Chapter 49: Gu Qingzhao’s Invitation

The next day.

Qin Ming continued his cultivation for half a day, solidifying his progress.

By evening, during the hour of You.

Qin Ming once again arrived at the Gathering Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist Qin! Did you really break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining?"

"Congratulations! Congratulations on your advancement in cultivation and another step forward on the immortal path!"

Shopkeeper Liao had been eagerly awaiting Qin Ming's return, never expecting him to come back so soon.

With the pavilion master's promise of promotion, he had basked in glory among his colleagues these past two days, feeling as if he were riding high on the winds of success. He constantly thought of Qin Ming, the benefactor who had brought him such fortune.

But he never expected that upon seeing Fellow Daoist Qin again, the latter's cultivation would have advanced yet again.

Wait!

A thought flashed through Shopkeeper Liao's mind, and he suddenly realized something.

Fellow Daoist Qin was previously at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. To break through to the fifth layer in such a short time—could it be that he successfully refined an intermediate-grade spirit pill?

'Does that mean that Fellow Daoist Qin is now not only an intermediate spirit planter but also an intermediate alchemist?!'

"Shopkeeper, we agreed last time that I would sell you some of the pills I refine." Qin Ming got straight to the point.

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Liao was overjoyed. "Oh my, that's wonderful!"

"May I ask, did Fellow Daoist Qin succeed in refining intermediate-grade pills yesterday?"

Though Shopkeeper Liao harbored some hope, he couldn't help but ask. After all, breaking through to become an intermediate alchemist wasn't easy.

Many alchemists were stuck at this stage, some for years, others for decades.

"Hmm, I managed it by luck," Qin Ming said casually.

"What?!"

Shopkeeper Liao was completely stunned. Even though his suspicions had been confirmed, hearing Qin Ming admit it outright still left him shaken.

'Fellow Daoist Qin is so young, yet he has already broken through to become an intermediate alchemist. His talent in alchemy might rival even Alchemist Su!'

At this thought, Shopkeeper Liao involuntarily shivered and immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, our pavilion master instructed me to invite you to meet her whenever you came."

"Oh?" This time, it was Qin Ming's turn to show a hint of surprise.

In his impression, Gu Qingzhao had always been aloof, untouched by worldly affairs. Why did she suddenly want to see him?

Later.

Shopkeeper Liao led him upstairs, announced his arrival, and then left Qin Ming alone in the room.

In the private room on the seventh floor of the Gathering Pavilion.

The air was filled with the faint fragrance of spirit incense.

Gu Qingzhao was still dressed in plain robes, but this time, unusually, she wasn't reading a scripture.

She personally walked gracefully to the door and welcomed Qin Ming into the elegant room.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I apologize for any previous neglect. Please don't take it to heart."

Qin Ming looked up to see Gu Qingzhao's cold, clear eyes and the faint smile playing on her red lips.

Gu Qingzhao's demeanor was always one of icy elegance, detached from the mundane world, focused solely on her scriptures, as if she were a celestial maiden untouched by mortal concerns.

For her to say such words was truly rare.

In the secluded room, pearl curtains hung down by the window.

A man and a woman sat across from each other at a table.

The lamplight flickered dimly.

Perhaps Gu Qingzhao had just bathed, as her body exuded a delicate fragrance akin to osmanthus and orchids.

Her breath was light and fragrant, her skin smooth like congealed fat, and her graceful figure subtly hinted at beneath her plain robes, radiating an enchanting beauty.

Even Qin Ming, facing such a stunningly beautiful woman, felt a sense of awe.

He couldn't help but think to himself, 'What is this woman up to now?'

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Qin has broken through to become an intermediate alchemist?" Gu Qingzhao personally poured Qin Ming a cup of spirit tea and asked with a gentle smile.

Qin Ming nodded. "That's correct. I've come this time to sell some pills and purchase spirit materials."

With that, Qin Ming took out two bottles of Qi Restoration Pills and one bottle of Qi Gathering Pills from his storage bag, placing them on the table. Each bottle contained five pills.

Originally, he wasn't in a rush to sell the Qi Gathering Pills, but when he learned that Gu Qingzhao herself would be receiving him, he decided to change his plans and display a bit of his strength.

After all, if Qin Ming wanted to access higher-level information and circles within the cultivation world, he needed to demonstrate his value.

Gu Qingzhao opened the three pill bottles in front of her and carefully inspected each one.

Her star-like eyes grew even brighter. With genuine admiration, she praised Qin Ming, "I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Qin to possess such remarkable talent in alchemy. Being both an intermediate spirit planter and an intermediate alchemist is extremely rare in the Green Sun Market."

"For the Qi Restoration Pills, our pavilion can offer 225 spirit stones per bottle."

"As for the Qi Gathering Pills, we can offer 350 spirit stones per bottle."

"What does Fellow Daoist Qin think?"

Gu Qingzhao's voice was as clear as a spring, her every smile radiant and captivating.

The prices she offered were already ten percent higher than the current market rate.

Qin Ming could sense that she was clearly extending an olive branch.

"Deal."

"However, I'd like to exchange all the spirit stones for several types of spirit materials needed to refine Qi Gathering Pills," Qin Ming quickly agreed, adding a follow-up request.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingzhao revealed a bright smile, showing her pearly teeth. "It seems that Fellow Daoist Qin can now reliably refine Qi Gathering Pills."

"Qi Gathering Pills are among the most difficult intermediate-grade pills to refine. I presume... Fellow Daoist Qin must have received guidance from a master?" She elegantly poured another cup of spirit tea for Qin Ming, subtly probing with her words.

Qin Ming hesitated briefly before answering frankly, "That's correct. Thanks to a stroke of luck, I received guidance from Brother Su, which allowed me to successfully break through to become an intermediate alchemist."

As soon as the words left his mouth.

Gu Qingzhao fell into a brief contemplation. The teapot in her hand overflowed with tea, but she didn't notice.

"Daoist Gu, the tea is overflowing." Qin Ming reminded her.

Gu Qingzhao snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly put down the teapot.

She then took out a silk handkerchief to clean up the spilled tea, apologizing with a slightly unnatural expression, "My apologies, Fellow Daoist Qin."

She had just thought of something and inwardly sighed. 'Fellow Daoist Qin must have concealed something from me last time and didn't tell the truth. If he and Alchemist Su were merely ordinary friends, how could Su have guided him in alchemy? It seems I underestimated Fellow Daoist Qin.'

After realizing the key point, Gu Qingzhao decisively stood up and sincerely invited Qin Ming, "I would like to formally invite Fellow Daoist Qin to become a guest elder of our pavilion. We will offer the best possible terms."

"Of course, if Fellow Daoist Qin has any conditions, feel free to mention them."

Qin Ming was taken aback.

He hadn't expected Gu Qingzhao to extend such an invitation directly.

After a brief moment of thought, he politely declined. "Thank you for your kind offer, Daoist Gu, but I'm used to being independent and dislike constraints. I'm afraid I cannot accept the position of guest elder."

He carried too many secrets and needed to remain cautious. Though he now had some ability to protect himself, he was still no match for higher-level cultivators like Foundation Establishment practitioners, who could easily crush him.

Moreover, he didn't want to get entangled in the power struggles of these factions. For now, he simply wanted to cultivate in peace.

"I hope to maintain our current cooperative relationship. As long as I have pills and spirit rice, I'll continue selling them at the Gathering Pavilion." Qin Ming thought for a moment and spoke earnestly.

Gu Qingzhao was dumbfounded. She hadn't expected Qin Ming to reject her almost without hesitation.

His reaction was almost identical to Alchemist Su's at the time.

(End of Chapter)