Immortality Begins with Comprehending the Dao Scripture 

Relying on the concealing properties of the black robe, Song Changsheng weaved through the crowd freely, shaking off all those trailing him. Then, after circling the market a few more times cautiously, he finally removed the robe from a hidden corner and returned to the Treasure-Seeking Pavilion exceptionally vigilant. 

Not long after his return, in a tavern at the northwest corner of the pavilion, a mysterious figure dressed in a long robe adorned with strange patterns and wearing a silver human-face mask sat by a second-floor window. 

The window was diagonally opposite the Treasure-Seeking Pavilion. The figure rested an arm on the windowsill, his eyes glinting coldly as he stared outside, seemingly lost in thought. 

A waiter approached the mysterious man, speaking cheerfully, "Honored guest, may I get you something to drink?" 

The mysterious man turned his head. The waiter's body froze instantly, and a blood-red hue gradually crept into his eyes but in the next moment, everything returned to normal. 

"Just bring me some wine," the man rasped hoarsely. 

"Right away, please wait a moment." 

The waiter appeared unaware of anything unusual and hurried downstairs to fetch the wine. 

The mysterious man nursed that jug of wine until sunset before finally leaving. From that moment on, however, the waiter began to space out in front of the window from time to time. 

If one looked closely into his pupils, faint traces of crimson light could be seen as eerie and strange... 

Three days passed before Song Changsheng received another message from Zhu Yiqun. This time, it brought good news: the reclusive cultivator who owned the Heart-Guarding Pill had agreed to meet him. 

However, the meeting place would be arranged by the other party likely for safety reasons. It was set in a bustling part of the market, a medicinal herb stall. 

As usual, Song greeted Song Luyuan in advance, then concealed his presence and made his way to the appointed location a stall tucked into a corner of the herb market. 

Most stalls had at least a few customers if not a small crowd. This one, however, was conspicuously deserted. 

Song Changsheng immediately understood why upon approaching: the herbs on display were outrageously overpriced. No sane person would buy from this stall. 

But his focus wasn't on the herbs. He quietly studied the stall owner sitting cross-legged behind the table a dignified-looking middle-aged cultivator, his face deathly pale and completely devoid of color. 

He wore a faded blue Daoist robe, eyes closed in meditation, radiating an aura that clearly warned others to keep their distance. 

Judging from appearance alone, he didn't look like a demonic cultivator. 

Holding the talisman given to him by Song Luhuai in his hand, Song Changsheng spoke calmly, "Senior, don't you find this location a bit too conspicuous?" 

The stall owner slowly opened his eyes. Despite his poor complexion, his eyes shone brightly, like lamps in the night piercing and clear. 

"A crowd is also a form of cover. That man's tracking methods are formidable. I can already sense his presence on you you've been marked," the stall owner said in a calm, steady voice, though a hint of weakness underlay his tone. 

Startled, Song Changsheng quickly glanced around using the corner of his eyes, scanning the surroundings but he didn't notice anything suspicious. 

"No need to look," the stall owner said as he casually fiddled with the herbs in front of him. "There are too many people here, and the abundance of medicinal herbs also interferes. His little creatures won't notice us so quickly." 

"Who is he?" Song Changsheng asked. 

The stall owner looked up at him, and then said, "His name is Feng Wuming a master of Gu." 

"A Gu Master?" Song Changsheng's pupils shrank sharply. Gu Masters was an extremely obscure and infamous profession hated by all. Their methods of planting Gu worms were insidious and almost impossible to guard against. No one wanted to tangle with such dangerous individuals. 

"In the days ahead, you'd best be careful. Don't interact with strangers. Once a Gu is planted, even if you don't die, you'll shed a layer of skin," the stall owner said blandly. 

Song Changsheng frowned slightly but remained composed. He cupped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for the warning, Senior." 

"Just a casual conversation," the stall owner smiled faintly and stretched out his hand. "Now that you've met me, where's the item I requested?" 

Song Changsheng took out the black stone and looked the stall owner directly in the eye. "This stone doesn't seem like a righteous object. May I ask, Senior, what exactly it is?" 

You must understand he was speaking to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. These words were extremely disrespectful, even somewhat offensive. 

Had this encounter happened outside the market, he wouldn't have dared say such a thing. 

The stall owner glanced at him and replied calmly, "This is a strange stone infused with Feng Wuming's blood through a secret technique. It attracts Gu insects. I need it to lure out the ones inside me. 

By nature, it is indeed an evil item. Normally, you'd feel uneasy around it." 

"Senior, have you considered that this might be a poisoned bait?" Song Changsheng asked. 

The stall owner chuckled lightly. "Feng Wuming has been searching for me for years. He knows I'm somewhere in the Great Qi, but he doesn't know my exact whereabouts. So, he's been using this item to draw me out. 

Over the past few years, every time this item shows up in an auction, he deliberately spreads the word. He knows I need it and that I wouldn't ignore such news. 

Though the bait is poisoned, I have my ways of dealing with it. You needn't concern yourself." 

What the stall owner said closely matched Song Changsheng's suspicions, which made him even more curious about the man's true identity. None of the appraisers at Bafang Pavilion could identify this stone, yet he knew all about it. Could it be that he and Feng Wuming came from the same path? 

"This bottle contains the Heart-Guarding Pill. Now, young man, it's time for you to hand over what you promised," the stall owner said, placing a purple jade bottle in front of Song Changsheng. 

The other party had cooperated fully by this point. To push further would be arrogant and foolish. Song Changsheng quickly handed over the stone and the remaining spirit stones. 

Both parties verified their items and, once satisfied, the stall owner slowly stood up and said, "You've done me a great favor, so here's a piece of advice: beware of the man with the silver mask." 

With that, he packed up his stall and vanished into the crowd. 

"Let the soldiers come and the water rise," Song Changsheng muttered under his breath, gazing at the purple jade bottle in his hand. 

He had, in a way, taken the hit for someone else being targeted by a Gu master was no trivial matter. Still, he had no regrets; it had been a fair exchange. 

As for Gu masters, he wasn't too worried. After all, he had spent years accumulating his Primordial Energy it wasn't just for show. 

With that, Song Changsheng, too, melted into the crowd and disappeared... 

Sometime after they had both left, a small, unremarkable black insect crawled into the spot where they had just met. It circled the place where the stall owner had sat a few times before dropping to the ground. 

Feng Wuming strolled over, sensing the lingering traces of both men's energy. He frowned slightly and muttered, "The thread of connection has been severed... Seems he noticed the trick I left behind. A miscalculation. 

Looks like I'll have to start with the other one instead." 

-support me in Patreon for more chapter, 85+ chapters in there

patreon.com/LordoftheReader