A few days later.
Qin Ming went to see Master Su and got the token for renting a spirit field from him.
Then he headed to the spirit field, ready to till the soil and plant seeds.
To be honest, he was completely inexperienced when it came to cultivating Yin Condensing Flowers, like a blank sheet of paper.
He had crammed through some spirit plant books in the past few days.
Fortunately, the Yin Condensing Flower did not have high environmental requirements for growth, or else it would have been quite difficult with the Spiritual Qi of a Tier One Spirit Vein.
However, what he never expected was this —
The most difficult part of cultivating Yin Condensing Flowers is during the blooming period when it requires pollination.
Unlike other spirit plants, the pollination of Yin Condensing Flowers must be completed at least seven times within the seven-day blooming period.
It requires the magic of hive control.
If the Yin Condensing Flower is not pollinated sufficiently, its blooming period will end early, resulting in insufficient medicinal power of the spirit grass, rendering it useless for alchemy.
This really troubled Qin Ming.
"Even if I can ripen them, I can't be the one to pollinate the flowers, can I?"
"Alas, let's take it one step at a time."
Qin Ming carried the Spiritual Hoe and began to plow the spirit field.
Ever since he practiced the Body Refining Technique "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture" to the third layer, his physical strength had greatly increased.
He was more energetic in his daily planting tasks; his back no longer ached, nor did his legs tire.
He felt like he could plow ten miles in one breath.
Thankfully, the Yin Condensing Flowers matured in just one year, so he wouldn't have to wait too long.
Qin Ming heard from Master Su that the main ingredients for the 'Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill' all had to be at least fifty years old before they could be used as medicine.
Their prices start at one hundred spirit stones each.
Additionally, there's a high failure rate in alchemy, requiring multiple sets of materials in one attempt.
This gave Qin Ming a profound understanding of what "Burning Spirit Stones" meant.
After finishing plowing, Qin Ming planted all the spirit seeds given to him by Master Su, spanning a total of three acres.
After casting the Intermediate Spirit Rain Technique on the spirit field, Qin Ming nodded in satisfaction.
'Whether they can grow on their own depends on heaven's will.'
'If it doesn't work out, I'll have to use my ripening trick.'
Currently, the entries stored in Qin Ming's Sea of Consciousness over the past half-year remain:
Weak Dharma Power X6
Weak Qi Blood X2
High-Level Spirit Rain Technique X5
Ripening X1
All other entries were consumed during the cultivation of the "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture."
Qin Ming had been reluctant to use the High-Level Spirit Rain Technique because, firstly, the casting of the spell was too noticeable and could draw attention; secondly, he planned to use it on high-level spirit plants at an appropriate time.
After all, it could double the harvest of spirit plants.
Qin Ming looked at his acre of Beast Fang Rice spirit field, estimating it would likely take another year to fully mature.
After planting the spirit grass,
Qin Ming returned to his house to begin his cultivation.
Gently opening a delicate jade bottle, he found two green pills inside, emitting a refreshing pill fragrance.
Spirit Gathering Pill!
He had exchanged a full hundred jin of spirit rice with Master Su for them.
Qin Ming sat on the grass mat on his bed and took out a pill to begin cultivation.
As Qin Ming ingested the spirit pill, the medicinal power spread throughout his body, constantly expanding his meridians.
The efficiency of mana circulation also improved significantly.
Qin Ming began to operate the "Longevity Technique" to absorb this vast spiritual power.
After a while.
Qin Ming opened his eyes, a trace of joy appearing on his face.
"This Spirit Gathering Pill truly deserves to be called a miraculous pill for increasing Qi Cultivation Stage cultivation."
"Just one Spirit Gathering Pill has increased my mana by more than several Weak Dharma Power entries."
"One pill is equivalent to a year's worth of arduous cultivation."
"If I could take such pills every day, I wonder if I could quickly break through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer."
Qin Ming pondered to himself.
...
After cultivation, Qin Ming was in a great mood.
He planned to visit Shopkeeper Liao to sell some of his spirit rice and see if he could purchase the magic for hive control.
Now that he could enjoy Premium Beast Fang Rice, there was no need to stockpile ordinary Golden Spirit Rice. Better to sell it while prices are high.
In exchange for some talismans and magical artifacts.
Qin Ming navigated through the alleys of the shantytown, taking several turns before reaching the main road.
Qingyang Market.
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Qin is here, come in, come in, have some tea."
Inside Juxuan Pavilion, Shopkeeper Liao flashed his signature smile, warmly greeting Qin Ming.
Qin Ming smiled back.
Without saying much, he took out three large bags of spirit rice from his storage pouch and placed them in front of him. Shopkeeper Liao, eyes sparkling with joy, was over the moon!
"This must be over three hundred jin?"
"Haha, it seems Fellow Daoist Qin has had a bountiful harvest once again." After saying this, Shopkeeper Liao personally took out a Great Dipper Spiritual Artifact to weigh it.
"Three hundred eighty jin of Golden Spirit Rice!"
"Fellow Daoist Qin, the usual, how about pricing it at one hundred and twenty spirit stones?" Shopkeeper Liao asked with a smile.
Qin Ming pondered for a moment and asked, "Shopkeeper Liao, is the price of spirit rice still the same? Has it not increased further?"
"That's right, Fellow Daoist Qin, lately and for the foreseeable future, spirit rice prices won't be increasing again." Shopkeeper Liao glanced around and continued, "However, talismans, protective magical artifacts, and life-saving pills are expected to see small price increases."
"If Fellow Daoist Qin needs any of these, it's best to buy them early. In a few days, the price might be different."
Suspicion flickered across Qin Ming's mind as he inquired, "Has something happened again?"
"There's been no significant change, just that the Spirit Feather Sect and Golden Cloud Valley are in a stalemate."
"But the Spirit Feather Sect's pioneer battle camps at the frontline are under pressure, experiencing large-scale casualties several times in a row."
"I've heard the Spirit Feather Sect is recruiting cultivators again to supplement their forces."
"Sigh..."
Shopkeeper Liao also sighed heavily.
Qin Ming slightly furrowed his brows. He knew this meant that the Spirit Feather Sect was once again enticing loose cultivators to blaze a trail in the barbarian cultivator's gathering area.
He took Shopkeeper Liao's spirit stones and asked, "Do you have the magic for hive control for sale?"
Shopkeeper Liao, upon hearing more business might be coming his way, immediately replied, "Of course, there are few things this shop does not have."
He then had someone fetch three jade scrolls from upstairs.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, please take a look. These are the 'Beast Taming Technique,' 'Insect Extermination Technique,' and the 'Spirit Control Scripture.'
"All three cultivation techniques are the same price, and I can offer Fellow Daoist Qin a ten percent discount on them."
"Each one of them is normally priced at three hundred spirit stones."
After saying this,
Shopkeeper Liao looked at Qin Ming with an expectant gaze; this would be another big deal if it went through.
He'd receive a considerable commission once again.
Qin Ming smirked slightly and said directly, "Then forget it."
'This old rascal, every time I come here, he wishes I would spend all my spirit stones in one go. He's really good at doing business.'
Knowing that even after selling that spirit rice for a hundred and twenty spirit stones,
Qin Ming himself only had just over three hundred spirit stones altogether.
He felt that with the recent boost in his spirit rice yield, earning this many spirit stones already counted as accumulating some wealth.
But here, any random cultivation technique could easily drain his purse.
'Alas, cultivation is truly a money sink!'
This was going to cost him dearly.
"How much is a Middle-Grade Attack Talisman?" Qin Ming continued to ask.
Shopkeeper Liao was about to show a disappointed expression at Qin Ming's outright refusal to purchase, but upon hearing his next question,
he immediately perked up.
"A Middle-Grade Fire Cloud Talisman is eighty spirit stones each."
"A Middle-Grade Thunder Arrow Talisman is one hundred spirit stones each."
"A Middle-Grade Golden Spear Talisman is eighty spirit stones each."
...
"Fellow Daoist Qin, which one would you like?"
Qin Ming gritted his teeth, "I'll take a Middle-Grade Thunder Arrow Talisman."
Shopkeeper Liao, delighted, immediately handed a blue talisman to Qin Ming.
Qin Ming accepted the talisman.
The transaction was completed.
Shopkeeper Liao very enthusiastically escorted him out of the shop.