Chapter 142: Tier 2 Superior Spiritual Plant Master Trial

During this period, the spiritual plants cultivated by Qin Ming on the island matured one after another.

Within the spiritual pool beneath the main peak, a dozen lotus seed pods resembling polished jade swayed gently. The Jade-Hua Spiritual Lotus was a treasure from top to bottom; its seeds, pods, and roots could all be used in alchemy. As exceptionally rare primary ingredients for high-grade medicinal pills, they were seldom seen across the entire realm of immortal cultivation.

Even Su Yuqing, hailing from the vast Great Jin Immortal Dynasty where cultivation resources abounded, had to commission Qin Ming to grow them.

Behind the main peak, on hundreds of second-tier decayed logs, clusters of Mist Illusion Mushrooms had also reached maturity. Pink cap after pink cap continually released curling wisps of rosy mist.

Qin Ming guided all of these mists directly into the Mist Illusionary Realm. As time went on and things progressed at this rate, the defensive fog shrouding Moon-Gazing Island would soon reach a terrifying scale.

Next, Qin Ming had no choice but to leave Moon-Gazing Island for a while.

This was because he needed to begin preparing for his advancement to a second-tier superior spiritual planter, participate in the trial examination of the Flora Illusionary Realm, and acquire the Primal Qi of Ten Thousand Woods.

After giving instructions to Wu Jiang, Qin Ming summoned the Silver-Winged Frost Bee and departed from Moon-Gazing Island.

Having stayed on the island for a long time without stepping outside, the sight of the outside world suddenly gave him a surreal feeling, as if he had been separated from the mortal realm for ages.

Following the enhancement of its bloodline, the flying speed of the Silver-Winged Frost Bee had increased even further.

Moving like lightning, Qin Ming reached Skyriver Market in less than half an hour.

After passing through the security checks, he entered the market.

This time, he did not conceal his appearance or identity, since he was heading to the Spiritual Planter Guild to handle matters concerning his advancement.

He walked steadily along the main thoroughfare.

"Am I seeing things?"

"Wasn't that senior who just passed by the Master of Moon-Gazing Island, Master Qin?"

"What? Didn't rumors say Moon-Gazing Island was completely enveloped by a sinister mist, and that even late Foundation Establishment cultivators who entered would never return?"

"It really is Senior Qin!"

"He's heading in the direction of the Spiritual Planter Guild."

"Could it be that he is preparing to advance to a second-tier superior spiritual planter?"

"What incredible spiritual plant has Master Qin cultivated this time?"

"Just as I said, how could anything possibly happen to Master Qin?"

"First he cultivated the Spiritual Roost Rice, and then he refined Foundation Establishment Pills."

"He is already a prominent figure in the Lingxi cultivation world."

"There is no way he would meet an untimely end."

...

As Qin Ming appeared within the market, various discussions and speculations regarding Moon-Gazing Island arose once again.

Paying no mind to the chatter, Qin Ming proceeded directly to the Spiritual Planter Guild.

When he presented himself there once more, the registrar responsible for maintaining the guild's records was greatly astonished.

Upon hearing that Senior Qin had come this time to prepare for his advancement to a second-tier superior spiritual planter, the white-haired registrar looked at him with profound reverence.

Shortly thereafter, accompanied by the registrar and amidst the gazes of the surrounding crowd, Qin Ming flew back toward Moon-Gazing Island.

As the two approached the vicinity of Moon-Gazing Island, the sky-obscuring pink mist began to emerge.

The bald, white-haired old man stopped in his tracks, hesitating to proceed further.

"Haha, there is no need to worry." Qin Ming merely raised his hand and waved gently, whereupon the mist instantly parted, revealing a passage just wide enough for two people to walk through.

Looking at the incredible scene before him, the old man from the Spiritual Planter Guild was utterly shocked.

"Fellow Daoist Qin truly possesses remarkable methods!"

Moments later, the two entered the interior of Moon-Gazing Island.

When the registrar caught sight of the various rare and high-grade spiritual plants flourishing within, the ledger in his hand slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a soft thud.

"This—"

"A fully matured second-tier supreme spiritual plant, the Jade-Hua Spiritual Lotus!"

"A second-tier supreme spiritual plant, the Mist Illusion Mushroom. So the illusionary realm capable of blocking Golden Core ancestors is actually generated by this spiritual plant."

"And... am I still seeing things?"

"My heavens! The legendary Dragon-Blood Divine Tree!"

"Not to mention countless other second-tier spiritual herbs and medicines..."

The old man from the Spiritual Planter Guild was completely numb. He remembered that during his last visit here, the mere appearance of the Spiritual Roost Rice had already left him immensely shaken.

He had never expected that this visit would broaden his horizons to an even greater extent.

Some of these spiritual plants existed only in ancient texts and were virtually impossible to find in the outside world.

This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on them in person.

"Fellow Daoist Qin—no, Master Qin, this old man has finished recording everything."

"Forgive my bluntness, but Master Qin is, without a single exception, the most formidable spiritual planting master this old man has ever encountered in all my years as a registrar." The bald, white-haired elder praised Qin Ming without reservation.

"As for the trial quota for advancing to a second-tier superior spiritual planter, I'm afraid no one else could possibly contend with Master Qin for it."

Once all matters were concluded, the elderly registrar from the Spiritual Planter Guild was escorted out of Moon-Gazing Island by Qin Ming, glancing back three times with every step he took.

Next, Qin Ming needed to set out for Vast Sea Immortal City to participate in the trial examination of the Flora Illusionary Realm.

Before leaving, he sought out Wu Jiang once more to brief him on various arrangements.

This time, Qin Ming brought along both of his spiritual beasts, the Profound Water Crocodile and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee.

After all, so many major events had occurred over the past year, and it was always best to exercise the utmost caution.

With these two formidable mid-Foundation Establishment fierce beasts by his side, he would be able to retreat unscathed even if he encountered danger.

Mounting the Silver-Winged Frost Bee and stowing the Profound Water Crocodile into his spirit beast pouch, Qin Ming transformed into a streak of silver escaping light and vanished toward Vast Sea Immortal City in the blink of an eye.

The journey to Vast Sea Immortal City, which previously required an entire day of travel, was now completed in less than two hours.

Upon arriving at Vast Sea Immortal City this time, Qin Ming did not rush to visit Gu Qingzhao of the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

Instead, knowing that the trial of the Flora Illusionary Realm was about to commence, he proceeded directly to the headquarters of the Spiritual Planter Guild within the city.

On this occasion, Liu Guochang, the grand master of the Spiritual Planter Guild, received Qin Ming in person.

Having received the reports transmitted back from Skyriver Market, he was himself profoundly astonished.

The young cultivator standing before him was on the verge of becoming a second-tier superior spiritual planter just like himself.

After a brief exchange of polite pleasantries, Qin Ming learned that, counting himself, there were only three second-tier intermediate spiritual planters participating in this trial examination for the Flora Illusionary Realm.

Furthermore, the other two participants were quite advanced in years, which highlighted just how scarce second-tier superior spiritual planters truly were.

Both of those individuals came over to express their goodwill toward Qin Ming.

Having arrived earlier, they had already heard rumors that Qin Ming possessed a very high probability of successfully advancing to the superior tier.

As for the two of them, neither held much confidence; advanced in age, they had simply come to try their luck one last time.

Spiritual planters who managed to reach this stage were becoming increasingly rare.

Under the presiding authority of the guild master, the ancient, magnificent wooden array was activated.

A verdant brilliance showered down upon the three spiritual planters, and their figures vanished from the spot.

Liu Guochang, the chief master of the Spiritual Planter Guild, gazed deeply in the direction of the wooden array, lost in thought.

"Master Guild Master, what do you think are the chances of these three passing the advancement examination?"

"Hmm, it's hard to say for the other two, but this old man holds high hopes for Fellow Daoist Qin."

"Provided he does not select an excessively difficult illusionary realm, it should not be much of a problem."

"Does that mean the Wei State's cultivation world is about to welcome yet another second-tier superior spiritual planter?"

"No such formidable newcomer has appeared for decades."

"It's high time old fellows like us stepped down and yielded our positions to the talented."

...

The very next moment, Guild Master Liu Guochang's gaze fell upon the stone stele that represented the entry point of Qin Ming.

Instantly, the expression on his face turned exceedingly complex, filled with incomprehension and astonishment.

"This Fellow Daoist Qin has actually chosen the Grade-A difficulty trial of the Flora Illusionary Realm."

"If it were merely a second-tier inferior trial, that would be one thing, but this is a second-tier superior trial examination, alas!"

"Among all historical trials for second-tier superior spiritual planters, no one in the Wei State's cultivation world has ever managed to pass a realm of such difficulty."

"Ever since the birth of the Flora Illusionary Realm, the number of second-tier intermediate spiritual planters who have successfully passed it can be counted on one's fingers."

"Although Fellow Daoist Qin possesses exceptionally profound attainments in the art of spiritual planting, isn't this perhaps a bit too arrogant?"

"Ah, let us wait and observe how events unfold."

...

Inside the Flora Illusionary Realm.

It was still that familiar small wooden cabin. Once Qin Ming selected the Grade-A difficulty of the Flora Illusionary Realm, the wooden door creaked open.

Rumble!

A deafening roar echoed thunderously beside Qin Ming's ears.

Countless streams of scorching magma and billowing volcanic ash surged up into the firmament!

A magnificent and imposing volcanic mountain range materialized within Qin Ming's line of sight.

A wave of intense, searing heat instantly washed over him!