Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 857: The Employer

At Xiangan Auction House, Qin Sang met Alchemist Yi.

Alchemist Yi looked utterly exhausted. When Qin Sang inquired, he learned that ever since the cultivators had been trapped on Desolate Island, the three merchant alliances had tightened their war preparations. Alchemist Yi had been assigned endless pill-refining tasks, working day and night until he was worn out.

Alchemist Yi said, gulping down a drink and leaning wearily against the chair, "I have no choice in the matter. It is Daoist Qin who had foresight, free of restrictions, still able to roam at ease."

Qin Sang could tell these were words against his true feelings. "I may seem carefree, but without the shelter of a great faction, when bullied there is nowhere to appeal, only bitter fruit to swallow alone. Daoist Yi’s fatigue will only last for a time. Once the demon upheaval subsides, you too will regain your ease."

"Easier said than done." Alchemist Yi shook his head, his tone grim. "This demon chaos is unprecedented in scale. When both sides face off with their armies, who knows when the beast tides will be repelled."

The two sighed over the current situation, before Qin Sang raised his true purpose. Unfortunately, Alchemist Yi had no good news.

"I have asked many old friends, all steeped in alchemy for years. Not one has heard word of the three herbs you seek, especially the Tyrant Blood Fruit. Daoist Qin may have to rely on fortune alone." Alchemist Yi’s voice carried regret.

Qin Sang silently agreed. He obtained both Tyrant Blood Fruit and Maoshan Vine purely by chance. For the final herb, Scorpion Venom Grass, all he could do was cast a wide net.

He produced a jade box. Inside were a dozen spiritual flowers called Wind-Rain Orchids, beloved by the Sky-Eyed Butterfly and greatly beneficial to its growth.

"I dare not trouble you with these Wind-Rain Orchids, Daoist Yi. I only hope you can arrange for an alchemist to refine them into pills." He handed over the formula along with the flowers.

One glance at the recipe, and Alchemist Yi’s eyes lit with interest. "Oh? I have never seen such a formula and method before. By my judgment, this herb is not meant for cultivators at all, is it? Daoist Qin, wait a moment. I will refine this batch myself."

He had discerned the purpose of the formula at a glance, which secretly startled Qin Sang. But since Alchemist Yi was willing to do it personally, Qin Sang welcomed it gladly. While waiting, he searched the auction house for cultivation resources.

***

Back in his cave dwelling on Baogu Mountain, Qin Sang drew out a pill from a jade bottle.

The fragrance filled the chamber. These were the pills Alchemist Yi had refined from the Wind-Rain Orchids.

The instant the scent spread, the Sky-Eyed Butterfly perched on his shoulder beat its wings furiously, clawing at his fingers, impatient and pleading through its consciousness.

"Here, this is for you." Qin Sang laughed and fed it the pill.

It swallowed in one gulp and fluttered with joy, circling wildly around him.

Its size had grown several times larger than before, each wing now as big as a human hand. Yet its growth had slowed. Despite Qin Sang’s efforts to provide the best pills and spiritual flowers, a spiritual insect’s natural metamorphosis was exceedingly difficult.

For a supernatural insect like the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, natural growth was agonizingly slow. Without blood feeding and the records of Yuling Sect, Qin Sang might never live to see it reach its third metamorphosis.

"Choosing the Sky-Eyed Butterfly as my life-bound insect was the right choice. Hopefully it will aid me when I reach the Spiritual Infant Realm."

Compared to the butterfly, the silkworm remained a puzzle.

Once it had bitten into a Purple Crystal, it fell into deep slumber. Each time it awoke, it demanded another bite, then slept again, leaving Qin Sang as little more than its caretaker.

During these slumbers, nothing could rouse it. Fortunately, no poisonous beasts or lands had appeared in this period. Yet despite devouring those Purple Crystals, it showed little change, growing even more slowly than the butterfly.

"Is it building power for a sudden breakthrough, or is there another reason?" He could not figure it out.

The silkworm was a mystery, its origins unknown, willingly choosing its own master, with a fragile body that nonetheless devoured lethal toxins as if they were delicacies.

After feeding the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, Qin Sang followed his routine: first blood feeding his external incarnation, then cultivating the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment, and at night tempering his body beneath the starlight.

Monotonous, orderly, all in preparation for his next venture into Seven-Kill Hall.

He had intended to visit Landou Sect soon. But in pursuit of high-grade spirit stones, he put that matter aside and waited in his cave dwelling for news.

Over a month passed in seclusion with no word from the shopkeeper. Just as Qin Sang was about to go himself, the barrier outside his dwelling was triggered.

He flashed outside and found a Sound Transmission Talisman. Reading it, his face lit with joy. He immediately sealed the cave, left the incarnation to cultivate, and hurried out.

"Daoist Qin, this time you came quickly," the shopkeeper joked as Qin Sang entered.

"I am driven by necessity, what else can I do?" he replied.

"Come with me then." The shopkeeper closed the shop and led the way.

Following him, Qin Sang noticed the route twisted again and again, leading toward the city gate. "Is the employer not in Tianxing City?" he asked with suspicion.

"I am merely an intermediary. I know nothing of the employer’s background, same as you. It is only business. The meeting place is outside Tianxing Island. I will take you there. You may speak directly. Of course, if you do not wish to, I can send word declining on your behalf."

"So you do not even know what they are gathering helpers for?"

"That’s right." The shopkeeper nodded.

Qin Sang frowned slightly but thought it over. His external incarnation could cultivate alone in the cave, while he carried everything else with him. "Then please, lead the way."

The shopkeeper softened his tone. "No need to worry. From what I see, they are likely delayed by something and are in urgent need of people. The moment I contacted them, they told me to bring you at once."

Talking as they went, they left Tianxing City, lifted their evasion lights, and flew off the island.

They headed north for half a day before reaching an island inhabited by mortals. Pointing ahead, the shopkeeper said, "The appointed place is here."

Seeing it was no desolate land, Qin Sang relaxed and landed alongside him, flying toward a verdant mountain.

Even before reaching its base, Qin Sang sensed several auras atop the peak. The others had already noticed them.

At the summit, a spring bubbled. A young man stood there, gazing down the slope.

At the foot of the mountain, Qin Sang suddenly grew wary, halting his evasion light. A sharp whistle rang out from above, and a white-robed youth streaked down toward them.

The shopkeeper halted as well. When the young man approached, he introduced them, "Daoist Fang, this is Daoist Qin, the one I mentioned. Daoist Qin, Daoist Fang is the employer. Now that I have brought him, I shall take my leave."