67: Chapter 67

Within the pool, two other spots in the lava were churning, and from each emerged a head several sizes larger than a millstone.

The Lava Monitor Lizard, having failed its sneak attack, was momentarily dazed.

It clearly hadn't expected this mere human to be able to block its attack. Just as it intended to continue the pursuit, it caught sight of Chen Xuan's figure already far away on the shore, so it disinterestedly submerged back into the depths.

Chen Xuan held the Eldest Disciple's delicate body and flew toward the passage leading into this place.

Mu Wanqing's face was full of shock; the previous turn of events had happened too quickly, leaving her completely stunned.

“Revered Master, you aren't injured, are you!” Mu Wanqing asked anxiously once she regained her senses.

Seeing that the beast seemed only to be guarding the lava and didn't actively pursue people, Chen Xuan finally set his Eldest Disciple down and comforted her.

“How could anything happen to your Revered Master? That beast isn't capable of harming me.”

Mu Wanqing ran behind Chen Xuan and, seeing that his clothes were perfectly intact without a single tear, she patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Revered Master, that Yao Beast felt too terrifying just now. We should leave quickly!”

After considering for a moment, Chen Xuan shook his head gently.

“There is no need to be nervous. That Yao Beast is likely specifically guarding that Wooden Box. As long as we don't try to take the box, it shouldn't actively leap out of the lava to harm anyone.”

With a Vicious Beast of such a Realm guarding it, Chen Xuan was somewhat curious about what treasure was kept inside the Wooden Box.

The beast's Realm far exceeds mine. To seize the Wooden Box, I can only use a Spirit Transformation Experience Card or an instant kill card.

Chen Xuan was somewhat conflicted!

These item cards weren't like the High-Grade Formation Immunity Card, where use brings lifelong benefits; these cards were consumables—once one was used, there would be one fewer.

The Spirit Transformation Experience Card was still extremely useful to Chen Xuan at the moment; only after he broke through to the Deity Transformation Realm...

Would these cards lose their value. The instant kill card went without saying.

However, this Spirit Void Secret Realm only opens once every twenty years. If he missed this opportunity, he would have to wait another twenty years.

Furthermore, it was uncertain if he could even encounter this Ancient Palace next time.

Now that the Wooden Box was right before his eyes, he had to consider if this was the only opportunity of his life.

“Damn it, a beast actually dared to sneak attack me. The more I think about it, the angrier I get.”

Having made his decision, Chen Xuan looked at his Eldest Disciple and instructed, “Wait here and do not wander off. Your Revered Master will be back shortly.”

Mu Wanqing's slender jade hand tightly gripped Chen Xuan’s sleeve, her rounded oval face filled with worry: “Revered Master, don't go, may—”

Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a large hand press down on her head.

Chen Xuan rubbed the 'dog head' in his hand and smiled. “Rest assured, that beast cannot harm your Revered Master in the slightest.”

Mu Wanqing rubbed the tear mole at the corner of her eye and stared wide-eyed at the man before her. Seeing no hint of weakness, she finally slowly let go of his hand.

It wasn't Mu Wanqing's fault for being so worried; seeing the scene of her Revered Master being sneak-attacked earlier had caused her heart rate to suddenly spike, leaving her dazed for an instant.

“Then this Disciple will wait for Revered Master here!”

Chen Xuan gave an “Mhm” and turned to fly toward the Octagonal Pool.

He would use one Spirit Transformation Experience Card first. If he couldn't beat the beast, then he would use an instant kill card. Although this would be more wasteful, Chen Xuan still held a glimmer of hope in his heart.

Arriving at the edge of the Octagonal Pool, the lava was still scorching hot, and no abnormalities could be seen beneath it.

The duration of the Spirit Transformation Experience Card was half an hour, which was enough for Chen Xuan to take the Wooden Box from the mouth of the Coiling Dragon Statue.

With a thought from Chen Xuan, a Spirit Transformation Experience Card appeared before his eyes and instantly turned into golden spiritual light, dissipating into the air.

In an instant!

Surges of majestic and vast power exploded within his body like a tsunami. The spiritual energy that had been slightly stagnant at the Nascent Soul Realm instantly became rushing and surging, as if a dried-up riverbed had been injected with ten thousand tons of floodwater.

His entire body hummed slightly under the washing of this power. His Meridians seemed to have widened several times over, and the speed of spiritual energy circulation was more than ten times faster than before!

The corners of Chen Xuan's mouth curled up slightly; this feeling of being filled with power was truly good.

At this moment, even a casual basic attack from him could instantly kill an ant at the Nascent Soul level.

He looked toward the Wooden Box within the Coiling Dragon Statue and slowly reached out a hand. “Damn... I still have to make a trip over there.”

He tapped his toes lightly in the Void Realm and flew halfway across the lava pool, which began to 'gurgle' again.

As expected, that Lava Monitor Lizard once again charged out from the lava, opening its massive maw to swallow Chen Xuan into its belly.

Chen Xuan's eyes were clear now, and he could already see the depth of the opponent's Realm.

Also at the Soul Transformation Realm!

This made Chen Xuan breathe a sigh of relief; he wouldn't have to waste an instant kill card.

After all, the Spirit Transformation Experience Card provided by the System was at the Peak of the Soul Transformation Realm. Products of the System were bound to be high quality.

Chen Xuan casually raised his right hand, curving his fingers into a claw. A strand of golden spiritual energy, refined to the extreme, gathered at his fingertips.

“Courting death!” he shouted lightly. The spiritual energy at his fingertips suddenly erupted, and a sharp golden claw-light shot through the air. It was as fast as lightning, accurately landing on the Lava Monitor Lizard's defenseless neck.

With a soft 'puchi' sound!

The ink-black scales were easily torn apart like paper, and the golden claw-light instantly pierced through the monitor lizard's neck.

The Lava Monitor Lizard's massive body suddenly stiffened, the fire in its eyes rapidly dimmed, and losing support, it crashed into the lava with a 'rumble,' splashing lava droplets everywhere.

Chen Xuan reached out and sucked, and a deep red Yao Beast inner core flew out of the lava and landed in his hand.

“A guaranteed reward!”

Before Chen Xuan could examine it closely, 'gurgle gurgle' bubbling sounds continued incessantly.

Two more Lava Monitor Lizards of equally massive size burst out of the water from the left and right, pouncing toward Chen Xuan in a pincer Formation. They spat scorching flames from their mouths, and their sharp claws, carrying lava fragments, blocked all directions for Chen Xuan to dodge.

Chen Xuan showed a look of joy; there were actually more.

If you were above Soul Transformation, I would turn and run, but if you are in the Soul Transformation Realm, then the more the merrier.

After all, having used a Spirit Transformation Experience Card, Chen Xuan naturally wanted to pursue the maximization of benefits.

He pressed his two fingers together, and a sharp Sword Qi condensed at his fingertips. Looking at the pouncing Lava Monitor Lizards, the Sword Qi at his fingertips drew a golden arc in its wake.

Sensing danger, the monitor lizard tried to twist its body to dodge, but it was locked down by the powerful pressure contained within the Sword Qi. It could only watch helplessly as the golden Sword Qi pierced through its eye socket and exited from the back of its head.

“Awoo!”

The monitor lizard let out a shrill scream, its massive body losing balance and crashing heavily into the lava.

Almost at the same time, Chen Xuan stepped in the Void Realm, his figure suddenly snapping back. Sword Qi condensed on his fingertips again as he stabbed toward the vital throat of the monitor lizard attacking from the left.

With two Soul Transformation Realm Yao Beast inner cores in hand, ripples spread across the lava pool, and no more Yao Beasts leapt out.

Chen Xuan felt a slight pity and arrived before that Coiling Dragon Statue.

Just as he was about to reach out and take the Wooden Box...

In an instant!

The entire palace shook violently, like a great bell struck by a massive force! The rocks overhead rustled, rubble and dust fell like rain, and the entire space let out a dull roar amidst the shaking.

The eyes of the Coiling Dragon Statue, which were originally carved, suddenly burst with a fierce red light, as if two clumps of burning lava were dancing in the sockets!

A pressure far more powerful than the three previous Lava Monitor Lizards spread out from the dragon's body, causing the surrounding churning lava to come to a standstill. The air was filled with a domineering aura of the ancient primordial era.

Meanwhile, on the plaza outside the palace.

The still-charming Elder Ji performed a side roll, dodging two sharp Sword Qi slashes aimed at her.

Before she could even feel proud of her flashy movement, a dragon-like impact from behind charged toward her. She let out a cry of surprise, her mind falling blank.

However, in an instant, that Daoist Magic actually dissipated as quickly as melting snow.

With no more attacks coming from the surroundings, Elder Ji, having regained her senses, breathed a sigh of relief: “Is the Formation broken?”