Chapter 109: The Might of the Poisonous Flame (Fifth Installment)

A flash of vigilance crossed Qin Ming’s mind. In truth, with his powerful spiritual sense, he had discovered long ago that this person was tailing him. He had simply chosen to pretend he had not noticed.

Could it really be such a coincidence to run into someone in a place as vast as Canghai Immortal City?

"Senior Luo, this is hardly a coincidence, is it? You have been following me for quite some time; if you have something to say, just say it," Qin Ming said, exposing the man’s actions directly.

Caught in his tracks, Luo Rong gave an awkward, sheepish laugh. "I forgot that you are a second-tier master alchemist with a soul far stronger than an ordinary person’s. I didn’t expect such a small trick to fail to deceive you."

"Sigh, Fellow Daoist Qin, I am still asking about that Jade Marrow Ganoderma. I truly have a pressing need for it. Could you perhaps yield it to me?"

"Name your conditions."

Qin Ming had not expected the man to remain so fixated on the Jade Marrow Ganoderma. What exactly was his game?

"Senior Luo, forgive my bluntness, but this Jade Marrow Ganoderma is of great use to me as well. No matter the price, I will not sell it," Qin Ming replied flatly.

Rejected twice in a row, Luo Rong’s temper flared. Exasperated, he snapped, "You brat! I was only speaking to you kindly for the sake of Pavilion Master Gu; I didn’t expect you to be so ungrateful!"

"Do you really think I wouldn’t dare do anything to you?"

Qin Ming remained unmoved. "Within the walls of Canghai Immortal City, you certainly do not dare."

"Heh! Good! Very good!" Luo Rong laughed in fury.

Qin Ming had not anticipated that when bribery failed, the man would resort to using his status to intimidate him.

"I am actually curious, Senior Luo. Why are you so obsessed with this defective Jade Marrow Ganoderma? What exactly do you intend to do with it?"

"Would you care to enlighten me? Perhaps I might even agree."

Luo Rong let out a cold snort. "Hmph! Still trying to pry information out of me? You’re still too green."

"Since you are unwilling to speak, I shall take my leave." Without another word, Qin Ming ignored him and walked out of the shop, leaving the fuming Luo Rong behind.

Luo Rong gnashed his teeth, the sound grating in the air. Never before had a Qi Refining stage cultivator dared to speak to him in such a manner.

***

Returning to Mirror Snow Pavilion, Qin Ming recounted the incident to Gu Qingzhao, wanting to hear her perspective.

"This Luo Rong was originally an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator of the Hundred Flowers Sect. It is said he was expelled for violating sect rules."

"As it turned out, he had a stroke of luck, discovering a Foundation Establishment pill in an anonymous cavern, and successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage."

"He is a rather petty man."

"Would you like me to step in and give him a warning?"

Qin Ming waved his hand. "No need. I have been out for three days and must return to tend to my spirit fields. I will head back to Moon-Watching Island directly."

"Very well. I will have someone escort you, just in case," Gu Qingzhao said, her voice tinged with concern.

Qin Ming waved her off again. "There is no need. I have my own ways of dealing with such a person. You need not worry, Fellow Daoist Gu."

Seeing his resolve, Gu Qingzhao said no more. With the main purpose of his trip fulfilled, Qin Ming took his leave. Before he departed, Gu Qingzhao returned the courtesy by gifting him a few jars of fine, aged spirit wine.

"The other three Beauty-Preservation Pills you entrusted for auction will be sold at the grand auction in Canghai Immortal City in three months’ time. You are welcome to attend then."

Qin Ming accepted the fine wine with a smile. "Just handle the auction for me, Fellow Daoist Gu. You can have Aunt Long give me the surplus spirit stones later."

Gu Qingzhao nodded.

"Then I shall be off. You are welcome to visit Moon-Watching Island whenever you have the time."

After bidding her farewell, Qin Ming walked onto the main thoroughfare of Canghai Immortal City. Once he passed through the city gates, he mounted his spirit light shuttle and flew at full speed toward the Spirit-Perching Archipelago.

Behind him, a figure followed in pursuit.

Qin Ming expanded his spiritual sense and quickly detected the person behind him. It was none other than Luo Rong.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Qin Ming’s lips. It was no surprise that Luo Rong had followed him. He pushed the spirit light shuttle to its limit; with his current cultivation, flying at full speed was effortless. The shuttle trailed a long streak of green light, vanishing into the horizon.

Luo Rong, trailing behind, was soon drenched in sweat as the distance between them grew.

Qin Ming scanned his surroundings with his spiritual sense. Confirming that no one else was nearby, he suddenly slowed down, rounded a mountain peak, and came to a stop. He had lured Luo Rong out on purpose; he wanted to see what kind of medicine was in the man's gourd.

"This is far enough."

Half a cup of tea later, Luo Rong caught up. Just as he began to use his spiritual sense to locate Qin Ming, a boom echoed out.

From the side, a ball of ice-blue flame erupted, striking directly at his face. Sensing the intense heat of the flames, Luo Rong was terrified, his hair standing on end from the unexpected attack. This ice-blue flame gave him a profound sense of dread.

Luo Rong hurriedly produced a black umbrella-shaped defensive artifact, barely managing to block the strike. However, several flickers of blue flame landed on him. A searing pain followed immediately, and he frantically channeled his dharma power to extinguish the fire.

Just as he prepared his next move, Luo Rong’s face froze, twisted with horror. He felt his dharma power draining away at an alarming rate.

The Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame—once it touched, it clung like a maggot to bone, like a spark thrown into a vat of oil, rapidly consuming his power.

Within only a few breaths, Luo Rong felt his dharma power pouring out like a breached dam. His face went pale as a sieve, and more than half of his energy was burned away in an instant. Furthermore, the more he tried to channel his power to fight it, the faster it burned. He could barely maintain his flight.

"What—what is this devilish thing?!"

Luo Rong’s face was ghastly as he plummeted toward the mountain below, wobbling in the air.

Qin Ming watched coldly, flashing after him. With a wave of his hand, the Spirit-Devouring Poison Flame returned to his palm. He landed before the fallen Luo Rong and asked in a flat tone, "Where are you going, Senior Luo? You were following quite closely just a moment ago, weren't you?"

"Fellow Daoist Qin, it’s a misunderstanding..." Luo Rong’s face was drained of color; his dharma power was clearly exhausted. His lips trembled, and he began to plead.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator without a shred of dharma power was no different from a toothless tiger. He had never encountered such strange, malicious flames that could consume a cultivator’s power, and he had no way to counter them.

"Tell me, what do you need that defective Jade Marrow Ganoderma for?"

Luo Rong, slumped on the ground like a pile of mud, stuttered, "It is for brewing Foundation Establishment wine... Fellow Daoist Qin, I was wrong! Spare me!"

"I am willing to surrender the brewing method!"

At this moment, he no longer cared about the pride of a Foundation Establishment master. Watching Qin Ming walk toward him step by step, he was overcome with terror.

Qin Ming paused, stunned. Foundation Establishment wine? There was such a thing?

He flicked a black seed at the struggling Luo Rong and cast a Thorn Spell. After several shrill screams, all that remained on the ground was a dried corpse and a blood bead the size of an egg.

He collected the blood bead and picked up Luo Rong’s storage pouch. Using his spiritual sense to erase the seal, he took a look inside. After searching through it, he finally found what he had been looking for in a corner.