Chapter Fifty-Eight: Pursuit

The sensation of returning to the surface was truly exhilarating; only now did he feel a genuine sense of solidity beneath his feet. Yet there remained an intangible pressure—when would the Bandit God Monarch break free, and would the so-called Thunder God descend in wrath?

But for now, he still had time to strengthen himself. The Bandit God Monarch would not awaken for several thousand years, and the Thunder God was a legendary being, unlikely to pay attention to a minor figure like him.

With this thought, his heart grew lighter. Fortunately, it was nighttime; had he suddenly appeared in the middle of a mundane street during the day, it would have caused a great commotion. It seemed he had already strayed far from the Hu family estate. He should destroy the passageway, then hurry to Mount Five Peaks City to purchase some magical tools to prepare for the upcoming sect competition and obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill. As for the Mountain Shifting Art, he’d decide whether to practice it after the competition.

Resolving the passageway issue was a simple matter for Ge Qian. Burying it posed no difficulty at all. Afterward, he did not travel through the mundane world; with the competition drawing near, he had to prepare early. In a secluded, deserted valley, he mounted his flying sword and soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of light vanishing into the horizon.

In front of the Hundred Treasures Hall of Mount Five Peaks City, a tall, plainly dressed young man approached, a bamboo hat upon his head. It was Ge Qian. He had arrived at Mount Five Peaks City three days earlier and found inexpensive, comfortable lodging in an inn. Then, he took out the three jade slips of the Bandit God Monarch and began a meticulous study.

The more he read, the more awestruck he became. The Bandit God Monarch was indeed a peerless genius, possessed of tremendous wisdom and fortune. He had integrated tens of thousands of spiritual cultivation arts, and after countless millennia of refinement, created the “Divine Tribulation Art.” At once, this stirred up a bloody storm in the Spirit Realm. His art was so domineering and heaven-defying that it attracted the attention of three ancient monsters at the Tribulation Crossing stage. In the end, they employed forbidden arts, harnessing the power of lower-realm laws, to suppress him.

The Bandit God Monarch’s understanding of the Dao was profound, reaching the very edge of the laws themselves. Gaining insight from his experience, Ge Qian felt immensely rewarded. Many mysteries that had previously seemed vague and elusive now became crystal clear.

The deeper mysteries above Foundation Establishment were still beyond his grasp, but as his cultivation advanced, he was certain these insights would bring him great inspiration and guidance. Now, Ge Qian realized how childish and laughable his former pride had been—like a frog at the bottom of a well, suddenly leaping onto a giant’s shoulder and seeing a vaster world.

It was certain: if news spread that Ge Qian had obtained the insights of a Spirit Realm great cultivator, every cultivator at the Spirit Cultivation level in the mortal realm would go mad with envy, and even nine lives would not suffice to protect him. So Ge Qian read the three jade slips a thousand times over, memorized them thoroughly, then burned them to ashes with a fireball to eliminate future troubles.

Only after this did he go to the Hundred Treasures Hall, where he was now well-versed in the process, and naturally sought out the steward, Qiantang. Ge Qian’s bamboo hat did nothing to block spiritual sense, so he simply removed it, sat down, and smiled lightly. “How have you been, Steward Qian?”

Qiantang’s eyes lit up with shock, momentarily speechless. Wasn’t this the naive youth he had once tricked into buying worthless Confucian classics? In his eyes, this young man’s aptitude was so poor as to be unworthy of cultivation, so he had swindled him out of useless items. Could it be that he had truly used those classics to reach the peak of the Qi Absorption stage so quickly? Impossible. Regaining his composure, he said, “Fellow Daoist, you are truly a prodigy. In just a few short years, you’ve cultivated to the pinnacle—surpassing the scions of great families! To have you remember an old friend is a rare honor indeed!”

“It was only a stroke of luck, not worth mentioning,” Ge Qian replied, steering the conversation elsewhere. “To be frank, I’m here to sell some magical tools and purchase treasures that can conceal my presence or suppress my cultivation. Do you have anything of that sort?”

Qiantang did not press further—every cultivator has secrets, and it was reasonable for Ge Qian to keep his own. “You’re a straightforward man, and business is business. Show me your goods, and I’ll tell you how many spirit stones they’re worth.”

Ge Qian tossed over a storage pouch, then waited in silence for his response.

With a sweep of his spiritual sense, Qiantang shivered. The pouch contained a random assortment of magical tools—twenty in all. For someone to sell so many, he had to be either a master craftsman or someone who killed and robbed for a living. If all these belonged to him alone, he was not to be trifled with. Even if not, he must have powerful accomplices. Either way, Qiantang dared not offend him.

“Since you’re a returning customer, I’ll offer seven thousand three hundred spirit stones for these. If you’re not satisfied, you’re welcome to inquire elsewhere.”

Ge Qian cursed inwardly. These shady goods could hardly be advertised openly. He replied coolly, “Deal. As for the items I mentioned—do you have any powerful offensive treasures, talismans, or the like?”

Qiantang plastered on a businesslike smile. “Powerful magical tools are hard to come by, as their prices are quite high. However, I do have a talisman treasure—three thousand spirit stones. As for treasures that conceal presence, there’s one called the Shadow Cloak. Unless faced with a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it cannot be seen through, but it consumes a great deal of spiritual power when used—four thousand spirit stones. As for advanced techniques, I’m afraid I have nothing too profound. Will the talisman treasure and Shadow Cloak suffice?”

A true merchant, Qiantang had calculated Ge Qian’s spirit stones and matched them to the goods almost perfectly.

Ge Qian nodded. “Agreed. Use the remaining spirit stones to buy cinnabar and talisman paper.”

Qiantang immediately produced a palm-sized talisman, covered in countless runes, forming a fire crow. He also handed over a thin black robe, hooded from head to foot, whose material was unidentifiable, and a storage pouch—certainly containing cinnabar and talisman paper.

Ge Qian examined the items. Finding nothing amiss, he stowed them away. “It’s always a pleasure to do business with you, Steward Qian. Unless there’s further business, I’ll take my leave.”

“Not at all, not at all! I look forward to our next pleasant transaction.” Qiantang’s smile was wide, but a hint of cold cunning flashed in his eyes.

Leaving the Hundred Treasures Hall, Ge Qian did not linger. He left the city and returned directly to the Celestial Star Sect.

A hundred miles from Mount Five Peaks City, in a remote gorge, Ge Qian paused mid-air on his sword. Turning, he sneered coldly, “Steward Qian, you’ve followed me long enough. Isn’t it time you showed yourself?”

A flash of spiritual light revealed Qiantang’s corpulent form, his face pale. “You’re truly remarkable, Fellow Daoist. I spent a fortune for this invisibility talisman, and cultivators below Foundation Establishment shouldn’t be able to detect me. How did you notice?”

Ge Qian’s expression grew colder. “Because my eyes are keen. When we parted ways, your gaze gave you away. Though you hid it well, my experience far surpasses yours. I’ve benefited greatly from studying the Confucian classics, after all. So I deliberately lured you here, using words to provoke you—and you truly revealed yourself.”