The group flew onward, searching for ore crystals for Huo Feng.
Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu were generous with their assistance, and Dada had also reached an agreement. Only Yuan Jun and Qing Wu lagged behind, pouting and clearly unhappy.
"What rotten luck that Huo Feng has, to encounter such an opportunity right after arriving in the Immortal Realm. I bet our leader will be searching for and even looting large quantities of ore crystals to help Huo Feng cultivate and achieve immortality," Yuan Jun muttered, casting a resentful glance at Huo Feng, who flew ahead in high spirits.
"Exactly. And we have to help her search. It's completely unfair, hmph," replied Zhi Huo Qing Wu, her lips pursed.
Xi Ren Yuan Jun was not one to be magnanimous. Although the three women appeared to have a close, best-friend-like relationship, each harbored a multitude of schemes. In their everyday interactions, whether vying for favor or in private, they were constantly engaged in unspoken competition.
"The key point is, if we help her become an immortal, she'll undoubtedly turn around and bully us even more. Hmph, we won't have good days ahead," Zhi Huo Qing Wu grumbled, though she dared not disobey Wan Lei's orders.
Their voices were low, but Wan Lei and the others, with their Immortal Realm cultivation, could hear them clearly.
Wan Lei turned his head and addressed them, "Achieving immortality is a matter of personal destiny. If you don't help Huo Feng now, what happens when you have your own opportunities and she doesn't help you?
Think from another's perspective. We are a team; we must help each other. Today we help Huo Feng, and tomorrow she will help you.
Besides, if Huo Feng can achieve immortality, won't our collective strength grow? Don't be so short-sighted. Hurry and catch up."
"Coming!"
Yuan Jun and Qing Wu immediately plastered on professional smiles and quickly followed.
Regardless of their inner thoughts, they had to maintain an appearance of obedience and docility.
The group continued their search. As they ventured deeper into the region, they found more and more ore crystals.
It seemed this area yielded more than just ore crystals; there were also many plants. Some grew beneath lava, while others sprouted on barren mountains, appearing scorched black and occasionally emitting flames.
These plants contained some special lava-attribute fire energy, but not as much as the ore crystals.
Since these were not items the Five Elements Hall was purchasing, the others ignored them, prioritizing the search for more ore crystals.
While others passed them by, Wan Lei collected them, believing these plants could also help Huo Feng improve her cultivation if consumed.
The group found joy in their search, erupting in cheers whenever they made a new discovery.
Half a month had passed in the Lava Death Zone, and they had found twenty to thirty ore crystals. Wan Lei distributed some to Dada and gave the rest to Huo Feng.
Furthermore, as time wore on, they noticed that the number of ore crystals they found each day was steadily decreasing.
It was no wonder the Five Elements Hall offered such a high price of ten thousand spirit stones per stone for three years.
If they found one a day, that would be over a thousand stones in three years, totaling over ten million spirit stones.
While ten million spirit stones were insignificant to the Five Elements Hall, what about the tens of thousands of people involved? That amounted to over a hundred billion spirit stones.
Even though a hundred billion spirit stones were not much for the Five Elements Hall, it was important to remember that this was merely a small trial secret realm in the vast Immortal Realm. If they could gather tens of thousands of people here, there were likely countless such places and missions throughout the entire Immortal Realm.
The Five Elements Hall might be wealthy, but they couldn't be this extravagant with their spending.
Therefore, Wan Lei surmised that the ore crystals found would become increasingly scarce in the future.
Unbeknownst to Wan Lei, the Five Elements Hall was not just a ruling power; they governed the entire Origin Plane.
Spirit stones held little intrinsic meaning; as long as they circulated within the Origin Plane, it was sufficient.
By offering spirit stones for mining, they received the ore crystals and gave spirit stones in return. With these spirit stones, people purchased other goods, thereby stimulating economic development.
When people consumed spirit stones for their cultivation, they released spiritual energy. According to the law of conservation of energy, this spiritual energy would then return to the heavens and earth, forming new spirit stones.
These spirit stones still belonged to the Five Elements Hall.
If Wan Lei understood this, he would realize that everyone in the Immortal Realm was essentially working for the Five Elements Hall for free…
Even capitalists would weep.
As Wan Lei pondered these matters, he led the team onward. Suddenly, a violent energy fluctuation erupted in the distance.
Upon seeing this, the group immediately flew in that direction. Before long, they witnessed the scene unfolding.
Near a cluster of low mountains in the distance, a lava-horned beast, a hundred zhang tall, was roaring in anger, continuously spewing flames as it engaged in a fierce battle with three cultivators at the Grand Void realm.
The horned beast was composed entirely of rock, with molten lava flowing through the cracks between the stones. At first glance, apart from its appearance, it bore an identical resemblance to Huo Feng.
"Huo Feng, is that one of your relatives?" Dada called out loudly to Huo Feng.
It was understandable why he asked, given the striking similarity between the creature and Huo Feng.
"I came from the Sacred Fire World to the Thunder Flame Realm, and then from the Thunder Flame Realm to the Immortal Realm. How could I be related to a native of this place?" Huo Feng rolled her large eyes.
"Besides, these ferocious beasts here have strength but lack intelligence. Do they deserve to be considered my kin?"
"Oh, you brag quite a bit. Go and try to fight it. I think that thing could crush you with a single palm."
"..." Huo Feng.
"Look over there. Beneath that beast, within the lava, there is a dense energy signature, far purer and more potent than that of the ore crystals," Fang Xiaoyu pointed to the battlefield.
"Indeed. It should be that 'Fire Lotus' or something similar. This thing is likely beneficial to Huo Feng," Wan Lei mused for a moment before stating,
"Let's hold back and watch them fight. When the鹬 and the clam contend, the fisherman benefits. After they are both weakened, we will move in to defeat them and take the Fire Lotus."
The others nodded in agreement. Dada, after a moment of thought, looked at Wan Lei with surprise.
"You're so wicked."
"Hmm?"
"I like it."
The group quietly observed the battle between the three cultivators and the single beast.
The three Grand Void realm cultivators were merely ordinary cultivators at the early to middle stages, while the horned beast exuded the aura of the peak Grand Void realm.
This lava behemoth possessed a naturally robust physique, far more formidable than human cultivators of the same level. The three were struggling immensely against the horned beast's attacks, facing perilous situations. One of them had already sustained an injury.
After fighting for another half an hour, all three sustained significant injuries. They also noticed Wan Lei and his group observing from a distance.
Perhaps they were truly unable to defeat the beast, or perhaps they feared being mutually destroyed and then having their spoils claimed by the onlookers. For whatever reason, the three retreated.