Qin Mu was deep in thought, while the plump Daoist, Duan Yunsheng, continued his endless persuasive speech.
If it were an ordinary cultivator, they would likely have been swayed by the Daoist's words. The way he spoke was so persuasive, each sentence seemingly grounded in truth yet wrapped in deception. Had it not been for the fact that Qin Mu himself had guided the appearance of the Perfected Saint Body a few days prior, he might have believed the Daoist's words.
"You've had time to consider, young friend?" Duan Yunsheng asked, his tone now tinged with sorrow. "I am old, and this opportunity—this great fortune contained within the ancient scroll—cannot be mine to enjoy."
"I am very skilled in the art of divination. When you walked toward me, I could see the qi of the dragon and tiger converging above your head. Your future is limitless, certainly not that of an ordinary person! The fortune of this scroll... it matches you perfectly."
"But..." Duan Yunsheng hesitated, feigning great reluctance, his eyes glinting with an almost painful sorrow as he looked at the scroll. "This ancient scroll has been in my possession for many years. If I simply give it to you now, my heart will forever remain troubled. So, I ask this of you, young friend—if you could offer me just two high-grade source stones... then this scroll will be yours. That way, I can let go of my last attachment."
His voice grew heavy, and his gaze turned mournful as he slowly extended the scroll toward Qin Mu, exuding an air of righteousness, as though he were sacrificing something monumental for the young man's benefit.
The implication was clear: "As long as you pay two high-grade source stones, this treasure map, which contains boundless opportunities and fortune, is yours."
His face wore a sorrowful expression.
However, through the Immortal Spirit's Eye, Qin Mu could clearly see the truth behind the facade. The "old Daoist" was actually Duan Yunsheng in disguise. Beneath his ragged exterior, the Daoist was now beaming with a broad smile, his face glowing with excitement as he eagerly awaited the exchange.
He no longer looked sorrowful but appeared almost jubilant, no doubt eager to see his next "victim" fall for his scam and hand over the source stones.
Yet, the next sequence of events left Duan Yunsheng stunned.
Qin Mu took the scroll from his hand, smiled, and—before Duan Yunsheng could understand what was happening—patted the Daoist on the shoulder.
Then, without any intention of handing over the source stones, Qin Mu simply turned and walked away.
Duan Yunsheng's expression immediately froze. What did this mean?
Even if the treasure map wasn't real, it had taken him considerable effort to make it. Was he going to let this young man simply take it and run?
"How dare he!" Duan Yunsheng fumed, his anger flaring. "Does he really think he can just take the map and leave without paying? He's got another thing coming!"
The Daoist began to chase after Qin Mu, but at that very moment, an overwhelming wave of murderous intent descended upon him like a vast ocean. The killing aura was so suffocating and intense that it froze him in place, his body unable to move. Cold sweat poured down his back, and he could do nothing but stand there, frozen in terror.
The murderous intent hung over him, seemingly ready to strike at any moment.
Only when Qin Mu had disappeared into the crowd, blending into the sea of people, did the pressure vanish without a trace. The heavy feeling lifted as though it had never existed.
Duan Yunsheng, now back in his true form, stood frozen for a moment, staring at the direction Qin Mu had gone, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief.
"Is that a monster in disguise?!" Duan Yunsheng muttered to himself, his voice filled with shock. "He even dared to steal my treasure map, and I couldn't even move. Whoever that was, they must be some ancient freak in disguise! No way is he just an ordinary kid... What a nightmare! And to think I almost tried to con him out of my treasure map!"
The sweat still clung to his forehead as he shook his head in fear, the aura of death too terrifying to ignore. He realized that someone of that power was simply too dangerous to provoke.
Duan Yunsheng could only curse under his breath, recognizing that he'd been played, thinking the entire time that Qin Mu had been a mere youth. His deceitful act had failed spectacularly. Worse still, he'd lost a precious treasure map that was worth two high-grade source stones, and in the process, had angered someone far more powerful than himself.
"Source stones are so hard to come by," Duan Yunsheng grumbled, wiping the sweat from his face. "I've been scamming for days in Sacred Sun City just to gather enough for my formation. And now... this damn bird race, the Yu Clan, are hunting me down just because I dug up one of their ancestors' graves! I'll show them! Once I get enough source stones for that formation, I'll not only get back at the Yu Clan, but I'll dig up their whole family tomb!"
Duan Yunsheng gritted his teeth, his expression furious as he cursed the Yu Clan. He then disappeared into the crowd, changing his face again with his shape-shifting powers, ready to continue his scamming ways.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Qin Mu smiled faintly.
Before he had left, he had deliberately patted Duan Yunsheng's shoulder, leaving behind a trace of divine sense, one that Duan Yunsheng could never detect. This allowed Qin Mu to hear every word Duan Yunsheng muttered to himself, including the details about the Yu Clan and his plans to gather source stones.
So, Duan Yunsheng had dug up the Yu Clan's ancestor's grave and had been hunted by them as a result? It was no wonder that the Daoist was in such a hurry to scam people for source stones.
Qin Mu found it both amusing and admirable. Most human cultivators were terrified of the ancient races, especially the Yu Clan, but Duan Yunsheng had dared to offend them by desecrating their tomb.
Regardless of his true motives, Duan Yunsheng's audacity was something Qin Mu couldn't help but appreciate.
Shaking his head, Qin Mu continued on his journey. He left Sacred Sun City, heading toward the location marked on the ancient scroll.
Qin Mu was aware that there was no real "fortune" to be found there. His true purpose was simply to verify whether the site really matched the description on the map.
The place was a few thousand miles from Sacred Sun City. Upon arriving, Qin Mu soared high into the air and surveyed the land below. A satisfied look crossed his face.
Duan Yunsheng might be a swindler, but he had a good eye for geographical features.
This wasn't a barren, desolate land after all. The terrain here indeed matched the ancient scroll's description—mountains rising up majestically, like natural barriers standing guard around the area. In the center of the vast mountain range stood a towering sacred mountain, dominating the surrounding peaks. The mountain was surrounded by thousands of other peaks, all pointing in its direction.
It was the "ten thousand dragons bowing in worship" scene that Duan Yunsheng had spoken of!
"This really is a treasure trove," Qin Mu muttered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "The 'ten thousand dragons bowing in worship'... This place could indeed serve as the site for that ancient secret realm's manifestation."
His thoughts turned inward as he contemplated how to proceed. With this place in mind, Qin Mu already had a plan forming in his mind for the next step in constructing his Fifth Secret Realm!
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