Refining the Mountains and Rivers

The Equipment Sect’s response was quick. Just after the sun crossed the top of the skies at noon, a red-eyed and exhausted Muli and Hai Mingwei stumbled into the VIP lounge. They saw Qin Yu and said, “The Equipment Sect will agree to your transaction. The projection needs time to be prepared; it will arrive late tonight at the latest.”

Muli wanted to say something but hesitated, his eyes a bit ill at ease. Qin Yu slowly shook his head and said, “I’m sorry, but I must obtain the projection of the treasure first before I can give the scales to you two.”

“You have the heart of a scoundrel!” Muli’s expression immediately darkened.

Although Hai Mingwei was disappointed, he became much calmer. “Of course you can do that.”

As the two turned and walked out, the gloomy expression on Muli’s face disappeared. He asked in a low voice, “Elder Hai, don’t you think the voice of that black-robed cultivator sounds a bit familiar?”

Hai Mingwei rubbed his temples. “There are trillions upon trillions of people living in this world and how many of them sound the same? We have no idea who he is – isn’t this the cold hard facts?”

Muli smiled. “That’s right, we have no idea who he is.”

The two looked at each other and could see the comfort in the other’s eyes. Luckily, the transaction would happen tonight. If it was any later and those old fellows from the sect arrived, they would likely rather toss away these incomparably precious scales to stop this transaction from going through.

As for what happened in the future, if the Equipment Sect found out the truth and whether there would be trouble after they found out, that was something for later; there was no need to worry about it now. Moreover, rice that was cooked could no longer be uncooked. Even if the sect found out, they could only help to conceal the truth.

After all, while the colossus known as the Immortal Sect was an extremely great distance away and the Equipment Sect was in close contact with the Demonic Path, if there was no need to provoke them then it was best not to provoke them.

As the night darkened, Qin Yu finally obtained his goal for this venture out – it was a foot-sized stone mountain with a dark surface and nothing noticeable about it at all. But when he grabbed it in his hands he could feel that this common-looking stone mountain actually contained a tyrannical energy.

This was clearly just a phantom, but when it fell in his hands it was as solid as gold. And, the most terrifying thing was that when his divine sense approached it, his divine sense felt as if it were caught in a muddy swamp. The invisible world rules in the area surrounding the stone mountain had actually been changed.

If this phantom could alter the rules, the might of its main body could be imagined. It was no wonder the Equipment Sect went to such lengths in order to conceal its existence. If this treasure were exposed to the outside world, it would draw countless covetous gazes.

Muli coldly said, “You must make a vow that you will never tell a second person about what happens today, otherwise you will never be able to reach the Great Dao!” For different people, the constraints of this oath were not the same. As for Qin Yu, it was the most appropriate vow.

As a cultivator of the Ancient Perishment Decree and also a peerless pride of heaven who had broken through the Mirage King Bead, he undoubtedly chased towards the distant Great Dao. This was without doubt.

Qin Yu wasn’t surprised that the Equipment Sect discovered his identity; this was something he already intended for them to know. That was because in a transaction between two sides, both had to be on the same level or at least on levels not too far apart. Otherwise, this equal transaction might become a one-sided looting.

His status was high enough for the Equipment Sect to take this matter seriously and not develop any random hazardous thoughts. Although Qin Yu didn’t fear them, he didn’t want to be troubled by these matters, so if he could avoid them he would try his best to do so.

He easily and simply made the oath without any hesitation at all. Muli’s complexion relaxed and he put out his hand, “Give me the scales.”

Qin Yu flicked his sleeves and 60 scales appeared. He sincerely said, “There is one extra scale; consider that a token of my gratitude. I have troubled Elder Muli today.”

Elder Muli looked deeply at Qin Yu for a moment. Then he flicked his sleeves, taking the scales and walking away.

Qin Yu carefully probed the black stone mountain in his hands. Then, with a thought, the stone mountain disappeared, turning into a small mountain-shaped phantom that hovered in his palm. He pushed open the door to see the greeter respectfully bowing to him. He was led out of Equipment Pagoda, and as the anxiously waiting Ning Rufeng and Ning Liang saw him, they immediately relaxed.

After boarding the speedcar and driving away from Equipment Pagoda, Qin Yu pulled down his hood and cupped his hands together. “This time, I must thank old master Ning.”

These words caused Ning Rufeng to brightly smile. It was clear that Qin Yu had achieved his goal. “There is no need for Grand Authority Qin to speak so politely. I merely provided information. To borrow the treasure of the Equipment Sect was based on your own abilities.”

Qin Yu smiled, not saying much else. Although Ning Rufeng was correct, if he didn’t have this information to begin with, even if he had endless methods his efforts would have all been in vain.

A favor was a favor. He would remember this.

They stopped a distance away from the Dao Arena. Qin Yu put his black robe back on and stepped out, blending into the shadows. He smoothly returned to the Dao Arena. Without delay, he directly summoned the purpleback bluewing ants. Then, he lifted his hand and the black mountain phantom in his palm flew up. It grew as it hovered in the air, quickly expanding to a thousand feet in size.

Fortunately, Qin Yu had already expected this and chose a very large and open area, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to do anything at all. With a sharp hum, the aura of the black  mountain phantom suddenly erupted. The rules of the world changed and countless runes with suppressing sealing strength seemed to pour out like in a torrential storm!

This wild sealing strength pierced into the bodies of the purpleback bluewing ants as if they had a mind of their own. Then, it soared towards the fragments of the Ancestral Monster’s undying will hiding in their bodies.

Hum –

The phantom of a rabbit appeared below the black stone mountain. At this time, the rabbit looked up. Its eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of time and its cute anchor-like mouth emitted an unspeakable dignity at this moment.

“Haha, you actually found this treasure. Brat, your luck is good, but at most it can only give you two more months.” The rabbit phantom smirked. “Trust me, to have the Soul Summoning Bell recognize a master isn’t simple at all.”

After finishing speaking, the rabbit phantom vanished, turning into sparkling stars that submerged into the bodies of the purpleback bluewing ant once more.

Qin Yu had a cloudy expression. But, he soon took a deep breath and suppressed these thoughts. Two months. This result was already better than what he expected. Right now he was only missing one more soul treasure. He didn’t believe he would fail here!

“It spoke correctly. Little master, if you want the Soul Summoning Bell to recognize you as master, that will be very difficult.” The shadows below Qin Yu wriggled and Undying quietly crept out. He looked up at the black stone mountain up above and revealed a look of praise. “What a good treasure. What a pity this is only a phantom. If you could obtain the main body, its uses would be infinitely wondrous.”

Qin Yu turned his head, “Why?”

Undying shrugged his shoulders, not caring about Qin Yu’s directness. “This is just how the rules are – however heaven-defying the Soul Summoning Bell is, that is how difficult it will be for it to recognize a master, mm…this is the so-called ‘equivalent exchange’. Although that might not be the exact phrasing, it’s the approximate reasoning.”

Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows. But before he could contemplate it further, Undying continued to say, “The reason I came out today is not to attack little master’s confidence. Rather, there is something important that I must caution you of as your servant.”

Undying’s voice became dignified. “Someone is targeting you. It was on the road back to the Dao Arena. This person hid themselves very well; they almost managed to conceal themselves from me.”

Qin Yu’s heart chilled. “Who is it?”

“I have no idea. I only sensed a trace of aura they left behind. But, there is one thing I am sure of…this person is very, very strong, so strong that you have no chance of resisting him at all. This person seems to have some scruples. He is clearly able to easily capture you, but he eventually chose to go into hiding.”

Qin Yu frowned. The reason that this person didn’t do anything was likely because they feared the Master of the Dao Arena. He absolutely could not use the identity of Qin Yu any longer. Once he finished his task here, he would need to find some way to withdraw.

“Undying, you will need to pay more attention in the future. If this person appears again, immediately tell me!”

Undying bowed. “Of course. I do not want my little master to be killed by anyone.”

He turned and melted back into the shadows.

Qin Yu glanced at the purpleback bluewing ants beneath the black stone mountain. After thinking for a moment, he turned and left in a hurry.

To Undying, a black shadow was a kingdom of eternal darkness. And of this kingdom of deathly stillness that had no life at all, he was the sovereign king.

At this moment, Undying was sitting upon a throne condensed from pure darkness. His hand was placed beneath his chin as if he were considering something. After a long moment of contemplation, he lightly sighed and flicked his sleeves. The darkness tumbled and calmly separated into two sides, revealing stone steps that led to somewhere unknown.

Undying walked down these stone steps. It was a long, long road. After an unknown period of time, he appeared in front of an extremely vast and broad underground palace. This palace was almost empty, with only a single altar contained inside, one that was congealed from the power of darkness. Flickering lights shined from the center of the altar, the only light in this darkness.

Chains condensed from the power of darkness tightly wound around Spirity’s body, outlining her perfect curves. Her fair skin was as pure as snow. It was just that this incomparable paleness gave off a soul-stirring and thrilling sense of transparent esthetic beauty.