Chapter 304
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire, Lightning Stone, Fire Stone
"Can you really escape? Those are six peak second-rank demonic beasts."
Chen Jianghe wasn't doubting Xiao Hei's abilities, but there were simply too many peak second-rank demonic beasts. If they were surrounded, escaping would consume a great deal of their resources.
If the treasure in the cave was just an ordinary low-grade third-rank spirit item, they would suffer a huge loss.
"Don't worry. As long as they don't attack all at once, they won't be able to break through my defense," Xiao Hei said.
"Besides, I have a feeling there's definitely something good up ahead."
"What? Did you learn the abilities of a treasure-hunting rat?!"
"You're the one who learned from a white-furred rat! I'm relying on my senses. The spiritual energy around here is scorching, as if it's being roasted by fire. There must be a powerful fire-attribute treasure."
"Alright, let's go take a look. Stay alert and be ready for battle at any moment."
Chen Jianghe took a gentle step into the toppled, ruined pine forest. Before him, a pine grove spanning several hundred yards had been reduced to a wasteland of earth and wood by the battle between cultivators and demonic beasts.
He didn't dare use his magic power, relying solely on his control over his physical body to move through the ruined forest. The main trunks of the fallen pines were taller than he was.
The towering pines, dozens of yards high, would require six people to encircle them with their arms.
The cave was only three hundred yards away, yet it took Chen Jianghe nearly an hour to arrive outside it.
He didn't make the slightest sound.
At this moment, Chen Jianghe cleared his mind, treating himself as a mortal, not daring to circulate even a trace of magic power.
He was afraid that any fluctuation in magic power would awaken the second-rank mid- and late-stage demonic beasts that weren't in deep slumber.
Chen Jianghe had no fear of these spirit beasts. With Maoqiu and Latiao's coordination, he could even turn the tables and kill them.
But once a fight broke out, the commotion would awaken the slumbering peak second-rank demonic beasts.
"Xiao Hei, I've reached a cave entrance. Can you confirm if there's any aura of a third-rank demonic beast?"
"The spiritual energy is even more scorching. There's definitely a treasure. Go on into the cave, don't worry. There's no third-rank demonic beast aura, only six peak second-rank ones."
Xiao Hei urged him on.
With a flash, Chen Jianghe stepped out of the ruined pine forest and into the cave. A light breeze immediately blew out from within, carrying an intense, scorching heat.
Chen Jianghe's brows furrowed. This heat was too intense; even with his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he felt uncomfortable.
One had to remember that his physical body had already reached the peak of the sixth level, and the "Tidal Marrow Cleansing Art" was a water-attribute body tempering technique.
"It seems Xiao Hei was right. There must be a powerful fire-attribute treasure in this cave. For it to roast the surrounding spiritual energy to such a degree without dissipating, it might even be a unique treasure."
Chen Jianghe walked thirty feet into the cave and stopped.
It wasn't because he sensed danger; on the contrary, the sense of crisis vanished after he entered the cave.
He stopped because it was too hot, as if the moisture in his body was being boiled away. If he went any deeper, he would have to use magic power to resist the scorching heat.
Leaning against the stone wall, Chen Jianghe gazed into the bottomless cave, where a purple light flickered.
It made the ten-foot-high passage flicker between light and dark.
Chen Jianghe took out the Blazing Lion Puppet, refined it for a moment, and embedded nine mid-grade spirit stones into it.
He sent a sliver of his spiritual sense into the Blazing Lion's core matrix, controlling it to walk deeper into the cave.
Those demonic beasts were probably not inside the cave.
Among the beasts that had attacked the two peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, there were no fire-attribute ones.
It was impossible for them to live in such a scorching cave.
Coupled with Xiao Hei's senses indicating no demonic beast auras in the cave, he dared to release the Blazing Lion.
The Blazing Lion was a low-grade second-rank puppet. The spiritual energy circulating through its body also produced flames, but it was just ordinary magical fire, not even qualifying as spirit fire.
Magical fire was the flame produced by low-level cultivators circulating their magic power.
The innate flames carried by some low-rank demonic or spirit beasts, or the flames they released, were also considered magical fire.
Spirit fire, on the other hand, was a flame formed by heaven and earth, possessing unimaginable power.
Although the Blazing Lion was a low-grade second-rank puppet, when powered by spiritual energy, it could withstand this intense heat.
If Chen Jianghe circulated his magic power, he could also resist the heat.
But he didn't dare use his magic power lightly.
Furthermore, with the uncertain fortunes within the cave, it was better to scout the path with a puppet first.
Thirty breaths later.
The Blazing Lion had ventured three hundred feet into the cave. The intense heat was rapidly consuming the spiritual energy within its body.
"This won't do. The spiritual energy stored in a low-grade second-rank Blazing Lion isn't enough to reach the end of the cave."
Chen Jianghe commanded the Blazing Lion to return.
Its flames dimmed, and the spiritual light in its eyes faded.
Evidently, the spiritual energy in the spirit stones powering its formation had been exhausted.
"This is inside the cave. My magic power should be neutralized by the scorching heat and won't be detected by those demonic beasts."
Chen Jianghe wanted to circulate his magic power, go three hundred feet deeper, and then have the Blazing Lion continue exploring.
Other than using magic power, he had no other choice.
"Xiao Hei, if I let you out, be ready to use the 'Profound Earth Fissuring Escape' to get me out of here immediately."
"Did you get the treasure?"
"What treasure? I haven't even seen a shadow of it. It's too hot in this cave; my body can't take it. I need to use magic power, and I'm worried it will alert those demonic beasts."
"Even your body can't handle it?"
Xiao Hei exclaimed in surprise.
Chen Jianghe's physical body was quite powerful. If even he couldn't withstand this heat, it meant the treasure within was even more valuable.
At the very least, it was a mid-grade third-rank spirit item.
Otherwise, how could it radiate such terrifying heat?
"I understand. Be careful."
Xiao Hei responded.
With a thought, the Profound Ice Armor appeared around Chen Jianghe. As he circulated his magic power, a layer of ice armor formed over it.
Without any hesitation, he immediately dashed forward.
He had already observed the first three hundred feet with the Blazing Lion; there was no danger.
For him, any danger would come from outside the cave.
"This heat is actually restricting my speed?!"
Chen Jianghe was shocked. Under this intense heat, his speed was greatly limited.
Moving forward thirty feet was like wading through a fiery swamp.
After another one hundred and fifty feet, his entire body felt as if it had been struck by lightning, numb and unable to focus on circulating his magic power.
Chen Jianghe took out a Verdantwood Vine Shield talisman and immediately activated it. The thick wood-attribute spiritual energy spurred the growth of vines, which wove into a shield protecting his entire body.
However, by the time he reached three hundred feet, the vine shield actually sprouted purple flames, which then burst into a raging fire, turning it to ash.
Crack!
A crisp sound was heard.
Cracks appeared on the outermost ice layer of Chen Jianghe's Profound Ice Armor. As he advanced another sixty feet, it completely melted and dissipated.
"Hiss~"
Chen Jianghe felt that without the defense of the ice armor, his Profound Ice Armor instantly turned fiery red, searing his flesh.
"Layered Wave Art!"
Chen Jianghe shed the Profound Ice Armor, letting it fall to the ground, not daring to immediately store it in his Dantian.
Then, he formed a seal with his hands and cast the second-rank spell, Layered Wave Art. Pure water-attribute magic power surged out, forming layers of ocean waves that enveloped him.
The ten-foot-high waves filled the passage, submerging Chen Jianghe in water, but it only lasted for a moment.
It became unbearable.
He was forced to retreat back to the three-hundred-foot mark.
At this depth in the cave, the Profound Ice Armor's effect was maximized. The outer layer of ice could completely protect Chen Jianghe.
It resisted the rolling waves of heat.
Chen Jianghe could use his magic power to counteract this heat, but the numbing sensation within it prevented him from concentrating his power.
At three hundred and sixty feet, he even found it difficult to circulate his magic power.
His entire body was numb, his blood filled with an electric current, making it impossible to use magic power at all.
The Layered Wave Art could block the heat for a while, but it intensified the numbness, making it almost impossible for him to move a single step.
Even lifting his foot became a luxury.
Chen Jianghe looked toward the depths of the cave. Under his magic eye, it was filled with roiling heat waves. Forget ten miles, he couldn't even see things clearly three hundred feet away.
At this point, Chen Jianghe wasn't worried about any restrictive spells on the treasure; what troubled him was how to even get to it.
Letting Xiao Hei out would cause too much of a commotion and would surely alert the beasts outside, perhaps even directly waking the six peak second-rank demonic beasts.
"If I use the Profound Ice Lotus Seed and it gets damaged, then every time I use 'Absolute Ice Seal' in the future, I'll need to find ten-thousand-year-old profound ice to reforge the ice source."
The Profound Ice Lotus Seed contained terrifying profound ice properties and could resist the intense heat waves. As for the numbing electric current within the heat, Chen Jianghe could only endure it.
But if he went another three hundred feet deeper, even the Profound Ice Lotus Seed wouldn't be able to withstand the heat waves. It would suffer a backlash from the heat, and its source would be damaged.
At that point, if he didn't obtain the great treasure, it would truly be a case of losing the bait to catch the fish.
Chen Jianghe once again took out the Blazing Lion Puppet, inserted another nine mid-grade spirit stones, and sent it deeper into the cave.
When it reached three hundred and sixty feet.
The point where Chen Jianghe had been forced to retreat, the Blazing Lion was unaffected, seemingly due to the fire-attribute spiritual materials used to craft the puppet.
By the time it reached four hundred and fifty feet, the Blazing Lion puppet was fine, but Chen Jianghe's spiritual sense felt a burning sensation.
"If this continues, my spiritual sense will be burned, and my soul will be injured. But from the Blazing Lion's position, it seems to be approaching the bottom of the cave."
Enduring the numbing pain in his spiritual sense, Chen Jianghe peered into the depths of the cave. He could vaguely see a flickering purple glow.
But he couldn't make out what kind of spirit item it was.
He needed to go about sixty feet deeper to perhaps see it clearly.
"Do I have to sacrifice a Soul-Settling Pill for this?"
Chen Jianghe hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind.
He had already come this far. It would be too much of a loss to retreat from the cave now, without even seeing what the treasure looked like.
No matter what, he had to see what that spirit item was.
Chen Jianghe had never seen a spirit item that could produce terrifying heat waves with a strong numbing effect.
After making his decision.
The Blazing Lion moved its body, continuing deeper into the cave. But with every step, it had to stop and rest for fifteen minutes.
Chen Jianghe needed to dispel the numbing sensation transmitted through his spiritual sense.
This feeling, like being struck by lightning, caused him a tearing pain in his physical body even from such a distance.
Two hours later.
The Blazing Lion had reached a depth of five hundred and forty feet. Its flames had been assimilated into a purple color, and its body began to liquefy. The fire-attribute spiritual materials could no longer withstand such heat.
Any further, and the Blazing Lion would collapse and dissolve.
Two hundred and forty feet away, Chen Jianghe's face was contorted in pain. This was no longer a numbness of his spiritual sense, but a stabbing pain in his soul.
One moment it was like being roasted by fire, the next like being struck by lightning.
Chen Jianghe's gaze hardened. He circulated magic power to his fingertip, forced out a drop of essence blood, and dotted it on his temple.
"Spirit Condensing Art!"
He let out a low cry, his voice filled with pain.
At that moment, Chen Jianghe performed the spirit-focusing art from the "Soul Sea Stabilizing Origin Scripture," concentrating his spiritual sense to resist external interference.
The Blazing Lion swiftly dashed forward thirty feet.
Boom!
In an instant, the Blazing Lion turned into a pool of golden liquid, which then emitted a yellow gas and dissipated.
Chen Jianghe's spiritual sense was also retracted in an instant, but a large part of it had been dissolved.
Thump!
Chen Jianghe's face turned pale, and he instantly fell backward, collapsing to the ground. He immediately swallowed the Soul-Settling Pill he had prepared.
Only then did the soul-tearing pain slightly subside.
Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged and circulated the "Soul Sea Stabilizing Origin Scripture" to absorb the medicinal power of the Soul-Settling Pill and repair his injured soul.
"Master, how are you?"
Xiao Hei seemed to sense the damage to Chen Jianghe's soul and asked anxiously.
"I'm fine, I can still hold on."
Chen Jianghe replied, not wanting to worry Xiao Hei.
He was able to recover from his injuries three hundred feet deep in the cave, thanks to the spirit-nourishing defensive artifact Luo Xiyue had crafted for him being a suit of armor with profound ice properties, capable of protecting his entire body.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to recover from his soul injuries in this location.
Ten days later.
The color returned to Chen Jianghe's face, showing a hint of red, but his soul injury had not yet healed.
Another half a month passed.
Only then did Chen Jianghe's soul injury fully heal. A high-quality Soul-Settling Pill, a Verdantwood Vine Shield talisman, and a Blazing Lion Puppet were all gone, just like that.
Fortunately, he had seen what the spirit item looked like.
The moment the Blazing Lion reached a depth of five hundred and seventy feet, he saw a huge cavern. In the center of the cavern was a pool of lightning, and within it, a purple flame danced like a sprite.
"Xiao Hei, does your soul-imprint inheritance have any records about spirit fires?"
Chen Jianghe asked via a mental connection.
He had read many journals and knew a little about the spirit fires of heaven and earth, but he had never seen a flame born in a pool of lightning.
There were no records of it in the journals of the Tiannan Region.
"Yes, it does. Are your injuries okay now?"
Xiao Hei asked with concern.
"I've fully recovered."
"That's good."
Hearing this, Xiao Hei felt relieved. He was the one who had asked Chen Jianghe to enter the cave. If Chen Jianghe was injured, it would be his responsibility.
The moment Chen Jianghe was injured, he had wanted to burst out of the spirit beast pouch and protect Chen Jianghe within his abdominal armor.
But he couldn't activate the magic power in his body, let alone burst out of the pouch.
He could only worry helplessly.
"What kind of flame did you see?"
"In a violent pool of lightning, there was a dancing purple flame. As it flickered, arcs of electricity crisscrossed."
Chen Jianghe described the scene he had witnessed to Xiao Hei.
"Tribulation Thunder's Violet Skyfire?"
Xiao Hei blurted out.
But the next moment, he felt something was wrong.
"No, according to the 'Six Revolutions Great Demon Art' inheritance, the Tribulation Thunder's Violet Skyfire is formed from heavenly tribulations. If this were it, we would have been annihilated long ago just by being this close. Even this entire secret realm would cease to exist."
Xiao Hei fell into deep thought, seemingly searching for answers in the "Six Revolutions Great Demon Art." The soul-imprint inheritance he had received was all-encompassing, containing not just cultivation techniques but knowledge of countless things.
It was just that Xiao Hei's soul was too weak to bear so much information, so he had to search for what he wanted to know each time.
Chen Jianghe was not in a hurry.
He had already spent a month here; he didn't mind waiting a few more days.
He had lost a Verdantwood Vine Shield talisman, a high-quality Soul-Settling Pill, and a Blazing Lion Puppet. If he could obtain that spirit fire, it would be worth it.
A soul that could burn both spiritual sense and the physical body, and also possessed thunder-attribute attacks.
If he could claim it, it would be another powerful trump card.
Xiao Hei pondered for two days before sending a mental message: "This is a Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire. It's not formed from the ninefold lightning tribulation, but a spirit item of heaven and earth that came into being by chance in a special environment. It's also considered a spirit fire of heaven and earth."
"If I'm not mistaken, there must be Lightning Stones and Fire Stones at the bottom of that lightning pool."
"Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire?"
"That's right. The soul-imprint inheritance records that although this flame is not as powerful as the Tribulation Thunder's Violet Skyfire, it's still very strong. After refining it, it can injure Core Formation mighty figures."
Chen Jianghe was overjoyed to hear this. Being able to injure a Core Formation mighty figure meant he would have another powerful trump card.
"How do I refine it?"
"Two-legged beasts need to refine it in conjunction with a thunder-attribute attack art. You also need to prepare nine Spirit-Settling Pills, or a special artifact called a Spirit-Settling Pearl, to resist the pain of 'Thunder-Fire Burns the Heart' during refinement."
"Huh? A thunder-attribute attack art?!"
Chen Jianghe was stunned.
Where would he get a thunder-attribute attack art?
The only attack art he had was the "Northern Dipper Sword Art," and he was too poor to cultivate it for the time being.
As for the auxiliary items Xiao Hei mentioned, the Spirit-Settling Pill and Spirit-Settling Pearl, he understood them.
To put it plainly, they were pills and artifacts for stabilizing the soul.
His Soul-Settling Pills could be used as Spirit-Settling Pills.
"Then how do I take it away?"
Refining it was impossible for now. He could only take it away first and figure out how to get a thunder-attribute attack art after leaving the secret realm.
"The records say you need a Violet Gold Thunder Flask."
"???"
Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes.
What Violet Gold Thunder Flask? He had never even heard of it.
At this moment, Chen Jianghe's face turned bitter. He looked into the depths of the cave; a powerful spirit fire treasure was right before his eyes.
He couldn't refine it.
And he couldn't take it away.
This was enough to make his mentality explode.
Not to mention a powerful spirit fire like the Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire, just the Lightning Stones and Fire Stones that nurtured it were probably incredible treasures.
At the very least, they were mid-grade third-rank spirit items. If he could take them, his resources would increase significantly.
"Master, do you want the Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire?"
Xiao Hei's voice sounded.
"What's the use of wanting it? We don't have a Violet Gold Thunder Flask; we can't take this Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire."
As Chen Jianghe spoke, he sensed something was off and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.
"Xiao Hei, can you take the Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire?"
"I can swallow it, but I need to swallow the Lightning Stones and Fire Stones along with it and integrate them into my treasure pouch so that I won't be harmed by the Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire."
Xiao Hei said, "But you'll be short two treasures that way."
"Short? How am I short? As long as you swallow it and it's useful to you, then we've profited."
"Why did we enter this secret realm? Isn't it for our cultivation?!"
Chen Jianghe said sincerely.
"Xiao Hei, can you absorb the spiritual energy contained in the Lightning Stones and Fire Stones to elevate your bloodline?"
"I can."
"Then we're definitely not losing out. Even if I had a Violet Gold Thunder Flask and took the Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire, I would have given you the Lightning Stones and Fire Stones to devour anyway."
"Then do you want to know what the Lightning Stones and Fire Stones are used for? Hehe..."
Suddenly, Xiao Hei's tone shifted, carrying a hint of playfulness.
"Huh? What are they used for?"
"The inheritance records that Lightning Stones and Fire Stones can be used to refine a bonded treasure, the Thunderfire Sword."
"..."
Chen Jianghe swallowed hard and transmitted solemnly, "They're just mere treasure-refining materials. Compared to elevating your bloodline, they're not worth mentioning."
Being able to refine a bonded treasure meant that both the Lightning Stone and the Fire Stone were absorbable spirit items.
At the very least, they were high-grade third-rank spirit items.
But so what?
Compared to Xiao Hei's bloodline, he would willingly give up even a fourth-rank great treasure.
"Go to the lightning pool... never mind, you can't make it. When you're three hundred feet from the lightning pool, release me. Then you run, find a place to hide, and wait for me to find you."
"What? Split up?!"
Chen Jianghe was dumbfounded.
In the Beast Taming Secret Realm, he had no desire to be separated from Xiao Hei at all. Without Xiao Hei by his side, he felt no sense of security.
"We won't be separated for long. As long as you get away, I can escape anytime," Xiao Hei said.
Chen Jianghe understood what Xiao Hei meant.
The moment he released Xiao Hei, it would definitely awaken those demonic beasts. Chen Jianghe had to leave quickly.
Otherwise, Xiao Hei wouldn't be able to spare the attention to protect him while taking the treasure.
Six peak second-rank demonic beasts.
Even if Chen Jianghe used all his Verdantwood Vine Shield talismans, he wouldn't be able to withstand them.
Let alone the fact that the Verdantwood Immortal Shield talisman he was nurturing hadn't become a talisman treasure yet; even if it had, it couldn't block the attacks of six peak second-rank demonic beasts.
If he stayed, he would only be a burden to Xiao Hei.
Even escaping carried risks.
He might face the situation of demonic beasts blocking the exit.
"Xiao Hei, after devouring the Lightning Stones and Fire Stones, can your bloodline purity be raised to the low-grade fifth rank?"
"How is that possible? Even with another pair of Lightning Stones and Fire Stones, it wouldn't be enough for me to reach the low-grade fifth-rank bloodline."
Xiao Hei was a little speechless.
He realized that Chen Jianghe was thinking of a fifth-rank bloodline too simply.
Among cultivators, reaching the Core Formation stage meant one was truly an upper-echelon cultivator, possessing the confidence to establish oneself.
Similarly, among demonic or spirit beasts, achieving a fifth-rank bloodline meant possessing a kingly bloodline.
As long as they didn't perish, becoming a third-rank demonic beast was a certainty.
They even had a chance of becoming a fourth-rank great demon.
The entire Tiannan Region probably didn't have more than a handful of demonic or spirit beasts with a fifth-rank bloodline.
"A high-grade fourth-rank bloodline should be possible, right?"
"That's definitely possible. Once I reach a high-grade fourth-rank bloodline, there will be no obstacles for me to break through to the third rank."
"Huh? You've also awakened a special bloodline!"
"...It's because I'm cultivating the 'Six Revolutions Great Demon Art'."
Chen Jianghe smiled at this and said no more.
What he needed to do now was to get Xiao Hei to a position six hundred feet deep in the cave, then leave quickly so as not to hold Xiao Hei back.
"The Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire, the Lightning Stone, and the Fire Stone—these three treasures are valuable enough for me to use a Lesser Teleportation Talisman."
Chen Jianghe had already prepared for the worst-case scenario.
If the demonic beasts blocked the entrance, he would immediately use the Lesser Teleportation Talisman to leave. In any case, he and Xiao Hei could communicate mentally, so there was no worry about not being able to find each other.
As long as Xiao Hei's bloodline was elevated to high-grade fourth rank, he could go all out in nurturing Xiao Hei into a third-rank spirit beast.
And there was the Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire, a spirit fire capable of injuring Core Formation mighty figures.
If it could injure, it meant it could kill!
"It seems I have to use the Profound Ice Lotus Seed. Otherwise, I won't be able to reach the six-hundred-foot mark and buy Xiao Hei enough time to devour everything."
Xiao Hei had to devour the Lightning Stone, the Fire Stone, and the Violet Thunder Glorious Sky Fire before the six peak second-rank demonic beasts attacked, or he would lose the chance.
This was also why Xiao Hei wanted him to get to a position three hundred feet from the lightning pool.
Chen Jianghe needed time to escape.
Xiao Hei also needed time to devour the spirit items and spirit fire.
Actually, Chen Jianghe could take a gamble and release Latiao. That way, he could also reach the six-hundred-foot mark.
But he was worried that the commotion from releasing Latiao might also alert those demonic beasts.
Another point was that when he released Xiao Hei, he would also need time to put Latiao back into the spirit beast pouch.
At a time like this, not even a single breath could be wasted.
With a thought from Chen Jianghe, the ice source in his Dantian trembled violently, and a fingernail-sized ice crystal lotus seed was separated from it.
It then flew out of his Dantian and appeared in Chen Jianghe's hand.
Instantly, the heat wave rushing towards him was dispelled, and a refreshing coolness arose.