After cultivating the Spiritual Qi Conversion Technique, the cultivator's spiritual power would carry a strange energy. Once the opponent was struck, this energy would invade their meridians and dantian, continuously eroding their spiritual power.
Removing this energy wasn't difficult, but it did take time something rarely afforded in real combat. Once hit, the opponent's spiritual energy would deplete at a significantly faster rate.
This was extremely deadly, especially in battles between cultivators of similar strength whoever ran out of energy first would naturally be the first to fall.
"No wonder it required special preservation. A secret art like this is truly rare," thought Song Changsheng with delight. Creating a secret technique was no easy feat it generally required someone at least in the Golden Core Stage. Discovering this secret art alone had made the whole trip worthwhile.
He then picked up the remaining three jade slips and examined them one by one. However, after finding such a rare treasure, these seemed far less impressive by comparison. They only recorded formation methods or artifact crafting techniques. These would be precious to lone cultivators, but to him, they were of limited value.
After carefully putting away his finds, Song Changsheng continued toward the next stone chamber. Following two more fruitless rooms, he entered a peculiar chamber.
It was a very spacious room several times larger than the previous ones.
"It looks empty, but it's filled with hidden dangers. The owner of this cave must have had formation skills rivaling my grandfather's," Song Changsheng thought, amazed. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to go around it.
He could sense that there must be some treasure hidden inside, but that opportunity wasn't his. The formation laid within was close to a third-tier Sword Dao Killing Array, filled with rampaging sword qi, not something he could afford to get involved with.
Spending time here would be a waste; better to look for other opportunities.
What Song Changsheng didn't know was that just moments after he left, Xu Yunhe also arrived at this chamber through another passage. Feeling the sharp, overwhelming sword qi, he glanced at his empty right side, then stepped forward without hesitation…
Song Changsheng continued exploring, but his gains remained minimal, leaving him puzzled. Why would the owner of this cave construct so many seemingly useless chambers?
Was it just for fun?
That was impossible. But even with all his observational skills, he couldn't deduce the true purpose behind the cave's design he could only speculate in silence.
Then he pushed open another stone door and froze.
Unlike the other dark, gloomy chambers, this one was brightly lit.
Looking up in surprise, Song Changsheng didn't see the sun but instead spotted a glowing sphere embedded in the center of the ceiling like a giant incandescent bulb.
"A Haiming Pearl? One this large is truly rare." Song Changsheng was amazed. While Haiming Pearls weren't particularly valuable, he had only ever seen one this size in books. It was quite an eye-opener.
Lowering his gaze, he noticed a jade bed in the corner of the room emitting a chilling aura. Upon it sat a human skeleton in a meditative posture a chilling sight.
"I didn't even notice it at first glance… Something's off." Song Changsheng narrowed his eyes and soon spotted the anomaly. A faint illusion barrier covered the area in front of the jade bed, subtly cloaking it explaining why he hadn't noticed the skeleton at first.
"The body's flesh has long decayed, yet the bones still emit a faint spiritual glow. This person must have been at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator in life likely the owner of this cave."
Taking a few respectful steps forward, Song Changsheng solemnly clasped his hands and bowed.
"Senior, I am Song Changsheng. By great fortune, I have entered your cave abode. If I have disturbed your rest, I ask your forgiveness."
Although they had come uninvited, the remains of the senior cultivator still deserved the utmost respect.
"Creak"
Just as Song Changsheng was bowing respectfully, a stone door in another passage opened it was Zhu Yiqun and Zhuang Yuechan arriving. It seemed this was indeed the final destination of the cave dwelling.
"Ah, sometimes it's not about who gets here first, but who arrives at the right moment. If we'd been even a bit slower, Changsheng might've claimed this great fortune all to himself," Zhu Yiqun said with a chuckle, eyeing the skeleton on the jade bed as he spoke to Zhuang Yuechan.
"Indeed," Zhuang Yuechan nodded in agreement.
"You two certainly have good timing. What about Fellow Daoist Xu?" Song Changsheng smiled and glanced around the chamber.
Zhu Yiqun scratched his head. "Fellow Daoist Zhuang and I met along the way. I thought Xu would be with you."
"I haven't seen him," Song Changsheng replied, frowning slightly. Could something have happened to him?
Just then, a staggering figure emerged from the passage Song Changsheng had taken earlier it was Xu Yunhe. His body was covered in countless fine wounds, and he looked like he could barely stand.
But his spirit was visibly energized clearly, he'd gained something extraordinary.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, your injuries… are you alright?" Zhu Yiqun asked with concern.
"It's nothing just flesh wounds," Xu Yunhe grinned and waved it off.
"That's good. Since we're all here, let's divide this final great opportunity among us," Zhu Yiqun said, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the storage pouch lying next to the skeleton.
No one asked what Xu Yunhe had been through. No one asked what he had obtained. As they'd all agreed earlier everything depended on one's ability.
Song Changsheng had a good idea of where Xu Yunhe had gone, but he asked nothing. In the end, it became one of the mysteries left unsolved.
At Zhu Yiqun's suggestion, Song Changsheng nodded. After another respectful bow to the skeleton, he dispelled the illusionary barrier and picked up the storage pouch from the jade bed.
Since its original owner had perished long ago, the spiritual imprint sealing the pouch had long since faded. It opened easily in Song Changsheng's hands.
With a light shake, a pile of items spilled out spirit stones, magic tools, metal ingots, jade slips, jade boxes, porcelain vials an assortment of objects, covering almost everything one might expect.
It was time to divide the spoils.
Song Changsheng grouped the spirit stones and ores. "These are valuable and can be divided evenly among us later. As for the rest of the jade slips, boxes, and the like since we can't determine their value, let's each pick one at a time and leave it up to luck. What do you all think?"
He was referring to the unopened items whose contents were unknown. They could be worthless, or they might contain great treasures.
Naturally, everyone wanted the good stuff. However, trying to divide them based on speculation would only lead to conflict. It was better to treat it like opening mystery boxes leave it all to chance and keep the peace.
"There's no such thing as a perfectly fair split. This is undoubtedly the most reasonable way," Zhu Yiqun nodded in agreement.
Zhuang Yuechan and Xu Yunhe had no objections either there wasn't a better alternative.
"Who picks first?" Song Changsheng looked around at the group.
"This whole expedition into the cave dwelling wouldn't have been possible without Fellow Daoist Song's contributions. I believe he should choose three items first," Zhuang Yuechan said, somewhat unexpectedly.
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