Rare Treasure

As Zhu Jin hurried toward the location of the Heavenly Flames, the entire ancient ruin also grew lively.

"Woo woo woo. (The prince of the Green Phoenix Clan has arrived too!)" At that moment, some magical beast suddenly shouted. The other magical beasts searching the ancient ruin for beast bones and treasures all looked up toward the horizon.

At the horizon in the direction of the entrance, profound azure energy appeared. A streak of azure radiance stretched across the sky, and in the blink of an eye, this rainbow-like light swept over the heads of countless magical beasts.

Azure light spanned the heavens with an overwhelming presence, like kings on procession or a heavenly monarch descending. The azure streak rushing over was a green phoenix.

This young green phoenix had a wingspan of over a hundred meters. Even with its wings only slightly spread, it gave off a majestic feeling of blotting out the sky and sun. Its blue-green wings shone with azure light under the illumination, as though wrapped in azure mist. It seemed as if this phoenix had been born from the profound seven and evolved within the blue firmament. Its features could not even be seen clearly. Yet unlike other avian magical beasts, although he had not taken human form, he wore a crown upon his head and magnificent garments over his body. He truly looked like the "prince" others called him.

His pair of eyes, in particular, were incomparably sharp, as though they could see through all yin and yang.

The Green Phoenix Prince, Mu Qinghuang, was one of the Green Phoenix Clan's geniuses. He was a direct descendant of the lineage of the Green Phoenix Clan's ancestor, Qingluan Venerable, and possessed exceptional talent and bloodline. Rumor had it that he might carry a trace of the Ancient Azure Luan Divine Bird's bloodline, giving him immense potential and considerable fame throughout the Beast Domain.

Beside the Green Phoenix Prince was a black bear even larger than him. The Green Phoenix Prince's azure radiance was dazzling, but the mountain-like black bear beside him was not much inferior.

A pair of black wings grew from behind the giant bear. They were not his own wings, but the manifestation of Dou Qi Transformation Wings, proving that he was a magical beast above Tier Five.

"Roar roar roar?! (Isn't that Xiong Sinan, the clan leader of the Earth Demon Bear Clan?!)" Upon seeing the giant bear beside the Green Phoenix Prince, a magical beast recognized him and cried out in surprise.

"Hiss hiss hiss? (The Earth Demon Bear Clan's leader is traveling with a Green Phoenix Clan genius. Does this mean the Earth Demon Bear Clan has forged ties with the Green Phoenix Clan?)" Some guessed at their relationship upon seeing this scene. After all, Xiong Sinan was far older than Mu Qinghuang. If they had no connection whatsoever, they could not possibly be traveling together.

"Moo moo moo. (I didn't expect even the Green Phoenix Clan to send someone. I wonder whether the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan will appear as well. After all, Heavenly Flames have been discovered in this ancient ruin, and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan consists of fire-attributed magical beasts.)" An old ox analyzed the situation.

Although the Beast Domain was ostensibly controlled by two great magical beast races, the other powerful clans were not without the strength to resist. Neither the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan nor the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Clan could truly dominate the world. Thus, while the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan and the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Clan appeared to be opposing one another, they would not completely fall out in reality. They would also send people to contend for opportunities within ancient ruins discovered by the other side.

Of course, magical beasts that had not entered early or lacked some background might not even qualify to enter. Small magical beast tribes such as the Flame Wolf Unicorns would be blocked outside by the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Clan.

"Chirp chirp. (The Green Phoenix Clan and Earth Demon Bears are not fire-attributed magical beasts. They came for the burial chamber discovered in the center of the ruin some time ago. It is said that an ancient divine artifact appeared there, along with powerful Earth Tier Dou Techniques.)"

A group of magical beasts chattered away about ancient divine artifacts and ruin treasures, completely unaware that a little dragon with dim scales and a body wrapped in black cloth was quietly listening to this information.

Zhu Jin's expression turned strange. Treasure? Judging from the direction the Green Phoenix Clan genius and the Earth Demon Bear were flying, those guys were heading for the formation core beneath the earth fissure—the direction indicated by that ghostly thing.

"Oh, no wonder that ghostly thing's soul body could emerge. The formation sealing him must have developed problems as well and become exposed. Then somehow, the rumors turned into talk of treasure appearing." Zhu Jin silently pieced the matter together. After thinking for a moment, he decided to first follow Xie Dong and the map's clues to find the Heavenly Flames, then go take a look at the treasure those magical beasts had mentioned.

Zhu Jin concealed himself as much as possible, disguising himself as an independent magical beast cultivator who had entered the ancient ruin early to scavenge for bargains, and ran in another direction. Just as the book had said, the place containing Heavenly Flames would certainly have flames soaring into the sky and dense fire-attributed spiritual energy. Before long, Zhu Jin saw a stretch of crimson red, like a volcanic region.

Here, erupting lava could be seen everywhere, as though he had entered an enormous volcanic crater. Scorching lava erupted and flowed, capable of melting everything.

"This place is impossible to enter without decent fire resistance. No wonder the Purple Cloud Scorpion Serpent Clan dared to risk their lives." The moment Zhu Jin stepped inside, he felt scorching heat beneath his feet. Even though he was an Ancient Void Dragon, a top-tier fire-attributed magical beast capable of roaming through thunder pools, seas of fire, and the void, he still felt the searing heat rising from below.

But an Ancient Void Dragon was still an Ancient Void Dragon. It merely felt hot underfoot, like walking on a beach, and he quickly grew accustomed to it.

Countless streams of lava surged and roared like monstrous floods. The vast lava torrents thundered forward, then with a boom, lava exploded. Some splashed onto Zhu Jin's dragon scales with a sizzling sound.

"We should be close now."

Gradually, Zhu Jin moved away from that scorching lava belt and arrived at an artificial Void Land. As an Ancient Void Dragon, he recognized it at once as a void passage created by an expert of his clan. At that moment, he discovered faint sparks around him. Within the pitch-black void passage, these weak flames looked like the sun, moon, and stars.

Zhu Jin felt as if he were drifting through deep space, surrounded by stars. Some larger flames streaked past him like meteors, trailing fiery tails and creating a spectacular sight.

"What are these?" Zhu Jin reached out, intending to catch the moving sparks.

Ordinary people would not dare extend their hands beyond a void passage. That was simply courting death, as even their hands could be twisted apart by the power of the void. But Ancient Void Dragons were an exception.

With a snap, Zhu Jin's dragon claw hooked a wisp of flame. When he drew it close, he discovered that the firelight was somewhat sticky and hot. It was also slightly translucent, like honey.

Zhu Jin examined it, then slowly opened his mouth and sucked the honey-like substance into it.

!!!!

"Hm?! This is!" The instant the "honey" entered his mouth, powerful fire-attributed energy shot straight into his head. Ninety-nine percent pure—rare treasure!

"This is Heavenly Flames!"