I, a cultivator, have ended up in the world of tomb raiding.

Inside the underground alchemy palace.

Li Yue walked towards the center, stepping over countless skeletons and remains.

Coffins and mummified corpses were scattered all over the ground, and broken bones were piled up and intertwined everywhere.

A close examination of the remaining fabric patterns on the skeleton reveals a mixture of Han and non-Han clothing styles, spanning a vast period of time.

It seems that relics from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Tang and Song dynasties are all there, mixed and bizarre, and it is simply impossible to count them all.

Between the gaps in the coffin, a large number of broken elixir jars and porcelain bottles were overturned, their bodies riddled with cracks, most of them already shattered and collapsed.

Old pills and rotten medicinal powder were mixed with dust and dirt and spread all over the ground.

Despite being eroded by yin energy for thousands of years, the lack of external wind still allows one to smell a faint, mixed medicinal odor in the air.

The entire Dan Palace was filled with a stuffy and strange atmosphere, mixed with the stench of corpses, which made people feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Li Yue walked slowly, avoiding the decaying coffin lids and scattered bones under his feet, and headed straight for the bronze alchemy furnace in the center.

At the same time, the original records about this ancient alchemy furnace slowly surfaced in his mind.

He remembered that this item had a very important history.

It was originally a bronze tripod presented as tribute by the Hentian clan of the ancient Zhou Dynasty. Later, it was regarded as a precious object by the Zhou emperor and buried in the underground palace of the ancient tomb.

However, with the passage of time, the mountains and rivers trembled, and geological changes caused the ancient tomb to collapse and be exposed.

The ancient bronze vessel was lost to the world and was later melted down and recast, turning the vessel into a furnace for refining elixirs.

After several transfers, it was finally found inside the Danjing Well on Ping Mountain.

As his thoughts drifted, Li Yue walked to the furnace and looked up to examine it closely.

This is a five-colored ancient alchemy furnace inlaid with gold and silver, with intricate patterns carved on its surface.

Each relief painting depicts ancient scenes of people collecting herbs, refining elixirs, and offering prayers to the mountains and rivers, with simple and archaic lines.

This should have been the best carving technique at the time, but in Li Yue's eyes, it felt somewhat abstract.

The gaps between the lines also conceal ancient runes and Bagua symbols.

He tried to deconstruct it, and it seemed like he understood some of it, but he wasn't sure if he was right.

However, it seems that this alchemy furnace is not only used to refine elixirs, but the pictures and texts on it also record ancient secrets and contain profound meanings.

Unfortunately, the time gap is too long, and the original content is too numerous and complex. Based on memory alone, the details that can be recalled are ultimately limited.

He wanted to stop and linger, to carefully study the inscriptions and pictures on the furnace body, but time was of the essence, so he had to put the idea aside for the time being.

The immediate priority is to search for the underground entrance, or to devour the Yin energy first.

But then I thought about it and felt a little reluctant to part with it.

"If the control panel could be upgraded again to unlock the storage function, wouldn't it be possible to simply take this ancient furnace away?"

With this thought in mind, Li Yue immediately focused his mind and summoned the virtual panel in his mind.

As he ventured deeper into the well, he was constantly surrounded by malevolent energy, causing the data on his control panel to fluctuate and change continuously.

At this moment, the dense Yin energy in the surroundings refreshed the detection values ​​once again.

[Yin energy detected in the surrounding area...]

[Analyzing... Yin energy concentration 32%... Corpse energy component 20%... Death energy component 8%... Evil energy component 4%]

Is it... currently being devoured...?

Before the panel could display any further questions, Li Yue had already chosen to devour.

When he came in, he did not choose to devour it immediately because the yin energy he devoured only lingered on the surface of his dantian.

If it is not refined in time, it will eventually dissipate and be wasted.

Therefore, he waited for the place with the most concentrated Yin energy, devoured it all, and then refined it into his own magical power.

Li Yue could tell that the yin energy in the space below the well was several times stronger.

But for the sake of this alchemy furnace, it's worthwhile to devour some ingredients beforehand and upgrade this panel.

As long as they refine them quickly, they can be fully utilized.

[In progress: 1%...2%...]

A moment later, the devouring was complete.

Li Yue looked at the homepage, and the level on the panel jumped up and changed its value.

[Panel system upgrade in progress...]

Upgrade successful! Unlocked the "Storage Space" feature; the internal space is three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in both length and width.

[Reward: One high-grade spirit pet ring, which can hold 1-3 demonic beast spirit pets depending on the size of the spirit pet]

The magical artifact is now bound to you; you can summon it with a mere thought.

[Current Panel Level: Tier 3 (10/200)]

"And a spirit pet ring?"

Upon seeing the rewards that came with the upgrade, a hint of surprise flashed across Li Yue's eyes, followed by a faint joy.

The storage space only holds inanimate objects and has no ability to house living things. He had been secretly worried about how to carry the Angry Sun Chicken after leaving Ping Mountain.

This spirit bird is exceptionally intelligent and possesses formidable combat power, making it a safe and reliable companion for the journey.

However, in the future, when climbing mountains, drilling caves, and traversing dangerous places, they will eventually become a burden.

Now that I have this spirit pet ring, it just so happens to solve a trivial matter on my mind.

He didn't care that the storage space was only three zhang in size.

All system functions can be upgraded and expanded with each level, so a slightly smaller initial size is acceptable.

Moreover, it is three zhang long and three zhang wide, with an interior area of ​​one hundred square meters, which is equivalent to a private house.

Li Yue raised his hand and touched the cold, heavy furnace wall, his mind slightly stirred.

The massive ancient furnace in front of them vanished into thin air in the next instant.

He closed his eyes and looked into the storage space, whereupon he saw the bronze alchemy furnace sitting steadily in the void.

He then stored the Green Edge Sword on his back into it, repeatedly taking it out and putting it in several times. It moved freely and smoothly, and the weapon could be moved at will without any stagnation.

"Although the area is not large, it is very flexible in terms of storage."

Li Yue nodded slightly, quite satisfied.

At that moment, another thought occurred to him, and an antique ring appeared in his palm.

The ring has a dark texture and is entirely black, but it feels as hard as cold iron and is not made of jade.

The body is carved with fine cloud patterns, the patterns are subtle and flowing with a faint light, the color is restrained and elegant, and it looks ancient and grand.

He looked down at the bamboo basket behind him, spoke reassuringly, indicating that they were about to move and that they should not panic.

The angry-eyed rooster in the basket is intelligent and can understand human speech. Its emotions, which were originally agitated by the yin energy underground, have gradually calmed down.

At this moment, the phoenix's eyes narrowed and its wings folded slightly. Although it did not understand why, it did not show any resistance.

As Li Yue focused his mind, the spirit pet ring flashed with a faint light.

A gentle suction force enveloped the body, and the rooster, along with the bamboo basket, disappeared into the ring's independent space.

It did not panic or rush around as soon as it entered.

As a phoenix, he possesses a proud and composed nature.

Even in an unfamiliar and secluded realm, it merely strolled around, observing its surroundings. Its comb remained steady, its eyes held a spiritual quality, showing no sign of agitation, revealing its innate depth.

Li Yue understood, thinking to himself: As expected of an ancient phoenix descendant, his temperament and composure far surpass those of ordinary birds.

"I just can't stand seeing insects; they make me restless and agitated."

Having gained both storage space and a spirit pet ring, Li Yue felt relieved.

The pet ring can automatically adjust its size to fit the wearer's finger size.

He put the ring on his finger; the band's texture gently closed, fitting snugly against his skin with a comfortable fit, without any sense of restriction.

He rubbed his fingertips against the ring and muttered to himself, "Storage and organization combined with the spirit pet's secret realm will make traversing ancient tombs and dangerous places much more convenient in the future."

Pulling his mind back to the spot where the alchemy furnace had been hiding.

With the ancient furnace removed, a stone well cover was revealed below.

The entrance was indeed hidden beneath this alchemy furnace!