Chapter Sixty-One: Fame in the Marketplace
Cool Cottage.
The morning light spilled gently, and a soft breeze stirred the air.
Qin Ming was leafing through the gifts his neighbors had given him yesterday, unable to suppress a sigh.
“Cultivation is all about the subtleties of human relationships!”
In the future, when one of these cultivators broke through, he too would need to repay their kindness.
He put the items away and stopped thinking about it, rising and leaving his room.
He strolled into the courtyard and headed straight for a corner.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz—
After some time, the beehive hanging from the Withered Blood Poison Vine had grown noticeably larger.
Qin Ming approached and peered closely, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.
“These Four-Winged Frost Bees—how have they become so irritable?”
He calmed his mind and used the Bee Command Technique to communicate with the queen, only to find her in a deep sleep, seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough!
Qin Ming’s spirit stirred. He casually captured a frost bee and examined it in his hand.
He saw several new purple-striped markings on its body.
All the bees had grown larger and were collectively undergoing metamorphosis!
This indigenous bee colony of the Cloud Marsh Wilds appeared to be on the cusp of advancing to first-tier spirit insects!
“How did they suddenly advance?” Qin Ming was both astonished and delighted.
“Could it be related to those three demon blossoms on the Withered Blood Poison Vine?”
After careful examination, he confirmed that the transformation in the bees was indeed caused by the purple demon flowers.
The reason: the purple stripes on the frost bees were nearly identical to the markings on the purple demon blossoms.
Moreover, the queen at the center of the hive had grown to the size of a fist, and seemed to have benefited greatly. Her aura had fully advanced to a first-tier inferior-grade spirit insect.
Qin Ming pondered, then used two rounds of the “Accelerate Maturity” command to urge the three purple demon blossoms into full bloom.
A seductive fragrance instantly filled the entire courtyard.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
Now the spirit bee colony was even more excited!
Qin Ming did not rush to mature all the blossoms of the Withered Blood Poison Vine. He wanted to observe the bees over the coming days to see what further changes would occur.
“An unexpected harvest, indeed.”
…
Noon.
Qin Ming stepped out of the courtyard and walked along the streets of Qingyang Market.
He planned to lease the spirit fields on the second-tier spiritual vein.
On the main thoroughfare.
Familiar cultivators from the surrounding shops greeted Qin Ming one after another.
“Fellow Daoist Qin, congratulations! To achieve the rank of superior-grade spirit plant master at such a young age!”
“Congratulations, Daoist Qin! Truly a model among us itinerant cultivators.”
“Daoist Qin, congratulations, congratulations!”
All the old-timers residing in Qingyang Market spared no words of praise.
Passersby’s eyes all focused on Qin Ming.
Even cultivators who didn’t know him began to inquire.
“Excuse me, shopkeeper, who is that Daoist? Is he very accomplished?”
“You don’t know?”
“Yesterday among the spirit farmers serving inside the Spirit Feather Sect, a young cultivator from a family made a quiet comeback and advanced to superior-grade spirit plant master in one fell swoop!”
“That spirit farmer is Qin Ming—Daoist Qin!”
“His status is bound to soar from here; his path to immortality is limitless!”
“And rumor has it, Daoist Qin is close friends with Grand Alchemist Su Yuqing. Besides being a superior-grade spirit plant master, he’s also a mid-grade pill master!”
“If not for Daoist Qin hosting a celebration banquet at Gathering Pavilion yesterday, none of us would have known!”
“It’s rare for such a figure to emerge among us itinerant cultivators.”
“Daoist Qin is a shining example among spirit farmers—a cultivator from humble beginnings who climbed step by step to superior-grade spirit plant master. Truly inspiring! I plan to pay him a visit in a few days.”
…
Once Qin Ming stepped outside, cultivators congratulated him all the way, one after another.
He was thoroughly embarrassed.
“This is not good! Fame invites trouble, just as fat pigs invite slaughter.”
“If bandit cultivators set their sights on me, I’ll be in real trouble.”
“Ah! I really shouldn’t have held that gathering!”
Qin Ming secretly regretted it deeply.
He first went to see Supervisor Du Haifu to terminate the lease on the eight acres of spirit fields on the first-tier spiritual vein.
“Ah—who would have thought, Daoist Qin! I heard from the sect elders that you even passed that notoriously difficult assessment.”
“Your reputation now isn’t just in Qingyang Market—even within Spirit Feather Sect, you’re causing quite a stir! Haha!”
Though his own spiritual roots were ordinary, he was still in his twenties, and after advancing to superior-grade spirit plant master, he was now considered a promising young cultivator.
Qin Ming sighed inwardly at these words.
He couldn’t stay low-key even if he wanted.
But his goal was to become a second-tier spirit plant master; sooner or later, he would have to take this step.
Afterward, he completed the lease termination with Du Haifu.
“Daoist Qin, you’re now a superior-grade spirit plant master and eligible to lease spirit fields on the second-tier spiritual vein.”
“You can go directly to the Steward Hall to handle the process.”
“Daoist Qin, don’t forget us folk up on the sect mountain. Do visit when you have time, hahaha!”
Du Haifu’s plump face beamed with flattery, smiling like a Buddha.
His heart was a jumble of emotions.
From now on, Qin Ming would no longer be under his supervision.
After bidding Du Haifu goodbye, Qin Ming went to the Steward Hall and stated his purpose.
The steward in charge of second-tier spirit fields at Spirit Feather Sect introduced matters to him with gentle courtesy.
“Daoist Qin, all second-tier spirit fields are located in the eastern area near Qingyang Market. Depending on their proximity to the spiritual vein’s center, they are divided into grades A, B, C, and D. Second-tier fields are scarce, totaling only about a hundred acres.”
“Grade A fields have the best soil and highest concentration of spiritual energy. Besides paying the spirit rice tax, each acre requires an annual payment of three hundred spirit stones.”
“Grade B fields require two hundred spirit stones per acre per year.”
“Grade C fields require one hundred fifty per acre, and grade D fields one hundred per acre annually.”
Qin Ming thought briefly and decided, “I’ll lease five acres of grade A fields.”
The steward’s smile broadened.
“Very well, Daoist Qin. I’ll process this right away.”
Qin Ming handed over fifteen hundred spirit stones to the steward.
The Spirit Feather Sect steward efficiently completed the lease procedures.
“Daoist Qin, here is your spirit field lease token. Please keep it safe.”
Qin Ming took the token and left the Steward Hall.
He could hardly wait to see what these second-tier spirit fields were like.
After two incense sticks’ time, Qin Ming arrived at the eastern second-tier fields.
Before him unfolded a landscape of clear springs and verdant woods, enchanting scenery, and spiritual fields of rare beauty—a world apart.
The spiritual energy here was especially dense; Qin Ming took a deep breath and instantly felt refreshed in mind and spirit.
All the fields here were planted with superior-grade spirit plants of the first tier and above.
Moreover, Spirit Feather Sect’s late-stage Qi Refining cultivators patrolled in teams throughout the day.
However, he noticed that none of the fields were yet planted with second-tier spirit plants.
Qin Ming entered the five acres of grade A fields he had leased.
The fields were already neatly tended, awaiting his cultivation.
He squatted down, grabbed a handful of spirit soil, and carefully examined it.
The soil was exceptionally fertile, perfect for growing high-tier spirit plants.
After a moment’s consideration, Qin Ming had already decided what kind of plants to cultivate.
But he planned to first visit Gathering Pavilion to purchase some spirit seeds.