New Affix

New Affix

After completing the preliminary preparations.

Alchemist Su raised a hand, and the prepared medicinal embryo within the vessel flew into the pill furnace.

His fingers formed a hand seal.

The medicinal embryo leaped and churned within the pill furnace, continuously merging.

Throughout the entire process, Alchemist Su moved without the slightest hesitation. He already knew every step of refining the Marrow Cleansing Pill by heart.

From the very beginning, Qin Ming had watched without blinking.

He was afraid of missing even the smallest detail.

Time passed bit by bit.

Alchemist Su split his attention in two, controlling the heat while ensuring the spirit ingredients inside the furnace fused thoroughly.

The medicinal embryo within the pill furnace gradually began to take shape and condense.

The expression on Alchemist Su's face grew solemn.

It was the final step!

Qin Ming held his breath, not daring to make a single sound.

Just then.

A muffled "pfft" came from the purple pill furnace.

A plume of black smoke then rose from it.

"It still failed?!" Qin Ming could not help but sigh in regret.

Was refining a first-grade high-quality spirit pill really this difficult?

The spirit ingredients consumed in a single batch alone probably cost several hundred Spirit Stones.

Yet Alchemist Su's expression barely changed, as though he had expected it all along.

He shut off the fire valve and extinguished the earthfire.

He carefully cleaned all the black medicinal dregs from the pill furnace.

Then, unhurriedly, he began the next attempt.

This time, Alchemist Su had prepared more than ten sets of spirit ingredients for refining Marrow Cleansing Pills.

If he failed to succeed.

He would lose several thousand Spirit Stones in one go.

The second refinement began. Failure.

The third refinement. Failure.

The fourth refinement was still a failure.

By the time he reached the twelfth set.

Without realizing it, it was already late at night.

Alchemist Su's nerves were taut, sweat continuously seeping down his forehead.

Finally!

Chirp!

The purple pill furnace gave a clear cry.

An incomparably rich pill fragrance wafted from within.

"The pill is complete!"

Alchemist Su was Overjoyed!

With a wave of his hand.

Six cyan spirit pills spun as they dropped into his palm.

As breakthrough pills for Late Qi Refining, any single Marrow Cleansing Pill was worth a fortune.

Qin Ming stared longingly at the spirit pills and swallowed.

He could not afford them.

If these pills were put up for auction in Qingyang Market, even a single one could fetch the sky-high price of over a thousand Spirit Stones.

This also meant.

Alchemist Su had advanced to a high-quality alchemist!

And he was a young alchemist barely in his twenties. It was enough to show Alchemist Su's peerless talent in alchemy.

He had every right to be proud.

"Congratulations, Alchemist Su, on successfully refining the pill and becoming a high-quality alchemist!" Qin Ming offered his congratulations at just the right moment.

Alchemist Su took out an exquisite porcelain bottle and stored away the Marrow Cleansing Pills.

He was in an excellent mood.

Then he pulled a Jade Bottle from his robes and tossed it to Qin Ming.

"Good fortune for those who witness it."

Qin Ming's face lit up. He caught the Jade Bottle and opened it, finding a spirit pill resting inside.

"Spirit Gathering Pill!"

"Many thanks, Alchemist Su!" Qin Ming gave a Cupped Fist Salute.

This cultivation-enhancing spirit pill was just right for him.

But compared to the pill Alchemist Su had gifted him.

Watching the other man refine pills on the spot and witnessing the entire process had benefited Qin Ming immensely.

That was what was truly precious.

After shutting off the fire valve.

The two left the Alchemy Room.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, over the next year, I will continue refining high-quality pills."

"To consolidate and raise the success rate and quality of high-quality pills."

"You can continue helping me grow Spirit Herbs, but..." Alchemist Su suddenly stopped halfway through his words.

Qin Ming smiled awkwardly and said, "Alchemist Su, just tell me what Spirit Herbs you need me to grow."

He would not dare boast about anything else, but he still had some confidence when it came to growing Spirit Plants.

With Affixes in hand, he had even achieved Accelerated Growth for first-grade Supreme Spirit Plants like Blood Locust Rice.

Alchemist Su looked at Qin Ming in mild surprise, seeing the air of confidence around him as though none but he could do it.

He could not help but smile in understanding. "True. Fellow Daoist Qin's talent in the way of Spirit Plants should not be underestimated either."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you need not be so reserved in the future."

"Just call me Su Yuqing or Brother Su."

Qin Ming nodded. "All right, Brother Su."

"This time, I need you to grow two kinds of first-grade mid-quality Spirit Plants."

"Frostsmoke Herb and Spirit Candle Fruit."

After Su Yuqing finished speaking, he took two small packets of Spirit Seeds from his Storage Bag and handed them to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming accepted the Spirit Seeds and opened them.

One packet contained black grass seeds, only around twenty or thirty of them.

The other contained more than a dozen fruit pits the size of peanuts.

"Do you recognize these two Spirit Plants, Fellow Daoist Qin?" Alchemist Su asked Qin Ming with a smile.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Ming replied, "Of course. This Frostsmoke Herb has an extremely broad range of uses. It can be used in the refinement of nearly all first-grade pills."

"Only, this Spirit Candle Fruit..."

"Its fruit is highly poisonous, and the edges of its leaves are serrated. It preys on insects and must be fed poisonous insects and toxins as fertilizer."

"Besides that, both Spirit Plants have rather demanding requirements for spiritual energy. Their minimum harvest period is one year."

Qin Ming paused slightly before continuing, "Within a first-grade Spirit Vein, unless they are watered with spirit rain from the Greater Spirit Rain Technique."

"They will be exceedingly difficult to mature."

After Qin Ming finished speaking.

Su Yuqing patted his shoulder appreciatively.

"I knew I had not misjudged you, Fellow Daoist Qin."

"How about it?"

"Growing mid-quality Spirit Plants requires a great deal of care."

"No matter the harvest, I can grant you one request within the limits of what I can accept."

Qin Ming's eyes lit up, and he did not hesitate in the slightest.

He chuckled.

"Deal!"

The next day.

Qin Ming rose early.

Carrying his Spirit Hoe, he went to work in the Spirit Fields as usual.

This season.

He now had five mu of rented Spirit Fields of his own, along with three mu rented by Su Yuqing.

Eight mu of Spirit Fields in total.

With his current Qi Refining Stage Third Layer mana, managing these Spirit Fields was barely manageable.

Qin Ming planned to.

Plant three mu of Golden Spirit Rice, three mu of Beast Fang Rice, and use the remaining two mu to plant those several dozen Frostsmoke Herb seeds and more than a dozen Spirit Candle Fruits.

After all, Golden Spirit Rice could be harvested three times a year, so the chances of gaining Affixes would be higher.

Beast Fang Rice could serve as a steady source of Spirit Stone income, and besides, he had promised Manager Liao.

Having made up his mind.

Qin Ming picked up his Spirit Hoe and immediately got to work.

In half a day.

Qin Ming had planted all eight mu of Spirit Fields.

After casting the Intermediate Spirit Rain Art over every field, he returned home in satisfaction.

As for the Greater Spirit Rain Technique, he was close.

He had been practicing diligently lately. With the insights from five more castings.

He vaguely felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

The seasons turned, winter passing and spring returning.

Qin Ming came to his Spirit Fields once more.

Like a farmer visiting his own little plot of land.

Within the three mu of Golden Spirit Rice Spirit Fields, two Affixes gleamed golden.

Name: Golden Spirit Rice
Affix: Faint Mana (Maturity 2%)

Name: Golden Spirit Rice
Affix: Faint Mana (Maturity 3%)

Within the three mu of Beast Fang Rice Spirit Fields were two Affixes.

Name: Beast Fang Rice
Affix: Faint Vital Energy x5 (Maturity 1%)

Name: Beast Fang Rice
Affix: Accelerated Growth x5 (Maturity 2%)

Within the two mu of Frostsmoke Herb and Spirit Candle Fruit Spirit Fields were three Affixes.

Name: Frostsmoke Herb
Affix: Faint Soul Force x5 (Maturity %)

Name: Frostsmoke Herb
Affix: Accelerated Growth x5 (Maturity 2%)

Name: Spirit Candle Fruit
Affix: Rebirth Spirit Seed x3 (Maturity 2%)

"Rebirth Spirit Seed?"

PS: Thanks to Grand Agricultural Minister Niu Laozhi for the recommendation vote.