Du Han had been trapped at a bottleneck for many years precisely because of demonic fiend qi.
He had previously refined several spirit herbs that purged demonic fiend qi and achieved some results. Had he consumed this stalk of Jinlan grass, he would have smoothly broken through to the mid Core Formation stage. Unfortunately, he would never have that chance now.
Qin Sang stowed the crystal, and a jade box materialized in his palm.
Inside the jade box lay a slender, shimmering golden spirit herb—the Jinlan grass.
"Who would have thought that spirit herbs of little value in the Lesser Cold Domain would be considered rare treasures here? Had I known, I would have gathered more to bring along. I surely would have made a massive fortune," Qin Sang muttered with a self-deprecating chuckle.
Having obtained Du Han's mustard seed bag and reaped a bountiful harvest, he was in no hurry to sell the Jinlan grass. This type of spirit herb was sought after by all human Core Formation cultivators; it would be best used for bartering to extract its maximum value.
With this thought, Qin Sang sorted through the items in Du Han's mustard seed bag, transferred them into his Qianjun Ring, and destroyed the empty bag.
***
Two days later, at Qianhu Stockade.
The old witch doctor—who had always been hale and hearty, still able to scale the mountains to gather herbs and fight off wolves and jackals as well as any young man—suddenly fell gravely ill and breathed his last within a mere two hours.
The witch doctors summoned from other stockades had not even arrived yet.
The old witch doctor was deeply respected and held great prestige in Qianhu Stockade. The clansmen were heartbroken, but they could only swallow their grief and make arrangements for his funeral.
Little did they know that on the day of the burial, the corpse laid into the tomb was actually that of an unfamiliar old man. At the same time, a black cloud quietly rose from the verdant peak across the river from Qianhu Stockade and broke through the air, darting away into the distance.
Within the cloud sat Qin Sang and the old witch doctor.
Not saying a word, the old witch doctor silently gazed down at Qianhu Stockade, where he had lived for decades. Even after it faded from view, he kept staring into the distance, reluctant to part.
Sensing Qin Sang's gaze, the old witch doctor withdrew his eyes, wiped his tears, and gave a self-mocking sigh. "I must seem foolish to Lord Envoy. Though I am all alone in the world, leaving Qianhu Stockade so suddenly leaves an emptiness in my chest for some reason. It feels as if everything I took for granted day to day has turned into an unbreakable bond, tugging painfully at my heart..."
A wistful look lingered on his face.
Qin Sang understood his state of mind.
The old witch doctor had, after all, helped save his life. Therefore, Qin Sang had refrained from using force, instead using Yagu's name to coax and trick the old man into leaving.
The corpse in the tomb was one he had found outside, and he had applied methods learned from the mortal world to ensure it would decompose extremely fast after burial.
He had done this out of caution, though in truth there was little need.
When he drifted down the river that day tangled in broken branches and deadwood, covered in grass and leaves, the only people who had actually seen the severed-arm corpse with their own eyes were Yagu and the old witch doctor.
Even if Li Witch Palace came looking, without knowing the inside story, there was no reason for them to dig up a mortal's grave.
"Rest assured, elder. Before entering seclusion, Yagu specifically entrusted me to settle you in a safe place and ensure your family's prosperity for generations," Qin Sang promised.
The old witch doctor chuckled bitterly. "I am used to hardships, so what does enjoying luxury matter? I never imagined, though, that before being put into the earth, I would be carried into the heavens by Lord Envoy. Only now do I know what true freedom the birds possess. This life has not been in vain after all."
After his sigh of wonder, the old witch doctor suddenly grew somewhat anxious. "If Lord Envoy had not told me, I would never have known the immortal world was so dangerous. Since Lord Envoy only took me away, will they use others to threaten that girl Yagu?"
"They will not."
Qin Sang shook his head. "Yagu only cares about you. Besides, you know her temperament—she wouldn't stir up trouble without cause. Settling you elsewhere is merely a precaution."
The old witch doctor breathed a sigh of relief and said repeatedly, "As long as I don't drag Yagu down, that is enough. A man on the verge of death like me can endure anything. I watched that child grow up; she suffered so much from a young age and is very innocent. My only regret is failing to protect her on the day they selected the Holy Maiden. Fortunately, Lord Envoy arrived. This is also Yagu's destiny—joy after bitterness, becoming an immortal beyond what others could ever dream of. If she ever behaves unmindfully, Lord Envoy, please bear with her out of gratitude for her saving your life. If not, just send her back. I can still live a few more years and look after her..."
"Yagu is doing very well. She is in rigorous cultivation right now, so please rest easy."
Qin Sang spoke against his conscience, then sank his mind into meditation.
The old witch doctor stole a glance at Qin Sang and sighed inwardly, not daring to disturb him any further.
What the old witch doctor had not expected was that once they took flight, they did not stop. The black cloud beneath them threaded through towering mountain ranges, presenting him with countless marvelous sights beyond anything he could have imagined in his lifetime.
From initial wonder, he gradually grew numb to it all.
The Shamanic God envoy beside him did nothing but meditate, aside from exchanging a few words with him on rare occasions.
For the first time, the old witch doctor understood what the words 'rigorous cultivation' truly meant.
After so many sunrises and sunsets that he lost count, the old witch doctor noticed that the mountains and rivers below were no longer as treacherous. Plains grew more frequent, and he caught sight of several majestic cities unlike anything he had ever seen before, broadening his horizons immensely.
Little did he know, they were about to leave the boundaries of the Western Frontier.
At this point, Qin Sang slowly opened his eyes and took out a topographical map to inspect.
Carrying the old witch doctor and having to evade other Core Formation cultivators entering the Western Frontier, Qin Sang had taken numerous detours. His flying speed had not been fast, but he had finally reached the edge of the Western Frontier without any mishap.
The topographical map indicated that their current location was a small mortal kingdom under the control of Li Witch Palace.
Continuing directly east would take them completely into Li Witch Palace's sphere of influence.
Having examined the map, Qin Sang immediately spurred the Nether Silk Cloud to change direction, heading straight north to bypass Li Witch Palace's domain.
He had no intention of leaving the old witch doctor here. He was heading for the northern tip of the Witch God Continent, to a port called Pingbo Port.
Pingbo Port was one of the most renowned major ports on the Witch God Continent. It was also where many great human merchant guilds gathered on the continent, allowing one to easily make contact with human cultivators.
Pingbo Port was exceptionally prosperous, with deeply entangled factions. However, it was within Witch Clan territory after all, so humans dared not be too brazen, all wishing to preserve the port's stability.
Li Witch Palace's reach could not extend to Pingbo Port. Finding a mortal kingdom there to settle the old witch doctor so he could enjoy his remaining years in peace was the most suitable choice.
After leaving the Western Frontier, signs of human habitation grew noticeably denser.
Qin Sang maintained an exceedingly low profile. To avoid Li Witch Palace's scouts, he did not hesitate to disguise himself as a mortal and hire a horse carriage to travel. With Qin Sang's protection, even though the old witch doctor was advanced in years, he felt no fatigue from the journey.
Qin Sang also noticed that after being brought so far away, the old witch doctor was gradually growing suspicious. Yet Qin Sang paid it no mind; once the old witch doctor was settled, Qin Sang would definitely seal his memories, especially those concerning the severed arm.
The matter was of paramount importance; he could not afford the slightest carelessness.
An inconspicuous horse carriage sped along the highway when its window curtain was suddenly pulled back. Qin Sang gazed toward the south, in the direction of Li Witch Palace's sect grounds, his eyes cool and indifferent.
Finally, he reined in his thoughts and began considering what he needed to accomplish at Pingbo Port.
Chapter 663