Upon seeing the massive island, the Holy Maiden Qianqiu and the elderly Confucian scholar Bai Qi couldn’t conceal their excitement, though they quickly exchanged enigmatic glances before regaining their composure.
“Let’s go. Our journey is finally about to bear fruit. I hope the Spirit Cleansing Pool and the Pure Spirit Lotus are as miraculous as the legends say!” Han Li’s eyes flickered slightly as he suddenly spoke.
“Indeed, such treasures of heaven and earth are now within our grasp. What are we waiting for?” The Long Family Patriarch laughed heartily, his body enveloped in a golden light as he transformed into a streak of radiance, darting toward the massive island.
Elder Hui, without a word, turned into a gust of wind and swiftly followed.
“Let us proceed as well.”
Holy Maiden Qianqiu murmured softly, stowing away the giant boat and retrieving a purple banner. With a gentle shake, a multicolored glow enveloped the group of Spirit Tribe members, transforming into a purple streak that shot through the sky.
Once they entered this spirit-rich sea, they could freely employ various flight techniques without restraint.
In the blink of an eye, only Han Li and the feathered-robed maiden remained on the sea surface.
The maiden observed everything, then glanced sideways at Han Li with a faint smile curling her lips. “Brother Han, with the treasures now before us, do you have any plans?”
“Plans? Haven’t we already agreed? We’ll share the Spirit Pool, and any Pure Spirit Lotuses we find will be divided equally.” Han Li replied impassively.
“If the others truly honor their promises, I would be more than happy. But what if unforeseen circumstances arise?” The maiden’s beautiful eyes flickered as she spoke softly.
“Rest assured, Fairy. Should anything unexpected occur, we will stand together as previously agreed.” Han Li replied calmly after a brief silence.
“Good. I knew Brother Han was a man of his word. Let us proceed. Though the island is large, with their abilities, locating the Spirit Cleansing Pool shouldn’t take long.” The feathered-robed maiden relaxed, smiling radiantly.
Han Li nodded silently, saying nothing. With a wave of his sleeve, his body emitted a faint azure light as he soared into the sky. After a brief hover, he transformed into a streak of azure light, streaking toward the massive island.
Meanwhile, the feathered-robed maiden formed a hand seal, causing her five-colored feathered robe to emit swirling clouds of multicolored mist, lifting her delicate form into the air.
Han Li didn’t push his flight technique to the limit, merely following the Spirit Tribe members and the Long Family Patriarch from a distance.
Though he didn’t know the exact location of the Spirit Cleansing Pool, the urgency of those ahead suggested they had a clear idea.
After traversing a plain and several dense forests, they finally arrived before a range of towering peaks, each exuding the fragrance of lush vegetation.
The Long Family Patriarch and the Spirit Tribe members suddenly halted their flight, revealing their forms.
Han Li’s heart stirred, and his speed abruptly increased severalfold, appearing beside the Long Family Patriarch in a flash.
Amidst a shimmer of five-colored light, the feathered-robed maiden silently materialized beside Han Li.
At this moment, a noticeable distance had formed between the Spirit Tribe and the human cultivators, as if tacitly agreeing to avoid conflict.
With the treasures so close, though no overt hostility had emerged, both sides had grown wary.
Given the stakes—the legendary Spirit Cleansing Pool—each feared the other might harbor ulterior motives. Moreover, they were not of the same race.
Outwardly, however, neither the Long Family Patriarch nor Holy Maiden Qianqiu showed any signs of tension. After a brief discussion while gazing at the mountains ahead, they acted in unison.
The Long Family Patriarch’s sleeve billowed as a golden axe appeared in his hand, its surface covered in faint silver runes and exuding a terrifying aura.
Meanwhile, Holy Maiden Qianqiu chanted incantations, her body radiating a milky-white light. She opened her mouth and spat out a pearl the size of an egg, covered in blood-red demonic patterns.
Han Li’s eyes narrowed as he intently observed their actions, not missing a single detail.
These two had indeed been hiding something.
Holy Maiden Qianqiu pointed at the pearl, which emitted a hum and shot toward the mountains. After a few flashes, it halted above one peak, flickering erratically.
“Fellow Daoist Long, it’s there!” Holy Maiden Qianqiu exclaimed, her eyes brightening.
Without hesitation, the Long Family Patriarch roared. Golden scales emerged across his body, covering most of his form as his size swelled, and a pair of golden dragon horns sprouted from his forehead.
He had activated his dragon bloodline, transforming into a half-dragon.
Now standing over fifty feet tall, the Long Family Patriarch swung his axe, which rapidly expanded into a colossal golden weapon over a hundred feet long.
Gripping the axe with both hands, he brought it down with devastating force upon the mountain where the pearl hovered.
A deafening screech erupted as a golden wave surged from the axe, transforming into a thousand-foot-long blade of light that struck the distant peak like a hurricane.
A thunderous explosion followed as a golden sun, hundreds of feet in diameter, erupted atop the mountain, engulfing it entirely. Golden shockwaves radiated outward, reducing nearby peaks to dust.
At that moment, a powerful ripple emerged within the golden light, spreading across a hundred-mile radius.
An astonishing sight unfolded.
Where the ripple passed, the mountain’s space rippled like water. As the golden light faded, the scenery blurred, revealing two even larger emerald peaks behind the destroyed mountains.
Between them lay a valley shrouded in green light.
From the valley, an enormous milky-white pillar of light shot into the heavens, vanishing into the void as if piercing the very firmament.
“The Celestial Pillar! The Spirit Cleansing Pool is there!” The Long Family Patriarch laughed wildly at the sight of the valley and the silver pillar, transforming into a rainbow streak and darting forward.
Elder Hui followed closely, equally elated.
Holy Maiden Qianqiu’s face betrayed her excitement, but her gaze darkened as she watched the two depart. Hidden in her sleeve, her hand formed an intricate seal.
Behind her, the motionless Zhishui’s eyes suddenly gleamed with a sharp light, his pale hands trembling slightly.
But then, Bai Qi’s cold voice echoed in her ears. Though brief, his words sent a chill down her spine, causing her to dissolve the seal immediately.
The Spirit Tribe youth’s eyes dulled once more, returning to their lifeless state.
As Holy Maiden Qianqiu completed these actions, she sensed something and turned to see Han Li watching her with an inscrutable smile.
Startled, she quickly composed herself, but before she could speak, Bai Qi interjected coldly, “Brother Han, Fellow Daoist Long has already gone ahead. Aren’t you worried he’ll claim the treasures first?”
“Hmph, I have full confidence in Brother Long. Even if the Spirit Cleansing Pool is found, entering won’t be so simple.” Han Li replied with a cold laugh.
“In that case, let us join forces to assist him. After all, we’re still in the Demon Realm. The sooner we secure the treasures, the better, lest complications arise.” The feathered-robed maiden chimed in with a playful smile.
“Naturally. To enter the Spirit Cleansing Pool, we must continue working together.” Bai Qi nodded emotionlessly. At this point, Holy Maiden Qianqiu fell silent, as if leadership of the Spirit Tribe had shifted to this mysterious Bai Qi.
Thus, the Spirit Tribe and Han Li’s group resumed their flight toward the valley.
For beings of their cultivation, such a distance was trivial.
In a few flashes, they passed through the green light enveloping the valley, just as the Long Family Patriarch and Elder Hui had done.
To Han Li’s surprise, the green light offered no resistance, allowing them to pass effortlessly.
But the next moment, his vision brightened as he found himself in a world of dazzling colors, surrounded by countless multicolored specks of light.
His expression shifted as he instinctively reached out, capturing several pea-sized specks in his palm. They condensed into tiny five-colored crystals.
Drawing in a breath, he felt surges of pure spiritual energy flood his body, filling him with unparalleled comfort.
“Crystallized spiritual energy! The density here is ten times purer than outside!” Han Li murmured, unable to hide his astonishment.
Meanwhile, the group descended toward an emerald-green pond at the valley’s center.
The air above the pond was thick with five-colored specks, and the Long Family Patriarch and Elder Hui stood nearby, deep in discussion.
“Is this the Spirit Cleansing Pool?” Han Li’s heart raced as he landed softly nearby.
At the same time, hundreds of miles away on a small hill, a graceful figure in white robes stood atop a boulder, gazing calmly toward the valley. Her star-like eyes shimmered with a mysterious silver light.
Behind her, a black-armored giant stood silently, hands clasped.
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