“ tóu gǔ qián bèi guǒ rán suǒ yán bù xū ， zhè xiē pò dǐng dí què shì jìn rù yào wáng zhēn dǐng de yào shi ！”
“头骨前辈果然所言不虚，这些破鼎的确是进入药王真鼎的钥匙！”
"Sure enough, as Senior Head of the Skull said, these broken cauldrons are indeed the keys to entering the True Cauldron of Medicine King!"
dāng xiāo héng bǎ zhè yī fā xiàn gào zhī sū xiǎo mèi hòu ， tā bù jīn xǐ xiào yán kāi 。
当萧恒把这一发现告之苏小妹后，她不禁喜笑颜开。
After Xiao Heng informed Su Xiaomei about this discovery, she couldn't help but beam with joy.
“ zhè xià hǎo le ， zhǐ yào shùn zhe zhǐ yǐn ， xiǎng bì yīng gāi hěn kuài jiù huì zhǎo dào 。”
“这下好了，只要顺着指引，想必应该很快就会找到。”
"Now we're good. As long as we follow the instructions, I'm sure it won't take too long."
sān rén duì shì yī yǎn ， suí hòu tiē zhe yuān jiè yá bì ， dī diào dì cháo zhe cāng wú yuān xià fāng fēi qù 。
三人对视一眼，随后贴着渊界崖壁，低调地朝着苍梧渊下方飞去。
The three exchanged glances and then quietly flew towards the bottom of the Azure Wutong Abyss, adhering to the cliff walls.
dāng xià jiàng dào jù dì miàn liǎng bǎi zhàng zhī hòu ， shēn yuān nèi de jǐng sè jiù kāi shǐ biàn dé hé dì biǎo jié rán bù tóng qǐ lái 。
当下降到距地面两百丈之后，深渊内的景色就开始变得和地表截然不同起来。
When they descended two hundred zhang from the surface, the scenery within the abyss began to differ dramatically from that on the ground.
yóu yú shàng fāng zhōng nián bù sàn de yún wù cún zài ， yuè wǎng xià ， zhōu wéi de huán jìng yě jiù yuè hūn àn 。
由于上方终年不散的云雾存在，越往下，周围的环境也就越昏暗。
Due to the perpetual cloud cover above, the deeper they went, the darker the surroundings became.
yá bì shàng bù zài shì guāng tū tū de yán shí ， ér shì zhā gēn shēng zhǎng zhe xǔ duō qí xíng guài zhuàng de zhí wù 。
崖壁上不再是光秃秃的岩石，而是扎根生长着许多奇形怪状的植物。
The rock faces were no longer bare; instead, various strange plants rooted and grew there. There were glowing willows, carnivorous pines disguised as rocks, and even withered black trees resembling giant snakes that lurked in wait for prey.
yǒu huì fā guāng de xì liǔ ， yǒu wěi zhuāng chéng yán shí de bǔ shí sōng 。
有会发光的细柳，有伪装成岩石的捕食松。
Coexisting alongside these plants were the anomalous beasts mentioned earlier in the jade slip—beasts with mostly black appearances, hard to spot in the dim light of the abyss. Their forms were bizarre, vastly different from those on the surface, seemingly not naturally evolved but rather a hodgepodge of various creatures forcibly fused together.
shèn zhì hái yǒu rú tóng jù mǎng bān àn zhōng zhé fú 、 děng yǒu liè wù jiē jìn shí biàn bào qǐ shāng rén de kū hēi zhǎng shù 。
甚至还有如同巨蟒般暗中蛰伏、等有猎物接近时便暴起伤人的枯黑长树。
There were long worms splitting open mid-body and snatching prey, strange apes retracting their heads into their stomachs, and monstrous birds with countless wriggling insects as wings.
ér hé zhè xiē zhí wù bàn shēng gòng tóng cún zài de ， jiù shì xiān qián yù jiǎn zhōng tí jí ， xū yào dī fáng de yì shòu le 。
而和这些植物伴生共同存在的，就是先前玉简中提及，需要提防的异兽了。
All these bizarre forms left one feeling chilled to the bone upon sight. Moreover, there seemed to be some mysterious force in this abyss that suppressed cultivators' divine sense perception ranges.
zhè xiē yì shòu wài biǎo dà duō qī hēi yī piàn ， zài àn dàn wú guāng de shēn yuān zhī xià ， ròu yǎn nán yǐ chá jué 。
这些异兽外表大多漆黑一片，在暗淡无光的深渊之下，肉眼难以察觉。
This force became more pronounced with increasing depth. During Xiao Heng's descent, strange creatures suddenly emerged from the cliff walls or the central void of the abyss, attacking in groups as if harboring a deep grudge against outsiders. Their attacks ceased only when they died.
yàng mào gèng shì qiān qí bǎi guài ， hé dì biǎo shēng líng dà xiāng jìng tíng 。
样貌更是千奇百怪，和地表生灵大相径庭。
Fortunately, while there were many beings below, their threat was equivalent to that of late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators. For Su Xiaomei and her companions, who all had Golden Core strength, it posed no real danger.
bù xiàng shì tiān rán yǎn huà ér chéng ， dào xiàng shì gè zhǒng shēng wù de suì piàn qiáng xíng róu hé ér chéng 。
不像是天然衍化而成，倒像是各种生物的碎片强行糅合而成。
With some trepidation but no significant peril, they spent half a day flying towards a large boundary stone jutting out from the cliff wall. In bright red luminescent letters, it read "30, 000."
cóng zhōng jiān liè kāi 、 zhāng zuǐ bǔ shí de cháng chóng 。
从中间裂开、张嘴捕食的长虫。
From afar, it was clearly visible. Above this stone, the cliff face had been hollowed out to create a splendidly lit floating city above the abyss.
nǎo dài suō jìn dǔ zi zhōng de guài yuán 。
脑袋缩进肚子中的怪猿。
"This is the first resting point in our exploration of Azure Wutong Abyss," Xiao Heng said. "Ling Cang City."
yǐ wú shù rú dòng xì chóng wèi chì de guài niǎo 。
以无数蠕动细虫为翅的怪鸟。
"Going deeper into the abyss makes it increasingly perilous. So providing rest and supplies here is necessary."
……
……
Xiao Heng, observing the constant flow of cultivators, raised his vigilance.
zhǒng zhǒng yì xíng ， lìng rén guān zhī è hán 。
种种异型，令人观之恶寒。
Most who came to explore the Azure Wutong Abyss were no ordinary folk. Besides gathering its valuable specialties, many sought after that fiery meteorite which fell from the sky years ago. Recently, there was much speculation about its true identity—rumors aside, it was indeed the True Cauldron of Medicine King from ancient times.
ér qiě zài zhè shēn yuān zhī zhōng ， sì hū cún zài zhe mǒu zhǒng shén mì lì liàng 。
而且在这深渊之中，似乎存在着某种神秘力量。
Regardless, all who saw it felt a palpable unease. This meteor must be extraordinary.
yì zhì zhe xiū shì shén shí de gǎn yìng fàn wéi 。
抑制着修士神识的感应范围。
As they say, money can corrupt even the best. It's no wonder that outsiders have been tirelessly pursuing it for so long.
zhè zhǒng lì liàng ， suí zhe shēn dù de bù duàn zēng jiā ， yuè fā xiǎn zhù 。
这种力量，随着深度的不断增加，越发显著。
"Let's go," Xiao Heng said, not entering Ling Cang City but flying past the boundary stone to the second layer three ten-thousand zhang below the surface.
zài xiū shì xià jiàng guò chéng zhōng de bù jīng yì jiān ， zhè xiē guài yì shēng wù ， huò cóng yuān jiè yá bì zhōng ， huò cóng shēn yuān zhōng yāng xū kōng lǐ 。
在修士下降过程中的不经意间，这些怪异生物，或从渊界崖壁中，或从深渊中央虚空里。
Passing through the boundary stone felt like breaching an invisible shield. A strange sensation washed over Xiao Heng.
tū rán mào chū ， chéng qún jié duì dì duì xiū shì fā dòng gōng jī 。
突然冒出，成群结队地对修士发动攻击。
"My strength has weakened slightly, just as rumored."
fǎng fú gēn wài lái xiū shì yǒu zhe xuè hǎi shēn chóu yì bān ， zhè xiē yì wù de gōng jī ， zhí dào chè dǐ sǐ wáng ， cái huì zhōng zhǐ 。
仿佛跟外来修士有着血海深仇一般，这些异物的攻击，直到彻底死亡，才会终止。
He asked Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo with a heavy heart.
xìng ér yuān xià zhè xiē shēng líng suī rán shù liàng zhòng duō ， dàn yě jiù xiāng dāng yú liàn qì hòu qī de shā shāng lì 。
幸而渊下这些生灵虽然数量众多，但也就相当于炼气后期的杀伤力。
"Did you sense it? The [Suppressing Immortal Power]?"
duì yú zuì dī shí lì dōu shì jīn dān de sū xiǎo mèi yī xíng rén lái jiǎng ， què shì méi shén me wēi xié 。
对于最低实力都是金丹的苏小妹一行人来讲，却是没什么威胁。
"Yes, there is a trace of it. But so far, its impact isn't significant."
yī lù yǒu jīng wú xiǎn ， huā fèi xiǎo bàn tiān shí guāng ， zhōng yú kào jìn le yī kuài héng chā zài yá bì shàng de jù xíng jiè bēi 。
一路有惊无险，花费小半天时光，终于靠近了一块横插在崖壁上的巨型界碑。
After a moment, both responded similarly.
shàng miàn yòng xǐng mù dì hóng sè fā guāng zì tǐ ， zhuàn xiě zhe “ sān wàn ” liǎng gè dà zì 。
上面用醒目的红色发光字体，撰写着“叁萬”两个大字。
"I see my strength has indeed weakened," Xiao Heng said, feeling somewhat helpless.
gé zhe lǎo yuǎn ， jiù néng kàn jiàn 。
隔着老远，就能看见。
He hoped the True Cauldron of Medicine King was within his maximum diving depth.
ér zài zhè jiè bēi zhī shàng ， lián mián de yá bì jī hū bèi xiàng nèi tāo kōng 。
而在这界碑之上，连绵的崖壁几乎被向内掏空。
The [Suppressing Immortal Power] was the general term for that mysterious force in the Azure Wutong Abyss. As one delved deeper into it, their cultivation strength would be correspondingly diminished.
jiàn zào chū le yī zuò dēng huǒ huī huáng de yuān shàng xuán chéng 。
建造出了一座灯火辉煌的渊上悬城。
In the first layer within ten thousand zhang, this effect wasn't obvious; it merely interfered with divine sense perception coverage. But once they entered the second layer, its effects became immediate and clear. Cultivators below mid-Qi Refinement stage lost all flight capabilities and their internal spirit energy ceased to function.
“ zhè lǐ jiù shì tàn suǒ cāng wú yuān de dì yī zuò luò jiǎo diǎn 。”
“这里就是探索苍梧渊的第一座落脚点。”
The only outcome was a fall into the abyss without end, becoming prey for the strange creatures along the way.
“ lín cāng chéng 。”
“临苍城。”
Thus, at least late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators could survive in this second layer of the Azure Wutong Abyss. However, as depth increased, the abyss's inhabitants grew stronger while cultivator strength was suppressed. This made exploration increasingly difficult.
“ zài wǎng xià ， shēn yuān jiù biàn dé yù fā wēi xiǎn qǐ lái 。 suǒ yǐ zài zhè lǐ tí gōng xiū qì hé bǔ jǐ zhī chù ， hái shì hěn yǒu bì yào de 。”
“再往下，深渊就变得愈发危险起来。所以在这里提供休憩和补给之处，还是很有必要的。”
Xiao Heng and his companions entered the Spirit Speech Forest with greater caution. Trees deeply rooted in the cliff walls extended their branches in impossible ways towards the central void of the Azure Wutong Abyss, forming a dense forest stretching five ten-thousand zhang high and wide.
xiāo héng kàn zhe lái wǎng bù jué de xiū shì men ， xīn zhōng àn àn tí gāo le jǐng tì 。
萧恒看着来往不绝的修士们，心中暗暗提高了警惕。
In addition to more dangerous and formidable creatures, faint whispers from within the forest were even more lethal. These sounds induced various hallucinations, clouding one's mind. Those with weak wills would fly towards the center of the Spirit Speech Forest, never to return.
néng lái cāng wú yuān tàn suǒ de xiū shì ， dà duō bú shì yì yǔ zhī bèi 。
能来苍梧渊探索的修士，大多不是易与之辈。
Xiao Heng and his companions were indeed talented, their minds strong as well. After a day, they successfully navigated through this second layer down to eighty thousand zhang deep.
tā men lái cǐ de mù dì ， chú le wèi le cǎi jí nà xiē cāng wú yuān jià zhí bù fēi de tè chǎn zhī wài 。
他们来此的目的，除了为了采集那些苍梧渊价值不菲的特产之外。
At this point, the dense forest thinned out, and below seemed to have another source of light, making visibility much clearer. The boundary marker was no longer standing stones but a giant eyeball growing from the cliff face. The blood-red "80, 000" replaced the original pupil.
yī dà bàn dōu shì wèi le dāng nián nà kē cóng tiān ér jiàng de huǒ liú xīng ér lái 。
一大半都是为了当年那颗从天而降的火流星而来。
This eye seemed alive, constantly moving and observing. Upon sensing Xiao Heng's group, it quickly turned its gaze to them.
jìn xiē nián ， guān yú huǒ liú xīng de zhēn shí shēn fèn ， yì zhí zhòng shuō fēn yún 。
近些年，关于火流星的真实身份，一直众说纷纭。
A massive pressure came over Xiao Heng as his body tensed instantly.
tā shì shàng gǔ shí qī pò jiè ér qù de yào wáng zhēn dǐng ， yě bú shì qí zhōng liú chuán jiào guǎng de yī zhǒng cāi cè ér yǐ 。
它是上古时期破界而去的药王真鼎，也不是其中流传较广的一种猜测而已。
Fortunately, the giant eye only glanced at them before diverting its attention elsewhere.
bù guǎn rú hé ， néng gòu ràng suǒ yǒu mù dǔ tā de xiū shì ， dōu chǎn shēng xīn jì de gǎn jué 。
不管如何，能够让所有目睹它的修士，都产生心悸的感觉。
"Phew..."
zhè kē huǒ liú xīng yí dìng fēi tóng xún cháng 。
这颗火流星一定非同寻常。
Xiao Heng exhaled in relief.
suǒ wèi rén wéi cái sǐ 。
所谓人为财死。
"The second resting point of Azure Wutong Abyss is [Eye City]."
rú cǐ yě jiù bù nán lǐ jiě ， wèi hé yì zhí yǒu wài jiè xiū shì zī zī bù juàn de zhuī xún zhe tā le 。
如此也就不难理解，为何一直有外界修士孜孜不倦的追寻着它了。
(End of Chapter)
"Sure enough, as Senior Head of the Skull said, these broken cauldrons are indeed the keys to entering the True Cauldron of Medicine King!"
After Xiao Heng informed Su Xiaomei about this discovery, she couldn't help but beam with joy.
"Now we're good. As long as we follow the instructions, I'm sure it won't take too long."
The three exchanged glances and then quietly flew towards the bottom of the Azure Wutong Abyss, adhering to the cliff walls.
When they descended two hundred zhang from the surface, the scenery within the abyss began to differ dramatically from that on the ground.
Due to the perpetual cloud cover above, the deeper they went, the darker the surroundings became.
The rock faces were no longer bare; instead, various strange plants rooted and grew there. There were glowing willows, carnivorous pines disguised as rocks, and even withered black trees resembling giant snakes that lurked in wait for prey.
Coexisting alongside these plants were the anomalous beasts mentioned earlier in the jade slip—beasts with mostly black appearances, hard to spot in the dim light of the abyss. Their forms were bizarre, vastly different from those on the surface, seemingly not naturally evolved but rather a hodgepodge of various creatures forcibly fused together.
There were long worms splitting open mid-body and snatching prey, strange apes retracting their heads into their stomachs, and monstrous birds with countless wriggling insects as wings.
All these bizarre forms left one feeling chilled to the bone upon sight. Moreover, there seemed to be some mysterious force in this abyss that suppressed cultivators' divine sense perception ranges.
This force became more pronounced with increasing depth. During Xiao Heng's descent, strange creatures suddenly emerged from the cliff walls or the central void of the abyss, attacking in groups as if harboring a deep grudge against outsiders. Their attacks ceased only when they died.
Fortunately, while there were many beings below, their threat was equivalent to that of late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators. For Su Xiaomei and her companions, who all had Golden Core strength, it posed no real danger.
With some trepidation but no significant peril, they spent half a day flying towards a large boundary stone jutting out from the cliff wall. In bright red luminescent letters, it read "30, 000."
From afar, it was clearly visible. Above this stone, the cliff face had been hollowed out to create a splendidly lit floating city above the abyss.
"This is the first resting point in our exploration of Azure Wutong Abyss," Xiao Heng said. "Ling Cang City."
"Going deeper into the abyss makes it increasingly perilous. So providing rest and supplies here is necessary."
Xiao Heng, observing the constant flow of cultivators, raised his vigilance.
Most who came to explore the Azure Wutong Abyss were no ordinary folk. Besides gathering its valuable specialties, many sought after that fiery meteorite which fell from the sky years ago. Recently, there was much speculation about its true identity—rumors aside, it was indeed the True Cauldron of Medicine King from ancient times.
Regardless, all who saw it felt a palpable unease. This meteor must be extraordinary.
As they say, money can corrupt even the best. It's no wonder that outsiders have been tirelessly pursuing it for so long.
"Let's go," Xiao Heng said, not entering Ling Cang City but flying past the boundary stone to the second layer three ten-thousand zhang below the surface.
Passing through the boundary stone felt like breaching an invisible shield. A strange sensation washed over Xiao Heng.
"My strength has weakened slightly, just as rumored."
He asked Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo with a heavy heart.
"Did you sense it? The [Suppressing Immortal Power]?"
"Yes, there is a trace of it. But so far, its impact isn't significant."
After a moment, both responded similarly.
"I see my strength has indeed weakened," Xiao Heng said, feeling somewhat helpless.
He hoped the True Cauldron of Medicine King was within his maximum diving depth.
The [Suppressing Immortal Power] was the general term for that mysterious force in the Azure Wutong Abyss. As one delved deeper into it, their cultivation strength would be correspondingly diminished.
In the first layer within ten thousand zhang, this effect wasn't obvious; it merely interfered with divine sense perception coverage. But once they entered the second layer, its effects became immediate and clear. Cultivators below mid-Qi Refinement stage lost all flight capabilities and their internal spirit energy ceased to function.
The only outcome was a fall into the abyss without end, becoming prey for the strange creatures along the way.
Thus, at least late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators could survive in this second layer of the Azure Wutong Abyss. However, as depth increased, the abyss's inhabitants grew stronger while cultivator strength was suppressed. This made exploration increasingly difficult.
Xiao Heng and his companions entered the Spirit Speech Forest with greater caution. Trees deeply rooted in the cliff walls extended their branches in impossible ways towards the central void of the Azure Wutong Abyss, forming a dense forest stretching five ten-thousand zhang high and wide.
In addition to more dangerous and formidable creatures, faint whispers from within the forest were even more lethal. These sounds induced various hallucinations, clouding one's mind. Those with weak wills would fly towards the center of the Spirit Speech Forest, never to return.
Xiao Heng and his companions were indeed talented, their minds strong as well. After a day, they successfully navigated through this second layer down to eighty thousand zhang deep.
At this point, the dense forest thinned out, and below seemed to have another source of light, making visibility much clearer. The boundary marker was no longer standing stones but a giant eyeball growing from the cliff face. The blood-red "80, 000" replaced the original pupil.
This eye seemed alive, constantly moving and observing. Upon sensing Xiao Heng's group, it quickly turned its gaze to them.
A massive pressure came over Xiao Heng as his body tensed instantly.
Fortunately, the giant eye only glanced at them before diverting its attention elsewhere.
"Phew..."
Xiao Heng exhaled in relief.
"The second resting point of Azure Wutong Abyss is [Eye City]."
(End of Chapter)