Chapter 081: The Water of Vitality

  A small pool, carved from stalactites, held a basin of emerald-green water. Each drop was crystal clear, radiating an overwhelming vitality that could drive anyone mad.

  "Howl..." Little Bai was swimming happily in the pool, his face filled with joy and his eyes brimming with contentment.

  "This is the Spring of Vitality... No wonder Meng Hao was so sure it was here," Yang Tian muttered, licking his dry lips, his eyes blazing with desire. This treasure could drive any faction to madness, even sparking a war across the Eastern Continent.

  Bubbles rose from the bottom of the emerald-green water. It was unclear how many years it took for a single drop of this Spring of Vitality to form. It was a supreme treasure of the cultivation world.

  "Wait... Something's not right." After a moment of silence, Yang Tian scratched his head, his gaze fixed on the spring below. Little Bai's head was submerged, clearly nibbling on something.

  "The Spring of Vitality is said to be a supreme treasure, formed over countless years. How can there be so much of it?" Yang Tian grabbed the dripping wet Little Bai and pulled out a large bottle, filling it with the water.

  "Howl..." Little Bai let out a pained whimper, his eyes filled with longing. However, the vitality was too intense, and he dared not absorb it recklessly, fearing he might fall into a deep sleep.

  "Stay still. This Spring of Vitality is for saving lives. You can't just drink it," Yang Tian scolded, holding Little Bai down as he filled five large jade bottles with the water.

  "This must be a byproduct of the Spring of Vitality. For low-level cultivators, it's a supreme treasure, far superior to any elixir. It's a lifesaving treasure," Yang Tian muttered, storing the five large bottles in his Ancestral Dragon Ring before turning his attention to the spring.

  Nine crystal-clear droplets of water, flawless like the most beautiful jade in the world, lay at the bottom of the spring. Not a trace of their vitality leaked out.

  "This is the legendary Spring of Vitality... Nine drops of it..." Yang Tian's throat tightened as he stared at the treasure, his eyes filled with awe.

  "Howl..." Little Bai watched with drooling anticipation, his big eyes glistening with tears.

  "Enough with the sad face. This stuff is for emergencies. What would you even do with it now?" Yang Tian rolled his eyes, then turned and dashed away.

  "Howl!" Seeing Yang Tian leave, Little Bai wagged his tail and let out an urgent cry.

  "Is there more?" Yang Tian stopped in his tracks and turned back, noticing Little Bai's eager expression. "What is it?"

  "Grr..." Little Bai barked at a stone stool beside the pool, gnawing at it with his teeth. Despite his efforts, the stone remained unscathed.

  "Is there really something here?" Yang Tian walked over, inspected the stool, and then pulled out his broken sword. With a few strikes, he cut open the stool, revealing a hidden compartment.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Inside the compartment was a silver jade token inscribed with the words "Starry Sky Order." A noble aura emanated from it, surrounded by divine patterns.

  "This token... It's a Dao artifact!" Yang Tian was stunned. A token that was a Dao artifact—this was no ordinary item. It likely had ties to the main sect.

  After marveling at the token, Yang Tian noticed a jade slip inside the compartment. It shimmered with starlight, and the energy within it was vast and profound.

  "Is this a cultivation technique from the Starry Sky Sect?" Yang Tian quickly stored the jade slip and the token, not bothering to examine them further. He turned and sprinted toward the exit.

  "Roar! Roar!" The Firehorn Beast's furious roars echoed through the cavern. Meng Hao's body was repeatedly sent flying, blood splattering everywhere.

  "Damn beast..." Meng Hao struggled to his feet. The golden battle armor he wore was dim and dented, his face pale as a sheet. Without the armor, his body would have been shattered long ago.

  "Boom!" The beast's powerful strike sent Meng Hao flying again, treating him like a mere punching bag.

  "Is this the end?" Meng Hao's dazed eyes stared at the entrance. His vitality was nearly depleted. A few more hits, and he would be dead.

  "Roar!" The Firehorn Beast charged toward Meng Hao, its massive claw poised to crush his skull.

  "Haha... So this is how it ends," Meng Hao closed his eyes, clutching the spatial ring containing his father's remains. He wanted to stay here, with his father.

  "Howl..." Just as the beast's claw was about to strike, a terrifying aura swept over it. The Firehorn Beast trembled, letting out a low whimper.

  Seeing the beast cower, Yang Tian's face darkened with anger. "Beast, get lost!"

  "Grr!" Little Bai leaped forward, his black eyes fixed on the massive creature. He bared his teeth, his fur standing on end like a tiny hedgehog, showing no fear.

  "Howl..." The Firehorn Beast seemed terrified of Little Bai, shrinking back in fear, especially in the presence of the figure that filled it with dread.

  "Brother Meng Hao," Yang Tian rushed over, sensing Meng Hao's weak pulse. He quickly hoisted him onto his back and ran toward the exit. Although the Firehorn Beast feared the aura around him, he couldn't risk staying any longer.

  Using the nearly depleted talisman, Yang Tian and Meng Hao vanished from the cavern.

  "Your luck is incredible. The byproduct of the Spring of Vitality is enough to save you," Yang Tian muttered, carefully pouring a few drops from a large jade bottle onto Meng Hao's body.

  As the drops touched Meng Hao's skin, a surge of overwhelming vitality erupted. His injuries began to heal at an astonishing rate.

  "From now on, I'll call this the Water of Vitality," Yang Tian said, scratching his head. He then pulled out dozens of small jade bottles, dividing the Water of Vitality into smaller portions.

  This treasure was too valuable. Even though it was just a byproduct, it could cause a frenzy if discovered. While its effects were weaker for high-level cultivators, it still offered significant benefits.

  "Boom!" As Yang Tian pondered, Meng Hao's body began to radiate an even stronger vitality, surpassing his previous state. His injuries were completely healed.

  "The Water of Vitality is truly astonishing. Just a few drops have such miraculous effects. It's hard to believe," Yang Tian muttered, watching as Meng Hao showed signs of waking up.

  When Meng Hao opened his eyes and saw Yang Tian, he let out a sigh of relief and immediately sat up. "Brother Yang, did you find it?"

  "Here," Yang Tian nodded, handing over five drops of the Spring of Vitality. He suppressed the reluctance in his heart. If it weren't for Meng Yunxi's invitation, this incredible opportunity would never have fallen into his hands.

  "It's really the Spring of Vitality... This is..." Meng Hao stared at the five drops, his face filled with disbelief before breaking into a wide grin. He suddenly took two steps back and was about to kneel in gratitude.

  "Hey, that's not necessary!" Yang Tian was startled and quickly helped him up.

  "Haha," the two shared a laugh, and Yang Tian handed him two small bottles of the Water of Vitality. After some polite refusal, Meng Hao finally accepted them.

  "Brother Yang, the Spring of Vitality is of great importance to my family. I will repay you generously in the future," Meng Hao said as they hurried out. He recalled how Meng Yunxi had chosen an outsider for this task, which had caused quite a stir.

  "Brother Meng Hao, there's no need to be so formal. We were partners from the start. Now that the Artifact Sect's treasure vault is about to open, let's get out of here," Yang Tian said with a smile, patting his nose.