Inside the shop were several delicate, pretty maidservants. Much like the guards at the city gate, they were a mix of Witch Clan and human, mingling without any apparent friction.
By now, Qin Sang could easily distinguish between humans and the Witch Clan.
While there was no obvious difference in appearance, their bloodlines differed, naturally giving them a subtly different aura. Moreover, magic tools capable of discerning bloodlines were sold here.
Such a distinction was easy to spot when facing cultivators of lower cultivation than his own. Qin Sang could not help feeling fortunate for his caution; he was glad he had not rashly contacted any other Core Formation cultivators back in the Western Frontier.
Seeing Qin Sang enter, a maidservant immediately stepped forward with a smile. After catching sight of the nameplate at his waist, she grew exceedingly respectful. "Welcome, Immortal! Are you looking to purchase magic tools or pills, or would you like to sell something? The magic treasures and precious pills our shop offers are all on the third floor. If Senior requires them, please follow this lowly servant."
"You actually sell magic treasures?"
Qin Sang was intrigued. He had long heard that the Four Seas Guild wielded immense influence, but its headquarters lay within human territory. He had not expected even a branch on the Witch God Continent to have magic treasures for sale.
Interested in learning about local prices, Qin Sang allowed the maidservant to lead him up to the third floor.
Upon reaching the third floor, a female Foundation Establishment cultivator of visibly higher standing took over, ushering Qin Sang into a quiet private chamber.
"May I ask Senior's honorable surname?"
After introducing herself, the woman smiled charmingly and served Qin Sang tea.
In a low voice, Qin Sang replied, "This poor Daoist's Daoist name is Qingfeng. I heard your guild sells magic treasures. What kind do you have? How powerful are they, and what are their prices?"
Having exposed his identity in the Western Frontier, he could only travel incognito in Witch Clan territory.
Faced with Qin Sang's rapid barrage of questions, the woman smiled. "I wouldn't dare conceal anything from Senior. Our guild has few magic treasures left here in Pingbo Port—only three. If Senior takes a liking to any, bartering would be best. We will invite Pingbo Port's senior experts to appraise the value of your treasures, ensuring Senior never suffers a loss. Of course, if Senior is willing to pay enough spirit stones, we will gladly sell as well. Please allow me to fetch the magic treasures for Senior to inspect..."
*A major guild indeed,* Qin Sang thought with a touch of emotion, *producing three magic treasures so casually.*
A moment later, the woman returned and placed three jade boxes on the table for Qin Sang to examine.
Qin Sang did not sense any hidden experts spying on him, yet seeing how secure and unbothered the woman appeared, it was obvious the Four Seas Guild possessed other safeguards, completely unafraid that he might snatch the treasures and flee.
With three magic treasures laid out before him, Qin Sang found the temptation hard to resist. He quickly composed himself and opened them one by one.
Inside the three jade boxes lay an ordinary-looking pitch-black tortoise shell, a long whip fashioned from the spine of an unknown demon beast, and a flying sword.
To Qin Sang's disappointment, none of the three magic treasures were of high quality. The flying sword was even inferior to his ebony sword, yet their prices easily ran from over a hundred thousand to several hundred thousand spirit stones. Leaving aside treasures like the Three Light Jade Liquid, Qin Sang could not afford any of them even if he bankrupted himself.
The only piece that caught his eye was the tortoise shell. It was a defensive magic treasure refined from the carapace of a demon tortoise, boasting solid protective power.
Had he not possessed the Black Water Mirror, he might have considered it.
After all, he lacked neither means of attack nor methods of escape; his sole deficiency was a defensive magic treasure.
The Black Water Mirror could both attack and defend, though it was mediocre in both respects. However, because of its high quality, its defensive capability was hardly inferior to the tortoise shell, making it more than sufficient for Qin Sang's needs. There was no reason to buy another.
With the treasures on him, he could certainly afford a trade, but he was not foolish enough to do so.
In the end, Qin Sang shook his head, closed the jade boxes, and pushed them back.
The woman had witnessed such scenes many times before. Without batting an eye, she put them away, remaining as warm and attentive toward Qin Sang as ever.
After a moment of contemplation, Qin Sang stated the true purpose of his visit. "This poor Daoist wishes to refine a few items and requires earth fiend qi. I wonder if your guild has the means to help investigate where earth fiend qi might be found near Pingbo Port? Spirit stones are no issue."
"Earth fiend qi?"
The woman glanced at Qin Sang in surprise. Being at the Foundation Establishment stage, she naturally understood that earth fiend qi was an object of extreme yin. Cultivators dreaded it like the plague, so she had not expected anyone to seek it out proactively.
Just what was he refining that required earth fiend qi?
The thought flickered through her mind, but she quickly suppressed it. She lacked the audacity to pry into the secrets of a Core Formation master; the guild certainly would not protect her if she crossed that line.
Rising to her feet, the woman said, "Please wait a moment, Senior. This junior will immediately have someone look into it..."
"Hold on."
Qin Sang waved a hand to stop her and tossed over a pouch of spirit stones. "There is one more matter to look into while you're at it. Find out which guilds plan to send people to Witch God Mountain to use the teleportation formation to reach the Storm Demon Sea anytime soon."
The matter of the Hall of Seven Kills made Qin Sang feel a sudden pressing urgency.
Only with sufficient strength would he possess a degree of self-preservation inside the Hall of Seven Kills.
He had given up on touring human territories to learn about local customs, choosing instead to head straight for the Storm Demon Sea to hunt demons and cultivate. The shortest route was naturally the ancient teleportation array at Witch God Mountain.
Not only did he have to leave, but the sooner the better. Otherwise, once those Witch Clan Nascent Soul cultivators returned, there was no telling what chaos might erupt.
Learning from Du Han that the Witch Clan's Nascent Soul cultivators had disappeared en masse gave Qin Sang the persistent sense of a brewing storm. Dark undercurrents surged through the Canglang Sea, and heading to the Storm Demon Sea might allow him to steer clear of the vortex.
The problem, however, lay in his human identity.
Although Witch God Mountain did not turn human cultivators away, it was situated deep in the heartland of the Witch God Continent. A vast distance separated Pingbo Port from the mountain, requiring one to cross the domains of numerous powerful Witch Clan sects.
Trespassing into such territory alone would likely result in being cornered and slain before making it very far.
The top merchant guilds daring enough to do business across the Witch God Continent maintained intricate ties with Witch Clan factions. Traveling alongside them was the only reliable guarantee of safety.
Qin Sang was not alone in this; other human cultivators on the Witch God Continent did the exact same thing.
Weighing the pouch in her hand, the woman flashed an even sweeter smile. "Senior need not ask anyone else—this junior already knows. A grand manager from the Qiongyu Guild of the Eastern Pole Alliance is currently in Pingbo Port, preparing to return to the Storm Demon Sea in a month's time. The news was just released, and they are actively recruiting hands. With Senior's cultivation, you will surely be highly valued by the Qiongyu Guild. Even if you do not wish to join them, as long as you do not disrupt the Qiongyu Guild's rules, they are more than willing to forge a good relationship with Senior..."
"The Eastern Pole Alliance? Is that the grand merchant league spanning the Eastern Waters?"
Qin Sang was delighted. Backed by the Eastern Pole Alliance, traveling alongside the Qiongyu Guild would leave no doubts about his safety.
"Indeed. As long as one is an affiliate flying the banner of the Eastern Pole Alliance, one can move without hindrance across the Witch God Continent. The Qiongyu Guild's stronghold is located at the northernmost edge of the trading district."
The woman carefully described the exact location.
"Many thanks for the information, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang cupped his hands and produced a list. "If your noble guild has any of the spirit herbs and spirit materials listed here, please fetch them as well."
The woman took the list and glanced over it, nodding. "Our shop does indeed sell several of these spirit herbs. This junior will be back shortly."
Chapter 665