The constantly appearing beast was none other than the Roc.
Hidden within the Roc's interior, Ye Yunfei kept striking out, snatching all sorts of heavenly materials and earthly treasures that caught his eye.
In this valley, Ye Yunfei was like a fish in water, moving with complete freedom, completely unaffected by the environment.
Enhanced by the dense spatial energy and spatial laws filling the valley, the Roc's movements could only be described as godly swift!
One could say that within this valley, the Roc's speed far surpassed even that of experts at the late Primordial Soul Realm!
Thus, whenever a precious heavenly material or earthly treasure appeared, right when experts from the various factions were about to rush forward to seize it, there would always be a beast that got there first, snatching the treasure right before the experts' eyes.
Consequently, furious roars echoed throughout the valley.
A moment later, nearly all the martial artists had noticed the beast that kept appearing, specialized in snatching various treasures.
"That beast... it somewhat resembles the legendary Divine Beast Roc!"
A Li Clan elder exclaimed in a tone of shock.
"That's right! It does look very much like a Roc! Could it be there's a divine beast inside Shattered Valley?!" someone responded.
"Not quite! This Roc's body seems a bit illusory, not like a solid entity. It should be simulated using some sort of technique! Forget a mere Xuanhuang Star Domain, even the entire cosmos might not necessarily have a Roc."
A middle-aged man in gray robes spoke up.
"Simulated by some technique?"
The others, upon hearing this, were stunned.
"The robe you wear bears an embroidered image of a tortoise shell. Might you be from the Tianji Sect?"
Suddenly, an expert from the Tianxuan Sacred Land stared at the middle-aged man in gray and asked.
"Indeed."
The gray-robed man fell silent for a moment before nodding in acknowledgment.
*Hiss!*
The others all inhaled sharply.
The Tianji Sect was renowned throughout the Xuanhuang Star Domain!
They weren't famous for their sheer strength, but for their art of divination and deduction!
It was said that every member of the Tianji Sect cultivated the art of divination and deduction, capable of predicting past and future events.
Therefore, within the Xuanhuang Star Domain, if any sect or faction wanted to deduce something, they would usually prepare generous gifts and go to request the assistance of the Tianji Sect's deduction experts.
Generally speaking, wherever members of the Tianji Sect traveled within the Xuanhuang Star Domain, people would give them some face; they were quite welcome.
"So it's a friend from the Tianji Sect. Forgive us for not welcoming you properly," the Tianxuan Sacred Land expert who had just asked the question said, cupping his hands.
"No need for formalities," the gray-robed man returned the gesture, then said no more, activating his movement technique to head towards another location.
"Tianji Sect members are all knowledgeable and worldly, capable of seeing through the secrets of the heavens. So it seems that earlier Roc was truly simulated by someone using a technique. But who would dare snatch so many heavenly materials and earthly treasures from under our noses?"
A Tianxuan Sacred Land elder said angrily.
Moments before, that Roc had already snatched several precious treasures right from before his eyes!
"Everyone, listen! If we see that Roc again, attack it immediately! If it were a true Divine Beast Roc, we naturally wouldn't dare provoke it. But if someone is playing tricks, we absolutely cannot let them off!"
The Tianxuan Sacred Land elder's gaze turned icy, his words spoken through gritted teeth.
"Understood!" the Tianxuan Sacred Land disciples answered in unison.
Soon, leaders of the other major factions issued the same command.
Then, everyone continued searching all around the valley, which was shrouded in the seven-colored light.
The valley was vast, containing numerous precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Everyone spread out to search for treasures.
Of course, everyone's primary target was that Void Tree!
Everyone was alert and watching closely. The moment the Void Tree was discovered, they would definitely rush forward to seize it.
"Help! I'm caught in a spatial crack! Someone save me!"
Occasionally, cries for help and desperate screams echoed as people were swallowed by spatial cracks.
Since entering, at least a dozen people had been swallowed by spatial cracks. All of them were Primordial Soul Realm experts! Only experts at the Primordial Soul Realm possessed the strength to enter this valley; anyone weaker would inevitably meet their death!
"Huh? Over there... a spirit ginseng that looks very much like the legendary Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng!"
Suddenly, a young disciple of the Li Clan pointed excitedly towards a distant patch of space.
Indeed, a spirit ginseng was growing in mid-air, twisted and curved with a peculiar shape.
"It truly is the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng! From the looks of it, it's at least nine hundred years old!"
A Li Clan elder said with pleasant surprise.
"Quick, everyone charge over and pluck it!"
The elder waved his hand.
Immediately, a group from the Li Clan charged towards the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng.
"It's the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng!"
At this moment, Jiang Yanran also spotted the spirit ginseng, her beautiful eyes lighting up.
"Everyone, that's it! That's the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng! Help me seize it!"
Jiang Yanran immediately called out to Ji Mengyao, Murong Fu, Liu Piaopiao, and the other four elite students.
The main reason Jiang Yanran had invited these elite students to come along was precisely for this Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng!
Now that her target was right before her eyes, she felt both excited and anxious.
Because there were simply too many people around! Securing this Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng smoothly would be extremely difficult.
Throwing caution to the wind, Jiang Yanran activated her movement technique and desperately rushed towards the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng.
"Yanran, be careful!" Ji Mengyao hurriedly warned, then followed closely behind Jiang Yanran.
After a moment's hesitation, Murong Fu and the other four elite students also followed.
However, even more people had noticed this Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng.
In an instant, a large crowd rushed towards the ginseng's location.
However, due to the disorienting Seven-Colored Void Light, many soon found themselves going in the wrong direction. They were charging forward, only to end up heading elsewhere.
Moreover, the area surrounding the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng was dotted with numerous spatial cracks, some of which were well-hidden and extremely dangerous.
Everyone grew cautious, slowing their pace.
After all, as precious as the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng was, one's life was even more valuable!
Suddenly.
"Ahhh!"
Jiang Yanran let out a sharp, startled cry.
She had just collided head-on with a spatial crack! Half her body was already within it!
Her face pale with terror, Jiang Yanran struggled desperately, trying to break free from the spatial crack. But a bizarre spatial force enveloped her, and the harder she struggled, the deeper she sank!
"Sister Yanran! Hold on! I'll save you!"
Ji Mengyao was horrified and rushed over immediately.
Soon, Ji Mengyao reached Jiang Yanran's side.
By this time, the entire right half of Jiang Yanran's body was already within the spatial crack.
Ji Mengyao reached out and grabbed Jiang Yanran's left hand, trying to pull her out.
But no matter how hard she pulled, it was useless.
Jiang Yanran's body sank deeper and deeper.
Heck, Ji Mengyao was being dragged along, slowly sliding towards that spatial crack as well.
"Sister Ji! Let go! Don't worry about me!" Jiang Yanran finally felt despair. At this moment, only her left shoulder, her left hand, and half her head remained outside the crack. Every other part of her body was already inside.
She even showed an expression of utter despair, having given up on struggling.
"Sister Yanran, hold on! I'll get you out!" Ji Mengyao clung to Jiang Yanran's left hand, shouting desperately.
"Murong Fu! Come and help! Steward Fang! Quickly come and help!" Ji Mengyao turned her head and yelled.
At this moment, Murong Fu, Liu Piaopiao, Qiu Wu, and Zhang Qiang were standing not far away. None of them came over.
Spatial cracks were too dangerous. No one dared approach easily.
Although Murong Fu was one of Jiang Yanran's suitors, in such a dangerous situation, he didn't want to put himself at risk!
Steward Fang from the Heavenly Dao Academy was rushing over from afar, but it was already too late.
"Ji Mengyao, let go. We can't save Jiang Yanran." Steward Fang sighed softly.
"Sister Ji, thank you. Don't worry."
At this moment, Jiang Yanran's voice came from within the spatial crack.
Then, a powerful burst of energy erupted from Jiang Yanran's left hand, pushing Ji Mengyao back several steps.
Immediately after, Jiang Yanran was completely swallowed by the spatial crack and disappeared.
"Sister Yanran..."
Ji Mengyao stood stunned for a moment, unable to accept it. Her beautiful eyes stared blankly at the pitch-black spatial crack as tears fell like rain.
Inside the Spatial Crack.
"Am I going to die? I really can't bear to go. I'm so beautiful... I haven't even found the prince charming of my dreams yet. Besides, my dream was to become a peerless expert, glorious and majestic, awe-inspiring to the whole world—that would be fun. Dying like this... I can't accept it."
In an eternally dark, desolate void, Jiang Yanran's voice sounded.
"You won't die. You'll still have plenty of time later to find your prince charming. And you'll also still have the chance to become a peerless expert."
Suddenly, a voice echoed within this eternal, desolate space.
Then, a beast appeared in front of Jiang Yanran.
"It's that Roc!"
Jiang Yanran was utterly shocked.
The Roc swung its claw, carrying Jiang Yanran as it surged out of this suffocating, terrifying void.
The next moment.
To her joyous surprise, Jiang Yanran found herself back in the outside world!
"Why did you save me?"
Jiang Yanran's beautiful eyes stared blankly at the Roc that had rescued her, her heart filled with both gratitude and bewilderment as she voiced her question.
However, the Roc didn't answer Jiang Yanran at all. It directly vanished into space, disappearing.
At this moment, over a dozen experts had already reached the area surrounding the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng and were preparing to make their move.
Whoosh...
A beast abruptly appeared next to the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng. Its movements were as swift as lightning as it opened its mouth and swallowed the spirit ginseng in one bite.
"That Roc appeared again!"
"It ate the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng!"
"Damn it! It wants to snatch any slightly precious treasure! This is too much!"
"Attack it!"
"This Roc is definitely simulated by someone using a technique. Find that person and drag him out!"
...
After having snatch numerous treasures earlier, the Roc's reappearance now finally provoked public outrage. Everyone was cursing angrily.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fierce attacks poured towards the Roc.
However, after eating the Nine-Twist Spirit Ginseng, the Roc immediately vanished into space, disappearing without a trace.
The attacks all landed on empty air.
"Who could it be? Why did they save me?"
In the distance, Jiang Yanran stood dazedly, staring at the spot where the Roc had vanished, murmuring to herself.
Just at this moment.
A sudden drastic change occurred within the valley!
A certain spot within the valley began to shake violently!
A dazzling radiance shot up towards the heavens!
A tree about two meters tall slowly rose into the sky!
This tree seemed as if it were carved from the purest and most precious agate, crystal-clear and brilliantly sparkling.
Its entire body was wreathed in a glow of seven-colored light, swirling with resplendent, shimmering energy.
"The Void Tree!"
In this instant, everyone inside the valley roared together.