Chapter 1991: Heavenly River's Counterattack

Returning to Baoyuan, Qin Sang organized his possessions. To acquire valuable items at the upcoming auctions and trade fairs, he would undoubtedly need to use some of his previous cherished collections.

The Jitian Dharma Assembly was scheduled to open in ten days.

By the third day, the first auction on Spirit Treasure Peak began. A steward had already delivered an invitation to Baoyuan, and Qin Sang, accompanied by Taiyi and Yulang, arrived as scheduled. The auction itself was unremarkable, and the most valuable items on offer failed to impress Qin Sang. Nevertheless, he made two bids, purchasing two items for Taiyi and Yulang. He bought nothing for himself.

On the seventh day, Qin Sang arrived just before the end of the second auction, watched for a short while, and then left, still unimpressed.

It wasn't until the ninth night.

At midnight, the restrictions around Baoyuan were triggered. Qin Sang personally stepped out to greet Gu Yunso, who stood outside.

"Reverend, you must have had quite a fruitful few days, I presume?" Gu Yunso said with a smile.

Gu Yunso had been busy with preparations for the Jitian Dharma Assembly and the small grotto-heaven, only meeting Qin Sang once during these days.

Seeing Qin Sang sigh, Gu Yunso chuckled. He knew that ordinary merchants and public auctions rarely offered much assistance to Void Refining cultivators. Such individuals, though perhaps not high in cultivation, possessed sharp eyes; with so many keen observers, there were few bargains to be found.

"Reverend, please follow me. Tonight, you're sure to return satisfied!" Gu Yunso gestured for Qin Sang to follow.

"Oh?" Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. He quickly caught up, "Is the trade fair tonight?"

"That's right," Gu Yunso nodded and explained, "There will be several smaller gatherings later, but none will be as comprehensive or offer as many opportunities as this one. Moreover, the host's arrangements are always meticulous, so there's no need to worry too much."

It was customary for trade fairs among Void Refining cultivators to take place either the day before or the first day of the Jitian Dharma Assembly. This time, it was scheduled before the assembly.

By this evening, nearly all influential forces had arrived. According to Gu Yunso, this particular trade fair was the most renowned, with most Void Refining cultivators attending the Jitian Dharma Assembly also participating in it, making it a miniature Dharma Assembly in itself.

The two walked side by side down the mountain, then ascended a vine bridge, unhurriedly moving through the network of bridges. Gu Yunso explained the trade fair's procedures to Qin Sang.

Although it was the middle of the night, the city was not completely dark. The flowers of the vines served as light sources, emitting faint glows scattered among the peaks, like thousands of luminous lanterns. They didn't illuminate every corner but added a sense of tranquility and elegance. Many cultivators enjoyed this atmosphere, purposely leaving their cave dwellings at this time to appreciate the night scenery.

People occasionally passed by on the vine bridges. After walking for a while, Gu Yunso subtly waved his sleeve, casting a spell to conceal their figures. They continued to converse as they walked, unseen by others.

Eventually, Gu Yunso led Qin Sang to an unknown peak. They walked halfway around it before arriving at a mountain wall. The rocks on the wall were jagged, with three vine bridges climbing up and down its face. They ascended the middle bridge. Gu Yunso counted the flower lanterns on the bridge, and upon reaching the ninth, he softly said, "This is it." With that, he gently tapped the lantern.

The lantern trembled slightly, and a lazy voice emerged from within. "A-woo!"

The petals split open, revealing a baby, like a flower spirit dozing in the heart of a flower, now just awakened and stretching widely. The baby, no bigger than a fist, was exquisitely crafted, fair-skinned and tender, truly adorable. It wore a large red bellyband that barely covered its private parts, and as it stretched, a tiny exposed part was inadvertently revealed. Oblivious to its exposure, the baby opened its sleepy eyes.

Gu Yunso took a jade pendant from his sleeve and offered it to the baby's mouth. *Crack!* The baby's eyes lit up. It swallowed the jade pendant in one gulp, chewing loudly and crunchily, clearly enjoying the sweet taste.

After swallowing the pendant, the baby widened its eyes, looked at Qin Sang and Gu Yunso, then scrambled into the flower's center. The petals abruptly opened wide, like a huge mouth, engulfing Qin Sang and Gu Yunso.

Having already been warned by Gu Yunso, Qin Sang offered no resistance. He felt himself falling into darkness, surrounded by void, unsure of where he was being taken. Qin Sang couldn't resist looking back. Darkness enveloped the rear, and the baby was gone. He couldn't help but feel secretly astonished. Just now, he had carefully observed the baby but couldn't discern its true nature; it didn't seem like a flower spirit, leaving him puzzled about its species.

Gu Yunso noticed Qin Sang's actions and transmitted a message: "Reverend, no need to look. I've seen these flower babies before, and to this day, I don't know their origin. They are likely special creatures raised by the host. They must possess some unique divine ability to prevent anyone from causing trouble at the trade fair."

Since even Gu Yunso couldn't ascertain its origin, Qin Sang stopped pondering, thinking that this host was truly mysterious.

As they conversed, the surroundings transformed again. A faint glow dispelled the darkness, and a light mist rose around them. Their feet felt soft, as if they were riding on clouds. The space was initially void, then light shimmered, and two pairs of stone tables and chairs appeared in front. Each stone table held a stone plate.

Gu Yunso beckoned Qin Sang to sit down, then took out a dragon's eye-sized jade bead and placed it on the stone plate. "To attend the trade fair, each person must submit a spiritual treasure to secure a seat."

An entry fee of a spiritual treasure was quite astonishing. Fortunately, there were no other requirements; any spiritual treasure of suitable quality was acceptable, even if it lacked the 'Communication with Treasure Art' for mastery. Furthermore, the host would not take a cut, which made it more palatable.

In the past few days, Qin Sang had learned some of the rules. Although spiritual treasures were rare, over countless years, effective trading models had emerged. In Moon Ditch Bay, spiritual treasures that had lost their masters and lacked the 'Communication with Treasure Art' could still be acquired by some, though their value would be significantly discounted. Besides that, there were merchants who acted as agents for selling spiritual treasures, but it might take a long time to find a suitable buyer. Then there were these trade fairs among Void Refining cultivators.

Upon reaching the Void Refining stage, their divine abilities far surpassed those of Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators. They were no longer helpless when it came to spiritual treasures without the 'Communication with Treasure Art'. The vast world had developed secret arts specifically for spiritual treasures, but these were uncommon and often required various conditions to perform, making subduing a spiritual treasure no easy feat. Sometimes, expending too much effort to subdue a spiritual treasure might not be worth it. For instance, after slaying Old Ancestor Minghu and confiscating several spiritual treasures, Qin Sang never considered subduing them, preferring to forge new ones from scratch that would better suit himself.

Conversely, spiritual treasures whose grand dao principles or divine abilities were similar to one's own were easier to subdue. Cultivators often chose these kinds of spiritual treasures, considering it a form of 'destiny'. If such a spiritual treasure appeared at this trade fair, Qin Sang would make a move.

Hearing Gu Yunso's explanation, Qin Sang selected a pair of phoenix-adorned earrings and placed them on the stone plate. This treasure, named Twin Phoenix Earrings, was a relic of the Black Demonic Peng. Qin Sang had effectively obtained the relics of two Void Refining cultivators. Besides their commonly used spiritual treasures, he also had a few items they had confiscated from enemies, of varying quality. The Twin Phoenix Earrings were among the lowest tier.

After placing the spiritual treasure, the stone plate floated up on its own and vanished into the depths of the mist. At the same time, Qin Sang noticed several faint glows appearing within the mist. Inside these light clusters, human figures seemed discernible yet appeared thousands of miles away, remaining perpetually unclear—a truly peculiar sight.

The light clusters grew in number. These were all the cultivators participating in the trade fair, which was conducted in this unique environment. Within Moon Ditch Bay, Void Refining cultivators usually knew of each other by name and deeds to some extent. Some might wonder why they didn't simply gather openly, finding such arrangements rather ostentatious. However, those familiar with the immortal cultivation world's dynamics knew that such arrangements prevented direct conflicts between righteous and evil factions, and allowed for the trading of sensitive items. The prerequisite was that the host remained sufficiently impartial.

"The Jitian Sect has put in a lot of effort," Qin Sang remarked.

"Does Reverend also believe the host is the Jitian Sect?" Gu Yunso asked.

"Who else could it be but the Jitian Sect? However, even with these arrangements, it doesn't completely alleviate everyone's concerns," Qin Sang replied.

"In all these Dharma Assemblies, aside from those who deliberately revealed their identities, I've never heard of anyone's identity being leaked or suffering unprovoked retaliation from the Jitian Sect," Gu Yunso transmitted.

As they spoke, more and more light clusters appeared in the mist. There were no attendants here, no spiritual tea or immortal fruits; everyone waited patiently. Qin Sang closed his eyes to meditate. After about an incense stick's worth of time, he suddenly felt a ripple in the mist.

"Ahem!" An aged voice echoed. "Almost everyone is here. Most of you present are not first-time attendees, but to our new friends, I extend a warm welcome. The rules are simple and need no elaborate explanation: you will take turns speaking, presenting your treasures, and stating your requirements. Those interested in a trade can then initiate contact. As for whether you conduct the transaction here and now, or agree to meet privately outside, that is not my concern..."

"However, there is one point: here, we only consider the value of the treasure, regardless of its history or any grievances you may have. I do not wish for any disputes to arise here. Of course, since the inception of this trade fair, there has never been a conflict."

The tone remained flat throughout, but when everyone heard the last sentence, they all felt a shiver of respect. Qin Sang instinctively straightened his posture, searching for the source of the voice, but it seemed to come from all directions, yielding no results. After some thought, he abandoned the idea of waking his Heavenly Eye Butterfly.

The host's voice paused, then asked, "Which fellow Daoist would like to begin?"

"I shall start," a hoarse voice emerged from one of the light clusters.

Gu Yunso shook his head at Qin Sang, indicating he couldn't identify the person. The light cluster brightened slightly, then three streams of light flew out, hovering amidst the numerous clusters, revealing a saber, a long flute, and a pair of copper gongs, all clearly visible.

"Of these three spiritual treasures, only the Featherborn Flute possesses the 'Communication with Treasure Art'. Any fellow Daoist interested can exchange it for another spiritual treasure." He continued, "Additionally, I seek only one item: a piece of Vast Sea Luminous Jade weighing more than seven liang."

Before his voice faded, several divine senses swept towards the spiritual treasures. Just as Qin Sang was perceiving the properties of these spiritual treasures, he heard someone from a nearby light cluster say, "Vast Sea Luminous Jade is only produced in the Sunken Jade Sea. It is a second-grade precious jade on the Sunken Jade Sea's Hundred Jades List, and it rarely appears even there. A piece weighing over seven liang is an even rarer treasure. What are you prepared to exchange for it, fellow Daoist?"

Qin Sang glanced at that light cluster. As an artificer, he naturally paid close attention to special spiritual materials in the vicinity. The Sunken Jade Sea, located to the east of Moon Ditch Bay, was renowned for producing various spiritual jades, which were ranked on a Hundred Jades List. There were only three types of first-grade precious jades on the list. There were six types of second-grade precious jades, all of them rare wonders of the world. It was said that many cultivators in the Sunken Jade Sea relied on spiritual jades for their cultivation, which meant even fewer jades found their way out.

The person laughed, "I have many treasures, but they are not convenient to display publicly. If fellow Daoist can produce Vast Sea Luminous Jade, I will do my best to meet any conditions you propose."

Immediately, the two fell silent, presumably having begun a private exchange.

Shortly after, the Featherborn Flute was exchanged for another spiritual treasure, while the other two spiritual treasures without the 'Communication with Treasure Art' remained untouched. There was no further movement from the two parties trading for Vast Sea Luminous Jade, indicating they had reached some agreement.

Next, a voice emerged from an adjacent light cluster. "I have a Thousand-Leaf Immortal Sunflower..."

The trade fair proceeded in an orderly manner. Since all participants were Void Refining cultivators, there was no need for the host to maintain order. Qin Sang watched with interest. He hadn't encountered any spiritual treasures he particularly desired, but he was somewhat interested in a few types of spiritual materials. However, his priority was his own cultivation, so he wasn't in a hurry to trade.

One by one, the turns came, and soon it was Qin Sang's and Gu Yunso's. Qin Sang felt a multitude of gazes converge on him. With a slight thought, several streams of light emerged from his Thousand Catty Ring. Each stream contained a spiritual treasure, including the Everbright Lamp, also known as Soul Extinguishing Lamp, which Old Ancestor Minghu had wielded. This was a spiritual treasure Old Ancestor Minghu heavily relied on, easily ranking among the top items displayed today. There were also two other pieces, no less in quality than the Soul Extinguishing Lamp, perhaps even superior, which were relics of the Black Demonic Peng.

As soon as the three spiritual treasures appeared, Gu Yunso was visibly stirred, further solidifying his resolve to ally with Qin Sang.

"My requirement," Qin Sang stated in a deep voice, appearing oblivious to the subtle stir caused by the appearance of the Soul Extinguishing Lamp, "is for any means to draw upon the power of the stars, gathering starlight to descend upon the mortal realm. This could be a spiritual treasure, a spiritual formation, a spiritual talisman, a Daoist art, or even if a fellow Daoist cultivates such a technique!"

After a brief silence, transmissions poured in. Most were inquiries about what kind of exchange Qin Sang desired for these spiritual treasures. Unfortunately, no one could meet Qin Sang's specific request.

Just as Qin Sang felt a tinge of disappointment, a sharp voice cut in. "Heh heh, that old zombie Minghu died by your hand, didn't he, fellow Daoist?"

Qin Sang neither confirmed nor denied, responding coldly, "What do you mean by that, fellow Daoist? Do you intend to avenge that devil?"

"Haha..." The shrill laughter seemed to pierce the eardrums. "Old zombie's demise delights me greatly, I assure you. What interests me is a powerful secret art that old zombie possessed. It must have fallen into your hands now, hasn't it, fellow Daoist?"

The person was undoubtedly referring to the *Cycle of Life and Death Reversal*. This was a top-tier secret art of the Corpse Ghost Dao, extremely difficult to cultivate. Despite its immense power, Qin Sang could only sigh at its prospect.

At this moment, Gu Yunso's eyes flickered as something occurred to him. "This person should be Old Demon Zhen from Ten Thousand Net Island. The news of Old Ancestor Minghu acquiring a powerful secret art after one of his returns seemed to have leaked without reason, very likely spread by Old Demon Zhen. It appears they might have had a contention back then..."

Seeing Qin Sang's prolonged silence, the other party grew impatient and directly stated, "I know of a spiritual formation called the 'Celestial River Reverse Kill Formation', a destructive formation of the star dao, but it is not in my possession. If you give me that secret art, I will help you acquire this formation."