Chapter 38 Shen Yan’s Noble Integrity

“You’re quite the smooth talker,” Shen Yan remarked approvingly, casting Xu Rui a glance. A person this adept at handling situations would thrive anywhere, whether in the mortal world or among cultivators. In comparison, Feng Shuke was rather lacking. If not for their familial ties, Feng Shuke might have met an untimely end long ago, with none the wiser to his fate.

“But no matter how many promises I make now, you two are bound to have your doubts. Let’s enter the cave residence first before we discuss anything further.”

Although it bore the grand name Celestial Pillar Mountain, it was, in reality, a mere hill of about a hundred feet. The terrain rose around the sides, while the center lay in a shallow depression. Over countless years, the shifting earth and endless rains had filled this depression, turning it into a lake.

At that moment, thousands of miners toiled at the mountain’s foot. Shen Yan, guided by Xu Rui and Feng Shuke, approached the lake’s edge.

“Senior, our ancestor’s cave residence lies beneath the water,” Feng Shuke said, pointing toward the still, lifeless surface of the lake, swallowing nervously.

“Old Xu and I have dived down many times. There are ruins of old buildings on the lakebed—dilapidated, yet still somewhat imposing. We suspect mortals built them originally, so there’s no real danger.”

Xu Rui added, “When our ancestor chose this spot for his cave residence, he must’ve sensed a spiritual vein below. But now the lake is as dead as stagnant water; the spiritual vein has likely dissipated.”

Shen Yan nodded. Their reasoning was sound. With his mastery of water manipulation, he easily sensed faint traces of spiritual energy at the lake’s bottom. Even if no Nascent Soul-level cultivator had dwelled here, there must have been other practitioners who left behind remnants.

“Let’s go,” Shen Yan ordered calmly, stepping into the lake.

As Shen Yan descended, the previously lifeless water parted to either side. It was as if a mysterious force repelled the water from him, preventing even a drop from touching his body.

Witnessing this, Xu Rui and Feng Shuke drew sharp breaths. They had believed Shen Yan to be a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Refining stage—otherwise, he couldn’t have killed Zhou Shun and Ling Qian so effortlessly.

Now, their assumptions wavered. Such a terrifying display was far beyond the means of a Qi Refining cultivator; it would require the true essence of a Nascent Soul adept, perhaps not even one at the early stage. To waste such energy merely to part water was extravagance indeed.

They exchanged glances, each understanding the other’s thoughts. Their previous hopes of taking advantage of the situation vanished without a trace.

With a cultivator of such profound power, the resources needed for Qi Refining meant nothing. What, then, did they have to fear?

They followed closely behind Shen Yan, making their way swiftly to the cave residence, a path they had traveled many times before. Shen Yan, manipulating the water with ease, soon arrived at the entrance under their guidance.

A massive slab of green stone blocked the way. The two men stepped forward and channeled their spiritual power, quickly moving the stone aside to reveal a flight of stone steps.

“This ancestor was quite the character, carving an entrance beneath the lake and building a cave residence inside the mountain. Either he was wholly devoted to cultivation, or he had made powerful enemies,” Shen Yan mused. In all likelihood, this predecessor had been a rogue cultivator; otherwise, he would not have chosen such a location.

The door of the cave residence was adorned with carvings of two fierce beasts, part lion, part tiger, baring their fangs as if ready to devour anyone who approached.

Shen Yan was unfazed. He raised his hand, and the Flowing Cloud Sword shot forth, sending streaks of sword light slashing at the stone door.

With a series of dull thuds, the door shimmered with layers of blue light, easily blocking Shen Yan’s attacks.

“As expected of a Nascent Soul cultivator’s dwelling—the wards are impressive. But time has taken its toll; their strength is a mere fraction of what it once was. Breaking them by force won’t be difficult.”

With a nod, Shen Yan smiled at the two expectant men. “Don’t worry. We’ll be inside in a moment.”

He recalled the Flowing Cloud Sword. Suddenly, a lump of Primal Profound Ice appeared before him. Following a method he had pondered earlier, he drew a thread of spiritual power from the Emperor’s Seal and infused it into the Profound Ice, then hurled it at the door.

A violent tremor shook the cave, sending Xu Rui and Feng Shuke sprawling, caught off guard. Shen Yan, however, remained unruffled and continued to batter the door with the Primal Profound Ice.

After a dozen blows, the stone door was smashed to pieces, and the protective blue light shattered as well.

“Let’s go in,” Shen Yan said, cloaking himself in a shield of Heavy Water and stepping inside first.

The cave residence was not large; it looked much the same as Shen Yan’s own quiet quarters back at Jade Immortal Sect. There was a meditation room for cultivating, a furnace room for alchemy and artifact crafting, and a study lined with jade slips—each one simple and unadorned.

Shen Yan was not disappointed. It was a modest home for one, carved out within the mountain. For such a location, its scale was already impressive.

He entered the study first. On the shelves were only a few jade slips and some old books. After a careful inspection to ensure there was no danger, he picked up the jade slips to examine them.

“Spring Rain Technique, Water Binding Technique, Water Bullet Technique, Water Escape Technique…”

These were a series of water-based spells—perfect for Shen Yan’s cultivation.

“No wonder this predecessor built his residence underwater; he, too, was a practitioner of water arts,” Shen Yan thought with delight. These techniques alone made the trip worthwhile.

The Spring Rain Technique could summon rain from thin air—a fundamental art for cultivating spiritual plants among immortals. For Shen Yan, it was even more valuable; in battle, he could call rain and gather water to attack, enhancing his strength manifold.

The Water Binding Technique closely resembled his first attempt at controlling water snakes in the sea, but it was far more refined and powerful.

The Water Bullet and Water Escape Techniques, however, were what Shen Yan valued most. The Water Bullet condensed a sphere of water and, wrapped in spiritual energy, could be launched with enough force to shatter stone and break bones. For Shen Yan, it meant he could manipulate Heavy Water or Primal Profound Ice, doubling their destructive power.

The Water Escape Technique was a method of fleeing through water, consuming little energy yet vastly increasing speed—a vital skill for both attack and retreat.

Holding the jade slips, Shen Yan glanced at the two men waiting eagerly at the door. After a moment’s thought, he handed the slips to them.

“These were left by your ancestor. Now that they’ve returned to your hands, it can be said they’ve come home.”

“Thank you, Senior.”