Chapter 1403: Nine-Precept Island

"Ethereal Sea..." Qin Sang went over the famous sea regions of Boundless Sea he had learned of; Ethereal Sea was not among them.

Reading his puzzlement, Attendant Luo went on to explain, "Don't misunderstand, Daoist. Whether as the Pure Lake of old or the Ethereal Sea of today, the place has never had much of a name in Boundless Sea, nor any rumors worth noting. It's merely a name that exists on nautical charts. Daoists active in the southern Boundless Sea might know it a little better. It's said Ethereal Sea holds no islands, its waters are unusually clear, and storms never strike it year-round. Ships sailing there need not fear capsizing in a tempest, which is rare indeed in the south. Traveling those waters, the heart itself turns clear and empty. That's probably also why it was once called Pure Lake..."

With that, Attendant Luo brought out a nautical chart and pointed out Ethereal Sea's location.

It lay even further south than Nine-Precept Island, and the two were not close. For a Spiritual Infant cultivator, however, it was a journey of a mere three to five days. That was certainly no coincidence!

Qin Sang guessed that the Pure Lake Valley Master Mu had spoken of was this very place. What surprised him was that no rumors of ancient ruins or hidden realms attached to it.

The witch race's inheritance can't have sprung out of a crack in a stone. Perhaps something has been covered up. Has Valley Master Mu returned to Pure Lake because of some new discovery? Studying the chart, Qin Sang made his own plans.

Pure Lake, which was now Ethereal Sea, was a vast expanse of water. Searching it alone for a hidden realm that might not even exist would truly be looking for a needle in a haystack.

Besides, if no legends had surfaced in all this time, then whatever secret it hid would not be so easily found.

For now, the best course was to meet Valley Master Mu first.

Qin Sang then asked the Nine-Star Guild for news of Mystic Heaven Palace, whether there had been any rumors or unusual movements of late.

Attendant Luo was startled by the sheer range of his requests and said awkwardly, "Most of our strength lies in the central and western Boundless Sea. Unless Mystic Heaven Palace attacked Boundless Sea, or its experts did something within it, news wouldn't reach us this quickly..."

Afterward, Qin Sang left Nine-Star Sea Region and, hesitating no longer, flew straight for Nine-Precept Island.

Several months after parting from Lan Jingsi, Qin Sang finally arrived.

The island's current master was only at the early stage of the Spiritual Infant Realm, yet thanks to the island's renown, his name carried far across Boundless Sea.

That renown owed itself to the island's founding master, Nine-Precept Sage, a man strong beyond dispute, said to have stood a single step from becoming a great cultivator, once ranked alongside the Chaotic Devil Elder himself. In the end, the Chaotic Devil Elder took that step, while Sage Nine-Precept halted there and eventually fell.

"After so long, who knows what might have changed in the meantime." Qin Sang gave Nine-Precept Island a look, flew in unhurriedly, and landed before the city gates.

The island was thriving, immortal cultivators and mortals living intermingled with no obvious divide, the streets thick with passersby.

A little asking around led Qin Sang easily to the place: a shop of middling size called Treasure Splendor Pavilion. It happened to be empty of customers, tended only by an old manager.

As Qin Sang stepped inside, the old manager glanced at him and hastily rose in welcome. "Are you looking for pills or artifacts, Daoist?"

"You are Zhang Xuan?" Qin Sang swept his eyes over the surroundings, and when the old manager nodded, he said, "I am Ming Yue, and I came at Daoist Mu's invitation."

He produced the token Lan Jingsi had entrusted to him before his departure.

The old manager's face changed slightly, and he lowered his voice. "Please follow me to the back hall, Senior! Senior Mu has prepared a high-quality cave dwelling for you—"

"No need!" Qin Sang waved him off. "How soon can Valley Master Mu come to see me?"

The old manager replied, "Senior Mu gave me instructions only days ago. Once word is sent, he will arrive within five days at most."

Qin Sang nodded and handed him a Guiding Spirit Talisman. "When Daoist Mu returns, give him this. Once he ignites it, he'll be able to find me."

Leaving the talisman behind, Qin Sang turned crisply and walked out of the shop. The old manager dared not stop him and could only watch as he vanished into the crowd.

Qin Sang made inquiries in the city about Ethereal Sea, but what he heard differed little from the Nine-Star Guild's account, so he lingered no longer and left Nine-Precept Island that night.

Five days later, Qin Sang was cultivating quietly in a cave dwelling he had carved out at random on a desolate island when a sudden ripple roused him. The spirit talisman in his hand had ignited without flame.

His expression flickered. He dropped the talisman at once and flashed away.

Before long, an evasion light came tearing through the sky from the direction of Nine-Precept Island, making no attempt to hide itself. It landed on the desolate island, revealing a man who looked to be around forty, dignified in bearing, his eyes bright with spirit. His Daoist robe was embroidered with the very same spiritual insect worn by the disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley.

It was Valley Master Mu!

He noticed the cave dwelling and was about to speak when something stirred his senses. He turned to see Qin Sang walking out of the dense forest.

"You must be Daoist Master Ming Yue?" Valley Master Mu asked, his face lighting up.

Qin Sang nodded. "I was delayed too long on the road. I've kept you waiting, Valley Master Mu."

He studied the man covertly. From aura alone, his strength was difficult to gauge.

"Not late at all! What matters is that you've arrived safely," Valley Master Mu said with a hearty laugh. "You're a cautious one, Daoist Master. Had I known, I would have spared myself all those arrangements on Nine-Precept Island!"

"One can't help being careful when traveling abroad. I hope you'll forgive me. Now that I've met you, Daoist Mu, I'm at ease." With that, Qin Sang invited him into the cave dwelling to talk in detail.

After a few pleasantries, the two got down to business.

"Three months ago, my junior sister informed me of your matter through our secret messaging technique... Allow me to ask once more: do you really wish to learn the Spirit Elevation Rite?" Valley Master Mu asked in a low voice.

"I do." Qin Sang nodded. "Whatever conditions you have, name them freely. If it's within my power, I will certainly do my utmost."

Valley Master Mu hesitated briefly. "Since I've troubled you to come all this way, I won't keep you in suspense. It isn't that the Spirit Elevation Art cannot be passed to you, but first I need to confirm one thing. Do you have in your possession a third-metamorphosis Fire Jade Centipede?"

His eyes turned to Qin Sang, full of expectation.

At those words, Qin Sang's heart stirred. So that was it. There was a reason Valley Master Mu had invited him rather than Master Feng, whose relationship with him was far closer, to lend a hand. He had set his sights on the Fire Jade Centipede's treasure-hunting ability.

Treasure hunting, then. What kind of treasure could it be, and what does it have to do with the witch race? Thoughts flashing one after another, Qin Sang readily opened his Spirit Beast Pouch.

The Fire Jade Centipede dropped into his palm, blissfully unaware of the fate ahead, hugging a Fire Smelting Pill and feasting away.

Qin Sang gazed at it with tender affection. "It's for this little fellow's sake that I wish to learn the Spirit Elevation Rite."

Valley Master Mu stared for a moment, then said in delighted surprise, "A Fire Jade Centipede indeed, and on the verge of the late stage of its third metamorphosis! So long as the legends hold true, it should meet the requirements!"

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