In the skies above the Ancient Wasteland Region, a faint ripple spread through the air.
"Hm?"
Liu Xi's brows rose slightly as he sensed a fluctuation deep within his Spiritual World. The phantom Bodhi Ancient Tree he had merged with was responding—reacting to a familiar source.
In this vast ancient land, aside from the Bodhisattva Seed he had deliberately tossed to Xiao Yan as bait, what else could share such a connection?
"What is it, Young Master?" Qing Lin, still nestled lightly in his arms, looked up curiously at his changing expression.
Liu Xi's arm tightened around her slender waist as his gaze turned far away, as if piercing through endless layers of space to see something beyond reach. "Nothing serious," he said with a half-smile. "I just sensed something interesting. Let's go take a look."
"Mhm." Qing Lin nodded softly. She didn't care where they went—if it was to kill someone, she'd be the first to hand him the blade.
Invisible power rippled outward. Space twisted, and at Liu Xi's casual gesture, a shimmering void gate opened before them.
—
Deep within a hidden forest…
Three black-robed men darted through the shadows, their movements ghostlike, faces hidden, auras suppressed. From the way they moved, it was clear they were fleeing pursuit.
Several hours later, after working together to slay a powerful 3-Turn Dou Zun-level bear, they finally stopped within its lair to rest.
As they removed their black robes, their faces came into view. The eldest was a gaunt old man with sunken cheeks and viper-like eyes. The second had a gloomy, sinister face. The third looked younger, but the sly gleam in his eyes betrayed a similar age to the other two.
The eldest turned toward the youngest, eyes burning with greed as he rubbed his bony hands together. "Third Brother, quick, let me see it! With the Bodhisattva Seed, I'll surely break into the Half Saint realm—our Cloud Rain Sect will rise again!"
"Don't rush, Big Brother. Let me check first."
The third chuckled slyly, retrieving Xiao Yan's storage ring. His Spiritual Power probed inside—only to be repelled by a layer of restriction.
"Oh? There's a barrier, is there? Hmph! Even if your master could defeat me, what can a mere ring do? Break for me!"
His vast Spiritual Power surged forth. For those beyond the Dou Zong realm, each breakthrough tempered both body and soul, and his spirit force was immense.
A ring without its owner could resist briefly, but not forever. With a faint pop, the barrier shattered.
At that same instant, somewhere far away, Xiao Yan—who was still unconscious in Gu Xun'er's care—suddenly convulsed violently, spitting a mouthful of blood before falling limp once again.
Alarmed, Gu Xun'er immediately searched her own storage ring, pulling out pills to stabilize his condition.
Meanwhile, the third black-robed man's grin widened. "Heh, not bad! No wonder he's Medicine Sovereign's disciple. This is quite the fortune… ah, found it!"
He flipped his palm, drawing out a thumb-sized jade-green bead. It gleamed like flawless emerald and emitted a gentle fragrance that invigorated the senses; even a breath of it made Dou Qi flow more freely.
"The true Bodhisattva Seed," he said excitedly. "It really holds the power to help a Peak Dou Zun break through to Half Saint. Refined into a pill, its effects would be even greater."
The eldest's breathing grew heavy. He looked at his two brothers—both of whom now stared at the seed with eyes full of burning desire.
"Second Brother, Third Brother," the eldest said in a falsely calm voice, "I know you both want this Bodhisattva Seed. But think—there's only one. I already have one foot in the Half Saint realm. With this, I can guarantee the breakthrough. When your time comes, I'll find a way to repay you."
Though his tone seemed mild, the oppressive power in his words left no room for argument.
The gloomy-faced second brother shuddered, then quickly forced a grin. "Big Brother, what are you saying? We're family—sworn brothers! A mere Bodhisattva Seed could never come between us."
The third echoed his words, pretending to be touched as he handed the seed over. "That's right, Big Brother. I think the same."
The eldest wasted no time. His thin, claw-like hand darted out, snatching the Bodhisattva Seed into his grasp. His eyes shone with feverish joy.
"Second Brother! Third Brother!" he exclaimed.
"Big Brother! Third Brother!"
"Big Brother! Second Brother!"
The three of them burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
But before their voices died down, a playful drawl echoed from outside the cave.
"Well, what a touching scene between loving brothers. Should I add two more Bodhisattva Seeds to really make it a family reunion?"
Instantly, all three froze. Experienced Peak Dou Zuns, their instincts kicked in—they turned sharply, forming a tight triangle stance ready to strike.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!" the eldest barked.
From the mouth of the cave, a man stepped in slowly, one arm wrapped around a woman's waist. Liu Xi's face wore a teasing smile as he and Qing Lin entered.
The trio's gazes immediately latched onto Qing Lin. Their expressions darkened into lecherous grins, their eyes filled with obscene hunger.
"Wait, Big Brother," one whispered. "Could it be… he also has a Bodhisattva Seed?"
"The Bodhisattva Seed!"
At the mention, all three turned their full attention to Liu Xi—and froze.
His aura was vast and unfathomable, stretching like heaven and earth.
The eldest's eyes widened in disbelief. "You… you're Liu Xi!"
It clicked—his youthful face, the refined presence, the faint scent of medicinal incense. The Pill Tower's youngest giant.
"Jie jie jie," the eldest, known as the Scorpion Demon, cackled. "So it's the famed prodigy of the Pill Tower! Quite the reputation, but it means nothing to us—Three Ghost Scorpion Demons! Since you've seen what you shouldn't have, you'll die here. As for the lovely lady beside you, she'll stay to keep us company!"
Their malicious laughter echoed through the cave. None of them believed a man this young could truly be a Dou Saint.
Liu Xi's lips curved. "Fools courting death."
With a casual flick of his wrist, he struck.
A single palm descended—light, effortless—and the space before them shattered like glass. In that instant, the Three Ghost Scorpion Demons were erased, their laughter cut short as they dissolved into nothingness.
Liu Xi raised his hand slightly, and a thumb-sized Bodhisattva Seed along with several storage rings flew into his grasp from the collapsing void.
"The Three Ghost Scorpion Demons, huh? So they were the ones who stole the seed I threw to Xiao Yan. I wonder if he's still alive…"
He examined one of the rings, recognizing several familiar treasures. "The Fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame… these three old ghosts must've gotten it from the Spatial Trade Fair."
The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame—ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Even Liu Xi wasn't fully confident in confronting such a power directly.
But with the flame's map fragment, he might be able to awaken the Pure Lotus Demon Saint himself and subdue the Heavenly Flame far more easily.
"Hm? Not here? Maybe the Spatial Trade Fair hasn't happened yet… or something's gone wrong?" His Spiritual Perception swept across the other rings. "What's this? High-grade pills—8th Tier and above… and this… a Pill Beast?"
(End of Chapter)
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