Chapter 683: Leasing a Cave

After a while, Ning Zhuo, Shen Xi and Su Lingkou said goodbye outside the hall.

Watching Ning Zhuo fly away, Su Lingkou stood beside his cousin and asked in confusion, "Cousin, you are the genius and hope of our clan. This time you join the Wanxiang Sect, your goal is to become a true disciple."

"Why would you condescend to befriend this person?"

Chen Xi said, "Didn't you see? Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo and another cultivator came together on the teleportation array. And although that person restrained his aura, only revealing some Confucian aura, he didn't pay for the teleportation array."

"This reminds me that the Wanxiang Sect has this policy. Any cultivator with the status of a true disciple does not need to pay any fees when returning to the sect."

Su Lingkou said, "I see."

"But true disciples aren't the only ones who don't have to pay, right?"

"Besides, even if his fellow travelers are true disciples, they might not be closely related, right? Perhaps they just met on the road."

"Cousin, if he really has an elder in the Wanxiang Sect, why would he need to purchase such expensive intelligence?"

Chen Xi nodded: "You are right, this is all possible."

Su Lingkou showed a hint of anger. "Ning Zhuo is a bit ungrateful. Cousin, you took the initiative to invite him to rent a cave with you and travel with you, but he refused. If this happened in our Nine Palaces Immortal City, I don't know how many cultivators would flock to it and be filled with gratitude to you."

Chen Xi frowned slightly and became serious: "Cousin, this kind of arrogance is unacceptable."

"My qualifications and strength are among the best in Jiugong Immortal City, but this is the Wanxiang Sect!"

"Every Feiyun Conference is a gathering of talented people, and geniuses emerge. Cultivators with similar situations to me, or even stronger than me, will come here, show their strongest posture, and strive for a high position to join the Wanxiang Sect."

Su Lingkou stuck out her tongue, took Chen Xi's arm, and shook it gently, saying with admiration: "Even so, I still believe that you, cousin, are still the most dazzling one among these geniuses."

"You." Chen Xi shook his head slightly, sighed indulgently, and stopped blaming his cousin.

He watched Ning Zhuo disappear into the clouds, a clear light flashing in his eyes: "Although Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo is dressed simply, he has his own demeanor. He communicates with us in a leisurely and calm manner."

"Even if he doesn't come from a wealthy family, he certainly doesn't come from a small family."

Su Lingkou thought about it and did not refute it this time: "Indeed."

Ning Zhuo stepped on a flying cloud and walked slowly in the sky.

This technique of flying in the clouds was something he improvised based on the scene before him.

The cloud element and the water element are closely related. Ning Zhuo has a high level of Five Elements realm, so it is not difficult for him to do this.

At first, he moved slowly, paying more attention to observing his surroundings.

In the main gate of the Wanxiang Sect, there are many mountains and halls, and countless people are traveling among the clouds and sky. It seems chaotic, but there are implicit traffic rules that have been agreed upon.

With the reference of the contents of the jade slip in his hand, Ning Zhuo adapted quickly.

Sometimes he turned off a side road and walked alone, and sometimes he joined the crowd and walked onto the main road.

In a moment, he left the clouds and landed on the top of a broken peak.

The top of the mountain was directly cut into a flat land, where a palace stood.

The palace is made of black stone with hidden spiritual patterns; golden talismans guard the door, giving it a solemn and majestic look.

The palace was not very large, and was incomparable to the trading branch just now, but it was crowded with people coming in and out of the palace entrance.

This is a branch of the Internal Affairs Hall.

Ning Zhuo entered and was soon led away by a middle-aged monk.

"Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, do you have something to ride?" The middle-aged monk asked when they reached the edge of the cliff.

Ning Zhuo shook his head, pinched his fingers, and formed a cloud of mist under his feet.

The middle-aged monk opened his beast bag and summoned a four-winged flying centipede. Several rows of seats were arranged on the centipede's back.

He waved to Ning Zhuo: "Your cloud is slow, come and ride on my flying centipede."

Ning Zhuo bowed and said, "Thank you very much, Senior."

The middle-aged cultivator quickly said politely, "You and I are both foundation-building cultivators. I cannot be called a senior."

Ning Zhuo chose a place to sit down. The middle-aged monk stomped his feet, and the flying centipede spread its wings and flew high. It was indeed very fast.

The middle-aged monk stomped his feet again, and the array pattern on the seat lit up, forming a light shield to block the mountain wind and clouds.

He explained, "Before every Feiyun Conference, a large number of cultivators would flock to the main mountain gate, and they would all come to rent caves."

"I've been so busy lately that I'm dizzy and overwhelmed, but the tasks are getting more and more."

"So, we should try to save as much time as possible on the road."

"If Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo likes this place, he must rent it as soon as possible. It's very likely that the position will be taken by someone else the next moment. Not everyone will conduct an on-site inspection. Some people make their decision directly by reading the jade slips in the hall."

Ning Zhuo quickly thanked the other party for the reminder, and then stuffed ten medium-grade spirit stones over.

The middle-aged monk suddenly became more enthusiastic, and his smile was much more sincere than before.

After a moment, the flying centipede landed on the ground, and the two arrived at the first cave.

"This is Lingfeng Slope, which has eight caves in total. The one we're looking at is the most luxurious one among them."

The middle-aged monk pointed to the cave at the top, then shook the token to open the restriction at the cave entrance.

The entrance to the cave is quite wide and unobstructed, and sunlight pours in, making the stone walls inside look as warm and smooth as jade.

Two people entered the cave.

The cave is quite dry and clean, with stone tables and stone benches. There are also several shallow natural stone niches on the wall where books and other items can be placed.

Behind the cave, there is a stone well with ice-cold water.

The middle-aged monk said, "Although this cave is not big, it is definitely enough for one person to live in."

"Look at this scenery, it's so beautiful."

The two stood at the entrance of the cave and looked into the distance.

The view here is indeed broad. What comes into view is a gentle slope covered with green grass, occasionally dotted with star-like goose yellow flowers.

The white clouds in the sky are not dense, but scattered and comfortable.

The brilliant sunshine shines through the clouds, occasionally forming beams of light, bright but not dazzling.

The mountain breeze was mighty and rushed in from the sky, making people's clothes rustle and making them feel refreshed.

The middle-aged monk smiled and said, "The layout is transparent, the view is excellent, and the sunlight is abundant. It is the easiest place to cultivate the noble spirit in your heart. In the morning, when you watch the sunrise, you will see clouds and mist; at night, when you look at the stars, you will feel like you can pick them with your hands."

"The monthly payment of fifty mid-grade spirit stones is a bit high, but the extra cost is all on the artificial spirit well. Overall, it's not expensive at all."

Ning Zhuo's face was calm. He nodded slightly and said in a calm tone: "The spiritual veins of Lingfeng Slope itself are thin, so the spiritual well was built to transform more spiritual energy."

"The scenery here is indeed vast, but precisely because of this, the mighty mountain wind acts like a sieve, constantly blowing away the spiritual energy that has gathered here."

The middle-aged cultivator's expression froze. "Fellow Daoist Ning's comments make sense."

Ning Zhuo turned and smiled at him: "Just by looking at this cave, I know that the decision to inspect it in person is the right one. Please continue to lead the way, fellow Daoist."

The middle-aged cultivator's expression softened, and he forced a smile: "Fellow Daoist Ning, please come this way."

The two of them rode a flying centipede and left this place, and their second stop was a valley.

The rocks were crimson, as if calcined by a fierce fire. Even before approaching, a warm warmth washed over me. Several thin veins of fire were visible in the valley, flowing slowly through the rocks. The air was slightly distorted and filled with a ruby-like halo.

"This is Cave No. 1D in the Rift Fire Valley." The middle-aged cultivator opened the restriction and led Ning Zhuo in.

This cave was carved into a huge red rock wall.

The entrance of the cave is narrow, but there is a different world inside, divided into two parts.

The outer stone chamber was dry and warm, and there was a faint glow on the stone walls, which were actually fire spirit stones.

Inside, there was a natural fire chamber deep in the earth. A neat circular crater was carved into the center of the ground, and from below, the dull pulsation of the underground fire could be heard, the heat was astonishing.

The walls were decorated with patterns of magic arrays and talismans. The former was used to guide the flow of qi, while the latter was used to control fire, which was extremely helpful in alchemy and refining equipment.

The middle-aged cultivator pointed at the crater on the ground, his face radiant with red light. "Fellow Daoist Ning, look at this fire vein. Although it's not top-tier, it's stable and controllable. The formation of the crater is stable and sophisticated. With a little familiarity, you can accurately control the firepower."

"With this piece of earth fire in hand, refining ordinary elixirs and tempering entry-level magic tools will be twice as effective with half the effort! The monthly payment is eighty medium-grade spirit stones, but there is a reason for the high price."

Compared with before, his tone is no longer so exaggerated, but more down-to-earth.

Ning Zhuo walked around the inner room, his expression indifferent: "There's no way to set up a formation on this wall. The formation at the ignition port is just a diversion, and the talismans control the firepower, but it can't hide the heat overflowing."

"Therefore, this cave is suitable for fire-attributed cultivators or those with strong constitutions to live in for a long time. Ordinary cultivators living here will inevitably feel restless and anxious. Moreover, it is deep in the earth veins, and the air is scorching and oppressive. Without the heart to study elixirs and instruments, it will become a torment."

"Uh." The middle-aged monk was speechless, and had to admit in his heart that what Ning Zhuo said made sense.

The two of them set off again, boarded the flying centipede, and flew to a small peak.

The place is cool and quiet, with towering ancient trees and vines like curtains. The sunlight is blocked by the towering mountains, leaving only the clear light that filters through the gaps between the leaves, casting mottled shadows.

The air was moist, carrying the unique fragrance of grass, trees, and soil, as well as a refreshing coolness that quickly dissipated the heat they had previously felt in the Rift Valley.

The middle-aged monk waved his waist badge, causing the emerald green vines to rise like a curtain. The restriction was lifted, revealing the cave.

Once inside, the light is a little dim, but not gloomy. Instead, it gives people a sense of deep tranquility.

The cave is deep, the stone walls are cool, smooth and chilly to the touch.

Above the stone wall, a clear mountain spring seeps out along the natural cracks in the stone, dripping into a small, mirror-smooth stone pool below. The sound of the water is like the ringing of a jade ring.

There was a circle of moss growing by the pond, which was obviously a spiritual plant planted by humans, emitting a faint glow and a faint spiritual energy.

The deepest part of the cave is quite spacious, with a flat stone jade bed.

The middle-aged cultivator already knew that Ning Zhuo was easygoing but had his own opinions, so he simply gave a brief introduction: "Fellow Daoist Ning, you've seen it too. This cave is quiet and secluded, with a refreshing coolness. The arrangement of the spring dripping into the stone pool is tailored to the local conditions, and the sound of the dripping water can help you concentrate and meditate. A monthly payment of thirty medium-grade spirit stones is quite affordable."

He had prepared himself for rejection, but Ning Zhuo, for some reason, took a liking to this ordinary cave and said directly, "This is it."

The middle-aged cultivator was surprised for a moment, and quickly took out the jade slip to register, and then signed the contract, asking Ning Zhuo to pay three months' rent. "I'll refund any excess and pay any shortfall. Fellow Daoist Ning, I'll be leaving now."

"Goodbye." Ning Zhuo sent the middle-aged monk out of the cave and stopped.

The middle-aged monk flew away from the small peak, while Ning Zhuo was still standing at the entrance of the cave looking into the distance.

Opposite the small peak, there is also a mountain, but it is taller and more magnificent.

On the sunny side of the mountain, there was a small lake, its surface calm and serene, like a jade mirror. Ning Zhuo knew the lake was called Jade. At the bottom of the lake lay a cave called Shuyuzhai, the very cave where his mother, Meng Yaoyin, had lived.

After Meng Yaoyin's death, the soul lamp she left behind in the Wanxiang Sect was extinguished. According to Wanxiang Sect rules, her belongings, including this cave, were to be sealed for a hundred years, to be passed on to her descendants or to successors recruited from outside.

One hundred years later, the Wanxiang Sect took back the cave.

Of course, this treatment is only available to those who have truly inherited the Golden Elixir.

Buddhist doctor Meng Yaoyin explained in the jade slip that most of her belongings from her lifetime were kept in the Shuyuzhai in her cave.

At the same time, she also rented a cave on the opposite mountain under another pretext. Using clever tricks, she dug through the rocks and quietly built a secret teleportation array that led directly to Shuyuzhai.

The intelligence jade slips Ning Zhuo had acquired clearly stated that as a successor, inheriting the cave and relics of their ancestors required strict review by the Internal Affairs Hall.

This review process is quite cumbersome and time-consuming.

The successor must prove their identity. The Internal Affairs Hall will then hand over the investigation to the External Affairs Hall. The External Affairs Hall will dispatch monks to investigate, and the monks will travel a long distance to return the results to the External Affairs Hall, which will then hand them over to the Internal Affairs Hall.

The Internal Affairs Department will only start the process of transferring funds after it finds that the facts are correct.

This process alone often takes more than half a year, not to mention the delays and unexpected events that may occur during the external investigation.

After realizing this, Ning Zhuo decided to sneak in first and get the money.

In order to prevent the Great Snake Scythe from making any unusual movements, Ning Zhuo was asked to burn the relics immediately, but Ning Zhuo was still waiting for the results of the investigation from the Foreign Affairs Hall.

Ning Zhuo opened the restriction and lowered the vine curtain, completely covering the exit of the cave.

He went deep into the cave, lifted up his clothes, revealed the Wanli Youlong tied around his waist, and released Sun Lingtong, Qing Chi, and Chu Lao.

Sun Lingtong had been bored for a long time, and after her feet touched solid ground, she jumped up excitedly.

The chef was steady and after asking Ning Zhuo for permission and getting it, he went to another room and started cooking.

Qing Chi stayed beside Ning Zhuo, staring at him.

Ning Zhuo: "Miss Qingchi, why are you looking at me?"

Qing Chi's eyes flickered slightly: "It's been a long time since we last met, and I miss you very much, so I want to see you more."

Although she lost her memory, she still maintained her previous direct and frank style.

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: "Miss Qingchi, I have told you the truth. Your feelings are just a misunderstanding."

(End of this chapter)