It was likely midday by now, but Mist Island was even gloomier than the Luandao Waters. Through the dense fog, the vague shape of an island could faintly be seen.
Mist Island had more people than the large island. Not very big itself, its narrow streets were filled with cultivators hurrying back and forth, giving it an oddly crowded feel.
Qin Sang had already changed into a black magic robe. After observing for a moment, he leapt down onto the island, melted into the crowd, and made his way to the front of a large shop.
“Senior, please enter...”
Inside stood quite a few young women, all merely at the Qi Refinement stage, entirely accustomed to Qin Sang's attire.
Upon seeing Qin Sang enter, one of the girls warmly stepped forward with a smile, led him into a quiet room, and sealed the restrictions.
The girl bowed courteously and spoke in a respectful tone. “May I ask whether Senior wishes to buy or sell some treasure? Our shop offers magic tools, pills, cultivation methods...”
Qin Sang was very familiar with this shop. Before she could finish, he waved a hand to interrupt her, uttering two words in a raspy, concise voice: “Selling corpses!”
With that, he opened the corpse puppet pouch beneath his black robe, and nine refined corpses flew out, lining up in a row behind him.
The nine refined corpses stood quietly behind Qin Sang, each wearing an identical silver mask. Qin Sang had slashed and ruined their faces, concealing them behind the masks.
Pairs of pitch-black pupils showed through the two hollow openings in each mask, casting an eerie, chilling gaze.
Baleful qi surged from the corpses.
The temperature in the quiet room plummeted in an instant, turning grim and ghostly.
These refined corpses were all opponents Qin Sang had slain during this period. Those whose bodies were intact and whose seas of qi were undamaged had been made into baleful corpses, though the highest cultivation among them in life had only been at the middle Foundation Establishment stage.
The refined corpses made from late Foundation Establishment cultivators, as well as his living corpses, Qin Sang kept for himself.
In this grand war between the two domains, especially as it progressed into the later phases, cultivators had to travel in groups whenever they ventured out, leaving few opportunities to act alone. Qin Sang did not want anyone knowing he possessed the ability to refine corpses.
He could summon a corpse or two to save his life in a crisis, but he could not keep refined corpses constantly at his side. Otherwise, how would he be any different from the demonic sects?
He would have no way to explain it to his sect.
A grand war naturally yielded no shortage of corpses. With so many accumulating in his hands and proving useless in the short term, Qin Sang ultimately decided to sell off the weaker ones in exchange for cultivation resources.
Mist Island was the ideal place to fence such goods.
Though Qin Sang had summoned refined corpses in an appalling display, the girl showed little fear, as if selling refined corpses were commonplace.
And indeed it was.
In the cultivation world, demonic and ghostly cultivators selling refined corpses, yin spirits, ghost masters, and the like was no different from puppet masters selling spirit puppets or beast tamers selling spirit beasts—it was entirely routine.
A refined corpse could also simply be merchandise.
However, sects in the Lesser Cold Domain that mastered the Dao of spirit puppets were few and far between, none of them renowned, whereas the demonic path flourished considerably.
The young woman had clearly seen people selling corpses before; her eyes merely flickered with surprise that this man could produce so many refined corpses for sale at once.
“Fetch a deacon to appraise these corpses for this old man,” Qin Sang said calmly.
The girl's almond eyes darted across the nine refined corpses. Just as she was about to turn and call a deacon, she suddenly froze. A look of pleasant surprise flashed in her eyes, and she whispered, “Please wait a moment, Senior.”
With that, she hurried away. In her haste, she nearly tripped as she left, and even forgot to close the door.
Her unusual reaction did not escape Qin Sang's notice.
He frowned inwardly and turned to look at the corpses. Their faces were ruined, concealed beneath masks, and clothed in identical black robes; not even a Foundation Establishment expert, let alone this young woman, should have been able to discern anything.
There was only one explanation: earth fiend qi.
This was the greatest difference between Qin Sang's refined corpses and those of others. The Heavenly Corpse Sect refined corpses with earth fiend qi, whereas nearly all other demonic cultivators nurtured them with yin baleful qi.
Qin Sang tapped his fingers on the table, a contemplative look on his face. Before he could make another move, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly as he looked toward the doorway. A round, plump figure appeared at the entrance, walking in with a broad, beaming smile.
Among cultivators, someone this rotund was truly a rare sight; the doorframe of the quiet room could barely accommodate him.
“Greetings, fellow Daoist. My surname is Bao, and I humbly serve as the chief manager of this humble shop.”
Manager Bao stepped inside and cupped his hands in greeting, though his girth was such that he appeared merely to nod, scarcely bending at the waist.
“Manager Bao, this old man recognizes you.”
This person was no simple figure and could not be taken lightly.
Qin Sang returned the greeting. “This old man merely intended to sell a few refined corpses. I did not expect to disturb Manager Bao.”
“Fellow Daoist is indeed an old friend!”
Manager Bao smiled and sat across from Qin Sang, glancing at the refined corpses behind him. “Fellow Daoist's refined corpses are exceptionally unique, actually utilizing earth fiend qi in their refinement. Bao has never met anyone else who does so, which left me with quite a deep impression of you.”
Qin Sang let out a cold snort and said with displeasure, “Is Manager Bao investigating this old man? Or does refining corpses with earth fiend qi violate some taboo of yours?”
“I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare...”
Manager Bao waved his hands repeatedly. “Please do not misunderstand, fellow Daoist... Sigh! Bao will just speak frankly! You have sold refined corpses in our humble shop before. That is your private business, and Bao has never entertained any thought of investigating you. However, a while ago, Bao unexpectedly saw a baleful corpse that was remarkably similar to yours, yet also somewhat different, so I wished to ask fellow Daoist for clarification.”
Hearing the fat manager say this, Qin Sang realized his intention and said placidly, “You mean the living corpse I put up at the auction?”
“Living corpse! Yes! A living corpse!”
Manager Bao nodded repeatedly. “The name 'living corpse' is exceedingly apt. The spirituality of that living corpse was conspicuously greater than these refined corpses—vastly different!”
Qin Sang chuckled faintly. “What? Is fellow Daoist interested in living corpses?”
Half a year ago, while attending an auction on Mist Island, he had come across a high-grade spiritual herb that could enhance cultivation. Strapped for spirit stones at the time yet determined to obtain it, he had ultimately parted with a living corpse to move the herb's owner and secure the trade.
That was the only time he had ever revealed the existence of a living corpse, yet he had still caught the eye of an attentive observer.
Manager Bao made no pretense and admitted it immediately, leaning forward slightly as he asked, “Bao ventures to ask: how many living corpses does fellow Daoist have? And at their peak, just how strong can they be?”
“Does fellow Daoist not know that such questions touch on private matters?” Qin Sang grunted. “Nonetheless, this old man can answer you. Refining such living corpses is exceedingly difficult. I had only that single one, and once traded for the herb, no more remained. As for its strength, it is actually not much different from these refined corpses. If you wish to purchase some, this old man still has higher-quality refined corpses available. Provided the price is fair, selling you a few would pose no issue.”
Chapter 446