Chapter 218: Qin Qin Tianzong

By the evening of the next day, the two could no longer wait and headed toward the ravine mouth.

As was customary, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan concealed a soul fragment inside a bamboo stalk and left it outside.

The green mist was indistinct in the twilight, but its chill sent a shiver through them. The ghosts within surged forward, circling the two like dogs, sniffing at their bodies.

The two remained expressionless; each wore a divine artifact that transformed their aura into that of demonic heads, walking boldly along the Mengdonghe into the depths.

The deeper they went, the more they noticed the mist, once indistinguishable from the night, gradually turning pale green and glowing.

Only after fully passing through the green mist did they realize the sheer cliffs on both sides were hung with countless green lanterns, bathing the entire Soul-Lost Ravine in a ghastly blue-green hue—the mist had been dyed green by the lanterns.

Under the glow of the green lamps, it became clear: this was a world utterly unlike the outside.

The Mengdonghe in the center was icy cold, yet it teemed with dark vegetation and strange creatures—worms, fish, snakes, frogs. The stone walls on either side were equally overgrown, but under the lanterns, everything appeared either green or black, amplifying the dread.

Outside, houses were built from the ground upward, rising and spreading outward; here, it was reversed—caves were carved inward from the cliff walls, then stacked upward.

Thus, amid the dark vegetation, countless staircases and stone caves lined the cliffs, forming an ant-hill-like structure growing directly from the rock.

The ravine water flowed steadily between the walls, its murmur echoing off the cliffs, bouncing through countless caves and vegetation, forming a colossal, soul-summoning reverberation that seemed less natural than the work of some demonic array.

Caves, green lanterns, flowing water, ghostly wails—intertwined into an eerie, sinister atmosphere.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan and Shen Shen Zhaoming stood within the vast fissure, like ants; the fissure below was immense, a hundred zhang wide, extending inward an unknown number of li, where no lanterns glowed—only a profound blackness. Some said it led straight to the Netherworld.

The higher up the fissure, the narrower it became, the fewer the caves; yet here, pavilions and temples clung to the cliffs, their highest points reaching only halfway up the fissure. Above them, at the very top center of the fissure, barely visible at the limit of sight, floated a colossal airship.

In the Soul-Lost Ravine, one's position on the cliff wall directly reflected one's status. Those below the Second Realm lived in caves; those of the Third Realm resided in cliffside pavilions; the airship at the summit was reserved solely for the ravine lord, Bai Bai Wuchang.

Following their memories, the two went directly to the pavilion where Qin Qin Tianzong resided.

Qin Qin Tianzong was very old. Though he was a Jin Dan First Purification cultivator, his lifespan was nearly spent. In the memories of these two demonic heads, the Elder had not fought in many years, and recently, he had become obsessed with elixir crafting, frequently sending low-level disciples to gather minerals and herbs for him.

At the pavilion entrance, a bridge jutted out like a walkway, upon which sat a green-faced, fanged demon.

The two bowed in unison.

"Disciples Luo Hongyan / Lu Rongsheng, seek audience with Elder Qin."

"What is it?!"

The demon roared, his mouth gaping like a winnowing basket.

Shen Shen Zhaoming stepped forward. "Disciple ventured out and stumbled upon an abandoned mine, collecting several catties of gold essence. Hearing Elder Qin is devoted to elixir arts, I come to offer it."

The demon rose instantly, his ghastly face pressing close to Shen Shen Zhaoming's, studying him for a long moment before saying,

"Wait here!"

The two replied, "Yes."

The demon then turned and entered the cave.

Soon after, the demon emerged again, leading them inside. The pavilion was vast—only the outer eaves were visible; its interior stretched deep. After walking a long while, the demon pointed to a long corridor and told them to proceed alone, then returned to guard the pavilion gate.

The two walked down the long corridor. They had reached the deepest part of the mountain—unusually silent. This reminded Cheng Cheng Xinzhan of the long hall he had once walked in the Fengyin Hall on Longhu Mountain.

At the corridor's end stood a circular portal. As they approached, the door opened automatically; once they entered, it closed behind them.

Inside was a circular chamber. At its center stood a massive cauldron taller than a man, emitting a soft green glow and the sound of flowing water. Beside it rose a raised platform, upon which sat a man—his hair and nails long gone, his skin covered in gray blotches. The green light from the cauldron illuminated his face, making him appear more terrifying than the demon outside.

The cauldron also drew Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's attention—he had not expected this old monster used water-refining methods for elixirs.

"What gold essence do you have to offer?"

The old man looked up, his voice like two rusted iron plates grinding together.

"Elder Qin, these items are unfamiliar to me. Please examine them yourself."

Shen Shen Zhaoming pulled several glittering gold stones from his robe.

Qin Qin Tianzong glanced over, his cloudy eyes suddenly brightening. Without any visible motion, he vanished from the platform and appeared before them.

He extended his hand; the gold essence in Shen Shen Zhaoming's palm flew to him. He sifted through it with his fingers, murmuring softly,

"Ice-cold saltpeter, crimson-flowing sand, mud-dragon paste—excellent, excellent. The ghost servant said you had several catties. This is barely a fraction. Bring out the rest."

Shen Shen Zhaoming smiled nervously. "Elder Qin, I've brought all I have—intending to offer it to you. But I also wish to request a reward."

"Hmm?"

Qin Qin Tianzong's gaze shifted from the gold stones to Shen Shen Zhaoming, his tone growing colder.

"The ghost servant told me you were to offer the gold essence to me—not sell it. Did you lie to the ghost servant, or did the ghost servant lie to me?"

The two's expressions changed. This old devil had grown greedily unreasonable.

Shen Shen Zhaoming's smile was strained.

"Elder Qin, I failed to explain clearly to the gate demon. I truly wish to offer the gold essence. But lately, I've been short on resources—I humbly ask for a magic treasure in return."

Qin Qin Tianzong closed his hand, sealing the gold essence. The spiritual energy in the chamber surged, as if invisible hands gripped and lifted the two into the air.

"You said only to offer. I never promised any reward. Do you understand?"

Suspended in midair, Shen Shen Zhaoming struggled. "Then I won't offer it—please let us go!"

The next instant, invisible hands clamped around his throat. His face turned purple; he could not speak.

"Do you think this place is a tavern you can enter and leave at will? Today, the gold essence stays. You may leave alive—or enter my elixir cauldron as living catalysts."

Qin Qin Tianzong's face darkened.

"We'll give it! We'll give it!"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan cried out hastily.

*Puff—puff—* The two were released, collapsing to the ground.

Shen Shen Zhaoming was clearly resentful but forced himself to endure, slowly pulling items from his body.

"Hurry up, or I'll chop off both your hands."

Qin.

Shen Shen Zhaoming shuddered, moving faster.

When a small pile had accumulated on the floor, Shen Shen Zhaoming said, "Elder Qin, that's all."

Qin Qin Tianzong smiled, his wrinkles blooming like chrysanthemums. He waved his hand—the gold essence vanished. Then he turned to Shen Shen Zhaoming.

"You said you found an abandoned mine. Did you really gather only this much from one mine?"

Shen Shen Zhaoming scowled. "Elder Qin, that's all."

"Hah!"

Qin Qin Tianzong chuckled. "I don't believe you. Let me search you myself."

Shen Shen Zhaoming seemed at his limit—fingers clawing the ground, veins bulging. "Elder Qin, you can't treat us like this! I've given you every scrap of gold essence! Others saw us come to offer gifts—if we vanish from your cave, someone will notice!"

"Hahahaha—cough—cough—!"

Qin Qin Tianzong laughed loudly, then burst into violent coughing. After a long pause, he said,

"You two—I know you well. You have no roots in the sect. And I—ha! I'm dying! I have only a few years left!"

The old monster's expression shifted abruptly from laughter to cold fury, locking his gaze on Shen Shen Zhaoming.

"So even if someone suspects something, who would dare trouble an old man on his deathbed?"

Shen Shen Zhaoming's face twisted in turmoil.

At that moment, Qin Qin Tianzong shuffled forward, slowly approaching them.

"Will you hand over everything you carry yourselves—or must I take it from you?"

Qin Qin Tianzong's words made his intent clear: he wanted everything—not just gold essence.

Shen Shen Zhaoming's face filled with bitter fury as he continued pulling items from his body, one by one—the treasures taken from the two demonic heads.

"And you."

Qin Qin Tianzong turned to Cheng Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan offered a servile smile.

"Elder Qin, I carry only common trinkets unworthy of your gaze. But long ago, I acquired a secret elixir manual—a secret I've never revealed to anyone."

At first, Qin Qin Tianzong looked impatient—but when he heard the latter half, his eyes blazed with sudden light. He stepped from before Shen Shen Zhaoming to stand directly before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, nearly touching him, grinning like a demon.

"Oh? You have a secret elixir manual?"

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded stiffly. "I am dull-witted and failed to comprehend this manual. The secret lies hidden, its brilliance obscured. It repeatedly mentions 'Yin Ding' and 'water-refining'—terms I cannot fathom. I thought Elder Qin, as a master of elixir arts and owner of a cauldron, could unravel it. I offer this manual in exchange for permission to leave with our own treasures."

"Hahahaha—"

Qin Qin Tianzong laughed again. Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's title of "elixir master" delighted him; hearing "Yin Ding" and "water-refining" surprised and thrilled him. He said,

"So you didn't lie—you truly have no more gold essence. Fine. If your elixir manual satisfies me, I'll let you take these worthless trinkets and leave."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan pulled a small object from his robe—a jade talisman, palm-sized, glowing with divine radiance.

Qin Qin Tianzong reached out and took it. The talisman was covered in tiny script, but the few larger characters at the top made his heart tremble:

*The Essentials of Water-Refining Yin Ding. *

He read the opening passage:

"The stomach's western palace: Yin Ding governs inside and out. Absorb a hundred grains as Kan water; swallow the six airs to transform into Li essence. Rinse and swallow the nine springs, stir the flowery pool, draw the waters of the Heavenly River into the Youque, and cook them with the true fire of heart and lungs. When Kan and Li unite, the true essence within the ding steams upward, like mist nourishing the five viscera—this is water-refining, returning to the primordial."

Qin Qin Tianzong's right hand trembled violently. He quickly used his left to support it. His heart surged with a storm of awe—this was no mere elixir manual. It was the supreme method for cultivating the stomach-ding!

Heaven has not abandoned me! Heaven has not abandoned me!

Qin Qin Tianzong screamed inwardly. With this method, once he forged the Yin Ding, why bother with grains and six airs? He could devour blood and flesh, refine them in the Yin Ding into primordial essence—and extend his life, shatter his realm, all within reach!

He imagined it—saw himself perfected. Joy rippled across his wrinkled face like a blooming chrysanthemum.

Suddenly, his smile froze.

He slowly lowered the jade talisman, looking down at his belly. Three cun below his navel, a crimson-gold, solid sword-light had pierced straight through his abdomen, searing his Golden Core with scorching heat and piercing sword intent—as if the next moment, it would shatter and vaporize his core.

"Don't move. Don't move, and you won't die."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan looked up at him.

(End of Chapter)