Chapter Forty-three: Legacy of the Cave Dwelling

“You are more than worthy, Brother Song,” Xu Yunhe said, having caught his breath, expressing his agreement. Zhu Yiqun shrugged at this, “I have no objections either. We only made it this far thanks to Changsheng; he could have taken everything for himself.”

With just a few words, the group settled the matter of who deserved the greatest credit. Song Changsheng, the man in question, saw no reason to be modest and gladly accepted their goodwill.

Before him lay twelve jade boxes, five jade bottles, three jade slips, and three unknown jade tokens. Song Changsheng did not fuss. He casually picked up a jade box, a jade bottle, and a purple jade slip, then stepped aside.

At that moment, Zhuang Yuechan spoke again, “Brother Zhu, as the organizer of this expedition, you should choose next.”

“Heh, since you say so, I won’t stand on ceremony,” Zhu Yiqun chuckled, stepping forward to take a jade box.

Zhuang Yuechan placed herself after the others. After several rounds, only a single jade bottle and the three jade tokens remained.

It was Song Changsheng’s turn again. Everyone thought he would pick the jade bottle, but to their surprise, he chose a blood-red jade token instead.

“Changsheng, do you know what that thing’s for?” Zhu Yiqun asked, curious.

Song Changsheng shook his head, “I just feel a connection to it. I don’t know its purpose.”

No one pressed the matter further. According to Zhuang Yuechan’s order, each took an item: Zhu Yiqun and Zhuang Yuechan chose jade tokens, while Xu Yunhe took the jade bottle.

With the treasures divided, Song Changsheng cupped his hands to the others, “If any of you have inherited techniques related to formations or crafting, and are willing to share, I am willing to buy or trade for them. I assure you, you will be satisfied.”

Within the spatial pouch, there were three jade slips that seemed to contain inheritances. Song Changsheng had taken one; after a quick look, he found it recorded an exquisite sword art, but it was of no use to him.

He desired the domain master’s inheritance in formations or crafting.

“I have a crafting inheritance,” Xu Yunhe said first, holding out a jade slip to Song Changsheng.

“Thank you, Brother Xu! What would you like in exchange?” Song Changsheng was overjoyed; the domain master had indeed left relevant inheritances.

“You can have it, Brother Song. It’s of no use to me,” Xu Yunhe said carelessly, needing nothing more than himself and his sword.

“That’s not quite right. It may not be useful to you, but it’s invaluable to me. I happen to have a sword art inheritance. Let’s trade,” Song Changsheng offered, producing the jade slip he had acquired.

When Xu Yunhe heard it was a sword art inheritance, his heart stirred. For cultivators, the four essentials are Dao, companions, wealth, and territory. Among them, cultivation methods are most important. He was a rogue cultivator who had stumbled upon a sword art inheritance and embarked on his path.

Having cultivated to this point, he was running out of resources. He was neither backed by a family like Song Changsheng nor as mysterious as Zhu Yiqun or Zhuang Yuechan. This sword art inheritance was a timely boon.

“This is exactly what I need. Let’s do as you suggest,” Xu Yunhe said, a bit embarrassed, as he’d just claimed to give it away.

After their exchange, Zhuang Yuechan took out a jade slip, “It seems Brother Song’s luck is poor today. I also have a formation inheritance.”

Song Changsheng’s face darkened. Of the three jade slips, two were precisely what he needed, yet he had managed to avoid them perfectly. This was more than bad luck—it was disastrous.

He smiled wryly and cupped his hands to Zhuang Yuechan, “What would you like in exchange, Sister Zhuang?”

A smile curled beneath Zhuang Yuechan’s veil. She pointed to the pile of undivided valuables, “I want these cultivation resources, and the emerald jade box you took earlier.”

“Sister Zhuang, that’s a bit greedy, isn’t it? That pile is worth at least six thousand spirit stones, and Changsheng’s share is worth about fifteen hundred. You even want the jade box? Does your inheritance really merit that price?” Zhu Yiqun eyed the jade slip in Zhuang Yuechan’s hand, skeptical.

Zhuang Yuechan was not offended. She handed the jade slip to Song Changsheng, “You may judge its value for yourself, Brother Song. I have no intention of overreaching.”

Pressing the jade slip to his forehead and skimming its contents, Song Changsheng’s heart was instantly thrown into turmoil.

Without hesitation, he handed over the jade box. He had not yet opened it, but whatever it contained could not rival the allure of this inheritance.

“Thank you for your generosity, Sister Zhuang. I am deeply grateful,” Song Changsheng said with genuine respect. This time, he had truly benefited.

Zhuang Yuechan glanced at him with a complicated look, saying nothing.

“There must be something between these two,” Zhu Yiqun thought, his gaze darting between them, his mind racing with all manner of plausible and implausible guesses.

Soon, the pile of cultivation resources was divided into four shares, with Zhuang Yuechan claiming two.

Though Song Changsheng did not obtain these resources, he had gained the domain master’s inheritance in formations and crafting, as well as a secret art. He was more than satisfied.

Just as the group began to tally their gains, Song Changsheng’s expression suddenly changed. “This is bad! The blood fiends have used some unknown means—the Celestial Yang Grand Array is about to be breached!”

“What?” Everyone was shocked. Even the demon-suppressing array could not stop the blood fiends?

“Brother Song, you must hold the array as long as you can. My sect’s elders should be arriving soon,” Zhuang Yuechan said solemnly.

“I will do my best.”

The group hurried outside. There, they discovered a layer of filthy black blood had enveloped the sky. The shield of yang energy was being slowly devoured.

“This is the Blood Fiend Shadow Array, a demonic formation that can only be set up with special methods. Damn these blood fiends!” Song Changsheng’s chest burned with rage.

Piecing everything together, Song Changsheng suddenly understood why those devil cultivators had ambushed them three years ago—it was all to set up this vile array. Everything had been orchestrated!

Thinking of Song Changjiu and Song Luding who had fallen in that battle, his fury reached its peak.

“Brother Song, everything depends on you now,” Zhuang Yuechan said, her expression grave, her left hand quietly clenching the jade pendant at her waist.

“Array, arise! Celestial Wind Slash!”

Song Changsheng shouted, and the formation roared to life. Fierce winds swept up, turning into blades that slashed at the sea of blood engulfing the grand array...