From Swamp Dog to Crocodile Ancestor

The phosphorescent flames roared and burned in his ears, and Li Yi quickly stopped.

Ahead, a charred, straight tree trunk stood, completely devoid of life.

The cedar tree had lost all its branches and twigs, leaving only a straight trunk that still stood firmly in place, but it was also completely dead, devoid of any vitality.

Phosphorus fire subdues all spirits of plants and trees.

Li Yi arrived at the tree, where phosphorescent flames scattered to both sides, revealing the dry and scorched dead wood. He looked at the spirit tree, which was almost charred, and sighed inwardly.

This cedar tree had stood here for at least a thousand years, its vitality incredibly immense, yet it was still reduced to ashes.

It's pitiful that for plants and trees, the path of cultivation is far longer than that for animals, and the awakening of intelligence is even more distant.

It died just like that.

But Li Yi didn't leave immediately. Instead, he came to a charred tree trunk and stared at it suspiciously.

Here, he sensed a faint life force, extremely weak, yet still present.

Li Yi reached out and tore the tree trunk open. A large, invisible mass fell into his hand, cool to the touch and covered in fine scales.

However, he was already at the Foundation Establishment stage, so he naturally saw through the disguise at a glance.

It was the same triangular-headed venomous snake I had encountered before, its body covered in dark green scales with intricate patterns of dark red, brown, and black and white, making it look quite colorful.

It was listless and stunned for a long time before it finally stuck out its tongue, raised its head to look at Li Yi, immediately showed its submission, and revealed its original appearance.

Li Yi arrived at the perfect time. Although it had used the cedar wood to resist the phosphorescent fire for a long time, it was almost dead. If Li Yi had arrived two days later, it would probably have been roasted alive in the tree trunk.

"It's a triangular-headed venomous snake in its refining stage. Tsk tsk, such rare patterns. This is an extremely rare species in the swamp."

Mu'e walked to the side and commented, then picked up the venomous snake, stared at its gray-black vertical pupils, and actually wrapped it around his waist as a belt.

The illusion of Li Yueyou was also bending over, looking curiously at the venomous snake. She seemed to have a great liking for this cruel and insidious creature, but she could not touch it.

After lingering there for a while, Li Yi quickly located the citrine vein.

Looking at the ground beneath his feet, which had melted into a pool of yellow sap, he could vaguely make out that this was the mine of the citrine vein.

However, the phosphorescent fire melted everything, completely destroying the place.

Wherever Li Yi went, phosphorescent flames parted, revealing a large space where the already boiling, liquid citrine vein was still bubbling away.

He thought for a moment, then his entire body surged with magical power, transforming into a massive green wind that swept the liquid citrine vein into the sky, quickly revealing a dark, hollow hole.

He continued to delve deeper, reaching the bottom of the citrine vein for the first time in this manner. As the liquid yellow water flowed past him, Li Yi continued underground until he saw one end of a chain tightly gripping the bottom of the cone-shaped vein.

The thick chain was glowing red-hot. Although the surface was covered in phosphorescent flames and had become a sea of ​​fire, the source of the phosphorescent flames was underground.

In the gloomy underground, the temperature was even more terrifying, having boiled the entire citrine vein, but still unable to break the chain.

Li Yi grabbed the end of the chain with one hand, lifted it up, and then used the power of the Pure and Turbid Immortal Foundation to flow along the chain.

The hard, scorched earth softened instantly, began to flow, and turned into swampy silt.

Feeling the resistance greatly reduced, Li Yi exerted all his strength, his body tensed, and he actually tried to pull the chains out.

"rise!"

As the chains moved a distance, Li Yi couldn't help but show a look of joy.

He guessed right; the other end of the chain was indeed connected to something large, which gave him a sense of resistance.

As Li Yi slowly pulled on the chains, Mu E, who was also skilled in physical strength, came up behind Li Yi and helped him grab the chains and pull them.

The two dragged the chains for an hour, and even Mu'e was getting tired. He hugged Li Yi from behind and leaned against him.

"Soon."

Li Yi said through gritted teeth.

His magic power seeped along the chains, and he could already sense a colossal object. For some reason, that object blocked his magic power, and he could only pull it out little by little.

Another quarter of an hour later, Li Yi took a deep breath and stomped his feet hard.

boom!

With tremendous force, the bottom of the entire citrine vein cracked open. Li Yi roared and forcefully tore a corner of the other end of the chain.

The white python curiously peered at Li Yi from his shoulder.

This appears to be a corner of a palace, now dilapidated, crafted from some kind of white, translucent ancient jade.

As soon as Li Yi touched it, a cool sensation came from his palm, which invigorated him.

This is undoubtedly a palace left behind by a human sect. It has sunk deep into the swamp and was forcibly pulled here by the gradually rising yellow crystal vein.

Now, it has been completely torn out of its shell and is seeing the light of day again.

More importantly, even after being underground for so long, its surface is still cool to the touch, which means it is indeed a good place.

Mu'e couldn't wait any longer. He stomped on a large patch of scorched earth, revealing more details of the ruined palace.

The white jade, having endured countless years, remains warm and lustrous, untouched by the swamp's silt, adding to its mystique.

Li Yi continued to exert force, pulling the palace out bit by bit.

Another hour passed, and a door appeared in the dilapidated palace, protected by an array, half-closed, revealing a crack.

This palace has no name and has been completely lost.

Li Yi looked at the slightly ajar door and slowly approached the entrance.

The formation did not retaliate; it seemed not to reject living beings, but only to isolate them from the erosion of the natural environment.

"Let's go."

Li Yi was the first to enter the tilted palace, followed closely by Mu E, and then the toad and the yellow crocodile.

The palace was very peaceful; time seemed to stand still, and everything was lifelike, clean, and tidy.

The palace is not large and appears to be some kind of side hall. It has fallen off from the main hall, and there is also a broken piece of white jade staircase.

In the heart of the palace, a pair of pale golden eyes watched them, startled awake.

"Oh? This is...?"

Mu'e looked curiously at the creature in front of him, which was covered in snow-white scales. After a long while, he recognized that it belonged to the Black Scale Crocodile clan.

It retreated in fear, while three Foundation Establishment stage cultivators present were all watching it.

Li Yi recognized its aura; it was the demon beast that had been offering him brown crystals, but he had never seen it before because it was too cautious.