Chapter 100: Ask Yuefang Market (Please Subscribe!)

The Eight Orthodox Sects are the Pure Yang Sect, Taiyi Pill Sect, Boundless Gate, Spirit Control Sect, Mount Shaohua, Shangyuan Pure Clarity Palace, Void Spirit Faction, and Primordial Mirage Gate. These eight major sects are powerful, each with a Nascent Soul Grandmaster presiding over them, and are collectively known as the Eight Sects.

In the Lesser Cold Domain, the titles of these Eight Orthodox Sects are not static. If a sect's Nascent Soul Grandmaster dies without a successor, leading to the sect's decline, its position will be replaced by other sects, much like the Yuanzhao Gate.

Most cultivation families throughout the Lesser Cold Domain largely exist by attaching themselves to these sects.

Yu Lian spoke at length, and the content was actually similar to what Qin Sang had heard at the Kuiyin Sect.

After Yu Lian had spoken to his heart's content, dusk was approaching. Everyone dispersed contentedly, bidding each other farewell.

Only then did Qin Sang tell Yu Lian that he wanted a map of the Lesser Cold Domain's cultivation world. It didn't matter if mundane kingdoms were marked, but the locations of the major sects had to be clearly indicated.

"Senior Yu, could you guide me?" Qin Sang asked. "Where nearby can I buy such a map? I've been traveling away from home for many years, wandering aimlessly like a headless fly. I'm eager to visit the major cultivation sects to pay my respects, but without a map, finding them is truly difficult."

Yu Lian naturally didn't believe Qin Sang's nonsense about "paying respects to sacred sites," secretly thinking, "Here's another seeker of immortality."

Such situations were common. Yu Lian said with a smile, "You don't need to go anywhere else to buy a map of the Lesser Cold Domain. My family has one. If you can wait a few days, I'll bring one for you at the next Phoenix Peak gathering."

Qin Sang was overjoyed. "Thank you, Senior," he said. "I wonder if your family has any requirements? I have a few spirit stones on hand, or I could exchange a magic artifact for it..."

Zhao Yan might have been afraid of carrying too many treasures, which could expose his identity, so Qin Sang didn't find much in Zhao Yan's mustard seed pouch, but everything was valuable.

There were three mid-grade spirit stones alone, and over a hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Not to mention the mysterious orchid and the black bead, there were also two quite practical magic artifacts.

One was a top-grade magic artifact called the Flying Shuttle. It could fly through the air; its speed was not as fast as the Void Wind, but it flew much higher and could automatically generate a protective shield to block cold winds, allowing flight completely above the white clouds. However, it was very conspicuous for cultivators, so Qin Sang rarely used it before.

The other magic artifact was left behind after Zhao Yan's body was incinerated: a teardrop-shaped artifact called Heavenly Star Tear. It was a supreme-grade magic artifact that, once refined, could be stored inside the body. With just a thought, it would generate a layer of protective divine light.

Qin Sang couldn't help but feel a little lingering fear. If he hadn't ambushed Zhao Yan precisely when his spiritual energy was depleted, the Ebony Sword might not have been able to kill Zhao Yan with a single strike.

There were also a few spirit pills and a dozen spirit talismans with various functions, all carefully put away by Qin Sang.

He could afford to buy a map.

Yu Lian, however, waved his hand. "You Niang is my junior. You helped her without asking for anything and cured Silang's illness. How could I possibly accept your spirit stones? Consider this map a gift from me on You Niang's behalf."

"Then I'm much obliged, Senior," Qin Sang said.

Ten days later.

Qin Sang received the map, waved goodbye to Li You Niang and Yu Lian, summoned the Flying Shuttle, and soared into the white clouds, heading directly south, as the Cloud-Vast Marsh was in that direction.

Mount Shaohua's sect gate was on the edge of the Cloud-Vast Marsh, at the southernmost tip of the entire Lesser Cold Domain.

Nine Peaks Mountain didn't have as many conflicts; it was safe, but the path to immortality was also dim. Those rogue cultivators didn't even dare to hope for Foundation Establishment. Some complained endlessly, some lived lives similar to mortals, like Li You Niang, while others completely gave up on cultivation and began living a life of indulgence.

Qin Sang had never given up; he wanted to strive for more.

Going to Mount Shaohua was to try his luck, to see if the Song family ancestor's Sword Intent Edict was still there.

Qin Sang actually felt very uncertain, unsure how much hope there was. Song Hua was a cultivator, but his sister, Song Ying, had no spirit root and was just a mortal.

It had been eleven years since he came to this world.

Eleven years might pass in the blink of an eye for a cultivator, but for a mortal, it meant a decade of seasons and worldly changes.

Song Hua died by the Sunken River and had not returned for eleven years.

Song Ying was only a ten-year-old girl back then. How could she have lived alone in a cultivation market for eleven years? Could she have held onto that family property?

Or, even worse, she might already be dead.

But Qin Sang still decided to make the trip. It would be great if he could join Mount Shaohua; if not, settling down in a market city at its foot would make it easier to find Yin-煞 Qi and come into contact with high-level cultivators.

The Soul Pills he had saved from the Kuiyin Sect could at most support him until the ninth layer. He certainly couldn't go back to the Kuiyin Sect, but that wasn't the only place where Yin-煞 Qi existed.

With Yin-煞 Qi, he wouldn't have to worry about cultivation. As for Foundation Establishment Pills, he could slowly figure out a way.

Mount Shaohua.

Moon-Inquiring Market.

Qin Sang stood outside the market city, filled with emotion. This was the third cultivation market city he had found.

Now, two years had passed since he set out from Nine Peaks Mountain. A month ago, he arrived at the border of the Cloud-Vast Marsh and was deeply impressed by the boundless, vast expanse of water, then located the sect gate of Mount Shaohua.

Mount Shaohua was on the edge of the Cloud-Vast Marsh, its sect gate surrounded by dozens of sword-like peaks, exuding a sharp aura, typical of sword cultivators.

Qin Sang cultivated while traveling, and his cultivation had now reached the late Eighth Layer. He was stuck at the bottleneck before the Ninth Layer, unable to break through, and rushing wouldn't help.

However, his Soul Pills were running low, so Qin Sang had to make preparations early.

There were four well-known cultivation market cities near Mount Shaohua, all of considerable size. Qin Sang searched them one by one, from nearest to farthest, but couldn't find the Song family. Moon-Inquiring Market was the third.

He was already familiar with the rules of the cultivation market cities here: cultivators only needed to pay some spirit stones to stay in the market city long-term, or even purchase property there.

Ordinary residences for mortals were affordable for cultivators, and with Mount Shaohua's endorsement, safety and credibility were guaranteed.

However, within cultivation market cities, residences with abundant spiritual energy that aided cultivators' practice were extremely expensive. Even with Qin Sang's substantial assets, he would have to spend almost everything he had just to barely afford one.

Qin Sang subtly blended into the crowd and, based on his previous experience, began to make inquiries in Moon-Inquiring Market.

Not long after, Qin Sang emerged from a shop with a hint of joy on his face. He had finally found what appeared to be Song Hua's former residence.

Mount Shaohua had rules: in the market city, cultivators were strictly forbidden from showing off or bullying mortals in public. Though Qin Sang was eager, he could only walk slowly through the crowd, all the way from the entrance of Moon-Inquiring Market to its innermost area.

Compared to the noise outside, this area was much quieter. Every large mansion was filled with spiritual energy, making them excellent cultivation abodes. Clearly, this area was inhabited by cultivators or their descendants.

Even the shops on the street were quiet.

Qin Sang arrived in front of a large mansion and, seeing a plaque with 'Li Residence' hanging on the gate, he couldn't help but frown slightly.

Turning his head, he saw what looked like an artifact-refining shop across the street. Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he walked over.