Jade-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast

"It looks like something happened. By the way, has the Immortality Divine Spring here dried up?"

Yun Ying did not press her further and changed the subject.

"It didn't dry up. It took physical form and escaped. None of us caught it, but that little human thief managed to bite off a piece of the transformed spring water."

Yun Xi shook her head and recounted what had happened.

"Ying, go catch that little human thief. Make him hand over the spring water, then teach him a good lesson."

After a moment's thought, Yun Xi said this to Yun Ying.

She refused to believe that the fellow could still escape if Yun Ying took action.

"So that's what happened. Forget it. He's no ordinary person either. If we try to seize it by force, he won't hand it over."

That was Yun Ying's reply.

Besides, the first time she had laid eyes on that human youth, she had sensed an inexplicably terrifying aura. Though it had vanished in an instant, she was certain that he possessed something extraordinary.

"Kill him, and the spring water will be ours."

Killing intent flashed in Yun Xi's eyes.

"Enough. Don't be so murderous. That human youth isn't as simple as you imagine. It's only spring water. If we can't get it, so be it. I have something for you that won't be any worse."

Yun Ying smiled softly, then took out a blue bell.

"A bell?"

The bell was only palm-sized, crystalline throughout and shrouded in a blue halo. Runes flowed across it, and starlight rippled like water, shimmering with beautiful radiance. Like a tiny, delicate star, it exuded a faint pressure.

Looking at the palm-sized bell in Yun Ying's hand, Yun Xi's beautiful eyes lit up. "What a beautiful bell!"

Yun Xi fell in love with it at first sight.

"I'm glad you like it, Sister. This is a Divine Artifact forged from heavenly star stone. It comes in a pair, and I kept one."

Yun Ying placed the bell in Yun Xi's hands.

Taking the bell, Yun Xi felt its cool texture. When Yun Ying's words finally registered, her eyes widened, disbelief filling her lovely face.

"This... this is... a Divine Artifact!"

Yun Xi swallowed and blinked several times.

"Yes. I encountered a fallen God and passed his trial. I received an art and a secret technique, and finally this pair of Divine Artifact bells."

Yun Ying nodded, then raised a finger and gently touched Yun Xi's brow, imparting the Star Art to her.

After receiving the Star Art, Yun Xi stood frozen for a long time. First a Divine Artifact, then a powerful art-the surprises had come far too suddenly.

"And this secret technique can refine bloodlines and awaken their latent potential. It's suitable for every race that possesses a bloodline. Take it, but don't pass it on to outsiders. Wait until you're back at Heavenly God Mountain to cultivate it. Once you've memorized everything, you can give it to Grandfather."

Yun Ying was not finished yet. She took out the beast-hide scroll and handed it to Yun Xi.

Only after a long while did Yun Xi recover from her shock. "Ying, you're incredible."

She had passed an ancient God's trial and obtained so many treasures. Such luck was simply unrivaled.

"All right, refine the bell first. I'll stand guard for you."

Yun Ying smiled as she spoke.

"All right."

Yun Xi immediately sat cross-legged and began refining the bell. Though it was a Divine Artifact, it had no master, so refining it was not particularly difficult.

Using this Divine Artifact, however, would be another matter. Her cultivation was still far too low. Who knew how much divine power activating it would consume? It might drain her dry.

Thus, this Divine Artifact bell could only be used as a trump card.

"There's still some time before the Hundred Broken Mountains fully merge. I plan to look around elsewhere, so I won't be going with you. Be careful, Sister."

Once Yun Xi had finished refining the bell, Yun Ying said this to her.

"All right. You too, Ying," Yun Xi replied without objecting.

Yun Ying nodded, turned, and left.

"Little thief, this isn't over..."

After Yun Ying left, Yun Xi looked in another direction, her lovely face icy, then sped away.

After leaving the Hundred Herb Garden, Yun Ying passed through a passage into a neighboring region. Here, the mountains were tall and the forests dense, with many precious medicinal plants and spirit herbs growing among them.

Along the way, Yun Ying gathered every precious medicinal plant and spirit herb she saw. Fierce beasts tried to stop her, but she killed them all with ease.

Boom!

Half a day later, an earth-shaking crash rang out. The entire small world trembled and glowed. The passages connecting the various regions of the Hundred Broken Mountains began to blur, then slowly vanished.

All the regions of the Hundred Broken Mountains began merging, joining into one whole.

This meant that the opening of the Hundred Broken Mountains was drawing to a close-and that the true danger had arrived.

Once the Hundred Broken Mountains merged into a single whole, the native inhabitants would begin hunting for prey. They were all immensely powerful. Previously sealed within forbidden grounds, they could only now emerge.

Deep, muffled roars shook heaven and earth. Terrifying auras erupted from the depths of the great mountain ranges, making every mountain and ravine tremble.

Roar!

Near Yun Ying, a huge whirlpool formed in a broad lake, and a powerful aura emerged.

An enormous beast appeared. It resembled a qilin, with antlers on its head and a dense covering of scarlet scales. Its tail was like a steel whip, its claws sharp. Crimson all over, wreathed in mist and rising rosy light, it looked incomparably magnificent.

It was a Jade-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast. Its aura was terrifying, having already surpassed the Spirit Transformation Realm and reached the Inscription Realm.

"A human!"

The moment the Jade-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast appeared, it fixed its gaze on Yun Ying several hundred meters away. Golden light blazed within its jade-green eyes, radiating savage menace.

The next instant, the Jade-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast let out a long howl. Light erupted around its body, and flickering runes transformed into blue waves that blotted out the sky as they surged toward Yun Ying.

Along the way, peak after peak was destroyed by those blue waves of runes. Mountain forests toppled, as though a tsunami were annihilating the world.

The blue waves of runes swept toward Yun Ying with heaven-destroying, earth-shattering force, but a strange sight unfolded. When the terrifying waves came within three feet of her, they split apart, dividing like water striking a reef.

Yun Ying stood tall, her purple robes gently rippling. She quietly watched what lay ahead, her amethyst eyes reflecting heaven and earth, with the Jade-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast captured within them as well.

Light flowed over her body like a layer of holy radiance, impervious to all arts. A pure, keen edge arose of its own accord, emanating an astonishing aura that kept everything at bay.

"So you're a human prodigy. Devouring you will surely let me advance another step!"

At this sight, the Jade-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast's expression grew solemn. Light blazed from its golden pupils, and its enormous body shone. Runes soared into the sky and condensed into intricate patterns, like ocean waves battering the heavens. Terrifying might spread outward, warping heaven and earth.