Half an hour later, led by Xiao Xiao, Ye Kong finally made his way through twelve rockery maze arrays and arrived at the lake where Xiao Xiao and Zi Yan had previously washed their jade-like feet. From afar, he saw a strange plant growing in the center of the lake, bearing three green-jade fruits.
The strange plant was blood-red from top to bottom. The part above the water bore patterns of a phoenix spreading its wings; merely observing them allowed one to grasp some of their essence. The three jade-green fruits, which emitted bursts of phoenix cries, hung downward as though they were about to fall.
"Blazing Phoenix Green Jade Fruits. These things can only grow when the blood and flesh essence of a Phoenix Tribe member with at least Seventh-grade Venerate cultivation is infused into Reviving Azure Spiritual Soil after their death, and they can easily wither before maturity.
"There are three fruits hanging from this spiritual plant. The phoenix that died for it probably possessed cultivation above Ninth-grade Venerate in life; it might even have been an Earth Sovereign.
"Given the Phoenix Tribe's overbearing nature, if they saw this, they would definitely take it back for themselves. Your Endless Fire Domain really is wealthy enough to take out even such rare treasures whenever you please."
Ye Kong stood at the lakeside and observed it for a while before sighing.
Xiao Xiao smiled faintly. "My mother has always been overly worried about me, so this is nothing unusual. Let's hurry and pick the fruits. We shouldn't keep the people outside waiting too long."
"Fine."
Ye Kong agreed wholeheartedly. He immediately joined forces with Xiao Xiao to pluck the fruits at the center of the lake, leaving the roots intact.
Thirty seconds later, a man's voice rang out:
"What did