Chapter 700: Winterming Sage

The stout cultivator forced a bitter smile.

“Whether you believe it or not, fellow Daoists, I truly didn’t obtain any useful treasures.

“The grotto-heaven is in a unique location, deep inside an unnamed cave on an island, carved out by that senior with immense magical power. The reason this shapeshifting beast hide decayed so easily is certainly related to that cave.

“Inside the cave, there’s a strange, unknown cold mist that is not only extremely chilling but also possesses formidable corrosive power.

“The grotto-heaven is divided into three layers. The restrictions on the first two layers were constantly assailed by the cold mist, significantly weakening them, which is why I was able to break through. Consequently, the grotto-heaven was infiltrated by the cold mist, and all the treasures stored within were completely eroded.

“Only the restrictions on the third layer appear intact, so any treasures within might have survived.”

To bolster his credibility, the stout cultivator then took out a medicinal pill and a talisman, both of which, like the beast hide, had completely decayed.

The pill had lost all its spiritual essence, reduced to a misshapen residue, making it impossible to tell what kind of spiritual elixir it once was.

The talisman was even more fragile. As the group passed it around, a female cultivator accidentally tore off a corner with a slight touch, and the next moment, the talisman crumbled into countless fragments.

The female cultivator quickly apologized, but the stout cultivator waved his hand dismissively. “If even a spiritual talisman like this couldn’t escape its fate, what treasures do you think could withstand such erosion, fellow Daoists?”

“That’s a Sun-Piercing Talisman!”

The fragments drifted like snowflakes onto the sea, then vanished without a trace, swept away by the waves.

The scholar in green robes watched the scene with a dazed expression, regretfully remarking, “I was fortunate enough to see one at an auction in the inner sea once. Only Nascent Soul Grandmasters competed for it, and it ultimately sold for an exorbitant price. To think this Sun-Piercing Talisman lay obscurely in an unknown grotto-heaven, its power completely lost, eroded into waste paper... what a terrible shame.”

After seeing the beast hide, the pill, and the Sun-Piercing Talisman, the group now believed the stout cultivator’s words to some extent. Unless one found a grotto-heaven belonging to a Nascent Soul Grandmaster, it would be impossible to acquire so many rare treasures, especially all in such a decayed state.

At this moment, the gaunt old man, who had been deep in thought, suddenly spoke. “I recall that there was once an Island Master of Hun Tian Island known as Revered Winterdark, whose ice spiritual arts were incredibly astonishing. If the cold mist Daoist Fan described is real, then perhaps only Revered Winterdark would dare to establish his grotto-heaven there...”

Qin Sang was unfamiliar with the history of Hun Tian Island.

The others, having hunted monsters on Hun Tian Island, knew a fair bit about it.

Hearing the name Revered Winterdark, they showed expressions of shock. Someone eagerly asked the stout cultivator, “Is it truly that revered master’s grotto-heaven?”

The stout cultivator shook his head. “Given that even the beast hide and the Sun-Piercing Talisman ended up like this, what do you think could have survived? I did see some remnants of jade slips and similar items in the grotto-heaven, but without exception, they were too decayed to be legible. I searched the entire grotto-heaven but couldn’t find anything to prove the senior’s identity.”

“If it truly belonged to Revered Winterdark, then Daoist Fan’s words certainly hold some credibility.”

The gaunt old man seemed swayed, his expression suddenly softening, no longer as aggressive. “Revered Winterdark is quite renowned; you must have all heard of him. However, he was the island master of Hun Tian Island for the shortest period, and no one knows where he ultimately went. It’s also said that he was the most detached from worldly affairs, leading to widespread chaos on Hun Tian Island at the time, comparable to the present. Perhaps Revered Winterdark was solely focused on cultivation, which is why he established his grotto-heaven in such an obscure location...”

Mid-sentence, the gaunt old man seemed to remember something and gasped in alarm. “Revered Winterdark left so many treasures in the grotto-heaven, and from your description, Daoist, it’s clear he encountered something that prevented him from retrieving them. Could that place... be Revered Winterdark’s final resting place?”

“That possibility is very small.”

The stout cultivator disagreed with the gaunt old man’s speculation. “But there are definitely treasures in the grotto-heaven no less valuable than the beast hide and the Sun-Piercing Talisman! I’ve explained all this; have you decided, fellow Daoists, whether to go or not?”

Everyone exchanged glances, neither hastily agreeing nor refusing.

But Qin Sang could tell that everyone was tempted.

He himself was no exception.

A Nascent Soul grotto-heaven was extremely rare. With so many treasures inside, its value was certainly no less than that of an ancient secret realm in the Lesser Cold Domain, not to mention the possibility of a Nascent Soul remains.

However, the stout cultivator had revealed too little information to alleviate everyone’s concerns.

Amidst everyone’s expectations, the gaunt old man stepped forward without hesitation and asked, “Daoist Fan, you’ve invited us to go with you. After breaking through the restrictions, you surely don’t intend to hog all the treasures, do you?”

The stout cultivator sneered. “What? I discovered the grotto-heaven, and I painstakingly figured out how to break its restrictions. Furthermore, I’ve already agreed to pay you for your assistance. All you need to do is follow my instructions and work together to break the final layer of restrictions. Do you truly expect to simply walk away with my treasures without any effort?”

Among those invited by the stout cultivator were two female cultivators.

One of the exquisitely dressed female cultivators chuckled charmingly, “Compared to a Nascent Soul remnant treasure, this humble one would gladly forgo a mere Black Lizard Beast horn. Moreover, Daoist Fan, you’ve described the cold mist as so bizarre; wouldn’t helping you break the restrictions inside also involve significant risk? Daoist Fan, you’re so eager to gather people and meticulously chose us; there must be a reason.”

The stout cultivator’s expression fluctuated between dark and light; he snorted coldly.

“I knew I couldn’t hide it from your sharp eyes... The restrictions left by that senior were for two purposes: first, to protect the grotto-heaven, and second, to seal off the cold mist and prevent it from overflowing. In my ignorance, after breaking a restriction, I wasn’t careful, causing the cold mist to become turbulent and on the verge of rushing out of the cave. If we wait any longer, the cold mist will undoubtedly alarm the surrounding demonic beasts.

“I’m doing this out of necessity; otherwise, by the time my friends arrive from the island, the treasures will have fallen into the hands of the demon race.

“As for safety inside the cave, you don’t need to worry. With your strength, you should be able to withstand the cold mist before breaking the restrictions. Other than that, there are no other dangers inside; the grotto-heaven’s restrictions are purely defensive.

“Furthermore, I’ve never intended to claim everything for myself, nor do I have the strength to do so; I certainly don’t wish to lose my life over external possessions. However, let’s be clear: if you wish to share the treasures, then you must forgo the previously agreed-upon payment. Also, after the restrictions are broken, I must be allowed to choose one item first, and then the rest will be divided equally among us.”

Seeing the stout cultivator being so reasonable, the others found it difficult to argue further.

The scholar in green robes asked, “What if there’s only one treasure in the grotto-heaven? Would Daoist Fan still claim it exclusively?”

“Exactly!”

The stout cultivator declared firmly, “I have endured countless hardships, while you would simply reap the benefits. If you can’t even agree to this condition, I’d rather let it fall into the hands of the demon race. The possibility of there being only one treasure is extremely low, but if that does happen, I can compensate you accordingly.”