Chapter Eighty-Five: Shadowless Wind-Piercing Technique

Liu Junhuai was both delighted and troubled: delighted at the prospect of acquiring this spiritual vein for himself, but troubled because he had no idea how to extract it. If he tried to take it away in sections, it would sever the vein’s vital energy. Spiritual veins are the concentrated essence of heaven and earth, and within their energy a sliver of sentience has already formed; to sever the vein’s vital force is akin to uprooting a plant, leaving nothing behind.

The “Compendium of Marvelous Phenomena” recorded that spiritual veins come in different grades, though Liu Junhuai had no way of knowing to which grade this one belonged. Judging by the scattered surface fragments of the vein upon the white jade belt—each already a mid-grade spirit stone—it was unlikely to be anything less than extraordinary.

He realized that it was impossible to extract the entire spiritual vein by himself. Perhaps it would be best to seek help inside the Mountain and River Gourd; with more people, there might be a way to store it in the Chaos Space.

Once the idea struck him, he acted without delay, and in a mere thought, his body had already returned to the Chaos Space.

Liu Junhuai hurried to Azure Cloud Lake, where Wu Yaohan, Bian Yanshan, Fang Keyin, and Liu Qingman were gathered. A’Jiu soon arrived as well.

Descending from his flying sword, Liu Junhuai quickly gathered everyone and briefly explained the situation with the spiritual vein. Everyone’s mouths hung agape, eyes fixed on Liu Junhuai as if he were a freshly roasted duck.

“Elders, can’t you at least offer some advice? Why are you all just staring at me? Two of you are Nascent Soul experts, one is at the Foundation Establishment stage, and even my grandmother is at the Golden Core stage. Don’t tell me none of you have ever seen a spiritual vein?” Liu Junhuai said, somewhat exasperated.

Fang Keyin, equally frustrated, replied, “You’re right, Junhuai—we really haven’t seen a spiritual vein in person. There are only a handful across the entire Star Sky Continent, and those are all first-grade veins. The one you found, I’d wager, is at least third-grade or higher. I’ve never even heard of one like this before.”

Liu Junhuai asked in surprise, “So where are those veins located? Even Grandfather hasn’t seen one?”

Fang Keyin replied, “All those first-grade veins are concentrated within the most powerful sects of the Star Sky Continent. It’s said that only the sect master and a few grand elders are allowed within ten miles of the vein; the rest of us, like you, have only heard rumors—no exceptions.”

Bian Yanshan added, “That’s right. In my youth, I traveled extensively across the continent. As far as I know, spiritual veins are legendary even within the cultivation world. Most accounts are mere hearsay. The one you’ve discovered is the first high-grade vein we’ve ever heard of.” Even as he spoke, several young people approached from the distant edge.

“Well, it looks like we’ll have to figure this out as we go. Since there’s no clear solution, why don’t we go examine it first, then discuss a plan? After all, the restrictions around it have already been broken. If we delay, some of its energy will start to dissipate,” said Liu Junhuai.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and together they proceeded to the subterranean lava cave. Upon seeing the spiritual vein with their own eyes, the elders were visibly moved—such an opportunity could not be sought out at will. Clearly, this boy’s fortune was extraordinary; those who followed him were always witness to miracles.

Once their excitement subsided, the only viable plan they could agree upon was to forcibly collect the vein into the Chaos Space.

According to their division of labor, after half an hour of frenzied activity, a network of trenches encircled the white jade belt like a giant python, leaving the spiritual vein lying exposed and solitary.

After reconfirming their plan, Liu Junhuai conjured a massive, sky-shrouding hand to grasp the jade serpent’s body, while everyone else deployed their own methods to grip or lift various sections. At Liu Junhuai’s command, several forces acted together, and with a rumbling that shook the earth, the white jade belt was slowly lifted from the soil.

Under Liu Junhuai’s direction, and with the Mountain and River Gourd’s powerful suction, the group worked in unison to send the spiritual vein into the Chaos Space.

At the edge of Azure Cloud Lake, the moment the spiritual vein was laid upon the earth, it emitted a roar reminiscent of a dragon’s cry. The dense spiritual energy hovering above the lake’s liquid aura seemed to excite the vein to no end. As soon as the two rich sources met, they swiftly merged; the nearly liquid spiritual energy above the lake grew even denser, almost dripping with potency.

The surrounding spiritual energy resembled countless fine, nearly invisible white threads, which threaded their way into everyone’s bodies. Each time one entered, a sensation of sweet dew and refreshing clarity surged through them, leaving their spirits invigorated—almost to the point of crying out with delight.

Almost everyone, upon feeling the white threads enter their bodies, immediately sat cross-legged to meditate and refine their cultivation. Liu Junhuai whispered a few instructions to Bian Yanzhong, then returned to the Tower of Divine Sense.

Back in the subterranean lava cave, the scene was chaotic from the extraction of the spiritual vein. Scattered around were many mid-grade spirit stones, which Liu Junhuai carefully gathered into his storage ring.

He returned to the cave where he’d first been teleported and, as expected, found seven star-shaped grooves in the wall. Placing high-grade spirit stones in each, a flash of white light transported him back to the dried well.

Leaping out of the well, Liu Junhuai retrieved the whip he’d left at the mouth and set out for home.

On the return journey, he encountered another patch of quicksand. Employing the same method as before, he obtained another Garan sandthorn. Realizing that his progress in the Tower of Divine Sense had reached a plateau, he decided to return to Myriad Phenomena Tower for now. This was Mo Sitong’s first time training in the trial space, and he couldn’t help but worry about her.

When Liu Junhuai returned to Myriad Phenomena Tower a day later, Mo Sitong had also returned to the alchemy chamber and was recounting her experience in the trial space to the old steward, who was delighted to see Liu Junhuai’s safe return.

Mo Sitong had entered the Beast Mountain, where she was immediately beset by a swarm of third-tier bloodthirsty ants. The fighting lasted an entire day and night; only after unleashing the Solar Radiance Flame did she finally break free from their endless siege.

Though the third-tier ants posed little threat to Mo Sitong, who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, their overwhelming numbers provided invaluable combat experience; a day and night of such battle was equivalent to months of arduous cultivation.

The Solar Radiance Flame proved to be truly formidable. Despite all her earlier efforts, the bloodthirsty ants had not retreated; but once the flame was unleashed, it raged through their ranks, consuming them utterly. No matter how many reinforcements arrived, none dared show themselves again.

When Liu Junhuai mentioned having discovered a spiritual vein, Mo Sitong took it in stride, but the old steward could not hide his astonishment. This young master’s luck was nothing less than miraculous.

Accepting the jade slip Liu Junhuai had brought from the cave, the old steward led the two of them to the library.

Comparing the tadpole-shaped ancient script on the stone drum with the writing on the jade slip, the old steward was able to translate it.

The ancient city ruins Liu Junhuai had visited were once the capital, Weizhou, of the small desert kingdom of Rao some six thousand years ago. Due to drought and relentless wind and sand, the city was on the verge of being swallowed by the desert. After suffering the onslaught of demonic beasts, it became the desolate ruin it was now.

The deceased was Rao’s king, poisoned in a plot by his subordinates. Before the demonic beast tide struck, he escaped into the dried well, where a teleportation array—set up by an ancestor before ascending to the immortal realm—remained hidden.

Though he narrowly escaped the beast tide, he could not survive the deadly poison. Knowing his end was near, he inscribed the jade slip in hopes of passing it to his descendants. Alas, after the beast tide, none of his kin survived, leaving the secret to be discovered by Liu Junhuai, who unwittingly triggered the mechanism.

The jade slip contained a stealth technique practiced by the family’s ancestors and a divine sense attack technique. The jade bottles contained supplementary pills for these arts.

Liu Junhuai paid little attention to the divine sense attack technique; possessing the Divine Sense Cutting Art, he had no need for a lesser skill, so he handed it to Mo Sitong.

The stealth technique, called the Shadowless Wind-Piercing Art, was suitable for them to practice together.

Liu Junhuai produced the pitch-black skeleton. After scrutinizing it, the old steward said, “This is the result of the Deadly Sorrow Herb, unique to Hanjiang. Anyone who ingests it dies within three days, and it is colorless, tasteless, and dissolves instantly—impossible to detect if mixed into food.”

Looking at the blackened bones, which still radiated a murderous aura, both Liu Junhuai and Mo Sitong shivered involuntarily.

Noticing a storage ring on a finger bone, Liu Junhuai knelt, released its restriction, and poured everything out with a thought.

There were many treasures inside. The storage pouches contained all kinds of spirit stones; dozens of jade bottles and boxes; dozens of flying swords and magical treasures; and a mountain of technique manuals and assorted curiosities. Truly, as a king, his collection was vast and rich.

The old steward’s favorite pastime was reading in the library. Since recognizing Liu Junhuai as his master, he had developed a fondness for rummaging through newly acquired treasures.

At this moment, he crouched on the ground, sifting through the pile with evident glee.

Liu Junhuai loved to see the steward like this, for not only did he share in the joy of his discoveries, but everything he gained brought happiness to those around him.

Amid the arduous and lonely struggle to improve his own strength, bringing joy to his people was Liu Junhuai’s greatest comfort.

The steward picked out a protective golden vest and handed it to Mo Sitong. “Mistress, this Hedgehog Silk Gold Armor suits you well. Add some Celestial Silkworm silk to it in the future, and it will rival your Sevenfold Brocade.”

Mo Sitong accepted the pink-and-gold armor with delight. Clearly designed for female cultivators, it lacked the bulk of ordinary armor, its threads soft and delicate, and, even more precious, it had never been worn before.

The steward selected several bottles of pills. “You two go and cultivate in the trial space. These are supplementary medicines. And, Master, take two Red Spider Lilies for Madam—they’ll benefit her divine sense.”