Chapter 750: Mayfly Parasitism
Chapter 750: Mayfly Parasitism
‘If that Mayfly Son carries the Mirror fragment, it's tantamount to his location being exposed in real-time. . . If I were to speak up and guide the human race's high echelons to encircle and annihilate him, he would practically face certain death. . . ’
‘But that's equally unexplainable. . . Forget it. ’
Fang Xi held a compass in his hand, feigning a careful examination.
The compass was entirely verdant, emitting a hazy glow, and was intricately linked to the Starry Sky Domain's grand array.
If any six-stage magic power fluctuations not registered within ten thousand li appeared, their location would immediately be displayed.
“Fellow Daoist Wang. . . during this patrol, you must take good care of your little sister, okay! ”
The Stone Fairy, also holding a compass, said with a beaming smile.
“Fairy, you jest. This old man has only just broken through to the mid-stage Return to Void, how could I compare to you, Fairy? ”
At the mention of serious business, the Stone Fairy's expression involuntarily grew solemn: “This time, the Heavenly Demon Society leader and several Void Amalgamation cultivators will be handled by our human race's high echelons. If a True Spirit-level entity escapes from the World Gate, there are also Mahayana Loose Immortals to resist it. . . But a small portion of the remaining Return to Void demon cultivators have escaped, and they might just be heading towards the defense line we guard! ”
“We will watch out for each other. If anything happens, we'll immediately call for Grand Elder and Grandmaster Dongqiuzi's support. There shouldn't be much of a problem. ”
Fang Xi chuckled, but sighed inwardly.
He felt there was a huge problem!
Because in his perception, that fragment of the All-Heavens Precious Mirror was continuously approaching the defense line guarded by Moonlight Immortal City!
“This old man has duties to attend to; I shall go patrol first. ”
Fang Xi immediately cupped his hands, transforming into a golden streak of light. With every step, lotuses bloomed beneath his feet as he flew into the distance.
After flying for hundreds of thousands of li in one breath, he swept his Divine Consciousness inch by inch, confirming that no cultivators were lurking nearby.
Ever since he advanced to the mid-stage Return to Void, Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness had expanded further. Coupled with the aid of the All-Heavens Precious Mirror, even a Return to Void Perfected cultivator's Divine Consciousness might not be able to compare to his now.
He chuckled softly then, and with a wave of his hand.
A stack of formation flags flew out automatically, then transformed into a hazy cloud mist, within which countless talismans and seal script characters shimmered.
This formation had the effect of isolating Divine Consciousness. With the two combined, even a Void Amalgamation cultivator would be unable to discover what Fang Xi was doing within the array.
Within the cloud mist, the External Avatar shimmered with silver light and materialized, activating the ‘Transformation of Myriad Things’ technique to transform into the likeness of the Wang Family Ancestor.
Fang Xi casually tossed the Buddhist beads, the Sanskrit Golden Bell, and the spirit beast pouch to the avatar, and his true body instantly vanished.
This battle might involve the Mayfly Son, so it was best for his true body not to appear unless it was a critical moment.
The External Avatar, in the form of the Wang Family Ancestor, cheerfully controlled the cloud mist, consciously beginning to approach the direction in which the fragment was moving.
Suddenly, Fang Xi's expression subtly changed as he gazed at a token in his hand.
On the formation plate, within that hazy glow, a dark green demon star suddenly flickered.
“Other great Return to Void demons are already approaching? ”
“It seems I'll have to provide some reinforcements after all. ”
The External Avatar pondered for a moment, then sacrificed the spirit beast pouch, releasing the little Black Tortoise.
“This time. . . I might need you to act. ”
He said to the little Black Tortoise.
Now that he was at mid-stage Return to Void and a grandmaster of formations, he was barely qualified to possess a six-stage Black Tortoise.
As long as the little Black Tortoise's bloodline purity wasn't exposed, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
“With that, plus these commonly used magical treasures and talismans. . . I can barely muddle through. ”
The External Avatar muttered, standing on the little Black Tortoise's back.
“Master. . . remember to give me treats! ”
The little Black Tortoise roared, suddenly transforming into the size of a small mountain, and swiftly flew towards the place where the demonic aura erupted.
However, for the little Black Tortoise, flying speed had never been its strong suit.
By the time Fang Xi ‘barely’ arrived, he saw a scarlet pine treasure tree covering the sky and obscuring the sun, with countless crimson threads hanging down. Crimson light continuously flashed on the tree's trunk, protecting Chi Songzi.
Beside Chi Songzi was another Return to Void elder from Moonlight Immortal City, looking pale and severely wounded.
Endless lightning, fierce flames, and poisonous mist struck the scarlet pine treasure tree. The one controlling these was none other than a Nine-headed Green Lion.
Its body was as colossal as a mountain, and its neck actually bore nine heads.
And each head even had a different expression.
“Damn it! Another one! ”
“It's all Old Seven's fault! He was too obsessed with fighting! We should have left earlier. . . ”
“Who have we nine brothers ever feared? It's just a mere mid-stage Return to Void cultivator. Let's kill him first, eat his Nascent Soul, then talk. . . ”
Several heads each emitted different sounds, even squabbling among themselves.
But the Heavenly Demon Qi of this Nine-headed Green Lion was terrifyingly strong, having already reached the Return to Void Perfected level!
“What a monstrous fiend! ”
Fang Xi roared, then heard Chi Songzi's Divine Consciousness transmission: “Fellow Daoist, be careful. This Nine-headed Green Lion is exceptionally fierce; it's a runaway spirit beast from the Myriad Spirit Sect. It has killed many elders and disciples of the Myriad Spirit Sect before, and its ferocity is monstrous! ”
The Myriad Spirit Sect was a beast-taming sect in the Flowing Spring Domain, with a Void Amalgamation-level Supreme Elder presiding within it.
This Nine-headed Green Lion was originally just an ordinary five-stage ‘Azure Rock Lion’, enslaved by the Myriad Spirit Sect, secretly harboring resentment.
Later, for unknown reasons, its bloodline suddenly mutated, and it grew ten heads!
In order to escape the shackles of its contract, it even risked cultivating forbidden arts, splitting its soul into ten, with each of its ten heads developing a different consciousness.
Then, it sacrificed one of its heads, perishing with the soul enslavement contract, completely breaking free from restrictions and wildly retaliating against the Myriad Spirit Sect.
Its talent was extraordinary; each head awakened a different divine ability.
Thus, it was noticed by the Heavenly Demon Society, taken under their wing, granted demon race cultivation methods, and cultivated to the Return to Void Perfected realm!
It could be said that its combat power surpassed even that of the Grand Elder who lacked powerful treasures!
A mere mid-stage Return to Void cultivator was truly beneath its notice.
“Die! ”
One of the Nine-headed Green Lion's heads roared, impatiently making its move.
Roar! Roar!
With a lion's roar, Fang Xi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his ears.
Invisible ripples permeated, attacking his five viscera and six organs, his Dantian and sea of qi. . .
“Sound wave divine ability? ! ”
He murmured, raising a hand to send out a formation talisman.
This talisman shimmered with light. A golden altar appeared upon it, continuously expanding to shield Fang Xi entirely within, as countless golden Sanskrit characters flickered, warding off all the ensuing lightning and flames.
“Entangle this demon. I've already sent out a distress signal; nearby cultivators will arrive soon. ”
Seeing Fang Xi arrive, Chi Songzi's face immediately hardened, and he thumped his chest.
His face flushed red as a stream of vital blood spurted out, landing on the scarlet pine treasure tree.
The treasure tree instantly grew, its branches extending to form a cage, attempting to trap the Nine-headed Green Lion.
“Dream on if you think you can trap this Venerable one! ”
The Nine-headed Green Lion roared, its central head opening wide and suddenly inhaling.
A terrifying suction force appeared. Those scarlet pine branches snapped abruptly, disappearing into the lion's maw as if it were a bottomless pit.
“Devouring-type divine ability? ”
“This demon beast truly has an extraordinary talent! ”
Fang Xi sighed with emotion.
A flash of light in his hand, and a stack of talismans suddenly appeared.
Each of these talismans exuded a terrifying aura. Their surfaces were smooth, with textured patterns, clearly indicating that the talisman paper was refined from the hide of ancient desolate beasts!
This was a stack of five-stage and six-stage talismans.
“Go! ”
Fang Xi formed a hand seal with one hand, and talismans flew out, drawing upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth, each radiating a different light, ultimately condensing into a formation!
Talisman Formation Art!
Using talismans as formation artifacts, forming an array instantly!
Although the formation would be immediately rendered useless once the talismans' power was exhausted, while their power remained, it could achieve most of the original formation's might!
Rumble!
A hazy green formation appeared, trapping the Nine-headed Green Lion within it.
Subsequently, beams of green light descended from the void, with countless seal script characters flickering within them.
“Damn it! ”
“I told you we should have left earlier! ”
“This is clearly a six-stage formation. Even if we can break it, it'll take quite a bit of effort. ”
The lion's head that had spoken before complained aloud.
Puff, puff!
At this moment, two beams of green light had already landed on the Nine-headed Green Lion's demonic aura, causing its dark green defensive light shield, formed by its Heavenly Demon Qi, to instantly disintegrate.
Subsequently, a beam of light landed on the Nine-headed Green Lion's body.
It stumbled back several steps, a charred mark appearing on its body.
At this point, a talisman within the grand array shimmered, activating another transformation.
One by one, green chains descended, binding towards the Nine-headed Green Lion, clearly intending to trap it.
“We're going to die, we're going to die. . . Quickly wake up Little Nine! ”
“Little Nine, aren't you getting up yet? ”
Head after head roared in fury.
At this moment, the smallest head, which had been sleeping hidden within the lion's mane, emerged: “It's me again. . . I've already suffered severe vital energy depletion from escaping that Void Amalgamation cultivator's formation earlier. This time, no matter what, you have to let me properly replenish myself. . . ”
“Of course. The next time we catch a Return to Void-level Nascent Soul, you'll definitely be the first to eat it. ”
The other heads repeatedly guaranteed: “How could we ever deceive a brother? ”
“Since that's the case, then fine. . . ”
The smallest lion's head sighed helplessly, then bit the tip of its tongue, spurting out a stream of vital blood.
Puff!
Natural patterns emerged one after another. After gathering the demon's vital blood, they seemed to transform into a blood talisman!
Upon this talisman, silver light, which Fang Xi was very familiar with, flickered.
“Restriction-breaking talisman? No. . . perhaps the cultivators' restriction-breaking talismans are actually mimicking this kind of divine ability. . . ”
“This little lion's head doesn't seem very intelligent. Though you have nine heads, you only have one body and one stomach. Doesn't it all go to the same place, no matter who eats? ”
Though speechless, Fang Xi knew he couldn't let this Nine-headed Green Lion easily break free from the formation.
Otherwise, he, a mere mid-stage Return to Void cultivator, really wouldn't be able to withstand the other party's retaliation.
After all, Chi Songzi was watching nearby, so it wouldn't be good to pull out the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan and simply sweep it over.
Otherwise, if Dongqiuzi arrived, the situation would become even more awkward. . .
“Little Black Tortoise, go! ”
Fang Xi kicked with his foot, sending the little Black Tortoise into the formation.
“Roar! Roar! ”
Within the formation, the Nine-headed Green Lion was using the divine ability of the blood-colored restriction-breaking talisman to dismantle one talisman after another.
Just as it was about to escape the formation, a Black Tortoise the size of a mountain suddenly appeared.
Its aura surged dramatically, instantly reaching the sixth-stage level.
Puff!
The little Black Tortoise pounced fiercely, countless patterns on its shell lighting up, transforming into a massive shield that slammed violently into the Nine-headed Green Lion.
“Wuwu. . . It hurts so much! ”
With that single collision, the blood-colored restriction-breaking talisman instantly shattered, and the little Black Tortoise also fell back into the formation, wailing in pain.
‘This acting. . . it's a bit fake. ’
Fang Xi, watching from the side, secretly shook his head.
The little Black Tortoise could be exposed, but the fact that a sixth-stage low-grade could withstand a sixth-stage high-grade attack without a scratch was best not revealed.
Thus, crying out in pain and the like, was still at his instruction.
“It's actually a six-stage Black Tortoise! ”Chi Songzi's eyes widened in disbelief at this scene. “Fellow Daoist Wang, you've hidden yourself so deeply! No wonder you had to go out to undergo tribulation earlier. . . you were hiding the matter of your six-stage Black Tortoise undergoing tribulation, weren't you? ”
Fang Xi revealed an awkward yet polite smile, wearing an expression that seemed to say, ‘It's good that you understand, fellow Daoist. ’
“Tsk tsk. . . to think it's a six-stage Black Tortoise. With this, a family could flourish for tens of thousands of years! ”
Chi Songzi gazed at the little Black Tortoise, which was performing quite well, occasionally restraining the Nine-headed Green Lion with the aid of the formation, and a hint of envy appeared in his eyes.
He could understand the Wang Family Ancestor's choice.
If he had possessed such a spirit pet with his original early-stage Return to Void cultivation, it would likely have attracted some covetous gazes. But now that he was at mid-stage Return to Void, and with this Talisman Formation Art at his disposal, he could even contend with a late-stage Return to Void cultivator.
There wasn't much to worry about anymore.
“Damn it. . . a demon beast, yet helping humans! You deserve to die! ”
Within the formation, the Nine-headed Green Lion roared in fury.
Yet, every time it attempted to break the restriction, the little Black Tortoise would jump out to restrain it.
And those two Return to Void human cultivators continuously urged their magical treasures and spells to attack, making it impossible for the Nine-headed Green Lion to concentrate on breaking the formation. It was unexpectedly held here.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Whoosh!
As the last talisman burned to ash, the original six-stage formation dramatically disintegrated.
This was also the limitation of the Talisman Formation Art—it had a definite time limit!
“All of you. . . will die! ”
The Nine-headed Green Lion, provoked to its limits, fumed with rage, glaring viciously at the little Black Tortoise.
“Beast! ”
And at this moment, several more Return to Void cultivators appeared around them; they were clearly the arriving reinforcements.
Among them, Grandmaster Dongqiuzi, carrying a bamboo case on his back, had a stern expression. “Nine-headed Green Lion. . . number one on the Myriad Spirit Sect's most-wanted list. . . If we kill this demon, we can exchange it for many good things at the Myriad Spirit Sect. Perhaps this old man can even refine another quasi-seven-stage puppet! You all, cover me! ”
Dongqiuzi gave an instruction, and patted the bamboo case on his back.
Two streaks of gray-white light flew out, transforming into two colossal dragon and phoenix puppets that obscured the sky.
Most of their bones were exposed, presenting a hideous and gray-white hue, and the aura of seven-stage demon beasts emanated from them.
“Go! ”
Dongqiuzi pointed at the Nine-headed Green Lion, and the bone dragon immediately roared, pouncing with a snarl.
“Damn it! ”
The Nine-headed Green Lion opened several bloody maws, sending streams of lightning and fire onto the bone dragon's body, yet they couldn't leave a single mark.
Instead, the bone dragon roared and extended a claw.
Three streaks of gray-white light flashed.
The green lion let out a miserable shriek, and three bloody gashes appeared on its left shoulder!
Chirp, chirp!
The bone phoenix spread its wings and soared, circling around, continuously scattering specks of silver light from its riddled wings.
This seemingly supportive formation was actually sealing the void, cutting off any possibility for the Nine-headed Green Lion to escape.
Suddenly, the bone phoenix let out a long cry, and a silver needle emerged from its beak, vanishing in a flash.
“Ang! ”
The Nine-headed Green Lion shrieked, a thumb-sized bloody hole appearing in multiple places on its body.
“Good! ”
“Grandmaster Dongqiuzi is mighty! ”
“With Grandmaster's puppetry, even against a Void Amalgamation cultivator, he could probably fight! ”
Chi Songzi's face flushed with excitement.
Meanwhile, the Chen Fairy and the Stone Fairy gazed at the six-stage Black Tortoise beneath Fang Xi, their beautiful eyes gleaming with a strange light, a hint of resentment on their faces.
“Cough, cough. . . Two Fairies, this old man's spirit pet just advanced, and I hadn't informed you, please forgive my oversight. ”
Fang Xi leaned smilingly against the great spirit tortoise beneath him, bantering playfully with the two Fairies, which made Chi Songzi extremely vexed and secretly pained.
‘Now, this is truly troublesome. . . ’
Who knew that in Fang Xi's heart, he was constantly worrying.
Because in his true body's perception, that fragment of the All-Heavens Precious Mirror had drawn even closer. . .
...
A moment later.
Accompanied by the simultaneous cries of dragon and phoenix, three of the Nine-headed Green Lion's heads shrieked and were violently crushed!
“Vile beast, die! ”
Dongqiuzi manipulated the puppets, not discovering anything amiss.
Suddenly, a surge of Heavenly Demon Qi erupted, rapidly approaching.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Countless ink-black flying swords descended like a sudden misty rain, their sword intent hazy and indistinct, carrying the artistic conception of a splash-ink landscape painting.
“Someone has come to rescue it; it must be a remnant of the Heavenly Demon Society! ”
The Chen Fairy slapped her battle armor. Runes on it shimmered, and it suddenly transformed into a towering golden-armored giant.
The Stone Fairy held the Myriad Flowers Treasure Mirror, protecting Fang Xi in front of her.
“Hmph! ”
Grandmaster Dongqiuzi was utterly fearless. From the bamboo case on his back, another silver-armored puppet wielding a pitch-black great shield flew out, blocking in front of him.
The sword-wielding figure approached at extreme speed. It was discernible as a human cultivator, with ink-like black patterns on his face.
“Ink patterns? This is a disgrace to the human race. . . show no mercy! ”
Chi Songzi roared, and the wondrous scarlet pine tree swept forth.
Half of the sky-filling misty rain of flying swords dissipated, yet it also drew upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth, transforming into a long ink-wash scroll.
The ink-wash painting was merely a scroll, yet it seemed to possess the marvel of dividing space, attempting to separate the numerous Return to Void cultivators from the Nine-headed Green Lion.
“Just a mere mid-stage Return to Void, dreaming! ”
The Stone Fairy gazed at the figure with ink patterns on his face, letting out a cold sneer. The Myriad Flowers Treasure Mirror in her hand transformed into a sky full of exotic flowers, blooming one by one. . .
“Not good! ”
Fang Xi, however, looked terrified, and suddenly launched a silver-white talisman.
Silver streaks of light flashed, suddenly tearing apart the ink-wash scroll.
But at this moment, the ink-patterned figure had already arrived before the shield-wielding puppet, and the pitch-black flying sword in his hand slashed out ferociously!
Puff, puff!
Endless sword qi landed on the massive black shield, forcing the puppet to retreat repeatedly.
Witnessing this scene, Dongqiuzi frowned.
Every action of this Heavenly Demon Society member carried a hint of strangeness.
At this moment, he finally met the ink-patterned figure's blank eyes, and couldn't help but feel a sudden jolt of alarm: “Not good! ”
Hiss, hiss!
A dark green Heavenly Demon worm suddenly emerged from the ink-patterned figure's body.
It transformed into a thin line. With a single slash, the six-stage puppet and the shield it held were immediately cut open.
The dark green color in the void flashed and vanished, and the Heavenly Demon worm bit through Dongqiuzi's surrounding light shield, burrowing into his forehead.
The next moment.
Grandmaster Dongqiuzi's face suddenly became utterly blank, as one dark green Heavenly Demon worm after another crawled out from within his body.
It appeared as if his body had long been riddled with holes.
“What an exquisite flesh puppet. This Venerable one was careless and actually didn't notice it. ”
Countless Heavenly Demon worms buzzed, emitting a voice that was neither male nor female.
“It's the Mayfly Son! ”
In another part of the void, Grandmaster Dongqiuzi's figure emerged, no longer caring about the Nine-headed Green Lion. He swiftly extended a hand and beckoned.
The quasi-seven-stage dragon and phoenix puppets let out long cries, forming a Yin-Yang array, firmly guarding him within.
“The Mayfly Son? ! ”
The other cultivators were equally horrified, gathering around Dongqiuzi one after another, taking out all sorts of life-saving items.
“Hmph! ”
Countless Heavenly Demon worms gathered, forming a face: “I originally thought of changing bodies to cast the ‘Mayfly Parasitism Art’ to more easily escape the encirclement. . . but I never expected to be thwarted by a junior's puppet. . . ”
“If the Mayfly Son's true body had personally arrived, this old man's meager tricks would naturally be a laughingstock! ”
Dongqiuzi's face suddenly became much calmer, perhaps having thought of something. “But that late-stage Void Amalgamation Mayfly Son has already been confirmed dead at the hands of our human race's Mahayana Loose Immortals. Your Excellency should merely be one of his avatars, correct? ”
“Now that the main body is dead, I am the true main body! ”
The Heavenly Demon worms reformed, turning into a human figure: “It won't take much effort to exterminate all of you! ”
A sharp gleam appeared in his hand, and he pointed casually.
Puff!
The sharp gleam transformed into a streak of light and flew out, piercing through several layers of defense in an instant, landing on the scarlet pine treasure tree.
“Ah! ”
Chi Songzi exclaimed, and a crimson light burst forth around his body.
But in a flash, that scarlet pine treasure tree was actually cut in half through its middle.
A pure white thin line swept past him and the severely injured Return to Void cultivator beside him.
The faces of both individuals became momentarily dazed, and then their Nascent Souls within their bodies actually disintegrated directly. . .
“Early-stage Void Amalgamation cultivation. . . wielding a fragment of an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure! ”
His powerful physique amplified his five senses, allowing him to clearly see that within the sharp gleam was a broken blade tip!
Its aura was chilling, clearly a fragment of an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure!
“Go! ”
The Nine-headed Green Lion let out a roar, unexpectedly fleeing faster than the human cultivators.
Clearly, it also didn't want to be targeted by that 'Mayfly Parasitic Art'.
As someone from the Heavenly Demon Society, he naturally understood this secret art even better, and was even clearer that once one was refined into a puppet, there wasn't much difference from being dead.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Streaks of silver light flickered.
That was the radiance emitted when the 'Lesser Void Teleportation Talisman' was activated.
Fang Xi, Chen Xianzi, and Shi Xianzi simultaneously activated their life-preserving talismans, and their figures vanished in a flash of silver light.
But when it was Dong Qiu's turn, Fu Youzi's hand flashed with a sharp light, the very void was twisted, and the Lesser Void Teleportation Talisman was pierced through by a blade tip, directly incinerating it into ash!
"Your target. . . has always been me?"
Dong Qiu's expression was extremely wary.
At this moment, on the field, only he, a late-stage Return to Void cultivator, remained.
"Rather. . . it's the dragon and phoenix remains in your hand. . . Today, my fortune is truly profound. If I can refine these two seventh-rank demonic bodies, I should be able to quickly recover to mid-stage Void Amalgamation cultivation, and then I'll have an even greater certainty of escaping."
Fu Youzi recalled the blade tip, and regret flickered in his brows: "Alas. . . my clan's grand plan has been exposed, is this truly. . . fate?"
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