Chapter 978: Breaking the Stalemate

Navigating the vast space within the Spirit-Devouring Flower, Li Qing eventually found Gu Li, who was also struggling to hold on.

Gu Li, alone and isolated, found himself in an even more precarious situation. The Giant Spirit Race's massive physique made them even more vulnerable to the Spirit-Devouring Flower's corrosive effects.

"Brother Li Qing, what kind of treasure is this? It's truly extraordinary," Gu Li asked, panting heavily as he collapsed to the ground, drawing spiritual energy from the spirit stone in his hand.

"Just a rare treasure refined from the stomach of a Spirit Devouring Beast. Its power is quite ordinary, nothing worth mentioning," Li Qing replied.

With that, he activated the Human Seed Pouch again, enveloping Gu Li within its protective embrace.

Relieved to be saved, Gu Li generously pressed an Earth Spirit Grass Fruit into Li Qing's hand.

"Brother Li, please don't refuse. I have several more. My life is worth far more than a single spirit fruit."

Ultimately, Li Qing accepted the fruit.

Now, he possessed four Earth Spirit Grass Fruits. If sold at the Giant Spirit Race's royal city, they could fetch six hundred thousand merit points!

However, Li Qing had no intention of selling them. Having consumed so many Brahma Clarity Pills, their effectiveness for him had diminished. To rapidly advance his cultivation, these Earth Spirit Grass Fruits were his only remaining option.

"Many thanks, Brother Gu Li!" Li Qing cupped his fists in thanks.

"Heh heh, it was nothing!"

"Let's go. I know where the Flying Spirit Clan gathers—I spotted their tracks earlier."

"Now you can squeeze them for a hefty sum!"

Gu Li wasn't foolish. Seeing the Barbarian Bull Clan members accompanying Li Qing, he immediately understood his intentions.

To get out, they needed more allies, but that didn't stop Li Qing from demanding an exorbitant price.

Just as the group was preparing to set out, the surrounding space began to tremble violently, as if a massive earthquake had struck.

"Not good! The Spirit-Devouring Flower has sensed the abnormality within its body—it's starting to resist!" Gu Li exclaimed, swiftly producing a top-grade spirit stone.

Boom!

Without hesitation, he crushed the stone and began rapidly refining the pure spiritual energy that erupted from it.

"We can't delay any longer. We must find the Flying Spirit Clan quickly and work together to burst the Spirit-Devouring Flower's belly."

Gu Li's decisive act of crushing a top-grade spirit stone made Li Qing and the others realize that the situation could not be delayed any further.

Whoosh!

Soon, a thicker layer of viscous fluid surged from all directions, like an incoming tide.

The Spirit-Devouring Flower intensified its refining efforts. If they delayed any longer, while Li Qing and his group might remain unharmed, those without his protection could perish swiftly.

Under Gu Li's guidance, they finally located the assembled Flying Spirit Clan.

They had gathered around a massive, glowing crystal, desperately resisting the corrosive effects of the surrounding fluid.

Within the crystal, which emitted an eerie luminescence, two figures were entwined: the Azure Phoenix Saintess of the Flying Spirit Clan and Fuya!

Both women remained motionless, their postures somewhat undignified, their exposed skin glowing with a faint pinkish hue.

"This..."

Even Li Qing's eyes widened in shock at the slightly disturbing scene.

"Fuya's bewitching arts are truly profound. She didn't even spare the Flying Spirit Clan's saintess?"

But now was not the time to dwell on such matters. Li Qing cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, friends of the Flying Spirit Clan, if you wish to live, hand over all the Earth Spirit Grass Fruits you possess, and I will let you survive."

Some of the Flying Spirit Clan had already died, their lower-cultivation Nascent Soul realm members unable to withstand the Spirit-Devouring Flower's refining process.

The remaining Divine Transformation realm members were also extremely weakened. They only turned their gaze toward Li Qing's head when they heard his voice.

A peculiar gray pouch had somehow absorbed all the surrounding gastric fluid without any signs of corrosion.

The group exchanged glances before gritting their teeth and saying, "Protecting the saintess's safety is paramount! Give him the Earth Spirit Grass Fruits!"

One Flying Spirit Clan member reluctantly produced an Earth Spirit Grass Fruit from his person, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Li Qing ignored their resentment, accepting the thrown fruit with a smile.

"Only four? I recall your clan collecting at least eight Earth Spirit Grass Fruits in the underground space earlier."

Li Qing chuckled softly as he weighed the plump, round fruit in his hand.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two more Earth Spirit Grass Fruits were tossed his way. A member of the Flying Spirit Clan called out, "This is all we have left. The remaining two are with our saintess, but for some reason, something has happened to her."

"Hurry! We're dying!"

Catching the fruits, Li Qing now held ten precious Earth Spirit Grass Fruits—more than enough to cultivate to the late divine transformation realm!

Such a bountiful harvest was rare even in the history of the Heavenlight Secret Realm.

Keeping his promise, Li Qing enveloped the group in the protective embrace of the Human Seed Pouch, shielding them from the corrosive slime.

"You'd better recover your mana quickly. We need to break through this blockade together. My treasure's capacity is limited."

Moreover, the Spirit-Devouring Flower was growing increasingly frenzied. Who knew what disaster might occur if they delayed any longer?

Under the protection of the Human Seed Pouch, the powerhouses from various clans temporarily set aside their animosities and began restoring their depleted mana.

Outside, the colossal Spirit-Devouring Flower was truly going mad.

It sensed that it could no longer absorb nutrients from the humans it had swallowed, and its gastric fluid was inexplicably draining away without a trace.

This was the first time it had encountered such a bizarre situation, filling it with deep unease.

Boom!

Thorns erupted from the Spirit-Devouring Flower's body, burrowing rapidly into the earth.

It needed to report this situation to its kin—a catastrophic change was occurring within its belly.

But it was already too late. In mere moments, its massive form began to twist violently.

Claw marks, fist prints, and axe imprints materialized across its body, while violent waves of spiritual power erupted from within.

With so many Divine Transformation experts attacking simultaneously and its gastric fluid draining away, the flower couldn't resist. It had already exceeded its limits.

The next instant, a deafening explosion shook the world.

Boom!

The Fluorescent Grassland was nearly torn apart, cracks spreading nearly ten thousand zhang across the land, as if an earthquake had struck.