Chapter 426: Practicing in the Crystal Worms’ Desert
Soon after, the seven came up with a plan.
According to the plan, their group would divide into two teams.
One team would cultivate to improve their soul power while the other guarded them against the surrounding crystal worms.
After a while, the two groups would change places and continue moving towards the depths of the crystal worms’ desert.
"I will take the first guard." Yu Nianzhen volunteered.
"I will also take the first guard." Xuan Ke also stood up.
"I will be the last. The others can settle down to cultivate." Bing Lan said.
[Cultivate with ease.] Yu Nianzhen transmitted to his husband.
[I know.] Jiang Yue said with a smile on his lips.
In fact, he wanted to guard with Yu Nianzhen.
However, he couldn’t rest assured unless his husband was the one guarding him and he was the one guarding Yu Nianzhen.
In that case, they had no choice but to be in separate teams.
"We will start at the peripheral and continue moving forward." Yang Xu said and everyone nodded.
After that, the group of seven re-entered the crystal worms’ desert.
As before, a pulling force issued from the ground and their soul power began to drain.
However, this time was unlike before.
With their plan in mind, Yu Nianzhen, Xuan Ke, and Bing Lan rushed forward to deal with the level-four crystal worm.
At the same time, the remaining four sat cross-legged and began to cultivate their soul power.
’I must hurry and circulate my soul cultivation technique.’ Jiang Yue thought as soon as he sat down.
Even though they were at the periphery, his soul power was draining fast.
After doing some mental calculations, he knew his soul power would not last an hour if he didn’t do something to counterattack the drain.
’The crystal worms’ desert is an opportunity but also an extremely dangerous place. If my soul power is completely drained, my soul may suffer some injuries.’ He thought and began to circulate his soul cultivation technique.
A few moments later, Jiang Yue gasped in surprise.
Originally, he thought the desert was an opportunity to increase his soul power.
However, after cultivating for a short while, he realised the opportunity was so much more.
’Cultivating here is removing the vainness in my soul power and compressing my soul to a more solid state.’ He thought excitedly.
With this revelation, his motivation increased and Jiang Yue focused all his mind on training his soul power.
When his time was up, he opened his eyes and looked at Yu Nianzhen.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a whisper.
"I am okay." Yu Nianzhen answered.
Seeing that Yu Nianzhen didn’t whisper, Jiang Yue looked around and saw that the others had also stopped meditating.
"Let’s retreat to the plateau to talk." Yang Xu said and the others didn’t argue.
After settling at the edge of the desert, Yu Nianzhen and Xuan Ke began to prepare the crystal worms’ meat.
"How many crystal worms did you kill?" Jiang Yue asked as he looked at the corpses on the ground.
"Twenty-three." Xuan Ke answered proudly and then continued.
"Nineteen level four crystal worms, and four level five."
"Just level four and level five?" Jiang Yue couldn’t help but frown.
"We are still at the periphery. Aren’t there level three and lower worms?" Chen Qing questioned.
"We haven’t encountered any." Yu Nianzhen said and also frowned.
At the periphery, they expected to encounter many low-level crystal worms.
However, the reality was different.
The least powerful worm they encountered was at the early stage of the fourth level.
"This does not make sense." Jiang Yue said.
"Indeed, it doesn’t." Yang Xu agreed.
"Could it be that crystal worms are born at the fourth level?" Chen Qing asked.
"It’s possible. However, there is a more likely explanation." Bing Lan said and everyone turned to her.
"I have been thinking that crystal worms may be like gu worms. The weak ones have probably been eaten."
"This..." Chen Qing muttered with an ugly expression on her face.
"There are already level five crystal worms at the periphery. I am afraid we won’t make it to the depths." Yang Xu said and everyone looked a little depressed.
If there were level five beasts at the periphery, there probably were level six and higher worms in the depths.
"Don’t give up just yet." Yang Xu said and chuckled.
"We still have a long way before we can think about the depths. For now, let’s focus on what is in front of us."
Hearing that, everyone quickly recovered and nodded in agreement.
"What can you tell us about the crystal worms?" Yang Xu asked.
"We prepared an image stone." Xuan Ke said and immediately removed an image stone from his storage ring.
"You did well." Yang Xu couldn’t help but praise.
After chuckling happily, Xuan Ke activated the image stone and everyone watched the recorded battles.
"As expected, their bodies are extremely hard." Jiang Yue said with a frown on his face.
"The easiest way to kill them is to remove their demonic beast core." Yu Nianzhen said.
When he first fought a crystal worm, he didn’t use his natal sword.
Because of this, he didn’t have an overwhelming advantage against a level four worm and he struggled for a long time.
Fortunately, he discovered the worms’ weakness and the subsequent fights were a little easier.
"The meat is ready." Yu Nianzhen suddenly said and served a plate for Jiang Yue.
After that, he served three plates for Yang Xu, Bing Lan, and Chen Qing before serving his own.
"What about us?" Xuan Ke asked with a pitiful look on his face.
However, Yu Nianzhen ignored him and sat next to his husband.
Seeing this, Xuan Ke looked at Li Futian with an aggrieved look on his face.
"Okay, I will serve you." Li Futian said and served two plates for the two of them.
"This meat is too delicious." Jiang Yue loudly exclaimed, his eyes shining brightly.
"Ayue is right. This meat is really delicious." Bing Lan agreed.
For some reason, the worm’s meat was more like a pastry than meat.
It melted in the mouth and dissolved into the body, causing a warm feeling throughout the body.
"My soul feels refreshed." Xuan Ke said, feeling indescribably comfortable.
Although he subconsciously ran his soul cultivation technique when fighting the crystal worms, his soul power drained faster than he recovered it.
Because of this, there was always a discomfort in his soul even after exiting the desert.
"It’s soothing to the soul." Li Futian agreed.
"My soul power didn’t increase while I cultivated in the desert. However, I feel that it has increased a little from eating the meat." Chen Qing said.
"I am the same." Jiang Yue said and couldn’t help but take another bite.
"This crystal worms’ desert is truly a holy place for soul training. Not only can it increase the quantity of soul power, it can also improve the quality." Xuan Ke said with a happy look on his face.
"The effect in the depths should be better than the periphery." Yang Xu observed.
"There is a soul stone mine in the depths. It’s only natural for the effect to be better." Yu Nianzhen said.
"Brother Li, is the desert helpful?" Yu Nianzhen asked.
Although he didn’t say it, Yu Nianzhen was worried about Li Futian.
With Li Futian’s current state, Yu Nianzhen worried that practising in the desert was too much for him.
If things went wrong, Li Futian’s soul would be crushed and all hope would be lost.
"Don’t worry, brother Yu." Li Futian said with a grateful smile on his lips.
Among the brothers, Yu Nianzhen was the hardest to approach.
However, Li Futian knew that the swordsman didn’t dislike him and Xuan Ke.
He really took them as brothers and always remembered them when he found opportunities or matters of concern.
For this, Li Futian was grateful.
"Brother Li, if it becomes too much, don’t force yourself." Jiang Yue reminded.
"I know." Li Futian smiled.
Although cultivating in the Crystal Worms’ desert was a little difficult, it was also beneficial.
From the little practice he just had, Li Futian had benefited a lot.
If he cultivated for a longer time, his soul would continue to solidify.
In this way, advancing to the reincarnation realm wouldn’t be a problem even if his soul was damaged.
"If I cultivate for a while longer, I should be able to bring out Hongzhu." He suddenly said.
"That’s good news." Xuan Ke said with a genuinely happy expression.
"Mmmmh." Li Futian nodded.
"In that case, finish your food and let’s get back to the desert." Yang Xu said and everyone nodded.
In this way, one hundred years passed and the group practised from the periphery to the inner region of the crystal worms’ desert.
However, the inner region was their limit and they could not reach the true depths of the desert.
"It’s a pity." Xuan Ke said with a regretful look on his face.
"Not exactly." Jiang Yue said and a cheeky smile appeared on his lips.
