Chapter 459: Peach Wood Carving

After I returned from the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, I saw the sound transmission talisman you left. I went to Wen Yue Market to apologize to you, only to find that you had left a long time ago. Later, I met Fellow Daoist Lexing, but she also had no news of you. I participated in almost all major battles, yet I never saw you. If I had known you were in the Chaotic Islands Waterway, I would have certainly visited you first..."

Qin San spoke of the past with a slight tone of regret, his expression unperturbed.

Granny Jing cast a deep gaze at Qin San, her voice hoarse. "Fellow Daoist Qin is so calm; your disposition is indeed excellent... No wonder you've been able to reach this point in cultivation and earn the title of 'Shadowless Sword'."

What did she mean? Qin San felt that Granny Jing's words carried a hidden meaning, leaving him somewhat puzzled.

Before he could ask, Granny Jing's tone shifted. "Indeed, I have been in the Chaotic Islands Waterway for the past three years. However, I preferred not to reveal myself and remained hidden in the shadows, so you naturally wouldn't have seen me."

Qin San was startled. Granny Jing's answer was beyond his expectations.

Hidden in the Chaotic Islands Waterway for three years, undetected. Outside, there was the powerful True Water Thousand Illusions Array, which no one could enter or exit without a vital-blood-linked token, not even Core Formation cultivators. Inside, on Stargazing Island, were stationed Core Formation experts from various major sects, including top-tier Late Core Formation experts like Granny Snake and Deputy Island Master Xiao. Even they hadn't discovered Granny Jing. Was her strength even greater than the two island masters of Stargazing Island? Wasn't that...

Qin San couldn't help but be shocked. He composed himself, cupped his hands, and said, "Senior, you suddenly appeared to find me; there must be a reason. I wonder what humble service I, your junior, can offer you?"

"Hehe..." Granny Jing's laugh was somewhat peculiar. "Since Fellow Daoist Qin asked, I'll be direct. I have been lying low here for three years, waiting for Heaven-Pointing Peak to emerge."

"Heaven-Pointing Peak?" Qin San's expression subtly changed. Suddenly realizing Granny Jing's objective, he couldn't help but gasp. "Are you perhaps intending to..."

Granny Jing nodded. "Precisely. I have an important matter that requires me to enter Heaven-Pointing Peak. However, Heaven-Pointing Peak is closely guarded by the Skyfaring Alliance and the Minor Cold Domain, and I cannot enter by myself. I need someone else's help. Fellow Daoist Qin, you just returned from Stargazing Island; you should have obtained the qualification to enter Heaven-Pointing Peak, correct?"

Qin San hummed in affirmation, not denying it.

"That's good," Granny Jing said. "I originally thought I'd have to go through a lot of trouble, but I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Qin's performance to be so outstanding, which makes things much simpler. I will transform into a wood carving. You just need to carry the wood carving on your person, and I'll be able to enter Heaven-Pointing Peak with you."

As she spoke, Granny Jing opened her palm, revealing a small, exquisite peach wood carving. Carved on it was a woman, whose vibrant gaze made her appear lifelike. If it were a life-sized carving, one might easily mistake it for a real person. Strangely, this woman was not Granny Jing herself, but a young woman of unparalleled, ethereal beauty—a level of charm Qin San had never witnessed in his life. If a mere carving possessed such grace, the real person would surely be no less stunning than Immortal Chenyan. Had Qin San not seen Immortal Chenyan's true appearance with his own eyes, he would certainly have been astonished by the carving.

He glanced at the wood carving, not daring to refuse directly. After a moment of thought, he said, "Senior, you might not know this, but I just learned from Deputy Island Master Xiao that the restrictions within Heaven-Pointing Peak are very peculiar. The space there is extremely fragile; experts above the Foundation Establishment stage cannot enter, otherwise it would..." Before he could finish, Granny Jing interrupted him.

"I wouldn't dare enter Heaven-Pointing Peak if I hadn't already investigated everything thoroughly. Rest assured, I will suppress my cultivation to the Foundation Establishment stage, not exceeding Heaven-Pointing Peak's limit."

As expected, Granny Jing was at least a Core Formation expert! Qin San's heart tightened. He opened his mouth, wanting to say more.

Granny Jing smiled faintly, her murky eyes glancing around Qin San's face. "Fellow Daoist Qin is on the verge of Core Formation; you surely don't want to miss the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris Flower offered by Stargazing Island, do you?"

"You also know that they..." Qin San was surprised, his expression changing slightly. His gaze flickered as he stared intently at Granny Jing. "What do you mean, Senior?"

Granny Jing nodded slightly, her tone hinting at disdain. "Not only do I know what kind of rewards Stargazing Island is offering, but I also know that each of you has a Spirit-Locking Bracelet. Little do they realize that using a Spirit-Locking Bracelet can only seal one Star Origin Stone at a time, and its efficiency is extremely low. I possess a magical artifact, the Star Spirit Net, which has miraculous effects on rare items like Star Origin Stones, far surpassing the Spirit-Locking Bracelet. I can promise to help you gather enough Star Origin Stones, ensuring you far outperform others. However, I have one condition: after acquiring enough Star Origin Stones, you must accompany me to a specific location within Heaven-Pointing Peak. As you just worried, I must fully suppress my cultivation, making it impossible to move freely within Heaven-Pointing Peak. I can only rely on you, Fellow Daoist Qin. So... what do you say, Fellow Daoist Qin?"

Granny Jing's voice held an alluring quality. As she spoke, she produced a tangled mass of threads. The threads were unusually chaotic, and he couldn't tell their material, but they shimmered with starlight. As Granny Jing gently unfurled them, the threads rustled open into a large net, floating in the air.

Even without Granny Jing's explanation, Qin San could discern it himself. The Star Spirit Net's quality far surpassed that of the Spirit-Locking Bracelet. The two artifacts seemed to originate from the same source, but the Star Spirit Net's effects were surely not as limited as the bracelet's. Granny Jing's words were very likely true!

Snow Spirit Lotus! Iris Flower! Qin San took a deep breath, forcing his gaze away from the Star Spirit Net. It seemed that by agreeing to Granny Jing, these two spiritual medicines would be easily within his grasp. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted; Qin San almost wanted to agree immediately, but his rationality held him back.

Seeing Qin San remain silent, Granny Jing showed no urgency. Her expression calm, she asked, "What's wrong, Fellow Daoist Qin? Are you still unwilling? Do you perhaps look down on the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris Flower?"

"How could that be!" Qin San shook his head with a bitter smile. "Which Foundation Establishment cultivator could resist their temptation? I almost couldn't hold back. It's just that I have another concern... Can you truly conceal yourself within the wood carving from everyone, Senior?"

Without waiting for Granny Jing to reply, Qin San added, "I wonder if you were present during last night's great battle, Senior? In the end, several Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators arrived together, finally putting an end to the fighting. I asked a few fellow daoists and learned that one of the red-haired elders was actually the Sect Master of the Pure Yang Sect, the foremost expert in the current cultivation world! In three whole years, it was the first time I saw a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator appear, and it just happened to be when Heaven-Pointing Peak emerged. I don't know if Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators from both sides will personally be present when Heaven-Pointing Peak opens. But I dare not gamble! If I were to fail your kindness, Senior, at most I would offer my life as an apology. However, if your concealment were to be seen through by a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator, you might be able to escape, but I would surely be treated as a traitor and wish for death!"