"To think Fellow Daoist Fan was able to invite Fellow Daoist Qin. It seems we have nothing to worry about on this trip."
The green-robed scholar gave Qin Sang a good-natured smile.
Qin Sang's expression softened slightly. Cupping his hands, he replied, "Fellow Daoist overpraises me. I still do not know why Fellow Daoist Fan invited me here, and I have not agreed to anything yet."
The plump cultivator chimed in hastily, "Fellow Daoist Qin, why not step onto the island and wait for a moment? Once the other Daoists arrive, I will explain the whole story from beginning to end. As long as you agree, the terms I promised will certainly be honored."
After a moment's consideration, Qin Sang flew over on his flying sword. His eyes gleamed as he surveyed the surroundings. Confirming there was nothing amiss on the island, he flashed down to alight on a reef, keeping his distance from the others.
The green-robed scholar exchanged a few pleasantries with Qin Sang, but seeing Qin Sang's cool demeanor, he tactfully held his tongue.
After a short wait, three more people arrived in succession, all of whom were cultivators Qin Sang had seen in the cultivation market.
Observing coldly from the side, Qin Sang noticed that these people were all standouts among cultivators in the early Core Formation stage, each possessing formidable strength. It seemed this plump cultivator had ambitious plans.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, you have invited so many of us here. Surely you can tell us what this is about now?"
Night had already fallen, and someone questioned him impatiently.
The plump cultivator offered an apologetic smile. "Fellow Daoist Qian, do not be impatient. There is still one more Daoist who has yet to arrive, but he should be here shortly. When he does, I will certainly not keep you in suspense and will explain everything without reservation."
Even as he spoke, a streak of azure light flew in from the distance, coming to a halt outside the island to reveal the figure of a gaunt, withered old man.
"Fellow Daoist Wan is here!"
A look of delight appeared on the plump cultivator's face, but just as he stepped forward to greet him, the gaunt old man snapped angrily, "Fan, you said you were inviting me here to hunt for treasure together. What is the meaning of gathering so many people to ambush me here?"
Only after the plump cultivator offered a flurried explanation did the gaunt old man fly up with lingering suspicion.
By this point, seven Core Formation cultivators had gathered on the island, enough to form a small trade fair of their own. Everyone looked toward the plump cultivator, all very curious about what he intended to do.
One did not even need to think to know that convincing so many people must have cost the plump cultivator an enormous price. Whatever he sought had to be worth such a payout.
The plump cultivator gave a light cough, keeping them in suspense no longer. With a solemn expression, he said, "The reason I invited everyone here today is to ask for your help in breaking through a restriction."
"A restriction?"
"What kind of restriction?"
"Could it be an ancient restriction? Has Fellow Daoist discovered a legendary ancient secret realm in the Demon Sea?"
"Where is it located?"
...
For a moment, everyone's interest was piqued by the plump cultivator, and questions flew in rapid succession.
Even the gaunt old man, whose face had been dark all along, revealed an excited expression.
Ever since the cultivators of the two races advanced into the Demon Sea, the demon beasts had held the upper hand. In the beginning, the beast tide had nearly overrun Dahuang Island and Tianwu Island. Even after securing a foothold, the cultivators had occupied only a tiny fraction of the Demon Sea, living under constant threat of beast tides, and no one had ever discovered a legendary ancient secret realm here.
Some suspected that before the Demon Sea was discovered, it had always been the domain of demon beasts, with no cultivators ever setting foot here, which would explain the lack of traces left by ancient cultivators.
Hearing that the plump cultivator had invited them to break a restriction, the group was not only surprised, but immensely intrigued.
The plump cultivator waved his hands repeatedly. "Fellow Daoists, you misunderstand. It is not an ancient secret realm. I suspect the place is the cave dwelling of a senior cultivator..."
"A senior cultivator's cave dwelling?"
The crowd looked at one another.
The gaunt old man sneered, "Such temporary cave dwellings are everywhere. Who would be foolish enough to leave good things inside? Aren't you afraid of getting your hopes up for nothing?"
The green-robed scholar furrowed his brows in thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "For Fellow Daoist to be willing to pay such a high price to hire us, you must have noticed something, right? May I ask whose cave dwelling it is?"
The plump cultivator nodded. "I will not conceal it from you all. The cave dwelling actually has three layers of restrictions. After racking my brains, I managed to break through only two of them. As for the third layer, no matter how I tried, I could not shake it in the slightest. I originally intended to return and ask my friends for assistance, but who would have thought this turmoil would arise? They were all trapped on Huntian Island and unable to leave. Left with no alternative, I took advantage of the opening of the market to invite everyone to lend a hand. And even though I only breached two layers of the restriction, I discovered a few items proving that the master of the cave dwelling may have been of extraordinary status. Risking financial ruin, I decided to take a gamble."
The gaunt old man scoffed, "Just who is this cave dwelling's master? Fellow Daoist Fan is being so mysterious—could it be some Nascent Soul Patriarch?"
His laughter gradually faded as he noticed the strange look the plump cultivator was giving him. His expression froze, replaced by sheer disbelief. "It really is a Nascent Soul cave dwelling?"
"Hard to say."
The plump cultivator shook his head. "I consider myself to have some skill. For a restriction to leave me completely helpless despite racking my brains, it must be the handiwork of someone at least at the peak of the Core Formation stage. Furthermore, I discovered an object inside the cave dwelling..."
With that, the plump cultivator produced a decayed piece of fish skin.
The skin was severely corroded, looking as though a piece could tear off at the slightest touch. It had once been covered in tight, compact scales, but now it was mottled and patchy, with many having fallen away.
Yet upon seeing this nearly shapeless fish skin, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.
"This is..."
The green-robed scholar swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly. "The hide of a Transformation stage great demon?"
Qin Sang stared intently at the fish skin as well. Even though it had decayed, it still carried a lingering trace of the great demon's aura from when it was alive, sending chills down the spine. This instinctual awe and oppression was something Qin Sang had felt only from Nascent Soul Patriarchs!
The hide of a Transformation stage great demon!
This was the first time in his life he had ever seen such a thing.
The entire group was struck speechless with shock, staring blankly at the fish skin.
The plump cultivator nodded. "Fellow Daoists have surely recognized it. This hide is precisely what I discovered in that cave dwelling. At the time, I was overjoyed, but unexpectedly, there was only a simple restriction on the hide, which had long since lost its power over the passage of time. Even the hide of a Transformation stage great demon could not escape the erosion of the years. You all understand how terrifying a Transformation stage great demon is. A hide of this size is something even a Nascent Soul Patriarch would regard as a rare treasure. Conversely, only a Nascent Soul Patriarch would have the boldness to treat it so casually."
The hide was decayed and no longer of much use.
The plump cultivator casually handed it to the person beside him, and it was passed around the circle.
When it reached Qin Sang, he held it in his hands, gently caressing the hide. He had seen a living Transformation stage great demon in the Lesser Cold Domain, but this was the first time he had seen the remains of one.
The hide was not fake. That unique aura was something no one could forge.
The plump cultivator said solemnly, "Can everyone believe me now?"
Reluctantly handing the hide back to the plump cultivator, the gaunt old man probed, "If it even contains the hide of a Transformation stage great demon, you must have reaped quite a harvest, Fellow Daoist? Surely not every item is as decayed as this hide. Why not broaden our horizons a bit?"
Chapter 699