Chapter 278: Xihuang Town

Xihuang Town.

The town was fully exposed to the light of the sky, laid bare in the wind and sand. Only when celestial phenomena occurred would the array be activated.

The cold wind howled, and yellow sand swirled through the air.

Amidst the dim yellow dust, a figure appeared, moving slowly toward the town.

Despite the ferocious sandstorm, the figure remained unhurried, walking at a leisurely pace. If any mortal had seen this, they would have been stunned. But in Xihuang Town, this was a common sight. Mortals could rarely make it this far; only immortal cultivators passed through here.

For immortal cultivators, such a sandstorm was as insignificant as an itch. What truly concerned them was the celestial phenomena that would soon follow the storm.

A Daoist walked out of the sandstorm, yet his robes were exceptionally clean, not a single crease on his new Daoist robe. Every time sand settled on it, a layer of azure light repelled it.

The Daoist did not appear old, but his demeanor was stable and composed. His true age was likely much greater than his youthful appearance suggested.

By this time, the people of Xihuang Town had grown used to strangers. They casually glanced at him before going about their business.

"The celestial phenomena are becoming more frequent."

Qin Sang stepped onto the stone road of the town and paused, silently reflecting on what Wandering Man had told him about the Spirit Tide.

When the Spirit Tide arrived, whether it was an immortal residence or a hidden realm, it would have no bearing on Qin Sang. His strength was insufficient to roam freely during the Spirit Tide, and the best course of action would be to retreat to the strongholds and focus on seclusion until it passed.

However, as the Spirit Tide approached, the conditions on the Ancient Immortal Battlefield would worsen, making survival increasingly difficult. This concerned everyone, and the stakes were high.

Human effort had limits, and Qin Sang could do little but hope the Spirit Tide would not come too soon.

He dusted off his robe, squinting as he surveyed the desolate town.

He and Wandering Man had separated their tasks a month ago. Wandering Man had entered Xihuang Town ten days before him, but since then, Qin Sang had not heard from him. He wondered if Wandering Man had successfully infiltrated the target’s group.

The scale of Xihuang Town exceeded Qin Sang's expectations. Its size and population were the largest he had seen on the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

Even with the fierce sandstorm, he could still make out numerous figures on the streets. Most of them had probably come to the town because of Qiuhong Market.

Qin Sang did not spot Wandering Man. Recalling Wandering Man’s instructions before they parted, he turned his gaze toward the northeast corner of the town.

There, he saw a wooden building with a high sign hanging above it—a tea house.

...

"Daoist Master, you look unfamiliar. I don’t think I've seen you before. May I ask your Dharma name?"

The manager of the tea house came over to pour tea for Qin Sang, sizing him up in secret.

Qin Sang’s gaze had been scanning the street, but upon hearing the voice, he looked up at the manager and cupped his hands in greeting. "Daoist, greetings. My Dharma name is Qingfeng. Your eyesight is sharp; indeed, this is my first visit to Xihuang Town."

To Qin Sang’s surprise, the manager was a Foundation Building cultivator, though by his age, it seemed he had long given up the path of immortality and had settled here, running a tea house to live out his remaining years.

"Daoist Master Qingfeng must have come to Xihuang Town because of Qiuhong Market, am I right?" the manager said directly.

"Most people come because of this, right?"

Qin Sang smiled and gestured toward the busy street. Many of the passersby were Foundation Building cultivators, and even Qi Refining Realm cultivators could be seen.

For Foundation Building cultivators, entering Qiuhong Market posed a certain risk. For Qi Refining cultivators, the danger was even greater—they might not survive the journey to Qiuhong Market, let alone breaking the array.

But people often sought wealth through risk, and there was never a shortage of bold individuals in the world.

The manager nodded, noticing that Qin Sang was in a good mood and seemed open to conversation. He sat down in front of him, starting what appeared to be casual small talk, "I’m not sure how much Daoist Master Qingfeng knows about Qiuhong Market. Coming here alone, without companions, you’ll need to find some help. Otherwise, it’ll be difficult for you to break through Qiuhong Market's protective array on your own."

"Oh?"

Qin Sang set down his teacup, leaned back slightly, and pretended to be puzzled. "I’ve heard that breaking the array requires companions, but is Qiuhong Market really that dangerous? It’s been around for quite some time. Surely there must be a safe path by now? I’m just a rogue cultivator with few friends, and the help I found in a hurry probably can’t be trusted."

The manager smiled slightly. "Actually, Daoist Master Qingfeng, if you stay in Xihuang Town for a few more days and gather information, you’ll know the details. Qiuhong Market’s protective array isn’t fixed. It shifts between the arrays of earth, wind, fire, and water, with the added complexities of yin and yang transformations. There has never been a completely safe path. But over time, everyone has figured out some patterns of the array. As long as you find trusted companions to assist each other, the danger is greatly reduced. In the process of breaking the array, if one succeeds, all succeed; if one fails, all fail. You don’t need to worry about sabotage. If there’s no mutual trust, you can simply go your separate ways once inside."

"Thank you for your guidance," Qin Sang said, understanding the situation and showing sincere gratitude as he cupped his hands. "In that case, there should be people in the town recruiting companions. Do you happen to know of any? Could you point me in the right direction?"

"You’re right, Daoist Master Qingfeng. Many people are looking for companions. Some even offer a hundred percent guarantee to get through the array and charge spirit stones, making a fortune off it. But these people are a mixed bag; it’s best not to trust them. However, there are a few seniors with very high cultivation levels. If you can join their group, it would be much safer. But..."

The manager stroked his long beard, casting a glance at Qin Sang before stopping as if hesitating to say more.

Qin Sang shook his head casually, asking with a calm expression, "There’s no need to hide the truth from me. I know my own limitations. Is it because my cultivation level is too low, and they don’t find me suitable?"

He had come here to infiltrate someone’s group. There was no need to display his full strength just yet, and he hadn’t used the Spirit Evasion Art to conceal his cultivation.

The manager laughed heartily.

"Daoist Master Qingfeng, you're straightforward!

"We both know that high cultivation doesn’t always equate to great ability, but cultivation level is indeed the most direct indicator. It’s natural for others to want to see your true strength before accepting you into their group. There’s nothing wrong with that."

"Aside from them, there are other places where the requirements for strength aren’t so strict."

"However, since you don’t wish to cooperate once inside the market, your choices are quite limited."

"You may not realize this, but the easily accessible places within Qiuhong Market have already been explored by others. Circling around these areas will yield little, and it will be like a wasted trip."

"The crucial places, though, require cooperation to access. Many are not just looking for companions to break the array; they’re seeking trustworthy partners for these critical locations."

"Now, if you’re looking for a group that meets your needs, I do know one. If you’re interested, I can introduce you."

Here it is.

Qin Sang’s heart stirred. This was precisely the reason he had come to this tea house.

Wandering Man and he had discovered that the tea house owner had a close connection to his target, Yu Kong.