394: Chapter 391 I Have a Friend

"Brother Chen, you have had a tiring journey. Drink a cup of Spiritual Tea to refresh yourself first." Hu Nan picked up a teacup and handed it to Chen Erniu.

Chen Erniu took the teacup but did not drink; instead, he heaved a heavy sigh.

"Judging by your expression, Brother Chen, you seem to have something on your mind. Why the gloom?" Hu Nan set down his teacup and asked.

Chen Erniu remained silent for a moment before slowly raising his head to look at Hu Nan. "Brother Hu, to be honest, I came this time to ask for your advice on some matters. I hope you can provide some guidance."

Seeing this, Hu Nan nodded and said, "Please speak, Brother Chen. As long as I know, I will certainly tell you everything I know, without the slightest concealment."

Chen Erniu took a deep breath, as if he had made a great resolution. "I have a friend who, I don't know when, was afflicted by a special Curse Technique. Since being struck by this curse, his Speed of Cultivation has drastically decreased. The Spiritual Qi he could originally absorb in a day now takes dozens of days to complete. Even his comprehension of Divine Ability and Law has been significantly weakened, and his Realm has stagnated, unable to make any progress."

As he spoke, his brows were tightly locked, his face full of worry, and a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes. "We have tried countless methods, whether it be Medicinal Pill, Talisman, or secret techniques, but none could break this curse. We cannot even investigate the origin of this curse. Brother Hu, you are knowledgeable and experienced, so I wanted to ask if you know of this curse and if there is any way to break it?"

At this moment, Qin Changsheng, who was observing everything with his Divine Sense, heard Chen Erniu's words. A faint smile flashed in his eyes, and he understood everything in his heart.

He was so intelligent that he instantly understood Chen Erniu's underlying meaning—the so-called "friend" was none other than himself.

The special curse Chen Erniu spoke of was not some evil secret technique, but the effect of the Heavenly Dao Trait · Slow Cultivation that Qin Changsheng had inflicted upon him.

Qin Changsheng knew clearly in his heart that the effect of this Heavenly Dao Trait was intangible and formless. It could not be detected by any secret technique, nor could it be broken by Medicinal Pill or Talisman. Only if he actively lifted it could Chen Erniu return to normal.

However, Qin Changsheng would never tell him the truth.

Chen Erniu was a Soul Transformation Reincarnation and held great hostility toward Qin Changsheng.

The two might even come into conflict in the future.

It was impossible for him to help Chen Erniu lift this Heavenly Dao Trait · Slow Cultivation.

A grave expression appeared on Hu Nan's face as he slowly said to Chen Erniu, "Brother Chen, there is actually such a curse in this world?"

"Have you never heard of it either, Brother Hu?" A trace of disappointment appeared in Chen Erniu's eyes.

He had originally thought that Hu Nan was knowledgeable and would know something. But he did not expect that Hu Nan seemed not to know about this either.

"Brother Chen, I have never heard of the kind of curse you speak of. It must be an extremely rare and evil curse. I cannot think of a way to break it for the time being, but rest assured, Brother Chen, I will keep an eye out for you. If there is any clue, I will definitely inform you immediately." Hu Nan said, pretending to be serious.

Upon hearing this, the light in Chen Erniu's eyes instantly dimmed, and the sorrow on his face grew even thicker. He sighed softly and nodded. "Many thanks, Brother Hu. If a way to break it is truly found, I will definitely reward you handsomely."

He knew in his heart that if even Hu Nan had no clue, breaking this curse would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. The despair in his heart deepened a little more.

Seeing Chen Erniu's dejected appearance, Hu Nan immediately said, "Brother Chen, everything happens for a reason. Such a bizarre and difficult-to-break curse could not have descended without cause. Think carefully: has your 'friend' offended anyone recently? Especially any Cultivator who is powerful and skilled in the Curse Technique?"

Hu Nan's words exploded in Chen Erniu's ears like a thunderclap, causing him to tremble all over. The despair in his eyes was gradually replaced by a hint of contemplation.

He released his tightly gripped teacup, his brows locked tightly, and he began to recall carefully.

Since being afflicted by this bizarre curse, he had been worried all day, only focusing on finding a way to break it, but he had never thought that this curse might have been caused by someone, and that he had offended someone he shouldn't have.

Scenes from the past flashed rapidly through his mind. Chen Erniu carefully screened everyone he might have offended. Whether it was Sect grievances or conflicts in the Secret Realm, those past entanglements did not seem sufficient for the other party to cast such a bizarre and unsolvable curse.

Soon, he remembered last year in the Golden Eagle Secret Realm, on the east plaza, that mysterious Cultivator who stood on the golden lotus platform and killed Old Ancestor Black Demon with a single strike—the middle-aged man whose treasure he had coveted and with whom he had attempted to join forces with Hu Nan to seize the golden lotus platform.

Among the Cultivators he had offended, only that mysterious Cultivator had such ability.

Thinking of this, a trace of regret appeared in Chen Erniu's eyes.

If he had known that mysterious Cultivator was so powerful.

He would never have offended that person, nor would he have had the idea of seizing the golden lotus platform.

"Brother Hu, do you know the Cultivator who obtained the golden lotus platform in the Secret Realm?" Chen Erniu asked again.

"I don't!" Hu Nan shook his head slightly.

"Sigh!" Chen Erniu sighed and said nothing.

Hu Nan looked at his dejected appearance with a calm expression. He did not mention the curse again, but instead changed the subject and asked, "Brother Chen, things have reached this point; too much regret is of no use. I do have one thing I would like to ask you: have you ever heard of the Spirit Stone Secret Realm?"

"The Spirit Stone Secret Realm?" These four words were like a stone thrown into stagnant water, instantly causing Chen Erniu to tremble all over.

Chen Erniu pondered for a while before saying, "Calculating the time, the Spirit Stone Secret Realm will appear in the next few years!"

Hu Nan hurriedly asked, "Brother Chen, do you know the rules of this Spirit Stone Secret Realm?"

Chen Erniu glanced at Hu Nan before saying, "I do indeed know the information about the Spirit Stone Secret Realm, and I know much more in detail than the average Cultivator."

"However, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If Brother Hu agrees to one thing for me, I will tell you all the information about the Spirit Stone Secret Realm without leaving out a single word, and I will never conceal anything."

Upon hearing this, Hu Nan frowned slightly, feeling secretly vigilant in his heart.

He knew that Chen Erniu was a Soul Transformation Reincarnation, so the condition he proposed would certainly not be simple. However, he did not refuse immediately but pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly with a grave expression. "Please speak, Brother Chen. As long as this matter does not violate morality and is within my power, I will definitely not refuse."

He deliberately added the prerequisite of "not violating morality," which not only fit his own persona but also left a retreat for any unreasonable requests that might follow.

Chen Erniu nodded and said, "This matter is not difficult: accompany me to assassinate the Third Elder of the Demon Clan!"

Hearing this, Qin Changsheng, who was far away in the Cave-Heaven Blessed Land, was also slightly stunned.

Qin Changsheng was also very familiar with the Third Elder of the Demon Clan.

This person was a powerful Elder of the Yao Race and also a trusted aide of Shen Guhong.

His cultivation was profound, far exceeding that of an ordinary Golden Core Realm Cultivator.

"As long as Brother Hu helps me assassinate the Third Elder of the Demon Clan, I will tell you all the clues about the Spirit Stone Secret Realm!" Chen Erniu said.

"Good, deal!" Hu Nan agreed directly.

The reason Qin Changsheng let Hu Nan agree was that this Third Elder was a member of the Yao Race.

Moreover, the Third Elder held a heavenly dao fragment in his hand.

If he killed the Third Elder of the Demon Clan, Qin Changsheng would be able to obtain the heavenly dao fragment.

Qin Changsheng could also upgrade that Golden Trait to a Heavenly Dao Trait.

"Good, Brother Hu is straightforward!" Chen Erniu's face was full of joy.

Chen Erniu looked around before saying, "Since you have agreed to this matter, I will certainly not break my word. I will now tell you all the clues and rules of the Spirit Stone Secret Realm, without leaving out a single word, and I will not conceal anything at all."

"This Spirit Stone Secret Realm is a special Secret Realm nurtured by heaven and earth, not one created by humans. It has a fixed pattern!"

"It only appears once every hundred years, and each time it appears, it stays for a full month. If you miss this time, you will have to wait another hundred years."

"Unlike other Secret Realms, there is no danger within this Spirit Stone Secret Realm. There are no Yao Beast blocking the way, and no rare treasures or Heaven And Earth Treasure hidden within. The inside is empty, with only a continuous supply of Spirit Stone being produced."

"Within the Secret Realm, there is a fixed Spirit Stone source that stably produces ten million Spirit Stone every year. As long as one can control the Secret Realm, these ten million Spirit Stone will belong to the controller, continuously and without interruption."

Hearing Chen Erniu's words, Qin Changsheng's eyes were full of joy.

If he could obtain this Spirit Stone Secret Realm, he would never have to worry about Spirit Stone again.

With just a few years of accumulation, he would be able to obtain the capital to perform an Enhancement on a heaven-grade magical tool.

Chen Erniu took a sip of tea and continued, "The core of this Secret Realm is the right of control. To obtain the benefits of the Spirit Stone Secret Realm, one must first obtain control of the Secret Realm. And wanting to obtain control is actually not difficult; it has its own fixed rules."

"In the very center of the Spirit Stone Secret Realm stands a huge spring of water, which people call the Spirit Spring."

"This Spirit Spring is different from ordinary spring water. The spring water is clear and contains rich Spiritual Qi. And within the spring water, one hundred special Spirit Stone lie dormant. These one hundred Spirit Stone are the key to controlling the Secret Realm."

"A Cultivator only needs to step next to the Spirit Spring, without needing to deliberately urge Spiritual Qi or cast any Divine Ability, and those special Spirit Stone sleeping in the spring water will automatically fly out and surround the Cultivator's body."

"The number of Spirit Stone that fly out is not random, but is determined by the Cultivator's own talent, Comprehension Ability, and Spiritual Root Rank—the higher the talent, the stronger the Comprehension Ability, and the purer the Spiritual Root, the more Spirit Stone will fly out."

"The rule is very simple: as long as you can induce more than sixty special Spirit Stone, you can successfully obtain control of the Spirit Stone Secret Realm, become the master of the Secret Realm, and control the annual output of ten million Spirit Stone."

Chen Erniu added, with a hint of seriousness in his tone, "However, there is one exception. If multiple Cultivators induce more than sixty Spirit Stone at the same time, then the control of the Secret Realm will belong to the person who induced the most Spirit Stone. The others, no matter how many they induced, will not be able to obtain control."

"Besides this, there is one more thing Brother Hu needs to know." Chen Erniu continued, "When this Spirit Stone Secret Realm appears, all the Prodigy in the Southern Region will compete for it."