Chapter 69: Rubble Plus People

Not long after the big-headed strange fish jumped into the pool, the Python-Sparrow Eel drifted over at an easy, leisurely pace.

The Black Jade Tower cultivator did not even dare breathe loudly. This second-rank demonic beast had grown so much!

It was now about fifteen feet long. Strange patterns covered both of its wings, and its head and horns had become striking and imposing, making it look extraordinary.

“Is this a sign that it’s about to evolve? A second-rank demonic beast has reached the edge of evolution this quickly. This is an exotic breed!”

The Black Jade Tower cultivator hurriedly recorded it. The Python-Sparrow Eel before him was truly gifted beyond the ordinary. It would probably draw covetous eyes from quite a few cultivators.

If a second-rank Python-Sparrow Eel evolved into a third-rank demonic beast, then whether it was used to guard a home or refine ritual implements and spirit pills, it would be a fine choice for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The Python-Sparrow Eel seemed not to have noticed the Black Jade Tower cultivator. It lazily slipped into the pool, splashing up spirit energy.

The two big-headed strange fish quickly drew close, following right behind the Python-Sparrow Eel on its left and right.

Watching the Python-Sparrow Eel stir wind and rain in the pool and swallow and exhale the spiritual spring, the Black Jade Tower cultivator carefully retreated.

Obtaining information about the evolution of a second-rank demonic beast inside the secret realm meant this trip had not been in vain.

Inside the stone cave, oddly shaped dark-red stones were everywhere, piled here and there until there was almost nowhere to stand.

The alluring female cultivator folded her wings and frowned slightly.

The scene before her seemed to be one she had just seen.

She had been inside the stone cave for a long time already, yet she had only been circling around and around inside it. Everything she saw was strange stones.

Her status in Black Jade Tower was not low. After receiving intelligence about this secret realm, she had rushed over at once.

Unexpectedly, she had run into the secret realm’s protection, a powerful restriction that prevented her from entering and exploring it.

After returning, she had tried every possible method to obtain a paper slip. Following the paper slip’s guidance, she smoothly entered the secret realm.

According to cultivators who had entered the secret realm before, there was a mysterious stone cave inside the secret realm, and no one knew what existed within it.

They only knew that a Paper Figure had emerged from the stone cave, and that the Paper Figure possessed extremely powerful control over the entire secret realm. It could even independently distribute third-rank Sword-Nurturing Gourds.

So after the female cultivator entered the secret realm, she did not go pick other spiritual herbs. Instead, she immediately found the entrance to the stone cave.

But after entering, she had been trapped by this rubble confusion array for a long time.

Even so, she did not lose patience. Calm and unhurried, she walked among the rubble.

“Were these scattered stones arranged automatically, or are they being controlled by someone?

“I’ve encountered the same scene quite a few times. If it formed automatically, then that would be far too much of a coincidence.

“If someone is controlling it, then he should be taking corresponding measures based on my movements. In that case...

“I can confirm his location!”

Before her words had even faded, the wings on her back spread wide. Feather after feather shot out like sharp arrows, flying in every direction toward the dark-red stones all around her.

They sank in to the base, piercing straight through.

From one dark-red stone that had been stabbed by the feathers, dark-red liquid suddenly surged out, and a thick, dark-red shadow appeared.

It was the Stone Marrow Spirit controlling the Chaotic Stone Array.

The Stone Marrow Spirit had been wounded by the feathers. In pain, it quickly melted into the stone.

The alluring female cultivator activated her spiritual sense, but she could not sense the Stone Marrow Spirit’s aura. At the same time, she had the illusion that it was everywhere.

She had no choice but to leave in frustration and continue searching for whatever treasures might exist inside the stone cave.

Lu Yuan’s divine sense had long since clearly perceived everything happening inside the stone cave. He soothed the injured Stone Marrow Spirit a little.

His goal had already been achieved.

After the female cultivator entered the stone cave, Lu Yuan’s divine sense had mainly observed the situation outside the cave. Thus, he had ordered the Stone Marrow Spirit to control the Chaotic Stone Array and delay the female cultivator’s progress in discovering the Earthfire Heart Lotus.

This also prevented the female cultivator from discovering the Phoenix-Resting Wutong Wood and the Red-Footed Golden Crow too early. Since Lu Yuan had no attention to spare, he was worried that the Red-Footed Golden Crow, which had not yet reached maturity, would not be her match.

Use the array to delay her. After the matters outside the cave were basically resolved, guide the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators in as well, so that the female cultivator would not enjoy everything alone.

It could truly be called rubble plus people...

After the seductive winged female cultivator left, the rubble scattered all over the ground shifted gently, joining back together into block after block of dark-red stone and rolling around inside the stone cave.

Not long afterward, Bai Kun, carrying a black sword case on his back, entered the stone cave with a grave expression.

From his junior, Li Wenxuan, he had learned that there was also a stone cave inside the secret realm. The earliest discovery of the Sword-Nurturing Gourd and the mysterious Paper Figure had happened inside that stone cave.

After entering the secret realm, as a sword cultivator, he had immediately gone to search for the location of the Sword-Nurturing Gourd. Once he obtained it, curiosity filled his heart, and he smoothly entered the stone cave.

After entering, although the stone cave was filled with strange stones, oddly enough, he did not encounter many accidents.

Everything went smoothly for him.

Not long after he entered, the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Hundred Treasures Pavilion also arrived at the cave entrance. He picked up an emerald speck of light the size of a dust mote from the ground and laughed silently.

“I knew there was something strange about this secret realm. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have attracted two Foundation Establishment cultivators here.”

“Good thing I kept a backup plan. I followed Bai Kun here without any trouble. I wonder what’s hidden inside this stone cave.”

An emerald thorn like a long whip coiled around him. Following its guidance, he occasionally drew dust-sized specks of light from the ground and entered the depths of the stone cave.

Under the rolling movements of the Stone Marrow Spirit’s dark-red stones, the three of them unknowingly drew closer to one another.

“Mm?”

As she walked, the winged female cultivator suddenly sensed a scorching aura, and the sound of gurgling flow reached her ears.

After circling around a huge dark-red stone, what entered her sight was surging, roiling, fiery-hot magma. The magma continuously battered the giant rocks along the shore, and the air was filled with intense heat.

Within the dark-red magma stood a fiery-red lotus about a foot tall. At the very center of the lotus, tiny lotus seeds spun around inside the lotus leaves. Their colors constantly changed, and their alluring fragrance tempted the senses.

At the first scent of it, she felt as if even her spiritual sense had become much clearer.

The spiritual power within her body, which had been more or less contaminated, also became somewhat purer.

“Earthfire Heart Lotus!”

The female cultivator’s gaze sharpened.

Before she could make any move, a clear, resonant cry rang out from above her head.

Following the sound, she looked up and saw a small bird with one scarlet foot and golden feathers looking down at the alluring female cultivator from above.

Looking at the female cultivator’s wings, its eyes were proud. It gently stretched its own brilliant wings, radiant and overflowing with flowing light, displaying them freely before the female cultivator.

The winged female cultivator glanced at the Red-Footed Golden Crow, but her attention was completely drawn to the piece of charred wood beneath its foot.

Points of golden light flickered on the wood like stars in the night, adorning the entire stone cave.

“Third-rank Phoenix-Resting Wutong Wood!”

Wave after wave of shock surged through the female cultivator’s heart and would not subside for a long time.

“Black Jade Tower truly deserves to be called an organization that explores secret realms. You easily found a treasured land containing both an Earthfire Heart Lotus and Phoenix-Resting Wutong Wood.”

“Truly professional!”

Bai Kun walked out from another direction with the sword case on his back.

The female cultivator’s expression changed.

“Not bad. I personally agree very much with Fellow Daoist Bai Kun’s view. Black Jade Tower really is professional!”

The Foundation Establishment cultivator from Hundred Treasures Pavilion also walked out, his eyes burning as he looked at the Phoenix-Resting Wutong Wood and the Earthfire Heart Lotus.

Bai Kun’s expression changed. The female cultivator’s expression changed a second time.

Next Chapter >