Hua Tianxiong was first startled by the words, then took the jade bottle with both joy and worry.
The worry was that his great backer was leaving.
The joy was that with two Divine Wood Pills, his cultivation could advance further.
"Master, are you leaving the Great Jin?"
"Why donât... why donât... I go with you? Iâm willing to serve you faithfully, hehe!"
Ever since Hua Tianxiong witnessed Qin Mingâs methods, he couldnât mistake who truly was the one to follow.
Upon hearing this, the Heaven-Devouring Rat nearby couldnât sit still and remarked, "Youâre full of nice words... serving faithfully..."
Hua Tianxiong gave an awkward smile, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Qin Ming pondered briefly and said:
"You donât need to come with me. With these two pills, you can advance to the late-stage Golden Core. Even if a war breaks out in the Great Jin, youâll have enough to protect yourself."
"Moreover, Elder Qian from the Lihuo Palace will also protect you. As long as you restrain your behavior, safety shouldnât be a major concern."
"Besides, leaving you in the Great Jin might have significant benefits in the future."
"You canât just abandon the extensive trading company youâve painstakingly built."
Hua Tianxiong nodded in agreement and didnât say more.
"Then I will strictly follow your arrangement, Master."
He had been navigating the sea of commerce in the Cultivation Realm for years, gathering spiritual materials for Qin Ming all this time.
During this period, he discerned a few things, suspecting that Qin Ming had bigger plans, possibly to refine some exceptionally powerful pill.
The world only knew about Su Yuqing of the Great Jin, whose alchemy mastery was outstanding, but he knew that Qin Mingâs alchemy skills were no less impressive.
His Spirit Plant mastery was unmatched. Just within the Little Spirit Realm, the high-tier spirit plants, seldom seen in the Cultivation Realm, left others in awe.
"Hmm, you may go. Additionally, assist with overseeing things at the Mirror Snow Pavilion."
"Understood."
...
Several days later.
Qin Ming returned to the Five Elements Mountain Market through the Teleportation Array in Litian Immortal City.
As soon as he entered the market, he could feel the atmosphere was markedly different from before.
Inside the Wind-Riding Tower.
Qin Ming learned from Han Yuan and the others that even the marketâs teleportation array was about to be shut down.
"Alas! Fellow Daoist Lu shouldnât have come back."
"Just recently, disciples of the Lihuo Palace and people from the Divine Dao Mountain had several conflicts within the market, nearly escalating to a full-blown fight."
"Itâs left us in a state of chaos, and unfortunately, both sides are Nascent Soul influences of the Great Jin, making them difficult to offend."
Han Yuan sighed, clearly having caught wind of the significant changes in the market.
"To be honest, I returned this time to leave again."
"However, itâs to return to the Southern Wilderness."
"After all, Iâve been away for decades, and thereâs a part of me that misses my homeland."
"Before leaving, I must harvest the Spirit Rice in the Spirit Field. After all, that Tier Three Jade Emperor Spirit Rice is the culmination of Li Lanâs nearly ten years of effort," Qin Ming explained, holding his wine cup.
Han Yuan nodded in understanding, "Indeed, over a hundred acres of Tier Three Jade Emperor Spirit Rice are a considerable fortune with immeasurable value."
He spoke with a hint of envy.
"Iâve sought you out this time, Fellow Daoist Han, to specifically ask if there are any Dharma Ships leaving for the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm within the market soon?"
Han Yuan smiled, "Youâve come to the right person, Fellow Daoist Lu. Currently, all ports entering and leaving the Great Jin are under our Guardian Dao Allianceâs control."
"Due to the Great Li Demon Daoâs deepening invasion of the Great Zhou in recent years, many cultivators have fled to the Great Jinâs borders, including some who attempt illegal entry."
"Now, control over ships is far stricter than before. Boarding a ship requires a tedious identity verification process."
He then pulled out a ledger densely filled with records of merchant ships coming and going from various trading companies within the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.
Han Yuan flipped through the records and pointed at a spot:
"The next ship to the Southern Wilderness is the âCelestial Waveâ of the Jintian Trading Company, departing in a year and a half."
Jintian Trading Company?
The name sounded somewhat familiar...
Qin Ming paused, suddenly recalling that he had met Luh Huayuan of the Jintian Trading Company at Su Yuqingâs Pill King celebration some time ago.
The journey from the Great Jin to the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm is incredibly long, requiring a departure via the Black Sea route for a return journey.
It takes at least a year and a half to reach the destination.
Encountering the Black Seaâs harsh weather might prolong the journey even further.
"Uh... Fellow Daoist Han, aside from the Jintian Trading Company, are there any other ships?" Qin Ming hesitated and asked.
Han Yuan continued to look through the ledger and said, "Next up is the Qilian Trading Companyâs ship, but since their ship just returned from the Southern Wilderness, it wonât head there again for at least five years."
"Then the Jintian Trading Company it is. Fellow Daoist Han, could you help me obtain a ticket? I would be most grateful," Qin Ming said with a cupped fist gesture.
Han Yuan waved his hand dismissively, "Itâs a small matter, Fellow Daoist Lu, rest assured. Iâll take care of everything."
"Come to me in a few days to collect the boarding token."
Qin Ming then took out a bottle of pills he had acquired from an unknown source and handed it to Han Yuan.
"This is a small gesture from me; please accept it, Fellow Daoist Han."
Han Yuan angrily retorted, "Fellow Daoist Lu, are you underestimating this old man?"
"Helping with this final task is a fitting end to our years of friendship."
Under Qin Mingâs persistent urging, Han Yuan reluctantly accepted the bottle of pills.