300: Entering the core space

Situ Jun did not hesitate for a moment, stepping sideways into the cave entrance.

Just as his figure completely disappeared into the darkness, the cave entrance shrank rapidly like a receding tide. The pale blue light patterns and Chaos mist dissipated one after another, and the Void Realm returned to its original state as if there had never been anything unusual. Only the moss on the cliff wall still trembled slightly in the breeze.

The moment he passed through the cave entrance, a strong sense of weightlessness hit him. Situ Jun felt the world spinning, the space around him seemed to be warped and stretched, and sharp buzzing rang in his ears.

He endured the discomfort and circulated his spiritual energy to protect his heart Meridians. After about a few breaths, the weightlessness suddenly vanished, and the scene before his eyes changed accordingly.

What met his eyes was an extremely small space, roughly ten zhang square. Five-colored light flowed on the surrounding stone walls—azure wood Spiritual Qi, white metal Spiritual Qi, black water Spiritual Qi, red fire Spiritual Qi, and yellow earth Spiritual Qi.

The five types of light shuttled and roamed the stone walls like living things, sometimes intertwining and sometimes separating, perfectly corresponding to the laws of mutual generation and overcoming of the Five Elements, illuminating the entire space with brilliant colors.

And in the center of the space, a familiar figure was lying sideways on the ground—it was Tu Xiong.

"Tu Xiong!"

Situ Jun's heart tightened. He stepped forward quickly and crouched down to check.

Tu Xiong's face was as pale as paper, and his originally tall and straight body was now curled up. His black robes were tattered and torn in many places, revealing the hideous wounds beneath.

On the lapel of his chest, black blood had long since solidified into clumps, emitting a faint metallic scent. The Spiritual Qi around him was as weak as a candle in the wind, flickering in and out; he was clearly on the verge of death.

His eyes were tightly shut and his brows were locked tight. Even in a coma, the corners of his mouth still twitched from time to time, as if he were still enduring unimaginable pain.

Situ Jun did not hesitate for a moment. He flipped his left hand, his Storage Pouch shimmered with spiritual light, and a translucent white Medicinal Pill appeared in his palm.

This Medicinal Pill was named the "Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill." He had purchased it for 1,000 points of heavenly luck value in the System mall. Its effects were extremely potent, able to sustain the life force of those on the brink of death; even a severely injured person could quickly stabilize their condition.

He carefully supported Tu Xiong's neck and placed the Medicinal Pill into his mouth. Then, he flicked a strand of pure silver spiritual energy, injecting it into Tu Xiong's body like a small stream to travel through his Meridians and help him dissolve the pill's medicinal power.

The translucent white medicinal power slowly spread through Tu Xiong's body, moistening his damaged Meridians and internal organs like melting spring snow.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Tu Xiong's pale face finally showed a hint of color, his weak breathing became more stable, and his tightly locked brows gradually relaxed.

His eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly opened his eyes. His clouded gaze first scanned the surroundings blankly, but when it landed on Situ Jun's face, a flash of unbelievable surprise first crossed his eyes, followed by deep shame.

He opened his mouth, his voice so raspy it was almost inaudible. Every word he spoke seemed to tug at his wounds, making him frown involuntarily:

"Master... you're finally here... that's wonderful..."

Situ Jun nodded and reached out to gently press on his shoulder, preventing him from moving. His gaze fell on Tu Xiong's pale face as he said in a deep voice:

"You are heavily injured. Where is this place? Why are you trapped here?"

Tu Xiong gave a bitter laugh and struggled to sit up, but it tugged at his wounds, making him gasp in pain.

Situ Jun hurriedly reached out to support him, leaning him gently against the stone wall behind him and taking out a piece of soft animal hide to cushion him, easing his discomfort.

"Thank you, Master... This is a separate space within the space pearl, and also the core of the pearl."

He paused to take a breath, his chest heaving more violently:

"I was previously escorting a shipment of cloth to the Southern Border for the Embroiderer. I found a Spirit Beast I wanted to capture on the way, but accidentally stumbled into Daoist Ming Ya's Immortal Cave. I thought it was just an ordinary ruin, but I didn't expect it to be Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy site. I sensed the Restrictions in the cave were too powerful and was anxious to escape, but unexpectedly triggered the core Restriction, causing the entire Immortal Cave to reveal itself to the world, which attracted many Cultivators..."

He caught his breath and continued:

"Later, I found Daoist Ming Ya's autobiographical Jade Slip in the depths of the Immortal Cave and learned that he had designed a Teleportation Array at the entrance of his seclusion place. That array wasn't for entering or exiting the cave, but for transporting intruders into this space pearl. I figured you would definitely be affected by the array and would be interested in this space pearl, so I thought about entering the pearl first to scout the situation and pave the way for you."

"But the situation inside this pearl is much more complicated than I imagined."

Tu Xiong's voice lowered as he continued:

"Following the method left by Daoist Ming Ya, I barely managed to open the passage into the pearl, but I didn't expect the pearl's Artifact Spirit to be long dead. Without the spirit's guidance, as soon as I entered the core space, the passage closed on its own, trapping me here completely. If you hadn't arrived in time, Master, I'm afraid I..."

Situ Jun felt a stir in his heart. His gaze scanned the flowing halos of the Five Elements around them as he asked:

"This is the core space of the pearl?"

"Exactly."

Tu Xiong nodded, struggling to raise a finger to point to a stone platform not far away.

The platform was crafted from black jade, its surface carved with complex runes. In the center of the platform, a translucent white bead was floating quietly; the bead was about the size of an egg, its surface swirling with faint spatial fluctuations. Even from several zhang away, one could feel the immense power contained within.

"Master, look, that is the spirit core of the space pearl. Daoist Ming Ya's autobiography mentions that as long as one can refine this spirit core or perform a blood-drop recognition with essence blood, one can completely control the vast space outside. At that time, not only can you freely mobilize the Spiritual Qi in the space to Cultivate, but you can also freely open spatial passages to leave this place, and even take the pearl for your own use, carrying it with you."

Situ Jun felt a surge of joy in his heart, and a flash of heat appeared in his eyes.

If he could control this space pearl, it would not only solve the current problem of a retreat route but also allow him to claim this spirit-rich Secret Realm. Whether for his own Cultivation in the future or for secluded meditation with his Dao Companion, it would be an excellent choice.

For him, who had been stuck at the Half-step Soul Transformation Stage for a long time, this was undoubtedly a massive Opportunity.

But this joy did not last long; Situ Jun quickly calmed down. He looked at Tu Xiong, his tone carrying a hint of testing:

"Blood recognition and refining—have you tried both?"

At the mention of this, the look in Tu Xiong's eyes instantly dimmed, and his cheeks, which had just gained some color, paled again. He slowly nodded, his voice full of helplessness:

"I tried. There is no Artifact Spirit in this core space, so blood recognition is completely useless; the spirit core had no reaction. The only way left is to rely on Cultivation to forcibly refine it, but based on the runic clues left in the pearl, I speculate that to refine the spirit core of this space pearl, one needs at least a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivation to move it!"

"Soul Transformation Stage?"

Situ Jun's pupils suddenly constricted, and his hand on his knee suddenly clenched.

He had only just reached the Half-step Soul Transformation Stage. Though he had touched the threshold of the Soul Transformation Stage, there was still a world of difference between him and the true Soul Transformation Stage.

A Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator can condense a Primordial Spirit and travel through the great void, able to mobilize the power of heaven and earth with every gesture. Although his spiritual energy was thick now, it still remained in the category of "Qi Refining," as he had not even condensed the prototype of a Primordial Spirit.

No wonder Tu Xiong was trapped here; with Tu Xiong's Golden Core Stage Cultivation, he had no power to resist at all before the threshold of the Soul Transformation Stage.