“How did Daoist Ruan head out again!?” Qin Ming never expected that he would end up empty-handed once more.
Having experienced the massive transformation brought about by the Hundred-Treasures Glazed Scripture, he truly felt an unbearable itch in his heart for the remaining layers of the technique…
It seemed he could only wait a bit longer.
Qin Ming browsed through other shops inside the marketplace, purchasing a spirit beast bag alongside some meat before returning to the shantytown.
The next day: Qin Ming prepared a breakfast using Gold Spirit Rice and monster beast meat.
He was just about to dig in.
Knock, knock, knock!
A flurry of knocks sounded at the door outside.
Peering through the crack of the door: It was a nearby neighbor with whom he rarely interacted on ordinary days.
Out of courtesy, however, Qin Ming still welcomed him inside.
“Hehehe!
I heard Daoist Qin has become a Tier-One Spirit Plant Master; I’ve come specifically to offer my congratulations!” “A modest gift, just a token of my regard—please accept it.” Saying so, the visitor held up a small bag of gifts and presented it to Qin Ming.
Seeing how enthusiastic the other party was, Qin Ming found it awkward to decline, so he expressed his gratitude and accepted the gift.
When that neighbor’s gaze landed on Qin Ming’s dining table, taking in the meal made with monster beast meat and spirit rice, an irrepressible expression of envy surfaced across his face.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the neighbor concluded his brief social call and bade farewell.
Having finished his meal, Qin Ming was just about to wash the dishes.
Knock, knock, knock!
Knocks sounded outside the house once again.
!!!
Qin Ming’s brows knitted tightly into a knot as he muttered to himself: “What is going on today?!” As usual, he took a quick peek through the crack of the door.
If he hadn’t looked, it wouldn’t have mattered—but looking now gave him quite a start!
‘Good grief!’ It was actually his female neighbor, Li Yanli.
At this moment, she was dressed exquisitely, also holding a small package in her hands.
Seeing her like this, Qin Ming let out a breath of relief.
‘Phew, that’s fine then.
She’s probably just dropping by for a brief visit too.’ ‘Just socializing.’ ‘Not coming for anything else.’ Entering the house, Li Yanli likewise offered her congratulations to Qin Ming, chatted idly for a moment, and then took her leave.
Her complexion had grown somewhat haggard lately; although masked by makeup and rouge, Qin Ming still spotted it at a single glance.
‘It seems she hasn’t been able to walk out from the shadow of Daoist Long’s death yet…’ Having lost a massive pillar of support like Daoist Long: Her future days were likely not going to be easy.
Qin Ming did not ask her to stay.
Upon leaving, Li Yanli left behind only a resentful, bitter look in her eyes.
Over the next few days: Numerous nearby cultivators came by one after another to drop in and build familiarity.
Qin Ming felt quite a headache over this.
He was someone who disliked these types of social gatherings the most.
Even though the gifts presented were nothing valuable, Qin Ming found it improper to reject their good intentions, so he responded to everyone with thanks.
On this day: Qin Ming was sitting on his cushion meditating.
Suddenly, the transmission talisman on his person vibrated.
He ceased his cultivation, opened his eyes, and checked the message.
“Daoist Qin, is it convenient for you right now?” “I happen to be passing by the vicinity of the market, but I have urgent business to attend to and won’t have time to return home.” “This time out, it will be one or two years at shortest, and three to five years at longest before I return to the market.” “If it is convenient for you to make a trip over, we can continue to complete the trade.” “Don’t worry, Daoist Qin—I happened to run into acquaintances from the Spirit Feather Sect patrol squad, and we were just together a moment ago.” Qin Ming hesitated for a moment before sending back a message: “Where shall we meet?” “Just on the road heading east from the marketplace.” “Alright, I’m heading over.” After sending the transmission talisman, Qin Ming packed up his belongings and stepped out the door.
Passing by the riverbank in the shantytown: Several middle-aged female cultivators were washing clothes.
Seeing Qin Ming approach, they offered no greetings whatsoever.
Only after he had walked far ahead did one of them look sideways and say sourly: “Tch~ Isn’t he just a Tier-One Spirit Plant Master?” “It’s not like he became a Tier-One Alchemist.” “What’s there to be so pompous about!” Her voice was somewhat loud; before Qin Ming had walked too far away, her words carried straight into his ears.
Qin Ming twitched his lips, completely ignoring her.
…
A cup of tea’s time later: Qin Ming arrived near the location Daoist Ruan had given him.
He was in no rush to reveal himself, first observing subtly from a distance for a moment.
Cold wind brushed past his face, rustling the wild grass.
Both sides of the road were boundless stretches of desolate grassland.
On the road not far ahead: A few figures appeared, entering his sight.
Daoist Ruan stood with a smile across his face, chatting back and forth with two members wearing the uniform of the Spirit Feather Sect patrol squad.
Qin Ming focused his gaze.
He recognized both members of the Spirit Feather Sect patrol squad.
They frequently patrolled the alleyways of the shantytown and were familiar faces.
‘So it’s them.’ Only then were his doubts dispelled.
Qin Ming stepped out from cover and walked straight toward the group.
“Yo!
Daoist Qin has arrived!
You two please hold on a moment.” “I’ll handle a small matter and be right back.” Spotting Qin Ming’s arrival, Daoist Ruan displayed a delighted expression, hurriedly cupped his hands to the two Spirit Feather Sect patrolmen, and walked toward him.
“Daoist Qin, my apologies!
I’ve had important matters on my hands lately and was truly too busy to pull myself away.” Daoist Ruan cupped his hands to Qin Ming.
“It’s fine.
Daoist Ruan, you have the item on you, right?” A faint smile was squeezed onto Qin Ming’s face.
“Naturally.
By the way, Daoist Qin’s Beast-Tooth Rice must have matured as well, right?” Daoist Ruan’s eyes showed a look of anticipation.
Qin Ming patted his storage bag, directly producing a small sack of Beast-Tooth Rice—exactly 5 kg.
He opened the sack to give the other party a quick look.
The canine-tooth-sized white spirit rice, tinged with red on the inside, emitted an enticing, refreshing fragrance.
“It truly is Beast-Tooth Rice, and the quality is remarkably good!” A subtle, unnoticed trace of greed surfaced in Daoist Ruan’s eyes.
“May I ask, Daoist Qin, the yield for this Beast-Tooth Rice must be quite good, right?
Surely it isn’t just these 5 kg?” Hearing this, Qin Ming’s brows knitted tightly into a knot.
“Daoist Ruan, how much Beast-Tooth Rice I harvested doesn’t seem to have much to do with you, does it?” “Hehehe!
Of course, of course.
I was merely asking casually.” Daoist Ruan chuckled awkwardly.
Saying so, he pulled out the beast hide recording the Hundred-Treasures Glazed Scripture from his storage bag.
Both parties handed over the hide with one hand and took the rice with the other.
With the beast hide in hand: Qin Ming verified it without error, and was just about to let out a small breath of relief— ‘Wait, something’s wrong!’ The vital blood surrounding his body suddenly sensed a powerful surge of killing intent!
This message was accurately and unmistakably transmitted straight into his mind.
Although Qin Ming detected the anomaly: He kept his composure, continuing to pretend he was flipping through the beast hide scripture.
‘One…
two…
three…
four…
five…’ There were actually a full five strands of killing intent directed at him, silently gathering and converging toward his position!
Three of them originated from Daoist Ruan and those two Spirit Feather Sect patrol cultivators.
The two individuals issuing the other two strands of killing intent had not even revealed themselves yet.
In a single instant: Qin Ming realized his current situation.
Yet across his face, not a single trace of panic surfaced.
‘Daoist Ruan is at the 5th Layer of Qi Condensation.
Of the two Spirit Feather Sect patrolmen, one is at the 5th Layer and the other at the 6th Layer.’ As for the other two hidden in the shadows, Qin Ming could not sense their spiritual energy aura for the time being.
Fast: Countless thoughts flashed through Qin Ming’s mind.
In just a few brief breaths: A barely perceptible trace of ruthlessness flashed across the depths of Qin Ming’s eyes.
He made a decision on the spot!