"Let's go. Now that we've got what we came for, we should head out."
Ling Xi put away the jade bottle containing the Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk. After carefully checking the cave, he led the other four out.
"Damn humans! Beating me up was bad enough, but you even stole the treasure I've guarded for so long. I'm done for!"
The moment the four emerged from the cave, they saw the Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle, as large as a small mountain.
But the ferocity it had shown when they first met was gone. Its aggrieved yet deafening voice made it sound just like a wronged young wife.
The scene was so jarring that Ling Xi and the others were all left rooted to the spot.
"I've worked so hard to dig this cave all these years! Do you think that was easy for me?"
Seeing the four standing there, the Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle didn't attack. It just wailed even louder.
A Seventh-tier Magical Beast was the equivalent of a human Dou Zong powerhouse. The sheer volume of its wailing was enough to terrify some lower-tier Magical Beasts out of their wits.
Ling Xi and the others couldn't help covering their ears. They staggered, pain showing on their faces.
"Stop wailing!"
Ling Xi covered one ear with a hand and waved the other through the air.
The Heavenly Demon Puppet appeared beside him, its entire body gleaming with golden light.
The moment it saw the Heavenly Demon Puppet, the Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle immediately stopped wailing. Even its gaze seemed to grow much clearer.
As a Magical Beast, it had a far keener sense of danger than humans.
It had only recently advanced to the Seventh Tier, so it could naturally sense the intense threat emanating from the Heavenly Demon Puppet.
"Senior Dragon Turtle, treasures of heaven and earth belong to those destined to find them—or, you could say, to those with the strength to claim them."
Ling Xi gave the now-silent Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle a slight cupped-fist salute, then continued.
"Surely you Magical Beasts understand that principle even better than us humans."
The Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle paused, an awkwardly human expression appearing on its dragonlike face.
But before long, its expression shifted to an even deeper look of grievance.
"After all, you were the one who discovered the Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk, and you were the one who dug out this passage."
Seeing its reaction, Ling Xi sighed helplessly. The Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle looked as adorably clueless as the college students who'd just graduated back in his previous life.
Murder and robbery were commonplace in this world, but the huge creature before him was clearly no human.
"We left a little Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk in the cave. Consider it payment for guarding it all these years."
"Really?"
The Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle's eyes immediately lit up.
"Of course."
Ling Xi nodded, hesitated briefly, then took a jade box from his storage soul tool.
"You have Ancient Dragon blood in your veins, so transforming into human form must be difficult for you."
"Take this mature Form-Shaping Grass as compensation from me."
Ling Xi wouldn't be able to refine a Seventh-tier Form-Shaping Pill anytime soon. And since he'd taken pity on the creature, he decided to give it the Form-Shaping Grass.
"Form-Shaping Grass?"
A note of delighted surprise entered the Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle's voice.
For a Magical Beast like him, who hadn't yet taken human form, Form-Shaping Grass was no less valuable than any other Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.
Cao Ying and Dan Xuan exchanged a glance, both of them seeing the same sense of absurdity in the other's eyes.
Even in the Central Continent, Form-Shaping Grass was extremely valuable.
Yet Ling Xi had just given it away. They simply couldn't understand him.
"Heh, you're not bad for a human."
As if afraid Ling Xi might change his mind, the Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle opened its mouth and spat out a stream of yellow energy, pulling the jade box containing the Form-Shaping Grass from Ling Xi's hand and into its mouth.
"Though I'm a Magical Beast, I never take advantage of anyone."
The Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle opened its mouth again and spat out a purple glow before Ling Xi.
"This medicine cauldron is something I happened upon while digging for the Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk. I'll give it to you."
The purple glow gradually faded, revealing a medicine cauldron before Ling Xi—a deep, dignified purple.
The entire cauldron looked as if it had formed naturally, without a trace of carving. It carried a faintly ancient, mysterious aura.
Fine patterns could be glimpsed across its surface, glittering with a soft purple light like a starry river in the night sky.
"This is... Purple Abyss!"
Before Ling Xi could react, Cao Ying cried out in shock.
Even the usually composed Dan Xuan and Dan Chen covered their mouths, staring intently at the medicine cauldron before Ling Xi.
"Purple Abyss... the Purple Abyss ranked third on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking?"
Ling Xi was startled too.
The Heavenly Cauldron Ranking, like the Heavenly Flame Ranking, was highly respected among Alchemists.
The so-called Purple Abyss ranked third on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. It was said to be a wondrous purple stone that had absorbed the essence of the sun and moon for a thousand years, gathering Spiritual Qi over countless ages until it took the form of a cauldron.
It was a divine treasure created by the workings of heaven and earth, and a prized possession sought after by countless Alchemists.
"Senior, you're far too generous. In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."
Without the slightest hesitation, Ling Xi put the Purple Abyss away in his Nakai Ring.
Come on, this was a treasure every bit as valuable as a Heavenly Flame!
"Hmph. Don't worry. My word is as good as gold. If I say it's yours, then it's yours."
The Mysterious Armored Dragon Turtle snorted and slowly made its way back into the cave.
"Human, if you run into any trouble in this space, you can come find me."
Its figure disappeared into the cave, but its voice continued to echo from within.
Only Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Dan Xuan remained, staring at Ling Xi with complicated expressions.
Ling Xi had claimed the lion's share of the Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk, and even walked away with a treasure from the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. They'd come along only to help him.
"Heh, let's find somewhere safe to divide the Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk."
Under their resentful stares, Ling Xi felt a shiver run through him and hurriedly changed the subject.
"Safe? Where in this space could possibly be safer than here?"
Cao Ying couldn't help snorting.
"Right, I guess."
Ling Xi rubbed his head and gave an awkward, nervous laugh.
Without wasting any more time, Ling Xi took the jade bottle containing the Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk out of his Nakai Ring.
He carefully divided the Mysterious Yellow Quenching Spirit Milk into four portions, then tossed a jade bottle to each of the three.
"Thank you, Brother Ling."
"Thank you, Big Brother Ling."
After putting away their bottles, Dan Xuan and Dan Chen hurriedly thanked Ling Xi.
"Don't mention it. This was what you were owed in the first place."
Ling Xi waved a hand with a smile.
"Hand over the ingredients for refining the Blood Lotus Pill, and we'll be even."
"Right, I nearly forgot."
Dan Xuan laughed heartily, then took two jade boxes from his Nakai Ring and handed them to Ling Xi himself.
"These are two stalks of Ice Flame Grass. I hope you can use them to refine the flame you need."
"Thank you!"
After putting the jade boxes away, Ling Xi immediately cupped his fists toward Dan Xuan.
"Brother Ling, if you have time in the future, you're welcome to visit the Dan Family. We'll be delighted to receive you!"
Dan Xuan pulled Dan Chen along as he returned the salute solemnly, then gave Cao Ying a slight cupped-fist salute before leaving with Dan Chen in a streak of light.
Before you continue