Candle Dragon's Compensation

"Don't be so stingy. The Dragon Clan is the foremost force of the Four Seas, one of the Prehistoric Era's top great clans. Be more magnanimous. How can you rule the Four Seas if you're this petty?"

Hearing Xuan Qing's words, Candle Dragon truly wanted to make a move. Three High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, and he still called him stingy? Was this really a living being who had comprehended the Law of Creation? More like someone who had comprehended the Law of Pettiness!

Candle Dragon opened his mouth, not knowing what he could possibly say in response to Xuan Qing's venomous tongue.

"Take care of yourself, Daoist. I hope we won't cross paths in the future."

Candle Dragon could only gain a little verbal advantage before turning to leave.

"Wait, Daoist Candle Dragon. You dug up all the Innate Spiritual Roots on my islands. Shouldn't you return them?"

Xuan Qing suddenly remembered that the Dragon Clan had dug up all the Innate Spiritual Roots from the island cluster. Those were his property. Wasn't that simply robbery?

"Daoist Xuan Qing, are you determined to fight us to the death?"

Candle Dragon glared at Xuan Qing through gritted teeth. Where were there any Innate Spiritual Roots on those islands? There were only some Acquired Spiritual Roots, and they had only dug up a few uncommon ones. Xuan Qing had opened his mouth and demanded Innate Spiritual Roots as though they were cabbages.

Xuan Qing really had misunderstood the Dragon Clan. These islands had formed by relying on Azure Nether Island and had yet to produce Innate Spiritual Roots. Only after becoming blessed lands could they produce Innate Spiritual Roots. The cultivation environment on these islands was even better than that of blessed lands, but their resources were inferior.

What Xuan Qing had seen from afar before were not Innate Spiritual Roots, but special Acquired Spiritual Roots. This made Candle Dragon feel deeply wronged.

Seeing Candle Dragon's reaction, it seemed there really were no Innate Spiritual Roots. Had his understanding been mistaken? Had the islands simply not had enough time to produce Innate Spiritual Roots?

Candle Dragon ignored Xuan Qing and flew away without looking back. If he stayed any longer, he might not be able to stop himself from beating him up.

"Ah, the Dragon Clan really are good people. It would be great if chances like this came around a few more times. Everyone could get a full set of Innate Spiritual Treasures from them."

Xuan Qing could not help sighing as he looked at the Spiritual Treasures in his hands.

"Brother, no one else is that extravagant. They casually handed over three High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. You're getting addicted to robbery."

Han Xi could not help mocking Xuan Qing.

Hearing that, Xuan Qing suddenly thought of someone.

"Who says there isn't? Isn't there a huge tycoon over at Jade Gold Mountain? He might not be able to casually throw out three High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, but he can throw out Top-grade ones."

Just as Xuan Qing finished speaking, Hongjun at Jade Gold Mountain suddenly felt a chill in his chest for some reason. Only after quite a while did he come back to his senses.

"What was that?" Hongjun hurriedly inspected his entire body, but found nothing. It seemed as though it had merely been an illusion.

"Who is that person? Does Master know him? Is he even richer than you, Master?"

Qing Ling swallowed and stared at Xuan Qing as she asked.

"He is richer than me. All right, children shouldn't ask so many questions. You wouldn't understand the world of adults."

Xuan Qing waved his hand and teased Qing Ling.

Han Xi had heard of Hongjun before. Hearing Xuan Qing talk about Hongjun this way, she covered her face and secretly laughed, her little face turning red from holding it in.

"Sister Han Xi, what are you laughing about? Do you know that person too? How rich is he?"

Qing Ling looked innocently at Han Xi.

"Hahahaha!"

The moment Han Xi heard that, she could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.

"Sister Han Xi, tell me. Your face is red from laughing."

"Children shouldn't ask so many questions. You wouldn't understand the world of adults."

Han Xi imitated Xuan Qing.

This left Qing Ling thoroughly depressed. She pouted her lips high and looked unhappily at Han Xi. Han Xi seemed to feel that she had gone too far and could only say,

"I really can't casually tell you. You'll understand later."

Qing Ya tugged Qing Ling's sleeve. She understood that these great powers could not be mentioned casually, as they would sense it. They should not bring trouble to Master.

"Qing Ya, give me the Cauldron of Creation first. I'll help upgrade your Innate Spiritual Treasures."

As Xuan Qing spoke, he weighed the Innate Spiritual Treasures in his hands.

Qing Ya hurriedly took out the Cauldron of Creation and handed it to Xuan Qing. After receiving it, Xuan Qing immediately flew back to the Dao Field. This was his first time seeing Innate Spiritual Treasures advance in rank. It was bound to be interesting.

After returning to the Heart Nurturing Hall, Xuan Qing directly tossed the three Spiritual Treasures into the Cauldron of Creation and activated it. The Law of Creation immediately enveloped the three Spiritual Treasures as Xuan Qing controlled the Dao Patterns and slowly moved them toward the treasures.

The moment the Dao Patterns touched the Spiritual Treasures, they merged directly into them. Each of the three Spiritual Treasures absorbed ten Dao Patterns before stopping, having reached their limits. New restrictions also began to appear.

However, the three High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures did not advance immediately. The newly formed restrictions were merely illusory and needed time to gradually solidify.

The three Spiritual Treasures were the Azure Blue Sword, the Spirit Binding Rope, and the Purple Jade Robe. They each had only thirty-two restrictions. With ten more added, once they fully solidified, they would become Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures with forty-two restrictions.

Xuan Qing called the three women in and took out the three Spiritual Treasures.

"You can divide them among yourselves. In a while, they'll be Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures." Xuan Qing placed the Spiritual Treasures before the three of them.

Han Xi looked at the three Spiritual Treasures for a while, then shook her head. "Forget it. I don't need them. These Spiritual Treasures won't be much use to me."

Han Xi had two comprehensive Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures with forty-eight restrictions, so she had little interest in these. Qing Ya and Qing Ling happened to have none, so she gave them to the two of them.

Qing Ya looked at Han Xi. Seeing that she was sincere, she did not dwell on it and thought for a moment.

"I'll take the Azure Blue Sword. With the Cauldron of Creation, I don't lack treasures for trapping enemies. Qing Ling is too lively, so she can have the remaining ones for protection."

"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Sisters."

Qing Ling was very happy. Having gained two Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures at once, she could not help thanking Xuan Qing and the others.

"Earn more merit. It can speed up the evolution of Spiritual Treasures, and it will also make a protective talisman for yourselves. Before the Heavenly Dao Emergence, you must not slack off."

Xuan Qing looked at the two girls and reminded them. As long as the Heavenly Dao had not emerged, they could continue transforming the Prehistoric Era and gain Great Dao Merit, using it to condense a Merit Golden Wheel. Then they would not need to fear being killed by others in the future.

At that moment, Xuan Qing's Green Lotus of Creation trembled. After checking it, Xuan Qing discovered that he had actually forgotten about Qiongqi. Qiongqi was about to emerge now, and it could not remain curled up inside the Green Lotus of Creation, or it would not receive the recognition of the Primordial Heaven and Earth.

Xuan Qing hurriedly took out Qiongqi's cocoon. A wave of Killing Intent spread throughout the entire Xuan Qing Dao Palace, and Han Xi and the others quickly gathered around it.

"Master, what is this thing you brought back? Why does it carry such intense killing intent?"

Qing Ling looked at Xuan Qing in confusion, while the other two were equally puzzled.

"This is Qiongqi, whom I encountered while traveling last time. It is no longer a Fierce Beast and can serve as my mount."

This was the Mystical Beast he had encountered together with Bai Yu back then. It had not yet transformed at the time, but after all these years of nurturing, it was finally about to transform.

Everyone stared closely at the enormous cocoon. Before long, the Law of Slaughter manifested, and the cocoon began to crack.

Crack, crack!

The cocoon completely shattered, and a small white kitten crawled out. Its eyes quietly surveyed everyone before it spotted Xuan Qing and immediately ran over.

"Brother, this is Qiongqi? Why is it such a tiny thing? Did the Law of Slaughter choose the wrong one?"

Han Xi stared blankly at the newborn Qiongqi. It did not look related to Qiongqi at all.

Xuan Qing picked Qiongqi up and stroked it. Ah, this feeling of petting a cat was truly nice. After all these years, he had finally gotten to pet a cat.

His Divine Sense swept through its body. It would only comprehend the Law of Slaughter after breaking through to Daluo. Having been nurtured by the Law of Creation inside the Green Lotus of Creation for so many years, Qiongqi's Origin had changed somewhat. It had been cleansed by the Law of Creation and no longer gave off that soul-stirring feeling of bloodthirst.

"This Qiongqi's Origin has been improved by the Green Lotus of Creation. It was also soaked in Three Lights Divine Water and Innate Gui Water, so it may not become the kind of Mystical Beast that kills by nature. It happens to look harmless enough."

Xuan Qing could only see the general situation. He could not discern anything else.

Qiongqi cooperatively stretched out its paws.

Qiongqi had been born a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, but it could not speak and could only express its meaning through actions.

"Hahahaha, interesting. From now on, you'll be called Qing Qiong."

Xuan Qing thought of something amusing and laughed happily. Qing Qiong, Qin Qiong—just right for serving as the guardian deity of the Dao Field.

"Brother, that name is so awkward. Isn't that a door god's name? You named it after Qin Qiong because you want it to be Azure Nether Island's guardian deity, don't you?"

Han Xi seemed to have guessed Xuan Qing's thoughts at once. Xuan Qing was instantly stunned. How was this girl so clever that she could make that connection?

Still, he spoke with a straight face. "Isn't it a name exclusive to our Azure Nether Island? Qiongqi—the 'poor' in Qiong is no good, so I changed it to a homophone. Hehe."

Han Xi and the other two truly did not know how to mock Xuan Qing anymore. If Qiongqi understood the meaning behind its name in the future, it might run away from home.

"All right, all right, it's settled then. Qing Qiong will be in the care of you three from now on. I'm going to study how to plant Spiritual Roots in the Prehistoric Era. Otherwise, there may not be another chance in the future."

"Brother, all you know is how to order us around while you slack off yourself. Shameless."

Although Han Xi and the other two liked the little kitten, they did not want Xuan Qing to drag them along like this. Still, there was nothing they could do about him.

"Master, what did you mean when you said there might not be a chance to plant Spiritual Roots in the future?"

Qing Ya immediately noticed the deeper meaning in Xuan Qing's words and grew curious. Han Xi and Qing Ling had heard it too and listened closely.

"When the Heavenly Dao emerges and the Great Dao retreats, cultivation in the Prehistoric Era will also change. At that time, Earth Vein Nodes cannot be entered and exited freely. They will be hidden by the Heavenly Dao. Tell me, how will we plant Spiritual Roots afterward?"

Xuan Qing had no choice but to explain it to them, while also urging them to shed their lazy habits so they would not fail to earn Great Dao Merit.