txolops Chapter 373 Seclusion on the Island
Chapter 373 Seclusion on the Island
Chapter 373: A Surprise Awaits During Seclusion on the Island. Click here to unlock now.
"The formation of an earth spirit requires a long period of time and a series of coincidences. It has many uses, such as refining it into an avatar or using it as the spirit of a sect's grand formation."
"Brother Luo, you can think about it. This kind of earth spirit, which is naturally proficient in all kinds of earth-attribute great supernatural powers and has an extremely high growth potential, would be of great benefit to the sect if used as a formation spirit. However, it would take ten thousand years to form." Yin Yue said, unconsciously sticking out her tongue at the end.
It would take tens of thousands of years. Perhaps a demon beast of the transformed form or higher could wait that long, but Luo Ming would definitely not be able to obtain it.
"That long?"
Luo Ming shook his head. Ten thousand years was far too far for him. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator with a lifespan of a thousand years couldn't wait that long. Moreover, whether this place could truly nurture something safely for ten thousand years without being discovered and destroyed by other beings was also unknown.
"Besides potentially giving birth to the spirits of heaven and earth, this kind of 'spirit-nurturing land' must have other uses, right?" Luo Ming asked, looking at Yin Yue. He vaguely felt that this place should have an immediate benefit for his current cultivation.
Yinyue tilted her head, seemingly thinking for a moment, before answering, "That's natural. This kind of nurturing land is itself an excellent cultivation ground. Because of its natural formations that gather, purify, and transform the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the spiritual energy here is not only rich and pure, but also contains a trace of creative potential."
Cultivating here, especially practicing techniques and supernatural abilities related to water and earth elements, or tempering the body and nurturing magical treasures, will yield far better results than in ordinary spiritual veins and blessed lands outside.
She paused, looked at Luo Ming, a hint of understanding flashing in her silver eyes, and added, "By the way, Brother Luo, the drop of 'Xuanwu True Blood' in your body contains the principles of water and soil. If you can go into seclusion here and use the special spiritual energy of this place and that trace of creative inspiration to help you refine it, the speed will definitely increase by more than double!"
Moreover, it might even imbue your "Myriad Spirits Blood Body" dharma form with a trace of the "earth spirit" aura nurtured by this place, making it more substantial and stable, and perhaps even awakening certain supernatural properties related to the earth and water.
Upon hearing this, Luo Ming was overjoyed! Wasn't this exactly the secluded cultivation spot he needed right now?!
"So that's how it is! No wonder I could faintly sense this place when I broke through; the Xuanwu True Blood resonated with this place..."
Luo Ming suddenly realized, and then felt somewhat fortunate. "It's also thanks to the tribulation of earth fire I went through before. Its power was enormous, and it temporarily destroyed the originally stable and hidden spiritual energy environment above this area. In addition, with the sense of my bloodline, I was able to discover this place by chance."
Otherwise, given the natural concealment of this place, even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator passing by above would likely find it extremely difficult to detect its anomalies without a thorough and dedicated investigation of the depths beneath the earth.
Spiritual beings of heaven and earth are masters of self-protection and concealment. This "land of gestation," to put it bluntly, is like this world quietly "pregnant," nurturing new spiritual life, naturally hiding its "child" extremely well, without leaving a trace. If not for a series of coincidences, Luo Ming would never have been able to discover it.
"Since this place possesses such powerful natural concealment capabilities, my original plan to occupy the Upper Qinghu Market and use it as cover can be adjusted." Luo Ming's mind raced, and he instantly came up with a new plan.
He originally planned to take over the ownership of Qinghu Market and ostensibly cultivate there in seclusion, but in reality, it was to cover up the true treasure land underground.
But now that it has been discovered that this place of spiritual nurturing is extremely well hidden, even those in the late Nascent Soul stage might not be able to find it easily, so why bother managing the market above? Wouldn't it be safer and more peaceful to just open up a secluded retreat cave here?
"This place is the perfect spot for secluded cultivation!"
Luo Ming's gaze swept over the hollow that emitted a soft, faint light, and he became more and more satisfied with it.
His gaze returned to the Xuan Turtle, which remained slumbering, its aura increasingly merging with the earth, and showing faint signs of a breakthrough. The Xuan Turtle already possessed a diluted Xuanwu bloodline and was skilled in water and earth magic. Its slumber here clearly indicated it had gained immense benefits; judging by its aura, it would likely not be long before it truly broke through to the seventh level!
As Luo Ming felt the exhilaration of the Xuanwu True Blood within his body, and the unusually active state of the water and earth elemental magic in this place, he had a vague feeling that this Spirit Nurturing Land was probably more than just a place to increase cultivation speed and assist in refining true blood.
The trace of 'creative inspiration' and the essence of the soil and water nurtured here may have an indescribable and wondrous effect on his complete control and even the awakening of deeper Xuanwu bloodline supernatural powers.
Without further hesitation, he immediately decided to go into seclusion and cultivate here! He would first take advantage of the environment to refine the remaining "Xuanwu True Blood" in one go and restore all his magical power!
Two days later.
Luo Ming sat cross-legged in the center of the Xuan Turtle's broad, mountain-like carapace covered with mysterious patterns, his eyes slightly closed, his breath deep and still.
He was enveloped in a faint, strange halo of light, a mixture of dark gold, earthy yellow, and aquamarine.
The halo swirled and interacted with the rich, almost solidified spiritual energy of the surrounding water and soil, forming a slowly rotating energy vortex.
At the center of the vortex was Luo Ming's dantian.
The mutated golden core that had once fused with the "True Blood of Xuanwu," exhibiting a dark golden luster and featuring tortoise and snake patterns, was now slowly rotating, emitting an aura far more solid and powerful than before.
Don't get lost while following the story; bookmark it and read "A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Starting at the Spirit Beast Mountain" anytime.
Strands of pure, dark golden energy, imbued with profound and vast meaning, were being slowly "stripped" and "refined" from the depths of Luo Ming's golden core, merging into his limbs, his blood and qi, and the magical power in his dantian.
This dark golden aura is the remaining part of the "Black Tortoise True Blood" that has not yet been fully refined.
With the help of the special spiritual energy of this "land of nurturing spirits" and the faint creative energy, Luo Ming's speed in refining true blood was much faster than he had expected.
He could clearly feel that with each strand of true blood he refined, his body would experience a subtle tingling and strengthening sensation, his blood and qi would become more refined and powerful, and his perception and control of the spiritual energy of the land and water would become more and more adept.
Within the dantian, the stagnant magical power caused by the presence of true blood became active and fluid again as the true blood was refined, recovering at a speed far exceeding expectations.
The black tortoise beneath him seemed to benefit greatly from this special environment. As it slept, its breathing was long and deep. With each inhale, it drew a large amount of spiritual energy from the surroundings into its body, and with each exhale, it released even purer and more refined two-colored light spots, which merged into the patterns on its carapace.
Its aura was steadily increasing, slowly approaching an invisible barrier. Some ancient patterns on its back armor even began to emit a faint light that resonated with the Xuanwu True Blood within Luo Ming's body.
The silver wolf phantom formed from the silver moon hovered quietly in a corner of the cave, perched on the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, its silver eyes warily watching its surroundings. Although it was only a remnant soul spirit, it was knowledgeable and had a deeper understanding of the value of this "spirit-nurturing land". It also understood the importance of Luo Ming's seclusion here and was very dedicated to protecting him.
Time, in this secluded depths of the earth, seems to have lost its meaning.
……
On the ground, Qinghu Market.
In stark contrast to the silence underground, Qinghu Market has been completely transformed, even more prosperous and bustling than before Luo Ming's breakthrough.
The original ruins have long been cleared away, and new buildings, shops, and streets have been quickly constructed with a more rational layout.
The materials used are mostly solid rock and spirit wood. Although not as exquisite as those century-old shops, they are more grand and practical. The market area has even expanded outwards, incorporating more of the lakeside area.
The most significant change is in the spiritual energy environment of this place. After Luo Ming's frantic extraction and tempering by lightning and fire during his breakthrough, and due to the faint aura of the "spirit-nurturing land" underground interacting with the spiritual energy on the surface, the spiritual energy concentration in the Qinghu area is now several times higher than before!
In particular, the spiritual energy of the water and soil elements is exceptionally active and pure, making one feel refreshed with every breath. For cultivators who practice water and soil techniques or need to temper their physical bodies, it is a treasure trove they dream of.
This change, like the most attractive bait, drew a large number of cultivators from all directions.
The majority of them are independent cultivators. The southern lands, rich in spiritual energy and a blessed place for peaceful cultivation, have long been divided up by various sects and families.
For independent cultivators to gain a foothold in the community, they either have to pay a high price or attach themselves to a certain power.
Under the leadership of "Sanyang Zhenren" Lu Xuan, Qinghu Market still maintains relatively relaxed entry conditions. By paying a reasonable rent or tax, one can rent a cave dwelling, open a shop, and enjoy the rich spiritual energy comparable to that of a small sect's residence.
Some clever cultivators, or those who believed in "feng shui," thought that the fact that this place was chosen by a Nascent Soul cultivator and that he successfully broke through here must mean that there was some hidden secret, or perhaps some opportunity that they had not yet discovered.
So they flocked here, either renting cave dwellings for long-term cultivation or opening shops to engage in various businesses, hoping to absorb some "immortal energy" or get a share of the pie from this increasingly prosperous market.
The bustling crowds brought astonishing vitality and wealth. Reconstruction work was in full swing, and new cave dwellings and shops were in high demand. Lu Xuan, who managed the area, was initially extremely busy, having to coordinate the reconstruction efforts while also dealing with various forces and people from all walks of life. He was filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry.
To his delight, the market was experiencing unprecedented prosperity, with taxes and rents soaring. As the de facto manager, his power and profits increased significantly. Moreover, because Luo Ming, this "great god," was standing behind him, various forces that had previously paid little attention to him were now much more polite, giving him an unprecedented sense of "face."
The worry is that there are simply too many cultivators coming, and they are all of mixed quality. Although no one dares to act recklessly in public due to the prestige of Nascent Soul cultivators, the friction, fighting, black market transactions, and intelligence gathering behind the scenes have never stopped.
His enforcement team had expanded several times over, yet it was still somewhat stretched thin. What troubled him even more was that the expansion of the market seemed unable to keep up with the influx of cultivators, and cave dwellings and land were gradually becoming scarce.
"It seems we need to plan another area..." Lu Xuan stood on the top floor of the newly built "Sanyang Pavilion," located at the highest point in the city center, looking down at the bustling cultivators who were still pouring in, and pondered in his heart.
……
Ghost Spirit Sect, main hall.
The atmosphere was solemn and dignified. Wang Tiangu stood with his hands at his sides at the lower end, facing the middle-aged man sitting in the main seat above him, wearing a wide black robe, with a dignified face and a deep, ocean-like aura—the Ghost Spirit Sect Master, his elder brother Wang Tiansheng, and gave a detailed report on the investigation results regarding the "body cultivator surnamed Luo".