Chapter 73: The Final Question, Ren Water Transforms into Spirit
“Inner sect’s Shan Zifeng?”
Shao Sichao pondered briefly but did not pause for long before continuing, “The one from Tongchen Peak?”
Song Yan was not sure whether, in the vast Eastern Abyss Sect, there might be someone else with the same name.
But since Shao Sichao had already specified, then at least among the disciples of Tongchen Peak, there should not be another person named Shan Zifeng.
“That’s him.”
“What do you want to know?”
Song Yan had long since considered everything thoroughly. He asked about the information he wanted to know, one question at a time.
“Senior Brother Shan Zifeng of the inner sect…”
“What is his current cultivation realm?”
Shao Sichao answered, “Approximately three years ago, he broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining Stage and was promoted to the inner sect.”
This single sentence actually contained a great deal of information.
First, Shan Zifeng likely possessed a spiritual root quality of three or fewer, otherwise he would not have needed to reach the seventh level of Qi Refining Stage before being promoted to the inner sect.
Second, there was a very high probability that he was still at the seventh level of Qi Refining Stage.
Every level in the late Qi Refining Stage was extremely difficult to advance. Without exceptional talent or abundant resources, an ordinary person would likely need five to seven years to break through to the eighth level of Qi Refining Stage.
“Does Senior Brother Shan Zifeng have any relatives in the sect… has he taken any elder as his master?”
“That counts as two questions.”
Shao Sichao held up two fingers.
Thirty spirit stones would not allow him to keep asking indefinitely. He could only ask five questions.
Song Yan indicated that was acceptable.
“There is a Foundation Establishment Stage steward in the inner sect who is a distant relative of Shan Zifeng.”
“The two of them have no blood relation, and their interactions are actually not deep.”
“However, the fact that Shan Zifeng took Elder Wang Lin of Tongchen Peak as his master was absolutely arranged by this person.”
“Shan Zifeng’s nominal master is Wang Lin, the peak master of Tongchen Peak, but the one who actually guides his cultivation is Elder Li Jianping.”
Song Yan nodded.
“Say…”
“This junior brother, why are you asking so many detailed questions? What are you planning?”
Shao Sichao picked up a spiritual fruit from the table and took a bite.
Song Yan suddenly smiled. The human skin mask on his face perfectly illustrated what it meant to have a smile that did not reach the eyes.
He countered, “I spent thirty spirit stones to invite you here. How is it that you’re the one asking questions now?”
“Heh heh, just asking casually.”
After a moment of thought, Song Yan slowly said, “Heh, it’s like this…”
“I believe Senior Brother Shan Zifeng has a limitless future ahead of him. I wish to befriend him.”
“If I have the opportunity to enter the inner sect in the future, I hope he might look after me.”
“But I fear that if I do not think carefully, I might send him something he does not like.”
“That is why I came to inquire…”
After this brief explanation, he continued with his fourth question.
“Then do you know what cultivation technique Senior Brother Shan Zifeng practices?”
Shao Sichao frowned and stopped what he was doing.
“This… I’m afraid that involves privacy.”
“It’ll cost extra spirit stones. This question requires ten more.”
“…”
Song Yan did not hesitate in the slightest. He placed the spirit stones on the table.
“Fire-type technique. The Complete Text of Flame Blessing.”
…A rather ordinary technique.
However, during the Qi Refining Stage, there were few cultivation techniques one could normally obtain. The more well-known ones were these Five Elements Dao Scriptures, plus the Qi Condensation Volume of the Profound Scripture.
A Qi Refining cultivator’s choices were indeed limited.
“Then do you know what spiritual materials he needs for his cultivation recently?”
After asking the final question, he added, “Over these years of cultivation, I have managed to accumulate some spiritual resources. If I happen to have something he needs, it would be convenient for me to build a connection.”
He placed another ten spirit stones on the table.
Shao Sichao gave him a meaningful look.
“About half a month ago, he once attempted to bid on a batch of Indigo Fire Blossoms at the night market auction. However, another cultivator bid higher that day, and he did not succeed.”
Indigo Fire Blossoms?
Song Yan recognized the name. It was a spiritual herb that was not particularly precious but had a high demand.
Its petals could be ground into powder and used to refine Indigo Fire Powder. When used in conjunction with fire-type cultivation techniques, it could slightly accelerate cultivation progress.
The improvement was not significant, but its advantage was that it could be used continuously.
Song Yan, however, was thinking that if Indigo Fire Blossoms would work, then similar spiritual materials should also suffice.
“Very well.”
Shao Sichao stood up, preparing to leave.
“Your five questions have been asked. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”
“Wait.”
Song Yan suddenly spoke, stopping Shao Sichao.
“What is this senior brother’s name?”
Old Shao chuckled. “That is also a question.”
“But just in case you want to do business with me again in the future and can’t find me, I’ll tell you.”
“I am none other than Shao Sichao, who has never changed his name nor his surname.”
“…”
He truly had never changed his name.
Song Yan looked at him, pondering something, and slowly asked:
“Senior Brother Shao, throughout this entire sect…”
“Do you truly know everything?”
Old Shao gave a laugh. “Of course. I have my own means.”
“…”
Song Yan nodded, expressing his admiration.
“Then I’ll add another thirty spirit stones for just one more question.”
“How about it?”
Shao Sichao’s brow furrowed slightly.
In principle, the person before him had already run out of chances.
Once five questions were asked, no matter how high the price offered, one would have to honestly get back in line and wait.
However, his rules were his rules.
He was in a good mood today, and he also wanted to hear what kind of question could be worth thirty spirit stones.
He sat back down in his seat and added with interest, “I will not reveal anything involving elders or above.”
Having heard his words, Song Yan’s heart stirred once more.
Will not reveal.
That meant he also possessed such knowledge.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Rest assured, it is not about an elder.”
“On the contrary, it is about an outer sect junior brother.”
“Oh?”
Shao Sichao was intrigued, still wearing that same fearless expression.
He also wanted to know what question about an outer disciple could possibly be worth thirty spirit stones to the person before him.
He sat back down across from Song Yan. “Let’s hear it.”
After deliberating for a moment, the person before him finally spoke slowly. “In the outer sect, there is a junior brother named Song Yan.”
“Song Yesheng.”
Beneath the human skin mask, his expression remained calm.
Shao Sichao was still maintaining his original carefree demeanor, yet one could still distinctly sense a subtle change.
He stared at Shao Sichao. “The question I wish to ask is…”
“Senior Brother Shao, do you know from which Daoist scripture he learned his sword defense technique?”
Shao Sichao looked into this person’s eyes and remained silent.
A pouch of spirit stones was placed in the center of the table.
“If senior brother can share even a hint, then this pouch of spirit stones…”
Song Yan lifted his gaze to look at Shao Sichao. “…Senior brother may take it.”
“…”
Shao Sichao was silent, but that uncomfortable feeling lasted only an instant before vanishing without a trace.
He stroked his chin, seemingly in thought.
Song Yan waited quietly for his answer.
After a short while.
Shao Sichao extended a hand and reached toward the spirit stone pouch in the center of the table.
“You mean Junior Brother Song Yan…”
His hand rested on it, patting it gently.
“…”
After a pause, he pushed it back toward Song Yan.
“Then I don’t know.”
“You’ve really stumped me this time…”
Shao Sichao still wore that same expression of being the greatest under heaven and above earth.
He felt not the slightest bit of shame for being unable to answer as an information broker.
“Originally, if someone asked a question I could not answer, I would return all the spirit stones.”
“But unfortunately, your question was not within the scope of today’s meeting.” “So, I’m sorry, but I cannot return the spirit stones you previously paid.”
Shao Sichao rose to take his leave, smiling pleasantly.
“Thank you for your patronage, junior brother.”
***
Watching Shao Sichao’s departing figure, Song Yan inside the room made no particular movements.
He simply quietly tucked the spirit stone pouch into his Qiankun Bag.
He stepped out of the room.
He left the Leisure Heart Tower.
For the first time, he had spent so many spirit stones on things that were invisible and intangible, yet Song Yan did not feel particularly reluctant.
After all, all of this was to achieve that ultimate goal.
“Counting the days, the New Year is almost here.”
Back when he was in Stone Beam town at the foot of the mountain, his grandfather had told him many customs about celebrating the New Year.
For example, before the New Year, one must clean one’s dwelling.
This symbolized sweeping away the household’s ill fortune, not letting it carry over into the next year.
After stepping into the world of immortal cultivation, he had retained this good habit.
So…
He did not plan to leave Shan Zifeng’s life until after the New Year.
“…”
Song Yan walked through the market town, surrounded by cultivators coming and going.
For some reason, the more intense his desire to kill Shan Zifeng became, the calmer and more composed his heart grew.
It was difficult to explain why he was so fixated on this matter.
Once Senior Brother Sun had told him the truth, he had not even considered any other legitimate pathways.
It was as if a thought had been planted and taken root in his heart.
He gradually left the core area of the market town and arrived at the edge of the Spirit Source Marsh.
He removed the human skin mask and stepped into the Worry-Free General Store.
However, strangely, this time Qin Xijun was not in the shop.
On the ancient counter sat a jade slip.
In two more days, it would be the night market of the Spirit Source Marsh.
This was the list of auction items for the upcoming night market auction that he had asked Granny Qin to obtain.
Previously, he had heard Granny Qin mention that at the most recent auction, someone would be offering a batch of Qi Replenishing Pills.
Qi Replenishing Pills did not have the effect of cultivating spiritual energy, but they possessed a special property: they could rapidly restore the spiritual energy consumed by Qi Refining Stage cultivators.
When cultivators fought others, battles that depleted all spiritual energy were common.
With Qi Replenishing Pills, one could reduce the risk of being schemed against or taken advantage of in one’s depleted state.
Considering all the uncertain factors, Song Yan naturally wanted to try bidding for some.
Since he was going to attend the auction, he simply asked Granny Qin to also get him a copy of the auction item list.
This sort of thing was not originally a secret, but Granny Qin clearly had acquaintances within the auction house, making it easy to obtain.
Regardless, Song Yan was currently barely at the sixth level of Qi Refining Stage. Breaking through in a short period of time was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
He could only do his utmost to prepare for the battle ahead.
His divine sense casually swept over the list, and indeed there were quite a few items he could use.
“Hm?”
One particular set of auction items caught his attention.
“Talisman: Ren Water Transforms into Spirit Talisman, a first-tier superior-grade talisman.”
Song Yan looked at the name, feeling it seemed somewhat familiar.
His brow furrowed, and he remembered.
That day during the Silent Valley incident, he and Wan Songran had killed Wang Xi within the secret realm. Speaking of which, the greatest credit had gone to a talisman named the Azure Wood Severing Spirit Talisman.
That talisman had not been shown to him in advance by Wan Songran, but given his current knowledge, he could guess about eighty to ninety percent of its function.
It had likely established a wood-attribute spiritual field that suppressed the earth-attribute spiritual qi within.
This Ren Water Transforms into Spirit Talisman seemed to have a similar naming pattern to that Azure Wood Severing Spirit Talisman.
“…”
Song Yan pondered for a moment, then left with the jade slip.
***
Night Market.
At dusk, lanterns began to light up around the Spirit Source Marsh Market Town, illuminating the entire market as if it were broad daylight.
Song Yan donned the human skin mask once more and put on a bamboo woven hat.
Though Granny Qin had already informed him of the details to pay attention to in advance, this was his first time attending an auction, so it was better to be cautious.
He lifted his gaze to look at the ancient-style pavilion before him.
“Rare Goods Command High Prices.”
This was the place marked in the jade slip where the auction would be held.
He remembered this location. So the auction venue was set here.
The main entrance was still the normally operating hall. The small side door, which was usually closed on ordinary days, was now open.
A cultivator stood before the door, wearing a black cat mask that only covered the upper half of his face.
Song Yan stepped forward and handed over the jade slip.
The cultivator turned the jade slip over, squinting his eyes. “Hmm…”
The auction entry jade token was not worth much.
Qin Xijun had also told him this.
At the beginning of each month, the scheduled dates for that month’s night market would be announced, along with a batch of auction entry jade tokens.
Those interested in attending could obtain one directly without any cost.
It was only used to keep track of headcount, items of interest, or consignment items.
The jade tokens could be transferred between individuals.
Song Yan’s token had been given to him by Granny Qin.
The cultivator then nodded and made way for him.
“If fellow daoist has anything to consign, you can register with me first.”
It seemed the cultivator had noticed him looking for his way, recognized he was a first-timer, and offered a few reminders.
“If not, then at the end of the alley, turn left to go upstairs.”
“For seating, simply find the seat corresponding to the number on your entry jade token.”
“If you want a private box, you would need to reserve one in advance. There are none available now.”
Song Yan nodded. “Thank you.”
Following the direction indicated by the cat-faced cultivator, he went up to the second floor.
The walls here were slightly slanted, and upon closer inspection, they bore neatly arranged patterns.
A large door stood under the dim lamplight.
No one was guarding it, so he pushed it open and entered.
“This…”
What entered his eyes was a vast hall. Looking as far as he could, he could roughly make out the shape of the hall.
This auction venue…
Seemed to be set inside a giant, open clam-shell-shaped magical artifact.
The surrounding cultivators grew more numerous, and Song Yan finally found the seat marked on his token and sat down.
After a short while.
“Dong—”
The sound of an object dripping into water echoed.
The entrance doors around the hall were locked one by one.
On the auction’s main stage, a circle of ink-colored ripples appeared, from which emerged a young-faced, slender male cultivator.
“What a lively gathering today. Thank you all, fellow daoists, for coming.”
“I am Luo Sheng, tonight’s auction host.”
He bowed and spoke slowly.
“The rules, I believe, everyone understands…”
“So without further ado, tonight’s auction officially begins.”
The rules he spoke of were all written in the auction entry jade token, and Song Yan had already reviewed them beforehand.
Luo Sheng held a small jade hammer in his hand and tapped it lightly on the podium.
“Today’s first auction item is a superior-grade magical artifact.”
“Replica · Mountain Subduing Seal.”
A graceful female cultivator in elegant attire approached, bearing a jade plate in her hands, upon which sat a small golden seal.
Song Yan’s brow furrowed as he stared at the small seal for a long time.
“Mountain Subduing Seal…”
He vaguely remembered that the magical artifact Wang Xi had wielded before his death had been a small seal just like this one, also named the Mountain Subduing Seal.
Of course, what Wang Xi had used was certainly a replica as well.
It was just that the more he looked, the stranger it seemed. “This seal, why does it look…”
“It’s the exact one Wang Xi used before…”
(End of Chapter)