Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 74: Exploring the Secrets of Classics and Exchanging Materials (I)

Elder Linghu sat high in the main seat of the cave, his expression calm yet radiating an undeniable majesty. His eyes, deep and penetrating, seemed to see through everything. He looked down at Li Xuan, the head of the Huangfeng Valley, who stood bowing. He spoke slowly, his voice resonant like a bell: "Li Xuan, Lin Fan from our valley has successfully achieved his Dan formation today. This is a top priority for Huangfeng Valley."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan nodded hurriedly, his face filled with respect, and spoke sincerely, "Old Ancestor, you are absolutely right. Uncle Lin Fan's achievement of Dan is truly a great opportunity for him personally, and a blessing for our Huangfeng Valley. It heralds the rise of a new force within the valley, and it will surely shine brightly in the future."

Elder Linghu nodded slightly, a flicker of relief flashing across his face. He continued, "In the world of immortal cultivation in Yue Country, a successful Core Formation Ceremony is held. This is the custom and tradition. I order you to begin preparations immediately and invite the seven major sects to attend Lin Fan's Core Formation Ceremony one year from now."

Li Xuan's heart trembled, knowing full well the weight of responsibility this matter held. However, he dared not hesitate for a moment. He immediately clasped his fists and said firmly, "Grandmaster, rest assured. I will do my utmost to make meticulous preparations and ensure that all seven sects receive invitations on time and attend the ceremony together."

Elder Linghu waved his hand, his expression serious, and warned, "This matter must not be taken lightly. The Seven Great Sects have profound roots and respected status in the world of immortal cultivation. When inviting them, we must be courteous and considerate. This is not only a testament to Lin Fan's importance, but also a great opportunity for our Yellow Maple Valley to showcase its strength and heritage to the outside world."

Li Xuan solemnly agreed, secretly pondering how to select envoys of both ability and virtue to send to the seven major sects, and how to meticulously plan to ensure that every aspect of the ceremony was flawless. After all, this concerned the reputation of the Yellow Maple Valley and, more importantly, Lin Fan's debut in the world of immortal cultivation. There was no room for error.

After Li Xuan left, Elder Linghu narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought. He knew that Lin Fan's Dan-Jing was perhaps just the beginning. This young man possessed extraordinary talent and boundless potential, and he might bring even more unexpected surprises and opportunities to Yellow Maple Valley in the future. This Dan-Jing Ceremony would undoubtedly be a crucial step toward a broader stage in his cultivation.

Lin Fan emerged from Elder Linghu's cave, bathed in the lingering evening light. The soft glow outlined a faint circle around him, as if draping him in a dreamy veil. This meeting had yielded far more than he had expected, but after the intense mental strain, he felt exhausted, as if all his strength had been drained.

Stepping into his own cave, the familiar aura greeted him, instantly calming his tense heart. In the past, upon entering the cave, he would eagerly sit cross-legged and immerse himself in cultivation, but today, he just wanted to rest and enjoy this rare tranquility.

He slowly walked to the stone couch in the cave, sat down with a gentle movement, and took a deep breath. He slowly unbuttoned a few buttons on his robes, relaxing his tense body. His eyes wandered casually around the cave, finally landing on a magical longsword hanging on the wall. It was a gift from his master, Chen Minghui, when he first entered Yellow Maple Valley. It carried countless memories, and each sword mark told of an unforgettable experience.

"It's been really hard along the way." Lin Fan whispered to himself, his voice echoing in the quiet cave.

To further his path to immortality, he toiled day and night, through the cold and heat, never once slacking off. Each breakthrough was accompanied by unbearable pain, a test of both soul and body. Now that he had successfully achieved Dan, he felt it was time to take a break and relax.

In the days that followed, Lin Fan lived a leisurely and comfortable life. He slept until he woke naturally, and only woke slowly when the faint light of dawn filtered into his cave, taking in the tranquility and beauty of the early morning. Without the urgency of cultivation, he would stroll to the spiritual plant garden outside the cave, carefully examining the spiritual plants that he had neglected due to his busy schedule.

Some of the spiritual plants had crystal clear dewdrops hanging on their leaves. In the sunlight, they sparkled with colorful light, like dazzling gems. He gently stretched out his finger and touched the dewdrops. The dewdrops rolled down, soaking a small patch of soil, as if playing a melody of life.

Occasionally, he would sit on the stone bench in front of the cave and brew a pot of spiritual tea. The wisps of tea aroma rose in the air, and he took a sip. The gentle warmth spread from the tip of his tongue to his entire body, dispelling all fatigue. At this moment, his mind was no longer filled with complex cultivation formulas and spiritual energy circulation routes, but with memories of the past.

He recalled his youthful innocence when he first entered the Yellow Maple Valley, filled with curiosity and awe at everything. He recalled the tense and exciting moments of sparring with his fellow disciples, each move and form imbued with sweat and effort. He recalled the thrilling brushes with danger in the secret realm, each heartbeat seeming to speak of the tenacity of life...

Time slipped by unnoticed. Lin Fan used this rare leisure time to relax and adjust his state, quietly awaiting the impending Core Formation Ceremony. Meanwhile, he used the Taiqing Jade Purifying Bottle to continuously generate the Millennium Elixir, preparing to exchange it for precious materials later.

Since achieving the Core Formation stage, Lin Fan's cultivation rhythm has quietly shifted. In his free time, he loves to visit the mysterious book collection in Yellow Maple Valley. This is no ordinary library that Han Li once visited; the books there were nothing more than worthless "junk" in his eyes. Now, as a high-level cultivator in the Core Formation stage, he has the right to access the valley's true core resources.

Stepping into the library, a rich, ancient atmosphere washed over him, transporting him through time and space into an ancient world. Towering bookshelves towered above him, filled with yellowed ancient tomes and animal-skin scrolls, each exuding the air of age. Fueled by a burning desire for rare resources, Lin Fan plunged headfirst into the vast pile of books, eagerly exploring unknown mysteries.

Months flew by, and during that time, Lin Fan immersed himself in the world of ancient texts, leafing through them day and night, comparing and studying them. He paid no attention to detail, treating every page like a key to a hidden treasure. His dedication paid off, and he eventually teased out clues to numerous rare resources in the world of immortal cultivation from the vast amount of information.

Take the Earth Core Fire Crystal for example. After repeated investigations, Lin Fan discovered that it was born deep underground, in an extreme environment of high temperature and high pressure. The magma rolled and tempered over endless years. The special minerals underwent countless evolutions in this long process and eventually condensed into this ore containing powerful fire spiritual power.

Their quality varies widely, from ordinary mediocre to peerless treasures that are thousands or even tens of thousands of years old, and the conditions for their formation are extremely demanding. The highest-quality Earth Core Flame Crystals surge with spiritual energy, their blazing power seemingly capable of melting everything in the world. Even just getting close can feel the overwhelming heat.

The Millennium and Ten-thousand Year Cold Jade unexpectedly originate from the same mysterious place: an ice cave hidden beneath the Arctic glacier, shrouded in endless cold year-round, with temperatures reaching rock-bottom levels.

Over the eons, the unique ice crystals within the ice caves slowly nurtured and evolved under a unique geomagnetic and spiritual energy environment. Millennium-year-old cold jade is as hard as iron and emits a soft blue glow. Upon touching, a chill instantly penetrates the very bone marrow. Possessing a powerful freezing force, it can instantly solidify spiritual energy, freezing any spiritual energy that approaches. Ten-thousand-year-old cold jade is even more miraculous. Its crystal-clear form resembles a vast blue gem, with faint, snowflake-like patterns flowing slowly within. The chilling force it holds can not only freeze the body but also corrode the soul, making it the perfect material for refining top-tier ice-attributed magical weapons. Possessing this jade is bound to unleash a powerful wave of change in the world of immortal cultivation.

Lin Fan wrote down this precious information in detail, a clear idea already forming in his mind. He knew full well that the materials needed for his life-defining magic weapon were extremely rare, and gathering them would be a nearly impossible task.

However, possessing the Qiankun Creation Cauldron, a heaven-defying artifact, he could find a different path. He planned to purchase some low-grade materials. As long as he knew the sources of the high-grade materials, he could find the accompanying low-grade items, and then use the Qiankun Creation Cauldron's mysterious power to cultivate and upgrade them. In this way, he could easily gather the materials needed for his natal magic weapon.

During this pleasant time of recuperation, Lin Fan not only enjoyed his rare leisure time but also began to stock up on supplies for his future cultivation. Whenever he had free time, he would visit the caves of the Jindan-stage seniors in Huangfeng Valley, under the pretext of "strengthening fellow disciples' friendships," but in reality, he was hoping to find some rare and valuable items from them.

Lin Fan knew that he possessed an unparalleled advantage in resources. He already had seven or eight thousand-year-old spiritual herbs in his storage bag, and thanks to the effects of the Taiqing Jade Purification Bottle, his supply was constantly increasing. He also had a considerable amount of mid-level spirit stones, piling up like a mountain. With this wealth, he had the confidence to pursue rare and precious treasures.

That day, Lin Fan arrived at Huang Tianhua's cave. After a few pleasantries, the conversation naturally turned to cultivation resources. Lin Fan looked around, his eyes drawn to a brocade box in the corner. A subtle flash of surprise crossed his eyes, as if he had discovered a treasure.

"Senior Brother Huang, I heard that you have hidden a lot of treasures here. I wonder if you could let me open my eyes?" Lin Fan said with a smile, his tone full of expectation and his eyes full of desire.

Huang Tianhua laughed heartily and patted Lin Fan on the shoulder: "Since my dear brother is interested, I will naturally not hide it." After that, he strode to the corner, picked up the brocade box, and opened it gently.

Instantly, a rich spiritual energy rushed towards him, as if a spiritual treasure trove had been opened. Within the brocade box lay three pieces of minerals emitting a strange light: the Millennium Core Flame Crystal, the Millennium Cold Iron, and the Millennium Purple Jade.

Lin Fan's eyes lit up. These three items were excellent materials for refining low-level magical weapons. If nurtured and upgraded by the Qiankun Creation Cauldron, their value would be inestimable, enough to shock the entire world of immortal cultivation.

"Senior Brother Huang, to be honest, I'm very interested in these things. I wonder if you're willing to give them up?" Lin Fan asked tentatively, a hint of nervousness in his eyes, fearing that Wang Tao would refuse.

Huang Tianhua raised his eyebrows slightly, a trace of thought flashed in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, "Since you like them, I am not a stingy person. However, I also treasure these things very much. I wonder what you are willing to exchange for them?"

Lin Fan already had a plan in mind. He calmly took out three thousand-year-old spiritual herbs from his storage bag. Each one was full of spiritual energy and vitality, emitting an attractive luster, as if telling of their extraordinaryness.

"Brother Huang, these three thousand-year-old elixirs were all obtained by me from a secret realm after risking my life. In terms of value, they are comparable to these three materials. What do you think, Brother?" Lin Fan said sincerely, his eyes full of anticipation.

Huang Tianhua carefully examined the elixir, a look of satisfaction in his eyes, and nodded: "Brother, you are indeed generous. Deal!"

In this way, Lin Fan successfully used three thousand-year-old spiritual herbs to exchange for thousand-year-old earth core fire crystal, thousand-year-old cold iron and thousand-year-old purple jade.

After returning to the cave, Lin Fan couldn't wait to take out the Qiankun Creation Cauldron. This precious cauldron was ancient and heavy, engraved with mysterious runes. Each rune contained ancient and powerful power, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

He carefully placed the three ingredients into the cauldron one by one, his movements gentle, as if handling the most precious treasures in the world. As soon as he finished, the cauldron glowed brightly, runes flickered and danced, and a strange energy instantly enveloped the materials, initiating a transformation.

Over time, the material within the cauldron gradually changed. The originally orange-red glow of the Millennium Earth Core Flame Crystal grew even more blazing and dazzling, like a miniature sun about to erupt. The spiritual energy within it was like surging magma, poised to erupt at any moment.

The cold light on the surface of the thousand-year-old iron became increasingly fierce, and the cold air spread all around, condensing into a thin layer of frost around it, as if bringing the entire cave into a world of ice and snow.

The Millennium Purple Jade is even more magical. The originally warm purple light becomes as deep as the sea, with stars faintly twinkling in it, transforming into the legendary Nine Heavens Purple Jade, exuding a mysterious and powerful aura.

Lin Fan looked at the three materials in the cauldron, transformed, his heart filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment. With this ten-thousand-year-old Earth Core Flame Crystal, Frost Iron, and Nine Heavens Purple Jade, he was one step closer to refining a high-level magical weapon, and one step closer to realizing his dream of becoming an immortal.

(End of this chapter)