The Nascent Soul looked like a two-year-old child, but his bodily proportions were those of a normal adult. Strangely, he had two snow-white longevity eyebrows that trailed below the corners of his eyes. His heart armor was the same lovely blue as the hall, and he held a slender hairpin in his hand as he regarded Li Qiang with suspicion.
Li Qiang simply sat down on the floor. "I'm exhausted. Let's chat. Is there anyone else here?" He looked completely relaxed.
The Nascent Soul shook his head. "No. I've been trapped in this Star-Extinction Grand Formation for a very long time." His expression grew bleak.
"Hey, you still haven't told me your name. I've already told you mine. I'll be getting a terrible bargain if you don't tell me yours." Li Qiang deliberately kept his tone light. He knew this Nascent Soul was the key to escaping the formation. Inside, he was deeply anxious, worrying about Zhao Hao's and Mei Jingjing's safety.
The Nascent Soul sat cross-legged at the entrance to another passage, though he was actually floating in midair. It looked as though he could flee down the passage behind him immediately if anything went wrong.
He seemed to have been lonely for a very long time. The chance to converse with someone held an irresistible attraction for him.
"Ah, I've forgotten my own name. Just call me Mo Huaiyuan. My name stopped mattering long ago, anyway."
"Mo Huaiyuan, Mo Huaiyuan." After murmuring it twice, Li Qiang suddenly understood: he was reminding himself not to dwell on the past. A powerful surge of sympathy rose in his heart.
Mo Huaiyuan sensed that emotion almost immediately. He floated closer to where Li Qiang sat, his guard considerably lowered.
"How long have you been in this Star-Extinction Grand Formation? Who built this place?"
Mo Huaiyuan pondered for a moment. "A very long time ago-I no longer know how long-I came to this planet. At the time, it seemed no one else had ever been here. I wandered around this planet for a long time."
Li Qiang interrupted. "You didn't find any traces of other people when you came to this planet?"
When Mo Huaiyuan nodded, Li Qiang was astonished. How long ago had that been? Surely at least several thousand years.
Mo Huaiyuan continued, "By chance, I discovered this Star-Extinction Grand Formation left behind by an ancient immortal. It was also that ancient immortal's residence. Afraid other cultivators might discover it, I laid a Star-Density Grand Formation over it and thought I was safe. Who could have known-ah, one mistaken thought!" The enormous contrast between his thin, delicate voice and his seasoned manner gave Li Qiang an extremely strange feeling.
"What mistaken thought?" Li Qiang asked curiously.
Mo Huaiyuan looked at him and suddenly said, "How did that mass of Brilliant Swift Heavenly Fire in the Heavenly Fire Palace feel earlier? I truly can't understand it. Your cultivation level doesn't look high, so why were you unharmed, and why did your cultivation grow so rapidly? Without that, you couldn't have caught that Supreme Radiance Shuttle, either."
Li Qiang started. "You saw everything?" Then he added, "I don't know what happened, either. Perhaps I was just lucky."
Mo Huaiyuan shook his head. "No. I noticed you when you triggered the Tide Sound Formation, then checked the Soul Shadow Crystal Ball to find out what had happened. I had just stopped the Tide Sound Formation when I saw you actually attempting to enter the Cosmic Azure Field Grand Formation. I had no choice but to show myself and stop you."
He sighed and continued, "You really are a lucky lad. Back then, I merely brushed against the Brilliant Swift Heavenly Fire, and my original body turned to ashes. If my Nascent Soul hadn't already reached the Mahayana realm-ah, I wouldn't have had to endure all these lonely years."
Full of questions, Li Qiang asked, "Why don't you leave the formation? Can't you get out? Hasn't a single cultivator come here in all this time?" Then he thanked him. "I really must thank you for stopping that Tide Sound Formation. I couldn't have held on much longer."
Hearing the sincerity in Li Qiang's words, Mo Huaiyuan smiled faintly for the first time. "It was nothing. At first, I was afraid cultivators would break in, but as time passed, I wanted someone to come more and more. You have no idea-there isn't even a single living creature in this damned place." The feeling in his voice was heartbreaking.
A chill swept through Li Qiang's heart. Mo Huaiyuan had been here for several thousand years and still hadn't managed to leave. What was he himself going to do? Zhao Hao and Mei Jingjing must be frantic outside.
Seeing Li Qiang's anxiety and doubts, Mo Huaiyuan smiled bitterly. "Don't worry. I can take you out."
"Really!" Li Qiang leaped up from the floor and flew over to hug Mo Huaiyuan, jumping and cheering at the top of his voice. "Wonderful! Wonderful! You're amazing!"
Caught off guard by Li Qiang's embrace, Mo Huaiyuan was scared nearly out of his soul. But he immediately felt Li Qiang's joy without the slightest signal of danger, so he relaxed and quietly put away the hairpin in his hand.
"Hey, if you can leave, why are you still here? Come with me this time," Li Qiang said, taking it for granted.
Mo Huaiyuan asked in puzzlement, "Do you really not know, or are you pretending?"
Li Qiang was bewildered. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"
Seeing that he really seemed not to understand, Mo Huaiyuan explained, "A Nascent Soul is purely a body of concentrated essence and power. Apart from a suit of heart armor for protection, it's extremely fragile. If a malicious cultivator traps one in a Soul Refining Formation to cultivate with it, its fate is truly miserable. Though I've cultivated safely here for a long time, I still have a Nascent Soul body. And the higher my cultivation, the more likely cultivators are to covet me. After thinking it over, I decided I might as well keep living here."
"Oh, I see. Isn't there any other way?"
"There is!" Mo Huaiyuan smiled bitterly. "Unfortunately, while I still had my original body, I never took it seriously. Only after losing that body did I realize how important it was. Perhaps I thought I was already powerful enough back then and didn't need to prepare that thing. Now it's too late for regrets."
"What is it? If I can manage it, I'll help you get it." Li Qiang thought, For stopping the Tide Sound Formation and taking me out alone, I have to help him.
Mo Huaiyuan had not expected Li Qiang to say such a thing. An excitement he had not felt for a very, very long time welled up inside him. Whether Li Qiang could do it or not, just hearing him volunteer to help without a moment's hesitation moved him deeply. "It's called sea agate. I don't know where to find it, either, but long ago, I heard someone say it came from a place called the Sea of Wronged Souls. It's a secretion from a kind of deep-sea monster."
Li Qiang thought, Once I see Big Brother Fu Shan, he might know. No matter what, I have to find a way to get this sea agate so he can leave this place. He smiled. "Good. As long as we know its name, we can always find a way to locate it. Why is this sea agate so important to a Nascent Soul?"
"Because sea agate can help a Nascent Soul that has cultivated for over a thousand years ascend to become a Loose Immortal. Though one can't become a true immortal, it's still a step beyond cultivators." Mo Huaiyuan sighed. "Actually, becoming a Loose Immortal isn't important. What I want most is to go outside and see whether those good cultivator friends of mine are still around."
Li Qiang pointed at the cloud table in the center of the hall. "Is there a formation between those pillars, too?"
"That's the formation's core, the most formidable part of the entire formation. I've tested it countless times. This is the only formation I can't break. It's simply too complicated and dangerous. If you'd gone in just now, even I couldn't have saved you."
Li Qiang stuck out his tongue in fright. "Didn't you say it yourself? I'm a lucky lad."
"Come, I'll show you around."
Mo Huaiyuan flew slowly ahead, explaining the Star-Extinction Grand Formation to Li Qiang.
The true name of this ancient immortal's residence was the Star Palace. It was arranged in the pattern of nine stars, and the formations and traps inside were extraordinarily powerful. Every passage contained them. The Tide Sound Formation Li Qiang had encountered, for instance, might have trapped him until he died if Mo Huaiyuan had not stopped it. When he had fallen into it, the formation had only just activated, yet its power was already astonishing.
The Star Palace had nine halls in all. The four inner palaces were the Heavenly Fire Palace, Heavenly Thunder Palace, Heavenly Water Palace, and Heavenly Cloud Palace. The five outer palaces were the Clear Heart Palace, Dispel Desire Palace, All Is Empty Palace, Tranquility Palace, and Attain the Dao Palace. Their unparalleled wonders opened Li Qiang's eyes.
Worried about Zhao Hao and Niuniu, and knowing it would take dozens of days to see the entire Star Palace, Li Qiang told Mo Huaiyuan about his situation.
Mo Huaiyuan thought for a moment. "Brother, I won't stop you from leaving, but I have some Law Treasures to give you. Stay a little longer and refine them first. Otherwise, what will you do if you encounter your enemies outside?"
"You're giving me Law Treasures?" Li Qiang was rather surprised.
"Hehe, I have no use for them in this underground palace. Besides, you'll be helping me search for sea agate. How could you do that without some decent Law Treasures?" Mo Huaiyuan said happily.
Li Qiang really was rather pitiful. Since being separated from Fu Shan, he had only refined three weapons himself, and two had been destroyed. He could be said never to have possessed a single good Law Treasure.
Mo Huaiyuan said, "The Supreme Radiance Shuttle you obtained in the Heavenly Fire Palace is an immortal weapon. You must refine it here until your spirit and the weapon become one. At the very least, you need to merge it into your Nascent Soul. Otherwise, it will be far too easy to arouse other cultivators' greed."
Mo Huaiyuan first taught him how to refine the Supreme Radiance Shuttle.
The Supreme Radiance Shuttle, just three inches long, had been refined using the immortals' Heavenly Fire Purification Method. Even Mo Huaiyuan was unclear about its true functions. Refining it was easy enough, however, and Li Qiang's Chongxuan Sect also had unique methods and secrets for crafting and refining artifacts.
It required using his own Nascent Soul to refine the Supreme Radiance Shuttle. After a day, Li Qiang managed the initial step of drawing it into his Nascent Soul's body.
Mo Huaiyuan said, "You can refine it further when you have time. Remember, whatever you do, don't use it before you've thoroughly refined it." Seeing Li Qiang's anxiety, he added, "I have some little trinkets for you, too. You have a storage bracelet, don't you? Put them all inside and use them at your leisure."
Li Qiang was quite startled when he received these so-called little trinkets. They included battle armor, weapons, spirit pills, jade talismans, and more.
Mo Huaiyuan took out a strangely shaped bracelet. "This Radiant Sun Ring is a protective item I used in the past and later refined again. It should be quite useful to you. Your cultivation is still relatively weak, so you'll be better off with this to protect you. The other items are all recorded in this Jade Pupil Slip. You can look them up at your leisure. Also, whether or not you find sea agate in the future, come keep me company when you have time." His delicate, childish voice held a note of sadness.
Li Qiang said, "All right. I'll definitely come back to keep you company. You must wait for me."
Hovering in the air, Li Qiang faced a difficulty: which direction was the right one? Wilderness stretched all around, without a single person in sight.
He rose higher and looked around. There seemed to be a town far in the distance, so Li Qiang flew toward it.
Only when he approached did he realize it was Panshi Town, which he had visited before. It was already dusk as he strolled into town. Many traveling merchants were arriving, and the little town was entering its busiest time again.
When he reached the Hundred Flavors Tower, Li Qiang felt a little wistful. Last time, several of them had been chatting and laughing together. Now he was all alone.
The waiter immediately greeted Li Qiang warmly. "How many in your party, sir?"
Not in the mood to speak, Li Qiang raised one finger. The waiter called out, "One returning guest! This way, please!"
Upstairs, he found a seat by the window. Dusk had only just fallen, and there were still few customers; most seats were empty. He casually ordered a few dishes and began waiting. He knew that whenever a large caravan arrived in Panshi Town, its leading figures usually came to the Hundred Flavors Tower to eat and drink. That would let him find a suitable caravan.
Li Qiang had already agreed with Zhao Hao that, if they became separated, they would wait in Crushed Stone City on the Qingfeng Kingdom's border. His problem was that he didn't know the way. He could only find a caravan heading there. It would be slower, but at least he wouldn't take needless detours.
More customers arrived, and the restaurant soon grew lively. Li Qiang pricked up his ears to eavesdrop, but after listening for quite a while, he still had no useful information. He beckoned the waiter over and took out two taels of silver. "Brother, I have a question for you." Handing over the silver, he asked, "Are there any caravans here bound for Crushed Stone City in the Qingfeng Kingdom?"
The waiter smiled, nodding and bowing. "Thank you for your generosity, sir. I'll ask around and report back."
Before long, the waiter ran back. "Sir, I found out. The head caravan master of the Feng Caravan is in the private room next door. They're going to Crushed Stone City."
Li Qiang said, "Take me to meet them."
Entering the private room, the waiter gave a fawning smile. "Master Feng, a gentleman has come to visit you."
Li Qiang carefully studied the head caravan master. He was about fifty, with wrinkles carved into his face as though by knives and axes, keen eyes, and a full beard running into his sideburns that had begun to turn white. He sat ramrod straight. One glance was enough to tell he was a skilled martial artist.
"My surname is Feng-Feng Renjian. What can I do for you, young brother?" A man who had traveled far and wide, he spoke with great frankness.
His voice rang like a bronze bell, and Li Qiang took a liking to him. Smiling, he said, "Sorry to disturb you. My surname is Li, Li Qiang. Is your caravan going to Crushed Stone City? I'd like to travel with you so we can look out for one another. Here are fifty taels of fine silver for my share of the expenses. What do you think?"
Feng Renjian looked Li Qiang over and found him quite agreeable. After briefly consulting the other men at the table, he smiled. "All right. Everyone runs into difficulties away from home. We'll set off together tomorrow. Come, sit down and have a drink." He was indeed straightforward and decisive, though the silver also played a part. Li Qiang had offered far too much.
Feng Renjian then introduced the other four men at the table: Zhang Yunbo, Ma Jingning, Yuan Cheng, and Yuan Zhong. All four were caravan masters.
Early the next morning, the caravan set off.
Li Qiang kept a very low profile and seldom spoke along the way. The caravan's people paid little attention to him, either. Only Feng Renjian and Ma Jingning frequently exchanged a few words with him.
In fact, Li Qiang was constantly studying the texts in the Jade Pupil Slip. Mo Huaiyuan had given him many jade talismans, and they interested him greatly. He considered them very useful things: not only cultivators but ordinary people could use them.
These jade talismans were about the size of a finger, long, narrow, and very thin, with different colors and uses. They could be used for attacks, and there were many kinds for that purpose alone, such as lightning jade talismans, blazing fire jade talismans, and explosive jade talismans. They could also provide protection, with protective jade talismans, blocking jade talismans, and many other varieties.
Li Qiang was interested in how to make them. He certainly wasn't lonely on the journey. He learned most of the refinement methods recorded in the Jade Pupil Slip, and learning how to make jade talismans in particular was an especially great gain.
That day, they entered the Qingfeng Kingdom.
Ma Jingning smiled. "Brother Li, have you been to the Qingfeng Kingdom before?"
Ma Jingning was a middle-aged man, worldly-wise, fond of making friends, and widely knowledgeable. Ever since Li Qiang joined the caravan, he had noticed something unusual about him. His eye was indeed discerning. Whenever he had free time, he struck up a conversation with Li Qiang, and the two gradually became familiar. Feng Renjian, on the other hand, was responsible for the entire caravan and was far too busy to spare Li Qiang much attention beyond a few brief greetings.
Li Qiang smiled. "Brother Ma, I've never been there. Is there anything special about the Qingfeng Kingdom compared with the three kingdoms of the Green Basin?"
"It's a completely different country, with very peculiar customs. All the men wear a long braid, and even their etiquette is different. It's strange beyond description. Their unmarried girls and young wives are quite uninhibited, rather like the women of the Litang Kingdom-bold and fiery."
Li Qiang thought, Isn't that how the Manchus dressed during the Qing dynasty? Interesting.
Ma Jingning pointed at a caravan driver. "Old Qian, tighten the load on that camel-horse. It's about to fall off. How many times have I told you? Why aren't you more careful?"
Old Qian grinned cheekily. "Sure, boss. Why are you always finding fault with me? When we reach the city tomorrow, I'll treat you. We'll pick a lovely, fresh-looking woman to cool your fire. What do you all say?"
That topic immediately enlivened the caravan. Someone said, "Exactly! The boss has been running hot these past few days. One woman won't be enough. At least two, one in front and one behind. Tsk, tsk!"
Another man chimed in, "Brother, stop talking. You're drooling already. You like tender young things, but the boss has no taste for them. He likes older goods with some bite. Right?"
Ma Jingning laughed and cursed, "Sanzi, you little bastard! Your sister's the one I like. You even dare make fun of me? Watch out, or I'll whip you."
Sanzi ducked his head and grinned. "Boss, you'd even dare take my sister? If your wife found out..." The drivers burst into laughter. It seemed Ma Jingning was rather afraid of his wife.
"Don't laugh at us. These brothers under me are used to having no respect for rank," Ma Jingning said, somewhat embarrassed.
The caravan suddenly stopped.
"What's going on? Why have we stopped?" Ma Jingning asked. A driver came running from the front and reported, "Caravan Master Ma, the head caravan master wants you up front."
Li Qiang grew curious. "I'll come have a look, too."
When they reached the front, Li Qiang saw from behind the crowd that those blocking the road were none other than the Black Banner Army, which had once driven him to slaughter.
A small squad of Black Banner Army soldiers blocked the road. Their leader, probably the squad captain, wore leather armor and carried a spear. He was swaggering about, extorting the caravan.
The Black Banner Army had not simply plundered them by force because the caravan was truly enormous, and its leaders looked quite capable in a fight. With only a small squad, the soldiers would gain little advantage in battle, so they had switched to extortion instead. But their price was so high that Feng Renjian was placed in a very difficult position.
Consulting the other caravan masters, Feng Renjian said, "This is trouble. The Black Banner Army wants us to leave half our goods and people behind. If we comply, it won't just be a loss of money. What will happen to the men we leave behind?"
Zhang Yunbo said angrily, "Let's fight them! I refuse to believe these few Black Banner Army soldiers can do anything to us."
Ma Jingning said, "Brother, use your head, will you? This little squad is nothing much, but if we fight them and even one escapes, what do you think will happen?"
Feng Renjian nodded in agreement. "There are over thirty of them. If we fight, they certainly can't beat us. The concern is that the Black Banner Army isn't a band of ordinary brigands. They're strong enough to storm cities and seize territory. Once substantial reinforcements arrive, our entire caravan will be finished."
Li Qiang interjected, "Couldn't you settle it through wagered combat? Wouldn't that give us a better chance?"
Zhang Yunbo said impatiently, "What are you butting in for? Go, go, go! Stay out of the way."
"Uh..." His warm approach had met a cold backside. Li Qiang smiled indifferently, then folded his arms and stood aside.
Ma Jingning glared at Zhang Yunbo. "Why are you always like this? He means well. I think wagered combat is an option, too. That fellow's martial skills can't be all that good."
Wagered combat was a local custom. As long as both sides agreed, they could fight one-on-one. There was no limit to how many fighters they could send, continuing until one side had no one left to field. Once it began, neither side could overwhelm the other with numbers. The winners could state their demands, and the losers had to comply. Li Qiang had learned this while chatting with Zhao Hao.
A protective jade talisman was slipped into Ma Jingning's hand, and someone transmitted a voice to him. "Crush it when you're in danger. It can save your life."
Ma Jingning was secretly startled. Anyone capable of voice transmission had to be an expert.