Chapter 1448: Winter Talisman

Wuxia and Xianxia

What secrets did the jade sword hold? Was it related to the Jinghai Sect? Although the jade sword was found in a Buddhist temple, it was clutched by a corpse, so it might not necessarily be a Buddhist treasure. Qin Sang gazed at the jade sword, these questions flashing through his mind. He recalled the seven-story pagoda in his possession, whose purpose remained unknown, and wondered if there was a connection between the two magical artifacts.

However, Qin Sang had no intention of acquiring the jade sword. Instead, he began to speculate on the other party's motives. There was a fifty percent chance the person in the bamboo building was the Old Demon of Chaos. He shouldn't be short of usable magical artifacts, so he should value rare treasures with hidden secrets even more, right? Could he be trying to lure out someone who truly understood the secret?

Considering this, Qin Sang leaned back leisurely against his chair. Whether the Old Demon of Chaos was trying to 'fish' for him or someone else, he wouldn't carelessly get involved.

At this moment, Qin Sang noticed the surrounding discussions had significantly quieted. The jade sword indeed seemed unusual. However, it wasn't extraordinary enough for them to pay with top-grade magical artifacts. Some tried to bid several times, but seeing the jade sword's owner was stubborn, they gradually lost interest. Ultimately, no deal was reached, and Venerable Chongtai moved on to the next bamboo building.

Inside the bamboo building, the Old Demon of Chaos reached out and recalled the jade sword. Holding the jade sword in one hand and the Ganoderma Ruyi in the other, his expression was somewhat puzzled. True essence surged into it. A faint white orb of light appeared inside the jade sword. The Guanyin figure on the Ganoderma Ruyi also lit up, its closed eyes seeming as if they could open at any moment. If anyone were to enter the bamboo building at this moment, they would discover that the fluctuations emanating from these two magical artifacts were very similar. The jade sword's fluctuations, however, were slightly weaker, merely superficial. However, unless the two artifacts were placed side by side, or one had seen them before, an ordinary person wouldn't notice the difference.

"The crafting method of this jade sword is similar to that of the Ganoderma Ruyi. I spent two years carefully refining it, able to mimic its fluctuations to some extent. The Xuantian Palace should have bought it to investigate. That way, the information could be verified without alerting anyone. Why didn't they make a move? Could I have guessed wrong?" the Old Demon of Chaos muttered to himself.

It seemed something hadn't been confirmed, and the Old Demon of Chaos repeatedly examined the Ganoderma Ruyi in his hand, his gaze less certain now. He felt some regret. In the past, to avoid worldly affairs disrupting his cultivation, he hadn't bothered to develop his subordinate forces. Otherwise, things would have been much easier. The Myriad Demon Convention was backed by a coalition of the strongest forces in the Boundless Sea, each keeping the others in check. He could only push for minor matters and couldn't exert full control.

After much thought, the Old Demon of Chaos hung the jade sword out again.

Qin Sang was still pondering the Old Demon of Chaos's intentions when he saw the jade token in his hand light up. He activated the forbidden art on the token and was transported next to Venerable Chongtai.

The 'Seven Master Buddhist Seal' and the spiritual materials for crafting the Golden Sinking Sword were now in hand. Since he had only used one Netherthorn, he had a lot more leeway afterwards.

"Primordial Yin Water, Seven-Colored Ganoderma Fruit, Netherworld Soil..." Qin Sang openly sought out these spiritual items without deliberate concealment.

Based on the information he had previously investigated, Qin Sang believed that Valley Master Mu had most likely not perished. It would be better if Valley Master Mu was here, as he could use the opportunity to re-establish contact. Even if Valley Master Mu had died at the hands of the Old Demon of Chaos, there was no need to worry. When the Old Demon of Chaos entered the Jinghai Sect, he hadn't gone straight to the medicine garden, indicating that he hadn't performed soul-searching, or it had failed.

Soon, Qin Sang received a response. The other party had two Seven-Colored Ganoderma Fruits but was not interested in any of the three spiritual medicines Qin Sang possessed. It wasn't until the final open exchange session, after several rounds of trading, that Qin Sang finally exchanged two spiritual medicines for two Seven-Colored Ganoderma Fruits and also acquired the second drop of Heavenly Crown Heavy Liquid.

Each spirit ascension required one complete Seven-Colored Ganoderma Fruit, so he could only prioritize his Fire Jade Centipede and Heavenly Eye Butterfly. As for Primordial Yin Water and Netherworld Soil, they never appeared throughout the entire exchange event. Qin Sang changed his strategy, asking if anyone knew about these two spiritual items, but still had no success. It seemed he would have to make another trip to Hundred Flowers Valley.

The exchange event was drawing to a close. Qin Sang softly exhaled, feeling a wave of exhaustion. Scheming and probing the bottom lines of these old cultivators had expended as much energy as fighting a major battle. His gaze shifted, falling upon the jade sword that still hadn't been purchased. Throughout the exchange, he had kept an eye on that bamboo building. The jade sword's owner had remained stubborn, refusing to lower the conditions even when no one was interested.

"If it's the Old Demon of Chaos, why would he specifically try to sell the jade sword?" Qin Sang mumbled to himself, unable to fathom the other party's intentions.

Soon after, Venerable Chongtai announced the end of the exchange. The formations on the lake island rapidly shifted, the bamboo buildings relocated and were completely disordered, eventually all vanishing into darkness. Qin Sang rose and left his room, handing the jade token and spirit stones to a puppet maidservant before stepping onto a light bridge and departing the lake island.

Before long, streaks of escaping light frequently appeared above Myriad Demon City, dispersing in all directions. Qin Sang did not head directly south. Instead, he changed directions several times to check if he was being followed.

On the lake island, the Old Demon of Chaos put away the unsold jade sword, his expression exceptionally grim. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. As if realizing something, he hastily left the bamboo building, then his figure flickered and vanished into thin air.

In a low, ordinary courtyard at the edge of Myriad Demon City, the interior of the room was sparsely furnished, like a common mortal's home. Yet, at this moment, only two mysterious figures in black robes sat cross-legged within, appearing utterly out of place. The two remained motionless for a long time, without the slightest fluctuation of energy, like two dead people. Between them hovered a black demonic eye, opening and closing, extending several imperceptible threads that reached beyond the courtyard, connecting to an unknown destination.

Suddenly, both figures simultaneously opened their eyes and looked towards the door. A figure had appeared at the doorway at some unknown moment; it was precisely the Old Demon of Chaos.

"Greetings, Master!" The two hastily rose and bowed in unison.

"The exchange event has ended, and Xuantian Palace still hasn't made a move?" the Old Demon of Chaos asked with a grim tone.

"The exchange event is over?" Hearing this, the two were startled, immediately realizing something was amiss. They replied nervously, "The juniors reported that everything was normal. The three elders of Xuantian Palace should be waiting for information; there's been no movement yet..."

Before they could finish, the Old Demon of Chaos cursed them as fools, no longer concealing his presence, and transformed into a streak of light, rushing directly towards a distant courtyard.

The two looked embarrassed and quickly followed.

'Boom!' Hidden restrictions within the small courtyard unleashed several streams of chilling white mist towards the intruder. The Old Demon of Chaos snorted coldly, forcefully struck out with his black bamboo staff, scattering the chilling mist. He then charged into the main hall. After a quick glance, he flashed into the back hall.

What he saw were only three ice sculptures, whose aura was identical to that of the individuals themselves!

'Bang! Bang! Bang!' The Old Demon of Chaos laughed in extreme rage, shattering the ice sculptures with a single strike of his staff, then glared fiercely at his two disciples. The two were dumbfounded. After receiving their orders, they had locked onto the Xuantian Palace elders' residence, monitoring it secretly with mystic arts without alerting anyone.