After hearing Shangguan Ruolin's story, a bad premonition grew within Shu Han's heart. He couldn't help but ask, "Why did you abandon Shangguan Ruotong back then? What exactly did Senior Shangguan Ruoyu tell you privately? And what's the deal with Great Fortune Sect?"

Grasping Shu Han's hand, Shangguan Ruolin said, "Didn't we agree before? If I don't tell you..."

Shu Han sighed and interrupted, "I won't ask."

Satisfied, Shangguan Ruolin nestled into Shu Han's embrace, "If we manage to secure the Heavenly Creation Fluid and escape the Immaculate Realm successfully, I'll tell you everything then. Just be patient."

"Alright."

In the cave, Shu Han focused entirely on dispelling the coldness from Shangguan Ruolin. After a full day and night, he had almost entirely absorbed the cold energy within her.

Just as Shu Han was preparing to exert more power for the final push, four powerful presences suddenly swept by outside the cave. He quickly held his breath, sensing that the techniques of these four seemed familiar, much like the elders from Green Thunder Sect who pursued them previously!

Cautiously peering out of the cave with Shangguan Ruolin, Shu Han saw the colorful glows of the Immaculate Sacred Mountain approaching its peak, signaling the imminent emergence of the Heavenly Creation Fluid.

According to the information left by the Daoist Xiao from the Golden Silkworm Association and Che Hanyan, once the colorful glow completely recedes, the Heavenly Creation Fluid would surge from the mountain's peak.

However, to contest for the Heavenly Creation Fluid, one must traverse the chaotic whirlwind stationed at the mountain's peak. This whirlwind is immensely powerful; only cultivators of profound strength can break through.

Shangguan Ruolin commented, "The chaotic whirlwind is not easy to deal with. Chaos is the origin of everything, the root of the five elements, and has no known counter. To pass through, one can only rely on sheer strength without any shortcuts. But Shu Han, you possess the rare five-element root. Facing the chaotic whirlwind, you should have a slightly easier time compared to ordinary cultivators."

Shu Han remarked, "The chaotic whirlwind might not be our main concern, but what about after we get through it? At that time, all the major sects' late Foundation Establishment cultivators will converge at the peak. Trying to snatch the Heavenly Creation Fluid from them will be challenging! It seems that the Green Thunder Sect always gets the most of it, probably because they send the most cultivators, and they also have the highest number of individuals who manage to cross the whirlwind."

Shu Han took Shangguan Ruolin's hand, chasing in the direction of the four Green Thunder Sect cultivators.

"If we are to become adversaries eventually, we might as well follow them now and see what these Green Thunder Sect cultivators are up to. I feel their goals go beyond just the Heavenly Creation Fluid, or else they wouldn't have teamed up with the Devil Music Sect."

"Hmm, be careful, don't let them notice us."

Shu Han nodded, using the Heaven-Earth Transformation technique to conceal their tracks and the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye technique for pursuit. They soon caught up with the group. The radiant glow on the mountain's peak hadn't dissipated yet. These cultivators weren't aiming for the peak but a dark pond halfway up the mountain.

...

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Elsewhere, Shangguan Ruotong, accompanied by Shu Han's avatar, saw a communication talisman from the Golden Silkworm Association at the mountain's waist. She took the talisman and frowned, "These Golden Silkworm Association people are so useless!"

She then moved with Shu Han's avatar towards the mountain's waist, thankfully not in Shu Han's actual direction.

Shu Han couldn't help but say, "Running around like this, what if Linlin wants to rescue me and can't find our location?"

Shangguan Ruotong coldly responded, "If my sister wants to find me, she'll find a way."

Shu Han teased, "Just like when you played hide and seek as kids. She always quickly found you, while you struggled to find her. Perhaps you deliberately hid poorly, wanting her to find you quicker..."

Shangguan Ruotong's brows furrowed, she asked angrily, "How do you know about that?"

"Haha, as I've said, I'm practically your brother-in-law. How would I not know? I've heard Linlin talk about the many silly things you did when you were little, like... mmm... mmm..."

Shangguan Ruotong waved her hand, and a spell silenced Shu Han. She stated coldly, "You talk too much! Those things were done when my consciousness was not yet awakened. That's not who I am now!"

Soon, Shangguan Ruolin and Shu Han reached the mountain's waist. Floating above, Shu Han spotted a massive, broken alchemy furnace half-buried in the Sacred Mountain. The entire furnace was pitch black, occasionally emitting dark flames from its top. The sight kept the gathered people from recklessly approaching.

At this moment, three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Golden Silkworm Association were at an impasse with another three late-stage cultivators. Judging by their attire, they were disciples of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.

The Fiery Cloud Instant Sect was also one of the six orthodox sects in the north of Great Cloud. This sect was proficient in fire-related techniques. Shu Han had heard that the sect's leader was of a pure fire spiritual root, a top-tier talent. In terms of potential reached to the Nascent Soul stage in the north of Great Cloud, he was ranked second!

Seeing Shangguan Ruotong arrive, the members of the Golden Silkworm Association were overjoyed. The three cultivators, two males and one female, hurriedly greeted her.

"Junior Qiu Pengxing, greeting Senior Shangguan."

"Junior Song Zhengchu…"

"Junior Qu Wenyao…"

Shangguan Ruotong nodded and inquired, "Why have you summoned me here?"

Qu Wenyao pointed at the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect cultivators and angrily said, "Senior, we of the Golden Silkworm Association were the first to occupy this Burial Furnace Slope and had set up a valuable formation to draw out the Black Abyssal Fire. But these Fiery Cloud Instant Sect people came and claimed that the flame was fated to be with them and told us to leave immediately or face consequences. How unreasonable!"

Shu Han chuckled from the side. Claiming fate upon arrival? Such behavior was typical of the Green Stone Gathering.

One of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect cultivators laughed, "This Black Abyssal Fire is one of the heavenly flames. All such flames in the world are destined for our Fiery Cloud Instant Sect. We have every right to ask you to leave."

He then glanced at Shangguan Ruotong and Shu Han, scoffing, "I thought someone formidable was coming, but it's just a weak woman with a mid-stage male cultivator. If the Golden Silkworm Association has any objections, come and let our strength do the talking!"

Shu Han thought: Oh, brother, dying young like this is truly a pity.

Shangguan Ruotong acted swiftly, releasing a flurry of Phoenix Feather Falling Flower Needles. The arrogant male was struck repeatedly, blood spraying from countless tiny holes, dying a gruesome death.

The remaining two Fiery Cloud Instant Sect cultivators were terrified and quickly knelt, begging for mercy.

With a cold face, Shangguan Ruo Tong ordered, "Leave, and don't let me see you in this realm again."

"Yes! Yes!"

Shangguan Ruotong's instantaneous kill of the unprepared Foundation Establishment cultivator deeply shocked the other two, and they swiftly transformed into streams of firelight, fleeing the Sacred Mountain in haste.

Shu Han mentally cheered: Awesome! That's two fewer competitors for the Heavenly Creation Fluid!

Shangguan Ruotong sat cross-legged on a stone, meditating to restore her energy.

The three from the Golden Silkworm Association were ecstatic. With a cultivator like Shangguan Ruotong guarding them, who would dare to approach the Burial Furnace Slope? They promptly directed their Qi Refining disciples to form a formation, trying to draw out the Black Abyssal Fire from inside the dark furnace.

Shu Han observed the swirling Black Abyssal Fire inside the furnace, feeling an itch in his heart. This was the heavenly flame he had always dreamt of!

With a heavenly flame, the success rate of alchemy and artifact refining would double, bringing an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. It was a divine treasure that every alchemist and craftsman longed for!