The issue of the spiritual rice tax has finally come to an end.
Qin Ming temporarily doesn't have to worry about going to the front lines.
"This time, I must strive to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer!"
In the quiet little room.
Qin Ming sat on the straw-woven mat on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, holding a Low-Grade Spirit Stone in hand, its spirit charm rapidly fading.
In an instant.
The spiritual energy within the stone was gradually absorbed by him.
Qin Ming opened his eyes, his expression somewhat unsightly.
With just a slight grip, the stone in his hand turned into a pile of powder.
"Alas, using spirit stones for cultivation is a complete waste for me..."
"A bit extravagant."
In the cultivation world, the external spiritual energy between heaven and earth, and the spiritual energy within the stones, are equivalent to being wild.
Chaotic and complex, low-tier cultivators cannot directly control it.
To convert it into one's own mana, the cultivator's spirit root must absorb it, combined with continuous practice and transformation.
To tame and transform external spiritual energy into one's own mana.
And the aptitude of the spirit root directly affects the efficiency of this absorption and transformation.
Qin Ming shook his head.
"Entries are still the best."
The 'Weak Dharma Power' within the entries doesn't need to be absorbed and refined through the spirit root, and he can use it directly.
This time, he planned to use two 'Weak Dharma Power' entry leaves to attempt a breakthrough.
"Two 'Weak Dharma Power' entries are equivalent to half a year of bitter cultivation for me."
He calmed his heart and mind, dispelling distractions.
Qin Ming focused his thoughts, and the first 'Weak Dharma Power' entry was used up.
Even though Qin Ming was accustomed to it, when the continuous influx of mana came like a tide, it still caught him somewhat unprepared.
The surging mana began circulating within his body under the guidance of "Longevity Technique".
Flowing endlessly, continuously, returning to the dantian.
"Longevity Technique", passed down from Qin Ming's cultivation clan, was not an advanced technique, considered mainstream.
It primarily focused on health preservation, with long and smooth qi lines, moderate power, and slow cultivation speed.
But it also had an advantage, that when cultivated to a profound realm, it had the effect of extending life.
As the main cultivation technique, it provided slightly more lifespan and mana compared to cultivators of the same tier.
Switching to different techniques midway was ineffective.
This was quite in line with Qin Ming's character.
'Farming, nurturing plants, replenishing the spirit, returning to nature's embrace, isn't this nice?'
'Why must there be fights and struggles, and in the end, it all amounts to nothing, alas...'
But, that's just the sentiment.
Over the years, Qin Ming has had other realizations.
The resources in the entire cultivation realm are limited.
Techniques, artifacts, spiritual materials, pills, and other resources are all controlled by renowned sects.
Major sects and strong cultivators eat meat, while "loose cultivators" find it difficult to even drink soup and can only survive in the gaps.
Unless one is a natural prodigy.
Otherwise, without moving up, the path of immortality would see little progress.
Even cultivation sects like the Spirit Feather Sect, sparing no effort, crossing unimaginable distances, making a journey of thousands of miles to reclaim wasteland.
Isn't it all for cultivation resources?
...
Qin Ming used up one 'Weak Dharma Power' entry.
Yet his faintly loosened bottleneck still showed no reaction.
His brows furrowed, his expression serious.
Resolutely, he continued using the remaining 'Weak Dharma Power' entry.
For a long while.
Two continuous 'Weak Dharma Power' entries were exhausted.
But still no breakthrough.
"Sigh, this is the gap in aptitude and talent!"
"Qi Cultivation Second Layer peak."
Qin Ming is still a bit short of reaching the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
"If someone else were in my place, considering the mana provided by the previous 'Weak Dharma Power' entries, they'd probably have broken through by now."
However, Qin Ming did not lose heart.
If it were before, with the usual cultivation method, who knows when there would be any progress.
The current situation is already much better compared to before.
Although the cultivation level didn't break through this time, his Qi Sea Dantian has broadened significantly.
The mana within his body has increased by a third compared to before.
And now he's just one step short, although it will require enduring a bit longer.
'I can't continue this way, I need to adjust my approach.'
'Once the Beast Fang Rice is planted and cultivated, perhaps I could try the Body Refining Technique?'
'At least it might enhance my ability to protect myself.'
'However, given my current level of spirit plant cultivation, planting Beast Fang Rice likely requires cooperation with the 'Ripening' entry, otherwise it's uncertain whether I will succeed.'
'If I fail, then I've wasted the mother seeds of Beast Fang Rice, which wouldn't be worth the cost.'
Qin Ming pondered thoroughly.
He already had a plan in mind.
Ending his cultivation, he got up to prepare a meal.
After breakfast.
Qin Ming headed out and returned to Qingyang Market.
Juxuan Pavilion.
It was still the shop located in the center of the market, aside from operating a restaurant on the first and second floors, it conducted various other businesses on the upper floors.
One could assume that the backing for a business in such a prime location wouldn't be too weak.
The shopkeeper's surname was Liao, and upon seeing Qin Ming, displayed a standard professional smile.
Qin Ming was straightforward, tapping his storage pouch, causing two large bags of spirit rice to appear on the ground before him.
Shopkeeper Liao was quite surprised at Qin Ming's ability to produce so much spirit rice at once.
It was one bag more than the last time.
From what he knew, Spirit Feather Sect levied a tax rate of seventy percent on these spirit farmers, meaning this young spirit farmer must have harvested at least eight stones of spirit rice this season.
It proved the opponent's level in spirit plant cultivation.
Only experienced spirit farmers could achieve such quantities.
Otherwise, it indicated exceptional talent in the path of spirit plants.
If it were the latter...there might be potential for advancement to Tier One Spirit Plant Master in the future.
The clerk in the shop completed the inspection and weighing process.
Shopkeeper Liao showed a gentle smile, simultaneously raising his appraisal slightly of Qin Ming's position as a low-tier spirit farmer.
"A total of two hundred and twenty pounds of Golden Spirit Rice."
"Fellow Daoist Qin, as per usual, here are forty-four spirit stones."
"Are there any items you wish to purchase in our shop?"
"Our shop is well-stocked; whatever you seek, we can provide."
Qin Ming was prepared.
He pulled out a drawing from his chest, depicting a small bell, then handed it to Shopkeeper Liao, saying, "I want to customize a bell like this one, let me know if it's possible."
"Certainly, Fellow Daoist Qin, is it perhaps a custom spirit bell for the Beast Exorcism Technique?"
"We have a dedicated artifact refining shop, and conveniently have it in stock."
"Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact, Beast Roar Bell, special price: ten spirit stones."
Shopkeeper Liao presented a palm-sized spirit bell, smilingly introducing it to Qin Ming: "It automatically contracts and expands when used in conjunction with the Beast Exorcism Technique."
"Such a low price?"
This price took him by surprise; he was prepared to spend a significant amount.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist Qin might not know, the key to the Beast Exorcism Technique lies in mastering the magic; this bell is merely an auxiliary tool."
"A word of caution, Fellow Daoist Qin, the Beast Exorcism Technique is extremely difficult to practice."
"Previously, several cultivators from the Spirit Feather Sect battle camp custom-ordered this, but only a few mastered it completely."
Qin Ming understood his implication.
Simply put, it has no buyers.
If the technique isn't mastered, the custom spirit bell becomes a mere ornament, thus wasting spirit stones — a blood loss.
But for Qin Ming, the inability to learn it doesn't exist...
He paid the ten spirit stones, accepted the spirit bell, and asked another question.
"Do you have pills for increasing Qi Cultivation Stage cultivation?"
Qin Ming was still somewhat reluctant about not breaking through to Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
"Yes, please come to the third floor."
Moments later.
Qin Ming exited the shop with a usual expression.
He carried forty spirit stones and couldn't spend them.
As the prices on the third floor for cultivation-advancing pills start at no less than sixty spirit stones each...
Shopkeeper Liao warmly escorted Qin Ming out of the shop.
...
On the way back.
Qin Ming paid a visit to supervisor Du Haifu, intending to rent another acre of spirit field.
Given his current cultivation, his energy was limited; five or six acres were already his limit.
"Oh, Little Qin is here?"
"You arrived a bit late."
"Just a while ago, all the spirit fields on the mountain were rented out without a single plot left!" Du Haifu sipped his tea, calmly delivering the news.
!!!
Qin Ming thought to himself.
"This isn't good! Indeed, it's just as I suspected."
"Next year, it seems everyone will be fighting desperately for spirit rice yield."