Dongxuan Spiritual Realm

Chapter 96 Dragon Tiger Cave

Yang Qisheng frowned slightly after hearing Ye Xueqiao's words.

Bai Letian broke his sword by cutting leaves out of spite.

I played a joke on him. Later, I repaired his broken sword and infused it with the sharp sword aura to improve its quality.

Although the accumulated Dragon-Tiger Sword Qi has temporarily dissipated, making it less agile than before, its power has increased considerably.

When Bai Letian sets up the furnace to refine evil spirits in the future, and then uses his own evil spirit energy to refine it, he will be able to control it as if it were his own arm, and the overall power will be much stronger than before.

In the long run, Bai Letian still benefited quite a bit.

Instead of thanking me, that guy surnamed Lu even sent his apprentice to find me and demand an explanation.
What is he trying to do? Is he going to duel with himself?
Although Yang Qisheng had only recently set up his furnace, he was not afraid of any unorthodox practitioners at the Refining Demon level, especially since he also possessed the Myriad Swords Gourd!
"Alright! Since your master has come to me, I'll go with you and see what he wants! Lead the way!"

Ye Xueqiao looked at Yang Qisheng with a complicated expression. He looked exactly like his brother, handsome with fair skin, but even paler than his brother, with almost no color in his lips.

Seeing that Yang Qisheng agreed to go with him, he made a hand seal and put his hands together. The white sword light under his feet also wrapped up and enveloped him, forming a dazzling beam of light about ten feet long, which shot straight back along the way they came.

"Master Yang." Chu Linyi wanted to say something more.

"It's none of your business, let's part ways here!" A five-colored light rose from beneath Yang Qisheng's feet, and he transformed into a five-colored sword light, carrying him up from the ground and chasing after Ye Xueqiao!

The two men's swords flashed swiftly, and they soon arrived at Flying Tiger Mountain.

The mountain was extremely steep and precipitous, resembling a winged tiger sitting on the ground, raising its head and roaring to the sky. It was surrounded by cliffs and precipices, and there was no way to climb or walk up from the ground. Only immortals could live here.

Longyin Temple is located right above the "tiger's" head. It is not very large, but it is nestled among the pines and cypresses, making it very quiet and secluded.

Ye Xueqiao landed in front of the temple gate, and without waiting for Yang Qisheng, quickly crossed the courtyard and entered the main hall.

Yang Qisheng saw a rock chessboard and two stone benches placed between two pine trees outside the courtyard wall, with black and white chess pieces forming an unfinished game.

On the main gate of the Taoist temple, there are two couplets pasted on the left and right sides, which are:
First line: Tiger roars atop the clouds, sword energy soars to the heavens, opening the jade palace.
Second line: Dragon roars beneath the moon, mysterious wind pierces the sun, knocking on the heavenly gate.
Horizontal scroll: Mingchuan Yuzhen

What a loud tone!
However, judging from its aura, even though it belongs to a side sect, it doesn't seem like a heretical or evil sect.

Yang Qisheng first formed a general impression in his mind, and then stepped into the courtyard.

The courtyard was empty, and there was no one to answer the door or lead the way, so Ye Xueqiao went straight into the house.

Since the other party was so rude, he didn't intend to observe any etiquette. He should have greeted them from below or knocked on the door first, but this time he just pushed the door open and went inside.

The main hall was also empty.

Yang Qisheng was puzzled and became increasingly cautious.

As the saying goes, something unusual must be amiss. The man surnamed Lu sent his disciple to summon him, looking like he was there to interrogate him. Since he wouldn't see him, he was probably planning to ambush him.

He channeled his inner energy of the five elements, his eyes flashing with colorful light as he carefully examined the area, but he couldn't discern what kind of formation the other party had set up.

Soon, he discovered a tunnel entrance behind the screen in the east room. The stone slab sealing the tunnel was open, clearly placed there waiting for him to enter.

Yang Qisheng took a deep breath and did not rush in. Instead, he summoned his inner demon, Black Mountain.

"Master, are you afraid to go down?"

Yang Qisheng didn't argue with him and let him go ahead to scout the way.

Heishan chuckled twice, carrying the Black Heart Lamp in his left hand and the Soul-Snatching Rope in his right, and floated into the tunnel first, followed by Yang Qisheng.

There are many steps below the tunnel, leading downwards and becoming steeper and steeper.

Finally, they arrived at a huge cave.

There were three people standing in the cave: Bai Letian, whom they had met yesterday, Ye Xueqiao, whom they had just met today, and a young Taoist priest standing between them.

The three men stood together, each more handsome than the last. Bai Letian and Ye Xueqiao were already quite good-looking, but standing on either side of the Taoist priest, they paled in comparison and became mere foils.

The Taoist priest appeared to be in his mid-twenties, tall and slender, with sharp, sword-like eyebrows and eyes like shooting stars. He wore a green dragon crown and a white tiger robe, and was full of vigor.

Black Mountain is essentially a demon in one's heart; although it can be seen, it can also choose to become invisible.

He had concealed himself, and Bai Letian and Ye Xueqiao were completely unaware of him. However, the young Taoist priest vaguely sensed that a demon was approaching, and his face showed surprise and alarm as he looked directly towards the location of Black Mountain.

Yang Qisheng subdued his inner demons in an instant, walked to the center of the cave, and asked the young man in a cold voice, "Are you their master, the True Man Lu?" The other party was very amiable, with a gentle and refined air. He took two steps forward, cupped his hands and bowed slightly, "I am Lu Mingchuan. Fellow Daoist Yang's presence here makes every blade of grass and every tree on Flying Tiger Mountain shine brightly."

Yang Qisheng was puzzled by his attitude: "Didn't you want to confront me and demand an explanation?"

"How dare I! How dare I! It's just a piece of ordinary iron from a junior, showing off in front of you, fellow Daoist. You taught him about the dangers of the martial world and even helped him repair his broken sword, refining it with the evil energy of metal. You have truly done him a great favor."

At this point, Bai Letian stepped forward somewhat awkwardly, his face slightly flushed: "This junior thanks you for your guidance yesterday, senior..."

"No, stop with the pretense," Yang Qisheng interrupted their feigned politeness, asking directly, "What exactly do you want? Just say it!"

"My name is Lu Mingchuan. May I ask how you should address me, fellow Daoist?"

"Yang Qisheng!"

“Fellow Daoist Yang, there is indeed something that would benefit both of us by inviting you here today, but it’s a long story. We have prepared some fragrant tea here, so please come over and sit down so we can discuss it in detail.”

Yang Qisheng wasn't very interested in what he called "something that would benefit both of us." He didn't want to waste any more time talking to him: "It's a long story, so just get to the point. I have other things to do. If you don't tell me, I'm leaving!"

As he turned to leave, Lu Mingchuan quickly raised his voice: "I have discovered the cave treasure trove left behind by the Dragon Tiger Immortal three thousand years ago. Since I am not strong enough, I wish to join forces with Fellow Daoist Yang to open the cave and retrieve the treasure!"

Yang Qisheng stopped in his tracks. He had just set up the Five Elements Divine Fire Furnace and had not been refining evil for long. His magical power was limited. Although he had the Myriad Swords Gourd, he often felt powerless when fighting with others.

If one could obtain magical treasures left behind by predecessors to enhance one's strength, that would naturally be good.

"I don't know you at all. Why are you contacting me if there's such a good thing?"

"Since you are a member of the orthodox Xuanmen sect, please sit down and have some tea. Let me explain the whole story to you. Once you have heard it, all your doubts will be dispelled, and you will be ready to work with me to retrieve the treasure!"

Yang Qisheng walked to the stone table next to him and sat down. Bai Letian poured him a cup of tea: "Please have some tea, senior."

The aroma of the tea filled the cave as soon as it was poured, instantly refreshing the spirit. Yang Qisheng picked it up and took a sip. It was indeed excellent tea, comparable to the small-leaf ice tea of ​​Taiyi Cave.

Lu Mingchuan waited for him to take a few sips of tea before slowly and deliberately beginning his explanation.

It turns out that this Master Lu came from a prominent official family; his father was the Minister of Rites in the current dynasty!

Lu Mingchuan excelled in his studies from a young age and achieved official rank at a young age.

He also loves martial arts. He has had at least eighty to a hundred martial arts teachers since he was a child, many of whom were top masters in the martial arts world.

He was both a scholar and a warrior, and had an outstanding appearance, but he disliked being an official or pursuing a career in economics. He preferred to travel and enjoy the scenery.

One year, he wandered into a remote mountain cave and accidentally triggered a long-dormant formation. He found a secret room and discovered a stone box containing a Taoist book and a precious sword.

The book was left by a disciple of the Dragon Tiger Immortal more than 3,000 years ago. The contents of the book are ancient cultivation methods. No matter what you practice, you will eventually cultivate a superior Dragon Tiger Golden Elixir.

However, the Taoist book is only half complete. Following it for cultivation, one can only set up a furnace and cauldron, but cannot refine medicine or combine pills. If one wants to continue cultivating, one must find another Dragon Tiger Cave.

The book explains that both caves are called Dragon and Tiger Caves, but one is called Kanli Dragon and Tiger Cave and the other is called Qiankun Dragon and Tiger Cave. It also describes some of the landform features.

Three thousand years have passed, and even the topography and landforms have undergone many changes, and the names and terminology are completely different.

Lu Mingchuan was very knowledgeable. On one hand, he cultivated immortal techniques according to the Taoist books, and on the other hand, he searched everywhere for the Qiankun Dragon Tiger Cave. For this purpose, he also specially learned the art of feng shui.

Over the years, he searched four places in total. He even mistook Xiaoyao Mountain, Bai Letian’s home, for the location of the Immortal Cave because of Tiger Tooth Ridge and Drinking Dragon Spring, wasting more than half a year of his time before finally confirming that it was not the place.

However, he managed to establish a good relationship with Xiaoyao Manor and even took Bai Letian as his apprentice.

Finally, he found Flying Tiger Peak, and on the tiger's head, he found the cave hidden among the pines and vines.

Lu Mingchuan calculated that the grand Taoist ritual was about to fail, demons would rise up and immortals would be born, and if this news were to leak out, it would cause unnecessary trouble.

He then built a Dragon Roar Temple on the top of Flying Tiger Peak as his place of cultivation, and would come down whenever he had free time to try to open the treasure vault.

"I've calculated that behind that wall lies the entrance to the treasure vault, but I've spent nine years trying and still haven't been able to open it!" Lu Mingchuan sighed helplessly, his tone revealing a deep weariness. "Then I discovered..."

The Taoist book I obtained back then wasn't complete. There should be three Dragon Tiger Caves: one is the Kan-Li Dragon Tiger Cave, protected by a Fire Tiger and a Water Dragon formation. That's the one I found. There should also be a Zhen-Dui Dragon Tiger Cave.

The protective array for the cave is composed of a golden dragon and a wooden tiger. The Kan and Li trigrams, and the Zhen and Dui trigrams, are both acquired; their cultivation methods cannot lead to the formation of a core. However, all three must be fully mastered before the Qiankun Dragon-Tiger Cave can be opened. The Qiankun Dragon-Tiger Cave is an innate array.
Only by reversing the Five Elements and inverting the Four Symbols can this be broken. I've been searching for the last Dragon-Tiger Cave for years, but without any clues, I've found nothing. I want to find someone to help me, but I'm worried about whether they have malicious intentions.
"Trying to steal my treasure? Either the other party is from a heretical sect, unable to grasp the true essence, and can never find a suitable like-minded person, until yesterday, when I saw the flying sword that Le Tian brought back, repaired by a fellow Daoist!"

(End of this chapter)