42: Chapter 42 The Divine Source Appears in the World, But the Cicada Is Waiting in the Back!

Xu Chen was stunned for three seconds.

"Senior Brother Lin, what about letting me practice as you said?"

"Look, there are still three left."

"...But they've all surrendered."

"Isn't that perfect? Surrendered ones are easier to fight, they won't fight back."

Xu Chen opened his mouth, then suddenly felt he couldn't win an argument against Lin Yi.

Chu Wanqing stood to the side, laughing so hard her shoulders shook.

A faint smile also touched the corners of Su Yuxi's lips, but she quickly suppressed it, returning to her usual aloof demeanor.

She didn't want Lin Yi to see her smiling.

Though she herself didn't know why she didn't want him to see.

After dealing with the Ore Beasts, the group continued onward.

Lin Yi would occasionally stop to pluck a few high-quality Spirit Medicines from the mine walls.

Those hidden treasures shrouded in ominous Qi, which even Saint-realm experts might fail to detect.

Under the gaze of his Primordial Immortal Pupil, none could remain concealed.

With a casual pluck, he obtained a Millennium Earth's Heart Blood Lotus.

Another casual dig unearthed a piece of Chiyang Ore imbued with pure fire-attribute spiritual power.

Eventually, even Xu Chen's storage ring was almost full.

"Senior Brother Lin, this isn't treasure hunting, this is wholesale clearance."

Xu Chen, arms laden with Spirit Medicines, panted from the effort.

Lin Yi gave him a cool glance.

"Too much? Then put them down."

"No, no, no! Not too much! Not too much at all!"

Xu Chen immediately hugged the Spirit Medicines tighter.

What a joke! Any one of these items taken outside would make other Cultivators fight tooth and nail for it.

He might be chubby, but he wasn't stupid.

Lin Yi paid no further mind to Xu Chen's muttering.

He activated his Primordial Immortal Pupil once more, casting his gaze deep into the mine veins.

That diligent little treasure-hunting rat had successfully navigated through the natural Formation in the middle layer.

Though looking a bit worse for wear, it had indeed reached the outskirts of the core region.

Judging by Ye Chen's speed and condition,

he would likely need another two to three days to reach the location of the ancient divine source.

The timing was just perfect.

Lin Yi withdrew his gaze, the curve at the corner of his mouth deepening further.

"We'll camp here for the night and rest."

He found a relatively high, well-ventilated platform.

After casually setting up a few Restrictions, he sat down on the ground.

"Why stop here?"

Su Yuxi was somewhat puzzled.

At their pace, they could easily continue deeper.

Lin Yi took a sip of the spirit tea handed to him by Xu Chen and said leisurely,

"What's the hurry?"

"Someone up ahead is clearing the path for us."

"Once he finishes the hardest work, we can just go over and clean up the aftermath."

Su Yuxi's brow furrowed slightly.

She confirmed something once again.

Lin Yi's target was never the minor Opportunities within this ancient mine.

His target was the biggest prize, the one in the hands of that Source Heaven Master named Ye Chen.

She glanced back the way they had come.

Remembering the other Cultivators who had been chased by Ore Beasts, crying for their parents, or trapped in lethal Formations, suffering a fate worse than death.

Then she looked at the young man before her, sipping spirit tea with utter contentment.

Su Yuxi suddenly felt that

staying by Lin Yi's side might truly be the most correct choice she had ever made in her life.

Though this thought made her somewhat displeased.

Night grew darker.

Deep within the ancient mine.

Ye Chen leaned against a piece of Ore, his eyes bloodshot, staring fixedly ahead.

That faint, elusive life aura emanating from the darkness.

Closer.

He was getting closer and closer to the ancient divine source.

...

Three days later.

Taichu Ancient Mine, Core Region.

The deeper they went, the Death Qi in the air grew thinner instead.

Replacing it was an extremely faint, yet incredibly pure life aura.

That aura was like the first breath of spring wind in a ten-thousand-year winter.

Inconsequential, yet it made one's spirits lift.

Ye Chen felt it.

His heartbeat abruptly accelerated.

The needle on the compass in his hand had stopped spinning.

Instead, it pointed straight and unwavering into the depths of the pitch-black mine tunnel ahead.

"It's right ahead!"

Ye Chen's voice was so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable.

He hadn't slept for three days, his vital essence depleted by nearly forty percent.

The wound on his left shoulder still oozed blood, each step pulling with a tearing pain.

But at this moment, his eyes shone brighter than ever.

It was the madness of a gambler who has gone all-in, seeing the final card.

The two guardian Cultivators also sensed the life aura, their spirits lifting.

The one-armed guardian said, "Young Master Ye, this aura... could it truly be the legendary ancient divine source?"

Ye Chen didn't answer.

He quickened his pace.

The tunnel grew narrower and lower.

Finally, the three of them were almost crawling forward.

Fragments of Ore occasionally fell from above, hitting Ye Chen's face, but he paid them no mind.

After walking for about half an hour,

the tunnel ahead suddenly opened up.

An immense underground cavern appeared before the three.

Ye Chen's footsteps halted abruptly.

He froze in place.

The two guardians also stopped, both sucking in a sharp breath.

The scene before them far exceeded their imagination.

The cavern's diameter was at least a thousand zhang.

The dome was inlaid with countless glowing mineral crystals, illuminating the entire space.

And in the very center of the cavern,

a cubic zhang of multicolored crystal floated quietly in mid-air.

The crystal shimmered with flowing seven-colored light, its interior seemingly nurturing a miniature Universe.

A brilliant galaxy, myriad phenomena revolving.

A life essence so vast it was suffocating continuously surged from the crystal.

Condensing into a vast ocean of spiritual liquid around it.

The air was filled with a refreshing, heart-soothing fragrance.

After just a few breaths, the deep, bone-exposing wound on Ye Chen's left shoulder

actually began to heal at a visible rate.

The one-armed guardian trembled all over.

At the stump of his severed arm, there were faint signs of flesh and bone regenerating.

"The ancient... ancient divine source!"

Ye Chen's lips trembled.

His legs went weak, nearly causing him to kneel.

Not from fear.

From excitement.

From the near-manic exhilaration of finally seeing hope

after being suppressed for too long.

This was what he had been searching for.

This was Ye Chen's final bargaining chip to turn the tables.

As long as he refined this ancient divine source, not only would his Ancient Desolate Holy Body achieve Major Achievement,

but he could also resolve that damned curse plaguing the lineage of the Source Heaven Masters in one fell swoop.

By then,

be it the top of the three thousand extreme dao list,

or the Holy Son of Tianxuan, Lin Yi,

they would all have to bow before him, Ye Chen!

"Hahaha!"

Ye Chen threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing back and forth in the cavern, lingering.

That laughter held release, madness, resentment, and the cathartic joy of finally vindicating oneself.

"Lin Yi! You think you've won?"

"You merely won an auction!"

"The true Opportunity is here!"

"This is the destiny that belongs to me, Ye Chen!"

"Next, this young master will make sure you die without a burial place!"