The region being developed by the Spirit Feather Sect was the Yunze Great Wilderness, situated deep within the southwestern hinterlands of the Southern Wilderness cultivation world, a place far from human habitation.
Winters here were exceptionally bitter.
If Qin Ming hadn’t transmigrated into the cultivation world, he never would have known that cultivators could actually feel cold, too.
Or that they still needed to eat, drink, and attend to bodily functions.
At the Yin-zheng hour, a light snow began to drift over the shantytown.
The alleyways were desolate and quiet, save for a few sparrows foraging through piles of refuse.
Once winter arrived, spirit field cultivation entered a brief two-month dormant period.
The next season of spirit rice wouldn’t be sown until right around Qingming; otherwise, encountering late frosts and chilling winds would cause a high rate of unfertilized grains in the spirit rice.
Though winter was cold, this coldness brought a strange sense of peace.
The cycle of the four seasons reminded Qin Ming that the warmth of early spring was drawing closer once again.
Qin Ming was busy clearing the accumulated snow from his doorway.
Screeech!
The wooden door of his neighbor, Li Yanli, creaked open in response.
Dressed in a rouge-colored peach blossom cotton jacket, she possessed a charming and alluring air, with a subtle fragrance of cosmetics lingering around her.
She stepped out carrying a wooden basin to pour out her washing water.
“Daoist Li, good morning.” Seeing her emerge, Qin Ming smiled faintly and offered a greeting.
“Morning!
Daoist Qin really is a diligent man, isn’t he?” Li Yanli replied with a pursed-lip smile.
“I heard people saying that Daoist Qin’s spirit rice yield last season was truly astonishing.
You must have sold it for quite a few spirit stones, right?” “Hehe, it was just good fortune.” Having exchanged pleasantries, Qin Ming was about to head back inside.
Instead, his female neighbor called out to him, “Daoist Qin, please wait a moment.” A blush of shyness crept onto Li Yanli’s face as she said with a slightly embarrassed expression, “The commotion on my side was a bit too loud the other day, and it ended up disturbing your rest, Daoist.
If you don’t mind, would you like to step into my room?
I can give you a complimentary session.” “Ah, this…” Qin Ming was utterly startled, his old face instantly flushing red.
To be honest, as a hot-blooded young man, how was he supposed to withstand this kind of worldly test?
‘Is the warmth of spring arriving way too fast?’ ‘Or is the economic environment just that bad?’ ‘Starting morning calisthenics this early in the morning?!’ ‘Calm down, I must stay calm!’ Chances were, this wench wasn’t craving his life root—she was probably eyeing the spirit stones tucked away in his pouch.
Qin Ming’s Dao heart began to wobble once more.
Suddenly.
A formidable, muscular figure flashed vividly across his mind—the Eighth-Layer late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator known as “Daoist Long.” ‘Can’t afford to provoke him, better just forget it.’ Qin Ming wilted instantly, snapping back to his senses in a flash.
“Ah…
thank you for the kind offer, Daoist, but I was out hoeing and turning the spirit fields the other days, and my back has been a bit sore.” With that, he bolted back into his room without even looking back.
‘Sigh, pink-skirted skeletons, ruining people’s Dao hearts!’ Qin Ming hurriedly splashed some cold water on his face, his mind still spinning with wild thoughts.
Thump, thump, thump!
A knock sounded on his front door.
‘Could it be…?
Don’t tell me she delivered herself right to my door?’ ‘What a teasing creature, truly driving a man crazy!’ ‘Since it’s come to this, I have no choice but to fight her to the death!’ Qin Ming yanked the door open, only to find that the visitor was none other than Cai Old Jiu.
Cai Old Jiu glanced left and right to make sure no one else was around, then muttered casually, “Why is it you?” Holding two packages in his hands, Cai Old Jiu had arrived with a broad smile plastered across his face.
Hearing those words, he froze right in his tracks.
Looking around in bewilderment, immediate indignation flared up in him.
“No, wait—I find this baffling.
What is that supposed to mean, ‘why can’t it be me’?” “I came all the way here out of the goodness of my heart to bring you a flask of my homemade sweet-potato liquor.” “Fine, then I’m leaving.” Cai Old Jiu turned on his heel as if to walk away.
Qin Ming quickly apologized, “Hey, hey, hey!
That’s not what I meant.
Come on, come on in and sit down.” Only then did Cai Old Jiu hand the flask of wine over to Qin Ming, grumbling irritably, “Sit down for what?” “Didn’t you know a new neighbor just moved into the neighborhood?” Qin Ming accepted the wine, looking completely blank.
“A new neighbor?” Seeing his expression, Cai Old Jiu knew right away that this kid had been cooped up in his room for way too long and was completely out of the loop.
Sighing, Cai Old Jiu pointed a finger at Qin Ming and chided, “Sigh, I really don’t know what to do with you.” “A cultivator moved into the alley a few days ago, and he’s an authentic, card-carrying alchemist!” “An alchemist?” Among the hundred arts of cultivation, alchemy, artifact forging, talismans, and array formations stood proudly at the very top.
For cultivators, medicinal pills were an indispensable cultivation resource.
Whether it was for daily practice, breaking through bottlenecks, curing ailments and healing injuries, or prolonging life and preserving youth…
Sooner or later, everyone would find themselves needing to ask a favor of an alchemist.
Building a good relationship with one meant you never knew when it might come in handy.
“Wait…
how could an alchemist end up moving into the shantytown?” Qin Ming asked with a puzzled frown.
After all, studying the art of alchemy was a literal money pit that burned through spirit stones.
Cultivating an alchemist—no matter how exceptional their innate talent—required feeding them massive amounts of medicinal materials, something only major sects could afford.
Poorer sects simply couldn’t afford to support one.
“I suppose he must just be a regular, unranked apprentice alchemist, right?” “I heard he’s only staying here temporarily for a year, and as for the specific reason, he hasn’t disclosed it to anyone!” “Hurry up and get some welcoming gifts ready.
We’re heading over together to pay him a visit and break the ice; we’re all neighbors now, hehe.” Cai Old Jiu urged him impatiently.
“So you bringing me a flask of wine was just a side errand?
And here I was riding the coattails of that alchemist,” Qin Ming remarked, momentarily speechless.
Before long.
The two of them walked through several alley intersections.
Arriving before the front of a house, Cai Old Jiu gave the door a rap.
A moment later.
The wooden door swung open from the inside.
A white-robed young cultivator in his early twenties stood before them, showing a cultivation base at the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation.
Neither Qin Ming nor Cai Old Jiu had expected the fellow to be so young.
“We heard that a fellow alchemist had moved in and taken up residence here, so the two of us specially came by to pay our respects and get acquainted.
We’re all neighbors from now on, hehe,” Cai Old Jiu said with easygoing familiarity.
After some polite conversational exchanges, they stated their names.
Then, the two of them presented the gifts they had brought.
Qin Ming offered five catties of spirit rice, while Cai Old Jiu supplemented his spirit rice with an extra flask of his homemade liquor.
“A meager gift, please don’t take offense.” The white-robed young man accepted the gifts and stepped aside, inviting the two of them inside.
“No need to be so courteous, fellow Daoists.” “My name is Su Yuqing, and this is just a small token of my appreciation.” The white-robed youth produced two ordinary jade bottles.
He handed one to each of them.
Qin Ming politely accepted the jade bottle and gave it a brief glance.
Inside the bottle was a Qi-Replenishing Pill meant for the Qi Condensation stage, which could help cultivators rapidly recover their magic power.
A low-grade Qi-Replenishing Pill ran about five spirit stones per pill.
As expected of an alchemist; his opening gesture was certainly extravagant.
By contrast, when Qin Ming and Cai Old Jiu exchanged glances, they couldn’t help feeling a bit awkward.
Compared to the other’s return gift, their meager offering of spirit rice looked rather embarrassing to pull out.
‘It feels like we came here specifically to sponge free pills.’ Fortunately, Alchemist Su didn’t seem to mind.
“I am indeed an alchemist, having recently broken through to become a middle-grade tier-one alchemist, and I’ve come out here to clear my mind and relax,” Alchemist Su said, a trace of visible pride coloring his tone.
Alchemists held a lofty and revered status.
Even a regular, unranked alchemy apprentice who knew how to brew some basic pills could command a respectable income in spirit stones.
Let alone a middle-grade tier-one alchemist—such a cultivator would be welcomed as an honored guest by any major faction wherever they went.
Coupled with Alchemist Su’s youth, he was undoubtedly someone blessed with exceptional talent in alchemy, with a very high probability of advancing further.
Unlimited potential, a promising future.
Figures like this were usually prime targets for major powers to recruit and bind to their cause.
They were not figures that small fries like Qin Ming and Cai Old Jiu could hope to befriend.
Their social stations were destined to belong to completely different tiers.
“So Alchemist Su is actually a middle-grade tier-one alchemist.” “Pardon our ignorance!” “Please forgive our abruptness just now.” Cai Old Jiu and Qin Ming hurriedly bowed in deference.
Alchemist Su sat composed and unruffled in his chair, taking a leisurely sip of tea as if it were nothing less than he deserved.
He waved a casual hand dismissively toward the two of them.
Right at that moment.
Someone walked in through the doorway, causing all three of them to turn their heads to look.
To their surprise, Daoist Long had arrived as well.
Alchemist Su stood up to welcome him.
Daoist Long also cupped his fists in a respectful, deferential salute.
After exchanging greetings, Daoist Long produced two jade boxes right in front of Qin Ming and the others, presenting them to Alchemist Su as a housewarming gift.
“A mid-tier-one demonic beast inner core, and some Xuanling grass!” A smile finally cracked across Alchemist Su’s face.
With a flick of his storage pouch, he retrieved an exquisite jade bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Daoist Long in return.
“Two Gathering Spirit Pills.” “They can boost progress in the Qi Condensation stage, and are equally effective for late-stage cultivators.” Following that, Daoist Long and Alchemist Su launched into an enthusiastic, animated conversation.
Completely ignoring the existence of Qin Ming and the other two…
Half a quarter of an hour later.
Qin Ming and Cai Old Jiu took their leave and departed, both of their expressions looking rather strained.
“That was far too presumptuous.” “Before you brought me over here, why didn’t you mention that Alchemist Su was this young?
And a middle-grade alchemist at that?!” “How on earth was I supposed to know?!” “If there’s any more good fortune like this next time, don’t you dare call me.”