"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gu has any way to secure a spot in the Plant Illusion Realm," Qin Ming straightforwardly asked.
Gu Qingzhao heard this and slightly furrowed her eyebrows.
She naturally knew that Qin Ming was asking because he intended to advance to a Tier Two Spirit Plant Master.
Instead of seeking a nomination from a Tier Two Spirit Plant Master of the Spirit Feather Sect, Qin Ming came to her.
Without even thinking, she knew he must have been met with difficulties from the Spirit Feather Sect.
After all, no one would willingly let such talent slip through their fingers.
"If it were anyone else asking, there would be no chance."
"However, since it’s Fellow Daoist Qin... there’s still a possibility," Gu Qingzhao pondered for a long while and then said.
Qin Ming’s expression brightened with joy, and he immediately said, "Then we have a deal."
"You still need to make the trip yourself; I can put in a good word for you, Fellow Daoist Qin."
"Do you remember that Guardian Huangfu also has a Dao companion?" Gu Qingzhao asked.
Qin Ming had never met her but had a deep impression: all the Tier Two Spirit Plants in Elder Huangfu Qii’s cave mansion were planted by this Dao companion.
"Yes, Elder Huangfu did mention her," Qin Ming nodded.
Gu Qingzhao continued, "Guardian Huangfu’s Dao companion, Chen Qiaoling, is also a Tier Two Spirit Plant Master and is acquainted with an elder from the Spirit Feather Sect."
"Perhaps you could give it a try with her."
"No time like the present; why not follow me back to Yunmeng Mountain for a visit?"
Ultimately, Qin Ming obtained Gu Qingzhao’s introduction at the cost of selling two Divine Essence Fruits.
The transaction was completed.
The two of them left the market and flew toward Yunmeng Mountain.
Half an hour later.
Qin Ming and Gu Qingzhao, as hoped, met Huangfu Qii’s Dao companion, Chen Qiaoling.
She was a charming, plump lady with Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation.
The two explained their purpose for visiting.
Chen Qiaoling pondered for a moment and said, "Since the Pavilion Master has personally brought him to discuss this matter, I will reluctantly agree."
"However, there’s one condition after it’s done."
Qin Ming was filled with joy upon hearing this, "Elder Chen, please feel free to mention it."
"I want half a strand of the Mother Qi of Ten Thousand Woods," Chen Qiaoling frankly stated to Qin Ming.
Qin Ming considered briefly, then replied directly, "Agreed, as long as I can obtain it, I will certainly keep my word."
"With your talent in Spirit Plants, it shouldn’t be too difficult to excel," Chen Qiaoling smiled faintly, speaking meaningfully.
"For your matter, I even have to lower myself to ask a favor from a certain Spirit Feather Sect elder,"
"You’re not at a loss."
"Come to my place in three days to collect the nomination."
After the matter was settled, Qin Ming’s mind was eased.
With this, everything was ready.
All that remained was for the Tier Two Spirit Plants in his five-acre spiritual field to mature.
...
Returning to Qingyang Market.
Qin Ming, as usual, went to tend to the spiritual field.
As he approached the field, he noticed a few Spirit Plant Masters pointing and talking about his field.
Qin Ming furrowed his eyebrows and quickened his pace.
"This Five-Colored Rice is just average, and compared to my two acres of Tier Two Jade Crystal Rice, it’s still slightly inferior,"
a middle-aged cultivator in a Spirit Feather Sect Spirit Plant Master robe stood on the field ridge by the water ditch, arrogantly commenting.
The other Spirit Plant Masters beside him echoed in agreement, "That’s only natural. Fellow Daoist Li Yan’s Spirit Plant skills are tremendously excellent, taught by Elder Zhuang Xiran, and his promotion to a Tier Two Spirit Plant Master is already a certainty."
"When Fellow Daoist Li’s Jade Crystal Rice matures, it will likely be the day Mingzhen Tower of the Spirit Feather Sect resonates throughout the Yunze Wilderness!"
"Among all the High-Grade Spirit Plant Masters, I still have faith in Fellow Daoist Li."
"That countryside boy who came out of nowhere, in my opinion, is merely lucky."
"Even if he managed to grow a Tier Two Spirit Plant, without the elders’ nomination, isn’t he still stuck farming here obediently?"
Qin Ming was in a good mood originally today, but ended up encountering these troublesome characters as soon as he went out.
"Sigh, make way, don’t block the path!"
He walked straight over, using his body to lightly exert Dark Force and pushed forward.
"Splash!"
The Spirit Plant Master named Li Yan fell into the water ditch beside him, looking incredibly disheveled.
Regaining his senses, he leapt back onto the ground,
cast a Cleaning Technique on himself, and used mana to dry his clothes.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, what is the meaning of this?" Li Yan looked at him with slight anger; he had noticed Qin Ming coming and originally intended to greet him.
Yet without a word, the other party bumped him directly into the water ditch.
He attempted to dodge but found it was as if he was hit by a demon beast, unable to react at all.
The other Spirit Plant Masters, witnessing such a situation, approached Qin Ming angrily, full of menace.
Noticing this, Qin Ming suddenly unleashed the late-stage Qi Cultivation mana, a surge of mana billowing around him.
"So, what’s up, several Daoists? Want to spar a bit?!" Qin Ming stepped forward boldly, taunting.
These Spirit Plant Masters, barely able to hold a chicken, weren’t even worth a single hand of his.
"Late-stage Qi Cultivation!"
Seeing the situation was unfavorable, the Spirit Plant Masters turned tail and fled.
"Hmph! Consider yourself gutsy!" Li Yan glared fiercely at Qin Ming before scurrying away as well.
Qin Ming watched them and smirked, "You should consider yourselves lucky for not stepping into the Thorn Technique trap I set."
"Otherwise, there’d be a few more Blood Pearls."
...
As winter ended and spring arrived, the seasons turned.
Time flew by.
A year and a half later.
With the dual support of entries and pills, Qin Ming, through relentless cultivation day and night,
advanced his mana cultivation to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, and the "Hundred Treasures Glaze Scripture" also achieved the eighth layer, boosting his power once more.
The situation at Qingyang Market was still the same, stagnant.
The reason being, after so long, none of the factions had found that dragon-shaped token.
"Could it be a coincidence? Did Fellow Daoist Fengg really take that one?" Qin Ming mused, "It’s very likely."
This kind of situation, naturally, was what the Spirit Feather Sect was happy to see.
If Qin Ming’s prediction was right, Yuwen Hong, the Celestial Spirit Root Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivator, was likely on the verge of a breakthrough.
But it all didn’t matter anymore.
For now, all five acres of Tier Two Spirit Plants in his spiritual field had fully matured and were thriving.
The cultivators from the Steward Hall of the Spirit Feather Sect had already recorded everything.
Thanks to three years of diligent farming since planting those five acres of Tier Two Spirit Plants,
eventually, Qin Ming almost moved next to the spiritual field, setting up a shed to guard the Spirit Plants day and night.
In order to prevent anyone within the Spirit Feather Sect from secretly sabotaging him.
Because among the higher-ups of the Spirit Feather Sect, there were still many who didn’t wish to see a grassroots Spirit Farmer rise.
Fortunately, hard work pays off, and with the Spirit Plants about to be harvested, he let out a deep sigh of relief.
Soon, after participating in the Plant Illusion Realm trial and advancing to a Tier Two Spirit Plant Master,
there would be nothing the Spirit Feather Sect could say.
By then, free from labor duties, the sky would be wide open for birds, and the sea vast for fish.
The struggles here would no longer concern him.
Qin Ming looked at the vibrant, colorfully emanating incredible spirit essence of the Five-Colored Rice in the field, a wave of joy welled up in his heart.
This was Spiritual Rice capable of significantly enhancing Qi Cultivation mana, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators could gain benefits; it was a rare find.
Then there were the other two acres of earth-colored Red Silver Yellow Hemp, full of treasures, quite valuable.
Moreover, Qin Ming could dispose of them freely, without having to pay taxes.
Shortly.
The Dharma Ship from the Spirit Feather Sect arrived punctually to levy the Spirit Rice.