"Of course, Master has been to Qianhu Cave Heaven, and more than once. I discovered this Heavenly Rain Grass during my second visit. Heavenly Rain Grass grows one inch every hundred years, and matures at seven inches. When Master went there, the Heavenly Rain Grass wasn't yet mature, so I didn't pick it. By the time Master entered fourteen years ago, the Heavenly Rain Grass had barely grown to six inches."
Shi Feng said, "Since it only grows one inch every hundred years, and it's only been fourteen years, the immortal grass shouldn't be mature yet?" Liu Yunzi shook his head and said, "That's not the case. The spiritual energy in this cave is much stronger than the outside world, and the immortal grass grows much faster. When I first saw the Heavenly Rain Grass, it was only four inches long, and it grew two inches in a hundred years." He sighed and said, "I was planning to pick this Heavenly Rain Grass next time, so I didn't participate in the sect competition this time. Otherwise, I would have accompanied you."
Shi Feng pondered. His master had originally planned to participate in the sect competition, but had given up at the last minute, apparently for the Sky Rain Grass. However, according to the competition's rules, Foundation Establishment cultivators must be in the top three to lead the group into the trial grounds. His master had casually said, "Otherwise, you can accompany me." This meant that as long as he participated in the sect competition, he would surely be in the top three among the Foundation Establishment cultivators. His master was usually a low-key individual, not particularly well-known among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet he had unexpectedly achieved such remarkable accomplishments. He wanted the Sky Rain Grass, not to improve his physique, but to overcome a bottleneck.
Heartbroken, he prostrated himself and said, "Master would rather give up the spiritual herbs that can help me reach the Golden Core stage and give this opportunity to me. Even if I were to break into pieces, I would never be able to repay you for your kindness."
Liu Yunzi smiled and said, "Master has plenty of opportunities to reach the Golden Core stage, but you, wait..." He suddenly asked curiously, "How did you know that Master was going to reach the Golden Core stage? I haven't told anyone about this."
Shi Feng was stunned for a moment, then recounted his previous deductions. Liu Yunzi sighed, "You're clever but subtle. It seems you have the highest level of comprehension among my disciples. I hope you get what you want this time." He then detailed the exact location of the Tianyu Grass and some precautions.
Finally, he took out two black, walnut-sized iron bullets from his storage bag and said cautiously, "Shi Feng, you have no mana, so even if I give you the magic tools and talismans, you can't use them. These two lightning bullets are what I accidentally found in the past. They contain extremely powerful lightning power. I later sealed some of my mana inside. You only need to crush the shell and throw it out to activate it. Its power is enough to withstand the full force of a cultivator in the middle stage of foundation building. I give them to you for self-defense."
Shi Feng took it with great joy, thanked his master, and then went out.
As soon as Shi Feng walked out of the house, he heard the roar of the white fox in his mind, "You bastard, are you tired of living?"
"This is a rare opportunity, Master Hu. I have to give it a try anyway."
"What the hell are you trying? You don't even have a single bit of mana. You're trying to snatch something from a group of foundation-building cultivators with a crappy bow and arrow. Aren't you courting death?"
"The location of the Rain of Heaven Grass is very remote. Master has been there several times, but no one has discovered it. I don't think anyone will find it this time, so I don't necessarily have to fight them head-on. Although my archery skills may not be considered by Foundation Establishment cultivators, ordinary Qi Refining disciples may not be my match. Besides, I have a master like you to help me."
"When did Master Hu say he would help you?"
"Master Hu, if I can grow spiritual roots, there will be a slight chance that I can bring you back to the Sky Fox Clan. Disciple Shi Feng swears that I will do my utmost to help Master Hu rebuild his physical body for the rest of my life, otherwise I will not die a peaceful death."
“………………”
"Master Hu, Master Hu, please help this disciple."
"I think you're going to have a bad time on this trip. Mr. Hu, you should prepare for the move."
“…………”
Shi Feng returned to the Sword Forging Valley and immediately began to make preparations. At this time, it was less than two months before the trial ground opened. Other disciples had already started preparing, but he had only hastily decided to participate because he had too many things to do.
The first thing is the map. According to the regulations, all disciples who sign up for the trial can receive a map of Qianhu Cave Heaven in advance so that they can familiarize themselves with the terrain in advance.
Of course, this map is just a rough outline. After all, the Thousand Lakes Cave Heaven is so vast that it is impossible to fully explore it. The map is also based on what the disciples of previous trials reported what they saw and heard, and the sect drew it based on what everyone said.
This map is obviously very crude, because many disciples, for various reasons, could not report it completely truthfully. For example, Liu Yunzi concealed the matter of Tianyu Grass.
Liu Yunzi had already told Shi Feng the exact location of the Heavenly Rain Grass and copied all the routes and directions he had learned from his five trips in and out of the Thousand Lakes Cave Heaven. Shi Feng carefully compared the sect map with Liu Yunzi's description and further refined the map.
In addition, he still felt that it was not appropriate enough, so he either went in person or asked friends to consult some senior brothers who had been in and out of Qianhu Cave Heaven to learn about the many stories of Qianhu Cave Heaven.
The second thing was to look up the relevant information in the Sutra Library and record the magical powers, living habits, etc. of various monsters that had appeared in the Thousand Lakes Cave.
The third thing was to prepare the items to carry with him. Shi Feng had already made more than a hundred arrows, which were enough for hunting monsters on a daily basis. However, thinking of the dangers of the trial ground, Shi Feng felt that it was far from enough, so he reopened the furnace and continued to make arrows without stopping.
He took out all his crystals, first exchanging them for a dozen mid-grade wind crystals, essential for the Cloud Piercing Bow. He usually used lower-grade crystals to hunt monsters, so this time he naturally wanted the best. He used the remaining crystals to purchase elixirs and a large number of low-level talismans. Although he lacked a dantian, his muscles and bones still contained spiritual energy.
But precisely because there is no Dantian Qi Sea, the spiritual power consumed by the muscles is more difficult to recover and replenish, so a large number of elixirs are indispensable. Shi Feng even prepared a few extra bottles of fasting pills.
As for the talismans, Shi Feng had no mana and could not activate those offensive talismans, so he could only purchase auxiliary talismans such as the invisibility talisman, the shrinking talisman, the light body talisman, and the levitation talisman.
Later on, Shi Feng simply sold most of the refining materials that he had painstakingly collected from the tiger-head buckle. After all, he could still collect them if he came back alive. If he died in there, these materials would be of no use.
The white fox was amazed to see him risking his life like this.
On the day before departure, Shi Feng entrusted the young eagle to Xiao Pang's care, saying that if he didn't return, he would release it back to the forest when it grew up, and that he would leave all the things in the house to him. Seeing that he was making arrangements for his final wishes, Xiao Pang couldn't help but shed a few tears.
On the seventh day of July, at the hour of noon, one hundred and sixty Qi-refining disciples stood in a row in the square of Chaoxiantai. Originally, there were more than two hundred disciples who entered the first two rounds, but entering the trial ground was voluntary. Some disciples were trying to break through bottlenecks, while some disciples felt that they were not strong enough and were unwilling to take risks. Therefore, in the end, only these one hundred and sixty disciples signed up, which was similar to the situation in previous years.
In the row in front of the Qi-refining disciples stood three Foundation Establishment cultivators, who were the top three in the sect competition: Wei Yunfei from Yantai Ridge, Qin Bing from Huiyan Peak, and Lieyangzi from Fentian Peak. In front of them were the seven Golden Core cultivators from the Elder Council.
Led by the head of Taiji Sect, Xuanyi Zhenren, they first bowed to the ancestors of all generations. Xuanyi Zhenren turned around and glanced at them, saying, "You are all the elite of my Taiji Sect. This trip is of great importance. Some of you are veteran disciples who have participated in trials, but many of you are participating in trials for the first time. You have probably heard about the dangers of trials. I must narrate one more thing. Hundreds of years ago, my five righteous sects joined forces to open the sealed trials. The purpose was not only to gather the natural treasures in the cave, but more importantly, to hone our disciples. The path of cultivation is arduous, step by step. If you blindly practice in seclusion, without any knowledge of actual combat, you will hardly become a great person. Therefore, although the rules of the trial ground have not been explicitly stated over the years, it has tacitly allowed disciples from all sects to fight inside, regardless of life or death."
The disciples listened in solemn silence. Immortal Xuanyi said, "Nine out of ten of our Taiji Sect's Jindan and Foundation Establishment cultivators have participated in trials before. Perhaps they've found rare treasures in the caves, or perhaps experienced a sudden realization in a critical moment of actual combat, breaking through a bottleneck. This is opportunity."
Seeing everyone's excitement, Master Xuanyi continued, "However, many disciples have perished in the cave heavens because of this, many of whom were talented disciples that the sect had high hopes for. Alas, this is fate. Since you have decided to participate, then you should take care of yourself. I will not repeat the various rules of the trial one by one, as I believe you are all familiar with them. I will trouble you, Junior Brother Xuanming, to guide you through this trial."
A Taoist priest with a black beard stood up on the far right of the Elders' Council. He looked at all the disciples and waved his hand, saying, "Let's go!" He raised his hand and took out a gourd. The gourd grew bigger in the wind. After a while, it was the size of an acre of land, like a huge black boat.
Taoist Xuanming took the lead and stepped forward, beckoning all the disciples to follow. Once everyone was on board, Taoist Xuanming chanted a spell, and the gourd slowly flew into the clouds, heading southwest.
After flying for about an hour, they had already left the Shigu Mountains. It was Shi Feng's first time looking down from such a high altitude. He saw the mountains clustering and continuously flying behind him. A plain appeared before him. In the sky, the city looked like a bowl and the river looked like a belt. Xuanming Zhenren had obviously placed a restriction on the gourd magic weapon. Although they were flying at high altitude, everyone felt as if they were staying at home, and not even a hair was blown away.
After flying for an hour and a half, the plain ended and a mountain range appeared in front of us, but this mountain range was gray and yellow in color and very desolate, not as lush and green as Shigu Mountain.
When the gourd flew here, its speed slowed down, it crossed a mountain and entered a valley on the left.
A resounding voice was heard from afar, "Seven Treasure Gourd? Brother Xuanming is leading the team again this year." Shi Feng and the others were startled by the sound, their eardrums buzzing. Taoist Xuanming snorted, "Brother Lei, you don't have to speak so loudly. I'm not deaf."
Shi Feng and the others could already see clearly that a number of people were standing on the flat ground in the valley below. These people were clearly divided into two groups. The leader of the group on the left was the man named Lei who had just spoken. He had sharp cheekbones and exuded the pressure of a Jindan-stage expert. Behind him were over a hundred disciples, almost all of them male disciples, all of whom were very tall.
The other group was led by a Taoist nun in her thirties. She was beautiful, but her expression was cold and distant, making her seem unapproachable. Her disciples were few in number, but they were handsome men and pretty women, making them a real treat.