At the heart of the mountain, only the faint gurgling of the spring echoed softly through the darkness.
The rock walls were a translucent blue-green, icy spring water constantly seeping from their cracks and winding down the stone faces, gathering into a deep, secluded underground cold spring.
The water was clear and bright, so deep one could see straight to the bottom.
Lan Yi stepped closer, circulating his blood and qi to suppress the surging vitality within him. A trace of longing rose from the depths of his heart.
No great waves stirred the spring's surface; only faint ripples spread outward in rings.
A current of qi slowly rose from the depths of the spring's source, transforming into wisps of silver-blue mist. Rather than drifting upward, they sank and rose, hovering between the surface of the spring and the low stone hollows.
The moment Lan Yi noticed that wisp of mist, his gaze trembled slightly and his breathing grew heavier without his realizing it.
Though his expression remained unchanged, his movements had long since betrayed him.
Lan Yi bent down, a hint of delight in his eyes as he quietly watched the silver-blue mist.
"That's right... Little Cold Subduing Spring Profound Qi."
"It's it..."
"After searching bitterly for so many years... finally..."
Lan Yi took out a jade bottle he had prepared beforehand. It had been polished from mineral jade excavated deep underground, without a trace of impurity added.
He placed the jade bottle into the spring water, and the silver-blue mist flowed along with the current into it.
"With this strand of profound qi, I too can glimpse the realm of Spirit Cultivators."
Lan Yi carefully tucked the jade bottle into his robes and muttered to himself.
After putting away the jade bottle, Lan Yi did not immediately hurry