Chapter 212: Chapter 4: Five Qi towards the Yuan Cave
 

The Pavilion Master of the Yuqing View, the Sect Leader of Xuan Du, was a middle-aged man dressed in a white robe, with a refined and scholarly demeanor.

If Luo Yan hadn’t already known of his identity, he probably would have taken him for some great scholar, an important official in the Imperial Court, or a prefect of a region at first sight.

“Please, have a seat,” the Sect Leader of Xuan Du said kindly.

Luo Yan then respectfully sat down on the cushion.

“Do you specialize in formation techniques?” the Sect Leader of Xuan Du asked gently, “Elder Shi Ding has mentioned that you have been promoted to the Refining Mansion Rank.”

“To answer the Pavilion Master,” Luo Yan replied earnestly, “the junior indeed specializes in formation techniques and was fortunate to achieve Marrow Cleansing during a visit to the Pavilion, followed by a fortuitous event on the Three Isles Treasure Ship that led me into the Refining Mansion.”

“There’s no need to add ‘to answer the Pavilion Master’ before you speak,” the Sect Leader of Xuan Du laughed heartily, looking at his son, Tian Zhang, who stood by his side, “Luo Yan is cautious and polite, while you are lazy and disrespectful. When will you, my boy, learn his thorough manners?”

Tian Zhang immediately caught the hint and said with a laugh,

“I shall definitely learn earnestly from Brother Luo.”

Luo Yan smiled, knowing that this was the Sect Leader of Xuan Du’s way of expressing his intent to become closer.

If his son couldn’t marry Shi Liuli, it was still good to interact more with Luo Yan.

“Have you encountered any difficulties recently?” the Sect Leader of Xuan Du continued to inquire.

Luo Yan thought to himself that the critical moment had arrived, and this was an opportunity to receive a favor! Trying to appear a bit embarrassed, he said,

“There are no other difficulties, only that I worry about my limited lifespan; I fear it would be difficult to advance to the Core Condensation Rank.”

To the ears of the Sect Leader of Xuan Du and Tian Zhang, this seemed entirely reasonable:

Luo Yan started cultivation at the age of twenty, and within ten years, he encountered fortuitous events that propelled him into the Refining Mansion Rank—his progress could not be faster.

Upon careful calculation, by the time he reached one hundred ninety years old, he would still have one hundred sixty years to cultivate, just forty years shy of forming a High-Grade Golden Core.

If one lacked only this final step and because of missing opportunities, couldn’t break through, who could be content?

After a long contemplation, the Sect Leader of Xuan Du slowly said,

“The View has always provided key support and cultivation to outstanding disciples. Some days ago, in the transaction with Shushan, there was a surplus of about three spoonfuls of the Mercurial Elixir Liquid.”

Luo Yan almost choked upon hearing this: I’ve already drunk the Mercurial Elixir Liquid!

Seeing that Luo Yan had no reaction, Tian Zhang thought he didn’t know what it was and explained,

“This Mercurial Elixir Liquid is a famous and precious elixir of the ancient Human Race, where one spoonful is roughly equivalent to the cultivation level of sixty years in the Refining Mansion.”

“The preparation of this medicine is extremely complex, requiring a variety of rare minerals, Spiritual Medicine, and even materials from Demonic Beasts. Hence, the process has traditionally been that Shushan provides the raw materials, we are responsible for refining them, and then we split the output.”

“I see,” Luo Yan could only force a smile.

Seeing the perfunctory joy on his face, the Sect Leader of Xuan Du could tell something was amiss, thinking to himself that this junior… surely couldn’t have drunk it already, could he?

Well, the Heavenly Craft Workshop has extensive connections; it wouldn’t be surprising if Elder Shi Ding had already acquired the Mercurial Elixir Liquid for him.

“Besides the Mercurial Elixir Liquid,” the Sect Leader of Xuan Du continued with a smile, “there’s also the option of the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave.”

“The Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave?” Luo Yan said, surprised.

“That is a cave located overseas,” Tian Zhang explained, “The exact location is confidential, currently only in our hands at the Yuqing View.”

“Deep within the cave, there lies a vent of Dynasty Yuan vital energy, where one can absorb the Dynasty Yuan spiritual energy through breathing, which has miraculous effects of repairing damages and filling deficiencies.”

Dynasty Yuan spiritual energy? Luo Yan immediately pondered within his memories.

The so-called Dynasty Yuan spiritual energy should be a unique form of spiritual energy found at the end of a Dragon Vein.

The Dragon Veins of the Divine Land Continent run from east to west, beginning in the Kunlun Mountain Range and ending deep in the East Sea.

The spiritual energy produced at the end of a Dragon Vein is called “Dynasty Yuan spiritual energy,” which, according to records, encompasses the Way of the Five Elements of Acquired Nature, possessing effects that bring forth life from the brink of death, heal the living and mend the dead, enable old women to bear children, and cause withered trees to sprout anew. It is one of the world’s most elusive and remarkable things.

Turning a damaged Purple Mansion into a Jade Mansion naturally falls within the scope of ‘repairing damages and filling deficiencies.’

The only problem is that this item is incredibly rare, so much so that there are very few records of it. If Luo Yan didn’t possess a wide knowledge and a strong memory, he might not even recall it.

“If that’s the case,” he carefully considered his words and asked, “why have I never heard of it within the Pavilion?”

“Because the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave is extremely dangerous, few people venture there, hence not many know of it,” Master of Xuandu said solemnly, “Yuqing View can grant you permission to explore, but there are many risks involved. Elder Shi Ding and you need to discuss these beforehand to decide whether or not you should go.”

Luo Yan bid farewell to Master of Xuandu and returned to the Heavenly Craft Workshop with a heavy heart, only to see Shi Liuli chatting with Elder Shi Ding.

“…In any case, during that time in Gui Xu, I took care of junior brother all by myself!” Miss Shi puffed out her chest proudly, like a peacock, “I also learned to cook during that time.”

“Very good, very good,” Elder Shi Ding was nearly tamed into a nodding puppet, always praising, then turned his head to Luo Yan, who had come back, “What’s up?”

“It’s like this,” Luo Yan glanced at Miss Shi and asked, “Father, have you ever heard of the ‘Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave’?”

“Did Pavilion Master mention this to you?” Elder Shi Ding frowned, “That’s no good place.”

“What is the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave?” Shi Liuli curiously asked.

“This cave is located under the deep sea, meandering and extensive,” Elder Shi Ding explained, “Ordinary cultivators who enter are unlikely to return, with nine out of ten not making it back.”

“A casualty rate of over ninety percent?” Luo Yan exclaimed, “So dangerous, are there demons inside?”

“That’s not it,” Elder Shi Ding sighed, “It’s just that the cave is winding and deep. Moreover, the magnetic fields inside are chaotic, causing most path-finding magical treasures to fail. This leads many cultivators to lose their way inside, becoming trapped and unable to exit.”

“How deep is the cave approximately?” Shi Liuli asked curiously.

“If converted to distance, it’s at least over ten thousand li,” Elder Shi Ding replied.

Luo Yan’s heart jumped: Ten thousand li? The radius of the Earth before he crossed over was just around twelve thousand li… But this figure refers to the effective length of a cavern, not a straight line, so it must be an incredibly deep sea cave.

“If it were your fourth senior brother, I definitely wouldn’t let him go,” Elder Shi Ding’s tone shifted, then added, “But Luo Yan, you do have corresponding advantages.”

“What advantages?” Luo Yan was about to speak when he heard Shi Liuli’s coquettish question, “Father, don’t keep us in suspense, just tell us.”

“Luo Yan has a good memory.” Elder Shi Ding laughed, “Although the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave is extensive and winding, it doesn’t change its topography or reshape the way back like the Fire Element Cave in Shushan does from time to time.”

“As long as you can remember the way you came, you can safely return the same way.”

“I see,” Luo Yan was about to speak when Shi Liuli interrupted, “Then I want junior brother to take me there to play!”

“Absolutely not!” Elder Shi Ding’s face changed immediately, speaking sternly, “You are still at the Marrow Cleansing Rank and haven’t reached the Refining Mansion stage yet; what would you do in the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave?”

“I’m not at ease with junior brother going alone,” Shi Liuli quickly changed her plea, “It’s to protect him, as well as to memorize the terrain in advance to make it easier for me after reaching the Refining Mansion stage.”

“Absolutely not!” Luo Yan sighed, then heard Elder Shi Ding emphatically declare, his face turning ashen.