The Crystal Scorpion

Wang Quan ventured deeper into the crystal cave, his steps quickening as the surroundings became more and more magnificent. The crystals on both sides of the cave grew larger, each one towering as tall as a fully grown adult and emitting a faint glow, as though the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth had gathered within them. His eyes gleamed, his mind buzzing with speculation.

"There must be a treasure ahead," he thought. Based on his perception of the flow of spiritual energy, the larger the crystals, the denser the spiritual energy. This energy spread outward in circles, clearly originating from a central point. If nothing went wrong, that point would be where the treasure lay.

With this realization, Wang Quan no longer hesitated. He quickened his pace and sprinted toward the depths of the cave.

Moments later, he arrived at an awe-inspiring sight.

The cave suddenly opened into a vast chamber, with enormous crystal pillars rising straight from the ground toward the heavens. Each crystal glowed brilliantly, like gigantic natural sculptures. The walls were adorned with countless transparent crystals, turning the entire cave into a sparkling, majestic palace.

Between the massive crystal formations lay an extraordinary sight: a crystal-clear lake.

This crystal lake was as still as a mirror, the water so pure that it shimmered with a faint blue hue. The lakebed appeared to be lined with countless tiny crystal fragments, and the water itself was infused with a potent concentration of spiritual energy. The energy undulated gently over the lake's surface like a soft breeze. The density of the spiritual energy was so overwhelming it nearly formed into a tangible substance, making anyone nearby feel immersed in its power.

"This is truly a sacred place…" Wang Quan was filled with shock. The spiritual energy here was far beyond anything he could have imagined, even stronger than what he had experienced in the Cold Pool. Training in a place like this would surely make progress in cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

"There must be an immensely valuable treasure hidden within this crystal lake," Wang Quan thought, standing at the water's edge, feeling the overwhelming spiritual energy. He couldn't help but envision the future of his cultivation. If he could train here for a while, breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Refining— or even higher— wouldn't be out of reach!

However, just as he was lost in these thoughts, a sudden rumbling echoed from the distance.

"Damn!" Wang Quan tensed, quickly suppressing his own aura. The surrounding spiritual energy seemed to freeze in place as he immediately activated the Earth Element technique from the Five Elements Art, blending his energy with the surrounding earth and concealing himself perfectly beside the crystal lake.

He remained hidden, holding his breath and focusing on the commotion ahead.

As the rumbling grew closer, a powerful pressure filled the air. Wang Quan squinted into the distance and saw a massive figure slowly emerging from the depths of the crystal cave.

It was a giant crystal scorpion!

Its entire body was transparent, as if composed of countless sparkling crystals, each one gleaming with a cold, icy light. The scorpion was enormous, at least ten meters long, imposing and formidable. Its towering stinger, like a sharp blade, was raised high above its back, glowing faintly with a purple light that exuded a terrifyingly poisonous aura. Its two giant pincers seemed capable of effortlessly crushing through rock. With each movement it made, the ground beneath it cracked, as though ready to shatter under the sheer weight of its power.

"What…what kind of monster is this?" Wang Quan was stunned. The overwhelming presence of the crystal scorpion was suffocating, and even from a distance, the pressure it exerted was almost unbearable. Just from its aura, Wang Quan knew he stood no chance against this beast.

"This creature's strength is hard to gauge, but it can't possibly be at the Foundation Establishment stage…" Wang Quan quickly assessed the situation. If this crystal scorpion were at the Foundation Establishment stage, no amount of concealment from the Five Elements Art would allow him to hide from its keen senses. Judging by this, the scorpion's cultivation was likely at the peak of Qi Refining, perhaps even on the verge of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The crystal scorpion slowly approached the crystal lake, and the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to grow unstable in its presence. Its massive body vibrated with a low hum, accompanied by a chilling coldness. It moved directly to the edge of the lake, its stinger swaying slightly before dipping into the lake, as if this was its domain.

Wang Quan let out a silent breath of relief, guessing that the scorpion had likely just returned from hunting and was now tired, intending to rest by the lake.

"What a pity… The spiritual energy in this lake is incredibly precious. If only I had a treasure that could store the lake water…" Wang Quan thought regretfully. The crystal lake was filled with unimaginably potent spiritual energy. If he could take the lake water back and refine it, his cultivation would surely skyrocket. However, he lacked the type of treasure needed to store such a large quantity of lake water. Besides, the crystal scorpion was too powerful— no matter how much greed stirred within him, he knew he had to suppress it.

"It seems I'll have to search for other treasures," Wang Quan quickly calmed himself. Though he couldn't take the crystal lake with him, the immense concentration of spiritual energy here indicated that other valuable treasures were surely hidden deeper within the cave. He decided to continue exploring and see if he could find any suitable materials for his cultivation.

Wang Quan quietly moved to another side of the cave, stepping lightly and cautiously, taking care not to make a sound. Although the crystal scorpion had retreated to the lake, it could reappear at any moment. He had to remain on high alert.

The crystal formations around him grew larger, their translucent glow illuminating the cave like a dreamscape. Wang Quan carefully examined the terrain as he moved, keeping his sword ready with spiritual energy flowing through it, prepared for any sudden danger.

"If the crystal scorpion is this powerful, there must be more opportunities hidden in this cave. As long as I'm careful, I'm bound to find something of value," he thought confidently. Despite the danger, Wang Quan saw this as a rare opportunity.

As he ventured further, his spiritual senses picked up a faint, unusual fluctuation. Though it was weak, the energy it carried was incredibly pure, filled with the essence of the Earth Element.

"Could there be more elemental materials here?" Wang Quan's heart raced with excitement. He quickened his pace, heading toward the source of the fluctuation.