Chapter 415 - 408: True Monarch of Ghostly Fire’s Invitation (First Update, Requesting Subscription)
In the center, True Monarch Youhuo dressed in light-colored robes, resembling an unrivaled beauty, but her exquisite face was tinged with coldness.
"I don’t know! Occasionally, I obtained some ancient scrolls and practiced one or two techniques!" Lu Xuanji said, "Is this not infringing on the Hehuan Sect’s taboos?"
"It won’t!"
True Monarch Youhuo said, "However, I need your help with something!"
"What matter?"
Lu Xuanji asked.
"In Yue Country, I discovered a cave mansion and require your assistance!" True Monarch Youhuo said.
"I have just reached the Nascent Soul stage and my foundation is still unstable. I need to consolidate my foundation and am not planning to go out yet!" Lu Xuanji declined.
True Monarch Youhuo replied, "Inviting you mainly because of your Pure Yang Dao Body. In that Secret Realm, your unique physique can play a significant role!"
"If you decide to go, I will owe you one."
"No need!"
Lu Xuanji directly refused.
"What a pity!"
True Monarch Youhuo sighed slightly and was about to leave.
At this moment, Jin Xi came in and said, "If a friend invites, we naturally should go. But I am not at ease with only my husband going. I will accompany my husband!"
"Very well!"
True Monarch Youhuo smiled, "More people can share the risks! I have some preparations to make. We will meet again in three months!"
"Okay, we as a couple also need to prepare!"
Jin Xi said.
After some discussion, True Monarch Youhuo left.
"Xi’Er, why go! We are strangers in Yue Country, and it might not be safe. I also don’t trust True Monarch Youhuo’s character!" Lu Xuanji said, "Our focus should be on settling now, constantly honing our foundation!"
"Husband, I just calculated, and this journey is very auspicious!"
Jin Xi said, "The further one advances in cultivating immortality, the more resources it requires. After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, I consume a large amount of Spirit Stones, Spirit Medicines, and Spirit Pills each year; and even more resources are needed for you after reaching Nascent Soul. Just relying on the accumulation of Purple Sun Mountain and the Lu Family is far from enough!"
"Although this journey is fraught with dangers, the rewards are also great!"
Lu Xuanji nodded, "Fine, it can only be this way!"
Many times, one has to go despite knowing the dangers, just because of a lack of money.
The stronger one is, the more resources are consumed, and the more money is lacking.
Robbing a Golden Core Cultivator would make one rich;
But robbing a Nascent Soul Cultivator would leave one broke.
Recently, he kept inventorying the clan’s assets, but the clan’s wealth was far from enough to support a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s consumption.
...
Three months later.
In a tavern in the Mortal World of Yue Country, a man and a woman ascended the upper floor, taking out a token.
Under the maid’s hospitality, they entered a private room.
"Friends have arrived!"
True Monarch Youhuo smiled and said.
"Please sit!"
Lu Xuanji and Jin Xi sat down aside, waiting, and after a while, another man and woman appeared.
"Senior Brother Wangqing, Junior Sister Yaochi, you have arrived!"
True Monarch Youhuo smiled and said, "These two are True Monarchs of the Dan Yang Sect, one is True Monarch Xuanji, and the other is True Monarch Xi Yue."
True Monarch Youhuo spoke to introduce the identities of both parties.
Lu Xuanji nodded in greeting.
The opposite two cultivators also responded, appearing very cordial.
Yet all were vigilant.
Upon being served tea, neither side drank but looked at True Monarch Youhuo.
True Monarch Youhuo said, "During a journey, I discovered a Celestial Venerable’s Cave Mansion. According to my speculation, this cave mansion contains great treasures, but also insurmountable dangers, requiring the help of fellow daoists!"
"A Divinity Transformation Cave Mansion!"
Lu Xuanji listened, eyes brightening.
Jin Xi’s expression was also slightly excited.
When the two opposite cultivators were excited, a trace of apprehension also flashed in True Monarch Yaochi’s eyes: "It’s not easy to explore a Divinity Transformation Cave Mansion. Aside from the various arrays and traps inside, unknown risks could bring death."
True Monarch Wangqing also said, "There are three possibilities for a cave mansion left by a Divinity Transformation expert: The first possibility is that it’s merely a resting place, with few arrays, little power, and few treasures;
The second possibility is that it’s the lair of a Divinity Transformation expert, full of terrifying arrays and dangers;
The third possibility is the treasure hiding place of a Divinity Transformation expert, specifically left for descendants;
The fourth possibility, and the last one, is that it’s a fake ruin, meant to trap and kill Nascent Soul True Monarchs."
Though four possibilities were mentioned, emphasis was on the fourth.
In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, there are various ruins, ancient cave mansions, etc., extremely dangerous and filled with killing arrays.
Yet after the passage of time, many arrays are severely damaged, their power much diminished, and thus safer. But some ancient ruins are artificially created to trap and kill strong individuals, seizing their treasures.
The stronger one is, the more powerful the life-preserving abilities.
Nascent Soul Cultivators have an immortal attribute, with even more formidable life-preserving abilities.
Beating a Nascent Soul is easy, but killing one is immensely difficult.
Unless a Nascent Soul True Monarch accidentally falls into a sealed secret realm or is trapped in a sealed cave mansion, it would be difficult to kill a Nascent Soul.
Jin Xi also inquired, "Is that cave mansion safe?"
True Monarch Youhuo replied, "I’m not sure, but the possibility of it being a Divinity Transformation Cave Mansion is significant, though there’s still the chance of it being a fake!"
True Monarch Yaochi said, "Fortunes come with risks. Why not take a gamble! If you wish to withdraw, you can, but the information must not be leaked!"
"Having arrived, there is no plan to withdraw!"
Jin Xi also said.
Everyone nodded.
For this Secret Realm expedition, they utilized their connections and networks to purchase some top-tier treasures, able to withstand a wave of danger even when encountered.
"But how will the spoils be divided? This should be discussed now!" True Monarch Youhuo said.
"Since you discovered the cave mansion first, you should take a third, have first pick of the treasures, and the rest we will divide equally. If it’s not enough, compensation can be made with Spirit Stones!"
"Agreed!"
"A Heart Demon Contract must be signed!!"
"Naturally!"
Everyone discussed and quickly settled on the division of treasures, signing a heart demon oath.
Once agreed, everyone quietly disappeared.
...
After half a day of travel, they arrived at a small mountain village.
This small village, named Willow Tree Village, was just an ordinary small village.
At this moment, a group of people in the village was conducting a large-scale sacrifice, worshipping a willow tree.
The sacrifice was quite devout.
Concealing their traces, True Monarch Youhuo said, "Thirty odd years ago, I came to this small village and unexpectedly discovered a Great Cauldron. This Great Cauldron is just an ordinary stone cauldron, appearing extremely plain, but on the stone cauldron is engraved a Martial Arts cultivation technique."
"This martial technique focuses on body refining, constantly honing the physical body, capable of enhancing a martial artist’s combat power, and at its peak, even birthing a Spirit Root!"
With a wave of her hand,
the stone cauldron at the village entrance landed in her hand.
Simultaneously, a fake cauldron temporarily replaced the real one, placed at the village entrance.
