Chapter Thirty-Four: Intermediate Spiritual Herb Master

Qingyang Market.

Qin Daoist once again arrived at the Steward Hall of the Spirit Feather Sect.

This time, the assessment of intermediate-grade spiritual plants was even more formal than the first.

Inside an enclosed private chamber, only Qin Ming and three examiners sat across from each other.

The examiners responsible for this assessment were all genuine first-grade, high-tier spiritual plant masters of the Spirit Feather Sect.

All three were elderly men, their gazes toward Qin Ming revealing an unhidden appreciation.

They had long heard that among the spirit farmers, there was a young man with extraordinary talent for cultivating spiritual plants.

In just a single year, he had once again grown intermediate-grade spiritual plants.

Even the most challenging advanced Spirit Rain Technique had been mastered by him.

But most importantly, he was so young...

And with youth comes infinite possibility.

The balding elder seated to the far left was the first to pose a question:

“Which other spiritual plant should not be grown together with the intermediate-grade first-tier Blazing Fire Grass?”

Qin Ming pondered briefly, then replied at once, “Earth Pear Fruit.”

“Earth Pear Fruit drains a great deal of fire spiritual energy from its surroundings, causing the Blazing Fire Grass to lack sufficient nutrients.”

“Correct,” the balding elder smiled, admiration glinting in his eyes.

He had chosen an obscure question, not expecting the other to answer so quickly.

And to analyze the reason as well—quite rare indeed.

The next examiner immediately followed with another question.

“What environmental conditions are required for the growth of the Violet Sunflower?”

...

So the exchange of questions and answers continued, and time passed steadily.

Qin Ming answered almost fluently throughout, only needing a moment’s thought for a few of the more difficult questions.

After the Q&A concluded, there was a test to identify various spiritual plants and seeds.

Two hours passed.

The assessment was complete.

All three examiners gave top marks.

“Young and promising indeed.”

“Keep working hard; the future holds great hope.”

With the assessment passed, the steward of the Spirit Feather Sect stamped Qin Ming’s spiritual plant master badge with a new mark of magical power.

The second leaf on the back of his badge was illuminated.

This signified that Qin Ming had officially become an intermediate-grade, first-tier spiritual plant master.

His status had risen yet another notch.

Rubbing the badge as he exited the Steward Hall, Qin Ming was overwhelmed with emotion.

Three years prior, he was just a lowly spirit farmer, worried sick about not being able to pay his spiritual grain tax.

But now, even the high-tier spiritual plant masters of the Spirit Feather Sect regarded him with respect.

The identity of an intermediate-grade spiritual plant master was enough to earn him recognition anywhere.

Leaving the Steward Hall.

Qin Ming followed the main road directly to the Ruan Family’s grand estate.

In just a short while, he arrived at its gates.

He took a deep breath as he looked at the manor.

In the past, he never would have dared imagine that one day he could move into such a magnificent, independent residence.

He gazed at the characters “Ruan Family” on the red-lacquered gate.

The scene of Daoist Ruan opening this door for him for the first time lingered vividly in his memory.

With a flick of his hand, the nameplate fell from the gate.

“From now on, it shall be called Qin Residence.”

A smile crossed his lips and he nodded in satisfaction.

Taking out his wooden token, he unlocked the estate’s restriction array. From this moment on, only he could come and go freely.

He took a tour inside, familiarizing himself with the environment.

The place had already been completely emptied, sparing him the trouble of cleaning up.

Not only did the estate have concealment arrays to block probing, it also featured a spirit gathering formation connected to the second-tier spirit vein of Qingyang Market.

The spiritual energy here was abundant—utterly incomparable to the shantytown or the houses outside.

The higher a cultivator’s rank, the more demanding their cultivation environment.

Most important of all was safety. Compared to the shantytown, it was many times more secure.

No more daily occurrences of murder and looting.

After all—

Qin Ming was now an intermediate-grade spiritual plant master, and potentially a target for rogue cultivators.

Unlike before, when as a lowly spirit farmer with nothing to his name, even bandits would be moved to tears by his poverty...

After exploring the estate, Qin Ming left the gates.

He planned to move in the next day.

The following day.

Qin Ming, at the cost of a single feast at Gathering Pavilion, enlisted Old Cai to help move his belongings.

“What? What did you say?!”

“You’re moving into the market to live?”

Upon hearing the news, Old Cai was stunned, unable to recover for some time.

Still, he understood.

Over the past few years, this kid Qin Ming had advanced at a breakneck pace, long since leaving old spirit farmers like himself far behind.

Becoming an intermediate-grade spiritual plant master and moving into the market was hardly surprising.

Qin Ming was sentimental; there were some large items he couldn’t bear to throw out, and they wouldn’t fit in his storage pouch.

The two of them toiled all morning.

They filled an entire large cart.

As they left.

Qin Ming glanced back at his dilapidated little house, full of memories.

Then, with a resolute gaze, he turned away.

...

The two walked briskly, driving the cart down the alleyways.

Passing by the canal in the shantytown, cultivators living nearby heard the commotion and gathered together.

“Daoist Qin...”

“Old Cai...”

“What are you two up to?”

A few middle-aged female cultivators, who often washed clothes by the canal, saw the cart piled high with bags and bundles.

Puzzled, they asked, “Daoist Qin, didn’t you just become a first-tier, low-grade spiritual plant master?”

“Even if the rent in the shantytown has gone up, it’s not so expensive you’d have to move out, is it?”

Other cultivators joined in, “Daoist Qin, things have been chaotic in the shantytown lately. If you find a better place, let us know as well.”

Before Qin Ming could reply.

Old Cai, who was driving the cart, couldn’t hold back any longer, “Qin here just advanced to intermediate-grade spiritual plant master yesterday, and now he’s moving into a grand estate inside the market.”

As his words fell, the surrounding air grew silent.

All eyes, full of shock and disbelief, focused on Qin Ming.

Even the middle-aged women washing clothes didn’t notice as their garments drifted away with the river current.

Intermediate-grade spiritual plant master?

Moving into a private estate in the market?

Could it really be true?

A barrage of information battered the minds of those present.

Qin Ming offered a modest smile and explained, “Recently, thanks to a chance encounter with a senior, I was lucky enough to receive a spot.”

Wow!

With Qin Ming’s quiet confirmation, the previously astonished gazes quickly turned into envy and jealousy, tinged with respect.

The status of an intermediate-grade spiritual plant master was worlds apart from theirs as itinerant spirit farmers.

No wonder Qin Ming could afford the high rent within the market.

A private estate in Qingyang Market—

Even just the second-tier defensive array was enough to make these precarious rogue cultivators green with envy.

Not to mention, it contained a second-tier spirit vein and a spirit-gathering array covering the entire estate.

Cultivation would be twice as effective for half the effort.

“Congratulations, Daoist Qin!”

“Congratulations on your promotion to intermediate-grade spiritual plant master! A true role model for all us spirit farmers.”

“Daoist Qin is truly blessed, with wide connections!”

In a flash, more cultivators arrived by the canal, having heard the news.

They showered Qin Ming with congratulations and praise.

One sharp-eyed cultivator seized the chance to ask, “Daoist Qin, will you be needing a steward for your estate? Do you think I’d be suitable?”

Old Cai, hearing this from the cart, flared up and snapped, “Damn it! I haven’t even secured a spot yet! Who do you think you are?!”

PS: Thanks to “Grand Steward Niu Lao Zhi” for the recommendation vote.