Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation-Chapter 192 - 77: Ancient Cave Mansion

Looking at Li Ji'an who had come to her side, Duanmu Qin's already pale and delicate face showed a slight change.

After spending over ten years together, she had a clear understanding of the characters and personalities of a few people in the cloister. Alchemist Li was deeply invested in alchemy skill and had decent aptitude in alchemy dao, but due to his cultivation level and lack of prowess in magical combat, he was comparatively timid. In these ten years, he had never had any argument with anyone or forged any enmity, always choosing to hide behind others when faced with affairs.

Yet at this moment, in such a situation, facing a true inheritor of the sect, he was unexpectedly calm and unperturbed, showing no signs of fear.

Looking at the item in his hand again, Duanmu Qin's delicate face revealed a look of delight.

It was actually a Purple Thunder Shock! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The Purple Thunder Shock is an unconventional magical artifact. Artifact refiners condense the Fire Thunder Seed, which contains an extremely explosive power, to its utmost, then envelop it in purple copper. If activated with magical power, it can instantly detonate the Fire Thunder Seed compressed to the extreme within, creating a massive explosive force.

However, the crafting of this artifact carries substantial risks, and its damage effect on cultivators is limited, so it's not commonly seen.

But it has one characteristic; once detonated, its shockwave spreads widely and creates a grand scene, temporarily affecting the divine sense perception within its range. Additionally, it generally contains some smoke-like materials that obstruct vision, serving as a last resort for some cultivators.

Li Ji'an possessing this item was not surprising.

And for the current situation, it was simply a stroke of genius.

Once detonated, it would surely attract the Biyun Sect's investigation from not far away.

Fu Hanxing's pupils shrank suddenly, he stared fixedly at the Purple Thunder Shock in Li Ji'an's hand. After pondering for a moment, he relaxed his expression: "Heh~ Fellow Daoist Li seems well-prepared. Since that's the case, why not explore the cave mansion together and rely on our respective opportunities, how about it?"

"Fellow Daoist Fu certainly thinks things through thoroughly, then it's better to accept respectfully." Li Ji'an gave a faint smile.

The other party was deterred by the Purple Thunder Shock, dared not to press further, yet definitely wouldn't let them leave freely.

Inviting them to explore treasure together, once the opportunity is seized then execute swiftly, by then exposing this place wouldn't matter anymore.

Li Ji'an fully understood his intentions.

"Please!"

Li Ji'an and Duanmu Qin were invited into the cave mansion.

"Since we're exploring treasure together, it's better to cooperate fully, otherwise, more nights breed more dreams. Taoist Friend Duanmu, what do you think?" Fu Hanxing put away his previous arrogance, his smile warm.

The reason he hadn't immediately exterminated the two was due to Duanmu Qin's jade pendant, and they had already spent ten days here, yet the restriction array within was not completely broken.

"Certainly!" Duanmu Qin's expression changed, no happiness or sadness visible.

"Good, good, with fellow Daoists' assistance, I'm more assured about the opportunity here." The old array master was overjoyed. Previously, he endured many hardships breaking the stone wall restriction, seeing they had a jade pendant key, indicating they knew quite a bit about the secrets here.

"Then let's not waste any more time, quickly go in and break the array." Fu Hanxing turned and headed towards the cave mansion's interior.

Duanmu Qin glanced at Li Ji'an and then followed.

Li Ji'an trailed behind, maintaining grip on the Purple Thunder Shock.

Ultimately, only Fu Hanxing's junior brother with a sinister gaze was left watching them enter, reactivating the illusory array at the stone wall, guarding the passage entrance.

After passing through the corridor, the cave mansion's plaza came into view.

Compared to Xiao Changfeng's cave mansion that Li Ji'an had previously visited.

This cave mansion was more like an underground palace.

Just the main hall in front alone spanned several acres, aside from a now-dried artificial hill pond in the center, there were six ancient-looking stone pavilions surrounding it.

"This is the central array hub of the cave mansion and also the portal. If one can smoothly pass through here, they are almost recognized as guests by the cave mansion's owner. There should be few obstacles afterwards." The old array master waved his hand to cast a technique, and a halo emerged, enveloping not only the cave mansion but also blocking the forward path.

On the halo, a pattern resembling a starry night sky appeared.

This type of cave mansion layout is common, and nowadays, many independent cave mansions within sects are built similarly.

"However, this grand array is quite extraordinary, eight sides surround, each linked to the central artificial hill array hub, according to the array dao's three separation, four kan, and five drawing marks, total thirty-six array veins. And with thirty-six array veins combination, there are thousands upon thousands of array patterns possible. I have pondered for many days and have yet to depict the correct portal pattern. I wonder if Taoist Friend Duanmu can provide guidance?"

Duanmu Qin gazed at the halo, silent for a moment.

"If we can't solve it, I'll have to mark the array's weak point and ask Young Master Fu to forcibly break it.

Fortunately, the array here has aged, in the past it was likely a tier three and above grand array, now it's already fallen to the second tier.

The only concern is that forcibly breaking the portal array might trigger certain reactive measures within." The old array master fixedly observed Duanmu Qin's expression, pondering and then added.

"Fellow Daoist Fu, please return the jade pendant to its owner." Duanmu Qin paused before the portal array, then turned to Fu Hanxing.

Fu Hanxing's face broke into a smile: "It seems you indeed know the method to enter this place."

Upon finishing his words, he tossed the jade pendant to Duanmu Qin.

Duanmu Qin pressed her hands together, holding the jade pendant in her palm. Then a magical power concentrated, pointing towards the halo.

The starry sky pattern immediately lit up a vein path, linking a star pattern.

Subsequently, the halo dispersed, and the path was no longer blocked.

"Does Fellow Daoist have nothing to say?" Fu Hanxing laughed heartily. This portal array that hindered them for ten days was opened, the opportunities within the cave mansion were now attainable.

Duanmu Qin smiled thinly: "Ancestral opportunity, it's nothing worth mentioning."

Fu Hanxing disregarded it, stepping towards the interior. This time, his rattle drum did not sound again.

It was uncertain whether it wasn't triggered or if Duanmu Qin's words were true.

Li Ji'an walked last, lost in thought as he gazed at Duanmu Qin's back.

She clearly had the key to the portal array, must have entered within long before, yet still needed to collaborate with him to seek more breaking ban talismans, indicating there were further restrictions within the cave mansion, particularly in the area where she claimed the main opportunities were stored.

Sure enough, after the group passed through the cave mansion plaza and entered the main hall,

Around the main hall, there were eight stone chambers, each entrance guarded by array restrictions.

"Fortunately, fortunately, the arrays here have all been corroded by time, their power greatly reduced. Give me some time, I'll certainly be able to decipher them." The old array master excitedly sensed around the eight stone chambers, confident.

"Alchemy Room! This is the Alchemy Room, this predecessor was actually a Pill Master, there might be ancient divine pills!" One of his disciples who had been staring at the fourth stone chamber for a while suddenly exclaimed.

"Judging from this cave mansion's scale, this ancient predecessor's identity must be extraordinary, plus it's not far from the relic site developed by Biyun Sect. The predecessor must have been a member of the sect within the relic, perhaps an Outer Peak Elder." Another disciple also showed excitement.

Duanmu Qin unconsciously curled the corners of her mouth, then it quickly disappeared.

Fu Hanxing revealed a mocking smile, others might not know, but he was aware, Biyun Sect recently unearthed a third-grade magical treasure from only one cave mansion within the relic's inner sect, which proves this ancient sect was at least at Nascent Soul level hierarchy, possibly even higher.

And the scale of this cave mansion was obviously greater than any they had seen within the relic's inner sect.

Suddenly, Li Ji'an, watching from afar, narrowed his eyes slightly, and caught the instruction the old array master transmitted to Fu Hanxing.