Tianyuan Market

Meng Ruhui let out an "oh" of understanding. "Junior Brother, you should know about the Lecture Hall, right? At the end of every ten-day cycle, a Foundation Establishment Uncle-Master will give a sermon there. Most disciples of the sect go to listen. With so many people gathered together, an opportunity like that is rare, so some began to trade with one another for things they needed. Over time, it gradually became a custom: on the final evening of every ten-day cycle, the Lecture Hall turns into a trading fair for sect disciples. Not only does the sect not forbid it, they actively encourage it, and Foundation Establishment Uncle-Masters even make appearances from time to time. However..." Meng Ruhui shifted his tone. "After all, the trade fair is only among outer disciples, so good items are limited. If you wish to purchase high-grade magic tools or rare materials, you still need to go to a cultivation market outside. Once you leave the mountain gate, head straight north to Tianyuan Market... Tianyuan Market is an enterprise of our Yuanzhao Sect. It is very prosperous and well-known throughout the surrounding cultivation world. Once inside, simply present your waist plaque and you will be protected, so there is no need to worry about your safety." Tianyuan Market. Qin Sang committed the location to memory, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother Meng. There are still several days before the end of the ten-day cycle, so I would like to visit Tianyuan Market first to broaden my horizons. Since I will be making the trip anyway, is there anything Senior Brother Meng needs that I could handle on your behalf?" At these words, Meng Ruhui narrowed his eyes and looked Qin Sang up and down. He chuckled and said, "Now that you mention it, something did just cross my mind. There is indeed a small matter. Wait a moment." With that, Meng Ruhui produced a mustard seed bag and handed it to Qin Sang. "I'll trouble you with this, Junior Brother Qin. Once you reach Tianyuan Market, deliver this mustard seed bag to the shopkeeper of Huichun Hall and say Old Meng sent it. In the future, when you buy medicine at Huichun Hall, mention my name and they will give you twenty percent off." Qin Sang did not ask what was inside the mustard seed bag. After seeing Meng Ruhui off, he walked around Huiyang Valley, set up a simple cave dwelling, and then departed. Yet unexpectedly, less than an hour after leaving, Qin Sang returned to Cloud-Moving Valley, his expression extremely grim. Only when he drew near the thatched cottage did he put on a smile and return the mustard seed bag to Meng Ruhui. Meng Ruhui looked displeased and frowned. "Junior Brother Qin, what is the meaning of this?" Qin Sang forced a smile. "Please forgive me, Senior Brother Meng. Just as I was about to leave the mountain gate, my heart suddenly stirred, and I felt signs of an impending breakthrough. I need to enter closed-door seclusion to meditate on it, so I fear I cannot go to Tianyuan Market for the time being. I have not touched or looked at a single thing inside the mustard seed bag. Please check it, Senior Brother Meng..." Meng Ruhui gave Qin Sang a cold glance, snatched the mustard seed bag, turned into the thatched cottage, and slammed the door shut with a bang. Qin Sang smiled wryly to himself. He knew he had offended Senior Brother Meng this time, and his future days would likely not be easy, but he had no choice. When soldiers come, send generals to counter; when floods rise, build dams of earth. How much worse could things get? With a soft sigh, Qin Sang shook his head, mounted the Void-Traversing Wind, and returned to Huiyang Valley. He was extraordinarily cautious the entire way, repeatedly glancing back as if terrified someone was tailing him. After returning to his cave dwelling, he first used the Soul-Bewildering Mirror to lay down a mirror array at the entrance before letting out a long breath of relief. Qin Sang sat down on his water-heart bamboo cushion, looking restless, his eyes darting with conflicting thoughts. Only after quite a while did he slowly open his left hand. In his palm sat a jet-black eye! The eye was entirely black, and the eyeball was alive, rolling back and forth within Qin Sang's palm. The dark pupil seemed to possess an awareness of its own. As its gaze swept across Qin Sang's face, Qin Sang felt as though it carried an eerie smirk capable of seeing straight into his soul, making his hair stand on end. This demonic eye had been given to him by Zhao Yan. Recalling what had just transpired, Qin Sang's fist clenched tight. He had inquired about Tianyuan Market with his own plans in mind. If no one blocked his way all the way to Tianyuan Market, he would have vanished without ever looking back, running as far as he possibly could. Yet to his utter surprise, the moment he stepped out of Huiyang Valley, Zhao Yan's voice had suddenly sounded by his ear. "Junior Brother Qin, where are you off to so late?" Qin Sang's heart clenched. He hurriedly brought down his magic tool, only to see Zhao Yan appear in a flash before him, glaring with a dark expression. Back in the Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground, Qin Sang had already realized that the relationship between Zhao Yan and Yu Hua was not simple, and that Zhao Yan was likely also an undercover agent for the Kuiyin Sect. Therefore, he showed no surprise at all, bowed as if nothing were amiss, and brought out the excuse he had prepared well in advance. "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao. Senior Brother Meng from Cloud-Moving Valley arranged for me to deliver an item to Tianyuan Market. Seeing that night is falling, I was in a hurry to leave the mountain." Zhao Yan drew out a long "oh," his gaze circling Qin Sang's face. In an inscrutable tone, he asked, "Junior Brother Qin is quite remarkable indeed, earning Senior Brother Meng's trust so quickly. I wonder what Senior Brother Meng had you deliver? Could you show it to me?" Qin Sang showed hesitation. "This..." Zhao Yan let out an angry snort. His lips moved slightly, not to speak aloud, but in voice transmission. Hearing the transmitted words, Qin Sang feigned shock and cried out, "Senior Brother Zhao, you all are also—" "Shut up!" Zhao Yan snapped, glaring fiercely, and said coldly, "Do not forget your identity, or Liu Yi's fate will be yours! Give me Meng Ruhui's things!" Qin Sang hurriedly took out the mustard seed bag Meng Ruhui had given him and handed it over, finally dispelling Zhao Yan's suspicions. Although he had bluffed his way through, Qin Sang became certain of one thing: it was practically impossible for him to escape the Yuanzhao Sect now, and he was sinking deeper and deeper into this quagmire. This demonic eye was what Zhao Yan had given him—his so-called sect mission. It was fused with his bloodline; should it leave his body by more than a zhang, it would vanish into thin air and automatically return within him. Zhao Yan ordered him to find an open vantage point every night to activate the demonic eye and point it toward the sky, observing the airspace above Huiyang Valley until the demonic eye had recorded every single variation of the valley's formation. Only then would his mission be considered complete. After some time, Zhao Yan and Yu Hua would come to inspect his progress. The demonic eye had to be embedded into a Yanluo Banner, and could only be activated with the banner's power. Qin Sang brought out the Yanluo Banner that the Kuiyin Sect had issued to him, which he had never used. Following the incantation Zhao Yan had taught him, he attempted to merge the demonic eye with the Yanluo Banner, but failed. He tried several times in succession with the same result; the demonic eye and the Yanluo Banner showed no sign of blending at all. Qin Sang stared at the demonic eye, hesitation rising in his gaze. After wavering for a long time, he finally brought out his own Yanluo Banner. After just a single recitation of the incantation, the demonic eye flew toward the Yanluo Banner on its own. Black vapor immediately surged over the Yanluo Banner, churning endlessly. Once the black vapor dispersed, the demonic eye vanished into thin air, leaving behind an emblem of a demonic eye upon the banner, which actually made it look far less sinister. Qin Sang hurriedly summoned the Yanwang and thoroughly inspected it. Finding that it was no different than before, he finally felt at ease. Grabbing the Yanluo Banner, Qin Sang slipped out of his cave dwelling. Night had already fallen, and the sky was sprinkled with shimmering stars.