"Crack!"
A crisp sound came from the golden stone. A small flake of its rocky shell fell away, revealing a sliver of crystalline translucence.
Chen Fan frowned and suspended the golden stone in midair, letting several drops of metal-element liquid hover around it as he examined what lay within.
But before he could see clearly, the round shape within that crystalline sliver twitched. A golden lid closed, then opened again, rolling about as it stared at Chen Fan.
It was, astonishingly, a crystal-clear eye. There truly was a living creature inside this golden stone.
"It absorbed an entire dragon vein!" Chen Fan stared wordlessly at the creature's eye. He could not identify its species, but judging by the cracks in the golden stone, the little creature likely would not be able to emerge anytime soon.
The golden stone was far too hard. Even covered in cracks as it was now, Chen Fan could not forcibly break it open. Nor did the creature within seem capable of doing so; it could only rely on absorbing more earth-element aura.
"It needs at least the earth-element aura of several dozen more mountain ranges. What kind of creature is this, to have such an enormous appetite?" Chen Fan looked at the little golden stone, deep in thought.
The large eye exposed upon the little golden stone continued to watch Chen Fan curiously, its pupil rolling around, utterly adorable.
Meanwhile, the Princess of the Kingdom of Wu and Elder Liu, who had been rushing toward Heavenly River City, came to a halt once more. Elder Liu took out the dim golden talisman in his hand, his brow furrowing tightly.
"Why has the golden talisman stopped glowing?" the Princess of the Kingdom of Wu asked in surprise. She had thought they were about to catch