Chapter 236 - 234: Four Grotto Heavens

The Fifth-Layer of the *Guiyuan True Skill* was enough for Luo Tian to cultivate for a while. He would worry about subsequent cultivation techniques later.

Of course, the main reason was a lack of Spiritual Essence Coins.

After spending eight hundred Spiritual Essence Coins, he only had sixteen hundred left, which he kept in reserve for emergencies.

Luo Tian entered the Cultivation Secret Room.

He sat down cross-legged and began circulating the heart method and energy pathways of the *Guiyuan True Skill’s* Fifth-Layer.

「Half a day later.」

Once he reached the entry-level for the Fifth-Layer, his cultivation speed immediately increased, and his Spiritual Essence Coins began to be consumed one by one.

「Half a month later.」

The Third-Layer Spirit Sea Vortex within his Qi Sea reached thirty-five percent completion.

This was merely the result of cultivating in his loft; it would have been even faster in the Cultivation Tower.

Furthermore, the Fifth-Layer of the *Guiyuan True Skill* came with a corresponding Martial Skill: the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand.

The power of this Palm Technique was several times greater than that of the Guiyuan Hand, and it placed more emphasis on defense and locking down an opponent.

Luo Tian left his residence and found a deserted, open space.

VWOOM!

His Guiyuan True Qi surged forth, blanketing his palm and forming a thick, shimmering yellow membrane of energy.

Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand!

He thrust out his palm, and it transformed into a massive, house-sized hand seal three meters tall. Crystalline yellow and incredibly dense, it pressed forward like a crushing wall.

If an enemy’s attack came head-on, the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand would block it.

This Palm Technique was like a mobile shield.

Moreover, if an enemy tried to flee, the vast range of the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Palm provided an excellent lockdown and interception effect.

’It really is more defensive,’ Luo Tian mused, a smile tugging at his lips. ’But what if I combine it with the Celestial Furnace Treasure Body?’

VWOOM!

Luo Tian activated his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body. His skin took on a jade-like, cyan luster as he once again executed the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Palm, aiming for a low peak twenty meters away.

BOOM!

The palm strike was ferocious and violent, kicking up a gale as it slammed into the low peak.

Shattered stone tumbled down, revealing an enormous and incredibly distinct Palm Seal embedded several feet deep. Cracks spiderwebbed out from it.

"Such incredible power!"

Luo Tian exclaimed in amazement.

The Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Palm, which emphasized defense and lockdown, erupted with terrifying power when combined with the sheer force of his Celestial Furnace Treasure Body, making it proficient in both offense and defense.

"Huh?"

Staring at the Palm Seal on the low peak, Luo Tian suddenly felt something peculiar.

The Palm Seal seemed to exude a vast, boundless aura, an intent so powerful it could blot out the sky.

’This feeling... Is this the True Intent of Palm Technique?’

Luo Tian’s heart skipped a beat.

Back in the Royal Secret Garden, Luo Tian had used the Celestial Book to imprint both the True Sword Technique Intent and the True Palm Skill Intent.

Luo Tian had been trying to comprehend these two forms of True Intent ever since.

However, he had practiced far too few Palm Martial Skills, so his comprehension wasn’t deep enough, and his progress had been slow.

In fact, even among the Earth Element Realm experts who had grasped True Intent, very few had managed to comprehend two different types.

After all, True Intent was profound and abstruse. To grasp even a sliver of True Intent Fur required a combination of talent, opportunity, and hard work—none could be lacking. Who would have time to comprehend a second type?

But Luo Tian, having imprinted the True Palm Skill Intent, could attempt to comprehend it at any time. This in itself was a massive opportunity.

As for talent, Luo Tian possessed a Divine Vein, and after cultivating the *Creation Technique*, his Comprehension had increased dramatically.

The only thing he lacked, therefore, was hard work.

After a long period of continuous study, and now with his practice of the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand, Luo Tian had finally, faintly, brushed against the True Intent of Palm Technique.

He believed that as long as he devoted himself to its comprehension, it wouldn’t be long before he could truly grasp the True Intent of Palm Technique.

At that time, the power of his Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand would increase once again.

Luo Tian decided to rent a Martial Arts Cultivation Room to practice the Guiyuan Cloud-Dispelling Hand and the *Nine Heavens Sword Technique*.

However, as soon as he arrived, he saw a long line of disciples.

He had been in the Yunxiao Sect for a while, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a crowd.

The Yunxiao Sect didn’t have a huge number of disciples, so facilities like the Martial Arts Cultivation Rooms and the Cultivation Tower were usually more than sufficient.

"What’s going on? Why are so many disciples trying to rent a Martial Arts Cultivation Room?"

Luo Tian was baffled.

"Brother, you’re late. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow at the earliest for a shot at a Cultivation Secret Room!"

A horse-faced youth suddenly sidled up to him, a broad smile on his face. "But, I’ve got a buddy up at the front of the line who’s about to get a spot. For five hundred Spiritual Essence Coins, I can give it to you. What do you say?"

’Spending five hundred Spiritual Essence Coins just to get into a Martial Arts Cultivation Room a bit earlier?’ Luo Tian thought. ’Not worth it.’

"Why are the Martial Arts Cultivation Rooms suddenly in such high demand?" Luo Tian asked instead.

"Heh, it’s not just the Martial Arts Cultivation Rooms. All the other cultivation-related facilities are packed to the gills."

"You must live under a rock. How could you not know about something this big happening in the Yunxiao Sect?"

The horse-faced youth stared at Luo Tian in disbelief.

’Something big?’

Luo Tian’s curiosity was piqued.

"Just a few days ago, the Sect’s upper echelon announced that the Four Grotto Heavens will open in two months!"

The horse-faced youth’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

’Four Grotto Heavens?’

Luo Tian had been in the Yunxiao Sect long enough to have heard of them.

It was rumored to be the Yunxiao Sect’s special trial grounds.

They opened roughly once every two years, on an irregular schedule, and stayed open for three months at a time.

During those three months, Yunxiao Sect disciples could enter the Four Grotto Heavens to hone their skills. Those who performed exceptionally well could even earn all sorts of lavish rewards.

From what Luo Tian understood, the Four Grotto Heavens were four mystical, small-scale trial dimensions, entirely different from the real world.

"Unfortunately, only Upper Sect Disciples are qualified to enter the Four Grotto Heavens. We Lower Sect Disciples can only watch from the sidelines."

The horse-faced youth looked sad and dejected.

"I see."

Luo Tian finally understood.

These Lower Sect Disciples were all hoping to become Upper Sect Disciples within two months so they could enter the Four Grotto Heavens to temper themselves. That was why the Martial Arts Cultivation Rooms were in such high demand.

Upon learning this, Luo Tian couldn’t help but feel a similar yearning to become an Upper Sect Disciple and enter the Four Grotto Heavens.

Under normal circumstances, Luo Tian was confident he could become an Upper Sect Disciple within six months.

Unfortunately, the Four Grotto Heavens were opening in two months and would close three months after that.

If he missed this opportunity, he would have to wait another two years or so.

"Heh heh, so have you made up your mind? Opportunity knocks but once, you know!" the horse-faced youth chuckled.

"You have to understand, over the next two months, countless Lower Sect Disciples will be trying to become Upper Sect Disciples. The competition is going to be unimaginable."

"As they say, ’a head start is half the race.’ If you grab this Martial Arts Cultivation Room, you’re snatching an opportunity from someone else, which gives you a better shot at becoming an Upper Sect Disciple."

The horse-faced youth’s sales pitch was a torrent of words.

"No, thank you."

Luo Tian turned and walked away.

"Damn it! Wasted all that breath, and the kid didn’t even bite."

The horse-faced youth’s expression instantly soured.

In his eyes, someone at Luo Tian’s cultivation level—Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm—had no hope of entering the Upper Sect in just two months. He must have given up.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Luo Tian had decided to make a push to become an Upper Sect Disciple within two months!

He had to increase his cultivation and strength as much as possible in these next two months.

And in that regard, the Martial Arts Cultivation Rooms wouldn’t be of much help to him.

’From what I know, you generally need to be at the Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Layer to become an Upper Sect Disciple. That’s no small feat!’

Luo Tian shook his head with a wry smile.

But becoming an Upper Sect Disciple in two months would grant him the opportunity to enter the Four Grotto Heavens, and Luo Tian was not about to miss it.

SWISH!

He opened his palm, and a dark red elixir pill appeared.

It was the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill, a Marvelous Pill capable of dramatically increasing one’s cultivation.

Luo Tian had originally planned to take it later, when he was ready to break through to the Earth Element Realm, but now he’d changed his mind.

’However, this Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill is only half-finished. It has severe side effects!’

Luo Tian was a prudent person; he wouldn’t recklessly boost his cultivation without considering the consequences.

His consciousness entered the Celestial Book World.

"Celestial Book, how can I resolve the side effects of the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill?"

This was not a difficult question.

After consuming one page’s worth of power, the Celestial Book provided an answer.

"First option: Find an Alchemy Master to complete the final steps of the alchemy process."

"Second option: Take a Clearing Qi Three Elements Pill. It can eliminate over eighty percent of the side effects!"

Finding an Alchemy Master wouldn’t be difficult.

The Yunxiao Sect’s Alchemy Peak was home to the top Alchemists in the entire Eastern Domain.

The problem was, how could Luo Tian dare to casually show someone such a precious and rare Marvelous Pill?

No Martial Artist below the Earth Element Realm could resist the temptation of the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill. Even an Earth Level Martial Artist would likely covet it.

If the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood-devouring Pill were revealed, it could bring a fatal disaster down upon him.

That left only the second option.

"Infer the Pill Formula for the Clearing Qi Three Elements Pill."

Luo Tian charged the Celestial Book with ten pages of power and received the pill formula.

By comparison, asking an Alchemist from Alchemy Peak to refine a Clearing Qi Three Elements Pill was a much safer bet.

That same day, Luo Tian went to Alchemy Peak to find the best Alchemist available.

"Are you looking to have an Essence Cultivation Pill or a Qi Condensing Pill refined?" a female Alchemist in simple, elegant robes asked coolly.

Over the past few days, quite a few senior disciples had come to her for alchemy, almost all of them wanting Essence Cultivation Pills or Qi Condensing Pills to raise their cultivation or increase their cultivation speed.

"I need this elixir pill refined."

Luo Tian directly handed over the pill formula for the Clearing Qi Three Elements Pill.

"Is this... a pill formula?"

The female Alchemist looked stunned.

In the world of Alchemists, a pill formula was one’s livelihood—a lifeline that was never shared lightly.

The value of some rare pill formulas was ten, or even several dozen, times greater than the elixir pills they produced.

The female Alchemist had never even heard of the Pill Formula Luo Tian just produced, a clear testament to its rarity.

"I can’t just take such a precious pill formula," the female Alchemist said demurely, though her expression was extremely awkward as her hand snaked out and took the formula.

"My name is Yu Wan. You can call me Pharmacist Yu!"

"Tell you what. I’ll waive the fee for refining the Clearing Qi Three Elements Pill. On top of that, you can have me refine five more elixir pills for you, free of charge!"

Pharmacist Yu offered her terms.

"Deal!"

Luo Tian didn’t overthink it.

The pill formula was useless in his hands, and he urgently needed the Clearing Qi Three Elements Pill.

Pharmacist Yu immediately began studying the formula.

"The materials needed to refine the Three Elements Clearing Qi Pill are all quite rare. One of the main ingredients in particular, the bone marrow of a Ghost Crocodile, is extremely difficult to find," Pharmacist Yu said, frowning.

"Although Alchemy Peak has its own procurement channels and we get a new shipment of medicinal ingredients every week, Ghost Crocodile bone marrow is so rare that we might not come across any for a month or two."

Pharmacist Yu looked at Luo Tian, wondering if he was willing to wait.

Luo Tian naturally wanted it as soon as possible, but this sort of thing couldn’t be rushed. "Please do your best to keep an eye out for this main ingredient for me, Pharmacist Yu," he said.

He then left Alchemy Peak.

’I can’t just wait around forever,’ he thought. ’Ghost Crocodile bone marrow, huh? I’ll go search the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range. I might just find one there!’

Returning to his residence, Luo Tian packed a few things and headed down the mountain.