Chapter 538: Return (Please give monthly votes)
Chapter 538: Return (Please give monthly votes)
“True Monarch Mu? ! ”
An early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator exclaimed: "You are that cultivator who killed a member of the Five Elements Lin Clan and is wanted by Elder Zi of the Demon race? !"
The Four Barrens True Monarch instantly recalled Fang Xi's identity, but sensing the undeniable reality of his cultivation, he still took the lead in bowing: "Greetings, True Monarch Mu. . ."
“Is that an Array-breaking Pearl you’re holding? ”
Fang Xi suddenly smiled: “How interesting! ”
His voice carried the divine consciousness attack power of the ‘Heavenly Demon’s Roar’.
In an instant, whether it was the Four Barrens True Monarch or the two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, or even the Black Sand True Monarch and numerous Core Formation disciples within the array, all felt their heads spin, momentarily falling into a daze.
And when the Four Barrens True Monarch recovered his senses, the Array-breaking Pearl in his hand had already appeared in Fang Xi’s palm.
Fang Xi played with it fondly, unable to put it down: “Although this one can’t compare to the one I’ve seen, it’s still a fine piece. It should be able to suppress the power of an ordinary fourth-order mid-grade array by about fifty percent, lasting for two incense sticks. . . If its power is concentrated on a single point, it can break through a fourth-order superior-grade array, creating an escape passage. . . ”
“This. . . ”
The Four Barrens True Monarch looked at his four desolate beasts and found them all with their tails tucked, making him furious.
As for the other two Nascent Soul cultivators, each flew out a spirit treasure, guarding their entire bodies with extreme vigilance.
That scene just now was too terrifying; if this Great Cultivator had decided to act, that moment of distraction would have been enough for them to die more than ten times over!
“Your divine consciousness, I fear, is already stronger than that of a Nascent Soul Perfected cultivator, only a step away from a Soul Transformation cultivator whose divine sense has materialized, isn’t it? ”
The Four Barrens True Monarch, however, stopped his two junior brothers, giving a bitter smile: “If Your Excellency truly wished to act, we would have long since been utterly annihilated. . . My Eight Barrens Sect swears that, in this one’s lifetime, we will never invade the Flowing Sand Domain by even a single step! ”
Having spoken, he looked towards the Black Sand True Monarch.
The Black Sand True Monarch, however, slowly shook his head: “For me to believe you, unless you use a ‘Blood Soul Contract’! ”
“Blood Soul Contract? ”
Fang Xi’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. He hadn’t expected the Four Barrens True Monarch to possess quite a few good things.
This document was crafted using several secret techniques that communicated with the demon realm. Only an old demon at the late-stage Nascent Soul realm with profound cultivation could possibly create it. Its purpose was simple: to bind both parties who signed the contract. If violated, the backlash power was enough to cause an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator to perish and a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator to be gravely injured!
‘But for late-stage Nascent Soul, it’s hard to say. . . I know several secret techniques that can directly ignore the backlash. ’
Under his urging gaze, the Four Barrens True Monarch could only unwillingly produce a paper document. The pages were covered in blood-red hues, and at the very top was a pitch-black palm print.
What surprised Fang Xi was that the palm print actually had seven fingers!
‘Could it be from the ‘Heavenly Madness Battle Demon’ clan of the Demon Realm? ’
Fang Xi felt a little strange in his heart, but his face showed no change in expression: “Fellow Daoist, let me see this Blood Soul Contract! ”
The Four Barrens True Monarch looked at the Array-breaking Pearl that Fang Xi had directly put into his storage ring, his heart practically bleeding. Why had he insisted on attacking the Yellow Sand Sect today? It was truly an unlucky year. . . Should he have studied divination back then? But that art required a special physique; otherwise, it was difficult to even begin. . .
Even though his heart was filled with extreme reluctance, the Four Barrens True Monarch still chose to spend money to avert disaster.
Fang Xi took the Blood Soul Contract. After confirming its authenticity, he said to the Black Sand True Monarch: “Under this contract, I want to add a clause: both of you must truthfully answer my questions today and promise not to leak any secrets! ”
The Black Sand True Monarch’s face twitched. He knew it; True Monarch Mu wouldn’t come looking for him for no reason.
However, given the current situation, he immediately nodded in acceptance.
If not for True Monarch Mu, the Yellow Sand Sect would likely have suffered a massive loss today. Comparatively, answering a few questions was nothing at all.
Watching the two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators leave their essence blood on the Blood Soul Contract, and seeing the document automatically burn, a pitch-black aura flashing in the void as two tiny black lines drilled into their bodies, Fang Xi couldn’t help but nod slightly: “Fellow Daoists. . . let’s find another place to talk. ”
The Black Sand True Monarch and the Four Barrens True Monarch naturally had no objections, following Fang Xi several hundred li away to an open space.
The Black Sand True Monarch even thoughtfully fashioned a table, chairs, and benches from Black Marsh Profound Sand.
Fang Xi sat upon the pitch-black stone stool, feeling that it was still a little inferior to Carefree Lord’s Heavenly Vault Cloud Sea Art.
However, he didn’t fuss over such details at the moment and inquired: “I have been cultivating in seclusion for a breakthrough. I wonder, how has the Demon race Realm Descent been here? Have the human race’s losses been heavy? ”
The Black Sand True Monarch had originally thought Fang Xi was going to ask about some secrets. Hearing it was just general intelligence, he immediately let out a long breath of relief: “The Realm Descent concluded sixty years ago. Our human race is still doing well. Old Ancestor Huo fought several battles with a Soul Transformation Fire Qilin from the Demon race. . . which left them no time to deal with us. Only some demon beasts escaped, taking advantage of the damaged grand array, adding a few unique demon beast resources to the Western Desert. . . However, some Nascent Soul forces have undergone many changes due to casualties among their Nascent Soul True Monarchs. . . ”
“So that’s how it is. . . ” Fang Xi then inquired about the names of the major forces that had changed. He found that the Black Dragon Sect bore the brunt, followed by ordinary Nascent Soul forces, such as the Myriad Poison Sect and the like. . .
Among these forces, he hadn’t heard the name of the Three Immortals Sect, and his heart couldn’t help but stir.
‘It seems. . . Yunzhu Zhenjun hasn’t passed away yet, so my Heavenly Puppet True Monarch alias can still be used. . . ’
“Furthermore. . . regarding the East Sea, I’ve heard the situation there is similar to ours. . . As for the Northern Plains, the Ice God Palace achieved a great victory, but the inside story remains shrouded in secrecy. . . ”
The Black Sand True Monarch continued.
“The East Sea. . . and the Northern Plains cultivation world? ”
Fang Xi’s eyes lit up.
He was currently adventuring outside, tempering his heart in the mortal world, and was eager to travel more and see more. The East Sea cultivation world and the Northern Plains cultivation world sounded quite good; they were worth exploring!
“Fellow Daoist, do you know how to get to these two major cultivation worlds? ”
Fang Xi asked with a smiling expression.
The Black Sand True Monarch was momentarily speechless.
It was the Four Barrens True Monarch next to him who interjected: “The Western Desert is very distant from the East Sea and Northern Plains, and there are many dangers along the way. They can only be connected through ancient teleportation arrays. . . And such teleportation arrays are held by the Saint Fire Cult. According to rumor, the Saint Fire Cult should also have teleportation arrays leading to the Central Domain and Southern Barrens, but those haven’t been usable for a long time. . . If your background is clean, you have someone to vouch for you, and you pay a large amount of spirit stones, you should be able to use it once. ”
“Very good. . . Besides that, do you know if there’s anywhere recently selling ‘Nascent Transformation Pills’? ”
Fang Xi asked another question.
“This. . . the Nascent Transformation Pill is incredibly wondrous, and the spiritual herbs used are exceptionally rare. Even if several major Nascent Soul sects join forces, it might take them a hundred or eighty years to gather enough ingredients for a single batch. Every time a furnace is opened, it’s a grand alchemical event. . . This pill is basically impossible to auction. ”
The Black Sand True Monarch shook his head.
“Alas, that truly is a pity. ”
After Fang Xi asked a few more questions, he couldn’t help but cup his fist in salute with a smile: “All my doubts have been cleared. Many thanks to you both. The mountains are high and the roads are long, so let us part ways here. ”
He didn’t give the Black Sand True Monarch a chance to persuade him to stay, directly transforming into a long azure rainbow that flashed a few times before disappearing into the horizon. . .
Left behind, the Black Sand True Monarch and the Four Barrens True Monarch looked at each other in dismay.
Just as the Black Sand True Monarch was secretly on guard against the Four Barrens True Monarch, he saw the Four Barrens True Monarch cup his fist with a beaming smile: “Fellow Daoist Black Sand, I’ve given much offense before. . . I never expected you to have such an acquaintance with this Great Cultivator. ”
For old Nascent Soul monsters like them, who had experienced centuries of vicissitudes, trivial matters like enemies and friends transforming in an instant were as simple as drinking tea and eating a meal.
“I wouldn’t dare. . . ”
The Black Sand True Monarch recalled all the interactions he had with True Monarch Mu back then and could only give a bitter smile. . .
...
‘Old Ancestor Huo and that fifth-order Fire Qilin both suffered losses? ’
While flying, Fang Xi thought of the news the Black Sand True Monarch had just revealed, and his heart felt a little stirred with eagerness: “That Fire Qilin very likely left behind some Qilin blood. . . If I can obtain some, then my fifth-order ‘Heavenly Phoenix Qilin Armor’ will have a lead. . . ”
“The East Sea and Northern Plains might also yield some gains. . . perhaps I really can gather all the ‘Four Sacred Beast Armor’! This secret art boasts greatly, claiming it can weaken heavenly tribulations, so it shouldn’t be bad. . . ”
For Fang Xi, who had personally experienced the power of the ‘Myriad Demon Armor’ secret art, this was naturally a must-have.
“And the ancient teleportation arrays. . . should I revive my ‘Heavenly Puppet True Monarch’ alias and have the Three Immortals Sect vouch for me? ”
“Forget it, that’s too much trouble. The commotion of Heavenly Puppet True Monarch advancing to the late stage was a bit too big, it probably can’t be concealed. . . It’s better to just create a new alias. As long as I spend more spirit stone resources, it shouldn’t be a major problem. ”
His escape light’s flight was now traceless, and after he concealed it, the azure color was so faint it was almost imperceptible; even ordinary cultivators would find it difficult to detect.
Soon, he arrived within the territory of the Three Immortals Mountain.
“Hmm? ”
Fang Xi’s divine consciousness swept forth, and he found that Yunzhu Zhenjun’s aura had indeed broken through to the mid-stage. It seemed there was great hope for the Three Immortals Sect to have another cultivator condense a Nascent Soul soon. He couldn’t help but nod; that single ‘Phoenix Yuan Pill’ had not been wasted.
...
Shaoyang City.
Fang Xi transformed into an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator with an ordinary appearance and landed his escape light far away.
This city was also under the Saint Fire Cult’s jurisdiction, and typically had a Nascent Soul cultivator stationed there.
He intended to first inquire about the ancient teleportation arrays before making further plans.
After entering the much more prosperous Shaoyang City, Fang Xi casually strolled around and found that prices had changed again.
The prices of magical artifacts and talismans had returned to normal, some even showing a slight decline.
However, the prices of demon beast materials had rebounded, likely because the beast tide had ended decades ago.
‘Hmm? ’
Just then, Fang Xi’s divine consciousness sensed a certain scene, and his expression subtly changed.
At the city gate, a Nascent Soul True Monarch landed. In his hand was a fiery red rope, binding several Core Formation cultivators behind him.
What surprised Fang Xi was that among this group of cultivators, there were quite a few acquaintances!
That Nascent Soul True Monarch was none other than ‘Jue Yanzi’ of the Saint Fire Cult, the Core Formation Perfected cultivator who had once exchanged two Three Yangs Child Flames with him for the ‘Nascent Condensing Three Treasures’.
Given his character and aptitude. . . coupled with the Nascent Condensing Three Treasures, it was quite reasonable for him to have condensed a Nascent Soul.
And among the bound individuals, whose magic power even seemed sealed by the rope, the one leading them was a female cultivator, surprisingly ‘Madam Snake’!
‘Could it be. . . an issue with that treasure map? ’
Fang Xi could only guess thus.
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