A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 141 - 117: Treasure Retrieval at the Sea Abyss_2

Then in the next moment, the color returned to Gu Nishang’s face, and her eyes regained clarity. She stared fixedly at her hands, which were firmly held by Lu Qian, and a flush of red spread across her fair face, her eyes widening suddenly.

"You’re courting death!"

Boom!

Lu Qian only felt a gust of wind pressure coming towards him, his breath hitched, and the hairpin atop his head snapped instantly, sending his hair flying wildly.

With a whoosh, the slender fist abruptly stopped in front of Lu Qian’s face, the wind from the punch rolling into waves that grazed Lu Qian and surged towards the passersby. Surprised cries erupted, and some who were caught off-guard lost their balance and fell to the ground.

In an instant, a cold sweat broke out on Lu Qian’s body. Thankfully, Gu Nishang stopped her hand at the last moment; otherwise, with this punch, caught unprepared, he would die, truly die.

"Who dares to cause trouble in Plum Blossom Marketplace!" A sudden surge of spiritual pressure rose as a Foundation Establishment Steward rushed before the two of them.

Lu Qian came to his senses, quickly turned around, and repeatedly bowed to apologize, "It’s nothing, it’s nothing, just a little domestic squabble, sorry for disturbing everyone..."

Gu Nishang stared at Lu Qian’s hands, blackened and peeling to reveal the flesh underneath, standing there without speaking.

The Steward’s gaze swept across Gu Nishang’s exquisitely beautiful face. Seeing she was also at Foundation Establishment, he adopted a slightly more courteous attitude. He glanced at Lu Qian, who was at the Qi Cultivation Stage, first perplexed, then realizing, and finally showing sympathy.

He scolded them a few times, and seeing Lu Qian’s good attitude, didn’t make it more difficult for him. He just had Lu Qian pay a fine of a few hundred Spirit Stones and gave a warning before letting them go.

As he left, he shook his head and muttered softly, "Brother, this line of work is tough..."

Lu Qian found this both amusing and exasperating. Just as he turned his head, Fairy Nishang suddenly grabbed his sleeve and dragged him toward an inn by the roadside.

"Wait... what for?"

"Healing." Gu Nishang spat out the two icy words without turning back.

Fortunately, it was just a superficial wound, and with the Danxia Sect’s secret healing medicine, Lu Qian’s hands were already back to normal after an hour, although their color was still slightly red.

After inquiring the innkeeper about the location of the Sea Abyss Pavilion, the two set off again. Lu Qian stole a glance, and Gu Nishang’s expression was as usual, still displaying that indifferent demeanor, which made Lu Qian feel relieved.

What just happened? What did Gu Nishang remember, why did she show that expression, and say those strange words? What kind of past does she really have?

Perhaps because Lu Qian’s gaze lingered too long, Gu Nishang noticed, and glared impatiently, "What are you looking at? Keep staring, and I’ll dig your eyes out!"

Whew, it’s good; she’s still the same unlovable Gu Nishang.

Sea Abyss Pavilion was located in the Fifth District of Plum Blossom Marketplace, in the Comprehensive District. The appearance of this three-story building was unremarkable, so when Lu Qian first arrived at Plum Blossom Marketplace and was investigating the marketplace, he didn’t notice it.

But upon entering, Lu Qian discovered it was an entirely different world within.

Although the building wasn’t tall, it was very deep, or rather, it covered a large area. At a glance, winding corridors and rooms loomed, as if hiding many secrets.

The shopkeeper at the front desk turned out to be a cultivator at Qi Cultivation Perfection. Unlike many Qi cultivators, he didn’t display any special reverence for Gu Nishang, who was at Foundation Establishment. Upon their arrival, he merely nodded slightly, as if greeting them.

"I’ve come to collect something." Lu Qian presented a key.

The shopkeeper glanced at it and nodded, "Yi, take the guests to retrieve the item."

Seeing things going so smoothly, Lu Qian felt a sigh of relief. He had prepared a whole narrative, but it turned out they only looked at the key and not the person, saving him some trouble.

A short servant emerged from behind the counter. This Yi wasn’t a mortal either, but had cultivation at Mid-Stage Qi. He behaved more normally, offering a respectful bow before leading Lu Qian and Gu Nishang forward.

Lu Qian was full of puzzlement; the key didn’t have a room number engraved on it, and the shopkeeper didn’t inform Yi where to go. How did they know where to take it from?

After a few turns, and going up to the second floor, Lu Qian started making small talk, trying to extract some information from Yi.

But Yi turned around, grinned, and opened his mouth wide, revealing only half a tongue inside!

Lu Qian instantly felt a chill down his spine and didn’t say more, instead burying his intrigue and apprehension about the Sea Abyss Pavilion deep in his heart.

After traversing a few more corridors, Yi stopped before a door. He gestured for Lu Qian and Gu Nishang to step back a little.

Taking a few steps back, Lu Qian and Gu Nishang watched as Yi pulled a Jade Pendant from his bosom and tapped it lightly on the door.

Instantly, layers of Spiritual Light blossomed on the door, and prohibitions and talismans sprang into view, densely packed and awe-inspiring.

Yi then took out a variety of differently shaped objects from his chest and began dismantling the layers of array prohibitions on the door.

This was far more stringent than the protective pavilion storing treasures at Bichao Mountain. Lu Qian closely examined it, feeling astonished, then glanced at the increasingly impatient Gu Nishang.

Even if it were Gu Nishang trying to open the door, it would probably require three punches.

After about half a stick of incense’s time, the layers of array prohibitions were completely lifted. With a creak, the door opened, revealing an empty room with no furniture, only a large iron chest placed at its center.

Yi bowed, indicating for them to enter on their own, then turned to face the wall, plugging his ears with two sheets of talisman paper, and stood still.

Lu Qian hesitated but cautiously entered, relieved when nothing like the door slamming shut to trap them occurred. Approaching the iron chest, he saw a loosely hanging silver lock on it.

Lu Qian took out the key, inserted it into the keyhole, turned it lightly, and with a click, the silver lock fell to the ground.

Is it open just like that? Lu Qian picked up the silver lock and examined it; it was just an ordinary mortal lock. Even a mortal thief could easily open it, let alone a cultivator.

So, this key was merely a proof of entitlement for the item. The protection for the items all relied on the external layers of arrays, talismans, and prohibitions, having nothing to do with the key.

Composing himself, Lu Qian nodded to Gu Nishang, activated the Orange Splendor Lamp, and touched the Array Map with one hand, circling to the back of the chest to flip it open from reverse.

He held his breath for a moment; nothing happened. Gu Nishang’s expression remained usual, and only then did Lu Qian cautiously peek inside.

Inside the iron chest lay five Storage Pouches placed quietly at the bottom, with nothing else.

Gu Nishang stepped up and examined them.

"How is it, safe?"

Fairy Nishang shook her head, "Can’t tell, let’s find out."

Before Lu Qian could stop her, Gu Nishang lightly waved her hand, pulling a Storage Pouch into her palm.

Suddenly there was a sizzling sound, and a wisp of black gas emerged swiftly, rushing towards her hand.

It’s poison! Such potent poison gas!

Lu Qian exclaimed, stepping forward quickly, but Gu Nishang coldly said, "Stay back."

A fine layer of flame burst forth from her palm, isolating the black gas outside. As it turned out, just before the Storage Pouch landed in her hand, Gu Nishang had already enveloped it in flames.

The flames crackled and roared, then in an instant turned golden white, rising with searing heat—Lu Qian knew Gu Nishang was indeed getting serious.

The black gas writhed, gradually being enveloped into a small ball of platinum flame, yet it still struggled persistently. Gu Nishang’s pupils had turned a fiery gold, and under the skin of her hand, a flow like molten lava surged.

The platinum flame suddenly contracted, fully wrapping the black gas into a small sphere—a crisp burst, and the black gas was finally incinerated completely, the flames dispersing.

Gu Nishang cautiously inspected her palm, then took out a cyan porcelain bottle, swallowed an Elixir, and tossed the bottle to Lu Qian.

"A secret detox elixir of my sect, take one as well." She unusually said a few more words, "This poison is extremely potent, likely the work of a Golden Core Master."

Lu Qian looked at the Storage Pouch on the ground with lingering fear and speculated what poison was on it.

It was probably the Rotting God and Soul-Splitting Poison mentioned in the Treasure Conch Sound Transmission, the same one Zhang Shouchang had succumbed to!