Chapter 758: Egg's Sadness

Blazing Phoenix City is vast, its walls bearing the mottled marks of time. The city is bustling with traffic, its population numbering in the hundreds of millions. It boasts everything imaginable, from medicine pavilions and scripture halls to treasure markets. In addition, numerous spiritual mountains and cave dwellings are scattered throughout the immense city.

When Chu Feng stepped out of his cave dwelling and returned to the bustling parts of the city, he was surprised to find he needed a teleportation array. This was because the distances between areas were too vast, separated by large spiritual mountains and various sects.

After finishing his seclusion, Chu Feng inquired around and headed straight for the Divine Medicine Market. Its astonishing name came from the fact that it had previously facilitated the sale of more than one divine medicine. This was astounding, as anyone who acquired such an item would almost invariably keep it for their own use, making it virtually impossible to sell. Even in recent antiquity, the Divine Medicine Market had seen the sale of several immortality medicines. Each such transaction was utterly shocking, causing an immense stir and leading to the market's boundless renown. Even the top ten races, such as the Pseudo-Immortal, Buddhist, and Corpse Races, would have people monitoring this highly renowned herb market year-round, observing its every movement.

The last time Chu Feng saw a Soul Nurturing Lotus, it was being sold at a medicine pavilion on the outskirts of the Divine Medicine Market. Furthermore, this market bordered exclusive districts selling scriptures and combat techniques, making it inherently bustling. All those who came and went were cultivators.

The main structure of one medicine pavilion was made of bronze, covered with patches of green rust, giving it an ancient and weathered appearance.

"Boss, is the Soul Nurturing Lotus still available?" Chu Feng immediately inquired. As he was about to enter the Great Dream Pure Land, he needed to make all sorts of preparations. The Great Dream Pure Land sect particularly emphasized spiritual cultivation. Its world-shaking martial arts made all races deeply wary, as they could kill people by projecting into their dreams! Therefore, before attending the gathering, Chu Feng wanted to boost his spiritual power as much as possible, so that he could feel more at ease even after entering that Pure Land. Fortunately, after more than twenty days of seclusion, he had mastered a spiritual attack technique and even acquired a Soul Bell, which were considered powerful trump cards. However, Chu Feng speculated that geniuses from other races were certainly well-prepared, especially the successors of the top ten, who likely had their own killer moves.

"Little sister, you're too late," the boss said. "The Soul Nurturing Lotus was bought at a high price more than ten days ago. The final transaction price was one and a half drops of Celestial God Liquid."

"Little sister, my foot!" Chu Feng wanted to hit him. He now looked like he was fourteen or fifteen, with a refined and handsome appearance and large eyes as pure as crystal, leading to the misunderstanding. The last time he came, he had just finished a major battle on Earth, his clothes ragged and stained with blood, so he didn't look particularly "beautiful." Today was different. He had just completed his evolution; his skin was crystal clear and radiant, and every strand of his hair shimmered with an otherworldly aura, making his presence extraordinary.

"I am a man!" Chu Feng gritted his teeth.

"Oh, then you are truly delicate and handsome, as refined as jade," the boss smoothly replied. "In another year or two, won't you charm all women? You'll definitely be a heartthrob to billions!" This boss was quite adept with words.

"Which big spendthrift bought it?" Chu Feng asked, with a hint of regret. At the time, the asking price of one drop of Celestial God Liquid was considered outrageously expensive by everyone, and no one was interested. Yet, it ended up selling at a premium?

"Oh, at that time, Yan Luo of the Corpse Race and Daoist Jin Lin of the Dao Race appeared together," the boss recounted. "Alas, they almost got into a fierce bidding war. Unfortunately, Daoist Jin Lin's mind was peaceful, adhering to non-action, and he gave up... Alas!" This boss was truly greedy, not satisfied even after a premium sale.

Chu Feng curled his lips. "It's just a Soul Nurturing Lotus; while it can indeed enhance spiritual power, it's not worth breaking ties over to compete for."

"Little sister..." The boss had just started speaking when he saw Chu Feng's face darken and quickly corrected himself: "Young man, you're wrong about that. The Great Dream Pure Land's grand gathering is about to begin, and it's known throughout the world. Which genius wouldn't go all out? That Pure Land specializes in soul cultivation. Who wouldn't want to be fully prepared before attending? If you can boost your spiritual power even a little, you'll have much greater odds of success!"

All this was because the Great Dream Pure Land had announced the exact timing of its grand gathering, which was less than a month away. Consequently, the prices of various spiritual medicines on the market were soaring. Especially in Blazing Phoenix City, which was inherently one of the treasure troves with enormous herb trading volumes, the situation was even more pronounced. Normally, one drop of Celestial God Liquid could buy several Soul Nurturing Lotuses.

"Young man, rarity makes something valuable," the boss continued. "Soul Nurturing Lotuses are rarely seen, and now they are even more precious. Almost all spiritual medicines in this market are sold out because many prodigies from various races have arrived, waiting to enter the Great Dream Pure Land, and they are all clearing out the medicines."

According to the boss, even Ying Wudi of the Pseudo-Immortal Race, Yuan Shicheng of the Primordial Demon Race, and Daoist Jin Lin of the Dao Race were buying up goods. Chu Feng was stunned. What herbs did these prominent families not possess that they still needed to resort to this? The boss explained, "Well, it's better to be safe than sorry. Even if they've already consumed them and the effect on boosting spiritual power is minimal, they might still be useful as spiritual recovery agents once they enter the Great Dream Pure Land."

Then, the boss leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "Young man, do you still want Soul Nurturing Lotuses? The finished ones are all gone. That plant grows in hell, and not many dare to dig for it. But I know of a Soul Nurturing Pool where there are quite a few Soul Nurturing Lotuses. Do you want a map?"

"Do you want me to go to my death?" Chu Feng squinted at him. If such a good thing existed, the boss would have sent people to collect it long ago. Would he still tell others?

The boss shook his head earnestly. "Such matters depend on destiny. Even in places of certain death, there's a sliver of hope for survival. Our exploration team barely survived to retrieve one Soul Nurturing Lotus back then. However, those who go later might still find opportunities. That place is truly tempting; there are at least twenty or more Soul Nurturing Lotuses there. That's a fortune beyond compare!" He quietly informed Chu Feng that Daoist Jin Lin, Ying Wudi, Yan Luo of the Corpse Race, and others had all bought a map from him.

Chu Feng immediately despised him. Given their status as successors of their respective races, would they personally go to a hellish, desolate place to gather herbs at such a critical moment? He didn't believe it.

"Uh, they didn't go themselves, it's true," the boss clarified, "but they enlisted their clansmen to act. However, that place is very special. Aside from some fierce beasts, the biggest problem is the bizarre terrain, suspected to be covered by ancient arrays, making it very difficult to collect the great medicines."

Chu Feng had originally intended to leave, but hearing him mention array formations piqued his interest again. This made his heart stir, thinking he might give it a try. Finally, he bought a map from this unscrupulous boss, showing the location of the Soul Nurturing Pool in hell. Even if he didn't go this time, he might explore it later. Something like the Soul Nurturing Lotus would be useful even at the Golden Body stage.

"What cultivation level are the people from the Pseudo-Immortal Race and Dao Race who go to that desolate place to gather Soul Nurturing Lotuses?" Chu Feng asked, "What level of people lead the teams?" The boss immediately looked embarrassed and whispered, "Probably Golden Body level cultivators." Chu Feng immediately glared at him. This guy truly had a dark heart for business, making him compete with a large group of Golden Body level cultivators? Currently, Saints had almost all entered the shattered universes within chaos, so Golden Body level cultivators might be considered the highest combat power!

"Young man, I see you are extraordinarily gifted, a person of great fortune," the boss quickly added, knowing he was in the wrong. "That's why I sold you the map. If you go, you might just come out on top and gain great fortune. Young man, you seem to be from an outer region and not very familiar with the Undying Star System. I'll give you another great opportunity for free. As long as you are careful, there shouldn't be too much danger. The location is on this very planet."

"The Undying Phoenix Cave!" Legend has it that in ancient times, it was the nest of the Undying Phoenix, a cluster of ancient caves engulfed in fiery light. Unfortunately, it is said that this race, capable of contending with Chaos Demonic Gods, was annihilated in a bloody battle with people from the Yang World long, long ago.

"Inside those fiery caves," the boss explained, "every so often, some spiritual herbs would suddenly emerge from the magma, such as Blood Phoenix Vine, Undying Flower, and others. Among them, the Nine-Leaf Nirvana Grass was the most famous. It could make one's spirit undergo a transformation, almost like nirvana. One Nine-Leaf Nirvana Grass was enough to boost one's spiritual power by more than double, and it had miraculous effects on beings below the Sub-Saint level. Hence, in the eyes of some, it was almost a divine medicine!" The boss sighed repeatedly, claiming that when he was young, he went on an adventure with others and almost found a plant, but missed it as his companions dug it up first.

Chu Feng wandered around the Divine Medicine Market. It was crowded, and the scent of herbs permeated the air. Medicine pavilions were everywhere, and there were many vendors sitting on the ground, with large medicines, spiritual fruits, and other items laid out on grass mats. It must be said that there were indeed some rare and precious fruits among them. For example, some exotic fruits shimmered with various colors and could help one evolve to the Sculpting Realm. Chu Feng even saw Golden Body Fruits, which could help one leap forward and transform to the Golden Body stage. However, upon careful observation, he realized they likely all had some side effects and were of lower quality, not the high-grade fruits grown in the ancestral lands of top-tier great clans. Chu Feng currently had no use for these items. Ultimately, he found nothing. All spiritual elixirs, whether naturally formed or artificially refined, and those with miraculous effects, had long been sold out.

In the city, a teleportation array shimmered with light. After paying, Chu Feng used it to disappear, reappearing on the other side of this massive planet.

The Undying Phoenix Cave was located within a volcanic cluster. Upon arrival, a pungent sulfur smell filled the air. One could see bald mountains, one after another, with circular summits, many of which were flowing with magma. On the ground, there were also many magma lakes. This was once the habitat of the Undying Phoenix! The area was vast, with countless volcanoes towering into the clouds, many of which were emitting black smoke. Environmentally, it was truly inhospitable and harsh. However, today many people had gathered here, densely packed and scattered throughout the volcanic cluster, their figures indistinct. Especially in one particular area, there were surprisingly trees. On closer inspection, they were tall phoenix trees, which could surprisingly take root in magma without dying and grew robustly.

"According to the map given by that unscrupulous boss," Chu Feng murmured, "the main nest of the Undying Phoenix is here, and the others are secondary nests." Chu Feng muttered and walked forward, seeing too many young cultivators, and even recognizing some familiar faces. For instance, Young Master Undying Silkworm, and the Peacock Race siblings Ji Cheng and Ji Xuan. Furthermore, Chu Feng saw several young direct descendants of the Celestial God Race standing with people from the Xilin Race, which instantly made him sneer inwardly. Not to mention other races; many were descendants of very powerful races. A considerable number of people appeared here, seeking opportunities. This was because the Undying Star System was very prosperous, bordering the Great Dream Pure Land. From here, one could directly use it as a springboard, arriving at the Great Dream Pure Land with a single spatial teleportation.

"Alas, everyone said that the Divine Medicine Market in Blazing Phoenix City was the most famous, ranking among the top few in the entire star sea," someone was heard saying. "But the result is disappointing; I couldn't buy a single spiritual medicine. I can only try my luck in this volcanic cluster." Without a doubt, many people came to this planet specifically for Blazing Phoenix City's herb market, but most of them found their hopes dashed.

Chu Feng entered the mountainous area, observing the volcanic cluster with magma flowing across. He walked straight ahead, intending to visit the main cave of the Undying Phoenix. A massive volcano, as tall as the sky, was extraordinarily grand and imposing, exuding a sense of oppression. It had many caves, reportedly interconnected, forming the Undying Phoenix's nest within. However, the internal terrain was intricate and complex, like a maze.

When Chu Feng approached, he saw Ying Zhexian and the silver-haired loli Ying Xiaoxiao. Additionally, there were other beautiful women, each exceedingly beautiful, some pure and radiant, others alluring and sensual, including Princess Yuan Yuan of the Primordial Demon Race. Ying Wudi, Yuan Shicheng, Yan Luo of the Corpse Race, and others had all entered the mountain cave. Their relatives and associates waited outside.

"Oh, what a beautiful big sister, just as beautiful as me," the silver-haired loli exclaimed as she spotted Chu Feng at a glance. Extremely enthusiastic and familiar, she ran over and pulled his hand, praising others while also complimenting herself, truly narcissistic. Chu Feng's mouth twitched. They were all acquaintances, for goodness sake. Besides, he really wasn't a sister! He simply ruffled the loli's head and then walked a few steps forward with her.

"What a truly pretty little girl!" Yuan Yuan said as she walked closer and pinched Chu Feng's cheek, making his face instantly darken. He, in turn, unceremoniously pinched the Primordial Demon Race princess's cheek. A group of women walked over, giggling at the sight, and asking who Chu Feng was.

Suddenly, the colossal volcano nearby erupted, wafting out a rich medicinal scent, followed by intense sounds of battle. People saw that Ying Wudi and Yuan Shicheng were actually fighting, bursting out along with the magma. This caused a sensation. They must have found a great medicine; otherwise, these two wouldn't be dueling.

"Brother, what are you fighting over?" shouted the fiery and alluring Yuan Yuan.

"An Undying Flower!" Yuan Shicheng shouted.

"Ah?" Yuan Yuan exclaimed, then immediately engaged Ying Zhexian, who was going to support her own brother. Although they didn't openly break ties and both wore smiles, it was clear that neither would let go or back down.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

At this moment, countless people rushed into the volcanic caves to search for the great medicines. Unfortunately, the Undying Flower was seemingly torn into parts by Ying Wudi and Yuan Shicheng, and was no longer in the magma.

Chu Feng stroked his chin. He also set off, unhurriedly, and chose an ancient cave to enter. Then, he thought for a moment and began to circulate the Undying Phoenix Breathing Technique here. This was a Yang World technique transmitted to him by Young Lady Xi; although incomplete, only reaching the Golden Body stage, it was sufficient for his current needs.

"Hm?"

As soon as he entered the depths of the cave, he sensed an emotional fluctuation, slightly melancholic... This greatly surprised him. Then, in the ancient cave, he discovered many stone-like spherical objects, all resembling... bird eggs. But they had long since turned into fossils. How many years must have passed?!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Many people rushed into the cave and glanced at the stone spheres scattered everywhere. Someone shook their head and said, "They're all fierce bird eggs. Back then, the Undying Phoenix had many powerful subordinates and naturally laid many eggs. They were originally priceless, but unfortunately, they've all become dead eggs. Too much time has passed; after their essence drained, they were baked into stones by the volcanic heat."

"Are there any Undying Phoenix eggs here?" Chu Feng asked.

"Perhaps," someone said, "but they're all dead eggs, useless. Over such a long period, countless cultivating sects have come to search and taken away large numbers of these stone eggs. But unfortunately, no one has ever reported successfully hatching a divine bird from them."

Back then, not just this planet, but the entire Undying Star System was under the rule of phoenix birds, harboring vast numbers of fierce birds of various species. But they were all annihilated, leaving behind only a large number of eggs cursed by people from the Yang World, which had turned into fossils.

Chu Feng frowned. He didn't leave but searched again. He always felt that one stone egg seemed to have emotional fluctuations, tinged with sadness. Every time he circulated the Undying Phoenix Breathing Technique, he could subtly sense an anomaly, but once he stopped, he felt nothing.

"The sadness of an egg?" He muttered, searching the area.