Don’t look at how the exterior wasn’t anything special. It seemed like an ordinary cavern, but just as the group entered that cavern, a world-shaking change promptly occurred.
One only heard what seemed like a gust of wind roaring from inside. In the blink of an eye, several people’s clothes and hair were blown into disarray. Of course, nothing of the sort happened to Grand Elder Xu and the Golden-Level pharmacist, but the remaining people were all shaken for a moment, even Gongyi Tianheng.
But very quickly, everyone withstood the wind.
Gu Zuo had reached out a hand to hold onto Tianheng’s forearm. One step at a time, he walked towards the interior.
The deeper they went, the stronger the wind blew. Until suddenly, it seemed like the wind had decreased a bit as they reached the depths of the cavern...
Gu Zuo thought that the wind that passed through the cavern was almost over. Just as he was taking the next step inside —
Boom!
The interior unleashed a sound like that of a dragon’s cry. That familiar and formidable qi emission whistled out!
At this moment, it could be said that Gu Zuo was completely caught off-guard by that frightening and heavy true qi as it smacked into his face. He wasn’t able to steady himself, and fell backwards.
...Fortunately, Tianheng was still by his side. Gu Zuo would’ve soon been thrown out, but Tianheng promptly reached out a hand to catch him. At the same time, Tianheng’s feet tightly stuck to the ground as if he had grown roots. No matter how violently the true qi rushed against their bodies, it couldn’t do anything to him.
A short while passed, and Gu Zuo adapted to the power here. He cracked his eyes open.
He discovered that, at a spot just ahead, there was a small pond which could barely accommodate three or four people. Above that small pond, streams of qi rose up into the air. As the flow of qi gathered into a cloud, it also continuously burst forth in all directions.
— That was the True Qi Pond?
Gu Zuo turned his head to look at the others who came in with him. He saw Grand Elder Xu extending a hand to brace his grandson, Xu Lingxiu, while gently laughing and twirling his mustache. In the eyes of that Golden-Level pharmacist, there was also a trace of a smiling expression.
It looked like these two seniors hadn’t warned them just now...on purpose?
Tianheng and Xu Lingxiu also reacted and came over. Xu Lingxiu immediately deadpanned: “Grandfather, what’s going on here?”
After Grand Elder Xu laughed, he spoke unhurriedly: “Although the True Qi Pond is a good thing, because it’s constructed from a formation that plunders the ambient qi, its power is formidable. Ordinary people can rarely cultivate within it. Since its opening, it has always been like this. If you cultivate inside the True Qi Pond, you need a strong physique, and you must be careful at all times.”
Gu Zuo understood.
It was no wonder that this True Qi Pond was so good that he had never heard of it before. As it turned out, to meet the qualifications to cultivate here, one still needed to have excellent aptitudes and suitable strength. Otherwise, if a person was unable to withstand this place’s impacts, then the enormous amounts of true qi would certainly start causing havoc after entering the body. Coming here would be a wasted trip.
However, as far as Tianheng was concerned, this didn’t amount to much. As for Gu Zuo himself, he felt that he could give it try, too.
After guiding the two here, Grand Elder Xu, the Golden-Level pharmacist, and Xu Lingxiu all left. They only came over to send off Gu Zuo and Tianheng, not to freeload on the True Qi Pond — As a matter of fact, the one would could genuinely make use of the True Qi Pond was Xu Lingxiu. Currently, his objective had already been achieved, so he naturally had to go back.
Gu Zuo and Tianheng expressed their thanks once more.
Just before he left, Xu Lingxiu said: “If there’s any news, I’ll pay close attention to it. Once you two come out of seclusion, I’ll send someone to inform you guys.”
Gu Zuo called out from far in the back: “Senior Sect Brother Xu, if there’s anything you need, just send a letter. My big brother and I won’t just stand by and watch!”
Xu Lingxiu waved his hand, and walked out of the cavern with large strides.
The ones who remained were the true qi battered and slightly wobbly Gu Zuo and the already anchored against the wind Tianheng.
Tianheng’s voice was slightly muffled by the wind: “Ah Zuo...”
For a moment, Gu Zuo couldn’t hear too clearly: “Big brother?”
Tianheng paused. Soon after, a voice sounded in Gu Zuo’s consciousness.
[Ah Zuo, can you withstand it?]
Gu Zuo nodded his head.
[It’s okay. It took some getting used to in the beginning, but I feel much more comfortable now.]
[Since it’s like this, I intend to continue moving towards the center. What does Ah Zuo think?]
[Of course it’s fine. I also didn’t get a clear look at the appearance of that True Qi Pond. It’s completely covered by those clouds and mists, so it’s quite gloomy.]
[Ah Zuo must be more careful. If you feel unwell, tell me immediately.]
[Big brother, rest assured. I definitely won’t try to force himself. That’ll impede big brother instead!]
Tianheng pulled Gu Zuo’s wrist. The two cautiously walked onwards one step at a time.
About fifteen minutes had passed. Gu Zuo released his psychic power to isolate the surrounding qi streams. Meanwhile, Tianheng chose to ignore it, letting these qi streams temper his own body.
Unwittingly, after seven or eight meters, they smoothly approached the True Qi Pond.
Gu Zuo got a clear look.
This so-called True Qi Pond seemed to be a fountain spring that continuously sprayed outwards. Carved along the bottom of the entire pond were some strange, veined patterns. It should be a type of runic script.
Through such a runic script, countless streams of qi gathered and compressed underneath the pond. At a certain point, the pond wasn’t able to bear the weight of this accumulation, and true qi was launched out.
Gu Zuo knew that there was ambient qi in this world, and that true qi was a type of ambient qi. At the same time, ambient qi was mostly comprised of true qi. Just like when he was in the modern world, the oxygen in the atmosphere was necessary for humanity’s survival. As such, in this world, the true qi in the ambient qi was a necessity for martial artists and pharmacists.
Prior to cultivating, martial artists and pharmacists drew in ambient qi. Through an inner cultivation method, it would be transformed in the body, while eliminating other qi emissions. All that remained would be the true qi that was assimilated by one’s own cultivation method, becoming one’s foundation. Thus, the better the cultivation method and the stronger a martial artist’s aptitudes, the faster one’s cultivation speed.
Now, this True Qi Pond was very interesting. It directly extracted the true qi and increased its density, allowing any martial artists who placed themselves within the pond to breathe in “pure oxygen”. This kind of reduction in the qi emission removal process and immediately assimilating the true qi into the qi within one’s body was certainly incredibly fast.
After this erratic and tangential thinking, Tianheng’s voice echoed out once again.
[I want to enter the pond. What does Ah Zuo think?]
Gu Zuo didn’t hesitate in the least.
[I’ll give it a try, too!]
Even though the two of them understood that going into the pond wasn’t without any danger, how could they not use it when the True Qi Pond was dangled right in front of them? Otherwise, even if they cultivated beside the pond and sensed faster speeds, their hearts definitely wouldn’t be willing.
Following this, Tianheng and Gu Zuo leaped forward together. They jumped into the True Qi Pool with difficulty and resolution.
“Hss—”
Gu Zuo couldn’t help giving a breathy exhale through his teeth.
When entering the True Qi Pond, because the true qi underneath was excessively compressed, it practically transformed into a liquid. No wonder it was called a True Qi Pond. Merely, soaking in this liquid also made a person feel too cozy — It was completely unlike when they were battered by those qi streams outside!
Gu Zuo felt comfortable, and also tried to operate his cultivation method. In an instant, he sensed some gentle power passing up through his body. It was obediently absorbed by him.
He suddenly thought that this Qingyun Sect really was quite generous. Originally, he thought that the true qi entering his body would be incomparably violent. Now, it seemed that he had been overthinking it?
Tianheng also seemed to be astonished for a very short time. However, immediately after this, he hinted at Gu Zuo. Both of his eyes closed, and he started to swiftly cultivate.
...His dear big brother didn’t slack off, so how could he be lazy?
There was nothing to be done. Gu Zuo no longer continued to ponder. He switched to operating his cultivation method at full strength.
Under the powerful effects of the True Qi Pond, not much time had passed before Gu Zuo’s body suddenly produced a humming sound. The imposing aura on his body abruptly changed.
He broke through! He was Xiantian stage seven!
After that, another two hours passed, and Tianheng’s qi emissions also changed. He had likewise advanced to Xiantian stage seven!
Sure enough, this True Qi Pond was extraordinary!
They had cultivated for such a short period of time...
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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