Baichuan Market

Baichuan Market. There were two explanations for the origin of this name. The first stemmed from the terrain surrounding the market. Situated on the shores of the Eastern Sea in the Northern Wilderness, the area boasted a dense network of waterways, with a hundred rivers converging as one to empty into the Eastern Sea. The second held that the market's founder was known by the title Patriarch Baichuan. The coast of the Eastern Sea was the most affluent region in the Northern Wilderness. More than half of the northern demonic sects had established their mountain gates here, making it a peaceful sanctuary compared to the rest of the Northern Wilderness. Though it fell short of the Central Plains, where immortal cultivators were bound by strict rules on every front, the major demonic sects had forged established conventions and customs, creating a certain standard of law and order that kept people from acting entirely with reckless abandon. Yet in a territory dominated by demonic sects, there was never any shortage of individuals willing to break the rules. Consequently, even on the shores of the Eastern Sea, secure places where both sides could conduct transactions with peace of mind were scarce. Baichuan Market was one of them. The master of Baichuan Market dared to set the rules and possessed the strength to enforce them. Choosing Baichuan Market for their transaction held an additional, deeper significance. Rumor had it that Baichuan Market was intimately tied to the Jinyu Sect. Some even claimed that the faction controlling Baichuan Market was entirely composed of Jinyu Sect disciples—two sides of the same coin. The Jinyu Sect was wealthy beyond measure precisely because it had footholds across the Eastern Sea, the Northern Wilderness, and the Central Plains, smoothly navigating all three realms. Mo Xingdao hailed from the Northern Wilderness, and Qin Sang also needed to guard against Mo Xingdao conspiring with demonic sects or harboring ill intent. Baichuan Market was a neutral ground acceptable to both. At the time the rendezvous was arranged, Qin Sang had not yet been hunted by the Sacred King; he had simply been habitually cautious. Had he not been injured, with both his true body and incarnation arriving together, he would have had no fear of any treachery from Mo Xingdao—unless Mo Xingdao rallied every demonic sect in the north to hunt him down. With a hundred rivers converging, boats naturally crowded the waterways. Many cultivators had even staked out the water arteries near Baichuan Market, sealing off sections of water with spirit formations and stationing dharma boats on the river surface to serve as cave abodes. Similar cave abodes were also rented out to visitors. Inside one seemingly ordinary dharma boat, a Dark Moon Guard sat in quiet meditation within the cabin. Suddenly, the Dark Moon Guard's eyelids fluttered, and he woke from his trance. Flipping his right hand, a small jade stamp appeared in his palm—a talisman seal used for transmitting messages. The talisman seal lit up faintly, conspicuous in the dim cave abode, and the jade bead at its peak emitted a rhythmic aura of light. At the sight, the Dark Moon Guard's expression tightened. Facing the jade bead, he said respectfully, "Greetings, Master!" "Is Mo Xingdao still in his cave abode?" The voice of Qin Sang's incarnation emerged from the talisman seal. By this time, Qin Sang's incarnation had already reached the vicinity of Baichuan Market, remaining concealed. A few days earlier, Qin Sang had received word that Mo Xingdao had appeared at Baichuan Market, whereupon he ordered his subordinates to secretly monitor Mo Xingdao's movements. The Dark Moon Guards were only in the early Nascent Soul stage; even if they mobilized in full force, tailing Mo Xingdao would be impossible and would only send them to useless deaths. Qin Sang had held little hope to begin with, instructing them merely to gather intelligence. To his surprise, Mo Xingdao had made no deliberate effort to hide. Leaving behind their previously agreed-upon secret marker, he had simply rented a cave abode in Baichuan Market's West Bazaar and had never stepped outside, seemingly waiting quietly for Qin Sang to arrive. Naturally, whether Mo Xingdao had come in his true body or, like Qin Sang, set up a deceptive ruse was something no one knew, and the Dark Moon Guards dared not venture inside to check. "He has not been seen leaving," the Dark Moon Guard answered. In the distance, Qin Sang's incarnation showed a pensive look, gazing toward Baichuan Market. Only the incarnation had come this time. His true body's injuries were severe; even if it arrived, it could scarcely be of any use. Should any mishap occur, having the incarnation suffer the calamity in his stead would at least avoid dealing a mortal blow to his foundation. After a moment, the incarnation spoke a few instructions into the talisman seal. The Dark Moon Guard on the other end responded with respectful assent, but once the connection was severed, his brow furrowed tightly with unease. Yet with the Dark Moon Seal controlling him, his life and death rested entirely in another's hands; he dared not resist. Fortunately, his new master did not seem as mercurial or tyrannical as Su Zinan, and had given him a treasure beforehand that he had already completely refined. The Dark Moon Guard opened his mustard seed bag and withdrew a treasure mirror—none other than the restored Qianhuan Mirror. Lightly touching the surface of the treasure mirror, spiritual power surged from his palm. *Whoosh!* The mirror face blazed with intense radiance, casting forth a brilliant beam of light. Strangely, the beam seemed to hit an invisible barrier in the void and abruptly broke off. As the light shifted in intensity, an identical Qianhuan Mirror gradually coalesced in the empty air. The mirror phantom lingered for merely an instant before vanishing from sight. By leaving the mirror phantom here and scattering invisible mirror marks along the way, he could easily disengage and flee back to the dharma boat in the face of danger. The Qianhuan Mirror was indisputably a wondrous treasure for escape; its only drawbacks were the necessity of advance preparation and its limited range. With the mirror phantom formed and his safety at stake, the Dark Moon Guard inspected everything thoroughly once more. After confirming all was in order, he left the dharma boat alone, boarded an excursion boat, and sailed into Baichuan Market. Waterways crisscrossed within the city as well. At the very center lay a spiritual lake, and the four bazaars—East, South, West, and North—were built around it, forming what was effectively a city on water. As a Nascent Soul patriarch after all, the Dark Moon Guard faced no blind fools looking for trouble. He entered the city without incident, made his way to the West Bazaar, and arrived before Mo Xingdao's cave abode. He touched the warding formation. Soon, the cave abode opened, and a figure walked out. This person was dressed as a scholar, his appearance and physique entirely different from Mo Xingdao's. "Fellow Daoist, you are...?" The scholar narrowed his eyes slightly, a questioning look on his face. Before he could finish, blood qi coalesced between the Dark Moon Guard's brows, revealing the Dark Moon Seal. The scholar smiled faintly. His physique and facial features warped and shifted, revealing his true appearance—it was indeed Mo Xingdao in the flesh! When leaving the secret marker, he had disguised himself. Had he shown his true face, news of the Northern Wilderness's foremost rogue cultivator entering the city would have thrown all of Baichuan Market into panic. Though he had traveled with Su Zinan for a time, he had not seen all of the Dark Moon Guards. Only upon seeing the Dark Moon Seal did he confirm the visitor's identity. "Please come in, Fellow Daoist. May I ask your Daoist title?" Mo Xingdao gestured politely, showing no disrespect despite the guard's subordinate status. "A slave has no face to use his former name," the Dark Moon Guard replied with a cold, detached expression. Mo Xingdao nodded, taking no offense, and asked, "Is Fellow Daoist Qingfeng well?" Back when he witnessed Su Zinan's crippled Nascent Soul being captured, he knew Luye and the Dark Moon Guards had surely fallen into the hands of Qin Sang's incarnation. The title of Qin Sang's incarnation, Daoist Qingfeng, had already spread far and wide alongside the news of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect after the entire Xie clan went weeping to the gates of Ganlu Zen Monastery. "I have come precisely on my master's orders." Bearing his duty strictly in mind, the Dark Moon Guard uttered not a word more, immediately retrieving the message talisman seal to report the situation to the incarnation before stepping outside the cave abode of his own accord. The slightly muffled voice of the incarnation came from the talisman seal. "Fellow Daoist Mo." Mo Xingdao's response was unexpected: "Fellow Daoist Qin has arrived late; you have kept me waiting quite a while." After a brief silence, the incarnation said, "Fellow Daoist, you already know." "The Sacred King harbored malicious intent, but those with eyes to see could not be deceived. Mo is by no means the only one who feels this injustice on your behalf; I merely lament that my words carry little weight," Mo Xingdao said in a deep voice. The incarnation sighed softly. "Fellow Daoist Mo, I appreciate your goodwill. You must also be well aware of my present difficulties. Forced by circumstances, I can only contact you in this manner. I hope you will not take offense." Mo Xingdao said it was no matter, then glanced outside the cave abode and asked in puzzlement, "Fellow Daoist Qin would hardly entrust the Five Elements Pill to a Dark Moon Guard, would you? Mo has brought the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit with him. I wonder what you intend by this? Does our previous agreement still stand, or do you wish to alter the terms of the trade?" As for himself, coming in person was proof enough of his sincerity. The incarnation did not answer directly, instead remarking, "Like you, Qin travels alone, without anyone at my side to lean on. Pressed by the Sacred King, I was fortunate enough to escape, but my foundation was shaken by severe injuries. My true body is gravely wounded and has yet to recover to this day, while my external incarnation lacks the cultivation to hold the field independently." Mo Xingdao listened in silence without interrupting. "It is not that I distrust you, Fellow Daoist, but these two spiritual medicines are of immense consequence. Hunted as a thorn in the Sacred King's side, I am like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring. Even at the peak of my power, I would not dare act presumptuously." Having explained his plight, the incarnation continued, "The transaction was proposed on my own initiative; naturally, I will not go back on my word." Mo Xingdao had grasped the gist of it. "Fellow Daoist Qin, your meaning is..." "Both the Five Elements Pill and the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit are meant to be consumed at the moment of breaking through a bottleneck. To either of us, neither is urgently needed... Your cultivation has not yet reached perfection either, has it, Fellow Daoist?" The incarnation suddenly asked in return. Mo Xingdao's expression shifted slightly, though he did not answer. However, their cultivation realms were comparable, and they had even crossed swords before. While Qin Sang could not see through the depths of Mo Xingdao's abilities, he could still make a sound assessment from various signs. The incarnation proposed, "Since the matter is not pressing, could you accommodate me for a period of time? Once the storm passes and my true body's injuries improve, how about we find a way to complete the trade then?" Targeted by the Azure Fox Saint King, Qin Sang could not afford the slightest carelessness. To bring out the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit, Mo Xingdao must have paid some unknown price. Yet having stayed on the Ghost Rock Plateau for so long, how could Qin Sang not harbor suspicions? Even setting aside the threat of a Deity Transformation master, having the incarnation face Mo Xingdao and his puppet alone left him at too great a disadvantage. Where one's life was concerned, no amount of caution was excessive. Qin Sang sought to buy time—at least until his true body refined the core of the demonic fire and gained the strength to stand against a Deity Transformation cultivator before reconsidering the trade. To say nothing of the immense benefits from a major leap in divine sense. Judging by the performance of the two Deity Transformation masters during the battle against the demon, Qin Sang estimated that once he refined the demonic fire's core, the fire lotus would also possess power on par with the Deity Transformation level. Controlled directly like an extension of his own limbs, its consumption would be far less than that of the six firebirds. This would not take too long. Mo Xingdao's puppet was versed in the Yin-Yang Escape technique, coming and going like a ghost, so his concerns were somewhat lesser. To persuade Mo Xingdao, Qin Sang appealed to reason and emotion, even dispatching a Dark Moon Guard to demonstrate his sincerity. Both men shared a tacit understanding, neither mentioning their past cooperation and trade after the Six Prefectures Hall treasure auction, yet each was fully aware of the other's identity. That previous exchange had been quite agreeable, laying a solid foundation of trust. For now, they were effectively safekeeping the spiritual medicines for each other. If Mo Xingdao disregarded everything else and insisted on trading right now, Qin Sang would have to seriously weigh Mo Xingdao's intentions. Neither agreeing nor refusing, Mo Xingdao remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Mo came here with two objectives: one is to keep my appointment with you, and the other is to deliver a message on someone's behalf." On the other end of the talisman seal, the incarnation's eyes snapped narrow, his entire body suddenly tensing. Even through the talisman seal, Mo Xingdao seemed able to sense the incarnation's tension. In a calm, even tone, he said, "Fret not, Fellow Daoist. Mo comes at the behest of Saint Huiguang. Before my departure, the holy monk gave me a grain of sand, instructing me to release the restriction within it once I made contact with you. He has matters of great importance to discuss with you in detail, concerning your feud with the Azure Fox Saint King, the Xie clan, and your future situation. As a token of sincerity, the holy monk's true body remains in the Central Plains. If you do not mind, Mo shall open the grain of sand now." A long silence ensued. Though confident the other party could not trace him through the talisman seal, the incarnation still placed another concealing restriction around himself. Had the transmission distance not been constrained, he would certainly have retreated even farther. What was Saint Huiguang trying to achieve by stepping forward? Could it be that the Xie clan weeping at their gates had left them unable to silence the public outcry, subjecting him to immense pressure? Could Saint Huiguang possibly shield him from the Azure Fox Saint King? The monk certainly possessed the strength, but Qin Sang could fathom no reason why he would do so. Since he had Mo Xingdao deliver the message, Saint Huiguang undoubtedly knew of their trade. If handled poorly, the transaction might suffer further complications. The incarnation said in a deep voice, "Please proceed, Fellow Daoist!" Only then did Mo Xingdao retrieve a grain of yellow sand from his mustard seed bag. Upon Mo Xingdao casting a hand seal into it, the seemingly ordinary speck of sand abruptly expanded, transforming into countless motes of dust. As the Buddhist saying went: a world in a grain of sand—and so it appeared. The dust motes hovered within the cave abode, staining the entire room a dusky yellow, accompanied by the faint whistle of wind and sand. Then, two silhouettes took shape amid the drifting dust. The figures were indistinct, formed entirely of yellow sand, but one could make out an elderly monk and a woman. Saint Huiguang had actually utilized this wondrous grain of yellow sand to project his divine thoughts all the way from the Central Plains using a profound divine ability. The sandy image of the old monk bore a vacant gaze. Facing the talisman seal, his lips parted, his voice as deep and resonant as Saint Huiguang's own: "Is this Almsgiver Qin before me?" After a moment, the incarnation answered, "Greetings, Holy Monk." Having confirmed his identity, Saint Huiguang's speech suddenly quickened. "This thought-transmission art cannot be sustained for long, so this poor monk shall make it brief. As the saying goes, 'Enmities are better dissolved than maintained.' This poor monk is willing to act as mediator to resolve the grudge between Almsgiver Qin and the Azure Fox Saint King. I wonder what Almsgiver Qin thinks of this?" The incarnation on the other side froze for a moment. He had not expected Saint Huiguang to truly step forward and voluntarily intervene in such an affair. Could the righteous sects of Zhongzhou truly uphold justice? After a brief hesitation, the incarnation said coldly, "What grudge? It is merely Qin being hunted down by the Saint King on her own whim! As for whether those two crocodile demons were truly her disciples, everyone knows the truth full well. There is no need to keep up such games meant to fool the common world!" Beside him, the shadowy silhouette of the Azure Fox Saint King remained utterly silent. Saint Huiguang's tone remained flat, candidly stating the truth without inflection: "This poor monk has already inquired thoroughly. The Azure Fox Saint King moved against you because she was drawn by a treasure upon your person, coupled with past grievances, prompting her to strike without hesitation. This poor monk understands such reasons are indefensible and cannot be taken for granted. Yet having reached our level of cultivation, we see such matters happen all the time, and we also know there are no grudges that cannot be undone. If this knot can be untangled, you would no longer need to tread with such fearful caution, Almsgiver, and could breathe a sigh of relief, could you not? Hence, this poor monk believes reconciliation is not impossible." Perhaps because the secret art truly could not last long, Saint Huiguang's words were exceptionally frank. Faced with such blunt honesty, the incarnation found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Before the incarnation could respond, Saint Huiguang continued, "The Azure Fox Saint King sincerely repents. She is willing to pay a price to compensate for your losses and swear an oath never to take the initiative against you in the future. This poor monk is willing to bear witness!"