Chapter 299: Investigation (Compensating Missed Update 4)
Chapter 299: Investigation (Compensating Missed Update 4)
Bodhi Sacred Realm.
The white-robed female cultivator's face was somewhat pale, clearly indicating that continuously infusing spiritual power into the token was quite draining.
Fortunately, her efforts finally paid off.
After multiple rotations, a verdant, nine-eyed Bodhi Seed dropped from the barrier's opening, landing steadily in the woman's jade-like hand.
"Nine-Eyed Bodhi Seed. . . the most supreme treasure for enlightenment!"
The white-robed female cultivator's eyes lit up slightly, then dimmed with a hint of melancholy: "What a pity. . . this is something Junior Martial Aunt Wan'er is determined to acquire. . ."
She sighed, sealing the Bodhi Seed within a jade box.
Following that, a white shadow flickered, and she emerged from the Bodhi Sacred Land.
"Excellent. . . this place is perfect for my cultivation!"
A sickly smile emerged on the white-robed female cultivator's face, the snowflake mark between her brows glowing faintly.
The next instant!
With a crisp snap, a sound rang out!
Before the white-robed female cultivator's eyes, a flash of azure sword light exploded!
A figure suddenly shimmered forth directly from a common roadside tree, wielding a long azure sword and striking with killing intent!
"Wood Evasion Art?"
On the white-robed female cultivator's forehead, the snowflake pattern cracked with a snap, losing a corner.
Her eyes were clear, evidently completely unaffected by Fang Xi's Primordial Demon Stab, which he unleashed with Divine Consciousness surpassing that of an ordinary mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.
Whoosh!
The sword energy sliced through the woman, yet only struck a lifelike ice sculpture.
Not far away, a white light flashed, and the woman's figure reappeared, as she touched her forehead: "Divine Consciousness secret art? Mid-stage Core Formation? You actually possess no seven emotions and six desires. . ."
"Fellow Daoist jest," Fang Xi replied with a smile, "Right now. . . I just really want you dead."
Fang Xi replied, holding the Green Reaping Sword, a smile playing on his lips.
He had rushed to this city, faintly sensing that someone had already beaten him to the Sacred Land, but before leaving, he naturally followed his old routine: approaching with the Wood Evasion Art, using the Primordial Demon Stab to shake the opponent's sea of consciousness, and then launching a sudden ambush!
The Demonic Path disciples he had encountered previously were, for the most part, slaughtered without any resistance when faced with this move.
After all, he was a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, and his own strength among all mid-stage Core Formation cultivators was definitely not weak.
Yet, he only succeeded seven or eight times out of ten, which already made Fang Xi remark on the strong caliber of this batch of Demonic Path disciples.
Furthermore, before assassinating, he would often employ the 'Withered Glory Chant' secret art to conceal his aura.
This 'Withered Glory Chant' was a top-tier cultivation method; when fully restrained, his mind was like withered wood, undisturbed by ripples, even his thoughts barely perceptible.
In Fang Xi's view, this secret art was perfectly suited for assassination.
Indeed, that was the case.
Even though this female cultivator possessed a keen ability to sense killing intent, she seemed to be subtly suppressed by his cultivation method.
If not for her having refined a Substitute Secret Art, she would have suffered a great loss from that single sword strike!
"There truly are changes within the mystic realm. . . Are you one of Dan Ya's people? Or did another sect cross realms and smuggle themselves in?"
The white-robed female cultivator expressionlessly formed a hand seal, and a snow-white shield rose into the air, while cold winds blew around her, a layer of snowflakes enveloping her completely for protection.
"It seems. . . you weren't affected by my Primordial Demon Stab at all either. You are indeed different from ordinary disciples. . ."
Fang Xi replied, unhurriedly and at ease.
Suddenly, an expressionless figure emerged behind him, its body encircled by nine dragons — it was none other than the puppet You Kun!
The puppet, expressionlessly, pointed a finger, and six fire dragons lunged out, tangling with a figure that had suddenly appeared.
This figure had a grayish-white face, sharp claws and fangs, and had apparently been lurking, invisible like a chameleon, intending to ambush Fang Xi.
Fortunately, Fang Xi's powerful Divine Consciousness had constantly covered a radius of several tens of miles, and upon detecting something amiss, he had released the puppet.
"Fellow Daoist, this demonic corpse of yours is indeed well-refined. First you spoke to attract my attention. . . then you had this Core Formation demonic corpse launch a sneak attack. . . Very good, your combat experience is quite rich."
Fang Xi revealed a cold smile, his fingers flicking rapidly, sending out streaks of Azure Wood Divine Swords.
Seeing this, the white-robed female cultivator gritted her silver teeth and spat out an ice-crystal-like awl, clashing fiercely with the numerous Azure Wood Divine Swords, all while inwardly lamenting her predicament.
The enemy's spiritual power and Divine Consciousness far surpassed hers; even with her External Core barely boosting her spiritual power to the early-stage Core Formation realm, she was still greatly outmatched.
What's more, she possessed an Earth-grade Ice Spiritual Root and cultivated a rare, top-tier Heart Demon cultivation method that could stir a cultivator's seven emotions and six desires. Any enemy fighting her would often fall victim if they were even slightly careless, plunging into various heart demon illusions, truly killing without a trace.
Yet, she never expected that this Core Formation cultivator before her was extremely strange; his mind was like withered wood, still as an ancient well, completely unswayed.
"What cultivation method does this person practice? He is definitely my great enemy. . . Why have I never heard of such a method before?"
The white-robed female cultivator struggled to hold on, her heart truly dejected.
She didn't know that this 'Withered Glory Chant' was not only a top-tier cultivation method but also had a Soul Transformation chapter, its grade and potential on par with the demonic cultivation method she practiced.
Otherwise, even if she encountered an orthodox cultivator who practiced a Heart-Cleansing Mind-Calming cultivation technique, her demonic cultivation method could still subtly lead them astray.
"Time to leave!"
The more the white-robed woman fought, the more alarmed she became, and she abruptly let out a long cry like a phoenix's call.
That demonic refined corpse, as if receiving a command, ignored the nine fire dragons coiling and scorching its body, and lunged forward, clawing towards Fang Xi's back.
Fang Xi frowned, and the Azure Wood Divine Light Shield flickered with brilliance, blocking the claw.
"This demonic corpse. . . is a bit strange. . . it seems unafraid even of Yang-attribute True Fire."
At the same time, the white-robed woman summoned a white talisman treasure.
The talisman treasure instantly exploded, transforming into a crystal-clear, snow-white ice phoenix, seemingly carved from frigid ice, entangling the numerous flying swords. Simultaneously, she forced out a drop of blood from her finger, about to cast a Blood Escape Technique to flee.
Whoosh!
A bloody rainbow streaked through the air, then reappeared on the other side.
The bloody light receded, revealing the white-robed female cultivator's form, her face incomparably grim: "An array? When was it set up?"
"Having had your senior and junior brothers escape so many times before, there were always some improvements to be made."
"Fellow Daoist, what do you think of my Azure Wood Divine Light Array? This array can only be considered a third-order incomplete array, and it's temporary. . . but it still possesses a certain sealing power. . ."
Fang Xi smiled faintly.
After too many Demonic Path disciples had slipped away, he had accumulated some experience from all the killing.
At this moment, with a mere flick of his finger, streaks of azure-green Azure Wood Divine Light shot skyward, transforming into pillars of light.
As the grand array operated, Azure Wood Divine Thunder and Azure Wood True Fire emerged.
His mid-stage Core Formation spiritual power surged forth, activating the array, then he pointed a finger.
The 'Life and Death Seal' then appeared above the white-robed female cultivator, crashing down with a resounding boom!
Witnessing this scene, despair involuntarily filled the white-robed female cultivator's eyes.
She was merely at Foundation Establishment. . . What merit did she possess to be targeted like this?
...
Primordial Demon Sect.
On the edge of the stone platform.
As a crisp shattering sound echoed.
Two figures, seated cross-legged, suddenly opened their eyes simultaneously.
"Another one died. . . Are too many disciples dying too quickly in this entry to the Xuan Wu Mystic Realm?"
The handsome man furrowed his brows.
Across from him, Wan'er's beautiful face changed color as she took out a string of prayer beads.
This string of prayer beads was entirely crimson, most of its beads glowing brightly, and within them, names were faintly visible.
But at this moment, quite a few had already lost their luster and showed cracks.
And when Wan'er saw that one of the beads, marked with the character 'Bai', also cracked with a dim light, a shocking aura of malevolence erupted from her body: "Junior Niece Bai has met with trouble!"
"What? That girl inherited your lineage's demonic cultivation method, and she has the 'Six Desires Heaven Mixing Demon' protecting her. Who could possibly kill her?"
A hint of surprise appeared on the handsome man's face: "It seems there truly is a problem within the mystic realm. If too many disciples die, it will affect our evaluation. . ."
Wan'er's expression was also cold as frost: "Incidents occurring within mystic realms have happened before. Either an opposing sect sends cultivators to cross realms and smuggle themselves in, or some genius figure appears among the Wu Kings, unifying the mystic realm, and using ruthless means to cultivate a hundred or so Wu Kings, then mobilizing them collectively to hunt down our Holy Sect's disciples. . ."
"Hmm, the last time this happened was during the 'Wu Emperor's Rebellion' eighteen hundred years ago, wasn't it? I recall that while our Holy Sect's disciples suffered heavy casualties, the supervising Core Formation deacon used that opportunity to refine a hundred or so Core Formation demonic overlords in one go, turning them into a formidable demonic treasure. In the end, he not only successfully condensed a Nascent Soul but also established a formidable reputation even among Nascent Soul cultivators."
The handsome man chuckled lightly, then his figure flickered. When he reappeared, he was already holding the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, standing upon the stone platform, a silver talisman appearing in his hand: "Finally, enough disciples have died. By the rules. . . since an incident has occurred in the mystic realm, and I am responsible for oversight, I shall use the 'Realm Descent Talisman' to investigate!"
"Wan'er wishes to go as well. Senior Brother, how about you yield this opportunity to Wan'er?"
Wan'er suddenly smiled with captivating charm, pleading: "Wan'er is also afraid something might happen to Senior Brother. What if an orthodox Nascent Soul old monster smuggled himself in?"
"Hmph! If a Nascent Soul old monster were to smuggle himself into the Xuan Wu Mystic Realm, the restrictions would surely detect it, and our sect's elders would have already been unable to sit still. . ."
The handsome man smiled faintly, activating the 'Realm Descent Talisman' in his hand, and declared proudly: "What's more. . . with my current cultivation and treasures, even if I encounter a Nascent Soul old monster, I can at least guarantee my life. . . Junior Sister, please keep a good eye on this 'Heaven-Connecting Platform' for me, haha. . ."
Amidst hearty laughter, the handsome man was enveloped in silver light and vanished instantly without a trace.
"Hmph. . . he's just hoping more disciples die so he has an excuse to enter the mystic realm and plunder some more. Once we reach Core Formation, our opportunities to enter such mystic realms are revoked, only permitted under a few specific circumstances. . . But unfortunately. . . Wan'er's cultivation method has quite the sensing ability. Just now, when I also wanted to go to the mystic realm, I felt a distinct sense of trepidation. . ."
Wan'er toyed with a strand of hair at her fingertips, but a faint smile suddenly appeared on her face, with a subtle hint of anticipation.
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