"An ancient cultivator's cave dwelling, this poor Daoist is indeed somewhat interested. Why not elaborate?"
Zhang Yanzhi smiled, "Then let us find a place to sit down and chat at leisure. The cave dwelling was discovered by Daoist Chongxu, so he shall describe it to you in detail."
Xu Mingxian nodded.
They found an immortal cultivator's inn.
In such inns, apart from the main hall, all private rooms had restrictions that could prevent others from eavesdropping.
They chatted in the private room for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Xu Mingxian agreed to accompany them, but they agreed that if there were any formation texts or similar Dao scriptures inside, they would belong to him.
The others readily agreed.
However, Xu Mingxian had underestimated the caution of these rogue cultivators. To join them, he had to swear a Dao heart oath not to leak information about the cave dwelling to anyone outside their group.
The next day, they set off.
Nearly two days later, they arrived at Guangling Commandery.
Suddenly, Xu Mingxian stopped in mid-air and turned to cup his fists toward Zhang Yanzhi and the others, "Fellow Daoists, this poor Daoist once cultivated in Guangling Commandery and left a cave dwelling here. I wish to go retrieve some items.
"Please wait for me for a while before we proceed to the cave dwelling."
Zhang Yanzhi's brows furrowed, "How long?"
"Several hours should suffice."
"That's fine then. We'll wait for you at the small hill below."
"Many thanks."
With that said, Xu Mingxian continued riding his middle-grade magical artifact flying sword, transforming into a golden rainbow that shot toward a certain direction.
As for his high-grade magical artifact, Xu Mingxian naturally kept it as a trump card.
Late-stage Qi Refining rogue cultivators who had struggled in the Great Wei immortal cultivation world for decades might not all have high-grade magical artifacts, but they would have at least one middle-grade magical artifact.
Seeing Zhang Yanzhi and Jinhu about to go down to the agreed-upon small hill, Daoist Chongxu suddenly said, "Let's wait on the other side."
Zhang Yanzhi was slightly startled, then immediately understood Daoist Chongxu's meaning and chuckled, "Fellow Daoist Jinhu, let's follow Daoist Chongxu's suggestion."
Several hours later.
A golden gleam streaked across and stopped on the agreed-upon hillside.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, this poor Daoist has returned. Would you three please come out?"
His voice echoed all around.
A moment later.
Several figures rose from another hillside and arrived beside Xu Mingxian in an instant.
Zhang Yanzhi laughed heartily, "Fellow Daoist Yunming, please don't misunderstand. We were simply following Daoist Chongxu's suggestion."
Xu Mingxian's eyes flickered as he glanced at Daoist Chongxu, then nodded and said indifferently, "This poor Daoist understands. Departing suddenly would naturally arouse suspicion among you Fellow Daoists.
"But since you've come out, your doubts should be dispelled now, correct?"
"Haha, as long as you understand, Fellow Daoist. Daoist Chongxu, let us set off for the cave dwelling now."
Daoist Chongxu nodded slightly, stroking his beard, "Fellow Daoist Zhang speaks reason."
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~
Several rainbow lights streaked across the sky.
Following them, Xu Mingxian soon arrived at a mountain range on the edge of Guangling Commandery.
He had never been here and didn't recognize it.
The cave dwelling was in a secluded valley within this mountain range. The mountain mists almost never dissipated year-round, so ordinary mortals would never come here. As for immortal cultivators, due to the thin spiritual energy, probably very few would visit either.
To have found such a place, it had to be said that Daoist Chongxu had some luck.
Xu Mingxian thought to himself, "Indeed, for rogue cultivators like him who rely entirely on themselves, they can only seek opportunities in such places.
"In areas where spiritual energy is abundant, not only are demon beasts numerous, but great families also send out one herb-gathering team after another, constantly searching."
Shortly after, Zhang Yanzhi formed hand seals and conjured a fireball.
The fireball shot toward the mountain wall over a dozen zhang away, but before it could strike the wall, a pale yellow light barrier suddenly flared up and blocked it.
The fireball exploded, dissipating into scattered red sparks.
The pale yellow light barrier remained completely unmoved, and a moment later, it faded back into invisibility.
Zhang Yanzhi turned to look at Xu Mingxian, "Fellow Daoist Yunming, can you break through it?"
Xu Mingxian didn't respond. He stepped forward to touch the formation's light barrier, then carefully examined the grand array.
The other three watched quietly from behind.
After a good while.
"This should be an Earth-type defensive formation, reaching first-rank high-grade level. Even if over a dozen late-stage Qi Refining cultivators continuously attacked it, it could likely hold for a very long time."
Seeing Xu Mingxian speak of the formation's origins, Zhang Yanzhi's face showed delight, "Then can Fellow Daoist Yunming break it? How long will it take?"
"A first-rank high-grade formation is no ordinary thing. Let this poor Daoist try for three days first. Fellow Daoist Zhang, you three follow my commands."
"Naturally." Zhang Yanzhi agreed immediately.
…
Qingjiang, Dongxi Village.
Xu Mingwei came to the Jade Cold Pool.
"Father, your child heard that Yunnu came back once and quickly left again. What happened?"
Xu Chuan looked up at Xu Mingwei and said, "He didn't say. He just came back to pay his respects, then hurriedly departed on his flying sword."
Upon hearing this, Xu Mingwei's brows furrowed slightly as he pondered, "Something's strange. Something must have happened."
"What do you think it might be?"
"He said little, not because he didn't want to speak, but because he couldn't speak. It's the oath restrictions of the immortal cultivation world. Cultivators don't make oaths lightly unless there's profit to be gained.
"Your child believes Yunnu may have gone to explore for treasure or investigate a cave dwelling with others.
"He likely anticipated possible danger, hence came back once to seek reinforcements."
Xu Chuan's eyes held a smile as he nodded, "Not bad, same as what Father guessed."
Before Xu Mingwei could feel pleased at receiving praise, his eyes showed worry, "But we don't know where Yunnu went. If he encounters danger, how can we rescue him?"
"That's right." Xu Mingwei suddenly remembered that Xu Chuan had some divination abilities, and thought to himself, "So that's why Yunnu only came to see Father."
He smiled faintly, "Father, you must have a way to know, right?"
"It will have to wait until tomorrow."
"Will that be too late?"
Xu Chuan shook his head and said, "Shitou, think about why they didn't seek others but specifically sought out Yunnu?"
"Formations?"
"Exactly. That cave dwelling must be surrounded by formations that they couldn't break through. They happened to discover that Yunnu knows formations, so they invited him along.
"Since Yunnu wants to seek reinforcements, even if he could break through early, he would delay. So you needn't worry too much."
Only then did Xu Mingwei relax, "Father speaks true."
"Go back. If there's need, I'll notify you promptly."
"Yes, your child takes his leave."
Xu Mingwei cupped his fists and returned down the mountain.
The next day, Xu Chuan used Daily Divination and, after learning of Xu Mingxian's situation, felt at ease.
Guangling Commandery wasn't far.
Just two or three hours away.
For the next five days, they were all engaged in breaking the formation then on the sixth day, the defensive grand array of the secluded valley's cave dwelling was finally broken.
"Breaking formations is truly exhausting," Jinhu sighed.
Daoist Chongxu had already sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating to regulate his breathing.
Zhang Yanzhi said, "Fellow Daoist Jinhu, stop running your mouth and hurry up and meditate too. Once our magical power has mostly recovered, we'll enter the cave dwelling to investigate."
"Understood, Fellow Daoist Zhang."
Although Xu Mingxian had high-grade pills that Xu Chuan had prepared in his storage bag, it wouldn't be wise to take them now.
Taking them out for use could be explained away, but it would still attract attention.
Ordinary rogue cultivators, even if they had such high-grade pills, would certainly save them for critical moments rather than using them casually.
Therefore, he also sat obediently to meditate and recover.
Xu Mingxian had the destiny talent of Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers. Whether cultivating or recovering magical power, he was seventy to eighty percent faster than cultivators of the same level.
After fully recovering, he cultivated for a while longer, waiting for Zhang Yanzhi and the others.
Two hours later.
The other three had mostly recovered their magical power then walking two by two side by side, they entered the cave dwelling.
First came a winding tunnel, with illumination crystals embedded in the walls on both sides, emitting a soft glow.
Before long, they arrived at a spacious hall.
"This should be the cave dwelling's main hall," Zhang Yanzhi said, surveying the surroundings. "Looking at the layout and furnishings here, this is indeed an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling."
So-called ancient cultivator cave dwellings typically referred to dwellings left by cultivators from thousands of years ago.
Some were even tens of thousands of years old. However, cave dwellings of Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment cultivators rarely survived intact over such periods. Most that did belonged to Golden Core stage or higher cultivators.
If such a cave dwelling truly appeared, it would shake all of Great Wei, and cultivators from other nations would also come to compete for it upon hearing the news.
"The cave dwelling doesn't seem large. Let's each explore on our own. Apart from the formation texts that Fellow Daoist Yunming needs, whatever anyone finds belongs to them."
The four split up to search.
After a while, they found nothing, until Daoist Chongxu said, "I've found a quiet chamber. It should be where the cave dwelling's master went into seclusion. Unfortunately, the chamber's restrictions are not weak, and I alone cannot break them."
"Then let's work together to break them. After we enter, if there are any gains, we'll split them equally."
"This Jin has no problem with that," Jinhu immediately said.
Xu Mingxian nodded slightly.
Thus, the four combined their efforts, casting spells in a forceful attack. It took over an hour before they finally shattered the restrictions.
The quiet chamber was several dozen zhang in circumference. Gridded bookshelves lined the corners, and a reclining couch stood to one side.
Most eye-catching was a three-tiered white jade circular platform. At the center of the platform sat the cave dwelling master's remains in cross-legged position, wearing a gray dharma robe. A green jade slip floated suspended before the skeleton.
All four pairs of eyes gleamed intensely.
"A jade slip?!" Jinhu exclaimed excitedly. He immediately leaped forward. Zhang Yanzhi tried to stop him but was a step too late.
A light barrier suddenly flared up around the white jade circular platform, directly blasting Jinhu away.
"Fellow Daoist Jinhu, you were too impulsive." Zhang Yanzhi covered his face with his hand, somewhat disappointed.
"My apologies. Actually, this Jin just wanted to test things for everyone. Indeed, there is a formation."
Daoist Chongxu pondered, "This cave dwelling has a first-rank high-grade formation outside, and the white jade platform also has one. It seems the cave dwelling's master was skilled in the array Dao. That green jade slip may be his formation inheritance."
He said this simply to get Xu Mingxian to voluntarily break the formation.
Xu Mingxian was naturally tempted, but he wasn't in a hurry. Although he couldn't identify the formation's origins, he surmised it was a second-rank formation. Without him, even if a Foundation Establishment cultivator came, they could only gaze at it in vain.
He first walked to the bookshelf and flipped through several texts. As expected, most were formation texts, along with some books recording geographical features of mountains and rivers.
Zhang Yanzhi tested the defensive capability of the white jade platform's light barrier.
Finding that his full-powered strike couldn't budge it in the slightest, he knew they could only rely on Xu Mingxian, the formation master.
"Fellow Daoist Yunming, this formation is truly formidable. I'm afraid we can only rely on you. This Zhang agrees with Daoist Chongxu's assessment: that green jade slip should be the cave dwelling master's formation inheritance.
"As long as you can break this formation, the three of us absolutely won't touch that jade slip. You may also have first pick of whatever is in the cave dwelling master's storage bag."