Leaving Gong Xingqing behind, Qin Sang strode out of the private room.
With the medallion in his grasp guiding his way, it was not long before it led Qin Sang before a doorway. A boy servant was already waiting outside, pushing the door open and bowing respectfully. "Senior, please enter."
Behind the door lay no ordinary room, but a flight of stone steps winding downward—a long, narrow stone tunnel stretching into the unknown.
The servant led the way ahead.
Qin Sang sensed the ripples of restrictions within the stone passage, though they were not meant to trap those passing through, merely to block divine sense perception.
The servant possessed a decent cultivation base and was proficient in divine travel techniques, moving at astonishing speed. Qin Sang followed behind him without the slightest exertion.
The secret passage seemed endless.
Gauging the distance, Qin Sang realized he had long since exited Tianzhong Commandery, feeling a slight twinge of surprise.
After walking briskly like this for a while, the light ahead suddenly dimmed, and a stone wall appeared.
The servant halted, turning around to report, "Senior, this junior can only escort you this far. Once you step outside, you may follow the medallion's resonance to confirm the location of the treasure exchange. This is a disguise artifact prepared by our hall for Senior; combined with the formation at the exchange, it can shield your divine sense and prevent others from prying."
With that, the servant handed Qin Sang a talisman treasure shaped like a jade pendant, bowed deeply, and turned to walk back into the secret passage. Then, together with the passage itself, he vanished into thin air right before Qin Sang's eyes. Whether achieved through clever mechanisms or restrictive spells, it sufficiently proved that the Six Prefectures Hall possessed deep foundations here and held complete mastery over Tianzhong Commandery.
His earlier speculation had been nearly spot-on: the headquarters of the Six Prefectures Hall was most likely situated in this city.
Qin Sang pondered briefly, then channeled the jade pendant. His figure blurred, transforming into an emaciated young Daoist, whereupon he retrieved a mask magic treasure he had prepared himself and put it on.
After confirming nothing was amiss outside, he pushed open the door and stepped out.
Outside the stone doorway was a mountain cliff.
Unsurprisingly, he had been brought out to the desolate wilderness.
Wild yellow grass grew deep.
Birds and beasts cried out.
Not far ahead, a faint glimmer of light flickered.
Just as Qin Sang was about to set off, a soft clicking sound came from behind him. Turning his head, he saw an attractive Daoist nun emerge from the opposite cliff.
This person had certainly disguised themselves as well; physical appearance held no meaning. While outwardly a Daoist nun, there was no telling whether their true identity was male or female.
Stepping out of the secret passage, Qin Sang immediately sensed the ripples of a spirit formation—he was already inside its perimeter. Channeling his divine sense, he experienced an unprecedented sluggishness; his spiritual senses were being invisibly restrained.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly remained unaffected, yet Qin Sang could not be certain whether the Six Prefectures Hall had laid secret countermeasures against such divine abilities.
Those attending the treasure exchange were cultivators of exceptional prowess. Even the faintest tremor stirred by the Heavenly Eye divine ability would not escape their spiritual senses. It was better not to take risks and avoid becoming a target for everyone.
Their gazes met, and both froze for a moment before casually averting their eyes. Intentionally keeping a distance from one another, they flew toward the light.
As they drew near, a secluded pool appeared ahead.
The vegetation surrounding the secluded pool had been completely cleared away. Beside the water stood several low tables and prayer mats, where a few figures sat scattered about—some having arrived even earlier than he had.
Within the pool, several brocade koi flickered their tails and spat out luminous pearls, which served as the source of light.
The pearl light was not particularly bright, but for Qin Sang and the others, the presence or absence of light made no difference whatsoever.
As Qin Sang and the nun approached, the seated figures took notice. Some cast a sideways glance, while others continued resting with closed eyes; no one made any rude attempts to pry.
The nun took a seat on her own.
Finding an arbitrary prayer mat near the edge, Qin Sang sat down cross-legged and scanned the surroundings, seeing no one from the Six Prefectures Hall yet.
After they sat down, the number of arrivals suddenly surged, the whoosh of breaking air sounding continuously. Within mere dozens of breaths, Nascent Soul cultivators arrived one after another, filling most of the seats.
With so many people present, the area remained remarkably quiet.
Some had come in pairs or groups, yet even they only communicated through secret transmissions.
*Splash!*
A sudden sound of water broke the silence as a cloud of mist abruptly billowed up from the center of the pool, drawing everyone's gaze.
Smoke rose from the surface, and a silhouette manifested.
An elderly man with white hair and beard stood atop the water. Sweeping his gaze across the gathering, he clasped his hands with a smile and offered a circular bow. "Old Jiang You greets fellow Daoists. Among those seated here, there should be some of Jiang's intimate friends, though even Jiang cannot recognize your identities right now. As this matter arose on short notice, the venue is rather crude; I hope fellow Daoists will not take offense at any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Before his words had fully faded, someone below quipped playfully, "Who among us does not know the illustrious name of Vice Hall Master Jiang? Is an introduction even necessary?"
"Is it truly Fellow Daoist Jiang, or could this be a disguise as well? I have heard that Fellow Daoist Jiang's Seven Paths of Soul-Losing Spear can chase souls and hook spirits—why not give us a demonstration to verify your identity?" another voice chimed in with mocking sarcasm.
Jiang You took no offense, his smile remaining steady. "Fellow Daoists, your divine abilities are all boundless. Whether Jiang is disguised or not surely cannot escape your discerning eyes. Among those present, there are Daoists whose spear skills far surpass my own, so I will not make a fool of myself..."
Qin Sang straightened his posture slightly.
The Six Prefectures Hall had two vice hall masters, overseen by an elusive hall master. Between the two vice hall masters, Jiang Mu held this Jiang You in the highest esteem, and Qin Sang had heard of him long ago.
Yet another person arrived.
Jiang You glanced at the sky and said in a grave voice, "The hour has come. The treasure exchange shall now begin. To those Daoists who have not yet arrived, Jiang can only express his regrets."
With a one-handed mudra pressed into the void, the power of the formation suddenly contracted, covering only the vicinity of the secluded pool. Even the light here was veiled, creating a secluded, concealed domain.
A minor stir went through the crowd, all somewhat surprised.
As long as the qualifications were met, the more participants there were, the better. For the Six Prefectures Hall to act in such an excessively cautious manner—could this be a demand of the client?
"Jiang, since your hall is merely hosting, why do you need to show your face? Where is the principal? We've been ordered about by him for so long—how much longer does he intend to hide his head and tail?"
The speaker's voice was deep and hoarse, brimming with discontent.
He had arrived with a companion and sat on the left. The figure to his right sat motionless with closed eyes, seemingly of higher status.
"The principal is right among you, fellow Daoists. Jiang was entrusted by him to preside over this exchange on his behalf. The principal is generous: no cut will be taken from any transaction in this exchange. When the appropriate moment arrives, the principal will naturally reveal himself, so please do not be impatient, fellow Daoist. Our hall is in the business of commerce and strives to satisfy every request of our esteemed guests. Should you have any commissions for us in the future, it will be the same."
Jiang You explained the reason while not forgetting to drum up business for the Six Prefectures Hall.
Hearing this, everyone glanced left and right, feeling that anyone here could be the principal.
This truly was the strangest treasure exchange they had ever attended.
For the principal to hide his head and tail without daring to show himself meant either his identity was extremely sensitive with countless enemies, or the treasure he intended to trade was of monumental significance.
This, in turn, piqued everyone's anticipation.
"Fellow Daoists should already be familiar with the rules of the treasure exchange, so Jiang will not belabor the details. There is only one rule to emphasize: during an exchange, if the principal makes a bid under equal conditions, the principal shall take precedence. Please do not let this harm harmony between us," Jiang You stressed.
This was a standard rule, and no one raised any objections.
Jiang You nodded. Raising an empty hand, the pool water welled up into a water platform. With a wave of his sleeve, three items appeared out of thin air. "Allow Jiang to cast a brick to attract jade. Here are three treasures."
He first pointed to the pair of rings on the left. "These are the special magic treasures known as the Moon-Reflecting Rings, incomparably sharp and specialized in piercing protective astral shields. As for their other powers, words hardly do them justice; Jiang will loosen the restrictions in a moment so you may examine them with your divine sense."
The item in the middle was a round pearl.
Qin Sang looked at it for a few moments. Wasn't this just the Corpse Soul Pearl that Bai had obtained years ago from slaying a corpse king?
The pearl's surface was greenish-black, with corpse qi condensed inside, occasionally conjuring the terrifying image of a grotesque face. However, this Corpse Soul Pearl was far thinner and weaker than Bai's.
"This comes from a Nascent Soul-stage corpse king. Unfortunately, the Corpse Soul Pearl gathered dust for many years before we discovered it, so its potency has diminished. Nonetheless, for fellow Daoists walking the path of corpses and ghosts, it remains a rare and precious treasure."
The third item was an azure crystal whose azure light formed a wondrous spectacle resembling a whirlwind, exuding a sense of weightlessness. It offered tremendous benefits when cultivating wind-governing divine abilities.
"These three treasures may be exchanged for magic treasures of the Five Elements path or other easily tradable treasures. Transactions in spirit stones are also acceptable, starting at ten thousand with minimum increments of ten thousand," Jiang You announced the terms.
It was indeed casting a brick to attract jade.
The three treasures were not low in inherent value, but their scope of utility was rather narrow, and the most precious Corpse Soul Pearl could not fetch a high price due to its loss of power.
As for spirit stones, it was just lip service; at a treasure exchange of this tier, transactions in spirit stones were practically nonexistent.
Qin Sang scrutinized the Moon-Reflecting Rings. His Ruyi Pearl happened to be a protective magic treasure that generated an astral shield; he never expected the very first treasure would be something that countered him.
Such magic treasures were not uncommon in the cultivation world, and Qin Sang could not possibly snatch them all. With a spirit treasure and the Sun God Tree in hand, as long as his attacks landed, an extra Moon-Reflecting Ring wouldn't make much difference.
Comparatively, he was more interested in the Corpse Soul Pearl.
Bai had broken through back then by refining a Corpse Soul Pearl.
However, Yagu's spiritual intelligence had not yet recovered, making direct communication impossible. Otherwise, buying the Corpse Soul Pearl to help Yagu refine it would surely bring considerable benefits.
After some consideration, Qin Sang chose not to bid.
Yagu's lifespan defied ordinary logic, but before falling into slumber, she had only been in the Qi Refinement stage. Forcibly refining a Nascent Soul-stage Corpse Soul Pearl carried unpredictable consequences.
Finding the Ghost Mother and awaiting the fat silkworm's breakthrough were far more reliable paths.
In the end, all three items were traded away for other magic treasures.
Beaming, Jiang You drifted down to the edge of the pool. "Fellow Daoists, please begin."
Before his voice died away, a figure darted out from the frontmost row of seats, seizing the lead. "Haha... old me is a bit impatient, forgive me, everyone! Feast your eyes: this is an Earth Origin Pearl carefully condensed by old me over many years using profound arts in a convergence point of earth qi. For Daoists cultivating earth-element arts, refining this pearl aids in breakthroughs—the lower the realm, the better the effect... I wish to exchange it for a living earth spirit in the Transformation stage."
Silence fell.
Many coveted the treasure, but none could meet the old man's demand. Other counter-offers were all rejected by him.
Disappointment colored the old man's face, and he turned to retreat in dejection.
At this moment, a burly armored man sitting not far to Qin Sang's right suddenly spoke up, "I do not have a living earth spirit, but a century ago, I encountered a pack of them where an earth spirit chieftain should reside. The place is remote, and earth spirits rarely relocate their nests; it is certainly still there. Once the treasure exchange concludes, I will personally guide you there and help you capture the earth spirit... What say you?"
The old man was overjoyed. "Agreed!"
The two exchanged voice transmissions, discussing something in secret.
Satisfied, the old man flew back to his seat, and someone immediately took his place.
Following that, some returned with bountiful gains like the old man, while others came away empty-handed.
As the treasure exchange progressed to this point, Qin Sang genuinely felt the vastness and abundance of Zhongzhou.
Most items presented were diverse and rare spiritual materials.
Rare treasures were showcased in succession—many of which were exceedingly scarce or had long gone extinct in the North Sea, surpassing the caliber of the Myriad Demons Assembly back then by more than a single notch.
Had Qin Sang not possessed a clear objective, he would have been tempted to bid several times already.
There were even items Qin Sang had never heard of, making it impossible to assess their value.
Magic treasures rarely appeared at the exchange.
After all, none of the participating cultivators lacked top-grade magic treasures.
Yet to everyone's astonishment, someone actually brought out a pseudo-spirit treasure—and not another cultivator's natal magic treasure, but one that could be normally refined and wielded by others!
Qin Sang had far too many areas needing improvement, and artifact forging ranked at the bottom of his priorities. After arriving in Zhongzhou, he had not specifically looked into the region's artifact-forging lineages.
Sure enough, Zhongzhou possessed even more profound artifact-forging arts!
This was quickly confirmed.
"The secret forging art Spirit-Confining Art. It allows the forging of pseudo-spirit treasures and does not require them to be natal magic treasures," a green-robed Daoist said as he drifted into the pool, producing a jade slip.
Before he could state his conditions, an astonished voice rang out from below, "The Spirit-Confining Art? Could it be one of the three great legacies of the ancient Southern Sea sect, Mystic Weapon Mountain?"
"Indeed!" The Daoist nodded with a smile.
"Mastering the Spirit-Confining Art allows one to forge spirit treasures! A thousand years ago, the Qiongying Sect discovered the ruins of Mystic Weapon Mountain on the coast of the Southern Sea and claimed half of the treasures for themselves. It is said that an incomplete fragment of the Spirit-Confining Art fell into the hands of the Qiongying Sect. Could Fellow Daoist possess the complete Spirit-Confining Art?" the person pressed.
"Not so," the Daoist shook his head. "What Pindao holds is also an incomplete fragment. As to whether it matches the portion held by the Qiongying Sect, Pindao cannot say. Pindao can include the insights I have comprehended myself, though it cannot forge spirit treasures, only pseudo-spirit treasures."
The person chuckled softly. "Pseudo-spirit treasures are enough. Spirit treasures are not something our sort can contemplate anyway—or does one have no desire for Deity Transformation?"
Forging a spirit treasure was not the work of a single day, nor even the work of a single person.
With the two playing off each other like that, it was hard not to suspect they had arranged this beforehand.
After a brief silence, a female cultivator's voice sounded among the seats.
"What does Fellow Daoist seek in exchange for the Spirit-Confining Art?"
The green-robed Daoist's eyes lit up as he rattled off more than a dozen exceedingly rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures in one breath, leaving everyone dumbfounded, before adding, "Fellow Daoist need only provide three of them."
The female cultivator fell silent for a moment before asking, "Three heavenly materials and earthly treasures for an incomplete fragment—that condition is far too demanding! Why doesn't Fellow Daoist trade directly with the Qiongying Sect?"
The green-robed Daoist remained silent.
The female cultivator did not pursue the matter and said, "I must inspect part of the secret art's contents first."
"Easily done!"
The green-robed Daoist looked toward Jiang You.
Jiang You formed an incantation gesture and gave a slight nod.
A wisp of divine sense quietly probed into the jade slip.
Qin Sang looked at the jade slip, feeling quite tempted.
But not now.
Once he had time to delve into this path in the future, he could pay a visit to sects proficient in artifact forging to seek instruction.
"I'll take it."
The female cultivator produced three jade boxes and tossed them into the pool. The green-robed Daoist inspected them one by one, a look of delight spreading across his face. He flicked the jade slip toward the female cultivator and returned to his seat.
Thereafter, people went up and down in turn.
Still, the principal did not appear, nor were there any treasures capable of strengthening divine sense that Qin Sang hoped for.
Qin Sang quietly retrieved the Yin-Yang Puppet Crystal and rose to his feet.
Chapter 1591