Chapter 597: Rushing Deeper In

White, jade-like roots intertwined, forming a spherical mass from which a mysterious light emanated through its crevices.

Zhou Yuan, his eyes wide with surprise, gazed at the base of the jade tree. Then, a surge of spiritual energy swept from his brow, cleanly severing the intertwined root sphere. His spiritual power then levitated the sphere before him.

With his slender fingers, Zhou Yuan manipulated his spiritual energy, tearing apart each of the intertwined roots. After a moment, the spherical mass slowly began to crack open.

Both Zhou Yuan and Luoluo cast curious yet cautious gazes towards it.

“What is this…?” As the roots split open, they revealed an object roughly the size of a palm. It had a strange appearance, resembling a rough, tablet-like monument, though it seemed to be missing about half. Its material was also peculiar, neither metal nor wood, and it looked rather ordinary.

However, both Zhou Yuan and Luoluo knew instinctively that this item could not be as ordinary as it appeared, given its exceptionally hidden location.

Moreover, and most importantly, both Zhou Yuan and Luoluo noticed that as they removed the object, the jade tree before them began to dim and wither, slowly losing its vibrancy.

It was as if some vital essence had been extracted.

“What is this thing?” Luoluo couldn’t help but ask.

Zhou Yuan extended his hand and gripped the broken, tablet-like object. It was surprisingly heavy in his palm, but his eyes were filled with confusion, as he could not sense any unusual power emanating from it. It was clearly not a Spirit-Building treasure.

“I’m not sure,” Zhou Yuan replied, handing the tablet-like object to Luoluo.

Luoluo took it, turning it over in her hands for a moment, her eyes reflecting her confusion. Finally, she handed it back to Zhou Yuan, saying, “Even though we don’t know its purpose, it definitely isn’t an ordinary object. You should put it away for now; perhaps we’ll discover its use later.”

Zhou Yuan hesitated. While the object’s purpose remained unclear, it was undeniably extraordinary. Luoluo simply handing it to him made him feel as though he was taking too great an advantage.

“Don’t overthink it,” Luoluo said with a smile, patting her sleeve. “Even if this item is extraordinary, I also got Little Spirit!”

For Luoluo, acquiring a mutated Genesis Beast like the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python was by far her most significant gain.

“In that case, I’ll accept this favor,” Zhou Yuan said with an easy smile after a moment of thought, not being one to stand on ceremony. He decided that if the opportunity arose later, he would offer Luoluo some compensation.

Luoluo simply nodded nonchalantly.

Zhou Yuan carefully put away the mysterious tablet-like object, then looked at the gradually dimming and withering jade tree. “This time, it should be completely empty,” he commented.

“Let’s head out now.”

Luoluo nodded, naturally content. This expedition had not only yielded a six-colored Spirit-Building treasure but also the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python, an unimaginable boost to her strength.

Without lingering, the two returned through the spatial rift they had previously entered, reappearing at the bottom of the six-colored lake.

As they emerged from the spatial rift, it began to slowly close, eventually vanishing completely. At that moment, Zhou Yuan faintly sensed that the small space within had also quietly disintegrated.

He gently touched the Qiankun pouch at his waist. He had a premonition that perhaps the true treasure of that small space was not the two six-colored fruits, but rather the mysterious, incomplete tablet.

For now, however, he was unable to discern its function.

With a splash, two figures broke the surface of the lake and emerged, landing on a higher point.

Night still shrouded the area, and the world was silent.

Luoluo stretched contentedly, then extended her hand to Zhou Yuan, smiling, “Well then, it was a pleasure working with you this time.”

Zhou Yuan smiled and shook her hand.

“Let’s part ways here,” Zhou Yuan said with a smile. “I need to catch up with the Cangxuan Sect team, and I assume you do as well?”

Luoluo playfully stuck out her tongue. “I snuck out using an excuse, so I really need to get back quickly.”

Zhou Yuan nodded. “Be careful on your way.”

Luoluo waved her hand. “See you again in the depths of the Xuan Yuan Heaven Cave!”

As she spoke, Little Han, perched on her shoulder, let out a prolonged cry and rapidly transformed into a colossal, ice-blue bird. With a graceful leap, Luoluo landed on its back.

Little Han’s clear cry echoed through the air before it powerfully flapped its wings and shot forward, a streak of blue light that soared across the sky and vanished in an instant.

Zhou Yuan watched Luoluo depart. He had no concerns about her safety; moreover, with the Three-Headed Spirit Ghost Python now accompanying her, her current strength meant that even the top disciples from other factions would find it difficult to gain an advantage against her.

“Now, I can finally venture into the depths of the Xuan Yuan Heaven Cave with peace of mind,” he mused.

Zhou Yuan exhaled slowly, then turned his gaze toward the distant horizon. The depths of the Xuan Yuan Heaven Cave were where the various Saint Sons would contend, the true heart and most exciting part of the entire Xuan Yuan Heaven Cave.

The appearance of a six-colored treasure ground in these outer regions had already astonished them. However, while such sites were still rare, it was certain that many more existed within the deeper parts of the Heaven Cave.

“I wonder how Yaoyao and Tun Tun are doing now…”

He murmured to himself, then chuckled. With Yaoyao’s strength, even amidst the multitude of Saint Sons in the depths of the Xuan Yuan Heaven Cave, she would likely navigate with ease and thrive.

Zhou Yuan pushed down his thoughts. Golden Genesis Qi surged beneath his feet, lifting him into the air and transforming him into a streak of golden light that rapidly shot toward the distance.

A day later, Zhou Yuan caught up with the team, which had slowed its pace. Seeing him return safely, Jin Zhang, Gu Hongyi, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.

Although curious about the reason for Zhou Yuan’s absence, they were wise enough not to pry. Everyone had their secrets, and pressing too hard would be ill-mannered.

The team then resumed its regular pace of travel over the next few days.

During their journey, they naturally encountered various other factions. However, upon seeing Zhou Yuan leading the Cangxuan Sect contingent, these groups all retreated, as if encountering formidable predators.

Evidently, news of Zhou Yuan’s feat—slaying Fan Yao of the Sacred Palace in the six-colored treasure ground—had spread widely. Teams from other regions had heard of it and were now aware that Saint Genesis Peak of the Cangxuan Sect had produced an exceptionally powerful chief disciple.

With such a deterrent, Zhou Yuan’s journey was remarkably smooth, as few short-sighted groups dared to challenge them.

Given this smooth progress, Zhou Yuan began to dedicate his time to cultivating the Minor Profound Saint Body. Thus, every evening, many disciples would observe him take out a large wooden vat, jump in, and then muffled, painful roars would emerge from within, sending shivers down their spines.

Evidently, the wooden vat contained the golden pool water Zhou Yuan had obtained from the space beneath the lake.

As they gradually approached the deeper regions of the Xuan Yuan Heaven Cave, the opponents they would encounter would become progressively stronger. Therefore, Zhou Yuan dared not relax, seizing every opportunity to enhance his own strength.

He had to completely advance the Minor Profound Saint Body to the third layer, the Golden Blood Realm, before reaching the true depths of the Xuan Yuan Heaven Cave!