"Who's there?" Li Xiaoya asked in astonishment. He remembered activating every defensive restriction. How could someone transmit their voice inside?
"Hehe, I'm the Grand Elder," the voice continued.
The Grand Elder? He's here? Li Xiaoya's heart jolted. He asked Second Better, "What do we do now?"
"Never mind that for now. Blood-bind the magic treasure first. It won't take long, and we don't want a long night breeding more nightmares. An exceptional-grade magic treasure is something every cultivator dreams of possessing!" Second Better urged, his words carrying a pointed implication.
"All right," Li Xiaoya replied inwardly, then hastily said aloud, "Please wait a moment, Grand Elder. This disciple will be right out!" He stuck a finger into his mouth and bit down hard, but failed to break the skin. Only then did he remember that his body was no longer something his teeth could pierce. Steadying himself, he took out the Fire Dragon Sword. Golden light flashed as he thrust its point hard against his finger, finally opening a small cut. A thin trickle of blood seeped out. He murmured an incantation, golden light flashed around his hand, and a drop of essence blood fell onto the Shaking-Heaven Divine Fire Staff. Upon contact, it slowly sank into the staff. Dazzling red light flickered, and Li Xiaoya suddenly felt a wondrous connection form between himself and the staff, as though it had become part of his body.
"Return!" Acting on a sudden instinct, Li Xiaoya shouted and pointed at the Shaking-Heaven Divine Fire Staff. It transformed into a streak of red light and flew toward him. Upon touching his body, it slipped inside without the slightest resistance. He hurriedly examined himself inwardly and saw a slender streak of red light beside his golden core. As the Shaking-Heaven Divine Fire Staff slowly