Chapter 174: The Most Untrustworthy Person, Lu…
Yun Yao’s expression was calm as the Demonic Dao Disc in her palm emitted bursts of resentful wails. Yet, she acted as if she did not hear them.
With a raise of her hand, a jade bottle slowly dripped fresh blood onto the disc.
Old Hu, who saw this scene, was secretly shocked and could not help but lower his voice:
“Daoist Yun, this should be the bloodline sensing method for seeking kin, right?”
Hearing this, Yun Yao lightly nodded and said, “Correct, it is precisely this method.”
Bloodline sensing—this was a common method often used by cultivators in the cultivation world.
The purpose was to leave treasures for one’s own descendants, to prevent them from falling into others’ hands.
As the blood dripped onto the disc, a wisp of blood mist instantly transformed into smoke and drifted in a particular direction.
“Go!”
The three exchanged glances and immediately followed the wisp of blood mist.
The wisp of mist landed directly into a stone boulder and disappeared, causing the three to halt.
Lin Chang’an raised his hand and activated his detection artifact. In an instant, ripples spread out, revealing a stone gate.
However, the stone gate was tightly shut, its sealing formation barrier still intact.
“Old Lin, could this be broken with a Restriction-Breaking Talisman?”
None of the three dared to act rashly. Old Hu asked in a low voice, for within the formation still lay others who had come before.
To say they were not anxious would be false.
Lin Chang’an carefully examined for a moment, and his mind recalled the time when, thanks to Song Tingfeng, he had heard Su Miaoyin explain formation theory.
Linking this to the wisp of blood mist that vanished into this very place, he suddenly understood.
“This barrier is connected to the external formation, but it cannot be attacked by force. Otherwise, we may instead trigger danger again.”
Lin Chang’an turned toward Yun Yao and said solemnly:
“Daoist Yun, do you still have this robber cultivator’s essence blood? To others, this barrier is an obstruction, but to bloodline descendants, it is a protection.”
“So that’s how it is,” Old Hu realized.
Yun Yao nodded slightly without further explanation. With a wave of her hand, another jade bottle appeared.
As she cast her spell, the blood within the bottle turned into a layer of mist that enveloped the three of them.
Sure enough, when the mist touched the barrier, ripples spread as if fish were entering water.
The three easily passed through.
The stone gate opened, revealing the cave abode within.
The walls bore obvious traces of being forcibly carved open.
Inside the cave abode came the sound of a trickling spiritual spring. Around it, spirit plants bloomed, while above the cave entrance was an opening through which sunlight and moonlight shone.
At the center, upon a stone mat, sat a cultivator with ruddy complexion, eyes closed, cross-legged in meditation.
The three, upon seeing this person, were startled and instinctively grew wary. Yet, the wisp of blood mist they had followed now circled before the seated cultivator without dispersing.
“This is a corpse from sitting in meditation!”
A Core Formation cultivator had already transcended the limits of mortals. Unless poisoned or afflicted otherwise, even after death, their remains could remain intact for a thousand years.
The three looked grim, none daring to act recklessly.
Old Hu, however, grew tense. Cave abode relics were said to be extremely perilous, each story filled with countless life-and-death struggles.
But here they had entered with such ease?
“Old Lin, we just came in like this? Quickly check again if there are hidden killing formations.”
Not only Old Hu, even Lin Chang’an himself was doubtful, though cautious, he reminded:
“Daoist Yun, let us use our mana to wrap the blood mist around our bodies. Do not leak out auras that do not belong to us.”
“Big Brother Lin, is there still a formation here?”
At the questioning of Old Hu and Yun Yao, Lin Chang’an investigated with a grave expression, sweat beading upon his forehead.
Old Hu’s face grew darker and more uneasy as he urged: “Old Lin, we’ve already come this far. If you know something, just say it.”
After a long moment of thought, Lin Chang’an finally said solemnly, “There should be no more.”
Yun Yao and Old Hu fell silent.
Was there truly none, or was Old Lin’s ability simply limited?
“Let me do it.”
Yun Yao raised her hand, and the disc hummed. After detecting nothing unusual, the three exchanged bewildered glances.
Just like that!?
After a long silence—
“My heavens, the outside tales all say cave abode relics are filled with peril, requiring hardships and trials. But we, in just a few steps, entered so easily?”
Old Hu rubbed his hands excitedly, greed flashing in his eyes, but when he saw Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao, he revealed an awkward look.
“Old Lin, why are you looking at me like that? Though my ancestor was a Core Formation cultivator, I’m not him. I, Old Hu, am just a drifting cultivator. You know my background is thin.”
After trying and finding no traps, the three gathered around the corpse with ruddy complexion.
“Old Hu is right. We are all from poor drifting backgrounds. Who knows what the outside situation is now? We should quickly search this place.”
Lin Chang’an chuckled, yet none of the three moved. Old Hu looked embarrassedly at him.
Both men’s hands behind their backs gripped Talisman Treasures tightly.
“Old Hu!”
“Old Lin!”
They glanced at each other, smiled, and stepped aside, clearly letting Yun Yao proceed.
“Big Brother Lin, Daoist Hu, we are only three people. Outside, who knows how many more are here. And the cultivator you killed earlier…
He was a worshipped elder of the Fu Family in Shayun Kingdom, whose clan has a Core Formation cultivator and a False Core cultivator.”
Yun Yao’s gaze was calm as she swept over Old Hu, clearly warning the two that they must not act recklessly now.
Otherwise, after all their effort, they might just end up making wedding clothes for others.
“Old Lin, I, Old Hu, only have one life.”
“Old Hu, I too do not have a second.”
The two exchanged looks and laughed, though their vigilance did not relax.
The tension eased somewhat.
Guarding against others could not be neglected!
Taking a deep breath, Yun Yao seized the chance, striding forward. With a wave of Object Manipulation Technique, she removed the seated cultivator’s Storage Pouch and treasures.
“Blood Fiend True Lord, a late Core Formation cultivator…”
As Yun Yao revealed the treasures, Lin Chang’an and Old Hu could not help but glance sideways.
These were relics of a Core Formation cultivator. Among countless Foundation Establishment cultivators in the world, few had the chance to obtain such things.
Yet, the moment Yun Yao touched the corpse, faint blood light flared across the cave’s stone walls.
“Not good!”
“Old Hu, don’t move! Look carefully!”
It was a false alarm, but the three were shocked as they saw countless blood-red lights flicker across the walls.
“These are the final words of Blood Fiend True Lord!”
As they read through the densely carved message, their initial shock turned to stunned disbelief.
Especially Old Hu, whose eyes widened.
“My goodness, how much resentment did this True Lord have before death, to curse so foully?”
Even Lin Chang’an did not refute.
Because every single word inscribed on the walls was nothing but endless cursing.
“The most untrustworthy person in the world is Lu Turtle… To all my descendants… when the lifespan of Lu Turtle, a drifting cultivator from Yue Kingdom, ends, slaughter all cultivators who raise turtles…”
“Lu Turtle, I…”
The dying words of a Core Formation cultivator seemed alive, echoing in the three’s ears as the Blood Fiend True Lord’s curses resounded.
Until finally, the voice weakened, fading into mutters—“The most untrustworthy… Lu Turtle…”—and then ceased.
“So… even a Core Formation True Lord curses like us mortals.”
When the wall’s resentful voice finished, Old Hu’s face twisted strangely, at a loss for words.
Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered. Yun Yao had mentioned earlier that this Blood Fiend True Lord had once made a trade with Master Lu, and it seemed he had been swindled badly.
Even in death, his resentment had not dispersed.
“Old Hu, Core Formation cultivators are still people, not stones without desires.”
Lin Chang’an shook his head with a sigh. For a dignified late Core Formation cultivator to abandon all decorum in his final moments—one could imagine the grievance he had suffered.
“This True Lord failed to break through to Nascent Soul, then sat here to await death.”
At this time, Yun Yao drew in a deep breath, having already taken all of this True Lord’s belongings.
There were over a hundred Upper-grade Spirit Stones, more than a dozen jade slips, and all kinds of pill bottles and jars.
“Unfortunately, most of these pills are for healing and restoring mana.”
In front of the other two, Yun Yao opened the pill bottles. Even after a hundred years, the potency of third-rank pills might diminish, but they would not be completely ruined.
Finally, the pills were divided into three shares.
“Old Hu’s share of pills, I’ll hold onto them first.”
“Old Lin, isn’t that going too far!”
As they divided the spoils, Old Hu widened his eyes at the sight of Lin Chang’an taking his pills.
Lin Chang’an, however, nodded calmly and said:
“Third-rank healing pills are no less than lifesaving treasures to us Foundation Establishment cultivators. Though much of their potency has faded, Old Hu, the thing you promised has not yet been delivered.”
Old Hu forced a bitter smile, waving his hand helplessly, signaling Old Lin to keep them for now.
The Core Formation secret art he had promised could only be given once they returned. Otherwise, who knew what might happen if he handed it over here?
Next were the Upper-grade Spirit Stones, divided into three, with Lin Chang’an again holding onto Old Hu’s share for now.
But it was the jade slips that made the three of them tremble with desire.
“There’s actually a Core Condensation Secret Method!”
All three cried out in shock. Such a secret method was something every False Core cultivator yearned for.
It was well known that after forming a False Core, without extraordinary fortune, one’s cultivation would never advance further.
But this Core Condensation Secret Method allowed the destruction of a False Core to recondense a true core. Though still difficult, it was far easier than advancing from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation.
Aside from this, there was also a broken third-rank formation inheritance, along with various miscellaneous arts and cultivation insights.
“These I’ll take for now. Once we return, I’ll make copies for you.”
After looking through them, Yun Yao felt some disappointment. There was no spirit item capable of condensing a Golden Core.
Still, the cultivation insights of a Core Formation cultivator were an immense treasure in themselves.
Lastly, from the chest of the seated True Lord, they discovered four magical treasures. The three of them immediately felt their breathing grow heavy.
“Daoist Yun, any one of these treasures alone could be exchanged for a Core Formation Spirit Item!”
Their eyes turned red with greed. These were magical treasures!
Yun Yao even revealed a rare smile.
The four treasures were: a blood-colored longsword, a white umbrella with cloud patterns, two flying daggers, and a jade pendant.
“Four magical treasures—worthy indeed of a great cultivator who prepared to reach Nascent Soul. His wealth is far beyond that of ordinary Core Formation cultivators.”
Old Hu’s eyes widened. Even they, mere Foundation Establishment cultivators, knew well the significance of magical treasures.
Ordinary Core Formation cultivators were fortunate to possess even one.
“But it seems this True Lord, before death, or while risking a breakthrough to Nascent Soul, encountered something terrible. The glow of these treasures is dim, clearly corroded…”
For something to taint magical treasures, one could imagine its horror.
Yet Old Hu laughed excitedly:
“Old Lin, you’re greedier than me! To be able to pick up such bargains already repays all our effort.”
“Old Lin, Daoist Yun, I, Old Hu, won’t be stingy. When we return to Tianxuan City, just give me those flying daggers.”
Old Hu’s hearty laughter made both Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao secretly nod.
It was best if no conflict arose.
Especially since Old Hu possessed a secret method to increase the chances of Core Formation—something far beyond the value of magical treasures.
“And this magical robe… Old Lin, don’t… Old Lin! You’re ruthless enough to even take the corpse!”
“The Golden Core has already shattered after his failed breakthrough. It’s of little value.”
“I was only lamenting that even a Core Formation cultivator could meet such an end. Since we’ve gained so much, let’s find a beautiful and peaceful land to bury him.”
Lin Chang’an, with calm expression, also stored away the corpse, giving a plausible excuse.
In truth, he wished to use his Life-bound Spirit Plant to probe what memories could be extracted from this Core Formation cultivator who had died a hundred years ago.
Every fragment of memory from a late Core Formation cultivator was priceless.
After dividing the spoils, Yun Yao silently nodded. Though these treasures were damaged, their worth remained incalculable.
With luck, one could even exchange them for a Core Formation Spirit Item.
“Old Lin, what do we do next?”
“Take the main formation plate and flags, and avoid the cultivators inside the formation.”
After thoroughly looting the cave abode, Old Hu looked back with some reluctance.
The spiritual energy here was rich indeed. That it was chosen by a late Core Formation cultivator spoke volumes of its quality.
A pity.
“Let’s go.”
At the cave entrance, Lin Chang’an collected the main formation plate and flags of the Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation, though it pained him greatly.
If given the choice, he would have taken all the other plates and flags as well.
Unfortunately, he needed the broken formation to continue stalling those trapped within, so he could not yet dismantle it.
…
Meanwhile, inside the formation.
“Elder Fu, the fire attribute spiritual energy here has grown even denser, fiercer than before.”
The four Foundation Establishment cultivators looked grim, while the leading Elder Fu sneered coldly. With a humph, he wielded a fiery pearl that absorbed the surrounding fire energy.
“This fire energy is perfect nourishment for my magical treasure.”
A False Core cultivator was already powerful. Possessing a magical treasure made him even more formidable.
Especially when the treasure’s attribute restrained its environment, this fire attribute magical treasure was the perfect counter to the fiery energies here.
“Quickly, move forward.”
“Yes, Elder Fu!”
Outside the formation, two of the Fu Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators stood guard, scanning their surroundings warily.
Yet they did not notice at all as Yun Yao, cloaked in Hidden Spirit Gauze, Lin Chang’an, with his Breath Concealment Technique empowered by cultivation art, and Old Hu, with his own treasure, slipped past under their very noses.
Several days later, the formation suddenly collapsed with a thunderous crash, losing its support. Poisonous miasma surged in, while venomous scorpions around the area went berserk.
Immediately afterward, the furious roar of the False Core True Lord resounded from within.