Chapter 275

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Time came to daytime.

Xu Zhangqing and the others left the gathering place and continued toward Huang Yuanhua's Cave Dwelling.

This time it was not only them; several other Hunting Demon Teams were also there, everyone's destination the same.

And the Black Forest during the day, compared to night, was indeed safer.

Although they occasionally encountered demons, most posed no great threat.

Even upon seeing cultivators, they would turn and flee, not daring to stay.

In a flash, several hours passed.

As the black trees blocking the view grew fewer, a giant stone mountain appeared ahead.

The entire stone mountain was an irregular cone, its surface covered in web-like cracks, dark-yellow earth qi seeping from the fissures to form a layer of yellow flowing smoke around the mountain body.

On the west side of the mountain was a natural depression shaped like an open snake mouth; the cave entrance seemed to have been shaped by someone, carved into a ferocious earth dragon face.

At both ends of the entrance stood two thick stone pillars, their bodies wrapped in chains made of scale armor shed by Rolling Earth Dragons, making a rustling friction sound when the wind blew.

"This is Huang Yuanhua's Cave Dwelling!"

"We finally arrived!"

"It looks really grand!"

Though not yet close, whether Xu Zhangqing or any tourist around, seeing this scene was all deeply shaken.

More visually impactful than the Golden Core True Person's cave dwelling they had imagined.

Chi Hu said: "Although it looks dangerous, inside has already been cleared by True Person Wang leading many Hunting Demon Teams, so it is very safe."

Their squad was one of the "Participants" in the last operation.

The situation back then was quite dangerous.

If not for True Person Wang's Wood Restricts Earth suppressing the earth qi and earth evil qi,

these Hunting Demon Team people might not have been able to kill those Rolling Earth Dragons.

Of course, the harvest afterward was still very considerable.

Various earth-attribute-related rare spirit plants, earth spirit crystals, earth attribute techniques, spells, and the like—inside there was everything one could expect.

They even found complete "Huan Long Gong" and "Earth Escape Technique."

Everyone who participated in this operation made money and got rich.

"Hmm?"

Xu Zhangqing sensed someone looking this way, and immediately used Ya Da's Shared Vision to observe, discovering it was the fellow he had met last night.

Who?

Li Chuan, the burly man who approached the Poison Abyss to test poison with his body!

Unknown when, the other party had also come here and planned to enter.

Regarding this, Xu Zhangqing merely took notice and did not take it to heart.

Immediately after, he walked toward the entrance of Huang Yuanhua's Cave Dwelling together with the surrounding people.

Stepping into the cave mouth was a main passage about three zhang wide, the ground paved with polished smooth Earth Qi Stones; this kind of stone absorbs surrounding earth qi and emits a soft yellow light at night.

The top of the passage was arched, carved with lifelike Rolling Earth Dragon reliefs, looking vivid, each one lifelike.

It seemed that the spirit pet Huang Yuanhua loved most in his life was the Rolling Earth Dragon that looked nauseating at a glance.

Going deeper forward, the terrain changed, covered with thick humus soil, soil specially used to raise Rolling Earth Dragons.

They by nature liked shade; during the day most burrowed underground to sleep, only coming out to move at night.

Now, everywhere were traces left behind by battles.

From this one could see how fierce the situation had been back then.

As they continued deeper, everyone passed through the main passage, and their view suddenly opened up; an incomparably vast underground world appeared before everyone.

The earth qi in this area was even more incomparably rich.

Chi Hu introduced: "This place, it is said, is Huang Yuanhua's spirit plant garden, about one thousand zhang in area, divided into nine planting zones."

Each planting zone was bounded by Earth Meridian Gold Lines; the gold lines were buried underground, forming independent qi-gathering arrays.

In the middle position of each area stood a three-zhang-tall Earth Qi Tower; the tower body was piled from Earth Meridian Crystals, and the tower top had a huge spout from which yellow liquid constantly surged out, then flowed to the surroundings.

Xu Zhangqing combined the map provided by Wu Mang and confirmed the different areas one by one.

They were: Spirit Plant Garden, Earth Qi Pool, Cultivation Chamber, Artifact Refining Chamber, Cave Dwelling Core.

Among them, the Cave Dwelling Core had already been destroyed; inside looked miserable beyond endurance.

Everywhere were broken Earth Spirit Crystals; logically picking them up could sell for spirit stones.

But actually, they had already been corrupted, no longer pure, so no one wanted them.

Otherwise, they would long ago have been taken by the Hunting Demon Team people; how could they be seen everywhere.

Xu Zhangqing silently thought in his heart: "I want to refine the Spatial Earth Origin Fruit into Xu Mi Zi; I must enter the Cave Dwelling Core, then draw the surrounding earth qi to constantly pour in."

But everywhere around were people; acting rashly would easily be targeted.

Unless causing chaos, could one fish in troubled waters.

When Xu Zhangqing was thinking about how to cause trouble,

"That fellow came again?"

"Li Chuan?"

"He seems to be heading for the Earth Qi Pool!"

At this moment, Li Chuan appeared again, quickly drawing the attention of the surrounding people.

The Earth Qi Pool can be soaked in, thereby enhancing the strength of the body.

This thing is similar to the Boiled Flesh Blood Pool of the Black Rust Dynasty.

But there is one premise: one must possess an Earth Spiritual Root.

Yet it seems Li Chuan intends more than simply soaking in the Earth Qi Pool; he also pulled out a banner.

Someone recognized it at once and blurted out: "Isn't that the Wu Earth Banner among the Five Elements Banners?"

Chi Hu's expression changed drastically: "This person is going to draw upon the Earth Qi!"

Xu Zhangqing raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Stealing business?"

However, precisely because of Li Chuan's appearance and sneaky move, he happened to draw the attention of the surrounding people.

Seeing this, he flickered in figure and vanished from the spot like a ghost.

At extreme speed, he charged toward the damaged Cave Dwelling Core.

"Quick, quick, go stop him!"

Li Chuan's actions might trigger unknown danger, so many people rushed over.

Chi Hu and the others were all among them.

Li Chuan's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and he let out a roar: "No one can stop me!"

The next moment, blood qi surged all over his body, and patterns resembling python scales appeared on his body surface.

A brutal aura resembling that of a Nine-Headed Blood Python emanated from this person's body.

Someone said in a trembling voice: "Evil... evil technique, he is an Evil Cultivator!"

Upon these words, everyone around changed expression drastically.

Evil Cultivators are notorious existences not only in the Black Forest, but even in the vast Tianyuan Realm.

They inspire both fear and disgust.

When everyone's attention was drawn to Li Chuan, Xu Zhangqing had already arrived at the Cave Dwelling Core and took out the Spatial Earth Origin Fruit he carried with him.

Not even palm-sized for an adult, the semi-transparent fruit had golden light and shadow flowing within.

Before it, time seemed to stagnate, and space seemed to stand still.

As soon as it appeared, it quickly caused Earth Qi resonance, and even the Cave Dwelling Core seemed to be reactivated, causing countless Earth Qi to surge forth.

In an instant, all cultivators except those with Wood and Earth Spiritual Roots fell into an environment like a quagmire, with speed, reaction, and all other aspects restricted.

These people thought it was Li Chuan's doing and glared angrily.

Only Li Chuan looked bewildered, his gaze blank: "I... haven't made a move yet!"