Chapter 384 - 192: Celestial Water Returning Ruins Technique (Part 2)
"Ultimately, Elder Huangfu suggested that trying to irrigate it with true dragon’s blood might allow the Dragon Yuan Blood Tree to truly take root and thrive."
"Earlier, we even discussed whether to send someone to trade with the Four Seas Dragon Palace, but we weren’t sure if they would agree, and they probably wouldn’t."
"Unexpectedly, a dragon species happened to visit you, so I thought maybe we could talk it over with this young lady?"
"As long as she’s willing to contribute some true dragon’s blood, regardless of whether the Dragon Yuan Blood Tree survives, we will reward her generously."
"Currently, the plan is: when the Dragon Yuan Blood Fruits mature in nine hundred years, we can offer her one or two."
"Additionally, she’s welcome to propose other requests, though the dragon palace is wealthy and full of treasures, and dragon species don’t lack cultivation resources, so we’re unsure what she might want."
Upon hearing this, Chu Xuan finally understood, "Then I’ll ask Xiang’er for her opinion later, but I’m not sure if extracting the blood... will harm her?"
Fuyun Zi waved his hand, "It’s not essence blood that we need; regular dragon’s blood will suffice."
"Even if essence blood is indeed required for it to survive, we wouldn’t ask for much, at most one or two drops. If it fails, compensation will be given, at a higher standard."
Only then did Chu Xuan nod, considering his close relationship with Xiang’er. She probably would agree.
Actually, this could be beneficial since Chu Xiang’er’s position in the dragon palace is rather awkward. If she gains favor with the Taoist sect here, she’d have a backing, even if she becomes the Dragon King at Xiangjiang, she’d have support.
"There’s one more matter, which we just discussed specifically at the Ancestral Hall. It’s quite significant; not only did you meet those few individuals, but nearly all the seniors in the sect who aren’t in seclusion attended."
Upon hearing this from his master, Chu Xuan immediately sat upright, listening attentively.
"Gui Xu Grotto Heaven, do you know this place?" Fuyun Zi poured his disciple a cup of green tea, his gaze deep and introspective.
Chu Xuan’s heart trembled! Of course he knew about it!
The Celestial Evil Demon Venerable’s greatest opportunity came from here. Whether it was the Celestial Water Returning Ruins Technique that allowed his cultivation, or the Returning Ruins Ancient Cauldron, a powerful ancient artifact.
Though most of Chu Xuan’s revived memories are related to women, it doesn’t prevent him from vaguely knowing some crucial information.
Such as during the memory of resting on a lap, and discussing the Celestial Water Returning Ruins Technique with Ji Mingyu, Chu Xuan recalled the origins of this cultivation technique:
Chu Xuan, years ago, when he crossed over to this world, he was born into a poor woodcutter’s family, with parents who passed away early.
As he grew up, he struggled in pursuit of immortality but learned he couldn’t perceive spiritual qi or cultivate, leading him to despair.
Yet Chu Xuan stubbornly refused to give up; to get closer to cultivators, he even managed to sneak into a cultivation marketplace to work as a lowly errand boy, at everyone’s beck and call.
During this period, Chu Xuan naturally couldn’t reach a place like Gui Xu Grotto Heaven. It was just his luck that one day he accidentally obtained the storage bag of a dying loose cultivator.
This bag subsequently brought about a series of fatal pursuits. Chu Xuan, lacking cultivation, couldn’t open the storage bag, so he devised a plan to trick the enemy into opening it.
The man was a scumbag who had just entered Qi Cultivation and held Chu Xuan in extreme disdain. However, through a careless mistake, Chu Xuan managed to kill him despite being a mere mortal.
Only then did he fortuitously obtain the precious Celestial Water Returning Ruins Technique.
Although it was only the first half of the cultivation technique, it set Chu Xuan on a cultivation path, accelerating his progress dramatically!
Later, Chu Xuan supposedly managed to enter Gui Xu Grotto Heaven once, allowing him to complete the entire cultivation technique and acquire the Returning Ruins Ancient Cauldron.
From this point onwards, the nickname "Celestial Evil Demon Monarch" began to spread, and he became well-known. His cultivation technique was called Devouring Yuan Demon Technique, while the cauldron in his hand naturally became known as the Devouring Element Demon Cauldron.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Gui Xu Grotto Heaven was Chu Xuan’s treasure trove, and much of his success is owed to this Grotto Heaven.
"I know," Chu Xuan replied calmly, unsure why his master suddenly inquired about it.
"It’s primarily because of the heavenly disaster..." Fuyun Zi sighed, his brows tinged with concern.
"Gui Xu is located countless miles east of the East Sea, renowned as ’the waters of all heavens and nine wilds, the celestial river flows into it, increasing or decreasing not.’"
"It can be said that Gui Xu itself is a symbol of ’devouring’ and ’accommodating’ in this world, representing the dynamic balance of heaven and earth, the cycle’s endpoint."
"In its depths, even the grand path and causality vanish into non-existence."
"As for Gui Xu Grotto Heaven, it’s rumored to be a place opened by an ancient Great Divine Techniques expert, used to monitor Gui Xu’s operations constantly, ensuring all waters flow into it smoothly."
"Over these tens of thousands of years, the appearances of this Grotto Heaven have been scant, each time manifesting naturally with the occurrences of heavenly changes, thereafter merging back into obscurity."
"Only recently has Gui Xu Grotto Heaven resurfaced, but not as a regular manifestation, rather forced out by the heavenly disaster."
"You also know that heavenly disasters begin from the margins of the mortal realm, causing harm to Gui Xu as well."
"This area symbolizes devouring and termination. If it merges with the heavenly disaster, it could significantly accelerate the collapse of the entire mortal realm."
"Originally, it might take five or six hundred years, or even a thousand, to end, but with this calamity, every living being in this realm might face extinction within a century."
"So Gui Xu Grotto Heaven emerged, although unattended, it still autonomously fulfills its former duties. It appears over Gui Xu, spanning five hundred miles in width and length, suppressing the area from afar, occupied as early protective action."
"As a result, the Grotto Heaven has not opened, remaining in a sealed state."
"Now, there are two points of concern: the first is sending someone to manage the heavenly disaster surrounding Gui Xu, ideally preventing the Grotto Heaven and ’Heaven Collapse Earth Fissure’ from colliding directly. We honestly don’t know if the Grotto Heaven can withstand it."
"The second is that numerous cultivators, driven by greed, are still hoping to invade Gui Xu Grotto Heaven to plunder treasures."
"In the past, this Grotto Heaven gained fame due to the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable, attracting countless ambitious individuals trying to emulate the old days of the demon by leveraging the Grotto Heaven for supreme dominance."
"Thankfully, the East Sea Dragon Palace has been proactive in managing the disaster. Our sects will also send personnel over, so the first problem is temporarily less concerning, but the second is the major issue."
Upon hearing this, Chu Xuan finally spoke up: "Are you suggesting we send someone to disperse them?"
Fuyun Zi shook his head, "Quite the opposite, it would be better to open the Grotto Heaven, allow worldly cultivators inside to clean out the treasures."
"In doing so, the Grotto Heaven will no longer contain treasures, eliminating any further covetousness and greed, allowing it to resume its original duties."
"It’s not necessary for us to open it, actually. Senior Xuanji Zi spent seven days and nights calculating, exerting heart and soul, finally deducing the result: the Grotto Heaven will begin opening by itself in half a year, and this time it won’t fade away but remain open permanently, with no time limitations."
"This way, clearing out the Grotto Heaven becomes an effective solution, although we must prevent some cultivators from causing havoc. Thus, we will organize a team to head over."
"I’ve been thinking, you might be familiar with that place, so I’d like you to go check the situation first. After the Grotto Heaven opens, you’ll be responsible for leading the team."
Chu Xuan silently nodded, without revealing his lack of memory regarding Gui Xu Grotto Heaven or rejecting this significant task.
Once at the place, he would likely find that "scenery triggers emotions," much like it happened at the Ancient Battlefield, and shouldn’t make any mistakes.