Chapter 222

High above the heavens.

At the very center of the battlefield.

Master Xuangui held a golden array flag in his hand. Above his head floated a strange Nine Apertures Origin Pill. The miraculous pill spun ceaselessly, releasing streams of profound pill qi that dissolved the blood qi, baleful qi, and other corrupt energies emanating from the blood-robed old man opposite him.

Around the blood-robed elder swirled vast clouds of bloody baleful qi. Hidden within were two crimson-skinned, single-horned fiend ghosts, both emitting mana fluctuations at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Just as the old man formed a hand seal and prepared to unleash some demonic secret art, his Nascent Soul divine sense was suddenly stirred.

'Hm? That little fellow actually possesses such a great opportunity?'

'Heh... Poison Beggar is still the same as ever. His emotions are written all over his face. The moment he sees a benefit, he forgets even his own life. It must be the aftereffects of forcibly cultivating that divine sense secret art back then.'

'If the Nascent Soul cultivator facing him were willing to risk serious injury, he could destroy his physical body entirely. At that point, Poison Beggar would have no choice but to seek another possession target.'

As the thought crossed his mind, the blood-robed elder immediately spoke.

"Xuangui, I'm not greedy. Give this old man one genuine Nascent Soul Pill, and I'll withdraw immediately. What do you say?"

"Hmph. Withdraw?"

Master Xuangui sneered.

"And then allow you to go trouble that little friend afterward?"

He raised a hand and released a strange treasure.

It was a jade mountain, within which countless talisman seals appeared frozen in place.

"Mountain of Ten Thousand Talismans?!"

The blood-robed elder's expression showed a trace of caution before he burst into laughter.

"When our demonic path sets its eyes on something valuable, what else should we do besides seize it? Should we imitate your Profound Center Sect instead? First bring the fortunate one into the sect, then slowly process him afterward?"

Boom!

At that moment, a pillar of azure light shot into the sky, carrying an overwhelming fragrance of medicinal pills.

The low-level cultivators nearby merely inhaled a single breath of the scent and immediately felt chronic ailments vanish from their bodies. Their mana circulated more smoothly, and some even sensed signs of breaking through bottlenecks.

"The Nascent Soul Pill? It's finished?"

The blood-robed elder laughed loudly.

"As expected of one of the rarest fourth-rank pills. This celestial phenomenon is truly extraordinary. I've heard that some wondrous pills even attract pill lightning when they are born."

"Though there is no pill lightning this time, there are external demons."

The speaker was Alchemy Grandmaster Xuande.

His white beard hung all the way to the ground. He was likewise a Nascent Soul cultivator. Flying to Xuangui's side, he released the immense mana fluctuations of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and looked coldly at the blood-robed elder.

"You people are the external demons drawn here by this old man's alchemy."

"In a sense, you are also the demonic tribulation of this pill refinement."

"Congratulations, Grandmaster Xuande, on successfully refining the Nascent Soul Pill."

The blood-robed elder offered his congratulations with a smile, though inwardly he felt a growing sense of trouble.

'Wasn't water-method alchemy supposed to be the slowest? How did this fellow refine it so quickly? Is it because of that alchemical ritual?'

'No!'

'He probably only refined the rough pill embryo and then sealed it within a spirit spring for long-term nurturing. This is a perfect opportunity!'

As the thought arose, the blood-robed elder formed another hand seal.

Beside the Heavenly Bestowed Spring, a third-rank alchemist who was currently cleaning up after the refinement suddenly had his eyes turn blood-red.

He abruptly raised a hand.

A dharma artifact appeared.

It transformed into thousands of sword lights and shot toward the nearby alchemists.

"Not good!"

Xuande and Xuangui's expressions changed dramatically at the same time.

...

Within the Great Void.

Chaotic spatial currents surged endlessly.

Below the Nascent Soul realm, cultivators had virtually no ability to resist such forces. They could only drift helplessly before being torn apart by spatial storms.

Not far away, a silver-white spatial tempest howled through the void with irresistible power.

"The might of heaven and earth is truly as vast as the sea."

"Though we are called great cultivators, compared to Soul Transformation cultivators who can command the power of heaven and earth itself, we are still no more than ants."

Within the boundless void stood two cultivators suspended in empty space.

The surrounding spatial currents automatically parted around them as though flowing around two ancient reefs.

Within the Qi Refining path, only a Nascent Soul cultivator's Nascent Soul could break through space and travel freely through the Great Void.

As for traversing the void physically without relying on spatial treasures, aside from uniquely gifted void divine beasts or cultivators possessing Void Spiritual Roots, only late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivators could accomplish such a feat.

The speaker wore the azure robes of the Profound Center Sect.

He was none other than the sect's stabilizing pillar, its late Nascent Soul Supreme Elder.

Standing opposite him was a blood-robed youth.

Naturally, this was the Island Master of Blood Fiend Island, the infamous Tiansha Old Monster, likewise a late Nascent Soul great cultivator.

"We great cultivators already stand at the summit of the cultivation world."

The Tiansha Old Monster chuckled.

"Other than opportunities related to Soul Transformation, what could possibly be worth exhausting our vitality to fight over?"

"They're only a few Nascent Soul Pills. What is the harm in giving me one?"

"You make it sound easy."

The Supreme Elder of the Profound Center Sect laughed lightly.

"And what exactly do you intend to offer in compensation?"

"How about intelligence regarding the Watermoon Palace and Thunderclap Temple?"

The Tiansha Old Monster smiled.

"Among the nine great powers of the Eastern Sea, only those two originated from branch halls of the ancient Zhoutian Star Palace. They inherited portions of the Star Palace's Soul Transformation legacy."

"If one wishes to find a Soul Transformation opportunity in the Eastern Sea, those two forces are the most likely places."

"Compared to them, our Three Islands and Four Sects naturally have room to cooperate."

"Oh?"

The Supreme Elder's expression shifted slightly.

He was clearly tempted.

At that moment, both men suddenly turned their gazes elsewhere.

The Great Void rippled strangely.

A tortoise shell emerged from the spatial currents.

Then, as if startled, it immediately tore through the void again and returned to the material world.

A crippled Nascent Soul carrying traces of severe injury followed closely behind.

The moment he saw the scene within the void, he nearly jumped in fright.

He hurriedly bowed toward the Tiansha Old Monster and explained the situation.

"Heh heh... The current Eastern Sea cultivation world truly produces outstanding talents."

The Supreme Elder of the Profound Center Sect spoke.

"Historical records often mention that whenever such heaven-favored individuals appear, it signals the opening of a great era."

Though he seemed merely to be commenting, he was clearly attempting to restrain the Tiansha Old Monster.

"A fourth-rank upper-grade tortoise shell..."

Tiansha Old Monster smiled.

"And those patterns upon it carry an ancient aura. It is indeed a tremendous opportunity."

Yet instead of moving, he likewise stepped forward and blocked the Supreme Elder's path.

"Let us not interfere."

"Whether the little cultivator survives or dies shall depend entirely upon their own fate."

"That tortoise shell seems to be controlled by a remnant soul..."

The Supreme Elder remarked quietly.

Then he fell silent.

A trace of peculiar suspicion arose within his heart.

‘The fluctuations in the void just now seemed to come from more than one location...’

In an unnamed stretch of sea.

Crash! Crash!

Waves slammed against the reefs, filling the air with the sound of rolling surf.

Zhan Hongxiu let out a muffled groan and finally regained consciousness.

Her divine sense spread outward, quickly discovering that she was stranded on a barren island devoid of spiritual qi.

After carefully inspecting both her body and storage bag, she finally let out a long breath of relief.

“I made it out...”

‘Senior Turtle...’

She called tentatively within her mind, but received no response.

Her expression immediately shifted.

Confusion, fear, helplessness...

Yet buried deep within her eyes was also a trace of wild joy.

‘That's right... Senior Turtle said he couldn't intervene lightly, otherwise it would consume what little origin essence he had left... Senior Turtle...’

Zhan Hongxiu's eyes reddened.

“What are you crying for? This old one isn't dead yet.”

At that moment, a weak voice sounded within her mind.

“Senior Turtle... you're alright?”

Zhan Hongxiu exclaimed in delight.

Yet at the same time, a trace of suspicion surfaced in her heart.

Back then, the old turtle had claimed that killing a Core Formation cultivator would greatly deplete his origin essence. Had he been lying to her?

“No, this old one is not alright. I am very much not alright! Damn it all, if I had known, I never would have gone after that Scenic Wind Pearl. We ended up being targeted by a Nascent Soul old monster. After entering the void, we even ran into two late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivators. This old turtle was nearly scared to death.”

The voice of the Longevity Turtle Spirit grew weaker and weaker.

“This old one used a secret technique and suffered severe damage to my vitality. I will soon fall into slumber. The danger surrounding you has not been completely resolved. Be extremely careful in all matters...”

“If you still remember this old one, then gather spirit herbs and treasures capable of nourishing the soul. Help restore some of my lost origin essence.”

The turtle spirit's voice became increasingly faint until it finally disappeared altogether.

“Senior Turtle...”

Zhan Hongxiu called out several more times.

When no response came, it truly seemed as though the turtle spirit had fallen into deep sleep.

“So it is time to rely on myself once again...”

Zhan Hongxiu sighed softly, though she had long since grown accustomed to such a life.

Although she had been targeted by a Nascent Soul old monster this time, her gains were tremendous.

The most crucial strand of ‘Hundred-Fold Pill Qi’ had finally fallen into her hands.

Now she could find a secluded place, cultivate all the way to Foundation Establishment perfection, and begin preparing for Core Formation.

‘After reaching Core Formation, perhaps I can visit the Zhoutian Star Palace ruins that Senior Turtle mentioned.’

Treasures capable of replenishing the soul essence of a fourth-rank demon beast were already among the rarest heavenly treasures.

Even Core Formation cultivators found such things difficult to obtain.

If she wanted one, ancient ruins were likely her only hope.

...

Ancient Shu.

Wushan Commandery.

‘Is this really the simple and honest cultivation world of the Qi Refining path that I know?’

‘The moment I entered the void, I ran into two late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivators.’

Fang Qing's figure emerged as he silently reminded himself to remain cautious.

‘The Eastern Sea cultivation world has quite a few Nascent Soul old monsters. The void is hardly deserted either.’

‘Not to mention Nascent Soul cultivators. Certain void beasts and cultivators possessing special void artifact can also traverse the void. If I'm unlucky, I might run into them the moment I enter.’

‘Fortunately, at most they'll treat me as a rare cultivator with a Void Spiritual Root. Nothing more than that.’

‘As for that turtle shell afterward, could it have been Zhan Hongxiu? Was she being hunted by a Nascent Soul old monster because of the Scenic Wind Pearl?’

‘As expected, my divination regarding that pearl was correct. The omen said it would bring me harm. If I had gone after the Scenic Wind Pearl, I might have been the one targeted by that Nascent Soul old monster.’

Standing with his hands behind his back, Fang Qing suddenly tore through the void and arrived at the White Bone Dao military encampment.

Inside the command tent.

Sangji sat cross-legged in meditation, his hands forming seals.

The moment he noticed Fang Qing's arrival, he immediately sealed off the surrounding void and threw himself to the ground in full prostration.

“This humble monk greets the Venerable One...”

“Enough.”

Fang Qing waved a hand.

“When outside, there is no need to make such a spectacle of things.”

Some precautions had to be taken.

If his identity were ever exposed, there would truly be nowhere left to cry.

“How goes White Luminary Heaven?”

Fang Qing asked.

“After the two Dumu entered, several Purple Mansion cultivators from Cloud Grazing Cliff also entered White Luminary Heaven and brought out various items.”

Sangji pressed his palms together.

“As for the divine office methods and incense money they obtained, those are entirely dependent upon the Divine Dao system established within the Grotto Heaven itself. Once removed from White Luminary Heaven, they do not become completely mundane, but their effectiveness drops by ninety percent.”

“The Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Dharma King also delivered a copy of the Shepherding the Sheep Heart Sutra. The Dao Foundation and divine ability cultivated through that scripture are both derived from the [Spirit Ceremonial Official] path”

“However, even cultivators of the Dao Foundation cannot truly make use of the incense money brought out from the Grotto Heaven. If the Venerable One wishes to refine another Purple Mansion treasure, I fear you would have to enter the Grotto Heaven personally.”

‘White Luminary Heaven is becoming more and more dangerous. Only a fool would go back in.’

Fang Qing complained inwardly.

‘That Bronze Ge already transformed into a Purple Mansion treasure and is more than sufficient for my current needs. So what if it gains one more divine ability? Once I reach Purple Mansion, there will be countless opportunities to acquire other Purple Mansion treasures.’

‘Risking my life to enter White Luminary Heaven again simply isn't worth it.’

Outwardly, however, he merely asked with some curiosity:

“Were there many casualties inside? Did anyone manage to seize any divine dao treasures?”

“In this humble monk's view, even if there were losses, that Great Spiritual Master Sen Chen would not care in the slightest.”

Sangji joined his palms together, his face full of reverence.

“After all, that is a [Ghost Metal] golden nature. Even if one cannot obtain it, simply studying it at close range is already an extraordinary opportunity.”