Chapter 1698: Baichuan Ruins

Human World

Baichuan Market.

There are two theories regarding the origin of this name.

The first relates to the terrain around the market, which is situated on the coast of the Eastern Sea in the Northern Barrens. The area boasts a rich network of waterways, resembling a hundred rivers converging and flowing into the Eastern Sea.

The second theory is that the market's founder was known as Old Ancestor Baichuan.

The Eastern Sea coast is the most prosperous region in the Northern Barrens, with over half of the Northern Barrens demonic sects establishing their strongholds here. Compared to other parts of the Northern Barrens, it is considered a peaceful area. While not as regulated as the Central Plains, where cultivators are restricted in all matters, the major demonic sects have formed an unwritten code of conduct, generally refraining from reckless actions.

However, in a territory dominated by demonic sects, there is never a shortage of those who break the rules.

Therefore, even on the Eastern Sea coast, places that can guarantee safety and allow parties to trade with peace of mind are few. Baichuan Market is one such place.

The owner of Baichuan Market dares to set rules and possesses the power to enforce them.

Choosing to trade at Baichuan Market also carries a deeper significance.

It is rumored that Baichuan Market has a close relationship with the Golden Jade Sect. Some even claim that the force controlling Baichuan Market is, in essence, composed of Golden Jade Sect disciples, functioning as two sides of the same coin.

The Golden Jade Sect is renowned for its immense wealth precisely because it can operate in all three regions: the Eastern Sea, the Northern Barrens, and the Central Plains, making connections everywhere.

Mo Xingdao hailed from the Northern Barrens, and Qin Sang needed to guard against Mo Xingdao forming alliances with demonic sects and harboring malicious intent. Baichuan Market was a mutually acceptable location for both parties.

At that time, Qin Sang had not yet been pursued by the Saint King; he was simply habitually cautious.

Had he not been injured, with both his true body and avatar present, he would not have feared Mo Xingdao's deception, unless Mo Xingdao rallied all the demonic sects of the Northern Lands to hunt him.

With a hundred rivers converging, it was natural for waterways to be bustling with boats.

Many cultivators even occupied the waterways near Baichuan Market, using spirit formations to seal off sections of water, creating magical boats that served as their cave dwellings on the river.

Similar cave dwellings were also available for rent.

Inside a seemingly ordinary magical boat, a Dark Moon Guard sat in meditation within the cabin.

Suddenly, the Dark Moon Guard's eyelids fluttered, and he awoke from his meditative state. With a flick of his right hand, a small jade seal, a type of communication talisman, appeared in his palm.

The talisman glowed faintly, a conspicuous light in the dim cave dwelling. The jade bead at its top emitted a rhythmic aura.

Seeing this, the Dark Moon Guard's expression tightened.

He respectfully addressed the jade bead, "Greetings, Master!"

"Is Mo Xingdao still in the cave dwelling?"

Qin Sang's avatar's voice emerged from the talisman.

At this moment, Qin Sang's avatar had already arrived near Baichuan Market but had not yet revealed himself.

A few days prior, Qin Sang received news of Mo Xingdao's appearance in Baichuan Market and ordered his subordinates to secretly monitor Mo Xingdao's movements. As initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, the Dark Moon Guards, even if deployed en masse, could not possibly track Mo Xingdao without sacrificing themselves in vain. Qin Sang had not held much hope, merely instructing them to gather information.

Unexpectedly, Mo Xingdao showed no intention of hiding. After leaving the previously agreed-upon secret mark, he rented a cave dwelling in Baichuan Market's West City and had not left since, seemingly waiting for Qin Sang to arrive.

Of course, whether Mo Xingdao's true body was present, or if he was merely creating a diversion like Qin Sang, remained unclear to anyone, and the Dark Moon Guards dared not enter to investigate.

"He has not been seen leaving."

The Dark Moon Guard replied.

In the distance, Qin Sang's avatar looked thoughtfully towards Baichuan Market.

Only the avatar had come this time. The true body's injuries were severe, and even if it arrived, it would be of little use. In case of an accident, the avatar could serve as a substitute, preventing fundamental harm to the true body.

A moment later, the avatar spoke to the talisman in his hand. The Dark Moon Guard on the other side respectfully acknowledged, but once the connection was severed, his brows furrowed tightly with apprehension.

However, he was controlled by the Dark Moon Seal, his life and death in another's hands, and dared not resist.

Fortunately, the new master seemed less temperamental and brutal than Su Zinan. He had already handed over a treasure that had been fully refined.

The Dark Moon Guard opened his mustard seed pouch and took out a precious mirror: the fully repaired Thousand Worlds Mirror.

His palm lightly touched the mirror's surface, and spiritual energy pulsed within his palm.

*Swish!*

The mirror surface shone brightly, emitting a rich glow.

Curiously, the light beam seemed to encounter an invisible barrier in the void, abruptly halting. As the light's intensity varied, an identical Thousand Worlds Mirror gradually formed in the void.

The mirror image existed for only a moment before vanishing.

By leaving a mirror image here and scattering invisible mirror imprints along the way, he could easily escape back to the magical boat if he encountered danger. The Thousand Worlds Mirror was undoubtedly an extraordinary escape treasure, though its drawbacks were the need for prior preparation and distance limitations.

The mirror image materialized.

Concerned for his safety, the Dark Moon Guard meticulously checked again, confirmed everything was in order, and then left the magical boat alone, boarding a pleasure boat and sailing into Baichuan Market.

The city itself was crisscrossed with canals, and at its heart lay a spirit lake. The four markets—east, west, south, and north—were all built around this lake, making it truly a city on water.

As a Nascent Soul Grandmaster, the Dark Moon Guard encountered no trouble from short-sighted petty thieves. He entered the city smoothly, proceeded to the West Market, and arrived before Mo Xingdao's cave dwelling.

He touched the restrictive formation.

Soon, the cave dwelling opened, and a person emerged.

This person was dressed as a scholar, and their appearance and physique differed greatly from Mo Xingdao's.

"Daoist friend, are you..."

The scholar's eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked inquisitive.

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the Dark Moon Guard's brow gather a bloody aura, revealing the Dark Moon Seal.

The scholar smiled faintly, his figure and features twisting and shifting to reveal his true appearance. It was indeed Mo Xingdao's true body!

He had already disguised himself when leaving the secret mark. If he had shown his true face, the news of the Northern Barrens' foremost rogue cultivator entering the city would have caused widespread panic throughout Baichuan Market.

He had traveled with Su Zinan for a period but had not seen all the Dark Moon Guards.

Only upon seeing the Dark Moon Seal did he confirm the other party's identity.

"Daoist friend, please come in. May I ask your Daoist title?" Mo Xingdao gestured very courteously, showing no disrespect due to the Dark Moon Guard's identity.

"As a mere servant, I have no right to use my former name."

The Dark Moon Guard's expression was indifferent.

Mo Xingdao nodded, not taking offense, and then asked, "Is Daoist friend Qingfeng well?"

Having witnessed Su Zinan's crippled Nascent Soul being captured, he knew that Lu Ye and the Dark Moon Guards must have fallen into Qin Sang's avatar's hands. Qin Sang's avatar's title, Daoist Master Qingfeng, had already become widely known with the news of the Formless Immortal Sect, after the Xie family had gone to the Ganlu Chan Temple to mourn.

"I have come precisely by my Master's command."

The Dark Moon Guard, mindful of his duty, spoke no more than necessary. He immediately took out the communication talisman, informed the avatar of the situation, and then withdrew from the cave dwelling.

A somewhat muffled voice from the avatar emerged from the talisman: "Daoist friend Mo."

Mo Xingdao's reply was unexpected: "Daoist friend Qin, you are late. I've been waiting for quite a while."

After a moment of silence, the avatar finally said, "You already know."

"The Saint King harbors ill intentions, but this cannot escape the eyes of those who pay attention. I am certainly not the only one who feels sympathy for Daoist friend Qin; it's just a pity that our voices carry little weight," Mo Xingdao said gravely.

The avatar sighed softly. "Daoist friend Mo, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I believe you are also aware of my current predicament. Out of necessity, I can only contact you in this manner, and I hope you will not take offense."

Mo Xingdao said it was no bother, then glanced outside the cave dwelling with a puzzled expression. "Daoist friend Qin wouldn't have entrusted the Five Elements Pill to a Dark Moon Guard, would you? I have already brought the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit. I'm not sure what your intention is with this action. Does our previous agreement still stand? Or has the method of transaction changed?"

As for himself, his presence here already demonstrated his attitude.

The avatar did not answer, but instead spoke: "Like Daoist friend Mo, I also travel alone, with no one to assist me. Although I fortunately escaped the Saint King's pursuit, I suffered severe injuries that shook my foundation. My true body's wounds are extremely grave and have not yet healed, and my external avatar's cultivation is insufficient to handle matters independently."

Mo Xingdao listened silently, without interrupting.

"It's not that I don't trust Daoist friend Mo, but these two spiritual medicines are of great importance. And being considered a thorn in the Saint King's side, I am already a startled bird. Even in my prime, I truly wouldn't dare to be overconfident."

After explaining his predicament, the avatar continued, "The matter of this transaction was proposed by me, so naturally, I will not go back on my word."

Mo Xingdao understood almost completely. "Daoist friend Qin, you mean..."

"Both the Five Elements Pill and the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit are meant to be consumed at the moment of breakthrough. For both of us, they are not urgent items... Your cultivation has probably not yet reached perfection, has it?"

The avatar suddenly retorted.

Mo Xingdao's expression shifted slightly, but he did not reply.

However, their cultivation realms were similar, and they had even exchanged blows before. Although Qin Sang could not fully discern Mo Xingdao's true capabilities, he could make simple judgments based on certain signs.

The avatar suggested, "Since it's not urgent, could Daoist friend allow for some flexibility in timing? How about we try to trade after the commotion dies down and my true body's injuries have healed?"

Being targeted by the Azure Fox Saint King left Qin Sang no room for carelessness.

Mo Xingdao was able to bring out the Spirit Rhinoceros Immortal Fruit, but Qin Sang wondered what price he had paid. And having stayed on the Ghost Rock Plateau for so long, how could Qin Sang not be suspicious?

Even with the threat of a God Transformation realm expert, the avatar facing Mo Xingdao and his puppet alone seemed too vulnerable.

When one's life and fortune are at stake, no amount of caution is too much.

Qin Sang tried to buy some time, at least until his true body had refined the Demonic Flame origin and gained the power to contend with a God Transformation realm expert, before considering the transaction.

Not to mention the benefits brought by the significant advancement in his spiritual sense.

Based on the performance of the two God Transformation experts during the Demon Subjugation War, Qin Sang estimated that once he refined the Demonic Flame origin, the Fire Lotus would also possess God Transformation-level power. Furthermore, with the Fire Lotus under his complete control, its consumption would be far less than that of the six firebirds.

This would not take too long.

Mo Xingdao's puppet, skilled in Yin-Yang Evasion Techniques, appeared and disappeared unpredictably, giving him fewer concerns than Qin Sang.

To persuade Mo Xingdao, Qin Sang appealed to his emotions and reason, and sent a Dark Moon Guard to demonstrate his sincerity.

Both parties had an unspoken understanding, not mentioning the collaboration and transaction that occurred after the Six Prefectures Hall Treasure Exchange, but they were well aware of each other's identities. That previous transaction had been relatively pleasant, laying a good foundation.

They were now essentially holding each other's spiritual medicines in safekeeping.

If Mo Xingdao disregarded all other considerations and insisted on trading immediately, Qin Sang would need to carefully ponder Mo Xingdao's intentions.

Mo Xingdao neither agreed nor refused. After a moment of silence, he said, "I have two purposes for coming here this time. One is to fulfill our agreement, and the second is to deliver a message for someone."

On the other side of the talisman, the avatar's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his entire body tensed.

Even through the talisman, Mo Xingdao seemed to sense the avatar's tension.

He said calmly, "Daoist friend, do not worry. I have come at the command of Venerable Huiguang. Before my departure, the holy monk gave me a grain of sand, instructing me to open the restriction within it when I contacted Daoist friend Qin. There are important matters to discuss with you in detail, concerning the grievances between you and the Azure Fox Saint King, the Xie family, and your future circumstances. As a sign of sincerity, the holy monk's true body remains in the Central Plains. If Daoist friend Qin doesn't mind, I will open the grain of sand now."

There was a long silence.

The avatar ensured that the other party could not possibly track him through the talisman and added an extra layer of concealment formation around himself.

If not for the limited communication range, he would have undoubtedly retreated further.

Venerable Huiguang stepping forward, what could he want?

Was it because the Xie family's public mourning had stirred public opinion, making him feel pressured?

Could Venerable Huiguang really stand against the Azure Fox Saint King for him?

The other party certainly possessed that power, but Qin Sang could not fathom his reason for doing so.

Since Mo Xingdao was sent to deliver the message, Venerable Huiguang must have known about the transaction. If this matter was not handled well, the transaction might face further complications.

The avatar said in a deep voice, "Daoist friend, please proceed!"

Only then did Mo Xingdao take a grain of yellow sand from his mustard seed pouch.

What appeared to be an ordinary grain of sand suddenly expanded after Mo Xingdao imbued it with a hand seal, transforming into countless specks of dust.

Buddhist teachings often speak of "a grain of sand, a world," a scene precisely like this.

The dust motes hovered within the cave dwelling, coloring the entire space a dim yellow. Faint sounds of wind and sand could be heard, and then the outlines of two figures appeared within the dust.

The figures were indistinct, formed from yellow sand, but it was discernible that one was an old monk and the other a woman.

Venerable Huiguang had actually used this extraordinary yellow sand treasure to transmit his thoughts from the Central Plains to this place through a great divine ability.

The old monk's sandy image had dull eyes. Facing the talisman, his lips parted, and a voice as deep as Venerable Huiguang's boomed, "Is this Benefactor Qin present?"

A moment later, the avatar responded, "Greetings, Holy Monk."

After confirming the identity, Venerable Huiguang's speaking speed suddenly increased. "This thought-transmission technique cannot be maintained for long, so I will be brief. As the saying goes, it is better to resolve enmities than to perpetuate them. I am willing to mediate and resolve the grievances between Benefactor Qin and the Azure Fox Saint King. What do you say, Benefactor Qin?"

The avatar on the other side was momentarily stunned.

He hadn't expected Venerable Huiguang to actually step forward and actively intervene in such a matter.

Would the righteous path of the Central Continent truly uphold justice?

After a moment of hesitation, the avatar said coldly, "What grievances? Wasn't it simply that I was unilaterally pursued by the Saint King? Everyone knows whether those two crocodile demons were truly the Saint King's disciples or not; let's not resort to such tricks to deceive the world anymore!"

The phantom of the Azure Fox Saint King, who was beside him, remained silent.

Venerable Huiguang's tone remained flat as he calmly revealed the truth: "I have already ascertained that the Azure Fox Saint King attacked you, Benefactor, because he was attracted by a treasure on your person, compounded by previous enmity, leading him to act without hesitation. I also know that such a reason is untenable and cannot be taken for granted. However, for cultivators at our level, such incidents are common, and we deeply understand that no grudge is truly irreconcilable. If this knot can be untied, Benefactor, you would not need to be so cautious and would feel a sense of relief, would you not? Therefore, I believe there is indeed a possibility of resolution."

Perhaps it was because the secret art truly couldn't be maintained for long, but Venerable Huiguang's words were remarkably straightforward.

Given the other party's frankness, the avatar was left somewhat speechless.

Without waiting for the avatar's response.

Venerable Huiguang continued, "The Azure Fox Saint King sincerely repents and is willing to pay a price, compensating you for your losses, and swearing an oath that he will not actively seek to harm you in the future. I am willing to bear witness!"