Chapter 409: Non-metal

One day passed.

Everyone was panting, sitting down on the ground without regard for dignity, each in a sorry state.

"How could so many monsters appear suddenly?" Wang Tian Sheng gasped, the water sphere wrapped around his body shrinking a bit.

Yan Buji looked at Wang Tian Sheng and asked doubtfully: "I've wanted to ask before, Dao Fellow Wang, do you water spirit folk always encase yourselves in water spheres when you go out?"

Wang Tian Sheng replied speechlessly: "This is a secret cultivation method of my clan... never mind that, with so many monsters here, we probably won't last until we reach the giant tree."

"Moreover, these monsters are all at Golden Core strength, and there might even be Nascent Soul beings later—how can we fight them?"

Everyone now thought of retreating; if they didn't know what place this was, it would be fine, but since they knew this was the burial ground of the Monster Clan's Wood Extreme Emperor, who would dare go forward lightly?

Yan Buji wiped his wounds and also noticed some patterns.

"Everyone, may I say a word?" Hu Xue'er suddenly stood up and said: "I don't know if you've noticed, but the monsters we've slain here might be the weapons of the former tomb guardians."

"So what?"

Everyone was puzzled; isn't this obvious?

Hu Xue'er nodded: "That's exactly why, please look at this sword."

Everyone looked strange, examining it closely.

This sword was left after slaying the earlier monsters, and everyone had collected some.

But upon closer look, the sword seemed to retain some demonic qi crystals?

"What is this?"

Xue Qing held the crystal, unaware of its origin.

Shi Pan sprang up: "It's non-metal!"

"Non-metal?"

Wang Tian Sheng came to his senses, his eyes turning fervent: "If it's non-metal, then we definitely have to go."

Yan Buji looked puzzled: "What is non-metal?"

She Junshi smiled: "It's a special kind of metal, or rather a spiritual material that can let our fleshly bodies break through limits!"

"Break the fleshly limits? Metal?" Yan Buji looked strange.

He had never heard of such a spiritual material, nor did he know why everyone suddenly seemed fired up.

Xue Qing nodded: "Although we Otherworldly Race each have strong physiques in our own ways, the existence of non-metal is like releasing our original bodily limits, allowing us to grow ever stronger!"

Is that so?

Yan Buji didn't quite understand, since he is a martial cultivator and had never pushed his fleshly body to the extreme, so he wasn't clear about the bodily limits spoken of among the Otherworldly.

Yan Buji looked strange; Xue Qing looked at him and smiled: "I forgot, Dao Fellow Yan is a martial cultivator, seemingly having no need for this."

One couldn't tell whether it meant Yan Buji needn't worry about bodily strength, or hinted that he was unlikely to break through to Nascent Soul.

"What do you all think?" She Junshi looked at everyone.

"I want to go; the importance of non-metal goes without saying, and it might even lay the foundation for a future breakthrough to Nascent Soul!" Wang Tian Sheng declared firmly.

Shi Pan stood up, saying nothing more.

"Then it seems everyone has decided; Dao Fellow Yan, what about you?" Xue Qing asked.

Yan Buji nodded: "Since it's something everyone approves of, I too must go see what it is."

"Alright, let's press on!"

By chance, Yan Buji glanced at Hu Xue'er.

Hu Xue'er narrowed her eyes, signaling Yan Buji not to say more.

Yan Buji turned his head, guessing Hu Xue'er might have some plan; otherwise such a matter shouldn't have been brought up by her first.

The existence of non-metal undoubtedly sparked great enthusiasm among everyone; among the monsters encountered afterward, some carried a bit of non-metal, making distribution a problem.

Fortunately, everyone knew this place held more than just a bit of non-metal, so they were all willing to make concessions.

After Yan Buji collected a bit of non-metal, he exchanged the remaining non-metal he obtained with others for spiritual stones and spiritual materials; in short, everyone profited.

After traveling for several days, everyone was utterly exhausted and sat down to recover their mana.

"By the way, everyone, how is non-metal used?" Yan Buji asked curiously.

"Either use it as a spiritual material to refine into essence, or directly absorb it into the body to transform the flesh. Either way, it's very useful." Xue Qing replied.

Yan Buji nodded, trying to refine it into essence.

However, this non-metal's material is somewhat hard to refine; even his Earth Origin Fire couldn't refine it quickly.

Could it be a Fivefold Transformation spiritual material?

Yan Buji wasn't quite sure, but seeing others directly absorb the non-metal, he gathered the bit in his hand and sat to meditate and regulate his breath.

With the Seven-leaf Gloomy Orchid, Yan Buji's recovery of True Essence was extremely fast.

"Yan Dao Fellow?"

She Junshi suddenly sent a mental transmission; Yan Buji's heart jumped, and he asked: "She Dao Fellow, do you have something?"

"Rest assured, I have completely concealed this mental transmission method, so no need to worry about others noticing. I wish to ask Dao Fellow Yan whether you have any dealings with Hu Dao Fellow."

"What do you mean, She Dao Fellow?" Yan Buji didn't understand her method, only feeling that their mental transmission seemed shrouded by a mysterious power, while others indeed noticed nothing unusual.

She Junshi smiled: "When we first met, I had already sensed that you two seem to be greatly wary of Xue Qing Fairy; I wonder what you discovered outside."

"Nothing much; it's just strange that Xue Qing Dao Fellow didn't inform us about the Dragon River Secret Realm, but since she has spoken of it, there's no problem."

"Oh?" She Junshi narrowed her eyes: "Do you truly think Xue Qing Fairy is fine?"

"What else do you want to say, She Dao Fellow?"

"Indeed, Xue Qing Fairy invited us over, and she led the way along the journey. But when we first met her, she deliberately led us around in circles."

"Hmm?"

She Junshi frowned: "The place I previously transmitted to was exactly where Xue Qing Fairy found the Dragon River Secret Realm. I remember the route; she brought other Dao Fellows here, deliberately wandering around for several days, but never leaving the entrance of the Dragon River Secret Realm...."

That means Fairy Snowclear is still deceiving people?

Exactly.

Yan Buji laughed: 'What is her purpose?'

I myself naturally don't know; if Fellow Daoist Yan knows a bit....

Boom!

Before the crowd could react, a large number of monsters suddenly surged forward.

Snowclear stood up and shouted: 'Fellow Daoists!'

Tsk!

She Junshu clicked her tongue, looking at those monsters.

Let's act together and quickly settle these monsters!

The scene instantly fell into chaos; due to the onslaught of numerous monsters, the protective formations and restrictions could not hold.

A large number of monsters surged forward like a tide, instantly surrounding them!

Seeing the situation turn bad, Yan Buji immediately stepped back a few steps and shouted: 'Everyone, fight on your own; regroup before the Sky-Reaching Giant Tree!'

No problem!

'Fellow Daoist Yan, I'll go with you.' Hu Xue'er killed a monster and rushed over.

Yan Buji narrowed his eyes, stopped to beat back the surrounding monsters, and together with Hu Xue'er was submerged in the monster tide.