Divine Tang Era

"Ha, I've finally found one."

Xu Dan carefully dug up a larkspur flower from the hillside. Although this flower was not considered top-grade, it was still a rare find. The larkspur flower is a unique plant of the plateau, with roots like black water, leaves resembling tiger and leopard claws, and flowers like peonies. It is a sweet dew that clears lung heat and a good medicine for treating plagues.

Putting everything else aside, the plague alone has made delphinium flowers quite expensive.

Along the way, although many people had ventured into the mountains and forests and all the good medicinal herbs had been picked clean, Xu Dan still managed to find some leftovers, so the trip wasn't a complete waste.

Pack your things and keep going.

The higher they went, the less vegetation there was, and the colder it got. Fortunately, Xu Dan was strong and healthy, and his virgin body was like a furnace, so he didn't mind the chill at all. Further up, the trees gradually disappeared, with only a few sparse herbaceous plants growing.

People are coming here too, and it seems some are even mining here, leaving behind a pile of rubble.

Xu Dan took a closer look and discovered that it was still a jade mine, though not completely excavated, as there was still jade inside.

He couldn't understand it either, only knowing it wasn't as good as mutton-fat jade. He then took out his Eight-Degree Sword, cut off a few pieces, and put them away. He couldn't possibly miss this opportunity; he might even be able to sell them for money.

Further up, the mountain became steeper, the weather colder, and all the plants disappeared, but we were almost at the top.

Suddenly, a foul gust of wind blew in.

Turning his head, he saw a clouded leopard suddenly appear out of nowhere, lunging at him with a ferocious expression.

Xu Dan frowned slightly. So many people in the mine below weren't eating, yet they came to eat him. Did they think his flesh was tender, or did they think he was easy to bully? Feeling inexplicably annoyed, he took out the Soul-Devouring Yin-Yang Hammer and gripped it in his hand.

The cloud-covered leopard pounced swiftly, its movements as fast as a shooting star.

Xu Dan was also quick, gripping the Soul-Devouring Yin-Yang Hammer tightly, waiting for the best opportunity to strike.

The cloud-snake pounced quickly, but Xu Dan remained calm and dealt with it. Just as he could almost see the tongue barbed in its mouth, he moved the Soul-Devouring Yin-Yang Hammer that he had been holding tightly for a long time. It was as fast as a rainbow and pierced the cloud-snake's throat in an instant.

The Cloud Leopard didn't even react; its lunging body seemed to be delivering itself to the tip of the Soul-Devouring Yin-Yang Hammer.

After it died, the leopard's face was very surprised, its tongue lolling out of its mouth, as if it were recounting a tragic past.

This strike wasn't a hammer technique, but a sword technique. Xu Dan, skilled in swordsmanship, naturally thrust out with the Soul-Devouring Yin-Yang Hammer, proving his swordsmanship training hadn't been in vain. He wondered if he should go back to the Mo Clan Martial Arts School to learn the later sword techniques, but swordsmanship required internal energy to unleash its power; otherwise, even if he mastered it, it would just be an empty shell.

Internal energy is a power that is superior to physical strength, and it circulates within the meridians.

But he, on the contrary, did not.

Thanks to the pressure from the Crimson Flame Shield, some of the spiritual energy condensed in my meridians has been refined, allowing me to barely open one acupoint. But that's all. One acupoint is only enough to open one meridian; it's a drop in the ocean and completely useless.

Xu Dan stopped thinking about these troubles, grabbed the Soul-Devouring Yin-Yang Hammer, and lifted the Cloud-Slaying Leopard hanging on it high.

Looking at this reckless fellow, he coldly said, "Once a person has something to worry about, they will be extra careful in everything they do. Killing is the same. In fact, killing is like loving someone; it's all about seeking a quick and painless experience. The simpler, the easier."

This applies to humans, and it also applies to leopards.

"If you kill me, I will never hold a grudge; if you want me to eat you, you should be grateful."

Xu Dan rattled off a whole bunch of nonsense, and even lovingly recited a sutra for its soul's salvation. If Yunxiu Leopard could know this from beyond the grave, it would surely be overjoyed and thank his ancestors for eighteen generations.

They collected the leopard's carcass and continued on their way.

He didn't know what rank the Cloud-Piercing Leopard was. He always judged the rank of demonic beasts by the essence of their flesh and blood. Generally, the highest rank for a demonic beast was first, and the lowest was ninth. But once a demonic beast gained intelligence and knew how to cultivate, it was no longer a demonic beast, but a demonic cultivator.

The demon cultivators are powerful, some even possessing innate supernatural abilities, far beyond what Xu Dan can currently handle.

Upon reaching the highest point, Xu Dan unexpectedly saw several snow lotuses blooming among the cracks in the rocks.

What tenacious life! I wonder what they rely on to sustain their bodies. However, these snow lotuses are not classified as medicinal herbs; it seems the good ones have already been harvested.

The mountaintop is all rock, extremely steep, with almost no place to stand.

Xu Dan found a platform and sat down to rest. Looking down, the scenery below looked like ants; looking forward, the world stretched out before him, and his heart naturally opened up. Opposite Jinshan was the world-famous Tianshan mountain range, with the majestic Kunlun Mountains standing there, though they were too far away to see.

Take a break, stand up.

Xu Dan had two purposes for this trip: first, to climb mountains and enjoy the unparalleled beauty; and second, to cultivate the "Establishing the Cauldron and Sealing the Furnace Technique".

Having recently taken the Golden Jade Double Lock True Essence Pill, he has already condensed his Qi and Blood Ancient Furnace to nine forms. He wants to see if he can condense a tenth, or if there will be any different changes. Such a meaningful event naturally needs to be witnessed in a beautiful, secluded place.

So he stood atop the mountain, took out the Golden Jade Double Lock True Elixir, swallowed it, and activated the Establishing Cauldron Sealing Furnace Technique, contemplating the ancient furnace.

In an instant, the nine ancient furnaces vanished, transforming into vortexes of qi and blood that circled around each other.

At the center, a phantom image of an ancient cauldron, the most primitive and ancient of all, appeared. At this moment, the Golden Jade Double Lock True Elixir dissolved, and its boundless blood and energy surged like a raging sea, wave after wave rushing towards the phantom image of the cauldron.

The cauldron gradually took shape, transforming from an abstract concept into a concrete reality.

The vortex of qi and blood formed by the nine ancient furnaces also continuously input qi and blood, causing the illusory furnaces to condense into physical entities.

·············

Kunlun Mountain, also known as Kunlunxu, Kunlunqiu and Yushan.

According to mythology, the Jade Void Palace, the sacred site of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, is located here, hence the name "Jade Capital Mountain". Also, because Kunlun Mountain is located in the northwest Qian position, it is also known as "Pillar of Heaven".

The Huainanzi, in its chapter on topography, records:

"Kunlun Mountain has nine layers of Zengcheng, which is 11,000 li, 114 steps, 2 feet and 6 inches high. There are trees on it, which are 5 xun tall. Pearl trees, jade trees, spiral trees and immortal trees are to the west, sand pear trees and jade ring trees are to the east, crimson trees are to the south, and green trees and jade trees are to the north. There are 440 gates, with four li between the gates and nine chun between each li, each chun being 15 feet high. There are nine jade wells in the middle, which are located in the northwest corner. The north gate opens to the wind of Buzhou Mountain."

The sparse gardens, including the Inclined Palace, the Circular Chamber, the Floating Garden, the Cool Breeze, and the Fen Tong, are located within the Kunlun Gate.

A pond in a sparse garden, filled with yellow water, will return to its original state after three cycles of yellow water. This is called cinnabar water, and drinking it will prevent death.

"The hill of Kunlun, or even double its height, is called the Mountain of Cool Breeze; climbing it grants immortality. Climbing it, one gains spiritual power, able to command wind and rain. Climbing it, even double its height, one reaches the heavens; climbing it, one becomes a god; this is the abode of the Supreme Emperor."

The Classic of Mountains and Seas also says: "South of the Western Sea, on the shore of the Flowing Sands, behind the Red River and before the Black River, there is a great mountain called Kunlun Hill."

There is a deity with a human face and a tiger's body, with markings and a tail, all white, who dwells there. Below her is the abyss of the Weak Water, and beyond that is a mountain of blazing fire, where anything thrown in will immediately ignite. There is a person wearing a headdress, with tiger teeth and a leopard's tail, living in a cave, named the Queen Mother of the West. This mountain contains all things.

But in fact, Kunlun Mountain was the headquarters of a major immortal sect in ancient times.

The major sects of the immortal sects have now moved to other star regions, leaving only a few words on old papers.

Yet some people, relying on these few words, tirelessly travel to Kunlun Mountain to search for the remnants of the immortal sect.

"Master Gong, how is it? Is there really a relic?" On the shady side of Kunlun Mountain, by the cliff, an old man with a sage-like demeanor asked anxiously.

"Gong Yusu, I told you long ago that this time it was definitely for real, why didn't you believe me?" the burly man next to him said with dissatisfaction.

"Mo Yunhou, you said the same thing nine times before, and what was the result?" Gong Yusu glared angrily.

"Treasure hunting isn't that simple. Do you expect to reap rewards every day?" Mo Yunhou said matter-of-factly.

"You..." Gong Yusu disregarded his image and was about to start cursing.

At this moment, the craftsman who had been engrossed in examining the cliff looked up and said, "It is indeed a relic, with remnants of an array on it. In its prime, it might have been impossible to decipher. But with the passage of time, the world has changed, the terrain has shifted, and the array has also changed considerably. It can be deciphered with just a little time."

"How long will it take?" Gong Yusu asked.

Gong Shixi did not answer. He turned around, took out an array plate from his chest, placed it in front of the cliff, and put a piece of high-grade spiritual marrow into the array plate. He then made a hand seal.

Suddenly, several beams of divine light shot out from the array plate, continuously piercing the four corners of the mountain wall. In the blink of an eye, half of the spiritual energy on the spiritual marrow disappeared. After a while, the mountain wall suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, shooting straight into the sky.

After the light faded, the mountain wall trembled and split open from the middle, revealing a cave entrance that was taller than a person.

"Oh no! Quickly set up the formation, or someone will come soon!" Gong Yusu shouted urgently.

The craftsman's heart tightened, and his fingers flew across the screen as he hastily set up an array. Just then, a red light shot out from the cave, vanishing into the void and disappearing without a trace. Its speed was as swift as lightning. The group barely caught a glimpse of the red light's tail disappearing into the horizon.

"Was that a treasure just now?" Gong Yusu asked incredulously.

"Fool, hurry up and go in to look!" Mo Yunhou roared and quickly darted into the cave, with Gong Yusu following closely behind.

"Ah... my baby, my baby, it's all gone, all gone."

A moment later, a terrible scream, like that of a dead mother, came from the cave, and the craftsman happy made even faster hand seals.