Inquiry

Chapter 20: Inquiry

Qingyang Market.

Inside a private room at Juxuan Pavilion.

Qin Ming ordered a table full of fine wine and dishes, and he and Cai Lao Jiu tore through them like a whirlwind, eating to their hearts' content.

Manager Liao sat beside them, a smile on his face as he drank with the two.

Naturally, he knew they had not come to the establishment merely to eat and drink.

Manager Liao had long been drooling over Qin Ming's Beast Fang Rice.

After three rounds of wine, Qin Ming and Cai Lao Jiu were both full and satisfied.

Only then did Manager Liao rub his hands together and say with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Qin, about that... Beast Fang Rice you promised."

Qin Ming tipped back a cup of wine before unhurriedly taking out the Golden Spirit Rice and Beast Fang Rice.

"More than five hundred pounds of Golden Spirit Rice, and one hundred pounds of Beast Fang Rice. It's all here."

Manager Liao's eyes lit up. He all but ignored the Golden Spirit Rice, with only that bag of Beast Fang Rice remaining in his sight.

He reached in, took out several grains of Beast Fang Rice that were white tinged with red, and inspected them carefully.

After a long while.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you've grown this Beast Fang Rice exceptionally well. Its quality is superior—it is practically at the Premium level!"

As he looked at the Beast Fang Rice, the trace of blood-red within it seemed all the brighter.

Although Manager Liao had always been capable and steady, a hint of excitement could not help appearing on his face at this moment.

After operating here for so many years, this was his first time encountering Beast Fang Spirit Rice of such fine quality.

If handled properly, the price of this batch of Beast Fang Rice could multiply several times over. The profit margin would be extremely considerable!

The key was—

Now that he had established a relationship with Qin Ming, he could firmly keep an exclusive channel for Beast Fang Rice in his own hands.

With Qin Ming's attainments in Spirit Plant cultivation, regularly growing Beast Fang Rice in the future would likely be no difficult matter.

If that happened—

A bold and brilliant stroke would be added to Juxuan Pavilion's book of merits under his name!

Once he pleased the Pavilion Master, perhaps the position he had occupied for so many years might finally move up a step.

At that thought.

Manager Liao seemed to have figured something out and made a certain resolution.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I can make the decision to purchase this batch of Beast Fang Rice at twenty percent above market price."

"That is, six Spirit Stones per pound of Beast Fang Rice. What do you think?"

Qin Ming considered it but did not answer immediately.

Seeing this, Manager Liao hurriedly stepped forward, took out a jade token from his Storage Bag, and solemnly handed it to Qin Ming. "This is Juxuan Pavilion's Discount Token."

"With this token, Fellow Daoist Qin will receive a twenty percent discount on all future purchases at Juxuan Pavilion or any of our other branches."

Qin Ming accepted the jade token and examined it carefully. Only then did he nod and agree. "Deal."

Manager Liao's face brightened with delight when he saw that the matter was settled.

He immediately took out a Large Measuring Bucket artifact and began weighing the rice.

"Five hundred and ten pounds of Golden Spirit Rice, valued at one hundred seventy Spirit Stones."

"One hundred and five pounds of Beast Fang Rice, valued at six hundred thirty Spirit Stones."

"The total comes to eight hundred Lower-grade Spirit Stones."

After calculating everything, Manager Liao deftly took out the Spirit Stones and paid Qin Ming.

Qin Ming accepted the Spirit Stones and placed them in his Storage Bag.

With eight hundred Spirit Stones entering his account in one go, he felt considerably more secure.

Seeing so many Spirit Stones, Cai Lao Jiu, who was standing nearby, nearly drooled, and an envious expression appeared on his face.

Manager Liao then asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Qin, is there anything you need to purchase?"

"Not for now." Qin Ming replied expressionlessly.

"By the way, nothing has happened recently, has it?"

Qin Ming suddenly asked another question.

Manager Liao was taken aback at first, then replied:

"Same as always. Spirit Feather Sect is still busy repairing the teleportation array. It probably won't be fixed anytime soon." Manager Liao lowered his voice and said no more.

Qin Ming nodded.

This time, he had sold Manager Liao one hundred pounds of Beast Fang Rice at once because he intentionally wanted to show the other party a little of his own worth.

Manager Liao had no small backing behind him and could access news and developments from the upper levels.

In the future, Qin Ming would inevitably need to ask him about certain information concerning the Immortal Cultivation World.

Afterward, Cai Lao Jiu also took out two hundred pounds of Golden Spirit Rice and sold it to Manager Liao.

The transaction ended.

Qin Ming was preparing to settle the bill and leave when Manager Liao generously gave him a twenty percent discount, charging only five Spirit Stones and even gifting him a small flask of Spirit Wine.

Then, with a smile on his face, Manager Liao saw the two of them out of the establishment.

After leaving the shop.

Qin Ming planned to head to the Hall of Affairs of Spirit Feather Sect to take the Spirit Plant knowledge assessment and complete his advancement to a First-rank Spirit Planter.

He greeted Cai Lao Jiu, and the two parted ways to attend to their own business.

Qin Ming arrived alone at the Hall of Affairs.

The assessment went smoothly, taking only one hour to complete.

It mainly covered basic knowledge of cultivating Spirit Plants, along with an essay on his experience planting First-Grade Lower Spirit Plants.

The Spirit Planter in charge of the assessment quickly gave the result—he had passed.

On the spot, he also stamped an official mana seal onto Qin Ming's Spirit Planter identity wooden token.

Of the Spirit Plant engraved on the back of the Spirit Planter token, one leaf lit up, signifying Qin Ming's status as a First-Grade Lower Spirit Planter.

"To advance to a middle-grade Spirit Planter, you must successfully cultivate more than three kinds of First-Grade Middle Spirit Plants."

"When the time comes, return here to advance."

Seeing how young Qin Ming was, the Spirit Feather Sect deacon in charge of the assessment could not help giving him a second look as he offered the reminder.

"Yes, thank you, Deacon." Qin Ming respectfully bowed and left the Hall of Affairs.

Qin Ming walked along the streets of the market, playing with his Spirit Planter identity wooden token for a while before putting it into his Storage Bag.

"Oh my~"

"What fate!"

"Fellow Daoist, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Two Spirit Stones per person—want to have some fun?"

The road leading to the Ruan Family Estate once again passed by the pleasure houses nearby.

It was still that Green-clad Enchantress. She cast flirtatious glances at Qin Ming with all her might.

Her mouth never stopped calling out to him.

Qin Ming kept his eyes straight ahead and ignored her, walking toward the Ruan Family Estate.

"Pah! What a bore!" The green-clad female cultivator spat.

As soon as she finished speaking, two people emerged from the doorway behind her, one of them that same Bearded Man.

"Another one didn't take the bait."

The Ruan Family Estate was close to the central district of Qingyang Market.

The several alleys along the way were lined with numerous houses, all independent courtyards with large areas.

Their facilities were fully equipped, including separate cultivation chambers and workshops for various immortal cultivation crafts.

Beyond that, Detection-blocking Arrays covering the entire courtyards had even been installed to prevent others from spying.

After all.

In the Immortal Cultivation World, privacy and security were also extremely important to cultivators.

The cultivators who could rent residences here.

Were often mid- to late-stage cultivators with substantial foundations, and even immortal cultivators at the completion of the Qi Refining Stage.

Qin Ming casually asked about the rental situation for houses here.

Yet he learned that rental prices within the market had also risen steadily since last year, surging several times higher than in previous years.

"Nowadays, even the worst houses in Qingyang Market require three hundred Spirit Stones in annual rent."

Qin Ming secretly clicked his tongue at the price.

"But all the houses in Qingyang Market have already been rented out. If a courtyard becomes vacant, you still have to go to the Hall of Affairs of Spirit Feather Sect to apply for a spot."

"I heard that this year, the cultivators applying for housing rental spots in the market have already been queued past number nine hundred."

Qin Ming: "..."

He had originally thought.

The rent inside the market was already outrageously expensive. He had never expected that even at such prices.

People still had to fight for a spot!

"Ugh, if it weren't for the protection of the market's Second-Grade array."

"Not even dogs would rent here!"

"Ptooey!"

Outside the Ruan Family Estate.

Knock, knock, knock!

Qin Ming knocked for a long while, but no one answered from inside.

He immediately sent Daoist Ruan a Message Talisman.

A short while later.

Qin Ming received a reply through his Message Talisman.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I'm truly sorry. I'm outside handling some matters and won't be able to return home anytime soon."

"How about I give you an address? I'll have to trouble you to make the trip. It isn't far."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming's brows furrowed deeply.

After considering it for a moment.

He still replied with great caution, "Daoist Ruan, things are not very peaceful outside right now. How about I wait a little longer?"

"Just let me know when you return."