Half a day later, the group arrived outside a desolate valley.
There was no spiritual energy soaring into the sky within the valley, nor was there any treasure light on display. Only a half-withered ancient tree stood amid the scattered rocks.
That ancient tree was strange.
The bark on its left side resembled fine dragon scales, while the withered branches on its right looked like broken phoenix feathers. Two utterly different patterns intertwined on a single tree. Though it had long since dried up, it had never decayed.
Xiao Fan stopped.
"We're here."
Zi Yan raised her head, staring unblinkingly at the ancient tree.
The pill in her hand had somehow stopped at her lips, and she had not bitten into it for quite some time.
"There's something inside."
Her voice was very soft.
Xiao Fan nodded.
"Mm."
Hei Qing's expression turned completely grave.
With his spatial perception, he could sense an extremely deep Space Fold behind that ancient tree, though the entrance had not truly revealed itself yet. An ordinary Dou Zun coming here would likely only find the place somewhat strange. They would never imagine that an ancient hidden realm lay pressed behind that fold.
Medusa looked at Xiao Fan.
"The entrance isn't open."
"It'll open naturally, but that takes time."
Xiao Fan raised a hand, and Colorless Fire slowly ignited in his palm.
"We won't wait."
He walked before the ancient tree. Rather than touching its trunk, he stopped three feet behind it and pointed into seemingly empty air.
Colorless Fire rose into the air.
A faint ripple suddenly emerged in the air.
It quickly vanished, like a fleeting illusion on the surface of water.
But Xiao Fan did not miss that instant.
The Dragon Emperor Reverse Scale on his chest grew faintly warm, and a wisp