The incident of Daoist Long’s demise was like a lingering pall of gloom cast over the shantytown, refusing to dissipate for a long time.
For several days in a row, every nearby household kept its doors tightly shut.
The alleyways lost their usual hustle and bustle, turning bleak and deserted.
At night, no one dared to step outside.
Even though the Spirit Feather Sect increased the frequency of their patrols, tenants only ventured out in groups.
Qin Ming was no exception; whenever he went to work in the spirit fields, he moved alongside the crowd.
During these days, the spirit fields actually proved to be much safer than the residential area outside.
The reason was that Deacon Gu personally led disciples to patrol the perimeter of the spirit fields over the past few days.
Every three days, Deacon Gu’s giant spirit vessel would hover above the spirit fields for half a day.
This brought Qin Ming considerable peace of mind.
It seemed the Spirit Feather Sect did not want any further trouble occurring in the spirit fields either.
After all, this directly concerned the supplies for the front-line battle camps—they had no choice but to take it to heart.
…
Inside the three mu of Yin-Congealing Flower fields: Qin Ming had already used a [Ripening] trait.
Two days later, emerald green seedlings sprouted forth.
With a tense heart, Qin Ming gazed into the spirit field.
Three dazzling golden traits stood out clear as day!
[Name]: Yin-Congealing Flower [Trait]: Bee Control Art (Maturity 2%) [Name]: Yin-Congealing Flower [Trait]: Ripening x5 (Maturity 3%) [Name]: Yin-Congealing Flower [Trait]: Ancestral Reversion x1 (Maturity 1%) “Holy crap!” Qin Ming stared at the traits in the field with an expression of sheer disbelief, taking quite a while to regain his senses.
“Talk about true luck!” “Hahaha!” “Hit the jackpot on the first try!” He burst into joyful laughter right there in the field.
[Bee Control Art]: A spirit plant spell that guides spirit bees to pollinate spirit plants when cast.
[Ancestral Reversion]: When used, it evolves a spirit plant into the form of its ancient ancestor.
Although the [Quality Enhancement] trait didn’t refresh, an even more formidable trait had appeared instead.
Qin Ming immediately pulled out a spirit plant book and flipped it open.
This book was none other than the Record of Rare Spirit Plants, written by the legendary spirit plant master Shi Yenong.
It not only recorded a directory of rare flora across the cultivation world, but also introduced the origins and lineages of numerous spirit plants.
Among them was an entry concerning Beast-Tooth Rice.
The ancestor of Beast-Tooth Rice was a Tier-One Supreme-Grade spirit plant— Blood-Leech Rice!
It was a mere hair’s breadth away from reaching the Tier-Two level!
One could easily imagine its rarity.
Blood-Leech Rice resembled blood leeches, its grain as crimson as blood, hence its name.
Its effect was simple and singular: Consuming it immensely strengthens a cultivator’s vital blood!
Warning: Those whose vital blood is not consolidated should use with caution!
This spirit rice was not only a dream item for body-refining cultivators, but also a holy medicine for blood-path cultivation—something that could be stumbled upon but never sought out.
According to the book’s records, several centuries ago, Blood-Leech Rice had already vanished almost entirely from the cultivation world.
Only in a few uninhabited regions could a few stalks occasionally be spotted.
The growing conditions for Blood-Leech Rice were exceptionally stringent, far exceeding those of Beast-Tooth Rice.
It required long-term nourishment with the refined blood of monster beasts, as well as an ample supply of spiritual energy.
Its maturation period typically took ten years.
The older the plant, the more potent its vital-blood-enhancing effect grew.
Qin Ming stood motionless, staring blankly at the [Ancestral Reversion] trait, secretly marveling to himself: ‘Alchemist Su really is my benefactor.’ However, since he had no [Ripening] traits left at the moment, he could only wait for the next season of Gold Spirit Rice to refresh new ones.
…
Amid eager anticipation, three months passed.
Perhaps Qin Ming really was blessed with divine luck.
From the Gold Spirit Rice field, he harvested another [Ripening] trait.
Now, all that was missing was monster beast refined blood.
“Where do I get that?” Qin Ming rested his chin on his hand, pacing back and forth in his room while contemplating.
‘Going out to hunt monster beasts myself is completely out of the question.’ ‘Not a chance I’m taking risks.’ ‘Not a chance I’m acting on impulse.’ After thinking it through, he decided to spend spirit stones to purchase it.
Although the price was exorbitant, as long as he could successfully cultivate Blood-Leech Rice, it would all be worth it.
Two days later: Qin Ming spent a full 150 spirit stones at a butcher shop in Qingyang Marketplace that sold monster beast meat, acquiring 5 kg of Tier-One monster beast refined blood.
“This should be enough, right?” Next, he used the [Ripening] trait refreshed from the Gold Spirit Rice field to quietly ripen the three Yin-Congealing Flowers bearing traits.
In an instant, two green and one blue trait leaves were added to Qin Ming’s sea of consciousness.
“To be able to induce an ancestral reversion in spirit plants—as expected of a blue trait,” Qin Ming praised in awe.
To ensure nothing went wrong: Qin Ming visited Juxuan Pavilion again and spent over 100 spirit stones with Shopkeeper Liao to purchase a small concealment array.
This time, he wasn’t just going all-in with his spirit stones; he was going all-in with his traits as well.
He planned to use the [Advanced Spirit Rain Art] as well.
Good steel should naturally be used on the edge of the blade.
With all preparations complete: Qin Ming first began ripening the Fine-Grade Beast-Tooth Rice.
Once this batch of Beast-Tooth Rice began to sprout, Qin Ming applied the [Ancestral Reversion] trait to it.
In an instant!
The spirit plants before Qin Ming’s eyes began to grow wildly.
Several hundred strange, ominous plants appeared before him.
And a golden trait refreshed above them: [Name]: Blood-Leech Rice [Trait]: Abundant Vital Blood (Maturity 30%) The original spirit rice leaves of the Beast-Tooth Rice withered away completely, replaced by stalks shaped like tiny bamboo joints, bearing long, crimson spirit grains shaped like blood leeches.
Summoning his resolve, Qin Ming continued to apply [Ripening] traits to them.
Blood-Leech Rice truly lived up to its status as a Tier-One Supreme-Grade spirit plant.
Qin Ming had to use three [Ripening] traits in succession before fully ripening this batch of Blood-Leech Rice to a ten-year maturity level.
Afterward: He used the [Advanced Spirit Rain Art] trait, combining it with the monster beast refined blood to irrigate the Blood-Leech Rice.
The moment the Advanced Spirit Rain Art was unleashed, over half of the spiritual energy in Qin Ming’s body was instantly drained.
“As expected, it really is a spirit plant spell that can only be cast by mid-to-late stage Qi Condensation cultivators.” Qin Ming gritted his teeth and used two [Faint Spiritual Energy] traits in a row.
Rumble!
A dark, ink-black cloud gathered in midair, forming a vortex filled with thunder and lightning.
This was with Qin Ming deliberately shrinking the area of effect; had it been outside, its grandeur would have been far greater.
Fortunately, Shopkeeper Liao’s concealment array performed surprisingly well, completely masking the situation inside his courtyard.
Unless a high-tier cultivator specifically probed the area, it would be extremely difficult to discover the secret within.
Seeing this, Qin Ming let out a breath, feeling much more at ease.
The moment the Blood-Leech Rice plants met the spirit rain formed from monster beast refined blood, they began writhing strangely against the rain as if coming alive, frantically absorbing the blood.
A red mist began to emanate from the exterior of the Blood-Leech Rice, twirling and lingering without scattering.
Under the effect of the Advanced Spirit Rain Art, the spiritual energy in the surrounding air was sucked dry in an instant, transforming into powerful nourishment to sustain these several hundred spirit plants.
At the nodes of the Blood-Leech Rice, plump, bountiful ears of grain sprouted once again!
Qin Ming did not forget to cherish this rare opportunity to comprehend the casting process of the Advanced Spirit Rain Art.
His Intermediate Spirit Rain Art was already thoroughly mastered; next up was reaching the threshold of the Advanced Spirit Rain Art.
…
Half a month later: Under Qin Ming’s tireless and meticulous irrigation: All the Blood-Leech Rice reached full maturity!
Of all the traits in Qin Ming’s sea of consciousness, only the following remained: Bee Control Art Faint Vital Blood x2 Abundant Vital Blood x1 After harvesting the spirit rice: Qin Ming carefully and thoroughly cleared away and disguised all traces of cultivation in the courtyard.
This stuff absolutely could not be discovered by anyone.
Having finished all this: Qin Ming looked at the Blood-Leech Rice in his storage bag with his spiritual sense, his heart surging with excitement.
He licked his lips and smiled slightly: “Now then, let me taste what this legendary Blood-Leech Rice actually tastes like!”