A Farmer's Journey To Immortality - Chapter 726: A Fallen Dao Beast’s Cave

Chapter 726: A Fallen Dao Beast’s Cave

The sect master of the Iron Mountain Sect stood in front of a cave that looked like the open maw of a giant beast.

The cave entrance was wide and jagged, like rows of stone teeth biting into the ground. Thick poison mist drifted out from the darkness within, carrying a sharp and bitter smell.

The sect master of the Iron Mountain Sect was a huge man. He was tall and broad, standing close to ten feet in height. His body was thick with muscle, like it had been carved from solid rock.

The sect master’s giant physique was actually a result of the core Spirit cultivation technique of the Iron Mountain Sect, the Ironmountain Sutra. It was a very difficult Spirit cultivation technique to master. But those who succeeded could enjoy the benefits of terrifyingly strong physique as well as abundant Spirit essence reserves.

Those who could break into the Foundation Establishment realm using this technique would be allowed to have Ironmountain in their names as per the sect’s rules.

By mortal standards, the sect master looked to be in his early fifties, but his back was straight and his presence strong. When he stood still, he looked like a small mountain blocking the path ahead.

Moments ago, he had unsealed the main restrictions on the cave. Because of that, the protective layer that once blocked entry was now thin and fading. It shimmered weakly in the air, like a sheet of glass about to break.

Even so, it had not vanished completely. There was still some time before the restrictions were fully removed.

Behind the sect master, three grand elders were hard at work. They stood in a triangle formation, each one controlling a part of a complex Spirit array carved into the ground.

Faint runes glowed under their feet as they dealt with the remaining Essence Equation rune restrictions. Their faces were tense, and sweat rolled down their brows as they carefully guided Spirit essence through the array.

The air around them trembled as the array hummed softly. Each pulse weakened the leftover restrictions little by little, peeling them away like old skin.

One by one, the other elders who had been guarding the outer protective formation arrived. Their robes were stained with poison mist and battle marks.

Without wasting words, they took their places around the array. They raised their hands and began channeling their own Spirit essence into it.

Streams of light flowed from their palms and merged with the array. The runes shone brighter, and the shaking of the cave entrance grew stronger.

The light from the array pulsed again as another layer of residual runes broke apart. Thin lines of light cracked and faded into the air like dying sparks. The pressure around the cave mouth weakened a little more.

Sect Master Heilam Ironmountain turned his massive body slightly and looked toward one of the three grand elders standing near the array.

“Gram Grisham,” he said, his voice deep and steady, carrying easily through the poison-filled air. “You have done well.”

The man he addressed looked much younger than most elders. Gram Grisham appeared to be in his early thirties by mortal standards. His skin was pale, almost sickly white, as if he rarely spent time under the sun.

His face was sharp and calm, with narrow eyes that always seemed to be thinking. Long black hair was tied neatly behind his head, with not a single strand out of place. Compared to the muscular elders around him, Gram’s build was slim and light, almost fragile at first glance.

Yet the Spirit essence flowing from his body was smooth and steady, showing deep control and strong foundations.

Gram kept one hand raised, feeding Spirit essence into the array, while he slightly bowed his head toward the sect master.

“This disciple only did what he could for the sect,” Gram replied in a calm tone. “I don’t deserve excessive praise from the sect master.”

Heilam let out a short laugh.

“Don’t sell yourself short,” he said. “Without you, this cave would still be nothing more than a legend buried in poison and fog.”

He glanced at the cave entrance, where the last few rune patterns flickered weakly.

“You were the one who brought back the ancient scroll that I thought I had almost lost because of the greed of the previous grand elders. Those foolish bastards almost tipped off the Big Five Sects. Thankfully, they were killed by a drifting cultivator’s trap, which allowed you to intercept the conflict and finally get hold of this scroll,” Heilam continued. “That map was the key. Without it, even I would not have been able to find this place inside the Purple Poison Marshland.”

Gram’s eyes lowered slightly, but he did not deny it. Of course, he had to bring the scroll back. His real master, Aksai, had given him the scroll after decrypting it and reading the contents within.

Aksai had then encrypted the scroll once again before giving it to Grisham, who successfully infiltrated the sect before handing the scroll back to the sect master. Since Aksai had already decrypted the scroll, Grisham naturally provided much-needed help to the sect master without arousing his suspicions.

Of course, Heilam didn’t know that the ancient scroll’s encryption could be cracked in a single night by a mere Foundation Establishment realm drifting cultivator. Who could have imagined someone being equipped with a logic-defying cheat like the Neural Link Fabric?

“And that Spirit grass,” the sect master went on. “Creating a new remedy to fight the poison miasma is no small feat. You saved many lives out there.”

As if to prove his words, another elder nearby coughed lightly, then steadied his breath as the Spirit grass’s effect held firm.

Gram spoke again. “The grass is still imperfect. Its effect is temporary.”

Obviously, this genetically modified Spirit grass was also Aksai’s creation inside the Enchanted Everwood Farm. Gram had merely acted as a medium to supply Aksai’s resources to the sect members.

“Temporary is enough,” Heilam replied. “Without it, we would not have lasted long enough to break these seals.”

The ground trembled as another set of runes dissolved. The glow around the cave mouth dimmed further.

Heilam’s eyes sharpened.

“And your insight into the restrictions,” he said. “Your ideas gave us a path forward. Without them, unsealing this cave would have cost us far more.”

Thanks to the subroutine of the Neural Link Fabric embedded within Gram’s soul, he always remained in touch with Nuri. It was Nuri who cracked the restrictive runes layer by layer. She had also timed it perfectly so that Aksai could end his close-door cultivation before Heilam got rid of the restrictions.

Gram finally looked up. For a brief moment, pride flickered across his calm face before he hid it again.

“This sect promoted you to grand elder for good reason,” Heilam said. “Your mind is your greatest weapon. Remember that.”

Gram nodded deeply this time.

“Indeed. My liege’s mind is his greatest weapon,” Gram thought to himself before speaking aloud.

“I will not disappoint the sect.”

As the last few residual runes trembled and cracked, the cave’s presence grew heavier. Poison mist poured out in slow waves, and a strange pressure filled the air.

Heilam turned back toward the cave, his posture straight and firm.

“Stay focused,” he said to all the elders. “The real test begins once the seals are gone.”

Behind him, Gram Grisham’s pale eyes reflected the fading runes, calm and sharp, as if he had already started planning what would come next.

After a few minutes, the last strand of light flickered at the cave’s mouth.

Crack.

A sharp sound echoed through the marshland as the final restriction rune shattered into countless sparks. The array formation let out a low hum before falling silent. The pressure that had blocked the entrance for countless years vanished in an instant.

The cave opened.

A deep, ancient aura rushed out like a silent tide. It did not roar or explode. It simply spread, heavy and cold, pressing down on everyone present. The air seemed to thicken with a dreadful beastly presence. Even breathing became harder.

Several elders took a step back without realizing it.

Their hearts pounded. This aura was different from anything they had felt before. It was old. Too old. And far too powerful.

Somewhere deep in their bones, an instinct screamed at them.

This was no ordinary Third Order treasure.

Whatever rested inside had crossed that boundary long ago.

“This…” one elder muttered, his voice shaking. “This is beyond us.”

Another elder clenched his fists, his face pale. “This aura… it feels like something meant for Nascent Soul Kings. Or…”

Silence fell.

That realization settled heavily on everyone’s mind.

If that was true, then entering this cave was dangerous for all of them. Even Sect Master Heilam Ironmountain, who stood at the peak of the sect as a half-step Core Formation Lord, was not truly qualified.

The poison miasma near the entrance grew thicker, reacting to the opened cave. Dark mist rolled out slowly, mixed with the ancient pressure.

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AN: Aksai decrypts the ancient scroll in Chapter 551.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com