https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-104-Refusing-Matrimony-A-High-Stakes-Gamble/13510304/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-106-Soul-Ensnaring-Incense-Ritual/13510306/
Chapter 105: The Marvelous Uses of the Hidden Flame Treasure Gourd
Chapter 105: The Marvelous Uses of the Hidden Flame Treasure Gourd
October 11th, Cuiwei Valley.
The moment Xiao Chen woke up, he reached for his storage bag. From it, he retrieved a palm-sized crimson gourd—a top-grade magic artifact—and a tasseled brocade handkerchief embroidered with a Five Elements Diagram.
Su Laoye’s sudden decision had genuinely surprised him. This was a top-tier magical artifact, the kind that Foundation-Building cultivators typically possessed only one of, often reserved as a last-resort trump card.
Though the old man hadn’t explained himself, Xiao Chen had a premonition—something big was about to happen to the Su family.
“I’ll remember this favor. Within my capabilities, I’ll help you bear the burden.”
“If it comes to it… I’ll avenge you.”
He made the vow to himself. After all, he’d taken so many of the elder’s treasures—artifacts, pills, and spirit stones. The Evergreen Pill doubled cultivation speed for Foundation-Stage wood-attribute cultivators. The Gushing Spring Pill accelerated mana recovery fivefold when needed. But the Spirit-Nourishing Pill was truly unique: consuming it granted a cultivator a steady, continuous boost to spiritual sense intensity for twelve hours. If taken continuously for sixty-four days, it could double their spiritual perception entirely. This enhancement would aid not only in probing others but also in resisting external scrutiny or even spiritual sense-based attacks.
After swallowing a Spirit-Nourishing Pill, Xiao Chen exited the valley and headed to a familiar riverside clearing to test his new artifact. He’d already completed its refinement the previous night but still felt eager anticipation as he sensed its mana drain.
Activating a top-grade magic artifact required at least twelve mana channels, though the consumption was often higher. He injected twenty channels into the Hidden Flame Treasure Gourd before it finally lifted into the air. The once-tiny gourd expanded, towering over him.
This gourd could both unleash mysterious flames and absorb them. Xiao Chen pointed casually at a large bluestone by the riverbank. A jet of flame erupted, melting the stone into molten lava. The surrounding ground blackened and hardened, leaving a ten-foot-wide crater.
“Toxic Raven Black Flame!”
He summoned ten Xuan Fire Ravens, commanding them to attack the gourd while ordering it to absorb the flames. The artifact spun, its mouth facing the incoming fire. The flames seemed pulled by an invisible force, vanishing into the gourd’s depths.
“Huh? So it can store flames too?”
The Toxic Raven Black Flame hadn’t vanished—it was sealed inside the gourd. For the next month, he could release it at will as an attack. Even the Xuanyang Bing Fire was absorbed effortlessly. At this rate, the gourd could store eighty more blasts.
“No wonder it’s called the Hidden Flame Treasure Gourd—it can store fire-based techniques!” This meant he now had a defensive counter against fire spells… and even the ability to turn an opponent’s fire against them.
“Wait—what about Scarlet Flame Bombs?”
An idea struck him. He condensed a Scarlet Flame Bomb and commanded, “Seal it!” The gourd spun, swallowing the bomb whole.
“Whoa! It actually absorbed it?”
Though a first-tier spell, the Scarlet Flame Bomb was designed to breach formations, packing power rivaling second-tier spells. Its only flaw was the time needed to create thirty-six bombs. But now—
“If I pre-load thirty-six Scarlet Flame Bombs into the gourd, I could unleash them instantly!”
“Or seventy-two… for two instant casts?”
Each bomb occupied space equivalent to a Xuanyang Bing Fire blast. Theoretically, the gourd could hold eighty-one.
Xiao Chen immediately set to work, spending three quarters of an hour to create seventy-two bombs. Enough—any more would leave insufficient space for emergencies.
Next, he tested the tasseled brocade handkerchief. This artifact consumed thirty mana channels to activate, generating a Five Elements Magic Shield that cycled through elemental barriers to counter opposing techniques. Its four corners could embed spirit stones, covering 90% of mana costs. In battle, a cultivator needed only three channels to trigger the shield—effortless defense.
Later, he visited the Treasure Pavilion, spending 2,300 spirit stones on the cheapest top-grade flying sword. Between cultivation sessions, he practiced the Seven Stars Sword Technique to diversify his combat skills.
This peaceful routine lasted ten days until a sudden report shattered it—a sect disciple had gone missing, possibly linked to demonic cultivators in Heyang County. The newly formed Chu Mo Dian had taken the investigation.
“Isn’t Senior Brother Huang going?” Xiao Chen asked while reviewing mission scrolls at the sect hall. Huang Haoran, a Mid-Stage Foundation-Building guest elder, had joined Chu Mo Dian for its double cultivation subsidies.
“Originally, but the Swordcarving Forbidden Realm opens soon,” Mei Yong explained. “He and Brother Fu left two days ago to escort disciples there.”
“Another forbidden realm?” Xiao Chen frowned. “Why wasn’t I told?”
Mei Yong blinked. “Brother, you’re not a sword cultivator. The Swordcarving Realm only admits cultivation disciples. You couldn’t enter anyway.”
“Oh… just curious,” Xiao Chen shrugged. “Let’s focus on Heyang County.”
(End of Chapter)
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