Chapter 89: Wu Jiang

After the two entered the room.

They appeared somewhat restrained, looking utterly at a loss.

Clearly, having stayed too long in the cramped quarters beneath the ship's deck, they were unaccustomed to this space.

At the same time, the young cultivator was secretly sizing up Qin Ming.

His heart couldn't help but feel uneasy; he hadn't expected the other party's identity to be so significant, fearing he must be a major figure.

Well-versed in the social intricacies of the Immortal Realm, he could easily deduce the status of the person before him.

If he wasn't concealing his cultivation base, he must certainly be an honored guest of the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

Qin Ming heated the spiritual spring water, brewed Spirit Mist Tea for the two, poured the tea, and then spoke, "There is no need for such courtesy, friends; we are merely chatting for a while. Come, please drink the tea first."

The young cultivator carefully accepted the spiritual tea from Qin Ming's hands, took a small sip, savored it, and remarked, "Excellent tea!"

He then introduced himself to Qin Ming, saying, "I am Wu Jiang, and this is my Dao companion, Mu Ruyin."

"I wonder what questions you have, fellow Daoist? I dare not claim expertise in everything, but I am quite well-informed regarding all sorts of news about the Spirit Perch Archipelago, as well as various secret channels."

"Additionally, I wish to ask, given that you can reside in a place like this, your identity must not be simple, correct?"

Qin Ming was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected the other party to be a local know-it-all, which suited his intentions perfectly.

"You are too polite, fellow Daoist. I am Qin Mou, merely a spiritual planter. My purpose in coming to the Spirit Perch Archipelago is to find a quiet place to farm and cultivate through hard work."

"Oh? Is that so? I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Qin to be a spiritual planter. Have you joined any faction?" Wu Jiang asked, his eyes revealing a look of astonishment.

His gaze flickered toward this luxurious guest room, seemingly implying something specific.

Qin Ming replied frankly, "Qin Mou has not joined any faction."

Wu Jiang's eyes rolled slightly, and he immediately asked again, "Then after arriving at the Spirit Perch Archipelago, does Fellow Daoist Qin have any thoughts on joining a local clan?"

"There are many Qi Refining clans that recruit spiritual planters year-round, and the treatment is quite good."

"To be honest, I am unwilling to once again depend on others and be bound by restrictions," Qin Ming said, decisively shaking his head.

"So, judging by Fellow Daoist Qin's words, you intend to rent a cave dwelling or a cultivation site on your own?" Wu Jiang pondered for a moment before asking.

Qin Ming nodded. "However... I have had enough of being a spiritual farmer in Yunze Dahuang; this time, I wish to rent a larger plot of land and become a landlord myself."

Having now entered the late stage of Qi Refining, he could naturally tend to more spiritual fields.

"Ah? A landlord... So Fellow Daoist Qin intends to rent a large expanse of spiritual fields." The corners of Wu Jiang's mouth twitched slightly; he hadn't expected the other party's purse of spiritual stones to be so substantial!

Having said this, he took a sip of tea.

Qin Ming shook his head and said in a voice devoid of fluctuation, "Wrong, wrong, Fellow Daoist Wu. What I mean is that I directly wish to rent an entire island."

"Pfft!"

Wu Jiang spat out a mouthful of tea, nearly choking.

His Dao companion beside him, Mu Ruyin, also wore a look of shock, her small mouth slightly agape.

"What is the matter? Is there something inappropriate about this, Fellow Daoist Wu?" Seeing the other party react so strongly, Qin Ming couldn't help but smile faintly.

Wu Jiang cleared his throat, composed himself for a moment, and said, "It was my poor judgment. It turns out Fellow Daoist Qin wishes to find an unowned island and become an island lord himself."

"If it were a few years earlier, perhaps there would still be some islands possessing spiritual veins available for rent."

"However, in recent years, most islands with first-grade spiritual veins have already been occupied by numerous Qi Refining clans and rogue cultivators; it is rare to hear of any unowned islands left."

"Furthermore, the Zhao clan has rarely released any islands with spiritual veins for rent to outside rogue cultivators in recent years."

"I fear..."

Upon hearing this news, Qin Ming was somewhat caught off guard; frowning slightly, he asked, "Then what about islands with second-grade spiritual veins?"

Hearing this, Wu Jiang froze.

The other party's questions were challenging his understanding time and again.

Wait.

Second-grade spiritual veins?

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck his mind, and he realized exactly where he was sitting. In an instant, Wu Jiang's heart became clear, and he had a sudden enlightenment!

The Fellow Daoist Qin before him must certainly be a highly esteemed second-grade spiritual planter! In that case, everything made perfect sense.

To think I even considered earning some guide fees from him... Thinking of this, he quickly stood up again and bowed to Qin Ming.

"So Fellow Daoist Qin is actually a second-grade spiritual planter; please forgive us for our earlier presumption."

Hearing this, Mu Ruyin beside him was also startled and hurriedly stood to perform a graceful bow.

Qin Ming waved his hand. "There is no need for such restraint, fellow Daoists; please be seated."

Upon hearing this, the two took their seats.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, to be honest, within the Spirit Perch Archipelago, there are only a handful of islands with second-grade spiritual veins, and most of them have been allocated to the Zhao clan's enterprises."

"The rest are inhabited by some quite powerful cultivation clans and rogue cultivators."

"I fear it will also be difficult to rent one!"

"Moreover, for an entire island, the annual rent would be a substantial sum of spiritual stones..."

Speaking to this point, Wu Jiang glanced at Qin Ming's reaction and added another sentence.

"However, for a second-grade spiritual planter like Fellow Daoist Qin, this should presumably not be a problem."

Qin Ming frowned slightly; he hadn't expected the actual situation in the Spirit Perch Archipelago to differ so greatly from his prior expectations.

Not to mention islands with spiritual veins, it seemed one couldn't even rent an ordinary island.

"Alas~ that is indeed somewhat regrettable."

Qin Ming sighed gently.

If things truly came to the worst, he would have no choice but to select one of the other alternative destinations.

Seeing Qin Ming like this, Wu Jiang's mind raced rapidly.

To tell the truth, this was the first time he had ever encountered a figure such as a second-grade spiritual planter.

With such a powerful backer, there was no way he could let this opportunity slip!

Having carefully observed Qin Ming's speech and demeanor just now, he felt that even if the man wasn't a paragon of virtue, he was certainly someone with an open and magnanimous heart.

Wu Jiang immediately hastened to say, "Fellow Daoist Qin, although second-tier spiritual pulse islands are rare, opportunities are not entirely nonexistent."

"Oh? Please speak, Fellow Daoist Wu." Hearing this, Qin Ming perked up; it seemed there might still be hope.

Wu Jiang explained, "Fellow Daoist Qin, within the spiritual energy Archipelago, the shortest lease term for any second-tier spiritual pulse island starts at ten years."

"I am not very clear about the other islands, but a distant relative of mine once visited and mentioned in passing that a second-tier spiritual pulse island on the northern side of the spiritual energy Archipelago was originally leased by the Mo family, a Qi Condensation clan."

"Unfortunately, the head of the Mo family met his demise in an accident a few years ago; since then, the Mo family has been unable to recover, their fortunes declining. Without the head of the family as their main pillar, the remaining clansmen likely cannot afford the expenses required to lease a second-tier spiritual pulse island."

"Furthermore, the lease term for that spiritual island is set to expire within this year."

"If, by that time, the Mo family cannot pay the rent in spiritual stones, there is a high probability that the Zhao family will seek someone else."

"As it happens, my father has old ties with people from the Mo family and can inquire about the situation on our behalf."

Hearing this, Qin Ming fell into deep thought.

The situation seemed to have taken a turn, yet this turning point was not particularly significant.

However, after carefully analyzing and pondering the matter,

he still decided to go and see the situation for himself.

Being unfamiliar with the place and the people, he needed a local guide to lead the way.

"Then I must trouble you, Fellow Daoist Wu, to take me and see what the situation is; if things work out, you will certainly not lack for rewards," Qin Ming said after a moment of deliberation.

"Ehehe!"

"Look at what you're saying, Fellow Daoist Qin; being able to know a second-tier spiritual plant cultivator is my honor alone!"

(End of Chapter)