**Chapter 30: Hand It Over**

On the main road of Green Sun Market, Qin Ming had just received a communication talisman from Shopkeeper Liao.

He immediately set aside his work and hurried toward the Gathering Pavilion.

Recently, the market had been packed with people, and unfamiliar faces made up the majority of the crowd.

As Qin Ming prepared to continue forward, he noticed a large group of people blocking the middle of the road ahead.

The street was filled with onlookers—cultivators gathered around the scene.

Frowning slightly, Qin Ming looked ahead and saw an elderly man and his grandson kneeling on the ground, desperately pleading with several young cultivators standing before them.

"Honorable sir, this piece of Azure Water Gold Crystal is a family heirloom passed down through generations," the old man begged. "If you're only offering one hundred spirit stones, I'd rather not make this deal! Please return the crystal to me—I beg of you!"

The grandson sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face as he joined in the desperate plea.

At first glance, Qin Ming recognized one of the young cultivators.

The man wore a blue robe embroidered with golden threads, a symbol of being a core disciple of the Spirit Feather Sect.

Qin Ming suddenly remembered him—it was one of the core disciples who had disembarked from the Abyss-Crossing Flying Boat that day.

Though this man seemed to be the leader of the group, he hadn't spoken much throughout the encounter.

Instead, it was a short, stocky young cultivator beside him who barked angrily, "Who told you this was Azure Water Gold Crystal? This is nothing but ordinary Cold Iron! Do you think we don't know what we're looking at?"

"One hundred spirit stones is already generous enough.

Now scram and stop blocking the way!" Without hesitation, the short cultivator kicked the old man hard, sending him flying backward until he collapsed unconscious.

The child's cries grew even more piercing, but the short cultivator ignored him.

With a smirk, he secretly slipped the contested item—a spiritual root—into the hands of the Spirit Feather Sect's core disciple.

The surrounding crowd watched silently, too intimidated to intervene. After all, these were core disciples of the Spirit Feather Sect, untouchable figures within the market.

Qin Ming observed the scene and thought to himself, *Forced buying and selling?*

After completing their business, the group of young cultivators walked away as if nothing had happened.

"Such arrogance!" someone muttered in the crowd. 

"Who were those men? How dare they act so brazenly?"

"That was Jiang Kun, son of the Great Elder of the Spirit Feather Sect's Punishment Hall and a core disciple."

"He runs rampant without restraint. No one can stop him—he's done this three times already this month alone. Anything they take a fancy to in the market gets taken by force."

"Better avoid trouble and stay far away."

Some of the bystanders expressed their anger and quickly rushed to help the fallen old man.

Qin Ming shook his head and sighed deeply before continuing on his way.

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**Gathering Pavilion**

Shopkeeper Liao spotted Qin Ming from afar and greeted him warmly with a broad smile.

Sensing the fluctuations of magical energy emanating from Qin Ming, Liao's eyes lit up.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qin, on breaking through to the intermediate stage of Qi Refining. Your path to immortality has advanced further."

*Truly a seasoned businessman,* Qin Ming thought. *His flattery flows smoothly.*

"I heard that Master Gu wishes to see me?" Qin Ming asked directly.

Liao nodded and led Qin Ming upstairs as he replied, "That's correct! The rental slot for Ruan Family Courtyard has been secured by our pavilion master. However, whether or not you can obtain this slot depends on how your negotiations with the master go."

Qin Ming remained silent, nodding thoughtfully.

The Gathering Pavilion had nine floors. Liao escorted him to the seventh floor, where the door to the innermost private room stood open.

Liao bowed and announced, "Master, Fellow Daoist Qin has arrived."

"Let him in," came a cool, calm voice from inside.

Qin Ming stepped into the room. Inside, Gu Qingzhao sat dressed in plain robes, engrossed in reading a scripture.

She showed no intention of rising to greet him.

On the nearby tea table, a stick of spiritual incense burned, its fragrant smoke swirling gently.

As the aroma reached Qin Ming's nose, he felt an instant clarity and refreshment.

"Daoist Gu," Qin Ming greeted her first.

Gu Qingzhao finally put down her book and invited him indifferently, "Please sit, Daoist Qin."

Qin Ming took a seat across from her.

"Fellow Daoist Qin," Gu Qingzhao began, lightly stirring her tea with the lid of the cup, "how did you come to know Alchemist Su?"

Qin Ming paused, unsure of her intentions. Seeing no reason to hide anything, he recounted the entire story of how he met Su Yuqing.

From his explanation, Gu Qingzhao deduced that their relationship wasn't particularly close.

A faint trace of disappointment flickered across her brow.

She then asked bluntly, "I hear you're interested in the rental slot for Ruan Family Courtyard?"

"That's correct. I understand the slot is now in your possession, Daoist Gu. What price must I pay to secure it?" Qin Ming responded straightforwardly.

Gu Qingzhao didn't answer directly. Instead, she countered, "What kind of offer can you make?"

"Tell me," she continued. "You should know that such slots are extremely rare these days."

Qin Ming pondered for a moment.

From the moment he entered the room to Gu Qingzhao's current demeanor, it was clear she had hoped to use his connection to bring Su Yuqing, the young upper-grade alchemist, under her influence.

But upon learning that Qin Ming and Su Yuqing were merely acquaintances, her interest waned.

Realizing this, Qin Ming understood that unless he offered something substantial, his goal would remain unattainable.

"How about Beast Tooth Rice of premium quality?" he proposed.

At this, Gu Qingzhao's expression betrayed a flicker of surprise. Setting aside her book, she asked seriously, "Are you referring to premium Beast Tooth Rice?"

"Precisely. Within a year, the Beast Tooth Rice in my fields will reach premium quality," Qin Ming stated confidently.

She studied him for a moment. "If that's the case, then it's not impossible. However, Daoist Qin, if you agree to add a clause to our existing agreement, increasing the amount of Beast Tooth Rice sold to us by another twenty percent, I'll sell you the slot."

Qin Ming furrowed his brow, considering her proposal.

With Blood Locust Rice already secured, he planned to sell the premium Beast Tooth Rice eventually anyway. Deciding not to waste time, he nodded. "Agreed."

They promptly amended the agreement.

Gu Qingzhao handed Qin Ming a jade token, explaining, "This token represents the pavilion's slot. Take it to the Spirit Feather Sect's administrative office to register and pay the additional rent."

"Additionally, you'll need to pay an extra three hundred spirit stones, separate from the rent."

Qin Ming accepted the token and left the shop.

---

As he examined the jade token, he noticed a single character engraved on it: "Mirror." Following the instructions, Qin Ming made his way to the Spirit Feather Sect's administrative office.

When he approached the staff to begin registration, a lazy voice called out from behind him, "Wait a moment!"

Turning around, Qin Ming saw the same group of Spirit Feather Sect disciples led by Jiang Kun.

Scanning the group, he sensed their overwhelming magical energy, thick as mountains, blocking his spiritual perception.

Each of them was at the late stage of Qi Refining, and Jiang Kun himself appeared to be nearing the peak, on the verge of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Kun glanced at Qin Ming dismissively. "Fourth layer of Qi Refining? Hand over the slot."

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(End of Chapter)

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