Chapter 236: Luotian Gourd Vine

Secret passage.

Yunhe found he somewhat couldn't understand Mu Haitang and Lingyin Old Ancestor.

Even the secret passage of Luotian Hall, they actually knew!

One must know, the Luotian Secret Realm opens once every five hundred years; a fortunate Golden Core cultivator gets only one chance in a lifetime to enter this secret realm, and although Nascent Soul old monsters theoretically could enter twice, that remains only theoretical.

In most cases, even a Nascent Soul old monster entering the secret realm for the second time would have had only Golden Core cultivation during their first entry.

Moreover, Golden Core cultivators daring to enter the central area of the secret realm are already few, let alone reaching the very core of Luotian Hall.

And yet they fortunately discovered the secret passage of Luotian Hall?

Such possibility is minuscule.

If we set aside this doubt, Lingyin Old Ancestor's preoccupation with Xuekui Old Ancestor's body and his confidence to act actually gains another point.

Following Mu Haitang through the secret passage.

This secret passage seems like a special spatial channel opened within Luotian Hall, detached from Luotian Hall yet allowing a clear view of everything inside.

The passage is not large, only enough for two to walk side by side; Yunhe walks behind Mu Haitang, his gaze passing through the nearly transparent wall, looking outward.

At this moment they are passing through the main hall of Luotian Hall.

Within the hall, a mysterious power seems to lurk, capable of bewildering cultivators who enter; several bold Golden Core cultivators who charged through the Eight Great Realms into the central area and entered Luotian Hall were then captured by the hall's illusions.

Some panicked and fled in disarray, some froze with stiff expressions, while others blushed and muttered to themselves.

Seeing them like this, they seem completely fallen into it; if they cannot escape before the Luotian Secret Realm closes, perhaps they will never leave.

The hall's restrictions had no effect whatsoever on Yunhe and his companion walking in the secret passage.

Continue forward.

After leaving the hall's range, they arrived at an area resembling a garden within Luotian Hall.

In there.

Vast patches of lush vegetation grew; although Luotian Hall had become a silent secret realm after the demon clan's thorough eradication, the nutrients absorbed by the vegetation here were not lacking at all.

Moreover, upon observation, traces of blood remained on some of the lush vegetation.

These are not ordinary plants but rare plant-type demon beasts.

Plant-type demon beasts are far harder to gain intelligence than animal-type demon beasts, yet their lifespans are several times or even more those of animal-type demon beasts, and their reproductive methods differ greatly.

Clearly, a cultivator suffered heavily here.

Yunhe silently clicked his tongue.

It seems the danger in this Luotian Secret Realm is far greater than he imagined.

Even after enduring countless hardships to reach Luotian Hall, wanting to enter the place where the Luotian Gourd Vine exists is not easy; many trials still await.

Afterwards.

Yunhe and Mu Haitang pressed on.

He witnessed many mechanisms and arrangements of Luotian Hall; though he need not experience them, Yunhe still recorded every detail, big or small, in his heart.

Finally.

When Mu Haitang stopped his steps.

Yunhe and his companion halted before a wall like a huge floor-to-ceiling transparent glass; this place seemed to be the end of the secret passage.

Yet at this moment Yunhe's attention was already drawn to the scene beyond that transparent wall.

This is a vast platform atop Luotian Hall.

Around it there are no walls, only endless darkness that seems to harbor unknown fears, enveloping the entire platform.

On the platform stand eight huge, thick pillars; Yunhe and Mu Haitang's current position is inside one of the pillars near the platform's edge.

But these are not the most important.

The most eye-catching on the platform is, at its edge, a silver waterfall whose source is unknown, hanging down like a silk ribbon from the ninth heaven, continuous and unbroken.

Beneath that silver waterfall, whose flowing substance is unknown, rests a seemingly very simple climbing frame.

Upon it twines a verdant gourd vine.

Luotian Gourd Vine!

Within the entire Luotian Secret Realm, this is the most mysterious and precious spiritual plant, even said to be an immortal plant!

This gourd vine extends from a raised mound of five-colored soil on the left side of the climbing frame, climbing all the way to the right.

However, this originally intact gourd vine is missing a segment about the length of a thumb in the middle.

Consequently, the left part remains bright green, while the right part appears as if coated with a special layer of soil, becoming dim and illusory.

This is likely what Fairy Qingling said.

"The Luotian Gourd Vine was once severed by a cultivator possessing great divine powers, causing the entire spiritual plant's efficacy to greatly diminish."

Yet Yunhe originally thought that after the Luotian Gourd Vine was cut, the part deprived of nutrients should wither, even disappear.

He never expected that severed segment to still appear "intact," merely turned illusory, as if.

"Its space was severed, so its growth shifted to another plane, or rather another space?"

This aligns with the Luotian Gourd Vine's ability to aid the demon clan in stabilizing the spatial passage between the two worlds.

It is just somewhat too mysterious.

"Wait!"

Gazing at the severed vine, Yunhe's heart stirred.

He involuntarily recalled the withered vine segment he obtained together with the Luotian Command.

"Could that vine segment be."

The one he gained in the thatched hut?

Was the ancient alchemist who once severed the Luotian Gourd Vine that very great divine-powered cultivator?

This left Yunhe somewhat dazed and somewhat startled.

But he quickly restrained his thoughts.

Lest Mu Haitang and Lingyin Old Ancestor notice anything odd about him.

He once again gazed at the Luo Tian Gourd Vine.

On the vine, three gourds grew, each emitting a different color, vivid and entwined with a sparkling spiritual light, flowing with mysterious spiritual power fluctuations—clearly not ordinary objects at a glance.

No, more accurately speaking, there should be four gourds.

But because one gourd grows on an illusory vine, that gourd also appears illusory in color.

It cannot be harvested.

Meanwhile.

At this moment, the situation on that platform is also very delicate.

The Qian King of Yunluo Kingdom, Wei Qiyuan, together with the Yuan Ying elder of Yunshang Palace, along with Xingzi, sat to the side.

On the other side, Xuanming Old Ancestor, Xuekui Old Ancestor, the Old Hag of the Hundred Ghosts Sect, and the Five Elements Child of the Five Elements Sect—these four Yuan Ying cultivators are also gathered together.

There are six Yuan Ying cultivators present in total, divided into two camps.

But it's unknown whether they have temporarily cooperated or joined hands with a deeper meaning.

But one thing is certain: the Qian King Wei Qiyuan, who possesses mid-Yuan Ying cultivation, is the highest cultivator present.

It may also be because of his cultivation that the remaining four Yuan Ying cultivators have temporarily joined forces.

The reason they have not acted is because the seal enveloping the Luo Tian Gourd Vine has not yet been opened.

However.

Yunhe felt doubt arise in his heart.

With so many Yuan Ying cultivators present, how will Lingyin Old Ancestor seize Xuekui's body?

Wait for the seal on the Luo Tian Gourd Vine to open, then strike amid the chaos?

But speaking of that, not to mention how much time it would take to seize Xuekui Old Ancestor's fleshly body, Yunhe, who is restraining him, would inevitably be exposed to the gaze of a crowd of Yuan Ying cultivators.

His eyes flickered, his heart not at peace.

He turned his head to look toward Mu Haitang.

Her appearance was actually quite composed.

But the joints of her hand gripping the heavy sword have already turned pale, clearly indicating she is not as calm as she seems.

It seems she noticed Yunhe's gaze; Mu Haitang turned her head, gave him a look with some depth, pondered slightly, and then said:

"Crimson Jade Red-Skin Gourd": it can bring life from death, flesh and white bones, enabling a severely injured body to recover to its original state; if obtained by a body cultivator, it can greatly strengthen the physical form.

"Glazed Gold Ochre Gourd": it lets a cultivator instantly gain a hundred years of cultivation without affecting their foundation.

"Herb-Returning Jade Gourd": it grants a cultivator 120 years of lifespan, with no side effects whatsoever, and can be used multiple times.

Yunhe showed a hint of surprise.

He never expected Mu Haitang would introduce these gourds and their effects to him.

Although he had also obtained quite a bit of information about the gourds borne by the Luo Tian Gourd Vine from the Light Bell Fairy, it was indeed not as detailed as what Mu Haitang said.

"However, these were their former effects; after the Luo Tian Gourd Vine was damaged, how much potency remains in the gourds it now bears is unknown."

Upon hearing this, Yunhe felt no surprise, silently nodding.

But from these effects, one can roughly infer which gourd or gourds the cultivators present have come for.

First, the "Herb-Returning Jade Gourd" that increases lifespan is likely desired by all the Yuan Ying old monsters.

After all, any cultivator who has reached the Yuan Ying stage is at least a few hundred years old; even if a Yuan Ying cultivator possesses a thousand-year lifespan, there will come a day when it runs out, and nobody would not wish to live longer.

And the "Crimson Jade Red-Skin Gourd", Yunhe guesses, is the target of Xuekui Old Ancestor.

As for the "Glazed Gold Ochre Gourd" that enhances cultivation without side effects, it is likely the goal of the "Xingzi" of Yunshang Palace.

Thinking thus, his gaze finally fell upon the illusory gourd.

Because of its blurry outline, it is hard to discern its color.

"That is a black gourd."

It seems she noticed Yunhe's gaze; Mu Haitang spoke in a calm tone.

Black?

Yunhe blinked in surprise.

According to his knowledge, the gourds borne by the Luo Tian Gourd Vine are mostly the seven colors red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, each corresponding to different effects.

But the eight major regions of the Luo Tian Secret Realm clearly represent eight different kinds of gourds.

"In other words, is the black gourd that eighth kind of gourd? What is its effect?"

But after saying that, Mu Haitang did not speak again; instead she sat cross-legged on the ground and waited quietly.

It is unknown whether she is unwilling to say more, or she herself does not know.

However, Yunhe guesses that the great divine being who originally severed the gourd vine likely did so because of its black color.

"If it cannot be obtained, does that mean nobody should even think of getting it?"

Yunhe pondered and let out a low laugh.

Anyway, no matter what these gourds are or what their effects, with so many Yuan Ying old monsters present, and an old fellow hiding in the dark who has lived who-knows-how-long and is always ready to seize a body, he does not dare hope to pluck even one of them.

With that thought, he also sat down on the ground, but did not close his eyes to meditate; instead he gazed outward, lost in thought.

More precisely,

it is how to escape.

Time passed unnoticed.

Suddenly.

The numerous Yuan Ying old monsters on the platform all opened their eyes.

Boom—

The huge platform emitted a low, rumbling roar, and the descending silver silk suddenly contracted and shrank, the faint seal of the Heaven's Net gourd vine it enveloped trembling, as the crucial moment of opening approached.

On the bodies of the six Yuan Ying cultivators present, terrifying mana fluctuations surged.

The one who first launched the attack was the Heavenly King Wei Qiyuan, whose cultivation base was the highest.

"Hahaha——I, the king, am very curious; which of you old fogeys wants to go first and try my 'Burning Heaven Purple Flame'?"

The little one ran a high fever of 40.8 degrees yesterday, scaring me and my wife so much we didn't dare leave her side; in the middle of the night, after she fell asleep, I finally found a chance to type a bit, going a day and night without sleep.

I only hope she gets a bit better today, and I'll find more time to type when I can.

Thank you for your understanding.

(End of chapter)