This was a small inner world, a pocket dimension specially opened up by a Supreme Divine Spirit. It spanned only a few dozen li in radius—neither very large nor very small—but it contained the Dao principles of a Divine Spirit, allowing it to continuously absorb the spiritual energy of the outside world to nourish and moisten this small land. As a result, it appeared exceptionally fertile and spiritually beautiful, capable of growing true miraculous medicines.
Three-Colored Leaf Grass, Summer Soul Fruit, Azure Sky Tree, Ten-Thousand Bone Flower... One after another, Heaven and Earth Treasures appeared within the mountain forest, flowing with faint fluorescent light. Each one was incomparably precious; taken outside, any single one could fetch a sky-high price of hundreds of thousands of gold coins at auction, and they were often priceless and unavailable. Yet here, there were quite a few, accumulated over ten thousand years.
Even more astonishing, many of these Heaven and Earth Treasures had medicinal ages exceeding a thousand years, with some even reaching three or four thousand years.
Once a Heaven and Earth Treasure's medicinal age reached a thousand years, its efficacy would surge dramatically. Many even possessed the miraculous effect of extending lifespan, making them exceptionally precious.
Previously, they had been guarded by several fearsome Martial God-level demonic beasts, making them impossible to seize. Now that those Martial God demonic beasts had been slain one after another, losing their guardians, these Heaven and Earth Treasures had become ownerless.
Although quite a few had been destroyed during the battle with the Martial God demonic beasts, most remained intact. At this moment, numerous trial-takers were attacking the blood-armored guards, yet the Heaven and Earth Treasures remained strangely unpicked.
Ye Chen appeared in this severely damaged mountain forest with a single step. Instead of attacking the blood-armored guards, he began harvesting the Heaven and Earth Treasures. Striding forward, his gathering was remarkably swift. In moments, a full seven Heaven and Earth Treasures had entered his inner space.
These Heaven and Earth Treasures possessed genuine medicinal efficacy and were indispensable ingredients for refining high-grade pills.
On the other side, Fairy Caiyun's figure was ethereally graceful, pure and transcendent, as if an immortal banished to the mortal realm. She too was harvesting Heaven and Earth Treasures. The delicate, jade-like hand extending from her sleeve, with its slender, jade-like fingers, nimbly plucked each treasure without damaging a single root or stem.
The two most powerful young prodigies were not attacking the blood-armored guards but instead setting their sights on the Heaven and Earth Treasures. This left many trial-takers who witnessed the scene dumbfounded and utterly astonished.
Had they given up on the Dao Blood?
But that was clearly impossible. Ye Chen understood the troublesome nature of the blood-armored guards. Even if he attacked, it would be difficult to seize the Dao Blood in a short time. Moreover, with numerous trial-takers watching covetously, it was better to let these people significantly weaken the blood-armored guards' power before making his move at the last moment, reaping the benefits. He could even harvest Heaven and Earth Treasures simultaneously—a truly perfect strategy.
As for this mysterious Fairy Caiyun, she was likely harboring the same idea.
The two stood in separate directions, harvesting Heaven and Earth Treasures one after another. In the blink of an eye, each had gathered at least twelve or thirteen, a substantial harvest stored away in their inner spaces.
However, as time passed, the two gradually moved closer to each other because the area where Heaven and Earth Treasures could be harvested was shrinking. Finally, after half an hour, they stood facing each other from a distance.
Between them, in the central position, grew a special small tree. Only the size of a palm, its entire body flowed with a faint azure light, emitting a refreshing fragrance that could clear the mind and invigorate the spirit.
This was a Heaven and Earth Treasure, but not an ordinary one. Its small trunk appeared vigorous and powerful, coiled like a dragon. Its age was ancient, definitely exceeding a thousand years, making it extremely rare and valuable.
"Azure Sky Tree, three thousand four hundred years of medicinal age. Not only can it nourish the physical body and generate boundless vitality, but it can also extend a person's lifespan by fifty years. Truly hard to find in this world." With a single glance, Ye Chen recognized the origin and effects of this Heaven and Earth Treasure.
He hadn't expected to encounter a Heaven and Earth Treasure with three thousand four hundred years of age. It was absolutely a peerlessly valuable treasure, capable of extending lifespan by at least fifty years, making it extremely precious.
In this world, Heaven and Earth Treasures that could extend lifespan mostly belonged to this category of peerless treasures with medicinal ages exceeding a thousand years, their lifespans even longer than the time a Supreme Divine Spirit might spend in the world.
Once a cultivator reached their twilight years with dwindling lifespan, their desire for such life-extending Heaven and Earth Treasures would become immense. Therefore, the value of an Azure Sky Tree would skyrocket.
But at this moment, the Azure Sky Tree was not the main focus. The focus was another divine tree planted beside it, its entire body overflowing with dark light, with yin energy and baleful aura dispersing around it. One look told it was a Heaven and Earth Treasure of the utmost yin extreme.
"It's actually the legendary Nine Yin Tree. It's said to only grow in places of supreme yin energy, capable of granting the Primordial Spirit an extreme yin characteristic, making it immortal."
"Moreover, ordinary Nine Yin Trees are only palm-sized, but this one is half a person tall, with lush branches and leaves. Its leaves are crystalline and translucent, entwined with Taiyin energy. It's likely not an ordinary Heaven and Earth Treasure but a Ten-Thousand-Year Medicine Treasure."
Ye Chen once again recognized the true nature of this Heaven and Earth Treasure. It was one of the extremely rare varieties even among Heaven and Earth Treasures. Now it had actually appeared, and with an astonishingly high medicinal age—it was actually ten thousand years old.
For Heaven and Earth Treasures, a medicinal age exceeding a thousand years could extend lifespan by several decades to a hundred years. But once it surpassed ten thousand years, its efficacy would leap forward, increasing severalfold. Not only could it cure Dao injuries, but it could also extend lifespan by over three hundred years. It could be called a truly priceless treasure, something even Supreme Divine Spirits would covet and go mad over.
Who would have thought that such a supreme Heaven and Earth Treasure also existed within this Divine Spirit's small world? It was truly astonishing.
A divine light flickered in Ye Chen's eyes, filled with amazement. He hadn't expected to encounter such a Ten-Thousand-Year Medicine Treasure; it was truly a heaven-sent fortune.
However, opposite him, Fairy Caiyun stood gracefully, her figure exquisite. Her gaze also fell upon that Ten-Thousand-Year Medicine Treasure, clearly moved as well.
"Do you want these two Heaven and Earth Treasures?" Fairy Caiyun actually spoke up. Although her voice remained as cool and detached as ever, she was clearly inquiring of Ye Chen.
Ye Chen raised a sword-like eyebrow. "And then?"
"And then I'm sorry, but I have very important uses for both of these Heaven and Earth Treasures." Fairy Caiyun said lightly, but her tone was surprisingly forceful. She took a lotus step, her figure as light and graceful as an immortal, captivating to behold. But at this moment, she shot toward the two Heaven and Earth Treasures like lightning, wanting to seize them first.
Her movement technique was ethereal, as if an immortal untouched by worldly dust, yet her speed was extreme. In the next instant, she arrived before the two Heaven and Earth Treasures, extending her delicate hand to pluck them.
But at that moment, a fair, slender palm blocked the young woman's attempt. Ye Chen had arrived, his speed not the slightest bit slower. He flicked a finger, sending out a dazzling golden radiance that shot toward Fairy Caiyun.
Fairy Caiyun merely shook her head slightly, her three thousand strands of black hair fluttering lightly. She commented indifferently, "Not good enough. Too weak."
With a light wave of her plain hand, she effortlessly dissipated Ye Chen's attack into nothingness. It was truly extraordinary, making Ye Chen view her even more highly.
Moreover, this young woman had drawn the attention of both the white-haired Divine Spirit and Old Yan. She seemed to harbor some astonishing secrets, but Ye Chen's current strength was insufficient to see through the falsehoods and understand everything.
However, Ye Chen smiled. He and Fairy Caiyun stood on opposite sides of the Heaven and Earth Treasures, less than a zhang apart. A powerful aura continuously surged from his body, pressing toward Fairy Caiyun. "I'd like to see exactly what kind of strength you possess that allows you to look down on me."
Boom—
Ye Chen truly made his move. A golden great hand, like an immortal heavenly stele cast from gold, slammed out. With a thunderous roar, overwhelming golden radiance flooded forth. The entire earth trembled, on the verge of splitting apart.
The void quivered. No one could see the expression beneath Fairy Caiyun's mask, but her delicate frame shuddered slightly, clearly harboring some apprehension. With a light shout, she also slapped out with her plain hand, sending seven-colored radiant light to meet the attack.
Golden radiance and seven-colored light collided. Immediately, heaven and earth seemed to collapse. The entire small world shook as if about to be overturned. Sand and stones flew, and the earth cracked open with numerous pitch-black, massive fissures—a truly terrifying sight.
However, by mutual intent, the force of the attacks did not affect the two Heaven and Earth Treasures. Otherwise, such an assault would have annihilated either treasure.
The many powerhouses attacking the human-shaped light cluster in the distance were startled. Seeing the two super-powerful experts clashing, they were both shocked and puzzled, not understanding the reason.
Only when they saw the two Heaven and Earth Treasures between the combatants did they truly understand. No wonder the two had not made a move until now—they had been seizing Heaven and Earth Treasures.
The two engaged in continuous combat, exchanging blows with fists and feet. In the blink of an eye, dozens to hundreds of moves had been exchanged. Attacks that seemed ordinary and unremarkable often unleashed unimaginably terrifying power, shaking heaven and earth. They even shifted the battlefield away from the area to avoid damaging the Ten-Thousand-Year Medicine Treasure.
Ye Chen pressed the attack without restraint. His golden finger flicked lightly, and immediately, an invisible sword ripple spread out like lightning, transforming into a circle of destruction that slammed forward!
Spirit Rhinoceros Sword Finger!
Wherever the circle of destruction passed, everything was annihilated, reduced to ashes, leaving nothing behind.
A flicker of surprise appeared in Fairy Caiyun's eyes. She clearly hadn't expected Ye Chen to know such a powerful divine ability. But she was no weakling either. For the first time before the world, she displayed her own peerless elegance.
With a light shout from her, colorful light shone brilliantly. Her hands quickly formed seals, and then a beautiful peony flower appeared in her palm. Each petal was crystalline and translucent, exquisitely beautiful.
But it was precisely this peony flower that radiated a terrifying fluctuation. She flicked her hand, sending it out, transforming into a stream of light that shot toward Ye Chen.
Ye Chen's pupils contracted slightly. He immediately understood the terror of this peony flower—it actually contained a trace of the Martial God's Dao within, capable of guiding the power of heaven and earth to instantly descend and erupt violently. It could be considered a fearsome great killing move; even a Martial God struck by it might face mortal danger.
However, the circle of destruction formed by the Spirit Rhinoceros Sword Finger directly blocked the peony flower's advance. Petal by petal, it continuously shattered until finally, only a single crystalline, translucent seed remained.
But it was precisely this seed that was even more terrifying. It was actually imprinted with numerous fine Dao patterns. Only those who had reached the seventh heaven of Martial God could imprint Dao patterns, yet Fairy Caiyun had imprinted them. Could she be a super Martial God of the seventh heaven?
But there was no time to ponder this carefully, because the peony seed, unaffected by the Spirit Rhinoceros Sword Finger's ripple, flew directly toward Ye Chen.