Ye Xuan finally set foot with the Three Xiāo Fairies in the very heart of this legendary island.
The scenery here was completely different from the outskirts. The air no longer drifted with ordinary Innate Spiritual Qi, but with wisps of purple mist.
The purple Qi wove through the air, gathering into dewdrops that fell to the ground and joined together to form streams of purple water.
Every drop of purple dew contained clearly visible fragments of the Great Dao Laws.
"What a Blessed Land."
Yun Xiao Fairy gently raised her hand and caught a falling drop of purple dew. As she felt the pure Dao resonance within it, even her usually composed face could not hide her astonishment.
"A single day of cultivation here would probably be worth a hundred years of hard work in the outside world."
Ye Xuan walked at the very front, his Double Pupils constantly active as he scanned the surrounding space, wary of any unknown dangers.
As they continued deeper, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
An ancient divine tree that blotted out the sky and sun abruptly appeared before them.
The tree was enormous. Its trunk was thick as a pillar supporting the heavens, while its lush branches and leaves covered the sky for thousands of miles.
Its bark was a deep yellowish-brown, covered in patterns like dragon scales. Every pattern radiated an ancient, timeworn aura.
Most remarkable of all were its flowers and fruit.
Blossoms as brilliant as lotuses bloomed on its branches, and among them hung translucent fruits shaped like beads and stamens.
The words "Yellow Middle" could just be made out on the fruits. Chaos Qi swirled around them, lending them a divine and extraordinary appearance.
A strange, sweet fragrance drifted toward them.
Just one breath of it made Bixiao feel her pores opening and her Primordial Spirit growing clear. The slightly restless power within her settled at once, and even her lifespan seemed to increase.
"This... this is..."
Yun Xiao Fairy stared at the words "Yellow Middle" on the trunk. Her pupils contracted slightly, and her voice betrayed her shock.
"One of the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots—the Yellow Middle Plum?!"
At the name, even the usually aloof Qiong Xiao could not help drawing a sharp breath.
Each of the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots was a supreme treasure wrought by the creation of Heaven and Earth.
The Ginseng Fruit Tree belonging to Zhen Yuanzi and the Peach tree in the Jade Pool Wonderland both belonged to this group.
And the Yellow Middle Plum ranked among the foremost.
"It's said this tree blooms once every hundred thousand years, bears fruit after another hundred thousand, and ripens only after a further hundred thousand."
Yun Xiao spoke rapidly, her eyes shining.
"Only nine fruits grow in three hundred thousand years. Just smelling one can add ten thousand years to your life; eating one lets you comprehend the laws of Heaven and Earth and live forever!"
For a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, this fruit was an unparalleled Sacred Medicine for breaking through to the next realm.
Bixiao could hardly contain herself. She counted the fruits on the tree and cried excitedly:
"One, two, three... There are exactly nine!"
"Big Sister, Daoist Ye, we've struck it rich!"
The value of nine Yellow Middle Plums was simply impossible to estimate.
If they appeared in the outside world, even Grand Unity Golden Immortals and Quasi-Saint Great Powers would fight over them.
Yet, faced with such a treasure, the mood did not grow tense.
Ye Xuan looked at the nine fruits, his expression composed.
"Since we've all found them together, let's split them evenly."
He turned to the three fairies and smiled. "All three of you contributed greatly to breaking the formation and reaching the island. I'll take three fruits, and the remaining six will be split between you, two each. What do you think?"
It was an exceedingly fair arrangement—one could even say Ye Xuan was taking the short end of the stick.
After all, if his Double Pupils hadn't revealed the flaw in the formation, they wouldn't even have made it onto the island.
The Three Fairies exchanged glances, each seeing the gratitude in the others' eyes.
"Thank you, Daoist!" Yun Xiao said, bowing solemnly. "Your generosity is admirable. We sisters will accept your offer."
Without further delay, they got to work.
Ye Xuan swept out his sleeve and used the Sleeve Universe technique. Three Yellow Middle Plums turned into streaks of light and landed in his hand, then were sealed inside a jade box.
The Three Fairies each used their own methods to collect the remaining six.
Having obtained such a top-tier spiritual root, everyone was in high spirits, joy bright on their faces.
"Let's go. If Penglai Island can nurture a Yellow Middle Plum, there may be other opportunities here, too."
In a cheerful mood, Bixiao was about to turn and search elsewhere.
However—
Just as Ye Xuan was about to step away—
"Vmmm—"
A shudder erupted deep within his Consciousness Sea.
Ye Xuan stopped abruptly and clutched at his eyes.
The Chaos Heavy Pupils in his eye sockets began spinning wildly beyond his control, Chaos Qi surging through them.
A longing and resonance rising from his very essence assailed his nerves.
It felt as if a long-lost family member were calling to him from ahead.
"Wait."
Ye Xuan's voice was low, edged with solemnity.
"What is it?" The Three Fairies, who had been about to leave, stopped and turned back in confusion.
Before Ye Xuan could answer—
"Crack—"
The space beneath the roots of the enormous Yellow Middle Plum tree suddenly split open, revealing a pitch-black fissure.
There was no earth-shaking spectacle, nor any dazzling radiance.
A dull gray stone bead, utterly unremarkable, slowly emerged from the fissure.
The instant it appeared, space and time across the heart of Penglai Immortal Island froze.
The surging purple Qi halted in midair, and even the Great Dao Laws bowed before it.
An indescribable weight pressed down on everyone's hearts.
It gave off no light, yet seemed capable of crushing the eternal heavens and suppressing the past, present, and future.
"This aura..."
The ease vanished from Yun Xiao's face, replaced by unprecedented shock.
She stared at the gray bead, her voice trembling slightly.
"Chaos aura... concealing the secrets of Heaven... forming a world of its own..."
"Could this be the legendary Chaos Supreme Treasure—the Chaos Bead?!"
Her words struck Qiong Xiao and Bixiao like a thunderclap.
The Chaos Bead!
The legendary Chaos Supreme Treasure!
It was said that when Pangu split Heaven and Earth, the thirty-six-petal Creation Green Lotus, a Chaos Supreme Treasure, shattered, while the Heaven-Splitting Divine Axe became the three Innate Supreme Treasures.
Only the Chaos Bead had survived the Great Calamity of Heaven Splitting, vanishing into the void without a trace.
Its rank was even higher than that of the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner, both of which were Innate Supreme Treasures!
If they could refine the bead, they would possess a complete Chaos world. They could conceal all heavenly secrets and karmic causes—and might even have a chance to attain the Dao of Primordial Unity!
For a moment—
A deathly silence fell over the heart of the island.
Everyone's gaze fixed on the gray bead hovering quietly in the air.
Their breathing grew heavier.
Faced with the Innate Spiritual Root Yellow Middle Plum, they had managed to remain rational and calmly divide the fruit.
But against a treasure on the level of the Chaos Bead, even the Three Fairies could not stay composed.
This was the very foundation of attaining the Dao!
The mood grew delicate.
Ye Xuan stood motionless, Chaos Qi swirling in and out of his eyes.
He could feel that the bead had come for him.
Or, more precisely, it had come for his Chaos constitution and Double Pupils.
But he didn't reach out to take it.
There were three Grand Unity Golden Immortals beside him.
If they turned on one another over the treasure and fought deep inside Penglai Island, the consequences would be unthinkable.
"Phew..."
Yun Xiao let out a long breath, forcing down her greed.
She glanced at her two younger sisters, then at Ye Xuan, who remained silent.
As the eldest, she had to break the deadlock.
"Since such a treasure has appeared, it must belong to whoever is fated to claim it."
Yun Xiao spoke slowly, her voice clear once more.
"We're all here together. Fighting over the treasure would not only damage our friendship, but also violate our Daoist hearts."
"Agreed." Ye Xuan nodded, his gaze clear. "What do you suggest, Fairy?"
Yun Xiao watched the Chaos Bead and said solemnly, "Treasures have spirits. A Chaos relic of this level will surely choose its own master."
"The four of us will each release our Dao resonance and aura."
"Then we'll see whom it chooses."
"Whoever it chooses, the rest of us must accept it without complaint and must not try to seize it. Agreed?"
It was the fairest and most dignified way to settle things.
"I agree!" Bixiao raised her hand first. Though she coveted the treasure, she knew it couldn't be forced.
"Agreed." Qiong Xiao nodded.
"Very well." Ye Xuan smiled.
If it came down to "fate," how could he, with his Chaos Heavy Pupils, possibly lose?
Before you continue