Chapter 53: Youshan Market

As Qin Sang stepped off the boat, he felt as if the ground were swaying.

For an entire year, he had lived almost exclusively on the water.

During that time, he had encountered many treacherous stretches of mountains and rivers that required him to disembark and travel on foot. There were also various accidents—wars, water bandits, and floods. He had switched through countless boats, stopping and starting along the way. By the time he reached the Kingdom of Biyun, a full year had passed.

According to Qin Sang's own understanding, he was currently at the mid-stage of the fifth level of the *Nether Scripture*, still a significant distance from breaking through to the sixth level. However, his Soul Pills were running low, and he urgently needed to find Yin-煞 (Yin-煞) Qi or re-collect souls.

Without Soul Pills, Qin Sang had no idea how many years it would take him to break through to the sixth level.

"Guest, just keep heading east from here. It won't take a month to reach Mount You. You can hire a carriage at the pier, but you look like a traveler from afar; you'd better be careful..."

The boatman saw him off with a look of reluctance.

This passenger had left a deep impression on him. After boarding, the man had remained secluded in his cabin and never came out again. He only required the crew to deliver three meals a day, was extremely generous with his spending, and was entirely trouble-free.

As they neared the Kingdom of Biyun, Qin Sang had scouted the area and learned that the location marked on the various nations' cartography maps was near Mount You, the largest mountain range in the kingdom, which perfectly matched the name of the Youshan Market.

Once ashore, Qin Sang immediately spent silver to buy a horse. Traveling day and night and switching horses along the way, he reached the vicinity of Mount You in just five days.

The Mount You mountain range was a massive range, countless times larger than the Guling Mountains; the portion within the borders of the Biyun Kingdom was only a small section. From the local inhabitants, Qin Sang heard many legends regarding Mount You.

At the edge of Mount You, the Jade Disk reacted, automatically emitting a glow to guide the way.

Following the guidance of the Jade Disk, Qin Sang ventured deep into the mountains, crossing peaks and forests, until he came to a halt before a desolate mountain valley.

High peaks rose into the clouds on both sides of the valley, and the entire area was shrouded in thick fog, making its depth impossible to discern. The direction indicated by the Jade Disk lay within that valley.

Qin Sang stood before the valley for a long time, his expression hesitant. He felt that the thick fog within the valley was truly eerie, and more importantly, he could not see through it.

Just then, the thick fog in the valley suddenly surged and rolled.

Qin Sang grew inwardly vigilant. A moment later, the fog parted to the sides, revealing a small path. The sound of footsteps drifted out, followed by the appearance of a man dressed in a long robe.

The robed man walked out briskly. His gaze swept over the area, and upon seeing Qin Sang, he immediately hurried over. With a smile on his face, he bowed deeply and said with exceptional enthusiasm, "This humble one greets the Immortal. Welcome to the Youshan Market. I have possessed a photographic memory since childhood. Seeing that your face is unfamiliar, I presume this is your first time visiting the Youshan Market?"

Seeing Qin Sang nod, the robed man began to boast of his own wares, "Then the Immortal has come to the right place! Our Youshan Market is the largest market in the entire Mount You range. Whether it be magical artifacts, talismans, pills, or incantations, we have everything. Furthermore, many industries belonging to cultivation clans are established within the market. I am certain the Immortal will depart satisfied..."

Qin Sang's expression did not change much as he listened. Instead, he looked at the man with curiosity and couldn't help but ask, "Are you a mortal?"

The robed man flattered him, "The Immortal has keen eyes. This one is indeed a mortal."

Qin Sang asked in confusion, "Then how did you recognize that I am a cultivator?"

The man let out an "oh" and opened his palm, revealing a small, glowing blue disc. "Please look, Immortal. This is a special Dharma Disc refined by my master. It does not require spiritual energy to activate; it simply glows when it approaches an Immortal. That is how I recognized you as a cultivator."

"So it is a Dharma Disc."

Qin Sang showed an expression of realization, but he was secretly pondering.

He had never even heard of such a Dharma Disc. To have something like this while being a mere mortal made him feel like a complete rustic; he would have to broaden his horizons today.

The robed man offered a conciliatory smile and gestured forward. "Please, Immortal."

Qin Sang nodded and took two steps forward before suddenly remembering, "Does your Youshan Market not require tokens of identification?"

The man shook his head. "My master possesses the magnanimity to welcome guests from all over the world, so naturally, he does not set any token requirements. In the future, whenever the Immortal comes here, simply walk in. Once the market's restrictions detect your identity as a cultivator, the fog will disperse on its own, allowing you to come and go as you please."

Qin Sang gave an "oh" and lowered his head to walk forward, though he wondered inwardly: if the Jade Disk was not a token for the Youshan Market, what was its purpose?

According to the direction the Jade Disk pointed, it was indeed inside the market.

Qin Sang intended to fish for more information from the man, but unfortunately, the path was short, and they reached the end in just a few steps.

"Immortal, the market is here. Cultivators are free to trade within the market, but my master has set one rule that I must explain to you first."

The man was very respectful to Qin Sang, but his tone carried a hint of warning. "Regardless of whether the Immortal is a rogue cultivator or a disciple of a great sect, no weapons may be drawn within the market. If the Immortal has a grievance with someone that cannot be reconciled, it must be settled outside the market... This one will not disturb you further."

Before his voice had even faded, the man stepped aside and his figure vanished into the fog.

Having guarded the market gates for many years, the man knew that most cultivators had eccentric temperaments and disliked being disturbed; he was quite self-aware in ceasing his chatter. Little did he know that Qin Sang had been hoping he would say a few more words.

Now that the man was gone, Qin Sang couldn't exactly call him back.

Feeling helpless, Qin Sang looked at the thin layer of mist ahead, composed his expression into that of a calm, peerless expert, and stepped forward, only to be met by a sudden wave of clamor.

Unless one saw it with their own eyes, who would have thought a cultivation market would be as noisy as a mortal bazaar?

The valley was vast, and the entire area had been developed into a market, resembling a mortal city with crisscrossing streets and canals, rows of shops, shaded willow trees, and crowds of people moving to and fro.

Qin Sang learned from the robed man that the market was not composed entirely of cultivators; a large portion were mortals, and cultivators were generally not permitted to strike mortals.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Qin Sang picked his direction and walked into the heart of the market.

As he entered a bluestone street, the crowds noticeably thinned. Aside from cultivators who enjoyed the bustle and kept their shops on the outskirts, most cultivation storefronts were located here.

Mortals did not dare to wander here freely; accidentally offending a cultivator could mean total destruction.

Qin Sang also knew he lacked the capital to be arrogant. He walked low-key through the streets, proactively yielding the way when meeting others, while discreetly observing the surrounding shops.

Much like mortal shops, each storefront hung a banner.

*Treasure Pill Pavilion, Jade Radiance Hall, Famous Sword Tower, Joyous Workshop...*

Some names gave a hint of what they sold, while others left Qin Sang utterly bewildered.