After making the introductions between both sides, the shopkeeper took his leave. "Fellow Daoist Kong knows Wuya Valley inside and out. If the two of you have any requests, feel free to bring them up with him. I won't disturb the three of you any further."
The three of them stepped into the wooden cabin one after another.
There was no one else in the room.
Kong Xin had no intention of making small talk or beating around the bush. He asked directly, "Please have a seat, Fellow Daoists. Senior just sent a transmission asking if I knew where Huanglong Grass grows. Does this mean you two are entering the valley to gather Huanglong Grass, or do you have other objectives?"
Yunyouzi gave an affirmative grunt and asked in return, "Does Fellow Daoist Kong truly know where Huanglong Grass grows?"
Kong Xin replied frankly, "Indeed. I do know of a place where Huanglong Grass grows.
"However, I must clarify to you two beforehand that it is by no means a benign place. It was already quite dangerous to begin with, and after this recent beast tide subsided, a flock of tiger-winged eagles suddenly appeared and made their nest on a rocky mountain nearby.
"Among this flock are over a dozen great demons at the Demon Spirit stage. They are aggressive, fiercely territorial, and what's worse, their demon eyes have the ability to see through invisibility. Ordinary cultivators can hardly conceal themselves under their watchful gaze.
"Harvesting the Huanglong Grass means facing the risk of being discovered by the tiger-winged eagles.
"I only earn hard-earned money and have no wish to throw my life away. I can only guide you to a secure spot in the heartland of Wuya Valley; beyond that, you will have to proceed on your own. If you are unwilling, I will not force you.
"Fellow Daoists may ask around if you wish; other guides operate in the same way."
Yunyouzi frowned and said, "It does not matter if you are unwilling to lead the way all the way there, but you should explain clearly to us the terrain and how to get there, shouldn't you?"
Kong Xin nodded. "Naturally."
Qin Sang and Yunyouzi were only using Huanglong Grass as an excuse and did not care whether they could actually harvest it. Once they confirmed that the location was not far from the second layer, they agreed to join Kong Xin's group.
Having secured two more clients, Kong Xin beamed with joy.
Unfortunately, his face was so ghastly pale that the smile only made him look all the more eerie.
"Three other fellow Daoists will not arrive until tomorrow morning. You two might as well rest in my humble abode and adjust your conditions; we will set out tomorrow. In addition, entering Wuya Valley requires preparing several supplementary items. I'll make a list for you to ensure everything is ready, so we don't end up having to turn back halfway."
Qin Sang and Yunyouzi naturally raised no objections.
Having spent years scraping a living around Wuya Valley, Kong Xin understood the conditions inside far better than Yunyouzi. The items on the list were exceptionally detailed, with the purpose of each one clearly noted.
None of it cost many spirit stones, so they purchased everything in full just to be prepared.
Just as they were preparing to return to the wooden cabin, Yunyouzi suddenly sent a voice transmission, "Brother Qin, what is your impression of that Kong Xin?"
Qin Sang paused in his steps and glanced at Yunyouzi. "What does Senior mean?"
"His complexion is unnaturally pale; it is likely caused by his cultivation technique."
Yunyouzi mused, "I can't sense any demonic energy or blood qi from him, so I can't tell what technique he practices. But for it to cause such a noticeable effect on his physical body, it's very likely some sort of evil demonic sect art."
"This is Wuya Valley, so it's only normal if Kong Xin is a demonic cultivator. I see that his mind is lucid and he carries no malevolent blood aura. Since you mentioned Tianfeng Tower has a good reputation, and the shopkeeper was willing to vouch for him with his own name, that shows he at least isn't a brazen, unbridled demon on the surface..."
Remembering his own Spirit Concealment Art, Qin Sang pondered a moment and added, "Of course, it could also be that he disguises himself too well. As long as we keep a close eye on his every move and strike first the moment something feels off, we have no reason to fear him."
Yunyouzi grunted in agreement. "Brother Qin is right. If he guides us honestly, peaceful coexistence is best. But if he dares harbor crooked thoughts, we'll teach him an unforgettable lesson!"
They waited another night in the cultivation market.
The next morning, everyone had arrived.
Besides Qin Sang, Yunyouzi, and Kong Xin, there were four others—three men and one woman.
The first to arrive was the woman. She was dressed in red robes and wore a veil that obscured her face, but she possessed an exquisite figure and an aloof expression.
The second to arrive was a refined, gentle middle-aged man who took the initiative to strike up a conversation upon meeting everyone, introducing himself with the surname Bao.
Both of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The last two were a master and disciple, an old man and a youth. The elder was an early Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, but the disciple's cultivation was only at the Qi Refinement stage.
Except for the man named Bao, none of the others showed any desire to get acquainted. They were merely fellow travelers gathered together by Kong Xin, and would go their separate ways once they reached their destinations.
Kong Xin stood up and said, "Now that all fellow Daoists have arrived, let us set off."
The woman in red had long grown impatient. Glaring displeasedly at the master and disciple, she questioned in a somewhat shrill tone, "Why is there someone in Qi Refinement traveling with us? If his inadequate cultivation brings about disaster, are we supposed to wipe his ass for him?"
The disciple's face flushed crimson.
The old man held back his disciple and said with a chuckle, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. My disciple and I are merely searching for a medicinal herb to treat an illness. We have no intention of venturing deep into the heartland of Wuya Valley and will not drag the rest of you down."
The woman in red snorted coldly and said no more.
Seeing this, Kong Xin breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly urged everyone to set out.
The cultivation market was not far from Wuya Valley. Riding their flying magic tools, the group arrived at the edge of Wuya Valley after an hour.
A wall of blood red towered before them. The blood miasma was unimaginably thick, rippling and surging endlessly like flowing water.
Stopping before the blood miasma, Qin Sang immediately caught a pungent, metallic stench of blood. He even felt a faint wave of dizziness, showing just how virulent the blood miasma was. He hastily circulated his spiritual power to seal off the blood miasma from his body.
No less intense than its toxicity was the bone-chilling cold that radiated from the blood miasma.
The disciple was frozen so badly that his complexion almost rivaled Kong Xin's. Hugging his arms, he huddled close to his master, shivering uncontrollably.
Kong Xin glanced at the disciple and said, "Fellow Daoists, you may take out your defensive magic tools now. Once we enter the blood miasma, under no circumstances should you stop channeling them."
Qin Sang and Yunyouzi each took out a jade pendant and held it in their palms.
Once stimulated with spiritual power, the Qingyang Demonic Fire sealed inside surged out, swiftly forming a barrier of azure demonic fire across the surface of their bodies.
With a series of hissing sounds, the blood miasma was incinerated by the demonic fire, and the chill clinging to them instantly vanished.
Even though it was clearly a type of demonic fire, it harbored an aura of extreme yang and unyielding vigor, a wondrous contradiction that elicited quiet marvel.
Presumably, this aura stemmed from the Qingyang Divine Astral Qi.
The others also displayed their own methods.
The woman in red summoned a red cloth; red light surged forth, enveloping her entire body.
Cultivator Bao as well as the master and disciple also used magic tools that sealed Qingyang Demonic Fire, though their quality was somewhat inferior to Qin Sang's jade pendants.
The most unusual of all was Kong Xin.
In his palm rested a longan-sized pellet. The pellet was crimson, and raging flames blazed atop it as though they would never be extinguished.
A dense demon qi emanated from the pellet.
Chapter 366