In the Thien Nhan Gioi, within a perilous region located at the southernmost reaches of the continent.
Inside a vast mountain valley, three tenth-level Tien Thien Realm powerhouses advanced cautiously, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, as if expecting an ambush at any moment. Each of them was an overlord of their own region, normally having no amicable relations. Yet, in their quest for treasure, they had formed a temporary alliance to jointly explore this mysterious valley.
According to their combined intelligence, this area had previously been barren land; the mountain valley had only appeared last night. A cultivator, while out mining for spiritual stones, had witnessed a blue light emanating from this spot and reported it. The very next day, these three powerhouses formed a team and ventured in.
This southernmost region was renowned as one of the four great ominous lands, for cultivators who ventured in seeking treasure rarely returned. Those who did emerge were either left with crippled cultivation or shattered minds. Only individuals considered true powerhouses, like these three tenth-level Tien Thien Realm experts, possessed the strength to penetrate to the very depths where this mountain valley was located.
Stepping out of the gloomy mountain cave, the three powerhouses were greeted by a picturesque and enchanting landscape. A tranquil lotus pond, its surface imbued with the pink hues of blooming lotuses, stretched before them, flanked by lush green grass and a small islet nestled in its center. Had one not known of the terrifying perilous land outside, they might have mistaken this for a secluded paradise, a place where immortals might rest and contemplate the Dao.
Unexpectedly, a massive mountain opening loomed above the valley, allowing bright sunlight to stream in and further enhancing the beauty of the valley's scenery, making it appear, at first glance, like a breathtaking immortal realm.
The three powerhouses exchanged glances and nodded slightly. They linked arms and carefully flew across the lotus pond towards the central islet. As they flew, they channeled their formidable origin energy to form a robust protective barrier, guarding against any secret mechanisms or guardian ambushes. Such secret realms were typically riddled with traps; a moment of carelessness could lead to a death without even knowing why.
Upon landing on the small islet, they discovered a gigantic green lotus blooming in its center, causing them to stare at each other in wide-eyed astonishment. From a distance, they had seen nothing on the islet, yet upon landing, a green lotus larger than any of them had seemingly materialized. This instantly ignited a powerful sense of vigilance in all three. All three were Tien Thien Realm powerhouses, over a hundred years old, yet their eyesight was not only undiminished but even sharper than that of younger cultivators. The fact that they hadn't seen the green lotus from afar, only noticing it when standing right beside it, made them utterly convinced that some trickery was at play. One of them bit his lip and spoke softly:
"Is it worth risking our lives for?"
Another, concealing a hint of worry, spoke in a neutral tone:
"If not for ourselves, then we must risk it for our sects."
The last person gazed at the gigantic green lotus, his expression unreadable, and said:
"The situation in the Dai Trung Region is perpetually unstable. The top-tier sects are constantly at each other's throats. If we don't seize this opportunity swiftly, I fear we'll never be able to rise above our current standing."
Hearing this, the first person sighed softly:
"I've heard that the Tu Van Sect also obtained a rare treasure from a secret realm, from which they rose to prominence, joining the ranks of top-tier sects, eventually developing to rival Minh Nguyet Mountain itself."
The second person maintained his neutral stance:
"Let's speak frankly. Even if you two old geezers don't risk it, I will. It's come to this. Even if my sect tries to hold on, it'll be wiped out in a few weeks. Or I could risk my life and die here, and the outcome would still be the same, no different."
The third person suddenly smiled and asked:
"Brother Hoàng, aren't you afraid we'll stab you in the back?"
The second person looked at him and replied:
"Go right ahead. Once I'm dead, I'll become a vengeful spirit and watch how you two manage to bring the treasure back yourselves. That, too, could be considered a kind of peace."
The current situation of all three of their sects was roughly the same. If they didn't exert themselves to obtain the treasure, it wouldn't be long before all three of them would be uprooted by the sects loyal to the leading powers. Their era belonged to the past; they were no longer as glorious as they had been back then. It was only natural for them to be replaced by the younger generation, but that didn't mean they would abandon their pride and disband voluntarily. All three were powerful cultivators; how could they give up without even fighting?
The first person gave a bitter laugh:
"Old Man Hoàng isn't wrong. If even one of us is missing, we won't be able to cross the perilous land outside. If we don't have our lives, how can we bring the treasure back...?"
The three exchanged glances. After a long moment, they all nodded and simultaneously advanced towards the giant green lotus.
As soon as they got close, all three immediately felt the dense immortal qi, so thick it had solidified into substance, forming a layer of blue mist that made anyone who inhaled it feel dizzy, unable to withstand the power contained within that concentrated immortal qi.
As soon as the three inhaled a bit of the immortal qi, they felt dizzy. Conversely, their hearts were filled with boundless joy. They had indeed stumbled upon an incredibly profound immortal flower, its immortal qi truly potent. If they brought this green lotus back and refined it into immortal pills, it could allow several outstanding disciples to break through to the Xiantian realm, revitalizing their sects. From then on, the lurking forces in the shadows wouldn't dare to act recklessly.
All three swallowed hard, their expressions extremely tense, and slowly approached the green lotus.
Once close enough, the three began to reach out their hands, meticulously wanting to pull the green lotus from the ground. Even when all three were almost touching the green lotus, they still didn't see any guardians or traps activate. They couldn't help but rejoice inwardly; it seemed this was a benign wondrous treasure.
"Whoosh..."
But unfortunately for the three, before they could even touch the green lotus, it suddenly shot up into the sky. Its speed was so great that even the vision of the three tenth-level Xiantian realm cultivators couldn't discern how or when it began to move. All they saw was a single flash of blue light, and then the giant green lotus was no longer before them.
"What happened!?"
The three stared at each other in shock, then looked up. Only then did they see the giant green lotus floating in mid-air, slowly spinning as its petals gradually unfurled. From within the green lotus, a gentle fragrance began to emanate, like a cup of fine hot tea on a cold winter's day, allowing the soul of anyone who smelled it to become serene, forgetting all the suffering of the mortal world.
The three were enchanted by this gentle fragrance, their minds blurring. They didn't move to snatch the green lotus, but merely stood on the ground, craning their necks to gaze up at the immortal flower slowly unfurling in the air.
The moment all the petals unfurled, the entire green lotus suddenly burst into flames. The fire was a kind of blue immortal flame, emitting not the slightest warmth, which was extremely peculiar. When the three individuals below sensed the aura emanating from the blue flames, they couldn't help but feel a slight discomfort within themselves, as if something was inherently at odds with them.
The third person suddenly realized something, and cried out softly:
– Quickly seal your senses! It's the Extreme Yin True Flame!
The other two jolted awake and channeled their primal energy to seal off their senses, thereby isolating their bodies from this plane of existence. They were unable to hear, see, smell, taste, or feel anything. Thanks to this, the discomfort within them gradually faded away.
The Extreme Yin True Flame, true to its name, is a type of extreme yin flame, one of only two True Flames in existence; the other being the Extreme Yang True Flame. The Extreme Yin True Flame can perfectly complement the yang attribute, but it can also powerfully counteract the yang attribute. The three Xiantian Realm experts, being men, possessed bodies brimming with the yang attribute, and their cultivation was utterly inferior to that of the Extreme Yin True Flame. Thus, their bodies were being corroded by the true flame's yin attribute. If they didn't quickly seal off all their senses, they feared they would soon be neutralized by that rampant yin attribute, becoming a being that was neither male, nor female, nor even a distinct gender.
The ultimate fate of men neutralized by the Extreme Yin True Flame... was to cease being human.
Conversely, women neutralized by the Extreme Yang True Flame would also transform into such an anomalous entity. These two True Flames were a double-edged sword: if one could control them, they would be one's most potent assistant, but if not, one's fate would be more tragic than death itself.
The three Xiantian Realm experts were completely petrified, not daring to make a single move. Upon hearing the name Extreme Yin True Flame, they were simultaneously overjoyed to the point of madness and as despondent as if their parents had died. This was indeed a treasure that could revitalize their sect, but they hadn't brought any female experts with them. How could they possibly bring the Extreme Yin True Flame back? Unless one of them sacrificed their life to forcefully retrieve it.
As the three tensely deliberated, they suddenly heard a clear, crisp laugh:
– Hehe...
Then, the sealing enchantment on their senses was gently blown away.
All three were forcibly re-opened to their senses, and couldn't help but jump in alarm. What terrifying grand expert could so easily shatter their enchantment? Even those old monsters from Ziyun Sect couldn't have broken their seals so effortlessly!
When their vision recovered, a young girl had appeared before them, with mysterious black hair, long and smooth like a waterfall, yet flowing as lightly as clouds in the sky. Her features were incredibly delicate, beautiful like the most exquisite sculpture.
Those large, round eyes, that small, delicate yet perfectly sculpted nose, those plump red lips like freshly ripened immortal fruit...
And then there was her slender figure, those undulating curves, those rolling hills...
Everything about her could be described as flawlessly perfect; even her purple attire was a masterpiece of the highest craftsmanship, designed to further enhance her beauty, which could drive countless beings to madness.
The young girl curved her lips, displaying a smile that shamed flowers and eclipsed the moon, and asked softly:
– Are you three here looking for me?