Chapter 418 - 415: Barging Through the Water Mansion

Chapter 418: Chapter 415: Barging Through the Water Mansion

"It’s rare to see a fellow Daoist raising such a peculiar Spirit Insect."

Chen Ze said meaningfully, his gaze lingering on the White Jade Spider.

In the Cultivation Realm, apart from Sects like the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect that specialize in Beast Taming and whose Cultivation Techniques can synergize with their Lifebound Spiritual Beasts, there is a very clear dividing line when Cultivators choose Spirit Beasts.

Below the Core Formation Realm, the combat strength of the Spirit Beast is what matters most.

The weaker the master, the greater the role the Spirit Beast can play.

If a Qi Refining Cultivator could obtain a Tier Two Spirit Beast, they would undoubtedly sweep through all Cultivators of the same Realm.

But from the Core Formation Realm and above, Cultivators consider many more factors when choosing a Spirit Beast. The beast’s own strength is no longer the most important element.

High Tier Spirit Beasts are hard to find, and a Tier Three Spirit Beast would be of no use in the Combat of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Moreover, Tier Four Great Demons can all undergo Transformation and possess Spiritual Wisdom on par with Human Race Cultivators. Why would they acknowledge a master whose strength is merely on par with, or even inferior to, their own?

This isn’t something that can be achieved simply through a Spirit Beast Contract or a Beast Taming Magical Artifact.

Even if you raise one from birth and form a deep bond with an early Lifebound Spiritual Beast contract, new problems arise.

A Spirit Beast’s lifespan will most likely far exceed that of a Human Race Cultivator, but its growth rate is slower.

Unless it’s one of the rare few with an exceptional bloodline, a normal Spirit Beast will either outlive its master or be left far behind in its Realm.

Therefore, starting from the Core Formation True Man Realm, the chosen Spirit Beasts tend to be more utility-oriented.

Pathfinding, treasure hunting, Illusion-Breaking Void-Investigation, mastering certain Bloodline Divine Techniques with supportive effects, and so on.

With the two White Jade Spiders guarding his rear, Elder Shen’s worries were assuaged. A wide grin split his face as he cast two Techniques at the Water Bead in his hand.

The two Coiled Dragon Golden Pillars rotated slightly, revealing a path of Jade Ladder steps, a hundred in all.

"Little Friend Chen, let’s go in together. Besides being a Top-Grade Magical Treasure, this Water Bead can also slightly influence the two outermost Forbidden restrictions of the Water Mansion. However, it can only keep the passage open for twelve hours... If we can’t defeat the Town Spirit Beast within that time, we must retreat immediately. Otherwise, the consequences of being trapped inside the Water Mansion will be unpredictable."

"Alright, let’s make it quick. They’re just two Tier Three Low Grade Town Spirit Beasts. As if they could stop us!"

After a brief pause, Chen Ze walked onto the Jade Ladder, side-by-side with Elder Shen.

A long time later, two turquoise waves rolled toward the web spun by the two White Jade Spiders, surging back and forth.

But facing the transparent web, they did not cross the line by even a single step. Not a single drop of water splashed onto it.

At the end of the Jade Ladder path was a hundred-zhang-wide circular platform. The moment they set foot on it, thirty-six Celestial Spirit Copper Pillars descended, and a Forbidden restriction sealed them off from the outside.

"Little Friend Chen, don’t be nervous. This is a necessary step before the Town Spirit Beasts appear. The Water Bead in my hand can manipulate the Forbidden restriction. If we are no match for them, I can release the Celestial Spirit Copper Pillars and we can leave at any time."

Elder Shen quickly explained when he saw the color drain from Chen Ze’s face.

"So that’s how it is. I’ve never been to a Water Mansion like this before. I guess I’m just ignorant..."

Chen Ze suppressed the urge to draw his sword and attack. ’I still need Shen Moqun to lead the way if I want to explore the Water Mansion; otherwise, I won’t even know how to get to the lower levels.’

’In any case, we both have ulterior motives and are just using each other. It all comes down to who will be the final winner.’

’Even if Elder Shen has the home-field advantage, is far more familiar with the Water Mansion, and can even manipulate its restrictions to a small extent, I am not afraid.’

’My Realm completely crushes his, and my heritage is not something a mere Clan Cultivator from a Cultivation Family can compare to.’

With two short dragon roars, two Water Qius slithered out from between the thirty-six Celestial Spirit Copper Pillars. They had sharp horns and massive bodies, possessing both majesty and a strange beauty.

With every breath they took, it seemed as if waves were rising and falling. A watery mist filled the air, radiating a surging vitality.

"These are the Town Spirit Beasts? How are they any different from Demon Beasts? They’re completely alive!"

Chen Ze cried out in shock. The Water Mansion had existed for tens of thousands of years since the time of Wuu Sanzang. Not even the longest-lived Transformed Great Demon could have survived that long.

Besides, they were only at the Tier Three Low Grade level. A creature at that level living for several thousand years would already be a long-lived species with a special bloodline.

"That’s right. These are the Town Spirit Beasts passed down by True Monarch Wuu... He transplanted Puppetry into Spirit Beasts. How could you possibly comprehend such a technique!"

Elder Shen’s figure faded, transforming into a stream of water that flowed to the side of the Water Qius.

"You dare to covet the True Monarch’s Water Mansion? Perfect. You’ll serve as nutrients and contribute to the True Monarch’s resurrection!"

"Shen Moqun, have you gone mad!"

The Sword Light from Chen Ze’s hand split in two, blocking the two Water Qius. He was utterly shocked.

He had assumed they would first deal with the Town Spirit Beasts, and that Shen Moqun would only turn on him after they reached the depths of the Water Mansion.

He never expected the man to make a move at the very first step.

Judging by the situation, Shen Moqun clearly didn’t need a helper to deal with the Town Spirit Beasts. He had obviously controlled the Water Mansion’s restrictions all along, and it even seemed he had become Wuu Sanzang’s successor.

Although the plan had gone awry, Chen Ze didn’t panic. He brushed his fingertips across his chest, and the True Essence fluctuations from his body began to climb rapidly.

"Late-Stage Core Formation... Heh heh, very good. I believe this will allow for a few more wisps of Nether Qi to be converted."

Elder Shen was momentarily stunned by the Cultivation that Chen Ze revealed. He had guessed that Chen Ze was hiding his true Cultivation, but he hadn’t expected the difference to be so great.

In the entire Great Wild Marsh, there was only one Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivator.

The Yinchuan Zhang Family could basically be considered the leading power in the Great Wild Marsh, a branch of the great Jinjian Zhang Family of the Eastern Domain.

Within a ten-thousand-mile radius, a Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivator could be called a regional powerhouse.

"I know you still have tricks up your sleeve. After I deal with you, I’ll take care of that tagalong, and turn you both into Nether Qi!"

Elder Shen’s expression was crazed. Chunks of flesh began to fall from his face as if they had only been glued on.

His left hand, which held the Water Bead, was now nothing but a White Bone palm, devoid of any flesh and blood.

"Dragon Roams the Azure Sea, Water Flows Ever East!"

The Water Bead was tossed high into the air. Droplets of water vapor rose, and in an instant, a torrent surged forth, turning the high platform into a flooded marsh.

Once in the water, the two Water Qius became even more vigorous, their combat power increasing by a fair amount.

"Trying to drag me into Combat in a watery domain... Haha, Elder Shen, you’re truly ridiculous. Allow me to show you a Top-Level Cultivation Technique that dominates the overseas realms!"

Chen Ze laughed wildly, as if he’d just heard the best news of his life.

In a watery environment, the Dragon Transformation Scripture’s power increased by at least half, and he could also activate several of its associated Divine Techniques.

Trying to use such methods against a Cultivator of the Dragon Transformation Scripture was like trying to hit a dog with a meat bun—a foolish and unrecoverable loss.

He tapped his Flying Sword, and it was immediately coated in a clear, watery light. With a swing of his sword, he created two whirlpools that trapped the Water Qius inside.

At the same time, he spat out a glob of Sunflower Water Spirit. With a flick of his five fingers, it transformed into a string of Kui Yin Water Thunders, which blasted toward Shen Moqun in a pattern like a Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers.

A Bone Shield appeared before Elder Shen, absorbing the bombardment of the Kui Yin Water Thunders. The destructive power, enough to level a small mountain, was absorbed by the shield, which merely rippled from the impacts.

But with each explosion of the Kui Yin Water Thunders, Elder Shen was forced back a step, and another piece of flesh was shaken loose from his body.

’The gap between Late-Stage and Early-Stage Core Formation is too great. I have no choice but to use the means granted by the True Monarch... As long as the True Monarch is resurrected, I’ll be able to master such Divine Techniques with ease. I might even get a glimpse of the Nascent Soul Realm!’

Elder Shen’s eyes were fanatical. He ripped the intact flesh from his chest, and blood gushed out.

The flesh was incinerated into ash by a bone-colored flame, forming a wisp of pure Nether Qi.

He pulled a rib from his chest, revealing bloody, beating organs. The rib merged with the Nether Qi and became a White Bone Spear.

He hurled it toward Chen Ze. With a flash of lightning and a roll of thunder, it transformed into a White Bone Demon that pounced viciously, its hands, feet, mouth, and teeth all becoming ferocious weapons.

Chen Ze’s face paled in horror. He drew a circle with his left hand, and wall after wall of water rose to block the White Bone Demon.

But the water walls were as fragile as paper, shattered by a single punch from the White Bone Demon. The attack clearly possessed the power of the Late-Stage Core Formation Realm.

’Damn it, do I have to use my lineage’s secret transmission? That’s a Secret Technique that takes a full sixty years to cultivate...’

Against the two Water Qius, Chen Ze’s Flying Sword had been fighting one against two and already held the absolute upper hand.

But these so-called Town Spirit Beasts shed no blood when struck by his Sword Light. Feeling no pain, they continued to charge madly, using their size advantage to occupy most of Chen Ze’s attention.

He had nearly severed the spine of one of the Water Qius with a single strike. Any other Demon Beast would have lost its ability to fight.

Yet it was still able to drag its twisted, massive body and continue its relentless assault.

Just as Chen Ze was hesitating, he saw Elder Shen tear the flesh from his thigh and once again form a wisp of Nether Qi.

Knowing he couldn’t hesitate any longer, he took out a Seven-Colored Stone. But just as he was about to act, he heard two sharp, explosive sounds from outside the platform.

’Someone broke into the Water Mansion!’

The faces of both men changed. Neither believed this development was to their advantage.

Chen Ze knew his two junior brothers were extremely conservative and cautious; they would never force their way in when a spider web was blocking the path.

Elder Shen, on the other hand, mistakenly thought that the people who were supposed to meet Chen Ze had arrived. He had failed to divide and conquer, and the price to take them down would now be much higher.

...

’I take back my praise for the Copper Plate Divine Calculation. I spoke too soon!’

Bai Zichen pinched the Gloomy Green Copper Coin and activated it several more times, constantly correcting his course until he finally arrived in front of a patch of water weeds.

A sweep of his Divine Sense revealed an anomaly in a fissure. After entering, he saw cultivators whose path was blocked by a giant spider web.

’Two Core Formation True Men. Their use of Water Escape is Refined and Masterful. They’ve hidden themselves within the waves and haven’t been exposed even now...’

Bai Zichen found it amusing to watch the two Cultivators trying so hard to hide, acting with such caution.

The spider web in front of them sealed the entire entrance. Unless one could turn intangible or had mastered a Void Escape Technique, it would be impossible to enter without destroying the web.

’Either you can or you can’t. It’s as simple as that.’

"To be stopped by a mere spider web... how ridiculous you all are!"

Bai Zichen revealed himself directly. A flash of crimson light swung past, burning the spider web to tatters.

The light flickered, and a hole appeared on the heads of both White Jade Spiders. Their long legs straightened, and they lay motionless on the ground.

His "Close as the Palm of Your Hand, Far as the Ends of the Earth" technique was somewhat similar to a Nascent Soul’s blink ability, and he could have had a chance to pass through the web.

But there was no need to use it. In the face of absolute power, all schemes and plots were meaningless clouds.

He didn’t just slash open the web; he also killed the White Jade Spiders, announcing his arrival to everyone inside the Water Mansion.

In any case, he had changed his Daoist Robe before coming and used the Celestial Illusion Bracelet to alter his appearance again, presenting a completely new identity.