Chapter 552: One Man Against an Army, All Fall Before Him (I)

Crack!

A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, startling several figures into motion.

Once the electric arc faded into the earth, four elderly figures slowly gathered at the same spot. The one who seemed to be the leader wore a troubled expression. Staring across the vast expanse of white mist and scorched terrain, he muttered in confusion, "Aren't ancient cultivators' pocket worlds supposed to be teeming with opportunities? Yet aside from a few stalks of thousand-year-old spirit herbs and a handful of fourth-tier mineral ores, we've found absolutely nothing."

The other three old men couldn't help but nod in agreement. There truly seemed to be no opportunities to speak of in this pocket world. The youngest of the group hesitated before suggesting, "Could it be that this place was just a resting stop for a Divine Transformation Ascendant? Maybe it was never meant to house any real fortune."

Indeed, not all ancient dwellings were equal. In a place where someone extremely powerful had cultivated for a long time, opportunities were bound to be plentiful. If this was such a place, then there had to be scriptures, divine weapons, medicinal materials, spirit treasures... There could even be complete cultivation inheritances left behind. But if it was merely a resting place they had casually opened up while traveling, then there was no reason for them to leave behind anything valuable.

It was a simple truth. Would a Foundation Establishment cultivator leave behind countless treasures in a cave they'd randomly dug to rest for a night while flying about? Of course not!

This ancient pocket world felt precisely like that sort of situation. The appearance of a few thousand-year-old spirit herbs, for instance, was likely the result of the sheer passage of time. Untouched and unharvested, they had simply grown naturally.

And yet, there was something that made this theory not hold water.

The leader shook his head. "There are palaces here. Even if it was just a rest stop, it must have been the mobile palace of a great cultivator. And an ordinary dwelling would never trigger the appearance of something like the Jilei Nine Mountains."

The other three nodded once more. Indeed, a normal cave residence wouldn't be arranged in such a way.

"Let's keep searching; we might still stumble upon something worthwhile. But we must be careful. Don't relax just because we stumbled upon a couple good things. There might not be many treasures, but there sure are many dangers. The lightning here is far stronger than anything outside. If one of us gets struck, he's doomed," the lead elder continued.

The group nodded, then glanced up as if on cue. The skies above were clear, not a cloud in sight, yet bolts of lightning would suddenly erupt from nowhere without the slightest warning. When they had first entered, over a hundred rogue Initiates had rushed in. Nearly a year had passed, and while gains remained slim, the number of casualties only continued to rise.

Suddenly, one of the elders raised his hand and pointed into the distance. "Look over there!"

Far off, nestled in a valley, was a cluster of small palace-like structures. It appeared to be half in ruins, yet it was brimming with surging spirit energy.

A place of fortune!

The others' eyes lit up, and they quickly took flight toward it. But when they reached the perimeter of the ruins, their feet slowed, and they came to a halt. Lightning wreathed the ruins, obstructing their spirit consciousness from probing inside.

"The lightning energy around this place is fading. But since we can't do anything to make it fade faster, we'll have to wait it out."

"Doesn't matter! There are still buildings standing. Perhaps they contain leftover resources. Even if not, a couple thousand-year-old spirit herbs would still make this trip worthwhile."

For the time being, the four of them each took out formation flags and set up a defensive formation, preparing to camp here until the lightning fully dissipated.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by. The lightning surrounding several of the smaller structures had already dissipated. The four elders moved in and out of the ruins, searching diligently, and eventually reaped a modest harvest. At last, only the central palace remained. As they gazed at the grand palace still wrapped in lightning, the four couldn't help but show anticipation on their faces.

"I heard that Adepts of the six sects joined forces to explore deeper into the ruins and came out with several True Artifacts. The gains were incredible!"

"Stop dreaming. Those areas aren't places we can even hope to touch. Did you forget the rumor that Adept Kaiyang from the Sword Sect slaughtered thirty-two rogue cultivators with a single strike? They were so crazed for True Artifacts, even the six sects' Adepts turned on each other...."

"True enough. Even if there were chances here to form a Nascent Soul, we wouldn't be the ones to get it. It's a pity...we still haven't found a Core Formation opportunity. That would've been perfect for us."

As they chatted, the eldest of the four suddenly turned his head. He stared at the seemingly empty space behind them and spoke hoarsely, "Fellow Daoist, you've been watching us long enough. Isn't it time you showed yourself?"

As he spoke, a rippling shimmer appeared behind them, accompanied by a soft chuckle.

"It wasn't that I meant to be sneaky, but the name of you Four Elders of Liancang carries too much weight. I had no choice but to hide my presence," the man said with a chuckle.

The Four Elders of Liancang turned toward the voice and saw an elegant and dashing man standing there with a jade flute in hand. At the sight of that flute, all four elders narrowed their eyes.

"Hermit Xiao!"

"Aren't you supposed to be lounging among the beauties of Hundred Flowers Immortal City? What brings you to the Jilei Nine Mountains?"

"You've been spying on us for some time. What exactly do you want?"

"This place was discovered by the four of us first. We ask you to leave, Fellow Daoist Xiao!"

All four voices rang out in unison.

Hermit Xiao frowned. "No wonder no one likes dealing with you, old geezers. You just keep yapping, it's so tiresome...."

Just as the other three were about to speak up again, the eldest raised his hand to silence them. He cleared his throat, eyes murky yet focused, and fixed his gaze on Xiao Hermit. "Our cultivation may not match yours, but we're not afraid of you. This place operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Best to avoid unpleasantness and leave now of your own accord."

Hermit Xiao curled his lips in disdain.

The hell are you talking about, old geezer? A pocket world of a great cultivator is a land of opportunity! There's no such thing as "first-come, first-served." That notion doesn't hold weight here. Even if you four grandpas join forces, you think it'll make a difference?

And indeed, to him, whether it was four people or a hundred, it made no difference at all!

But just as he lifted his jade flute, his expression subtly shifted. Across from him, the Four Elders of Liancang, who were already on high alert, also showed a flicker of change in their faces.

A piercing whistle of air came from the horizon, multiple cultivators approaching. Moments later, three figures descended before them. The first was a burly old man with an iron sword strapped across his back. The other two, who seemed to be Dao companions, bore chilling expressions; their auras practically dripped with murderous intent.

Hermit Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Zuo Song of Tianlan Immortal City's Iron Sword Hall, and the Twin Fiends of the Netherworld from Baiyun Immortal City... What a lively day this has become!"

As he spoke, the three newcomers also took in the situation before them. Zuo Song's expression shifted slightly, and he instinctively stopped in his tracks. Of all those present, his cultivation was the lowest, only at the eighth stage of Foundation Establishment. He was on par with the Four Elders of Liancang, yes, but they were four fighting as one, while he really was just one!

As for the Twin Fiends of the Netherworld or Hermit Xiao, they were renowned throughout the ten immortal cities. All three were ninth-stage Initiates, and they each had unique and formidable powers. In terms of reputation, they were no less famous than Chu Kui, the top rogue cultivator of Tianlan Immortal City. Although Chu Kui's reputation had recently soared after his clash with an Adept, surpassing even these formidable names, that was no reason to start underestimating them.

Zuo Song hesitated and backed down, but the Twin Fiends of the Netherworld advanced without hesitation. The two ignored everyone else; their blazing gazes locked onto the mostly intact grand palace nestled among the ruins.

"The lightning energy is so dense, it must be a land of fortune!" the woman declared.

"My dear wife is absolutely right. We're taking this place, and the rest of you can scram."

The moment those words left the man's mouth, everyone else's expression shifted. The Twin Fiends of the Netherworld were far too overbearing! The pocket world had been open for nearly a year now. Through experience, cultivators had begun to grasp certain patterns. And one thing was clear: The denser the lightning, the greater the fortune it hid. Even if the dangers multiplied accordingly, no one was willing to back down when fortune was involved.

It was said that the few True Artifacts obtained by the six sects' Adepts had been found in regions where heavenly lightning crashed violently. This ruined palace cluster before them held an absolutely tremendous concentration of lightning, so even if no True Artifacts remained, there would certainly still be some treasures left behind!

Besides, it was the Four Elders of Liancang who had arrived first and waited here for over half a month. How could they possibly give it up without a fight? Without even needing to speak, the four elders moved in unison and stood shoulder to shoulder.

"You four old fossils have a death wish?" snapped Mingsha, the male Fiend of the Netherworld.[1] He cracked his knuckles and sneered, clearly ready for a fight.

The eldest of the four didn't bother replying to the provocation. Instead, he turned to Hermit Xiao and asked, "Shall we explore together?"

"Sure," Hermit Xiao replied without hesitation.

Just moments ago, the two parties had been poised for a fight. Now, in a flash, they had allied. With Hermit Xiao joining forces with the Four Elders, their combined strength now clearly outmatched the Twin Fiends of the Netherworld.

Mingsha's face twisted with rage, and he was about to speak when his Dao companion, Yousha, held him back.

"Everyone," Yousha said calmly, "we don't even know for sure if there are treasures inside. If we end up killing each other now, only to discover it's all empty, wouldn't that make us a laughingstock?"

Yousha was exceptionally beautiful, and her voice was just as pleasing to the ear as her face was to the eye. Hermit Xiao's gaze lingered on her graceful figure, and a gleam of admiration flashed in his eyes. "Madam Yousha, you speak with great wisdom. All this talk of bloodshed truly ruins the mood. Why don't we just—"

"Xiao Yulang, if you keep looking at my wife like that, I'll gouge those damn eyes out of your skull," Mingsha growled darkly.

Hermit Xiao only chuckled and twirled the jade flute in his hand. "No need for bickering. The longer we delay here, the more likely it is that cultivators from the six sects will arrive. And by then, whatever opportunity lies within may no longer belong to any of us. Why don't we join forces to break the formation?"

As soon as he proposed this, the Four Elders of Liancang nodded. Even Zuo Song, who had been lingering at the back, gave a small nod. Mingsha looked visibly displeased, but Yousha tugged on his sleeve again and he fell silent.

Yousha smiled faintly. "Working together to break the formation is fine. But what if there aren't enough treasures inside? Then what?"

Hermit Xiao raised a brow. "Then naturally, the worthy shall take them!"

What did "worthy" mean? Simple: In this place, one's worth was defined by the size of their fist. Whoever had the power to seize something would become its rightful owner.

Yousha's lips curved in satisfaction, and her eyes glinted faintly beneath the flickering thunderlight. Mingsha took a look at her, then also nodded without hesitation.

With that settled, the seven cultivators began to move together, heading toward the grand palace still veiled in flickering thunderlight.

Halfway there, Hermit Xiao turned back and called out, "Fellow Daoist Zuo, aren't you joining us in seeking fortune? Who knows, perhaps there's an extra share waiting just for you."

Zuo Song hesitated for only a breath, then gritted his teeth and followed after them.

***

Inside the grand palace, a pair of eyes suddenly snapped open, and a flash of white light burst forth within the dim grand palace like a sudden streak of lightning.

His eyes gleamed coldly as he woke. For a long moment, he quietly examined his own state. A faint trace of uncertainty flickered across his face.

With a wave of his hand, he swept up the more valuable items scattered across the floor and tucked them into his storage pouch. Over the past year, in pursuit of Physique Refinement, he had consumed nearly all the spirit energy resources contained in over thirty storage bags. Even the spirit power within his own body was now nearly depleted. That was the source of his conflicted expression.

His physique had indeed become immensely powerful. So strong, in fact, that he felt he could punch through a mountain if he so wished. Yet the lack of spirit power within him left him deeply uncomfortable. Since the day he began cultivating, he had never experienced this sort of emptiness. He had grown far too accustomed to the constant, steady surge of spirit power coursing through him, and now, its absence gnawed at him.

The Heavenly Lightning Physique Refinement Method merged with the Qi-Physique Origin Method, resulting in all my accumulated spirit power being transformed into blood qi. My Qi Refinement level remains, so rebuilding that spirit power shouldn't be difficult. As for the Physique Refinement cultivation path... I wonder where I am now. The route I've taken has diverged quite a lot from Wang Yuan's, so it's hard to judge. Still, overall, the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

After assessing his condition, Luo Chen turned toward the rear of the grand palace. He had previously thought the constant pull of lightning from outside was because of his cultivation. But now, even after halting his Physique Refinement, bolts of lightning continued pouring into the grand palace without pause. It was clear that the source of the anomaly wasn't himself.

Rising to his feet, Luo Chen began walking deeper into the grand palace.

He had only taken a few steps when a sudden brilliance flared before his eyes, dazzling him with its intensity. He blinked rapidly, stunned.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Could this be Lightning Essence?" he murmured under his breath. "No... this isn't ordinary Lightning Essence!"

Luo Chen swallowed hard. Before him bloomed clusters of pure white lightning flowers! Each blossom resembled a camellia sculpted from lightning—elegant, flawless, and alive with power.

They were indeed clusters of Lightning Essence, a fourth-tier mineral born in the form of flowers. It only formed in areas saturated with intense lightning energy. Even in a unique place like the Jilei Nine Mountains, it took ten whole years for just a single blossom to appear. Since there were nine mountains, that meant no more than nine pieces in a decade!

These things weren't just valuable; they were vital. Lightning Essence was a required material for Adepts to forge their life-bound enchanted treasures. Without one, an Adept's life-bound enchanted treasure might still be powerful, but it would forever remain at the middle grade. In other words, it would never gain the potential to evolve. If one nurtured such a treasure for decades and centuries as their life-bound item, its power would grow to some extent, but its grade never would. Only a life-bound enchanted treasure infused with Lightning Essence could ascend in grade, and perhaps one day evolve into a True Artifact alongside the cultivator's rise to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Many Sages failed to obtain a single True Artifact. It was proof of just how rare a True Artifact truly was. Yet here, in front of Luo Chen, there weren't just one or two, but eighteen blossoms of Lightning Essence! Moreover, they didn't appear to be the ordinary kind that formed once every ten years. Regular Lightning Essence flowers had a silver-white hue and took a decade to form, but these eighteen were pure white, almost completely devoid of impurities!

Millennial Lightning Essence?

Luo Chen took a deep breath and rubbed his hands together as he stared at the eighteen Millennial Lightning Essences.

It feels almost wrong to touch them!

Only Adepts could safely harvest these. The process involved divine consciousness and mana. Initiates lacked both; they only had undeveloped spirit consciousness and unrefined spirit power.

Maybe I can try using my refined physique instead?

Luo Chen extended his hand and looked at his slender palm.

Yes, it was slender. His frame was now so lean that even his originally broad hand appeared narrow and delicate due to the loss of flesh. But even so, although his lightning-refined physique couldn't yet absorb spirit energy from lightning to cultivate, he should at least be able to defend against it.

Just as Luo Chen prepared to harvest the Millennial Lightning Essence, his gaze suddenly froze on the base of the innermost bloom. A black ring lay there.

A faint enchanted treasure aura was hidden beneath the energy flow of the Millennial Lightning Essence. If Luo Chen hadn't been looking closely, he might never have noticed it.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his hand, the black ring flew into his grasp. Though its surface was charred, the moment it left the cover of the Lightning Essence, a powerful aura erupted from it. Luo Chen's eyelids twitched as he blurted out, "Top-grade enchanted treasure!"

1. His name combines 冥 (míng), meaning dark or gloomy (and as a noun, the Underworld), and 煞 (shà), meaning fiend. His wife is 幽煞 (Yousha), with 幽 meaning deep, remote, quiet (and as a noun, also the Underworld) and the same "fiend" character. Their names combined 幽冥 (youming) are a common word for the Netherworld, hence the translation here. ☜