NOVPUBThinking of this, Wang Ba couldn’t help but feel some anticipation.
In the midst of the conversation.
Ying He had already steered the iron vessel past a glacier blocking the way, and indeed saw a ship that appeared somewhat old-fashioned, but was significantly larger in scale, moored beside a grassy pathway.
Standing on the ship was a middle-aged cultivator who was openly radiating the aura of a Nascent Soul.
Noticing the movement, he immediately turned his gaze toward Wang Ba and the others.
His eyes moved over Wang Ba and the rest of the Golden Core Rogue Cultivators, and when he saw Ying He, a trace of surprise crossed his face. He then cupped his hands from afar in greeting.
Ying He nodded slightly, and from a distance, said,
"Why do I not see holy child Yan?"
The middle-aged cultivator replied respectfully,
"My master and the other three holy childs have urgent matters to attend to."
Ying He scanned the ship, smiled, and without exposing the other’s words, said lightly,
"That’s unfortunate, I was hoping to chat with your master for a moment."
The middle-aged cultivator, neither servile nor overbearing, said,
"Once my master is free from his duties, I will certainly report back."
Ying He nodded, didn’t bother with further talk, piloted the iron ship past the other vessel, and soon flew away into the distance.
After traveling some distance, Ying He spoke to Wang Ba,
"It seems they must have already left this place."
Wang Ba nodded.
A hint of regret in his heart.
He had wanted to catch up with Shen Fu, but from the look of things, that opportunity was likely gone.
He lowered his head to sense the warning coming from the God-Sealing Bell.
In his eyes flickered a hint of curiosity,
"Only a few thousand miles from here?"
"Shall we take a look?"
…
Several thousand miles from the Path of North Sea.
Within a massive ice and snow pit.
Ice and snow fluttered around the edges of the pit, still a world of extreme cold and desolation.
However, the interior of the pit was filled with flickering firelight.
In the center of the pit stood an azure paulownia tree hundreds of feet tall.
The paulownia tree was not covered in normal leaves but clusters of flames.
It was only within these flames that the silhouettes of some leaves could be vaguely distinguished.
Lush and dense, like clusters of burning clouds.
And at this moment.
Around the edge of the pit, amidst drifting snow, suddenly more than a dozen figures descended in succession.
Among the four leading individuals, one saw the azure paulownia tree in the pit and immediately showed great joy,
"It’s my Azure Fire Paulownia Tree! Haha! My senses weren’t mistaken! It is indeed here!"
He was about to fly over as he spoke.
However, at that moment, a young cultivator wearing a coronet suddenly said in a deep voice,
"Junior Brother Bian, there seems to be something inside."
A three-eyed youth suddenly opened the vertical eye on his forehead, stared at the azure paulownia tree, and also frowned in a grave tone,
"The leaves of this paulownia tree actually possess the ability to obstruct the demon eye..."
Bian Burang was slightly taken aback but soon came to his senses.
He quickly scanned the surroundings, and soon his brow furrowed,
"Strange, I don’t see anyone else."
"Why would the person who took the treasure tree leave it here, and where did they go?"
The coronet-wearing young cultivator Yan Zhenyi pondered,
"Perhaps the villain planted the treasure tree here and had to leave for some reason. After all, ordinary cultivators cannot reach this place. Junior Brother Bian, see if you can collect it first."
"That... would be to his benefit! I’ll try!"
Bian Burang cursed under his breath, clearly agitated.
He then immediately raised his hand and silently formed a magical seal.
To his frustration, the azure paulownia tree in the pit below showed no reaction whatsoever.
Bian Burang’s face revealed his difficulty coping, and again he recited seals in rapid succession.
But the azure paulownia tree below remained completely still.
Shen Fu said nothing.
Yet Gong Xiyin couldn’t help but laugh,
"Senior Brother Bian, is this truly a Spirit Plant that you have raised? Why does it seem as though it doesn’t listen to you?"
Bian Burang’s face darkened slightly, but he explained,
"This was seized by my master from the Three Continents’ Cultivators a few years ago, and it happens to help with the summoning of the Fire Demon Child, so he temporarily lent it to me for use..."
Hearing this, the other three showed understanding.
Gong Xiyin continued in realization,
"No wonder you’re willing to spend such a great cost; it turns out to be a treasure of Elder Geng."
"I, I also took great care in nurturing it for quite some time... I’ll try again!"
Bian Burang, growing increasingly impatient, suddenly bit the tip of his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood and essence. He then quickly recited a magical seal and shouted,
"Rise for me!"
Perhaps this action was truly effective.
The fire leaves of the azure paulownia tree, resembling burning clouds, began to shake.
However at this moment, everyone’s expression suddenly changed!
"What is that?!"
Amidst the ’lush’ fire leaves.
A giant black Spirit Chicken with purple radiance revealed its form.
It was curled up among the canopy branches.
Its eyes were closed, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding flames.
The crimson comb seemed so engorged that it gave a sense of swelling.
The black feathers over its body were fluffed up, quivering slightly.
It seemed to be enduring tremendous pain.
But whether it was the shaking of the leaves or the shocked cries of the people, nothing seemed to disturb the black Spirit Chicken.
It kept its eyes firmly shut.
"It’s a Fourth-Order Top Grade Spirit Beast!"
Yan Zhenyi said in a deep voice.
The other three and the Protectors behind them said nothing.
They could all see it was a Fourth-Order Top Grade Spirit Beast, and from its aura, it seemed to be no ordinary one.
But the key question was, why was such a black Spirit Chicken on this tree?
Bian Burang, however, quickly realized,
