Chapter 978: Now Different from the Past

"My surname is Liu, and I am the steward of the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce. May I inquire about your daoist name? Are you looking to buy elixirs or magical treasures, or perhaps sell any valuable items?"

At this moment, Steward Liu noticed a token Qin Sang discreetly displayed. His pupils constricted, and his demeanor instantly became warm. "Please, Daoist friend, come right in," he urged, "let's discuss this further in a quiet room!"

"Very well."

Qin Sang followed Steward Liu to the quiet room on the second floor.

Steward Liu activated the protective restrictions, then sat opposite Qin Sang and offered him spiritual tea. "So it is Daoist Master Qingfeng! Although I've always remained in this remote area of Lantau Island, I have certainly heard of you. I never imagined I'd have the honor of meeting you. Indeed, seeing you now, you surpass your reputation!"

Qin Sang chuckled. "This humble Daoist only performed a few minor, unremarkable tasks for Elder Zou in the Demon Sea. Afterward, I went into seclusion for several decades for cultivation. It's truly rare that Daoist friend Liu still remembers me."

Elder Zou was a pivotal figure in the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce, so it wasn't surprising that Steward Liu knew him. However, Qin Sang hadn't expected to be known by him.

After leaving Poison Island, Qin Sang had minimal contact with members of the Chamber of Commerce. Only Elder Zou knew of his intention to re-enter the Seven Kills Hall.

Steward Liu laughed heartily. After another round of polite compliments, he asked, "Daoist Master Qingfeng, what important matter brings you to my humble abode? I daresay I have a decent reputation among fellow Daoists in this area. Anything within my power, I will gladly do, no matter the difficulty."

"Daoist friend Liu, you flatter me."

Hearing this, Qin Sang dispensed with pleasantries and spoke plainly: "This humble Daoist requires a batch of spiritual herbs. The matter is urgent, so they must be gathered as quickly as possible. Moreover, these herbs are quite rare, and it would be very difficult for me to acquire them on my own. I can only ask the Chamber of Commerce and Daoist friend Liu for assistance..."

He took out a jade slip and handed it to Steward Liu.

Steward Liu, understanding the unspoken rules, did not question Qin Sang's purpose as he accepted the jade slip.

After reviewing the list of herbs, Steward Liu's brows furrowed, indicating some difficulty.

Qin Sang, well aware of Steward Liu's concerns, added, "Daoist friend, rest assured. Once these spiritual herbs are assembled, this humble Daoist will purchase them with spirit stones at their original price. I won't cause you any inconvenience."

Hearing this, Steward Liu brightened, a smile gracing his face, and readily agreed. "Of course, I trust Daoist Master completely! However, the list contains a wide variety of spiritual herbs, and our branch only has some of them in stock. To fulfill the complete order, we'll need to purchase from other chambers of commerce or urgently transfer them from other branches. Daoist Master will have to wait a few more days on the island."

"How long will that take?" Qin Sang asked with a frown.

Steward Liu pondered for a moment, then opened his hand. "If Daoist Master has urgent matters, I will immediately instruct my subordinates to prioritize this. We should be able to gather over eighty percent within five days."

"Let's make it three days. Gather as much as possible by then. I appreciate your trouble, Daoist friend Liu," Qin Sang said.

Qin Sang's refining of the demonic banners was also at a crucial stage. Since he had already delayed this long, a few more days on Lantau Island wouldn't matter. Completing the demonic banners would further enhance his strength.

"By the way, I recall Elder Zou mentioning his intention to challenge the Seven Kills Hall in search of a breakthrough opportunity. It's been quite some time since the Seven Kills Hall closed; does the Chamber of Commerce have any news of him?" Qin Sang asked, feigning concern.

He wanted to find out where Elder Zou's cenotaph was located.

He possessed Elder Zou's bequeathed items, but didn't intend to reveal them now, as it could raise suspicions and lead to unnecessary trouble.

He planned to discreetly pass the items to Elder Zou's descendants at his tomb when the opportunity arose.

"Elder Zou entered the Seven Kills Hall?"

Steward Liu was stunned, his face etched with admiration. "I thought Elder Zou, like me, had accepted his fate and lost the drive to pursue the Dao," he admitted with some shame. "I never imagined he would have such a profound change of heart and stake everything. The Seven Kills Hall is fraught with danger, but with Elder Zou's strength and ingenuity, I'm sure he'll overcome any adversity and emerge safely! Perhaps in the future, our Chamber of Commerce will have another Nascent Soul expert..."

Qin Sang nodded in agreement, though he sighed inwardly.

It appeared the Chamber of Commerce hadn't yet confirmed Elder Zou's demise. After all, it was plausible that he entered immediate seclusion upon leaving the Seven Kills Hall; otherwise, news of his death would surely have reached them.

"Daoist friend Liu, please also make inquiries about Elder Zou. Should there be any news, please inform me promptly..."

Steward Liu nodded repeatedly. "I will send someone right away; I am just as eager to know. If Elder Zou succeeds in forming a Nascent Soul, we will gain a powerful benefactor! Given your relationship with Elder Zou, you are sure to be highly esteemed by him. At that time, I hope Daoist Master will be able to offer me some guidance."

After talking for a while longer, Qin Sang took his leave.

Steward Liu instructed a maidservant to escort Qin Sang to the Chamber of Commerce's cultivation cave for quiet meditation.

After seeing Qin Sang off, Steward Liu's smile vanished, his expression changing. He quickly returned to the quiet room, sat down in contemplation for a moment, then took out a small bell and gently shook it.

The bell was silent.

A moment later, a ripple appeared in the air of the quiet room, slowly revealing a dark silhouette.

Upon reaching the cave dwelling, Qin Sang dismissed the maidservant and, instead of rushing inside, opted to stroll through the market.

He went in and out of various shops, sometimes buying things he needed.

His primary goal was to show Bai around, allowing him to broaden his horizons and understand the contemporary cultivation world.

"The current world is surprisingly barren, and Core Formation stage cultivators are truly rare." Bai remained silent for a long time before finally remarking.

"Daoist friend, do you now understand how challenging it is to gather those spiritual herbs? Apart from the portion I've already selected, the remaining ones can only be found by chance at large trade fairs." Qin Sang calmly explained, "Late Nascent Soul stage cultivators are considered top experts in the Canglang Sea. Passing through the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation stages is akin to thousands of soldiers crossing a narrow bridge. If the Canglang Sea hadn't discovered the Demon Sea and subsequently refined Fiendish Demon Pills, the number of Core Formation cultivators would be even scarcer."

Bai sighed faintly. "Let's return! There's little to see in this small city. If the opportunity arises, Daoist friend, please take me to Tianxing City, which you've often praised..."

"Very well." Qin Sang nodded and returned to the cave dwelling.

The cave dwelling Steward Liu arranged for him was ideally located, boasting rich spiritual energy and serving as an excellent place for cultivation. Its interior was also tastefully furnished, much like a grand residence.

Disregarding external distractions, Qin Sang added several layers of isolation restrictions outside the cave dwelling, then retrieved his six demonic banners.

Through continuous refining over many days, he had grown quite familiar with the formation of the six demonic banners. Soon, he would be able to skillfully command the demonic flames as if they were extensions of his own body.

*Whoosh whoosh...*

The Ten Directions Yama Banners circled and ascended, forming a banner array before Qin Sang.

Nine Nether Demonic Flames erupted from the banners, converging into a swirling mass in the center, their power significantly greater than before.

The demonic flames writhed wildly, as though a demon lord was concealed within.

Qin Sang swiftly executed a hand seal and pointed towards the demonic flames.

Under Qin Sang's command, the Nine Nether Demonic Flames gradually settled, slowly drawing towards the center. Then, guided by Qin Sang, they alternately dispersed and condensed, undergoing myriad transformations.

In the blink of an eye, three days flew by.

"Withdraw!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, Qin Sang collected all the demonic banners, then glanced around the cave dwelling before striding out.