Chapter Ninety-Two: Rejected

On Azure Glow Island.

Waterfalls poured down like bolts of silk, clear waters rippled in the light, green trees cast deep shade, dark mountains stood like ink, the blue sky was freshly washed, white clouds drifted idly, and the reclaimed spirit fields stretched out in terraced layers, orderly yet varied.

Across the entire island lay hundreds of acres of fertile land.

Within the spirit fields, many low-ranking spirit farmers labored diligently among the rows.

When these humble cultivators noticed someone flying overhead, they all looked up, their eyes filled with envy.

Qin Ming lowered his gaze to the farmers below and could not help but sigh inwardly.

He, too, had once been just like them, and for an instant he felt as though years had passed in a dream.

Azure Glow Island truly deserved its reputation as an island blessed with a mid-grade second-tier spirit vein; the moment the two entered, they felt a rich flow of spiritual energy brush against them.

A faint green mist hung in the air, mingling with the light as if time itself were flowing before their eyes, hazy and dreamlike.

Qin Ming took in the island’s terrain from the air and saw that it resembled a brush rack, with three peaks rising within it.

Beside him, Wu Jiang explained, "Azure Glow Island has three spirit peaks. The one in the center is Red Glow Peak, where the spiritual environment is supported by a mid-grade second-tier spirit vein."

"The two on either side are Vast Sea Cliff and Mulberry Wood Peak, each with a low-grade second-tier spirit vein environment."

Qin Ming nodded.

Then the two descended onto the slope of the central Red Glow Peak.

At the mountain gate, several cultivators from the Mo clan immediately came out, wary in expression, and stepped forward to question them. "May I ask what brings the two fellow Daoists to our island?"

Wu Jiang explained their purpose.

The guards went inside to report.

After a short while, an elderly man with silver hair emerged, his body radiating the fluctuations of a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator.

"Oh! So it really is Little Wu!" the old man said.

"It’s been many years. Didn’t your father say you went to the Great Wasteland of Cloud Marsh to seek fortune? How are you back so soon?"

At that, Wu Jiang blushed and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Elder Mo, something went wrong over there, so I came back early."

"Haha! Coming back is fine. Even if there is fortune to be found, one must still have the life to enjoy it," Elder Mo said with a nod.

Then he looked at Qin Ming. Seeing that Qin Ming appeared utterly ordinary, he frowned and asked, "I assume this young friend is the one you wished to introduce as a co-tenant?"

Wu Jiang hurriedly nodded. "This is Fellow Daoist Qin Ming, late-stage eighth-level Qi Refinement, and a second-tier spiritual planter."

At those words, a flicker of astonishment passed through Elder Mo’s expression, though he concealed it well.

"So Fellow Daoist Qin is a second-tier spiritual planter. My apologies for not recognizing your worth sooner!"

Qin Ming returned the courtesy. "Greetings, Elder Mo."

"In that case, please both come to the main peak for a discussion. The clan head is currently selecting a co-tenant, and several other fellow Daoists have already come forward in response." With that, Elder Mo ushered them inside.

The three of them followed the winding stone path up the mountain.

The forest trail was fresh as a poem, while the tea-covered slopes on either side were lush and vivid, like jade inlaid upon the island.

Numerous caves and courtyards had been built along the mountainside. Secluded from the dust of the world, this hidden land knew only the gentle echo of insects and birds in the valley.

Morning light fell upon the tallest building on the main peak, gilding its edges and making it shine brilliantly.

Such a spirit land, blessed by heaven and nature alike, was filled with immortal charm and stirred the heart with longing.

In that instant, Qin Ming had already made his decision. Even if he were to share the lease, he would have a mountain peak here.

There, he could farm in peace. Truly, it was a fine place.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the three entered the grand hall of the mountain buildings.

Several people were already seated inside.

When they saw someone enter, all eyes turned toward Qin Ming and the others.

After entering, Elder Mo reported to the woman seated at the head of the hall, "Clan Head, Little Friend Wu has also introduced a Fellow Daoist Qin who is interested in co-tenancy."

Qin Ming’s gaze fell upon her as well.

On the main seat sat a stunning beauty in her twenties, dressed in a long gown of pale green gauze, her temperament gentle, elegant, and composed.

This woman was Azure Glow Immortal Maiden Mo Lingwei.

On the way here, Wu Jiang had already told Qin Ming that Mo Lingwei was at the late stage of seventh-level Qi Refinement.

But now that Qin Ming looked at her, he saw that she had concealed her true cultivation.

Her actual level was the perfection stage of Qi Refinement.

Just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

Had Qin Ming not possessed spiritual sense comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he might not have noticed the discrepancy either.

It seemed to be some highly accomplished technique for concealing one’s aura.

Mo Lingwei smiled faintly at Qin Ming. "Welcome, Fellow Daoist Qin. Please, sit wherever you like."

Hearing this, Qin Ming found an empty chair and sat down casually.

Mo Lingwei then began explaining the arrangements for the island lease, including the rent and other matters.

With every slight turn of her brows and every gentle smile, she seemed like a phoenix in graceful flight, a lotus in full bloom.

"Then, let each of you introduce yourselves as well. I must consider matters carefully before making my choice."

"Lastly, I should say this plainly: if anyone has other intentions, my Mo clan may terminate the co-tenancy agreement at any time."

After that, the cultivators who had come seeking co-tenancy began introducing themselves one by one.

These were all cultivators who had passed the Mo clan’s screening before being allowed into the hall.

None of them were ordinary wandering cultivators.

The first to introduce himself was a middle-aged cultivator named Tang Feng, with seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivation and the title of a high-grade first-tier talisman master.

His background was clean. He had struggled for more than a decade in Azure Sea Immortal City, and this time he wanted to lease the island in hopes of finding a tranquil place to comprehend and break through to second-tier talisman mastery.

The second to stand up was an elderly man in a scholar’s robe named Duan Haishan, with eighth-level Qi Refinement cultivation. Like Qin Ming, he was a spiritual planter.

However, he was only a high-grade first-tier spiritual planter, a bit lower in rank than Qin Ming.

Then, after seven or eight cultivators had finished introducing themselves in succession,

it was finally Qin Ming’s turn.

Qin Ming rose to his feet, nodded toward Mo Lingwei on the main seat, and then began his introduction.

When he spoke of being a second-tier spiritual planter, everyone in the hall was shocked to the core.

"Does Fellow Daoist Qin have a badge proving his identity as a spiritual planter?" asked the elderly Duan Haishan, looking troubled, as though he could hardly believe that such a young man could be a second-tier spiritual planter.

After all, he had spent his whole life cultivating spirit plants and had only just managed to break through to high-grade first-tier.

The others also looked at Qin Ming, hoping to verify whether it was true.

A second-tier spiritual planter would be treated as an honored guest in any major sect or power.

Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded. A wooden identity plaque for a spiritual planter appeared in his hand, and he gently infused it with magical power.

On the back of the plaque, the spirit plant symbol representing a second-tier spiritual planter instantly lit up with a green glow.

"It really is a second-tier spiritual planter!"

"Heroes truly come from the young... Fellow Daoist Qin is so accomplished at such a tender age. This old man is sincerely impressed!" Duan Haishan dismissed his doubts and stood, clasping his hands toward Qin Ming.

Mo Lingwei felt a ripple rise in her heart, and a trace of surprise flashed almost imperceptibly through her beautiful eyes.

But soon she calmed herself, her expression becoming thoughtful.

After everyone had finished introducing themselves, Mo Lingwei said in a gentle and refined voice, "Please wait a moment and enjoy some spirit tea to rest yourselves."

"I will confer with the clan elders inside, and in a little while I will give everyone the final result."

With that, Mo Lingwei gave the crowd a slight bow and went into the inner hall.

Two sticks of incense later, Mo Lingwei came out again and announced the result.

"Fellow Daoists Tang Feng and Duan Haishan may stay."

"As for the rest, I’m truly sorry, but you may tour the island if you wish, or leave on your own."

As her words fell, Tang Feng’s face lit up with joy.

Duan Haishan first froze, then revealed a trace of confusion, before quickly putting on a smiling expression as well.

The cultivators who were not chosen sighed in disappointment and took their leave of Mo Lingwei.

Qin Ming was likewise taken aback by the outcome.

He could not fathom what Mo Lingwei was thinking. Instead of choosing him, a second-tier spiritual planter, she had selected Duan Haishan, a high-grade first-tier planter.

Since that was the case, he could only take his leave.

Wu Jiang looked utterly blank, full of confusion and incomprehension.

After bidding farewell to Elder Mo, he hurried after them like a gust of wind.

After Tang Feng and Duan Haishan had been settled,

Elder Mo voiced the question in his heart. "Why did the clan head not heed our advice and choose Fellow Daoist Qin? He is..."

Mo Lingwei’s brows knitted, and she cut him off with a wave of her hand. Then, with a resolute expression, she said, "If I am to lead the clan onward, I must be cautious, and I cannot allow even the slightest mishap."

"Both Tang Feng and Duan Haishan are people we know inside and out. Their backgrounds are clean, they have a solid reputation in Azure Sea Immortal City, their character can be trusted, and most importantly, they are within our ability to control."

"As for that Qin Ming, to be honest, I observed him for quite some time in the hall just now, and I still could not see through him."

"And a second-tier spiritual planter is already far beyond the scope of what we can fully control."

"This was only our first meeting, and I have never even heard any account of his deeds before."

"At the very least, before I reach Foundation Establishment, having such a person living nearby would keep me uneasy day and night."

Only then did Elder Mo smile with relief. "The clan head is becoming more and more like the old clan head."

Mo Lingwei smiled faintly at those words, but a touch of gloom flickered across her face.