96: Chapter 96: The Sensation of the Creation Cauldron

Those were three ancient stone chambers, arranged in a triangular pattern.

The stone doors were tightly closed, carved with intricate array runes. Although endless ages had passed, those runes were still faintly visible, emanating a subtle spiritual glow.

The walls of the stone chambers were built from massive blocks of bluish-grey stone, their surfaces covered in fine cracks as if they might collapse at any moment, yet miraculously supporting the structure for who knows how many tens of thousands of years.

Carved above the lintel were several large characters in ancient seal script, the strokes vigorous and forceful, bearing a rush of ancient atmosphere.

"Azure Element Alchemy Chamber," Su Ruotong read softly, a look of awe flashing in her eyes.

Xiao Yuan stepped forward, reached out, and pushed open the door of the first stone chamber.

The stone door emitted a heavy rumble and slowly opened.

A waft of decayed air rushed out, causing several of them to cough repeatedly.

Once the air cleared, everyone looked inside the room.

It was a stone chamber of about a hundred square meters with a simple layout.

In the center stood a huge Pill Furnace.

The Pill Furnace had three legs, its body covered in cloud and flame patterns. Although its surface was weathered, mottled, and even cracked in places, it still radiated a palpitation-inducing sense of pressure.

"This Pill Furnace..." Su Li said softly, "is at least Spirit Treasure rank, right?"

Xiao Yuan nodded.

He felt it as well. The rank of this Pill Furnace in its heyday was definitely extremely high, stronger than any treasure they had ever seen. It had already surpassed Magic Treasure rank and reached Spirit Treasure level!

What a pity...

On the medicine rack beside the Pill Furnace, dozens of jade bottles were neatly arranged.

But those jade bottles were likewise covered in cracks, and the seals on the bottles had long since weathered to ash.

On the ground lay scattered dark residue, which was likely the marks left behind after Spirit Medicines weathered away.

"Be careful, don't touch anything recklessly," Xiao Yuan cautioned.

But just as he finished speaking, a Jade Maiden Palace Qi Refining Disciple had already curiously extended her hand and lightly touched the Pill Furnace.

The moment her hand touched the furnace body—

Clatter!

Right before everyone's eyes, that massive Pill Furnace directly crumbled into a pile of powder, collapsing and scattering into the air!

The raised dust choked several of them, making them step back repeatedly.

"I... I didn't do it on purpose!" The female Disciple was so frightened her face turned pale.

Xiao Yuan waved his hand. "I don't blame you. This Pill Furnace had long since weathered away; it crumbles at a touch."

He looked at the pile of powder, lost in thought.

For the Pill Furnace to weather so completely was likely not just due to time. A greater possibility was that its spiritual essence had been drained dry by something.

For instance... that Earth Fire Spirit.

That fellow might have ruined all the good things in this space.

Having no place left to dwell, it had chosen those fire-attribute Spirit Medicines to roost in.

Xiao Yuan walked over to the medicine rack. Before he even reached out his hand, just the light breeze he brought with him blew past, and those jade bottles shattered with "snap" and "pop" sounds, the Medicinal Pills inside instantly turning into ash.

"..."

Oh well, nothing was left. He had originally hoped to see if he could get some Medicinal Pills here to help boost his cultivation, but now there was nothing.

The group searched around the stone chamber once more, but apart from dust and powder, they found nothing.

The second Alchemy chamber was the same.

The third was still the same.

All three Alchemy chambers were completely empty.

The two Jade Maiden Palace Disciples looked full of disappointment, and Ye Qingcen sighed as well. Although Su Ruotong maintained a calm face, a flicker of regret flashed in her eyes.

"It seems the good things in these Alchemy chambers have long been gone," she said softly.

Xiao Yuan nodded, but his brow furrowed.

Although the good things were gone, the faint perception from the creation cauldron was still there.

He sensed the creation cauldron inside his Dantian.

Inside the cauldron, the Earth Fire Spirit was curled up in a corner, emitting a faint golden light, seemingly fast asleep.

But just as Xiao Yuan sensed it, it moved slightly, and a hazy consciousness transmitted over.

That consciousness had no language or images, only a clear direction!

Down below.

Xiao Yuan was taken aback.

Down below? Could this little thing also have sensed a resonance between the creation cauldron and something here?!

Otherwise, the message it sent into his consciousness wouldn't be so certain! Moreover, this little guy seemed to have developed a reliance on him.

This reliance was perceived through the creation cauldron. He found it somewhat strange, but had no time to think deeply about it.

Following that sense, he walked to the center of the third Alchemy chamber.

That was where the Pill Furnace originally stood. After the Pill Furnace weathered away, a circular pit remained on the floor, and at the bottom of the pit, a pitch-black opening was vaguely visible.

That was an Earth Fire vent.

But at this moment, the opening was dead silent with not a trace of heat, clearly showing that the Earth Fire had long dried up.

The sense came from inside this hole.

Xiao Yuan stood at the edge of the opening, frowning.

Should he go down?

This pit was bottomless. If the Earth Fire inside suddenly erupted, going down would be a dead end.

Just as he hesitated, another sense of consciousness came from the creation cauldron. This time it was stronger, carrying obvious excitement and urgency.

Down! There are good things down below!

Xiao Yuan felt a stir in his heart.

That consciousness came from the Earth Fire Spirit. Although it lacked high intelligence, it possessed instincts. Since it was so excited, there must be some treasure down there.

And... was it related to the creation cauldron?

Xiao Yuan recalled how the creation cauldron had proactively absorbed the Earth Fire Spirit earlier. It hadn't been the Earth Fire Spirit burrowing into his body on its own.

Perhaps the Earth Fire Spirit wanted to enter the creation cauldron, but the creation cauldron was clearly faster than the Earth Fire Spirit, swallowing it directly into its body.

And for the Earth Fire Spirit to react this way, could it mean there was something related to the creation cauldron down below?

He turned to look at Su Ruotong and the others.

"I plan to go down and explore," he said, pointing at the vent opening. "There might be something down there."

Although this thing was related to the creation cauldron, Xiao Yuan wasn't worried that Su Ruotong would snatch it away. She likely wouldn't do such a thing anyway.

Saying this was just to see her reaction; being secretive wouldn't be good for their relationship either.

Su Ruotong was taken aback and looked at the pitch-black opening, hesitation flashing in her eyes.

"An Earth Fire pit?" She frowned. "What if there is remaining Earth Fire inside..."

"It's possible," Xiao Yuan nodded. "But I want to take a gamble."

He looked at Su Li: "Will you come down with me, or stay here?"

Su Li didn't hesitate: "I'm going down with you!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan nodded; Su Li's choice was within expectations.

He then looked at Su Ruotong and the other three.

Ye Qingcen also spoke up without hesitation: "I'm going with you too!"

Su Ruotong bit her lip and finally made up her mind: "I'll go too. If we encounter danger, more people will make it easier to deal with."

The two Jade Maiden Palace Disciples exchanged a glance and nodded along.

Xiao Yuan said no more, leaping down into the deep pit.

Su Li followed closely behind.

Ye Qingcen gave Su Ruotong a glance and, without a word, jumped down as well.

Su Ruotong: "..."

Why was her Junior Sister even more enthusiastic than she was?

She shook her head, nodded at the remaining two Junior Sisters, and the three of them jumped in as well.

The group fell downward.

The wind whistled in their ears, and before their eyes was endless darkness.

Xiao Yuan circulated his spiritual power to slow his descent while spreading his sensory power to the fullest, remaining vigilant of his surroundings.

After falling for about a dozen breaths of time, a solid sensation suddenly came from beneath his feet.

They had arrived.

Xiao Yuan circulated his spiritual power, landing firmly, and looked around his surroundings.