Chapter 193 - 192: Manifestation

Chapter 193: Chapter 192: Manifestation

Hearing this, the senior brothers and sisters of his lineage all looked on with envy. The fourth senior brother, in particular, laughed heartily. "Junior Brother Chen, you sure are lucky! Why didn’t Master think of me... Sigh!"

Chen Qingyang glanced over but could only see the Master’s back. He bowed with his hands clasped to the group. "Thank you, Master and Senior Brothers, for your immense kindness!"

Shen Chongzhou waved his hand. "Hurry up, no need to say more... Junior brothers, we should all head back now."

Finally, Ji Rang also said his goodbyes to Chen Qingyang. Although the senior brothers and sisters of his lineage were envious, the vast majority congratulated him, and no one showed any hostility.

’The Five Elements Essence... that day, I had only obtained a tiny bit, and it had already put me five million Spirit Stones in debt. But this place has been nurtured by an Array for ten thousand years, to the point that the Five Elements Qi has formed a Cave Mansion. One can only imagine how profound this opportunity is.’

In a moment, only a few dozen people remained on the high platform. Chen Qingyang swept his gaze across them and was surprised to see a familiar face—Xu Wuji.

Today, this Senior Brother Xu was dressed in Vermilion and Purple Attire. His long hair was slicked back neatly, and he stood with his head high and chest out. Even his chubby belly had shrunk considerably. His formerly greasy image had been replaced by a spirited and dashing one.

Following Senior Brother Xu’s gaze, he saw a Daoist nun ahead of them—a Daoist nun whose outstanding temperament was obvious at a single glance.

She wore an indigo Daoist Robe with a Yin Yang Eight Trigrams pattern embroidered on the back. The duster in her hand was as black as ink, and her dark hair flowed freely, crowned with a circlet of Profound Wood. On her feet were a pair of Eight-Threaded Cloth Shoes.

Her skin was as smooth and flawless as jade, the curve of her profile gentle. She was tall and buxom, appearing to be in her forties, possessing a unique and mature charm. Although it was his first time seeing her, Chen Qingyang could already guess her name—Master Water Moon.

’I can’t believe it. Even after I stole her Jade Peach Profound Wood, she can still stand here, and as one of the top ten Foundation Establishment Disciples of Cyan Bamboo Peak, no less. She must have her own unique understanding of the methods laid down by the Golden Core Master.’

Xu Wuji must have felt Chen Qingyang’s gaze, as he glanced over. His first reaction upon seeing him was surprise, his expression one of disbelief.

This was because, in their eyes, Chen Qingyang was just that unimportant junior brother who’d gotten ridiculously lucky. They never expected that Master Jing Yuan, despite having so many talented disciples under him, would choose to leave him behind alone.

Chen Qingyang had also thought seriously about this question, but he still couldn’t figure out why the Master had chosen him.

He grinned, baring his teeth at Xu Wuji, who just snorted coldly and turned his head away again.

’Now that I’m also an Inner Sect Disciple, I don’t have to be as restrained as before. I should repay kindness with kindness, and evil with evil.’

On the high platform, Qing Yao True Monarch acted again.

The Jade Butterfly flowed in his hand, emitting a moon-white light. Then, a layer of gold appeared in the void, cleverly forming an extremely complex pattern. The gap left in the very center seemed perfectly sized to fit the Jade Disc.

And indeed, that was exactly what the True Monarch did.

Before Chen Qingyang’s astonished eyes, the world changed abruptly. A brilliant white light flashed all around, and when it faded, he found himself in a mountain valley, surrounded by steep green mountains and sheer cliffs.

’An illusion... an Array.’

’That must be it.’

’Since this place is an illusion, it’s naturally not bound by the constraints of real-world time and distance. With just a simple technique from Qing Yao True Monarch, he can shift the stars and move us from one place to another.’

At the end of the valley, a great green stone jutted out. Atop the stone was a White Jade Archway serving as a cave entrance. Inscribed on the archway were the five large words for "Heaven and Earth Five Elements." This style of architecture was common in the Tai Xu Sect.

Qing Yao True Monarch pointed from a distance. "This Five Elements Cave Mansion is formed from Qi. What you see now is a tangible form I have created with my techniques. However, once you enter, everything will revert to its original appearance. Do not be alarmed."

"You have a limit of seven days. Refine as much as you can in that time, but remember, you cannot take anything with you. Whether your fortune is deep or shallow will depend entirely on your own destiny."

After the True Monarch finished speaking, the crowd once again bowed with clasped hands, shouting a single word in unison: "Yes!"

Unlike the others, who were eager to start, Chen Qingyang kept his gaze fixed outside the Five Elements Cave Mansion, determined to memorize the surrounding mountains and terrain. He understood the difference between one good meal and a lifetime of full meals.

’The only problem is what the True Monarch just mentioned. This place is formed by a Qi Mechanism and was only made tangible through his techniques. If I sneak back later, will I even be able to find this spot? The surrounding mountains looked completely unfamiliar, which meant he hadn’t passed through here during his two days of scanning the area. When he searched for it in the future, he could cross off the places he’d already visited.’

"Chen Qingyang!"

The voice echoing in his ear was Master Jing Yuan’s.

He looked around. Everyone else was entering one after another, leaving him standing alone outside. "Master!"

"Go on. Don’t waste time, and don’t be too greedy. Use the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl to seek enlightenment, and you will surely gain much. Also, that Fire Element Cultivation Technique I passed on to you—you must pay close attention to it. Don’t worry about anything else." The Master mistakenly thought he was waiting here for his instructions and gave Chen Qingyang some final advice.

Chen Qingyang bowed with clasped hands. "Thank you, Master. I’m going now."

The Master nodded lightly. His form gradually faded, and with another gust of wind, he vanished completely.

The other disciples had all gone inside, and the other Masters had also departed. Chen Qingyang stood under the archway but didn’t rush in. Instead, he used his Conscious Fish to scan the surrounding hundred-li area.

’Qing Yao True Monarch did say he used a technique to make it tangible,’ he thought. ’No matter how you look at it, there has to be a physical entrance to the Five Elements Cave. I’ll memorize the layout of all the mountains, rivers, and terrain I can see.’

Stepping inside was like entering the primordial chaos before the dawn of creation. Everything was pitch-black, and nothing could be seen.

There was emptiness below his feet, emptiness above his head, and emptiness all around. He couldn’t even feel the presence of any Qi.

’What kind of Five Elements Cave Mansion is this? I just stepped inside and it turned into... this.’

Chen Qingyang stood perfectly still once more and released his Conscious Fish. He still couldn’t sense the existence of space, but he did perceive some wandering Five Elements Qi up ahead.

He took another step forward. It was still pitch-black in all directions, but within the darkness, he now saw five-colored lights. The disciples who had entered ahead of him were nowhere to be seen.

He distinguished them carefully and realized they were the Five Elements Qi. He chased after their positions, but though they always felt right in front of him, he could never catch them.

’Perhaps trying to judge the space here using my normal vision is useless. I’ll have to find another way if I want to obtain this Five Elements Qi.’

Remembering Master Jing Yuan’s words, Chen Qingyang held the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl in his palm. He activated the Nine Yang Separation Fire Technique, and the pearl began to radiate light and heat. The fiery red Qi in front of him stirred, as if it was about to be drawn over.

’This pearl really works!’

He pushed harder, and the Qi slowly drifted over. It was guided by the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl into his body, and he began to refine it with the Nanming Red Emperor’s Celestial Burning and Sea Boiling True Understanding.

This was Five Elements Qi, not Five Elements Essence. It couldn’t be used for the cultivation of his Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword. If he wanted to get Five Elements Essence, he would have to look further.

Stopping the technique, Chen Qingyang continued forward, using his Conscious Fish as his eyes to rapidly scan his surroundings. He discovered that in a place ahead where the Fire Qi was abundant, a burning golden stone was embedded in the void. It looked extremely similar to the one he had bought at Gentle Breeze.

He started walking toward it, but before he had taken more than a few steps, he saw someone else fumbling through the void. There wouldn’t be any Foundation Establishment Masters in the Cave Mansion, so his Conscious Fish acted boldly, darting toward the other person.

It was Xu Wuji again. He had probably also sensed the Fire Element Essence and was heading toward it.

’I know where he is, but he doesn’t know where I am.’ Chen Qingyang quickened his pace and, without a single deviation, snatched the prize right from under Xu Wuji’s nose.

Seeing the treasure that had been within his grasp fly away, Xu Wuji was naturally filled with anger and resentment.

"You... I’ve been searching for that thing for ages! How could you, you damn brat, take it right in front of me!"

Faced with his shouting, Chen Qingyang remained perfectly polite. "Senior Brother Xu, everything happening here is under the True Monarch’s watch. You wouldn’t be thinking of robbing me in plain sight, would you? Even if I were to give it to you now, would my Master agree to it after we get out?"

This was the first time he had used Master Jing Yuan’s name as a shield. Xu Wuji was instantly deflated. "Hmph! What rotten luck. My seven junior brothers aren’t finished with you yet, and here you are, daring to prance around in front of me again."

Chen Qingyang replied, "I am now an esteemed Inner Sect Disciple. If they want to cause trouble for me, they had better wait until they have a breakthrough in their cultivation. Otherwise, things will only end up worse for them."

Only then did Xu Wuji notice that Chen Qingyang’s cultivation had broken through. The shock in his heart was beyond measure.

His face was grim, and he remained speechless for a long moment. "Just you wait!"

With a final flick of his sleeves, he stormed off.

With only seven days, Chen Qingyang didn’t want to waste a single moment. He tightly gripped the Fire Element Essence and began trying to refine it right there, since nothing from this place could be taken out.

He activated his Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword technique. The Fire Element Essence was indeed incredibly pure, no different from the piece he had spent a fortune on. ’As expected,’ he thought, ’when it comes to resources, you only get more the higher you climb.’

In an instant, his Lifebound Magical Artifact grew by a large measure, and his Fire Element True Qi overwhelmed the other four elements.

Ever since he first started refining his Lifebound Magical Artifact, Chen Qingyang knew he would have to follow the principles of the Five Elements’ mutual generation and restriction. Therefore, after refining the Fire Element, he first had to let the other four elements catch up. Otherwise, he would destroy the balance, and the harm would be considerable.

Though he didn’t move, his Conscious Fish had already followed Xu Wuji. He found it strange. He had relied on his Yang affinity and still took a long time to sense a single piece of Fire Element Essence. How did Xu Wuji sense it so quickly?

’Either he’s just lucky, or he has some other method. In any case, it won’t hurt to go take a look.’

Following the direction Xu Wuji had departed in, he soon spotted him. The man was fumbling forward in the darkness, pausing every few moments, and the Qi Mechanism around his body seemed to fluctuate.

Chen Qingyang’s cultivation was lower than his, after all, so he couldn’t tell exactly what Xu Wuji was doing. But he was definitely doing something, so Chen Qingyang continued to follow.

’I wonder... if I snatch enough of his Five Elements Essence, would that count as obstructing Xu Wuji’s Great Dao and stealing his Immortal Seedling?’

’Master Water Moon cultivates a Water and Fire Technique. Her disciples are either Fire or Water element. Logically, both of these are very important to him.’