met free Chapter 1417: Account?
Chapter 1417: Account?
Chapter 1417: Account?
Khotan City, the core megacity of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, was shrouded in an invisible atmosphere of tension. The council hall, located at the city's center and heavily guarded, was solemn and imposing, with spiritual light faintly flowing across the runes on the pillars and dome, foreshadowing the momentous nature of the matters to be discussed.
When Qin Hao appeared at the palace gate, a solemn atmosphere instantly filled the air. Inside, more than a dozen figures were already seated, each emanating a spiritual pressure as imposing as a mountain. They were all Nascent Soul stage cultivators, with the lowest among them reaching the mid-Nascent Soul stage. They represented the most powerful forces in the Tiannan cultivation world: the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, the Righteous Path Alliance, the Heavenly Path Alliance, and the Six Demonic Sects.
Wei Wuyai, who was in the main seat and was the leader of the three great cultivators in Tiannan, saw Qin Hao enter and showed a meaningful smile. He said loudly, "Fellow Daoists, this is Zhang Tie, the newly promoted elder of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance Elder Council. Elder Zhang, please sit next to me."
"Shh!"
Before Wei Wuyai could finish speaking, more than a dozen gazes, like searchlights, focused on Qin Hao. These gazes were deep, sharp, and full of inquiry, carrying undisguised curiosity and scrutiny, and deeper still, a hint of barely perceptible suspicion and apprehension.
A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator fighting to a draw with Wei Wuyai? This news was so shocking that almost no one would believe it if it hadn't come from Wei Wuyai himself. Even with Wei Wuyai's endorsement, these old monsters who had dominated Tiannan for hundreds of years still couldn't completely dispel their doubts until they witnessed his strength firsthand. They needed to assess whether this suddenly appearing "Zhang Tie" was truly qualified to stand on equal footing with them, or even sit beside Wei Wuyai.
Qin Hao's expression remained calm and composed, as if the immense spiritual pressure that could suffocate a Core Formation cultivator was merely a gentle breeze. He calmly nodded slightly to Wei Wuyai and walked steadily toward that spot.
However, just as his gaze swept across the entire hall, he paused slightly in a corner. There sat two cultivators, their auras cold and eerie; they were representatives of the Ghost Spirit Sect, one of the six major sects of the demonic path. The one on the left had a withered and peculiar face, wore a black robe, and had eyes as sinister as an eagle—the infamous Soul Shattering True Man; the one on the right was even more mysterious, his entire figure shrouded in a wide black robe, his face completely hidden in shadow. Only a chilling, oppressive aura emanated from him—this was another Nascent Soul stage powerhouse of the Ghost Spirit Sect—Old Demon Zhong.
Qin Hao sneered inwardly, "Ghost Spirit Sect..."
Just as Qin Hao's gaze settled and he hadn't fully sat down—
"Humph!"
A cold snort, not from Qin Hao's mouth, was accompanied by a sudden burst of terrifying divine power that was overwhelming and far exceeded the imagination of cultivators of the same level!
This divine sense was as condensed as a substance, as sharp as a divine needle, carrying a sharp will to pierce the soul and tear apart the sea of consciousness, with an extremely clear target—directly aimed at the Soul Shattering True Person and Old Demon Zhong!
Shocking stab!
Moreover, it's a precise spiritual attack targeting two Nascent Soul cultivators of the same level simultaneously! Only by cultivating the Great Evolution Technique to the fifth level can one achieve such an effect!
"Ugh!"
"Humph!"
The expressions of Shattered Soul True Man and Old Demon Zhong changed drastically, as if they had been struck by a heavy hammer! An indescribable, soul-deep pain instantly pierced through their consciousness, as if their primordial spirits were being brutally pierced and stirred by countless invisible steel needles! The two men trembled violently uncontrollably, their hands instinctively covering their heads tightly. Their withered or hidden faces under their black robes instantly lost all color, turning as pale as paper. Beads of cold sweat poured out like streams from their foreheads and temples, soaking their clothes in the blink of an eye.
An uncontrollable, painful groan escaped his throat. The sinister aura that had previously intimidated him vanished like a punctured balloon, leaving only a disheveled state of pain and terror.
The entire council chamber was deathly silent!
You can hear the needle drop!
All the Nascent Soul cultivators, including the two great cultivators of Tiannan, Venerable Zhiyang and Old Demon Hehuan, had their pupils involuntarily contract sharply, their faces filled with undisguised shock and solemnity!
The Soul Shattering True Man and Old Demon Zhong of the Ghost Spirit Sect, renowned for centuries, are giants of the demonic path, possessing genuine mid-Nascent Soul combat power! Yet now, they have been rendered so disheveled and powerless to resist by Elder "Zhang Tie," who has just taken his seat, with a single divine sense attack!
What terrifying strength of divine sense would this require? What exquisite control of divine sense would it demand? A late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator might be able to suppress divine sense, but to do so with such ease and precision, simultaneously and severely injuring the divine senses of two peak mid-stage cultivators of the same level? It's simply unheard of! This means that this person's strength of divine sense has surpassed theirs!
Those cultivators who had previously harbored a sliver of hope or doubt about Qin Hao's feat of "fighting Wei Wuyai to a draw" now felt their doubts melt away like thin ice under the sun, replaced by deep awe, intense apprehension, and an unprecedented solemnity.
The way they looked at Qin Hao had completely changed. There was less scrutiny and more recognition of a true strongman and a heartfelt wariness.
The eyes of Venerable Zhiyang and the Old Demon Hehuan, these two pillars of Tiannan, briefly met in the air, and they both saw undisguised astonishment and understanding in each other's eyes.
Previously, they had not been without a doubt: Was Wei Wuyai deliberately "letting loose" and creating a so-called "late-stage Nascent Soul combatant" in order to boost the morale of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance and even the entire Tiannan region because the Mulan people were about to launch a large-scale invasion and the border pressure was increasing?
After all, it was truly unbelievable that a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator could fight a late-stage one to a draw. However, Qin Hao's earth-shattering "Divine Thrust" displayed a level of spiritual power, refinement, and control that genuinely reached the threshold of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator! Wei Wuyai's words were probably true! This person certainly possessed the ability to fight a great cultivator!
The two men simultaneously turned their gazes back to Wei Wuyai, who sat at the head of the table. Although the leader of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance maintained the solemnity of a meeting chairperson, the barely concealed smugness in his eyes was unmistakable to these old foxes.
That look seemed to silently declare: See? How could my judgment be wrong? Who was gossiping behind my back before? Now you know how powerful they are, right?
Wei Wuyai felt incredibly relieved at that moment, like drinking an ice-cold spring on a sweltering summer day. After being forced to a draw by Qin Hao, he had been ridiculed by the other two great cultivators and some Nascent Soul cultivators, who made him feel quite frustrated by their gossip, such as "capsizing in a ditch" and "not hesitating to tarnish his reputation in order to recruit talent."
Qin Hao's domineering and unparalleled performance has now earned him a lot of face back.
"Fellow Daoist Wei!" Old Demon Zhong, enduring the lingering pain deep within his sea of consciousness, spoke in a hoarse voice, filled with barely suppressed rage: "Our Ghost Spirit Sect, invited by the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, has traveled thousands of miles to Tiantian City to discuss the crucial matter of resisting the invasion of the Mulan people! Yet this man has attacked us without cause. What is the reason for this? Does he disregard our Ghost Spirit Sect, or the entire Six Sects of the Demonic Path?!"
He escalated the conflict to the level of a sect alliance, intending to use the combined power of the six demonic sects to pressure Wei Wuyai and Qin Hao, and to try to save face.
The Soul Shattering Immortal's face was also ashen, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared intently at Qin Hao, his resentment almost tangible, clearly showing his full support for Old Demon Zhong's attack.
Upon hearing this, Wei Wuyai frowned almost imperceptibly. As the host and convener of this alliance meeting, his biggest concern was that the various factions would turn against each other at this crucial moment due to personal grudges.
Especially now, with the Mulan Vanguard beginning to assemble at the border, a major battle is imminent. The Nine Kingdoms Alliance will bear the brunt and urgently needs the full support of all forces in Tiannan, including the Righteous Path Alliance, the Heavenly Path Alliance, and the Six Demonic Sects.
By invoking the name of the entire Six Sects of the Demonic Path, Old Demon Zhong undoubtedly put immense pressure on him. If not handled properly, and the Ghost Spirit Sect seizes this as an excuse to shirk responsibility or even withdraw from the alliance, it would be a catastrophic blow to the entire Tiannan defense line.
"This..." Wei Wuyai was speechless for a moment, looking at Qin Hao with a hint of helplessness and inquiry, hoping that he could respond or at least give him a way out.
Just as the atmosphere became tense and hostile, Qin Hao let out a colder, more mocking laugh: "Hmph!"
His gaze, like a blade hardened by millennia of ice, swept over the grim-faced Shattered Soul True Person and Old Demon Zhong. His voice was calm and even, yet every word was like a knife, piercing the heart: "Although my cultivation is shallow and unworthy of such a high position, I still possess some pride! I have never met you two before, and we have no past grievances or recent enmities. Just as I entered the hall and took my seat, your divine senses, like maggots clinging to my bones, relentlessly and repeatedly scanned and probed my body."
"Zhang was merely retaliating instinctively. What? Do you two want an explanation from Zhang?"
It is important to know that in the cultivation world, especially among high-level cultivators, the most taboo behavior is to wantonly use one's divine sense to probe others! This is tantamount to blatant provocation and intrusion into privacy, and is a serious insult to the dignity of cultivators! Qin Hao characterized it as "instinctive retaliation" and "legitimate self-defense," completely placing himself in the position of victim and forced retaliator, pushing the two from the Ghost Spirit Sect into a situation where they were being unreasonable and had only themselves to blame.
Immediately, both Shattered Soul True Person and Old Demon Zhong looked like they were about to burst from holding their breath. They couldn't very well say that everyone had used their divine sense to scan them, so why were they being targeted alone? Those old monsters would definitely not admit it then.
As for an explanation? Based on Qin Hao's move just now, even if they joined forces, they wouldn't be a match for him. If a real fight broke out, they might just die here. How could they dare to ask for an explanation?
Looking at the two Ghost Spirit Sect members, who looked as if they had swallowed ten pounds of bitter herbs and were suffering in silence, Wei Wuyai almost burst out laughing. He quickly suppressed his laughter with the powerful composure of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
He gave Qin Hao a deep look, his eyes filled with undisguised approval and a "well done" tone, but on the surface, he acted as a peacemaker: "Fellow Daoists, please don't let a momentary argument damage your harmony and the unity of our Tiannan cultivation world! At this critical moment when the Mulan people are eyeing us covetously and their army is pressing in, and our Tiannan cultivation world is united in resisting foreign aggression, we, as representatives of all parties, should prioritize the overall situation and value harmony! I, Wei, hereby earnestly request that you three, for my sake, and for the sake of resisting the Mulan people and protecting our Tiannan foundation, let this matter be put aside. How about it? All grievances can be discussed after we have repelled the enemy!"
Wei Wuyai adopted a very humble posture, and in his words he raised high the banner of righteousness, such as "resisting foreign aggression," "putting the overall situation first," and "preserving Tiannan," thus occupying the absolute moral high ground.
Even though Shattered Soul True Man and Old Demon Zhong were filled with rage and resentment, they were now in a precarious situation, as if they were being roasted over a fire. The situation was beyond their control; the opponent's strength was unfathomable, and the host was clearly biased. Continuing to entangle themselves would only bring them humiliation and make them a laughingstock.
The two looked at each other and saw the resentment, frustration, and deep helplessness in each other's eyes.
"Hmph! Since Alliance Leader Wei has said so, I will give Alliance Leader Wei face today! This matter... is over!" Old Demon Zhong squeezed out a few words with difficulty, his voice hoarse and dry, revealing a strong sense of unwillingness.
The Soul Shatterer, his face grim, slumped back into his seat without a word, tacitly acquiescing through his actions. However, a cold glint flashed beneath his lowered eyelids, clearly indicating that he harbored deep hatred for Qin Hao.
Seeing this, Qin Hao's lips curled into a barely perceptible cold smile, and he ceased his aggressive advances. The reason he chose Soul Shattering Immortal and Old Demon Zhong as his targets for establishing his authority, rather than other cultivators who were also eyeing him, was fundamentally due to his past grievances with the Ghost Spirit Sect. Now that the sect's leaders, Wang Tiangu and Wang Tiansheng, were absent, these two were merely taking the blame for the sect. His goal of establishing authority had been perfectly achieved, he had also thoroughly humiliated the Ghost Spirit Sect, and had done Wei Wuyai a favor—a triple win. Continuing to entangle them would only be counterproductive.
This sudden and intense conflict was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. Although Wei Wuyai quickly quelled it with his shrewd methods, the huge ripples it caused have profoundly affected the mentality of every Nascent Soul cultivator in the hall.
Qin Hao's powerful decisiveness and vengeful nature were clearly imprinted in everyone's minds. Those representatives of forces who had previously looked down on, neglected, or harbored ulterior motives towards the Nine Kingdoms Alliance or Wei Wuyai himself now had to restrain themselves and reassess the weight of this newly promoted elder and the current strength of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance.
With Qin Hao's powerful entrance and his overwhelming victory over the Ghost Spirit Sect serving as an excellent prelude, Wei Wuyai subtly gained greater initiative in the subsequent formal meeting.
Without further ado, he went straight to the point, solemnly revealing the latest and most accurate intelligence from the Nine Kingdoms Alliance spies regarding the movements of the Mulan people: multiple large tribes of the Mulan people were gathering on a massive scale towards the southern border, and the size of their vanguard was far greater than ever before. All indications suggested that an unprecedented and massive invasion was imminent!
The moment the intelligence was released, the atmosphere in the council chamber instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Whether it was the cultivators representing the Righteous Path Alliance or the giants of the Heavenly Path Alliance and the Six Demonic Sects, their faces all turned extremely gloomy and ugly.
The Mulan invasion was no ordinary border skirmish or resource struggle; it was a life-or-death battle concerning the survival of their race! These mages from the grasslands, for the sake of survival and reproduction, almost always mobilized the entire strength of their tribe for each invasion. Like the most ferocious swarm of locusts, wherever they passed, spiritual veins, resources, and people were plundered in a frenzied manner! Their ferocity and cruelty have long been etched into the bloody history of the cultivation world in the southern region.
No single country, sect, or even alliances like the Nine Kingdoms Alliance or the Righteous Path Alliance could possibly withstand the entire army of the Mulan people.
Only when the entire Tiannan cultivation world puts aside its prejudices, temporarily sets aside past grievances, and gathers all its forces to form a unified defense line, can it possibly withstand the impact of this raging tide of the grasslands—this is already a consensus reached by the Tiannan cultivation world after undergoing trials of blood and fire.
Under the weight of the harsh reality, the meeting entered a tense yet efficient deliberation phase. Regardless of their individual thoughts, representatives from all sides had to prioritize the overall situation. After a heated exchange of ideas and a clear division of responsibilities, all the Nascent Soul cultivators present unanimously agreed to immediately mobilize the cultivators from their respective sects and territories to rush to Tian Tian City's aid as quickly as possible, jointly constructing the first line of defense against the Mulan people.
However, despite reaching a consensus, Wei Wuyai showed no sign of relief; instead, his brows furrowed even more.
He knew that the Tiannan region was vast, and various countries and factions were scattered in all directions. It would be no easy task to mobilize these forces from all directions to Tiantian City.
Assembling, setting off, and trekking... all of this would take a considerable amount of time. During this gap before the reinforcements arrive, the entire pressure on the Tiannan defense line would fall squarely on the shoulders of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, who would bear the brunt of the attack! They would face the fierce onslaught of the Mulan vanguard alone. Fortunately, Tiantian City, as the core fortress that the Nine Kingdoms Alliance had cultivated for countless years, possessed incredibly strong defenses and numerous restrictions. By relying on this formidable city and holding out for reinforcements, they should be able to hold out for some time.
As the meeting concluded, the representatives from all sides departed, their minds heavy with worry. Wei Wuyai specifically called Qin Hao back, his tone filled with concern: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, the situation is urgent. The Mulan people could launch an attack at any moment, and the situation is constantly changing. If you don't have anything particularly urgent to attend to recently, it would be best if you didn't leave Tiantian City too far for the time being. The city still needs a strong reinforcement like you to stay and oversee things."
Qin Hao's heart stirred slightly: "I understand Fellow Daoist Wei's concerns. However, I feel that it would be too passive for us to sit idly by in the fortified city and wait for the Mulan army to come to our door. Only by knowing ourselves and our enemy can we win every battle. If we can penetrate deep into enemy territory in advance and find out the Mulan's specific troop deployment, the movement of the Divine Masters, and even the possible attack routes, it will be of great help to our troop deployment. The most urgent task is to find a way to gather some key intelligence."
Upon hearing this, Wei Wuyai gave a bitter smile and shook his head, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, you may not know this, but the Mulan people are extremely cautious and meticulous in their actions, especially on the eve of a large-scale invasion, where they are as impenetrable as an iron barrel. Wherever they go, they often implement a 'scorched earth' policy, leaving no survivors. What's even more troublesome is that each tribe has a 'master' equivalent to us Nascent Soul cultivators, and there may even be a 'divine master' hidden among them. Ordinary spies, let alone getting close to the core area, are easily discovered even when patrolling the outer perimeter, and their chances of survival are slim. Over the years, we have lost countless people because of this..."
Qin Hao's lips curled slightly: "Just because an ordinary scout can't do it doesn't mean others can't. If Fellow Daoist Wei trusts me, I'm willing to personally go to the depths of the Mulan Grassland to explore this den of dragons and tigers for you all."
He volunteered for the mission because the hermitage of the Venerable Cangkun was located deep within the Mulan Grassland, a place he had to visit in his plans. Furthermore, he had long coveted the unique and powerful "spiritual arts" of the Mulan mages. If he could take this opportunity to observe them closely, and even acquire some of the secrets of these "spiritual arts," applying their essence to talisman crafting would greatly enhance his combat power. After all, the power of the "Ten Thousand Talisman Record" was closely related to the strength of the talismans it contained.
Wei Wuyai stared intently at Qin Hao, pondering for a moment. This man before him was a formidable opponent, capable of fighting him to a standstill. His physical body was incredibly strong, his spiritual sense had reached the late Nascent Soul stage, and he possessed a strange and domineering spiritual fire. His survival abilities and combat prowess were top-notch; even if he were unlucky enough to encounter Master Mulan, escaping shouldn't be a problem.
Thinking of this, Wei Wuyai's eyes revealed admiration: "Fellow Daoist Zhang is concerned about the overall situation and is willing to take great risks. He is truly a role model for us! With your supernatural abilities, even if you really encounter Master Mulan, you must have a way to escape... In that case, on behalf of all the cultivators of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, I would like to thank Fellow Daoist Zhang for his righteous assistance!"
"Fellow Daoist Wei, you flatter me." Qin Hao waved his hand, then changed the subject, a half-smile on his face: "However, I've always believed that empty promises are not as good as tangible rewards. This is a risky mission to infiltrate enemy territory and gather intelligence, so shouldn't your gratitude... be put into practice?"
Wei Wuyai was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, and couldn't help but slap his forehead: "Haha, Fellow Daoist Zhang is indeed quick-witted! It was my oversight. How about this, if you can bring back truly useful key intelligence on this trip, when you return successfully, I will grant you permission to enter the Nine Kingdoms Alliance's treasury and choose any treasure as your reward. What do you say?"
The Nine Kingdoms Alliance's treasury houses countless rare treasures and cultivation manuals, their value immeasurable. This promise carries immense weight.
Qin Hao's eyes lit up; this condition suited him perfectly. He immediately nodded, "Alright! Fellow Daoist Wei is straightforward! It's a deal!"
"Then I, Wei, will await Fellow Daoist Zhang's good news in Tiancheng!" Wei Wuyai said with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
……
Emerging from the somber council hall, Qin Hao didn't linger, heading straight back to the secluded courtyard of the inn in Tiantian City, a place brimming with spiritual energy and heavily guarded, specifically prepared for Nascent Soul cultivators. Yuan Yao and Yanli were already waiting there.
"Master!" The two women immediately greeted Qin Hao upon his return.
Qin Hao nodded to them and instructed them directly, "For the next period of time, I need to take care of some matters, so you don't need to follow me all the time. This Tiannan Trade Fair is unprecedented in scale, gathering high-level cultivators from all over Tiannan, making it a rare and grand event. You two can wander around the city more, whether it's exchanging cultivation experiences with other cultivators or participating in some high-level auctions or private trade fairs. Opportunities are often hidden here, so don't waste them."
As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and several bulging storage bags appeared on the table, filled with a large amount of rare and high-grade demon beast materials hunted in the Chaotic Star Sea, as well as an astonishing number of mid-to-high-grade spirit stones. At the same time, he handed a jade slip that emitted a warm luster to Yuan Yao.
"The list of materials in this jade slip contains the key items needed to create a Nascent Soul stage puppet."
Although the Nascent Soul stage puppet is no longer of much use to Qin Hao, it is very useful to Yuan Yao and the other person, whether for self-defense or for exchanging some rare materials in the future.
The list of materials for the Nascent Soul stage puppet was naturally obtained from the Great Evolution Divine Lord. Thinking of that old monster, whose remnant soul remained but whose wisdom was still boundless, a strange light flashed in Qin Hao's eyes.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao and Yan Li both showed joy on their faces and respectfully accepted the gift: "Yes, Master."
In the following days, Qin Hao frequently appeared at private trade fairs organized by high-level cultivators throughout Tiancheng. With his current peak mid-Nascent Soul cultivation and broadened horizons, ordinary magic weapons, pills, and materials were hardly worth his attention.
After several days, the harvest was meager. The most valuable items were only a few rare body-refining materials that could further enhance his "Heavenly Demon Art," which was better than nothing.
One day, Han Li, filled with anticipation and excitement, took the initiative to visit Qin Hao. He held a jade slip in his hand that recorded a method for making a Nascent Soul stage puppet, hoping to exchange it for the subsequent cultivation techniques of the "Great Evolution Technique".
Qin Hao couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at Han Li's serious expression. With the Great Evolution Divine Lord, a patriarch of puppetry, by his side, would he lack such an "ordinary" method for creating Nascent Soul stage puppets?
Seeing Qin Hao remain silent and lost in thought, Han Li couldn't help but reveal his disappointment as the expectant light on his face gradually dimmed.
Seeing this, Qin Hao smiled slightly and said nothing. Instead, he flipped his hand and took out a section of emerald green tree root that was filled with spiritual energy and seemed to contain endless vitality—it was the same tree root that he had exchanged for from the Falling Cloud Sect.
"Junior Brother Han, you are most skilled at cultivating various spiritual herbs. The sap secreted by this Spirit Eye Tree is not only the main ingredient for refining the 'Spirit Stabilizing Pill,' but if its essence is applied to the eyes, it has the miraculous effect of clearing the mind and brightening the eyes, and dispelling illusions and spells..."
Han Li stared at the root of the Spirit Eye Tree, his breathing noticeably quickening. A fierce struggle flashed in his eyes, a mixture of immense temptation and apprehension towards Qin Hao, as well as an instinctive wariness of the risks involved in the transaction.
But ultimately, the subsequent techniques of the "Great Evolution Technique" were far too important for his spiritual cultivation and breaking through the bottleneck. He gritted his teeth, thinking that although there had been some calculations in their past transactions, they had generally kept their word. He made up his mind and reached out to take the tree root that contained boundless vitality: "Please wait patiently for a while, Senior Brother!"
Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction, then inscribed the fourth level of the "Great Evolution Technique" into a blank jade slip and handed it to Han Li as an advance payment.
Three days later, just as Qin Hao was pondering the newly acquired body-refining materials in the inn, a familiar transmission talisman flew into his quiet room. It was from Han Li, and the message was concise: Marquis Nanlong had secretly contacted him and extended an invitation.
“Junior Brother Han, keep this Yin-Yang Jade with you. As long as you don’t enter any completely isolated places, no matter how far apart you are, I can roughly sense your location with the other jade pendant. If anything happens, I can provide timely assistance.”
Han Li looked at the peculiar jade pendant, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. This was undoubtedly a tracking device placed on him, meaning his every move was under Qin Hao's surveillance. But considering the unknown dangers of this expedition and Qin Hao's unfathomable strength, this "insurance" might truly save his life in a critical moment.
After a brief consideration of the pros and cons, he finally reached out and accepted the Yin-Yang Jade, nodding solemnly: "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother."
Two weeks later, the grand Tiannan Trade Fair officially opened. Tiancheng was in an uproar, with crowds thronging the city and all sorts of rare and exotic items appearing one after another.
However, after touring the main venue and several large auctions, Qin Hao, full of anticipation, was greatly disappointed. With his current wealth and discerning eye, he found almost no treasures that truly appealed to him or could significantly aid his Nascent Soul cultivation. He did, however, acquire a few bottles of "Condensing Essence Pills" at a mid-sized auction, which were highly beneficial for Core Formation cultivators, and Qin Hao casually gave them all to Yanli.
On the fourth day of the trade fair, Qin Hao received another message from Han Li.
Han Li informed him that he had held a more in-depth secret meeting with Marquis Nanlong and confirmed the departure time and meeting place—the day after the trade fair ended, when they would meet at the border between the Mulan Grassland and Tiannan, with their target being the cave where Master Cangkun passed away!
On the last day of the trade fair, the hustle and bustle gradually subsided. The vast majority of cultivators either returned laden with spoils or left disappointed.
Meanwhile, Han Li, Nanlonghou, and several others quietly left Tiantian City and headed towards the perilous border of the Mulan Grassland.
Meanwhile, Qin Hao's figure had already disappeared from Tiantian City. Like a ghost, he moved with a speed far exceeding that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, silently crossing the border between Tiannan and the Mulan Grassland. He took the lead and infiltrated deep into the Mulan Grassland, merging into a medium-sized Mulan tribe near the border, like a drop of water flowing into the sea.