Chapter Thirty-Five: The Underground Mausoleum City

  "What's going on? Why are all four of you discussing something in hushed tones?" Li Muran asked, puzzled.

  "Zhao Shixiong just came back and doesn't know yet. I returned a few days earlier than you, just in time!" Mu Li said, briefly explaining the situation.

  It turned out that just a few days ago, several disciples of the Jianling Sect were executing the task of breaking the mortal dust when they inadvertently entered a very secret and huge ancient tomb while searching for the few demon beasts mentioned by Cunmingsuo. These disciples encountered danger, only two escaped alive and immediately returned to the sect to report the matter.

  Jianlingmen attaches great importance to this matter and sends more people to investigate, but for some reason, the other three sects, Yuanshu Zong and others, also learn about it and send people to investigate. After discussion, the bigwigs in charge of the four sects decide to join forces to explore the "underground tomb city", which is scheduled to take place two months later.

  "Two months later, so hastily?" Li Muran was slightly startled. Generally speaking, such a shocking event that would affect the entire sect would require repeated deliberation and detailed arrangements before being carried out. Now, all four sects are in such a hurry, it seems they are all very interested in the secrets and treasures within the underground tomb city.

  Mu Li said, "Yes, for the past two months, the four sects have sent people to jointly guard the entrance. Two months later, they will let us disciples go and explore. Now almost all the disciples are preparing for this."

  "It's said that the underground tomb city is extremely large, and its age can't be verified because it has been sealed for many years. I'm afraid there are many treasures that have never seen the light of day, and maybe even some rare and precious elixirs with very high medicinal properties. If one could find a single elixir, they would be set for life!"

  Li Muran suddenly realized: "No wonder the law instruments and finished talismans in the market are selling extremely well, this is the most convenient way to quickly enhance one's own strength."

  On the contrary, by taking Danzuo, although it can slowly improve cultivation, the time is only a mere two months, and it's hard to have an obvious effect.

  "Master must have gathered us this time for this matter." Qingfengzi said with a smile, "Zhao Shidi, are you interested in that underground tomb city?"

  "It's only natural that we want to broaden our horizons," said Li Muran. "I'm just afraid that our seniority isn't enough, and the sect won't let us go."

  Li Muran said this, and the other young disciples couldn't help but feel a little worried too. They often heard that besides diligence, opportunities were also very important for cultivating immortality; if they missed such a good opportunity with their eyes open, it would be extremely regrettable.

  After a few words, they had already arrived at the main hall of Zixiao Temple. They stood in two rows, quietly waiting for their master, Zixiao Daoist.

  Half a time later, accompanied by a slight cough, Zixia Dao Ren walked out of the inner hall and entered the main hall, sitting directly on the main seat.

  Li Muran and a group of disciples, led by Qingfengzi, bowed in unison. Zixia Daoist smiled and nodded slightly, then waved his hand to signal everyone to sit down.

  "Hmm, all of you have been cultivating quite well, none of you have been lazy!" Zi Xia Dao said with a smile on his face, twirling his long beard, his eyes scanning over the crowd of disciples, nodding slightly to show his approval.

  Seeing their master's relaxed and joyful expression, the disciples' hearts felt a sense of relief, each secretly rejoicing.

  Zi Xia Dao Ren saw Li Mu Ran, but couldn't help pausing for a moment, his face slightly changing.

  "Anonymous, you've already reached the middle stage of Qi Mo!" Zixia Dao Ren exclaimed in surprise, and then burst out laughing: "Haha, I had long seen that your talent is not bad. If the other Daozhang knew about this, they would be laughed at for being blind and missing a rare talent, letting me pick up a genius for nothing."

  "It's all thanks to Master's guidance and the pointers from all of you seniors." Li Muran bowed his head in a salute, being extremely humble.

  Zi Xia Dao Ren nodded in satisfaction and said: "Very good, stay humble and calm, continue to work hard, the future is boundless!"

  "Yes, thank you Master!" Li Muran replied.

  "You are all quite good," said Zixia Dao Ren to the disciples: "From your cultivation, it can be seen that you have not been lazy and have been diligent in your practice; however, cultivating immortality is a matter of going against heaven and competing with fate! Besides diligence, opportunities are also very important!"

  At this point, Zixia Dao Ren paused for a moment, and the disciples all felt a sudden chill in their hearts, knowing that their master was about to get to the main topic.

  "This time, I've called you all here for a reason, and I suppose some of you have already guessed what it's about." Zixia Daoren continued, "That's right, the rumors about the underground tomb city are true. And I, along with other Daoist priests in our sect, have already discussed and decided to each bring a group of disciples to go and investigate. Hehe, we call it an investigation, but actually, we're going treasure hunting."

  Hearing their master's tone so relaxed, the disciples were even more delighted, each and every one of them with an excited look on their faces.

  Upon seeing this scene, Zixia Dao Ren smiled slightly and said in a loud voice: "According to the rules of the four sects, each sect can send out ten senior members in the Shenyou period, accompanied by one hundred junior members in the Qimai period to search for treasure. The treasures found will be kept by each of the four sects individually. As for how they will be exchanged or sold later on, that is not something you people need to concern yourselves with!"

  "There is a piece of good news, which is that the Master will also be going to the underground tomb city for a divine journey, and the Master plans to bring some disciples along. I wonder who among you would like to follow the Master on this trip?"

  "The disciples are willing to go!" As soon as Zixia Dao Ren's words fell, the disciples responded in unison, without any hesitation.

  Li Muran was still hesitant, but when he heard that his master would also be going, the danger level would greatly decrease. Although there was still some risk, in the cultivation world, those who couldn't bear any risk at all wouldn't be able to go far.

  "Very good!" Zi Xia Dao Ren happily nodded and said, "The master has not taken many disciples, so I won't pick and choose anymore. Since you are all willing, then go together!"

  "Yes, thank you Master!" The disciples responded loudly, each with a joyful expression.

  However, there is a rule that must be explained beforehand," said Zixia with a serious expression. "This time when we go to the underground tomb city, no matter how precious or worthless the treasure found, it must all be handed over to the sect. After the sect collects the treasures, they will reward the disciples who found them with one-tenth of the value in spirit stones. Don't underestimate this one-tenth, although it's only a tenth, if you can find one or two precious spiritual medicines, it's enough to get a high reward and make your cultivation worry-free!

  The disciples felt a slight disappointment in their hearts, but none of them dared to show it on their faces. A reward of one-tenth was still better than nothing.

  "If there's nothing else, you'd better go and prepare well." Zi Xia Dao Ren said: "Two months is neither long nor short, now carefully preparing some means, in the future it will be useful!"

  "Yes, Master!" The disciples took their orders and retreated.

  Zixiao Guan has fewer disciples, and the quota is sufficient, so it's possible to simply let every disciple go; as for other Taoist temples, there are only 20-30 disciples in some, and 60-70 in others, so the quota is extremely limited. These disciples, in order to compete for an opportunity to go to the underground tomb city to search for treasure, have no choice but to engage in some trials and competitions, and only those chosen by their master will have this opportunity to follow their master to the underground tomb city.

  The news that the disciples of Zixiao Temple can go to the underground tomb city has also spread among the disciples of Yuanshu Sect, causing a lot of envy. Those fellow disciples who used to mock Mu Li and Li Muran as outer sect disciples, with shallow qualifications, found it difficult to stand out in their respective sects, so these two people, who directly obtained the quota, became the objects of everyone's extreme envy. As the saying goes, good fortune and bad luck are unpredictable, and that's roughly what happened.

  "What should I prepare for in two months?" Li Muran returned to his room and thought carefully.

  He has just entered the middle stage of Qi Mo, which is originally a good time for cultivation. As soon as possible, refine the heaven and earth yuan qi to make one's own magical powers more abundant and profound. However, cultivation values day-to-day persistence, and in just two short months, even with the help of a large amount of spiritual elixirs and wonderful medicines, one's cultivation will only be gradually improved, and there won't be any earth-shattering changes.

  Within two months' time, from the selection of other disciples, it's either a magic tool, a talisman, or cultivating familiarity with some sort of magical technique.

  Magical instruments were not Li Muran's first choice - he had heard that magical instruments were expensive treasures that only late-stage Qi Mo disciples dared to use, and the prices of even slightly better-quality ones were outrageous. And low-quality magical instruments, although cheap, were not very useful, and it would take a lot of time to get familiar with them, not as good as his old trade - talismans.

  Li Muran decided to prepare a batch of talismans for this - not just him, but most of the Yu Fu Sect's disciples were thinking the same way. After all, talismans were convenient to use and had both offensive and defensive capabilities, making them a quick and effective countermeasure in times of danger.

  "It's time to try practicing some more advanced beginner and intermediate spells in the midst of Qi Mai." Li Muran thought to himself.

  In terms of the speed of practicing magic, Li Muran was only ordinary during the day, and even a bit clumsy. However, once night fell, everything became vastly different. At night, Li Muran's magical power grew extremely quickly, his magical energy was abundant, and his control over it was exceptionally smooth. Practicing magic came easily to him, like water flowing into a canal, and he could make rapid progress, "traveling a thousand miles in one night". Li Muran was confident that within two months, he would be able to master several new spells.

  Moreover, with the help of a mysterious copper mirror, as long as Li Muran can cast spells, he can create corresponding spell talismans - anyway, as long as the paper is illuminated by the mirror light, drawing the talisman will be smooth and unimpeded, unaffected by various invisible obstacles.

  "If it's just a normal threat, having these talismans on hand is usually enough. But if you encounter an unimaginable huge danger, a few talismans are also useless!"

  Li Muran thought of this, and naturally recalled the turtle shell-shaped artifact that the monk from the Great Ming Temple had used to repair the festival not long ago. At that time, this person had only relied on this one artifact to resolve the third-ranked Dark Weapon List's Man Tian Fei Tiao's attack, leaving a deep impression on Li Muran.

  "If there's a chance, I'd still like to go to the market, and if I can buy one of those defensive magic tools, that would be the best!"