On a clear and sunny day, the weather is pleasant.
In the garden, a clear and tranquil pond encircles elegant pavilions and terrace buildings.
Chen Yun squatted beside the earth pit, staring at the pot, wanting to hear whether this ghost would talk nonsense or confess honestly.
If the ghost talks nonsense, it is likely that this ghost would not tell the truth and would try to deceive themselves into a position where it is easy to act.
Chen Yun has made up his mind that even if he knows where the treasure is, he will not go there himself.
He will send Huang Dalang or Huang Erlang to go, and he will stay on guard above.
But if anything is wrong, I'm sorry, the ghost must die.
Of course, he will ensure the safety of Huang Dalang and Huang Erlang, for example, by drawing a symbol of peace and disaster to carry with them.
But if the evil spirit tells the truth, it means that its character is not bad, and one can try to believe in it.
The evil spirit, knowing it had no other choice, said: "Under the pot where my corpse is buried, one zhang down, there is a secret room. Inside is an altar covered in incantations. In the middle of the altar, a spiritual root has been nurtured. Two fruits have grown on it. One fruit ripened four days ago; yesterday its skin cracked and its juice spilled to the ground. The other fruit has just ripened. According to my previous observations, if the skin of these two fruits is not removed within the next two days, they will also crack."
Chen Yun pressed further, asking, "Is there anything else?"
"There is nothing else." After the evil spirit finished speaking, it seemed to think of something and added: "When we take out the pot where my corpse is buried, first cover it with a cloth. Otherwise, if I lose the underground spiritual energy nourishment, I will turn to ashes when exposed to sunlight. After taking out the pot, please place it in a shady place and avoid direct sunlight. For a short period without spiritual energy cultivation, I will not disappear like mist. I cannot last more than two hours, otherwise I will die for sure."
Chen Yun nodded and said: "All right."
He seemed to have a general idea. Standing up, he looked to the side and said, "Big Brother Huang, Second Brother Huang, could you please dig out the pot?"
Huang Dala Lang and Huang Erlang said in unison: "Yes, Chen Xianzhang."
Chen Yun looked to the other side again, "Three uncle, please trouble you to have someone bring a thick and large piece of cloth, and also bring the red ink and yellow paper at the same time."
"Here."
"All right," Three Uncle responded, turning his head to look at the family members watching from behind. He called out, "Big Wen, Little Wu, each of you go and get an unused old quilt, and one of you go to fetch the red ink and yellow paper."
"All right, Grandfather."
"Grandfather, I will go right away."
The two youths, who were about the same age as Chen Yun, left in response.
The old grandmother, Huang Zhangshi, and the others did not know what Chen Yun was planning to do; they were just standing there watching.
Even if they don't know.
Even Zhang Qian was a bit confused, occasionally looking at Chen Yun's face.
Chen Yun didn't explain to everyone for the time being.
He was thinking about the matter of the "Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Root" mentioned by the evil spirit.
He was curious, what Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Root can emit spiritual energy to nourish a fierce ghost?
If analyzed by efficacy, this Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Root might even be more abundant in spiritual energy than the "spiritual energy" of the jade bead.
That's why Chen Yun is eager to know what kind of spiritual root it is.
It wasn't long before Three Uncle's two grandsons returned with a torn quilt, a brush, red ink, and yellow paper.
Chen Yun instructed Huang Dalang and Huang Erlang to continue digging with the quilt covering the pot, while he himself began to draw characters on a talisman.
He drew a talisman of peace and disaster.
He then infused true qi into it.
With this talisman, even if the fierce ghost wanted to plot against him, there would be no problem.
Shortly after, the entire pot was dug out.
Huang Dalang and Huang Erlang followed Chen Yun's instructions, moving this clay jar pot to a shaded area.
After that, they continued to dig.
They dug approximately two or three meters.
Below, an iron door appeared.
"There is an iron door."
"Is it a cellar?"
"I'll find an axe and smash it open."
"Bring a lantern, it might be dark down there."
Zhang Qian, Three Uncle, and Huang Dalang were chattering away.
Huang Erlang brought over an axe and with a few bangs, the rusty lock on the iron door was smashed open.
A creaking sound, and the rusty iron door was pulled open.
In the next moment, sunlight shone in.
Chen Yun glimpsed inside through the crack and could see the interior.
Indeed, there was a large altar.
The altar was covered with an intricate pattern of unknown characters.
Vapors of white mist were converging along the characters towards the center.
In the center of the altar, there was a plant about the size of a tomato.
There were two fruits hanging on the plant.
One of the fruits was already withered and its shape was not clear.
The remaining, fist-sized, fiery red fruit was still shining with faint energy, indicating that it was abundant in spiritual energy!
Seeing this scene, Chen Yun was shocked in his heart, "Red Phoenix Fruit?!"
He looked at the Red Phoenix Fruit below the iron door in disbelief.
It's really hard to believe that we would see it here.
Why?
The "Great Immortal Liquor, Spiritual Energy Transformation Liquor" records that the growth environment of the red fruit is extremely harsh.
It must grow next to the icy lake at the foot of the Great Snow Mountain.
The Great Snow Mountain has temperatures below minus 50 degrees, and even the largest lakes would freeze over. How could there be running water year-round?
That's one of them.
The second requirement is that the location where the red fruit grows must be rich in spiritual energy.
Because it is an ethereal fruit that absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, it takes one hundred years to accumulate spiritual energy to take root and germinate, then bloom. Another hundred years of spiritual energy absorption is needed for the fruit to form, and finally, another hundred years of spiritual energy absorption is required for the fruit to ripen.
This is not the most difficult thing about the red fruit.
Three hundred years of growth, but the fruit can only last for three short days.
Once it exceeds this time, the red fruit's skin will crack open, and the spiritual juice inside will be lost.
So Chen Yun was very puzzled, why would there be a red fruit growing here?
Is it because of the altar?
Chen Yun thought it should be that way.
Chen Yun estimated that this altar should be a special array, specifically used to cultivate the red fruit.
As for why the fierce ghost could take shape, that's also easy to explain.
As expected, the spiritual energy condensed by the altar cannot be fully absorbed by the red fruit, and some leaked spiritual energy has nourished the fierce ghost.
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.
Chen Yun was now pondering on how he could obtain the Red Phoenix Fruit.
Just then, the voice of Huang Erlang echoed in his ear, "There's nothing much inside. There's just a fruit that looks a bit like a persimmon."
Zhang Qian seemed to be unfamiliar with the Red Phoenix Fruit, "This fruit grows under the pot where the corpse is buried. Is it not a corpse fruit? It looks like it. According to rumors, corpse fruit is a evil thing formed by the corpse qi, if humans eat it, they will die instantly."
Hearing this, Three Uncle was so scared that he trembled, "Oh my god, this thing can't stay in the yard. Er Lang, quickly dig it up, quickly dig it up."
"All right, Dad."
Huang Erlang was about to enter the cellar.
"Wait a minute!"
Chen Yun shouted.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Three Uncle was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong, Chen Xianzhang?"
Chen Yun was somewhat conflicted in his mind. The Red Phoenix Fruit is the main ingredient for the Spiritual Energy Transformation Soup. If he used Zhang Qian's words to scare Three Uncle and his family, it would be effortless to obtain the fruit.
However, his conscience prevents him from doing so.
Thoughts in mind, Chen Yun took a deep breath and spoke honestly, "Three Uncle, this is not a corpse fruit but the legendary Red Phoenix Fruit."
"What?" Zhang Qian was startled, "A Red Phoenix Fruit?"
Three Uncle was a bit puzzled and asked, "What is the Red Phoenix Fruit?"
Huang Dalang and Huang Erlang looked towards Chen Yun and Zhang Qian.
Although Chen Yun wanted the Red Phoenix Fruit very much, he believed in 'the way of a gentleman in loving wealth'. Since the fruit was currently growing in the Huang family's territory, according to the laws of this world, it belonged to the Huang family.
He carefully introduced the Red Phoenix Fruit, saying: "The Red Phoenix Fruit is a source of heaven and earth, containing immense spiritual energy. If a person takes it, they will be granted an additional ten years of life, and it can also cure all kinds of poisonous substances, allowing people to slow down the aging process to some extent."
Zhang Qian nodded continuously on the side, indicating that Chen Yun was not wrong.
Three Uncle's eyes widened instantly.
Huang Dalang and Huang Erlang also couldn't help but inhale deeply.
It was evident that they hadn't expected the red fruit to have such amazing effects.
Chen Yun couldn't help but sigh in his heart. By voluntarily explaining the benefits of the Red Phoenix Fruit, he had given up on obtaining it himself.
Although the Red Phoenix Fruit is particularly rare and can be said to be a once-in-a-lifetime chance, Chen Yun has his own principles. Even if something exceptionally precious exists in the world, if it doesn't belong to him, he will not act against his conscience and take it.
But then, unexpectedly, Three Uncle asked abruptly, "What if it is taken by a cultivator?"
Chen Yun said, "If taken by cultivators, it can save several years of hard cultivation if they can take advantage of the medicine's efficacy."
Three Uncle smiled, "In that case, Master Chen, please take the Red Phoenix Fruit."
"Ah?"
"Uh..."
Huang Dalang and Huang Erlang looked at their father with confusion.
Zhang Qian also showed a confused expression.
They really couldn't understand why Three Uncle wanted to give the longevity treasure to Chen Yun.
To be honest, Chen Yun himself was a bit puzzled, "Three Uncle, what are you..."
"Hehe." Three Uncle said with a casual tone, "What Chen Xianzhang said just now, the Red Phoenix Fruit is a source of heaven and earth, and if taken by humans, it can add ten years to their lives. For cultivators, it can save several years of hard cultivation. My Huang family is an ordinary family of ordinary people. If we are known to possess such a precious treasure, we might offend the noble and the powerful. Moreover, there are many great cultivators in the world."
Huang Dalang and Huang Erlang suddenly realized.
Zhang Qian nodded in agreement.
Indeed, if this kind of source of heaven and earth is known to others, either our Huang family will have to give it away honestly, or our whole family will be ruined.
As the saying goes, "having a treasure in one's possession brings disaster." When you don't have the ability to protect your treasure, possessing it is the biggest sin!
Three Uncle continued, "Let me be straightforward. The reason why I want to gift this item to Master Chen is twofold. Firstly, it's a thank you for you removing the ghost from our family, as a form of compensation. Secondly, if this thing is given to you, you might be willing to do me a favor in the future. If my Huang family encounters some great difficulties, I'm sure you won't just stand by. But if I keep it for myself, who knows what might happen? The unknown is too terrifying! I'm not willing to gamble with the lives of a dozen or so members of my family!"
Chen Yun didn't expect Three Uncle to be so wise.
And he also understood that if Three Uncle knew other cultivators with superhuman abilities, this Red Phoenix Fruit might not have ended up with him.
One can only say it's the time and fate.
Although obtaining the Red Phoenix Fruit will create an obligation, Chen Yun urgently needs it.
Hearing that Three Uncle was willing to give him the Red Phoenix Fruit, Chen Yun looked at him with a serious expression and said solemnly, "Since you're willing to give the Red Phoenix Fruit to me, I, Chen Yun, will also lend a hand when your Huang family encounters great difficulties!"
Three Uncle laughed heartily, "Good, good! With these words from Master Chen, I can rest easy!"
He was happy because he had established a relationship with "immortals."
It was not just Three Uncle who felt happy.
Chen Yun was also excited beyond words.
Got it!
I have obtained the main ingredient of the spiritual energy transformation soup, the Red Phoenix Fruit!
