Chapter 2298: Leaving the Prefecture

“Ancestor Master, Toad Venom Island is right here.”

At the Azure Goat Alliance outpost, an Azure Goat Alliance deacon pointed to an island on the sea chart, showing utmost reverence to Qin Sang and Shen Chen.

After locating Toad Venom Island, the Azure Goat Alliance established an outpost near Jade Palace. The deacon stationed at this outpost was a disciple of Azure Goat Temple itself.

“Toad Venom Island was originally home to a sect named Toad Venom Sect, skilled in both detoxification and the use of poisons. Two hundred years ago, the entire sect disappeared overnight. Jade Palace was also alarmed and dispatched experts to investigate. Their conclusion was that it wasn't an external invasion, but rather that the Toad Venom Sect had relocated themselves. However, many suspected Jade Palace had concealed the truth to appease the public. After the commotion subsided, no other power dared to move onto Toad Venom Island. It was gradually occupied by some expert rogue cultivators, who formed a loose alliance called the Toad Venom Alliance. This junior found an excuse to contact them, and it truly appears to be a normal rogue cultivator alliance…”

Concerned that the Toad Venom Sect might still have a Void Refinement realm expert overseeing it, the Azure Goat Alliance didn't dare to investigate openly. They only gathered these pieces of information.

“What about Jade Palace? Could Jade Palace actually be secretly controlled by the Toad Venom Sect, with the Toad Venom Sect hiding in the shadows all along?” Shen Chen asked.

“This junior contacted some Jade Palace cultivators, including an elder, under the guise of negotiations. When they mentioned the Toad Venom Sect from back then, their tone was disdainful, not appearing to be faked. As for the Jade Palace Mistress, this junior has never had the chance to meet her,” the deacon replied.

“Master?”

Shen Chen looked at Qin Sang.

A year later.

Qin Sang and Shen Chen had already left the Jade Palace sea region and arrived at Xuwei City, the capital of Kanzhou Prefecture.

During this time, he personally employed methods to investigate. No matter how he looked at it, the Toad Venom Sect appeared to be a very ordinary sect; only the timing of its disappearance was unusual.

The more ordinary the Toad Venom Sect seemed, the more abnormal it became. Why did Xie Tianjiao humble himself to join such a small sect, and why did he conceal his true strength? Could the Toad Venom Sect truly have some connection to the Origin Sea, leading them to hide their identities out of fear of being targeted?

And by what method, through which tribe, did Xie Tianjiao enter the Barbarian Clan's sacred land?

Now that the Toad Venom Sect's whereabouts were unknown, starting with the Barbarian Clan might yield clues. On one hand, Qin Sang instructed the Azure Goat Alliance to keep an eye on Toad Venom Island. On the other hand, he sent a message back, requesting the Barbarian clans he was friendly with to assist in the investigation.

Qin Sang sat in the great hall, pondering these questions. Just then, Shen Chen walked quickly into the hall, a joyful expression on his face, and reported, “Master, this disciple has successfully joined the Kanzhou Five Elements Alliance!”

Qin Sang nodded slightly. Shen Chen, having been personally tutored by him, far surpassed his peers in the art of artifact refining. It was only natural that the Five Elements Alliance would take an interest in him.

Shen Chen joined the Five Elements Alliance without revealing Qin Sang's name. Instead, he concealed his true identity and joined as a rogue cultivator. From now on, Shen Chen would prioritize the affairs of the Five Elements Alliance, hoping one day to gain the Five Elements Alliance's trust and truly become a member. He aimed to learn the secret art of using the Blood Filth Divine Light from them.

Two hundred years ago, from the initial establishment of the Azure Goat Alliance, Qin Sang had asked Su Nü to begin laying out the plan. Later, he also mobilized resources from Purple Cloud Mountain to assist. This identity would certainly stand up to scrutiny.

“Good!”

Qin Sang instructed, “From now on, consider yourself a member of the Five Elements Alliance. Be extremely careful when interacting with the Azure Goat Alliance. I cannot offer you much help within the Alliance. Take these things… It's time for me to depart as well.”

With that, Qin Sang stood up and handed Shen Chen a mustard seed artifact.

Inside were precious materials he had carefully prepared for Shen Chen, various cultivation techniques, secret arts, and cultivation insights. There was even a spiritual treasure. He had fulfilled his duties as a master.

Shen Chen's eyes were slightly red-rimmed. He didn't know when he would see his master again after this separation, even though his master had often been missing for long periods, leading to frequent separations.

“This disciple thanks Master profusely! This unfilial disciple cannot attend to Master's side. Please, Master, take utmost care!”

Shen Chen kowtowed deeply.

Qin Sang personally helped Shen Chen up and patted his shoulder. “We cultivators should not be bound by personal affections. You were somewhat underutilized at Azure Goat Temple. Joining the Five Elements Alliance will be like a fish finding water. A vast future awaits you, with great potential. I will not slacken, and I look forward to you and I, master and disciple, traversing the immortal path together and ascending to true immortality!”

“This disciple will certainly not disappoint Master!” Shen Chen was immensely invigorated.

Qin Sang encouraged him further, and Shen Chen bowed and withdrew.

Next, Qin Sang arrived at a quiet room. He activated the restriction and pushed the door open. Inside the quiet room were two cultivators, who immediately stood up. They looked at the entering Qin Sang with faces full of vigilance.

“Are you Senior Clear Wind Daoist?” one of them asked.

They were the two Witch Clan cultivators chosen by Ming Qiu: a man and a woman. The man was handsome, the woman gentle and beautiful, standing together like a match made in heaven. They had been secretly sent to Xuwei City by the Azure Goat Alliance. However, their senses had been isolated throughout the journey, so they were unaware of their exact location.

“Indeed. Daoist Ming Qiu must have already explained, so I won't elaborate further. Daoist Ming Qiu repeatedly entreated me, and I couldn't refuse, so I agreed to take you along at great risk. If you wish to find your fellow Witch clansmen, you must obey my commands throughout the journey. Dare to disobey in the slightest, and don't blame me for being merciless!” Qin Sang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a haughty expression on his face, and reprimanded them unceremoniously.

The two exchanged glances and respectfully bowed to Qin Sang. “Stone Willow and Mist Summons greet Senior Clear Wind Daoist. We will certainly obey Senior's instructions!”

Before their departure, Ming Qiu had told them that their clansmen were scattered in foreign lands and faced difficult circumstances. Their journey carried the mission of finding their ancestral land. As long as they could find their ancestral land and a way home for their people, they were willing to endure humiliation and hardship.

Qin Sang's expression softened slightly, and he hummed in acknowledgment. He tossed two masks to them. “We are still in human territory. Wear these masks and follow me.”

The two took the masks and briefly sensed them. Seeing that the artifacts could conceal their Witch Clan aura, they quickly put them on. Then, they followed Qin Sang out of the quiet room and walked towards the Teleportation Hall.

As they walked, the two looked around, their eyes full of curiosity.

They had been raised on the Witch Clan's sacred mountain since childhood, never interacting with outsiders. This was their first time leaving the sacred mountain, and everything was so new and dazzling to them.

At the same time, their hearts were full of vigilance. Surrounded by human cultivators, they couldn't see a single one of their own kind.

“The Great Witch Priest wasn't exaggerating. This era truly belongs to humanity,” Stone Willow transmitted to Mist Summons.

Mist Summons nodded, glanced at Qin Sang's back, and then lowered her head, silently following.

Lizhou.

Luo Li City.

Qin Sang led Stone Willow and Mist Summons out of the Teleportation Hall. They were immediately met by waves of heat. However, this heat wasn't scorching or burning. Instead, it felt gentle and comfortable, penetrating their internal organs, making their whole bodies warm, and subtly speeding up the circulation of their true essence.

Pausing for a moment, Qin Sang looked up at the sky. It was midday, yet the sky was filled with red clouds. The sun was obscured by the red clouds, visible only as a white speck of light.

However, it wasn't dark in the city. The red clouds provided ample light. At the very center of the red clouds, directly above them, a red pillar of qi connected heaven and earth, erupting from behind them.

Looking down, they could see rows upon rows of palaces and residences, intricately arranged in layers, extending downwards so far that the bottom was out of sight.

This was clearly a mountain city. Bathed in the rosy light, a red glow permeated the air. It felt as if an immortal city had been set ablaze.

At the foot of the mountain, endless, boundless red earth stretched out. The immortal city seemed to float above a sea of fire.

Luo Li City, the capital of Lizhou Prefecture, was where the Grand Teleportation Array of the Eight Heavenly Prefectures was located. This immortal city was actually situated atop Lizhou's largest volcano!

Standing here, they could clearly hear the violent churning of magma behind them. They could even see the magma surging within the volcano's mouth. The earth's leyline power here was incredibly abundant, unlike anything Qin Sang had ever witnessed in his life. It felt as though it could erupt at any moment, with magma pouring forth.

However, Luo Li City had existed for countless years. The flame veins here had long been completely controlled and utilized by the cultivators of Luo Li City.

Qin Sang recalled the records about Lizhou. The entire Lizhou could be described by the word 'desolate'.

There were two types of terrains in Lizhou. One was the volcanic red earth in eastern Lizhou, precisely the sight he was now witnessing. Here, countless volcanoes existed, with flame veins crisscrossing, and immortal cities were mostly built on top of volcanoes. For countless years, Lizhou cultivators had known how to tap into the potential of these flame veins to benefit themselves.

The other was the Gobi Desert in western Lizhou. It turned completely into desert by the Lizhou border. Beyond the border, further west, lay the Buddhist Lands.

Qin Sang overlooked the immortal city, sweeping his gaze around. He saw some buildings resembling Buddhist temples scattered throughout the city.

Luo Li City was located in eastern Lizhou. Buddhist influence here was not as prosperous as in western Lizhou. It was different in the west. There, not only did many cultivators practice Buddhist dharma, but even mortals worshipped it and built temples, truly a land of sacred sites.

“Senior, is this your first time in Luo Li City?”

A voice sounded from behind him. Qin Sang turned to see an immortal guard stationed at the Teleportation Hall.

The immortal guard's demeanor was respectful. Someone like Qin Sang, qualified to use the Grand Teleportation Array and accompanied by two Nascent Soul cultivators, was certainly a Void Refinement realm expert.

“Indeed. Does the immortal guard have any advice?” Qin Sang asked.

“I wouldn't dare!”

The immortal guard immediately lowered his head and said respectfully, “This junior is a native of Lizhou, often dispatched to patrol various areas, and I believe I have a good understanding of the local customs and conditions throughout Lizhou. May I ask, Senior, what brings you here? If it's convenient to disclose, this junior might be able to help Senior save some time.”

“Oh, I'm going to a place with many Witch Clan cultivators,” Qin Sang said without concealment.

The immortal guard was not surprised. He had been stationed at the Teleportation Hall for many years, and a significant portion of the experts arriving from other regions came for the Witch Clan. Among the Eight Heavenly Prefectures, Lizhou had the closest ties with the Witch Clan. To seek opportunities related to the Witch Clan, one could only come to Lizhou.

“Reporting to Senior, there are three powers in Lizhou that have gained the trust of the Witch Clan and maintain independent trade relations with them. These are the Ju family of Torchlight City, the City Lord of Grand Mansion City, and the Nine Ren Sect of Nine Ren Mountain. They each trade in different types of goods from the Witch Clan. If Senior has any needs, contacting them directly would be the most convenient.”

The immortal guard paused, seeing Qin Sang remain silent, and then continued, “As for the place with the most Witch Clan cultivators, that would be Saint-Mortal Pass in the far west of Lizhou!”

“Saint-Mortal Pass?”

The ancient texts Qin Sang had read previously had prominently featured this pass.

It was said that beyond this pass, one would no longer be within Lizhou's borders. After passing through, there were two paths. One led west, to the Buddhist Lands' Spiritual Mountain, a path for worshipping the Buddha and seeking true scriptures, hence called the Saintly Path.

The other was a trade route, opened for merchants. It was filled with mundane aura and was called the Mortal Path.

The immortal guard observed Qin Sang's expression, and seeing his interest, continued, “Senior, if you wish to go to Saint-Mortal Pass, there are three paths to choose from. The first is the fastest way to reach Saint-Mortal Pass, saving a significant amount of spirit stones, but you would miss many beautiful sights. The second is the slowest, but it passes through Lizhou's many renowned immortal cities, allowing you to witness various unique Lizhou sceneries and treasures. The third path is intermediate, and Senior can adjust it according to your needs. However you choose, it's best to bring a guide who knows the various immortal cities to avoid unnecessary detours. Senior, rest assured, along the way you only need to transfer through teleportation arrays within immortal cities; there's no need to leave the cities, so it's absolutely safe!”

Qin Sang smiled upon hearing this. “To avoid troubling a second party for the same matter, please find a guide for us, Daoist friend.”

The immortal guard was overjoyed. “My humble wife was also an immortal guard previously and knows all the cities in Lizhou like the back of her hand. This junior will call her up now. Please wait a moment, Senior.”

With that, the immortal guard activated a sound transmission talisman. Soon after, a woman arrived. She exchanged a few words with the immortal guard, then approached Qin Sang and gracefully curtsied.

“This humble one, Lian Xue, greets Senior. May I ask which path Senior wishes to take?”

“Let's take the slowest path. This humble Daoist is not in a hurry and would like to enjoy the scenery of Lizhou,” Qin Sang said, tossing a mustard seed bag to Lian Xue.

Lian Xue looked at it, her brows and eyes brimming with joy. She quickly took graceful steps forward to lead the way. “Senior, since this is your first time in Luo Li City, why not let this humble one show you around the city first? Luo Li City, as the capital of Lizhou, certainly has its unique charms. Then, this humble one will take Senior to the next stop, Chongguang City…”

Stone Willow and Mist Summons exchanged silent glances. Of course, they wanted to contact their fellow clansmen as soon as possible, but they dared not disobey Qin Sang, so they could only follow.

Each of the Eight Heavenly Prefectures possessed unique characteristics.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty had Grand Teleportation Arrays, making travel between the Eight Heavenly Prefectures convenient, to purchase Lizhou's unique products, one still had to come to the local area.

As an artifact refiner, Qin Sang had a discerning eye. The more refining materials, the better. Lizhou had an abundance of fire-attribute refining materials, all of superior quality. This made Qin Sang secretly exclaim that the trip was worthwhile, and he embarked on a lavish purchasing spree.

He had consecutively slain several Void Refinement realm experts in the Barbarian Clan's sacred land. With the support of the Azure Goat Alliance, he was wealthy. His lavish spending along the way made Lian Xue's eyes sparkle.

As a guide, besides receiving remuneration from Qin Sang, she could also demand benefits from merchants later. Lian Xue calculated how much she would ultimately gain, and the smile on her face grew increasingly gentle and beautiful.

“Senior, please look, the red earth disappears ahead,” Lian Xue said, pointing forward from the top of an immortal city wall.

Outside the city, a clear boundary line, where red earth met yellow, strikingly stretched across the landscape. It ran from north to south, with the two sides distinctly separated.

West of this city, volcanoes became increasingly scarce, giving way to a Gobi desert landscape. Immortal cities there were mostly built around Buddhist temples, gradually becoming the domain of Buddhist forces.

Even now, Qin Sang couldn't help but marvel.

In just over ten days, he had traveled from the East Sea to the Western Regions, transitioning from Daoist lands to Buddhist lands. According to the distances recorded in ancient texts and the countless dangers along the way, he would likely struggle to reach this place even if he flew for a hundred years.

The teleportation array system of the Eight Heavenly Prefectures had brought too much convenience to humanity. It was one of the greatest legacies left by humanity's ancient sages.

Various forces, rather than guarding the Great Zhou Imperial Family, were more accurately guarding the entire system!