Chapter 13: The Request of a Nascent Soul Cultivator

After recounting this experience, it was as if a heavy stone in his heart had finally settled. He took a deep breath and spoke to Qiuhan, “The reason I wanted you to return within a month is because I knew that if I had handed this item to you when you first left, it might have been discovered by the Hengyuan Sect. That’s why I waited until you came back this month to give it to you. I don’t know when that person will come searching, so I can only give it to you now. Child, remember, you must keep this secret from everyone. Otherwise, endless calamities will befall you in the future.”

Qiuhan listened to his father’s account, gradually realizing the gravity of the matter. He nodded solemnly once more, took the box, and carefully stored it away.

That night, Qiuhan sat alone in his room, gazing at the box cradled in his hands. After pondering for a while, he decided to open it. Inside was a storage pouch. Qiuhan picked it up, infused it with spiritual power, and opened it, letting his divine sense enter.

With his divine sense, he saw the pouch packed with a dazzling array of spirit stones, elixirs, magical artifacts, and talismans. It gave him a sense of an inheritance from another world; the wealth was astonishing. Knowing that all of this would someday be his, Qiuhan nearly cried out in joy. He continued to search deeper, and a jade slip caught his eye. He took it out and began to examine its contents with his divine sense.

“When you are reading this jade slip, I will have already passed away. My name is Zhan Quan, a native of the Zhao Kingdom. In my youth, I was a disciple of the foremost immortal sect in Zhao, the Refining God Sect. I have practiced cultivation for over seven centuries, reaching the mid-stage of the Divine Transformation realm. Half a year ago, while traveling, I discovered a relic of an ancient immortal in a desolate place—a unique space. I intended to enter and seek the treasures left by the ancient immortal.

“Alas, the restrictions within were too formidable; even with my cultivation, I could not enter. So I recorded the location of the relic in this jade slip as a map, planning to return with several friends. In the end, I gathered four friends, all Divine Transformation cultivators, and we revisited the relic.

“After overcoming many dangers, we finally reached the vault at the heart of the relic. Unexpectedly, this ancient site, which had existed for countless millennia, housed a primordial beast. Our intrusion awakened it from its slumber. The beast was fiercely powerful, surpassing us five. What followed was a battle of life and death. We managed to slay the beast, but three of our party perished.

“At last, we saw the treasures left by the ancient immortal: seven fist-sized crystal spheres joined together, and a very old map made from beast hide. The map depicted an ancient immortal with a bare upper body and a sun mark on his forehead, half-kneeling on the ground, his eyes streaming blood, left hand supporting himself, right hand pointing skyward, mouth wide open as if shouting at the heavens. Above him, a gigantic hand covered half the sun. At the top of the map were ancient characters.

“We could not unravel the secrets within. I suggested we split the treasures: I took the seven crystal spheres, he took the map. I thought the matter was settled, but to my shock, on our way back, he ambushed me from behind while I was off guard, inflicting grievous wounds.

“I could hardly believe it—after centuries of friendship, he would try to kill me for a treasure. My heart was shattered; I resolved that even if I died with him, I would not let the treasure fall into his hands. Yet, wounded as I was, I was no longer his match. In the end, I sacrificed all my remaining lifespan to unleash a powerful spell, seriously injuring him, and fled.

“Ten days later, I crossed into the Wu Kingdom, but I knew my time was short. Perhaps heaven took pity on me, for as I neared death, a mortal happened upon me. I entrusted this matter to him, hoping he would find a young mortal, help him embark on the path of cultivation, and, once he was strong enough, avenge me and inform my sect of my death.

“There is much wealth in my storage pouch, though most of my life’s treasures are held by my sect. If you enter my sect as my disciple in the future, you will inherit all my possessions there. If you are unwilling, I hope you will lend your aid to my sect three times in times of great peril. If I have knowledge in the afterlife, I will rest in peace.

“I have left many spirit stones for your cultivation, mostly middle and high-grade, with several supreme-grade stones as well. There is also my cultivation technique for you to practice. Many talismans, some of which you can use for attack and defense once you reach the Foundation Establishment stage. There are several attack talismans I crafted, equal in power to my full-strength strike at my peak—use them with caution.

“If you lack a spiritual root and are not qualified for cultivation, there is a Lingroot Pill in my pouch. This pill can grant a mortal without a spiritual root the ability to cultivate. I obtained it by chance years ago; if you have no spiritual root, take this pill.

“My lifetime’s treasures are in the pouch, which you may use once you reach the Core Formation stage. Also, there is a booklet recording my travels and insights into cultivation—if you encounter difficulties, consult it for guidance. The ancient immortal’s treasure is yours as well; I hope you may unlock its secrets someday.

“Finally, the friend who betrayed me is named Fang Shaoxiao, a Divine Transformation cultivator. His sect is called the Demon-Slaying Sect. If you reach the Divine Transformation realm or higher, you must kill him to avenge me and retrieve the ancient immortal’s map he possesses. With both treasures, I hope you will one day uncover the truth of the ancient immortals’ disappearance millennia ago. These are my greatest wishes.

“Fated one, I wish you success!”

Closing the jade slip, Qiuhan was so shocked that words failed him. A Divine Transformation cultivator from Zhao, ancient immortal treasures—the secrets involved were immense. If word got out, it would likely shake the entire cultivation world, and countless high-level cultivators would vie for the treasure. His situation would become perilous.

“This secret must never be revealed to anyone.”

This was Qiuhan’s most resolute thought at the moment. He took a deep breath, placed the jade slip back in the storage pouch, and continued to examine its contents. As expected, a dark red pill appeared—the Lingroot Pill. Qiuhan left it untouched and looked further. Finally, a cultivation manual titled “Refining God’s Secret Arts” appeared, alongside seven fist-sized transparent crystal spheres—the ancient immortal’s treasure.

Seeing the treasure that had driven two Divine Transformation cultivators to turn on each other, Qiuhan’s heartbeat nearly stopped. He carefully took them out and placed them on the table for closer inspection. After nearly half an hour of observation, Qiuhan could see nothing but seven ordinary crystal spheres. Was this really the ancient immortal’s treasure? It seemed far too ordinary. After pondering a while longer and finding nothing unusual, he returned them to the pouch and extinguished the light to sleep.

The next morning, the half-month deadline had arrived. After bidding farewell to his parents, Qiuhan and Yunrou returned to Hengyuan Sect. Once there, they each went to their own lodgings to store their belongings, and discovered that Zhou Yi and He Yitong were not in their rooms. Qiuhan lowered his head in thought for a moment, then began meditating and cultivating.