Chapter Sixty-Eight: Unexpected News

“Thank you for your kind offer, fellow cultivators, but my abilities are limited, and I won’t risk myself for this.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Qin Ming declined outright.
He had already learned from Gu Qingzhao that there was far more to this matter than met the eye. It was fraught with hidden dangers; a single misstep could mean utter destruction—body and soul annihilated.
Let alone the so-called Foundation Establishment opportunity.
Besides, with his steady approach of cultivating his fields, he could gradually grow stronger without courting such chaos.
Huang Xishan and the other neighbors stared at him in disbelief.
They hadn’t expected Qin Ming to refuse so decisively.
“Well, so be it. Since you’re unwilling, we won’t press you. We’ll take our leave now,” Huang Xishan said regretfully, cupping his hands to Qin Ming before preparing to depart.
Watching his neighbors go, Qin Ming hesitated for a moment and said, “Must you really go? With two sects present, even if there’s an opportunity, it won’t be easy to claim.”
Huang Xishan turned back with a sigh.
“We’re not as young as you, Qin. If we weren’t at this age, we wouldn’t have to be so desperate.”
“If we fail to establish our foundation before sixty, our path in cultivation ends there.”
“Though we have some standing in the market now, when our lifespan runs out, it will all be for naught.”
“So why not seize this chance and gamble everything?”
…
Qin Ming pressed his lips together, knowing there was no persuading them. He said no more.
After seeing them off,
He glanced at the two acres of spiritual herb fields in his courtyard.
[Name]: Divine Essence Fruit [Trait]: Soulforce Crystal x5 (Maturity 1%)
[Name]: Demonflame Grass [Trait]: Accelerate Growth x5 (Maturity 92%)
[Name]: Crystal Night-bloom [Trait]: Accelerate Growth x5 (Maturity 95%)
[Name]: Seven-leaf Yellow Ginseng [Trait]: Bloodline Reversion (Maturity 94%)
Of all the spiritual herbs he’d planted this year, only the second-tier Divine Essence Fruit still needed time; the others were near harvest.
He felt somewhat reassured.
After tending the fields, he left the house.
Qin Ming headed to the alchemy room in the shanty district to refine Spirit-nurturing Pills. After several failures, he could now craft them skillfully.
His pill-formation rate was above seventy percent—a remarkable achievement for a pill of such difficulty.

As Qin Ming walked along the main avenue of Qingyang Market, he ran into an old acquaintance.
“Well, if it isn’t Qin! Long time no see!” Du Haifu, his belly protruding, ambled over with several disciples from the Spiritfeather Sect in tow.
Judging by their appearance, they were here on business.
Qin Ming smiled in greeting. “Du, it’s been a while.”
Du Haifu beamed, brushing off his sleeves unconsciously.
It was then Qin Ming noticed the blue robe—signifying that Du had become an outer sect steward.
He’d been promoted!
“Oh! My apologies—I should address you as Steward Du!” Qin Ming quickly corrected himself.
Du Haifu nodded, unconcerned. “No need for formality, Qin. Your own standing is hardly low these days. Let’s keep things friendly.”
“When did you become an outer sect steward? I hadn’t heard the news,” Qin Ming asked with a smile.
Du Haifu waved a hand. “It’s only happened in the last couple of days—no wonder you didn’t know.”
He then shared some news that truly shocked Qin Ming.
“Just two days ago, Steward Gu broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage and was immediately promoted to Inner Elder.”
“Since I’ve served him loyally for years, Elder Gu gave me his steward’s position.” As Du recounted Gu’s breakthrough, a look of pride crossed his round face.
Qin Ming’s surprise was palpable.
“Steward Gu achieved Foundation Establishment?!”
He remembered Gu had lingered at the peak of Qi Refining for decades and was nearly sixty—he’d barely made it in time.
He never expected Gu to defy the odds at the last moment, extending his life to over two hundred years.
“Indeed. Elder Gu was truly fortunate. On a mission, he happened to track down the bandits who attacked Elder Zhuang’s medicinal garden.”
“After reporting to the sect, he completed his merit quota and was awarded a Foundation Pill.” Du Haifu sounded envious.
Qin Ming understood—it was only the sects that could control such resources as the Foundation Pill.
“In a few days, Elder Gu is holding a celebration. I’m here to buy supplies for the feast.”
Clearly, Du Haifu was thoroughly pleased with himself, having secured Elder Gu’s patronage.
As they chatted,
A sudden commotion erupted on the street.
A lavishly decorated carriage rolled down the avenue, its finely carved doors and elegant adornments marked by the four dragon-steeds that pulled it, with several guards in tow.

Qin Ming glanced through the curtains and caught a glimpse of a stunning young female cultivator inside, her figure exquisitely graceful.
The carriage moved on, heading toward Gathering Pavilion.
“That was the Holy Maiden of the Hundred Flowers Sect!” Du Haifu recognized the passenger, and his face turned grim.
He turned to Qin Ming, cupping his hands hurriedly.
“Qin, I have urgent matters to attend to—let’s catch up at the sect another day.”
Qin Ming returned the gesture. “Go ahead, Du.”
Without another word, Du Haifu rushed off with his disciples.
Frowning, Qin Ming muttered, “Even the Hundred Flowers Sect is getting involved?”
“Just as Gu predicted—change is in the air.”
…
A month later.
Qin Ming harvested the trait leaves from the three spiritual herbs in his courtyard.
Then,
He went to his five acres of second-tier spirit fields and used six [Accelerate Growth] leaves to ripen four traited plants.
At the moment of harvest,
A green leaf, two blue leaves, and a single purple leaf appeared in his mind’s eye.
“Wait!”
“A purple leaf!” Qin Ming was astonished; he hadn’t expected such a rare trait.
He gazed at the purple [Spell Replication] leaf.
His expression grew pensive, and a startling thought flashed through his mind.
“Does this [Spell Replication] have no restrictions on what spells it can copy?”
“As long as I witness a technique, I can reproduce it perfectly?”
“Then if… I could see a Nascent Soul master act, would I be able to…”