Chapter 679: Celebration (Bonus Chapter for Subscriptions)
Chapter 679: Celebration (Bonus Chapter for Subscriptions)
“Moo! ”
Accompanied by a mournful bellow, a terrifying divine demon, as massive as a mountain, as corpulent as an insect, and covered in countless grotesque faces, bit off the head of a Mu'an.
Rivers of fresh blood splattered like a waterfall, and the enormous corpse of the Mu'an crashed to the ground, as if triggering an earthquake.
"Kuang Tao Layman's Gluttony Script Demonic Body is truly terrifying. ”
Xu Qingzi stroked his beard and smiled slightly.
Generally speaking, the Demon Race could only condense a true Demonic Body after reaching the Return to Void stage.
However, some exceptionally talented Demonic Cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage could condense a nascent form of their demonic art's Demonic Body, appearing only once every few centuries. These were true geniuses.
But for ascended cultivators, forming a Demonic Body at the Divine Transformation stage was merely standard.
His 'Myriad Manifestations True Demon Arts' had a significant problem; he feared he would need to communicate more with other high-level Demonic Cultivators to understand how to remedy its flaws.
At this moment, the immense Gluttony Scripture Demonic Body was enveloped in black light. Amidst countless incantations, Kuang Tao Layman's stout figure emerged: "Thank you, fellow Daoists. Now, with only those two Mu'an left, we can easily kill them if we work together. Then we'll go to their lair and take all the spirit medicine. . . ”
The Divine Transformation cultivators, one after another, charged towards the Mu'an's lair, the large lake.
This was the cruelty of the cultivation world!
These desolate beasts had lived peacefully within their own territory, bothering no one, yet they met with a tragic extermination. . .
Apart from the two that Fang Xi had his eye on—a male and a female—all the others were flayed and gutted, prepared to be used as raw materials for refining Numinous Treasures and fifth-grade pills.
...
Mount Sumeru.
Within the encampment.
Fang Xi and the others returned with a full harvest, their moods quite good.
But as soon as they entered the military camp, they felt the situation was somewhat subtle.
Cultivators passing by were hurrying, many with worried expressions.
This wasn't just one or two; almost all cultivators were like this!
“Fellow Daoist, may I ask what has happened? ”
Xu Qingzi, smiling, stopped a Divine Transformation military officer and asked.
The Divine Transformation cultivator was initially a bit impatient, but upon seeing Xu Qingzi's Perfected Divine Transformation cultivation, his tone softened a few degrees: “A pioneering team encountered an ancient desolate beast and was completely wiped out. . . Fei Xing Daoist has personally gone to assist, battling that ancient desolate beast, but did not gain the upper hand. . . ”
“There's an ancient desolate beast? ! ”
Xu Qingzi gasped sharply.
An ancient desolate beast was at least a Return to Void cultivator.
“To force even Commander Fei Xing Daoist to retreat, its cultivation must be at least mid-stage Return to Void. . . ”
Kuang Tao Layman's face turned quite grim.
“More importantly, if there's one ancient desolate beast, there might be a second! ”
Fang Xi and the others' expressions also turned somewhat unsightly.
To encounter an ancient desolate beast just as they began pioneering, the danger of this expedition was far greater than anyone had originally imagined. . .
...
Moonlight Immortal City.
Wang Lingying looked at the invitation in his hand, a bitter smile involuntarily appearing on his face.
The invitation was crafted from beautiful jade, adorned with golden flowers and silver edges, appearing exceptionally lavish and refined.
This was an invitation to a Daoist Companion celebration!
And he was quite familiar with both parties.
The female party, needless to say, was Ma Xianzi of the Ma Family.
The male party was also a rather famous Rogue Cultivator in Moonlight Immortal City, 'Huang Muzi'. His cultivation had already reached the Perfected Divine Transformation stage, giving him considerable renown in Moonlight Immortal City.
Gazing at the invitation, Wang Lingying's bitter expression deepened.
He had received two copies of this invitation, the other, naturally, meant for the Wang Family Ancestor.
In fact, the other invitation was even more extravagant.
Wang Lingying couldn't describe the emotions in his heart: 'So Ma Xianzi was so amiable towards me back then, not because of me, but because of my family's ancestor? Was I just imagining things all along? '
As a cultivator, he wouldn't be swayed by emotions, but he still felt a sense of loss.
After all, his original plan was excellent.
At his age, he could definitely outlive the Wang Family Ancestor. Although the ancestor claimed he wanted to break through to Return to Void, among the many Divine Transformation cultivators in Moonlight Immortal City, how many could truly take that step?
He felt that the ancestor was nine times out of ten unlikely to succeed. By then, having suffered severe qi deviation and lifespan reduction, he might even die directly, requiring Wang Lingying to inherit his legacy.
And Ma Xianzi's subtle hints back then had given him the ambition to form a Daoist Companion relationship with her, leveraging his family assets, to support each other on the path of cultivation.
Unexpectedly, he seemed to have been deluding himself all along.
The person Ma Xianzi truly valued seemed to be the Ancestor?
But the Ancestor, focused solely on breaking through, had immediately and sternly refused.
Not long after, news spread that Ma Xianzi was to become Daoist Companions with Huang Muzi. . .
All these incidents. . . made Wang Lingying discern Ma Xianzi's true colors somewhat, but he still felt it was a pity.
Cultivators didn't have much room for romantic love; a union based on mutual benefit was already quite good.
Having lost Ma Xianzi, his cultivation path would undoubtedly be more difficult than he had imagined.
“Forget Ma Xianzi. . . but the Ancestor cannot be neglected. ”
Wang Lingying pondered internally, then immediately transformed into a streak of precious light, heading towards the cave-heaven on the island in the lake.
Whoosh!
Before he could land, he saw a curtain of water soaring into the sky.
Within the flowing water, a fifth-grade Xuan Turtle appeared.
“So it's Little Wang. . . is it. . . ”
The little Xuan Turtle seemed to stutter slightly when speaking. Wang Lingying paid it no mind and bowed: “Spirit Venerable, please inform the Ancestor that Lingying requests an audience! ”
“No. . . not seeing anyone! ”
The little Xuan Turtle shook its head: “Master is in secluded cultivation, not seeing anyone. . . ”
“But. . . I have an invitation for a Daoist Companion celebration. . . Never mind, please keep it, Spirit Venerable. If the Ancestor emerges from seclusion, you can inform him. ”
Wang Lingying presented the invitation, about to leave.
Suddenly, the gate of the cave-heaven on the island below opened, and a streak of light flew out.
It was none other than the Wang Family Ancestor, dressed in green robes and holding a string of Buddhist beads!
Or rather, Fang Xi's true body.
Only, at this moment, his aura was overflowing, having reached the Perfected Divine Transformation realm.
During his previous breakthrough, he had concealed it using the Turtle Breath Technique; now, it was officially out in the open.
“Ancestor. . . your cultivation. . . ”
Wang Lingying was utterly surprised.
One must know that every slight increment in a Divine Transformation cultivator's magic power could take decades, even centuries.
How long had the Ancestor been in seclusion?
“I was fortunate enough to obtain a gourd of spirit pills earlier, which finally allowed me to push my magic power to the perfected realm. . . ”
Fang Xi's expression carried a hint of joy.
He needed the Wang Family Ancestor to reach the Perfected Divine Transformation realm to set the stage for his subsequent breakthrough.
As for breaking through from Perfected Divine Transformation to Return to Void?
Theoretically, as long as one's cultivation reached perfection and could achieve 'Unity of All Actions', one could break through at any time!
But success or failure was highly debatable.
Fang Xi had long since revealed his wood-attribute cultivation method, and his cultivation had now reached Perfected Divine Transformation.
Entering secluded cultivation again to break through to Return to Void was barely within reason.
After all, breaking through major bottlenecks was inherently unpredictable.
There were those who were fully prepared but ultimately failed, and there were also heavenly prodigies who, without any resource assistance, could directly succeed!
“You brought an invitation, let me see it. ”
Fang Xi smiled slightly, taking the invitation from Wang Lingying's hand, then shook his head: “I won't be attending this event. You may convey my congratulations and present a lavish gift on my behalf! ”
Having said that, he transformed into a streak of light and returned to his cave-heaven.
Watching the grand array rise, Wang Lingying hesitated, wanting to speak.
After all, presenting a lavish gift would require a large amount of Spirit Stones!
But seeing the little Xuan Turtle, who was either adorably naive or deliberately playing dumb with wide eyes, Wang Lingying could only retreat in defeat.
He couldn't possibly demand Spirit Stones from a Xuan Turtle!
As he flew back to his cave-heaven, his expression was still somewhat dazed: 'The Ancestor actually reached Perfected Divine Transformation so quickly? This will be quite a story. . . Wait, could it be that he truly has such grand ambition, preparing to assault the great bottleneck of Return to Void? '
'But that would involve a great heavenly tribulation! '
'If all the spiritual items the Ancestor painstakingly collected are used up, then I. . . '
Wang Lingying's heart was in turmoil.
And amidst this turmoil, time unknowingly flowed by.
Soon, it was the day of Ma Xianzi's Daoist Companion celebration.
...
Above the Azure Root Plain, guests filled the seats that day.
Cultivators came from far and wide to congratulate Ma Xianzi on her joyous occasion.
As Divine Transformation cultivators, they already stood at the middle tier of the cultivation world. Those holding invitations were at least from Nascent Soul forces.
Ordinary Core Formation Perfected cultivators wouldn't even be allowed into the Azure Root Plain.
Wang Lingying arrived early. As an early-stage Divine Transformation cultivator, he was arranged a seat quite far forward.
At this moment, he sipped the spirit wine in his cup, silently calculating the congratulatory gifts Ma Xianzi would receive from this celebration. He suddenly felt a little tempted, wondering if he should also find a Daoist Companion.
But given the rarity of female Divine Transformation cultivators, he would probably only be able to find a Nascent Soul-level one. . .
And then he would have to assist her on her Great Dao, which he absolutely would not do.
“Sigh. . . ”
Wang Lingying sighed, silently raising his wine cup and taking another sip.
Although the Ma Family's spirit wine tasted good, its grade was insufficient; it couldn't even get a Divine Transformation cultivator drunk. . .
...
Meanwhile.
Inside the Folding Screen Cave-heaven.
Ma Xianzi was dressed in elaborate attire, her lips as red as cinnabar.
After finishing her preparations, she looked at herself in the mirror, and a bitter smile still surfaced.
Although it was the day of celebration, she was not happy.
The Wang Family Ancestor's initial refusal had made her lose face significantly.
After a period of searching, she finally chose 'Huang Muzi'.
Although this man was a Perfected Divine Transformation cultivator and a Rogue Cultivator, he had his own influence, and his personality was aloof and arrogant, making it unlikely he would wholeheartedly assist the Ma Family.
But among cultivators, benefits were paramount. To find a husband at the Perfected Divine Transformation stage might still be quite good?
Even if it requires some cost, it could stabilize the Ma Family's situation.
With this thought, Ma Xianzi involuntarily changed her expression.
Her cheeks were pure and flawless, bearing a clean and bright smile as she walked out of the cave-heaven, hand-in-hand with her Daoist Companion, Huang Muzi, to the banquet to toast the guests.
When they arrived before Wang Lingying's seat, she smiled broadly, holding her Daoist Companion's arm lightly, and softly said: “This is Daoist Wang Lingying. . . ”
“Ah, Daoist Wang, then we should certainly have a drink. ”
Huang Muzi, with an ordinary face and faint wrinkles, smiled upon hearing this, and the aura of his Perfected Divine Transformation cultivation pressed down: “Why isn't your Ancestor here? Could it be that he's unwilling to share in this joyous occasion. . . ”
“To tell you the truth. . . ” Wang Lingying found it difficult to bear the pressure and responded with difficulty: “My Ancestor has already broken through to Perfected Divine Transformation and is currently in secluded cultivation. . . ”
“Oh? Old Daoist Wang has actually broken through to Perfected Divine Transformation? ”
Huang Muzi's expression softened slightly.
It was no big deal to oppress an early-stage Divine Transformation cultivator for his Daoist Companion.
But to forge a deadly enmity with a fellow Perfected Divine Transformation cultivator would be unwise.
Ma Xianzi saw this, her silver teeth secretly biting, wanting to say something.
Suddenly!
A terrifying surge of magic power fluctuated from afar, lingering endlessly.
All the guests rose in astonishment, some Divine Transformation cultivators exclaiming with surprise: “This. . . this is. . . a Return to Void Great Heavenly Tribulation? ! ”
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