novelraw Chapter 32 : Chapter 32
Chapter 32 : Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Opening the Third Fountain
After Zhao Zhizhuo left, I sat alone under a horn-shaped bone lamp, studying the evil camel bell.
The bell was ancient, its rusted surface rough, with faint, corroded scriptures visible.
It was too eerie, capable of influencing minds, inciting sin, and amplifying malice.
It seemed…
It could also collect malice.
I’d wanted to toss it into the Blood Sea to sink forever, but its ability to store physical objects, with its mysterious space, made me keep it.
I planned to buy food to bring back to the bronze ship.
How much could Gao Huan and I carry?
If it was a treasure that could hold the world, it’d be far easier!
“It’s likely a magical artifact. Per Old Zhao, mana activates it. The extent depends on realm, mana strength, and quantity.”
Fearing mishap, I plugged my ears.
Then I channeled mana from my two foot fountains, slowly infusing the bell.
Soon.
“Splash—”
The bell’s surface shimmered, trembling, growing several times larger.
I hesitated, donned the silver-threaded gloves, and reached inside. My arm went deep, unable to touch walls or edges.
No trace of the half-real camels.
I couldn’t discern its interior, only pulling out jars of Golden Crow blood, likely stored by Yutuonan on the ship.
Infusing more mana, the bell didn’t grow further.
My cultivation limited it. Even if it grew larger, I wouldn’t dare enter.
As for “shaking the bell,” I didn’t risk it, fearing uncontrollable danger.
“Old Zhao said at four fountains, mana overflows, allowing free manipulation. Strong enough, you can fetch objects from afar.”
For me, a lifelong martial artist, that realm was intoxicating, deeply desired.
“Four fountains grant some status, half a superior. To be fully superior, you must transcend the Yongquan realm,” Zhao Zhizhuo had sighed.
I stowed the bell.
Lying on the bed, hands behind head, I couldn’t sleep.
I thought of Cai Yutong, taken by the bone demon, Senior Brother on the ship, and training with Master on the mountain.
“Martial path, martial path— only martial, no path.”
Master’s words.
Now, a grand martial path unfolded— mana overflow, fetching objects, Shi Jiuzhai’s cloud-breath, cliff-crossing steps— all thrilling.
The future martial path promised wonders, countless divine abilities to pursue.
As for being superior…
Who’d willingly stay at the bottom, never seeing light, always underfoot?
I sprang up, grabbed a jar of Golden Crow blood, and drank deeply. Sitting cross-legged, I practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique, refining it with both hot and cold mana.
…
After a night’s cultivation.
The next morning, in a beast-patterned dark blue robe, purple belt tied, I sat on Yao Court’s second-floor balcony, watching the bustling street— people and their beasts.
A high cultivator rode a ten-meter python, feared by all.
A thousand-pound ox pulled a cart, led by ragged citizens.
A noble family’s cultivator drove a house-sized four-armed ape carrying ore, enslaved despite its strength.
I knew Gao Huan and I enjoyed Yao Court’s luxuries because we aided the Cangli tribe, briefly earning respect and patronage.
But even great favors run dry.
True superiority came from strength, not fear of sudden eviction, left to wander like street beggars.
Survival, finding a foothold, was urgent.
Thriving splendidly depended on martial cultivation.
The streets buzzed with life— carts, shouts, human stories.
For moments, I felt the bronze ship and nineteen years on Earth were a dream.
This world seemed real.
I opened my right palm, scorching hot, like a miniature volcano erupting.
Eleven silver veins branched from the palm fountain, forming new qi pathways.
Activating it with moves like the Heaven-Overturning Palm Seal would amplify power.
This third fountain opened this morning.
My silver veins totaled thirty-seven.
I was puzzled. Last night, Zhao Zhizhuo said opening fountains was immensely hard— even prodigies needed a decade for four limbs’ fountains.
Beyond four was harder.
But I thought he’d faced too much hardship, exaggerating difficulties, losing faith in challenges.
He mistook a one-fountain mutant for three, thinking himself outmatched.
Opening fountains was tough, but not impossible. How else did I open one in days?
It might be harder for him— cultivation speed and talent vary. You can’t judge others by yourself.
But how big could the gap be?
Those admitted to top universities don’t have an extra head over others.
Gao Huan entered, sidling up, whispering, “Lord Li, are this world’s Jiuli tribe the same as Earth’s mythic Jiuli?”
“How would I know?” I laughed.
He said, “I think it’s likely! Legend says after the Zhulu Battle, Jiuli remnants fled to the North Sea, into the underworld. We came from the Arctic Ocean, saw the Chi County Ancient Path monument— ancient Chinese walked this path.”
“If we infiltrate the Jiuli’s core, trace their ancestry, we might find answers.”
I wasn’t surprised by his wild leaps: “What’s your point?”
“They’re Li people, we’re commoners— maybe shared ancestors. I don’t know if we’ll return to Earth, but I feel belonging here. You don’t want to drift the Blood Sea again, right?”
“You want to stay?”
He said, “With our favor to the Cangli, if we behave, staying’s feasible. We just need to bring Senior Brother and the others.”
I was pondering this too.
…
Zhao Zhizhuo arrived with a carriage, stopping outside Yao Court.
Taking us aboard, he drove, saying, “The young chief understands your concerns, but we owe you greatly— he must thank you in person. Don’t worry, few will know.”
The Cangli attack would cause a stir.
If known that two saved Zhao Zhizhuo, bringing him to Yao Pass for help, foiling the enemy, the Earth Wolf King Army and Shi Jiuzhai would find out.
They’d hunt us down.
I had to consider this, so I’d refused to meet the young chief last night— too many eyes.
My strength wasn’t enough to stand tall.
To have confidence in this brutal world, I needed to transcend the Yongquan realm, become a superior.
“Don’t call me young benefactor. If you don’t mind, call me little brother or Brother Xie!” I said.
“Alright.”
Zhao Zhizhuo was glad to be closer.
…
Led by Zhao Zhizhuo, Gao Huan and I met the young chief at the Cangli’s temporary residence, Date Plum Manor.
“Young chief, Miss Ling, this is Brother Xie, who killed two Buddha Ferry mutant experts, saved me, and brought me to Yao Pass for help.”
Zhao Zhizhuo added, “Brother Xie is Xie Jin! This Brother Gao, Gao Huan, has a congenital language barrier… only speaks his hometown dialect…”
I quietly observed Cangli, marveling.
This was a true superior of this world— his attire, accessories, aura exuded untouchable nobility.
Any woman would fall for him.
Around my age, strikingly handsome, like Gao Huan and Cai Yutong, he seemed transformed, skin flawless, immortal-like.
More remarkable was his aura, born of high cultivation, setting him apart.
I wasn’t self-conscious or belittling, but everyone has a measure for themselves and others.
Cangli tried to seem approachable, thanking us warmly, politely, but with distance.
At his height, this was effort enough.
He said, “Zhao Zhizhuo told me your deeds. The world’s been at war for a decade, with spirits, fiends, bugs, curses outside, and thieves, wars within. Each year, life’s harder. Now, Leizhou’s falling to chaos!”
It felt like he was musing, not addressing me.
Uninterested in our origins, he asked, “You follow the martial path, right? How many fountains opened?”
“Three,” I said.
“Not bad.”
At his age, three fountains were merely “okay” to the prodigious Cangli.
But the old chief taught him to be a leader— mind your words, don’t be blunt. Be courteous, recruit talent, don’t offend with speech.
Li Ling stood behind, barefoot, fifteen or sixteen, wearing nine silver bracelets and a vibrant robe, hair in long braids, blue mist trailing her.
Gao Huan, since seeing her, couldn’t look away.
Cai Yutong, though heavenly, was a cold, fiery scholar— Gao Huan kept his distance.
But this elf-like, sweet, mysterious girl struck his heart.
As for Liu Ying…
He dared not think of her, a lifelong wound.
Cangli noticed Gao Huan, more interested in him than me.
A pure immortal body!