71: Chapter 71 Azure Phosphorous Ice Crystals

After resting, Bai Qi jumped directly down from the tree and patted the leaves off his clothes.

Having just finished absorbing her spirit ring, Ning Rongrong looked refreshed; she spent a long time staring at the spirit ring atop the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm.

Meng Yiran retracted her flying daggers and wiped them clean before sheathing them at her waist, Dugu Yan was washing her hands by the stream, and Ye Lingling withdrew the green light of the Nine Heart Begonia, standing quietly to the side.

Bai Qi took a small porcelain bottle from his storage ring, poured out several emerald-green Medicinal Pills given by Dugu Bo, and distributed them to everyone.

“One pill each. Keep it under your tongue, don't swallow. Once we enter the toxic miasma, just keep it there and you'll be fine.”

After handing them out, Bai Qi looked at Dugu Yan.

“Yanzi, you lead the way.”

Dugu Yan took the Medicinal Pill; the poison of the miasma originally had no effect on her anyway.

So after getting the pill, she tossed it directly into her mouth and started walking toward the depths of the jungle. After two steps, she suddenly remembered something, stopped, and shot a glance back at Bai Qi.

“It's not like you don't know the way, why make me lead?”

Bai Qi smiled.

“It's your grandfather's territory, it's only natural for you to lead the way..”

Dugu Yan huffed, turned around, and continued walking, muttering under her breath.

“You're just lazy.”

Bai Qi followed behind her with the others at an unhurried pace.

Once outside the toxic miasma, everyone took their Medicinal Pills and followed Dugu Yan into the dense forest.

Dugu Yan walked at the very front, occasionally pushing aside vines that blocked the path.

Bai Qi, who was immune to poison, followed behind with a relaxed expression, as if he were walking in his own back garden.

Ning Rongrong gripped the corner of Bai Qi's clothes, feeling a bit nervous, but seeing Bai Qi's nonchalant attitude, she gradually relaxed as well.

The other girls also followed closely behind Bai Qi.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the mist gradually thinned, and a hazy light appeared ahead. Dugu Yan led everyone into the valley entrance, and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well appeared before their eyes.

The air was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance; even a single breath felt refreshing.

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, her eyes lighting up.

“It smells so good.”

Meng Yiran poked her head out from behind, her eyes widening as she looked at the exotic flowers, strange herbs, and the spring water that was half blue and half red.

“This is just... too spectacular, isn't it?”

Dugu Yan gave them a proud look and strode into the valley.

The others followed behind, passing through a field of exotic plants to reach a clearing by the spring. A tent had already been set up in the clearing, and a campfire was still emitting faint blue smoke.

Xiao Wu emerged from the tent with messy hair and a sleepy flush on her face. Seeing Bai Qi's group, her eyes lit up, and she lunged forward, hanging onto Bai Qi's arm with a pout.

“What took you guys so long! Sister Yin and I have been waiting forever!”

Bai Qi smiled and rubbed her hair.

“We stopped to help Rongrong get a spirit ring on the way, so we were delayed. Is your fifth spirit ring sorted?”

“Of course!”

Xiao Wu let go of Bai Qi's arm, took two steps back, and released her Spirit.

The phantom of the Soft Bones Rabbit appeared behind her, as two yellow, one purple, and two black spirit rings slowly rose from beneath her feet, shimmering with a deep luster in the sunlight.

Ning Rongrong leaned in and asked curiously.

“Xiao Wu, what Spirit Beast was your fifth spirit ring from? How did you kill it? How long did it take?”

Xiao Wu blanked for a moment, her gaze turning a bit shifty. She couldn't very well say her fifth spirit ring was condensed by herself and that she didn't need to kill a Spirit Beast at all, but she couldn't tell the truth.

She scratched her head and said vaguely.

“It was just... a ten-thousand-year Soft Bones Rabbit. It was incredibly fast, and it took a long time to catch up. Anyway, it was quite a hassle.”

After saying that, she quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, are you guys hungry? Sister Yin made soup, I'll take you there!”

Bai Qi glanced at Xiao Wu, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he suppressed a smile, not exposing her. Ning Rongrong didn't press further either, being pulled away by Xiao Wu to check the soup.

At that moment, Ah Yin, who had sensed their arrival long ago, stepped out from behind the tent carrying a pot of freshly brewed tea.

She nodded toward Bai Qi with a gentle smile. Bai Qi took the teapot and poured a cup for everyone.

“Sister Yin, thank you for your hard work.”

Bai Qi said.

Ah Yin smiled and sat down beside him.

Dugu Yan pulled Ye Lingling to sit not far from the spring, and Meng Yiran also took out her used flying daggers to wipe them. Zhu Zhuqing sat on a rock opposite Bai Qi, quietly sipping her tea.

Bai Qi took a few sips of tea, closed his eyes to enjoy the moment for a while, then stood up and walked over to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

“Come, I'll take you to get your Immortal Plants.”

Dugu Yan stood up, and Ye Lingling followed suit.

The three of them walked along the small path by the spring, with Bai Qi in front and Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling following behind.

Bai Qi stopped in front of a medicinal herb that was entirely purple-gold. The herb was shaped like a Ganoderma, its leaves covered in fine golden patterns, emitting a faint pungent aroma.

“A mutated, or one could say evolved, jade phosphor seven absolutes flower.”

Bai Qi crouched down.

“The Old freak left this specifically for you; it might allow your Spirit to evolve.”

Dugu Yan's pupils constricted sharply. Evolution—the Jade Phosphor Serpent—was her grandfather Dugu Bo's Spirit, and currently the ultimate evolved form of the Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit.

She stared at the herb, her throat bobbing as she remained silent, carefully plucking the herb and cradling it in her palms.

Bai Qi then walked near the spring and crouched before a snow-white herb with leaves like ice crystals. The herb emitted a clear, chilling aura, with fine frost condensed on its petals.

“Lingling, this is the Ice Crystal Nine Heart Lotus. It matches your Nine Heart Begonia Spirit perfectly; it can significantly enhance your healing effects and might even add an ice attribute to your Spirit.”

After saying this, Bai Qi handed the herb to her.

Ye Lingling took the herb and nodded gently, her voice very soft.

“Thank you.”

The three returned to the camp. Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling each found a quiet spot, sat cross-legged, and began to absorb the medicinal power of the Immortal Plants.

The medicinal power of the jade phosphor seven absolutes flower was domineering, and fine beads of sweat soon appeared on Dugu Yan's forehead.

The phantom of a Jade Phosphor Snake emerged behind her, its body writhing frantically as scales peeled off one by one, revealing brand new cyan-gold scales beneath.

The snake's head slowly transformed, two fleshy lumps bulging on its crown as if something were about to burst forth.

As the medicinal power deepened, the phantom finally completed its transformation, turning into a cyan-gold Jade Phosphor Serpent with dual horns on its head that coiled behind Dugu Yan, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

Dugu Yan opened her eyes and made a grasping motion in the air; a cloud of toxic mist condensed in her palm, more than twice as dense as before.

She withdrew the poison mist, stood up, clenched her fist, and looked at Bai Qi with an irrepressible pride in her tone.

“Jade Phosphor Serpent. Once I get my fourth spirit ring, my poison will be able to threaten even high-level Spirit Kings.”

Ye Lingling's side was much quieter.

The medicinal power of the Ice Crystal Nine Heart Lotus was gentle; a faint golden halo appeared within the Nine Heart Begonia, and fine ice crystal patterns condensed on the petals, reflecting soft light in the sun.

The range and effect of her healing had both improved; while the Spirit itself hadn't undergone a qualitative change, it now possessed an aura of chilling ice.

She raised her hand, and a thin ice crystal condensed on her fingertip before melting. She retracted her Spirit, stood up, gave Bai Qi a small grateful smile, and then went to find Dugu Yan, who was testing her Spirit.

At that moment, Xiao Wu walked over and called Bai Qi over, saying on the way.

“What are we eating tonight? Sister Yin's porridge is already done.”

Bai Qi just smiled, then took out ingredients from his storage ring. Just as he was about to show off his culinary skills, Ah Yin took over and started the fire to cook, leaving Bai Qi to watch helplessly from the side.

Ning Rongrong and Meng Yiran helped wash and chop vegetables. Dugu Yan, having finished testing her Spirit, leaned against a rock reading a book. Ye Lingling sat quietly beside her watching Bai Qi, while Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes to Cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Xiao Wu crouched next to Bai Qi, resting her chin in her hands as she watched Ah Yin cook.

“Xiao Qi, are we helping Yanzi and Lingling find their fourth spirit rings tomorrow?”

Bai Qi gave an affirmative sound.

“Yeah, and maybe Yiran's fourth spirit ring in a couple of days; she should be ready once she finishes absorbing the medicinal power. But for now, we'll help Yanzi and Lingling first.”

“Then I can definitely help!”

Xiao Wu shook her fist.

“I haven't officially used my Fifth Spirit Ability yet, it's perfect for practicing on some Spirit Beasts.”

Bai Qi smiled and rubbed her hair.

As night fell, everyone sat around the campfire, drinking the soup Ah Yin had boiled and chatting about the day's experiences.

Xiao Wu chattered away about her experience getting her fifth spirit ring, even though it was all made up.

Zhu Zhuqing sat across from Bai Qi, her gaze fixed on the campfire, lost in thought.

Holding his bowl, Bai Qi looked at the group and suddenly smiled. Ah Yin noticed.

“What are you smiling at?”

Bai Qi shook his head.

“Nothing. I just think... this is quite nice.”

Ah Yin didn't press further, only gently patting his hand.

After dinner, the night had grown deep. At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Bai Qi sat in the spot he usually occupied.

Suddenly, a figure appeared within Bai Qi's perception. Bai Qi instantly became alert, but by the time he looked over with his Purple Demon Eye, the figure had already vanished.