Chapitre 177: Chapter 176: The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit!
"So fragrant!" Zi Yan swallowed her saliva, her eyes fixed ahead. Although the stores in Dragon Island were much richer than here, there was something different about obtaining treasures oneself. Moreover, this was acquired alongside Jiang Yun.
The moment the large gate fully opened, dazzling light burst out, causing the three to squint slightly. The Dou Qi within them began to circulate rapidly, ready to respond to any sudden changes.
As the light subsided, a vast forest composed entirely of medicinal herbs appeared before them.
"So many herbs!"
Despite having prepared themselves mentally, Zi Yan and Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Zi Yan, who had seen a fair share of the world as a dragon, didn't recklessly charge forward to grab the herbs. Now, her treasure trove was arguably the richest in the Dou Qi continent, seeking quality and delicious elixirs.
At a glance, the herbs here had grown for countless years, their energies abnormally rich. Herbs that were rare in the outside world seemed commonplace here.
"Let's go. We have plenty of time to explore slowly," Jiang Yun smiled, leading the way, followed by Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan.
The vast ancient forest, shrouded in a peculiar fragrance and faint mist, occasionally had small beasts darting out of the underbrush. It had a serene, almost paradisiacal atmosphere.
This ancient forest had evolved over countless years, forming its own world. It also housed many powerful magical beasts, some with ancient bloodlines and considerable combat prowess.
Along the way, they encountered numerous rare magical beasts from the outside world. However, these beasts were no match for Zi Yan, a supreme ruler among magical beasts even in ancient times.
Several times, they sensed strong and ferocious auras, but due to Zi Yan's presence as a Taixu Ancient Dragon, an intermittent dragon aura deterred these beasts from approaching.
This ancient forest was vast; even with their speed, it would take considerable time to reach its borders.
During their journey, they collected numerous rare herbs such as Soul Infant Fruit, Heaven-reaching Nectar, and Shadow Moon Mystic Ganoderma.
Zi Yan suddenly stopped, pointing ahead with some confusion, "Over there... it seems there's something calling me."
"Could a predecessor of the Taixu Ancient Dragon have visited here?" Xiao Yi Xian looked in the direction Zi Yan pointed but saw only an endless stretch of forest, perplexed.
"Why don't we find out?" Jiang Yun laughed lightly, feeling certain. The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, one of the most precious treasures of the Dou Qi continent, was finally within Zi Yan's grasp.
"Let's go!"
Upon hearing Jiang Yun's response, Zi Yan nodded. With a slight tap on the ground, her body darted towards the forest depths, followed closely by Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian.
The aura of the magical beasts within the forest depths was undoubtedly more ferocious compared to the periphery, but the dragon's might from Zi Yan kept them at bay.
"Be careful, the magical beast aura around here has vanished. We should be in the center of this ancient forest," Jiang Yun warned softly, his eyes focused on a flat area ahead, covered in lush green grass with nothing unusual.
Approaching, Zi Yan reached out with a serious expression. Just as her hand touched an invisible space half a foot ahead, a golden light materialized out of thin air.
The golden light formed an upside-down bowl shape, covering an area of about ten meters in radius and emitting an oppressive aura.
"This is a Beast Spirit Shield, which can only be condensed by extremely powerful magical beasts at the brink of death," Zi Yan explained to Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian.
Zi Yan gently rubbed the shield, a trace of sadness flashing across her face. She sensed the presence of a Taixu Ancient Dragon within, indicating one had perished here.
Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian exchanged glances and remained silent, not interrupting Zi Yan's thoughts.
Zi Yan's face suddenly changed, exclaiming, "No, there's another annoying presence in here, an ancient phoenix's aura! Not only did an ancient dragon perish, but also an ancient phoenix."
Zi Yan spoke uncertainly, discerning the aura of an ancient beast through her bloodline inheritance.
Magical beasts capable of forming such shields were at least Dou Saint level. The number of such beasts on the Dou Qi continent was small, not to mention a Taixu Ancient Dragon and an ancient phoenix dying together, which was astounding.
"Don't think too much about it. Let's go in and find out. It's time you bring this ancient dragon senior back to Dragon Island," Jiang Yun softly comforted the saddened Zi Yan.
Zi Yan nodded, biting her finger to draw a stream of purple-red blood, tracing a mark on the Beast Spirit Shield. With the mark drawn, the golden shield trembled, splitting open with a crack.
"Let's go."
Zi Yan led the way inside, followed by Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian. Once they entered, the shield sealed itself again.
As they stepped inside, the lush forest vanished, replaced by a desolate plain. The area was covered with reddish-brown soil, stained as if by blood, interspersed with pale, ash-like patches.
In the center stood an ancient stone altar, exuding a faint, imposing aura.
Zi Yan immediately fixated on the altar. After contemplating for a moment, she leaped towards it without any suppression.
Approaching the massive stone altar, an ancient and desolate scent greeted them. In the altar's center was a stone platform of gold and purple hues, with a half-foot-sized groove.
From the groove, a small sapling no thicker than a thumb grew, curling like a dragon. At the top hung a fruit roughly the size of a palm, with one side gold and the other purple, embodying shrunk versions of a Taixu Ancient Dragon and an ancient phoenix.
Terrifying pressure emanated from the fruit, as if facing two supreme beasts.
"A Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit," an elderly voice echoed in Jiang Yun's ear. It was Qing Ming, surprised by the sight.
"Qing Ming, has a Dragon Phoenix ever emerged in the Great Thousand World?" Jiang Yun inquired mentally.
"It's said that during the Holy War, a Dragon Phoenix united the beast tribes but eventually perished," Qing Ming recalled, his tone tinged with nostalgia.
Feeling emotional, Jiang Yun reflected that even supreme beings couldn't escape fate.
"Raise your little wife well; she now has the potential to reach the pinnacle," Qing Ming advised before falling silent again.
"Is this pressure... from that fruit?" Xiao Yi Xian gasped incredulously at the fruit, her voice shaking.
"That's a Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit!" Zi Yan's astonished voice cut through the air.
"A Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit?" Xiao Yi Xian looked puzzled, unfamiliar with such a fruit, even though she knew almost all herbs described in the Dan Valley records.
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit exists only in ancient dragon records. It appears when a Taixu Ancient Dragon and an ancient phoenix die together, with less than a ten percent chance of forming. It has only been recorded five times in our history; this is the sixth," Zi Yan explained passionately. She understood its significance—it could incite wars between dragon and phoenix clans.
"Dragon Phoenix Fruit can evolve a Taixu Ancient Dragon or ancient phoenix into a supreme Dragon Phoenix," she added, fascinated.
Zi Yan now noticed the enormous dragon and phoenix skeletal remains circling the altar. Their perished forms explained the presence of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit—a miraculous creation resulting from their intertwined fates and energies.
"Zi Yan, take the fruit and bring the senior back to Dragon Island," Jiang Yun encouraged softly.
"Okay!" Zi Yan nodded, carefully retrieving the fruit, which melted into a golden-purple liquid upon contact and seeped into her body, leaving a mark on her palm.
"This is potent. I'll wait to refine it back on Dragon Island with my father's guidance," Zi Yan decided after feeling the fruit's immense energy.
"Yes, refining it safely under your father's watch is wise," Jiang Yun agreed.
"Now, I'll retrieve the ancestor's soul fragment, and we can continue exploring," Zi Yan instructed, focusing on the plain.
Retrieving the ancestral soul wasn't challenging despite the residual phoenix spirit awakening and confronting Zi Yan, who easily subdued it.
After securing the soul fragment in a ring, they left the shielded area.
Having gathered extensive resources from the ancient forest, they departed.
At the sealed gate, Jiang Yun was more interested in exploring further rather than taking what remained in the great hall.
"Since we're here, let's finish exploring," Jiang Yun noted, acknowledging Zi Yan and Xiao Yi Xian's enthusiasm, leading them into the hall.
Broad corridors filled with small towers lay ahead. However, they continued through the hall towards the main sanctuary, ignoring minor treasures along the way.
In the ancient, copper-colored main hall, ten giant light clusters floated mid-air. Each contained scroll-like items.
At the center sat a jade-white skeleton in a meditative posture, exuding formidable presence even in death.
Around the stone throne sat several stone-grey figures, seemingly stone sculptures, guarding the last hurdle of the ruins.
Jiang Yun's eyes gleamed with a powerful soul force, noting, "There are high-level Earth-tier techniques in those clusters. The skeleton holds an initial Heaven-tier technique, Great Heaven Creation Palm."
"Only this much for a Dou Saint?" Zi Yan questioned, surprised.
"Not everyone has deep backgrounds; he might have only left behind his proudest technique," Jiang Yun speculated.
Shaking their heads, they moved on. With no significant items of interest, they returned to the ruins' entry point.
"Princess," Zhu Feng's mysterious figure appeared as the trio emerged.
Zi Yan immediately formed quick seals, pushing Dou Qi out, creating an invisible wave radiating from her.
Confused, Zhu Feng watched, recognizing it as an ancient dragon distress signal but saw no immediate danger.
"Hahaha, missing your father already? I knew Jiang Yun couldn't compare to me," echoed a laugh as Zhu Kun emerged from a silver pathway, eyes twinkling.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Zhu Feng bowed respectfully to Zhu Kun.
"At ease," Zhu Kun's expression turned serious, showing his kingly demeanor.
When he noticed Jiang Yun, his face momentarily froze, realizing Jiang Yun had overheard his comment.
"Jiang Yun, I see you've advanced to the third-turn Dou Zun. Seems seeking opportunities was the right move," Zhu Kun praised, recovering his composure.
"Thank you, Uncle. We found something important, which necessitated your presence," Jiang Yun smiled.
"Oh?" Zhu Kun's curiosity piqued.
Zi Yan extended her marked palm, "Father, guess what this is?"
Zhu Kun's eyes widened, grasping Zi Yan's hand with excitement, "Is this... how did you get this?"
"In that Dou Saint's ruins," Zi Yan pointed back.
Inspecting the ruins, Zhu Kun's soul force revealed the remnants of a Taixu Ancient Dragon and ancient phoenix.
"Who would've thought such an encounter? Truly remarkable," Zhu Kun sighed, complex emotions surfacing.
Turning back to Zi Yan, he smiled, "Let's head back and let your father guide you. This is a rare opportunity."
Leaving the ruins behind, Zu Kun guided the group back to Dragon Island, their recent discovery welding their bond and futures closer than ever.
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