Chapter 457: Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris

The Mortal World

Elder Snake continued, "You all must have guessed that you're not the only ones entering Pointing-Heaven Peak this time. You'll be competing with the cultivators from the Heaven's Path Alliance for the Star Origin Stones. Their strength is comparable to yours. If you encounter them, do not take them lightly. Otherwise, not only will you fail to retrieve the Star Origin Stones, but you will die on Pointing-Heaven Peak, and there won't even be anyone to recover your remains."

After fighting for so long, who among those standing there didn't have their hands stained with blood?

Not a single one was soft-hearted.

They didn't need Elder Snake to tell them what to do; they already knew.

One of the demonic cultivators, a thoughtful individual, spoke up and asked, "Dare I ask, Island Master, how many people from the Heaven's Path Alliance have entered Pointing-Heaven Peak?"

Vice Island Master Xiao, who had been standing beside Elder Snake, spoke for the first time. "Just like you, there are thirty-three of them."

The demonic cultivator sneered, "Also thirty-three... It seems they're all old acquaintances."

"Let me tell you about Pointing-Heaven Peak..."

Vice Island Master Xiao gestured in the air, and a majestic peak materialized. "This is the complete view of Pointing-Heaven Peak. The Star Origin Stones are on it..."

Qin Sang and the others carefully observed the illusion, listening to Vice Island Master Xiao's explanation.

It took a full quarter of an hour for Vice Island Master Xiao to finish. He waved his hand, erasing the illusion, and said, "These are only a small portion of the dangers within Pointing-Heaven Peak. Due to its peculiar restrictions, most areas of Pointing-Heaven Peak remain unexplored, so you must exercise caution yourselves. The opening period of Pointing-Heaven Peak is very brief; you cannot waste a single moment. You must exert your full effort to search for Star Origin Stones. Finally, Star-Gazing Island will reward you based on the quantity of Star Origin Stones you retrieve. The treasures are all here..."

As he spoke, Vice Island Master Xiao gestured with his palm, and several beams of radiant light transformed into arcing rainbows, flying out from his waist.

Instantly, the Golden Hall was filled with dazzling treasure light, almost blinding everyone.

A total of ten radiant beams hovered before them. Each beam enveloped a treasure: there were spirit herbs, spirit pills, talismans, and magic artifacts.

The ten treasures were all different, yet each was a priceless artifact!

At the appearance of these treasures, Qin Sang and the others' gazes instantly became fervent. They couldn't take their eyes off them, eagerly widening their eyes and examining each one.

"This is the Return-to-Origin Pill, a sacred healing medicine!"

"This spirit talisman, it's actually a Talisman Treasure! It looks like a defensive one!"

"What kind of magic artifact is this? It's emitting such a terrifying aura!"

"Could this be the Profound Truth Pill? It's said to aid in Golden Core formation..."

Gasps of astonishment rose and fell within the Golden Hall.

However, this commotion was very brief. The next moment, the Golden Hall fell into a deathly silence.

Almost everyone's gaze simultaneously fixed on the leftmost of the ten radiant beams. Even Qin Sang, with his steadfast mind, couldn't help but feel a stir of emotion in his eyes.

The others' reactions were even more pronounced than Qin Sang's.

Within the radiant beam, two spirit herbs were enveloped.

One white, one red, complementing each other.

The white spirit herb was shaped like a blooming lotus, entirely pure white from its petals to its roots, without the slightest hint of impurity, radiating a pure and cool aura.

It was like a sacred medicine, one that people wouldn't dare to defile.

A strange yin chill emanated from the spirit herb. Curiously, cultivators who came into contact with its coldness would not suffer any harm whatsoever.

It had a name that drove all Foundation Establishment cultivators mad: the Snow Spirit Lotus!

The other spirit herb was called the Iris!

The Iris was distinctly different from the Snow Spirit Lotus. It wasn't as sacred; it also bloomed, fiery red, its long petals layered like a magnificent phoenix tail.

The Iris, on the other hand, exuded a warm yang energy.

The two spirit herbs represented yin and yang. What was even more precious was that their medicinal properties were perfectly compatible, aligning precisely with the Golden Core Dao of Yin and Yang harmony.

Indeed, the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris, used in conjunction, were considered the most potent spiritual items in the current cultivation world for aiding Golden Core formation.

They didn't need to be refined into pills; simply refining them during Golden Core formation would suffice.

Of course, possessing them didn't guarantee Golden Core formation.

The success rate for cultivators forming a Golden Core was inherently low, akin to thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge. For those who managed to pass this hurdle, luck and talent were both indispensable.

Even with spiritual items like the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris, the success rate would only increase by ten or twenty percent, still pitifully low.

What was even more frustrating was that more spiritual items didn't necessarily mean a higher success rate for Golden Core formation.

Qin Sang had the Kanli Golden Core bestowed by his sect, but even if he obtained the Iris and Snow Spirit Lotus, the effects of these two spiritual items couldn't be stacked.

He could only try them one by one.

Vice Island Master Xiao watched the crowd with a smile. Once they calmed down, he finally said, "Have you seen these spiritual items? After you return from Pointing-Heaven Peak, whoever obtains the most Star Origin Stones will get to choose first."

Someone hastily asked, "Does that apply to the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris as well?"

"Of course!"

Vice Island Master Xiao pointed to that radiant beam. "There's no need for me to explain how precious these two spirit herbs are; I doubt anyone among you wouldn't want them. Unfortunately, Star-Gazing Island can only provide one pair. Whoever makes the greatest contribution and retrieves the most Star Origin Stones will claim them! Of course, if you don't want the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris and choose other treasures, we won't stop you."

Those present were essentially all cultivators at the Pseudo-Golden Core realm or close to it, precisely at the critical juncture of forming their Golden Core. Who among them wouldn't want the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris?

Even Ji Wu, who had been staring at the Return-to-Origin Pill, shifted his gaze after seeing the two spirit herbs, completely forgetting about his master.

But there was only one pair of these two spirit herbs!

Fortunately, among the ten radiant beams, they weren't the only items that could aid in Golden Core formation. There were five other items, including the Profound Truth Pill. Their effects varied in potency, but all were a step below the two spirit herbs.

Star-Gazing Island had clearly grasped their vital points, knowing exactly how to motivate them to risk their lives.

Each of these items was rare and hard to find; only Star-Gazing Island could possibly produce them.

Unfortunately, even six spiritual items were but a drop in the bucket for the thirty-three individuals present.

Moreover, there were only ten radiant beams, meaning only ten people would receive rewards. The rest would have essentially made the trip in vain!

*Whoosh!*

Vice Island Master Xiao flicked his sleeve, collecting the radiant beams.

As the treasures vanished, expressions of disappointment appeared on everyone's faces, yet no one dared to do anything to Vice Island Master Xiao.

"Is that clear to everyone?"

Vice Island Master Xiao scanned the crowd. Regardless of what they were thinking, he calmly said, "If you desire these treasures, from now on, return to your cultivation caves and enter seclusion to adjust your state to its peak, then await orders. For now, you may leave."

With that, Vice Island Master Xiao and Elder Snake's figures flickered, disappearing from where they stood.

After the two island masters left, the crowd remained silent for a while, silently observing each other. A clear sense of wariness was evident in their gazes.

Their opponents were not just the Heaven's Path Alliance, but also each other.

There wasn't a single weak person among them. Anyone had the hope of acquiring the treasures. Their strengths were roughly equal, so why should anyone fear another?