Zhou Ming's Divine Thought swept across every inch of Yingzhou, and his brows furrowed slightly.
None.
The aura of the netherworld white lotus was completely undetectable.
This Immortal Island was rich in Spiritual Qi and Heaven And Earth Treasure, but it lacked the most important target.
He didn't give up and carefully searched again, even delving deep into the Spiritual Vein.
Still, he found nothing.
Instead, during the search, his Divine Thought touched a valley covered by layers of Restriction.
The Restriction was quite profound, and if his cultivation hadn't been deep, he would have almost missed it.
Zhou Ming moved his body and silently passed through the Restriction.
Inside the valley, the Spiritual Qi was dense.
Twelve pearls, emitting a hazy clear light, floated quietly above a Spiritual Spring.
sea stabilizing divine pearl! And, precisely the last twelve that were lost!
Zhou Ming's heart stirred slightly.
Although he didn't find the netherworld white lotus, the appearance of these twelve sea stabilizing divine pearls was an unexpected surprise.
He reached out, and the twelve pearls fell into his palm.
Adding the twenty-four he exchanged from Tongtian, all thirty-six sea stabilizing divine pearls were gathered.
When thirty-six sea stabilizing divine pearls are gathered, they form a complete set of Innate Magic Treasure.
For Dijun, it was a great help.
Putting away the sea stabilizing divine pearl, Zhou Ming reconfirmed that there was no netherworld white lotus on the island.
He had no reluctance whatsoever and moved his body, intending to leave Yingzhou.
This place is not suitable for long stays!
Yingzhou could detach from the Grandmist at any time and disappear into the Chaos.
Zhou Ming's figure transformed into a stream of light and quickly left Yingzhou.
Almost at the moment he left, the mist around Yingzhou became denser, and the entire Immortal Island began to become illusory, slowly sinking into another layer of space.
...
On the other side, Yingzhou.
Dijun and Houtu searched separately, with high efficiency.
Houtu, who controls the Law of Earth, was most sensitive to the Spiritual Vein of the earth; she closed her eyes and carefully sensed every trace of aura deep within the island.
Her Divine Thought swept across, and soon, in a valley protected by layers of Restriction, she sensed a pure, sacred, and special aura with the power to purify all things.
"Found it!"
Houtu's heart rejoiced, and she immediately sent a message to Dijun.
Soon, Dijun's figure appeared beside Houtu.
The two looked at the valley; inside, a twelve-grade lotus platform quietly bloomed.
The lotus platform was pure white, untainted by dust, emitting a soft yet majestic white light; it was precisely the twelve-grade netherworld white lotus!
"It's really here!" Dijun said in a deep voice.
Houtu stepped forward, carefully approaching the netherworld white lotus.
The lotus platform seemed to sense the gentle aura of the earth on Houtu's body and did not resist.
Houtu reached out her hand, and her magic power surged, carefully lifting the netherworld white lotus.
"Big Brother's side..." Houtu looked at Dijun.
"Leave this island first!" Dijun made a decisive decision, "This place is not suitable for long stays; it could detach from the Grandmist and return to the Chaos at any time!"
"Good!"
The two dared not delay for a moment; they put away the netherworld white lotus and immediately activated the Law of Space and the Law of Earth, rushing out of Yingzhou's Innate great formation at the fastest speed.
As soon as they left, the outline of the huge Immortal Island behind them began to become illusory and blurry, as if being pulled by an invisible force, slowly sinking into another time and space.
Dijun and Houtu exchanged glances, both seeing the relief in each other's eyes.
One more step late, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The two no longer lingered and, according to their agreement, flew rapidly towards the desolate island where they had stayed for a hundred years.
...
Above the desolate island.
Zhou Ming had already been waiting here.
A moment later, two streams of light descended; it was Dijun and Houtu.
"Big Brother!"
"Big Brother!"
The two quickly stepped forward.
Houtu handed the netherworld white lotus to Zhou Ming.
Zhou Ming looked at the netherworld white lotus in front of him, feeling the pure and vast power within it, and nodded.
"Very good."
"It was worth the trip after all."
He looked at Dijun, flipped his palm, and the twelve sea stabilizing divine pearls appeared in his palm.
"Big Brother, what is this?" Dijun looked at the twelve pearls, feeling the familiar aura, and confusion appeared in his eyes.
"Found on Yingzhou." Zhou Ming handed the pearls to Dijun.
"The remaining twelve sea stabilizing divine pearls."
"Adding the twenty-four you exchanged from Fellow Daoist Tongtian, there are thirty-six in total."
"When these pearls combine, they form a complete set of Innate Magic Treasure!"
"You should thoroughly refine them as soon as possible; it will be of great benefit to your future control of the Law of Space."
Dijun solemnly took the twelve sea stabilizing divine pearls.
As soon as the thirty-six pearls entered his hand, they immediately resonated strongly with the twenty-four he had refined in his Primordial Spirit.
A complete and vast aura permeated the air.
Dijun could clearly feel that after this set of Magic Treasure combined, its power underwent earth-shattering changes.
"Thank you, Big Brother!" Dijun said in a deep voice, with excitement in his tone.
Innate Magic Treasure!
This was the most top-tier Magic Treasure in the Grandmist; with this treasure, his combat power would once again soar.
"We are brothers; there's no need to be polite." Zhou Ming waved his hand. "Now that this matter is settled, we will immediately return to Mount Buzhou."
"Yes!"
The three no longer delayed and transformed into streams of light, flying towards Mount Buzhou.
...
Pangu Hall.
Zhou Ming, Dijun, and Houtu returned.
Wu Ming had already been waiting here.
Seeing Zhou Ming and the two return successfully, a hint of relief appeared on Wu Ming's calm face.
"Fellow Daoist, was this trip smooth?" Wu Ming asked.
Zhou Ming nodded: "Although there were twists and turns, the result was acceptable."
Zhou Ming took out the netherworld white lotus and handed it to Houtu.
"Houtu."
"Big Brother?" Houtu stepped forward.
Zhou Ming looked at Houtu, his expression solemn: "You shall refine this netherworld white lotus."
"After you have completely refined it... take a drop of your heart's essence blood, then cut out part of your Primordial Spirit Origin, and integrate it into this lotus platform to refine a Clone."
"This Clone... will be of great use in the future."
Refining a Clone? And using essence blood and Primordial Spirit Origin?
Houtu was puzzled, but she didn't ask further.
She always trusted her Big Brother's arrangements unconditionally.
"Yes, Big Brother, Houtu understands." She took the netherworld white lotus, feeling the sense of affinity emanating from the lotus platform, and nodded.
Zhou Ming then looked at Dijun: "Dijun, you should also go into seclusion."
"Thoroughly refine those thirty-six sea stabilizing divine pearls, the sooner the better."
"When you succeed, our Wu Race will gain another major trump card."
"Yes, Big Brother!" Dijun responded and then turned to find a secluded chamber to begin his seclusion and refine the Innate Magic Treasure.
Inside the main hall, only Zhou Ming and Wu Ming remained.
Zhou Ming looked at Wu Ming: "Fellow Daoist, during the hundred years we were away, did anything major happen in the Grandmist?"
Wu Ming shook his head: "Nothing major."
"The Demon Clan Heavenly Court is still accumulating strength; Dijun and Taiyi are busy integrating the Yao Race forces and temporarily have no time for other matters."
"After Kunpeng obtained the Hongmeng Purple Energy, he has been holed up in the Northern Nether Demon Master Palace, living in seclusion, clearly very wary of Dijun and Taiyi."
"The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and others, after obtaining the Hongmeng Purple Energy, are all in seclusion in their respective Daoist temples, comprehending the Saint Dao."
"Hongyun returned to his Fire Cloud Cave, and Zhenyuanzi also returned to Wuzhuang Temple."
"Other forces are also digesting what they gained from Zixiao Palace; the Grandmist is temporarily in a relatively peaceful period."
Zhou Ming nodded; this was pretty much as he expected.
It was just the calm before the storm.
Once someone achieves sainthood first, or the Yao Race feels their wings are fully grown and their strength is sufficient to crush everything, then a great war sweeping across the entire Grandmist could erupt again at any time.
"Fellow Daoist, I need to go into seclusion again for a period to prepare for the upcoming great tribulation," Zhou Ming said to Wu Ming.
"The affairs of the Wu Race will continue to be your concern."
Wu Ming bowed slightly: "Fellow Daoist can rest assured and go into seclusion; the Wu Race has me."
Zhou Ming nodded, then took out the Book of the Earth and handed it to Wu Ming: "This item still needs to trouble Fellow Daoist to return it to Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi."
Wu Ming solemnly took the Book of the Earth: "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly."
Zhou Ming said no more, nodded, turned, and walked into the depths of Pangu Hall, finding the most central area to begin his seclusion.
Only Wu Ming remained, standing in the center of the empty hall, his eyes deep, wondering what he was thinking.