Chapter 2234: Encounter with Jiao Mingzhu

The higher one's cultivation level, the deeper their magical power, allowing their Dharma Idol to persist longer and wield greater might.

The two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas picked up the corpse of the Lihuo Falcon and flew back. The corpse of a sixth-rank Lihuo Falcon was indeed excellent material for refining fire-attribute treasures.

The Twin-Pupil Rat burrowed out from underground, followed by the Wood Demon. The Twin-Pupil Rat's body reeked of scorching and it let out a pained cry. The Wood Demon was also injured, but its injuries were not severe. Wang Changsheng took out several green spirit fruits and fed them to the Twin-Pupil Rat. After eating the fruits, it climbed onto Wang Changsheng's shoulder.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan flew into the cave. As soon as they entered, a wave of heat washed over them. Soon after, they arrived in a massive cave spanning hundreds of acres. A faint red glow emanated from the stone walls, and waves of heat continuously rolled out. There was a hundred-zhang wide opening at the top of the cave, allowing some sunlight to filter in.

In the northwest corner of the cave stood a red fruit tree over ten zhang tall. Its reddish leaves were diamond-shaped, and it bore more than twenty red apricots. From a distance, the Golden Flame Apricot tree looked like a ball of raging fire.

Wang Changsheng punched the air with his right fist. The void vibrated and distorted, and countless blue water vapors surged out, forming a colossal blue fist hundreds of zhang in size. With a piercing whoosh, it slammed into the stone wall. The stone wall immediately tore open, revealing some red ore. Wang Changsheng moved both fists, and dense blue fist shadows shot out, continuously striking the stone wall. A series of booming explosions echoed, and the stone wall shattered into pieces, reflecting flashes of red light.

"Fiery Rocks! How could there be a Fiery Rock ore vein here? And the Golden Roc Clan hasn't discovered it all this time?" Wang Changsheng wondered, completely baffled. Such an obvious Fiery Rock ore vein, yet the Golden Roc Clan didn't discover it. And no one else discovered it before? That's truly strange, unless there was a formation.

They searched carefully and found two broken formation plates in a corner. "It seems someone set up a formation specifically to cultivate the Golden Flame Apricot fruit tree," Wang Ruyan speculated. "Too much time passed, and the spirit stones maintaining the formation ran out of spiritual energy. That's why the Lihuo Falcon discovered it."

Wang Changsheng nodded. He summoned the Myriad Herb Vase, cast a spell, and the vase flew above the Golden Flame Apricot tree, emitting a stream of green light that enveloped the tree. Wang Ruyan flicked her sleeve, and hundreds of gleaming green formation flags flew out, disappearing into the ground near the Golden Flame Apricot tree. She then took out a misty green pentagonal formation plate and cast several spells into it. The Myriad Herb Vase was not omnipotent. To transplant spiritual fruit trees and herbs, using the Myriad Herb Vase along with a formation would ensure absolute success.

The ground lit up with dazzling green light, then suddenly split apart. The Golden Flame Apricot tree visibly detached from the ground, its thick roots gradually emerging. A short while later, the Golden Flame Apricot tree rapidly shrank and was swept by the green light into the Myriad Herb Vase.

Fiery Rock was a fifth-rank refining material, quite valuable. Wang Changsheng took out his Grand Hao Spirit-Severing Blade and struck towards the stone wall. After a piercing hum of the blade, hundreds of misty blue blade energies swept out, striking the stone wall. With a thunderous roar, the stone wall shattered into pieces, and large chunks of Fiery Rock fell to the ground.

Wang Changsheng wanted to continue, but a powerful divine sense swept over his body. The next moment, the cave they were in shook violently. The ceiling suddenly collapsed, and a gleaming golden bird claw descended from above, striking towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Wang Changsheng swung his Grand Hao Spirit-Severing Blade, smashing the golden bird claw to pieces.

They flew out of the cave and looked into the distance. Three men and one woman stood in the void ten thousand zhang away. Leading them was a burly young man in golden robes, with a prominent nose and long ears. There were some golden spiritual patterns on his face, and his eyes were golden.

"Hunting demon beasts on our Golden Roc Clan's territory? You must be tired of living!" a corpulent old man in green robes with large ears said with a cold expression. He had a pair of green feathered wings on his back. Beside the golden-robed youth stood a strikingly beautiful girl in a blue dress. There were some blue scales on her face and arms.

The girl in the blue dress saw Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, and her face filled with shock.

"Fairy Jiao, it's you," Wang Changsheng said, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes as his gaze settled on the girl in the blue dress. The girl in the blue dress was none other than Jiao Mingzhu. Jiao Mingzhu was currently at the late Stage of Soul Transformation. Wang Changsheng hadn't expected to encounter her here.

Jiao Mingzhu had never imagined she would meet Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan here. Speaking of which, she had led the Sea Clan in pursuit of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan back then, but had failed. Jiao Mingzhu's heart was filled with mixed emotions. She had smuggled herself into the Xuanyang Realm only to be captured by the Golden Roc Clan and made a concubine to their young patriarch. Meanwhile, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had already advanced to the Void Refinement stage.

"Mingzhu, you know them?" The golden-robed youth narrowed his eyes and asked.

"We're from the same realm; we've met a few times." Jiao Mingzhu didn't want to say more. In the Dongli Realm, she had been the Sea Clan Saintess, holding a revered position. Now, in the Xuanyang Realm, she was merely a concubine.

"Just a few meetings? Since you've met old friends, invite them to be our guests at the mansion." The golden-robed youth's expression turned cold as he instructed.

The green-robed elder responded, fiercely flapped the green feathered wings on his back, and vanished from his spot. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's bodies glowed with brilliant blue light. Countless blue water vapors surged out, forming a massive blue water screen that enveloped their entire bodies.

"Jin Shuo, no!" Jiao Mingzhu remembered something and quickly warned him.

Jin Shuo paid it no mind. His subordinate was at the mid-stage of Void Refinement cultivation, and even a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure would struggle to harm him. A gust of fierce wind blew past, and the green-robed elder suddenly appeared in the void a hundred zhang behind Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

The moment he appeared, his body shone with brilliant green light, and a strong gale began to rage. A massive illusory image of a green seagull appeared above his head. Misty green gales suddenly swept across the sea surface, stirring up towering tidal waves. The green seagull's claw swept downwards into the void. Ripples spread above Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's heads, and a colossal green bird claw materialized out of thin air, grabbing towards them.

Before the green bird claw even reached them, the surrounding airflow suddenly tightened, making it difficult for Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan to breathe. Wang Changsheng snorted lightly. His right fist glowed with dazzling blue light as he punched towards the green bird claw. Countless blue water vapors emerged, forming a misty blue colossal fist that met the attack.

With a thunderous roar, both attacks canceled each other out. A powerful energy wave swept outwards. Wherever it passed, dozens of mountain peaks exploded, trees turned into countless wood splinters, and numerous low-rank demon beasts disintegrated into bloody mist.

"Body cultivators! Interesting." Jin Shuo's lips curved slightly, an expression of interest appearing on his face.

Wang Changsheng chanted a spell. The void above their heads vibrated and distorted, and a misty human-shaped phantom suddenly appeared above them. The phantom's right fist glowed with blue light, appearing almost corporeal. Wang Ruyan took out her Red Dust Flute, put it to her lips, and a lively flute melody began to play.