lost herself in thought.

After a long while.

Only then did she wave her hand to store the spiritual rice, saying happily, "I will certainly not disappoint Fellow Daoist Qin. Coincidentally, when our pavilion's dharma boat departs, an auction will be held aboard the vessel, and many cultivators will attend."

The two parties conversed for a long time.

Having secured his way out, Qin Ming took his leave.

He then went once more to Hu Fuqi's cave abode and delivered the half strand of Mother Qi of Ten Thousand Trees promised to Chen Qiaoling.

After handling these matters.

Qin Ming returned to the shantytown, took away that purple pill cauldron, and then buried the earth fire at the pill refining room.

He raised his head to gaze at the starry night and murmured, "It is about time; let me add some fuel to the fire for you all."

(End of Chapter)