When Qin Sang stepped off the boat, he felt as if the ground were swaying beneath him.
For an entire year, he had spent nearly every day on the water.
Along the way, there had been many places where towering mountains and treacherous rapids forced him to disembark and proceed on foot. He had also encountered various hazards—wars, river bandits, floods—and changed boats countless times. Traveling in fits and starts, a full year had passed by the time he finally arrived in the State of Biyun.
By Qin Sang's own estimation, he was currently in the mid-stage of the Nether Scripture's fifth layer. He was still a fair distance away from breaking through to the sixth layer, but his Soul Pills were nearly depleted. He urgently needed to find yin baleful qi or harvest more souls.
Without Soul Pills, Qin Sang had no idea how many years it would take him to reach the sixth layer.
"Guest, if you just head straight east from here, you'll reach Mount Youshan in under a month. You can hire a carriage at the docks, but anyone can tell you're from out of town, so you'd best keep your wits about you..."
The boatman saw Qin Sang off with a look of genuine reluctance.
This passenger had left a deep impression on him: from the moment he boarded, he had shut himself inside the cabin and never stepped out. All he required was for the boat hands to bring him three meals a day. He paid handsomely and gave them no trouble whatsoever.
As he drew near the State of Biyun, Qin Sang had already inquired and confirmed that the location marked on the regional atlas lay near Mount Youshan, the largest mountain range in Biyun—a perfect match for the name Youshan Cultivation Market.
Once ashore, Qin Sang spent silver to purchase a horse, riding day and night and swapping mounts along the way. In just five days, he reached the vicinity of Mount Youshan.
The Youshan mountain range was immense, countless times larger than Mount Guling, and the portion within the borders of the State of Biyun was only a tiny fraction of it. From the locals, Qin Sang heard many legends about Mount Youshan.
At the edge of Mount Youshan, the jade plate reacted, automatically glowing with a halo of light to guide his way.
Following the jade plate's guidance, Qin Sang ventured deep into the mountains, scaling peaks and trekking through forests, until he halted before a desolate mountain valley.
On either side of the valley, towering peaks pierced the clouds. The entire valley was blanketed in dense mist, making it impossible to tell how deep it went. The direction indicated by the jade plate pointed right inside.
Qin Sang stood before the valley for quite a while, looking hesitant. He found the thick fog within the valley truly bizarre, yet he could not see through it.
Just then, the dense mist in the valley suddenly churned.
Qin Sang grew inwardly vigilant. Moments later, the heavy fog parted to either side, revealing a narrow path. Footsteps echoed from within, followed by the appearance of a man dressed in a long robe.
The robed man walked out briskly. His gaze swept around, and upon spotting Qin Sang, he trotted over at once. Smiling broadly, he bowed respectfully and spoke with exceptional warmth: "This lowly one greets the exalted immortal! Welcome to Youshan Cultivation Market. Ever since childhood, I have possessed an eidetic memory. Seeing that the exalted immortal's face is unfamiliar, I presume this is your first visit to Youshan Cultivation Market?"
Seeing Qin Sang nod, the robed man began to boast, "Then the exalted immortal has certainly come to the right place! Our Youshan Cultivation Market is the largest cultivation market in the entire Youshan mountain range. Whether it be magic tools, talismans, medicinal pills, or spells, we have everything you could possibly want. Furthermore, many immortal cultivation clans maintain businesses here. We will surely send you home thoroughly satisfied..."
Qin Sang showed little reaction to these words, instead staring curiously at the robed man himself. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Are you a mortal?"
The robed man flattered, "The exalted immortal has keen eyes. This lowly one is indeed a mortal."
Qin Sang asked in confusion, "Then how could you tell I am a cultivator?"
The robed man let out an "oh" and pointed between his eyebrows. "The exalted immortal may not have noticed, but my master cast a Qi-Watching Technique upon me, allowing me to perceive the fluctuations of spiritual power around you. That is how I recognized you as an immortal cultivator."
"So it is the Qi-Watching Technique. A momentary oversight on my part."
Qin Sang put on a look of sudden realization, musing privately that one needed the Qi-Watching Technique to discern spiritual power fluctuations.
This was likely just like the Object Manipulation Technique, one of the most elementary cultivation spells, yet he had never even heard of it. He was worse off than a mortal, practically a country bumpkin. Today, he would certainly have to broaden his horizons.
The robed man smiled ingratiatingly and gestured forward. "Exalted immortal, please follow me."
Qin Sang nodded. After taking two steps, he suddenly remembered something. "Does your Youshan Cultivation Market not require a token of entry?"
The robed man shook his head. "My master has the magnanimity to welcome guests from all under heaven, so of course no token was established. In the future, whenever the exalted immortal visits, simply walk right in. Once the market's restriction detects your identity as an immortal cultivator, the thick mist will disperse on its own, allowing you to come and go as you please."
Qin Sang uttered an "oh" and continued forward with head lowered, though he wondered inwardly: *If this jade plate is not an entry token for Youshan Cultivation Market, could it have some other purpose?*
Judging by the direction indicated by the jade plate, it pointed right into the heart of the market.
Qin Sang had intended to pry more information out of the robed man, but unfortunately, the path was not long, and in just a few paces, they reached the end.
"Exalted immortal, we have arrived at the market. Cultivators may trade freely within the market, but my master has laid down a rule that this lowly one must explain beforehand."
The robed man was very deferential toward Qin Sang, yet his tone carried an implicit warning. "Whether the exalted immortal is a rogue cultivator or a disciple of a prestigious sect, no one may draw weapons or resort to violence within the market. If you have a dispute with someone that cannot be resolved, you may settle it outside the market... This lowly one shall disturb you no further."
Before his words had fully faded, the robed man took a step to the side, his figure vanishing into the dense mist.
Having guarded the market's entrance for many years, the robed man knew well that most cultivators were eccentric and disliked being bothered. He had tactfully ceased his chatter, completely unaware that Qin Sang had actually hoped he would say a few more words.
Now that the man had left, Qin Sang could hardly call him back.
Resigned, Qin Sang looked at the thin layer of mist ahead, composed his expression to assume the calm, aloof demeanor of a peerless expert, and stepped through—only to be struck head-on by a wave of clamor.
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, who could have imagined that a cultivator market would be just as noisy as a mortal bazaar?
The valley was vast; the entire expanse had been cleared and developed into a market. It was practically like a mortal city, with crisscrossing streets and avenues, rows upon rows of shops, willow trees casting cool shade, and crowds bustling to and fro along the thoroughfares.
Qin Sang had learned from the robed man that not everyone in the market was a cultivator; a large portion were mortals, and cultivators were generally forbidden from laying hands on mortals.
After a brief hesitation, Qin Sang got his bearings and walked toward the interior of the market.
Turning onto a bluestone avenue, the crowd visibly thinned. Aside from those cultivators who enjoyed lively bustle and set up shop along the outer streets, most cultivator establishments were located here.
Mortals did not dare to wander over carelessly; if someone accidentally offended a cultivator, it would bring about utter ruin.
Qin Sang also knew he had no capital to act arrogant. He walked down the street inconspicuously, proactively stepping aside whenever he encountered anyone coming the other way, while quietly observing the shops around him.
Just like mortal shops, shop signs hung before each storefront.
Treasure Pill Pavilion, Yuhua Hall, Famous Sword Tower, Joyous House...
From some names, one could glean a hint of what they sold, while others left Qin Sang utterly baffled.
Chapter 53