Chapter 831: Water Pool and the Blood Curse Gate

Without Silvermoon's voiced reminder, Han Li could already discern the map's general outline; it was indeed identical to the terrain of the Demonfall Valley.

However, the rest of the map was extremely crude, becoming detailed only where specific markers were made.

Not only did it show the exact inner valley section where the markers were located, but it also clearly indicated the surrounding topography.

Han Li quickly calculated the distance between the marked location and his current position, finding it to be very far. He also had no idea what dangers he might encounter along the way.

After a moment of thought, Han Li shook his head and put the map away.

He knew that the marked spot on the map undoubtedly held a significant secret. However, Han Li had no intention of embarking on any other ventures before resolving the matter of the Spirit Candlenut. Whether he would eventually explore it would naturally depend on acquiring the Spirit Candlenut first.

Silvermoon seemed to have guessed Han Li's thoughts and said nothing further. Han Li, on the other hand, flipped his hand again, took out the new jade box, and casually tucked it into the bamboo tube on his back. He then calmly addressed Grand Ascension Arts Master:

"Many of the materials required for this Seven Flame Fan are already extinct or incredibly difficult to find. However, with your extraordinary talent, Senior, you might be able to find substitutes. If you can truly replicate a Spirit Treasure in today's cultivation world, I would be utterly prostrate with admiration for you, Senior."

"Boy, do you take this old man for a fool? While I am very interested in Spirit Treasures, why would I research a crafting method for you for no reason? Is it just for a casual compliment?" Grand Ascension Arts Master remained silent for a moment, then replied with a cold laugh.

"Spirit Treasures are not so easy to replicate. Although your talent, Senior, is unlike any I have ever seen, I actually don't have much confidence that you can research a replication method. However, if you truly can accomplish this, I can agree to any one request from you as compensation, within my capabilities. What do you think, Senior?" Han Li showed no surprise, instead speaking calmly.

Hearing Han Li's words, Grand Ascension Arts Master fell silent again for a moment, then let out a cold snort before proudly saying:

"Heavenly Spirit Treasures. In my early years, I obtained some information from an ancient cultivator's ruins. That's how I learned of the existence of such heaven-defying treasures. I've always been very curious about these artifacts that even ancient cultivators held in exceptional reverence. Since then, I've paid close attention to such treasures. Unfortunately, information about Heavenly Spirit Treasures is extremely scarce, and I haven't had much success. Now, I've become this neither-human-nor-ghost appearance, and I only have a few decades before my soul dissipates. I don't want to leave with any regrets. So, even though I know you're trying to provoke me, I accept. Besides, it's merely about finding some substitute materials, not re-inventing the entire refining method for a Spirit Treasure. How difficult can that be? Just don't forget your promise to grant me a request when the time comes."

"Good. Then it's settled," Han Li said with a carefree smile, beaming as he finalized the arrangement.

With such an eccentric individual, capable of even founding the Grand Ascension Arts, present, Han Li naturally wouldn't let the opportunity go to waste.

Although he already possessed the Void Heaven Cauldron, a Heavenly Spirit Treasure, in his hand, he didn't know when he would be able to activate and use it. Moreover, when it came to heaven-defying treasures like Heavenly Spirit Treasures, having more was naturally better.

Below, Grand Ascension Arts Master was completely silent. He was likely already opening the jade box and studying the refining method within.

Han Li, meanwhile, emanated an even stronger spiritual glow, his escape speed increasing by several points as he pressed forward. When he reached the mountain where the Purple-patterned Scorpion's nest was located, Marquis Nanlong and the old man surnamed Lu were walking through an unfamiliar underground passage. This place was incredibly dark and damp everywhere. Even with their cultivation levels, they could only see objects within a few yards.

"Brother Nanlong, I truly didn't expect such a dark and damp place to exist in an area covered in lava. I now have about seventy to eighty percent belief in the matter of the Blood Curse Gate," Lu Weiying said slowly, walking a few yards behind Marquis Nanlong.

"So, Brother Lu was always half-believing! As you know, the matter of the Blood Curse Gate wasn't even mentioned when I and that scoundrel Yun found Reverend Cang Kun's will. Otherwise, the Ghost Spirit Sect would never have let this place go. The Blood Curse Gate is a secret passed down orally through generations of my ancestors," Marquis Nanlong replied with a slight smile.

"However, if opening the Blood Curse Gate didn't require the power of two Nascent Soul cultivators, Brother Nanlong probably wouldn't have brought me along," the old man surnamed Lu said with a sudden smile, his eyes subtly shifting.

"Brother Lu, you jest. We have been friends for so many years. With such a benefit, of course, I would invite you. Otherwise, why would I have kept this matter a secret from that Han boy?" Marquis Nanlong chuckled, vaguely deflecting the comment.

"Then I thank Brother Nanlong for your kindness," the old man surnamed Lu said after a brief probe, wisely choosing not to mention the matter further.

In a treasure hunt involving only two people, a subtle hint was enough to let the other party know of one's caution. This was to ensure Marquis Nanlong understood his wariness, preventing him from doing anything treacherous midway. He certainly didn't want to foolishly fall out with the other party in such a place and engage in another battle.

Marquis Nanlong also understood the old man's intention. His expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly.

The two proceeded in silence for a short distance when a faint light appeared ahead. Both rejoiced simultaneously, immediately quickened their pace, and entered a sizable stalactite cave.

The cave was over thirty yards wide. Its ceiling and floor were covered with conical stalactites and stalagmites, several feet in size, and its four walls shimmered with white light. But what was most striking was a jade-green pond, over ten yards wide, located at the center of the cave.

Aside from its slightly greener water, the pond appeared to be perfectly normal.

"Is the Blood Curse Gate truly here?" the old man surnamed Lu asked, unable to hold back, after looking around and finding no trace of any restrictive spell.

Marquis Nanlong glanced sideways at the old man, who had just claimed seventy to eighty percent belief but was now expressing doubt, a half-smile appearing on his face.

"It is here, there's no mistake! However, such a crucial place as the Blood Curse Gate was naturally re-concealed with a restrictive spell by Reverend Cang Kun when he left. We just need to remove the spell," Marquis Nanlong replied unhurriedly, his gaze shifting to the pond in the center of the cave.

The old man surnamed Lu paused, then seemed to realize something and also began to examine the pond.

At this moment, Marquis Nanlong flicked his sleeve, and a small blue flag shot out from it. With a "plop," the flag plunged directly into the pond and disappeared from sight.

Then, Marquis Nanlong formed hand seals with both hands and began to chant incantations.

The previously calm surface of the pond suddenly rippled. The water began to rotate slowly, then faster and faster, gradually forming a massive vortex. A faint humming sound emanated from the center of the vortex.

"A Water-Dividing Flag? I didn't expect Brother Nanlong to possess such a rare treasure," the old man surnamed Lu said, somewhat surprised at the sight.

"It's nothing. This flag doesn't have much use other than parting water," Marquis Nanlong said, shaking his head indifferently.

Then, he let out a low shout, raised both hands, and cast two more spell incantations into the vortex.

The pond water surged several yards high and then abruptly parted, revealing a passage.

Without a word, Marquis Nanlong leaped, transforming into a streak of golden light, and flew directly down the passage.

Lu Weiying hesitated for a moment, then also transformed into a white rainbow and followed closely.

A moment later, the old man surnamed Lu's face turned somewhat pale.

The pond was very deep; no, it should be said, extremely deep.

He had flown down two or three hundred yards, yet he still hadn't reached the bottom. This made him, while enveloped in his escape light, look up at the pond's mouth, which had become a tiny speck of light. He muttered to himself, feeling a faint sense of oppression.

Fortunately, after flying down over a hundred yards more, he finally saw Marquis Nanlong below, whose escape light flickered as he slowly descended, finally reaching the bottom of the pond.

The old man inexplicably felt a sense of relief. He likewise retracted his escape light and floated gently down.

The bottom of the pond was over ten yards wide, circular, and seemed even larger than the pond's mouth. The ground was wet and covered with huge, abnormally smooth bluestone slabs.

In the center of the bluestone ground, the Water-Dividing Flag was plunged halfway into the surface, its flag emitting a blue spiritual light.

All around them were exceptionally tall, jade-green water curtains, towering majestically all the way up to the pond's mouth.

"If this Blood Curse Gate is hidden here, it is truly exceptionally secret. No ordinary person would delve hundreds of yards deep underwater, would they? However, how did Reverend Cang Kun know about this place back then? That's a bit strange," the old man surnamed Lu said, frowning, after surveying the surroundings.

"Well... perhaps Reverend Cang Kun's divine sense was extraordinary, and he directly sent a portion of his spirit into the pond's depths to detect it," Marquis Nanlong said, taken aback and somewhat uncertain. Having never considered this matter before, he too felt a touch of surprise and doubt in his heart.

"Perhaps," the old man said, stroking his chin, his eyes flickering a few times.

Marquis Nanlong pondered for a moment, then shook his head, casting aside the doubt in his mind. Suddenly, he patted the storage pouch at his waist.

A white light flew out from the pouch's opening. The white jade pendant, which he had used at the inner valley entrance, was conjured into mid-air, spinning continuously.

Marquis Nanlong formed hand seals with both hands, continuously casting spells of various colors that shot towards the jade pendant. In an instant, they were completely absorbed by the pendant.

Subsequently, a dazzling white light shone forth. The jade pendant suddenly stopped spinning, facing a water curtain, and emitted a clear sound like a phoenix's cry.

Without a word, Marquis Nanlong raised a hand and pointed firmly at the jade pendant.

The jade pendant trembled, and a large expanse of white ethereal glow immediately shot forth from its surface, sweeping towards the front.

A strange scene unfolded.

Wherever the white light passed, the water curtain twisted and tore apart like a broken scroll, shattering and vanishing in the glow.

In its place, an arched stone gate, about three yards high, emerged, shimmering with a bloody red light.

The surface of the stone gate was carved with a massive, lifelike, and menacing horned ghost head, which covered nearly half of the gate's area. "This is the Blood Curse Gate?" the old man surnamed Lu murmured, his eye twitching.

For some reason, as soon as he saw the gate, he suddenly felt a jolt of alarm, and a great uneasiness settled in his heart.