Rumble—
Accompanied by a thunderous crash, the entire teahouse shook violently. Tea sloshed from cups and spilled over, and the tables and chairs nearly toppled over.
"What's going on?!"
Duan Silu sprang to his feet.
Shangguan Siheng also hurriedly examined the surroundings.
"It's not directed at us."
Chen Sanshi swept his gaze around. His Qi Observation Technique detected no danger. "There's no need to be overly nervous."
The tremors lasted for roughly a dozen breaths before gradually subsiding, and the commotion within Daze Market came to a halt as well.
"Hiss—"
Duan Silu pushed open the window and looked outside. "What happened? Branch Master, Fellow Daoist Xiao, you continue talking. I'll go out and gather some information!"
Shangguan Siheng quickly regained his composure. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, regarding what we discussed earlier, what is your view?"
"Your sect's courage is commendable, but I fear your strategy is lacking."
Chen Sanshi shook his head. "If you have no concrete plan and intend to confront them head-on, then forgive me—I cannot accompany you."
"Alas…"
Shangguan Siheng sighed softly. "To be honest, the Zhuxian Sect has too few people in Northern Yang Dao, and we have no seniors of higher realm. But can we simply stand by and watch as the Shengyun Sect breaks the seal and contaminates one of the few remaining pure lands?"
Chen Sanshi asked, "In your eyes, Eastern Divine Continent is a pure land?"
"Of course."
Shangguan Siheng spoke with certainty. "Without spiritual veins, mortals do not need to plant spiritual grain. Is that not a pure land? Like Eastern Divine Continent—where the Heavenly Dao is orderly and all things follow the cycle of reincarnation—that is the true law."
"In that case,"
Chen Sanshi said, "have you ever considered cooperating with the Great Han of Eastern Divine Continent?"
"We have naturally thought of it. Although that Emperor of Great Han is not of high realm, if he could come to assist, it would still be some measure of strength."
Shangguan Siheng said regretfully, "But without a jade token, the teleportation arrays in each region are controlled by those people. There is truly nothing we can do.
"If Fellow Daoist truly has such intentions, I can help relay messages."
Chen Sanshi did not reveal his true identity. The Zhuxian Sect seemed somewhat unreliable; he feared they might act impulsively and expose him, bringing about great disaster.
"So Fellow Daoist Xiao still maintains contact with them?"
Shangguan Siheng nodded. "If that is the case, then that would be most excellent!"
"Including how to attack the main peak of Daze, I believe it can also be discussed with Great Han, rather than acting rashly."
Chen Sanshi continued, "There are still several years. Your sect might as well continue gathering intelligence and wait for the right moment."
"Mm."
Shangguan Siheng nodded thoughtfully. "What you say makes sense."
"By the way,"
Chen Sanshi asked, "recently the entire Northern Yang Dao has been targeting Dusk Valley. Does Fellow Daoist Shangguan know the specific reason?"
"I know a little."
Shangguan Siheng nodded. "Within the Bai family's medicinal valley, there seems to be some kind of supreme treasure. The Demon-Suppression Bureau and the Li family are extremely covetous of it and wish to claim it for themselves.
"However, they also seem unwilling to let the Shengyun Sect know, so recently they have been negotiating with the Bai family."
"As expected."
Chen Sanshi pondered.
This was a flaw!
When Northern Yang Dao was mired in internal scheming and mutual suspicion, chaos was bound to arise. And chaos meant opportunity.
As long as they could circumvent the Shengyun Sect's Golden Core cultivators, this trouble could be resolved.
With that thought, he added, "Fellow Daoist Shangguan, please focus your investigation on what exactly is within Dusk Valley. This may be our opportunity."
After all, the Bai family was also one of their allies.
"No problem."
As the two were discussing, Duan Silu returned from gathering information and revealed the source of the disturbance.
"It's the Nine Nether Forbidden Land!"
Duan Silu always spoke in a tone laced with tension and a hint of madness. "From the depths of Autumn Frost Valley, there came intense fluctuations from another space. It should be that something has happened in the Nine Nether Forbidden Land!"
"The forbidden land?"
Chen Sanshi's heart stirred. "Could it be that it has opened ahead of schedule?"
"Not exactly. It's just a simple anomaly."
Duan Silu explained, "But in the past, whenever such a phenomenon occurred, either a great calamity arose within the forbidden land, or a large number of treasures emerged! This year, I'm afraid it will once again cause a great commotion! Branch Master, what do you think—shall we make a move?!"
"Let's forget it. We lack manpower, and before long we will be going to war. Oh, speaking of which—"
Shangguan Siheng turned his gaze over. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, would you like to participate?"
"Heh."
Chen Sanshi had seen his share of the world, yet facing this group before him, he found himself momentarily at a loss for words. "Go on."
There were only 7 or 8 of them in total—truly busy enough as it was.
"It's like this."
Shangguan Siheng spoke slowly. "About 500 miles from here, there is a city called Ronghua City.
"It is property of the Shengyun Sect. Many independent cultivators reside there. Recently, they are preparing to hold an auction outside the city. At that time, most people will attend.
"Our Zhuxian Sect plans to kill a wave of them."
Chen Sanshi asked patiently, "And the reason?"
"Of course there is a reason."
Duan Silu took over. "In our cultivation world, many low-realm cultivators who fail to make a name for themselves like to take concubines among mortals and indulge in pleasure. That is common knowledge.
"Ordinarily, we would not interfere. But recently, within Ronghua City, a demonic sect dual-cultivation technique of yin and yang has circulated.
"It is said to help those with poor talent raise their upper limit, drawing many to secretly cultivate it.
"In the past half year, more than 1,000 mortal women have been drained to death through cultivation. And now it has escalated—3 months ago, batches of infants began disappearing."
"You mean to say the matters on the bounty notices all involve independent cultivators of Northern Yang Dao?"
Chen Sanshi asked, "Cultivating demonic arts is expressly forbidden by major sects even in Heavenly Water Isle. Does the Demon-Suppression Bureau not intervene?"
No matter how much fighting and killing there was in the cultivation world, there were still basic bottom lines.
"Intervene my ass!"
Duan Silu cursed. "The mortal women who died from dual cultivation were bought under half-coerced, half-consensual arrangements. It complies with the laws of Great Song.
"As for the missing children, that's the work of Ronghua City's city lord. The Demon-Suppression Bureau turns a blind eye."
"Dual cultivation women—"
Chen Sanshi suddenly recalled that Sister Ping'an had seemed to be taken as a concubine by an independent cultivator in Ronghua City. He finally understood why, when they last met, she had borne the signs of impending death.
He abruptly stood and left. "Fellow Daoists, I have something to attend to."
"You—?"
Shangguan Siheng and Duan Silu had yet to react when he had already pushed open the door and departed.
After leaving the area of Daze Market, Chen Sanshi went straight to Small Stone Village and, from Old Man Li and his wife,
carefully inquired about Sister Ping'an's whereabouts.
Then he immediately set off for Ronghua City.
Ronghua City was one of the 4 great cities of Northern Yang Dao and private property of the Shengyun Sect. From the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary mortal city.
Qin Residence, Jia Alley, Fenlin Road.
This district did not even have spiritual energy, yet the residences were lavishly built. Those living here were all low-realm cultivators.
Knock, knock!
Chen Sanshi, having altered his appearance, stepped forward and lightly knocked on the gate.
Not long after, a mortal steward came out. At first he wore an extremely impatient expression, but upon seeing the spell Chen Sanshi casually displayed, his demeanor turned utterly obsequious. "Ah! So it is an Immortal Master. You look unfamiliar. May I ask what brings you here?"
"My surname is Lin."
Chen Sanshi said indifferently. "I have come to see Fellow Daoist Qin."
"Please wait a moment, Immortal Master. I shall report at once!"
The steward hurried away.
Soon after, a plump cultivator reeking of alcohol came out. His cultivation was merely at Qi Refining level 2.
"Who is it? I've never known any Lin—"
Halfway through his sentence, Qin Tao suddenly dared not meet the other's gaze. He bent his corpulent body, flattery laced with fear. "Senior graces my humble residence—may I ask what brings you here?"
"I've heard,"
Chen Sanshi walked into the residence as if it were his own, "that you keep many women here?"
"Ah!"
Qin Tao dared not stop him and followed closely behind. "They're just cheap rouge and vulgar powder. Only a few are somewhat presentable. Senior, are you—"
"Don't be nervous."
Chen Sanshi said unhurriedly, "I'm passing through and intend to purchase some people to take back as servants. Call everyone in your estate over."
"Yes, yes, of course!"
Qin Tao immediately complied.
Soon, more than 20 young women gathered in the courtyard.
But among them was not the one Chen Sanshi sought. He asked, "Is that all?"
"Th-that's all."
Qin Tao looked puzzled.
"I asked you, is that all?"
Chen Sanshi repeated.
"Senior Lin means that Li woman with the inferior mixed spiritual root?"
Qin Tao explained, "Unfortunately, some days ago, she… she died—"
As he spoke, a sense of foreboding already rose in his heart.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator before him was clearly here for a specific person.
But…
That Li woman came from nothing more than a mortal farming household. How could she possibly be connected to a Foundation Establishment cultivator?
"Spiritual root?"
Chen Sanshi asked, "She had a spiritual root?"
"Yes, but it was extremely weak—so weak that even reaching Qi Refining level 1 would be difficult. This junior only discovered it not long ago."
As he spoke, Qin Tao dropped straight to his knees, his voice trembling as he explained, "Senior, Li's death has nothing to do with me!
"On the contrary, I treated her family quite well!
"Because of me, their household was always exempt from taxes. And whenever Li returned home to deliver things, this junior turned a blind eye!
"She… her death—
"It was because not long ago a senior came to my residence as a guest and noticed she had a spiritual root. She was presented to the Young City Lord to cultivate the recently popular dual-cultivation technique.
"Senior, it truly has nothing to do with me!"
"Where is the body?"
Chen Sanshi closed his eyes. "Take me there."
"Mo-most likely at the mass grave."
Qin Tao carefully raised his head, confirming that the other did not intend to kill him on the spot. Only then did he scramble to his feet in panic.
Chen Sanshi grabbed him by the neck and soared into the sky.
Following Qin Tao's directions, they arrived at a barren hill outside the city.
Calling it a mass grave was generous. There was not even proper burial. The corpses of women were strewn about in disarray, and packs of wild dogs lay among them gnawing at the flesh. Among them was Sister Ping'an's body.
Boom—
Chen Sanshi raised his hand and unleashed a Sword Qi Technique, instantly killing all the wild dogs.
"Senior—Senior, spare my life! It truly has nothing to do with me!"
Qin Tao collapsed to the ground, his legs trembling violently as a yellowish liquid seeped out beneath him.
"What are you afraid of? Come, take this."
Chen Sanshi handed him a pill.
Even knowing it might be poison, Qin Tao had no choice but to swallow it obediently.
"I'll ask you."
Chen Sanshi said expressionlessly, "The Young City Lord you mentioned—where does he reside?"
"You mustn't, you mustn't, Senior!"
Qin Tao begged, "There are many guards from the Demon-Suppression Bureau within the city, as well as the City Lord and others. If you act rashly inside the city, you will certainly not leave alive!"
"You make a valid point."
Chen Sanshi nodded. "In that case, think of a method for me."
"The au-auction!"
Qin Tao said through tears, "Soon there will be an auction for cauldrons. Because it cannot see the light of day, it will be held outside the city!
"This auction strictly verifies identities. Unfamiliar faces cannot enter.
"But—but I can help Senior!
"Although my realm is low, I have long mingled in the circle of cauldron trading. Many seniors were introduced through me.
"When the time comes, I can vouch for Senior and bring you inside."
"Very well. It's a deal."
Chen Sanshi said, "The poison pill you swallowed is called the Melting Blood Pill. When the poison takes effect, your meridians will rot and your internal organs will liquefy before you die. Do not entertain any crooked thoughts. I created this poison myself. Only I can cure it. Once the matter is done, I will give you the antidote."
"This lowly one understands! I understand!"
Qin Tao kowtowed repeatedly.
Chen Sanshi wasted no further words. After giving his instructions, he flew off on his sword, vanishing into the clouds.
He first returned to Daze Market and informed the Zhuxian Sect that he agreed to participate in the upcoming raid. Only then did he return to Dusk Valley.
On one hand, he ordered Zhang Shun to begin reallocating manpower. On the other, he gathered more information about the auction through the Zhuxian Sect.
This auction would not only involve human trafficking. Many resources desired by cultivators would also appear, including spirit beasts, magic artifacts, cultivation techniques, and more.
Moreover, many of these items could not appear in legitimate auctions.
The imperial court lacked resources. This would be a perfect opportunity to acquire some.
Chen Sanshi opened his storage bag.
After more than a decade of expenditure, he had only a little over 500 low-grade spirit stones remaining.
Of course, participating in an auction did not necessarily require payment.
Since the auction itself was illicit, it would only be natural for the imperial court to confiscate these items.
Within the following month, Zhang Shun used the jade token to begin transferring manpower from Eastern Divine Continent.
Wang Zhi, Rong Yanqiu, and others entered in succession, hiding within various mortal villages and towns across Northern Yang Dao.
The trial—brought forward!
Chen Sanshi, meanwhile, remained in Dusk Valley, steadily cultivating and refining pills. With the aid of the second-tier spiritual vein, his realm continued to rise.
Inside the alchemy workshop.
The Bai family's head, Bai Liangbi, appeared once more. "Tong'er, you may step out. This time, I will assist Fellow Daoist Xiao with the pill refinement."
Boom—
The formation connected to the fire vein, and the furnace cauldron began to hum.
Chen Sanshi sensed the medicinal ingredients within the cauldron. The difficulty of refining them surpassed even the previous attempt.
Another thousand-year-old ingredient?