The Golden Core Cave Abode

Li Yunjing shook his head. "Junior Brother, don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Seeing this, Mo Xuan felt utterly helpless.

Shui Yao took Mo Xuan's hand and sent him a message through her Divine Sense:

"Brother Xuan, let Senior Brother go. Don't you trust him to handle things?

At worst, the two of us can work harder in the future and give Senior Brother more support. We'll be able to help him somehow."

Mo Xuan nodded gently.

Li Yunjing spoke up then.

"Junior Brother Mo, Junior Sister Shui, there's something I'd like to discuss with you.

I want you to return to the Luozhen Sect and become its elders."

Li Yunjing had given this matter a great deal of thought.

Before, Li Yunjing hadn't activated his cheat.

Even if he had invited the two back, he wouldn't have been confident in his ability to strengthen the Luozhen Sect.

Now things were different. The Luozhen Sect only needed time to grow stronger.

Mo Xuan and Shui Yao both frowned at once.

"Senior Brother, it's not that I don't want to come back, but... even if we did, it wouldn't help," Mo Xuan said helplessly.

Shui Yao nodded in agreement beside him.

"That's right, Senior Brother. In three more months, if the Luozhen Sect doesn't have a Foundation Establishment cultivator holding the fort, the Immortal Alliance will revoke its qualifications.

When that happens, the Immortal Alliance will no longer protect the Luozhen Sect, and we'll be driven out of Serene Valley without even a place to settle.

Even if that were all right, danger would follow. We... truly want to help, but we're powerless."

The Immortal Alliance was obliged to protect its members.

That had been stipulated when the Luozhen Sect joined the Immortal Alliance.

And beneath Serene Valley lay a high-quality second-tier Spirit Vein.

It was Serene Valley's, and the Luozhen Sect's, greatest asset.

Because the Immortal Alliance protected them,

even after the Luozhen Sect fell into decline,

no one dared come to Serene Valley to cause trouble.

But once its qualifications were revoked, the Immortal Alliance would no longer protect it.

There was no telling how many jackals and wolves the second-tier Spirit Vein beneath Serene Valley would attract.

Li Yunjing and the others couldn't possibly defend it on their own.

If they managed to keep their lives, it would be because the patriarch had manifested his power.

"I understand your concerns, Junior Sister, but don't worry. The Luozhen Sect is different now," Li Yunjing said with a confident smile.

Mo Xuan frowned. Different? How was it different?

Naturally, Li Yunjing wouldn't reveal his real secret.

That made it difficult to convince Mo Xuan and Shui Yao.

"Senior Brother, I'm sorry."

In the end, Mo Xuan looked at Li Yunjing apologetically.

He and Shui Yao couldn't return to the Luozhen Sect.

Li Yunjing felt helpless. Should he show them a building upgrade?

After thinking it over, Li Yunjing said:

"Junior Brother, Junior Sister, come with me."

Li Yunjing walked out of Luozhen Hall. Mo Xuan and Shui Yao were puzzled, but obediently followed him outside.

They walked a hundred or so paces east of Luozhen Hall.

They arrived at the Chicken Coop within the Luozhen Sect.

The three of them had built this Chicken Coop's structure under their master's hand.

It had once housed many grade-one spirit chickens.

Later, their master fell ill,

and the vast majority of the grade-one spirit chickens were sold.

Only three hens remained in the Chicken Coop now.

They were merely the lowest-grade, early first-tier spirit chickens.

"Watch closely."

Li Yunjing stood in front of the Chicken Coop.

He placed the planks, straw, and rice needed to upgrade it in front of him.

A prompt popped up before his eyes.

[Upgrade?]

Li Yunjing silently answered yes.

The next moment, all three materials vanished.

Li Yunjing saw the Chicken Coop upgrade from lv0 to lv1.

[Chicken Coop (lv1)]

[lv2 spirit effects: produces spirit eggs ×4 daily; +40% chance each day to double the number of spirit eggs produced; +20% chance each day to produce a premium spirit egg (with a special effect); poultry accumulate cultivation faster in the Chicken Coop.]

[Upgrade requirements: a chicken enclosure made of hundred-year-old paulownia wood, low-grade Spirit Stone powder ×5 taels.]

As the Chicken Coop upgraded to lv1,

a flash of light passed over it.

The light faded, but the Chicken Coop's appearance hadn't changed at all.

"Senior Brother, what did you want us to look at?"

Seeing this, Mo Xuan was at a loss for words.

Were they supposed to look at the light? Or was he showing off his Storage Bag?

Li Yunjing pressed a hand to his forehead.

He hadn't expected the Chicken Coop to show no change at all after upgrading to lv1.

In that case, presumably the other buildings,

the Spirit Fields, the mountain gate, and Patriarch Hall, were the same.

They couldn't go from dilapidated to magnificent and resplendent in an instant.

That left Li Yunjing with no way to show them.

He had originally planned to spin a story about an immortal taking a liking to him and helping him.

Back in Luozhen Hall, Li Yunjing sighed repeatedly.

Mo Xuan and Shui Yao exchanged a look, and then Mo Xuan coughed.

"Senior Brother, Xiao Yao and I also have something we'd like to discuss with you."

Li Yunjing looked at Mo Xuan.

"Xiao Yao and I accepted a mission posted by the Clear Wind Sect.

A Golden Core cave abode has appeared in Tiger Leaping Gorge, east of Xunxian Town.

The Clear Wind Sect posted a mission inviting Rogue Cultivators to explore the Golden Core cave abode.

If we can complete the mission, we'll have a chance to join the Clear Wind Sect.

Xiao Yao and I aren't confident we can do it, so we'd like to invite you to explore the Golden Core cave abode with us."

Mo Xuan spoke, making his request.

Li Yunjing frowned when he heard this.

"Have you gone mad? Explore a Golden Core cave abode? Do you have a death wish?!"

A Golden Core cave abode was no place for a casual outing.

As the dwelling of a Golden Core cultivator,

any random thing in it could be deadly to a Qi Refining cultivator.

Li Yunjing hadn't expected that after leaving the Luozhen Sect,

the two would grow bold enough to venture into a Golden Core cave abode.

"Senior Brother, we're only going to look around the outskirts. We won't enter the core area, so there won't be any danger," Shui Yao hurriedly explained.

Li Yunjing grew very serious.

"Who told you there wouldn't be any danger? If they're so capable, let them try venturing into a Golden Core cave abode themselves."

"Senior Brother, don't worry about that. Xiao Yao and I have already accepted the mission and can't back out halfway. It just depends on whether you're willing to join us," Mo Xuan said.

"If we complete the mission, all three of us can join the Clear Wind Sect. It's one of the few Third-Rank Sects in this area."

A Third-Rank Sect was one with a Golden Core cultivator holding the fort.

There really weren't many Third-Rank Sects around the Luozhen Sect.

There were only four in total, and the Clear Wind Sect was one of them.

For Rogue Cultivators, a chance to join the Clear Wind Sect really wasn't one to miss.

Li Yunjing wasn't interested.

"Junior Brother, take my advice. The waters of a Golden Core cave abode run too deep for you and Junior Sister Shui to navigate. If you can withdraw, then hurry and give up this mission.

I don't want to see anything happen to you," Li Yunjing urged.

Hearing this, Mo Xuan understood that Li Yunjing had refused.

But he and Shui Yao wouldn't give up.

"Senior Brother, if you're unwilling, I won't force you." Mo Xuan felt a little regret.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother. Xiao Yao and I know our limits. We won't act rashly.

If Xiao Yao and I join the Clear Wind Sect, don't go crying your eyes out."

Mo Xuan's words immediately made Li Yunjing laugh.

Li Yunjing put away his smile and looked at Mo Xuan and Shui Yao.

Their gazes were firm; it seemed they had made up their minds.

In that case, they probably wouldn't listen to anything Li Yunjing said.

"Since you've made up your minds, I won't waste any more words. Come with me."

Li Yunjing walked out of Luozhen Hall again.

He led the two to Patriarch Hall.

Li Yunjing had them each offer a stick of incense to the patriarch and pray for his protection.

Once they had offered the incense, Li Yunjing sent a strand of Law Power into the incense burner.

The incense burner immediately flashed with light.

Five Law Artifacts appeared on the offering table.

"Senior Brother, this..."

Mo Xuan and Shui Yao looked astonished.

As they remembered it, the Luozhen Sect's Law Artifacts had long since been sold. How could there still be any left?

Li Yunjing smiled. "Don't be surprised. Take all these Law Artifacts with you."

All five Law Artifacts were First-Rank Law Artifacts.

But they were among the finest First-Rank Law Artifacts.

A Law Artifact's strength was determined by the number of Law Restrictions it possessed.

Each of the five Law Artifacts had between ten and twelve Law Restrictions.

Twelve was the maximum number of Law Restrictions a First-Rank Law Artifact could hold.

Each of the five Law Artifacts served a different purpose.

The sword-shaped Law Artifact, for example, was primarily meant for killing.

The shield Law Artifact, on the other hand, was primarily for defense.

There was also a small flag that could interfere with a cultivator's Divine Sense.

Since the two were determined to enter the Golden Core cave abode,

all Li Yunjing could do was give them the Law Artifacts.

That would give them a better chance of survival.

Mo Xuan also knew how dangerous the Golden Core cave abode was.

The five Law Artifacts were just what they needed.

So Mo Xuan didn't stand on ceremony.

"Senior Brother, thank you."