Xuanwu War Sovereign

Eighth Master’s origins were shrouded in mystery. Qin Feng had only read a few fragmented descriptions of him in an ancient text.

As for Eighth Master’s true origins, Qin Feng had no idea.

Qin Feng had asked Eighth Master about it before, but the old fellow was too slippery and always dodged the question, so he never got anything useful out of him.

Qin Feng suspected that Eighth Master possessed the ability to absorb the fear, sorrow, hatred, and other such Evil Thoughts born from human emotion. That was likely how he could vaguely sense the Medicine Boys’ thoughts.

After subduing the Medicine Boys and hastily disposing of the bodies by Celestial Pool Lake, Qin Feng finally had a chance to inspect Heavenly Red Peak.

Or more precisely, to survey the area around the Celestial Pool.

The Celestial Pool was enormous, its waters shimmering like a pearl set atop the colossal peak. Spiritual Qi rose from the lake like steam, and a dense Water Attribute Spiritual Energy, veiled in clouds and mist, surged up from its depths.

On the lake’s surface, numerous Pure Water Golden Lotuses floated.

The Pure Water Golden Lotus was a descendant of the Earth-tier Spiritual Object, the Green Water Golden Lotus. It had cyan leaves, a pale gold stamen, and exuded a pleasant, sweet fragrance.

The Pure Water Golden Lotus was a Yellow Rank Advanced Spiritual Object.

Qin Feng glanced at the Pure Water Golden Lotuses. Their seeds resembled emerald pearls, and information about them surfaced in his mind.

The seeds of the Pure Water Golden Lotus could be used for detoxification and to preserve one’s youthful looks.

The detoxification effect was nothing special; many Spiritual Objects had similar properties. Besides, the seeds’ effect wasn’t particularly potent. While they were effective against common toxins, they could only mitigate the effects of a more virulent poison.

Its second function, however—preserving one’s youthful appearance—was its most precious quality. It was a temptation that no woman could resist.

Time is cruel, and beauty eventually fades. Unless one was a Demon God, everyone would one day face the twilight of their youth. Yet, the seed of the Pure Water Golden Lotus possessed the ability to freeze a woman’s appearance at her most beautiful, preserving it until the day she died.

A vast stretch of Pure Water Golden Lotuses grew in the lake; he could count several hundred stalks with just a glance.

Suddenly, Qin Feng’s brow furrowed. He realized the Spiritual Qi on Heavenly Red Peak wasn’t as rich as he had expected. While the air was pleasant, the density of Spiritual Qi was only comparable to a Third-level Spirit Mountain.

’It’s normal for the Spiritual Qi of a Spirit Mountain Blessed Land to be locked inside a Cave Mansion by an array, preventing it from leaking out,’ Qin Feng thought a moment later, dismissing his concern.

Qin Feng walked to the side, and a massive cave entrance came into view.

Above the cave entrance, two large, glittering golden words shone with a brilliant light.

"Bishui Cave!"

Qin Feng glanced around. Not far from Bishui Cave stood several magnificent palaces and temples. The Water Attribute Spiritual Energy was exceptionally dense here. These were the residences for the Outer Disciples.

Inside, Bishui Cave was exceptionally luxurious, resembling a magnificent Divine Mansion.

In the deepest part of the cave, within the mansion’s garden, Qin Feng saw Heavenly Red Peak’s Cave Guardian Spirit Object.

It was a Spiritual Object with leaves as large as wagon wheels. Its lotus platform radiated an emerald-green brilliance, which flowed around it as it swayed gracefully in the Lotus Pool at the garden’s center.

This was an incredibly rare Earth-tier Spiritual Object of incalculable value.

And it was the Cave Guardian Spirit Object!

The entire spiritual essence of Heavenly Red Peak’s mountains and rivers was condensed into this one Spiritual Root, suppressed here within the cave.

Moreover, it was a High-Grade Spiritual Object of the Water Attribute.

A fervent heat flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes. Even in his past life, he had never seen such a precious Spiritual Root.

A treasure like this would tempt even a God-Demon.

Qin Feng’s gaze fell upon the Lotus Pool, and his body trembled. He drew in a sharp breath, realizing he had almost missed it. This was a Spiritual Spring—a spring no less impressive than the Cold Soul Spirit Spring! The Spiritual Qi within it had condensed into a liquid state.

Qin Feng tried to take a step closer, but a pale cyan light suddenly burst forth from the Void.

BANG!

As if struck by a colossal force, Qin Feng was sent flying backward like a cannonball. He was blasted back several hundred steps before he managed to stop himself.

HUFF... HUFF... Qin Feng’s chest heaved like a bellows. A slight movement of his arm sent a sharp pain surging through him, as if the single blow had shattered every bone in his body.

’What a terrifying Prohibition!’

Qin Feng lifted his head. The Innate Primordial True Qi in his Circulation Meridians began to flow, slowly nourishing his injuries and mending the internal damage like a life-giving stream.

In just a few moments, he was mostly recovered.

’As expected. The people from All Stars Academy wouldn’t be so generous as to simply leave a Spiritual Object like this on a mountain for a Cave Master to guard. They must have hired powerful Mystic Masters to set up an Array Prohibition!’

Frowning, Qin Feng stared at the invisible Prohibition. As a Mystic Master himself, he knew that once one reached the Fourth Grade, they were no longer bound by the need for physical objects and could perform Array Formation in mid-air.

They could form hundreds, even thousands, of arrays with a mere wave of their hand.

But to turn an array into a long-lasting Prohibition, one had to be a Mystic Master of the Seventh Grade or higher.

A Prohibition is formless and intangible, yet it draws upon Void Essence Qi to establish itself within the Void, persisting indefinitely. Some Prohibitions even grow stronger as time passes.

What lay before him was clearly such a Prohibition.

According to their power, Prohibitions are divided into Earth Evil Prohibitions and Heavenly Gang Prohibitions.

The Earth Evil Prohibition has seventy-two layers. Once all seventy-two layers reach Perfection and merge, they can evolve into the even more powerful Heavenly Gang Prohibition.

Generally speaking, however, even a single-layer Earth Evil Prohibition is enough to stop any expert below the Martial Arts Pulse Condensation Realm.

’This must be the Little All Heavens Green Wood Godslaying Prohibition!’ Qin Feng surmised, sizing it up. ’The Little All Heavens Green Wood Godslaying Prohibition is a 12th Layer Earth Evil Prohibition created from a foundation of Innate Wood Qi.’

It was an incredibly powerful Prohibition. Just from a brief contact, Qin Feng felt as if he’d been struck by a Divine Wood, shattering half the bones in his body.

If he tried to force his way through, he would fully trigger the Prohibition, causing it to unleash the Green Wood Godslaying Primordial Light. Anyone struck by this light would have their entire body turned to wood, becoming a withered tree.

And that was just the outermost layer. Deeper within, Qin Feng sensed several other powerful Prohibitions, all linked together to form a terrifying barrier nearly as strong as a Heavenly Gang Prohibition.

With such a formidable defense, not even a titan of the Nirvana Realm could break through and seize this Earth-tier Spiritual Object in a short amount of time.

A fiery glint appeared in his eyes as he glanced at the Green Water Golden Lotus in the Lotus Pool. It was a High-Grade Spiritual Object. ’If my Blue Sea and Heaven could devour this, it would likely reach Perfection in an instant.’

’Failing that, even if I don’t devour it, just by absorbing the essence it emits, my Innate Divine Power of Ocean Control could probably advance two more times.’

But in the next moment, the fire in his eyes died down. After a moment of contemplation, he glanced at the Lotus Pool a few more times and shook his head. ’Judging by these Prohibitions, a Spiritual Object of this caliber isn’t something a mere Fifth-Level Inner Sect Disciple like me can touch.’

’If anything happens to this Spiritual Object, my tenure as the Cave Master of Bishui Cave will be over.’

He gave a bitter smile. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as his gaze fell upon the Spiritual Spring within the Lotus Pool. ’But maybe I can do something about the water in this Spirit Pool,’ he mused. ’The Spiritual Qi has condensed into a liquid state. If I could use this Spirit Liquid for my cultivation, my progress with the Innate Primordial Qi technique would speed up immensely!’

A strange light gleamed in Qin Feng’s eyes.

The Innate Primordial Qi was known as the greatest of all Qis and the best for building a foundation. However, it was also notoriously difficult to cultivate, requiring vast amounts of Spirit Medicine.

This Spirit Liquid was liquefied Spiritual Qi. If he could get his hands on it, his cultivation speed would increase dramatically.

’Wait a minute!’ As his thoughts turned to Spiritual Qi, Qin Feng instantly realized what was wrong.

He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, an extremely grim look had taken over his features.

’All the Spiritual Qi on Heavenly Red Peak has been locked inside this Lotus Pool!’

’A Seventh-level Spirit Mountain... and this place is worse than a Third-level Spirit Mountain Blessed Land! And the Spiritual Qi is still draining away!’ He laughed, but it was a laugh born of pure rage. His eyes blazed with a fury like crackling thunder.

Clearly, someone was secretly sabotaging him!