I cultivate the Chaos Technique

Chapter 176 Returning to the Pill Sect

Filled with a bountiful harvest, Zhang Yifan, accompanied by the black dragon, resolutely stepped towards the stone gate. He raised his hand and gently stroked the stone gate, his spiritual power slowly flowing into his fingertips. In an instant, the runes on the stone gate shone brightly, and multicolored rays of light surged out like a torrent, as if bidding him a final farewell.

As the light faded, the stone door slowly opened, revealing the scene outside the cave. The cave was a mess; rocks were broken, and the ground was riddled with ravines of varying depths, clearly indicating a fierce battle had taken place. The white-haired old man sat cross-legged on the ground, emanating a faint light, maintaining a spiritual energy barrier to resist the black-robed mystery man's frenzied attacks.

The mysterious man in black robes had gone mad. His robes were tattered, and strange runes flickered on his face. He swung his black scythe wildly, each strike carrying an aura of destruction, yet he could not break through the old man's defenses.

Seeing this, Zhang Yifan's heart tightened, and he immediately realized that time was of the essence. He whispered to the black dragon, "Prepare for battle!" The black dragon understood, raised its head and let out a deafening roar, its massive body instantly soaring into the air and lunging towards the mysterious man in black robes.

Zhang Yifan was equally unyielding. His nine nascent souls circulated rapidly within him, and spiritual energy surged like a tidal wave, converging on his longsword. He unleashed the Thunderous Sky-Splitting Sword's strongest move, "Thunderous Might." Dark clouds filled the cave, and countless bolts of lightning, like dragons emerging from the sea, roared down from the clouds, striking directly at the mysterious man in black robes.

Sensing a deadly threat, the mysterious man in black robes paled, but it was too late to dodge. The black dragon's giant claws reached for him first, and he hurriedly swung his scythe to defend himself. Just then, Zhang Yifan's lightning struck. With a deafening roar, the powerful impact sent the mysterious man in black robes flying, crashing heavily into the cave wall. The wall instantly collapsed, burying him inside.

Zhang Yifan and the Black Dragon remained vigilant, slowly approaching to prevent the mysterious man in black robes from struggling in his death throes. Only after a long while, confirming that the mysterious man in black robes was lifeless, did they breathe a sigh of relief.

Zhang Yifan walked up to the old man and knelt down respectfully: "Senior, thanks to your protection and assistance, I was able to return safely." The old man slowly opened his eyes, a gratified smile on his face: "Child, you have gained something, and your breakthrough in cultivation is the best reward. Now that the crisis is over, you may go."

Zhang Yifan stood up, bowed deeply to the old man again, and then, with the black dragon, hurried towards the Lingdan Sect. Along the way, he was extremely anxious, his mind constantly filled with images of Sect Leader Xuan Qingzi and the Lingdan Sect disciples in battle.

When Zhang Yifan returned to Lingdan Sect, the scene before him filled him with anguish. The once magnificent and vibrant valley now resembled a desolate ruin. At the valley entrance, the towering, ornately decorated mountain gate had collapsed, massive stones scattered everywhere, and the broken plaque bearing the three characters "Lingdan Sect" was half-buried in dust, appearing utterly desolate.

Walking along the once flat and tidy road, almost all the buildings on both sides have been reduced to ashes. The pharmacy that once displayed all kinds of rare medicines is now just a few crumbling walls. The medicine cabinets have been smashed to pieces, and the precious medicinal materials are scattered all over the ground, trampled beyond recognition. The air is filled with a pungent smell of rotting herbs.

The alchemy workshop not far away was in even worse shape. The once tall and sturdy building, shimmering with runes, now had a collapsed roof and walls riddled with holes. Huge alchemy furnaces lay scattered on the ground, some broken, revealing charred remains inside. The once blazing alchemical fires had long since died out, leaving only cold and deathly silence.

Looking at the disciples' dwellings, most of them had collapsed, with broken timbers and shattered tiles revealing messy beds and scattered clothing. In some places, raging fires had even burned everything to ashes, leaving only a dark, desolate landscape.

Zhang Yifan's gaze swept across the ruins, seeing many familiar corners now unrecognizable. Once, he had sought instruction in alchemy from the disciples in the sect's garden; that once vibrant garden was now withered, branches broken, and the ground riddled with craters from magical attacks. The sect's martial arts arena, where disciples once honed their skills amidst laughter and joy, was now filled with deep trenches and gaping pits, clearly bombarded by powerful magic.

In the ruins, the wounded disciples lay scattered on the ground, some groaning in pain, others unconscious. The surviving disciples were pale, their eyes filled with fear and despair. They struggled through the ruins, trying to find other survivors or salvage any items that might still be of value.

Zhang Yifan immediately took action, and the rare herbs he brought back from the Stone Gate played a crucial role. He personally treated the wounded disciples, using the medical skills he had learned from the ancient books within the Stone Gate, combined with the herbs, to bring many seriously injured disciples back from the brink of death.

Later, Zhang Yifan found Sect Leader Xuan Qingzi amidst the ruins. Xuan Qingzi was severely injured and barely breathing. Upon seeing Zhang Yifan's return, a flicker of joy flashed in his eyes: "Xiao Fan, you... you're back. The pills..."

Zhang Yifan quickly took out the sealed ninth-grade pill from his pocket and handed it to Xuan Qingzi: "Sect Leader, the pill is still here, don't worry." Xuan Qingzi took the pill, a relieved smile on his face, and slowly closed his eyes.

Zhang Yifan's heart tightened, fearing that Xuan Qingzi had met with misfortune. Fortunately, after a short while, Xuan Qingzi's breathing gradually stabilized; he had only fallen into a coma due to the severity of his injuries. Zhang Yifan breathed a sigh of relief, settled Xuan Qingzi in a safe place, and continued to lead his disciples in rebuilding the sect.

In the days that followed, Zhang Yifan, drawing upon the knowledge and experience he had gained within the Stone Gate, led the Lingdan Sect disciples in clearing the ruins, repairing the defensive formations, and replanting rare herbs. The Black Dragon also played a crucial role, using its immense power to move boulders and aid in the reconstruction of the sect's buildings.

Zhang Yifan also shared the knowledge from the ancient books and jade slips he brought back from the stone gate with everyone, teaching new cultivation techniques, explaining alchemy skills, and guiding the arrangement of formations. He personally participated in every aspect of the reconstruction work, always taking the lead, whether it was moving heavy stones or drawing complex rune arrays.

While repairing the defensive formation, Zhang Yifan, based on ancient records and considering the terrain and spiritual energy flow of the Lingdan Sect, improved and upgraded the original formation. He and his disciples spent considerable time and effort arranging spirit crystals and inscribing runes on the surrounding mountains. After numerous trials and adjustments, the new defensive formation was finally completed, its power several times greater than the previous one.

Replanting rare herbs was no easy task. Many herb seeds were destroyed in the battle, forcing Zhang Yifan and his disciples to search far and wide for new ones. They ventured deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains, braving the danger of another attack by demonic beasts, to find seeds for herbs that grew in treacherous terrain. During the planting process, Zhang Yifan meticulously cared for each herb using spiritual plant cultivation methods learned from ancient texts, imbuing them with spiritual power and adjusting the spiritual energy concentration in the soil.

After a long period of effort, the Lingdan Sect gradually recovered. The former ruins were replaced by brand-new buildings, the defensive formations once again shone with powerful light, the gardens bloomed with beautiful flowers again, and rare herbs thrived in the medicinal fields.

Zhang Yifan became a hero of the Lingdan Sect, deeply respected and loved by his disciples. But Zhang Yifan knew that this was only a temporary peace; the conflicts in the cultivation world never ceased, and he had to continue his diligent cultivation to protect this hard-won peace.