Chapter 213: Chapter 5 Where Do All These Problems Come From?
“The Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave is located beneath the deep sea. Due to the high water pressure in the depths, it is necessary to carry a Water-Avoiding Talisman.”
“Third Senior Sister Liang Ruohua has prepared a Water-Sealing Charm for me, so there shouldn’t be any problem in that aspect.”
“The magnetic field inside the cave is strong. Not only can it destroy any path-finding treasures, but it can also interfere with cultivators’ sense of direction, causing one to lose track of east, west, north, south, up, down, left, and right—this is the main reason cultivators become trapped and go missing in there.”
“Master prepared for me a map Jade Slip left by predecessors. Plus, I have the Kunlun Mirror to record the route taken and correct the bearings, so that shouldn’t be a problem either.”
“From the entrance to reach the nearest Yuan Qi vein, it takes at least two months. Ordinary people who are in the pitch-black sea cave environment for a long time can easily be tormented to the point of shaking their Daoist Heart, and even lose their sanity.”
“But I’m not an ordinary person. I have Ah Jing and Qing Ping to chat with me.”
“There are no dangerous creatures in the cave, but intermittent earthquakes or underwater thermal eruptions may occur.”
“It’s fine. The probability of that happening is too small, and if it does occur, it’s an unavoidable natural disaster that can only be handled as it comes.”
“Shi Liuli somehow convinced Elder Shi Ding to let her go with me.”
“…What should I do about this?”
Luo Yan once again went over the plans for the trip to the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave in his mind. He had prepared contingency plans for nearly every risk—except for the disruption caused by Shi Liuli’s sudden involvement.
Why does this Miss always follow me around? Could it be that she has actually taken a liking to me?
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“I have a premonition,” Shi Liuli said earnestly, “that in the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave, there is an opportunity that will allow me to skip Marrow Cleansing and enter the Refining Mansion.”
“Sister, did you use your metaphysical ritual again?” Luo Yan asked lazily.
“Of course,” Shi Liuli affirmed confidently, “Anyway, this time I will definitely succeed in Marrow Cleansing.”
“That’s what you said last time you went to the Treasure Ship Secret Realm,” Luo Yan deliberately reminded her, “and all you got was a Body Refining Secret Technique you were too lazy to use.”
“That was an accident! An accident!” Shi Liuli retorted, flustered and her face reddening, “I’m not talking to you anymore. You don’t understand the weight of being ‘favored by the heavens.’ It’s pointless to explain it to you! Humph!”
She turned her body away to show her dissatisfaction, at the same time pressing her hands together in front of her chest and shaking them vigorously, mumbling some incomprehensible phrases like “heaven energize” and “earth energize.”
Luo Yan didn’t bother with her. Although this Miss always liked to cling to him, at critical moments she would at least not intentionally cause trouble.
Taking into account that they would have to stay in the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave for at least two months, there was also a risk of the Synchronization Value declining.
If the Synchronization Value dropped, the “One Whiff and Thousands Enlightened” trait would fade, so he might as well use Shi Liuli’s company this time to boost the Synchronization Value.
Thinking this way, her coming along suddenly seemed like a good thing.
Luo Yan quickly convinced himself and then continued to ponder.
The two were currently inside a shuttle-shaped magical treasure, which was being operated by a Nascent Soul Elder of their sect.
The reason for being enclosed within a treasure for long-distance travel was to keep the location of the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave secret—this place was located in the Extreme East Sea, far too distant from the Penglai Yuqing View to station people for long-term surveillance, and it could not be revealed to other sects, so strict confidentiality measures had to be in place.
At last, the shuttle-shaped treasure stopped and released Luo Yan and Shi Liuli.
“Be careful once you enter the cave,” the elder operating the treasure warned, “If something seems wrong, it is better to retreat timely than to risk continuing deeper.”
“Thank you, Senior, for your advice,” Luo Yan said, bowing in gratitude, and Shi Liuli hurriedly followed suit.
“In two months, I will come here again to pick you up,” the elder continued, “If neither of you appears within three days, the sect will assume you died in there.”
“This is the eastern edge of the East Sea. With your abilities, it’s basically impossible to get back to Penglai from here, so don’t miss the timing. Remember, two months!”
After speaking, he slapped the shuttle-shaped magical treasure with the back of his hand, and his entire being turned into a dark stream of light, disappearing into the distant horizon.
“Let’s go.” Watching the elder leave, Luo Yan sighed and said to Shi Liuli.
“Okay!” Shi Liuli became excited.
“Everything I told you on the way here, have you remembered it all clearly?” Luo Yan emphasized and asked again.
“I know, I know, I’ll listen to everything you say, little junior brother,” Shi Liuli smiled brightly like a blooming flower.
Luo Yan sighed in his heart again, guessing why Elder Shi Ding would allow Miss Shi to come along.
If Shi Liuli were to come here alone, Elder Shi Ding would definitely not feel at ease and would surely arrange for a trustworthy person to accompany her as an escort.
For example, during the last adventure at the Treasure Ship Secret Realm, he had arranged for senior brother Linghu Chu to escort the two of them.
Me, Luo Yan, what merit or ability do I have to be someone my master could trust enough to let me escort Miss Shi?
Perhaps it was because of my exceptionally outstanding performance in the Gui Xu at the last Treasure Ship Secret Realm, which contrasted sharply with the big senior brother who was unable to do anything after the accident, that my trust value in my master’s heart soared rapidly.
“In any case, from now on, you must strictly follow my commands. Do you understand?” Luo Yan advised tirelessly.
“Mhm mhm!” Miss Shi nodded eagerly and impatiently.
“Let’s go.” Luo Yan then activated the Water-Sealing Charm, creating a two-meter radius water repelling space around them, and then jumped into the sea with Shi Liuli.
This was the seawater at the edge of the East Sea, and the transparency was much worse compared to the central East Sea. The pair had only descended a few dozen feet when the light around them quickly became dim and deep.
Luo Yan then took out a lighting magical treasure, which was a Hexagon Palace Lantern, shining brightly in the water.
About a thousand feet down, they finally reached the seabed.
The seabed here was made of white limestone rock, which looked like a vast plain at a glance.
In the center of the plain stood a stele abruptly.
The two flew swiftly on their swords towards the stele and upon reaching it, they saw that it was carved as if with a chisel and axe… but it was no longer clear, seemingly eroded away by the seawater, leaving only faint indentations. They could roughly make out four characters.
Below the stele was a deep and bottomless sea cave.
“Little junior brother,” Shi Liuli circled the stele and asked curiously, “Wasn’t the location of the Five Qi Dynasty Yuan Cave supposed to be kept secret? Why is there a stele erected here? Are they worried that passing cultivators from other sects won’t be able to find this cave?”
“Perhaps the stele wasn’t erected by Yuqing View,” Luo Yan replied offhand.
“Then who put it up?” Shi Liuli asked.
“Ancient cultivators, of course,” Luo Yan answered.
“Of course, it’s ancient cultivators, could it be future cultivators?” Shi Liuli said, somewhat speechless.
She still felt something was off: even if the stele was put up by ancient cultivators, why didn’t Yuqing View move it after discovering this place?
However, Luo Yan, anxious to hurry on their way, repeatedly urged her by the cave, so Miss Shi could only set aside her doubts, quickly ran to her junior brother’s side, and with their hands held together, they took the plunge into the sea cave, protected by the Water-Sealing Charm.