280: Chapter 280 Lillian is overjoyed

Just as Ivan's team was collectively dumbfounded.

Chen Yi and his group had already begun to skillfully loot the spoils.

One, two, three—a full seventeen crystals glowing with red light all fell into Chen Yi's hands.

Ivan and the others could only watch helplessly, their throats bobbing, not daring to let out a single peep.

The overwhelming strength displayed by Chen Yi's group made them unable to even entertain the thought of snatching them.

It would simply be courting death!

Just then, the spatial portal flickered again, and seventeen colorful rays of light shot out, transforming into seventeen egg-sized gemstones emitting a soft, rosy glow, slowly drifting down from the air.

And the moment those gemstones appeared, that pure and majestic five-element spiritual energy fluctuation once again made everyone present gasp!

"Five—Five-Colored Cloud Stones?"

Yan Jiuyue exclaimed, "There are actually seventeen Five-Colored Cloud Stones?"

Chen Yi didn't need to explain; the preciousness of this item far exceeded all previous gains!

The Five-Colored Cloud Stones contain five types of elemental spiritual power: Water, Fire, Light, Dark, and Earth.

If a Spirit Beast's attributes match, after perfect refinement, it can obtain a massive amount of spiritual power, enough to raise a Spirit Beast above the Seventh Rank by two and a half levels.

If a low-rank Spirit Beast refines it, it can break through several stages consecutively!

It is hailed as one of the best cultivation treasures below the Tenth Rank!

Luo Shiyin reacted the fastest. Her cyan wings flapped violently, and she shot into the sky like a streak of light. With a light wave of her jade hand, a powerful wind-attribute spiritual energy swept out, directly gathering all seventeen Five-Colored Cloud Stones into her possession!

"Wait!"

Ivan finally recovered from his immense shock and frustration and hurriedly shouted, "Brother Chen Yi! According to the rules of this secret realm, seven of those Crimson Owls were summoned by us. We killed six of them, so six of the Five-Colored Cloud Stones should be ours!"

Hearing this, Chen Yi replied with a speechless expression, "I saved your lives and didn't charge you a rescue fee; I've already been very generous! Now you want to snatch my spoils? Do you think I was too easygoing just now, giving you some kind of misunderstanding?"

At this moment, Ivan felt a chill shoot straight from the soles of his feet to his crown.

The rest of his words were forcibly choked back, his face turning alternating shades of green and white, looking terrible to the extreme.

"Save my ass! I was clearly about to solo kill them, okay? It was you who lured ten over and almost wiped us out! What kind of rescue is this? This is clearly robbery! Naked robbery! Shameless! Despicable! The Dragon Country people are too cunning! Such a sneaky bastard!"

However, he only dared to scream these words in his heart.

Faced with the strength Chen Yi had just displayed, he chickened out.

The Spirit Beasts behind him were also silent as cicadas, not daring to make the slightest move.

"We... are leaving!"

Ivan squeezed these three words out from between his teeth, and with full of humiliation, he rushed across the single-plank bridge without looking back, disappearing into the passage on the other side.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would be casually wiped out by Chen Yi.

Watching the wretched figures of Ivan and his group leaving, Chen Yi spread his hands in confusion and complained to The girls beside him, "What's wrong with this guy? We specifically stepped in to help him solve such a big problem, yet he didn't even say thank you, and he had an expression like I owed him millions! What kind of person is this!"

Upon hearing this, The girls could no longer hold back and began to giggle while covering their mouths.

They naturally understood Chen Yi's little scheme; they saw through it but didn't say it out loud!

They just felt that their man's black-bellied behavior was exceptionally interesting!

---

Continuous fighting and exploration, although not too intense for Chen Yi's team.

But the interior of this Crystal Palace was truly vast, and constantly passing through energy barriers also required mental effort.

Especially Lin Mengxue; having maintained flight and combat for a long time, a trace of fatigue appeared on her pretty face.

After crossing the single-plank bridge, ahead was a relatively open and stable platform area.

"Everyone, let's rest here for a bit!"

Chen Yi proposed, "Anyway, there's a share of the heaven and earth spiritual treasure for everyone; there's no rush."

Naturally, no one had any objections.

The girls began to divide the work and set up tents.

Chen Yi watched the busy girls, and his gaze finally fell on Lilian and Black Rose, who were sitting quietly to the side.

He pondered for a moment; since he had decided to accept Black Rose, and she had also made her stance clear.

There was no need to hide some things anymore.

Moreover, it was time to put Lilian's contract on the agenda.

"Lilian."

"Ah? Mr. Chen Yi?"

Lilian, who was chopping vegetables, was startled and hurriedly stood up, "What's the matter? Did I do something wrong?"

She subconsciously thought she had done something wrong somewhere—

After all, her precognition ability hadn't activated during this time, and she hadn't helped in the fighting either; she always felt uneasy about something—

"I think your assessment period can end early."

Chen Yi said straightforwardly, "Are you willing to sign a contract with me and become my partner?"

Lilian was stunned upon hearing this.

Her emerald-green eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief.

She had thought she might pass the assessment, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon, so sudden!

"I—I—"

She was so excited that she was a bit incoherent, her fair cheeks flushing, "Can I really? So soon?"

Chen Yi nodded: "Your potential, your character, I have seen it all! I trust my judgment."

Receiving a positive reply, Lilian no longer hesitated and nodded vigorously: "I am willing! Mr. Chen Yi, I am very willing to become your Contracted Spirit Beast!"

Hearing this, Chen Yi smiled calmly and reached out to wrap his arm around Lilian's slender, soft waist: "Alright then, after we finish eating, we will hold the contract ceremony."

"Okay!!!"

Lilian responded excitedly, and her previous anxiety was swept away, "I will definitely work hard! Mr. Chen Yi!"

This scene naturally fell into the eyes of the other girls. They all felt a bit surprised.

"Eh? Why did Master contract with Lilian first?"

"Isn't Black Rose sister—"

"Yeah, it feels like Chen Yi and Black Rose are closer, right?"

"Is there some situation we don't know about?"

The girls exchanged glances and whispered privately.

Su Taotao, unable to contain her curiosity, secretly ran over to ask Black Rose.

"Sister Rose, what's going on? Did something happen between you and Brother Chen Yi? Why did Brother Chen Yi go to Lilian first?"

Regarding their inquiries, Black Rose just smiled gently, shook her head, and didn't say much.

She had already roughly guessed what Chen Yi was going to do next—he was going to fully lay his cards on the table and reveal her identity before contracting Lilian.

This was respect for her, and also responsibility to the entire team.

She was willing to wait, waiting for Chen Yi to personally reveal everything.

Soon, a very sumptuous meal was prepared.

Chen Yi was good at barbecue, Su Taotao was good at desserts, and Lin Mengxue and Black Rose were good at home-cooked dishes—

It felt like if this lineup went out to open a restaurant, it would absolutely be a smash hit!

Beauty and gourmet food coexisting!

Of course—this was definitely a joke.