Chapter 699: Chapter 699

"Daoist Fan was actually able to invite Daoist Qin? Looks like we have nothing to worry about on this trip."

The scholar-robed cultivator gave Qin Sang a friendly smile.

Qin Sang’s expression softened slightly. He cupped his hands and said, "You flatter me, Daoist. I still don’t know why Daoist Fan invited me here. I haven’t agreed to anything yet."

The short, stocky cultivator quickly added, "Daoist Qin, please come onto the island and wait a moment. Once the other Daoists arrive, I’ll explain everything clearly. As long as you agree to it, I will honor the terms I promised you without fail."

Qin Sang gave it some thought, then flew over on his sword. His eyes gleamed as he carefully scanned the island. Confirming there was nothing amiss, he landed on a reef, keeping some distance between them.

The scholar-robed cultivator exchanged a few pleasantries with Qin Sang, but seeing that he remained aloof, he tactfully did not say more.

After a short wait, three more cultivators arrived in succession. All of them were people Qin Sang had seen at the market earlier.

Observing them coldly, Qin Sang noticed that each of these individuals was an elite among early Core Formation cultivators. All possessed notable strength, which made it clear that the stocky cultivator had something significant planned.

"Daoist Fan, you've gathered so many of us here. What exactly is this about? Can you tell us now?"

Night had fallen. Someone asked impatiently.

Daoist Fan chuckled apologetically. "Please be patient, Daoist Qian. There’s still one more Daoist who hasn’t arrived. He should be here any moment now. Once he’s here, I promise to explain everything fully." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel⚑fire.net

As he was speaking, a streak of blue light flew toward them from a distance. Like the others, it stopped just outside the island, revealing the figure of a gaunt elderly cultivator.

"Daoist Wan is here!"

Daoist Fan looked delighted and moved to greet him, but before he could say a word, the elder barked angrily, "Fan! You said we were going treasure hunting together. Now you’ve gathered all these people and laid an ambush? What’s the meaning of this?"

Daoist Fan hurried to explain, and only after much coaxing did the gaunt old man reluctantly fly onto the island.

By now, seven Core Formation cultivators had gathered. It could already be considered a small-scale trade fair. Everyone turned to look at Daoist Fan, curious about his intentions.

It was obvious he had paid a hefty price to persuade so many people. Whatever he sought had to be worth it.

Daoist Fan gave a light cough and dropped the pretense. With a solemn expression, he said, "Today, I’ve invited you all here because I need your help to break a certain barrier."

"What kind of barrier?"

"Could it be an ancient one? Is there a legendary hidden realm in the Demonic Sea that you’ve discovered?"

For a moment, everyone’s interest was thoroughly piqued, and they questioned him one after another.

Even the previously stern-faced elder now looked visibly excited.

Ever since cultivators of the two races had entered the Demonic Sea, the beast tides from the demon race had nearly overrun Desolate Island and Tianwu Island in the beginning. Later, although they managed to gain a foothold, they only occupied a small part of the sea. They constantly faced the threat of beast tides and had never discovered any legendary ancient hidden realms.

Some believed that before the Demonic Sea was uncovered, it had always been the territory of demonic beasts, without any immortal cultivators ever setting foot there. That might be why there were no traces of ancient cultivators left behind.

Hearing that Daoist Fan wanted help breaking a barrier, the others were first surprised, then intrigued.

Daoist Fan quickly waved his hands. "You misunderstand. It’s not an ancient hidden realm. I suspect the site might be a cave dwelling left behind by a senior cultivator."

"A senior cultivator’s cave dwelling?"

The group exchanged glances.

The gaunt old man sneered. "Temporary cave dwellings are everywhere. Who’d be stupid enough to leave anything valuable behind in one? Aren’t you afraid this will all end in disappointment?"

The scholar-robed cultivator frowned in thought for a while, then said gravely, "For you to pay such a high price to gather us, you must have seen something unusual. Whose cave dwelling do you think it is?"

Daoist Fan nodded. "To be frank, the barrier surrounding the cave dwelling has three layers. I spent a long time working through it and managed to break two. But no matter what I tried, I couldn’t shake the third. I wanted to ask some friends for help, but they’ve been trapped on Huntian Island due to recent events. Left with no other choice, I seized the opportunity during the market and invited you all here. And even with only two layers broken, I already found several items suggesting that the owner of this cave dwelling may have been someone extraordinary. I’m taking a huge risk with everything I have for this gamble."

The gaunt old man let out a sarcastic laugh. "And who exactly was the cave’s owner? You keep acting so mysteriously. Are you trying to say it belonged to a Spiritual Infant grandmaster?"

His laughter grew fainter and eventually stopped altogether, for he noticed Daoist Fan was giving him a strange look. The elder’s expression froze, and disbelief filled his face. "Don’t tell me... it really is a Spiritual Infant cultivator's cave dwelling?"

"It’s hard to say. I do have some skills of my own, but this third barrier is completely beyond me. Only someone at the peak of the Golden Core Realm might be able to create such an array. Furthermore, I found something inside the cave dwelling..." Daoist Fan shook his head.

As he spoke, he took out a piece of decayed fish skin.

The fish skin was clearly badly corroded. It looked as though even a gentle tug would tear a piece off. Its surface had once been covered with tight, neat scales, but now it was patchy, with many of the scales having fallen off.

Even so, the moment the crowd laid eyes on this almost unrecognizable fish skin, their expressions changed all at once.

The scholar-robed cultivator swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly. "The hide of a Transformation Realm demonic beast?"

Qin Sang also stared intently at the fish skin. Though decayed, it still carried lingering traces of the beast’s former aura—an oppressive and soul-shaking presence. That kind of instinctive fear and suppression was something Qin Sang had only ever felt in the presence of a Spiritual Infant grandmaster.

The hide of a Transformation Realm beast.

It was the first time in his life he had ever seen one.

Everyone stood frozen in shock, staring dumbly at the fish skin.

The short, stocky cultivator nodded. "You’ve probably all realized it by now. This beast hide was exactly what I discovered in that cave dwelling. I was ecstatic when I found it. Unfortunately, the restrictions placed on the hide were simple and had long since worn away with the passage of time. Even the hide of a Transformation Realm demonic beast cannot withstand the erosion of the years. But I’m sure all of you understand just how terrifying a Transformation Realm beast is. A hide this size would be regarded as a priceless treasure even by a Spiritual Infant grandmaster. On the other hand, the only one who could afford to treat it so casually is someone of that very same level."

The hide was already decayed and no longer of practical use.

Daoist Fan casually handed it to someone nearby, and the group began passing it around.

When it reached Qin Sang, he held it carefully in his hands, gently stroking its surface. He had seen living Transformation Realm beasts before in the Small Cold Domain, but never a dead one.

The hide was genuine. That unique aura could not possibly be faked.

Daoist Fan said gravely, "Do you believe me now?"

The gaunt elder reluctantly returned the hide to Daoist Fan, then asked probingly, "If that cave contained even a Transformation Realm beast’s hide, then surely you must have obtained some real benefits from it already. Not everything in there could be as deteriorated as this, could it? Why not let us take a look and broaden our horizons?"