Chapter 1857 — Chapter 1857 Confinement Chamber

As the boulder settled into place, sealing the cave shut, Yuan took a moment to survey his surroundings. Though the cave appeared as if it were an abyss where no light could reach, a faint, eerie glow subtly illuminated the space. However, its source remained a mystery.

The cave was surprisingly spacious, even larger than the room he had back in the Bamboo Garden. However, its conditions were harsh and unwelcoming. There was no proper floor, only the cold, uneven ground beneath him, layered with dirt and dust. Aside from the two pots placed at the far end of the space, the cave was utterly barren—not even the bare comfort of a bed to rest on.

Yuan approached the pots and lifted their lids, revealing the pills inside. A single glance was enough for him to recognize their purpose. One pot contained hunger-suppressing pills, designed to stave off starvation without the need for actual food. The other held pills that would eliminate his body's need for waste elimination. It was clear that these were meant to sustain him just enough to survive, but nothing more.

The spiritual energy inside the cave was also pathetically low, almost nonexistent. Even if Yuan were to spend a decade cultivating there, his cultivation wouldn't see any noticeable improvements.

"I have to spend two years in this place, huh? Well, it won't be my first time," Yuan sighed with a bittersweet smile on his face.

In the past, Tian Yang would often find himself in confinement for breaking sect rules, mostly from fighting with other disciples. Of course, he would only spend a few days—weeks at most at a time in confinement, but when added up, it easily exceeded two years.

During confinement, Tian Yang would try to improve his martial techniques since it was a waste of time to cultivate.

"Now then, if my memories serve me correctly, I should be able to find that thing here…"

Yuan's gaze turned to look at a specific spot on the ground. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees and began digging with his bare hands, scooping away the cold, hard dirt.

After digging about a meter deep, Yuan's fingers brushed against something hard and unnaturally cold. Its surface was smooth—too refined to be just another random rock buried in the dirt. He carefully unearthed the object, dusting away the loose soil until it was fully revealed.

The moment his eyes confirmed it was exactly what he had been searching for, a quiet chuckle escaped his lips. A glimmer of amusement—even disbelief—flickered in his gaze as he held the object in his hands.

"I can't believe it's actually here. Even more unbelievable, I was put into the confinement chamber hiding this treasure."

Although Yuan had never intended to visit the confinement chamber this soon, he had always planned to come here eventually. This place held something that had been on his mind since he arrived at the Immortal Monastery. Even if it wasn't guaranteed the treasure would exist, he still wanted to confirm it.

Yuan spent the next few moments staring at the object in his grasp. It was small and perfectly round, its surface smooth and cool to the touch, almost identical to a monster core. Despite its unassuming size—small enough to be held between just two fingers—there was an undeniable weight to it, not in mass, but in significance.

In the past, when Tian Yang first found this treasure by pure coincidence and accident, he didn't know what it was or how to use it. However, he knew it was definitely a treasure, so he kept it with him for many years until he accidentally activated the treasure.

However, even after activating the treasure, Tian Yang did not realize its significance or how it'd benefit him for many more years.

"I can't believe I am actually holding you in my grasp again, Heaven Refining Crystal."

Sure enough, this unassuming treasure eventually gave birth to the legendary Heaven Refining Physique. A one-of-a-kind physique so heaven-defying that it would transcend lifetimes, following Tian Yang through his future reincarnations and the reason for his immense growth.

Although Tian Yang never uncovered the origins of the Heaven Refining Crystal—how it came into existence or why it had been buried within the Immortal Monastery's confinement chamber—none of that truly mattered to him.

Once he finished admiring the Heaven Refining Crystal, Yuan brought his thumb to his mouth and bit down until blood welled up. Holding the crystal carefully, he let the crimson droplets fall onto its smooth surface. The moment his blood made contact, it didn't smear or roll off—instead, it was absorbed instantly, as if the crystal were alive and thirsting for his essence. A faint glow began to emanate from within, signaling the start of something profound.

Yuan continued to feed his blood to the Heaven Refining Crystal, watching as it eagerly absorbed every drop. The process seemed endless, and before he knew it, dizziness crept over him, his body growing weak from blood loss. Recognizing his limit, he finally stopped and reached for a hunger pill, placing it on his tongue. As it dissolved, a wave of warmth spread through his body. The pill not only satiated hunger; it also had healing properties that would heal minor injuries, such as paper cuts, and speed up recovery.

With a tired exhale, he laid down on the cold. The crystal remained clutched in his hand, its surface now faintly pulsing with life. Though the cave was bleak and desolate, Yuan closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Once he woke up several hours later, Yuan immediately started feeding his blood to the Heaven Refining Crystal again, and he would repeat this process for almost an entire year.

Meanwhile, the tournament ended two weeks after Yuan's match. As for the results, Ji Ran had managed to win up to the tenth round before losing in the eleventh round to someone at the peak of Spirit Warrior. Even with his experience and the Peerless Immortal Technique, he was unable to bridge the gap of almost an entire realm.

In the end, none of the Bamboo Disciples managed to win the tournament, with Ji Ran lasting the longest and earning the most contribution.