Chapter 3043 - 82: The Taoist Master Boards the Pirate Ship! (Part 4)

Chapter 3043: Chapter 82: The Taoist Master Boards the Pirate Ship! (Part 4)

Based on his understanding of Wang Shouzhe, his intuition told him that there was something amiss.

"I have never been to North Shu God Continent; naturally, I have no reason to offend the Purple Cloud Taoist Sect." Wang Shouzhe smiled, "However, whether Purple Cloud Taoist Sect still adheres to the righteous path as it always has, I fear requires a careful assessment."

"..."

Taoist Master Taichu looked at Wang Shouzhe skeptically, truly unsure where his confidence came from or why he harbored suspicions about the Purple Cloud Taoist Sect.

However, currently in the perilous Southern Blaze Divine Continent and burdened with the mission to save the Dongxia Divine Dynasty, he couldn’t afford distractions.

Thus, he didn’t probe further, merely offered a warning glance to Wang Shouzhe: "Boy Shouzhe, I hope you don’t dig any more pits for this Taoist Master."

"Rest assured, Senior Hongzhen, Shouzhe’s actions are all for the greater good of the human race," Wang Shouzhe said solemnly.

"..."

Taoist Master Taichu’s heart quivered, not feeling reassured, but instead inexplicably growing a sense of impending doom.

How come he felt like he had boarded a remarkable pirate ship?

***

Several months flashed by.

Wuxiang Demon City.

As the venue for the biennial black market auction, Wuxiang Demon City was the largest city in the eastern region of Southern Blaze Divine Continent. Its size might be much smaller compared to Divine Capital Luojing of the Dongxia Divine Dynasty, yet its grandeur was unparalleled.

Especially in recent years, as the date for the black market auction drew nearer, Wuxiang Demon City became increasingly bustling, with continuous streams of people visible on the ground and in the sky.

Unlike Divine Capital Luojing, the "traffic" here was predominantly composed of various demonic cultivators, followed by diverse beings, human-like void beasts, and so on... Genuine human race cultivators were actually a minority.

At a glance, the city seemed like a "multi-race fair," fully showcasing the variety of intelligent species.

Within the entire Wuxiang Demon City, the most eye-catching, grand, and majestic structures were the massive palace clusters in the north.

There was the [Demonic Soul Hall], also the de facto dominator of the eastern region of Southern Blaze Divine Continent, the hub of the seventeenth-level demonic god plant—Tai Yin Ming Spirit Tree.

Inside the Demonic Soul Hall.

The immense palace clusters stood tall like mountains, stretching continuously, and presenting an awe-inspiring sight.

In the very center of these gigantic and magnificent palace clusters stood a colossal ancient tree.

Its enormity had completely transcended the average person’s understanding.

Its main trunk towered into the clouds, appearing slender and erect, with a silver-gray canopy almost extending into the sky’s cloud layers. Its massive spiritual energy enveloped it constantly, surrounded by spiritual radiance, adding wisps of cloud silk among its branches and leaves, which generated a holy and ethereal aura.

Unknown how long it had stood there, its massive tree body bore the marks of epochs, being worn and mottled, filled with divinity.

The entire Demonic Soul Hall was built around it.

Under the giant tree.

Currently.

A woman dressed in a black long dress was seated cross-legged, concentrating on her cultivation, with vast spiritual energy swirling around her, forming a nearly tangible tidal wave of spiritual energy.

Under the daylight, her long dress appeared boundless, seemingly composed purely of concentrated demonic qi, with the only bright elements being the silver-gray leaves adorning the dress, giving a mysterious and elegant appearance, emanating a unique aura.

Clearly, she was the master of this Demonic Soul Hall, the Tai Yin Ming Spirit Tree.

Upon closer inspection, her complexion was somewhat pale, and her aura seemed weak and unstable, evidently not in the best state.

Currently, she was holding a small white jade bottle in her hand, from which spots of green light floated up, gradually integrating into her body as she refined them.

That green light emitted an incredibly pure life essence.

As the green light merged with her, the pallid hue on her face eased slightly, and the ferocious mysterious energy that raged around her became somewhat more stable.

However, the small jade bottle was far too diminutive, and as time passed, the green light within it was exhausted.

Tai Yin Ming Spirit Tree opened her eyes, glanced down at the now-empty little jade bottle, and furrowed her brow slightly.

"Dark One."

At her words, a dark figure appeared from the shadow behind her like a ghost, bowing respectfully toward her.

"Hall Master."

"Go get a new vial of Chaos Essence." Tai Yin Ming Spirit Tree casually instructed, her tone authoritative.

At her command, Dark One’s face turned somewhat awkward: "Reporting to the Hall Master, your recent consumption has been excessive, and the stock is depleted."

"Gone? So soon?"

Tai Yin Ming Spirit Tree furrowed her brows.

She sustained significant injuries in the battle with Great Commander Fallen, and without the aid of Chaos Essence, the recovery rate of her wounds would undoubtedly suffer greatly.

If the news leaked and was known by other similarly powerful individuals, it could cause unforeseen incidents.

As a seventeen-level demonic god plant, she was innately a highly coveted top-tier "resource"—if someone schemed against her, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Just the thought of such a possibility made her complexion inevitably worsen.

"Principal, please bear with it." Dark One cautiously advised, "The black market is about to open; subordinates have discreetly released a message to purchase Chaos Essence. Recently, the number of cultivators gathering in Wuxiang Demon City has increased significantly; there should be news soon."

Is it possible to do nothing but wait?

Tai Yin Ming Spirit Tree felt a trace of impatience, suddenly thinking of someone, and immediately ordered: "Where is Zhemei? Didn’t she mention going to find Life Origin for me? Why isn’t she back yet?"

Life Origin is the most innate power source of all life in the cosmic world, particularly for a tree like her, being much more effective than Chaos Essence.

She reminisced about the small vial of [Life Origin] that Zhemei contributed, and the taste lingered unforgettable until now; just a small vial yielded significant results.

If there was an ample supply of Life Origin, not only would these troublesome injuries be healed, but growth and breakthrough to eighteen levels would also be exceptionally possible!

In an instant.

The heart of Tai Yin Ming Spirit Tree burned even more fervently.

...