Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

"I wonder, besides Elder Zhao of Crimson Blood Valley, who else shares my interest in this Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish?" Zhang Yuanjing, unaware of why Du Xiangyuan was so moved by the visit of a Core Formation cultivator, followed his words and inquired about the Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish.

Du Xiangyuan chuckled, "Not a few people are interested, but as for Core Formation cultivators, it's just you and Elder Zhao. There are also some Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Zhang Yuanjing said, "I wonder, how did this Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish come to be?"

Du Xiangyuan asked meaningfully, "That Qi Refining cultivator surnamed Zhao, is he a disciple of yours? He's been in this area for five or six years, almost staring at my White Departure Mountain every day. I assume it was at your instruction?"

Zhang Yuanjing nodded, "Indeed. If my disciple has offended you, please forgive me."

Du Xiangyuan shook his head, "Not at all. You've taken in a good disciple. High aptitude, good character. It's a pity I didn't meet him."

He sighed and then said, "You can probably guess the origin of this Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish, but you can't be sure through what means it came to be. To be honest, this fish originally came from this place."

Zhang Yuanjing cupped his hands and said, "I'm all ears."

Du Xiangyuan smiled, "It's not that complicated. There's a mutated spiritual vein under this mountain where water and fire converge. During its formation, this spiritual vein constantly produces fire and water element particles. However, there are also a small number of water-fire fusion fragments. When these fragments mix into the water and are eaten by some thick-skinned fish, there's a certain probability they'll become Crimson-Finned Fire紋 Fish. That's the root of the Crimson-Finned Fire紋 Fish."

Zhang Yuanjing sneered inwardly. What this person said wasn't false, but he concealed the most crucial thing, obviously trying to lull him.

He nodded, "That makes perfect sense. I suspected as much."

After a slight pause, he asked, "Since this Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish is nurtured in this mountain, and it's not found in the Blackwater River nearby, how did it get to the downstream area hundreds of thousands of miles away?"

Du Xiangyuan appeared patient and explained carefully, "The reason this place is called White Departure Mountain is because it occasionally erupts with earth fire. This earth fire is very peculiar, actually white, and its destructive power is astonishing. Whenever the flames erupt, the connected underground river will backflow, then suck some of the Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish into the underground river. This underground river extends eastward for tens of thousands of miles underground, until it reaches the downstream of the Crimson Creek River, where it merges with the surface mainstream, but the location of this confluence is very hidden."

"I see. If you hadn't discovered the secret of this mountain, I'm afraid no one would know how the Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish came to be!" Zhang Yuanjing exclaimed, "I wonder how you discovered the secret of this mountain?"

Du Xiangyuan chuckled, "How could I have the ability to discover the secret of this mountain! I was interested in the Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish, so I repeatedly investigated and accidentally discovered that underground river. I specially crafted several water-repelling spiritual tools and went upstream, only then discovering the secret of this mountain. Otherwise, even if I passed by this mountain, I wouldn't have given it a second glance!"

That made sense. Although White Departure Mountain had a peculiar shape, its spiritual energy wasn't vigorous. The level of spiritual energy convergence was even worse than the adjacent mountains. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't be interested in this mountain.

However, now that he knew there was a mutated spiritual vein beneath this mountain, this situation seemed strange.

He smiled and said, "So, you also found White Departure Mountain because of this fish. I imagine, in the past few millennia, tens of thousands of years, many cultivators must have explored the secret of the Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish, but none were successful. Only you, stood out, showing how serious and decisive you are. I admire you!"

Du Xiangyuan waved his hand and said, "Just luck. My own lifespan is about to end, and I'm unwilling to go to the Profound Yin Cave, so I placed all my hopes on this Crimson-Finned Fire纹 Fish, seeking it eagerly, and after eight years, I finally got my wish."

Zhang Yuanjing was surprised, "Oh, if I remember correctly, you came to White Departure Mountain a hundred years ago. How could your lifespan be about to end?"

Du Xiangyuan laughed heartily, his laughter filled with triumph, but also with sorrow.

Zhang Yuanjing remained calm, looking at his somewhat rude behavior with a peaceful expression, without any unease.

A gleam flashed in Du Xiangyuan's eyes, and his laughter stopped abruptly. He said in a deep voice, "Before coming to White Departure Mountain, I was already over two hundred and twenty years old, so of course, I could say my lifespan was about to end. The reason I can still linger until now is because of an opportunity!"

Zhang Yuanjing asked, "What opportunity?"

Du Xiangyuan didn't answer, but instead asked, "Looking at me, do you think I'm a Foundation Establishment cultivator or a Core Formation cultivator?"

Zhang Yuanjing shook his head, "Please forgive my shallow knowledge, I can't tell!"

Du Xiangyuan sneered, "You're even more hypocritical than that Zhao Guangnai. You clearly know in your heart, but you still try to deceive me! Zhao Guangnai saw me and said I was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator, just forcibly prolonging my life with some vitality."

Zhang Yuanjing didn't care about his sarcasm, but asked leisurely, "I've heard of Zhao Guangnai, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. Since he came here, he must also be eyeing that mutated spiritual vein where water and fire converge. How did you make Elder Zhao back down?"

Du Xiangyuan slowly stood up, raised his two skinny, chicken-claw-like hands, and clenched them hard, "Since you want to know, then take a good look!"

In an instant, the restrictions in the soil below shattered, and the entire ground plunged downward, revealing a huge cave in front of Zhang Yuanjing.

The cave was pitch black, but filled with a strong floral fragrance.

Zhang Yuanjing swept his divine sense, and saw a large tree nearly thirty zhang tall and over four zhang in diameter standing in the center of the cave, with lush branches and leaves like a huge umbrella. Among the branches and leaves, countless purple petals were scattered.

A few breaths later, with a muffled "poof", the wooden floor landed on the mud. The distance of the fall was at least fifty zhang.

Zhang Yuanjing remained seated on the golden armchair, his face calm. The moment he saw this large tree, he knew that Zhao Xuming's words were true.

Zhao Xuming said that after he broke into White Departure Mountain, he wasn't discovered at first, and hid on the side of the mountainside, staring at the residence of the White Departure Mountain cultivators. In the evening, a branch suddenly stretched out from nearby, emerged from the ground, and began to 'breathe', continuing for three hours before retracting.

He was very curious, so he followed the hole where the branch emerged and put in a small object called 'Glowing Pearl', connected to it with his mind, so he could see the surrounding movements through the pearl.

This one look startled him. There was a large cave in the belly of the mountain, and in the cave was a tall plant, whose branches could stretch back and forth, like arms, moving freely.

He was a cultivator who grew up in the sect and had heard some stories from his elders, knowing that this was a monster, definitely not something he could deal with, so he immediately took back the pearl and flew away on his flying sword.

As a result, this commotion alerted the White Departure Mountain cultivators, and after a battle, he was taken prisoner. His so-called desire to exchange a chance for a Foundation Establishment Pill referred to this monster.