Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 76: Exploring the Secrets of Classics and Exchanging Materials (Part )
As I stepped into the cave, a chill washed over me, as if I had instantly fallen from daylight into the abyss of night. All I could see was the flickering lights of the few oil lamps hanging on the cave walls. Their flames were as weak as candles in the wind, enveloped by the eerie atmosphere, ready to be ruthlessly extinguished at any moment.

The night-shining pearls inlaid on the walls were all substantial, each as large as a fist. However, they emitted no gentle, soft glow, but a cold, eerie hue, as if stained by frost and snow, exuding a bone-chilling chill. Their radiance intertwined, casting a hazy shadow all around, making the entire cave seem shrouded in a veil, making it difficult to discern.

Looking around, those normally ordinary corners were now outlined with bizarre shapes by the strange light. Huge stalactites drooped from the cave ceiling, casting shadows like snarling monsters; stalagmites protruding from the ground looked like lurking beasts in the dim light, ready to devour at any moment.

The patterns on the cave walls, illuminated by the cold light of the Night Pearl, unfold like a series of mysterious ancient scrolls. Some meander like ancient runes, revealing hidden secrets; others are layered, as if recording the vicissitudes of time and concealing countless forgotten events.

In this hazy light, every shadow seemed to hold a hidden secret. A gentle breeze blew, bringing a touch of coolness. The shadows seemed to come alive, swaying and twisting gently, as if something were quietly spying within. In the corner, a strangely shaped stone, its shadow constantly shifting in the dim light, sometimes resembling a huddled human figure, sometimes drifting like a ghost, a chilling feeling.

The cave floor was paved with slabs of varying sizes, the gaps between them appearing ever deeper in the gloom, like a portal to another mysterious world. With every step, a dull thud echoed through the empty cavern, contrasting with the flickering lights and the cold glow of the night-shining pearls, intensifying the cavern's mysterious and eerie atmosphere. It felt like stepping into a forbidden place, where unknown dangers lurked in the shadows, awaiting any intruder.

The two of them arrived directly before a secret chamber. Lei Wanhe's lips softly parted, chanting an obscure incantation, his hands forming seals with lightning speed. With his movements, the stone door of the chamber slowly swung open. In an instant, a surge of thunder-attributed spiritual energy, so dense it was practically materialized, rushed towards them like a surging tsunami, carrying the force of a mighty thunderbolt. This power was so overwhelming that it shook Lin Fan's heart violently, and his qi and blood surged through his body, nearly losing control.

Lin Fan suppressed his discomfort and looked up. He saw numerous jade boxes neatly arranged in the secret room. The boxes were engraved with complex and mysterious runes. Between the runes, lightning flashed and flickered like a nimble snake, as if whispering about the extraordinary past these jade boxes carried.

"Junior Brother Lin, everything stored in this secret room are materials for magic weapons that I have painstakingly accumulated over the years. Feel free to pick whatever you want, and don't be polite to me!" Lei Wanhe had a hearty and unrestrained smile on his face, his eyes full of unstinting generosity, as if these precious materials were just ordinary objects.

Lin Fan nodded gratefully, then walked slowly into the secret room with extremely cautious steps. His gaze, like a divine eye searching for treasure, darted back and forth between the jade boxes. Suddenly, a jade box emitting a strange light, like a dazzling star, instantly captured his full attention.

This jade box was a brilliant white, as smooth and lustrous as fine mutton-fat jade, yet exuding an indescribable aura of holiness. The runes carved into the box resembled nimble, leaping lightning, freely surging and dancing across its surface. As the light shone, a mysterious power seemed to burst forth, seemingly breaking free and rushing towards him.

Lin Fan slowly extended his hand, his movements as gentle as if he were touching the most fragile treasure in the world. His fingertips trembled slightly as he gently opened the jade box. The moment he opened it, a flash of lightning, as blinding as the sun, suddenly flashed, blinding everyone's vision with a white blur. As the light faded slightly, a piece of mineral stone emitting a faint blue light from within the box came into view.

The ore's surface was uneven and covered with strange lines. These lines seemed like codes left by ancient civilizations, or mysterious marks formed naturally at the dawn of time, exuding a distant and mysterious aura. The powerful thunder-attributed spiritual energy contained within it was like a great beast, long dormant, about to awaken. The mere perception of this power filled Lin Fan with awe, and a tremor welled up in his soul.

"Senior Brother Lei, this is..." Lin Fan's voice changed with excitement, trembling slightly with excitement. He hurriedly turned to look at Lei Wanhe.

Lei Wanhe strode forward, his face filled with pride, his eyes gleaming like the brightest stars in the night sky. "This is Thunder Cloud Crystal, extremely rare, rarely seen in the entire world of immortal cultivation! It's the perfect material for refining thunder-attributed magical weapons, a truly rare treasure you can only come across once in a lifetime."

Lin Fan was ecstatic. If he could obtain this Thunder Cloud Crystal and carefully cultivate it with the Qiankun Creation Cauldron, he would surely obtain a top-tier thunder attribute material, enough to refine a top-tier thunder attribute magic weapon. With this magic weapon at his disposal, he would be able to further his cultivation and rise to prominence.

"Senior Brother Lei, I really like this Thunder Cloud Crystal. I wonder if I can exchange it with you for the Thousand-Year-Old Green Thunder Ganoderma and fifty mid-level Thunder Spirit Stones that I brought with me?" Lin Fan looked at Lei Wanhe expectantly, his eyes full of earnestness and desire.

Upon hearing this, Lei Wanhe narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought. After a moment, he spoke, "Junior Brother Lin, this exchange is certainly possible. The two spiritual objects you brought out are worth more than this piece of Thunder Cloud Crystal. However, I, Senior Brother, will shamelessly take advantage of you. I won't return the remaining amount to you."

Lin Fan chuckled and said quickly, "Brother Lei is so generous and willing to exchange with me. I'm so grateful, I can't even think of anything else. So, we can both get what we need." The two of them completed the exchange immediately. Lin Fan carefully put the Thunder Cloud Crystal into his storage bag and was about to turn away when his eyes were drawn to an object in the corner, emitting a dazzling golden light.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was a piece of golden essence. This golden essence was pure in texture, and its radiance radiated a tenacious strength. Lin Fan was well aware of the value of this golden essence, with a market price between three thousand and five thousand low-grade spirit stones. It was an excellent material for refining magical weapons, enhancing their hardness and spirituality. He gritted his teeth, took out another fifty mid-grade spirit stones, and purchased the golden essence from Lei Wanhe.

After the transaction was completed, Lin Fan, filled with hope, piloted his magical instrument like an arrow, speeding towards his master, Chen Minghui's cave. Along the way, the wind whistled past his ears, but Lin Fan's heart was like a surging wave, unable to calm down for a long time.

For him, although his master Chen Minghui did not accept him as a disciple entirely because of his qualifications, he was very caring towards him during his journey of cultivating immortals and was already a rare and good teacher.

Compared to Li Huayuan's treatment of Han Li in the original novel, this was infinitely better. Chen Minghui was not only his guide on the path to immortality, but also a mentor who provided him with countless help and support. Therefore, Lin Fan had always been grateful to his master. This time, he placed high hopes on his master for the acquisition of magical materials.

Before long, Chen Minghui's cave was within sight. Lin Fan hurriedly straightened his clothes, smoothing them out and sending out a sound transmission talisman. A moment later, the cave's formation slowly opened, and a familiar voice rang out, "Come in." Hearing this, Lin Fan respectfully stepped inside.

Chen Minghui was sitting upright on a futon, his eyes closed, as if resting. Noticing his beloved disciple's arrival, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with kindness, like the warm spring sun, capable of dispelling all the gloom in the world: "Fan'er, you're here."

Seeing this, Lin Fan hurried forward and bowed respectfully, his movements formal and reverent. After the ceremony, he stood up and spoke earnestly, each word coming from the heart: "Master, I have come here to ask for a favor. I have been busy collecting materials for my life-defining magical weapon lately, traveling extensively and tirelessly to do so. I hear that Master has a vast collection. Do you have any materials that might be useful? I am willing to exchange them for spiritual objects of equal value." With this, he solemnly took out two thousand-year-old spiritual herbs from his storage bag.

Each of these two spiritual herbs exuded a magical aura, a fragrant aroma that permeated the entire cave. Their leaves shimmered with vibrant light, like a galaxy of stars. It was immediately clear they were rare treasures, condensing the spiritual energy and essence of heaven and earth.

Chen Minghui's gaze slowly fell on the elixir. He nodded slightly, with a hint of relief in his eyes: "Yes, it seems you are thoughtful." Then, he stood up and walked with steady steps to a hidden corner deep in the cave.

There was a delicate barrier here. Chen Minghui raised his hand and gently waved it. Spiritual energy surged like ripples, instantly breaking the barrier. He pulled out two ancient jade boxes. The jade boxes were intricately carved, and the traces of time added a touch of ancient charm. Opening the jade boxes, two pieces of minerals with a strange luster lay quietly inside, exuding a unique aura.

"This is a piece of silver essence and a piece of diamond." Chen Minghui picked up the ore and handed it to Lin Fan. He spoke slowly and gently, "Silver essence is pure, like clear autumn water, without any impurities. Incorporating it into a magic weapon can elevate its spirituality to a higher level. When casting spells, the magic weapon will be even more agile and subtle, as if it has intelligence and can move at will. Diamond is extremely hard, arguably the strongest substance in the world. When incorporated into a magic weapon, it can greatly enhance its strength, making it more resilient in the face of powerful enemies, like a solid wall, difficult to damage."

Lin Fan's eyes shone like twinkling stars in the night sky. These two materials were the treasures he had longed for, searching for them for so long that he could not find them. They would be of inestimable value in improving the quality of his natal magic weapon; it was like timely help.

He excitedly took the ore with both hands and bowed deeply to Chen Minghui again, bending very low with respect. "Thank you very much, Master! I will always remember your kindness. I hope you will accept these two thousand-year-old spiritual herbs."

Chen Minghui smiled gently, his face kind. "Fan'er, I won't be polite then." Chen Minghui accepted the elixir, and the master and disciple continued their conversation for a long time, discussing everything from their experiences in cultivating immortality to refining magical treasures. It wasn't until dusk that Lin Fan said goodbye and returned to his cave.

After returning to his cave, Lin Fan quietly awaited the arrival of the Dan-forming Ceremony. Meanwhile, he raced against time, constantly cultivating the collected magical weapon materials with the Qiankun Creation Cauldron, eager to quickly cultivate them to their optimal state, fully preparing them for the creation of a top-tier magical weapon. He knew that in this world of immortal cultivation, where the strong prey on the weak, only by constantly strengthening himself could he carve out his own niche in the bloody storms ahead.

(End of this chapter)