Chapter Nineteen: The Incident at the Dragon Sacrifice Pool

With joy in his heart, Liu Junhuai gazed at the “Heavenly Lotus Heart Flame” dancing upon his fingertip. “How about I call you ‘Zi’ from now on?” he said affectionately to the flickering fire. To his surprise, the flame seemed to understand him—it swayed gently up and down, as if nodding in agreement. This only deepened Liu Junhuai’s fondness for it.

Heavenly flames, much like ordinary heart flames, are divided into nine levels, each distinguished by the color of the outer edge of its core. Zi’s core was violet, surrounded by two rings of reddish-brown light, signifying it as a second-level heavenly flame—one ring for each level, and each additional ring marking an ascent.

After playing with Zi for a while, Liu Junhuai finally set his mind at ease and began to heal his wounds.

In the cultivation chamber, Liu Junhuai absorbed spiritual energy continuously. Surging true energy formed cycles within his body, flowing smoothly with Ye Mo’s method of circulation. He sensed his dantian and sea of consciousness rapidly strengthening, a profound sense of comfort radiating through his limbs and bones.

His dantian had expanded by a full circle, now brimming with powerful waves of true energy, several times stronger than before. True energy continually coursed through his body, nourishing every meridian.

His injuries had healed, and that day, Liu Junhuai decided to depart.

Leaving the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion, he arrived at the edge of the pool. He carefully examined the water, remembering the monstrous creature he had once angered within. He wondered whether it still harbored resentment.

His divine sense spread like a net, enveloping the entire pool. With constant practice, his underwater vision had expanded from one meter to five meters. It seemed safe enough, and Liu Junhuai felt reassured.

He found the spot where he had previously fallen, slipped quietly into the water, and swam over.

“My realm is still too low. Only after foundation establishment can I fly on a sword,” Liu Junhuai mused.

He soon crossed several dozen yards, using his knife to anchor himself to the rock wall, and slipped smoothly into the crevice.

Following the fissure, he reached the waterfall beside the Dragon Sacrifice Pool. Liu Junhuai wondered about the factions searching for the “Mysterious Heavenly Dragon Fish.” After more than seven months away, he hoped the area had quieted.

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Two days later, Liu Junhuai returned to the cave deep within the Crane Crest Ridge. He took out his communication jade and crushed it to contact Uncle Huan, then sat cross-legged to cultivate.

The next day, sounds echoed outside the cave. Extending his divine sense, Liu Junhuai saw Uncle Huan had arrived. Overjoyed, he ran to the entrance to greet his long-lost uncle.

Welcoming Uncle Huan inside, Liu Junhuai saw the moisture in Shen Yihuan’s eyes, and his own heart grew heavy.

Learning that the cliff’s restriction had prevented Uncle Huan from receiving the communication jade, he felt relieved.

“Child, this place isn’t safe anymore,” Shen Yihuan said. “During the first few months after you left, whenever I came searching, I felt someone was tracking me. Perhaps since they never found you, that feeling has faded. Still, I think you should move somewhere else.”

“It’s alright,” Liu Junhuai replied. “I can set up a formation below. Wherever I hide, as long as we stay in touch, the Shen family will find me. Besides, their highest cultivator isn’t even at foundation establishment. If they can’t fight, they can always run.”

Shen Yihuan nodded. “Just be careful. I’m an ordinary man, so I can’t help much.” He handed over a storage pouch. “These are fasting pills and ingredients for foundation pills. A few finished pills were given by your Uncle Daitou. If you get a chance, contact him.”

“Thank you, Uncle Huan,” Liu Junhuai said, accepting the pouch. “Why don’t you try cultivating as well? Start with planting your spiritual root, and we can talk about techniques later. I’ve obtained many resources and herbs this time. You don’t need to worry about medicine anymore.”

“It’s enough that you care. I’m too old for cultivation,” Shen Yihuan replied happily. “When Duoduo returns, help her as much as you can.”

Shen Duoduo, Shen Yihuan’s youngest daughter, was a year younger than Liu Junhuai. The elder daughter, Shen Qianqian, had married and taken Duoduo with her temporarily.

Liu Junhuai readily agreed. Uncle Huan had helped his family often, and Liu Junhuai had always regarded him as a father. Moreover, he and Duoduo were close, having shared a room in childhood.

Uncle Huan asked about Liu Junhuai’s experiences over the past half year. Hearing the hardships, he broke out in sweat, for Liu Junhuai was still only twelve or thirteen—a child enduring so much alone. He was both guilty and gratified by the boy’s rapid growth.

Liu Junhuai kept silent about the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion and the Heavenly Eye—too extraordinary and secretive, safer if fewer people knew.

“Uncle Huan, before I fell at the Dragon Sacrifice Pool in Qingyun Valley, I encountered many cultivators. Have you heard any news about that place recently?” Liu Junhuai asked.

“There was something—and a big thing at that,” Shen Yihuan replied, his face pale with fear. “It’s said the Mysterious Heavenly Dragon Fish appeared at the Dragon Sacrifice Pool. The cultivation sects and major families of Fengling Kingdom, even some outsiders, all mobilized. The sect Yanfugong, where Shen Bingwen—the eldest young master’s son—belongs, sent three elders. In total, three hundred sixty-seven people went in; only seven escaped. The rest perished, leaving not a single bone behind.”

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Liu Junhuai was shocked. “What happened? What did the survivors say?”

“Few know. Those seven survivors were hidden away by their respective sects. The highest cultivation among the fallen was Foundation Establishment Level Nine, but none of the survivors were at foundation establishment. There’s much strangeness in it. Rumors abound: some say the dragon fish ascended and the cultivators became its meal; some say it was a trap set by an evil hidden sect to harvest cultivators’ blood; others believe a powerful sect sent Golden Core cultivators to wipe out all entrants and seize treasures; some speak of ancient divine dragon bloodlines, descendants of the heavenly way, and backlash from ancient dragons.

There are endless tales, but one detail is unanimous: the sects of those seven survivors are deeply wary, keeping silent and showing no interest in investigating. Shen Bingwen went only to accompany his master; as a core disciple of martial level eight, he was protected and didn’t enter the pool. Yanfugong claimed all three of their people perished, but some in the Shen family suspect that a foundation establishment cultivator took Shen Bingwen away—his master Cheng Kelei. I strongly suspect Cheng Kelei was among the seven who escaped.”

“Do many people know about this?” Liu Junhuai asked, worried.

“Only a Shen family servant, who is a distant relative. He told only me,” Shen Yihuan replied.

“Uncle Huan, this is very risky. Remind him to be careful. And you should avoid getting involved with me anymore—in the Shen family, you’re visible; they’re hidden.”

“I understand. You’re still young, and the Shen family watches you closely. You must think carefully before acting, so as not to ruin things.”

Liu Junhuai agreed. He took a pile of pills from his storage ring and handed them to Shen Yihuan. “Uncle Huan, these are Bone Cleansing Pills, Advancement Pills, and Channel Opening Powder, all for early-stage qi cultivation. I came by them by chance and no longer need them. Keep some for Duoduo, and sell the rest.”

Shen Yihuan saw there were over two hundred pills, realizing Liu Junhuai’s haul was substantial, and accepted them without protest. When Liu Junhuai offered over a thousand spirit stones, he refused. “Selling these pills will fetch nearly ten thousand lower-grade spirit stones. I don’t need so much—keep them for your cultivation.”

“That’s fine. I still have some crystals, more useful for cultivation, but taking them out might cause trouble. Keep them for Duoduo. The previous owner of my storage ring was likely a pill master, which is why I gained so many low-grade pills. I also have various herbs and pill-making jade slips—take what you need,” Liu Junhuai said, waving his hand to reveal a large pile of medicinal herbs.

As a healer, Shen Yihuan cherished the herbs and recipes, especially as age made gathering them harder. Picking through them, he was filled with excitement.