Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The Eve of the Competition

Shen Haoran then told Elder Yan what had happened to him and Changmao in the Red Flame Spiritual Vein.

"The two of you are incredibly lucky! Spirit Vein Source Stones can only be found in Top Grade Spirit Veins, and the Spiritual Power within them is exceptionally violent. It’s a miracle you both managed to escape!" Elder Yan said with a sigh.

It was likely because the Array set up by the Five Elements Sect’s predecessors had significantly suppressed the might of the Spiritual Power in that Spirit Vein. Otherwise, forget retrieving the Spirit Vein Source Stone; it would have been questionable whether they could have even entered at all.

However, they had still suffered significant injuries this time, especially Shen Haoran. More than half of his Spiritual Thought had been devoured by the Spirit Tide, and recovering from that would take a considerable amount of time.

’Fortunately, I got this Spirit Vein Source Stone. According to Elder Yan, it’s equivalent to a small, inexhaustible Spirit Vein. Doesn’t that mean I have a portable Spirit Vein I can carry with me? I can cultivate inside a Spirit Vein anytime, anywhere!’

At this thought, Shen Haoran couldn’t help but laugh. ’This injury was well worth it!’

"Hm? Someone’s coming. Hide!" Just as Shen Haoran was celebrating, Elder Yan’s words poured cold water on his excitement.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran quickly scrambled to his feet. Forcibly enduring the throbbing pain in his head, he hid himself within the cave.

A moment later, the two Elders in charge of guarding the Celestial Essence Hall rushed in. Looking at the empty cave, one frowned and said, "The rumbling just now came from in here. What happened?"

"I don’t know. Let’s investigate first," the other Elder said. With that, the two began to search the cave.

But they were destined to find nothing. The entrance to the previous passage had been concealed by Elder Yan, and all traces had been erased. Under the protection of Elder Yan’s powerful Spiritual Thought, Shen Haoran had already slipped out of the cave unnoticed.

After a while, the two Elders regrouped, completely baffled. "We didn’t find anything," one said, bewildered. "So what was that noise from earlier?"

"I don’t know. But to be safe, we should still go and inform Elder Mo. This concerns the safety of the Celestial Essence Hall, after all. We can’t afford to be careless."

With that, the two of them hurried out, and the cave fell silent once more.

...

By this time, Shen Haoran had already returned to the Yao Sect and gathered Shui Ruolan and the others.

In the main hall, everyone was shocked to see Shen Haoran’s pale face.

’He’s injured?’ everyone thought.

"What happened to you?" Shui Ruolan asked with a frown. ’The Sect competition is just around the corner, and from the looks of it, he’s seriously injured!’

"*Cough.* It’s nothing, I just overexerted my Spiritual Thought a little," Shen Haoran said with a dry cough, telling a white lie. The fewer people who knew about the Spirit Vein Source Stone, the better.

"Oh, right. These are the Three Pure Spirit Pills I refined for you!" With that, Shen Haoran distributed the four elixirs to Shui Ruolan and the others, successfully diverting their attention.

"Pill Patterns! A Three Pure Spirit Pill with Pill Patterns!" Su Xing cried out in shock as he opened his Jade Bottle and looked at the snow-white elixir inside.

Hearing this, Shui Ruolan also opened her Jade Bottle. An expression of pure shock appeared on her face. ’A Three Pure Spirit Pill with Pill Patterns... its Medicinal Power is at least double that of one without. This is an incredible gift!’

"I only managed to refine three with Pill Patterns," Shen Haoran said with a smile. "Brother Su, Ruolan, and Long Zhen, you each get one. The last one doesn’t have Pill Patterns, but it’s still Top Grade in quality. Xuan Yi, you just broke through to the Spirit General realm. Too much Medicinal Power would destabilize your foundation, so this one without patterns is actually more suitable for you. I hope you don’t think I’m playing favorites."

Xuan Yi shook his head, his youthful face filled with admiration. He smiled and said, "Brother Shen, I’m more than satisfied that you refined an elixir for me at all. Why would I ever blame you?"

Hearing Xuan Yi’s words, Shen Haoran chuckled. He then tossed two more Jade Bottles to Shui Ruolan and said, "Here are two more. Put them in the Contribution Hall and issue an order: the first person in the Yao Sect to break through to the Spirit General realm gets a Three Pure Spirit Pill as a reward!"

Taking the Jade Bottles, Shui Ruolan stared at Shen Haoran as if he were some kind of monster. The Three Pure Spirit Pill was already considered a High Level elixir among Fifth Grade Elixirs. Shen Haoran had used seven portions of ingredients to produce six pills, three of which even had Pill Patterns. Even though she didn’t know much about the Alchemy Skill, she knew that success rate was terrifyingly high. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

’Could his Spiritual Thought have been injured while he was refining these elixirs?’ Shui Ruolan thought. A warmth spread through her heart. ’Shen Haoran really has done so much for us!’

Shen Haoran, unaware of Shui Ruolan’s misunderstanding, said to them, "The Sect competition is imminent. Hurry back and start the Refinement process for these elixirs. Try to break through as soon as possible!"

After thanking him, they all rushed back, eager to get started. They couldn’t wait to see just how potent the Medicinal Power of a Three Pure Spirit Pill with Pill Patterns truly was.

After seeing Shui Ruolan and the others off, Shen Haoran sat down cross-legged. He observed the somewhat illusory state of his Spiritual Thought in his mind and gave a bitter laugh. "Sigh, I wonder when this will ever recover." An injury to one’s Spiritual Thought was far more serious and difficult to heal than any physical wound.

"One step at a time, I guess," Shen Haoran sighed softly. He then closed his eyes, began a Sealing Technique, and entered a state of Cultivation.

Over the next few days, the disciples of the Five Elements Sect entered a frenzy of Cultivation, all of them preparing for the upcoming Sect competition.

On the main peak of the Five Elements Sect, Chen Yu and the Hall Masters of the Five Great Halls were gathered. Looking down at the bustling disciples below, Chen Yu smiled. "This generation has produced quite a few geniuses!"

"Indeed," the Linglong Hall’s She Hall Master said with a laugh. "Especially that Shen Haoran from the Red Flame Hall. He’s really turned the Sect upside down lately. I heard he’s also a Fifth Grade Alchemist. Elder Huo must be over the moon."

"Haha, you’re too kind. That brat just doesn’t know how to keep a low profile. I’ve warned him so many times, but he’s still such a handful!" Elder Huo said humbly, but the proud look on his face was impossible to hide.

"Right, what about that boy from Cyan Wood Hall with the Extreme Attribute Physique? He’s also a promising talent," Chen Yu asked.

"Sect Leader, Feiyu has been away training for quite some time. He should be rushing back in the next day or two. He is very much looking forward to this competition!" After speaking, Mu Feng turned to look at Elder Huo, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

"Heh." Elder Huo shot Mu Feng a cool glance. He had already guessed what the man was thinking; it was nothing more than resentment toward Shen Haoran. ’However,’ he thought, ’if Shen Haoran could crush Mu Feiyu once, he can do it a second time.’ Elder Huo was absolutely certain of this.

"Haha, good! Then let’s wait and see who will emerge victorious from this clash of titans!" Chen Yu boomed with laughter, his eyes filled with anticipation.