Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 446: Favor

"The Shadowless Sword is Senior Qin?"

Le Rou and her husband exchanged glances, their faces filled with astonishment.

They had only recently arrived at Chaotic Island Waters, but through their friends, they had heard of several outstanding figures among both righteous and demonic cultivators, as well as rogue cultivators, who had risen to prominence on the battlefield.

Among them, Shadowless Sword was one of the rare few who, despite not having reached the Fake Core Realm, was just as renowned as any other expert.

It was said that his swordsmanship was extraordinary—his strikes as swift as lightning, his sword shadow elusive and formless. Countless cultivators had perished beneath his blade, striking fear into the hearts of Tianxing Alliance cultivators.

Who would have thought that such a famed individual would have a past connection with them?

The cultivator surnamed Du let out a thoughtful hum.

"I once caught a glimpse of Shadowless Sword battling a Tianxing Alliance expert from a distance. He wielded a flying sword that gleamed with cold light, forcing his opponent into a desperate struggle. His swordsmanship was indeed profound, but it wasn’t as exaggerated as the rumors claim."

"However, there's always a reason behind a person's fame."

"From what I’ve heard, the true reason Shadowless Sword became famous is actually due to another flying sword—one that remains shrouded in mystery. It is said that his blade never fails to draw blood. Some speculate that it is an evil artifact, while others claim it commands lightning and is a sacred weapon."

"He hails from Shaohua Mountain, and no one dares to investigate the matter too closely, lest they offend Shaohua Mountain."

"Since you know Shadowless Sword, then your previous concerns were unnecessary."

"You and your husband are not weak. If you can build a good relationship with him, the best outcome would be joining his squad. At the very least, he could introduce you to other Shaohua Mountain experts..."

...

No matter what Le Rou and the others said about him behind his back, Qin Sang paid it no mind.

Riding his evasion light, he sped northeast without looking back. When Stargazing Island appeared in his vision, his figure flickered, landing on a large island to the northwest of Stargazing Island.

The layout of this island was vastly different from the others. The streets formed a structured grid of nine vertical and nine horizontal roads, lined with neatly arranged buildings. Unlike most islands, this one bustled with cultivators.

Various signboards hung outside the buildings, marking them as shops.

At the very center of the island stood a small auction house—seemingly unremarkable, yet brimming with activity.

In the Small Cold Domain, aside from rogue cultivators, the only cultivators who hadn’t been summoned to Chaotic Island Waters were those stationed at the seven strongholds or those who had managed to secure an exemption from conscription. Most Foundation Building cultivators had been gathered here.

With so many powerful individuals converging upon the small Chaotic Island Waters, rare and coveted treasures surfaced frequently.

However, the most bustling location was an island far to the north—commonly known as Misty Island.

As Qin Sang landed on the large island, he sensed something and lifted his gaze toward the north.

From here, the mist's boundary was visible. Misty Island lay concealed within its depths.

It was said that the establishment of Misty Island had been strongly advocated by a Core Formation rogue cultivator and had received unanimous support from cultivators across both the righteous and demonic paths.

Regardless of one's background or identity, anyone could enter Misty Island from anywhere within the sea of mist, provided they possessed the appropriate token.

On Misty Island, everyone could conceal their true identity and appearance while engaging in trade. Once their transactions were complete, they would be randomly transported to another location by the grand array upon exiting.

Because of this anonymity, Misty Island saw an endless stream of cultivators entering and leaving each day—far more than the large island Qin Sang had just arrived on.

That being said, both Misty Island and the large island had their own advantages.

Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and strode into one of the streets, eventually arriving in front of a lavishly decorated shop.

Though the shop did not bear the name Tiange Tower, it was, in fact, one of Tiange Tower’s establishments.

"Daoist Qin, you've finally arrived! Please, come in!"

Though this wasn't the Tiange Tower of Qingyang Market, the manager was already well acquainted with Qin Sang and greeted him warmly, stepping forward with enthusiasm to welcome him inside. Leading Qin Sang into a private chamber, the manager personally served him tea.

Qin Sang smiled. "No need for tea. I just hope the information you provided earlier is true. Don't let anything go wrong and leave me disappointed."

"Daoist Qin, what are you saying? When have I ever deceived you?"

Feigning indignation, the manager waved his hand, activating the barrier to seal the chamber before retrieving a jade box and placing it in front of Qin Sang. "Take a look, Daoist Qin—does this not appear to be Soul-Guiding Grass?"

A flicker of emotion crossed Qin Sang’s face as he lowered his gaze. Inside the jade box was indeed a fully intact Soul-Guiding Grass. It closely resembled the three he had purchased at the Yinshan Stronghold's auction, indicating that its age and potency were undoubtedly sufficient.

He was extremely familiar with Soul-Guiding Grass. Without even opening the jade box, he could already confirm its authenticity. Satisfaction flashed across his face.

Soul-Guiding Grass was crucial for refining a living corpse. However, it was also a rare spiritual herb that directly aided cultivation, especially prized by demonic cultivators. Furthermore, the Heavenly Corpse Talisman required exceptionally high-quality Soul-Guiding Grass, with nearly stringent standards.

For three years, Qin Sang had searched everywhere, yet he hadn’t been able to purchase a single suitable specimen.

Fortunately, he had spared no expense at the Yinshan Stronghold's auction, acquiring three stalks back then. Otherwise, refining a living corpse would have remained an unattainable goal.

Although Soul-Guiding Grass was precious, it was not enough to stir any emotion in Qin Sang. His expression remained calm as he shifted his gaze away from the jade box and looked at the manager. In an indifferent tone, he asked, "What price do you intend to sell it for?"

The manager had been secretly observing Qin Sang's expression. Without betraying any reaction, he withdrew his gaze and took a sip of tea before speaking. "Daoist Qin, you are well aware of the value of Soul-Guiding Grass. If our shop were to send this to the eastern side of Stargazing Island and make it public, it would surely incite a fierce competition."

Qin Sang’s expression darkened slightly, and he frowned. "Are you implying that the items I previously pawned at your shop... are no longer sufficient to purchase this Soul-Guiding Grass?"

The manager hurriedly shook his head and repeatedly explained, "No, no... Daoist Qin, you misunderstood! It is a great honor that you trust our shop, and I am deeply grateful. The artifacts you left here are of excellent quality, and their combined value is more than enough. I am more than willing to sell this to you at this price to establish goodwill. However..."

He hesitated momentarily before dipping his finger in tea and writing a name on the table. "I only hope that Daoist Qin can do me this small favor—if you ever come across this junior of mine, please look after him. His cultivation is passable, and I have prepared several artifacts for his survival. He will not be a burden."

Qin Sang memorized the name on the table. After a brief moment of contemplation, he spoke in a solemn tone. "Given my ties with Tiange Tower, if any of your fellow disciples encounter difficulties, both sentimentally and logically, I would not stand idly by."

The manager let out a breath of relief, his face full of gratitude. "With your words, I am at ease. I shall await good news from you. Here, please take this Soul-Guiding Grass!"

"Then I shall accept it."

With a flick of his sleeve, Qin Sang collected the jade box. After exchanging his other spoils for spirit stones, he bid farewell and left.

He did not linger on the large island, nor did he wander aimlessly. While contemplating how to arrange matters for the manager's junior, he flew straight toward the sea of mist.

Upon entering the sea of mist, Qin Sang retrieved a token and performed a unique hand seal upon it.

The token emitted a faint glow, resonating with the grand array. Qin Sang felt the surrounding mist tremble slightly, and in the next instant, an island emerged before his eyes. freewebnσvel.cѳm

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