Qin Ming looked at this new trait with a trace of lingering doubt.
[Regenerative Spirit Seed]: Upon use, it can cause a dead spirit plant to regain its vitality and achieve a new lease on life.
“Even my divine soul has been strengthened.” “And this ‘Regenerative Spirit Seed’—to think it can even bring dead spirit plants back to life.” “If any precious spirit plants ever die on me in the future, this is going to be of immense use.” Qin Ming muttered to himself, staring intently at the trait floating before him.
Once his chores were finished, he packed up his tools and set about cooking a meal.
Just as he was halfway through: The communication talisman on Qin Ming’s body suddenly stirred.
Pulling it out to check, he found it was a message sent by Shopkeeper Liao.
“Daoist Qin, I have urgent matters to discuss.
Please come to the shop for a chat at your earliest convenience.” Qin Ming’s brows knitted together.
“Could something else be happening?” News from Shopkeeper Liao invariably tied directly into shifting developments within Qingyang Marketplace.
And that was a matter of high importance to him.
Qin Ming immediately dropped his cooking utensils, washed his hands, and stepped right out.
It was the third month of spring.
Qingyang Marketplace, Juxuan Pavilion.
Shopkeeper Liao was sitting by a second-floor window.
Catching sight of Qin Ming’s arrival, he hurried downstairs and personally welcomed him up into a private room on the fourth floor.
He then instructed an attendant to brew a pot of top-quality Spirit Mist Tea.
“Shopkeeper Liao, what made you summon me in such a rush?” “Has something happened?” Qin Ming asked with a puzzled expression.
Shopkeeper Liao didn’t rush to answer.
First, he poured Qin Ming a cup of spirit tea.
Then, he produced a soundproofing talisman, casting a small-scale sound-isolation barrier around them.
Only then did he speak to Qin Ming with a grave expression: “The conflict between the Spirit Feather Sect and Gold Cloud Valley has reached a conclusion.” “Oh?
So quickly?” Surprise flickered across Qin Ming’s face.
“I’m afraid something major is about to happen this time.” “Half a month ago, the Spirit Feather Sect’s pioneering war camp on the front lines was completely wiped out once again, with only a handful of cultivators managing to escape back.” “Word has it that even two Foundation Establishment seniors fell in battle!” Shopkeeper Liao dropped an even more explosive piece of news.
Qin Ming grew all the more astounded, quickly pressing: “Are those barbarians really that terrifying?
They can even cut down Foundation Establishment experts?” “Indeed.
The Spirit Feather Sect severely misjudged the strength of those barbarians beforehand; among their ranks are barbarian cultivators whose power rivals the Foundation Establishment stage.” Shopkeeper Liao took a sip of tea and continued: “Once this news broke, the Spirit Feather Sect could no longer sit still.” “With the front lines suffering defeat and their rear constantly being dragged down by Gold Cloud Valley—” “The higher-ups of the Spirit Feather Sect ultimately made a decision.” “They will temporarily compromise with Gold Cloud Valley.
The two sects will jointly develop that Tier-Three spirit vein currently occupied by the barbarian cultivators.” Qin Ming looked startled.
“They were fighting so fiercely earlier, even destroying the teleportation array—and just like that, they’re burying the hatchet?” “Ah, that is the reality of the world.
When facing massive profits, those who can fight can just as easily talk,” Shopkeeper Liao sighed.
“I hear that this time, the Spirit Feather Sect and Gold Cloud Valley are mobilizing the vast majority of their elite forces to go all-in.” “Of course, aside from that, even more rogue cultivators are being conscripted.” “The first wave of conscripted rogue cultivators alone numbers five thousand.” Reaching this point in his words: Shopkeeper Liao suddenly wore a playful, knowing smile, speaking in riddles: “Does Daoist Qin have any idea what price these two sects are paying to recruit so many cultivators?” Qin Ming shook his head.
“Foundation Establishment Pills!” Shopkeeper Liao pronounced the words clearly, one by one.
“What?
Foundation Establishment Pills?!” Qin Ming was thoroughly shocked.
It seemed the Spirit Feather Sect and Gold Cloud Valley were truly willing to bleed heavily this time.
Yet a second thought quickly crossed his mind.
Those Foundation Establishment Pills surely wouldn’t be easy to claim.
No doubt the two sects were colluding, dangling precious medicinal pills like Foundation Establishment Pills as bait to lure masses of low-tier rogue cultivators into serving as cannon fodder to pave the way.
Once Foundation Establishment Pills were put on the table, low-tier rogue cultivators would pour in endlessly.
After all: Crossing the threshold from the Qi Condensation stage to Foundation Establishment was an insurmountable hurdle for the vast majority of bottom-tier cultivators.
Besides, the cultivation world never suffered from a shortage of such people; one batch died, and another took its place—a harvest that could never be fully reaped.
“So you see, Daoist Qin, Qingyang Marketplace simply won’t be able to accommodate all those cultivators when the time comes.” “The Spirit Feather Sect and Gold Cloud Valley will be jointly building a brand-new Immortal City in the Yunze Great Wilderness to serve as a base for both sects.” Shopkeeper Liao’s revelations grew increasingly explosive; Qin Ming struggled to digest them all at once.
“That really is a massive stroke of handwriting.” “The first wave of elite cultivators from the Spirit Feather Sect and Gold Cloud Valley will arrive at Qingyang Marketplace today.” Hearing this, Qin Ming asked, “Could it be that the Spirit Feather Sect’s teleportation array has been repaired?” Shopkeeper Liao gave a light shake of his head.
“Not yet, but I hear it’s close.
It should be finished sometime within this year.” Qin Ming rested his chin in his hand, pondering inwardly: Won’t the price of spirit rice just crash right back down then?
“Daoist Qin needn’t worry about the price of spirit rice; it won’t experience any drastic fluctuations in the short term.” “After all, with both sects constructing an Immortal City, the sheer volume of cultivators arriving means logistics and food supplies will become a major headache.” Shopkeeper Liao seemed to see through Qin Ming’s concerns and spoke up directly.
Hearing this, Qin Ming felt significantly more at ease.
“With the tides of the situation shifting right before us, Daoist Qin must make preparations early.” “Aside from all this, there is one more important matter I need to discuss with you.” Shopkeeper Liao pivoted the conversation.
“What matter?” “Well, it’s like this: after acquiring a hundred jin of Beast-Tooth Rice from Daoist Qin last time, it caught the strict attention of the Pavilion Master.” “The instruction from above is that as long as Daoist Qin agrees to sell half of the harvested Beast-Tooth Rice to our pavilion every single season upon maturity—” “We can add a twenty percent markup on top of the original price, bringing it to nine spirit stones per jin.” “Of course, this requires Daoist Qin to sign a formal agreement with our pavilion.” Qin Ming gave an imperceptible twitch of his lips.
This old fox is starting his tricks again.
However, this time, he nodded and agreed outright without hesitation.
“Very well.” Shopkeeper Liao’s information carried immense value, and he would undoubtedly need to rely on him for more news down the line.
Seeing Qin Ming agree so readily, Shopkeeper Liao was momentarily stunned.
He had already prepared an elaborate set of arguments for haggling back and forth.
Now, none of it was needed.
“Hahaha, Daoist Qin is truly a straightforward man!” Capitalizing on the momentum, Shopkeeper Liao immediately produced writing brush and paper he had prepared beforehand.
Both parties promptly signed the agreement.
“I wonder how many mu of Beast-Tooth Rice Daoist Qin has planted this year?” Shopkeeper Liao asked with eager anticipation.
“Three mu.” Qin Ming didn’t bother hiding it; the other party would find out sooner or later anyway.
Hearing the reply, Shopkeeper Liao beamed with delight, smiling brighter than ever.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” Qin Ming said, standing up.
“Shopkeeper Liao, if you catch wind of any further news later on, remember to let me know.” “Definitely, definitely.” “Let me see Daoist Qin out.” Their discussion concluded, the two opened the private room door.
Just as they were about to step outside, a man and a woman were walking down from the upper stairs head-on.
The man was an acquaintance—dressed in pristine white robes, it was none other than Su Yuqing.
As for the woman at his side: She looked to be around twenty years of age, possessing a striking, refined beauty akin to a fresh lotus emerging from clear water, with an exquisite, gracefully curvaceous figure.
Her eyes were limpid and clear, yet within their depths, a cold and noble elegance was unmistakable.
Instead of wearing heavy, ostentatious formal attire, she wore a simple dress of plain color.
As for her cultivation base, Qin Ming found himself entirely unable to read it; she was likely in the late Qi Condensation stage.
The woman caught the gaze Qin Ming cast her way.
Yet she didn’t pay it much mind, ignoring him entirely as she continued walking downstairs.
Qin Ming retracted his gaze.
“Greetings, Pavilion Master!” At that moment, Shopkeeper Liao hurried to bow deeply in a profound display of respect toward the young woman.