Chapter 155: Traveling with a Nascent Soul Cultivator

No matter how mysterious a stone may be, it ultimately nurtures the extremely Yin spiritual marrow within. As one of the world's most supreme Yin treasures, perhaps some gifted cultivators possess keen appraisal techniques capable of seeing through the treasures inside.

Even looking at the Yin stone itself alone, for those who practice malevolent Yin Dao techniques or refine malevolent Yin magical treasures, no matter what is unsealed from within—be it rare heavenly materials, earthly treasures, or Yin corpses and Yin ghosts—it would be immensely beneficial.

Or perhaps.

The person trailing behind was not paying attention to any exotic stones at all, but was instead interested in Adept Baoyi or Jiang Min herself.

All kinds of possibilities existed.

The reason Jiang Min was able to perceive this was naturally not a guess, nor was it sensed by her own ability, but rather relied on the peach branch. It had seemed just now that a powerful and concealed divine sense had deliberately swept across her, which was why the peach branch detected it.

Just as she was preparing to say she would send a message to True Monarch Guanqi, Baoyi calmly and reassuringly said, "Little friend need not worry. Within the boundaries of Blazing Sun City, several spiritual mine chambers of commerce have dispatched Nascent Soul cultivators to patrol and guard, strictly prohibiting cultivators from seizing and intercepting goods. Otherwise, once order falls into chaos, they will no longer be able to conduct business normally."

"You also need not blame yourself. I was entrusted by my master to bring you to Blazing Sun Plain. If this prevents you from even daring to purchase items, how can we speak of the hospitality of Ghost Howl Mountain?"

"Such trivial matters do not require alarming True Monarch Guanqi. I will safely escort you back."

Adept Baoyi remained poised and composed, her tone smiling, still maintaining that unhurried, gentle voice. Like a spring breeze brushing past, hearing it brought peace to the heart. She seemed to possess a certain confidence that no matter what trouble the two of them encountered, she could properly resolve it.

Jiang Min began to grow curious as to how Adept Baoyi would handle this matter.

"Thank you for your trouble, Adept."

Baoyi smiled and said, "It is still relatively safe inside Blazing Sun City, but once we step outside of Blazing Sun City, no one will care whether we live or die. We can continue browsing the market, and before we leave, I will take my little friend to the Blazing Sun Chamber of Commerce once more."

Go to the Blazing Sun Chamber of Commerce once more?

Jiang Min made a slight guess, yet she could not fathom Adept Baoyi's course of action; the truth would only be revealed when the time came.

A day later.

Having finished exploring Blazing Sun City, Jiang Min accompanied Adept Baoyi back to the Blazing Sun Chamber of Commerce. Baoyi had someone pass a message to Wan Jinshan, requesting an audience.

After waiting for a moment in the tea room, Wan Jinshan appeared and asked with a puzzled expression, "Does Worthy Niece Baoyi have any other important business?"

"My master and several friends have organized a small trading gathering for Nascent Soul cultivators. She specifically instructed this junior, before leaving Blazing Sun Plain, to hand this invitation to True Monarch and invite True Monarch to accompany this junior to the trading location."

Adept Baoyi produced an invitation and presented it to Wan Jinshan with both hands. It bore the personal handwriting of Elder Ghost Mountain, and the intended invitee was none other than the ancient Wan clan of Blazing Sun.

Standing slightly behind Adept Baoyi to the side, Jiang Min watched this scene with endless amazement, sighing inwardly.

"Adept Baoyi's actions on this trip have been truly thorough. She arranges everything in advance, ensuring that all parties can reap benefits."

"With a Nascent Soul cultivator traveling alongside us, how could there be any talk of danger? To take a step back, even if an accident truly occurred while traveling together, the responsibility could still be partially assigned to the Blazing Sun Chamber of Commerce!"

Wan Jinshan took the invitation and inspected its contents. It was indeed written in Elder Ghost Mountain's own hand, the brushstrokes flying like dragons and snakes, with a unique and fierce murderous aura permeating between the lines.

A subtle ripple stirred in his heart.

Why would an invitation not be given upon first meeting, but only handed over when leaving? Furthermore, even if he were invited to attend, stating the location would have sufficed; why bother having a disciple lead the way, considering that the traveling speed of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is incomparably slow in the eyes of a Nascent Soul cultivator?

I am afraid she bought something and was targeted by someone, so she dares not leave Blazing Sun City!

Having engaged in commerce for hundreds of years, Wan Jinshan had seen such matters countless times. Some powerful cultivators who had already formed their Nascent Soul were even unwilling to spend their own money to purchase items, preferring instead to eye the fine treasures bought by weak cultivators. Even if they resorted to robbery and murder, who could possibly interfere?

Even their mercantile endeavors had to rely on a powerful backing just to manage to conduct business in peace.

Understanding Baoyi's intent, he revealed a hint of a kindly smile and said, "I appreciate Fellow Daoist Ghost Mountain's kind intentions, but I have been recently occupied with this spiritual mine gathering and truly cannot break away."

"How about this? I shall send a message to my cousin Junxin, asking her to go in my stead. Coincidentally, there are some treasures I have wished to trade for many years but sought in vain, so I will entrust Cousin Junxin to inquire about them at the trading assembly on my behalf."

Baoyi quickly cupped her fists and smiled, saying, "If Senior Junxin is able to go, my master will certainly be very pleased."

"I will go find Cousin Junxin and relay this matter. Let the two worthy nieces wait here for a moment." With that, Wan Jinshan left the tea room.

Once Wan Jinshan had departed, Jiang Min finally asked, "Adept, who was that senior?"

"A Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Blazing Sun Wan clan, named Wan Junxin. She can be considered a member of the Wan clan who shares a close relationship with Chamber President Wan," Adept Baoyi answered tactfully.

Upon her arrival, Jiang Min had already learned from Baoyi that the ancient Wan clan of Blazing Sun had engaged in commerce for generations, sending forth a Nascent Soul cultivator every fifty years to walk the mortal world as their spokesperson.

The current spokesperson was Wan Jinshan, while that Nascent Soul cultivator named Wan Junxin was presumably the successor whom Wan Jinshan favored and trusted... Beyond that, it likely involved the internal power struggles within the Wan family.

About half an hour later.

The doors of the tea room swung open. Jiang Min and Baoyi stood up and looked toward the entrance as a woman dressed in a dark purple long dress with her hair styled in a matron's bun stepped inside. She appeared to be in her thirties by mortal standards, her eyes bright and piercing with a hidden sharpness—at a glance, she was clearly a person of immense decisiveness and action. Upon seeing the two of them, she immediately smiled.

"Niece Baoyi, Cousin Jinshan has already spoken to me about the situation. It has been a long time since I last saw Fellow Daoist Ghost Mountain; I wonder if Fellow Daoist Ghost Mountain will welcome my visit?"

"Greetings, True Monarch. What are you saying? My master would welcome you with open arms," Baoyi replied with a smile.

As Jiang Min bowed in salute alongside Adept Baoyi, Wan Junxin turned her gaze toward her. Lifting a hand, she used spiritual energy to gently support Jiang Min's arms from afar, smiling kindly. "This little girl must be True Monarch Guanqi's prized disciple, Yunyao, right? Hearing of you a hundred times does not compare to seeing you once; you are indeed young and promising. To reach your level as a five-element root cultivator is truly rare to behold."

"You flatter me, True Monarch," Jiang Min replied with a look of modesty.

Wan Junxin smiled and continued, "If you have no other matters, we may set off now."

Upon stepping out of Blazing Sun City, Baoyi once again produced a small flying boat equipped with cabins, inviting Wan Junxin to enter and rest inside while she and Jiang Min sat on the deck to converse.

The flying boat soared high into the air.

Heading all the way southwest, they flew directly toward the location of the Nascent Soul gathering.

After traveling a hundred miles, Wan Junxin, who had been sitting cross-legged with closed eyes inside the cabin, suddenly opened her eyes, and then slowly closed them once more. Nothing had happened.

With Wan Junxin traveling alongside them, the journey was extremely smooth, and not a single mishap occurred along the way.

A day later.

The flying boat landed in a valley rich in spiritual energy and endowed with wondrous natural beauty. Vast spiritual fields were cultivated across the valley floor, forming endless waves of emerald that undulated continuously under the mountain breeze.

Elder Ghost Mountain, having received the message long ago, stood personally by the edge of a clear stream. As the flying boat landed, Wan Junxin stepped down and engaged in a warm exchange of pleasantries with her.

After the pleasantries, Elder Ghost Mountain turned to Adept Baoyi and instructed, "Baoyi, take your fellow initiate nephew Yunyao to rest in Hundred Flower Gourd, and go directly to Jiuling's disciple Mengtai. He knows how to make the arrangements."

She then gestured an invitation toward Wan Junxin and said earnestly, "The banquet is within the mountain. Please move this way, Fellow Daoist Wan."

Once the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs had departed, Baoyi looked at Jiang Min and said, "This place is some distance away from Ghost Howl Mountain. We will borrow this place to rest for a few days while we wait for the True Monarchs to conclude their gathering."

Jiang Min nodded, "I defer to the Adept's arrangements."

"Follow me."

Adept Baoyi flew toward Hundred Flower Gourd. Jiang Min manipulated a small flying sword, closely following behind her. As her gaze fell upon the picturesque scenery of the valley, she thought to herself.

"Once this Nascent Soul gathering concludes, I should be able to return to Taiji Mountain with Master and enter seclusion to cultivate diligently for a time."

With only seven years remaining until the Nine Sects Dao Discussion, she needed to raise her cultivation realm as quickly as possible.

Before the proud sons of heaven from the nine major sects, a cultivation base at the early stage of Foundation Establishment was simply not enough...