Feng Zikang brought the Star River Shuttle back to the small bamboo grove and immediately studied it for a while, but turning it over and over, he couldn't make head nor tail of it.

Having only broken through the first layer of the restriction, the power levels of both his divine abilities, Shadow Fade and Laughing at the Most Ridiculous Person Under Heaven, were only at the second layer. Shadow Fade could last for five breaths, but the advantage was that it could be used again after another five breaths; Laughing at the Most Ridiculous Person Under Heaven covered an area about three zhang around him, which was certainly sufficient inside the cave.

No matter how he manipulated it, the Star River Shuttle remained a dull grey, only occasionally emitting a dazzling flash of light, though he didn't know why.

The item had an ancient appearance and an exquisite structure; it didn't seem like a treasure formed by innate means. Whenever Feng Zikang held it, he felt an aura within it faintly opposing the dark demonic energy hidden within his own body, which caused a wave of vexation in his chest.

Could this thing have a restraining effect on demonic nature? To be safe, he specifically went outside to test the two divine abilities. Shadow Fade was indeed miraculous, concealing him between heaven and earth, making him hard to detect; as for Laughing at the Most Ridiculous Person Under Heaven, it was truly bizarre—once used, countless snakes, insects, and toads rushed toward him desperately, only to be wiped into nothingness with a wave of his hand.

When the divine abilities were in use, the spiritual treasure did not cause any backlash to the demonic energy within him, indicating that using this spiritual treasure was temporarily safe.

Unable to decipher its mysteries, he had no choice but to give up in frustration.

The next morning, he arrived at the Five Elements Origin Cave early. The senior brother guarding it was still leisurely drinking, his cheeks flushed and slightly intoxicated. Seeing him arrive, the guard merely smiled and waved, signaling him to enter.

Not long after, Luo Lianxin also arrived gracefully. Seeing him already present, a faint smile touched her lips before she quickly tightened her expression again.

"That Junior Brother of yours, you've arrived quite early..."

"My surname is Feng!"

Feng Zikang patiently announced his surname once more.

"Oh, oh! Junior Brother Feng, it's about time, so let's go into the cave!"

The plan to slay the Ghostly Divine General had been discussed by the two of them the previous day.

Feng Zikang would first use the Shadow Fade ability to infiltrate the depths of the cave. Upon revealing himself, he would immediately use Laughing at the Most Ridiculous Person Under Heaven and then flee at full speed, tossing a Heart-Cleansing Talisman to Luo Lianxin and the Ghostly Divine General as he went.

When the Earth Element Giants caught up, he would disappear again, and when they were bewildered, he would reappear to use Laughing at the Most Ridiculous Person Under Heaven once more, repeating this until the Earth Element Giants were lured far enough away.

As for the isolated Ghostly Divine General, that would naturally be left entirely to Luo Lianxin.

"I only need the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn..."

Luo Lianxin was brimming with confidence, seemingly unconcerned about the Ghostly Divine General, which made lower-level disciples turn pale at the mere mention of it.

But then again, her Southern Barbarian Ten Thousand Armored Slaughtering Technique had been cultivated to the thirtieth layer, which meant her fundamental cultivation method had also reached the thirtieth layer. The military cultivation method of the Water Moon Pavilion was quite mysterious, but it was also a direct, orthodox lineage, and its power was naturally not weak.

Her current strength was certainly not inferior to that of Foundation Establishment initial stage disciples.

These low-level ghosts, even the Ghostly Divine Generals born from the world's malevolent energy, were indeed insignificant before her; they were just a bit more troublesome, with the only risk being that they might escape.

Feng Zikang was already intimately familiar with the Earth Element Origin Cave; Earth Element Giants nested in its depths, which, given his cultivation level, he had never dared to provoke.

However, with the protection of Shadow Fade and a powerful master as a female bodyguard by his side, he felt completely at ease and had no need to panic.

The deeper they went into the Earth Element Origin Cave, the richer the earth element energy permeated the air. As far as the eye could see, everything was a hazy, earthy yellow. The condensed earth element energy made the cave dry and warm, and every breath was filled with dust.

Occasionally, a lone Earth Element Giant would appear, and Feng Zikang would use Shadow Fade to slip past it. After Luo Lianxin dealt with the giant behind him, they would proceed together.

Passing through a narrow passage, they arrived at a stone bridge. Beneath the bridge surged the earth element energy, already condensed into liquid, bubbling and frothing like boiling water, with occasional geysers erupting with terrifying force.

This was not the common sight of lava where fire and earth elements mingled, but pure, solidified earth element liquid, a scorched yellow color.

Luo Lianxin casually waved her hand, and a green aura enveloped the two of them. Within the green aura, faint vines could be seen coiling, seemingly a wood-element divine ability, though Feng Zikang did not recognize it.

"This is the 'Eastern Splendor Viridian Wood Spirit Energy Divine Ability' from the Yin-Yang School of Mount Donghua in Yingqiu Heavenly Palace. I saw it in my master's collection and learned it on the fly. Using the principle of the five elements' generation and restraint, it defends against the impact of the earth element energy—quite targeted."

She said it lightly, but Feng Zikang secretly gasped. Judging by her tone, she must have cultivated more than just this one divine ability. Despite her tender age, she had already reached the peak of Great Perfection in the Tenth Layer of Qi Induction, and her core cultivation method and divine abilities had advanced to the highest realm allowed for the Thirtieth Layer of Qi Induction. Yet, she still had time to cultivate other unorthodox divine abilities. Compared to her, the aptitude of other diligently practicing military disciples was no different from that of pigs.

"My parents died when I was five, and I joined my master's sect. I have little recreation, so I just cultivate all day long. These divine abilities are nothing much..."

Perhaps sensing the astonishment in Feng Zikang's eyes, Luo Lianxin offered an explanation.

This statement carried a hint of sadness. A little girl who lost her parents at five and entered the care of a master with an eccentric temper and a somewhat unsound mind likely had no childhood, spending all her time in monotonous cultivation. It was no wonder she had developed this unworldly demeanor.

Feng Zikang understood, and he had already conceived one hundred and twenty-eight ways to trick this girl out of that spiritual treasure.

However, although she was unsophisticated, the divine abilities she cultivated were solidly reliable. He didn't know what layer of the Eastern Splendor Viridian Wood Spirit Energy she had reached, but the fierce flow of earth element energy struck and immediately dissipated without a trace; he couldn't feel any impact at all. Feng Zikang trod upon the narrow stone bridge as if walking on flat ground, even more amazed by her cultivation.

"It's just ahead to the end of the Earth Element Origin Cave, where our objective lies. You must be extremely careful!"

"Yes!"

Feng Zikang replied, steeling his nerves to the utmost.

Even with a spiritual treasure protecting him, caution was paramount. Assigning the task of eliminating the Ghostly Divine General to Luo Lianxin, his most crucial goal was to ensure his own safety.

He absolutely must not end up like the fool who loses everything while trying to make a quick profit.

He secretly observed the terrain, the retreat routes already fixed firmly in his mind.

Past the stone bridge was the terminus of the cave, where dozens of Earth Element Giants milled about aimlessly, doing whatever it was they did.

These bizarre monsters purely formed from the five elements did not need to forage or rest; they were sustained solely by the endless flow of earth element energy. The smarter ones knew how to breathe and cultivate to prepare for the future, while the duller ones wandered around without purpose.

Feng Zikang did not see any sign of the Ghostly Divine General but guessed it must be hiding in the shadows. He nodded to Luo Lianxin, and upon receiving her assent, he activated the Shadow Fade divine ability.

"Now!"

He darted toward the group of Earth Element Giants, suddenly revealing himself. Amidst the monsters' shocked stupefaction and ferocious roars, he laughed heartily, his laughter filled with contempt.

"Laughing at the Most Ridiculous Person Under Heaven!"

Divine ability! Activate!