Chapter 17

"Undao, what are you looking for?"

Zhuang Wudao had no intention of hiding it. As he walked, he gazed into the distance: "I'm looking for a place with a primordial magnetic vein. It should be nearby."

Lin Han was taken aback, exchanging a glance with Ma Yuan, still not understanding what a primordial magnetic vein was.

Both of them itched to return. Today was the grand day for the establishment of the Sword Robe Hall, and after the ceremony, they would surely gather with their brothers, drinking and feasting to their heart's content.

However, they had no choice but to follow Zhuang Wudao, wandering aimlessly in the forest like headless flies.

But Zhuang Wudao wasn't completely clueless. It was said that most primordial magnetic veins could distort the surrounding terrain and scenery. Ordinary people couldn't see them and would often unconsciously deviate from their path, avoiding the primordial magnetic vein.

Only cultivators at the late Foundation Establishment stage could possibly discover the location of a primordial magnetic vein.

If Zhuang Wudao were to search on his own, even knowing the exact location, it would take him no less than two or three hundred years to find it.

However, he carried the 'Light Cloud' sword on his back. Since entering this area, the old sword had been trembling slightly and slightly warming up in its scabbard.

Zhuang Wudao knew that this was the sword spirit's warning. The closer he got, the more the sword's vibrations increased, and the heat it emitted also grew.

Step by step, he probed and approached. Gradually, a thin white mist appeared before his eyes, as if he had entered a realm of illusion. A place that was only a few miles in diameter, yet full of changes.

Even Lin Han and Ma Yuan's expressions became serious. They had walked over a hundred miles in the forest, yet it felt like they were still circling in the same spot.

Zhuang Wudao finally closed his eyes, blocking his senses, and relied solely on the guidance of the Light Cloud sword to move forward.

Soon, he heard Ma Yuan exclaim in surprise: "Where are we? I've never been here before."

Zhuang Wudao opened his eyes and saw a small valley standing before them. They were standing at the entrance of the valley, in a narrow gap.

The vegetation here was even more lush and vibrant than outside, with many extremely rare species. Zhuang Wudao, who had seen much, could only recognize a few, which were essential ingredients for elixirs like the Qi Nourishing Marrow Pill and the Qi Nourishing Pill.

Inside the valley, there was a powerful force that made one's heart race. Although he couldn't feel it himself, the Light Cloud sword, since entering this place, had begun to absorb the surrounding free-floating spiritual energy like a bottomless vortex, with a momentum ten times stronger than when it was at the Dust-Free Academy!

Compared to the valley, the 'Light Cloud Divine Sword' on his back was clearly a more awe-inspiring object.

"This is the place of primordial magnetism!"

Zhuang Wudao's eyes gleamed, and he decisively stepped in. In just a few steps, his field of vision suddenly widened.

The valley was about three thousand feet in diameter. Although the vegetation was lush at the edges, the center was a barren white patch of land.

There was also a ten-foot-wide and deep pit, spiraling in shape. It was unfathomably deep, and looking down, one could only see a dark mass, unable to see the bottom.

Zhuang Wudao was still in shock, unsure of what to do next, when he heard Ma Yuan and Lin Han both cursing loudly.

"Is this a ghost place? What kind of hell is this?"

"My silver coins are being sucked away! This is all my private savings!"

Zhuang Wudao turned to look behind him and saw that the weapons on Ma Yuan and Lin Han's backs were all buzzing, being dragged by an unknown force towards the pit.

Not only the weapons, but all the silver coins and copper coins, these small metal objects, were also being forcefully sucked up. Ma Yuan and Lin Han struggled to suppress them, but it only made them lose their balance, being dragged towards the pit by the powerful force.

Seeing that they couldn't stop it, the two decisively abandoned the four hundred-refined steel crossbows and all the arrows and hidden weapons, managing to keep the rest and regain their footing.

"These two bastards! They actually have twenty or thirty taels of private savings, when did they save up so much?"

Zhuang Wudao cursed inwardly, then felt a headache. He had found the place of primordial magnetism, but what should he do next? Yun'er hadn't told him in the dream how to quickly achieve the Bull Demon Tyrant Body.

At that moment, he heard the familiar voice from the dream, like celestial music: "You're lucky. This is the eye of the primordial magnetic vein, superior to ordinary veins!"

Zhuang Wudao was slightly startled and turned his head sharply. He saw the figure of 'Yun'er' floating beside him. Her figure was ethereal, like a legendary ghost, but without any sinister aura.

Looking at Lin Han and Ma Yuan, they seemed completely unaware of her.

"Why are you surprised, sword master? Light Cloud is an ancient divine sword, having slain countless Immortal Kings and Immortal Lords in the past five calamities. It possesses divine powers. When Light Cloud is at its peak, if Yun'er doesn't want to be seen, even those Immortal Lords would find it hard to detect her. Although Light Cloud is now severely damaged and has not recovered after five calamities, its divine powers can still deceive ordinary Qi Cultivation realm cultivators."

Yun'er explained without any emotional fluctuation in her voice, then added: "The earth spirit here is extremely strong, and the metal spirit is slightly weaker. Therefore, Yun'er can manifest her form outside the sword by borrowing the power of the earth spirit. This is only possible in places with abundant spiritual energy. However, if the sword master can reach the Foundation Establishment realm in the future, Yun'er will be able to do so without borrowing the spirit."

Zhuang Wudao was enlightened. So the sword spirit Yun'er wasn't just a dream.

"If I had known it was the eye of the primordial magnetic vein, I wouldn't have needed anyone to protect me. This place is sealed, and no one except a Golden Core cultivator can enter. But it's also your two friends' good fortune."

After saying this, Yun'er's cold gaze turned to Zhuang Wudao: "Jump down!"

Zhuang Wudao was stunned, speechless. The depth of the pit was unknown. When the crossbows and weapons fell in, there was no sound.

Jumping down like this, would it really be safe? Was she trying to let him fall to his death and then possess his body?

Yun'er, expressionless, said: "The eye of the primordial magnetic vein is forty-nine feet below. If you're afraid, I can control your body for you."

Zhuang Wudao snorted coldly, snatched the bags from Ma Yuan and Lin Han, and casually instructed: "You two wait here and protect me. If I don't come up in ten days, you can leave and remember to burn some paper money for me next year—"

Without waiting for the stunned two to respond, he suddenly leaped and jumped into the pit.

He had planned to use the Light Cloud sword to stab the surrounding rock walls or use the uneven surfaces to slowly descend.

However, after jumping, Zhuang Wudao realized something was wrong. The walls of the pit were so smooth they could reflect a person.

The Light Cloud sword on his back suddenly felt as heavy as a rock, impossible to draw from its scabbard.

Zhuang Wudao was greatly alarmed, thinking he had been tricked. Suddenly, he felt a repulsive force from below, stopping his fall. His figure floated in the air, slowly descending.

After a while, he felt his feet touch the ground. It was pitch black, and he couldn't stand steadily, as if his body had lost all weight.

There was no light at all below. Zhuang Wudao reached into his sleeve to take out a fire flint to light up, but the Light Cloud sword suddenly flew out of its scabbard and floated beside him.

The sword, covered in decay marks, emitted a cold, faint light. It wasn't strong, but it illuminated the pit clearly.

Zhuang Wudao saw that the long swords and crossbows dropped by Lin Han and Ma Yuan were now floating in the air nearby. The pit was narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, with the bottom being about fifty feet in diameter.

"Is this the eye of the primordial magnetic vein?"

Apart from the repulsive force here, everything else was the same as outside.

Zhuang Wudao's gaze was then drawn to a few drops of golden liquid in the center. They emitted a fragrant aroma, making him feel a strong desire to swallow them.

These were definitely not from above but were originally in the pit. He didn't know what they were or if they could be used.

"This is the earth marrow! Formed by the primordial magnetic vein absorbing the essence of the earth over a long period. It can improve a person's constitution and is very beneficial for cultivators. Just a few drops can directly increase a cultivator below the sixth level of Qi Cultivation by one level."

Zhuang Wudao was surprised and his eyes lit up. It was such a precious treasure!

A few drops could directly increase a cultivator below the sixth level of Qi Cultivation by one level. What about a Marrow Cultivation realm cultivator like him?

Yun'er coldly said: "Unfortunately, the time is too short. This primordial magnetic vein has only formed in the past hundred years. The impurities haven't been removed, and the marrow liquid is impure. After consuming it, one's cultivation will indeed increase rapidly, but the root essence in the body will also become impure, making it impossible to reach the Spirit Body realm for the rest of one's life. If you want to go further on the path of cultivation, it's best to give it up. However, your two friends can consume it."

Zhuang Wudao immediately lost interest but still asked: "Can this help me quickly achieve the Bull Demon Tyrant Body?"

"Of course, just three drops, but you will never reach the Spirit Body realm."

Zhuang Wudao counted, and there were six drops of earth marrow. He frowned: "I can't use it, but they can? Isn't that harming them?"

Yun'er was unconcerned: "Sword master, I see that these two have only fifth-grade cultivation potential. They are two years older than you and are only at the Blood Cultivation stage. If they were born into a resource-rich cultivation family, they might have a chance. But in their current situation, it's impossible for them to reach the Qi Cultivation stage before the age of twenty-four. However, with the help of the earth marrow, they have a chance to become cultivators. So I say this is their good fortune. The choice is yours. But remember, you will eventually become a supreme Immortal King! At that time, you will be immortal and carefree, and these close friends will just be passing acquaintances. It's best not to be too attached—"

After saying this, Yun'er didn't argue with Zhuang Wudao anymore. She pointed, and the bags opened.

Six Essence Stones flew out, each occupying a position in the pit. The stone materials Zhuang Wudao had also spread out in a peculiar pattern around them.

Zhuang Wudao vaguely saw that this should be a spirit array, but he couldn't understand it. He could only look at Yun'er helplessly, about to ask what to do next, when he suddenly felt a heavy blow to the back of his head. His vision went black, and he felt dizzy.