A deep pit more than ten zhang wide had been gouged around the Great Emperor Haotian.
Though he still wore the outward appearance of Shang Xie Shao Qing, his aura was different from before. His eyes shone with brilliance, sharp gazes shooting outwards, and a faint white light emanated from around his body – the spiritual energy that had just broken through and had yet to be contained or controlled.
His aura was profound, imbued with an ancient desolation, as if a slumbering deity had awakened.
“Great Emperor, you succeeded?” Su Luo asked with some surprise.
“Half and half, merely,” the Great Emperor Haotian replied with a faint smile.
Lu Jixing curiously inquired, “How powerful is ‘half’? Great Emperor, can you kill a demon like Bai Mu Tian Jun in one move?”
“Do you want to try? Little one, it’s very simple,” the Great Emperor Haotian chuckled, his laugh causing Chu Tianshu to quickly shrink back.
Never, never.
Only the Dragon Hound stared at the Great Emperor Haotian, its dark, round eyes sharp and focused, wishing it could pounce and fight him.
“Old man, now that you’ve recovered half your strength, why don’t you have a great battle with me!”
It had been a long time since a satisfying fight, and the Dragon Hound’s bones itched with anticipation, its claws scratching at the ground. It had been unable to participate in the previous ancient ruins expedition due to the need for secrecy, and its belly was full of pent-up grievances.
The Great Emperor Haotian was in a good mood. He unconsciously made a gesture to stroke his beard, only to find nothing there. His gaze flickered towards the Dragon Hound: “You? Hound, you are no match for this Emperor. Don’t come looking for trouble.”
“Awooo…”
The Dragon Hound was not convinced and immediately bared its teeth at him, about to lunge.
Su Luo quickly hugged the Dragon Hound’s neck, saying with a wry smile, “Da Hei, stop messing around. In two days, we’ll reach the Life and Death Chasm, and I promise there will be opportunities for you to fight then.”
The Dragon Hound no longer believed him: “Really? If you lie to me again, you’re a puppy.”
Su Luo was truly at a loss for what to do with it: “Really. If I don’t let you fight to your heart’s content, I’ll fight with you myself, how about that?”
“That’s more like it. It’s a deal!” Only then did the Dragon Hound cease its commotion.
The Great Emperor Haotian slowly retracted his power, his celestial spiritual energy integrating into his body. Now, he looked like an ordinary person. With a smile, he told everyone, “My divine soul is now completely stabilized, and most of the materials for casting the body have been gathered. We only need the ten-thousand-year immortal lotus root as the main ingredient, and the great task will be accomplished.”
“Congratulations, Great Emperor!”
Li Tianjue said with a gentle smile, “May I ask where the ten-thousand-year immortal lotus root can be found? If we have the chance, we can also offer our humble strength.”
The Great Emperor Haotian shook his head: “Thank you for your kind intentions, my young friends, but this ten-thousand-year immortal lotus root is exceptionally difficult to find. It only grows in perilous lands, in poisonous mires and fetid waters, yet it remains untainted by the mud. If you seek it deliberately, you will not find it; it is a matter of fate. Ah, yes, although I have absorbed the divine source, there is still a little essence remaining.”
As he spoke, he opened his palm, and a perfectly round, crystalline blue bead appeared before everyone’s eyes.
It possessed the same aura as the divine source, but it was even more condensed. It slowly floated up, hovering in mid-air, its deep blue light as profound as the sea. It was beautiful, far surpassing any earthly treasure, and caused everyone to gasp for breath.
“This essence of the divine source has infinite uses. If worn on the body, it will prevent all diseases, make one impervious to water and fire, ward off evil spirits, and maintain eternal youth. If absorbed, it can definitely help one break through to the Saint realm. If you encounter a critical moment, even if your head is severed, as long as the limbs are still attached and can be rejoined, you can heal and be reborn within a day…”
Listening to the Great Emperor Haotian’s words, everyone finally understood the preciousness of the divine source.
It was comparable to having an extra life!
But there was only one divine source left. Who would get it?
“How about this: you all consider who wants this divine source. For those who do not receive it, while my energy is still abundant, I can help them with a direct energy infusion. Regardless of your cultivation level, it will definitely increase your power by one to three levels.”
Everyone’s eyes lit up. That was excellent; no one would be left empty-handed.
Even without the divine source, they could receive a direct infusion from the Great Emperor Haotian himself to improve their cultivation. This was an opportunity that came once in a hundred years!
Chu Tianshu was the first to speak, directly refusing the divine source without any hesitation: “The divine source is so precious, it would be an absolute waste to use it on me. I don’t care who wants it, but I don’t want it. I choose the energy infusion.”
“If the second brother doesn’t want it, do you think I’d snatch it?”
Lu Jixing spoke second, clasping his hands: “While the divine source is precious, I am not particularly fond of it either. I also choose the energy infusion!”
Zhan Li did not speak, only silently stepped back two paces, indicating his preference.
As for Tang Xiaoguo and Bai Qi, they had not participated in the ancient ruins expedition at all. They only knew that their senior brothers had obtained it at the risk of their lives, so they did not have any selfish thoughts. They simply smiled and shook their heads.
No one paid attention to Fan Tian; his status alone meant that this divine source had nothing to do with him.
Hearing Wen Daier also choose the energy infusion, Li Tianjue and Su Luo spoke at the same time: “I don’t want it either…”
At this, the Great Emperor Haotian frowned, his anger rising: “Are you treating this treasure like garbage, avoiding it like the plague? I went through all sorts of hardships to manage to keep this tiny bit of essence, and you all, one by one, refuse it?”
Su Luo smiled charmingly: “Great Emperor, you misunderstand. The divine source is so good, how could we dislike it? But there is only one, and it is not suitable for any of us to take it. It would be better for the Great Emperor to help us with an energy infusion to improve our cultivation.”
“You all, truly… sometimes too much modesty is also not good.”
The Great Emperor Haotian was also helpless, shaking his head repeatedly. If it were in his era, obtaining the divine source would be something everyone dreamed of, something they would fight for fiercely, even brothers taking up arms against each other.
Unlike these young people, who were actually being modest.
He sighed deeply: “Very well, I will help all of you with an energy infusion once. Su girl, you keep this divine source for now. If there is a special situation, the divine source can be used to alleviate the emergency, or when you have thought it through, you can give it to whomever you wish.”
Since that was the case, Su Luo looked at everyone and then accepted the divine source.
The divine source, which had been soft before, had now become a hard bead, containing boundless power. She handed it to Li Tianjue and said, “Senior Brother, your cultivation is the highest. It is least likely to be lost if the divine source is with you.”
This reason made it impossible for Li Tianjue to refuse, and he could only put it away.
Without the bead, everyone relaxed, smiling and waiting for the Great Emperor Haotian to give them their energy infusions.
This location was certainly not suitable, so everyone quickly left the area, preparing to find a quiet and safe place to spend the night, enjoy a good meal, and then bask in the glorious honor of having their cultivation improved by the Great Emperor’s personal energy infusion.
As soon as the group had left for fifteen minutes, someone immediately arrived.
“My lord, there is a very strong lightning power in this vicinity, and also this deep pit. It seems to be here.”
A group of Demonic Sect disciples searched the surroundings. One of them cupped his fist and reported to the sky: “Your subordinate has searched the vicinity. There are no living people, but there is a trail of disordered footprints heading due east.”
In mid-air, a ball of fiery red flame appeared, within which a man’s face could be vaguely seen.
“Due east? Heh heh… Within a radius of five hundred li, there is one city, three villages, eight manors, and ten caves. No matter where they go, they cannot avoid these places. Immediately spread the news, and I don’t believe they can escape.”
The Blazing Flame Demon Lord said languidly, the flames coiling around him like a phantom.