Chapter 199 - 174: Dao Foundation and Spiritual Vitality

Chapter 199: Chapter 174: Dao Foundation and Spiritual Vitality

Just as he was speaking...

HISS...

A piercing shriek echoed from deep within the ashen earth.

The massive vortex of purple-black mist rumbled, unleashing an even greater suction force.

The colorful miasma in the air trembled for a moment before twisting and contorting. Within a few breaths, a funnel-shaped vortex took form.

Billowing miasma was swept up into a tornado that crashed into the center of the purple-black vortex, linking heaven and earth.

Just then, a vast aura began to surge from beneath the ground, rising rapidly.

In just a moment...

A hazy scorpion silhouette began to materialize in the heart of the vortex. It had three tails, massive pincers, fang-like mandibles, and was covered in intricate patterns.

As the surging miasma poured into it, its body swelled at a visible rate.

One meter, two meters, three meters...

In just a dozen breaths, its body swelled to nearly seventy meters. Including its three menacing scorpion tails, it was a true behemoth.

Its growth then ceased, and its once-ethereal form began to solidify.

This continued until the miasma tornado dissipated.

HISS...

A colossal demon scorpion stood atop the billowing purple-black mist, letting out a deafening shriek. It was jet-black, covered in intricate patterns, and sported three tails, massive pincers, and sharp mandibles.

A pressure befitting the Dao Foundation Realm—and the Great Demon Realm—erupted like a violent storm, surging wantonly in all directions.

Under this pressure, which felt like the might of the heavens itself...

Countless wails arose from the swamp. Insects and beasts prostrated themselves on the ground as if in submission.

As the giant scorpion—Tong Zuo—was adapting to his powerful new body, a gentle breeze drifted by.

"Tong Zuo, are you willing to make a trip to the Ten Thousand Poison Forest?"

The voice rang out.

The giant scorpion’s body stiffened.

Tong Zuo looked at the smiling elder before him, who was dressed in a simple Daoist Robe. When he sensed a wisp of the man’s aura, Tong Zuo froze, his mind reeling.

’He... Isn’t he a newcomer to the Dao Foundation Realm?’

’This aura...’

Seeing his silence, Elder Qing wasn’t annoyed. He simply smiled and asked, "Are you willing?"

Tong Zuo snapped back to reality and weighed his options for a few moments.

Then, a somewhat cold voice replied, "I will do as the Elder commands. I am willing."

"Excellent."

Elder Qing nodded in satisfaction. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a jade slip and tossed it to him. "Handle this matter well. Not only will the affair concerning the Ring Mountain Spiritual Land be forgiven, but Elder Lan, Elder Mi, and I will also recommend your promotion to Steward Elder."

"Don’t disappoint us..."

Elder Qing gave him another smile, and his form dissipated, dissolving into a gentle breeze.

After he departed...

The purple-black mist swirled back, enveloping the giant scorpion’s form.

When the mist cleared...

A cold-faced youth in a black robe stood in its place. He had red lips and pearly teeth.

’The Ring Mountain Spiritual Land affair forgiven? Did something go wrong?’

Tong Zuo’s brow furrowed. He gave the jade slip a quick look before putting it away, then sent his senses into the storage pouch at his waist.

A blue and a white jade stone appeared in his hand.

The blue one was covered in fine cracks, and the white one was dull and lusterless.

The moment he saw the stones, Tong Zuo’s expression turned grim.

The jade stones held the life imprints of Mingzhuang and Luan Jian.

A shattered stone meant that its owner was dead, their spirit extinguished.

Those two were his right and left hands in the Demon Hunting Corps. If they had met with disaster, the Corps itself surely wouldn’t have been spared.

Although the Demon Hunting Corps was officially under the sect’s purview, it was also his personal force.

Any joy Tong Zuo felt from his advancement to the Dao Foundation Realm vanished in an instant.

It was like stepping out for a bit, only to return and find his home had been destroyed!

"Who... Who dared..."

A scarlet glint flashed in Tong Zuo’s eyes. His body spun, transforming into a cloud of billowing purple-black smoke that shot into the sky, speeding toward the Ring Mountain Spiritual Land.

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun washed over the Ring Mountain Spiritual Land.

Simple houses were scattered in an orderly fashion around the central Spirit Field Hall.

Having finished their evening meals, the Spirit Farmers gathered to chat, practice their Cultivation Techniques, or head in groups toward the Independent Practitioner Marketplace to see for themselves how comforting the glow of the red lanterns could be.

However, the peaceful atmosphere didn’t last long.

A tremendous fluctuation of Spiritual Power rippled outwards, followed by a deafening roar from within the Spirit Field Hall.

Then, two figures shot out from the Spirit Field Hall, one chasing the other, and appeared not far from the main hall.

Seeing this, the surrounding Spirit Farmers didn’t hesitate for a second; they turned and fled.

Jin Fang, Ma Rong, and Ke Jing emerged from the hall as well, their faces filled with horror as they stared at Tong Zuo, who was hovering in the air before them.

Tong Zuo’s brow was knitted tightly. "What do you think you’re doing?" he asked coldly.

’If she weren’t Luan Jian’s partner, I would have slapped her dead the instant she made a move.’

’Does she really think I’m good-tempered?’

"Heh, what am I doing?"

Feng Bai Mei glared with hatred at the youth hovering before her. Two brilliant golden orbs she had been toying with in her hands slowly rose into the air. One by one, runes on their surfaces lit up, and the aura of a Top-Grade Magical Artifact began to spread.

"I want your life in exchange for my husband’s!"

Feng Bai Mei shrieked. The two golden orbs transformed into streaks of light, shooting straight for Tong Zuo. Spiritual Power erupted from beneath her feet as a dark, brownish light enveloped her palm, and she charged right after them.

By the time the walnut-sized golden orbs reached Tong Zuo, they had swollen to the size of human heads. Their power surged as they smashed down viciously toward his skull.

"Insolent!"

Seeing she was holding nothing back, Tong Zuo’s gaze turned frigid. The vast aura around him erupted as he waved a long sleeve.

BANG...

The two golden orbs shot backward at an even greater speed. Before Feng Bai Mei’s horrified eyes, they slammed violently into her.