Chapter 2010: Yumen Pass

Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter!

Walking on the lotus leaves without using spiritual power felt like being on a floating bridge. The lotus leaves swayed gently, fish swam in the water, and the surrounding rain mist was ethereal, like a dream. Many cultivators, just like mortals, strolled leisurely among the lotus leaves and arched bridges, holding oil-paper umbrellas. They were clearly enjoying the unique charm of Lotus City.

Rumble...

Occasional rumbles of thunder came from the dark clouds, a dull sound as if from a great distance. It was said that the rain clouds over Lotus City lingered year-round, yet lightning was exceedingly rare.

After a brief inquiry, Qin Sang and Sword Slave gained a general understanding of the city's layout. As all of Lotus City's buildings were constructed on lotus leaves, a single lotus leaf often housed an entire shop, with its sign carved into the lotus flower beside it. No immortal city was without places to rent cultivation caves. The eastern district of Lotus City had the densest spiritual energy, and it was said to be home to many reclusive masters who truly understood the meaning of "great hermits live in the city."

After discussing, Qin Sang and Sword Slave decided to purchase a courtyard in an inconspicuous, remote area. Soon, they reached the western side of Lotus City, almost at the city's edge, and acquired a courtyard through a broker, paying with spirit stones. The courtyard was built on a massive lotus leaf spanning tens of thousands of zhang, with numerous small courtyards clustered together. This area also had the thinnest spiritual energy in Lotus City. However, Qin Sang intended to use it as a future contact point and would not reside there permanently, so the spiritual energy's density was irrelevant.

"After you contact Senior Tianyue, you can wait for me here. If all goes well, I'll come to meet you. If something unexpected happens and I'm forced to flee outside of Greater Zhou, I might also send a message here to seek your help," Qin Sang said.

Sword Slave knew his cultivation couldn't fend off powerful enemies for Qin Sang; at most, he could help gather necessary items. He nodded gravely. "Take care, True One!"

"You too! Until we meet again!"

Qin Sang set up a spirit array, handed Sword Slave a jade token, and personally escorted him out of the city. Sword Slave cupped his fist slightly towards Qin Sang, concealed his aura, and silently vanished into the depths of the rain curtain.

After Sword Slave left, Qin Sang began his preparations in earnest. He stayed in Lotus City for some time, gathering information on Dui Province's terrain and situation, and combining it with the geomantic map he had acquired, formed a rough impression of the province.

Unlike Gen Province, Lotus City, the capital of Dui Province, was not located in the exact center of Dui Province. The entirety of Dui Province occupied only a portion of the Great Swamp. North of Dui Province, beyond the Greater Zhou territory, lay an area even more chaotic and perilous than the Southern Sea. This region, situated between the Barren Wilds and Greater Zhou, was home to a mix of human and non-human races, plagued by demons, monsters, and ghosts, and lacked any semblance of order, with numerous powerful tribes and forces scattered throughout.

Further north was the Barren Wilds. Legend had it that after the collapse of the Demon Court, the demon race lost its power and was driven to the Barren Wilds by the Jade Emperor. However, the contemporary human race knew little about the Barren Wilds. It was also said to be vaster than the Eight Great Celestial Provinces. Beyond Fengju Jade Gate, the northern part of the Witch Clan's territory was also considered part of the Barren Wilds, extending even further west.

The Barren Wilds was a broad concept; in the eyes of humans, any unconquered territory was an uncivilized, savage land, which could be considered the Barren Wilds. The Grand World was simply too vast, and even the Eight Great Celestial Provinces were not truly interconnected.

What had become of the demon race? Had they rebuilt the Demon Court? Was the main body of the demon race in northern Greater Zhou, ready to launch a counterattack to the south at any moment? Qin Sang tried to gather information on these matters to plan his escape routes, but only received some vague and unreliable rumors. However, the location of Lotus City, the provincial capital of Dui Province, near the northern border, clearly indicated a defensive stance against the north.

To travel from Lotus City to Fengju Jade Gate, one had to journey northwest, eventually reaching a place called 'Jade Gate Pass'. Fengju Jade Gate itself was located outside Dui Province. As its name suggested, Jade Gate Pass was the final stronghold on the way to Fengju Jade Gate. There was still a long distance between Jade Gate Pass and Fengju Jade Gate, with no immortal cities in between, only spontaneously formed outposts and towns created by cultivators traveling between the two. These settlements often lasted only decades or a few centuries before being swallowed by the sandstorms, whereas Jade Gate Pass had existed since ancient times. It was rumored that Dui Province's Great Swamp extended all the way to the Witch Clan's territory, encompassing Fengju Jade Gate. However, the terrain near Fengju Jade Gate was unique, possibly influenced by an ancient battlefield, with widespread sandstorms and a desolate landscape.

Qin Sang organized the information he had gathered during this period, determined his route, and then departed Lotus City via a grand teleportation array.

Crack! Sizzle!

Dark clouds hung low. A fierce storm raged. Gale-force winds swept the torrential rain, mercilessly lashing the swamp below. Amidst the lightning and thunder, a streak of red lightning tore through the clouds and wind.

Crack!

A bolt of lightning illuminated the heavens and earth, revealing that the red streak was, in fact, a spirit eagle with crimson plumage. The spirit eagle's eyes were sharp, its demeanor extraordinary. With a wingspan exceeding a hundred zhang, it moved with the speed of thunder, utterly unimpeded by the wind and rain. Faintly, a person could be seen riding on the spirit eagle's back.

This person was none other than Qin Sang. After leaving Lotus City, he had made several transfers, and this was now the final leg of his journey to Jade Gate Pass. For reasons unknown, Jade Gate Pass did not have a grand teleportation array connecting it to the outside world. In Dui Province, the dominant power in transit business was not Bright Gold City, but a force called Beast Taming Hall. Qin Sang had hired a spirit eagle from Beast Taming Hall to travel to Jade Gate Pass.

"Can I continue to hire you beyond Jade Gate Pass?" Qin Sang asked, communicating directly with the spirit eagle.

"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, esteemed guest. Our Beast Taming Hall doesn't do business outside Jade Gate Pass," the spirit eagle replied crisply, its voice young, like that of an eight or nine-year-old child.

"Oh?" Qin Sang questioned. "Why is that? Surely there are quite a few cultivators going beyond the pass?"

"To answer you, esteemed guest, we also don't want to give up business beyond the pass, but the powers in Dui Province generally give us some face, and even in northern Dui Province, we have many allies. It's only beyond the pass that we can't..." The spirit eagle sighed. "Many who dare to enter Fengju Jade Gate for treasure are desperadoes, acting without scruple. Furthermore, the land beyond the pass is desolate; they commit evil deeds and then hide inside Fengju Jade Gate, making them impossible to trace. It's said that we tried in the past, but many of our predecessors were lost in vain... If you go beyond the pass, esteemed guest, you must be careful."

Qin Sang hummed in acknowledgment, observing the back of the spirit eagle's head, and suddenly said, "You're not a true demon race member, are you?"

The spirit eagle hired from Beast Taming Hall had no master accompanying it. From the moment Qin Sang saw it, he found its aura somewhat peculiar, unlike a transformed demonic beast. As they traveled, his suspicion grew stronger.

"Esteemed guest, your perception is keen!" The spirit eagle answered frankly, "You may also regard me as a spirit eagle, esteemed guest. This is our Beast Taming Hall's unique beast-taming method, where master and spirit beast cultivate the Great Dao together. This spirit eagle is my natal spirit beast, and my primordial spirit is currently merging with its essence. Flying back and forth also helps us become more attuned to each other."

*Why are the cultivation methods of these transit businesses so strange? Both Beast Taming Hall and Bright Gold City are like this,* Qin Sang mused inwardly.

Under the gloomy clouds, the daylight was indistinct. After traveling rapidly through the lightning and thunder all night, Qin Sang suddenly saw a brilliant sunrise glow appear on the horizon the next morning. However, this 'sunrise glow' appeared in the west. At the edge of the dark clouds, a radiant glow suddenly appeared, vibrant and multi-colored, instantly illuminating the world. A closer look revealed this was no mere glow, but fierce sandstorms. The sand howled, blocking the gloomy clouds, and sunlight refracted through the sand, casting various hues. Between the sandstorms and the dark clouds, the silhouette of a city emerged.

Throughout his journey, all the immortal cities Qin Sang had seen in Dui Province resembled Lotus City, possessing a refined elegance. The immortal city before him, however, was of an entirely different style: a majestic and rugged fortress in the middle of a vast desert!

"Esteemed guest, we've arrived at Jade Gate Pass!"

The spirit eagle opened its mouth and spat out a red glow, which shot towards Jade Gate Pass. Immediately, faint ripples appeared in the void, as if a gateway had opened. The spirit eagle flew directly into the city without any hindrance or guards coming up to question them. It was as if they had reached the edge of the swamp; inside Jade Gate Pass was the humid marsh, while outside lay endless sandstorms. The buildings in Jade Gate Pass were similar to those in the mortal realm, mostly constructed from earth and stone. The city walls facing the outside were exceptionally thick, and constantly, guards radiating killing intent patrolled the ramparts. The power of the grand protective array formed subtle fluctuations, seemingly guarding against something at all times.

Qin Sang noticed many people hurrying through the streets. He estimated that most were not original residents but adventurers drawn by Fengju Jade Gate. The western city gate was wide open, with a continuous stream of people.

The Five Elements Alliance also had a branch here. Qin Sang inquired about its location and went directly to the Five Elements Alliance, presenting his token. Upon seeing the Elder's token, a deacon surnamed Ruan immediately led Qin Sang to the back hall and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Elder Qin!" Deacon Ruan showed no restraint in front of Qin Sang, clearly not his first time receiving an Elder from the Alliance.

"Which Elder is stationed here?" Qin Sang asked, looking around. The Five Elements Alliance couldn't possibly dispatch an Elder to every branch, but a crucial location like Jade Gate Pass surely had an Elder stationed there.

"Reporting to Elder Qin, Elder Hong is in charge of this branch, but Elder Hong is currently out of the city on business."

Deacon Ruan didn't explain what the business was, and Qin Sang found it inconvenient to press. So he said, "What kind of spiritual items does Fengju Jade Gate produce? You must have a catalog, right? Bring it for me to review."

"Yes, sir!" Deacon Ruan was not at all surprised by this; most people who came to Jade Gate Pass were here because of Fengju Jade Gate. He quickly brought several jade slips, which were the accumulated efforts of the Five Elements Alliance over many years. Even within the Alliance, only Elders and those of higher rank were qualified to view them.

Fengju Jade Gate was an ancient battlefield that had existed since time immemorial. It contained divine abilities left by powerful beings, shattered minor realms, and had given rise to countless miraculous places, yielding many rare and wondrous treasures of heaven and earth that were difficult to find elsewhere. Legends of cultivators acquiring supreme treasures or ancient inheritances in Fengju Jade Gate and instantly ascending to greatness often circulated here. Thus, despite knowing the dangers, countless people continued to flock to it. The Five Elements Alliance had long since begun collecting and recording any treasures originating from Fengju Jade Gate. Some were merely snippets of information, while others detailed the acquisition process and even specified the likely locations where such spiritual items could be found.

Qin Sang knew that as a Guest Elder, he wouldn't have access to all the information, but even this was extremely valuable.

"Earth-Jade Rose Vine, is this all the information you have?" Qin Sang activated the jade slip's content, pointing to several entries, and asked with a frown.

The Earth-Jade Rose Vine was a rare and precious Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure. It had appeared five times in the records, with the oldest sighting dating back seven thousand years and the most recent just thirty years ago. Qin Sang didn't need the Earth-Jade Rose Vine; he was merely using it as a pretext to enter Fengju Jade Gate and conceal his true intentions.

Deacon Ruan thought to himself that Elder Qin had come for the Earth-Jade Rose Vine. "Reporting to Elder Qin, this record was indeed penned by this junior. Thirty years ago, there was a rumor in the city that someone had brought out a section of the spiritual vine, but they quickly vanished without a trace. This junior couldn't ascertain precise details, but since there were four previous, more credible records of the spiritual vine's appearance, I made a note of it."

"So, no one currently knows the most likely location for the Earth-Jade Rose Vine within Fengju Jade Gate?" Qin Sang asked.

Deacon Ruan nodded in affirmation. "It's not to boast, but this junior is quite well-informed in the city. Others would likely be unable to find anything. If Elder Qin needs this item, I will immediately issue a bounty. A generous reward is sure to attract brave individuals..."

"Hmph! What do you know! The Earth-Jade Rose Vine that this old man requires must be harvested with my special secret technique, otherwise its power will be diminished and rendered useless," Qin Sang retorted coldly.

"This... This junior is shallow in knowledge and almost ruined Elder Qin's important matter. Please punish me, Elder Qin," Deacon Ruan said, trembling with fear.

"It's fine, your intentions were good. You can still release the bounty. This old man needs the growth location of the Earth-Jade Rose Vine, and these few other spiritual items. I will purchase them all at a premium, the more the better. As long as the treasures are good enough, this old man can even personally open his furnace and custom-refine a spirit treasure for him!" Qin Sang waved his hand.

Upon hearing this, Deacon Ruan knew that this matter would surely cause a considerable stir in Jade Gate Pass. A Guest Elder of the Five Elements Alliance personally opening a furnace for custom refinement would tempt even Void Refinement cultivators.

Qin Sang called out to Deacon Ruan, who was about to withdraw. "Also, please help this old man find some people, preferably those who can escort this old man to Fengju Jade Gate and are familiar with its interior, to assist this old man in finding spiritual items inside."

Unexpectedly, Deacon Ruan showed a troubled expression. "This..."

"What's wrong? Are there no forces in the city that do this kind of business?" Qin Sang frowned.

"There are! There are! It's just that the current situation is special. People truly familiar with Fengju Jade Gate are highly sought after and have mostly been hired at great expense. I wonder if Elder Qin has heard..." Deacon Ruan glanced west. "Many years ago, rumors began circulating about the appearance of an ancient sword cultivator's Sword Pavilion in Fengju Jade Gate. A Sword Pavilion is a special dojo built by ancient sword cultivators to hone their sword intent and sword heart, and it might contain inheritances left behind by ancient sword cultivators. As some fragments were discovered and confirmed to be genuine ancient Sword Pavilions, the commotion intensified. With time, it was even rumored that a special Sword Pavilion was hidden within Fengju Jade Gate, said to be the Purple Star Palace, the dojo of the ancient era's foremost sword cultivator, the king among sword cultivators, the Supreme Sword Venerable, Sword Venerable Ziwei. Although its authenticity is unconfirmed, more and more people are being drawn to Jade Gate Pass..."

Qin Sang was thoughtful. Some fragments of a Sword Pavilion had emerged. In the Storm Realm, there were a total of five known Sword Pavilions: Ziwei, Tiantong, Tianxiang, Qisha, and an unnamed one in the Western Lands. He wondered if any of them had already been excavated.