The ninety-degree cliff was as easy to traverse as flat ground for Li Xun.
This was a basic application of Spiritual Energy. Years ago, Li Xun had already completed training in water-walking and tree-climbing.
Li Xun moved swiftly across the cliff face. As he neared the top, the roar of a waterfall suddenly reached his ears.
His heart stirred, and he felt a surge of strength in his body. Picking up his pace, he leaped forcefully as he approached the summit, flipping onto the top of the cliff.
When he stood atop the cliff, a waterfall about two hundred meters high and twenty meters wide came into view. It was like a staircase connecting heaven and earth, stretching from the valley all the way to the sky.
Gazing at this sight, Li Xun's weary heart felt somewhat soothed.
"Waterfall, pool, and rocks—this must be the place," Li Xun muttered as he scanned the area. When he spotted the rocks opposite the waterfall, he nodded.
A mere rock wall a few dozen meters high couldn't stop Li Xun.
But as he stood on the rocks and looked at the waterfall across from him, he found himself at a loss. He didn't possess Tang Hao's ability to reverse the waterfall's flow, nor did he have Tang San's Flying God Claw.
He could only resort to the most rudimentary method. Li Xun pondered deeply.
Li Xun formed hand seals, and his Soul Power and Spiritual Energy began to circulate. Several saplings sprouted from the rocks, quickly intertwining and extending toward the waterfall.
He planned to build a wooden bridge using plants.
Li Xun's third Spirit Ring was the Azure Vine, known for its ability to extend. As long as he continued to output Soul Power, the plants he nurtured would keep growing outward.
Of course, his current control over this ability was limited, and he couldn't manipulate too many trees at once.
Though Li Xun's idea was sound, the distance between the rocks and the waterfall was too great. While the bridge could reach the waterfall, it lacked support and would easily collapse under the force of the two-hundred-meter-high cascade.
Helpless, Li Xun had to return to the base of the rocks and gradually build support beams.
"Finally done," Li Xun sighed in relief as he looked at the arch-like bridge connecting to the waterfall.
Standing at the front of the bridge, he felt the impact of the waterfall's descent and wiped the water droplets from his face.
He was now at the same height as the rocks. Once he crossed the waterfall, he would reach the cave Tang Hao had found for A Yin.
"The water's too fast. I'll need to use plants to divert the flow and expose the entrance," Li Xun thought. He was currently dozens of meters in the air. If he didn't enter the cave in one go, he risked being swept into the pool below and injured.
His first Spirit Ring lit up, and Energy Seeds transformed into a rain of droplets that shot toward the waterfall.
But the force of the two-hundred-meter waterfall was immense. Before the Soul Power seeds could reach the other side, they were swept into the pool by the rushing water.
"Got it!"
Li Xun raised his left hand, and a Kunai instantly appeared in his grasp.
Gathering some unactivated Life Seeds, Li Xun carefully wrapped them around the Kunai. Finding the right angle, he gently launched it toward the waterfall.
The Kunai, carrying the seeds, shot out from Li Xun's palm in an instant, piercing through the waterfall in the blink of an eye.
Sensing the position of the seeds, Li Xun's heart leaped with joy. He quickly channeled his Spiritual Energy to accelerate their growth.
Suddenly, the waterfall, which had been a continuous white stream, was now adorned with a vibrant green in the middle. As the saplings grew larger, the majestic waterfall seemed to split, cascading down on either side.
Still not entirely confident, Li Xun took the opportunity to nurture a few more saplings beneath the large tree, completely blocking the central flow of water.
Everything was ready.
Li Xun connected the plants on both sides of the waterfall and the rocks, forming a wooden bridge.
He gracefully walked behind the water curtain.
Using a wooden stick, Li Xun gently tapped on the rock wall, carefully discerning the force of the rebound from the stick.
Until he heard an echo and a different rebound force from a certain spot on the wall.
"Found it," Li Xun confirmed again at that spot on the rock wall.
He retracted the wooden stick and pressed it there, and the tightly sealed stone wall actually caved in.
Accompanied by a grinding noise like that of a stone mill, a door slowly opened on the rock wall, revealing a dark cave entrance.
Delighted, Li Xun quickly slipped inside.
The cave passage behind the waterfall was dark and damp. Li Xun took out a gemstone to use as a light source. After walking a few steps, he reached the innermost stone chamber of the cave.
Unlike the passage, the stone chamber was not as dark. There was a small hole above it, letting in a faint glimmer of light. Under this barely noticeable light, a Blue Silver Grass with golden patterns swayed in the breeze.
The Blue Silver Grass seemed to sense the presence of an outsider, its slender leaves trembling.
Tap, tap, tap—
Li Xun slowly walked up to the Blue Silver Grass and crouched down: "Hello, I know you still have consciousness."
The Blue Silver Grass trembled more intensely, and a gentle spiritual force quietly emerged.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you," Li Xun smiled, gently tapping the Blue Silver Grass with his finger: "I just want your Soul Bone."
The Blue Silver Grass suddenly became still, as if it were just an ordinary plant.
Li Xun laughed at the sight. Was it trying to resist to the death? But that was impossible in front of him: "I know your past with Tang Hao, and I also know your son, Tang San."
The Blue Silver Grass remained unmoved, as if these two people had nothing to do with her.
Tap, tap, tap—
Li Xun stood up and casually paced around the stone chamber, lightly tapping the surrounding walls with his fingers. As the tapping sounds echoed throughout the chamber, the Blue Silver Grass trembled incessantly.
"You want to leave the Soul Bone for Tang Hao or Tang San, don't you?"
Li Xun chuckled: "Let me tell you the truth, your son Tang San is already dead. The soul residing in his body now belongs to someone else."
The trembling leaves of the Blue Silver Grass froze, and suddenly, a sharp spiritual wave burst forth.
"You don't believe me?" Li Xun ignored the weak spiritual attack and pulled out a travelogue: "I don't know if you can see, but I'll read it to you."
"It records that the Clear Sky Sect, the Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao, and the Pope of the Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji, fought for three days and three nights. The Spirit Hall suffered heavy losses, with one Titled Douluo dead and another severely injured. The Pope of the Spirit Hall died not long after returning from his severe injuries."
"Do you think Tang Hao, holding a newborn baby and fighting so many experts single-handedly for three days and three nights, could have survived?"
The spiritual energy around the Blue Silver Grass slowly contracted, as if it was deep in thought.
Thud—
Li Xun's fingers tapped the wall, producing a different sound. Without hesitation, he slapped the wall with his palm, and with a clink, a black box fell from above.
Li Xun quickly caught it with his hand.
The box was made of lead, entirely black, one foot wide and about five feet long, and felt very heavy when held. The lead box was not locked, and Li Xun carefully opened it. Inside, he saw a right leg Soul Bone.
Li Xun had seen Soul Bones before, but none of them, whether in appearance or the fluctuations of Soul Power, could compare to this one.
This right leg bone was a translucent blue-gold color, with what seemed like twinkling starlight shimmering within. The most peculiar thing was that this leg bone also contained a vast amount of vitality.
Li Xun slowly closed the box lid and stored it in his Soul Guiding Device.
He needed to find a safe place to absorb it.
The energy of this Soul Bone was too powerful. Tang San had taken three days to absorb it, and Li Xun, being at a lower level, didn't know how long it would take him.
If Tang Hao suddenly returned while he was in the process of absorbing it...
Wouldn't that be like getting caught in the act?
"Still haven't figured it out?" Having obtained the Soul Bone, Li Xun was in high spirits. "Let me give you
another piece of information for free."
"Your fake son Tang San's current girlfriend is also a 100,000 Year Soul Beast."
(End of Chapter)