Longevity: Start by refreshing your entries through farming.

Chapter 834 Dust-Crossing Dock

About half a month later.

In the demon realm, in a rather secluded valley.

Tian Ling'er emerged from the small spiritual realm and was using her spiritual energy technique to heal Gu Chang'an's injuries.

In order to hold off Demon General Ao Yu, he once again activated a seventh-tier talisman, which consumed a great deal of his essence, and it would be impossible for him to fully recover in less than several hundred years.

Even with his exceptionally high level of talismanic skills, it would be difficult for him to recover in a short period of time.

However, thanks to the healing powers of Qin Ming and Tian Ling'er, he has recovered most of his health, at most losing some of his lifespan.

Gu Chang'an, feeling the changes within his body, couldn't help but marvel at Qin Ming:
"Fellow Daoist Li, I never imagined that the Dao of Spiritual Plants is so profound, that there is actually a transformed spiritual plant like the Divine Infant Mushroom, which can effectively heal the depletion of the primordial spirit of a cultivator in the Void Refinement stage."

"Mr. Gu was truly impressed."

The Sky-Eating Rat and the Little Silver Fox, who were also serving the two, heard this and immediately said proudly:

"Fellow Daoist Gu, that's not true. My master started out as a spirit farmer, and his passion for the Dao of spirit plants is unparalleled."

Seeing that the Devouring Rat was getting cocky again, Qin Ming immediately slapped its head and said, "I've only let you out for a little while, and you're already showing off again, huh?"

The Devouring Rat immediately shrank back, daring not to say another word.

Gu Chang'an smiled slightly. Although he was quite envious of Qin Ming's many spirit pets, he also possessed a tortoise with the true spirit Xuanwu bloodline.

After recuperating there for several more days,

Qin Ming and Gu Chang'an disguised themselves as demon cultivators.

Subsequently.

These two treacherous individuals took a longer route and cautiously chose a safe way back.

After all, the demon general Ao Yu of the demon race had already noticed their infiltration and would definitely investigate thoroughly.

Gu Chang'an also kindly took out two sixth-grade low-level teleportation talismans, which could be used for long-distance travel and were even more powerful than the Nine Heavens Azure Primordial True Response Talisman that Qin Ming had obtained earlier.

Not only can it teleport over a longer distance, but it also doesn't require the Netherworld Crystals produced by the Devouring Sky Rat.
Gu Chang'an had also prepared a backup plan, leaving a void mark in the Tianji Mountains.

Therefore, the two of them quickly returned to human territory.

When they arrived, they discovered that a major conflict had broken out at the border between the human and demon races.

Even the Tianfan army, which was originally supporting the demon race, withdrew from the demon race's territory, and the two sides stood facing each other, with a strong sense of tension.

Qin Ming and Gu Chang'an were also astonished by what they saw. They never expected that the agreement between the human and demon races would turn into this situation so soon.

The two of them casually inquired in a celestial city in the Tianji Mountains.

As Qin Ming had predicted, news of Ao Yu's massacre of human cultivators had indeed reached the ears of the human race's higher-ups.

In particular, Master Kongzhi, as a disciple of Mount Sumeru, aroused the wrath of Zen Master Shenyin.

Ao Yu, the Demon General, wanted to deny the matter, but by sheer coincidence, Zi Chen, the Divine Lord, and Qin Shujian miraculously survived the spatial storm.

He then reported the entire incident, down to the smallest detail, to the human race's leadership.

This incident prompted the human race's upper echelons to immediately terminate their decision to jointly resist the insect plague with the demon race.

Furthermore, there was a risk of a violent fight breaking out at the slightest disagreement. In particular, it is said that Zen Master Shenyin personally performed a ritual to guide several sixth-level demon cultivators of the demon race to the afterlife in response to this matter.

He made a harsh statement, vowing to fight Ao Yu Yaoshuai to the death.

He also completely severed ties with Ao Yu, the Demon General.

"It's truly fortunate that the Grand Commander and Fellow Daoist Qin Shujian are still alive." This was the only piece of good news Qin Ming had heard in a long time.

As for the grudges between the human and demon races, and the development of the insect plague, those are beyond his control.

After spending several days in this small immortal city, Qin Ming and his companion bid each other farewell.

"Fellow Daoist Li, since you still have important matters to attend to here, I'll take my leave first. After you're done, I'll come to Little Turtle Peak to ask you for some spirit wine," Gu Chang'an said, bidding farewell.

Qin Ming also said politely, "Then I would naturally welcome him. If Fellow Daoist Han Ya has time, you can bring him back for a visit from time to time."

"Oh? It seems Fellow Daoist Han Ya has a rather good relationship with Fellow Daoist Li. It seems we should take extra care of him." Gu Chang'an couldn't help but say when Qin Ming specifically mentioned Venerable Han Ya.

Qin Ming replied, "Fellow Daoist Han Ya is very fortunate. I quite enjoy dealing with him."

"If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Gu taking a liking to him, I would have originally intended to recruit him into my ranks."

After hearing what he said...

Gu Chang'an recalled for a moment, and a hint of agreement appeared on his face. "It seems to make some sense. Since keeping him by my side to handle matters, my luck has indeed improved a lot. Otherwise, I would have met a cultivator like Fellow Daoist Li."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries before parting ways.

Qin Ming then took out a jade map slip and used his divine sense to browse it.

A few breaths later, he flew towards the Tianfan Domain.

……

Tianfan Domain, Futu Mountain Range, Great Yan Kingdom.

A secular, ordinary country, yet a place where Buddhist and Taoist incense burning extremely brightly.

This area is located in a very special place in the spirit world for humans. A huge river called "Forget the Dust" splits here. One branch flows into the mortal world to cause trouble, another winds around Buddhist temples and ancient monasteries, and the last one runs through the passage to view the sea of ​​clouds.

At the confluence of three water veins, a natural market town was formed.

Mortals call it the 'Ascension Gathering', while cultivators call it the 'Dust Crossing Dock'.

Mortals regard this place as a ladder to immortality, while cultivators use it as a place to collect the power of their vows and incense offerings. If they are truly destined, they may also be able to collect some immortal seedlings with spiritual roots.

Rainbows often appear amidst the misty haze. Ordinary people regard this as an auspicious sign from heaven, while cultivators know it is the result of the fusion of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth with incense offerings.

This is the place where Qin Ming plans to cultivate the sapling of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Tree. If he can take this opportunity, he will be able to successfully cultivate the tree.

This is undoubtedly an extremely powerful opportunity for fusion.

This is infinitely better than those people who worked themselves to the bone, risking their lives to go to the demon race's territory to collect the Heartless Demon Grass.

If Gu Chang'an hadn't promised him great benefits in exchange for five-colored peacock feathers, Qin Ming would never have gotten involved in this mess.

This special place, which meets the growth environment of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Tree, was a place that Qin Ming had spent a lot of effort and time to find.

This day.

From the realm of cultivation, an ordinary-looking young cultivator stepped into this small market town where immortals and mortals met.

It was Qin Ming, who had undergone a makeover.

This small town, located at the confluence of three rivers, has a unique feel of being hidden among the mountains and waters.

Though small, it had all the essential parts. The market was teeming with people, and the cries of vendors and peddlers filled the air.

Qin Ming entered as a rogue cultivator and paid several spirit stones.

They discovered that this place was actually a place where ordinary people and low-level cultivators lived together, but the cultivators still concealed and disguised their identities from the ordinary people.

In this Duchen Dock, the most commonly sold items were incense, candles, paper money, and so-called blessed magical artifacts. Qin Ming only glanced at them briefly and found that most of them were fake.

In the teahouses and taverns, cheers could be heard from time to time. The storytellers inside mostly told stories like "divine monks exorcising demons," "Bodhisattvas manifesting their power," and "ascending to immortality."

Many of them are ordinary people who travel great distances to try their luck with the immortals and absorb their divine energy.
Therefore, the number of believers who come to burn incense, worship Buddha, kowtow, and draw lots is countless.

A branch altar of Jinlian Temple was set up on the west street of Duchenwu Market. Novice monks swept the steps to welcome guests, and incense smoke filled the air.

On the east street, there is a Hanshan Temple Dan Hall, where Taoist priests practice medicine and keep the alchemical fire burning year-round, but in reality, they are secretly acquiring spiritual materials.

Qin Ming only spent half a day strolling along the street before he grasped the situation of the place.

Jinlian Temple and Hanshan Temple are minor sects whose highest cultivation level is only at the Nascent Soul stage, and they are no longer of any interest to him.

Qin Ming immediately stepped into the deacon's hall, but ordinary people could not enter this place; only those with a certain level of cultivation could enter.

Duchenwu is jointly managed by the Buddhist and Taoist sects. On the surface, they seem to be on good terms, but in reality, they use all sorts of means to compete for the incense offerings of believers.

There were even performances at the gatherings to see which family's talisman water was more effective.

The steward on duty today is a middle-aged Taoist from Hanshan Temple, with a Foundation Establishment cultivation level.

Seeing that Qin Ming was merely a rogue cultivator in the mid-stage of Qi Refining and had an extremely ordinary appearance, he didn't take him too seriously and asked indifferently:
"Is this your first time visiting Duchenwu? Do you need to apply for long-term residency or something else?"

"I intend to stay here for a long time. I have long admired Duchenwu and have come here with high hopes. I would like to do some small business here and run a general store." Qin Ming said what he had in mind before coming.

Upon hearing this, the duty officer opposite him raised his head again and looked Qin Ming up and down, saying:

"Oh? You're planning to stay long-term? How many years do you intend to live here?"

"This junior wishes to rent a space of sixty years," Qin Ming replied.

Only then did the steward show a serious expression. "My surname is Liu. How should I address you, fellow Daoist? Are you a disciple from which sect are you out on training?"

His question stemmed from the fact that the rent here was quite high, and it was not uncommon to see cultivators who could afford to rent shops for so many years at once.

They are either disciples with deep backgrounds or cultivators with their own foundation.

Regardless of which one it is, it's something that Deacon Liu should reconsider.

"I am but a wandering cultivator, having toiled in the fields in my younger days and accumulated some savings. I've come here to try my luck," Qin Ming replied.

The middle-aged Taoist surnamed Liu didn't react much to this, and said to Qin Ming with a smile, "There happens to be a vacant shop on East Street. The location is rather remote and there are few people, but it comes with a courtyard. The conditions should meet Fellow Daoist Li's needs."

After explaining the pros and cons, he handed a jade slip with a photographic record to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming quickly glanced at it and immediately made a decision: "Okay, let's go with this place."

The steward surnamed Liu was also quite surprised, not expecting the other party to agree so quickly. He nodded and said:

"The rent for Courtyard No. Chou in the Yi Zi series is two hundred spirit stones per year. If it lasts for sixty years, it will be one thousand two hundred spirit stones."

"Besides spirit stones, Duchenwu also accepts 'incense coins' for transactions. If it is this special currency, it will only cost six hundred coins."

"Incense coins?" Qin Ming asked in surprise.

While he was strolling through the streets, he saw some cultivators making transactions using ordinary copper coins, which carried a slightly strange power.

Qin Ming hadn't looked at it closely at first, never expecting it to be so valuable.

Deacon Liu immediately explained patiently, "That's right. These incense coins carry a trace of the wishes of all living beings. They can be accumulated little by little and refined into the temple's unique 'incense pills'."

Qin Ming's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this.

I never expected to have the chance to see such a miraculous elixir here.

These things might also be helpful in planting and cultivating seedlings.

'Looks like we've really come to the right place this time,' Qin Ming thought to himself.

Subsequently.

Qin Ming deftly took out a small bag of spirit stones, handed it to the other party, and received a land deed in return.

After the transaction was completed, he left the deacon's hall and came to the shop. The environment was very much in line with Qin Ming's requirements, and it was extremely quiet and secluded.

He secretly built an extremely spacious basement in the courtyard and then transplanted the sapling of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Tree into it.

The moment it was planted, the entire spirit tree seemed to be nourished by some peculiar aura and began to grow slowly.

The seven-colored branches began to absorb the seven emotions and six desires of all living beings at the confluence of the earth's veins, transforming into strands of visible tassels that disappeared into the branches.

Qin Ming set up a high-level restriction formation in this courtyard, so no one else could detect the abnormality underground.

In the days that followed, Qin Ming settled down here to cultivate in seclusion and also to experience the atmosphere of the mortal world.

For Duchenwu, the addition of an inconspicuous general store was just an extremely common occurrence in the long river of history.

A few days later.

Qin Ming now held an incense pill and a string of incense coins, both of which were made by the Golden Lotus Temple and the Cold Mountain Temple.

He studied it briefly and found that there was indeed a lifelong willpower in it, but the amount was almost negligible.

Immediately, Qin Ming thought of something and placed the two items under the Tree of Seven Emotions and Six Desires.

An incredible scene happened.

But then, a rainbow light emanated from the sapling, which was only an inch tall, and drew out the gray energy mixed in with the pills and copper coins.

These gray wisps contain the power of the wishes of many mortals.

Although such a weak wish was not enough to cause a major change in the tree, it was enough to show that the things collected by the Buddhist and Taoist sects were still somewhat useful.

"Perhaps I can improve the Incense Pill. If I can make it into a Soul Pearl, I might be able to successfully cultivate this treasure in less than sixty years."

In the Little Spirit Realm.

Qin Ming possesses a sixth-grade top-quality spiritual vein for cultivation, so even in a place with weak spiritual energy, his repair speed is not affected at all.

Meanwhile, the Xuan Shui Crocodile continued to slumber in the Thunder Pool, continuing its struggle against the two true demon souls within its body.

It's estimated that it will take quite some time before it refines the two streams of essence blood.

Qin Ming asked the Devouring Sky Rat to keep an eye on things in case of any unforeseen circumstances, while he closed the shop and went out to look into the matter of refining incense pills.

(End of this chapter)