To call it a "stone chamber" was not entirely accurate. At this moment, Ning Fan and the others stood upon a platform suspended in mid-air.

Before them lay a remarkably vast expanse.

Looking down from the platform, they could see a subterranean river flowing sluggishly, shimmering with a faint blue light. A vast amount of Spiritual Qi was being drawn into its waters from the surroundings.

"A Spirit Vein!!"

Ning Fan exclaimed in surprise. A river capable of absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi and flowing through the entire ore vein was naturally a Spirit Vein!

"Roar-"

With a furious roar, the tiger Demon Beast leaped from the high platform. Its silhouette flickered several times before vanishing completely among the jagged rough stones. Now that a Spirit Vein had appeared before their very eyes, hunting down a half-step Profound Extreme Realm Demon Beast seemed entirely meaningless.

"Junior Brother Ning, what is that!?"

Shao Hong, who had caught up half a step later, pointed toward a massive tree standing alone in the center of the Spirit Vein river.

Logically, nothing should be able to take root within a Spirit Vein.

Yet, that boundless Spiritual Qi was steadily overflowing from the tree itself. No wonder the Spiritual Qi had grown so incredibly dense as they approached. There truly was a treasure here!

"..."

Ning Fan remained silent. He simply leaped from the platform, stomped heavily against the ground, and dashed straight toward that peculiar tree.

The strange tree stood over ten meters tall. A dozen or so fruits hung low from its canopy, instantly drawing the eye. Each fruit was the size of a fist and pale blue in color, completely covered in intricate Dao patterns. Abundant Spiritual Qi radiated from within, causing the fruits to sway despite the lack of wind.

It was undeniably a treasure!

Yun Qingyao, Shao Hong, and Bai Ran swiftly reacted as well. Following close behind Ning Fan, they jumped from the platform and rushed toward the strange tree.

"Senior Brother Ji, Senior Sister Lin, there really is a treasure."

A voice echoed out immediately after. It was Fang Qi. He and He Min had arrived half a beat late, but they still spotted the strange tree at the very first instant.

"Move, stop them! Secure the treasure first!"

Ji Wuxi ordered decisively.

Fang Qi, He Min, and the other couple immediately gave chase. Seeing that Ning Fan's group was already halfway there, Fang Qi exchanged a sharp glance with He Min.

The two abruptly stopped in their tracks, their Spiritual Qi surging wildly around them.

"Flame Wave Destroying Heaven Blast!"

A terrifying wave of searing air blasted directly toward the path Ning Fan's group was taking, aiming to cut them off. Even with their head start, they could not outrun the incoming blast.

Everyone hastily skidded to a halt, evading the terrifying explosion that erupted right in front of them.

And in that brief moment of delay...

Ji Wuxi and the others caught up!

"We'll end things right here,"

Ji Wuxi murmured.

"Heart-Destroying Thunder!"

As his words fell, Ji Wuxi curled his fingers into a claw. The terrifying Spiritual Qi unique to a Profound Extreme Realm cultivator instantly gathered within his palm.

The next moment.

That condensed Spiritual Qi transformed into violent bolts of lightning. Several streaks of thunder flickered like small snakes within Ji Wuxi's grasp, bathing the surrounding space in a harsh blue-white light.

"Rest easy."

"I won't kill you. Sister Jiao still needs you for dual cultivation."

Ji Wuxi's lips curled upward. His figure suddenly blurred as he lunged toward Ning Fan. Closing the distance in a flash, he ruthlessly thrust his palm forward, driving the crackling thunderball straight into Ning Fan!

"Dragon Snake Evolution Hand!"

Facing the incoming thunderball, Ning Fan unhesitatingly unleashed his own martial technique. A dark gray serpent phantom condensed over his fist. Since stepping into the half-step Profound Extreme Realm, the serpent phantom formed by the Dragon Snake Evolution Hand had grown much more corporeal, its might vastly enhanced!

"Boom-"

The thunderball and the serpent phantom violently collided, triggering a devastating explosion. Ji Wuxi stood firmly in place, while Ning Fan was forced back several steps before finally stabilizing his footing.

"..."

Ji Wuxi narrowed his eyes, clearly dissatisfied with this outcome. At the same time, his wariness of Ning Fan deepened. Despite being an entire major realm behind, this boy could actually fight him to a momentary standstill. Factoring in Ning Fan's terrifying rate of improvement, Ji Wuxi knew he absolutely had to get his hands on Yun Qingyao!

"Hurry up, Big Brother Ji,"

Lin Jiao urged coquettishly.

She glared viciously at Ning Fan. Not only did she want to drain him through dual cultivation, but she also intended to brutally torture him to avenge that earlier slap!

"I will assist you!"

Lin Jiao's figure flashed as she charged at Ning Fan from the flank.

"..."

Seeing this, a trace of gravity flashed through Ning Fan's eyes.

Ji Wuxi alone was enough of a headache, let alone an attacking Lin Jiao. Her realm was roughly equal to Ji Wuxi's, placing her squarely in the Profound Extreme Realm as well. If the two of them joined forces, Ning Fan would likely have no choice but to flee!

However, in the very next moment...

"Husband."

A soft shout rang out. Yun Qingyao flashed forward, intercepting Lin Jiao just before she could reach Ning Fan. Seeing this, Lin Jiao did not stubbornly insist on targeting Ning Fan. Instead, her Spiritual Qi surged, and she ruthlessly unleashed a martial technique directly at Yun Qingyao's chest!

"Be careful!"

Ning Fan could not help but tense up. Logically, Yun Qingyao, who shared a body with the 'Ye Honglian' persona, could not be so easily injured. But since Ning Fan had never actually seen her fight before, he couldn't help but worry.

"Dragon Snake Evolution Hand!"

Spiritual Qi surged around Yun Qingyao. With a soft murmur, a dark gray serpent phantom fiercely condensed over her delicate hand.

This was...

The very same martial technique Ning Fan had learned from Ye Honglian!

It made sense.

Since Ning Fan could master this technique, Ye Honglian naturally possessed it as well. As Ye Honglian's alternate personality, it was completely reasonable for Yun Qingyao to be able to execute the same moves.

"Boom-"

Following the explosive clash, Lin Jiao staggered back several steps. In this direct exchange, Yun Qingyao had actually seized a slight upper hand!

This scene utterly shocked the onlookers.

Yun Qingyao was no pushover either!

Ning Fan was equally stunned. The combat strength Yun Qingyao just displayed was exactly identical to his own!

"Senior Brother Ji, let us aid you as well!"

Fang Qi and He Min chose not to stand idly by. With a peerless treasure right before their eyes, swiftly suppressing the enemy was the only sensible choice.

"Junior Brother Ning!"

"Junior Brother Ning!"

Shao Hong and Bai Ran similarly rushed forward, blocking Fang Qi and He Min. They fully adopted a battle-ready stance, prepared to strike at a moment's notice.

But Ji Wuxi still had the other couple on his side!

Just as those two Dao companions were about to join the fray, a sudden fluctuation of Spiritual Qi pulsed from the strange tree. As it rippled outward, the energy visibly condensed into a pale blue halo. Everyone who brushed against this tangible wave of Spiritual Qi felt an immediate jolt of clarity in their minds.

At the same time...

The fruits upon the strange tree began to shine with brilliant luster, their swaying arcs growing much more pronounced.

They had ripened!

The strange fruits on the tree had fully ripened!

"Roar-"

A deafening roar shattered the tension. In the next instant, a massive tiger Demon Beast lunged from the shadows of the rough stones. Though it was of the exact same species as the one Ning Fan had previously fought, its realm was entirely different. The beast currently blocking their path had reached the mid-stage of the Profound Extreme Realm, meaning its strength surpassed even Ji Wuxi and his cohorts!

In an instant,

the expressions of Ji Wuxi and his group turned exceedingly grim.