Chapter 154 – No Other Thoughts Until Tomorrow, Expedition to the Wilderness Tomb

Yu Xian froze for a moment, slightly confused as he glanced at Jiang Xiaolong.

Why does he keep asking people to toast?

Is it really necessary?

As for Luo Yingmei, her pretty face turned crimson, and she couldn’t help but shoot her master a reproachful glare.

Jiang Xiaolong looked utterly nonchalant. At that moment, he caught his disciple’s glance and shot back a look that clearly meant: “Aren’t you going to seize the chance?”

After being Jiang Xiaolong’s disciple for ten years, Luo Yingmei knew his every move and expression.

That look made her heart tremble.

Master wants her and Senior Brother Yu to…

But she didn’t have such thoughts!

And could she even match up to Senior Brother Yu?

Luo Yingmei knew she wasn’t particularly beautiful — even many of the female cultivator hostesses downstairs looked better than her.

She bit her lip, lowered her head with a blush, but refused to step forward and toast Yu Xian again.

Yu Xian’s brows also furrowed, feeling that Jiang Xiaolong was indeed forcing it.

She was a proper girl — making her toast him again and again, what did that make her look like? A wine-serving maid? Even if she were just a disciple, this wasn’t right.

He looked at Jiang Xiaolong and spoke calmly:

“Senior Brother, you’ve gone too far. Men and women should maintain distance — once is tolerable, but twice? Please drop it. Or else, I won’t stay for this banquet.”

Jiang Xiaolong’s smile froze for a second. Then, he shook his head with a wry smile and said,

“Fine, fine… since Junior Brother says so, how could I insist?”

He cast Luo Yingmei a glance and sighed softly before lifting his cup with a laugh, gesturing to Yu Xian again.

Luo Yingmei kept her head slightly lowered. She understood that sigh — it was one of helplessness.

But she quickly composed herself.

It wasn’t a big deal. She never thought too much of it anyway.

Besides, Senior Brother Yu was a gentleman. Even if she used the excuse of toasting to get closer, or thickened her skin to approach him further, it would only provoke his dislike.

Master really didn’t understand Senior Brother Yu at all…

The banquet then returned to normal. Yu Xian and Jiang Xiaolong continued drinking and praising each other’s pill-crafting techniques.

As the spiritual wine took effect, Jiang Xiaolong became even more generous, explaining in detail the art of concocting pills for spirit beasts — a lecture Yu Xian found extremely beneficial.

Be it pills for humans or spirit beasts, Yu Xian was eager to learn them all. He truly enjoyed alchemy.

If it weren’t for his need to find his master, he would’ve loved to stay and study from Jiang Xiaolong for some time.

The feast lasted for about an hour.

Though Yu Xian could’ve listened longer, Jiang Xiaolong was exhausted — refining that fifth-grade pill had cost him greatly. He politely excused himself, and the gathering ended.

Afterward, Luo Yingmei led Yu Xian to a guest room. Her face slightly red, she said, “Senior Brother, rest well,” before fleeing like a startled rabbit.

Yu Xian wasn’t bothered. He simply thought she felt awkward, perhaps guilty for not toasting earlier.

He shook his head, shut the door, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, and began breathing exercises, absorbing the alcohol’s essence.

Mortal wine and cultivator spiritual wine were worlds apart.

As the wine’s medicinal effects spread, it acted like a high-grade third-tier pill — nourishing his body and refining his bloodline.

Furthermore, the building was clearly enhanced with a spiritual gathering formation, and Yu Xian’s supreme-grade storage pouch had a strong spirit-concentrating function.

The moment he began meditating, spiritual energy surged around him like mist, enveloping his body.

A faint green glow shimmered as the Longevity Wood Spring Technique activated. Yu Xian entered a cultivation state.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye. Night turned to morning.

Yu Xian opened his eyes and ended his meditation. The surging spiritual energy flowed back into his body, and the pouch’s effects gradually faded.

According to Jiang Xiaolong, today was the day everyone would gather and explore the secret realm. So at first light, Yu Xian stood, tidied his robe, and walked out.

Just as he opened the door, Luo Yingmei appeared from around the corner, and their eyes met.

She paused, then smiled.

“Senior Brother woke at the perfect time. Master asked me to fetch you.”

Yu Xian nodded lightly and replied,

“Thank you, Junior Sister. I’ll go now.”

He stepped forward, walking beside Luo Yingmei. Soon, they reached Jiang Xiaolong’s room.

Jiang Xiaolong was already prepared. Seeing Yu Xian, he chuckled.

“Sober already, Junior Brother?”

Yu Xian smiled wryly.

“Don’t tease me, Senior Brother.”

“Then let’s go,” Jiang Xiaolong laughed, waved his hand, and led the way.

The three quickly left the Kunpeng Pavilion. Jiang Xiaolong said a few words to Luo Yingmei, then soared into the sky with Yu Xian.

Since this was his domain, the air restriction formations naturally didn’t apply to him.

Luo Yingmei watched them disappear into the sky, worry flashing in her eyes, before she turned and returned inside.

As they flew northward, Jiang Xiaolong explained,

“As I suspect, this secret realm is actually a tomb — the resting place of a powerful alchemist. That’s why the key is a fifth-grade beast pill.”

Yu Xian’s expression turned serious.

“A tomb that requires a fifth-grade pill as the key… the buried cultivator must’ve been at least a late-stage Core Formation expert. Or stronger. Such a person would surely lay countless deadly traps to protect their legacy.”

Jiang Xiaolong nodded.

“There’s risk, of course. But also great opportunity. Most strong cultivators leave behind treasures and inheritances — not out of kindness, but to pass on their legacy and perhaps one day be resurrected through enlightenment by a future inheritor.”

“Resurrection… what level of cultivation would that take?”

Yu Xian shook his head. “Better to stay cautious.”

“Exactly,” Jiang Xiaolong agreed.

“You’re still in early Foundation Establishment. You must be even more careful.”

Yu Xian nodded calmly, not underestimating anyone.

They were heading to meet the likes of Su Mofeng, the lord of Hundred Mines Pavilion, and Ge Xiyu, head of the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion — both Foundation Establishment great circle cultivators.

Just Su Mofeng alone, whom his master had praised, was a prodigy with immense potential.

Yu Xian, a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, would undoubtedly be the weakest among them. If danger struck, he’d be the first target.

So caution was his top priority.

After flying for about four hours, they arrived at a beautiful mountain shrouded in mist.

On the peak sat a quaint, serene building, likely a cultivation abode.

They landed outside, and Jiang Xiaolong called out,

“Fellow Daoist Tong, are you still cultivating?”

The fog parted, the door opened, and a slim middle-aged man holding a horsetail whisk stepped out, smiling.

“I’ve been waiting all night since I received your message. Please, come in.”

He eyed Yu Xian curiously but said nothing.

Jiang Xiaolong introduced them, explaining Yu Xian’s background and alchemical skills.

Tong Xue was pleasantly surprised and greeted Yu Xian with genuine warmth.

They entered the two-story building and sat down on meditation cushions, enjoying the relaxing, spirit-infused incense.

Tong Xue smiled.

“Others should arrive soon.”

“They’re always dragging their feet — especially Mofeng,” Jiang Xiaolong joked.

Not long after, a voice rang out:

“Fellow Daoist Tong, may we come in?”

The three exchanged glances — the others had arrived.

Four cultivators descended. Among them was Su Mofeng, whom Yu Xian had met once before.

All four were late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Yu Xian and Tong Xue were the only ones below that level.

Yu Xian, the weakest.

Introductions followed. Jiang Xiaolong mentioned that Yu Xian had refined the fifth-grade pill that unlocked the tomb — earning his place.

Su Mofeng and Ge Xiyu were surprised to learn this was the same young man their old acquaintance Xiao Wusheng had taken under his wing.

Su Mofeng remarked on Yu Xian’s fast progress, indirectly praising his talent.

The others also acknowledged him politely, though some with subtle doubt.

Then, with no time to waste, the group of seven flew further north.

During their journey, Yu Xian learned the names of the final two: Qi Xuan, the outspoken one, and Kang Xinping, who was quiet and reserved.

They flew for an entire day, finally arriving at a remote, lifeless mountain area — a place devoid of spiritual energy and animals.

Perfect for a tomb.

This was where Jiang Xiaolong had once chased a spirit beast and stumbled upon something unusual.

Arriving at the foot of a small mountain, they cleared debris with spells, revealing a pitch-black cave entrance.

This had been dug open by force a year ago, only to be sealed by an unknown restriction. They had returned now with a fifth-grade pill to bypass it.

As they entered, the cave grew darker and colder.

Eventually, even Yu Xian’s keen vision failed.

Tong Xue activated a small glowing pagoda to light the path.

They pressed on for nearly an hour until they reached a massive stone gate.

Foul, decaying energy seeped from behind it.

Jiang Xiaolong stepped forward, activated the gate’s formation with spiritual light, and took out the Yellow Dragon Blood Dust Pill.

He pressed it against the gate’s central node.

It melted and was absorbed by the formation — the gate slowly groaned open.

A gust of icy wind burst forth, so cold it frosted over Yu Xian’s Wood God Armor.

Finally, they saw it.

A vast, dark hall — possibly the main burial chamber.

Thirteen giant stone pillars lined the sides, inscribed with blood-red patterns.

At the center, a colossal pill furnace — four zhang tall and three zhang wide.

Yu Xian frowned slightly.

The others also wore grim expressions.

Jiang Xiaolong murmured,

“As I guessed, this place belonged to an alchemy master. That furnace… it’s not ordinary. Let’s move.”

They entered.

The first sensation that struck Yu Xian was cold — bone-deep, suffocating cold.

And upon closer inspection, the black surfaces everywhere were all covered in black ice…