Chapter 345 - 343: An Unexpected Result

Chapter 345: Chapter 343: An Unexpected Result

Two men and one beast, their auras locked in a tense and unpredictable standoff.

In terms of Realm, the White Ape, having just stepped onto the path of Tier Four, was certainly not as profound as the Cyan Simurgh, who had been a Tier Four Great Demon for a thousand years.

But it was in its peak state, and the strength it displayed was in no way inferior to the Cyan Simurgh’s.

Tier Three Demon Beasts already possessed high Spiritual Wisdom, and Tier Four Shapeshifting Great Demons were no different from Human Race Cultivators.

However, Demon Beasts rarely achieved anything in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation. Even for those from noble Demon Race bloodlines, their awakened bloodline inheritances were all related to their Lifebound Divine Techniques; it was impossible for an Artifact Refining Secret Technique to be passed down.

Yet the Coiling Dragon Rod in the White Ape Great Demon’s hands had clear signs of being refined multiple times, though the Artifact Refining Techniques were crude and failed to bring out the full potential of the Spiritual Materials.

During the process of beating the Cyan Simurgh to death, every strike of the Coiling Dragon Rod contained an earth-shattering True Intent.

This was what allowed a Great Demon possessing the bloodline of a Divine Beast to be bludgeoned to death without any ability to resist.

Most of the credit for this went to the two Core Formation True Men of the Qingfeng Sect, who had not only severely wounded the Cyan Simurgh again but had also used the Earth God Sand to prevent the possible self-detonation of its Demon Pill.

As for the remaining credit, the Coiling Dragon Rod had certainly earned a significant entry.

An ordinary Magical Treasure could not have withstood being a vessel for Great Dao True Intent, nor could it have displayed the full power of the Staff Technique so vividly.

The White Ape had only just reached Tier Four, yet it possessed such a Treasure. It couldn’t possibly have refined it itself; the primordial, ancient aura emanating from it could not be faked.

Furthermore, it was so perfectly tailored to the ape. It couldn’t be an Exotic Treasure left behind by a Human Race Cultivator. It was far more likely to be an heirloom passed down from the White Ape Great Demon’s ancestors.

This proved that the White Ape was also a Great Demon of noble bloodline and extraordinary origins.

’That’s right. Back when they were both at Tier Three Peak, the White Ape was able to defeat the Black Flood Dragon with its rich Dragon Blood. It’s obviously not some ordinary type of ape...’

Bai Zichen’s heart sank. He and Master Ge Cang had just been through a great battle and were no longer in peak condition.

The Earth God Sand was used up, and the Ding Mao Ren Gao Divine General Talisman could not be used again today. They had lost two of their most effective tools.

"I take Demon Pill. All this belongs to you... or else, my staff and I will have another go with you!"

The White Ape’s eyes were like lightning. When it first started speaking, it still stammered a little and had to use hand gestures.

But soon, it became fluent, rapidly mastering the language of the Human Race.

"You mean to say you’ll leave both Flame Mountain and this Cyan Simurgh’s Demon Body to us?"

Bai Zichen stared intently at the other party, not expecting this Great Demon to be capable of negotiation.

"That’s right. I only want this Demon Pill!"

The White Ape extended a massive, fan-like hand, snatched the now-dimmed Cyan Simurgh Demon Pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

It then tossed the Cyan Simurgh’s Demon Body to the ground, held its Coiling Dragon Rod inverted, and strode away.

"Daoist Brother White Ape, where is your Immortal Mountain? Do you plan to remain in Black Mountain in the future?"

Bai Zichen and Master Ge Cang exchanged a look of mutual surprise. They hadn’t expected the White Ape’s demands to be so low; a major crisis had been averted just like that.

Their primary goal was Flame Mountain, the Tier Four Spirit Vein. Everything else was a minor detail.

Even if the White Ape had demanded the Cyan Simurgh’s entire Demon Body, the two of them would have agreed after some consideration.

However, where the White Ape chose to settle down was extremely important to the Qingfeng Sect.

The probability of a second Tier Four Spirit Vein existing in the Black Mountain Range was low. If the White Ape remained in Black Mountain after consolidating its Tier Four Realm, a conflict would be inevitable.

This was a normal Tier Four Shapeshifting Great Demon, not one like the Cyan Simurgh that had been severely injured and remained in a deep slumber.

The White Ape’s choice would directly affect the Qingfeng Sect’s development for the next hundred years.

"I’m going to Lankao Mountain. There’s been a voice echoing in my head. My kin are all there..."

Without turning back, the White Ape took several steps and was already outside the bounds of Flame Mountain, the Shrinking Earth Divine Techniques manifesting beneath its feet.

Seen from behind, the White Ape’s body had straightened somewhat, bearing an even greater resemblance to a human’s.

"The Eastern Domain’s Lankao Mountain, the Demon Race Sacred Land..."

Master Ge Cang said, his voice filled with shock but also a hint of relief.

Knowing that Junior Brother Bai was still young and had a smooth Cultivation journey without ever truly traveling the world, he saw his lack of knowledge on the matter and explained, "Back when the Central Domain was expanding and claiming Spirit Lands, all the world’s Spirit Veins fell into the hands of Human Race Cultivators... Those Tier Four Great Demons either fled or were killed. Some went to the Outer Sea, while another group went to the Eastern Domain."

"Several Tier Four Great Demons led their clans to occupy Lankao Mountain, establishing it as a Demon Race Sacred Land. No one knows exactly how many Demon Beasts live there."

"There are rumors that a Tier Five Great Power of the Demon Race is backing Lankao Mountain... Although it has never been confirmed, the Eastern Domain has Super Major Sects, so for Lankao Mountain to have been allowed to exist to this day, it must have something extraordinary about it."

"The Demon Race Sacred Land, Lankao Mountain... For that White Ape to sense the call of its kin across two domains right after reaching Tier Four, it seems it truly does possess a top-tier bloodline."

Bai Zichen nodded slightly. The lifespan of a Demon Beast far exceeded that of a Human Race Cultivator of the same tier. No matter how difficult advancement was, it wasn’t impossible for one or two Tier Five Demon Race Great Powers to emerge across the entire Cultivation Continent.

The White Ape’s decision to leave Black Mountain for the distant Lankao Mountain in the Eastern Domain was a joyous occasion for the Qingfeng Sect.

Not only could they have the Tier Four Spirit Vein of Flame Mountain all to themselves, but the entire Black Mountain Range would now become the Qingfeng Sect’s true backyard.

How could mere Tier Three Demon Beasts possibly stand against two Core Formation Ancestors? Sooner or later, they would all be wiped out, and the area would become a branch of the Sect.

"The White Ape that came later... is it gone?"

Zhou Suqing, who had been keeping her distance, slowly approached.

From her perspective, the entire battle had been incredibly swift; the victor was decided in the blink of an eye.

From the White Ape that appeared later, she could only sense a terrifying Demon Power as vast as an abyss and as deep as the sea. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how powerful a Demon Beast it was.

"It’s gone. This place now belongs to the Sect."

Bai Zichen walked over to the Cyan Simurgh’s corpse, which lay on the ground like a deflated sack after being discarded by the White Ape. Seeing the pool of blood that had already formed, a thought flashed through his mind.

He took out the Rainbow Feather Robe from his storage pouch and submerged it in the Cyan Simurgh’s blood. The Spiritual Artifact was immediately saturated with blood.

’No change. It seems I was overthinking things...’

He stared at the Rainbow Feather Robe for a moment. Seeing no reaction, he was just about to pull it out of the blood when it suddenly erupted with astonishing heat.

A crimson glow unfurled and absorbed all of the Cyan Simurgh’s blood, causing the Spiritual Artifact to take on an eerie, blood-red color.

Three Cyan Simurgh True Feathers and a hundred Fire Phoenix Feathers separated from the Rainbow Feather Robe, floating in the air.

Each feather, saturated with blood and glowing with an uncanny red light, immediately fused back together, transforming once more into a colorful ribbon that tied itself around his wrist.

"It became a Top-Grade Magical Treasure just like that. It seems the problem wasn’t with the Refining method, but that most of its power had been sealed... Only by absorbing enough of the Cyan Simurgh’s blood and breaking the seal could it reveal its original grade."

Bai Zichen felt the brand-new changes in the Rainbow Feather Robe. It was as if all its original functions had been comprehensively strengthened.

Although he didn’t think much of the defensive capabilities of a standard Top-Grade Magical Treasure, the effects the Rainbow Feather Robe could display in certain specific environments were something that even other Top-Grade Magical Treasures couldn’t compare to.

From this point of view, it was impossible for the Rainbow Feather Robe to have been created by the Mo Family’s ancestor, who was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

He absolutely would not have had the ability to refine a Top-Grade Magical Treasure, let alone seal it.

Back when the Cyan Simurgh True Feathers were plucked and refined into the Rainbow Feather Robe, there must have been some unknown secrets involved. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

But the Mo Family’s old Ancestor had long since turned to dust, and the Cyan Simurgh had been beaten into a dead bird by the White Ape. There was no way to uncover the truth behind these hidden matters now.

A Tier Four Cyan Simurgh was a treasure from head to toe, but unfortunately, its most precious parts—the Essence and the Demon Pill—had been taken by the White Ape.

The remaining feathers could be used to refine at least four or five High-Tier Robes, its bones could be made into a Top-Grade Magical Treasure, and the flesh and blood of a Tier Four Great Demon were excellent Alchemy Materials.

The effects of most Body Refining Elixirs and Elixirs that replenished Primordial Qi could be doubled just by adding a piece of Tier Four Demon Beast flesh.

Bai Zichen cut off several hundred pounds for Genggeng’s meals and planned to send the rest to the Pill Hall.

Regrettably, given the realms of the Qingfeng Sect’s few Pill Masters, they were still unable to fully extract the Spiritual Power contained within the flesh of a Tier Four Great Demon.

"Besides the Cyan Simurgh’s roost at the summit, the Spiritual Qi on the eastern side is just as strong, but it’s right by the volcano’s crater, where lava often erupts... Both spots are Tier Four Mid-Grade Spirit Lands. The Spiritual Energy Concentration on the rest of Flame Mountain ranges from Tier Three Top Grade to Tier Three Top-Grade. Even if the Sect has dozens of Core Formation Cultivators in the future, there will be ample Spirit Land for their Cultivation."

With the Tier Four Spirit Land secured, Master Ge Cang seemed very relaxed, a great weight lifted from his heart.

The greatest stumbling block before him had been removed. It could be said that his Nascent Soul Path had become broad once more.

"Unfortunately, the Sect has no Array worthy of a Tier Four Spirit Vein. Otherwise, if we could set up a Tier Four Array, it would truly be a foundation to last for ages!"

Every set of Tier Three Arrays requires a Tier Three Array Master decades to fully refine and is astronomically expensive.

The Qingfeng Sect only had three sets, which was why in the end, they had to dismantle the Qingxi Huang Family’s Clan Grand Array at Ten Thousand Immortals Creek in Hejian County, modify it, and install it there.

Tier Four Arrays were even harder to find; even some Nascent Soul Sects weren’t able to set one up for every important location.

For example, during the period when the Holy Lotus Sect had no Nascent Soul True Monarch presiding over it, they relied on a Tier Four Array and a Spiritual Treasure to forcefully withstand the relentless assault from the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons.

"The Fire Element Spiritual Energy here is dense, and it’s directly connected to the volcano below. I can upgrade the All Heaven Fiery Array into a Tier Three Low-Grade Array. With the boost from this environment, it could achieve an effect close to that of a Tier Three Top-Grade Array."

Zhou Suqing took out a Jade Scroll and quickly recorded the Spiritual Energy Nodes of Flame Mountain, preparing for the future Array Formation.

"That works too. A Tier Three Top-Grade Array will be enough for now... While this matter is still unknown to the outside world, I will stay here first to adapt to the Spirit Land’s environment as much as possible. As soon as the Array is activated, I will begin Shattering my Core and Transforming into Nascent Soul."

The difficulty of reaching Nascent Soul was due to the hardship of the Celestial Tribulation and the challenge of finding True Intent.

There was also the danger of external enemies obstructing one’s path and disrupting the rhythm of the Nascent Soul transformation.

Even when Yann Yuanzai underwent his Nascent Soul Tribulation, the Tianhe Sword Sect acted as if facing a great enemy, fully activating the Sect Grand Array, and even had True Monarch Tang Fei stand guard to protect him.

If this was the case for a Core Formation True Man from a Nascent Soul Major Sect, one could only imagine the difficulty for Cultivators from ordinary sects and Loose Cultivators to achieve their Nascent Soul transformation.

Master Suihan’s successful Tribulation Crossing was really thanks to the Ice Soul Sect’s remote location in the Ten Thousand Miles Icefield, with no other sects within a ten-thousand-mile radius.

The news didn’t even spread to the Cultivation Realm until after he had successfully reached the Nascent Soul realm.