Chapter 649

Chapter 649: The Origins of the Twin Spirits

"How intense this Fire Spirit Qi is," Golden Ling’er remarked as she detected powerful Spiritual Power Waves. "Did someone ahead already start their trial?"

"Impossible. The first two challenges each have isolated battle platforms. No attacks there could affect the outside. This Fire Spirit Qi reaching us must be extraordinary."

Jin An stepped protectively in front of Golden Ling’er while channeling true qi within him, eyes fixed on the distant fire light. For once, Golden Ling’er stayed solemn, understanding the gravity.

"Relax. Just fools fighting over heavenly materials. We’ll mind our business unless provoked." Ye Yun chuckled at their vigilance. While caution was wise, Jin An’s constant paranoia amused him.

"You scared me! I thought we’d face dangers like our first visit." Golden Ling’er stuck out her tongue, clinging to Ye Yun’s arm. "Senior, you’ll protect Ling’er if trouble comes, right?"

"Stop bothering Senior. Our weak cultivation makes it shameful to rely on him." Jin An dispersed his true qi with a sigh.

"Pfft! You’re a man—protect yourself!" She grinned at her childhood companion. "You always shielded me before. When I grow stronger, I’ll protect you!"

"I’d rather have Senior’s protection. You’re too dependent on him." Jin An laughed warmly.

Ye Yun shook his head. Only Jin An could tolerate Golden Ling’er’s antics. Though he noticed her secret affections, his heart remained steadfast elsewhere.

Ahead, two groups clashed violently. Spell lights erupted wildly as Fourth Level Nascent Soul cultivators battled near a glowing plant rooted parasitically among greenery.

"How brutal! It’s just grass! Shouldn’t they save strength for the ancient temple’s rewards?" Golden Ling’er frowned.

Ye Yun raised a finger. "If this represented a hundred mid-grade Immortal Spirit Stones, which holds more value—this or that plant?"

"Your finger! Even without the Immortal Sword, your swordsmanship’s unmatched! You’ll surely rank top three in the Xumi Treasure!" She answered earnestly despite his jest.

"Obviously Senior’s cultivation surpasses ours. No need for a First Level Nascent Soul girl to explain." Jin An tapped her forehead playfully. "Senior, after this temple exploration… could you teach me basic sword techniques? I’d be grateful for crumbs."

"So that’s your scheme! But swordplay suits you poorly without fundamentals." Golden Ling’er fake-yawned.

"Extra skills never hurt." Jin An coughed awkwardly.

"I’ll teach you if you endure harsh training. Slack off, and I’ll punish you—even for Ling’er’s sake."

"Thank you, Senior!" Jin An beamed, ignoring Golden Ling’er’s teasing about "failed stealing and beatings."

Suddenly, the Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice resonated: *"A Nine-Dragon Heartbroken Grass lingers nearby. Remember my words?"*

"Here? Shouldn’t such heavenly materials be in the fifth layer, not first?" Ye Yun’s calm shattered.

*"Unclear. Stay longer during the next trial. Your spatial dragon egg’s inheritance memory likely tests endurance. Survive, and the treasures are ours."*

The Ancestor had glimpsed the nine-headed plant brimming with soul power during a momentary soul projection. Obtaining it would let him purge Ye Yun’s fire poison and subdue the rebellious supreme Immortal artifact.

*"But that Moon Dynasty woman noticed the green pool trial. With my current state, facing her…"*

Ye Yun recalled the cold cultivator whose mysterious trump cards matched Jun Ruolan’s prowess. They’d tentatively agreed: his aid securing the Sun and Moon Dual Souls would earn him the Sun Soul—or an antidote if his fire poison persisted.

Yet he doubted her sincerity. While the Moon Soul amplified her sect’s lunar power, the Sun Soul’s secondary benefits still posed risks if she dual-wielded them. Her threat would rival Du Jianyin’s.

Condensing Dual Souls required millennia of unbroken sunlight/moonlight bathing lands saturated with spiritual energy—conditions rarer than caves forged from top-quality Immortal Spirit Stones. Even the Moon Goddess Palace couldn’t afford such luxury, requiring billions of top-tier spirit stones to simulate.

But the Xumi Treasure bent impossibilities. Here, supreme Immortal artifacts lay abandoned, dragon eggs deemed worthless without their Dragon’s Soul, and heavenly materials like the Seven-leaf Fire Lotus were discarded casually.

Would Jun Ruolan rage knowing he’d claimed those treasures? The image of her stirred an amused smirk.