Chapter 612: Duel (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
Chapter 612: Duel (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
"This bone? !"
Fang Xi's heart stirred slightly as he gazed at the bone Qin Longzi had presented.
It was a skull fragment, black and yellow on the surface, stained with some unknown grime, appearing quite unremarkable.
But he was not one to judge by appearances.
From this very skull fragment, he sensed a certain Zen tranquility and the aura of a Divine Transformation cultivator. . .
"This skull fragment must have come from a Divine Transformation-level Buddhist cultivator. . . Buddhist cultivators generally practice Body Cultivation in addition to Qi Refinement. . ."
Fang Xi waved a burst of magical power, forming a pitch-black demonic hand that held the skullcap as he spoke confidently: "Judging by the Buddha light, it likely came from a Buddhist Son who cultivated both Dharma and body! I must thank you, fellow Daoist, this item is an excellent material for refining a 'white bone sarira' or a 'Mighty White Bone Divine Demon', hehe. . ."
He naturally understood that the other party had presented this Divine Transformation Buddhist Son's skullcap precisely to intimidate him.
The instant this skull fragment was produced, even the Wang Family Ancestor beside them looked somewhat ill at ease.
If the Dragon Taming Sect could handle even such a figure, then dealing with mere Fang Xi and the Wang Family Ancestor, who had only just achieved Divine Transformation, would be even easier!
—This was precisely what Qin Longzi intended to convey!
Fang Xi naturally had to subtly retaliate, lest he be taken for a pushover.
While showing an appreciative expression, he simultaneously spewed forth the Six Paths Demonic Blaze!
The moment this fire appeared, Qin Longzi and the Wang Family Ancestor immediately blanched: "A fifth-stage technique. . ."
The Six Paths Demonic Blaze had reined in a few points of its power at this moment, outwardly appearing only as pitch-black demonic flames, yet it was still enough to rival ordinary fifth-stage demonic fires, instilling great apprehension in the Wang Family Ancestor's heart.
It was difficult for Divine Transformation cultivators to obtain Numinous Treasures, but having this spirit fire in hand was not much different from possessing one.
Although this 'Qing Hezi' had only just advanced, his divine abilities were absolutely not to be underestimated!
The flames roared!
The Six Paths Demonic Blaze enveloped the skullcap, and it wasn't long before it began to refine it.
As the skullcap endured the demonic fire's smelting, it shed its impurities, appearing even more solemn and sacred, subtly emitting a golden glow.
Faint sounds of Buddhist chants drifted from the void, and the skullcap became increasingly crystalline, like amber jade.
The next moment, the terrifying demonic fire completely overwhelmed the Buddha light, causing the skull fragment to slowly melt and transform into a translucent sarira!
Fang Xi beckoned, and the white bone sarira appeared in his palm.
This object, about the size of a dragon's eye, had golden Sanskrit characters appearing on its surface, giving it a truly extraordinary appearance.
Yet, within its core, a profound demonic nature seemed to lurk. . . inspiring a chill that crept up one's spine.
"Good!"
Qin Longzi's eyes lit up upon seeing this scene: "Fellow Daoist's methods are profound, I am truly impressed!"
The Wang Family Ancestor was even more beaming: "With a neighbor like fellow Daoist, my Wang family will surely be much more secure in the future. . ."
One couldn't help but wonder if this person's heart was bleeding at this moment.
If Fang Xi stubbornly refused to leave, it would inevitably erode the Wang family's interests, yet it seemed he was no match for the other party. . . How could one possibly describe such vexation?
"Mere trifling skills, hardly worth mentioning!"
Fang Xi put away the white bone sarira, his expression turning solemn, and bowed to Qin Longzi: "In the future, I wish to make a living in the Xuanming Abyss. I hope the Venerable Sect will grant me this favor. . ."
"Oh? It seems fellow Daoist has no intention of traveling around. . ."
Qin Longzi's eyes lit up slightly, and he stroked his sparse beard with a skeletal, chicken-claw-like hand: "This. . . might be difficult, fellow Daoist. After achieving Divine Transformation, one requires sufficient spirit vein Dao fields to support cultivation. . . Might I ask where fellow Daoist has set his sights?"
"How about Kungsang Market right here?"
Fang Xi smiled faintly.
"What?"
The Wang Family Ancestor instantly stood up, his face drastically changed. This wasn't just snatching food from a tiger's mouth; it was akin to carving meat from his Wang family!
"Hehe, why is fellow Daoist Wang so anxious?"
Qin Longzi turned to Fang Xi and said: "Fellow Daoist, surely you know that this market has already been promised to the Wang family by my Dragon Taming Sect?"
"Even without Kungsang Market, the Wang family still has other smaller markets and nearby resource points. . ."
Fang Xi said: "It's just that once I become familiar with a place, I dislike moving around too much, so I'll have to trouble fellow Daoist Wang for a bit. . ."
"I absolutely will not agree to this!"
The Wang Family Ancestor flatly refused, his gaze carrying a hint of hostility towards Fang Xi.
Even if the other party was also a Divine Transformation cultivator, where was the logic in immediately taking the largest purse upon arrival?
Qin Longzi, however, remained noncommittal about it.
After all, to the Dragon Taming Sect, the Xuanming Abyss was too crucial. If it could be split between two families, mutually hostile and supervisory, it would be most advantageous.
The Wang Family Ancestor immediately transmitted a few words, causing Qin Longzi's brows to twitch slightly. Just as he was about to say something, Fang Xi suddenly spoke: "Twenty percent!"
"What? " The Wang Family Ancestor and Qin Longzi exchanged glances, both somewhat bewildered.
"If I take charge of Kungsang Market, the 'True Blood Pills' offered as tribute can be increased by twenty percent compared to what the Wang family provides! " Fang Xi guaranteed with a smile.
"What? !"
Qin Longzi suddenly stood up, his face filled with an expression of disbelief: "Is that truly your word? !"
"The tribute from Kungsang Market is roughly once every ten years. . . For beings like us, ten years is nothing. . . If I fail to complete it by then, all consequences will be borne by me. "Fang Xi said clearly.
"Good! What's ten years, then? !"
Qin Longzi immediately nodded.
"Fellow Daoist. . . " The Wang Family Ancestor was in a great hurry.
"As for those few Horned Dragon Inner Cores, I'll no longer demand them. . . " Qin Longzi glanced at the Wang Family Ancestor, shaking his head with a sigh: "It's not that I don't want to speak up for fellow Daoist, but the terms offered by Qing Hezi are absolutely impossible for the sect to refuse. . ."
Compared to those paltry gains, a twenty percent increase in True Blood Pills! This was something that could bring immense benefits even to Qin Longzi himself.
In comparison, the several fourth-stage Horned Dragon Inner Cores that the Wang Family Ancestor had previously promised via spiritual transmission were nothing!
"Fellow Daoist, rest assured. If this doesn't work out, the market will still be yours. It's just ten years of income, after all. . . It's a very cheap price to pay to truly understand a Divine Transformation cultivator."
Qin Longzi spoke amiably to the Wang Family Ancestor, then his expression turned solemn as he looked at Fang Xi: "I hope fellow Daoist keeps his word, otherwise. . ."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Fang Xi already understood his meaning.
'As expected, the Dragon Taming Sect is extremely concerned about the production of 'True Blood Pills'. . . '
'However, you probably haven't seen what true industrial efficiency looks like. . . '
Under the research of the special task force led by the Divine Transformation Venerable 'Ghost Axe Venerable', the True Blood Pill formula had been optimized for industrial alchemy. With the same amount of materials, the pill yield had skyrocketed by at least two to three times!
In comparison, the mere twenty percent increase promised by Fang Xi was a trifle. . .
The remaining 'True Blood Pills' could naturally be extracted by him to serve as his own cultivation resources.
Any honor, status, or power. . . was far less important than one's own strength!
However, Fang Xi certainly wasn't foolish enough to let outsiders know about the pill yield. Instead, he planned to bring out his 'super large maritime operations platform' as a cover story—claiming that he hadn't made a breakthrough in alchemy, but had rather developed special fishing puppets that could increase production!
This way, at least for the Divine Transformation stage, 'True Blood Pills' should no longer be in short supply.
As for the high probability that this was a beast medicine?
Fang Xi's cultivation art truly was a demonic race technique, a perfect fit!
'It's time to show you what technology and brutal efficiency truly mean. Lower the costs, and the profits will soar. . . You might think you're making a fortune, but I'll never be at a loss. . . '
The Wang Family Ancestor's face was filled with disbelief.
His Wang family was already straining every nerve to meet the sect's tribute demands, finding it exceptionally difficult.
If another twenty percent of True Blood Pills were added to the quota, there would truly be no profit left; they would be completely subsidizing the Dragon Taming Sect from their own reserves. No cultivator would be that foolish.
He even felt that this 'Qing Hezi' was deliberately targeting the Wang family, his expression growing increasingly hostile: "Fellow Daoist Qing Hezi, why must you push so hard?"
"Where the Great Dao lies, one must contend! " Fang Xi sighed, his expression equally resolute.
Whether it was acting or tacit understanding. . . both knew that the Dragon Taming Sect disliked its subordinate sects being overly harmonious; they had to break ties!
"Haha. . . I didn't expect to see such a good show!"
Qin Longzi clapped his hands and laughed heartily, immensely pleased.
Most high-level cultivators were like this, acting freely and as they pleased.
He looked at the Wang Family Ancestor, then at Fang Xi, and proposed: "Since that is the case, why not follow the old rules between cultivators and decide the outcome with a duel?"
The Wang Family Ancestor's face immediately turned very ugly.
Before seeing that mass of demonic fire, he had been quite confident in his own magical power and divine abilities, believing he wouldn't lose to a cultivator who had only recently achieved Divine Transformation.
But that fifth-stage demonic fire was almost equivalent to more than half a Numinous Treasure, and he possessed no such treasure, undoubtedly putting him at a great disadvantage.
Qin Longzi seemed to know this as well, and continued: "After all, the market belongs to the Wang family, and they invested considerable manpower and resources into repairing it. Therefore, Qing Hezi, you should yield a step. How about. . . not using that demonic fire? After all, it's just a sparring match, and injuring others is not good."
"To decide the previous proposition by a duel?"
Fang Xi suddenly smiled: "That works too. It seems I shall experience fellow Daoist Wang's profound techniques and divine abilities today. . . I hope I won't be disappointed."
"Please!"
The Wang Family Ancestor's face was cold. The three transformed into streaks of escape light, instantly flying out of Sangqing Peak and arriving within the bounds of the Xuanming Abyss.
When Divine Transformation cultivators fought, they could draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a thousand-mile radius, so it was best to avoid the market.
Otherwise, a single accidental injury would result in untold casualties.
Above the Xuanming Abyss.
Countless streams of Profound Nether heavy water surged, and terrifying auras spread, actually causing the black water profound serpents to flee frantically as if a great disaster was upon them, escaping from where the two Divine Transformation cultivators confronted each other.
"For this sparring duel, stop when a point is made. Please begin, both of you!"
Qin Longzi said with a beaming smile, acting as referee, as if he wanted to even crack open some melon seeds.
"Please!"
The Wang Family Ancestor swiftly formed hand seals, and streaks of earth-element divine light converged from heaven and earth, circling around him to form a thick, earthy-yellow light barrier several feet deep.
Roar!
The next moment, a giant hundreds of feet tall rose from the ground. This giant wore earthy-yellow armor and wielded a massive hammer in each hand, appearing exceptionally fierce.
The Wang Family Ancestor stood atop the giant's head, a yellow gleam flashing in his eyes.
Accompanying the giant's roar, countless earthy-yellow boulders appeared above Fang Xi's head. The boulders were inscribed with numerous runes on their surfaces, and they crashed down like a meteor shower!
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