Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

The leaves rustled.

A young man in a blue robe slowly walked out of the woods.

He was eighteen or nineteen years old, tall and slender, with a handsome face, clear eyebrows and bright eyes, and red lips and white teeth. His black hair was tied up with a jade crown, and a token of the inner disciple of Huadaowu hung at his waist. He held a folding fan in his hand, and his demeanor was elegant. He was a beautiful young man who looked just like he had stepped out of a painting.

Lin Feng's first reaction was: This kid is damn handsome, so handsome he looks like a girl.

My second reaction was: This is troublesome.

Although the battle was brief, it revealed quite a few of his trump cards. The Ice Sword Talisman, the Soul-Bewitching Bell, the Wind-Breaking Spear, and the Gentle Breeze Banner—these items are definitely top-tier equipment among Qi Refining cultivators, enough to make anyone envious.

The young man in the blue robe watched from beginning to end without ever showing himself, showing no intention of helping his fellow disciples or taking the opportunity to launch a sneak attack.

Either they lack the strength to make a move, or they are too strong to bother.

Judging from his calm and composed demeanor, he is clearly the latter.

"Huadaowu, Hantianya." The young man in the blue robe closed his folding fan, clasped his hands in a salute, and smiled gently, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lin."

Cold and desolate.

Lin Feng had never heard of this name.

He was only mentioned briefly in the original work, but he was undoubtedly a master. Judging from his aura and demeanor, he was by no means an unknown figure.

"Yellow Maple Valley, Lin Feng." Lin Feng returned the greeting, subtly sizing up the other person.

Han Tianya's cultivation level was at the peak of the thirteenth level of Qi Refining, just one step away from Foundation Establishment. But this was only on the surface. Lin Feng keenly sensed that the spiritual energy fluctuations on this person's body were much more profound than those of an ordinary thirteenth level Qi Refining cultivator. Could it be that he had been stuck at the peak of Qi Refining for many years?

"Fellow Daoist Lin just killed my fellow disciples from Huadaowu. Those were my dearest friends, relatives, and brothers. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?" Han Tianya said with a smile, his tone as casual as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.

Lin Feng's heart sank.

They really came here to cause trouble.

But he remained expressionless and said calmly, "What explanation do you want? Do you intend to fight me?"

As he spoke, he took out a mid-grade spirit stone from his storage bag with his hand behind his back, held it in his palm, and quietly absorbed its spiritual energy.

Although the battle was brief, activating the Ice Sword Talisman consumed nearly 30% of his spiritual power. Later, he used the Bewitching Bell and the Wind-Breaking Spear to kill two more people, leaving him with less than half of his current mana.

Han Tianya's strength is unknown, so the outcome of a real fight is unpredictable.

We must hurry and restore our magical power.

The spiritual energy from the mid-grade spirit stone flowed continuously into his body, converging into his dantian along his meridians. While absorbing the spiritual energy, Lin Feng remained vigilant, his gaze never leaving Han Tianya.

Han Tianya seemed oblivious to the subtle movements behind his back, or rather, he simply didn't care.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, you must have expended a lot of energy in that battle just now?" Han Tianya said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Lin Feng before finally settling on his right hand, which was holding the spirit stone.

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat; he knew he couldn't hide it any longer.

He decided to stop hiding and raised the Wind-Breaking Spear with his right hand, while summoning the Xuan Turtle Shield with his left. He poured spiritual power into it, and the Xuan Turtle Shield transformed into a three-foot-tall black giant shield, blocking his way.

"Fellow Daoist Han may wish to give it a try."

His tone was calm, but his killing intent was palpable.

Han Tianya looked at his serious and prepared appearance and suddenly smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, there's no need to be nervous." He waved his hand, reopened his folding fan, and slowly fanned himself. "I have no intention of avenging those few good-for-nothings. There are plenty of disciples in the Blade Transformation Pavilion; a few deaths are fine, what does it have to do with me?"

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes: "Then what do you mean?"

Han Tianya did not answer directly, but instead began to talk to himself.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, do you know what categories those who entered the Crimson Forbidden Land this time can be divided into?"

Lin Feng frowned, unsure of his intentions, but still followed his lead and asked, "I'd like to hear the details."

Han Tianya held up one finger: "The first type is those with weak magical power, below the twelfth level of Qi Refining. They have neither good magical artifacts for protection, nor powerful talismans, nor various secret treasures. Their strength is as insignificant as ants, yet they are oblivious to their own mortality and want to come in and fish in troubled waters. This type of person accounts for more than 60% of the people who enter the forbidden area."

Lin Feng nodded. These were indeed the most numerous people; they were responsible for most of the corpses in the forbidden area.

Han Tianya raised his second finger: "The second type: those with profound magical power, above the twelfth level of Qi Refining. Their cultivation is not bad, and they possess one or two high-grade magical artifacts, making them elites in their respective sects. However, they dare not directly fight against the top experts within the forbidden area, and only dare to target the first type and their kind, killing and robbing to make a fortune in silence. This type of person accounts for the remaining 30%."

Lin Feng nodded again, agreeing with this statement, and at the same time, he couldn't wait for Han Tianya to continue rambling so that he could recover more of his magic power.

Han Tianya raised his third finger: "The third type: predators at the top of the food chain in the Crimson Forbidden Land. The true elites of each sect, with profound magical power, equipped with top-tier magical artifacts or even talismanic treasures. These people enter the forbidden land not to target scattered spiritual herbs, but to kill disciples from other sects and seize all the resources they possess. This type accounts for less than ten percent."

Lin Feng was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then, which type of person does Fellow Daoist Han belong to?"

Han Tianya shook his head, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.

I am neither.

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.

Han Tianya folded his folding fan, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at the gray sky in the distance, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, do you know how many times I've participated in the Crimson Forbidden Land?"

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat: "You participated before?"

"Not bad." Han Tianya nodded, holding up three fingers. "This is the third time."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

The Crimson Forbidden Land opens once every five years, so three times would take fifteen years. In other words, Han Tianya deliberately stayed in the Qi Refining stage for fifteen years just to participate in the Forbidden Land trial.

Moreover, surviving the Crimson Forbidden Land once was already a stroke of luck, but surviving three times is not a stroke of luck, but a testament to strength.

"Those Qi Refining cultivators, who are like ants, participate in the Crimson Forbidden Land once. Even if they manage to survive by chance and obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, they will only ever reach the early stage of Foundation Establishment in their entire lives." Han Tianya's tone was filled with undisguised contempt. "In the end, they are nothing more than a slightly larger cannon fodder."

He turned around, looked at Lin Feng, and stared intently at him.

"How could I, Han Tianya, be content to stop here?"

Lin Feng remained silent.

This person has big ambitions.

"This Crimson Forbidden Land, which only appears once every five years, is fraught with danger for others, but for people like you and me, it's just a larger medicinal garden," Han Tianya continued. "If we don't seize the opportunity to gain as many benefits as possible before Foundation Establishment, how easily will we obtain resources after Foundation Establishment?"

Lin Feng understood.

Han Tianya is right. After Foundation Establishment, the resources required for cultivation are ten to a hundred times that of the Qi Refining stage. Without sufficient reserves, life after Foundation Establishment will be even more difficult than during the Qi Refining stage.

"What is the meaning behind all this talk between Fellow Daoist Han and me?" Lin Feng asked directly.

Han Tianya smiled slightly and finally revealed his true purpose.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, are you aware that after this forbidden area trial, the Crimson Forbidden Area will be closed for sixty years?"

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat.

He was familiar with the original work and knew this information, but he didn't know how Han Tianya had found out.

"Sixty years?" he asked, frowning.

"That's right." Han Tianya nodded. "This is a consensus reached by the seven sects' Core Formation elders. After this forbidden area trial concludes, the Crimson Forbidden Area will be sealed off for sixty years to allow the spiritual herbs and demonic beasts within to recuperate. In other words, this is our last chance to enter the forbidden area before we reach Foundation Establishment."

Lin Feng's mind was racing.

If that's the case, then the competition for this forbidden area trial will be even fiercer than before. Everyone will be desperately searching for spiritual herbs, because the next time they want to enter will be sixty years from now.

"If we don't seize this last opportunity to gain as much benefit as possible and accumulate more resources for our cultivation after Foundation Establishment..." Han Tianya paused deliberately, "then how will we cultivate and form our Core?"

Lin Feng understood what he meant.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you certainly have a long-term vision," Lin Feng said casually. "But what are your plans?"

A glint of light flashed in Han Tianya's eyes.

"Block the door."

Lin Feng was taken aback.

"On the afternoon of the fifth day of the forbidden area trial, the Core Formation Ancestors of each sect will open the exit passage," Han Tianya said slowly. "We will block the exit and demand that everyone hand over a certain number of spiritual herbs before we can let them pass. I believe there will be a great harvest then."

Lin Feng fell silent.

Blocking the gate, to put it bluntly, is highway robbery. They guard the exit, waiting for those who have survived the forbidden area to walk into their trap and hand over the elixir before they can leave.

That's a ruthless and vicious idea.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist, you have quite the spirit." Lin Feng chuckled. "But with just the two of us blocking the door, I'm afraid we're a bit outmatched, aren't we?"

He wasn't just being polite.

None of those who managed to emerge alive from the forbidden area were innocent victims. Especially the elite disciples of each sect, who all possessed several trump cards. The two of them blocking the entrance might very well have been killed instead.

"That's right." Han Tianya nodded. "Although you and I are both very strong, those who survive in the end are no ordinary people. So, I also contacted two other people."

"Who?"

"Feng Yue, the madman of Tianque Fortress, and Zhong Wu of Spirit Beast Mountain," Han Tianya announced two names. "With the combined strength of the four of them, it shouldn't be too difficult."

Lin Feng thought for a moment.

Feng Yue, Tianque Fortress. As mentioned in the original work, he was a formidable figure, a Qi Refining Perfection expert, renowned for his powerful combat abilities. After a battle with Han Laomo, he was tricked by Han Laomo using the Heavenly Thunder Spear.

Zhongwu, Spirit Beast Mountain. The disciples of Spirit Beast Mountain are skilled in beast taming and are also quite powerful in combat.

With four people, blocking the door is indeed a feasible option.

"How should the blocking medicine be distributed?" Lin Feng asked the most crucial question.

"Those who want to leave must each hand over four century-old spiritual herbs," Han Tianya said. "We will divide them equally among the four of us."

Four century-old medicinal herbs.

Lin Feng quickly made a mental calculation.

Those who survived the forbidden area all possessed a few medicinal herbs. If twenty or thirty people were trapped, that would amount to hundreds of century-old medicinal herbs, with each person receiving more than twenty.

This is much more cost-effective than him having to painstakingly search for elixirs in the forbidden area.

However, the risks are also considerable.

Blocking the gate offends everyone. If someone objects and unites to resist, or if a direct disciple of a Core Formation elder has a trump card to protect them, it's not impossible for things to backfire.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, there's no need to rush to agree," Han Tianya said with a smile, noticing his hesitation. "You can consider it. However, let me make this clear from the start—"

He closed his folding fan, his smile unchanged, but his eyes suddenly turned sharp.

"If Fellow Daoist Lin is unwilling to cooperate, then I, Han, will have no choice but to fight with you here first. After all, I don't want to have another competitor at the exit."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

This is a threat.

A naked threat.

Han Tianya's strength is unknown, but the fact that he dared to act so recklessly in the forbidden area and participated in the forbidden area trials three times in a row suggests he must have some skill. Lin Feng's mana has only recovered to less than 70%, so his chances of winning in a real fight are uncertain.

Moreover, even if you win, you'll pay the price. The forbidden area is fraught with danger; to act while injured is tantamount to suicide.

More importantly, the plan to block the door was indeed feasible. Instead of fighting Han Tianya to the death here, it was better to cooperate first and see how things went. If the blockade succeeded, he could get a bunch of spiritual herbs for free; if things went wrong, he could slip away at any time.

With the Qingfeng Banner and the Youlong Step, no one below the Foundation Establishment stage could catch him.

Lin Feng made up his mind.

"Okay." He nodded. "I agree."

Han Tianya's smile grew even brighter.

"We'll meet at the exit at noon on the fifth day," Lin Feng said. "Now, I'm going to look for other opportunities. There are plenty of spiritual herbs in the forbidden area; we can't just sit here blocking the gate."

He put away the Xuan Turtle Shield and the Wind-Breaking Spear, making a gesture as if he was about to leave.

Han Tianya stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation, his posture as elegant as if he were seeing off a guest in his own backyard.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please make yourself at home. It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Lin Feng didn't say anything more. He activated the Qingfeng Banner, and his figure transformed into a wisp of green smoke, disappearing into the end of the valley in a few leaps.

Han Tianya stood there, watching him leave, the smile on his lips gradually turning into a playful one.

"Interesting." He murmured to himself, tapping his palm lightly with his folding fan. "When did such a person emerge from Yellow Maple Valley? How come I've never heard of him before?"

He looked down at the three corpses of Huadaowu disciples on the ground and shook his head.

"A piece of trash is a piece of trash, and deserves to die."

With a wave of his folding fan, a beam of green light swept across, turning the three corpses into ashes that scattered with the wind.

Han Tianya turned around and walked in another direction, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible.

The valley returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.

Lin Feng ran for more than ten miles in one breath, and only stopped by a stream after confirming that no one was following him.

He squatted down, scooped up some stream water to wash his face, and let out a long sigh.

"Han Tianya..."

He had a very bad feeling about this person.

He was too calm, too composed. From beginning to end, his emotions remained completely unchanged, as if everything was under his control.

This type of person is the most dangerous.

"Let's cooperate first, and see how things go later." Lin Feng planned, "On the day we block the door, I'll be on my guard. If things don't look right, I'll run immediately, without hesitation."

He took out a high-quality Yellow Dragon Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it. He then sat cross-legged by the stream and began to recover his magical power.

Whether the next step is to find the elixir or block the door, maintaining peak condition is the top priority.