Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Chapter 202: Chapter 200 Lin Xuyan

Half a day later, a dense, lush forest was shrouded in mist from above.

Looking down from above, only a mist remained, apart from the occasional roar of beasts, it was very quiet.

“Shua~~~”

In the air, four figures descended.

All were women of stunning beauty, dressed in apricot-yellow long dresses, holding treasure swords. They were extremely beautiful, each with their own unique grace, their bodies permeated with the aura of the Foundation Establishment Stage, looking like disciples from some Immortal Sect on an expedition.

Of course, these were all Second-class Paperfolk.

Ning Daoran was naturally cautious by nature, and exploring Cave Mansions was certainly something he would have the Second-class Paperfolk do first.

The prohibitions lay ahead.

In the blink of an eye, two of the fairies turned into a mist of blood, slain by the prohibitions.

In the wind, Ning Daoran frowned and released four more Second-class Paperfolk.

This was repeated until he had completely confirmed the specific location of each prohibition, only then did he gracefully descend.

“Rise!”

Several Array Flags and Array Plates flew out, instantly setting up the Undying Pear Blossom Array so that, even if he suffered backlash from the prohibitions, this formation could withstand some of it.

Of course, these were still not enough.

Ning Daoran waved his hand, and a peerlessly beautiful woman appeared beside him.

This woman, dressed in a white gown and of stunning beauty, was Little Bai, who possessed half of the Divine Soul of the White Sheep Demon Queen. Holding a long sword, she wielded the White Sheep Divine Power, and immediately strands of pure white demonic aura wrapped around her, shielding her master.

Refining a corpse should look the part, stepping in front of their master when needed.

After all preparations were ready, Ning Daoran took out various materials and immediately started refining three Array Bases, then began to break the prohibitions.

“Ao ao~~~”

Inside the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven, Big Stupid Deer wielding a hammer called out, asking if he should help.

“Just an old Cave Mansion, I can handle it myself, you keep to your forging.”

Ning Daoran’s hands fluttered rapidly, continuously casting spells.

In an instant, those thick, ancient prohibitions peeled away like layers of an onion by Ning Daoran, though peeling each layer was time-consuming and laborious, it would be worth it if he could get the treasures inside the Cave Mansion!

…

Thus, a full seven days and nights passed.

Under Ning Daoran’s tireless efforts in breaking them, the ancient prohibitions of the Ancient Cultivator’s Cave Mansion finally dissipated, and the earth crumbled. Suddenly, the light in front of him brightened, the clouds dispersed, revealing an ancient stone door.

Ancient characters were engraved on the stone door; Ning Daoran could only understand half of them, seemingly some kind of scripture. He could comprehend the words, but the Buddhist principles contained within were beyond him.

He was a cultivator, and too lazy to figure out these Buddhist principles, so he sent out a few Paperfolk to begin exploring the Cave Mansion.

As usual, four female Second-class Paperfolk led the way, and after their figures disappeared into the Mansion, everything remained normal, and there were no more incidents of prohibitions slaying anyone.

“Hmm…”

With Little Bai’s protection, Ning Daoran concentrated and decided to personally enter the Ancient Cultivator’s Cave Mansion to have a look.

After all, those First-class Paperfolk had weak Divine Souls, and the inherited Pupil Techniques were sparse; it was very likely that some important opportunities and treasures could be missed by accident.

Inside the Cave Mansion, it was a world unto itself with abundant Spiritual Energy.

The moment Ning Daoran stepped into the Cave Mansion, the sunlight shone down from the sky, feeling as though he was in another world, passing through a long corridor, moving forward was a grand hall.

Led by several dozen Second-class Paperfolk, everything went very smoothly.

Unfortunately, he did not encounter any treasures; there were no Magical Treasures to speak of, nor were there any Spiritual Artifacts or Magic Artifacts.

“Creak~~~”

A First-class Paperfolk in the guise of Independent Practitioner Jianjia pushed open the hall door, inside was supposed to be the dwelling of the Cave Mansion’s owner.

However, it was utterly empty, with nothing inside but some rotten, disintegrated old chairs, beds, and so on.

“Could it be that the treasures have decayed over the years?”

Ning Daoran frowned, puzzled. After so much effort and time, was he to return empty-handed?

Soon after, he searched the entire Cave Mansion, finding nothing.

The Cave Mansion was utterly devoid of any treasures, utterly impoverished!

‘Can’t be…’

Ning Daoran’s face showed pain; he never engaged in a losing business, this time he really had lost!

Not to mention the Paperfolk used for exploring the Cave Mansion and collecting information, just the materials prepared to break the prohibitions cost him over three thousand Spirit Stones, only to come in and find nothing?

“Shasha…”

He approached the end of the Cave Mansion, in the front was a Sumeru Illusion Realm, chaotic, where nothing was visible.

…

“Fellow Daoist?”

Suddenly, a voice came from somewhere.

“Hmm?”

Ning Daoran frowned and asked in surprise, “Who’s speaking?”

“Fellow Daoist, can you hear my voice?!”

The voice was extremely excited: “Fellow Daoist, can you hear it? It’s me, I’m right in front of you, although you might not be able to see me, but… Fellow Daoist, please don’t go!”

This was the voice of a young man, filled with elation, like rain after a long drought.

‘Not right…’

It was only then that Ning Daoran saw some clues, quickly casting several spells to break the superficial prohibitions in front, then reopening his eyes to activate the Grey Eyes Technique at the Return to Nature Level!

Finally, he saw through the Sumeru landscape before him, and just behind a patch of chaos mere meters away, stood a wild man!

The wild man’s hair was unkempt and his clothes were tattered and torn. Behind him, there was a wooden hut with a small plot of land in front, apparently growing sweet potatoes.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” exclaimed Ning Daoran with surprise.

“I… I…”

The “wild man,” overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down his face, said, “Fellow Daoist… please save me. I have been trapped here for a full fifty years… If you do not come, I am ready to give up hope…”

He suddenly knelt down on the ground: “Fellow Daoist, as long as you can save me, I am willing to do anything you ask…”

“Have you been trapped here for fifty years?”

Ning Daoran frowned, “You must first tell me why you’re imprisoned here, and exactly who you are. Otherwise, I can’t rashly risk a rescue.”

“I’m Lin Xuyan!”

The man clasped his fists, his eyes flickering with intense emotion as he said, “I… I am actually a disciple of the Liangyi Sect, one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects of Ningzhou. The Nascent Soul Ancestor who guards our mountain gate is my master… Since my youth, I awakened a First Grade Ice Spirit Root and was sent to the sect, becoming a disciple of the Ancestor… Now…”

He suddenly became dejected, “But never mind that, suffice it to say I come from a reputable sect. I’m not some rogue cultivator. I’ve cultivated for half my life and the only bad thing I’ve done was secretly watch an elder sister disciple bathing once. Truly, I’ve done nothing else wrong.”

“So why are you trapped here?”

“Ah, the folly of youth…”

Lin Xuyan explained, “Fifty years ago, when I was only eighty years old and had just reached the Mid-stage of the Golden Core, I secretly left the mountain to gain experience. It was my first time leaving, and I stumbled upon this damnable Cave Mansion.

The original owner of this Cave Mansion was called Kongchan True Monarch, a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator. But who could have known that the Nascent Soul True Monarch had set a hidden prohibition inside the mansion? Greedy and oblivious, I entered and have been trapped here for fifty long years, unable to leave!”

He grimaced, “Brother, you have no idea. This place I’m in is an isolated realm. The prohibition cannot be opened from the inside, and there’s not a trace of Spiritual Energy here. After exhausting my Spirit Stones, my cultivation hasn’t advanced at all…

Moreover, since I can’t absorb any Spiritual Energy from the outside world, fasting is ineffective. I can only grow some sweet potatoes here to stave off hunger. I can’t grow much, and if you hadn’t come, I might have starved to death!”

“So…”

Ning Daoran narrowed his eyes: “Is it so that this Cave Mansion of Kongchan True Monarch is actually empty because it was cleared out?”

“Ah? I…”

Lin Xuyan gave an awkward smile: “Indeed… But enough about that. Brother, just save me, and I’m willing to offer up all treasures in my possession, keeping only my master’s inheritance Lifebound Magical Treasure.”

“How can I trust your words?”

Ning Daoran took out a chair from his Storage Bag, crossed his arms, and sat down to chat slowly:

“The Cultivation World is full of dangers. If I help you break the prohibition and you come out only to attack or kill, who shall I appeal to?”

“I…”

Lin Xuyan stumbled over his words, saying, “I am willing to swear a Daoist Oath. If I ever betray you, Brother, let me be cuckolded within six months of each relationship I have, be possessed by a Nascent Soul Old Monster each time I go out, suffer from constipation every day, weaken in both energy and blood, be bitten by dogs when I leave the house, scolded by my master when I return, and die a lonely, unfulfilled death…”

He was somewhat at a loss: “Will that suffice?”

“It will.”

Ning Daoran nodded, “I’m Ning Daoran, at the Early Stage of the Golden Core and a Second Order Array Master.”

“Oh?”

Lin Xuyan’s eyes lit up: “It doesn’t matter what your surname is or what your cultivation is, Brother. As long as you help me escape this place, for the rest of my life, you are my elder brother, Lin Xuyan!”

“Saving you is possible, but you will need to meet some conditions.”

“Whatever you say, Brother, I will comply!”

“Very well!”

Ning Daoran began to break the array.

Soon after, he managed to open a small crack in the array, just enough for a piece of paper to pass through.

Ning Daoran took out pen and ink, and wrote a Daoist Oath Certificate.

The first certificate stated that Lin Xuyan must never fail or harm his elder brother.

The second declared that Lin Xuyan was willing to entrust all his possessions, except for his Lifebound Magical Treasure, to his elder brother for safekeeping.

The third stipulated that if Lin Xuyan ever reached the Nascent Soul stage, he must not forget his elder brother’s life-saving grace and so forth.

The fourth ensured that if Lin Xuyan ever sought a Daoist couple in the future, he must first get his elder brother’s approval…

…

Thus, they signed over seventy Divine Soul Contracts, and Lin Xuyan’s Mid-stage Golden Core Divine Soul grew somewhat faint.

Ning Daoran, feeling somewhat guilty, then began to break the prohibition, which only took half a day.

“Boom—”

With a loud explosion, the prohibition collapsed before his eyes.

Lin Xuyan dashed past, his eyes shining, his body slightly sinking as he swept a few meters away, conjuring a blue-colored treasure umbrella that enveloped his entire body.

Ning Daoran, equally on guard, released the Chi Long Ding from his body, forming an impregnable barrier, while several Golden Silk Swords were poised on either side, ready to strike.

“Ha ha, this…”

Both men were quite embarrassed.

Lin Xuyan put away his treasure umbrella, laughing: “I had no idea Brother was also such a cautious person. I admire you immensely!”

“Brother Lin, you are no less cautious yourself.” Ning Daoran put away the Chi Long Ding and the Golden Silk Swords.

“Brother, do you have any food on you?!”

Lin Xuyan sat on the ground all of a sudden: “I am so weak right now…”

He was like a person who had been thirsty for many days and desperately wanted to jump into a well to greedily absorb the Spiritual Energy of the outside world.

Ning Daoran silently threw him a few large white buns made by Little Bai.

Truly pitiful, a True Inheritor of one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects reduced to such a state.

“Brother…”

After wolfing down the food, Lin Xuyan quickly took out dozens of Storage Bags: “All of my treasures, along with whatever I collected from this Cave Mansion, are here, entrusted to you for safekeeping, Brother!”