The green-robed man’s expression shifted slightly. He, too, had vaguely sensed that something was amiss with this Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vine Jungle—perhaps the perpetually lingering tribulation cloud of the Soul Transformation stage, or the mysterious aura deep within the thicket—but he could not ascertain the situation inside.

“Er Yu Divine Lord now proposes to trade the dealing with the Demon Realm Saint Lord for one item from within the jungle. Has he perhaps discovered something unique within the Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vine Jungle?” The green-robed man mused internally.

“Ah, I fear I cannot make that decision, Brother Xu. Matters on the Southern Demon Continent are not for me, Xu, to decide alone; we must consider the opinions of the fellow Daoists.” The green-robed man said to Er Yu Divine Lord with an expression of difficulty.

“Er Yu Divine Lord, what is the meaning of this? Upon arriving here, you immediately demand to take something.

What then counts for all our efforts here!” “We are all cultivators of the Soul Transformation stage, renowned figures on the Southern Demon Continent. No one dares to put on such airs, demanding to take something away with a mere word.” “The heavenly treasures of the Southern Demon Continent have always belonged to whomever obtains them!

There has never been such a rule as yours!” “Are you saying that merely holding the title of an Ancient Alliance disciple allows you to act so arbitrarily! I, Old Ancestor Hongshan, have roamed the Southern Demon Continent for a thousand years, and I have never dared to be so arrogant.” The cultivators of the Soul Transformation stage floating in the sky were already furious, and many shouted angrily.

The reputation of the Ancient Alliance cultivators was well-known, but Er Yu Divine Lord rarely appeared on the Southern Demon Continent, and few people were aware of his true strength. Although the cultivators were wary of the Ancient Alliance members, it did not mean they would readily yield.

Which of the hundreds of Soul Transformation cultivators was not a famous figure on the Southern Demon Continent, someone whose mere stomp could shake a region? None of them would tolerate someone disregarding the rules in such a manner.

“Brother Xu, give us an explanation.” Er Yu Divine Lord merely offered a cold smile and paid no heed to the furious shouts of the cultivators. “Fellow Daoists, please do not rush into argument.

We are still unclear what exactly is in this jungle; why should we spoil the harmony prematurely?! Let us first clear out this thousand-mile Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vine Jungle, find the item within, and then discuss ownership later, it will not be too late.” The green-robed man shouted loudly to the gathered cultivators.

“Why don't we each rely on our own abilities? Whoever finds it first takes it!” “Whoever has the capability to obtain it, claims that treasure!” “That is exactly how it should be!” The cultivators of the Soul Transformation stage all voiced their agreement.

“Brother Er Yu, what do you think?” Cultivator Xu asked Er Yu Divine Lord. “Very well, let strength speak for itself then!” Er Yu Divine Lord, standing on his gray sword, showed a trace of cold mockery as he observed the strong opposition from the cultivators.

The Soul Transformation cultivators reached a consensus and began observing the thousand-mile Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vine Jungle with great caution. Furthermore, tens of thousands of Nascent Soul stage cultivators also flew over, watching from the outer perimeter.

The area was quite safe now that the Abyss Strange Beast was dead. However, they were not qualified to participate in this contest.

Not daring to compete, they did not even dare to approach too closely, as the Demon Vine Jungle of the Soul Transformation stage was capable of devouring them whole, leaving nothing but bones and flesh. The Nascent Soul cultivators stared in awe at the dazzling, blood-red, drippingly vibrant thousand-mile jungle.

Amidst the vines, the white bones of the Abyss Strange Beast lay scattered, and the aura of bloody malevolence was extremely intense. To be capable of killing a Demon Beast Great Lord demonstrated the terror of this Bloodthirsty Jungle, and its grade was likely no lower than that of the Abyss Strange Beast, estimated to possess the formidable strength of the fifteenth stage.

“Look there! What is that?” A cultivator exclaimed in surprise, pointing toward the depths of the jungle.

Numerous cultivators turned their gaze accordingly. Deep within the thousand-mile jungle, a radiant azure-blue light could be seen.

If not for the extraordinary intensity of that blue light, it might never have been projected out from the depths of the jungle. And the oppressive, dark mass of the Soul Transformation tribulation cloud, covering hundreds of miles overhead, crackling with lightning, was positioned precisely above that azure light.

The rolling tribulation cloud seemed aimed directly at that spot, holding back the terrifying eighty-one bolts of the great thunder tribulation. Because of the presence of that terrifyingly powerful tribulation cloud, the Soul Transformation cultivators dared not approach from directly above to observe.

Even Soul Transformation cultivators were unwilling to endure the wild bombardment of the tribulation cloud for no reason. “It shouldn't be a Nascent Soul cultivator undergoing tribulation.

If it were, they would have been swallowed by this Bloodthirsty Jungle long ago, leaving not even dregs behind, let alone being able to undergo tribulation!” “Could it be a thirteenth-stage Spirit Treasure emerging, triggering the Soul Transformation Tribulation Lightning?” “Don’t be foolish. How could the aura of a thirteenth-stage Spirit Treasure disturb the minds of late-stage Soul Transformation cultivators, making them uneasy!

If a Spirit Treasure were truly emerging, it would certainly surpass the late-stage Soul Transformation, at least reaching the sixteenth stage, to exude such an aura.” “Has the Southern Demon Continent ever seen a sixteenth-stage Spirit Treasure?” Many Soul Transformation cultivators whispered amongst themselves, their expressions excited, even bordering on frenzied. On the Southern Demon Continent, heavenly materials and earthly treasures of the sixteenth stage and above had existed, but they were invariably treasures that sent countless cultivators into a frenzy of contention.

“Let this old man try first!” Among the Soul Transformation cultivators, a short, stout early-stage cultivator carrying a flame gourd roared and stepped forward. His fire gourd was completely different from Old Ancestor Blood Gourd’s blood gourd; it was a major divine ability artifact of the fire element.

A layer of fiery rosy glow surrounded the fire gourd, indicating at a glance that it was a truly excellent artifact. “Heavenly Fire Raging Dragon!” The stout cultivator formed hand seals, directing the mouth of the fire gourd towards the Bloodthirsty Jungle.

“Whoosh!” A surging torrent of heavenly fire spewed from the fire gourd, transforming into a giant Heavenly Fire Raging Dragon several miles long. It roared across the sky and pounced fiercely towards the Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vine Jungle.

Boom! The Heavenly Fire Raging Dragon plunged into the Bloodthirsty Jungle and exploded, covering an area of over ten square miles.

The raging great fire immediately flared up, and a powerful wave of flames washed over them. The Soul Transformation cultivators each used their artifacts to defend against the wave of flames and looked towards the jungle, only to be immediately shocked.

The Heavenly Fire Raging Dragon had scorched only a few branches and leaves of the Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vines over ten miles, but the main trunks sustained almost no damage; not even the bark was burned. “This demon vine is indeed fifteenth-stage; even heavenly fire can barely scorch it!” “Let’s all attack together!” The hundreds of Soul Transformation cultivators surrounding the edge of the thousand-mile jungle began attacking simultaneously from different locations, unleashing their artifact sabers and flying swords towards the Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vine Jungle.

The combined assault of major divine ability spells from eight elemental systems and hundreds of major divine artifact weapons shook the heavens. “Boom!” “Crack!” Patches of the Bloodthirsty Jungle were instantly destroyed.

The early-stage Soul Transformation cultivators moved the fastest, able to sever a tough fifteenth-stage vine with one swing. The mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivators required several strikes to destroy a single demon vine.

Er Yu Divine Lord, wielding his Gray Sword, charged into the Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vine Jungle. His rate of advance was the fastest.

The Gray Sword swept towards the jungle, and snap, a thick, blood-colored demon vine exploded into a puff of residue. The gray sword in his hand was peculiar; it lacked the dazzling brilliance of the artifacts held by other cultivators, yet its power was unbelievably potent.

Half an hour later. Er Yu Divine Lord cut down a demon vine ahead and stepped into an open space spanning several hundred zhang.

This was already the central area of the Bloodthirsty Jungle. Above him was a pitch-black tribulation cloud, seemingly ready to descend at any moment.

“This is… what?” Er Yu Divine Lord, holding the Gray Sword, was momentarily stunned by the sight. Within the open space was a gigantic water chrysalis emitting a blue light, pulsing and undulating rhythmically.

The light that the Soul Transformation cultivators had seen from the outside was emanating from this water chrysalis. The space surrounding the water chrysalis, several hundred zhang wide, was clear; the Bloodthirsty Ancient Demon Vines had not encroached upon this area, seemingly avoiding this mysterious and terrifying region by instinct.

Er Yu Divine Lord, having cultivated in the Savage Lands for a millennium, had never encountered anything so bizarre. “Crack!” A spatial rift appeared, swallowing a small section of the jungle.

Cultivator Xu and several other Soul Transformation stage cultivators, having joined forces to blast open a path, appeared before the open space with swoosh, swoosh. However, their expressions of shock were no less intense than Er Yu Divine Lord’s; upon seeing the water chrysalis ahead, they were momentarily struck dumb.

“This chrysalis… could it be some Demon Cultivator undergoing tribulation here?” “If it is a Demon Cultivator, why was it not devoured by this Bloodthirsty Demon Vine Jungle?” A while later, more than ten Soul Transformation cultivators appeared one after another, almost all of them being late-stage cultivators. They swallowed hard.

Many more early and mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivators were still entangled with the Bloodthirsty Demon Vines. Huangfu Bing'er and Qingqiu Li, both at the ninth layer of the Nascent Soul stage, were standing beside the water chrysalis.

The two had ceased their fighting as soon as the Abyss Strange Beast died. For Ye Qin to now be inside the water chrysalis, Qingqiu Li fighting Huangfu Bing'er was meaningless, serving only as an outlet for anger—a point Qingqiu Li quickly understood.

She thought of another, far more important matter: if Ye Qin truly comprehended the mystery of the Sacred Object, would he then be considered the Saint Lord of the Demon Realm? Huangfu Bing'er started in surprise as the Soul Transformation cultivators appeared one by one, rising abruptly to her feet.

But all the Soul Transformation cultivators were staring at the water chrysalis, and none of them questioned why the two girls were there. The two weak Nascent Soul cultivators held no status before the ranks of late-stage Soul Transformation cultivators and were directly ignored.

Cultivator Xu looked up at the tribulation cloud, then turned to the dozen or so Soul Transformation cultivators beside him: “It seems all the secrets lie within this water chrysalis. I wonder if this chrysalis is a heavenly treasure or a Demon Clan cultivator.

Who among us will open this water chrysalis!?” “Stop!” Huangfu Bing’er cried out in alarm, summoning her Ice and Fire Twin Swords to block the path. “I will do it!” A giant, ten zhang tall, suddenly strode forward one step, shaking the earth.

A powerful aura, capable of dominating heaven and earth, directly swept Huangfu Bing’er and Qingqiu Li away from the front of the water chrysalis. The giant carried a massive, gold-haloed great axe.

Man and axe charged forward, flashing brilliantly. A golden blade of light slashed out, carving an arcane arc.

The golden axe, which could cleave a ten-thousand-zhang giant peak, carrying immense, frantic power, slammed onto the water chrysalis. Boom!

A burst of blue and gold light erupted, and the giant was thrown backward, almost losing his grip on the great axe. The water chrysalis shook violently, sending out faint ripples of shockwaves.

But the chrysalis did not break. The furious blow from a Soul Transformation cultivator could not harm it in the slightest.

“Brother Wei, how was it?” Cultivator Xu’s gaze sharpened, and he quickly asked. “Ptooey!

That strike just now, the feeling was like slamming my entire body against the boundless Southern Sea! My force of ten million jun of ferocious impact was completely dissolved by the unfathomable seawater.

This chrysalis is definitely not a fifteenth-stage Soul Transformation level Spirit Treasure!” The giant rolled on the ground a few times before stabilizing his posture, kneeling on one knee, gripping the great axe, and spitting out a mouthful of blood fiercely.