Chapter 2833: Food Snatching

A Nine-Yuan Profound Wood is equivalent to an evolving Spirit Gathering Formation. The older the Nine-Yuan Profound Wood, the stronger its ability to gather spiritual energy.

The Profound Azure Sect possesses a Nine-Yuan Profound Wood over 300,000 years old, which they use to set up a Spirit Gathering Formation. After years of nourishment by spiritual energy, the Profound Azure Sect's spiritual vein finally advanced to an eighth-tier spiritual vein.

For Nine-Yuan Profound Wood over 30,000 years old, a special spiritual liquid flows from its roots every ten thousand years. This is one of the main ingredients for refining the Nine-Yuan Profound Elixir.

The Nine-Yuan Profound Elixir enhances spiritual power and is suitable for cultivators at the Integration stage. It is particularly effective for Integration-stage cultivators who practice wood-element cultivation techniques.

It is said that the Profound Azure Sect's Nine-Yuan Profound Wood was brought from Celestial Venerable Xuanling's Daoist sanctuary. It is unknown where the Northern Nether Family obtained their Nine-Yuan Profound Wood.

Regardless, since a Nine-Yuan Profound Wood exists, it must be acquired.

"Come on, take us there," Guo Xuefei said excitedly. "This is an opportunity for our Guo family."

Guo Xueqing nodded and flew towards the northwest, with Guo Xuefei and the middle-aged man following.

In a verdant mountain range stretching for a million miles, Wang Xiangrong and Wang Liangyan stood at the foot of a steep peak. At the base of the mountain was half of a cyan stone tablet, its inscriptions already faded and illegible.

The area above the mountainside was covered by a cyan mist. Divine sense, when probing into it, was instantly lost as if in a boundless sea.

Wang Xiangrong held a cyan beast hide in his hand, his expression solemn.

"I hope we can find some rare spiritual herbs this time," Wang Xiangrong muttered to himself. Perhaps due to its age, the markings on the map were not entirely accurate, with some discrepancies. For instance, in places that should have had powerful demonic beasts, he encountered none, and some areas expected to contain rare spiritual herbs were completely empty.

He had visited three spiritual herb gardens, but others had already gotten there first. He wondered if cultivators from the Wang family were responsible.

Since entering the mystic realm, Wang Xiangrong's gains had been meager; he had only found five thousand-year spiritual herbs and slain a few sixth-tier demonic beasts.

Some lingering restrictions here imposed certain limitations on divine sense, preventing him from surveying the situation on the mountain.

Wang Liangyan held a pale golden orb in her hand, which emitted a dazzling golden light.

"A powerful, top-grade sixth-tier Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape! And a Nine-Yuan Profound Wood!" Wang Liangyan exclaimed, her face a mix of surprise and joy.

She and Wang Lihe had split up to escape. On the way, she encountered a top-grade sixth-tier demonic bird pursuing her, and it took her some effort to shake it off. Using the Azure Lotus Spirit-Sensing Compass, she was able to rendezvous with Wang Xiangrong.

Wang Xiangrong frowned. The Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape possessed immense power, far surpassing ordinary demonic beasts.

Even if Wang Xiangrong and Wang Liangyan joined forces, it would not be easy to eliminate the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape.

"Someone is coming," Wang Xiangrong said, frowning. "Three Void Refinement cultivators – one late-stage, two mid-stage. They are not our clansmen." He cultivated the 'Grand Void Divine Forging Art', which made his divine sense quite powerful.

"Should we avoid them?" Wang Liangyan asked, a hint of reluctance on her face.

"Let's hide first," Wang Xiangrong instructed. "See if they are after the Nine-Yuan Profound Wood."

Wang Liangyan flicked her sleeve, and a command flag shimmering with yellow light flew out. It circled them a few times, transforming into a dense yellow light screen that enveloped them, and they submerged into the ground, vanishing from sight.

A moment later, three streaks of light flew over from a distance; it was Guo Xuefei and her two companions.

"Sister Xuefei, the Nine-Yuan Profound Wood is here," Guo Xueqing said, pointing to the mountain peak, his expression solemn. "That Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape is too powerful; Uncle Seven tragically died at its hands."

The Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape's physical body was immensely strong, capable of withstanding Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasures. Even he and the clan elder together were no match for it.

"Be cautious," Guo Xuefei instructed. "Use a formation to eliminate it." She deemed this the safest method.

She carried a set of the Skyfire Spirit Annihilation Array, a sixth-tier formation bestowed upon her by Guo Yulin, which would now come in handy.

They set up the formation. Guo Xueqing was to lure the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape, while Guo Xuefei and her other companion cast spells to conceal themselves.

They had no idea that two Void Refinement cultivators were watching them from 100,000 feet underground, a feat possible thanks to the lingering restrictions of the spiritual herb garden.

"It seems they are using a formation to kill the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape," Wang Liangyan guessed.

"That's perfect," Wang Xiangrong instructed. "We'll quietly sneak up the mountain. You go transplant the Nine-Yuan Profound Wood, and I'll cover you." The Nine-Yuan Profound Wood was too precious; it absolutely had to be acquired.

Azure Lotus Island's seventh-tier spiritual vein was only a small section, and with the increasing number of high-tier cultivators in the clan, the spiritual energy was clearly insufficient. Acquiring this Nine-Yuan Profound Wood would not only enhance the spiritual energy density of Azure Lotus Island but also strengthen the family's foundation.

Wang Liangyan nodded, agreeing.

A rumbling sound echoed, and the ground shook violently.

Using her treasure, Wang Liangyan could clearly see Guo Xueqing luring the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape into the formation. A crimson light screen then appeared out of thin air, enveloping the ape.

Guo Xuefei and her two companions each channeled several incantations into the formation disk. Within the light screen, countless red fire lights emerged, then blurred and transformed into tens of thousands of crimson fireballs.

Simultaneously, a stream of crimson flames surged from the ground, heading straight for the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape, while the tens of thousands of crimson fireballs also hurtled towards it.

The Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape let out an angry roar. A wave of yellow sonic energy swept out, shattering most of the crimson fireballs. However, some still struck its body, and raging flames engulfed the ape.

Guo Xuefei and her two companions continued to activate the formation, attacking the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape.

Deep underground, Wang Xiangrong and Wang Liangyan, protected by the yellow light screen, rapidly moved towards the mountain peak.

When they reached halfway up the mountain, they were blocked by a pale golden light screen, unable to advance an inch. If they returned to the surface, they would certainly be discovered by Guo Xuefei and her companions. Forcing their way through the restriction would create too much commotion and also lead to discovery.

"Never mind," Wang Xiangrong instructed. "I'll cover you. You go transplant the Nine-Yuan Profound Wood. Once it's done, retreat immediately, and I'll catch up with you." He then took out a Nine-Yuan Spirit Concealment Talisman and handed it to Wang Liangyan.

Wang Liangyan's cultivation was too low, and Wang Xiangrong was not entirely confident in eliminating Guo Xuefei and her two companions, especially with the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape as an external factor. Given that there were also cultivators from the Liao family in the mystic realm, it was better to be cautious. Acquiring the Nine-Yuan Profound Wood was the most crucial task.

Wang Liangyan acknowledged, then slapped the Nine-Yuan Spirit Concealment Talisman onto herself. A dazzling spiritual light flared, enveloping her entire body, and she moved towards the surface.

Guo Xuefei and her two companions were currently activating the formation to eliminate the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape. The ape was indeed difficult to deal with, but it could not break out of the formation anytime soon as dense crimson fireballs and crimson fire blades continuously struck its body.

As time passed, numerous wounds appeared on the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape's body.

Just then, a loud bang echoed from the mountain peak.

Guo Xuefei's expression darkened. Someone was trying to snatch their prize.

"Seeking death!" Guo Xuefei commanded. "You two keep activating the formation to eliminate the Great Strength Golden-Backed Ape. I'll go see who dares to be so audacious." She then flew towards the peak.