Chapter 667

Chapter 667: True Roaring Four-Tailed Flower

"Forget it, have it your way." With a sigh, the Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice faded from Ye Yun’s mind, tinged with resignation.

"Senior, will the next place be full of treasures?" Golden Ling’er asked cheerfully as they walked through the green forest, watching Ye Yun silently advance with the pink fragment.

"What makes you say that?" Ye Yun turned to her with a smile.

"Every treasure has three trials, right? The ancient temple was one. The next should test if we’re worthy of claiming treasures," she whispered, eyeing him suspiciously.

"If only it were that straightforward." Jin An chuckled. "Ling’er, the senior sent us to that trial because it benefited us. You think every trial works that way?"

"Doesn’t it?" Golden Ling’er huffed, glaring at Ye Yun. "I knew it couldn’t be easy! I’m ready for real challenges now."

"Since when did you become so diligent?" Jin An teased.

"I’m always serious! I just don’t like showing it sometimes," she retorted, snapping a strand of hair between her fingers.

"Of course. We all know how serious you are," Jin An nodded, his smile unconvincing.

"Your sneaky grin says otherwise!" Golden Ling’er shot back.

"Caught me, did you?" Jin An laughed, patting her shoulder. "Let’s focus on steady progress. The senior’s realm is beyond ours—no use overcomplicating things."

"Can’t I just wonder a little?" As white light enveloped them, the scenery shifted to reveal a vast lake. A slender black serpent glided through its depths.

Seeing the serpent, Ye Yun frowned. "So the mediocre supreme Immortal artifact and the True Roaring Four-Tailed Flower are here?"

At the lake’s heart lay a golden beast with needle-like fur and clawed limbs, its closed eyes radiating menace.

"That’s the True Roaring Four-Tailed Flower? Without your warning, I’d mistake it for a beast, not a plant." Noticing Jin An and Golden Ling’er’s fear, Ye Yun positioned them behind him and plotted his attack.

Concealing his aura, he observed the flower despite being within striking distance. When the four claw-shaped leaves shifted, he struck—the Purple Shadow Divine Sword flashing toward the plant.

"ROAR!"

The black serpent erupted from the water before the flower could react. It glared at Ye Yun drawing his sword, enraged by the green blood oozing from the flower’s wounded leaves. Its tail whipped downward with crushing force.

"Thundercloud Lightning Sword: Third Level Divine Thunder Annihilation." Ignoring the descending tail, Ye Yun clasped his hands. Lightning erupted from his palms, coalescing into a crackling bolt that struck the serpent.

Thunder Spirit Qi scorched the serpent’s tail, electricity crawling up its scales. The creature writhed in pain.

"Clever move, but will it suffice?" Ye Yun maintained pressure on the flower, true qi surging into his blade. The sword’s aura intensified as he met the flower’s furious gaze. With a flash, his "Born as a Sword" technique shattered the plant’s form.

"Ancestor, when will it release its poison?" Ye Yun kept his sword raised, watching the flower’s despairing eyes.

"Patience. Let despair peak first." The Ancestor’s voice echoed. "I’ll lift the serpent’s soul restraint now. Finish this!"

As the Ancestor waved his sleeve, the frenzied serpent lunged.

CLANG!

The Purple Shadow Divine Sword met serpentine fangs. Though the beast thrashed wildly, Ye Yun stood unwavering.

"Enough." Channeling his remaining true qi, Ye Yun cleaved through the serpent’s neck. Its head splashed into the lake while the body crumpled onto an islet, transforming into a black dragon-shaped sword.

"An underwhelming supreme Immortal artifact—lesser than the Fire Dragon Whip." Ye Yun eyed the enraged flower, awaiting its final gambit.

Suddenly, the flower’s fury melted into relief. Its petals parted, releasing a radiant blue essence.

Ye Yun’s lips curved faintly. Shrouded in true qi, he sheathed his sword and reached for the glowing core.

"Heh, never thought I’d need to resort to this method. No wonder it couldn’t be avoided." When Ancestor of the Sword Path explained how to seize the True Roaring Four-Tailed Flower’s essence, Ye Yun realized contact with its innate poison was unavoidable – evading would destroy the precious essence along with the venom.

Covering his arm with true qi, Ye Yun’s right limb blurred into remnant shadows that pierced through the beast’s nostrils. As steam-like vapor rose from the flower’s crown, he frowned while withdrawing his hand.

Examining his exposed forearm still gripped around the prize, Ye Yun gave a pained chuckle. "This toxin’s absurdly potent. My true qi couldn’t even slow it."

"Still, the results please me." He opened his palm to reveal shimmering blue light, addressing Ancestor of the Sword Path. "Unless I’m mistaken, this specimen contains both soul essence and Ice Spirit Qi – a dual-aspect heavenly material and earthly treasure."

"Sharp eyes. Though I hadn’t anticipated you ambushing them so efficiently." The ancestor gestured at Ye Yun’s wounded arm. "Treat that before the poison spreads counterproductively."

"Agreed. Use this treasure wisely – its grade rivals Nine-Dragon Heartbroken Grass, perhaps exceeds it." Ye Yun’s smile turned wry.

"Even excellence diminishes with use." The ancestor observed the extracted essence floating before them.

"Senior’s amazing!" Golden Ling’er exclaimed as Ye Yun reappeared. Both the earlier suppression and golden beast ambush succeeded through precise timing – attacking during the flower’s dormant phase proved crucial.

"This supreme Immortal artifact’s mediocre, yet surpasses most top-quality ones. Which of you claims it?" Ye Yun summoned a black dragon sword radiating ominous energy, glancing between Jin An and Golden Ling’er.

"But Senior, this is supreme grade!" Golden Ling’er gaped at the offered blade.

"Common quality for its tier. I’d keep truly precious items." Ye Yun waved dismissively. "Take it or leave it here."

"Then we’ll gratefully accept!" She lifted the sword, marveling at its flawless blade body. "Though I can’t wield swords – senior brother should keep this."

"Why stand on ceremony? Ultimately Master will claim it." Jin An chuckled.

"I’ll tell Father it’s your personal opportunity!" Golden Ling’er insisted.

"Wanting and wielding differ. My cultivation’s insufficient – forcing control would bring backlash. Let Master have it as repayment for his paternal care." Jin An’s refusal carried warmth, secretly pleased his junior still prioritized him despite years of taking blame for her antics.

"The fragments still glow – more treasures await." Ancestor of the Sword Path noted the pink fragment’s renewed radiance. "But tread carefully – next opportunity won’t be so easily seized."

"Wouldn’t miss it." Ye Yun acknowledged the warning. Solo confrontation would’ve been perilous, but leveraging this advantage created future possibilities.

Crossing the lake’s heart, Ye Yun relaxed while listening to the siblings’ banter. Suddenly the pink fragment flared, triggering seismic rumbles as a colossal stone tablet erupted earthward.

Studying the ancient script, Ye Yun inquired, "Ancestor, recognize these carvings?"

"Strange… My knowledge fails here. Perhaps extradimensional origins?" The ancestor admitted after prolonged scrutiny.

"Fascinating." True qi infusion made the world invert violently. Blinking through disorientation, Ye Yun found himself standing on a phantom battlefield.