Wuya Valley

"This person is exceedingly bizarre. He lingers in a dark, sinister corner of Wuya Valley, wandering like a wandering soul. There is no telling how long he has been there. He has a human form and seems to retain some remnant consciousness, and his strength is formidable. Stranger still, he is well-versed in evasion techniques, appearing and vanishing like a ghost, and can cast incantations—yet he does not resemble a living person..." Yunyouzi described what he knew of the strange man in detail, his tone carrying a note of bewilderment. "I originally assumed he might have provoked some bizarre restriction in Wuya Valley and wound up trapped there. Only just now did I notice that the fluctuations in Tan Jie's aura bear a striking resemblance to that strange figure..." The more Qin Sang listened, the more this individual Yunyouzi spoke of sounded like a living corpse. Moreover, judging from Yunyouzi's description, this living corpse possessed terrifying might. Even if it was not a Flying Yaksha, it had to have been refined from a cultivator of at least the False Core stage. Could an expert of the Heavenly Corpse Sect have met with disaster, leaving their living corpse trapped in Wuya Valley? Wuya Valley lay deep within the Tianduan Mountain Range, in a region encircled by demonic sects. Legend said the valley resembled a nether hell fraught with perils, yet also held heaven-defying opportunities. It was hardly surprising for demonic cultivators of the Heavenly Corpse Sect to frequent Wuya Valley. After turning it over in his mind, Qin Sang spoke with caution. "To be frank with you, Senior, if that strange person is indeed connected to this esoteric art, I do have some means to affect it. However, the effect has its limits; there is no way I could bring it under control." Back in the Heavenly Corpse Cave, he had been unable to control even an early Foundation Establishment living corpse. Every Heavenly Corpse Talisman was painstakingly crafted by its refiner, who infused their soul imprint into it during the refinement. Even after death, that soul imprint endured. Unless the owner willingly parted with it, it was practically impossible for an outsider to usurp control. The master of that living corpse was undoubtedly long dead. Facing an unowned Heavenly Corpse Talisman, Qin Sang could not seize control, but he could employ secret arts to restrain the corpse's movements. Even so, if the living corpse was overly powerful, Qin Sang could hardly predict how effective such a restraint would be. If it truly turned out to be a Flying Yaksha, he felt it would be better left unprovoked. Yunyouzi fell into silent contemplation, his brow knitted. After pondering for a long while, he said to Qin Sang, "Brother Qin, among the few places I know of, some are only second to Wuya Valley in danger, and even if I manage to enter, there is no guarantee I can heal my hidden injury. "At the very least, I have definitive word that a spirit herb truly useful to me exists within Wuya Valley. "Though Wuya Valley is fraught with peril, I know a path that allows safe entry. I have walked it before, so there will not be too much danger. "Once we arrive, I will only need Brother Qin to test whether you can restrain that strange figure. There is no need to slay him; buying a brief moment will be more than enough. "If it proves unfeasible, I will not force the matter either. You and I can withdraw immediately. "If by good fortune we can slip past, I shall walk the remaining path alone. You will not need to keep taking risks, nor will you need to wait for me—simply slip away and leave Wuya Valley. "Whether it succeeds or not, this old Daoist will owe you a debt of gratitude. Once I return to my sect, even if I have to cast all shame aside, I will plead with my martial uncles to grant Brother Qin a Heyun Pill." Since Yunyouzi had laid everything out so earnestly, Qin Sang could hardly refuse. He shook his head. "Senior, what are you saying? Since you are set on going, junior will naturally accompany you." Wuya Valley was located in Tianduan Mountain. He was already planning to return to Shaohua Mountain to collect earth fiend qi. On his way back, taking a detour to Wuya Valley would not delay him for long. What was more, Yunyouzi had made it abundantly clear that the danger was minimal, and Qin Sang could pull back at any time. Besides, Qin Sang was genuinely intrigued by that living corpse. If its master had perished nearby, their remains might still be there, which might lead to clues regarding the latter half of the art. Even without Yunyouzi's promise, the trip was well worth taking. "When does Senior plan to set out?" Qin Sang asked. Seeing Qin Sang agree, Yunyouzi was visibly pleased. After a moment of thought, he said, "Aside from that strange figure, Wuya Valley harbors many bizarre entities and restrictions. I must prepare a few items to bolster my chances, so setting out right away will be difficult. How about this: I shall return to my sect now to make preparations, and we can agree to meet at the entrance of Wuya Valley one year from today." Qin Sang was surprised. "So soon? You do not plan to wait for the auction of the Ziwei Secret Talisman?" Yunyouzi shook his head. "This old Daoist cannot afford the Ziwei Secret Talisman anyway; I only came to join the spectacle. Naturally, healing my injury takes precedence. Once you enter Tianduan Mountain, Brother Qin, remember to exercise utmost caution in all things. It would be best to disguise yourself as a demonic cultivator and not reveal your identity as a Shaohua Mountain disciple." Regarding this, Qin Sang was entirely confident and unconcerned. As long as he brought out his refined corpse, he would need no disguise at all—he would look more like a demonic cultivator than an actual one. The two discussed the matter further. Once their plan was settled, Yunyouzi departed Yinshan Pass into the night, returning to his sect to prepare. Qin Sang also began pondering his subsequent itinerary. They had agreed to meet in one year. In such a short time, returning to Xuanlu Pass was out of the question; fortunately, nothing was happening there, so skipping the trip was harmless. Coming here, he had relied on Shangyuan Qingjing Palace's ancient teleportation array, but returning meant traveling the standard way. After rescuing Shi Hong, he would head straight south to Shaohua Mountain. Once he finished refining the living corpse, he would set out for Wuya Valley. Crossing nearly the entirety of the Lesser Cold Domain would take just about that long. It was fortunate he had acquired the Nether Silk Cloud magic tool; otherwise, time would have been quite tight. *** Fengcang Cultivation Market. Leading from Yinshan Pass into the Ancient Immortal Battlefield were three safe routes. Each route featured a town or cultivation market, positioned roughly parallel to one another and at similar distances from Yinshan Pass. Fengcang Cultivation Market was one of them. Though named a cultivation market, its prosperity rivaled that of proper towns. Much like Xihuang Town, it was not constructed inside a secret realm but was exposed out in the open, activating its protective grand array only when a celestial phenomenon struck. However, the terrain of Fengcang Cultivation Market differed completely from that of Xihuang Town. Fengcang Cultivation Market was built upon a mountain rising from the mire. It was not particularly tall—a feature born of Yinshan Pass's bizarre topography. The protective grand array could envelop the entire mountain. Consequently, from base to peak, rows of buildings stood stacked in tiers, densely packed side by side with scarcely any open space. Numerous cultivators bustled about Fengcang Cultivation Market, their figures visible along the streets. On the back mountain, rows of small courtyards appeared especially cramped. Here, there were no lush bamboo groves or flowing springs, nor any picturesque scenery to speak of. Their sole merit was tranquility. Yet few realized that these small courtyards and their vicinity constituted prime real estate in Fengcang Cultivation Market. The spiritual power here was extraordinarily dense, sufficient to serve as cultivation cave dwellings for Foundation Establishment cultivators. While the courtyards seemed unassuming, they concealed powerful restrictions within, allowing cultivators to cultivate at ease without fear for their safety. Naturally, ordinary cultivators could not afford such places. One of the courtyards held only three wooden huts, appearing exceedingly austere. Silence reigned within the main hall. Cross-legged upon a wooden bed sat a young man, immersed in meditative cultivation. Had Qin Sang been present, he would have recognized him at a single glance—he was Liang Yan!