Chapter 331: Unexpected Blessing in the Cave Chamber — A Demonstration of Power

"Indeed, there has been some change here," Lu Qing murmured as he advanced deeper into the mountain’s core along the winding passage.

The flow of spiritual energy within the tunnel was remarkably dense—not just abundant, but actively converging toward this inner sanctum. Soon, he came upon a shimmering Array Light Screen blocking his way.

"Even the defense array has regained some of its former power?" Lu Qing was surprised.

The Jade Transformation Cave Chamber had always been protected by such an array. When Li Weitian had first discovered it, the array still functioned faintly. It was precisely to break through that defense that Li Weitian had expended so much energy, nearly dying from the strain. With his lifespan already near its end, he had no choice but to risk a desperate breakthrough—only to perish within the chamber.

Now, after Lu Qing’s Qi Fu Su, the array had begun to stir once more, drawing in spiritual energy and even reactivating the light barrier.

The ancient cultivator who had originally crafted this cave chamber must have possessed truly incomprehensible mastery. Even without nourishment for countless years, the array still functioned as intended.

With a flicker of thought, Lu Qing extended a thread of his Spirit Soul Power from his brow’s Qi cavity toward the light screen.

As the heir of the Divine Seal Sect and one who had forged his Shen Hun Fu Lu, he was immune to the array’s defenses. Upon sensing the faint trace of his soul energy, the light barrier parted, allowing him to pass.

He stepped through. The barrier snapped shut behind him, sealing the chamber once more.

Lu Qing felt a wave of satisfaction. From now on, he could come here for cultivation without needing Xiao Li’s help to activate the gate.

Entering the Jade Transformation Cave Chamber, his delight deepened. The spiritual energy here was even denser than outside—nearly rivaling what he had sensed in Qinglong City.

"Perhaps I can make this place my permanent cultivation retreat," Lu Qing mused, studying the Array Inscriptions etched into the walls.

The original master had embedded a remarkably complete and powerful Fa Zhen within this chamber—capable of defense, spiritual energy gathering, and concealing one’s presence. The current abundance of Qi was clearly the result of the array’s Spirit Gathering function.

"And look—this Dipulse Spiritual Fluid is forming much faster," he noted, gazing at the jade transformation platform at the center.

A fresh droplet of the precious liquid had already formed, glowing with vibrant spiritual aura. The tip of the stalactite above it was similarly saturated with energy.

It wouldn’t be long before another droplet formed.

"Originally, it took twenty years to produce one drop. Now, after this Tian Di Bian Hua, it only takes about a year?" Lu Qing calculated, a look of genuine joy spreading across his face.

If true, this was excellent news.

Dipulse Spiritual Fluid was a rare treasure—capable of refining one’s innate talent, transforming the body, and unlocking immense potential. Even more astonishingly, it could revive the dead and heal even the most grievous wounds.

A substance so powerful was always better in greater quantity.

Previously, with Qi exhausted, waiting twenty years for one drop was unbearable. But now, one per year? That changed everything. Its value had skyrocketed.

And this was only the beginning. The world had just begun to recover. As Qi continued to surge, reaching levels like Zhong Zhou, the rate of formation might accelerate even further.

Then, this rare elixir could become one of Lu Qing’s most vital resources.

"This is truly an unexpected blessing," Lu Qing said, calming his excitement.

He entered his usual cultivation chamber and casually released a small cauldron.

It landed on the ground and, with a flash, expanded to nearly half a man’s height—revealing itself as the Lihuo Ding.

"Kid, you’re being utterly unfair! Why have you sealed my senses all this time?!"

A furious spiritual resonance erupted from within the cauldron—the voice of the cauldron’s spirit, Yan.

"My secrets are too many. I’d rather you not know too much," Lu Qing replied coolly.

Since he had subdued the Lihuo Ding, he had used a seal within the vessel to block Yan’s perception—trapping it within the inner space, cutting it off from the outside world.

Lu Qing’s calm reply left Yan momentarily speechless. It hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer, with no excuses.

But that wasn’t enough to quell its fury.

"You’ve locked me in completely. How am I supposed to gather Qi and recover? Remember, the stronger I become, the more valuable I am to you!"

"So I’ve released you now," Lu Qing said, unfazed. "The Qi here should be sufficient for you to recover gradually."

His indifference only enraged Yan further.

He was right—this kid wasn’t someone to be trifled with. That’s why I’d resisted being sealed in the first place. But I was outmatched. There’s no point in raging now.

Reluctantly, Yan set aside its anger and began scanning the surroundings.

Its eyes widened.

"Wait… the Qi here is incredibly dense! What is this place, kid?"

"Have you ever heard of the Divine Seal Sect?" Lu Qing asked.

To his surprise, Yan reacted with shock—its voice trembling.

"What? The Divine Seal Sect?!"

"Yes. The Divine Seal Sect. You seem to know it?"

Lu Qing felt a flicker of intrigue. Was the Divine Seal Sect truly a legendary sect from ancient times?

"Of course I know it! In the ancient cultivation era, the Divine Seal Sect was one of the most powerful sects in existence."

"Really?" Lu Qing was impressed.

But Yan instantly caught the hint in his tone.

"You’re not just some ordinary cultivator, are you? You’re connected to the Divine Seal Sect, aren’t you? That’s it—your Spirit Soul Power is extraordinary. You’re only at the initial Qi Gathering stage, yet your soul force rivals that of a Zhu Ji Qi cultivator. Back then, the disciples of the Divine Seal Sect were renowned for their immense soul strength."

Yan’s voice grew more certain. "You’re not just a disciple—you’re a direct descendant of the sect!"

But then doubt crept in.

"No… that can’t be. In the ancient era, Qi was declining, and the Heavenly Human Five Decay Cataclysm was an unavoidable doom for all cultivators above the Golden Core stage. Even the Divine Seal Sect couldn’t survive for tens of thousands of years without Qi."

Lu Qing smiled faintly. "You don’t need to guess. I’m not a disciple of the Divine Seal Sect. I merely obtained a fragment of their heritage by chance. This chamber is a small, forgotten refuge left behind by the sect long ago."

"A fragment of their heritage… and you’ve achieved this much?" Yan stared at him as if seeing a monster.

In the ancient era, the Divine Seal Sect was infamous for its extreme requirements. Many who were considered geniuses in other sects failed to even pass the entrance trial.

This was why, despite its fame, the sect remained small in numbers—especially compared to other top-tier sects.

Yet its disciples were legendary—mysterious, powerful, and unmatched in combat. In an age of countless prodigies, few were ever accepted.

And now, Lu Qing—just a fragment of heritage, no formal training—had achieved such a level of cultivation.

This wasn’t genius. It was monstrous.

No wonder he had triggered Jié Yún and passed the Heavenly Trial the moment Qi returned.

Yan finally understood. This young man wasn’t just powerful—he was terrifying.

"Yan, earlier you mentioned the Heavenly Human Five Decay Cataclysm. What exactly is it?" Lu Qing asked, intrigued by the fragment of information revealed.

"Ah… the Five Declines of Heaven and Man," Yan said, eyes narrowing. "Wanting to learn more from me? It’s not that simple. How about a trade?"

"What kind of trade?" Lu Qing asked, calm and still.

"You want to know about the ancient era? Fine. But you must meet my conditions. No more sealing my senses. I need to know what’s happening outside. If you agree, I’ll tell you about the Five Decay Cataclysm."

Lu Qing smiled. "We’ll see. Actually, I summoned the Lihuo Ding for another reason."

Yan’s heart sank. It had hoped for a bargain, but the boy had refused.

"Then what?" it asked, curiosity overcoming disappointment.

"This!"

Lu Qing pulled out the Qiankun Yiqi Dai from his waist. With two focused thoughts, he activated both Spirit Artifacts simultaneously.

The bag instantly expanded, spitting out a gray gourd.

Then, the Lihuo Ding’s mouth opened, and the gourd was instantly swallowed—sealed within the furnace’s heart.

Inside the gourd, the Plague Elder, who had just felt the shackles vanish, was stunned.

Before he could even celebrate, the world went dark. He was thrust into another space—one filled with searing heat, like being sealed in a furnace.

"Where the hell is this? Another Spirit Artifact’s inner space? Impossible! Even with his Qi Yun, he couldn’t possibly possess two Spirit Artifacts! If he did, even a casual activation would drain him dry!"

The Plague Elder tried to calm himself, probing the space with his spirit. But no matter how hard he searched, he found only emptiness.

Only a crushing, invisible force held him immobile.

His heart sank. Something was terribly wrong.

Still, he persisted, probing with every ounce of will.

But in another realm, unseen by him, Lu Qing and Yan observed the gourd.

"That gourd… is the Plague Elder’s own Spirit Artifact?" Yan asked, stunned.

"Does the elder know its origin?" Lu Qing asked.

"Of course I do! The Plague Elder was a major figure in the ancient era. Though only at the early stage of the Spirit Soul, he somehow managed to craft a true Spirit Artifact—this very gourd. With it, he became nearly invincible. Even against mid-stage Spirit Soul cultivators, he stood his ground.

His cautious nature, twisted tactics, and terrifying reputation made even powerful sects hesitate to provoke him. Ordinary sects? They’d flee at the mere mention of his name."

Yan spoke with admiration—no longer bargaining. He simply shared the truth.

"But how did this gourd end up in your hands?"

"Recently, during some affairs, I acquired it by accident," Lu Qing said casually.

Yan stared at him, eyes wide.

This kid’s luck is absurd. Holding three Spirit Artifacts? In the ancient era, that was impossible—unless one were a Great Divine Power at the peak of the Spirit Soul realm. Even then, such a secret would draw the lust of countless Spirit Soul cultivators.

After a long silence, Yan finally calmed.

"So… you want me to help with this gourd?"

"Yes. The gourd still holds the Plague Elder’s residual soul. I want you to help me annihilate it."

"Impossible!" Yan gasped. "How could the Plague Elder survive the Heavenly Human Five Decay Cataclysm? Wait… did he… possess his own Spirit Artifact’s spirit?"

Yan, a relic from the ancient era, deduced the truth in an instant.

"That’s what he claimed. His presence is blocking my efforts. Without his spirit, I can’t fully control the gourd. So I need your help to destroy him utterly."

The Plague Gourd was different from the Lihuo Ding. Lu Qing didn’t have the controlling incantations. He couldn’t force it as he did with the cauldron.

Only by erasing the Plague Elder’s soul could he claim full mastery.

"Are you certain?" Yan hesitated. "If you kill the spirit, the gourd’s rank might drop below Spirit Artifact. It could become just a treasure."

"No matter," Lu Qing said coldly. "I don’t need one more Spirit Artifact. That old fool insulted me—don’t think I’ll let it slide just because I’m patient. I’ll destroy him. If I need a new spirit later, I’ll find another way."

Yan shivered. There was something in Lu Qing’s tone—something darker, more deliberate.

Before it could process it, Lu Qing vanished.

In an instant, he reappeared before the gourd.

A voice echoed through the space:

"Plague Elder. No need to test me anymore. Last time, you said I couldn’t touch you. Let’s see how hard your mouth remains now."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end