Chapter Seventy-Eight: Light Amid the Shadows [Thank you all for your continued support; we have entered the fourth round.]

“I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gu has any means of securing a spot to enter the Verdant Illusion of Flora,” Qin Ming said bluntly.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingzhao’s delicate brows knitted ever so slightly. She understood at once that Qin Ming’s inquiry must be about advancing to a second-rank Spiritual Planter. Instead of seeking a place from the second-rank planters within the Lingyu Sect, he had come to her. It was not hard to guess—he must have been stymied by the Lingyu Sect, for no one would easily let go of such a talent.

“If anyone else had asked, there would be no chance,” Gu Qingzhao replied after some thought. “But since it’s you, Fellow Qin… there may be an opportunity.”

She pondered for a long moment before continuing. Qin Ming’s eyes lit up at her words. “Then let’s make a deal,” he said at once.

“You’ll need to go in person, of course. I can put in a word for you,” Gu Qingzhao said. “Do you remember that Protector Huangfu has a Dao companion?”

Though he had never met her, Qin Ming recalled vividly that the second-rank spiritual plants in Senior Huangfu Qi’s abode were all cultivated by his Dao companion. “Yes, Senior Huangfu mentioned her to me,” Qin Ming nodded.

Gu Qingzhao went on, “Protector Huangfu’s Dao companion, Chen Qiaoling, is also a second-rank Spiritual Planter, and she is acquainted with an elder of the Lingyu Sect. You might try approaching her. There’s no time like the present—come with me to Yunmeng Mountain to pay her a visit.”

In exchange for two Divine Essence Fruits, Qin Ming obtained Gu Qingzhao’s personal recommendation. The transaction complete, the two left the market and set off for Yunmeng Mountain.

Half an hour later, as they had hoped, Qin Ming and Gu Qingzhao were received by Chen Qiaoling, Dao companion to Huangfu Qi. She was a graceful and voluptuous beauty at the early Foundation Establishment stage. After explaining their purpose, Chen Qiaoling considered for a moment before saying, “Since the Pavilion Mistress herself has brought you to discuss this matter, I’ll reluctantly agree. However, once it’s done, I have a condition.”

Qin Ming was delighted. “Senior Chen, please speak.”

“I want half a wisp of the Mother Qi of Ten Thousand Woods,” Chen Qiaoling stated plainly, her gaze fixed on Qin Ming.

Qin Ming pondered briefly, then answered just as straightforwardly, “Agreed. As long as I obtain it, I will not go back on my word.”

“With your talent in spiritual planting, ranking among the best should be no difficulty,” Chen Qiaoling said with a faint, meaningful smile. “For your sake, I’ll have to swallow my pride and beg that old fellow in the Lingyu Sect. You’re getting quite the bargain. Return in three days to collect your quota.”

With the matter settled, Fellow Qin felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his heart. Now, all preparations were complete—he had only to await the ripening of the second-rank spiritual plants in his five mu of fields.

...

Back at Qingyang Market, Qin Ming tended his spiritual fields as usual. As he neared his plot, he noticed a group of planters pointing and gesturing at his fields. Frowning, he quickened his pace.

“This Five-Colored Rice is mediocre at best—compared to my two mu of Jade Crystal Rice, it’s still a notch below,” commented a middle-aged cultivator in the robes of a Lingyu Sect planter, standing with haughty demeanor at the edge of a ditch.

The others echoed, “Precisely. Daoist Li Yan’s skills in spiritual planting are unparalleled, having been taught by Elder Zhuang Xiran. His promotion to second-rank Spiritual Planter is guaranteed.”

“When Daoist Li’s Jade Crystal Rice ripens, the name of Mingzhen Tower in the Lingyu Sect will surely resound throughout Cloud Marsh and the Wilds!”

“Of all the top-ranked planters, Daoist Li is the one I favor most.”

“That country bumpkin—who knows where he came from—must have gotten lucky. Even if he managed to grow a second-rank spiritual plant, so what? Without the elders’ approval, he’ll be stuck farming forever.”

Qin Ming had started out in good spirits, only to run into this group of ill-omened folks. “Excuse me, could you let me through?” he said, striding forward and giving a casual nudge with a burst of hidden force.

With a splash, the planter named Li Yan tumbled into the water-filled ditch, looking utterly disheveled. He quickly leapt back onto the bank, cast a cleansing spell on himself, and used his magic to dry his robes.

“Daoist Qin, what’s the meaning of this?” Li Yan glared, barely containing his anger. He had seen Qin Ming approaching and had intended to greet him, but without a word, the latter had sent him flying into the ditch. He had tried to dodge, but it was as if he had been rammed by a wild beast; he hadn’t stood a chance.

The others, witnessing the scene, were incensed and advanced on Qin Ming menacingly. Seeing this, Qin Ming’s late-stage Qi Refining cultivation erupted, surging with power around him.

“What now, fellow Daoists? Care for a little magical sparring?” Qin Ming retorted, utterly unfazed as he stepped forward and mocked them.

These planters, so powerless they couldn’t even wring a chicken’s neck, were hardly worth his time.

“Late-stage Qi Refining!” the planters gasped, and quickly scattered in all directions.

“Hmph! You’re lucky!” Li Yan shot Qin Ming a venomous glare and slunk away with the others.

Qin Ming watched them go, curling his lip. “You should count yourselves lucky you didn’t trigger the bramble trap I set up. Otherwise, I’d have a few more blood pearls by now.”

...

Winter passed, spring returned, and the seasons wheeled by. Time slipped away in a blink.

A year and a half later, with the dual aid of cultivation techniques and elixirs, Qin Ming had advanced to the eighth level of Qi Refining, and his “Hundred Treasures Glazed Scripture” had also broken through to the eighth layer—his strength had greatly increased.

The situation in Qingyang Market remained deadlocked, as all factions had failed to locate the dragon-shaped token despite the long search.

“Could it really be that Fellow Daoist Feng took it?” Qin Ming mused. “It’s almost certain.” Such a stalemate suited the Lingyu Sect perfectly. If his guess was right, Yu Wenhong, the genius with celestial spiritual roots at peak Foundation Establishment, was likely on the verge of a breakthrough.

But that was no longer his concern. Now, the five mu of second-rank spiritual plants in his fields had all ripened and flourished. The Lingyu Sect’s stewards had finished cataloging them. For three years, ever since he sowed those five mu, Qin Ming had tilled tirelessly, even moving into a shed by the fields to guard the crops day and night against any sabotage from within the Lingyu Sect. Many among the upper ranks still wished to see this grassroots spiritual farmer remain suppressed.

But his efforts were not in vain. The harvest was at hand, and he finally breathed a long sigh of relief. After the trial in the Verdant Illusion of Flora and his advancement to second-rank Spiritual Planter, the Lingyu Sect would have nothing more to say. The corvée would be lifted, and he would be free as a bird, leaping as a fish in boundless waters. All the strife here would have nothing to do with him.

Looking at the radiant five-colored rice in his fields, glowing with spiritual energy, Qin Ming was filled with joy. This spiritual rice could greatly boost cultivation at the Qi Refining stage and even benefit Foundation Establishment cultivators—truly a rare treasure.

There were also two mu of earth-yellow Scarlet Silver Hemp, valuable in every part and worth a fortune. And best of all, Qin Ming was free to dispose of them as he wished, without paying taxes.

Soon, the Lingyu Sect’s collection airship arrived right on schedule to gather the spiritual rice.