Gateway of Immortality

Meng Ruhui let out an "Oh" and said, "Junior Brother, you should be aware of the lecture hall, right? At the end of each ten-day period, a Foundation Building Realm senior uncle will give a lecture in the lecture hall. At that time, most of the sect’s disciples gather to listen. Since so many people come together, some take the opportunity to exchange items they need. Over time, it became a tradition, and now, every evening at the end of the ten-day period, the lecture hall becomes a place for the sect’s disciples to conduct transactions. The sect doesn’t forbid it, in fact, they actively encourage it. Sometimes, even Foundation Building Realm senior uncles will appear at the market, but..."

Meng Ruhui's tone changed slightly. "However, the marketplace is mainly for inner disciples, so the good items are limited. If Junior Brother wants to purchase high-quality artifacts or rare items, you’ll need to visit an external immortal cultivation market. If you leave the sect and head north, you’ll find Tianyuan Market... Tianyuan Market is owned by our Yuanzhao Sect and is quite prosperous. It’s well-known throughout the surrounding immortal cultivation world. Once you enter, as long as you present your waist token, you'll be under our sect's protection, so there’s no need to worry about your safety."

Tianyuan Market.

Qin Sang made a mental note of the location and cupped his hands in thanks. "Senior Brother Meng, thank you for the guidance. There are still several days until the end of the ten-day period, so I’d like to visit Tianyuan Market and broaden my horizons. Since I’m making the trip, is there anything Senior Brother Meng needs? I can help with the errand."

Upon hearing this, Meng Ruhui squinted and gave Qin Sang a once-over, then smiled and said, "Now that you mention it, there actually is something. Please wait for a moment."

With that, Meng Ruhui took out a Mustard Seed Pouch and handed it to Qin Sang.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Qin. When you get to Tianyuan Market, give this pouch to the manager of Huichun Hall and tell him it’s from Old Meng. Afterward, when you buy medicine at Huichun Hall, just mention my name, and you’ll get a twenty percent discount."

Qin Sang didn’t ask what was inside the pouch. After seeing Meng Ruhui off, he took a walk around Huiyang Valley, set up a simple cave dwelling, and then prepared to depart.

Unexpectedly, within just an hour, Qin Sang returned to Cloud Valley, his expression extremely grim. Only when he approached the thatched hut did he force a smile and return the Mustard Seed Pouch to Meng Ruhui.

Meng Ruhui’s face darkened, and he frowned. "What is the meaning of this, Junior Brother?"

Qin Sang forced a laugh and said, "Please forgive me, Senior Brother Meng. Just as I was about to leave the sect, I suddenly had a premonition of a breakthrough and felt the need to enter seclusion to comprehend it. I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit Tianyuan Market for the time being. I haven’t touched or even looked at the contents of the Mustard Seed Pouch. Please, Senior Brother, check i—"

Meng Ruhui cast a cold glance at Qin Sang, grabbed the Mustard Seed Pouch, and turned to enter the cottage, shutting the door with a loud bang.

Qin Sang smiled bitterly, knowing he had just offended Senior Brother Meng. The days ahead would likely be difficult, but there was no other choice. He could only face whatever came next. Things can't get much worse, can they?

With a light sigh, Qin Sang shook his head and rode the Empty Wind back to Huiyang Valley.

He was extremely cautious on the way, constantly looking over his shoulder, fearing someone might be following him. After returning to his cave dwelling, he set up a mirror array with the Bewitching Mirror at the entrance, finally letting out a long sigh of relief.

Sitting on a Waterheart Bamboo mat, Qin Sang appeared restless, his expression shifting constantly. After a long while, he slowly opened his left hand.

In his palm was a black eye!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The eye was entirely pitch black, and shockingly, it was alive. It rolled back and forth in Qin Sang's palm, and the black eyeball seemed to possess intelligence. When it swept across Qin Sang’s face, he felt as if it carried a strange smile, as though it could see through to his very soul, making his hair stand on end.

This demonic eye had been given to him by Zhao Yan.

Recalling the events that had transpired earlier, Qin Sang’s hand clenched tightly.

He had inquired about Tianyuan Market with his own plans in mind. If no one had intercepted him by the time he reached the market, he had intended to flee and never look back, running as far as he could.

However, just as he stepped out of Huiyang Valley, Zhao Yan's voice suddenly echoed in his ear.

"Junior Brother Qin, where are you going this late at night?"

Qin Sang’s heart tightened, and he quickly suppressed his artifacts. When he looked up, Zhao Yan had already appeared in front of him, staring at him with a dark expression.

Back at the Eight Trigrams Forbidden Ground, Qin Sang had already noticed that Zhao Yan and Yu Hua had a suspicious relationship, and it was likely that Zhao Yan was also a spy from Kuiyin Sect. Thus, he wasn’t surprised. He calmly saluted Zhao Yan, ready with the excuse he had prepared in advance.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao. Senior Brother Meng from Cloud Valley has asked me to deliver something to Tianyuan Market. Seeing that it’s getting late, I was hurrying to leave the sect."

Zhao Yan let out a long "Oh," his gaze sweeping across Qin Sang’s face. In an ambiguous tone, he asked, "Junior Brother Qin, you certainly are something—gaining Senior Brother Meng's trust so quickly. I wonder, what exactly did Senior Brother Meng ask you to deliver? May I take a look?"

Qin Sang hesitated. "Uhh..."

With a snort, Zhao Yan’s lips moved slightly, but instead of speaking aloud, he transmitted a message telepathically.

Hearing the content of the message, Qin Sang feigned shock, exclaiming, "Senior Brother Zhao, you’re also..."

"Shut up!"

Zhao Yan snapped, glaring at Qin Sang. Coldly, he added, "Don’t forget your place, or you’ll end up like Liu Yi! Hand over whatever Meng Ruhui gave you!"

Qin Sang hurriedly took out the Mustard Seed Pouch given to him by Meng Ruhui and handed it to Zhao Yan, finally dispelling Zhao Yan’s suspicions.

Although he managed to get through the situation, Qin Sang was now certain of one thing—escaping from the Yuanzhao Sect was virtually impossible. Instead, he would only sink deeper into this quagmire.

The demonic eye had been given to him by Zhao Yan. It was supposedly a task from the sect and had fused with his bloodline. If it moved more than a zhang away from his body, it would vanish into thin air and automatically return to him.

Zhao Yan had ordered him to go to an open area every night and activate the demonic eye, directing it toward the sky above Huiyang Valley to observe the changes in the valley’s array. Once the eye had recorded all the transformations of the array, his task would be complete.

After some time, Zhao Yan and Yu Hua would check on his progress.

The demonic eye had to be embedded in the Yan Luo Banner, and only with the Yan Luo Banner could it be activated.

Qin Sang took out the Yan Luo Banner that the Kuiyin Sect had given him, which he had never used. Following the incantations Zhao Yan had taught him, he tried to merge the demonic eye with the Yan Luo Banner, but he failed.

He tried several more times, but each attempt resulted in the same outcome—there was no sign of fusion between the demonic eye and the Yan Luo Banner.

Qin Sang stared at the demonic eye, hesitation written in his gaze. After a long period of contemplation, he finally retrieved his own Yan Luo Banner. With just one round of the incantation, the demonic eye flew toward the banner on its own.

Instantly, black qi surged from the Yan Luo Banner, roiling wildly. Once the black qi dissipated, the demonic eye had vanished, and in its place, a design of an eye appeared on the banner, making it look a little less sinister.

Qin Sang quickly summoned King Yan to examine it. After confirming that it hadn’t changed from its previous state, he was finally at ease.

Grabbing the Yan Luo Banner, Qin Sang left his cave dwelling. By now, night had fallen, and the sky was filled with twinkling stars.