Chapter 44: The Sinister Hundred-Petal Lotus Root

The presence of sunlight within the cave was easily attributable to either magical artifacts or array formations. However, considering the cave’s master was adept at Qimen Dunjia, it was entirely possible that no cultivators’ methods were even employed.

The intricate design of the stone chamber remained a mystery to Lian Yueying for the moment. However, her immediate concern was simply confirming that no dangers lurked within. Her gaze swept from left to right, revealing that the entire chamber was divided into three distinct areas. Directly beneath the sunlight lay a spiritual herb garden, to its left was a meditation mat surrounded by a spirit-gathering array, and to its right stood a desk and a bookshelf.

Having been left untended for an extended period, the spiritual herb garden was now overgrown with various weeds and wild flora. Even some of the more fastidious spiritual herbs, demanding specific nutrients, had already withered away.

Lian Yueying conducted a cursory inspection, intending to harvest any usable spiritual herbs. It was then that she discovered the remarkably methodical arrangement of the garden. It was meticulously divided into four sections: grasses, flowers, roots, and fruits. Within each section, individual spiritual herbs were arranged in groups of three, forming a precise nine-square grid pattern.

[What a meticulous gardener; it’s quite pleasing to the eye.]

After spending some time gathering all the spiritual herbs, Lian Yueying moved towards the left side of the chamber.

“A standard intermediate spirit-gathering array,” she murmured. “A pity, though, that the precious materials meant to aid in spirit accumulation have been removed.”

The meditation mat was old and tattered, clearly having been neglected for at least a decade or more. With no signs of intrusion around, Lian Yueying surmised that the cave’s master must have been the one to remove them.

[An intermediate spirit-gathering array. The stone platform supporting the array was polished into the exact shape required to draw the formation, and the array itself was incredibly neat. Could the cave’s master have been obsessive-compulsive? Hmm… I thought it didn’t seem too difficult when I saw it in array manuals, but truly, laid out before me, it’s several times more intricate than a basic one.]

An intermediate spirit-gathering array belonged to the third-tier of formations. Its core nodes and pivots were interconnected, one interlocking with the next. Disturbing a single part would inevitably affect the entire structure.

Simply put, for the entire array to function normally, it needed to be perfectly balanced. If ten units were added to the left, ten must also be added to the right, yet the precise placement depended entirely on whether the right-side pivots could support the addition. Consequently, in most cases, the more potent an array, the more intricate its construction, and any casual strengthening or weakening would lead to its collapse, necessitating extreme caution.

Opportunities to study a third-tier array were rare. As Lian Yueying gazed at the intermediate spirit-gathering array, her eyes slowly lost their focus. Her right hand unconsciously traced patterns in the air, as if mimicking the array’s runes. This lapse into absorption lasted for a full half-hour.

However, her return to awareness after half an hour was not by her own volition. Instead, it was prompted by a sudden emission of dense yet faint water spiritual energy from a nearby cave entrance.

Dense yet faint—an apparent contradiction. In reality, had Lian Yueying’s Sea Convergence Art not focused on water, she likely would not have detected this spiritual energy at all. Yet, once perceived, the alluring sensation emanating from it compelled her to unconsciously take several steps in that direction.

Upon realizing this, Lian Yueying’s first thought was not to investigate what treasure might be emitting it. Instead, a cold sweat broke out, and she inwardly suspected a trap.

Though the ‘fragrance’ of spiritual energy was not perceived through the nose or mouth, Lian Yueying instinctively held her breath, striving to maintain clarity of mind. Only after that surge of water spiritual energy gradually dissipated did she dare to glance in its direction.

She hadn’t noticed any other cave entrances when she first entered the stone chamber because they had been obscured by stone pillars. Now, standing beside the spirit-gathering array, she could clearly see an opening with remarkably smooth surroundings, evidently carved by human hands.

[Spiritual energy that feels ‘fragrant’ to a cultivator should be exceptionally pure. Yet, no matter its source, anything capable of affecting my consciousness must be approached with utmost caution.]

With the water spiritual energy temporarily absent, Lian Yueying retreated a dozen steps from the entrance. After waiting for a full quarter-hour, no second surge of spiritual energy manifested.

Having lost track of time while engrossed in studying the array, Lian Yueying had no idea how long she had been in a daze. She could only wait patiently where she stood. However, fearing that she might be even more susceptible to the next wave’s influence, she used an Earth-Turning Dragon Talisman to confine herself.

This Earth-Turning Dragon Talisman was the very first spiritual talisman Lian Yueying had drawn entirely using the methods recorded in the ‘Talisman Maniac’s Handbook’. Her own execution was not yet proficient, only about ten percent stronger than a pre-made talisman.

The advantage was that she had only taken three hours to decipher its drawing method. Moreover, she had largely grasped the theoretical principles of talisman drawing from the book and could apply them. Certain practical techniques, however, still required more practice.

The waiting proved inevitably lengthy. Lian Yueying found some solace in recalling the array formations. Finally, over an hour later, the dense water spiritual energy surged forth once more.

This time, Lian Yueying only faltered for a fleeting moment before regaining her composure. Only after the water spiritual energy receded did she cautiously unravel the layers of wooden vines that bound her.

[The timing isn’t an exact interval, so it shouldn’t be a man-made object. Natural wonders and spiritual herbs rarely adhere to human methods of timekeeping.]

The dense water spiritual energy immediately brought a certain type of spiritual herb to Lian Yueying’s mind. Their spiritual energy might not have been the most potent, but it was exceptionally pure, and every single plant held immense utility.

A covetous desire gradually spread within her heart. However, having learned from a previous mistake, Lian Yueying was not so easily swayed. She first manipulated a spiritual talisman to drift into the cave. As she anticipated, the talisman detected nothing unusual. This indicated that the source of the spiritual energy was not constantly active.

Nonetheless, this information offered little practical use. She temporarily moved away from the area, heading towards the other side of the chamber.

On the desk to the right of the spiritual herb garden lay numerous books, haphazardly piled. Some were open, some closed; a quick glance revealed over a dozen volumes. Lian Yueying stood before the desk, first noting which page each open book was turned to. Then, as she swiftly flipped through them one by one, the third spiritual energy fluctuation arrived.

This time, Lian Yueying, having anticipated the timing, dealt with the fluctuation with ease. She then set the books down.

[Spiritual herbs, pills, precious materials… The spiritual herb garden was meticulously arranged, and the spirit-gathering array had been carefully maintained, yet the books were piled so carelessly. Clearly, the cave’s master had been in a great hurry. What exactly was he searching for?]

The books’ categories were too diverse, preventing Lian Yueying from discerning any specific direction. After a cursory read-through, she found nothing particularly unusual; they were all fairly common cultivation texts.

Lian Yueying then shifted her attention to the bookshelf. The books there were neatly arranged, and as expected, meticulously categorized. This greatly facilitated her search for clues.

Judging by the meditation mat, this cave dwelling had been uninhabited for over a decade. Thus, dust could hardly serve as a reliable clue. However, Lian Yueying discovered another avenue for investigation among the books.

Among all the volumes on both the desk and the bookshelf, there was only one exceptionally thin book. Comprising a mere ten pages, Lian Yueying was more inclined to call it a pamphlet.

The pamphlet spoke of a dark abyss within the territory of Daodong Qi, named Resentful Bone Abyss. Within it grew numerous spiritual herbs that thrived in darkness. However, a naturally occurring spiritual energy field prevented cultivators from flying. Moreover, the rock walls were slick and devoid of footholds, making ascent incredibly difficult once one descended.

[Thriving in darkness—a very rare type of spiritual herb.]

Taking the pamphlet, Lian Yueying returned to the desk. Following her memory, she restored the books she had previously opened to their original pages. Flipping through them, she tentatively identified three types of spiritual herbs.

[Hundred-Petal Lotus Root, Earth-Trapping Lotus, and Abyss-Born Flower… Wait, Hundred-Petal Lotus Root? Isn’t that one of the purest water-element spiritual herbs?!]

Considering the several fluctuations of water spiritual energy she had experienced, Lian Yueying could almost certainly conclude that the item within the cave was indeed a Hundred-Petal Lotus Root.

Her guess was almost certainly correct. Lian Yueying felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It wasn’t because she was so close to such a heaven-defying treasure, but rather because she had miraculously avoided becoming sustenance for the Hundred-Petal Lotus Root.

Silently, she temporarily exited the stone chamber. Retreating to the entrance she had used, she sealed it with a spiritual talisman.

As the saying goes, water can both carry a boat and capsize it. In slumber, it is the source of life; in an instant, towering waves can claim lives. Thus, pure water-element spiritual herbs often harbored both benevolent and malevolent aspects. The Hundred-Petal Lotus Root was, without a doubt, the most sinister among them.

The Hundred-Petal Lotus Root thrived in darkness, unable to tolerate even a sliver of sunlight. It was a mutated offspring of the Earth-Trapping Lotus.

When an Earth-Trapping Lotus absorbed a sufficient amount of corpse qi, it would condense into Yin-Born Mud. Yin-Born Mud over a hundred years old would cause the Earth-Trapping Lotus to produce Azure Lotus Seeds. These Azure Lotus Seeds would then fall into the mud and be absorbed by the plant itself—a process known as autophagia.

After autophagia, the lotus root would lose most of its nutrients and emit a peculiar fragrance. This scent would lure demonic beasts and cultivators, causing them to lose their senses and throw themselves into the mud to become nutrients. This process would then lead to the regeneration of Azure Lotus Seeds, and only after a hundred such cycles could a Hundred-Petal Lotus Root be born.

This grim knowledge was the reason for Lian Yueying’s cold sweat. The fragrance of that spiritual energy was such that even Golden Core stage mighty cultivators could not afford to drop their guard. Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were utterly incapable of resisting it, let alone a mere Qi Refinement practitioner like herself.

[Thankfully, I didn’t approach rashly… I imagine my ability to resist wasn’t due to any special quality of my own, but rather some protective measure put in place by the cave’s master. It’s just that with the cave’s master having perished and their restrictions vanished, only the array remained to confine the Hundred-Petal Lotus Root, allowing it to emit only wisps of spiritual energy.]

It was indeed a rare and precious heaven-and-earth treasure. Yet, Lian Yueying dared not harbor any covetous thoughts now. Even when she had first read about the Hundred-Petal Lotus Root, a chill had run down her spine. She had never imagined she would actually encounter one.

[The cave’s master was at least a Golden Core stage mighty cultivator. I just wonder what they did after retrieving the Hundred-Petal Lotus Root, why they died, and if it was related to pills?]

The pill-refining methods for such pure spiritual herbs were never limited to the commonly circulated few. Their pill recipes were often objects of intense contention among cultivators.

Lian Yueying was unsure of the cave master’s intentions. After a long period of calm, and having evaded the next spiritual energy fluctuation, she returned to the stone chamber.

Standing before the bookshelf, Lian Yueying felt a persistent chill down her spine. Enduring the malevolence of the Hundred-Petal Lotus Root while searching for clues was truly arduous. After resisting the spiritual energy’s allure once more, a surge of anger finally welled within her.

Lian Yueying decided to take a look.

[The book states that the Hundred-Petal Lotus Root does not continuously emit fluctuations. I hope the ancients did not deceive me. I’ll use this opportunity to observe the situation, and if possible, it would be best to set up an additional isolation array.]

Taking advantage of the interval between spiritual energy fluctuations, Lian Yueying mustered her courage and cautiously approached the cave entrance. Just a few steps inside, she was enveloped by an intense surge of Yin energy. Fortunately, this Yin energy had no adverse effect on Lian Yueying, who possessed a Great Yin Body.

The cave entrance was two people wide. Lian Yueying stood upright, with a foot of space remaining above her head. Guided by the illumination of spiritual light talismans, she walked for dozens of steps, finally spotting a faint, shimmering water light.

The stone chamber was roughly the size of Lian Yueying’s bedroom, circular in shape, with a slight depression towards its center. A sturdy wooden walkway had been constructed alongside this depression. The glistening water light reflected on the stone walls, creating a unique aesthetic beauty, and the source of this light was the Earth-Trapping Lotus.

An ordinary Earth-Trapping Lotus was typically green, but this particular specimen had black-purple petals, a silvery stem, and its roots were plunged into black mud, resembling a withered hand cradling a lotus flower. Above the black mud lay a transparent ‘water’. However, Lian Yueying knew that this ‘water’ was, in fact, spiritual liquid, formed by water spiritual energy condensed to its absolute extreme.

The scenery was beautiful, but Lian Yueying, knowing its treacherous nature, had no desire to linger. Her four-way scan successfully located the original isolation array.

As she had suspected, Golden Core stage cultivators preferred to use arrays augmented with restrictions, which offered greater convenience. Lian Yueying discovered that the array was set upon a faint spirit vein, which was sufficient to sustain its operation.

Therefore, she sought out a suitable location, intending to construct a new array. The combined power of both arrays would be enough to prevent the Hundred-Petal Lotus Root from emitting any more spiritual energy.

The array she chose was a second-tier formation: Mountain Yang Refusal.