New Neighbor

The area Spirit Feather Sect had opened up lay within the Cloud Marsh Great Wilderness, deep in the southwestern reaches of the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, a place scarcely touched by human tracks.

Winter here was especially bitter.

Had Qin Ming not transmigrated into the Immortal Cultivation World, he would never have known that cultivators could fear the cold too.

They also needed to eat, drink, piss, and shit.

At the second watch before dawn, light snow began to drift over the Shantytown.

The alley was deserted, with only a few sparrows foraging through the rubbish heaps.

After winter began, Spirit Field cultivation entered a brief two-month dormant period.

The next season's spirit rice would be sown before Qingming; otherwise, if it encountered frost-laden winds, the rate of empty husks among the spirit rice would be high.

Though winter was cold, that very coldness somehow put one at ease.

The turning of the seasons told Qin Ming that the warmth of early spring was drawing closer.

Qin Ming was clearing the snow from his doorway.

Creak!

The wooden door of his neighbor Li Yanli opened in response.

Dressed in a peach-blossom rouge-pink jacket, she was charming and alluring. A distinctive scent of rouge wafted from her as she carried out a wooden basin to dump her washing water.

"Morning, Fellow Daoist Li."

Seeing her emerge, Qin Ming smiled faintly and greeted her.

"Morning, Fellow Daoist Qin. You really are a diligent man!" Li Yanli covered her mouth with a smile.

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Qin's Spirit Rice yield last season was truly astonishing. You must have sold it for quite a few Spirit Stones, right?"

"Hehe, I was just lucky."

After greeting her, Qin Ming was about to return inside.

But then he heard his female neighbor call after him. "Please wait, Fellow Daoist Qin."

A trace of shyness appeared on Li Yanli's face as she said somewhat awkwardly, "A few days ago, things were rather loud on my side, and I disturbed Fellow Daoist Qin's rest. If you don't mind, would you like to come into my room? I can give you one for free."

"Uh, this..."

Qin Ming was stunned, and his old face immediately flushed red.

Truth be told, how could a vigorous young man in the prime of his blood and vigor withstand such a test of human nature?

Isn't the warmth of spring coming a little too quickly?

Or was the economy really that bad?

Starting morning exercises at the crack of dawn?

Stay calm. I must stay calm!

That woman was probably not craving the thing between his legs, but the Spirit Stones in his pocket.

Qin Ming's Dao heart began to waver again.

Then, all of a sudden—

A broad, powerful figure abruptly flashed through his mind: Fellow Daoist Long, a late Qi Refining Stage Eight cultivator.

Can't afford to provoke him. Better forget it.

Qin Ming wilted at once and rapidly calmed down.

"Uh, thank you for your kind offer, Fellow Daoist. I went weeding and turning the soil in the Spirit Fields a few days ago, and my back has been aching these past two days."

With that, he slipped back into his room without looking back.

"Alas, beautiful women were skeletons draped in skin, throwing the Dao heart into chaos!"

Qin Ming hurriedly washed his face. Just as his thoughts were running wild—

Bang bang bang!

Knocking sounded outside.

Could it be...? Could she really be delivering herself to my door?

That seductive thing really knows how to torment a man!

If that's the case, then I'll just have to fight you to the end!

Qin Ming opened the door, only to find that the visitor was Cai Lao Jiu.

He looked around to make sure no one else was present, then casually said,

"Why is it you?"

Cai Lao Jiu was carrying two packages and had been smiling cheerfully, but upon hearing that, he froze where he stood.

He looked around, immediately growing displeased.

"No, I'm wondering—what kind of thing is that to say? Why can't it be me?"

"I kindly brought you a jug of Sweet Potato Wine I brewed myself."

"Fine, then I'm leaving." Cai Lao Jiu turned to go.

Qin Ming hurriedly apologized. "Hey, hey, hey, that's not what I meant. Come on, come in and sit."

Only then did Cai Lao Jiu hand the jug of wine to Qin Ming, saying irritably, "Sit for what?"

"Did you not even know that a new neighbor moved in nearby?"

Qin Ming accepted the wine, his face blank.

"A new neighbor?"

The moment Cai Lao Jiu saw his expression, he knew this kid had been cooped up in his room for too long and was out of touch with the news.

He sighed and pointed at Qin Ming. "Sigh, I really don't know what to say about you."

"A cultivator moved into the alley a few days ago, and he's a genuine Alchemist!"

"An alchemist?"

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, alchemy, artifact forging, talismans, and formations stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Pills were an extremely important cultivation resource for cultivators.

Whether for daily cultivation, breaking through bottlenecks, curing illness and healing injuries, extending one's lifespan, preserving one's looks, and so on—

There would always come a time when one needed an alchemist.

If they built a good relationship now, it might come in handy someday.

"But why would someone like an alchemist move into the Shantytown?" Qin Ming asked, puzzled.

After all, learning alchemy was the true way to burn Spirit Stones. Even someone with exceptional talent needed to be fed vast quantities of spirit materials before becoming an alchemist. That was something only great sects and major factions could afford.

Poorer sects simply could not raise one.

"Then he should only be an ordinary alchemist who hasn't entered the ranks, right?"

"I heard he's only staying for a year. As for the exact reason, he didn't reveal it."

"Hurry and prepare a meeting gift. Let's go visit him together and get acquainted."

Cai Lao Jiu urged impatiently.

"So the jug of wine you brought me was just incidental? I only got it thanks to that alchemist." Qin Ming was suddenly speechless.

Before long.

The two passed through several alleyways.

Arriving before a house, Cai Lao Jiu knocked on the door.

A moment later.

The wooden door opened from within.

A white-robed youth in his twenties appeared before them, a Qi Refining Stage Five cultivator.

Neither Qin Ming nor Cai Lao Jiu had expected him to be so young.

"We heard that an alchemist fellow Daoist had moved in, so the two of us came especially to pay a visit, make ourselves known, and become familiar faces. We'll all be neighbors from now on, hehe," Cai Lao Jiu said bluntly.

After exchanging pleasantries and introducing themselves—

The two presented the gifts in their hands.

Qin Ming gave five jin of Spirit Rice. Besides Spirit Rice, Cai Lao Jiu had also brought a jug of wine he had brewed himself.

"A modest gift, hardly worth mentioning."

The white-robed youth accepted the gifts, stepped aside, and invited the two inside.

"You need not be so polite, Fellow Daoists."

"I am Su Yuqing. This is a small token of my regard." The white-robed youth took out two Common Jade Bottles.

He handed one to each of them.

Qin Ming politely accepted the Jade Bottle and gave it a quick glance.

Inside was a Spirit Replenishing Pill for Qi Refining Stage cultivators, capable of helping cultivators quickly restore their spiritual power.

A low-grade Spirit Replenishing Pill cost five Spirit Stones each.

As expected of an alchemist—he was lavish the moment he made a move.

Qin Ming and Cai Lao Jiu exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat awkward.

Compared with his return gift, their little bit of Spirit Rice was rather embarrassing to offer.

It feels like we came here specifically to mooch pills.

Fortunately, Alchemist Su did not seem to mind.

"I am indeed an alchemist. Not long ago, I had just broken through to become a First-order Mid-grade Alchemist, so I came out to clear my mind." There was a hint of pride in Alchemist Su's voice.

Alchemists held an exalted status. Even ordinary alchemy apprentices who had not entered any rank, as long as they could refine a few basic pills, could earn a considerable income in Spirit Stones.

Not to mention a First-Grade Mid-Rank Alchemist. A cultivator like that would be an honored guest of any faction wherever he went.

Moreover, Alchemist Su was so young. He was surely one of those rare alchemy geniuses, with every chance of advancing further.

His potential was limitless, and his future was boundless.

People like him were often targets for major powers to recruit.

They were not someone small fry like Qin Ming and Cai Lao Jiu could hope to befriend.

The pattern of their fates had decreed that they were not on the same level.

"So Alchemist Su is actually a First-order Mid-grade Alchemist."

"Forgive our disrespect!"

"Please pardon our earlier presumption."

Cai Lao Jiu and Qin Ming hurriedly offered Cupped Fist Salutes.

Alchemist Su sat steadily in his chair, took a sip of tea, and wore the expression of someone who naturally deserved it.

He waved them off.

Just then.

Someone entered from outside. The three turned to look.

It was Fellow Daoist Long.

Alchemist Su rose to greet him.

Fellow Daoist Long also offered a respectful Cupped Fist Salute.

After exchanging greetings, Fellow Daoist Long took out two Jade Boxes before Qin Ming and the other man and handed them to Alchemist Su as meeting gifts.

"A First-Grade Mid-Stage Beast Core, and Xuan Spirit Grass!" A smile appeared on Alchemist Su's face.

He patted his Storage Bag, then casually produced an exquisite Jade Bottle and handed it to Fellow Daoist Long as a return gift.

"Two Spirit Gathering Pills."

"They can increase one's Qi Refining Stage cultivation, and are effective even for late-stage cultivators."

Afterward, Fellow Daoist Long and Alchemist Su began chatting enthusiastically.

They completely ignored Qin Ming and Cai Lao Jiu.

Half an hour later.

Qin Ming and Cai Lao Jiu took their leave, both wearing rather unpleasant expressions.

"That was far too presumptuous."

"Why didn't you tell me before we came that Alchemist Su was so young? And that he was a Mid-Grade Alchemist?"

"How was I supposed to know?"

"Don't call me along next time there's something like this."