Chapter 428: Cultivation Secret Chamber

The man with the severed arm collapsed beside the mangled corpse of that wolf-hound, watching Duan Rong and his group walk away into the depths of the Dark Forest. There was not a shred of resentment in his eyes; he had never dared to hope that the group would take him along. That they had stepped in to finish off the wolf-hound was already his greatest stroke of luck.

The man panted for a while, and once his breath had slightly recovered, he struggled to crawl up. Ignoring the pain of his severed arm, he stumbled toward a dense thicket in another direction. He needed to find a secluded treetop to hide in and tend to his wounds. The scent of blood here was too strong and would soon attract fierce Origin Beasts; he had to leave as quickly as possible.

Although he had lost an arm, he had at least managed to save his life.

Among the Inner Sect Disciples who formed their own groups to hunt Origin Beasts in the Dark Forest without the leadership of experts at the Qi Cyclone Realm, casualties were common, but it was rare for an entire team to be almost completely wiped out like this. This already counted as an extremely tragic situation.

After all, without experts at the Qi Cyclone Realm to hold the line, these self-organized Inner Sect Disciples usually only roamed and hunted in the outer perimeter and rarely ventured deep into the forest.

Duan Rong and his group had returned to that patch of grassland emitting a faint, ghostly light. Not far away was the cliff face, where a row of iron chains, as thick as a child's arm, hung down, glinting with a cold, black light.

The group walked to the front of the cliff.

It was quite safe in this grassland. The Qingguang Grass looked ordinary, but the faint, ghostly light it emitted could blind the eyes of Origin Beasts. Almost no Origin Beast would step into this patch of grass.

Duan Rong looked at the iron chains before him, feeling a slight palpitation. He still remembered the sensation of falling. At such a height, they still had to climb back up using these chains.

Fan Hongjiao glanced at Duan Rong, reached out, and took the blood bag he was dragging. "Little Disciple, this is your first time down, and your cultivation realm is low, so I will help you this time."

Previously, when there were signs of danger in the forest, Duan Rong had been willing to stand in front of her when she was weak and exhausted. Fan Hongjiao now felt a deep sense of approval toward Duan Rong.

Wang Yue dragged the corpse of the giant python, looking with envy at Fan Hongjiao taking the blood bag from Duan Rong's hand; that blood bag was much lighter than his giant python corpse.

Fan Hongjiao glared at Wang Yue and said, "What? Do you want to trade with me?"

Wang Yue faltered slightly. "I..."

He did want to trade, but Fan Hongjiao had been mocking him for being like a woman earlier; how could he bring himself to ask?

Lu Geng patted Wang Yue on the shoulder and said, "It's just a little snake. To Disciple Wang Yue, is this even a matter?"

Wang Yue sighed helplessly. A month ago, Lu Geng had already achieved the Origin Qi Realm Fourth Layer, while he had not even broken through the Third Layer. To Lu Geng, the corpse of the Green-Eyed Giant Lizard was no matter, but to him, this two-legged mad python was truly heavy. Dragging it through the forest had been easy enough, but pulling this giant python corpse while climbing up the iron chains was no easy task.

But Wang Yue had no choice but to accept it.

After all, he and Lu Geng were both just picking up scraps behind Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao. The two of them had already handled the bulk of the dangerous work, so he and Lu Geng had to be able to handle the labor.

The group grabbed the iron chains and began to climb upward.

Not long after, Fan Hongjiao was already far in the lead. Wu Shidao had injuries on his body and fell a long distance behind Fan Hongjiao.

Because Duan Rong had no burden, he only lagged slightly behind Lu Geng. As he climbed, he could see a huge, blurry black shadow rising with him not far away. Although there was no light in the depths of this underground crevice, he knew that the big guy moving upward with the sound of falling gravel was the corpse of the Green-Eyed Giant Lizard.

And behind Duan Rong, trailing a distance further, was Wang Yue, who was lagging at the very back.

He did not know how long they had been climbing, but although Lu Geng was pulling the giant lizard's corpse, Duan Rong looked up and could no longer see his figure. When he looked down, he could not see Wang Yue's figure either.

This crevice cliff seemed to have become a place where he was alone again, with only the occasional falling pebble reminding him that there were others on the cliff face.

Time flowed away like an undercurrent in the pitch-black environment.

Duan Rong's arms were already slightly sore and numb, and it was at this moment that he finally saw a blurry, huge black shadow above.

He had caught up to Lu Geng.

At this time, high above not far away, a faint yellow light could already be seen. That was the narrow stone chamber where they had jumped down into the underground crevice.

After all, Lu Geng was pulling the giant lizard's corpse, and upon reaching this point, his speed had clearly slowed down.

Lu Geng climbed out of the underground crevice almost at the same time as Duan Rong.

The two climbed up to see Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao already sitting cross-legged inside the stone chamber, with two torches burning fiercely above their heads.

Duan Rong turned his head to look at Lu Geng, only to see that he had already pulled the giant lizard's corpse out of the crevice. Under the illumination of the torchlight, one could see that a dense layer of sweat had already broken out on Lu Geng's forehead.

Both of them had consumed a great deal of energy climbing up, so they each sat cross-legged to begin regulating their breath while waiting for Wang Yue, who had fallen the furthest behind.

About an hour later, they had long since finished regulating their breath, and Fan Hongjiao stood up, pacing back and forth by the crevice with some impatience.

"Is this kid reliable or not? Don't tell me he fell!"

Wu Shidao smiled slightly and said, "Why don't you go down and take a look?"

Fan Hongjiao rolled her eyes at him and said coldly, "I'm not going. If he can't even handle such a small task, what use is this kid? He has been on the peak for four years, and he hasn't even broken through the Origin Qi Realm Third Layer. It's high time he was given some hardship."

On this point, Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao were in agreement: Wang Yue's cultivation speed was indeed a bit slow. If the kid couldn't break through the Third Layer this year, Master wouldn't scold Wang Yue, but would scold the two of them instead.

It was time to give this kid some stimulation!

As soon as Fan Hongjiao finished speaking, she heard the sound of bellows-like breathing coming from within the crevice. After about another stick of incense's time, a figure finally climbed up with great difficulty. Wang Yue's lips were cracked, his whole body was drenched in sweat, and the depths of his throat sounded as if a whistle had been stuffed inside, emitting strange, wheezing noises from time to time.

Wang Yue climbed up and immediately grabbed Fan Hongjiao's foot nearby. Seeing Wang Yue's half-dead state, Fan Hongjiao leaned over, reached out, and dragged up the corpse of the two-legged mad python that had been hanging behind Wang Yue.

Only then did Wang Yue lie sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving, sweat pouring out of his body in layers.

Fan Hongjiao gave Wang Yue a light kick and said, "Look at your pathetic state. Let me tell you, Wang Yue, if you can't break through the Third Layer this year, watch out or I'll peel your skin off."

Wang Yue lay limp there, taking a kick from Fan Hongjiao, but he didn't react at all.

After Wang Yue rested for a long while, the wheezing sound in his throat gradually subsided. He panted for a while longer, swallowed, and then lay there saying, "Dragging this thing up almost killed me. Halfway through, I wanted to throw the giant python's corpse down and just climb up myself."

Fan Hongjiao glared at him and said, "You really are a woman! If you dare to throw the giant python's corpse away, I'll throw you down too!"

Wang Yue made a miserable face and said, "Senior Sister, you don't have to be so ruthless. I was almost exhausted to death!"

Fan Hongjiao said, "Exhausted? Who told you to have such a low cultivation realm? You've been stuck at the Third Layer for over a year, and I haven't seen you being very diligent in your usual cultivation either. If you had broken through the Third Layer, would you still be tired from dragging something like this up?"

Wang Yue had no retort to Fan Hongjiao's scolding. In the four years he had been on Yunfu Peak, his resources had indeed been quite good; it was just that his cultivation progress was somewhat unsatisfactory. However, that was only when compared to the few of them; if compared to the Personal Disciples of other peaks, he was not inferior at all.

"Let's go!" Fan Hongjiao shouted and walked out.

Seeing the Senior Sister lose her temper, the group immediately followed closely behind. Wang Yue also struggled to get up from the ground, dragging the giant python's corpse behind them.

When the group walked out of the stone door after the corridor, the old man sitting cross-legged in the corner was still sitting there. Seeing them come out, the old man just glanced at them coldly and continued to sit with his eyes closed.

This old man practiced a type of Kucha Technique.

When the group pushed open the door on the first floor of the pavilion and walked out, they suddenly felt the daylight was a bit dazzling.

After they greedily took a few breaths, the fresh mountain air filled their lungs, and their whole bodies felt comfortable.

The bright sunlight and fresh air made a faint joy well up in their hearts.

Fan Hongjiao, however, did not stop and led the group, turning toward the Main Hall on the first floor of the pavilion.

At the entrance of the Main Hall, Fan Hongjiao suddenly stopped, turned her head to look at Duan Rong, and said, "Little Disciple, I am taking you now to the Cultivation Secret Chamber for us Personal Disciples!"

"Cultivation Secret Chamber?"

Fan Hongjiao continued, "You have actually only been at Yunfu Peak for a few days. Bringing you into the Cultivation Secret Chamber this quickly is already a record-breaking event on Yunfu Peak."

Duan Rong's expression shifted, and he said, "Many thanks to Senior Sister for worrying about Duan Rong's affairs."

Fan Hongjiao gave a hum, then continued walking forward.

Behind the spacious Main Hall on the first floor of the pavilion, there was another space.

The group walked straight in, where four Attendants were on duty. Those Attendants, upon seeing the corpses of the Two-Legged Mad Python and the Green-Eyed Giant Lizard they dragged in, did not look surprised at all, clearly having become accustomed to such things.

Those Attendants, seeing the group walk in, immediately bowed and said respectfully, "My Lords!"

Fan Hongjiao looked at those Attendants and said, "Open the wooden wall door, and prepare some food; I am going into seclusion for a few days."

"Yes!"

The four Attendants responded; one had already walked to a certain hidden mechanism in the room, while the other two had already bowed their heads and left the place to go prepare food. The last remaining one stood in place, bowing and standing still, not moving at all.

That Attendant twisted a certain hidden mechanism, and the carved wooden wall before them suddenly pulled apart, revealing a pitch-black cave entrance hidden behind it.

Duan Rong looked at that cave entrance, his heart stirred; this pavilion was built against the mountain, and behind this floor's Main Hall, judging by the orientation, was the mountain body of Yunfu Peak.

With Fan Hongjiao in the lead, the group walked into the cave. After their figures disappeared, the Attendant in the room twisted the mechanism, closing the wooden wall door once again.

After entering the cave and passing through a short corridor, the group appeared in a very large stone chamber space. In the middle of that stone chamber space was a very large divine statue, standing more than two people tall.

Duan Rong saw that divine statue, and his expression jumped; he recognized that divine statue—it was the divine statue of the Immovable Wisdom King.

And on the stone walls surrounding the divine statue were seven stone doors.

Fan Hongjiao glanced at Lu Geng and asked, "Lu Geng, are the keys to the remaining three Cultivation Secret Chambers all with you?"

"Yes. They are with me."

"Later, you pick a Cultivation Secret Chamber for our Junior Disciple." After Fan Hongjiao finished speaking, she turned her head to look at Wang Yue and said, "Wang Yue, divide up the corpses."

Wang Yue responded, holding the Butterfly Twin Blades, and like a skilled butcher, began to slice up the corpses.

Not long after, five piles of corpse parts, varying in size, were already separated on the ground.

Wu Shidao's pile was slightly smaller than Fan Hongjiao's, but he had received a snake gallbladder, which could be considered the most bountiful harvest this time.

Lu Geng's pile was also larger than Wang Yue's.

The division of these resources was clearly related to cultivation realm; the higher the cultivation, the more one typically consumed.

Among them, the smallest pile was, of course, Duan Rong's, consisting only of one claw of the Two-Legged Mad Python, one tail of the Green-Eyed Giant Lizard, and one blood bag.

Wu Shidao looked at Duan Rong and said, "Junior Disciple, don't think yours is too little. These things are basically enough for your cultivation use for half a year."

After dividing them up, everyone took their own resources and headed toward their respective Cultivation Secret Chambers.

Duan Rong carried the tail and claw, following behind Lu Geng.

Lu Geng used a key with a strange shape to open a stone chamber door, then turned around at the entrance with a smile and said, "Junior Disciple, please wait for me here for a moment; once I get the key, I will take you to your Cultivation Secret Chamber."

Duan Rong stood there and nodded, saying, "Very well, Senior Brother Lu, please go ahead."

It seemed this Cultivation Secret Chamber was quite a hidden place; Lu Geng clearly did not want to let Duan Rong enter.

Lu Geng entered the Secret Chamber, placed the resources he had received on the ground first, then stood there, his eyes flashing, and walked to a chest in the corner to rummage through it. Very quickly, he fished out a Wooden Box, opened it, and saw three keys covered in verdigris inside.

Lu Geng hesitated slightly, chose one of them, and turned to walk out of this Secret Chamber.

As soon as Lu Geng walked out, he smiled and said to Duan Rong, "Let's go, Junior Disciple, I will take you to your Cultivation Secret Chamber. Of the three chambers, I specifically chose the largest one for you."

Duan Rong said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Lu!"

The two walked to a stone door. Lu Geng inserted the key in his hand into a hollow space in the shape of a beast-eye, gave it a light turn, and the stone door moved slowly.

Perhaps because this Secret Chamber had not been moved for a long time, as the stone door trembled, dust and small pebbles fell down continuously.

Lu Geng fanned away the dust rising before his eyes and said, "Junior Disciple, you can call those Attendants later to come in and clean up; no one has entered this Secret Chamber for too long."

After the dust settled, Lu Geng led Duan Rong inside.

Lu Geng used a Fire Folder to light the Candle Lamp on the wall. Duan Rong took a look and saw that it was indeed a quite large stone chamber, only it was covered in dust everywhere.

Lu Geng glanced at Duan Rong, saw the claw and tail Duan Rong was carrying in his hand, and said, "Junior Disciple, shall I first teach you how to preserve this Beast Meat?"

"How to preserve it?" Duan Rong's expression shifted.

Lu Geng said, "This meat contains the Heaven and Earth Qi refined by the Origin Beast, which is easier for cultivators to absorb and can nourish the dantian and meridians. But after these Origin Beasts die, the Heaven and Earth Qi contained in their flesh and blood will slowly dissipate, so knowing how to preserve it is also very important."

As Lu Geng spoke, he walked to the corner of the Secret Chamber and turned a beast head located there.

Following that, he saw a narrow stone door open on the wall.

(End of chapter)