Chapter 14: The Underworld Cave (Part Two)

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The Yanluo Cave, though called a “cave,” was in fact a secret realm. In truth, the entire Infinite Sect was a secret realm, rumored to be a movable paradise. Otherwise, the sect wouldn’t be so abundant with spiritual energy.

Since the primordial era, countless cycles and celestial shifts have reshaped the world’s environment. Once, during the ancient times, the world brimmed with abundant spiritual energy, and rare treasures lay scattered everywhere. Now, most of the spiritual veins have gathered within great secret realms, leaving the majority of the land spiritually barren.

Yet this environmental transformation was mostly man-made rather than natural. With the shattering of the primordial world, many heavenly materials and treasures were destroyed. Insightful sects began to instinctively accumulate spiritual artifacts, focusing on the coveted, self-regenerating spiritual veins.

At first, only a few sects did so, but gradually all sects followed suit. As spiritual veins concentrated within these sects, other lands’ spiritual energy grew scarce. Small families like the Yao clan could only rely on their ancestors’ efforts to secure a portion of nurturing spiritual artifacts from the sect.

Within the Infinite Sect, even the training grounds for entry-level disciples had two lower-grade spiritual veins flowing through them. This was a source of envy for many, explaining why so many aspired to join major sects. Yao Qian stood atop a mountain, gazing at the rising sun, uncertain whether the Yanluo Cave secret realm was man-made or naturally formed.

The burly man in black did not keep them waiting. Once the disciples gathered, he arrived, his complexion grim. He said nothing upon seeing them, but unleashed a black mist that enveloped everyone, then soared with his energy towards the sect leader’s hall.

Pei Changqing remained seated cross-legged within the main hall. The strange-shaped lamps burned steadily; these eternal lamps fed on cultivators’ primordial spirits. Even an ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple’s spirit could last millions of years, while Gold Core or Nascent Soul cultivators’ spirits could fuel the flames for hundreds of thousands to millions of years. This was the origin of the lamps’ name: Eternal Lamps.

More terrifyingly, the spirits within these lamps remained conscious until their energy was entirely exhausted, only then truly finding release. Therefore, eternal lamps were undeniably demonic artifacts.

“Senior Brother,” the black-clad man respectfully addressed Pei Changqing, showing no trace of the arrogance he displayed before the disciples. “I have brought the junior brothers and sisters.”

Pei Changqing smiled faintly. “Thank you for your efforts, Xiao Wu.”

The man in black was overwhelmed with honor. Though a disciple of the sect leader, he had only met his teacher twice since apprenticeship, usually receiving instruction through the senior brother instead, with whom he was closer.

Pei Changqing’s gentle voice soothed the anxious disciples below. “The Yanluo Cave is filled with pure yin energy from the underworld, ideal for cultivating the Taiyin Herb Gathering Technique. There are devouring shadow spirits inside, but if you train only around the perimeter, it will be safe. You must train diligently.”

His handsome face and warm tone eased their fears. He then gestured, scattering countless points of light into their hands. As the light faded, jade pendants appeared.

“This Three Yang Talisman can be used three times,” Pei Changqing’s voice echoed. “While the outskirts of Yanluo Cave are safe, there are unexpected treasures within. If you feel strong enough, you may venture deeper. This talisman guarantees your safety three times at least.”

After ushering the disciples into the secret realm, the man in black muttered, “Senior Brother, you’re too generous.”

Though low-grade talismans like these cost little effort to craft, making hundreds consumed significant time. The sect certainly couldn’t spare so many at once; these must have been personally produced by the senior brother in recent days.

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Pei Changqing smiled slightly. “If they can grow rapidly within three years, this expense is worthwhile.”

The black-clad man scratched his head. “Senior Brother, will only Qi Refining stage juniors be allowed into the Dragon Burial Cliff from now on?”

Pei Changqing nodded and sighed softly. “Yes, preferably below the Jade Liquid. There are too few Foundation Establishment disciples in the sect now, and their strength is insufficient.”

The black-clad man glared fiercely at the eternal lamp in the hall. If not for these fools, would they be in such a hurry to train new disciples?

Pei Changqing replied calmly, “No need to be angry. I’m at fault too. I should not have relaxed oversight just because the Master was in seclusion. Had I intervened, those fools wouldn’t have been so reckless.”

His tone shifted as he instructed his junior brother, “Have more Three Yang talismans made. Every three months, release ten talismans into Yanluo Cave for the most improved disciples.”

The man in black responded respectfully. The sect’s current Foundation Establishment disciples were of poor aptitude. Forget Gold Core, they might not even properly refine true energy into liquid. Rather than wasting resources on them, better to let them study cultivation techniques to prepare the next generation.

After Pei Changqing and his juniors left, he resumed meditative posture in the hall. Since the sect leader’s seclusion, Pei Changqing hadn’t left. All external orders were executed through his secondary spirit or junior disciples.

Yao Qian felt her body grow light. When she opened her eyes, she found herself beside a vast, boundless river. Yet strangely, the river’s surface was perfectly calm, like still, lifeless water.

This was Yanluo Cave? Yao Qian was puzzled—it was just a river. Scanning around, she saw no one else. Gazing into the distance, the river stretched endlessly, its width unimaginable. Hundreds of disciples would be but a drop in this vast sea. If they had been teleported separately, it was normal not to see others.

She stood on a small riverbank, barely enough to hold a dozen people, surrounded on all sides by motionless river water. After hesitation, she summoned a sliver of divine sense to probe the water.

Her divine sense dissolved upon contact, though she quickly severed the link. She felt an immense, boundless cold pressing down—not dangerous per se, but painful to divine sense. It even seemed to have some benefit.

Recalling Pei Changqing’s words about unexpected gains from venturing deeper into Yanluo Cave, she wondered if entering the water was meant by “deeper.” Could this water enhance divine sense? She sat cross-legged on the riverbank and began cultivating the Taiyin Herb Gathering Technique.

The pamphlet said Yanluo Cave was only accessible once every three months. Yao Qian had thought she could leave on her own, but now it seemed others must release her. She decided to wait until nearly three months passed before attempting to go deeper—no rush now.

Yao Qian was not afraid of hardship, but she had painless methods to improve her divine sense. Why suffer unnecessarily? She was not masochistic. Focusing her mind, she circulated the Taiyin talisman in her sea of consciousness, continuously absorbing the yin energy here.

From the start, she sensed this place was extraordinary. Her cultivation method had been modified by the Celestial Evolution Stele. She had always thought her training speed fast, but outside, it was incomparable to here.

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Here, it was as if a hundredfold accelerator had been engaged; spiritual energy flowed endlessly. No wonder the man in black said they were lucky—they truly were. Even the Infinite Sect, with all its wealth, likely couldn’t provide such a secret realm for ordinary cultivators.

Yao Qian’s Tai Chi Pool in her dantian turned constantly, transforming yin energy into true Taiyin energy, quickly filling one acupuncture point.

Suddenly, a large fish appeared in her divine sense, grotesque and ugly, its head occupying eighty percent of its body. Perhaps from years at the riverbed, it had no eyes, only a mouth filled with sharp fangs. It leapt from the water, snapping at Yao Qian’s primordial spirit.

The Celestial Evolution Stele was about to activate, but Yao Qian halted its attack with a thought. Her primordial spirit within her sea transformed into a long needle, piercing the fish’s head. The fish’s body instantly shattered, releasing pure divine sense energy that nourished her consciousness.

Pondering this, she wondered if there were also celestial demons obstructing the path here. Though she often encountered such demons during cultivation, this was the first time she saw one’s true form. Were all celestial demons like this?

Her attack method had been devised in her previous life. Though she had failed at cultivation then, she turned to spiritual power, blindly experimenting with divine sense techniques. Looking back, she had been reckless but fortunate to have the Celestial Evolution Stele’s protection—ordinary people would have been reduced to idiots had they followed her path.

In the following days, many such large fish appeared during her training. At first only one, then several at once, but no matter how many, she dispatched them with her divine sense needle.

Initially, she paid them little mind. But perhaps from slaying so many, she suddenly found herself transformed into a fish, living at the riverbed. She fed on underwater plants, small insects, and even her own kind.

Though the underworld river seemed still and lifeless, it teemed with countless species. These fish were among the lowest-ranked. Their only abilities were to merge with yin energy to conceal their aura from powerful beings; otherwise, they had no special talents.

Yao Qian suddenly opened her eyes, incredulous to discover she had learned a minor divine ability—the fish’s innate talent to cloak its aura using yin energy. Though weak now, it could improve with more absorption of yin and malevolent energy.

Was this the fish’s racial talent? How had she acquired it? Could this be the “unexpected gain” Pei Changqing mentioned? Was Yanluo Cave truly so extraordinary?

Worrying about her future, she feared such intense cultivation would demand their lives in return.

Lost in thought, Yao Qian suddenly sensed a faint divine sense sweeping over her. She shuddered violently, breaking out in cold sweat.

Her sixth sense screamed warnings—something extremely dangerous was watching her, urging her to flee. But where could she go in this place? Without hesitation, Yao Qian leapt into the great river.