Chapter 276: Chapter 236: The Treasure Pearl Stirs

The wonders of innate spiritual energy were something Lu Qian had experienced personally. Once, while fleeing across a desolate mountain and capturing a Snake Demon, by consuming a wisp of innate spiritual energy, his cultivation had directly advanced from Qi Cultivation level five to level seven, just a step away from level eight.

Even more commendable was that consuming innate spiritual energy for advancement not only carried no hidden dangers but also facilitated the washing of marrow and refining of essence, broadening the meridians, greatly benefiting subsequent cultivation.

In an era where innate spirit grass had long been extinct, innate spiritual energy only arises when a spirit vein dissipates, rare, and extremely precious. Even Lu Qian himself hadn’t expected to encounter it again in such perilous circumstances. Indeed, crisis and opportunity coexist, and there is opportunity in danger.

Most crucially, that previous wisp of innate spiritual energy had been produced by a first-level low-tier spirit vein, while the one before him now resulted from the third-level high-tier spirit vein of Yuqing Mountain, more than ten times larger than the previous one!

If he could refine this spiritual energy, it should allow him to advance from Early-Stage Foundation Establishment to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment!

However, refining this innate spiritual energy would take a few hours at the very least!

But Lu Qian didn’t have time now.

Outside the cave, the intense battle raged on, three Golden Cores clashing, the situation changing unpredictably; no one knew what might happen in the next second. The Foundation Establishment practitioners scattered around Yuqing Mountain could wake up from the illusions at any moment.

The innate essence, yet to metamorphose into attributes, simply couldn’t exist in the mundane world. If not gathered soon, it would soon transform into ordinary spiritual energy and dissipate between heaven and earth. But if carried by something acquired, it would immediately transform.

Facing a treasure mountain without being able to harness it was enough to drive one mad with regret. Seeing that wisp of innate spiritual energy wavering and about to transform and dissipate, Lu Qian’s mind spun rapidly, he gritted his teeth, acting with the desperation of a last resort!

He extended his palm, suddenly activating the "Five Elements" Dao Pattern.

Gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, the five elements’ spiritual energy rapidly rotated in his palm, transforming into one another.

Wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates gold, gold generates water, water generates wood. The Five Elements mutually generate, cycle and reincarnate, never ending.

In this way, the Five Elements spiritual energy remained rapidly cycling in metamorphic form, not solidifying into any attribute.

Lu Qian flipped his palm, carefully enclosing the innate spiritual energy within!

His Consciousness Collection fully extended, as clear as a mirror, observing the slightest changes. The incessantly rotating Five Elements spiritual energy touched the innate elite, and the innate spirit lightly trembled!

Lu Qian’s heart raced to his throat, quickening the Five Elements reincarnation by threefold; the next instant, the innate spiritual energy stabilized, no longer altering.

It worked!

Using cycling transformations, the appropriative attribute-free Five Elements spiritual energy creates a shell, isolating the innate spiritual energy from the external environment!

Lu Qian stared intently at that wisp of innate spirit until it was entirely enveloped by the Five Elements spiritual energy shell, forming into a sphere, before finally breathing a sigh of relief, sweat beading on his forehead.

He tilted his head back and swallowed, incorporating the sphere into his Dantian, suspending it above the half-black, half-white Spirit Bud, easing his mind temporarily.

A spark of enlightenment occurred to resist innate metamorphosis with Five Elements reincarnation, and it indeed succeeded!

However, continuously activating the Dao Pattern, even without using it in combat, in such a tiny scale, imposed a certain burden on Lu Qian. Lu Qian assessed he could only sustain it for one hour. If the battle didn’t conclude within an hour, Lu Qian would have to relinquish this innate spiritual energy.

Ah, no matter how wonderful the treasures are, one needs life to wield them.

Having temporarily stored away the innate spiritual energy, Lu Qian, with excitement, reached out again and retrieved the Ten Extremes Ten Directions Array Map embedded in the rock wall.

With fiery eyes, he repeatedly examined this Array Map before happily storing it in the Sect Leader’s Ring.

With the Array Map, with some time, he could trace the linkage between the map and the array bases to gather the scattered array bases.

This was a Golden Core level Mountain Protection Grand Array!

Even Master Fengfeng dared not rashly enter. Instead, he issued an Imperial Decree, awaited the gathering of others, bringing out the Immortal Dragon Slayer Painting to break it.

Though presently unable to use it openly, at a critical moment in the future, if placed within the mountain gate’s spirit vein, it would be enough to repel a Golden Core Master!

However, with a second-level mid-tier spirit vein from Bichao Mountain, it would be difficult to meet its demands; Spirit Crystals are needed to supplement it. Fortunately, it’s no serious issue. Not long ago, fifty Spirit Crystals were obtained from Master Moyun, plus those seized from Ziluo Mountain, making the number of Spirit Crystals fairly sufficient.

If Master Moyun were to send his own life after gifting Spirit Crystals and the Grand Array, he’d truly be a thoughtful and considerate man.

Lu Qian, filled with malice, stealthily slipped away toward the cave’s exterior.

And in that brief moment, the situation in the field changed again.

Skull Child, sacrificing the Kui Beast Spirit Capturing Umbrella in self-explosion, blocked a strike from Master Fengfeng, and employed the White Bone Soul Splitting Sword to momentarily counter, successfully capturing the Immortal Dragon Slayer Painting in his grip.

Seeing their own Sect Leader and Peak Master brutally killed, with the sect’s secret treasure falling to the enemy, Master Fengfeng’s eyes turned blood-red, his features contorted, abandoning the Primordial Pearl altogether, rushing in like a mad tiger.

With significant loss of spiritual power, defensive treasure gone, Skull Child only had the White Bone Sword constantly switching between sword and whip forms to fend off attacks; after several exchanges, he was being inexorably overwhelmed.

In the dire straits, Skull Child shouted, "Ao Zhao! What ghostly tricks are you up to! I held them off this long, why’s the Primordial Pearl still far from you? Once Lie Tiansheng turns around, he’ll snatch it from you!"

It seemed like he was reminding Master Moyun, but in truth, he was yelling to Master Fengfeng to hurry and retrieve the Primordial Pearl while Ao Zhao was still not done over there!

Master Moyun cursed, "You damned—" only slightly distracted, the Primordial Pearl immediately quivered, attempting to flee, forcing him to shut his mouth.

By now, he intensely doubted himself; perhaps in passing down, the Jichuan Primordial Profound Monarch’s bloodline had thinned excessively in him? The Spiritual Treasure was almost slipping out of control!

Expelling even a mouthful of heart’s blood might still yield unknowable results, but how could he, in a severely injured state, flee with the Treasure Pearl?

Just as he hesitated, Master Fengfeng, undeterred, waved the Celestial Cyan Fan into a spectral mirage, shredding Skull Child’s black robe to tatters, exposing a skeletal body.

Seeing Master Fengfeng still had divine techniques unreleased, nearing collapse, faced with death, Skull Child panicked; his eyes flickered, gritting teeth, bursting with energy to force Master Fengfeng away for a moment, then seized the Immortal Dragon Slayer Painting, and with a swift motion, tossed it toward Master Moyun!

"Take it! I’m out!"

With those words, he immediately retreated.

Indeed, Master Fengfeng roared, abruptly changing direction, and pursued the Immortal Dragon Slayer Painting.

Master Moyun vociferously cursed, just about to retreat when the Primordial Pearl before him abruptly radiated intensely!

Misty rain, ethereal clarity, as the Treasure Pearl lightly trembled, streams of clouds and mists swirled, forming an immense vortex, directly absorbing the approaching Immortal Dragon Slayer Painting!

Stunned stood Skull Child, positioned not far off, still hopeful to seize the opportunity. Stunned stood Master Fengfeng, about to seize back the secret treasure. Stunned stood Master Moyun, exerting full control over the Primordial Pearl.

This was the Primordial Pearl’s second capability, aside from being remarkably indestructible and penetrating all—that is, the cloud and mist vortex, devouring all!

Master Fengfeng’s furious roar echoed to the heavens: "Return my Treasure Map! You’ll pay!"

Master Moyun thunderously: "It wasn’t my damned doing!"