Chapter 873: Mission Completed

Li Luo stepped out of the Water-Fire Marvel Pool, satisfied, recalling the crimson bracelet and slipping it onto his wrist, then turned his gaze toward Li Li Lingjing, who floated over, his expression softening slightly.

She had not caused any trouble during his breakthrough; instead, she had offered him some guidance, which slightly dispelled Li Luo's suspicions of her.

It seemed that the Li Li Lingjing before him was truly not the "Corrupting Spirit Demon" in disguise—if she had intended to strike, the moment of his breakthrough would have been the perfect opportunity.

"I owe you a great debt, Sister Li Lingjing," Li Luo said with a smile, clasping his fists in thanks.

He then turned his gaze to the Water-Fire Marvel Pool; after his prolonged absorption, the pool's waters had clearly become much clearer, suggesting that the vast reserves of energy stored here for years had been largely depleted to push him to the "Three Light Glazed" level.

"Can I take some of this pool water away?" Li Luo thought for a moment and asked.

The Water-Fire Marvel Pool was profoundly mysterious; though he had taken the lion's share of its benefits, if the remaining water could be brought back and shared with Li Li Fengyi and Li Jintao, that would be worthwhile—and he had not fully absorbed the energy from the "Flame Infant Holy Fruit" he had crushed earlier; to simply abandon it here would be a waste of heaven's bounty.

Thinking thus, he pulled a large jar from his space orb and attempted to fill it with the pool water.

But he soon discovered with disappointment that as soon as the water was removed, it instantly turned into wisps of steam and vanished into thin air.

Seeing this, Li Li Lingjing beside him spoke up: "This water-fire energy is mysterious—ordinary containers cannot hold it. If you wish to grant your companions a share of this opportunity, you must harvest the trunks of the Flame Infant Fruit Trees."

Hearing this, Li Luo's eyes lit up; he immediately turned and left the mountain fissure, entering the volcanic crater to cut several Flame Infant Fruit Tree trunks and bring them back.

He hollowed out the trunks, then poured the mysterious "water-fire" from the pool into them; because he had previously crushed a "Flame Infant Holy Fruit" and soaked it within, the pool water now contained golden threads that writhed like living things—these were the energies contained within the Holy Fruit, extremely precious, and Li Luo naturally intended to take every last bit.

Once the trunks were filled, the energy within the Water-Fire Marvel Pool became even thinner; it would take generations of Fire Spirit Monkeys to restore its former grandeur.

"You've taken it all so cleanly—the Fire Spirit Monkeys must be in agony," Li Li Lingjing said, gazing at the depleted pool.

Li Luo had enjoyed his fill, then stripped away every last bit of residual energy—truly digging to the third layer of earth.

Li Luo remained expressionless: "You know I returned from Outer Shenzhou—such resources there would spark desperate struggles among countless factions. With this chance, I won't let it slip."

Li Li Lingjing fell silent. "Your current depth and achievements don't at all resemble someone raised in the barren Outer Shenzhou."

Li Luo smiled: "Though Outer Shenzhou lacks many resources, it still produces brilliant prodigies who are no less than me."

"No less than you? That's a bit exaggerated," Li Li Lingjing laughed, clearly unconvinced—Li Luo's foundation, even among the young generation of Tianyuan Shenzhou, was exceptional; could someone from the barren Outer Shenzhou possibly surpass him?

Li Luo smiled and offered no further explanation, for the person he meant was naturally the dazzling white goose back home.

It had been nearly half a year since their separation in Daxia—he wondered how she was doing at the Sacred Light Ancient Academy; surely that ancient academy was teeming with prodigies and monsters, but trusting Jiang Jiang Qinge's strength, Li Luo believed that wherever she was, her brilliance could never be dimmed.

A trace of longing flowed through Li Luo's eyes, then he took a deep breath and suppressed it.

In less than half a year, he had leapt from the Corpse Palace Realm straight into the Glazed Corpse Body Realm, nearing the Extreme Corpse Realm—such cultivation speed would have been nearly impossible had he remained at the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy; even that academy, in terms of resources and opportunities, could not compare to the Dragon Fang Line.

Moreover, over these past six months, Li Luo had seized every moment of cultivation without pause—he sought the "Nine-Stripe Holy Heart Lotus" for Jiang Jiang Qinge, and fought for a sliver of hope to extend his own dwindling lifespan of barely three years.

If Li Li Lingjing could endure and persevere for her own survival, how could he afford even a moment's slack?

"Let's go," Li Luo said, gathering his emotions and addressing Li Li Lingjing.

Li Li Lingjing nodded, then hesitated: "Do I need to appear before them in this form?"

"Them" clearly referred to Li Li Fengyi, Li Jintao, Deng Deng Fengxian, and others—she seemed reluctant, for her current appearance was undeniably bizarre.

Li Luo, upon hearing this, recalled the complications of Li Li Lingjing's strange state; he fell silent for a moment, then said: "If you can conceal it, then conceal it."

Li Li Lingjing now seemed partially fused with the "Corrupting Spirit Demon"; he did not fully understand what kind of being she had become. Either way, excessive entanglement with an alien entity was unlikely to be beneficial—better to keep it secret for now.

"But given your unusual state, once we exit the Dark Domain, I'll inform Lord Li Feng of this matter—he'll keep watch over you. I'll also report this to Grandpa; how he decides to handle it will be his choice. What do you think?" Li Luo asked.

As he spoke, his gaze locked tightly onto Li Li Lingjing, and he silently communicated with the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf—if she showed any resistance, he would have to attempt forcibly subduing her.

Fortunately, Li Li Lingjing only fell silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod, accepting.

"If the Line Chief can sever me from this 'Corrupting Spirit Demon,' it would be a good thing."

As her words ended, dark malevolent energy surged around Li Li Lingjing, coalescing into a black pearl, its surface shifting with a faint white face—strange and sinister.

Li Luo dared not touch it directly; instead, he pulled out a jade box and let the black pearl fall into it himself, then channeled his Xiangli to form layers of protective seals around it before carefully storing it away.

Without another word, he walked straight out of the volcanic mountain and headed beyond the range.

Outside the mountain range.

Li Li Fengyi, Li Jintao, and Deng Deng Fengxian led the four banners' forces, waiting here.

Li Jintao and Deng Deng Fengxian remained calm, but the impulsive Li Li Fengyi paced back and forth, her lovely face filled with impatience and worry—Li Luo had been gone for days, and still no word had come; it was truly suspicious.

"Wait one more day—if Little Brother still doesn't emerge, Li Jintao, go to the outer edge of the Dark Domain and summon the Marquis-level guardian from Xiling City to search every inch of this mountain range!" Li Li Fengyi halted her pacing, gritting her teeth at Li Jintao.

Li Jintao wanted to urge patience, but seeing Li Li Fengyi's sharply impatient gaze, he nodded obediently: "Understood."

Li Li Fengyi turned to Deng Deng Fengxian and snapped: "You also prepare the Golden Light Banner forces to accompany me in searching the mountain! If we don't find Little Brother, none of you leave!"

Deng Deng Fengxian's face showed helplessness, but he nodded.

But at that moment, his expression suddenly shifted—he turned his gaze toward the distant forest.

A sharp wind-splitting sound suddenly arose there.

Li Li Fengyi and Li Jintao immediately sensed it, whirling around, and saw a familiar figure break through the air from afar, landing directly in the grove moments later.

All four banners' forces turned their gazes toward him; Zhao Zhao Yanzhi and Li Shi of the Azure Mist Banner both wore expressions of delight.

"Boss is back!"

Everyone silently exhaled in relief.

Amid the sea of delighted gazes, Li Luo landed and bowed apologetically to Li Li Fengyi and the others: "Sorry for worrying you all."

"Little Brother, where on earth did you go? Are you alright? And what about the Corrupting Spirit Demon?" Li Li Fengyi, seeing Li Luo unharmed, instantly relaxed her tense frame and fired off questions in rapid succession.

Li Luo smiled: "I drove off the Corrupting Spirit Demon using some methods Grandpa gave me, then found some opportunities within the mountain range, which delayed me a bit."

He then pulled three hollowed-out tree trunks from his space orb and tossed them to Li Li Fengyi, Li Jintao, and Deng Deng Fengxian: "I didn't forget you—everyone gets a share."

This mission into the Dark Domain to find the "Flame Infant Holy Fruit" had been for Li Luo's personal reasons, yet these three had endured countless dangers—he couldn't let them return empty-handed, so he offered them this personal compensation.

The three received the trunks in slight shock, opened the seals, and saw the flowing, mysterious golden water-fire energy within—each was visibly moved.

"Such pure and mysterious energy," they exclaimed.

"You've got some decency after all," Li Li Fengyi said without hesitation, immediately stowing it away, her face softening with a gentle smile.

Li Jintao chuckled and likewise put it away.

Only Deng Deng Fengxian hesitated—he and Li Luo were not close, merely fellow members of the same lineage, and with Li Luo's rise, they had grown increasingly competitive; thus, he was unsure whether to accept this gift.

"You won't give my little brother some face?" But as he hesitated, Li Li Fengyi's willow brows already rose slightly; she raised a fist toward him and said, "Are you not afraid of the three of us beating you?"

Hearing this, Deng Deng Fengxian no longer hesitated and silently retracted the tree trunk.

Seeing this, Li Luo also smiled, then he no longer hesitated and said seriously, "The mission is complete; let us leave quickly."

Li Li Fengyi and the other two naturally agreed; this journey into the Dark Domain was more dangerous than they had imagined. Whether the mission was completed or not, they felt they could not remain any longer.

Thus, the four large forces set off directly and then rushed at full speed toward the outside of the Dark Domain.