Chapter 106: The Gift of the Elixir and the Trail

Qin Ming followed Gu Qingzhao up to the seventh floor private chamber of Mirror Snow Pavilion.

“Daoist Gu, you really needn’t go to such lengths,” Qin Ming said, somewhat overwhelmed.

Although he had sent a communication talisman to Gu Qingzhao immediately upon arriving at Canghai Immortal City, he had not expected the esteemed head of the pavilion to come out personally to greet him. It was truly an honor that left him feeling both surprised and flattered.

Gu Qingzhao’s starlit eyes subtly appraised Qin Ming. She sensed that he had changed in some indefinable way since they last met. Beyond that, there was now a serene, ethereal quality about him that even her foundational cultivation could not penetrate.

Her voice flowed like a clear mountain spring as she replied, “Daoist Qin is an important partner of this pavilion and an honorary guest. As this is your first visit to Canghai Immortal City, it’s only fitting that everyone here be introduced to you.”

Qin Ming nodded and smiled in acknowledgment.

The private chamber was filled with a gentle fragrance. Gu Qingzhao poured spiritual tea for Qin Ming before speaking, “Are you still here on account of the jade agate ganoderma?”

“Indeed,” Qin Ming responded, taking a sip of the tea.

“Ah, that item is truly difficult to find; the higher sects have monopolized it entirely. Rarely does any of it circulate beyond their control.”

Qin Ming had expected as much but still said, “No matter. I am deeply grateful to you, Daoist Gu, for helping me gather so many spiritual materials.”

Gu Qingzhao smiled modestly. “It’s nothing—it’s but a small matter for me.”

She then added, “Besides the materials previously collected, there’s a new batch that has just arrived. I will have Steward Liao bring them to you now.”

Qin Ming’s expression brightened. “That would be excellent.”

Shortly thereafter, Steward Liao entered the room, following Gu Qingzhao’s instructions. He warmly greeted Qin Ming and then produced several jade boxes of varying sizes from his storage pouch, each containing numerous materials for refining foundational pills.

Some herbs appeared in three or four portions, others only one; a few were of insufficient age or even withered, having lost their potency. Gu Qingzhao could not fathom why Qin Ming would accept even these expired materials—perhaps for experimental purposes, as alchemists’ intentions often varied.

With a wave of his hand, Qin Ming caused all the materials on the table to vanish and stored them away.

He then turned to Steward Liao and asked, “How much do you charge for these materials? I will take them all.”

Liao smiled. “After an 20% discount, the cost is just over thirty thousand spirit stones. The pavilion master specifically instructed me to charge Daoist Qin thirty thousand spirit stones flat.”

Qin Ming knew this was Gu Qingzhao’s goodwill gesture—an especially generous discount. Moreover, by mobilizing Mirror Snow Pavilion’s channels to gather these materials, she had done him a considerable favor.

In that case, Qin Ming thought, it was only right to return the kindness.

Under the watchful eyes of Gu Qingzhao and Steward Liao, two exquisite porcelain bottles appeared in Qin Ming’s hands.

He handed one bottle to Gu Qingzhao and said, “Please accept this token of my appreciation. Thank you for your efforts on my behalf.”

He then placed the other bottle on the table and added calmly, “As for the pill inside this bottle, please entrust it to the auction. The thirty thousand spirit stones can be deducted from the proceeds.”

Steward Liao’s eyes twitched in disbelief. He could not fathom what kind of pill could be worth more than thirty thousand spirit stones per bottle.

Gu Qingzhao’s beautiful eyes also showed a trace of curiosity as she took the porcelain bottle, gently lifting the seal.

An intense, exotic fragrance immediately filled the entire chamber.

She tilted the bottle, and a snow-white pill, flawless as jade, rolled into her palm.

The pill exuded an extraordinary spiritual aura; its energy clearly exceeded that of first-rank pills.

It was, in fact, a second-rank spiritual pill.

Gu Qingzhao’s mind raced with countless thoughts as she carefully recalled where she had seen such a pill auctioned before.

Suddenly, it came to her—it was once sold at a major auction in Canghai Immortal City.

Its name was the “Radiance Preservation Pill,” famed for a single effect: eternal youth and unaging beauty.

Though well-versed in many things, Gu Qingzhao could not help but feel a mixture of astonishment and uncertainty.

She knew full well that refining a second-rank Radiance Preservation Pill was no easier than crafting a foundational pill—if anything, it was even more challenging.

Faced with Qin Ming’s generous gift, even her usually aloof heart stirred with a flutter.

No woman could resist the allure of eternal youth.

In terms of rarity, this Radiance Preservation Pill was no less precious than foundational pills.

Gu Qingzhao’s eyes gleamed as she smiled softly, “I gratefully accept it, Daoist Qin. Thank you for your kindness!”

“And congratulations on your promotion to second-rank Alchemist Master!”

Steward Liao, overhearing this, was visibly stirred. With his experience, he now understood why one bottle of this pill could equal the value of many materials.

“Daoist Qin, is this truly a second-rank Radiance Preservation Pill?” As the steward of Mirror Snow Pavilion, he recognized it at once. “Did you refine it yourself?”

Qin Ming nodded lightly, confirming the question.

Receiving Qin Ming’s affirmation, Liao sincerely congratulated him, “Congratulations on breaking through to second-rank Alchemist Master. Your cultivation in the immortal path has advanced further.”

Then, hesitating, he asked, “Daoist Qin, I thought refining second-rank pills required innate true fire from the foundational stage?”

Qin Ming explained, “I was fortunate enough to refine a second-rank terrestrial spiritual fire, so I could produce second-rank pills.”

Gu Qingzhao’s expression brightened with understanding.

“Unexpectedly, Daoist Qin has broken through to second-rank alchemist so quickly. There are only three second-rank alchemists in Canghai Immortal City at present.”

“Since you can refine the Radiance Preservation Pill, crafting foundational pills must be well within your capability.”

“Among the three second-rank alchemists, only Master Sun Jinnian has the ability to create foundational pills. His status and reputation are the highest among the city’s alchemists.”

With the transaction concluded, Qin Ming learned much about the situation in Canghai Immortal City from Gu Qingzhao.

He then settled in at the guesthouse run by Mirror Snow Pavilion.

For the next two days, Qin Ming sought every possible lead on the whereabouts of the jade agate ganoderma.

Yet, in the end, he found nothing.

Just as he was preparing to return to Moonview Island, news from Gu Qingzhao brought him renewed hope.

“Daoist Qin, the latest intelligence indicates that some independent cultivators in Canghai Immortal City have spontaneously pooled resources to invite Master Sun Jinnian to refine foundational pills.”

“Consequently, there is a high probability that traces of the primary materials will appear among these independent cultivators.”