Chapter 349: The Spirit Island Opens

Chapter 349: Chapter 349: The Spirit Island Opens

Thanks to Yi Xiaoyao and his companion, a prelude had played out before Sunken Spirit Island even opened.

The reason Yi Xiaoyao and his companion were able to stay was, naturally, because he was strong enough. Otherwise, like the Dragon King who had come here before, he would have been severely injured and driven away from the very beginning.

At the same time, the other Desolate Domains felt no injustice or pressure from Yi Xiaoyao joining the Lihuang team, because Lihuang was now certain to be on bad terms with White Wilderness as a result.

Only White Wilderness, due to their meddling, had not only lost face but also ended up with three injured members.

But Xing Gang, true to his meddlesome nature, still couldn’t help but ask, "Why haven’t the people from the Great Yu Dynasty arrived yet? Could they be planning to give up on the Sunken Spirit Island trial?"

"The Great Yu Dynasty has vast lands and abundant resources. They’ve probably found a better trial ground. Why should we, the people of the Eight Desolates, concern ourselves with their business!" someone said coldly.

Just then, a low hum suddenly emanated from Sunken Spirit Island below. Immediately after, the protective barrier covering it rapidly descended, eventually disappearing into the ground.

As soon as the barrier dissipated, a refreshing fragrance drifted through the air. The scent invigorated everyone, and their gazes turned to the dense forest below, burning with excitement.

This fragrance smelled like the blended aromas of countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

"I smell heavenly materials and earthly treasures!"

High in the void, some teams immediately took the lead and charged downward. The rest greedily licked their lips and plunged down after them.

"Xiaoyao, Brother Ce Mu, let’s go down too. We’ll be at a disadvantage if we’re late."

Chi Xiao called out to Yi Xiaoyao and Ce Mu. Yi Xiaoyao nodded, then followed Chi Xiao’s group down with Yun Mengling in tow.

Before they even landed, Ce Mu took out a mirror and aimed it at the dense forest below.

Instantly, the mirror emitted a vast, brilliant white radiance. This light fell upon the forest like sunlight, and soon, multicolored glows could be seen rising from above certain areas.

In one direction, a massive green pillar of light even formed within the radiance.

"The Soul Spirit Pool is right there!"

Ce Mu pointed at the green pillar, his eyes gleaming as he smiled.

"I can’t believe the Ce Family actually entrusted the Treasure Light Mirror to you, Brother Ce Mu. It seems your family holds you in high regard!"

Chi Xiao glanced at the Treasure Mirror in Ce Mu’s hand with great surprise and sighed in amazement.

"With this Treasure Light Mirror, not only can we easily find the Soul Spirit Pool, but treasure hunting along the way will also be much more convenient."

Ce Mu smiled, then looked at Chi Xiao and said, "However, the glows from these heavenly materials and earthly treasures are too scattered and faint. We’ll still need you to pinpoint their exact locations, Brother Chi Xiao."

Chi Xiao gave a faint smile and waved his hand. A large swarm of flying insects scattered, heading toward the glowing areas.

"Alright, let’s follow the flying insects and go pick up some treasures!"

Chi Xiao let out a loud laugh and took off after the flying insects.

Watching this, Yi Xiaoyao’s eyebrow twitched, inwardly amazed. ’These people from Great Yu’s Eight Desolates... every single one of them is so extraordinary. This just makes me want to go see what kind of place the Eight Desolates really is.’

"Ling’Er, let’s go too."

Yi Xiaoyao called to Yun Mengling behind him, and a moment later, they landed in a part of the dense forest with Chi Xiao and the others.

As soon as they entered the dense forest, the sweet fragrance of fruit filled the air.

"It’s Refining Spirit Fruit!"

Someone exclaimed, "This fruit can refine a Cultivator’s Spiritual Power! By compressing Spiritual Power, it can temporarily boost its potency and one’s combat strength."

Yi Xiaoyao looked up and saw dozens of cherry-like fruits on the tree before him, all shimmering with the light of Spiritual Power.

Chi Xiao grinned, then raised his hand and pulled all several dozen Refining Spirit Fruits from the tree. With another wave, he sent them shooting out toward the group.

Yi Xiaoyao reached out and caught the two Refining Spirit Fruits that flew toward him. Everyone else also received two, while the leaders, Chi Xiao and Ce Mu, each took four.

However, Yun Mengling alone received none.

"Xiaoyao, I only promised my Uncle Chong Li that I would look after you. Besides, the number of these Refining Spirit Fruits is limited, so I’m afraid Miss Yun will have to go without."

Chi Xiao seemed to notice the displeasure on Yi Xiaoyao’s face and said with a faint smile.

Before Yi Xiaoyao could speak, Ce Mu walked over with a smile, took out two Refining Spirit Fruits, and tossed them to Yun Mengling.

"Miss Yun, I’ll give you these two," Ce Mu said with a refined smile.

Yun Mengling caught the two Refining Spirit Fruits and said indifferently, "I don’t need them."

Then, just as she was about to toss them back to Ce Mu, a hand stopped her.

"Why would you refuse something given for free?" Yi Xiaoyao said to Yun Mengling with a smile.

Yun Mengling smiled back at Yi Xiaoyao, nodded thoughtfully, and placed the Refining Spirit Fruits in his hand. "Then I’ll give them to you."

Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t help but chuckle. ’It doesn’t matter whether she has them or I have them,’ he thought. ’And doing this will probably piss a certain someone off.’

Sure enough, when Ce Mu saw Yun Mengling give the fruits he had offered her to Yi Xiaoyao, the corner of his mouth twitched. He glared at Yi Xiaoyao, gritting his teeth, his eyes hiding a cold glint and a hint of Killing Intent. 𝐟𝑟ⅇ

If it weren’t for the inconvenient circumstances, Ce Mu would have already tried to kill Yi Xiaoyao.

Chi Xiao took all of this in, the smile on his lips never wavering. "Let’s not dawdle here. Let’s keep moving."

Ce Mu, however, spoke up. "Brother Chi Xiao, I just used the Treasure Light Mirror to locate an area glowing with the light of Thousand Light Reishi. Could you give me one of your Spirit Insects? Our two teams can split up to search for treasure, and we can regroup later. What do you say?"

For those who practiced Light Attribute cultivation, the Thousand Light Reishi was an incredibly rare treasure. And the people of Xuanhuang cultivated precisely that: the Light Attribute.

"Thousand Light Reishi?" Chi Xiao said in surprise. No wonder Ce Mu wanted to split up. Although the Thousand Light Reishi was valuable, Chi Xiao had no interest in it, so he readily agreed and gave Ce Mu a Spirit Insect.

Ce Mu then turned to Yun Mengling again. "Miss Yun, I can see you also have the Light Attribute. That Thousand Light Reishi would be of great benefit to you. If you come with me, I’m willing to share half of what we find with you."

"I’m not going," Yun Mengling refused just as coldly, leaving him no room for negotiation.

Ce Mu snorted coldly and departed with the people from Xuanhuang, splitting off from the main group.

Meanwhile, Yi Xiaoyao and Yun Mengling continued onward with Chi Xiao’s group.

"Brother Chi Xiao," Yi Xiaoyao asked suddenly as they walked, "earlier I saw that the people from Red Wilderness were at odds with Heihuang and White Wilderness. I was wondering, who are Lihuang’s enemies?"

Upon hearing this, Chi Xiao smiled faintly. "Xiaoyao, you may not know this, but each of our Eight Desolates represents an Attribute, and among Attributes, there are always relationships of creation and subjugation."

"Desolate Domains whose Attributes subjugate each other are absolute enemies."

"For example, Heihuang and White Wilderness represent Water and Metal, respectively. Water subjugates Fire, and Fire subjugates Metal. Therefore, the enemies of the Fire Attribute Red Wilderness are Heihuang and White Wilderness."

"Our Lihuang represents the Poison Attribute, and our enemy is the Wind Attribute Yunhuang..."

As they were speaking, both men suddenly fell silent and stopped in their tracks, their gazes fixed ahead in horror.

Ahead, wrapped around every giant tree, was a massive Demon Python exuding a terrifying aura. There were dozens of them, and one of the giant pythons even radiated the aura of the Half-Step Void Realm.

The Demon Pythons were spewing poisonous mist, clearly guarding the ten enormous, bright red lotuses in their midst. 𝚏𝗋ℯⅇ

...

(PS: This volume is on a much larger scale than the previous ones, so the plot is developing more slowly. Some people have said I’m padding the story, but you can’t have instant gratification right from the start.

But don’t worry, the exciting parts are about to begin.)