Chapter 112: The Pool of the Underworld

What puzzled Qu Yiqiu most, however, was how exactly Qian Jiangfan had died.

Cheng Changsheng had announced he was going into seclusion, but even if he had broken through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, his abilities were hardly enough to annihilate Qian Jiangfan, who had reached that same stage years ago. Not to mention infiltrating the Supreme Saint Sect—a stronghold of demonic cultivators—without leaving a trace. How much of the news circulating outside was truth, and how much was fabrication?

Qu Yiqiu’s thoughts swirled as she toyed with the gold-threaded rabbit-hair tea cup in her hand.

After Yao Zhimei finished recounting the recent events at the Heaven-Deriving Sect, she downed her spiritual tea in one gulp and set the cup down with a crisp clatter against the table. Her eyes, fixed on Qu Yiqiu, were burning with intense fervor.

Qu Yiqiu’s fingers, which had been rotating the cup, froze. She pulled herself together and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Yao Zhimei chuckled, reached into her robes, and produced a storage bag. "My Lady, all the medicinal pills in our Xunxian Shop have been sold out. This is the revenue."

Qu Yiqiu projected her divine sense into the bag, seeing neat piles of spiritual stones. She withdrew her gaze and said, "Keep it. Use these stones to buy more alchemy materials and continue expanding the shop’s business. Did you find any clues about the people I asked you to track down?"

Yao Zhimei, slightly surprised, took back the bag—the amount the Lady had given her was truly generous! Her surprise vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a heated, suppressed excitement. "My Lady, I haven't found any leads on those two people yet. However, if we continue to expand our influence, I am certain we will find news of your parents!"

Observing Yao Zhimei’s eager, excited expression, Qu Yiqiu pondered for a moment. "Do you have a good idea?"

Yao Zhimei’s eyes glowed with intensity. "My Lady, that 'Big Sha'... Shen Mengkai, took in a guest a while ago who desperately needed our fifth-grade pills but lacked the funds to pay. He was forced to mortgage a snow-sheepskin map to us. I have already verified it for you; the map is genuine, just as the guest claimed. At the location it points to, a large number of ghost cultivators reside!"

Qu Yiqiu appreciated Yao Zhimei’s straightforward nature, but she wondered if it was too much of a challenge for the few of them to bring such a vast number of ghost cultivators under their command.

"What is the cultivation level of the ghost cultivators in that place?"

"By the standards of human cultivators, the highest among them have reached the late-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. However, this map actually points to an ancient sealing formation known as the 'Palm Bone Seal.' It is said that any ghost cultivator who offends the Ghost King is thrown into this formation to become fuel for the others. If we use the escape route indicated on the map to rescue those trapped inside, we could win their absolute loyalty!" Yao Zhimei explained, her spirit soaring.

Qu Yiqiu looked at the white map Yao Zhimei had unfurled, and her heart stirred. It depicted the Yellow Springs Pool—not a body of water, but a vast, hundred-thousand-mile expanse shrouded in yellow sand and yin energy.

No wonder there were late-stage Nascent Soul ghost cultivators there; in the depths of the Yellow Springs Pool, there might even be Spirit Severing stage ghosts.

Yao Zhimei watched Qu Yiqiu’s expression expectantly. "What do you think, My Lady? With this map in hand, we could easily bring them out!"

Qu Yiqiu looked up at her. The fact that the pills were sold out proved there was high demand. Currently, with only Yao Zhimei and a few low-level ghosts left at the shop, they were indeed short-handed. And the business she intended to build was far greater than what she had before her. Furthermore, she had once read in a book that a herb called 'Gouqin Grass' grew in the Yellow Springs Pool; when ground into incense, it could be used to track people.

"I think it’s a good plan. Once I return to Xiaoping Peak, we shall depart!"

As soon as Qu Yiqiu agreed, Yao Zhimei leapt up onto a crossbeam, filled with irrepressible excitement.

In the time that followed, Yao Zhimei returned the Golden Ghost King’s cultivation to him. However, because Xiao Yan had once consumed the Golden Ghost King’s soul power, after receiving the returned cultivation, his own strength only stabilized at the late Foundation Establishment stage. After settling these matters, Qu Yiqiu purchased a batch of Imperial Star fish fry at the marketplace to bring back to Xiaoping Peak.

Imperial Star fish fry were notoriously demanding of their environment. She wanted to see if her man-made spiritual spring could successfully raise them. Upon returning to Xiaoping Peak, she released most of the fry into the Bamboo Pool Forest, keeping a small portion for her spatial spiritual spring. She then headed up the mountain toward Mo Qingli’s cave dwelling.

Zhou Chen was practicing his boxing near the entrance, accompanied by a young, beautiful nine-colored deer. The deer chased butterflies while Zhou Chen threw punches into the air. Mo Qingli’s cave was wide open, and a scan of her divine sense revealed it was empty.

Qu Yiqiu stopped beside Zhou Chen and asked in surprise, "Junior Brother Zhou, has Master come out of seclusion?"

Zhou Chen was so focused on his practice that he seemed to have entered a state of self-forgetfulness. Now that she was closer, Qu Yiqiu could see the air vortices created by his fists. Hearing her voice, Zhou Chen froze and exclaimed with joy, "Senior Sister, you’re finally back!"

Qu Yiqiu smiled. "Yes, I’m back. Junior Brother, has Master emerged?"

Zhou Chen nodded regretfully. "If you had returned a few days earlier, you would have seen Peak Master Mo, but he has already left."

Qu Yiqiu wore an expression of astonishment. "Master left without waiting for me..." She was no longer his most favored eldest disciple! A trace of pique flickered in her heart, though she quickly understood why Mo Qingli was in such a rush; he had always carried the burden of his parents' murder.

Noticing her disappointment, Zhou Chen quickly explained, "Peak Master Mo looked for you first thing after coming out of seclusion, but you weren't here. He waited for several days before leaving!"

Qu Yiqiu’s mood softened. If Mo Qingli had left, then so be it. "I understand. Junior Brother, your technique looks quite interesting! Was this nine-colored deer entrusted to you by Master?"

Zhou Chen blushed, relaxing his fists as he looked at the playing deer. "Yes, Peak Master Mo left it in my care before he departed. It is very obedient, so I don't need to do much."

"I see," Qu Yiqiu said, looking at him thoughtfully. "Junior Brother, I intend to leave Xiaoping Peak for a while. Could I entrust the affairs of the peak to you?"

Zhou Chen was stunned. "Senior Sister is leaving again?"

Qu Yiqiu nodded. "Yes. As the first disciple of Xiaoping Peak, I cannot let Master down. If my aptitude is lacking, I must work hard to find other breakthroughs to advance my cultivation!"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhou Chen looked at her earnestly. "Go and train, Senior Sister. I will take good care of Xiaoping Peak!"

Qu Yiqiu gave him a look of trust, chatted for a few more moments, and then sought out Mu Yunjin to inform her of the plan.