Gu Qingzhao's Invitation

Gu Qingzhao's Invitation

The next day.

Qin Ming continued cultivating for most of the day, consolidating his cultivation.

At dusk.

Qin Ming arrived at Juxuan Pavilion once more.

"Fellow Daoist Qin! Y-you've broken through to the Qi Refining Stage Fifth Layer?"

"Congratulations! Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qin, on your advancement in cultivation and another step forward on the immortal path!"

Manager Liao had been waiting and waiting, never expecting Fellow Daoist Qin to return so soon.

He was about to be promoted by the Pavilion Master. Over the past two days, he had thoroughly basked in glory before his colleagues in the pavilion, truly riding high on the spring breeze. Qin Ming, his benefactor, had been constantly on his mind.

Yet he had never expected that, upon seeing Fellow Daoist Qin again, the man's cultivation would have broken through once more.

Wait!

A thought flashed through Manager Liao's mind, and he suddenly realized something.

Fellow Daoist Qin had previously been at the Qi Refining Stage Fourth Layer. Breaking through to the fifth layer in such a short time—could it be that he had successfully refined mid-grade spirit pills?

Wouldn't that mean Fellow Daoist Qin was now not only a Mid-Grade Spirit Planter, but also a Mid-Grade Alchemist?!

"Manager, as we agreed last time, once I refined pills, I would sell a portion of them to you." Qin Ming got straight to the point and stated his purpose.

Manager Liao was Overjoyed. "Oh, that's wonderful!"

"May I ask whether Fellow Daoist Qin succeeded in refining mid-grade pills yesterday?"

Though Manager Liao harbored some hope, he could not help asking. After all, breaking through to become a Mid-Grade Alchemist was no easy feat.

Many alchemists became stuck at this hurdle for years at the least, and decades at the most.

"Yes, I was fortunate enough to succeed." Qin Ming spoke calmly, as though it were nothing.

"What?!"

Manager Liao was completely stunned. Even though Qin Ming had confirmed what he suspected, hearing the admission from Qin Ming's own mouth was still deeply shocking.

Fellow Daoist Qin was so young, yet he had already become a Mid-Grade Alchemist. His talent in alchemy was likely no less than Alchemist Su's, wasn't it?

At that thought, Manager Liao shuddered all over and immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, our Pavilion Master instructed that if you came, I was to invite you to meet her."

"Oh?" This time, Qin Ming showed a trace of surprise.

In his impression, Gu Qingzhao had always been cold and aloof, untouched by the mortal world. Why did she suddenly wish to see him?

Afterward.

Manager Liao led him upstairs. After announcing his arrival, he left Qin Ming alone and withdrew.

A private room on the seventh floor of Juxuan Pavilion.

Spirit incense drifted through the air, filling it with a faint fragrance.

Gu Qingzhao was still dressed in plain robes, but for once, she was not reading her scripture.

She personally walked gracefully to the door and welcomed Qin Ming into the elegant room.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I was rather neglectful before. I hope you will not take offense."

Qin Ming looked up and saw Gu Qingzhao's cool eyes, along with the faint smile blooming upon her red lips.

Gu Qingzhao had always carried herself with a cold, noble air, indifferent to the multitude of living beings and wholly focused on her scripture. She had no need for the affairs of the Red Dust to trouble her, like an immortal maiden descended from the heavens.

For such words to come from her mouth was truly no easy thing.

Within the secluded private room, a beaded curtain hung before the window, trailing to the floor.

A man and a woman sat facing each other across the table.

The lamplight was dim.

Perhaps Gu Qingzhao had just bathed; a delicate fragrance, like osmanthus and orchids, wafted from her body.

Her breath was fragrant as orchids, her skin smooth as congealed jade. Her graceful figure was faintly visible beneath her plain robes, exuding a beauty that could seize one's very soul.

Faced with such a devastatingly beautiful woman, Qin Ming too felt a flash of amazement.

What trick was this woman trying to pull now?

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Qin has become an Intermediate Alchemist?" Gu Qingzhao personally poured him a cup of spirit tea and asked softly with a smile.

Qin Ming nodded. "That is correct. I came this time to sell some pills and purchase spirit materials along the way."

As he spoke, Qin Ming took out two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills and one bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills from his Storage Bag and placed them on the table. Each bottle contained five pills.

Originally, he had not been in a hurry to sell the Spirit Gathering Pills, but he had not expected Pavilion Master Gu Qingzhao to receive him personally this time.

Thus, he changed his mind on the spot and intended to display a little of his strength.

After all, if Qin Ming wanted access to higher-level information and circles within the Immortal Cultivation World,

he needed to demonstrate his own value.

Gu Qingzhao opened the three pill bottles before her and carefully inspected them one by one.

Her starry eyes grew increasingly bright, and she sincerely praised Qin Ming. "I never expected Fellow Daoist Qin's talent in alchemy to be so outstanding as well. A Mid-Grade Spirit Planter and an Intermediate Alchemist—possessing two mid-grade skills is exceedingly rare even in Qingyang Market."

"For these Qi Gathering Pills, our pavilion can purchase them at two hundred and twenty-five Spirit Stones per bottle."

"As for the Spirit Gathering Pills, we can purchase them at three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones per bottle."

"What does Fellow Daoist Qin think?"

Gu Qingzhao's voice was clear as a spring, and every frown and smile of hers was radiant and captivating.

The price she offered was already ten percent higher than the current market price.

Qin Ming could sense that she was clearly trying to show him goodwill.

"Deal."

"However, I would like to exchange all the Spirit Stones from this transaction for several spirit materials used to refine Spirit Gathering Pills." After readily agreeing, Qin Ming immediately added this.

Gu Qingzhao smiled, showing her pearly teeth. "It seems Fellow Daoist Qin is already able to refine Spirit Gathering Pills reliably."

"Spirit Gathering Pills are among the most difficult mid-grade pills to refine. I presume... Fellow Daoist Qin has received guidance from an expert?" She picked up the teapot again and elegantly poured Qin Ming another cup of spirit tea, probing indirectly through her words.

Qin Ming hesitated briefly before speaking frankly. "That is correct. My successful breakthrough to Intermediate Alchemist this time was due to a fortunate coincidence and Brother Su's guidance."

The moment his words fell.

Gu Qingzhao unexpectedly sank into brief contemplation. The tea from the pot in her hand overflowed, yet she did not notice.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, the tea is full." Qin Ming spoke up to remind her.

Only then did Gu Qingzhao snap out of it and hurriedly withdraw the teapot.

She then took out a silk handkerchief and wiped up the spilled tea. Her expression was slightly unnatural as she apologized, "My apologies, Fellow Daoist Qin."

She had just thought of something and inwardly smiled bitterly. Fellow Daoist Qin must have concealed something last time and did not tell me the truth. If he and Alchemist Su were merely ordinary friends, why would Alchemist Su guide him in the art of alchemy? It seems I underestimated Fellow Daoist Qin too greatly.

After Gu Qingzhao grasped the key to the matter, she immediately rose to her feet decisively and sincerely invited Qin Ming, "I would like to formally invite Fellow Daoist Qin to become a guest elder of our pavilion. As for the terms, everything can be arranged in your favor."

"Of course, if Fellow Daoist Qin has any conditions, feel free to state them."

Qin Ming was stunned.

He had not expected Gu Qingzhao to extend an olive branch to him so directly.

After only a slight moment of consideration, Qin Ming tactfully declined her. "Thank you for Fellow Daoist Gu's kindness, but I have grown used to being free on my own and do not enjoy restraint. I am afraid I cannot accept the position of guest elder."

He carried a heap of secrets, so he needed to be especially cautious. Although he now possessed a measure of self-preservation,

if he encountered a high-level cultivator such as one in the Foundation Establishment Realm, they could still manipulate him as they pleased.

Nor did he wish to become embroiled in the conflicts of interest among these factions. Right now, all he wanted was to quietly farm his fields.

"I hope to maintain our current cooperative relationship with your pavilion. In any case, I will continue selling my pills and Spirit Rice at Juxuan Pavilion as before," Qin Ming said earnestly after thinking it over.

Gu Qingzhao was dumbfounded. She had not expected Qin Ming to reject her outright with almost no consideration at all.

His reaction was almost exactly the same as Alchemist Su's back then.