Chapter 57: A Major Discovery

The Soul Hunter’s gaze shifted to the little dwarf dragon who had spoken, a barely perceptible flicker of surprise in his eyes. He narrowed them, wondering how a divine beast could appear in the lower realm—and moreover, remain uncontracted.

His eyes were cold as frost, utterly ignoring the dwarf dragon’s question, his voice devoid of warmth: “If you’ve come for the Soul-Reviving Flower, save yourselves the trouble. Only we are worthy to possess it.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yu grew anxious at once. The Soul-Reviving Flower was vital to him; he had to obtain it. Xin’er’s resurrection depended entirely on this flower. He could not return empty-handed.

Zhou Yu’s angry roar exploded in the air: “Don’t even think about it! We’ll seize the Soul-Reviving Flower, even if it costs us our lives!”

Jiang Yan, upon hearing his comrade’s impassioned declaration, immediately thought he was nothing but a reckless teammate. Although Jiang Yan didn’t know the true cultivation levels of the two before him, he could sense they were certainly not weak.

He guessed that the ones who had slain those high-level monsters must be these two. To defeat so many powerful beasts with only two people—could their skills be lacking?

Now was truly not the time to provoke them. As the saying goes, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. If they kept a low profile now, they might be able to grow stronger later.

The Soul Hunter glanced over Zhou Yu and the female corpse cradled in his arms, his words laced with mockery: “You mean to use the Soul-Reviving Flower to save her? Ha! Don’t be naïve. The woman you hold has been dead for many days—even if she takes the Soul-Reviving Flower, her soul will not return.”

It was the first time the Soul Hunter had spoken so much to strangers. He merely wanted to see their faces contorted in heartbreak and despair.

Zhou Yu, struck by the Soul Hunter’s words as if by lightning, staggered back several steps, nearly falling. He trembled, protesting, “You… you’re trying to deceive me! Impossible. You just want the flower for yourself!”

Snow Eagle’s eyes were fierce, his voice harsh: “Objections? Then let’s fight!”

No sooner had he spoken than the axes in his hands seemed eager, as if ready to display their might at any moment.

“Everyone, calm down. I’ll go discuss this with my brother. Alas, we too seek the Soul-Reviving Flower to revive my sister-in-law. Since this friend in black says even the flower won’t help, I’ll try to persuade my brother. We’ll leave at once,” said Jiang Yan.

As soon as he finished, he signaled the others to withdraw. The group quickly retreated.

The dwarf dragon, though angry at being ignored, was not foolish. It needed a chance to share its discovery with Jiang Yan and the others.

Snow Eagle, seeing them leave, grumbled, “I haven’t even started fighting—how could they just walk away like that?”

The Soul Hunter sneered, “Hmph, mere ants from the lower realm—how could they compete with us for the Soul-Reviving Flower? Rest assured, if they dare show themselves again, it will be their time to die…”

With that, he returned to guard the flower.

Snow Eagle swung his axes, smashing a giant stone into countless fragments, his face aflame with anger. He muttered, “Why hasn’t this damned flower bloomed yet? This mission is unbearably dull!”

He longed for a fierce battle to stretch his muscles and release his restlessness.

From the green meadow, Ironwing watched his master distance himself from those two fiends and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He too had considered, if a battle really broke out, with his master now so weakened, he would risk his life to protect him.

Jiang Yan and his companions returned to their initial landing spot.

“Jiang Yan, are you afraid of them?” Zhou Yu couldn’t help but ask.

Jiang Yan analyzed, “Brother, don’t be impatient. Since they’re still guarding the flower, it means it hasn’t bloomed yet. Now isn’t the time to waste our strength, especially since those two aren’t ordinary. If we end up both wounded, it’ll only benefit those who come after us…”

Upon hearing Jiang Yan’s reasoning, Zhou Yu finally calmed down. But after pondering for a moment, he grew anxious again. “No, if they’re on guard and the flower suddenly blooms, what if they get it first?”

Ji Chuxue explained to Zhou Yu, “It’s said that the Soul-Reviving Flower emits a unique fragrance the day before it blooms, which spreads for miles. We’ll know in advance when the flower is about to open, so you needn’t worry.”

Zhou Yu, hearing this, showed a hint of apology. “I acted impulsively.”

He paused, then continued, somewhat conflicted, “I owe my safe arrival here to all of you—without your help, neither Xin’er nor I would have made it. But if there’s only one Soul-Reviving Flower, could I buy it from you at a high price?”

Jiang Yan turned to Ji Chuxue, seeking her opinion. “Senior Sister, what do you think?”

Ji Chuxue answered, “It depends on the price.”

Zhou Yu said gratefully, “Rest assured—even if I must give up everything I own, I will not hesitate.”

The dwarf dragon suddenly interjected, “I’ve made an important discovery—I smell traces of the divine realm on those two.”

Ji Chuxue frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before saying, “If that’s so, their cultivation must be suppressed. I sense they’re currently at the Nascent Soul level.”

Jiang Yan, hearing they were from the divine realm, felt a sudden surge of aversion. It reminded him of what his senior sister had once told him—about the innocent beastmen slaughtered by those from the divine realm—filling him with anger and resentment.

Deep down, he hoped his benefactors from the neighboring mountain—the beastmen—would remain safe and live long.

Qin Feifei asked, “Senior Sister, do you think the few of us together could stand a chance against them?”

Ji Chuxue replied, “I sense a strong aura of slaughter from them. They aren’t ordinary divine beings, but more like assassins—very difficult to deal with. If we want to fight them, every one of us must give our all.”

Indeed, Ji Chuxue’s judgment was sharp and incisive.

Jiang Yan turned to the dwarf dragon and asked, “Little Dragon, isn’t your strength extraordinary? Against those two from the divine realm, what are your chances?”

The dwarf dragon paused, a bit embarrassed. “Well, actually, as a divine beast, my cultivation is still somewhat limited in the lower realm.”

After hearing this, Jiang Yan understood—the dwarf dragon couldn’t guarantee victory over the two divine beings.

Jiang Yan pondered for a moment, then said, “No matter—we’ll join forces and face them together. But now is not the best time. We must wait a little longer.”