Chapter 979: Elder Zhou Is Alive

In a quiet chamber at the Qiongyu Merchant Guild, Manager Liu wore a sullen expression, restless and uneasy. He paced back and forth in the room, glancing outside from time to time, as if waiting for someone.

Daylight broke. When he spotted a figure walking toward him in the distance, his expression shifted slightly. He quickly replaced it with a smile, hurried downstairs, and warmly welcomed the guest. "Daoist Master, please come in!"

With eager courtesy, the manager led Qin Sang into the quiet chamber. He was about to pour tea when Qin Sang raised a hand to stop him.

"Daoist Liu, how is the preparation of the spiritual herbs?" Qin Sang went straight to the point. He intended to buy the herbs and leave. Now that he had mastered control of six devilish banners, there was no need to waste time outside.

"Uhh..." The manager froze mid-motion, still holding the teacup aloft. A trace of embarrassment showed on his face, as if he did not know how to speak.

Seeing this, Qin Sang frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Daoist Liu, are you facing some difficulty?"

The manager sighed softly, set down the tea set, and said, "To tell the truth, Daoist Master, I had thought that if I purchased part from other guilds and added what was stored in the warehouse, I would manage to gather most of the herbs you required. Unexpectedly, since the herbs you requested are all quite rare, the island guilds have very little in stock. Not wishing to delay your important matter, I immediately sent a message to Yinghuan Island, urging them to dispatch the herbs quickly. But it will still take a few days to arrive..."

"Yinghuan Island?" Qin Sang recalled that Yinghuan Island lay southwest of Dayuzhou, and according to the geomantic map, it was said to be more prosperous than Dayuzhou itself.

The manager nodded. "Correct. Daoist Master may not know, but after the demon chaos, our guild went through several upheavals. Only recently has it stabilized. I am but a minor manager stationed here on Dayuzhou. The one who truly oversees the Eastern Sea branch is Vice Commissioner Zuo. Yinghuan Island is favored by him and run by his close aides. They will certainly be able to gather the herbs you require..."

After joining the Qiongyu Merchant Guild, Qin Sang had always followed Elder Zhou into the Demonic Sea, so he knew little about members in the Inner Sea. Thinking back, he could not recall who Vice Commissioner Zuo was.

But anyone who could hold the position of vice commissioner in the guild was extraordinary. There were only a handful of such figures, and before Elder Zhou ventured into the Demonic Sea, he himself had been a vice commissioner.

"How much have you gathered so far?" Qin Sang asked after some thought.

"Not even thirty percent," the manager admitted with shame.

"Only thirty percent... That is indeed too little..."

Tapping the table lightly with his finger, Qin Sang pondered, then said, "I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot wait too long. Let us do this instead. Please send another message to Yinghuan Island and have them deliver the herbs directly north to Dongjia Island. I will be heading west and will pass by Dongjia Island. We can meet there, and we should arrive about the same time."

Dongjia Island lay northwest of Dayuzhou, and directly north of Yinghuan Island.

The Heavenly Dao Sect was also to the northwest, so on his way there Qin Sang would naturally pass Dongjia Island. This way, he would not lose much time.

The manager was taken aback, never expecting Qin Sang to suggest such a thing. His brow furrowed tightly, and his face showed hesitation.

Qin Sang gave him a sidelong glance. His mind was already clear. Calmly, he said, "Daoist Liu, rest assured. No matter where the trade takes place, this deal is with you, not Yinghuan Island."

The manager forced a smile and hastily agreed, "Daoist Master, that is a fine idea. Only..."

He paused slightly, then spoke with a hint of joy, "I nearly forgot. Three days ago you asked me to inquire about Elder Zhou. When I sent a message to Yinghuan Island, I also mentioned this. By coincidence, they had just received news that Elder Zhou is safe and sound. He is said to be not far from here. Supposedly he gained great harvests in Seven-Kill Hall, remained in seclusion until just recently, and only then emerged. His original plan was to return to Tianshing Island, but when he learned you were on Dayuzhou, he immediately changed his mind and decided to come visit you. That alone shows how much he values you, Daoist Master. If you leave early, you might miss him..."

The manager spoke eloquently, sounding utterly convincing. But he failed to notice that the aura of the man opposite him had changed.

At the mention of Elder Zhou, Qin Sang’s gaze sharpened abruptly. His body tensed, eyes locked on the manager, a dangerous light flashing within them, and a deep wariness rose in his heart.

Elder Zhou was already dead. Qin Sang had personally burned his corpse. There was no doubt! Yet this man swore that Elder Zhou still lived and was on his way here.

Has Elder Zhou truly risen from death? Was what I experienced at Celestial Blossom Lake nothing more than an illusion, a dream?

Countless thoughts flashed through Qin Sang’s mind.

Clearly, the manager harbored ulterior motives, yet Qin Sang could not discern where the problem lay.

They bore no enmity. This was merely a purchase of herbs. If all members of the Qiongyu Merchant Guild preyed upon their fellows at the sight of profit, the guild would have collapsed long ago.

"Hehe..." Qin Sang sneered. "May I ask, where is Elder Zhou now? Since he is coming, I suppose I can wait a few days..."

Outwardly he remained calm, but his palm quietly gripped the devilish banner. He summoned the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, activating its Sky Eyes ability to scan the surroundings of the chamber. He found no hidden ambushers.

The manager was overjoyed and said quickly, "Elder Zhou should already have left Yinghuan Island. He must be on his way here, Daoist Master—"

Before he finished speaking, Qin Sang struck.

Swoosh!

A flash of sword light split the canopy, illuminating the chamber in an instant.

The two sat facing each other, the distance between them dangerously close. The manager was horrified. He had never imagined Qin Sang would attack without warning.

His reaction, however, was quick. He slammed his palm downward, instantly activating the chamber’s barrier. A curtain of runes fell from above, pressing down hard against the ebony sword.

At the same time, thick vines surged around Qin Sang like writhing pythons, rapidly weaving into a cage that closed tightly around him. The vines twisted and pressed inward.

"Daoist Qingfeng, I have no enmity with you, why..." The manager roared in fury, yet still pretended, his expression showing shock, confusion, and anger, his act seamless as he loudly demanded an answer.

Qin Sang only sneered. His mind moved, and he pointed at the ebony sword. The manager had hastily triggered the barrier, but under the Sky Eyes, its flaws were laid bare.

The ebony sword flashed, its light swelling and instantly splitting into countless sword qi and sword beams, forming a blinding sword wheel.

Boom!

The sword wheel clashed fiercely with the rune curtain. With a harsh tearing sound, the ebony sword pierced through. In the manager’s horrified gaze, it slashed downward.

The manager screamed, retreating swiftly toward the door. He hastily summoned his life-bound astra—a square mirror—and hurled it with all his strength, trying to block the sword wheel.

Just then, the vine cage ripped apart with a sound like cloth tearing. Black devilish flames burst through, surging wildly, exuding a dreadful aura. In an instant, they shot to the chamber door, cutting off the manager’s escape.