165: Chapter 124 Fishing for Gold

The cheers in Wanyao Immortal City lasted for three full days.

The ruins of the central plaza were cleared overnight. The remains of the blue jade platform were piled up on the wasteland outside the city like a silent tomb. Occasionally, a night wind would blow through, kicking up fine stone chips and making a rustling sound.

Chen Xuan stood in front of Senior Sister Wen Yao's Immortal Cave, his hand pressed against the cold door frame, his fingertips turning pale from the chill of the stone. A faint sound of breathing came from inside, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

He pushed the door open.

In the Spirit Spring pool, Senior Sister Wen Yao sat cross-legged on the water surface. Her grayish-white Daoist robe was soaked through, clinging wetly to her thin back, the outline of her shoulder blades clearly visible. The spring water was crystal clear, reflecting her pale face. The three Red Lotus Petal Marks between her brows had completely dimmed, like three frost-bitten flowers, their edges curled and colors gray, no longer possessing their former bright red hue.

Her aura was so weak it was almost imperceptible. Her Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivation showed no signs of improvement despite the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi. The wound at her Dantian had healed, but the cracked patterns would remain there forever, like a piece of porcelain that had been shattered and barely pieced back together.

Chen Xuan crouched by the pool and reached into the water, his fingertips touching her cold wrist.

Senior Sister Wen Yao opened her eyes; her pupils were somewhat unfocused, taking a long while to clearly see the person in front of her. Her lips moved, and her voice was as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing against stone: "Junior Brother, you're here."

Chen Xuan took a clean blanket from his Storage Pouch, draped it over her shoulders, and helped her up from the water. Her body was as light as a fallen leaf, her elbows resting in his palm, feeling almost weightless.

"Senior Sister, I have found a Grade 3 Dao-Nourishing Lotus. Once the shipment from the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce arrives, I will be able to refine the Dao-Nourishing Pill. Although it cannot repair your shattered Dao Foundation, it can stabilize your current cultivation so it won't continue to decline."

Senior Sister Wen Yao looked down at her grayish-white fingertips and remained silent for a long while. Water droplets fell from her hair, hitting the surface of the pool and creating ripples. She suddenly smiled, a very light smile, like wind blowing over the water surface: "Junior Brother, you don't need to comfort me. I have long known that not everyone can walk to the end of this path of Cultivation."

Chen Xuan pulled her sleeve up to cover the glaring scar on her wrist: "Senior Sister, when you taught me sword techniques in the past, you said something. You said that as long as one is not dead, it is not a loss. Now you are not dead, and I am not dead either. So, neither of us has lost."

Senior Sister Wen Yao raised her head to look at him. The morning light from outside the window shone in from behind her, stretching her shadow long and faint, like a wisp of blue smoke that could dissipate at any moment. She did not speak again, just nodded gently.

Chen Xuan helped her lie down, covered her with a thin quilt made of Spirit Beast fur, and then turned to walk out of the Immortal Cave. A faint coughing sound came from behind him, like autumn leaves being blown up by the wind and then falling back down.

He returned to his own Immortal Cave and sat down at the table.

Outside the window came the footsteps of patrolling Disciples and low conversations; they were still discussing the competition from three days ago. Some were saying it was a pity that Senior Sister Wen Yao had been crippled, some were saying it was gratifying that Fa Ming's Golden Core had been shattered by Chen Xuan's sword, and others were lowering their voices to say that Immortal Master Kumu would not let this matter rest.

Chen Xuan did not listen.

He took out a blank Jade Slip and carved words with his Divine Sense. As the strokes fell, his fingertips trembled slightly; he took a deep breath to steady his wrist.

Inventory of Gold-Attribute Imagery.

City Wall Earth Imagery: Originally there were four. During the standoff at the White Lotus Temple, to exchange for his and Liu Lili's lives, he was forced to hand one over to Immortal Master Kumu's Buddhist Clone. Three remained. Later, Zhang Chongyuan, father of Zhang Fan, sent one, replenishing it to four. This time, two more were obtained in the ruins deep in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range. There are currently six City Wall Earth Imagery, which meets the minimum requirement for fishing for complete Gold-Attribute.

Heavenly Fire Imagery: Originally there were four. During the same standoff at the White Lotus Temple, he was forced to hand one over to Immortal Master Kumu. Three remained. One Gold-Attribute fragment gifted by Xiao Muting had already been refined into his body and could not be retrieved. Later, Xiao Muting gave another piece of Imagery to Chen Xuan, making it four. This time, two were obtained at the bottom of the lava lake deep in the Nanming Volcano. There are currently six Heavenly Fire Imagery, which also meets the minimum requirement for fishing for complete Gold-Attribute.

Long Sea Gold-Attribute fragment: One, already obtained from the outlet of the underground river at the bottom of the Long Sea. It is being nourished on the left side of his Dantian.

White Wax Gold-Attribute: Not yet obtained.

Pine and Cypress Wood Gold-Attribute: Not yet obtained.

Currently, six pieces of City Wall Earth and six pieces of Heavenly Fire have been collected, allowing for separate attempts to fish for the complete City Wall Earth Gold-Attribute and the complete Heavenly Fire Gold-Attribute. As long as one of them is successfully fished, he can forge his Purple Mansion Foundation with a single Gold-Attribute, transform into a Small World of Blessed Land, and achieve the Great Dao Golden Core.

But fishing for Gold-Attribute requires time and a safe environment, and it cannot tolerate the slightest interference.

Chen Xuan put away the Jade Slip, his gaze falling outside the window. The night market in Wanyao Immortal City had already dispersed, leaving only a lonely lantern at the end of the central plaza still lit. The dim yellow light shone on the blue flagstones like a faded piece of amber. In the distance, the defensive Formation runes on the city wall flowed slowly, emitting an almost imperceptible humming sound.

He sat at the desk for a full stick of incense time, his hands folded on his lap, his fingers loosening and tightening one by one. Outside, the night wind passed through the spirit bamboo grove, the bamboo leaves colliding to make a rustling sound. He listened to the wind and mentally rehearsed the next steps again.

Fishing for City Wall Earth requires a Spiritual Vein node that carries the heavy power of the Earth Element. The ruins deep in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range were the best location, but he had already taken the Imagery from there, and the Spiritual Vein was chaotic and no longer suitable for fishing. Another location is the Grade 3 Spiritual Vein spring eye below Wanyao Immortal City. That place has the most concentrated Earth Element Spiritual Qi and is protected by a Formation, making it the most suitable dojo for fishing for City Wall Earth Gold-Attribute. However, that is the location of Master Liu Yun's Immortal Cave, and he would need his Revered Master's permission to use it.

Fishing for Heavenly Fire requires a place where Fire Element Spiritual Qi is extremely abundant. Above the lava lake deep in the Nanming Volcano is the most suitable, but the Fire Phoenix true spirit sleeps there, and monsters like fire lizards are entrenched there. He must wait for the Fire Phoenix true spirit to enter its dormant period to have a chance to get close. Xiao Muting can help keep watch, and if the true spirit shows signs of waking up, he can give an early warning.

Chen Xuan pondered these two routes in his mind, weighing the pros and cons, and finally decided on the order: City Wall Earth first, then Heavenly Fire. After successfully fishing for the City Wall Earth Gold-Attribute, he would be a true Golden Core Master. By then, he would have more confidence when taking the Heavenly Fire Gold-Attribute, and even if he faced the Fire Phoenix true spirit, he would have the strength to protect himself.

He stood up and walked to the window.

The night was as thick as ink, and the shadows of the spirit bamboo swayed in the moonlight, like an ink wash painting. In the distance came the footsteps of the night-watch Disciples changing shifts, stepping on the blue flagstones, one after another, gradually fading away.

There is no time to lose. Immortal Master Kumu will not give him too much time. The Buddhist Sect's eyes and ears are all over the Southern Territory; as long as he lingers, someone will send the news to the White Lotus Sect's main altar. He must complete the fishing before Immortal Master Kumu makes a move.

Chen Xuan took a cyan communication Jade Talisman from his Storage Pouch, probed it with his Divine Sense, recorded his plan into a brief message, and sent it to Master Liu Yun, Xiao Muting, and Liu Lili. The message to his Revered Master was a request to use the Spiritual Vein spring eye as a fishing dojo. The message to Xiao Muting was a request for him to keep watch on the periphery of the Nanming Volcano and to immediately warn him if the Fire Phoenix true spirit moved or if Immortal Master Kumu approached. The message to Liu Lili had only one sentence: "Wait for me to return in peace."

The three Jade Talismans turned into cyan spiritual light, passed through the window lattice, and disappeared into the night sky.

He took out another blank communication Jade Talisman and carved a line of text with his Divine Sense: "Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan, help me guard the Conquest Hall. If any Buddhist Sect spies approach Senior Sister Wen Yao's Immortal Cave, kill them on the spot." The Jade Talisman flashed with spiritual light and flew towards the direction of the Southern Sky Zhang Clan.

After everything was arranged, Chen Xuan sat down cross-legged on the meditation cushion again. In his Dantian, the six pieces of City Wall Earth Imagery slowly rotated, the dim yellow light illuminating his Purple Mansion warmly and heavily, like an ancient city wall plated with gold by the setting sun. The six pieces of Heavenly Fire Imagery rotated on the other side, the golden light jumping and scorching, like six small suns burning simultaneously.

The two types of Gold-Attribute Imagery intertwined and resonated within him, emitting an unprecedented Great Dao fluctuation. He felt his Spiritual Root trembling slightly in this fluctuation; his Medium Grade Spiritual Root was transforming to a higher level—that was the result of the Gold-Attribute Imagery nourishing the Spiritual Root, and also a manifestation of the profound Foundation of his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

Chen Xuan opened his eyes, a flash of bright light passing through them. He stood up, hung his three bright moon sword at his waist, and checked the supplies in his Storage Pouch again: enough Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and a batch of Grade 3 defensive Formation Plates obtained from the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce.

When he walked out of the Immortal Cave, the sky was just brightening. The morning bell of Wanyao Immortal City had just rung, the sound echoing in the mountains, startling a flock of roosting spirit birds. The sound of them flapping their wings swept over his head, like wind passing through a bamboo forest.

Chen Xuan walked along the blue stone path towards the airport.

He stopped for a moment when passing the central plaza. There were already early-rising Loose Cultivators setting up stalls to sell spirit fruits in the plaza. A child wearing a patched Daoist robe was squatting next to a stall, drawing something on the blue flagstones with a twig. Chen Xuan looked down and saw that the child was drawing a sword.

He did not stay too long and turned to walk on.

The morning mist at the airport had not yet dissipated, and a thin layer of water vapor clung to the blue-gray ground. The flying boat was parked at berth number three. The sound of his footsteps boarding the boat seemed particularly clear in the mist, each sound like a stone falling into a well: thud, thud, thud. There was a Danhong Crane preening its feathers at the bow; seeing him come, it tilted its head and called out.

Chen Xuan stood by the ship's railing and took one last look at the silhouette of Wanyao Immortal City. The morning light rose from the eastern city wall, dyeing the defensive Formation runes orange-red, like a flowing fire. Liu Lili should not be awake yet, Senior Sister Wen Yao should still be sleeping, and his Revered Master should be meditating by the spring eye.

He withdrew his gaze.

"Let's go."

The flying boat slowly rose. The morning mist was broken by the hull, and drifting clouds slid past on both sides. The city below became smaller and smaller; the streets were like lines on a chessboard, and the houses were like scattered chess pieces. Chen Xuan stood at the bow, his hair blown backward by the high-altitude gale, his robes flapping loudly.

His destination was the Spiritual Vein spring eye beneath Wanyao Immortal City.

There, he would attempt to fish for the complete City Wall Earth Gold-Attribute.

Success meant becoming a Golden Core Master. Failure meant total destruction.

Immortal Master Kumu would not let him succeed easily. The Buddhist Sect's spies were searching for his whereabouts all over the Southern Territory; as long as he showed the slightest flaw, the pressure of a Late Stage Golden Core would descend from the sky. But he had to go.

He could not wait. The longer he waited, the more variables there would be. Although the Buddhist Sect had been defeated in the Central Plains, the Nascent Soul True Monarchs were not all dead, and Immortal Master Kumu could receive reinforcements at any time. Although The Three Sects of the Southern Territory had joined forces, their Middle Stage Golden Core strength was still like a mantis trying to stop a chariot when facing a Late Stage Golden Core.

Only when he himself became a Golden Core could he be qualified to make a move on this chessboard.

Chen Xuan returned to the cabin and sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion. He led the six pieces of City Wall Earth Imagery out of his Dantian one by one, letting them hover above his palm. The dim yellow light made his face appear bright and dark. Those lights shuttled between his fingers like flowing water, warm and heavy.

He looked down at them.

Six pieces of Imagery, each coming from a different place.

Ancient Battlefield, ancient Immortal Cave, ruined city, gifted by the Zhang Clan, lost and regained before the White Lotus Temple. Behind each piece of Imagery was a story, blood, and countless days and nights of running and struggling.

Chen Xuan withdrew them into his Dantian and closed his eyes. The flying boat continued to descend, piercing through the clouds and approaching the border of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range.

The Spiritual Vein spring eye beneath Wanyao Immortal City was not far ahead.

With a flash of escape light, he landed at the entrance beneath Wanyao Immortal City.

The entrance was under an inconspicuous stone cliff on the north side of the Immortal City. Master Liu Yun had long ago sent people to clear all patrol routes nearby.

When Chen Xuan jumped off the flying boat, the rock under his feet still carried the morning chill, and the dew on the stone wall seeped into the crevices of his boots.

He walked down the narrow stone steps.

The steps were made of blue stone, soaked by water vapor for who knows how many years, the surface as smooth as a dark mirror.

The sound of footsteps echoed between the stone walls, one after another, as if someone were following him.

He walked for the time of a stick of incense, and the end of the stone steps suddenly opened up.

The cave where the Spiritual Vein spring eye was located was circular, with a diameter of about thirty zhang. The dome was high, embedded with dozens of night-luminescent pearls, the light as cold as frost. In the center of the cave was a spring pool three zhang square. The pool water was a faint milky white, and the Spiritual Qi, so thick it almost condensed into substance, steamed up from the water surface, turning into white mist and slowly circulating in the cave.

This was the core of the Grade 3 Spiritual Vein beneath Wanyao Immortal City.

Chen Xuan stood still by the spring pool and looked down at the water surface. The pool water was very still, as still as a polished copper mirror, reflecting his own face.

He crouched down and reached a hand into the water. The cold, piercing Spiritual Qi surged into his Meridians along his fingertips, and the six pieces of City Wall Earth Imagery in his Dantian vibrated simultaneously, emitting a faint humming sound.

He withdrew his hand and sat cross-legged by the spring pool.

Without rushing to start fishing, he first took out a Grade 2 defensive Formation Plate, injected his Divine Sense into it, and activated the runes.

The Formation Plate shone brightly, and a layer of translucent light shield rose slowly from the ground, enveloping him completely.

Inside the light shield, silver runes flowed like a dense spider web.

He took out four more Grade 2 Formation Plates and laid them out in the four directions of southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast to form a second layer of defense. With the two layers of Formation overlapping, even a full-strength strike from an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator could be resisted for several breaths.

After doing this, Chen Xuan closed his eyes and sank all his focus into his Dantian.

The six pieces of City Wall Earth Imagery rotated slowly in his Purple Mansion, the dim yellow light intertwining together like a flowing ancient city wall. Following the fishing method recorded in Ancient Golden Core Cultivator Zhao Wuji's diary, he used his Divine Sense to guide one of the pieces of Imagery to probe out of his Dantian, like lowering an invisible silk thread, passing through his Meridians, passing through the Purple Mansion barrier, passing through his skin, and probing into the Spiritual Qi of the spring pool.