I am cautiously cultivating immortals in a strange world

Chapter 2225 The Red-haired Rat's Shock
Are you dead?

In his dazed state, Chen Lin heard a voice that seemed both real and unreal.

A while later...

He gradually regained consciousness.

Then I felt a salty taste in my throat, and with a "whoosh," I spat out a large mouthful of thick liquid.

Immediately following this was excruciating pain all over my body.

It felt like being torn to pieces, but it also accelerated his awakening. Soon, his eyelids twitched and he slowly opened them.

Everything was dark.

A ruddy-faced figure was standing nearby, staring at him with two beady eyes.

Memories gradually resurfaced in my mind.

Chen Lin tried to move his body, but he was too weak to stand up.

"This is where?"

He gave up and got up, looking at the red-haired rat and asking, but the other rat was now bald and covered in wounds, and its condition was not much better than his.

"How would I know!"

The red-haired mouse rolled its eyes.

Then he roared, "Wasn't it you who used your supernatural power? I told you to go to the Giant Gate, but you ran out of the camp in an instant. Do you know how terrifying the Linglong Sect's protective formation is? You actually dared to force your way in. If it weren't for me protecting you, you would have been reduced to ashes long ago!"

"Thank you very much."

Chen Lin gave a wry smile.

"It's not that I wanted to force my way in, it's that the energy of that talisman was too strong, and I couldn't control it precisely, so there was a slight deviation when I made the spatial jump."

"A little bit?"

The red-haired mouse rolled its eyes again.

"Fortunately, it was only a little bit, otherwise they would have escaped this world. Don't be stubborn if you don't have the ability. I thought you were very confident, but in the end, I still have to cover for you."

"You've really screwed me over!"

He was indignant for a while.

It continued, "This time I suffered heavy losses and was unable to reach the giant gate. My cultivation level also dropped due to energy depletion. You should consider how to compensate me!"

Chen Lin took out a spiritual herb and put it in his mouth.

After chewing and swallowing, he said weakly, "I also suffered a lot: a Sovereign-level talisman, a bone fragment from the Giant Gate, and the sect leader's seal of the Linglong Sect. Each of these is a treasure."

"But no matter how precious the treasure is, it's not as important as life. As long as I can get out alive, that's enough."

"Humph."

The red-haired mouse snorted.

It naturally knew that Chen Lin's words made sense, but since it hadn't been able to go and see the giant gate, it always felt like it had lost something.

Chen Lin seemed to know what the red-haired rat was thinking.

He immediately offered words of comfort.

"The array outside the Linglong Sect's secret area weakens about once every three hundred years. The next one won't be long. If you want to explore that place, come back to Yuming City with me and find the person who took me in. Ask him to take you in next time."

"You want me to be your henchman, don't you?"

Red-haired Rat bluntly exposed Chen Lin's purpose.

Chen Lin did not hide anything.

He said calmly, "I need to complete my life's mission, so you need to find a way to leave this world. This requires exploring the secrets of this world. It will be safer if we join forces."

There was no pause.

He continued to persuade him.

"When you entered this world, your landing point was Tiger Roar Gorge in the Lianyun Mountains, but the place has changed due to the arrival of darkness, and the original passage has probably disappeared long ago."

“I know a demon king from that realm who might be able to help you.”

"Anyway, the Lianyun Mountains are not far from Yuming City. Let's go to Yuming City first to check the situation, and then go there to find a passage."

"keep the change."

The red-haired mouse sighed softly.

"The passage I entered this world was neither a teleportation array nor a spatial node. I stumbled in by mistake due to unforeseen circumstances. I couldn't find my way back back then, and it's even less likely that I can now."

"I want to go back."

It gazes into the darkness high in the sky.

"The temple you mentioned might be one way to find it."

Chen Lin took out another bottle of spiritual liquid and drank it.

He said, "Then you should come to Jade Bright City with me. If we join forces and control a force, we can use the cultivators of this world to help us find the temple. It's much better than wandering around aimlessly on our own."

The red-haired mouse remained silent for a long time.

"also."

It nodded.

“Then I’ll go with you to take a look first. But we’re both seriously injured right now, so we need to find a place to recover before we leave. I have a feeling that there’s a huge danger in this darkness, so it’s not advisable to travel a long distance rashly.”

"Of course."

Chen Lin was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Although he had advanced to the Cage Realm, he couldn't cause much trouble if he returned to Yuming City alone, since there were three Wheel Realm cultivators in the city, any one of whom could suppress him.

But it's different when the other party helps.

Even if their cultivation level drops, they still need to have the strength of the early stage of the Wheel Realm. If the two of them join forces, it won't be a problem for them to dominate the area.

It recovered for a while.

Chen Lin finally regained some strength and struggled to his feet.

Then, activate the Heavenly Eye to examine the surrounding environment.

It turned out to be a swamp.

There was nothing to cover them; it was all black, rotten mud.

"swamp?"

Chen Lin's expression changed.

When he was in Yuming City, he studied the map of the Age of Light. It seemed that there were no large areas of swamp on the continent where Lingyun Kingdom was located.

Could it have run off to another continent?

"what happened?"

Seeing Chen Lin's expression, the red-haired rat also became nervous.

Although its cultivation level was higher than Chen Lin's, after witnessing Chen Lin's abilities, it acknowledged his strength and even thought that Chen Lin had discovered some danger.

"nothing."

Chen Lin shook his head and expressed his concerns.

The red-haired rat, however, did not take it seriously.

"If it's not in Lingyun Kingdom, it's not there. It doesn't affect us. According to you, the temple is everywhere, so it doesn't matter where we build our power."

Chen Lin did not speak.

Unfurling its soul wings, it slowly ascends into the air, extending its soul perception to expand the scope of its investigation.

He is different from the other person.

The other party has no ties or worries.

He also needed to see Hua Yi, since he, as the master, had brought her in and couldn't just abandon her.

Moreover, he felt there was something wrong with the Lianyun Mountains.

The root of the darkness that descended upon this world is likely there. He intends to build up his power in that area and conduct a comprehensive exploration.

They investigated for a while.

Chen Lin suddenly noticed that there seemed to be a building more than a hundred miles away.

His expression shifted.

He landed and said, "There seem to be people living about a hundred miles away. Lord Rat King, please take a look. My soul power is suppressed by dark energy, so my senses are not very clear."

"A hundred miles away?"

The red-haired mouse twitched its newly grown whiskers.

With a dark expression, he said, "My senses are also limited; I can't detect that far."

He seemed somewhat resentful.

It snorted and said coldly, "Having too strong a soul ability is not a good thing. Be careful not to be targeted by powerful creatures that like to devour souls, especially those lunatics from the Soul Inquiry Academy. They'll really like you."

"Thank you, sir, for reminding me."

Chen Lin pretended not to notice the sourness in the other person's voice.

He was actually quite surprised himself. After advancing to the Cage Realm, his soul had also improved considerably, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to explore so far.

This is a great thing.

This will be of great help to him in the future when he seeks to release the soul.

However, it has little to do with the advancement of cultivation; it is all thanks to the natal rune.

The rule runes are the embodiment of the fusion of body, soul, and will. When one rises, all rise. Moreover, the runes condensed by the Nine-Aperture Black Ginseng come from the bone fragment inheritance behind the Giant Gate, and their level is higher than that of his soul.

That's why it has such an effect.

Chen Lin sighed inwardly.

He gained many benefits from his trip to the Linglong Sect, but the most valuable one was the Nine-Aperture Black Ginseng.

Cultivation techniques are the foundation of everything; no treasure can compare.

The next step is to complete life's tasks well and strive for good evaluations so that achievements can be solidified and carried forward.

Calm your mind.

Chen Lin was not in a hurry and continued to use the spiritual fruit to heal his injuries.

Those who can live in such a place are certainly not ordinary people; he must recover his strength so that he can cope with any unexpected events.

The red-haired rat saw this.

He also took to the air and released his senses toward the location Chen Lin pointed to, but he couldn't sense anything no matter how hard he tried, which made his beard tremble with anger.

"Humph!"

It snorted coldly.

"If my origin hadn't been damaged and my cultivation hadn't plummeted, I could have covered not just a hundred miles, but thousands or even tens of thousands of miles without any difficulty."

He muttered something.

The red-haired mouse landed on the ground.

He glanced at Chen Lin, then stretched out his claws and said, "My cultivation was damaged because of you. Hurry up and compensate me. If you don't satisfy me, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Chen Lin was taken aback.

For a moment, I didn't understand why the other person suddenly got angry.

But the other party had indeed helped him, so it was reasonable to give some reward. After thinking about it, he took out all the rare and precious materials he had and placed them in a dry place in front of him.

The red-haired rat only glanced at it.

With a single swipe of its claws.

"These junk items take up too much space to carry around, so don't try to fool me with them. You have treasures on you, so don't be stingy with them. You've caused my cultivation to drop by a whole realm, so asking for one of your treasures is already a bargain."

Chen Lin frowned upon hearing this. These rare and precious materials were all he had. If he wanted to take more, he would have to open the Fruit Core Cave, but the Fruit Core Cave was riddled with cracks, and opening it again would likely cause it to collapse.

Besides, there are no better treasures inside.

"Does the Rat King desire the Mirror of Immortality?"

Chen Lin asked in a deep voice.

Since the other party doesn't like rare and precious materials, and even points out that he has treasures on him, then it must be something he has seen before.

The goal should be the Longevity Mirror.

However, he also needed this mirror. Treasures that could increase one's true lifespan were extremely rare, and he might not be able to find one again in the future.

"I don't need that thing."

"Things that can increase one's innate lifespan are few, but not nonexistent. Moreover, once I am free from the suppression of that altar, my lifespan will no longer be in danger."

To Chen Lin's surprise.

The red-haired rat was also not interested in the longevity mirror.

"Then what do you want?"

Chen Lin asked, puzzled.

Then he took out the brushes, scrolls, and other items he had obtained in the secret place and showed them to the other party one by one.

The red-haired rats all shook their heads.

"It's not these, but it's definitely on you. I'm the best at sensing the aura of treasures. I didn't notice it before because it was suppressed by the Linglong Sword, but I'm absolutely sure I'm not wrong now."

Chen Lin was filled with surprise and doubt.

He couldn't think of any other treasures he might possess.

This is a higher dimension, and the other party even claims to come from a place even higher than the Star Ruins. The things in his Fruit Core Cave Heaven were all obtained from the Seven Star Realm. What could the other party possibly covet?
After pondering for a while, I still couldn't grasp the point.

Chen Lin shook his head.

"Besides these, I don't have anything good on me. If you want anything, Rat King, just point it out. As long as I have it, I can give it to you."

Apart from the Longevity Mirror, the other treasures are not important, and they can all be taken out with them.

The red-haired rat moved closer upon hearing this.

Its eyes glowed red and fell on Chen Lin.

Chen Lin wanted to avoid it.

But after hesitating for a moment, I held back.

He needs to rely on the other party's strength to find the reason for the darkness, so it's best to try to be kind and for the sake of the bigger picture, he can tolerate some minor issues.

Since it's not his own body, it doesn't matter if it's explored.

The main thing is.

Chen Lin was also very curious about what the other party wanted.

The red-haired rat's eyes darted back and forth before finally settling on Chen Lin's waist.

There was a specially made small bag inside the robe, but it was completely visible under the red light, and even the contents inside could be seen: a small fruit pit.

"It's inside this treasure trove."

Having made up his mind, Red Hair looked away.

We await Chen Lin's response.

Chen Lin reached out and removed the fruit pit.

He held it up in his hand to show it to the other party, pointing to the crack on it and saying, "I brought this treasure of the cave from the outside. Logically speaking, it should not be possible, but I had a partner who could break through the rules of the Ferry of Life, so he brought it in successfully."

"But even so."

"This thing is also suppressed here. I only activated it twice before it was on the verge of collapse."

While explaining, Chen Lin's mind raced, trying to figure out which item in the cave was special, but he still couldn't find a clue.

"Rules that can suppress the journey of life?"

The red-haired mouse was drawn to this sentence.

He immediately asked, "Who is your partner? Where is he now?"

"We went inside that giant gate."

Chen Lin answered truthfully.

He really wanted the other person to go inside the Giant Gate as well, so he deliberately brought this up.

Red-haired Rat glanced at Chen Lin and didn't continue the topic.

Let's continue looking at the pit.

After a moment of contemplation, it opened its mouth and spat out a constantly shaking stone, which was grayish-white, about the size of a fist, and irregularly shaped.

This item is located in one place.

Centered on the stone, the space within a radius of several miles exhibited abnormalities, as if it had solidified, becoming increasingly 'solid', giving Chen Lin the feeling of being sealed inside the rock.

"Space Solidification Stone, specially used to repair the treasures of the cave, this one piece is enough to restore your cave."

The red-haired rat spoke softly.

Then he threw the stone to Chen Lin.

He then explained, "There's no need to activate or refine it; just put the stone directly into the cave."

Chen Lin looked at the stone.

ponder for a moment.

He activated his natal runes and forcibly opened the cave, first placing the stone inside.

really.

After the stone was placed in the cave, the cracks on the fruit pit healed at a speed visible to the naked eye and disappeared in no time.

It became perfectly intact.

He was secretly amazed.

He never expected there to be such a treasure; it truly broadened his horizons. He would try to collect some in the future.

To open the Fruit Core Cave, it was necessary to constantly envelop it with the power of runes. Chen Lin did not dare to waste any time and immediately probed into it with his divine sense.

A thought came to my mind.

They picked a fruit from every tree, including the unripe ones, and showed them all to the red-haired mouse.

Although there are no treasures in the cave, we cannot allow the other party to search it. This is a matter of principle. If we break this rule once, the other party will take advantage of us next time.

Seeing that the other party didn't react.

Chen Lin then took out the items he had previously stored one by one.

suddenly.

His gaze fell on one spot.

There was an open jade box containing a peach, the very one that had been transformed in the mortal world.

"Could it be this?"

Chen Lin used his divine sense to roll up the peach, hesitated for a moment, and then took it out of the cave.

"This is it!"

As soon as the jade box was taken out, the red-haired rat excitedly spoke, and then a flash of red light appeared in front of Chen Lin.

But Chen Lin blocked it with his hand.

He said in a deep voice, "This Tao Ling is my maid. If you want her to do something for you, or assist you in cultivating supernatural powers and secret techniques, I can agree. But if you want to eat her to improve your cultivation, that is absolutely not allowed."

"maid?"

The red-haired rat spoke hesitantly.

“That’s right, and she’s a handmaid who has recognized me as her master. Since she has recognized me as her master, I have an obligation to protect her. I can’t give her away as a gift; that’s not my style.”

"You mean, this Peach Spirit has recognized you as its master?"

The red-haired rat seemed to have heard something unbelievable, and looked at Chen Lin with a very strange gaze.

"Indeed."

This is a fact, and Chen Lin has no reason to hide it. This is also a reason for him to refuse the other party.

"Good good."

The red-haired mouse said "good" three times.

Then he looked at Chen Lin, and then at Taozi.

His beard trembled as he said, "You lad have truly impressed me. I admire you greatly. Well then, this treasure is not meant for me. You should keep it for yourself."

Then his expression changed several times.

In a flash, he retreated to a distance of more than ten feet.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chen Lin from afar: "Fellow Daoist's spirit is truly admirable. Being with someone like you makes me feel ashamed of myself. I won't interfere with your great cause any longer. Farewell!"

Done.

It transformed into a streak of red light and soared into the sky.

Chen Lin frowned.

The red-haired rat's reaction puzzled him, and he even suspected that the other party simply wanted to leave, so he made up this excuse.

It's not even an excuse.

This peach spirit came from the Peach Sea, and he personally witnessed it recognizing its master.

What could be wrong?
But the other party's behavior was too exaggerated, and it didn't seem like they were making excuses; it seemed like they were really afraid.

Chen Lin was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

He glanced at the peach, which hadn't changed much, and reached into the jade box to take it out.

Suddenly.

A feeling of warmth and familiarity arose in the peach.

Chen Lin gently touched the tip of the peach, and the peach immediately blushed, as if the whole peach had been filled with blood.

And it has shrunk considerably.

It took a while for it to return to its original state.

Are you still part of the mortal world?

After pondering for a moment, Chen Lin tentatively inquired.

He felt that the red-haired rat's claim was probably not unfounded. This peach might really have a problem, because Hongchen became like this after accepting a life mission, and it was hard to say whether it was the other person.

Life's tasks are incredibly varied, and you might encounter all sorts of strange and bizarre things.

Peach felt a sense of familiarity again.

Chen Lin touched his chin.

Even if the other party is not from the mortal world, this reaction is still influenced by the thoughts of the mortal world. If it were an unfamiliar spirit, it would be impossible for it to become close to him for no reason.

"What is your background? Can you tell me?"

This time, the peach did not react.

Chen Lin scratched his head.

Judging from the red-haired rat's actions, this peach must bring some benefits, but its origin must be extraordinary, and there may be some terrifying entity behind it. That's why it said such strange things after hearing that the peach had recognized him as its master.

"Being so mysterious, you deserve to be trapped for ten thousand years."

I can't think of a specific reason.

Chen Lin muttered a complaint, put the peach back into the jade box, and stored it back into his cave.