Chapter 5: Hidden Fortunes in the Mysterious Relic
Having survived the fierce battle against the Demonic Cultivators, Lin Yu was severely injured, but his vigilance toward the complex internal dynamics of the sect deepened. Upon returning to the Qingxuan Sect, while in seclusion to heal his wounds, he thoroughly reflected on the various events that had transpired, growing increasingly suspicious of the actions of the Great Elder Zhou Yuan. However, having no conclusive evidence for the time being, he could only suppress his doubts and focus on increasing his own strength.
Just as Lin Yu recovered from his injuries and prepared to resume his cultivation, a startling piece of news suddenly spread through the Qingxuan Sect: thousands of miles away from the sect, a mysterious relic had appeared. According to ancient records, this relic was most likely the cavern dwelling of an ancient mighty figure, filled with boundless opportunities. Rare magical treasures, high-tier Cultivation Methods and manuals, and heavenly treasures capable of boosting one's cultivation realm might all exist within it.
As soon as this news broke, the entire Qingxuan Sect was in an uproar. Inner disciples successively petitioned the Sect Master for permission to explore the relic, and Lin Yu was naturally no exception. Considering the numerous dangers that might lurk within the relic, the Sect Master decided to select a batch of elite disciples from the inner sect, to be led by several elders. Relying on his outstanding strength and previous achievements, Lin Yu was successfully selected.
On the day of departure, Lin Yu and the other disciples gathered before the mountain gate. Looking at the neatly arrayed team ready for action, he felt a mixture of anticipation and lingering apprehension. He looked forward to the opportunity to enhance his strength within the relic, yet worried about what unexpected twists might be encountered along the way.
After several days of arduous journeying, the group finally arrived at the location of the relic. An ancient and mysterious stone gate stood in the valley, covered in bizarre runes and exuding an archaic and powerful aura.
The elders stepped forward to study the runes closely, attempting to find a way to open the stone gate. After some exploration, they finally succeeded in triggering the mechanism of the stone gate. Accompanied by a muffled rumble, the stone gate slowly opened.
Beyond the gate lay a deep, dark passageway. Crystals emitting a faint glow were embedded in the walls on both sides, barely illuminating the path ahead. The group cautiously proceeded along the passageway, remaining vigilant against any dangers that might emerge from the surroundings.
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound came from ahead, followed by a swarm of bat-like black monsters lunging out of the darkness. These monsters moved at extreme speeds, and their entire bodies exuded a nauseating, putrid stench.
"They are Rotting Blood Bats! Everyone be careful not to be wounded by their claws and teeth; their blood is highly toxic!" an elder shouted loudly.
Lin Yu and the others immediately unleashed their respective spells, engaging the Rotting Blood Bats in fierce combat. Lin Yu swung the long sword in his hand, executing the Shattered Star Sword Art. Sharp sword beams slashed toward the bats, and instantly many Rotting Blood Bats were slain. However, their numbers were vast, surging forward wave after wave, plunging the group into a bitter struggle for a time.
Right at this moment, Lin Yu discovered that these Rotting Blood Bats seemed to fear a certain special spiritual energy fluctuation. Circulating the spiritual energy within his body, he attempted to emit a gentle Azure Wood Spiritual Energy, and sure enough, the bats approaching him scattered in all directions.
"Everyone try using Azure Wood Spiritual Energy to drive them away!" Lin Yu shouted loudly. Hearing this, the other disciples followed suit. Through their collective efforts, the Rotting Blood Bats were gradually driven off, allowing the group to delve deeper into the relic.
Following the passageway onward, they arrived at a spacious hall. In the center of the hall stood a massive stone platform, upon which rested a jade box emanating a five-colored glow.
"There must be a great treasure hidden inside this jade box!" an elder said excitedly. However, just as he reached out to take the jade box, fierce sword qi suddenly shot forth from the stone platform, forcing the elder to retreat.
Only then did the crowd realize that powerful restrictions had been set around the jade box. Just as everyone racked their brains over how to break the restrictions, Lin Yu noticed some faint, hazy runes carved onto the stone platform, bearing a strong resemblance to the runes he had previously seen in the Spirit Valley cavern dwelling.
Relying on his modest understanding of runes, Lin Yu attempted to channel his spiritual energy in a specific sequence to trigger them. As the runes lit up, the power of the restrictions gradually diminished. Ultimately, Lin Yu successfully cracked the restrictions and opened the jade box.
Quietly resting inside the jade box was a manual exuding a mysterious aura—the Chaos Spirit Flame Formula. This Cultivation Method was a perfect match for Lin Yu's Chaos Spirit Root; once successfully cultivated, it could condense the Chaos Spirit Flame, possessing immense power.
"It seems this fortune was specially prepared for you, Lin Yu." An elder smiled and said. Greatly overjoyed, Lin Yu quickly tucked the manual away. However, little did they know that in the shadows of the relic, a pair of eyes was coldly watching everything unfold, as an even greater crisis quietly descended.