53: Chapter 53: Why are you being so nice to me? You're not trying to pick me up, are you?

Lu Jing looked at the vast sea of white flowers covering the mountains and plains, listened to Wang Donger's exclamation, and nodded gently, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible melancholy: "In the World ten thousand years later, spirit tools have developed too quickly. Cities are constantly expanding, steel and concrete have replaced vegetation, and the tracks of spirit tool trains extend into every inch of land, even the sky is fragmented by the contrails of flying vehicles. Not to mention such a sea of flowers, even large patches of forest have become a rarity."

They came from the Douluo Continent ten thousand years later, having witnessed the convenience brought by spirit tool technology, and also having witnessed the desolation after nature was destroyed.

Those towering spirit tool towers, those roaring factories, while bringing the progress of civilization, have also devoured too many pure natural scenes.

Hearing this, a flash of understanding passed through Wang Donger's eyes.

Although she grew up in the Clear Sky Sect, she had also been to prosperous cities and knew how great the changes brought by spirit tools to life were.

It was just that she had never thought that behind this kind of change was the extinction of so many natural scenes.

"Let's not talk about this anymore."

She came back to her senses, turned her gaze back to the surroundings, and asked curiously: "Where exactly is the thing we are looking for? It can't be these flowers, right?"

"I only know it's roughly in this back mountain; we still need to search for the specific location."

Lu Jing spread his hands, his Mental Energy spreading out like an invisible net, carefully probing every trace of energy fluctuation, and said: "This place hides a special aura, very faint, we need to search slowly."

Wang Donger didn't ask any more questions, calmed her mind, mobilized the Soul Power in her body, and cooperated with Lu Jing to perceive together.

The Soul Power of the Radiant Goddess Butterfly flowed quietly around her; the perception of vitality was her forte, and perhaps she could capture some details that Lu Jing ignored.

The bright moon hung high, casting its clear light everywhere.

Two figures walked side by side in the sea of flowers, their clothes fluttering, blending into the surrounding scenery.

Sometimes they would stop to listen intently, sometimes they would bend down to inspect the traces on the ground, with a tacit understanding as if they had practiced it thousands of times.

Time passed bit by bit, the mountain wind gradually became cooler, brushing against their cheeks with the moisture of dew.

Wang Donger tucked the hair blown messy by the wind, just about to say something, when she suddenly trembled, as if stung lightly by something.

She blinked her powder-blue eyes violently, subconsciously turning her head to look at the forest not far away.

There, the trees were dense, shadows were heavy, and it appeared somewhat deep and secluded under the moonlight.

"What's wrong?" Lu Jing sensed her abnormality, immediately stopped, followed her gaze, and his Mental Energy became highly concentrated instantly.

Wang Donger frowned, carefully feeling that strange touch just now, her tone carrying a bit of uncertainty: "I seem to... have felt something. A very weak connection, as if it came from my bloodline, indescribable and unclear, very strange."

She reached out her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly; that feeling flashed and disappeared, but it had existed, as if something was calling her from a faraway place.

Lu Jing was stunned at first, then a flash of realization passed through his eyes, and his heart suddenly became enlightened.

Although Wang Donger was not yet the complete Tang Wutong and did not even know her true identity, the bloodline of Tang Wutong flowed in her body after all.

And Tang Wutong's father was Tang San, her grandfather was Tang Hao, and her grandmother was Ah Yin—that Spirit Beast who had transformed from a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor.

How powerful was Ah Yin's bloodline power; even after several generations of inheritance, it might not completely dissipate. Wang Donger being able to feel the bloodline connection was most likely related to Ah Yin!

"Can you determine the general direction?"

Lu Jing's voice carried a hint of imperceptible urgency.

The thing he wanted to find had inseparable ties with Ah Yin, and Wang Donger's induction was undoubtedly the most precise guidance.

Wang Donger closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried hard to capture that faint connection.

A moment later, she opened her eyes and raised her chin towards that deep forest: "It's right over there, deep in the forest."

"Let's go!" Lu Jing made a prompt decision, took Wang Donger's hand, and walked quickly towards the forest.

Although Wang Donger was full of doubts, not understanding why she would have a bloodline induction to this strange forest, and even less understanding why Lu Jing suddenly became so urgent, she still obediently followed his footsteps.

That call from the dark became clearer and clearer, making her unable to help but want to find out the truth.

The two walked quickly through the forest, the fallen leaves under their feet making a "rustling" sound. The deeper they went, the thicker the trees became, and the light became darker and darker, with only sporadic moonlight shining through the gaps in the branches and leaves, barely illuminating the road ahead.

Not knowing how long they had walked, a "swishing" sound of water suddenly came from ahead, carrying the clear and cold breath unique to mountain streams.

Wang Donger stopped, listened for a moment, and said to Lu Jing: "It seems to be the sound of a waterfall, right in front."

Lu Jing nodded, his Mental Energy having already detected an abnormal energy fluctuation not far ahead; that aura connected to Wang Donger's bloodline was coming from there.

The two quickened their pace, passed through the last dense thicket, and the scene before them suddenly opened up.

A waterfall that was not wide but exceptionally rapid poured down from the cliff, the water hitting the pool below, splashing mist into the sky.

The moonlight shone on the water mist, refracting a faint rainbow, appearing exceptionally dreamy in the night.

Wang Donger stood by the pool, closing her eyes, feeling the source of that bloodline connection.

A moment later, she opened her eyes, reached out and pointed to the middle of the waterfall, and said with a certain tone: "It's right there, behind the waterfall!"

Lu Jing looked in the direction she pointed; the waterfall was rapid, impacting the rock wall to form a white water curtain, and it was impossible to see the situation behind it at all.

But he could feel that there was indeed a weak energy barrier behind the water curtain, isolating outside investigation.

"Let's go in and take a look." Lu Jing turned to look at Wang Donger, his eyes flashing with excitement.

Wang Donger nodded, the two looked at each other, and simultaneously mobilized their Soul Power.

Lu Jing jumped gently, his figure flashing out like a ghost.

Behind Wang Donger, a pair of gorgeous Radiant Goddess Butterfly wings unfolded, carrying her to fly lightly.

The two were like two streams of light, and at the moment the water curtain was about to close, they accurately passed through and landed steadily on the rock wall in the middle of the waterfall.

Water drops dripped down their hair and robes; Wang Donger raised her hand to wipe the water from her face, only then seeing the scene before her clearly.

On the rock wall behind the waterfall, there was indeed a cave entrance, only it was tightly blocked by a huge rock, the rock and the rock wall were seamless; if not for Wang Donger's bloodline induction, no one would have thought that a cave was hidden here.

"This is it." Wang Donger said affirmatively; that feeling of bloodline connection was coming from behind this rock.

Lu Jing took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes.

He spread his right hand, the pitch-black power of destruction quietly condensing in his palm, and a World-Destroying Black Lotus exuding a terrifying aura slowly emerged, the lotus petals opening and closing as if it could devour all the surrounding light.

"Step back a little." Lu Jing said to Wang Donger.

Wang Donger quickly retreated a few steps, looking at the World-Destroying Black Lotus in Lu Jing's palm, a flash of surprise in her eyes.

What kind of origin did this Spirit have?

Lu Jing did not hesitate, waved his arm, and the World-Destroying Black Lotus rushed towards that huge rock with a whistling sound.

"Boom—!"

A deafening loud noise echoed in the waterfall, and the moment the World-Destroying Black Lotus collided with the rock, the terrifying power of destruction erupted.

That extremely hard rock was as fragile as tofu in front of the World-Destroying Black Lotus, instantly blasted into pieces, and the broken stones fell into the pool below with the water, splashing a huge spray.

The rock was broken open, revealing a cave entrance only wide enough for one person to pass through.

Lu Jing dissipated the power of destruction in his palm and signaled to Wang Donger: "Let's go in and take a look."

The two walked into the cave one after another.

The inside of the cave was pitch black, with only the faint moonlight penetrating from the waterfall outside, barely illuminating the road under their feet.

A damp, moldy smell permeated the air, mixed with a faint scent of soil.

The cave was not large, more like a stone room dug out artificially.

Wang Donger looked around with the help of the moonlight and found that the furnishings inside were extremely simple—only a simple stone bed, and a half-dead plant beside the stone bed.

That was a Blue Silver Grass, but it was completely different from ordinary Blue Silver Grass.

Its leaves were a strange blue-gold color, but at this moment, they were curled up, dull in color, and emitted a vitality so weak it was almost negligible, as if it would wither completely in the next second.

Wang Donger's gaze was instantly drawn to this Blue Silver Grass.

She stepped forward, crouched down in front of the Blue Silver Grass, her pink-blue eyes filled with confusion.

"How could it be it?" she murmured to herself, extending a finger to carefully touch the blue-gold leaf.

As soon as her fingertip made contact, that sense of bloodline connection came through clearly again, stronger than any time before.

But she really couldn't understand how she could resonate in bloodline with a Blue Silver Grass.

Even if this Blue Silver Grass had a strange color, it was ultimately just a plant.

Lu Jing didn't disturb her, his gaze falling on the stone bed.

He walked to the stone bed, reached out to fumble under the bed frame for a moment, and his fingertips suddenly touched a hard object.

His heart stirred; he bent down and exerted force to drag the thing out from under the stone bed.

It was a stone box about half a foot square, with some blurry patterns carved on its surface. It looked quite old and was covered in a thick layer of dust.

Hearing the commotion, Wang Donger stood up, walked over to Lu Jing, and curiously examined the stone box: "What is this?"

Lu Jing brushed the dust off the stone box, a mysterious smile curling the corners of his mouth: "It should be the thing we came here to find."

After speaking, he reached out, grabbed the lid of the stone box, and pried it open with force.

With a soft "click," the stone box was opened.

The moment the stone box opened, an incomparably vast and pure aura of life surged out from within, filling the entire stone chamber like a breached dam.

This aura was gentle yet majestic, and wherever it passed, even the musty smell in the air was dispelled, as if it could make withered wood bloom and bring all things back to life.

Wang Donger instinctively held her breath, looking at the contents of the stone box, her eyes filled with shock.

The stone box was lined with a layer of soft hay, and resting quietly on the hay was a Spirit Bone.

The Spirit Bone was the same blue-gold color as the Blue Silver Grass, crystal clear throughout, as if carved from the purest jade, covered with fine golden lines that flowed with a faint luster like blood vessels.

Just looking at it, one could feel the terrifying energy contained within.

"Th-this is..." Wang Donger's voice trembled slightly. Although she couldn't recognize the specific origin of this Spirit Bone, she could feel how terrifying the power contained within it was.

A flash of realization and excitement crossed Lu Jing's eyes.

He naturally recognized that this blue-gold Spirit Bone was none other than the 100,000-year Right Leg Bone left behind by Ah Yin after she sacrificed herself to save Tang Hao all those years ago!

Ah Yin was a 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor, and her Spirit Bone contained an extremely vast amount of life energy, making it one of the top-tier Spirit Bones on the Douluo Continent.

Back then, because Tang Hao had already absorbed six Spirit Bones and was limited by the rule that a Spirit Master could only absorb six, he couldn't absorb this Right Leg Bone, so he hid it here, while also leaving behind the main body of this Blue Silver Emperor, hoping that one day it could be revitalized.

And now, Tang Hao had already left Saint Spirit Village, following Tang San and Yu Xiaogang to the Spirit Hunting Forest, so this Spirit Bone naturally became ownerless, and they just happened to stumble upon it.

(Seeing quite a few people asking about Tang Hao, let me explain here. Although the book doesn't explicitly state whether Tang Hao was in Saint Spirit Village at this time, one can guess that he wasn't. After all, Tang Hao knows very well what Yu Xiaogang's combat capability is; he couldn't possibly just leave them alone, given that it's the Spirit Hunting Forest, where countless Spirit Beasts could claim the lives of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. Besides, there are already many plot holes in the book, so everyone shouldn't take it too seriously; this is also why there are so many fanfictions of Douluo.)

"A 100,000-year Spirit Bone."

Lu Jing said softly, his tone carrying a hint of emotion.

"100,000-year?!" Wang Donger gasped, her shock deepening.

A 100,000-year Spirit Bone was a legendary existence, with very few in the entire Douluo Continent; she never expected to see one with her own eyes here.

She looked at Lu Jing and asked curiously: "How do you intend to handle it?"

Lu Jing didn't hesitate at all, picked up the blue-gold Spirit Bone, and shoved it directly into Wang Donger's arms: "I promised to find you a treasure, and this one is very suitable."

Watching Wang Donger's surprised expression, he explained: "This is the 100,000-year Right Leg Bone of the Blue Silver Emperor, containing extremely vast life energy.

Although it is a life attribute and doesn't perfectly match your light attribute, it is of great benefit to increasing your Soul Power and nourishing your meridians; it's quite a good thing."

Wang Donger held the heavy Spirit Bone, feeling the life energy flowing within it, and was completely stunned.

She was surprised not only by the rank and quality of this Spirit Bone but even more so by Lu Jing's generosity.

A 100,000-year Spirit Bone was enough to drive any Spirit Master crazy; had Lu Jing really just given it to her so easily?

She raised her head, looking at Lu Jing, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes filled with a trace of suspicion and caution: "Why... why are you so good to me?"

She paused, as if thinking of something, her cheeks slightly flushed, her tone testing him: "You wouldn't happen to be... trying to woo me, would you?"

Lu Jing was stunned at first upon hearing this, then immediately amused by her straightforward words.

He stepped forward, leaned down slightly, and moved close to Wang Donger's cheek. The young man's scent carried a hint of fresh grass and wood, his eyes filled with a mix of playfulness and seriousness: "Then, my dear Sister Donger, would you be willing to give me that chance?"

He was very close, so close that Wang Donger could clearly see herself in his eyes.

The young man's eyes were deep and bright, carrying a hint of playfulness, yet hiding an imperceptible tenderness.

Wang Donger's heart skipped a beat for no reason. She hurriedly retreated a step, avoiding his gaze, and snorted softly, trying her best to put on an arrogant front: "We'll see how you perform later. If your performance is good enough, this young lady might consider it."

After speaking, she turned around to hide her slightly flushed cheeks, her gaze falling back on the Blue Silver Grass, changing the subject: "What about this thing?"

She walked over to the Blue Silver Grass, looking at this half-dead Blue Silver Emperor with a puzzled expression: "I really don't understand, who on earth planted it here? There's no sunlight, no fertilizer, the soil is pitifully barren, and even the moisture was mostly blocked by that giant rock earlier. It's a miracle it managed to survive like this."

Lu Jing walked to her side, looking at the Blue Silver Emperor, a flash of complex emotion crossing his eyes.

This Blue Silver Grass was the main body of Ah Yin, and also Tang San's mother.

If Tang San hadn't been capable enough in the end, Tang Hao probably wouldn't have been able to see Ah Yin again until he died.

"It's truly not easy."

Lu Jing nodded, pondered for a moment, and said: "How about we take it with us? It's a life after all, and... it seems to have a special connection to you."

Wang Donger thought for a moment and nodded: "That works. It's no trouble to take it back anyway, let's see if we can save it."

Although she didn't understand why this Blue Silver Grass resonated with her in bloodline, that clear feeling from earlier couldn't be faked, making her inexplicably reluctant to watch it die just like that.

Lu Jing carefully pulled the Blue Silver Emperor up by its roots, wrapped it up well, and placed it into a wooden box he took out from his storage spirit tool.

Wang Donger held the blue-gold 100,000-year Spirit Bone, her face still carrying a trace of unbelievable joy.

The two of them packed up, looked at each other, and saw satisfied expressions in each other's eyes.

"Let's go, it's time to return," Lu Jing said.

"Mm." Wang Donger nodded.

The two turned around, followed the path they came by, walked out of the cave, passed through the waterfall, and disappeared into the vast night.

The moonlight was still bright, the waterfall still roared, as if nothing had happened.

Only the shattered rocks and the empty stone chamber proved that someone had been here.

The back mountain of Saint Spirit Village returned to its former tranquility once more, but no one knew that two treasures capable of changing the landscape of the Douluo Continent had just been lost here.