From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 251 Treasure Hunt Amidst Perils: Xiao Yao's Perilous Journey

I took a deep breath. The air was filled with the fragrance of unknown flowers, so sweet it was almost cloying, yet it also carried a strange coolness.

The ground beneath my feet was soft, like stepping on a thick velvet carpet, but that softness made me feel somewhat uneasy.

This island is less a paradise and more a carefully laid trap.

I looked around and felt the rich spiritual energy flowing around me as if it were alive, sometimes gently caressing my skin, and sometimes like an invisible hand, binding me tightly.

This sense of disharmony instantly heightened my vigilance to its highest point.

“Penglai Island…” I murmured again, my gaze falling on the ancient stone tablet in the center of the island.

The three ancient characters carved on the stone tablet are like some kind of seal, firmly suppressing this land.

I carefully avoided the stone tablet and continued deeper into the island.

The further I went in, the stronger the invisible pressure became, as if something was watching me closely, making me feel uneasy.

Soon, I saw a huge altar, on which sat a treasure chest emitting a soft light.

The treasure chest was surrounded by layers of faintly visible restrictions, like a dense spider web, radiating a chilling spiritual energy.

The treasure was right in front of me! My heart leaped with joy, but then a tremendous sense of challenge surged within me.

I took a deep breath, mobilized the spiritual power within my body, and tried to break the restriction in front of me.

The moment my fingertips touched the barrier, a powerful force rebounded instantly, making my arm go numb and causing my blood and qi to surge.

"Pfft!" I couldn't help but groan, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of my mouth.

The power of this restriction is much stronger than I imagined!

Unwilling to give up, I tried again. This time I was more careful and controlled my spiritual power with greater delicacy.

However, the result remained the same; the restriction was like an indestructible wall, reflecting all my spiritual power back.

Every attempt resulted in a backlash from the spiritual energy, causing my internal organs to ache as if they were being pricked by needles.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his face turned pale.

I felt a deep sense of frustration; this feeling of being suppressed by a powerful force made me very unhappy.

But I can't give up. The treasure is right in front of me, and I can't stop here!

Just as I gathered my spiritual power again, preparing for a desperate fight, a flippant voice came from behind me, tinged with mockery and disdain, "Oh, isn't this Fellow Daoist Xiao? How pathetic!"

I turned around abruptly and saw Qingfeng's smug, infuriating smile.

He crossed his arms and leaned against an ancient tree, looking relaxed, as if watching a play.

"What's wrong, Fellow Daoist Xiao? Have you run into some trouble? Do you need my help?" He spoke in a flippant tone, his eyes full of mockery.

I gritted my teeth, ignored him, and continued trying to break the seal.

I know he's hoping I'll fail so he can reap the benefits.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you're really persistent." Qingfeng shook his head, a hint of regret in his voice. "However, I advise you to give up. This restriction is not something a nobody like you can break." His words were like a sharp thorn, piercing my heart.

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my anger, and focused my attention on the restriction in front of me.

Suddenly, a powerful spiritual pressure came from afar. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned to look. I saw Ling Yun walking through the air, his robes fluttering, like a banished immortal.

His gaze swept coldly over me, a sneer curling at the corner of his lips. "Looks like you've found the treasure."

His gaze fell on a small brocade box in my hand—a little treasure I had found earlier. Although it wasn't anything particularly precious, it was still hard-won for me.

I instinctively shielded the brocade box behind my back and watched him warily.

"Hand it over." Ling Yun's tone was icy, leaving no room for negotiation.

My heart sank; I knew a fierce battle was inevitable.

I gripped the brocade box tightly, my fingertips trembling slightly. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead. In the tense atmosphere, the air seemed to freeze.

"If you want it, come and take it yourself!" I retorted coldly, trying to remain calm.

Ling Yun reached out and snatched the brocade box from my hand with astonishing speed.

I quickly dodged, barely avoiding his attack, and secretly thought to myself, "This is bad."

His strength far surpasses mine; I am no match for him at all.

"Overestimating yourself!" Ling Yun sneered and attacked me again.

I gritted my teeth and tried my best to defend myself, but his attacks were like a storm, wave after wave, leaving me exhausted.

My body was tingling from the shock of his spiritual power, and I almost couldn't stand up.

With a "bang!", I was sent flying by Ling Yun's palm strike, crashing heavily to the ground, a metallic taste filling my mouth.

I struggled to stand up, but felt weak all over. The brocade box slipped from my hand and was snatched away by Ling Yun.

"You think you can take things from me?" Ling Yun looked down at me with disdain in his eyes.

My heart was filled with resentment and anger, yet I was helpless.

He opened the brocade box, glanced at its contents, and curled his lip in disdain. "Is this little bit of junk worth risking your life for?" He casually tossed the box on the ground, then turned and left, leaving behind only a cold, distant figure.

“You…” I pointed at his back with trembling fingers, but in the end I couldn’t say anything.

A mouthful of blood gushed out, staining the ground red.

I struggled to get up, but it felt like all the bones in my body were falling apart, and the pain made it almost impossible for me to breathe.

Ling Yun, he's so ruthless!

I stared intently at his departing figure, a raging fire burning in my heart.

I can't swallow this insult!

He has taken the brocade box from my hand, and all my efforts have been in vain.

Despair and resentment surged into my heart like a tide, making it hard for me to breathe.

Just then, Qingfeng's annoying voice rang out again, "Oh dear, Fellow Daoist Xiao, why are you doing this? Wouldn't it have been better to just hand over the item sooner?"

I glared at him fiercely, but didn't say anything.

That despicable scoundrel, all he knows is to stand by and watch the show, kicking someone when they're down!

I endured the pain, sat cross-legged, and circulated the little spiritual energy I had left in my body, trying to heal my wounds.

However, the spiritual energy within my body was in a chaotic state and could not be condensed at all.

My heart sank. Was I going to die here?

No, I can't give up!

I still have so much to do. I need to find a way back. I need to...

Just then, I felt an unusual vibration coming from beneath my feet.

I suddenly opened my eyes and found that the scenery around me was beginning to distort and deform, and cracks appeared on the ground, as if something was about to burst out of the soil.

not good!

I was startled and tried to escape, but found that my body was bound by an invisible force and I could not move.

With a loud "crack!", a huge crack appeared in the ground, and sharp spiritual energy arrows shot out from the ground, carrying a fierce killing intent, flying towards me.

My pupils contracted sharply, and my heart was filled with fear.

These spirit arrows were incredibly fast; I had no way to dodge them!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!" The spiritual energy arrow pierced through my body, and the intense pain made my vision go black, almost causing me to faint.

I felt my life force rapidly draining away, my body growing colder and colder, and my consciousness beginning to fade...

I closed my eyes in despair, awaiting death. Was this my end?

"Stop!" A clear voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of anxiety and anger.

I lay on the ground, barely alive, and in my fading consciousness, I heard a familiar yet repulsive voice, "Ling Yun, you went too far! What if she died? What if the Immortal Venerable of Penglai blames us..."

It's a gentle breeze!

He actually pleaded for me?

I was puzzled, but I forced my eyes open and, through my blurry vision, I saw Qingfeng and Lingyun facing each other.

Ling Yun scoffed, "He was just a piece of trash. He's dead, so what? Why would the Immortal Venerable of Penglai blame me for something like that?"

“That being said, she is, after all, a participant in this treasure hunt competition. If she dies here, we won’t be able to explain ourselves.” Qingfeng persisted, but his tone carried a hint of cunning.

My heart was moved. Could it be...

"Hmph, stop pretending," Ling Yun sneered. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to!"

"I..." Qingfeng wanted to say something, but Lingyun interrupted him, "Stop talking nonsense, this treasure is mine!"

As Ling Yun spoke, he reached out to grab the treasure chest on the ground.

My heart sank. Was I really going to have to watch the treasure fall into someone else's hands?

Do not!

With my last ounce of strength, I mobilized the remaining spiritual power within my body and shoved it violently toward the treasure chest.

With a loud "BOOM!", I detonated the restrictions around the treasure chest, and the powerful spiritual energy fluctuations instantly sent Lingyun and Qingfeng flying.

I seized the opportunity to grab the treasure chest and stuff it into my storage bag.

The intense pain made my vision go black, and I almost fainted.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself not to collapse.

In a daze, I heard a series of exclamations around me, "She...she actually broke the seal!"

"How is that possible! She clearly already..."

I forced my eyes open, looked around, and saw the astonished expressions on everyone's faces. A huge sense of accomplishment welled up inside me.

A smug smile crept onto my lips.

“This is just the beginning…” I murmured, slowly standing up and gazing resolutely into the depths of the island.

A blood-stained hand gently stroked the storage bag, sensing the aura of the treasures within...