Chapter 837: Embodiment of a Sinister Reputation
Chapter 837: Embodiment of a Sinister Reputation
One after another, message talismans were sent out, and soon, Lu Chen received responses from many familiar cultivators.
"Haha, if Brother Lu invites me, Qi will definitely come. I hope there will be plenty of fifth-grade spirit essence!"
Lei Huoxing, the emissary of the Qixing Cave, replied swiftly.
"Congratulations, Brother Lu. This young lady will definitely be there as promised."
A soft voice, belonging to Yulin Sanren, echoed in response.
"Okay."
Ye Xuan acknowledged briefly but concisely.
Lu Chen stayed in his cave abode, sorting through the treasures he intended to auction off.
The small auction would mainly feature fifth-grade items, and he would decide whether to include one or two sixth-grade treasures depending on the situation. With his current wealth, strength, and background, he could still maintain his dominance.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Sword Grass Spirit Field region, ten small Sword Calabashes had matured again.
It was time for Lu Chen to attempt another ten consecutive draws with the light groups.
Among the ten white light groups, five True Evil Sword Talismans and Xuan Yin Sword Talismans were revealed, along with three Dao Xuan Sword Intent, and two "Sword Talisman Annotations" experience packs—a bountiful harvest indeed.
This left twenty-five Sword Calabashes yet to mature.
Lu Chen planned to leave ten for seed condensation and harvest the rest for the light group rewards.
"I need to make a trip to the Fengyuan Star Cave. The Spirit Fields in the Underworld should have one or two varieties that are close to maturity."
He thought to himself.
Although there had been some unrest in the Sky Star Cave, the demons had mostly appeared within the secret realm and had not spread to the areas inhabited by the loose cultivators.
The Sky Star Cave would also make every effort to prevent such a situation from occurring. If the cultivators renting the various star caves were to suffer heavy casualties, it would deal a devastating blow to the reputation of the Sky Star Cave.
Therefore, as long as one avoided those secret realm regions, there was no need to worry excessively about safety.
He employed the Leidon Secret Art and, with the cover of the Qingfeng Feather Robe, arrived silently outside the Fengyuan Star Cave abode.
As soon as he appeared outside the formation, two major protective formations silently activated, and his embodiment, Ling Gu, who had been waiting inside, greeted him.
"How has the cave abode been recently?" Lu Chen asked.
"Everything is normal. However, I was invited to enter the Fengdu Ghost City half a year ago and returned unscathed after a harrowing experience," Ling Gu replied in a hoarse voice.
"Oh? What was the reason for that?" Lu Chen asked curiously. Before he had left, he had instructed his embodiment that if an appropriate opportunity arose, he could choose to explore secret realms with other cultivators. He hadn't expected that his embodiment would indeed have such an experience.
"The evil cultivator who invited me mentioned that deep within the ghost city lies a hidden river containing a spirit liquid related to the Yellow Springs, so I went to search for it," Ling Gu explained in a deep voice.
"I see," Lu Chen nodded.
So that's how they had obtained the spirit spring needed for the Yellow Springs Immortal Tree?
"How was the harvest in the seventh layer?" he continued to ask his embodiment.
"Luck was on my side. I collected quite a bit of a fifth-grade spirit liquid called Youhe Deathwater, which is rumored to be closely related to the Yellow Springs, bearing a few similarities," Ling Gu replied.
"Fifth-grade Youhe Deathwater... at least we don't have to worry about the initial growth of the Yellow Springs Immortal Tree," Lu Chen nodded slightly, his expression satisfied.
"Did you encounter any dangerous situations?" he asked, his curiosity piqued as someone lacking in secret realm exploration experience.
"When vying for a treasure, two fellow Foundation Establishment stage cultivators in the middle stage of cultivation attempted to join forces against me and launched a sudden attack, causing me significant injury," Ling Gu recounted.
"However, neither of them fared well. One died, and the other escaped with only a remnant soul remaining," he continued.
"During the emergency, I used that sixth-grade formless ice-bound sword talisman," Ling Gu concluded, his expression calm as if defeating two Foundation Establishment cultivators was of little consequence to him.
He had anticipated this outcome. His embodiment, Ling Gu, cultivated three superior techniques: the Youmingshenshui Prohibition, Blood Nerve, and Capture Soul Scripture. With rare control-type treasures like the Ghost Sorrowful Diagram and the Yinsha Bottle, as well as the extremely powerful Wu Xiang Bingpo Sword Talisman, it was no surprise that he had easily defeated two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.
"Venturing into a secret realm has certainly earned me a formidable reputation."
Lu Chen couldn't help but think.
"As for the Wu Xiang Bingpo Sword Talisman that was consumed, out with the old and in with the new. I can easily acquire another treasure of the same level by maturing just one or two fifth- or sixth-grade spirit plants in my cave abode."
At this moment, Lu Chen was feeling wealthy and generous, unbothered by the consumption of a sixth-grade sword talisman.
He obtained a bottle of Youhe Deathwater from his embodiment, Ling Gu, and made his way through countless resentful spirits and billowing yin energy to reach the core area.
The Youmingshen seed was planted deep in the spirit soil, its surface rippling with waves of deep yellow, as if a surging yellow spring accompanied it.
At the end of the yellow spring was a ghostly abyss, shrouded in yin energy, where a towering giant tree cast its shadow.
Compared to when he first obtained it, the seventh-grade Yellow Springs Immortal Tree seed hadn't changed much. It only exuded a stronger vitality, and it would still take some time before it could sprout and take root.
Lu Chen carefully poured the Youhe Deathwater onto the seed.
The pitch-black spirit spring, filled with deathly silence, slowly seeped into the spirit soil, nourishing the deep yellow Youmingshen seed.
The seed absorbed all the Youhe Deathwater, and the ripples on its surface became more pronounced, accompanied by a faint gurgling sound, as if beckoning to Lu Chen's soul, enticing him to step into the water.
Lu Chen's heart stirred, and his consciousness immediately cleared.
After tending to the Yellow Springs Immortal Tree seed, he made his way to the area where he cultivated other underworld spirit plants. Just as he was about to inspect them one by one, suddenly, a sinister voice echoed from outside the cave abode.
"Ling, are you in the cave?"
Lu Chen and his embodiment shared a glance, and with a stir of spiritual energy, he completely concealed his presence as Ling Gu flew outside.
Through their connection, Lu Chen perceived a tall, thin elder with a sinister air standing outside. The elder wore a grim white robe, adorned with countless silent wailing spirits, their resentment piercing the heavens.
"Yin Ku," Ling Gu acknowledged with a nod, his expression neutral.
"So, Ling, you are indeed in your cave abode," the tall, thin elder said, a stiff smile appearing on his face as he prepared to enter. However, Ling Gu stood unmoving at the entrance of the formation.
The elder's smile faded, and he retracted his steps. "I heard that you returned safely from Ghost City recently?"
"Mhm," Ling Gu replied softly.
"Indeed. I'm surprised by your strength, Ling. To enter Ghost City and return unscathed is no small feat," the tall, thin elder said, his face revealing a hint of realization. The way he looked at Ling Gu now held a hint of wariness.
"It seems the rumors are true. This mysterious cultivator, with his Foundation Establishment early stage strength, easily defeated two Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators, even causing one of them to perish completely..."
The elder thought to himself.
"Ling, a demonic presence has been detected in the deepest part of the secret realm on the fifth layer of the Fengyuan Star Cave. Some fellow cultivators and I plan to join forces to explore and hunt it down. Are you interested in joining us?" the elder asked, revealing his purpose.
"No, thank you, Yin Ku. I need to seclude myself for intensive cultivation, so I won't be able to accompany you," Ling Gu replied coldly. He then opened the formation and swiftly disappeared, leaving the elder standing there, dumbfounded.
(End of Chapter)
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