Proving Immortality Starting with Hextech Runes

Chapter 219 Lin Miaoyin's Trouble

Chen Xu's fingertips gently traced the surface of the key, and the dark golden halo seemed to flow slightly as if it were alive, emitting a strange fluctuation.

The spiritual energy within his body was uncontrollably devoured by the key.

A dark golden aura flowed like a living thing, and a cold, heavy "source energy" surged upwards, rushing straight into his sea of ​​consciousness, bringing a tearing pain. He groaned.

The connection was forcibly severed, leaving me drenched in cold sweat.

He quickly sealed the key into a jade box with layers of restrictions, isolating it from the heart-pounding fluctuations.

This item is of little use to me at the moment, so there's no rush to study it.

Inside Xuanjizi's storage ring, 100,000 top-grade spirit stones and spirit herbs were piled up like a mountain.

But the most precious item is the jade slip that records part of the "Twelve Capital Heaven Blood Fiend Sealing Demon Array" diagram and the characteristics of the Blood Demon.

After a quick glance, Chen Xu's expression turned grave. The seal was about to collapse, and once the Blood Demon was freed, this world might become a hellish realm.

Just then, the restrictions outside the cave were gently touched.

"Hmm?" Chen Xu frowned slightly and instantly scanned out with his divine sense.

Outside the cave, a woman dressed in simple palace attire, with a gentle demeanor but a hint of weariness, stood quietly. She was Lin Miaoyin, the manager of the Huanyin Chamber of Commerce.

Her breathing was much calmer than before, clearly indicating that her injuries had healed, but a layer of unresolved worry lingered between her brows.

"Why is she here? I didn't see her in the Xuanqiong Netherworld before..." Chen Xu wondered, then waved his hand to remove part of the outer layer of restrictions, his calm voice reaching the other party's ears:

"Manager Lin, please come in."

The barrier rippled outwards like water, revealing Lin Miaoyin's gentle figure.

She entered the cave and bowed gracefully to Chen Xuying, who was sitting cross-legged on a futon. Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible weariness:

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I apologize for disturbing you, but Miaoyin has no other choice."

Chen Xu calmly glanced at her, then gestured for her to sit down: "Manager Lin, there's no need for such formality. Judging from your complexion, your injuries seem to be minor, but you appear to be preoccupied?"

"Could it be that Xuan Sha Island is causing you trouble again?"

Lin Miaoyin sat down on the guest cushion, gave a wry smile upon hearing this, and shook her head:

"Although Xuan Sha Island is like a maggot clinging to a bone, they have not yet found my whereabouts."

"I have come here not because of old grudges, but... for the Illusionary Sound Merchant Guild, and also for my master."

"The Illusionary Sound Merchant Guild? Your master?" Chen Xu raised an eyebrow slightly, this was unexpected.

In his memory, the Huanyin Chamber of Commerce had a deep foundation, and Lin Miaoyin's master was even more mysterious, with unfathomable cultivation, at least at the Nascent Soul level. The matter that could cause both master and disciple to worry at the same time was definitely not ordinary.

"Exactly." Lin Miaoyin took a deep breath, her eyes filled with even more worry. "Fellow Daoist Xu, do you know that the foundation of my Illusionary Sound Merchant Guild, besides its smooth trade routes, also lies in the Dao of 'sound'?"

Chen Xu nodded: "I've heard a little about it. Your esteemed merchant guild uses music as a path to enlightenment, and its techniques and magical treasures are all related to music, making it unique."

"That's right." Lin Miaoyin nodded: "The headquarters of my Illusionary Sound Sect is located on Tianyin Island in the sea near Meteor City."

"There is a naturally formed grotto on the island, a rare place where the laws of sound converge."

"It is also the place where our Chamber of Commerce's core heritage, the Tianyin Jiu Shao Pu, is passed down, and it is also the place where our master spends his years in seclusion and cultivation."

She paused, her tone becoming heavy: "However, just half a month ago, something happened on Tianyin Island..."

"Oh? What is it?" Chen Xu's expression also turned serious. Since it involved the core of the inheritance and the secluded cultivation grounds of Nascent Soul cultivators, it must be a momentous event.

"Deep within the Myriad Sounds Cave, the Boundary-Stabilizing Heavenly Sound Stone that maintains the cave's stability... has developed a crack at its core!"

Lin Miaoyin's voice trembled slightly: "This stone is a rare treasure of heaven and earth, containing a trace of the original laws of music, and is the foundation of the existence of the Myriad Sounds Cave Heaven."

"Once it completely collapses and the grotto-heaven crumbles, not only will the Heavenly Sound Nine Melodies Scripture be damaged, but Master's seclusion will also be interrupted, and he may even suffer severe backlash from the laws!"

Chen Xu understood that if the boundary-fixing object developed a crack, the consequences would indeed be unimaginable.

This is especially devastating for sound cultivators who rely on specific environments for practice.

"Why did Fellow Daoist Lin come to me about this? I am just a Core Formation cultivator..." Chen Xu said, somewhat puzzled.

He had a vague feeling that Lin Miaoyin's visit to him was not simply to deliver bad news.

Lin Miaoyin took a sip of the spiritual tea, put down the teacup, and unconsciously ran her fingertips along the smooth rim of the cup.

She raised her head, her voice a few decibels lower than before:

"Fellow Daoist Xu is too modest."

"If we were just ordinary fellow cultivators at the Core Formation stage, Miaoyin would naturally not dare to disturb you. But fellow cultivator, it's different."

She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully: "Fellow Daoist, you appear to be low-key in Meteor City, but in reality, you are quite formidable."

"Putting everything else aside, the fact that he was able to help me remove the Blood Fiend Inducing Force from Xuan Sha Island, and that he even gave up the treasure of flesh and blood puppets, shows that his methods and courage far surpass those of ordinary Core Formation cultivators."

"Although Miaoyin is not very talented, she has been in the Chamber of Commerce for many years and believes she has some discernment."

Chen Xu remained expressionless, simply listening quietly and waiting for what was to come.

Lin Miaoyin took a deep breath and carefully took out a jade box about a foot long from her storage ring.

The entire jade box is carved from fine jade, and its surface is covered with restrictive runes.

The moment the jade box appeared, the air in the entire quiet room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Even through such a powerful barrier, Chen Xu could still faintly sense the fierce aura emanating from the object inside the box, indicating it was definitely not a benevolent thing.

"This item is called the 'Nine Abyss Soul-Suppressing Plate'."

Lin Miaoyin's voice rang out again: "It was found by our Chamber of Commerce at great cost from an extremely dangerous ancient battlefield ruin."

"It is said to be one of the core arrays used by a major sect in ancient times to suppress the evil eyes of the earth veins or powerful evil spirits."

"This plate is made of extraordinary materials and contains profound secrets. It may even contain ancient array techniques or the essence of earth vein energy."

"If we can open it, we can resolve this crisis, and it will be a tremendous opportunity for my Huanyin Chamber of Commerce and even for me personally."

"However, the problem lies in turning it on." Lin Miaoyin changed the subject, her face revealing deep helplessness and a hint of barely perceptible bitterness:

"This plate is protected by an ancient and mysterious restriction. Only cultivators at the Core Formation stage or below can attempt to open it."

"If one's cultivation level is at the Nascent Soul stage or above, their spiritual power will trigger a backlash from the restrictions, resulting in severe injury at best, and... complete annihilation of the soul at worst."

She looked up, her gaze earnestly meeting Chen Xu's:

"Fellow Daoist Xu possesses extraordinary strength, a profound foundation, and methods that Miao Yin has never seen before."

"Miaoyin searched everywhere, inside and outside the Chamber of Commerce, but no one could break the seal."

"After much thought, I believe only you, fellow Daoist, possess this ability. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of coming here to earnestly request your assistance!"

A brief silence fell over the cave, with only the steaming heat of the spiritual tea drifting silently through the air.

Chen Xu's gaze slowly shifted from Lin Miaoyin's gentle face, which was filled with worry, to the small jade box about a foot long in her hand.

"Only those at the Core Formation stage or below..." Chen Xu repeated in a low voice, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the edge of the futon.

The restriction itself has an eerie feel to it, as if the person who set the restriction is deliberately filtering something.

"Manager Lin," Chen Xu began slowly, his voice now tinged with caution.

"This object exudes such a malevolent aura; how did your Illusionary Sound Merchant Guild determine that it could resolve the crisis posed by the Boundary-Stabilizing Heavenly Sound Stone?"

"Once it's activated, how can we ensure it won't unleash a calamity even more devastating than the collapse of the grotto-heaven?"

Lin Miaoyin was clearly prepared. She took a deep breath and explained, "Fellow Daoist Xu's doubts are very valid."

"The origin of this plate has been repeatedly examined by many elders of the Chamber of Commerce. Although it contains a fierce aura, what is faintly revealed at its core is an extremely pure and powerful energy."

"The elders in the Chamber of Commerce who are experts in ancient array formations speculate that this plate should be one of the core array artifacts used by ancient major sects to suppress underground evil eyes or powerful evil spirits."

"Its ferocious appearance likely stems from the lingering resentment of the objects it suppresses, or the battlefield aura it has absorbed over the long years."

"If we can successfully open it and purify this layer of malevolence, the enormous energy contained within will be the perfect material to repair the Boundary-Stabilizing Heavenly Sound Stone."

"It might even... allow us to obtain some of the lost ancient array techniques."

She paused, then her tone became even more earnest: "As for the risks, Miaoyin would not dare to deceive you, fellow Daoist."

"The process of opening it will definitely be extremely dangerous. The ancient restrictions are unpredictable and the slightest carelessness will trigger a backlash of evil energy. But the Chamber of Commerce is not unprepared."

As she spoke, she took out three more items from her storage ring.

The first item is a jade pendant that is entirely emerald green and exudes a rich vitality, shaped like a curled banana leaf.

"This is the Azure Guardian Pendant, crafted from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade marrow. When infused with spiritual power, it forms a barrier to protect the soul, effectively resisting mental impacts and some of the erosion from malevolent energy."

The second item was a small bottle of liquid that shimmered with a star-like glow.

"This is the Soul Cleansing Dew, which is made by collecting starlight, moonlight and the heart of the Pure Lotus. It can cleanse the mind and purify the negative energy and evil spirits that invade the sea of ​​consciousness."

The third item was a palm-sized, dark black shield with a bronze glow flowing around its edges, shaped like a tortoise shell.

The moment the round shield appeared, it brought a sense of weight and solidity, as if it contained a small piece of the earth in the palm of one's hand.

The shield surface is covered with fine and mysterious natural patterns, which subtly form a kind of defensive Daoist charm.

"This is the Xuan Turtle Mountain-Suppressing Armor. It was not forged, but rather taken from the shell of a Xuan Turtle in the Nascent Soul stage whose lifespan was about to end, and refined with the essence of star gold and earth."

"Its defensive capabilities cannot be broken by any attack except by a Nascent Soul cultivator with all their might."

"It is particularly adept at resisting physical impacts, spatial tearing, and the erosion of the earth's ley lines."

"After infusing spiritual power, a Xuan Turtle Mountain-Suppressing Domain can be formed around the body, greatly enhancing defensive power in a short period of time. It is an excellent item to counter the fierce impact and spatial tremors that the Nine Abyss Soul-Suppressing Disc may unleash."

Three treasures floated in front of Lin Miaoyin, whose gaze met Chen Xu's deep eyes:

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I, Miaoyin, am willing to bestow upon you all three of these supreme protective treasures."

"During the activation of the Soul-Suppressing Plate, the Chamber of Commerce will also set up a simplified version of the Nine-Tone Demon-Suppressing Array outside the cave to protect you, fellow cultivator."

"If you successfully activate the Soul-Suppressing Disc, the Illusionary Sound Merchant Guild will offer you a generous reward. Furthermore, I, Lin Miaoyin, personally owe you a tremendous favor. In the future, if you ever need anything, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"

"If you successfully activate the Soul-Suppressing Disc, the Illusionary Sound Merchant Guild will offer you a generous reward. Furthermore, I, Lin Miaoyin, personally owe you a tremendous favor. In the future, if you ever need anything, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"

Silence fell once more in the cave, and Chen Xu's gaze slowly shifted between the three treasures and the jade box.

He wasn't unmoved; any one of these three treasures was a life-saving trump card that Core Formation cultivators dreamed of.

Especially the Xuan Turtle Mountain-Suppressing Armor, its value is immeasurable.

The promises of the Huanyin Chamber of Commerce and the favors of Lin Miaoyin both carry significant weight in the Meteor Sea.

After some thought, Chen Xu said calmly, "Manager Lin is very sincere; these three treasures are indeed tempting."

"However," Chen Xu changed the subject, his tone carrying an undeniable caution:

"This creature is exceptionally ferocious, and the risks are far beyond imagination. I need absolute focus and quiet."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the three treasures and the jade box:

"Therefore, I, Xu, can agree to give it a try, but Steward Lin must leave these three protective treasures and the Nine Abyss Soul-Suppressing Plate here."

"After setting up the simplified version of the Nine-Tone Demon-Suppressing Array outside the cave, you must not spy on or interfere with the activities inside the cave in any way."

"Once I am successfully released from quarantine, I will notify Manager Lin, and we will discuss the follow-up matters then."

Upon hearing this, Lin Miaoyin frowned slightly.

Chen Xu's demands were somewhat harsh, completely isolating her from observation and possible support.

This means she has completely handed over the initiative to Chen Xu; whether she succeeds or fails is entirely up to fate.

After a moment's hesitation, Lin Miaoyin took a deep breath, her doubt turning into decisiveness: "Alright! We'll do as Fellow Daoist Xu says! Miaoyin trusts you!"

Without saying another word, she decisively pushed the Azure Guardian Pendant, the Soul Cleansing Dew, the Mysterious Tortoise Mountain Suppressing Armor, and the Mind-Concentrating Warm Jade Box that sealed the Nine Abyss Soul Suppressing Plate in front of Chen Xu.

"Please make good use of these three protective items, fellow Daoist."

"The great formation outside the cave will be set up immediately by Miaoyin. During the setup and after its completion, she will not disturb you in the slightest."

"I'm entrusting everything to you!" Lin Miaoyin bowed solemnly again, her eyes filled with deep hope and entrustment.

"Don't worry, Manager Lin, I will do my best." Chen Xu nodded slightly.

Watching Lin Miaoyin turn and leave the cave, Chen Xu waved his hand and activated the restriction to its strongest state again. Layers upon layers of spiritual light completely sealed the cave, isolating it from the outside world.

He was the only one left in the cave.

He did not immediately touch the jade box, but instead sat cross-legged and sent out another one-time clone.

The clone walked to the jade box in one go, its expression unchanged.

The three protective items given to them by Lin Miaoyin have now been enhanced in quality under the effect of the [Dual Purpose] Hextech Rune.

Unraveling the Nine Abyss Soul-Suppressing Plate myself should be a sure thing.

Without hesitation, Chen Xu waved his left hand, and the Azure Guardian Pendant automatically flew to his brow. A layer of solid, jade-like protective light instantly enveloped his sea of ​​consciousness, its cool and aloof aura penetrating deep into his soul.

His right hand gripped the Xuan Turtle Mountain-Suppressing Armor, and he poured in pure spiritual power. A layer of phantom tortoise shell, like the most solid fortress, protected his entire body.

As for the drop of Soul Cleansing Dew, Chen Xu put it back into his storage space.

After doing all this, Chen Xu turned his gaze back to the Nine Abyss Soul-Suppressing Plate.

His expression was calm as he formed hand seals, and streams of exquisite spiritual light, capable of breaking through barriers, landed on the runic restrictions on the surface of the jade box...