**Chapter 32: Resurrection from the Dead**
In September,
A hint of coolness had seeped into the air of Cloud Marsh Wilderness.
The joint construction of 'Cloud Marsh Immortal City' by Spirit Feather Sect and Golden Cloud Valley was proceeding at full speed.
With the arrival of reinforcements from both sects' elite cultivators,
The frontline camp of Spirit Feather Sect had stabilized its position.
There were no longer any large-scale casualties.
Groups of wandering cultivators also began arriving in Green Sun Market aboard flying boats.
They all yearned to make great contributions to their sects in hopes of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill.
From there, they could reverse their fates on the path of cultivation.
The shantytown remained unchanged.
The security situation was worsening, with people disappearing without explanation from time to time.
Qin Ming reduced his unnecessary outings.
One day,
In Su Yuqing's courtyard,
When Qin Ming saw Su Yuqing again, the latter had already broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining.
He had entered the realm of late-stage Qi Refining practitioners.
His cultivation speed was truly enviable.
Qin Ming had thought that after recently breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, he was gradually closing the gap between them.
But now, the gap seemed to be widening instead.
'Comparing oneself to others can drive you mad!'
'This Su Yuqing not only has unparalleled alchemy talent but also advances in cultivation as if walking on flat ground.'
However, despite his envy, Qin Ming wasn't anxious.
As long as he kept working hard, sooner or later, he would surpass Su Yuqing.
Just moments ago, Qin Ming had borrowed Su Yuqing's alchemy room to attempt refining several batches of low-grade first-tier pills.
Without exception, every attempt ended in failure.
He was feeling quite disheartened.
"Brother Qin, I heard that you're planning to move into the market to live?" Su Yuqing asked casually while sipping tea.
Qin Ming rubbed his face vigorously with both hands.
Then he picked up the tea Su Yuqing had poured for him and took a sip to refresh himself.
It seemed he hadn't fully recovered from the blow of his failed alchemy attempts.
"Yeah, who told you? Was it Fellow Daoist Gu?"
Qin Ming immediately guessed that Gu Qingzhao had secretly passed this information to Su Yuqing.
Su Yuqing nodded indifferently.
"It's good that you're moving in. The situation has indeed been getting more chaotic lately."
Qin Ming paused for a moment before asking, "What about you, Brother Su? Don't you plan to move into the market?"
"This underground fire vein can stay here for now."
Su Yuqing smiled faintly and said proudly, "I believe I still have some ability to protect myself. Besides, I'll only stay here for one more year before leaving. I don't want to move around anymore."
"After I leave, you can continue renting this house, and the alchemy room will still be available for your use."
Qin Ming's eyes lit up, "Really?!"
"Mm-hmm. Once you reach the higher levels of advanced alchemy techniques, you won't need this underground fire vein anymore," Su Yuqing said nonchalantly.
Qin Ming hadn't expected that he would inherit Su Yuqing's alchemy room.
He was overjoyed, and his earlier frustration vanished instantly.
"Here, Brother Su, let me toast you with tea instead of wine."
…
Time slowly passed.
By the end of the year, The third harvest of Golden Spirit Rice in the spirit fields had matured.
Additionally, the two acres of Frostgrass and Spirit Candle Fruit in the medicinal herb fields had also ripened.
It was another bountiful harvest.
What Qin Ming looked forward to most, however, were the special traits gained from the plants.
Even the dozens of mid-grade first-tier spirit plants he had planted last—Black Tongue Orchids—had matured and produced a trait.
Now, the spirit fields shimmered with golden brilliance:
- **Name**: Golden Spirit Rice | **Trait**: Weak Magical Energy (Maturity 100%, Ready for Harvest)
- **Name**: Golden Spirit Rice | **Trait**: Quality Improvement (Maturity 100%, Ready for Harvest)
- **Name**: Golden Spirit Rice | **Trait**: Quality Improvement (Maturity 100%, Ready for Harvest)
- **Name**: Frostgrass | **Trait**: Weak Soul Power x5 (Maturity 100%, Ready for Harvest)
- **Name**: Frostgrass | **Trait**: Ripening Acceleration x5 (Maturity 100%, Ready for Harvest)
- **Name**: Spirit Candle Fruit | **Trait**: Regenerative Seed x3 (Maturity 100%, Ready for Harvest)
- **Name**: Black Tongue Orchid | **Trait**: Weak Soul Power x5 (Maturity 100%, Ready for Harvest)
- **Name**: Beast Tooth Rice | **Trait**: Weak Blood and Qi Energy x5 (Maturity 56%)
- **Name**: Beast Tooth Rice | **Trait**: Ripening Acceleration x5 (Maturity 58%)
The three acres of Beast Tooth Rice would have to wait until next year for harvesting.
But Qin Ming could first accelerate the growth of the two plants with traits to obtain their bonuses.
Half a day later,
Within Qin Ming's consciousness, multiple trait leaves floated alongside those stored previously:
- Weak Magical Energy x6
- Weak Blood and Qi Energy x5
- Weak Soul Power x10
- Quality Improvement x2
- Ripening Acceleration x10
- Regenerative Seed x3
Qin Ming stared blankly at the numerous traits floating in his mind, his spirits soaring.
With this influx of traits,
He might soon be able to push the Hundred Treasures Glazed Sutra to its higher layers!
Moreover,
This year, Qin Ming's yield of spirit rice set a new record.
As expected, he ranked first.
Everyone had anticipated this result since Qin Ming possessed the Advanced Spirit Rain Technique, giving him an advantage others lacked.
After finishing up,
Qin Ming sent a communication talisman to Su Yuqing, just like last year, inviting him to come and harvest the medicinal herbs.
When Su Yuqing arrived at the spirit fields, he couldn't help but feel a slight shock once again.
"Brother Qin, I just don't understand."
"You've only spent a year advancing from a low-grade spirit planter to a mid-grade one."
"Why bother learning alchemy when you're so good at planting?"
Qin Ming chuckled and glanced at the ten [Weak Soul Power] traits in his consciousness, smiling silently.
…
Back in the shantytown, inside his house,
The first thing Qin Ming did upon returning was take out the piece of black withered vine.
"This cost me three hundred spirit stones to acquire at auction."
"I hope it doesn't disappoint me too much."
Qin Ming studied the black withered vine for half a day but found no clues.
He shook his head and went to the flower bed in the courtyard, sticking the vine into the soil in a random corner.
Then, focusing his thoughts, he applied the [Regenerative Seed] trait to the black withered vine.
Instantly, a blue leaf disappeared from his consciousness.
At the moment of using the trait,
A massive purple spore suddenly sprouted in the flower bed, enveloping the black withered vine.
After a long while,
The purple spore began to shrink, seemingly drained of energy as it was absorbed by the black withered vine.
Thump! Thump!
Qin Ming's mind echoed with the sound of a heartbeat.
Somehow, he felt a connection forming with the black withered vine.
Carefully leaning closer,
He saw a jet-black bud growing on the black withered vine!
It had regained vitality!
"Whoa, this is incredible! It really can revive?!"
"What kind of plant is this? Does it even have a heartbeat?"
"Or am I hearing things?"
Qin Ming pondered for a moment, shaking his head.
"Let's keep growing it and see."
He hesitated for a bit, then stopped.
"Should I try accelerating its growth?"
After much deliberation, Qin Ming decided to use a [Ripening Acceleration] trait.
Focusing his thoughts, a green trait leaf vanished from his consciousness and landed on the black withered vine.
…
---