C10 Relics Treasure

"Could there be animals still inside?" Gao Fei peered into the dark maw of the cave and pondered aloud.

"Throw a stone in," suggested Chu Xing, picking up a rock and lobbing it into the darkness. Gao Fei followed suit. Once they were sure it was safe, Gao Fei nudged, "You've got such an impressive weapon. You should go in first!"

Chu Xing mused to himself, "Gao Fei is probably wary of my weapon, but with my spiritual power, I have nothing to fear from him."

"Okay, step back," Chu Xing instructed.

Gao Fei took two steps back, and Chu Xing, sword in one hand and flashlight in the other, crouched and entered the cave. A long corridor stretched before him, his spiritual power alert to any changes in the environment.

Chu Xing halted abruptly. Ahead lay a vast hall, thirty square meters in size, with a snake coiled within. It was as thick as a grown man's thigh and stretched over three meters in length.

"What's the matter?" Gao Fei inquired.

"There's something in here."

"What is it?"

"I'm not the only one with spiritual power. Might as well reveal it," Chu Xing reasoned internally, realizing that stealth was no longer an option. "There's a sizable snake inside. Do you have any ideas?"

"Ah, no! How did you know it's a snake?"

"I possess the talent of spiritual power. What about you?"

"I have an earth spiritual root. Your gift is truly remarkable."

With that, Chu Xing sent the sword tip soaring into the chamber as he advanced.

The snake became aware of their presence, its forked tongue flicking at the entrance.

The sword tip darted in, aiming for the snake's head. But the creature, swift despite its size, evaded the strike. Chu Xing attempted to maneuver the sword tip for another attack, but the snake's tail ensnared it, slicing through its hide. Unfazed, the cold-blooded reptile showed no sign of pain.

Chu Xing proceeded deeper into the cave, with Gao Fei trailing behind.

"Ah!" Gao Fei gasped upon entry, taken aback by the sight of the massive serpent, unlike any he had seen before.

"We'll flank it. Your main job is to keep the snake's attention," Chu Xing directed, glancing back at Gao Fei.

"Do you have a plan? Maybe we should go out and start a fire."

"Don't worry, my sword is incredibly sharp. Once we strike with it, we'll have the upper hand." Chu Xing was inwardly anxious, but he knew other methods were too unpredictable.

"Let's move, and stay safe." Saying this, Chu Xing positioned himself to the right of the snake.

Once Gao Fei drew the snake's attention on the left, Chu Xing manipulated the rocks on the ground to relentlessly pelt the snake's eyes, forcing it to retreat. When the snake released its grip on the sword tip, Chu Xing seized the moment to thrust the sword into its eye. The snake failed to evade and was pierced. Chu Xing quickly followed up by severing the snake's head.

Chu Xing breathed a sigh of relief, though the snake's head still twitched on the ground.

"That was too close. Chu Xing, you're incredibly powerful. I still have no clue how to harness my spiritual root," Gao Fei admitted, looking at Chu Xing with admiration.

"You'll learn in time," Chu Xing assured him, turning his attention to the cave.

Inside, at the very back, was a stone bed scattered with broken bones, and a small bag lay on the floor.

Chu Xing picked up the bag, palm-sized, black, and supple, adorned with a mountain emblem.

He probed inside with his mental energy and discovered a cubic space three meters in length, width, and height, containing a long sword, three white stones, a turtle shell, and a red piece of paper.

"So this is a Storage Bag? It's quite compact," Chu Xing mused.

"Check it out, this is the Storage Bag," he said, passing it to Gao Fei.

Gao Fei eagerly accepted it, examining it with curiosity. "How does the Storage Bag work?"

"Try channeling your Spiritual Qi into it and then concentrate," Chu Xing suggested, though he was unsure if Gao Fei's abilities differed from his own.

"It's amazing! There's so much space inside," Gao Fei exclaimed, delighted with the discovery.

After a moment, Gao Fei proposed, "How about I keep the Storage Bag, and you take the rest of the items?"

"Absolutely," Chu Xing couldn't have been more pleased. To those lacking a storage space, a Storage Bag was invaluable, but Chu Xing's black ball space was vast, and his sights were set on different treasures.

Both parties content, they parted ways after exiting the cave. Chu Xing stowed the wild boar carcass, anticipating a sumptuous feast.

Arriving at a mountainside, Chu Xing pitched his tent and settled in to inspect his loot.

A Yellow Grade, Middle Rank sword caught his eye, but it paled in comparison to the broken sword he wielded. He decided against using it.

Next, he examined three pale, egg-sized spirit stones, speckled with impurities. Spirit stones were categorized as Low, Medium, Top, and Highest Grade, with the mythical spirit crystals at the pinnacle.

"These appear to be Low Grade spirit stones. They're incredibly versatile and can even aid in cultivation," Chu Xing mused, excitement bubbling within him.

He placed a spirit stone in his palm, initiating his cultivation practice. The stone's spirit qi seamlessly merged with his body.

With a few more spirit stones, Chu Xing sensed he would ascend to the Qi Training Second Layer.

He then examined a palm-sized, dark green turtle shell adorned with over ten fine cracks.

Channeling his spirit energy into the shell, it began to levitate, expanding to roughly fifty centimeters and hovering before him, responsive to his commands.

"Not a bad magic treasure. It's a High Rank Yellow Grade, though its uses are limited."

Elder Hsu had explained that only Earth Grade magic treasures of the highest rank could be integrated into one's dantian. When infused with spirit energy, such treasures could resonate with the cultivator's intentions, amplifying their power and enabling repair.

Lastly, Chu Xing inspected a red talisman paper, another form of magic treasure known as a Talisman Treasure.

Cultivators crafted Talisman Treasures by channeling spirit energy to guide attribute-laden blood or other exceptional natural treasures, imprinting special symbols onto the talisman paper.

The power of the talismans varies depending on the materials and symbols used in their creation.

Typically, animal blood is utilized, though some opt for human blood, which results in even more potent genius treasures.

Each attribute of the Talisman Treasures displays a distinct color: gold for metal, green for wood, white for water, red for fire, and brown for earth.

Special attributes have their unique features: lightning attributes take the form of bolts, ice attributes crystallize, wind attributes curve gracefully, space attributes consist of numerous rhombuses, and spirit attributes shine with a bright white light.

Talisman Treasures are generally crafted by cultivators below the rank of Earth Immortal, with their power limited to the Profound and Yellow Grades.

Immortals, who typically create Earth Grade talismans, seldom engage in their production. For one, talismans offer them little benefit.

Moreover, crafting talismans depletes their cultivation, making it an unprofitable endeavor. They are usually made to safeguard the well-being of their descendants.

Deities create Heaven Grade talismans and, like immortals, do not do so lightly.

Creating talismans demands a significant expenditure of energy, giving those with a natural talent for mental energy a substantial edge, as they achieve higher success rates.

Additionally, they can channel their mental energy to guide the liquid in drawing the talisman.

The talisman treasure Chu Xing holds is a Low Rank Yellow Grade, capable of unleashing only a simple fire dragon.

...

"The aroma is wonderful. It's just up ahead."

"I'm so hungry I could die. I'm craving something to eat."

"It's inconvenient in the wilderness; no driving means enduring these hardships."

Before long, someone approached Chu Xing's tent.

Chu Xing was roasting the wild boar he had hunted earlier that day. Though inexperienced in roasting meat, he had picked up the basics from watching TV.

The succulent red meat sizzled as it turned over the flames, with droplets of fat hissing as they hit the wood, a sight that could make anyone's mouth water.

"Mmm, that smells amazing. What kind of meat is this?" inquired a man with a piercing voice.

Before Chu Xing had a chance to respond, another voice chimed in, "That's got to be wild boar meat, no doubt about it."

"Ah, I noticed the pig's head over there," commented a woman with a melodious voice.

Chu Xing turned to see who was speaking and recognized the group of four men and one woman he had encountered on Mount Hua.

"Hey kid, I'll buy that wild boar meat off you," the man with the sharp voice declared.