Chapter 43: Inheritance of the Grotto-Heaven

“Fellow Daoist Song is truly deserving of it,” Xu Yunhe said in agreement, having finally caught his breath.

Seeing this, Zhu Yiqun shrugged. “I certainly have no objections. We only made it this far thanks to Changsheng this time; he could have easily kept it all for himself.”

With just a few words, the group established who deserved the primary credit for the matter. As the person concerned, Song Changsheng naturally had no reason to be pretentious and readily accepted everyone's goodwill.

Before him lay twelve jade boxes, five jade bottles, three jade slips, and three jade plaques of unknown use.

Song Changsheng did not dither. He casually picked up one jade box, one jade bottle, and one purple jade slip before stepping aside.

At this moment, Zhuang Yuechan spoke up again: “Fellow Daoist Zhu was the organizer this time, so you should choose first.”

“Heh, if Fellow Daoist Zhuang puts it that way, then old Zhu won't stand on ceremony.” Zhu Yiqun chuckled and stepped forward to take a jade box.

Zhuang Yuechan arranged the others to pick before her. After several rounds of selection, only one jade bottle and the three jade plaques remained.

It was Song Changsheng's turn again. Everyone assumed he would choose the jade bottle, but to their surprise, he took a blood-red jade plaque.

“Changsheng, do you know what this thing is for?” Zhu Yiqun asked curiously.

Song Changsheng shook his head. “I just feel a sense of affinity with it, but I don't know its function.”

The others did not probe further. Following the order set by Zhuang Yuechan, they each took an item. Zhu Yiqun and Zhuang Yuechan each took a jade plaque, while the jade bottle fell into Xu Yunhe's hands.

Once the treasures were fully divided, Song Changsheng cupped his hands toward the group and said, “Fellow Daoists, if any of you obtain an inheritance related to formations or weapon refining and are willing to part with it, I am prepared to offer a price to purchase or exchange. I will ensure you are satisfied.”

Within this spatial bag, there were three jade slips suspected to contain inheritances. Song Changsheng had only taken one; he had managed to glance at it earlier, and it recorded a sword technique that was quite exquisite, but it was useless to him.

What he wanted more were the cave master's inheritances regarding formations or weapon refining.

“I have an inheritance regarding weapon refining techniques here.” Xu Yunhe was the first to take out a jade slip and hand it to Song Changsheng.

“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Xu. What is it you desire in return?” Song Changsheng was overjoyed; the cave master had indeed left behind relevant inheritances.

“Just take it, Fellow Daoist Song. It won't do me any good anyway,” Xu Yunhe said, waving his hand dismissively. He only needed one person and one sword.

“You shouldn't put it that way. This item might be useless to you, but to me, it is incredibly precious. As it happens, the item I obtained is a sword technique inheritance, so let us exchange them,” Song Changsheng said, producing the jade slip he had obtained.

Upon hearing it was a sword technique inheritance, Xu Yunhe was instantly tempted. There are four essential elements for a cultivator's journey: Law, Companion, Wealth, and Land.

Among them, cultivation methods are the most important. As a rogue cultivator, he had stumbled onto the path of cultivation only by chance through a sword cultivator's inheritance.

Having practiced up to this point, he was actually starting to run out of momentum. He did not have the backing of a clan like Song Changsheng, nor the mysterious identities of Zhu Yiqun and Zhuang Yuechan. This sword technique inheritance was truly "charcoal in the snow" for him.

“This is indeed something I urgently need. Let us proceed as you suggest,” Xu Yunhe said, feeling somewhat embarrassed, as he had intended to give it to Song Changsheng for free just a moment ago.

After the two completed the exchange, Zhuang Yuechan, who was standing aside, also took out a jade slip and said, “It seems Fellow Daoist Song's luck is poor today. Yuechan also has a formation inheritance here.”

Song Changsheng's face instantly darkened. Of the three jade slips, two were exactly what he needed, yet he had perfectly avoided the correct answers. This wasn't just poor luck; it was abysmal.

With a bitter smile, he cupped his hands toward Zhuang Yuechan. “May I ask what Fellow Daoist Zhuang desires?”

A hint of a smile curled the red lips beneath Zhuang Yuechan's veil. She pointed to the pile of resources on the ground that had not yet been distributed. “I only want these cultivation resources, as well as that emerald-green jade box you took earlier, Fellow Daoist.”

“Fellow Daoist Zhuang, aren't you being a bit greedy? I estimate the value of this pile on the ground is no less than six thousand spirit stones, and Changsheng's share alone is worth about fifteen hundred. You actually want that jade box too? Is your inheritance worth that much?”

Zhu Yiqun's small eyes stared at the jade slip in Zhuang Yuechan's hand, his voice full of suspicion.

Zhuang Yuechan did not take offense. She handed the jade slip directly to Song Changsheng and said, “Whether it is worth it is for Fellow Daoist Song to judge. Yuechan has no intention of being a lion opening its mouth [demanding too much].”

Taking the jade slip and pressing it against his forehead, Song Changsheng scanned the contents briefly. Immediately, a tempest of shock rose in his heart.

Without hesitation, he took out the jade box. He had not yet opened it, but no matter what was inside, it was not as tempting as the inheritance before his eyes.

“Many thanks for your generosity, Fellow Daoist. I am deeply grateful,” Song Changsheng said solemnly, cupping his hands toward Zhuang Yuechan. This time, he had truly gained a massive advantage from her.

Zhuang Yuechan gave him a somewhat complex look but said nothing.

“There is definitely something going on between those two,” Zhu Yiqun's gaze darted between them, his mind already spinning with all sorts of plausible and implausible speculations.

Subsequently, the pile of cultivation resources on the ground was divided into four equal parts, with Zhuang Yuechan claiming two of them.

Although Song Changsheng did not receive a share of those resources, he had obtained the cave master's formation and weapon refining inheritances, as well as a secret technique. His harvest was bountiful, and he was already quite satisfied.

Just as the group prepared to inventory their gains, Song Changsheng's expression suddenly changed. “Not good! I don't know what method those Blood Demons are using, but the [Xuan Yang Heavenly Gang Formation] is about to be breached!”

“What?” Everyone was struck with terror. Even a refining magic formation could not stop these Blood Demons?

“Fellow Daoist Song, we must rely on you to control the formation and stall for time. The elders of my sect should be arriving shortly,” Zhuang Yuechan said gravely.

“Very well, I will do my utmost.”

The group stepped out together. Upon reaching the exterior of the cave dwelling, they discovered that the sky above was already shrouded in a layer of turbid black blood, and the light shield condensed from Yang energy was being eaten away bit by bit.

“This is the [Blood Demon Yin-Sha Formation], a demonic formation that can only be deployed through special means. Damn these Blood Demons!” Rage burned in Song Changsheng's chest.

Connecting all the dots, Song Changsheng suddenly understood why those demonic cultivators had come to intercept them three years ago. It was all to deploy this insidious demonic formation; everything had been orchestrated!

Thinking of Song Changjiu, Song Luding, and the others who had fallen in that battle, the fury in his heart reached its peak.

“Fellow Daoist Song, we are counting on you now,” Zhuang Yuechan said with a heavy expression, though her left hand quietly tightened around the jade pendant at her waist.

“Formation rise—[Heavenly Gang Wind-Sha]!”

With a great shout from Song Changsheng, the formation began to operate frantically, whipping up gusts of astral wind that transformed into sharp blades, slashing toward the sea of blood enveloping the great array...

(End of Chapter)