"Why are you meddling?"

Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu naturally didn't care much about Yun Xiao. He turned his head and transmitted this thought, while on the other side, Red Feather had already leapt forward, seemingly wanting to snatch back the Xuanyang Earth Pearl that Chi Yan had swallowed.

In fact, such an item as the Xuanyang Earth Pearl was neither here nor there for the Golden Snake Worm. However, for Fire Feather, who also had a fire attribute, it was something she couldn't ignore. It might allow her Demon Meridian Qi strength to be elevated another level.

Unfortunately, at this time, Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu and Red Feather had already united against a common foe. Without external intervention, Chi Yan was no match for these two teaming up.

"Hey, hey, hey, give me some face!"

Seeing these two completely ignoring his persuasion, a trace of embarrassment appeared on Yun Xiao's face, and he could only shout loudly at this moment.

"Red Feather, Red Feather, don't learn bad things from that guy. You must understand humility. How about I promise to let you have the next good thing I find first?"

Knowing that Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu wouldn't listen to him, Yun Xiao decided to break them one by one. As soon as he said this, the aura around Red Feather indeed restrained somewhat.

Unlike the self-proclaimed Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Xiao Wu, Red Feather, from the moment she hatched, the first person she saw was Yun Xiao. Although the two looked nothing alike, she regarded him as a parent-like figure in her heart.

Although Red Feather desperately wanted the Xuanyang Earth Pearl that Chi Yan had snatched, Yun Xiao's words made her hesitate a bit. After all, her spiritual wisdom was not very high, similar to that of a human child.

"Foolish creature!"

Seeing Red Feather halt, a mocking cold smile flashed through the serpent eyes of Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu. He thought to himself how easy it was to fool this silly bird, who so readily believed that guy's nonsense.

"This is better, at least there's one less competitor!"

But Xiao Wu had no intention of reminding Red Feather. Although his strength was significantly greater than hers, there was no need to fight to the death. With Red Feather voluntarily stepping down, it was a win-win situation for him.

"Hey, you, even Red Feather has come around. Why are you still being so stubborn?"

Seeing this, Yun Xiao began to shout again. But in response, Xiao Wu only gave him a look of disdain, as if to say, "Do you think I'm as easy to fool as that dumb bird?"

"Xiao Wu, if you don't stop, don't blame me for being rude!"

Seemingly sensing the disdain in the Golden Snake Worm's eyes, Yun Xiao felt somewhat embarrassed and angry. However, this spoken threat held no deterrence for Xiao Wu, instead making his gaze even more scornful.

"Little Dragon!"

Just when the Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu believed Yun Xiao could do nothing against him and was about to snatch the Xuanyang Earth Pearl from Chi Yan, he heard Yun Xiao shout loudly, and the serpent's body couldn't help but tremble.

Swoosh!

A flash of light came from Yun Xiao's waist, and in an instant, a small, adorable child appeared out of nowhere in the forest. This child had a peculiar skyward tree braid, looking extremely cute.

"Xiao Wu, if you don't come back, I'll smack you hard!"

The Dragon Tree Spirit Little Dragon naturally followed Yun Xiao's orders, and since the Xuanyang Earth Pearl was rich in fire attributes, he had no interest in it. So, after appearing, he shouted directly.

"Dammit!"

Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu could ignore Red Feather and dismiss Yun Xiao's words, but he could never ignore Little Dragon, especially a Dragon Guiding Tree Spirit that had already cultivated spiritual wisdom, as it held crucial significance for him.

Therefore, after Xiao Wu paused his actions, he could only curse inwardly without showing any dissatisfaction toward the Dragon Tree Spirit, although his gaze toward Chi Yan was far from friendly.

"Squeak squeak!"

Chi Yan, feeling smug, jumped onto a tall tree and chirped triumphantly in this direction. This provocation almost made Xiao Wu and Red Feather rush forward again to seize the pearl.

"Chi Yan, don't be smug, or I won't help you anymore!"

This scene undoubtedly made Yun Xiao feel like giving up, but in the end, he sternly scolded Chi Yan, making him quiet down. Yet, his mouse eyes occasionally flashed with a faint reddish glow.

"You two guys already have such strong powers. Can't you show some humility to Chi Yan, whose cultivation is still so weak?"

After scolding Chi Yan, Yun Xiao finally turned back, perhaps the words from his mouth revealed the real reason he sided with Chi Yan this time.

After all, even though the Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu claims to be a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, it could probably unleash power comparable to that of an Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage human cultivator, even without relying on Yun Xiao's body. If it were to leverage Yun Xiao's body, the power unleashed might be even greater.

Red Feather may not have the explosive power of Xiao Wu, but having reached the Seventh Rank Advanced, with its Ancient Heavenly Phoenix lineage, breaking through to the Eighth Rank is just around the corner.

But what about Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan? Though it was severely wounded by Xia Yong at Yulei Mountain and managed to break through to the Seventh Rank Intermediate after recovering, it is still somewhat overpowered when facing enemies at the Seeking Origin Realm level.

Yun Xiao has always treated his companions equally. Firstly, he doesn't want them to fall out with each other over the Xuanyang Earth Pearl, and secondly, there's indeed an intention to assist Chi Yan, who is currently the weakest. Therefore, he used all his efforts to mediate.

In fact, while Xiao Wu and Red Feather appeared fierce just moments ago, determined to win, they might not actually fight to the death. After all, they have been comrades for many years, with a foundation of friendship, and perhaps more playful than serious.

Now that Yun Xiao has exhausted his "methods," Xiao Wu and Red Feather have given in and allowed Chi Yan to take the advantage first, though there was a hint of mischief in the snake eyes of the Golden Snake Worm.

"That's an Eighth Rank Advanced Xuanyang Earth Pearl. I'm afraid that Chi Yan won't be able to absorb it and might end up bursting itself!"

The Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu transmitted his voice with disdain, and upon hearing this, Yun Xiao truly felt a bit worried. However, since this was a transmitted intention, Chi Yan naturally couldn't hear it; otherwise, it would surely refute with its small frame using both its feet and hands.

Thus, a farce over the Xuanyang Earth Pearl concluded. Without the competition from the other two, Chi Yan was already eager to start refining the Xuanyang Earth Pearl.

Boom!

As a fierce Fire Attribute aura erupted from that giant tree, Chi Yan, originally the size of a palm, swelled several times larger in an instant, transforming into a giant rat over three meters long. Compared to its previously cute appearance, it now seemed ferocious and fierce.

"As expected of the Xuanyang Earth Pearl, this Fire Attribute energy is incredibly dense!"

Seeing this, Yun Xiao couldn't help but exclaim, while at the same time, Xiao Wu and Red Feather, who hadn't returned to his body, shimmered with different lights, as if anticipating something.

As a Fire Attribute Vein Demon, Chi Yan seemed to be aptly refining the Xuanyang Earth Pearl, but after three days and nights of refining, it encountered some issues.

Whew… whew…

With the arrival of dawn, Yun Xiao opened his eyes, which had been closed due to some unusual fluctuations, and he couldn't help but feel delighted, thinking that the moment had finally come.

"It's about to break through!"

Given Yun Xiao's sensing, he naturally knew that such a huge commotion was the sign of Chi Yan about to break through to the Seventh Rank Advanced. After refining the Xuanyang Earth Pearl, Chi Yan indeed did not disappoint him.

Chi Yan's breakthrough was uneventful, and just as it reached the Seventh Rank Advanced level, a mass of fire suddenly erupted from beneath the giant tree where it was located.

In just moments, the towering giant tree was turned into ashes by this mass of fire, and within the flames, the silhouette of a large rat-shaped Vein Demon appeared, resembling an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix undergoing Nirvana.

"Is that... Earth Core Fire induced by the Xuanyang Earth Pearl?"

Yun Xiao, well-informed and having witnessed the refining of Xuanyang Earth Pearl by Nine-layered Dragon Cloud experts, instantly realized what was happening, and his face couldn't help but express worry.

Xuanyang Earth Pearl is a rare treasure. It is formed from Earth Fire after hundreds of years of tempering, containing extremely dense Earth Core Fire, not something ordinary cultivators can endure.

In fact, if it weren't for the Fire Attribute power of Chi Yan the Fire Cloud Rat, it would have been reduced to ashes by the dense Earth Core Fire the moment it began refining the Xuanyang Earth Pearl.

An Earth Rank Advanced Xuanyang Earth Pearl is generally most suitable for an Earth Bending Realm human cultivator or a Ninth Rank Vein Demon to refine.

Chi Yan is only a mere Seventh Rank Intermediate, which was Yun Xiao's concern earlier. Yet, to his surprise, just as Chi Yan successfully refined and broke through, this powerful Earth Core Fire was drawn.

With the augmentation of genuine Earth Core Fire, the Xuanyang Earth Pearl seemed to erupt with an extremely violent Fire Attribute power once again, catching even the newly advanced Seventh Rank Chi Yan off guard, its mouse eyes showing a trace of panic.

"I told you, this guy is overestimating itself, trouble was bound to happen!"

The Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu remarked gleefully, making Yun Xiao's expression increasingly grim. This fellow was still making sarcastic comments at a time like this, completely disregarding brotherhood.

"Xiao Wu, go help Chi Yan!"

This time, before Yun Xiao could even speak, the Dragon Guiding Tree Spirit Little Dragon intervened, rendering Xiao Wu speechless. However, its snake body remained motionless.

"Such Earth Core Fire is hard to come by; perhaps letting this silly bird go is more fitting!"

It seems that the Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu had its own ideas, and at this moment, it showed some modesty. After saying this, Yun Xiao's eyes lit up, and Red Feather over there already leaped out, apparently having long set its sights on the sudden Earth Core Fire.