Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

At the top of the cave, a massive stalactite broke off during the explosion and fell from the sky, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. Cracks spread across the cave walls like a spiderweb, and rubble fell in a flurry.

It wasn't until after an incense stick had burned that the smoke and dust in the cave finally dissipated.

Gravel still occasionally rolled down, making a few dull echoes that gradually dissipated in the empty space.

The dust settled on the ground, forming a thin layer, like a layer of gray frost.

Most of the moonstones shattered in the explosion, and their light dimmed considerably, leaving only a few embedded in the cave wall, emitting a faint, dim yellow light that enveloped the entire cave in an ambiguous gloom.

Lin Feng slowly got up from the ground.

A sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen, as if someone were stirring it with a red-hot iron rod. He looked down and saw that the hem of his Taoist robe was torn to shreds, revealing bluish-purple skin underneath. At least two ribs were broken, and every breath was excruciating, like needles pricking his lungs.

"Fortunately, I have the double defense of the Golden Light Shield and the Xuan Turtle Shield." Lin Feng gritted his teeth, pressed his palm against the wound, and slowly let his spiritual power seep in, stopping the internal bleeding. "If I had lost one layer, I probably would have had to lie in bed for another year."

His internal organs ached from the shock, but thankfully they weren't shattered. A Foundation Establishment cultivator's physical recovery ability is many times stronger than that of an ordinary person, and with the healing pills in his storage bag, he should be able to recover in ten to fifteen days.

He took a deep breath, endured the pain, swallowed a healing pill, stood up, and dusted himself off.

The Windbreaker Spear fell into a pile of rubble about 30 feet away from him, its shaft covered in dust.

Lin Feng reached out, his spiritual energy transforming into an invisible hand that swept up the Wind-Breaking Spear and held it back in his grasp. A thin crack appeared on the spear; the power of the Heavenly Thunder Explosion was something even a top-tier magic weapon couldn't withstand.

Lin Feng had no time to worry about the magic artifact.

He extended his divine sense, covering the entire cave.

Information about the rubble on the ground, the cracks in the cave walls, and the scattered fragments of magical artifacts flooded into his mind like a tide.

He quickly searched through the jumbled information, looking for the one he wanted most.

Soon, he sensed a faint spiritual light less than two zhang away from him.

The Great Relocation Order.

The token fell behind a pile of pebbles, half of it buried in dust, with only one corner showing.

The pale blue token was inconspicuous under the cover of dust; if it weren't for that faint spiritual light, one might not even notice it if walking right past.

Lin Feng strode over, bent down to pick up the token, and swept it with his spiritual power to shake off the dust.

The token felt warm and smooth to the touch, with ancient patterns engraved on its surface. Before it could absorb any spiritual energy, Lin Feng quickly put it into the deepest part of his storage bag.

The Great Shift Order is in hand.

Next up is the Heaven-Mending Pill, a divine medicine that can improve a cultivator's spiritual roots and enhance their aptitude.

Lin Feng continued to search the cave with his divine sense.

At this moment, Han Li lay motionless in the pile of rubble not far away, like a corpse. His robes were torn to shreds, his face was covered with dust and blood, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was barely perceptible.

"Still playing dead?" Lin Feng sneered inwardly.

Lin Feng raised the Wind-Breaking Spear, aiming the tip at Han Li's position. Golden spiritual energy condensed on the tip of the spear, flickering uncertainly.

"If Junior Brother Han continues to play dead, then I won't be so polite."

His voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly in the empty cave, reaching Han Li's ears distinctly.

Han Li opened his eyes.

There was no panic, no fear in his eyes, only a calm yet unsettling determination. He slowly sat up from the pile of rubble, summoning the Xuan Tie Flying Shield. The black shield floated before him, its surface shimmering with spiritual light.

"Cough cough—" Han Li coughed twice, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away, then stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lin Feng. "Senior Brother Lin, as expected, you've been here all along."

His tone was flat, as if he were talking about something he had expected.

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow: "Junior brother, you've got some impressive skills. How did you know I'd been hiding all this time? With your divine sense, there's no way you could have detected me."

That's the truth. With the concealment effect of the Hidden Spirit Veil, Lin Feng was confident that no one in the Foundation Establishment stage could detect his presence.

Although Han Li had cultivated the Great Evolution Technique, his spiritual sense was at most equivalent to that of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, making it impossible for him to detect him.

Han Li coughed twice more, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and slowly said, "Of course I didn't find my senior brother."

He paused, looking directly at Lin Feng: "But given your reputation for blocking the entrance to the Crimson Forbidden Land, and your effortless handling of the demonic path before, I don't believe you would have died in the cave collapse."

"In the end—" Han Li's voice was as calm as a stagnant pool, "it was just out of caution that we kept a backup plan."

Lin Feng fell silent.

This kid is cautious to the core.

"Junior Brother Han is truly a role model for us all," Lin Feng exclaimed sincerely. "He's so cautious even under these circumstances. I just wonder if he has any backup plans that can withstand my attacks?"

After he finished speaking, he raised the Wind-Breaking Spear, and golden spear light gathered at the tip, ready to be unleashed.

Han Li remained silent.

His hand reached into his storage bag, then slowly pulled it out, a blue bead between his fingertips.

The bead was only the size of a thumb, entirely azure blue, with lightning flashing and crackling on its surface. It was exactly the same as the one that had exploded before.

Tian Leizi.

There's one more.

Lin Feng abruptly stopped moving.

His pupils contracted slightly, and the golden light on the Wind-Breaking Spear dimmed a bit.

"You actually possess the Heavenly Thunder Seed?"

Han Li coughed twice, his voice hoarse: "Senior brother can give it a try."

Try?

Lin Feng looked at his own injuries, then at Han Li.

He had personally experienced the power of the Heavenly Thunder Spear.

Even with a top-tier defensive artifact and a golden shield, he barely managed to withstand it, and even broke a rib.

If he takes another one, he definitely won't be able to withstand it in his current condition.

"Just how many trump cards does this kid have? I can't afford to repeat the mistake of Xuan Gu." Lin Feng cursed inwardly, but his expression quickly changed from gloomy to gentle.

"Junior Brother Han is joking." Lin Feng put away his Wind-Breaking Spear, a smile appearing on his face. "We are fellow disciples, so we should help each other out. The explosion just now might attract the attention of the demonic path again. We should focus on finding a way to leave this place first."

Han Li didn't speak, but the Heavenly Thunder Stone remained between his fingers, not retracted.

Lin Feng continued, "How about we divide the remaining items equally? It can be considered an apology from senior brother to junior brother."

Han Li remained silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on Lin Feng's face for a few breaths, as if judging the truth or falsehood of his words.

"Alright." Han Li finally nodded and put the Heavenly Thunder Seed back into his palm.

The two reached an agreement and began cleaning up the battlefield.