Tribulation-Transcending Precious Medicine and the Daozi

Qin Xuan flew more than twenty li through the air before shaking off any pursuers. Only then did he find an abandoned house in the northern quarter whose owners had fled. He ducked inside to rest, downing several gulps of spirit dew before sitting cross-legged to regulate his breath. An incense stick's time later, he brought out the vermilion coffin to inspect the yakshas within. "If Master Xiong could borrow a kasaya, I can borrow a few yakshas. Anything borrowed on one's own merit from a den of wicked monks never needs returning." The thought left Qin Xuan thoroughly pleased with himself. Though the ghostly coffin shrank the yakshas, holding five of them filled it almost to capacity. He needed to unload them first. Among the five, two were unusual. One was the creature he had cornered near Lianyun Manor, which possessed noticeable cunning. The other was the massive beast captured by the vile monks of Liangfeng Temple. Even on the verge of death, it radiated sheer ferocity—otherwise, it would never have slaughtered so many monks. In terms of cultivation, this behemoth likely matched a Core Formation qi refiner. Qin Xuan's eyes gleamed. Fox Grandpa had once remarked that fortunes were to be made in ancient tombs, and the two nether emissaries chatting in front of Huyue Book Pavilion had echoed the sentiment. Such ancient yaksha ghosts had to fetch a handsome sum. "No, I must be shrewd this time, lest Fox Grandpa swindle me again." Calming his thoughts, Qin Xuan gazed at the heavy, dark clouds blanketing the sky. With his current magic power, rushing to the main battleground at Hawk's Beak Mountain would hardly help Daoist Wu break the Renmao Sect's great formation. Here in the chaos of the commandery city, however, he could truly make a difference. He swallowed another mouthful of spirit dew. Deciding to stay close, Qin Xuan headed first to Huyue Book Pavilion. The moment Advisor Hu—subordinate to the Flood Dragon King—spotted him, his face lit up as if greeting his finest patron. Pushing aside the books beside him, he hurried over. "Young Master Qin looks radiant. You must have struck it rich!" The streets had long emptied of pedestrians, leaving Old Hu standing alone, extraordinarily conspicuous. Qin Xuan asked, "Mr. Hu, what price does an ancient ghost like a yaksha fetch?" "Well..." Advisor Hu hesitated before replying in earnest, "If bartered for goods, it is hard to say. In nether money, one ancient ghost is worth two taels." "What?!" Qin Xuan's expression soured. "Aren't you being far too greedy?" "Not at all! Even if you went to Yin City, you would get the exact same rate," Advisor Hu said. "Hand over a yaksha to me, and I will share every secret concerning the Yishui River God's manor with you." "Some other day." "Young Master Qin! Young Master Qin...!" Old Hu called after him several times, chasing him to the threshold, but Qin Xuan had already flown away on his cloud. Heading straight to the western city, he entered the coffin shop in Huashi Alley. Perhaps because of the heavy debt he carried, this place filled Qin Xuan with both anticipation and unease. He simply owed too little. Had he owed Fox Grandpa ten thousand taels, he might have felt at peace. Still, walking the nether paths could not be easy for an old man, and Qin Xuan was not the sort to default shamelessly. As he approached the shop, Old Man Gu, who was busy planing a coffin, looked up. A broad grin spread across his face, wrinkling his skin like crumpled parchment. Qin Xuan smiled back, then called toward the interior, "Mei'er! Mei'er!" Old Man Gu's smile froze instantly at the call. Mei'er emerged at once, dressed in her usual attire. Yet every time Qin Xuan saw her, she seemed more enchanting than before, like a little fox demon transforming into an immortal maiden. Still, the fox maiden could not afford to laugh. The moment she giggled, her composure dissolved. No wonder the white crane had been so obsessed with the jeweled-canopy spirit grass; it truly was miraculous. Ignoring Old Man Gu for the moment, Qin Xuan brought out a gourd filled with herbal spirit water the moment he saw the young fox. "For me?" "Of course." Mei'er beamed with delight and took it. Spirit water was immensely useful to her as well. White-haired Old Man Gu stood aside, his aged gaze shifting between the two of them, his face dark and inscrutable. Only then did Qin Xuan turn to him. "Elder Gu, what is the going rate for an ancient yaksha ghost?" Old Man Gu answered decisively, "Two taels of nether money." Qin Xuan glanced at Mei'er. She shook her head, signaling it was too low. With a sullen face, Old Man Gu revised his offer: "Three taels." Qin Xuan looked at Mei'er again. Feeling guilty under her grandfather's stare, she gave another discreet hint with her eyes. Catching her drift, Qin Xuan raised a hand. "Starting at five taels." Old Man Gu hesitated. "Let this old man inspect the yakshas first." Hearing this, Qin Xuan roughly grasped their worth. Knowing little of underground Yin City, he appreciated the convenience Fox Grandpa provided and was willing to let the elder turn a profit, but he had no desire to be taken for a fool. He produced the vermilion coffin and displayed the five yakshas inside. Old Man Gu chuckled faintly. "Very well. This old man will take a slight loss and give you twenty-five taels, deducted directly from what you owe in nether money." Qin Xuan spoke measuredly, "Elder Gu, might we negotiate? I would never renege on the nether money I owe you, but I desperately need spiritual materials for my cultivation right now. Besides, we agreed before that I would repay the nether money whenever I actually had it. "At present, I possess no nether money. I only wished to use the currency of the netherworld to measure the value of these yakshas." Fox Grandpa did not object. "This old man has always been accommodating to regular customers. Have it your way: twenty-five taels converted into spirit gold ore." Qin Xuan shook his head with a grin. "Elder Gu, fifteen taels' worth will suffice." He pointed toward the massive yaksha and the clever one. "I'm not selling these two. I plan to keep them as pets." Old Man Gu paused, studied Qin Xuan's expression, and turned to Mei'er. "You aren't a fox. The one standing next to you is the real fox." Mei'er flashed Qin Xuan a smile. "Young Master, Grandpa is praising your wit." Qin Xuan offered a sheepish, modest smile. Old Man Gu grumbled, "I might as well throw this little vixen in with the trade!" "Grandpa!" Old Man Gu was merely grumbling. Turning into the inner room, he hauled out a burlap sack, pulled out two hefty chunks of spirit gold ore, and produced two small pieces of five elements metal crystal. By Qin Xuan's rough estimate, the haul was worth nearly fifty taels of nether money—naturally factoring in the value of the two unusual yakshas. Without haggling further, Qin Xuan accepted the ores. Fox Grandpa brought out a new coffin and swapped it for the old one holding the yakshas. Qin Xuan asked, "Which of them is worth more?" Old Man Gu pointed to the cunning yaksha. "This one differs from the other four. It hails from the depths of the Nine Nethers, whereas the other four could have formed along the banks of the Yellow Springs River." Qin Xuan pondered. "Is it remarkably spiritual because it came from the Nine Nethers?" "No." Old Man Gu gave a sinister chuckle. "Ghosts from the depths of the Nine Nethers are not necessarily intelligent by nature. But once they consume certain extraordinary beings, their wisdom awakens. Had you failed to capture it today, it would have become a ghost capable of walking the mortal realm and cultivating the Senluo Ghost Dao. "That is precisely how the Senluo Ghost Dao and ghostly factions in the subterranean caverns originated. "Ordinary cultivators dare not provoke them, for they hold grudges. If you fail to catch one, retribution inevitably follows." Qin Xuan frowned slightly. "Will it die once it finishes the nether journey?" "Its soul will scatter and disperse." Relieved, Qin Xuan remembered another concern. "If these yakshas gorge on blood food within the city, won't they all transform into such creatures?" "As if it were that easy," Old Man Gu said dismissively. "Consuming the kind of blood food you speak of wouldn't awaken their wisdom even after eight or ten years. Deep in the tomb, it had already devoured an extraordinary being. It remained muddled underground, only to be jolted fully awake by the taste of blood above." Having said this, the old man suddenly fell quiet. Qin Xuan had an inkling: Fox Grandpa was about to bestow something on him again. Sure enough... "Little vixen, fetch the True Emperor Sword of the Great Xia imperial family and present it to this young master." "Grandpa, you gave that away long ago," the little fox chimed in before her grandfather could say more. "And the prized treasure of the Northern Nether Great Marsh's Heavenly Demon Mansion, the Ten Thousand Demons Emperor Crown, was already given to Young Master Qin as well." "Is that so..." Old Man Gu gazed toward the east. "Carved upon the stone cliffs of my ancestral land lies the wondrous art of Zhongzhou, the Heaven-Fleeing Steps. When the opportunity arises, we shall go retrieve it together." Qin Xuan smiled and expressed his gratitude. Mei'er walked him out of Huashi Alley. "Chaos has gripped the city, and your shop sits close to the western quarter. Isn't it dangerous here?" Qin Xuan was not offering empty pleasantries; Mei'er had always treated him well, and his concern was genuine. The maiden's lovely face curved into a smile. "We can hide inside the coffins. We have nothing to fear from ghosts. Grandpa told me not to wander off lately. Take care of yourself, Young Master." With that, she took Qin Xuan's hand, pressed a length of hemp cord into his palm, and leaned close to his ear, whispering an incantation. She added, "This is the corpse-binding rope Grandpa uses to lash coffins. It won't help in magical combat, but it will aid you in capturing yakshas." Leaving behind a faint, delicate scent, she darted back into the alley without looking back. What a good girl, Qin Xuan thought, clutching the rope as he watched her departing figure. Returning to Jinghu Manor, Qin Xuan had barely crossed the spirit screen wall into the grounds when a talisman came flying toward him. He had not seen Senior Mao Yan earlier; this must have been left behind by him. Catching it, Senior Mao Yan's voice resonated from the talisman as expected. "Brat Qin, on Madam Wei's orders, I must temporarily leave the manor. The commandery is fraught with peril and you have many enemies, so it is best to avoid roaming outside. The Huanyin Sect's stirring of trouble using the Pingyuan King's tomb has already reached Guanjiang Mountain. "I hear someone from Luogu Peak took the assignment. Since I am away, if anyone arrives here, do not pick a quarrel with them, or you will only suffer for it." Qin Xuan caught the subtext. In other words, if Mao Yan were present, he could pick a fight all he wanted. Senior Mao Yan truly was dependable. The talisman continued, "Judging by the disturbances at the royal tomb, profound mysteries are at play. Nearby great sects and prominent clans have already turned their eyes here. Your cultivation is still meager, so do not rush in recklessly. "By the way, the cat is back." At the mention of the cat, Senior Mao Yan's tone turned foul. "Keep an eye on it for me. I just raised a few new fire-armored spirit insects. If it kills them again, I will truly..." The message trailed off. Qin Xuan mentally supplied the rest: *...truly knock the mischief out of it.* The talisman contained one final reminder: "Madam Wei is resting in quiet seclusion. Do not disturb the inner compound unless summoned." Qin Xuan pondered the deeper meaning. Madam Wei was resting in quiet seclusion, which meant the injuries inflicted by the Huanyin Sect Master were healed? Well, at least mostly healed. In an instant, Qin Xuan felt his spine stiffen with newfound confidence. Madam Wei was a figure capable of doing battle with the Huanyin Sect Master, someone who could summon wind and rain across the East Sea lands. Master Jin Guan? Mountain God Tan? Come to Jinghu Manor and fight me if you dare! On second thought, Senior Mao Yan's final words were clearly meant to reassure him. The visitor from Guanjiang Mountain hailed from Luogu Peak, almost certainly tied to Elder Lai Jing. Informing Qin Xuan of Madam Wei's true condition gave him a solid, unshakable backer. Qin Xuan looked toward Guanjiang Mountain. The strife in the Upper Court was plain to see. Master Xuangling's lineage held Eagle Ridge Peak—the character for 'eagle' added out of reverence for that senior from the Lingbao Great Sect, since they had benefited from that senior at Hawk's Beak Mountain. Yet the one dispatched to Yuansong Temple this time belonged to Luogu Peak. Huimin had been right; Lai Jing's faction held tremendous sway. Uncle Li being outmatched by him was only natural. "Meow—!" "Meow—!" From afar, Qin Xuan heard feline shrieks, like a cat hissing in fury. His heart leaped into his throat—could it have already eaten Senior Mao Yan's spirit insects?! He hurried toward the sound. Only then did he discover the cat perched in the mountain pavilion at the center of the manor's great lake. Seeing him arrive, the cat let out a brief meow in greeting, then crouched back down on the balustrade, hissing furiously at the water below. Qin Xuan flashed over to the pavilion. Without turning its head, the cat kept its eyes locked on the lake, itching to pounce. The lake teemed with brocade carp that frequently circled the pavilion in play. Following the cat's gaze, Qin Xuan spotted a large carp over two feet long, swimming lazily back and forth. The surrounding fish had all been scared away, yet it remained completely unfazed. "Meow-w-w—!" The cat wailed louder and louder, bursting with rage. Qin Xuan knew its temperament well from its earlier tussles with the spirit dove. The fact that it was furious yet dared not dive in meant it had previously suffered at the hands of this large carp. With a flick of its head, the carp swayed a pair of jade-white dragon whiskers, which drifted like mist and parted gently with its breath. A wondrous aura wafted outward, making Qin Xuan feel as though he were soaking in a celestial spring. He stared at the carp, eyes wide. After a moment's contemplation, he deduced its identity. How was this a fish?! It was clearly the precious medicine that had transcended the Qiongxiao Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, the very treasure the Renmao Sect was desperately seeking! A supreme treasure! If braised in soy sauce, what kind of effect would it produce? According to Senior Mao Yan, this medicine was part of Chongjin Pass's foundation, capable of cloaking heavenly secrets and shielding against tribulation qi. That was why a figure like Madam Wei could roam freely before the tribulation qi of the Chaotic Antiquity Great Tribulation had fully receded. Braised or steamed, Qin Xuan could only dream. He peered into the water repeatedly, watching the carp occasionally brush against the rockery, hoping a scale might come loose. To pick up even one would be a tremendous stroke of fortune. A moment later, another thought struck him. He had never noticed this carp before; its sudden appearance today had to be connected to the royal tomb. Given its traits, it was likely shielding the area from tribulation qi. Only such a shift would warrant Madam Wei's concern and prompt her to send Mao Yan out on business. Understanding the cause and effect made the underlying dangers glaringly clear. Originally, he had planned to recover his strength and immediately hunt down more ancient yaksha ghosts. Now, he opted for a safer sequence of actions. Refine the ores first, then strike when the timing was safe. He said to the cat, "Stay inside the manor and don't wander off. Do not touch Senior Mao Yan's spirit insects. And if you pick up any fish scales, offer them to Madam Wei first. If she doesn't want them, give them to me." "Meow—!" Though somewhat disgruntled, the cat nodded obediently, willing to comply. After all, it still owed a mountain of debts. After sternly warning it once more, Qin Xuan produced a hawthorn berry and tossed it to the cat, eliciting a joyful yowl. As Qin Xuan headed toward the boiler room to cultivate, the cat munched on the fruit while continuing to hiss at the carp. However... What Qin Xuan failed to notice was that the cat suddenly froze. It seemed to have heard something, and suspecting it was imagining things, it glanced toward the inner compound. The next instant, certain it had not misheard, it abandoned the carp and shot toward the inner compound like a streak of yellow light. At the same time, the carp churned up waves in the water and spat out a massive bubble, which burst silently into the sky above Jinghu Manor. Inside the boiler room, Qin Xuan followed his established method. First, he used the treasure furnace to extract five elements spirit metal and five elements metal crystal from the ores, converting them into Metal Spirit Origin Qi. Then, channeling the Elixir Dew Volatilization Classic, he transformed that origin qi into elixir dew to nourish his bone structure and foster the growth of his Dao lotus. As the Dao lotus flourished, he could naturally interact with heaven and earth, refining formidable magic power. As for the stray thoughts born from the infinite mental impressions of heaven and earth, they were fed directly to the fiend. Immersed in this unique cultivation method never recorded in any ancient text, seven days flew by in the blink of an eye. On the sixth day of his meditation... Above the heavy dark clouds over Pingyuan Commandery, a gray streak of light suddenly arrived from the north, streaking across the high heavens. The light released divine sense, using an uncanny technique that caused it to flicker in and out of perception, making it nearly impossible to detect. The streak darted back and forth, circling the city over a dozen times, searching for something. Finally, it came to a halt. A middle-aged man clad in a gray cloak emerged. Channeling his magic power, his gaze pierced through the clouds, taking in everything within a dozen li of the commandery below. The crawling of an ant or the flight of a mosquito could not escape his sight. After a long while, the man's sinister expression tightened into a cold snort, and he abandoned his search for the time being. With a shift of his feet, he transformed once more into a streak of light and flew toward Hawk's Beak Mountain... At Hawk's Beak Mountain, by the entrance to the Pingyuan King's tomb. Waves of magical turbulence rippled across the sky as the factions of Pingyuan Commandery continued their assault from outside. The Renmao Sect's Wood Phantom Spirit Formation continuously drew yin qi from deep underground. The dark yin ghost wind blew so violently that the central command flag swayed left and right, dispatching wood phantoms formed from yin qi to every corner of the formation. Qiu Bailu stared fixedly at the formation flag. Beside him, his two short, stocky junior brothers—resembling wooden stumps—did the same. Sensing their unusual demeanor, Zhang Laosan hurried to ask, "Fellow Daoists, is something amiss?" "For now, all is well. However..." Qiu Bailu's soft, feminine voice sounded again. "The assault from outside hasn't ceased; if anything, it has grown fiercer. Did the ancient yakshas bursting from the tomb cause them no trouble at all?" "Jie-jie-jie..." Zuo Wei, the shadowless old devil from the Huanyin Sect, sneered, "Fellow Daoist Qiu, do not be impatient. From what I know of the commandery's factions, even if they intercepted most of the yakshas outside the formation, they cannot stop more and more from flying into the city. "Right now, they have merely left men in the rear to barely manage the situation. Countless ghosts dwell in this tomb; before long, the city will fall into absolute chaos. Those backing them will inevitably be forced onto the stage. "The fiercer their assault right now, the more anxious they truly are. "The ones who ought to be flustered are them." Everyone found his words reasonable. Sect Master Feng nodded slightly as well. Zhang Laosan wore a fake smile, his gaze sweeping over Zuo Wei and Qiu Bailu, his heart unsettled. Sect Master Feng had only suffered once. He, Zhang Laosan, had suffered three bitter defeats in succession—at the Geng residence, at Lianyun Manor, and near the inner canal. He was genuinely terrified. He dared not trust these people too much. With a respectful smile, he turned to Zuo Wei and asked, "Fellow Daoist Zuo, if the powers backing them step into the fray and strike this place directly, how should we respond?" "Rest assured." Zuo Wei spoke with absolute confidence. "Whoever strikes first reveals their depth and falls into a disadvantage. Our sect has people prepared to counter them. Since I am here, we advance and retreat together—how could I not have left a way out?" Qiu Bailu listened intently. His Renmao Sect sought the tribulation-transcending precious medicine held by that woman. The greater the chaos in the city, the better it was for them. What Zuo Wei said indeed held merit. Following Zuo Wei's words, Qiu Bailu turned to Feng Wen. "Sect Master Feng, I hear your sect's Grand Master Yu will arrive any day now?" Feng Wen nodded. "Indeed." A trace of awe surfaced on Qiu Bailu's bloodless, pale face. "I have long heard of him. It is said Sect Master Yu's Mount Tong Corpse Refining Grand Art has reached the pinnacle, cultivating the walking corpse true fire. His personal arrival is almost certainly beyond the calculations of the commandery factions. If he launches a sudden strike against those outside the formation, it could very well shatter the deadlock! "That would be immensely favorable for our three factions. "This magical clash will surely see the commandery factions utterly routed!" While Qiu Bailu naturally harbored designs to exploit the Xieling Sect Master, his awe was sincere. Sect Master Yu had cultivated his walking corpse true fire for many years, dominating Mount Tong. He was far from an ordinary Golden Core grand cultivator. People from the Renmao Sect had contacted him at Mount Tong before. His master, Gao Tuoweng, had stated that Yu Cheng had refined the five spirits and five qi with true fire and was on the verge of stepping into the Lesser Chaoyuan stage of the Golden Core realm. In other words, once he transcended the Five Elements Tribulation, this Sect Master Yu could open his purple mansion, draw forth his Nascent Soul, and become an old monster enjoying a lifespan of two thousand years. The tribulation qi of the Chaotic Antiquity Great Tribulation had not yet completely receded. Those who dared walk freely under such tribulation qi either possessed foundational treasures to suppress it or possessed cultivation below the Nascent Soul realm. The higher one's cultivation, the stronger the tribulation qi felt, and the more terrifying the foundational treasure required. Thus, Sect Master Yu's arrival made him a truly devastating weapon! Speaking of his sect master, Sect Master Feng puffed up with pride. "With Senior Brother Yu's flying speed, he has likely already reached Pingyuan Commandery. Fellow Daoists Qiu and Zuo may rest easy; I have stationed men outside the city to contact him. He will quickly learn everything that has transpired here. "When the time comes, he will coordinate with us from outside the formation to hand these commandery factions a bitter defeat." "Splendid!" Zuo Wei and Qiu Bailu exclaimed in unison, heaping praises upon Sect Master Yu. While the foundations of the Renmao Sect and the Huanyin Sect far exceeded those of the Xieling Sect, Yu's cultivation still commanded their wariness. Feng Wen took it all in. Internally, he sneered, *Hmph, trying to take advantage again? Do you take our Xieling Sect for fools?* If Senior Brother Yu attacked outside the formation, wouldn't that force the powerhouse behind Yuansong Temple to intervene? He cursed inwardly while maintaining an impeccably earnest expression, treating Zuo Wei and Qiu Bailu as though they were his own brothers. Beside them, Zhang Laosan felt a wave of relief. How could he not know Sect Master Feng's character? The more sincere Feng appeared on the surface, the higher his guard was. With chaos gripping the city, the Xieling Sect could seize the opportunity to capture Qin Xuan. Using the sect master's methods, they could extract all of Geng Zhi's secrets, allowing them to account to the Juetian Sect while reaping unimaginable rewards for themselves. Working with the Renmao Sect and the Huanyin Sect was merely an expedient measure to borrow external strength; how could they ever treat them with sincerity? Meanwhile... While the standoff near the royal tomb at Hawk's Beak Mountain persisted, the gray streak of light high in the sky left the commandery and flew toward the mountain. Halfway there, however, it suddenly wheeled around, sweeping its divine sense across the city once more. This feint seemed like shadowboxing against empty air. In truth, he was playing a psychological game against any target that might have sensed his presence. Evidently, he was overthinking things. Scenes of destruction wrought by the ancient yakshas flashed through the middle-aged man's mind, yet nowhere could he find that green-robed youth. He cast a glance toward Yuansong Temple, then swept his sleeve and gave up. This time, he truly left the city. Instead of rushing into the battleground at Hawk's Beak Mountain, the streak traced subtle markers and descended to the lower reaches of the Yudai River. The middle-aged man appeared on the riverbank, looking toward Hawk's Beak Mountain. Being close to the royal tomb, the yin wind blew fiercely, whipping his gray cloak wildly, yet failing to stir a single hair of his eyebrows or head. The dark yin ghost wind mingled within could not even approach his body. Standing in the gale, brilliant light flashed in his eyes as he saw through the geomancy of the mountains, taking in the royal tomb, dragon veins, and earth fiend yin qi all at once. The aura of an absolute powerhouse who understood all lay bare. This man was none other than Yu Cheng, the Xieling Sect Master who held dominion over Mount Tong! Withdrawing his gaze, Sect Master Yu suddenly looked a hundred paces away. At the spot marked by his disciples sat a white-haired fisherman clad in a coir raincoat and bamboo hat, holding a rod of Xiang river bamboo, fishing alone in the yin wind. A strange feeling arose in Sect Master Yu's heart. This old fisherman seemed somewhat bizarre. As he looked over, the fisherman also glanced at him, their eyes briefly locking. Although Pingyuan Commandery was a tranquil, modest place and Sect Master Yu feared nothing with his formidable cultivation, the fierce clash between the demon sects and Guanjiang Mountain meant troublesome characters might appear at any moment. The commotion at the Pingyuan King's tomb was immense; various powers were bound to come seeking fortuitous encounters. Though blessed with mighty power, Yu Cheng had always remained cautious and would never provoke someone of unknown background without cause. *Splash!* A spray of water erupted from the Yudai River before him. From the riverbed burst a burly man with injuries on his arms and legs. Catching sight of Yu Cheng, panic filled his face. Fearing he might be slow to show respect, he hurriedly stepped forward to bow. "Sect Master!" The commotion startled a school of fish upstream. They had been lingering near the hook, but now they all scattered... Seeing his clumsy entrance, a shadow of gloom fell across Yu Cheng's brow. The man took fright. Looking upstream, he also noticed the white-haired fisherman. Yet earlier, beneath the riverbed, he had sensed no one at all. Nor had the old fellow been on the bank when they chose this temporary post. Knowing he had displeased his master, the man dared not offer excuses. Sticking to business, he relayed everything Feng Wen had instructed through divine sense transmissions, recounting every recent affair involving the Xieling Sect in Pingyuan Commandery. Three failed operations, all tied to a single Yuansong Temple disciple. Moreover, this Qin Xuan was the very youth connected to Geng Zhi. Particularly during Black Corpse Old Man's strike, Yuansong Temple had mobilized en masse, slaughtering many Xieling disciples. Hearing this, killing intent flared in Sect Master Yu's chest. Given his temperament, nothing short of bathing Yuansong Temple and the city in blood would satisfy his wrath. Yet Sect Master Yu possessed remarkable composure; no matter how fiercely the murderous urge surged within him, his face merely tightened slightly, revealing not a trace of his aura. However... The man proceeded to mention Black Corpse Old Man's death, describing how his corpse had been tossed into a crowded street, along with the absurd rumors surrounding his demise. Yu Cheng's face steadily turned ashen as he pressed for details, refusing to let a single word slip by. Trembling, sweat dripping like peas from his brow, the man recounted everything in a shaking voice, daring not defy his master. He even laid bare the tale that "Black Corpse Old Man was whipped to death by Qin Xuan with a divine willow whip." The phrase 'divine willow whip' sounded like utter nonsense. Yet to Sect Master Yu's ears, it struck like thunder. Black Corpse Old Man belonged to his martial uncle's generation and had once guided him. Later, following his master's death, Black Corpse Old Man had vied with him for the seat of Sect Master. In the end, Yu Cheng had triumphed through extraordinary talent, subduing Black Corpse Old Man. To him, during those thirty-odd years, Black Corpse Old Man had hung over his heart like an imposing mountain. Surmounting that peak had brought tremendous benefits to his Dao heart. He had never imagined that the towering peak he had labored so hard to conquer would become an absurd joke on the lips of others—and at the hands of a mere Qi Refining junior, no less. Black Corpse Old Man could die, but he could not be insulted so disgracefully. That was a direct rejection of Yu Cheng himself! At this thought, the walking corpse true fire within Sect Master Yu's Flowery Pool leaped violently. The murderous aura released for a mere fraction of a second made the Foundation Establishment man before him tremble all over, as though his soul were about to leave his body. Reining in his expression, Sect Master Yu spoke in a calm, measured voice: "Qin Xuan must die." Having scanned the commandery several times without finding him, he now contemplated investigating Yuansong Temple. With Hawk's Beak Mountain tying down Yuansong Temple's attention, this was a prime opportunity. Even as he considered this, he sensed something strange. Glancing sideways, he saw the white-haired fisherman by the Yudai River reeling his line, his eyes fixed squarely on him. The old man's face held neither joy nor sorrow, devoid of all expression. Yu Cheng frowned. Without a word, he avoided entanglement with the old man, transforming directly into a gray streak of light and shooting toward the northeast of the commandery. *Swish! Swish!* Mid-flight, Sect Master Yu suddenly heard a bizarre noise trailing closely beside his ear. Sweeping his divine sense, he found nothing. Peering out of the corner of his eye, however, he spotted a silver fishhook the size of a thumb. The sound came from the line attached to the hook. As Yu Cheng accelerated, the hook moved several times faster. It dropped right in front of him, bouncing up and down, bobbing relentlessly to tempt him. In the center of the hook wriggled half a caterpillar, squirming on its own. Chill gripped Sect Master Yu's body and mind. Drawing on immense willpower, he suppressed all negative emotion. Gathering his magic power, he unleashed a sudden strike! *Boom!* Dark clouds spanning ten li, whipped by the dark yin ghost wind, were instantly ignited by sickly green flames. The flames morphed into walking corpses, issuing soul-jarring shrieks as they clawed toward the fishhook. The howls of corpse fire shook the entire commandery! Countless qi refiners looked skyward in terror. That was not merely true fire; it was the full-power strike of a Golden Core grand cultivator! Someone cried out, "Grand cultivators are clashing!" The figures in the sky remained entirely invisible. Sect Master Yu unleashed his true fire to sever the fishing line. Regardless of whether it succeeded, his instinct took over as he transformed into a streak of light, plunging a thousand fathoms into the earth! Yet what chilled Sect Master Yu to the bone was that familiar *swish, swish!* Like a maggot to the bone, the hook stayed right before his eyes, bobbing up and down, tempting him to take the bait. What in the world was this?! Flee! Flee further! Yu Cheng cast aside all else, diving deep into the earth, traversing subterranean rivers and crossing extreme abysses. The underground dark yin ghost wind grew increasingly violent. Pinpointing the eye of the ghost wind, Sect Master Yu prepared to dive straight into the cavern realm! *Moo—!* A bovine roar echoed from the depths of the earth, piercing straight through the dark yin ghost wind. Sect Master Yu realized that was an underground demon! When Black Corpse Old Man had led Qin Xuan beneath the western city, they had heard this same roar, but they had only been below the dark river without pressing deeper. Yu Cheng, however, had arrived right at the demon's doorstep. He ought to have retreated, but pursued by the fishhook, he chose the opposite path, hurtling straight toward the demon. *Rumble!* As if seven or eight earth dragons were churning through the leylines, the earth of Pingyuan Commandery trembled, felt by everyone inside and outside the Hawk's Beak Mountain formation. *Moo—!* Another roar reverberated from the depths, shaking everyone's composure. "An underground demon!" "Someone is forcing their way into the cavern realm! What are they trying to do?!" By the time the outside world reacted, Sect Master Yu had already reached the eye of the dark yin ghost wind in the cavern realm. Before him stretched subterranean spirit veins, spirit metals, and five elements essences coursing through the earth. Perched atop them lay a mountain-like behemoth. It exuded the foul turbidity unique to demons, sporting bull horns, eight vertical eyes, and a gaping maw, devoid of nose or ears. A single roll of the horned demon tugged at the leylines, making the earth shudder! The demon swiped a massive palm toward Yu Cheng. Sect Master Yu thrust the fishhook forward, and the strike—capable of crushing him to paste—slammed directly onto the hook. *Moo—!* With a howl of agony, the demon's ferocious, turbid aura was dispersed by the fishhook, and its mountain-sized palm was pierced through. Losing patience, the hook yanked upward. Yu Cheng tried to pull away, but found himself snagged by his majestic cloak. Catching neither in the mouth, the hook could hardly boast of proper angling. Yet hooking two targets at once displayed remarkable skill. Neither the horned demon nor Sect Master Yu could move an inch, unable even to muster a facial expression. Pulled along by the hook, they were drawn slowly out of the subterranean cavern. The line seemed to reel slowly, yet in virtually an instant, they arrived beneath the Yudai River. Expressionless, the white-haired fisherman turned his spool. The horned demon and Sect Master Yu emerged beneath the riverbed. The moment they entered the water, their forms transformed. The horned demon turned into a massive horned ray, while Sect Master Yu became a gray-tailed ribbonfish. Scooping them up with a dip net, the fisherman dropped them into his keepnet. The moment they entered, chaos erupted inside. A silver archerfish was startled, darting wildly about and agitating a golden triangular shark at the bottom of the net, throwing the entire keepnet into turmoil. On the bank, the Xieling man trembled violently. Having witnessed the scene unfold, his mind had shut down completely. Dazed and hollow, he drifted toward the keepnet. Taking a plunge, he fell into the net. Bearing wounds, the moment he entered, he transformed into a scarred carp. With the fierce fish in the keepnet rioting, this scarred carp hid quietly beneath the belly of the golden triangular shark. The white-haired fisherman peered into the bamboo keepnet; it was nearly bursting at the seams. Reaching into his robe, he pulled out a scroll. Unrolling it revealed a winding great river, its waters flowing as though alive. Furthermore... Lining both banks of the river sat a crowd of anglers. Young and old, men and women gathered there. Some wore dragon-serpent robes; others were shrouded in demonic qi. Several women on the northern bank appeared ethereal and aloof, belonging to some unknown immortal sect. There were also young cultivators radiant with treasure light, their rods and hooks glowing brilliantly—prodigies from unknown corners of the world. Lifting the keepnet, the fisherman emptied the golden triangular shark, silver archerfish, horned ray, gray-tailed ribbonfish, scarred carp, and various other fish directly into the painted river. Instantly, commotion stirred among the figures on the banks. A faint voice drifted from within the scroll. A shapely fairy from a great sect called out toward the southern bank, "Second Prince of Great Xia, stop overfeeding the fish! If we can't catch any, when will we ever get out of here?!" Yet the stalwart youth on the southern bank paid her no heed. Tossing a heavy batch of spirit grain into the river, he drew all the fish the old man had just dumped in toward his spot. Soon, irritation crossed the Great Xia prince's face as a long-haired youth cast a hook right into his baited area. He barked, "Guanjiang Daozi, what do you think you're doing...?" Shouts of bickering seemed to echo from the scroll. Outside, the white-haired fisherman acted as if he heard nothing. Rolling up the scroll, he sat beneath the willow tree once more, a single rod of speckled bamboo in hand, fishing alone by the Yudai River...