Chapter 686: Death of a Return to Void Cultivator (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)
“Daring to wield your paltry void divine ability before me. . . ”
Fang Xi snapped his fingers, and countless phoenix seal characters converged, transforming into a silver-white glove that settled upon his right hand.
He gently seized with his right hand, and the void twisted in response. The Soul Suppressing Pagoda wailed, then was directly grasped in Fang Xi’s hand.
As a surge of Immortal Source Qi rushed forth, Bing Xuanzi's face instantly paled, and he violently spat out a mouthful of vital blood.
“This pagoda is quite good. It’s mine now. ”
Fang Xi faintly smiled, his right hand continuing its grasp.
Pfft!
Bing Xuanzi’s ice armor was directly pierced through. A Nascent Soul was clutched in the silver-white glove, seemingly sealed from any teleportation techniques!
As a Return to Void cultivator, it would be a complete joke if Bing Xuanzi could still struggle!
Fang Xi asked indifferently.
“The victor is king, the vanquished is bandit. I only ask for a swift end! ” Bing Xuanzi’s Nascent Soul uttered in a faint voice.
“You’re quite the man, but what a pity. . . ”
Within Fang Xi’s eyes, rays of greenish-yellow light surged into Bing Xuanzi’s Nascent Soul, for he had unleashed a soul-searching technique!
Although he was more adept at demonic soul-searching methods, within the Soul Transformation and Return to Void chapters of the Withered Glory Chant, there were similar secret techniques for soul-searching, no less effective than the demonic arts.
Soon, Bing Xuanzi’s life story unfurled before Fang Xi like a scroll painting.
He directly skipped past the experiences in the Human World, focusing on memories from before and after his ascension.
“That fifth-stage turtle demon was truly remarkable; it actually managed to escape. . . its turtle-breathing concealment method is indeed astonishingly potent. . . ”
“Furthermore, this Bing Xuanzi actually remembers several human army deployment maps, as well as the activity trajectories of several commanders. Truly not bad. . . ”
Fang Xi immediately pinpointed the commander of the Deva Camp.
Without needing to ponder further, he knew that individual must be Long Qingzi’s subordinate!
With this thought, he reached out, took Bing Xuanzi’s storage bag into his hand, tossed the Nascent Soul into the Earthly Immortal Spiritual Realm, and then transformed into a streak of light, departing into the distance.
For Fang Xi, eradicating a Return to Void cultivator was now an exceedingly simple matter.
He merely needed to confirm the target was isolated, then unleash the ‘Supreme Pole Star Life-Ending Divine Light’ for an instant kill!
Immediately thereafter, he could take the body back to the Human World, ensuring its complete destruction without a trace, leaving no one the wiser!
...
Months later.
In the Thunder Marsh Great Wilderness.
Within a desolate expanse.
Countless blazing flames devoured withered grass, and black smoke billowed into the sky.
Fang Xi’s External Avatar, along with Yunxi Xianzi, Liu Xu. . . and Kuang Tao Jushi and several other captains, intently stared ahead.
Roar! Roar!
Accompanied by a beastly roar, several crimson Fire Cavern Beasts, whose fur looked as if it were constantly ablaze, charged out.
“Indeed, they’re Fire Cavern Beasts! ”
Kuang Tao Jushi stated coldly, “These wild beasts are most adept at manipulating the fire-attribute divine light of heaven and earth, making them incredibly troublesome. . . I can only hold one back. ”
He roared, transforming into his Gluttony Demon God form, spewing forth demonic light to block one of the Fire Cavern Beasts.
Xu Qingzi’s expression turned solemn as he took out a small green banner and began muttering incantations.
He tossed the banner, and it instantly transformed into a sheet of green light, enveloping another Fire Cavern Beast.
Since their last joint effort in dealing with the Mu’an pack, the camaraderie between these Divine Transformation cultivators had deepened, and they had agreed to help each other with difficult challenges.
As a result, the danger level during their land reclamation had significantly decreased.
Roar! Roar!
One Fire Cavern Beast roared furiously, controlling its fire-attribute divine light, and slammed into them.
Pu Xianzi let out a cry of surprise as the blood jade Ruyi scepter she was controlling flew backward.
Yunxi Xianzi and Liu Xu, who were entangled with another Fire Cavern Beast, couldn't help but turn pale at the sight.
This type of wild beast possessed extremely powerful burst capabilities; if they couldn't deal with it quickly, there was a real risk of the entire battle collapsing!
“Go! ”
Seeing this, Fang Xi threw out the Netherworld Banner in his hand.
Whoosh!
The Nine Serenities Netherworld River Sand!
A suddenly appearing black river, stretching for ten thousand miles, merely swept by, engulfing that Fire Cavern Beast. Countless streams of Profound Nether heavy water annihilated the fire-attribute divine light, and particles of Profound Nether divine sand battered the Fire Cavern Beast until it bled profusely.
“Fellow Daoist, what a fine Numinous Treasure! ”
Pu Xianzi gave Fang Xi a charming smile, only to see Fang Xi gesture with an impassive face.
The Divine Infant Sword whistled as it flew out from within the body of another Fire Cavern Beast.
The situation had been somewhat critical this time, forcing him to reveal a part of his strength.
Divine Transformation cultivators were not fools.
Now, those few captains all knew that Fang Xi had been hiding his true strength. Pu Xianzi, in particular, practically wished she could kick away Liu Xu and the other, and lean on Fang Xi. . .
...
At the Sumeru Expeditionary Camp.
Fang Xi and the others submitted their mission and gained a period of respite.
Inside his cave abode.
He sat cross-legged, silently nurturing the Divine Infant Sword and the Netherworld Banner.
‘With my main body's intervention, these two Numinous Treasures should soon advance to the sixth-rank. . . ’
The Netherworld Banner aside, the Divine Infant Sword was the External Avatar’s life-bound magical treasure, naturally equivalent to Fang Xi’s own life-bound magical treasure, making its advancement the easiest.
‘Furthermore, if my main body intervenes and directly infuses the vital qi of heaven and earth, my chances of breaking through to Return to Void would be greatly enhanced. . . ’
This was an advantage of being an External Avatar.
Once the main body reached a certain realm, before breaking through that realm, there were generally no bottlenecks.
He wouldn't even need to prepare Return to Void spiritual items.
As long as Fang Xi's main body personally injected true demonic qi and assisted in refining and directing the vital qi of heaven and earth, it would suffice. . .
This kind of ‘empowerment technique’ could only be used on one’s own External Avatar, as their divine soul and magic power were perfectly identical.
If attempted on an outsider, even between parents and children, or even between Daoist Companions, it would be utterly impossible.
Therefore, theoretically speaking, as long as Fang Xi’s main body was willing to act, the External Avatar’s probability of breaking through to Return to Void was extremely high! The cost was extremely low!
Alas. . .
“The cultivation method issue hasn’t been resolved yet, so I should put my cultivation aside for now. ”
The External Avatar continuously maintained the magic power of an early late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator because of the cultivation method’s limitations.
If he were to break through to Divine Transformation Completion, or even attempt to breach the Return to Void bottleneck, he might simply. . . cease to exist!
The External Avatar finished circulating his cultivation method, walked out of his cave abode, and seized a transmission talisman.
This transmission talisman came from Pu Xianzi, inviting him to a tea session.
The External Avatar let out a chuckle and directly refused.
Although the woman was indeed somewhat flirtatious and charming, with a major battle imminent, it was better to keep his energies in peak condition at all times.
...
One day.
Just as the External Avatar was preparing to accept another mission, a flying sword message suddenly arrived.
He took the message, a slight frown on his brow, then transformed into a streak of light and arrived at Fei Xing Daoist’s cave abode.
Inside the cave abode, cushions were already laid out, and Divine Transformation cultivators sat cross-legged, some thoughtful, others with faces clouded in gloom.
Not long after, Fei Xing Daoist entered the cave abode and scanned the group: “This commander has issued a directive, summoning all of you captains, to announce something. ”
Fang Xi glanced around, noticing Yunxi Xianzi and Liu Xu were also present, their expressions incredibly solemn.
‘Could it be more primeval wild beasts? ’
The numerous Divine Transformation captains exchanged glances, then heard Fei Xing Daoist speak: “This land reclamation mission concludes here. . . You all return and organize yourselves, then activate the Sumeru Expeditionary Mountain, and return to the Celestial Brahma Army! ”
“What? ! ”
Xu Qingzi and Kuang Tao Jushi exchanged a look, a hint of surprise appearing on their faces.
Xu Qingzi even stood up and bowed: “Senior Fei Xing. . . It’s not that we don’t believe you, but this news is truly unbelievable. May we inquire about the reason? ”
Historically, every land reclamation mission either succeeded completely or failed utterly. Missions abandoned midway like this were exceedingly rare.
However, being able to return early and avoid risking their lives with wild beasts was also a great boon.
“As for the reason? It doesn’t matter if I tell you. . . ”
Fei Xing Daoist’s expression was serious: “News has come from the battlefield. . . A cultivator assassinated ‘Daoist Tang’ of the Deva Camp. . . ”
“Commander Tang, of all people? ! ”
The Divine Transformation cultivators exchanged glances, all gasping in cold air.
Because Gu Daoist often used Commander Tang to intimidate ascended cultivators, they were not at all unfamiliar with this commander of the Deva Camp.
They knew he possessed late-stage Return to Void cultivation and had survived assassination attempts by both demon races, his combat strength being astonishingly formidable.
How could he have suddenly perished?
Many cultivators’ faces were filled with grief and indignation, but secretly delighted in their hearts.
Many were already eager to return and properly deal with that Gu Daoist.
With his backer fallen, would they not repay grievances with grievances and debts with debts?
“Has the true culprit been identified? ”
Pu Xianzi spoke up, inquiring.
“No. . . ”
Mentioning this, the gloom on Fei Xing Daoist’s face deepened: “A Void Amalgamation grand cultivator made a move, yet no clues or traces were found. Even divination techniques yielded only chaos. This matter has alarmed the higher echelons. . . Thus, we have been ordered to return and prepare for a major war! ”
“A major war? ! ”
The numerous Divine Transformation cultivators were startled.
“A mere Return to Void commander’s death is a minor matter, but with no traces whatsoever and the heavenly secrets obscured. . . With such power, who else could it be but the two demon races? ”
Fei Xing Daoist sneered: “This matter might be a precursor to the demon races’ impending renewed attack. . . Therefore, all our armies must mobilize and prepare for battle. The land reclamation mission is temporarily shelved! Military orders are like mountains. All of you, go and prepare yourselves well. ”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Streaks of light left the cave abode.
The External Avatar soared upon a dark cloud, his expression unchanged, yet a strange thought arose in his heart:
‘Did my main body’s actions make the two demon races take the blame? ’
‘But that makes sense. Even a Void Amalgamation cultivator couldn’t find any traces. . . Such a powerful being would either be a lone Great Ascension cultivator or one of the demon races. . . A human Great Ascension killing a Return to Void is no big deal, so it can only be the demons to take the fall. . . ’
‘Or perhaps the human high echelons already intended to declare war, and this incident merely served as a pretext? ’
There were too many possibilities to figure out at once.
However, the External Avatar could confirm that his main body had already returned to the Human World, and even a Great Ascension Rogue Immortal would have no way to deal with him.
As for the two demon races, they should have no intention of invading at this time. If the human race did not want to start a war, the ultimate outcome would simply be a false alarm.
‘Unexpectedly, the matter my main body undertook actually became the catalyst for us not having to continue the land reclamation. . . ’
‘All things in the world are intertwined by cause and effect, indeed. . . ’
Within his heart, a trace of enlightenment and emotion couldn’t help but surface. . .
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