Five elements metal crystals were usually found deep within spirit ore veins. Their rarity and value were on par with the five elements refined souls used to craft sword talismans.
This spell actually required continually refining such metal crystals; any ordinary Qi Refining cultivator who devoted himself to it would likely end up destitute.
Qin Xuan did not believe he possessed that kind of wealth either.
Even if he turned his hundred-treasure pouch completely inside out, he would not find a single spirit material of that caliber.
Still, high requirements meant Senior Mao was a decent sort who had not fobbed him off with some shallow, slapdash formula.
"Here, take this."
With a flick of his palm, Mao Yan tossed something over. Qin Xuan caught it and looked down. It was only the size of a bowl bottom and as thick as a palm, its edges rough and uneven, gleaming with a golden luster.
A curious warmth surged into his palm, showing at once that it was no common object.
"This is five elements spirit metal. It's much easier to find and simple to buy. The piece in your hand would run you fifty spirit stones if the merchant is honest. I'll give this piece of spirit metal to you. Once you're familiar with the manual, feel free to try refining it."
Mao Yan had initially intended to say a few words about how difficult Metal Spirit Origin Qi was to practice.
On second thought, he decided against dampening Qin Xuan's enthusiasm. He found the junior rather entertaining, and the boy could fan the flames to aid his cultivation.
So Mao Yan smiled and said, "Every five days, come fan the fire for me seven times, and I'll give you a piece of spirit metal as payment. How about it?"
Qin Xuan asked, "Senior, can you pay in five elements metal crystals instead?"
"In your dreams. This old man doesn't have any." Mao Yan added, "Are you doing it or not? If not, put down that fan..."
"I'll do it!"
Qin Xuan took on this boiler room part-time job, bade Senior Mao farewell, and returned to his quarters to study the methods of Metal Spirit Origin Qi as well as the wondrous Zhongzhou art the little fox had given him.
Life like this was not half bad—cultivating in peace and quiet, completely undisturbed.
Three days later, Qin Xuan made a trip to Lianyun Manor, where he met Zhu Jinting once again.
Thanks to Madam Wei's connection, their interaction was even warmer than before.
He checked off the medicinal herbs Mao Yan had arranged for and picked up a few spirit herbs he needed along the way. After petting the cat around the manor for a while, he safely delivered the medicinal herbs back to Jinghu Manor, thus finishing the errand.
On the sixth day, Qin Xuan returned to Yuansong Temple.
He met with Zhao Huaimin and the others, used his temple contribution at the Scripture Hall to exchange for several Daoist texts dealing with the Nine Palaces, then went to his courtyard to change the spirit water and inspect Old Pine for changes.
Those two gatekeeping birds were quite effective; at least Old Pine had not visited him in dreams to pelt him with pine nuts again.
It was the forty-first day of Elder Pan Ang's quiet reflection on the back mountain.
Daylight broke full and clear as the morning sun rose from the east.
"Young Master, over here, over here!"
In an alley off Huashi Street in the west of the city, the young girl led the way, constantly looking back to urge on Qin Xuan as he glanced around.
The alleys branched in every direction; anyone unfamiliar with the paths could easily lose their way.
Qin Xuan caught up to her pace and asked, "Do you come here often?"
"Of course."
The young girl glanced back at him and pointed to a large willow tree by the road. "Back before I took human form, I hid in that tree because a pack of stray dogs was chasing me."
Qin Xuan looked toward the massive tree, vaguely picturing a shivering little fox.
"Didn't you grow up in the mountains?"
"Who said that?"
"I'll have you know," Gu Mei'er said, pulling him up onto the willow branch and pointing toward the distant east, "ever since I was little, I've lived near a great city in that direction. I've never stayed in a mountain forest for three days straight. Whenever my grandfather wasn't home, let alone humans, even the stray cats and dogs nearby terrified me."
Her background was completely different from what Qin Xuan had imagined.
Realizing his misconception, he asked, "Your grandfather isn't a fox?"
Gu Mei'er smiled. "Nope. Grandfather is human, not a demon, which is why he's always lived in the city. His surname is Gu, my mother's surname was Gu, and mine is Gu as well. I've just never met my mother—Grandfather said she passed away."
As she said this, the little fox showed little sorrow, having no memory of her mother at all.
Qin Xuan, however, feared touching a sore spot for her as well as bringing up his own grief, so he refrained from asking further.
Guessing the reason, he asked, "Is it your grandfather who wants to buy the yin spirits?"
"Mm."
Gu Mei'er nodded and asked, "Are you worried I'm tricking you?"
Without hesitation, Qin Xuan said, "Lead the way."
"Great!"
Turning through several more alleys where the foot traffic grew increasingly sparse, Qin Xuan saw a small river, a long row of willows, a few houses, and a banner flag.
Whatever characters had been written on it were faded beyond recognition.
Outside the wooden house sat five large vermilion coffins.
Before the door, an emaciated, gray-haired old man stood hunched over, plane in hand, shaving down a wooden board stroke by stroke as wood shavings curled and dropped to the ground.
Qin Xuan could not sense the slightest ripple of magic power from him.
When the old man turned his head, his movements were sluggish as well, the very image of an elderly mortal. The wrinkles on his face were carved as deep as knife gouges, his eye sockets hollowed, and his seemingly cloudy eyes bore a pinpoint of keen light fixed on Qin Xuan.
The old man stared at Qin Xuan for a good while, his eyes shifting back and forth in apparent confusion.
"Mei'er, feel his hand."
"Oh."
Gu Mei'er took Qin Xuan's hand and felt it.
The old man asked, "Warm or cold?"
"Grandfather, what are you talking about? Of course it's warm."
Qin Xuan asked, "Elder, is there something wrong with me?"
Old Man Gu patted the coffin beside him.
"This old man makes his living in this trade, so I have a bit of skill to my name—at least enough to discern between life and death. When I first laid eyes on you just now, I took you for a dead man. Since you are alive, have you run into some foul things recently?"
Would the fiend count?
Qin Xuan kept silent, studying the old man closely once more. Even if the fox's grandfather possessed no magic power, he likely commanded unorthodox arts.
"Grandfather, can't you say something pleasant? Young Master Qin came to sell yin spirits."
At those words, the old man broke into a broad grin, revealing two gapped rows of missing teeth. Shaking the wood shavings from his clothes, he fetched a chair and stepped forward to greet him.
"Come, Young Master, have a seat here."
Fawning with a smile, he asked, "Young Master, bring out the yin spirits and let this old man have a look."
Qin Xuan took out the whole heap of bottles and jars from the Xieling Sect. These were vessels for nurturing yin spirits, containing the entire stash from three disciples and three elders.
Old Man Gu squatted on the ground and inspected them one by one, nodding at times and shaking his head at others.
Qin Xuan took the opportunity to follow up on their earlier topic. "Old Gu, if someone runs into foul things, will it cause trouble?"
"Since you're not dead, there's no need to worry. Usually, once those ghostly things set their sights on a person, nobody survives. If you run into one next time, just capture it and bring it to this old man. I guarantee you a handsome price."
Qin Xuan did not quite understand, but since it touched upon his own secrets, he refrained from probing further.
Having examined them all, Old Man Gu shook his head and said, "Young Master, these yin spirits of yours are all rubbish. There are no ancient ghosts or old demons among them—hardly worth a copper."
Qin Xuan had also thought they held little value.
Yet he noticed the little fox shaking her head and making eyes at him.
Qin Xuan took the hint. "If they aren't worth anything, then I won't sell."
Old Man Gu did not answer Qin Xuan, instead glaring at the little fox. The young girl put on a pitiful look and said, "Grandfather, Young Master Qin is Mei'er's benefactor. You can't swindle him."
"Ai," the old man sighed. "Fine, Young Master, how do you want to sell them?"
Qin Xuan did not understand the jargon of the trade, so Gu Mei'er softly prompted him from the side: "Spirit stones, spirit materials, or magic treasures can all be traded for."
Qin Xuan tested the waters: "I'd like to trade for five elements metal crystals. Is that possible?"
The old man waved his hand in disgust. "Absurd pricing! I have to take these yin souls along the yin roads to peddle in the Yin City. If this old man can't turn a profit, the deal's off."
Qin Xuan could not help asking, "May I ask which Yin City?"
"Within the borders of Yunzhou Prefecture, the Eighth Yin City, naturally."
Qin Xuan had a sudden thought. "Elder, do you know where the Fifth Yin City is?"
The old man shook his head outright. "Don't know, don't know... Why are you asking so much?"
Qin Xuan held his tongue and looked at the jars, uncertain of their true value. "I need spirit materials related to five elements metal crystals. Name your price."
After some thought, Old Man Gu brought out a burlap sack from inside the house and dumped out a stone the size of an ox head, pitch-black and speckled with glittering flecks of gold.
This was...
Qin Xuan did not recognize it at first, but when he squatted down and touched it, the feel was identical to the five elements spirit metal.
He ventured a guess: "Is this five elements spirit metal ore?"
"Oho, you've got sharp eyes after all. For the sake of you saving this little fox, this old man will take a loss and give you this golden lump. Take it back and smelt it yourself, and you'll get a sizable chunk of spirit metal at the very least."
"Done, it's a deal."
Qin Xuan agreed immediately, stowing the golden lump away, and took the opportunity to ask, "Elder, do you have any five elements metal crystals?"
"None."
Old Man Gu shook his head. "Though I do have ways of procuring them, provided you can produce yin spirits of equal value."
"Must it be yin spirits?"
"No," the old man chuckled with a click of his tongue. "The gloomier and more underworldly, the better. The more powerful the ghostly thing, the more valuable it is."
He pointed toward Hawk's Beak Mountain.
"There's no shortage of ghostly things in there. If you can haul some back, you'll make a fortune..."
Chapter 36