Chapter Thirty-One: Mirror Snow Pavilion

Inside the Steward Hall of the Spiritfeather Sect.

The atmosphere in the air was somewhat tense and stagnant.

Jiang Kun cast a glance at Qin Ming, noticing his attire marked him as a humble spirit farmer.

He did not regard him as worthy of any attention.

Qin Ming's expression soured at these words.

The few before him were all cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refinement, their auras powerful and oppressive.

If he let his hot blood get the better of him, the outcome was obvious.

The law of the jungle in the cultivation world was laid bare in this moment.

Qin Ming bit his lip, hesitating whether or not to hand it over.

But Jiang Kun had already snatched the jade token from the steward in charge of registration.

Seeing this, Qin Ming was startled and was about to speak.

But Jiang Kun, now holding the jade token, stared at the inscription on it, his expression shifting rapidly.

That usual arrogance gave way to a rare hint of apprehension on his face.

He then looked up, his voice cold as he addressed Qin Ming: “This is from the ‘Mirror Snow Pavilion’? Did Gu Qingzhao give it to you?”

Qin Ming was just about to answer.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, you’re here as well?” a new voice called from the entrance of the Steward Hall.

“That’s correct. The ‘Mirror’ token was a gift from our Pavilion Master to Fellow Daoist Qin.”

“If Young Master Jiang wishes to take it by force, perhaps you should consider the consequences.”

Everyone turned at the sound.

It was Manager Liao of Gathering Pavilion, entering with two attendants.

Qin Ming, too, was surprised.

Manager Liao’s words were firm, showing no fear toward these inner disciples of the Spiritfeather Sect.

‘What is this Mirror Snow Pavilion Jiang Kun mentioned?’ Qin Ming wondered silently.

Manager Liao greeted Qin Ming with a cordial smile.

Jiang Kun and his companions looked unsettled, their expressions shifting.

After a brief moment, Jiang Kun casually tossed the jade token back onto the counter.

“Hmph! Consider yourself lucky this time!”

His gaze lingered on Qin Ming for a moment, before he left with his followers.

Qin Ming watched them go, his eyes cold, already noting their names for the future.

‘Just wait until I grow stronger.’

‘You’d better hope you never fall into my hands.’

He then walked over and cupped his hands to Manager Liao, thanking him sincerely: “Manager Liao, thank you for helping me out just now.”

Manager Liao waved a hand dismissively. “No need, Fellow Daoist Qin, it was only for our Pavilion Master’s sake.”

“Why don’t you register your residence first? We can chat after our business is done, I have some matters to handle here as well.”

Qin Ming nodded in response.

Half a stick of incense later, Qin Ming finished registering and recording his new residence at the Steward Hall, paying a full year’s rent—a total of four hundred spirit stones.

Afterward, only just over three hundred spirit stones remained in his storage pouch.

“So quickly spent…” Qin Ming muttered, feeling the thin pouch.

Still, renting a house within the market district was well worth it.

He’d visited the Ruan family’s compound before.

Compared to his former shack in the slums, those residences were four or five times larger.

The area was spacious, and protective formations shielded the compound from prying cultivators, making it much more convenient for him to cultivate and accelerate his spirit plants.

Most importantly, the market district was guarded by a second-grade formation, far safer than the outside.

With these matters settled, Qin Ming finally felt a weight lifted from his heart.

He could now focus on his cultivation without distraction.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, if you leave a trace of your spiritual sense on this wooden token, the formation will record your aura. After that, only you can enter the courtyard—you’ll be the sole person with access,” explained the steward as he handed Qin Ming a purple wood token.

“Many thanks,” Qin Ming said, excitement stirring within.

“One more thing—the Ruan family tenants’ lease doesn’t expire for some days yet.”

“By the end of October, you’ll be able to remove the residence’s restriction and move in,” the steward reminded him.

Qin Ming acknowledged this with a nod.

He did not leave immediately, but waited by the entrance of the Steward Hall for Manager Liao.

He had some questions he wished to ask.

After half a cup of tea’s time, Manager Liao finished his business and came out.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, care to return to my shop for some tea while we talk?” Manager Liao asked with a smile.

Qin Ming declined politely. “No, I just have a quick question for you, Manager Liao.”

“Please, go ahead.”

Qin Ming took out the jade token that Gu Qingzhao had given him and asked, “Isn’t your shop called Gathering Pavilion? Why did Jiang Kun say this is a Mirror Snow Pavilion item?”

Manager Liao gave a slight smile, as if expecting this question. He explained:

“Since you’ve worked closely with us and won the favor of our Pavilion Master, it’s no harm to tell you.”

“The power behind Gathering Pavilion is Mirror Snow Pavilion.”

“Mirror Snow Pavilion has a thousand-year lineage, with business across the entire Southern Wilds cultivation world. Gathering Pavilion is but a small branch in Qingyang Market.”

“While we’re not a superpower, we’re not the kind of force that Spiritfeather Sect can push around.”

Finishing, he watched Qin Ming’s reaction.

Though Qin Ming had suspected that Gathering Pavilion’s backing was not simple, he hadn’t expected such far-reaching ties.

“I see—thank you for telling me, Manager Liao,” Qin Ming said with a cupped fist.

“No need for thanks, you’d have learned eventually as our partnership continued,” Manager Liao replied, offering no further details.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways.

…

Back in his cramped shack in the slums.

Qin Ming cooked a full pot of Blood Locust Rice and ate it all, then began cultivating the “Hundred-Treasure Glazed Scripture.”

Boom!

The power of blood and vitality surged within his body.

With the powerful boost from the Blood Locust Rice, his aura climbed steadily higher.

In the past, he’d only dared eat a single bowl at a time—his body unable to withstand the immense influx of blood energy.

But now, things were different.

His physical cultivation had reached the point of blood as dense as mercury, able to endure even greater enhancements.

Now, each session of cultivation allowed him to fully absorb and digest an entire pot of Blood Locust Rice.

After two hours of cultivation, it was complete.

Qin Ming slowly opened his eyes, feeling his blood energy had increased by another two-thirds.

“The sixth layer of Body Refinement is near.”

By mid-June, the third crop of Golden Spirit Rice had begun to sprout.

Qin Ming went to check on the spirit fields again.

Three new golden entries appeared in his vision:

[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Faint Magical Power (Maturity 5%)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Quality Enhancement (Maturity 6%)
[Name]: Golden Spirit Rice [Attribute]: Quality Enhancement (Maturity 5%)

Qin Ming’s eyes shone with excitement!

Two “Quality Enhancement” traits had appeared at once in his Golden Spirit Rice field.

Unbelievable!

Excitement welled up in his heart.

“If I can enhance the Blood Locust Rice’s quality two more times, won’t I be able to harvest top-grade Blood Locust Rice?”