LightReader

Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: The Five-Beast Heavenly Fire Fan (Long Chapter)

Song Changsheng didn't even know how to begin describing the scene before him, and he was sure that Xu Yunhe beside him felt the same. 

He had once visited his clan's treasure vault, known as the largest and most resource-rich in all of Lingzhou. Back then, he had already been deeply impressed. 

But compared to what he was seeing now… no, there was no comparison at all. 

It was like comparing a firefly to the moon in the sky, utterly unequal. 

Before their eyes stretched a vast vault nearly twenty zhang high and dozens of zhang wide. The walls and floors were forged from high-strength alloy, and the ceiling was embedded with large, fist-sized luminous pearls, illuminating the entire space as bright as day. 

Massive shelves towered throughout the room, making anyone standing beneath them feel small and insignificant. The shelves were divided into numerous compartments, each housing a glowing orb of light. 

What shocked Song Changsheng even more was the spiritual energy here; it was far denser than the outside world. Cultivating in this environment would certainly yield twice the results with half the effort. 

As he walked closer, Song Changsheng was even more stunned by Luoxia City's extravagant wealth. Those towering shelves, dozens of them, were made of millennium-aged sandalwood infused with spiritual energy, exuding a rich, calming fragrance. 

Just one of these shelves would already be worth more than a Foundation Establishment Pill. 

And here, there were dozens of them. Just one glance, and it was obvious this place was packed with wealth beyond imagination! 

Even Song Changsheng, whose family had a solid foundation, was awestruck. Xu Yunhe, being a rogue cultivator, was even more overwhelmed. He looked left and right, completely dazed by the dazzling display. 

Elder Qianri was pleased by their reactions. It reminded him of his own first time stepping into this vault, back when he had just become the old City Lord's disciple; he, too, had been left speechless. 

"Each of these glowing orbs represents a second-rank treasure," Elder Qianri explained. "As per the City Lord's promise, the two of you may freely select three of them." 

"Take note, each compartment is protected by an independent restriction array. Do not touch them lightly, or you'll trigger the vault's internal formation." 

"But don't worry. In front of every compartment hangs a wooden plaque detailing all the information you need about the item inside. Once you've made your choices, I'll retrieve the items for you." Elder Qianri gestured to the shelves as he spoke. 

"We understand," Song Changsheng quickly replied, pulling Xu Yunhe into a respectful bow. 

Elder Qianri returned the gesture politely, then stepped back to give them space. 

Gazing at the sea of glowing orbs before them, neither Song Changsheng nor Xu Yunhe moved at first. There were simply too many to begin? 

After a while, Song Changsheng chuckled and said, "Back when I heard people say Luoxia City's second-rank vault held over a thousand treasures, I didn't believe it. I thought it was just exaggeration to stir up hype." 

"But now? Turns out their imagination was far too limited. There are far more than a thousand treasures here." 

"Today, I finally understand why Luoxia City, with only three visible Purple Mansion cultivators, still ranks as the foremost among the Seven Great Cities." 

Xu Yunhe nodded. "To think Luoxia City can hold back the demonic beasts of the Ten-Thousand Mountains with the strength of a single city is truly extraordinary. If it weren't for your help, Brother Song, I might never have seen such a magnificent sight in my lifetime." 

Only now did Xu Yunhe truly grasp the meaning of the word "heritage." 

He may have been a rogue cultivator, but he had decent talent and a fair share of fortuitous encounters. Even after suffering great setbacks, he had managed to push through with sheer will and determination, reaching Foundation Establishment by his early thirties. 

That was an accomplishment already beyond most. 

So when others spoke of the so-called "heritage" of major factions, he had always taken it lightly. 

In his mind, even the deepest foundation would fade if a sect failed to produce good talent for a generation or two. They'd burn through their legacy, decline, and eventually disappear into obscurity like anyone else. 

But now… he realized just how wrong he had been. 

With this kind of heritage, even a pig could be raised to the Purple Mansion stage. 

Even if no genius emerged for a couple of generations, their legacy was deep enough to sustain them for centuries long after other so-called prodigies had withered into dust; they'd still be standing strong. 

And in that moment, a bold idea took root in Xu Yunhe's heart: 

"My descendants or disciples must never lose at the starting line." 

Song Changsheng didn't notice the change in his companion's mindset. Smiling, he said, "Brother Yunhe, let's split up and search. Picking just three treasures out of all this… won't be easy." 

"Alright," Xu Yunhe replied with a nod and began heading toward the left side. 

It's worth mentioning that although aerial flight was prohibited within Luoxia City, sword flight was allowed inside this treasure vault, mainly because the towering shelves were simply too high. 

Song Changsheng straddled his Soul-Slaying Gourd and flew to the top of the nearest shelf. The treasures within each compartment emitted a soft, hazy glow. Not only were they impossible to see with the naked eye, but even divine sense was blocked. The only available information came from the wooden placard affixed to each compartment. 

Although there were countless treasures, everything was categorized in remarkable detail. 

From what he could see, categories included: magic artifacts, spirit herbs, medicinal pills, cultivation manuals, arts and crafts inheritances, talismans, puppets, and miscellaneous rare treasures. 

Each of those major categories was then further divided. For instance, pills were split into subcategories such as healing, replenishment, and enhancement. 

Song Changsheng had two selection slots, but he had three priority targets: a Bi Fang Feather, a Flood Dragon Scale, and a Foundation Establishment Pill. 

The first two were for his cultivation, while the last was for his clan. 

Both the Bi Fang Feather and the Flood Dragon Scale were incredibly rare and highly sought after; even Luoxia's major auction house didn't have any in stock. So Song Changsheng didn't get his hopes too high and headed straight for the Pill Section. 

The variety in the Pill Section was dazzling, with many names he'd never even heard before. 

He scanned row after row, but his hopes gradually sank. While the collection was vast, not a single Foundation Establishment Pill was in sight. 

Luoxia City had the means to produce its own Foundation Establishment Pills and occasionally auctioned off small quantities. Song Luyao had once come here for that very reason, only to be ambushed and lose her legs. 

But there wasn't a single pill here now. Song Changsheng didn't believe they were out of stock; they just didn't want to make them available. 

With Foundation Establishment Pills off the table, he turned his attention to other treasures. 

His next stop was the Rare Treasures Section, a mixed collection of second-rank items that didn't fit neatly into other categories. If any Bi Fang Feather or Flood Dragon Scale were in this vault, it would most likely be found here. 

"A fragment of a thousand-year-old Spirit Turtle, shame it's a bit too small. Otherwise, it'd make a fine material for crafting a second-rank spirit shield." 

"Is this… Thunderstruck Wood? Over a foot long! Easily worth twenty or thirty thousand spirit stones!" 

"Could this be the legendary Dual-Element Heavy Water? A single drop weighs a hundred catties!" 

"This is…" 

As he browsed, Song Changsheng lost count of how many times he was tempted. More than once, the thought of grabbing everything and making a run for it crossed his mind. 

Thankfully, his rationality held firm. Fantasizing was fine; making a move would be asking for reincarnation. 

Even dazzled by treasure, Song Changsheng never lost sight of his original goal: to maximize value, even if he couldn't find the Bi Fang Feather or Flood Dragon Scale. 

So, after thoroughly searching the Rare Treasures Section, he moved on to the Magic Artifacts Section. This section not only contained second-rank magical tools but also some spiritual-grade artifacts. 

The value of spiritual artifacts was unquestionable. If he couldn't find anything perfectly suited to him, he planned to pick the most expensive. 

After all, if you can't pick the right one, pick the priciest. 

There were slightly fewer items here than in the Pill Section, perhaps a few hundred in total, but all mainstream types were represented. 

He examined them one by one, until finally, a wooden placard tucked in a corner caught his eye. 

He approached and read: 

Low-grade spiritual artifact – Five-Beast Heavenly Fire Fan. 

Forged from the true feathers of five fire-attribute spirit beasts: the Fire Luan, Purple Cloud Swallow, Blazing Sun Hawk, Heavenly Fire Sparrow, and Bi Fang... 

"Bi Fang Feather!" Song Changsheng's eyes lit up. It was a spirit fan forged using the very feather he was searching for! 

"Perfect! This is it!" Now, all he lacked were the Flood Dragon Scale and the Heart of an Ape. Once he obtained all five materials, he could complete the Five-Beast Body Tempering Technique. 

Once cultivated to mastery, even relying solely on his physical body, he would be able to hold his ground against a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator in a head-on clash. 

He carefully memorized the location of the Five-Beast Heavenly Fire Fan, then resumed his search for the Flood Dragon Scale. 

Unfortunately, even after searching the entire Magic Artifact Section, he came up empty. That hope was dashed. 

Just as he was about to settle for another spiritual artifact, his eyes happened to land on a placard. 

"Yin-Yang Iron?" 

Song Changsheng raised an eyebrow, immediately feeling conflicted. 

Yin-Yang Iron was a rare spiritual material with both yin and yang attributes. It was pricey and uncommon in the outside world, and perfectly suited for refining his Soul-Slaying Gourd. Once smelted in, it would elevate the gourd's power. 

But compared to a full spiritual artifact, its value was far lower, maybe worth ten or twenty thousand spirit stones at best, while a spiritual artifact could easily be valued around fifty thousand. 

So, should he choose what's best suited to him… or simply choose what's most expensive? 

After a long moment of contemplation, Song Changsheng chose to go with what suited him best. 

His Soul-Slaying Gourd was already on the brink of transforming into a true spiritual artifact. If he could use this opportunity to raise his grade to mid-second rank, he'd soon possess a powerful mid-grade spiritual artifact. 

At that point, paired with his Lu Wu Bell, one for offense and one for defense, they would become his strongest arms. 

With that, both of his selections were used up, but he continued exploring the vault. 

Partly out of curiosity, partly in hopes of spotting something even more fitting. After all, this was a rare chance to broaden his horizons. 

Though he was tempted by many of the treasures along the way, Song Changsheng ultimately stayed true to his original intentions after careful consideration. 

Xu Yunhe, on the other hand, was much more straightforward. Since he hadn't come with a specific goal in mind, he simply picked a top-grade second-rank sword technique after browsing the vault. 

"Elder Qianri, we've made our selections," Song Changsheng approached the elder and reported the locations of the items they had chosen. 

Elder Qianri was slightly surprised as he glanced at the two of them. This was only the third time the second-rank treasury had been opened. 

The first two visitors had all gone for the most expensive treasures they could find, top-tier spiritual artifacts or peak-grade puppets, for example. 

The rule was: the pricier, the better. 

But these two had chosen items most suited to themselves, without being swayed by value. That alone earned Elder Qianri's admiration. 

... 

As they exited the City Lord's Manor, Song Changsheng stretched with a long yawn, enjoying the fresh air outside. At last, he could finally relax a little. 

"Brother Yunhe, do you have any plans for what comes next?" Song Changsheng turned to Xu Yunhe. 

Now that he had obtained both the White Tiger Fang and the Bi Fang Feather, as well as the Yin-Yang Iron, and even picked up Cheng Yufei's storage pouch, he knew the days ahead would be far from idle. 

Xu Yunhe stood silently, gazing into the distant horizon. After a moment, he finally spoke. 

"Brother Song, I suddenly feel that your Song clan's founder was truly a great man." 

"That goes without saying," Song Changsheng smiled. "To us, Song clan descendants, our ancestor is the greatest. Even if his cultivation wasn't particularly high." 

"To outsiders as well, he's still undeniably great," Xu Yunhe replied. 

Song Changsheng sensed there was something more to his words. He didn't respond right away, instead choosing to quietly wait for Xu Yunhe to continue. 

"I was abandoned as a baby, left in the forest by my parents. I nearly became food for a beast. Luckily, my master happened to pass by and, out of compassion, saved my life. 

"When I turned eight, he discovered I had spiritual roots and officially took me as his disciple. From then on, we traveled far and wide together. 

"To me, my master was an all-powerful figure, but the truth is, he was just an old man who had spent his entire life stuck at the late stages of Qi Refining. 

"For twenty years, we lived in poverty and constant uncertainty. Sometimes we had to fight just for a single spirit herb worth one or two spirit stones. I shed blood for the first time when I was twelve. 

"Brother Song, what were you doing at that age?" Xu Yunhe suddenly turned to ask. 

Song Changsheng had a feeling of where this was going. "At that age, I was studying at the clan's academy." 

Xu Yunhe chuckled. "That's why your clan's founder was truly remarkable. He carved out a prosperous land for your family and left behind a deep foundation. 

"He gave the Song clan's descendants peace, freedom from a life of wandering and violence." 

Then he turned around, eyes shining with a light Song Changsheng had never seen before. 

"The founder of Luoxia City was the same, perhaps even more remarkable. He protected half the cultivation world of Great Qi from the invasion of spirit beasts. 

"I was born with nothing. I've never had a powerful patron to shelter me. So I'll become that mighty tree myself so that my descendants and disciples won't have to live the life I did. 

That is the purpose of my life from this day forward. Brother Song, do you think I can succeed?" 

Song Changsheng nodded firmly. "Of course. You are already a rising star among rogue cultivators. One day, you'll make your name known far and wide. When you find your sect, you'll be a force to reckon with, perhaps even a ruler of your province." 

If Xu Yunhe had once been merely above average, then the moment he broke through to Foundation Establishment, he had truly been reborn. 

He might not dare to dream of the Golden Core realm just yet, but the Purple Mansion was already within reach. 

-support me in Patreon for more chapter, 160+ chapters in there

patreon.com/LordoftheReader

More Chapters