"Hahaha, Junior Brother Qin is quite a character."

Pang Tunyun couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. ’The Hall Master is a Golden Core Blood Demon,’ he thought. ’How could he possibly need help from a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator?’

’If that day ever came, the entire Holy Sect would have probably already been destroyed by Daqian.’

Qin Xuan asked, "Senior Brother Pang, what about this Jade Tube?"

Pang Tunyun’s expression turned serious. "This Jade Tube contains the Earth Vein Sacrificial Refining Method. It concerns the secrets of the Golden Core, so I hope, Junior Brother Qin, that you won’t rush to open it and begin practicing."

"When you reach the Foundation Establishment Twelfth Level and are officially opening your Purple Mansion, you will naturally understand."

A chill went through Qin Xuan.

Although he didn’t know what Pang Tunyun was up to, Qin Xuan obediently complied and did not open the Spiritual Sense Jade Tube on his own.

...

Time slowly passed.

After Pang Tunyun left, Qin Xuan set up several arrays and announced he was entering seclusion.

An intense sense of crisis welled up within him.

’My power is too weak. A mere Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivator like me is just an ant before a Purple Mansion Cultivator, to say nothing of the Golden Core True Monarchs... I must Guide my Fate Star as soon as possible!’

Dangers lurked everywhere within the Holy Sect.

Those in Qi Cultivation weren’t even considered people, and Foundation Establishment cultivators were at the very bottom.

Only by opening his Purple Mansion and successfully rising to the middle ranks of the Sect could Qin Xuan feel even a sliver of security.

A golden Great Sun Illusion slowly materialized behind Qin Xuan.

Bizarre and turbulent Demonic Qi surged.

Suppressing his unease, Qin Xuan immersed himself in his cultivation.

「One month later.」

BOOM!

A series of explosions ripped through the air as golden flames billowed. Two beams of golden light flared in the depths of Qin Xuan’s eyes as he abruptly rose to his feet.

Foundation Establishment Tenth Level—breakthrough!

"My Divine Sense range has expanded again."

An extraordinary light flashed in Qin Xuan’s eyes. The moment he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Tenth Level, the flow of Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth appeared clearly before him.

He could even faintly see a trace of an unknown Dao Rhyme flowing by, carrying a profound aura.

It emanated from within the Spiritual Field.

’Could it be... the Earth Vein Spirit?’

Qin Xuan suppressed his curiosity, resolving not to dwell on matters that didn’t concern him. He then turned and raced in the direction of Mo Xuan Country.

’First, I need to attend the small exchange meeting. Getting the Thousand-Year Soul Nourishing Wood is what’s important!’

...

Mo Xuan Country, Black Water Abyss

A ghastly white palace made of beast bones floated silently above the inky-black water.

Qin Xuan used the Ten Thousand Forms Blood Talisman to alter his appearance and conceal his aura. Holding a blood-drenched Beast Tooth Token, he followed a Guiding Puppet and stepped into the palace.

Inside the main hall, twenty white bone chairs encircled a massive black jade table.

More than ten people were already scattered around the hall, seated. Surging demonic light obscured their faces, but every single one of them had a cultivation of at least the Foundation Establishment Tenth Level!

’It’s a good thing I also raised my realm. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have any advantage at this small exchange meeting.’

Qin Xuan found an empty chair for himself and sat down.

No one nearby stopped him, as if this was customary.

At the head of the table sat a middle-aged cultivator in black robes with a deathly pale complexion. His aura was the most profound, reaching the True Mansion Second Level.

This was the organizer of the small gathering, the Black Water Pond Master of Mo Xuan Country, Black Death Zhenren!

"The time has come. Let the exchange begin. The old rules apply: goods for goods, with Spirit Stones as a secondary option. State what you have and what you want; what you gain is up to your own fortune."

Black Death Zhenren’s voice was hoarse and devoid of any emotion.

The moment his voice fell, an aged Demon Cultivator with a withered frame and a heavy aura of decay spoke up first. Wisps of black smoke coiled around his body.

"I have thirty taels of Soul-Devouring Red Sand. I wish to trade for ten Green Miasma Blood Marrow Pills, or other Cultivation Elixirs of equivalent value."

He opened his palm, where a mass of dark-red sand slowly swirled, emitting a chilling aura that stung the Divine Soul.

’It’s a Tier Two Top Grade Spiritual Material...’

Qin Xuan’s gaze grew heated, and he was incredibly tempted.

The Green Miasma Blood Marrow Pill used Blood Marrow Rice as its main ingredient, blended and refined with seven other Spiritual Plants. It was a Tier Two Middle Grade Pill, effective for replenishing qi, consolidating one’s essence, and advancing cultivation.

However, its grade was lower than the Soul-Devouring Sand. The man was clearly offering it at a loss.

’This man’s life is almost over. It looks like he’s hoping to gamble on the Blood Marrow Pills to force open his True Mansion. It’s a pity I don’t know alchemy, otherwise I would have definitely traded for it.’

If Qin Xuan could get his hands on the Soul-Devouring Red Sand... 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

...he was confident he could re-refine his Soul-Loss Golden Needle, upgrading it from a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact to a Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifact!

Just then, a graceful Female Cultivator across from the aged Demon Cultivator let out a charming laugh. Her body was shrouded in a pink Miasma as she tossed over a jade bottle.

"What a coincidence. I just so happened to refine a fine batch of Blood Marrow Pills. Let’s trade for your Soul-Devouring Sand."

Her laughter was enchanting enough to soften the bones, yet it concealed a Soul Capturing Power. She was clearly from Yihong Pavilion and cultivated the Joyful Demon Skill.

"Done!" The aged Demon Cultivator nodded slightly.

The trade was completed swiftly.

Next, others brought out a Yin Evil Demon Saber, a Hundred Souls Banner, and Demon Beast Materials contaminated with potent poison.

There were even a few Jade Scrolls recording obscure Demon Skills.

The items they sought in return were just as bizarre.

Some wanted Furnace Cauldrons with special physiques, some wanted rare poisonous herbs, and others sought Secret Techniques to break through bottlenecks.

Qin Xuan sat quietly to the side without a word, carefully observing every item and transaction while making his own private assessments.

During the exchanges, he even used a Low-Grade golden-armor Spiritual Artifact he had taken off Ye Lan to trade for four Blood Marrow Pills from the graceful Female Cultivator.

"Are you an Artifact Cultivator, fellow Daoist?" The female Demon Cultivator from Yihong Pavilion asked, a probing look on her face.

Qin Xuan grunted noncommittally.

Finally, it was the turn of the Demon Cultivator sitting to the right of the head seat. He had a ferocious aura, was exceptionally tall, and wore a leopard-print Beast Skin.

This man made little attempt at concealment. A hideous, centipede-shaped scar ran down his arm, and a human-skin pouch hung at his waist, twitching from time to time.

He spoke in a deep, booming voice that rumbled like muffled thunder.