Chapter 99 Celebration! Golden Spirit Wood!
The next day, at the Lingmu Peak cave.
In stark contrast to yesterday's earth-shattering celestial phenomenon of Core Formation and the lingering afterglow of the spiritual energy surge, today the main hall of the cave is enveloped in a warm, festive, and peaceful atmosphere.
Xin Ruyin, with her skillful hands and ingenious ideas, had already made some arrangements for the hall.
Several glass palace lanterns powered by low-grade spirit stones were polished to a shine, emitting a soft and bright light that replaced the cold glow of the luminous pearl.
The once empty stone table was covered with a layer of elegant brocade, and it was filled with various spiritual fruits.
There are "Purple Jade Grapes," the size of a fist, translucent like amethyst, whose aroma can calm the mind; there are "Crimson Glow Fruits," shaped like peaches with a skin that glows with a faint rosy light, bursting with juice and containing gentle spiritual energy; and there are also "Star-Spotted Algae," a specialty of the Chaotic Star Sea, resembling a starfish and with a sweet taste...
A dazzling array of items, brimming with vitality.
Several jars of fine wine, brewed with spirit rice and spirit fruit, were opened, and the aroma of wine mixed with the fragrance of fruit filled the hall, refreshing and delightful.
Xin Ruyin even took out her treasured fine tea leaves brought from the Yue Kingdom and brewed them with spiritual spring water. The aroma of the tea was so enticing that it added a touch of elegance.
Zhou Ding, Xin Ruyin, and Xiao Mei sat around the table, all beaming with joy.
Even Zhou Jin was summoned by Zhou Ding and sat down with him. Although he still had a cold expression, his murderous aura had been greatly reduced, and he had blended into the celebratory atmosphere.
"Zhou Lang." Xin Ruyin picked up an exquisite white jade wine cup, the amber-colored spirit wine inside rippled slightly, reflecting her bright smile.
Her eyes were like water, reflecting Zhou Ding's figure in their clear depths. They were filled with undisguised pride, joy, and admiration. Her voice was soft yet firm: "Congratulations on condensing your Golden Core, achieving the Great Dao, and officially entering the ranks of Core Formation True Persons. The path to immortality is within your reach!"
"Son-in-law, I also want to toast you!"
Not to be outdone, Xiaomei held up her glass cup high, which contained her favorite sweet "mixed fruit wine." Her face was flushed with excitement and anticipation, and her eyes shone like stars.
"I knew my son-in-law was the most powerful person in the world! He'll definitely succeed! From now on, my son-in-law is a true Core Formation Grandmaster!"
"May my son-in-law attain immortality and live a long and prosperous life! May he soon achieve the Nascent Soul stage and become a powerful figure throughout the chaotic starry sea!"
Xiaomei's clear voice was full of vitality, carrying the most sincere blessings.
Looking at the two smiling beauties before him, and at this warm and vibrant scene, Zhou Ding felt extremely happy.
After decades of arduous practice, one day of success is achieved. Sharing this joy with loved ones is truly one of life's greatest pleasures.
He laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the rooftops. He picked up the full jade cup in front of him and said with great gusto, "Good! Ruyin, Xiaomei, we're happy today, so don't be shy. Let's drink to our hearts' content and not leave until we're drunk!"
Having said that, he tilted his head back and drank the strong liquor in his glass, which contained pure spiritual energy, in one gulp.
As the wine entered his throat, it transformed into a warm current that spread throughout his body, subtly resonating with the newly formed three-colored golden elixir in his dantian, adding to the exhilarating sensation.
"Cheers!"
Xiao Mei cheered and, imitating Zhou Ding, drank the fruit wine in her cup in one gulp. She coughed twice from the sweet and spicy taste, her face flushed even more, but she laughed even more happily.
Xin Ruyin covered her mouth and chuckled softly, taking a graceful sip of her drink, but her gaze remained tenderly fixed on Zhou Ding.
Zhou Jin also picked up his wine cup, gave a slight nod in Zhou Ding's direction, his scarlet eyes flashed, and then he drank the spirit wine in his cup, which had been slightly treated with bloodthirsty energy.
For a time, glasses clinked and laughter filled the air.
The tension and oppressive atmosphere that had lingered in the cave for several days was completely dispelled by this strong sense of joy and warmth.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Many of the spiritual fruits on the table had been consumed, and the jars of spiritual wine were gradually empty.
Xiaomei was already slightly tipsy; her originally fair face was now as red as a ripe apple, and her eyes were somewhat glazed.
Holding the purple electric ferret that had somehow slipped into her arms, she haphazardly stroked its smooth purple fur while rambling on about "envisioning the future": "Miss, young master... wait for me... wait until I reach the late Foundation Establishment stage, then I'll... I'll draw tons and tons of powerful intermediate-level talismans... no, advanced-level talismans! I'll cover our cave dwelling... inside and out! Let's see who dares to cause trouble... hehe..."
The ferret, its face slick with the smell of alcohol, and its fur disheveled by her restless hands, rolled its eyes in exasperation and grunted in dissatisfaction. It didn't struggle, letting the little drunk hug it, only lightly brushing its tail against her arm in protest.
Xin Ruyin's cheeks were also flushed, and she looked less aloof and more beautiful than usual.
She sat quietly beside Zhou Ding, her soft hand gently held in his broad, warm palm. She felt the reassuring warmth and strength emanating from his palm, and her heart was filled with an unprecedented peace and joy.
She tilted her head slightly, leaning on Zhou Ding's shoulder, listening to his strong heartbeat, and looking at Xiao Mei's charmingly drunk appearance, feeling that nothing could be more peaceful and serene than this.
That night, the moonlight was as clear as water, casting a hazy glow through the special crystal at the top of the cave.
Inside the master bedroom of the cave dwelling, red candles burned brightly, their wax dripping slowly and forming beautiful shapes on the candlesticks. A cloud-shaped canopy made of silk was gently lowered, concealing the boundless spring scenery within, allowing only a warm glow and alluring shadows to peek out.
Zhou Ding and Xin Ruyin sat facing each other, yet were closely intertwined.
The Yin-Yang Creation Technique, a top-tier dual cultivation method, achieves unprecedented harmony and profound effects when practiced when the two are of one mind and deeply in love.
Xin Ruyin possesses the Dragon Roar Body, which was originally an incurable disease that had plagued her for many years. However, under Zhou Ding's guidance and nourishment, which combined the Yin-Yang Creation Technique with his own pure magic power and abundant vitality, it became a great help on her cultivation path.
At this moment, in this perfect fusion of spirit and flesh during dual cultivation, the wonders of the Dragon Roar Body are fully revealed.
Zhou Ding could clearly feel a strange aura, extremely yin and pure, yet full of vitality, as if it could draw upon the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, flowing continuously from Xin Ruyin's body and merging with his own magical power.
The interaction of Yin and Yang, and the mutual support of the dragon and tiger, not only allowed the two people's magical power to be continuously refined and strengthened in the cycle, but also produced an indescribable nourishing and harmonizing effect on Zhou Ding's newly formed and still-stabilizing three-colored golden elixir.
The crimson, gold, and cyan glow on the surface of the Golden Elixir flowed more smoothly and naturally under the guidance of the Qi from dual cultivation, revealing subtle Daoist charm.
Xin Ruyin initially retained some of the shyness of a young woman, but under Zhou Ding's gentle guidance and unquestionable domineering demands, she quickly became lost in the ultimate pleasure and cultivation experience of the unity of body and soul and the harmony of Daoist principles.
She let out a soft moan, her beautiful eyes like water, her consciousness seemingly floating to the clouds, or sinking into a warm, deep sea. Only her vital energy and intentions, closely connected with Zhou Ding, remained perfectly clear, as they wandered together along the mysterious path of Yin and Yang.
Zhou Ding, on the other hand, experienced the infinite wonders of dual cultivation with the Dragon Roar Body.
It is not just about the pleasure of magic and the physical body, but also about the subtle benefits that are hard to explain but real, such as the clarity of one's mind, the sensitivity to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and the understanding of the Daoist essence of the Golden Elixir.
It seems that Xin Ruyin's Dragon Roar Body is itself a mysterious Dao artifact that connects heaven and earth and harmonizes yin and yang. In his deep fusion with her, his understanding of "Dao" is also being subtly deepened.
When the red candle burns out, a new one is placed in its place.
As dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick layers of rock and the barriers, casting their first gentle glow into the cave, the blush-inducing panting and moans from inside the bedroom gradually subsided.
Inside the cloud-like tent, only the long, contented breaths of the two remained, along with the lingering, intoxicating ethereal charm and tenderness.
……
Three days later.
Zhou Ding's figure quietly left the Lingmu Peak cave.
He piloted an ordinary, unremarkable cyan flying boat, concealing all his aura, and flew westwards from Spiritwood Peak like an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.
His goal for this trip was clear.
It was three days ago that the location emitting the unique, noble and mysterious "purple" treasure light was detected by the heaven-defying divine power "Heavenly Hearing Technique" that Xiao Jin obtained after advancing in rank!
The flying boat moved at a moderate speed, avoiding areas with many cultivators and instead traversing remote mountain ridges.
A moment later, after traversing a distance of about fifty miles, Zhou Ding slowly landed the flying boat in front of a seemingly inconspicuous mountain peak.
This area is located on the outer edge of the Qingyun Mountains, where spiritual energy is scarce and the rocks are... The vegetation is sparse, with only some drought-resistant shrubs and weeds scattered around.
The mountain peaks are not high, and the slopes are gentle. They connect with several other equally desolate hills, forming a barren hilly area.
A sweep of divine sense revealed no fluctuations of spiritual energy on the mountain, no trace of any man-made caves, and even a rare sight of low-level demonic beasts.
Clearly, no cultivator would be interested in such a "spiritually barren place" and settle down to cultivate here.
"This is it." Zhou Ding stood at the foot of the mountain, looking at the desolate peak in front of him, his eyebrows slightly raised, his curiosity and vigilance growing stronger.
The Heavenly Hearing Technique's perception is never wrong; that precious purple light was indeed emanating from the depths of this seemingly barren mountain, from the very bottom of the earth!
Moreover, its position is very stable and it is not a moving object.
What exactly is it that can be hidden in such a desolate place, buried deep underground, yet emits a purple light far surpassing that of spiritual objects thousands of years old?
Is it a naturally formed, unparalleled treasure, or a priceless artifact left behind by ancient cultivators?
Or is it a seal or trap from some powerful being?
Out of caution, Zhou Ding did not rashly use his magic to blast open the mountain.
He first flew around the desolate mountain, repeatedly scanning it with his powerful divine sense and the Heavenly Hearing Technique to confirm that there were no other cultivators within a radius of several miles, nor any existing, man-made array restrictions or fluctuations.
The entire mountain, including its deepest underground parts, showed no other unusual energy reactions except for that purple light.
"It seems that no one deliberately hid the treasure here. It's more like it was naturally created by nature, or... it's so ancient that even the person who set it up has been lost to the river of time?" Zhou Ding speculated in his heart.
Without further hesitation, he had a thought, and a flash of light appeared on his shoulder, revealing Xiao Jin's shrunken, foot-long figure.
Zhou Ding manipulated Xiao Jin with his mind to perform the Earth Escape Technique, while simultaneously transmitting back the specific depth and location of the purple treasure light perceived by his Heavenly Hearing Technique.
A hazy, earthy-yellow halo emanated from Xiao Jin, enveloping Zhou Ding as well.
The next moment, the figures of the man and the rat seemed to merge into the earth, silently sinking into the hard rock without leaving any trace.
When the earth-burrowing technique is used, the surrounding soil and rocks automatically part as if flowing water.
Protected by Xiao Jin's earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magical energy), Zhou Ding descended rapidly into the depths of the earth like a fish entering water.
As far as the eye could see, there was only darkness and heavy, oppressive rock formations. Only through the perception of the Heavenly Hearing Technique could one sense that the purple light was like a lighthouse in the dark night, guiding the way.
Ten zhang... one hundred zhang... five hundred zhang... one thousand zhang...
The depth of the dive was far beyond what was expected!
It went deep underground, more than three thousand feet!
The pressure here is astonishing. If it weren't for Xiao Jin's extraordinary talent and the amazing earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows one to escape from the ground), coupled with Zhou Ding's own powerful physique at the Core Formation stage, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would probably have been crushed into mincemeat by now.
The surrounding soil was long gone, replaced by incredibly dense ancient rock layers containing trace amounts of metal, and the temperature had risen considerably.
Finally, after descending to a depth of about 3,500 feet underground, the rock strata in front of them suddenly disappeared!
Xiao Jin led Zhou Ding through the last layer of rock and into a naturally formed, narrow underground cavity that was only a few feet in diameter.
The cavern was pitch black, the air heavy and filled with the smell of decay and minerals that had never seen the light of day.
However, in this absolute darkness, the presence of that purple light was extremely strong!
Zhou Ding's eyes flashed like lightning, instantly locking onto the source of the precious light.
In the very center of this void, the ground is not rock, but a strange, translucent, yet incredibly hard crystalline substance, like glass.
Right in the very center of this crystalline ground, something lies quietly.
The object was entirely golden in color, pure and understated, yet seemingly containing the intense essence of the sun's true fire!
It is about three inches long and about the thickness of a thumb. Its shape is irregular, with one end slightly rounded and the other end naturally tapering. Overall, it looks somewhat like a "finger" that has been carefully polished but retains its natural texture.
Or rather, it's more like a "branch" or "root" of some kind of peculiar tree.
It lay there quietly, emitting no light, but in the vision of the Heavenly Hearing Technique, the noble and mysterious purple light emanated from its core!
To the naked eye, it appears plain and unadorned, but with divine sense, one can perceive within it an indescribable, overwhelming, and terrifying vitality that even Zhou Ding felt a slight tremor in his heart, as well as a unique quality that is indestructible and eternally immortal.
Zhou Ding did not step forward immediately.
He first used his divine sense to transform into the finest thread, carefully approaching and touching the golden object, repeatedly probing it.
He then used his Heavenly Hearing Technique to carefully observe his surroundings, especially the strange crystalline ground below.
It has been confirmed that there are no hidden restrictions.
This golden object seems to be the only natural existence in this hollow deep underground.
"It seems I was overthinking it. It wasn't a man-made arrangement, but more like... a wondrous object of nature buried deep here due to tectonic movement?" Zhou Ding felt slightly relieved, but his vigilance remained.
He stepped forward, but instead of taking it directly with his hands, he took out a pair of "Heavenly Silkworm Gloves," as thin as cicada wings and specially designed to collect unknown and strange objects, from his storage bag and put them on. Then he bent down and carefully picked up the three-inch-long golden object.
My first impression upon handling it was that it was "heavy"!
An unimaginable burden!
This three-inch-long object weighs as much as a piece of refined gold of the same volume!
If Zhou Ding hadn't possessed immense strength, he would have almost lost his grip.
My second impression was that it was "hard"!
With a slight exertion of his fingertips, even with the power he now possessed enough to crush top-tier magical artifacts, he couldn't leave even the slightest trace on the surface of this golden object!
Its hardness far surpasses that of most of the materials Zhou Ding had ever seen for refining artifacts.
Furthermore, despite its weight and hardness like divine iron, Zhou Ding could clearly sense a vast, ancient, yet incredibly pure vitality slowly flowing and slumbering within this golden object, as if it were not an inanimate object, but a sleeping ancient life!
At the same time, it was also spontaneously absorbing the extremely thin, almost negligible, spiritual energy from the surrounding earth veins and the trace amounts of energy seeping down from the rock layers above at an extremely slow but continuous rate!
"What...is this?" Zhou Ding was shocked.
The texture of metal, the grain of wood, the vitality of living things... all these contradictory qualities are perfectly integrated into this small object.
He didn't linger any longer, carefully placing the golden object into a jade box that had been prepared beforehand, lined with soft jade and covered with sealing talismans, and then carefully sealed it.
Then, he manipulated Xiao Jin to use the Earth Escape Technique again, taking Zhou Ding with him, and silently left the deep underground cavern along the way they came, passing through thousands of feet of rock layers, and returned to the ground outside the barren mountain.
The entire process was silent and without disturbing anyone or damaging any terrain, as if no one had ever been there.
……
Back at his cave dwelling on Lingmu Peak, Zhou Ding went straight into the innermost, private meditation room where all restrictions were lifted.
He took out the jade box again, peeled off the layers of sealing talismans, and placed the three-inch-long golden object on a clean white jade plate in front of him. Under the illumination of several luminous pearls, he carefully examined and studied it.
"As hard as divine iron, as heavy as refined gold, yet it contains boundless vitality, with natural wood grain on its surface... and it is spontaneously absorbing spiritual energy..." Zhou Ding gathered a wisp of pure wood-attribute magic power at his fingertips and gently touched the golden object.
The magical power was absorbed instantly, like a mud ox entering the sea. The wood grain on the surface of the golden object seemed to light up slightly before returning to normal. The speed at which it absorbed spiritual energy seemed to have increased by that negligible amount.
"It really can absorb spiritual energy!"
A glint flashed in Zhou Ding's eyes, and a bold conjecture surfaced in his mind: "The reason that barren mountain is devoid of spiritual energy and extremely barren... could it be that this thing, over the long years, has gradually drained away the spiritual veins underground and even the wandering spiritual energy?"
If that's true, the origin and efficacy of this item must be extremely astonishing!
It needs a spiritual vein as nourishment, something that has been nurtured over countless years...
"It seems to be in a state of... 'dormant' or 'extreme scarcity'? Its instinct to absorb spiritual energy remains, but at an extremely slow pace. Is it because the 'nutrients' here are insufficient?"
Zhou Ding stroked his chin, his mind racing: "Perhaps, only after it absorbs enough high-quality spiritual energy or some kind of special energy can it truly be 'activated' and reveal its mysteries and power?"
With that in mind, Zhou Ding no longer hesitated.
He carefully took out a large amount of soil from his storage bag.
This is not ordinary soil, but a kind of spiritual soil with a dark golden color, crystal clear particles, and a faint earthy spiritual charm and the fragrance of grass and trees.
This is the very spiritual soil he collected from the blood-red forbidden land of Yue back then.
This soil contains the vitality of creation, making it an excellent material for cultivating spiritual plants.
Zhou Ding carefully planted the golden object vertically in the center of the spiritual soil, burying about two-thirds of its length in the soil, leaving only a small section of the top exposed.
"Since you are neither wood nor metal, and can absorb spiritual energy and grow in the soil... I will cultivate you as a special 'spiritual wood' to see how it goes," Zhou Ding muttered to himself.
This is not enough.
He thought for a moment, then took out a small cloth bag from his storage bag, inside which were dozens of crystal-clear, spiritually aura-filled mid-grade spirit stones.
Without hesitation, he buried these mid-grade spirit stones evenly in the spirit soil around the golden object, just like applying base fertilizer, ensuring they were in close contact with the spirit soil.
"These mid-grade spirit stones contain pure and abundant spiritual energy, so consider them your 'nourishment'." After Zhou Ding finished doing all this, he gently placed the jade basin in the corner of the quiet room where the spiritual energy was most abundant, where a small spirit-gathering array eye was set up.
He took two steps back, his eyes fixed intently on the "strange spirit wood" with a tiny golden tip peeking out from the jade basin, his heart filled with anticipation.
"Absorb it, grow it... Let me see what kind of creature you are, a rare treasure of heaven and earth that can emit a 'purple' light and needs to feed on spiritual veins."
He had a strong intuition that this seemingly unremarkable piece of golden "spirit wood" was probably extraordinary in origin and potential.