Chapter 15: ### Chapter 15: Purchasing Talismans
A few days later.
Qin Ming visited Alchemist Su to collect the token for renting the spirit field. Afterward, he headed to the field to prepare the soil and sow the seeds.
To be honest, he had no experience whatsoever in cultivating Frostbloom Flowers. Over the past few days, he had crammed knowledge from spirit plant books.
Fortunately, Frostbloom Flowers weren't too demanding in terms of growing conditions. Otherwise, the spiritual energy of a first-grade spirit vein might not have been sufficient.
However, what Qin Ming hadn't anticipated was the most challenging aspect of cultivating Frostbloom Flowers: pollination during their blooming period.
Unlike other spirit plants, Frostbloom Flowers required at least seven rounds of pollination within their seven-day flowering period. This required a spell to control bee swarms.
If the flowers weren't adequately pollinated, their blooming period would end prematurely, resulting in insufficient medicinal potency, rendering them useless for alchemy.
This left Qin Ming in a difficult position.
"Even if I can accelerate their growth, I can't possibly pollinate the flowers myself, can I?"
"Sigh, I'll just take it one step at a time."
Carrying his spirit hoe, Qin Ming began tilling the field.
Since reaching the third layer of the body-refining technique, "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra," his physical strength had increased significantly.
Now, farming felt effortless. His back no longer ached, and his legs didn't tire. It felt like he could hoe for miles without breaking a sweat.
Thankfully, Frostbloom Flowers matured in just a year, so he wouldn't have to wait too long.
Qin Ming had heard from Alchemist Su that the main ingredients for the Marrow Cleansing Pill required at least fifty years of growth before they could be used in alchemy.
The price for such ingredients started at over a hundred spirit stones.
Moreover, the alchemy process had a high failure rate, requiring multiple sets of materials to be prepared in advance.
This gave Qin Ming a profound understanding of the concept of "burning spirit stones."
After tilling the field, Qin Ming planted all the seeds Alchemist Su had given him, covering three acres of land.
He then cast an intermediate-level spirit rain spell over the field and nodded in satisfaction.
"Whether they grow or not is up to fate now."
"If all else fails, I'll just have to use my secret technique to accelerate their growth."
Over the past six months, the remaining word fragments stored in Qin Ming's consciousness were:
- Weak Spiritual Power x6
- Weak Vitality x2
- Advanced Spirit Rain Spell x5
- Growth Acceleration x1
The other fragments had been consumed during his cultivation of the "Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra."
Qin Ming had been reluctant to use the Advanced Spirit Rain Spell. For one, the spell's effects were too noticeable and might attract unwanted attention.
Secondly, he was saving it for the right moment, preferably for higher-grade spirit plants.
After all, it could double the yield of spirit plants.
Qin Ming glanced at his acre of Spirit Tusk Rice, estimating it would take another year to fully mature.
Once the planting was done, Qin Ming returned to his hut to cultivate.
He gently opened an exquisite jade bottle, revealing two green pills emitting a refreshing medicinal aroma.
Spirit Gathering Pills!
These were what he had painstakingly exchanged with Alchemist Su for a hundred pounds of spirit rice.
Sitting on a straw mat on his bed, Qin Ming took out one of the pills and began cultivating.
As the pill dissolved in his body, its medicinal energy circulated through his meridians, expanding them and significantly improving the efficiency of his spiritual power.
Qin Ming began circulating the "Long Spring Technique" to absorb the vast spiritual energy.
After a long while, Qin Ming opened his eyes, a look of joy on his face.
"The Spirit Gathering Pill truly lives up to its reputation as a miraculous elixir for increasing Qi Refining cultivation."
"The amount of spiritual power gained from just one pill far surpasses the effects of the 'Weak Spiritual Power' fragment."
"A single pill is equivalent to a year of hard cultivation."
"If I could take these pills every day, I wonder if I could break through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining soon."
Qin Ming pondered silently.
---
After finishing his cultivation session, Qin Ming was in high spirits.
He decided to visit Shopkeeper Liao to sell some spirit rice and see if he could purchase a spell for controlling bee swarms.
Now that he could afford premium Spirit Tusk Rice, there was no need to hoard too much ordinary Golden Spirit Rice.
It was better to sell it while prices were high and use the proceeds to buy talismans and magical tools.
Qin Ming navigated through the winding alleys of the slum district and arrived at the main road.
Qingyang Market.
"Ah, Fellow Qin! Welcome, welcome! Come, have some tea."
Inside the Gathering Pavilion, Shopkeeper Liao greeted Qin Ming with his trademark smile, exuding warmth and enthusiasm.
Qin Ming smiled in return.
Without further ado, he took out three large bags of spirit rice from his storage pouch and placed them on the table. Shopkeeper Liao's eyes lit up with delight.
"That must be over three hundred pounds, right?"
"Hahaha, it seems Fellow Qin has had another bountiful harvest," Shopkeeper Liao said, personally fetching a large measuring tool to weigh the rice.
"Three hundred and eighty pounds of Golden Spirit Rice!"
"Fellow Qin, as per our usual agreement, that comes to one hundred and twenty spirit stones. How does that sound?" Shopkeeper Liao asked with a smile.
Qin Ming thought for a moment and asked, "Shopkeeper Liao, has the price of spirit rice remained the same? Hasn't it increased further?"
"Indeed, Fellow Qin. For the time being, and in the near future, the price of spirit rice won't rise any further," Shopkeeper Liao replied, glancing around before adding, "However, talismans, protective artifacts, and life-saving pills are experiencing a slight price increase."
"If you have any need for these items, I suggest purchasing them soon. The prices might change in a few days."
Qin Ming felt a flicker of concern and inquired, "Has something happened?"
"Nothing too significant. It's just that the Spirit Feather Sect and the Golden Cloud Valley are currently locked in a stalemate."
"However, the Spirit Feather Sect's forward camps are struggling to hold their ground. There have been several instances of heavy casualties recently."
"I've heard the Spirit Feather Sect is recruiting another batch of cultivators to reinforce their ranks."
"Ah..."
Shopkeeper Liao sighed heavily.
Qin Ming frowned. He knew this meant the Spirit Feather Sect was once again luring rogue cultivators to clear paths in the barbarian-infested regions.
After accepting the spirit stones from Shopkeeper Liao, Qin Ming asked, "Do you have any spells for controlling bee swarms?"
Shopkeeper Liao's eyes sparkled at the prospect of another sale. "Of course! There's very little this shop doesn't have."
He immediately sent someone upstairs to fetch three jade slips.
"Fellow Qin, take a look. These are the 'Beast Taming Art,' 'Insect Control Technique,' and 'Spirit Manipulation Scripture.'"
"All three are priced the same, and I can offer you a ten percent discount."
"Each one costs three hundred spirit stones."
Shopkeeper Liao looked at Qin Ming expectantly. If this deal went through, it would be another significant transaction, and he'd earn a handsome commission.
Qin Ming pursed his lips and said directly, "Never mind, then."
'This old fox is always trying to squeeze every last spirit stone out of me. He's quite the businessman.'
Even with the one hundred and twenty spirit stones he had just earned from selling the rice, Qin Ming only had a little over three hundred spirit stones in total.
He had thought that his recent increase in spirit rice production and the profits he'd made meant he was doing quite well.
But any one of these techniques would clean him out in an instant.
'Sigh, cultivating immortality really burns through money!'
This was practically asking for his life.
"How much for a mid-grade attack talisman?" Qin Ming asked next.
Shopkeeper Liao, initially disappointed by Qin Ming's refusal to buy the techniques, perked up again at this question.
"Mid-grade Fire Cloud Talisman: eighty spirit stones each."
"Mid-grade Thunder Arrow Talisman: one hundred spirit stones each."
"Mid-grade Golden Blade Talisman: eighty spirit stones each."
...
"Fellow Qin, which one would you like?"
Qin Ming gritted his teeth. "Give me one mid-grade Thunder Arrow Talisman."
Shopkeeper Liao's face lit up with joy as he handed Qin Ming a blue talisman.
Qin Ming accepted the talisman, and the transaction was completed.
Shopkeeper Liao enthusiastically escorted him out of the shop.
(End of Chapter)
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