Chapter 366: Guide

The Mortal Realm

Stepping into the marketplace, Yun Youzi paused and continued until he finally arrived at a shop named ‘Heavenly Wind Pavilion’ and walked inside.

The shop was a simple, single-story stone house made of compacted earth. It seemed somewhat comical that it was named ‘Pavilion’. The proprietor was a spry old man sitting in the shop, tinkering with a magical artifact, his aura extremely subtle.

Qin Sang, disguised as someone who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, followed Yun Youzi inside. He realized he couldn't discern the man's true strength, and a quiet sense of awe settled within him. He knew that powerful forces supported these shops, some even directly affiliated with major sects. This man, stationed in Boundless Valley, was certainly not simple, regardless of his identity or strength.

“Greetings, fellow Daoist,” Yun Youzi said, cupping his hands. “This old Daoist wishes to purchase a map of the first two levels of Boundless Valley. Does your esteemed shop have one for sale?” Although the second level wasn't as prone to sudden changes as the first, for the sake of caution, he wanted to buy a map as a reference, just in case.

The shop proprietor put down what he was holding. Seeing Qin Sang and Yun Youzi's cultivation levels, he immediately stood up with a beaming smile and eagerly stepped forward to greet them. “Esteemed Daoists, your presence honors my humble establishment! Please, come in!”

The three sat down. As the proprietor poured tea, he said, “You’ve come to the right place, fellow Daoist. My humble shop indeed sells maps. They come in three tiers, with slight differences in focus and detail. Which tier would you like to purchase?”

Yun Youzi pondered for a moment, then said, “We are new here and wish to gather spiritual herbs in Boundless Valley. The more detailed the map, the better...”

The proprietor’s smile deepened. Stroking his long beard, he said, “The most detailed map is, of course, the best tier. But as for the price...”

Yun Youzi, being wealthy, declared, “As long as the map is sufficiently detailed, the price is not an issue!”

After paying the spirit stones and waiting for the proprietor to retrieve a jade slip, both Yun Youzi and Qin Sang frowned in unison after examining it.

Qin Sang looked at him with dissatisfaction and questioned, “Are you mocking us, fellow Daoist? On this map, the initial sections have a few routes marked with detailed annotations. But further in, it becomes a chaotic mess, with very few markings even in the core of the first level. And you dare call this the best map?”

The proprietor seemed unsurprised by Qin Sang's reaction. He immediately protested, “Fellow Daoist, you must understand, Boundless Valley undergoes frequent changes. It’s simply impossible to have a map that meets your requirements. The beast tide in Boundless Valley has only recently subsided. These few routes were jointly explored by several of our merchant associations, who painstakingly arranged manpower to discover them. If you follow these paths, as long as no major changes occur, your safety is guaranteed.”

Qin Sang snorted, feigning anger, and said, “What good is safety? These routes don't even reach half of the first level, and there's almost nothing to be found along the way. There’s not even a single mark for Yellow-Jade Grass. What use is this to us? Are we just supposed to go in, look around, and then leave...?”

Yun Youzi tugged at him. Qin Sang feigned embarrassment but still appeared indignant.

“Are you two fellow Daoists looking to collect Yellow-Jade Grass?” The proprietor's face showed enlightenment, and he hastened to explain. “It seems both of you truly are first-time visitors to Boundless Valley...

“To be honest, fellow Daoists, there are indeed places within Boundless Valley where Yellow-Jade Grass grows, but they are all located in dangerous areas within the core of the first level.

“If you had come a while ago, there were indeed a few such locations that had been explored and mapped.

“However, after the last beast tide, Boundless Valley underwent drastic changes. It’s quite common for previously safe areas to now be occupied by beast hordes or to have become demon nests. Naturally, the spiritual herbs within were either devoured or destroyed by those creatures.

“I wouldn't dare to mark these randomly on the map, lest I mislead you two fellow Daoists.

“If you insist, I can give you a map with those locations marked, for you two to explore at your own pace.”

“Besides that, there's another way...” The proprietor paused, suddenly falling silent.

Yun Youzi pressed his palm against the tabletop and said gravely, “If you have a solution to our problem, fellow Daoist, compensation will not be an issue.”

Upon receiving the promise, the proprietor smiled contentedly and leaned slightly forward. “You two fellow Daoists could find a guide to lead you inside... If you trust me, I can help arrange an introduction.”

“A guide?” Yun Youzi looked hesitant. “Is there anyone who knows Boundless Valley better than you?”

The proprietor nodded and said, “To be honest, it's not us who know Boundless Valley best, but rather those desperate individuals who roam within it.

“As soon as the beast tide ended, they rushed in without waiting for the valley to stabilize, disregarding the dangers. They were the first to explore and understand Boundless Valley.

“They are not willing to easily sell their maps to us. Furthermore, the valley is constantly changing, and only they are aware of the latest developments.

“In truth, fellow Daoists, if you walk around the marketplace more, or before you enter Boundless Valley, you can easily encounter people claiming to be guides. However, most of these individuals are a mixed bag, and not to be trusted.

“As the proprietor of Heavenly Wind Pavilion, I guarantee the reputation of anyone I recommend to you, on behalf of this establishment.”

Yun Youzi and Qin Sang exchanged a glance. They knew the proprietor wasn't lying. The reason they had sought out Heavenly Wind Pavilion in the first place was for reliability, to avoid cunning individuals and wasted time. The people recommended by the proprietor might not be absolutely trustworthy. However, the proprietor had to consider Heavenly Wind Pavilion's reputation before acting, so generally, he wouldn't behave recklessly.

They feigned a discussion for a while. Then Yun Youzi said, “In that case, we would trouble you, fellow Daoist, to help us with an introduction. We'll make a decision after meeting with the guide.”

The proprietor had no objections. He immediately took out several transmission talismans and sent them out.

Not long after, a transmission talisman flew back into the shop. The proprietor captured it and, after reading, his face lit up. “It just so happens that a guide has gathered some people and is preparing to set off. This person knows a place where Yellow-Jade Grass grows and is willing to lead the way. If you are interested, I will take you there now for you to meet and discuss further.”

Hearing this, Yun Youzi and Qin Sang immediately stood up.

“Please, esteemed Daoists!” The proprietor led the way. They arrived at a wooden hut behind the mountain ridge. “This is the place...”

As he spoke, the proprietor released a surge of spiritual energy, activating the hut's protective restriction.

*Creak!*

The door was pushed open from inside. A young man, who appeared to be in his early thirties, walked out. The young man's cultivation was not concealed; it was comparable to Yun Youzi's. For some reason, despite being a cultivator, his face was deathly pale, devoid of any color. His body was gaunt, giving him an impression of extreme weakness, like a mortal suffering from a severe deficiency of vital energy and blood, which was quite surprising.

“Kong Xin greets esteemed senior!” The young man bowed to the proprietor. Then, his gaze shifted to Yun Youzi and Qin Sang, “Greetings, fellow Daoists.”