Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

Two hours later, the massive mineral vein had turned into a dull, gray expanse. All the gold and red crystals had been collected into the Thick Earth Creation Cauldron.

With two clangs, two fist-sized red mineral stones landed at Zhang Yuanjing's feet.

"Kid, these are a reward from your master, two Yang Essence Stones. This stone, combined with a fruit from that Profound Yin King Grass, is an opportunity to form your core. I told you before, if I'm satisfied, I'll help you save people. As long as you're willing to part with these Yang Essence Stones, that kid outside can live, and even break through to the Core Formation realm like you. What do you say? Are you willing to part with them?"

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron said casually, but with a hint of jest in its tone. Clearly, it was deliberately trying to disrupt his thoughts.

If he didn't give up the treasure, he naturally couldn't save the person. And the Yang Essence Stone was an opportunity for cultivators to form their core, how precious was that? To a Foundation Establishment cultivator whose lifespan was nearing its end, it was obviously more important than Yang Essence Crystals.

Hearing it say this, Zhang Yuanjing was indeed a little hesitant. After all, Zhong Bixing had saved him, and he had also saved Zhong Bixing, and he had even provided assistance first, so he didn't owe him anything. Should he use a Yang Essence Stone to save him again?

Various thoughts tangled in his mind, but only for a moment. He made a decision – save him!

Because the Thick Earth Creation Cauldron would never be reminding him to cherish the Yang Essence Stone, but rather trying to make a fool of him. Although to this cauldron, it was just a game, to him, it could disrupt his Dao heart.

"Of course, I'll save him," Zhang Yuanjing said calmly. "Yang Essence Stone plus King Grass fruit? How do I use them?" Zhang Yuanjing asked.

"Hmph, you're a kid with his own ideas."

Perhaps seeing that Zhang Yuanjing hadn't fallen for it, the Thick Earth Creation Cauldron's tone was a little weak, but it seemed to be in a good mood today, and still patiently explained, "Ingest the fruit, absorb the Yang Essence Stone externally. Core Formation, you see, is about condensing the spiritual soul, and the spiritual soul belongs to Yin, so the key is still this Profound Yin Fruit. The Yang Essence Stone is just an auxiliary item."

"There's a trace of Profound Yin energy inside the Profound Yin Fruit, which is more than enough to condense the spiritual soul. The excess Profound Yin power needs to be neutralized by pure Yang Essence power. With Yin and Yang in harmony, your cultivation will naturally improve by leaps and bounds. Before long, you can directly enter the early stage of the Core Formation realm!"

So that's how it is!

Zhang Yuanjing suddenly understood, and immediately became excited, asking, "Senior, when will we go pick the Profound Yin Fruit?"

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron said, "The Profound Yin Fruit isn't ripe yet. We'll wait for the moment it falls automatically!"

Zhang Yuanjing worried, "At that time, the Profound Yin King Grass will awaken, wouldn't we have to fight it?"

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron dismissed it with a disdainful look, "So what if it awakens? For your master to deal with it, it's as easy as reaching into a bag to grab something!"

Zhang Yuanjing remembered that in the Mustard Seed Space of the Thick Earth Sect, this cauldron had been evenly matched with Ling Xiao, whose strength was greatly reduced, and as a result, it had been sleeping for more than ten years, only briefly awakening after encountering a strange stone at the bottom of the pool. If it fought another battle with the Profound Yin King Grass, which had the strength of an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, who knows what problems might arise.

So he asked, "Senior, what special abilities does this Profound Yin King Grass have? Why can it be compared to an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator?"

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron's interest surged again, and it answered Zhang Yuanjing's questions without hesitation, "Hehe, it's just a grass spirit, what amazing abilities could it have? It's just that, first, its root system is developed, and its main stem is sturdy, making it difficult to kill, so it's said to have tenacious vitality; second, the Yin Nether Fiend energy contaminates the divine soul, whether it's an Yin spirit or Yang spirit, innate or acquired, they all shy away from it; third, its giant leaves extend and retract freely, coiling around objects and eating people, which is quite convenient. Just these three things, really, they're not worth mentioning at all."

Seeing that it said it so easily, and didn't worry about consuming its original source of power, Zhang Yuanjing felt relieved.

"Senior, should we wait here, or go out first?"

There were no Yang Essence Stones in the cave, and the mixed Yang Essence power that originally filled the air had dissipated a lot. The fire at the entrance of the cave was smaller, but the heat was still very high.

"Let's go out first, the smell of smoke and fire here is too strong, your master doesn't like it very much. Those people outside should be leaving too."

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron maintained its original form and led the way towards the entrance of the cave. Zhang Yuanjing hurriedly followed, hiding within the cauldron's cool aura, and easily passed through the crackling purple flames.

"Your master will do a good deed to the end, and take you to that kid's side, so you can feed him a medicinal pill." The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron didn't stop, but continued to float forward, gradually approaching the weakly breathing Zhong Bixing.

Over a hundred feet away, Shang Ming, who was working hard to chop down the Profound Yin King Grass, suddenly felt a burst of fear. He abruptly turned around to look back at the center of the cave, then scanned around, but didn't see anything unusual.

Just as he was puzzled, the King Grass suddenly trembled, as if it was about to awaken, then returned to normal.

He let out a long sigh of relief and turned to Qi Shubiao, Guan Zhuofan, and the others, saying, "The Profound Yin Fruit is about to ripen soon, you should all leave. Remember, you must kill Chen Bijian, that guy named Zhang Jing, and that rogue cultivator who ran away first. If they're not trapped by the Eight Trigrams Void Yuan Formation, intercept them at the exit of the Profound Yin Cave. Make sure not to let one of them escape! Oh, and kill that Lao Deren too, to prevent him from leaking information!"

Qi Shubiao looked dejected and nodded in agreement, "Yes, Senior Brother Shang!"

Guan Zhuofan's eyes were full of sorrow, and he hesitated, "Senior Brother…"

Shang Ming pretended to be relaxed and laughed, "Go on, we cultivators are fighting with the heavens for our lives. It's good to get something, but not getting it is not something to be sad about, why act like little children!"

Seeing Guan Zhuofan clenching his steel teeth, not saying a word, and his back trembling slightly, knowing that he was trying to suppress his grief, Qi Shubiao stepped forward and asked, "Senior Brother Shang, do you have anything you want us to do? Is there any unfulfilled wish?"

Shang Ming's smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Everyone, take care! I hope that among you, someone will see the day when my Star Moon Sect returns to being a major sect in the Southern Region. At that time, don't forget to come here to burn incense and pour wine, and offer a sacrifice!"

Qi Shubiao glanced back at the twelve Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivators, not knowing what he was thinking, and sighed to the sky. Guan Zhuofan was already in tears.

Shang Ming shouted, "Qi Shubiao, Guan Zhuofan! These young junior brothers are the future foundation of the sect, you must bring them out safely. There's not much time left, leave quickly!"

After saying that, he turned around and walked quickly, stepping into an eight-foot-long, three- or four-foot-deep depression that had been cut out of the King Grass's main stem, and instantly disappeared into the dense, ink-like black energy.

Qi Shubiao turned back sternly and said to the remaining twelve people, "To send off Senior Brother!"

Wang Xuanyi and the other twelve clasped their fists and bowed, shouting in unison, "Senior Brother is mighty!"

Guan Zhuofan wept bitterly and shouted in a sorrowful voice, "Senior Brother!"

Zhang Yuanjing, who had fed Zhong Bixing the Benefit Spirit Pill and healing medicine, squatted in the shadow protected by the Thick Earth Creation Cauldron, watching this tragic scene, and couldn't help but be a little moved. This Shang Ming was just dying in vain.

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron said somewhat boredly, "Being so sentimental, if they don't leave, even if they're not eaten by the King Grass, your master will kill them to avoid them making noise here and affecting your master's enjoyment of delicious food!"

Half an hour later, the fourteen Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Star Moon Sect left the underground cave with somewhat heavy steps. Shang Ming's death might be the future fate of someone or several people among them.

"Let's go, let's wait under the King Grass. The moment the fruit matures, it will automatically fall off, transforming from a watermelon-sized fruit into a mass of black slurry. You must take it within three breaths, otherwise it will rot and become a highly poisonous Yin Nether toxin."

Seeing that the cave was finally quiet, the Thick Earth Creation Cauldron's interest surged again, "Kid, you're about to break through to Core Formation, how do you feel? Is your heart pounding like crazy, as if you've seen your dream lover?"

Zhang Yuanjing honestly nodded, "I'm even more nervous than seeing my dream lover! Before meeting senior, I never thought that I would have the possibility of Core Formation in this life! Now, the opportunity is right in front of me, I feel like I'm dreaming! I will certainly remember senior's kindness and be endlessly grateful!"

These words were half sincere and half flattering. The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron was very happy to hear them, and laughed heartily, and unconsciously told him a lot about the precautions to take when cultivators break through to Core Formation, including some experiences of ancient cultivators, which benefited him greatly.

An hour later, the Profound Yin King Grass began to shake, and the twelve pairs of large, emerald leaves swayed up and down, whistling in the wind, stirring up the Yin Nether Fiend energy in the cave like surging clouds.

The gap that Shang Ming had cut out at the base of the King Grass's main stem also healed rapidly. In just a few breaths, it was as good as new, and Shang Ming, who had entered the King Grass's body, naturally had no chance of survival.

At the top of the Profound Yin King Grass, the five large fruits began to shake, and a layer of gray mist rose around them, obscuring their original appearance.

"Hmm, it seems it sensed danger and actually played a trick on your master. If your master couldn't see through this, how would I dare call myself your master?" The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron muttered to itself, full of disdain.

Then it said to Zhang Yuanjing, "You should prepare yourself and support that kid too. As soon as the fruit matures, your master will take two and give them to you. You can refine them here! Your master is going to devour the essence of this grass and has no time to take care of you!"

Zhang Yuanjing hurriedly asked, "When the Yin Nether Fiend energy erupts, how will we resist it?"

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron said unhappily, "With your master here, what are you worried about? Are you looking down on your master's strength? Quickly get ready, don't blame your master for not reminding you if you miss the opportunity!"

As it spoke, gusts of Yin wind suddenly stirred up in the cave, whistling and howling like ghosts. The twelve pairs of leaves of the Profound Yin King Grass extended outward, starting by stretching out inch by inch and falling section by section, but soon they were like giant pythons spitting out their tongues and flying dragons soaring, rapidly winding towards the Creation Cauldron and Zhang Yuanjing and Zhong Bixing.

"Daring to use such tricks against your master, obediently submit, lest you suffer unnecessary pain!" The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron said contemptuously, its voice resounding铿锵in the bright yellow light, like the clash of metal.

The twelve pairs of large leaves, like green carpets, entered the range of the bright yellow light, and immediately seemed to hit an iron plate, unable to enter, squeezed into a pile, and completely covered the bright yellow light that enveloped the cauldron and the two people, leaving no gaps.

At this time, the five large fruits at the top of the King Grass's main stem trembled lightly and fell at the same time. Obviously, this grass spirit had also made its calculations, not letting the enemy pick the fruit.

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron's yellow light suddenly shone brightly, and the surrounding stacked leaves seemed to be burned by fierce flames, immediately emitting black smoke. The yellow light shone through, illuminating the Profound Yin Fruit that had fallen in mid-air and had already turned into a mass of black liquid. Then, these five masses of black liquid flew into the cauldron along the light.

In an instant, a hurricane swept through the cave. The giant leaves, which had been scorched and retreated by the yellow light, turned into huge banana leaf fans and waved violently.

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron didn't care, and leisurely flung two masses of black liquid into Zhang Yuanjing and Zhong Bixing's mouths. Zhang Yuanjing opened his mouth and swallowed it, and at the same time used his magic power to guide Zhong Bixing to swallow the other mass of ink-like Profound Yin Fruit.

Then, he took out two Yang Essence Stones, one in his hand and one in Zhong Bixing's hand, and whispered, "Brother Zhong, quickly refine the medicinal juice!"

Without caring whether the person heard it or not, he sat cross-legged, looked inward at the black liquid, circulated the Thick Earth Creation Art, and mobilized his magic power to absorb the medicinal power.

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron rotated once, and masses of dark black soil splashed out, sticking to the twenty-four long leaves. The long leaves twitched, striking the top and bottom of the cave, causing the cave to shake, and mud and rocks to fall, and dust to fly.

After a few breaths, the long leaves began to rot, starting from the front end, and soon turned into a mass of dark green juice.

The Profound Yin King Grass quickly performed a "brave man breaks his wrist", and the twelve pairs of giant leaves fell off at the roots at the same time. Then it twisted its thick main stem, and countless roots drilled out of the ground, like sharp spears, stabbing towards the Thick Earth Creation Cauldron and Zhang Yuanjing and Zhong Bixing.

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron jumped up and down, and the yellow light around it turned into countless long ropes, entangling the roots of the Profound Yin King Grass one by one.

Every time a new root appeared from the ground, a yellow rope would be produced in the cauldron.

In this way, in less than ten breaths, the cave was filled with gray-black grass roots and bright yellow ropes. They were entangled together, twisted tightly, inseparable, and unable to move.

When the Profound Yin King Grass had no other choice, hundreds of red mineral stones and three golden crystals emerged from the cauldron, and a strong Yang force surged out, turning into countless thin threads, wrapping around the gray-black remnants of the roots. All the grass roots broke apart, revealing the milky white cross-section inside.

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron then shook, and countless light waves were emitted, covering the cross-section of the grass roots, and a huge suction force was generated out of thin air, and masses of pure white gas were continuously sucked out of the grass roots.

And the main stem of the Profound Yin King Grass, which was like a towering tree, suddenly softened and collapsed to the ground, smashing out a large pit dozens of feet long and several feet deep.

The Thick Earth Creation Cauldron's light waves became even stronger, and the pure white gas was absorbed even faster. At the same time, those mineral stones and crystals also emitted clusters of golden or fiery red gas, which merged with the pure white gas and entered the cauldron.