C299 Dragonfire Gem!
The diamond-shaped stone shone with a brilliant silver light, its clarity striking.
As Yu Yuan took the stone, he immediately noticed its substantial weight and the faint chill it emanated. Upon closer inspection, he observed numerous tiny speckles within the clear stone, resembling silver stars transformed into an ocean, encapsulated within its confines.
Despite his extensive knowledge, Yu Yuan was puzzled by the stone's properties and asked, "What is this?"
Xu Zixi, who was clearly attached to the stone, gazed at it repeatedly with a sense of longing. She voiced her concerns to the High Oracle, "Cangmin, if he fails to locate the Mystic Gate, I stand to lose quite a bit."
Her demeanor was akin to that of a woman deeply in love, playfully pouting at her beloved.
Zhou Cangmin, feeling the pressure, reassured her, "If this young man can't aid us in discovering the Mysterious Realm, rest assured, I will make it up to you upon our return."
Xu Zixi gave him a coquettish look, her voice tinged with a hint of reproach, "You know that what I desire isn't simply material compensation."
At that, Zhou Cangmin found himself at a loss for words.
With a soft sigh, Xu Zixi refrained from pressing him further, instead turning her attention to Yu Yuan with an air of superiority. "You don't realize how fortunate you are! Given your level of insight and the standing of your Yu family, I can't fault you for not recognizing this object."
Clutching the stone, Yu Yuan earnestly sought guidance, "How can I enhance my realm?"
Xu Zixi explained with a hint of impatience, "The practice within the Golden Sanctum is centered around concealment and refinement. During the early period, one must continuously draw in spiritual energy and store it in the little world of the Golden Sanctum. Once it overflows, you'll naturally progress to the middle period. That's when the focus shifts to refinement!"
"By condensing and purifying the spiritual energy through successive rounds of refinement, those with average talent can usually advance to the late period after three cycles."
"Those with exceptional talent can refine more times—five or six—and are deemed geniuses."
"In the middle period, if one can refine the spiritual energy eight or nine times, making each thread as crystalline as silk, then the power of a single thread of spiritual energy could be tenfold that of another's. Such a person would be considered a once-in-a-generation prodigy."
"As for this Dragonfire Gem..."
Xu Zixi paused, her voice trailing off.
The seven pythons, embossed on her silver cape, seemed to stir to life, as if her words had awakened them, eager to break free from the fabric.
A powerful and commanding vitality burst forth from within her cape.
Yu Yuan was taken aback.
He could sense that the seven menacing pythons were agitated, coveting the stone in his hand that Xu Zixi referred to as the Dragonfire Gem.
He realized then that the python designs on Xu Zixi's silver cape were far from mere decorations.
The extraordinary surge of vitality and soul suggested that these seven pythons could be summoned by Xu Zixi, twisting into existence at her command.
He had witnessed their power previously aboard the Nimbuswing.
"Behave yourselves!" Xu Zixi commanded, her voice tinged with impatience as she slapped her hands against the cape.
Her palms landed precisely on the heads of the seven pythons.
With each slap, the pythons, one by one, vanished into the cape as if pressed into a concealed compartment within the garment.
"The Dragonfire Gem is forged from the lifeblood of a deep-sea dragon," Xu Zixi clarified for Yu Yuan. "That dragon was a formidable adversary. It was only with their combined strength that I was fortunate enough to slay it. Naturally, they devoured its flesh, blood, and bones."
"However, I did not bestow upon them the dragon's lifeblood. Instead, I condensed and transformed it into this Dragonfire Gem. During the fierce battle against the evil dragon, they exerted great effort and sustained various injuries. Thus, they are particularly attuned to the scent of the Dragonfire Gem."
"I originally crafted this item for someone else."
Xu Zixi gazed at the Dragonfire Gem, now firmly gripped in Yu Yuan's hand, a hint of wistfulness in her tone. "But it seems you are the beneficiary now."
"Many thanks!" Yu Yuan clutched the gem tightly, his smile broadening. "How should I use it?"
Upon learning that the Dragonfire Gem in his possession was derived from the lifeblood of a deep-sea dragon, he recognized the true value of the silvery stone.
The deep-sea dragon, lurking in the ocean's abyss, was notoriously elusive and nearly impossible to hunt.
Xu Zixi's ability to slay a dragon not only demonstrated her formidable combat strength but also suggested she came from a significant background. Her appearance alongside Wei Wujiang on the Sunblessed Empire's Golden Ship, coupled with the longstanding understanding between the Sunblessed Empire and Dragon Lake, indicated their exceptional relationship.
Her audacity in killing a dragon and surviving was no small feat. It's no wonder Lee Yuangui and the others were so terrified.
Yu Yuan made a mental note to thoroughly inquire about the origins of this stunning noblewoman, adorned with seven pythons, the next time he encountered Qin Yun and Lee Yuangui.
"When you're cultivating, place it in the lower elixir field at the Golden Sanctum, and you'll discover its remarkable benefits," Xu Zixi advised.
Yu Yuan's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
He was about to experiment when the High Oracle, with a furrowed brow, interjected, "Zixi, take him with you. We need to move to a different location. We're too close to the Abyssal Dawn's followers here, and that girl with the Fallen Star Eyes might come looking for him soon."
Xu Zixi acknowledged with a hum.
In an instant, a breeze swirled at Yu Yuan's feet. He was swept up by a gray current, snaking through the air like a terrestrial python.
Within the time it takes to sip a cup of tea, Yu Yuan found himself nearing the mid-lake island, a sanctuary for Phaseblossom and Yu Zhu's hiding place. Flora whisked past him as he traveled.
The High Oracle's voice was a constant presence, echoing in his mind. "The Fallen Star Eyes, wielded by Liu Ying, have a commanding view from above, capable of discerning the minutiae of the land. I must constantly harness my power to conceal myself, which is quite bothersome. You, however, possess a unique ability that renders you invisible to the Fallen Star Eyes."
"The Fallen Star Eyes were crafted from a Moon Shard found in the Moonfall Sanctuary, refined over decades by the Starmoon Sect."
"That Moon Shard was the crowning achievement of the sword spirit that once resonated perfectly with you, created after the Moon Slayer event."
"Chunks of meteorite that fell from the sky, even after many years, still carry the essence of that person's sword's will. The Starmoon Sect, despite decades of effort, may not have been able to fully purify the sword's will within the Fallen Star Eyes."
"In fact, I believe the wonder of the Fallen Star Eyes lies in its ability to harness the residual sword's will."
"Yu Yuan, within the Moonfall Sanctuary, you can draw upon the power of the sword spirit, align with the Soulforge Matrix, control the Soulforge Pool, and communicate with the sword's will in the pool's walls. This reveals quite a bit."
"Once the sword spirit has entered your body, it won't be easily extinguished."
"…"
As Zhou Cangmin's words echoed, they resonated deeply with Yu Yuan.
Unable to discern his surroundings, Yu Yuan focused intently on Zhou Cangmin's words, gradually coming to trust his assessment.
He might indeed be capable of eluding the Fallen Star Eyes!
This insight led him to consider that his sudden responsiveness to the heaven soul and his ability to activate the Third Eye during his training might also stem from this cause!
The sword scars embedded in his arm bones had never faded!
He was acutely aware that the sword spirit was real, merely lying dormant for now!
Using the sword spirit within his arm bones, there was a real possibility of suppressing the Fallen Star Eyes!
After what seemed like an eternity, his swift motion abruptly halted.
To his amazement, he found himself on the mid-lake island, amidst the Phaseblossom. The instant he stopped, he sensed Yu Zhu's presence in the lake.
His spirit settled, and with a beaming smile, he took a seat on the island.
He produced a soulstone and placed a Dragonfire Gem in the lower elixir field at the Golden Sanctum, proceeding to extract the spiritual energy within the soulstone.
With a mere thought, he detected an anomaly and joyfully exclaimed, "What a treasure!"
