Destiny in Cinders

An Jing hadn't let a moment go to waste while trekking through the waterway. Instead, he had meticulously combed through Nian Qin's watch (the shopkeeper's name was recorded within), hunting for any information that could help him piece together the full story behind the struggle for the True Talisman.

Initially, An Jing was skeptical that he could pull anything useful from it. Though frequent business travelers relied on multiple phones for their various connections, important information was stored on more secure devices rather than their personal terminals.

As a veteran of backroom dealings, and someone potentially tied to the Justice Restoration Army, Nian Qin shouldn't have left anything suspicious on her personal terminal, no matter how reckless she was. Yet, there it was, but not in the watch itself. After Yvelbane prompted him, An Jing flexed his arm and crushed the metal bands of the watch, and a feather-light silk talisman drifted out.

Eight stark words were etched into the silk. "Visitor from the badlands, brown soil, golden flame!"

Had he never met Bo Yan, the words would have meant nothing to him. But after their encounter, there was no way he could miss their meaning. She was the Justice Restoration Army's contact in the black market!

Furthermore, Ocher Hill was a subsidiary of Shouyang, which fit the reports of ongoing tension between Luofu and Shouyang Mountain. It was unclear if Nian Qin was a Justice Restoration Army mole planted in Ocher Hill, framing the Shouyang Group, or a loyal operative acting on orders to contact the rebels. Her identity was far too complicated. In any case, this explained why Nian Qin stayed in the shop even after the Fengdu Guard attacked, rather than making a run for it.

Sensing Bo Yan's lingering aura on An Jing, the talisman ignited and went up in smoke. Had it still been tucked inside the watch strap when Nian Qin encountered Bo Yan, the heat would have alerted her the moment they crossed paths.

For whatever reason, Bo Yan simply hadn't gone to Nian Qin. It pointed to either a miscommunication or, worse, a mole on either side. Nian Qin was likely attacked by her own people. It would explain why she never had the chance to draw her talismans or fire a single shot, despite her formidable strength and a wealth of hidden aces.

An Jing had probably caught Nian Qin's eye because he was a "badlander" and perhaps related to her target. The battle for the True Talisman was clearly far more convoluted than it appeared. Even with Purple Mansion sage acting as a decoy, Bo Yan, who should have been safe, was somehow compromised, pulling An Jing into the crossfire. There had to be moles within the Justice Restoration Army as well.

Spies on top of spies? Everyone's infiltrating everyone else, drowning the truth in noise and playing an endless game of nesting plots with their intel. An Jing felt a sharp throb in his temples. What a complete mess! It's a good thing I can step out of this muck whenever I want.

However, Void Embrace was also a swamp. Just thinking about the tangled web between Grand Chen and the demonic cult was enough to make his head spin. If only this world were black and white, but nothing was ever that simple.

Naturally, An Jing wanted to get to the bottom of the True Talisman, but the waters only grew muddier the deeper he dug. He refused to follow Nian Qin's map for a simple reason—there was a mole in their ranks. The Skywatch Bureau was likely already camping at the exit, waiting to pounce on whoever walked through.

He committed each of them to his memory. Whatever happens, I've marked them all, the Fengdu Guard, the Justice Restoration Army, and every single traitor and mole pulling the strings from the shadows!

Still, fortune favored the bold. While the fight for the True Talisman dragged An Jing through several close brushes with death, the spoils with which he walked away were staggering.

Setting aside the two Hexlotus Platform subunits that had been destroyed, the swift talisman, stimulant pill, and self-destruct drone he had used, he still had the Hexlotus Platform with its ten subunits, three self-destruct drones, the tool-meal set, two stimulant pills, one swift talisman, one jade armor pendant, and six liang of jadeslice steel.

That wasn't even counting the sword case and weapons he originally owned as well as the True Talisman, the evergreen core and the rechargeable grade-two spirit stone he had stripped from the Fengdu Armor.

Those final two items were likely worth more than the rest combined. Unfortunately, they couldn't be converted to instant combat power just yet. His bulletproof mantle and gas mask might have been useless earlier, but as artifacts, they were still effective against both heavenly fiends and cultists in Void Embrace.

Oh, that's right! I've still got that stack of refreshing talismans from the owner of Fortune Road! An Jing cursed his own carelessness. He had completely overlooked the talisman that could erase scents, cleanse, and hide his presence. No wonder the talisman ignited upon contact. Bo Yan's aura still clung to him!

But it wasn't too late. He quickly pulled out a refreshing talisman and channeled his qi essence to activate it. The talisman disintegrated into ash, releasing a soft breeze that washed over An Jing, stripping away the dust and the lingering stench of blood.

Now I can leave without a worry. After a quick sniff to ensure no trace of the scent remained, a satisfied An Jing continued on his way. I wonder how the store owner is doing. He's got way more protective items than me, so he must have slipped away before the Purple Mansion experts even started fighting. If destiny wills it, we shall meet again.

However, there was no time to spare. An Jing hadn't even tested the True Talisman's potency. It seemed he had to embed it into his own flesh and infuse it with his true origin qi essence to unleash its power.

Even a minor draw on his true origin qi essence could sap away at his lifespan. An Jing refused to touch it until he fully grasped its properties and side effects. It was only because he had lost an arm and was ravaged by the chthonic poison that Bo Yan was willing to use his true origin qi essence to activate the talisman.

Regarding this, the sword soul showed a rare initiative. "The True Talisman is intertwined with the nature of life. If it's not placed in a compatible formation or ritual, the talisman must instead be nourished by life qi essence."

It was an ancient immortal sword, after all. Though it was no master of formations, Yvelbane's insight into the True Talisman surpassed almost any other. "An Jing, your current qi essence is insufficient and we're short on time. But once you've dealt with the demonic cult, I have a way for you to use the evergreen core to increase your qi essence and elevate it straight into the Tide Essence Stage.

"By doing so, you may attempt to link your qi essence and Evenstar lethal qi with the talisman. Once you've imprinted your qi essence onto the talisman, I can draw it into your sea of consciousness and help you refine it. When that is done, its function and the means to wield it will be fully revealed to you."

An Jing let out a slow breath and said, "Thank you, Yvelbane."

"Our fates are intertwined; we sustain each other." Yvelbane chuckled. "Like me, it is an ancient relic. Should you succeed in refining it, I might be able to reclaim some of my forgotten past."

Pressing on relentlessly, An Jing arrived at the upper reaches of the waterway. He was so close to the surface that he could sense the massive fluctuation of spirit qi in the distance. Evidently, the battle between the two sages had yet to reach its conclusion. Or rather, they had reached a tacit understanding to use the cover of battle to block all paths around the black market.

There's no one here.

Channeling Sword of Tranquility allowed An Jing's heightened senses to guide him past populated streets. He finally arrived beneath a narrow alley. Once he was certain the coast was clear, he pried open the manhole cover and emerged from the sewer.

A quick glance at the map on Nian Qin's watch confirmed his bearings. Then, An Jing immediately set out for the outskirts of Deepnight City. He quickly blended into the crowd on the street, maintaining a brisk pace until he reached an abandoned, unfinished building on the city's edge. At last, he had escaped the black market.