81: Wine Immortal's Reed

'The Chiyan Sect Disciples were so desperate to capture me and bring me back for questioning... Those Chiyan Sect Disciples were extremely respectful toward the Hehuan Sect Saintess, and their transaction was practiced...'

Lin Feng sat cross-legged beside the Immortal Cave's spirit spring, tapping his knee with his fingertips. 'The collusion between the two Sects probably didn't start yesterday. Should I report this matter to the Sect?'

The moment the thought arose, he suppressed it himself.

'How would I explain knowing about this? Mentioning the Black Abyss Forest inevitably brings up the earth core spirit quenching milk, and that item is highly sensitive. Once exposed, the consequences are unpredictable.'

Lin Feng had dealt with the Elders of the Elder Hall before. He was insignificant and held little weight; what he knew were only fragmented pieces. Without solid proof, rashly reporting it would not only lead to disbelief but might also tip off the enemy.

This matter could only be temporarily buried in his heart. He would pay attention to it secretly in the future and make plans once he had concrete evidence or sufficient strength.

Sinking his consciousness inward, he noticed the Slug placed inside the spirit beast pouch had a calm aura. It seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, completely unresponsive to the outside world.

'The Dao of Spirit Beasts seems more profound and complicated than I imagined.' He gently shook his head, feeling a bit helpless. 'In the future, I'm afraid I'll have to frequently trouble Senior Sister Xiao.'

Thinking of Xiao Qinghan, the unreserved concern and guidance made his heart feel slightly warm.

'Perhaps... I could use the Opportunity of asking for advice to observe her Spirit Beast Controlling Methods more closely. If I could use the heaven-stealing vine to glimpse some of the essence...' He immediately shook his head again. 'This matter is not urgent. I'll wait until it wakes up and figure out its habits first.'

He flipped his hand and took out the dark golden small gourd he had obtained from the rock crevice. After playing with it for a moment, he couldn't confirm if it was the Wine Immortal Gourd.

He pondered for a moment. When it came to spiritual plants, only Senior Sister Luo of Hundred Flowers Peak would likely recognize this item.

Thinking of Luo Linger, and the chaos in the hot spring that day, his heart inexplicably tightened, and he felt a little hesitant.

'I wonder how she... is doing now. What should I say when we meet?'

Several days later, at Hundred Flowers Peak.

Lin Feng had just stepped into the familiar flower field, and before he saw anyone, he heard a soft humming tune that immediately stopped.

Behind the cluster of flowers, a graceful figure carefully watering a spiritual plant suddenly froze. Luo Linger looked up and saw Lin Feng instantly.

Two patches of red instantly flew onto her face. Her eyes subconsciously dodged away, and the fingers holding the watering can tightened slightly, making her look helpless. The easygoing composure she had moments before vanished instantly.

"Junior Brother Lin... Lin?" Her voice was much softer and lower than usual. "Why... why are you here?" She stood up, her gaze wandering, not quite daring to look him straight in the eye, her fingers unconsciously pulling at the corner of her clothes.

Seeing her demeanor, Lin Feng also felt a little awkward, forgetting half of the explanation he had prepared earlier.

"Senior Sister Luo," he cleared his throat, "I... came here to ask for advice on something."

Luo Linger slightly raised her eyes, quickly glanced at him, and then lowered her head again.

Lin Feng took out the dark golden gourd: "I obtained this item by chance. I feel it's quite unique, but I don't know if Senior Sister recognizes it?"

Luo Linger took the gourd. Initially, she was distracted due to her unsettled emotions, but when her gaze fell upon the natural cloud patterns and her fingertips touched its texture, her instinctual familiarity with spiritual plants immediately overcame her shyness. She carefully rubbed and sensed it, her expression gradually shifting from bashfulness to concentration, and then to surprise.

"This texture... this feel..." She repeatedly checked it, even injecting a trace of Wood Element Spiritual Power. Her eyes were full of disbelief. "Junior Brother Lin. Where did you find this?"

"In a rock crevice in a remote ancient land." Lin Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief seeing her return to normal.

"Rock crevice... dark golden cloud patterns... no Spiritual Qi upon touch, yet faintly containing Dao charm..." Luo Linger murmured to herself, then suddenly gasped. "Could it be... the 'Wine Immortal Gourd'?"

"Wine Immortal Gourd?"

"It must be." Luo Linger looked extremely excited. "This gourd is born with extraordinary talent. When first born, its spiritual aura is extremely restrained, appearing like an ordinary object. It requires prolonged nourishment with special spiritual liquid to 'awaken.'

Once mature, it forms its own internal space, making it a top-grade embryo for refining flying Magic Treasures. If refined properly, not only is its escape speed astonishing, but it may also possess functions like concealment and storage."

"It's just that... the method of cultivation has long been lost. It's probably difficult to find a suitable location or method within the Sect to help it grow quickly. What a pity, what a pity..." She looked at Lin Feng with complicated eyes.

Listening to Senior Sister Luo's explanation, Lin Feng's heart suddenly brightened, and he instantly understood the value of the small gourd.

His heart suddenly stirred, and he thought of the hidden spirit spring in his Immortal Cave.

'If we talk about the purity and continuity of Spiritual Qi, perhaps my spirit spring... is exactly suitable for this purpose.'

Lin Feng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister. Since this item is not yet mature, I can only slowly figure out how to nourish it myself in the future."

Seeing that Lin Feng did not seem as disappointed as she had expected, Luo Linger first felt a slight relief in her heart, but then an inexplicable sense of loss arose, as if her expectation had been dashed.

She handed the gourd back to him. Her fingertips accidentally brushed his, and she quickly withdrew them. Her cheeks were slightly warm, and she gently comforted him, "It is already an Opportunity for Junior Brother to obtain this item. Just let nature take its course."

Lin Feng took the gourd, paused, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, he only said gently, "I will take my leave now."

"Junior Brother... take care." Luo Linger replied softly. Watching his retreating back, she twisted a spiritual leaf between her fingers. Her lips moved slightly, as if she had more to say, but in the end, it only turned into a soft sigh, and a hint of loss flashed in her eyes.

Lin Feng walked out of the flower field, but his heart was not as calm as he appeared.

'She... is always so warm-hearted.' He shook his head and suppressed some distracting thoughts.

Lin Feng returned to his Immortal Cave, opened up a new room, and carefully planted the dried vine along with the dark golden gourd. He diligently watered it daily with spirit spring water, quietly waiting for changes.

Over the next month, Lin Feng remained in seclusion in the Cultivation Chamber, Cultivating the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art. The Immortal Cave was silent, with only Spiritual Qi flowing slowly like a trickling stream along some mysterious trajectory, converging into the Meridians throughout his body.

Finally, the operation of the Cultivation Technique broke through an invisible constraint, becoming unprecedentedly smooth and harmonious.

'I've broken through. The first layer of the Sword Heart Art has finally reached Perfection.'

He slowly opened his eyes. The divine light in his pupils was brilliant, then immediately restrained, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily curled up slightly.

Next, he took out the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art Cultivation Technique Jade Slip again, slowly sinking his Divine Sense into it, carefully comprehending the deeper content revealed after achieving Perfection in the first layer.

"When the Sword Heart is first formed, its sharpness is contained internally, but its nature is unsettled, like an uncarved raw jade. It has yet to interact and resonate with the Five Elements and the Myriad Phenomena of Heaven and Earth.

If you wish to derive myriad transformations and double your might, you must draw in the essence of the Five Elements, or seek out spiritual objects of exotic attributes, melting them into the Sword Heart to forge an attributed Sword Foundation.

With a single thought, the sword transforms into the Myriad Phenomena, and all kinds of attributed Sword Arts can be wielded freely..."

'So that's how it is...' Lin Feng's heart suddenly became clear.

The first layer only forges the embryonic form of the Sword Heart, like laying a foundation. If one wants myriad pavilions, one must continuously add bricks and tiles, and these "bricks and tiles" are the spiritual objects of Heaven and Earth with various attributes in the world.

'The essence of the Five Elements... Gold Essence, Wood Marrow, Yang Fire, Water Spirit, Earth Core... none of these are easy to find rare items. Furthermore, exotic spiritual objects of wind, thunder, and ice are even rarer and highly sought after.'

Lin Feng took a deep breath and shook his head helplessly.