Cultivating Immortality, One Wish a Day - Chapter 8 - Flowing Downstream

“Boom, boom, boom!”

On the Moonlit Lake’s surface, several large boats collided. Subsequently, a group of martial artists from the martial world rushed out from the boats, competing fiercely for an item wrapped in a yellowed animal hide.

“Surround this area!”

“Ready the Skywork Crossbows!”

“Don’t let anyone escape!”

A massive army of tens of thousands swiftly arrived, led by a sharp-eyed commander.

“Splashing sounds…”

A senior old man, stepping on a bamboo pole, shot towards the middle of the lake like an arrow leaving its bowstring.

…

“The Triple Yang Fire Stove is lost again?”

“Not lost, but snatched away by Qian Mian, the Godly Thief. No one expected that Qian Mian, with exceptional lightness skills and excellent swimming ability, would infiltrate the water and escape despite the siege from the innate martial artist Lian Zhijin and the army of the Qingyang Royal Palace.”

“However, Lian Zhijin, being an innate realm martial artist, chased Qian Mian all the way to Black Water City but lost the target.”

“Tsk, tsk, once the Triple Yang Fire Stove is in Qian Mian’s hands, it’s not easy to find. This guy can change his appearance at will, making it challenging to locate him.”

“Who says otherwise?”

“By the way, what about the capture of Fu Qingying, the Empty-handed Mist? Is it true?”

“It’s true, her remains have completely decomposed.”

A few days later, a piece of news spread throughout White Stone City.

Suddenly, many martial artists from the martial world began rushing towards Black Water City. Later, it was even heard that the vast army of the Qingyang Royal Palace had surrounded the entire Black Water City.

…

In Blackwater City, within an ordinary house, a young man with thin lips and a brooding demeanor carefully retrieved a red ancient stove.

This ancient stove wasn’t large, merely a foot in height. Adorning its body was a carving of a three-legged mythical bird with an open beak, seemingly exhaling flames.

After carefully placing the recently pilfered spiritual herbs into the stove’s opening, the young man positioned the ancient stove in the courtyard, basking it in the sunlight.

As the sunlight touched it, the ancient stove instantly emitted a layer of red mist.

“What a valuable treasure!”

The young man’s eyes gleamed. “Fu Qingying, don’t blame me. In this world, one must act for oneself, regardless of heaven’s wrath or earth’s destruction.”

Simultaneously, he took out an old piece of animal hide.

“Shadow-Soaring Steps of Qingying…”

He murmured while looking at the contemplation diagram on the old animal hide. This technique was precisely Fu Qingying’s renowned lightness skill.

Fu Qingying, the Empty-handed Mist, was his good friend. However, after Fu Qingying obtained the Triple Yang Fire Stove, he was the one who leaked her whereabouts.

…

“I wish to obtain the Triple Yang Fire Stove in the shortest time, without any danger!”

Two days later, before going to sleep, Chen Fan once again made his lingering wish. He didn’t know how he would acquire the Triple Yang Fire Stove, but based on the information from his previous wish, it was highly likely that he only needed to wish for five days to obtain it.

Of course, this was just a strong possibility, not a certainty, as the future was always uncertain. The Wish Pearl described future-related information using words like “possible” or “perhaps.”

Yet, this didn’t hinder his slight anticipation.

…

“Brother Chen, come out and help!”

The next day, just after Chen Fan finished cultivating, he heard Wu Yuanjing shouting outside.

“What’s going on?”

Accompanied by a few guards, Chen Fan went outside and saw Wu Yuanjing supporting the pale-faced Lu Tingyi coming towards them from a distance.

Seeing this scene, he rushed over with his entourage.

“It’s the Blood Blade Martial Hall.”

Wu Yuanjing shook his head. Chen Fan immediately understood.

In these recent days, the conflict between the Blood Blade Martial Hall and the major martial halls in White Stone City had intensified. Lu Tingyi’s Iron Body Martial Hall, being the top martial hall in White Stone City, was naturally a prime target for the Blood Blade Martial Hall.

In just a few days, the martial artists from the two major halls had engaged in several battles.

“Zhang Yi, go quickly and fetch a doctor!”

Chen Fan saw blood trickling from Lu Tingyi’s mouth and hurriedly instructed.

“How did this happen…”

At this moment, Lu Tingyi’s family also heard the commotion and rushed out.

…

“Iron Body Martial Hall is finished this time.”

At night, while drinking with Chen Fan, Wu Yuanjing sighed.

Chen Fan also shook his head. He had learned from Wu Yuanjing that not only Lu Tingyi had been severely injured but none of the martial artists in the Iron Body Martial Hall remained unharmed. Even the hall’s master, Wang Zhanquan, might have fallen victim to the attack, as he had not appeared during the Blood Blade Martial Hall’s assault.

“I hope this won’t affect me.”

Chen Fan shook his head. He knew that with the closure of the Iron Body Martial Hall, other martial halls in White Stone City might also face difficulties.

…

“The last day!”

“I wish…”

In the blink of an eye, two more days passed. On this day, as night approached, Chen Fan once again made the same wish as the previous days.

                                           【Two hours later, go to the bank of the Qingyang River in night-walking attire, and you will be able to obtain the Triple Yang Fire Stove without any danger.】

Following the completion of his wish, a message appeared in his mind.

“The bank of the Qingyang River?”

Chen Fan’s eyes brightened. He knew about the Qingyang River, a river that flowed through the entire Qingyang Region, passing through places like White Stone City. It would take him only half an hour to reach the river from his current location.

Thinking about it, he waited until it got darker, then donned a black outfit and climbed over the wall.

In the yard, Zhang Yi and Zhang De, along with others, were unaware of his departure.

…

“It’s finally done!”

Simultaneously, in Blackwater City, Sikong Kai opened the Triple Yang Fire Stove that had been exposed to the sun for three days. Immediately, he saw five white pills emitting a fragrant aroma.

Just by smelling this fragrance, he felt the true energy in his body become more active.

“Let’s test the effect first…”

Sikong Kai took out one of the five pills. He then glanced at the remaining pills, pondered for a moment, and decided not to take them all. Instead, he covered the Triple Yang Fire Stove, retrieved the water-and-fire-resistant ancient animal skin paper, wrapped the stove in it, and hid it in the room.

“Gulu!”

Afterward, he entered the cultivation room, sat cross-legged on the cushion, and tossed the Triple Yang Pill into his mouth.

“Snap! Snap…”

Suddenly, just as Sikong Kai began his cultivation, the Triple Yang Fire Stove, previously hidden by him, popped out from the wrapped ancient animal skin, making a soft clattering sound. However, the sound was so faint that even with Sikong Kai’s strength, he couldn’t hear it.

“Phew!”

After a few bounces, the Triple Yang Fire Stove, accompanied by a gust of wind, forcefully opened the window in Sikong Kai’s room.

“Swoosh!”

Subsequently, with a swift motion, the Triple Yang Fire Stove transformed into a streak of light under the night sky, flying towards the outskirts of the city.

In a short time, it covered a distance of over a thousand meters.

Then, with a splash, it landed in the Qingyang River outside the city, flowing downstream within the protective ancient animal skin.