Chapter 172: Ling Xiaobai Advances, Reincarnation Ancient Cave

Chapter 172: Ling Xiaobai Advances, Reincarnation Ancient Cave

"This actually is Shen Meng Shangren's cave, the layout map of Reincarnation Ancient Cave!"

As Chu Ning carefully examined the entire map, his face lit up with joy.

Combining this with the fact that the Song family had previously arranged for He Mingjin to chase and kill another cultivator to snatch the map he now possessed, Chu Ning was almost certain that the cave near Shuiyun Island was most likely the Reincarnation Ancient Cave.

And now, he had obtained the complete layout of the cave.

As soon as Ling Xiaobai came out of seclusion, he was determined to go and explore it.

With this thought, Chu Ning didn't even feel like examining the other items in detail.

He glanced through Song Feng's storage bag and found that it mainly contained spiritual stones, pills, talismans, as well as some spiritual herbs and demon beast materials.

He then stored everything into his own bag.

After that, Chu Ning went into the adjacent cultivation room and carefully studied the layout map.

As he examined it, his expression became more complex.

"This Reincarnation Ancient Cave has so many restrictions and formations. It's a good thing I got this map.

Otherwise, even if Xiaobai brought me inside, it would be difficult to explore too much of this cave.

But this map marks the restrictions without indicating how to break them. What's the point of having this map then?"

Muttering to himself, Chu Ning fell into contemplation.

The fact that Song Feng had this map on him, coupled with Song Ye's earlier actions in the Moon Cave, made Chu Ning's gaze fall back onto the beast hide map in front of him.

"This beast hide map looks new, it should be recently made.

That would mean the Song family should have more than one copy.

They must have been searching for Shen Meng Shangren's cave all this time. Since Song Ye was searching so meticulously, they will likely find the area near Shuiyun Island sooner or later.

And with such a detailed layout map, once they find the exact location, they might immediately start planning to enter."

As Chu Ning thought about this, he realized that he should probably hurry and go there before the Song family does.

With that in mind, Chu Ning immediately walked out of the cultivation room and headed towards the periphery of the Spirit Beast room.

At this moment, due to the life contract with Ling Xiaobai, Chu Ning didn't need to deliberately open the Spirit Beast room to check on her.

As long as he was nearby, he could roughly sense Ling Xiaobai's state.

So at this moment, a smile appeared on Chu Ning's face as he sensed Ling Xiaobai's condition.

"Xiaobai's aura has reached the level of a second-rank demon beast. Looks like her advancement was successful.

She's probably just stabilizing her realm and should be out of seclusion soon."

Just as Chu Ning was thinking this, a "whine" sounded in his mind.

Immediately, Ling Xiaobai's voice echoed.

"I've advanced!"

Accompanying the sound of her voice, the restrictions on the Spirit Beast room fluctuated, and Ling Xiaobai appeared within Chu Ning's line of sight.

"Xiaobai, you have two tails now!"

The first thing Chu Ning noticed were the two snow-white tails behind Ling Xiaobai.

The next moment, his gaze fell on her forehead.

There, on the pair of curved horns, were some additional silvery patterns.

Vaguely, Chu Ning seemed to sense that those patterns held the same mystical ability as talismans to communicate with the heaven and earth's spiritual energy.

Aside from that, Ling Xiaobai's overall appearance hadn't changed much.

Chu Ning, with a hint of curiosity, asked Ling Xiaobai:

"Xiaobai, what divine abilities do you have now?"

Ling Xiaobai tilted her little head to the side, and in the next moment, she suddenly transformed into a wisp of nothingness.

Then, in the blink of an eye, she reappeared in front of Chu Ning.

"This..."

Chu Ning exclaimed in surprise as he realized that even in that brief moment, he couldn't sense Ling Xiaobai's movements,

"Is this extreme speed or instantaneous movement?"

"It's not instantaneous movement, just extremely fast speed. However, during the movement, I can't be locked on by spiritual sense."

Ling Xiaobai explained.

Chu Ning nodded in understanding.

The next moment, Ling Xiaobai's voice sounded again.

"I feel like I have other divine abilities as well. This tail can save my life.

If I'm badly injured in the future, I must find a way to bring my tail along.

Because if my tail falls off due to severe injuries, I will drop a realm.

I need to reattach my tail, otherwise, I'll have to cultivate for a long time again."

"One tail equals one life."

Chu Ning's mouth hung open slightly in amazement after hearing this.

He had never heard of such a divine talent before.

"Anything else?" Chu Ning asked curiously.

Ling Xiaobai tilted her little head as if thinking, then continued,

"I can now actively cultivate by absorbing heaven and earth's spiritual energy."

As she spoke, the silvery patterns on her curved horns shimmered.

In the next moment, streams of heaven and earth's spiritual energy converged towards Ling Xiaobai.

Chu Ning asked in surprise,

"Couldn't you absorb spiritual energy to cultivate before?"

"No," Ling Xiaobai shook her little head.

"Before, I could only absorb heaven and earth's spiritual energy through breathing and by eating spiritual fruits."

Chu Ning was speechless upon hearing this.

No wonder he had felt that this little thing was just sleeping all the time.

But even without the ability to actively absorb spiritual energy for cultivation, her progress had been so fast.

Now that she could actively absorb heaven and earth's spiritual energy for cultivation, how fast would her progress be?

As if sensing Chu Ning's thoughts, Ling Xiaobai proudly "whined".

"Also, I feel like there's a part of my body that can store things?

Ling Xiaobai's mouth sprayed out a beam of white light, enveloping the items.

In the next moment, she sucked everything back into her mouth, making the items disappear from the floor.

Chu Ning was intrigued. "How do you take these things out now?"

As soon as Chu Ning finished speaking, Ling Xiaobai opened her mouth and sprayed out another beam of white light.

Instantly, the items that had disappeared reappeared on the ground.

Chu Ning clicked his tongue in wonder. "So, you basically have a portable storage space now?"

"Whine!" Ling Xiaobai replied, indicating there was more.

"More?" Chu Ning narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the little creature, who seemed to have gained more divine abilities than him after her advancement.

Ling Xiaobai spoke up, "From now on, I can help you pass through restrictions six times in a row."

"Oh?" Chu Ning's eyes lit up at the news, and he quickly added, "That's perfect timing. I was just thinking of taking you to explore an ancient cultivator's cave."

"Whine!" Ling Xiaobai whined excitedly, clearly eager to showcase her new abilities.

Chu Ning glanced outside and saw that it was already evening, and the sky would soon darken.

However, the timing for their departure was just right.

According to Wen Yanchao's previous information, Moon Viewing Mountain was located fifty miles southeast of Shuiyun Island, on a lake.

Occasionally, cultivators would go fishing in the area during the day.

So, it was a suitable time for him to head there now.

Without further delay, Chu Ning instructed Ling Xiaobai to enter his sleeve and changed his appearance before departing from Feihong Island. He made a quick stopover at a random island along the way and soon arrived at Shuiyun Island.

After checking his direction, he immediately flew southeast.

At this moment, Chu Ning had concealed his aura, appearing as a cultivator at the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

On their way, they encountered a few cultivators, but none of them paid much attention to Chu Ning.

After covering a distance of about fifty miles southeast of Shuiyun Island, Chu Ning began to descend closer to the lake's surface.

At the same time, he communicated with Ling Xiaobai, who was in his sleeve, through divine sense.

"Xiaobai, do you sense any restrictions nearby?" Chu Ning asked.

"No!" Ling Xiaobai replied.

Chu Ning didn't lose heart. The ancient map he had only marked a rough location.

But now that they were at the actual site, it was natural that the accuracy would be off.

So, he started flying back and forth in the surrounding area, expanding the range of Ling Xiaobai's sensing abilities.

Even after covering an area of ten miles, Ling Xiaobai still didn't sense anything.

"Could my deduction be wrong? Could the ancient map not be indicating the location of the Reincarnation Ancient Cave after all?" Chu Ning frowned slightly, then continued to expand his search area.

...

As Chu Ning searched the lake, back in the discussion hall of the Qianhuan Pavilion within the Song family, Song Li remained seated in the main seat, with Song Cheng sitting in the upper seat next to him.

Song Ye, however, was pacing back and forth in the hall, looking impatient.

"What's going on with Song Feng? We agreed on a time, and now it's almost dark, but he still hasn't shown up," Song Ye said, his gaze falling on a black-robed man standing in the hall.

"Didn't Song Feng tell you where he was going after he met with you?" Song Ye asked.

The black-robed man shook his head. "After giving me the time and place, he left immediately. He didn't mention where he was going."

Before Song Ye could say more, Song Li, seated in the main seat, spoke up, "Ding Biao, go back and ask the people guarding the teleportation formation on your island if Feng'er teleported to any other island. See if we can find any clues."

"Yes!"

The man named Ding Biao bowed and quickly left the discussion hall.

At this moment, Song Li looked at the pacing Song Ye and shook his head. "Second brother, don't be so anxious. Feng'er probably had something important come up."

Song Li and the others didn't even consider the possibility of something unexpected happening to Song Feng.

After all, in this world of a thousand lakes and islands, no one would dare to touch a Song family cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Hearing this, Song Ye hummed in acknowledgment. His eyes flickered, deep in thought.

Soon, Ding Biao returned and greeted the others with a bow. "Master, I asked the person guarding the teleportation formation. Brother Song Feng did not leave the island through the teleportation formation today."

"He didn't leave through the teleportation formation?" Song Li's eyebrows furrowed slightly at this news.

Ding Biao nodded. "That's right. And I just inquired with the people at the Qianhuan Island teleportation formation as well. Brother Song Feng did not return to the island through the formation either."

"Feng'er isn't on the island?" Song Ye asked, his expression becoming complex.

"Second brother, is there something you want to say?" Song Li asked, noticing his expression.

Song Ye frowned. "Could it be that the Chen, Shi, and Cen families are up to something? Could something have happened to Feng'er?"

A glint flashed in Song Li's eyes at the suggestion, but he soon shook his head. "It's unlikely. Even if we gave those families a few guts, they wouldn't dare to touch Feng'er.

He probably had something important come up. Let's postpone it for a day and wait for him to come back."

Moreover, I already gave him a map of the cave. If something happens to him, wouldn't we be giving other cultivators an opportunity to get ahead of us?"

Hearing Song Ye's words, Song Li fell into contemplation before deciding, "Fine, then you can go. Cheng'er will go with you."

"Father, didn't you say that it would be too conspicuous for me to go out?" Song Cheng asked, puzzled.

"That was then, this is now." Song Li waved his hand. "Aside from you, we can't find a more suitable person in such a short time. Your second uncle is right.

This matter is of great significance to our Song family, and it's a rare opportunity.

As long as it's not me making a move personally, those old fellows won't pay too much attention.

You all should leave Qianhuan Island in batches."

"Alright, then let's assemble in the lake area southeast of Shuiyun Island." Song Ye was impatient and turned to leave as soon as he heard this.

Song Cheng didn't say anything further.

The group left the Qianhuan Pavilion one after the other, but instead of using the teleportation formation, they found relatively inconspicuous places from which to fly towards Shuiyun Island directly.

At this moment, Chu Ning had already expanded his search radius to twenty li around Shuiyun Island.

"Hmm, I sense something!" Ling Xiaobai suddenly exclaimed.

Chu Ning immediately stopped and looked at Ling Xiaobai with a delighted expression.

The little creature was now standing on Chu Ning's shoulder, staring intently at a spot below the lake's surface.

"It seems there's a restriction below us, but it's very weak, and I'm not sure," Ling Xiaobai said.

Chu Ning took out the Qingguang Pearl from his storage bag and dove into the lake.

The pearl could ward off water and illuminate the surroundings, proving to be very useful.

After diving about twenty zhang deep, he heard Ling Xiaobai's voice.

"There really is a restriction here. It's in the lower left, and we need to go deeper."

Following Ling Xiaobai's instructions, Chu Ning continued to move towards the lower left and further underwater.

After another one hundred and fifty zhang, the lake bed was no longer calm, with hidden currents swirling.

Vaguely, one could make out various small mountain peaks of different heights on the lake bed.

"It seems that this place used to be a mountain range, but it was later flooded and turned into a lake," Chu Ning muttered to himself as he carefully observed the terrain.

Then, he asked Ling Xiaobai, "Little White, do you sense the exact location now? Should we go in?"

"I sense it!" Ling Xiaobai replied happily.

"Let's go forward!"

Chu Ning continued forward for another fifty zhang.

Now, he had reached the mid-slope of a large mountain at the lake bed.

"Stop, we're here!"

Just as Chu Ning was considering whether to go around, Ling Xiaobai suddenly spoke up.

Chu Ning stopped immediately and looked forward, sensing the area with his spiritual sense.

The mountain in front of him was huge, extending downward for nearly two hundred zhang and upward for almost seventy or eighty zhang.

One could imagine that before the lake formed, this mountain was probably a towering peak nearly three hundred zhang tall.

"This is indeed a good place to set up a cave," Chu Ning thought to himself.

Just then, Ling Xiaobai spoke up again, "I sense a restriction twenty zhang to the lower left. I think it's the entrance."

Following Ling Xiaobai's guidance, Chu Ning arrived at a small platform on the mountain, and his eyes lit up.

Before him was a stone door leading into a cave.

Even without Ling Xiaobai's input, Chu Ning could feel the strong restriction fluctuations emanating from the door.

"Little White, do you sense any other abnormalities? Should we go in directly?" Chu Ning asked.

Tilting her head, Ling Xiaobai carefully sensed the area and replied, "This restriction is not strong, but it's deep. I can't sense what's inside. Should I go in and take a look first?"

"Alright!" Chu Ning agreed, but his eyes suddenly flickered, and he looked upward.

He abruptly released his spiritual sense, expanding his perception a hundred zhang towards the lake's surface.

The next moment, he quickly retracted his spiritual sense, his expression changing slightly.

"Song Ye? How did he get here, and he's not alone.

They're heading towards the lake bed. Could it be that the Song family has also pinpointed the exact location of this cave?" Chu Ning wondered.

"Little White, we're out of time. Let's go in now," he said to Ling Xiaobai.

If they were on land, Chu Ning would have chosen to hide first and let the Song family take the lead.

In case of any danger, it would be better for others to face it first.

However, they were nearly two hundred zhang underwater, and he had to rely on the Qingguang Pearl. Even with his Concealment Art and suppressed aura, the pearl's magical fluctuations would still be detectable by the other party.

It was better to enter the cave first and deal with any potential dangers later.

Hearing Chu Ning's words, Ling Xiaobai released a white light from her horn, enveloping Chu Ning.

Chu Ning immediately put away the Qingguang Pearl.

In the next moment, Ling Xiaobai drilled into the stone door with the restriction, disappearing from view along with Chu Ning.

At the same time, above the lake, Song Ye's eyebrows furrowed as he asked Song Cheng, who was at the First Emperor stage, "Do you sense anyone else's spiritual sense sweeping over us just now?"

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year's Eve. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers a Happy New Year!!!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end