253: Qiongshuang

Little White Flood Dragon looked at the glittering "mountain of treasure" before her, her large ice-blue eyes spinning rapidly.

Although she was born with an internal world, its space was limited,

and it was already stuffed full of the stones she had collected over the years that she found pretty,

ice crystals, and some low-grade Spiritual Plants; she simply couldn't fit this pile of tempting treasures right now.

"Good Big Brother~"

Little White Flood Dragon immediately switched to a cloyingly sweet voice,

her small claws gently tugging at Yao Delong's hem,

her large ice-blue eyes blinking, filled with "innocent" longing,

"Look... Little White has quite a lot of things,

and that... little ring humans use to store things, could you... give one to Little White?"

She gestured the shape of a ring as best as she could.

How could Yao Delong not see through this little money-grubber's thoughts?

Seeing her try so hard to act well-behaved while her eyes were full of "wanting," he couldn't help but chuckle.

He casually took out a storage ring of decent quality and ample space from his own storage ring and tossed it over.

"Catch."

"Thank you, Good Big Brother!"

Little White Flood Dragon cheered, her small claws catching the ring with precision,

as she fondled the tiny crystals embedded on it, unable to put it down.

Imitating Yao Delong, she clumsily sent her Divine Thought into the ring and then excitedly waved her small claw: "Collect!"

Clatter!

The Spirit Stones and Magic Treasures on the ground seemed to be pulled by an invisible force,

instantly turning into streaks of light and vanishing into the storage ring.

Qiong Shuang immediately and carefully placed the storage ring into her internal world,

only then patting her little belly with satisfaction, even though it was covered in scales,

her large ice-blue eyes curving into crescents, as if she possessed the greatest happiness in the world.

Seeing Little White Flood Dragon's money-grubbing yet easily satisfied appearance, a hint of warmth rose in Yao Delong's heart.

He squatted down, looking at the little fellow coiled at his feet, happily savoring her "wealth," and asked:

"Little White, do you have a name? I mean, besides the one you call yourself."

Hearing this, Little White Flood Dragon shook her small head, a trace of imperceptible loneliness flashing in her eyes:

"No. Little White has been here since hatching from the egg. I've never seen my parents, and no one gave Little White a name.

Those bad Yao Beasts all call Little White 'little crawler' or 'little snack'..." As she spoke, her small mouth pouted aggrievedly again.

Hearing this, everyone's hearts were moved. An orphan since birth,

surviving alone for a hundred years in this Secret Realm filled with hidden dangers, and even managing to grow to her current level,

even being able to speak human language and possessing such high intelligence,

this little fellow's Bloodline and potential were likely even more startling than they had imagined!

Recalling when they had besieged her earlier, although they had made her howl,

but those attacks seemed to have only caused superficial wounds, barely breaking a few scales,

this defensive power was likely stronger than many seventh-rank Yao Beasts that weren't specialized in defense!

Lin Qingxue's cool gaze fell upon Qiong Shuang's snow-white body, her scales as translucent as jade,

emitting a faint chill from her petite frame, and then she looked at her pure, ice-blue eyes.

Her cool voice rang out, yet it carried a rare hint of softness:

"A body like fine jade, with cold Qi condensing into Qiong Shuang. Why don't we call you 'Qiong Shuang'?"

"Qiong Shuang?" Little White Flood Dragon tilted her small head and repeated it.

Her large ice-blue eyes lit up. "Qiong Shuang... it sounds good! Much better than Little White!

This King... oh no, Qiong Shuang likes this name!"

She spun around happily in place, her small tail wagging rapidly, clearly extremely satisfied with this new name.

"Fine white like jade, snow-white like Qiong Shuang. A good name!" Lin Shishi praised with a smile.

"It is indeed fitting." Han Yun also nodded slightly.

Xiao Huohuo and Yue Shan also expressed that it was a well-chosen name.

Seeing Qiong Shuang so joyful and exuberant over just a name,

everyone felt a bit more affection for her in their hearts.

This little fellow, although money-grubbing, proud, and a bit of a coward,

her purity and authenticity made one unable to resist wanting to protect her.

Seeing that everyone had finished resting, Yao Delong took out those two Nine-Leaf Ice Heart Lotuses and said:

"These Nine-Leaf Ice Heart Lotuses contain pure Ice Soul power,

and will be of the greatest benefit to Clear Snow and Shishi among us, who Cultivate ice and water element Cultivation Techniques.

Let these two plants be refined and absorbed by the two of them."

"As it should be." Han Yun was the first to voice her agreement.

"I have no objection!" Xiao Huohuo patted his chest.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yao!" Lin Qingxue and Lin Shishi thanked him in unison, their eyes filled with gratitude.

This thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine was of immense value to them.

Lin Qingxue and Lin Shishi didn't stand on ceremony either, immediately sitting cross-legged,

and began refining and absorbing the pure energy of the Ice Heart Lotuses. The icy Qi by the cold pool was drawn in by them,

merging into their bodies strand by strand. Their auras became increasingly condensed and cool at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After about an hour, the two of them finished their work and stood up one after another, a sharp light contained within their eyes.

They had clearly gained much; although their cultivation hadn't reached a Breakthrough, their Foundations were more stable, and their ice and water element Yuan Qi had become much purer.

Yao Delong looked up at the leaden-gray sky, estimating the time.

"It's still early. Let's head to the ruins square in the west and find a way to scout out the reality of those ancient ruins."

"Alright!"

Everyone responded in unison, their Battle Intent reignited.

With Qiong Shuang joining them, the team's strength increased once more, and they had more confidence in exploring the ruins.

Qiong Shuang immediately shrunk her size and skillfully coiled back onto Yao Delong's shoulder,

her small claws tightly clutching his collar, her large ice-blue eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings,

looking every bit the responsible "personal bodyguard," while in reality, it was just convenient for her to ask for benefits at any time.

The group concealed their auras and, led by Han Yun, crept toward the ruins square like ghosts.

The closer they got to the ruins, the heavier the desolate, ancient, and somber aura became, with an invisible pressure permeating the air.

However, just as they were still several miles away from the edge of the ruins square,

bursts of violent energy booms and the roars of Yao Beasts drifted from afar like muffled thunder!

"There's a battle!"

Yao Delong's gaze narrowed, and he immediately signaled for everyone to stop,

hiding behind a massive weathered rock pillar and cautiously extending his Divine Sense to observe.

On that dilapidated square, Yuan Qi was surging, light was flashing, and the battle was incredibly intense!

In the field, two groups of people were surprisingly engaged in a fierce battle with the guarding Yao Beast pack!

One side was exactly the group Yao Delong and the others had sensed from afar earlier,

the Yao Beast pack led by that terrifying Earth-Shaking Demonic Ape!

Six Ironclad Earth Dragons, four Jade Phosphorus Demon Pythons, and that mountain-like Earth-Shaking Demonic Ape!

And the other side fighting them was a group of human Cultivators!

Yao Delong's gaze was sharp, instantly locking onto a familiar figure—the Heir of Duke Ren, Li Chen!

Li Chen was dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, holding a long saber shimmering with flowing light,

his aura of the Early Nascent Soul Stage surged around him as he fought fiercely with several Ironclad Earth Dragons with sharp saber techniques.

Wherever his saber light passed, sparks flew from the Earth Dragons' hard scales,

leaving deep gashes. However, those Earth Dragons were thick-skinned and resilient, surrounding and attacking him without fear of death.

Although Li Chen held the upper hand, it was difficult for him to completely slay them in a short time.