**Chapter 40: Negotiations Break Down**

Qin Ming was inwardly shocked by Jiang Kun's bold move and overwhelming generosity. 

The other party's intentions were already crystal clear. 

They wanted to win over Qin Ming, the mid-rank spirit planter, and secure exclusive rights to his Beast Tooth Rice. 

Such a lavish offer would be more than enough to poach even a high-rank spirit planter. 

"Surely, Daoist Qin understands the art of making choices. You are an irreplaceable talent within our sect, and it is only natural that you align yourself with your own people. I can offer the same price for your Beast Tooth Rice as the Mirror Snow Pavilion. Does Gu Qingzhao from the Mirror Snow Pavilion promise you something as valuable as this Marrow Cleansing Pill?" 

Jiang Kun's words carried a warm smile, his tone earnest and reasonable. 

If Qin Ming had been an ordinary cultivator, it would have been nearly impossible to resist the temptation of such a breakthrough pill. 

What Jiang Kun said wasn't wrong—Gu Qingzhao from the Mirror Snow Pavilion had only offered him a residence slot in the market. Compared to Jiang Kun's offer, the difference was astronomical. 

However, what Jiang Kun didn't know was that Qin Ming had already broken through to become a low-rank alchemist.

With his enhanced soul power, refining a Marrow Cleansing Pill was only a matter of time. 

Moreover, Qin Ming was currently focused on cultivating his body-refining technique, and his magical energy cultivation was still at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement. He wouldn't need the pill anytime soon. 

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Senior Brother Jiang. My cultivation is still shallow, and I have no use for the Marrow Cleansing Pill. As for the matter of my spirit rice, I'd prefer to make my own decisions." 

Qin Ming took a deep breath and placed everything back into the jade box. 

The smile on Jiang Kun's face froze instantly. 

He had never expected such a generous offer to fail to sway Qin Ming. 

Jiang Kun had gone to great lengths to recruit Qin Ming for two main reasons. 

First, he recognized Qin Ming's exceptional talent in spirit planting. In just a few years, Qin Ming had advanced to become a mid-rank spirit planter. 

Not only that, but he had also mastered the most difficult spirit planting technique—the Advanced Spirit Rain Technique—which was no small feat. 

At the same time, Jiang Kun had sent people to investigate and discovered that Qin Ming had a close relationship with Su Yuqing, a high-rank alchemist. 

In the records of spirit planters kept by the Spirit Feather Sect's Hall of Duties this year, there were entries showing that Qin Ming had planted high-rank and exquisite spirit plants for Su Yuqing. 

Based on past experience, it was highly likely that Qin Ming would advance to become a high-rank spirit planter by the end of the year. 

Moreover, he had connections like Su Yuqing. 

Such a talent was well worth Jiang Kun's investment and effort to bring into his camp. 

The second reason was that Jiang Kun's Treasure Pavilion was in direct competition with the Mirror Snow Pavilion.

If he could secure Qin Ming's loyalty, it would deal a significant blow to Gu Qingzhao. 

Although the sect had already imposed a ban on private sales of spirit rice by spirit farmers, if Qin Ming chose to hoard his Beast Tooth Rice and sell to neither side, Jiang Kun wouldn't be able to find fault with him or do anything about it. 

It was rumored that Qin Ming's three acres of Beast Tooth Rice would be ready for harvest this year, and all of it would be of premium quality. 

Not only did Gu Qingzhao covet it, but Jiang Kun himself was drooling over it. 

By leveraging the exclusive supply of premium Beast Tooth Rice, Jiang Kun could establish the Treasure Pavilion's reputation in one fell swoop, which held immense strategic value. 

"Oh? Hehe!" 

"You're right—I forgot that Daoist Qin doesn't need a Marrow Cleansing Pill yet." 

"How about this? I'll replace it with an equivalent number of Qi Gathering Pills. What do you say?" 

Jiang Kun's mind raced, and he suddenly realized! 

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Jiang, but I've made up my mind. I'd prefer to make my own decisions regarding my spirit fields. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now." Qin Ming politely declined. 

His mind was clear, and he wasn't swayed by the treasures before him. 

Jiang Kun and his group weren't trustworthy people. If Qin Ming chose to cooperate with them, sooner or later, they would squeeze every last drop out of him. 

"Hehe! Think carefully, Daoist Qin. If you choose to work with Gu Qingzhao, the sect's rules won't go easy on you." 

Jiang Kun's smile disappeared, replaced by a dark and menacing expression. 

He had assumed that Qin Ming, a mere spirit farmer, would be easy to manipulate. A small bribe should have been enough to bring him under control. 

But this young man was completely unyielding. 

Jiang Kun began to lose patience, his face turning frosty. 

Suddenly! 

He unleashed the full force of his Qi Refinement peak-level cultivation! 

His cold, piercing eyes locked onto Qin Ming, attempting to exert pressure on him. 

"Daoist Qin, are you sure you don't want to reconsider?" 

Seeing that bribery had failed, Jiang Kun resorted to intimidation. 

In the past, facing the oppressive aura of a Qi Refinement peak-level cultivator, Qin Ming would have surely crumbled. 

But now, his body-refining technique was just one step away from the late stage. The pressure Jiang Kun exerted was practically meaningless to him. 

Still, Qin Ming pretended to struggle under the weight of it. His face turned pale, and he staggered as he forced himself to stand and awkwardly excused himself. 

---

Outside the private room. 

The short cultivator, Chen Zi'ang, saw Qin Ming emerge and approached him with a grin. "How did it go? Did you reach an agreement?" 

Qin Ming ignored him completely and walked past, heading down the stairs. 

"Huh? What?" Chen Zi'ang's eyes darted around, and he quickly entered the private room. 

Seeing that everything on the table was untouched and Jiang Kun's murderous expression, he immediately understood that the negotiation had fallen through. 

"Senior Brother Jiang, that guy…" Chen Zi'ang cautiously asked, knowing full well Jiang Kun's temper. Provoking him could easily make him a target for venting anger. 

"Ungrateful wretch! Thinking he's somebody just because we gave him a little respect!" Jiang Kun's tone was icy cold. 

"Since this brat refuses to cooperate, we can't let Gu Qingzhao benefit either. Find a suitable opportunity and take care of him!" 

Chen Zi'ang's face turned troubled. "Senior Brother Jiang, I'm afraid it won't be easy to move against him. He's now a mid-rank spirit planter, and I've heard that several elders from the inner sect's Spirit Medicine Valley have started paying attention to him." 

"Hmph! Just handle it cleanly so no one can pin anything on us. Do I need to teach you how to do it?" 

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I understand. I'll personally lead the team, and once it's done, we'll pin the blame on bandit cultivators. Hehehe!" 

---

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion. 

On the main street of Green Sun Market. 

Qin Ming's expression was stormy. This time, he had thoroughly angered Jiang Kun and his group. 

After much deliberation, he finally made a decision. 

He turned and headed toward the Gathering Pavilion. 

At the Gathering Pavilion. 

Shopkeeper Liao saw Qin Ming arrive, hastily set aside his ledger, and greeted him with a smile. 

"Daoist Qin, what brings you to the shop today? Care for a drink? Or perhaps you're here to purchase something?" 

Qin Ming stated his purpose. "I have an important matter. I'd like to see Master Gu." 

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Liao was taken aback. Seeing Qin Ming's serious expression, he didn't dare delay and immediately escorted him upstairs to report. 

In the seventh-floor private room. 

After receiving permission, Qin Ming entered. 

As usual, Gu Qingzhao was burning incense, sipping tea, and studying a scripture. 

Once Qin Ming entered, he got straight to the point and told her everything. 

He had thought it over. Rather than failing to deliver the Beast Tooth Rice at the end of the year, it was better to explain the situation to her now. 

This would also prevent Jiang Kun from stirring up trouble. 

After listening to Qin Ming, Gu Qingzhao's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She set down the scripture in her hands, and the incense around her began to swirl chaotically. 

The atmosphere in the room grew tense. 

(End of Chapter) 

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