“Mother, how can that be okay? The struggle for the Celestial Spirit Fruit is exceptionally dangerous. If anything happens to you, the aunts, and the maternal aunts, I…”
Tantai Xuan’s expression changed as she spoke.
“It matters not.”
Tantai Qiong Hua waved her hand, cutting off whatever Tantai Xuan was about to say.
Her sharp gaze swept over the powerful experts from various races watching them like hungry tigers.
“We old women don’t have much Longevity left anyway. We can’t have you youngsters protecting us, can we? Besides, with the Yin-Yang Purple Qi Bottle, they won’t get away with anything easily. Your aunts have less than 100 years of Longevity left. I must obtain the Celestial Spirit Fruit for them. Take Chun’er and the others away immediately.”
Xiao Lan also stepped forward and took Tantai Xuan’s hand.
She spoke in a gentle, persuasive tone.
“Xuan’er, listen to your mother. Every generation has its own responsibilities. Once we have the fruit, we will rendezvous with you as soon as possible. Protect Chun’er; she is the future of our Tantai Family. Don’t lose sight of what’s important.”
“But —”
Tantai Xuan tried to argue, but she was interrupted by Tantai Qiong Hua’s stern tone.
“No ‘buts.’ This is an order.”
Looking into her mother’s severe eyes, Tantai Xuan realized she was helpless.
“Sigh! Fine. Please be careful.”
Tantai Xuan didn’t hesitate any longer.
She gave her mothers and aunts one last look, her eyes filled with worry.
Then, she, Lan Suxin, and her other concubines quickly withdrew from the battlefield to join Su Chun’er’s side.
“Chun’er, we have news of the Chaos Spring. Follow me.”
This news made Su Chun happy, but looking at the elders surrounded by experts of various races in the distance, her worry returned.
‘Grandmother, you all must be careful!’ Su Chun prayed in her heart.
Soon, Tantai Xuan’s group moved away.
No one blocked their departure because Tantai Xuan had taken most of the Purple Mai’s Sendai Realm combatants, leaving only the older generation behind.
They were the most powerful of the group, but at their age, fighting would consume their precious Longevity.
Once the younger generation was far enough away, Tantai Qiong Hua’s gaze turned icy.
“Now then, we can have a proper talk about who the Celestial Spirit Fruit belongs to.”
The members of the Tantai Family were closest to the fruit, making them the primary targets for the surrounding races.
Soon, world-shaking combat erupted in the area.
***
Meanwhile, Tantai Xuan led her group across the desolate Ancient Battlefield as fast as possible.
The atmosphere was heavy, and no one spoke.
Su Chun could sense her mother’s burdened heart.
“Mother, is the Snake-People Tribe reliable?”
Su Chun asked softly.
The Snake-People Tribe was a major power in the Ten Thousand Snake Province of the Three Thousand Worlds, but they were not a Longlife Family.
Tantai Xuan nodded, her voice low.
“The Snake-People Tribe has always valued their promises. Since they sent word that they found the Chaos Spring, it shouldn’t be a lie. I just hope they can protect it well.”
The Chaos Spring didn’t just balance yin and yang; it offered immense benefits.
If word of its existence got out, the struggle for it would be even more frantic than for the Celestial Spirit Fruit.
“How much longer until we arrive?”
Luo Li asked, remaining alert to their surroundings.
“According to the coordinates from the Snake-People Tribe, it should take about 1 hour if we move at full speed.”
Tantai Xuan checked the Transmission Jade Talisman in her hand.
A faint power within the jade guided her.
“We must hurry. Every second counts. Stay sharp and pick up the pace.”
Tantai Xuan gave the order and beckoned to Su Chun, who immediately flew toward her.
Su Chun knew what her mother intended and quickly wrapped her arms around her neck.
Surrounded by Sendai Realm experts, the group moved like a streak of light through the rugged terrain.
They occasionally saw powerful beasts wandering in the distance or other races fighting over treasures.
Their numbers gradually thinned as different branches of the group split off.
Only Su Chun and a few others were there specifically for the Chaos Spring; the others were heading off to seize their own opportunities they spotted along the way.
About 30 minutes later, the Transmission Jade Talisman glowed again.
Tantai Xuan’s expression soured as she checked it.
“Mother, what happened?”
Su Chun noticed the change immediately.
Tantai Xuan frowned deeply.
“The Snake-People Tribe sent word. The location of the Chaos Spring has been exposed. Several tribes are besieging them. The situation is critical; they need us to get there as fast as possible.”
“What?”
Su Chun and the others were shocked.
“Those of you who have your own plans may leave the group now. You don’t need to follow us anymore,” Tantai Xuan said to the people behind her.
“Very well, Husband. Please be careful. We will take the children to find their own opportunities,” one of Tantai Xuan’s concubines said.
The concubines and their daughters split into several smaller groups and left.
Now, only a few people remained with Tantai Xuan.
Consequently, their speed increased several times over.
The strongest among the Snake-People Tribe was only in the Severing Me Realm.
While others might not dare move against a Longlife Family like the Tantai Family, the same respect wasn’t afforded to the Snake-People Tribe.
Finally, 30 minutes later, they reached the area mentioned in the message — a valley shrouded in thick white fog.
They could hear the sounds of intense fighting from a distance.
“We’re here. It looks like the Snake-People Tribe is still holding on.”
Tantai Xuan swept the area with her divine sense and breathed a sigh of relief.
She, Lan Suxin, and Tantai Qing led Su Chun and the three others into the fog-covered valley.
Along the way, they saw many corpses of snake-people and scorpion-people.
The gruesome sight made Su Chun feel ill, nearly making her gag.
It was a natural reaction; after all, this was the first time she had seen so many bodies.
At the center of the valley sat a spatial rift containing a pond bubbling with purple mist.
It emitted an indescribable aura of life and chaos.
There was no doubt; this was the Chaos Spring.
A brutal battle was raging outside the spring.
A beautiful and wickedly charming female expert from the Snake-People Tribe, clad in gold armor, brandished two blood-red swords while being besieged by three experts of the same realm.
These three belonged to the Scorpion Tribe, the Earth Demon Tribe, and the Shadow Tribe.
Though the Snake-People Tribe was strong, they were losing ground under the combined assault.
Their casualties were heavy.
Even the Snake-person Queen had several deep, bloody wounds, but she stood her ground at the entrance to the Chaos Spring, refusing to let the other three tribes pass.
“Scorpion King, Earth Demon King, and Shadow King — all of you, stop!”
Tantai Xuan shouted coldly from a distance.
“Not good! It’s the Tantai Family.”
The leaders of the three tribes paled when they saw her arrival.
The Snake-person Queen breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
The three tribes temporarily halted their attack.
“Head of the Tantai Family, what is the meaning of this?”
The massive Earth Demon King asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Hmph. The Snake-People Tribe are relatives by marriage to my Tantai Family. Did you not know? Attacking them is the same as opposing the Tantai Family. Leave now, and I will act as if nothing happened. Otherwise…”
Tantai Xuan let out a cold snort as the aura of the peak Severing Me Realm erupted from her body.
She was undoubtedly stronger than any of the three.