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"Sure enough, it's a Soul Baby Fruit Tree."
Seeing that strange-looking plant, everyone couldn't help but smile and breathe a sigh of relief. Xiao Yan grinned, just about to move forward to pick the fruit.
"Wait, any heaven-and-earth spiritual object always has a beast guarding it. The Soul Baby Fruit is a rare treasure that tempers the soul, and for some magic beasts it's also of immense benefit. How could it possibly have no guardian beast?" Zi Yan shook her head and said.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan fell into thought as he stared at the small lake.
Zi Yan's gaze also settled on the lake, then her small fist clenched, and she threw a punch through the air. A terrifying gust of force struck the lake hard, smashing the surface into a huge hollow pit.
Boom!
The instant her punch landed, the once-peaceful lake suddenly erupted into monstrous waves. Immediately, Wei Yang and the others saw a gigantic shadow rising rapidly from beneath the water, and with a splash, it broke through the surface.
A pair of enormous eyes glowed with ferocious light as they swept around.
"Huh, that's a Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon. In the outside world, it's been extinct for ages." Seeing the massive beast emerge, Zi Yan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Wei Yang and the others also stared at the colossal creature in astonishment.
Its body was serpent-like, long and covered with dark green scales. Its size was immense — Wei Yang and the rest could only see the portion above the water, the rest of its body hidden below, its full length unknown.
Atop its head was a pitch-black horn etched with mysterious markings that faintly pulsed with blue light. If not for its color, its form and appearance were quite similar to that of a one-horned serpent.
The Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon — a species of ancient magic beast — had long since vanished from the world, existing only in old records.
In ancient times, its battle power was well known.
It was said that within the Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon's veins flowed traces of dragon blood. If it could cleanse its impurities and endure countless thunder tribulations, it might one day evolve into a true Ancient Void Dragon.
"Didn't think I'd see such an extinct beast here." Xiao Yan sighed in amazement.
Ah Da took a step forward, ready to act, but Zi Yan was quicker: "Leave it to me."
Hearing that, Ah Da pulled his foot back and nodded slightly.
The Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon's strength was roughly at the peak of the Rank 7, but with its bloodline and physical power, even against a One- or Two-Star Dou Zun expert, it could barely hold its own.
Of course, with Wei Yang and the others' strength, dealing with it would be easy. But if they could avoid a fight, that would be for the best. After all, if they started a battle and the beast went berserk, it might destroy the Soul Baby Fruit nearby — that would be a real loss.
Zi Yan leapt down from the treetop, landing lightly on the surface of the lake. A purple light surged from her body, and above her head, it condensed into a small purple dragon, about a few meters long. The little dragon appeared and immediately let out a mighty roar.
Roaaar~
Though small in size, it was a true Ancient Void Dragon, and a royal one at that.
As one of the supreme existences of the Beast Region, and given that the Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon carried a trace of similar bloodline, the dragon might radiating from Zi Yan was even more overwhelming.
Under the little purple dragon's low roar, the ferocity in the Flood Dragon's eyes gradually faded. Its enormous body slowly sank back into the water, its huge head leaning gently toward Zi Yan — like a tamed pet, its expression now calm and submissive.
Seeing this, Wei Yang and the others were speechless.
Zi Yan's bloodline truly gave her unrivaled influence among magic beasts. Of course, this kind of suppression only worked on beasts of similar rank that possessed dragon blood.
Zi Yan reached out her small hand and patted the Flood Dragon's head, then pointed toward the Soul Baby Fruit Tree on the island at the center of the lake.
The Flood Dragon froze for a moment when it saw her gesture. Then, a distinctly human-like reluctance surfaced in its huge eyes. It had guarded that Soul Baby Fruit Tree for many years — naturally, it didn't want to just hand it over.
But the oppressive might of Zi Yan's bloodline made it impossible for the creature to resist. In the end, it could only lower its head in defeat, looking utterly pitiful.
"Can't we give it some kind of compensation? It looks so pitiful." Seeing the Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon's dejected expression, Zi Yan's heart softened. She turned her head and looked pleadingly at Wei Yang and Xiao Yan.
Wei Yang and the others flashed down, landing beside her.
Xiao Yan cupped his hands toward the Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon and said, "I'm truly sorry. We shouldn't be taking something you've guarded for so long, but the Soul Baby Fruit is extremely important to us. Besides, although this treasure is great for the soul, you magic beasts mainly cultivate the body. A strong soul doesn't actually benefit you as much."
"I happen to have two kinds of pills that can temper a magic beast's body — they should help you quite a bit. Also, since you carry ancient dragon blood, transforming into human form won't be easy. I also have a mature Shape-Shifting Flower here."
When it heard the words "Shape-Shifting Flower," the Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon's eyes instantly lit up. Gone was its earlier dejection — it eagerly nodded its massive head. Seeing this, Xiao Yan smiled, flipped his hand, and took out the pills along with a jade box, handing them over.
The Heaven Piercing Flood Dragon opened its huge mouth and inhaled, swallowing everything in one gulp. Then it cast a fond glance at Zi Yan, clearly satisfied, before its massive body began to sink.
With a few ripples spreading across the lake's surface, the enormous creature submerged once more, disappearing into the depths.
Watching the Flood Dragon vanish, Wei Yang nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Perhaps years from now, this ruin will give birth to a peak Rank 8 flood-dragon-type beast capable of taking human form."
"Come on, let's take a look at that so-called Soul Baby Fruit." Xiao Yan said, and with a flicker of his figure, he appeared on the small island at the center of the lake.
Wei Yang also took a step forward, following curiously.
After Yao Lao's resurrection, when he finally reached the Ban Sheng realm and attained a Heaven soul, becoming a true Saint Yao Chen, besides those few Dou Sheng bone relics, the Soul Baby Fruit had also played a significant role.
As the saying goes, one must first break to stand anew. Without the Soul Baby Fruit restoring his damaged soul origin, that "breaking" would have never led to "rebirth." Now, standing beside the Soul Baby Fruit Tree, the two of them gazed intently at it.
Inside the thick, layered branches — bulging like the belly of a pregnant woman — hung two golden fruits, each about the size of a clenched fist. The fruits were shaped like tiny human infants, lifelike and delicate, almost as if real babies were sleeping within.
A faint, elusive fragrance wafted through the air, and just smelling it made the souls at their brows tremble slightly.
"It really is the Soul Baby Fruit — and two of them at that!" Xiao Yan said joyfully.
Wei Yang smiled and nodded. Such a heaven-and-earth treasure couldn't be measured by mere value in the eyes of those who truly needed it.
He glanced at Xiao Yan and said, "I'll take one. Before long, I'll need it to try and break through to the Heaven Realm."
"So soon, you're already preparing to assault the Heaven Realm?" Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then nodded readily. "Alright."
Since Wei Yang had spoken up, he naturally had no reason to object.
"Not yet," Wei Yang shook his head. "I still feel I'm a bit short of that level. Most likely after my ninth refinement, I'll make the attempt. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you later."
"There's no need to talk about compensation between us," Xiao Yan waved his hand with a grin. "If you need it, just take it. I'm only at the peak of the early Spirit Realm anyway, still a long way from the peak."
"Then I won't hold back." Wei Yang raised his hand, cutting off a thick branch from the Soul Baby Fruit Tree. With deft movements, he quickly crafted two simple wooden boxes.
The Soul Baby Fruit was extremely peculiar — it couldn't be stored in any ordinary container, or its medicinal power would gradually dissipate. The only thing that could preserve it was the tree's own branches.
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