Chapter 433: Enemy Traces (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Chapter 433: Enemy Traces (Seeking Monthly Votes)
The "Yun Jizi" alias had always presented the image of an old devil outside, even employing the divine abilities of the Path of the Yama Emperor a few times.
When the External Avatar donned this alias, it was truly seamless.
"Only Nangong Li of the Wishful Thinking Sect knows I possess a Second Primordial Spirit, which is a minor flaw, at best. . . But that woman is intelligent; she wouldn't spread it around. . ."
"Even if she did, what of it? With my current strength, I'm already capable of roaming freely across the South Barrens Cultivation World. . . Losing an alias would just mean losing a bit of face; everything else would proceed as usual. After all, among Nascent Soul old monsters, what truly matters is strength!"
Fang Xi had to admit his true nature: proficient in internal affairs, inept in external ones. If he encountered a Fourth-order superior-grade demon beast, he might have to flee in a panic. But if he encountered a late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivator, he'd truly kill one if one came, and kill a pair if two came. . .
Although the External Avatar didn't possess the 'Withered Glory Mystic Light', its proxy fighting technique could still summon the main body to assist at any time.
"Look how good I am to my External Avatar. The External Avatar should just obediently work for me from now on."
"I'll just be a leisurely tree planter on the island. . ."
...
Myriad Islands Lake, outermost perimeter.
A group of fleeing cultivators, protecting mortals, finally reached the edge of the lake with great difficulty.
"Hurry, hurry! Land demons aren't good swimmers. . . Once we're in the great lake, we'll be safe."
A cultivator, standing on a flying sword, shouted loudly.
At this moment, a mortal fleet from Myriad Islands Lake had already sailed to the shore and was nervously transporting refugees.
Large numbers of mortals, emaciated, weathered, and almost completely numb from the torment of disaster, swarmed onto the multi-decked boats like a tide.
Only after sitting down on the deck and receiving food and water did a faint trace of vitality barely appear on their faces.
"Grandpa, these mortals are so miserable!"
Inside the multi-decked boat, a window opened, revealing the eyes of a young girl.
She wore an emerald green dress, with a hint of playful mischief about her. Yet, as she looked at the boat full of refugees, only sympathy filled her.
"Sigh. . . there's nothing that can be done about it. Who could have predicted this beast tide, rarely seen in ten thousand years."
Beside the girl was an old man. Although his head was full of silver hair, there was no trace of emaciation; instead, he exuded vibrant vitality.
Clearly, this was a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
"These mortals are still considered fortunate; with cultivators protecting them, they could escape to Myriad Islands Lake. . . The ones who died along the way—now *that* was truly miserable."
This Foundation Establishment elder seemed to have seen through the ways of the world and looked at his granddaughter with a hint of doting affection in his eyes.
"Indeed. . . thanks to Dragon Fish True Monarch."
In the girl's eyes, there was envy and longing: "In the future, I too wish to become such a magnanimous and benevolent grand cultivator, capable of protecting a region!"
"Protect a region? Magnanimous and benevolent?"
The Foundation Establishment elder's expression suddenly turned a bit strange.
He glanced around, then specifically set up a sound-insulating barrier. Only then did he lower his voice: "Xiao Yu, there are some truths I didn't want to tell you, but to prevent you from going astray, I have no choice but to speak. . ."
"Grandpa, what do you want to say?"
The girl named Xiao Yu was so nervous she seemed to only hear her own breathing, vaguely sensing that her grandfather was about to reveal a monumental secret.
"Among us cultivators, selfishness is the true nature. Only when we have spare capacity can we occasionally lend a hand, and even then, we must be careful to protect ourselves. You must, must remember not to be deceived by those who have honey in their mouths and daggers in their hearts. . ."
The Foundation Establishment elder earnestly advised: "Although the Dragon Fish True Monarch you admire now protects a region and even dispatched his spirit beasts to patrol Myriad Islands Lake, helping us repel the beast tide. . . do you know what kind of person this True Monarch was before he achieved his grand Dao?"
"It seems. . . there really aren't any legends," Xiao Yu recalled for a moment, then murmured, "Aside from this True Monarch being somewhat of a philanderer. . ."
"Hehe, after all, one conceals the faults of a superior," the Foundation Establishment elder said proudly. "But your grandpa here has lived for many years. Back then, before that one achieved Core Formation, he was already a small Qi Refinement cultivator in Myriad Islands Lake. He even visited Dragon Fish Island back then!"
Then his voice turned solemn: "Dragon Fish True Monarch originated as a rogue cultivator and has always been extremely cautious. Back when he was in Qi Refinement, he obediently tilled the fields on Peach Blossom Island for decades. Only when he had no choice but to venture out to seek a Foundation Establishment opportunity did he finally leave. . . After he later achieved Foundation Establishment, he settled on Dragon Fish Island and barely left his home for almost a century. During this time, regardless of the upheavals outside, White Peace Immortal City changing hands multiple times, or even relic opportunities appearing right on his doorstep, he never ventured out! What stood out was simply the character 'Steadiness'! Only then did he finally achieve Core Formation Perfected!"
"Over these past few hundred years, cultivators who were more high-profile or more brilliantly talented than him either died or lost all hope of breaking through. Only this man consistently formed his Golden Core, then his Nascent Soul. . . and now has even become the Lord of Three Kingdoms! He relied on those two words: 'caution'. This is a secret not passed down by many cultivation families and sects. Today, Grandpa is teaching it to you: Dragon Fish True Monarch is truly a role model for cultivators of our generation!"
The Foundation Establishment elder spoke earnestly and significantly.
The young girl named Xiao Yu, however, had a look of shock on her face: "So, when Dragon Fish True Monarch was young, he was always a. . . cowardly turtle. . ."
"Hehe. . . indeed, back then, this person really did have the nickname 'Old Turtle'. But it was only ever whispered privately; you absolutely must not spread it externally. Otherwise, with the True Monarch's wrath, your grandpa's old bones wouldn't be able to bear it. . ."
Just as the Foundation Establishment elder proudly stroked his beard, pleased with his success in educating his granddaughter.
Boom!
The boat suddenly lurched!
"What happened?"
The grandfather and granddaughter immediately dispelled the barrier and came onto the deck, only to see lines of crocodile-like demon beasts in the distance on the land, surging wildly towards them like a black tide.
"It's Iron-armored Crocodiles!"
The Foundation Establishment elder's expression turned grim: "These demon beasts are amphibious, and there are even several Second-order superior-grade ones among them. We're in trouble. . ."
"Be on guard!"
"Where is the Six Extremes Heavenly Water Array? Formation master, formation master!"
"Quick, get the mortals onto the boat first!"
For a time, the shore fell into chaos. Mixed with the cries of mortals, it seemed a complete mess.
Roar! Roar!
Just then, from the bottom of the lake, an undercurrent emerged.
Accompanying it was a prolonged dragon roar!
Splash!
A whirlpool appeared, and amidst countless splashing water droplets, an over ten zhang long Azure Flood Dragon leaped out of the water.
A terrifying dragon's might erupted, making those Iron-armored Crocodiles wet their pants in fear.
Horned Dragon let out a triumphant roar and once again displayed its divine ability of Riding Clouds and Mist.
In the void, countless water vapors condensed into water blades, water spears, water arrows. . . falling from mid-air.
Pfft! Pfft!
On the backs of the Iron-armored Crocodiles, which were difficult for cultivators' artifacts to harm, various bloody blossoms continuously burst open.
In an instant, this wave of demon beasts was completely wiped out by Horned Dragon.
"It's Dragon Fish True Monarch's spirit beast—a Third-order Azure Flood Dragon!"
"We're saved!"
A large number of cultivators immediately cheered, while the Foundation Establishment elder was completely dispirited, his face filled with dismay: "I should have thought of it earlier! For such an important operation, there was bound to be a Core Formation combatant secretly escorting it. . . This old man is truly foolish, truly. . . That mere sound-insulating barrier might not have been able to block the Divine Consciousness of a Third-order great demon beast. . ."
Seeing Horned Dragon turn its head to look over, with eyes full of mockery.
The old man was filled with remorse and regret, and slapped himself hard across the face. . .
Horned Dragon: ". . ."
It actually thought this human spoke quite nicely. If he could speak, he should speak more. Poor thing, it was scared miserable by its master every day; it was rare to hear someone of its master's own kind speak ill of him. . .
...
Several days later.
Emerald Island.
Dragon Pool.
Splash!
Fang Xi opened his spirit beast pouch and released one first-order and second-order Wind Thunder Horned Python after another.
These demon beasts were wild and hard to tame; as soon as they came out, they wanted to cause trouble. But Horned Dragon released its flood dragon's might, making them prostrate on the ground, not daring to move.
Among demon beasts, hierarchy is strict. A Third-order demon beast facing lower-order demon beasts possesses overwhelming authority, not to mention Horned Dragon is a Third-order Azure Flood Dragon!
"These Wind Thunder Horned Pythons will also be under your management from now on. Don't let them cause any trouble!"
Fang Xi had originally wanted to leave behind the leader of the Wind Thunder Horned Pythons to give Horned Dragon a bit of pressure or something. Now he could only abandon that idea and began to attempt breeding them. He then said to Horned Dragon: "Also let your subordinates, the Azure Water Winged Snakes, come out and meet them, lest they don't recognize each other in the future and fight to the death. . ."
"This time, your External Avatar's trip, you got lucky. And even managed to acquire a Third-order mid-grade Wind Thunder Horned Python inner core. Consider it a dog's treat. . ."
He sighed and tossed out that inner core, faintly imbued with wind and thunder.
"Roar!"
Horned Dragon immediately raised its head and opened its great mouth, swallowing that inner core into its belly. Its fish-like eyes filled with satisfaction.
This master is still pretty good. Next time I see that old man, I'll just smack him dead with my tail. . .
"If, after eating the inner core I bestowed, you don't advance to Third-order mid-grade within a hundred years, then I'll roast you! No. . . better to stew you. Now *that* would be a proper 'Great Azure Dragon Soup'. . ."
Fang Xi stroked his chin, muttering to himself.
Horned Dragon immediately wilted, deciding it was better to spare that Foundation Establishment elder's life. . .
...
Fang Xi, of course, didn't know the small thoughts of his spirit beast.
Anyway, with his now powerful Divine Consciousness, the enslavement contract he formed was impossible for the other party to resist. Even if ordered to go to their death, they could only comply, so he didn't much care what Horned Dragon's mood was.
But suddenly, his spiritual sense stirred. He transformed into a streak of green light and arrived beside the phoenix nest.
This phoenix nest was constructed primarily from a Third-order fire-attribute spiritual wood. In the very center was a 'Phoenix Perching Parasol Wood'. This Fourth-order spiritual root complemented the Green Fire Luan's nest perfectly, and nourished by Fourth-order spirit vein energy and Jì soil, it showed a clear trend of vigorous growth.
Chirp! Chirp!
Accompanied by a phoenix cry, a ball of green flame descended from the sky, transforming into the shape of the Green Fire Luan.
Its spiritual eyes held a trace of grievance, and it chirped noisily, saying something to Fang Xi, as if it were lodging a complaint.
And Fang Xi, through the soul connection within the enslavement contract, could barely understand its meaning.
"You mean. . . there's a transformed great demon beast hiding around Myriad Islands Lake, and it tried to ambush you today? Fortunately, you flew fast?"
He had previously dispatched Horned Dragon and Little Azure to patrol Myriad Islands Lake, while also helping cultivators and refugees relocate and resist the beast tide. He hadn't expected to encounter such a thing.
Fang Xi's eyes narrowed. Then a trace of joy appeared on his face: "I have puppet materials again!"
Comments