Chapter 241 - 185: Untouched by the Ages, Perfect Technique

At the bottom of the lake stood an ancient and heavy gate, with the word ’Changqing’ carved on its exterior.

Just as Xiahou Kun had said.

Outside the gate, a shattered skeleton lay silently.

"We’ve arrived, you three!"

Xiahou Kun slowly came to a halt and sent a Sound Transmission to the other three.

They gathered before the gate and each took out their key.

In the next instant.

A faint cyan light emanated from all four keys. As if gaining a life of their own, they rose from the cultivators’ palms and flew toward the ancient gate.

None of the four tried to stop them; they simply watched in silence.

In the blink of an eye.

The four keys flew into four corresponding holes.

A moment later, with a low HUM, the gate trembled and began to slowly swing open.

Behind the door was a very short passageway.

At the end of the passageway was a dark chamber.

The four exchanged glances, then moved as one into the passageway.

"We’re finally in!"

Xiahou Kun sighed in relief and cast a spell, dispelling the lake water from his body.

The two sides of the gate were like different worlds. Outside was the cold, silent water of the lake; inside was dry and warm.

The moment he entered.

Li Chang’an froze. His Magical Power was surging uncontrollably through his Meridians.

Something in the dark chamber at the end of the passage, some manner of priceless Treasure, seemed to be calling to him, resonating strongly with the Cultivation Technique he practiced.

A faint, ethereal voice whispered in his ear.

"...A body like Ancient Wood, evergreen for millennia, indestructible through tribulation, untouched by time..."

The voice was intermittent, barely there, as if drifting from a distant time and place.

In that moment.

A realization dawned on Li Chang’an.

Whatever was drawing him from within the dark chamber... it was a Perfect Technique!

In the current Cultivation Realm, Cultivation Techniques, like Spiritual Roots, were categorized into Inferior, Low, Middle, Top, Earth, and Celestial Grades.

But Su Yuyan had once told Li Chang’an that there was a type of technique even greater than a Celestial Grade Technique—one that could only be described as perfect.

’The Ancient Wood Evergreen Technique... it’s actually a Perfect Technique!’

Li Chang’an was shaken to his core.

In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, the meaning behind the word ’perfect’ was simply too astonishing.

After all, things in this world were rarely perfect; there was almost always a flaw!

He took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the unusual reaction of his body.

Xiahou Kun noticed something was amiss and turned to ask, "Daoist Li, is something wrong?"

Li Chang’an smiled. "It’s nothing. I’m just a little excited, thinking about the opportunities that might be waiting in this grotto-heaven."

"Haha, I feel the same way."

Xiahou Kun laughed, then took out a Puppet and sent it ahead to scout the path.

Li Chang’an and the other two also deployed their own Puppets.

The passageway was short.

After only a few moments, the Puppets completed their reconnaissance without encountering any attacks.

"It seems there are only opportunities here, no danger."

The four of them advanced together to the end of the passageway.

Almost simultaneously, all their gazes were drawn to a Wooden Scroll in the center of the chamber, which was emitting a faint cyan glow.

In that single instant.

All four of them had the same premonition. This was a supreme Treasure!

’If I can get my hands on it, I might be able to change my destiny!’

The entire chamber was empty, save for the single, floating cyan Wooden Scroll. There were no other Treasures.

A flash of greed flickered in Mu Che’s eyes.

But he knew he couldn’t possibly take on the other three, so he was the first to speak.

"Everyone, these kinds of Wooden Scrolls usually contain inheritances like Cultivation Techniques or Magic. There’s no need for us to fight. We can just make three copies so that each of us gets one."

"Agreed!"

Ye Hao nodded in agreement.

However.

Just at that moment.

Xiahou Kun let out a cold laugh as an aura far exceeding the Qi Refining stage erupted from his body.

"It seems the three of you have outlived your usefulness!"

Feeling this aura, the color drained from Mu Che’s and Ye Hao’s faces.

"A Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!"

They never would have imagined.

That among the four of them was a Foundation Establishment Powerhouse!

In this situation, they couldn’t escape even if they wanted to. Forget about splitting the treasure—it was questionable whether they would even survive!

Mu Che immediately adopted a subservient posture.

"Elder Xia, I won’t take any part of today’s good fortune. It all belongs to you."

He bowed, slowly backing away a couple of steps.

But before he could take a third step back, a terrifying pressure, the might of a Foundation Establishment expert, descended upon him, making his entire body seize up in discomfort.

His heart trembled, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

No Qi Refining Cultivator would ever want to face a hostile Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!

Xiahou Kun gave him an indifferent glance.

"Mu Che, did I say you could leave?"

Mu Che’s face went pale as he hurriedly begged for mercy.

"Elder Xia, this junior is willing to swear on my Dao Heart that I will never reveal the slightest detail of what happened here today!"

"An oath on your Dao Heart? That’s not enough!"

Xiahou Kun suddenly tossed a Spirit Contract in front of Mu Che.

A closer look revealed.

It was a Servant Spirit Contract!

Once signed, Mu Che would become his servant, his life and death no longer his own to control.

Furthermore, should Xiahou Kun die, Mu Che would perish along with him.

"Elder Xia, this..."

Mu Che’s expression was pained; he was utterly unwilling to sign such a contract.

But Xiahou Kun’s attitude was cold and unyielding.

"You have three breaths. Sign it, or be buried here."

"I’ll sign right now!"

Not daring to resist, Mu Che lowered his head and accepted his fate, signing his name on the Spirit Contract.

After he was done, he let out a long sigh of relief.

’No matter what,’ he thought.

’At least my life is safe for now.’

Soon, Xiahou Kun produced two more Spirit Contracts and tossed them to Li Chang’an and Ye Hao.

"You two. Do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his Foundation Establishment aura intensified, crashing down on the two of them like a pair of great mountains.

Li Chang’an said nothing. A gently swaying Soul Banner appeared in his hand.

Seeing this.

Xiahou Kun couldn’t help but laugh.

"Li Fan, you don’t actually think that Soul Banner in your hand can block my Foundation Establishment Power, do you?"

"How will we know if we don’t try?"

Li Chang’an’s expression remained unchanged, and he didn’t retreat a single step.

Nearby.

A look of conflict flashed across Ye Hao’s face.

He glanced at the Spirit Contract before him, then at the Soul Banner in Li Chang’an’s hand. Finally, he gritted his teeth and took a few steps to stand beside Li Chang’an.

It was an enormous gamble!

He had chosen to stand with Li Chang’an against a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

If he lost this bet, it would cost him his life!

"Good! Very good! It seems you two are determined to die. In that case, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

Xiahou Kun’s expression darkened.

His aura surged and his Foundation Establishment Magical Power erupted, ready to strike the two down where they stood.

But in the very next instant.

A ferocious, snarling monster shot out from the Soul Banner. Black mist roiled around it, and its aura was terrifying, as if it had clawed its way out of the Netherworld Hell itself. It roared and charged at Xiahou Kun.

"A Tier Two Main Soul!"

Xiahou Kun’s expression changed dramatically, and he retreated in a flash.