CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 354: FIRST NIGHT IN THE ANCIENT BATTLEFIELD

The heap of superior-grade spirit stones glittered like a pile of tiny suns, their scarlet glow lighting up the dim forest floor. The air itself seemed to tremble with the dense spiritual energy leaking from them, so thick it almost condensed into mist.

Just a single superior-grade spirit stone could guarantee their cultivation progress for months. Yet here, nearly a thousand had been dug out of the ground by a playful little tiger.

If this were in the ancient times and word of this discovery spread, entire sects would go to war.

Everyone felt like they had hit the jackpot, but they also agreed that they should indeed find shelter before the night arrives.

Chu Miao’s gaze sharpened, and with a thought, she waved her sleeve. The stones vanished, collected into her storage space before anyone could so much as reach out a hand.

The air around them immediately cleared, though the lingering essence still carried like a sweet aftertaste.

"Alright," she said calmly, though her lips curved faintly at the corners. "We’ve had enough excitement for the day. Let’s find shelter before night falls." Chu Miao, who understood the ways of secret realms suggested.

Her words broke the trance over the group. One by one, they nodded in agreement.

Everyone here trusted Chu Miao’s leadership, or at the very least, acknowledged that she had both strength and experience in cultivation far greater than theirs.

Ye Xuan’s hand tightened gently around hers as he looked at the darkening canopy above. "You’re right. A place like this... it won’t be safe after dark."

"Exactly," Gu Fan agreed, a sword he had taken out at some point resting on his shoulder as he scanned the forest warily. "The forest is too quiet. It either means the beasts here are hiding, or something worse rules this place and when the sun sets, things could get dangerous." This was his instinct as a soldier.

He didn’t want to take a risk, especially with so many brothers.

The group moved together, cautious but determined. Every step deeper into the forest felt heavier than the last, as though the ancient battlefield itself was testing them.

The heavenly pressure pressed down on their shoulders, and though they had acclimated, walking was still like dragging chains.

However, even though this increased the danger level, they still welcomed this feeling because everyone could feel how their bodies were changing and cultivation stabilizing.

After about an hour of searching, they stumbled upon a natural clearing surrounded by massive trees whose roots coiled like dragons.

The ground there was slightly elevated, with a stream of clear water trickling nearby. More importantly, the clearing gave them a wide view of their surroundings, making it easier to detect danger.

Chu Miao felt that the gods were smiling at them. Such a good spot. It was perfect for their rest.

"This should do," Chu Miao declared after a quick survey. "Set up camp here."

Everyone sprang into action after hearing this. Those who made a fire to cook, started collecting fallen branches.

Others flattened the ground and Chu Hao took out a few tents for the to erect.

In this division of labor, Gu Fan went to survey the surroundings to make sure that there weren’t any beasts or danger lurking nearby.

Lei Ying and Li Kian were looking for firewood, while Chu Hao and Murong Yi joined hands to set up sleeping tents.

Since everyone else was busy, Chu Miao and Ye Xuan started setting up several array formations layered together to provide protection.

They could not risk something showing up in the middle of the night and catching them off guard.

They scattered formation flags to create a barrier that would conceal their presence from spiritual beasts.

After they were done, Li Han and Pei Ming took over the duty of roasting meat for supper.

They took out some of the marinated meat, Chu Miao and her team had found in the mid-level district when they went to search for supplies during the floods.

Once Chu Miao was done setting up the array formations and made sure that their safety was guaranteed, she walked over to the stream to check it out.

She didn’t believe that a normal river would appear in the ancient battlefield which was filled with spiritual Qi.

Chu Miao crouched near the stream, her fingers brushing over the water. Her eyes narrowed. The liquid shimmered faintly with spiritual essence.

"A spirit stream," she murmured. "Even the water here is infused with qi." She added as she closed her eyes and absorbed the pure essence.

"Then it’s safe to drink?" Qi Long asked as he joined her and looked curiously at the water flowing in the stream.

It was the clearest water he had ever seen in his life. Purer than any purified water he had ever drank.

Chu Miao nodded. "Not only safe. Drinking this will cleanse impurities in the body. You all should fill everything you have that could hold water.

This is something that isn’t so easy to come across." She added while thinking to herself, the immortals really knew how to live.

The group quickly did as told, their morale lifting as they realized even their most basic needs were being answered in abundance by this place.

Not only did they get are herbs, superior-grade spirit stones, but now they also had spirit water. This was really more than hitting the jackpot.

The ancient battlefield was proving to be a land of endless opportunities, if one was brave enough to endure the pressure or the dangers that might follow.

When the camp was ready, they gathered around a small controlled fire. Little White lay sprawled nearby, its tail flicking smugly, as though it alone deserved all the credit for their earlier windfall.

And Chu Miao was not stingy as she had given him one superior-grade spirit stone that the tiger was currently chewing on and squinting it’s eyes like a human.

Chu Miao looked at her smug contract beasts and smiled. She had been lucky to pick up such an amusing spirit beast.