Upon entering the Dou Saint's relic, all those so-called Tian Class Dou Techniques, High-Ranked Pill Beasts, and countless treasures had to step aside—Liu Xi's first target was the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit.
He had already gained plenty from Zhu Kun: dozens of Dou Zun Fire Beads and two Half Saint Fire Beads. With steady cultivation, reaching the Half Saint realm was now within his grasp. Even in the worst case, he could still break through to the 9-Star Dou Zun.
But Liu Xi hadn't forgotten about the people at his side. The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit was crucial for Zi Yan's ascension to the Dou Saint Realm—something she absolutely needed.
The exact location of the fruit had to be sensed by Zi Yan herself, though it was roughly said to lie somewhere within the Medicine Garden.
Liu Xi turned toward Zi Yan, who already had stars shining in her eyes as she murmured excitedly, "So many treasures… there's one here… and another over there…"
Smiling, Liu Xi gently tapped her head. This obsession was the nature of the Ancient Void Dragons—an instinctive hunger for treasure that ran deep in their blood.
"Focus. Try to sense where the Medicine Garden is. After all these countless years, any herbs that still survived would be priceless for us."
"Oh!" Zi Yan blinked and quickly nodded. Closing her eyes, she activated the innate sensing ability unique to the Ancient Void Dragon, reaching out to the surrounding space for traces of medicinal essence and energy signatures.
Moments later, her eyes snapped open, glowing with excitement. "Big Brother, Qing Lin—I found it! Follow me!"
Twisting her slender waist, she darted toward a distant corridor. Liu Xi exchanged a glance with Qing Lin before the two followed close behind.
Within the vast ruins of the Dou Saint's relic, only the three of them traversed the endless corridors. Every ancient stone brick radiated a dense, archaic aura—an echo of a time when Dou Saints once walked the land.
With Zi Yan serving as a living treasure detector, their path was clear. Barely half an hour later, they arrived before yet another massive bronze gate.
Zi Yan slowed, stopping right before it. Tilting her head, she took a deep breath and sniffed softly—then her lips curved into a bright smile.
"Yes! This is it. I can smell the faint fragrance of herbs!"
Liu Xi waved his hand, summoning the twelve Earth Demon Puppets. "Let the puppets go first," he said calmly. "Even if we don't sense danger, it's best not to lower our guard."
Zi Yan obediently stepped back beside him as the puppets lit up with silver light, forming a strange array. Their combined power flowed into one, transforming it into a Heaven Demon Puppet.
The puppet strode forward, its heavy steps echoing against the ground. Without emotion or hesitation, it pushed its hands against the bronze doors.
Clang, clang—
The gate cracked open, and a wave of rich medicinal fragrance surged outward, so thick it condensed into pale cyan mist.
"So fragrant! The herbs inside… they make the collection of the Ten Thousand Medicine Mountain Range look pitiful in comparison!"
Zi Yan's delighted voice rang out. For an Ancient Void Dragon, nothing brought more joy than an abundance of rare herbs.
As the gate fully opened and the light cleared, a vast expanse unfolded before them—a primordial forest made entirely of medicinal plants.
"Wow! So many herbs!" Zi Yan squealed, unable to contain herself. With a cheerful cry, she dashed straight into the herbal forest beyond.
Liu Xi merely chuckled softly. Even though Zi Yan's body had matured into that of a graceful young woman, her heart was still the same as before—youthful and impulsive. Physical growth didn't equal emotional maturity.
"Let's go, Qing Lin." Liu Xi gestured to the quiet girl at his side before stepping through the bronze gate after Zi Yan.
Inside the herbal forest, Zi Yan was like a monkey let loose in a cornfield. Before long, her arms were overflowing with herbs, and she even had a spirit fruit clamped between her teeth.
Her sharp eyes hunted only the finest ingredients, plucking rare high-rank herbs as she moved. These were treasures seldom seen even in the outside world.
If Liu Xi were to use them, he could easily refine 7th Tier Pills—but since Zi Yan enjoyed herself, he let her be.
He too began gathering herbs, though only those worthy of his effort. Ordinary ones no longer held much value for him; such things could be acquired with a word back in the Central Plains. Only truly exceptional materials deserved his hand.
Using specialized tools, he carefully harvested each herb according to its unique method, storing them neatly into jade boxes.
There was no need to rush. Outsiders couldn't enter the relic easily, and the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit could only be located through Zi Yan's senses anyway.
Then suddenly—
Plop. Plop.
The bundle of high-rank herbs in Zi Yan's arms slipped from her grasp, falling to the ground. She didn't even notice. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, her small lips parted slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes, sliding down her cheeks.
Liu Xi immediately noticed the change. Joy flickered in his gaze as he set aside his tools and walked over. Though he had his suspicions, he still asked gently, "What's wrong, Zi Yan?"
Zi Yan slowly turned to him. Her expression was a strange blend of joy and sorrow, and her voice trembled slightly. "Big Brother… I can feel a summons. It's calling to me… and I think it's coming from one of my own kin…"
'It's finally here.'
Liu Xi's eyes brightened in understanding. He gathered the herbs and tools into his ring and said, "If it's a call from your kin, then we'll go. It shouldn't be hostile. Maybe we'll find their remains and earn you some good fortune in the process."
"Mm!" Zi Yan nodded heavily.
Without delay, the trio set off again, traversing forest after forest. Wild beasts roared warnings from afar, yet none dared approach.
After all, three Dou Zun powerhouses—one of them an Ancient Void Dragon whose bloodline power was awakening—were not something any creature wished to provoke.
The closer they drew, the clearer Zi Yan felt the call. It was like a soft whisper brushing her ear.
Then, suddenly, the forest ended, giving way to an open plain.
Here, the very essence of heaven and earth seemed drained away, too thin to nurture high-rank medicinal plants.
And in the center of that barren plain, Liu Xi saw it from afar—a massive, inverted bowl-shaped object embedded in the ground, radiating a faint, sacred pressure.
Zi Yan's voice trembled as she whispered, "A… Beast Spiritual Barrier…"
(End of Chapter)
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