Chapter 457: Leaving

Gu Qingzhao's family was vast and prosperous, so she could not be as carefree as Qin Ming and simply leave at a moment's notice.

After achieving her Golden Core, many matters within the Mirror Snow Pavilion required her oversight, and even the role of leader was destined to fall upon her.

Otherwise, she too would have liked to travel through Da Jin, just like Qin Ming.

Gu Qingzhao's thoughts drifted, and after long hesitation, she finally gathered the courage to ask Qin Ming:

"Comrade Qin, you've cultivated for so long and have now reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core; your cultivation base and reputation are no longer what they once were."

"Aren't you considering finding a cultivation partner?"

As she spoke, her gaze settled on Qin Ming, her expression utterly open, as if asking a casual question between close friends.

Yet in truth, her heart was tightly clenched—the instant she finished speaking.

In that instant, Qin Ming also briefly lost his composure.

He had never expected Gu Qingzhao to ask such a direct question.

After a moment's thought, Qin Ming replied: "The cultivation world is ever-changing. Though the Golden Core stage has entered the threshold of high-level cultivators, here in the Southern Wastes you may still hold some influence, but Fangyanzhoubiandexiuxianjie, you can barely defend yourself."

"Only when you reach the Nascent Soul realm can you stand secure."

"Thus, Qin Mou has no immediate thoughts on matters of affection."

"I only seek opportunities to break through to the late-stage Golden Core as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingzhao grew pale with disappointment, and she understood his meaning.

Given Qin Ming's nature, aside from diligent cultivation, little could distract him.

"Hehe! Then I wish you a smooth journey, Comrade Qin, and a clear path on the Immortal Dao."

"Rest assured, once these matters are settled, I will reopen the Heaven River Marketplace on the spiritual energy Archipelago, and I will do my best to watch over your Wangyue Island until your return."

"I toast you."

Gu Qingzhao raised her cup and clinked it against Qin Ming's.

"Then thank you, Comrade Gu."

Afterwards, Qin Ming and Gu Qingzhao also inquired about the routes to Da Jin, to see if she had any connections.

"Comrade Qin, if you wish to travel to Da Jin, besides using the long-range teleportation array, you may also take a magic ship operated by the Qilian Trading House."

"Oh? The Qilian Trading House?" Qin Ming said, thoughtful.

He still had some recollection of this trading house.

"Yes. The Qilian Trading House is under the Ten Thousand Dao Trade Alliance of the Da Jin Imperial Cultivation Court and maintains trade routes across all regions."

"Yet within the Southern Wastes, Qilian's magic ships to Da Jin are infrequent."

"I previously sent your letter to Comrade Su through them."

"Next month, they will have a merchant vessel heading to Da Jin. Our pavilion has a close cooperative relationship with Qilian; I can introduce you."

"If you intend to use the Li Huo Palace's long-range teleportation array via the capital of Liang State, the cost will be exceedingly high."

Qin Ming nodded upon hearing this. "Then thank you, Comrade Gu."

……

Several days later.

Qin Ming returned to Wangyue Island, gave instructions to Wu Jiang and others, then flew toward a place in Liang State called Juxian City, carrying the address Gu Qingzhao had given him.

Halfway there.

Riding the Silver-Winged Frost Bee, Qin Ming gazed at the scenery rapidly receding behind him, filled with deep emotion.

He never imagined that one day he too would leave this homeland of the Southern Wastes.

"Master, are we really going to the legendary Da Jin Imperial Court?"

The Devouring Rat shrank its form and landed on Qin Ming's shoulder, beaming with excitement.

"Yes," Qin Ming said indifferently.

"Sigh! I never thought, I never thought—"

"I never imagined that the Devouring Rat would one day leave this world and see the vastness beyond."

"If those beasts in the Beast Roar Mountains found out, they'd be green with envy. I heard Da Jin has many demonic cultivators—even a fourth-stage transformed female demon saint. If I could catch a glimpse of her beauty, wouldn't that be delightful? Hehehe."

Qin Ming shook his head in silence, while the Devouring Rat, lost in fantasy, chuckled endlessly.

Seeing Qin Ming ignore it, it returned to the Little Spirit Realm and rambled on to the Black Water Crocodile about its future dreams.

Half a month later, Qin Ming arrived at Juxian City riding the Silver-Winged Frost Bee.

Yet only Gu Qingzhao and Nalan Xi knew of his journey to Da Jin.

Qin Ming intended to travel discreetly, for Da Jin's Imperial Court housed Nascent Soul True Persons, and the Devouring Rat spoke of fourth-stage transformed demon saints—he had to be cautious.

He had already drawn the attention of the Li Huo Palace in the Southern Wastes; if he used the long-range teleportation array directly, he risked attracting the notice of those with ulterior motives.

Especially the Li Huo Palace's enemies—they surely wouldn't want a Pill Master of his caliber recruited into another sect.

Thus, he had no intention of using the Li Huo Palace's array, precisely to avoid drawing attention.

He planned to first see if he could impersonate someone else and slip in.

After all, with his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, the True Demon Illusion could now fool even Nascent Soul True Persons.

Upon arriving near Juxian City,

Qin Ming used his illusion to transform into a refined middle-aged cultivator, suppressing his spiritual aura to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

This was the identity Gu Qingzhao had arranged for him: "Lu Shopkeeper," a courier from the Mirror Snow Pavilion bound for Da Jin.

Qin Ming walked into a grand pavilion within the city.

……

Ten days later.

A black magic ship, the Du Yuan, its mast bearing the Qilian Trading House's banner, slowly departed from Juxian City.

Inside the cabin, Qin Ming, disguised as "Lu Shopkeeper," beamed as he exchanged cups with three cultivators across from him.

These three were no ordinary figures—they were cultivators under the Ten Thousand Dao Trade Alliance.

Qin Ming had spent considerable effort to befriend them.

"Lu Shopkeeper, your Yulin wine is truly nectar fit for the heavens."

"Might you sell me some?" asked a graceful, beautiful matron, smiling brightly at Qin Ming.

"Hehe! Madam Liu Ye, this Yulin wine is among the last few casks my pavilion possesses."

"We have almost none left."

Qin Ming smiled in reply.

"Ah! What a pity—we were also planning to purchase some from you," said the silver-haired elder and the tall, thin yellow-faced cultivator beside him, both sighing in regret.

The silver-haired elder was Han Yuan; the tall, thin cultivator was Gao Feng.

All three were late Foundation Establishment, yet even at this level, their status within the Ten Thousand Dao Trade Alliance remained low—they were merely crew cultivators.

Over this period, Qin Ming had gleaned much intelligence from their chatter.

It was worth all the Yulin wine he had poured for them.

After a stretch of flight, Qin Ming sensed the Qilian Trading House's Du Yuan magic ship descending from the sky onto the surface of a sea.

Seeing "Lu Shopkeeper's" reaction,

the silver-haired elder Han Yuan smiled and said: "You're traveling to Da Jin for the first time, aren't you?"

"The Southern Wastes are remote. To the north lies the Mysterious Mist, to the west the impassable barrier bordering the Beast Roar Mountains, and deep within even fourth-stage transformed demonic beasts dwell—extremely perilous."

"Only by sailing east across the Black Sea can you reach Qilin Island."

"After verifying your identity on the island, you may use its teleportation array to reach Da Jin swiftly."

"Once on Qilin Island, only one-third of the journey remains, saving a great deal of spirit stones."

Qin Ming listened, stunned—he had never imagined the journey from the Southern Wastes to Da Jin was so circuitous.

After hearing the other's account, Qin Ming could not help but be stunned—he had never imagined the journey from the Southern Wilderness to Great Jin would be so circuitous.

(End of Chapter)