Departure

"Supreme-grade spirit stones? Even a super-vein might not produce a single supreme-grade spirit stone. How many years has it been since one was heard of in the world? In the centuries since I embarked on the Dao, I have yet to lay eyes on one." "Certain ancient immortal formations require supreme-grade spirit stones and nothing else." "I hear they have other wondrous uses as well..." ... The Daoist-robed elder's parting words stirred up a wave of discussion; supreme-grade spirit stones drew even more attention than the Floating Light Silver. Qin Sang returned to his seat. Once Jiang You relaxed the restriction, Qin Sang also separated a wisp of divine sense to inspect the Floating Light Silver. These pieces of Floating Light Silver came from the same vein and originally formed a single whole, their qi mechanisms interconnected. They could be refined into True Xuanji Silver of immense value. Any artifact refiner capable of winning the bid would surely make a massive profit. However, both refining the Floating Light Silver and the process of artifact forging required substantial time and energy. Qin Sang lacked interest. He merely appeared to be inspecting the Floating Light Silver, while his mind had actually grown slightly tense. Ever since coming down from the pool, Qin Sang had sensed faint, lingering gazes. Someone was watching and observing him in secret—definitely no good sign! Those onlookers were very cautious, yet Qin Sang possessed powerful divine sense and keen spiritual sense, so they could not escape his perception. Thus far in the treasure exchange, the Spirit Suppressing Incense he had brought out stood out as one of the most valuable items among the myriad treasures. Although the Spirit Suppressing Incense had been traded away, Qin Sang had obtained the Near-Dragon Ambergris. That treasure, condensed from the essence of a fifth-molt spiritual insect, was equally a rare gem. It was only natural that it would incite the greed of others. The Daoist-robed elder was the host of this treasure exchange, surely prepared well in advance, immensely wealthy, and possessing a mysterious background; no one would be foolish enough to target him. Qin Sang was solitary, making him far easier to handle. Were it just one person, Qin Sang naturally would not fear, but he worried that several cunning old foxes might reach a tacit understanding. Six States Hall had stated in advance that they could only guarantee safety within the exchange. With that thought, Qin Sang rose once more. Many had already been quietly watching Qin Sang, so the moment he moved, he immediately drew everyone's eyes, and the atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat stagnant. Ignoring the others, Qin Sang turned and walked outward. Jiang You hastily called out to him, "Fellow Daoist, where are you going?" Qin Sang paused in his steps, turning back to speak flatly, "I have already obtained what I desire. Naturally, I must return to my cave dwelling as quickly as possible to refine it and cultivate in seclusion. Does Hall Master Jiang have something to say? Is this place enter-only with no exit?" "This..." Jiang You was momentarily at a loss for words and glanced toward the Daoist-robed elder. He was the true host. The Daoist-robed elder pointed to the characters floating in the void. "What this old man seeks is more than just these, and what follows will be even more precious. I will bring out treasures of equal value, including items not inferior to the Near-Dragon Ambergris—this is no exaggeration. Why not wait a moment, sir? Perhaps if fate wills it, we might conclude several more trades..." Everyone, including Qin Sang, was greatly astonished. What profound wealth this Daoist-robed elder possessed! To part with so many rare, once-in-a-lifetime treasures in trade, he had to be plotting something immense! The perceptive among them began recalling recent major events in the cultivation world, attempting to pry into the elder's identity and motives. "Your wealth is immense, and you have my admiration. Regrettably, having already parted with the Spirit Suppressing Incense, I possess nothing else of value. Remaining would only bring vexation from desire without the means." Qin Sang had a clear goal; the Near-Dragon Ambergris was enough for him to digest for some time, so he lingered no longer. "Very well. The exchange draws near its end. If you wish to depart, then depart." The Daoist-robed elder watched Qin Sang walk away, his eyes flickering as he signaled Jiang You to allow passage. Qin Sang cupped his hands to Jiang You and the elder, his figure melting into the shadows of the ancient cypresses. Seeing this, several others stood up in a flurry. One after another, some departed in different directions, including the Daoist nun who had obtained the Nine-Refinement Spirit-Returning Pill. Having reaped a bountiful harvest at the exchange, she left fully satisfied. Yet a portion of the crowd chose the same direction as Qin Sang, whether intentionally or not. The majority remained behind, curious to see what other treasures the elder could produce. Entering the ancient cypress grove, Qin Sang sensed restrictions fluctuating around him. He paid no heed to the shifts in the spiritual formation, picking a single direction and advancing straight ahead. Before long, his body felt a lightness as he stepped beyond the range of the spiritual formation. Behind him lay a boundless forest. Qin Sang set foot on soft grass. Around him stretched a modest expanse of wasteland, and across from it rose undulating mountain ranges. Without realizing it, night had grown deep. No moon hung in the sky, only dense overcast clouds, pitch-black all around. Qin Sang kicked off firmly, streaking away like a rainbow. Not long after he departed, two figures flashed out from the dense woods—the two armored cultivators. "That man moves fast!" The grey-armored man gazed out at the quiet mountain silhouettes in the night. "Rest easy, Elder Brother. During the exchange, I already used my bloodline divine ability to contact Third Brother. Third Brother has arrived nearby and set an ambush in advance. Holding him for a time will be no problem at all. Ah, what a pity we learned of this so late! Had I known there was an exchange here, I would have summoned a few more helpers to pull off a grand heist and stew this bunch of naked pests in one pot!" At the Daoist-robed elder's request, the spiritual formation painstakingly laid by Six States Hall possessed the power to sever outside contact, preventing attendees from reaching the outside world from within the exchange. Yet it could not block the grey-armored man's divine ability! The sheer audacity of his words was astounding. "Fool!" The green-armored man snorted coldly. A flash of green light swept over his face as his armor retracted, revealing a stern countenance resembling a youth in his twenties or thirties, sharp edges laid bare between his brows with murderous intent lurking beneath. "There were several auras inside that posed a threat even to me. Do not underestimate the human race!" the green-armored man warned in a heavy voice, transforming into a streak of green light that tore through the air. "With Elder Brother here, what is there to fear from them?" The grey-armored man chuckled and hurriedly kept pace, asking with some confusion, "Elder Brother, since we're taking action, why didn't we pick a fatter sheep? That fellow sounds like a pauper. The Spirit Suppressing Incense is no longer in his hands, and the Near-Dragon Ambergris carries plenty of hidden hazards. Wouldn't it be better to secretly keep an eye on that old geezer and contact Black Lion and the others? The old geezer carries so many treasures; sharing them among ourselves wouldn't be a loss." "Poor?" The green-armored man sneered. "Two thousand three hundred years ago, two sticks of Spirit Suppressing Incense appeared in the world. Do you know whose hands they ultimately fell into?" "Could it be someone from our clan...?" The grey-armored man was fairly sharp and realized something at once upon hearing this. The green-armored man nodded. "The Spirit Suppressing Incense appeared in the North Sea, right near Six-Footed Old Demon's lair. Six Feet discovered traces of the bald donkeys from Ganlu Zen Monastery and assumed humans were attacking its lair, so they fought several bitter battles. Later, neither side could overcome the other, so they split the two sticks of Spirit Suppressing Incense between them. Six Feet intended to offer his to the Holy King, but it failed to catch the Holy King's eye; several demon generals in Holy King Palace know of this. The other stick was claimed by the bald donkeys of Ganlu Zen Monastery. If this man hailed from Ganlu Zen Monastery, would he need to bring out Spirit Suppressing Incense to trade for treasures?" "This stick isn't one of those two from back then, and wondrous items like this can't possibly be lying around everywhere! Could it be... this man refined it himself? Humans have peculiar temperaments; they love taking disciples and value heritage more than life itself. Elder Brother, do you suspect he obtained the heritage?" The grey-armored man excitedly arrived at the possibility. "Capture him, and one question will make it clear. Back then, the Holy King personally confirmed that Spirit Suppressing Incense holds a certain efficacy even at the Deity Transformation stage," the green-armored man said, his tone carrying a touch of anticipation and a hint of admiration. What he admired was the person who had created the Spirit Suppressing Incense. Rumor had it that the creator was merely a Nascent Soul cultivator back then, yet managed to create such a divine remedy. Even if it produced only a faint effect on Deity Transformation cultivators, that was an astounding achievement—it meant it could aid practitioners in traversing the Deity Transformation tribulation! "Good! Him it is! Black Lion isn't of one mind with us, and we still don't know what ties that old geezer has to Six States Hall; taking him down really wouldn't be easy." The grey-armored man's eyes shone as he listened, though he did not let it cloud his mind, growing even more cautious instead. "In all likelihood, this man is a spirit cultivator. A spirit cultivator's divine abilities are the most bizarre; I only worry..." "Have you forgotten my treasure? It happens to counter spirit cultivators!" The green-armored man puffed his cheeks and exhaled a breath of green qi, conjuring green clouds that enveloped them both. Their speed surged violently. ... Qin Sang flew into the mountains, summoned the phoenix wings, and transformed into thunderous light. Not long into flight, he sensed a disturbance behind him. Activating his Heavenly Eye divine ability, he spotted a mass of green clouds rushing across the horizon. Sneering inwardly, Qin Sang did not slow down; instead, his speed surged, turning into a bolt of lightning that tore open the night sky. If the pursuers continued in dogged chase once they were far from this region, he would not mind teaching them a lesson! In the blink of an eye, he crossed dozens of mountain ranges. Even in the most bustling heartland of the Central Plains, human activity occupied only a minor portion; vast tracts of wilderness remained utterly deserted. This place was no exception. Peaks rose and fell, bizarre pinnacles jutting upward. In the darkness, the silhouettes of the mountains took on grotesque shapes, like monstrous beasts on the verge of waking. Not far ahead of Qin Sang, two mountains stood close together, their protruding rocks nearly touching. Their silhouettes resembled two leaping tigers rearing their forepaws; one might call them the Twin Tiger Mountains. As he drew near and was about to sweep over the crest of the Twin Tiger Mountains, a peculiar glint flickered deep within his eyes. Suddenly, an upheaval erupted! A blinding white light flared abruptly between the Twin Tiger Mountains. The sphere of light outshone the lightning in the sky, radiating fierce brilliance that instantly illuminated the peaks for thousands of paces around, laying bare every blade of grass, tree, and shattered stone. Creatures sleeping in the wild were startled awake by the glare, sending up panicked cries. At the core of the white light sat a bone. A lustrous white bone, smooth and warm, rivaling the finest jade in the world, yet encircled by rings of slender, blood-red threads that lent it an eerie, monstrous feel. The instant the white light ignited— *Roar!* The white bone vibrated, unleashing a soul-shattering roar from deep within. The roar shook the heavens, scattering the dark clouds. Countless beasts in the mountains were scared out of their wits on the spot, frightened to death. Light and shadow rippled across the surface of the white bone as a phantom surged out—a terrifying giant crocodile a thousand zhang long! Though the giant crocodile's figure was illusory, its incomparably fierce aura was enough to strike terror into all who beheld it—a peerless, savage beast! The giant crocodile whipped its long tail and raised its head to the heavens. Its cold vertical pupils held no reason, only pure killing intent. Locking its gaze onto the lightning flashing across the sky, it sprang upward violently. A thousand-zhang crocodile possessing unnatural agility. *Swish!* Though it sounded drawn out, everything unfolded in the span of a breath. Almost the instant the white light flared, a thousand-zhang giant crocodile manifested in the void, spanning the vast sky, parting its bloody maw as an astonishing suction erupted. "Hahaha..." Wild laughter echoed through the mountains. Shadows squirmed, and a figure strode forth. Yet another armored figure. His armor was likewise grey, but on his forehead grew a short, thick horn. The horned man's figure flashed as he surged into midair at extreme speed behind the streak of light. Clenching his right fist, he aimed at Qin Sang's back and bellowed, "Down with you!" The armor clanked crisply, muscles bunching tight beneath it. The sheer momentum of the punch stirred an anomaly, churning black smoke that morphed into a black flood dragon, pouncing forth with the force of a thunderbolt! A trap! The giant crocodile was too fast, the ambush too insidious. Anyone else would have already been swallowed into the crocodile's belly. Even if one reacted swiftly enough to narrowly evade the crocodile's maw, they would be powerless to resist the horned man's punch, meeting the exact same end. Unfortunately for the horned man, he had encountered Qin Sang. No matter how ingenious the trap, once discovered by the prey, it would only backfire upon the hunter! Unleashing the heavy blow, the horned man was brimming with confidence. The black flood dragon and the thousand-zhang crocodile opposed each other in midair like two peerless beasts confronting one another, making the streak of light between them appear frail and thin. Yet the scene the horned man envisioned never materialized. As though having anticipated it all along, the streak of light came to an abrupt halt right at the rim of the crocodile's maw, then snapped backward without the slightest hesitation. Endless suction burst from the crocodile's maw, its ripples forming a visible vortex in the void that spread rapidly, yet it could only chase behind the fleeing light, swallowing nothing but afterimages. However, that only cleared the first layer of the trap. The momentum of the punch arrived right on its heels. A perilous moment of being pincered front and back. Sensing the danger behind him, Qin Sang showed no panic. He formed a Buddhist seal in his mind and stepped upon lotus flowers, deploying the Lotus Seal from the *Seven Masters Buddhist Seal*. With an uncanny sidestep, he brushed past the head of the flood dragon at an inconceivable angle, evading the fiercest wave of impact. The remaining force of the punch's dragon had yet to dissipate. Qin Sang did not retrieve a magic treasure; casually striking out with his right hand, before the horned man's astonished eyes, he shattered the tail of the dragon using pure physical strength alone. Having dissolved the trap with effortless ease, Qin Sang looked coldly at the horned man. Meeting Qin Sang's chilling gaze, the horned man was seized by a sudden premonition of danger, feeling a blast of icy air rush straight from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, chilling him to the bone. The horned man trusted his instincts completely. Without hesitation, he spurred the giant crocodile to continue entangling Qin Sang, while abandoning any thought of pressing the attack himself, darting backward in rapid retreat. Yet the moment he moved, darkness fell before his eyes. To his horror, he found razor-sharp sword threads manifesting out of thin air throughout the void, omnipresent, encircling him completely. Long before flying over the Twin Tiger Mountains, Qin Sang had already detected the enemy's presence. The opponent's camouflage was flawless, the crocodile bone kept dormant, and even Qin Sang's spiritual sense had only reacted when he drew near—yet it could not escape the eyes of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. Qin Sang had kept his composure, confirming that the ambusher was not a great cultivator before deliberately charging in. In secret, he had summoned the Jinchen Sword and prepared the sword array, turning their trap against them. ... The sword array blotted out the sky. The horned man's figure abruptly vanished, his aura sealed by the sword array, his life and death unknown. Within the green clouds, the green-armored man and the grey-armored man witnessed this scene from afar, their faces draining of color simultaneously. "Not good!" Green light flared intensely around the green-armored man. Two streams of green qi surfaced on the armor, swimming across his body like fish. His aura surged violently, and with a piercing screech of parted air, he shot forth like a green rainbow, leaving behind an afterimage where he stood.