A native of the State of Ning had somehow become the Marquis of Jiang Prefecture in Great Sui.
Even after five years in Great Sui, the place felt no more familiar to him. Qin Sang was filled with mixed emotions.
Returning to his estate, Qin Sang entered his study.
He was entirely on his own, with nothing much to pack besides the ebony sword and a few other belongings.
Having broken through to the fifth layer of the Nether Scripture, his consumption of Soul Pills had grown even faster; cultivating with all his might depleted one in just a few days. Yet without the aid of Soul Pills, the speed of his progress was thoroughly despair-inducing.
Fortunately, he had anticipated this and stockpiled a number of Soul Pills before the war concluded. Moreover, Yanwang had recovered to peak strength, and if squeezed for all it was worth, could sustain him for a good while.
Then there were traveling expenses of gold and silver. Qin Sang did not pack much either; a dignified cultivator would hardly starve for want of coin and could always procure some along the way.
Still, he could not leave just like this; there were worldly affairs to settle. Qin Sang dispatched a personal guard to wait at Wu Chuanzong's residence and have him come over after the morning court concluded.
Once he finished packing, all his belongings, including clothes, amounted to nothing more than a modest bundle.
'If only I knew the Object Manipulation Technique and could use a mustard seed bag,' Qin Sang mused silently.
According to the young man surnamed Han's explanation, a cultivation market was equivalent to a marketplace for the cultivation world, where cultivators gathered to trade, buy, or exchange whatever they needed.
In a large cultivation market, the coming and going cultivators included disciples of prominent orthodox sects, demonic cultivators, and rogue cultivators alike. Since this market lay within the sphere of demonic activity, one was likely to cross paths with demonic cultivators, which was why Han had suggested Qin Sang try his luck there.
Yet what Qin Sang needed most urgently was not to join a sect, but to find a way into the cultivators' world.
The Object Manipulation Technique, mustard seed bags, magic tools, the Qi Refinement stage, the Foundation Establishment stage, yin baleful qi...
To cultivators, these were common knowledge, yet he knew nothing about them. Only by grasping these basics could he know where his future path lay.
This key to the cultivation market would also open the gates to the cultivation world for him—which was precisely why Qin Sang had not pestered the young man surnamed Han any further.
Even if no sect would accept him, at worst he would become a rogue cultivator. From the young man's words, rogue cultivators were not few in number.
Once he reached the cultivation market, he would first acquire the Object Manipulation Technique to retrieve the contents of the seven-colored brocade pouch, and then inquire about how to find yin baleful qi so as not to stall his cultivation.
He also needed to find a way to uncover the secrets surrounding himself: what the ebony sword, the jade Buddha, and the sheepskin actually were, and why he could cultivate despite lacking a spiritual root.
And then there was the Nether Scripture.
In truth, after breaking through to the fifth layer, Qin Sang had felt an inkling that the Nether Scripture should not end at only six layers; this cultivation technique was likely incomplete.
The various details about the Qi Refinement stage he later learned from Zhen Ming had further corroborated this suspicion.
Could one purchase the complete Nether Scripture in the market?
Were cultivation techniques expensive?
What did cultivators use as currency?
Qin Sang's head ached at the thought. A pauper like him might have no choice but to sell his magic tool or that talisman paper of unknown use to trade for a technique—after all, the Nether Scripture was the very foundation of his cultivation.
With this in mind, Qin Sang took out the jade plate to examine it. Though called a plate, it had a circular hole in the center, resembling a jade bi ring.
The jade plate was only the size of a palm and very thin. It was completely translucent and crystal clear, without a single blemish or carving, prompting worry that it might be so fragile as to shatter at a touch.
Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, then probed into the jade plate with his spiritual sense and magic power. A halo of light immediately bloomed over the plate, revealing four characters: Youshan Cultivation Market. Beyond that, however, there was no other reaction.
It seemed he truly had to travel to the State of Biyun.
Qin Sang carefully stowed the jade plate away. Soon after, footsteps sounded in the courtyard, and he knew Wu Chuanzong had arrived.
"This is the address of my hometown: Wang Family Village in the State of Ning. Aside from you, I have never mentioned it to anyone," Qin Sang said, handing Wu Chuanzong a hand-drawn map. "Barring any misfortune, my parents should both be alive and well, along with two elder brothers... I am determined to seek immortality and cannot look back on the mortal realm. I leave these relatives in your care. Just tell them that I am dead."
Ever since taking over this body, Qin Sang had been avoiding its familial ties, never returning once in five years.
Wu Chuanzong accepted it solemnly, his eyes brimming with tears. "Rest assured, Sir. Without you, Chuanzong would not be who he is today. I will treat them as my own kin..."
Qin Sang waved a hand. "There is no need for that. As for my parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law, you only need to ensure they are free from hunger and cold. If any among the nephews or nieces prove capable, you may lend them a helping hand at your discretion. Beyond that, do not interfere further; let their fortunes take their course."
Wu Chuanzong was sharp and clever, with distinguished military achievements. Already occupying a high rank at a young age, his future was boundless.
Wealth rarely lasted past three generations even in ordinary families. Arranging things this way was enough to serve as an account to Qin Sanwa.
Aside from that were miscellaneous details. Once Qin Sang departed, his subordinates would momentarily lose their patron, but fortunately, Princess Dongyang and the others would look out for them.
The two conversed in secret for a while when hurried footsteps suddenly approached outside. A personal guard lowered his voice and said, "Lord Marquis, Princess Dongyang has paid a secret visit."
Qin Sang frowned, wondering why Princess Dongyang had come so late at night. He had originally intended to bid her farewell tomorrow.
"You should head back first," Qin Sang said, rising to see Wu Chuanzong off. He went out to the entrance to receive her personally, only to find Princess Dongyang traveling light and unencumbered, accompanied only by Bai Jianglan and two guards, having ridden over on a single horse.
"Let us speak inside."
With a flick of her riding crop, Princess Dongyang strode into the estate as if entering her own residence, finding her way with practiced familiarity straight toward Qin Sang's study.
Qin Sang could only nod at Bai Jianglan and follow her in silence. Inside, he found Princess Dongyang standing motionless with her hands clasped behind her back, her slender figure poised and graceful.
"Marquis of Jiang Prefecture!"
Princess Dongyang spoke suddenly, her voice cool and aloof.
Qin Sang replied, "This subject is here."
Princess Dongyang spun around sharply. Her autumn-water eyes gleamed brilliantly in the candlelight as she fixed her gaze on Qin Sang and demanded, "This Princess has never treated you poorly, have I?"
Qin Sang sighed helplessly. "What does Your Highness mean by this..."
"Then why do you insist on leaving?"
Princess Dongyang took a sudden step forward, her gaze burning, brooking no interruption. "What is so good about seeking immortality? Look at how many seekers of the Dao spend their entire lives in loneliness, dying of old age in deep mountains and untamed wilds, their corpses feeding tigers and leopards, dying without kin and achieving nothing! Now look over there!"
Princess Dongyang raised a jade-like finger, pointing toward Yuyu Palace in the distance, her words tumbling out ever faster. "Over there stand magnificent jade palaces! Within them lies supreme power, countless beauties, fine nectar, luxurious raiment, decadent feasts, and endless opulence! Whatever you desire, you can obtain with ease! Why must you remain so obstinately blind?"
Qin Sang fell silent for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, please follow me."
Stepping out of the study, Qin Sang whispered an apology for his presumption, took Princess Dongyang's hand, and kicked off the ground. In a single leap, they landed on the rooftop. Looking once more toward Yuyu Palace, the scene was indeed one of sheer luxury and breathtaking beauty.
Princess Dongyang tilted her head up slightly, her eyes filled with confusion, wondering what Qin Sang had up his sleeve.
Chapter 50