Although both Star Palace elders were at the mid-Nascent Soul stage in terms of cultivation, Lu Xuan could defeat Ling Xiaofeng one-on-one, something they couldn't do. Therefore, they addressed each other as seniors. That's how the cultivation world works; the strong rule.
A short while later, Lu Xuan appeared in a stone chamber. The chamber was about thirty or forty feet in size, with an ordinary stone door on each side. In the center of the chamber was a pool of water, shrouded in a milky white mist. Simply standing in front of it gave one a feeling of tranquility and peace. Clearly, the pool was formed from a spiritual spring.
To be precise, there is a spiritual spring within this stone chamber. The pool is filled with this spiritual spring water. However, such a spiritual spring is very difficult to take away; once it leaves the spring, its spiritual energy quickly dissipates. Otherwise, those ancient cultivators wouldn't have bothered to move the entire spring here.
Lu Xuan searched around and found a white jade dragon head relief on a stone wall a few feet further back. Three or four feet below the dragon head was a green, shimmering groove. An idea struck him, and he walked over.
In the emerald green groove, there was a small pool of milky white, slightly viscous liquid.
"Ten-Thousand-Year Spiritual Milk!" Lu Xuan murmured. This was precisely the essential item for Han Laomo's mid-stage power-up: Ten-Thousand-Year Spiritual Milk. Just a single drop could restore seventy to eighty percent of a Nascent Soul cultivator's mana. In actual combat, a few drops of this would be equivalent to increasing sustained combat power several times over. Even for Lu Xuan, this was extremely precious.
Although he considered himself powerful, with magical energy far surpassing others of his level, he was ultimately only at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and this stuff was still useful to him. So, without any hesitation, he collected all the ten-thousand-year-old spiritual milk.
After looking around, he found nothing else. So he headed towards the northern exit. This stone chamber was essentially there to protect the spiritual spring and to collect the millennia-old spiritual milk. But the spring's existence could have other possible meanings as well.
There was a powerful protective barrier on the door. However, it was easily burned away by Lu Xuan's True Sun Fire. Afterwards, he entered the stone chamber.
Sure enough, in the center of the stone chamber grew a small tree that appeared withered and dilapidated, yet actually radiated astonishing spirituality and vitality. This was the Soul-Nourishing Wood, one of the three most wondrous trees. It was said that no refining was required; one only needed to wear a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood.
Not only can it help defend against various spiritual attacks or illusionary supernatural powers, but over time it can also gradually nourish the soul and enhance spiritual awareness.
Beneath the Divine Soul Tree, a clear spring was constantly watering it. It was the same spiritual spring next door. It was thanks to this spring's continuous nourishment that the Divine Soul Tree had grown to a height of three feet. This was an enormous feat for such a precious spiritual object.
Lu Xuan naturally wouldn't let such a good thing go to waste, so he uprooted the Soul-Nourishing Wood and took it all away.
Afterwards, he went to three other stone chambers. Somewhat regrettably, the restrictions on two of them had already been broken, and the treasures inside had been taken. However, the restriction on the western chamber remained intact, and after Lu Xuan broke it, he was pleasantly surprised.
Inside was a tea tree. Spiritual tea was quite popular in the cultivation world. However, most spiritual teas were merely embellishments for high-level cultivators. They generally couldn't compare to spiritual fruits and herbs. But this one was different.
According to the numerous miscellaneous academic records collected by Lu Xuan, this is a Marrow Cleansing Tea Tree. As the name suggests, long-term consumption of this spiritual tea can cleanse the marrow and refine the body, gradually improving one's cultivation aptitude. The tea tree before him has been watered by spiritual springs for countless years, its effects naturally even more astonishing.
Such efficacy is naturally extremely precious. However, very few people in the mortal realm are qualified to enjoy this privilege. Firstly, these spiritual tea trees are exceptionally rare, and are mostly secretly controlled by major sects. Secondly, the yield of this spiritual tea is extremely low; even when irrigated with spiritual spring water, a single mature spiritual tea tree can only supply two or three cultivators. Therefore, this thing is a priceless treasure.
Lu Xuan was overjoyed and, as usual, packed up the spirit tea tree and took it away with its roots.
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Chapter 512 The Real Han Paopao
The Void Cauldron was opened, and two beams of spiritual light quickly flew out. One of them transformed into a wolf-shaped artifact spirit in mid-air, attempting to escape.
But Lu Xuan, who was prepared, was not about to let it escape. An invisible magic circle had appeared around them at some point, trapping the two beams of light within it.
"You're lucky," Lu Xuan said meaningfully.
At this moment, Han Li also realized the problem. This senior was only focused on the wolf-shaped artifact spirit and paid no attention to the other beam of spiritual light beside it.
He thought for a moment, then reached out and grabbed the beam of light. Lu Xuan indeed didn't react. Looking down, he saw in his hand a projectile radiating powerful spiritual energy.
"Put it away, that's the Heaven-Mending Pill you're looking for."
Han Li looked up and saw Lu Xuan putting away a jade ruyi. He didn't know what was so special about the ruyi, but there was no doubt it was extremely valuable. However, Han Li didn't think much of it. He just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
After all, they were all old monsters in the Nascent Soul stage, which made him feel extremely unsafe.
At that moment, the 'senior' on the other side suddenly spoke up.
"Do you want this Void Heaven Cauldron?"
"What!" Old Demon Han suddenly looked up, staring at Lu Xuan with an incredulous expression.
"I didn't mean anything by it, I was just asking if you wanted this. This thing isn't from the human realm; it's considered a top-tier spiritual treasure. Do you want it?"
Han Li was greatly alarmed. He naturally wanted the Void Heaven Cauldron; after all, so many old monsters had fought tooth and nail for it. Its value was unimaginable. However, he also knew that obtaining such a thing would inevitably come at a price.
"This junior does not understand what senior means. But I am afraid that the Void Heaven Cauldron is a treasure that I am not capable of possessing."
"Heh, the cultivation world is all about defying the heavens. Without an incredible stroke of luck, how could any cultivator reach the end? You really think those old monsters all climbed up through arduous cultivation? You're wrong. Every cultivator who can advance to the Nascent Soul stage must have their own great opportunity. This thing is your opportunity. So, do you want it or not?"
"...Of course I would like to. But I would like to know what you would like to know, senior?"
"Asking about the price first, your mindset is truly commendable. Then I'll begin. Purple Lingzhi, Yin Marrow Fruit, Heavenly Star Grass, Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng..." Lu Xuan rattled off more than a dozen rare medicinal herbs. Han Li, sitting opposite him, looked utterly exasperated. He didn't even possess many of these things, let alone have them. Aside from the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng, he'd never even heard of many of the others.
However, that wasn't all. After saying the name, Lu Xuan continued...
"I want all of these spiritual herbs that are over ten thousand years old. I need at least three of each kind. If you agree to this condition, the Void Heaven Cauldron is yours."
"Senior is too kind. Where would I get so many spiritual herbs? Besides, spiritual herbs that are over ten thousand years old are probably already legendary in the mortal world. This is a request that I absolutely cannot fulfill."
"I'm not asking you to do it now. I'll ask you for these things after you advance to the late Nascent Soul stage. You can give them to me then."
Han Li was in a state of confusion, almost at a loss for how to handle this situation. The other party's request was truly bizarre. Using the Void Heaven Cauldron in exchange for his help when he reached the late Nascent Soul stage? What kind of trade is that?
Let alone whether one can cultivate to the late Nascent Soul stage. Even if one could, who could guarantee obtaining so many spiritual herbs that are over ten thousand years old?
Of course, Han Li was somewhat confident. But it concerned his greatest secret, one he would never reveal under any circumstances.
"this......"
"I know you have doubts about why I sought you out. To be honest, I used the Plum Blossom Divination to predict the whereabouts of these herbs. After paying a great price, the divination indicated that this opportunity would fall upon you. This suggests that you naturally possess some great secret. But rest assured, I am not a member of the demonic path. I have no interest in your secrets. As long as I can get what I want, I don't care how you did it. Otherwise, I would have already searched your soul and refined your spirit."
As Lu Xuan spoke, he released the pressure of his Nascent Soul level cultivation. The immense spiritual pressure made it almost impossible for Old Demon Han to stand. However, this also relieved Han Li, at least the other party didn't intend to kill him.
"I dare not say that I can definitely do it, but I am willing to do my best."
"Very good." Seeing that Old Demon Han had agreed, Lu Xuan casually tossed out a small bottle of Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Milk.