35: Colorful Soul Marrow and the Yellow Bird Behind

seven-colored soul marrow! A low-tier Earth-grade spiritual item! A priceless treasure capable of instantly elevating one's Soul Realm to the Spirit Realm (Dou King level)!

Xiao Chen's gaze was fixed on the crystal emitting a seven-colored glow, and his breathing became rapid. The allure of this treasure to him surpassed even the core inheritance of the Illusory Spirit Realm! Because this was something that could immediately be converted into strength!

In the square, the battle between the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and the Yunlan Sect had reached a fever pitch. Xie Biyan and Ge Ye, two Dou Ling (Spirit) powerhouses, fought fiercely in the air. Poisonous mist permeated the area, and sword qi crisscrossed. Each collision unleashed terrifying energy fluctuations, shattering the surrounding architectural ruins.

The disciples on the ground were even more bloodthirsty, with people constantly screaming and falling, their blood staining the scorched earth.

Both sides had clearly come for the seven-colored soul marrow, and neither was willing to back down.

"Elder Hai, we..." Ya Fei looked at Hai Bodong, a hint of desire flashing in her eyes. She was well aware of the value of the seven-colored soul marrow.

Hai Bodong's expression was solemn. He shook his head: "Now is not the time. Let them fight until both are heavily wounded. If we rashly intervene, we will become a target for all."

Xiao Chen also forced himself to calm down. Hai Bodong was right; rushing out now would only make them a common enemy of both factions. He had to wait for the right moment!

He quietly circulated the Spirit Nurturing Art, elevating his soul perception to its peak, carefully observing the battle, and searching for the best opportunity to strike.

Time passed minute by minute. Casualties on both the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and Yunlan Sect sides increased. Xie Biyan and Ge Ye were also fighting with true fury; both had sustained injuries, and their auras began to fluctuate wildly.

"Ge Ye! Do you really want to fight my Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect to the death?" Xie Biyan roared, striking out with a palm. The foul-smelling poisonous mist transformed into a giant python and lunged at Ge Ye.

Ge Ye swung his longsword, and a sharp sword qi shattered the poisonous mist python. He said coldly, "The seven-colored soul marrow is ownerless; it's a matter of individual ability! You, Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, want to monopolize it? Dream on!"

"Good! Then let's see whose ability is greater!" Xie Biyan roared, forming hand seals. The poisonous mist around him surged, condensing into a giant phantom of a poisonous scorpion, which, carrying monstrous malevolence, lunged at Ge Ye!

Ge Ye's expression changed. He held his longsword upright before his chest, muttering incantations, and a powerful sword intent soared into the sky!

"Yunlan Sword Art, Splitting Wind!"

A massive azure sword qi tore through the air, fiercely slashing towards the poisonous scorpion phantom!

"Boom!!!"

A terrifying explosion sounded, and an energy shockwave swept across the entire square! A huge pit was blasted into the ground! Xie Biyan and Ge Ye both spat blood and flew backward simultaneously, crashing heavily to the ground, clearly suffering serious injuries!

"Sect Master!"

"Elder Ge Ye!"

The disciples from both sides were greatly alarmed and rushed forward to protect their respective leaders.

Opportunity!

Xiao Chen's eyes blazed with light! Now was the time!

"Elder Hai! Move!" He shouted in a low voice, his figure darting out like a leopard, aiming directly for the seven-colored soul marrow on the stone platform!

Hai Bodong reacted extremely quickly. Almost at the instant Xiao Chen moved, he moved too! The powerful aura of a Three-Star Dou Ling erupted, transforming into a blue stream of light, arriving first and rushing towards the stone platform! His mission was to escort Xiao Chen and block any potential obstructions!

"Who's there?!"

"Stop them!"

The disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and Yunlan Sect were greatly alarmed and all moved to block them! But Hai Bodong was powerful; his ice-attribute Dou Qi erupted, instantly freezing several Great Dou Masters who rushed forward into ice sculptures! Mo Chen and Ya Fei also followed closely, blocking enemies from both sides!

Xiao Chen's speed was incredibly fast. His Spirit Movement Late-stage soul power allowed him to control his body to the extreme. In a few flashes, he had rushed to the stone platform! He reached out to grab the seven-colored soul marrow!

However, just as his fingers were about to touch the soul marrow, an unexpected change occurred!

"Hiss!"

An extremely faint, almost imperceptible sound of something breaking through the air was heard! A poison needle, as thin as an ox's hair and glowing with a faint blue light, shot out from the side like a ghost, aiming directly for Xiao Chen's temple! Its speed was astonishing!

A sneak attack! Someone had been ambushing nearby all along!

Xiao Chen's soul perception caught the danger at the last moment! But his forward momentum could no longer be changed! The poison needle was about to strike!

"Careful!" Hai Bodong roared, and an ice wall instantly condensed beside Xiao Chen!

"Clink!"

The poison needle hit the ice wall, emitting a crisp sound, but the ice wall was actually corroded, forming a small hole! The poison needle's momentum was slightly reduced, but it still shot towards Xiao Chen!

In the nick of time, Xiao Chen sharply turned his head! The poison needle grazed his cheek, drawing a wisp of blood! A sensation of numbness instantly spread from the wound!

"It's poisonous!" Xiao Chen was greatly alarmed and quickly circulated his soul power to suppress the toxin!

At the same time, a dark shadow, like a ghost, darted out from the shadows of the ruins. Its speed was incredibly fast, and it lunged for the seven-colored soul marrow first!

The dark shadow was completely enveloped in a black robe, revealing only a pair of sinister eyes. Its aura had also reached the Dou Ling (Spirit) level! Moreover, its movement technique was extremely bizarre!

"Black Skull Old Ghost! It's you!" Hai Bodong recognized the newcomer; it was the Old Man Hei Ku of the Black Emperor Sect! He had been hiding in the dark all along, waiting for the two to fight and then reap the benefits!

"Hehe, Hai Bodong, thank you for helping to clear the area! This seven-colored soul marrow, I shall accept it with a laugh!" The Old Man Hei Ku chuckled sinisterly, his withered hand already reaching for the soul marrow!

"Dream on!" Hai Bodong roared, striking out with a palm, the cold air biting!

But the Old Man Hei Ku's movement technique was peculiar; he slipped away like a loach, his other hand still reaching for the soul marrow!

Seeing the soul marrow about to fall into the Old Man Hei Ku's hands, a ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes! If he couldn't get it, no one else would get it easily either!

"Soul Impact!"

He concentrated his remaining soul power and launched his strongest attack at the Old Man Hei Ku, who was within arm's reach!

An invisible mental spike fiercely pierced into the Old Man Hei Ku's mind!

"Ugh!" The Old Man Hei Ku was caught off guard. His body stiffened abruptly, and there was a slight delay in his movement towards the soul marrow! He hadn't expected this young man, who had no Dou Qi, to possess such an unusual soul attack!

It was this momentary delay that gave Hai Bodong an opportunity!

"Profound Ice Palm!"

Hai Bodong seized the chance and firmly struck the Old Man Hei Ku's back with his palm!

"Pfft!"

The Old Man Hei Ku spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and staggered forward a few steps, but he stubbornly relied on his formidable strength not to fall. Instead, he used the momentum to lunge forward and snatched the seven-colored soul marrow into his hand!

"It's mine! Hahaha!" The Old Man Hei Ku let out a wild laugh and turned to flee!

"Where do you think you're going!" How could Hai Bodong let him succeed? He pursued relentlessly!

And just then, another unexpected change occurred!

"Buzz!"

The seven-colored soul marrow, held in the Old Man Hei Ku's hand, suddenly burst forth with dazzling light! A terrifying energy fluctuation erupted from within it!

"What?!" The Old Man Hei Ku's expression changed drastically. He wanted to throw away the soul marrow, but it was already too late!

"Boom!!!"

The seven-colored soul marrow violently exploded! A destructive energy storm instantly swept across the entire square!

"Not good!" Hai Bodong's expression changed drastically. He fully unleashed an ice shield to protect Xiao Chen and the other two behind him!

"Pfft!" The Old Man Hei Ku bore the brunt of the explosion, being directly hit by the energy. He let out a scream and flew backward like a broken sack, his entire body scorched black, his life or death unknown!

The energy storm raged, sweeping up the remaining disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and Yunlan Sect in the square, causing heavy casualties! Even the heavily wounded Xie Biyan and Ge Ye were shaken, spitting blood again!

At the center of the explosion, a tiny crack was torn in space, emitting chaotic spatial fluctuations.

After a long while, the energy storm gradually subsided.

The square was a mess, with scorched craters and incomplete corpses everywhere.

Hai Bodong withdrew the ice shield, his face pale, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He had clearly suffered some shock. Xiao Chen, Ya Fei, and Mo Chen, protected behind him, were unharmed.

"The seven-colored soul marrow... self-destructed?" Ya Fei looked at the center of the explosion, which was empty, a look of regret on her face.

Xiao Chen also felt lingering fear. If Hai Bodong hadn't protected them in time, they would probably have been in trouble. Could that seven-colored soul marrow actually self-destruct? Did the Old Man Hei Ku trigger some restriction, or was there something inherently wrong with the soul marrow itself?

He suddenly remembered the system's warning: [The energy structure of this item is extremely stable and special; forcibly reclaiming it will lead to an energy explosion!] Could it be that because the Old Man Hei Ku forcibly collected it with Dou Qi, it triggered an energy imbalance?

"Cough cough..." Hai Bodong coughed a few times, then said in a deep voice, "This seven-colored soul marrow is probably not that simple. Let's leave here quickly; the commotion just now was too great and will definitely attract others!"

Xiao Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping across the square. The people from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and Yunlan Sect had suffered heavy casualties and no longer posed a threat. The Old Man Hei Ku's life or death was unknown. Now was indeed a good time to leave.

However, just as they were about to move, Xiao Chen's soul perception suddenly detected a wisp of extremely faint but incomparably pure seven-colored light flashing in the spatial crack at the center of the explosion, then disappearing into the scorched earth.

"That is... the soul marrow origin?!" Xiao Chen's heart stirred! Could it be that the seven-colored soul marrow had not been completely destroyed, but a trace of its purest origin remained?

He walked to the vicinity of the explosion's center without changing his expression, pretending to check the situation, carefully searching with his soul perception.

Sure enough! About three feet deep beneath the scorched earth, he sensed a small, incomparably solid, fingernail-sized mass of seven-colored liquid! It emitted soul fluctuations far purer and gentler than the crystal before!

[Scan: seven-colored soul marrow origin (Extremely Concentrated)]

[Grade]: Mid-tier Earth-grade (Essence Part)

[Effect]: Contains the purest soul origin. Absorbing it can greatly enhance the Soul Realm, with a very high chance of awakening powerful soul talents. No side effects.

[Replicable]: No (Insufficient energy, insufficient authority)

[Recoverable Energy]: 5000 units (Warning! Energy structure is extremely stable, cannot be forcibly recovered!)

[System Evaluation]: The essence of a priceless treasure! If the host can obtain it, the Soul Realm will certainly break through to the Spirit Realm! Extremely rare!]

The real treasure was here!

Xiao Chen was ecstatic! But he still maintained a calm expression on the surface. He quietly used his soul power to envelop the mass of origin liquid, slowly pulling it out from under the scorched earth, and then quickly putting it into the system's item bar!

The entire process was silent; even Hai Bodong, who was close by, did not notice.

"Elder Hai, there's nothing left here. Let's go quickly." Xiao Chen suppressed his excitement and said to Hai Bodong.

Hai Bodong did not suspect anything and nodded: "Good, let's go!"

The four no longer lingered and quickly left this troubled place.

What they didn't know was that shortly after they left, several powerful auras descended upon the square one after another. Looking at the mess and casualties, the expressions of these latecomers became very grim.

The struggle for the seven-colored soul marrow ended in such an unexpected way. And the biggest winner was the seemingly most inconspicuous young man.

Xiao Chen followed Hai Bodong, continuing deeper into the Illusory Spirit Realm. His heart was filled with anticipation. As long as he found a safe place to absorb this seven-colored soul marrow origin, his Soul Realm would undergo a qualitative leap!

Spirit Realm, Dou King level soul power! He was coming!