Kapitel 111: Chapter 111: The Unexpected Victor of the Alchemist King's Cave - Xiao Fan
Chapter 111: The Unexpected Victor of the Alchemist King's Cave - Xiao Fan
Flying Frost Sect, Sect Master's Courtyard.
Pang Longxiang and Pang Ziyu embraced each other, weeping bitterly.
"Ziyu, you're finally back. They didn't torture you, did they? Where are you hurt?" Pang Longxiang asked with concern.
Pang Ziyu shook her head. "No, they didn't torture me, nor did they interrogate me. They just threw me into a prison cell."
Pang Longxiang breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good."
"Father, I also want to enter the Alchemist King's Cave," Pang Ziyu's eyes sparkled. "I know you must have already made a plan!"
Pang Longxiang looked at his daughter and smiled with satisfaction. "You guessed right. Father indeed has a flawless plan."
"Not only Shen Mo, but I'll also bury the Qingxuan Sect and the Stormy Rain Sect in there as well!"
"Once we emerge from the Alchemist King's Cave, the entire southern region of Xuanjiang Prefecture will belong solely to our Flying Frost Sect!"
Pang Ziyu's eyes lit up with surprise, a trace of hatred flashing within them. "Father! You must promise me that I'll personally kill Shen Mo!"
"The three cultivators I took with me all died at Shen Mo's hands. I… I can't accept it."
Pang Longxiang nodded. "Rest assured, I'll break Shen Mo's limbs and throw him in front of you. You can torture him however you wish."
Only then did Pang Ziyu nod. "Good! I'll wait for that day!"
...
Heavy Weapon Hall.
Song Chaofeng and his men stationed themselves in the Thorn Forest, while Shen Mo and the others returned to Heavy Weapon Hall.
Shen Mo sat down in his courtyard, his gaze deep and contemplative.
After the Qingxuan Sect obtained the opportunity to explore the Alchemist King's Cave, the life paths of everyone involved in this matter had undergone significant changes!
Including Shen Mo himself.
[Destiny: Stopped at the early stage of Core Formation. Drained of all vital energy by Gu Sanqiu and died.]
[Recent Opportunity: In half a month, open the sixth stone chamber in the human section of the Alchemist King's Cave and obtain two bottles of Yuan-Boosting Pills.]
[Recent Turning Point: Due to tampering with the jade token used to break formations, pursued by Pang Longxiang, overpowered, right leg severed and captured.]
As for Murong Yue, Song Chaofeng, Elder Li, and others, their destinies were no exception—they all perished at the hands of Gu Sanqiu.
However, the manner of death varied greatly.
[...Poisoned to death by Gu Sanqiu.]
[...Vital energy drained by Gu Sanqiu, reduced to a dried corpse.]
[...Trapped in a killing formation by Gu Sanqiu, died of exhaustion.]
"I originally thought that entering the Alchemist King's Cave, the greatest danger would be the Flying Frost Sect, but I didn't expect it to be a cultivator who was supposedly already dead."
Shen Mo sat on a stone bench, deep in thought.
Gu Sanqiu, a peak Core Formation cultivator, was widely known as the "Alchemist King."
He had once refined the Taiyi Soul-Nourishing Pill, a rare elixir that could enhance one's constitution.
Now, it seems, he hadn't died after all.
The first two Alchemist King's Caves that appeared were likely just decoys.
They were merely lures to attract more people to explore the third Alchemist King's Cave.
Now, the truth is revealed.
Gu Sanqiu gathered so many Core Formation cultivators to absorb their vital energy and resurrect himself?
Or perhaps he never died and only needed the vital energy of Core Formation cultivators to further his cultivation?
Regardless of the possibility, Gu Sanqiu is undoubtedly a formidable enemy.
"I need to learn more about Gu Sanqiu."
Shen Mo immediately stood up, intending to find Murong Yue to gather some information.
But just as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw Xiao Fan.
"Xiao Fan, hmm… hmm?"
Shen Mo casually glanced at Xiao Fan's life path panel and suddenly widened his eyes.
[Recent Opportunity 1: In half a month, stationed near the Alchemist King's Cave, unexpectedly discovering a hidden entrance to the Cave.]
[Recent Opportunity 2: After entering the Alchemist King's Cave, immediately falls into the Golden Sword Formation, but the formation's flags are damaged and fail to activate. Xiao Fan passes through the Golden Sword Formation and enters the third stone chamber in the heaven section, obtaining two sticks of Soul-Calming Incense and a fragment of the Grass-Character Sword Manual.]
[Recent Opportunity 3: Leaves the third stone chamber in the heaven section to continue exploring, encountering numerous dangers but emerging unscathed, eventually reaching the fourth stone chamber in the heaven section, and obtaining a damaged formation flag of the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formation.]
[Recent Opportunity 4:...]
[...]
[Recent Opportunity 7: Accidentally discovers Gu Sanqiu's existence, preemptively sets up the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formation nearby. Later, using Shen Mo's peril as an excuse, deceives Murong Yue into Gu Sanqiu's ambush. While the two fight, he ignites the Soul-Calming Incense, causing them to fall into a drowsy state, and finally activates the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formation to kill Gu Sanqiu, obtaining his storage ring.]
Shen Mo smacked his lips.
What a surprise.
So many Core Formation cultivators perished in the Alchemist King's Cave.
None of them obtained the final great opportunity.
Even Gu Sanqiu, the mastermind behind it all, failed to complete his plan.
And yet, Xiao Fan ended up reaping the rewards.
However, this is also a good thing. I can obtain crucial information from Xiao Fan.
"Soul-Calming Incense and the Five Ghosts Lifestealing Formation—these two items are the key to dealing with Gu Sanqiu."
"When I enter the Alchemist King's Cave, I must secure them as soon as possible."
"Moreover, Xiao Fan's opportunities are also valuable. I'll take advantage of them all!"
Shen Mo nodded in satisfaction, casting an approving glance at Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan was just about to go grab something to eat when he felt the sudden, inexplicable approval in Shen Mo's gaze. Instinctively, he shivered. But not daring to show any dissatisfaction, he quickly bowed to Shen Mo.
"Master Shen, is there something you need me to do?" Xiao Fan asked cautiously.
He had always worried that Shen Mo might seek revenge for past events. Although Shen Mo had never acted against him, the longer he didn't, the more Xiao Fan suspected he was plotting something bigger.
Shen Mo waved his hand with a smile. "Nothing in particular. I just think you're quite capable."
Xiao Fan was even more confused by this. But he didn't dare to ask further, so he awkwardly nodded. "Thank you… thank you, Master Shen, for the compliment."
Then, he quickly took a few hurried steps and disappeared from sight. He feared that Shen Mo might cast another strange look his way.
Shen Mo's expression grew even more satisfied.
…
Soon, half a month had passed.
Just as Pang Longxiang had said, the beam of light from the Alchemist King's Cave gradually dimmed over the past two weeks. It revealed a dark entrance.
Inside was a massive, over three-meter-tall stone gate. Its surface was engraved with intricate patterns.
The Alchemist King's Cave had truly opened.
During this time, news of the third Alchemist King's Cave spread. This drew many rogue cultivators to the Thorn Forest.
However, most of the top-tier sects in the northern region were too far from the forest. If they didn't send enough Core Formation cultivators, they wouldn't be able to secure a share of the spoils.
But if they sent too many, they risked leaving their own territories vulnerable to enemies. After weighing their options, the northern sects chose to forgo the opportunity.
As for the five sects of Xuanjiang, they remained inactive. They likely shared similar concerns—fearful that any movement on their part would leave them open to attack.
At the Thorn Forest, outside the Alchemist King's Cave, groups from all sides once again gathered.
A plan for exploring the cave had already been agreed upon. Given the dangers within, only Core Formation cultivators were permitted to enter. Each of the four sects could send up to ten people.
The rest would guard the cave's entrance, ostensibly to fend off demonic beasts. But everyone knew they were more likely guarding against rogue cultivators.
The rogue cultivators grumbled, though they had expected this. Being completely excluded by the four sects still left them frustrated, though they dared not show it openly.
No one cared what these rogue cultivators thought.
At this point, Shen Mo and the others were fully prepared. The other cultivators who planned to enter were also eager and ready.
"Mo'er, take this jade token to break formations and protect yourself well," Murong Yue whispered.
Shen Mo nodded, accepting the token. Initially, when he told Murong Yue of his desire to explore the Alchemist King's Cave, she refused.
But after much persuasion, she eventually agreed, on the condition that he carried the jade token.
"Although this token has been tampered with and can allow the Flying Frost Sect to track me, it's still useful at the beginning. I'll keep it for now," Shen Mo thought, nodding slightly.
He had made thorough preparations.
"Everyone, our Flying Frost Sect will go in first," Pang Longxiang announced loudly. With that, he was the first to enter the cave, followed closely by nine other members of the sect, including Pang Ziyu.
Next, the Qingxuan Sect, Stormy Rain Sect, and Spirit Beast Sect swiftly followed.
The exploration of the Alchemist King's Cave had begun!
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