On the Path to Immortality, Mastering a Hundred Arts Chapter 15: An Unexpected Delight

After leaving the Spirit Plant Hall, Hong Ling headed straight toward the Exquisite Pavilion.

The Exquisite Pavilion specialized in forging weapons, and its shop displayed a variety of arms—swords, spears, halberds, and more; everything could be found there. However, most were mid-tier first-grade weapons, and with few customers, the place felt rather quiet. The sole clerk was dozing off behind the counter.

Hong Ling entered the shop and tapped on the counter. The clerk woke with a start, and upon recognizing her, immediately shifted to a respectful demeanor.

“Your Highness, the family head has been waiting for some time.”

“Mm,” Hong Ling replied, heading straight upstairs.

The second floor of the Exquisite Pavilion was luxuriously decorated, with carpets made from demon beast pelts beneath their feet and walls inlaid with intricate golden patterns. Countless rare curiosities were displayed around the room for viewing. An unknowing visitor might mistake it for a treasure trove.

Hong Ling gently knocked on the door.

A soft voice came from inside: “Come in.”

She pushed open the door and stepped inside, bowing respectfully. “Ling’er pays respects to Mother.”

Seated at the head of the room was a majestic and elegant beauty, delicately savoring a cup of spirit tea. Her features bore a resemblance to Hong Ling’s but were imbued with an air of authority and power; combined with her aura at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, she inspired a deep respect.

“Ling’er, you shouldn’t let Li Feng go to the Luoshan Kingdom alone. That boy is cunning; you must be wary.”

“I've considered what Mother said and have arranged for someone to keep an eye on him. If he truly brings back the Limu Fruit, it will be all benefit and no harm to the Tianqi clan,” Hong Ling explained her thoughts.

The noble woman said no more on the matter, and they proceeded to discuss recent major events in the Guiyuan Kingdom.

...

Meanwhile, Li Feng had not gone far from Anhe City when he noticed a tail following him. It was clear without doubt—someone sent by Hong Ling.

Li Feng slapped down five Speed Talismans, five Ten-Thousand-Mile Talismans, five Burst Step Talismans, and three Concealment Talismans in quick succession. Then, channeling his spiritual power, he vanished in the blink of an eye.

The fourth-level Refining Qi cultivator behind him stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the sudden disappearance. Helpless, he sent a message back reporting his failure to keep up.

The cultist ruins mentioned in the simulation were located on the southwestern side of the One Hundred Thousand Mountains.

This vast mountain range stretched endlessly, with peaks stacked upon peaks, extending beyond sight for thousands of miles. It divided the Guiyuan, Luoshan, and Cixi kingdoms, serving as a natural buffer zone. Countless ferocious demon beasts roamed within. Without formidable divine abilities, even high-level cultivators dared not delve deeply.

Fortunately, the ruins lay on the mountain range’s outskirts, where fewer and less powerful beasts dwelled. Even if encountered, Li Feng was confident in his ability to fight. With his stockpile of pills and talismans accumulated over half a month, he was well-prepared to handle low-level second-tier beasts.

After two days and nights of relentless travel, he finally reached the foot of the southwestern mountains. The early morning mist shrouded the peaks, obscuring vision.

Li Feng slowed his pace, relying on the memories acquired from the simulation to search for the ruins’ entrance.

After trekking several dozen miles, he stopped beneath a colossal tree towering into the clouds, its bark as tough as iron.

The Ironbark Tree was a primary material for crafting low-grade first-tier talismans and was a common commodity in the market.

Li Feng took out a spirit-detecting pill he had prepared earlier, crushed it, and scattered the powder over the bark. The powder soon vanished, and invisible ripples emanated around the tree. Gradually, an underground entrance appeared at its roots.

Without hesitation, Li Feng entered swiftly and sealed the entrance behind him.

The passage beneath the tree was pitch-black. Familiar with the way, Li Feng tapped lightly in a precise spot, instantly activating a row of illumination lights.

A hundred meters ahead lay three forks in the path.

The left path concealed alchemical opportunities, the right led to formation-related prospects, and the middle passage was the tomb chamber where the ruins’ owner had placed their remains.

The owner had been a rare cultivator proficient in both alchemy and formations.

Because of this, the owner of the Talisman Pavilion had invited Li Feng to explore together during the simulation.

Li Feng’s detailed knowledge of the ruins’ structure came entirely from the memories gained then. He felt at home here.

“The Limu Fruit is in the central tomb chamber. I’ll get it first,” Li Feng decided.

He had already acquired most of the opportunities on the sides during the simulation; repeating them now would be pointless.

Effortlessly bypassing all the tomb’s traps, he found a coffin crafted from numerous high-grade spirit stones. Roughly estimated, nearly a thousand such stones had gone into its making.

The dense spiritual energy around it formed a thick mist.

Li Feng bowed and then expertly lifted the coffin lid with his spirit pick.

No bones lay inside.

He was unfazed—he had anticipated this.

Leaning in a corner was a skeletal frame—the true remains of the ruins’ owner.

The coffin contained only precious items: third-tier Limu Fruit, mid-tier second-grade Refining Pills and Foundation Establishment Pills, a complete set of high-grade second-tier spirit gathering array tools, and a dual cultivation technique manual.

Li Feng carefully placed every item into his storage pouch without missing a single one.

Having finished, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he returned the skeleton to the coffin, resealed the lid, and bowed deeply.

The owner had chosen to preserve all their treasures for a worthy successor, even at the expense of their own remains.

For this alone, Li Feng held great respect.

Just as he prepared to depart, the ground beneath the skeleton suddenly collapsed.

Surprised, Li Feng wondered if some treasure had been overlooked.

In the simulation, the skeleton had not been placed, causing this opportunity to be missed.

Curious, he crushed several protective talismans and cautiously approached the collapsed spot.

There, partially buried in soil, lay a wooden box.

Li Feng cleared away the dirt, revealing a bright red wooden chest, pristine and untouched by mud.

The scent emanating from it was familiar, and his heart leapt with joy.

“Second-tier Red Fragrant Wood!”

Also known as Longevity Wood, it grows only one centimeter every ten years, has an aromatic fragrance, repels insects and evil spirits, and is widely used. It is a key ingredient in crafting longevity pills, talismans, and formations.

Li Feng never expected to find such a large piece here—about ten jin in weight.

Only ten grams were needed to make a single longevity pill.

“Using Red Fragrant Wood for the box must mean the contents inside are even more precious,” he mused, remembering not to lose sight of the main prize amidst his excitement.

Carefully opening the box, he quickly moved aside.

After a long moment of silence, confirming no danger, he examined its contents.

The box was filled with high-grade spirit stones, each gleaming brightly and radiating dense spiritual energy, about the size of a fist.

Li Feng’s gaze then fell upon a jade slip placed atop the stones.

Jade slips served many purposes but were primarily used to store cultivation techniques and secret manuals. Once a cultivator’s divine sense read the contents, the slip would shatter to prevent copying.

Cultivation sects commonly used jade slips for information storage.

Li Feng was accustomed to this.

He activated his divine sense to read the jade slip, and countless golden characters automatically aligned into rows.

“Spirit Seclusion Technique!”