Yunyouzi had also spoken candidly with Qin Sang: Xuanwen Huangjing was not the only spiritual medicine that gave off such dark yellow qi, and the odds that what lay beneath that beam was actually Xuanwen Huangjing were only fifty percent.
Apart from the dark yellow qi, similar spiritual medicines might well lie beneath the other colored vapors as well. Yunyouzi had promised that regardless of the kind of herb, as long as it proved effective in repairing hidden injuries, he would do everything in his power to help Qin Sang gather it, and would refine pills from it free of charge.
In return, Qin Sang naturally had to reciprocate by lending a helping hand whenever Yunyouzi needed assistance.
Yunyouzi suspected that these spiritual medicines were very likely guarded by spirit beasts. Even if they reached the place without incident, harvesting the herbs would probably be no easy task, requiring their united effort.
Such a request was entirely reasonable, and Qin Sang naturally had no reason to refuse.
However, before any of that, their foremost consideration was how to locate this suspected medicine garden.
Finding this place was, in truth, quite a convoluted tale.
The site had originally been the cave dwelling of an ancient cultivator, situated between Jiuyong Pass and Xuanlu Pass, right at the boundary between the inner and middle zones. It was a chaotic land since ancient times, far beyond the reach of the major sects.
The emergence of the cave dwelling had caused quite a stir, drawing the attention of many cultivators, including several at the Core Formation stage.
However, after breaking through the outer restrictions, they discovered the cave dwelling was completely empty, containing no precious treasures at all. Everyone who entered returned empty-handed.
Fortunately, the remnants of the cave dwelling's restrictions were still fairly intact. Later, cultivators repaired them and established a market on the site, named Qiuhong Market.
Owing to its location, there were no other cultivation markets or towns anywhere nearby. Furthermore, Qiuhong Market's restrictions were quite powerful; having stood firm for decades, it was an exceptionally safe shelter. As a result, foot traffic gradually grew denser, and its reputation spread far and wide.
Until one year, when a celestial phenomenon occurred. No one could have predicted that a large horde of cloud beasts, rivaling Core Formation stage cultivators, would emerge from the depths of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield and wander into Qiuhong Market. This resulted in the destruction of the market, with its owner surrounded and slain by the cloud beasts. Only then did everyone make an astonishing discovery: Qiuhong Market held an entirely different secret within!
Deep inside Qiuhong Market, a far larger protective grand formation was hidden, and within that grand formation lay the true cave dwelling!
That was the real treasure trove left behind by the ancient cultivator!
Because the cave dwelling's original emergence had caused such a commotion and many people knew of it, the market's master had been unable to claim the place openly for himself. He had instead conceived a scheme: spending a fortune to repair the restrictions and using the market as a cover, all while secretly trying to breach the protective grand formation.
Once the protective grand formation was exposed, an endless stream of treasure hunters flocked to Qiuhong Market. However, the grand formation was exceedingly dangerous and entering was no simple feat; quite a few people perished within it.
Later, people finally grasped the pattern of the protective grand formation. Roughly every thirty years, it would enter a trough. During this low ebb, Foundation Establishment cultivators could form a formation and venture in together, with a high chance of breaking through.
Over the years, waves of cultivators had come and gone, yet this secret passage had only now been discovered for the first time.
The scene within the jade pendant had been captured and imprinted by the first person to find the secret passage. However, after leaving, that person had met a mysterious death, and the secret had never leaked out.
Until two years ago, when vague, specious rumors about a secret passage and a medicine garden suddenly surfaced, slowly gaining ground. Of course, most people did not believe them.
This was because, apart from a few crucial locations, every corner of Qiuhong Market had already been scoured countless times—to say people had dug three feet into the ground was no exaggeration. If there were any secret passages or leftover treasures, they would have been stripped bare long ago.
Furthermore, this kind of rumor was hardly new, nor was it unique to the discovery of Qiuhong Market. Nearly every time a similar situation arose, people with ulterior motives would spread all sorts of wild rumors in an attempt to fish in troubled waters.
Upon receiving word, Yunyouzi, adhering to the principle of never letting any opportunity slip by, had personally made the journey. By a stroke of luck, he laid eyes on the scene preserved in the jade pendant, only then confirming that the rumor was very likely true.
Since the person who had left behind the scene in the jade pendant was already dead, Yunyouzi did not know the exact location of the secret passage either and had to devise another way.
After a thorough investigation, Yunyouzi suspected that the person's death had everything to do with the companions who had entered Qiuhong Market with him thirty years ago. In the end, he narrowed his sights down to three individuals.
These three individuals would also be entering during the grand formation's upcoming trough, and they were currently gathering manpower and drilling formations.
What they needed to do first was infiltrate the squads of these three individuals before the protective grand formation reached its low ebb, secretly observing their actions to identify the killer.
Therefore, aside from Qin Sang and Yunyouzi, there was one more person traveling with them.
The three of them needed to act separately.
Once they confirmed the target, they would seek an opportunity to get in touch.
Reflecting on this, Qin Sang put away the jade pendant. In ten more days, the appointed time with Yunyouzi would arrive, and they would set out for Qiuhong Market to look for an opening to slip into one of the squads.
Qin Sang took stock of his assets. After devouring the black flame camphor wood, the power of the ebony sword had increased a notch further. The Ten Directions Yanluo Banner and the jade ruyi talisman treasure were his trump cards. Coupled with the mostly restored Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman, with these treasures in hand, Qin Sang had little reason to fear for his safety as long as he exercised caution.
However, some of these could not see the light of day. Once used, he had to be prepared to silence all witnesses.
Before that, it would be best to conceal his name and identity.
After pondering for a moment, Qin Sang stepped out of his cave dwelling, sealed the restrictions, and headed straight for Xuanlu Pass. He spent a few spirit stones to stock up on several magic tools, making thorough preparations.
Ten days later.
Yunyouzi arrived as agreed.
"Brother Qin, word just came from that side..."
Yunyouzi said in haste, "Qiuhong Market's grand formation will enter its trough a bit later this time; it might be delayed by one to two years. When the time comes, even more people may enter Qiuhong Market. But having more time will make it easier to win their trust, so for us, it isn't necessarily a bad thing. Still, you must proceed with extreme caution, Brother Qin. Even if you determine the person's identity, you must never alert the enemy before Daoist Ge Yuan and I arrive."
Yunyouzi still felt some lingering unease regarding Qin Sang, offering reminder after reminder.
Ge Yuan was the third person allied with them, whom Qin Sang had yet to meet.
This person was currently lying low in Xihuang Town—the town closest to Qiuhong Market—monitoring the shifts in the situation at all times.
Qin Sang also understood that this matter was of great importance. Infiltrating the other party's squad alone and making a rash move would hardly be wise, as it could easily leave him surrounded and attacked.
"Rest assured, Senior. I know what is at stake and will certainly be careful."
Yunyouzi gave an acknowledging nod. "It is good that you understand, Brother Qin. By the way, have you decided what identity you will assume?"
"I have."
Qin Sang nodded. "From now on, Senior can call me Daoist Qingfeng."
Chapter 276