C30 Black Dragon Crystal!
He strained to concentrate, but his focus held only briefly.
In a hazy glimpse, he witnessed the Black Dragon King's breakthrough, shedding his mortal coil, and expelling the dragon crystal from his flesh. Then, the scene plunged into darkness, and he collapsed onto the floor, outside the praying mat's edge.
A full day passed before he regained consciousness, his head throbbing as if it were splitting in two.
He desperately tried to recall the final images he'd seen, but no matter how hard he tried, those last few moments remained shrouded in darkness. He hadn't made it to the very end.
"Now I understand the test within these memories; the final scene surely reveals the dragon crystal's location."
Jiang Fann resumed his cross-legged position on the praying mat, and, as expected, the visions returned, starting from the very beginning.
Gradually, he opened his eyes and rose from the mat.
"Time to begin anew."
He settled back into his seated position, patiently restoring his mental energy. He was determined to maintain focus until the final scene, intent on claiming the dragon crystal for himself.
...
The Misty Forest had attracted a multitude of cultivators, each one a standout, all eager to claim their share of the treasures within.
Yet, the forest's miasma thwarted many, as few among them carried high-quality Detoxification Pills.
The pills quickly became a coveted commodity, fetching exorbitant prices in this place.
The trio from Lingloong Pavilion vanished after entering the Misty Forest, evidently having discovered the path forward.
The Myriad Poison Sect, adept at countering the forest's toxic vapors, paid little heed to the miasma.
Those cultivators who had yet to locate the Black Dragon Cave were forced to withdraw as the effects of their medicines waned, losing track of how many times they had retreated from the forest's edge.
Ultimately, a coalition of young cultivators banded together, braving the miasma to delve deeper into the forest in search of the Black Dragon Cave.
Days later, activity around the Black Dragon Cave surged.
With so many present, it was inevitable that some would stumble upon the cave by chance. Without hesitation, they entered, eager to gain the upper hand and secure their fortune.
Within just one week, Jiang Fann had fainted twice on his meditation cushion.
The second time, he nearly bled from every orifice—a true testament to his determination.
Yet, it wasn't all misfortune; each awakening revealed an enhancement in his Spiritual Sense, with surprisingly positive effects. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he could endure to the very end.
Gripping a Spiritual Sense Pill, Jiang Fann braced himself for another attempt, ready to risk consumption in hopes of retaining the final vision.
This was his fourth trial, and he had nearly committed each scene to memory. Despite this, the challenge bore directly upon his Spiritual Sense, leaving no room for shortcuts.
Jiang Fann had grown significantly stronger since his initial attempt.
As the foreign scene flooded his consciousness, he teetered on the edge of collapse, his Spiritual Sense dangerously overextended.
The last vision brought him to the summit of the mountain. As the scene darkened, Jiang Fann hastily popped the Spiritual Sense Pill into his mouth. The Arts of Pill Dao activated, causing a surge in his Spiritual Sense and a newfound clarity of mind.
The vision poured into his mind with crystal clarity.
The dragon crystal was levitated by a formation, sealed above the peak's outcrop.
It served as the core, manipulating the surrounding astral winds to refine the flesh of ascending cultivators.
In the end, a meditation cushion was left behind as a testament to the trial of Spiritual Sense.
The scene concluded with the image of an elder, half his face adorned with black scales, grinning lewdly as if the trial were nothing more than a cruel joke.
This was likely the Black Dragon King in human form, a being known for his mischievous nature.
As the pill's effects vanished abruptly, Jiang Fann's head felt like it would burst, and a searing pain throbbed at his brow. He succumbed to unconsciousness once more.
In the moments before passing out, Jiang Fann consoled himself with a thought:
"Thank goodness no one witnessed this, or it would have been the death of me."
After two full days, upon regaining consciousness, Jiang Fann's first act was to dash toward the central stone outcrop. He scaled it from the back, channeling his Spiritual Strength to probe the emptiness.
A sudden gust of wind nearly swept Jiang Fann from his perch on the rock.
He steadied himself and looked upward to see a black dragon crystal, the size of a human head, materialize within the intricate formation.
The formation was masterfully crafted; the Black Dragon King had clearly intended to deter fortune-seekers from stumbling upon this black dragon crystal.
Having passed the test, Jiang Fann had naturally discerned the setup of the formation.
He channeled Spiritual Strength into his palm, directing it into specific points encircling the dragon crystal.
The gale ceased instantly! The formation's movement slowed to a halt.
The dragon crystal hovered midair, igniting a surge of excitement within Jiang Fann.
He reflected on his past struggles for survival, pondering the countless treasures he might have missed.
With a sigh of relief, Jiang Fann acknowledged he was finally in the presence of a genuine dragon crystal.
But in a moment of distraction, the crystal darted away like a streak of black lightning, its speed astonishing.
Enraged, yet bound by his current realm's limitations to fly, Jiang Fann was powerless to pursue.
Just then, a remnant from his Qi Sea spontaneously sprang into action, transforming into a golden beam that gave chase, quickly overtaking and gently retrieving the black dragon crystal.
Jiang Fann yearned to embrace and shower the remnant with kisses, but it swiftly retracted into the calm of the Qi Sea, denying him the opportunity.
Employing the Arts of Pill Dao in tandem with his own essence, he completed the bond of ownership—the dragon crystal was now indelibly linked to the Jiang lineage.
As Jiang Fann extended his Spiritual Sense into the black dragon crystal, he was taken aback to detect another presence—a trembling Spiritual Sense cowering within.
It was this hidden consciousness that had attempted escape upon the formation's collapse.
Yet, this revelation brought Jiang Fann unexpected delight.
The black dragon crystal had birthed its own Spiritual Sense, a rarity akin to a Natural Spirit Treasure. Given time, it could evolve akin to a cultivator, its future potential unfathomable.
The shed scales of the Black Dragon King should be of high quality, given their origin.
For Jiang Fann, their immediate use lies in aiding the refinement of medicines to enhance their potency.
Jiang Fann reached out with his Spiritual Sense, reassuringly whispering, "Little one, there's no need to fear. I won't harm you. You're safe to grow here."
Though the Spiritual Sense was faint, it grasped Jiang Fann's intent, yet lacked the ability to communicate in return, driven mostly by instinct at this stage.
He placed the black dragon crystal within his Qi Sea, allowing the dragon Qi to fortify his flesh. Over time, this would surely yield impressive results.
Jiang Fann sat in meditation, restoring his Spiritual Sense and replenishing his energy. His ascent had bolstered his Spiritual Sense, elevating him to the Later Period of the Innate Stage. With over a dozen spiritual herbs collected, his gains were substantial.
Once revitalized, he planned to explore the Black Dragon Cave.
He pondered the possibility.
"Maybe the Black Dragon King left behind a legacy of cultivation techniques that could propel me to the Spirit Refining Stage in one fell swoop!"
At peak condition, he made his way toward the cave entrance in the rock face.
He had intended to take the meditation mat with him, but alas, it was bound by a special inhibition, rendering it immovable.
Inside the cave, darkness enveloped him. Jiang Fann descended along the winding path, uncertain of its endpoint.
Armed with the Fire Controlling Technique, the absence of light posed no concern.
A small flame danced on his fingertip, casting light on his surroundings.
The cave appeared to be carved by hand, with chisel marks etched into the stone walls.
Considering the Black Dragon's formidable power, which could cleave stone as easily as an axe through tofu, the use of tools seemed unnecessary.
This puzzled Jiang Fann, but as he encountered murals on the stone walls, the mystery unraveled.
Long ago, numerous races inhabited the Black Dragon Cave, worshipping the Black Dragon King, who in turn regarded them as his kin. These were the original inhabitants of this secret realm, all dwelling within the Black Dragon Cave before the king's departure.
Everything within the Black Dragon Cave was carved out by these pioneers.
As he walked and observed his surroundings, Jiang Fann found the journey far from dull.
Suddenly, the path ahead came to an abrupt end. Peering forward, Jiang Fann discovered a chasm in the heart of the mountain, its depths unseen.
He picked up a stone and tossed it into the abyss, waiting for an echo that never came.
"A bottomless pit? Could it lead to the very bottom?"
Surveying his options, Jiang Fann realized there were only two: climb down from this spot or backtrack the way he came. Without a second thought, he dismissed the latter. The exterior had already been scoured by him to no avail—why bother descending from there?
Without hesitation, Jiang Fann began his descent down the cliff.
...
The Black Dragon Cave was now a scene of chaos, with cultivators constantly entering its depths.
The numerous inhibitions within could conceal legacies, sparking frequent skirmishes. In just a few short days, over a dozen conflicts, both minor and major, had erupted.
Initially, there was some restraint, but as treasures were found, many threw caution to the wind and vied for supremacy.
Shi Chengtian had been roaming the middle levels for several days. His current condition prevented him from receiving any inheritance; he had to wait for his internal injuries to heal by at least fifty percent before attempting a breakthrough. Otherwise, he risked a fatal explosion.
Even if he were fortunate enough to survive, his injuries would be beyond repair, divine intervention notwithstanding.
Thus, he spent his days in search of treasures and potent legacies—not for himself, but for Jiang Fann.
At last, he stumbled upon a cave harboring a truly unique legacy, belonging to the Flame Control Clan.
Legend has it that this race was indistinguishable from ordinary humans but possessed an innate mastery over fire, complete with their own cultivation techniques. Each member had the potential to become a formidable master of flame. Sadly, they lacked any aptitude for medicine and could not become pharmacists.
In ancient times, powerful pharmacists would keep members of this race as Medicine Boys, but nowadays, sightings of the Flame Control Clan were exceedingly rare.
With their exceptional insights into fire control, Shi Chengtian believed this legacy would prove invaluable to Jiang Fann.
So, he dragged over a stone and plopped down on it to wait. He was confident that Jiang Fann would find his way here.
That day, several people wanted to explore the cave, but they were out of luck. He was perched right at the entrance, blocking the way. No one could get past unless they moved him aside.
But Shi Chengtian, towering over two meters with bulging muscles and a haughty look in his eyes, was not someone people dared to mess with.
Two days passed, and finally, two groups couldn't contain their curiosity any longer and decided to barge in. Shi Chengtian was just one man, they reasoned; overpowering him shouldn't be too difficult.
Yet, as soon as they advanced, Shi Chengtian sent one of them crashing to the ground with a smack, a mouthful of blood following suit.
The overwhelming presence of someone in the Later Period of the Innate Stage burst forth, sending the intruders fleeing in terror, completely disregarding their fallen comrade.
