Prehistoric World Travel Trio

Lin Yan could naturally see Ao Ye's reluctance. He also felt that making someone give up such a wonderful opportunity for nothing was indeed a bit excessive.

After a moment's thought, he took out an item. It was a fist-sized crimson crystal, with what seemed like flames flowing within it. The moment it appeared, the surrounding temperature began to rise noticeably. A thread of incomparably pure Fire Element Spiritual Qi radiated from the crystal, causing even the leaves of that Crimson Flame Lotus to tremble slightly.

"This is a Lihuo Spirit Crystal. It contains exceedingly pure Innate Essence of Separation Fire. In terms of rank and its effects on Fire Attribute cultivators, it may not compare to this Nine-Petaled Crimson Flame Lotus, but it is still a rare treasure."

Lin Yan held the Lihuo Spirit Crystal out to Ao Ye. "Meeting fellow daoist Ao Ye today was fate as well. Since this Crimson Flame Lotus cannot be touched, I shall give you this item instead. Consider it compensation for you. How does that sound?"

Ao Ye stared at the gleaming Lihuo Spirit Crystal in Lin Yan's hand, and his eyes immediately lit up. It was not because he was inherently insatiably greedy, but because he had been born with a fondness for rare treasures. Whenever he saw one, he could not help wanting to claim it for himself and examine it carefully.

His desire to take the Crimson Flame Lotus had mostly come from seeing a treasure he liked. Now, seeing Lin Yan produce such a precious item merely to stop him from taking the lotus and preserve the environment here, he could not help feeling both ashamed and guilty.

"Forget it, forget it! Since fellow Daoist Lin Yan has put it that way, I, Ao Ye, am not someone who fails to appreciate kindness. This Crimson Flame Lotus... I don't want it anymore. Take it as repayment for the two of you saving my life. As for this Lihuo Spirit Crystal, quickly put it away. What kind of person do you take me for?" After saying that, Ao Ye hurriedly turned his head away, forcing himself not to look at the soul-stirring crystal in Lin Yan's hand.

Seeing this, Lin Yan's impression of Ao Ye improved by several degrees. This little dragon might be somewhat fond of wealth, but his character was not bad.

"Haha, Little Golden Dragon, I didn't expect you to be such a stand-up guy. Once Young Master returns to Qilin Cliff, I'll give you a basket of Spirit Roots. How about it?" Mo Xuan had been watching coldly from the side for quite some time. Seeing Ao Ye make this choice in the end, he could not help feeling deeply gratified.

"No need. Though I, Ao Ye, like treasures, I don't want just any treasure. Keep those Spirit Roots of yours that come by the basketful." Ao Ye spoke with some disdain. Did he really think a direct descendant of the Dragon Clan was some beggar?

"Oh? This Little Golden Dragon has rather high standards."

"Please, my name is Ao Ye, not Little Golden Dragon. Besides, you don't look that old either, do you? Are you even a hundred thousand years old? And yet you call me Little Golden Dragon. At the very least, you should call me Brother Dragon."

Listening to Mo Xuan and Ao Ye bicker endlessly, Lin Yan knew they were deliberately doing so to ease the awkwardness from earlier. These two little divine beasts were quite considerate.

Not long afterward, the two-man Prehistoric World travel group became a trio. Ao Ye had originally left the Dragon Clan to travel the Prehistoric World and broaden his horizons, and he had never had a clear destination in mind. Now that he had hit it off with Lin Yan and Mo Xuan, he decided to travel alongside them.

Lin Yan and Mo Xuan also had a favorable impression of Ao Ye. Although the three belonged to different races, their temperaments suited one another, and they got along very well. Moreover, Ao Ye had already traveled the Prehistoric World for a thousand years, so his experience and knowledge surpassed theirs by quite a bit. They could ask him for guidance along the way.

As they traveled, the three listened to Ao Ye recount what he had seen over the years.

"Speaking of the current Primordial Heaven and Earth, it may still appear chaotic and dangerous, but it is actually changing for the better. Ever since Great God Pangu opened heaven and earth, the ferocious beasts born from the lingering thoughts of Demon Gods and Malevolent Qi have continuously ravaged all things, seeking to return to Hundun. That period was undoubtedly the darkest era in the history of the Primordial World.

But the Heavenly Dao favors improvement and has brought forth all things to oppose them. After the wear of countless epochs, along with the unceasing resistance of Innate Beings such as ourselves, the situation today is vastly different from the past."

"Oh? Tell us more." Lin Yan was very interested in the current Great Desolation Trend.

"First are Innate Great Beings such as Daoist Hongjun, Great Immortal Yang Mei, Ancestor Yin Yang, and Ancestor Qiankun. Their cultivation is profound and their magical power immense. They emerged countless eras ago. They travel throughout the Prehistoric World, pursuing the Great Dao while constantly exterminating ferocious beasts. They are truly the backbone among Innate Beings. The elders of my clan once said that these Great Beings possess unfathomable realms of cultivation and have likely entered the Great Luo Realm long ago." When Ao Ye mentioned these Great Beings, his tone was filled with deep reverence.

Lin Yan's heart stirred. Among those Ao Ye had mentioned, Old Daoist Hongjun was someone he had met before. His magical power was indeed profound, and he had also been very... approachable.

"Second are powers such as ours, which emerged somewhat later and were gathered through bloodlines and clan strength." At this point, Ao Ye unconsciously straightened his back. "Among them, none are more imposing than the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan!" As he said this, he deliberately glanced at Mo Xuan, the Seven-Colored Qilin beside him.

Hearing this, Mo Xuan also held his head high, feeling honored by the association.

Ao Ye continued, "The Dragon Clan is spread across the Four Seas, rivers, and lakes. We can summon clouds and rain and regulate water essence. What we cultivate is the Way of Water;

The Phoenix Clan dwells in the southern Undying Volcano Cluster. They can suppress earthfire and burn all things. What they cultivate is the Way of Fire;

The Qilin Clan walks the earth, bearing Auspicious Qi. They can soothe the earth's malevolence and nourish mountains and rivers. What they cultivate is the Way of Earth.

These three clans were all born in accordance with the responsibilities of the Heavenly Dao. Not only is their individual combat power formidable, with each possessing innate divine abilities, but their clans are also enormous.

Over the years, the three clans have each expanded their sphere of influence, cleared ferocious beasts from their territories, and sheltered weaker living beings. They have already become the three great pillars resisting the ferocious beasts and stabilizing the Prehistoric World.

"And as far as I know, the high-level figures of the three clans—such as my clan's Ancestor Dragon, the Phoenix Clan's progenitor Yuan Feng and Ancestor Huang, and the Qilin Clan's Old Ancestor Ancestor Qilin—are figures of the same era as Great Beings like Hongjun in both cultivation and seniority. They are all among the supreme existences of the Prehistoric World."

He paused briefly before concluding, "So while ferocious beasts may still seem to run rampant, the strongest among them are being restrained or eliminated by Great Beings like Hongjun, while the rest face extermination by the three clans and countless Innate Beings. The Primordial Heaven and Earth is slowly awakening from chaos and destruction.

"It is simply that this process is long and cruel. And among the three clans... as their spheres of influence expand and their contact increases, some friction is inevitable. But overall, Primordial Creatures will surely defeat the ferocious beasts in the end and restore bright order to heaven and earth."

Ao Ye grew more excited as he spoke. By the end, he had worked himself into a fervor and could not help raising his arm in a shout, looking every bit the passionate young man.

From Ao Ye's animated account, Lin Yan formed a new picture of the current state of the Prehistoric World. It differed slightly from what he knew from his previous life, yet was broadly similar. And if nothing unexpected happened, future developments should proceed according to the storyline he knew.

Lin Yan felt something strange. Life had given him a god's-eye view. Perhaps he could not grasp the smallest details, but when it came to the development of the Great Desolation Trend, no one in the entire Prehistoric World could compare to him.

Perhaps this was the greatest benefit of being a transmigrator. He just did not know whether the appearance of a variable like himself would bring about unexpected changes. Lin Yan decided to wait and see.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, nearly a thousand years had passed.

During those nearly thousand years, the Prehistoric World travel trio traversed countless mountains and rivers and witnessed innumerable wondrous sights and strange beasts. Yet all of that was only an insignificant corner of the Primordial Heaven and Earth.

From Ao Ye and Mo Xuan, they learned that even if they continued traveling for tens of thousands or millions of years, they likely still would not reach the end of the Prehistoric World.

Of course, those thousand years had not all been smooth sailing.

They had slain countless ferocious beasts, and they had also been hunted by countless ferocious beasts. Several times, they not only suffered severe injuries but nearly lost their lives.

However, each of the three had their own life-preserving methods. Whenever they reached their most perilous moments, they relied on those methods to narrowly escape with their lives.