Chapter 72

The Fire Lotus suddenly appeared; though not fatal, the searing pain was unbearable for most cultivators. Even with Mount Wuzhi's abundant resources, cultivators from all factions dared not linger and began retreating en masse.

"Let us withdraw as well."

The Taosu Palace disciples moved swiftly, having penetrated deep into the Second Peak of Mount Wuzhi. After helping several junior brothers and sisters extinguish the Fire Lotus, Liu Yiyun took a headcount and rallied everyone to retreat outward.

"Wait a moment."

Just as they were about to fly out of the Second Peak, Yan Xiaoyang suddenly halted.

Liu Yiyun looked over: "Sixth Junior Brother, what is wrong?"

Yan Xiaoyang scanned the surroundings: "I sense a peculiar aura." Sensing the aura emanating from the east, he immediately flew toward it.

Seeing this, the others hurriedly followed, soon witnessing Yan Xiaoyang lift a golden mass from a crevice in the cliff.

"What is that thing?"

Liu Yiyun and the others swarmed over, then clearly saw what Yan Xiaoyang held in his arms.

It was a small golden monkey, appearing to have been born only a few days prior.

Yan Xiaoyang gazed at the little monkey in his arms with pity: "Its parents have likely met a grim fate; who knows how it managed to survive trapped in this stone crevice all these days?"

Seeing Yan Xiaoyang's expression, Liu Yiyun and the others exchanged helpless glances.

Great. Given Sixth Junior Brother's kind-hearted nature, he would surely take this monkey back to Taosu Palace.

Liu Yiyun said: "Let us hurry out of the mountain; we must not keep the Elders waiting."

Yan Xiaoyang carefully cradled the little golden monkey and quickened his pace to catch up with the group.

Meanwhile, the Asura Gate members were also fleeing frantically toward the mountain's exterior. Just as they were about to fly out of the First Peak, a Fire Lotus materialized out of thin air, blocking their path.

"Helmsman, what shall we do?"

The Helmsman of the Asura Gate's Qingzhou Branch quietly produced a black jade lotus petal. As black light ignited at the Qingzhou Helmsman's fingertips, black flames soon erupted from the jade petal.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"

Several strands of black flame shot out, merging into the bodies of the Asura Gate disciples.

"Go intercept the Fire Lotus."

Upon these words, the Asura Gate members moved as if controlled, rushing toward the Fire Lotus as though disregarding their lives, while the Qingzhou Helmsman seized the opportunity to flee.

However, he did not expect that he had not run far before being blocked by two figures, one tall and one small.

The Qingzhou Helmsman watched the two before him with guarded vigilance, black light surging at his fingertips, ready to ignite the jade lotus petal in his hand at any moment.

Hua Changxi frowned, glancing at the distant Asura Gate disciples who, instead of fleeing, were desperately battling the Fire Lotus, reaffirming her conviction that this Asura Gate was no righteous sect.

"Leave the Mine Spirit behind."

Hearing this, the Qingzhou Helmsman's face turned cold: "We captured the Mine Spirit with great difficulty. If you want it, go catch your own. Do not think you can reap without sowing, without first considering who stands before you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Qingzhou Helmsman ignited the black jade lotus petal in his hand.

"Whoosh~"

"Whoosh~"

Two strands of black flame swiftly surged toward Hua Changxi and Shan Ling.

Hua Changxi simultaneously flung out her Fire Lotus.

The Fire Lotus and the black flames passed through each other like two unrelated forces, neither able to harm the other.

Witnessing this scene, Hua Changxi paused for a moment; that brief lapse gave the Qingzhou Helmsman his opportunity.

Upon seeing the Fire Lotus, the Qingzhou Helmsman immediately recalled the magnificent Fire Lotus that had blocked the giant monkey, nearly frightened to death. Guessing that those intercepting him were the ruthless individuals daring to battle the giant monkey, he gritted his teeth, expended over half his spiritual energy, and unleashed a ball of black flame.

Hua Changxi dodged with a flash; though she evaded quickly, the black flame unexpectedly exploded mid-air, scattering countless black flames in all directions, and ultimately, one strand struck the back of her hand.

The black flame, like a drop of water entering the sea, instantly drilled into Hua Changxi's body.

"Clear the path; go kill the other cultivators in the mountain."

Seeing the black flame merge into Hua Changxi's body, the Qingzhou Helmsman breathed a heavy sigh of relief and immediately began chanting incantations to issue commands.

Hua Changxi heard a fairly loud voice crash into her ears, making her unable to resist acting according to the instruction, yet the voice felt somewhat floating, lacking firmness.

The Qingzhou Helmsman was merely a Qi Sea realm cultivator; Hua Changxi only faltered for an instant before quickly breaking free from the control.

Originally bearing no intent to kill, Hua Changxi, at this moment, looked at the Qingzhou Helmsman as intense murderous intent surged within her heart.

"Boom~"

The Fire Lotus, which could previously be extinguished with minimal effort, suddenly blazed with fierce light. The Qingzhou Helmsman, attempting to flee, watched helplessly as the Fire Lotus grew increasingly solid until he was completely trapped within it.

"No~"

Amidst terror and despair, the Qingzhou Helmsman was engulfed by flames.

Cultivators still harboring a fluke hope within the mountain heard the Qingzhou Helmsman's final scream and shivered.

Both Taosu Palace and the Demon-Suppressing Army heard it as well.

"Indeed, the master of Mount Wuzhi is not one who refrains from killing."

"Not initiating a massacre from the start was already generous."

"Retreat quickly!"

"Fairy, are you alright?"

After the Qingzhou Helmsman was incinerated, Hua Changxi focused on sensing her own body, seeking to locate that strand of black flame that had merged within her.

Seeing her motionless, Shan Ling grew somewhat worried.

Hua Changxi's brows knitted together: "Actually, I did not wish to kill anyone."

Shan Ling nodded hurriedly: "I know, I know; the Fairy is a person of benevolence and righteousness."

Seeing that Shan Ling had misunderstood her meaning, Hua Changxi said: "Do not place me on a pedestal; I truly had no intention to kill, yet just now, I could not suppress the murderous intent."

Although that Asura Gate member failed to control her, she had undoubtedly been affected by the black flame.

What exactly was that black flame?

Hua Changxi felt somewhat worried in her heart; she planned to return to the Third Peak for a thorough examination of her body once the matter of the Mine Spirit was resolved.

"Fatty, are there any trees in the mountains that can isolate qi fluctuations?"

"Yes, Profound Wood can isolate all qi fluctuations."

Hua Changxi pointed at the black jade lotus petal left behind by the Asura Gate disciples: "Fetch me a section of it to store this."

The Mountain Spirit nodded, vanished with a 'whoosh', and shortly thereafter reappeared with another 'whoosh', holding a tree branch as thick as an adult's thigh in its arms.

Hua Changxi manipulated her spiritual power to simply craft a wooden box, placed the black jade lotus petal inside, and stored it within the Shennong Cauldron.

Seeing the Asura Gate matter settled, the Mountain Spirit grabbed the inch-long, five-colored insect queen hopping on the ground: "Fairy, look quickly, this is the Mine Spirit."

Hua Changxi looked down and waved her hand, causing the five-colored insect to hover above her palm: "This is the Mine Spirit?"

The Mountain Spirit nodded: "Exactly. Those black-robed people were too wicked and greedy; if they wanted to mine, they should have just mined, yet they actually tried to take the Mine Spirit away. Once the Mine Spirit is extracted, the spirit mine becomes a dead mine; once used up, it is gone forever."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Do you mean that as long as the Mine Spirit remains, the spirit mine will generate resources endlessly?"

The Mountain Spirit thought for a moment: "If the circulation of spiritual qi between heaven and earth is not obstructed, then yes, that is how it works."

Hua Changxi asked: "Is our spiritual qi currently unobstructed?"

The Mountain Spirit replied: "It is obstructed, and severely so. We have been sealed off; only now is the revival of spiritual qi beginning."

"Wait."

Hua Changxi hurriedly stopped him: "We have been sealed off? What does that mean?"

The Mountain Spirit said: "It means we have been sealed away."

Hua Changxi asked: "We have been sealed? Why would we be sealed?"

The Mountain Spirit shook its head: "I do not know."

Hua Changxi realized that the more she learned, the more confused she became: "If we are sealed, then where does the spiritual qi come from?"

The Mountain Spirit explained: "It is accumulated from before. Now that the seal has loosened, spiritual qi is slowly seeping out. Only when the seal is completely broken, allowing external spiritual qi to enter, will the circulation of spiritual qi begin; otherwise, we are merely consuming existing spiritual qi, and it will eventually dry up."

Hua Changxi felt a headache coming on, sensing she had learned something tremendous: "Who sealed us?"

The Mountain Spirit shook its head again: "I do not know either." Speaking thus, it raised its right hand, pressing its thumb against the tip of its little finger, and spoke with an air of aged wisdom: "The Mountain God is the lowest tier of deity; matters above are completely beyond my knowledge."

Afterwards, Hua Changxi learned many things about cultivation from the Mountain Spirit, understanding that if the Mine Spirit were placed anywhere, the spiritual qi in that location would become dense, and after a period of accumulation, a new spirit mine could even form.

Hua Changxi and the Mountain Spirit returned the Mine Spirit to the excavated spirit mine.

Watching the Mine Spirit merge into the spirit mine, Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes: "Most people, upon seeing a spirit mine, only care about mining; obtaining some spirit stones makes them quite content."

"But the people of the Asura Gate... they seem to have known about the existence of the Mine Spirit long ago; upon seeing a spirit mine, they did not mine for spirit stones but went straight for the Mine Spirit. The heritage of this Asura Gate must be quite ancient."

Only a heritage sufficiently ancient would know of the Mine Spirit's existence.

Having recovered the Mine Spirit, the Mountain Spirit went to patrol the mountain, while Hua Changxi returned to the Third Peak.

The former monkey cave had transformed into the current Fire Spirit Spring Pool; previously, in her haste to chase the Mine Spirit with the Mountain Spirit, she had not properly observed the scenery here.

Compared to the desolation before, the area was now bursting with vitality; rows upon rows of spirit fruit trees filled Hua Changxi's heart with delight.

She truly felt an unreal sense of having become overnight rich.

Happiness had arrived too suddenly!

Hua Changxi picked some fire-attribute spirit fruits, eating as she wandered, and at a position one hundred meters from the spring pool, she saw the Buddha hand that had suppressed the Monkey King.

At this moment, the Buddha hand was covered in cracks, appearing as though it could turn to powder at any moment.

Hua Changxi walked over and carefully picked up the Buddha hand; when she had previously stood on clouds looking down from the cave ceiling, it seemed profound, but now holding it in her hand, it felt even more incomprehensibly mysterious.

"Buddha Kingdom in the Palm."

Hua Changxi saw these four characters on the thumb of the Buddha hand, and her eyes immediately brightened.

Thinking of that giant hand from before, which seemed to block the sky and cover the sun, as if intending to destroy heaven and earth, she felt a surge of longing; if only she could possess such ability.

"Buddha Kingdom in the Palm... this must be a divine technique."

Hua Changxi examined the Buddha hand carefully, but no matter how she looked, she could not discern anything conclusive.

Helpless, Hua Changxi could only set the Buddha hand aside for now, deciding to examine it later when she had time; she had intended to place it into the Shennong Cauldron, but it simply would not fit inside.

With no other option, she could only carefully place the Buddha hand by the edge of the spring pool.

Afterwards, Hua Changxi took out the supreme-grade Fire Spirit Stone bed, lay upon it, and began circulating the Little Bird Breathing Method—no, it should be called the Zhu Que Breathing Method—at which point she sensed something was wrong.

Previously, the image of the Zhu Que Breathing Method in her mind had been extremely clear, but now it had become somewhat dim.

Had Zhu Que broken out of her body?

Hua Changxi could now affirm with certainty that she had obtained a tremendous heritage; this heritage not only taught cultivation techniques but also included a life-saving function.

She knew clearly in her heart that without Zhu Que flying out this time, she would have certainly died.

Thinking back on it now, she still felt somewhat terrified.

Perhaps embarking on the path of cultivation had been somewhat accidental; in her subsequent actions, she had often acted with a reckless mindset of relying on luck, never carefully considering the severity of the consequences.

"In the future, I must never be so rash again."

"Steady and enduring is the correct path."

Immersing herself in cultivation, Hua Changxi's consciousness entered her sea of qi; the moment she entered, she saw her golden elixir, and at this very moment, she was standing upon it.

Previously, she and the golden elixir had been separate.

Hua Changxi did not quite understand what was happening, but standing on the golden elixir, the scope of the sea of qi she could see was clearly much larger.

Moreover, beneath the golden elixir, she saw a wisp of black flame the size of a fingernail.

The black flame had actually entered her sea of qi!

Hua Changxi attempted to extinguish the black flame, but no matter what she did, the black flame burned steadily.

"What exactly is this black flame?"

Without extinguishing the black flame, Hua Changxi would certainly be unable to rest easy; thinking of the Asura Gate, the creators of the black flame, she decided that once her body fully recovered, she would seek out the people of the Asura Gate.

She must ascertain the function of the black flame!

Hua Changxi began to cultivate; seeing that the black flame did not hinder her practice, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

This cultivation session lasted a full day and night.

When Hua Changxi opened her eyes again, they held an uncontrollable smile.

Her cultivation speed had increased; previously, she could only gain 2,000 points of spiritual energy per double-hour, but now she could actually gain 10,000 points per double-hour.

Could it be that because she had merged with her inner core, her speed had become so fast?

[Realm: Core Formation Stage 2.05 million / 10 million]

Hua Changxi loved this feeling of her cultivation data constantly climbing; for the next month, aside from eating, occasionally chatting with the Mountain Spirit, and observing the Buddha Hand, she remained immersed in cultivation.

Just as Hua Changxi focused on her practice, the commotion caused by Mount Wuzhi set the entire Great Jin abuzz with discussion and uproar.

The imperial court had been concealing the matter of the spiritual energy recovery, but with the disturbance at Mount Wuzhi, even if they wished to continue hiding it, they could no longer do so.

Even the ordinary commoners, who were the least informed, had begun spreading news of the Mountain God's appearance, let alone the well-informed nobles and officials.

At the Medical Bureau, Hall No. 1 on Second Street, Gu Jinfan listened with furrowed brows to the heated discussions among the hall's disciples.

"Have you heard? In this world, those with the greatest combat power are not martial artists, but cultivators."

"Do you know what a cultivator is? A cultivator is an immortal."

"Heavens, are there really immortals in this world? I always thought that was nonsense."

Gu Jinfan did not listen further to such idle talk; she turned and walked toward the square at the rear.

It was better for the news of the spiritual energy recovery to spread sooner; this way, local cultivators would have more time to practice, so they would not be utterly unable to resist when external cultivators came knocking at their doors.

Gu Jinfan arrived at the square; looking at the dust-covered Medicine Ancestor Cauldron and the dilapidated Pill Saint Hall, she took a deep breath and knocked once more on that ruined door.