Chapter 426: Heavenly Guard (For the Platinum Grand Alliance Leader's Celebration)
Chapter 426: Heavenly Guard (For the Platinum Grand Alliance Leader's Celebration)
"No need. . . "
Fang Xi looked at the few Qi Refinement cultivators and casually asked, "Where are you from? From whence did you come? And where are you headed?"
The young cultivator, who had been prepared to cover their retreat, stepped forward and respectfully replied, "We are all from the Gan Family, hailing from the Flowing Sand Domain, and we are headed for Heavenly Guardian City!"
"Flowing Sand Domain?"
Fang Xi's lips curved into a slight smile. "Then, I wonder if the sectarian war between the Yellow Sand Sect and the Eight Desolations Sect has concluded?"
"Senior has also been to the Flowing Sand Domain?"
The young man's face lit up with joy, then he responded with a bitter smile, "Due to the Realm Descent of the demon race, the two sects ceased fighting long ago. . . In fact, our Eastern Eight Domains jointly constructed Heavenly Guardian City and deployed a colossal array formation to block the demon army near the void channel. . . To be frank, we were originally transporting a batch of supplies to Heavenly Guardian City, but we unexpectedly encountered an Earth-Drilling Demonic Earthworm. . ."
The Western Desert Cultivation World is vast, with different characteristics across its various regions.
"I see. Do you have a map of this area?"
Fang Xi asked, took a jade slip from the young cultivator, and then departed, soaring away on his light-escape.
"Brother, just who was that Senior?"
The young girl only then dared to approach and ask the young cultivator.
"I don't know, but to be able to act so casually, he must be at least a Core Formation cultivator. . . " The young man dotingly stroked the girl's small head. "Such Seniors are too far removed from us, but as long as we deliver this batch of 'Profound Sand Grass' to Heavenly Guardian City, the profit, combined with our previous savings, will be enough for us to cultivate to Qi Refinement perfection. By then. . . perhaps we'll even have a Foundation Establishment opportunity. . ."
...
Heavenly Guardian City is located at the border of the Black Water Domain and the Wind Heaven Domain.
Near this city lies the largest void channel in the Eastern Eight Domains.
Through a joint deliberation of the various Nascent Soul sects in the vicinity, it was ultimately decided to construct this city and deploy a grand array formation here to block the demon army.
From a height of ten thousand zhang, Fang Xi beheld a super-colossal array formation, its scope possibly encompassing thousands, or even tens of thousands, of miles, completely enveloping both the void channel and Heavenly Guardian City.
Or rather, Heavenly Guardian City itself was the sole formation eye and passage for this array.
If this city remained unbroken, the demon race within the grand array would never be able to emerge.
"How interesting!"
His Second Primordial Spirit chanted a spell, a demonic light flickered, and his entire being transformed into the image of an ordinary young man, his aura also dropping to around the Core Formation level, as he flew down outside Heavenly Guardian City.
The city's main gate and a section of its walls happened to be at the edge of the grand array.
At this gate, a line of Foundation Establishment cultivators in spirit armor patrolled back and forth, led by two Core Formation cultivators.
'It seems the defenses aren't particularly strict, is it because this side of the city wall faces human territory? '
Fang Xi could see that the city gate was wide open, with a constant stream of cultivators entering and exiting.
Among them were gravely wounded demon hunting squads returning, and logistics teams transporting large quantities of spirit rice, talismans, artifacts, and other supplies. . . The scene was quite bustling.
Fang Xi descended his light-hearted and arrived before the main gate.
A Core Formation cultivator swept him with his Divine Consciousness, his expression subtly changed, and he stepped forward to bow. "Fellow Daoist, I am Miao Yuandong of the Black Water Sect. May I inquire after Fellow Daoist's name?"
"Daoist Mu!"
Fang Xi replied with a smile.
"Has Fellow Daoist come for the Human-Demon War?"
Miao Yuandong asked again.
In truth, cultivators were quite selfish. Even amidst such a crucial war concerning the future of the Human World, many still only looked out for themselves.
Fang Xi had learned from his three drinking companions that there were actually a few Nascent Soul old monsters in the Jiang Kingdom who lived solitary lives, not even cultivating on fourth-tier spirit veins, but wandering the four seas. Even Tian Du Mojun had no effective way to deal with them.
The Western Desert Cultivation World was much the same. The decision to construct Heavenly Guardian City was made by the eight great Nascent Soul forces and their affiliated families and sects.
As for true rogue cultivator experts, if they hid themselves away at the ends of the earth, even demon beasts would be powerless against them.
"Indeed. . . I heard there are many demon beast materials here, so I came to take a look."
Fang Xi replied with a faint smile.
"As expected. . . " Miao Yuandong led Fang Xi to the city gate. "Fellow Daoist must also be aware that after entering this city, there are a few taboos to observe. . . Firstly, one cannot enter the combat zone unless one is a conscripted battle cultivator or has accepted a related mission, otherwise, they will easily be apprehended by the law enforcement team. . . Secondly, one cannot linger in the city for too long. If your token's restriction begins to warn you, you must leave quickly or complete the necessary procedures for extension. . ."
Next, Fang Xi received a yellow token from Miao Yuandong.
"Fellow Daoist. . . if you join the current Eight Sect Allied Army, with your Core Formation cultivation, you will surely be greatly valued and earn many generous battle merits. . . On the sect's Battle Merit Board, there are even Core Formation Spiritual Items available for exchange now."
Miao Yuandong couldn't help but add.
"Core Formation Spiritual Items, eh?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi seemed to ponder something.
Sects could naturally issue conscription orders to their subordinate forces, but for rogue cultivators who made the four seas their home, they could only be enticed by profit.
He estimated that for a Core Formation rogue cultivator to accumulate enough battle merits to exchange for a Core Formation Spiritual Item would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
However, it was a hope nonetheless.
"This. . . I will consider it."
Fang Xi did not completely refuse and walked through the main gate of Heavenly Guardian City.
Above this city gate, there was also a mirror that emitted a strange light, sweeping over every cultivator present.
Miao Yuandong watched Fang Xi enter the city gate. When the mirror artifact showed no abnormality, he breathed a sigh of relief and returned to his patrol.
"A rogue Core Formation cultivator, no problem. . . The Demon-Illuminating Mirror has already scanned him."
He said to another Core Formation cultivator.
This 'Demon-Illuminating Mirror' artifact was a unique treasure of the Western Desert Cultivation World, capable of distinguishing demonic qi.
Sadly, in the cultivation world, there was never a shortage of 'human traitors'.
Many even accepted demon bloodlines and secretly transformed into 'Half-Demon Physiques'.
After all, what cultivators sought was 'longevity'!
This void channel was merely the largest one; there were many other smaller, undiscovered channels throughout the Western Desert Cultivation World.
Perhaps fourth-tier demon beasts couldn't sneak through, but many low-tier demon beasts had, and there were inevitably oversights in other defense lines, which then allowed powerful demon race experts to break through. . .
...
As Fang Xi stepped into Heavenly Guardian City, his first feeling was 'bustle'.
Regardless of the continuous roars of spells from the other side of the city wall, or the sounds of trade from this side of the urban area, everything was boiling like a cauldron.
Many life-risking rogue cultivators formed demon hunting squads, eagerly discussing their gains on the Battle Merit Board, or how a certain rogue cultivator got lucky and took the head of a high-tier demon race member, receiving rich rewards and such.
Besides this, in the dedicated cultivation city, every pill, artifact, and array formation shop was selling well.
On the street stalls, various demon beast materials were also readily available.
"Come one, come all. . . Third-tier 'Thunder Feather Eagle' claws, these are artifact-grade raw materials, mind you. . ."
"White Jade Toad skin and blood, the supreme holy product for refining detoxification pills. . ."
"Demon-Slaying Sword. . . A fine 'Demon-Slaying Sword', already cultivated to Spirit Artifact level, ninety percent new, selling cheap. . ."
"An imitation of the Numinous Treasure 'Myriad Demon Banner'. . . The 'Hundred Demon Banner', selling for a thousand low-grade spirit stones, cheap!"
...
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Fang Xi arrived before the stall selling the 'Hundred Demon Banner'.
The stall owner was a red-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator, radiating a faint murderous aura, but upon seeing Fang Xi's exposed Core Formation cultivation, he immediately offered a fawning smile: "Senior. . . would you like to purchase a Spirit Artifact?"
Fang Xi picked up a green little banner and gently shook it. A dark green demonic qi emerged from it, and within the demonic qi, there seemed to be a faint, formidable demon soul, in the shape of a centipede.
"This Spirit Artifact is good, quite a little masterpiece, and a thousand low-grade spirit stones is indeed not expensive. " He praised.
"Isn't it though? We owe much thanks to the Eight Great Sects for selling the refining method at half price. . . Nowadays, any cultivator who dares to go onto the city walls or venture out to slay demons, carries a Hundred Demon Banner or a Thousand Demon Banner, plus a 'Demon-Slaying Sword', it's all standard equipment."
The stall owner said with a fawning smile.
Fang Xi inquired further and learned that the 'Myriad Demon Banner' and 'Demon-Slaying Sword' were originally famous Numinous Treasures of the Western Desert, possessing remarkable restraining effects against the demon race.
Later, as the Human-Demon War broke out, those Nascent Soul sects publicly released the refining methods for their lower-grade imitations, which could be exchanged with only a small amount of battle merit.
For example, this 'Hundred Demon Banner', considered an upper-grade among Spirit Artifacts, only required some demon beast materials and a demon soul to refine. It was extremely convenient for protection and had another profound mystery: it could use demonic qi to conceal the cultivator's own aura. If a cultivator venturing out to hunt high-tier demon beasts carried one, they could avoid much of the low-tier demon beasts' vigilance and harassment, making it very practical.
Furthermore, the 'Demon-Slaying Sword' required consecration and refinement with a large amount of demon beast spiritual blood. Once refined, it was incredibly effective at piercing the tough hide and bones of demon beasts.
It was rumored that even Numinous Treasure-grade 'Demon-Slaying Swords' were not something even those fourth-tier shapeshifting great demons dared to take head-on with their physical bodies.
"That's not bad. . . Give me a Demon-Slaying Sword as well."
Fang Xi took out over a dozen mid-grade spirit stones and bought two Spirit Artifacts, treating them as casual trinkets.
'This inter-domain trade holds great potential. The Southern Desolate hasn't communicated with the other domains for too long. . . This time, when I was on the Seven Treasures Building-Ship, listening to those Nascent Soul old monsters discuss battle strategies, I didn't hear of such potent artifacts. . . Perhaps the inheritance has been lost in the Southern Desolate, in which case I could bring the inheritance there, which would count as a boon for the human race. '
'For the Human World, the Ancient Demon World is an old adversary. . . It's not surprising that they've developed some restraining cultivation methods and treasures. '
Fang Xi even considered going to the front lines to earn some battle merits, perhaps by hunting a few high-tier demon race members outside the city, and exchanging for all the refining methods for the Numinous Treasures.
At this moment, he walked a few more steps and suddenly stopped before a stall.
The stall owner was a strange old man wearing an indigo short jacket and a black cloth wrapped around his head.
He was emaciated, and his face bore complex black tattoos.
Seeing Fang Xi look over, he couldn't help but reveal a smile: "Senior also dabbles in Gu?"
"Oh? You're a Gu Cultivator? !"
Fang Xi's interest was piqued. Gu refinement was one of the hundred arts of cultivation, and a particularly obscure one at that.
He hadn't seen a single Gu Cultivator during his last visit to the Flowing Sand Domain!
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