Qin Ming mused to himself.
It seemed that Manager Liao’s connections behind the scenes were far from ordinary, allowing him to gain wind of upper-level matters concerning the sects of the cultivation realm ahead of time.
Building a solid relationship with him wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
“Thank you for informing me, Manager Liao.” “Was there anything else?” Qin Ming asked.
Manager Liao flashed a smile, then suddenly spoke to him in a meaningful tone, “Hehe, Daoist Qin really keeps a low profile!” “I have an uncalled-for request.
Once your Beast-Tooth Rice matures two years from now, could you sell a portion of it to our establishment?” “Our pavilion can purchase it at a price ten percent above the market rate.” Qin Ming was startled.
It had barely been a few days, yet the manager already knew about this.
“Manager Liao truly possesses vast capabilities; even the little matters in my spirit fields can’t escape your notice.” Qin Ming didn’t agree right away.
“I’ve planted the Beast-Tooth Rice seeds, but I can’t guarantee that they’ll mature and yield a harvest in two years.” So that was it.
Manager Liao had paid him for the spirit rice at the post-increase rate just now and revealed so much intelligence about the Spirit Feather Sect…
In reality, he wanted to use the cost of paying an extra twenty to thirty spirit stones to directly lock down Qin Ming’s supply channel for Beast-Tooth Rice.
As expected of a shrewd veteran who had spent decades navigating the business world!
“Of course, if Daoist Qin has other conditions, we can certainly negotiate!” Observing Qin Ming’s reaction, Manager Liao immediately poured a fresh cup of tea for him.
“Daoist Qin, at such a young age, you already possess such deep attainments in the craft of spirit planting.
You are undoubtedly endowed with exceptional natural talent, so harvesting the Beast-Tooth Rice is bound to be a sure bet.” “May I ask if your pavilion has any body-refining cultivation manuals for sale?” Qin Ming fell into deep thought for a moment before suddenly shifting the topic.
Manager Liao caught on instantly.
He produced several sets of body-refining techniques right away, introducing them to Qin Ming one by one: “Nine-Revolutions Yang-Returning Art, a top-grade body-refining technique that can be cultivated all the way to the Foundation Establishment realm.
It is supreme yang and utmost fierce in nature, priced at 3,000 spirit stones.” Qin Ming twitched his lips, musing inwardly, ‘The technique is great, but the price is equally striking.’ “Bright King Physique-Tempering Art, capable of clearing 270 acupoints throughout the body to condense true astral qi.
A high-grade body-refining technique, priced at 1,000 spirit stones.” “Vajra Core-Forging Art, a mid-grade body-refining technique that takes thirty years of cultivation to reach minor mastery, priced at 500 spirit stones…” …
Manager Liao talked until his mouth went dry.
Taking a sip of water, he continued, “Heavenly Fiend Fiend-Summoning Scripture, eighty spirit stones—” “Hold on!” “Manager, please give a detailed introduction to this manual.” “Heavenly Fiend Fiend-Summoning Scripture…
mm, this manual isn’t bad!” “It sounds very positive and full of righteous energy.
That’s the one!” Manager Liao: “…” Qin Ming pondered for a long moment before steeling his heart to make the decision.
“This is a demonic path manual.
Once cultivated, everyone in the realm will have the right to execute you,” Manager Liao noted.
“Then why are you selling it to me?” “My apologies, picked up the wrong one.” “…” Two hours later.
Qin Ming departed from the Gathering Pavilion.
The manuals in Manager Liao’s possession were either completely beyond Qin Ming’s current financial means or required decades of grueling work before showing any visible results.
With no way to obtain a suitable method, Qin Ming could only stare in frustration.
However, before he left, Manager Liao had pointed out a clear path for him.
“Daoist Qin, in the East District of Green-Sun Marketplace, there is a Ruan Family whose clan fortune has declined.
Their ancestors passed down a body-refining technique.” “I once offered a price of one hundred spirit stones to acquire that manual, but that Daoist Ruan refused to sell no matter what, insisting that extra blood-and-qi-enhancing pills or medicines had to be added to the deal.” “I didn’t think it was worth the price.” “Perhaps you can head over there and try your luck.” “However, you shouldn’t hold out too much hope either.” Manager Liao’s underlying meaning was clear: Qin Ming had the Beast-Tooth Rice, which was nearing successful cultivation, so if he used that as a sweetener, he might be able to sway the other party.
In return for this intelligence, Qin Ming agreed that if the Beast-Tooth Rice matured down the road, he would sell a portion of it to the Gathering Pavilion.
With the trade concluded, both parties were pleased.
Just as he stepped out of the shop door, he ran into a large squad of the Spirit Feather Sect’s patrol team rushing out of the marketplace in a aggressive, high-alert manner.
“Greetings, fellow Daoist.
May I ask what happened?” Qin Ming casually asked an onlooker watching the commotion.
“Word has it they’re heading out to slay demonic beasts.” “Don’t worry, though.
The inside of our marketplace is extremely secure.
Even a second-tier, Foundation-Establishment-level demonic beast wouldn’t be able to break through the marketplace’s Tier-Two Protective Array Formation.” “Just make sure you don’t wander around outside, fellow Daoist.” Qin Ming fell into deep thought.
Afterward, following Manager Liao’s directions, he made his way to the Ruan Family residence in the East District of the marketplace.
Upon arriving, however, he discovered that the Ruan Family’s main doors were tightly shut.
Cultivators living nearby informed him that Daoist Ruan had gone out to attend to business and wouldn’t return for three or four months.
Helpless, Qin Ming had no choice but to come back another time.
…
Returning to the shantytown.
It was evening.
Inside his house, Qin Ming was preparing dinner, looking somewhat preoccupied.
The interior of Green-Sun Marketplace was indeed safe, but the coverage of that protective array formation didn’t reach their shantytown!
Thump, thump, thump!
Right at that moment, a series of knocks at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Opening the door cautiously, Qin Ming found that the visitor was surprisingly Daoist Long.
A rare occurrence—he was truly a rare guest!
“Daoist Qin, I heard that the yield and quality of your spirit rice are quite good.
I’d like to purchase some from you.” Daoist Long cut straight to the point.
After deliberating for a second or two, Qin Ming squeezed out a faint smile: “That’s right, my spirit rice yields have been decent lately, but most of it has already been sold.” Daoist Long frowned upon hearing this, but maintained a polite tone: “May I ask how much spirit rice you still have on hand, Daoist Qin?
I’ll take whatever you have available, and I’ll pay for it all according to the marketplace’s standard market price.” “Daoist Long, I’ve heard rumors that the price of spirit rice in the marketplace will rise by about fifty percent over the next couple of days…” Qin Ming said with slight hesitation.
Although he didn’t particularly want to offend this late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator standing before him, he didn’t want to be taken advantage of for nothing either.
Daoist Long visibly froze for a moment.
He couldn’t help but begin scrutinizing Qin Ming.
News of the rising spirit rice prices was known to very few people.
Even though it would become public knowledge in a few days, within Green-Sun Marketplace, it was an insight possessed only by a handful of late-stage Qi Condensation circles and major factions.
“Daoist Qin is quite well-informed.” “In that case, let’s do this: I’ll buy it at the post-increase price.
What do you think?” Daoist Long said forthrightly.
Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded in agreement: “I currently have about 50 catties [55 lbs / 25 kg] left in stock that I can sell, but no more than that.
The rest will have to wait for the next season.” Once the spirit rice transaction was complete, Daoist Long took his leave in a hurry.
Qin Ming didn’t dare offend the man too deeply, either.
After all, the surrounding alleys relied on him for protection.
‘Sigh, even late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators are starting to make preparations.
It seems a storm is truly brewing.’ ‘While the rise in spirit rice prices is a good thing for me, it also means that the surrounding environment is becoming increasingly harsh.’ …
Qin Ming ate a meal of spirit rice.
He walked into his bedroom, sat cross-legged on the straw mat atop his bed, and began circulating the Everlasting Spring Art.
Inside his sea of consciousness, two [Faint Spiritual Energy] traits remained.
“It happens today!” With a single thought from Qin Ming, one [Faint Spiritual Energy] trait vanished.
The magic power surging from his Dantian began completing full cycles over and over, continuously flushing through and expanding his meridians.
Finally!
Boom!
When the magic power accumulated within Qin Ming’s Dantian reached a critical threshold, a thin barrier seemed to snap open.
“Third Layer of Qi Condensation!” The magic power fluctuations radiating from Qin Ming’s body rose by a full notch.
“Phew~” Qin Ming exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
“How many years has it been?
I finally don’t have to serve a life sentence at the Second Layer of Qi Condensation.” He couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, realizing just how much he had changed over the span of a single year.
‘As long as I develop steadily, Foundation Establishment isn’t completely impossible.’ Qin Ming felt the Everlasting Spring spiritual energy within his Dantian, which had expanded to nearly double its former size.
Amidst his joy, he didn’t let excitement cloud his head: “The Third Layer of Qi Condensation is still far from stable; I need to boost my strength as quickly as possible.” “The cultivation realm is unpredictable and constantly shifting.
Bottom-tier Qi Condensation cultivators are nothing more than cannon fodder; one needs to reach at least the Foundation Establishment stage just to barely secure a foothold.
In the end, my destiny must be held in my own hands.” Living under someone else’s roof presented countless inconveniences.
Furthermore, he could be dragged into the vortex of sect conflicts at any moment, stripped of all control over his choices.
To be exempted from the Spirit Feather Sect’s compulsory labor and regain his freedom, he only needed to satisfy any one of three conditions: First, break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Second, advance any one of the hundred arts of cultivation to a Tier-Two level.
Third, hand over any single type of Foundation Establishment resource.
He understood that he had to work toward these three goals.
And what lay ahead…
Breaking through from the Third Layer to the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation would be the true, massive test for Qin Ming.
The Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation marked a cultivator’s entry into the Middle Stage of Qi Condensation.
It was, in the strictest sense, the very first major bottleneck in cultivation.
It would be countless times more difficult than his recent breakthrough to the Third Layer.
…
Ten days later.
Most cultivators within Green-Sun Marketplace and the surrounding shantytowns became aware of the news that daily necessities like spirit rice and meat had undergone a massive price hike.
The prices of spiritual artifacts, pills, and talismans also began to surge one after another.
Ever since Qin Ming successfully cultivated the Beast-Tooth Rice, Supervisor Du Haifu’s patrol frequency around his spirit field had gradually increased.
Because things had not been very peaceful lately, he even specifically assigned extra personnel to patrol the perimeter of the spirit fields.
During this period, aside from casting the Intermediate Spirit Rain Art to nourish his spirit fields, Qin Ming immersed himself entirely in studying spirit planting knowledge.
Beyond that, he kept looking for a suitable body-refining manual.
Qin Ming’s Beast-Tooth Rice hadn’t matured yet, so there was no rushing it for the time being.
In the blink of an eye, three months passed.
Out in the spirit fields…
Perhaps Qin Ming’s good luck had run out during this stretch of time.
Across his four mu [~0.66 acres] of Golden Spirit Rice fields in the second season, he only harvested two [Faint Spiritual Energy] traits.
On the bright side, after breaking through to the Third Layer of Qi Condensation, Qin Ming’s magic power had doubled, so he no longer suffered from exhaustion when casting the Intermediate Spirit Rain Art as he had in the past.
The second-season yield of Golden Spirit Rice also set a new high, exceeding 9 shi [990 lbs / 450 kg].
This time, after paying his spirit rice tax, Qin Ming was in no hurry to take the rest out for sale.
Instead, he set aside a larger portion in storage to prepare for rainy days.
Manager Liao wanted to buy up more stock while prices were rising, but Qin Ming had already prepared an excuse, telling him about Daoist Long’s request to purchase spirit rice.
Recently, the price of spirit rice in the marketplace had continued to skyrocket, with the price increase exceeding sixty percent over original rates.
Qin Ming managed to make a modest fortune as a result.
The spirit stones in his storage pouch surpassed the 150-mark for the very first time.
He spent another 25 spirit stones at Manager Liao’s shop to purchase a low-grade Golden Light Protection Talisman and a low-grade magical instrument, the Verdant Spirit Sword.
“In times like these, a man can’t get by without securing some self-defense gear.”