Chapter 107: A Sudden Turn of Events (Third Update)

Upon meeting Qin Ming, Gu Qingzhao hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Perhaps, Fellow Daoist Qin, you might consider joining them in their crowdfunding for pill refinement. The materials you possess are certainly sufficient to qualify."

"I could act as an intermediary for you."

Qin Ming frowned slightly at these words. After pondering for a long while, he asked, "May I ask about the success rate and quality of the Foundation Establishment Pills refined by Alchemist Sun Jinnian?"

"It is roughly around thirty percent; with a bit of luck, perhaps forty. Alchemist Sun is a high-grade Tier 2 alchemist, so this success rate is already considered quite high," Gu Qingzhao explained.

"As for the quality, there are occasional instances where one or two 'fine' quality Foundation Establishment Pills are produced, though the probability is very low."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming felt the risks were too high; it did not seem stable. If the attempt failed, all the materials he had painstakingly accumulated over the years would be completely wasted. Moreover, his original goal was not a standard-quality Foundation Establishment Pill; at the very least, he required 'fine' quality, and 'superior' quality would be even better. Even if a Foundation Establishment Pill were successfully refined through crowdfunding, the distribution of the pill remained an issue, and the initiative would not rest in his own hands. In such a scenario, Alchemist Sun would certainly demand a commission. In the best-case scenario, he would receive at most one pill. Given his own aptitude, a single Foundation Establishment Pill was not a very secure bet.

After weighing the pros and cons, Qin Ming decided to keep the initiative in his own hands.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, I have thought it over and decided to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill myself."

"Have you heard who holds the primary ingredient, the Jade Marrow Ganoderma?" Qin Ming stated his decision and then asked.

Gu Qingzhao smiled faintly, as if she had expected Qin Ming to say exactly this.

"I have already inquired about the situation. The Jade Marrow Ganoderma, the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, is in the hands of Shen Yuanxiong, the patriarch of the Shen family in the west of the city."

"Shen Yuanxiong is a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I imagine his initiative to crowdfund materials for alchemy is to secure a Foundation Establishment Pill for his descendants."

Qin Ming felt quite curious. "Do you know how Shen Yuanxiong obtained the Jade Marrow Ganoderma?"

"I heard that his ancestors were once elders of the Shennong Sect. During his tenure, his merits were exceptional, and he was bestowed several treasures by the sect; the Jade Marrow Ganoderma was one of them."

"Later, after suffering grave injuries and having his path to immortality severed, he came to Canghai Immortal City to settle down, establish a family, and branch out."

"The Foundation Establishment Pill that Shen Yuanxiong himself used when he reached the Foundation Establishment stage was also obtained through crowdfunding, for which he provided the main ingredient, the Jade Marrow Ganoderma, over a dozen years ago."

"I truly did not expect that he would have more than one portion of the Jade Marrow Ganoderma in his possession," Gu Qingzhao said slowly.

Hearing this, hope rose in Qin Ming's heart. He said to her, "Are you familiar with the Shen family, Fellow Daoist Gu? If possible, could you introduce me?"

Gu Qingzhao thought for a moment and said, "The Shen family is a family of talisman makers, and they do have dealings with our Mirror Snow Pavilion. I can certainly provide an introduction for Fellow Daoist Qin."

"However, whether you can successfully obtain the Jade Marrow Ganoderma depends on fate."

"After all, Shen Yuanxiong intends to use the materials for crowdfunding, and I fear he will not easily part with the Jade Marrow Ganoderma in his possession."

Qin Ming nodded, and then he and Gu Qingzhao left the Mirror Snow Pavilion, heading towards the Shen residence in the west of the inner city.

An incense stick of time later, Gu Qingzhao brought Qin Ming to the gate of the Shen family estate. After a page boy went in to announce them, the gate opened, and a short, stout old man in fine clothes walked out. He was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

He greeted them with a beaming smile and bowed to Gu Qingzhao. "So it is Pavilion Master Gu who has honored us with her presence! Please, come inside and sit in my humble abode."

It seemed this man was Shen Yuanxiong. Shen Yuanxiong also glanced at Qin Ming. He had never seen a young male cultivator accompanying Pavilion Master Gu of the Mirror Snow Pavilion before, and he could not help but feel a bit surprised.

"May I ask who this is?" He smiled at Qin Ming and asked Gu Qingzhao.

Gu Qingzhao replied calmly, "This is Fellow Daoist Qin, an honorary guest of our pavilion."

Hearing this, Shen Yuanxiong immediately understood, but he thought that such a young guest must be someone extraordinary. Thus, he greeted Qin Ming politely, "Fellow Daoist Qin, please come inside for a cup of spirit tea."

The two then entered the Shen family estate. However, as soon as he stepped inside, Qin Ming was stunned. There were more than twenty cultivators gathered in the courtyard, most of them rogue cultivators. It seemed these cultivators had all come for the sake of the crowdfunded alchemy. It was estimated that after the Shen family's screening, only four or five would remain.

Shen Yuanxiong led the two into a room. After closing the door, he set up a sound-dampening barrier and asked, "I wonder if Pavilion Master Gu and Fellow Daoist Qin have come to my humble home today also for the sake of the crowdfunded alchemy?"

Qin Ming then truthfully revealed his purpose for coming and offered generous terms.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuanxiong's face showed a look of embarrassment. After a long while, he slowly said, "Pavilion Master Gu is no outsider, so I can tell you both the honest truth."

"I do indeed have two portions of Jade Marrow Ganoderma left, but those are my final stock."

"If it weren't for my son—who is not very capable—having a chance to reach the peak of the Qi Refining stage, I would never have intended to bring them out at all."

"All of my hopes are pinned on this, and I cannot afford even the slightest mistake."

"So, I fear I must disappoint Fellow Daoist Qin."

Qin Ming frowned and pondered for a moment before saying decisively, "In that case, let me be frank with you, Senior Shen. Could you entrust one portion of the Jade Marrow Ganoderma to me for alchemy?"

"After the pills are refined, I can similarly distribute one Foundation Establishment Pill to you, Senior Shen."

Shen Yuanxiong's eyes widened. He looked at Qin Ming in disbelief, then turned to look at Gu Qingzhao beside him. "This... Pavilion Master Gu, could it be that Fellow Daoist Qin is..."

"That is correct. Fellow Daoist Qin is also a Tier 2 alchemy master," Gu Qingzhao nodded gently, answering with absolute certainty.

Only then did Shen Yuanxiong realize he had underestimated the ordinary-looking Qin Ming before him. That explained it.

"So Fellow Daoist Qin is actually a Tier 2 alchemy master! My apologies for the oversight!" Shen Yuanxiong recovered from his shock and then asked, "May I ask if Fellow Daoist Qin has ever refined a Foundation Establishment Pill before?"

Qin Ming answered frankly, "Not yet, primarily due to a lack of spirit materials."

"However, Senior Shen, please rest assured. I am very confident in my ability to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill."

Gu Qingzhao also added, "I can personally vouch for this. Fellow Daoist Qin has already successfully refined the Youth-Preserving Pill, which is quite difficult among Tier 2 pills."

Shen Yuanxiong was stunned. If he had never refined one before, where did this confidence come from? Moreover, seeing that Qin Ming was only at the late stage of Qi Refining and was so young—and having never heard of this person before—he found it difficult to trust his alchemy skills. It seemed he was a newly emerged Tier 2 alchemist, perhaps a bit headstrong.

Thinking this, Shen Yuanxiong made his decision. Even with Pavilion Master Gu's guarantee, he could not gamble with his clansman's path to immortality.

He pondered for a moment and then said apologetically, "I am truly sorry. I have already reached an agreement with Alchemist Sun Jinnian. These two portions of Jade Marrow Ganoderma must be handed over to him entirely for refinement."

Qin Ming was greatly disappointed. It seemed the other party still did not trust him, which was quite normal.

"However... I do have one more portion of Jade Marrow Ganoderma here, but its spiritual energy has been severely damaged, and its medicinal potency is insufficient..."

"I don't know if Fellow Daoist Qin might have use for it. If you need it, I would be willing to sell it to you."

Qin Ming had been prepared to leave in disappointment, but he had not expected this sudden turn of events. His eyes lit up immediately, and he hurriedly asked, "Is that true?"

Shen Yuanxiong nodded and then took a long, rectangular jade box from his storage bag, opening the lid.

A translucent ganoderma, as clear as emerald, appeared before the eyes of Qin Ming and Gu Qingzhao.