Chapter 152: Earth Spirit Fire Cavern

Facing Zhong Hong, who was slashing over with wild fury, Xu Xuan felt both exasperated and utterly speechless. What was meant by "not letting go of Junior Sister Yu"? This guy was truly brazen and shameless to the extreme.

Yu Qin had always lived a safe and happy life at Green Mountain Verdant Dwelling. It seemed as long as she could stay with her Senior Brother, she felt completely content, not to mention the pleasant company of Xu Huilan.

To achieve his own selfish goals, Zhong Hong's actions were no different from sowing discord and driving a wedge between them.

"Halt!"

Zhong Hong let out a roaring shout, pouring all his pent-up jealousy and anger into the giant sword. With a single sweeping strike, the wind howled fiercely, and the sword qi surged majestically like a roaring waterfall. From the look of it, Zhong Hong had also gained a few insights within the ancient divine ruins.

Faced with this desperate, hatred-fueled strike from a formidable sword cultivator, even Xu Xuan could not help but be moved.

Yet today, Xu Xuan had also made up his mind to teach this fellow a lesson he would never forget.

Without dodging or evading, he extended a massive hand, gleaming like refined bronze, and met the attack with unadorned simplicity.

*Clang!*

That rainbow-like strike was brought to an abrupt halt by a single bare hand.

Not just halted... but caught!

Zhong Hong felt as though his sword had chopped down against a massive iron mountain. The sheer rebound force sent his internal Qi and blood churning violently, almost causing him to vomit a mouthful of blood.

His face turned completely flush with strain. The giant sword in his grasp was firmly locked in the opponent's grip, unable to budge even a fraction of an inch no matter how hard he exerted himself.

This scene mirrored the exact moment outside the Wind Feather Gate when Xu Xuan had grabbed his angrily lunging arm.

Back then, his cultivation level had surpassed Xu Xuan's, and his initial defeat was chalked up to underestimating his enemy and not carrying a weapon; hence, he had never truly taken the youth seriously.

Yet today, he had unleashed a full-strength attack with his most trusted giant sword, driving his potential to the limit amidst a blazing inferno of fury—arguably performing far beyond his usual capabilities.

Even so, the outcome of the two clashes was identical.

If one insisted on a difference, this defeat was far more miserable, far more thorough, and left him utterly speechless.

It felt as though he were still the same Zhong Hong, and Xu Xuan remained the same youth as before, staging a chillingly familiar scene.

"First, Junior Sister Yu does not like you at all. Second, with your pathetic cultivation level, leave alone myself, even Junior Sister Yu could easily defeat you. Third, you are petty and shameless, your mind blinded by jealousy, yet you still tried to sow discord. Today, I am going to teach you a proper lesson."

A sharp, fierce gleam flashed across Xu Xuan's eyes. The skin all over his body erupted with deep bronze light patterns, and the crimson glow in his palm poured forth like a torrential flood as he gave a ferocious twist.

*Crack—snap!*

The giant sword, forged from high-grade magical artifact materials, snapped cleanly in two. A ferocious wave of immense force even cracked the webbing between Zhong Hong's thumb and forefinger. With a gagging gasp, he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. His internal organs churned violently, and his consciousness plunged into sudden darkness.

*Clatter!*

The two severed halves of the magical giant sword tumbled onto the ground.

"Ugh..."

Zhong Hong was struck with supreme terror. A bone-chilling cold enveloped his entire body, and his robust frame shook and shuddered uncontrollably—whether from physical pain or sheer dread.

"Today, I am only giving you a minor punishment. Should there be a next time, do not blame Xu for disregarding our shared ties within the sect."

As a second-class honored guest of the clan, Zhong Hong had struck first; even if Xu Xuan were to execute him on the spot, no one within the clan could do a thing to him.

Zhong Hong stood upon the ground, utterly dejected, his heart gripped by a terror and disbelief he could hardly fathom: "This Xu Xuan's strength has actually grown to such a tyrannical degree. Even back at the mountain gate, I might not have been his match."

"Am I just supposed to give up like this?"

Gritting his teeth, Zhong Hong turned to leave, his face contorted with extreme resentment.

He had barely walked a short distance when a raspy voice drifted out from the shadows of a large tree ahead: "Brother Zhong, please stay your steps."

Zhong Hong jumped in fright. Straining his eyes to look, he saw an armless young man standing within the shadows, the corners of his mouth curled into a faint, icy smirk.

"Lin Hui!"

Zhong Hong recognized the man. They had crossed paths a few times back in the ancient divine ruins. It was rumored that this man had a deep grievance with Xu Xuan and had sacrificed an arm during the scramble for the ancient ruins.

"An enemy of my enemy is a friend. Surely Brother Zhong does not worry that I, a disgraced disciple of a ruined sect, harbor any malicious ulterior motives toward you?"

With his missing arm, Lin Hui spoke in a raspy voice, his face completely devoid of warmth, sending a chill down anyone's spine.

"Fine!"

Zhong Hong gave him a deep, lingering look. For reasons unknown, he felt an inexplicable spiritual resonance with this man.

Perhaps their wretched fates were far too similar.

Before long, Lin Hui led Zhong Hong to a dilapidated courtyard where a booze-nosed old man sat waiting.

After introductions were made, Zhong Hong felt a surge of awe and cupped his fists, saying: "So it is Immortal Master Hu. I have heard much about you."

This booze-nosed old man was none other than Huang Wandu, the very person who had a grudge against Xu Xuan that fateful day.

"Hehe, that little girl has exceptionally fine bones. I originally intended to take her as my disciple and properly mold her, but who could have expected her to be so unappreciative and make this Immortal Master lose all his face? When the opportune moment arrives, I shall make her thoroughly relish the 'Immortal's Chant' I concocted. Even a celestial maiden from the heavens, once she consumes this thing, would become a wanton creature desperate for any man..."

Huang Wandu's face was etched with sinister and vicious malice.

Hearing this, Zhong Hong shuddered to his core, feeling an overwhelming dread toward this Spirit Condensation realm poison master.

"Brother Zhong, that Xu Xuan is currently the most prominent figure in Yellow Dragon City. Even after marrying the eldest daughter of the Zhang clan, he still dares to take that little girl as a concubine. No matter what the outcome, you will never obtain that woman. Since you are destined not to have her, you cannot let that scoundrel Xu Xuan reap the benefits either. Why not take her back and share her with Immortal Master Huang? That way, we can each get what we need and defeat our mutual enemy..."

Speaking with deep earnestness, Lin Hui reached out and patted Zhong Hong on the shoulder.

Zhong Hong's expression shifted uncertainly. Finally, he gritted his teeth and spoke with vicious resolve: "Right! What I cannot have, I will not let that Xu Xuan obtain either. By what right does he hog all the benefits for himself?"

"A man must be ruthless to achieve greatness. Brother Zhong has finally seen the light."

"Tsk tsk, splendid indeed. We have gained yet another ally; that Xu Xuan's days are numbered..."

For a moment, an icy, bone-chilling aura swept through the dilapidated courtyard.

Green Mountain Verdant Dwelling.

Over the past few days, Xu Xuan had been racing against time to handle and arrange various trivial matters within Green Mountain Verdant Dwelling.

This was because he had decided to plunge heart and soul into a prolonged period of secluded cultivation. This retreat aimed to break through to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation, or even push toward the Spirit Condensation realm.

Before entering seclusion, he imparted teachings and pointers to Fang Gang, striving to stimulate even greater potential within the loyal servant.

As a servant of Green Mountain Verdant Dwelling, strengthening Fang Gang's power was equivalent to enhancing Xu Xuan's own strength and leverage.

Fang Gang did not let him down either. Possessing immense perseverance and working harder than anyone else, his cultivation grew rapidly, and there was no saying he might not break through to the Spirit Condensation realm in the future.

On the other hand, Xu Xuan also collected a vast array of materials and spiritual elixirs, including Bigu Pills and the like, to sustain his long-term cultivation.

Once everything was fully prepared, Xu Xuan barred his doors, turned away all visitors, and began his single-minded cultivation.

Come to think of it, Xu Xuan had never attempted such a prolonged, deep secluded cultivation session in this lifetime.

Time flew by quickly. In the blink of an eye, a month or two passed.

During this period, Green Mountain Verdant Dwelling remained exceptionally tranquil. Seeing Xu Xuan in secluded cultivation, Xu Huilan and Yu Qin did not fall behind either, both pushing themselves through increasingly grueling training sessions.

Additionally, Nie Han, Bai Pan, Le Feng, and others within the clan were also cultivating diligently in this prime environment.

Over these two months, Zhang Yuhan had also visited several times, only to return disappointed without catching a glimpse of Xu Xuan.

Xu Xuan was completely absorbed in his seclusion; unless an absolute emergency arose, he would not step outside, and Zhang Yuhan found it impolite to disturb him.

Finally, on a day two months later, Xu Xuan emerged from the spiritual chamber, his expression calm and unruffled like an ancient well.

"Master, you have finally emerged from seclusion!"

Fang Gang said with pleasant surprise.

Shortly after, Xu Huilan, who had been studying array formations, came running over with a delighted smile: "Big brother is out! You spent two whole months indoors, which drove Junior Sister Yu crazy with worry, though she has gone over to the Great Elder's place again..."

"Two months, huh."

Xu Xuan let out a soft sigh, stirred by a wave of emotion. This was the longest single stretch of closed-door cultivation he had ever undertaken in his current life.

"Master must have made a breakthrough!" Fang Gang examined Xu Xuan with an expression of absolute certainty.

Before entering seclusion, Xu Xuan had just returned from the ancient divine ruins and had only recently broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Condensation.

Yet this time, within a mere span of two months, Xu Xuan had steadily advanced to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation—a terrifyingly fast progression.

However, behind such rapid cultivation lay the consumption of a staggering quantity of spiritual materials.

Ancient body cultivation was notoriously grueling; if one were to practice through conventional methods without relying on any external resources, the path would likely be tenfold more difficult.

If not for Xu Xuan possessing the Moonlight Secret Pearl, which freed him from worrying about lingering hidden bodily injuries or exceeding his physical limits, things would have been very different.

Within those two months, almost all the spiritual materials Xu Xuan had prepared were depleted.

At this moment, the spiritual stones in his possession were nearly exhausted, and apart from two divine treasures and some precious elixirs resting within his memory sea, he had no other items of great value left.

Xu Xuan had no choice but to take out the purple crystal pearl he had originally acquired from the bat cave and put it up for sale. Since he possessed the Moonlight Secret Pearl, that bead of Purple Rock Mineral Essence Mother was of little use to him.

Within a few days, Xu Xuan purchased another batch of fire-attribute materials in Yellow Dragon City.

Yet he felt this was still insufficient to push his cultivation to the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Condensation.

Only by reaching the pinnacle of the ninth layer of Qi Condensation would he have the opportunity to leverage the medicinal efficacy of the "Toxic Fire Three Yang Pill" to break through to the Spirit Condensation realm.

"If the resources on hand are not enough, I will simply have to train through the hardship for a bit longer."

Xu Xuan's state of mind remained remarkably steady.

Upon learning the news of Xu Xuan's emergence, Zhang Feng, Zhang Yuhan, and others all came to pay a visit.

"Brother Xu is truly a heaven-defying talent! To possess such an astonishing cultivation speed while following the path of a body cultivator—at a mere sixteen years of age, you have already reached the ninth layer of Qi Condensation."

Zhang Feng could not help sighing in admiration.

Hearing of Xu Xuan's current cultivation bottleneck, Zhang Yuhan's eyes lit up: "That's right! Our clan possesses a place called the 'Earthly Spirit Fire Cave,' which harbors immensely powerful heaven-and-earth fiery Qi. It is originally a place where elder family members practice fire-attribute immortal arts. I shall petition my father to lend this place to Brother Xuan for a year."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuan was pleasantly surprised. That Earthly Spirit Fire Cave would provide tremendous supplementary aid to his fire-leaning constitution.

Within three days, Zhang Yuhan brought back an affirmative answer. After some heated debate among the clan's higher-ups, it was ultimately decided to make an exception and grant Xu Xuan access to the Earthly Spirit Fire Cave for an entire year.

After all, the Earthly Spirit Fire Cave was an exceptionally rare cultivation resource within the cultivation world. Within the massive Zhang family, there was no shortage of elders practicing fire-attribute immortal arts; even those high-ranking figures had to queue up to use the fire cave. For Xu Xuan to jump the line and use it for a full year straight was truly unprecedented.

Without further ado, on the very next day, Xu Xuan headed toward the clan's "Earthly Spirit Fire Cave" with a fair measure of anticipation in his heart.