Chapter 504: Five-stage Gu (Making up for missed update 43)
“Ribbit! ”
The white jade toad let out a joyful cry and rushed into the earthy yellow light pillar.
A sensation of weightlessness came over him.
The next instant, the world transformed!
By the time Fang Xi regained his senses, he found himself in a fragrant meadow.
The lawn was lush and green, with several white flowers emitting a strange fragrance.
The white jade toad opened its gaping maw, its scarlet tongue sweeping out like a Taotie, devouring the grass and flowers. It ate with immense satisfaction, its mouth slightly upturned as if smiling.
“This mystic realm. . . something’s off. ”
Fang Xi, however, suddenly frowned.
Throughout history, ancient cultivators, when creating mystic realms, would mostly set up various super-large-scale restrictions.
For instance, the Spirit Herb Mystic Realm in the Three Kingdoms cultivation world forbade high-level cultivators from entering; even if forcibly broken into, it would only cause the mystic realm to collapse. . .
This Valley God Mystic Realm was slightly better, but the spiritual energy in the void seemed extremely scarce, carrying a sense of oppression.
“It’s quite unfriendly to Nascent Soul cultivators. ”
Fang Xi murmured, “I think I now understand how Soul Transformation cultivators feel when invading other worlds. ”
Within this mystic realm, he found it incredibly difficult to replenish his Nascent Soul magical power once it was depleted. Even using spirit treasures, their power would be weakened by several tenths. . .
“Fortunately, Feng Shisan’s physique is robust enough, which offers some comfort. ”
“Hmm? ! ”
Just then, Fang Xi’s eyes lit up as he noticed the Five Fires Gu, which had eaten its fill and was covered in juice.
“The Five Fires Gu isn’t suppressed at all. . . so this mystic realm specifically targets cultivators, not Gu worms? As expected, it’s a Gu cultivator’s mystic realm, which makes sense. . . ”
As ancient Gu cultivators, it was natural for them to show some favoritism towards their own descendants.
“As for Gu refining techniques, I barely understand them. . . but fortunately, I can learn very quickly. ”
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then pulled out an ancient book.
The book exuded an ancient aura, its cover an earthy yellow, like the hide of some demon beast.
On the cover, the three large characters “Taiyi Scripture” were inscribed.
“Taiyi! ”
Fang Xi spoke softly.
“Master, please instruct! ” Taiyi immediately responded.
“Search for Gu worms, Gu refining related. . . then implant the Gu refining program into the ‘Xuan Yuan Eight Scenery Pearl. ’ I want to be able to do it with one-click, idiot-proof operation! ”
“Understood! ” Taiyi’s cheerful voice rang out.
During its growth, it openly accessed many databases of the Fang Xian Dao Palace, downloading numerous cultivation methods and secret arts, some useful, some not. . .
The Kyushu World had once been connected to myriad other worlds, so even obscure Gu refining techniques were touched upon.
It had even developed greatly; it was said that a branch of nanotechnology specifically researched ‘Gu’, attempting to combine nanotechnology with Gu worms.
“Program has been input. . . Master, you can now directly refine Gu worms through the Xuan Yuan Eight Scenery Pearl, thereby gaining all their functions. . . ”
Contracting Gu worms was actually quite troublesome.
Fang Xi had obtained the incantations from the Gu Immortal Sect Master and then spent a considerable amount of effort to refine the Five Fires Gu to operate smoothly.
It could be said that each Gu worm had different habits and abilities. . . and thus, different conditions and secrets for refining them.
But now, none of that was necessary.
The Xuan Yuan Eight Scenery Pearl was simply a “universal key”!
“Within this mystic realm, the consumption when using Gu worms is minimal. . . ”
Fang Xi pointed at the Five Fires Gu: “Go. . . fetch me a few suitable Gu worms. ”
After all, he couldn’t always order a common toad around, and within this mystic realm, various Gu worms bred in abundance.
The Five Fires Gu immediately darted out, and before long, it returned, treading on four-colored flames, its mouth agape.
On its tongue, astonishingly, clung several strange Gu worms.
One of them resembled a pair of straw sandals, clearly usable for transportation.
The Xuan Yuan Eight Scenery Pearl appeared in Fang Xi’s hand, a silver light flashing as it enveloped the straw sandal Gu worm.
Countless femtometer-level robots entered the Gu worm’s body, easily refining it and even acquiring much information.
“Stride Like Flying Gu. . . after refining it, it can increase movement speed and even allow for brief flight. . . it’s a bit ordinary, but fine, in the mystic realm, I’ll make do with it. ”
With a thought from Fang Xi, the pair of straw sandals automatically flew onto his feet.
In an instant, he felt his body lighten, and the world’s suppression seemed to have eased considerably.
“Indeed, by utilizing Gu worms, the suppression of this mystic realm can be alleviated. ”
Fang Xi’s heart stirred slightly, and he refined another Gu worm.
This Gu, shaped like a dark tortoise shell, was a defensive Gu worm named ‘Tortoise Shell Gu’. After being refined with the Xuan Yuan Eight Scenery Pearl, it could transform into a tortoise shell shield, ready to fly out for defense at any time.
After completing his collection of several types of Gu worms, Fang Xi felt that this mystic realm no longer seemed to repel him much.
“As expected, Gu cultivators really have an advantage in this Valley God Mystic Realm. . . ”
He leaped up, activating the Stride Like Flying Gu, and landed directly on the white jade toad’s back: “Leapfrog Toad, let’s go! ”
His primary objective for this trip was naturally the “Blood River Stone” from that underground blood river!
...
Before a bamboo forest.
Hei Xuan Shangren stopped his Black Flood Dragon Boat and frowned: “The restrictions here are not very friendly to cultivators like us. . . ”
“Indeed. . . ”
Jadeite True Monarch held a green jade ruler in his hand, continuously emitting emerald-green radiance outwards, his gaze keen as he scrutinized the verdant bamboo forest ahead.
“It is indeed the Nine-Heart Pure Bamboo. . . ”
Hei Xuan Shangren’s eyes lit up, and he stepped forward.
Buzz!
In an instant, an emerald-green restriction appeared, separating him from the bamboo forest.
“As expected, there are restrictions. . . Fellow Daoist Jadeite, you have quite some knowledge of array arts, do you know its specifics? ”
Hei Xuan Shangren immediately looked at Jadeite True Monarch.
“This restriction. . . it should only be for defense. As long as we continuously attack its weak points, it should largely be broken. ”
Jadeite True Monarch measured it with his jade ruler, then spoke eloquently.
Although he could point out several flaws, he secretly intended to deplete Hei Xuan Shangren’s magical power, thus speaking intentionally.
“But. . . within this mystic realm, the suppression on us is quite significant. If we expend too much, what should we do if we encounter enemies? ”
Hei Xuan Shangren, having cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, was certainly not foolish; he asked with concern.
“In that case, why don’t we each expend some energy for a period, taking turns? ” Jadeite True Monarch stepped forward magnanimously. With a twist of the jade ruler in his hand, an emerald-green radiance shot out, landing on the restriction.
Witnessing this scene, Hei Xuan Shangren couldn’t help but feel a touch of shame.
Perhaps he had been too petty. . .
What he didn’t know was that Jadeite True Monarch was sneering inwardly: ‘Even if my magical power is completely depleted, I have a formidable demon body. . . By then, I’ll have a huge advantage! ’
...
On the other side, Pan Yin had various Gu worms flying around her, transforming into several types of attacks.
Fireballs, ice blades, lightning. . .
Accompanied by a delicate shout, a black lightning bolt descended, striking a red-furred vulture directly opposite her.
Seeing their leader dead, the numerous avian demon beasts instantly scattered.
“Indeed. . . within this mystic realm, my recovery of magical power and true essence, as well as my Gu worms, are completely unaffected. ”
A hint of joy appeared on Pan Yin’s face: “This is a gift from the Gu God to Gu Masters. . . ”
However, thinking of Jadeite True Monarch and Hei Xuan Shangren, her expression turned extremely grim again.
After entering the mystic realm and discovering this special characteristic, Pan Yin naturally wanted to eradicate them completely, or at least subdue the two and make them re-sign contracts.
But she hadn’t expected Jadeite True Monarch and Hei Xuan Shangren to see the unfavorable situation and flee directly. . .
‘Never mind. . . after all, Black Heaven True Monarch stands behind these two. It’s not good to offend them too much. . . ’
Pan Yin muttered to herself, then slapped her dantian.
A golden light emerged, revealing a small golden figure within it, which was precisely the second Nascent Soul formed by the Golden Silkworm Gu!
“Tianpan Mountain is a sacred land for Gu cultivators; even fourth-stage Gu worms can sense it. . . Go! ”
Pan Yin pointed at the golden figure.
Her second Nascent Soul sensed for a moment, then immediately fixed on a direction, riding a golden escape light away, with Pan Yin following closely.
In this mystic realm, the strength of this second Nascent Soul might even surpass her own.
‘Tianpan Mountain, five-stage Gu worm, it will definitely be mine! ’
Pan Yin, thinking of something unknown, felt the scorpion tattoo on her face squirm for a moment. . .
...
Outside the Valley God Mystic Realm.
Fang Xi’s true body had affixed a breath-concealing talisman. He found a sand dune, dug a burrow, and sat cross-legged in meditation.
He did not rely on the strength of his Divine Consciousness to constantly peek at the movements at the mystic realm’s entrance.
After all, even Nangong Li possessed the ‘Four-Eared Finger Monkey,’ and there were countless extraordinary individuals in the cultivation world; it was possible that someone with particularly outstanding Divine Consciousness could detect his prying.
The surveillance method Fang Xi employed was, naturally, wood puppets!
Far from the mystic realm’s light pillar, several haloxylon trees stood silently.
And within one of the tree trunks was a very common desert lizard wood puppet. . .
This was something Fang Xi had crafted on the spot after being inspired by the descriptions of reconnaissance puppets in the “Thousand Mechanisms Secret Codex. ”
As long as a sub-demonic tree seed was implanted into a desert lizard, the task would be complete.
Such wood puppets genuinely possessed no offensive power whatsoever, nor any demonic aura.
They were just ordinary animals, not to be taken seriously by cultivators.
Coupled with their innate ability to conceal their aura and merge with vegetation, they were quite suitable as scouts. . .
“Hmm? ”
At this moment, through the wood puppet’s perspective, Fang Xi saw that beneath the distant light pillar, the cultivators’ battle light had suddenly vanished.
In its place was a massive white flying boat, descending above the mystic realm’s entrance with an oppressive aura, as if dominating all living beings.
A cold snort filled with murderous intent rang out: “This mystic realm now belongs to the Saint Fire Cult. Those who wish to die, come forth! ”
This cold snort seemed to carry some Divine Consciousness attack.
Some low-level cultivators even felt their heads splitting, and their escape lights flickered precariously, causing them to scatter in fright.
Before long, disciples of the Saint Fire Cult, dressed in white robes with crimson flame insignia on their backs, appeared and began to blockade the area around the Valley God Mystic Realm.
However, they could not detect the wood puppet, let alone Fang Xi’s true body.
“The Saint Fire Cult has arrived, and they’re clearing the area? ”
Beneath the sand dune, Fang Xi, sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes: “That Divine Consciousness just now was probably from a late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivator, wasn’t it? Truly domineering. . . ”
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