Chapter 17: Old Animosities, New Sorrows, and Worries for the Future

The second-generation heir, Li Cangqiong, had left behind nothing but the supreme artifact, the "Ling Tian Talisman." Li Chen communicated with the talisman's spirit, saying, "Greetings, elder. I am Li Chen, the descendant of the Cangqiong family!" A boy's voice responded, "I know. Li Chen, you are remarkable and very dear to me. From now on, we shall be together." Overjoyed, Li Chen exclaimed, "Wonderful! Thank you for your kindness, elder!" The voice replied, "No need to call me elder anymore; just call me Ling Tian." "Alright, alright," Li Chen agreed happily.

Soon after, Li Chen began recounting his experiences leading up to this point to Ling Tian. Ling Tian explained that all the rare treasures and spiritual medicines found within the secret realm had been used by the family head, but they could only slow down the inevitable decline. Ling Tian spoke with deep melancholy.

Ling Tian mentioned a sealed underground palace protected by strong enchantments that had never been entered before, deeming it very dangerous.

Following this, Ling Tian led Li Chen and Lin Ying to the location of the sealed enchantment. Li Chen picked up a twenty-kilogram stone and threw it forward. A dazzling flash illuminated the area, followed by a soft "puff" sound as the stone shattered on the ground. The power of the barrier was immense—no wonder Ling Tian dared not enter.

The three of them combined their efforts to break the formation. After ten days, with a resounding "boom," the array was finally shattered. Ling Tian merged into Li Chen’s forehead, and Li Chen and Lin Ying stepped inside together. A profound, ancient aura of boundless wilderness and time surged forth, and more than ten resplendent golden palaces appeared vividly before their eyes.

As Li Chen and Lin Ying approached an ancient library, the setting sun cast their shadows long and stretching. Suddenly, a strange light glimmered deep within the library, drawing their attention. Driven by curiosity, they pushed open the heavy wooden door and entered a hidden chamber. The room was covered with ancient runes and flickering crystal stones. At the center floated a yellowed book emitting an alluring glow of wisdom. Li Chen reached out to touch it, and the book opened by itself. A distant voice echoed in their ears, seemingly containing secrets to unlocking space and time.

Lin Ying’s eyes sparkled with astonishment. The two exchanged smiles and carefully read through the book. When they finished, they felt disappointed: the book was a history volume with its own spirit, chronicling events from a distant past and the rise and fall of this cultivation sect—nothing more. It seemed the book served as a vessel for emotional attachment. Li Chen carefully stored this “priceless, sentient history book.”

They then entered the "Secret Scripture Pavilion," filled with various materials and techniques for making mystical books. Yet even the highest-level secrets there were below the Celestial Immortal realm, utterly ordinary compared to the supreme cultivation methods Li Chen possessed. Not wanting to waste anything, they collected all of it.

The "Treasure Pavilion" housed hundreds of immortal artifacts and magical implements below the Celestial Immortal rank. There were also talismans, spiritual medicines, pills, and rare materials in small quantities, as well as large piles of spiritual stones, crystals, primordial stones, and primordial crystals, with smaller heaps of immortal stones and crystals. However, over ninety percent had corroded into dust.

After thorough inspection yielded no further treasures, the two left richly rewarded and satisfied.

The secret realm’s atmosphere was dense with spiritual energy, much higher than the outside world. As a result, vicious beasts and ferocious birds grew rapidly and reached high levels of cultivation. Against such fierce creatures, they were utterly defenseless. If more such beasts or even stronger ones appeared, escaping being their prey would be nearly impossible.

Li Chen handed Ling Tian the external routes and directional markings. A burst of colorful light enveloped them in a cluster of seven-colored clouds before vanishing instantly.

Outside Guilin City, in the eastern mountains and forests, the seven-colored light flickered, revealing the forms of Lin Ying and Li Chen. After Ling Tian and the flower spirit, Xiao Hua, emerged, the group took flight, soaring homeward.

Li Chen’s plan was to first refine the dozens of cubic meters of various-grade spiritual medicines they had obtained in the ancestral space into pills, while simultaneously elevating his alchemy skills to a higher level. The other abundant resources were more than sufficient to help their entire family cultivate to ever greater heights.

Suddenly, from the direction of their estate came the rumbling sounds of battle and attack...