I Can Fix My Talent in Hundred Lives-Chapter 224 - 188: The Opening of the Grotto Heaven
Within the Nine Cloud Peak Cave Mansion, spiritual mist lingered like a light veil around the Cold Jade Pillar. On the jade couch at the center of the hall was spread a snow-white fox fur cushion, upon which Chen Sheng sat cross-legged.
A tea pot of Spirit Tea on the tea stove in the corner of the cave was steaming gently.
Chen Xixing, dressed in a dark brocade robe and holding a silver pot, carefully refilled the jade cup in front of Chen Sheng, his actions respectful, yet unable to conceal his excitement in his eyes.
"Father, the Ancient Yue Token has been auctioned off! You wouldn’t believe the scene yesterday, it was simply terrifying!"
Chen Xixing put down the silver pot, his voice carried hints of excitement, as if returning to yesterday’s auction scene within the Immortal City:
"The auction hall of our Chen Clan Commerce Association was already spacious, yet yesterday it was packed to the brim, with seventeen Golden Core Perfection cultivators, and no less than fifty at late-stage Golden Core!"
Chen Sheng took the jade cup, feeling the warm touch of the cup wall with his fingertips, took a sip of the tea, which spread its fragrance on the tongue, bringing a slight bitterness and sweet aftertaste.
He looked up at Chen Xixing, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Oh? Such liveliness? How many Spirit Stones did it finally fetch?"
Chen Xixing extended three fingers, his tone carrying a hint of awe:
"Three million two hundred thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones!"
"The starting price was five hundred thousand, and just as the bidding started, it was immediately raised to one million by a loose cultivator at Golden Core Perfection. Then another cultivator from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion called for one and a half million, and finally, the ’Master Iron Sword’ from the Northern Territory threw down three million two hundred thousand to secure the token!"
"That Master Iron Sword had to sell off three Tier Three High Grade Magical Treasures and the Spirit Vein and ore vein of Iron Sword Sect. Excluding his Lifebound Magical Treasure, he nearly emptied his entire wealth."
He paused, then added:
"Not only that, in the auction, there were cultivators almost about to fight for the right to raise the price, it was only the activation of a grand array that suppressed the situation."
"Those cultivators had eyes red with greed, chanting ’Nascent Fruit’ and ’Nascent Soul Spiritual Object’ as if getting the token would let them return from the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven fully loaded."
Hearing this, Chen Sheng shook his head lightly, but without surprise in his eyes:
"This is normal, nowadays the Daoist Sect only issues tokens to the Inner Sect Golden Core cultivators. The Outer Sect cultivators and loose cultivators haven’t even seen the shadow of a token. Our token is currently the only one circulating on the market, naturally it would cause such a scramble."
"Don’t mention three million two hundred thousand, even for five million, there would still be buyers. Even the most basic Nascent Soul Spiritual Object in the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven could fetch several million Middle Grade Spirit Stones in the outside world."
"Not to mention whether they can even buy it depends on the face of the Nascent Soul Grand Sect; sometimes holding Spirit Stones doesn’t equate to being able to spend them. And since there are treasures like the Nascent Fruit in the Grotto Heaven, for them, it’s worth risking everything for a chance!"
He put down the jade cup, his gaze glancing toward the Cloud Sea drifting in from outside the hall, his tone carrying a hint of calmness:
"Do you know, within the Daoist Sect’s Inner Sect, even those who have just broken through to Golden Core early-stage are forming teams to head for the Secret Realm, very few choose to give up."
"Though they know they can’t compete with Golden Core Perfection, they still wish to try their luck at the margins of the Secret Realm. By chance finding a Tier Four Spiritual Object or Spiritual Material would be a significant aid to their cultivation."
"And not to mention those loose cultivators, without the support of sect resources, the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven is almost their only chance to break through to Nascent Soul, so they are bound to go all out."
Hearing this, Chen Xixing nodded lightly:
"Even so, these cultivators are too reckless."
Chen Sheng’s eyes flashed with a calculated glimmer:
"That’s also why I had you prepare a batch of ’Golden Jade Soul Reviving Pills’ in advance, once those cultivators come out from the Secret Realm, regardless of whether they’ve found opportunities or not, they will need elixirs for healing injuries and repairing Magical Treasures."
"By then, we can trade elixirs for their Spiritual Materials, earning Spirit Stones while collecting materials from the Secret Realm, killing two birds with one stone."
Chen Xixing felt a chill in his heart, instantly realizing his father’s scheme—foregoing the entry into the Secret Realm, yet profiting steadily from the opportunity through the token auction and elixir trade, showing far more stability and foresight than those cultivators who only knew to fight."
He bowed and said:
"Father’s considerations are thorough, I will make arrangements immediately to have the commerce spies monitor the developments after the Secret Realm’s opening, to purchase Spiritual Materials in a timely manner."
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, closing his eyes again to continue refining Spirit Marrow.
...
Time slowly slipped like sand through fingers, as the Ancient Yue Tokens from the Six Great Sects were gradually distributed, the entire Cultivation Realm of Yue Country visibly plunged into chaos.
Whether in the bustling streets of Three Elements Immortal City or the secluded corners of the Northern Giant Deer Market, one could hear news of "murder for a token" daily.
Loose cultivators brazenly acted in the market to snatch a token, while sect cultivators set ambushes secretly to intercept lone token holders, only to end up being countered and their entire sect annihilated.
The entire Yue Country seemed to be shrouded in an invisible net, with everyone driven mad by the tokens, the air thick with greed and the aura of slaughter.
Half a year passed in a blink, and this chaos finally ceased completely with the departure of the flying ships from the Six Great Sects.
Only to see six massive flying ships slowly rise from the sect mountain gates, like six moving mountains, heading toward the direction of the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven.
Each flying ship was engraved with the distinctive emblem of its sect: the ship from Myriad Swords Sect was entirely silver-white, its hull covered with intersecting sword patterns, the Sword Qi so fierce that even the surrounding clouds dared not approach.
The ship from the Western Wilderness Mirage towered like a mirage, surrounded by faint purple mist, occasionally revealing fierce mirage beast shadows...
Each flying ship was personally presided over by one or two Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
They either stood at the ship’s bow, their Nascent Soul aura forming an invisible barrier to shield the ship, or sat cross-legged on the cabin roof, meditating with closed eyes, keeping the Golden Core cultivators around them completely still.
Inside the cabin, numerous Golden Core cultivators sat cross-legged on the ground, refining their energy, spirits, and minds to the peak.
On the ship of the Three Elements Dao Sect, Chen Xihua was dressed in a silver-white sword robe, with a long sword laid across his knees, his eyes slightly closed. The sword intent around him was restrained as he silently familiarized himself with the flow of the Sword Heart.
Beside him, Master Shi Fang held a talisman in his hand, occasionally injecting spiritual power into it. The lines on the talisman glowed faintly as he turned to Chen Xihua, whispering with a smile:
"With a sword cultivator like you who comprehends the Sword Heart accompanying us, we have a better chance of safety in the Secret Realm."
Chen Xihua nodded slightly. Though unable to travel with his father, teaming up with Master Shi Fang was also a reliable support.
Besides the core disciples of the Six Great Sects, the cabin also contained many loose cultivators and cultivators from other Nascent Soul sects.
They had either gained tokens through connections with the Six Great Sects or purchased them at a great cost from auctions. At this moment, all were holding their breath, no one daring to speak loudly; only the faint sound of spiritual power flowing resonated within the cabin.
After two months, the six ships finally arrived at the vast plain where the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven was located.
The plants on the plain had long since withered, and the ground was covered with ancient patterns, clearly traces of restrictions left by ancient cultivators.
The ships slowly descended, and the doors opened. One after another, Golden Core cultivators stepped out in an orderly fashion, forming six neat groups according to their sects.
Chen Xihua and Master Shi Fang stood with the Three Elements Dao Sect’s group, their gazes fixed on the center of the plain, filled with anticipation.
Then, the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Six Great Sects began to rise slowly. The pressure from ten Nascent Souls simultaneously spread, as if solidifying the very air of the plain.
"True Monarch Sword Dust" of the Myriad Swords Sect was clad in an ink-colored sword robe, holding an ancient long sword. Though the sword remained sheathed, it exuded a sharpness capable of cleaving through the void.
"True Monarch of the Moon Mirage" from the Western Wilderness Mirage was draped in a light purple gauze garment, holding a "Mirage Bead" swirling with mist. Inside the bead, innumerable phantoms seemed to wriggle.
True Monarch Chong Xu and True Monarch Han Lou of the Three Elements Dao Sect stood side by side, with True Monarch Chong Xu holding a wholly emerald "Bamboo Jade Order", covered in intricate bamboo patterns with spiritual rhyme faintly swirling.
"Old friend Chong Xu, it’s been years. Your Bamboo Jade Order appears more lustrous than ever,"
chuckled True Monarch of the Moon Mirage, her voice ethereal like celestial music, with an enigmatic tone: "It seems the spirit veins of the Three Elements Dao Sect have been nourishing well these years."
True Monarch Chong Xu responded with a smile:
"You’re too kind, Fellow Daoist Moon Mirage. Compared to your Mirage Bead that can evoke mirage qi, my Bamboo Jade Order falls short. But, Fellow Daoist Jianchen, the Sword Qi of your ’Mountain-Slaying Sword’ seems even more formidable than the last time we met. I imagine your Sword Dao has further advanced."
True Monarch Sword Dust nodded slightly, his words crisp with the characteristic straightforwardness of a sword cultivator:
"Words are pointless. Opening the Grotto Heaven early and letting the juniors find their opportunities is the real task."
The other True Monarchs agreed, ceasing their idle chatter and taking out the exclusive tokens of the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven!
All six tokens burst into radiant brilliance simultaneously. The True Monarchs chanted, their fingers manipulating complex spells as Nascent Soul power poured into the tokens.
In an instant, six rotating, massive light screens erupted from the tokens like six colorful suns, converging at the center of the plain.
Within the light screen, bamboo patterns, sword shadows, mirage qi, nether flames, purple sun, and glazed light intertwined, exuding an unimaginably formidable aura, causing subtle ripples in the void.
The light screen gradually opened, revealing a massive virtual space gate behind it, shrouded in clouds, vaguely outlining the silhouette of ancient palaces—the very entrance to the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven.
All the Golden Core cultivators held their breath, eyes filled with awe. Chen Xihua clutched his long sword tightly, his fingertips slightly pale with excitement.
Master Shi Fang widened his eyes, staring fixedly at the virtual space gate, his mind already calculating the exploration route inside.
Before long, the Six Great True Monarchs ceased their spellcasting, the light from the tokens dimming as they fell back into their hands.
True Monarch Chong Xu scanned the Golden Core cultivators below and flicked his fingers, causing the Bamboo Jade Order in his hand to disperse into countless emerald light points, like fireflies, darting precisely into the Ancient Yue Tokens held by each Golden Core cultivator of the Three Elements Dao Sect.
The other True Monarchs followed suit, Mirage Bead scattered purple light points, Mountain-Slaying Sword scattered silver light points, Netherworld Lamp scattered black light points...
Countless light points merged with the tokens, which instantly shone, emitting spirit light resonating with the virtual space gate.
"The Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven is now open. Upon entering, remember—within the Secret Realm, restrictions abound, opportunities and dangers coexist; do not be careless."
True Monarch Chong Xu’s voice carried throughout the entire plain, bearing the unique authority of a Nascent Soul cultivator:
"Cherish the opportunities, and bring glory to your sects!"
As his words fell, the Golden Core cultivators of the Six Great Sects could no longer contain their excitement, transforming into streaks of escape light, rushing towards the virtual space gate.
Chen Xihua and Master Shi Fang exchanged a glance, then leapt up simultaneously, blending into the crowd, swiftly heading toward the Ancient Yue Grotto Heaven that bore the dreams of countless cultivators.
On the plain, the ten Nascent Soul True Monarchs hovered silently, watching the silhouettes of their disciples vanish into the virtual space gate. True Monarch of the Moon Mirage softly chuckled:
"Hopefully, more Nascent Souls will emerge this time."
