Chapter 1339

The thick, ultimate aura of evil intent, as if gathered into an ocean, while at its center, a massive blood-red bud, towering like a mountain, swayed slowly, greedily absorbing the evil thoughts.

Under this endless absorption, its form continued to grow.

At the same time, the bud grew even more crimson, as if something were gestating within it.

Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and everyone else stared with drastically changed expressions at the blood-red bud appearing deep within the Ghost Wraith, feeling an extremely terrifying aura of danger emanating from within.

Clearly, something strange and terrifying was gestating inside the blood-red bud.

"Is this the mastermind's scheme?" Li Luo narrowed his eyes; though he did not know what exactly was gestating inside the blood-red bud, he could guess with certainty that once it emerged, everyone here would die.

"Look beneath the bud!" Jiang Tingyue suddenly spoke up.

All eyes turned far away, and they saw two brilliant light orbs floating and sinking beneath the blood-red bud; within the orbs flowed immense and peculiar energy.

At this moment, blood-red roots were piercing into them, as if drawing out their energy.

Li Luo and the others strained their senses to the utmost, faintly discovering that the two light orbs contained two Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasures: one was a seven-colored fruit radiating mysterious light, and the other was a brown-yellow spirit pearl.

These two Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasures, even across such a vast distance, still emitted waves of astonishing energy fluctuations.

"That's… a top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure!" Everyone's pupils shrank sharply, and they could not help but reveal greedy expressions.

So this Ghost Wraith truly contained a top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure!

But it seemed these two top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasures were currently supplying energy to the strange blood-red bud.

Li Luo's heart also began pounding fiercely; with the two bottles of Xu Jiu Pin Spirit Water and the Qi Guang now in hand, what he most needed now was merely one top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure.

"Li Luo, you must obtain that Seven Treasures Fruit!" Jiang Jiang Qinge's voice suddenly entered his ears.

Li Luo froze, looked at Jiang Jiang Qinge, and saw her face was somewhat serious; he immediately asked in confusion, "Seven Treasures Fruit? That seven-colored fruit?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge extended her jade hand, and a flash of light appeared in her palm—there stood a small tree radiating sacred energy, its surface engraved with countless ancient, mysterious patterns.

"This is…"

Li Luo blinked, recognizing the sacred little tree as familiar; after a moment's thought, he exclaimed in surprise, "This is the top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure 'Holy Spirit Tree' from the Celestial Dragon Treasury?"

"Sister Qing'e, how did you manage to exchange it out?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge whispered, "This item was originally a top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure, but its origin was tainted upon emergence, lowering its rank. After I exchanged it out, I continuously attempted to purify it—success has been good; now it is fully purified. Unfortunately, due to damage to its origin, it remains just one step short of top-grade status."

"But this item shares the same origin as the 'Seven Treasures Fruit.' If you can obtain the latter and fuse it with this, the Holy Spirit Tree will evolve into the 'Seven Treasures Holy Spirit Tree.' At that point, its rank will surpass ordinary top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasures, and its efficacy will not be inferior to the Nine-Pattern Holy Heart Lotus you prepared for me."

"My insistence on coming to this Ghost Wraith was because the Holy Spirit Tree began emitting fusion ripples, so I came hoping for luck—and fortunately, we truly encountered the Seven Treasures Fruit." As she spoke, a smile of delight appeared on Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisite face.

Li Luo was momentarily stunned—he had never imagined Jiang Jiang Qinge had quietly prepared so much for his breakthrough to Marquis rank; the exchange of the Holy Spirit Tree must have consumed all the Dragon Essence she previously held, resources she could have used to gain more for her own cultivation.

A warm current flowed deeply through Li Luo's heart.

"Why didn't you consult me about this?" Li Luo said.

A bright glint passed through Jiang Jiang Qinge's deep golden eyes as she smiled lightly, "If I told you, you'd make me exchange for the cultivation resources I need."

Li Luo sighed helplessly, reached out, and gently grasped Jiang Jiang Qinge's tender, warm-jade-like hand, whispering, "Sister Qing'e, thank you."

But the Seven Treasures Fruit would not be easy to obtain—not only because of others' hungry gazes, but because it now lay directly beneath the blood-red bud, clearly supplying it with energy; approaching would inevitably provoke furious resistance.

If the mastermind's goal was to nurture what the bud contained, there must be some form of protection.

As Li Luo pondered how to obtain the "Seven Treasures Fruit," suddenly, from afar, numerous powerful Xiang Li fluctuations erupted.

Then they saw streaks of light slicing through the sky, rushing toward the depths of the Ghost Wraith.

They were the various forces and teams drawn in as the Ghost Wraith expanded rapidly.

When these people arrived, they also noticed the group gathered at Li Luo's side, immediately turning toward them; the streaks of light cutting across the sky were indeed spectacular.

Moments later, those streaks halted in midair.

Li Luo looked up and recognized many familiar figures—Li Zhihuo, Li Jushen, and the other Wei Zun of the Celestial Dragon Five Guards had all arrived.

"Li Folo, Jiang Tingyue?"

Li Zhihuo and the others, seeing Li Folo and Jiang Tingyue here, were also surprised.

Li Luo glanced at them, then turned his gaze to another direction, where a large group had also gathered; their leader was a man clad in black heavy armor, his face handsome, radiating a terrifying aura.

An extremely potent pressure, faint yet unmistakable, emanated from him.

Li Luo noticed that even Li Zhihuo regarded him with obvious wariness.

"Beiming Wei Zun!"

As Li Luo speculated on his identity, Qin Zhenlin exclaimed joyfully, and his followers all showed delight.

Hearing this name, Li Luo finally understood the man's identity.

Qin Li Tianwang's lineage, Wei Zun of the Heavy Abyss Guard, Qin Beiming.

He was the only Marquis-strength cultivator among the Four Heavenly Kings' Guards to reach Upper Fifth Rank, making him, without doubt, the strongest Wei Zun among the Four Heavenly Kings' Guards.

Additionally, Li Luo also saw forces from the Zhu Li Tianwang lineage.

At this moment, all Four Heavenly Kings' Guards and numerous powerful figures had arrived.

"Wei Zun Zhenlin, what is the situation with this Ghost Wraith?" Qin Beiming scanned the scene, then frowned at the massive blood-red bud deep within the Ghost Wraith and asked.

Qin Zhenlin promptly gave a brief account of events here, naturally including their poisoning by the curse, and how Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge purified them—of course, he emphasized the fact that they had been forced to surrender a top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasure.

But when he finished, Qin Beiming paid no attention to the last point; instead, he looked at Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge with unmistakable suspicion, asking, "You can purify the curse?"

Seeing his expression, Li Luo couldn't help but laugh.

"Wei Zun Beiming, are you also here to patronize my business?"