Chapter 187: Vine King Cave
In the exchange hall, all sorts of treasures were placed on the list by the sect.
Among them were no lack of third-order treasures, but the more precious they were, the higher the exchange qualifications required.
Su Yan was an Inner Disciple, and with True Intent Realm Second Stage cultivation, his exchange authority was already not low, plus this time Cold Shadow Peak’s meritorious service could be exchanged for quite a lot.
Su Yan looked at the medicinal herbs on this list, pondering in his heart: “Medicinal herbs move with the times, but fortunately Return Intent Yuan Pill and Dragon Tiger Golden Pill main ingredients are available in our sect, plus Beast Essence Pill, the cultivation needs for this period should be sufficient.”
With over seventy thousand contribution points, he couldn’t spend them all, needing to reserve some for molting materials to find for the fierce insects’ metamorphosis.
This time the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust molting material all came from his own master; if he had to plan it himself, it would probably take one or two months without even finding a clue.
“Beast Soul Fruit, Adamantine Fruit, Dragon Python bone…”
Su Yan selected all the main materials and auxiliary materials, and the disciple responsible for exchanges was startled, then hurriedly stopped his actions.
“Junior Brother Su, Inner Disciples can only exchange three portions of Beast Soul Fruit and Adamantine Fruit within three months.”
The man looked quite troubled and said: “You are a disciple ranked in the 200th place on the Tiger Ranking, with a higher limit, but no more than five portions. You exchanged three portions two months ago, so now you can only continue to exchange two portions.”
Su Yan frowned: “There’s such a rule?”
“This is to prevent disciples from reselling and wasting sect resources, becoming parasites.”
Su Yan’s frown eased slightly; he could understand this point somewhat.
The sect collects resources and nurtures resources, with the time and energy spent being invisible costs; if used on the sect’s own disciples, this counts as resources exchanged for geniuses’ cultivation time without loss.
But if some with decent strength specifically earn contribution points to exchange for sect resources on a large scale for huge profits, with resources not spent on disciples, then it would be a loss.
The more of a genius one is, the higher the authority granted.
“Senior Brother Lei, I urgently need Return Intent Yuan Pill and Dragon Tiger Golden Pill for cultivation; is there any other method?”
Lei Wen’s eyes lit up, suddenly realizing that the medicinal herbs Su Yan selected seemed to be exactly those for Return Intent Yuan Pill and Dragon Tiger Golden Pill.
Second-order mid-grade pills, mainly for true intent and physical body cultivation—these were also hot sellers among Inner Disciples.
“Junior Brother is a second-order Pill Master?”
“Mm.” Su Yan nodded, not hiding his identity.
‘Impressive!’
Lei Wen couldn’t help praising inwardly; clearly both Beast King Sect disciples, yet just a few months after entry, he had already climbed to the 200th place on the Tiger Ranking, and also had pill refining skills.
Nothing short of a monster could describe it.
Knowing Su Yan was a Pill Master, Lei Wen had some ideas and said: “If Junior Brother isn’t consigning the medicinal herbs to an acquainted Pill Master for refining, then there are indeed a few good methods.”
“First, you can check the consignment hall to see if any disciples are offering these medicinal herbs for exchange. Most main ingredients for these two pills are cultivated in our sect, and also distributed in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, so some disciples likely have stock and would mostly be willing to exchange for pills.”
Su Yan’s eyes brightened slightly, and he nodded.
Lei Wen continued: “Second is accompanying furnace: both parties provide medicinal herbs, one side leads the refining, or even Junior Brother directly refines for others, agreeing to return a few pills from one furnace, with the rest going to the Pill Master; many disciples like this method too.”
Su Yan heard the second method and thought silently in his heart: ‘Technical freeloading.’
Pill refining all depends on skill; the number of successful pills minus the medicinal potency of the materials is the Pill Master’s ability.
How many pills from one furnace, and how many left—these data are all in the Pill Master’s control.
Cooperators can only set a quota and have no way to wrestle with the Pill Master.
If both parties agree on four pills from one furnace to give to the cooperator, then if Su Yan refines nine or more, they are all his.
Su Yan didn’t like the second method, frowning slightly; though the second method doesn’t require providing materials, pill refining takes time and energy.
Lei Wen saw his thoughts and said: “Actually, you can also go to Southern Sky City to purchase; Southern Sky City has extremely many passing merchants and martial artists aplenty; for spirit herbs like Return Intent Yuan Pill and Dragon Tiger Golden Pill, demand is also high, so naturally some sell them.”
Su Yan flipped his hand, and two bottles of pills appeared in his hand, then said: “Second-order low-grade Blood Essence Condensing Pill, strengthens qi and blood physical body, slightly refines bone structure. Second-order low-grade Beast Essence Pill, nourishes contracted beast, increases demonic essence. Senior Brother Lei, help me list them, only exchanging for equivalent Beast Soul Fruit and Adamantine Fruit.”
Lei Wen’s eyes lit up, thinking: “Two more second-order pills; adding Return Intent Yuan Pill and Dragon Tiger Golden Pill, this Junior Brother Su Yan is quite capable.”
He said: “Junior Brother, rest assured; pills for nourishing contracted beasts are also in tight demand, with plenty of fellow disciples willing to exchange.”
Su Yan just nodded slightly, taking the materials for Return Intent Yuan Pill, Dragon Tiger Golden Pill, Beast Essence Pill, and such, totaling less than six thousand contribution points spent.
He also followed Lei Wen’s reminder and went to the consignment hall.
The items here were bizarre and varied; some, like Su Yan, consigned to the sect for trading here.
Others had the owners personally come to the scene, with a table, a chair, and just placing the items to exchange out like that.
Su Yan carefully browsed a round and indeed gathered about three portions of medicinal herbs.
Several thousand contribution points were spent, and only then did he leave the Sect Affairs Pavilion, returning to his courtyard on Xuan Shuang Mountain.
Xuan Shuang Mountain had only him and his master; at this time Long Qiushui was not there, so the entire mountain peak was under Su Yan’s control.
He released all five fierce insects; Six-Winged Blood Centipede and Shadow Horn Spider were slightly larger, coiling outside the courtyard, while Flame Armored Scorpion had already condensed demonic fire, preparing to assist Su Yan in pill refining; Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust and Gold-Eating Demon Insect each found a spot, appearing quiet and still.
In the Insect Realm Space, there were still some pills and some second-order feral beast materials.
He tossed the pills and feral beast flesh and blood to the five fierce insects, who just opened their blood basins big mouths and swallowed it all.
Su Yan’s eyes showed satisfaction: “Six-Winged Blood Centipede and Flame Armored Scorpion are both over halfway through Growth Stage, entering Mature Stage is just a matter of a little time. Gold-Eating Demon Insect maturity at 240 points, not far from metamorphosis.”
Each of the five fierce insects, as long as strengthened a bit, would greatly help his strength improvement.
He rested briefly; the next day he brought out the alchemy furnace, with Flame Armored Scorpion waiting at the side.
【Five Elements Alchemy Technique 21/200（Minor Accomplishment）】
Though he hadn’t refined pills much in these two months, Five Elements Alchemy Technique still progressed slightly, perhaps accumulated from analogous insights in other aspects.
“A first-order high-grade alchemy furnace is indeed a bit lacking.”
The alchemy furnace was given by Pang Tianfeng, decent quality, but compared to a second-order alchemy furnace, it lacked much capability.
However, the biggest advantage was that it was free, with no creditor.
Su Yan sequentially placed the pill refining materials into the alchemy furnace one by one, then became extremely focused.
True essence flowed, controlled like silk.
With his cultivation improving and increasing familiarity with Five Elements Alchemy Technique, pill refining became ever more practiced.
25/200……
Time passed continuously, the pills gradually melting, impurities constantly turning into dregs, becoming flying ash……
59/200
After one hour, two furnaces completed: one Dragon Tiger Golden Pill, one Return Intent Yuan Pill, with seven or eight pills each.
Su Yan didn’t rest and directly started the second furnace, cycling back and forth like this, with Five Elements Alchemy Technique proficiency constantly rising.
Several days later, Su Yan looked at the weakened Flame Armored Scorpion, patted his head, and then said, “Rest well.”
Pills completed, totaling 67 Blood Essence Condensing Pills, 51 Return Intent Yuan Pills, 48 Dragon Tiger Golden Pills, 91 Beast Essence Pills.
Su Yan swallowed one Return Intent Yuan Pill, and faintly a beast roar came from within his true intent, continuously strengthening it.
After a long time refining it, he finally showed a slight smile.
“These pills should last two or three months.”
Don’t think Su Yan earned a lot; just the fierce insects were five heads, basically raising five gold-swallowing beasts.
Su Yan swallowed pills and immediately did stance training cultivation in the courtyard, with a foundation solidly terrifying.
Surging true essence poured in, and the five fierce insects’ insect yuan also flowed into Su Yan’s body at this time.
Su Yan only felt his physical body growing like new bamboo shoots sprouting, climbing section by section.
He cultivated fully for several days, with cultivation advancing much, but this still wasn’t enough.
After several days of combat, Su Yan’s insights were profound, but sitting quietly cultivating here, progress was not as imagined.
“Ruyi Realm Great Accomplishment, but still far from breakthrough, only 109/400, true intent condensation much slower…”
As strength grew stronger, Star Constellation Profound Beast Skill cultivation deepened further, and true intent condensation became gradually more difficult.
Though compared to other disciples, Su Yan’s progress was already like riding a rocket.
Yet he was accustomed to rapid leaps, naturally feeling a bit unaccustomed.
“Perhaps need to go to Vine King Cave.”
Vine King Cave was one of Beast King Sect’s treasure lands, specially for disciples’ cultivation.
As an Inner Disciple, Su Yan naturally had the opportunity to go.
Hearing that Sect Affairs Pavilion disciple say that day, Vine King Cave had mental pressure, could generate illusions, tempering disciples’ spirit, also a good cultivation place.
Su Yan packed his things, stored all fierce insects into the Insect Realm Space, came down from Xuan Shuang Mountain, and went directly to Nine Tablet Spirit Platform to transfer.
Vine King Cave was in a mountain valley on the sect’s east side; Su Yan rode the Black Horned Giant Eagle, passing several mountain peaks, before crossing into the formation barrier.
“Token.”
Guarding here was a team of Mountain Guard martial artists; leading was a female martial artist, clad in black armor, holding a spear, with cultivation also True Intent Realm Third Stage and above.
“Guizang Valley disciple, Su Yan.”
He showed the token; the female commander’s eyes brightened slightly, verified it, then handed the token back.
“You can enter; inside are all Tiger Ranking Disciples, don’t cause too much conflict.”
Su Yan’s brow raised; what did this mean—could Tiger Ranking Disciples pick this time to fight?
He had some doubts, but after all, cultivation was the priority, so he strode into the valley.
In the mountain valley, both sides had giant ancient trees over a hundred meters tall, deep black vines everywhere, as if overnight returned to ancient forests.
Su Yan followed the mountain path, continuously heading deeper into the valley.
A special power faintly appeared, beginning to press on Su Yan.
‘Not yet entered Vine King Cave and this power already overflows like this?’
With such anomalies, it proved Vine King Cave wasn’t perfunctory for disciples.
Su Yan reached the valley end, his footsteps immediately drawing the attention of those sitting cross-legged in the central area.
He scanned the valley ahead: various stone caves, protruding rocks, under trees, on trees, all had many cushions placed for entering disciples’ cultivation use.
At this time about twenty-three people in the valley, one-third disciples ranked after the 200th position, more or less having been taught a lesson by Su Yan.
“It’s him.”
Someone recognized Su Yan, muttering softly.
The person beside grew curious: “Who is he again, a new disciple?”
“He is Su Yan.”
At these words, those who heard were startled, some showing surprise.
Originally thought disciples at 200th on Tiger Ranking must be more burly, more mysterious, but the arriving-on-foot Su Yan looked somewhat ordinary.
However, most knew vision can deceive.
200th place wouldn’t fake it.
Su Yan’s gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on the deepest giant cave-like opening two zhang high.
Massive vines climbed out from the giant cave over the rocks, like countless tentacles, controlling the entire area from surface to underground.
Su Yan could feel that the special power just now came from this place.
He strode forward, about to enter.
“Junior Brother, wait.”
Someone called to stop him; he turned to see a young woman sitting on a cushion cultivating who spoke.
“Once you step into Vine King Cave, illusions will generate; must be fully prepared—the longer you persist, the greater the harvest.”
The reminding senior sister wasn’t glamorous, just faint green dress, not like a Shattered Moon Peak disciple.
Su Yan nodded in acknowledgment, then said: “Vine King Cave is so wondrous; many thanks to Senior Sister for the reminder.”
He was about to step in, when suddenly someone blocked his action again.
“You are Su Yan?”
His tone was unkind; the Inner Disciples’ eyes lit up.
A disciple sitting behind a rock glanced over, showing disbelief.
“Qing Family wants to do what?”
The one who jumped out was still from Qing Family; he didn’t have the Qing surname, joined later, exactly when already untraceable.
Only known as Pang Tianhu, joined Beast King Sect five years, from ordinary Inner Disciple all the way fought into Tiger Ranking within 200th place.
Not arrogant, but everything with Qing Family as foremost, helped many Qing Family disciples stand out.
Su Yan raised his eyes, hearing the unkind tone, eyes cooling slightly: “Does this Senior Brother have business?”
“I heard you fought all the way to 200th place and still want to go down? Someone says you call yourself Fierce Insect Young Master, quite the fame.”
He sized him up and down, like looking at a thief who popped out nowhere and stole his things.
The gaze was very uncomfortable; Su Yan was quite annoyed.
“Beating around the bush, whose dog are you?”
Su Yan raised his eyes, gaze like a sword, straight at Pang Tianhu’s eyes.
