**Chapter 31: Mirror Snow Pavilion**
Inside the administrative office of the Spirit Feather Sect, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.
Jiang Kun glanced at Qin Ming, taking in his simple farmer's attire.
He clearly didn't think much of him.
Upon hearing Jiang Kun's demand, Qin Ming's expression darkened.
The group before him consisted entirely of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, their auras overwhelming.
If he acted rashly, the consequences would be dire.
The brutal reality of the cultivation world—where the strong preyed on the weak—was on full display.
Qin Ming bit his lip, hesitating over whether to hand over the token.
But before he could decide, Jiang Kun had already snatched the jade token from the administrator handling the registration.
Qin Ming was startled and about to protest when he noticed Jiang Kun's expression shift as he read the inscription on the token.
For the first time, a flicker of caution appeared on the arrogant young man's face.
Jiang Kun looked up at Qin Ming and coldly asked, "So this is something from the Mirror Snow Pavilion? Did Gu Qingzhao give it to you?"
Before Qin Ming could respond, another voice called out from the entrance of the administrative office. "Fellow Daoist Qin, I see you're here too."
Everyone turned to see Shopkeeper Liao from the Gathering Pavilion enter, accompanied by two assistants.
Without hesitation, Liao addressed the room, his tone firm.
"That 'Mirror'-inscribed token was gifted to Fellow Daoist Qin by our pavilion master. If Young Master Jiang intends to take it, he should consider the consequences carefully."
Qin Ming was surprised by Liao's boldness.
Clearly, the shopkeeper wasn't intimidated by these inner disciples of the Spirit Feather Sect.
*What exactly is this Mirror Snow Pavilion that Jiang Kun mentioned?* Qin Ming wondered silently.
After entering, Liao greeted Qin Ming with a smile.
Jiang Kun and his companions exchanged uneasy glances.
After a brief moment, Jiang Kun tossed the jade token back onto the counter.
"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky, boy!" Jiang Kun shot Qin Ming one last glare before leaving with his group.
As Qin Ming watched them go, his eyes grew cold.
He made a mental note of their faces. *When I grow stronger,* he thought, *you'd better hope you don't fall into my hands.*
He then approached Liao and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Liao, for stepping in to help me."
Liao waved off the gratitude. "No need to thank me, Fellow Daoist Qin. It's all thanks to our pavilion master's influence."
"Now, let's get your rental registration sorted," Liao continued. "Once we're done, we can chat further. I also have some matters to attend to here."
Qin Ming nodded in agreement.
Half an incense stick later, he had completed the registration process and paid a year's rent—four hundred spirit stones in total.
Afterward, only three hundred spirit stones remained in his storage pouch.
"Spirit stones sure don't last long," Qin Ming muttered, feeling the weight of his now-lighter pouch. Still, securing a residence within the market was worth it.
He had visited Ruan Family Courtyard before, and the property there was four or five times larger than his current shantytown dwelling.
The spacious area was perfect for cultivating and ripening spiritual plants, and the protective arrays shielding the compound from prying eyes were a significant advantage.
Moreover, the market itself was guarded by second-rank defensive formations, making it far safer than the outside.
With everything settled, Qin Ming felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
He could now focus on his cultivation without distractions.
"Fellow Daoist Qin," one of the administrators said, handing him a purple wooden token. "Leave a trace of your spiritual energy on this token.
The array will recognize your presence, and only you will be able to enter the courtyard."
"Thank you, Administrator," Qin Ming replied, accepting the token with a small thrill of excitement.
"By the way," the administrator added, "the current tenants of the Ruan family still have some time left on their lease. You'll be able to lift the restriction and move in by the end of October."
Qin Ming nodded in acknowledgment. Instead of leaving immediately, he waited outside the administrative office for Liao to finish his business.
There were a few questions he wanted to ask.
Half a cup of tea later, Liao emerged. Smiling, he asked, "Fellow Daoist Qin, why don't we return to the shop for tea and a chat?"
Qin Ming declined politely. "No need for that, Shopkeeper Liao. I just have a quick question."
"Go ahead."
Qin Ming took out the jade token given to him by Gu Qingzhao. "I thought your establishment was called the Gathering Pavilion. Why did Jiang Kun refer to it as the Mirror Snow Pavilion?"
Liao smiled knowingly, as if he had anticipated the question. "Since Fellow Daoist Qin has entered into a deeper partnership with us and earned our pavilion master's favor, it's only right to explain."
"The Gathering Pavilion is merely a branch of the Mirror Snow Pavilion. The Mirror Snow Pavilion has a thousand-year legacy and operates across the entire Southern Wilderness cultivation world. While it may not be considered a superpower, it's certainly not an organization that sects like the Spirit Feather Sect can easily push around."
Liao paused, observing Qin Ming's reaction.
Though Qin Ming had suspected the Gathering Pavilion had significant backing, he hadn't expected it to be tied to such a powerful entity.
"I see. Thank you for informing me, Shopkeeper Liao," Qin Ming said with a respectful bow.
"No need to thank me. In time, you would have learned this anyway," Liao replied, tactfully ending the conversation without divulging more details.
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways.
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**Shantytown, Inside the Hut**
Qin Ming cooked an entire pot of Blood Locust Rice and began practicing the *Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra*.
*Bam!*
The blood and qi energy within his body surged wildly.
With the potent enhancement provided by the Blood Locust Rice, his aura steadily climbed higher.
In the past, he could only consume a single bowl of Blood Locust Rice, as his body couldn't handle the overwhelming influx of blood and qi.
But now, having reached the stage where his blood and qi flowed like liquid mercury, he could endure much greater enhancements.
Each time he practiced, he could fully absorb and digest an entire pot of Blood Locust Rice.
Two hours later, his session ended.
Slowly opening his eyes, Qin Ming sensed that his blood and qi energy had increased by two-thirds.
"The sixth layer of physical cultivation is close," he murmured.
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**Mid-June**
The third harvest of Golden Spirit Rice began to sprout. Qin Ming returned to the fields to inspect them and discovered three new golden inscriptions.
**Name:** Golden Spirit Rice
**Trait:** Weak Magical Energy (Maturity 5%)
**Name:** Golden Spirit Rice
**Trait:** Quality Enhancement (Maturity 6%)
**Name:** Golden Spirit Rice
**Trait:** Quality Enhancement (Maturity 5%)
Qin Ming's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Two of the inscriptions were *Quality Enhancement* traits—an incredible stroke of luck!
His heart raced with anticipation. *If I can enhance the quality of Blood Locust Rice twice more, could I produce premium-grade Blood Locust Rice?*
(End of Chapter)
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