249: Huge gains

At the same time, in a treacherous jungle filled with Poisonous Thorns, tens of thousands of miles away from the valley where Yao Delong was located.

Xiao Chen, Luo Tianying, Meng Bi, Scarface, and the four Deacon Elders of the Moyang Sect—

Liang Kun, Blood Butcher, Ghost Shadow, and Iron Mountain—a group of eight people were carefully traversing the area.

"Damn it, this wretched place!"

Meng Bi cursed under his breath as he split open a path-blocking black vine covered in Poisonous Thorns.

"There are Yao Beasts like locusts, and Poisonous Insects and Poisonous Grass everywhere! How far have we even gone in half a day?"

Liang Kun's withered face was expressionless. "Ghost Shadow, confirm their location!"

Ghost Shadow, shrouded in black mist, spoke with an ethereal voice:

"Hall Master Liang, your subordinate is using the 'Shadow Tracing Secret Art' to sense them.

The aura in the target area experienced a fierce energy burst several hours ago,

and then became silent. Their position hasn't changed much.

They are likely staying put somewhere, or they have run into trouble."

"Trouble?"

A hint of viciousness and pleasure flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.

"They better have been torn apart by high-grade Yao Beasts! It would save us the trouble of doing it ourselves!"

"Young Master, do not be careless."

Iron Mountain said in a deep voice. He continuously cast Hand Seals, and streaks of earthy yellow spiritual light sank into the surrounding ground,

forming simple warning Restrictions to avoid some hidden dangers.

"Being able to trigger such violent energy fluctuations means the trouble they encountered was significant, but it could also mean they were seizing some kind of treasure."

"Treasure?"

Blood Butcher licked his lips, a bloodthirsty gleam appearing in his eyes. "Perfect! We'll take both the people and the treasure!"

Luo Tianying's purple eyes shifted as she leaned lazily against a dead tree.

It was as if this treacherous environment had no effect on her, save for the faint, elusive smile playing on her lips.

"Speed up!" Liang Kun put away his Compass, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Whether they are dead or alive, whether they gained a treasure or suffered a disaster,

we must arrive immediately! Ensure nothing goes wrong!"

The eight figures, carrying fierce killing intent, were like jackals smelling blood.

Guided by Ghost Shadow, they accelerated their stealthy movement toward the southwest.

On Yao Delong's side, the six figures were like startled birds.

They rushed out of the scorching cave in disarray, pushing their speed to the extreme, fleeing desperately away from the entrance.

Behind them, the mountain-shattering roar of the Lava Behemoth and the piercing shrieks of the Yao Bat Swarm,

followed closely like Maggots Clinging to Bone, stirring up the air in the valley.

Fortunately, although the Lava Behemoth possessed infinite strength and monstrous defense,

its speed was truly clumsy, and its massive body moved even slower across the complicated terrain.

Han Yun led Lin Shishi, Yue Shan carried Xiao Huohuo, and Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue sped side-by-side.

The six pushed their speed to the maximum, and in just a short while,

they left the terrifying roars far behind them until they finally vanished completely.

After fleeing for over a hundred miles in one breath and confirming complete safety, the group stopped behind a relatively secluded,

moss-covered boulder. Each person was slightly breathless,

their faces showing the joy of surviving a disaster, but even more so, an uncontrollable excitement!

"Hoo... hoo... you scared this Young Master to death!"

Xiao Huohuo patted his chest, still feeling lingering fear, but immediately his eyes lit up like light bulbs.

"But it was worth it! Totally worth it! Senior Brother Yao, quickly look at our harvest!"

Yao Delong also smiled and took out the Cold Jade Treasure Vase.

The vase body was smooth, yet felt slightly scorching to the touch.

Inside, the crimson-gold heart-burning stone milk flowed, emitting vast and pure fire-attribute energy.

"Over two thousand catties of heart-burning stone milk!"

Yao Delong's voice held a trace of excitement. "A conservative estimate puts the value at over twenty thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Hiss!

Even Nascent Soul experts as knowledgeable as Lin Qingxue and Han Yun couldn't help but gasp in shock.

One day! In just one day since entering the Secret Realm, they had acquired such immense wealth!

This efficiency was simply astonishing!

"Haha! We're rich! Following Senior Brother Yao really means there's meat to eat!"

Xiao Huohuo rubbed his hands excitedly, practically drooling.

Lin Shishi's beautiful eyes also shone, her pretty face flushed red with excitement.

Yao Delong's gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on Han Yun and Yue Shan, who had contributed the most. He said sincerely:

"To be able to obtain this treasure this time, Senior Sister Han and Elder Brother Yue Shan deserve the greatest credit.

But I propose that we divide this heart-burning stone milk equally among the six of us, about three hundred catties each. How does that sound?"

"Junior Brother Yao, you can handle the distribution."

A rare hint of softness appeared on Han Yun's cold face.

"If it weren't for your slot and leadership, we wouldn't even have the qualification to enter this Secret Realm.

This current harvest is already a pleasant surprise."

"That's right, Young Master Yao!"

Yue Shan patted his chest and said gruffly, "I, Old Yue, came here to protect you all! Whatever you say about the division, goes!"

Lin Qingxue nodded slightly in agreement. Xiao Huohuo and Lin Shishi naturally had no objections.

Seeing everyone's trust, Yao Delong didn't stand on ceremony and nodded.

"Good! Then we shall proceed!"

He immediately activated his spiritual power, and the Cold Jade Treasure Vase flashed with light.

The crimson-gold stone milk torrent was precisely divided into six streams, each flowing into six slightly smaller Jade Vases.

"Here!" Yao Delong distributed the Jade Vases to the group.

Xiao Huohuo received his share,

feeling the warmth and vast energy emanating from the Jade Vase, smiling so wide his mouth wouldn't close:

"Hehe, over three thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones! It's only the second day, this trip to the Secret Realm was too worthwhile!"

Everyone looked delighted, the massive harvest diluting the memory of the previous danger.

After adjusting their breathing slightly and recovering their depleted Vital Energy,

everyone's eyes turned to the next target—the Cold Pond Nine-Leaf Ice Heart Lotus!

Led by Lin Qingxue, the six people sped toward the true north of the valley.

The closer they got to the Cold Pond, the more sharply the air temperature dropped, and a bone-chilling coldness permeated the area.

Even though it was precisely noon, the sunlight barely managed to penetrate the lead-gray clouds,

unable to dispel the eternal, deep chill of the place.

Soon, a deep, bottomless, dark blue Cold Pond appeared before everyone's eyes.

The pond water seemed like solidified Cold Jade, emitting visible white cold Qi.

The surface of the pond was calm and waveless, its stillness making one's heart tremble.

On a small island in the center of the pond, three lotus flowers, crystal clear and seemingly carved from Ice Crystals, quietly bloomed.

The lotus flowers had nine long, translucent leaves, and at the central seedpod,

nine Lotus Seeds, like Ice Soul Stars, radiated extremely pure Ice Soul Power. These were the Thousand-Year Nine-Leaf Ice Heart Lotuses!

"Hiss... so cold!"

Xiao Huohuo couldn't help but shiver, quickly activating his Fire-Attribute Cultivation Technique to ward off the cold.

Even so, he felt his limbs stiffen slightly.

Lin Shishi Cultivated a Water-Attribute Cultivation Technique, giving her slightly stronger resistance to the cold, but her pretty face was still pale.

"Be careful, the Guardian is in the pond."

Lin Qingxue reminded them, her sharp gaze scanning the calm surface of the pond.

Han Yun stepped forward, a flash of light in her Emerald Eyes. Her powerful Nascent Soul Divine Thought spread out like invisible tentacles,

cautiously probing toward the depths of the Cold Pond, attempting to pinpoint the location of the Guardian Yao Beast.