Chapter 62: Acquiring the Cultivation Technique of Qingyao Shangren! A Final Wish, Unresolved Affection

The Next Day

Qin Wang continued his search for Qingyao Shangren's cave dwelling in Eagle Sorrow Ravine, clutching Qingyao Shangren's "Initial Understanding of Elixirs." He searched both sides of the ravine until nightfall, but to no avail.

Prepared for this outcome, the siblings spent the night in a mountain crevice.

"It wasn't for nothing, carrying around Qingyao Shangren's 'Initial Understanding of Elixirs' all day; I finally received some information," Qin Wang thought with delight when new intelligence arrived at midnight.

Intelligence Received:

Today you carried 'Initial Understanding of Elixirs' while searching for Qingyao Shangren's cave dwelling in Eagle Sorrow Ravine and obtained information: Qingyao Shangren's resting place is located five zhang below three pine trees on the left cliff of the ravine, hidden by vines.

"Five zhang below three pine trees! Vines!" Qin Wang breathed deeply with anticipation. He and his sister were already on the left side of the ravine, and about a hundred zhang away, there were indeed several adult-arm-thick vines with three pine trees above them.

However, it was too dark to safely descend the cliff to the vine-covered cave, so he decided to wait until morning.

The Following Morning

As dawn's rays pierced through the crevice like swords, Qin Wang noticed his sister still asleep. He covered her with his robe and moved to the crevice entrance, examining the vines.

Since it was winter, the vines had few leaves, just dense strands hanging on the cliff, obscuring the cave. He spotted footholds on the cliff hidden by the vines.

"Footrests on the cliff..." After careful consideration, Qin Wang decided to use the vines to descend. The old vine roots, as thick as bowls and deeply embedded in the stone, seemed strong enough to hold his weight.

"Wangzi, be very careful!" Qin Xuemei called out anxiously from the crevice.

"Mm," Qin Wang nodded to her, gripping the vines and stepping onto the first foothold before slowly descending.

Finding the Cave

At five zhang down, he saw a man-made cave about one zhang high behind the vines. Steadying himself, he leaped onto the cave entrance.

With his soul-stirring knife in hand, he cautiously approached the cave. Sunlight revealed it to be a three-zhang-square stone chamber with a stone table in the middle. Against the wall sat a blackened mummified corpse on a stone mat, appearing quite terrifying.

On the stone table lay a gray bundle and a dust-covered, two-foot-square black wooden box. The bundle had weathered to reveal some white, stick-like objects inside.

"This should be Qingyao Shangren," Qin Wang thought, briefly glancing at the corpse before thoroughly inspecting the stone chamber for dangers. Confirming it was safe, he eagerly focused on the black wooden box.

The intelligence suggested that Qingyao Shangren's cultivation techniques were here—these were immortal cultivation techniques! Using his soul-stirring knife, he cautiously opened the box in the sunlight. Inside, there were no hidden arrows or poison; only two books, a letter, and a gray pouch the size of his palm.

The titles of the books made his heart race: they were the immortal cultivation techniques "Five Elements Gathering Energy Technique" and "Fire Spirit Blade."

The letter was addressed to a "fated person."

"A fated person?" Qin Wang opened the letter with gloved hands and read.

The first line read, "Affection rises with the wind; when the wind stops, the affection remains."

The letter, signed by Jiang Fan, detailed how Qingyao Shangren, Jiang Fan, was ambushed by his close friend Zhao Yulong during a visit to the secular world. Although he escaped, he was gravely wounded and near death.

His greatest regret was not being able to grow old with his beloved, Zhang Panpan. He left his spiritual stones, cultivation techniques, and storage pouch for a fated person, hoping they could inform Zhang Panpan of his feelings and resolve this regret. The letter did not mention avenging him.

Additionally, it noted that to unlock the storage pouch, the fated person would need to reach the mid-stage of Qi Refinement to develop spiritual sense. Concerned that the person might be new to cultivation, Qingyao Shangren placed the techniques and some spirit stones on the stone table.

"Senior Qingyao was a deeply sentimental person. If I ever meet Zhang Panpan, I will certainly convey his feelings," Qin Wang vowed, bowing deeply to Qingyao Shangren's remains.

Qingyao Shangren had indeed been considerate. Without spiritual sense, Qin Wang couldn't open the storage pouch.

"But with this, I won't have to worry about carrying too many items anymore!" Qin Wang thought excitedly, eyeing the gray pouch. According to the letter, this was Qingyao Shangren's storage pouch.

He currently had numerous items: the Five Elements Divine Light Jar, the Soul Gathering Bowl, a treasure bowl, the soul-stirring knife, the Qingyou small sword, gold jewelry, silver notes, the Sun God's Techniques, the "Initial Understanding of Elixirs," a yellowed jade piece, and more. Carrying them was inconvenient. A storage pouch would be immensely helpful.

However, he would need to reach the fourth level of Qi Refinement first.

The weathered bundle contained fifty lower-grade spirit stones, each about two and a half inches long and one inch wide, exuding a rich, clear aura.

"This trip has indeed been hugely rewarding!" Qin Wang thought, placing the fifty spirit stones, the letter, the "Five Elements Gathering Energy Technique," and the "Fire Spirit Blade" into his cloth bag. He then used his soul-stirring knife to cut some stones from the cliff and sealed the cave entrance before retracing his steps.

Due to the unique terrain, he couldn't bury Qingyao Shangren, so sealing the cave was the best he could do.

"Wangzi, be careful!" Qin Xuemei watched nervously from the crevice as Qin Wang climbed back up, using the vines and cliff footholds like a monkey.

"Mm," Qin Wang responded, gripping the vines and landing next to Qin Xuemei, who grabbed his arm as if afraid he'd fall.

"Xuemei, I did it. Let's go!" Qin Wang said, satisfaction evident on his face.

This trip had been incredibly fruitful.

He planned to rent a small courtyard in a nearby town and practice the "Five Elements Gathering Energy Technique."

"Mm," Qin Xuemei nodded, following him down the mountain.

Fifty Miles from Eagle Sorrow Ravine

In Red Leaf Town, a town with nearly ten thousand residents similar to Green Ox Village, Qin Wang rented a three-room tile house at the back of the town. It had front and back yards, suitable for growing vegetables and was quite peaceful.

That afternoon, the kitchen filled with the aroma of meat soup.

"Between heaven and earth exist the five elemental energies: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. To draw these energies into the body is to practice the 'Five Elements Gathering Energy Technique,'" Qin Wang sat cross-legged in his room, reciting the technique's incantations and meditating.

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