Chapter 149: Divergence

Upon receiving the message from Aunt Long, Qin Ming exchanged a few words with Wu Jiang and left Wangyue Island.

A short while later.

Riding his beloved Silver-Winged Frost Bee, he arrived at Tianhe Bazaar.

This time, he did not bother with disguises to conceal his identity, since he was going to meet Aunt Long on business.

After undergoing the routine inspection to enter the bazaar, Qin Ming followed the main thoroughfare directly toward the Jingxue Pavilion.

Some of the casual cultivators passing by on the street recognized Qin Ming and, reacting with astonishment, eagerly stepped forward to greet him warmly.

"Senior Qin! Congratulations, congratulations!"

"Congratulations on your promotion to a Tier 2 Upper-Grade Spirit Planter Master!"

"Island Master Qin is truly the pride of our Lingqi archipelago. A Tier 2 Upper-Grade Spirit Planter is unique across the entire archipelago."

"Fellow Daoist Qin is truly formidable! Renowned throughout Canghai Immortal City, it is said that even True Person Canghai granted you a personal audience."

"Ah? An audience with a Golden Core True Person? That is a tremendous honor!"

"Fellow Daoist Daoist Qin, would you be interested in publishing a treatise on spirit planting?"

"Many of our peers in the Lingqi archipelago wish to study and emulate your methods..."

"Indeed, indeed! Quite a few peers have recently changed professions and rushed into farming..."

"..."

A ceaseless stream of flattering congratulations echoed in Qin Ming's ears.

While pasting on a polite smile to acknowledge them, Qin Ming quickened his pace toward the Jingxue Pavilion.

He had never been fond of such public spectacles.

Especially the last suggestion that he author a book; it really made him feel utterly ashamed.

What should have been a half-cup of tea's journey ended up being delayed by over half an hour.

Outside the entrance of the Jingxue Pavilion, the still-charming Aunt Long had been waiting for quite some time.

With a warm demeanor, she ushered Qin Ming into the shop and served him spirit tea.

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Qin's reputation has truly skyrocketed in the bazaar during this period!" Aunt Long poured him a cup of tea and said with a beaming smile.

Hearing this, Qin Ming gave a wry smile and said, "Alas, it is all just fleeting clouds."

"By the way, have there been any leads on the two items Aunt Long mentioned?"

Aunt Long nodded gently and said with a serious expression, "Indeed. According to our reliable sources, in half a month, the Seventy-Two Islands Loose Cultivator Alliance and the newly supported Nie family of the Leiyuan Sect will host a large-scale trade fair on Qianye Spirit Island, lasting for seven days."

"They have invited various factions to attend and set up stalls."

"I have inquired and learned that the inventory list for the trade fair on Qianye Spirit Island includes both high-grade ape-type beast essence blood and Tier 3 spirit plant seeds."

Qin Ming took a sip of the spirit tea and asked with some perplexity, "Why would the Loose Alliance and the Nie family jointly host such a trade fair? They are even willing to sell high-grade seeds of Tier 3 spirit plants."

Aunt Long seemed to have anticipated Qin Ming's question. "Naturally, it is because of an uneven division of spoils."

"Ever since the Zhao family of Qianye Spirit Island was annihilated, the Loose Alliance and the Leiyuan Sect were deadlocked over the distribution of resources for quite a long time."

"Although the Leiyuan Sect ultimately took the lion's share and secured ownership of Qianye Spirit Island, the resources acquired by the Loose Alliance cannot be underestimated."

"As both sides deepened their development of Qianye Spirit Island, they gradually discovered numerous resources that the Zhao family had no time to take away, along with various other treasures."

"You must know that Qianye Spirit Island not only possesses a Tier 3 spirit vein, but also the core-formation spirit material known as 'Mystic Yin Earthly Nether Spirit Liquid,' which yields a fixed output every hundred years."

"When it came to distributing certain resources, disagreements arose once more between the Loose Alliance and the Nie family. Neither wanted to let the other profit cheaply, so they came up with the idea of a trade fair."

"By splitting the spiritual stones evenly, neither side has any grounds for complaint."

"Yet everyone knows full well that while the Loose Alliance and the Nie family cannot reach an agreement openly, and the Leiyuan Sect wishes to prevent the stable situation from shifting once more, the two factions can only wrestle beneath the surface."

"At this trade fair, the Loose Alliance and the Nie family will likely send agents to place covert stakes."

"At the same time, the Seventy-Two Islands Loose Alliance invited other island factions in the Lingqi archipelago to participate and trade surplus goods on Qianye Spirit Island, hoping to use this opportunity to restore post-war trade relations among the islands."

Qin Ming suddenly understood, nodding as he said, "So that's how it is."

"Then the number of islands and factions participating in this trading convention must be quite substantial, I presume?"

Aunt Long smiled faintly and said, "Those overly small families naturally lack the qualifications to receive an invitation."

"Only the spirit islands that have joined the Loose Alliance and the large factions within the Tianhe Bazaar can participate."

"Our Jingxue Pavilion is on the invitation list."

"As an honorary guest of our pavilion, Fellow Daoist Qin is naturally qualified to attend."

With that, Aunt Long produced an invitation letter for Qianye Island and handed it to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming accepted the invitation, a smile appearing on his face. "Fellow Daoist Long, many thanks!"

"Fellow Daoist Qin is a distinguished guest of our pavilion. Such a trivial matter is only my duty; please do not stand on ceremony."

"When the time comes, Fellow Daoist Qin can simply set off with us. I will notify you in advance."

After the conversation concluded, Qin Ming shared a meal at the Jingxue Pavilion and subsequently left the shop.

Having finally made a rare trip out, he originally intended to browse the bazaar stalls, but considering his prominent profile over the past two days, he decided it was better not to swagger through the streets.

"Keep a low profile, maintain a low profile... Even the most glorious deeds eventually fade in the passage of time."

"Besides, I haven't done anything earth-shattering..."

Qin Ming prepared to leave the bazaar and return to his Wangyue Island.

Right at that moment.

A graceful figure wearing a black bamboo hat brushed past him.

Suddenly!

Qin Ming's brows furrowed; he felt a sense of déjà vu regarding the female cultivator who had just passed by.

Instantly, he released his divine sense to observe the other party.

The black bamboo hat worn by the female cultivator was rather peculiar, appearing to be a magical artifact capable of blocking divine sense detection.

Yet, before Qin Ming's powerful divine sense, it was mere decoration.

Qin Ming increased the intensity of his divine sense, instantly piercing the barrier of the bamboo hat to reveal the delicate visage beneath.

To his utter surprise, the woman hidden beneath the black bamboo hat was a complete stranger to him.

'Eh? Why don't I know her...'

'This really was rather presumptuous...'

The female cultivator also seemed to realize someone was prying, but upon turning around and discovering a Foundation Establishment grand master, she wore a panicked expression and hurriedly fled the scene.

"Ahem!" Qin Ming gave a light cough, his face neither red nor pale, and departed the bazaar as if nothing had happened.

...

Inside the Tianhe Bazaar.

The aforementioned woman in the black bamboo hat wound her way through several alleys, confirming that no one was following her.

She made a few more twists and turns, then gently and rhythmically knocked on the closed door of a shop nestled within the alley.

The wooden door opened, and she slipped sideways inside.

"Why are you only arriving now?" a hoarse voice asked from the darkness.

The bamboo hat woman hesitated for a moment before softly explaining, "I ran into an acquaintance at the entrance of the bazaar. To be safe, I took a detour."

"Oh?!"

"Did they recognize you?" the hoarse voice questioned coldly.

"No, I have a spirit artifact that allows for facial disguise."

"Good then."

"Did you secure the items?"

"Mm, they are all right here."