The Yin Wind persisted for an hour before gradually receding. Fortunately, no Nether River Water swept in, allowing Zhang Yan to pass through unscathed.
At this moment, Lu Ge had also fallen silent outside, presumably having left long ago.
It was only now that Zhang Yan had the leisure to focus his heart and spirit on his Qi Sea, carefully examining the Mystic Heavy Water that had suddenly revealed unusual changes earlier. Upon closer inspection, his expression subtly showed a trace of astonishment.
The three Mystic droplets had undergone a complete transformation. Not only were they radiating with brilliant Spirit Light, but they also faintly exhibited a jade-like, lustrous sheen.
He could not help but feel secretly startled. According to *Lan Yun Secret Volume,* if Mystic Heavy Water improved further, it would transform into Xuanming Heavy Water. Though this water had not reached that step, it had undergone another kind of change, with an appearance far superior to its previous form.
The Mountain River Child beamed with joyous surprise and exclaimed, "Master, who would have thought the Mystic Heavy Water you released earlier could absorb Netherworld Qi? Given such a nature, it certainly won’t fear that Nether River Water..." He sighed regretfully. "How unfortunate! There are only three drops. If there were hundreds of drops, we might be able to refine the Nether River and break through this array, escaping to freedom."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan chuckled and said, "My Mystic Heavy Water was formed by condensing You Yin Qi from deep within the Earth Veins. It shares the same origin as the Nether River, so it is no surprise that it absorbs Netherworld Qi. However, claiming that mere hundreds of drops could refine the Nether River is pure exaggeration."
The Child raised his hands and waved them repeatedly, hurriedly explaining, "Master, don’t be deceived by the name of the Nether River. Though it’s called a ’river,’ in this humble one’s view, it cannot compare to the real Nether River. Its Nine Layers of Mystical Qi are sparse and thin, at best resembling nothing more than a pond. Additionally, there’s neither a Demon Cave nor a Spiritual Eye present here. This Nether River simply cannot have formed naturally and must have been relocated here by some Great Cultivator."
Zhang Yan’s eyes brightened upon hearing this and asked, "You mean to say this Nether River was transported here by a Great Cultivator, and it’s thus limited in quantity?" fr\(e)ew(e)b.(n)o (v)(e)l.com
"You could say so, nine times out of ten!" The Child’s little face was earnest, speaking with utter certainty. "When that predecessor moved the Nether River to this place, it must have been far more abundant initially. But as it lacks natural roots, over time much of it would have dispersed, leaving only this small portion behind."
Hearing this, Zhang Yan’s mind began to churn with thoughts. It had cost him considerable effort to refine the Mystic Heavy Water back then. Yet, because he couldn’t delve deep underground to gather enough You Yin Qi, he had only managed to cultivate three drops to date. This time, it seemed like a rare opportunity.
However, refining Mystic Heavy Water required an ample supply of Nether River Water.
Although, as the Mountain River Child said, this Nether River Water was akin to a mere pond, Zhang Yan was well aware that when the Yin Wind arose, if a hundred drops of Nether River Water appeared at once, his current Xuan Guang cultivation might not withstand it—let alone refine Heavy Water.
Unless he could first enhance his Xuan Guang cultivation. If he reached the Second Realm of Taiyin Xuan Guang, his Mystic Light would possess the flexibility to shift between firmness and softness at will. Then, with only a few transformations, he could envelop a single drop of Nether River Water and refine it, increasing his pace severalfold.
Yet this place contained only Netherworld Qi—how could he possibly improve his cultivation?
With this thought, Zhang Yan shook his head and sighed, "Though there’s ample Golden Fire Poisonous Qi within the Mountain and River Map to draw upon, the spiritual energy here is muddled and unusable for cultivation. Otherwise, I might have aimed to ascend to the Second Realm of Xuan Guang here and refine all this Mystic Heavy Water at once."
The Mountain River Child suddenly shouted, "Master, I have spiritual energy! Have you forgotten? When passing through the Four Phases God Slaying Array, you used Taiyin Mystic Light to erode the array’s Evil Qi, and I collected much spiritual energy for you. It is the transformed Primordial Qi of the four Great True Masters—extremely pure and suitable as a substitute for ordinary spiritual energy."
Zhang Yan, reminded by the Child, suddenly recalled. Indeed, this Primordial Qi originated from the mana of Cave Heaven True Masters. It had merely been stolen by the Mountain River Child. Not only could it substitute spiritual energy, but it was extravagantly superior in quality.
Still, given his present intent to elevate Taiyin Golden Fire Mystic Light to the Second Realm, what was a bit of spiritual energy compared to that?
Once his cultivation improved, even if all this spiritual energy dissipated, he could easily reclaim it in the future.
With a sweep of his robe sleeve, Zhang Yan proclaimed with vigor, "Very well, what Heaven bestows yet isn’t taken invites regret and misfortune. Since an opportunity has come, let me see for myself—will I refine the Nether River first, or will it refine me?"