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Chapter 488: Dragon Transformation (Congratulations to Alliance Leader Xiao Qiushui 4! )

Chapter 488: Dragon Transformation (Congratulations to Alliance Leader Xiao Qiushui 4! )

Refining Gu insects was also a profound discipline.

Generally speaking, Qi Refinement cultivators could only refine Yellow-grade Gu insects. Forcibly refining a Black-grade Gu insect across a major realm could lead to a backlash, and it was even highly possible to lose one's life.

The 'Five Fires Gu' was an Earth-grade Gu insect, requiring Core Formation-stage spiritual power and Divine Consciousness to suppress and refine.

But for Fang Xi, with his Nascent Soul cultivation, subduing a Core Formation-grade Gu insect was, naturally, an utterly effortless affair.

"Croak!"

As the temperature within the cave dwelling rose, the Five Fires Gu opened its eyes, its abdomen swelled, and it let out a roar.

But in an instant, an azure spiritual power descended, pressing the toad flat against the table, then boring into its body, leaving behind restriction after restriction.

In the end, the Five Fires Gu lay belly up, on the verge of rolling its eyes. . .

Pan Yin quickly called a halt, "It's merely subduing a single Gu insect; why impose so many restrictions?"

"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. I am by nature quite suspicious!"

Fang Xi raised a hand, and the Five Fires Gu transformed into a white light, landing in his palm.

At this moment, Fang Xi felt an inexplicable connection on a soul level form between himself and the Gu insect.

And with a thought, this palm-sized toad instantly shrank again, becoming the size of a baby's fist. Its entire body resembled white jade, its eyes like two rubies.

"This Gu insect is one of the finest among Earth-grade, with potential to ascend to Heaven-grade in the future. . ."

Seeing this, Pan Yin sighed, a hint of heartache in his voice, "If properly controlled, it might even add a Nascent Soul cultivator to our sect."

"Fellow Daoist jests. Among all Gu insects, the Golden Silkworm reigns supreme! The Golden Silkworm Gu is the king of all Gu. . . I truly admire how Fellow Daoist refines your second primordial spirit secret art using your life-bound Golden Silkworm Gu."

A glint flashed in Fang Xi's eyes, "I also have a keen interest in Gu insects. How about we sit down and discuss the Dao?"

"Discuss the Dao?"

Pan Yin pondered for a moment. It was true that Nascent Soul cultivators often exchanged experiences and cultivation insights.

After all, they were already at the peak of the cultivation world, and every small step forward was exceptionally difficult, forcing them to pool their wisdom.

However, such exchanges were usually reserved for true bosom friends.

This True Monarch Tian Kui. . . ?

Pan Yin's expression instantly turned a little strange.

Fang Xi chuckled, "I also wish to purchase a batch of Gu insects that can assist with Body Cultivation, and of course, the higher the rank, the better. This is the compensation I can offer. . ."

With that, he handed over a jade slip.

After sweeping his Divine Consciousness over it, Pan Yin's eyes widened!

Although the jade slip contained only materials that Fang Xi had discarded from other Nascent Soul old monsters' storage bags because he himself deemed them undesirable, for Pan Yin, they were quite appealing.

"Naturally, as cultivators, we should cast aside preconceptions and exchange knowledge with each other to make progress. . ."

A smile immediately appeared on Pan Yin's face.

For many Nascent Soul old monsters, everything else was illusory; only profit was tangible.

...

Several days later.

An azure light soared away from the Immortal Gu Sect, revealing Fang Xi within!

He had exchanged insights on Gu insects and cultivation with Pan Yin, and also spent a heavy sum to purchase several Gu insects highly effective for Body Cultivation, making for considerable gains.

Next, although Pan Yin tried his best to keep him, Fang Xi's heart was set on the grand auction held by the Black Dragon Sect in the Southern Domain, so he took his leave.

Even if he needed a place to cultivate, the Immortal Gu Sect possessed a fourth-tier spirit vein, but it wasn't his first choice.

After soaring for tens of thousands of miles in one breath, Fang Xi descended from his escape light and entered the Mountain Sea Pearl to meditate and regulate his breath.

Within the Mountain Sea Pearl, thanks to a sudden influx of numerous supreme-grade spirit stones, the spiritual qi had faintly reached a quasi-fourth tier level.

For Fang Xi, safety was always his top priority in cultivation.

If he truly couldn't find a spirit vein of mid-grade fourth tier or higher, the Mountain Sea Pearl could barely make do.

Inside the Saint Son's cave dwelling.

Fang Xi sat cross-legged, silently circulating his cultivation art.

After the Nascent Soul within him fully absorbed the misty purple qi, its stature seemed to grow a fraction. . .

After completing a major circulation of his cultivation art, he again went under the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning and circulated the 'Longevity Art'.

This cultivation art emphasized accumulation over days and months, like water dripping through stone.

Although progress had been very slow since he had first gained entry last time, Fang Xi still persistently maintained his daily routine.

After circulating the 'Longevity Art' once more, Fang Xi inspected his inner self with his Divine Consciousness, but found no changes in his Wood Spirit Body. He couldn't help but fall silent:

"A Myriad Ages Evergreen Dao Body. . . Could it be that the Demonic Tree of Primordial Beginning nurturing the Eternal Evergreen Body also requires hundreds or thousands of years?"

Fang Xi gazed at the Demonic Tree, its canopy a vibrant green with scattered gold and silver patterns, and let out a soft sigh.

Immediately, he sat cross-legged under the tree, flipped his hand, and a snow-white jade toad appeared. It was precisely the Five Fires Gu!

This Gu resembled a sculpture carved from a single piece of white jade, its eyes fiery red. It wasn't ugly; in fact, it appeared adorably clumsy.

"After awakening from its hibernation, this Five Fires Gu needs to consume three superior-grade Jade Dust Pills every month. . . Most cultivators truly couldn't afford to raise it."

During his time exchanging insights with Pan Yin, Fang Xi had gained some understanding of the habits of various Gu insects.

At this, he formed a hand seal.

"Croak!"

The white jade toad leaped to the ground, then suddenly swelled up, becoming as large as a common dog.

Seeing this, Fang Xi's expression remained unchanged as he sprayed a wisp of azure Infant Fire.

Upon seeing that wisp of azure flame, the white jade toad immediately opened its mouth, and a red tongue rapidly coiled around it, swallowing that wisp of azure Nascent Soul True Fire into its body. It even let out a burp, a wisp of azure smoke rising.

"Hmm, it can at least store fourth-tier flames without any problem. . . According to the Immortal Gu Sect, this Gu has five fire sacs in its body, so it can store up to five different Heavenly and Earthly Spirit Flames. . ."

Fang Xi experimented a few more times, then finally formed a hand seal: "Devour!"

Within the white jade toad's body, the Infant Fire aura rapidly vanished, replaced by the Five Fires Gu becoming more energetic, as if it had just enjoyed a full meal.

"If this type of spirit flame is not needed, the Gu insect can be commanded to completely devour it. This is also key to the Five Fires Gu's advancement. . ."

Fang Xi naturally wouldn't let the Five Fires Gu devour Heavenly and Earthly Spirit Flames; he himself barely had enough to use.

His visit to the Immortal Gu Sect this time was merely to purchase a batch of Body Cultivation Gu insects and, in the process, acquire a tool-Gu capable of storing demonic fire.

As for the grievances between Pan Yin and Pan Lei?

He didn't bother to care in the slightest.

In fact, by directly taking the Five Fires Gu, he had severely played a trick on Pan Lei, which could be considered a small lesson for her.

...

Several months later.

Black Dragon City.

The Black Dragon Sect was the overlord of the Black Dragon Domain, and 'Black Dragon City', which it had built, was a well-known sacred land of trade among the Southern Domains.

Among its most famous events was the grand auction held personally by the Black Dragon Sect once every ten years.

Whenever this period arrived, Black Dragon City became bustling with activity, with a large number of cultivators gathering, forcing the Black Dragon Sect to dispatch many disciples to maintain order.

Curiously, despite such a mix of dragons and snakes, high-tier cultivators rarely caused trouble in Black Dragon City.

This was naturally due to the personal presence of the Black Dragon Sect's current Grand Elder, a Nascent Soul Perfected cultivator!

On this day.

An azure escape light descended before Black Dragon City, revealing a cultivator wearing a bamboo hat within. He gazed at the strange phenomenon in the sky above the city, seemingly momentarily stunned.

Above Black Dragon City, there was actually a colossal black dragon, tens of miles long, brandishing its fangs and claws as it patrolled the entire city!

"Black Dragon City's 'Transformation Dragon Grand Array'!"

Fang Xi's eyes sparkled with peculiar brilliance, and he couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

This 'Transformation Dragon Grand Array' was a peculiar array formation, primarily focused on refining arrays to manifest forms!

Of course, unlike the White Deer Array Spirit, the black dragon manifested through this array, though powerful, possessed no sentience whatsoever and required the array master to operate it.

Even so, its power was still extraordinary.

"It is said that setting up this array requires the bones, blood, and souls of flood dragons. . . Generally, third-tier flood dragon materials could only be used to set up a third-tier grand array, and the manifested flood dragon would at most be comparable to a Core Formation cultivator. . . This 'Transformation Dragon Grand Array's' manifested black dragon should already be at the mid-grade fourth tier. It must have had the bones and essence-soul of a mid-grade fourth-tier black dragon refined into it. . ."

"If this array were to ascend to the fifth tier, then this black dragon would also gain sentience and transform into a peculiar living being. . ."

A thought stirred in Fang Xi's heart.

At this moment, he had not concealed the Nascent Soul-level aura on his body, though to outsiders, it only appeared to be early-stage Nascent Soul.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist has a profound understanding of the Transformation Dragon Grand Array."

A hearty laugh resonated, and a black light flashed, revealing a black-robed elder.

His face was kind and benevolent, with eyebrows already white, yet no trace of a beard. He was an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and he approached Fang Xi, saying, "Fellow Daoist. . . Could you be True Monarch Tian Kui? !"

"Oh?"

Fang Xi was slightly surprised, "Fellow Daoist actually recognizes me? I consider myself quite unknown. . ."

"Haha, Fellow Daoist, to be able to fight to a draw with Fellow Daoist Pan, who cultivates the formidable Golden Silkworm Nascent Soul divine ability, and also practices the extremely difficult puppet arts, you are already renowned throughout the Southern Domains. . . I am Hei Xuan Shangren, and I welcome Fellow Daoist to Black Dragon City. . ."

Hei Xuan Shangren laughed.

The battle between Fang Xi and Pan Yin had, after all, leaked out.

And Nascent Soul cultivators, as top-tier combatants in the cultivation world, each received special attention.

What's more, as the overlord of the Southern Domains, the Black Dragon Sect might have even planted spies within the Immortal Gu Sect, allowing them to know more details. It was only normal that they even understood the appearance of True Monarch Tian Kui.

"Fellow Daoist, you must be here for the upcoming grand auction, correct? I shall personally guide Fellow Daoist."

Hei Xuan Shangren personally led Fang Xi into Black Dragon City and even handed over a jade slip: "This is the latest auction catalog. . ."

Fang Xi thanked him and took it.

Before an auction began, situations could change in an instant; some sellers might renege, while others might temporarily change their auction items—such occurrences were common.

He swept his Divine Consciousness over it, but felt a hint of disappointment; his desired 'Blood River Stone' was not present. Only a mid-grade fourth-tier pill refinement inheritance seemed somewhat promising.

His gaze continued downwards, and suddenly he smiled.

Below the list of auction items, there were also some rules to be observed within Black Dragon City.

Although to Nascent Soul existences like them, rules were merely empty formalities, the Black Dragon Sect's gentle reminder showed how much thought they had put into it. . .