Talks Break Down

Qin Ming was secretly astonished. Jiang Kun's display of wealth and boldness was no trifling matter.

The other party's intentions were already exceedingly clear.

He wanted to win over Qin Ming, a Mid-Grade Spirit Planter.

And place the exclusive channel for Beast Fang Rice in Jiang Kun's hands.

Such an exorbitant price would have been more than enough to recruit even a High-Grade Spirit Planter.

"I trust Fellow Daoist Qin understands the art of weighing one's options. You are a rare talent of our sect, so naturally you should stand with your own people. I can purchase your Beast Fang Rice at the same price. Could Gu Qingzhao of Mirror Snow Pavilion possibly promise you a breakthrough pill like a Marrow Cleansing Pill?"

A smile surfaced on Jiang Kun's face as he spoke. His words were earnest and reasonable.

If Qin Ming had been an ordinary cultivator, he certainly would have found it difficult to resist the temptation of the breakthrough pill before him.

Jiang Kun was right about that as well. Gu Qingzhao of Mirror Snow Pavilion had only offered him a market residence slot in exchange.

Compared with the terms Jiang Kun had offered, it was the difference between heaven and earth.

However, Jiang Kun could not have imagined that Qin Ming had already broken through to become a Lower-Grade Alchemist. With the growth of his soul power, refining Marrow Cleansing Pills was only a matter of time.

Besides, Qin Ming was currently focusing on a Body Refining Art, while his mana cultivation was still at the Qi Refining Stage Fourth Layer. He had no immediate use for them.

"I fear I must disappoint Senior Brother Jiang. My cultivation is shallow, and I have no use for Marrow Cleansing Pills either. As for the Spirit Rice, I would still like to make my own decision."

Qin Ming drew a deep breath and placed everything before him back into the Jade Box.

The smile on Jiang Kun's face instantly stiffened.

He had never imagined that such generous terms would fail to move Qin Ming.

He had gone to such lengths to recruit Qin Ming for two main reasons.

First, he valued Qin Ming's talent for Spirit Plants. To advance continuously to a Mid-Grade Spirit Planter in only a few short years—

And to have mastered the most difficult of Spirit Plant spells, the Greater Spirit Rain Technique—was truly no simple feat.

At the same time, Jiang Kun had already sent people to investigate and learned that Qin Ming had a close relationship with Su Yuqing, the High-Grade Alchemist.

This year's Spirit Planter records at the Spirit Feather Sect's Hall of Affairs included registrations showing Qin Ming had planted High-Grade Spirit Plants and Supreme Spirit Plants for Su Yuqing.

Based on past experience—

By the end of this year, Qin Ming would most likely advance to High-Grade Spirit Planter.

Moreover, he had connections like Su Yuqing.

A talent like this was well worth Jiang Kun's investment and recruitment into his own camp.

The second reason was that Mingzhen Pavilion, which Jiang Kun himself ran, was a competitor of Mirror Snow Pavilion. If he could bind Qin Ming firmly to his side, it would deal Gu Qingzhao no small blow.

Although the sect had already issued a ban prohibiting Spirit Farmers from privately selling Spirit Rice—

If Qin Ming hoarded his Beast Fang Rice and sold it to neither side, Jiang Kun would be unable to find fault with him or do anything about it.

It was said that the three mu of Beast Fang Rice Qin Ming had planted would be harvested this year, and all of it would be Premium quality.

Gu Qingzhao was not the only one eyeing it greedily; Jiang Kun himself was drooling with envy.

Simply making good use of the exclusive Premium Beast Fang Rice gimmick would allow Mingzhen Pavilion's name to ring out in one stroke. Its strategic significance was considerable.

"Oh? Hehe!"

"Right, how could I have forgotten? Fellow Daoist Qin has no use for Marrow Cleansing Pills for the time being."

"How about this? Shall we replace them with an equivalent quantity of Spirit Gathering Pills?"

Jiang Kun's thoughts raced, and realization suddenly dawned on him.

"Many thanks for Senior Brother Jiang's kind intentions, but my mind is made up. I still wish to make my own decisions regarding matters in my Spirit Fields. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave first." Qin Ming directly declined him with polite words.

His heart was clear as a mirror, and he was not beguiled by the things before him at all.

Jiang Kun's group was no good lot. If he chose to cooperate with them, sooner or later they would make him cough up everything, principal and interest alike.

"Hehe! Fellow Daoist Qin, have you thought this through? If you choose to cooperate with Gu Qingzhao, the sect rules will not spare you lightly."

Jiang Kun's smile vanished, and his expression turned dark and sinister.

He had thought that Qin Ming, a mere Spirit Farmer, would be easy to manipulate.

All it would take was the promise of a little profit, and he would be his for the taking.

Yet this brat would not take oil or salt.

Jiang Kun gradually began to lose patience, his face frosted with chill.

Abruptly!

The aura of his Qi Refining Stage Perfection mana cultivation burst forth in full!

His cold, fierce eyes locked onto Qin Ming, as though he wished to impose some kind of pressure upon him.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, are you truly certain you will not reconsider?"

Seeing that temptation had failed, Jiang Kun switched to intimidation.

In the past—

Faced with the oppressive aura of Qi Refining Stage Perfection, Qin Ming certainly would have been unable to withstand it.

But now, his Body Refining Art was only one step away from entering its late stage. The pressure Jiang Kun exerted was practically meaningless to him.

Still, Qin Ming pretended to struggle under it. His face turned pale, and he forced himself upright before staggering away to take his leave.

Outside the private room—

Chen Zi'ang, the short cultivator, saw Qin Ming emerge and eagerly sidled up to him with a grin. "Well? Did you reach an agreement?"

Qin Ming chose to ignore him, walking straight past him and down the stairs.

"Huh? This?" Chen Zi'ang's eyes rolled, and he hurried into the private room.

One look at the items still on the table, followed by Jiang Kun's man-eating expression, and he immediately understood that the talks had fallen through.

"Senior Brother Jiang, that brat..." Chen Zi'ang asked cautiously, forcing himself to speak.

He knew Jiang Kun's temper very well. If he caught the other man at a bad moment, Jiang Kun could make him a punching bag in minutes.

"That ungrateful wretch. Give him an inch, and he really thinks he's somebody!" Jiang Kun's tone was icy.

"Since this brat refuses to see reason, we cannot let Gu Qingzhao benefit either. Find a suitable opportunity and take people to finish him off for me!"

Chen Zi'ang's expression immediately turned troubled upon hearing this. "Senior Brother Jiang, I'm afraid that brat won't be easy to touch, will he? He is a Mid-Grade Spirit Planter now. I heard several elders from the inner sect's Spirit Herb Valley have begun paying attention to him."

"Hmph. That is why you need to handle it cleanly and leave no evidence for anyone to seize. Do I need to teach you how to do it?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I understand. I'll personally lead people there. Once it's done, we'll pin it on Marauder Cultivators. Hehehe!"

After leaving Mingzhen Pavilion—

On Qingyang Market's main thoroughfare—

Qin Ming's expression shifted between light and shadow. This time, he had thoroughly enraged Jiang Kun and his group.

He pondered for a long while.

At last, he made a decision.

He turned and headed toward Juxuan Pavilion.

Juxuan Pavilion.

The moment Manager Liao saw Qin Ming arrive, he quickly set down the account book in his hands and came out to greet him with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, what brings you to the shop today?"

"Would you like a drink? Or is there something you need to buy?"

Qin Ming explained his purpose. "There is an important matter. I would like to see Pavilion Master Gu."

Manager Liao was startled. Seeing Qin Ming's solemn expression, he did not dare delay in the slightest and immediately led him upstairs to report the matter.

Inside a private room on the seventh floor—

After receiving permission, Qin Ming entered the room.

As usual, Gu Qingzhao had lit spirit incense and was sipping tea while studying a scripture.

After Qin Ming entered, he got straight to the point and told Gu Qingzhao about the matter.

He had thought it through. Rather than being unable to deliver the Beast Fang Rice at the end of the year, it would be better to explain the whole matter to her now.

It would also prevent Jiang Kun from sowing discord between them.

After listening to Qin Ming, Gu Qingzhao's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She set down the scripture in her hand, and the spirit incense beside her began to drift and scatter chaotically.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room congealed.