As expected, jumping into the pit led to an underground tunnel. The tunnel was was sloping downwards with Ling Yun going deeper underground as he ventured further inside.

  He was walking very carefully due to the steep incline so not to slip and go tumbling forward. His eyes were starting to strain as the deeper he went the light from the outside grew dimmer and dimmer.

  Ling Yun remained vigilant as he continued to scan the surroundings using the Third Eye but to his relief he found no beasts.

  The inclination had stopped as he reached the main lair of the second rank demonic beast. But to his dismay, the lair was covered in complete darkness. Not a ray of light could reach from the outside.

  Ling Yun cursed his luck for not bringing a torch or a lamp. He had intended to leave before sunset, never could he have ever imagined that he would find such treasure.

  From his third eye he knew that the fire spirit grass was within his reach. But he couldn't see a single damn thing.

  The tunnel was filled with an unusual pungent odour. Even though he had gleaned from his third eye that there was no one here, his instincts were warning him not to press further.

  To leave after coming so close is so infuriating.

  "So can you teach me some art instantly which can see through darkness?" Ling Yun wryly asked Brahma, fully prepared to turn back.

  "No." The expected reply came but Brahma continued with a mischievous smile, "Since you don't have a torch then why don't you light a fire yourself?"

  Ling Yun gave Brahma a blank stare as he waited for her to continue. Though she sometimes teased him, the woman seldom made useless jokes.

  Still can't this woman speak clearly. Does she always have to be so dramatic.

  "Ling Yun let me remind you that other than me there is one other soul trapped inside you since you had so carelessly forgotten."

  "Other than you do you mean the Ph-"

  "Yes, the Pheonix soul."

  Brahma was right. Ever since their first meeting, he had practically forgotten about the Pheonix soul. It was still securely trapped inside him but since it didn't cause him any trouble and it never interacted with him like Brahma, he had put it in the back of his mind.

  Out of sight, out of mind.

  "The Pheonix is a divine being of the fire element. Since its soul entered your body, your spirit root has mutated. Previously it was a fourth grade, a medium grade spirit root with a high attribute for wood element. But now although the grade remains the same, your spirit root has evolved to a rare fire-wood dual attribute one. You now also have a supreme attribute to the fire element."

  "Does that means I could shoot huge waves of fire like the Pheonix?" Ling Yun was ecstatic, using same flames as the Pheonix. Even Core Formation realm cultivators who practice flame arts would cry rivers of blood if they heard that a no name boy could cultivate the Pheonix flame.

  "Yes and no. The flames you would produce would undoubtedly be Pheonix flames but with your weak physique don't expect the same level of power. Your body would immediately explode if you try something reckless."

  All his excitement deflated in a second.

  Ofcourse it all comes to my crippled physique in the end.

  "And whose fault is it?" Ling Yun had long forgiven this matter but sometimes he couldn't help but jibe at her.

  But that infuriating woman replied without a speck of guilt in her eyes. "Forget about all that. My Brahma Soul God Canon is much superior to any of the fire arts you would ever have learned. You should consider yourself grateful." She ended with a huff.

  No use arguing with this woman.

  "So you believe that I can produce a torch?"

  "Yes. With your exceptional high affinity to fire, you could convert your true Qi into fire Qi. Slowly pour Qi from your dantian to your left hand and steadily increased the power.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  "Don't do it haphazardly. Your fragile meridians would immediately snap if you exceed their limit."

  No harm in trying.

  Ling Yun took a deep breath and started small streams of Qi to his left hand. He tried to covert it into fire Qi but couldn't.

  Before frustration could set in, Brahma voice echoed. "Since you don't know any fire arts just use your imagination. Every human, from the pitiful beggar to the great emperor, needs fire. Fire is everywhere. Because fire is life.

  "Remember when it protected you from cold, guided you in darkness. Remember when you first created fire."

  ***

  "Young master why don't you go play with other children instead of hanging out with this old lady?"

  "But Granny Sha the other children run away from me. Also I dont want to be friends with them. They also bully Yaoyao. They're so mean."

  "But young master-" "Don't worry Granny Sha I have plenty of fun with you. Also the tea you make is so good."

  "Then young master, would you like to learn how to make tea?"

  "Really, thank you Granny Sha. You're the best. Just wait I will soon make tea that surpasses yours."

  "Don't be in a hurry young master. The first step is to light the stove."

  ***

  A spark flashed in the dark illuminating the tunnel. A small flame appeared above his left palm. It could only illuminate to a radius of one zhang but it filled him warmth.

  He remembered Granny Sha who took care of his lonely and neglected self. Her warmth and affection added colour to his grey life.

  I miss her so much. I promise I will meet her soon.

  Seeing his surroundings Ling Yun was glad that he didn't charge recklessly in the dark. The demonic beast had laid traps in his lair. There were many small pits with jagged rocks protruding at the bottom. Also there were pools of vicious poison that were the cause of the pungent smell.

  If he had gone ahead blindly in the dark, he would have died from being impaled by the rocks or poisoned from falling in the pools.

  Carefully avoiding each obstacle, Ling Yun finally reached his destination but was shocked at what he saw. Surrounded by the fire spirit grass was an egg. It was pure white as fresh snow with blood red stripes, the size of a watermelon. The red stipes were in the shape of circular rings, each parallel to the other.

  Focussing his third eye on the egg, Ling Yun found that the soul inside was still incomplete. No wonder he couldn't sense it from far. Sensing the incomplete soul took his complete concentration. But it seemed like the egg would hatch soon.

  "Hmm, the demonic beast was using the spiritual warmth from the fire spirit grass to incubate the egg. It had also stored his essence here to nurture it in future."

  She turned to Ling Yun with a wicked smirk, "You really have the luck of the devil."

  Well she is right. Fire spirit grass and the pure essence of a second rank demonic beast would immediately sell at a high price but the egg is too much.

  Depending on the species, it could yield an exorbitant fortune.

  Ling Yun hummed a joyful tune as he started packing the materials in his bag. His mood was quite good.

  While working he and Brahma made some idle chatter.

  "Brahma since my physique is such a hindrance, is there any possible way my meridians could be cured?"

  "Nothing is impossible. Cultivation is the path to make impossible dreams come true." Ling Yun paused and looked at her.

  "Really? So there is a way?"

  "Yes but in your case it's close to improbable. During your infant period when your body was developing, you should have been treated then. High quality blood essence of particular demonic beasts are of great use in body refining and increasing vitality.

  "But even if your family knew, they were too poor to afford it. Or rather it is well beyond the means of average cultivators. Only a well established Golden Core might have had the resources to cure you but who in their right mind would spend so much for a stranger's son."

  Ling Yun wasn't hoping anything so he wasn't sad. Still due to curiosity he asked, "So if I get super rich and powerful in the future, can I cure myself using this method?"

  "No, it's too late now. You are nearly 16 years of age and your body has more or less completely grown. It was only possible during formative years. And I don't know any other method.

  "Maybe there is a secret body cultivation technique or some special spiritual treasure or divine pill which can cure you. The world is vast."

  Brahma gave him a gentle smile and continued, "But you don't have to worry. With your freak like soul strength and my Brahma Soul God Canon I promise you, you will fly higher than everyone. Also I'm developing a special technique for you."

  "Hmmph, another special technique." Ling Yun scoffed. After the Serene Ocean sutra and the Third Eye he wasn't that excited on the prospect of new techniques.

  "Still mocking my technique, wait you brat-"

  Time quickly passed due to their banter and Ling Yun finished packing his spoils. The bag was heavy but he could bear it.

  Not wanting to spend a second more in a demonic beast layer, Ling Yun quickly left.

  On his way back, Ling Yun scanned the surroundings using the third eye. Since he was still in the territory of the second rank demonic beast, it was very barren. The demonic beasts he could sense were very far away from him causing him to relax.

  What should I buy with the money? Maybe high quality tea leaves for Granny Sha. Let's just tease little Hua first before buying her sweets.

  I really have the luck of the devil.

  Ling Yun was indeed very lucky. If you were to ask any what is the most important factor in cultivation any decent master would answer it's luck.

  Not talent or wisdom. Neither background nor hardwork or dedication. Just pure luck triumphs all.

  Any cultivator who ruled his or her era was blessed with enormous good luck. So what's the point of all this struggle called life if in the end it all comes to luck?

  But if you would ask who are the lowest, most foolish cultivators the unanimous answer would be the ones who only rely blindly on luck.

  Because luck is heedless and untrustworthy. It's like a spring breeze that gently grazes you before suddenly leaving you all alone. No one can know when it will blow again. You can wait or try chase after it but it will only come when it comes.

  And soon Ling Yun is about to learn that sometimes a spring breeze can swiftly turn into a violent hurricane.