After the storm of the Spirit Feather Sect’s Spirit Garden raid.
The two factions, Golden Cloud Valley and Spirit Feather Sect, jointly issued a higher-level bounty. Any cultivator who can provide the whereabouts of these bandits will receive a handsome reward.
It seems they won’t stop until the end.
...
A month later.
Qin Ming was applying the High-Level Spirit Rain Technique, watering the Spirit Field.
A Communication Talisman on him stirred.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, the small gathering we agreed upon earlier will take place, the time is set for tomorrow, the Fengg Brothers have returned from their demon beast hunt."
"Fellow Daoist Qin, you can prepare some items, and at that time, we can exchange and share a thing or two."
The message was sent by Master Yann, his neighbor from the courtyard next door.
Qin Ming replied and then pondered what to bring for the exchange the next day.
The next day.
Qin Ming accepted the invitation and attended the gathering.
When he entered Master Yann’s courtyard, the cultivators from the other courtyards were already present.
"Come, come, everyone, let me introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Qin Ming from the neighboring courtyard, a Middle-Grade Spirit Plant Master." Upon entering, Master Yann warmly introduced Qin Ming to the cultivators present.
Qin Ming went around to greet them.
The cultivation levels of the Fengg Brothers were both at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. The bald, elder brother was named Fengg Yuan, and the other was a scar-faced strong man named Fengg Fan.
Since both of them were often out hunting demon beasts, they had a very rugged demeanor.
Their words and actions were very bold and casual.
Fellow Daoist Huang from Ding Courtyard, whose real name was Huang Xishan, was in his forties.
Due to his long association with the furnace, his skin was bronze-colored. He had a cultivation level of Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer and served as the Chief Refiner at the Refining Hall in the market.
As a High-Grade Refiner, Huang Xishan naturally became the main attraction of the gathering.
The few people around him continuously mingled and built rapport.
After all, it’s always beneficial to have a good relationship with such a master refiner when custom magical artifacts are needed.
"Indeed, not to hide from you, my refining orders are full until the end of next year."
"However, if any of the fellow daoists present have special circumstances, I can expedite the process, offering a ten percent discount on the prices." Huang Xishan sat on a rattan chair, looking slightly arrogant, maintaining a high stance, he said leisurely.
Upon hearing this, the Fengg Brothers immediately considered asking him to refine magical artifacts.
After all, as they often hunted demon beasts, they surely had quite a number of materials from such beasts, ready for refining.
Their attitude towards Huang Xishan became even more courteous.
They respectfully called him Master Huang, appearing particularly affable.
The last member from Ding Courtyard was Fellow Daoist Lin, named Lin Zixiao, who had an impressive aura and was about twenty years old, likely only four or five years older than Qin Ming.
He was a strikingly handsome man, with a cold face, his long hair was casually tied at the back with a thin string.
Even more impressive, he was a rare Middle-Grade Array Master.
Lin Zixiao’s personality was quite easygoing, smiling as he greeted everyone present.
The cultivators sat on rattan chairs in the courtyard, drinking tea and conversing.
Even with the Hundred Skills of Cultivation being present, Qin Ming, as a Middle-Grade Spirit Plant Master, was somewhat outshone by those present.
Especially since he served as a Spirit Farmer affiliated with the Spirit Feather Sect.
Also, his mana cultivation was only at Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer...
The group treated Qin Ming indifferently, neither deliberately engaging with him nor avoiding him.
After chatting for an hour.
The exchange meeting officially began.
With a smile on his face, Master Yann said, "Since it’s an exchange meeting proposed by me, I’ll go first."
He then took out two bottles of pills and introduced them, "These two bottles of pills, one is called Genxue Pill, a healing saint medicine. As long as the injury isn’t fatal, it can rejuvenate flesh and blood."
"The other bottle contains enhancement spirit pills for the middle and late stages, the Spirit Gathering Pill."
"Fellow daoists, if you have sufficient Spirit Stones, or items of equivalent value, they can be exchanged."
Qin Ming looked curiously at the bottle of Genxue Pill, it was the first time he had seen such a healing spirit pill. The pill is recorded in the Pill Book and is one of the more difficult Middle-Grade Pills to refine.
As for the bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills, they were of ordinary quality.
However, it still proved that Master Yann had considerable achievement in Alchemy, as he could refine some of the most challenging spirit pills among Middle-Grade Spirit Pills.
Soon, the two bottles of spirit pills were purchased with Spirit Stones by the Fengg Brothers and collected into their pouches.
Next, it was the Fengg Brothers’ turn to showcase their exchange items.
Elder brother Fengg Yuan retrieved a Demon Pill and a pair of claws from his storage pouch, placing them on the table, and introduced, "This is the Demon Pill and claws of a late-stage Tier One demon beast, the Profound Water Crocodile. My brother and I put in a lot of effort to kill it. If any fellow daoist has good items, feel free to show them. If it’s suitable, you can take it."
After saying this, he waited to see the response from everyone.
"I have a Middle-Grade Magical Artifact, the Demon-Binding Rope, would you agree to the exchange?" Huang Xishan seemed interested in these items.
Fengg Yuan and Fengg Fan exchanged a look and hesitated a bit before saying, "Master Huang, could you add a little more? After all, these are materials from a late-stage Tier One demon beast, suitable for refining High-Grade Magical Artifacts."
"That’s my bottom line." Having said that, Huang Xishan didn’t say more, his face showing a bit of displeasure.
Hearing this, the Fengg Brothers felt a bit awkward.
At this point, Lin Zixiao retrieved an array from his storage pouch, smiled, and said, "I have an array set, the Little Fire Array, Middle-Grade Attack Array. Can I exchange it for Fellow Daoist Fengg’s two spiritual materials?"
"It’s the Little Fire Array!" The Fengg Brothers were overjoyed and quickly nodded in agreement.
Even the High-Grade Refiner Huang Xishan’s expression changed slightly, with surprise flashing in his eyes.
Qin Ming also roughly knew about the Little Fire Array, said to be the most sharp attack array among Middle-Grade Arrays, and a range attack array at that, with immense power.
Making such an array requires the array master to have extremely high proficiency in array knowledge.
"I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist Lin could even refine the Little Fire Array, impressive!" Master Yann gave a thumbs up, expressing admiration.
Other cultivators present also agreed, glancing at Lin Zixiao with newfound respect.
Lin Zixiao smiled and humbly said, "It’s just a small trick, nothing to boast about."
The Fengg Brothers happily took the array disc of the Little Fire Array from Lin Zixiao’s hand, completing the transaction with him.
The cultivators present were even more curious and expectant about what other items Lin Zixiao would present next for exchange.
After collecting the demon beast materials, Lin Zixiao calmly took out a palm-sized chessboard from his storage pouch, filled densely with black and white chess pieces.
As soon as it appeared, everyone was somewhat puzzled.
All had expressions of confusion.
Qin Ming also curiously observed this chessboard, pondered for a while, and indeed couldn’t identify it.
Among everyone, only the High-Grade Refiner Huang Xishan showed a thoughtful expression.
After a long while.
His eyes suddenly widened, and incredulously, he spoke, "Could... Could this be the long-lost... Inverted Yin Yang Illusion Array?!"
PS: Thank you, fellow daoists, for the monthly and recommended votes, thank you!