Moving swiftly, Qin Sang gathered the most valuable spirit herbs and packed them into jade boxes. Among them was the Lingzhan flower he prized above all, as well as an herb that would aid Tan Hao's upcoming breakthrough.
Dong!
A bell suddenly chimed.
Its melodious tone resonated far and wide, echoing throughout the entire Jinghai Sect.
Qin Sang paused in his work, cocking his head to listen.
The chiming carried a peculiar rhythm.
Protected by the jade Buddha that guarded his soul, Qin Sang felt nothing out of the ordinary, but when he glanced sideways at Tan Hao, he saw the man's eyes half-closed and his expression peaceful. The restlessness and anxiety Tan Hao had felt earlier upon hearing that Qin Sang planned to contend with a great cultivator for treasures had settled considerably.
Qin Sang marveled at the effect. Focusing his senses, he tried to pinpoint the bell's source, yet could find nothing.
"Is it a magic treasure, or something else?" Qin Sang asked curiously.
A treasure capable of cleansing and steadying the mind was of immense benefit to a cultivator's practice. It would be wonderful if it could be taken away; even if he had no personal use for it, he could always bring it back to Qingyang Temple.
Tan Hao shook his head, speaking with a touch of regret. "The sounds of the morning bell and evening drum don't originate from any magic treasure—otherwise, I wouldn't have had to stay here all this time. It seems to come from some bizarre restriction. However, Senior never mentioned whether it is a technique of the Jinghai Sect or part of the original demon-suppressing seal."
"The cultivation world truly holds endless wonders," Qin Sang remarked, feeling his horizons broadened once again.
Stowing the herb Tan Hao needed into a jade box, he tossed it over to him. Qin Sang then straightened and surveyed the pitted, uneven herb garden. "That should be enough. They've already begun attempting to breach the restrictions, so it's time for us to get ready as well."
As he spoke, a dark shadow flitted inside.
Tan Hao was startled by the sudden appearance of the Nascent Soul talisman puppet, but seeing it stand dutifully behind Qin Sang only deepened his awe of Qin Sang's strength.
"What a pity..." Tan Hao glanced at the remaining spirit herbs.
These herbs were likewise of great value, and to his eyes, they could even be considered rare.
Qin Sang smiled. "One must give up something to gain something. Only a blend of the real and the false can deceive their eyes. Wait here for my signal. When the moment comes, break the garden's restrictions to expose the spirit herbs hidden in the mist. At the same time, activate your Misty Rain Pot to conjure illusions of these varieties, mingling them among the real ones."
With that, Qin Sang handed Tan Hao a jade slip, instructing him to study it thoroughly and memorize every detail so the illusions would appear completely genuine.
Having received guidance from Ghost Mother, Tan Hao was well versed in Buddhist restrictions; with thorough preparation, he would have no trouble stirring up chaos in the herb garden.
The Misty Rain Pot was a high-grade magic treasure that had once belonged to a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Boundless Sea. That person had provoked Ghost Mother and was slain by her, after which she casually tossed the pot to Tan Hao.
During his time following Ghost Mother, Tan Hao had indeed reaped quite a few benefits.
This item was a treasure aligned with the Dao of Illusions. By spewing mist from its spout, it could create phantasms that bordered on reality. Its presence saved Qin Sang a great deal of trouble.
Tan Hao nodded and retrieved the Misty Rain Pot. It was a stone pot less than the size of a palm, its surface etched with patches of dark clouds, and faint vapor constantly condensed and rippled at its spout.
"Though it is a high-grade magic treasure, my cultivation is still too weak. I worry they might easily see through it," Tan Hao admitted with some concern.
"The purple skyfire in the void will disrupt their vision and judgment. Besides, drawing their attention for even a single breath will be more than enough for me to accomplish plenty," Qin Sang reassured him.
His plan was to use the disturbance in the herb garden to draw Old Man Hunmo's attention, while he seized the treasure in the chaos and fled through the secret passage. Still, precisely how to shake off Old Man Hunmo and any other pursuers after succeeding remained a matter requiring careful thought.
Tan Hao took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Brother Qin, be careful!"
"Don't worry. I won't risk my life blindly; I'll only strike when I'm certain. If the situation proves impossible, we'll simply divide these herbs and leave," Qin Sang replied with a candid smile, turning toward the secret passage.
The Nascent Soul talisman puppet followed close behind.
Tan Hao held the Misty Rain Pot in one hand and a talisman in the other, every nerve taut.
Once inside the passage, Qin Sang darted along the branch leading to the Golden Peak.
Before long, he came to a slight halt, his expression turning solemn as he looked ahead.
A familiar radiance of interweaving scarlet and gold flooded the entire tunnel.
The geography of the Jinghai Sect mapped out in his mind: the secret passage skirted the crater to reach the Golden Peak, meaning his current position placed him right at the crater's rim.
The tunnel's stone walls were themselves a part of the seal.
Encountering the seal at such close quarters presented a sight entirely different from the external swastika seal.
The walls glowed a dazzling crimson, the aura of blazing heat within feeling as though it could erupt at any second, while the power of the seal materialized directly upon the stone surface.
It was clearly visible that the seal comprised two layers.
The outermost layer consisted of countless tiny swastikas flowing in a stream—a Buddhist restriction.
The inner layer was a type of restriction Qin Sang had never seen before: mysterious and profoundly intricate. After gazing at it for a brief moment in an attempt to comprehend it, he felt dizzy and light-headed.
"This must be the work of an ancient almighty expert," Qin Sang sighed softly, deciding not to waste any more mental energy on it.
Just then, he noticed fissure-like cracks running through the inner seal, and most of the Buddhist restriction's power was dedicated to suppressing those very fissures.
Recalling what Tan Hao had said about the demon awakening, Qin Sang nodded slightly, roughly piecing together the events of the past.
Studying the seal on the walls for a moment longer, he pressed on.
Soon, he reached the end of the secret passage. Ahead of him stood a stone door, tightly shut.
Buddhist light swirled across its surface.
The entire Golden Peak Hall was locked beneath powerful restrictions, and the secret passage was no exception.
Qin Sang could not see inside the hall, but thanks to Tan Hao's detailed description, he already had a clear mental picture and knew the precise locations of the magic treasures.
First, he recalled the patterns of the Golden Peak Hall's restrictions that Tan Hao had explained. Then, he raised a hand to lightly touch the stone door, after which he remained entirely still.
***
Before the Golden Peak Hall.
Old Man Hunmo and Primordial Lady Yuyi descended onto the gold-brick ground.
The hall was magnificent and resplendent, boasting seven grand doors. Three were left ajar, yet entering remained impossible, as the entire structure was cloaked in a layer of golden Buddhist light restrictions.
Through the gaps in the doors, the interior of the hall was partially visible.
It was a Buddhist hall.
Enshrined at the rear stood a golden Buddha statue, opulent and imposing. Neither of them was a follower of the Buddhist path, so they could not identify which legendary Buddha the effigy depicted.
Flanking the Buddha were statues of two attendant bhikshus.
Strangely, beside the Buddha stood yet another statue—that of a man.
This figure stood with hands clasped behind his back, possessing sword-straight eyebrows and starry eyes. Clad in a long robe with fluttering sleeves, he rested atop a square stone pedestal, standing at the exact same height as the Buddha. In terms of standing, he appeared to be on equal footing with the Buddha itself.
Seeing these figures within the hall, Primordial Lady Yuyi showed a look of bewilderment.
This was far too strange. Buddhist sects were bound by rigid traditions; how could the Jinghai Sect enshrine someone outside the Buddhist faith inside their Grand Hall? Could he have been a lay practitioner?
Primordial Lady Yuyi scrutinized the figure closely. Even as a mere stone carving, the man exuded an extraordinary bearing, clearly showing he was no ordinary person.
She ran through every prominent figure recorded throughout the history of the Three Realms of the North Sea, yet none matched this likeness.
Lost in thought, she failed to notice a sharp glint flashing across Old Man Hunmo's cloudy eyes.
Chapter 1424