Chapter 2012: Jade Knife

Seeing that Qin Sang didn't mind Steward Luo's presumptuous words, Deacon Ruan wisely closed his mouth and looked at Steward Luo.

Steward Luo appeared calm, but in fact, he was extremely nervous. The person in front of him was not only a Void Refining stage expert but also an elder of the Five Elements Alliance, holding a highly respected position that brooked no offense. Had he not been forced by circumstances, he would not have dared to insist on his own view.

Feeling his tension ease, Steward Luo quickly took out a purple stone. "If Senior can purify this Purple Origin Stone, removing its impurities and extracting the purest Purple Firmament Divine Iron, that will be sufficient proof."

Qin Sang was somewhat surprised to see the stone in Steward Luo's hand.

Purple Firmament Divine Iron was a valuable spiritual material, of course, he knew that. However, he had never heard of this "Purple Origin Stone," nor was it recorded in the Five Elements Alliance's ancient texts. According to records, Purple Firmament Divine Iron existed in the Great Thousand Worlds in the form of crystalline particles. Typically, the purest Divine Iron could be obtained simply by discovering a mineral vein. However, Purple Firmament Divine Iron had a troublesome characteristic: these particles were individual, making it extremely difficult to smelt them into a single block. Furthermore, Divine Iron in its crystalline form could not be directly used for artifact refining.

"Where did you obtain this Purple Origin Stone?" Qin Sang drew the stone into his palm and extended his divine sense into its interior. He immediately made a fascinating discovery: the Purple Origin Stone was far less pure than Purple Firmament Divine Iron particles, but the Divine Iron extracted from it could directly form a solid block, saving the trouble of smelting.

"The Purple Origin Stone is said to originate from a region within the Desolate Wilds," Steward Luo replied. "A mineral vein formed there due to unique environmental conditions. Unless similar conditions exist elsewhere, it's the only place where Purple Origin Stone is produced."

"The Desolate Wilds?" Qin Sang gazed deeply at Steward Luo. No wonder it wasn't recorded even in the Five Elements Alliance. What was the background of the master behind Steward Luo, who could possess treasures from the Desolate Wilds? Could they be from the chaotic region between the Great Zhou and the Desolate Wilds?

Within moments, Qin Sang had a general understanding of the Purple Origin Stone's characteristics. Extracting Purple Firmament Divine Iron from it wasn't particularly difficult. The key lay in how much loss occurred during the refining process and how much pure Divine Iron could be extracted. This would reveal the refiner's skill. Especially for someone just encountering the Purple Origin Stone, only those with profound accumulated knowledge in the path of artifact refining could minimize losses, making it quite an ingenious method of verification.

Qin Sang stood in place, eyes slightly closed, holding the Purple Origin Stone. He was about to purify it on the spot.

Seeing this, Deacon Ruan quietly activated the courtyard's formation, then pulled Steward Luo aside, and they silently watched Qin Sang's movements.

True essence gradually converged into Qin Sang's palm, and a visible mist enveloped the Purple Origin Stone. The Purple Origin Stone tumbled up and down within the mist.

Purifying the Purple Origin Stone did not require fire; it could be accomplished purely with true essence. First, it demanded powerful cultivation and precise control over every subtle change within the Purple Origin Stone. Second, it required a nuanced analysis of the stone, drawing upon past experience, to meticulously extract the Purple Firmament Divine Iron without contaminating it with impurities.

Deacon Ruan and Steward Luo held their breath, watching as streams of murky gas dissipated from the mist. The Purple Origin Stone gradually shrank, yet its luster grew increasingly pure, leaving them both awestruck.

Ultimately, the fist-sized Purple Origin Stone was reduced to the size of a fingernail, resembling the purest amethyst, shimmering with purple light.

"Elder Qin's skill is divine, I truly admire it!" Steward Luo stepped forward, his demeanor growing even more respectful. "Consider this piece of Purple Firmament Divine Iron a gift from my master to Elder Qin. Please wait a moment, Elder Qin, I will return now to invite my master to come personally. However, my master was recently injured for some reason and is currently healing using a secret technique. Should there be any disrespect, I hope Elder Qin will be lenient."

With that, Steward Luo bowed and excused himself. Not long after, he personally drove a carriage to the entrance of the Five Elements Alliance.

The carriage was pulled by a rare spiritual horse. Various strange spiritual beasts were commonplace in Jade Gate Pass and generally didn't attract much attention. Only those with sufficiently keen spiritual senses vaguely detected a peculiar aura emanating from the spiritual horse and the carriage. Just as they were about to observe more closely, the carriage had already been invited inside by Deacon Ruan.

The carriage drove into Qin Sang's courtyard. Steward Luo lightly dismounted and stood beside the carriage, whispering, "Young Master, this is Elder Qin of the Five Elements Alliance." He then bowed to Qin Sang, who was seated in the courtyard, toying with the Purple Firmament Divine Iron. Just as Steward Luo was about to speak, the carriage's curtain vibrated slightly.

"My surname is Xin, and my given name is Sheng. Greetings, Elder Qin. Due to my current ailment, I've had to employ a family secret technique, which has made me inconveniently mobile and given me an unusual appearance. I dare not openly show myself. I apologize in advance for any rudeness."

Qin Sang looked up at the carriage. It was directly facing him, separated only by a thin curtain. It seemed as though he could see inside through the gaps, yet he could only perceive a vague aura, unable to ascertain the cultivation level of this Young Master Xin. The other party's voice was very hoarse, indeed showing signs of weakness, though it was unclear if this was genuine or a disguise. Looking at the spiritual horses pulling the carriage, they were clearly illusory creations, indicating that the carriage must be an extraordinary treasure capable of isolating the spiritual senses of Void Refining cultivators. Of course, Qin Sang did not forcibly intrude with his divine sense, as it might not have been able to withstand him, but doing so would make a peaceful negotiation impossible.

Naturally, Qin Sang could not fully trust the other party's words. Steward Luo and Young Master Xin's actions gave Qin Sang the impression that they were deliberately concealing some secret, and their identities might not be genuine. Were they perhaps evading an adversary? However, inviting an artifact refining grandmaster to refine treasures in Fengju Jade Gate was inherently very rare, and Qin Sang had long anticipated that the other party might have some complications behind them. He had always valued practicality over empty formalities, and moreover, the other party's words seemed earnest. So, he didn't delve deeper, placed the Purple Firmament Divine Iron on the table, and said indifferently from his seat, "You've seen my abilities. Since Young Master Xin has come personally, I presume there's sincerity. Let's get straight to business."

"Yes!" Young Master Xin was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts. "This matter is of great importance. Before reaching our destination, we cannot disclose the exact location. We can only tell Elder Qin that it is a small world within the Fengju Jade Gate..."

Ten days later.

An inconspicuous carriage drove out of Jade Gate Pass, gradually swallowed by the wind and sand.

At the city wall, several malicious, veiled gazes continuously fixated on the carriage.

No sooner had the carriage vanished into the wind and sand than several figures quietly darted out, attempting to trail it. Unexpectedly, after chasing for a while, the carriage ahead had disappeared without a trace. These individuals, from various factions, ultimately lost their target and stood staring at each other in the desolate wilderness.

"Elder Qin, should we deal with those guys?" On a hill, Qin Sang, who had already left the city, stood there, with over a dozen people behind him.

Among the dozen or so people, there were cultivators in the Nascent Soul stage and those in the Soul Transformation stage. All of them looked fierce and exuded a strong murderous aura, identifying them as members of the Hengsha Society. Within Fengju Jade Gate, different locations varied in danger; Nascent Soul cultivators could explore the outer regions alone, but deeper penetration required a Soul Transformation cultivator to lead the team. Six of them were Soul Transformation cultivators, and their leader, a late Soul Transformation cultivator named Qu Zhen, was the one who spoke. The Nascent Soul cultivators were also shrewd and capable, forming a formidable force anywhere.

"No need," Qin Sang said, looking up at the sky. A Dragon-Phoenix Chariot was breaking through the air and approaching.

After leaving Jade Gate Pass, the carriage finally revealed its true power. The spiritual horses pulling it transformed into eight dragons and phoenixes. Four dragons and four phoenixes, extraordinarily divine. The structure of the carriage also changed; besides the private meditation room created by Young Master Xin, a spacious hall supported by over a dozen dragon and phoenix stone pillars materialized. It was adorned with gauze curtains outside and featured jade tables inside, laden with exquisite elixirs and immortal fruits.

"Elder Qin, fellow Daoists, please come aboard. Traveling by this treasure carriage will save you some effort," Young Master Xin invited.

Qin Sang accepted the offer without hesitation, leading Qu Zhen and the others onto the Dragon-Phoenix Chariot, where they each found a jade table and sat down. As the Dragon-Phoenix Chariot vibrated and began its journey, Qin Sang's gaze suddenly sharpened, looking north.

Deep within the wind and sand, a streak of azure light swiftly cut through the air. It was a sword cultivator who seemed to have detected Qin Sang's aura; the azure light paused momentarily but did not approach, quickly resuming its speed and continuing towards Jade Gate Pass. Qu Zhen and the others only sensed a fleeting sharp sword intent in the distance but were unaware of the subtle details. Qin Sang secretly observed Steward Luo, who appeared normal and warmly greeted Qu Zhen and the others, seemingly oblivious. If Young Master Xin was also a Void Refining cultivator, he would certainly have noticed the sword cultivator's actions.

Up to this point, Qin Sang had only met two members of the Xin family. "Didn't Young Master Xin say that the other Xin family members were arranged outside the city? When will they arrive to rendezvous?" Qin Sang asked, looking around.

"Their entire group entering the city would be too conspicuous and easily targeted by those with ill intentions," Young Master Xin explained. "So, they are all lying in wait outside the city and will proceed to Fengju Jade Gate in batches. Steward Luo has already sent a talisman message, and they are sure to arrive before we enter. Elder Qin, please rest assured, once we enter Fengju Jade Gate, I will immediately instruct them to follow your orders and help you search for the Earth Splendor Jade Rose Vine."

This was one of the terms of their cooperation. Additionally, Qin Sang had requested that the other party share information about the interior of Fengju Jade Gate with him; other forms of compensation were still undecided. As for the conditions for employing the Hengsha Society, it involved re-refining a treasure for Qu Zhen and the others, the extent of which would depend on their contributions.

The eight illusory dragons and phoenixes pulled the chariot vigorously, speeding through the wind and sand, heading northwest.

They flew for over ten consecutive days without stopping, discovering several towns of varying sizes along the way.

That evening, while they were speeding along, Qu Zhen stepped forward and said, "Elder Qin, ahead is Huai Sha Town. I know a well-informed person who lives there. If anything significant happens within Fengju Jade Gate, this person always gets the news first."

"Have Steward Luo accompany you down," Qin Sang instructed.

"Yes!" The two accepted the order and disembarked. The chariot stopped in the sky to wait. Two hours later, they returned and recounted the information they had gathered. Fengju Jade Gate was as usual; no major events had occurred, so they could proceed with peace of mind.

As they neared Fengju Jade Gate, Qin Sang vaguely felt the void of heaven and earth constantly vibrating, even affecting one's mind. The wind and sand grew fiercer, and occasionally, bursts of spiritual tides could be heard howling.

Fengju Jade Gate was exceptionally vast, and there were specific considerations for entry points. The Dragon-Phoenix Chariot continuously carried them north, clearly indicating that the Xin family's destination was in a relatively northern location. However, it was rumored that Fengju Jade Gate bordered the Witch Tribe to the west and extended into the Desolate Wilds to the north. Even if they flew for another ten days, they wouldn't reach the northernmost point of Fengju Jade Gate; instead, they might encounter dangers midway and perish.

On the twentieth day, Qin Sang, who had been resting with his eyes closed on the chariot, suddenly changed expression. He abruptly straightened his posture, seemingly having discovered something unusual, and stared intently northward, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

Everyone on the chariot immediately noticed Qin Sang's anomaly. Following his gaze, however, they saw only endless yellow sand. Their hearts tightened, assuming danger was approaching.

*Whoosh!* Qin Sang's figure flickered; he had instantly teleported out of the chariot, vanishing without a trace.

The reins on the dragons and phoenixes suddenly went taut, and Young Master Xin brought the chariot to a halt.

At that moment, everyone vaguely sensed several auras from the north, engaged in a chase. It appeared one group was pursuing another, and the highest cultivation level among them was only the Soul Transformation stage. The group exchanged glances, and a female cultivator quietly asked, "Could one of the people being pursued be a junior of Elder Qin?" It wasn't the first time they had encountered people fighting, yet Elder Qin had never paid them any mind before.

Qu Zhen shook his head and gestured for all the Soul Transformation cultivators to fly over.

Steward Luo hesitated slightly. "Young Master, should we..."

"Wait!" Young Master Xin uttered only one word.

Meanwhile, amidst the wind and sand, three streaks of light were chasing each other. It appeared two people were jointly pursuing one person ahead.

All three were Soul Transformation stage cultivators. The pursuers were two black-robed men, and the person in front had a chaotic aura, indicating injury.

This person was a woman, with a jade saber circling around her, moving with extraordinary agility, repeatedly fending off the attackers' blows. However, the woman's face was filled with anxiety. Each of her pursuers had a higher cultivation level than her. If not for the jade saber by her side, she would have long since been defeated. Now, tightly cornered by the opponents, she had no chance to escape and would inevitably be exhausted and fall.

*Clang!* An ice arrow was deflected by the jade saber, shattering into pieces.

One of the black-robed men paid no mind; instead, his face was filled with greed. "I didn't expect an unexpected gain this time! A mere early-stage Soul Transformation cultivator actually possesses a treasured saber on the verge of transforming into a Spirit Treasure!"

"If we seize this saber, our brothers will soon have a Spirit Treasure too," the other man licked his lips, a lecherous expression appearing. "And this little miss looks good too, an excellent cauldron. Too bad there's only one; our brothers will have to take turns enjoying her!"

"Hahahaha..."

The two men laughed wildly and without restraint, using their words to assault the woman's mind.

None of the three noticed a figure silently materializing before them.

Qin Sang gazed at the woman, or more precisely, at the jade saber beside her. Although the jade saber was vastly different from what it had been years ago, it had been refined by his own hands, and a trace of a familiar aura still lingered within its blade.

*Whoosh!* Qin Sang raised his right hand, and the jade saber suddenly detached from the woman, flying towards him automatically.

The woman also saw Qin Sang and realized that the jade saber was completely beyond her control. Instantly, her blood almost froze, and her eyes were filled with terror.

Qin Sang gently stroked the jade saber, as if communicating with an old friend or reminiscing about the past. He then looked at the terrified woman and asked quietly, "What is Sect Master Binghan of the Void Spirit Sect to you?"