Zhu Wu was the most talented among the three of them, yet his fate was unknown. Zhu Ming, the youngest of the three, had reached the early stage of an eight-star Dou Saint back then. After leaving, he had broken through to a nine-star Dou Saint. Unfortunately, his forced breakthrough had hurt his foundation, leading to his current predicament.
Just when he thought he would perish in the void, Zhu Kun's summons reignited his long-quiet heart. He was the only one among the three elders to return to Dragon Island.
"Well, as long as His Majesty forbids me from dying, I won't die. I haven't seen His Majesty come out yet, so how can I die so easily?" Zhu Ming looked at Zhu Kun with a serious expression and said with a smile.
Both of them knew very well that Zhu Ming's injuries were beyond the function of a ninth-grade treasure pill. Only a ninth-grade mysterious pill might help. As for the ninth-grade golden pill, neither of them even considered it; there hadn't been a golden pill grandmaster on the continent for thousands of years. The current golden pill prescriptions likely only existed in the Yao clan, making it extremely difficult to obtain.
Whether Jiang Yun could become a grandmaster of mysterious pills before Zhu Ming's time ran out was uncertain, even for Zhu Kun. Nonetheless, Zhu Kun nodded and looked at the other solemnly. Suddenly, the hall became silent.
The Beast Domain boasted tens of thousands of mountains, an estimate that fell short of the actual number. These mountain ranges extended far beyond human reach, where countless treasures had been left behind over the ages, waiting for the right person to uncover them.
Among them, the Bone Mountain Range in the Beast Domain was quite famous. This mountain range featured a sea of bones that sent shivers down one's spine. Numerous beast bones had been discarded here, and as the years passed, some strange beast energy within the bones was gradually released. This energy had little effect on humans but was a good supplement for magical beasts. This made the Bone Mountain Range a favorite gathering place for many magical beasts.
Looking at the endless bones before her, Xiao Yi Xian was a bit astonished and couldn't help but ask Jiang Yun, "Jiang Yun, what are we doing here?"
"I looked through ancient records and found out that there's a Dou Saint relic here, so we're here to seek treasure today!" Jiang Yun glanced at the bones in the distance and replied with a relaxed expression to Xiao Yi Xian.
"A Dou Saint relic!" Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun smiled at the astonished Xiao Yi Xian. A flash of purple light flickered in his eyes as his vast soul force entered the celestial realm, extending in all directions to sense different spatial nodes around them.
Over the next few days, Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian conducted a thorough search in the Bone Mountain Range, later joined by Zhu Feng. Soon, the three of them stopped at a corner of the Bone Mountain Range.
"We finally found it!" Jiang Yun looked at the void ahead, his eyes revealing a different kind of ripple.
"Is it here?" Xiao Yi Xian curiously observed the surroundings. Beneath the azure sky lay a massive valley filled with a noticeably large number of bones, far more than elsewhere. Strangely shaped beast bones were strewn carelessly across the valley, forming high piles, a testament to the terrifying number of magical beasts that had died here.
In the void, Xiao Yi Xian, recently having entered the spiritual realm, could sense no anomalies. The sky was clear and transparent. Although she didn't detect anything unusual, Xiao Yi Xian trusted Jiang Yun unconditionally, turning to him and softly asking, "Shall we go in now?"
"I will open the relic shortly," Jiang Yun replied. In his eyes, the void ahead concealed a vast small world, teeming with chaotic spatial currents that were impossible for ordinary people to detect.
"Xiao Yun, you're going treasure hunting without waiting for me!" A dignified yet slightly displeased voice suddenly echoed from behind them.
Startled, the two turned around to see a familiar purple figure emerging from a crack in the void.
"Greetings, Princess!" Zhu Feng earnestly said, bowing to the figure.
"Zi Yan." Seeing Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian covered her mouth in surprise.
Jiang Yun's eyes also lit up with joy as he opened his arms, looking gently at Zi Yan.
"Hmph! Don't think you can smooth things over just by doing that. I tell you, it's not enough, far from enough!" she said, but her actions belied her words as she threw herself into Jiang Yun's arms. Her long and strong legs wrapped around his waist, and she greedily absorbed his scent, murmuring, "I missed you so much!"
Jiang Yun's face also softened as he tightened his embrace around the girl in his arms.
Xiao Yi Xian watched them with a smile. Her eyes showed a slight hint of envy but no jealousy.
After a long while, Zi Yan reluctantly left Jiang Yun's embrace. Her eyes twinkled with a purple hue as she looked at the void ahead. She seemed to see through it like it was tangible and said, "This relic is well-hidden. However, it's already showing many issues; the space is under heavy strain and merging more clearly with reality. If we hadn't come, it would have surfaced within ten years!"
Zi Yan then turned to Jiang Yun and smiled, saying, "Leave it to me. You'll get to see my current power!"
"Then I'll take a break," Jiang Yun said warmly, ruffling Zi Yan's hair with a smile.
Nodding, Zi Yan gracefully stepped forward. As she took a deep breath, her face grew solemn, and she whispered, "I'm making my move."
With that, infinite purple light emanated from Zi Yan, transforming the once-clear void. Ripples rapidly formed, revealing a faint sky curtain. This colossal door slowly emerged from the void, appearing before everyone.
An ancient and heavy aura came rushing out!
Zi Yan's face grew more serious as she flicked her fingers, creating an invisible space ripple. At that moment, a small crack appeared in the void. A space storm roared in, whipping Zi Yan's purple hair wildly.
"Open!"
With a soft command, the purple light surrounding Zi Yan grew intensely, enlarging the crack enough for people to pass through.
Seeing this, Zi Yan hurriedly shouted, "Xiao Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, quick, get in!"
Hearing her call, Jiang Yun glanced at Zhu Feng. Before he could speak, Zhu Feng said, "This space is close to breaking. It cannot bear a Dou Saint's body. I will stay outside to help the young master stabilize the void and keep the situation here concealed!"
"Alright!"
With that, Jiang Yun didn't hesitate, pulling Xiao Yi Xian along as they swiftly dashed into the crack as blurry figures.
After they entered, Zi Yan nodded to Zhu Feng and then followed them through the crack.
Following Zi Yan's departure, the space fissure began to heal gradually. However, the forced opening of the relic had destabilized the space further. The vast void gateway didn't disappear again.
Seeing this, Zhu Feng praised, "Princess Zi Yan's talent is truly frightening. Our race will surely rise to the peak again under the leadership of the two Dragon Kings!"
Next, Zhu Feng waved his hand, causing ripples in the void. The space once again stabilized, hiding the void gateway.
Having completed this task, Zhu Feng scanned the surroundings and gradually faded out until he disappeared.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, and Zi Yan encountered space storms upon entering but, being no ordinary beings, they withstood it. The space storm, which could tear through Dou Zongs and severely hinder Dou Zuns, couldn't trouble them.
Ultimately, they arrived safely within the relic. As they stepped in, the surrounding space suddenly became scorching red. The ground beneath them cracked open, spewing out torrents of scorching lava. Simultaneously, dazzling blue flames erupted from all directions.
"Be careful," Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan shouted in unison as they reacted swiftly, their Dou Qi rising to form a protective shield. Yet Jiang Yun was faster, crafting a white flame shield that surrounded them instantly.
The eerie blue flames were extraordinary but couldn't withstand Jiang Yun's Immortal Holy Flame. His fire shield rendered the blue flames powerless.
"There seems to be a passage ahead!" just then, Xiao Yi Xian pointed forward and said softly.
It was a long, dark passage lined with black stone blocks. Beside it flowed a river of lava.
The three exchanged glances and entered the fire passage together. The surrounding temperature soared. The hard red rocks were scorching hot. Boiling lava gushed like fountains below.
The lava contained fragments of burning rock, posing a significant threat. A single misstep could cause serious injury.
But these were no obstacles for Jiang Yun. Under the protection of the Immortal Holy Flame, neither the blue flames nor the lava could harm the trio.
"This fire passage is a decoy; the real passage is below!" After some distance, Jiang Yun stopped and pointed at the lava below.
"I believe you," Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan looked at the searing lava beneath them without hesitation and turned to Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun chuckled, taking their hands and leaping into the lava below.
The heat was intense, yet no challenge for them. After descending for about a minute, they landed on a cold stone floor.
Standing on the ground, they noticed the boiling lava hanging above, coiling like massive serpents.
"Zi Yan, it's your turn now!" Jiang Yun said to Zi Yan with a smile, taking in his surroundings.
"Leave it to me!" Zi Yan eagerly replied, excited about seeking heavenly materials and treasures.
Smiling at each other, Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian followed Zi Yan, who turned into a blur, heading toward a distant square.
At the square's edge, they stopped at a heavy stone gate. Before it stood ten straight figures like spears, unchanged for millennia.
These ten figures were puppets, their skin gleaming a bright silver. Their eyes empty, faces expressionless, resembling ancient corpses.
"Are these puppets?" Zi Yan looked questioningly at Jiang Yun.
"These are Sky Demon Puppets. Remember Demon Flame Valley?" Jiang Yun explained.
"Oh~~~, so it's that thing. No wonder it looked familiar!" With Jiang Yun's reminder, Zi Yan recalled the Sky Demon Puppet refining method they had obtained in Demon Flame Valley. However, their rapid rise in power had made these things redundant.
"They're just puppets of Dou Zongs and Dou Zuns. Let's not waste time!" Jiang Yun smiled and continued forward.
As they approached, the twelve silver puppet guards lit up in brilliant white light.
In no time, a colossal white tiger descended, shredding the puppets into debris.
With the puppets gone, the bronze door ahead creaked open, revealing a gap that grew wider.
An ancient aura wafted out!
"I can smell the scent of treasures!" Zi Yan's delicate nose twitched, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Led by Zi Yan, the trio rushed toward a passage on the grand hall's left side.
While passing by some rooms, Jiang Yun didn't bother exploring them. The most precious items were ahead, and nothing else mattered to him.
After traversing the passage for about ten minutes, they stopped in front of an ancient stone door.
The door was covered in moss, its greenish hue hinting at age and the passage of time.
Zi Yan licked her alluring red lips and rubbed her hands in anticipation, saying, "This is it. I can smell the faint scent of herbs. I wonder what ancient herbs taste like?"