Chương 65: The Third Cave

The three generations of the Zhang family stared at one another in stunned silence. None of them had expected the final scroll to reveal an entirely new map. The scene depicted on it was hazy, yet the surrounding mountain peaks stood out with striking clarity. It wasn't much different from the very first map except that these peaks were darker, the terrain more three dimensional, more prominent.

If Zhang Huaijin's guess was correct, the cultivation cave shown on this map was also located somewhere within the Purple Dusk Mountain Range. As for exactly where, the Zhang family would have to search carefully.

"Huaijin, Lixian," Zhang Chongwen said, his expression growing grave without him realizing it.

"What do you make of this?"

"This doesn't feel right," Zhang Lixian replied, a sense of unease settling into his bones. It felt like a trap. Or a treasure map. Something designed to lure you in, step by step. What was the original owner of these caves trying to accomplish? Were they still alive… or long dead?

"Exactly," Zhang Huaijin said, his voice low and serious.

"Like grandfather said, when the first cave abode was opened hundreds of people died just getting in.

"But when I entered the second cave, it was almost effortless.

"Now I'm certain, the owner of these caves was at the very least a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator.

"Each cave contains a map to the next one. It's meant to draw us in, one step at a time." No one knew how many caves the owner had left behind. What was their true purpose?

"I can only think of two possibilities," Zhang Lixian said, turning his gaze toward Huaijin.

"First, the owner has already passed away. They left these caves behind to choose an heir, to pass on their legacy."

"Second, they're trying to achieve some specific goal, using resources as bait to lure us forward, step by step and I think the second possibility is far more likely." Zhang Chongwen and Zhang Huaijin both nodded. Lixian's reasoning was sound.

"So," Huaijin asked, "do you think the cave's owner is still alive?"

"No one can say for certain," Lixian replied.

"The world of cultivation is filled with hidden monsters. You never know who or what might still be out there." Huaijin picked up the scroll in her hand.

"Then what about this map…"

"That's for you to decide," Zhang Lixian said.

"We've laid out the pros and cons clearly. The family will also conduct its own investigation. But our family has already gained tremendous benefits from all of this. The choice is yours alone." He took a deep breath. A smile touched Zhang Huaijin's lips. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"Father, Grandfather, from the moment this map was unsealed, our choice was already made," he said.

"You could even say that our family established itself in Langya County because of this very cultivation cave. I am the strongest in the clan. I will take this map." He paused, then added, "We've reaped immense rewards from the first two caves abodes. If we find the location of the third, I will definitely go and explore it.

"Regardless of whether the cave's owner is dead or alive, they've dissected human nature perfectly.

"Any cultivator who holds this map will go looking. Riches are found in danger. Even knowing the risks ahead, there will always be those who rush in, chasing that sliver of opportunity." His voice was calm and accepting.

"Let's wait until we actually find the cave's location," Zhang Lixian said, choosing his words carefully.

"By then, our family's strength will have grown. We'll be able to send more people." Huaijin was right. The Zhang family's ability to establish itself and achieve lasting prosperity was inextricably tied to this cultivation cave.

"Alright," Zhang Chongwen said.

"I'm going to study the wine recipe. Lixian, take one thousand spirit stones from the family treasury and visit the Gao family. Ask them to help us repair our formation." Zhang Lixian nodded.

"I'll go at once." Typically, a tier 2, low grade defensive array formation cost around five hundred spirit stones, at most a thousand. A tier 2, mid grade array formation ran about fifteen hundred spirit stones. Beyond the materials needed for the repair, Zhang Lixian would also have to pay the Gao family a fee for their services. All told, the total would come out roughly the same as buying a new tier 2, low grade formation.

But with the spirit beast tide looming, array formation masters were incredibly rare in Langya County. Every formation was in high demand and short supply. Now, the Zhang family possessed a damaged tier 2, mid grade array formation. Once repaired, it would be more than enough to make Green Bamboo Mountain as secure as iron. Zhang Chongwen departed to study the wine recipe. Zhang Lixian took the spirit stones and the damaged formation and headed for the Gao family.

Originally, Langya County had three Foundation Establishment Realm clans. The Gao family specialized in array formation crafting. The Tian family specialized in artifact forging. And the Yan family specialized in talisman drawing. Of course, each clan dabbled in other immortal crafts as well. But these three specialties were their mainstays, dominating over eighty percent of the market in Langya County.

Add to that the spirit fields each clan controlled and the annual taxes collected from the county town and the three clans were living very comfortably indeed. Once a family established itself at the Foundation Establishment Realm, it could gather enough resources in just over a decade to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill. The more Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators a clan had, the stronger it grew. It was a virtuous cycle.

When a Foundation Establishment Realm clan reached its peak and could rise no further, it would begin strategizing for the Purple Mansion Realm. It had been nearly five years since the Zhang family had risen to become a Foundation Establishment Realm clan. Logically, the Zhang family was entitled to a share of Langya County town's tax revenue. But since they hadn't asked for it, the three great clans weren't about to foolishly give up that slice of the pie.

With only one Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, for the Zhang family to claim its share of the town's interests, they would need to station a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in the town seat. But if Zhang Lixian left… What would happen to Green Bamboo Mountain? To claim a share of Langya County town's interests, the Zhang family needed at least two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

Although they had not yet held the formal foundation establishment ceremony, news of Zhang Huaijin's breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm had already leaked out. The three clans had no idea when the Zhang family would make their move. Even though they were reluctant to give up that slice of revenue, having one more Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in the county would at least lighten everyone's burden of defense.

The two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of the Tian family, in particular, felt incredibly complicated emotions. Tian Jianwei was deeply uncomfortable. In less than ten short years, that former Qi Refining Realm family had soared on a wave of fortune and become a Foundation Establishment Realm clan. And now it boasted two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Even if they were both only at the first level they were still Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators!

They could stand on equal footing with the Tian family. This was an extreme imbalance in Tian Jianwei's heart. He had once seen the old Zhang family as mere ants that he paid no attention to. But now, the Zhang family was like a thorn lodged in his side. Whenever he heard news of them, he was reminded of the tragic death of Tian Jianjin. If Tian Jianjin hadn't fallen in battle, he would have likely broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm by now as well.