Chapter 10: Lizhu Cave Heaven
Lin Yun was worried someone might come. Fortunately, although the cave was adjacent to the spirit stone mine, it was extremely well-hidden. Coupled with Lin Yun's intentional concealment, it would likely take an uninformed person a very long time to find it.
Taking advantage of the solitude, Lin Yun continued to practice the "Primordial Chaos Sword Embryo" technique inside the cave. He soon discovered that the surrounding yuan qi was rapidly converging on his position. A large portion was being absorbed by the Mysterious Yuan Embryo in his storage ring, while the rest was absorbed by him.
"My goodness, this thing can actually draw in the yuan qi of heaven and earth?" Lin Yun was completely astounded. It was worthy of being a purple-grade opportunity. If Duan Heng's strength were combined with this Mysterious Yuan Embryo, challenging Xiao Pingtian might not have been impossible!
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Yun settled his mind and began to cultivate.
One day later, although Lin Yun hadn't broken through, he could feel a massive amount of yuan qi being compressed in his dantian with nowhere to go.
Just then, the bottleneck finally loosened. The accumulated yuan qi broke through the barrier in one fell swoop. Lin Yun felt as if his body was being forged and tempered a thousand times over, as wisps of yuan qi merged with his very flesh and blood. With every heartbeat, his power grew stronger.
When he opened his eyes again, a surge of energy rushed straight to his spiritual platform.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
He broke through three consecutive levels, directly entering the third level of the Nascent Yuan Realm.
"Although I've only gone up three minor realms, the increase in strength is anything but small," Lin Yun remarked, swinging his arms.
He hadn't expected the effects of the Mysterious Yuan Embryo to be so powerful. The talent of outer-sect disciples like them wasn't necessarily that much worse than the inner-sect disciples. What they lacked was merely cultivation resources.
The concentration of yuan qi differed from place to place, which was why so many people wanted to become inner-sect disciples. All the Cave Abodes in the Flowing Cloud Sect with abundant yuan qi were allocated to disciples of the inner sect and above.
But right now, although Lin Yun was still an outer-sect disciple, with the help of the Mysterious Yuan Embryo, he could mobilize the surrounding yuan qi for his own use. The effect was likely even better than that of the personal disciples' Cave Abodes.
"Looks like I need to get to the back mountain soon," Lin Yun muttered to himself. With the Mysterious Yuan Embryo and the "Primordial Chaos Sword Embryo" technique, his cultivation in the back mountain would surely be twice as effective with half the effort.
Just then, a sound came from outside.
Liao Changping had returned, but this time he had dozens of people with him. There were a few inner-sect disciples, but most were handyman disciples. It seemed the Flowing Cloud Sect was going to occupy this spirit stone mine.
When Liao Changping saw that only Lin Yun was present, he asked, "Where is Wang Shuang?"
As he spoke, Wang Shuang came stumbling over. "Elder Liao."
Liao Changping raised an eyebrow. "Didn't I tell you two to stand guard here? Where did you run off to?"
Wang Shuang shot Lin Yun a hostile look. "Didn't Junior Brother Lin tell the Elder? We were just attacked by members of another sect. I fought hard to drive them off and was trying to capture one alive for you, but unfortunately, those guys were just too fast."
Liao Changping looked at him coldly and asked Lin Yun, "Is that what happened?"
Wang Shuang's eyes were practically murderous.
Lin Yun quickly feigned a wounded appearance. "Elder Liao, it's all thanks to Senior Brother Wang's help that I managed to survive."
Liao Changping snorted, then tossed a jade talisman to Lin Yun. "You may return to the sect. You did a good job on this mission!" He could, of course, see the fishy business between Lin Yun and Wang Shuang, but he couldn't be bothered to say more.
Lin Yun accepted the talisman, bid them farewell, and left the mine cave with Wang Shuang. Outside, another external affairs elder was waiting with a flying vessel to take the two of them back to the Flowing Cloud Sect.
The discovery of this mine was of great significance to the sect. It was said that more handyman and inner-sect disciples would be dispatched later to ensure the mine's security.
Lin Yun collected his mission reward from the Mission Hall. As soon as he came out, he happened to run into Wang Shuang, who seemed to be intentionally waiting for him.
Lin Yun tried to step aside, but Wang Shuang blocked his path.
"Junior Brother Lin, you did very well this time." He patted Lin Yun's shoulder smugly. "I can see you're a smart person. If anyone asks about this matter in the future, you should know how to answer, right?"
"Rest assured, Senior Brother, I understand everything." Lin Yun's mind was completely focused on getting to the back mountain. Who had time to deal with Wang Shuang?
Seeing Lin Yun agree, Wang Shuang finally nodded in satisfaction.
There was still a week until the next required report at the Mission Hall. There was no time to delay. Lin Yun made some preparations and then headed straight for the back mountain.
Outer-sect disciples had always been forbidden from approaching the back mountain of the Flowing Cloud Sect. It was supposed to be guarded, but presumably due to the mine incident, the sect was short on manpower. As a result, the gate was wide open.
This gave Lin Yun the perfect opportunity.
After slipping into the back mountain, he followed a set of bluestone steps deep into the area. Soon, a gorge appeared before him with a waterfall cascading down.
Lizhu Cave Heaven was located beneath that waterfall.
This was the first test. To enter Lizhu Cave Heaven, one needed at least enough strength to sever the falling cascade.
Lin Yun stood on the bank and took a deep breath. He mobilized all the yuan energy in his body, gripped the Cold Flame Sword, and swung it out fiercely!
Whoosh!
A sound of tearing air echoed. The terrifying yuan energy, combined with the Cold Flame Sword, cut the waterfall in half at its waist.
Seizing the chance, Lin Yun stomped his feet hard on the ground, creating a small crater, and then stepped right into Lizhu Cave Heaven.
What dense spiritual energy!
It was just as he had thought. Cultivating here would be incredibly efficient.
But then, Lin Yun noticed several lines of text carved on a stone stele in front of him, written in a wild, cursive script.
"Heed this, future generations." "The path of the sword is steep; only the heart's dao must be firm." "If you lack this will, do not enter."
Just by looking at them, Lin Yun felt the words sting his eyes. It seemed this senior was no simple character.
He mused to himself, walked around the stele, and continued deeper. What followed was a narrow corridor that only one person could enter at a time. Both sides were covered in clear sword marks.
When Lin Yun looked at them, he instantly felt a wave of sword qi rush toward his face.
A Sword Intent Corridor?
This senior's strength must have reached a state of absolute perfection.
Only now did he understand the meaning of the words on the stele. If one didn't have some real ability, this Sword Intent Corridor alone could shatter their will.
Lin Yun felt no fear and strode right in.
In a trance, he felt as if he were on a battlefield, transformed into a white-haired old man. He held a sword with one hand behind his back. Before him were trillions of ferocious demonic shadows.
The old man raised his sword. He roared to the heavens:
"Heaven did not birth me!" "There is only this one sword." "To split mountains and sever rivers," "To suppress demons and open the heavens!"
In that instant, thousands of brilliant sword qis swept out. At that moment, between heaven and earth, there was only this one sword!
RUMBLE!
The great earth trembled. The sky was torn open.
Lin Yun's consciousness was pulled back. He realized that he had, at some point, already walked through the Sword Intent Corridor. His clothes were in tatters, and his jade-like body was covered in red, bloody marks. He was drenched in sweat.
"If I didn't have the 'Primordial Chaos Sword Embryo,' and had tried to force my way through the Sword Intent Corridor with just my Nascent Yuan Realm cultivation..."
"I would have died without a doubt."
A wave of fear washed over Lin Yun.