“This is the place!”
A terrifying aqua-blue energy surged from Ling Xiao’s body.
It was the energy that had been drained from Moon Lady by the Ten Thousand Evil Beast Soul Spear.
Using the secret technique taught by Yuan Zun, Ling Xiao channeled this energy into himself.
This fearsome power was enough to grant him strength close to a Half-step Heavenly Venerable for an hour.
This secret technique could only be used once a year, and only by a martial artist with an exceptionally strong physique.
For an ordinary martial artist, it would cause their body to implode.
Half-step Heavenly Venerable, such power was truly formidable!
Ling Xiao was confident that with this strength, he could kill Wang She with a single strike.
But using it on Wang She would be a waste.
If his opponent weren’t likely the mighty Evil Beast Demon King, Ling Xiao wouldn’t risk his body like this.
This forbidden technique was highly destructive, leaving him completely incapacitated after an hour, without any fighting strength.
If he hadn’t defeated his opponent by then, he’d be finished.
Glancing at the nearby battle, Moon Lady held a clear advantage, but the puppet guards created by the Evil Beast Demon King, though weaker, fought fearlessly, delaying her.
In moments, Ling Xiao cracked the array set up by the Evil Beast Demon King. Compared to the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Refining Array, this one was trivial and posed no challenge.
He entered the Evil Beast Demon King’s hideout, another cave.
For some reason, these martial artists seemed too lazy to build houses outside, preferring caves.
Logically, Mortal Realm martial artists had storage rings, so carrying materials to build decent houses in the wild should be easy.
Inside, the cave was dimly lit, with no light-absorbing array.
Being the Evil Beast Demon King, he could likely see clearly even in pitch-black night, making such arrays unnecessary.
Along the way, the ground was littered with weapons, some broken, some stained with blood, mostly ordinary and fine-grade treasures.
There were even several rare-grade treasures.
The Evil Beast Demon King likely scorned these, discarding them after killing their owners, only valuing immortal-grade treasures or above.
He might not care, but Ling Xiao did.
He collected all the treasures into his Mountain River World. With this haul, he could fully craft his thirty-six Heavenly Gang Swords into rare-grade treasures.
The rest would go to the Divine Sword Sect.
The stronger the sect, the greater his future backing.
Perhaps because Moon Lady’s presence threatened the Evil Beast Demon King, he’d sent all his guards to stall her.
Ling Xiao encountered no guards or dangers along the way.
His footsteps were light, his Cloud Dragon Divine Travel technique allowing him to move silently, like a ghost.
The cave had been modified, splitting into three paths leading in different directions.
For others, choosing a path might be tricky.
But for Ling Xiao, it was no issue. Golden light glimmered in his eyes, his gaze piercing through walls to the ends of the three paths.
The right path stopped twenty metres from its end.
Ling Xiao didn’t dare proceed further, as that was where the Evil Beast Demon King, healing inside a giant cocoon, was located.
The middle path led to a prison.
It held many powerful martial artists, Mortal Realm, Heaven-Human Realm, even Grotto Heaven Realm!
These were likely the Evil Beast Demon King’s reserve food, a ruthless move.
The left path’s end held nothing but a large, irregular stone, earthy yellow with a thick, mysterious glow.
“Earth Spirit Prime Stone!”
Ling Xiao’s face lit up with joy.
He’d seen the Earth Spirit Prime Stone in Yuan Zun’s book, and its aura matched what the Evil Beast Demon King had used.
What a find, after all his searching!
He’d infiltrated this place for two things, the Evil Beast Demon King’s soul and the Earth Spirit Prime Stone.
After a moment’s thought, he headed down the left path.
Naturally, the path was protected by an array, as the Evil Beast Demon King was cautious. But to Ling Xiao, it was meaningless.
It took little time to crack the array, and he reached the Earth Spirit Prime Stone.
“Let me out!”
Suddenly, Yuan Zun, who’d been dormant in the beast ring, shouted.
Ling Xiao released him, smirking, “Master, not tired anymore?”
“Nonsense! I can’t believe there’s an Earth Spirit Core here! Your luck’s unreal, kid!”
Yuan Zun’s eyes were glued to the stone, wider than Ling Xiao had ever seen.
“Earth Spirit Core? Isn’t this the Earth Spirit Prime Stone?” Ling Xiao was stunned.
He’d thought it was the prime stone, which was why he came, but it wasn’t.
“Strictly speaking, it’s a type of Earth Spirit Prime Stone, but it’s the finest among them!”
Yuan Zun exclaimed, “Earth Spirit Prime Stones are rare, only forming in places rich with dragon vein spiritual energy, and in small quantities.
But an Earth Spirit Core is the essence of a prime stone, born at the moment of sun-moon alignment, even rarer!
If dragon veins have a one-in-a-hundred chance of forming, top-grade dragon veins are one in a thousand, prime stones one in ten thousand, and an Earth Spirit Core? One in a hundred thousand!”
“So precious!”
Ling Xiao marveled.
Yuan Zun sighed, “Exactly, and its effects far surpass ordinary prime stones. You’ve hit the jackpot, kid.
Cultivating with this core will yield at least ten times the results.
The true essence refined will be purer. Some body-refining martial artists can even use it to form an ‘Earth Spirit Body,’ boosting defence and enhancing absorption of earth spiritual power!
Legend says the Mountain River Martial Soul is based on this planet, and an Earth Spirit Body amplifies its effects. Too bad your luck isn’t *that* insane, or with a Mountain River Martial Soul, it’d be perfect.”
