Yuan Ming listened to Vajra's words and raised an eyebrow; he himself didn't quite feel the same way.

But he soon understood. In recent years, whenever he cultivated, he would directly transform into the form of the Undying Tree, using the Undying Tree Roots to absorb nature's spiritual energy and the Power of the Sun to refine his mana and temper his physical body.

The Undying Tree Roots could penetrate the void and directly communicate with the outside world. Naturally, it didn't matter where it was located, but Vajra didn't have such conditions and would certainly be uncomfortable staying within the forbidden constraints.

"Alright, I'll agree with you." Yuan Ming nodded toward Vajra and then stepped into the "curtain" inside.

The next moment, the scenery before him changed dramatically; it was no longer the desolate island. Before his eyes was a lush and beautiful island, filled with blooming flowers and abundant spiritual energy, almost like a holy land from a fairy tale.

"Is this a space treasure?" Yuan Ming looked around and said.

Such a spirit island could absolutely not exist within the Dongji Sea, and moreover, it was under the control of Yun Luo Fairy. The only explanation was that, like the Shura Palace, this place was the interior of a space treasure.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Yuan has a keen eye. This is a space treasure I fortuitously acquired many years ago, named the Flowers Map. Since everyone has worked hard to hunt a Level 6 demon beast for me, please rest here; it is absolutely safe." Yun Luo Fairy said with a gentle smile.

"Flowers Map..." Hearing this, Yuan Ming suddenly recalled something.

Earlier, when he was preparing to hunt a Level 6 demon beast, Yun Luo Fairy unexpectedly ventured to Flowers Island in the Dongji Sea, despite the dangers, saying she was attending some Ten Thousand Flowers Festival.

Flowers Map, Flowers Island, Ten Thousand Flowers Festival — the names have quite a few similarities. Such coincidences, could there be some connection among them?

"I will first go into retreat to consolidate my cultivation level, making my final preparations to enter the Dharma manifestation Stage. Fellow Daoist Yuan, you may move freely here without any concerns. When the Dharma Manifestation Pill is complete, please lend me a helping hand," Yun Luo Fairy said to Yuan Ming.

"Once the pill is complete, I will hand it over to you at the first opportunity," Yuan Ming nodded in response.

Seeing that her friendly gesture had been accepted by Yuan Ming, Yun Luo Fairy had nothing more to say and departed with a smile.

Yuan Ming watched her leave and then looked around, discovering that the spiritual energy in this place was extremely dense, even more so than in the Medicine Garden of the Shura Palace.

Apart from the dense spiritual energy of nature, the air was filled with a rich floral fragrance.

Yuan Ming wasn't particularly a flower lover and didn't especially like floral scents, particularly ones as strong as this. However, the fragrance here was ethereal and elegant, not at all overwhelming, and instead helped to calm his mind.

"This Yun Luo Fairy indeed harbors quite a few secrets," he thought to himself, but didn't wander around the island. Instead, he found a spot to summon the Shura Palace and entered it.

Inside the black hall of the Extreme Fire Realm in the Shura Palace, Dian Xiaosan was sitting cross-legged, staring fixedly at the Complete Heaven Exquisite Tripod, with twelve Earth Fires under his control, a look of fascination on his face.

"Master Dian, how is the Complete Heaven Exquisite Tripod?" Yuan Ming asked with a gentle smile.

"The Complete Heaven Exquisite Tripod from the Pill King Pavilion is indeed a top-grade Alchemy Furnace, better than my Qingxuan Creation Cauldron. Are you truly willing to let me use it?" Dian Xiaosan hurriedly stood up upon seeing Yuan Ming.

The more advanced an alchemist, the more particular they become about the Alchemy Furnace they use. Dian Xiaosan was a sixth-level alchemist; his furnace was only a Seven-Orifice Pill Furnace, with just two Earth Fires and the rest Human Fires.

In recent years, Dian Xiaosan had followed the directives of the Dongji Palace, mainly because backing the Dongji Palace made it easier for him to obtain a variety of alchemical resources. More importantly, there was an Earth Fire within the Dongji Palace that he wished to acquire to upgrade his furnace to an Eight-Aperture Pill Furnace.

Now, a furnace with twelve Earth Fires appeared before him. How could Dian Xiaosan not be excited?

"A treasure sword for a hero. Master Dian's alchemy skills far surpass mine. Naturally, this furnace should be given to you to use, to maximize its potential," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

"Good, good, good..." Dian Xiaosan was so moved that he repeated "good" three times.

"Not just this Complete Heaven Exquisite Tripod. This Emperor Yan's Ruyi Scepter, which possesses flame-controlling divine skills, is also yours to use from today onward," Yuan Ming said, handing the Emperor Yan's Ruyi Scepter to Dian Xiaosan.

Knowing its effects from Yuan Ming, Dian Xiaosan received the scepter with trembling hands.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, you have bestowed such heavy treasures one after another. Is there something you need me to do?" he quickly calmed down and asked.

"There's no major matter; I was just hoping you could help refine a Dharma Manifestation Pill," Yuan Ming said coolly.

"A Dharma Manifestation Pill! Have you already prepared the materials?" Dian Xiaosan exclaimed.

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"Naturally. The materials for refining a Dharma Manifestation Pill are scarce. The most important sixth-level demon core and demon soul, I only have one set, and failure is not an option. I'll need to trouble Master Dian for this alchemy task," Yuan Ming said.

"Of course!" Dian Xiaosan immediately nodded.

The Pill King Pavilion and Qingxuan Platform are both the leaders of the Alchemy Dao in Central Continent. As a disciple of Qingxuan Platform, Dian Xiaosan naturally knew about the signature elixir of the Pill King Pavilion — the Dharma Manifestation Pill. Being able to see the Dharma Manifestation Pill recipe and personally refine such a precious elixir is an opportunity no alchemist would refuse.

"Although the Dharma Manifestation Pill is only fifth-grade, its refinement difficulty is no less than ordinary sixth-grade elixirs. The hardest part is refining the sixth-level demon beast's core and soul. What type of demon core did you prepare, Fellow Daoist? I need to make some preparations," Dian Xiaosan said after his initial excitement.

He might not have known the Dharma Manifestation Pill recipe, but he had refined many similar elixirs, and he identified the most challenging aspect of its refinement at a glance.

"It's the Sea Scale Stinging Demon. Don't worry, Master Dian. I know the difficulty of refining the demon core and soul, so I have already prepared accordingly," Yuan Ming said, with a wave of his sleeve.

In the great hall, a flash of white light revealed a purple jellyfish, towering nearly ten feet high, appearing out of thin air, motionless.

"Could this be the Sea Scale Stinging Demon you have slain?" Dian Xiaosan asked, evidently not very familiar with the Sea Scale Stinging Demon either.

"Indeed, it is transformed from its clone. Having this for research may certainly assist Master Dian in refining the Dharma Manifestation Pill." Yuan Ming said.

"It will surely be helpful, thank you, Fellow Daoist Yuan." Dian Xiaosan expressed gratitude.

"That's good, I leave the matter of alchemy to Master Dian." Yuan Ming took out the Dharma Manifestation Pill recipe and the refining materials all at once, then turned and left the great hall.

As soon as Yuan Ming's figure disappeared, Dian Xiaosan revealed his true colors, hugging the Dharma Manifestation Pill recipe, alchemy materials, and Emperor Yan's Ruyi Scepter, unable to keep his mouth from laughing widely.

These treasures, which he never dared to dream of in past days, were now delivered one after the other.

Recalling the hundred-year agreement with Yuan Ming, Dian Xiaosan suddenly felt that this time was a bit too short.

Moreover, if he leaves here, whether it's the Complete Heaven Exquisite Tripod or Emperor Yan's Ruyi Scepter, Yuan Ming would certainly take them back.

At this thought, Dian Xiaosan felt an inexplicable pain in his heart.

"Damn Yuan Ming, he probably calculated my thoughts, deliberately giving me these things." Dian Xiaosan muttered resentfully, rubbing his chest.

Although he saw through Yuan Ming's intentions, the bait was indeed too tempting for him to resist.

After a moment of silence, Dian Xiaosan shook his head to dismiss miscellaneous thoughts, took the Dharma Manifestation Pill recipe, and began to study it carefully.

Outside the black great hall, Yuan Ming stood in the void, a hint of a smile on his lips, and turned away.

...

A month later, outside a secret chamber atop a mountain peak in the central island of the Flowers Map space.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, I must trouble you to guard my path." Yun Luo Fairy accepted the white jade porcelain bottle Yuan Ming handed over, expressing her gratitude softly.

Although she was in a partnership with Yuan Ming, the various experiences since they met gradually made her realize that Yuan Ming was different from all the people she had encountered in the past.

He neither coveted her beauty nor desired the benefits she offered. The foundation of their relationship was merely mutual benefit, a win-win situation, fair trade for all.

It's as if this person would not be affected by emotions or sentiments, always able to make the correct judgment calmly.

Undoubtedly the most reliable partner.

However, thinking about this, Yun Luo Fairy couldn't help but feel a bit resentful.

If at first she showed admiration for Yuan Ming with a clear purpose of use, then from the moment Yuan Ming saved her from the Su Nu Sect, she truly developed a bit of undefined affection towards him.

Unfortunately, whether it was the previous fake intentions or the current genuine feelings, they seemed invisible to Yuan Ming, like a mud cow entering the sea without stirring any waves.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Luo, rest assured to meditate in seclusion. I will personally guard your retreat." Yuan Ming assured with focused eyes.

"Thank you." Yun Luo Fairy expressed gratitude, turning to enter the inner chamber of the secret room.

This secret chamber was newly established by Yuan Ming, divided into two zones, with Yun Luo Fairy meditating in the inner chamber and Yuan Ming guarding in the outer chamber.

Yun Luo Fairy arrived in the inner room, placing spirit stones around the already prepared array.

Afterward, she sat on the cushion at the center of the array, waving her hand to take out six or seven white jade porcelain bottles and a purple sandalwood box, placing them in front.

Inside the white jade porcelain bottles were elixirs to aid cultivation, and within that purple sandalwood box was a Dharma Manifestation Pill.

Yun Luo Fairy's cultivation had reached the peak of Returning to Void Late Stage, only a step away from breaking through that barrier.

Of course, this step could be said to be easy yet difficult; some might never cross it throughout their life, remaining in Returning to Void Late Stage.

For most low-level cultivators, Returning Void was already an insurmountable existence.

Yun Luo Fairy burned incense and sat calmly for two hours, regulated her breathing, and then took out a white jade porcelain bottle from her bosom, took out a golden-yellow elixir pill, and swallowed it, immediately starting to operate her mana, cultivating the Sutra of the Pure Woman.

A thin layer of mist rose around her body, her robes automatically slipping off, revealing a flawless body as white as mutton-fat jade, her hands formed a lotus treasure seal, and murmuring chants arose from her mouth.

When the sound arose, the surrounding mist slowly flowed, amidst the mist as if immortal cranes were flying, spiritual deer were jumping, immortal flowers were blooming, and a goddess was roaming.

For a time, within the inner chamber, the scene was grand and magnificent.