Chapter 3680: Who Is the Prey

True spirits are rare in the outside world, and their whereabouts are unpredictable. Even if they reveal themselves, how would one know they are a true spirit unless they say so? One cannot simply kill a transformed monster beast just upon discovering its nature.

Even if one manages to obtain a true spirit core, refining it doesn't guarantee becoming a true spirit; it mostly serves to advance one's cultivation. In a sense, a true spirit core is akin to a powerful tonic.

"There's no mention of bloodline purity," Changchunzi asked, puzzled. "What's the difference between true spirit families that inherit human-form true spirits and those that inherit beast-form true spirits? Why doesn't your Cao family become a true spirit family that inherits human-form true spirits?"

"Descendants of human-form true spirit families, upon reaching the Mahayana stage, can merge with the dharma idol of their true spirit ancestors," Cao Yuzhen explained. "For beast-form true spirit families, their descendants need to have a bloodline close to that of the monster beast to merge with the monster beast dharma idol after reaching the Mahayana stage. However, merging with a dharma idol doesn't make one invincible, nor can it directly withstand Xuantian treasures. Factors like treasures, spirit insects and beasts, formation talismans, and enlightenment cannot be ignored. Many major clans and true spirit families have been annihilated. Our Cao family simply isn't interested."

Cao Yuzhen explained that the Cao family possesses profound heritage. Their highest-cultivating clansmen in the immortal realm are Grand Unity Golden Immortals. Should a major catastrophe occur, they can utilize special formations to send Mahayana cultivators to the lower realm. Moreover, the Cao family's protective formations and guardian spirit beasts are not just for show; they do not place much emphasis on the so-called true spirit bloodline.

"That makes sense," Changchunzi remarked. "Madam Cao, I've never seen the spirit insects you released. Are they perhaps immortal realm spirit insects?"

Changchunzi asked curiously, his gaze fixed on the golden beetles. Spirit insects capable of killing true spirits were naturally extraordinary; ordinary ones would have been annihilated long ago.

"These are Golden Ao Insects," Cao Yuzhen explained. "They are ranked 705th on the Immortal Insect List and are descendants of a true spirit. Of course, the bloodline of these Golden Ao Insects is very diluted. The insect king is an eighth-tier creature, and dealing with the heavily wounded tree demon was no problem."

The Golden Ao Insect is a new species, whose lineage from a monster insect is unknown. It cultivated into a true spirit through its own efforts and left behind descendants.

"The Immortal Insect List?"

Changchunzi was slightly startled. Just by the name, it was clear that any spirit insect on the list must be extraordinary.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore," Cao Yuzhen urged. "Let's dismantle the formation and look around elsewhere! Hopefully, we can encounter other true spirits."

Cao Yuzhen put away the Golden Ao Insects and urged them.

Cao Tianhu frowned, taking out a nine-colored magic plate that glimmered with spiritual light. He inserted a magic incantation into it, causing multicolored runes to surge out. They spun rapidly, transforming into a nine-colored pointer that spun quickly, pointing southeast.

"Oh no, a true spirit is coming!"

Cao Tianhu exclaimed that the true spirit disk was a remnant Xuantian treasure capable of distinguishing between true spirits and ordinary eighth-tier monster beasts, a testament to a super clan's profound heritage. However, it could only detect the traces of monster beasts below the True Immortal stage.

"True spirits!"

Cao Yuzhen's eyes lit up. They had just killed one true spirit and now encountered another; their luck was truly exceptional!

"Something's not right," Cao Tianhu said with a frown. "If it were just one true spirit, the true spirit disk wouldn't react so intensely."

Cao Yuyun held a shimmering silver orb in one hand, her beautiful face changing drastically. She exclaimed, "Oh no, it's not just one true spirit; there are many, and they've already transformed! Run!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yuzhen and the others' expressions changed dramatically.

Cao Yuzhen flicked her sleeve, and a green flying boat, shimmering with blue light, flew out. Its spiritual energy was astonishing; it was clearly a Xuantian treasure.

The Cao family possessed multiple flying Xuantian treasures, though they rarely displayed them. Their ancestor, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, could send Mahayana cultivators to the lower realm, and any small item they brought to their clansmen there would be endlessly beneficial.

They all quickly boarded the green flying boat. Cao Yuzhen chanted an incantation, and the green flying boat transformed into an afterimage, vanishing from sight.

Immediately after they left, a gust of wind swept by, and a black-clad youth with a pair of black feathered wings on his back appeared.

"Another Xuantian treasure!"

The black-clad youth said with a frown.

A moment later, the red-dressed girl and her five companions arrived.

"How can there be another flying Xuantian treasure?" Butterfly Wei murmured. "Are all treasure hunters so wealthy?"

Butterfly Wei's brows were tightly furrowed.

"Possessing a flying Xuantian treasure, they must not be an ordinary power," the red-dressed girl said. "Never mind, let's go find other targets!"

The red-dressed girl waved her hand, and the seven of them left the place.

A vast, endless white glacier stretched out, with snowflakes dancing across the sky and gusts of cold wind blowing.

A deafening roar echoed from high in the sky, where a dazzling golden light flared, visible from a great distance.

Fu Hai and over twenty other Mahayana cultivators stood high in the sky, their expressions cold.

Fu Hai held a golden shimmering horn in his hand. He placed it to his lips and gently blew, causing a golden sound wave to sweep out. It passed over the golden light, which then flickered wildly before extinguishing, revealing a blood-soaked white giant lion. Seven of its heads had been severed, with only two remaining. A shimmering red spiritual chain coiled around its body, preventing it from breaking free.

As the golden sound wave swept over the white giant lion's body, the beast let out an extremely painful shriek, flying backward to crash heavily onto the ground, creating a massive crater.

With a flash of white light, the white giant lion transformed into a tall, white-clad youth whose body was covered in blood.

"Fellow Daoist, please stop," the white-clad youth pleaded. "I am willing to acknowledge you as my master and beg for my life."

The white-clad youth pleaded for mercy, his face filled with expectation.

"It's too late to beg for mercy now," Bai Bing said, her tone cold. She flicked her right hand, and a white-glowing flying sword flew out, striking the white-clad youth with a dull thud.

A corpulent red-robed old man raised his right hand, and a red light flew out, instantly vanishing.

The next moment, a giant tower, shimmering with red light, appeared above the white-clad youth's head, its surface enveloped in scarlet flames.

It was the Xuantian treasure, the Scarlet Lightning Pagoda, one of the Ten Clan-Protecting Treasures of the Tianming Clan.

The Tianming Clan, a super clan on par with the Cao family, naturally possessed more than one Xuantian treasure.

The Scarlet Lightning Pagoda descended directly, engulfing the white-clad youth.

A rumbling sound of thunder erupted as the Scarlet Lightning Pagoda shook violently. It stopped shaking only after a short while.

The red-robed old man chanted an incantation, and the Scarlet Lightning Pagoda flew up, revealing a completely charred giant lion lying motionless on the ground.

As soon as a miniature white lion detached from the body, Fu Hai conjured a blue jade bottle and collected it.

Bai Bing flew forward and dug a white crystal from the white giant lion's abdomen.

"A true spirit core!"

Bai Bing said excitedly. By refining the true spirit core, she hoped to cultivate into a true spirit.

"There should be other true spirits here," Fu Hai urged. "Let's go look around elsewhere."

Bai Bing collected the white giant lion's corpse, and the group left the place.

A stretch of scarlet volcanic mountains lay ahead, with a frighteningly high temperature and a scarlet sky.

The Transcendent Spirit Flying Chariot floated high in the sky, and Wang Tun Tian's eyes glowed with dazzling yellow light.

"To the southwest," Wang Tun Tian said, pointing. "There's a Scarlet Kylin Immortal Wood in a cave."