Chapter 112: The Emergence of Spirit-Perch Rice

Previously, when the registrar from the Spirit Planter’s Guild first made their routine visit to the island, Qin Ming had not yet planted the Spirit-Perch Rice. At that time, only the Spirit-Gathering Tea and Purple-Gold Bamboo—both second-tier medium-grade spirit plants—had been registered. Consequently, when the registrar returned and discovered the vast, mature fields of Spirit-Perch Rice, they were struck with profound shock. Fortunately, the origin of Qin Ming’s Spirit-Perch Rice was well-documented, as he had purchased the seeds from Mo Lingwei on Azure Glow Island.

Given the rarity of the Spirit-Perch Rice, Qin Ming securing a spot in the Flora Illusion Realm was a certainty. Even the name of the Spirit-Perch Archipelago itself was derived from this very grain. Having been dormant for over a hundred years, one could only imagine what the reappearance of this rice meant to the local cultivators.

The next day, news of the rice’s return exploded through the Heavenly River Market like a thunderclap.

"What?! Someone finally succeeded in growing Spirit-Perch Rice?"
"Is this some kind of hoax?"
"How could it be fake? The news came straight from the Spirit Planter’s Guild. It’s absolutely certain."
"Which master planter managed it?"
"Word is it’s Master Qin from Moon-Gazing Island."
"Wow, I’m so envious!"

In an instant, Moon-Gazing Island, a remote outpost in the far north, became the center of everyone’s attention.

"Sigh, I wanted to keep a low profile, but I’m just too talented," Qin Ming remarked, hands behind his back, staring out with a heavy sigh.

All the cultivators who came seeking him were blocked outside the island by his second-tier high-grade defensive formation. Qin Ming refused to see anyone. Even Wu Jiang, who worked under him, was rattled by the commotion.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, will this lead to any trouble?" he asked cautiously.

"No matter. Unless a Golden Core ancestor arrives, no one is getting onto this island." Qin Ming’s words immediately put him at ease. Wu Jiang looked at Qin Ming with pure admiration. "Fellow Daoist Qin, you are truly incredible. To have cultivated the Spirit-Perch Rice, which has been extinct for a century... I wish I had your skills."

Of course, there were those bold enough to attack the defensive formation of Moon-Gazing Island. Qin Ming did not tolerate such insolence. After killing several groups and feeding them to his Longevity Vine, the petty scoundrels no longer dared to approach.

Half a year passed.

As Qin Ming remained in seclusion, the fervor surrounding the Spirit-Perch Rice gradually faded, and the onlookers dispersed. Qin Ming had not been idle during these six months. Within his cave dwelling, he used the "Regenerative Spirit Seed" trait to resurrect a defective piece of Jade Marrow Fungus. He then used the "Leaf of Time" to accelerate its growth to three hundred years, after which he harvested its seeds. He repeated this process until he had obtained six samples of three-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Fungus. After setting aside the seeds for future use, he used these specimens to revive and accelerate other necessary spirit herbs. Since the requirements for the other materials were not as stringent, the process went quickly. In the end, he obtained six complete sets of ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. However, he was in no rush to refine them; he planned to deal with the Flora Illusion Realm first.

The black demonic fruit on the Longevity Vine had also ripened. Qin Ming harvested five "Faint Longevity" traits and used them on the spot, instantly extending his life by fifty years. With his current Qi Refining cultivation, he now possessed a lifespan of over two hundred and ten years—comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Once he broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, his lifespan would increase by another two hundred years or so. As for the black skull-like fruit that the Longevity Vine had produced, it still contained spirit seeds capable of casting the Thorn Spell. However, he was uncertain of their power, as the Longevity Vine had advanced in rank since he last used them; presumably, the potency of the Thorn Spell had increased as well.

One day, Qin Ming summoned Wu Jiang. "Fellow Daoist Wu, I am heading to the Vast Sea Immortal City to handle some business. I may be gone for three to five days, or perhaps ten to fifteen. I leave Moon-Gazing Island in your care. The troublemakers have already retreated, so as long as you do not leave the island, there shouldn’t be any major issues."

After speaking, Qin Ming pulled several bags of spirit beast meat and a bottle of Spirit-Feeding Pills from his storage bag and handed them to Wu Jiang. He then turned toward the cave entrance. A black-gold Mysterious Water Crocodile, over two zhang long, waddled out. Its aura had already reached the late stage of the first tier—the result of Qin Ming feeding it spirit beast meat and pills for the past several months. Using the secret technique from the "Beast Taming Manual" trait he had acquired, Qin Ming had successfully established a master-servant contract with the crocodile.

Wu Jiang turned deathly pale at the sudden sight. "Fellow Daoist Qin, this is..."

Qin Ming chuckled. "Do not be afraid, Fellow Daoist Wu. This is my pet, the Mysterious Water Crocodile. While I am away, it will guard Moon-Gazing Island with you. With it as your assistant, you will be perfectly safe. Just remember to feed it some beast meat and a Spirit-Feeding Pill every day."

Wu Jiang shivered. "And if I forget to feed it?"

"It will find something else to eat on its own."

"Ah?!"

...

After giving his instructions, Qin Ming departed from Moon-Gazing Island. With the Mysterious Water Crocodile and his Six-Winged Frost Bees—both late-stage beasts—guarding the island, nothing would go wrong. He first steered his Spirit Light Flying Shuttle toward Azure Glow Island. When he had purchased the Spirit-Perch Rice seeds, he had promised Mo Lingwei fifty jin if he succeeded in growing them. His three mu of rice had yielded over twelve hundred jin, even with the notoriously low output of second-tier spirit grains, so fifty jin was a mere drop in the bucket for him.

He sent a message to Mo Lingwei, and by the time he reached the gates of Azure Glow Island, Mo Lingwei and the elders of the Mo clan were already there to welcome him. In addition, Duan Haishan and Tang Feng, who rented the other two peaks on the island, were present as well, having likely caught wind of the news.

Qin Ming had other matters to attend to and could not stay long. He took out the fifty jin of Spirit-Perch Rice and handed it to Mo Lingwei. "Mo Lingwei, I have kept my promise. Our transaction is now complete."

Before Mo Lingwei could speak, Duan Haishan, who was also a spirit planter, stared at the rice in astonishment. "Fellow Daoist Qin, your methods are truly remarkable. You actually managed to grow it! I am deeply impressed!"

Tang Feng looked at Qin Ming with a complex expression.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Qin. I was right about you," Mo Lingwei said, her heart filled with excitement as she accepted the rice. How many years had it been? The Spirit-Perch Rice had been brought back to life; surely, the ancestors would be comforted to know this.

"Well, now that this is settled, I have other urgent business. I shall take my leave," Qin Ming said, bowing to the group before departing. Mo Lingwei watched his receding figure, her beautiful eyes reflecting a rare and complex emotion.