Chapter 36: Treasure at the Bottom of the Pool

"Very well, then let us meet again if fate allows."

Hearing Chu Fengmian's refusal, Mo Changhen replied with a smile.

"If Brother Chu ever wishes to join our Wusheng Academy, you can come to us directly."

Mo Changhen could see that Chu Fengmian did not currently belong to any faction; he was merely a rogue cultivator. If a genius with such talent could join Wusheng Academy, it would greatly enhance the influence of their specific faction within the academy.

Wusheng Academy was actually divided into countless factions and cliques, and they were part of one such small group. Now, Mo Changhen wanted to win Chu Fengmian over.

"We'll see," Chu Fengmian said with a smile.

He had no intention of joining any faction for the time being. After all, the matters regarding the Lin Estate had not yet been resolved. He still had to fulfill the dying wishes of this body's original owner.

"If you are free, Brother Chu, you can also come to Wusheng Academy to hang out with us!" Hao Lan said with a laugh.

Unlike Mo Changhen, Hao Lan truly regarded Chu Fengmian as a friend and a brother, which gave Chu Fengmian a very favorable impression of him.

"Alright," Chu Fengmian nodded with a smile.

The two groups then parted ways, heading in opposite directions. Mo Changhen's group headed toward the edge of the Desolate Mountain Range, while Chu Fengmian continued deeper into the mountains.

It took a full day before Chu Fengmian returned to the edge of this pool.

Chu Fengmian had originally come to the Desolate Mountain Range to cultivate. Having obtained so many demon cores and the Imperial Phoenix Grass, his original goals had essentially been met. He had intended to leave, but a sudden discovery had given him a new plan.

There was something wrong with the presence of those Imperial Phoenix Grasses.

In essence, the Imperial Phoenix Grass was a spiritual herb that grew from ancient phoenix blood infused into the soil, containing the most refined and powerful ancient spiritual energy. The function of the Imperial Phoenix Grass was precisely to use that ancient spiritual energy to clear a martial artist's spiritual veins and strengthen their bloodline and physique, making it capable of producing peerless geniuses.

Generally speaking, where Imperial Phoenix Grass grew, there was ancient phoenix blood—usually places where ancient phoenixes had fought and left their blood behind. To grow even a single plant was extremely difficult, yet five had suddenly appeared here. There was definitely something hidden behind this.

It was even possible that this pool was the site where an ancient phoenix had fallen.

If this truly was the site of an ancient phoenix's death, it would be a massive treasure trove. An ancient phoenix's remains would be useful for ten thousand years; even obtaining a few bones would be of immense value. This was why Chu Fengmian had not left, but instead chose to return to the pool to investigate.

"There is something wrong with this pool."

Chu Fengmian walked to the edge of the pool, leaned down, and touched the water. The water was bone-chillingly cold, perhaps even colder than ice, yet it had not frozen. It was only possible that some powerful force was creating such a natural phenomenon.

"This pool is bottomless; something must be hidden inside," Chu Fengmian thought to himself.

All signs pointed toward the bottom of the pool.

"Let's go."

Chu Fengmian looked around; seeing no one nearby, he took a stride and leapt into the pool.

The freezing water instantly made him shudder. The water was excessively cold; although Chu Fengmian had reached the eighth level of the Bone Tempering Realm and his body was much stronger, he still trembled uncontrollably under the water.

With a thought, Chu Fengmian distributed the spiritual energy within him to every part of his body. Only then did he feel his body become much warmer. Once he stabilized himself, he began swimming toward the bottom.

The water was naturally extremely cold, and the deeper he swam, the colder it became. This caused the spiritual energy in his body to deplete rapidly. At this rate, he feared he would run out of energy in a minute at most.

"Ancient aura!"

The moment he dove into the depths of the pool, Chu Fengmian's eyes widened. At the very bottom of the pool, he sensed a faint trace of spiritual energy—a type of extremely ancient and powerful spiritual energy.

"There really is something hidden beneath this pool!" Chu Fengmian thought excitedly.

If he could obtain some of the ancient phoenix's treasures, he would soar to greatness. However, his spiritual energy was nearly exhausted.

"No, I'm so close, I must see this through!" Chu Fengmian growled inwardly.

The treasure was within arm's reach; how could he possibly give up now?

"Right!"

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He reached into his storage bag, pulled out a jade bottle, and opened it. A green pill sat in his palm.

The Jade Dew Pill.

Before leaving the Lin Estate, the Third Elder had specially given this pill to him. Chu Fengmian had been cultivating in the Desolate Mountain Range and had not had time to refine it. Now, to continue diving deeper and replenish his spiritual energy, the Jade Dew Pill was the best solution!

"To hell with it, I have to risk it!"

With a cold gaze, Chu Fengmian popped the Jade Dew Pill into his mouth.

Refining a pill was a task that required absolute concentration and a quiet environment. Now, Chu Fengmian was deep in a pool, forced to consume spiritual energy every second just to resist the cold. Attempting to refine the Jade Dew Pill under such circumstances was extremely dangerous.

Even Chu Fengmian felt uncertain, but he had no choice. He had to strike while the iron was hot and uncover the secrets of this pool.

As the pill entered his mouth, a burst of refined spiritual energy indeed erupted, greatly relieving his pressure. However, Chu Fengmian did not dare relax; this relief was only temporary. Once the medicinal power of the Jade Dew Pill was completely exhausted, his situation would become even more perilous. He had to use this time to reach the bottom.

"What is this?"

At the bottom of the pool, almost no sunlight could be seen. Chu Fengmian could only rely on his spiritual energy to vaguely perceive his surroundings.

"This... looks like a doorway?"

As Chu Fengmian looked at a massive rock beside the pool, a strange expression appeared in his eyes. The shape on the rock was indeed a door.

Who had built a dwelling at the bottom of this pool?

His expression shifted slightly as he swam toward the rock. Only when he drew close could he clearly see the appearance of the door. In the center of the door, a spiritual sword that seemed to pierce through heaven and earth was carved into it.