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Chapter 564: Thunderfire Cave
Chapter 564: Thunderfire Cave
After half a month, Lu Chen appeared in a complex teleportation array.
"I've finally arrived at the realm of Tianxing Cave," he said to himself.
He stepped out of the array and found himself before a towering, majestic structure that reached into the clouds. The building was dazzling, radiating a brilliant treasure light, and many powerful cultivators were coming and going.
"This must be the famous Zaixing Tower," he marveled.
During his journey, Lu Chen had inquired about the reputation of Tianxing Cave and discovered that it was highly regarded among loose cultivators.
It welcomed cultivators from all factions and backgrounds, as long as they had enough spirit stones. Tianxing Cave was a supreme sacred land.
With eighteen stellar caves, each under the jurisdiction of a star master, and each master being at least in the mid-stage of the Yuan Ying realm, it was clear that Tianxing Cave was the second most powerful force in Li Yang Realm.
Lu Chen decided to check it out and, if it suited him, make it his new base.
Now that he had left Tianjian Sect, he didn't have to worry about arousing suspicion by revealing his true cultivation level. So, he returned to the late stage of foundation establishment.
Entering Zaixing Tower, Lu Chen followed the directions and made his way to the grand hall where addresses were rented and purchased.
Inside the hall were dozens of windows handling related matters, each staffed by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a Golden Core cultivator supervising from within.
He approached a gentle-looking female cultivator at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
"Greetings, fellow cultivator," she said with a warm smile from a distance, "may I ask your name, and if you are here to rent or purchase a cave abode in Tianxing Cave?"
"My name is Lu Chen, and I am indeed looking for a cave abode. Could you please provide me with some information?" Lu Chen replied in a low voice.
"What are your requirements for the cave abode, Lu fellow cultivator?" the gentle female cultivator asked.
"Each of the eighteen stellar caves in Tianxing Cave is unique and extraordinary, endowed with various spiritual veins, treasure sites, and suitable for cultivation, pill refining, and artifact forging," she explained in detail.
"I am a spiritual herbologist, and I cultivate a lot of spiritual herbs. Therefore, I need a larger area. Additionally, the purer and denser the spiritual energy in the cave abode, the better," Lu Chen said after some thought, stating his requirements.
"Here is a list of cave abodes suitable for cultivating spiritual herbs, Lu fellow cultivator. You may choose one that suits your needs," the gentle female cultivator said as she handed him a silver-white jade catalog.
Upon opening the catalog, Lu Chen saw the names of the stellar caves and thumbnail maps of their terrain.
"The red areas indicate caves that are already occupied by cultivators, the blue areas are unoccupied, and the green areas indicate those that will expire in a few years. You can use your spiritual sense to gain detailed information about the size and layout of the cave abodes," the female cultivator explained softly.
As he listened to her gentle voice, Lu Chen carefully examined the remaining cave abodes in each of the stellar caves.
"Blackwater Cave, Thunderfire Cave, Joy Cave..." he murmured.
"Fellow cultivator, do the names of these stellar caves somehow represent their extraordinary aspects?" he asked suddenly.
"Indeed," the female cultivator replied. "Blackwater Cave is situated in an endless expanse of black water, containing various types of spiritual liquids, making it ideal for cultivating water-attribute techniques and for loose cultivators skilled in artifact refining.
"Thunderfire Cave is located in a void of thunder and fire, with heavenly tribulations and scorching infernos frequently occurring. It is highly beneficial for fellow cultivators who cultivate thunder and fire-attribute techniques and supernatural powers.
"Joy Cave is filled with spiritual energy and treasures containing the essence of Yin and Yang. Staying there for extended periods will involuntarily give rise to carnal desires, making it suitable for loose cultivators who practice the art of Yin and Yang harmony."
"If you are alone, fellow cultivator, dwelling in Joy Cave for long periods may hinder your cultivation. However, if you wish to experience its effects for relaxation from time to time, it could be an interesting choice."
"I never expected Tianxing Cave to be so unorthodox. I'll have to pay a visit to Joy Cave and give it a good critique sometime." Lu Chen remarked.
"Indeed, it seems like the Mystical Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit and the treasures from the light group have found a good home." He thought to himself.
His first requirement for choosing a cave abode was, of course, its suitability for cultivating spirit herbs.
As he flipped through the jade catalog, he eliminated one star cave after another.
"The Thunderfire Cave suits my current needs quite well," he mused.
Slowly, he made his decision.
"Among the high-grade spirit herbs I currently possess, both the sixth-grade Phoenix Tree and the Purple Violet Thunder Fruit can be cultivated in this Thunderfire Cave." Lu Chen explained to himself.
The Phoenix Tree required nourishment from third-grade or higher exotic fires, and as it grew, it would demand even higher grades of fire. On the other hand, the Purple Violet Thunder Fruit needed various types of thunderous energy to thrive.
The Thunderfire Cave could simultaneously meet the requirements of these two sixth-grade spirit herbs, which was extremely rare.
"What is the monthly rent for this Thunderfire Cave abode?" Lu Chen inquired, pointing at an empty cave dwelling that spanned over a hundred acres and was perched atop a lofty mountain. At the foot of the mountain, there meandered a winding river.
"Three thousand low-grade spirit stones per month?"
"What was that?" Lu Chen's tone rose in surprise.
"That's so expensive! Why not just rob people?" he exclaimed.
Three thousand low-grade spirit stones were enough to buy a third-grade magical artifact back in the Tianjian Sect, but here, it could only cover a month's rent.
"Fellow cultivator Lu, this has always been the price," the gentle female cultivator replied, maintaining her smile.
"Well... is there any discount for renting long-term?" Lu Chen asked, taking a deep breath.
"If you sign a contract for more than ten years and pay all at once, it would be thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones per year. You will also be able to enjoy various spiritual benefits unique to the Thunderfire Cave," she offered.
"Then let's start with ten years," Lu Chen decided, intending to settle down here. After some hesitation, he finally committed to the longer term.
"Here is three thousand medium-grade spirit stones, please have a look," the gentle female cultivator said as she presented him with an ancient beast hide for his signature.
Lu Chen signed the agreement with a heavy heart and reluctantly handed over the three thousand medium-grade spirit stones he had painstakingly accumulated.
"All my hard work over two decades, gone in an instant, back to the days before I reached the Foundation Establishment stage," he sighed in resignation.
His current wealth amounted to just over three thousand medium-grade spirit stones and several tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones. After signing the contract for the cave abode for ten years, his fortune had shrunk by more than half.
"Thankfully, I still have quite a few unused pills in my storage bag, as well as the rewards from the light group. I should be able to recoup some of my losses," Lu Chen consoled himself.
"This Tianxing Cave is truly a bottomless pit that devours spirit stones. I imagine it would be difficult for an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to stay here for an extended period," he mused.
"Of course, I'm not blameless in this either. With so many spirit herbs to cultivate, I had to choose a cave abode with a large spiritual field and pure spiritual energy," he added, reflecting on his situation.
As Lu Chen pondered, the gentle female cultivator efficiently completed all the necessary procedures and handed him a black token emblazoned with thunder and fire, along with an array disc.
"Fellow cultivator Lu, with this Thunderfire Token, you can enter most areas of the Thunderfire Cave on your own. It also serves as proof of ownership for your cave abode. Additionally, I'm gifting you a third-grade Mystical Traceless Array, which offers decent protection," she explained, her tone softening after concluding such a substantial deal.
"Thank you," Lu Chen said, accepting the token and the array disc. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
"Finally, I can focus on cultivating my spirit herbs," he thought with relief.
(End of Chapter)
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