Chapter 73: The Final Question, Ren Water Transforms into Spirit (Union)

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"Inner Sect's Shan Zifeng?"

Shao Sizhao seemed to consider this, but without pausing much, he continued, "The one from Tongchen Peak?"

Song Yan wasn't entirely sure whether, in such a vast Dongyuan Sect, there might be another person with the same name. However, since Shao Sizhao had already specified, at least among the disciples of Tongchen Peak, there couldn't possibly be a second Shan Zifeng.

"Yes, that's him."

"What do you want to know?"

Song Yan had already thought things through thoroughly, preparing the information he wanted to ask.

"Senior Brother Shan Zifeng from the Inner Sect..."

"What cultivation stage is he at now?"

Shao Sizhao replied, "A little over three years ago, he broke through to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement and was promoted to the Inner Sect."

This statement actually contained a lot of information.

First, Shan Zifeng was likely also of three or fewer spiritual roots in aptitude; otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to reach the seventh layer of Qi Refinement to enter the Inner Sect.

Second, there was a high probability he was still at the seventh layer.

Each layer in the later stages of Qi Refinement was a difficult step—without outstanding talent or abundant resources, an ordinary person would need five to seven years to break through to the eighth layer.

"Does Senior Brother Shan Zifeng have any relatives in the sect... Or to which elder is he apprenticed?"

"That's two questions," Shao Sizhao said, holding up two fingers.

Thirty spirit stones couldn't buy endless questions—only five were allowed.

Song Yan agreed.

"In the Inner Sect, there is a Foundation Establishment steward who is a distant relative of Shan Zifeng."

"They aren’t closely related by blood, nor do they interact much."

"However, it was indeed this person who helped arrange for Shan Zifeng to apprentice under Elder Wang Lin of Tongchen Peak."

"In name, Shan Zifeng's master is Peak Lord Wang Lin, but the one actually guiding his cultivation is Elder Li Jianping."

Song Yan nodded.

"I say..."

"Junior Brother, why are you asking in such detail?"

Shao Sizhao picked up a spirit fruit from the table and took a bite.

Song Yan suddenly smiled—the human-skin mask on his face perfectly embodied a smile that didn't reach the eyes.

He countered, "I've paid thirty spirit stones to invite you here, yet now you're the one asking questions?"

"Heh, just making conversation."

After a moment’s thought, Song Yan spoke slowly, "Well, it's like this..."

"I think Senior Brother Shan Zifeng has boundless prospects ahead, and I wish to befriend him."

"If I have a chance to enter the Inner Sect in the future, it would be good to have his support."

"I'm just worried I might not be thoughtful enough and give him something he doesn't like."

"So I came to inquire..."

After a brief explanation, he asked the fourth question.

"Then, do you know what cultivation technique Senior Brother Shan Zifeng practices?"

Shao Sizhao frowned and paused.

"That... might be a bit private."

"That question will cost an additional ten spirit stones."

"......"

Without the slightest hesitation, Song Yan placed the spirit stones on the table.

"A fire-element technique—the Complete Incantation of Blessing Fire."

...A rather ordinary technique.

But at the Qi Refinement stage, the available cultivation methods were limited; the most renowned were these several Five Elements Dao Scriptures, plus the Qi Condensation chapter of the Universal Mystery Canon.

There really weren't many choices for Qi Refinement cultivators.

"Do you know if there are any spirit items Senior Brother Shan Zifeng needs for his cultivation in the near future?"

After asking the last question, he added, "I've accumulated some resources over the years. If, by chance, I have something he needs, it will be convenient for me to foster a connection."

He placed another ten spirit stones on the table.

Shao Sizhao gave him a meaningful look.

"About half a month ago, he tried to bid on a batch of Indigo Fire Flowers at the night market auction. But another cultivator offered a higher price, so he didn't get them."

Indigo Fire Flowers?

Song Yan knew the name—they weren't particularly rare, but were in high demand.

The petals, once ground into powder, could be made into Indigo Fire Dust, which, when used alongside fire-element techniques, could mildly accelerate cultivation.

The improvement wasn't large, but it could be used repeatedly.

Song Yan considered that if Indigo Fire Flowers were suitable, then similar spirit items should be as well.

"That's all."

Shao Sizhao stood up, ready to leave.

"You've asked your five questions. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

"Wait."

Song Yan suddenly spoke, stopping him.

"Senior Brother, may I ask your name?"

Old Shao chuckled, "That counts as a question, too."

"But in case you want to do business with me again and can't find me, I'll tell you."

"My name never changes, whether I'm traveling or sitting—I am Shao Sizhao."

"......"

So, it really was his real name.

Song Yan looked at him, pondering something, and then slowly asked,

"Senior Brother Shao, throughout the entire sect..."

"Do you truly know everything?"

Old Shao gave a snort. "Naturally, I have my own methods."

"......"

Song Yan nodded, expressing admiration.

"Then I'll pay thirty more spirit stones for just one question."

"How about it?"

Shao Sizhao frowned slightly.

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By rights, this man before him had run out of opportunities. Once the five questions were asked, no matter how high a price was offered, the process had to start over according to the rules.

However, rules were rules.

Today, in a good mood, Shao Sizhao was curious what kind of question could be worth thirty spirit stones.

He sat back down, adding with some interest, "If it's about the elders or higher, I won't reveal anything."

After hearing this, Song Yan's heart tightened again.

"Won't reveal" meant he knew.

He took a deep breath and said, "Don't worry, it's not about the elders."

"On the contrary, it's just about an outer sect disciple."

"Oh?"

Shao Sizhao was intrigued, still with his fearless demeanor. He, too, wanted to know what question about an outer disciple could make this person spend thirty spirit stones.

He sat across from Song Yan. "Let's hear it."

After considering for a moment, Song Yan finally spoke, "In the outer sect, there is a junior named Song Yan."

"Song Yesheng."

Beneath the human-skin mask, his face remained calm.

Shao Sizhao still wore his usual irreverent expression, but a subtle change could be sensed.

Song Yan stared at him. "The question I want to ask is..."

"Senior Brother Shao, do you know from which Dao book he learned his sword-controlling technique?"

Shao Sizhao looked into his eyes, silent.

A pouch of spirit stones was placed in the center of the table.

"If Senior Brother can tell me, this pouch of spirit stones..."

Song Yan looked up at Shao Sizhao. "...is yours to take."

"......"

Shao Sizhao was silent, but that awkward feeling lasted only a moment before vanishing.

He stroked his chin, as if thinking.

Song Yan quietly waited for his reply.

After a while.

Shao Sizhao reached out, placing his hand on the pouch of spirit stones in the middle of the table.

"You mean Junior Brother Song Yan..."

His hand rested on the pouch, patting it lightly.

"......"

After a short pause, he pushed the pouch back toward Song Yan.

"That, I don't know."

"You've stumped me this time..."

Shao Sizhao was still as arrogant as ever, showing not the slightest shame that, as an information broker, he couldn't answer the question.

"Normally, if someone asks a question I can't answer, I return all the spirit stones."

"But unfortunately, your question isn't within the scope of today's agreement."

"So, sorry, I can't refund the ones you've already paid."

Shao Sizhao rose to take his leave, smiling.

"Thank you for your patronage, Junior Brother."

...

Watching Shao Sizhao's departing figure, Song Yan made no special movements.

He simply and quietly placed the spirit stone pouch back into his storage bag.

He stepped out of the room.

Left the Idle Heart Pavilion.

For the first time, he had spent so many spirit stones on something intangible, yet Song Yan felt no regret.

After all, all of this was in pursuit of his ultimate goal.

"By the calendar, it's almost New Year."

When he lived in Shiliang Town at the foot of the mountain, his grandfather had told him many customs about the New Year.

For example, before the New Year, one should clean the house.

It symbolized sweeping away bad luck and not letting it linger into the next year.

Even after entering the world of cultivation, he kept this good habit.

Therefore...

He did not intend to let Shan Zifeng live into the new year.

"......"

As Song Yan walked through the marketplace, surrounded by bustling cultivators, the stronger his desire to kill Shan Zifeng grew, the more calm and cold his heart felt.

It was hard to explain why he was so obsessed with this matter.

After Senior Brother Sun had told him the truth, he hadn't considered any other proper methods at all.

It was as if a seed of thought had taken root in his heart.

He gradually left the core area of the market and reached the edge of Linyuan Marsh.

Removing his human-skin mask, he stepped into the Carefree Sundries Shop.

Strangely, though, Qin Xijun was not in the shop this time.

On the old counter lay a jade slip.

In two days, it would be the night market at Linyuan Marsh.

This was the auction item list he had asked Granny Qin to obtain for him.

Previously, he had heard Granny Qin mention that at the upcoming auction, someone would be offering a batch of Qi Supplementing Pills.

Qi Supplementing Pills did not enhance spiritual power, but had one special effect—they could rapidly restore the spiritual energy consumed by a Qi Refinement cultivator.

In fights between cultivators, it was common to exhaust one's spiritual power.

With Qi Supplementing Pills, one could reduce the risk of falling victim to traps or sneak attacks.

Considering all the uncertainties, Song Yan naturally wanted to try to bid for some.

Since he planned to attend the auction, he simply asked Granny Qin to get him a copy of the item list.

Such lists weren't confidential; Granny Qin clearly had connections among the auction organizers, making it easy to get one.

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In any case, with Song Yan currently at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, breaking through in the short term was nearly impossible.

He could only do his utmost to prepare for the coming battle.

Scanning the list with his divine sense, he found many items he could use.

"Hmm?"

One particular auction item caught his attention.

"Talisman: Ren Water Spirit Transformation Talisman, first-grade high-quality."

Song Yan stared at the name; it seemed familiar.

He frowned, then remembered.

Back in the Silent Valley incident, he and Wan Songran had turned the tables on Wang Xi in the secret realm—thanks, in large part, to the Yimu Spirit Severing Talisman.

Wan Songran hadn't shown him that talisman beforehand, but with his current knowledge, Song Yan could guess most of its function.

It likely created a wood-element field, suppressing earth-element spiritual energy within.

This Ren Water Spirit Transformation Talisman—its name seemed somewhat similar to the Yimu Spirit Severing Talisman.

"......"

Song Yan pondered for a moment, then left with the jade slip.

...

Night Market.

At dusk, lanterns began to light up around the Linyuan Marsh marketplace, making the whole area as bright as day.

Song Yan put on his human-skin mask once more and donned a bamboo hat.

Though Granny Qin had already told him the details to watch out for, this was still his first time at an auction, so he was extra cautious.

He looked up at the ancient pavilion before him.

"Rare Goods Pavilion."

This was the location marked on the jade slip—the auction venue.

He remembered this place; so the auction was held here.

The main entrance remained the regular business hall, but the usually closed side door was open tonight.

A cultivator stood by the door, wearing a black cat mask that covered only the upper half of his face.

Song Yan approached and handed over the jade slip.

The cultivator flipped it over, squinting. "Hmm..."

Auction entry tokens weren't valuable—Granny Qin had explained this to him.

At the start of each month, the dates for the night market were announced, and a batch of entry tokens for the auction was released.

Anyone interested could simply claim one; no payment was needed.

They were used to track attendance, interest in particular items, or as proof for consignment sales.

The tokens could be freely transferred.

Song Yan's token had been given to him by Granny Qin.

The cultivator nodded and stepped aside.

"If you have anything for consignment, you can register it with me first," he said, noticing Song Yan's unfamiliarity and guessing it was his first time.

"If not, just head to the end of the alley, turn left, and go upstairs."

"As for your seat, just take the one indicated by the code on your token."

"If you want a private box, those had to be reserved in advance—they're already gone."

Song Yan nodded. "Thank you."

Following the directions, he climbed to the second floor.

The walls here slanted slightly, and on closer inspection, were etched with neat patterns.

A large door stood under the dim lights.

No one guarded it; he pushed it open and entered.

"This..."

Before him lay a spacious hall—one could see its whole shape at a glance.

It seemed the auction venue was set within an opened, giant shell-shaped magical artifact.

Cultivators gathered, and Song Yan soon found his designated seat and sat down.

A moment later—

"Thump—"

A sound like something dropping into water echoed.

The entry doors around the hall were locked one by one.

On the main auction platform, a circle of inky ripples appeared, from which emerged a young, tall male cultivator.

"It's lively tonight. Thank you all for coming."

"I am Luo Sheng, tonight's auction host."

He gave a bow and began.

"The rules, I trust everyone knows..."

"So, let's keep it brief—the auction officially begins."

All rules were detailed on the entry token, which Song Yan had already reviewed.

Luo Sheng held a small jade gavel, tapping it lightly on the table.

"Tonight's first lot is a high-grade magical artifact."

"Replica: Mountain Suppressing Seal."

A graceful, elegantly dressed female cultivator entered, bearing a golden seal on a jade tray.

Song Yan frowned, staring at the seal for some time.

"Mountain Suppressing Seal..."

He vaguely recalled that the artifact Wang Xi had wielded in life was a similar seal, also called the Mountain Suppressing Seal.

Of course, Wang Xi's had surely been a replica as well.

But the more he looked, the more peculiar it seemed. "Why does it look..."

"It's exactly the one Wang Xi used before..."

The next part of the story has been merged across chapters for a smoother pace (about three to four days' worth).

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