"What kind of whispers have you picked up?" Qin Sang asked in return. Jiang Mu was not one to make groundless claims.
Jiang Mu handed Qin Sang a jade slip. "There are indeed rumors, but none can be verified. Truth and falsehood are tangled, impossible to discern! Yet from a few subtle clues, factions and individuals that previously seemed ordinary turn out to be far from simple..."
Qin Sang swept his gaze over the slip. They were all vague rumors clutching at shadows. He chuckled softly. "True reclusive powers wouldn't expose themselves so hastily, would they? What are they colluding to achieve? Surely not to overthrow Bajing Belvedere and Ganlu Zen Monastery."
"Those two great immortal sects are colossal behemoths. For now, probably no one dares challenge them. But if no Deity Transformation cultivator emerges, it is hard to say. Someone will inevitably harbor designs against them."
Jiang Mu paused, his tone turning conspiratorial. "Consider just one point, Elder Qin. Aren't you curious? Even as the undisputed foremost demonic faction, Tianhao Tower has only produced Deity Transformation cultivators sporadically. Why have Bajing Belvedere and Ganlu Zen Monastery enjoyed an unbroken succession of them? Could it be that all the world's peerless talents have been swept up by those two sects alone?"
"Brother Jiang means that the two great sects possess a secret method for Deity Transformation, and one with an astonishingly high rate of success..."
Qin Sang was not surprised.
In truth, after learning about Bajing Belvedere and Ganlu Zen Monastery, he had harbored similar suspicions. Ever since True Monarch Huangxi and Venerable Liaosu, both sects had produced an endless stream of talents, firmly maintaining their hegemonic status. That was by no means an accident.
"It's merely my own idle speculation; it can't be taken as truth."
Though he said this, Jiang Mu did not believe he was wrong. "Matters like this are still too distant for me. I would rather keep my feet on the ground and hope to one day match Elder Qin's cultivation. However, for great cultivators like you, Elder Qin, Deity Transformation is no mirage in the moon or water—it is something to strive for at all costs! It is inevitable that others share my thoughts and are scheming in secret. Great cultivators outside the Daoist and Buddhist spheres are formidable reinforcements, natural allies. Once Elder Qin shows himself in Jinyu Prefecture, someone will surely come knocking at your door."
As he spoke, Jiang Mu cast a discreet glance at Qin Sang.
Solitary wanderers in the late Nascent Soul stage were extraordinarily rare, and Qin Sang was an outlier.
Jiang Mu had always suspected that Qin Sang was a high-level figure from some faction in disguise, adopting this identity to act more conveniently. He wondered what the hall master and Qin Sang had discussed in secret back then.
"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Jiang. Standing alone, I fear no strong enemy, but I will not allow myself to be used by others either. I hope Hall Master Mu will offer me some guidance when the time comes..."
Qin Sang mused internally. Going to Jinyu Prefecture in person to attend the Ullambana Assembly was partly for this reason.
Even with their Deity Transformation cultivators absent, Bajing Belvedere and Ganlu Zen Monastery were not to be trifled with. He was isolated, his divine abilities not yet fully realized, so his best course was to sit atop the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
Before discerning the situation clearly, Qin Sang would not choose a side.
However, he was deeply interested in the forces lurking beneath the surface—especially the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. He wondered if this journey would allow him to encounter any 'remnants' of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect.
While conversing, the two flew to the north bank pier of Feiyundu.
Three treasure ships were waiting there, scheduled to depart the following day.
Aboard were personnel dispatched by Six Prefectures Hall to the Jinyu Sect, as well as oversized cargo that could not fit into mustard seed bags. The holds were packed full. Though individual goods might not be of exceedingly high grade, piled together in such quantities, their total value was staggering. No wonder Jiang Mu was being so cautious.
Jiang Mu yielded the finest cabin to Qin Sang.
Qin Sang did not stand on ceremony. He entered secluded cultivation inside the cabin and did not emerge for many days, not even showing his face when the treasure ships set sail.
The convoy traveled north along the Feiyun River, passed Longju Pier, and entered Zhuo Prefecture. Along the way, they learned that the group from Longju Grotto-Heaven had already departed aboard cloud ships.
As they were about to exit Zhuo Prefecture and enter Zhaoyao Prefecture, late at night, a full moon mirrored upon the river.
The water's surface shimmered with rippling silver.
The cruising treasure ship suddenly ground to a halt.
Sensing something unusual, Qin Sang pushed open the door and stepped outside. He saw Jiang Mu standing at the stern with a solemn expression, gazing toward the middle of the river.
Behind them, the sound of rushing water rumbled as a towering galley advanced at high speed down the center of the river.
Under the moonlight, the vessel was like a black beast, overbearing and completely unrestrained. Small and large vessels along its path scrambled aside, desperate to avoid it.
The galley bore no banners or emblems to announce its identity.
Only upon its high, upturned prow was an ancient mirror mounted, reflecting brilliant lunar radiance that illuminated a vast expanse of the river. Anyone touched by that lunar glow felt an inexplicable sense of binding and restriction.
Qin Sang was no exception. Although it caused him no actual harm, it was deeply uncomfortable.
He faintly perceived several veiled auras within the galley, none of them weak.
"It's Tianhao Tower!" Jiang Mu murmured. He immediately issued orders for the treasure ship to alter its course and give way.
Qin Sang thought to himself that it made sense.
As the foremost demonic sect, excluding Deity Transformation masters, they were not necessarily weaker than Bajing Belvedere and Ganlu Zen Monastery!
His gaze shifted toward the ancient mirror at the ship's prow, and he asked in a low voice, "Is that Tianhao Tower's sect-guarding treasure—the Tianhao Ancient Mirror?"
Jiang Mu shook his head slightly. "It's an imitation, far inferior in power to the genuine Tianhao Ancient Mirror. Rumor has it that the true Tianhao Ancient Mirror cannot leave Tianhao Tower, though who knows if that is true! Even so, the imitation is said to have been forged through specialized techniques, perfectly harmonizing with the galley's talisman formations to unleash extraordinary might."
As the two conversed via secret transmission, the galley drew closer, sending up two thick walls of water surging forward on either side.
Just as it was about to brush past them, a soft gasp of surprise sounded from within the galley. The ship abruptly halted, coming to a standstill beside them. The water walls crashed back down, leaving the two vessels separated by barely a thousand zhang.
Jiang Mu's expression shifted.
Light and shadow flickered upon the prow of the galley, and a figure materialized, standing on the deck and looking over. "Which fellow Daoist of Six Prefectures Hall is aboard? Might Hall Master Mu be present?"
The speaker was a young man.
Dressed in an embroidered robe, his face was somewhat lean with prominent cheekbones. While his appearance seemed excessively youthful, his hair and eyebrows were snow-white, his long brows drooping down the sides of his face.
Jiang Mu clasped his hands in a respectful salute and said in a deep voice, "Jiang Mu of Six Prefectures Hall greets Guru Kurong. Our hall master was delayed by business and will arrive shortly."
As he spoke, he sent a tense transmission to Qin Sang.
"This person is Old Demon Kurong!"
Qin Sang stood half a step behind Jiang Mu with his hands clasped behind his back.
'Guru' was an honorific title reserved for great cultivators within Tianhao Tower.
Qin Sang had long heard of Old Demon Kurong.
Though his current fame could not yet rival that of Tianhao Tower's Sect Master and Grand Elder, he was considered the prime candidate for the next sect master and a future preeminent figure of the demonic path.
Old Demon Kurong had achieved minor renown even before reaching the Nascent Soul stage. He cultivated a bizarre demonic art unique to Tianhao Tower, which caused him to display signs of senility at an early age, looking like a centenarian.
It was not merely outward appearance; the vital essence in his body weakened accordingly, and even his lifespan withered.
Those who cultivated this demonic art aged overnight and had to race against time to break through despite countless disadvantages. None dared cultivate it unless endowed with supreme talent.
As one's cultivation rose, this condition improved, and the cultivator's outward appearance grew progressively younger.
Once they reached the level of a great cultivator, a vast realm would open before them!
Since the founding of Tianhao Tower, those who had mastered this demonic art could be counted on one's fingers. Old Demon Kurong had not only attained success, but was also the youngest among them to do so.
"If he's not here, he's not here. What is this talk of arriving shortly? Are you afraid this old man will wipe out your fleet?" Old Demon Kurong let out an odd laugh, his long brows quivering. His gaze shifted, landing on Qin Sang behind Jiang Mu. After sizing him up, a look of surprise crossed his face. "This fellow Daoist looks rather unfamiliar."
Jiang Mu smiled awkwardly and introduced him. "This is our hall's guest elder, Elder Qin."
Qin Sang smiled and nodded. "I have long admired Fellow Daoist Kurong's illustrious name. Meeting you today, your demeanor is truly striking!"
Old Demon Kurong fixed his eyes on Qin Sang, his suspicion and astonishment growing the longer he looked.
Inside the galley, other experts of Tianhao Tower noticed Kurong's unusual reaction.
Several hidden strands of divine sense reached out surreptitiously, only to be rebuffed mercilessly by Qin Sang.
Muffled grunts immediately echoed from within the ship.
"Insolence!" Old Demon Kurong snapped toward the cabin. Stripping away the casual demeanor he had shown Jiang Mu, he said solemnly, "My subordinates lack manners. Please excuse them, Fellow Daoist Qin."
"Think nothing of it," Qin Sang replied, his smile unchanged.
"With Fellow Daoist Qin joining, Six Prefectures Hall has gained wings like a tiger, firmly cementing its place as the foremost merchant association under heaven! Forgive my poor eyesight, but where might Fellow Daoist Qin hail from?"
Old Demon Kurong racked his brains, but could not recall any sect Qin Sang might belong to.
Qin Sang replied nonchalantly, "I am a solitary wanderer with no fixed abode. It is only natural that you haven't heard of me. Is Fellow Daoist Kurong the only one attending this Ullambana Assembly? Are Sect Master Yu and Grand Elder Fan aboard? I have long admired them as well."
Grand Elder Fan was the contemporary grand elder of Tianhao Tower, standing on equal footing with Sect Master Yu, while Old Demon Kurong's status was still a notch lower.
"The sect master is at a critical juncture in cultivating a secret art and cannot leave seclusion. The grand elder has other pressing matters and likely lacks the time to visit Jinyu Prefecture."
Old Demon Kurong's answer came as a surprise.
Qin Sang and Jiang Mu exchanged a glance.
In their earlier discussions, they had both believed that without the deterrence of Deity Transformation cultivators, Tianhao Tower would never remain idle; even if they did not step forward openly, they would fan the flames in secret.
Yet, unexpectedly, only Old Demon Kurong had come.
Or had the others already vanished into the shadows to begin their schemes?
Qin Sang found it strange.
For this Ullambana Assembly, Mount Bunian had sealed its gates, the whereabouts of Tianhao Tower's two supreme figures were unknown, and who knew what disruptions other immortal sects might cause.
The Jinyu Sect's wish to hold an unprecedentedly grand dharma assembly might very well come to naught.
Old Demon Kurong invited Qin Sang aboard for a chat, but Qin Sang politely declined.
With the situation still murky, he had no desire to get too close to any sect, particularly Tianhao Tower.
After exchanging a few words across the water, Old Demon Kurong perceived Qin Sang's aloof attitude and did not press further.
Following this minor interlude, the fleet entered the central region of Zhaoyao Prefecture, veered east along the largest tributary of the Feiyun River, and sailed into Jinyu Prefecture.
The tributary's mouth lay in Jinyu Prefecture, which was also the site of the prefecture's most bustling market city, Rainbow City, controlled by the Jinyu Sect.
The Ullambana Assembly was to be held in Rainbow City.
Robbing a major merchant fleet in broad daylight—especially one overseen by a Nascent Soul cultivator—was exceedingly rare.
They entered Jinyu Prefecture without mishap.
Even before reaching Rainbow City, the immense influence of the Ullambana Assembly was palpable. Countless treasure ships plied the river, and streaks of light in every color whistled across the sky at any given moment, some flying alone, others in groups.
Regardless of cultivation level, no one wished to miss a grand spectacle held only once every five hundred years.
Five hundred years could span the entire lifetime of a Golden Core cultivator!
Well aware that the cultivation world was far from peaceful, the Jinyu Sect had dispatched disciples to station themselves and patrol along the riverbanks to deter troublemakers, making this leg of the journey far more tranquil than Zhaoyao Prefecture.
***
"Elder Qin, we have arrived at Rainbow City."
Someone touched the restriction outside the cabin.
Qin Sang awoke, drew back his divine abilities, and stepped outside. Seeing Jiang Mu directing the treasure ship toward the shore, he walked up alone to the vessel's observation deck. "What a splendid Rainbow City!"
Feiyundu was suspended in the sky.
Rainbow City, however, was built across the mountains.
The land flanking the rivermouth was not flat plain, but rolling hills and towering peaks.
These peaks were all utilized, comparable to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches districts of Feiyundu, divided into different tiers and purposes according to their locations and scales.
Countless rainbow bridges connected the mountains, some long and some short, crisscrossing without the slightest hint of disarray, forming a singular and breathtaking vista.
From afar, the entirety of Rainbow City resembled an immense rainbow bridge.
A gate connecting mountain and sea!
Qin Sang did not need to concern himself with the mundane logistics that followed. Disciples sent from the local branch arrived to receive them and guide Qin Sang to Six Prefectures Hall's compound. By coincidence, the guide was Gong Xingqing, whom Qin Sang had once intimidated.
Seeing Qin Sang again, now transformed into the merchant hall's guest elder, Gong Xingqing could not forget the terror of being suppressed by a great cultivator's aura. Before Qin Sang, he was submissive and timid, nervously introducing the arrangements made by the Jinyu Sect.
The north and south banks of the rivermouth served different functions.
South of the river was the residence for mortals, rogue cultivators, and smaller sect forces.
North of the river was the core of Rainbow City.
The layout of the northern main peak was remarkably orderly; Qin Sang suspected someone had used great divine abilities to move mountains into position.
With the main peak as the center, the other peaks were arranged neatly in the pattern of the Eight Trigrams, diminishing in height the farther out they were.
The two grand auctions and the Ullambana Assembly were all to be held on the main peak. Decades ago, the Jinyu Sect had already completed preparations. Six Prefectures Hall kept a low profile; its base was located southwest of the main peak, on a mountain of intermediate height.
Naturally, Six Prefectures Hall's own treasure exchange and auction would still be held near the main peak.
Flying onto a rainbow bridge, Qin Sang observed the local customs of Jinyu Prefecture with keen interest. When he inquired about the personnel from Six Prefectures Hall, he learned that Hall Master Mu and Vice Hall Master Lei had not yet arrived; only Vice Hall Master Jiang You was present in Rainbow City.
Before long, Qin Sang and Gong Xingqing reached the compound.
Meeting Vice Hall Master Jiang You once again, after exchanging pleasantries, Jiang You mentioned Hall Master Mu's whereabouts: "The hall master is currently in the Eastern Sea handling a thorny matter."
"Oh? What important matter is it? Would Fellow Daoist have any use for my assistance?"
"It is nothing serious, merely time-consuming. The hall master's personal presence is sufficient. Otherwise, we would certainly have asked Elder Qin to emerge from seclusion," Jiang You chuckled.
Qin Sang was, after all, only a guest elder, so he did not pry further and turned the topic to the situation in Rainbow City.
"A month ago, Master Xingji led several Zen masters to Rainbow City, taking up residence at the Jinyu Sect. Yesterday, the experts of Bajing Belvedere arrived as well. They brought quite a few people, though only Daoist Zilei came as a great cultivator leading the contingent. They found a secluded courtyard on the main peak and rarely venture out. Over ninety percent of the renowned sects across the Central Plains have arrived. Aside from Mount Bunian sealing its gates, Yue Lingtian of the Taiyue Sect and the Poison King of Myriad Poison Mountain have yet to make an appearance."
Jiang You had been overseeing Rainbow City throughout and knew the movements of every faction like the back of his hand.
Qin Sang listened, lost in thought.
The Ullambana Assembly was led by the Buddhist faction, but the grand assemblies were held alternately by the Daoist and Buddhist orders. For the sake of their own Zhongyuan Dharma Assembly, Bajing Belvedere would always show courtesy, and in the past at least two great cultivators would attend.
However, Daoist Zilei was the temple master himself; with him attending in person, no one could voice any complaint.
As for the Taiyue Sect and Myriad Poison Mountain, being far away in the two southern barbarian prefectures, arriving late was only natural.
Apart from them, people had also arrived from the Northern Desolation, Western Desert, and Eastern Sea to observe the ceremonies.
All sides converged on Rainbow City—a gathering of clouds and masters!
Chapter 1601