Chapter 576: Disguise (Congratulating the Fiend Immortal Alliance Master! )
Chapter 576: Disguise (Congratulating the Fiend Immortal Alliance Master! )
Those capable of becoming Soul Transformation cultivators possessed supreme aptitude, temperament, and fortune. Each was an old fox, utterly unshaken by a mere few words.
Old Ancestor Bai of the Bai Family and Yunxi Xianzi would never turn hostile toward a terrifying existence merely for the sake of vague and ethereal legends.
What did the grudges and grievances of ancient times truly amount to for cultivators of today?
Their sole desire was to ascend to the Earthly Immortal World!
Huo Laozu was now entirely focused on the belief that his cultivation still had room for advancement, and he lacked the means to resist void storms; otherwise, he would likely have long since stepped onto the ascension platform.
Even if the opponent was a Nascent Soul cultivator, a Nascent Soul capable of inflicting mutual destruction with a Soul Transformation cultivator was, to some extent, even more terrifying than a Soul Transformation cultivator!
Huo Laozu sighed, his lips subtly moving as he bargained with Old Ancestor Bai of the Bai Family.
Or rather, he was swaying them with benefits.
He pondered for a long time, then spoke, "What Daoist friend has promised is indeed something I urgently need. . . but if this venture proves too dangerous, I will not participate. After all, that 'Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light' is a secret art from the Earthly Immortal World. Even if the opponent is only at the Nascent Soul stage, if they truly risk their life, they could severely wound or even cause us to perish."
"Please rest assured, Daoist friend. What that person displayed that day was indeed the 'Withered Glory Mystic Light'. . . certainly not that terrifying divine ability from the rumors."
Even Huo Laozu was extremely wary of Green Emperor Mountain's ultimate trump card divine ability.
Yet, at this moment, he was quite confident: "If that person truly possessed the Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light, they would have used it on this old man long ago. . . Both of your lifespans are longer than mine. Even if that person has advanced to Soul Transformation, they wouldn't dare to fight the three of us to the death."
As mortal enemies, the Saint Fire Cult and the Ice God Palace actually understood Green Emperor Mountain very well.
Yunxi Xianzi was still not a thousand years old, and Old Ancestor Bai of the Bai Family was even more in his prime.
Even if that person had advanced to Soul Transformation, relying solely on 'Withered Glory Mystic Light', it would be impossible to contend against the three of them.
"Furthermore. . . even if that person fought desperately, the first one they would surely seek out would be this old man."
Huo Laozu gave a bitter smile: "Moreover, if they still haven't achieved Soul Transformation, even a desperate struggle wouldn't harm us. . . This is merely the worst-case scenario. We have so many Nascent Soul disciples; they can all be put to use at this moment."
"Indeed. . . how difficult is Soul Transformation? I myself only barely succeeded back then, benefiting from Old Ancestor Bing Xuanzi's strong support and gaining much from the Monster World. . ."
Old Ancestor Bai of the Bai Family speculated, "Perhaps that person hasn't achieved Soul Transformation yet, or perhaps they perished beneath the Soul Transformation heavenly tribulation. . ."
As if recalling the hardship of his own Soul Transformation, Huo Laozu also nodded.
Yunxi Xianzi, however, maintained her usual expression. Behind her, Shui Lingxin lowered her gaze submissively, trying hard to forget the transaction her master had made with 'Yun Jizi' to fund his Soul Transformation. . .
"Then now, where is that person?"
Old Ancestor Bai of the Bai Family asked the most crucial question.
"The Saint Fire Cult disciples have already turned the Western Desert Cultivation World upside down. . . This old man also sought out 'Tian Suanzi', but his lifespan was exhausted, and he couldn't even divine a single reading. . ."
Huo Laozu's expression was somewhat grim.
Tian Suanzi was an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Western Desert Cultivation World, but he possessed a special physique and cultivated a divination art.
As a result, Huo Laozu coerced him, threatening the lives of his entire clan to deduce Fang Xi's whereabouts. . . and then he was gone. . .
Huo Laozu suppressed the gloom in his heart and voiced his speculation: "Such a powerful cultivator cannot possibly remain unknown in the cultivation world. This old man suspects he originated from the South Barrens Cultivation World!"
"But aren't most of the ancient teleportation arrays leading to the South Barrens Cultivation World broken? " Yunxi Xianzi was startled.
"There might still be one or two hidden ones."
Huo Laozu said, "With our combined strength, it wouldn't be difficult to cross that 'Great Dream Marsh' together. . ."
......
A little earlier, in time.
Within the ruins of the Flowing Sand Domain.
Light shimmered on a teleportation array, and Fang Xi, clad in a green robe, leisurely walked out.
He arrived on the desolate oasis, stretching out his right hand as if to grasp the gusting wind. A bit of yellow sand appeared in his palm. "Western Desert Cultivation World. . . I'm back!"
Fang Xi had always kept Huo Laozu, his old enemy, in mind.
After settling firmly into his position as the 'Fang Xian Dao Palace Lord', he immediately rushed to the Western Desert Cultivation World without stopping, fearing that Huo Laozu might be a timid turtle who would directly flee via the ascension platform, leaving him with a futile effort.
However, even if Huo Laozu fled, the Saint Fire Cult and its five-stage spiritual meridian couldn't run away!
If he hadn't worried about the impact being too great, Fang Xi would have wanted to bring over the Kyushu World's sky-patrolling warship fleet, along with three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and Primordial Spirit Magical Artifacts, to let the bumpkins of the Saint Fire Cult truly witness what technological might and formidable power meant!
But then he thought, most of the Saint Fire Cult's disciples were innocent, so there was no need to commit too much slaughter. . .
The Yellow Sand Sect.
Black Sand True Monarch was sitting cross-legged in his cave abode, meditating and cultivating.
Recently, his life had been quite decent. At the very least, after reconciling with the Eight Desolation Sect, the Yellow Sand Sect had stabilized.
Previously, during the grand sect opening held every few years, they had recruited several promising immortal seedlings. Besides a pair of sisters with Earth-grade Ice Spiritual Roots, there was also a boy with a Heaven-grade Earth Spiritual Root, who immediately caught Black Sand True Monarch's close attention. He only waited for the boy to reach Foundation Establishment before accepting him as a nominal disciple, to examine his character and see if he could inherit his mantle.
"Black Sand!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out, causing Black Sand True Monarch to nearly suffer a true qi deviation.
After all, this was within his Nascent Soul cave abode, protected by the Yellow Sand Sect's grand array and layers of powerful restrictions!
If a cultivator had someone sneak into their own cave abode without their knowledge, it was no different from handing their life over to the other party.
Black Sand True Monarch's body trembled all over, but once he saw clearly who the visitor was, he relaxed, a bitter smile appearing on his face: "So it's True Monarch Mu. . ."
This esteemed individual had already been a grand cultivator when they last met, with divine abilities and magical power beyond imagination.
To infiltrate the Yellow Sand Sect's grand array and arrive within his cave abode—that seemed normal, too, didn't it?
Black Sand True Monarch subconsciously swept with his Divine Consciousness, and suddenly his expression changed drastically.
In his perception, although 'True Monarch Mu' was still there, his Divine Consciousness couldn't sense anything at all, as if there was nothing but void ahead.
An unbelievable thought immediately surfaced in Black Sand True Monarch's mind.
His voice dry and hoarse, like a traveler about to die of thirst in the desert, he said, "True Monarch Mu. . . could it be that you've. . . already achieved Soul Transformation?"
Thinking of their previous encounters, Black Sand True Monarch was speechless.
This True Monarch Mu truly advanced a realm every time they met!
Would the other party have ascended to the Earthly Immortal World by their next meeting?
"Indeed. . . a few days ago, I fortunately succeeded in advancing, stepping into the Soul Transformation stage."
Fang Xi smiled lightly and airily.
"Greetings, Senior!"
Black Sand True Monarch immediately stood up and respectfully bowed: "Senior, what are your instructions? Black Sand will not shrink from death to carry them out!"
"It's not that serious. . ."
Fang Xi waved his hand: "Bring me the intelligence from the past twenty years. Also, what actions has the Saint Fire Cult taken recently?"
"The Saint Fire Cult. . ."
Black Sand True Monarch's expression changed: "The Saint Fire Cult has been issuing a bounty for that cultivator known as 'Qing Hezi'. . . Besides that, they have strictly ordered our sect to search for any clues concerning 'ancient teleportation arrays'. . ."
Fang Xi understood. It seemed the Saint Fire Cult had begun to suspect his origin and background.
However, even if the ancient teleportation array in the ruins were discovered, the other end was unusable.
Even if the teleportation array were destroyed, at worst, he could just walk through the 'Great Dream Marsh' himself, detouring to the central region, and still reach the Western Desert Cultivation World.
After cultivating to the Soul Transformation realm, the entire Human World, and even the Three Thousand Small Worlds, were all well within reach!
Fang Xi took the jade slip Black Sand True Monarch had prepared and quickly scanned through it.
Black Sand True Monarch didn't dare to look up, but his mind raced quickly: 'True Monarch Mu. . . Qing Hezi. . . could they be the same person? Perhaps only this senior would dare to stroke the tiger's whiskers of the Saint Fire Cult, right? '
After reading all the recent intelligence, Fang Xi looked at Black Sand True Monarch and suddenly smiled: "Black Sand. . . I have a deal for you now. I wonder if you're interested?"
Black Sand True Monarch was startled, but immediately replied, "Please instruct me, Senior. . ."
"I need a wisp of your essence blood and magical power. . . Let's get the unpleasantries out of the way first: I possess a secret art that can perfectly disguise a cultivator, and this essence blood and magical power are necessary prerequisites. . . Afterward, this Seat will infiltrate the Saint Fire Cult and attempt to assassinate Huo Laozu. . . If it succeeds, the Eastern Eight Domains will be yours."
Fang Xi smiled faintly, uttering words that made Black Sand True Monarch smile bitterly internally, exclaiming inwardly that he had truly boarded a pirate ship.
"Please proceed, Senior."
But at this moment, Black Sand True Monarch didn't hesitate in the slightest, stating directly.
A Soul Transformation cultivator was right before him; even if the Saint Fire Cult were enraged later, that would be a problem for the future.
"Not bad, you're quite good. . ."
Fang Xi took a wisp of Black Sand True Monarch's essence blood and magical power: "You'd best disappear for a while. This Seat will implant a restriction within your body. . . After ten years, this restriction will disappear on its own. But if, within those ten years, I activate the restriction, your Nascent Soul will suffer. . ."
Both the method of changing appearances and the art of restrictions originated from the 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts'!
After obtaining the complete version of the demonic art from the Red Dragon Demon Venerable, Fang Xi compared it against his own cultivation methods, checking for gaps and making up for deficits one by one, and also learned several formal secret arts.
This disguise method was one of them, capable of perfectly simulating Divine Consciousness and magical power aura, making it almost seamless.
......
Several days later.
A streak of escape light halted before the Saint Fire Cult's mountain gate, revealing the face of 'Black Sand True Monarch', clad in a black robe.
He was expressionless as he sent out a talisman, which flew into the mountain gate.
Not long after, the mountain mist churned, revealing a passage wide enough for only one person to pass through.
A streak of escape light flew out—surprisingly, it was Sang Qingsong!
This mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator had previously made a grave error, losing the lucrative post of guarding the ancient teleportation array. Now, he had been thrown here to guard the main gate. . .
"Daoist friend Black Sand. . ."
Sang Qingsong had met Black Sand True Monarch once before. Now, his Divine Consciousness swept over the man, confirming it was indeed Black Sand True Monarch, and he squeezed out a smile: "Daoist friend Black Sand. . . I wonder what brings you to the Saint Fire Cult?"
"Daoist friend Sang. . ."
Fang Xi cupped his hands: "Didn't your esteemed sect issue a bounty earlier, seeking ancient teleportation arrays? I found an intact ancient teleportation array in the Flowing Sand Domain, though it couldn't be used. Thus, I specifically came to your esteemed sect to deliver this information. . ."
As he spoke, he flicked out a jade slip.
Contained within the jade slip was none other than an image of the ancient teleportation array beneath the ruins!
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