The current situation was clear enough. That thunder pond was the entrance to the promised ‘treasure’ but no one could pass through its bubbling plasma.
Even profound immortals like Yan Shenjun himself couldn’t do it.
Lin Jin suspected that an unfettered immortal wouldn’t be able to withstand touching that plasma either.
Only by chanting the Mantra of Heaven could they break through into the pond.
Now, only the oriole among them could use the Dharma voice. After a few questions, Lin Jin learned that it was a unique skill only a few immortals could succeed in cultivating.
During the peak era of immortals, it wasn’t hard to find immortals or even monsters capable of using a Dharma voice. After the great tragedy, what was uncommon in that era became increasingly rare.
Rumor had it that only Miao Yan Zhenren and this oriole were capable of using a Dharma voice.
The oriole was brought over to the side so Yan Shenjun could teach her the formula of the Mantra of Heaven. Secrets were surely involved so no one but the oriole could hear it.
Especially Lin Jin and Inferno Monk.
Lin Jin did not insist on hearing the formula, as it wasn’t important to him. Of course, he could try to learn the mantra’s contents first, and then manipulate the oriole or discreetly kill her, so he could seek out Miao Yan Zhenren in the future and have him chant the mantra.
This plan would yield many profits, but it was hard to execute. Yan Shenjun would never reveal the secrets behind the Mantra of Heaven, and even if he did, Lin Jin couldn’t find it in himself to kill the oriole. After all, she was an innocent individual.
Moreover, if that did happen, a fallout with Yan Shenjun would ensue and they’d have to fight.
At present, Lin Jin was still just acting tough so he couldn’t possibly take the gamble.
It was better to play safe.
By now, the oriole had memorized the Mantra of Heaven. Although visibly frightened, as an immortal monster, she knew it was her duty to carry out Yan Shenjun’s order and nothing else.
She leaped up and took the form of a yellow-feathered bird. She then flew toward the thunder pond, all the while singing a delightful tune.
Humming softly at times and raising her pitch randomly, her voice was pleasant to everyone’s ears but no one could hear precisely what she was singing. They only found it charming and wanted to hear more of it.
“What a powerful mantra!” mumbled Inferno Monk out of shock.
“What a fearsome man Yan Shenjun is! He’s very well prepared. Looks like he wasn’t exaggerating when he said he had been preparing this for a century.”
Lin Jin was now curious as to what they would find at the bottom of the pond. Just what made Yan Shenjun so obsessed that it drove him to devise a plan for a hundred years?
In contrast to Lin Jin and Inferno Monk’s shock, Yan Shenjun was excited and highly expectant.
Perhaps only he knew best what was hidden underneath the pond.
As Lin Jin watched the scene unfold, he kept his eyes on everyone else as well. After all, he had done his part as a doctor after treating the oriole.
He could never be sure if Yan Shenjun won’t kill him after he had served his purpose.
Perhaps he wanted to, but he wouldn’t dare act carelessly. Lin Jin only hoped Xiang Yun would find the Mystery Dao Sect soon and inform Miao Yan Zhenren about the situation.
That was Lin Jin’s greatest trump card.
He had told Xiang Yun that should she find the Mystery Dao Sect and successfully informed Miao Yan Zhenren, she would have to activate the blood pill with the unique spell Lin Jin taught her.
Since the blood pill was the blood ghost’s clone, Lin Jin would get an instant update once it was activated.
With that, he would execute his next move.
Before that happens, he had to maintain this fragile balance and avoid falling out with the enemy. In some aspects, he resembled Yan Shenjun.
For instance, both preferred pre-action scheming, and their plans had to be excruciatingly detailed.
The oriole continued to circle in the sky, singing the mantra with her Dharma voice. Strangely enough, the raging plasma pool gradually reduced at the sound of her Dharma voice.
Although the decrease was slow, it was still visible.
Excitement flashed in Yan Shenjun’s eyes. No one made a sound as their focus was fixed on the thunder pool.
Time passed and still no reaction from the blood ghost. This meant that Xiang Yun had yet to find Miao Yan Zhenren.
Lin Jin prayed for the thunder pool to drain slowly.
Perhaps it was taking too long, one of Yan Shenjun’s immortals spoke up, “The might of the plasma in this thunder pool is abnormally strong. It’d be great if we could refine it as ours to use.”
Perhaps Yan Shenjun was in a good mood, he chuckled and said, “Ze Ji, I advise you against making such a decision. Two hundred years ago, a lightning immortal shared the same idea as you. The lightning immortal died in the process of converting the plasma into his own.”
The immortal named Ze Ji looked startled and said no more.
The lightning immortal who Yan Shenjun mentioned was a profound immortal. Like how Inferno Monk was a fire profound immortal, this lightning immortal was a profound immortal expert who mainly cultivated the lightning attribute.
Even a profound immortal died in the wrath of this thunder pond. Wouldn’t a lightning attribute half immortal just be courting death by trying the same feat?
Now that the pond was half-drained, Yan Shenjun spoke up cheerfully, “Now, listen up. This plasma of mysterious origins was formed thousands of years ago. While we don’t know much of its past, one thing’s for sure, this isn’t something any immortal can control. Be it a half immortal or a profound immortal, they would all die upon making contact with the plasma. It’s impossible to try to refine it as your own. If you want to try your luck, you better not hope that other people will come to your rescue.”
For Yan Shenjun to say this now, it was clear he had other intentions in mind. Perhaps he was hoping someone would try to touch it.
Simultaneously, he was also warning everyone not to get ahead of themselves even if there was only a bit left of the plasma. Otherwise, they had to bear the consequences themselves.
Lin Jin even suspected that Yan Shenjun was saying it directly to him… No, to Curator! Despite Yan Shenjun’s calm facade, Lin Jin was sure that he was a nervous wreck on the inside.
After all, the plasma would soon be gone. The man must be worried that Curator might try to barge into the bottom of the pond to seize the treasure.
