After slaying the flock of one-legged giant birds, the spoils were unexpectedly bountiful.

Qingyao Immortal Venerable effortlessly retrieved eleven head-sized, blood-red crystals. These were the essence of their life force, each radiating a powerful and vigorous vitality.

“Take them all. I don’t need them anymore. You just lost so much of your lifespan; these will be perfect for you!”

She said with a smile, tossing them all to Qing Muling.

She found it quite unbelievable herself. In the past, when she ventured alone into the chaos of the vast void, she had slain many chaotic beasts, but rarely did she manage to preserve their life essence crystals.

This time was an exception. The life essence crystals she obtained exceeded any previous haul, likely due to Qing Muling’s extraordinary fortune.

Qing Muling took a look at the crystals and then absorbed them all into the depths of the Blue Lotus phantom. In no time, they were fully absorbed and digested.

A surge of warmth filled his body, and the Blue Lotus phantom grew brighter and more solid. The hall was filled with a dense Dao Rhyme, making Qingyao Immortal Venerable and her two avatars feel incredibly comfortable.

The benefits were immediate. Qing Muling’s lost lifespan was not only restored but increased by tens of thousands of years.

His internal space expanded further, and once stabilized, it increased by about ten percent. The internal law system became more complex and complete, resembling the environment of a true great world.

Another pleasant surprise was that the nineteenth Blue Lotus leaf phantom fully manifested, awakening a new innate divine ability.

“Fortune Decay”—this was the main effect of the new ability. Any target Qing Muling deemed an enemy would gradually lose their fortune and blessings. Over time, even their destiny and innate talents would degrade significantly.

This divine ability was different from curses or witchcraft; it couldn’t be detected beforehand. By the time the target realized something was wrong, it would often be too late to reverse the damage.

“…This secret art is so lethal that even a Great Golden Immortal can’t withstand it. Even newly ascended Quasi Holy Emperors like my master and Tongying Emperor would feel its effects within a year or two. If my cultivation level increases in the future, it might even affect seasoned Quasi Holy Emperors who have severed two or three corpses.”

Qing Muling pondered silently. This was his first divine ability capable of harming Quasi Holy Emperors, though it couldn’t take immediate effect. Even so, it was still quite terrifying.

Other Xuan Immortals, no matter how talented, would be like ants in the eyes of Quasi Holy Emperors. Only Qing Muling possessed such unique means.

“How is it? Has your lost lifespan been restored?”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable asked with concern. Given Qing Muling’s current cultivation level, losing too much lifespan would have significant negative effects.

“It’s restored, and it has increased quite a bit,” Qing Muling replied.

“In that case, can’t we now…”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable’s eyes brightened. She thought of some notoriously difficult chaotic beast nests. In the past, even with her cultivation level, she couldn’t deal with them. But now, with Qing Muling’s help, perhaps they could try to take them on?

In those nests of great beasts, there must be all sorts of treasures, such as top-tier innate spiritual items, mystical materials from the chaos of the vast void, supreme innate spirit treasures, and perhaps even Harmony Creation Blue Lotuses.

“In that case, let’s give it a try!”

Qing Muling said. Since he could replenish his lost lifespan by absorbing the life essence crystals of chaotic beasts, he had no further worries.

“Alright, let’s do it!”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable said with a smile, “It’s not that I’m greedy, but I’m thinking of you, Junior Brother! You have so many Dao Companions. When they ascend to Quasi Holy Emperors, they’ll need a lot of innate spirit treasures to advance further!”

“…”

Qing Muling’s expression changed slightly. He suddenly realized he had almost overlooked a crucial issue: when Quasi Holy Emperors sever their three corpses, they need innate spirit treasures to anchor their avatars. There’s no substitute for these core resources!

And the higher the grade of these innate spirit treasures, the better, as it directly affects the strength of the avatars. Ideally, they would be Harmony Creation Blue Lotuses, though that’s unrealistic. At the very least, they need to be supreme innate spirit treasures.

For instance, Qingyao Immortal Venerable used three supreme innate spirit treasures to anchor her three corpses’ avatars. As for those Quasi Holy Emperors with limited resources and poor luck, they might only have high-grade or mid-grade innate spirit treasures.

If they can’t even meet this standard, it’s better not to consider it at all. Weak avatars can’t help the main body withstand various tribulations and might even become a burden.

From Qing Muling’s perspective, he certainly didn’t want his Dao Companions to lack suitable innate spirit treasures in the future. For newly ascended Mu Yinghua and Fengge Emperor, and the soon-to-breakthrough Yu Lingzhou, he needed to prepare enough high-grade, preferably supreme innate spirit treasures.

As for Harmony Creation Blue Lotuses, they are rare treasures that can’t be sought after easily. Qing Muling didn’t have high expectations for them at the moment.

“It seems we really need to gather enough supreme innate spirit treasures this time before we can go back,” Qing Muling sighed. This was the downside of having too many Dao Companions.

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister will definitely help you. You won’t be disappointed!”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable hugged him and kissed him gently, speaking softly.

Qing Muling nodded, “Let’s go check out their nest. There must be good stuff inside.”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable agreed, and her true body left the starship, transforming into a beam of light that entered the largest chaotic star, where the one-legged giant birds’ nest was located.

Moments later, a magnificent beam of light flew out from the depths of the chaotic star and returned lightly to the starship.

“Are you alright?”

Qing Muling supported Qingyao Immortal Venerable and checked her over. Seeing no signs of injury, he was relieved.

“I’ve emptied it out. It feels pretty good.”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable said, waving her hand lightly. With a clattering sound, piles of rare divine metals, primordial crystals, Harmony Spirit Sand, and Yuanqing Star Stones… nearly formed a mountain in the hall. These were rare divine materials only found in the depths of the chaos of the vast void.

These were core materials for refining powerful spirit treasures, merit sacred artifacts, and divine weapons. If someone like Qingyao Immortal Venerable took the time, she could refine products comparable to mid-grade or high-grade innate spirit treasures. Of course, it would take considerable time and effort.

For ordinary Quasi Holy Emperors, these were already excellent treasures. However, with Qingyao Immortal Venerable having Qing Muling, she no longer valued such items. Perhaps in the future, she could consider selling them at high prices to allied forces?

The biggest find from emptying the one-legged giant birds’ nest was a strange, icy dark-gold long sword. The long sword’s body had countless Dao patterns swirling within, and its terrifying sword intent could split stars.

“Thirty-four innate Harmony treasure seals? It’s even better than that Sun-Moon-Star Flag. This is close to the pinnacle of supreme innate spirit treasures!”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable was delighted. The quality of this sword surpassed her own life-bound sword, which she had refined with her blood for over a hundred Yuanhui. Even in the upper realm, few treasures could compare to it.

“Senior Sister, you should use it. It should enhance your current combat power.”

Qing Muling said without hesitation. She was the strongest in Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and the female cultivator alliance. The best spirit treasures should naturally go to her. When the big figures from the upper realm descended, the pressure on Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace would be immense. Whether Qingyao Immortal Venerable could hold them off was crucial to Qing Muling’s survival.

Qingyao Immortal Venerable pondered for a moment and said, “You should keep this for yourself. Or distribute it to any senior sister when we return. As for me… I can wait. Maybe we’ll encounter something even better later!”

“Alright.”

Qing Muling didn’t insist. After a brief rest, the starship continued its journey.

The following journey was thrilling but not dangerous. They found five hidden opportunities from Qingyao’s memory, each more perilous than the last. With Qing Muling willing to burn his lifespan and manifest the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus phantom, Qingyao Immortal Venerable successfully slew the chaotic beasts and secured the opportunities.

The five opportunities were a long-necked jade bottle with twenty-four innate Harmony treasure seals; a beautiful jade necklace with thirty-one innate Harmony treasure seals; a heavy golden whip with twenty-seven innate Harmony treasure seals; and two innate spiritual items, comparable to supreme innate spirit treasures.

Throughout the journey, Qingyao Immortal Venerable and her avatars frequently fought, slaying thousands of chaotic beasts. All the life essence they collected was given to Qing Muling for absorption.

“Alright, now let’s go trouble the true beast kings of the chaos of the vast void.”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable said, “For those who venture into the chaos of the vast void, their territories aren’t secret. It’s just that their strength is so terrifying that even the Grand Palace Master of Phoenix Palace wouldn’t want to provoke them easily.”

“Alright, let’s go see. Maybe we’ll find a legendary Harmony Creation Blue Lotus!”

Qing Muling said, looking forward to it. What kind of creatures could even the Grand Palace Master of Phoenix Palace avoid? If they could find even one Harmony Creation Blue Lotus, it would be worth the trip.

The starship adjusted its direction and accelerated, disappearing into the depths of the chaotic tides.

“Senior Sister, how do those Harmony Creation Blue Lotuses in the upper realm come about? Are they all snatched from the nests of those chaotic beast kings?”

“Probably! I don’t know the specifics. It’s a top secret of the superpowers and immortal sanctuaries. Outsiders can’t know without special reasons.”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable said, “Just like when you were born in the chaos of the vast void, the master of Origin Star Palace wouldn’t reveal how they got you, right?”

Qing Muling nodded, saying nothing more. Such matters were indeed not for outsiders to know.

However, he was now curious about his birthplace in the chaos of the vast void. What kind of place could give birth to a Harmony Spirit Seed?

Perhaps when he reunites with the master of Origin Star Palace, the secret will be revealed, provided she doesn’t kill him on the spot!

This journey was quite long. Even at the starship’s terrifying speed, it took a hundred hours to reach their destination.

“…We’re here,”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable said, “This is the edge of their territory. If we go deeper, we’ll encounter their patrols. Ten Yuanhui ago, I came here once and was chased off by two juvenile ones.”

“Are they that powerful?”

“Yes, with my current cultivation level, I can only handle one. More than that, and it’s impossible! Their abilities are strange and troublesome. Ordinary divine abilities and innate spirit treasures have little effect on them.”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable explained seriously, not feeling embarrassed. In the chaos of the vast void, such things were common. No one could claim to be invincible.

“Alright, I’ll take care of them.”

Qing Muling focused on the void outside, silently deducing the heavenly secrets, ready to act.

Soon, the starship’s speed slowed down without warning.

“They’re here!”

Qingyao Immortal Venerable said nervously.

Without a word, Qing Muling’s body surged with black and white flames. His aura rapidly climbed, quickly surpassing the peak Golden Immortal threshold, stepping into Taiyi Golden Immortal, and then Great Golden Immortal levels!

The price was burning twenty thousand years of lifespan for an hour of Great Golden Immortal-level power.

The massive Harmony Creation Blue Lotus phantom appeared again, more solid than before, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The phantom’s range expanded from over ten thousand miles to nearly a million miles.

Under its influence, the chaotic tides calmed, revealing the lurking monstrous fish.

These were thousand-foot-long beasts, part crocodile, part shark, with ferocious and violent auras. They were also social creatures; provoking one would attract a swarm!

However, with Qing Muling’s actions, the massive Blue Lotus phantom slowly descended, and the sealing power of the Sun-Moon-Star Flag immobilized dozens of chaotic beasts.