Chapter 157: Sharing a Cave Abode (Two in One) (Part 1)

Chapter 157: Sharing a Cave Abode (Two in One) (Part 1)





After flying for over an hour, Chu Ning entered Fei Hong Island and made his way to his cave abode.

Cenzi Jin still showed no signs of waking up. Chu Ning frowned slightly and took out a bottle of pills from his storage bag. He then lifted the veil covering her face.

A face of exquisite beauty came into view. Her eyes were tightly shut, and a trace of blood stained the corner of her mouth, giving her pale face an ethereal quality.

Even so, Chu Ning couldn't help but marvel at her beauty. She truly lived up to her nickname, "Fairy."

Chu Ning took a pill from the bottle and placed it in her mouth. These pills were among the items he had obtained from Shang Rui's storage bag.

The pill melted instantly, saving Chu Ning the trouble of having to feed her water. He then laid her on the bed.

Next, he took out several Rejuvenation Charms from his storage bag and activated them, channeling their healing magic onto her body.

Despite her unconscious state, Cenzi Jin's vitality seemed strong. Chu Ning's worries eased as he knew that at their level of cultivation, their healing techniques would automatically activate to some extent after sustaining injuries.

With his assistance, it was only a matter of time before she woke up.

Chu Ning then sat down nearby and began to meditate to restore his spiritual energy. The consecutive battles and the long flight had taken a toll on his reserves.

After a few grand cycles, his spiritual energy was fully replenished. However, Cenzi Jin was still asleep.

Chu Ning decided to tend to the herb garden at the back of the cave.

When he returned to the chamber, he was surprised to find that Cenzi Jin had already sat up and was meditating with her eyes closed. Her veil was gone, revealing her exquisite and otherworldly face.

Realizing that she was healing, Chu Ning breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to leave.

"Fellow Daoist Chu," Cenzi Jin's eyes were now open, and her expression was somewhat grave.

Chu Ning paused and entered the stone room. "I'm glad to see you awake, Fellow Daoist Cen. How are you feeling now?"

Cenzi Jin shook her head. "The fatal blow I received was fierce, and my injuries are not light. I'm afraid it will take two to three months to recover fully."

She paused before continuing, "I should have returned to my family to recuperate as soon as I felt better, but due to some special circumstances, it's not convenient for me to go back just yet. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to stay here for a while. If it's inconvenient for you, I can find another place."

Chu Ning was slightly taken aback by her request but nodded in agreement. "Of course, Fellow Daoist Cen. My cave abode has many stone chambers, so it's not a problem at all."

In truth, Chu Ning had hesitated for a moment because he had quite a few secrets. However, he felt that her request was not excessive, and it would be impolite to refuse outright. Besides, their normal cultivation practices shouldn't interfere with each other, and he didn't believe he had many secrets to hide.

A smile appeared on Cenzi Jin's face upon hearing his response. "In that case, thank you, Fellow Daoist. I'll be sequestering myself to heal for the next few days, so please don't disturb me."

This was the first time Chu Ning had seen Cenzi Jin smile without her veil. Despite her pale complexion, her captivating beauty was undeniable. He found himself unable to look away.

Snapping out of his daze, Chu Ning said, "Then I'll let you heal. If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."

With that, he left the stone room and closed the door.

The next moment, the door's restriction talismans flashed. Cenzi Jin was intimately familiar with the arrays she had crafted, and she knew that Chu Ning had just activated the restrictions on the stone room.

With the restrictions in place, even if Chu Ning used the control jade talisman to enter, it would create a significant disturbance, alerting her.

Cenzi Jin's eyes flickered, and she took out a pill from her storage bag, swallowed it, and continued to meditate and heal.

Chu Ning, on the other hand, went to the adjacent cultivation room. He had prepared several extra stone chambers, some of which were empty, though they lacked beds and other furnishings.

He decided to make do with the cultivation room for the night and buy the necessary items from the market on the island the following day.

He considered looking through the storage bags of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators but ultimately decided against it. After all, Cenzi Jin had been the one to defeat them, and it was clear that they had targeted her. Perhaps she would want to investigate their belongings further.

Before beginning his cultivation, Chu Ning checked his cultivation proficiency.

【Yan Huo Shen Mu Gong (High-Rank Mysterious Tier), First Layer (1304/5000)】

【Jiu Yan Lian Ti Jue, First Volume, Unbreaking Muscle 949/1500】

【Lian Shen Shu, Second Layer 705/2000】

Without the Greenwood Primordial Yang Pill, he would have to rely on spirit stones for his cultivation from now on.

This method would take relatively longer, as even with his exceptional absorption of spiritual energy from spirit stones, it couldn't compare to the direct effects of a pill.

After consuming a Golden Orchid Fruit and completing his cultivation of the Jiu Yan Lian Ti Jue, Chu Ning took out a medium-grade spirit stone and began cultivating the Yan Huo Shen Mu Gong.

Upon reaching the perfection of the Refining Qi stage, a medium-grade spirit stone could help him increase his proficiency in the Yan Huo Shen Mu Gong by about three points. However, it would also take a significant amount of time. Chu Ning usually chose to do this at night.

During the day, he cultivated using the spiritual energy within the Yan Mu Shuang Sheng Guo (Blazing Wood Twin Birth Fruit).

After cultivating the Yan Huo Shen Mu Gong, Chu Ning would finish his routine by cultivating the Lian Shen Shu.

He spent that night in the cultivation room.

Over the next three days, life in the cave abode returned to normal.

During this period, Chu Ning made a trip to Cai Wu Island. He delivered the talismans to the Cen Workshop and also purchased two sets of bedding. He certainly didn't want to sleep on the floor in the cultivation room every night.

The Cen Workshop staff conducted their transactions with Chu Ning as usual, unaware that their manager was currently residing in his cave abode.

In these three days, Chu Ning also tended to his spiritual plants and herbs, yielding a small harvest of Golden Orchid Fruits, ensuring a continuous supply for his body refinement.

So, he went ahead and forced twenty seeds to germinate and planted them.

Since he wasn't sure how long the wood spirit energy would remain within the flowers, Chu Ning didn't dare to plant them all at once and instead prepared to plant them in batches.

By doing so, he could prevent a situation where the flowers withered before he had a chance to absorb their wood spirit energy.

On the fourth day, Chu Ning was about to head to the herb garden.

When he opened the stone chamber, he found that the adjacent chamber was also open.

Hearing Chu Ning's movements, Cenzi Jin, dressed in white, stepped out.

She looked much the same as before her injury, and her face was no longer veiled.

Chu Ning took a moment to assess her, noting that her complexion was no longer as pale as it had been a couple of days ago, now with a hint of rosiness.

"It seems your injuries have improved significantly, Fellow Daoist Cen," Chu Ning remarked.

"Yes, they've stabilized," Cenzi Jin nodded slightly.

"But my injuries are more severe than I initially thought. It will likely take around three months to fully recover."

"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Cen. Take all the time you need to heal. This Fei Hong Island rarely has visitors.

In the three months since I established this cave abode, aside from the island's master, Fellow Daoist Jiang, no one else has paid a visit," Chu Ning reassured her.

Of course, he conveniently left out the three short-lived cultivators who had met their demise at his hands.

"Then I shall trouble you, Fellow Daoist. If there are any taboos in your abode, please let me know in advance," Cenzi Jin said.

Chu Ning thought for a moment before replying, "I have a herb garden and some spiritual plants at the back of my cave, but there's nothing else of note."

Among those spiritual plants were the Yan Mu Shuang Sheng Guo (Blazing Wood Twin Birth Fruit) and the Iron Soul Flower, both of which he preferred to keep to himself, even from Cenzi Jin, despite their growing familiarity.

After all, both of these plants were obtained from within the Spirit Realm and were not commonly found elsewhere.

Just then, Chu Ning added, "Oh, right, I also have two spiritual beasts. Let me introduce them to you to avoid any misunderstandings later on."

Cenzi Jin was taken aback for a moment, "Fellow Daoist Chu, aside from your expertise in talisman crafting, you're also well-versed in spiritual plants and beasts?"

"I wouldn't say I'm well-versed, but I've had some experience with them," Chu Ning replied modestly as he led Cenzi Jin to the spiritual beast chamber.

He released Ling Xiao Bai and the iron-skinned beast from their enclosures.

The iron-skinned beast had grown considerably over the past half a year of nurturing.

It now stood taller than an average person, roughly the size of an elephant.

Its strength had also reached the peak of the first tier, and it was likely to advance to the middle first tier soon.

Cenzi Jin didn't seem particularly interested in the iron-skinned beast.

However, her eyes lit up at the sight of Ling Xiao Bai.

"What a beautiful spiritual beast," she exclaimed.

As she spoke, she pointed to Ling Xiao Bai, who had jumped onto Chu Ning's shoulder, and asked, "What kind of spiritual beast is this? May I pet it?"

"I'm not sure what kind of spiritual beast it is either. I named it Ling Xiao Bai.

It's a bit shy around strangers, but it loves spirit fruits. If you want to get closer to it, Fellow Daoist Cen..." Chu Ning trailed off as Cenzi Jin produced a green spirit fruit from her storage bag.

Without hesitation, Ling Xiao Bai jumped down from Chu Ning's shoulder and walked over to Cenzi Jin, gently rubbing against her leg.

It let out a soft "whine" and happily devoured the spirit fruit she offered.

Even when Cenzi Jin reached out to stroke its snowy fur, it didn't object.

Chu Ning was slightly taken aback by Ling Xiao Bai's behavior.

Seemed like the little guy was easily swayed by food!

As if sensing Chu Ning's thoughts, Ling Xiao Bai turned to look at him and suddenly transmitted, "It's more comfortable and less hot staying by her side."

Chu Ning was surprised by Ling Xiao Bai's words.

That was when he remembered that Ling Xiao Bai was an ice-attributed beast.

With him currently cultivating the Yan Huo Shen Mu Gong and frequently practicing fire-attributed spells, it was no wonder that the little guy felt a bit put off by his company.

"Does she have more spirit fruits?" Ling Xiao Bai transmitted again.

Chu Ning couldn't help but chuckle inwardly as he transmitted back, "She probably has other spirit fruits with her. I'll ask her to give you some from time to time."

Upon hearing Chu Ning's reply, Ling Xiao Bai's little eyes sparkled with excitement, and its tail wagged happily.

Although Cenzi Jin originally had strong spiritual sense, Chu Ning's spiritual sense was no slouch either, and their conversation went unnoticed by her.

As he watched Ling Xiao Bai follow Cenzi Jin into the stone chamber, Chu Ning smiled and led the iron-skinned beast toward the herb garden and spiritual fields.

There was still plenty of empty space in Chu Ning's spiritual fields, despite the numerous spiritual plants he had cultivated.

The iron-skinned beast wandered off to find a spot to munch on some soil, leaving Chu Ning to tend to his spiritual plants.

By noon, Chu Ning had prepared a meal of spirit rice and a few side dishes, and he invited Cenzi Jin to join him for lunch.

At the Foundation Establishment stage, they could go for extended periods without eating, but Cenzi Jin readily accepted the invitation.

The two sat on the eastern side of the cave abode, enjoying their meal while taking in the scenic view of the lake.

After they finished eating, Chu Ning used a few minor spells to clean up.

Suddenly, Cenzi Jin remembered something and took out some tea-making tools from her storage bag. With a smile, she said to Chu Ning, "I remember you mentioning that spirit tea the other day. I happen to have some in my storage bag."

For cultivators skilled in fire and water-attributed spells like them, brewing spirit tea was a simple task.

Soon enough, they each held a cup of steaming hot spirit tea, the fragrant spiritual energy wafting from the cups.

It was then that Chu Ning realized he had been cultivating spiritual plants but had never grown spirit tea.

Since he had some extra space in the spiritual fields, he thought it might be a good idea to plant some spirit tea.

"Fellow Daoist Cen, do you have any seeds for this spirit tea? If you do, I can plant some in the spiritual fields," Chu Ning asked.

Cenzi Jin shook her head.

"I'm not familiar with spiritual plant cultivation, so I didn't prepare any seeds. If you want some, I can get them for you later and bring them over," she offered.

At the same time, he retrieved the Ghost Head Ruler and the Dragon Bone Claw from his own storage bag and placed them on the stone table in front of him.

Then, he addressed Cenzi Jin: "I got these items from the two cultivators you defeated. I thought they might be of use to you, so I haven't touched them."

"Thank you!" Cenzi Jin said as she took out a few items from both storage bags to examine.

There were some pills and jade slips, and Chu Ning vaguely noticed a few jade tokens as well.

Cenzi Jin's gaze drifted towards the distant lake, her beautiful eyes reflecting a mix of emotions, as she pondered the contents of the storage bags.

Chu Ning chose not to disturb her and quietly sipped his tea.

From Cenzi Jin's reaction, he could tell that his earlier suspicions were correct.

She must have discovered something from those storage bags, perhaps even guessing the reason behind the two cultivators' attack.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be wearing such a complicated expression.

After Chu Ning had drunk four or five cups of tea, Cenzi Jin finally sighed softly and withdrew her gaze.

She turned to him and said apologetically, "I apologize for my behavior, Fellow Daoist Chu. This place is indeed an ideal spot for cultivation and reflection, allowing me to calm my mind and ponder the complexities of the world."

Hearing this, Chu Ning glanced at her exquisite face and casually remarked, "It seems that the renowned Cen Xianzi of the Thousand Lakes and Islands is not as carefree as she appears."

Instead of taking offense, Cenzi Jin nodded slightly and said, "You are the first person to say that to me, but you are not wrong."

Cenzi Jin seemed like she wanted to say more, but she stopped herself. Instead, she pointed to the table and said, "In our previous encounter, if it weren't for your presence and timely assistance, I would have fallen into those two cultivators' trap. Technically, all these items should belong to you. However, I still have use for them, so I hope you can let me keep them. I will compensate you with something else."

"No problem." Chu Ning nodded in agreement, accepting Cenzi Jin's request.

He hadn't been too keen on claiming the items in the first place, and since she had taken the initiative to ask, he had no reason to refuse.

In fact, despite being Foundation Establishment cultivators, their cultivation methods and paths were different, so there might not be many items that he could actually use.

If he could exchange them for something more useful, that would be ideal.

Seeing Chu Ning's willingness to agree, Cenzi Jin immediately asked, "What kind of items are you looking for, Fellow Daoist Chu?"

Chu Ning thought for a moment before replying, "Pills, preferably those suitable for cultivators at the ninth layer or peak of Qi Refining."

After a brief pause, he added, "If there are any pills with fire and wood attributes, that would be even better."

During their previous encounter on Calm Lake Island, Chu Ning had already revealed his cultivation of wood-attribute techniques and spells, so there was no point in hiding it now.

"I have sixty pills of Jade Dew Pills, which are suitable for your needs. They are not specifically fire and wood-attributed, though," Cenzi Jin said as she took out three bottles of pills and placed them in front of Chu Ning.

At the same time, a look of realization crossed her face.

"So, Fellow Daoist Chu, you have a fire and wood spirit root. No wonder you possess such remarkable abilities."

Chu Ning smiled faintly, tacitly acknowledging her words.

At that moment, Cenzi Jin recalled their encounter on Calm Lake Island and the way Chu Ning had faced off against the enemies.

Her eyes, framed by long eyelashes, fixed upon him as she spoke.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, with your cultivation at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, you possess two top-grade magical artifacts. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would find them troublesome. During the Thousand Islands Competition, you must have held back a lot, keeping us all in the dark."

Chu Ning shook his head and explained, "Back then, I was only at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, so I was naturally at a disadvantage. I didn't dare to reveal my treasures easily."

Then, he looked at Cenzi Jin earnestly and said, "Regarding my background, I would appreciate your discretion, Fellow Daoist Cen. I just want to cultivate quietly and avoid attracting unnecessary trouble."

Cenzi Jin nodded slightly, acknowledging his request.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Chu. I don't wish to make a big deal out of this either," she assured him.

Chu Ning nodded in relief, as he had been worried about the recent spate of incidents over the past month.

As he picked up the three bottles of Jade Dew Pills that Cenzi Jin had offered, he was about to ask about their effects when a voice suddenly rang out.

"Who does this cave abode belong to? Please show yourself."

Chu Ning was taken aback by the voice outside.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he glanced outside, noting that the formation didn't obstruct the view from within the cave abode.

He saw two cultivators standing outside the formation, one in blue and the other in yellow. Their clothing seemed vaguely familiar, and their auras indicated that they were both at the Foundation Establishment stage.

At that moment, Cenzi Jin spoke up, "Liu Wanhong and Song Feng. Why are they here together?"

Hearing Cenzi Jin's words, Chu Ning's gaze sharpened.

No wonder their clothing seemed familiar; they were from the two prominent families.

However, he hadn't seen these two during the Thousand Islands Competition.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end