"Sure enough, there have been some changes here as well."
Lu Qing continued walking along the passage deeper into the mountain.
They discovered that the earth's energy within the passage was extremely rich, and spiritual energy was also constantly converging towards them.
Soon, he saw a light barrier formed by an array blocking his way.
"Even the defensive formations have regained some of their power?"
Lu Qing was somewhat surprised.
There has always been a defensive formation in the Jade Transformation Cave.
When Li Weitian found this place, the defensive formation was still operating at a sliver of power.
It was precisely in order to break through the array's defenses that he was greatly exhausted and seriously injured.
With his lifespan nearing its end, he had no choice but to risk breaking through, ultimately perishing in the Jade Transformation Cave.
Now that spiritual energy has revived, the defensive formation here has actually started to absorb spiritual energy again, slowly starting to operate, and even the formation's light screen has been generated.
The great being who opened up the Jade Transformation Cave back then possessed unimaginable supernatural powers.
Even without the nourishment of spiritual energy, the formation has been able to operate normally for so many years.
With a surge of thoughts, Lu Qing extended a wisp of divine soul power from the acupoint between his eyebrows, seeping into the array light screen in front of him.
Having inherited the legacy of the Divine Talisman Sect and condensed a Divine Soul Talisman, he was naturally immune to attacks from the formations here.
After sensing that trace of divine soul aura, the array light barrier retreated, allowing Lu Qing to pass through.
As I slowly stepped across, the array's light barrier closed again.
Lu Qing was satisfied. This way, he would be safer if he came here to cultivate in seclusion in the future.
There's no need for Xiao Li to help protect the Dharma every time.
Upon entering the Jade Transformation Cave, Lu Qing was even more delighted.
Inside the Jade Transformation Cave, the spiritual energy was much denser than outside.
It was already subtly no worse than what he had felt in Qinglong City before.
"I can come here to cultivate in seclusion more often in the future."
Lu Qing stared thoughtfully at the array runes on the cave wall.
The mysterious being who created the Jade Transformation Cave set up a very complete and powerful magic array in the cave.
It has multiple uses, including defense, gathering spiritual energy, and concealing one's aura.
The abundant spiritual energy inside the cave today is due to the 【spirit gathering】 effect of the formation.
"And the earth vein essence liquid has also condensed much faster."
Lu Qing looked towards the jade stone platform in the middle and saw that it was full of spiritual energy, and a drop of earth vein spiritual liquid had actually condensed there.
The stalactite pen tip above also exudes a great deal of spiritual charm.
It won't be long before it condenses another drop of earth vein essence.
"Originally, it would take twenty years to condense a single drop of the earth vein essence, but after these changes in the world, it can now condense a single drop in about a year?"
Lu Qing sensed the speed at which the spiritual energy within the stalactites condensed, and after making some calculations, a look of surprise appeared on his face.
If that's the case, it would be good news for him.
Earth Vein Elixir is a valuable item.
It can not only improve a person's aptitude, transforming them and greatly increasing their potential.
It has the power to revive the dead and heal flesh and bones, making it an extremely potent healing elixir.
Such spiritual objects are naturally always welcome in greater quantities.
In the past, when spiritual energy was depleted, it would take as long as twenty years to condense a single drop of earth vein spiritual liquid, which was too long for Lu Qing.
However, if it's for a year, then it's different; the value will increase significantly.
Moreover, this is only the beginning of a change in the world, and spiritual energy has only recently begun to recover.
If, after a few more days, the concentration of spiritual energy increases further, reaching the level of Zhongzhou, then...
It's likely that the speed at which the earth vein elixir condenses will continue to shorten.
In that case, this rare and precious liquid could become a very important resource in Lu Qing's hands.
"This is truly an unexpected delight."
Lu Qing calmed his excitement and entered the cave where he usually secluded himself, casually releasing a small cauldron.
The small cauldron fell to the ground and grew taller in the wind, quickly becoming half a person's height; it was the Li Huo Cauldron.
"Kid, that's really unfair of you! Why have you been blocking my senses all this time!"
An angry and humiliated fluctuation of divine soul energy emanated from the Fire Cauldron.
It was the voice of the artifact spirit "Yan".
"I have many secrets, and I don't want you to know too many of them," Lu Qing said calmly.
Since refining the Fire Cauldron, he has used the restrictions within the cauldron to shield himself from the perception of "flame".
It was designed to remain confined within the cauldron's interior, preventing it from sensing any external disturbances.
Lu Qing's words caused Yan to pause for a moment.
It didn't expect Lu Qing to answer so frankly, without even making an excuse.
But this alone is certainly not enough to quell its anger.
"But you have completely sealed off the Fire Cauldron, how can I absorb spiritual energy to recover?"
Don't forget, the more of my power I restore, the more it will help you!
"So I'm not releasing you now. The spiritual energy here should be able to help you recover slowly, right?"
Faced with Yan's questioning, Lu Qing was not angry and remained calm.
His appearance immediately made "Yan" grit his teeth in hatred.
He knew from the start that this kid was no pushover, which is why he didn't want to be refined by him.
Unfortunately, circumstances were beyond his control, and he ultimately ended up in this predicament.
She knew that no matter how angry she was, she couldn't do anything to Lu Qing.
Yan had no choice but to suppress his anger and begin to observe his surroundings.
Upon seeing this, it was immediately surprised.
"Huh? Why is the spiritual energy here so dense? Kid, where is this place?"
"Senior, have you ever heard of the Divine Talisman Sect?" Lu Qing asked.
Unexpectedly, Yan was greatly surprised when he heard the name.
His voice trembled: "What did you say? The Divine Talisman Sect?!"
"Indeed, the Divine Talisman Sect. Judging from your tone, you seem to know about this sect?"
Lu Qing's heart stirred; he was somewhat surprised by the artifact spirit's reaction.
Could it be that the Divine Talisman Sect was some kind of extraordinary sect in the ancient era of cultivation?
"Of course I know this sect. It can be said that in the ancient era of cultivation, the Divine Talisman Sect was one of the most powerful sects."
"That's amazing?" Lu Qing was somewhat surprised.
However, this made "Yan" realize something was amiss.
"Looking at you like this, kid, could it be that you have some connection with the Divine Talisman Sect?"
Yes, your spiritual power is extraordinary.
Despite being only at the initial stage of Qi Refining, he possessed a divine soul power comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.
In the ancient era of cultivation, the disciples of the Divine Talisman Sect were renowned for their powerful divine souls.
"Could it be that you are actually a successor of the Divine Talisman Sect?"
The more Yan talked, the more he felt that his guess was probably correct.
But soon, it felt doubtful again: "No, the decline of ancient spiritual energy and the tribulation of the five signs of decay of heaven and man are a great calamity that no great cultivator above the Golden Core stage can avoid."
Even the Divine Talisman Sect shouldn't possess such supernatural powers; they should be able to survive in this realm for tens of thousands of years.
"No need to guess anymore. I am not a disciple of the Divine Talisman Sect. I just happened to have some of the Divine Talisman Sect's inheritance."
We are now in a small cave dwelling left behind by the Divine Talisman Sect at some unknown time.
"He only obtained a small portion of the Divine Talisman Sect's inheritance, yet he has cultivated to this level?"
Yan looked at Lu Qing as if he were looking at some kind of monster.
It should be noted that in the ancient era of cultivation, the disciples of the Divine Talisman Sect were known for having extremely high requirements for aptitude.
Many disciples who would be considered geniuses in other cultivation sects might not even qualify to enter the Divine Talisman Sect.
This resulted in the fact that although the Divine Talisman Sect was very famous at the time, it did not have many disciples.
Compared to other top sects, it appears to have a relatively small number of members.
However, the disciples of the Divine Talisman Sect are also known for their formidable skills and unpredictable methods, making them far more powerful than other sects.
In the ancient times when the immortal path flourished and geniuses emerged in great numbers, few people were able to join the Divine Talisman Sect.
It is conceivable that this sect has extremely high requirements for cultivation qualifications.
But now, Lu Qing, relying solely on a small amount of inherited knowledge, has actually managed to cultivate his skills to a great degree on his own.
This talent for cultivation can not only be described as genius; calling it monstrous is no exaggeration.
No wonder this kid was able to trigger tribulation clouds and survive the heavenly tribulation just as his spiritual energy was beginning to recover.
The spirit finally realized just how terrifying Lu Qing was.
"Senior Yan, what is this calamity of the five signs of decay that you mentioned earlier?"
Lu Qing, however, was somewhat interested in a piece of information that the artifact spirit had just revealed.
"The Five Signs of Decay of Heaven and Man..." The spirit's gaze shifted. "Kid, trying to extract information from me isn't that easy. How about we make a deal?"
"What kind of deal?" Lu Qing looked quietly at the cauldron.
"If you want to know about the ancient era of cultivation, you can, but you have to meet a few of my requirements."
For example, this time, they must not arbitrarily block my senses; they must allow me to know what's happening in the outside world at any time.
If you agree, I will tell you about the Great Calamity of the Five Signs of Decay of the Celestials.
Seeing that the spirit was negotiating with him again, Lu Qing smiled and said, "We'll talk about it later. The reason I brought out the Fire Cauldron this time is to ask you to help me with something."
Yan felt a pang of disappointment when Lu Qing did not agree to his conditions.
But unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "What is it?"
"This is it!"
Lu Qing took out the Qiankun Qi Bag from his waist, and with two separate thoughts, activated the two spiritual artifacts at the same time.
Suddenly, the Qiankun Qi Bag expanded and spat out a gray gourd.
Immediately afterwards, the Li Huo Cauldron opened its mouth and swallowed it again, suppressing it.
The plague-ridden old man inside the gourd was astonished when he suddenly felt the constraints around him disappear.
Before he could even feel happy, everything went black again, and he entered another space.
This space, unlike the Qiankun Yiqi Bag, was filled with a scorching heat, as if one had entered a furnace.
"What kind of place is this? Is it another magical artifact space?"
Impossible! No matter how incredibly lucky that kid is, he couldn't possibly possess two magical artifacts at the same time!
Otherwise, even a casual activation of the magical artifact would drain him dry!
Although the old man was somewhat panicked, he tried his best to comfort himself.
And it tried its best to sense its surroundings, attempting to see through the mysteries of this space.
However, no matter how he searched, all he found was emptiness.
Besides the invisible force that suppressed the plague gourd, rendering it completely immobile.
He couldn't detect anything at all.
This situation made the elderly man suffering from the plague feel extremely depressed.
He had a bad feeling.
Undeterred, he continued to probe with his mind, trying to find any clues about this space.
While the Plague Elder was diligently investigating, in a place unseen by him, Lu Qing and the consciousness of "Yan" were observing the Plague Gourd.
"This gourd, is it that plague old devil's plague gourd?"
"Yan" looked at the gray gourd that had been suppressed and exclaimed in surprise.
"Senior, do you know the origin of this gourd?" Lu Qingwen asked.
"Of course I know. The Plague Old Ghost was quite a figure in the ancient cultivation era."
Although his cultivation level was only at the initial stage of the Nascent Soul realm, he somehow managed to forge a natal spiritual weapon.
With this Plague Gourd, the Plague Old Ghost is now even more powerful, thanks to this natal artifact.
Even when facing a powerful expert at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, he would not be at a disadvantage.
In addition, his cautious nature and unpredictable methods earned him considerable fame even in an era teeming with powerful figures.
Most ordinary cultivation sects wouldn't dare provoke this demon.
"Yan" spoke eloquently, and this time he did not negotiate with Lu Qing again, but readily told him the origin of the plague gourd.
But it also had some doubts: "How did this plague gourd end up in your hands?"
"I received it unintentionally not long ago while dealing with some matters," Lu Qing said casually.
"Yan" immediately looked at Lu Qing with a strange gaze.
This kid's luck is just too incredible.
To possess three magical artifacts by one person is simply unimaginable in the ancient era of cultivation.
Unless it is a great cultivator with supernatural powers above the primordial spirit level, once the news gets out, even a great cultivator with perfect primordial spirit will definitely be coveted and coveted by many primordial spirit powerhouses.
It took Yan a while to suppress the shock in his heart.
He asked, "So, the thing you want my help with is related to this plague gourd?"
Lu Qing nodded: "That's right, the remnant soul of that old plague demon still remains in this plague gourd."
I need your help to refine it.
"The remnant soul of the Plague Old Demon? That's impossible!"
Upon hearing this, Yan was once again greatly surprised: "How could that old plague demon survive the five signs of decay of heaven and man?"
"No, could it be that that old ghost possessed the spirit of my natal artifact?"
As expected of an ancient relic from the time of cultivation, Yan deduced the truth from Lu Qing's few words.
"That old ghost seemed to say that, and with his obstruction, it was extremely difficult for me to refine the Plague Gourd."
Therefore, I want to use the Fire Cauldron to completely refine it to death!
The Plague Gourd is different from the Fire Cauldron.
Lu Qing did not have a corresponding control technique.
Therefore, unlike the Fire Cauldron, it cannot be forcibly refined even with the obstruction of the artifact spirit.
Only by completely refining or killing that plague-infested old ghost can he gain complete control over this magic weapon.
"Are you sure? Since that old plague demon's remnant soul has become a spirit of the artifact."
If you were to refine it to death, without its spirit, the Plague Gourd's grade would likely drop to that of a spiritual artifact.
"Yan" said hesitantly.
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't need this magical artifact. That old ghost once made sarcastic remarks to me. If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll really think I have a good temper!"
"I'm going to refine him to death completely. If all else fails, I can always find another opportunity to cultivate a new spirit!"
Hearing Lu Qing's somewhat cold tone, Yan's heart trembled involuntarily.
It always felt that Lu Qing's words seemed to have a hidden meaning.
However, before "Yan" could figure it out, Lu Qing's figure suddenly disappeared beside it.
When it reappeared, it was already in front of the plague gourd.
At the same time, a sound resounded throughout the entire space.
"Old Plague Demon, there's no need to test me anymore. Didn't you say last time that I couldn't do anything to you? This time, I'll see if your mouth can still be so stubborn!"
