"Senior, what sort of errand is this?"
"Since you have an enmity with the Lan River Water Palace and that spider demon ambushed you, go investigate whether she has any ties to the Lan River Water Palace."
Hearing Mao Yan's words, Qin Xuan pondered briefly.
Mei'er had said this spider demon was part of the demon horde of Poison Scorpion Valley in Chuanlai Commandery, named Sheng Hu, a general serving under the Poison Scorpion King.
Had it been before, he might not have seen through the situation.
Now, however, his perspective had changed.
The spider demon was linked to the Huanyin Sect, whereas the black catfish great demon was an affiliate of Guangling Water Palace. Senior Mao wanted to eliminate hidden perils to prevent a backstab from the Clear Water Flood Dragon King of Guangling Water Palace.
At the thought of the black catfish demon, Qin Xuan would never decline the errand, no matter how leisurely or demanding it proved to be.
Seeing him nod, Mao Yan looked pleased.
A desire to offer guidance arose within him, and he asked, "Which scripture are you currently cultivating?"
Qin Xuan replied, "It is our temple's secret heritage, the Lesser Heavenly Circulation Mind Technique."
Mao Yan remarked, "That method is balanced and gentle, suited to all sorts of constitutions. Disciples on Guanjiang Mountain also use it as a foundational formula. However, it still falls short of the Sixteen Secret Treasuries of my Chongjin Pass."
Having experienced the Metal Spirit Origin Qi, Qin Xuan knew full well this was the truth.
Yet the arts were not passed down lightly. Both Old Daoist Wu and Uncle Li possessed Guanjiang Mountain's secret arts.
Still, without the Upper Court's nod, no one dared impart the core scriptures to an outsider.
Reading his thoughts, Mao Yan said, "You handled the matter at Lianyun Manor exceptionally well. While I possess some magical treasures, they are not quite suited to your use. I shall record this merit for you, and together with what you do next, I will report it all to Madam Wei once she exits seclusion."
With earnest gravity, he continued, "Madam Wei bears the true transmission of the Great Dao. When she bestows fortune upon juniors, it is entirely at her own discretion, bound by no one. She is unlike this old man, constrained by the rules of Chongjin Pass, unable to teach many true transmissions outside our lineage. Imparting one strand of the Secret Demon Evil-Dispelling Great Method to you was already my limit."
Even if Senior Mao was merely painting an illusory prize, Qin Xuan found the prospect quite enticing.
His greatest supports were the ancient mirror, the Immortal Gate Sword Art, and the Taiyin Soul Transformation Art.
Those three granted him immense improvement, particularly in cultivation and combat, yet none were "secret lineage scriptures" for attaining the Dao.
The Metal Spirit Origin Qi was the same—it was a technique for dispelling evil and slaying foes.
With these assets accumulated, Qin Xuan already surpassed many Qi Refining cultivators, but he had never had the opportunity to obtain a core scripture or secret treasury.
At this moment, he thought of Jinyanshu once more.
Old Jin had left behind a single copper coin to pursue the Red Sandalwood Box Scripture, and nothing had been heard of him since.
Elder Wu had succeeded, yet he had also fallen into the net.
Who knew where Jinyanshu was now? The next time they met, would he have to address him as Perfected One Jin?
Seeing his mind wander, Mao Yan did not interrupt.
Suddenly, Qin Xuan's expression shifted, taking on a look of pitiful grievance.
Mao Yan had long seen through his character and could not help clutching his hundred-treasure pouch. "My sleeves are clean and empty. Don't you dare scheme against me!"
Qin Xuan knew Senior Mao's temperament just as well, yet he pressed on with his lamentations: "Senior, that spider demon has over two hundred years of cultivation! She is cunning, treacherous, and skilled in combat—I'm no match for her!"
"On this trip to Lianyun Manor, I offended the Renmao Sect and forged a blood feud with the Xieling Sect. I heard that Feng Wen, vice sect master of the Xieling Sect, has already led a large band south from Mount Tong to capture me."
"Then there's Qiu Bailu and his lot from the Renmao Sect. I overturned his den and showed my face in Daoxiang Hollow; he's bound to find out."
"Looking around, the entire world is full of enemies!"
Qin Xuan let out a sigh. "Most of them are at the Core Formation realm. How could I ever be a match for them? If we meet on a narrow path, I fear the temple head wouldn't even arrive in time to save me. Once this junior breathes his last, it won't just disgrace Senior—I won't be able to run errands for Madam Wei either."
Mao Yan considered it and found reason in his words. He could not help remarking, "You truly have a knack for stirring up trouble."
"Senior, you can't say that! I'm the meritorious hero who found the cat!"
"Fine, fine, shut your mouth!"
Mao Yan flicked his wide sleeve, hesitating for a moment. "How about this: I shall lend you a life-preserving item. But understand this—it is merely a loan, not a gift."
Qin Xuan's worry turned instantly to delight. "Many thanks, Senior! Senior Mao is truly a paragon of virtue, radiating immortal elegance and towering brilliance!"
"What kind of nonsense are you babbling?" Mao Yan scolded, though a smile broke across his face.
From his hundred-treasure pouch, he produced an earthen jar resembling one used for storing salt, roughly the size of a rice bowl. He then drew out a spirit talisman, struck a seal incantation into it, and fixed it onto the jar.
"There, take it."
Qin Xuan accepted the earthen jar and inspected it curiously. "What is this?"
With a proud look, Mao Yan said, "What this jar holds is the Willow Constellation Earth Rock Fire Evil from the Seventy-Two Earth Evils, merged with a strand of Secret Demon Divine Quail True Fire that I refined. This true fire was refined for a full sexagenary cycle; such heat is enough to forge a top-grade flying sword."
Qin Xuan was both astonished and touched. Had Senior Mao brought out one of his prized bottom-of-the-chest treasures?
"Senior, can I activate it?"
"You want to activate it?"
Mao Yan chuckled in amusement. "You certainly dream big, kid. You haven't even formed your Dao Foundation, yet you want to activate my true fire? Even if that spider demon or Qiu Bailu tried, they couldn't activate it either."
"However, I added a seal incantation infused with my magic power. You need only bring out this jar and recite the incantation; the fire evil will carry the true fire to shield you, ensuring none of those people you mentioned can lay a finger on you. Then, you can use a spirit talisman to summon Temple Head Wu to your aid. As long as you remain within the commandery, he will surely have ample time to reach you."
With that, he taught him the incantation.
Qin Xuan felt entirely reassured. Thanking him once more, he stowed the earthen jar away.
"Take good care of it, kid, and do not lose it. My true fire is no easy thing to cultivate. I'll say this in advance: if you lose it, you're coming with me to Chongjin Pass to tend my furnace fire!"
Qin Xuan gave his assent, then caught sight of a faint smile on Senior Mao's face.
*Good grief, what a calculation! You want me to fan your furnace, don't you? I definitely have to guard this jar with my life and not fall into your trap.*
After putting away the jar, Qin Xuan recalled another matter.
Now that he was an insider, speaking was far easier, with no need to beat around the bush. "Senior, that cat is mischievous. Why don't you keep it by your side to watch over it?"
"Out of the question."
Mao Yan's face darkened. "It scurries up and down, scratched one of my precious fans to pieces, and played several of the fire-armored spirit beetles I was rearing to death! Were it not for Madam Wei doting on it, I would have beaten the mischief right out of it!"
Qin Xuan took the opening to ask, "Then why not leave the cat at Chongjin Pass? Why bring it along?"
Mao Yan made no secret of it: "It didn't come from Chongjin Pass. It was gifted by a friend when Madam Wei visited Mount Zijin."
"A friend from Mount Zijin..." Qin Xuan murmured.
Mao Yan spoke plainly without speaking in riddles: "On Mount Zijin there is a great sect known as the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Due to events of the past, its founding patriarch, Lord Zibo, has taken great care of our Chongjin Pass lineage, and the two share an exceptionally close bond. The Taiqing Immortal Sect is also a branch of the Great Lingbao Sect, only slightly different from the other ancestral lineages."
Here, Mao Yan paused.
"The cat was gifted by someone from Tiandu Peak. I have never ascended that peak; I only heard Madam Wei mention it."
"Who was it?" Qin Xuan pressed, curious.
Mao Yan glanced at him. "It is Tiandu Fairy of the Taiqing Immortal Sect."
"This cat was originally a golden civet, but its demon blood talent never awakened and it grew a bit crooked. Its master thought it was simply too fat, so it was brought over here to get some fresh air. Along the way, Madam Wei grew quite fond of it."
*So that's how it is,* Qin Xuan realized.
"Senior, what talent does a golden civet possess?"
Mao Yan replied matter-of-factly, "A golden civet digs for gold—hunting treasures, naturally."
"What?!"
"No need to be surprised. Before Chaotic Antiquity, across countless eons, many factions raised rare beasts of this kind. Legend has it that in ancient times, the Thirty-Three Heavens collapsed and crashed upon the Nine Provinces, forming countless immortal mountains. Such rare beasts were used to seek out fortuitous encounters within those immortal mountains. But that was far too long ago, and such demon blood talents are exceedingly difficult to mature."
Mao Yan spoke with perceived insight, adding sourly, "So if this cat could ever bring back a single rare treasure, I'd consider it miraculous."
At that moment, Qin Xuan suddenly remembered something...
*Wait... didn't this cat pick out a piece of junk back in Pingyuan King's tomb?*
All at once, he could barely sit still.
"Senior, I should make a trip back to the temple first to inform the temple head about Lianyun Manor and that tomb."
"Mhm, go on."
...
Chapter 52