"Congratulations on your promotion to High-Grade Spirit Plant Master, Fellow Daoist Qin!"
Guu Qingzhao, hearing this, was first taken aback, then a joyful smile spread across her red lips as she sincerely congratulated him.
Shopkeeper Liao, standing to the side, also expressed his excitement, "Congratulations on breaking through to High-Grade Spirit Plant Master, Fellow Daoist Qin, you are one step closer on the path of Immortal Dao!"
Qin Ming’s achievement of becoming a High-Grade Spirit Plant Master brought undeniable benefits to Juxuan Pavilion.
After all, Qin Ming was currently in a tight partnership with Juxuan Pavilion.
Shopkeeper Liao couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
He recalled how, back in the day, the young man standing before him had to sneak in through the back door just to sell spirit rice.
Now, he had become a cultivator with whom even he wanted to forge stronger ties.
It should be noted that a High-Grade Spirit Plant Master is a rare existence among Loose Cultivators.
Even within a sect, their status is second only to certain Inner Sect Elders and Core Disciples.
Moreover, once one becomes a High-Grade Spirit Plant Master, they’re qualified to individually apply for the lease of Spirit Fields on Tier Two Spirit Veins.
After all, to cultivate High-Tier Spirit Plants in the future, the Spiritual Qi from Tier One Spirit Veins is no longer sufficient.
Qin Ming was also in a good mood, "Thank you both for waiting here. I’ll treat you to a drink at Juxuan Pavilion later."
Afterward.
Under the witness of several Elders and Guu Qingzhao, Qin Ming lit up the third leaf on his Spirit Plant Master identity token.
He officially became a High-Grade Spirit Plant Master.
Qin Ming also decided to continue renting the house in the slum area from Su Yuqing.
After taking care of matters.
Qin Ming bid farewell to Elder Zhuang and left the Steward Hall.
The four elders sat in the inner hall, looking at each other.
"No, Lao Zhuang, how did that kid manage this?"
"You didn’t go easy on him, did you?"
"Nonsense! I never saw this coming."
"..."
"So how do we proceed?"
"Let fate decide, seeing that Tier Two Spirit Plants aren’t easy to cultivate."
"You all should understand this well."
"If the kid finds another way to get a spot and passes the trial of the Plant Illusion Realm."
"Then I have no complaints."
...
Juxuan Pavilion.
Qin Ming and Guu Qingzhao had just arrived at the shop entrance.
They bumped into an old acquaintance.
It was none other than Master Yann, Qin’s neighbor.
"Oh! Fellow Daoist Qin! Long time no see, are you off to Juxuan Pavilion for a drink?" Master Yann spotted Qin Ming from afar and walked over to greet him.
As he approached, he noticed that Guu Qingzhao was with Qin Ming and was slightly surprised.
He knew very well that Guu Qingzhao had an extraordinary background.
Master Yann often sold and purchased spiritual materials needed for refining pills at Juxuan Pavilion.
Naturally, he recognized the force behind it.
He quickly greeted Guu Qingzhao.
"Pavilion Master Guu, so... you know Fellow Daoist Qin?"
Guu Qingzhao nodded slightly, "Indeed, Fellow Daoist Qin is an honored guest of our pavilion. Today, he has just been promoted to High-Grade Spirit Plant Master."
"Fellow Daoist Yann, since chance has brought us together, why not come upstairs for a drink?" Qin Ming greeted Master Yann and invited him.
Master Yann’s mind buzzed.
He was stunned for a moment.
"What?"
"A... High-Grade Spirit Plant Master?"
"So soon?"
...
Afterward.
Shopkeeper Liao instructed someone to prepare a sumptuous feast in the private room.
At the dining table.
Master Yann blushed, took out an ancient-looking wooden box from his storage pouch, and handed it to Qin Ming, "Today marks Fellow Daoist Qin’s advancement to High-Grade Spirit Plant Master, a small token of appreciation."
Qin Ming could not refuse the good gesture, accepted the wooden box, and thanked him, "Thank you, Master Yann."
With that, Master Yann toasted Qin Ming.
"I’ve sent a Communication Talisman to inform the other neighbors. They should be arriving soon."
"Given that today is a great day for Fellow Daoist Qin’s promotion to High-Grade Spirit Plant Master, we ought to celebrate together!"
Qin Ming was taken aback, not expecting Master Yann to invite the others as well.
Next to him, Guu Qingzhao suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Qin, since that’s the case, why not invite Master Su as well?"
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Guu, you may not know, but Brother Su left the Yunze Wilderness some time ago." Qin Ming explained.
Guu Qingzhao’s eyes flashed with a hint of regret, "I didn’t expect Master Su to have left."
Beside them, Master Yann held his wine cup, utterly baffled, "You know Master Su?"
"More than that, Fellow Daoist Qin’s alchemy skills were guided by Master Su." Shopkeeper Liao said with a smile on his face.
Master Yann was astonished, "Alchemy? Guided by Master Su?"
"Indeed, Fellow Daoist Qin is now not only a High-Grade Spirit Plant Master but also a genuine Middle-Grade Alchemist." Shopkeeper Liao explained.
This left Master Yann so shocked he couldn’t sit still.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, you never told me you were also a Middle-Grade Alchemist."
"Alas, it seems I underestimated you."
Master Yann lamented that he was getting old, first there was the brilliant Su Yuqing, achieving High-Grade Alchemist at a young age.
Now even Qin Ming was a Middle-Grade Alchemist and so young too.
"The younger generation is truly formidable!"
Before long.
Qin Ming’s neighbors also arrived.
Seeing Pavilion Master Guu personally accompanying, they were surprised.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, who would have thought! You advanced to High-Grade Spirit Plant Master so quickly, congratulations, congratulations!" Huang Xishan, the High-Grade Refiner from the Refining Hall, congratulated.
Then, he took out an exquisite long wooden box as a gift and handed it to Qin Ming.
Qin Ming opened it slightly, and inside was a finely crafted Spiritual Hoe!
"Hehe, I forged this Spiritual Hoe on a whim back in the day. It’s on par with ordinary Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifacts; it’s perfect for Fellow Daoist Qin now."
Huang Xishan clearly showed goodwill, recognizing Qin Ming as an equal, only among the neighbors did Qin Ming, like him, achieve a Tier One High-Grade level in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.
Fengg Brothers also arrived; they congratulated and presented a straightforward gift—a small pouch of spirit stones, no less than two hundred pieces.
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Qin, who would have thought you possess such remarkable talent in the art of Spirit Plants. In just a year, you’ve quietly surpassed us." Lin Zixiao teased with a smile.
Then he too presented a gift.
Lin Zixiao’s gift was a Warning Array, quite useful for Qin Ming.
Soon, the room bustled with celebration.
Qin Ming’s status among the cultivators had completely transformed.
Such a young High-Grade Spirit Plant Master could very likely advance to Tier Two Spirit Plant Master.
By then, if they wanted to form ties with this young Spirit Plant Master, it would be too late.
After several rounds of drinks.
The celebration banquet ended amidst a harmonious and lively atmosphere.
...
Returning to the Cool Small Residence.
Excitement flickered in Qin Ming’s eyes.
"Almost there, just one more step to becoming a Tier Two Spirit Plant Master!"