Ancient Yang Spirit Vein

"Most likely some ancient Dao scripture was about to emerge again." Yan Qing spread his hands, thoroughly unconcerned. "If it isn't the Li Ancient Secret Repository, then it's the Horned Dragon Demon Tomb. Across the entire Ten-Thousand Mang Mountains, only the ancient Dao scriptures of those two clans could draw these grandmasters here in person."

During the ancient era, quite a few ancient clans had emerged from the Ten-Thousand Mang Mountains.

The most renowned were the Li Clan and the Horned Dragon great demons. Even now, only the Dao writings of those two clans remained in the world, and all were incomplete—less than one part in ten had survived.

For instance, the Ancient Solar Record merely documented trivial details and secret tales of the Li Clan's lives, at most containing a few body-tempering arts.

The ancient Dao scripture truly passed down by the Li Clan was called the Secret Solar Inheritance, yet after all these years, people had only heard its name.

What truly made heroes throughout the world flock to it like ducks to water were the cultivation secrets and divine abilities recorded within.

Seeing Xu Yan's silent, contemplative expression, Yan Qing froze before immediately widening his eyes. "Don't you get any crooked ideas. That isn't a place you can go. If anything happens to you, the Prince of Wu'an will surely flatten Shangyin Academy!"

"I would not do such a dangerous thing, Senior Brother." Xu Yan smiled.

"Though Shangyin is a literary academy, it also possesses wondrous immortal arts. Once you open your spirit aperture, hurry back to the academy. I'll personally teach you divine abilities. The Dragon Gate Examination is still a year away. Study properly. Taking first place will be difficult, but getting onto the Martial Rankings may not be impossible!" Yan Qing said.

As they spoke, they arrived at Dongli Commandery.

Xu Yan went to the Immortal Market himself and led out the Blood-Sweat Dragon Colt.

The two did not pause for even a moment. Once they left the city, they headed north.

Dongli Commandery and Dongyang Commandery were separated by only two thousand li. They would arrive in two hours.

Several hundred li west of the city lay a vast spirit lake. That was where Pursuing Sun Academy stood.

Built beside the water, its palaces, pavilions, and Dao grounds rose one after another. It appeared far more splendid than Shangyin Academy.

"Things really are different after producing a Martial Scholar Champion. The imperial court must have allocated quite a bit of funding over these years." Yan Qing's tone was somewhat sour.

As soon as they reached the academy's main gate, a young scholar in white robes came forward to greet them.

His expression was blank. He most likely knew that Xu Yan was going to cultivate within the spirit vein, so his attitude was neither warm nor cold.

"Greetings, Mister Yan," the young scholar said.

"Don't try to welch on the debt. Take us to the Ancient Yang Spirit Vein," Yan Qing said bluntly.

The scholar's vision darkened upon hearing this. "Mister Yan, you jest. Pursuing Sun Academy can afford to lose. Follow me. The spirit vein is in a cavern beneath the lake."

The three slowly made their way to the shimmering lake. The young scholar held a jade token and lightly pointed at it with his spiritual power.

Whoosh!

Wrapped in swirling magical power, the jade token shot out trembling like a flying sword, stirring the lake into towering waves.

Like an inverted waterfall being pushed upright, the waters surged aside, and amid the spraying foam, an ancient stone stairway extended downward.

The three immediately walked inside.

The deeper they descended, the denser the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became, nearly condensing into substance. Yet it remained formless, and Xu Yan felt as if he had sunk into a mire.

"What incredibly heavy spiritual power of heaven and earth..." Xu Yan said, his expression changing in surprise.

"After accumulating for so many years, how could it not be heavy?" Yan Qing narrowed his eyes as he savored the sensation.

The young scholar's face darkened further at those words.

Pursuing Sun Academy held martial arts and divine ability tournaments every year. Only the champion was allowed to cultivate here for a few days.

Xu Yan, meanwhile, was entering for a half-month of secluded cultivation. Of course the young scholar would not look pleased.

When they reached the deepest part, the darkness suddenly brightened, and the temperature in the air gradually became scorching.

Within the enormous cavern, a spirit vein hundreds of zhang long clung to the ground. It resembled a true dragon formed of fire. Sizzling, scorching magma bubbled from the spirit vein as spirit mist rose from it.

Layer upon layer of arcane-script formations had also been laid around the spirit vein, restraining its spiritual power so it could not disperse in all directions.

"You have only half a month. Young Master Yan, call for me once you leave seclusion." The young scholar spoke without expression. With a sweep of his sleeve, he was about to leave, but when he saw Yan Qing still standing there, displeasure appeared on his face. "Mister Yan, are you also planning to enter seclusion here?"

"What's the hurry? I still have a few words to explain to my junior brother. Go out first. I'll follow shortly." Yan Qing waved him away impatiently.

Xu Yan said nothing and simply began preparing the items he would need for seclusion.

Knowing he would be cultivating here, he had made thorough preparations two days ago.

Such an opportunity is rare. This time, I must press forward in one breath and open the Baihui Spirit Aperture! Xu Yan took a deep breath, his gaze growing firmer.

Since he had chosen to embark upon this road to the summit, he could no longer remain as light as the wind and faint as the clouds as he had while studying literature.

Xu Yan opened the strange lock clasp of his storage pouch and took out a meditation cushion woven from Willow-Questioning Branches. He had spent a great sum to purchase it at the Immortal Market, along with a low table and spirit incense.

After making every preparation, Xu Yan did not waste any time. He bent his legs and sat cross-legged.

"Junior Brother Yan, keep this shuttle for now. Once you open your spirit aperture, try controlling it." As Yan Qing spoke, he gently set the Literary Gold Shuttle upon the table. Then he added, "I'll be in Dongyang Commandery City. If you cannot find me, throw this Signal Gold Sword."

Immediately afterward, Yan Qing took out several thumb-sized miniature flying swords. These items could contain a cultivator's divine sense and seek someone thousands of li away.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother." Xu Yan nodded.

With that, Yan Qing departed on his own.

Only Xu Yan remained within the vast spirit cavern. The fiery-red Ancient Yang Spirit Vein slowly flowed, making soft sputtering sounds. The searing spiritual power of heaven and earth rippled through the surroundings like tiny spirit serpents.

Xu Yan leisurely lit a stick of spirit incense, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes as he gradually calmed his mind and turned his senses inward.

Within the darkness of the void, the thirty-six spirit apertures were dim and lifeless, like dead stars suspended high in the heavens, exuding an oppressive presence.

Twenty-seven of those apertures were sealed by chains of arcane script. Turbid energy could not leak out, nor could spiritual power enter.

After pondering for a while, Xu Yan grasped the Human-Snake Ancient Jade hanging around his neck and remained beneath that starry sky where time flowed slowly. Only after his state of mind had completely stabilized did he begin chanting the aperture-opening incantation without haste.

"One breath divides into Yin and Yang, the Four Symbols suppress the eight wildernesses. Earthfire boils the vast sea, cloud sigils write the heavenly chapters. The spirit returns to the Kunlun Ruins, qi locks the Penglai Isle. The heart realizes the crystal realm, the body transforms into a map of mountains and seas..."

In an instant, the spiritual energy within the cavern began to tremble faintly, emitting a humming sound on its own.

After only a few breaths, a flood of spiritual power suddenly surged into Xu Yan's body!

Xu Yan's expression shifted slightly.

Spiritual power circulated through his meridians, drawn by the incantation like towering waves crashing in from the sea, endlessly battering against the dim Baihui Aperture!

Vast spiritual power swept in from every direction. Xu Yan's black robes snapped wildly in the gale. His brows drew together slightly, his eyes tightly shut.

The formless Baihui Aperture was like a great demon that swallowed the sun and moon, gulping down the surging spiritual power rushing in from all sides like a whale devouring dragons, as though it would never know exhaustion!