"The origin of this fire cauldron is so ancient."
After receiving the inheritance, Lu Qing also gained a lot of knowledge about the origin of the cauldron.
The Li Huo Cauldron originated from the Li Huo Sect, a cultivation sect tens of thousands of years ago. It was a sect-protecting spiritual artifact that the Li Huo Sect forged by pooling the strength of the entire sect.
Later, due to a great upheaval, the spiritual energy in the world diminished, and spiritual materials became extinct. Various cultivation sects frequently clashed over the competition for resources.
The Li Huo Cauldron was damaged during a fierce collision with the sect's most prized spiritual artifact when the Li Huo Sect was at war with another cultivation sect.
That battle was extremely brutal.
Not only was the Fire Cauldron damaged, but the spiritual array within it collapsed, reverting to its original state.
Even the Li Huo Sect was destroyed as a result. The entire sect was uprooted and wiped out, with only a few disciples managing to escape.
The Fire Cauldron was also taken away by the sect leader's son and fled, eventually hiding in a cave secretly built by the sect outside, where it ekes out a living.
However, the sect leader's son eventually succumbed to his injuries and passed away in that cave.
Along with the Fire Cauldron, it remained in the cave until tens of thousands of years later when it was found by Wei Shanhai and Wang Cangyi.
As for the inheritance on the cauldron, it was left behind by the son of the sect leader of the Li Huo Sect.
“Spiritual energy, cultivation sects... I never imagined that tens of thousands of years ago, there was a strange energy called spiritual energy in this world, and the cultivation methods that were prevalent there were also the legendary cultivation techniques.”
"Unfortunately, spiritual energy is scarce nowadays, so even if I obtain this cultivation technique, it will be of little use."
Lu Qing felt a pang of emotion.
The son of the Li Huo Sect's leader left behind many cultivation methods in the Li Huo Cauldron, including the sect's most treasured technique, the 【Nanming Li Huo Jue】, which only the sect leader's lineage was qualified to cultivate.
However, without exception, all these methods of cultivating immortality require absorbing and refining spiritual energy in order to strengthen oneself.
In this world today, spiritual energy is scarce, so no matter how good or powerful these cultivation methods are, they have become useless.
The cost-effectiveness of cultivation is far lower than that of martial arts.
After all, martial arts cultivation, once reaching the Innate Realm, is not weak in power, and is not much weaker than that of cultivators at the same level.
Moreover, the primordial energy of heaven and earth is different from spiritual energy. Although it cannot compare to the mystical nature of spiritual energy, it has the advantage of being abundant and ubiquitous.
Therefore, even though he obtained the method of cultivating immortality, Lu Qing had no intention of switching to cultivation for the time being.
"However, I cannot practice the methods of cultivating immortality, but some minor techniques passed down in the tradition are still very useful to me."
For example, some of the weapon-refining and alchemy techniques in the book are very useful for Lu Qing to learn from.
The Li Huo Sect takes its name from the characters "Li Huo" (meaning "separation of fire"), which gives an idea of just how profound its research on the Dao of Fire is.
In fact, besides the immense power of their cultivation techniques, the Li Huo Sect is also extremely skilled in weapon crafting and alchemy.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to forge such a wondrous artifact as the Fire Cauldron.
Lu Qing was originally a medical student, and this alchemy technique could greatly enhance his knowledge of medicine.
As for the art of weapon crafting...
His sword was damaged in the previous battle with that burly man.
This forced him to engage in a physical fight with him.
This made Lu Qing realize the importance of a good weapon.
If his sword had been strong enough, he wouldn't have needed so much effort to defeat the burly man.
Swordsmanship alone is enough.
Now that he has this weapon-forging technique, he can try to forge a true treasured sword of his own.
Furthermore, some of the methods for using the power of the soul passed down in the tradition were very inspiring to him.
Perhaps he can compile a cultivation method specifically for cultivating spiritual power from it.
In the quiet, Lu Qing calmly sorted through the inheritance he had just acquired and pondered his path of cultivation.
When he had almost finished tidying up, he was suddenly awakened by a strong commotion outside.
He opened his eyes and discovered that the source of the fluctuation was his master.
At this moment, a strange phenomenon was being observed on the master's body.
On the left side, white mist billowed and water vapor filled the air, while on the right side, bursts of red light emanated, exuding a restless aura.
Between his hands, a red and white vortex slowly rotated, their interplay creating a flawless and perfectly harmonious effect, appearing extremely mystical.
The others who were studying the technique were also awakened by the commotion.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the sight.
Wei Shanhai, in particular, was greatly surprised and couldn't help but exclaim, "Water and fire merging? How is that possible!"
Water and fire merging?
Lu Qing's heart stirred, and he immediately activated his supernatural ability, looking towards his master.
Within the dense red light of supernatural power, several notes emerged from the master's body.
【Chen Songqing: A highly skilled, kind-hearted, and respected physician—a truly excellent old doctor.】
【Cultivation Level: Peak of the Initial Stage of the Innate Realm, True Qi with Water and Fire Attributes.】
【Those who possess the power of merit can attract good fortune and avoid misfortune, and have profound blessings.】
【With astonishing comprehension, he grasped a trace of the essence of the innate realm.】
【By comprehending the principle of the harmony between water and fire, and mastering the innate true energy of both elements, allowing them to merge and complement each other, cultivation speed and power will greatly increase.】
"Master is indeed a true cultivation genius."
Lu Qing was amazed when he saw the note that appeared above his master's face.
Originally, the master practiced a water-attribute innate cultivation technique left by Li Weitian, and the innate true energy in his body was also water-attribute.
Unexpectedly, in this underground cave, he comprehended the concept of water and fire complementing each other, and mastered another elemental true energy.
Moreover, these two types of true energy not only do not conflict, but also complement each other, making them even more powerful and even accelerating the cultivation speed.
Inside the cave, everyone lost all interest in cultivation, their eyes fixed on the old doctor who was displaying extraordinary phenomena.
Wei Xinghe, Ma Gu, and the others vaguely sensed something from the strange phenomena displayed by the old doctor.
But when they try to grasp that spark of inspiration, they always miss it.
Even as the strange phenomena surrounding the old doctor gradually subsided and he opened his eyes, they were still unable to grasp that insight.
Why are you all looking at this old man like that?
The old doctor opened his eyes and was startled to see that everyone except Lu Qing was staring intently at him, wondering if something was wrong with him.
"Dr. Chen, what were you practicing just now?"
Wei Shanhai asked impatiently.
As someone also at the Innate Realm, he was completely shocked by the water and fire aura emanating from the old doctor.
"It's nothing much. I just had an epiphany while trying to understand the peculiar meaning on this cauldron, and I just started practicing another cultivation technique that I had previously studied," the old doctor said with a smile.
"I noticed that water and fire were alternating on your body just now. You can actually cultivate two completely opposite innate true energies at the same time?"
Wei Shanhai said incredulously.
"It was just a stroke of luck that I grasped a little bit of the principle of mutual generation and restraint of the five elements."
Wei Shanhai's eyes widened even more, and he no longer possessed the demeanor of a Xiantian realm expert.
