Qin Sang had already made some preparations.
These included two third-transformation spirit insects: a Blazing Fire Silkworm and a Crimson Wild Origin Insect.
The Blazing Fire Silkworm grew in magma, while the Crimson Wild Origin Insect mostly dwelled along the magma's periphery, hiding among gray rock fissures and surviving by devouring the fire spirits within the magma.
Both of these spirit insect species were relatively common in the cultivation world and shared similar habits; with good fortune, one could capture both at once.
However, the metamorphosis of a spirit insect was a long and arduous process.
Qin Sang required two insects that were at least at the middle third transformation. Such insects were rarer than mid-Core Formation cultivators; searching for them himself would have taken who knew how long, so he had Jiang Mu post a bounty at Six Prefectures Hall.
Because Qin Sang offered a handsome price, it reportedly drew quite a few late Core Formation stage cultivators into action, and within barely a month, both spirit insects were delivered into his hands.
For over a decade, Qin Sang had been feeding them Fire Melting Pills and other elixirs. Now, the Blazing Fire Silkworm was at the late third transformation, and the Crimson Wild Origin Insect had reached the peak of the middle third transformation.
They would serve as expendable materials for the Fire Jade Centipede's metamorphosis.
Before that, Qin Sang still needed to help the Crimson Wild Origin Insect advance.
Third-transformation spirit insects were exceedingly rare, and sacrificing two of them at the late third transformation just to assist the Fire Jade Centipede's metamorphosis seemed like an extraordinary extravagance.
Yet this was only because the Fire Jade Centipede had already consumed countless heavenly treasures and reached the peak of the late third transformation, standing a single step from metamorphosis; otherwise, it would have required even more.
The art of raising gu was essentially piling up vast amounts of resources to achieve a qualitative breakthrough, with other spirit insects consumed in the process.
However, neither of these two spirit insects was an exotic insect. Their potential was nearly exhausted, and barring exceptional fortune, the likelihood of either ever advancing to the fourth metamorphosis was minuscule. In Qin Sang's eyes, there was nothing to regret.
Aside from this, Qin Sang had also prepared most of the pills and medicines listed in the Gu Classic.
Whether by purchasing them himself or obtaining them through the major merchant guilds, he had gathered the spirit herbs and commissioned alchemists to refine them.
Only for a medicinal powder known as Dream-Parting Powder had there been no word on two of its primary ingredients. Only after asking around did he learn that these primary ingredients originated from Man Prefecture and were monopolized by Myriad Poison Mountain.
Yet Dream-Parting Powder was indispensable, as it could dispel a gu insect's ferocious malice to a certain degree. Qin Sang estimated he would need at least three doses for the Fire Jade Centipede.
His only choice was to purchase it from Myriad Poison Mountain.
Dream-Parting Powder was not only of great utility when raising gu; when cultivators tamed spirit insects, it could also be used to lure and soothe them, increasing the chances of success.
Occasionally, Myriad Poison Mountain would release a batch to the market, but at an exorbitant price.
Having confirmed that the secret technique was viable, Qin Sang finally decided to make the purchase.
Seven Fragrances Pavilion.
Though not quite on par with Six Prefectures Hall, it was still one of the prominent merchant guilds in Zhongzhou. Its reach extended even farther than Six Prefectures Hall's, with branches to be found even in the large market cities of the Northern Desolation, and rumors held that it had close ties to Myriad Poison Mountain.
To a Nascent Soul cultivator, none of this was a secret; anyone who made an effort to inquire could easily find out.
District Yi of the immortal city was a gathering place for merchant guilds, and Seven Fragrances Pavilion had a location there.
District Yi teemed with bustling crowds.
In front of the major guilds, heads bobbed in a dense throng as cultivators came and went in an endless stream.
Seven Fragrances Pavilion was a seven-story jade pavilion constructed from a dark green precious jade, glowing with a misty green radiance.
The jade posts before the entrance were hitched with various mounts—dragon-like beasts, phoenix-like fowl, qilin-like creatures, a dazzling array—all thoroughly tamed, lying lazily on the ground dozing.
Having applied a layer of disguise, Qin Sang strolled along a jade bridge toward the front of the jade pavilion and stepped inside.
Inside, Seven Fragrances Pavilion opened into a spacious realm of its own. Treasures filled the display counters, mostly alchemical pills and venomous items. More than a dozen attendants and maidservants stood near the entrance, all of them cultivators in the Qi Refinement stage.
"Welcome inside, honored guest!"
Seeing Qin Sang enter, a maidservant immediately greeted him with a smiling face, her willow waist swaying. Just as she stepped forward to receive him, a deep, resonant voice rang in her ear:
"Show this Senior upstairs."
The maidservant was startled, the smile on her face stiffening slightly. Fortunately, this was not the first time she had experienced such a thing, so she kept her composure and bowed low. "Senior, this way please."
Noticing the voice transmission, Qin Sang's expression remained unchanged. Following behind the maidservant up to the second floor, he saw a white-robed man walking down in a hurry, who said to the maidservant, "You may leave."
He then cupped his hands to Qin Sang in salute. "This junior failed to welcome Senior promptly upon your gracious arrival. I beg Senior's forgiveness. The treasures on the lower floors surely would not catch Senior's discerning eye. Might Senior accompany this junior to a quiet room to converse in detail?"
Qin Sang naturally had no objection. He followed the man up to the fifth floor, where spirit tea and immortal fruit had already been served.
The two sat opposite each other. The white-robed man began to exchange pleasantries, but Qin Sang had no desire to waste time. Cutting him off and scanning him with a discerning gaze, Qin Sang went straight to the point: "Poor Daoist wishes to purchase something from your esteemed pavilion. Do you have the authority to decide?"
The white-robed man smiled obsequiously. "This junior unworthily serves as a steward of Seven Fragrances Pavilion and can make decisions on most matters here. If Senior's request exceeds my authority, I shall report to the pavilion's elders at once and ensure Senior receives a satisfactory response."
The branch locations of the major merchant guilds spanned all of the Central Plains, and it was impossible for every post to be manned by a Nascent Soul cultivator.
For instance, at Six Prefectures Hall in Yanshui Market, the original steward had been a Core Formation cultivator; only because Mount Bunian sealed its gates and Zhuo Prefecture became unstable did Six Prefectures Hall send Jiang Mu to oversee it.
Once the situation in Zhuo Prefecture stabilized, Jiang Mu was transferred back.
Only the immortal city at Feiyun Ferry was of such crucial importance that a Nascent Soul cultivator was certainly stationed there at all times.
Qin Sang nodded and said placidly, "Poor Daoist wishes to purchase Dream-Parting Powder."
The smile on the white-robed man's face froze. Wasting no further words on pleasantries, he rose immediately. "Senior, please wait a moment."
Not long after the white-robed man left, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter."
Qin Sang looked up toward the doorway and saw a white-haired elder with a youthful complexion push open the door and step in. A hint of surprise flashed in Qin Sang's eyes.
Middle Nascent Soul stage—could he be the pavilion master of Seven Fragrances Pavilion?
The elder was likewise sizing up Qin Sang. Finding himself unable to see through Qin Sang's cultivation, he felt a secret jolt of caution, but laughed heartily. "This old man happened to be in seclusion. What poor timing—forgive me for keeping Fellow Daoist waiting."
"It is Poor Daoist who has intruded."
Qin Sang stood and returned the courtesy.
After some polite banter, the elder tried probing into Qin Sang's background, but Qin Sang smoothly deflected his inquiries without batting an eye.
Seeing this, the elder ceased his futile efforts. Pondering briefly, he said, "Fellow Daoist wishes to buy Dream-Parting Powder, so you must know this medicine is controlled by Myriad Poison Mountain. Only a small amount is released at intervals, leaving very little in circulation outside. It is exceedingly precious."
Qin Sang chuckled softly.
The elder's expression remained unchanged, though his tone shifted: "Our pavilion does indeed have some in storage, but goods in such high demand are few in number. May I ask how much Fellow Daoist needs, and whether you intend to barter or pay in spirit stones?"
"At least three portions!"
Qin Sang held up three fingers. "As for the method of payment, that depends on the quality of the Dream-Parting Powder."
Dream-Parting Powder was graded into high, middle, and low tiers. Both high and middle tiers were effective, differing only in degree, while low tier would be virtually useless for the Fire Jade Centipede.
Hearing this, the elder knew Qin Sang had come well-prepared. Putting aside any other notions, he retrieved three porcelain bottles from his mustard seed bag and set them on the table.
Qin Sang opened the bottles and inspected them one by one.
Inside were white medicinal powders—Dream-Parting Powder indeed. One bottle held powder that was faintly yellowish, clearly middle grade, while the other two bottles were high grade.
These three bottles of Dream-Parting Powder would essentially be enough.
Watching Qin Sang's movements, the elder suddenly smiled. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!"
"Congratulations for what?"
Qin Sang glanced up at him.
"Fellow Daoist is purchasing three bottles of Dream-Parting Powder at once; surely you have encountered a fourth-metamorphosis spirit insect? Is that not cause for great celebration?" the elder said with no small amount of envy.
Other insect-taming secret arts did not carry the severe risks of the Gu Classic, nor were their requirements so stringent.
Not knowing Qin Sang possessed half of the Gu Classic, the elder had misunderstood his objective.
In the cultivation world, third-transformation spirit insects could still be found, but naturally metamorphosed fourth-metamorphosis spirit insects were exceptionally rare. Moreover, such insects possessed immense potential; even Myriad Poison Mountain, ruling supreme over Man Prefecture, had rarely encountered them.
Coming across one did not mean one could catch it, and catching one did not mean one could subdue it.
Naturally, the elder envied Qin Sang's fortune.
Having inspected them all, Qin Sang set down the porcelain bottles and replied casually, "Spirit insects have singular divine abilities. Even if one reaches the fourth metamorphosis, it is useless most of the time. Poor Daoist has paid such a heavy price and labored for years without any certainty that it will truly aid me. If only it were like the insect of a fellow daoist I met before—with just a single ray of venomous light, it could easily poison an expert of the same tier to death. It was the most terrifying spirit insect Poor Daoist has ever seen in his life!"
"Poison a Nascent Soul to death?"
The elder's expression changed dramatically, his voice turning urgent. "What kind of venomous light? What did that spirit insect look like?"
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Qin Sang feigned racking his memory for a moment before saying, "The venomous light flashed and vanished in an instant; I recall it was milky white. As for the insect itself, it seemed to be a jade beetle. Heh... Poor Daoist has long suspected it belonged to some master from Myriad Poison Mountain. Does Fellow Daoist recognize it?"
"A jade beetle... jade beetle..."
The elder muttered under his breath, then suddenly seemed to recall something and pressed further, "Who was the person commanding that jade beetle? Where did Fellow Daoist encounter him?"
There really was something behind this!
Ever since obtaining the Gu Classic, Qin Sang had been pondering the connection between the strange-faced man and his disciple and Myriad Poison Mountain, but openly, Myriad Poison Mountain had no such figure.
He had suspected the Gu Classic had questionable origins and prodded lightly, never expecting that a far greater secret seemed to lie beneath.
Qin Sang fell silent, smiling at the elder as his gaze drifted toward the porcelain bottles on the table.
The elder froze, then understood. Gritting his teeth, he said, "If Fellow Daoist can provide useful information, this old man wouldn't mind giving you these portions of Dream-Parting Powder for free!"
Only then did Qin Sang relent, measuring his words: "That person's methods were ruthless, slaying a Nascent Soul cultivator in an instant. Poor Daoist only dared watch from afar back then; how could I have dared approach? I vaguely saw that the man's face was covered in scars, looking exceedingly bizarre. As for his whereabouts, Fellow Daoist might search along the border between the Southern and Man Prefectures..."
As he spoke, he channeled his spiritual power to sketch a rough topographical map of the Southern and Man Prefectures in the air, outlining a large region.
Seeing the elder's hesitant evasiveness and not knowing what grudge lay between them, Qin Sang deliberately spliced together the details of his two encounters with the strange-faced man. Guiding them toward the strange-faced man's hiding place was enough.
However, Qin Sang felt that in all likelihood, the strange-faced man was no longer in the poison miasma basin.
Committing the details to memory, the elder said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist has likely guessed that this old man's other identity is an elder of Myriad Poison Mountain. The person you spoke of shares an old grudge with our sect. Two of our Nascent Soul elders once met tragic ends at his hands. If Fellow Daoist should encounter him again in the future, I hope you will notify our sect promptly. There will surely be a handsome reward!"
"The grudge between you has nothing to do with Poor Daoist. That person's spirit insect is far too ferocious; Poor Daoist cherishes his life and has no desire to cross paths with him again, nor do I wish to provoke such a formidable enemy."
Qin Sang shook his head repeatedly, swept up the porcelain bottles, and stood up to leave.
The elder hurriedly called out to stop him, "Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment."
With that, the elder hurried out and returned just as quickly, carrying a jade box.
The jade box opened to reveal layer upon layer of restrictions sealing a gray thread as thin as a strand of hair.
Looking closely, one would realize it was actually a strand of gray down, from what creature unknown.
Qin Sang stared at it for a long while without making any sense of it, a questioning look appearing on his face.
The elder pushed the jade box toward Qin Sang. "Back then, that man was arrogant and overconfident and was struck by one of our sect's supreme treasures. The poison seeped into his internal organs. Had it not been for his profound cultivation, he would have perished long ago; the strange scars on his face were caused by that poisoning. This item contains a portion of that supreme treasure's power. If Fellow Daoist happens to encounter him in the future, you may activate this item to detonate the residual toxins within his body, which will surely leave him unable to care for anything else, allowing you to slip away! Of course, if Fellow Daoist can slay him, capture the jade beetle alive, and deliver it to Myriad Poison Mountain, our sect can trade supreme treasures for it!"
Qin Sang thought to himself, 'So that's how it is.'
No wonder a dignified great cultivator could not even restore his appearance.
A sect treasure of Myriad Poison Mountain had reduced a great cultivator to such a wretched state; the foundation of a renowned great sect was truly unfathomable!
Admonishing himself to remain vigilant, Qin Sang frowned and said, "Poor Daoist encountered him decades ago. That man is a late Nascent Soul great cultivator; after all this time, will this item still have any effect?"
"As long as the scars on his face remain unhealed, it means the residual poison has not been cleared, so it will certainly work! If it were so easily dispelled, could it still be revered as a supreme treasure by our sect?"
The elder said with supreme confidence, "The residual poison lies dormant within him. As long as it is not detonated, it will not cause much trouble. But with his mind bent on nurturing the jade beetle, it must consume an enormous amount of his energy. Before the jade beetle reaches great completion, he will have no spare power to purge the remaining poison."
Qin Sang claimed he had only watched from afar.
Yet the elder knew full well that battles between great cultivators were not something just anyone could observe. What was more, with the strange-faced man having provoked a nemesis like Myriad Poison Mountain, he would surely silence any witness if there was the slightest risk of his tracks being exposed.
Perhaps they had already fought a great battle.
That Qin Sang was alive and kicking proved his divine abilities were formidable at the very least.
Crafting this kind of down caused a slight loss of the supreme treasure's power, but it would recover on its own over time, so giving away one strand was no great loss. The elder saw that Qin Sang harbored wariness toward them; rather than calling Qin Sang out, he had no qualms about roping in an ally.
He was not worried about Qin Sang stealing the jade beetle.
Leaving aside whether Qin Sang could kill the man, aside from Myriad Poison Mountain and the strange-faced man who reared it personally, no one possessed the ability to tame the jade beetle. Even if Qin Sang obtained it, he could only seal it away.
And if it were sealed for too long, there was the danger that the jade beetle would exploit a lapse and cause a backlash against its captor.
The best choice would be to trade with Myriad Poison Mountain.
"In that case, Poor Daoist shall graciously accept!"
Qin Sang took the jade box, cupped his hands slightly, and turned to walk out.
The elder personally escorted Qin Sang out of Seven Fragrances Pavilion, then returned to the quiet room and closed his eyes to rest.
Before long.
A dark shadow materialized in the quiet room.
"Lost him?"
The elder asked placidly, not seeming surprised in the least.
The dark shadow hummed in assent. "This man has an exceptionally keen spiritual sense. I had not followed him for even a hundred zhang before I felt him locking onto me with a warning."
"Good! The higher his cultivation, the better! Who would have thought that fellow truly managed to rear a Gu King? We can no longer keep this information suppressed; otherwise, relying solely on our sect's strength will surely incur heavy losses... I shall report this to the Sect Master personally," the elder said.
Chapter 1588