Chapter Forty: Negotiations Collapse

Qin Ming was inwardly astonished—Jiang Kun’s methods and audacity were truly extraordinary.

The other man’s intentions were already abundantly clear.

He wanted to win him over, to draw this mid-tier spiritual cultivator to his own side.

He intended to place the exclusive supply of Beast Fang Rice in Jiang Kun’s hands.

With such a lavish offer, securing even a high-tier spiritual cultivator would not have been out of reach.

“I trust that you, Fellow Daoist Qin, understand the art of choosing wisely. You are a rare talent within our sect and should, naturally, stand with your own. I can offer you the same price for Beast Fang Rice. Does Gu Qingzhao from Mirror Snow Pavilion promise you a breakthrough elixir such as the Marrow Cleansing Pill?”

As Jiang Kun spoke, a smile appeared on his face. His words were earnest, well-reasoned, and compelling.

Had Qin Ming been an ordinary cultivator, he might well have found it difficult to withstand the allure of such a rare pill.

Jiang Kun was not wrong; Gu Qingzhao from Mirror Snow Pavilion had only offered him a single residence permit in the marketplace—nothing compared to Jiang Kun’s terms.

Yet what Jiang Kun did not realize was that Qin Ming had already surpassed beginner status as a pill refiner. With his soul power steadily increasing, it was only a matter of time before he could craft the Marrow Cleansing Pill himself.

Moreover, Qin Ming was focused on body cultivation at present—his spiritual power was still only at the fourth layer of the Qi Refining stage, so he had no immediate use for the pill.

“I’m afraid I must disappoint you, Senior Brother Jiang. My cultivation is shallow, and I have no need for the Marrow Cleansing Pill. As for the spiritual rice, I still wish to make my own decisions.”

Qin Ming took a deep breath and returned all the items before him to the jade box.

The smile vanished instantly from Jiang Kun’s face.

He had never expected that such generous terms would fail to move Qin Ming.

All this effort to win him over had been for two main reasons.

First, Jiang Kun had recognized Qin Ming’s extraordinary talent with spiritual plants—he had advanced to mid-tier cultivator in only a few years and had already mastered the most difficult of the spiritual planting techniques: the Advanced Spiritual Rain Art. No small feat.

Meanwhile, Jiang Kun had already arranged for an investigation and discovered that Qin Ming’s relationship with Su Yuqing, the high-tier pill master, was unusually close. This year’s records from the Sect’s Steward Hall showed that Qin Ming had assisted Su Yuqing in cultivating both high and supreme-grade spiritual plants.

From past experience, by year’s end, it was very likely that Qin Ming would advance to high-tier spiritual cultivator.

Not to mention, he had access to Su Yuqing’s network of connections.

Such talent was more than worth Jiang Kun’s investment—someone he was eager to bring into his circle.

Secondly, Jiang Kun’s own tea house, Mingzhen Pavilion, was in direct competition with Mirror Snow Pavilion. Binding Qin Ming to his side would deal a significant blow to Gu Qingzhao.

Although the sect had already imposed a ban on spiritual farmers privately selling spiritual rice, if Qin Ming simply stockpiled the Beast Fang Rice and sold it to neither side, Jiang Kun could not fault him or do anything about it.

It was said that the three acres of Beast Fang Rice Qin Ming had cultivated would be harvested this year—and all of it was of premium quality.

Gu Qingzhao was not the only one coveting it—Jiang Kun himself was practically salivating at the prospect.

Simply leveraging the exclusive, premium Beast Fang Rice would be enough to make Mingzhen Pavilion’s name overnight—a move of great strategic significance.

“Oh? Haha!”

“You’re right, I almost forgot—Fellow Daoist Qin has no immediate use for the Marrow Cleansing Pill.”

“How about this: I’ll exchange it for an equivalent amount of Spirit Gathering Pills. What do you say?”

Jiang Kun’s mind raced as he quickly adjusted his approach.

“Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Jiang, but my mind is made up. I wish to manage my own fields. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” Qin Ming politely but firmly declined.

He saw things clearly—none of these temptations could sway him.

He knew that Jiang Kun and his associates were not trustworthy people. Cooperating with them would only end in disaster, sooner or later.

“Hmph! Are you sure about this, Fellow Daoist Qin? If you choose to side with Gu Qingzhao, the sect’s rules will not go easy on you,” Jiang Kun retorted, his smile gone, his tone cold and threatening.

He had assumed that a mere spiritual farmer like Qin Ming would be easy to manipulate.

A little profit should have been enough to secure his loyalty.

He had not expected Qin Ming to be so utterly unyielding.

Jiang Kun’s patience was wearing thin; his face was frosted with anger.

All at once!

He unleashed the full force of his late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, his power radiating outwards.

His cold, piercing gaze bore down on Qin Ming, as if to force compliance through sheer intimidation.

“Are you absolutely certain you won’t reconsider, Fellow Daoist Qin?” Jiang Kun, having failed with bribery, now turned to threats.

In the past, Qin Ming would have been unable to withstand the pressure of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

But now, his body cultivation was only a step away from the late stage, and the pressure Jiang Kun exerted was all but meaningless.

Yet Qin Ming feigned weakness, his face turning pale as he forced himself upright and staggered out, pretending to be overwhelmed.

Outside the private room.

The short cultivator, Chen Zi’ang, saw Qin Ming emerge and hurried over with a smile, asking, “So? Did you reach an agreement?”

Qin Ming ignored him completely, bypassing him and heading down the stairs.

“Huh? What’s this?” Chen Zi’ang’s eyes darted as he rushed into the room.

Seeing all the items still on the table and the murderous look on Jiang Kun’s face, he immediately realized that the negotiation had failed.

“Senior Brother Jiang, that brat…” Chen Zi’ang ventured cautiously, knowing all too well Jiang Kun’s temper and that he could easily become the scapegoat for his wrath.

“Ungrateful wretch! Give him a little respect and he thinks himself important!” Jiang Kun’s tone was icy.

“If he won’t play along, we can’t let Gu Qingzhao have him either. Find the right moment, take some men, and deal with him!”

Chen Zi’ang’s face fell at these words. “Senior Brother Jiang, I’m afraid he’s not so easy to touch now. He’s a mid-tier spiritual cultivator, and I’ve heard that several elders from the Inner Sect’s Herb Valley have begun to take notice of him.”

“Hmph! Just handle it cleanly—don’t leave any evidence. Do I have to teach you how to do everything?”

“Yes, yes, I understand. I’ll take care of it myself. When it’s done, I’ll pin it on the marauders, and no one will trace it back to us, hehe…”

…

Leaving Mingzhen Pavilion.

On the main avenue of Qingyang Market.

Qin Ming’s expression was uncertain—he had truly angered Jiang Kun and his associates this time.

After much deliberation, he made a decision.

He turned and walked towards Gathering Pavilion.

Inside Gathering Pavilion.

Manager Liao, seeing Qin Ming arrive, immediately set aside his ledger and came out with a smile.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, what brings you to our shop today? Here for a drink? Or is there something you wish to purchase?”

Qin Ming stated his business plainly. “I have important matters—I wish to meet with Pavilion Master Gu.”

Manager Liao was taken aback by Qin Ming’s serious expression and wasted not a moment, bringing him upstairs at once.

In a private room on the seventh floor.

Upon receiving permission, Qin Ming entered.

Gu Qingzhao was as she always was—incense burning, tea at hand, immersed in a classic text.

Qin Ming came straight to the point, laying out the matter before Gu Qingzhao.

He had thought it through—rather than failing to deliver Beast Fang Rice at year’s end, it was better to explain everything to her now.

It would also prevent Jiang Kun from sowing discord between them.

When Gu Qingzhao finished listening, her brows drew together in a slight frown. She set down her book, and the incense smoke began to drift and swirl chaotically.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room grew tense and heavy.