Chapter V: Hidden Waters and Flames in the Secluded Mountain Valley

The interior of the cave was not damp at all; on the contrary, it was exceptionally dry.

Cobwebs covered every corner, yet the ventilation was superb, completely free of any fishy or foul odors.

Clearly, the Hundred-Eyed Spider Lady was rather fond of cleanliness.

Carrying the silken threads bestowed by the Spider Lady, Lin Fan and Jiang Sheng walked with composed strides through the cavern. The surrounding Hundred-Eyed Spiders, varying greatly in size, all yielded and cleared a path for the two to pass unhindered.

Jiang Sheng even noticed that quite a few of the spiders looked at Lin Fan with a subtle hint of dread. No doubt the clash between Lin Fan and the Spider Lady back then must have been quite momentous.

The winding cave sloped and twisted. After walking for roughly five hundred miles guided by Lin Fan, they finally emerged from the cavern.

Looking back, they found themselves standing before an entirely different mountain peak.

"These Hundred-Eyed Spiders actually hollowed out an entire mountain?" Jiang Sheng asked in mild surprise.

Lin Fan replied, "That Lady's mother is also a formidable Great Demon of the Golden Core realm."

Jiang Sheng nodded, "That explains it."

Having traversed the mountain peak, Jiang Sheng gazed out at the rolling mountain ranges stretching before them, the clouds and mist obscuring the mountainsides alongside drifting toxic miasma. He remarked with a sigh, "Who can say how many opportunities lie hidden within this Valley of a Thousand Folds?"

"Let's move on. We have another six hundred miles to go before we arrive," Lin Fan said, rising into the air and flying toward a specific peak.

Jiang Sheng followed closely behind in flight.

An hour later, Lin Fan and Jiang Sheng descended into a valley.

Towering peaks thousands of feet high pierced the clouds all around. From the precipitous cliff of the northern peak hung a waterfall, which, together with the stream cascading down the western peak, poured into the valley to form a deep pool.

Enshrouded in watery mist, the entire valley was saturated with clouds and vapor, casting a hazy veil over the landscape.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "At the bottom of this deep pool lies the secret realm."

Jiang Sheng sensed the surrounding spiritual Qi and nodded, "In that case, I might as well set up a formation first and quietly await Fairy Mu and the others."

Lin Fan looked surprised, "Brother Yuanchen, when did you learn formation arts?"

Jiang Sheng chuckled, "By sheer coincidence, I acquired a set of formation flags, several of which are of the Tier Three. I wouldn't know how to forge a formation from scratch, but deploying a ready-made one is not too difficult."

"Several Tier Three formations? Your fortuitous encounters are truly impressive, Brother Yuanchen," Lin Fan said with a trace of envy.

After all, Lin Fan himself possessed only a single Tier Three formation up to this day, and that had been seized from someone else.

For Jiang Sheng to casually pull out multiple Tier Three formations made Lin Fan feel rather piqued.

With a light laugh, Jiang Sheng produced a set of formation flags for the Flowing Light Clear Water Formation. He directly enveloped the entire deep pool, setting the formation in place.

As the flags settled into position, a torrent of luminous water-light rose, blending seamlessly with the clouds and vapors of the valley, leaving no discernible difference whatsoever.

"Fortunately, this moisture is abundant and the spiritual Qi in these mountains is plentiful, otherwise it would truly be difficult for this formation to blend in so perfectly," Jiang Sheng smiled.

Lin Fan casually cleared a patch of ground near the edge of the pool. "It has been a long time since Brother Yuanchen and I discussed the Dao. Since Fairy Mu and the others have yet to arrive, would Brother Yuanchen care to engage in a discourse on the Dao with me once more?"

Jiang Sheng sat down cross-legged with an open expression. "I couldn't ask for more. Please lead the way, Brother Yunxuan."

Ten days later, two faint auras vaguely manifested outside the valley.

Lin Fan, who had been meditating and circulating his Qi, opened his eyes. "Fairy Mu has arrived."

Moments later, the two presences descended into the valley, and the Flowing Light Clear Water Formation parted to reveal a gap.

As the two streaks of escaping light slipped through the opening, the formation closed once more, melting back into the clouds and mist.

"I never expected the two young masters to arrive quite so early. It seems I am the one who is late," Mu Chan said.

Lin Fan smiled. "The agreed three-month term has yet to arrive. How could Fairy Mu be considered late?"

Mu Chan nodded, then introduced her companion. "This is Xiang Yao, a dear friend of mine. And these two are Young Master Lin and Young Master Jiang."

"Xiang Yao greets the two young masters."

"Greetings, Fairy Xiang."

After pleasantries were exchanged, Mu Chan remarked, "Truth be told, Yao'er and I should not have been this late."

"Who would have thought that the people of the Ma family would stir up such a commotion in the Valley of a Thousand Folds, forcing Yao'er and me to take a detour."

Hearing this, Lin Fan's expression remained unchanged. "Oh? The people of the Ma family caused quite a stir?"

Xiang Yao explained, "Indeed. Word has it that a batch of both direct and collateral descendants of the Ma family perished within the valley, along with two Purple Mansion masters."

"The Ma family is notoriously protective of their own. This time, they dispatched a Golden Core cultivator accompanied by numerous poison-insect guards to hunt down the killer with great fanfare, even sparking conflicts with the Hong and Blue families."

As she spoke, Xiang Yao observed the reactions of Jiang Sheng and Lin Fan.

Jiang Sheng's expression was tranquil, and no unusual trace could be seen on Lin Fan's face either.

Xiang Yao could not help but mutter inwardly. Where on earth did this sister of hers find these two experts?

Not only were they remarkably young, but their cultivation bases were profound and their minds unfathomable.

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly awkward, Lin Fan smiled. "Fairy Mu, since everyone is now present, shall we begin our operation?"

Mu Chan nodded. "Let us make it clear beforehand how the spoils will be divided."

"Naturally, those who labor more shall receive more," Lin Fan said.

"That seems fair." Xiang Yao offered no objection.

Lin Fan looked at Jiang Sheng, and Jiang Sheng nodded in agreement.

"In that case, let us break open the secret realm!"

Xiang Yao added, "No need for haste. This time, I have brought a set of Water-Cloud Illusion-Mist Formations, which can effectively mask the commotion of our actions."

"Then we must trouble Fairy Xiang."

Jiang Sheng did not refuse either; an extra formation provided an extra layer of assurance.

At the very least, for now, they were standing on the same side.

Xiang Yao swiftly deployed the Water-Cloud Illusion-Mist Formation. Immediately, the clouds and vapors within the valley took on an added sense of fluidity and obscurity. Anyone standing outside the valley would be completely incapable of perceiving the movements within.

Ordinary Qi-Refining and Foundation-Establishment creatures that blundered inside would likewise be subtly and unknowingly misled around the core area.

Capable of producing such a formation, Xiang Yao clearly possessed a meticulous mind.

"Now, we may proceed."

"Let's go!"

Without further hesitation, the four plunged into the pool.

The deep pool was several hundred zhang deep, and the water was bone-chillingly cold.

Even so, the pool still harbored a multitude of living beings.

Along their descent, Jiang Sheng and his companions discovered four or five species of spiritual fish.

Most of these spiritual fish were of the first and second tiers, feeding on aquatic plants and weeds within the pool. They were plump, robust, and looked utterly succulent.

Deep within the water pool lurked a school of second-tier water serpents.

Feeding on the spiritual fish, these water serpents grew carefree within the pool, several of them showing faint potential to break through to the Purple Mansion realm.

As they approached the bottom of the pool, the bone-chilling sensation gradually dissipated. The temperature at the lakebed had clearly risen significantly, even carrying a hint of warmth.

Undoubtedly, the creatures at the bottom of the pool were even more numerous; water serpents, spiritual flora, bivalves, and snails all thrived, relying on the warmth of the lakebed.

Cold above and warm below—such a stark contrast clearly demonstrated the extraordinary nature of the water pool.

Lin Fan transmitted his voice: "The blending of cold and heat; water-fire secret realms generally possess traits of this nature."

"Down below is the entrance to the water-fire secret realm."

Jiang Sheng cast his gaze downward and saw a school of water serpents circling an opening that faintly glowed with a red light.

It was precisely this opening that continuously radiated heat, nurturing the life at the bottom of the deep pool.

Mu Chan was evidently explaining the situation to Xiang Yao as well.

After exchanging a round of voice transmissions, the four rapidly closed in on the opening.

The water serpents gathered around the entrance to absorb the warmth were startled. Lifting their heads angrily, they realized four Purple Mansion realm entities were pressing down upon them, whereupon they scattered in panicked dismay.

Watching those four Purple Mansion entities vanish into the entrance, the water serpents lingered in confusion before returning to resume basking around the opening.

Once Jiang Sheng and his companions entered the cavern entrance, as they penetrated deeper, the red glow gradually filled their vision, and the temperature soared higher and higher.

The heat was akin to dwelling within a smelting cave; ordinary creatures would be reduced to ashes within a quarter of an hour.

Yet for four Purple Mansion realm cultivators, this temperature could only be considered moderate.

Following the smelting cave that continuously sputtered sparks all the way down, a ball of intertwined red and blue halo gradually appeared before the four.

They saw that the southern side of the interwoven red and blue halo was surrounded by molten lava, while the northern side surged with roaring torrents of water.

Astonishingly, this was the convergence of a fire-attribute spiritual vein and a water-attribute spiritual vein.

Clearly, it was the continuous collision and fusion of these fire-attribute and water-attribute spiritual veins that had given birth to this water-fire secret realm.

Lin Fan transmitted: "We have reached the water-fire secret realm. We must combine our efforts to open it."

A water-fire secret realm naturally required water and fire spiritual power to unlock.

Among the four, Lin Fan practiced the Scorching Heavenly Fire Scripture, while Jiang Sheng practiced the Primordial One Water Scripture, meaning they lacked neither water nor fire forces.

Jiang Sheng formed hand seals and guided the Qi, causing a surging torrent of spiritual energy to gather and pour downward.

Meanwhile, Lin Fan hollowed out his hands and struck downward with a crimson pillar of fire.

The forces of water and fire slammed into the halo, briefly tearing open a fracture.

"Quick!"

Mu Chan and Xiang Yao entered first, immediately casting spells to temporarily stabilize the opening.

Evidently, Mu Chan and Xiang Yao were also proficient, one in water arts and the other in fire arts.

Taking advantage of Mu Chan and Xiang Yao maintaining the gap, Jiang Sheng and Lin Fan entered right behind them.

As the spiritual power was withdrawn, the fracture began to gradually heal, returning to its pristine state.

Inside the water-fire secret realm, the four finally beheld the appearance of this realm.

The secret realm was vast, spanning roughly several hundred miles in radius.

One side was covered in volcanic magma, while the other side was a realm of misty marshland.

Land and ocean, fire and water.

Such was the scenery within the water-fire secret realm.

In the midst of the realm, countless fire spirits and water spirits were locked in fierce mutual slaughter.

Fireballs filled the sky, and water arrows fell like rain.

The central zone between the slaughtering fire spirits and water spirits was the only area that remained relatively normal.

There was sparse vegetation there, unlike the lairs of the fire and water spirits which were exclusively fire or water.

Clearly, the slaughter between water and fire had nurtured the greenery and vitality of this central zone.

Lin Fan remarked, "Those fire spirits and water spirits fighting in the center are merely transformed from ordinary fire and water essences. Water-fire spiritual pearls only exist within their respective lairs."

Pondering for a moment, Mu Chan said, "Since both Young Master Lin and I excel in fire arts, why don't we head to the water spirits' lair? Yao'er and Young Master Jiang can head to the fire spirits' lair. How does that sound?"

Jiang Sheng nodded, "That works."

"This arrangement is quite appropriate." Xiang Yao raised no objection.

"In that case, let us split up. Brother Yuanchen, do make sure you don't fall behind," Lin Fan smiled as he and Mu Chan flew toward the northern marsh.

Jiang Sheng looked over at the volcanic mountains to the south and said to Xiang Yao beside him, "Fairy Xiang, let's go."