Chapter 37: Consuming the Jade Essence

Within a small cave, square as a single zhang, Jiang Min finally emerged into the slightly wider space after crawling for half a day through a passage no larger than a dog hole.

“What is this…”

Holding a luminous pearl, she paused in mild astonishment, her gaze drawn to a corner of the cave. There, a drop of crystal-clear, scarlet liquid was slowly seeping from the stone, dripping down to gather in a red pool.

Drip.

A captivating, indescribable aura emanated from the pool of red liquid, golden threads of light weaving and flowing within. The entire cave was stiflingly hot, saturated with an intense fire spiritual energy.

“Scarlet liquid, golden threads flowing… Could this be the Fire Jade Essence spoken of in the books?”

Delight bloomed across Jiang Min’s face. Fire Jade Essence was an exceedingly rare and precious heavenly treasure. Though it possessed a fire attribute, its nature was gentle; it could fortify the core, temper the body, and purify spiritual power. With this, she had no need for medicinal baths—consuming the Fire Jade Essence and combining it with body-tempering techniques would allow her to master the second layer of the Crimson Flame Body! There would be no need to seek out elixirs to heal her dantian either, for Fire Jade Essence possessed that very effect.

That tiger demon must have come here, consumed the Fire Jade Essence, and thus transformed from mortal beast to demon, sowing chaos in Xu Family Village miles away.

“There must be a magma spirit river deep underground to nurture Fire Jade Essence. Since this cave is so rich in fire spiritual energy, it’s the perfect place to use the essence and complete the second layer of the Crimson Flame Body.”

“That tiger demon can’t have opened this passage long ago—no wonder no one discovered this treasure. It all belongs to me now.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Jiang Min took out a pile of jade bottles she’d prepared before coming into the mountains and filled them with the Fire Jade Essence. With so much, how could she possibly consume it all in one sitting? She would take as much as possible; even after perfecting the Crimson Flame Body, she could continue to use the essence to further strengthen herself.

When all the tiny jade bottles were full and only half the essence remained in the pool, she sat cross-legged at its edge. Cupping a handful of Fire Jade Essence, she tasted it with a careful lick.

It was slightly hot, but flavorless and scentless.

Yet the wondrous power within instantly transformed into warm currents, spreading through her limbs and bones, nourishing her whole body without any discomfort.

Reassured, she drank the handful, then began to absorb its power according to the Crimson Flame Body cultivation method.

Meanwhile, the little sprout nestled in her breast, though suffering in the fire spiritual energy-rich air, was irresistibly drawn to the essence. It flew from her arms to the edge of the pool, tentatively unfurling a blade of grass to touch the Fire Jade Essence.

So fragrant, so enticing!

Though it was hot, it was not as unbearable as expected.

Thus—

The little sprout slowly extended its roots into the pool, attempting to absorb its power.

Though Jiang Min was meditating, her spiritual sense noticed the sprout’s interest in the Fire Jade Essence. She made no move to stop it; the sprout could judge for itself, and any increase in its strength would be a boon.

One person, one sprout.

In the cramped cave, they each cultivated in their own way.

Time slipped by in silence, the outside world a distant memory.

…

Half a month later.

Jiang Min struggled up through the cave entrance, pushing aside tangled undergrowth. She looked utterly disheveled, her long black hair a wild mess, stray blades of grass still clinging to her head.

“Phew! Finally out. I was stifled to death in there.”

She stood and plucked the grass from her hair one by one.

The little sprout in her arms flew out at once to bask in the sun. Life underground had been too harsh for a mere sprout.

Now, the sprout had changed dramatically. Its leaves were no longer green but a translucent scarlet, each like red crystal, golden veins crisscrossing distinctly within. Clearly, absorbing the Fire Jade Essence had brought it great benefits.

Hee hee, now it too had the fire attribute and feared fire no longer.

Jiang Min’s gains were no less. With the Fire Jade Essence, she had mastered the second layer of the Crimson Flame Body, her dantian fully healed and stronger than ever.

Now, she needed only to find a natural earthfire to cultivate the third layer and reach perfection.

During the search, she could also hunt powerful demon beasts for their demon cores to aid her cultivation.

“Ling, let’s—”

Whoosh!

A swift shadow shot toward her. Jiang Min’s words halted, her expression turning cold as the Greenwood Spirit Sword appeared in her hand, blocking the attack.

Clang!

A silver, three-edged spike was revealed. Foiled in its ambush, it darted back, but Jiang Min would not let it escape. She struck with her sword, driving it deep into the rocky cliff, her sharp gaze sweeping the dense forest.

Two figures stepped quickly from the trees: a young man and woman. The girl clutched a white mouse, which squirmed with agitation, desperate to break free and rush toward Jiang Min, while the young man’s face was dark, eyes fixed on the spike embedded in stone.

The girl spoke, her voice excited, “Brother, the treasure-seeking mouse pointed right at that cave behind her. She just crawled out—she must have found something good. Could it be that flying red sprout?”

“A fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator. We’ll just kill her,” the young man snorted coldly. Unable to retrieve the spike, he swiftly formed hand seals, summoning hundreds of silver-white needles that shot toward Jiang Min. He made no effort to hide his cultivation; he was at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement.

The girl tucked the treasure-seeking mouse into her pouch, then cast her own spell. Wooden spikes materialized out of thin air, trailing after the golden needles, her own spiritual power betraying her as a fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator.

Two spells—metal and wood, front and back—rushed for Jiang Min, deadly intent clear: they meant to kill her here for the treasures within the cave.

Frightened, the little sprout dove back into Jiang Min’s bosom. The outside world was too dangerous; it wanted to go home to the Eastern Spirit Sect.

“Kill for treasure? How brazen…”

Jiang Min arched a brow, showing not a trace of fear. A duel of spells? She was eager to test the power of Meteoric Fire Rain. Stowing the Greenwood Spirit Sword, she swiftly formed a series of hand seals, conjuring fireballs that hovered before her.

“A fire spell?”

Both siblings frowned. Fire was their spells’ natural nemesis. Still, their cultivation far surpassed Jiang Min’s; even with the elemental restraining cycle, they held the advantage. Exchanging glances, they each drew a spirit-lit long blade and closed in, ready to finish her with cold steel should spells fail.

“Not enough.”

Jiang Min continued her rapid hand seals, summoning more and more fireballs. As a spell worthy of a monument in the Gathering Spirit Valley of the Eastern Spirit Sect, Meteoric Fire Rain was anything but weak!

Whoosh—whoosh—

Countless flames blazed ever fiercer. Hundreds, then thousands of fireballs fused into a vast sea of fire, searing hot. The golden needles and wooden spikes reached her at last, only to vanish into the inferno as if thrown into the ocean, leaving the siblings’ pupils contracted in disbelief.

“How can this be?!”

The siblings realized at once that this fourth-layer cultivator would not be easily dispatched. In perfect accord, they poured spiritual power into their blades, slashing from either side. Blade-qi, sharp and tangible, wove into a giant net, sealing every escape, each strike laced with deadly intent. The treasures in the cave—they were determined to have them.

Jiang Min now stood with her back to the cliff, no path left or right, forced to face their onslaught.

Firelight blazed in her eyes, dazzling and resolute. She barked a cold command—

“Go!”

The sea of fire transformed into a thousand shooting stars, each trailing a fiery tail, soaring to meet the deadly net of blade-qi.