txolops Chapter 103 Cold Pool Cave, 3rd Tier Spiritual Vein
Chapter 103 Cold Pool Cave, 3rd Tier Spiritual Vein
"Boom!"
A tremendous roar came from ahead, making one's eardrums tingle slightly.
With the Crimson Flame Shield protecting him and his feet planted on the damp, cold, blue rocks, Li Ping's divine sense instantly spread out, covering the area in front of him.
When he finally saw what was in front of him, a look of shock appeared in his eyes.
They were actually in a naturally formed underground cave.
Less than fifty feet ahead of him was a large pool of water.
An underground river rushes down from a waterfall tens of meters high, crashing into a pool of water and splashing up a cloud of mist. It is the sound of the water crashing that creates the constant roar in our ears.
Li Ping focused his senses and quickly determined that the biting cold and the abundant spiritual energy that refreshed him all originated from this pool.
Moreover, just by standing by the pool, he could already feel a rich spiritual energy enveloping him. Judging from the concentration of the spiritual energy, it had already reached the upper level of the second rank, which was in no way inferior to his cave in Immortal Peach Mountain.
"Wait, this underground cave is completely dark, so where is the light coming from?"
Doubts arose in Li Ping's mind. He raised his hand and made the Crimson Flame Shield float forward a few feet. A layer of red mist spread out from the shield, completely protecting the area in front of him.
He walked cautiously towards the pool, turning back to remind Master Ji, "Brother Ji, please wait here for a moment. I'll go check if there's any danger lurking in the pool!"
Master Ji also manipulated a small black shield that hovered in front of him. His expression was grave as he said, "Brother Li, please be very careful. This place is strange. Don't be careless!"
Li Ping nodded, his feet gliding, and his figure floated to the edge of the pool like a feather.
Only when he stood still did he truly see the entire underground pool. What lay before him was no ordinary pool, but a boundless expanse of cold, dark water shimmering with a ghostly blue light.
In the icy pool, about a few miles away from him, an island covering several thousand acres stood quietly.
The light he saw came from the array light shield that enveloped the island!
Silently sensing the spiritual pressure emanating from the formation, Li Ping almost held his breath.
If he wasn't mistaken, the grade of this formation should be the same as the third grade of the Immortal City's protective formation!
As we all know, there are only two ways to make a set formation work: either by relying on the spiritual energy of natural spiritual veins or by using a large number of spirit stones to supply spiritual power.
Judging from the condition of the second-tier demonic snake and the Azure Grass, the formation on the island in this cold pool may have existed for countless years.
If the spiritual power was supplied by spirit stones, even if a lot of spirit stones were buried in the past, after so many years, the spiritual power should have been exhausted and they should have turned to ashes.
There is only one possibility that this third-order formation is still intact and operating very stably.
That is the island in the heart of the pool, which, like the Immortal City, has a third-order spiritual vein!
A third-tier spiritual vein can be used by Core Formation cultivators for meditation and cultivation; its value is self-evident.
Whoosh!
Li Ping rode the light of his escape into the sky, his gaze sweeping across the entire icy pool below.
The Cold Pool is not large, only about ten miles in circumference, and the island shrouded in the light shield of a third-order array sits steadily in the center of the Cold Pool, like a bright pearl embraced by the dark blue water.
"wrong!"
Just as Li Ping was preparing to fly towards the island in the heart of the pool, he was suddenly startled, as if he had been doused with cold water, and instantly woke up from the temptation of the third-tier spiritual vein.
At the crucial moment, memories suddenly flooded his mind.
The third-tier spiritual vein beneath the Immortal City was not a naturally unclaimed entity, but rather something that True Person Fenglan forcibly seized from the wolf pack after killing a third-tier demon king.
High-level spiritual veins often attract powerful demonic beasts due to the spiritual energy they release.
The spiritual energy in this cold pool is so abundant that it can even support the operation of a third-order formation. Could there be no demonic beasts inside?
That's unlikely, because when Li Ping and Master Ji came in through the passage, they encountered a second-tier demon snake.
This cold pool is a place where spiritual energy gathers. If there are any hidden demonic beasts in it, they are probably much more powerful than second-tier demonic snakes!
Thinking of this, Li Ping instantly withdrew his spiritual energy, and his eyes became more vigilant. He was no longer in a hurry to approach the island, but instead carefully investigated the movements of the cold pool below.
Upon inspection, he immediately discovered the clues.
Beneath the icy pool, dark shadows flickered and darted about from time to time; those were clearly the demonic beasts dwelling in the spiritual veins of the icy pool!
In less than half an hour of observation, Li Ping discovered hundreds of demonic beasts.
What chilled him even more was that the spiritual energy fluctuations emitted by many of these demonic beasts were comparable to those of the second-tier demonic snakes he had previously killed, and some even had a more powerful aura, having reached the late stage of the second tier.
From his observation of the icy pool area, these demonic beasts were only the tip of the iceberg.
Li Ping couldn't help but secretly rejoice that he hadn't acted impulsively.
Otherwise, if he were to disturb the monsters in the cold pool and be surrounded by them, he would have a hard time getting away with it.
His gaze returned to the island in the center of the pool, and he couldn't help but guess: "To be able to set up a third-order formation and occupy a third-order spiritual vein, the original owner of this island must not have been an ordinary cultivator."
Although the formation remains, no one is seen using it. Either the master has long since passed away, or he abandoned this cave dwelling for some reason back then. Otherwise, with his strength, he wouldn't be so unknown in the Jiang Kingdom.
However, fearing the demonic beasts in the pool, he dared not approach the island. He could only vaguely see a cluster of pavilions and towers on the island through the light barrier of the array, but he could not see any more details.
After hesitating for a moment, Li Ping still stepped back.
He knew very well that with his current strength, it was far too difficult for him to cross the icy pool full of high-level demonic beasts and explore this mysterious cave. Acting rashly would only increase the risk.
With the characteristics of the health cultivation technique, as long as he cultivates steadily step by step, the formation of the core will be a natural outcome.
It's not too late to explore this cave after you've truly reached the Core Formation Realm and your strength has greatly increased. Why rush it?
Moreover, his exploration yielded a thousand-year-old Jade Condensation Grass, an immature Bloodline Fruit that still retained most of its potency, and the fangs and venom glands of a second-tier Flower Scale Python—each of these items was extremely valuable.
His harvest was already quite substantial.
There's absolutely no need to risk your life for this unknown cave!
Silently comforting himself, Li Ping's last trace of hesitation vanished. After briefly explaining the situation to Master Ji, the two quickly left along the passage and returned to Xiaomei Mountain.
……
They discovered what lay beyond the passage.
Li Ping bluntly asked Master Ji for his opinion: "Brother Ji, what are your plans?"
Upon hearing this, Master Ji hesitated. He had originally thought that the underground of Xiaomei Mountain was only a second-tier spiritual vein, and even if it was only a second-tier spiritual vein, he was prepared to move away with his entire clan.
But now, Li Ping tells him that it is not a second-order spiritual vein, but a third-order spiritual vein.
Moreover, it's not just a third-tier spiritual vein; there's also a cave dwelling seemingly left behind by a Core Formation cultivator on that third-tier spiritual vein, which may contain magical treasures, inheritances, and other items left behind by that cultivator.
Reason told Master Ji that this was not something that the Ji family's three members at the mid-stage of Qi Refining could get involved in; moving away as soon as possible was the best option.
But deep down, he was reluctant to give up this opportunity that had come to him.
If the Ji family can continue to grow and prosper under Li Ping's care, relying on this third-order spiritual vein, in the future... they might become a Core Formation Immortal Clan, jointly leading the cultivation world of Jiang Kingdom with the Jiang family!
Just thinking about such a future makes Master Ji tremble all over.
How could he bear to give up such an opportunity?
After a long silence, Master Ji finally spoke with a determined air, "Brother Li, I... I am determined to lead the Ji family to guard the sacred land of Xiaomei Mountain for you!"
Master Ji believed that his granddaughter, who had two spiritual roots, had already joined the Crimson Flame Sect, and his grandson, Ji Shuxuan, who had four spiritual roots, had also been sent to the Immortal City to cultivate.
Even if they were truly unlucky and lost the gamble, and the secret of the spiritual vein was exposed, all the Ji family cultivators who remained in Xiaomei Mountain would be killed, and the Ji family would be wiped out.
The Ji family bloodline will not be severed.
And if they win the bet... Master Ji knows what kind of benefits this will bring to the family!
Perhaps many years from now, one of his descendants will be chatting with other cultivators and say: I was able to successfully form my core thanks to a decision made by my ancestor back then!
"Okay." Li Ping nodded. "Since you've made your decision, Brother Ji, my promise remains the same: Xiaomeishan will be transferred to your family in the future!"
……
After discussing it with Master Ji.
Li Ping flew to Yu Family Market on his escape light, purchased a first-order magic array, and set it up on the spiritual vein of Xiaomei Mountain, covering the entire Xiaomei Mountain and isolating it from the prying eyes of other cultivators.
He then refined the snake gall into a batch of pills and handed them over to Daoist Ji. He also left Daoist Ji with five second-tier mid-grade spirit talismans as the family's trump card, as well as a considerable number of pills, before leaving with peace of mind.
For now, his focus is still on the Immortal City.
But he will not give up the spiritual veins and caves beneath Xiaomei Mountain either.
Because the third-tier spiritual veins on the island are shrouded by an array, the demonic beasts in the cold pool have no third-tier spiritual veins to inhabit, making it impossible for them to break through to the third tier.
He was certain that the strongest of the monsters in the icy pool was only at the late stage of the second tier.
Although there are many of them, they are not insurmountable.
In the future, when he reaches the peak of Foundation Establishment and needs a third-tier spiritual land to break through to Core Formation...
If he couldn't use the Azure Dragon Mountain spiritual veins at a low cost, these underground spiritual veins were one of his options.
Moreover, besides the third-tier spiritual vein, there is also a cave dwelling left by a Core Formation True Person on the island. Perhaps there are some precious treasures inside. How could he possibly miss it?
……
Before bidding farewell to Master Ji, Li Ping asked him to take care of the Yan family. He also requested that if a child with spiritual roots were born into the Yan family, Master Ji should guide him into the Dao.
After the incident at the underground cave, the relationship between the Ji family and Li Ping deepened.
Master Ji readily agreed to these small matters.
After explaining everything, Li Ping made a special trip to see Master Ji's grandson, who had discovered the entrance to the underground passage.
Ji Shuchen is one year younger than Ji Shuxuan and his strength is at the second level of Qi Refining.
Li Ping bestowed upon him his unused second-tier low-grade flying sword, along with dozens of bottles each of Qi-boosting pills and Qi-gathering pills, encouraging him to cultivate diligently.
He believes that Ji Shuchen's discovery of the underground passage indicates that he is a person with great fortune and may achieve great things in the future.