Chapter 49: Market Token

The Mortal Realm

"Who do you think you are, just showing up and demanding to see Senior Brother Han?" The plump young man's face was filled with anger. "Get lost, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Qin Sang did not back down. Without a trace of fear, he said coldly, "I am Immortal Master Han's savior. He once told me that if I had a request, I could see him. If you insist on blocking me, what are your intentions? Do you wish to make Immortal Master Han break his promise?"

"A savior?" The plump young man was stunned. "You saved Senior Brother Han's life?"

Qin Sang recounted the events at Ancient Spirit Mountain.

The plump young man's arrogance significantly dissipated. His expression fluctuated between dark and bright, and he finally glared at Qin Sang with resentment. He took out a palm-sized scroll, and with a flick of his wrist, an ancient painting unfurled before them.

Within the painting, mists and haze obscured the sky. Layers of clouds stretched endlessly, as if depicting the Thirty-Three Heavens, incredibly mysterious. Amidst the clouds and rosy mists, a flock of celestial cranes soared freely, appearing agile, natural, and lifelike, as if real creatures.

Next, Qin Sang felt a spiritual energy fluctuation. The plump young man infused spiritual energy into the scroll. The next moment, a cloud of mist flew out from the scroll. Amidst the swirling vapor, a celestial crane chirped, its cry lingering endlessly.

The painted crane landed in the plump young man's palm. The plump young man's lips moved slightly as he whispered a few words into the crane's ear. The crane flapped its wings and soared, growing larger with the wind until it vanished into the horizon.

In just a moment, the clouds floating on the ancient painting suddenly began to churn, eventually transforming into a person. It was none other than the young man surnamed Han, who had almost died at Ancient Spirit Mountain.

"Junior Brother Zhen Ming," the cloud-formed young man Han appeared somewhat ethereal, his voice also slightly distant, "Why have you summoned me so urgently?"

Immediately, the young man Han caught sight of Qin Sang nearby, recognizing him at once. He smiled and said, "General Qin, it's been a while. I trust you've been well."

Just as Qin Sang was about to speak, Zhen Ming stepped forward, complaining incessantly. "Senior Brother Han, it's not that I wished to disturb you, but this young man, Qin, insisted on seeing you. Zhen Ming had no choice. As you instructed, I asked him if he was determined to cultivate immortality. After he decided, I tested his spiritual roots, having already reminded him that only one in ten thousand mortals possesses spiritual roots. As expected, this mere mortal has no spiritual roots. I advised him to go back and live a good life, but he didn't appreciate my good intentions. He even thought I was trying to harm him, constantly claiming to be your savior, Senior Brother Han, and demanding to see you."

After speaking, Zhen Ming glared at Qin Sang indignantly, appearing very wronged.

The young man Han looked at Zhen Ming, then at Qin Sang, and smiled, "General Qin, Junior Brother Zhen Ming is right. It is indeed extremely rare for a mortal to possess spiritual roots; we are not deceiving you. The path of cultivation is already more difficult than ascending to the heavens. Even if one truly can cultivate, the immortal cultivation world is fraught with countless dangers, and one might perish at any moment. Perhaps being a mortal is not so bad. I will have Junior Brother Zhen Ming ask the Palace Lord of the Pilgrim Palace to look after you. Even if dynasties change in the future, I guarantee you a lifetime free of worries."

"But..."

Hearing the young man Han say the same thing, Qin Sang felt helpless. He wanted to ask him: If he had no spiritual roots, then how was he able to cultivate the *Netherworld Scripture*? However, recalling the two encounters with immortals, where the righteous and demonic paths always fought to the death, he had indeed killed many mortals with the Yama Banner. Relying on demonic cultivation to wreak havoc upon the mortal world, Qin Sang had no right to claim he wasn't a demon.

"Immortal Master Han, is it truly impossible to become an immortal cultivator without spiritual roots?" Qin Sang asked, his face full of unwillingness. Could there truly be something so absolute in this world? Was he an exception because he wasn't a native of this world, or was it an ability granted by the Jade Buddha?

The young man Han's expression stirred slightly. Zhen Ming also froze, ceasing his incessant chatter. He glanced at Qin Sang, then lowered his head, remaining silent.

The young man Han hesitated for a long time before saying, "General Qin, as far as I know, there is indeed no precedent in the righteous path for someone to embark on the immortal journey without spiritual roots. Even the renowned sects and major clans require cultivators to possess spiritual roots. As for..."

Seeing the young man Han's hesitant expression, Qin Sang's eyes suddenly lit up. "Immortal Master Han, is there perhaps another way?"

The young man Han gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Without spiritual roots, no method is useful. How can one cultivate if they cannot sense spiritual energy? What I was about to say is that our Han family only understands the situation of righteous cultivators. We know very little about the demonic path. Demonic cultivators possess strange techniques and countless evil methods. Whether they have a way to break through this limitation, I do not know."

"Demonic path?" Qin Sang was somewhat surprised. Was the young man Han suggesting he join the demonic path?

He then saw a ball of cloud mist in the young man Han's palm transform into a round jade plate. He said solemnly, "Since I have made a promise, I will not go back on my word. This jade plate should be a token for a cultivation market within the activity range of the Northern Demonic Sects. I obtained it from that demon's mustard seed bag. If you are determined to try your luck, I will have Crane Shadow deliver it to you. However, if you truly join the demonic path, when we meet again in the future, you and I will be enemies, not friends. I, Han, will show no mercy."

Qin Sang did not hesitate. He clasped his fists and said, "Qin Sang thanks Immortal Master Han profoundly!"

The young man Han looked deeply at Qin Sang, nodded, and his cloud-form dissipated.

Qin Sang and Zhen Ming waited in place for a while. Crane Shadow flew back, carrying a jade plate and a silk scroll in its mouth. Zhen Ming took them and handed them to Qin Sang. He cupped his hands to Qin Sang, then mounted Crane Shadow and departed.

Qin Sang unfurled the silk scroll and discovered it was a vast topographical map. It was the first time he had seen such a large and detailed map. He quickly located the Great Sui's position, which appeared very small on the map. To the north was the State of Heng, its area dozens of times larger than Great Sui. North of Heng, there were even more nations, each larger than Heng. Passing beyond the State of Heng and several other nations, Qin Sang finally saw the young man Han's annotation. It was within a country called Biyun. As for the precise location of the cultivation market, the young man Han's message stated that Qin Sang only needed to travel to the vicinity with the jade plate, and the plate would automatically sense the market and guide him there.

The young man Han briefly introduced the cultivation market and finally reminded him that demonic cultivators were extremely dangerous, especially to mortals. If things became impossible, he should escape as quickly as possible; this would be the utmost kindness.

Qin Sang mentally estimated the distance. If he traveled by horse, journeying by day and resting by night, it would likely take several years to arrive. Fortunately, he discovered a large river called the Tianlu River to the west of Great Sui, which flowed north-south. The Wuling River was merely one of its tributaries. Traveling by boat on that river would be much faster.

Putting away the silk scroll and idly examining the jade plate, Qin Sang resisted the urge to test it with spiritual energy. He nodded to the waiting Palace Lord of the Pilgrim Palace and walked down the mountain.

Night had fallen. From Pilgrim Mountain, one could overlook the entire imperial capital. The Jade Palace was brightly lit, likely due to the new emperor's enthronement, with many affairs awaiting attention, and officials probably still in session.