Chapter 551: Chapter 551: Watching the Tigers Fight, the Fisherman Takes the Prize!

Throughout the day, Chen Xiao managed to refine over fifty Silver Star Grass plants in one go.

This refining speed was nothing short of terrifying.

Although the process was painful, the result left Chen Xiao very satisfied. Now, he had reached the peak of the Golden Body Early Stage, just one step away from Golden Body Great Success.

Unfortunately, after refining over fifty Silver Star Grass plants, the stimulation from them had little effect on his physical body, barely having any impact, so he had to give up on them.

However, he could feel his physical body had once again become much stronger. When he activated the Mysterious Yang Body, a faint golden light would appear on the surface of his body!

This was a sign of approaching Golden Body Great Success!

He calmed his mind, stood up, and continued to move forward according to the map’s direction.

Along the way, Chen Xiao also encountered several groups of martial artists engaged in fierce battles.

However, he quietly avoided them, not wanting to stir up trouble.

Soon, Chen Xiao felt the surrounding temperature gradually dropping.

A chill was spreading from ahead.

The further he walked, the colder it became, and there were fewer and fewer plants around. After walking about seven or eight more miles, even the ground was covered with frost!

The Thousand-year Cold Pond was near!

He quickened his pace!

"Swish, swish, swish—" At this moment, he saw a group of figures appear ahead.

It was Zi Yuan and those elders from the Xuantian Sect.

His heart tightened!

To be honest, he didn’t want to meet them in a place like this.

Moreover, he was still in disguise at the moment.

"Miss, there’s a loose cultivator!" one of the Xuantian Sect elders said.

Zi Yuan’s indifferent gaze slowly swept toward Chen Xiao, "Ignore him. Early Transcendent Realm, not a threat to us!"

"Understood!" the elders nodded.

"This should be an unusual place where a top-quality ice attribute Heavenly Treasure has emerged. Let’s go inside!" Zi Yuan said, leading them quickly forward.

Chen Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, quietly following behind them, but he didn’t dare to follow too closely, only watching them from a distance.

The closer he got, the fiercer the bitter cold became. Chen Xiao had to circulate his spiritual energy to resist the cold.

The ground was already covered in frost.

Soon, a huge cold pond appeared in front of them.

The water’s surface was covered with ice shards, exuding a biting coldness.

Zi Yuan and the Xuantian Sect elders couldn’t help but take a cold breath.

"This is a Thousand-year Cold Pond!"

"Is that a tree over there? With gold fruits on it, could it be the legendary Great Sun Golden Fruit?!" Zi Yuan’s eyes showed excitement, "Legend has it that the Great Sun Golden Fruit requires an extremely Yin place to grow, using the extreme Yin environment to temper itself, only then can it bloom and bear fruit."

"The Great Sun Golden Fruit contains pure spiritual energy of utmost Yang and fortitude, an invaluable treasure for any martial artist. It seems we’ve hit the jackpot this time!"

"Miss, if you consume these Great Sun Golden Fruits, your strength might rise to another level," one elder said with a smile.

On a small tree about ten feet tall beside the Thousand-year Cold Pond, there were several golden fruits, their entire surface gleaming with golden light, clearly extraordinary.

Zi Yuan nodded slightly, and the next moment, her gaze sharpened, "Who’s hiding in the shadows?!"

Chen Xiao’s heart trembled slightly. Could it be that he had been discovered?

He was about to step out with a reluctant heart, but just then, another group of black-clad figures emerged from the other side, carrying an ominous aura, their eyes blood-red as they stared at Zi Yuan and the others. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Zi Yuan, daughter of the Xuantian Sect Leader, a once-in-a-century unparalleled talent, she’s an excellent furnace for cultivation for our Chaotic Demon Sect!"

"Hahaha, Senior Brother, we’re blessed this time!"

"Senior Brother, after you enjoy the meat, let us juniors have some broth too!"

These Chaotic Demon Sect disciples stared at Zi Yuan with scorching eyes, their mouths full of vulgar language.

"So it’s the Chaotic Demon Sect scoundrels." Zi Yuan’s eyes showed a hint of coldness.

The Chaotic Demon Sect, though listed among the Lower Four Sects of the Eight Hidden Sects, was never to be underestimated, as their cultivation involved unconventional methods that were hard to guard against.

The reason they were classified as one of the Lower Four Sects was due to their lack of decorum.

Not due to weakness.

In fact, the strength of the Chaotic Demon Sect was not inferior to the Three Upper Sects.

"Lady Zi Yuan, we’re not ones to harm flowers. If you’re willing to willingly submit to us and become my furnace, we can spare the rest of your group today, how about it?"

Zi Yuan sneered, "With just you guys? Not even enough to fill our teeth!"

"Then let’s try!" The young man leading the Chaotic Demon Sect revealed a cold smile.

Then, countless poisonous mists spread from their bodies, covering the surrounding space.

"Despicable!" Zi Yuan gritted her teeth. These Chaotic Demon Sect fellows loved using underhanded methods, but they had to be cautious as well, not knowing the power of these poisonous mists.

"Hold your breath, quickly resolve them!" Zi Yuan directed the elders behind her.

Both sides immediately clashed fiercely.

However, to Zi Yuan’s surprise, the disciples of the Chaotic Demon Sect were even more powerful than she anticipated.

The young man leading them turned out to be a late Transcendent Realm martial artist.

The other few were all Transcendent Middle Stage powerhouses, on par with those Outer Elders.

For a while, neither side could gain the upper hand.

Moreover, under the corrosion of the poisonous mists, Zi Yuan felt her body’s speed slowing, and the flow of her spiritual power wasn’t as smooth.

The chief disciple of the Chaotic Demon Sect, Qiu Ren, smirked, "Lady Zi Yuan, this poisonous mist is known as Sealing Spirit Powder. Holding your breath is useless. As long as you need to use spiritual power, these toxins will infiltrate your body, gradually weakening your cultivation until you’re at our mercy!"

While speaking, he pushed Zi Yuan back with a sword thrust.

Gritting her teeth, Zi Yuan circulated her Dark Purple Spiritual Power, trying to forcefully expel the toxins. But the more intensely her spiritual power circulated, the more the toxins corroded.

This caused her brow to furrow.

Just then...

"Splash—!" Suddenly, a burst of water erupted from the Thousand-year Cold Pond.

Then, a gigantic silver serpent, over a dozen feet long, crawled out from the cold pond, its hissing causing everyone to shiver.

The giant serpent’s eyes coldly scanned the crowd, then emitted a hoarse roar. With a lash of its tail, the closest Chaotic Demon Sect disciple was sent flying, fate unknown!

The serpent writhed its massive body, rampaging through everyone. Neither those from the Chaotic Demon Sect nor the Tianxuan Sect’s elders could withstand its attack, all being flung away, and one Chaotic Demon Sect disciple was even swallowed whole in terror...

Seeing this, Zi Yuan’s face turned pale, gritting her teeth, "This is a late Transcendent Realm serpent!"

Moreover, the serpent was covered in dense scales, possessing formidable defense. Ordinary attacks were ineffective against it, making it stronger than a typical late Transcendent Realm powerhouse.

The serpent’s eyes were filled with bloodlust. In an instant, it lunged towards Qiu Ren and Zi Yuan.

Zi Yuan said coldly, "Work with me to kill this serpent, or else we’ll all die!"

"Alright!" Qiu Ren’s eyes flickered, nodding.

The two factions immediately teamed up to surround and kill the serpent. However, the serpent’s skin was tough, and its cultivation was on par with theirs, forcing them into retreat.

The serpent rampaged on, soon swallowing another two or three people.

After devouring several people, the serpent’s bloodlust intensified even further.

"Attack its seven-inch spot!" Zi Yuan shouted.

She activated her Dark Purple Spiritual Power, executing swordsmanship, entangling with the serpent in a deadly battle.

Chen Xiao, hidden in the shadows, narrowed his eyes, realizing Zi Yuan’s naivety.

She fought desperately against the serpent, yet Qiu Ren hesitated, conserving his strength, clearly intending to wear her down.

Even if she managed to slay the serpent, Qiu Ren would likely reap the benefits.

However...

Now, both factions had suffered casualties, and he had remained hidden all along, perhaps making him the mantis stalking the cicada, while he, the oriole, followed behind.

From here, all he needed to do was watch the tigers fight from across the mountain, quietly waiting for the outcome to unfold.

With this thought, he licked his lips, concealed in the shadows, closely watching the scene.