Chapter 972: Earth Spirit Grass Fruit

Before he could dwell on the matter further, a hostile voice interrupted his thoughts.

"The heavenly light pillar is about to cease. It seems we have some extraneous individuals here."

"Before we enter the depths to seize opportunities, wouldn't it be best to clear the area first?"

The speaker was a five-colored peacock, its feathers of dazzling brilliance. It preened and stroked its magnificent plumage with evident pride.

"Extraneous individuals" naturally referred to Li Qing and Fuya.

Fuya's expression shifted slightly at these words. Several divine transformation experts from the Flying Spirit Clan immediately focused their auras on them, locking them in a suffocating embrace.

Li Qing remained impassive, unfazed by the combined pressure of the group.

"Well said," another Raven Clan member hissed, his voice icy. "These two humans are an eyesore. Let's kill them both and use their lives to wear down that heavenly light pillar."

Boom!

A blazing flame materialized in Li Qing's hand.

He said nothing, his actions speaking volumes. If they wanted a fight, he was ready to strike immediately. After all, he'd already slain two Griffins; adding a few more to the count wouldn't bother him.

"Heh, still so stubborn? Then I'll be the one to shatter your pride, piece by piece," the five-colored peacock declared, unfurling his iridescent wings. A five-colored aura radiated from his body.

Late Divine Transformation Realm!

The other members of the Flying Spirit Clan also dropped their pretense, their killing intent surging forth.

A glint flashed in Li Qing's eyes as he prepared to meet their challenge.

"Hmph, this human is my friend. Flying Spirit Clan, you'd do well to curb your arrogance."

Gu Li didn't stand idly by. With a single step, he moved to Li Qing's side, sharing the pressure that surged from all directions.

The bull-headed men from Wild Bull Ridge exchanged glances and stepped forward.

"I don't care about the rest of the human race, but this one is a honored guest of Wild Bull Ridge. You Flying Spirit Clan dare not touch him."

"Well said! You Flying Spirit Clan have been up to no good in our territory lately. I've had enough of you feathered pests. If you have a problem, take it up with me."

The Barbarian Bull Clan members brandished their massive axes, their presence radiating menace.

The Flying Spirit Clan's faces paled. They hadn't expected so many to rally behind Li Qing, contrary to their expectations.

While the Barbarian Bull Clan was manageable, even they wouldn't dare provoke the Giant Spirit Race lightly.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a clear, resonant cry echoed from the sky.

Screech!

An azure light streaked across the heavens—it was an Azure Phoenix!

Boom!

As the Azure Phoenix approached, it unleashed a perfected divine transformation stage aura that suppressed the entire area.

"What is happening here? Why is Heavenly Light erupting from the great earth?"

A voice as clear as a mountain spring rang out. The Azure Phoenix's aura shifted, and it transformed into human form.

She was a woman of unparalleled beauty, even surpassing Fuya in her stunning appearance. Her presence exuded a serene, valley-like tranquility that inexplicably calmed the soul.

Surprisingly, she showed few features of the Flying Spirit Clan, appearing more like a human.

But Li Qing didn't share this view. He tensed, his expression suddenly turning grave.

The Azure Phoenix, one of the Flying Spirit Clan's Phoenix Birds, had approached.

Upon seeing their clan's heaven's chosen, several Flying Spirits smiled in delight and eagerly began explaining the situation.

Qing Yuan frowned. "Gu Li, I'll take these two humans. After I examine their seas of consciousness and confirm they weren't accomplices in killing our clan leader, I'll return them to you."

Her tone was commanding. Even in the presence of the Giant Spirit Race, she didn't hesitate to demand the humans from Gu Li.

But Gu Li refused to back down. He patted his chest and declared, "I won't betray my friends like this."

Hearing this, Li Qing felt a warmth in his heart, but he knew he had to prepare for a fierce battle today.

This renowned heaven's chosen was undoubtedly a formidable opponent, her body awakened with the potent True Spirit Azure Phoenix Bloodline, even showing signs of ancestral regression.

If a fight broke out, it would be a brutal and intense struggle.

The bull-headed men of Wild Bull Ridge showed no fear, even in the face of this heaven's chosen. They roared, "Hmph, you only dare bully the weak? Our Little Bull King might be here soon. You'd better conserve your strength!"

But Qing Yuan remained unfazed. "The Little Bull King is trapped at Life-Severing Cliff," she said coldly. "He won't escape anytime soon."

"As for your Old Black Bull, Big Brother Chi Xiao of the Night Owl Clan has shown me great kindness. Once I reach the void refinement realm, I will personally confront him and avenge Chi Xiao's blood debt."

Advancing to the void refinement realm was something that had stumped countless divine transformation experts. Yet Qing Yuan spoke of it as if it were as simple as taking a breath.

"You won't touch this human! He's an honored guest of Wild Bull Ridge!"

The atmosphere turned deathly tense. Everyone present knew that this Flying Spirit Clan member, who had awakened the Azure Phoenix bloodline, was not to be trifled with.

Just then, the heavenly light pillar abruptly vanished. In that brief moment, the depths of the earth had been laid bare.

A faint, medicinal fragrance drifted out.

Everyone's gazes snapped toward the earth's depths.

Instead of solid soil, the space within was vast and hollow, filled with strange, black vines.

Hanging from these vines were dozens of plump, dewy fruits, exuding a sweet, refreshing aroma.

Earth Spirit Grass Fruits—at least dozens of them!

"Hiss!"

Someone gasped sharply. They had never seen so many Earth Spirit Grass Fruits in their life, and the sight left them stunned.

This was a rare sight even in the Heavenlight Secret Realm's history.

"Earth Spirit Grass Fruits! There are so many!"

"Incredible! If I could get my hands on them, I could reach perfected Divine Transformation in no time!"

"My eyes must be deceiving me! This can't be a hallucination!"

The tense, murderous atmosphere instantly dissipated. Even the Flying Spirit Clan members who had been filled with hostility toward Li Qing and the others couldn't resist rushing into the underground crater to harvest the Earth Spirit Grass Fruits.

The bull-headed men from Wild Bull Ridge were equally swift. They closed the distance in three strides, using a divine ability similar to the Ground Shrinking Technique to leap into the crater blasted open by the Heavenly Light.

"Let's go! Brother Li Qing, with me!" Gu Li roared, charging forward.