Chapter 681

The pool of water before them, emitting astonishing life essence, made one suspect that this was the legendary blood of a god. Moreover, under the irrigation of such a massive amount of life essence, a Red Lotus had actually been born.

The lotus pedestal was about a zhang in size, with twelve lotus petals, as if carved from Red Gold; it was crystal clear and emitted rosy light.

But in reality, through observation, this Red Lotus was growing from the pool, with roots and stems underneath. It was not naturally formed, but rather, because this lotus had been influenced by the environment here for a long time, it had grown into the appearance of Red Gold.

"Incredible. This is a lotus pedestal nurtured by heaven and earth; it is a treasure born of nature." Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi's eyes widened at this moment. Even as a cultivator at the peak of the Three Flowers Realm, she had never heard of such a strange occurrence.

However, according to ancient records of the Heavenly Dao Sect, it is said that after a Daoist who has attained the Way opens up a Blessed Land, the interaction between heaven and earth can potentially nurture natural treasures within that Blessed Land.

Most Daoist treasures can be refined by humans.

But these natural treasures cannot be refined by humans, because natural treasures use heaven and earth as a furnace, creation as the craftsmanship, yin and yang as the charcoal, supplemented by the five elements, and after passing through the ages of spring and autumn, can they finally be formed.

And this place forms a space of its own.

It is like a Blessed Land, and coupled with this massive irrigation of life essence, even Red Gold Stone Men can appear, so the appearance of such a treasure created by heaven and earth seems possible.

"It is indeed incredible. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to believe that the legends within ancient Blessed Lands were actually true." Xuan Yuezi was also astonished. Even though she had been cultivating for hundreds of years, today she had truly broadened her horizons.

Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi licked her lips at this moment and said: "There must be the corpse of a god in this pool. This Red Lotus must be growing on the god's corpse."

"Immortal Aunt, how can you be sure?" Li Yi's gaze was also drawn to that Red Lotus, but he was not lost; instead, he remained vigilant of his surroundings.

He was worried that there were still Red Gold creatures guarding nearby, fearing they would jump out at a critical moment to deliver a fatal blow.

It was never wrong to be careful.

"Heavenly treasures cannot be nurtured unless yin, yang, and the five elements are all complete. There is a massive amount of life essence here, but it lacks the aura of yin, yang, and the five elements. Yet, in this special environment, such a Red Lotus has grown, which means the place where it is rooted must be complete with yin, yang, and the five elements."

Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi said: "And between heaven and earth, the only things that can possess the aura of yin, yang, and the five elements are humans, because the five internal organs of a human represent the aura of the five elements, supplemented by the aura of life and death, which makes yin, yang, and the five elements complete. But the aura of yin, yang, and the five elements in ordinary people is too little to nurture this Red Lotus. Only the body of a god can provide sufficient nourishment."

"Tai Yi, this Red Lotus has infinite potential and will be of huge benefit to your cultivation and growth. I will retrieve it for you today."

She sensed a certain Daoist opportunity at this moment.

It seemed this Red Lotus had bloomed for Tai Yi, and others were not destined for it; if they took it by force, they would surely suffer for it.

As for why, Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi did not know. Her realm only allowed her to sense the Daoist opportunity, not to fully comprehend the secrets of heaven.

And cultivators are very attuned to Daoist opportunities.

Therefore, Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi spoke directly, determining the ownership of this Red Lotus. At the same time, she gripped the Red Gold sword in her hand, leaped up, added the power of the Dragon and Tiger, and slashed at the stem of the Red Lotus with one strike.

However, the Red Lotus only swayed slightly, and the stem remained completely undamaged.

"The Red Gold sword combined with the power of the Dragon and Tiger cannot cut down this Red Lotus?" Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi froze for a moment, feeling it was inconceivable.

Although the Red Gold sword in her hand was not a Daoist treasure, it was sharp and hard enough. Combined with the power of the Dragon and Tiger, its power was astonishing, and there was nothing it could not cut. Even top-tier Daoist treasures could be torn by her if she exerted her full strength.

"I don't believe I can't retrieve this Red Lotus."

Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi was somewhat annoyed. She changed weapons and used the Marquis Wu Jin arrow as a sharp tool to slash again.

The Marquis Wu Jin arrow was something that could even pierce through Red Gold; so far, there was nothing that Red Gold could not destroy.

However, even though Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi used the Marquis Wu Jin arrow to deliver a strike, the Red Lotus before her only swayed violently and still did not fall off, though a small wound appeared on the stem.

But under the nourishment of the massive life essence, this small wound healed rapidly.

"No way, even a powerhouse at the Mountain Master level can't hurt this Red Lotus?" Zhao Zhao Fangji and Jiang Jiang Tianming could not help but widen their eyes at this sight.

This Red Lotus did not look hard at all, yet they had not expected it to be so peculiar.

Li Yi also froze for a moment.

If he hadn't known Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi's strength, he would have found it hard to believe this scene.

And Xuan Yuezi, who was on the side, was thinking and observing carefully. Afterward, she said: "Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi, come back. With our current methods, we cannot take this Red Lotus away."

"Why?" Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi turned back and asked.

"You said before that this Red Lotus absorbs the aura of yin, yang, and the five elements and is formed by the creation of heaven and earth. I'm afraid it's very difficult for anything within yin, yang, and the five elements to hurt it at all. To take down the Red Lotus, one must have something outside of yin, yang, and the five elements to cut it down."

Xuan Yuezi said: "Or perhaps an object that also possesses the aura of yin, yang, and the five elements, and is more powerful than this Red Lotus, could also take it away. But unfortunately, we possess neither condition. Later, we should discuss this with Old Daoist Tu to see if the Daoist Treasure Sect's heritage can refine such a Daoist treasure that is complete with yin, yang, and the five elements."

Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi was silent for a moment after hearing this, then sighed and said: "You are right. Only something outside of yin, yang, and the five elements can cut down this Red Lotus, otherwise, it cannot be taken by force."

She never expected that as a cultivator at the peak of the Three Flowers Realm, there would one day be a time when she would have absolutely no way to deal with a Red Lotus.

What is this?

Entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed?

It would be truly shameful to speak of this.

"Immortal Aunt, perhaps I can try." Li Yi heard their conversation and suddenly thought of something. He walked forward a few steps and then spoke.

"Tai Yi, are you sure you can retrieve this Red Lotus?" Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi asked with some surprise.

Xuan Yuezi on the side also looked at him curiously.

Li Yi said: "I don't have much certainty, but trying might work, because I have one of the things you two Immortal Aunts mentioned—something outside of yin, yang, and the five elements."

As he spoke, he took out a divine needle from his Five Elements Bracelet.

This divine needle was transparent and golden, like a ray of sunlight, but it was incredibly sharp. Just by taking it out and looking at it, the light it emitted made one's eyes ache intensely.

"This is... a needle?" Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi squinted and said.

Li Yi said: "This is the Needle of the Fei Eye. It is neither metal, nor wood, nor iron. It was refined from the eye of the mythical creature Fei. It should not be among the yin, yang, and five elements, and it is exceptionally sharp. Perhaps it can cut down this Red Lotus."

"Try it. This Red Lotus has completely bloomed. If we don't take it now, it will only gradually wither and fade in the future, finally turning into lotus seeds," Xuan Yuezi said immediately.

Li Yi did not say a word; he immediately moved his mind and controlled the Needle of the Fei Eye to fly out instantly.

It was like a ray of sunlight passing through, gone in a flash.

However, the next moment, a bizarre scene occurred.

The Red Lotus, which originally could not be cut down even by the Red Gold sword or the Marquis Wu Jin arrow, fell off silently at this moment.

"Success."

Master Xiangxiang Xiangzi was overjoyed at this sight. She immediately grabbed it through the air, wrapped the Red Lotus with magic power, and retrieved it.

Soon.

A Red Lotus about a zhang in size landed in front of Li Yi.

But he stared at it for a while and really could not see anything miraculous about it. This Red Lotus did not erupt with any immeasurable radiance, nor did it display astonishing power; it was plain and unremarkable.

However, Li Yi knew this was indeed a supreme treasure; it was just that he needed to study it slowly to unleash its effects.

"Tai Yi, try to collect this Red Lotus using the power of your Primordial Spirit," Xuan Yuezi suddenly suggested.

"I'll try." Li Yi did not put it into the Five Elements Bracelet, but instead, a radiance of his Primordial Spirit enveloped it.

However, the next moment.

An unexpected thing happened.

This Red Lotus suddenly vibrated, then turned into a ray of rosy light and headed straight for Li Yi. In just an instant, this Red Lotus had already merged into his body and disappeared from sight.

Li Yi stood frozen on the spot at this moment.

Because he felt that a Red Lotus existed in his mind, and his soul was sitting cross-legged on this lotus pedestal.

A strange light radiated from the Red Lotus. After Li Yi's soul absorbed this strange light, it was constantly growing; his soul was becoming stronger.

"This..." Li Yi did not know how to describe this feeling for a moment.

It was like an infant returning to the mother's womb, and also like a soul flying into heaven.

Warm, comfortable, and pleasant.

And there was also an unparalleled sense of security, as if his soul was protected by this Red Lotus, and no harm could damage his soul in the slightest.

"A treasure involving the Primordial Spirit?" Xuan Yuezi nodded slightly at this sight, finally understanding some of the uses of this Red Lotus.

If she was not mistaken, Li Yi's Primordial Spirit was being protected by this Red Lotus and was also being nourished by it.

As long as this Red Lotus remained in his body, his Primordial Spirit would constantly grow stronger.

Even if he just lay down and slept in the future, sooner or later, he would bloom with the Flower of the Primordial Spirit without needing to cultivate deliberately. Moreover, with the protection of this Red Lotus, his Primordial Spirit was almost worry-free.

There were probably very few things in the world that could break through the Red Lotus and hurt Li Yi's soul.

(End of chapter)